Credit: Johnny BuzzerioNew Alice in Chains music is upon us. The grunge icons will premiere a track called "The One You Know" on Friday, May 4 at 9 a.m. ET. If you can't wait that long, you can listen to a brief clip of the song, posted to Alice's social media. While it doesn't feature any lyrics or vocals, the snippet does boast a heavy guitar riff reminiscent of the Queens of the Stone Age song "Sick, Sick, Sick." "The One You Know" will presumably be the first preview of the next Alice in Chains album, the follow-up to 2013's The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. The new record is due out later this year. Alice in Chains is currently in the middle of a U.S. tour, which continues Thursday night in Washington, D.C. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 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). 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The deadly Mill Valley-area shooting that sent residents scrambling for safety erupted when the owner of an apartment complex attempted to talk to a tenant about an eviction, prompting the tenant to grab a revolver and shoot the landlord and his daughter before turning the gun on himself, authorities said Friday. The owners daughter, 30-year-old Sabrina Elizabeth Lew, died from the wounds she suffered Thursday afternoon, while her father, 84-year-old Leonard Lew whod had at least one previous dispute with the alleged gunman was being treated at a local hospital, officials said. Both victims lived in Mill Valley. The Marin County Sheriffs Office said the deceased killer was Victor Aurelino Lugo, 71, a resident of the modest, two-story complex at 939 East Blithedale Ave., just west of Highway 101 beside the main route into Mill Valley. Agency officials said he argued with the owner and his daughter after learning of his pending eviction, then opened fire. The shooting was first reported by a neighbor who called 911 at 3:44 p.m., and sheriffs deputies arrived two minutes later to find the wounded Sabrina and Leonard Lew who was alert enough to provide the name of his alleged attacker before evacuating them to ambulances, officials said. At that point, deputies didnt know where the gunman had gone, so they put out an active shooter alert as they swarmed the complex with guns drawn and helped residents flee to safety. Some neighbors locked their doors as deputies cordoned off streets. Soon, authorities instructed people over a wider swath of Mill Valley to shelter in place. Shortly after 5 p.m., the sheriffs tactical team initiated a high-risk search of the complex and entered Lugos apartment, where they reported finding him dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot. A revolver was found lying at his feet. Officials said they believe Lugo used the same weapon to shoot his victims. Lt. Steve de la O, a sheriffs spokesman, said he couldnt comment on whether Lugo had a criminal history. But he said Lugo had called authorities in January for advice regarding a living situation. Lugo then met with a deputy about a dispute he was having with the building owner, and he told the deputy that the argument had not turned violent. The two men had disagreed about alterations Lugo wanted to make to his apartment, said de la O, who would not elaborate. Leonard Lew remained in the intensive care unit at Marin General Hospital in Kentfield on Friday. Investigators had not yet been able to speak to him because of his condition but said he is expected to survive. The two victims were listed as having addresses at the apartment complex as well as at a nearby house in Mill Valley, where neighbors said they lived. On Friday morning, the mood was somber at the complex, which sits in a tree-lined neighborhood and has a courtyard surrounding a pool. A notice from the Marin County coroner was posted on the alleged gunmans door on the second floor, barring entry while investigators continued to sift through the scene. A woman who answered a phone listed as belonging to Leonard Lew at one of the apartments said, We are not taking any calls right now. Were in the middle of a family crisis. Al Bedrosian, who lives across the street from where the attack occurred, said the shooting struck a chord with him. Its a sad situation. It brings the reality of gun violence ... right to our driveway, he said outside his home Friday. Were still trying to process the reality of what happened. It shows you something like this can happen anywhere, even in this idyllic suburb of Mill Valley. Some people have commented, Why did he have access to a gun? Bedrosian said. It brings the whole mental health thing into play. Were there mental health issues? What caused him to snap like this? Robin Kaukonen, who moved a few houses down from the Lews Mill Valley house in 2002, said she knew the family as soft-spoken, quiet and unassuming. Kaukonen said she saw police helicopters overhead Thursday night but didnt know anyone had died or that a shooting had involved a family that lived on her block. Kaukonen said she would see Sabrina Lew, and sometimes her mother, out walking the familys dog, with Leonard Lew working in the yard. Its pretty shocking. I dont know them super well, but theyre really nice neighbors. I cant even imagine that Lenny and his wife lost their daughter, she said, her voice breaking. And I wish them the best. Chronicle staff writer Annie Ma contributed to this report. Sophie Haigney and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sophie.haigney@sfchronicle.com, jylons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophieHaigney, @JennaJourno A former Contra Costa County sheriffs deputy accused of having sex with female inmates while on duty at a Richmond jail was charged with four felonies, prosecutors said Friday. Patrick Morseman, a 27-year-old Vallejo resident, faces up to five years in state prison for the sex acts allegedly committed March 31 at the West County Detention Facility. The Contra Costa County district attorneys office charged Morseman with four counts of sexual activity with a confined consenting adult. Yet one of the women told The Chronicle that neither she nor her cellmate consented to the sex, making it rape. One of them said Morseman gave her $300 to stay quiet. A spokesman for the sheriffs office confirmed a transfer of funds. Neama Rahmani, an attorney representing the two women, said they were disappointed with the charging decision. Our position remains the same, he said. This was a non-consensual sexual encounter. The California statute under which a law enforcement officer can be charged with having unlawful sex with a jail inmate uses the term consenting adult, but specifies that consent is not a defense, said Scott Alonso, a spokesman for the district attorneys office. In general, he said, new evidence could always change the charges as the case moves forward. Phyllis Redmond, chief assistant district attorney, said that after reviewing the evidence she has seen, We filed based on what we can prove to a judge or a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. She called Morsemans actions an abuse of authority. This is very serious conduct, she said. Obviously a confinement situation in a jail there is an imbalance of power. Prosecutors said in the complaint filed Thursday that Morseman engaged in oral copulation and had sexual intercourse with both of the women. One of them has since been released from jail. Morseman was arrested April 4 and later released on $100,000 bail. He had worked as a deputy for 2 years. Redmond said a new warrant has been issued for Morsemans arrest and that she will ask for his bail to be set at $200,000. Rahmanis office has filed a civil claim with the county seeking damages, a precursor to a lawsuit. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Two former supervisors involved in the cleanup of radioactive contaminants at the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard have pleaded guilty to falsifying soil samples in the widening environmental scandal that has engulfed San Franciscos largest redevelopment project. The guilty pleas were made in 2017 as part of a criminal federal investigation that had been under seal until Wednesday, when one of the supervisors was sentenced to eight months in prison. The other supervisor was given the same sentence in January. Documents related to the cases were not immediately available online Thursday night. Scrutiny of the cleanup at the shipyard has intensified in the past year, with more than 10,500 housing units, a hotel, schools and retail spaces anticipated for the 400-acre project. These are the first criminal cases to be made public. When our communitys health and safety is in jeopardy, we must vigilantly respond with all of our law enforcement tools, Alex Tse, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, said in a statement released Thursday. This sentence reflects our commitment to ensure that bogus reports intended to deceive the protectors of our environment will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood near the toxic parcels, said that after decades of outcry from the community and reports of errors in the soil testing, she found the U.S. attorneys actions promising. Cohen will hold a hearing on the cleanup May 14 at the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee. Justin Hubbard, 48, and Stephen Rolfe, 65, were both supervisors for Tetra Tech EC Inc., the main contractor working for the Navy on cleanup at the EPA Superfund site. In his May 18, 2017, plea agreement, Hubbard admitted substituting 5-gallon buckets of clean soil for potentially contaminated soil at the shipyard site. He then filled out fraudulent chain of custody forms, which were submitted to the Navy as evidence that the soil was free of harmful radiation. Rolfe admitted similar crimes while describing a culture of widespread fraud and constant pressure to produce clean soil samples. On multiple occasions, he said in his March 15, 2017, plea agreement, Tetra Tech supervisors ordered him to get the hell out of contaminated areas and to get clean dirt. On about 20 occasions, Rolfe told his employees to switch out potentially toxic soil with clean soil, so that the soil would pass lab tests and Tetra Tech would be able to say that certain portions of the shipyard were untainted. My motivation came from pressure applied by Tetra Tech supervisors, Rolfe said in his plea, indicating the criminal investigation may be ongoing. When reached at a phone number listed for Hubbard, a man who identified himself as Justin Hubbard said, How bout this, go f yourself, and hung up. He called back two minutes later from the same phone number and said, You can tell that EPA c to go f herself. Rolfe could not be reached for comment. Sam Singer, a San Francisco public relations and crisis communications consultant hired by Tetra Tech, said in a statement that the company is fully supportive of the actions taken against Hubbard and Rolfe by the Justice Department. Tetra Tech vehemently rejects this type of activity and will pursue all legal actions available to it to recover the harm that the actions of these former employees have caused to Tetra Tech, the Navy, and the local community, Singer said. We have zero tolerance for violations of established protocols and procedures on any project site. Radioactive waste has plagued the shipyard since the 1940s and 1950s, when the Navy used dry docks to decontaminate ships exposed to atomic bomb tests in the Pacific. The shipyard also housed the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, a cluster of buildings where scientists studied the effects of radiation on living tissue. Rats, donkeys and dogs were given lethal doses of poisonous isotopes. The Navy has admitted that the $1 billion cleanup for the Superfund site was botched and the data skewed. Last month, an environmental watchdog group released a letter written by John Chesnutt, manager of the EPAs local Superfund Division, which stated that as much as 97 percent of Tetra Techs cleanup data from two parcels on the site was suspect and should be retested. Tetra Tech has previously responded that both conclusions are inaccurate. The Pasadena environmental engineering firm, which reported having revenue of $2.8 billion in 2017, said it will pay for retesting. We believe that any concerns can be directly addressed by actually retesting and analyzing the areas in question, Tetra Tech CEO Dan Batrack said last month. We want the Hunters Point community and the Navy to know that Tetra Tech stands by its work at Hunters Point. The sentences of Hubbard and Rolfe lend credence to previous allegations by whistle-blowers who worked on the Hunters Point cleanup. In complaints to regulators, sworn statements last year, and media accounts first aired by NBC Bay Area, several former radiation technicians have said that Tetra Tech cut corners in the cleanup, falsified data and covered up evidence of radioactive contamination. Several of the whistle-blowers sworn declarations accuse Hubbard of violating protocol, telling them to commit fraud and threatening them when they raised objections. Anthony Smith, a radiation control technician, alleged that in 2009 Hubbard told him to dispose of a soil sample that had come back from the lab showing elevated levels of cesium 137, a radioactive isotope. According to Smith, Hubbard told him and other workers at the site to get rid of it and not say a word. Bert Bowers, a radiation safety officer, said that when he raised questions about the unmonitored movement of potentially contaminated material on the site, Hubbard just blew up, verbally attacking me. Robert McLean, a senior radiological control technician, said, The conduct and statements of Mr. Hubbard seemed to threaten our jobs and also seemed to threaten us physically. In an email sent to The Chronicle earlier Thursday, a Tetra Tech spokeswoman disputed Smiths account about the sample containing cesium 137 and said his story wasnt credible. David Anton, an attorney representing Smith and six other Hunters Point whistle blowers, said the criminal sentences of the Tetra Tech supervisors are just the beginning. Justin Hubbard and Stephen Rolfe were people who took orders from higher up, Anton said. It means that the fraud there is real, despite what Tetra Tech said, and its gotta be cleaned up right, otherwise its a hazard for everybody else. WASHINGTON President Trumps explanation for why he fired FBI Director James Comey has shifted again. Rudy Giuliani, Trumps new attorney, said in an interview on Fox News that Trump fired Comey last year because Comey would not state that he wasnt a target of the special counsels 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. Comey said this week that he saw telling Trump privately at a January 2017 Trump Tower meeting that he wasnt under investigation as a way to lower the temperature of an otherwise tense encounter before the president took office. Giulianis explanation foreshadows a likely defense to the May 2017 dismissal, but it was at least the third offered by Trump and his advisers. It also comes as the presidents legal team is debating whether to allow Trump to be interviewed by special counsel Robert Muellers team, which in addition to investigating potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, is examining whether the presidents firing of Comey and other actions constitute obstruction of justice. In announcing Comeys firing, the White House initially cited the FBI directors handling of the probe into Clintons emails. Trump later told NBCs 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. When asked specifically at a March 20, 2017 House intelligence committee if Trump himself was under investigation, Comey replied: Im not gonna answer that....We have briefed him in great detail on the subjects of the investigation and what were doing, but Im not gonna answer about anybody in this forum. Eric Tucker is an Associated Press writer. ALEXANDRIA, Va. A federal judge on Friday asked pointed questions about special counsel Robert Muellers authority to bring charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and suggested that prosecutors true motive is getting Manafort to sing against the president. Manaforts lawyers argued at a hearing in Alexandria that the tax and bank fraud charges are far afield from Muellers mandate to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether any collusion occurred. I dont see what relationship this indictment has with what the special counsel is investigating, U.S. Senior Judge T.S. Ellis III, a Reagan appointee, told government lawyers at Fridays hearing. The Virginia indictment alleges Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars he earned advising pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine from the Internal Revenue Service, all occurring years before Donald Trump ran for president. Under questioning from Ellis, government lawyers admitted that Manafort had been under investigation for years in the Eastern District of Virginia before Mueller was ever appointed special counsel. And Ellis said it was implausible to think that the charges against Manafort, which primarily concern his business dealings and tax returns from about 2005 through 2015, could have a real connection to Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Ellis suggested the real reason Mueller is pursuing Manafort is to pressure him to sing against Trump, though he also noted that such a strategy is a time-honored practice for prosecutors and not necessarily illegal. Ellis went on to say that defense lawyers are naturally concerned that defendants in that situation will not only sing but compose meaning that theyll make up facts. You really care about wanting information you could get from Mr. Manafort that would relate to Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution, or impeachment, or whatever, Ellis said. Government lawyer Michael Dreeben said the special counsels mandate is broad, and that Manafort fits within that jurisdiction because of his connections to both the Trump campaign and to Ukrainian and Russian officials. We needed to understand and explore those relationships and follow the money where it led, Dreeben said. Manaforts lawyer, Kevin Downing, has argued that a special counsel should be tightly constrained in how it operates. He noted that the law authorizing the special counsel was passed to replace the old independent counsel law, which was derided for allowing overbroad, years-long investigations during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Downing has argued that the charges should be dismissed if Mueller lacked authority to bring them. Ellis, though, suggested another remedy would be to simply hand the case back to regular federal prosecutors. Ellis did not immediately rule on the motion. Manafort is also facing a broader indictment in the District of Columbia, where the special counsel has brought the bulk of charges. Matthew Barakat is an Associated Press writer. 1 Lynch mobs: Bill Cosbys wife is calling for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia 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 husbands chief accuser Andrea Constand a liar, and compared the dozens of other women whove accused her husband to lynch mobs. 2 Deadly explosion: A Connecticut womans call to police to report that she had escaped after being held hostage for several days led to a standoff and explosion in a barn behind her home in North Haven that left one person dead and nine police officers injured, officials said Thursday. A regional police SWAT team responded to the property Wednesday afternoon after the womans call and encountered a barricaded man. Officers negotiated with him for hours before a building on the property exploded around 8:30 p.m. The nine officers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and the remains of an unidentified person were found on the property. The owners, Deborah and John Sayre, were going through a divorce. 1 Biker shootout: Prosecutors in Texas have dismissed 15 more cases relating to the 2015 shootout in Waco involving rival biker gangs that left nine dead and 20 others injured. McLennan County prosecutors said theyre dismissing the cases while focusing on others with a higher level of culpability. More than a dozen other cases were dismissed in February and officials said last week that only about 25 cases will be prosecuted out of the more than 150 people indicted on felony charges of engaging in organized criminal activity. Police arrested 177 bikers following the mayhem at a restaurant involving members of the Bandidos and Cossacks motorcycle clubs. Law enforcement officers monitoring the gathering also fired on the bikers. 2 Impeachment: Missouri lawmakers will convene in an historic special session later this month in the capital, Jefferson City, to consider impeaching Republican Gov. Eric Greitens following allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of charity resources for his campaign. Republican House and Senate leaders said they had gathered more than the constitutionally required signatures of three-fourths of the members of each chamber to call a special session that will start on May 18. The petition tells lawmakers to consider the upcoming recommendations of an investigatory committee on potential disciplinary actions against the governor, which also could include lesser reprimands than impeachment. A Richmond police captain who was fired after being accused of leaking a police report to a television news reporter has successfully appealed his case and will be reinstated to his job. Capt. Mark Gagan, a 23-year department veteran and its former spokesman, was fired the day before Thanksgiving amid a misconduct investigation spurred by a Richmond city councilmans complaint over a KGO-TV report that questioned his sobriety after being robbed at gunpoint in 2016. The segment by reporter Melanie Woodrow cited a Richmond supplemental police report that suggested Councilman Eduardo Martinez may have been under the influence of alcohol when he left the scene of the robbery in a city vehicle and drove to a nearby motel to call police. An internal probe found that Gagan had leaked the police report and then lied about it when questioned by investigators. But this week, Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay found the department didnt have cause to terminate Gagan. In a letter to Gagans attorney, Paul Bird, Lindsay wrote there was insufficient evidence that Gagan was intentionally dishonest during his administrative interviews, or that he was responsible for the unauthorized release of the report. Gagan will be reinstated to his former position as soon as reasonably possible, Lindsay wrote. Im relieved that this situation was able to be resolved at the first and lowest level of appeal, Gagan said in an interview Friday. Its been a very difficult process and to be able to resolve it quickly is my hope. It was not immediately clear when Gagan would return to the department. Reached by telephone on Friday, Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown said he could not comment on the case, citing it as a personnel matter. Brown sat down with Gagan and his attorney on Nov. 7 to hear their side, but determined that termination of employment is appropriate, according to Gagans termination letter obtained by The Chronicle. The episode stemmed from the night of Oct. 26, 2016, when Martinez was robbed of his cell phone and wallet at gunpoint outside a wine bar on Richmonds waterfront. Martinez then drove to nearby motel to call police. Sgt. Timothy Gard, who responded to the incident, and wrote that he could smell the strong odor of alcohol on Martinez and that he was probably under the influence of alcohol. Gards statements came in a second police report to the Contra Costa County District Attorneys office and were made public in the KGO-TV report. Martinez denied being drunk in the report. He did not immediately return phone calls to The Chronicle on Friday. Gagan, meanwhile, said hes ready to get on with his life. This experience has been one of the most challenging things Ive ever gone through, but the outpouring of support from the community in Richmond has made me feel incredibly loved, he said. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco Assessor Carmen Chu was honored with the Asian Pacific American Heritage Foundation's first-ever Edwin Mah Lee Public Service Award on Wednesday night, named after the city's late mayor, city officials said. Chu was honored at the San Francisco War Memorial's Herbst Theatre. "I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award and share it with tens and thousands of public servants who work tirelessly every day to make our city better," Chu said in a statement. City officials said the award honors Asian Americans who exemplify the values and work of Lee, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack in December. ### RICHMOND (BCN) The city of Richmond and Chevron Corp. jointly announced Thursday that Chevron will pay $5 million to settle a city lawsuit over a fire and huge plume of polluted black smoke at the company's Richmond refinery in 2012. The giant plume of hydrocarbon vapor, particulates and smoke from the explosion and fire on Aug. 6, 2012, caused 15,000 people in the area to seek medical treatment for respiratory problems and other illnesses. The agreement ends the lawsuit the city filed against Chevron in Contra Costa County Superior Court in 2013 with several legal claims, including negligence, maintenance of an ultrahazardous activity and trespass of pollutants, ash and soot on city property. The Richmond City Council approved the agreement by a 5-0 vote Tuesday night, with one member absent and another abstaining. It was signed by representatives of Richmond and San Ramon-based Chevron on Wednesday and Thursday. The pact provides that the city will use the money "to fund public safety, education, parks and recreation, and/or community and economic development." It states the agreement is not an admission of wrongdoing and says both sides acknowledge the oil company's efforts to make the refinery safer, cleaner and more reliable. City Manager Bill Lindsay said in a statement that Richmond "is pleased that cooperation between the city and Chevron made this settlement possible." Refinery General Manager Kory Judd said, "We pride ourselves on reliable and safe operations for the thousands of people who work here every day and for the community." The fire in the refinery's crude oil unit resulted from a leak in a distillation pipe that was corroded by sulfur compounds in the oil. Operators noticed drips from the leak at 3:50 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2012, and began working to locate and repair the leak, but kept the pipe in operation and did not begin the process of shutting it down until 6:29 p.m., according to a 2015 report by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Two minutes later, the pipe ruptured and released a hot cloud of oil vapor, which ignited and exploded into a large fireball in another two minutes, at 6:33 p.m. As the fire burned, a shelter-in-place warning was put into effect for Richmond, San Pablo and North Richmond residents for nearly five hours, until the fire was brought under control at 11:12 p.m. In February of this year, as a trial on the lawsuit approached, Superior Court Judge Barry Goode narrowed the case by dismissing the city's claims of an ultrahazardous activity and loss of property tax revenue resulting from a decline in the assessed value of the refinery. Richmond Mayor Tom Butt said Thursday that he believes the lawsuit could have settled for a larger amount, as much as $75 million, in 2013. "The case just got whittled away by legal technicalities," he said. He said he voted for in favor of the agreement because "it was probably a good settlement" under the circumstances. In other proceedings, Chevron pleaded no contest in Contra Costa County Superior Court in 2013 to six misdemeanor criminal counts of related to the fire and agreed to pay nearly $2 million in restitution to three state and local agencies. The criminal charges were for worker safety violations and air pollution. Also in 2013, Chevron announced it had paid $10 million in claims to residents and to hospitals where people were treated after the fire. Last year, Chevron reached a settlement with the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health in which the company agreed to make equipment and safety upgrades worth about $20 million. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Four San Francisco neighborhoods will receive several state-of-the-art solar powered trashcans, capable of holding five times more garbage than a regular trash can, as part of a larger movement by Mayor Mark Farrell to clean up the city's streets. The high-tech trash bins, called Bigbelly containers, are equipped with an automatic trash compacter inside, leaving more room for more trash, and through a wireless signal alerts collectors when they are full, the mayor's office said. This morning the mayor accompanied the city's Fix-It Team, a team dedicated to quality of life concerns, as it installed five new containers in the city's Castro neighborhood. In addition to the Castro, the Central Market, Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods will also receive five containers, according to the mayor's office. "The Bigbelly cans in the Castro have been placed in very high trafficked area and we are hopeful they will keep these corners clean," Andrea Aiello, executive director of the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District said. "Once the trash is in the can, it's can't come out so we won't see unsightly overflowing trashcans and scavenging will be reduced," she said. Additional benefits the trash cans will bring include reduced unnecessary waste collection trips, less windblown litter and overflowing trash. The new containers are part of a larger effort by Farrell to keep the city clean, a top priority of his for the upcoming fiscal year. As part of that effort, last week, Farrell unveiled a comprehensive street-cleaning plan for the city, with $12.8 million in new investments to go toward the effort over the next two years. The efforts include the hiring of 44 new neighborhood street cleaners, the expansion of the city's public toilet program and increased investments in machines and equipments. The mayor has also said he will increase the reach of the Fix-It Team, expanding it from 25 to 35 focus areas in the city, resulting in more responses to graffiti, broken streetlights and overgrown shrubs. Also, the mayor announced a new rapid response team dedicated to cleaning up discarded needles. "We are going to aggressively clean the streets of San Francisco by investing in programs that work," Farrell said in a statement. "These trash receptacles have a proven track record of success - they are efficient, smart answers to our cleanliness problems. Our neighbors, families and businesses owners deserve to live in communities that are clean and safe, and these bins will help us reach that goal," Farrell said. "We are confident that Bigbelly cans will lead to improved sidewalk cleanliness and we plan to measure their impact through data, observation and public survey," said Fix-It Director Sandra Zuniga said in a statement. "This is an exiting new addition to our cleanliness efforts." ### 554-6131 SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A woman charged with a slew of felonies for allegedly dragging a California Highway Patrol officer as he clung to the side of her vehicle after she fled from a traffic stop last week in San Francisco pleaded not guilty to all charges this morning in court. Nicole Wade, 33, of Pittsburg, entered the plea as more than a dozen CHP officers watched in court, including the officer she's accused of injuring. Wade has been charged with 20 counts, including 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 records. Outside of court this morning, CHP Sgt. Christine Jacobs said that the injured officer, identified as Officer Kyle Spears, is recovering. "Considering the totality of the circumstances, he's doing remarkably well," Jacobs said. "This was a traumatic event for not just Officer Spears but the responding officers and the innocent parties that were victims to this as well." The incident unfolded on April 27 around 5 p.m., when Officer Spears pulled over a red Jeep on eastbound Interstate Highway 80 east of Fourth Street, approaching the Bay Bridge. Wade, the Jeep's driver, allegedly gave Spears a driver's license not issued to her and Spears asked for additional identification, according to the CHP. As 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 and Spears tried to stop her, CHP officials said. Driving on the right shoulder, Wade allegedly sped away with Spears hanging outside the Jeep'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 Jeep's steering wheel to the right, causing the right front wheel to hit the right-side concrete bridge rail. After the Jeep's front axle broke, the vehicle came 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, two adult passengers in the car were released and a child passenger 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. "As most people who drive on our California roadways know, when you're stopped by any form of law enforcement, the best thing to do is pull slow to the right shoulder, keep your hands where we can see them and just do what the officer asks you to do," Jacobs said. "If you have questions, we'll be happy to answer your questions, but you've got to understand that the side of the road is a very dangerous place to be and obviously this situation could've been very deadly," she said. Wade is being held without bail. She's expected to return to court May 11 for a bail hearing. ### DALY CITY (BCN) An electrician from Daly City was arrested last week on suspicion of insurance fraud and grand theft related to the collection of more than $85,000 in worker's compensation benefits, according to state insurance officials. Michael Williams, 34, suffered a work-related injury in November 2014 and filed a worker's compensation claim. But he allegedly continued collecting benefits despite starting work for a different employer in March 2015, according to the state Department of Insurance. Two months later, in May, he suffered another injury and filed another claim. According to the office of the insurance commissioner, Williams was collecting worker's compensation benefits from two different employers. Williams allegedly misrepresented his earnings and employment status to continue collecting benefits and made false statements to a medical examiner. The insurance commissioner also alleged that Williams used his employer's credit card to purchase an engagement ring and pay for other personal expenses. "Individuals who file fraudulent worker's compensation claims take advantage of a system designed to help honest workers injured on the job," commissioner Dave Jones said today in a statement. "My department will remain diligent in investigating insurance fraud to protect California consumers and businesses," Jones said. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The family of a homeless Mexican man killed by San Francisco police officers more than two years ago delivered a letter to District Attorney George Gascon today, demanding to know why he hasn't made a decision on whether to charge the two involved officers. The letter is the next step in the family's quest for justice for the death of Luis Gongora Pat, 45, shot by Sgt. Nate Steger and Officer Michael Mellone near the corner of Shotwell and 19th streets on April 7, 2016. Gongora Pat's family met with Gascon for the first and only time on Feb. 28, when Gascon said he would have a charging decision within "six to eight weeks." Audio of the meeting is available at www.justice4luis.org. The family attempted to hold Gascon to the deadline, staging a daily, two-week rally between April 11 and April 25 outside the Hall of Justice. The family said they have still not heard from Gascon since the meeting. "You failed to keep your word to us, and you lied," the letter, written by Gongora Pat's cousin, Carlos Poot Pat, read. "I am sure that you noticed my family and myself with our supporters holding a 15-day countdown... underneath your office windows." "The appropriate response, on your part, would have been a courtesy call to notify us that you would not be making your decision by your own self-imposed deadline," the letter continued. "In such a delicate case as the killing of a person by officers of the law, we expected a minimum of courtesy and attention from you. You are now a week delayed from the maximum date you said it would take to make a decision, and you still have not communicated with us. We ask that you please call us, as soon as possible, to invite us to your office to discuss this delay," the letter said. The letter was written with assistance from Gongora Pat's other cousin Luis Poot Pat and his brother Jose Gongora Pat. Luis Gongora Pat, an indigenous Mayan man from the Mexican state of Yucatan, had lived in the U.S. for more than a decade before he was fatally shot near the homeless encampment where he was living at the time. The day he died, officers responded to the area after homeless outreach workers called police to report a man seen swinging a large kitchen knife, police said. Upon arrival, officers found him seated on a sidewalk allegedly armed with a knife. After ordering him in both English and Spanish to put the knife down, they fired beanbag rounds at him. Police said he then stood up and ran at the officers with the knife in his hand. Steger and Mellone both opened fire, striking him. Gongora Pat later died at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, police said. The entire encounter lasted about 30 seconds. Last week, District Attorney's Office spokesman Alex Bastian said Luis Gongora Pat's case remains under investigation. Gongora Pat's family has filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit and is being represented by civil rights attorney Adante Pointer. The civil suit, however, won't be heard in federal court until May 2, 2019, according to Pointer. "It's very abhorrent and unjust what Gascon is doing. He hasn't even dignified us with a call or update on what's happening," Luis Poot Pat said in Spanish today outside of the Hall of Justice. "I have faith that he will have the courage to do the right thing... even though I have my doubts," Luis Poot Pat said. "But I still have faith; faith is the last thing to die." ### Detectives have identified a possible motive - a landlord-tenant dispute over an eviction - in the shooting of two people, one fatally, in a Mill Valley apartment complex Thursday afternoon, sheriff's deputies said this morning. The man who was shot and wounded is the landlord of the complex at 939 East Blithedale Ave. and the woman who was fatally shot is his daughter, according to sheriff's deputies. The shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. The two went to the complex Thursday to speak with the 80-year-old suspect, their tenant, about a pending eviction, sheriff's deputies said. An argument took place before the shooting, according to deputies. The revolver found in the suspect's apartment is believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, deputies said. Officers responded around 3:44 p.m. Thursday to a report of a shooting at the apartment complex in the 900 block of East Blithedale Avenue near Tower Drive just off U.S. Highway 101. The deputy and his backup evacuated the wounded to the street, where they were taken by ambulance to Marin General Hospital. The man gave the deputies the name of the suspect, who, deputies said, lived at the complex. There was conflicting information about where the suspect was, so the Sheriff's Office Special Response Team searched the complex, deputies said. The team found the suspect dead in his apartment at 5:50 p.m. with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot, according to deputies. The suspect was earlier described as 80 years old by the sheriff's office. A San Martin man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after he lost control of his SUV and crashed into a parked school bus in Gilroy Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol. Alberto Ceadano, 25, was taken into custody after driving his 2001 Ford Expedition at a speed of at least 90 mph traveling north on Monterey Road caused him to cross opposing lanes of traffic and collide with the bus preparing to offload students, CHP officials said. The impact of the crash caused the Expedition to overturn on the west shoulder alongside the bus, trapping the driver and right front passenger, a Morgan Hill woman. Witnesses on scene helped them escape from the car. Ceadano was transported to San Jose Regional Medical Center for minor to moderate injuries, while the passenger suffered minor injuries but refused medical attention, the CHP said. The school bus had 43 passengers at the time of the collision. Two of those passengers, minors aged 13 and 16 years old, suffered minor injuries. One student had shoulder and chest pain and was transported to Valley Medical Center with a parent while the other had minor scrapes to the elbow and refused medical care, also with a parent on scene, the CHP said. Ceadano was detained not only for his actions Thursday but also for a warrant for a prior DUI, according to the CHP. The incident is under investigation and any witnesses are asked to call Officer Hinch at (408) 848-2324. Officers have arrested a Milpitas after-school and performance facility employee on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl at the center and are asking anyone who might have had contact with him to contact them, police said. Raymond Juichung Chen, 35, of Fremont, was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail April 21 on suspicion of multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, police said. The arrest came in connection with a call received by officers on April 20 from a 16-year-old girl who said Chen had assaulted her several years ago at the Fantasia Performance and Art Center, 487 Los Coches St., when she was about 10 years old, according to police. Detectives investigated and allegedly discovered that Chen had sexually assaulted four other girls who previously attended the center, police said. Anyone who might have had contact with Chen is asked to contact Milpitas police at (408) 586-2400. A man who succumbed to major injuries after crashing his vehicle into a light pole in Sunnyvale on Tuesday has been identified, according to the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office. John Moylan, 81, of Mountain View, was found suffering from major injuries after the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety patrol and fire personnel responded to the crash on Evelyn Avenue at 7:17 a.m. that morning, according to the public safety department. Lifesaving medical efforts were initiated on the lone elderly driver but were not successful, the department said. The cause of the collision has yet to be identified, authorities said. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. An investigation into the collision is ongoing and is being conducted by Sunnyvale's Major Accident Investigation Team, public safety officials said. Anyone with information about the incident should call Lt. Tracy Hern at (408) 730-7109. The city of Richmond and Chevron Corp. jointly announced Thursday that Chevron will pay $5 million to settle a city lawsuit over a fire and huge plume of polluted black smoke at the company's Richmond refinery in 2012. The giant plume of hydrocarbon vapor, particulates and smoke from the explosion and fire on Aug. 6, 2012, caused 15,000 people in the area to seek medical treatment for respiratory problems and other illnesses. The agreement ends the lawsuit the city filed against Chevron in Contra Costa County Superior Court in 2013 with several legal claims, including negligence, maintenance of an ultrahazardous activity and trespass of pollutants, ash and soot on city property. The Richmond City Council approved the agreement by a 5-0 vote Tuesday night, with one member absent and another abstaining. It was signed by representatives of Richmond and San Ramon-based Chevron on Wednesday and Thursday. The pact provides that the city will use the money "to fund public safety, education, parks and recreation, and/or community and economic development." It states the agreement is not an admission of wrongdoing and says both sides acknowledge the oil company's efforts to make the refinery safer, cleaner and more reliable. City Manager Bill Lindsay said in a statement that Richmond "is pleased that cooperation between the city and Chevron made this settlement possible." Refinery General Manager Kory Judd said, "We pride ourselves on reliable and safe operations for the thousands of people who work here every day and for the community." The fire in the refinery's crude oil unit resulted from a leak in a distillation pipe that was corroded by sulfur compounds in the oil. Operators noticed drips from the leak at 3:50 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2012, and began working to locate and repair the leak, but kept the pipe in operation and did not begin the process of shutting it down until 6:29 p.m., according to a 2015 report by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Two minutes later, the pipe ruptured and released a hot cloud of oil vapor, which ignited and exploded into a large fireball in another two minutes, at 6:33 p.m. As the fire burned, a shelter-in-place warning was put into effect for Richmond, San Pablo and North Richmond residents for nearly five hours, until the fire was brought under control at 11:12 p.m. In February of this year, as a trial on the lawsuit approached, Superior Court Judge Barry Goode narrowed the case by dismissing the city's claims of an ultrahazardous activity and loss of property tax revenue resulting from a decline in the assessed value of the refinery. Richmond Mayor Tom Butt said Thursday that he believes the lawsuit could have settled for a larger amount, as much as $75 million, in 2013. "The case just got whittled away by legal technicalities," he said. He said he voted for in favor of the agreement because "it was probably a good settlement" under the circumstances. In other proceedings, Chevron pleaded no contest in Contra Costa County Superior Court in 2013 to six misdemeanor criminal counts of related to the fire and agreed to pay nearly $2 million in restitution to three state and local agencies. The criminal charges were for worker safety violations and air pollution. Also in 2013, Chevron announced it had paid $10 million in claims to residents and to hospitals where people were treated after the fire. Last year, Chevron reached a settlement with the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health in which the company agreed to make equipment and safety upgrades worth about $20 million. Police in Santa Clara are asking the public for help finding the suspect in a sexual assault that happened last week. Police said the assault occurred April 29 around 8:50 p.m. near the corner of Benton Street and Waterbird Way. A woman was walking on the sidewalk when a man sneaked up behind her, grabbing her and groping her, according to police. The suspect is described as 20 to 35 years old with a slim build, light skin and dark hair. He was wearing a dark-colored shirt and shorts. Investigators are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact Detective John Terry at (408) 615-4812. A woman charged with a slew of felonies for allegedly dragging a California Highway Patrol officer as he clung to the side of her vehicle after she fled from a traffic stop last week in San Francisco pleaded not guilty to all charges this morning in court. Nicole Wade, 33, of Pittsburg, entered the plea as more than a dozen CHP officers watched in court, including the officer she's accused of injuring. Wade has been charged with 20 counts, including 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 records. Outside of court this morning, CHP Sgt. Christine Jacobs said that the injured officer, identified as Officer Kyle Spears, is recovering. "Considering the totality of the circumstances, he's doing remarkably well," Jacobs said. "This was a traumatic event for not just Officer Spears but the responding officers and the innocent parties that were victims to this as well." The incident unfolded on April 27 around 5 p.m., when Officer Spears pulled over a red Jeep on eastbound Interstate Highway 80 east of Fourth Street, approaching the Bay Bridge. Wade, the Jeep's driver, allegedly gave Spears a driver's license not issued to her and Spears asked for additional identification, according to the CHP. As 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 and Spears tried to stop her, CHP officials said. Driving on the right shoulder, Wade allegedly sped away with Spears hanging outside the Jeep'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 Jeep's steering wheel to the right, causing the right front wheel to hit the right-side concrete bridge rail. After the Jeep's front axle broke, the vehicle came 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, two adult passengers in the car were released and a child passenger 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. "As most people who drive on our California roadways know, when you're stopped by any form of law enforcement, the best thing to do is pull slow to the right shoulder, keep your hands where we can see them and just do what the officer asks you to do," Jacobs said. "If you have questions, we'll be happy to answer your questions, but you've got to understand that the side of the road is a very dangerous place to be and obviously this situation could've been very deadly," she said. Wade is being held without bail. She's expected to return to court May 11 for a bail hearing. ### A suspect who apparently shot two people Thursday afternoon at an apartment complex in Mill Valley is dead, sheriff's officials said. As of 5:50 p.m. tactical teams had entered an apartment where the suspect was and found him dead, sheriff's Sgt. Brenton Schneider said. The suspect has only been described as an 80-year-old man, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and wearing a white shirt. Schneider said sheriff's officials believe no threat to the public exists anymore and a shelter-in-place order has been lifted. The shelter-in-place perimeter was East Blithedale Avenue west to Meadow Drive then north to Lomita Drive and from Meadow Drive east to U.S. Highway 101. Sheriff's officials alerted the public about the initial shooting at about 3:40 p.m. The scene was an apartment complex in the 900 block of East Blithedale Avenue, near Tower Drive, just off of Highway 101. A San Francisco Superior Court judge Thursday 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 Thursday, 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 Thursday 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 Max 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. Richmond's Citizen Police Review Commission on Wednesday night substantiated the allegation that excessive and unreasonable force was used in a 2014 shooting that resulted in the death of 24-year-old Richard "Pedie" Perez, according to Mayor Tom Butt. John Burris, an attorney for Perez's family, called that an excellent result. "They had been dogged in their efforts to get the city of Richmond to complete their investigation," Burris said. "They were determined to get justice for their son." Perez was shot outside Uncle Sam's Liquors on Cutting Boulevard in Richmond on Sept. 14, 2014. Police said Perez was engaged in a scuffle with a police officer when he went for the officer's firearm, but that account has been disputed by Perez's family as well as Burris. Burris said Perez put his hands up in an attempt to surrender before getting shot, and that Officer Wallace Jensen was the aggressor in the struggle. Jensen testified during a coroner's inquest in December 2014 that Perez was intoxicated and "causing problems," according to a clerk at the liquor store. He said Perez attempted to walk away while he was being detained. At the time, Burris called that an attempt to "demonize" Perez. He argued that regardless of how Jensen characterized Perez's behavior, there was no justification for the use of deadly force while Perez was attempting to surrender. Perez was unarmed at the time, but the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office declined to file criminal charges against Jensen in a report issued in July 2016. Jensen's actions were deemed to be justified after an investigation into the shooting. "He should've been prosecuted," Burris said. "It's up to the district attorney, and it's a different DA now." Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case. Fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders in the Fremont Unified School District will not have sex education this year after hundreds of parents objected to "age inappropriate" material in the proposed curriculum. The decision came after a 10-hour meeting that started at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the district office, where nearly 200 people signed up to speak and hundreds packed into overflow rooms to witness the proceedings -- which many described as controversial and divisive. Advocates for Youth, an education nonprofit, created the Rights, Respect and Responsibility text (3Rs) as a free curriculum in the early 2000s. The district this year sought to replace its current curriculum with the 3Rs because the current material was out of compliance with the statewide California Healthy Youth law passed in 2015. The 3Rs curriculum includes lessons on affirmative sexual consent, sexual assault, gender norms and LGBTQ identities, in addition to ones about puberty, menstruation, abortion and intercourse in middle school and beyond. The large group that opposed the 3Rs for fourth through sixth graders and seventh and ninth graders was comprised mainly of parents, with platforms ranging from deeply religious interpretations of sexual education, to those who believed the curriculum should be rejected because the district did not give them sufficient notice of the changes. "Humans passed down civilization for 5,000 years without 3Rs," one FUSD mom said in the latter half of the meeting, to loud applause and laughter. She then added, "The fear of the lord is healing to the body, that's the right way to stay away from STDs." Despite small variations in viewpoint, the crowd of parents cheered together when they heard the term "age-inappropriate" and said, most critically, that this was a fight for their children. Board member Ann Crosbie later responded to the implication that the board did not care about children. "I've had three friends of mine die from HIV/AIDS, and it's something I don't want to see our students experience," she said, as tensions ran high toward the end of the meeting. Many parents pushed back against the notion that their opposition to the 3Rs meant they were homophobic or non-inclusive. Their signs read "Yes to sex ed, no to 3Rs," an update from signs in previous meetings, which simply said "no to 3Rs." The group faced accusations in previous meetings that no students were included in their ranks, but this meeting saw a handful of youths who called for the board to protect their innocence. One girl from John Hopkins Middle School compared the 3Rs to "Pleasure Island" in Pinocchio, saying the curriculum would corrupt students and interrupt their childhood, metaphorically spitting them into the world as depraved donkeys. The opposing side, comprised mainly of students, alumni, teachers and a few parents, believed the curriculum changes would prevent bullying and protect all students, especially those that identify as LGBTQ. One girl, a survivor of sexual assault and a district alum, said the 3Rs curriculum was critical to protecting people and informing abusers that their behavior is illegal. "Not knowing what sexual harassment was made it so hard for me to report it," she said. "I don't want it to happen to anyone else." After hearing nearly eight hours of public comment, the board picked out pieces of language that they found controversial, acknowledged parents, students and survivors for speaking and came to their decision. They also entertained a short discussion about editing the curriculum to add details about the consequences of having sex, like felony or misdemeanor arrest for statutory rape between two minors. With two divided votes, the board failed to make a decision on adopting the curriculum for fourth through sixth graders. Board member Larry Sweeney, President Yang Shao and Clerk Desrie Campbell voted no. The board approved the 3Rs curriculum for seventh and ninth graders to comply with California law. The board decided there would be no sex ed for fourth through sixth graders because it is not required by California law, but a task force would assemble July 1 to present the board with a decision by January 2019. Sex ed would then resume in schools by Spring 2019. This is the first time in seven years that fourth-grade students will not receive the courses. Fifth and sixth graders have had sex education since the 1980s. At the end of the meeting, those who opposed the 3Rs were jubilant, but the people who supported it described the outcome as worse than they had ever imagined. Board Vice President Michele Berke, who vocally supported the 3Rs curriculum, said the board's decision to remove sex ed this year would do a disservice to every student in the district. Berke has a child in the FUSD, and Shao asked her pointedly at the end of their deliberation if she was voting for all children, or just her own. "I think anytime you choose to not educate students, it will have a consequence," Berke said, as she left the meeting shortly before 3 a.m. Leena Yin, a FUSD alumna and sexual health advocate, said hundreds of young girls will be terrified and "left in the dark" if they experience their first period in the 4th grade without proper education. "It's not even the kids who will be opted out by their parents anymore, it's literally every single child who can't have this conversation with their parents," Yin said. "It's heartbreaking." The family of a homeless Mexican man killed by San Francisco police officers more than two years ago delivered a letter to District Attorney George Gascon Thursday, demanding to know why he hasn't made a decision on whether to charge the two involved officers. The letter is the next step in the family's quest for justice for the death of Luis Gongora Pat, 45, shot by Sgt. Nate Steger and Officer Michael Mellone near the corner of Shotwell and 19th streets on April 7, 2016. Gongora Pat's family met with Gascon for the first and only time on Feb. 28, when Gascon said he would have a charging decision within "six to eight weeks." Audio of the meeting is available at www.justice4luis.org. The family attempted to hold Gascon to the deadline, staging a daily, two-week rally between April 11 and April 25 outside the Hall of Justice. The family said they have still not heard from Gascon since the meeting. "You failed to keep your word to us, and you lied," the letter, written by Gongora Pat's cousin, Carlos Poot Pat, read. "I am sure that you noticed my family and myself with our supporters holding a 15-day countdown... underneath your office windows." "The appropriate response, on your part, would have been a courtesy call to notify us that you would not be making your decision by your own self-imposed deadline," the letter continued. "In such a delicate case as the killing of a person by officers of the law, we expected a minimum of courtesy and attention from you. You are now a week delayed from the maximum date you said it would take to make a decision, and you still have not communicated with us. We ask that you please call us, as soon as possible, to invite us to your office to discuss this delay," the letter said. The letter was written with assistance from Gongora Pat's other cousin Luis Poot Pat and his brother Jose Gongora Pat. Luis Gongora Pat, an indigenous Mayan man from the Mexican state of Yucatan, had lived in the U.S. for more than a decade before he was fatally shot near the homeless encampment where he was living at the time. The day he died, officers responded to the area after homeless outreach workers called police to report a man seen swinging a large kitchen knife, police said. Upon arrival, officers found him seated on a sidewalk allegedly armed with a knife. After ordering him in both English and Spanish to put the knife down, they fired beanbag rounds at him. Police said he then stood up and ran at the officers with the knife in his hand. Steger and Mellone both opened fire, striking him. Gongora Pat later died at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, police said. The entire encounter lasted about 30 seconds. Last week, District Attorney's Office spokesman Alex Bastian said Luis Gongora Pat's case remains under investigation. Gongora Pat's family has filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit and is being represented by civil rights attorney Adante Pointer. The civil suit, however, won't be heard in federal court until May 2, 2019, according to Pointer. "It's very abhorrent and unjust what Gascon is doing. He hasn't even dignified us with a call or update on what's happening," Luis Poot Pat said in Spanish Thursday outside of the Hall of Justice. "I have faith that he will have the courage to do the right thing... even though I have my doubts," Luis Poot Pat said. "But I still have faith; faith is the last thing to die." An investigative report by an outside attorney that was made public this week concludes that Alameda City Manager Jill Keimach's allegation that her job was threatened during a controversy over the hiring of a new fire chief isn't supported by a preponderance of evidence. In his 100-page report, Manhattan Beach attorney Michael Jenkins said it's clear that the recruitment and selection of a fire chief "was a consuming task" for Keimach last summer when "the City Council was involved in and influenced by many matters unrelated to the fire chief selection." Jenkins also wrote that, "The evidence does not support the conclusion that councilmembers were making unrelated demands on the city manager in order to set her up for failure in the event that she did not select their preferred fire chief candidate." Keimach alleged that Vice Mayor Malia Vella and Councilman Jim Oddie pressured her to hire fire Capt. Domenick Weaver, the past president of the city's firefighters' union, instead of her preferred choice, Salinas Fire Chief Edmond Rodriguez. Keimach, who was hired on a four-year contract on March 7, 2016, stuck to her guns and hired Rodriguez and he was appointed on Oct. 3. Keimach has admitted that she secretly recorded a one-hour conversation she had with Vella and Jim Oddie last Aug. 16. Therese Cannata, one of two attorneys who are representing Keimach, said at an Alameda City Council meeting on April 16 that Keimach's tape recording was legal under Penal Code 633.5, which allows a person to tape record a conversation when she reasonably believes it will obtain evidence related to commission of certain crimes, including bribery, extortion and felony involving violence against the person. The council put Keimach on leave on March 9 after it learned of the secret recording and later asked the Alameda County District Attorney's Office to review the secret recording. The council considered firing Keimach on April 16 but instead voted to keep her on paid administrative leave. Liz Warmerdam, who had been the assistant city manager, currently is the city's acting city manager. Although Jenkins said Keimach's allegation of undue pressure isn't supported by the evidence, he found that Oddie violated the city charter last July 31 when he sent a letter on city letterhead and signed in his official capacity "expressing his strong recommendation that Keimach appoint Weaver as the new fire chief." Jenkins said Oddie's letter "does cross the line and falls squarely on the side of improper evidence." Oddie said in a statement, "If I violated the charter by writing a letter of recommendation on behalf of a man I know well and believed would be a great fire chief, then, as the investigator's report recognizes, the charter needs to be changed." Oddie said, "Ms. Keimach has caused harm to Alameda and its citizens. In an attempt to insulate herself from adverse employment action and preserve her job, she made unsupportable accusations regarding myself and Councilmember Vella. Those accusations have now been largely rejected." Vella said, "As Mr. Jenkins has concluded, the evidence does not support any of Ms. Keimach's baseless accusations that I improperly attempted to influence her selection of a new fire chief in violation of the city charter." However, Cannata, Keimach's attorney, said a careful reading of the entire report "validates Keimach's claims that she was subjected to intense pressure by both Ms. Vella and Mr. Oddie to hire the firefighter union's candidate and she learned of specific threats to her future employment as city manager if she failed to succumb to the pressure." Cannata said, "Jill Keimach feels vindicated that the central core of the accusations, which state that she was threatened to hire Weaver to ensure 'labor peace' were substantiated." Cannata also called for the city to release the tape recording of the Aug. 16 meeting. A judge has approved a $1 million settlement in a lawsuit filed on behalf of tenants of a single room occupancy hotel in Oakland's Chinatown district alleging that the owner was trying to force them out, Oakland city prosecutors said Thursday. The suit, which was filed in June 2016, asked the court to order that the owners of the residency hotel at 524 Eighth St. maintain tenants' units in a habitable and safe condition and enjoin them from discarding tenants' property and gutting their kitchens and bathrooms. The suit alleged that Green Group LP, which bought the building in 2015, intentionally made living conditions unbearable for their elderly and Chinese-speaking tenants in an attempt to force them to vacate their units so they could renovate the building and increase rents to dramatically higher market rates. The settlement approved by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman on Tuesday calls for $795,000 to be awarded to the 14 tenants who are the plaintiffs in the suit and $205,000 to the city of Oakland for costs and attorneys' fees. Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker said in a statement, "This lawsuit puts unscrupulous property owners on notice that Oakland will hold them accountable for violations of tenants' rights and will not tolerate owners who make living conditions so miserable that tenants are compelled to move out." Parker said, "Displacing tenants from their homes frequently plunges families into poverty and homelessness and uproots them from the community. Every family that pays rent in Oakland is entitled to decent housing free from harassment and exploitation." According to Parker, Green Group LP publicly expressed its hope that remodeling the building would draw a new demographic of tenants including tech workers, who would pay premium rents. Parker said that to achieve their goal, the owners demolished kitchens and bathrooms, leaving them gutted and unusable for months at a time, and issued notices of demolition in English even though most of the tenants only read Chinese. Parker also said the tenants complained that the landlords threw away their clothes, shoes, a child's tricycle and other items and tore down Chinese new year decorations and they often had no hot water. Judge Seligman also approved a permanent injunction requiring the owners to maintain an adequate number of working bathrooms at the property, to adhere to a set policy regarding personal property in common areas and to notify the City Attorney's Office of any future rent adjustment program petitions and eviction actions. Katherine Chu, an attorney and program manager at Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus who represents the tenants, said, "The struggle for justice in the housing market is happening all over the Bay Area." Chu said, "We're glad that these tenants successfully stood up for themselves and achieved a great victory. This is a big step forward in ensuring tenants' rights against malicious landlords." ### PETALUMA (BCN) A man robbed the Westamerica Bank and fled with cash late this morning, police said. Police were informed around 11:25 a.m. about the robbery at 200 Washington St. A black man with a large build demanded money at a teller's window, police said. The robber did not mention or display a weapon and police don't know in which direction he went after the robbery, police said. The suspect was wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt, and police have posted bank camera photos of the suspect on their website. ### RICHMOND (BCN) Richmond's Citizen Police Review Commission on Wednesday night substantiated the allegation that excessive and unreasonable force was used in a 2014 shooting that resulted in the death of 24-year-old Richard "Pedie" Perez, according to Mayor Tom Butt. John Burris, an attorney for Perez's family, called that an excellent result. "They had been dogged in their efforts to get the city of Richmond to complete their investigation," Burris said. "They were determined to get justice for their son." Perez was shot outside Uncle Sam's Liquors on Cutting Boulevard in Richmond on Sept. 14, 2014. Police said Perez was engaged in a scuffle with a police officer when he went for the officer's firearm, but that account has been disputed by Perez's family as well as Burris. Burris said Perez put his hands up in an attempt to surrender before getting shot, and that Officer Wallace Jensen was the aggressor in the struggle. Jensen testified during a coroner's inquest in December 2014 that Perez was intoxicated and "causing problems," according to a clerk at the liquor store. He said Perez attempted to walk away while he was being detained. At the time, Burris called that an attempt to "demonize" Perez. He argued that regardless of how Jensen characterized Perez's behavior, there was no justification for the use of deadly force while Perez was attempting to surrender. Perez was unarmed at the time, but the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office declined to file criminal charges against Jensen in a report issued in July 2016. Jensen's actions were deemed to be justified after an investigation into the shooting. "He should've been prosecuted," Burris said. "It's up to the district attorney, and it's a different DA now." Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case. ### 307-8007 Attorney John Burris (510) 928-5392 Rick Perez (510) 220-4096 City Manager Bill Lindsay (510) 620-6512 or bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us Law enforcement officers are responding to an active shooter in Mill Valley this afternoon, according to Marin County sheriff's deputies. The scene is in the 900 block of East Blithedale Avenue, near Tower Drive, just off of U.S. Highway 101, sheriff's officials wrote on Twitter just before 3:40 p.m. NAPA (BCN) Officers quickly found and arrested a suspect in the robbery of a Napa convenience store early this morning, police said on social media today. A clerk on duty at a 7-11 convenience store at 2906 First St. was robbed at knifepoint around 2 a.m., according to police. Officers stopped a vehicle matching the description the clerk gave and allegedly found the knife used in the robbery in the vehicle, police said. Video from the store also helped the officers identify the suspect, according to police. Jaswant Singh of Atwater, Calif., was arrested and booked on suspicion of robbery, police said. Contact: Napa police (707) 257-9223 OAKLAND (BCN) A judge has approved a $1 million settlement in a lawsuit filed on behalf of tenants of a single room occupancy hotel in Oakland's Chinatown district alleging that the owner was trying to force them out, Oakland city prosecutors said today. The suit, which was filed in June 2016, asked the court to order that the owners of the residency hotel at 524 Eighth St. maintain tenants' units in a habitable and safe condition and enjoin them from discarding tenants' property and gutting their kitchens and bathrooms. The suit alleged that Green Group LP, which bought the building in 2015, intentionally made living conditions unbearable for their elderly and Chinese-speaking tenants in an attempt to force them to vacate their units so they could renovate the building and increase rents to dramatically higher market rates. The settlement approved by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman on Tuesday calls for $795,000 to be awarded to the 14 tenants who are the plaintiffs in the suit and $205,000 to the city of Oakland for costs and attorneys' fees. Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker said in a statement, "This lawsuit puts unscrupulous property owners on notice that Oakland will hold them accountable for violations of tenants' rights and will not tolerate owners who make living conditions so miserable that tenants are compelled to move out." Parker said, "Displacing tenants from their homes frequently plunges families into poverty and homelessness and uproots them from the community. Every family that pays rent in Oakland is entitled to decent housing free from harassment and exploitation." According to Parker, Green Group LP publicly expressed its hope that remodeling the building would draw a new demographic of tenants including tech workers, who would pay premium rents. Parker said that to achieve their goal, the owners demolished kitchens and bathrooms, leaving them gutted and unusable for months at a time, and issued notices of demolition in English even though most of the tenants only read Chinese. Parker also said the tenants complained that the landlords threw away their clothes, shoes, a child's tricycle and other items and tore down Chinese new year decorations and they often had no hot water. Judge Seligman also approved a permanent injunction requiring the owners to maintain an adequate number of working bathrooms at the property, to adhere to a set policy regarding personal property in common areas and to notify the City Attorney's Office of any future rent adjustment program petitions and eviction actions. Katherine Chu, an attorney and program manager at Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus who represents the tenants, said, "The struggle for justice in the housing market is happening all over the Bay Area." Chu said, "We're glad that these tenants successfully stood up for themselves and achieved a great victory. This is a big step forward in ensuring tenants' rights against malicious landlords." Green Group LP officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment. ### OAKLAND (BCN) Two people who were fatally shot in East Oakland on Monday were identified by police today as 25-year-old Davaughn Brown of Berkeley and 19-year-old Jasmine Turner of Oakland. Officers who heard gunshots in the 1400 block of 89th Avenue at 9:33 p.m. on Monday found Brown and Turner suffering from gunshot wounds, according to police. Paramedics provided medical attention to Brown and Turner but they were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Oakland police haven't disclosed any information about a motive or suspects in the shooting. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Two former supervisors who oversaw the testing of radiation contaminated soil at the decommissioned Hunters Point Naval Shipyard have pleaded guilty to falsifying reports and have each been sentenced to eight months in prison, federal prosecutors announced in San Francisco Thursday. Stephen Rolfe and Jason Hubbard both pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco in the spring of 2017 to one count of falsification of records, but the cases were kept under seal until they were sentenced. Rolfe, 65, of Bradenton, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Donato in January, and Hubbard, 48, of Boulder City, Nevada, received a similar eight-month term from Donato on Wednesday. The 500-acre shipyard in southeast San Francisco was closed as a Navy facility in 1974 and is now slated for housing, office and industrial development. The site was exposed to radiation contamination when it was used between 1946 and 1969 as a radiological defense laboratory to study the effects of radiation on animals and materials and to decontaminate ships used in atomic bomb testing. Rolfe and Hubbard worked for Tetra Tech EC, the Pasadena-based company hired by the Navy to test for and clean up the contamination. Tetra Tech has come under fire amid allegations of defective testing. A preliminary Navy investigation last September concluded there was evidence of data manipulation or falsification on nearly half of the soil samples taken from the site. The investigation also found that 49 percent of samples for one parcel at the site was suspect, and 15 percent was suspect for another parcel. In December, a second review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and two state agencies found more widespread falsification. That review concluded 97 percent and 90 percent of the samples from the two parcels were suspect. Rolfe and Hubbard supervised technicians who selected, bagged and labeled samples of soil from designated areas for laboratory testing for radiation contamination. Both admitted in their written plea agreements that on occasions during 2012, they knew that uncontaminated or less contaminated soil from other areas was placed in the sample bags for the designated areas, and that they knew the attached records were falsified. Hubbard said he once drove his company truck to another area, filled a five-gallon bucket with clean serpentinite soil, emptied the sample bags from designated areas, refilled them with the clean dirt and kept the original markings on the sample bags. Rolfe said he instructed the technicians on his team to get "clean dirt" from outside the survey units on approximately 20 occasions in 2012 and that he either knew the records were false or falsified them himself. Hubbard did not say why he substituted the false samples. But Rolfe said in his March 14, 2017, plea agreement that "my motivation came from pressure applied by the Tetra Tech supervisors." Rolfe said in the agreement, "One told me on multiple occasions to 'get the hell out of that area,' in reference to a particular survey unit that was not testing clean. "Another told me on more than one occasion that we were 'not remediating the whole goddam site.'" Rolfe said an assistant project manager "told me on numerous occasions to 'get clean dirt.'" "I understood these statement as a direction to go outside the appropriate survey unit and get dirt from other areas that was known to be clean, that is not containing excessive levels of radiation," Rolfe said in the agreement. Rolfe also agreed in the plea bargain to cooperate with federal prosecutors and testify truthfully in any grand jury, court or other proceeding as requested by the prosecutors. Acting U.S. Attorney Alex Tse said in a statement, "This sentence reflects our commitment to ensure that bogus reports intended to deceive the protectors of our environment will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Tetra Tech also issued a statement Thursday, saying, "Tetra Tech is fully supportive of the actions taken by the Department of Justice against the two individuals for falsifying reports at Hunters Point. "Tetra Tech vehemently rejects this type of activity and will pursue all legal actions available to it to recover the harm that the actions of these former employees have caused to Tetra Tech, the Navy, and the local community. "We have zero tolerance for violations of established protocols and procedures on any project site," the company said. In another statement last week, the firm's chief engineer, Bill Brownlie, said, "We want to assure the residents and neighbors at Hunters Point that what we did was proper and followed all Navy and statutory guidelines, protocols and work plans." The company offered to pay for retesting at the site by an independent third-party contractor. Rolfe has begun serving his sentence and Hubbard was ordered by Donato to self-surrender on July 9 for his prison term, according to U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Abraham Simmons. ### These articles and photo collections on SFGate.com and the premium SFChronicle.com got the most visits in the week ended Thursday at 10 a.m. SFChronicle.com 1. Top 100 Restaurants 2018 2. She was 13 when the Golden State Killer crept into her Walnut Creek bedroom 3. Grace Cathedrals Beyonce Mass draws faithful crowd of 900-plus 4. Pender: Yes, median pay at Facebook really is about $240,000 a year 5. Yosemite Valley is under siege from tourists. Can it be saved? SFGate.com 1. What its really like moving from the Bay Area to Los Angeles 2. Sacramento coroner autopsy disputes Stephon Clark was shot mostly in back 3. SFO airport employee accused of murdering co-workers boyfriend 4. Famed biohacker found dead in float therapy tank 5. Conspiracy theorist: You cant fall off flat Earth edge due to Pac-Man effect Most popular searches 1. Silicon Valley Community Foundation (CEO on leave amid scandal) 2. Jimmy Garoppolo (contract limits QBs offseason activities) 3. San Francisco homeless (renewed focus on clearing tents from streets) 4. Ant-Man and the Wasp (new trailer for S.F.-set movie) 5. Eric Reid (ex-49er files collusion grievance against NFL) By Peter Hockaday, SFGate deputy managing editor If you're like most people, your home maintenance to-do list is so long, plenty of chores regularly fall off it and into the abyss, never to be remembered. With so much house and so little time, that's understandable. Hey, you're only human! Still, though: Out of sight and out of mind does not mean it's OK. Ignore certain chores, and they can come back and haunt you in a variety of unpleasant ways, from bigger electric bills to foundation problems and beyond. And the truly silly part is that these duties don't take that long to address ... as long as you nip them in the bud before little chores become huge problems, after years of neglect. advertising feature | COVER STORY The spectacular Napa Valley Wine Country is the new home of Andersen Ranch by Davidon Homes, a Northern California luxury home builder with more than 35 years of superior craftsmanship and design innovation. Andersen Ranch features 35 single- and two-story homes ranging from 2,405 to 3,680 square feet, with up to six bedrooms and three-and-one-half baths using creative room conversions. "Sales have been brisk since we opened just a few weeks ago," said Marc Burnstein, Davidon's vice president of sales and marketing. "With the range of lifestyle-friendly plans and options coupled with a location that is both scenic and convenient Andersen Ranch appeals to everyone from active empty-nesters to growing families." Interiors are luxuriously appointed with upscale finishes, hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, solid surface countertops, designer fixtures and an array of amenities and upgrades for buyers to personalize their new home. Lavish owner's suites include coffered ceilings, optional romantic gas fireplaces, marble showers and freestanding Kohler tubs. Safety and energy efficiency are important considerations to many home buyers, so Davidon Homes builds in a wealth of features including LED lighting, low E windows and patio doors, whole house exhaust fans, tankless water heaters, fire sprinklers and security systems. Homes are also designed to make the most of the tranquil setting and mild climate. "With an abundance of indoor/outdoor living and entertaining areas, the homes of Andersen Ranch are uniquely suited to Napa's casually elegant lifestyle," Burnstein said. The 15-acre community, located just two miles from downtown Napa, showcases a variety of architectural styles including Craftsman, Farmhouse, French Country, Spanish and Napa Ranch. Andersen Ranch derives its name from Dewey K. Andersen, a former Napa County supervisor who once owned the acreage on which the new neighborhood now sits. He played a prominent role in the county's 1968 passage of an Architectural Preserve that placed restrictions on development in grape growing areas. Davidon Homes knew they needed to be respectful of Andersen's legacy while planning the community. "We wanted to be sensitive to the beauty of that area," Burnstein said. The design pays homage to the landscape's rural heritage with split-rail fences, native landscaping and a preservation area for mature oaks along the community's northern edge. Burnstein believes Davidon Homes earned the honor of building Andersen Ranch because the company wasn't focused on condensing as many homes as possible on the site. "The area was originally zoned to fit 66 homes," he said. "We didn't feel that was the right approach. The property was way too nice to overwhelm with density." In addition, the majority of the homes are single-story, something Burnstein said keeps the neighborhood feeling open and spacious. The recently sold homes will be completed toward the end of the year, Burnstein said, and those who buy now can expect a similar time frame. Future releases will be available into 2019. "Andersen Ranch will thrive because it checks a variety of boxes that buyers are looking for luxury, elegance, quality and location, Burnstein said. "It's a unique opportunity to have a new home community near downtown, yet offering easy access to San Francisco, the Bay Area and everything this incredible region has to offer." Learn more at www.homesbydavidon.com Contact: Judy Ann Mirman, Community Sales Manager, (707) 266-1372 Details Address: 1151 Wyatt Ave., Napa. Price: Starting in the low $1 millions Features: Andersen Ranch, a Davidon Homes community currently under construction in Napa, features one- and two-story homes in a variety of floorplans, exterior elevations, and optional room configurations. Indoor/outdoor living areas make the most of the area's enviable year-round climate and tranquil setting. Conveniently close to schools, shops, restaurants and services. Easy access to San Francisco and the Bay Area. Hours: 1 to 5 p.m., Monday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. The Bay Area's parks and nature preserves are in full bloom this spring but you might want to check your socks before coming inside. A new study by San Francisco State University suggests that in California, Lyme disease-carrying ticks may be more partial to larger, more intact natural habitats, like parks. That's a contrast to East Coast ticks, which are more often found in small areas like backyards. The study was co-authored with researchers in Germany and was published in the journal Ecosphere. California's diversity may be partly to blame. On the East Coast, one particular type of mouse is associated with the spread of Lyme disease. In California, small rodents from squirrels to woodrats can carry it. These rodents are much more common in California's parks and nature preserves, Swei said, and that may be where they and the disease-carrying ticks that bite them cross paths with humans. On the West Coast, Lyme is most commonly carried by the Western black-legged tick. The study found that deer and tick populations go hand in hand not a surprise, given that they're often called deer ticks. "Human behavior, especially with tick-borne diseases, is a huge factor," said Andrea Swei, an assistant professor at San Francisco State University and co-author of the study. "Ticks don't move very far. You have to move to them." LOCALS ONLY: These are our favorite Bay Area day trips Wendy Adams is the research grant director at Bay Area Lyme Foundation, which helped fund the study. She said spring is an especially bad time for tick bites, and tick populations can change with the weather, but Lyme "season" in California is year-round. "In the Bay Area, irrespective of drought or an overabundance of rain like last reason, the big message is the ticks are here and they carry Lyme," Adams said. ONLY HERE: Pop-up avocado museum opening in California There are hotspots, such as the Marin Headlands, Olompoli State Park and Windy Hill in Portola Valley, but according to a 2014 Stanford study, they are widespread across the state. In recent weeks, Bay Area dog owners have complained of an apparent uptick in ticks on Reddit. "I noticed that this season in particular the ticks are really bad," wrote one user. "The last 4 weekends we've gone hiking (my dog has) gotten at least 4 ticks per hike." Tick bites are on the rise nationwide, too. According to a report published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people who contracted a disease through a flea, tick or mosquito bite has more than tripled since 2004. Lyme is usually passed to humans by nymphal, or young, ticks, which are only about the size of a poppy seed. And detecting the disease can be tricky; not all cases develop the trademark "bullseye" rash, and even the "gold standard" diagnostic test gives frequent false negatives. Luckily, if you are bitten, removing the tick within 24 hours makes Lyme disease transmission less likely. Aside from using insect repellent, best practices are to avoid brushing up against foliage while walking in wooded areas, tuck pants into boots, wear long sleeves and shower after hikes. But don't let fears of ticks scare you away from the North Bay's scenic trails especially not this year, when they're flush with wildflowers. Leslie Rudd, an entrepreneur and vintner who made an enormous impact on Napa Valley, died on Thursday from esophageal cancer. He was 76. The scope of Rudds influence on food and wine in the Napa Valley was sprawling. His Leslie Rudd Investment Company counts among its assets Vintage Wine Estates (which owns B.R. Cohn, Swanson, Delectus and other wineries), Press restaurant, the Oakville Grocery and Distillery 209. He owned multiple wineries, including Covenant, Durant & Both, Edge Hill and his central focus Rudd Oakville Estate. He just truly was a serial entrepreneur, said his daughter Samantha Rudd, who now leads Rudd Oakville Estate. Until the day he passed he wanted to talk about business. My last conversation with him was what he wanted for the future of the winery. Unlike some of the wine industrys serial entrepreneurs, Rudds businesses were unfailingly focused on quality and legacy. The most important thing to him was preserving Napa Valley, Samantha said. He always talked about respecting and honoring the past. He was fascinated by properties with long histories, like the property that now houses Edge Hill and Distillery 209, which had been a winery and distillery in the 19th century. The wine program at Press restaurant contains whats likely the worlds greatest collection of old Napa Valley wines. He was a very nostalgic person, said Samantha. He had an insatiable curiosity for food, wine, historical buildings and the land, agreed vintner Josh Phelps, a longtime friend. His imprint on the wine business in the Napa Valley will be felt for generations. Rudds loved ones emphasized both his kindness and business acumen. I like to call him the great pretender, said Jeff Morgan, Rudds business partner in Covenant Winery. He came off as very shy, very quiet, soft spoken. But inside he was a powerhouse, and when he wanted something nothing would stop him from getting it. Napa Valley may have been the culmination of Rudds entrepreneurial career, but his involvement in the beverage business began in the Midwest. Born in Wichita, Kan. in 1941, Rudd was seven years old when his parents founded Standard Beverage Corporation, an alcohol distributor. After graduating from Wichita State University, Rudd joined the family business as a sales representative. But his father soon fell ill, and Rudd unexpectedly found himself running the company while still in his twenties. By 1974, he was president, and went on to grow Standard Beverage into Kansas largest beverage wholesaler. He had long loved food and wine, and was drawn to the model of French vineyard ownership, where land stays in families for hundreds of years. He loved the idea of keeping land in the family, said Samantha. Rudd arrived in Napa Valley in 1996, purchasing 55 acres that would become his namesake estate winery. At the corner of Oakville Cross Road and Silverado Trail, the Rudd estate sits in one of Napa Valleys most sought-after terroirs for Cabernet Sauvignon. Les would be the first person to tell you he stumbled on it, Morgan said of the property. But it was no accident. That same year, Rudd bought the grocery chain Dean & DeLuca, which he later sold in 2014 for a reported $140 million. Although Napa was known already as a wine region, in the mid-90s it was not yet the culinary destination that it is today. The advent of Dean & DeLucas gourmet fare was a major step in the valleys culinary awakening, as was Rudds rejuvenation of Oakville Grocery. He opened Press in 2005, and established Rudd Farms to provide meat and produce to its kitchen a regional rarity at the time. Rudd was also a philanthropist, establishing the Rudd Foundation in 1998, which among other efforts supports a college scholarship program in Kansas. The foundation also contributes to causes related to the Jewish faith, which according to Morgan became an increasingly important part of Rudds life in his later years. He is survived by his wife, Susan; his daughter Samantha; and his five-month-old grandson Rudd. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob Gen. Luis Garcia Meza, a former Bolivian dictator who was convicted of genocide after leading a brief but brutal rule that had been engineered by cocaine cartels and a Nazi war criminal, died on Sunday in La Paz. He was 88. He died at the Cossmil military hospital, where he was serving the remainder of his 30-year prison term, a hospital spokesman told The Associated Press. Garcia Meza was installed as president in July 1980 after a military junta toppled President Lidia Gueiler, who had been steering Bolivia to democracy after 16 years of dictatorship. They were cousins. Fiercely conservative and anti-communist, he seized control in what became known as the cocaine coup to keep Hernan Siles Zuazo, who was elected president that June, from taking office. The military massacred leaders of the Movement of the Revolutionary Left and other opponents. Within a month, hundreds of other Bolivians had been arrested and tortured. He doesnt think he is primarily the president of Bolivia, Fernando Bedoya Ballivian, the head of the Banco de Bolivia and a longtime friend, said of the general at the time. He feels he represents the army, and the army is fighting to the death against communism. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said the general had used millions of dollars he received from cocaine cartels to buy the allegiance of Bolivian army commanders and to forestall an anti-drug operation initiated by Washington. He presided for 13 murderous months. In August 1981, in the face of outcries at home and abroad about corruption, cruelty and economic catastrophe, he resigned. The military installed a less odious successor, Celso Torrelio Villa. Garcia Meza and his generals made Bolivia the worlds pariah, journalist Elaine Shannon later wrote. Siles Suazo, who had been prevented from taking office in 1980, returned from exile in Peru when the Bolivian Congress, meeting for the first time after more than two years of military dictatorship, elected him president of a civilian government in 1982. Nationwide democratic elections were held in the mid-1980s, but pretrial investigations and hearings into the charges against Garcia Meza took a decade. He was accused not only of collusion with cocaine traffickers but also of collaborating in his coup with Klaus Barbie, the Nazi butcher of Lyon, who had been living in Bolivia under an alias and was extradited to France in 1983. In 1993, Garcia Meza was finally convicted in absentia of genocide, sedition, corruption and other crimes, including the illegal sale of diaries belonging to leftist Cuban guerrilla leader Che Guevara, who had been captured and killed in Bolivia in 1967. After hiding for years, Garcia Meza was arrested and extradited to Bolivia from Brazil in 1995 and began serving the maximum 30-year prison term. To the best of our knowledge, Human Rights Watch said at the time, the conviction marks the first time in Latin American legal history that members of a de facto military government have been held to account for usurping power and violating constitutional norms. When he died, the general had seven years left to serve. Last year, a court in Rome convicted him of the deaths of 23 Italians during his crackdown on dissidents. Luis Garcia Meza Tejada was born on Aug. 8, 1929 (although he once gave his birth year as 1932), in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. His father was an army colonel. Luis, known by the nickname Lucho, was educated at La Salle, a Christian school, and graduated from the Military College, which he later ran. He was once suspended from the army for cruelty to cadets, but he went on to serve as the army commander. When he staged the coup, he was 50, with a wife, a daughter and four sons. In a letter read by his lawyer after his death, he largely blamed Bolivias previous dictator, Hugo Banzer Suarez, for the coup. I did not kill or rob, he wrote. Sam Roberts is a New York Times writer. 1 Russian deaths: A Russian fighter jet crashed Thursday off the coast of Syria, killing both pilots, according to Russias Defense Ministry, which said 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 Assads forces since 2015. In March, a Russian military cargo plane crashed as it was descending to land at Hemeimeem, killing all 39 people aboard. The military blamed the crash on a technical error and insisted the plane was not shot down. 2 Free train rides: The European Union is convinced it has found a new way for young people to fall in love with the continent free train rides. The Brussels-based EU kicked off the DiscoverEU project Thursday to send up to 30,000 18-year-olds chugging across the 28 member states this year, giving them free rail transport to broaden their horizon beyond national borders. All for a taxpayers cost of $14 million. If all goes well, and the next 7-year EU budget plans are approved, that could turn into a budget of $120 million)a year, with some 200,000 teenagers getting to know the joys of EU-wide Interrail travel. 1 Tunisia election: Tunisia is hoping to break through barriers with its first local election since its 2011 Arab Spring revolution a vote that could produce the first female mayor of the capital, the first Jewish official with an Islamist party and new flock of mayors with greater powers. The North African country is trying to consolidate its young democracy with Sundays election, in which Tunisias 5.3 million voters will choose local leadership from 2,000 lists of candidates. More than half of the candidates in the local elections are under 35 and 49 percent are women, a rarity in the Arab world. 2 War crimes charges: Hundreds of war veterans and civilians rallied Friday in support of a Bosnian Muslim wartime military commander who is suspected of war crimes against Serb civilians during the 1992-95 conflict. The protesters gathered in central Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, carrying a huge banner saying Heroes, not criminals! Last week, police briefly detained Atif Dudakovic and 12 other members of the Bosnian army for alleged war crimes against hundreds of Serb civilians in northwestern Bosnia. The arrests angered many Bosnian Muslims who view Dudakovic and his men as defenders of the northwestern region that was under siege for much of the war. About 100,000 people died during the war in Bosnia that erupted when Bosnian Serbs rebelled against the countrys independence from the Serbia-dominated former Yugoslavia. STOCKHOLM The Swedish panel that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature said Friday that it would take the extraordinary step of not naming a laureate this year not because of a shortage of deserving writers, but because of the infighting and public outrage that have engulfed the group over a sexual abuse scandal. The Swedish Academy said it would postpone the 2018 award until next year, when it will name two winners, making this the first year since World War II that the panel has decided not to bestow one of the worlds most revered cultural honors. The academy is involved only in the literature award, so other Nobel Prizes are not affected. Though the prizes should be awarded annually, they can be postponed or skipped when a situation in a prize-awarding institution arises that is so serious that a prize decision will not be perceived as credible, Carl-Henrik Heldin, chairman of the Nobel Foundation, which governs all of the prizes, said in a statement posted online Friday. The crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel Prize. Their decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard the long-term reputation of the Nobel Prize. In November, a Swedish newspaper reported that 18 women said they had been sexually assaulted or harassed by Jean-Claude Arnault, who is closely tied to the Swedish Academy and is accused of using his stature in the arts world to try to coerce women into sex. Other allegations against him emerged later. Through his lawyer, he has denied all of the allegations. Arnault, a photographer, is married to a member of the academy, Katarina Frostenson; is a close friend to other members; and is co-owner, with Frostenson, of Forum, a cultural center in Stockholm that received funding from the academy. Some events were said to have occurred at academy-owned properties in Stockholm and Paris, and at least one womans complaints to the academy about Arnault more than 20 years ago were rebuffed. The crisis escalated when the academy dismissed another member, Sara Danius, as its permanent secretary, the groups chief official the first woman to hold that post though she remained part of the panel. She had severed the groups ties with Arnault and Forum, and commissioned an investigation of the academy from a law firm. Her demotion prompted mass protests by critics who said that a woman had suffered for the misdeeds of a man, and that Danius had been punished for trying to introduce openness and accountability to a group that preferred to close ranks. Christina Anderson and Richard Perez-Pena are New York Times writers. WASHINGTON President Trump said Friday that the time and place have been set for his landmark meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un but kept the world guessing for now about the when and where. Trump also said that withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea was not on the table as he looks to get Kim to give up his nukes at what will be the first summit between a U.S. and a North Korean leader. Page Content The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) supports a lawsuit challenging a paid-sick-leave law in Austin, Texas, that is slated to take effect for many businesses on Oct. 1. The new law would require an employer to provide paid-sick-leave benefits to employees who work 80 or more hours in Austin in a calendar year for that employer. Employees will accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked in the city. Accruals are subject to certain caps depending on employer size, and businesses with five or fewer employees will have an additional two years to comply. Austin is just one of many cities and states in the country that have passed or are considering passing paid-sick-leave laws. SHRM continues to oppose these "rigid" sick-leave mandates "because they limit employer flexibility and innovation in designing paid-leave offerings that best meet employee needs," said Lisa Horn, SHRM's director of congressional affairs. "The solution here is not another sick-leave mandatewe need a nationwide solution that works for both employers and employees," said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, president and chief executive officer of SHRM. Violation of Texas Law Alleged The Texas Association of Business is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against Austin and is joined by several other business groups. The groups contend that the city's ordinance violates the Texas Minimum Wage Act, which bars municipalities from regulating private-sector employees' wages. The state wage law incorporates the federal Fair Labor Standards Act but prohibits municipal ordinances from going beyond those state and federal standards. Austin's paid-sick-leave ordinance violates Texas law by requiring employers to pay at least minimum wage for hours that employees don't actually work, the complaint asserts. [SHRM members-only state coverage: Texas Employment Law] The city's ordinance is pre-empted by the Texas Minimum Wage Act, and Austin lacks evidence to show any legitimate governmental interest that would support imposing this regulatory burden on all business owners, said Robert Henneke, general counsel and director of the Center for the American Future at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which is another plaintiff in the case. The plaintiffs have asked the court for a declaratory judgment stating that the city's law is pre-empted by state law, a temporary injunction preventing it from taking effect, and ultimately, a permanent injunction barring the ordinance. The bill's supporters say that Austin's paid-sick-leave ordinance guarantees that employees will be able to care for themselves and family members. The law helps ensure that workers are treated with respect and dignity, said Amanda Cavazos Weems, president of Young Active Labor Leaders in Austin. "After months of building a movement for paid sick days, I'm so proud of the efforts of our community to achieve this historic policy victory," said Austin council member Greg Casar, the ordinance's sponsor. But Jeff Moseley, chief executive officer of the Texas Association of Business, said, "Austin and Texas business leaders know how to run their businesses and can do so more productively without overreaching regulations that stifle the economy and cost jobs." European IT services provider Atos expanded its partnership with German manufacturing conglomerate Siemens to include delivery of the "MindSphere" On-premise services. "MindSphere" is the Cloud-based, open IoT (Internet of Things) operating system from Siemens. New Siemens "MindSphere" On-premise will allow customers to deploy digital-driven business applications in a secure, managed On-premise infrastructure. "Atos is excited to help its customers take advantage of its Cloud and provide to 'MindSphere', the open, Cloud-based IoT operating system of Siemens, the ability to transform their digital-driven businesses at global scale, in close proximity to their data location," said Gilles Grapinet, Atos Senior Executive Vice President. With the MindSphere On-premise solution, which will be available for operational deployment in September, customers will be able to securely deploy and manage their own MindSphere business-driven applications on site. By offering On-premise services, Atos will manage all aspects of Cloud infrastructure and delivery, scaling up as business needs change and ensuring performance, security and clarity of reporting at all times. Read more news: TCS became a $100 billion company LG to start global sales of AI-powered OLED TVs Online search engine Google is the most trusted Internet brand in India, followed by Facebook, a report said on Wednesday. "With 1.2 trillion searches per year, it (Google) has become the first port of call for all things on the Internet," the TRA Brand Trust Report 2018 said here. It further said: "Facebook, ranked second in the list, has been steadily climbing the trust ladder over the years (ranked seventh in 2015, fourth in 2016 and third in 2017 BTR reports)." The survey, however, was carried out during November 2017-January 2018 and did not take into account the recent reports of data breach and privacy involving Facebook, said N. Chandramouli, CEO, TRA Advisory. He further said the impact of privacy concerns are likely to affect Facebook's ranking in the next survey. According to the report, e-commerce major Amazon ranked third among the most trusted Internet brands in the country and e-Bay ranked fourth. The other major e-commerce brand Flipkart was positioned sixth in the brand trust report. Among the online taxi aggregators, Ola ranked seventh in the list, surpassing Uber which took the fifteenth position. "Internet brands yet have much scope for disruption. Initially Internet disrupted the traditional businesses, and now new models are threatening other Internet businesses with better and more efficient models," Chandramouli said. "Only the Internet brands with a prudent business model, one which focusses on brand trust along with profits and growth will survive the next couple of years," he added. Read more news: Google rolls out new Search experience for job seekers in India 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! Ms Brenner resigned days after chief executive Craig Meller also left the company following revelations at the Hayne royal commission that AMP had repeatedly misled the regulator and accusations it had doctored the Clayton Utz report. Included in the documents released late on Friday by the royal commission was a scathing letter from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to Mr Salter that excoriated the company for its conduct relating to ASICs investigation. ASIC said AMP had frustrated and materially delayed the investigation of AMPs conduct since its inception". Former AMP chief executive Craig Meller and former chairman Catherine Brenner. Looking to reclaim the initiative, AMP on Friday said former Commonwealth bank chief executive David Murray would join the board as its new chairman after its annual general meeting next week. Acting executive chairman Mike Wilkins, who stepped into the role following Ms Brenner's departure, will return to the role of acting chief executive. In its submission to the royal commission, AMP argued the matter of the Clayton Utz report should be left in the hands of ASIC, rather than being dealt with in criminal proceedings. AMP was last week recommended for criminal charges for allegedly misleading ASIC by presenting the Clayton Utz report as independent, despite making the law firm change the report 25 times. Loading But in its submission, AMP said there was "no evidence to suggest that the board, including the former chairman and former chief executive, acted inappropriately in relation to the preparation of the report". "AMP fully expects ASIC will deal with the serious matters being investigated in an appropriate manner consistent with ASICs enforcement priorities and under a proper process with any affected parties having had the opportunity to be heard," AMP said. As well as Ms Brenner and Mr Meller, Mr Salter has also left AMP. The royal commission heard the report went through 25 drafts, with hundreds of emails exchanged with Clayton Utz, before being submitted to ASIC as independent. Counsel assisting the commission Rowena Orr QC said last week that, in doing so, AMP may have breached provisions of the Corporations Act that carry criminal sanctions. But AMP refuted assertions that it had committed a criminal offence when it provided the altered report to the regulator. "AMP strenuously denies the allegation by Counsel Assisting that it is open to find that it has committed a criminal offence in providing to ASIC in October 2017 a report prepared by Clayton Utz," AMP said in its submission. That claim has been backed up by Clayton Utz, which issued a statement saying its investigation into the AMP advice business was "at the instruction of the AMP board, and the firm stood by the report's robust findings". 'Disappointing': Clayton Utz Rob Cutler, Clayton Utz's chief executive partner, said in the statement that: "It is disappointing that it has been mis-reported that Clayton Utz was in some way involved in misleading ASIC. That is simply not true. "The report we prepared was for the AMP board and was the result of an extensive investigation which in fact identified much of the conduct referred to by the [royal] commission. At no stage were the findings compromised by AMP or any other person. The investigation was undertaken according to the terms of reference set by AMP. This included that it was to be independent of the advice business and for the purpose of providing legal advice to the AMP board." AMP accepts it repeatedly lied to the corporate regulator, though not as many times as it has been accused of, and admits it was slow in compensating clients who were charged fees without having received advice. Shareholder ire AMP face shareholders in Melbourne on Thursday at its annual general meeting. The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, which represents Australia's largest superannuation funds, has said it is opposed to the re-election of three of the company's directors - Holly Kramer, Vanessa Wallace and Andrew Harmos at the AGM. The grandfather of vertical integration, David Murray, who once said he unknowingly left a "rattlesnake in the cupboard" for his successor at Commonwealth Bank when he expanded into wealth management and financial planning, will become the chairman of AMP. Murray has taken the job nobody wanted. Interestingly, his financial services inquiry in 2014 acknowledged vertical integration but crossed its fingers the conflicts would sort themselves out. David Murray was the grandfather of vertical integration. Credit:Janie Barrett In a press conference at the time, Murray said "hopefully" the recommendations that address financial advice, product manufacturers, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, big upfront commissions on life insurance, stockbrokers' remuneration, lifting education standards for financial planners (in the shape of tertiary education and ongoing professional development, but not a national exam as recommended by ASIC) and the power to ban financial planners and their managers, are enough to deal with the problems of vertical integration. Fast forward to today and we are in the midst of a royal commission that looks dimly on vertical integration. Foreign investors are losing interest in local bank shares due to the fierce scrutiny of Australia's finance sector and are instead looking at options such as Spain's banks, National Australia Bank says. As banks' reputations are battered by the royal commission, NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn and finance chief Gary Lennon on Friday said the scrutiny was affecting sentiment among offshore equity investors. NAB says the royal commission is concerning foreign investors in Australian bank shares. Credit:James Elsby However, they stressed there has not been any impact on overseas debt markets, which are arguably far more important for the local banking system, which is reliant on foreign capital for some of its funding. Macquarie Group chief executive Nicholas Moore also said on Friday he had not received any "untoward" feedback from overseas markets in response to the reputational damage experienced by banks here. The government has committed to a formal investigation into a Telstra outage that left half Australia's states unable to call triple zero on Friday morning. Telstra, which has a multimillion-dollar contract with the government to supply the emergency line, said it would complete its own full investigation into a fire, believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, that sparked the outage. Fire damage at the Telstra cable pit east of Orange. A spokesman for the Department of Communications, which manages the emergency services contract with Telstra, told Fairfax Media the government was starting an "investigation into the network outage which impacted the delivery of calls to triple zero on the 4th of May". He said the department would "seek information from Telstra" and assistance from the Australian Communications and Media Authority. It is ditching some of its local fund managers - including Airlie Funds Management, run by high-profile stock-picker John Sevior - to bring more investment expertise in house, a move that has been met with scepticism by some in the investment community. Having grown too big for the Australian market, it is also pushing heavily into international equities, especially US and Chinese technology stocks. The fund now has more cash in Facebook than BHP. And it has signalled it is likely to back more private bids for major assets, in the wake of its Healthscope play - described as a global game changer by one analyst at a major investment firm. Weve changed the model so we can keep on generating excellent investment returns, Delaney says, adding that industry funds have been an agent of change in Australia, and now isnt the time to hold back. The biggest risk for us is that we dont change our model and we start to generate [lower] investment returns because of inherent conservatism. But with scale comes scrutiny and plenty of tricky situations, as it grapples with the challenges that come with being a globe-striding financial services giant - one that is starting to throw its weigh around. Big hitter So just how big has AustralianSuper become? Last year, it overtook AMP to become the largest super fund in Australia by assets under management. It was the top performing fund of Australia's $2.5 trillion super sector, with returns of 12.44 per cent for the year to June 30. Its pool was swelled by $7 billion in net inflows from one in seven working Australians. Its assets under management are expected to almost double to $250 billion by 2021. AustralianSuper has outstripped its industry fund siblings through the pace and scale of its growth through mergers. Nick Sherry. Former Labor superannuation minister Nick Sherry, now a consultant on fund design for governments and funds in Australia and overseas, says AustralianSuper's long-time chief executive Ian Silk was quick to recognise the importance of scale in superannuation - "which ultimately delivers the best long-term diversified returns, year after year". Last year, Wills Towers Watson ranked Australian Super as the 36th biggest pension fund globally. With its steady and growing stream of inflows, "Australian Super will become one of the largest global pension funds in the world in the next ten years," says Sherry. Australian Super's headquarters, in the upper levels of a corporate skyscraper in Melbourne's CBD, seem a long way from the austere office on St Kilda Road from which Silk ran the Australian Retirement Fund in the 1990s. Ian Silk, Australian Super CEO in its Melbourne office. Credit:Jesse Marlow The 2006 merger of Silk's ARF with the Superannuation Trust of Australia, then helmed by Delaney, was the first of more than a dozen other mergers - including Westscheme in 2011, and the public sector AGEST fund in 2013 - that would help take AustralianSuper from $21 billion and 1.2 million members in 2006 to its current $130 billion pool managed on behalf of one in seven Australians. The other key strategy, Sherry observes, was to keep the model "simple and lean". Initially, Sherry says, the fund kept costs down by using external providers for asset management, administration and other functions. Once it reached "sufficient scale", he says, it made sense to start bringing functions in house to reduce fees. The most high-profile example is Australian Super's plan to boost its in-house funds management operations to handle 50 per cent of its assets by 2021 - a process that has sparked considerable controversy, and that some industry players warn could backfire. It currently handles about 30 per cent of its domestic portfolio internally. Sevior was overseas and could not talk to Fairfax Media about his fund's dumping. But Mercer chief investment officer Kylie Willment said external funds managers provide different skills and perspectives, and can be dumped if they underperform. Loading "You don't have the ability to walk away from it," she says. Going in-house may save on fees, but "the compromise you are making is that you are denying yourself the richness of talent pool," she says. Delaney, who is largely behind AustralianSuper's recent investment shift, admits he encountered questioning from his board when he proposed the idea. The first question we had was- why do we want to change it if the current models working well?, he says. The second was, how are you going to handle people when they underperform - you wont be able to get rid of them like you can with external managers. The third was, how much are you spending [on them], and the fourth was, are they going to be any good? Delaney acknowledges the hurdle is now higher. We are going to have to generate an investment outcome better than what weve had. But he goes on: Thats what they pay me for. Indeed, he's ready to pay top-dollar to get the right people. Delaney himself takes home more than $1.4 million a year which is more than would traditionally be paid in industry funds. You can't expect to attract talented people and not pay competitive remuneration," he says. Part of the way we are going to manage [the fund] is to have larger concentrated holdings. Mark Delaney AustralianSuper is likely to wade into more controversies with its plan to amass bigger, concentrated holdings in key assets. Part of the way we are going to manage [the fund] is to have larger concentrated holdings, and a way to get larger long-term holdings is to participate in private transactions, Delaney says. Thats where we are heading. ...we think that will be the best way to make money for members rather than having an overly-diversified portfolio. Delaney says the move towards backing private bids is something that pension funds in Canada have long been doing. He insists AustralianSuper isnt being revolutionary. But the reaction of others has been shock. Delaney laughs, when asked about the reaction: Yeah, we thought that might happen, he says. Minority shareholders in Healthscope, who are unlikely to benefit from any bidding war given AustralianSuper's commitment not consider a rival offer, have been reluctant to comment on how they feel about the behaviour of the biggest investor on the register. Global focus Then there's its increasing shift into international equities, which have been steadily growing as a proportion of assets when compared to domestic stocks. Former fund manager Peter Morgan says given AustralianSuper's massive scale it has no choice but to move away from small caps, into larger international investments. "They have to go offshore," he says. Morgan likens the fund to a race horse carrying a great deal of weight. "It doesn't mean a champion cannot win carrying weight - Phar Lap did it," he says. North American equities have grown as a proportion of AustralianSuper's equity holdings to be well over half now as the fund has cut back its exposure to the United Kingdom and Asia. But sinking funds into the likes of Facebook (where AustralianSuper has a $560 million stake) brings with it considerable scrutiny, especially following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg preparing to testify before US Congress. Credit:AP Delaney says that while there are clear concerns about data privacy and protection, you have to come to a view whether or not these issues will impact sufficiently on long-term prospects of the business, or whether or not they [Facebook] will be able to adjust their business model and continue to grow the business." (He thinks its the latter.) AustralianSuper also has a $391 million stake in electric car maker Tesla, and used its position recently to vote against Elon Musks remuneration, under which the Tesla boss could collect more than $US50 billion if he meets certain milestones over the next decade. A perusal of its offshore holdings also reveals a heavy stake in alcohol via London-based global drinks giant Diageo. Its last holdings of tobacco it will divest next year after shedding $900 million in shares in 2017. Delaney says that in the 1950s there were thousands of studies highlighting the dangers of tobacco, but it is only in the past decade that it has become socially unacceptable. We think tobacco has sufficiently unique characteristics to separate it from the pack of what you might describe as other social negatives, he says. Delaney says theres now studies showing that in the US more people are killed by food than they are by smoking (he says his wife heard that on a podcast and asked Delaney, what are you going to do about food in your portfolios?). Theres ways to handle social issues in the portfolio, of which exclusion is one of those, but it is not the only one, he says. Social stance As Australia's biggest industry super fund, AustralianSuper's activities in the so-called "ESG" realm - environmental, social and governance - are closely watched. Late last year, AustralianSuper emerged as one of the leading groups behind the Climate Action 100+ campaign, which aims to push the world's 100 biggest emitters into boosting disclosure and reducing emissions. It backed landmark shareholder rebellions that called for climate disclosure at big oil companies, and last year supported a human rights-related resolution at Woolworths. In 2016, it backed the damaging shareholder "strike" on remuneration at the Commonwealth Bank, and voted against the reelection of CBA director Andrew Mohl following the bank's money laundering scandal last year. But while some Australian industry funds have taken increasingly activist stances on climate change - with Local Government Super, for example, co-signing well-supported shareholder resolutions at the Rio Tinto and QBE AGMs this week - AustralianSuper has been selective in is support for climate change-related shareholder proposals. Loading Last year, it supported a call for boosted climate disclosure at Origin Energy but against similar proposals at Oil Search and Santos. And it voted against the Rio Tinto resolution, which called for more disclosure on the company's membership of peak bodies like the Minerals Council of Australia, despite it being backed by industry funds like Cbus, Hesta and VicSuper, as well as the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, of which AustralianSuper is a member. AustralianSuper says it prefers to engage with companies - including through face to face meetings with boards - before weilding its proxy votes, saying its engagement with Rio Tinto led to a pledge of "much greater transparency" on the issue. "We believe in engagement as the most important lever the fund has to get the right outcome for shareholders for the long term," a spokesman said. But the NGO that coordinated the resolution, the Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, is critical of the fund's stance. "Given that ACSI supported the resolution, it strikes me as extraordinary that ACSIs largest Australian member, AustralianSuper, would think it in members best interests to oppose it," says its executive director Brynn O'Brien. We have to be clear about why were doing things and then have a way of managing these stakeholder groups so that we don't trash the brand. Mark Delaney Delaney says the fund has rejected certain investments outright, pointing to 2008-09 when it was approached by the NSW government to buy coal-fired generators. It passed, due to concerns about climate risk. We have to be clear about why were doing things - which is to maximise members retirement outcomes and then have a way of managing these stakeholder groups at the same time so that we don't trash the brand of the organisation and we don't isolate ourselves and put ourselves in a position that is inconsistent with community exceptions,' Delaney says, adding that it's a balancing act the fund has managed for a decade. Shake up It is an interesting time to be making waves in the financial services sector. The super sector - including industry funds - is yet to have its time in the spotlight before the royal commission, which has already ravaged the standing of the wealth management operators who run the industry funds' chief retail competitors. Last year, AustralianSuper added ex-Macquarie Group executive Jim Craig to its board, chaired by former Reserve Bank board member and AiGroup chief executive Heather Ridout. Craig is the only independent director, with the rest populated by union and employer-group representatives - a structure that would put AustralianSuper at odds with the Turnbull government's plan to boost to one-third the proportion of "independent" directors on industry fund boards. Illustration: Joe Benke But it could be argued that AustralianSuper is looking and acting less and less like the industry funds of old. Seven-figure salaries, cut-throat takeover battles and a portfolio flush with trendy Silicon Valley tech stocks - it's all very... investment bank. Could AustralianSuper risk losing its industry fund ethos and morphing into something closer to its retail fund rivals? "I have been talking to some franchisees and they say they are happy and everything is ok. Sometimes one or two may be unhappy, but it seems it's more." Private equity owners The original Oporto shop in Bondi. Credit:Peter Rae There are now more than 140 Oporto stores under the umbrella of Craveable Brands which in turn is owned by private equity firm Archer Capital. After shelving plans to list the business on the ASX, Craveable opened the first Oporto store in Singapore last month and announced plans for another 10 over the next five years. However Cerqueira says Craveable needs to take the same approach he did to running Oporto. Oporto's triple Bondi Burger is one of its top sellers. "It shouldn't be different if they do the right job, if it's me or its private equity it should be the same," he says. "It's simple things, the franchisees and franchisors they share the same goal. You need to make sure they work together as a team. It's not about someone being the boss." Craveable needs to step in Cerqueira says Craveable needs to step into help franchisees if they are in danger of bankruptcy. "I believe the franchisors need to come across and help the franchisees that are struggling they need to make sure they can make money and pay their bills," he says. Cerqueira says Craveable should be ensuring Red Rooster and Oporto stores do not cannibalise each others markets due to the proximity of stores. "I made sure I protected my brands that is what needs to work," he says. New chapter After selling Oporto in 2007 Cerqueira bought half of NSW food supply business Daily Fresh which was a former supplier to Oporto. He's grown the business from $18 million in turnover to around $70 million last year with a fleet of 25 trucks delivering 3,500 fresh and frozen lines to restaurants, schools and fast food businesses from NSWs the Central Coast to Wollongong. Cerqueira still works as a consultant for Oporto and sympathises with the challenges it faces, but says the franchisors and franchisees need to work together. "I deliver food to cafes and stores and I find it hard to make money," he says. "I think the costs now are high, everything has changed, the power and rent is much higher, insurance is higher. It's very tough out there for small business." Antonio Cerqueira at the offices of his new business Daily Fresh. Credit:Steven Siewert Cerqueira says he is going to do his own investigation into what has gone wrong. "I hope they learnt their lesson, the franchisors," he says. Claims "ridiculous" Loading Craveable chief executive Brett Houldin says the disgruntled franchisees make up as little as 2 per cent of Craveable's franchisee owners. He says the 570 Australian franchisee owners of Red Rooster, Oporto and Chicken Treat stores earn an estimated $135,000 each per year, with sales growing by more than four per cent a year. "That makes claims of stores nationwide on the verge of collapse a ridiculous assertion, Houldin says. A Craveable franchisee, who wishes to remain anonymous, says he is happy with Craveable. "On the scale of franchisors that I am aware of it is a pretty good franchise to work with," he says. "Like any other industry we have our fair share of dills who come in and wouldn't know how to run a business. "You have to drive and work your business and you must understand business, the final thing you also must understand is you can't rely on someone else to do it for you." As Cold Chisel's frontman confessed in riveting, excruciating detail, his body has endured "the longest suicide in Australian music history". Open heart surgery in 2007 dispelled that notion but his lungs and vocal cords remain his most vital organs anyway. "I thought I had a heart like Phar Lap's," Jimmy Barnes told us at this "stories and songs" show in support of his latest memoir Working Class Man. Yet having once been drowned in enough booze to flood Bow River and enough coke to snort up the salaries of several working class men, it is still producing a voice that, on this night, sounded as good as ever. The holler for which Barnes is known was there on a hair-raising cover of the Troggs' Wild Thing and his own anthemic No Second Prize, which he revealed became a mantra for him in the uncertain months after leaving Cold Chisel. But there was light-and-shade in a stark, piano-led version of Letter to Alan, from Chisel's final album, made more affecting by Barnes's recounting of its inspiration, roadie Alan Dallow's death in a car crash while ferrying gear between gigs. Barnes consulted notes at his feet during his monologues but there was no sense he was ever going through the motions. Just how in-the-moment he was throughout this show was evident directly after he recalled the night in Auckland in 2012 when, in a drugged stupor, he had tried to hang himself. He approached his science in a totally different way to the British scientists, he was more aligned with guys like Ludwig Becker and [Eugene] von Guerard, that kind of sensibility, Mr Stranks said. He took a much more holistic approach to his science. Where explorers such as Burke and Wills travelled over the country in days Blandowskis expedition embedded itself in the landscape. They remained at one base camp for eight months, meticulously scouring the land and engaged meaningfully with Indigenous people. The result was a treasure trove of animal specimens some stuffed, others in jars of ethanol as well as sketches of animals, catalogues and diaries, and Indigenous names. But despite his prowess as a scientist, Blandowski was a difficult person. He clashed with Victorias intellectual elite and left in a huff. The Melbourne Museum kept his specimens, while the Prussian took his documents. Current species distribution map for the common death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) the deadly snake is now believed absent from Victoria and under threat other parts of its former range such as Queensland. Credit:Melbourne Museum terrestrial vertebrates senior curator Dr Jane Melville After he was admitted to a mental asylum back in Europe, they ended up in the Natural History Museum of Berlin and so the complete picture of Blandowskis scientific work in Victoria was lost. That was until 2017 when Arthur Rylah Institute senior scientist Nick Clemann was reviewing a soon-to-be-published Field Guide to Reptiles of Victoria with its co-author Peter Robertson. When they came to the death adder, the pair decided to see if they could put the perennial debate to bed. The historic record led them to Blandowski, which led them to Gerard Krefft, who was a naturalist and artist on Blandowskis expedition. Kreffts account of the expedition mentions not only sketching a death adder killed at Lake Boga, near Swan Hill, but also sending that snake in a jar to the Melbourne Museum. But the account alone was not enough. Europeans were still coming to terms with a continent of unfamiliar animals and misidentifications were common. Clemann and Robertson needed hard evidence. Due in part to the manner in which the expedition ended, however, the whereabouts of the jar and the sketches in Germany were unknown. In scouring the Melbourne Museum the scientists found not only the specimen they were looking for, but the historians who held the key to discovering the sketch. The museums senior curator of scientific art and collection history, Rebecca Carland had recently been to Berlin, photographing Kreffts illustrations held there. The historians and the scientists combined their information and, armed with Kreffts sketches, the team narrowed down all of the death adders held within the museum to three plausible candidates. The illustration by Gerard Krefft of a death adder collected on the Blandowski expedition was detailed down to the individual scales and was a key piece of evidence in proving the species was once found in Victoria. Credit:Museum fur Naturkunde (Natural History Museum), Berlin, ZMB BVIII/56. The team then gathered in a laboratory inside the museum mid-last year to see if they could match the sketch to a snake. If they could the information contained in the illustration, the jar and the diaries would combine to prove that a death adder had been collected in Victoria. The sketch was detailed down to the colour patterns on individual scales of the snake, providing an unmistakable identification like a fingerprint. We had Kreffts illustration beside the microscope and it was just, at every point, a perfect match, Ms Carland said. It was like a tattoo, it was so clear and Kreffts illustration was so precise, there were little whoops of excitement going out and we were all jumping up and down. Window into a vanished world The team of researchers said their work demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary research and they believe there may yet be more to be uncovered as the story of the Blandowski expedition is rediscovered. Scientist Nick Clemann holds the death adder specimen which a sketch obtained by historian Rebecca Carland [background] helped rediscover. Credit:Jason South Dr Clemann said the collection amassed by the German zoologist offered a window into a vanished world. The expedition has become hugely important in Victoria's biodiversity story in the sense that it documented numerous species of mammals that are now extinct in the state, some of which are extinct outright theyve been lost altogether, he said. Those losses occurred within decades of the Blandowski expedition, around the start of the 20th Century. That was largely due to farmers and pastoralists pushing into that north-western country and changing land-use practises, clearing habitats and bringing with them pest species, Dr Clemann said. That combination seems to have been fatal to a number of mammal species up there and it's highly likely that the death adders suffered a similar fate. Blandowski also collected and stuffed specimens of these mammals. They are kept in a drawer in the Melbourne Museum, known colloquially among some staff and researchers as the extinction drawer. Among its bilbies, bandicoots and numbats are five species and another five sub-species now extinct altogether. Five species held in the Melbourne Museum's 'extinction drawer' from the Blandowski expedition no longer exist, among them the lesser stick-nest rat. Credit:Jason South Heartbreaking as peering into that drawer may be, Dr Clemann compared the invaluable record compiled by Blandowski with the quiet deaths of so many other lost worlds. One of the tragedies of species and biodiversity loss is that, so often, we're losing species from an area or losing species outright that have never been described, or that we just didn't know were in that area, he said. So when we clear that area, all sorts of things that are not known to science disappear. Does Melbourne need a modern-day Blandowski? Dr Clemann said the Blandowski expedition was a history lesson which had never been more relevant. As volcanic plains grasslands get swallowed up by Melbournes relentless outward march and heath and wetland in the south-west are developed, the scientist said precious ecosystems were being lost. Look at what we are doing in our urban growth zones, where we are destroying large swaths of habitat to build housing estates, he said. Ive argued for a long time that we should be collecting a whole bunch of specimens of the animals that are there and preserving those specimens in the museum. Among the species collected on the Blandowski expedition was this pig-footed bandicoot - its extinction not only saw the end of the species, but also an entire genus. Credit:Jason South That way, 100 years from now a researcher like me can go to the museum, lift up the jars and say, well look what we had in Craigieburn in 2018, there were these kinds of frogs and there were these kinds of lizards and these kinds of rodents and marsupials but were not doing that. Dr Clemann fears even species now considered common could go the way of the death adder in Victoria and no-one would even know theyve gone. Could the death adder still call Victoria home? Not content with settling one Victorian death adder debate, Robertson and Clemann have spent years trying to put the whole discussion to bed. If there are still any death adders in the state, the scientists want to find them. The search has focused on two areas in the dry far-north west of the state and in the far-eastern tip of Gippsland. In both areas they have investigated credible sightings, though none have been accompanied with a photograph or a specimen. In 2005 the researchers investigated reports of a population on the banks of the Murray River in the far north-west the area. It's the moment fashion observers have waited months for. Shortly before 9pm, Australian time, on May 19, the world will finally learn which designer and style of dress Meghan Markle has chosen for her wedding to Prince Harry. A model in the tiara room at the new Chaumet boutique in Sydney. Credit:Louise Kennerley While acres of copy will be devoted to The Dress (or dresses, given speculation Markle will wear different gowns to the ceremony and reception), many eyes will be fixed on what the royal bride will have on her head. Most likely the tiara, and there's a good chance there will be one, will come from the Queen's own collection. What is clear, though, is that it will not be the same Cartier Halo worn by Kate Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge, at her wedding in 2011 to Prince William. Gigi Hadid has responded to criticisms that she appeared in "blackface" on the cover of Vogue Italia this month. The US model, whose father is of Palestinian descent, posted a statement on her Instagram story on Thursday after copping significant backlash for the cover, in which she is heavily bronzed and wearing a print featuring depictions of Asian women. Gigi Hadid has been criticised for appearing in excessive bronzer on the cover of Vogue Italia. Credit:AP Photo/Antonio Calanni Posting a paparazzi picture of herself after the shoot, the 23-year-old wrote, "This is a photo of me returning home from shooting my Italian Vogue cover on April 3rd you can see the level I had been bronzed to on set that day." My anonymity adds an air of mystery; a certain je ne sais quoi. Countless fans have told me they'd despair if I revealed myself. You don't tell kids the Tooth Fairy is Mum. Why should I tell my FC "kids" that I'm really ... well, never mind. My cover is that I'm a hardworking, male, 65-year-old street sweeper from Gundagai. Mostly everyone knows it's a lie, but they go along with it anyway. I'm Gossip Girl. Banksy. Hiding in the fibres of the red carpet, waiting to unleash my highly qualified opinions about the garments I see before me. On a frock worn by Whoopi Goldberg to the Academy Awards. My "artistic" process is simple. I sit down in front of the computer and flick through the photos while typing, as fast as humanly possible, the first thing that comes into my head. I'm not sure why but I treat every album post like a race against the clock. I have to say the first (legal) thing that comes to mind about each outfit: no thinking, no filtering, just whatever ridiculous thought comes into my head. I've never tested it, but my theory is that the harder I work at being funny, the less funny I'll be. As soon as the album's posted, I go through the captions again, fixing any typos and making sure I can't be arrested by the Australian Federal Police for crimes against celebrity. My credentials as a red-carpet fashion critic are exemplary. And by exemplary, I mean non-existent. As a child, my mother would dress me in only the most well-known labels. House of Target, occasionally B.A.Lenciaga. No wait. Just B.A.L. Best & Less. As a teenager, I moved upmarket, frequenting Supre and Sportsgirl. The naysayers would say I'm not qualified to cast my judgement on celebrity red-carpet frocklets but I urge those naysayers to shut the hell up. The biggest fashion "influencers" in 2018 are veritable nobodies, bloggers with a good sese of style and the foresight to create an Instagram page before most of us had even heard of the social media platform. Said "influencers" now make lots of money and grace fashion show front rows based on qualifications not dissimilar to mine: eyeballs, and the ability to discern the hideous from the sublime and pretend #nofilter was used in the process. Sam Smith at the 2018 Grammy Awards takes an FC arrow. People often wonder how much money I make from Fashion Critical. The answer is precisely zero. Why bother, I hear you ask? First, because the people demand it. Second, because like my fateful Johnny Young prank call of 1989, it's funny. Or at least, I think it is. Not everyone agrees, of course. What I call an honest opinion of a red-carpet look, the occasional irate reader will call online bullying. Hold my gin and tonic, but what? Just like comedians are allowed to make fun of presidents, royalty and everything in between, it stands to reason that I, a purveyor of laughter, am allowed to pass satirical judgement on the poor fashion choices of stinking rich celebrities being paid to swan about at red-carpet events wearing clothes and accessories that cost more than your home. I've been contacted by numerous local celebrities begging to be critiqued, and one high-profile Australian designer whose frocks frequent the red carpet delights in having them appear on Fashion Critical. These people have no trouble laughing at themselves. Zoe Kravitz's sartorial choice inspires a comparison with a 20th-century Australian icon. Did Angelina cry when she started trending for that bizarre red-carpet pose in which one of her legs was pointed west and the other east? I doubt it. Does Beyonce weep into the arms of Solange when we don't like her get-up? Unlikely. Beyonce's tears have evolved into diamonds, anyway, and when they fall into her lap, Jay Z collects them in a basket for Blue Ivy. Let's stop for a minute and remember that the entire point of the red carpet is publicity for the actors and actresses, the designers, the jewellers, the movie makers and the carpet-layers. By the power of Reese Witherspoon, we all know that any red-carpet ensemble is the result of weeks, if not months, of preparation from a bevy of highly-trained professionals. Stylists for the Hollywood A-list are rumoured to pocket tens of thousands of dollars for putting celebrities in particular labels; said celebrities usually make even more each time they step out in said designer's duds. These deals are negotiated by managers and agents, who also earn a nice fee on the way through. The celebrity or their stylist may have "chosen" their outfit, but under very specific guidelines from a very limited selection of gowns that the designer wants to showcase. We get to feast our eyes upon it and natter away at the water cooler about what we thought of each look. It's a win-win for all concerned. I like to think of Fashion Critical as a low-cost, high-yield community service. Not only am I helping to propagate the PR machine of all of those stakeholders, but I'm providing jollies and merriment to the masses. In a newsfeed full of horror, sadness and generally yawn-worthy content, that's worth something. It's a reminder not to take ourselves, nor the celebrity culture with which our society is obsessed, too seriously. Elisabeth Moss, copping criticism for her dress at the Critics' Choice Awards in January. One Fashion Critical reader told me that my albums kept her from losing her post-natally depressed mind in the middle of the night, when her baby wouldn't settle. "This may sound weird," she wrote, "but the fact that something could still make me smile and laugh made me realise that maybe there was hope, and maybe I would get through the PND and I should just keep going and not give up." Well heck. I'll be damned if that didn't melt my cold, stone heart. On another note, it floats my boat to point out that just because a celebrity wears something, just because an international design house created it, just because it's worth a fortune, doesn't mean it isn't ugly as all get up. I mean no disrespect to the designers themselves, nor to the celebrities who wear their garb, most of whom I don't recognise these days. I merely comment on what I see before me. My opinion is not tarnished by any allegiance to a particular designer. I know that creating bespoke fashion takes time, brains, manpower and countless hours on the Janome. There is a reason you'll find only a handful of street style photographers plying their trade in cities the size of Sydney and Melbourne. It's a tough way to make a buck, no matter how edgy your photo shoots or artfully curated your social-media posts. Freelance photographer Katie Fergus is one of the few successful ones, earning a full-time income from luxury brands and bloggers alike for shooting their outfits on the busy streets of Melbourne. Katie Fergus chronicles street style in Melbourne. Fergus's workload naturally peaks during fashion weeks, which turn into a list of acronyms as she runs through them: MBFWA (Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia), NYFW (New York Fashion Week) and VAMFF (Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival). An example of the street style captured by Fergus. "I actually started shooting fashion bloggers in their OOTD [outfit of the day] in the streets," explains the 27-year-old. "I ended up getting more work through word of mouth and shot my first fashion week in Melbourne for L'Oreal, which used to run a blog called 'Get the Look'. " The puzzle was solved once he was medevaced back to Sydney: stage four melanoma, which had metastasised to his spine and other bones. The news was a shock. In 2016 doctors had previously diagnosed a small, colourless lump on his back as melanoma, but thought they'd caught it all with an operation to remove both the lump and the lymph glands down the left side of his body. Looking back, Balderstone thinks many long days in the sun as a child, growing up with three siblings on farms in the western district of Victoria, may have given the cancer a head start. I loved that existence, just wandering around in the paddocks with my dogs or helping out on the farm, he says. As a boarder through high school he would bring friends home in the holidays, so they could learn which end of a sheep was which. From his parents, Bob and Judy, Balderstone absorbed a love of the land and the natural world and a healthy dose of egalitarianism. Bob eventually moved into cattle farming, developing a successful breed of Angus Shorthorn and becoming head of the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show. But Balderstone says his father never lost the ability to drink at both the top [graziers] pub and the bottom [workers] pub in Mortlake. He was one of the few who could do that, he got on with absolutely everyone. At university Balderstone took a year off to go rouseabouting with a shearing team through country Victoria and South Australia. After graduating he joined The Age newspaper in 1977, and soon moved to its Canberra bureau, where he began a lifelong friendship with Michael Gordon, later a towering figure in Australian journalism. Simon Balderstone, back row left, with some of The Age's Canberra bureau, including his great friend Michael Gordon, far right, in 1982. Balderstone kept up his life of adventure on the side. In 1980, Christine Gees Australian Himalayan Expeditions made its debut and Balderstone eagerly signed up. During his holiday breaks he led treks into Kashmir and Nepal and by 1984 had befriended the men who would become some of Australias best-known mountaineers - Tim Macartney-Snape, Greg Mortimer and Lincoln Hall among them. The friends Balderstone made on his first Everest climb became the core of the group with which he set up the foundation. Credit:Alamy In 1984, at their invitation, he became the resident journalist for the first Australian party to scale Everest. "We were on the mountain for 68 days," Balderstone says. I went to about 23,000 feet. We had a very small budget; in those days there was virtually no one on the mountain at any given time, but there was one American group on the other side. We used to go over from our base camp and say hello, because we knew we would get a good feed from them. Mortimer and Macartney-Snape reached the summit on that trip, but Hall had to turn back, as did Andi Henderson, who lost fingers on both hands to frostbite. (In 2006, Hall would make a second attempt at Everest and succeed, but nearly at the cost of his life: he was found disoriented by another expedition after hed spent a night on the mountain without shelter, oxygen, food or water.) I can still remember whole days of that 1984 expedition very clearly, Balderstone says. The Himalayas are inspiring, magnificent; but its also one of the poorest regions in the world. We were all just trekkers and climbers who loved the Himalaya and its people and wanted to give something back. The incredibly close lifetime friends he made on the mountain became the core of the group with which he set up the foundation in 2003. Other founding members were deputy chair and author Garry Weare, Christine Gee, Peter Hillary (son of Sir Edmund Hillary) and Hall, who was followed onto the AHF board by his widow, Barbara, when Hall died of mesothelioma in 2012. Balderstone, restless, found it hard to settle back into mainstream journalism after Everest. He wrote a book on Kakadu, then joined the Australian Conservation Foundation and helped drive its "Fight for the Forests" campaign which ran through the 1987 federal election and helped propel Bob Hawke to a third term as prime minister. The campaign forged links between Balderstone and a senior adviser in Hawkes office, Craig Emerson (later a cabinet minister under Julia Gillard), who recommended Balderstone to incoming environment minister Graham Richardson. People either love or hate Richo, but in the late 1980s we were on a roll," Balderstone says. "We had so much happening: Kakadu, the Tassie forests, Shelburne Bay, the PMs big environment statement. There were really big fights to be had and Graham was up for the fight. Balderstone later joined Hawkes office, and then Paul Keatings when Keating replaced Hawke: Depending on whether you thought it was bastardry or dexterity, I was the only senior adviser to stay on in Pauls office when he took over. Fate or fortune soon offered another opportunity. Balderstone was in Monte Carlo with the Keatings for the announcement that Sydney had won the 2000 Olympic Games. Not long afterwards, he moved into a senior position with the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and once that sporting carnival was over, built a consultancy business advising the International Olympic Committee. In 2011 he crossed to the dark side, the bidding side to advise Tokyo on its successful Olympics bid. I have been so lucky," he says. The books Ive been able to write, working for those three extremely effective federal politicians, Everest, the Olympic work, and now giving something back through AHF Part of it was luck, but I was open to walking through doors. In 2007, he was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to the environment, the Olympic movement and Indigenous affairs. Balderstone's long been involved with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, and sits on the board of the ITNewcom Foundation, which supports tertiary scholarhips for Indigenous students. In February this year, Michael Gordon - Micky as Balderstone calls him - died suddenly during an ocean swim in Victoria. Gordons death was a hammer blow, coming so soon after his own cancer diagnosis. But he has grounds for hope. The Queen greets the crowd at the opening of Darling Harbour, May 4, 1988. Credit:Rick Miller She held the dog aloft. She said the Duke had patted Lucky Star's mate, Hollywood Lord Jim, on a previous visit, and one of their offspring, Happy Joe, had got in front of the Queen's car (but was not run over) during the 1986 visit. Mrs Fletcher said she had also cycled in with Lucky Star on Australia Day, to see the Prince and Princess of Wales. "I passed out from the heat on that occasion, and Lucky Star got a ride on a policeman's bike," she said. Irish protesters among the crowd at the opening of Darling Harbour, May 4 1988. Credit:Staff photographer The Queen officially opened the harbour at Tumbalong park, accompanied by the Premier, Mr Greiner. In his address, Mr Greiner stressed the value of the development in enhancing Sydney's position as "the commercial and financial capital of Australia". His comment that there had been some changes in government since the Queen's last visit was not lost on the former Premier, Mr Wran, sitting in the fourth row of the invited guests. Nor would it have been missed by the former Minister for Public Works, Laurie Brereton, in the 11th row. The convention center under construction at the Darling Harbour development, May 6 1987. Credit:Robert Pearce I am just delighted to be here, along with so many other people, to see the dream transfer into reality Laurie Brereton, former Minister for Public Works Mr Brereton was the driving force behind the development and Mr Greiner was his harshest critic. The crowd noticed Mr Brereton, and he got a loud, if ironic, cheer. He said: "I am just delighted to be here, along with so many other people, to see the dream transfer into reality. The Queen looks over a paste-up of her early years during her walk through Darling Harbour, May 4, 1988. Credit:Bruce Postle "Everyone associated with the project - the architects, the planners, the construction workers - have a great deal to be proud of. "The way I feel, well, I feel like one of those people in the ad: 'They said you'd never make it'. "My only disappointment is that they [the Greiner Government] have abandoned the Casino, which was essential to guarantee the project funding for all time. "It is regrettable that the debt will have to be borne by the State, rather than paid for over the next 10 years. "Yes, it has taken a long time. We said it would take four years. It has taken 4 years...I would have liked it to be a little further advanced. But I am delighted with the progress and it will get better and better as this year proceeds," said Mr Brereton. Appearances were kept up yesterday, as contract cleaners worked throughout the day, and the Maritime Services Board had men fishing debris out of the water before the Queen emerged from lunch to watch a waterfront youth pageant. The Queen then left to visit the Queen Victoria Building. Mr Colin Davis, who is handling public relations for one of the major development companies at Darling Harbour, Merlin International Properties (Australia) Pty Ltd, said yesterday that the project was already a success. He said: "It is everything we expect - it is more than we expect. We were working against the clock to get ourselves ready, and we were terribly frightened about the weather. Greyhound Racing NSW has charged its own board director Michael Eberand with breaching the rules over allegations he was involved in the unauthorised export of a greyhound. NSW Minister for Racing Paul Toole has given Mr Eberand until May 9 to respond to allegations he assisted with the export of registered greyhound Wandering Mija to Dubai which is not fully compliant with Australian animal welfare standards without a greyhound passport issued by Greyhounds Australasia. Dubai is not fully compliant with Australian animal welfare standards. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong Mr Toole said he would then be making "a considered decision" as to whether to remove Mr Eberand from the Greyhound Racing NSW board. Greyhound Racing NSW said Mr Eberand did not disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to the ongoing inquiry, his alleged involvement with the greyhound, or the Farrugia family, when he joined the board in July 2017. Trials of new technology that NSW plans to implement to spot drivers illegally using their mobile phones have also captured motorists in 80-to-100km/h speed zones who are texting with both hands, eating, reading and using illegal drugs. A man illegally using nitrous oxide (known as nanging) while driving down a highway at 100km/h was among those captured on camera in scans of about 100,000 drivers across Australia. A man prepares to inhale nitrous oxide while speeding down the highway. Credit:One Task Another driver was seen texting with both hands, said Alex McCredie, the director of One Task, which conducted the tests. Others were snapped with both hands off the wheel and in the air, with pets in their laps or unrestrained, doing their makeup, and reaching for objects. One Task's surveillance found illegal mobile phone use was endemic, with between 5 and 7 per cent of drivers in every city using them while driving at high speeds. Joshua Scott Homann snatched two lives when he plunged a knife into his partner's neck and chest dozens of times while she was visibly pregnant with their daughter. It was an act of domestic violence Kirralee Paepaerei's family said "only the devil" was capable of as they remembered the mother of four as "beautiful, smart, kind and outspoken with 'no filter'." Kirralee Paepaerei was pregnant when she was stabbed to death in September 2015. Homann, 40, sat with his head bowed as eight of Ms Paepaerei's distraught relatives spoke of the pain his crime unfurled on their family in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday. A jury found Homann guilty of murder over the stabbing death of his partner of two years in the bedroom of their Mount Druitt home on September 21, 2015. A set of keys could unlock fresh clues in the murder investigation of Brazilian businesswoman Cecilia Haddad. Police divers searched the depths of Parramatta River beneath the Gladesville Bridge on Friday, where detectives believe her body was dumped. Police searching the area under Gladesville Bridge in the ongoing investigation into the death of Cecilia Haddad. Credit:Steven Siewert A NSW police spokesperson has confirmed the divers were looking for a set of keys, but didnt say who they belonged to or what they unlocked. The body of Ms Haddad, 38, was found floating in the Lane Cove River near Woolwich in Sydney's north on Sunday, after she was reported missing by friends. As their brother faces a potential prison sentence for electoral fraud and fights to overturn his bankruptcy, two of Salim Mehajer's sisters are being asked to cough up a combined $6.2 million to cover a debt owed by one of his failed companies. Khadijeh "Kat" Mehajer, whose 2016 nuptials rivalled those of her older brother, and Zenah Osman, the lowest-profile of the Mehajer siblings, are being pursued in the NSW Supreme Court by a demolition contractor hired by Salim Mehajer's company Sydney Project Group Pty Ltd. Kat Mehajer, pictured at her wedding to Ibraham Sakalaki in 2016, is, jointly with her sister Zenah Osman, being pursued for $6.2 million. Credit:Andrew Murray Administrators were appointed to the company in June last year. The Supreme Court heard last year that Sydney Project Group and a second Mehajer company, S.E.T. Services, owed almost $100 million to creditors and had just $32,000 in the bank. The sisters claim their signatures were forged on key documents naming them as guarantors of the debt. They are seeking to engage a handwriting expert to give evidence in the dispute, the Supreme Court heard on Friday. Two sisters charged in relation to an alleged $5.7 million family day care fraud have been released on bail after appearing before court for the first time. Fatmeh Noor, 28, and Zeinab Ali, 31, were arrested on Thursday after Australian Federal Police officers conducted raids across five locations in Lakemba and Kellyville in Sydney's west. Ms Noor was charged with dealing in more than $100,000 in proceeds of crime and Ms Ali with dealing in more than $1 million. Zeinab Ali (left) and Fatmeh Noor leave Sydney Police Centre after receiving bail. Credit:Christopher Pearce, Wolter Peeters The pair appeared before Central Local Court on Friday afternoon via video link from Surry Hills Police station where they were in custody. The wife of a terrorist recruiter has been convicted of disrespectful behaviour after refusing to stand for a judge in a Sydney court. Moutia Elzahed, the wife of jailed Islamic State extremist Hamdi Alqudsi, was the first person in NSW to face the charge after she refused to rise for a judge in 2016 purportedly on religious grounds. The 50-year-old Muslim woman was found guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court of nine counts of disrespectful behaviour in court. Moutia Elzahed arrives at court on Friday. Credit:AAP Elzahed again did not stand but folded her arms when magistrate Carolyn Huntsman left the bench after delivering her ruling on Friday. Telstra is making money by on-selling location data from its customers' mobile phones in similar deals to a partnership with the Bureau of Statistics that caused a public backlash last week. The Australian Bureau of Statistics came under fire for partnering with the telco for a study in 2016, which used mobile phone data showing how many people were in particular suburbs hour by hour. Screenshots from a Youtube video by Telstra advertising its new Location Insights business venture. Credit:Youtube Similar data is now available for a fee, after the Location Insights program was quietly launched by the telco in July 2016. The Australian Bureau of Statistics was the first licensee under the program, but has not used Telstra's Location Insights since then. Data available to Telstra's clients can be broken down into 15 minute increments, and demographics broken down by age groups and gender. The smallest geographic areas available for analysis are the same as the Australian Bureau of Statistics' smallest statistical area, which have an average population of 400 people and could have as few as 200 people. Flames and choking smoke surrounded them both, but Daryl Smith and Senior Constable Leah Rudder did not allow enormous personal risk to deter them from saving a life. The two Australians were awarded one of the nation's highest honours for displaying incredible bravery in their response to emergencies that occurred a year apart on opposite sides of the country. Senior Const Rudder continued to drag an unconscious man from a burning house in Tarro, NSW, in 2003 despite the walls and ceiling collapsing on top of her. Mr Smith, a truck driver, worked to free a man from his wrecked ute near Caveton in South Australia's south-east in 2002 after an explosion engulfed the cabin in flames. The pair became the latest Australians to receive the Star of Courage award for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. The scene of the crash near the Burnley Tunnel. Credit:Joe Armao Two women and a man have been arrested in dramatic scenes after their stolen car crashed into another vehicle on the edge of Melbourne's CBD during peak hour. Witnesses have described seeing guns drawn during the arrest at the Burnley Tunnel entrance near Kings Way just before 5pm. It is believed a stolen white Nissan Skyline was driving on the wrong side of the road before it ploughed into an Alfa Romeo. An argument then broke out between the driver of the Alfa Romeo and three people inside the Nissan Skyline after the crash, The Age understands. Police are calling for witnesses to a fatal motorbike crash in Welshpool on Thursday. The crash happened at the intersection of Orrong and Kurnall Roads in Welshpool about 3.30pm. The motorbike rider died in RPH. Police say a 2010 Kymco motorcycle was travelling east on Orrong Road when it collided with a silver 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer travelling north on Kurnall Road and turned onto Orrong Road. The 37-year-old motorcyclist was taken to Royal Perth Hospital but later died. Australia has joined the United States in expressing concern that Beijing has put missiles on artificial islands in the South China Sea, while defence analysts expressed scepticism at Chinese claims the moves were purely defensive. Beijing all but confirmed US media reports that it had put long-range, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles on the Spratly Islands despite previously promising it would not militarise these man-made features it has built up over recent years. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia would be concerned if the news reports were true because they breached both Beijings promises and also Chinas responsibilities as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. A senior Pentagon official told Asian journalists on a conference call that the US would continue flying and sailing through the area and encouraged other countries to do so. Treasurer Scott Morrison has vowed to deliver savings in next Tuesdays budget as part of plan to pay for new policies while handing out tax cuts for Australians on low and middle incomes. Mr Morrison said the government would never rest on the compliance and integrity measures needed to keep spending under control, making it clear the budget's focus would not be restricted to the income tax cuts the Coalition has signalled for months. The budget will not only unveil the personal tax cuts, which are expected to start on July 1, but will keep the governments controversial company tax cuts while also outlining economic measures to boost jobs and lift wages. In an interview with Fairfax Media, Mr Morrison said he wanted the budget to define the Australian economy for the next 10 years with an emphasis on pay packets a key vulnerability for the government at a time of strong jobs growth but sluggish wage rises. A spook used ASIO resources to run a side business in breach of several of the spy agency's policies. The woman had sought permission to undertake a secondary business, but contravened rules by employing ASIO's email system, phone and internet access to run the enterprise during work hours. It is a breach of the agency's human resources and IT policies to use ASIO internet for personal profit-making and personal email, or use the IT systems to conduct or promote private business interests. A tribunal heard an IT audit revealed the woman sent 47 personal business emails via ASIO's system over seven months. One email listed her ASIO telephone number as her first point of contact during business hours. There is one big question Scott Morrison does not want to answer about the tax cuts he will reveal on Tuesday night. Will the government honour its rule of allowing any improvements in tax revenue to be banked on the budget bottom line? This is the rule imposed after the global financial crisis to guard against political decisions that spend any revenue gains that are otherwise needed to produce a surplus. The question goes to the heart of the debate on whether the country can afford the new income tax cuts. Young Australians will live lives more impoverished than their parents, thanks to the disappointing debt legacy of successive federal governments. That's the fresh budget-eve warning from Tony Shepherd, the head of the Coalitions 2014 National Commission of Audit. Speaking to Fairfax Media, Mr Shepherd said the Treasurer, Scott Morrison, should deliver only modest personal income tax cuts in Tuesday night's budget, devoting the substantial portion of windfall revenue gains to budget repair. Without action now, future generations would end up shouldering a higher tax burden, which would reduce their standard of living, Mr Shepherd warned. Were going to have to pay for it. Some time or another, youre going to have to pay the piper. LG has this week announced it latest flagship smartphone, the G7 ThinQ. With a unique display, a focus on AI features and a helping hand from Google in the software department, LG claims it's developed the G7 to be its "most convenient" phone yet. The Korean electronics giant's mobile division has been bleeding money since 2015, as Apple and Samsung cemented their duopoly in the premium market and a string of Chinese manufacturers including Oppo, Huawei and Xiaomi undercut LG with powerful but low-priced phones. After a series of gimmick-led phones which received luke-warm receptions, LG's last few flagships have been very impressive especially when it comes to audio and displays but have struggled to stand out against Samsung's more popular devices. By attaching the "ThinQ" banner to the new phone (which ties it to LG's growing line of connected appliances), the company hopes it can make AI its new point of difference when it comes to mobile devices. Algorithms in the G7 will select camera modes and optimise the display depending on what you're pointing your lens at, or what kind of kind content you're watching. The LG G7 can show or hide its 'notch'. The phone will also feature smarts from Google, including the Assistant (as well as a dedicated button below the volume keys to summon her) and Google Lens. It will be able to hear and recognise your voice from five metres away, allowing you to use the phone like a Google Home. All together it doesn't sound like that much more AI than you'd find in a rival phone from Google or Samsung, but we'll find out how convenient it is when the G7 launches in June. Jakarta: Jailed Australian filmmaker James Ricketson has been taken to a Cambodian prison hospital after falling ill while sharing an over-crowded cell with more than 100 prisoners. The news prompted Ricketson's family to call on Canberra to intervene and help secure proper medical treatment for him. Ricketson, 69, was jailed 11 months ago by Cambodian authorities and still awaits a trial date. He was arrested after flying a drone over a rally staged by the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party on Phnom Penh's riverfront. Washington, DC: Federal investigators kept logs of the phone lines of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen, NBC News said on Thursday, correcting an earlier story that said the lines were wiretapped to allow investigators to hear the calls. "In this case, they were just able to see that somebody called somebody else," but they were not able to listen to the calls, NBC News reporter Tom Winter, one of the two reporters bylined on the story, said on MSNBC. Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney . Credit:AP NBC News reported that the monitoring of Cohen's phone lines was in place before the FBI seized records and documents in an April 9 raid on his offices, hotel room and home. Giuliani insisted Trump didn't know the specifics of Cohen's arrangement with Daniels until recently, telling Fox & Friends that the President didn't know all the details until "maybe 10 days ago." Giuliani told The New York Times that Trump had repaid Cohen $US35,000 a month "out of his personal family account" after the campaign was over. He said Cohen received $US460,000 or $US470,000 in all for expenses related to Trump. But no debt to Cohen was listed on Trump's personal financial disclosure form, which was certified on June 16, 2017. Asked if Trump had filed a fraudulent form, Sanders said: "I don't know." Adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Credit:AP 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." Changing his tune: Donald Trump. Sanders said on Thursday that Trump "eventually learnt" 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, there's 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. That's what lawyers get hired to do." Daniels herself weighed in via Twitter, saying: "I don't think Cohen is qualified to 'clean up' my horse's manure. Too soon?" Her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, who engaged in his own press touron Thursday, slammed both Trump and Giuliani. "The admissions by Mr Giuliani as to Mr Trump's 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 counsel's 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 non-disclosure agreement. Giuliani has warned Trump that he fears Cohen, the President's longtime personal lawyer, 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 former self-proclaimed legal fixer has been surprised and concerned by Trump's recent stance toward him, according to a Cohen confidant. Cohen was dismayed to hear Trump marginalise 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 cosy with Trump, said the person who was not authorised to talk about private conversations and spoke only on condition of anonymity. Cohen also had not indicated to friends that Trump's legal team was planning to contradict his original claim that his payment to Daniels was made by him alone. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and US attorney, joined Trump's legal team last month. He told CNN on Thursday that the announcement of Trump's repayment of the hush money was a planned strategy, saying: "You won't 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 Giuliani's performance, according to a person familiar with his views. And Giuliani told The Washington Post the President was "very pleased". Jason Miller, who worked on both Trump's and Giuliani's presidential campaigns and remains close to 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, modelled on the team that defended former president Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. "This is not the White House's job. This is not what they're supposed to be worried about," he said. Washington: President Donald Trump insisted on Friday that "we're not changing any stories" about the 2016 hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels, even as he further muddied the explanation for the settlement by suggesting Rudy Giuliani, the new face of his legal team, needs to "get his facts straight". Trump said that Giuliani, who upended the previous White House defence this week by saying the President knew about his personal lawyer Michael Cohen's payment to Daniels, was "a great guy but he just started a day ago" and said the former mayor of New York City was still "learning the subject matter". The President added that "virtually everything" reported about the payments - which are the subject of swirling legal action and frenzied cable newsbreaks - was wrong. But he declined to elaborate. Giuliani's surprise revelation of the President's payment clashed with Trump's past statements, created new legal headaches and stunned many in the West Wing. White House aides were blindsided when Giuliani said on Fox News on Wednesday night that the President had repaid Cohen for $US130,000 ($170,000) that was given to Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 election about her allegations of an affair with Trump. The last and most important anniversary being marked by Macrons visit is May 5, 1998, when all political parties in New Caledonia signed on to the Noumea Accord, which extended the promise of a referendum by 20 years, to November 2018, and, crucially, recognised the trauma of colonisation on the Kanak people in its preamble. By choosing to visit at this time, Macron is making a strong symbolic gesture towards reconciliation, not shirking the Gossanah Cave event, but acknowledging the real contributions of the Matignon and Noumea Accords to the present shape of New Caledonia, and hopefully to its future. During his visit, Macron will visit the capital, Noumea; the Kanak heartland in the Northern Province at Kone; and Ouvea itself in the Loyalty Islands. Reflecting the ongoing sensitivities around the milestone events that his visit marks, word of his visit to Ouvea led to some Kanak parties opposing a visit by Macron to Gossanah Cave. At last report, Macron wasnt planning to go to the cave itself. He has also chosen a neutral venue, the Nouville Theatre, for his major speech, on Saturday, May 5. Also reflecting heightened local sensitivities, as political party leaders both pro-France and pro-independence meet under the auspices of a new Dialogue Group on the Future, Macrons spokesman has indicated that the President wont favour either side in the referendum preparation process, reiterating that its for Caledonians to choose their future, and that he is "very attached" to respecting their choice. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Cloudy with occasional light rain late. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional light rain late. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. NASA's next Mars-bound spacecraft is ready to launch even if there is a better than likely chance that no one will be able to see it when it leaves the ground. Space agency officials on Thursday (May 3) gave their approval to launch InSight, the first-ever mission to study the deep interior of the Red Planet. "We did a flight readiness review on Monday, we did a mission dress rehearsal on Tuesday. The entire launch team, all agencies we are prime and ready. And just this morning, we did the launch readiness review," said Tim Dunn, InSight launch director with NASA's Launch Services Program, at a pre-launch press briefing. [Where to Watch NASA's InSight Mars Lander Launch from California] "We got 'go's' from all aspects, all organizations that have a vested interest in launching InSight," Dunn said. "And so, we are go for launch." The robotic lander is scheduled to lift off Saturday (May 5) at 4:05 a.m. PDT (7:05 a.m. EDT or 1105 GMT) atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from a pad here at Vandenberg, in southern California. The local weather is forecast to support an on-time launch with the one exception of visibility. "We are anticipating visibility to be bad that day," said 1st Lt. Kristina Williams, weather officer for the U.S. Air Force's 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg. Col. Michael Hough, Commander 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg Air Force Base, left, and 1st Lieutenant Kristina Williams, weather officer, 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg Air Force Base, discuss NASA's InSight mission during a prelaunch media briefing, Thursday, May 3, 2018, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) As of Thursday morning, there was an 80 percent chance of the marine fog layer exceeding the normal visibility requirements for a safe launch. "There is an 80 percent chance that we will have visibility that low and you will not be able to see the launch," said Williams. "However, for the launch to actually happen, we are anticipating for all other mandatory range safety and user constraints that probability of violation is zero percent." Range safety, which monitors launches to make sure they pose no threat to people or property in the area, has the ability to "mitigate" the visibility constraint, Williams explained. "If they choose to do so, we may be able to not have to even monitor that constraint during the launch, in which case, yes, you will not be able to see the launch, but the launch could be successful and not be impacted by weather," she said. Whether or not it is seen when it lifts off, InSight (short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) will become NASA's first interplanetary mission to launch from the United States' west coast. "We're finally breaking the monopoly that the east coast has had, that Floridians have had, on interplanetary launches," said Tom Hoffman, InSight project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The countdown to the launch of InSight is scheduled to start on Friday (May 4) at 10:14 p.m. PDT (1:14 a.m. EDT or 0514 GMT on Saturday, May 5). A little over an hour later, the 260-foot-tall (80 meters) Mobile Service Tower protecting the Atlas V will begin a 20-minute long, 250-foot (about 80 m) roll away from the rocket. Four hours and 25 minutes later, the two-hour launch window will open. InSight is scheduled to land on Mars on Nov. 26, after a 205-day, 301-million-mile (485 million kilometers) journey. The lander's instruments include a seismometer to try to detect marsquakes and a self-hammering probe that will monitor the flow of heat from the planet's interior. Launching alongside InSight and trailing it to Mars will be two small spacecraft designed to test deep-space communications and relay data from InSight as it enters the Martian atmosphere. The Mars Cube One, or MarCO, duo will be the first cubesats launched to another planet. "This is really a fantastic mission," said Jim Green, NASA's newly appointed Chief Scientist. "It is a planetary mission from the Discovery program. The Discovery program is all about doing firsts and getting to places have never been before." "That enables us to be in the position we are now in, with a spacecraft sitting on top of an Atlas ready to go to Mars, and everything is in top shape," he said. HELSINKI, Finland China on Thursday (May 3) launched the Apstar-6C communications satellite, successfully inserting the 5-metric-ton spacecraft into a geostationary-transfer orbit. The Long March 3B launch vehicle lifted off from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China at 12:06 p.m. Eastern, in accordance with airspace closure notices published days in advance. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced success of the launch just over an hour after liftoff. The launch was China's thirteenth of the year overall, and the fifth from Xichang, which is expected to see around 17 launches in 2018, mostly of Beidou navigation and positioning satellites. Apstar-6C joins a fleet of four fully operational satellites belonging to APT Satellite of Hong Kong, operator of the Apstar constellation, which provide coverage of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The Apstar-6C satellite is based on a DFH-4 platform and was developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a satellite and spacecraft maker under CASC, the main contractor for China's space program. It is equipped with 45 transponders in C, Ku, and Ka bands, with a designed service life of 15 years. The satellite will replace the in-orbit Apstar-6 satellite, providing high-power transponder services for video distribution, broadband internet access, and cellular backhaul, according to APT Satellite. APT signed an in-orbit-delivery agreement with China Great Wall Industry Corp. (CGWIC), a CASC company, on Oct. 17, 2015 the same day that China successfully launched the DFH-4-based Apstar-9 communications satellite. The contracting party was required to submit the contract for review to an independent committee, in accordance with Hong Kong Stock Exchange rules, as CASC, which owns CAST and CGWIC, has a majority equity stake in APT. CASC is planning a potential 36 launches in 2018, and emerging non-government launch providers could take China's number of orbital launches to over 40 for the year. The next Chinese missions lined up are the Gaofen-5 high-resolution Earth observation satellite, due to launch on May 8 from Taiyuan in north China, and the '"Queqiao" ("Magpie bridge") communications relay satellite for the Chang'e-4 lunar far side mission. The relay satellite, to orbit around the second Earth-Moon Lagrange point some 80,000 kilometers beyond the Moon, will facilitate communications with a lunar lander and rover on the far side of the Moon, following their launch in late 2018. This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. Vice President Mike Pence made a visit to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL) in Pasadena, California, last Saturday (April 28) to tour the facility and check out the preparations for NASA's newest Mars mission. Pence, who is the chair of the National Space Council, arrived one week before the agency's Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander is scheduled to launch, according to a recentstatement by the space agency. The InSight mission is slated to take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California this Saturday (May 5) and will begin looking for tectonic activity on Mars as early as November. Saturday's tour of JPL was one ofseveral stops the vice president made to the Southland the region in California between Los Angeles and the U.S.-Mexico border over the weekend, according to NBC San Diego. JPL Director Michael Watkins led Pence; his wife, Karen; and their daughter Charlotte on a private tour of several facilities, including the mission control building and the "Mars Yard," an outdoor facility that mimics the Martian terrain. They also stopped by the Spacecraft Assembly Facility, where the Mars 2020 rover is currently being put together. [In Photos: VP Mike Pence Tours Mars Yard & More at NASA's JPL] InSight isn't the only mission launching this month; JPL's GRACE-FO satellite is scheduled to take off on May 19 and will pick up from the 15-year GRACE mission to continue monitoring how melting polar ice caps are contributing to rising sea levels. The Pence family's afternoon visit was also met with a group of about adozen protestors, who gathered outside JPL's entrance to criticize the administration's stance on climate change, according to a report by CBS Los Angeles. Criticism of the Trump administration's stance on climate change has included the omission of "climate change" and "sea-level rise"from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's strategic plan for 2018 through 2022, President Donald Trump's choice to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement and Pence's remarks calling climate change an argument born of partisan politics. This artist's concept from August 2015 depicts NASA's InSight Mars lander fully deployed for studying the deep interior of Mars. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) The California Institute of Technology manages JPL for NASA. JPL leads the $2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory mission, which brought the Curiosity rover to Mars in 2012. JPL monitored the Cassini mission to Saturn, which ended with a fiery plunge into the ringed planet in September, and still manages the Voyager probes travelling billions of miles away Earth. Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter @salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Artist's illustration of NASA's InSight lander on Mars. InSight is scheduled to launch on May 5, 2018. NASA's next Mars mission almost didn't happen. A slow leak in the vacuum container surrounding the seismometer instrument on the InSight Mars lander which launches no earlier than Saturday (May 5) forced mission managers to call off its initially scheduled launch more than two years ago, in March 2016. And fixing the problem put InSight significantly over budget. InSight will probe the interior of Mars. The seismometer officially called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) is a dome-shaped instrument that will be deployed directly on the Martian surface. The instrument is tuned to pick up incredibly sensitive vibrations from marsquakes and meteorite impacts; it is so efficient that it can detect tremors smaller than a hydrogen atom, mission team members have said. [Where to Watch NASA's InSight Mars Lander Launch from California] The instrument has three long-period (or very broad-band) seismic probes housed inside the dome, which need to be maintained at a vacuum to ensure correct measurements, according to the French national space agency CNES, which built SEIS. A defective weld, however, caused a leak in 2015 that had engineers scrambling to fix the problem. Artist's illustration of InSight's Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) instrument on the Red Planet's surface. (Image credit: NASA TV/JPL-Caltech) In a televised NASA news conference Thursday (May 3) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, InSight principal investigator Bruce Banerdt said the leak was tiny. In a typical car tire with the same leak rate, it would take about 50 years to register a 1 pound-per-square-inch difference. But in a delicate seismometer, "it upset the apple cart in terms of the sensitivity," Banerdt said. The greatest concern, he continued, was trying to ensure the instrument would work between the day and night cycles of Mars, which have an average 170-degree-Fahrenheit (94 degrees Celsius) temperature swing at InSight's planned landing site near the Red Planet's equator. "We tried to fix it, but what we were using to patch it had to be able to withstand these huge temperature extremes," said Banerdt, who is a geophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "We were not able to do a confident enough job that we were going to be certain it would work on Mars. It was much more prudent to stop." Stopping meant calling off InSight's planned March 2016 launch and waiting another 26 months to fly to Mars. This lengthy delay is caused by orbital dynamics: Mars and Earth align favorably just once every 26 months so that a spacecraft can fly between the planets using a minimum of fuel. NASA and mission managers also had to consider whether it was worth exceeding InSight's $675 million budget to implement the fix and set a new launch date. At the time the problem was announced in December 2015, $525 million had already been spent. At a news conference at the time, NASA officials said it was possible that InSight would never launch. [Mars InSight: NASA's Mission to Probe Red Planet's Core (Gallery)] "That's all forward work," John Grunsfeld, who was then associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said during a Dec. 22, 2015, teleconference, referring to InSight's fate. "We just haven't had time to work through that because our focus was on getting ready to launch." Working through the problem A few months after the leak occurred, Banerdt's team returned to NASA senior management with a process for redoing the balky seismometer. "We put together a solid plan to show we would fix this in plenty of time," Banerdt said at Thursday's news conference, adding (with a laugh) that NASA monitored him very carefully through the fix. He offered few details as to how the redesign took place but said the goal was to make sure SEIS was even stronger than before, with an enhanced ability to maintain the needed vacuum conditions. Meanwhile, NASA considered InSight's science potential and whether the mission was important enough for the agency to accept reduced opportunities for new projectsbetween 2017 and 2020 a possible consequence of keeping InSight afloat. InSight's unique focus helped the mission here, team members said. NASA has sent numerous surface craft to Mars over the years, including (most recently) the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, which landed in 2004; the Phoenix lander (2008); and the much larger Curiosity rover (2012). These missions, however, were focused on surface weather and processes, answering questions such as whether there was liquid water on Mars in the ancient past. InSight, however, is focused on the Martian interior. The data it gathers should help researchers better understand the formation of rocky planets in general, providing insights about not only Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars but also terrestrial worlds beyond the solar system. (InSight will collect this information with SEIS, a self-burrowing heat probe and a radio-science experiment that will allow team members to detect slight wobbles in Mars' axis of rotation.) Exoplanet science is a big deal, and it's only getting bigger. For example, NASA just launched the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite to hunt for alien worlds around the sun's nearest neighbors. InSight will also provide valuable information for human exploration of the Red Planet a key goal of NASA, said agency Chief Scientist Jim Green. He drew an analogy with earthquake-prone Southern California, where structures must be built to withstand seismic shakes. "How quake-prone is Mars? That is fundamental information we need to know as humans then explore Mars," Green said during Thursday's news conference. "The scientific basis of this mission not only the planetary science, but human exploration was a factor in the decision to keep things going," he added when asked about the decision to continue InSight. The instrument fix and two-year delay added $153.8 million to InSight's price tag, NASA officials have said. "The additional cost will not delay or cancel any current missions, though there may be fewer opportunities for new missions in future years, from fiscal years 2017-2020," NASA said in a statement in September 2016, when the new InSight launch date this year was announced. InSight has a 96- to 98-percent probability of launching either Saturday (May 5) or Sunday (May 6), Vandenberg officials said at the news conference. The window on Saturday opens at 7:05 a.m. EDT (1105 GMT, 4:05 a.m. local California time). InSight's overall 2018 launch window extends until June 8. If you are unable to see the launch in person in Southern California, you can watch it live on Space.com and the NASA TV websites. Regardless of the launch date, InSight will touch down Nov. 26 on Mars' Elysium Planitia. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. 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 I peered over the craggy rim of Erta Ale, Ethiopia's most active volcano, at the lava lake below. Beneath a gassy haze, boiling, ruby-red, molten rock thickened and rose up, swelling like a tidal wave topped off by a fireworks of crashing surf. Earth is made up of blood and guts, I thought, just like me. I had stumbled upon the opportunity to hike to the 2,011-foot summit of Erta Ale while planning a road trip across the ancient kingdoms and lakes of Ethiopia's Rift Valley. The East African Rift runs through Ethiopia's crusty, northeastern Afar Region. There, the shifting of the tectonic plates beneath the parched desertscape produces a chaos of fire and gases that can be seen at the top of Erta Ale, which contains one of the world's six lava lakes. Though navigating congested urban streets represented the extent of my recent hiking prowess, I decided I had to climb the volcano. The two-day trek turned out to be the most arduous and spectacular event in my month-long trip, and whetted my appetite for more. I'm not alone in my desire to gaze upon breathtaking vistas, watch heart-stopping pyrotechnics and gain insight into the fiery depths of the planet we inhabit. Statistics from several sites and tour companies suggest that trips to both visit and hike volcanoes are climbing. Volcano Adventures, a tour company founded by German volcanologist Tom Pfeiffer, says its day-trip excursions to Italy's Stromboli and Etna volcanoes have increased by 15.3 percent since 2014. The number of people climbing Mount Nyiragongo, an active stratovolcano at Virunga National Park in Congo, increased 92 percent between 2015 and 2017. A National Park Service report estimates a 58 percent increase in visitors at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park since 2008, when Kilauea, an active shield volcano, began erupting. And with its current activity - a 4.6-magnitude temblor struck the Big Island on Thursday and shook Kilauea - there's more opportunity to come. "Volcano tourism is set to rise with the establishment of more volcanic and geothermal Geoparks and World Heritage sites," said guidebook author Patricia Erfurt-Cooper, referring to the areas designated by UNESCO to protect the planet's geological heritage. The risk of being trapped, injured or killed while hiking a live volcano, however, means one should undertake careful consideration and planning. Although I returned from my first trek with just a few minor cuts from stumbling over loose, razor-sharp rocks, I realized I should do some research before planning another. So I turned to several experts, including Rosaly Lopes, a senior scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and author of the "The Volcano Adventure Guide," among others. Keep the following advice in mind when planning a volcanic adventure. Perhaps the most important tip is to consider obtaining travel insurance and extra coverage. As you'll see below, both natural and political conditions can change rapidly. Do your research: "Find out as much as possible about the volcano you plan to visit before leaving home," Lopes advises. For example, which of the six eruption types does it exhibit? Hawaiian and Strombolian eruptions emit gentle lava flow and moderate eruptions, respectively. They represent the least dangerous types to watch. Plinian eruptions (similar in scale to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79) refer to the extremely destructive ones. "Be aware," warns Lopes. "No two volcanoes are alike, even if they are classified as the same type." For volcano research information online, check out the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program and the U.S. Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program. Lopes suggests preparing a checklist that includes information about the volcano's current and past activity. Find out whether your volcano destination is regularly monitored by scientists from a nearby university; local experts and guides can provide invaluable details you might not find in general guidebooks. Take a look at maps that show roads or trails to the summit. See if escape routes have been provided and find out what kind of local emergency, and search and rescue services are available. Pack protective attire: Determine equipment and clothing based on what type of material your volcano is likely to expel, and your potential proximity to explosions, Lopes says. A visit to the tourist spots at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park shouldn't require more than a sturdy pair of shoes. If you are hiking on rough, brittle volcanic terrain, such as on Erta Ale, wear long pants, hiking boots and a pair of leather gloves. A hard hat or helmet and protective goggles are advisable when visiting an active volcano that spits out Strombolian explosions, such as Yasur, on Tanna Island, the major tourist attraction in the South Pacific archipelago nation of Vanuatu. "The more remote the area, the more emergency equipment you'll want to bring," Lopes says. "Carry the same essentials you would select for any challenging mountain or rock climbing excursion. Find out if there are cell, radio . . . or satellite communications services. Always carry plenty of water." Prepare for plumes: Ingrid Smet, geologist and tour coordinator at Volcano Adventures, advises carrying a gas mask to expeditions with fumaroles - openings that release toxic gases and steam - such as Nyiragongo. "Even nonerupting volcanoes may produce a plume of gas or lots of fumaroles," Lopes says. Lava that is entering the sea, as is common in Hawaii, can produce steam clouds that contain hydrochloric acid. Breathing these fumes may cause respiratory problems, eye and skin irritation. Be aware that the wind may change directions quickly. If you find yourself in perilous volcanic atmosphere without a gas mask, Lopes suggests tying a wet cloth over your nose and mouth. Obey the signs: Always stay within barriers and obey restricted area signs. Last September, three people visiting the Solfatara volcano crater in Pozzuoli, a popular tourist attraction near Naples, died when an 11-year-old boy wandered past a barrier and fell into a pit; his parents tried to rescue him. If you aren't sure you have firm lava to stand on, tread very carefully and be aware of the weight you bear on each leg. "Try to walk near the edges of flow channels rather than over the middle," Lopes says. "Listen for crunchy noises underfoot and look for signs of broken crusts." Avoid the 'bombs': Explosive bursts within the volcano's main vent can shoot magma "bombs" into the air, accompanied by loud, thunderous bangs and a fire dance of falling cinders. It's a joy to watch, but keep in mind that, given the volatility of volcanic activity, there is no established standard for the safe distance from an eruption. Watch the direction and range of flying bombs. If dodging becomes impracticable, Lopes recommends finding a mound or large boulder for shelter and covering your head with a backpack when a helmet or hard-hat is unavailable. Running is advisable only when bombs appear to be pellet-sized and you can outrun their range, she says. Take care at lava flows: While most visitors to Kilauea head to the Jaggar Museum's overlook to view the eruption, others choose to walk over the uneven terrain formed by years of recent flows to watch the red-hot lava running into the sea. "Always check with park rangers before hiking out to lava flows," says Jessica Ferracane, public affairs specialist at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. "Check the park website and watch for daily updates on the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for the latest conditions." A good safety resource is the park's Lava Safe video at YouTube.com. Consider other dangers: Among Lopes's most frightening experiences exploring an active volcano were a pack of unfriendly dogs and a gun-toting farmer. "There are times when the place itself is more dangerous than the volcano," she said. Erfurt-Cooper concurs: "Safe access can be a problem in remote regions such as Kamchatka in the Russian Far East, the Aleutians or Mount Erebus. On occasion, volcanoes may become unsafe due to political unrest." The trek up 11,378-foot Nyiragongo remains popular, despite the ongoing violence in Congo. And tours to Erta Ale, the volcano I visited, have grown since a 2012 incident in which five European tourists were killed by rebels. (The death of a German tourist in 2017 was deemed a tragic accident.) To help evaluate whether your destination is safe, check out the State Department's travel advisory system. As you ponder where to see Earth in its perpetual process of reinvention - with 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, there are plenty of choices - here are some sites recommended by the experts I spoke with. Silfra fissure, Thingvellir National Park, Iceland: "You won't necessarily see lava in Iceland," Lopes says. "But you will enjoy wonderful volcanic landscapes, geysers and geothermal areas." Silfra is a crack between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates filled with some of the clearest water on Earth. "You can actually see the surface expression of these two plates spreading apart," she says. Dallol, Ethiopia: This site, a half-day drive from Erta Ale, is "the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life," Lopes says. It's Earth's lowest land volcano, at 158 feet below the sea, and its sulfurous geysers glow in mineral colors. Sierra Negra, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands: The Galapagos archipelago delivers remote volcanic habitats, an array of invigorating activities and the blue-footed booby. Erfurt Cooper suggests visiting sea-horse shaped Isabela Island, for a challenging seven-mile hike on Sierra Negra Volcano, where you can peer into the depths of one of the world's greatest volcanic calderas. STAMFORD A new occupational school, geared to training people for positions in health care, opened downtown this week. The Northeast Medical Institute, at 29 Bank St., can serve up to 60 students a month and is expected to graduate 200 students a year as certified nurses aides and phlebotomists, according to a news release. Former Stamford Health Medical Group member, Daniel Remiszewski, owner of the new school, was inspired to open the best hands-on training facility while working with a cerebral palsy patient and realizing the dire need for healthcare professionals in the lower Fairfield community, the release said. Remiszewski, received accreditation from the state Department of Public Health and the Connecticut Office of Higher Education to lead this new school. The institute will offer certification training for nurse Aides, phlebotomists and offer American Heart Association CPR courses. Monday, at a grand opening, several area officials and Mayor David Martin celebrated the new institute. M eghan Markles Uber days are most likely behind her. As are, most probably, days of doing her own makeup in the back of a car before a major event. But it wasnt always so. Back in September 2016, about two months into dating Harry, the Suits star featured in a video campaign for the cosmetics company Bobbi Brown. Promoting some of the beauty moguls new products, the actress hopped in the back of an Uber to partake in some backseat retouching. Bobbi Brown, who exited her namesake company just a few months later in December 2016, talks the royal-to-be through a series of makeup items, getting her to try each on her enviably glowy skin. Although images and video of Meghan from the campaign were first released nearly two years ago, they appear to have flown mostly under-the-radar. Meghan Markle for Bobbi Brown / Bobbi Brown Meghan markle Wearing a champagne pink blouse and a black skirt, with a messy blow-out, Markle is on her way to an important meeting with film producers - "so fingers crossed, she says, I feel good about it. In the video Markle tests a few of the products, including an illuminator which she says has such a pretty glow, and a retouching wand that blends so easily.' Not only does Meghan demonstrate shes a dab hand at makeup-on-the-go, but when the cab suddenly starts blasting Notorious B.I.G's 'Big Poppa' she immediately starts to have a little boogie. Bobbi and Meghan then somewhat inexplicably - try out a little meditation, confirming this really was one hell of a cab ride. While her Uber days might be behind her, we like to think that behind the blacked-out windows of her chauffer car, a tiara-clad Meghan will be rocking out to some gangsta rap en route to Windsor. Well, you never know N orwegian Air on Friday revealed it has rejected two takeover offers from British Airways parent, whose boss Willie Walsh has not ruled out a fresh approach. Budget airline Norwegian said it had rejected the bids from International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) on the basis that they undervalued the company and its prospects. The update comes after IAG, which is trying to raise its market share amid competition from low-cost carriers, last month bought a 4.6% stake in the Scandinavian carrier to prompt bid talks. Walsh, chief executive of IAG, today kept his cards close to his chest on a potential next move, and said he was reviewing options for Norwegian. He told the Standard: We have not ruled anything in, or anything out. Norwegian is estimated to be worth $3 billion (2.2 billion), including its debt. Neil Wilson, chief analyst for Markets.com, said: We now have the prospect of a bidding war for Norwegian, although it depends on IAGs appetite to do a deal whether it ups its offer. Wilson said that other suitors could yet gatecrash a potential deal, which could hurt IAG as it tries to stem competition from transatlantic operators while maintaining disciplined spending. The updates came as IAG reported a 75% rise in first-quarter operating profits to 280 million (247 million). Revenues rose to 5 billion from 4.9 billion. The firm, which is also behind Aer Lingus and Iberia, was boosted by the early Easter, favourable currency moves, and higher ticket prices. Walsh pointed to the US and Spain as popular destinations, helping total passenger numbers to increase 8.5% to 22,953. Shares in IAG rose 35.1p, or more than 5%, to 675.7p. Separately, budget carrier easyJet revealed it transported 7.45 million passengers last month, 4.7% up on a year before. T he CWU communications union today voiced serious concerns over thousands of job losses set to be unveiled by BT next week. Reports suggest that BT is ready to cut around 6,500 jobs from its 110,000 workforce as part of a new corporate strategy from under-pressure chief executive Gavin Patterson to revive a flagging share price. Front and middle management roles are understood to be the chief target of Pattersons cull rather than engineers, but a CWU spokesman said the union had serious concerns over the cuts and seeking urgent talks with the company. The shares barely moved on the news, adding 1.55p to 233.7p. BT, whose shares have slumped in the wake of setbacks including a fraud scandal in Italy and a record 42 million fine from Ofcom, declined to comment. H oliday Inns owner InterContinental Hotels Group on Friday played down a fall in London revenues, saying demand has held up following a spate of terror attacks and group results have jumped. The FTSE 100 hotels giant said UK revenue per room slipped 1% in the first quarter. In London the figure was down 3%. Finance boss Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson said it dropped because a year earlier there was an unusually high blockbuster period, boosted by the weak pound encouraging tourists to the capital. He added that terror attacks last year have not diminished demand in London. The company, which yesterday inked a deal to operate 13 more luxury hotels across Britain, saw global revenue per room rise 3.5%. Elsewhere in the industry, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels said revenue per room fell 3.1% in the quarter. Small but beautiful was how analysts at Citi described Pearson today after the academic publisher reported a positive start to the year. The company posted a 1% rise in revenues for the first quarter, with sales in the US rising by 3%. In its core business the UK, Australia and Italy turnover increased by 6%. Shares shot 39.2p higher to 870p as Catherine ONeill at Citi said Pearsons turnaround now looks firmly on track. She added: The group has delivered a solid set of results. This will give the market confidence that the group is reliable in its ability to predict revenue trends in US higher education. Pearson confirmed it should deliver operating profit of between 520 million and 560 million for the year, and its target of hitting 300 million of annualised cost savings by 2020 remains on course. Pearsons gains helped the FTSE 100 index to move 32.91 points up to 7535.60. Other notable movers included Smurfit Kappa, the Irish packaging company, which has resisted two takeover proposals from Memphis-based International Paper this year. Smurfit unveiled first-quarter earnings grew by 22% on strong demand for cardboard boxes and a fall in fibre costs. Smurfit, which makes packages for the likes of Unilever, Nestle and Procter & Gamble, now expects full-year earnings to be materially better than the 1.24 billion posted last year (1.1 billion). Shares rose 34p to 3056p. Oil major BP was also making gains on rumours it is eyeing up some of the shale assets in the US belonging to BHP Billiton. BHP is selling 800,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford, Permian, Haynesville and Fayetteville Basins believed to be worth $10 billion (7.4 billion). According to reports, BP has hired Morgan Stanley to take a look. BP shares rose 7.4p at 551.3p, and BHP Billiton climbed 22.4p to 1580.4p. It was also good news for Dixons Carphone which is undergoing a radical shake-up under new boss Alex Baldock. This session, Royal Bank of Canada Richard Chamberlain gave Baldock his full backing, upgrading his price target to 230p from 210p previously. Shares rose 11.9p to 215.9p. But it was a rare bad day for Games Workshop, which lost 10p to 2430p despite the figurines-seller upgrading its profits forecast for the full year. Analysts put the fall down to simple profit taking. But the biggest faller was AIM-listed internet domain owner Minds + Machines after investors gave a thumbs down to its acquisition of Florida-based ICM for $40 million. ICM owns niche web domains such as .xxx, .porn, .adult and .sex. P roperty bosses on Friday breathed a sigh of relief as the Conservative party held Westminster and Wandsworth, where major redevelopments are taking place. Labour had made a push to take the two Tory crown jewels boroughs, but failed to make the gains they needed to seize control in local elections. There had been some concerns in the industry that an increase in power for Labour could mean a different property development stance. In Labour-led Haringey, a 2 billion housing project came under fire from activists, who were backed by Jeremy Corbyns Momentum group. Jon Di-Stefano, chief executive of Telford Homes which is building in Nine Elms, Wandsworth, said: Stability in terms of political control of each borough is particularly important when you are in the middle of complex planning negotiations across a number of sites. He continued: In that context it is the lack of change in Wandsworth and other boroughs that is most helpful to speeding up our ability to get on site, especially where those boroughs welcome appropriate development. In Westminster, there are significant developments related to Crossrail and the sprucing up of the West End. Brian Bickell of landlord Shaftesbury said: The property sector makes a huge contribution to Westminster and London. Pro-growth policies which recognise the needs of residents are essential for this to continue. Start with Numis. Big name. The firm said the UK M&A boom still has room to run after reporting a 40% surge in half-year revenues. The company, which has more than 200 corporate clients, was boosted by a near-doubling in fees from corporate broking and advisory work after taking part in larger deals. Co-chief executive Alex Ham predicted the flurry of merger deals - around 66 billion worth so far this year in the UK - will increase. The M&A market has been waiting for some time to pick up. The tailwind is the huge amount of dry powder and cash on corporate balance sheets waiting to be deployed. We dont see a tail-off in M&A activity by any means, he added. Ross Mitchinson, Hams partner as co-chief executive, said the capital-markets boom was encouraging as floats were still to pick-up. There were predictions for a glut of IPOs in 2018 and it hasnt happened so its particularly encouraging we have driven revenues without that contribution, he said. Revenues rose 41% to 74.1 million for the six months ending March 31 and pre-tax profits increased by 86% to 19.5 million. O h no, Jeremy Corbyn. Labour may have won a handful of extra council seats in yesterdays local elections but, in truth, for an opposition party facing an eight-year-old government beset by troubles, it was a disaster. Remember, the Labour leader and Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan launched their council campaign in Westminster, claiming that even this true-blue stronghold was within their sights. Not only has the Tory administration held on in that borough, but in Wandsworth, and Kensington and Chelsea too. In Barnet where Labour needed to win just a couple of seats to take control and which most Tories privately thought was lost the Conservatives actually advanced. In one ward there, Golders Green, the turnout was 70 per cent. Repelled by the pervasive anti-Semitism that the hard-Left has brought into the Labour movement, citizens in that part of north London came out in droves to punish a party that once stood for compassion and inclusion. Outside London, Labour spin doctors point to successes in places such as Plymouth and Trafford but they went backwards in Dudley, Bedworth and Peterborough. It is particularly satisfying that that arch-Corbynista and neo-Stalinist MP Chris Williamson saw his home town of Derby swing to the Tories. There is one overwhelming conclusion for the Left. In a country where many clearly seek an alternative to a Conservative Party drifting to the Right, voters simply do not see Labour as a party they can trust with power. That is because of who leads them. There is a Jeremy Corbyn effect and it is keeping Labour from office. Breathing space The Tories, by contrast, are breathing a huge sigh of relief. Last night was a vindication for well-run Tory councils that have delivered good local services, and which this paper recommended our readers support. It was also a success for the new party chair, Brandon Lewis, who worked hard to gee up an ageing and diminished volunteer force. But the Tory party shouldnt treat the result as a ringing endorsement. The party got fewer votes, and won far fewer council seats than Labour. While it mopped up the votes of Ukip who were riding high the last time this set of elections were held but today were compared to the Black Death by their own general secretary that in itself is a risk for the Tories. We must not drift into the malaise that affected us in the Noughties: wanting the country to adapt to our point of view, rather than the other way round, Ed Vaizey writes compellingly on this page. On housing, the Government must confront its Nimby tendency and recognise the cry of injustice from younger families who also want a chance to own their home. On immigration, the Windrush scandal has exposed the hypocrisy of those Tories who give succour to anti-foreigner sentiment in our country and then blanche at the real-world consequence for those who have come to these shores and made such a huge contribution to our society. We hope that Sajid Javids very welcome decision today to grant Afghan interpreters who risked their lives helping the British Army a route to permanent settlement here is a sign of the more humane immigration system the new Home Secretary has promised to rebuild. On Brexit, the Prime Minister must now choose between hard-line Brexit ideologues, who are holding her hostage, and the pragmatic, moderate approach that Parliament will back, our stalling economy needs and the country supports. It is telling that, on a night when the Conservatives held off the Corbynistas, they lost significant ground to the Liberal Democrats who won control in Richmond and advanced in Cheltenham, both areas with sitting Tory MPs. Yes, Middle England did not endorse the extremism of Jeremy Corbyn. But there remains a deep anxiety in metropolitan, professional Britain about the Rightwards direction that the Conservative Party is allowing itself to be pulled in. W hich element of Donald Trump do you delight in despising most? Every day brings a fresh example of pugnacious behaviour, another execrable opinion, more insights into his arriviste 24-carat gold tap taste or strutting vanity. We lap up every revelation; his bombast is brilliant clickbait. The Trump Show gains top ratings in our everyday dialogue; his latest tweets are a failsafe conversation starter. This week alone brought a basketload of delights (hes the gift that just keeps on giving. No wonder sales of the New York Times are up 10 per cent). Now we know hes the author of that astonishingly excellent health report of 2015 (did we ever doubt it? Who else could have written the line Trump will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency). Plenty of joyful sniggers about that one it certainly cheered up my afternoon cup of tea. Of course he failed to buy a birthday present for his First Lady. And this despite Melanias composure during Pussygate and revelations by porn stars and Playboy bunnies (now Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York who joined Trumps legal team, seems to admit the President did reimburse Michael Cohens $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels). While Trumps confident riposte Im very busy to be running out looking for presents brilliantly fits the caricature of the ultimate male egoistic cad who cant be bothered by his wife, it has to be scripted? Were fascinated and disgusted in equal parts. One-and-a-half years in and I remain hypnotised by those feminine lips, that pout and curl like a cats posterior, the comical comb-over, the tiny hands, the piggy eyes weirdly revelling in the physical revulsion he creates. And yet there are sizable achievements, even if we want to ignore them. And its starting to disrupt our confident dialogue of disgust. These successes may be momentary but we should not want him to fail on everything. We need him to prove us wrong remember when Trump starting World War Three was freely bandied about? I am no Kanye West. I wont be going MAGA on Twitter, ever. But the US economy is booming. And we cant ignore that it was his corralling of other nations to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea that forced Kim Jong-un to last weeks historic meeting between the two Korean leaders. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said Trump would be a worthy winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in nuclear disarmament. Trump also took action over President Assads use of chemical weapons in Syria and while there was typical war-like bluster from the President, the delivery of the warning to Syria was carefully constructed. Hes risking a new trade war US officials are in China trying to reach compromise but China did blink after Trump announced $50 billion in tariffs on its products. The outcome could be positive for Americans. We rightly fear normalising Trump, yet his character is proving an advantage in squaring up to male dictators. And his innate sexism has fuelled an irreversible wave of new feminism. Is it time to let go of the man we love to hate? You dont have to like him My glamazon Aussie au pair couldnt be more down to earth For those waiting on tenterhooks (I mean, obviously you are) to see which au pair I finally hired, it was the Australian blogger with the 120,000 Instagram followers. I had fretted that the beauty with the amazing gym bod and glamorous lifestyle, whose feed was an endless rota of envy-inducing travel hotspots and outstripped my meagre 18,000 followers would reject the humdrum of helping corral my two Fortnite-obsessed boys (as an aside, anti-Fortnite measures have been taken, consoles hidden, gaming time banned; Fortnite will not be part of our Bank Holiday weekend, despite the fury). But it goes to show that the unrealistic disguise social media helps create, is, in many cases, hiding a loveable, normal gem. She couldnt be more down-to-earth, possessing an everyday girls wardrobe and healthy exercised shape. Vanity is not in her lexicon. Thank God Instagram can get it wrong. Virgil Abloh meets Ikea: the way to a millennials heart How grateful are we that fashions love affair with high-street collaborations has not abated? Next is the collection for Ikea by designer Virgil Abloh. As the new head of menswear at Louis Vuitton and creative director of his hip streetwear label, Off-White, many of his creations are unaffordable to his millennial fans. US designer Virgil Abloh is the first black artistic director in Louis Vuitton's history. / Christophe Petit Tesson The fashion world stepped aboard the good ship Chanel last night with Karl Lagerfeld choosing a full scale ferry boat as the backdrop for his latest cruise collection. Anchored in Pariss iconic Grand Palais, La Pausa - a vessel which shares her name with Coco Chanels beloved summer home in Monte Carlo - served as a fitting platform for Captain Karl to present a collection which placed the practice of cruising at its centre and, later, doubled as a party venue. After choosing destinations such as Cuba and Dallas to showcase its resort collections, this season Chanel returned to Paris with the objective of celebrating the concept of cruise fashion in a literal sense. The venue, a maritime playground which could only have been bettered if the liner had turned on its engine and cruised out of the door, was a production typical of the house of Chanel. No expense had been spared. Chanel Cruise 2018 / EPA 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 vintage notion of cruise or resort dressing took centre stage with striped trousers, Breton tops and single faced jackets with boater necklines among the stand out items. Lightweight and full of playful twists, these were items designed with sunnier climbs in mind. Karl Lagerfeld's best ever Chanel runway sets - in pictures 1 /52 Karl Lagerfeld's best ever Chanel runway sets - in pictures Chanel AW19 REUTERS Chanel AW19 REUTERS Chanel SS19 Getty Images Chanel SS19 REUTERS Chanel Couture AW18 Lagerfeld transformed the majestic Grand Palais into the charming stretch along the Seine Getty Images Chanel Couture AW18 complete with book stalls Getty Images Chanel "Metiers D'Art" 17/18 in Moscow A maritime themed collection was presented against a backdrop intended to resemble a shipyard in Moscow Getty Images for Chanel Chanel "Metiers D'Art" 17/18 in Moscow replete with a mirage of water Getty Images for Chanel Chanel Cruise 2019 An actual cruise ship sat on the runway for the Cruise 2019 show Getty Images Chanel Cruise 2019 The liner was named 'La Pausa,' after Gabrielle Chanels summer house on the French Riviera. Getty Images Chanel AW18 For AW18, Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a forest Getty Images Chanel AW18 Complete with majestic moss-covered trees and a runway scattered with leaves. Getty Images Chanel Couture SS18 The SS18 couture collection was presented in an intimate walled garden circling a fountain centrepiece. Getty Images Chanel Couture SS18 The SS18 couture collection was presented in an intimate walled garden circling a fountain centrepiece. Getty Images Chanel SS18 A setting of cliff tops, caves and cascading waterfalls EPA Chanel SS18 A setting of cliff tops, caves and cascading waterfalls AFP/Getty Images Chanel AW17 Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a launch pad Getty Images Chanel AW17 Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a launch pad Getty Images Chanel SS17 A high fashion data centre AFP/Getty Images Chanel SS17 A high fashion data centre Getty Images Chanel couture AW16 Lagerfeld brought his ateliers to the runway Getty Images Chanel couture AW16 Lagerfeld brought his ateliers to the runway Getty Images Chanel couture SS16 A dolls house full of models with paved gardens Getty Images Chanel couture SS16 A dolls house full of models with paved gardens Getty Images Chanel SS16 The Chanel airline Getty Images Chanel SS16 The Chanel airline EPA/Ian Langsdon Chanel couture AW15 A high fashion casino Getty Images Chanel couture AW15 A high fashion casino Getty Images Chanel SS15 Lagerfeld had his models stage a protest on the runway Getty Images Chanel SS15 Lagerfeld had his models stage a protest on the runway Getty Images Chanel AW14 A stylish supermarket sweep Getty Images Chanel AW14 A stylish supermarket sweep Getty Images Chanel "Metiers d'Art" 2014 The Texas trip in Dallas Chanel "Metiers d'Art" 2014 The Texas trip in Dallas Chanel couture AW13 The Grand Palais became an apocalyptic theatre Getty Images Chanel couture AW13 The Grand Palais became an apocalyptic theatre Getty Images Chanel AW13 Models circled the globe Getty Images Chanel AW13 Models circled the globe Getty Images Chanel SS13 The Grand Palais was transformed into a wind farm Getty Images Chanel SS13 The Grand Palais was transformed into a wind farm Getty Images Chanel AW12 A crystallised runway Getty Images Chanel AW12 A crystallised runway Getty Images Chanel SS12 The underwater runway Getty Images Chanel SS12 The underwater runway Getty Images Chanel couture AW11 Models circled a giant ornamental lion Getty Images Chanel couture AW11 Models circled a giant ornamental lion Getty Images Chanel AW11 Lagerfeld transformed his runway into an iceberg Getty Images Chanel AW11 Lagerfeld transformed his runway into an iceberg Getty Images Chanel SS10 A barn-inspired showcase Getty Images Chanel SS10 A barn-inspired showcase Getty Images Chanel SS06 Lagerfeld's vertical runway Getty Images Chanel SS06 Lagerfeld's vertical runway AFP/Getty Images One patch pocket jacket, presented alongside an A-line boucle skirt in the same shade of pink, seemed destined to be worn in a bourgeois bar in Biarritz, while another midnight navy boiler suit trimmed with pearls appeared perfectly suited to a five star lifestyle. Along gangways and out of cabins came models wearing patch pocket suits, tiered dresses and ripped jeans. Chanel Cruise 2018 / EPA Among the shipmates showcasing this collection were Gigi and Bella Hadid as well as Chanel face du jour Kaia Gerber who closed the show. Tapping into fashions collective and insatiable appetite for slogans, the house unveiled t-shirts and sweatshirts printed with the La Pausa motif. Evening gowns, perfect for a night at the captains table, also played a key role, with abstract prints and iridescent beading among Chanels trump cards for later this year. When it came to accessories, Chanel's iconic quilted pouches featured throughout with stark white quilted version serving as punctuation in a collection which borrowed from the Fifties and the Eighties simultaneously. Chanel Cruise 2018 / EPA Berets detailed with beadwork and rubber Mary Jane inspired court shoes were also among the items worn on deck. The show was a tribute to Coco Chanel - the original fashion disrupter - who, a century earlier, thrilled the couturier industry by showcasing a collection created with her customers' vacation needs in mind. But it was also a strategic business move, with attracting even more customers to the cruise collections very much the objective. While cruise has traditionally generated less in the way of noise, it has long been one of the house's best performing collections with sales surpassing those generated from the classic ready-to-wear. O s Mutantes Jazz Cafe, NW1. May 23 A rare appearance from the influential Brazilian Tropicalia band, who now have a different line-up but can still play the same great songs. BBC Proms in the Park Hyde Park, W1. Sep 8 The Beeb has announced the schedule for its annual outdoor gig that doesnt have much to do with the actual Proms. Its a cosy bill that includes Gladys Knight, Lisa Stansfield and Matt Goss. BTS O2 Arena, SE10. Oct 9-10 A huge deal in Asia, the K-pop boy band are set to prove their international credentials with two arena shows here in the autumn. Bullet for My Valentine Alexandra Palace, N22. Nov 10 The heavy Welsh rockers will release their sixth album in the summer and play high on the bill at the Download festival, before embarking on their own big tour later in the year. Honne O2 Academy Brixton, SW9. Nov 24 W e all know the rules: no mobile phones inside the theatre. We're not going to start encouraging snapping away on your iPhone when you're in the middle of a show, but London's theatres boast some of the most beautiful and unusual architecture in the capital: perfect for 'gram. Before you rush into the foyer to pick up your ticket, it's always nice to take a look around and capture these gorgeous historic buildings and hashtag them right up for your Insta followers. From neon-lit facades to stunning dome-like ceilings, brutalist architecture to rows of books, these gorgeous places should be appreciated for more than just their artistic programmes. If you want to spread the theatre love on your feed, these are ten of London's most Instagrammable theatres. National Theatre Denys Lasdun's instantly recognisable brutalist architecture is one of the highlights of the Southbank skyline. Capture the colourful lit up fly tower at night time, or zoom in on these major angles next time you're catching one of the many shows on offer. The Barbican The Barbican Centre has no end of Instagrammable spots, from its conservatory to its fountains - but we love the theatre's magical simultaneously closing doors. Royal Court The Royal Court's facade has been the same since the theatre opened in the 1960s: the main house play lit up in red writing. Take a snap each time you visit and you'll capture moments of playwriting history. The Old Vic The Old Vic's clean, white exterior with rows of pillars makes for a magisterial sight - and a must for any theatre lover's Insta feed. Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre's present home was converted from an old library, so it's only fitting that the part is lined with books. That's not the only enticing spot for any snappers - the recently renovated outdoor area, bedecked with lights, looks pretty lovely too. Bridge Theatre The Bridge Theatre may be the new kid on the block when it comes to the theatre scene, having only opened last October, but its already made an impact. We love the bright red lights that make it impossible to miss. Victoria Palace Theatre Finally got your hands on a Hamilton ticket? There's no way you can head to the Victoria Palace Theatre without informing your Insta followers you were in the room where it happened. London Coliseum A show at the London Coliseum is always a treat for the eyes, but that's once you've got through the door: the decor inside is glamour personified. Royal Opera House Home to the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera, how could the Royal Opera House be anything but beautiful? We love the high ceilings and glass walls in the upstairs bar. Shakespeares Globe I f 2017 was the year overtourism entered the dictionary, 2018 looks set to be when the battle lines are drawn. Last weekend in Venice, protesters dismantled the gates set up to segregate locals and tourists. Venice is not a theme park, read one of the banners brandished by the Left-wing activists who disapprove of Mayor Luigi Brugnaros measures. Meanwhile, Barcelona was Europes other poster child for overtourism last year, with protesters proclaiming: This isnt tourism, its an invasion! when they took to the streets in August. Is it possible to visit Barcelona, have a good time and be respectful towards those who live there? Yes. Do locals want tourists to visit? Yes especially as tourism is one of the citys major industries. All they ask is that visitors educate themselves and act responsibly while in town. Heres how to behave and what not to do. Dont use Airbnb Airbnb has ravaged Barcelonas housing market. In 2016, 57 per cent of hosts many of whom are rental companies, not individuals were found to be operating multiple listings, in direct violation of a local law that limits flat-sharing for commercial use. Because of its proliferation, entire neighbourhoods such as Barri Gotic, Barceloneta and El Born, to give a few examples have been uprooted, with rents skyrocketing by 23 per cent in the past three years and residents forced to move elsewhere. If youre renting, make sure its a legal let. Better still, go the traditional route. The city is littered with affordable hostels, dormitories and hotels at all prices and sizes. Skip the big hitters People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} Its hard to visit Barcelona without hitting the highlights, such as La Rambla or one of Antoni Gaudis whimsical buildings, but there are lesser visited sights and neighbourhoods worth seeing, too. Instead of eating frozen paella and enduring the daily tourist crush on La Rambla, head to the Poblenou neighbourhood instead. Its less touristy, still tree-lined rambla is flush with restaurants and shops, making it a great alternative. If the crowds at Park Guell or Montjuic are too thick, the nearby Laberint dHorta or Bunkers del Carmel are great options. The former is a hedge maze, the latter the location of anti-aircraft fortification during the Spanish Civil War; both offer sweeping views of the city and sea. And rather than packing into the famous and overstuffed Boqueria market (where tour groups have already been banned), shop at the Mercat de Santa Caterina, Sarria Market, Mercat de Sant Antoni or the Mercat del Ninot instead. Dont confuse Catalonia with the rest of Spain Barcelona is the capital city of the autonomous region of Catalonia, where 92 per cent voted to secede from Spain in the independence referendum last October. Learning how to say hello, goodbye and thank you in Catalan will go a long way. On that note, Bar-THE-lon-a is not how the citys name is pronounced in Catalan that would be Castilian Spanish. Neither sangria nor paella are native to Catalonia. Vermouth is sipped in the afternoon, tapas are nibbled before or in place of dinner and alcohol isnt generally consumed until after a 10pm dinner and even then in moderation. Locals largely hate bullfighting, so asking where one can find a fight is not advised. Dont behave badly A mid the vibrant coastal cityscape of Cartagena lies Colombias most stylish and exclusive new destination, the Tcherassi Hotel + Spa, which opened in November. The hotel was built in a 250-year-old colonial mansion in the historic walled town, where colourful Spanish facades overlook the glistening Caribbean Sea. The hotel is owned by renowned local fashion designer, Silvia Tcherassi, whose brand recently launched on Net-a-Porter. Fashion and hospitality tend to go well together (as the expansion of Bulgari and Armani Hotels has demonstrated), and Tcherassis collaboration with interior design icon, Richard Mishaan, has elevated Cartagenas luxury profile to new heights, offering an authentic experience for well-heeled travellers. Mishaan, who is based in New York, but is originally from Colombia, has completed a string of high-profile design projects over the past 25 years. Unlike many examples of Caribbean design, Mishaan intended to create something fresh and minimalistic for the Tcherassi Hotel. My vision was to create a contemporary oasis in the middle of the city that contrasted with the elaborate, colourful, and extremely Caribbean surrounds, he explains. Many other hotels feature that overly colourful and overdone aesthetic; I wanted [to create] an open white space where you could escape the tropical heat - something light and clean. 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}} Mishaan is renowned for his artistic ability to fuse modernity with antiquity a skill that was vital for preserving the heritage of the mansion, while ensuring that the final product was luxurious and attuned to the preferences of discerning international travellers. There are parts of the hotel (starting with the entrance), that are landmarked 16th century spaces that had to be respected, he explains. We made it come alive with historic Colombian references, such as the check-in desk, which is modelled on the studded leather trunks in the Inquisition Museum that were brought over by the Royal family when they visited in the 1500s. It was a great way to reference the past while adding a modern edge. The second part of the hotel is all new construction which we made very contemporary. The furniture is minimal with a lot of wood and steel inspired by 1950s French design. We also incorporated a lot of local crafts and fabrics to reference the local culture, but we stuck to a maximum of two colour palettes to create a clean aesthetic, he explains. Mishaans work typically blends collectibles and antiques with modern furnishings and artworks, and in this case, he designed many of his own patterns, layouts, and pieces himself with materials sourced from local markets and vendors. Taking this direction inspired him to launch a pop-up shop, set for unveiling in New York this month, which will feature an eclectic mix of decorative items inspired by Cartagenas local culture. S ummer is in full swing by July and that means youre probably wanting to make sure youre sat at the beach, rather than your desk. Take advantage of Europe which is basking in golden sunlight or go further afield for a one-off adventure. Heres exactly where we suggest... Darwin Shutterstock You may assume the whole of Australia is cold during their winter season (which falls over our summer) but no, not Darwin. The capital city of the Northern Territory of Australia reaches highs of 31 degrees during July with lows of just 19 degrees. Head over there to explore the beaches (head to Mindil), the national park, go river sailing (watch out for crocodiles) and take a day trip out to the Tiwi Islands. Formentera Formentera, Spain / HundredRooms 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}} A longtime haunt of a-listers (its a firm favourite of Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss), Formentera, located beside Ibiza, is all the good parts of its Spanish neighbour. Youll find beaches that could rival St Barths, bohemian beach clubs and restaurants boasting straight-out-the-ocean seafood and locals sitting in them. All of this, without club queues, 24-hour KFCs and half of the UK. Stockholm Stockholm rarely looks more beautiful than it does washed in white light. The harsh Scandinavian winter is long behind, evenings last for what feels like an eternity and the bars are full of people enjoying the midday heat. Spend a couple of days exploring this capital and then head out to the Archipelago islands for a proper Scandi getaway. Queenstown Shutterstock / GlobalTravelPro Not a fan of hot holidays? Europes ski slopes may have melted but not New Zealands. Head out to Queenstown for the ultimate active adventure. With four ski areas and terrains, its the perfect destination whether youre advance or starting from the beginning. It also just happens to have scenery thats totally spectacular if you just want to sit and gaze out during a liquid lunch on the slopes. Tanzania Alamy In the middle of dry season, not only is the weather favourable during July in Tanzania, its one of the best months to see the wildlife. The wildebeest migration is in full swing in the Serengeti and animals are searching for water meaning they are likely to be more visible. Of course, this means its one of the most expensive months to go on a safari there but if youre going to do it, you might as well book when you have the best chance of ticking off your big beasts bucket list, right? Positano Ricardo Gomez Angel/Unsplash Situated on the Italian Amalfi Coast, this small fishing village is located just one and a half hours from Naples but feels like a different world with its pretty pastel houses that cascade down cliff rocks towards the sea. Here youre likely to mingle with the rich and famous, sip proper Aperols and enjoy endless days of sunshine. Costa Brava JoaquinAranoa/Pixabay Previously thought of as little more than the Brits Abroad destination of choice, in recent years the Costa Brava has begun to clean up its reputation. Go to the right parts and youll find incredible deserted beaches, white-washed villages that inspired the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, and restaurants that hold multiple Michelin stars. Madagascar Shutterstock / Dennis van de Water If remote islands, white sands, blue seas, extraordinary animals and adventure is your type of thing, book a trip to Madagascar this July. The dry season continues there with an average daytime temperature of 28C, and cooler nights levelling out at around 15C. Bordeaux Shutterstock / FreeProd33 See in Bastille Day, the French national day that falls on 14th July each year, in a city famous for its incredible wines. Head to one of the vineyards or (even better) take stock at a wine chateaux for a long weekend. The only thing you will be required to do is indulge, celebrate, and then soak up the alcohol with some of the regions finest foods. Hydra LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images A "devious and deceptive" hairdresser who was jailed for deliberately infecting men with HIV has admitted further attacks. Daryll Rowe, who previously boasted he was "riddled" with the virus, was sentenced to a further eight years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday. The 27-year-old, from Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a further four incidents where he intentionally had unprotected sex with partners, while fully aware that he was HIV positive. Last month he was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 12 years behind bars at Brighton Crown Court for trying to infect 10 men in England. Rowe became the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus. Further attacks: Daryll Rowe / PA Rowe, who admitted four counts of culpable and reckless conduct at the Edinburgh court, was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life. Police Scotland said he was diagnosed in April 2015, would meet men using online dating apps and enter into sexual relationships without disclosing his illness. He would either refrain from wearing a condom during sex, or tamper with the protection, as he sought to deliberately infect others. Between October 2015 and December 2016, he continued to commit similar offences in Edinburgh as well as Sussex and North East England. He was snared following "significant" enquiries carried out by officers in Scotland and England. Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean, of Police Scotland, said: "Daryll Rowe is a devious and deceptive predator who has shown absolutely no remorse for the extensive suffering and distress he has caused his victims. "Since April 2015 he was fully aware of his illness yet refused treatment that would ensure his own health and safeguard his sexual partners from the risk of infection. "To make matters worse, he would then knowingly engage in sexual activity with individuals he met without divulging his condition. "Rowe would then go to great lengths to ensure he put partners at risk of contracting HIV, demonstrating the callous and reckless nature of his character." F ormer Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt, one of Britain's most wanted fugitives, has been captured by police in Barcelona. The 41-year-old, from south London, was detained by armed officers after leaving a gym in the Spanish city, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. It follows a joint NCA, Met Police and Spanish National Police operation. He was wanted by the Met Police over his alleged involvement in the large-scale supply of drugs. Acourt was arrested in Barcelona on Friday afternoon / NCA Acourt was one of six youths suspected to have taken part in the racist murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence in 1993 in Eltham, south London. He has always maintained his innocence. In 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of the murder and were jailed for life. Acourt was apprehended on Friday afternoon near the Metropolitan Sagrada Familia Gym on a European Arrest Warrant. He will appear in court in Madrid next week for an extradition hearing. Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death in Eltham in 1993 Ian Cruxton, head of international operations for the NCA, said: "Acourt thought he could evade capture but as a result of an intelligence-led operation his days on the run have ended. "We were able to direct the Spanish authorities to his location in Barcelona. "Our ability to share information and work at speed with our international partners ensures there is no safe haven for fugitives. We will never stop pursuing these individuals." Police have been hunting Jamie Acourt since 2016 / Metropolitan Police The Met Police added in statement: "Today, Friday May 4, Spanish authorities arrested Jamie Acourt, 41, in Barcelona on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service. "The EAW was issued as part of the Met's efforts to trace Acourt in relation to an investigation into the unlawful supply of controlled substances. "This relates to an investigation launched in 2016 by detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Command. A suspect in the murder of Stephen Lawrence is on a most wanted list of British criminals thought to have fled to Spain. Suspected drug dealer Jamie Acourt, 40, from south-east London, is among 10 criminals believed to be hiding on the continent. The others include a man accused knifing to death a 21-year-old in a bar in Hillingdon, west London, last year. Acourt was allegedly part of a cannabis-dealing gang between January 2014 and February this year, but previously achieved notoriety after he was named as one of the suspects in the investigation into the racist murder of 18-year-old Stephen. The teenager was killed by up to six attackers in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993. In 2012, David Norris and Gary Dobson were convicted of his murder and are serving life sentences. Stephen Lawrence was knifed to death in Eltham in 1993 / PA Shane O'Brien, 28, who is accused of murdering 21-year-old Josh Hanson in an unprovoked knife attack in a bar in Hillingdon in October last year, is also on the list. Police believe he has "strong links" to Spain and uses a false identity to evade capture. A second line of investigation is that he may be in Dubai. The list also includes suspected fraudster Mark Acklom, 43, from London, who allegedly posed as a Swiss banker and MI6 agent as he fleeced a woman, whom he said he would marry, out of 850,000. 10 most wanted British criminals thought to be hiding in Spain 1 /10 10 most wanted British criminals thought to be hiding in Spain Jamie Acourt, 40, from south east London, was allegedly part of a cannabis-dealing gang between January 2014 and February 2016. He is 5ft 8in and athletic, with a pale complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and sometimes wears glasses. Acourt is a suspect in the 1993 racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence. Metropolitan Police/PA Violent offender Jonathan Kelly, 36, from Glasgow, who paralysed one victim in a machete attack, is wanted after going on the run when he was released on licence in 2014. He has convictions for a string of violent crimes including assaults causing severe injury and permanent disfigurement, robbery, and having a sharply pointed weapon in prison. He was also subject to a sexual offences prevention order. Kelly is 5ft 10in, heavily built, and has blue/grey eyes, short, brown hair and occasionally has a beard. There are scars to both sides of his face, on his arms and right hand. Crimestoppers/PA Sarah Panitzke, 42, from Fulford, North Yorkshire, laundered 1 billion as part of a massive tax fraud. She went on the run in May 2013 before the end of her trial for conspiracy to acquire criminal property, and in her absence was sentenced to eight years in prison. Panitzke is 5ft 7in, slim, and has "mousey", straight hair, and blue eyes. Crimestoppers/PA Suspected drug dealer Simon McGuffie, 41, from Liverpool is accused of being part of a Merseyside gang that sold cocaine, heroin and cannabis across the North West. He has a two-inch (5cm) scar on his right cheek, and a scarred right arm. Crimestoppers/PA Shane O'Brien, 28, is accused of murdering 21-year-old Josh Hanson in an unprovoked knife attack in a bar in Hillingdon, west London in October 2015. Police believe he has "strong links" to Spain, is using a false identity and has been helped to avoid capture. Another line of investigation is that he may be in Dubai. A 20,000 reward is on offer for information leading to his arrest and prosecution. O'Brien has a birthmark on his face and a tattoo on his back that says "Shannon 15-04-06". Crimestoppers/PA Matthew Sammon, 45, from Croydon, south London, is wanted on suspicion of making and possessing indecent photographs of children. He was arrested and questioned in April 2014, but went on the run when he was released on bail and has not been seen since. He is 5ft 9in and has short, brown hair. Crimestoppers/PA Dominic McInally, 25, from Liverpool is allegedly the boss of a cocaine-dealing gang that pulled in 1.25 million per month. It is claimed that members of the drug ring travelled to the border of France and Belgium in January 2014 to pick up 6kg of the class A drug and hid it in a secret compartment in a Seat Leon, before it was seized by police. McInally is 5ft 10in and has blond hair. Crimestoppers/PA Suspected paedophile Steven Carruthers, 43, from Bury, Greater Manchester, is wanted by Cumbria Police after officers found more than 5,000 obscene images of children, including some being sexually abused, on his computer. He was interviewed after police raided his home in Ambleside, Cumbria in March 2014 and denied committing any crimes, then went on the run when he was released on bail. He is 5ft 8in and has short, brown hair or a shaved head, and blue eyes. Crimestoppers/PA Suspected fraudster Mark Acklom, 43, from London, allegedly posed as a Swiss banker and an MI6 agent as he fleeced a woman whom he said he would marry out of 850,000. He is wanted by Avon and Somerset Police for fraud by false representation after starting the relationship with a woman from Bath in January 2012. He allegedly deceived her into lending him more and more money, apparently for renovation work on a property that she later discovered he did not own. He is 5ft 10in and has dark brown hair and green eyes. Crimestoppers/PA Mark Quinn, 52, from Liverpool, is wanted by Police Scotland for allegedly being involved in a drug dealing gang that made, smuggled and sold amphetamine with a street value of more than 11 million between August 2013 and April 2014. He is 5ft 9in and has short, brown hair. Crimestoppers/PA Accused conman Acklom convinced her that he needed money to renovate a property, which she later found out that he did not own. The alleged victim, Carolyn Woods, 55, told Sky News: "I was completely devastated, he left me destitute and destroyed my life." Investigators are also hunting convicted fraudster Sarah Panitzke, 42, from North Yorkshire, who laundered 1 billion as part of a massive tax scam and is due to serve an eight-year jail term for conspiracy to acquire criminal property. Steve Reynolds, Head of International Operations for the National Crime Agency, said: "The fugitives we are hunting are wanted for serious crimes and must be returned to the UK to face justice. We need the support of the public to help us catch them. Be our eyes and ears and tell us if you have any information on the whereabouts of our targets." The list was unveiled by British and Spanish authorities at a joint press conference in Malaga earlier today. Jonathan Kelly, 36, from Glasgow, who is wanted for a string of violent crimes including a machete attack that left his victim paralysed, and alleged drugs kingpin Dominic McInally, 25, from Liverpool, who is accused of leading a cocaine-dealing gang that made 1.25 million per month, are also featured. H ow does Jeremy Heywood, head of the UK Civil Service, grapple not just with the biggest government project since the Second World War but also with harsh criticism about alleged Brexit blindness? Heres one way: he posted a tweet, asking Doesnt government itself suffer from cognitive biases? with a link to a test. Heywood and the civil service he leads has been under attack from Brexiteers who say his mind is closed to the wonderful possibilities of leaving the EU. The test asks questions such as: is heart disease the biggest cause of death worldwide? Is the American teenage pregnancy rate higher than three per cent? Are the number of nuclear warheads in the world currently at an all-time high? And also: is a Muggle someone who is born into a non-magical family and who lacks magical powers? Muggles, as every Harry Potter-reading civil servant knows, is the term for non-wizarding folk. Users are asked whether these statements are true or false and how confident they are, on a scale of 100 per cent (total confidence) to 50 per cent (no confidence) that their answer is correct. The cognitive bias test was thought up by the Behavioural Insights Teams (also known as the Nudge Unit), set up in 2010 by the Government. Heywood is a big fan, praising the unit in the past for having applied findings from behavioural science to a wide range of policy areas, often without the need for legislation or expensive incentives. Heywood also tweeted a deliberately confusing infographic that had no discernible starting point and a clutch of boxes with titles like inter-group opposition, optimism bias and most reassuringly illusion of control. Is this test a riposte to critics who say the civil service is short-sighted? We suspect Heywood thinks they are Muggles. Jude Kelly is such a hard act to follow Jude Kelly: (Photo by David M Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) / Dave Benett/Getty Images Jude Kelly, artistic director at the South Bank since 2006, steps down this month but who replaces her? No one, we hear. Kellys role oversaw the Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth concert hall and the Hayward Gallery. Kelly's role will disappear in the new regime. New CEO Elaine Bedell, a former TV executive, senior programmes heads, the board, and a new Creative Director will @agree the broad artistic parameters" for the Southbank Centre. Kelly says: Ive had a wonderful time there and what happens next is for others to conjure. Kelly says: Ive had a wonderful time there and what happens next is for others to conjure. --- Boris Johnsons department has denied a 186-year-old tortoise a cataract operation. Jonathan was hatched 44 years before the invention of the telephone. But when asked in the Lords if Jonathan might have his cataracts removed, Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad replied that a vet had decided it was too high risk. --- Anya Angert, daughter of the reputed Don of Odessa Alexander Angert, featured in a BBC documentary about money laundering on Knightsbridge flats. Anya spent her teens at Wycombe Abbey under Lady Hall, wife of BBC director-general Tony. Contemporaries recall Anyas drawer being stuffed with wads of cash. Ellen von Unwerth Ladyland exhibition zooms in on shots of women Paul Simonon, Claudia Schiffer, Ellen von Unwerth, Rhys Ifans and Serena Rees: (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) / Dave Benett/Getty Images Photographer Ellen von Unwerth welcomed her dearest to the Opera Gallery last night for a preview of her new exhibition, Ladyland. Her collection celebrates her devotion to women and some of her most iconic photographs from the past 30 years, including snaps of the supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, plus the late musician David Bowie. In this age of #MeToo, Unwerth thought the time felt right to focus on women. Model Claudia Schiffer came along to the occasion, posing in front of Unwerths black-and-white portrait of her. Actors Rhys Ifans and Meredith Ostrom were also there, as was Clash bassist, Paul Simonon and business guru, Serena Rees. They spent the evening chatting to Scottish fashion designer Pam Hogg. Musician Tino Kamal also made an appearance; his shirt, however, did not. SW1A THERESA May appointed 12 party vice-chairs in her January reshuffle. Paul Scully posted a photo of Team VC, including himself, Chris Skidmore and James Cleverly. But where were Kemi Badenoch, Ben Bradley and Rehman Chishti? Badenoch and Bradley may still be atoning: Badenoch for hacking Harriet Harmans website; Bradley for calling Jeremy Corbyn a Communist spy. --- Labour comms chief Seumas Milne was a Pret man when he was at The Guardian he bought the same salad every day. A colleague reveals another habit: He orders two double espressos, downs one at the counter and takes the other away. How macho. --- Caroline Slocock, Mrs Thatchers private secretary, is often asked to compare the Iron Lady and Theresa May. Theyre very different, she says at the launch of her memoir People Like Us. Except in one regard: To Ken Clarke they are both that bloody difficult woman. Quote of the day Its a complicated election, its as simple as that John McDonnell gives some instant insight on the BBCs local elections show Fashion is the future for ballet soloist Eric Underwood: (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett / Getty Images for Warner Music) / Dave Benett / Getty Images for W Eric Underwood, the former soloist of the Royal National Ballet, says hes quit ballet entirely and embraced fashion. L abour's John Biggs said the Tower Hamlets electorate has "moved on" from the corruption it has experienced in the past as he dramatically won a second term as mayor of the borough. Mr Biggs fell just shy of winning the 50 per cent of first preference votes he needed and in a repeat of the 2015 election it was between him and Rabina Khan, for the People's Alliance of Tower Hamlet (PATH), as the second choice ballots were counted. Ohid Ahmed, the candidate for Aspire, the party set up by disgraced former mayor Lutfur Rahman, came third with 14 per cent of first preference votes. Security was exceptionally tight at the count after the previous local election saw Mr Rahman thrown out office for "corrupt and illegal practices", including voter intimidation. Local Elections 2018 - In pictures 1 /17 Local Elections 2018 - In pictures Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall Lucy Young Elizabeth Campbell speaks to the media after the Conservatives maintained control of the council for Kensington and Chelsea following a count at Kensington Town Hall, Londo PA Supporters of the British Conservative Party react during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Volunteers count ballot papers at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters The logo of campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell is beamed onto Kensington Town Hall as voted at the local election are counted Justice 4 Grenfell/PA Emma Dent Coad MP following the announcement of the results for the local council elections iat Kensington Town Hall, London PA Labour party candidates and their agents embrace following the announcement of the results for the Maida Vale ward at Lindley Hall, Westminster, London PA Supporters of the British Conservative party react during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visits Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Labour MP Emma Dent Coad fast asleep then wakes up during the count Jeremy Selwyn Labour MP Emma Dent Coad fast asleep then wakes up during the count Jeremy Selwyn British Conservative Party politician Justine Greening gives an interview at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Count volunteers sort ballot papers at Kensington Town Hall, London as counting begins across the UK in the local council elections PA Elizebeth Campbell leader of RBKC at the Local Election Count this morning Jeremy Selwyn Labour supporters in conversation during the count in Barnet Nigel Howard Conservative supporters in conversation during the count in Barnet Nigel Howard Candidates and their associates watch count volunteers sort ballot papers at Lindley Hall, Westminster, London, as counting begins across the UK in the local council elections PA The extreme measures brought in after the disastrous 2014 vote included some 70 Met police officers on patrol in the ExCel Centre, along with bouncers searching bags and attack and sniffer dogs on hand. But they all proved to be unnecessary as there was none of the trouble seen in previous years. Mr Biggs told the Standard: "I'm excited to be able to do this again. It is a challenging job and we have a lot of challenges ahead, specifically around budget cuts. 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 "We desperately need to improve some of our services in a number of areas. It has taken longer than I could ever have imagined to clean up after the previous administration. "I think the community has moved on from that now, from the corruption. I love the East End of London and it is thriving place to live and work." The turnout in the borough was 41.9 per cent, higher than the 2015 count (37.7 per cent), but far lower than some were expecting. "Voter apathy is creeping into this borough," said Mrs Khan just before the first round of votes were announced. "I have played a part in that, all parties have. Turn out was low and this won't be the landslide victory Biggs and Labour want." Council and mayoral votes were verified by 6am and councillor ballots will be counted later this afternoon. Currently Labour has 22 seats on the council, Aspire 10, PATH seven, and other parties seven. Mr Biggs said he was confident of Labour gaining more seats and securing a majority. A general election would still result in a hung Parliament nearly one year after Prime Minister Theresa May lost her majority, a House of Commons projection has showed. According to a Sky News prediction based on local election results, the Conservatives would still be unable to win an overall majority. Skys political correspondent Lewis Goodall tweeted: In terms of Labour/Conservative battle almost nothing has changed since the General Election. He added: Though would be possible for Labour minority Government with Liberal Democrats and SNP seat. It comes after results have been coming in through the night for 150 local authority elections across England, with both Labour and Conservatives both losing control of key councils. With more than half of results in so far, the projection showed the Tories with 305 seats and Labour with 261, followed by the SNP with 35 and the Lib Dems with 26. Results are being declared after the 2018 local elections / PA Wire/PA Images Mr Goodall said: Results confirm that the culture war is yielding two zombie parties. Labour strong in cities but struggling in small town Britain. Conservatives making gains in post-industrial areas and semi-rural England. But inability to breakout means theres no clear path to a majority for either. The local elections are the first England wide-test of political opinion since last years snap General Election, which saw Mrs Mays party lose 13 seats falling short of the 326 needed to win an outright majority. Jeremy Corbyns Labour gained 30 in a shock result that led to a hung Parliament. A total of 4,371 seats are up for grabs in 150 councils, across metropolitan and district councils, unitary authorities and London boroughs. K en Livingstone has sparked outrage yet again after repeatedly bringing up Adolf Hitler within the first seconds of an interview about Labours failure to tackle anti-Semitism. The former London mayor is currently suspended from the Labour party following a series of remarks he made in 2016 about Hitler supporting Zionism. He was being interviewed about the failure of Labour to win the north London borough of Barnet an area with a large Jewish population which many have blamed on the recent anti-Semitism row. Several Barnet candidates have attribute the inability of their party to oust the Conservatives on Mr Livingstons comments and the lack of action taken against them. Voting count in Barnet, where Labour lost to the Tories / Nigel Howard When asked about this in a Sky News interview, he began speaking again about Hitler and Zionism and said that that accusations of anti-Semitism were acting as a distraction from Labour policy. He also said the allegations were part of a "smear" campaign against him. His comments prompted a flurry of criticism, with Labour politicians ad campaigners questioning angrily why the irrelevant man was acting as a spokesman on the issue. In the Friday morning interview, Mr Livingston said: "There's a lot of Jewish people - not just in Barnet but all over the place - that believe I said Hitler was a Zionist - that was the big smear on the day I was suspended. "You only have to go on Jerusalem's Holocaust website...one of the document's you can download is about Hitler's deal with the Zionists in the 30s. "Hitler wanted to get all the Jews out of Germany and the Zionists wanted to create a Jewish state in Palestine and so they collaborated to do that." He then referred to the Nazi party as horrendous. Speaking about the anti-Semitism row in Labour he added: We have had a general secretary until very recently who just allowed this to bubble on so many people suspended. He was then asked if he agreed that his repeated comments were alienating the Jewish community in places like Barnet. Ken Livingstone made the comments in an interview on Sky News / Sky I have basically turned down almost every interview to talk about this as it is a distraction, he responded. During this last month we have had endless stories about Labour and anti-semitism not getting across what we wanted to do in local government. Labours Tulip Siddiq tweeted: Please please get this irrelevant man off my TV screen. Claire Perry criticises John McDonnell over Esther McVey comments Defeated Labour councillor Adam Langleben, who was ousted from his Barnet seat, posted: Why the hell is Ken Livingstone on @SkyNews trying to explain the Barnet result???? Chuck him out. Mr Langleben had earlier tweeted saying that the anti-Semitism row had shamed his party and said that Labour should never have an election like this again. Mr Langleben, a member of the Jewish Labour Movement national executive, said that the party had paid the price for not dealing with the anti-Semitism issue. Local Elections 2018 - In pictures 1 /17 Local Elections 2018 - In pictures Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall Lucy Young Elizabeth Campbell speaks to the media after the Conservatives maintained control of the council for Kensington and Chelsea following a count at Kensington Town Hall, Londo PA Supporters of the British Conservative Party react during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Volunteers count ballot papers at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters The logo of campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell is beamed onto Kensington Town Hall as voted at the local election are counted Justice 4 Grenfell/PA Emma Dent Coad MP following the announcement of the results for the local council elections iat Kensington Town Hall, London PA Labour party candidates and their agents embrace following the announcement of the results for the Maida Vale ward at Lindley Hall, Westminster, London PA Supporters of the British Conservative party react during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visits Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Labour MP Emma Dent Coad fast asleep then wakes up during the count Jeremy Selwyn Labour MP Emma Dent Coad fast asleep then wakes up during the count Jeremy Selwyn British Conservative Party politician Justine Greening gives an interview at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Count volunteers sort ballot papers at Kensington Town Hall, London as counting begins across the UK in the local council elections PA Elizebeth Campbell leader of RBKC at the Local Election Count this morning Jeremy Selwyn Labour supporters in conversation during the count in Barnet Nigel Howard Conservative supporters in conversation during the count in Barnet Nigel Howard Candidates and their associates watch count volunteers sort ballot papers at Lindley Hall, Westminster, London, as counting begins across the UK in the local council elections PA "For too many members of the Jewish community voting Labour yesterday was simply impossible, regardless of who the candidate was," he told Sky News. "In areas where there are high levels of Jewish population, we were punished and punished very badly by the voters. T he Liberal Democrats are celebrating their best night for years after seizing Richmond council from the Tories and making modest gains across the country. Their battering at the polls in the aftermath of the Coalition government is now over, former minister Sir Ed Davey insisted, as he described the results as a change of direction. They were also hopeful of taking Tory-run Kingston-upon-Thames council when results are declared later today. Critics pointed out, however, that the party was building from a very low base. Loading.... Sir Ed, the former energy secretary, said: We have been winning in the North in Leave areas and in Remain areas in the South. We have been taking seats in Leave areas like Sheffield, Sunderland and Hull and weve had a massive victory in Richmond, which was way beyond what we expected. Weve had our best night in years. Local elections 2018: Results so far He described winning 40 council seats across England overnight as a morale boost on steroids for party activists, who had seen their council representation wiped out since 2014 in some areas. Anti-Brexit campaigning by leader Sir Vince Cable had been a hit with voters, according to Sir Ed, as was the fresh voice he presented between Right-wing cuts and Corbynista Labour. He said: People are wanting that fresh voice. To a certain extent they had almost forgotten about the Liberal Democrats. When people see us, they back us. Local Elections 2018 - In pictures 1 /17 Local Elections 2018 - In pictures Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall Lucy Young Elizabeth Campbell speaks to the media after the Conservatives maintained control of the council for Kensington and Chelsea following a count at Kensington Town Hall, Londo PA Supporters of the British Conservative Party react during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Volunteers count ballot papers at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters The logo of campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell is beamed onto Kensington Town Hall as voted at the local election are counted Justice 4 Grenfell/PA Emma Dent Coad MP following the announcement of the results for the local council elections iat Kensington Town Hall, London PA Labour party candidates and their agents embrace following the announcement of the results for the Maida Vale ward at Lindley Hall, Westminster, London PA Supporters of the British Conservative party react during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visits Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Labour MP Emma Dent Coad fast asleep then wakes up during the count Jeremy Selwyn Labour MP Emma Dent Coad fast asleep then wakes up during the count Jeremy Selwyn British Conservative Party politician Justine Greening gives an interview at Wandsworth Town Hall after local government elections in London Reuters Count volunteers sort ballot papers at Kensington Town Hall, London as counting begins across the UK in the local council elections PA Elizebeth Campbell leader of RBKC at the Local Election Count this morning Jeremy Selwyn Labour supporters in conversation during the count in Barnet Nigel Howard Conservative supporters in conversation during the count in Barnet Nigel Howard Candidates and their associates watch count volunteers sort ballot papers at Lindley Hall, Westminster, London, as counting begins across the UK in the local council elections PA What [the election] has done is built a really solid platform for future results to make the breakthrough that I think people want to see. They want to see a third party coming through offering a different voice. The party held Sutton council, Lib Dem-led for more than 25 years, and narrowly missed out on taking Winchester City Council. It was also hoping for success in South Cambridgeshire and in the Watford mayoral contest, results being declared later today. In Richmond the Lib Dems gained 24 councillors to take 39 seats on the council. The Conservatives had 39 councillors going into the vote, now reduced to 11. The Green party gained four seats. New council leader Gareth Roberts said: The Lib Dems are back in south-west London, and from south-west London we go on to other places. The Lib Dems in Richmond worked with the Green party throughout the election, presenting joint election pamphlets encouraging people to vote for each other to block out the Tories. A Lib Dem source said the collaboration was a test, and may not work in other areas. We will have to look into it quite carefully to see whether it was a good idea or not. It was not a universally appreciated move. Vince Cable is non-partisan. He is happy to work with other parties where it makes sense. E uropean citizens living in an east London borough say they have been wrongly turned away from local election polling stations because they are foreign. Outraged voters have told of their fury after officials told them they could not take part in todays vote in Tower Hamlets because they are from the EU. Romain Sauron, a French national who has lived in the capital for 13 years, was reportedly was refused a ballot in Mile End after being marked as an EU national. Speaking to the Guardian, Sauron described becoming embroiled in a row with officials at the polling station on Thursday before they eventually backed down. I was tagged as an EU citizen. I think many people would have walked away, would have felt ashamed, Sauron told the newspaper. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn vote in local elections They checked their leaflet and told me: No, you cant vote. I suspect they didnt read it properly and their training was very poor. Another EU citizen living in the same borough said they were also turned away from a polling station, adding that a G had been marked up against their name. Dragos Serban, a Romanian who has lived in the UK for eight years, said officials had made clear that certain EU citizens cannot vote, before changing their minds. A Tower Hamlets Council spokesman told the Standard: Weve not had reports of people being turned away across the borough but anyone with concerns should report them to this address: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/electoralfraud or @towerhamletsnow. EU citizens, with the exception of Irish citizens, are not entitled to vote in general elections, but they are allowed to vote in local and elections. All seats in London's borough councils involved in todays vote, as well as mayoral elections in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham and Tower Hamlets. Voting began at 7am today before closing again at 10pm. The above organizations are recognized by Queens Crap as being beneficial to the city as a whole, by fighting to preserve the history and character of our neighborhoods. They are not connected to this website and the opinions presented here do not necessarily represent the positions of these organizations.The comments left by posters to this site do not necessarily represent the views of the blogger or webmaster.Street or satellite shots used here are from Google Maps or Windows Live Local T he Conservatives have retained control of Kensington and Chelsea council despite speculation Labour could win following the Grenfell tragedy. The Tories held the council with 36 seats, Labour gained two to reach 13 seats, while the Lib Dems have one. Elizabeth Campbell, the council's leader, promised to be open to "new ways of working" as she addressed the hall, acknowledging the extra seats gained by Labour. Alluding to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Tory councillor said: "I think we all recognise we still need to rebuild trust. "And to do that we need to earn trust. And we need to earn it day by day and by our actions, not just by our words. 189586836-count-volunteers-sort-ballot-papers-at-kensington-town-hall-london-as-counting-begins-acro.jpg, by admin / PA "We also recognise that all of us in Kensington and Chelsea live in the shadow of Grenfell. And Grenfell was, Grenfell is and Grenfell will be our first priority." The Tory-held town hall faced fierce criticism for its response to the tragedy last June. Labour MP Emma Dent Coad was pictured with her head in her hands after taking a short nap as the votes were counted. The west London borough has seen a surge in turnout this year to 39.7 per cent, which is an increase of nine percent from the last time residents went to the polls for a local election. Local Labour leader Mr Atkinson earlier told the Standard: Whilst we are not going to win the council Im very pleased by the turnout. We are going to win seats in areas where we havent been active for decades. It looks like the efforts of Labour councillors in north Kensington have been appreciated as the Labour vote there is up substantially. The work we have put into the marginal wards is also paying off even though we might not win some of them. Justice 4 Grenfell: The campaign's logo is beamed onto the local town hall as votes are counted inside / PA He added: I hope that the Tories are going to be humbled by heir experience tonight. They need to be humble and listen. "It wasnt a good sign that the Tories couldnt be bothered to turn up to hustings in North Kensington. They are still not listening to North Kensington. The Tories also faced competition from Advance Together, a new independent party putting forward 14 candidates in 12 wards. With the exception of Notting Dale and Colville, the Advance candidates were targeting Conservative strongholds. In a nod to Grenfell, the new party made housing a key policy area, promising: "Homes will be made safer and any issues raised by the community will not be ignored." Catastrophic blaze: local people watch unable to help as Grenfell Tower burns / NIGEL HOWARD Annabel Mullin, who was born and grew up in the borough, founded the party. She said campaigning from scratch had been challenging but that people had been very receptive, and the party was most likely to gain seats in the wards at the centre of the borough. "It's very hard to tell. It's very positive when we talk to people at their doors but you never know how it translates into the booths," the mother of three added. Asked if she was concerned her party might inadvertently aid the Conservatives by splitting the vote, she said: "I think anything that gives us more democratic choice in our society is a good thing." Referring to Grenfell, she added: "I think people feel that they've been let down hugely, whether it's people in the north or people in the south, by the council not caring about the fabric of the community." A total of 37,835 votes were cast in the borough. A host of new faces will transform the local authority, with just under half of its Tory councillors not standing for re-election. Seventeen Tory councillors, including the former leader and deputy leader of the council, Nick Paget-Brown and Rock Feilding-Mellen, were not re-standing. The pair both stood down amid criticism of the council's response during the aftermath of the fire, which left 71 people dead. The Grenfell tower is located in the Notting Dale ward in the poorer north of the borough, which Mr Atkinson said he expected to remain red. T he Liberal Democrats once again held onto Sutton with a healthy majority, despite fears uttered by its incumbent leader that the borough could turn blue. The Conservatives had been confident they would make gains in this leafy part of south London that borders Surrey, and by 4am they had more than doubled their seats. In a first for Sutton, one seat in Nonsuch ward was decided by a coin toss between Tory James McDermott-Hill and Lib Dem Samantha Bourne. It was won by the former as the ward switched completely from yellow to blue. Mr McDermott-Hill told the Standard: It was rather too close for comfort. His rival Ms Bourne said: When people say every vote matters, this goes to show, every vote really does matter. Sutton has been a Lib Dem stronghold since 1986, despite having voted Leave by a significant margin. And before they snatched neighbouring Richmond, Sutton had been the Lib Dem's only London council. Challengers: Tim Crowley, Catherine Grey and Tony Shields / Alex Lentati Labour were unable to gain even a foothold, but it didnt stop the partys defeated candidates bursting into chants of ohhh Jeremy Corbyn after the last seats were declared. Tim Crowley, leader of Sutton Tories and re-elected member for Carshalton and Clockhouse, said: "We're very pleased with the gains we've made against the backdrop of problems in other London boroughs. "We hope now that with the independents we can be an effective opposition to the Liberal Democrats in Sutton, and we can go forward to take the council next time around." Loading.... There were gasps as it confirmed that three independent candidates had snatched Beddington North. The three, including former Lib Dem Nick Mattey, had campaigned against the councils controversial plans to build a waste incinerator. At the start of the night, chief Lib Dem and returning leader of Sutton council Ruth Dombey said her party werent sure they would hold control of Sutton council. But reacting to the result, Cllr Dombey said: "We fought hard and kept to our positive messages, in spite of some quite nasty smears and allegation that have been going around. "But what's remarkable about this result is that after 32 years the residents of this borough have put their trust and confidence in us and said yes - keep doing what you're doing." Two upsets for the Lib Dems came when its deputy leader Simon Wales was knocked out of Sutton West ward. Mary Burstow, the wife of former Cheam and Worcester Park MP Paul Burstow, also lost her seat in Cheam ward. The Tories also captured Stonecot ward, which was held by two Lib Dems before tonight. Its third seat had been vacant seat since November after the death of Lib Dem councillor Adrian Davey. UKIP had fielded candidates in nearly every ward, sensing that the boroughs decision to vote Leave in 2016 might bode well for them. T he Liberal Democrats have seized the prized Tory borough of Richmond in a campaign the boroughs new leader said was as much about bins as Brexit. So far, the Lib Dems have won 37 seats and the Conservatives are down to seven councillors, who include broadcaster Gyles Brandreths daughter Aphra. The Green party gained four seats on the council, while Richmonds only Labour councillors, husband and wife Lib Dem defectors, also lost their seats in Teddington ward. Two wards are still to declare. The Lib Dems town hall offensive was helped by party leader Sir Vince Cable living locally, who was on hand to help canvassing, as were multiple WhatsApp groups with hundreds of members. There were claims of negative campaigning by both sides and national issues loomed large. By 1am at Twickenham Stadium, there were laughs from buoyant Lib Dems and yellow-framed sunglasses were out as members mustered. An agent whispered to reporters: Weve made substantial gains and were on the verge of taking control of the council. Richmond Lib Dem leader Gareth Roberts, 47, wearing party yellow Converse trainers, said: Im absolutely thrilled, we worked so hard for this. The campaign has been as much about bin collections and council budget cuts as it has been about Brexit. Loading.... Richmond is very heavily Remain and people are thoroughly tired of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, which shows why the Tories and Labour have done so appallingly in Richmond this evening. Former Tory leader Paul Hodgins, 47, a councillor for 12 years, held his seat and spent much of his evening supporting colleagues who had been deposed. He said: Its been a tough night, and thats the way politics is. We had a very strong track record and high resident satisfaction. We tried to keep our campaign very local, but certainly national issues seemed to loom very large in this. T he Conservatives have seen off Labour challenges for its flagship London councils as Theresa May appeared to survive her biggest electoral test since the snap election. Jeremy Corbyn's party had made a significant push to take Tory "crown jewels" Wandsworth and Westminster but failed to make the gains they needed to seize control. The Tories also won control of Barnet Council, taking it back from no overall control. Labour's biggest success of the night was in Plymouth which it seized from the Tories, while it also became the largest party in Trafford. The collapse in Ukips share of the vote saw the Conservatives snatch authorities in Basildon and Peterborough. Loading.... The Liberal Democrats gained control of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, a heavily Remain voting area, from the Conservatives. Kensington and Chelsea was held by the Conservatives despite Tory councillors there facing a furious backlash over its handling of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Loading.... Leading pollster Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, said there was little for the Labour Party to celebrate in the results. He told BBC News: "There is very little in the way of Labour gains. "Yes, they have denied the Tories control of Trafford but that's a very strong Remain area. "Beyond that, there isn't very much for the Labour Party to celebrate." Last year, Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan said that there was "no corner" of the city where the party could not win and insisted they could challenge the Tories "even in their crown jewels of Wandsworth and Barnet". Shadow chancellor John McDonnell raised the prospect last month of the party securing a "significant victory"in Hillingdon but the Conservatives retained control. Carrie Symonds, the Conservative Party's director of communications, said Labour "threw the kitchen sink" at Wandsworth, adding it was "brilliant news" they had failed. Conservative party supporters react during the count at Wandsworth Town Hall after the local government elections / Reuters Mr Khan, speaking at the Wandsworth count, said: "What I'd be disappointed by was if we didn't make progress across London in terms of the numbers of councillors." The two main parties, however, both lost control of key councils outside the capital. Liberal Democrats seize Richmond upon Thames from the Conservatives In the north-west, the Conservatives lost control of Trafford - their only council in Greater Manchester - in a defeat Labour claimed as a "huge coup". After 14 years of Tory rule at Trafford, it went to no overall control. Mr Corbyn's party, however, lost the Midlands council of Derby in an area that is considered a bellwether seat at the general election. Derby went to no overall control. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative 1922 committee of backbenchers, told BBC News: "It's deeply disappointing for me and for a lot of Trafford residents." Labour lost Nuneaton and Bedworth council, an area that often indicates the colour of the government at general elections, as well as Derby, with both falling to no overall control. The Conservatives gained Basildon and Peterborough, which had both been under no overall control. Labour shock Conservatives to become largest party on Trafford Council Support for Ukip has collapsed with the party winning just two seats nearly seven hours into counting. Labour sources insisted the results so far showed it had consolidated its vote since the general election and said the Ukip vote was following the results of the national poll, with around two thirds going Tory and one third Labour. Conservative former party chairman Grant Shapps, who has been highly critical of Prime Minister Mrs May's leadership, said No 10 and Tory headquarters had "got their act together". He told BBC News: "Four years ago I was looking at a Conservative vote of 30 per cent in the polls and today I expect Theresa May will be looking at significantly more than that, I imagine in the upper 30s, maybe near 40." Most councils are counting votes overnight but others will declare results during the day on Friday. Across England, more than 4,000 seats were contested in around 150 councils, including all 32 London boroughs, as well as every ward in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Mayoral elections were held in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Watford and the Sheffield City region. T heresa Mays immigration policy came under fresh strain today as experts warned that the minimum salary requirement for a non-EU migrant could top 60,000 for the first time. Businesses and the British Medical Association said the out-of-date and arbitrary system must change or they would be banging their heads to recruit desperately needed doctors and skilled workers. Earlier this week the Evening Standard revealed that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Business Secretary Greg Clark have lobbied No 10 to relax the rules, to no avail. Under a system created by Mrs May when she was home secretary, a minimum salary for visa applicants goes up automatically whenever the number of applications goes above an annual quota of 20,700 visas. Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said there was evidence that demand this year will be much higher, which would push up the earnings requirement, which has already risen from 30,000 to 50,000. A rise to 60,000 or 70,000 would limit applications to workers falling in the top five per cent of UK earners, effectively limiting recruitment to highly paid occupations and ruling out many mainstream employers. The fact that the cap has already been hit this April suggests that demand this year could well be much higher than in the past few years, said Ms Sumption. That would mean higher salaries. Jonathan Portes, professor of economic and public policy at Kings College, London, said it was a crazy system, addding: The only point of a numerical cap is to stop us letting in skilled people that somebody wants to hire. Mark Hilton, director of immigration and employment policy at business group London First, said the system for Tier-2 visas was out-of-date, opaque and stopping us from hiring skilled people the UK desperately needs. He urged: A first step would be sorting the arbitrary caps that more and more London businesses are banging their heads against. The BMA, plus NHS Employers and 12 royal colleges and trade unions united to send a letter to new Home Secretary Sajid Javid asking for the cap to be reduced. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said arbitrary caps were inexplicable and threatening patient care and safety. The current system was devised to help drive down net immigration to 100,000. The quota was used up for five months in a row, causing the minimum salary to surge from 30,000 to 50,000 and briefly touch 60,000. Ms Sumption said it was impossible to predict how high the salary requirement might go. It could hop around unpredictably, making it harder for firms to recruit, or even hit 100,000. A Home Office spokesman said: The Government fully recognises the contribution that international professionals make to the UK. However, it is important that our immigration system works in the national interest, ensuring that employers look first to the UK resident labour market before recruiting from overseas. "When demand exceeds the monthly available allocation of Tier 2 (General) places, priority is given to applicants filling a shortage or PhD-level occupations. No occupation on the Shortage Occupation List which is based on advice by the independent Migration Advisory Committee has been refused a place. T he siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be attending their nephew Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle. Taking their seats in St George's Chapel, Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes will represent a link to Harry's late mother. Lady Jane will give a reading at the ceremony, Kensington Palace announced. Both sisters read poems at Diana's funeral, while Earl Spencer gave a controversial eulogy which was seen as an attack on the royal family. Princess Diana's sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale will be attending the wedding / PA Archive/PA Images He vowed to Diana in his speech that her "blood family" would do all they could to protect the Duke of Cambridge and Harry "so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly as you planned". Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Preparations 1 /54 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Preparations Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Bakery in Hackney, east London, puts finishing touches to the cake for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace PA A Jaguar convertible with a Union Flag paint scheme and life size cardboard cut outs of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is parked in Windsor Reuters Royal fans wave flags from the window of a Marks and Spencer store above a banner referring to the wedding Reuters Indian painter Jagjot Singh Rubal touches up his painting of Prince Harry (L) and Meghan Markle ahead of their royal wedding AFP/Getty Images A cardboard cut out of Britain's Queen Elizabeth stands behind Union flags on the crowd control barriers near Windsor Castle Reuters Royal fans camp out on the streets of Windsor Jeremy Selwyn Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images Kensington Palace update with the news that the Prince of Wales will accompany Meghan Markle down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry. PA 4 year old George high fives an armed police officer in Windsor a Jeremy Selwyn Philip Barnard-Brown, Senior Coachman at the Buckingham Palace Mews, leads a Windsor Grey, one of the four horses that will pull the carriage at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, past the Ascot Landau carriage, at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace PA School children in uniform wave Union Flags outside Windsor Castle Reuters James Vivian, Director of Music at St George's Chapel in Windsor directs the St. George's Chapel Choir during a rehearsal before evensong and ahead of the wedding PA Police officers prepare road closures outside Windsor Castle AP The royal kitchen at Windsor Castle where preparations are underway for the reception banquet after the wedding PA Alice Laughton, Project Manager at Mission Invertebrate, inspects plants at the Royal Parks Nursery in Hyde Park, where flowers are being grown for the wedding AFP/Getty Images Members of the Household Calvary ready for inspection in the Regimental Square during a facility to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks PA A general view of Windsor Castle Getty Images The reverse of the new coin design that will commemorate the next occasion for the British royal family, the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taking place at St. Georgeas Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor EPA State trumpeters play in the Regimental Square during a facility to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barrack PA Two Windsor Greys, which will pull the carriage at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are groomed at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace PA A royal fan sleeps outside Windsor Castle AP A media stand is erected half way along The Long Walk at Windsor Castle as it prepares for the royal wedding Getty Images Armed police officers in Windsor speak with members of the public ahead of the wedding Getty Images Street art of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle by Pegasus on the wall of hair & beauty salon The N7 Collective Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry's name is painted on the exterior of a building in Windsor AFP/Getty Images Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images Union Jack bunting hangs in front of Windsor Castle Getty Images The Ascot Landau open carriage, which will be used in the case of dry weather, for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, stands ready in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace in London AP Life size photographs of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a gift shop in Windsor Getty Images A member of the Household Calvary works in the Tailors Shop during a facility to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks PA A member of the Household Calvary re-shoes a horse in the forge during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images Union Flags hang above Regent Street, as part of the preparations for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images A photograph of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is displayed in the window of the Two Brewers Pub in Windsor Getty Images Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images A media stand is erected half way along The Long Walk at Windsor Castle as it prepares for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images The Ascot Landau (left) which will be used in the case of dry weather at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the Scottish State Carriage, to be used in the case of rain, at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, London PA Detail of State trumpeters uniforms in the Regimental Square during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images Work continues along The Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding Getty Images Cardboard cut-outs of Prince Harry and his fiance US actress Meghan Markle sit among Royal memorabilia in a gift shop widow ahead of the couple's wedding in Windsor Getty Images Uniforms in the Full Dress store during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images A window display commemorates the upcoming wedding of Prince Harry and his fiance US actress Meghan Markle in Windsor Getty Images Members of the Household Calvary works in the Tailors Shop during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images Craftsman Deakin of the Royal Electrical Engineer stands near an Apache attack helicopter during a photocall to display the involvement of 3 Regiment Army Air Corp in ceremonial duties during the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megham Markle, at Wattisham airfield Getty Images 3 Regiment Army Air Corps practice marching at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk as they prepare for the forthcoming royal wedding o Getty Images Work continues along The Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle Getty Images 3 Regiment Army Air Corps led by Lieutenant Colonel N English at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk as they prepare for the forthcoming royal wedding Getty Images People gather outside a pub decorated to mark the upcoming wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images The changing of the guard ceremony takes place through the streets of Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images Royal fans awake at first light having spent the night outside of Windsor Castle Reuters Royal fans in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn Royal fans in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn Windsor Castle through the morning mist Jeremy Selwyn Royal fans in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn Earl Spencer is the youngest of Diana's siblings, with Lady Sarah being born nine months after their mother, Frances Roche, later Frances Shand Kydd, married Edward John "Johnnie" Spencer in 1954. Princess Diana died in 1997 / PA Archive/PA Images Three years later Jane was born. She would become Lady Jane Fellowes after marrying the Queen's former assistant private secretary, Sir Robert Fellowes. Diana was born in July 1961, followed three years later by brother Charles, who went on to become Earl Spencer. The Royal Wedding - what to expect on the day Just 16 days after her death in 1997, Harry's aunt Lady Sarah arrived at Ludgrove, Harry's Berkshire prep school, and presented him with a computer play station, the gift Diana had planned to give him. It was Lady Sarah who introduced Diana to the Prince of Wales, having briefly dated Charles in the late 1970s. During Princess Dianas funeral, footage of William, 15, and Harry, 12, walking behind their mother's coffin was beamed to the world. Prince Harry and Prince William walked behind their mother's coffin at her funeral / Adam Butler/PA Last year Earl Spencer claimed he was "lied to" about the desire of the brothers to do so. He said walking behind Diana's coffin in the funeral cortege was the "most horrifying half hour of my life", but that he believed the experience was a "million times worse" for Diana's sons. B order force officers at Heathrow Airport have seized 50 illegally imported crocodiles. The saltwater crocodiles arrived on a cargo flight from Malaysia and were found by staff from City of London Corporation who were making welfare checks on the shipment on Friday morning. They found that the animals, which had been destined for a farm in Cambridgeshire where they were to be bred for their meat, were not packed in accordance with regulations and reported the matter to specialist officers. Each box had enough room for four crocodiles but 10, foot-long crocodiles had been placed in each one. They were also not separated from each - a requirement under regulations. Any breach of the regulations means their permits are not valid and the importation is not legal. Grant Miller, head of the national Border Force CITES team at Heathrow, said: "It is just not acceptable for reptiles to be transported in this way. "The crocodiles had started to fight each other during the flight as space was limited, so little attention had been paid to their welfare. "We will seize anything that contravenes CITES regulations, so this should serve as a warning to those thinking about transporting wildlife in such conditions." Andrea Gruber, International Air Transport Associations head of Special Cargo, said: "The IATA Live Animals Regulations are the worldwide standard for transporting live animals by air and have been established to ensure all animals are transported safely and humanely. "Industry must comply with the Regulations, which are enforced by government authorities. Any failure to meet with the existing requirements can impact animal safety and welfare" L abour's John McDonnell has been accused of sexism by Tory MP Claire Perry during an election night television bust up. The rival politicians were both appearing on the BBC's election night broadcast as the results started to come in following voting on Thursday. A conversation between Mr McDonnell and Ms Perry became heated when she pointed out that he had never apologised for laughing about lynching MP for Tatton Esther McVey. The shadow chancellor waved his left arm and repeated the campaign is over, the campaign is over as Ms Perry was speaking. She then said: "Look at this hand gesture as if to say get back in your box woman," before adding: "the nasty party is in force." John McDonnell appeared on the BBC's election results programme (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) / Getty Images Mr McDonnell then shrugged in despair and said: "This is unacceptable during a programme like this. The campaign is over, usually this programme is one where we can sit back a bit more objectively than we were in the campaign itself to see how the results are going." Mr McDonnell verbally attacked Ms McVey in Parliament and at a comedy night and discussed calls for her to by lynched in 2014. At the time, Ms McVey was a minister at the Department for Work and Pensions. Esther: Mr McDonnell has insisted he was expressing "honest anger" at the time / AFP/Getty However he has since insisted he was expressing "honest anger". In 2016, he told ITV's Peston on Sunday that he had sometimes "gone too far" in criticism but said it was better to be honest about his views. Ms Perry and Mr McDonnell were making an appearance on the BBC's election results show after voters went to the polls in England in the local council elections on Thursday. In London, Labour failed to take any London councils from the Tories. As the results came in, Mr McDonnell argued: "You can't read into local elections any more, what will happen at a general election." M eghan Markle will not have a maid of honour for her upcoming wedding to Prince Harry, it was revealed today. The question over who would assume the prized role on May 19 has been the subject of much speculation in the lead up to the nuptials. While Kensington Palace kept the news under wraps, it was thought that Ms Markle's long-time best friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney would take up the mantle. However, new details of the much-anticipated occasion confirmed the bride-to-be will not standing in St George's Chapel with a friend by her side. Royal duties: Meghan Markle and father Thomas. He will met her at the chapel on the day of her marriage to Harry She will be accompanied in the car to the service by her mother, Doria Ragland. Prince George and Princess Charlotte are also expected to be involved in the wedding, the palace said, but Prince Louis born on April 23 will not be there. It is thought that the children will likely serve as a page boy and bridesmaid, or flower girl, as they did in Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews last year. Princess Charlotte stole the show at her aunt Pippa's wedding / Getty Images The pair stole the show at their aunt's wedding when George walked the aisle carrying a flower basket, while Charlotte wore an adorable flower crown for the procession. While traditional American-style bridal parties are unusual at Royal Weddings, it was expected that the future princess would have a maid of honour as Kate Middleton did with her sister. Several ladies were in the running for the coveted role to be the Suits actress' right-hand woman. It was reported that the 36-year-old would choose one of her closest friends who has stood by her in the years before meeting the prince. Topping the list of potentials was Ms Mulroney, from Canada, who lends Ms Markle her expertise in a number of things, from PR, to brand and content strategy and styling. The 37-year-old got her footing in fashion PR at the Canadian outpost of bridal salon Kleinfeld before she began her career as a stylist. Lindsay Roth was also thought to be a contender, having been friends with Ms Markle for more than a decade. The pair met as students at Northwestern University and Ms Markle was Ms Roth's own maid of honour a few years ago. Actress Priyanka Chopra was also slated to take up the mantle / Getty Images for Bottega Veneta Among other the other names rumoured to take the badge of honour were fashion designer Misha Nonoo, said to be the mystery matchmaker who set the couple up in July 2016, and actress Priyanka Chopra. When asked by Harpers Bazaar Arabia if she would be a bridesmaid in the wedding, Ms Chopra said: If you see me there, youll know. While Royals fans might have been hoping for the Duchess of Cambridge to feature in the wedding alongside Ms Markle, the women only met in January 2017 - perhaps not leaving enough bonding time before the ceremony. Kensington Palace said Prince Harry will not see the wedding dress until the moment Ms Markle walks into St Georges Chapel. All three siblings of Princess Diana Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes and Earl Spencer will be at the ceremony and Lady Jane will give a reading. Royals and guests will wave the couple on as they get into a landau for a 25-minute procession through the streets of Windsor after the service. P rince Harry plans to "celebrate" his late mother Diana's memory at the Royal wedding by giving her three siblings prominent roles in the ceremony. Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes and their families are expected to be among the 600 guests at their nephews nuptials to Meghan Markle on May 19. Dianas elder sister Lady Jane has been asked to give a reading at the wedding in St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. In an official statement, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: In addition to having the support of The Queen, his father The Prince of Wales, and his brother Prince William as Best Man, Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother's family in his wedding. Diana, Princess of Wales with sons Princes William and Harry / Daily Mail Prince Harry and Ms Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day, it added. Prince Harry had Diana in mind from the start by including two diamonds from her collection for Ms Markles bespoke engagement ring, thought to be worth up to 200,000, along with a stone from Botswana. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle 1 /78 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House Samir Hussein/WireImage Oprah Winfrey interviews Duke and Duchess of Sussex PA Media Misan Harriman Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding in St George's Chapel PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie during a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs Tutu at their legacy foundation in cape Town, on day three of their tour of Africa PA Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle announce their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a Wheelchair Tennis match during the Invictus Games 2017 Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embrace following the polo at Coworth Park on 7 May 2017 Rex Features Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle announce their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a walkabout on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet Pony Major Mark Wilkinson and regimental mascot Cruachan IV during a walkabout on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a Wheelchair Tennis match during the Invictus Games 2017 at Nathan Philips Square on 25 September 2017 in Toronto, Canada Reuters Prince Harry with girlfriend Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto PA Prince Harry with girlfriend Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto Getty Images Prince Harry arrives with girlfriend actress Meghan Markle at the wheelchair tennis event during the Invictus Games in Toronto Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a Wheelchair Tennis match during the Invictus Games 2017 at Nathan Philips Square on 25 September 2017 in Toronto, Canada Getty Images Prince Harry with girlfriend Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto Getty Images Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto Karwai Tang/WireImage Prince Harry arrives with girlfriend actress Meghan Markle at the wheelchair tennis event during the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario Reuters Meghan Markle attends the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 Invictus Games at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada PA Meghan Markle on the cover of Vanity Fair Peter Lindbergh exclusively for Vanity Fair Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a Wheelchair Tennis match during the Invictus Games 2017 Getty Images Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle announce their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Larking around: Harry and Meghan pull faces in footage not shown in the BBC engagement interview BBC Meghan Markle visits Nottingham for her first official public engagement with fiancee Prince Harry Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Nottingham Contemporary in Nottingham, to attend a Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair on their first official engagement together PA Meghan Markle arrives at the Terrance Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair at Nottingham Contemporary Getty Images The royal brothers and their partners on Christmas Day. AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle listen to a broadcast through headphones during a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM, in Brixton PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive in Brixton EPA Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle visit Reprezent 107.3FM in Brixton Getty Images Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle visit Reprezent 107.3FM in Brixton Getty Images Loved up: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Cardiff Castle EPA Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle attend a street dance class during their visit to Star Hub in during their visit to Star Hub on January 18, 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit the people of Edinburgh Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive to attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive to attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception for young people at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh AFP/Getty Images rince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle meet a Shetland Pony as they arrive at Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Frank Augstein/AP Meghan Markle during a walkabout on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak with patrons at the Social Bite in Edinburgh AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a walkabout during a visit to Millennium Point in Birmingham PA Meghan Markle arrives for a visit in Birmingham on International Women's Day PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a walkabout during a visit to Millennium Point in Birmingham Splash News Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet members of the public on a walkabout during a visit to Millennium Point in Birmingham PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet members of the public on a walkabout during a visit to Millennium Point in Birmingham PA The Reverend Canon David Stanton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave after attending a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbet AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception with delegates from the Commonwealth Youth Forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in an Ascot Landau along the Long Walk after their wedding PA Meghan Markle walks down the aisle in St George's Chapel PA Harry and Meghan leaving Windsor Castle for the glamorous evening reception PA Harry and Meghan leaving Windsor Castle for the glamorous evening reception PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex head back down the Mall to Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 9, 2018 Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex talk to members of OneWave, an awareness group for mental health and wellbeing at South Bondi Beach on October 19, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex are seen during the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia, 27 October 2018 EPA Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the Hubb Community Kitchen to see how funds raised by the 'Together: Our Community' Cookbook are making a difference at Al Manaar, North Kensington on November 21, 2018 in London Getty Images Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Britain's Prince Harry unveil a plaque to officially open Number 7, a 'Feeding Birkenhead' citizens supermarket and community cafe, at Pyramids Shopping Centre, as part of a visit to Birkenhead, northwest England, Monday Jan. 14, 2019 AP Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the National theatre in central London on January 30, 2019 AFP/Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive for a visit to the Bristol Old Vic theatre, which is undergoing a multimillion-pound restoration PA Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, reacts as they visit Bristol Old Vic theatre in Bristol, south-west England on February 1, 2019 AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (R) and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (C) help volunteers in the kitchen as they pack food parcels to go in the charity outreach van during a visit to One25 charity in Bristol, south west England on February 1, 2019 AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at Drapers Hall in London on February 7, 2019 AFP/Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex try some food during a cooking school demonstration at Villa des Ambassadors in Rabat on the third day of their tour of Morocco PA Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duke & Duchess of Sussex, pet a horse at the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports in Rabat on February 25, 2019 AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle wearing a short Reiss dress on International Women's Day AFP/Getty Images Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House, where they meet young people who demonstrate a Canadian spring tradition of making maple taffy (maple syrup cooled on snow to make sweets) on March 11, 2019 in London Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave following a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, London PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess Of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House on March 11, 2019 in London WireImage Members of Britain's Royal family leave after attending the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey AP The Duchess of Cambridge (left) talks with the Duchess of Sussex (right) as they attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex hold their baby son in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, Berkshire on 8 May 2019 REUTERS Archbishop Desmond Tutu kisses the forehead of baby Archie as his mother smiles on warmly Reuters The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive for a visit to the Auwal Mosque, the oldest mosque in South Africa, on day two of their tour of Africa. PA Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a roundtable discussion on gender equality with The Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT) and One Young World at Windsor Castle Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex at The Fields of Remembrance in Westminster Abbey Jeremy Selwyn pixel8000 Former butler William French predicted how Harry would remember his late mother on his big day in the ITV documentary Prince Harrys Story, shown earlier this week. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Preparations 1 /54 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Preparations Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Bakery in Hackney, east London, puts finishing touches to the cake for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace PA A Jaguar convertible with a Union Flag paint scheme and life size cardboard cut outs of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is parked in Windsor Reuters Royal fans wave flags from the window of a Marks and Spencer store above a banner referring to the wedding Reuters Indian painter Jagjot Singh Rubal touches up his painting of Prince Harry (L) and Meghan Markle ahead of their royal wedding AFP/Getty Images A cardboard cut out of Britain's Queen Elizabeth stands behind Union flags on the crowd control barriers near Windsor Castle Reuters Royal fans camp out on the streets of Windsor Jeremy Selwyn Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images Kensington Palace update with the news that the Prince of Wales will accompany Meghan Markle down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry. PA 4 year old George high fives an armed police officer in Windsor a Jeremy Selwyn Philip Barnard-Brown, Senior Coachman at the Buckingham Palace Mews, leads a Windsor Grey, one of the four horses that will pull the carriage at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, past the Ascot Landau carriage, at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace PA School children in uniform wave Union Flags outside Windsor Castle Reuters James Vivian, Director of Music at St George's Chapel in Windsor directs the St. George's Chapel Choir during a rehearsal before evensong and ahead of the wedding PA Police officers prepare road closures outside Windsor Castle AP The royal kitchen at Windsor Castle where preparations are underway for the reception banquet after the wedding PA Alice Laughton, Project Manager at Mission Invertebrate, inspects plants at the Royal Parks Nursery in Hyde Park, where flowers are being grown for the wedding AFP/Getty Images Members of the Household Calvary ready for inspection in the Regimental Square during a facility to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks PA A general view of Windsor Castle Getty Images The reverse of the new coin design that will commemorate the next occasion for the British royal family, the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taking place at St. Georgeas Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor EPA State trumpeters play in the Regimental Square during a facility to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barrack PA Two Windsor Greys, which will pull the carriage at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are groomed at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace PA A royal fan sleeps outside Windsor Castle AP A media stand is erected half way along The Long Walk at Windsor Castle as it prepares for the royal wedding Getty Images Armed police officers in Windsor speak with members of the public ahead of the wedding Getty Images Street art of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle by Pegasus on the wall of hair & beauty salon The N7 Collective Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry's name is painted on the exterior of a building in Windsor AFP/Getty Images Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images Union Jack bunting hangs in front of Windsor Castle Getty Images The Ascot Landau open carriage, which will be used in the case of dry weather, for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, stands ready in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace in London AP Life size photographs of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a gift shop in Windsor Getty Images A member of the Household Calvary works in the Tailors Shop during a facility to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks PA A member of the Household Calvary re-shoes a horse in the forge during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images Union Flags hang above Regent Street, as part of the preparations for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images A photograph of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is displayed in the window of the Two Brewers Pub in Windsor Getty Images Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images A media stand is erected half way along The Long Walk at Windsor Castle as it prepares for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images Souvenirs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are displayed in a Windsor gift shop Getty Images The Ascot Landau (left) which will be used in the case of dry weather at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the Scottish State Carriage, to be used in the case of rain, at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, London PA Detail of State trumpeters uniforms in the Regimental Square during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images Work continues along The Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding Getty Images Cardboard cut-outs of Prince Harry and his fiance US actress Meghan Markle sit among Royal memorabilia in a gift shop widow ahead of the couple's wedding in Windsor Getty Images Uniforms in the Full Dress store during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images A window display commemorates the upcoming wedding of Prince Harry and his fiance US actress Meghan Markle in Windsor Getty Images Members of the Household Calvary works in the Tailors Shop during a preview to see The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment preparations for the forthcoming Royal Wedding at Hyde Park Barracks Getty Images Craftsman Deakin of the Royal Electrical Engineer stands near an Apache attack helicopter during a photocall to display the involvement of 3 Regiment Army Air Corp in ceremonial duties during the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megham Markle, at Wattisham airfield Getty Images 3 Regiment Army Air Corps practice marching at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk as they prepare for the forthcoming royal wedding o Getty Images Work continues along The Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle Getty Images 3 Regiment Army Air Corps led by Lieutenant Colonel N English at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk as they prepare for the forthcoming royal wedding Getty Images People gather outside a pub decorated to mark the upcoming wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images The changing of the guard ceremony takes place through the streets of Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images Royal fans awake at first light having spent the night outside of Windsor Castle Reuters Royal fans in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn Royal fans in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn Windsor Castle through the morning mist Jeremy Selwyn Royal fans in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn He said: He'll take one look up, I can guarantee. He'll look up and say, 'I've done it mum', and she'll be so proud... of him. That's what's so special. Down the years: Princess Diana and her two sons 1 /24 Down the years: Princess Diana and her two sons Princess Diana and Prince Charles leave the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital with their newborn baby on June 21, 1982 PA Princess Diana and Prince Charles with their son Prince William AP Princess Diana and William Getty Images Prince Harry with Princess Diana and Prince William on holiday in Majorca, Spain August 1987 Rex Features Diana and Harry stand for the National Anthem at the Wales v Australia match during the 1991 Rugby World Cup Getty Images The family leave the church of St. Mary Magdalen near Sandrigham Houseon Chirstmas Day AFP/Getty Images Princess Diana and Harry at Thorpe Park Daily Mail Princess Diana with Charles and their sons at the VJ Parade in 1995 AFP/Getty Images Princess Diana with Prince Harry in London, August 1995 Reuters The Prince and Princess of Wales, with their sons Prince Harry and Prince William, at a concert in London's Hyde Park on the second day of the VE 50th Anniversary celebrations PA The Prince and Princess of Wales with sons Prince William (right) and Prince Harry, attending the VJ Day commemorations at Buckingham Palace PA Prince William signs the traditional Entrance Book watched by his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and younger brother, Prince Harry, at Eton College PA The Royal Family in the White drawing room of Windsor Castle, on the day of Prince William's Confirmation PA Diana, Princess of Wales, with her sons, Princes Harry (left) and William, aboard the Maid of the Mist cruiser near to Niagara Falls PA Princess of Wales and her two sons Prince Harry and Prince William leaving London's Natural History Museum PA The Prince and Princess of Wales with their sons Prince William and Prince Harry prior to boarding the Royal Yacht Britannia at Southampton Docks to sail for the Western Isles PA Diana, The Princess of Wales with sons Prince William (left) and Prince Harry leaving Portland Hospital in London after visiting The Duchess of York when she gave birth to her first child PA The Prince and Princess of Wales with sons Prince William and Prince Harry prepare for a cycling trip in Tresco during their holiday in the Scilly Isles in 1989 PA Prince Harry joins his brother Prince William on his first day at the Wetherby School in Notting Hill, West London PA Prince Harry joins his brother Prince William on his first day at the Wetherby School in Notting Hill, West London PA The Princess of Wales with her children, Prince William and Prince Harry on board the Maid of Mist for a close-up look at Niagara Falls PA The Princess of Wales wearing a classic black and white long dinner dress by fashion designer Catherine Walker with her two sons Prince William and Harry meeting some of the stars of Steven Spielberg's "Hook" at the Odeon in Leicester Square, London PA The Princess of Wales and her two sons, Princess William (left) and Prince Harry, ride in a horse-drawn sleigh as they leave their hotel in Lech, Austria PA The Princess of Wales and her two sons, Princess William (centre) and Prince Harry, ride in ski lift on the last full day of their Easter skiing holiday in Lech, Austria PA It comes as the Palace announced that Ms Markles father will walk her down the aisle and get to know the royal family on the big day. Royal duties: Meghan Markle and father Thomas. He will met her at the chapel on the day of her marriage to Harry Ms Markle will ride in a car with her mother, Doria Ragland, and meet her father at the chapel before he walks her down the aisle. The Palace said it was very important her parents both play a key role in the wedding. The announcement came despite claims from Mr Markles son, Thomas Markle Jnr who is Meghans half-brother that their father had not been invited. D onald Trump compared London to a "war zone" and mimicked Paris terrorists as he declared that guns would have prevented the 2015 attacks in the French capital. The US president said that knife crime in London is so bad that one unnamed hospital is "like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds" with "blood all over the floors". He also made a gun gesture with his hand and repeatedly shouted boom as he simulated the mass shootings in Paris that left 130 people dead. Speaking at a pro-gun rally in Dallas on Friday, he said if one person in this room had been there with a gun the attacks would have been stopped. Trump mimics Paris terrorists at NRA rally He said: "Nobody has guns in Paris, nobody, and we all remember the more than 130 people, plus tremendous numbers of people that were horribly, horribly wounded. "They died in a restaurant and various other close proximity places. They were brutally killed by a small group of terrorists, that had guns. "They took their time and gunned them down one by one." He then described the attack by imagining he was lining up victims and shooting them. President Trump compared an unnamed London hospital to a "war zone" / REUTERS "Boom, come over here. Boom, come over here. Boom, he said. He added: "If one employee, or just one patron had a gun, or if one person in this room had been there with a gun, aimed at the opposite direction, the terrorists would have fled or been shot and it would have been a whole different story." Mr Trump also defended the use of guns in America by comparing a London hospital to a "war zone" because of knife crime. He said: "I recently read a story that in London, which has unbelievably tough gun laws, a once very prestigious hospital right in the middle is like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds. "Yes that's right, they don't have guns they have knives. And instead there's blood all over the floors of this hospital. They say it's as bad as a military war zone hospital. "We're here today because we recognise a simple fact. The one thing that has always stood between the American people and the elimination of our Second Amendment rights has been Conservatives and congress willing to fight for those rights, and we're fighting." Mr Trump declared his support for the National Rifle Association at the convention / AP During his speech at the National Rifle Convention, Mr Trump also told tens of thousands that his administration was fighting to protect their constitutional right to bear arms. He said that they had an administration in Washington that was "fighting to protect your Second Amendment, and we will protect your Second Amendment". He added that their right to bear arms was "under siege" but pledged that those rights "will never, ever be under siege as long as I'm your president". Florida school shooting: Rally - In pictures 1 /10 Florida school shooting: Rally - In pictures Arrival: the students were welcomed by fellow teens in the state capital Reuters The group plan to hold a demonstration on Wednesday Reuters A high school student places a candle representing one of the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School outside the North Carolina State Capitol building during a demonstration calling for safer gun laws, in Raleigh, North Carolina Reuters Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivor Ryan Deitsch arrives with fellow students at Leon High School in Tallahassee AP Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are welcomed as they arrive at Leon High School, prior to their meetings the next day with Florida state legislators, following last week's mass shooting on their campus in Tallahassee, Florida Reuters Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors arrive at Leon High School in Tallahassee AP Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors Tanzil Philip (left) is comforted by fellow student Diego Pfeiffer as Philip speaks to Leon High School students after arriving in Tallahassee AP Proitest: Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hold signs while waiting to board buses in Parkland, Florida EPA Trip: the grieving students travelled 400 miles to the Capitol in Florida EPA High school students observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, during a demonstration calling for safer gun laws outside the North Carolina State Capitol building in Raleigh Reuters The president was addressing the National Rifle Association (NRA) gathering nearly three months after a deadly shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. He temporarily strayed from the group's strong opposition to tougher gun controls after the school shooting only to rapidly return to the fold. He was speaking at the event for the fourth year in a row. Last year, he became the first sitting president to appear in more than 30 years, declaring that the "assault" on the Second Amendment had ended. But this year's speech came as the issue of gun violence takes on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. Survivors of the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead are leading a massive national gun control movement. Several groups have announced plans to protest over the weekend during the NRA event. The protesters will include parents of those killed in Parkland and other shootings. The survivors' campaign has not led to major changes from the White House or the Republican-led Congress but Mr Trump did briefly declare he would stand up to the powerful gun lobby. He later backpedalled, expressing support for modest changes to the background check system, as well as arming teachers. His attendance at this year's NRA convention was announced just days ago. A motorist who allegedly killed two children when she had a seizure and ran a red light in Brooklyn had been warned not to drive, a court heard. Dorothy Bruns, 44, was arrested on manslaughter charges on Thursday after the fatal collision on March 5. Four-year-old Abigail Blumenstein and Joshua Lew, 1, were both killed and their mothers injured when a car ploughed into pedestrians on a crossing. Prosecutors said that the deaths should never have happened as just two months previously Ms Bruns was told by a doctor she should not drive for a year. A memorial for the two children who died in the collision / AP A medical episode caused Ms Bruns to drive into a parked car at the start of the year, lawyers said. She then had a seizure while in hospital and was urged against driving - advice that was repeated during two follow-up appointments. Despite those instructions, Ms Bruns was involved in a car crash on January 20, according to prosecutors. The court heard how Ms Bruns suffered another seizure in March while stopped at a red light in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Her car rolled into the crossing, striking actress Ruthie Ann Blumenstein and her daughter, Abigail, and Lauren Lew and her infant son, Joshua. Horrifying video footage captured at the scene shows the white car moving into the crosswalk as the unsuspecting pedestrians are mowed down. Ms Bruns was arrested on Thursday at her Staten Island home. She pleaded not guilty in a Brooklyn court to charges that included manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and reckless driving. She was ordered held on bail of $75,000 and faces 15 years in prison if convicted on the top charge. "Her alleged insistence on driving despite doctor's orders and serious medical conditions that prevented her from safely doing so was not only irresponsible, it was unlawful," said District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. First-responders to the Brooklyn crash said she was foaming at the mouth, confused and unsteady on her feet, and then suffered another seizure in the ambulance on her way to the hospital and again at the hospital, prosecutors said. Ms Blumenstein, who is pregnant, was hospitalised in intensive care but later said in a statement that she was healing. Sign up to our West End Final newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter. Essential news, delivered 4pm daily. T his is the incredible moment a puppy that had become stuck in a drain was lifted to safety by a robotic arm attached to a drone. A quick-thinking engineer who spotted that the unfortunate animal was trapped grabbed his remote-controlled device to launch the rescue attempt in India. Milind Raj rushed back to his lab to build the drone before returning to the scene six hours later to scoop up the distressed pooch from the storm drain in the city of Lucknow. Mr Raj, who builds robots for a living, told Indian television station NDTV: "The drain was so filthy, it was like a bog It was not possible for a human to rescue the puppy without endangering their own life, so I decided to put technology to the task. He added: "I decided to use the AI-controlled robotic arm because it has a smart heartbeat sensor. Attached to the drone, I knew it would be risky but may work." The puppy has since been adopted by Mr Raj, who named his new pet Lifted. The puppy was pulled from the storm drain by a drone with a robotic arm / Milind Raj It was not immediately clear when the incident occurred, but reports began emerging on Thursday after Mr Raj uploaded the footage to his YouTube channel last week. A video of a man carrying a dolphin over his shoulder has sparked outrage online. Police in China are looking for the man after he was caught on camera carrying the animal on a beach. People have called for the man to be fined "thousands of yuan" after the incident. According to witnesses, the animal was stranded on the beach in southern China and appeared to be dying when the man picked it up on May 1. Footage of the incident, filmed on Hailing Island in China's Guangdong province, show the man walking along the beach with the animal over his shoulder. Mr Chen told Btime: "It seemed to be dying, actually almost dead near the shore. "The tourist caught it and put it on his shoulder. Then he drove away in his vehicle, presumably with the dolphin." In the video the man appears to have his hand over the animal's mouth. One person commented online: "If caught they must be severely criticised." Another wrote: "These people are savages. They should be punished and made to pay hundreds of thousands of yuan." And another person added: "This is disgusting." Dolphins are listed as a protected species under China's Law of Wildlife Protection. Citizens are not allowed to hunt, kill, sell or keep the protected species, even if it is found dead. The Guangdong fisheries department confirmed that they are investigating the incident in a statement on their official Wechat page. T he Nobel Prize for Literature will not be awarded this year following sex abuse allegations that have engulfed the organisation which decides who wins. The Swedish Academy has been in crisis over its handling of claims against Jean-Claude Arnault, 71, the husband of academy member, poet and writer Katarina Frostenson. Ms Frostenson, 65, has since resigned, as have the head and four other members. Today the academy said it would announce this years winner along with the 2019 winner next year, to give time to restore trust in it. Anders Olsson, interim permanent secretary of the academy, said: We find it necessary to commit time to recovering public confidence in the academy before the next laureate can be announced. "This is out of respect for previous and future literature laureates, the Nobel Foundation and the public. Interim permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy Anders Olsson / AP The scandal is the biggest to hit the prize since it was first awarded in 1901. It began in November when French photographer Arnault, who ran a cultural project with funding from the Swedish Academy, was accused by 18 women of sexual assault. Several of the alleged incidents reportedly happened in properties belonging to the academy. Mr Arnault denies all the allegations. This, along with accusations of conflict of interest and the leaking of Nobel winners names, divided the organisation and led to the string of resignations. It is the first time since 1943 that the award will not be given. A idan Turner has finally addressed those James Bond rumours. The Poldark star, 34, was tipped to replace Daniel Craig when he steps down from 007 after the next film. But Turner has claimed someone else will play the British spy. He told the Daily Mail: Theres someone else playing the role at the moment, but when its free Ill have a look at it. Favourite: Actor James Norton is said to be in the running (Dave Benett) / Dave Benett/Getty Images for Har Turner is among a handful of A-listers including James Norton, Idris Elba and Cillian Murphy who are thought to be in the running to play Bond. Turner last month had odds of 8/1 to take over from Craig while Norton remains the current favourite with odds of 3/1. Cillian Murphy odds slashed on taking over from Daniel Craig as James Bond Murphy recently had his odds slashed from 33/1 to 12/1 to take over after it was confirmed Danny Boyle will direct Craigs final outing as Bond. The pair previously collaborated on 28 Days Later and Sunshine. There was also talk of a female Bond after Murphy and Norton were overtaken by any actress following a surge of bets last month that saw bookmakers slash the odds of the next person to play the 007 agent being female from 33/1 to 12/1. Craig confirmed his return to the role after months of speculation. The actor has enjoyed four outings as the British spy in Skyfall, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Spectre. Announcing the news on US chat show The Late Show, he told host Stephen Colbert: I just want to go out on a high note, and I can't wait. Who could be the next 007 James Bond? - In pictures 1 /16 Who could be the next 007 James Bond? - In pictures Tom Hardy 20th Century Fox Rege-Jean Page Dave Benet James Norton Rex Luke Evans Agent Publicity Idris Elba BBC Henry Cavill PA Lashana Lynch MGM Tom Hiddleston BBC Sam Heughan PA Jack Lowden Dave Benett Aidan Turner Mammoth Screen Chris Hemsworth AP Henry Golding AP Jamie Bell AP Richard Madden BBC Cillian Murphy BBC 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 President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday that each person must understand that the rule of law is not a simple formality. "I strongly believe in democracy and the rule of law. It is very important, for each of us, to understand that the rule of law is not a simple formality but a state of mind. It consists in the justice based on recognition and full acceptance of the highest value of human rights, strong institutions and zero tolerance to corruption," the head of state said at the conference "Sustainable Development of the Danube Region and Interconnection between Regions," organized at Kaneff Center - "Angel Kanchev" University. "I am firmly convinced that values represent the basis for European architecture. I know that values can be subjected today to numerous challenges. That is why, the perspective of the young generation in a Europe based on values is crucial to the future that we are building together. However, what it is important in the current context is how to use and how to implement these values. My belief is that these should be a guide for the conduct of each of us, an authentic guide for all citizens," he said."We want to obtain a stronger Union, where economic development gaps in different areas or in different member states are constantly reduced. We also want a more coherent Union, where the specific challenges and needs of all states member states are taken into account and adequately treated, for the benefit of the whole of the Union," Iohannis said."The history of the EU construction has repeatedly shown us that our force lies in unity, solidarity, cohesion and in an ambitious and innovative vision of future. These guiding principles and values are at the basis of the European project. Romania believes that they must remain the basis of its future development, for our common benefit," the head of state said, indicating that the EU remains an indispensable project.President Klaus Iohannis also said he had spoken with his counterparts from Bulgaria and Austria - Rumen Radev and Alexander Van der Bellen - about the European Union's presidency. Speaker of the Deputies Chamber Liviu Dragnea on Thursday stated he saw no serious reason why the head of the state Klaus Iohannis would ask for the resignation of Prime Minister Viorica Dancila. "I, for one, haven't seen and can't see any serious reason why the President would ask for the resignation of Mrs. Prime Minister. Mrs. Prime Minister herself already announced she had no intention to resign for, on the one hand, there is no such conflict going on between the Government and the National Bank of Romania (BNR) and, on the other hand, I think that the fact she goes on a visit abroad is a good thing, not a bad thing. What I mean is that we cannot think that in Romania we can have another regime like the one we had before the Revolution of 1989, when people weren't allowed to leave the country, unless they had an approval from the Presidency or another institution," Dragnea stated at the House of Parliament. The Speaker of the Deputies Chamber also mentioned that, in what Romania's foreign affairs are concerned, it must happen what President Iohannis and PM Dancila established before, on the occasion of a meeting that they had and that he also attended."At that meeting, they both agreed, in my presence, that in what the foreign affairs are concerned, they will cooperate tightly and keep informing each other in real time about everything that is going on, which the presidency did not, although the President had meetings in Brussels and Mrs. PM kept on waiting to be informed about them," said Dragnea.Asked about the Government's memorandum concerning the debate on the movement of Romania's Embassy to Israel, Dragnea said that he found out about it "from an old Website." The Speaker of the Chamber showed that the Israeli PM can do nothing else but support this intention of Romania to move the embassy to Jerusalem, as a "legitimate desire.""This is what I consider a legitimate desire that the embassies move to Jerusalem, since all the meetings are already, actually, taking place there, all the official meetings I mean. Of course that he appreciates (i.e. the Israeli PM) very much the possibility and that he would want Romania to decide to do this at the end. But they cannot push the discussions any further than this. I am still saying that for Romania it would be a huge opportunity. Beyond the advantages that this move would give us in terms of logistics, space identification and maybe the payment of the related expenditures, this is also about strategic advantages that one can obtain from the US and the Israel during this time. We are speaking of very important geopolitical actors, some of the most important in the world," concluded Dragnea. The President of the Romanian Academy, Ioan-Aurel Pop, compared Doina Cornea with the author of the famous novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin", who is known to have had a frail stature but who succeeded in overturning a world of injustice." "For me, as I had the privilege of knowing her personally, she remains like a legendary face, comparable to that of American writer Harriet Beecher Stowe, who, through the novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin', succeeded in overturning a world of injustice, preparing one of liberty and equality. This little and fragile lady is said to have been welcomed by President Abraham Lincoln, who was surprised that such a frail woman overturned such a big [unjust] world. And she, coming out from the president, told the journalists that the head of state was one of those rare people who, even when they become great, do not cease to be good," said the President of the Romanian Academy."The disappearance of Doina Cornea from this world has a special significance for the community of UBB (Babes-Bolyai University, ed. n.) professors and students, because this Lady of the anti-communist protesting spirit was a teacher of Alma Mater Napocensis. It is true that the institution did not know how and could not, in those dictatorship times, protect and treasure her as she deserved, but gratitude to great personalities often comes in history after their death. This is not an excuse but a remark," Ioan-Aurel Pop said in a reply given to the press when learning about the death of the writer who lived in Cluj-Napoca.Anti-communist dissident Doina Cornea died in her home at the age of 88 on Thursday to Friday night. Republican lawmakers in the US Congress this week proposed President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work to end the Korean War, denuclearize the Korean peninsula and bring peace to the region. There is, of course, no guarantee that the Norwegian Nobel committee will bestow the honor on the American leader. But given the committees past expediency, stranger things can happen. One could cynically dismiss the whole business of the Scandinavian peace laurel as meaningless anyway. But the mere allusion of Donald Trump as an international peacemaker is deeply problematic and misrepresents the dangerous dynamics over Korea. Consider too how someone can be lauded as a peacemaker when they just unleashed over 100 missiles on Syria, and is recklessly stoking war in the Middle East with Iran. For a start it is much too premature to hail Korean peace efforts a success. The historic meeting last week between the North and South Korean leaders and their declaration to end the Korean War (1950-53) was certainly a welcome milestone to bring about a peaceful settlement to decades of smoldering conflict. As detailed by Moon Chung In, a South Korean presidential aide, the comprehensive agreements struck by the two Korean leaders during their historic meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) are indeed ambitious and potentially a real turning point towards peace on the peninsula. The headline detail is the willingness by North Korean leader Kim Jung Un to dismantle the countrys nuclear weapons arsenal. But this step is part of a wide-ranging series of mutual steps of deconfliction and trust-building, agreed to by South Korean President Moon Jae In. The upshot of this reconciliation process is that it will be difficult to justify the continuing presence of US troops on the Korean Peninsula. While Trump has so far welcomed the peace initiative between the two Koreas, there is no indication that the Americans are ready to make concessions to transform the conflict. There are in fact indications that the Trump administration will take a high-handed approach towards North Korea. Washingtons attitude seems to be one of expecting Kim Jong Un to unilaterally surrender his nuclear weapons, and then, maybe, the lifting of severe economic sanctions on his country will be considered. In other words, the American position being adopted is that of a victor and is in sharp contrast to the mutual engagement taken by the two Korean leaders. One wonders if the US and its South Korean ally are due for a rupture over very differing calculations. At the end of this month, Trump is set to meet North Koreas Kim at the DMZ village where the latter met his South Korean counterpart. The encounter will be the first time a sitting American president has ever met a North Korean leader, a nation with whom the United States went to war against in 1950. Considering that Trump and Kim were only a few months ago trading threats of war and total destruction, the forthcoming summit is an astounding turnaround. One that deserves plaudits. Trump, to his credit, is at least open to having a face-to-face meeting with Kim. Some American critics have accused the president of giving too much respect to Kim by even agreeing to hold the summit. For Trump, the spectacle gives him much-needed kudos and respite from domestic scandals, including allegedly paying hush-money to a porn star. But, as noted, it is much too early to hail Trump a peacemaker. If Trump adopts a high-handed attitude and unwillingness to genuinely engage in a peace process then that could be the deal-breaker. The situation could rapidly unravel into one of confrontation, and even all-out war, as seemed to be the case last year. One ominous sign came from Trumps hawkish National Security Advisor John Bolton. He told US media that what Washington should be seeking is a Libyan model for North Koreas denuclearization. It was an inflammatory remark by Bolton, but one that again reveals Washingtons hardline position. A position that expects North Korea to capitulate without the US stepping up to the plate over its historic obligations to end the Korean conflict. The so-called Libyan model cited by Bolton is where Muammar Gaddafi agreed to give up weapons of mass destruction in 2003-2004 Less than a decade later, the US and its NATO allies bombed the North African country at will, bringing about regime change and the brutal murder of Gaddafi. The North Koreans are well aware of Libyas fate and have explicitly referred to this in making the argument for developing nuclear weapons. So, indeed, its too early to tell how the Korean peace initiative will go. Potentially, its a breakthrough opportunity. Praise goes first and foremost to the Korean leaderships, North and South, for their mutual and sincere engagement since the beginning of this year. The world wishes the people of Korea well. If anyone deserves a Peace Prize it is Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In. As for Trump: he has a long way to go to earn the right to be considered a peacemaker. After all, his nation just illegally bombed Syria last month over a fraudulent pretext. And he is threatening to unleash a war with Iran by scuppering the international nuclear deal, again over fraudulent pretexts. Washingtons negotiating position towards North Korea has yet to be fully disclosed. But so far, the signs are precarious. In any case, nominating American presidents for Nobel Peace Prizes has a dubious record. Remember how Trumps predecessor Barack Obama was hurriedly bestowed the prize in 2009 only months after being inaugurated and after making a vague, highfalutin speech about nuclear disarmament. That was the same president who increased US overseas wars from two to seven and committed to upgrade the American nuclear arsenal with $1 trillion over the next 30 years. At this stage, Peace Laureate Trump sounds more like a joke than an earned accolade. The month of May is always associated with V-E Day. The sentiments of never again were strong 73 years ago, in 1945 when the UN was founded. Since then Europe has put a huge amount of effort into creating a unique security system to prevent armed conflicts. It was never perfect, but by and large it worked. Other continents used to look on with envy and try to establish security regimes of their own. Multiple agreements are still in force, working to prevent the worst scenarios, but today they appear to be somewhat forgotten and are failing to meet their objectives. Yet by no stretch of the imagination would anyone have imagined that May 2018 would be a month spent teetering on the brink of war, with the experts left trying to guess when it will ignite, how far it will spread, and how many actors are likely to be involved. Its scary but thats where we are. Its never been this tense since the worst days of the Cold War. On May 2, Siil (Hedgehog), the largest NATO exercise to be held in the Baltics since 1991, began in Estonia and Latvia, involving 3, 000 troops from 16 countries. It will last until May 14. Estonia and Latvia border the Russian Federation. Latvia will host five military exercises in May and June. All of this activity is intensive enough for Moscow to interpret it as preparation for war. June will see large-scale BALTOPS and Sabre Strike 2018 exercises in the Baltics. Europe will host a US armored brigade a force of at least 4,000 soldiers accompanied by about 90 Abrams tanks, Bradley combat vehicles, 18 self-propelled Paladin howitzers, and other vehicles. The largest-ever NATO exercise, Anakonda 2018, will be held in Poland this summer. This is the biggest event staged by the alliance since the end of the Cold War and will include about 100,000 troops, 5,000 vehicles, 150 aircraft and helicopters, and 45 warships. Such a huge force will naturally make Russia wary. The NATO Air Policing was stepped up last month. The alliance will conduct 80 joint exercises in Europe this year, mainly aimed at prepping for a war with Russia. This intensified training is taking place at a time when the Donbas conflict in Ukraine is really heating up. The escalation of tensions is coming on the heels of the US deliveries of Javelin antitank systems to the Ukrainian military. This is the first transfer of lethal weapons. On May 1, the US State Department released a statement announcing that the American military is shifting to a new phase in its Syria operation. The US-led coalition, the SDF, and its mysterious local partners are to be involved. Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon have also been mentioned as having a role. The Islamic State has not been much of an issue for Beirut, but now Lebanon is very likely to become a battlefield that will draw in many actors, especially Israel and Iran. Officially the mission is intended to sweep away the remnants of the Islamic State (IS) forces, but that claim should be taken with a grain of salt. Whatever is left of IS is insignificant and can be dealt with without the help of the US-led coalition. The situation in Syria is very explosive now that the US has ratcheted up the tensions instead of pulling out as President Trump said he wanted to do. A wider conflict is right around the corner there. The US-led SDF and the Syrian regular forces have recently been involved in direct clashes a very worrisome development and coinciding with the Israeli airstrikes against Syrian and Iranian forces. These war preparations are taking place at the same time that Prime Minister Netanyahu is accusing Tehran of allegedly cheating on the nuclear deal. The US was quick to claim that the evidence was compelling. The Israeli parliament has just voted to grant the prime minister the authority to declare war or to order a major military operation without the prior approval of his security cabinet. US President Trump is widely expected to decertify the Iran deal on May 12 and pay a high-profile visit to Israel when the new US embassys provisional site in Jerusalem opens on May 14. The opening ceremony will be the right place and time to announce new moves against Iran a country that works closely with Russia in Syria and elsewhere. All the events taking place in Europe and Syria have a direct impact on Russias security. A spark is enough to kindle a conflict in Europe. The never-ending NATO exercises and other operations conducted right up against Russias borders are extremely provocative. A war against Iran in Syria appears to be almost certain, since Russian forces are deployed near Iranian positions. It will be next to impossible to strike Iranian or Syrian sites without provoking the Russian military into taking measures to defend itself. A single strike against Iranian forces could be contained but a military campaign against them will inevitably put Russian personnel at risk. Russia has some very formidable military forces positioned in Syria that must be a serious factor in any war scenario. Tensions are running high in Europe and a wider conflict could ignite at any time in Syria. In either situation it wont be Russia that provokes the explosive situations that threaten to deteriorate into a full-blown conflict. The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), in cooperation with the Malala Fund launched by Nobel laureate and female education activist Malala Yousafzai, has donated US$700,000 to build a girls school in Pakistan. The Sharjah-based global charity is funding the school project through its Girl Child Fund in collaboration with the Malala Fund, local media reported. The school is being constructed in Swat Valley, Malalas home district, and will open its doors to 350 girls in its 11 classrooms once completed. The donation was announced during an event in Oxford, London attended by Malala and TBHF humanitarian envoy Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi. I overwhelmingly thank The Big Heart Foundation for believing in my dream of a world where girls can choose their own future path. With their support, the Malala Fund can provide education for girls in my hometown, Swat Valley in Pakistan, said Malala on the occasion. will be used to build classrooms, science and computer labs, staff rooms, principals room, a reception area and playground facilities. The school will also have a library, laboratory, an activity hall, and accommodation for female teachers from remote areas. The funds will also partly cover the first two years of the schools operational costs The school is currently in the second phase of its construction, with the project due to complete in April 2018 TBHF is a charity that aims to protect and enable vulnerable and marginalised children and their families, with primary focus on the Arab world, but it also extends support to other areas in most need. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said that general elections would be held within 60 days after the formation of interim government in the country, instead of a 90-day period. Speaking to newsmen after attending a dinner hosted by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in honour of National Assembly members, Abbasi said the incumbent government would complete its term and next general elections would be held on time. He said the post of caretaker prime minister was not that important as much it had been made. "I have discussed the appointment of caretaker prime minister with the opposition leader, and it is hoped that an agreement would be reached on one name." The prime minister also apologised for police torture of journalists on Press Freedom Day. Speaking of former premier Nawaz Sharif, Abbasi said, "Nawaz Sharif was here yesterday, he is here today and will continue to be in future." The current government is expected to conclude its five-year term on May 31, after which the caretaker government will take over to hold the general elections, which are expected to be held in the last week of July or first week of August. As per the Constitution of Pakistan, the caretaker prime minister is appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader in the National Assembly. Both the premier and the opposition leader then present names of three nominees each from which the consensus candidate is appointed as the caretaker prime minister. The prime responsibility of the caretaker government is to ensure that the elections are held in a transparent manner. Election Commission of Pakistan has condemned the statement of Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that Aliens will conduct upcoming polls not caretakers. According to the details, ECP has said that Prime Minister should avoid giving such statements, this statement is against constitution. Spokesperson of the Election Commission of Pakistan has further said that ECP is an independent and sworn body, responsible for the polls in the country. Such statements are based on the assumptions and have nothing to do with the reality, said ECP Spokesperson. Yesterday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that next polls will be conducted by Aliens not by caretakers. Talking to reporters informally in Islamabad, PM Abbasi vowed that the present parliament will complete its term as the next election will be free and fair. Commenting over next election Prime minister claimed that alien will hold next election, however PML-N will contest election with full force. Commenting over the questions of caretaker setup, PM Abbasi said that the caretaker prime minister can be a retired politician, however the option of retired general was not under consideration. The caretaker PM slot was not much valuable as we consider, however government told the opposition leader to bring a joint opposition name for caretaker PM we will accept the proposed name, he said adding that if journalists proposed three names for caretaker PM government can also be considered them. He lashed out torture on journalists and offered apology over the issue. Hearing of the Avenfiled adjourned until May 7, after Khawaja Haris completed Cross Examination of the Nabs Imran Dogar on Friday. According to the details, National Accountability Bureaus (NAB) investigation officer in the Avenfield properties Reference informed the court that the bureau filed the reference on the basis of material gathered by the Supreme Court-appointed Panama case Joint Investigation Team. Dogar added that he did not request any further material from the Federal Investigation Agency or NAB to use in the reference. As the hearing went under way, Nawazs counsel Khawaja Haris resumed his cross-examination of NAB investigation officer (IO) Imran Dogar, the last prosecution witness, in the Avenfield properties reference. Dogar also informed the court of NABs procedure of lodging cases and holding inquiries. He shared that at the time of filing of interim references against the Sharifs, the bureau had not received any response on its mutual legal assistance requests. At the next hearing, Maryams counsel will begin his cross-examination of the investigation officer.Nawaz and his family are facing three corruption cases in the accountability court after the NAB filed references against them in light of the Supreme Courts verdict in the Panama Papers case. Yesterday, the accountability court hearing corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family was informed that the ex-premier is the beneficial owner of Nielsen and Nescoll offshore companies. The revelation was made during the cross-examination of prosecution witness of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation officer Imran Dogar in the Avenfield properties reference. As Judge Mohammad Bashir began proceedings, Nawazs counsel Khawaja Haris began cross-examining Dogar, the last prosecution witness.During cross-examination, Dogar shared details of the course of NABs investigation and issuance of mutual legal assistance requests to the UK authorities regarding the ownership of the London flats and offshore companies. Dogar informed the court that Nawaz is the benami [actual] owner of the Nielsen and Nescoll offshore companies. At one point, after the defence counsels objection, the judge directed the prosecution to refrain from interacting with the witness.Dogar had earlier recorded his statement in the court. He had informed the court that the NAB investigation proves Nawaz was the owner of the London flats while he was holding public office. The properties were purchased through offshore companies in someone elses name [to hide ownership], Dogar informed the court.The officer asserted that the suspects failed to prove a source of income for purchasing the properties, adding that the London flats were in the use of Nawaz and his family since 1993. He also informed the court that the trust deeds which Maryam Nawaz submitted to the JIT were proven fake. Maryam, Hussain and Hasan aided Nawaz in hiding the ownership of the properties, the officer added. The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered the Interior Ministry to place the names of six PML-N workers including an MNA and an MPA on the Exit Control List (ECL) for allegedly making anti-judiciary statements at a rally in Kasur last month. In April, police had booked 80 PML-N activists, six of who were nominated for allegedly staging a demonstration against an apex court verdict on the lifetime disqualification of former PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, and using expletives against the judiciary. Though the speeches were not aired on television, videos of the rants went viral on social media through which the speakers were identified. Police registered cases against the accused under Sections 166, 506, 341, 228 (intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding), 109, 147 and 149 (offenses against public tranquility) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and multiple activists were arrested. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the case today, asking the prosecution why the charges against the suspects did not include sections related to cyber crime. The bench ordered the Kasur district police officer to look into the cases registered and refer them to the Federal Investigation Agency if cyber crime sections were applicable. Arrested suspects MNA Waseem Akhtar, MPA Naeem Safdar, Kasur Municipal Committee Chairman Ayaz Khana and Vice Chairman Ahmad Latif were produced in court today. The court was told that two union council chairmen Nasir Khan and Jamil Khan who allegedly led the rally had been absconding since the incident took place. The hearing was adjourned until May 7. A Palestinian teenager who was shot last week by Israeli forces during anti-occupation protests and clashes along the border between the besieged Gaza Strip and occupied territories has succumbed to his gunshot wounds. The spokesman for the Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qidra, said in a statement that 19-year-old Anas Abu Asser died from his serious wounds in al-Shifa Hospital of Gaza City on Thursday afternoon. Qidra added that Asser, a local resident of Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the southern part of Gaza City, was shot by Israeli snipers on April 27. Protests along the Gaza border since March 30 have led to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces, during which at least 49 Palestinians have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries. The Palestinian rally, known as the Great March of Return, will last until May 15, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe) on which Israel was created. Every year on May 15, Palestinians all over the world hold demonstrations to commemorate Nakba Day, which marks the anniversary of the forcible eviction of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homeland by Israelis in 1948. More than 760,000 Palestinians -- now estimated to number nearly five million with their descendants -- were driven out of their homes in May 1948. Since 1948, the Israeli regime has denied Palestinian refugees the right to return, despite UN resolutions and international law that uphold peoples right to return to their homelands. Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem al-Quds and parts of Syrias Golan Heights during the Six-Day War in 1967. It later annexed East Jerusalem al-Quds in a move not recognized by the international community. Israel is required to withdraw from all the territories it seized in the war under UN Security Council Resolution 242 that was adopted in November 1967, months after the Six-Day War, but the Tel Aviv regime has defied that piece of international law ever since. Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz Here's an idea: Bugger off back to your snooty high ground Someone needs to tell Tony Wall to feck off back to Auckland. And Im just the man for the job. Mr Wall, in case anyone cares, is an Aucklander who has been overstaying in Tauranga for six years. Hes written a bleat for Stuff dissing our fine city, calling it a cultural wasteland and having a crack at the recent referendum which demolished the museum idea. I have some news for Mr Wall. Theres been a thing called democracy at play here, whether you like it or not. So only a third of the eligible voters had their say. The other two thirds clearly dont care; have relinquished their right to be counted. They had their chance. And the result is the museum plan has been rejected. Personally Id love to see a museum here. And so would most of the locals. But not if its council-funded against the will of the majority of the city shareholders. The ratepayers. The people who are actually expected to pay for it. Hell, you can set one up in my building at No 1 The Strand if you like. Its already a heritage-listed building and might suit your cultural expectations. Just dont expect the citys funders (ratepayers) to shell out against their will. No bottomless pit The council is not some magical fairy godmother with unlimited billions of dollars to spend on nice things. That might be how it happens in Awkland, which already gets a disproportionate amount of spending and attention thrown at it, because its the biggest and the noisiest. But here, we work on democracy and a budget. This may come as a bit of shock to some of you, but the council is in fact an organisation funded almost entirely by a group of people. They are called ratepayers. And oddly enough, the ratepayers still have a bit of say in how their contributed money is spent. Strange notion, perhaps that the money collected should be spent how the contributors see fit, rather than how those who dont pay it, think. Or how some Awklanders or anyone else from lesser regions of the nation, think. And for the information of the recent arrivals, the museum debate has been going on for decades. Its not a new thing, Mr Wall. Youre a bit behind the play here. If you knew you were moving to a cultural wasteland as you state, why complain now? Thought youd rock in, eh, and force the grandiose plans of few upon the majority? A bit miffed, are we, that Tauranga folk are quite staunch and dont like being bullied? Natural attributes The old argument about Tauranga being a cultural desert doesnt wash. There are already too many people flocking here, drawn by the many natural attributes. Tauranga doesnt need cultural trinkets to be attractive. It is already growing faster than it can cope, hence the traffic snarls at every end of the city. One of Walls buddies, Hamish McNeilly also managed a swipe at our paradise. Dunedin is no Tauranga; it has heritage, culture and a pulse. Again, Hamish, if Dunedin pushes your lofty cultural buttons, feel free to feck off there. Dont bother tooting as you leave; were too busy eating feijoas in our t-shirts and sandy feet, enjoying 23 degrees in the autumn sun. Dumps such as Dunedin need artificial facilities because, frankly, theres stuff all to like about the place. Let them wallow in a few old cruddy buildings and an air of damp bagpipes. Its all theyve got. Those places need man-made attractions because they bereft of natural assets. Such as a climate, for starters. The ratepayers of this city might also be more supportive of a museum if the basics of the city were managed successfully. Such as traffic. The Northern Link. Glass collection. But when you cant even keep city traffic flowing or collect empty gin bottles, its a bit rich to make grandiose plans for a museum. The ratepayers have also been stung by past rorts, such as the art gallery. It was meant to be a one-off cost to establish and then self-funding. Yet the ratepayer input is nudging a million a year. Im not saying we shouldnt have an art gallery. Just that many ratepayers feel they were sold a lemon; and the sour taste lingers. No wonder the payers are shy on commitment to other flashy schemes. Bleeding the payers If there are so many wiser folk out there with lofty ideals about what Tauranga needs then let them dig deep into their own pockets and fund it. Fine example: Classic Flyers. A group of people who decided to set up a museum. They didnt go cap in hand to bleed the council, they got on with setting it up themselves. And made a jolly fine job of it. There is more than one way to skin a cat, than fleecing the ratepayers. Then all the people, including the Dawklanders and even the Dunedinites who feel so sorry for us, can pay for it. Until then, busy yourself in front of the coal range with your Vicks Vaporub and pull your beak out of our business. Help yourself to the feijoas When youre ready for your ride out, Mr Wall, Ill gladly drop you at Dunners, the Tron or the bottom of the Bombays. Unless youd rather ride your cultural high horse back to your cultural high ground. Its been interesting to have you, but we were managing quite well before. If you have an idea for funding a museum or anything else for that matter that isnt against the majority wishes of those wholl pay for it, well be keen to listen. Help yourself to the avocados and feijoas as you leave. Youll need the vitamins where youre going. brian@thesun.co.nz The Tauranga judge who presided over criminal court cases following the grounding of the Rena on Astrolabe Reef in 2011 has died. Judge Robert Wolff moved to Tauranga in 2011 from Hamilton, where he was appointed to the bench in 1994. He passed away after a heart attack in Tauranga on Monday. His early legal career was in Palmerston North and Napier. His ability was recognised and nurtured by Russell Callander, a leading light of the bar in Palmerston North at that time and later also a Tauranga District Court judge. Russell encouraged him to do the hard cases, says Tauranga District Court judge Thomas Ingram. Once you have done the hard cases a few times you are always able to do the hard cases. He was lucky to have Russells encouragement and guidance. Bob always felt he owed a debt of gratitude for encouraging him early in his career, and led to it flourishing in the way that it did. Russell Callander was appointed to the bench in the 1980s and had a very long career as a district court judge. They had the pleasure of working alongside each other for many years, says Judge Ingram. From Palmerston North Bob moved to Hawkes Bay where he set up as a barrister on his own account, sharing chambers with Rod Gallen, later a Court of Appeal Judge, and Sir Robert Gallen. When Bob was appointed to the bench in Hamilton in 1994 it was to a busy centre. Bob particularly enjoyed jury trials and he did an awful lot of them. He would have done something in the order of 600-700 jury trials. Judge Wolff moved to Tauranga in 2011 by which time he was one of the senior judges in the country. He was appointed to the Environment Court on his arrival in Tauranga - just in time for the Rena to run on the reef. He sentenced both the captain and navigating officer to jail in 2012 for their part in the grounding. He was widely regarded as someone who tried to ensure that he recognised the humanity of the people who were appearing in front of him, says Judge Ingram. In our job you see an awful lot of people who have done some really bad things, and its not always easy to see them as flawed human beings like all of us. Bob was widely regarded as a master of the art of being able to hate the sin, but love the sinner. The critical point is not to spend all your energy on the condemnation of the act or acts you are called upon to deal with, rather to try and find out why its happened and to do the best you can to ensure as far as you can that whatever the cause is, its identified and able to be rectified - if it is able to be rectified. His guiding philosophy was to find out why something had occurred rather than put all you energy into condemning what has occurred. That is advice he gave me when I was appointed, which I thought was sage advice and I regarded him as a master of it. Robert Wolff was born in South Africa and his parents came to New Zealand when he was about four years of age. His father farmed at Rewa, close to Taihape. While he was still of primary school age his parents placed him in boarding school when they had to return to South Africa for some months. He remained at boarding school for the rest of his primary and secondary education at Wellington and Taranaki. He studied law at Otago University. He was a keen cyclist, and wasnt deterred by a number of injuries, says Judge Ingram. He once completed a tour of Italy, riding the Giro dItalia stages after the main event. He enjoyed it enough to learn Italian and make a number of friends in the Italian community in New Zealand, says Judge Ingram. He was a quick study, intelligent and intellectually gifted man. He learned Italian quickly to a conversational level - and thats what he enjoyed. He read lots of books in Italian and enjoyed all things Italian. A celebration for Judge Wolff will be held at Tauranga Park, 383 Pyes Pa Road, Tauranga, on Saturday, May 5 at 1.30pm, followed by private cremation. Communication to the Wolff Family c/o PO Box 3136 Tauranga 3142. New Zealands first purpose designed and built fully electric boat is in the water in Tauranga after a design and built process thats taken about two years. Using Tesla car batteries to drive an electric motor has produced a boat that is quiet, pollution free, and provides buyers with value for money over the longer term says developer Sean Kelly. This is New Zealands first plug-in, all electric boat. The only source of energy that powers it is electric. He expects end users to initially include commercial and government entities using boats for generally short journey types such as agencies like DOC, Niwa, regional councils on lakes, rivers and in aquaculture. You can drive it around your oyster farm with some real power, not just a trolling motor type arrangement, says Sean. You will be able to tow, push things, power hydraulic systems, leaving zero emissions in the water. If you do that at the moment with any kind of combustion engine, you are leaving a residue from the combustion process in the water. The prototype is in a six metre Herley Boats hull. Its the biggest hull Sean was prepared to live with in terms of risk. Getting the electric boat into the water has taken about two years from when he began acquiring componentry, with about a year for the construction. The power train installation is by Electricboats.biz. The prototype is proof of concept and doesnt have a price. Its a bit like your home at the moment. Putting solar power in and energy storage in a home at the moment is not at the price point where it makes perfect economic sense, says Sean. People that are going to buy one of these are going to say thats what they want. They are going to withstand the huge difference. Upfront costs are estimated to be about double a conventionally powered boat, but the payback point is at six and a half years, says Sean. Battery replacement according to the duty cycles is at about 11 years. So over the 30 year life of that boat there is a huge saving in cost over the life cycle. There are about two cars worth of Tesla batteries under the deck, driving two three-phase AC brushless motors delivering 147 horsepower. The motors are joined together, with DC 108 volts power from the batteries delivered through two common inverter drives, or variable speed controllers. For the trials the output was limited to about half. We wanted to be sure of what we are doing, says Sean. If you considered having 150hp outboard on this boat it would be quite a lot of power for it probably. Sean Kelly explaining the electric boats operation. Theres many, many parameters where can alter we can alter charge cycles, we can alter discharge cycles, voltages. Limit the amount of current we draw. Basically theres six computers in this boat and each computer manages a pair of batteries. They all have to talk to each other as well, so theres a whole lot of balancing and management going on. We can plug in a lap top and monitor all of that. Battery capacity is expected to deliver a days operation. There is an on-board re-charger giving the option of plugging into either a caravan plug or domestic current for overnight charging. The lithium ion batteries can also be fast charged in under an hour at a charging station. Drive is through a conventional stern leg. One of the things we have had to do to get it across the line with the regulator is to be very careful how we protect the battery, says Sean. The electric boat engine controllers and battery pack. Hayden Kinzett and Steve Gilmore are professional firefighters one with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the other at Tauranga Airport. Youd think theyd have enough of fighting fires but the two men are also volunteer firefighters at the Mount Maunganui Fire station, attending call-outs when the career crew are already on the job and when the big jobs require all hands on deck. Such as the job in Thames recently where they were called out to take the stations specialist hose layer appliance to assist. They were called out at 1.30am and pumped more than four million litres of water to help put the fire out before returning to Mount Maunganui at 9pm that night. Today is International Firefighters Day in New Zealand, a chance to recognise the efforts of our 1717 career firefighters, 8161 urban volunteers and 3134 rural volunteers. There are also 624 management and support staff. In 2015-2016 they attended 77,464 incidents, including 5044 structure fires, 3823 vegetation fires, 6215 motor vehicle accidents, 3279 hazardous materials call-outs and 11,677 medical emergencies. The Mount Maunganui Fire Station attended 782 incidents last year. Almost half of them were false alarms, the majority of which could have been prevented if building owners had kept up with building maintenance and followed correct procedures when contractors were undertaking work on site, says station officer Bill Rackham. Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller joined the station crew for morning tea today to get an insight into their work and acknowledge the fantastic job they do. I had a great time this morning connecting with some salt-of-the-earth, community-minded locals who have an extraordinary job. We owe them a great deal of thanks and today is about acknowledging them, their families and their service. It takes a special kind of person to take on this kind of work, or volunteer, and they sacrifice a lot to keep us all safe Fire and Emergency was formed on July 1, 2017 as an amalgamation of the New Zealand Fire Service, National Rural Fire Authority and 38 Rural Fire Authorities. The Mount Maunganui Fire Station has what is known as a composite crew with a full-time crew working in shifts of four and a volunteer crew of about 10 firefighters who are paged to assist when needed. Their turn-out time is in the vicinity of just five minutes. The station would dearly love to double its volunteer numbers and holds volunteer training sessions at 6pm every Tuesday night. Its quite exciting work and it really makes a difference in the community, says Hayden, the stations volunteer brigade officer in charge. If youre interested in training to be a volunteer firefighter at the Mount Maunganui Fire Station email Hayden hayden.kinzett@fireandemergency.nz Bethlehem Birthing Centre is celebrating the crucial role of midwives in the community, as this Saturday marks International Day of the Midwife. International Day of the Midwife was established by the International Confederation of Midwives to highlight the work of midwives. Birthing Centre Ltd CEO Chloe Wright says this years theme, Midwives leading the way with quality care, is indicative of the importance of the profession. Chloe says International Day of the Midwife is an opportunity to pause, reflect and say thank you to midwives for their work. At Birthing Centre we are committed to advocating for midwifery recognition, and support the midwifery-led care system in New Zealand, says Chloe. Midwives practice autonomously while fostering collegial team ethos in the community. They work hard physically and emotionally, and are connected to their mothers want and needs. Their clinical skills are balanced with their empathetic qualities. Midwifery offers an opportunity for personal growth. Midwives advocate for women - being the experts in primary care, they empower women. Through a relationship forged in trust, women relate to their midwife years after the birth - they can tell their stories and share the growth of their children. Midwives both LMCs and staff midwives play a crucial role in the service provided at Birthing Centre. Our centres could not provide this service without the continued support we receive from LMCs. Community-led midwives provide a great service to mothers and families in New Zealand and a high level of care, says Chloe. The LMC model of midwifery care in New Zealand is fantastic for women and their families. It enables a trusting relationship and one-to-one care from early pregnancy through to six weeks post-natal. Midwives work in partnership with women, to give women the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period up to six weeks, to facilitate births and to provide care for the newborn. Midwives work collaboratively with other health professionals when necessary to meet any additional medical, health or social needs of mothers and their babies. Birthing Centre supports the New Zealand College of Midwives stance that The midwife understands, promotes and facilitates the physiological processes of pregnancy and childbirth. Chloe says International Day of the Midwife is also a chance to recognise the staff midwives who work in New Zealands birthing centres and maternity wards. The staff midwives working in our centres fulfil a crucial role in supporting women, both during their birth, and also in the days immediately afterwards, as they get to grips with motherhood. Our midwives do everything from supporting women to breastfeed, to teaching them babycare skills and guiding fathers and partners in their crucial role of support. Our birthing centres offer another option for midwives choosing to work in primary care. LMCs report feeling supported and cared for in a primary birthing environment. In addition to operating Bethlehem Birthing Centre, the social enterprise Birthing Centre Ltd also operates Te Papaioea Birthing Centre in Palmerston North. Melling Birthing Centre, servicing the Wellington region, will open in July, and Nga Hau Mangere Birthing Centre in South Auckland next summer. The primary birthing centres are for women whose pregnancy is considered low-risk primary care. Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller says New Zealands horticultural industry is screaming out of more workers, and the government needs to listen to them. When our Kiwifruit growers are requesting a change to immigration settings to help alleviate pressure caused by unprecedented labour shortages, the government would be wise to listen, says Todd. We are talking about a multi-billion dollar industry that supports local families, industries and communities. The kiwifruit industry alone needs over 8000 pickers to pick and pack our $2 billion annual crop. Todd says the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme introduced in 2007 currently allows 11,100 temporary workers into New Zealand for seasonal work like fruit picking but the industry says it urgently needs that cap extended by at least another 2000. They simply need more labour than can be sourced locally. We all know that tourists and backpackers arent a stable supply. The industry needs a sustainable form of migration if we dont want to see fruit left on the vine or rotting on the ground, and an extension of the RSE scheme is the most viable option, says Todd. Im not saying this as an outsider. My family and I have built our lives on the foundations of the horticultural industry. That industry is being put at risk by a government that campaigned on a populist platform of slashing immigration without considering the devastating impact it would have on our regions those regions are now paying the price. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway has travelled to a number of regions recently that rely heavily on the RSE scheme, and says he is aware of the need to ensure that employers in the horticulture industry are able to get the people they need during seasonal peaks. I have asked Immigration NZ to carry out an operational review of the RSE scheme and the results of that review will inform any decisions I make about increasing the scheme. More immediately, there are other options that could be considered, such as a declaration of a labour shortage in the Bay of Plenty, which will allow people holding visitor visas to work in the region. New Zealand cadets will be matching in unison across the Tauranga CBD in celebration of the units 20th birthday. More than 70 Western Bay of Plenty cadets, supported by other New Zealand Cadet Corp Units and the Bay of Plenty Pipes and Drums Band, will march from Taurangas Second Avenue to the waterfront. This is a great opportunity for the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty community to turn out to show their support for the men and women who selflessly give up their time for the service of our community, says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson. The Charter Parade will begin on Second Avenue at 11.45am and will follow down Devonport Road, The Strand and finish at the Tauranga waterfront where Taurangas Deputy Mayor, Kelvin Clout will review the parade. In 2008 the Western Bay of Plenty Cadet Unit received the Charter of the City of Tauranga on the units 10th birthday. A Charter of the City allows the unit parade through the city with drums beating, colours flying, and swords drawn. The New Zealand Cadet Forces (NZCF or Cadet Forces) is a voluntary military-style training organisation for New Zealand youth. Run in a partnership between the New Zealand Defence Force and a number of locally appointed community organisations, it is composed of three corps: the Sea Cadet Corps, the New Zealand Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps. Road closures Second Avenue east of Devonport Road, Devonport Road from Third Avenue to The Strand and The Strand from Devonport Road to Harington Street (excluding the roundabout) will be closed between 10.30am and 1.30pm. This will be a rolling closure as the parade moves along its designated route. Detours will be in place and roads may open earlier, depending on the progress of the parade. Last nights practice run ready for the Charter Parade today. S Korea Issues Guide For Foreign Taxpayers by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong 04 May 2018 South Korea's National Tax Service has released guidance in English for foreign taxpayers to comply with their South Korean tax affairs. Income tax returns must be filed by May 31, 2018. The guidebook explains foreign persons' personal income tax obligations and the differences in tax treatment between resident and non-resident taxpayers. Foreign residents who have lived in Korea for less than five years are liable to pay tax on foreign-source income only if it is paid in or remitted to South Korea. Resident taxpayers are those who have been resident or have had a place of residence for 183 days or more in a calendar year, while non-resident taxpayers are those who have not resided in Korea for more than 183 days but who have received Korean domestic-source income. In the case of non-resident taxpayers, the guide explains that typically only domestic-source income is subject to tax and a flat rate of 19 percent applies. Residents are subject to the standard personal income tax regime, which features rates ranging from six percent to 40 percent, but may access certain tax deductions. Finally, the guidebook explains pertinent changes to Korea's tax regime since last year's guidebook that affect compliance obligations first, relating to the change of a trade, for VAT-registered persons, and, second, a waiver from filing obligations for foreign, resident taxpayers who have made an investment in Korea but have been resident in Korea for not more than five years in the past 10. 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. Telegram is an encrypted messaging service that has recently become popular, especially in countries with restricted speech such as Iran and Russia. In April, Russia requested that Google and Apple remove the Telegram app from their respective regional stores. The move followed a court order that blocked the app for failing to provide encryption keys to agencies such as Russia's Federal Security Service so they could easily access user messages. Telegram tried to circumvent the order by moving at least some of its services to different host servers. Russia responded by blocking more than 15.8 million IP addresses, which hampered other services such as game servers, banking, retail, and cryptocurrency websites. According to self-proclaimed Russian news outlet Meduza, the country is blocking another 50 services consisting of VPNs and web anonymizers in an effort to thwart circumvention of the sweeping bans. The governments agency in charge of censorship Roskomnadzor did not disclose which services it was blocking. The only thing the it would confirm is that Viber, another popular messaging platform, would not be targeted in the embargo. Since April 16, the Russian authorities have blocked roughly 20 million IP addresses, including servers operated by Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Digital Ocean, says Meduza. Roskomnadzors crackdown has disrupted a wide range of unrelated online services that rely on cloud computing hosted on blocked servers. Google and Apple have not commented on whether or not they will comply with requests and it is unknown what actions Roskomnadzor can take if they refuse to remove the apps. Even if the giant US corporations acquiesce to Russias wishes, users are likely to find ways around the restrictions. [Despite the bans] Telegram has remained accessible to most Russian Internet users by utilizing a variety of circumvention tricks, says Meduza. According to the messaging service, its app has at least 15 million users in Russia, and 10 million open the app daily. It is third only to WhatsApp (25 million users) and Viber (21 million). WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump acknowledged Thursday he repaid his personal lawyer for hush money given to porn actress Stormy Daniels after claiming previously he didnt 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. Trumps tweets outlining the arrangement came after Rudy Giuliani, one of his attorneys, said Wednesday that Trump reimbursed Cohen for $130,000 paid to Daniels. During an appearance on Fox News Channels 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 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. Speaking on Fox and Friends Thursday, Giuliani said Trump didnt 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 wasnt true, Giuliani said. However, imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton. Cohen didnt even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job. The comments appeared to contradict statements made by Trump several weeks ago, when he said he didnt 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 Trumps knowledge at the time. Giulianis revelation was hardly a shock in the West Wing, where many aides assumed the president at least had knowledge of Cohens work on his behalf. In briefings and media appearances, however, White House aides have sought to avoid staking out a clear position on the matter, directing reporters to Trumps own comments. Still, the way Giuliani announced it on live television and imprecisely surprised Trump staffers and raised fresh worries about the presidents uneven legal team. Law firms advance expenses for clients as a matter of course, so theres 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 Cohens 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 didnt 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 presidents personal legal team. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and ex-US attorney 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 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 Trumps personal financial disclosure form, which was certified on June 16, 2017. Giuliani also described the payment to Daniels as a very regular thing for lawyers to do. 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. Giuliani made the statements to Fox host Sean Hannity, who has his own connection to the case. It was recently revealed in court that Hannity is one of Cohens clients. Hannity has described his personal dealings with Cohen as centered on real estate advice and said that it never rose to any level that I needed to tell anyone that I was asking him questions. 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 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 Cohens denial, Giuliani said he didnt 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. Daniels lawsuit over the hush deal has been delayed, with the judge citing the criminal investigation. Giulianis revelation seemed aimed at reducing the presidents 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. Weve already seen drones used for criminal purposes, such as surveying a potential robbery location and delivering drugs into prisons, but the FBI has just revealed how they were used to disrupt a hostage raid last winter. Defense One reports that Joe Mazel, the head of the FBIs Operational Technology Law unit, recounted the incident at the AUVSI Xponential conference in Denver, Colorado. Mazel told attendees that an FBI hostage rescue team had taken up an elevated position to assess a situation outside of an undisclosed major US city. But it wasnt long before they heard the sound of an approaching fleet of drones, which made a series of high-speed low passes at the agents in the observation post to flush them. We were then blind, said Mazel, meaning the agents lost situational awareness of the target. It definitely presented some challenges, he added. While the case is classed as being law-enforcement sensitive, Mazel was able to provide a few details. The suspects, anticipating law enforcements arrival, had brought drones to the scene in backpacks. Not only were they able to obstruct the agents by buzzing them, but the drones also sent video footage back to other gang members via YouTube. They had people fly their own drones up and put the footage to YouTube so that the guys who had cellular access could go to the YouTube site and pull down the video, explained Mazel. As increasingly cheaper and more portable models become available, the use of drones among gangs to surveil police departments and identify witnesses is increasing. Theyre becoming a vital tool for criminals, who use them for everything from smuggling, to burglaries, to monitoring authorities movements. Theyve even been weaponized with guns and explosives, something that the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill wants to make illegal. It also requires drone pilots operating the devices outside of their line of sight to remotely identify themselves to law enforcement. Samsungs Galaxy S9 is one of the best Android phones currently on the market but it could have been so much more. Instead of completely redesigning the handset as was rumored, Samsung instead elected to put out an iterative update that looked and felt a lot like the Galaxy S8 from a year earlier. As a result, some decided to sit this round out and wait to see what next years release has in store. According to a recent report from South Korean financial news site The Bell, the Galaxy S10 may be worth the wait. The publication claims the S10, codenamed Beyond, will feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. Samsung has reportedly tried to introduce this feature since the S8 but technical hurdles have kept it sidelined. Some lesser-known smartphones already offer this functionality but theres nothing available yet from major players. Samsung is also said to be interested in adding a 3D sensing module to the S10 although The Bell seems uncertain as to if itll make the cut. The module would presumably function a lot like the Face ID feature on Apples iPhone X, enabling advanced facial recognition capabilities. Samsung is reportedly working with Mantis Vision on the venture but again, it may not happen in time for inclusion in the Galaxy S10. An electronics industry official told the publication it isnt detecting any mass-production movements that would suggest the feature is ready. Assuming Samsung sticks with its traditional release cadence, the Galaxy S10 will likely arrive in the first quarter of 2019. Data privacy isn't the only issue tech companies have been forced to contend with lately. Foreign interference in US elections through web advertisements has also proven to be a major headache for tech giants like Google, Twitter and Facebook. Facebook's plan to address the issue involves increasing transparency. The company will let users see what organization is behind the ad, what their political affiliations are, how many impressions the ad received and even how much money is being spent on it. This information would remain public for a whopping four years after the ads initially run. While Facebook may have their issues with political ads well in hand, Google has been somewhat silent on the issue. That's changing now, though. In a blog post released today, Google's Kent Walker went over the company's plan to increase ad transparency. Advertisers will be required to "confirm they are a U.S. citizen" or a lawful permanent resident before an election ad will be approved. The first step of that plan involves mandatory "additional verification" for anyone who opts to purchase an election ad through Google in the US. Specifically, advertisers will be required to "confirm they are a U.S. citizen" or a lawful permanent resident before their election ad will be approved. Similar to Facebook, Google will also require election ad creators to include a "clear disclosure of who is paying [for the ad]," but it's unclear what exactly that might entail. Google isn't stopping there, however. "This summer, well also release a new Transparency Report specifically focused on election ads," Walker writes in the blog post. "This Report will describe who is buying election-related ads on our platforms and how much money is being spent." Google also says they will build a "searchable library" for election ads, where anybody will be able to browse election ads purchased through Google and easily discover who paid for them. A Northern California company that federal officials say violated salary requirements of the country's foreign-worker visa program will pay a total of $173,044 to 12 workers, the U.S. Department of Labor said this week.The Labor Department said information technology provider Cloudwick Technologies Inc. underpaid the employees hired from India who obtained special highly skilled worker visas. The department says Cloudwick also made illegal payroll deductions.Messages left by The Associated Press with Cloudwick were not returned.U.S. employers can temporary hire foreigners to work in jobs that require specialized skills and college educations. The department said companies hiring foreign workers with the special H-1B visas are required to pay minimum salaries. Some employees were allegedly promised salaries up to $8,300 per month, but instead received $800 net per month, the department said.Companies that hire foreign workers with H-1B visas must show a shortage of U.S. workers with specialized skills."The intent of the H-1B foreign labor certification program is to help American companies find the highly skilled talent they need when they can prove that a shortage of U.S. workers exists," said department spokeswoman Susana Blanco. "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."The company, based in Newark, Calif., agreed to hire an outside monitor to ensure future compliance.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.President Trump last year signed an executive order he dubbed "Buy American, Hire American," requiring federal agencies to develop their work visa policies and develop new rules and guidance to prevent fraud and abuse if necessary. The H-1B visa program is part of that review. "We have decided to accept the resignation of the President of the Council of Ministers, Guido Bellido, whom I thank for his services," said President Pedro Castillo. | Read More Guwahati: City based Excelcare Hospital will conduct the next media OPD clinic at Guwahati Press Club for the benefit of the member-journalists along with their dependants. The Saturday camp (5 May 2018) is scheduled for 3 pm to 5 pm, where the participants will get the opportunity to consult with Dr AC Neog (medicine) and also check their weight, blood pressure & sugar. The last clinic on 28 April at the press club premises, organized under the series of weekly Evening with a Doctor programs, was graced by Dr Jay Deep Ghosh (ortho, spine) and Dr Mazahurul Islam (medicine) from Wintrobe Hospital. On the other hand, the 12 May media OPD clinic will be attended by Dr Soumar Dutta (medicine) from Narayana Super-Specialty Hospitals. While our Big Four bank CEOs lament that the golden days are over when it comes to monotonous record profits and pay packets, Nic Moore's Macquarie Group continues to push into uncharted territory on both fronts. After posting another record annual profit, and dividend, on Friday, Macquarie revealed that its executives continue to be well-rewarded for their endeavours. Lots to smile about: Macquarie CEO Nicholas Moore. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The annual report shows Moore received remuneration totalling $19.65 million, and was one of five executives to take home remuneration of more than $10 million. Hot on his tail is the lady who insists she is not looking to replace Moore, Shemara Wikramanayake. She received remuneration totalling $18.9 million for running Macquarie's asset management arm. Shares in Australian pokies manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology crashed by nearly 40 per cent on Friday after the company drastically reduced its profit outlook. The ASX-listed gaming company told investors its profits for the second half of the 2018 financial year were expected to be about $20 million, more than 50 per cent less than the figure previously forecast. Ainsworth Game Technology was founded by billionaire pokies king Len Ainsworth. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Ainsworth Game Technology attributed the large downgrade to short-term factors, including delays in the release of new gaming products in Australia, and slowing sales in South America. "While Ainsworth continues its progress to develop a more competitive product range to drive long-term market share growth, several short-term factors have caused profit expectations for the second half of financial year 2018 to be rebased," it said in a statement to the stock market. Teachers have hailed the NSW government's condemnation of NAPLAN as a death knell for the test, even though the federal government insists it is not going anywhere. At a meeting of education ministers on Friday, Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the national test was supported by parents, who considered it a valuable update on their child's literacy and numeracy skills. David Gonski and Minister for Education Simon Birmingham. Credit:AAP "NAPLAN will not be going away any time soon because it is an important deliverable in terms of giving Australian parents information about how their child is tracking," he said. A review of the test, looking at concerns such as child stress and whether the results were misrepresented, was expected later in the year. Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara) had been a member of Bobby Kennedy's support staff before his assassination. Credit:Claire Folger And by 1969, that left Ted to carry the blazing torch of his father's ambitions, a task for which he felt singularly unqualified. "Growing up you said Jack's the charming one, Bobby's the brilliant one and Joe jnr was the favourite one," Clarke's Ted says to his father Joe (Bruce Dern) in the film. "Well, what did that leave for me, Dad? The dumb one? The fat one? I'll tell you ... the one who got in the most trouble." The film reveals Kennedy's desperation to save his own neck. He even faked an injury to try to garner sympathy. Credit:Claire Folger It's a powerful scene, pointing to some of the key themes in the story: the weight of familial expectation; the impossibility of meeting a distant father's standards; and the self-pitying streak, through which Ted could manage to make himself the victim of that terrible night in Chappaquiddick. Two more scenes point to this last aspect in particular. First, when Kennedy telephones his cousin and confidante Joe Gargan (Ed Helms) to come to his aid, the first words he utters are "I'm not going to be president". Edward Kennedy, with neck brace, with Robert Kennedy's widow Ethel at his immediate left and his wife Joan, at Mary Jo's funeral. Credit:UPI Second, while Gargan and another friend dive in a futile attempt to rescue Mary Jo who is, according to the film, still alive at this stage Kennedy sits on dry land, head in hands, wailing, "How could this happen to me?". It would be easy to assume, then, that Curran and screenwriters Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan were on a mission to demolish the reputation of Ted Kennedy, who had been in the US Senate for seven years at the time of the accident and remained there for another 40 years after it, and earned a reputation as one of the best deal-makers, and most effective liberals, in US politics. John Curran's film is coy about whether or not Kopechne and Kennedy were lovers. 'I just don't know,' the director says. 'We don't know.' Credit:Claire Folger Not so, says Curran. "I, and most of the people who made this film, are left-leaning Democrats. But I felt as much as I admired Ted Kennedy and what he stood for and his legislation, I definitely had a blind spot about this very historical seven days in his life." Though it's far from a flattering account of Kennedy's behaviour before and after the accident, Chappaquiddick draws extensively on official accounts including the Senator's own version of what happened. The real Mary Jo Kopechne. Credit:Fairfax Media "Obviously there's dramatic invention, conversations we weren't privy to, that we've completely made up, because it's a film," Curran says. "But my thing with the writers was let's stick to the facts we know, from the inquest, testimony, people who talked in documentaries years afterwards, certain information we got from books everything we can corroborate as being as close to the facts as we know." To that end, the film is hazy on whether or not Kennedy and Kopechne were having an affair (though in a version of the screenplay available to read online, all doubt is removed). "I don't know if he had a relationship with her or not, there's no evidence that he did, so I imply it but I think people watching the film will project their own idea of whether he did or didn't," Curran says. "I just don't know, we don't know. It's as much about all the other ideas as it is about the ones we think we know." All that ambiguity can't hide the fact that in the moment and in the days that followed, Kennedy behaved reprehensibly, far more concerned with protecting his political career than with doing the honourable thing. Are we meant to conclude then that the years that followed in the Senate were a prolonged attempt to atone for the sins committed in the week covered by the film? "There's no getting around that part of his career," says Curran, who notes that he, like Kennedy, was raised Catholic, and that redemption is a key tenet of the faith. "He never got over a lot of his flaws in a way, his weakness for drinking, for carousing, whatever. But in terms of public service he had a pretty remarkable career, and he achieved a remarkable amount, working as no one else does in this country. He knew how to work across the aisle and find compromise with the opposing party. So it's very complicated. "It's like these guys now who are getting nailed for different things" he's referring to the post-Weinstein wave of accusations of appalling behaviour by powerful men "can you separate their legacy from the history of them as a person? It's very difficult." More difficult in some cases than others, no doubt. Can you, for instance, imagine a similar film being made about Donald Trump some time down the track? Tax is the price we pay to live in a civilised society and, bizarrely, the Australian population is far more attracted to the idea that we should buy some more civilisation than those we have elected to lead us. Even more bizarrely the idea that we should listen to the public and collect more revenue and fund higher quality public services is dismissed as populism. Presumably ignoring the will of the people is a good way to strengthen a democracy? There is no doubt that the idea of collecting more revenue and improving services is popular. A poll featured on page one of the Australian Financial Review found that 58 per cent of Australians would rather the government focus on improving the quality of our health system than on providing tax cuts. A mere 10 per cent of people thought that tax cuts for big businesses should be a priority. Yet the Turnbull government presses on with its strategy to starve its self of revenue in order to force future governments to starve our essential services of funding. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants to deliver company tax cuts but fewer than 10 per cent of constituents think the cuts are a priority. Credit:AAP While the Coalitions real motivation for handing so much public money to the biggest businesses when the budget has been in deficit for 12 years will probably never be known, what we do know is that the proponents of such tax cuts are much more confident about the economic benefits of those cuts than actual economists are. Take this weeks coverage of some new data on the impact of the last two years of tax cuts for companies with turnover of less than $2 million. According to the Australian Financial review Company tax cuts work, according to first-ever 'real time' local study and The Australian Company tax cuts lift jobs growth, study finds but according to the Sydney Morning herald the same data showed Half the Australian businesses that got a tax cut have banked the cash so which is it? Police believe they've found the body of a missing Melbourne man in a state park more than three weeks after he disappeared. Yiwei Chu, 28, from Mount Waverley, was last seen buying lunch at a Hungry Jack's about midday on Wednesday, April 11. His disappearance sparked a major police and SES search and an emotional public appeal for information from his family. A passerby found a man's body in the Werribee Gorge near Ironbark Road about 6pm on Thursday. Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne have for the first time been given resources to help them support same-sex attracted and transgender students. In a significant development that's been years in the making, Catholic Education Melbourne distributed its alternative to the controversial Safe Schools program on Friday afternoon. The document states that "those experiencing same-sex attraction must be accepted with respect, compassion and dignity." It calls on the 330 schools in the Melbourne diocese to use inclusive language and ensure all events, including formals, are welcoming. Schools have been asked to develop management plans to ensure students are not discriminated against. Police have charged a man after he allegedly forced another man to hand over a large amount of cash after he blackmailed him over his use of a dating app. The 29-year-old victim is believed to have been messaging people on the app earlier this year, when another man threatened to expose his online behaviour to one other person. Police allege the victim met with the man at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne's CBD just after 4pm on March 2 and gave him a substantial amount of cash. A 34-year-old Southbank man has been charged with one count of blackmail and bailed to attend the Melbourne Magistrates Court on May 7. Police have charged three people after an alleged stolen car crashed into another vehicle at the edge of Melbourne's CBD on Friday. The trio were arrested at the the Burnley Tunnel entrance near Kings Way just before 5pm after police - who had been following the stolen car - swarmed the scene with their guns drawn. A stolen white Nissan was allegedly being driven in the wrong direction down the road when it collided with a blue Alfa Romeo. An argument allegedly broke out. "The driver of the Alfa Romeo got out of his vehicle and had an altercation with the occupants of the Nissan Skyline," a spokeswoman for the police said in a statement. By Roberta Rampton and Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal investigators wiretapped the phone lines of U.S. President Donald Trump's longtime lawyer Michael Cohen before the FBI seized records and documents in a raid last month on his offices, hotel room and home, NBC News reported on Thursday. NBC, citing sources familiar with legal proceedings involving Cohen, said it was unclear how long the wiretap had been authorized, but it was in place in the weeks before the April 9 raids in New York targeting the lawyer. At least one call between a phone line associated with Cohen and the White House was intercepted, NBC quoted one source as saying. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a news briefing she could not verify the NBC report and said she had not talked to Trump about the wiretap issue. The raids were part of a federal criminal investigation of Cohen in New York in part over a $130,000 payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels a month before the 2016 U.S. presidential election to keep her quiet about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump in 2006. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said on Twitter that Cohen was reimbursed for that payment through a monthly retainer, not campaign funds, to stop "false and extortionist accusations" Daniels has made about a sexual relationship with the president. The wiretapping of Cohen, if confirmed, would represent the latest ominous development for Trump, who faces legal difficulties on several fronts. The investigation of Cohen is an offshoot of the ongoing probe by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller into potential collusion between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the investigation. Russia and Trump deny any collusion. Daniels also has filed two lawsuits against Trump. Like a search warrant, a wiretap can be authorized when a judge determines there is probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. But there is an added burden of showing the criminal behavior is ongoing and that there is no other way to reasonably obtain the information. Authorities must re-apply for the wiretap every 30 days. It was not immediately clear when the warrant for surveillance was obtained or what evidence the Federal Bureau of Investigation had to support its request. 'A MOCKERY' Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who is a member of Trump's legal team, told the Washington Post that, if true, the wiretaps would be "not appropriate," according to a Twitter post by a Post reporter. "You mean, I call up my lawyer and the government is wiretapping him?" Giuliani asked in comments to the Post. "... They've already eviscerated the attorney-client privilege. This would make a mockery of it." Attorney-client privilege generally shields communications between a lawyer and a client. Giuliani did not immediately return a call for comment from Reuters. A spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office, which is handling the Cohen investigation, declined to comment. Cohen and a lawyer for him did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Because Cohen is a lawyer, prosecutors likely took multiple steps to address concerns that a wiretap would violate attorney-client privilege, said Chris Slobogin, a professor of criminal law at Vanderbilt University Law School. At the time of their wiretap application, prosecutors likely would have needed to convince a judge that Cohen was not acting as lawyer or was engaging in criminal conduct, both exceptions to attorney-client privilege, Slobogin said. The agents who conducted the wiretap would also have been instructed to turn off eavesdropping equipment off if they determined at the start of a conversation that it might be protected by attorney-client privilege, Slobogin added. Bill Shorten is in full flight by the time he gets his 10th question from a crowd of voters in one of the most marginal electorates in the country. He has already warmed up the audience with answers on wage theft, the banks and the cost of energy before he gets a question on technical education and jobs. It adds a little more heat to the packed community hall. The opposition leaders past life as a union organiser is obvious in his tirade about the money wasted on private colleges and the rorts in vocational education. Never mind that Labor launched some of the reforms that allowed private operators to lump taxpayers with student debts that will never be repaid. That does not even come up. In this hall, on this night, Shorten is in his element and the audience has nothing but applause. Opposition leader Bill Shorten speaks at a community forum in Riverwood. Credit:Wolter Peeters We will properly invest in TAFE and weve got a couple of basic rules I can tell you now, Shorten tells his audience. An inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in response to Parliament's citizenship crisis is poised to recommend a referendum amending the constitution, but the government is already signalling its scepticism about the appetite for changes to permit the election of dual citizens. The High Court will on Wednesday rule whether Labor senator Katy Gallagher's efforts to rescind her dual citizenship were adequate, and its decision has the potential to force byelections for three Labor MPs and one crossbencher on top of the poll forced by the resignation of Labor's Tim Hammond this week. The section 44 citizenship crisis has already seen 10 MPs disqualified, causing a string of election recounts and byelections, since mid-2017. While a push to overturn the ban on dual citizens serving in Parliament has attracted growing support from MPs across the political spectrum, Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann suggested voters prefer the existing rules. "I note that the joint standing committee on electoral matters has formed a view that there is no other way to resolve it, should we want to resolve it. Im personally not persuaded that the Australian people disagree with the proposition that a member of the federal parliament should be an Australian citizen only," Senator Cormann said on Friday. Department of Finance figures show the government took in $325.2 billion in the financial year to March instead of the $319.9 billion expected. The extra $5.3 billion might grow to an extra $8 billion by the end of the financial year and become an extra $8 billion that could be added on to each of the following years' budgets. As well, the governments been underspending by around $3 billion. Add the two together, throw in some cleverly-scheduled income tax cuts and a few optimistic yet credible economic forecasts, and an early surplus in 2019-20 would be within reach. For a government trailing in the polls and eyeing an election as early as this spring, its an opportunity to sell the budget as a sea-change, a "mission accomplished". The polls suggest voters are actually more keen to see a return to surplus than they are to see tax cuts. A Sky News ReachTEL poll of 2500 Australians conducted on April 30 showed 48 per cent wanted the deficit obliterated early compared to 39 per cent who wanted tax cuts. Another poll conducted by JWS Research and published in The Australian Financial Review on Friday found 32 per cent wanted government debt cut compared to 27 per cent who wanted their own tax cut. Only 10 per cent wanted company tax cut. Loading But that doesnt mean personal income tax cuts arent essential. Political hardheads believe that as elections approach voters are driven by dollars, whatever they tell the pollsters. For the past five years wages have grown by an average of just 2.2 per cent per year, barely more than prices, well down on the 3.7 per year growth typical of the previous 12 years. Economist Saul Eslake says its a global phenomenon, brought about by a switch to unionised service jobs under threat from technology and offshoring. He says it hasnt helped that the share of household income paid in tax has climbed from just under 17 per cent to 19 per cent in just six years. The Parliamentary Budget Office is predicting even worse in the four years ahead unless income tax rates are cut: an extra 3.2 percentage points of tax for middle earners. Eslake acknowledges that the decision to abandon the increase in the Medicare levy makes that projection less severe, but only by about half a percentage point, he says. Loading To be tangible the tax cuts would have to begin this July, and grow over time. The budget is likely to include tax cuts that build over the four years of budget projections followed by a commitment to build on them in future years. Itll be helped by a technical assumption (sometimes described by Morrison as a target) that the tax take will stop climbing when it gets to 23.9 per cent of GDP, which is said to be the level reached in the final year of the Howard government. That constraint is due to become binding in 2022-23, just beyond the budget projection period, meaning that taxes will have to be trimmed from then on to stay within it. Danielle Wood, who heads the budget policy program at the Grattan Institute, believes that last years budget forecasts on commodity prices and company tax revenue were strategically conservative, meaning theres room for more aggressive forecasts this year that will lift revenue projections just when higher projections are needed. Treasurer Scott Morrison outside Treasury in Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The losses companies have been hanging on to ever since the global financial crisis are finally being used up, she says. Commodity prices are much higher than forecast and employment has been growing more strongly than just about anyone expected. Against this, wage growth looks nowhere near as strong as previously forecast. Projections in the December budget update had wage growth reaching 2.5 per cent by the end of June and climbing to 3.5 per cent by June 2021. The latest published figures show an annual increase of just 2.1 per cent. On Friday the Reserve Bank said the majority of firms it surveyed expected wage growth to be largely unchanged over the coming year, although it said the proportion expecting an increase was increasing. It ought to be possible for the Treasury to both lift its forecasts for employment and company tax collections and cut its forecasts for wage growth and still come out ahead. But the keener it is on early return to surplus, the harder itll be to make the tax cuts big. ANZ Bank senior economist Cherelle Murphy describes whats likely as a latte and train fare tax cut from July, climbing to a smashed avocado breakfast after three years. She is predicting cuts worth $3 billion per year to start with, climbing to $8 billion in 2020-12. Thats around $6.50 per week, climbing to $17.50. Morrisons problem is that Bill Shorten will be able to outbid him. Labor has an absolute war chest, says Hutley. It has laid out very clearly how it is going to pay for its promises. It isnt proceeding with the rest of the company tax cuts, it is withdrawing much of the negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, and it is winding back dividend imputation. It will be able to offer both bigger personal income tax cuts and a bigger surplus, and spend more on its priorities, she says. The Prime Minister has commissioned a review of the federal bureaucracy that may lead to its biggest overhaul in more than 40 years. CSIRO chairman and former Telstra chief executive David Thodey will lead the independent inquiry, which has received broad terms of reference that could let it recommend an entirely new structure and legislation to govern the Australian Public Service. CSIRO chairman David Thodey, who will lead the review. Credit:Ben Rushton Malcolm Turnbull and the minister assisting on the public service, Kelly O'Dwyer, on Friday said technological and global public policy changes were "transforming our economy and our society, presenting both opportunities and challenges". "The public sector has a critical role in this context. Our APS must be apolitical, professional and efficient. It needs to drive policy and implementation, using technology and data to deliver for the Australian community," the ministers said. Drivers on the Tullamarine Freeway have been promised a smoother ride from Monday with long-awaited new lanes opening over the weekend. But there was no smoothing over the ongoing tension between the state and federal governments on Friday, with both sides continuing to exchange barbs over the delivery of billions of dollars of infrastructure upgrades around the state. Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan and Liberal Senator James Patterson, who was representing the federal government, officially opened the new lanes on Friday, with both welcoming the relief that the new lanes would bring to users of the increasingly congested freeway. The widened freeway is opening over the weekend. Credit:Eddie Jim The road features two lanes running parallel to the Tullamarine Freeway inbound from the Mickleham Road exit through to the M80 exits, both Altona- and Greensborough-bound, designed to let vehicles merge safely onto the Ring Road. Legionella bacteria seen under microscope. A Legionnaires' outbreak possibly linked to two Melbourne shopping centres has left two men fighting for their lives, and a third man in hospital. The Health Department has issued a warning over the outbreak, after all three men became ill following visits to the Airport West and Gladstone Park shopping centres between April 20 and 26. The three men, aged in their 60s and 70s, are in hospital receiving treatment. Two are currently in intensive care. The biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere will be built about 130 kilometres west of Melbourne, powering an estimated half a million homes a year by 2025, if the Andrews government gives the project the green light. The proposed wind farm would sprawl across 167 square kilometres of farmland near the small town of Rokewood in south-west Victoria, about 40 kilometres south of Ballarat. It would have 228 wind turbines, each 230 metres tall at their highest point. By way of comparison, just four skyscrapers in Melbourne are taller. The largest operating wind farm in Victoria, at Macarthur, has 140 turbines that are up to 140 metres high. Nairobi: Four workers trapped underground after an earth tremor at a Sibanye Gold mine in South Africa have died, bringing the number of people killed at the company's operations this year to at least 10. A worker holds a handful of gold bullion granules during manufacture in South Africa. Credit:Bloomberg Another three workers were still trapped underground at the Driefontein mine, after six others were brought to the surface since a cave-in on Thursday afternoon, Sibanye spokesman James Wellsted said earlier on Friday. The trapped workers were not responding to attempts to contact or locate them, he said. South African gold mines are among the world's deepest and oldest, with workers going further and further underground to access new ore in a country that's been mined commercially for over a century. While safety has improved since the end of whites-only rule in 1994, fatalities in the sector increased last year for the first time in a decade. Desire and resentment are like smoke and fire in the scorching revival of Tennessee Williams's Summer and Smoke now playing at Classic Stage Company in a joint production with Transport Group. Long dismissed as a lesser Williams drama compared to A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie, Summer and Smoke smolders with unsatisfied longing thanks to powerful performances and a handsomely pared-down staging by director Jack Cummings III. Originally titled Chart of Anatomy and then later revised into a different play called The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, Summer and Smoke's fitful history can be partially traced to a lackluster 1948 Broadway debut. That's a shame, since Williams always felt a deep personal association with the protagonist, Alma Winemiller: "It has become a sort of concrete truth that I am Blanche," Williams told author James Grissom, referencing the doomed heroine of Streetcar, "but I am much more like Alma, peeking through actual and metaphysical curtains, spying on the things I want to love and to feel and to have, but afraid to get much farther than the porch." Marin Ireland plays Alma, T. Ryder Smith plays Reverend Winemiller, and Barbara Walsh plays Mrs. Winemiller in the off-Broadway revival of Summer and Smoke. ( Carol Rosegg) Yet Alma is no shrinking violet as portrayed by the commanding Marin Ireland. From the way she cuts into her big speeches with slow precision, winding up to a fiery finish, we come to understand this minister's daughter as someone who would make a fine preacher herself, were this not early 20th-century Mississippi. The object of her restrained desire (and somewhat less restrained resentment) is the handsome John Buchanan (Nathan Darrow), son of the town doctor (a cranky Phillip Clark). John seems destined for a life of comfort and respect, despite his best efforts: A regular at the dodgy Moon Lake Casino, John enjoys gambling and sex with the casino owner's daughter, Rosa (a sympathetic Elena Hurst). When John turns his attention to the buttoned-up Alma, she doesn't know whether to respond with surprise, elation, or hostility so she settles for a very real combination of the three. Few actors would be able to make that synthesis seem as completely natural as Ireland does. She has an instinctual grasp on this character, who is both highly intelligent yet steadfast in her romantic vision of the world even as it constantly fails to live up to her expectations (Ireland lets the audience know when this happens with her unmistakable facial expressions). Barbara Walsh plays her ice-cream-slurping mother with the noisy discourtesy of an ignored child. Tina Johnson is a hoot as Mrs. Bennett, the consummate Southern busybody who seems to relish bursting Alma's bubble. Not only do these older women seemingly conspire to humiliate Alma, but they offer a terrifying look into her future should she stick around this crummy town. If these were your only two choices, you would self-medicate too. Jonathan Spivey, Glenna Brucken, Tina Johnson, Ryan Spahn, Marin Ireland, and Nathan Darrow appear in Summer and Smoke. ( Carol Rosegg) The little white tablets John offers Alma to calm her nerves should raise a red flag for anyone watching. A young doctor-to-be, John is more valued by this community than future spinster Alma, which perhaps explains why Alma is so straitlaced: She doesn't really have a choice. Darrow plays John with the languid confidence of one who knows he doesn't have to try very hard to be adored. But we are still aware that Alma is special: An average woman would not be able to inspire such white-hot rage in this cucumber of a man. Cummings stages it all with brutal simplicity. It is telling that both John and Alma's father (a severe T. Ryder Smith) violently wrap their arms around this disobedient woman at different points in the play, forcing her body to bend to their wills in a physical manifestation of the patriarchy. Such clarity extends to the design: A framed portrait of Alma's favorite angel statue occupies one corner of the bare stage, while the other contains John's anatomical chart: romance and reason, squared off in set designer Dane Laffrey's empty arena. Laffrey caps the central platform with a claustrophobically low ceiling, suggesting just how stifling this place is for a stargazer like Alma. The Mississippi heat seems to rise off the stage under R. Lee Kennedy's warm lighting. Kathryn Rohe's costumes conjure time and place while using color to convey social position: severe black for the minister, white linen for young John, red for Rosa. Wearing the palest pink, Alma seems to want to break out of her station without making the radical choice to do so completely. Marin Ireland plays Alma Winemiller, and Nathan Darrow plays John Buchanan in Summer and Smoke. ( Carol Rosegg) A drama of unexpected richness, Summer and Smoke reaches full bloom in this glorious production. When so much of our collective angst is focused on the feelings of male dispossession that are driving violence around the globe, this timely revival reminds us that women have regularly felt disappointment too. Where is our hand-wringing for them? With the ubiquity of DNA testing kits and family-tree websites, it's never been easier to find answers to the question "Where do I come from?" We've become fascinated with the idea of discovering who we are in respect to race and ethnicity, as opposed to who we have become as a result of culture and upbringing. Purva Bedi, Kristin Marting, and Mariana Newhard examine where these different ideas of self overlap and diverge in their short, dystopian play Assembled Identity, now running at HERE. Though the piece doesn't consistently cohere as a narrative, it does raise provocative questions about what identity is and how scientific advances might potentially shape an individual's sense of self in alarming ways. The play takes place in the not-too-distant future at a government agency called the Federal Registry of Genetics (run, tellingly, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Mariana Newhard and Lipica Shah play identical twins, known as A1 and A2, who have reported to the center because of a mysterious illness (there are more than a few thematic similarities to the television show Orphan Black in this play). While there, unseen scientists subject them to a series of intensive tests that analyze their genetic makeup and their responses to interactions with dozens of women who have also reported to the center all of whom look exactly like A1 and A2. The twins soon discover that they and the other women are clones whose genes and behavior are being modified in order to eliminate defects and unbeneficial characteristics from the human species. A1 and A2 have opposing views on the ethics of this undertaking, and they debate the issue as they cling futilely to the identities they thought they had. Newhard and Shah adroitly portray the twins as well as several foreign-language-speaking clones (translations from Spanish, Tagalog, and other languages are provided within David Bengali's impressively detailed projections, which reveal A1's and A2's test results and other aspects of the play's technological world in the background). Both actors also occasionally break out into songs (composed by Drew Weinstein) and dances (choreographed by Alexandra Beller) that comment chorus-like on the action, but these Greek-tragedy-style interludes seem distractingly out of place. Still, director Kristin Marting and her cowriters give audiences plenty of tragic-sounding questions to contemplate, especially now that gene editing techniques such as CRISPR technology are no longer the stuff of sci-fi. The play ends with more questions than answers. Despite science's promise to potentially cure human illnesses, what could happen if gene editing is used in unethical ways? If genetic codes are altered in individuals, will science be able to manufacture or manipulate personality as well? And in a world where cloning exists, would "identity" mean anything at all? Over the course of an hour, Assembled Identity asks some important questions and leaves it to us to try to put together some answers. Kathmandu, Nepal: The government has come heavily against the syndicate imposer transport entrepreneurs, particularly its leaders for halting the operation of public vehicles on the name of protest against the government decision to cancel the syndicate system in the country. With the arrest of the some leaders of the transport entrepreneurs committees, the government has initiated process to investigate the property of the arrestees and others leaders on the guess that they would have earned illegally through the means of imposing syndicate system in the public transport sector. According to a source at the Ministry of Home ffairs (MoHA), it has directed the concerned authorities on Friday to freeze bank accounts of transport entrepreneurs as part of beginning of investigation of their properties. Earlier, Nepal Police had arrested some leaders of the Transport Entrepreneurs Association (NNTEA) including its vice Chairma Jeewan Banjade and General Secretary Saroj Sitaula. It is said that Nepal Police have also been intensified its search operations against other leaders of the transport entrepreneurs committees. Photo: Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images Im sitting in a Manhattan yoga studio where theyre serving Instagrammable lavender-tinted Goji water in little plastic cups. Meditation music is playing as were asked to ground our energy by visualizing two things: what we want to manifest today, and a succulent. Were then told to imagine placing what were manifesting on top of the succulent. Meanwhile, were also supposed to breathe. I feel like Im at hippie church. And this, I suppose, would make Lacy Phillips a woman with shiny long brown hair and many gold rings, who is overlooking the hundred or so of us from her perch atop an altar decked out in white fuzzy rugs my hippie pastor. Phillips teaches the art of manifestation, a practice she defines as raising your self-worth to prepare to receive what you want, be it a partner, money, or a new apartment. She claims her process is based on neuroscience, psychology, and a little spirituality sprinkled on top, and that it doesnt rely on positive thinking or New Age superstitions like vision boards. She is here to lead a sold-out, $30 class on Learning the Power of Accountability and Celebrating Rejection to Harness Magnetic Projection. I am here to see what all the hype is about. Manifesting has lately become something of a wellness trend, and from what I gather by listening to a few L.A.-based podcasts (Almost 30, Morning Matcha, and Love, Alexi), the West Coast is especially receptive. A handful of new self-help gurus are expanding on Rhonda Byrnes Law of Attraction, introduced to the mainstream in her best-seller The Secret in 2006. Today, theres the Oprah-approved motivational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein, who will teach manifestation at her popular $2,000 Spirit Junkie weekend seminar in New York this June. CAP Beauty (the natural Sephora) recently hosted speaker Katie Dalebout at its Manhattan location, where she taught a Journaling to Manifest course. But what might cement manifestations trendy status is the fact that its been parodied: Stephen Colbert teamed up with Gynweth Paltrows Goop to offer a $900 manifestation loofah: Whisper your hopes and dreams into its aspiration crevice, then sit back, relax, and watch all your hopes and dreams come true. Phillipss site, Free and Native, does not offer parody loofahs. Its an earnest, aspirational space full of straw hats, white linens, and holistic living advice. There are also $68 online courses, in case you cant attend one of the workshops Phillips holds every couple of months in Los Angeles (where shes based), New York, Paris, or London. Over 5,000 members are committed to raising the collective consciousness in Lacys Manifestation Secret Society Facebook Group, too. Phillipss private sessions are booked out for the next nine months and seeing her can run you a few hundred dollars. Most of her clients are women, as is apparent in the room. Up until attending Phillipss workshop, the extent of my manifesting experience mostly included making lists and vaguely believing in the power of the universe. But I was open to seeing how this cool girl from Echo Park could make me better at getting what I want. And yet at the class, I struggle to focus on one goal during the warm-up meditation. I finally settle on something work-related: a story I wrote about an up-and-coming musician. I was proud of the piece, but I wish more people had read it. This, I decided, would be what I would manifest: extra clicks on a months-old internet article. Im halfway through placing this idea onto my imaginary succulent, but before I can do so, Phillips interrupts. Theres nothing too big as long as your subconscious believes its possible, she says of our dreams. To get what you want, Phillips, whos managed to wear an all-white painter jumpsuit without looking like a member of The Leftovers cult, continues, you need to expand your subconscious. In other words: Deep down, I need to be confident that what I desire is possible. To do this, I must unblock, by figuring out what from my upbringing is stopping me. Ill know Im ready to receive what Im manifesting when Ive passed certain tests for instance, not moving into the first apartment I get approved for if my gut is telling me its not the right place. It dawns on me, as my knees touch with strangers in the too-warm room, this could take a while, which means I definitely wont have my million views on an article I wrote in December by the time the session is over. Phillips has seen these steps take as long as six months to complete. Then again, you could do every step right and still not get what you want if you start with the wrong intentions, she cautions. If youre manifesting a trip to Iceland because you broke up with your ex and you want him and his new girlfriend to see how great your life is on Instagram thats from your ego, Phillips says, sounding like a tough older sister. Two things are going to happen: (a) Its not going to happen, (b) A great beautiful lesson is coming to earthquake you into your authentic self. I remind myself striving for better traffic goals shouldnt be motivated by Twitter retweet dopamine hits; itd be more magnetic of me to selflessly focus on exposing the songwriter I profiled to a new audience instead. Next thing I know Im lying on the floor, picturing warm liquid gold pouring over my entire body. Its like being at an adult slumber party, but instead of doing a seance, my new chill friend is leading us through a deep imagining exercise, Phillipss version of hypnosis. We trace back our childhoods and learn that the root of every issue stems from either feeling unlovable or having underdeveloped self-esteem. I reflect on not getting the first summer job I wanted at the very competitive local Ben & Jerrys. If I can go back and correct that feeling of rejection I associate with work in my subconscious, maybe Ill have the confidence I need to feel worthy of receiving what Im manifesting. This is starting to sound a lot like basic psychology, which means its a bit too familiar for me, as the daughter of a therapist who pushed self-help books and Deepak Chopra. Its all very Psych 101, but I can get down with cozy group therapy. Soon, Phillips imparts her final piece of wisdom, and everyone is audibly stumped: You cannot manifest a specific thing in a situation you cant manifest that your husband communicates better. You cant manifest for others and you cant manifest specifics. As an example, she used a pair of one of-a-kind vintage jeans that youd like to magically get your hands on. Maybe a similar pair will come into your life, but not one straight out of Alexa Chungs closet. The piece Im hoping will get more attention probably wont at this point, but if I dont strive for success out of ego, maybe Ill become a better-known writer over time. At this, we split into groups according to our desires, be they romance, work, or real estate. I head to the career group with my friend. The objective is to help each other meet or hear about expanders someone who had a similar life experience as you, whos achieved the same success youre after. Expanders can be friends or mentors, but they can even be someone you dont actually know but occasionally stalk on social media. In my group, Im optimistic after sensing several women in the circle work in similar industries. I dont end up meeting an expander, but am inspired by the vulnerability in the room. On the way out, I catch Phillips, who asks me if I received clarity. In the spirit of authenticity, I answer honestly: I dont know. She hugs me anyway. While I cant afford to go on a complete manifestation journey with Phillips any time soon, she reminds me how much I can achieve when I reflect, and get out of my own way. Its now been a few weeks since attending the class, and traffic to my posts hasnt exactly skyrocketed. Then again, I still havent bought Phillipss video Unblocked. Vice-President Mike Pence. Photo: Woohae Cho/Getty Images While Michelle Wolfs jokes about Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the White House Correspondents Dinner were the first to inspire a cycle of outrage and think pieces, the comedians comments about Mike Pence or to use her words, a weird little guy have now entered the arena. In particular, her jab about the Vice-Presidents firm anti-abortion stance has come under fire, but it turns out, the joke brought the weird little guy some joy. If youve (luckily) missed the flurry of coverage around this dinner, heres the abortion joke, in full: Mike Pence is very anti-choice. He thinks abortion is murder, which, first of all, dont knock it til you try it. And when you do try it, really knock it. Youve got to get that baby out of there. Asked about the joke in an interview with Christian network CBN News, Pence responded, Im pro-life and I dont apologize for it. He also expressed how grateful he is to work alongside the most pro-life president in American history, just before he responded to Wolfs jokes with a Bible quote. As the Bible says, I count it all joy when I endure trials or criticisms, he said. Okay, but did that time that Trump gently touched his thigh an indisputable trial really bring him joy? Pakistan India Peoplesa Forum for Peace & Democracy (India Chapter) Delhi Office: F-10/12, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi Coordinates: pipfpd.india at gmail.com, # 91- 9582452343/9868165471 Dr. Ashok Mitra (1928-2018) is no more. Economist, politician, political & literary author, analyst, columnist, Dr. Mitra, was known to the world in many different contours, that truly reflected most of his life. For the members of the Pakistan India Peoplesa Forum for Peace & Democracy (PIPFPD) in both countries, we pride in that we got to see another face of this quintessential intellectual as an advocate of peace, justice, democracy and people to people relations - amidst hostility. Dr. Ashok Mitra left us on the International Labour Day, is just a classic coincidence that reflects on his lifelong focus on working class politics, economic theorization around Marxian frame and undeniable people-centrism. He was formerly Chief Economic Adviser to Government of India, the Finance Minister of West Bengal and a Rajya Sabha member from the state, in the Indian Parliamentas upper house. aAshok Daa headed the Indian Chapter of PIPFPD during some of the very troubled years of Pakistan-India relations. If the limited war at Kargil had inflicted enough scope for an all-out war between the two South Asian neighbours, the attack on the Indian Parliament house and the war cries that followed, led to an eyeball to eyeball situation between the two nuclear countries. The first NDA regime, led by AB Vajpayee of BJP, was up against the militaristic authoritarianism of General Parvez Musharraf. Speaking about reviving India-Pakistan relations was a taboo, with peopleas platforms like PIPFPD almost facing extinction under the jingoistic nationalism of the conservative elements in society and polity. The Bangalore Convention of the Forum in 2000 had audaciously decided to take forward people-to-people relations as the core focus, including efforts to build relations with people of divided Kashmir. Ashok Mitra chaired the Forum into its historic Joint Convention in Karachi, where more than 500 Indians and Pakistanis from all walks of life interacted with each other openly and came out with the historic Karachi Declaration, in the year 2003. Referred to as the aKarachi turnarounda, the convention was instrumental in reducing tensions and putting the relations back on to the track of ceasefire monitoring, dialogue and non-interfering co-existence. Despite the Agra logjam, caused by nationalistic arrogance, the interventions by a host of people, including Dr. Mitra, opened the borders (literally at Munabao-Rajasthan and Kashmir, along with opening up the rail and bus services) for the people of both countries. Families got re-united, people were able to visit relatives, trade relations restarted and even the conservative governments had to control belligerent voices and attitudes. Dr. Mitraas vision and courage immensely guided the Forum in undertaking the fact-finding mission to Gujarat, in the aftermath of the Godhra violence and the Gujarat pogrom. It led to the PIPFPD becoming one of the first international platforms to bring out a report on what was happening in Gujarat and the impact it had on the criminalization of society. PIPFPD helped in relief and rehabilitation, but also the legal assistance of victims a through solidarity groups. Dr. Jayati Ghosh wrote about Ashok Mitra in her review of aA prattleras tale: Bengal, Marxism, Governancea , published by Samya, Kolkata 2007: aIt is difficult to write about those whom you love. Curiously enough, the difficulty is not only because of the fear of excessive partiality: it is also because love brings with it the freedom to be exasperated. And intimacy creates very complex and textured perceptions, often too nuanced to be easily captured in mere wordsa . The Forum members across India and Pakistan express our grief in the loss to the movement in the demise of Dr. Ashok Mitra. We are orphaned in many senses. However, the conviction, intelligence and courage reflected through his life, especially in calling out totalitarianism and hegemonic capitalism, will be cherished by all of us. We vow to live for the battles he lived for. aNigah buland sukhan dilnawaaz jaan pursoz/ yehi hai rakht e safar mir e karvaan ke liyea aLofty eye, dulcet speech, feeling heart/only this is the baggage of the caravanas leadera Tapan K Bose & Syeda Hameed Co-Chairpersons Vijayan MJ General Secretary PIPFPD, India Chapter The Hart Building is closed on November 7, 2001 after an anthrax laced letter was found in Senator Tom Daschle's office in Washington, DC. (STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images) Anthrax Outbreak in Central China Prompts Travel Advisory in Russia Russia recently issued a travel alert for its citizens: There has been an outbreak of anthrax in central China. Russias daily newspaper Kommersant reported on May 2 that the countrys Consumer Protection and Public Welfare Supervision Bureau warned travelers to exercise caution if they are visiting areas of central China. Chinas state-run China News Service reported on April 17 that three Chinese farmers in Haiyuan County, in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of central China, were infected with anthrax and hospitalized between April 11 and 13. One victim, from the Qiying Township, died at the hospital. The report said that the Qiying farmer was infected and sent to the hospital after killing a sick cow. The other two victims, farmers from Sanhe Town, were infected after killing a sick goat. The farmers are suspected to have contracted anthrax from the infected animals. Radio Free Asia reported on April 17 that the Chinese communist authorities announced the outbreak is now under control. However, on April 18, citizens of Yinchuan City posted on WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform, that the anthrax outbreak had spread to their citythe capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, about 140 miles from Haiyuan County. Anthrax is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, usually transmitted from animals, especially ruminants such as cattle, goats, camels, and horses. Humans can be infected by directly or indirectly coming into contact with infected animals skin, fur, or meat. Symptoms begin between one day and two months after the infection. The infected skin will form a small blister with surrounding swelling that often turns into a painless ulcer with a black center. NTD staff member Ouyang Jing contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers 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 on Wednesday in a statement. The statement came in response to the Algerian Foreign Minister who described as totally unfounded the remarks of Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, about the documented military support of Iran to the Polisario via its diplomatic channels in Algeria. The spokesperson reiterated that Morocco has accurate data, and undisputable evidence regarding the political, media and military support of Hezbollah to the Polisario, in collusion with Iran. After Morocco announced last Tuesday it has severed its diplomatic relations with Iran, Algerian authorities published, Wednesday evening, an official statement in a vain attempt to absolve the Polisario, Iran and Hezbollah. The Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry said Moroccan authorities took time to meticulously examine all the information they have before they made the decision, in all responsibility, to break ties with Iran. As for Algerias support for the Polisario and its separatist theses, Morocco does not need to insinuate the involvement of this country or to blame it indirectly, explained the spokesman, adding that it is an established fact that Algeria has been hosting, arming, financing, training and backing diplomatically the Polisario separatists since 1975 Despite the hostility of Algerian authorities, the Kingdom of Morocco remains committed to the preservation of strong ties with the Algerian brotherly people and will continue to work to see bilateral relations evolve, on the basis of neighborliness and mutual respect, the spokesman said. Morocco cut diplomatic ties with Iran over its involvement in facilitating an alliance between its proxy Hezbollah and the Algerian-backed separatist Polisario. Moroccos foreign minister said Hezbollah sent surface to air missiles and military experts to train Polisario separatists on urban warfare tactics, with the help of Irans embassy in Algiers. SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 26: A pile of Bitcoin slugs sit in a box ready to be minted by Software engineer Mike Caldwell in his shop on April 26, 2013 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) Bitcoin Frenzy Settles Down as Big Players Muscle Into Market After bouncing up, falling down, and keeping investors on the edges of their seats, bitcoin may be maturing into a period of relatively boring stability, experts say. A worldwide wave of regulation has led to a collapse in trading volumes. Cryptocurrency advertisements are disappearing from top internet pages, and bitcoin no longer dominates Google searches. As investors try to figure out what bitcoin wants to be when it grows up, the best-known cryptocurrency is going through somewhat of an existential crisis. It needs a new narrative, said Nicholas Colas, New York-based founder of investment research firm DataTrek. There is every chance that if there is some sort of institutional involvement, there could be a move higher. Bitcoin rallied 25 percent in April after crashing 70 percent from a high near $20,000 late last year. The cryptocurrency landscape has indeed changed. Mom-and-pop investors who drove bitcoins skyrocket rise in 2017 have been pushed aside by government bans on trading, and replaced by cryptocurrency funds, wealthy individuals, and established financial firms. The bigger players can make bigger moves, but their trades are often obscured by screens on over-the-counter (OTC) brokerages and matching platforms. They are also less likely to chase sudden swings in bitcoins value, being more interested in the potential of unproven but promising blockchain technology. Average daily traded volumes across cryptocurrency exchanges fell to $9.1 billion in March and to $7.4 billion in the first half of April, compared with almost $17 billion in December, according to data compiled by crypto analysis website CryptoCompare. Several exchanges saw their daily trading volumes drop by more than half between December and March, including Bitfinex, Poloniex, Coinbase, and Bitstamp, the data shows. Cryptocurrencies biggest-ever trading day was Dec. 22, when volumes topped $30 billion, according to CryptoCompare. On April 8, volume sagged to $4.6 billion, the weakest day since last October. Reshaping the Market The theory that bigger institutions will make bitcoin markets less volatile and more liquid has grown as new OTC exchanges and platforms spring up, carrying names such as Circle, Octagon Strategy, Cumberland, and Kraken. Digital exchange Geminis new block trading product allows high-volume trades that will be invisible to other traders until the orders are filled. Cumberland, one of the biggest block traders, has counterparties in more than 35 countries and quotes two-way prices in about 35 crypto assets. Gatecoin, a Hong Kong-based crypto exchange, saw retail volumes plunge from peaks of $100 million a day last September, said Aurelien Menant, its founder and chief executive. But, he said, as institutional players enter the market, OTC trades hidden from view have pushed up overall volumes in a way that doesnt show up in data. Gatecoin also operates an OTC platform. Few institutions have gone public about their plans to trade cryptocurrencies, and many asset managers say they still arent sure the digital currency is more than a fad. But a recent Thomson Reuters survey found that one in five financial institutions is considering trading cryptocurrencies in the next 12 months. Of those, 70 percent said they planned to start trading in the next three to six months. In the meantime, the price of bitcoin may be stabilizing, at least on paper. The futures market shows bitcoin staying nearly flatbetween $8,900 and $9,050until September. Underlying Value Joe Duncan, founder of Singapore-based Fintech firm Duncan Capital, expects to see retail investors return to trading as governments slowly relax their cryptocurrency rules. But bitcoin could still lose some market dominance, Duncan said. Thomas Lee, managing partner and co-founder of Fundstrat Global Advisors in New York, said the bitcoin market is languishing in a purgatory phase somewhere between a bear and a bull market. He predicted that could continue until at least September. One issue is that although many of the big institutions are curious about how bitcoins underlying blockchain technology could revolutionize the financial sector, bitcoin isnt widely accepted as currency and has no intrinsic value. That, and the currencys intense volatility, makes it challenging for investors to forecast a price. Some analysts think bitcoin will retain a premium as a security, like gold, in the digital world, while other cryptocurrencies are used for commerce. Others see it as just another asset. One of the reasons to own cryptocurrencies is because they are an effective hedge, said Sam Doctor, a data analyst at New York-based Fundstrat, a research firm whose founder is a well-known bitcoin bull predicting large rises this year. Until something happens to disprove that thesis, you arent looking to sell them so long as other asset classes are falling. Feds Extradite 4 Mexicans on Transnational Human Trafficking Charges Four Mexican nationals were extradited back to the United States, on April 26 and May 2, to face charges for egregious sex trafficking offenses committed in both countries, as detailed in a 23-count indictment. The 16-page indictment (pdf) alleges that the defendants were members of an international sex trafficking organization that exploited and trafficked women and children, in both Mexico and the United States, from 2000 to 2016. The traffickers used romantic promises, physical and sexual violence, threats of the same, lies and coercion to force and coerce adult and minor women to work as prostitutes in both countries, according to the indictment. The organization operated largely as a family business. Sex trafficking is a heinous crime that violates both the rule of law and the most basic standards of human dignity, Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. The scope of devastation these defendants allegedly inflicted on countless victims is beyond comprehension. But now they face significant criminal charges in an American court, and will have to answer for their allegedly reprehensible actions. Berman announced the extraditions on May 4, with Acting Assistant Attorney General John M. Gore and Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of the New York field office of ICEs Homeland Security Investigations. The extraditions come as the Trump administration is pushing for enforcement of border laws as thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly from Mexico and Central America, continue to illegally cross the southern border. Our immigration laws in this country are a total disaster, President Donald Trump said during a press conference on April 30. We are a nation of lawswe have to have borders. If we dont have borders, we dont have a country. Out of the four nationals, Efrain Granados-Corona and Emilio Rojas-Romero were extradited to the United States from Mexico on April 26, while Alan Romero-Granados and Pedro Rojas-Romero were both extradited on May 2, according to the Department of Justice. These four individuals were transported more than 2,000 miles from Mexico to be held accountable for the callous criminal actions alleged in this case, Melendez said in the release. Now these traffickers will face justice where they allegedly made their income, right here in New York. Six defendants, including the four that were recently extradited, were arrested in Mexico and taken into government custody after the U.S. government requested provisional arrest warrants back in August 2016. Julio Sainz-Flores, the fifth defendant, was previously extradited in June last year, while the sixth, Juan Romero-Granados, remains in Mexico, pending extradition proceedings. Since taking office, Trump has vowed to battle international human trafficking rings and has emphasized border security as an important deterrent. The drugs are a big factor, but human trafficking is worse than its ever been in the history of this world. And who would think in this modern-day age? Trump said on April 19. So it really is a big problem. Based on data published in government releases and media reports, nearly 3,300 victims of human trafficking have been rescued around the world and more than 5,300 suspects have been arrested since Trump took office. Last month, nearly 350 victims of modern-day slavery were rescued as part of a coordinated police raid across 13 countries in the Americas by Interpol. About 500 officers helped to arrest 22 people after the victims comprising of men, women, and children were found working in nightclubs, farms, mines, factories, and open-air markets. Some worked in extremely cramped conditions. Recommended Video: Trump Leads a Listening Session on Domestic and International Human Trafficking Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveils the first iPhone at the Macworld Conference in San Francisco on Jan. 9, 2007. Steve Jobs and Apple represent the power of producers to shape price and consumer choices. (TONY AVELAR/AFP/Getty Images) From Production to the Market Producers' power and costs determine price; consumers' choice comes second People do not know what they might buy until they see what has been produced and brought to market at what prices. Most people derive their incomes from their employment, so they must be employed producing things before they know how much they can spend. Contrary to mainstream economic theory, both producers and consumers rely a lot more on trial and error than on mathematical precision. Producers must make decisions on what to produce prior to knowing what might eventually be bought. They might be wrong, in which case markets are in disequilibrium, requiring either price or production to be adjusted according to consumer demand, which is not well-known in advance. A celebrated genius of design and marketing, Steve Jobs, for example, made several horrendous misestimates of consumer demand for several personal computer models before he finally had a runaway hit with the iPod and the iPhone. It is obvious to everyone except economists that the price of the Macintosh PC was set by production and marketing costs long before a single computer was sold, and extremely weak consumer demand became evident. In the real world, producers determine price by considering cost data plus their own strategic pricing plans, which take into account their power in relation to potential competitors. Their power may derive from legal monopolies, such as their copyrights or patents; from their large size; from their branding and other strategies of product differentiation; or from their surprise and first-mover advantages. Producer Power Only after producers determine price, investment capacity, production rates, and marketing campaigns do consumers begin to have their say. But even as the sales figures start to flow in, real producers can still adjust price or production rates. Producers make this decision, not consumers. If sales are booming, producers might increase output or increase price. Likewise, if sales disappoint projections, producers still have a choice to cut production or lower price. They are not constrained to do one or the other. Modern textbooks deny producers this vital strategic choice by sleight of hand, simply with the order in which topics are presented. Classical economy theory is not so deceptive. By presenting supply before production and costs, modern textbooks implicitly assume that the quantity available for sale in the marketplace is predetermined. The only thing suppliers (who are not yet producers) decide in the earliest textbook version is whether to sell at the market price or hold onto their goods for personal use or later sale if the price might move in their favor. This has little to do with real capitalism. In fact, when textbooks finally arrive at the theory of the firm and treat producer costs (of course never with real data), the supply curve gradually disappears. The magically disappearing supply curve, which exists long enough to show that consumer choice is what really matters, then disappears as we discover in the theory of the firm how constrained and nonstrategic free-market producers supposedly are. Consumers choose; producers merely obey the laws of the market. This is the myth of the consumer-dominated market at work, obscuring the power of producers. Mathematical Nonsense A theoretical free market, as presented by textbooks, gives producers no choices. Since more advanced mathematical general equilibrium models assume markets are always in equilibrium, all points on the imagined supply curve other than the equilibrium point are irrelevant anyway. If you are not completely confused at this point in the typical microeconomic textbook, you are not the typical student. Such confusion is understandable because the entire convoluted argument is absurd and unnecessary unless you are determined to prove that market economies are always stable, efficient, and fair. Absent the burden of that ideological agenda, economics is much more direct, sensible, and empirically consistent. Piero Sraffa, an Italian economist teaching at Cambridge University during the middle part of the 20th century, made a very strong argument that the neoclassical theory of the competitive firm as price taker is nonsensical, in a 1926 Economic Journal article. But 90 years later, this article is still ignored by all but a handful of critics. Mainstream economists do not encourage the study of real cost curves, because they prefer to assume the truth rather than discover it. But a few critical studies have looked at actual cost curves and found that the textbook case is very unlikely, just as Sraffa argued. In fact, producers have and should have a lot of power to react to changing circumstances. There is no such thing as markets free of private power. Efforts to pretend the contrary lead only to the illogical and unempirical economics that dominate textbooks today. James H. Nolt is a senior fellow at the World Policy Institute and author of International Political Economy. This article was first published by the World Policy Institute. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Microsoft logo is displayed over the Microsoft booth at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Houston Is Partnering With Microsoft Another exciting day in the city of Houston, said mayor Sylvester Turner during a press conference this morning. For the past couple of months, the city of Houston has been moving rapidly toward becoming the next hotbed in the nation for innovation and technology in the digital universe. Mayor Turner announced the alliance between Houston and Microsoft, the first of its kind in the nation. Microsoft chose Houston to be its first Internet of Things official space in the nation. This is due to the pro-technology and innovation goal that was set by the city of Houston as its next economic frontier. The same thing was done in developing the energy, medical, space exploration, and port industries. Last year was the launch of Houston Exponential, and last month they announced that the Sears building in Midtown will serve as an innovation hub. The creation of TMC3 and the Flatiron school of computer academy are opening in downtown Houston and will be offering scholarships. Cannon, located on I-10 and Beltway, has 38 acres of the worlds largest co-working and start-up incubator space. What will Microsoft do for the city of Houston in the long-term? They will adopt one or more middle schools or high schools in five community neighborhoods to focus on computer literacy, teaching it to parents, veterans, and workers transitioning from one career to another. Hosting four Digi-camps for 200 to 400 young people, it will work against gender stereotypes by hosting the Digi Girl Camp. Microsoft will create a databank platform that will track volunteers for our Harvey release volunteer program, called Houston Still Needs You Now. Ramel Mitchell, Director of Citizenship and Public Affairs for Microsoft, said: Our mission our vision really centers around empowerment, empowering every organization and individual on the planet to achieve more. Cameron Carr, Director Partner and Channel Marketing Oem, said: its about bringing the physical world into the digital world. We are here to help Houston with what it needs most, said Carr, be that disaster recovery efforts, transportation, security and privacy, school systems, or parks and recreation. Microsoft will not only bring in 1,000 of their employees but also their business partners. This is not just a one-year relationship, but something Houston is looking forward to building at for the years to come. Immigration judges are swamped under a backlog created by a shortage of judges, inefficiencies, and paper filing. (Shutterstock) Immigration Court Backlog Tops 1 Million Head of agency says changes by Trump administration are having an impact, but its a long road WASHINGTONThe nations 334 immigration judges are currently staring down the barrel of an astronomical 1 million case backlog. The number of cases pending has doubled since 2012 and tripled since 2009. Its currently sitting at about 692,000, and climbing. Pushing the number over the million mark are 330,000 cases that are administratively closed, which means the cases are still technically pending on the docket, but theyre not on the active docket, according to James McHenry, director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees immigration courts and sits under the Department of Justice. He said administrative closure was designed to be a temporary solution to remove a case from the active, pending docket while something else was going on. It first came about primarily in cases where individuals were being granted Temporary Protected Status, or some other temporary statusand then once that status was resolved or its terminated, or it ends, then the case is recalendared and it continues, McHenry said during a May 1 event hosted by Center for Immigration Studies. Its been sort of expanded in different directions over the years. The judges were given a little bit more latitude in how they use it, starting in 2012. And with that expansion, though, has [come] an increase in the number of cases that are administratively closed. When the Department of Homeland Security charges an alien for a violation of immigration lawanything from crossing the border illegally, to overstaying a visa, to working while on a visitor visathe case gets handed to the EOIR. Often, it is years before the first hearing is scheduled, but after the hearing, the immigration judge either renders a decision or reserves the decision to a later date. The judge will ultimately decide to order the alien removed from the United States, grant some form of relief, or terminate the case. Judge Shortage Several other factors have contributed to the pileup of cases, including a major increase in asylum cases, which are more complicated and take longer because they rely on more evidence. Its the same with criminal cases, McHenry said. On top of that, a chronic shortage of judges and several switches in priority during the Obama-era have meant the situation ballooned out of control. On average, it currently takes around 565 days for a case to be completed, according to data collected by Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University. Ten years ago, in fiscal year 2008, it took less than half that, at an average of 231 days to complete a case. The time it takes for a case to be determined also varies depending on whether the individual is in a detention facility or not. For example, in Imperial, Calif., the cases of non-detained individuals take an average of 1,490 days (four years) to complete, compared with 114 days for those who are detained, according to TRAC. Improvements have been made under the Trump administration, but it will take years to make a dent in the pending cases. Were trying to get a handle on it. Were making some progress, but still, theres much more work to be done, McHenry said. Last year, more than 100 immigration judges were reassigned to Homeland Security detention facilities, including at the border, to try to tackle the newest arrivals before they became integrated into U.S. communities. The same tactic was tried under the Obama administration, but it resulted in the courts being less productive, according to Dana Leigh Marks, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges. This time, however, it seems to be working. McHenry said EOIR ran the numbers last year and found that the judges completed 2,700 more cases than they would have if they had been at their home courts. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has imposed an expectation on judges, starting in October, to complete 700 cases per year, which McHenry says is reasonable. On May 2, Sessions also announced the deployment of 35 more prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys offices along the southwest border in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. Sessions also announced a streamlined hiring process for immigration judges last April. A GAO report in June said it was taking 742 days (two years) to hire a new judge. It requires just as much vetting as before, but reduces the timeline, reflecting the dire need to reduce the backlogs in our immigration courts, Sessions said in a speech on April 11, 2017. On average, it currently takes around 565 days for a case to be completed. Ten years ago, it took 231 days. McHenry said that since then, the EOIR has been able to reduce the hiring time to around 10 to 12 months. Again, still room for improvement, but were working on it, he said. The number of judges has been creeping up, too. In the last 18 months, 56 new judges have been hired, McHenry said. Another 48 are slated to be hired by the end of the year, bringing the total to 382, which is still 102 shy of the 484 the new omnibus spending bill provides for. Ultimately, we could get enough judges that we could turn the backlog, but it would take a long time. So the judge part is a necessary, but its not a sufficient, by itself, way of dealing with the caseload, McHenry said. The second way wed deal with it is by increasing our existing capacity. We worked on docketing efficiencies. We tried to reduce the number of courtrooms that arent being used by utilizing video teleconferencing (VTC) technology. Were working on bringing back retired immigration judges to hear cases. And were sort of shifting resources around; some courts have excess capacity, so they can hear cases from other locations [via VTC]. McHenry said an anticipated move to electronic filing will be another boon. Were among the last agency that still uses paper files in the government, he said. We identified a need for electronic filing in 2001, and there hasnt been a lot of progress made until last year. He said a pilot program at a handful of courts over the summer will culminate in a nationwide rollout next year. Were looking for ways to be able to be more efficient, he said. We feel we can both be efficient and maintain due process. Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington on Feb. 28, 2018. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Judge Accuses Muellers Team of Lying, Casts Doubt on Case Against Manafort A federal judge pressed the special counsels team of prosecutors on Friday morning, May 4, to explain why charges in their case against Paul Manafort have nothing to do with Russia. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III sided with Manaforts defense team, who argued that the charges against their client are outside of Muellers investigative scope. You dont really care about Mr. Manafort, Ellis said, according to Washington Examiner. You really care about getting information Mr. Manafort can give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution or impeachment. Manafort was the campaign chairman for then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016. He faces a list of charges in two separate cases and has pleaded not guilty in both. The charges all stem from his work for Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych between 2005 and 2014 and are unrelated to the Trump campaign. Prosecutors allege that Manafort laundered payments from Ukraine and failed to properly register. Manaforts partner in some of the alleged crimes, Rick Gates, pleaded guilty on February 23. We said this is what our investigation is about, but were not bound by it, and we were lying, Ellis said, paraphrasing the Mueller teams logic. Cmon man! Ellis grilled Muellers team on whether the origins of their investigation stem from the special counsel probe, or from a separate, abandoned Justice Department investigation which was terminated years prior to the 2016 election. The Obama administration investigated Manafort in 2014, but did not bring charges. The judge also demanded that Muellers team produce an unredacted copy of the scope memo written by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Aug. 2, 2017, which outlines the boundaries of the special counsel investigation. The prosecutors argued that the redacted portions of the memo contain information unrelated to Manafort and touch on national security issues. Ill be the judge of that, Ellis said and reminded the prosecutors that he has the right to view classified information. Muellers team has two weeks to produce the memo. Republicans in Congress have demanded the same document in a quest to gain clarity on Muellers seemingly unfettered investigative scope. We dont want anyone with unfettered power. Its unlikely you are going to persuade me the special counsel has unlimited power, Ellis said. The American people feel very strongly about anyone having unfettered power. Mueller was tasked with investigating allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia nearly a year ago. The special counsel has not produced any indictments related to collusion. A separate investigation of the same allegations by the House Intelligence Committee concluded in a final report last week that there is no evidence of collusion. Recommended Video: Leaders of Two Koreas Shake Hands Before Historic Summit 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 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? Rebecca Fyffe from Illinois receives the Small Business Person of the Year award in Washington on Apr. 30. (COURTESY OF THE SBA) Celebrating the American Entrepreneurial Spirit A woman entrepreneur from Illinois wins top award during National Small Business Week WASHINGTONSmall-business owners from across the country gathered in the nations capital to celebrate the achievements of American entrepreneurs during National Small Business Week, held from April 29 to May 5. The yearly event recognizes top U.S. small businesses and their contributions to the economy. Small Business Week is an incredible opportunity to shine the spotlight on our 30 million small businesses, said Linda McMahon, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), at the awards ceremony in Washington on April 29. This years Small Business Person of the Year award went to a woman entrepreneur from Schaumburg, Illinois. Rebecca Fyffe, president of Landmark Pest Management, received the award for providing innovative pest management services in ways that protect the environment and public health. She has managed to grow her business through SBA-guaranteed loans and SBA mentoring services. I had gone to lenders to apply for some capital to expand my business, and my credit was excellent, but we were denied, said Fyffe. It was because I didnt know how to package my company and my lending request. She turned to the SBA to get counseling from the agency on how to present her business plan to the lenders. The NFIBs small-business optimism index has increased sharply in recent months, reaching one of its highest levels in 45 years. When I went back a year later, I was approved and the difference was the SBA support, she said. Fyffe applauds the Trump administrations tax reform and deregulation efforts, but she believes red tape is still a major challenge for small businesses. The biggest challenge that my business is facing today is complying with regulatory and safety standards that are out of touch with what businesses have to deal with every day, she said. She urged Washington to continue streamlining regulations to support small businesses rather than hamper them. In addition to mentorship programs, Fyffe also received an SBA-guaranteed loan that allowed her company to move to a larger facility. Advocates for Small Businesses SBA guarantees loans for entrepreneurs who cant get capital from other sources, mitigating a lenders risk. In addition, SBA offices and resource partners throughout the country provide counseling, training, and mentorship programs, and most of them are free to small-business owners. Clearly, we are advocates for small businesses, McMahon told The Epoch Times. To better promote the SBA among small businesses, she and her team have rolled out a marketing campaign called SBA Reimagined, with a new message and logo. McMahon believes the new marketing effort is certainly helping to get the message out about the SBA and explaining to business owners that the agency is not just about loans, but also networking, counseling, and mentoring. The SBA also provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses and residents affected by hurricanes. This year, two business owners from Houston, Texas, and Columbia, South Carolina, received the Phoenix Award for Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery. Michael Marsha, owner and president of Forest Lake Drapery and Upholstery Fabric Center Inc. in Columbia, was one of the winners who successfully come back after a disaster. Words cant describe it when you go through things like we went through and then our government picks us up and puts us back in business, said Marsha. And then they come back two years later with this award. It just means the world to us. Forest Lake was one of the many small businesses in South Carolina hit by a storm in October 2015. The companys facility was nearly destroyed and its entire inventory was ruined. They received an SBA disaster loan to rebuild their more than 50-year-old company and achieved record monthly sales the following year. Small businesses are the engine of the U.S. economy, creating nearly two out of every three new private-sector jobs each year. And more than half of Americans own or work for a small business. President Donald Trump proclaimed April 29 through May 5 as Small Business Week to celebrate all the entrepreneurs who have taken a risk to start and grow a small business. As we usher in a new era of American prosperity, my administration will continue to implement a pro-growth agenda based on policies that champion small-business creation and growth, giving more Americans the opportunity to start, scale, and succeed in businesses of their own, Trump said in a statement on April 29. Optimism among small-business owners continues to soar, reaching its highest levels in years. Thanks to pro-business policies, entrepreneurs are more confident about the outlook for their businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The NFIBs small-business optimism index has increased sharply in recent months, reaching one of its highest levels in 45 years. The Chinese regime's J-10 fighter jet performs at an airshow in Changchun, Jilin province of China on Sept. 12, 2015. The jet includes technology stolen from the United States. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) Exclusive: Pentagon Technology Found Its Way to the Chinese Military Sumitomo Electric Lightwaves fiber-optic technology now helps power the Chinese regimes weaponry The Chinese regimes fifth-generation fighters, state-of-the-art naval cruisers, and soon-to-be-launched aircraft carriers are more deadly than they otherwise would be because they are equipped with advanced fiber-optic cable originally built for the Pentagon, according to a U.S. military intelligence officer. The saga of this cable is part of a bigger story of how American military technology ends up with the Chinese regimes military, an issue the Trump administration is seeking to address with sanctions and new legislation. Fiber-optic technology transfers large amounts of information at very high speeds. It is a dual use technology, one used in both civilian and military sectors. For public use, fiber optics carry telecom data, such as internet communications. For the military, fiber optics are used in ships, jets, and other systems to transmit high volumes of data. In a battle, the speed of these systems can mean the difference between victory and defeat. A development contract was awarded by the Pentagon to a Japanese-owned company based in North Carolina, known as Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, to develop a next-generation fiber-optic cable. After the company developed the technology for the U.S. military, however, it began selling the fiber optics to private companies. Through its offices in Beijing, Sumitomo sold this technology to Chinese telecom companies ZTE and Huawei. Anything we sell China should be evaluated on whether that technology could end up killing our troops. Richard Fisher, senior fellow, International Assessment and Strategy Center ZTE and Huawei have been no strangers to controversy. ZTE was sanctioned, and Huawei is under investigation for selling forbidden technologies to Iran. Both companies also have connections to the Chinese Communist Partys military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). A U.S. military intelligence officer speaking anonymously said that not long after Sumitomo sold this U.S.-funded fiber optics to ZTE and Huawei, the PLA got its hands on it. The officer said he had seen intelligence that confirmed PLA military equipment is using the same fiber optics commissioned by the Pentagon. It wasnt stolen. It was for civilian, or nonmilitary, purposes, he said. In China, it is being used for naval and for aircraft, like the J-10 jet, the high-end destroyers, cruisers, as well as for these evolving carriers. Sumitomo Electric Lightwave has been the leading edge of developing highly advanced fiber optics for shipboard use, as well as for fighter jets and drones. Some of the technology has inadvertently come into control of ZTE and Huawei. A Quiet Arms Race When it comes to advances in military equipment, underlying technologies such as fiber optics also need to keep pace to make the weapons systems effective. The officer noted that between nations, its a constant race to keep up with the development of systems such as fifth-generation fighter jets and shipboard weapons that process massive amounts of data. If you, as an adversary, have access to that technology, you see generations of development. The core issue of fiber optics is the ability to transmit data rapidly. Each new generation speeds it up. The faster you can transmit, the better it is, he said, and added that there is light-years [worth] of difference between fiber optics technology today and that of 30 years ago. According to Richard Fisher, a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center, advanced fiber-optic cables such as those developed by Sumitomo, would be very attractive to the PLA. To grasp the significance of fiber optics to military technology, Fisher noted that its important to understand a bit of history. In a battle, the speed of these systems can mean the difference between victory and defeat. In the 1970s, fighter jets moved to fly by wire technology, in which pilots controlled the planes by electric rather than hydraulic signals. Fisher said that for the fighter jets, this allowed for a radical increase in maneuverability. The next development was with the introduction of fiber optics, referred to as fly by light technology. He said, Compared to fly by wire, fiber-optic cable allows for much more rapid and far greater transmissions of data. Modern fighter radar and electronic warfare systems are dealing with data loads that are orders of magnitude greater than radar and electronic systems of the 1980s, Fisher said. The ability to move data faster could mean the difference in who calculates a fire solution first and shoots down the other guy. The officer said the same applies to missile systems. The quality of rapid communications and high-speed data transmission is critical for effective missiles, and anti-ship missiles, and whatever missiles you can think of. Technology Transfers According to an intelligence memo obtained by The Epoch Times, the Sumitomo technologies may have also been transferred to Iran. It states, In Iran, the products ended up sometime between May 2009 and December 2009 with Isfahan Optics Industries, part of state-owned defense operation. It says these technologies are believed to be a substantial quantity of FTTx Service Drop cable and about 30 (or many more) of the Type 39 Alignment Splicer. The memo notes there is limited information on the exact quantities that were transferred. It says the products made their way to Iran first through Malaysia, then through Dubai. It includes unconfirmed analysis on four additional companies believed to have been involved with the transfers to Iran. The officer made clear that Sumitomos previous dealings with ZTE and Huawei do not appear to have been illegal. Yet, he said, the problem of dual-use technologies finding their way into hostile hands is becoming one the United States can no longer ignore. The suppliers, there is nothing nefarious about themthey are not trying to do something bad, he said. Among the problems is that after technology is sold in a country like China, technology suppliers dont know how it will be used, since there is no requirement for companies to know their end users. He noted several additional cases. One involved a company selling technology to Iran for high-value specialty metal alloys. Although the initial use of the technology was benign, he said, The exact same stuff can be used to build similar components for nuclear weaponsthese were dual-use. Another case was a Shanghai steel company that was obtaining metal technologies from Western companies. The technologies were then used for PLA weapons programs. The issue here is, there is no restraint to using technology in questionable environments, he said. One of the biggest culprits in this whole scheme is President [Bill] Clinton, because he freely allowed China access to advanced military technology, like the W88 nuclear warhead. There were no restrictions. The [CCP] gained 25 years of development by getting U.S. technology for free. Regarding the case of a Pentagon-financed program ending up in the PLAs hands, the officer said that the Beijing office of Sumitomo should have at least made the attempt to see who the true end user is Japanese companies, U.S. companies, whatever, know that a transfer technology could be used for all kinds of things. He said its a common problem in China that a foreign company working there does so with the knowledge that the Chinese Communist Party will obtain their technology. The moment you insert technology into China, its lost, he said. Fisher shared a similar perspective, saying, The Chinese military-industrial complex is constantly scouring the earth for top-of-the-line technologies that can be applied to military systems China is developing. Huawei and ZTE are cats paws for Chinese Communist Party domination, and we should treat them as such in every conceivable way. The reality of Chinas pervasive civil-military integration policies means that anything we sell to China will be evaluated for military exploitation. Anything we sell China should be evaluated on whether that technology could end up killing our troops. Sanctions In addition to employing sanctions, the Trump administration is proposing legislation that will make it more difficult for Chinese telecommunication companies to sell their products in the United States. The proposal would forbid money from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Service Fund from being spent on technology or services of companies deemed a national security threat to U.S. communication networks and supply chains. The U.S. Department of Commerce also recently announced that ZTE is banned for seven years from purchasing components from U.S. manufacturers as punishment for illegally selling telecommunications equipment that used American technology to Iran and North Korea. Huawei could soon face similar sanctions and is now allegedly being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice for violating sanctions on Iran. ZTE and Huawei did not respond to requests for comment sent by email. Sumitomo could not be reached for comment by telephone. Oklahoma Caretaker Accused of Stealing $10,000 from Elderly Bedridden Woman Police officers in Oklahoma said that a woman caretaking an elderly bedridden woman stole more than $10,000 from her client. Truvenia Cornish has been charged with felony financial exploitation of an elderly person and a warrant has been issued for her arrest, reported KFOR. Oklahoma City police officers said that Cornish stole more than $10,000 in total from a 75-year-old woman she was caring for over four months. The victim needed help in daily life after becoming bedridden. Cornish moved into the victims home to help her with basic daily functions. Cornish was initially paid $900 a month but that amount was soon increased to $1,400, prompting the elderly woman to lodge complaints with her son, who was living out-of-state at the time. When he visited his mother, he discovered that their bank account had been drained. The affidavit states that Cornish had been using money from the account to pay her bills, including her cell phone bill, and allegedly also made withdrawals from the bank account. Unfortunately, we see these kinds of cases all the time, where somebody takes advantage of the elderly, or someone who cant take care of themselves. Someone whos in a tough situation as it is and then they prey on the weakness and take advantage of them, said Officer Megan Morgan, with the Oklahoma City Police Department. He said that people should keep a close eye on relatives in similar situations, including potentially helping them monitor their bank accounts. According to Oklahoma law (pdf), financial exploitation of an elderly person mean:Knowingly, by deception or intimidation, obtaining or using, or endeavoring to obtain or use, an elderly persons or disabled adults funds, assets, or property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the elderly person or disabled adult of the use, benefit, or possession of the funds, assets, or property, or to benefit someone other than the elderly person or disabled adult. The law states that the exploitation is typically perpetrated by someone who stands in a position of trust and confidence with the elderly person or disabled adult, or has a business relationship with the elderly person or disabled adult. Recommended video: I Was a Communist Slave Parents of Otto Warmbier Push North Korea to Be Answerable for Actions The parents of the late Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student who was imprisoned by the North Korean regime, spoke at the United Nations on Thursday, May 3, calling for Kim and his regime to be answerable for their actions. Cindy and Fred Warmbier made emotional comments at a symposium on international cooperation to improve human rights in North Korea. Warmbiers son Otto Warmbier died at age 22 after being imprisoned in North Korea from January 2016 until he was returned to the United States in June 2017 in a coma. He died a few days later, and an Ohio coroner said the cause was lack of oxygen and blood to the brain. His parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against North Korea late last month, which says their son was brutally tortured and murdered. The lawsuit, which was filed in Washington D.C., is seeking damages for the wrongful death of the 22-year-old. Fred said the lawsuit will look at the events that occurred while Otto was detained in North Korea. North Korea wants us to lock ourselves in a room and do nothing. And we think thats a bad idea, he said. We are trying to build a pathway that leads directly to Kim and his regime to force them to be answerable for their actions. According to the lawsuit, Ottos parents said they were stunned to see their sons condition when he returned to the United States. Otto was blind and deaf. He had a shaved head, a feeding tube coming out of his nose, was jerking violently and howling, and was completely unresponsive to any of their efforts to comfort him, according to the court document. His parents noticed that their sons once straight teeth were misaligned and had been forced into abnormal positions. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages for personal injury. Cindy said they could not keep quiet and do nothing about what had happened to their son. People say why are you doing this? How can I not? How can I not? How can anybody be quiet when this is going on? Cindy said, reported the Associated Press. The only thing we can do is rub their noses in this. It embarrasses them. They dont like the world to think that they arent trying to be a member of the world, and they like to act like a victim, like theyve been treated poorly, said Cindy. At the symposium, relatives of several Japanese men and women who were abducted by North Korea also spoke about the difficulties of reuniting with their loved ones. In one instance, Takuya Yokota, who is still trying to rescue his sister who was abducted in 1977, thanked President Donald Trump for mentioning her in his U.N. General Assembly speech back in September 2017. Megumi Yokota was 13 when she was abducted and forced to be a language tutor for North Koreas spies, reported the Associated Press. We need to stand up for Otto. We need to stand up for all these families. We have to do it. We owe it to the world. I cant let Otto die in vain, Cindy added. Recommended Video: Leaders of Two Koreas Shake Hands Before Historic Summit Interactive mirror and 3D fitting room among the innovations at the European Start-up Days 3D fitting room, interactive mirror, applications for printing photos from a smartphone or ordering meals in a restaurant - these are some of the innovative ideas that will be presented at the European Start-up Days in Katowice in May. The third edition of the event that brings together representatives of innovative start-ups will be held in the capital of Upper Silesia on 15-16 May, parallel to the European Economic Congress that begins a day earlier. The organizers of both events want Katowice to be a meeting place for young technology companies with investors and representatives of corporate business. "Those who have the best business ideas and want to realize or develop them will have the opportunity to showcase, establish cooperation with investors and experts, win a shareholder, gain media interest. Those interested in an innovative, bold way of thinking will certainly find many eye-catching ideas" - explains Wojciech Kuspik, organizer of the congress and the start-up days and President of the PTWP Group. The European Commissioner for Digital Single Market and Vice President of the European Commission Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of Estonia in the years 2005-2013 will be the special guest of this year`s European Start-up Days. He will be accompanied by the former head of the European Parliament, head of the program council of the Katowice congress, Prof. Jerzy Buzek. The theme of this year`s start-up days is "Technologies that will change our world". Part of the event is the Start-up Challenge, for which nearly 200 start-ups have submitted their ideas this year. 100 best ideas selected by the jury will be presented in the Scale-up Alley in Katowice`s Spodek hall, prepared for business visionaries. The authors of the 18 best concepts will present them not only at the European Start-up Days, but also at the European Economic Congress. The presented start-ups will include Abyss Glass, manufacturer and distributor of interactive mirrors that recognize the clothes the customers take to the dressing room and display information that might interest them. Another solution developed by Fit&Match offers the possibility of virtual "try on" of clothes selected while shopping online. The application creates a customer`s body model in 3D according to the input measurements, allowing to properly fit the clothes. The app Image4you is addressed to travel and photo enthusiasts. It allows to print photos from your smartphone from anywhere in the world. Photos are later sent to the indicated address in the form of postcards, polaroids, calendars, memo games, etc. Another interesting app called Comer allows to order a meal without a waiter, using a phone. Users select the table number, the dish from the interactive menu, and pay with the app. Thanks to this, users wait less for a meal and can get out of the restaurant faster after eating. An extensive menu with reviews and photos of individual dishes will help make a choice. Among the selected ideas is also a tool that allows the audience to communicate in real time with the lecturer or speaker. The app Time To Speak turns each phone into a microphone, allowing audio and text communication, as well as conducting surveys. In the new industry and technology category, the jury selected ATS WorldWide - an automatic, intelligent system for transporting planes on the airport apron. The innovative, unprecedented solution invented by three engineers from Warsaw caught the attention of the U.S. administration and airport associations. The jury also appreciated the innovative solution of Medical Simulation Technologies, the company that manufactures and sells advanced medical simulators for training medical specialists. The transoesophageal echocardiography simulator is the first implemented product of the company. The selected medical solutions include the symptom-checker. This artificial intelligence system allows parents to get the first opinion on the symptoms of their child. Based on the interview, the system tells you whether your child`s symptoms are serious enough to see a doctor, or it is a common cold that can be treated at home. Another showcased solution is a portable, pocket laboratory developed by Genomtec. In just 20 minutes, the lab-on-a-chip analyser can identify viruses, bacteria, genetic mutations and fungi without the involvement of a specialist. This year`s edition of European Start-up Days will be attended by over 70 speakers, several hundred start-ups and over 2.5 thousand visitors. The organizers have prepared discussion panels, mentor presentations, practical case studies and presentations of start-up ideas. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in the debates of the European Economic Congress. Last year, the event attracted over 9,000 guests from the world of business, politics and science to Katowice. (PAP) author: Marek Bonski editor: Bozena Dymkowska mab/ dym/ kap/ tr. RL Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 9, 2016. (Gabriella Demczuk/Getty Images) Texas Lawsuit Against DACA Kicks Off With Favorable Judge Appointment Texas and six other states couldnt have asked for a more fortunate judge appointment in their legal quest to end DACA, the program started by the Obama administration that granted lawful presence to some 800,000 illegal aliens. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in a U.S. District Court in Brownsville on Tuesday, May 1, and by random draw, Judge Andrew Hanen has been picked to hear the case. As it happens, Hanen previously ruled that DAPA and expanded DACA, another Obama-era program set to broaden the original DACA, was unconstitutionala ruling ultimately confirmed by the Supreme Court. Whats more, Hanen was infuriated by the government lawyers defending DAPA, who he said repeatedly lied to him. The misconduct in this case was intentional, serious and material, Hanen wrote in his ruling. In fact, it is hard to imagine a more serious, more calculated plan of unethical conduct. DACA was put in place by then-President Barack Obamas Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2012 through a memo to immigration enforcement agencies. It bestows lawful status on illegal aliens under 31 years of age who have been in the country at least five years, arrived when under 16, and havent committed multiple misdemeanors or worse. Their status needs to be renewed every two years and provides for a work permit and other benefits, such as income tax credits. While DACA itself has never been challenged in court, Hanens ruling on DAPA and expanded DACA makes arguments mirroring a chief criticism of the original DACAthat the Obama administration rewrote the laws to grant legal status to people it was tasked by law to deport. The DHS Secretary is not just rewriting the laws; hes creating them from scratch, Hanen wrote at the time. The Obama administration explained DACA as prosecutorial discretion that is necessary to ensure that our enforcement resources are not expended on these low priority cases. But Hanen cut off that line of reasoning. The DHS cannot reasonably claim that, under a general delegation to establish enforcement policies, it can establish a blanket policy of non-enforcement that also awards legal presence and benefits to otherwise removable aliens, he wrote. This time, the government is expected to agree with Hanen, since President Donald Trump already issued an Executive Order to phase out DACA. His order, however, was put on hold by a California court in January and scrapped by a DC court on April 24. The Texas lawsuit doesnt target Trumps order, but DACA itself. If successful, the states ask for the government to stop accepting new applications and renewals, effectively phasing out DACA in two years. The other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Trump has expressed multiple times his willingness to work with Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, on a legislation that would resolve the situation of illegal aliens brought to the country as children. But hes said that he would only back an option that would also fully fund his plan to build a wall along the southern border, tighten limits on legal immigration, and end the visa lottery that grants green cards to applicants from countries with low immigrant flows to the United States. That option was rejected in the Senate 39-60, with 14 Republicans voting against it. Recommended Video: The National Guard Has Started Deploying Troops to the U.S.Mexico Border OPINION: The Den of Thieves and Lowlifes On the day the Department of Justice (DOJ) released its damning report on former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, President Donald Trump wrote in a tweet: No collusion, all made up by this den of thieves and lowlifes! The den of thieves and lowlifes apparently referred to the schemers in the DOJ and FBI under President Barack Obama, including McCabe and James Comey, the fired director of the FBI. McCabe leaked or authorized a subordinate to leak to the media about an ongoing investigation and lied about it, not once, but four times, to DOJ investigators. Comey wrote seven memos about his conversations with Trump, of which four were considered classified. He leaked at least one memo to the media via a friend, who was an FBI employee. McCabe, and Comey and his friend, are the bona fide thieves and lowlifes in the FBI. They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This also begs the question: Were the DOJ and FBI the only den of thieves and lowlifes under the Obama administration? The answer is definitively no. The director of national intelligence under Obama, James Clapper, just joined the ranks of leakers and liars found among senior Obama officials, according to a declassified report authored by the House intelligence committee. One of the major findings of the report is that, without authorization, Clapper disclosed details to CNNs Jake Tapper about a briefing to Obama and then-president elect Trump regarding the Steele dossier. But when Clapper testified before the House intelligence committee in July 2017, he flatly denied discussing the dossier or any other intelligence related to the Russia probe with journalists. Probably realizing he just perjured himself, Clapper then came clean and acknowledged he leaked information about the briefing to Tapper and possibly some other journalists, according to the report. Clappers leak to CNN was significant because it provided the excuse for some media outlets to publish the dossier, the report says. Media organizations like CNN had the dossier in late 2016, but were afraid to run it due to its salacious and unverified nature. Tapper wrote an article about the briefing and the dossier, based on Clappers leak, on Jan. 10, 2017. A few hours later, Buzzfeed posted the full text of the dossier. One day after the dossier went public, Clapper put out a statement saying the intelligence community stands ready to serve his administration, meaning the Trump administration. He also said, I expressed my profound dismay [to Trump] at the leaks that have been appearing in the press, and we both agreed that they are extremely corrosive and damaging to our national security. Being the leaker himself, two-faced Clapper took perfidy and political chicanery to a whole new level. CNN rewarded Clapper handsomelyhe joined the network as a national security analyst in August 2017. Some say that in elite political circles, double-dealing and backstabbing are the norm, so what Clapper did is not too surprising. But that fact that there seem to be so many McCabes, Comeys, and Clappers in the Obama administration is still amazing. As the House intelligence committee continues to expose more weasels, the interesting question is Who will be next? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive at a ceremony at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 15, 2017. (REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke) The GermanFrench Axis Heading Toward Isolation Politics and reality diverge in Merkel's and Macron's Europe The leaders of Germany and France, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron, espouse a policy that their countries should lead Europe together. However, although the two leaders are politically and philosophically close, their countries want to go down different paths. One point of commonality is their criticism of the Trump administration. They dont like Washingtons protectionism and preference for bilateral relations rather than multilateralism. However, they dont talk about how their European Union is more protectionist than President Donald Trumps United States. Lets not forget that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) was already bound to fail long before the U.S. elections, mainly because of European opposition. The two leaders agree on reforming the EU, making it more centralized and harmonized. This is also the policy of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. At the same time, the EU grandes criticize democratic governments in the union as being illiberal and authoritarian, especially those in Central Europe. Between the lines, they suggest that people in these countries elect governments that Merkel, Macron, and Juncker dont like because they are not mature enough for democracy, a stance some leading European media are also taking toward the United States. Both leaders are also very critical of Russia and advocate a strong regime of sanctions. No Consistency However, economic necessities do not necessarily support the axis between Chancellor Merkel and President Macron and their political philosophies. Merkel recently had to deviate from a common policy due to economic and political realities at home. Germany at large is concerned that a more centralized union with a common Ministry of Economy and Finance would result in a transfer union with a continuation of high deficit spending. Germans find this unacceptable while France and the French are in favor. Germany and France justify some of their criticism toward Russia and the United States by pretending to be liberal democracies. The system, however, has little to do anymore with classical liberalism and puts the political narrative at odds with the economic forces on the ground in the European Union while alienating their most important trade and defense partner. Former British diplomat and consultant Timothy Less explains this well in his essay The Dawn of Post-liberalism, in which he writes: [Classical] liberalism believes in free markets and competition as the optimal means of promoting growth. It seeks to minimize the role of the state, which exists mainly to uphold the rules of the market. And it supports the unrestricted movement of goods, capital, and workers across international borders. Contemporary liberalism, especially in the European Union, is a complex amalgam of rationalism, cosmopolitanism, social democracy, Marxism, and bureaucratic authoritarianism, he writes. We see here a transformation of a decentralized democracy to a centralized bureaucracy. Centralization already laid the groundwork that led to Brexit. Bashing Central Europe as immature and illiberal will further estrange it from the EU. German policies favor harsh sanctions on Russia on the one hand and neglect to invest in defense on the other. Sanctions combined with an insufficient deterrent do not work. Merkel and Macron are highly critical of the United States, but fully dependent on the United States protection through NATO. They are critical of Russia but are becoming increasingly dependent on Russian gas. Undoubtedly, Germany and France together form an essential part needed for a strong and competitive Europe. At the moment, however, this axis is doing its best to hurt relations with the United States and Russia. It will also damage the cohesion of the bloc with too much centralization and the moral arrogance of bureaucrats pretending to be liberals. Prince Michael of Liechtenstein is the chairman of trust company Industrie- und Finanzkontor Ets. as well as the founder and chairman of Geopolitical Intelligence Services. This article was first published by GIS Reports Online. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A woman with an umbrella passes a Deutsche Bank branch in Frankfurt am Main, on January 29, 2013. The Chinese investment in the German bank hasn't helped and a merger with a U.S. bank could be a better solution. (Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) The Trouble With Deutsche Bank Chinese HNA creates more problems than it solves; a merger with a US bank may be the only way out Watching the related financial dramas of Chinas HNA Group and Germanys Deutsche Bank AG, we are reminded that purposeful design and order imposed from above by experts and regulators is largely an illusion. The world is filled with ill-considered strategies, especially at the intersection of public policy and corporate governance. So what is the problem for Deutsche Bank? Banks are facing higher funding costs in the short term because of central bank tightening, while having no assets with a yield to buy in the long term. Banks are constrained by the dual impact of restrictions on lending due to regulation and a dearth of quality assets, due to a decade of central banks buying them up during their easing spree. In an already difficult market environment, the less well-managed institutions are first to get into trouble. This is why Deutsche Bank had to raise $9.6 billion last year through an equity issue, resulting in Chinese conglomerate HNA becoming its biggest shareholder. Deutsche Bank searched for years and in vain for a new shareholder prior to the arrival of HNA. When the shadowy Chinese group started to accumulate Deutsche Bank shares in February 2017, the situation at the bank was graveand had been for years. The board and management of Deutsche Bank have been unable to articulate a strategy for the business for more than a decade, and the blame ultimately rests with the board and chairman Paul Achleitner. Like most supervisory bodies in Europe, the board of Deutsche Bank has proven remarkably inept in recent yearsbasically a reflection of the lax governance of banks in the European Union. Fear of Contagion To illustrate how grave the situation must be at Deutsche Bank, consider the fact that EU and U.S. regulators have not taken any action to investigate the unknown parties behind HNAagain, Deutsche Banks largest shareholder. According to the Financial Times, the HNA investment in Deutsche Bank suggests the possibility of an additional undisclosed shareholder behind one of the HNA entities. This is a remarkable revelation. Yet note that regulators on both sides of the Atlantic have taken no actionat least in publicfor fear of toppling over the sagging Deutsche Bank. Normally when you hide the identity of the beneficial owner of a U.S. bank, the primary regulator begins an enforcement action and sends out referrals to the U.S. Attorney and other law enforcement agencies. The parties involved start thinking about jail time. After a $50 billion deal spree, much of it fueled by debt, HNA has cut a wide swath of value destruction through the world of banking, aviation, lodging, real estate, and other sectors. Just how did HNA get the approval of EU regulators for this investment, despite being denied in other cases? The government of New Zealand shot down an HNA Group investment in a bank, and this indicated big problems. The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) blocked an attempt by Chinas HNA Group to buy a motor vehicle finance firm, in part due to doubts about the debt-saddled conglomerates financial stability, Reuters reports. The OIO apparently disliked the HNA practice of pledging equity investments in group companies as collateral on loans. Were U.S. regulators consulted or even aware of the HNA share purchases in Deutsche Bank last year? Deutsche Bank operates a mostly securities business in the United States, but the German bank does have a $55 billion trust company in New York. Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation is regulated by the Fed and the state of New York, and is a significant player in the market for commercial mortgage-backed securities. Yet in the strange case of Deutsche Bank and HNA, exactly nothing is happening. The regulatory community has been caught completely off base over the past year and cannot do much for fear of financial contagion. Indeed, the festering mess at Deutsche Bank shows that too big to fail is alive and well and global regulators are powerless. The key issue for investors is to understand that precisely no one is in charge when it comes to the twin systemic risks posed by Deutsche Bank and HNA. If HNA is forced to unwind its leveraged investment in Deutsche Bank, then the German bank will be worse off than before. It will have wasted more than a year engaged with a surreal investor who has disappeared into the mist like a character in a bad Chinese martial arts film. Who, then, will step forward to rescue Deutsche Bank, which still desperately needs rescuing? Fire Sale Of note, one possible permutation of the Deutsche Bank saga back in Germany is the sale of the U.S. banking business. JPMorgan weighed in on the Deutsche Bank debate several weeks back with the publication of a research report for clients saying Deutsche should shrink its U.S. business to create shareholder value. But since German Chancellor Angela Merkel threw the German bank under the bus several years ago, the remaining value of Deutsche Bank is questionable. Reports that former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain is being nominated to the supervisory board of Deutsche Bank is certainly good news. Thain is a veteran operator, but sadly he is not the CEO. More than anything else, Deutsche Bank needs to tell investors and regulators why this bank should continue to exist. If, in fact, Deutsche Bank moves forward with the sale of its U.S. unit, then the entire business could be in play. But should the bank stumble in a way that surprises Europes distracted politicians, look for a very hastily planned merger. Our candidates for the first zombie merger of this decade: Deutsche Bank and Citigroup. Neither bank has a particularly strong domestic banking business or funding base, but there are some interesting asymmetries. Financially it would be a disaster for shareholders, but from a regulatory perspective, it makes all the sense in the world. Christopher Whalen is the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors and the author of Ford Men. This article was first published by the Institutional Risk Analyst. Trump Castigates NBC for Getting Story on Trumps Lawyer Wrong President Donald Trump rebuked NBC News after the network backpedaled a story about Trumps lawyer that was based on anonymous sources. NBC NEWS is wrong again! They cite sources which are constantly wrong. Problem is, like so many others, the sources probably dont exist, they are fabricated, fiction! NBC, my former home with the Apprentice, is now as bad as Fake News CNN. Sad! Trump stated in a Friday morning, May 4, tweet. NBC NEWS is wrong again! They cite sources which are constantly wrong. Problem is, like so many others, the sources probably dont exist, they are fabricated, fiction! NBC, my former home with the Apprentice, is now as bad as Fake News CNN. Sad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 4, 2018 The Thursday story claimed that federal investigators have, for weeks, wiretapped phone lines of the lawyer, Michael Cohen, according to multiple senior officials and individuals with knowledge of the legal proceedings involving Cohen. But later that day NBC News issued a correction and rewrote the story, saying that the investigators have looked at what numbers called or were called from Cohens lines rather than wiretapped them (listened to the calls themselves). The correction came after three senior U.S. officials disputed the original story, the correction stated. The difference is significant. Wiretaps must be approved by a federal judge and require a proof of an ongoing crime, said NBC News own analyst, Former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg, in the original article. The affidavits are typically highly detailed and carefully vetted by experienced lawyers, he said. The original article even claimed, relying on one source, that one phone call between Cohens line and the White House was intercepted. Listening on a call potentially between Trump and his lawyer would have signaled a major breach of attorney-client privilege, one of the highest protections in the U.S. legal system. The confidentiality of conversations between lawyers and their clients is the oldest privilege recognized by Anglo-American law, stated Faiza Patel, co-director of Liberty and National Security Program at the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, in a 2014 article. Without the privilege, it is impossible for legal practitioners to give accurate legal advice because clients could never be certain they could tell their lawyers the whole story behind a case. Cohen faces investigation for a $130,000 payment he agreed to make in October 2016 as part of a non-disclosure agreement (NDL) with Stephanie Clifford also known as Stormy Daniels. She came out in March saying she accepted the money in exchange for not talking about a 2006 affair with Trump. While NDLs are common practice, prosecutors have portrayed the payment as a campaign contribution to Trump, exceeding the maximum allowed contribution limit. On April 9, FBI raided Cohens office, home, and a hotel room, The Wall Street Journal reported. Cohens lawyer, Stephen Ryan, said that the raid was partly a referral by the Office of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller. For about a year, Mueller has been looking into Russian government interference in the elections and allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with such interference. A separate year-long House Intelligence Committee investigation found no collusion. Trump previously said he knew nothing about the $130,000 payment. On Thursday, he clarified that Cohen reimbursed himself for the payment using money from a monthly retainer provided by Trump. 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 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 Reuters contributed to this story. Recommended Video: People Gather to Protest Real Bodies Exhibition in Sydney People walk by the newly opened Nordstrom men's store, the company's first Manhattan location, on April 12 in New York. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) US Retail Sector on the Mend Macys, Nordstrom leading the charge as industry retools for growth Everyone loves a good comeback story. The U.S. retail sector, after years of struggling to attract consumers, investors, and positive press coverage, may finally be seeing a comeback on the horizon. For years, the prevailing narrative was that retail is in the midst of a multiyear downturn driven by a secular shift in consumer preference for online shopping. The negative sentiment hit the stocks and bonds of retailers as well as commercial real estate operators. With better-than-expected 2017 holiday shopping numbers, there are signs of a rebound, and investors in retail stocks have seen earlyalbeit smallreturns for their patience. As of April 27, the S&P Retail Select Industry Index was up 1.02 percent year-to-date, outpacing the broader S&P 500 Index by about 100 basis points during the same period. To be sure, e-commerce and Amazon.coms dominance will continue to challenge brick-and-mortar sales, but retail companies are beginning to figure out the formula of success in this new era. Tax Cuts and Job-Market Strength Economic data are serving as tailwind for the sector. Commerce Department data released in April showed a 0.6 percent increase in U.S. retail sales in March, the first gain in three months. The data confirmed the Federal Reserves earlier views that retail weakness at the very beginning of the year was likely transitory. There may be room to run on that front. Consumer optimism remains high thanks to rising wages, relatively high employment, and President Donald Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Specifically, refunds from 2017 tax returns likely contributed to the recent growth, which should help an economy largely reliant on consumer spending. First-quarter GDP increased by 2.3 percent at an annualized rate, a solid showing that could set up further gains later in the year as business spending fully kicks in. Trumps tax cuts also slashed corporate tax rates, which will likely further spur business spendingincluding wage growthgoing forward. And this has a direct benefit for retail. The retail industry previously paid the highest effective tax rate of any sector in the U.S. economy, according to the National Retail Federation, an industry group. A 2017 study by the University of Pennsylvanias Penn Wharton Budget Model estimated total savings of $171.4 billion over 10 years for retailers as a result of Trumps corporate tax cuts. Investing Differently This windfall will further propel the retail industrys makeover. Brick-and-mortar stores, which have been the most impacted by online shopping, have been reinventing themselves in recent months to attract new customers. The first order of business is to examine the current business model and stop the bleeding from unprofitable stores or brands. The media narrative that retail companies are accelerating store closures doesnt tell the entire story. For example, the headlines state that electronics retailer Best Buy is shuttering 257 stores in 2018. But digging deeper shows that those 257 locations are its small-format mobile outlets, which primarily sell mobile phones. Such locations opened a decade ago to take advantage of increased consumer interest in smartphones and served their purpose for several years before becoming unprofitable recently due to flat-lining demand for mobile phones. Closing those stores allows Best Buy to shift valuable resources into growing business areas. The company as a whole grew its revenue from $39.4 billion in fiscal year 2017 to $42.2 billion in 2018. Gap announced late last year that it plans to close 200 Banana Republic and Gap stores over the following three years. While those two brands are losing stores, the company also announced 270 new Athleta and Old Navy-branded stores to reflect changing consumer tastes in brands. Some companies are indeed retrenching as they work to turn around their business. Abercrombie & Fitch, the teenage apparel darling of the early 2000s, announced that it would close 60 U.S. locations this year. Those closures are partially offset by the opening of 11 new locations in the United States and 10 new stores abroadthe companys Hollister brand has a huge following internationally. Macys, perhaps the nations biggest and most visible department store chain, is reinventing its existing store space. The company has been the most aggressive in licensing concession spaces within current stores. Concession space is floor space licensed out by a department store to brand partners who operate independent shops within the store. The brand partners pay a fee to the store, but otherwise keep the majority of sales. In recent years, Macys has experimented with concession space for Sunglass Hut, Lids, and others, as well as establishing The Market @ Macys, a pop-up concept to showcase up-and-coming designers and brands. Macys management remains committed to forming licensed partnerships to help drive store traffic, improve the shopping experience and boost sales productivity, Bank of America wrote in an April 18 note to clients. We expect it to continue to experiment until it finds the right mix. Macys, a longtime opponent of off-price retailing, has recently joined the fray with the limited launch of Macys Backstage in 2016. It currently has 45 Backstage shopsmost are within existing Macys storesand the company is planning to open another 100 shops this year, with an emphasis on independent stores within malls. As of April 27, shares of Macys are up 29 percent since the beginning of the year, a positive trend that has continued since its stock bottomed out right before its Nov. 9, 2017, earnings announcement. The Nordstrom Model The Seattle-based Nordstrom has emerged as another leader in the beaten-down sector and runs a business model that can sustain retail success going forward. Nordstrom is an early adopter of off-price retailing. Nordstrom Rack, its discount chain, first opened in 1973. It currently has around 230 stores in North America, and the company plans to launch the concept in Canada this year. In 2017, Nordstroms off-price business, including the Rack, NordstromRack.com, and HauteLook.com, represented one-third of the companys sales and two-thirds of sales growth, according to Bank of America. Nordstrom is adept at omnichannel marketing, an industry term that means engaging consumers using multiple channels, including in-store, online, mobile, and social media, in a unified and seamless manner. For instance, consumers can load up their Nordstrom wishlist or shopping cart by clicking directly on photos from social media platforms Instagram and Pinterest, to either make the purchases online or in store. This is made possible by the companys partnership with Like2Buy, a platform that enables shopping directly from social media feeds with its advanced inventory tools. Over the past several years, Nordstrom has been making huge investments in inventory systems and retail technology, which makes this integration possible. It was one of the earliest retailers to display store-by-store inventory to online shoppers in 2010. Today, we have more than 60 combinations in which merchandise is ordered, fulfilled, and delivered, Nordstrom President Blake Nordstrom told analysts during the companys 2017 fourth-quarter earnings call. Our accelerated investments in our digital platform continue to pay off with digital sales representing 30 percent of our full-price business. Dinner invited by Zhang Hu, the executive vice mayor of Shenzhen, after the FC Bayern Football School Shenzen press conference at Wuzhou Guest House in Shenzen, China, on July 22, 2017. (Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) VIP Treatment: Chinese Top Officials Get Special Food Supplies Delivered to Them The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has secret bases around the country that provide food supplies exclusively for high-level officials in the central government, according to a report by a Hong Kong newspaper. Apple Daily reported on May 1 that special food supplies for the top leadership are gathered from farms maintained by the military, armed police, and farm authorities spread out among 13 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Local city and county officials have also set up their own tegong, or special supply, to provide themselves with safe food. Back in 2008, Radio Free Asia reported that the CCPs State Council, a top administrative organ, established a special food supply center for the central state organs in April 2005 in order to coordinate high-quality organically grown, non-GM (genetically modified) food supplies for 94 senior officials. Meanwhile, ordinary Chinese people can only purchase food produced with poor food safety standards, such as meat and fish pumped with steroids and hormones to speed up growth, milk tainted with toxic additives like melamine, and soil and water sources contaminated by heavy metals. As air pollution has become more serious in China, government officials have a special supply for air, too. In November 2011, Chinese conglomerate China Grand Enterprises said that the firm had installed air purifiers in Zhongnanhai, the Party leadership headquarters in Beijing, to clean the air for officials, according to Apple Daily. In July 2013, a farm owner in Beijing told state-run news magazine China News that some organic farms in the Beijing area grow food exclusively to supply the central governments cafeteria. The CCP has a long history of providing special treatment to its own members, often at the expense of ordinary citizens. In the 1950s, Soviet advisers helped the CCP to set up a food supply department for the Party leaders, according to the biography The Private Life of Chairman Mao: The Memoirs of Maos Personal Physician by Li Zhisui. Mao was dictator of China from 1949 until his death in 1976. Maos agricultural policies resulted in the Great Famine in China between 1959 and 1961, when more than 30 million people are estimated to have starved to death. During that time, Mao developed the tegong system to direct the countrys limited food resources to officials. In May 1960, a department store in Beijing set up a department of special supply to offer high-level officials and their families rare delicacies, wines, and cigarettes imported from other countries. Luo Tingting of New Tang Dynasty Television contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Michelle McLoughlin / Reuters A Westport man was cleared Thursday by a federal jury in Hartford of charges he manipulated the prices of mortgage-backed securities while working for Cantor Fitzgerald, on the same day that a U.S. appeals court vacated the sentence of a former Stamford trader on similar charges. David Demos, 36, had been accused of lying to Cantor Fitzgerald clients, including an unnamed Connecticut firm, about the prices Cantor Fitzgerald was able to obtain in trading mortgage-backed bonds, with prosecutors having sought to prove that Cantor Fitzgerald reaped bigger profits as a result of the alleged subterfuge. In a midnight reversal, Xerox called off an agreement with billionaires Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason to cede them control of its board, with the Norwalk-based company unilaterally reinstalling its CEO Jeff Jacobson and several board members who had agreed previously to step aside; and appealing a New York judges decision blocking a Xerox merger agreement with Fujifilm. Earlier this week, Icahn and Deason had claimed victory in a proxy fight with the Xerox board of directors that had been spurred by the companys $6.1 billion sale agreement with Fujifilm Holdings, which Xeroxs board had agreed to terminate in the face of a Deason lawsuit in New York state court. The agreement had included a stipulation that the judge overseeing the Deason lawsuit approve the terms of the agreement against an 8 p.m. deadline Thursday, with Fujifilm having objected in court to the timeline under which Icahn and Deason were pushing for a resolution. On Friday, Xerox announced it had formally appealed the New York ruling blocking its proposed sale to Fujifilm. Under the original agreement with Icahn and Deason, former Novitex Enterprise Solutions CEO and Greenwich resident John Visentin would have replaced Jacobson as Xerox CEO, with Icahn Enterprises CEO Keith Costa leading the board as chairman in the place of Bob Keegan, the former CEO of Goodyear Tire & Rubber. In a statement, Xerox indicated Jacobson and Keegan would continue in their roles while acknowledging the uncertainty caused by the developments of the past several days and that the board would continue to consider varying options to achieve optimal outcome for the company and its shareholders. In a deposition transcript submitted as evidence in his lawsuit, Jacobson had been quoted as saying he was aware that the Xerox board had considered replacing him with Visentin, describing as disappointed his thoughts on learning of the possibility. In a joint statement with Deason posted on his blog Friday morning, Icahn confirmed the termination of the agreement, while blasting what he called the brazen self-interest of the Xerox board of directors, and stating he would seek to hold Jacobson, the board and Fujifilm liable without specifying any legal steps he might pursue. Icahn pressed Xerox to walk away from the Fujifilm deal permanently and install Visentin as CEO, with Icahn and Deason having hired Visentin to lead their proxy fight with the Xerox board, and whom the board had considered itself last year as a CEO candidate. This inexplicable turn of events occurred for one reason only: the Xerox board recklessly refused to follow through with the leadership and governance changes we agreed to, demanding unprecedented additional approvals for their own personal self-interest, Icahns blog states. Fully insured, robust indemnification rights were not enough. The Xerox board declined to take the actions they unanimously approved as in the best interest of Xerox shareholders unless they obtained additional unprecedented protections from the court, which all parties (and the judge!) agree are not required under applicable law. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Contributed Photo / Norwalk Police Department / Contributed Photo NORWALK Officers have made an arrest in a case that happened more than five and a half years ago. Terrance Police, 22, of Waterbury, was charged with first-degree assault and first-degree robbery on Friday, said Lt. Terry Blake. 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 DALLAS - President Donald Trump on Friday addressed the National Rifle Association's annual meeting here in a speech that served as a rallying cry to his base, an attack on his detractors and a signal of his strong support for the gun rights group after suggesting months earlier he was open to some firearm restrictions. His message in front of the adoring crowd was a stark departure from the defiant tone he took toward the NRA in the immediate aftermath of the Feb. 14 shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school, when he embraced tougher gun restrictions and proudly boasted that the powerful gun lobby has "less power over me" than Republican lawmakers. But any streak of independence from the NRA was gone Friday, as Trump allied himself with some of the gun group's biggest priorities in a rambling, 45-minute speech that focused as much on his foreign policy agenda, approval ratings and the latest in the Russia investigation as it did on gun policy. "The people in this hall have never taken our freedom granted. Never," Trump said. "And you have never stopped fighting for our beloved Constitution. Incredible people." Trump endorsed a top NRA goal to allow trained teachers to carry concealed weapons and to install more armed security guards in schools. Signs declaring a school as a gun-free zone, Trump argued, were essentially invitations to attackers to "come in and take us." "They love their students and they're not going to let anybody hurt their students. But you have to give them a chance," Trump said. "In America, we trust the people to be wise and good . . . that is why in America, we've always trusted the people to keep and bear arms." This is the fourth year in a row that Trump has addressed the NRA, which has been a powerful ally from the earliest days of his presidential campaign. The NRA spent more money on behalf of Trump than did any outside group in 2016, deploying its resources for him earlier than in any other presidential cycle. But Friday's speech was his first appearance before NRA members since the Parkland shooting, which created a new wave of momentum for the gun-control movement nationwide led by the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School themselves. The massacre moved Trump to flirt with stricter gun measures that collided with NRA priorities, such as raising the legal age to purchase AR-15s and similar types of rifles to 21 and expanding background checks to guns sold at shows and online. In a meeting with lawmakers, Trump even mocked Republican lawmakers over the power of the gun lobby, telling one GOP senator he was "afraid of the NRA." But Trump quickly backtracked, instead embracing modest gun-related measures such as legislation to improve information sharing for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. That bill, known as the Fix NICS Act, was signed into law as part of a government spending measure in March. Trump gave no indication Friday that his gun agenda would diverge from policies embraced by the NRA. He began his remarks lavishing praise on the crowd and the group's commitment to the Second Amendment, saying "the people in this hall have never taken our freedom for granted." "Your Second Amendment rights are under siege," Trump told the NRA members, whom he referred to as patriots. "But they will never ever be under siege as long as I'm your president." To bolster his case for arming teachers and adding guards, Trump argued "there is no stronger deterrent for a sick individual than the knowledge that their attack will end their life and end in total failure." An FBI study of active shootings has found that mass shootings frequently end when the attackers kill themselves. Trump also denounced European cities with tougher gun laws, invoking the November 2015 massacre in Paris to make a case that "if one employee or just one patron had a gun," the citywide attack could've been stopped. Though he has made similar comments before - most notably after the June 2016 massacre inside Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida - several recent high-profile shootings have occurred despite the presence of armed officers in or around the premises. In his speech Friday, Trump showed none of the policy flexibility he did earlier this year that had left some gun-control activists and Democratic lawmakers somewhat optimistic that the famously mercurial president could embrace some firearms restrictions. "Donald Trump has allowed his presidency to be hijacked by gun lobbyists and campaign dollars," former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot in the head during a constituent event in 2011, said in a statement Friday. "As a result, the threats to our kids and our communities remain unaddressed." While Trump used the speech to firmly embrace the NRA's agenda, he also treated it like a campaign rally - urging members to vote in the midterm elections, boasting about the improving unemployment numbers, touting the recent tax cuts, criticizing the media and lambasting the investigation into Russia's meddling in the election. "So we have the best employment numbers we've virtually ever had," he said. "And yet all we hear about is this phony Russia witch hunt. That's all we hear about, isn't it?" Trump invoked his usual red-meat rhetoric on immigration, complaining that the United States has the "worst laws" and vowing to protect the nation's borders. he called on Congress to change immigration laws that determine who can legally enter the country. "They're going to come in based on merit, not based on picking someone out of a bin," he said of the impact of his proposed policy changes. Trump said great things were about to happen on North Korea and criticized past administrations for their poor negotiating skills, while mocking John Kerry for breaking his leg during a bike ride when he was serving as secretary of state. Trump also claimed polling data shows his support among African Americans is rising, something he attributed to recent supportive comments from hip-hop artist Kanye West. "We have great love going on in this country," he said. Signaling a new, escalated phase of midterm politics, Trump called out several Senate Democrats up for reelection by name - Bill Nelson of Florida, Jon Tester of Montana and Robert Casey Jr. or Pennsylvania - and urged the crowd to elect more Republicans. "Democrats and liberals in Congress want to disarm law-abiding Americans at the same time they're releasing dangerous criminal aliens and savage gang members onto our streets," he said. Attendees of the annual NRA event cheered on the president, who seemed to draw energy from the crowd. Inside the mammoth convention hall next to the arena where Trump delivered his remarks, a group gathered around a screen showing his speech at the Springfield Armory display. Joe and Connie Henderson of Tucson, Arizona, applauded throughout. Joe Henderson said he agrees with "90 percent" of what Trump says, particularly on immigration and guns. And Connie Henderson said Trump said exactly what needed to be said on guns. "I think he's right on the mark," she said. "We do need to stand up. We do need to vote more Republican. We do need to get rid of the people who want to get rid of our rights." - - - The Washington Post's Katie Zezima in Dallas and Mark Berman in Washington contributed to this report. --- Video Embed Code Video: President Trump addressed the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Dallas on May 4. Here's what you missed from his remarks.(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Embed code: 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 1 hour ago California oil spill renews calls to ban offshore drilling SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California has been a leader in restricting offshore oil drilling since the infamous 1969 Santa Barbara spill that sparked the modern environmental movement, and the latest spill off Huntington Beach is prompting fresh calls for an end to such drilling. That's easier said than done, even in California. Read Article 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 Guyana Goldfields Inc. provides exploration and production of gold. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of gold mineral properties. The company also owns and operates gold drilling rights. The company was formerly known as Chiboug Copper Company Limited and changed its name to Guyana Goldfields Inc. in January 1995. Guyana Goldfields Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. As of August 25, 2020, Guyana Goldfields Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited. Read More American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. 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Oregon Supreme Court orders resentencing upon finding violation of crime victim's right to be heard at sentencing | Main | Seeking reader input for possible blog redesigns/improvements May 4, 2018 "Judicial Appraisals of Risk Assessment in Sentencing" The title of this post is the title of this notable new paper now available via SSRN authored by John Monahan, Anne Metz and Brandon Garrett. Here is the abstract: The assessment of an offenders risk of recidivism is emerging as a key consideration in sentencing policy in many American jurisdictions. However, little information is available on how actual sentencing judges view this development. This study surveys the views of a population sample of judges in Virginia, the state that has gone farther than any other in legislatively mandating risk assessment for certain drug and property offenders. Results indicate that a strong majority of judges endorse the principle that sentencing eligible offenders should include a consideration of recidivism risk. However, a strong majority also report the availability of alternatives to imprisonment in their jurisdictions to be inadequate at best. Finally, most judges oppose the adoption of a policy requiring them to provide a written reason for declining to impose alternative interventions on low risk offenders. May 4, 2018 at 09:31 AM | Permalink Comments The formulas in this algorithm must be made public. Secret formulas are the same as secret Star Chamber proceedings, directly remedied by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Although I subscribe to all -isms and -ophobias, non-conduct factors should be excluded, for example growing up in a high crime neighborhood. That is secret code for race. There are no racial difference in criminal mentality, so race or proxies for race are not valid. Ideally, the legislature would write these protocol, since they are law making and sentencing law. They may be criticized for quackery, and edited yearly, as experience accumulates. Then legislators can be voted out if the crime rate increases. Posted by: David Behar | May 4, 2018 1:41:35 PM Post a comment SEATTLEWhen 10 representatives from Amazon visited the Denver area in late January, they did what you would expect from a company scouting for a place to put its second headquarters. They toured more than a half-dozen potential sites for a new campus and talked about the technical talent available in the area. But they also did something that surprised local officials: Quiz them on how, if Amazon chooses to settle there, the company could avoid the problems it confronts in Seattle, the only hometown it has ever known. If Amazon moves in, bringing up to 50,000 high-paying jobs to town over time, how would the officials deal with traffic on its roads? And how would the companys tax dollars contribute to the creation of affordable housing in the region? I think they feel in Seattle theyre the scapegoat every time theres an issue in the community and traffic, said Sam Bailey, vice president of economic development at the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., which is managing the areas bid for Amazons second headquarters. Amazons search for a second headquarters has been a pageant of finalist cities doing everything they can to woo the company and the good jobs and huge construction projects it would bring. The most controversial part of the process has been the big tax incentives some state and local governments have offered Amazon, seen by critics as ineffective corporate giveaways. Amazon wrapped up its visits in mid-April to all 20 finalist locations for its HQ2, as Amazon calls its second headquarters. The company is following up with the cities, from Los Angeles to Indianapolis to Toronto, seeking further information as it narrows its search. The company has a long wish list, including plentiful flights at local airports, a stable, business-friendly government and nearby recreational opportunities for employees. But local officials did not anticipate Amazons interest in how to tackle some of the troubles that have turned it into a polarizing symbol of Seattles booming economy. The e-commerce giant is celebrated by many in Seattle for being the citys biggest employer and adding tremendous wealth to the area. But it is villainized by others for bringing too much change too quickly. In Denver, Amazon and local officials talked at length about public transit options and the creation of bike lanes, Bailey said. They even discussed the possibility of Amazon financing a new light-rail station for its system, though no commitments were made, he said. In Atlanta, the company spoke to a representative of the Westside Future Fund, a non-profit working to prevent displacement in an area being redeveloped. The fund will pay for the increases in property taxes for residents who have lived in the area since at least 2016 so they are not priced out of their homes. In Amazons visit to Toronto, the company discussed its potential effect on the labour market and the affordability of housing, said Ed Clark, business adviser to Premier Kathleen Wynne. Were all concerned about what could be gentrification or displacement, how do we deal with that, said Aisha Glover, president and chief executive of the Newark Community Economic Development Corp., which is involved in New Jerseys bid. Adam Sedo, a spokesperson for Amazon, confirmed that public transport and housing affordability were important topics in conversations with the finalist locations but declined to elaborate further. The company employs about 45,000 people in Seattle, spread out among more than 30 buildings near the downtown area. Despite a construction frenzy, building of new homes has not kept up with demand, leading to soaring housing costs in Seattle, where rents are now close to those in Boston and New York and home prices are growing faster than those in any other large city. While Amazon is not the only reason for all the change, it has become the most convenient target for groups worried about home prices and paralyzing traffic. There was clearly a sensitivity both to the real and to the perceived impact when they come in to a place, Clark said, referring to Amazons discussions in Toronto. Read more about: When our children were young I remember a lawyer friend of mine lamenting the 5 oclock stink-eye her co-workers shot her way as she exited the office, headed home to, you know, live a life. A flexible, or even humane, work existence was seen not in keeping with aspirations to make partner. The parenting penalty, paid more commonly by women, was especially borne out in compensation and work choices that better accommodated the demands of child rearing. You could swap the finance sector for law and get the same result: men and women entering same pay careers based on the achievement of high levels of education experience very different long-term financial outcomes. A quarter century has passed and here we are stuck with a wage gap that remains yawning and intractable. Read more: Ontario passes gender pay transparency law Claire Foy says pay-gap issue definitely opened my eyes U.K. pay disclosure report shows Canadian companies have work to do to reduce gender pay gap Share your thoughts Serial celebrity revelations have helped keep the issue in the headlines. Claire Foy, the British actress who elevated her performance as the young Queen Elizabeth in The Crown head and royal shoulders above her co-star Matt Smith, is reportedly in line for 200,000 in back pay to bring her compensation in line with the more narrowly talented, furrow-browed Smith. This comes more than two years after Jennifer Lawrence addressed the Sony hack revelations that disclosed the gaping disparity between her points payout on American Hustle and that of her male costars. I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early, Lawrence wrote. If Im honest with myself, I would be lying if I didnt say there was an element of wanting to be liked that influenced my decision to close the deal without a real fight. Women lawyers reflecting on last years bonus may nod in recognition here. The parent penalty and the systemic if-you-dont-ask-you-dont-get ethos are just two elements in a game thats rigged against women, a bald fact that has spurred governments to audit the pay gap. Compelled disclosure, most recently in the U.K., has resulted in an easy access, searchable online database of more than 10,000 U.K. companies and counting. Any employer with more than 250 employees is required to report on the difference between the mean and median hourly rates of pay for male and female full-time employees as well as differentials in bonus pay. The proportion of male and female employees who receive bonus pay is also documented. As I have argued in previous columns, the U.K. initiative is commendable for bringing transparency to the issue. Companies must report annually, so next year women at, say, Telegraph Media Group will be able to see whether their employer has made any progress in fixing an out-of-whack compensation structure that pays them a median wage thats 23.4 per cent less than their male counterparts. Ontario took its first steps to achieve something similar when it tabled its Pay Transparency Act in March, a move I described as inexplicably late in its tabling, vague in its constitution and painfully slow in its proposed enactment. That bill has now been enacted, with a couple of important amendments that are worth mentioning here and cause me to look somewhat more kindly upon the government of the day. Its still awfully late to be getting on board with this Premier Kathleen Wynnes mandate letter to Labour Minister Kevin Flynn, which included that he establish a closing-the-wage-gap strategy, dates back to September 2014. And a stated enforcement date of Jan. 1 next year is cause for obvious concern with an election looming. But the Liberals made an important move by erasing wishy-washy language that gave the Ministry of Labour the option to publish the reports or not. The new language requires the government to make the reports public believing correctly, I think that such open reporting will help spur a cultural shift. If the government is wise, it will follow the U.K.s comprehensive, easy access template. The bills initial language targeted first the Ontario Public Service well thats a no-brainer followed by companies with more than 500 employees. Those employers would have to file by the end of 2019. But small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees account for roughly 90 per cent of the private sector workforce in Canada, leaving the act to cast a too-small and not all that useful net. The governments intent was to broaden the category of compulsory filers to 250 we think around 2020, 21, Flynn told me in an interview in March. The government has taken the 500-employee target off the table, starting instead with 250 or more and, later, 100 or more. On the surface, this too is good news. But theres a bit of fancy footwork involved. Instead of that initial 2019 deadline, the new wording pushes back submission of the first transparency reports to May 15, 2020. So the target numbers are right, but the time line sluggish. Employers with 100 or more employees wont be required to file until the spring of 2021. The fine print had better come quick. For example, companies must be compelled to include partner compensation in their overall stats. Back in the U.K., the first deadline had barely passed before Prime Minister Theresa May directed cabinet ministers to come up with sectoral action plans to reduce the gap. So the audit is just step one. Ministers have been given six months to report back. Now thats a government that has addressed the gap with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. HONG KONGA gadget maker. An online delivery service. And the electronic payment company owned by the tech giant Alibaba. These are among a spate of Chinese companies expected to open their doors to ordinary investors in Hong Kong over the next year through public listings, following a loosening of rules by the citys stock exchange. If many of them end up listing in Hong Kong, then China will have accomplished a major goal: keeping its hugely successful tech boom at home. The flurry of big-name Chinese companies potentially choosing to stay home, rather than go abroad, in search of funding is part of a broader push by China, which has sought to develop homegrown champions in an array of sectors. But the new regulations, which allow companies to retain more control, have also been criticized as an encroachment by Beijing on Hong Kongs legal system and corporate governance standards. Read more: Samsung chip exports soar as firm warns of smartphone struggle Walmart could close a $12 billion deal with Flipkart, Indias top e-commerce company Apples services arm roars to life amid slump in smartphone shipments Xiaomi, the gadget maker, announced Thursday that it would list in Hong Kong, the first company to do so following the rule changes. Its decision represents a victory for Hong Kong, which missed out on blockbuster stock offerings by Alibaba and other rising internet companies in mainland China in recent years. It is also a win for Beijing, which has embarked on a campaign under President Xi Jinping to nurture the development of new industries in technology and lure back homegrown stars that listed overseas in years past. I think it rather stuck in the throats of the leadership in Beijing that large companies had to go overseas to list and not in Hong Kong, which they view as part of home, said David Webb, publisher of the financial and corporate governance website, Webb-site, and a deputy chairperson of Hong Kongs Takeovers Panel. There has been somewhat of campaign to bring companies home and remove them from foreign jurisdictions, said Webb. While Hong Kong is officially a special administrative region within the Peoples Republic of China, and has a separate legal and financial system, Beijing sees it as a part of the mainland. Some of Chinas biggest and most exciting technology startups, like Didi Chuxing, the ride-sharing rival to Uber, and Ant Financial, the financial arm of Alibaba, are making plans to go public over the next year. In the past, Chinese entrepreneurs, like Jack Ma of Alibaba, chose to list their shares in markets like New York where they could operate as if their companies were still private. They were able to offer so-called dual-class shares, which give shareholders little say in the operations of the business. Until last week, Hong Kong, which has stricter rules than New York, had not allowed such listings. In its filing Thursday with Hong Kongs stock exchange, Xiaomi appeared to be taking advantage of the new rules. The company, whose low-cost smartphones have won a loyal following not just in China but in other emerging markets like India as well, said it would raise an unspecified amount from the public in order to fund the development of new smartphones and other devices like household gadgets. The money will also help Xiaomi pursue expansion overseas. It could raise as much as $10 billion, according to two people with direct knowledge of the company but not authorized to speak on the record. That would make it the second-largest listing by a Chinese technology company since Alibaba. As part of the listing, which could come as soon as June, Xiaomi will offer dual-class shares, which allow for weighted voting rights. This will mean that Lei Jun, Xiaomis founder, chairperson and chief executive, will have the ultimate say over the companys operations, rather than investors who buy its shares, even if they end up owning more stock than he decides to hold onto. This share structure will allow the company to benefit from Leis vision and leadership while allowing him to maintain its long-term prospects and strategy, Xiaomi said in its filing. The decision by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong to allow dual-class shares just one week ago has sparked fierce debate here. For the exchange, not allowing companies to list with such a structure meant it missed out lucrative listings like Alibabas $25-billion initial public offering. Alibaba opted to list in New York instead, where several large technology companies like Facebook and Googles parent Alphabet operate with dual-class shares. There is no question that Hong Kong is under tremendous competitive pressure, Richard Li, the Hong Kong stock exchanges chief executive, wrote in a blog post following the decision. We are at the precipice of a gold rush of new economy companies from China, and its vital that we position ourselves to benefit from this development. But some in the citys investor community had pushed hard to prevent Hong Kong from changing its rules, arguing that it will mean less rigorous corporate governance. There should not be unequal voting rights as they could allow management or minority share owners to override the wishes or best interests of majority shareholders for personal benefit and compromise accountability, leading to potential entrenchment issues, Mary Leung, head of advocacy for Asia at CFA Institute, an association of investment professionals, said in a statement. Some big institutional investors have criticized Hong Kongs stock exchange for throwing out tighter regulations in a bid to compete with rivals. There are also longer-term concerns that companies will not be as closely scrutinized in the future in Hong Kong, which was once a British colony. As part of the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the territory was promised 50 years of self-administration. But in recent years, the city has experienced encroachment on its independence and investors have raised concerns that its strong regulatory and legal institutions are slowly being eroded by Beijing. To these critics, Hong Kongs decision to allow dual-class shares is further evidence of that erosion. Beijing is much happier raising capital in a city that they can partially control rather than handing overall the listings to U.S. markets, said Andrew Collier, founder of research firm Orient Capital Research. At the end of the day, the Hong Kong stock market is going to be creeping slowly toward Chinese-style regulation, he added. Li did not respond to a request for comment. But in his blog post he said that the exchange was introducing additional safeguards to protect investors against the potential misuse of power, including more corporate governance requirements and certain limits on founding shareholders in these structures. The exchanges move to loosen its requirements is expected to trigger a spurt of initial public offerings this year and next, amid growing appetite across global public markets for new technology companies. Meituan-Dianping, an online delivery service for food and consumer products, is making preparations for an initial public offering in Hong Kong this year, according to two people with direct knowledge of the company but not authorized to speak on the record. Ant Financial, the electronic financial services firm owned by Alibaba, is going through one final fundraising round before it also decides whether to list its shares publicly late this year or early next year, according to these people. And the Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing is in talks for its own listing, according to one of these people. It is not clear where it would choose to list. Despite the criticism about corporate governance in Hong Kong, its rules remain stricter than New York for now. Tencent Music, the streaming service owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent, is in talks with various banks to help it go public. It is expected to choose New York for its listing, where companies can use the dual-class share structure even if the founding shareholder is a company and not an individual. This would allow Tencent, the parent of Tencent Music, to maintain control. In Hong Kong, the dual-class share structure is only available for individuals. But the citys stock exchange has already begun seeking feedback from the investor community about loosening this rule, too. Read more about: CALGARYFamed Calgary chef Michael Noble has been charged with sexual assault. Police said Thursday that a 21-year-old woman was at a social gathering in the 200 block of 8 Ave. S.W. when her employer followed her into a bathroom in the early hours of Jan. 30. It is alleged the man cornered her in a stall and sexually assaulted her. She pushed him away and fled the bathroom. Noble is the proprietor of The Nash and NotaBLE restaurants, which have won several awards. He was named the citys best chef by Best of Calgary last month and has appeared on the TV cooking competition show Iron Chef. On the night of the incident, Noble posted a photo to his Instagram account celebrating his employees during a prohibition-themed event held at The Guild restaurant. Its concerning at any time when situations like this take place, said Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson with the Calgary Police Service. But its more disconcerting when its involving a person in authority or a person whos perceived to be an authority or somebody who takes advantage of somebody in a vulnerable position, he said. So those are always the things that ramp up our concern in matters such as this. Hanson said the woman approached police not long after the alleged assault occurred. Nobles high-profile status in the community did not factor into the investigation, he added. There was a lot of followup with other witnesses and extensive interviewing with the victim, and that resulted in a significant amount of time passing before the charges were actually laid, said Hanson. Nobles lawyer, Balfour Der, said his client absolutely denies the allegation and will vigorously fight the charges because there is no sexual assault there. Its very easy nowadays to just allege something against someone, Der told reporters. Ill bet the police didnt even mention this complainants name. Im sure they didnt. Yet, Mr. Nobles name is all over the media now. Hes the one suffering this. Der said Noble has stepped back from his daily involvement with the restaurants until some dust settles. In a statement, The Nash and NotaBLE restaurants said they are working with a third party to ensure employees have the support they need. We are committed to the people who make our restaurants what they are our staff, our valued guests and our community, according to the statement. Its what weve always done, and its what well continue to do. Michael John Noble, 56, faces one count of sexual assault and was released on a promise to appear in court. Read more about: "Judicial Appraisals of Risk Assessment in Sentencing" | Main | Georgia execution back on; stay lifted with clemency denied by state parole board May 4, 2018 Seeking reader input for possible blog redesigns/improvements I have the great fortune of getting some terrific help from some terrific students exploring, in their words, a "number of different options to improve the layout and interface of the blog platform." In furtherance of this work, these students have designed an easy survey for readers to gain insights into readership and blog users. Here is a link to the survey, which can be completed in about a minute. It would be very helpful if readers will take a minute to fill out this survey. Many, many thanks! UPDATE: Scrolling now to the bottom of the comments on this post will reveal that David Behar has agreed to not comment here for 30 days to see if his absence can allow the comment discussion to grow in quality and quantity. So, in addition to urging readers to take the survey linked above, I think some might find it especially useful to start commenting more on other posts. May 4, 2018 at 09:43 AM | Permalink Comments The most important change would be the editing of comments and the deletion of comments. The second would be to have conversion of URL lings to a preview. Now, they have to be copied and pasted. Posted by: David Behar | Mar 29, 2018 4:52:35 PM I do hope the basic design is not changed, the current rather minimal layout makes it rather easy for me to use with my screen reader. Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Mar 29, 2018 5:44:51 PM I understand that Professor Berman is a busy man but my own view is that I'd like to see more of Doug and less linking. Further, as a long time reader my perception is that the creation of his blog to romance the Mary Jane also has caused this blog to suffer. One thing that other blogs have done is to share in the hosting/posting duties. Getting other law professors to assist in the blog--beyond merely guest posting--would be a positive development. Posted by: Humdee | Mar 29, 2018 8:10:07 PM Do these students understand they are being indoctrinated, not education? They are being forced to believe in and to use supernatural doctrines from the Medieval church in a secular nation. They will then join a criminal cult enterprise trying to destroy our nation for a few lousy jobs. Posted by: David Behar | Mar 29, 2018 8:38:44 PM The format of the blog overall seems pretty acceptable for what you wish to do and seems to work okay on my phone (to the degree I need yet more opportunity to go online). The tags are helpful to go to related content. I do wish there was a means to edit comments after we post or delete them. Realize that is largely the fault of the writer & usually the mistakes aren't THAT important. But, find blogs that allow deletions or five minute editing windows etc. copacetic. Posted by: Joe | Mar 29, 2018 9:57:06 PM The format of the blog overall seems pretty acceptable for what you wish to do and seems to work okay on my phone (to the degree I need yet more opportunity to go online). The tags are helpful to go to related content. I do wish there was a means to edit comments after we post or delete them. Realize that is largely the fault of the writer & usually the mistakes aren't THAT important. But, find blogs that allow deletions or five minute editing windows etc. copacetic. Posted by: Joe | Mar 29, 2018 9:57:10 PM Thanks for wanting more of me, Humdee, and I often wish I had more time to do original commentary. But, candidly, after commenting on many of the same basic matters in this space for now nearly 14 years, I often have a been-there/done-that feeling as I gear up to comment. But especially as the semester winds down, I hope to get original a bit more. And, I always welcome other into this space. But there a now so many major on-line outlets for CJ commentary (and many folks are now content with twitter threads). That all said, thanks for the feedback. Posted by: Doug B | Mar 29, 2018 10:34:09 PM David, the students helping me on blog are not law students. Though your comment reminds me that I should ask about how to automatically delete any comment you make that includes the phrase criminal cult enterprise. Posted by: Doug B | Mar 29, 2018 10:36:24 PM As a professor, your duty is education. Upon starting indoctrination, you should disclose that switch. You need to warn students you are about to begin a discussion, with persuasion by authority, of sick, delusional, crazy supernatural doctrines. When I say, persuasion, it is really coercion on pain of shunning by the criminal cult enterprise, and the loss of their ability to make a living. Posted by: David Behar | Mar 30, 2018 12:12:58 AM doug, this blog is a very helpful tool for serious people doing serious and important work. It is not Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park. There is no First Amendment right for anyone to post whatever they want on this wonderful resource. Please banish people like Supremacy claus, and others, who detract from that goal. thanks for your huge effort in helping us be better attorneys. Bruce Posted by: bruce cunningham | Mar 30, 2018 3:34:08 AM I notice that my comment was posted twice. There is a glitch that sometimes causes that problem, often because it takes a long time to complete a post, and it seems like it didn't go thru at all. Don't know if that can be addressed. Posted by: Joe | Mar 30, 2018 10:52:06 AM Bruce. But there is a Free Speech right. It is the sidewalk of a private property, not the dining room. One may not exclude others from the sidewalk, despite its being on private property. The world is invited here, and it is the biggest sidewalk of all. All the protected classes are invited, along with all viewpoints. If I wanted to have a loud, raucous, profanity filled, personally abusive protest in front of your home, you could not stop in the proper time and manner. Not even the prototypical lawyer dumbass, Eugene Volokh is able to understand that concept. Posted by: David Behar | Mar 30, 2018 12:57:29 PM Bruce. You are serious about procedure, your way to make a living, adding no value to our economy or to society or even to your clients' fates. I am serious about policy, especially on the victim side. We should learn to respect each other. Posted by: David Behar | Mar 30, 2018 1:00:16 PM Humdee. All guest bloggers will be pro-criminal. The rare pro-victim lawyer, like Heather McDonald, a researcher senior to Prof. Berman in every way, would never appear here. Posted by: David Behar | Mar 31, 2018 11:23:37 AM The most compelling change is to change the substance of the blog. Now, it is a repetitious, dull, posting of the Democratic Party platform. It endlessly and sickeningly includes the false propaganda that the crime rate has decreased. I left once because of this intellectual waste of time. Then, Bill asked me to return to speak for crime victims. It would be more in interesting, and would increase readership to add variety, such as libertarian, and conservative posts from guest bloggers and criminologists. It would be more compelling to have actors in sentencing review and justify what they do, such as the writers of algorithms. Judges could comment on past real world decisions, the consequences, and any regrets. Street lawyers could work out the intellectual content of their motions and trial tactics, from both sides of the sentencing law and policy. In accordance with academic ethos and responsibility, it could stop being a form of cheap and ineffective indoctrination, and start to be educational and stimulating. The greater variety and sources of the posts would increase the utility and influence of this blog. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 1, 2018 9:09:46 AM Wow, David, you have a great vision for another type of blog that I would look forward to reading and linking to. I hope you take all the time you waste on impolite comments here and develop the resource you suggest. Posted by: Doug B | Apr 1, 2018 10:35:53 AM Prof. Berman. Thanks for the support. I am not into sentencing. It is of interest as the biggest failure of the lawyer profession, the failure to protect the public, the protection of the criminal, and rampant criminality. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 1, 2018 1:07:48 PM Doug, I like the current format. Although I offer very little at the level of many, I like expressing my .02 worth. My mispellings are many and Am not happy with them. The higher intellect of the many that drop short sentences, with much content, is why I like this site. Supremacy can and should make much better posts. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Apr 1, 2018 7:20:40 PM I like the roll of recent comments you have in your Marijuana Blog. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 2, 2018 10:05:39 PM Do not adopt Disqus. It is slow to load, or fails to load at all. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 2, 2018 10:13:53 PM "You need to warn students you are about to begin a discussion, with persuasion by authority, of sick, delusional, crazy supernatural doctrines." I think its more important that high school students are taught how to critically-think and identify commentary from education, than that college professors tell students that they are switching into commentary mode. If they have to tell the kids that because the kids can't tell the difference, it won't help them--in class or reading the news. If the kids can recognize it themselves, that WILL help them. Also, the kids who are signing up for his (or anyone else's class) probably know what they are getting into. If you get accepted into, say Yale, and don't know ahead of time that they back Obama and resist Trump, telling you after you get to class will be meaningless. Posted by: Ann Coult45 | Apr 3, 2018 2:01:58 AM I would like to see more comment threads like this one. It was an emotional rollercoaster reading through this! But seriously, David Behar, shouldn't you be defending yourself against a medical malpractice suit, or trying to sue an attorney for abuse of process, or maybe suing to have a medical law ruled unconstitutional? Posted by: Anonuser879 | Apr 3, 2018 2:34:56 AM 879. You are obviously not a lawyer. Go in peace. Have a blessed day. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 3, 2018 8:20:16 AM The number one thing you could do to improve this blog is ban abusive and boring commentators. These few people drive so many others away and add nothing of substance. Get rid of the dead weight and watch the discussion grow in quality and quantity. Posted by: justme | Apr 3, 2018 8:41:54 AM Justine. What you proposed has happened several times. None of the changes you wish for took place. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 3, 2018 7:10:31 PM How about we run an empirical experiment, David: make ZERO comments over the rest of April and lets see if we get more comments in your absence. I think "justme" could be right, but we may only know if you go away for a number of weeks to see what happens. Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 3, 2018 7:18:36 PM It has been done, several times and for many months. Nothing happened here. But you are getting on my nerves, and you have a deal for 30 days. Count the comments for the past 30 days, and for the next 30 days. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 4, 2018 5:48:28 AM Huzzah. And if we get a lot more comments over the next 30 days, you will stay away (or at least limit yourself to a comment a day)? Posted by: Doug B | Apr 4, 2018 10:55:56 AM Why do I get the funny feeling that David Behar and S.C are socks for Doug? Posted by: fred | Apr 6, 2018 2:39:33 PM I can assure you, fred, I am not David Behar or S.C. Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 6, 2018 3:30:53 PM @fred When I first came to this blog I wondered the same thing. This is especially true since Doug B. has stated in the past that he like to "stir things up" in order to drive blog traffic. But I have come to the conclusion that it is unlikely. First, the professor is a very busy man and it wouldn't be an effective use of his time; this blog just isn't that important to his career trajectory. The second is that Behar has another blog, the one he links to, and it just don't sound like Doug is that person. Of course, anything is possible but I think it is highly unlikely that it is all one big act by Doug B. Posted by: Humdee | Apr 6, 2018 3:47:55 PM I'm a professor and we are hardly "very busy.' People who work in coal mines are busy; not us. Posted by: fred | Apr 7, 2018 7:20:34 PM i wish we could "like" the comments of others if we find them interesting. Posted by: defendergirl | Apr 19, 2018 9:46:04 AM Very interesting idea, defendergirl. Thanks! Posted by: Doug B | Apr 19, 2018 10:27:50 AM @Doug, defendergirl One aspect of this blog that I have long appreciated is that it doesn't have a voting system. The problem with voting systems as evidenced by sites like reddit and the Washington Post is that they are means of privileging some user generated content over others. This has the salubrious effect of weeding out trolls but it also has the enfeebling effect of silencing well-intended but controversial data and opinions, which is to say in my experience voting promotes a herd mentality. This blog doesn't attract that many visitors. What is difficult about a comment saying, "that was interesting to read XXX, thanks for sharing."? If the blog started generating hundreds of comments like that one then maybe an up voting button might be worthwhile but as of now...I don't see it. Posted by: Daniel | Apr 19, 2018 11:02:57 AM Doug, former student writing here. Resist changes to the layout! This old-school minimalism serves the blog well. Design revamp wholly unnecessary. Posted by: AJ | Apr 19, 2018 2:06:50 PM I agree with AJ. The only improvement the blog needs is some way to rid the otherwise valuable comments section of trolls. Posted by: career AFPD | Apr 20, 2018 9:25:02 AM Other than David Behar, are there any other trolls you have in mind, career AFPD? Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 20, 2018 12:43:56 PM Did Bill Otis really encourage Behar to keep posting here? That's interesting, since Behar routinely incites violence against attorneys and judges Posted by: RW | Apr 22, 2018 12:13:13 AM Behar is of course the main issue,and getting rid of him would solve much of the problem. federalist is sometimes troll like but not always . Otis was clearly a troll,but he's been gone for years now . No one else comes to mind. Posted by: career AFPD | Apr 23, 2018 10:01:31 AM Perhaps one of the factors that could be looked at is how frequently a reader comments. Infrequent rants are tolerable repetitive rants are not. Posted by: John Neff | Apr 23, 2018 2:10:25 PM Okay. Is it like two more days or something? Posted by: Joe | Apr 29, 2018 5:48:41 PM My absence made no difference to the quantity or quality of Comments, once my comments were subtracted along with the vicious personal attacks in response to them. Once suggestion would be less advocacy, more academic ethos, greater balance. 99% of the posts are pro-criminal, Democratic Party false propaganda. These are just quackery, for example, the claim that crime is low. Posted by: David Behar | May 4, 2018 11:26:49 AM I strongly disagree, David. I think the quality of the conversation has been greatly improved in your absence, in part because the absence of your rants and responses thereto make the comment section feel much less hostile. I am not going to bar your return, but I am going to request again that you try to limit seek to your comments and your rants. Posted by: Doug B | May 4, 2018 11:56:24 AM You called me a troll. I could not believe it, because I had a high estimate of your intelligence, knowledge, and lawyerly quality. Any dissent criticizing lawyer procedure and rent seeking is called ranting, in an ad hominem implication of mental illness or emotionality. That is from the KGB Handbook. How about calling me a pedophile? That is also in the KGB handbook. The biggest troll to the country is the lawyer profession. It maintains a high crime rate. It cuts our economic growth in half. It stifles innovation and enterprise. It makes us much less safe. It has government doing nothing well. When government employees leave, they become 10 times more productive, including lawyers. I bring facts. I get insulted. You do nothing about these attacks. You do nothing about the flooding of the Comments by others. You have a lawyer bias, and no consciousness of it. Posted by: David Behar | May 4, 2018 1:07:17 PM @David Assume for the moment everything you say in your latest post is true. How does posting HERE change anything? Does it stop the lawyer quackery? No. Does it end the criminal cult enterprise? No. Does it end the personal attacks on you? No. One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I'm not going to try to dissuade you from your beliefs, David, I only argue that you should find some other audience where your wisdom falls like the nourishing rain rather than posting here where it seems to have only sprouted bitter fruit. Why stay where you are barely tolerated when there are other websites where you can be cherished? Your continued presence here doesn't appear to me to be useful to anyone lest of all yourself, it is perverse. Posted by: Daniel | May 4, 2018 2:11:59 PM Of course, that is not the definition of insanity. It is a witty aphorisms. Insanity involves firm beliefs in supernatural doctrines. Why on earth would I post where everyone agrees with my totally mainstream views? I represent the view of the overwhelming majority of the public, including police, lawyers and street level judges. The latter three are far more impacted by the criminal cult enterprise than the public. Posted by: David Behar | May 4, 2018 3:03:59 PM Just when I thought I was enjoying the comments section and posting more myself - Behar returns - unreal. I agree with Doug - "I think the quality of the conversation has been greatly improved in your absence, in part because the absence of your rants and responses thereto make the comment section feel much less hostile." This blog is not meant for your vile comments that are so far off topic as to sideline the intelligent conversations that take place. There has been dissent on various topics since you left and they were done in a manner that did not rise to level of narcissism that you know it all or that so and so has an agenda - they were simply intelligent disagreements that one could understand and respect. Yours, on the other hand, are a waste of my time and I can assure you, a waste of almost everyone else's too. I know Doug probably won't "bar" you - but I'd kindly ask, from one anonymous commenter to another, that you keep your comments and opinions on topic. Posted by: atomicfrog | May 4, 2018 3:45:21 PM I like the blog as it is, except for two things. 1. I dislike reading Behar's comments, which add nothing to the conversation. 2. It would be nice to be able to read the comments and/or post a comment without having to click on the comment section at the bottom of a post, then go back to the main thread after doing so. Minor point, but stlll ... On the positive side, I'm especially appreciative of the ability to preview and edit my comments. Many's the typo, and few but important are the wrong-headed assertions, that I have caught before clicking on "post." Posted by: Late Inning Relief | May 4, 2018 6:27:12 PM Hi, Late and Atomic. Banned from Facebook again. I will have a lot more time to devote to this blog. What do your think of this Sentencing angle? The Department of Justice may seize crime involved property in civil forfeiture. So said the Supreme Court in 1827. That is yet another John Marshall gem. There are millions of crimes committed on social media platforms. The DOJ should seize them all. Then, auction them like the Ferrari of a drug dealer. Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2018 12:15:28 PM Atomic. Vile comments, narcissism, know it all, agenda. That hurt my feelings. I am not going to ask Doug to ban you for this vicious ad hominem attack. The accusation of an ad hominem attack is itself an ad hominem attack. I bring offensive facts. Most come from my high school education. The high school education of the lawyer has been eradicated by law school, as soon as passing 1L. You are pro-criminal because you make your living off crime. Drop crime, you will lose your way of making a living. This is also true for the prosecution side. Thus, Hang 'Em High Scalia provided the intellectual leadership to end the mandatory aspect of sentencing guidelines. There are now billions of crimes a year. You will find another job when you lose yours. Ending billions of crimes is more important than your job. Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2018 12:37:14 PM In the past, people have shown my facts to be wrong. I have immediately taken back the claim in the Comment, and been grateful for the correction. That is the real path to stopping my Comment. I cannot believe the sensitivity of the lawyer, including Doug. If we were in a tribunal, not only would I be rebutting you, I would be seeking your personal destruction, as a patriotic duty. We all have a duty to seek the destruction of pure evil. Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2018 1:02:47 PM David, you have not corrected the "fact" that the Booker ruling increased crime, and you state it again above. And you showcase yet again the impoliteness (and inability to learn) that makes engaging with you so unpleasant. In the span of not much more than 24 hours, I am already longing for your departure again. Please know that you are already getting very close to having me formally ask you to leave --- which you have in the past said you would respect. Posted by: Doug B | May 5, 2018 1:44:12 PM @David writes, "Why on earth would I post where everyone agrees with my totally mainstream views?" Zounds! You then admit that your a snoutband, stampcrab, and gnashnab who wiffle-waffles everyones time away leaving nothing behind but flopdoodle. Rarely does someone admit to being such a cumberworld and foozle. Henceforth, I shall treat you as nothing but a shot-clog. . Posted by: Daniel | May 5, 2018 2:00:33 PM Doug. There are billions of crimes a year. I cannot believe someone so intelligent and learned believes Booker has not increased crime. Crime moved, that is all. As a Sentencing scholar, you need to follow crime to where it moved. I do not even believe it moved, since the methodology of the Crime Victim Survey was changed by Obama officials to cover up its 8 common law crimes, crimes of black criminals and of illegal aliens, Obama constituents. Democratic Party officials will fire police officers who transmit crime reports, as well. They is a massive cover up of crime in Democratic Party jurisdictions. If you feel, such a comment is unpleasant, try being a crime victim, for unpleasant. I guarantee, you will become a victim of identity theft, if not already. Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2018 2:05:16 PM Daniel. Thank you for your support. It is so nice to have one fan here. Posted by: David Behar | May 6, 2018 4:59:16 AM I have frequently been a crime victim, David, as have most people given how broadly you define crimes. Posted by: Doug B | May 6, 2018 12:42:11 PM Doug. Yet, you are 99% pro-criminal in your selection of articles. You are denying even your own suffering. Only a very powerful factor can explain that kind of denial. There is a cult, and it destroys anyone interfering with the rent. That is my theory. Beyond that, lawyers are twice as oppressed by this cult. And street level judges? Trippy as oppressed. I feel sorry for them. So much as drive by the scene of a trial matter, get summarily impeached. This is true despite being the smartest and most experienced person at that trial. I want to free the judges. Before deriding such a theory, remember this fact. The people in a cult who committed suicide to reach a passing comet had college degrees. Lawyers are not that bad, but they come close. They sacrifice the lives and successes of others, if not of themselves. Posted by: David Behar | May 6, 2018 3:28:17 PM My guess is there is a conflict between freedom of speech and freedom from rants. Maybe there should be two types of comments normal and rants. Posted by: John Neff | May 8, 2018 9:31:11 AM I really enjoyed reading the comments while Mr. Behar was gone. I will not be reading them now that he has returned, and I urge Professor Berman to ban him permanently. It's not Mr. Behar's perspective that bothers me, but the frequency of his posts and his noxious tone. I come here to read Professor Berman's perspectives and the conversations they spark. If I wanted to read multiple posts from Mr. Behar on every subject, I'd read his blog instead. Posted by: Curious | May 8, 2018 12:32:28 PM Thanks for the input, Curious. I keep hoping I can nudge David to be less noxious and less frequent, but may soon decide this a futile effort. Posted by: Doug B. | May 8, 2018 1:09:08 PM I quietly post simple facts. They rebut the biased pro-criminal propaganda of the posts. They are mislabeled as rants. I get attacked with personal insults. It is the facts that are frustrating you. I get called repetitive. That is because the pro-criminal posts are all the same, and require repetitive rebuttal. An example is the relentless repetition of the false fact that crime is less. Crime has modernized and exploded in number. Berman is in denial about that. Stop saying crime is less. It is more. Posted by: David Behar | May 9, 2018 1:27:33 AM Post a comment CALGARYNearly a week after a historic meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea, Calgarys Korean community is feeling hopeful but remaining cautious of what the future could hold. The first North-South Korea summit in over a decade took place last week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in greeting each other on the South Korean side of Panmunjom. This made Kim the first North Korean leader to visit the South. Michael Kim is a board member of the Calgary Korean Association and a member of the National Unification Advisory Council for South Korea. Michael was surprised when the two leaders met. While he does think the meeting is progress, hes still remaining cautious. The South Korean president has been very keen on making peaceful talks with North Korea for a long time now. So its not surprising that hes moving in this direction, Michael said. It is surprising to see what made Kim Jung Un change and want to come to this summit. It was a pretty significant change in attitude in less than a year. Daniel Kim moved to Canada from South Korea when he was in the seventh grade, back in 2007. He said hes not so sure the new talks are a call for celebration just yet. I think people need to stay a little more realistic. I see a lot of people being very optimistic about it, Daniel said. Its a historical thing for sure, but things things like this have happened before. Michael said that he has been hearing similar skepticism from most of the older generation. After a half century of waiting and waiting and the approach that North Korea has taken, its going to be hard for them to believe that Kim Jong Un is sincere, Michael said. At the same time we should still have hope. This is a step forward because we are technically still at war we never signed the armistice and the last thing we want to have is another battle break out and have more Koreans killed. Michael was born in South Korea, but his family moved to Canada when he was a year old. His family moved back when he was in elementary school in the 1990s. He recalls learning songs in class about unified Korea. Kilung Ahn sung similar songs when he was in school during the Korean War. Ahn, publisher of the Calgary-based Korea Alberta Journal, was in the first grade when the Korean War broke out. He remembers the day he realized the implications of the war. He was going to school and saw his classmates standing on the other side of the road leading to the school gate. They watched as UN soldiers patrolled the school, which would serve as their military headquarters. Ahn was at an event celebrating Canadas militarys efforts during the Korean War when he heard the news of the meeting. I was very shocked because it happened almost overnight, Ahn said. He has been dreaming of a unified Korea since he was a child and hopes that these peace talks will result in some kind of positive change. As I am watching things being developed, at this time I am hopeful, he said. Although I cannot count on how long it will take for two Koreas to be united as one. Correction - May 8, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that misattributed statements by Michael Kim to Daniel Kim. In fact, it is Michael Kim who said he has been hearing skepticism from most of the older generation. As well, the previous version mistakenly said Daniel Kim was born in South Korea but moved to Canada with his family when he was a year old. Read more about: As if the rum shelf at the LCBO wasnt already crowded enough with big personalities Captain Morgan, Sailor Jerry, Kraken now theres a new kid in town theyre calling the Real McCoy. McCoy is a 5-year-old rum from Barbados and the name is a reference to Captain William. McCoy is the legendary honest smuggler who made a fortune supplying thirsty Americans with high-quality hooch during Prohibition. Lore even has the term the real McCoy deriving from his rum-running activities, since, unlike other dealers in illicit booze who peddled watered-down or adulterated alcohol, McCoys hooch was always legit and full-strength. Unfortunately, thats a false etymology, because the phrase the real McCoy was in use before Prohibition. Everything else about it, though, is on the up-and-up, starting out as fermented molasses, which is then distilled into spirit and aged for five years in ex-bourbon oak casks. That might not sound so extraordinary, since we see numbers on a lot of rum bottles five, 12, 21 or even the impressive-sounding 25. Bizarrely though, in many cases, the actual liquid is nowhere near as old as the number implied by the label since, in many countries where rum is produced, guidelines as to aging are pretty loose. Our rums have a legal age statement on the bottle, says Bailey Pryor, founder of Real McCoy Spirits. If something says 12 Year, that isnt necessarily an age statement. If it says Solera 21 it isnt necessarily 21 years old. If it says slow-aged 25, thats a marketing term. I mean is there a fast-aged process? Thats probably surprising to, say, whisky drinkers, who are used to a certain amount of law and order surrounding what can and cant be on a label. When it comes to rum, there are a lot of different regions, each with its own traditions and regulations about how to make (and sell) rum. Sometimes the number on a bottle represents the average age of rums blended together, other times it might refer to the oldest rum used in a blend. In the absence of regulations though, some companies are stepping up to the plate and being transparent about their aging process. The Real McCoy is one example, so is Yongehurst Distillerys Harbour Rum, made right here in Toronto, both of which have been received enthusiastically by rum enthusiasts who are tired of the tomfoolery. Its not only the little craft distillers who are trying to distinguish themselves from the misleading rum packagers by clarifying their aging processes Bacardi is releasing two new properly-aged, premium rums, Anejo Cuatro, Gran Reserva Diez (a 4- and a 10-year old, respectively) in Ontario this summer. Both have a clear age statement, and the label on the 10-year-old guarantees the youngest rum in the bottle was distilled and laid to rest in a barrel in 2007. While not all Bacardi products contain added sugar (Superior, for example, is dry), the new releases do have some. I know, because I poured a little out on a plate and let it evaporate; when it did, there was a little residual sugar. The question is: How much? Several categories of spirit allow for a little added sugar (in cognac, its called dosage) to attain consistency usually less than 10 grams per litre. Bacardi says its new releases are less than 10 grams per litre, but other rum companies have interpreted the dosage tradition extremely liberally, an industry problem thats been discovered through Scandinavian liquor boards, such as Alko and Systembolaget, both of which test for sugar levels in spirits and publish them. One Danish navy rum (not available in Ontario) was discovered to have 96 g/L. Per ounce, thats getting close to soda pop levels. Thats an extreme example and Pryor says these problems arise mostly when rum packagers buy cheap, unpalatable alcohol from massive fuel alcohol distilleries located in places like the Philippines, Colombia and Panama, then need to disguise the taste with sugar. As a result, legit distilleries are trying to distance themselves from these practices through transparency and the development of strict production regulations for regional producers (like a DOC in wine). In other words, quality control. One of the most ambitious attempts to tame rums Wild West problem comes from the Caribbean, which has developed the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque, a guarantee that all rums certified by the board are well, the real McCoy. It includes rums from Barbados, St. Lucia and Martinique, three countries that are well-known for strict production guidelines and high-quality, transparent rums like Chairmans Reserve and Rhum Clement. In fact, Ben Jones, the great-nephew of the founder of Martiniques Rhum Clement, is here May 5, for a Spirit of Toronto event, teaching a master class on this very topic. If you cant make the class to learn how to choose the lowest-sugar, legitimately long-aged rum, there are a few tricks that can be used, even when the LCBO is out of Harbour Rum, Chairmans Reserve and Rhum Clement a common occurrence, given the small quantities produced. Consumers can look up the Scandinavian liquor boards and search for a specific brand to see its sugar content Finlands Alko (alko.fi) or Swedens Systembolaget (systembolaget.se). And Johnny Dreger, a rum tester in Denmark, runs a site called Drecon (drecon.dk), with a large list of brands and their sugar levels. Or, you might follow Pryors advice for decoding rum labels. Dismiss any brand thats focusing on silliness, you know, like pirates and cannonballs or sea monsters, he says. Dont buy any rum thats opaque black. You could never put spirit in a barrel and see it turn opaque. Look at what the label is saying in the front of the bottle. Is there a master distiller who is held accountable? Look for a real age statement, not just a number. And, as he points out, given the angels share (the rate of evaporation) in the tropics, which is about twice the rate in Kentucky, think about the price/age ratio. A 20-something-year-old rum would have lost about 80-90 per cent of the liquid, meaning to break even, hed have to charge $300. If you see one for $50, its probably too good to be true. So give that label a closer look. And thats how you can find the real McCoy. Even when the LCBOs out of Real McCoy. There are brightly coloured construction paper hearts plastered on the walls, cubbyholes stuffed with plush animals and toddlers babbling as their parents line up to vote. Instead of candidates and political parties on the ballot there are policy issues like health care, education and immigration, which voters discuss excitedly in Russian, Spanish, Farsi and English before sharing a couple of takeout pizzas. This isnt your typical polling station. Its a Vote Pop-up, a dry run for a real election, which almost none in the room of mostly women at North York Community House on Tuesday are able to participate in because they arent citizens yet. The idea is that when they do become eligible to vote, theyll be familiar with what can be a complicated process for many newcomers and other groups including youth, Indigenous and homeless people, ethnocultural communities and voters with disabilities. Elections Canada has pointed out these groups generally face hurdles at the polls and some participate in elections at lower levels compared to the rest of the population. Its something the Liberal governments recent attempt at democratic reform, a 300-plus-page veritable omnibus bill tabled last Monday, tries to tackle. Among other provisions targeting third-party partisan activity, political ad spending, transparency over how political parties collect and use voters personal information, limiting the length of the campaign, and 12-hour advance polling days, Bill C-76 contains several new and recycled provisions to improve access to the ballot. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the measures should be in place by the next federal election, though acting chief electoral officer Stephane Perrault recently warned any changes applying to 2019 should already be in place. The bill also reverses changes made by the then-Conservative government in 2014, which the Liberals promised to do on the campaign trail. It would allow registered voters to vouch for the identity or address of another voter who doesnt have the requisite ID, make voter identification cards valid forms of ID to vote, and boost the Chief Electoral Officers powers when it comes to voter education and outreach. Tuesdays pop-up, part of Ryerson Universitys Democratic Engagement Exchange program, took place during North York Community Houses Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada class. Irina Usova came to Canada from Russia about a year-and-a-half ago and is learning English to improve her job prospects. She used Googles translate app to scan a photo of the ballot and convert it to Russian. For me, its education, she said. Education handily won Tuesdays vote, with health care a close second as the key election issues for the group. Twenty-four ballots were cast in total, including one spoiled. As she cast her ballot, Usova said she was thinking about her daughter Alina, 17, and son Timur, 7, who attend school in Toronto. We want them to get the best education, Usova later told the Star. My daughter says her thoughts and opinions are important here and that gives her freedom. Beatriz Alas, community engagement co-ordinator at North York Community House, said new citizens can find the electoral process particularly daunting. What we hear is theyre overwhelmed by all the information and by everything the candidates seem to be offering and not being able to discern whats fact from fiction. Its hard to know what the truth is and whats just campaigning, said Alas, who also heads up non-partisan get-out-the-vote efforts in the neighbourhood. Some seasoned voters might commiserate, but it can be even more difficult for recent immigrants who may also be grappling with a language barrier as they try to understand a new electoral system. Some could be from countries where voting is a risk, others may have trouble discerning accurate sources of information or even knowing which mediums you can trust and which ones are just hype. The biggest question that we always get from people is just tell me who to vote for, Alas said. Yasmin Dawood, associate law professor at U of T and Canada Research Chair in democracy, constitutionalism and electoral law, said Bill C-76 is a step in the right direction when it comes to educating the electorate. One of the key values in democracy is transparency knowing what the rules are, understanding what the government is doing so allowing the Chief Electoral Officer to communicate directly with voters is very important, Dawood said. Bill C-76 also gives citizens living abroad for more than five years the right to vote in federal elections again. Long-term expatriates cant vote under rules that were enacted in 1993, but only enforced after 2007. Erik Johnson, who moved to London, England from Calgary in 2004, reads Canadian newspapers every morning and still feels a deep connection to his mother country. He rents out an apartment in Calgary and returns to visit family at least once a year. Im still in my heart a Canadian I dont have the same attachments (to the U.K.), Johnson said. A few years ago, he had trouble getting the Canadian government to recognize his divorce from his partner. Before same-sex marriage was legalized it was classified as civil partnership in Britain, but when the union was dissolved, it was not immediately clear if he was divorced in the eyes of the Canadian government. It was eventually sorted out with the help of Albertas then-minister of justice who wrote Johnson a special letter to bring to court. I was clearly impacted by Canadian law but had a hard time influencing it and I didnt really have an MP who I could go to to plead my case, he said. The bill brings back vouching, where someone who lives in the same riding as you can swear you are who you say you are if you show up at the polling booth on election day without proper ID, such as a drivers licence, passport, health card or birth certificate. It also restores the voter identification card as acceptable ID to vote. Its often homeless people, Indigenous people on reserves elderly people who are in care homes (who) may not have the right identification or residency, said Cara Zwibel of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Cathy Crowe, an advocate for the homeless, said polling locations, identification and education all factor into someones ability to participate in the democratic process. Polling stations are often in residential or business type locations, not in shelters or drop-ins so theyre less accessible, she said. People are in crisis just trying to survive. They are less likely to experience an all-candidates meeting either in person or on TV, or receive candidates literature or a door knock canvas as they dont have a home. Zwibel added the vouching process itself can be onerous. Its cumbersome theres a lot of paperwork, she said. David Lepofsky, a prominent accessibility advocate who is blind, said Bill C-76 is a baby step toward improving access for voters with disabilities. While reimbursing candidates and parties for accessibility efforts such as compensation for having someone translate a stump speech in sign language and expanding at-home and other accommodation mechanisms to voters with all disabilities, not just physical, are good steps, he still sees barriers. They give you a ballot which I cant read. They offered an overlay (sheet) where you can line it up and try to mark it yourself but you dont know if you line it up right or you spoiled your ballot, he said. The alternative is asking a poll worker to help mark the ballot. It means I have to reveal who I voted for and Ill never know if they marked it right and hope they dont tell anyone. He is advocating for more accessible voting technology in all ridings. Lepofsky voted in the last provincial election with a machine that read him the ballot through headphones. After he made his selection, the machine then spat out a printed completed ballot to be counted. People who have trouble using a pen can move a paddle left or right and those with mobility issues can sip and puff on a straw to vote, he said. Should Bill C-76 pass, it would allow 14- to 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote so that by the time they turn 18 theyll be transferred to the permanent register and be all set to cast a ballot. Ontario recently established a provisional register for 16- and 17-year-olds with an eye to increasing youth participation in the electoral process, but a paltry 44 students had signed up as of March. Elections Ontario has since opened up electronic registration, which it said could boost sign-ups. Zalika Morgan, a Grade 10 student at Central Technical School, recently participated in CIVIXs mock student budget consultation. The youth political engagement advocacy group is also running mock elections this month ahead of Ontarios June election. Morgan said she was excited to express her thoughts on the budget. What I liked about participating is having the opportunity to get my voice heard as a teenager to show that teens have a choice to participate in government and political decisions, she said. If I could vote I would because it would be exciting to do research on different candidates to compare their different point of views and what theyre offering to society. Taylor Gunn of CIVIX said pre-registering isnt the cure-all to increasing turnout, and particularly among the youngest voters who traditionally are less likely to get out and vote. I dont know if being on the list is a motivating factor, its more how do you find ways that people can see participating in the democratic process is worth their time, Gunn says. If you want to participate in an election, you will cause yourself to find out where it is. You will tell your mom that youre going to be late for her birthday party because you have to go cast your ballot before the cake arrives. That comes from motivation. Thats not knowing when election day is. John Beebe, who runs the vote pop-up project through Ryersons Democratic Engagement Exchange Program, said sometimes people may feel embarrassed if they dont know how the system works or what the issues are, and therefore, wont ask, or vote. People dont feel like their voice even matters. So its not that its an inconvenient time of day to vote or an inconvenient place or they dont even think all politicians are crooks. They themselves think, my vote is not important, said Beebe. To help get people thinking differently, he suggests community organizations ask pop-up participants to get creative and answer the question why vote? At North York Community House, those answers formed a colourful display on a poster board: Child care is a good thing, one read. We need health care for a good life, said another. In a packed commercial district outside Dhaka, Bangladesh, theres a large, rectangular plot of land overgrown with bushes and weeds amid several tall but decrepit industrial buildings an eerie reminder of a structure thats no longer there. On a visit two years ago, when the plot was just a muddy pond, fish were swimming amid floating scraps of clothing, some with brand labels still attached. Joel Rochon, a Toronto lawyer, spotted some in a familiar orange: Joe Fresh. Rana Plaza, a nine-storey clothing factory and commercial building, collapsed into that space on April 24, 2013. The death toll reached 1,130, alongside 2,500 injured, in one of historys deadliest industrial disasters. A day earlier, cracks had appeared in the structure. Despite warnings from local authorities to keep the building empty, an investigation into the collapse revealed garment workers were ordered to come to work that morning to finish an order of 24,000 pairs of Joe Fresh jeans. The workers were employees of New Wave, the Rana Plaza-based factory from which Loblaw owner of the Joe Fresh brand and one of Canadas largest retailers contracted manufacturing services. The majority of these employees were young women. Joe Fresh orders accounted for 50 per cent of New Waves operations at the time. Rochon, a founding partner of the Toronto law firm Rochon Genova, visited this site in January 2016, with three colleagues. He had decided eight months after the 2013 collapse to take Loblaw to court. The $2-billion proposed class-action suit marks one of the first legal actions in Ontario against a western retailer accused of contributing to deaths and injuries along its supply line. For the plaintiffs, a big part of the case relates to what they see as the inefficacy of Loblaws corporate social responsibility policies the voluntary guidelines that commit the company to make every effort to ensure all its workers are protected. The lawsuit against Loblaw and its auditing firm, Bureau Veritas, was dismissed in Ontario Superior Court last year, but on April 24, the fifth anniversary of the collapse, appeal arguments were heard in Toronto. The Superior Court justice had found there was no direct cause of action that linked Loblaw to the collapse, and thus denied certification. Neither Loblaw, the court found, nor the auditor it hired owed a duty of care to the Bangladeshi workers. Read more from the Stars 2013 series, Clothes On Your Back: I got hired at a Bangladesh sweatshop. Meet my 9-year-old boss Bangladeshs tanneries make the sweatshops look good Why sweatshop owners may start sweating While experts see a ruling against Loblaw as a distant prospect, the case could send a message to all corporations: that they have a duty of care to all members of their manufacturing operations including the workers that make their products in a foreign country that goes beyond being just an act of goodwill. Alternatively, the case could help prove that corporate social responsibility policies are largely meaningless. The lawsuit that seeks to represent almost 4,000 people was launched in 2015, and includes survivors who have suffered debilitating injuries and lost their livelihoods, and family members of those killed in the collapse. Loblaw Companies Ltd. spokesperson Kevin Groh told the Star there is no precedent for legal action in a case like this. No court anywhere in the world has ever imposed liability on a company with respect to a suppliers employees, he said. Rochon believes its time for that to change. In the statement of claim his firm authored, the suit alleges Loblaw and its auditor, Bureau Veritas, breached their duty of care to ensure that the workers manufacturing garments in Rana Plaza worked in a safe and lawfully constructed and operated factory. It alleges Loblaw, having sourced products in Bangladesh since 2007, had acquired an unparalleled and profound understanding of the troubling history of factory collapses and dangerous building conditions in Bangladesh, and failed to abide by applicable standards of care and social and corporate responsibility. None of these allegations have been proven in court. All have been vehemently denied by Loblaw, with Groh stating in an email to the Star they were so broadly false and distorted we had no choice but to defend. Ultimately, the claim suggested we had knowledge we did not have and did things we did not do, Groh said. He said the company was unaware of any issues with the structural integrity of the building before it came down, as it did not own, operate or do anything but order products from a vendor that produced goods in the factory, alongside many other global brands. We are not a manufacturer and dont own or operate factories, Groh said. We purchase from manufacturers who are in some cases factory owners as well. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs contend Loblaw violated its own voluntary corporate social responsibility code, failing to take all the required steps to protect the workers creating its products. Voluntary corporate social responsibility standards have become common among large multinational corporations. Loblaw introduced its code in 2007, committing the company to comply with core workplace standards and to observe local laws. Loblaw, the statement of claim alleges, violated both aspects: by failing to perform a thorough structural audit, despite receiving audits that showed the building lacked a legitimate business licence, and that the factory owners were rapidly adding new floors without proper permits. The Canadian retailer did not have anyone posted in Dhaka at the time of the disaster, Groh said. It was unaware of any issues that would necessitate it to perform a structural audit. No issues were apparent to the company at the time, Groh added, that required halting the order for Joe Fresh jeans due that Friday. The collapse was on the Wednesday. Rochon argues that these red flags should have been heeded. But he, and the legal system, face a difficult question: can an Ontario court hold a Canadian corporation liable for deaths and injuries suffered in a foreign country? In July 2017, Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell dismissed the Rana Plaza lawsuit in a 130-page decision. He argued that while Loblaw may have a moral or ethical duty of care, it certainly is not plain and obvious that a purchaser of goods does or should have a legal duty of care to the employees of a manufacturer of those goods. Perell called the issues extraordinarily complex, but ultimately found that Loblaw had no control over how the two supplier companies it hired to make its clothes operated and was not responsible for the collapse. The lawsuits claim in this regard, Perell said, were bloated with conclusory statements that simply allege a cause of action as if it was a material fact. If any such liability existed, Perell said, it could create an unfair disparity between companies that do good deeds, by creating corporate social responsibility standards, for example, and those that dont. The former would be punished if they failed to act to help its workers, while the latter would not be scrutinized in any way. Perell goes on to say that part of the complexity of the case was figuring out which countrys laws should be applied in examining the tragedy. Because the victims were in Bangladesh, the audits were commissioned there, and the harm happened there, Perell found Bangladeshi law should be applied. Any link made between actions of a company based in Ontario and harms suffered in Bangladesh was artificial, he added. In other words, even though the decisions about which supplier factory to employ to produce jeans, and what kind of monitoring and audits to permit, occurred in Ontario, the decisions wouldnt be punishable under Canadian law if harm resulted in a foreign country. David Doorey, professor of labour law at York University, wasnt surprised by the earlier ruling. Courts are cautious about extending liability to parties that are not directly liable for the act that caused the damage, he said in an email interview. But he was disappointed. The court basically ruled that corporations dont have a legal duty to actually take steps to protect workers in their supply chains, even if they have made public promises to do so. Doorey called the decision a damning indictment of the entire project of voluntary corporate social responsibility. In the aftermath of the collapse, western companies sourcing from the Rana Plaza building claimed there was nothing they could have done, and nothing in their responsibility standards that required them to check if the building was safe for manufacturing. If this doesnt demonstrate the futility of corporate social responsibility, Doorey said, Im not sure what would. A month after the collapse, Loblaw was one of the first signatories to a 2013 landmark agreement to improve workplace standards in clothing factories one that is legally binding. The more than 200 companies and unions that joined the Accord on Building and Fire Safety in Bangladesh a global corporate response to Rana Plaza have inspected and improved 1,600 factories to date, and provided health and safety training to nearly half a million workers. It binds retailers to the independent oversight of the International Labour Organization. The Accord expires in May 2018, but Groh said Loblaw has already signed its successor, the Transition Accord. The company has also put 25 Loblaw representatives on the ground, up from zero in 2013, who visit the factories in Bangladesh and five other countries where its goods are produced. It now publicly lists the names of all factories (as demanded by the Accord) that produce Joe Fresh products as a demonstration of transparency around workplace standards. The retailer has also provided relief and compensation of $5 million (Canadian) for the families of Rana Plaza victims. But for the plaintiffs and their lawyers, these steps come too late. Loblaw had a very extensive Bangladesh operation both prior to and after the Rana Plaza collapse, Rochon said in the interview. When youre engaging these garment workers, you have to ensure they are working in a safe environment. That should go without saying but until Rana Plaza collapsed that wasnt the case. Groh said Loblaw was unaware of the history of structural and factory damage in the country before Rana Plaza. The company has sourced products in Bangladesh since 2007. The country the worlds second largest manufacturer and exporter of garments, after China has an average wage of 24 to 33 cents an hour. The industry there is loosely regulated, and recent years have seen deadly results. In April 2005, the nine-storey Spectrum Sweater factory, just north of Rana Plaza, collapsed, killing 64 people. Ten months later, in February 2006, a fire destroyed a four-storey factory in the port city of Chittagong, killing at least 54. Seven years later, the Rana Plaza collapsed, its death toll on a scale beyond previous accidents. You kind of think about structural issues as something that exists but isnt visible, said Golnaz Nayerahmadi, Rochons associate, who went to Dhaka with him. That is palpable when you go to Bangladesh. The buildings are crooked. When youre looking straight ahead youre not sure if its going to stay upright. In 2011, two years before the disaster, Loblaw retained the giant social auditing company Bureau Veritas to conduct a basic audit of the New Wave factory at Rana Plaza. The audit cost $1,200 (U.S.). The aim was to check if the factory complied with Loblaws supplier code of conduct, included in its corporate social responsibility standards. Although, as both Loblaw and Bureau Veritas said in court, the code did not include any obligation to check if a factory is likely to collapse. In the 2011 audit, 13 major instances of non-compliance were found at the New Wave factory, including a seventh floor under construction without a work permit. In the 2012 audit, four major violations were revealed, including the absence of a factory licence, required under Bangladeshi law. Emergency routes and exits were found to be unmarked in both, and the workers poorly trained in safe workplace practices. Inside, large-scale industrial, diesel-powered generators and hundreds of heavy-duty sewing machines were situated on several floors, which had not been designed to support such machines or with proper permits. When the machines worked at once, workers said, the whole building shook. Neither audit examined the structural integrity of the building, which would have cost $800 more to assess. Justice Perell noted that the remediation of the deficiencies noted in the social audits was not followed up on. Loblaw, according to Perells decision, increased its orders from New Wave. In January 2013, the company terminated its relationship with Bureau Veritas and retained a new auditing firm, which did not visit Rana Plaza before the collapse. Industrial safety specialist Garrett Brown, who worked as a safety consultant in the aftermath of Rana Plaza, was retained by Rochon as an expert voice to speak about this during the lawsuit proceedings. In an affidavit, he said even before the disaster, effective and reasonable audits of garment factories in Bangladesh would have required consideration of the high degree of corruption and structural deficiencies which have resulted in factory building collapses. Brown said the chief causes of such collapses have historically been poor building design, construction and expansion without permits, and the widespread practice of converting buildings intended for commercial use to industrial purposes. Loblaw has tried to change this. We did not conduct structural integrity audits, because this was not the industry practice at the time, Groh told the Star about the Rana Plaza audits. Since 2013, the company has fully audited the 30 factories it currently works with in Bangladesh. The audits included structural integrity. Doorey questions why that wasnt the practice all along. He wrote in an article about the lawsuit that the company paid for a limited social audit rather than a slightly more expensive audit that included a structural assessment of a building constructed on a drained pond in a country known for (flimsy) enforcement of building codes, and then ignored the violations even that limited audit uncovered. At the annual general meeting that year, Loblaws executive chairman, Galen Weston Jr., said this was a senseless tragedy and it should not have happened. He said the company could have done more. Based on what we know, the top floors of the building should never have been built. Reports from the ground suggest that garment workers never should have been allowed back in the building after an evacuation was ordered. And we are asking ourselves, what more should we have done to ensure a safe working environment in this facility? Rana Plaza workers were aware of the hazards of working in the factory. In the statement of claim, Rehana Khatun, who operated a sewing machine in the building and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she and her coworkers had gathered outside the factorys entrance the day of the collapse, fearful of the major cracks that had appeared in the wall. But there was that Joe Fresh jeans order. The production manager from New Wave ordered me to enter the building and resume work, the then-18-year-old said in the claim. Fearing for her job if she objected, she went in, and was found in the rubble many hours later. She lost both legs. She used to be the primary income earner but now struggles to raise a family and pay for her medical treatment. Rochon and his team met Khatun and other injured Rana Plaza workers in January 2016. With the help of Bangladeshi legal-aid workers, they set up a pink tent on the shore of the swamp and watched throngs of people queue to sign up and have their case heard in Toronto. There has never been a class action in Bangladesh, said Obaidul Hoque, a Bengali-speaking former member of Rochons legal team who spent months in Dhaka laying the groundwork for the lawsuit. Over two months, Hoque signed up the nearly 4,000 people. that continue to engage with Loblaw in a legal battle. With the help of Rochon and Nayerahmadi, the Toronto legal team returned with boxes upon boxes of signed consent forms. The vacant, rectangular plot is now a living memorial, where hundreds of people from across the country keep vigil for the lost children, the lost parents. Tea stalls have been set up to serve members of the grieving families who travel there. The industrial buildings around them echo the doomed Rana Plaza: fully built structures which are now seeing additional floors being added on top of them. Theyre hopeful for the possibility of justice, said Hoque, who believes this case will have reverberations in other garment-producing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, where Loblaw and other large retailers also have suppliers. They believe Canada has a system they can trust. Rochon believes a legally binding decision would lead to change. A decision in Canada, that is the western world, is the only case that is in the backyard of these massive retailers where true behaviour modification can occur,he said. Because a judgment here is enforceable here. Groh says the retailer is proud to have made Loblaw a contributing voice in the Rana Plaza response and its unfolding legacy of greater factory safety. York Universitys Doorey remains skeptical that these changes will carry any weight. Sadly, history suggests that once the spotlight fades on tragic events like Rana Plaza, companies will return to complacency. Until the next big disaster. Read more about: THUNDER BAY, Ont.First Nations leaders are calling on a northern Ontario university to rescind the appointment of a provincial judge as interim dean of the institutions law school, saying he sentenced several Indigenous leaders to prison for protecting their lands. The Nishnawbe Aski Nations deputy grand chief calls Justice George Patrick Smiths appointment at Lakehead University an insult. Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox says Smith sentenced Chief Donny Morris and five members of the Kitchenumaykoosib Inninuwug Council to prison in 2008 during the communitys fight to protect their traditional territory from mining activity. Read more: Celebrated Indigenous law school dean resigns claiming systemic racism Smiths appointment comes just weeks after Angelique EagleWoman, the first female Indigenous dean of a Canadian law school, resigned. NAN says EagleWoman cited issues of systemic racism within the university for her departure. A Lakehead spokesperson said in an email that the university would not be commenting immediately on the issue and planned to reach out to Indigenous leaders to discuss the situation. Morris said he questions how Smith can be an expert in Indigenous law when he doesnt understand where we came from. When we look inside our hearts and minds we believe that this is our land, he said Friday in a release. Fox echoed Morriss sentiments, saying he questioned Lakeheads claims of Smiths expertise in Indigenous legal issues. It is an insult for Justice Smith to be appointed to lead an academic institution that prides itself on advancing Indigenous interests, and I call on Lakehead University to immediately rescind this decision, he said. OTTAWAA doctor who worked with the University of Ottawas health services team is facing more than 80 new charges in a sexual assault investigation and police say there may be more alleged victims. Police say 56-year-old Vincent Nadon of Chelsea, Que., is due in court today to face 43 counts of sexual assault and 40 counts of voyeurism related to 40 female complainants. Investigators with the forces Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit say the alleged offences may have taken place as far back as the late 1980s, and up until this year. Nadon was originally charged in January, when he was practising family medicine. The force said it received a complaint from a woman in her 20s who suspected she was being filmed without her consent. Ten additional charges were laid against Nadon in February. University of Ottawa Health Services says it was very disturbed to learn of the new charges against Nadon. Our greatest concern continues to be for the victims, executive director Christopher Fisher said in a statement. The University of Ottawa Health Services would like to inform patients that Dr. Vincent Nadon will not be returning to work with our organization. Read more about: An elevated art installation at Vaughan Rd. and Bathurst St. set to be unveiled this weekend is already raising concerns in the St. Clair West (Cedarvale) community. Named Three Points Where Two Lines Meet, the piece by Toronto art duo Christian Giroux and Daniel Young was commissioned in 2014. According to a press release, the art piece, an elevated structure of triangular shapes made from powder-coated aluminum that will be lit up with LED lights, is meant to animate and enhance the similarly shaped intersection. It was selected from a national competition judged by a panel of Toronto artists. Read more: How to improve Torontos public art Toronto and the dilemma that is public art In a private Facebook group for members of the St. Clair West area, many residents posted comments mocking the installation. And some even had safety concerns that it would obstruct views for drivers. One member wrote, I saw it today for the first time and had no idea it was there ... and nearly rear-ended someone. Total wasteful distraction. Heather Mackay, a resident of the St. Clair West area, said she doesnt mind the art piece, as something was needed to fill the space, but she said it has made it more difficult for drivers to see when heading east on Vaughan Rd. and merging with traffic going southbound on Bathurst St. In the Facebook group, many people commented on the design of the piece, saying its an ugly eyesore and are calling on Councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Pauls West) for answers. UGLY ... Fix the pot holes Joe, one member said. Another member wasnt so forgiving, Joe Mihevc needs to go. Mihevc responded directly in the Facebook group defending the installation and assured it went through the proper safety procedures before being built. I can say that our Transportation Department, the TTC and Toronto Hydro reviewed the plan and signed off as not having any sight line concerns. It was deemed porous enough for sight line purposes. Mihevc told the Star he is hoping people will keep an open mind and feel differently about it in a few years time. Now is not the time to pass judgment, but to invite people to look at it and find a way to have it into the community, Mihevc said. Art sometimes challenges, and the installation makes a statement, thats for sure. He urged residents to keep in mind that the piece is still being constructed. It is set to be finished this weekend, with the official unveiling at 10 a.m. Saturday. It was originally anticipated to be installed by fall of 2015. William Franklyn Leathers was ecstatic earlier this year when he received his acceptance letter to the Juilliard School in New York. It was, as the 17-year-old puts it, a dream come true. But then he was very worried. Turns out studying at one of the most prestigious music and dance schools in the world isnt cheap. The Toronto teen says he is one of only three students admitted into the schools trumpet program this year, which starts in the summer. Tuition for a year clocks in at about $91,000 in Canadian totalling $364,000 for a four-year undergraduate program. So, with some help from family friends, Leathers turned to crowdfunding; hoping to cover the cost of one year and figure out the rest afterwards. By Thursday, his campaign page had collected nearing $80,000. This kind of generosity has been incredible for myself and my family. Were really shocked at the number of people that are giving and its clear they want to see me succeed, he said. Leathers started off as a pianist but later picked up the trumpet, having grown up listening to his father Howard practice and longing to make the same sound. His parents obliged and got him a trumpet as a Christmas gift when he was seven. I just wanted to know all the techniques of the horn, he said, remembering how exciting it was for him to practice with various trumpet teachers throughout the years. He has never looked back. At age 12, Leathers became the youngest trumpet player accepted into the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, the orchestra confirmed. He also made the Halton Mississauga Youth Orchestra. His dream is to become some kind of soloist, a classical trumpet player like his idols in the field: Wynton Marsalis, James Thompson and Christopher Martin, the teacher hes been assigned at Juilliard. But my dad is still the best, because he was the first to impress me, said Leathers. For him, going to Juilliard and succeeding in his career has now become like a responsibility not just because of the community support hes receiving, but also the understanding that there are many kids who cant afford tuition at their dream schools. There are so many people behind me now, there are a lot of kids in high school who look up to me as a player, he said. Having success as a Black man is important to me, and I have to pay it forward. He has decided to keep the fundraising efforts open, and will use 10 per cent of the final amount, plus every dollar he raises in excess of his tuition costs, to create a scholarship foundation to support other young artists. His mother Donna is not surprised with the decision. She tells a story of how, as a four-year-old, Leathers wanted to take yogourt from the family fridge and send it to hungry kids from a charity commercial hed seen on TV. He later urged people to give him money instead of presents, so he could send it to organizations helping disadvantaged people. Thats who he has been his entire life, she said. Im so proud of him. Carving out a career playing the trumpet is not an easy task, said Steven Woomert, one of only four trumpet players in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In comparison, he said there are about 30 violinists at the orchestra. Its very hard to get to a certain level of performance, and the competition is very fierce, said Woomert, who studied trumpet at Northwestern University in Chicago. But I know William, and he has dedicated his life to it. Read more about: At the Canadian Journalism Foundation inaugural World News day, Carol Todd, whose daughter Amanda committed suicide after experiencing online bullying, said she kept a written record of every journalist who called and emailed her. We didnt want to be a family out there that shared our story, she told the audience at CBCs Barbara Frum atrium. In the throes of sadness, I didnt want to do that. Five and a half years after her daughters death was publicly broadcast around the world, Todd is grateful for the power of journalism for continuing the legacy of her daughters efforts to shed light on cyberbullying. Her story began the CJF event, which coincided with the United Nations World Press Freedom Day. The event came days after nine journalists were killed in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, in the deadliest assault on reporters since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. In Toronto, amid talk of fake news and debilitating trust, journalists, and those who told their stories to journalists, celebrated the power of news stories, and the changes they can inspire, in policy, law and the lives of individuals. Toronto Stars work and wealth reporter, Sara Mojtehedzadeh, spoke at the event in a question-and-answer segment with Angel Reyes, a temporary worker and refugee who came forward three years ago to reveal the conditions of temp agencies for the first time. Reyes retold the story for the audience, his voice breaking as he did. He lost his job when he came forward, Mojtehedzadeh told the audience, but doing so pushed the City of Toronto to investigate his workplace, leading to the agency paying its workers $1.33 million in back pay. He represents the type of person whose voice deserves to be heard , Mojtehedzadeh told the Star. Reyes story opened the doors for more coverage on temp agencies in Ontario. In September 2017, the Star published an undercover investigation by Mojtehedzadeh into one of the GTAs largest industrial bakeries where a temp worker died as a result of a workplace accident. The power of journalism, she told the Star, lies in the fact that when people like Reyes speak and we listen, it can generate real change. Toronto Stars Daniel Dale, the keynote speaker at 20th annual world press freedom awards luncheon held in Ottawa, said that journalism matters today because journalists put truth at the forefront of everything we do. There is a consensus, as far as I can tell, that we should simply tune out the nonsense and do our jobs as always, Dale said. Digging, exposing. Not responding. A school bus in Bolton crashed into multiple vehicles and slid into a ravine Friday morning, but everyone involved is safe. Seventeen students and the driver were on the bus at the time of the crash, says Caledon Ontario Provincial police. Caledon OPP said the collision happened just before 8:15 a.m. Friday morning. They also said the school bus was travelling northbound on Humber Lea Rd. between Kingsview Dr. and King St. E. when it started to descend backwards going southbound on Humber Lea Rd. The bus then struck two other vehicles before its back-end slid down the bank of the Humber River. Caledon OPP said they have an inspector examining the bus. The collision took place near Humberview Secondary School, roughly 50 kilometres north of Toronto. 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. Starbucks Canada will close its offices and all company-owned locations for an afternoon next month to provide sensitivity and diversity training. This decision, announced Friday, follows the controversial and unwarranted arrest of two black men at a U.S. Starbucks location in Philadelphia last month. The 23-year-old men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, were arrested by police on April 12 when employees said they were trespassing for not purchasing anything. Nelson and Robinson said they were waiting to meet someone for a business meeting. Andrew Yaffe, the man whom they were waiting for, arrived at the scene and tried to explain the situation to officers. Nelson and Robinson were escorted out in handcuffs. They were released the following day with no charges laid. The company faced widespread scrutiny over its handling of the incident. Starbucks has already ordered more than 8,000 stores in the U.S. closed on May 29 to train nearly 175,000 employees on unconscious bias. According to a press release, Starbucks Canadas president, Michael Conway, notified the companys employees in a letter. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, the letter reads. On Monday June 11, 2018 we will close all our company-operated stores and offices across Canada for a portion of the afternoon, for partners to participate in a training session designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome. With files from The Canadian Press Starbucks plans to close more than 8,000 U.S. stores for several hours next month to conduct racial-bias training for nearly 175,000 workers. This comes after two Black men were arrested in one of its stores in Philadelphia. (The Associated Press) Read more about: An 18-year-old Toronto makeup artist has gone viral after posting his glamorous graduation photo to social media, showing off masterfully contoured cheeks, sculpted eyebrows and painted lips. Kevin Kodras most recent Instagram picture has racked up 20,000 likes and more than 1,000 comments in only three days. Its crazy that my senior photo, the photo that will end my high school career, is being seen across the world, Kodra said in an email to the Star. I truly didnt see that coming. I guess this goes to show that hard work, determination and staying true to your self pays off! Dressed in graduation robes, Kodra is made up with arched eyebrows, highlighted cheeks, shaded contour and a smoky eye. In the photo caption, Kodra wrote that age 17 was a wild year. I made memories that Ill never forget, Kodra added. Thank you to everyone who was by my side every single day. From friends to family and even you guys, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Instagram commenters said that the look was stunningly beautiful and flawless. Others asked Kodra to do their makeup. When I was your age 24 years ago there (would) have been outrage, one Instagram user wrote. Im glad you had the courage and self-(esteem) to be you. You are beautiful! Another wrote that they were still out here trying to master doing a simple eyeshadow look while youre out here finessing all of us. Kodra, who lives in Toronto, wrote in an Instagram story that he got into makeup when he was 14 and looked a mess. His Instagram account, which has 69,100 followers, is a collection of Kodras makeup looks, from eyes rimmed with blue eyeshadow to full, red lips. Jailed Toronto police officer James Forcillo was remanded in custody Friday to May 31 to face charges of perjury, obstruct justice and breaching his bail conditions. Days after the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld his conviction of attempt murder and six-year prison sentence for fatally shooting Sammy Yatim aboard a TTC streetcar, he appeared in 1000 Finch court via video from a segregation holding cell at Toronto South Detention Centre. Wearing an orange jumpsuit and flanked by three correctional officers, Forcillo was grim faced and stared straight ahead. His lawyer, Bryan Badali, said he had no comment. Forcillo had been granted bail pending the appeal decision, but landed behind bars after he was charged with breaching his bail conditions. He was subsequently charged with perjury and attempting to obstruct justice. Those charges relate to Forcillos sworn affidavit seeking to vary his bail conditions. He was charged last November with failing to comply with his recognizance, which carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment. He is still facing three counts of professional misconduct in connection with the shooting of Yatim. He is suspended without pay. Police are searching for a driver seen waving a machete at another vehicle on the Don Valley Parkway near the Gardiner Expressway Friday afternoon. Police said they received a call just before 12:30 p.m. alerting them of the incident. They said they were told the suspect was muttering threats and brandishing the weapon back and forth. The incident may have been connected to road rage, police said on Twitter. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived. Authorities are investigating and speaking to witnesses. Read more about: In response to two female officers recent complaints of a poisoned and sexist work environment, the Toronto police board commissioned a report on the forces current workplace sexual harassment policies, with an eye to determining whether changes should be made. Commissioned unanimously in January, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders was tasked with preparing the report for the April meeting of the civilian police board. But the meeting came and went with no mention of the report, prompting questions from the former board member who called for the report in the name of acting swiftly. Official processes, trial processess and hearings can ramble on for years, said Shelley Carroll, former city counciller and police board member who is now a candidate in the provincial election. While she said she was not hitting the panic button noting its not unusual for Toronto police reports to the board to be a month or two late she stresses that she will be watching for the report to come soon, otherwise that would be a sign that were not prioritizing. I dont want to see the Toronto police board get some sort of damning report, that you have a problem you need to deal with it system-wide, at the end of the legal process, she said. A Toronto police spokesperson said the report is likely to be presented at the June police board meeting, saying the delay was caused by an administrative oversight. Deputy Chief Barbara McLean will be leading the review. Toronto police board chair Andy Pringle was not immediately available for comment. Shelleys request for a report came one month after Toronto police Sgt. Jessica McInnis filed a detailed complaint to Ontarios Human Rights Tribunal alleging sexual harassment and discrimination on the job. That included, McInnis alleges, a barrage of sexually explicit text messages and photos sent from her former police partner, Det. Mark Morris. Morris lawyer has called McInnis allegations false and misleading. None of the allegations have been proven at the tribunal. Toronto police Const. Heather McWilliam has also filed a similar complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal, alleging sexual harrassment by her superior officers. She alleges that during her seven years as a Toronto police officer she heard sexual or sexist comments on every shift. Her hearing before the tribunal is ongoing. Barry Swadron, McInnis lawyer, said he understands that the service has been exceptionally busy, in part due to last months fatal van rampage, but said the report must still be made a priority. Its something that should be sorted out as quickly as possible, Swadron said. In the era of #metoo, youd think, because of the public interest, it would be given priority. Only days after the Panama Papers were made public, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to root out Canadians using offshore havens to evade taxes. More than two years later, the first glimpse of that Canada Revenue Agency crackdown has been revealed through documents filed in a Calgary courthouse. The 40-page information to obtain search warrant made available to the public Wednesday led to Valentines Day raids in Vancouver, Calgary and Richmond Hill. One of those raids took place at 2703 Willoughby Rd. in West Vancouver, a sprawling $4.6-million mansion with a swimming pool overlooking English Bay where Chinese-Canadian businessman Wentao Yang lived with his wife Rong Catherine Lu. CRA investigators allege Yang evaded more than $850,000 in income tax and HST in 2016. No charges have been laid and the CRA allegations have not been proven in a court of law. In response to an interview request Thursday, Yang sent an email statement: As a Canadian and a member of the community, I take these allegations very seriously and intend to address them in the fullness of time. The CRA documents allege Yang committed three offences: acquiescing in the making of false or deceptive statements on his T1 tax form; wilfully evading the payment of taxes in 2016; wilfully evading remittance of GST/HST. The CRA investigation was prompted by the Panama Papers leak of 11.7 million documents from the offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca. A collaboration of hundreds of journalists, working through the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, published thousands of reports revealing the inner workings of the shady world of tax havens, which cost government coffers billions of dollars each year. The case was developed after a review of the (ICIJ) website showed that Wen Tao (sic) Yang owns shares in foreign companies listed on the Panama Papers, wrote CRA investigator Jason Shephard, who prepared the summary of his investigation into the couple. According to the CRA allegations, Yang purchased oil and gas companies in Canada using capital pooled through his investor contacts in China. The CRA zeroed in on the purchase of Calgary-based Long Run Exploration Ltd. by Yangs company Calgary Sinoenergy Oil Investment Corp. Investigators allege that Yang was paid more than $2.6 million in consulting fees that he did not declare on his tax return. As a result, (he) evaded income tax totalling $736,562, wrote Shephard. In addition, Wen Tao Yang failed to report and remit $126,993 in (GST/HST). Yang declared $502,143 in total income in 2016 $314,006 of which was capital gains according to the CRA court filing. Lu claimed $130,435 in total income that year. Besides his West Vancouver mansion, the CRA also raided his $1.13-million house in Calgary and his accountants office in Richmond Hill, seeking banking records, cheques, mortgage documents, contracts and business documents, according to the search warrant request. The CRA also asked to seize computers, hard drives and SIM cards. The ITO makes reference to a year-long investigation that began in January 2017 and involved extensive document searches as well as surveillance of Yang, his wife and their businesses. The document follows hundreds of millions of dollars in international wire transfers between Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands and Canada to isolate the payments to Yang and his wife. The source of these funds was obscured because there were several transfers through foreign bank accounts prior to the funds being deposited to the Canadian bank accounts held by Wen Tao Yang and Rong Catherine Lu, Shephard wrote. Yangs company in the BVI, Sinoenergy Oil Investment, made eight electronic transfers during the month of June 2016 for $305 million to his company in Calgary, Calgary Sinoenergy Oil Investment Corp, the documents allege. The Calgary company then transfered $11.5 million to a Hong Kong bank account controlled by Marquee Financial Services Inc. a Cayman Islands-based company with a defunct website and no other presence which then paid out $2.6 million to Yang and Lu in Canada. The couple owned a house in Markham, which they sold for $1.76 million in 2016. Yang is linked to three offshore corporations in the Panama Papers, all in the British Virgin Islands. His Canadian passport, issued in Calgary in 2006, is included in due diligence documents sent to the Mossack Fonseca office in the BVI in 2010. Yang is also connected to four other BVI companies contained in a 2013 leak to the ICIJ. Another oil company Yang is affiliated with, Sequoia Resources Corp, declared bankruptcy in March with debts of over $21.3 million, according to bankruptcy documents. News reports at the time stated the company owned 2,300 wells, almost 200 facilities and nearly 700 pipeline segments in Alberta, and the bankruptcy might result in almost 4,000 orphaned wells that the government would have to pay to clean up. With files from Emma McIntosh in Calgary Read more about: The union representing Toronto Sun employees is defending the integrity of its members, saying what appears to be an internal memo dictating news coverage of the upcoming Ontario election was never shared with journalists. Unifor Local 87-M, which also represents workers at the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, said the unsigned memo published by Canadaland was not widely distributed. The leaked memo, which was not shared with the newsroom, has now resulted in disparaging public comments about the independence of Toronto Sun journalists, the union said in a statement. Unifor said it rejects any notion the newspapers award-winning multimedia journalists would sacrifice their journalistic integrity based on the newspapers editorial policy. At issue is a three-page document entitled Toronto Sun Provincial Election Plans that was obtained by Canadaland, an independent news website known for its coverage of the media. The memo was described by Canadaland as outlining what appear to be the Suns plans for covering the upcoming provincial election. It promises a focus on exposing the Liberal record during the campaign and advocating for change that addresses the critical need to responsibly address chronic and growing problems in health, education and economy. The Star has not been able to verify the authenticity of the memo. The Sun is owned by Postmedia, whose vice-president of communications, Phyllise Gelfand, did not return phone and email messages seeking comment. While the Suns editorial pages have been unabashedly conservative since its founding in 1971, the memo obtained by Canadaland suggested its news coverage would also lean that way for this springs election campaign. The past 14 years of progressive Liberal policies have undermined Ontarios economy, electricity system and core public services and introduced unprecedented social division, reads the memo under a section entitled Editorial Perspective. Successive Liberal governments have been fiscally reckless, plagued by scandal, self-serving and demonstratively harmed the quality of life for millions of Ontarians. It also included top storylines including health care, hydro, debt, carbon pricing, the minimum wage, and free speech, among others that would reflect badly on the governing Liberals. In response to the Canadaland revelation, the Suns famously feisty reporters and columnists have been asserting their autonomy on social media. Take all the hacks at me you like. Im used to it and Im a columnist, tweeted Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein, imploring his followers to not besmirch the reputation of Sun reporters. Read more about: Like moths to a flame, the best and the brightest in Canadian politics have descended upon Ontario for the upcoming provincial campaign. Strategists familiar to viewers of political panel shows are helping all three major party leaders in their bids to win the June 7 election. Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne has again turned to David Herle, key architect of her surprise majority victory in 2014 and a veteran of former prime minister Paul Martins campaigns, to run her re-election effort. Herle, who made headlines last month by saying that Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is a bit of a dick, is campaign co-director along with Deb Matthews, a former Liberal cabinet minister and one-time party president. Heading up operations is Chad Walsh, one of the partys rising stars, while Michele Cadario like Herle, a former Martin-ite is serving as a senior adviser. Cadario was a top strategist in former B.C. Liberal premier Christy Clarks campaigns. Rebecca MacKenzie, Wynnes executive director of communications, is in charge of campaign communications, while the campaign tour is being run by Mel Wright, who was deputy director of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus successful 2015 election tour. Just as there are prominent federal Liberals aiding the premier, Ford has tapped veterans of former prime minister Stephen Harpers campaigns. Kory Teneycke, who was once Harpers director of communications and one of the federal partys best-known spokesmen, is Fords campaign manager. Teneycke, a one-time staffer in Tory premier Mike Harriss government, was instrumental in Fords stunning March 10 victory in the PC leadership race. He brought in Jenni Byrne, who ran Harpers campaigns in 2011 and 2015, to be director of field operations. Byrne, a former deputy chief of staff to the prime minister, has Fred DeLorey, another prominent federal Conservative, running Fords get-out-the-vote machine. Michael Diamond who, along with Teneycke, was indispensable in the improbable PC leadership triumph is campaign director. Diamond helped run the late Toronto mayor Rob Fords victorious 2010 campaign and is a trusted member of the Ford familys inner circle. The campaign chair is Dean French, another long-time ally, while Melissa Lantsman, a federal Tory who helped Ford rival Caroline Mulroney in the recent leadership contest, is handling the media. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath revamped her entire operation after a disappointing 2014 election campaign. Horwath brought in Michael Balagus, chief of staff to two Manitoba premiers, to right the ship. While Balagus briefly stepped aside earlier this year, amid claims he did not take female staffers concerns seriously about groping by a male Manitoba cabinet minister in 2011, Horwath welcomed him back three weeks later. The NDP deputy director in charge of communications is Erin Morrison, who joined Horwaths office after working for the New Democrats in Saskatchewan for many years. Morrisons counterparts atop the campaign are veterans Karla Webber-Gallagher, the deputy director of field, and Marla DiCandia, the deputy director in charge of operations. Two familiar faces from cable news channel political panels will also be helping out. Brad Lavigne, a mastermind behind the late federal NDP leader Jack Laytons historic 2011 campaign and the author of Building the Orange Wave, is a senior adviser to Horwaths bid. Strategist Kathleen Monk, who was Laytons communications director, is also a senior adviser. Monk and the Liberals Herle were two-thirds of the popular The Insiders panel on CBCs The National for years, along with Conservative strategist Jaime Watt, a Star columnist. Read more about: NORTH HAVEN, Conn.A Connecticut womans call to police to report that she had escaped after being held hostage for several days led to a standoff and explosion in a barn behind her home that left one person dead and nine police officers injured, officials said Thursday. A regional police SWAT team responded to the property Wednesday afternoon after the womans call and encountered a barricaded man. Officers negotiated with him for hours before a building on the property exploded around 8:30 p.m. The nine officers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and the remains of an unidentified person were found on the property, state police Trooper Kelly Grant said at a news conference. Read more: Connecticut standoff ends in explosion, injuring police officers Grant said she couldnt confirm the identity of the body until an autopsy was completed. The woman was not at the home when police arrived Wednesday night, but Grant declined to release her condition, saying it was part of the investigation. The owners of the property, Deborah and John Sayre, were going through a divorce, according to court records. Deborah Sayre filed for divorce on April 18 and checked a box for a line that said the marriage had broken down irretrievably. She did not return a phone message Thursday. John Sayre ran a plumbing business, according to state business records. A sign on the property warned visitors there was danger and to keep out, according to a Google map street view. The woman told authorities she was held against her will for several days, North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda said, citing what police officers told him at the scene Wednesday. North Haven Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said a woman called police to report domestic violence and police tried for hours to coax the man outside. Come out, John, police said into a bullhorn aimed at the house before the explosion. Two of the injured officers were 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. 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. Firefighters on Thursday continued to put out hot spots from the blaze, which also damaged other structures and vehicles. Residents near the home said on the police departments 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. 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. Its a shock. Nothing ever happens like this in North Haven. State police said they had taken over 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. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday a date and place have been set for his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and will be announced soon. We have a date, we have a location, Trump told reporters at the White House on his way to board the Marine One presidential helicopter. Trump didnt reveal either the date or place of the summit. Read more: Calgary Korean community hopeful for united Korea North Korea says it will give up nuclear weapons if U.S. vows not to attack, South Korea says After historic leaders summit, South Koreans wonder: Will there finally be peace? Later, aboard the presidential plane Air Force One, Trump told reporters: I think a lot of good things are going to be happening over the next short period of time, referring to North Korea. But Ill see you over there. Its going to be very exciting. Earlier in the day, he expressed optimism that three Americans held in a North Korean prison would be released soon, telling reporters a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages. As he boarded Air Force One, Trump said the U.S. is doing very well with the hostages. Trump heads into the meeting hoping to reach an agreement for North Korea to denuclearize. Trump has praised Kims rapid steps toward resolving the standoff and expressed optimism about the possibility of making a deal. Trump said the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea is not on the table in the negotiations with North Korea. But, he added I have to tell you at some point into the future, I would like to save the money. You know, we have 32,000 troops there. The meeting would be the first between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president, though former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have travelled to North Korea since leaving office to negotiate the release of prisoners and to discuss potential diplomatic talks. Then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang in 2000 to meet with Kims father, Kim Jong Il, who was the North Korean leader then. Trump said earlier this week that he liked the idea of meeting at the Demilitarized Zone because if things work out, there is a great celebration to be had on the site, not in a third-party country. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met on April 27 at the Peace House in Panmunjom after Kim walked across the military demarcation line. Kim has also held a meeting with Chinas foreign minister. Read more about: Doctors who have been disciplined by American medical boards can saunter back across the border to set up shop and, thanks to Canadas secretive regulatory bodies, their Canadian patients may be none the wiser. And the cases uncovered through an extensive Toronto Star investigation published this week, dont involve doctors disciplined for some other trifle. They include the most egregious offences a doctor can commit: sexual assault of a pregnant patient; selling addictive narcotics; possessing child pornography; and a dozen surgical mishaps that left patients injured, crippled or dead. That provincial regulatory bodies either have all this information, or the ability to get it from their American counterparts, and yet choose not to make it public, is appalling. But sadly, not that surprising. This is just the latest evidence that self-regulation by doctors amounts to hiding their dirty laundry far more often than protecting the public. Many Canadian physicians colleges say their own privacy rules prevent them from releasing information about doctors who have been disciplined. Well, theres an easy fix for that. Change the rules so information about doctors that should be made public, is made public. That includes who has been disciplined, wherever it may have been, and clear explanations about why. But the bigger question is why arent these regulatory bodies doing more to revoke the licences of doctors in these terrible cases? Last year, a court lambasted the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for handing out a litany of clearly unfit penalties for doctors who sexually abuse patients. And now this latest Star investigation has revealed an even wider swath of inexcusable behaviour. Patients deserve far better from these regulatory bodies. Even their own mandate demands better of them. According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario this system of medical regulation is based on the premise that the College must act first and foremost in the interest of the public. And yet, Dr. Martin Tesher is a doctor in good standing in Ontario. Hes the Montreal-born doctor who has twice been disciplined in New York for inappropriately prescribing dangerous narcotics, and is currently before the courts there on charges related to the death of an addict from the oxycodone and fentanyl patches he prescribed. And Dr. Stefan Konasiewicz is working in Toronto, Newmarket, Hamilton and Richmond Hill with a spotless public record despite being sanctioned in three American states for serious surgical mishaps. Ontarios regulatory body is far from the only one that is failing patients. Quebec allows Dr. Jacques Lemire to work without telling anyone that California revoked his licence for possessing child pornography when he was a childrens kidney specialist. And British Columbia allowed Saskatchewan-trained Dr. Gary McCallum to keep his licence despite Washington state finding him guilty of extensive charges, including the sexual assault of a pregnant patient as long as he didnt work in B.C. These sorts of quiet deals are what let doctors get in trouble in one jurisdiction and essentially wipe their record clean by moving to another one. The Catholic Church caused untold suffering when it quietly moved priests who abused children to new communities where they could start all over again. Have we learned nothing? Once again, doctors have shown they cant be relied on to properly regulate their own profession. Its time for the provinces to force the matter through legislation that more clearly defines what it really means to regulate the practice of medicine in the public interest. DNA has many uses, some malign, some medically worthy. But theres a particularly splendid case. It led to the arrest of Californias suspected Golden State Killer last week after a manhunt that spanned decades. Joseph James DeAngelo, the 72-year-old ex-cop alleged to have sadistically killed at least 12 men and women, raped at least 100 girls and women and burglarized up to 130 homes for rape practice and research, had largely been forgotten. California has many monsters. If the killers crimes began around 1976 and his last murder was indeed in 1986 when he bludgeoned Janelle Cruzs head so ferociously that her teeth landed in her hair he stopped for a reason. Some assume he aged out but, as we learn from the Charlie Roses and Bill Cosbys of this world, humans keep doing the things they enjoy. Everyone has a hobby. The Golden State Killer liked to sneak into couples bedrooms, blind them with flashlights, make the woman blindfold and tie up the man, place dishes on the mans back and say if they rattled, hed kill both of them. He would tell a raped woman not to move. An hour would pass. Shed think he was gone, try to escape, and suddenly the knife was at her throat again. Paul Bernardo began his career doing this to his rape victims in Scarborough. Sacramento women were raped while their husbands listened helplessly in another room, while toddlers played beside the bed. At a public meeting about the rapes, a local man blamed men for not fighting back as their wives were raped, as a good husband would do. A week later, he and his wife were attacked. The police believe the killer attended the meeting and chose his victims there. He chose to kill very beautiful women, the kind that online violent involuntarily celibate losers are said to claim as their due, most recently in Toronto. He left entire cities throughout California paralyzed with fear for years. But one investigator believes that in the 80s, the killer realized the world was changing. DNA profiling had been invented and was fast improving, along with geographic profiling (led by Canadas Kim Rossmo). Cold cases were being reopened, this time with hope. A dancer at the strip club DeAngelo frequently visited said he told her recently, They'll never get my DNA. He said his sister had taken one of those tests. He got all sweaty and stuttery. A DNA match ties a former police officer to some of the crimes committed by a California serial killer behind at least 12 homicides and 45 rapes throughout the state in the 1970s and '80s, police officials announced April 25. (The Associated Press) DeAngelo worked as a cop during the era of the Visalia Ransacker, a long chain of weird break-ins. Like Canadas serial killer/rapist/fetishist Col. Russell Williams, the GSK stole females underwear and posed it about the house, always knew where the lubricant was (he preferred Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion), left sinister messages, and was adept at entry and escape. In 1979, DeAngelo was fired for having shoplifted dog repellent and a hammer, of all things. The cops had wondered how the DSK managed to keep dogs away as he crawled around womens lawns and fences. Stories like these are woven into womens lives. We take precautions, install deadbolts, blinds and motion sensor lights, bring flats to run in, watch our drinks, are cautious about repairmen. Its a fire safety drill, but only for women. Many men know nothing of this because they dont have to. Police use of DNA has been a particular gift to female victims of crime. Previously, a rapist would wear gloves. Now that might not help. Before DNA, the only physical information the police had on the GSK was his height, his habits, his Robert Durst-like muttering, and, something the victims agreed on, a notably small penis. It was short and narrow. The American media reaction last week was all about publicly posted DNA on open sites being used by the police to arrest DeAngelo. How they fretted. Was this not Dystopian, intrusive, a case of police overreach that would lead to mass DNA mapping, like Chinas fiendishly good facial recognition technology? Perhaps, perhaps not. Gizmodo reports that the police mainly used GEDmatch, an open source site that anyone can use, generally to research family histories. They also got a subpoena for Family Tree DNA to give up a name for DNA found on ysearch. I say this is a fair use of DNA. The media reaction showed that victims dont rate. Theyre old news. Tech is fun, digital privacy is the story of the moment that was the tenor of the coverage of DeAngelo, alleged suburban monster and father of three daughters. Think of journalist Michelle McNamara, whose 2018 book, Ill Be Gone in the Dark, kept the hunt for the killer in the public eye. She died before publishing it, having wrecked her own health with overwork. Americans who were not raped by this man might well wish to help the police assist those who were. If you gave away your privacy to Facebook for fun, you might find this a more noble cause. Only DNA could have found him. Studied accurately, it protects everyone except people like the Golden State Killer, who in 2001 phoned a 1977 victim and whispered, Remember when we played? Heather Mallick is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @HeatherMallick If Nero fiddled while Rome burned, we seem to be living through a full-blown, modern-day, ear-splitting orchestral re-enactment of that event. Donald Trump is increasingly obsessing over his twin dramas of Stormy Daniels and Robert Mueller while blithely ignoring the grave global dangers of what is about to happen. This means we are about to learn the real-world costs of Washingtons distracting noise and nonsense. If Trump meets his self-imposed deadline next week by pulling the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear agreement, he runs the risk of lighting the Middle East on fire as well as sabotaging any prospect for a North Korean breakthrough. This Nero business may have been fake news after all, the fiddle didnt exist in ancient Rome but there is nothing fake about the three likely consequences of any collapse of the Iran nuclear deal. One, Iran will slide even further into the hands of its hardliners. Two, Israel and Iran will be pushed much closer to direct war. And three, it will make it unimaginable that North Korea will want to do a deal with a country that so readily rips up its own commitments. Read more: Iran will not renegotiate or add onto the nuclear deal, foreign minister says Israel reveals tens of thousands of documents that they say prove Iran lied about missile programs Iran nuclear deal should stay, EU foreign policy chief says After several years of negotiations, the Iran nuclear agreement was struck in 2015 by Iran and five permanent members of the UN Security Council the U.S., United Kingdom, France, China and Russia as well as Germany. In exchange for the lifting of sanctions against Iran, the deal drastically limited the size of Irans peaceful nuclear program to ensure that Iran never even comes close to possessing a nuclear weapon. At the urging of Israel, Saudi Arabia and conservative Republicans in the U.S., Trump has consistently called the deal, which was negotiated by predecessor Barack Obama, as the worst ever and has said the U.S. will withdraw from the deal by May 12 the next deadline for waiving sanctions. In response, Americas European allies, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, have acknowledged that the Iran deal is an overly limited agreement. But instead of entirely scrapping it without a Plan B, as Macron put it which he said would be insane Europe wants Trump to accept the deal and work with them to negotiate additional provisions. Ironically, Iran has been in compliance with the agreement according to international inspectors while the U.S. itself hasnt been. Under Trump in particular, the U.S. has blocked Iran from seeing the economic benefits from sanctions relief that were promised in the agreement. In recent weeks, tensions in the Middle East have risen dramatically. Significantly, hardliners in Iran have applauded the efforts of Trump and Israel to kill the nuclear deal, because if that happens they will inevitably gain in power over the government of moderate president Hassan Rouhani. Meanwhile, the hardliners in nuclear-armed Israel led by its right-wing president, Benjamin Netanyahu appear to be preparing for the inevitability of direct military conflict with Iran. In addition, what looms over the Iran debate is the nuclear impasse with North Korea. Although there is no certainty this will happen, Trump says he will meet with North Koreas Kim Jong Un in a high-stakes summit possibly in June. The U.S. may actually be seeking from North Korea a deal roughly similar in nature to the one worked out with Iran, except for one key difference: Iran has never acquired nuclear weapons before, whereas North Korea has dozens. So the risks are much higher for North Korea. In 1994, North Korea made a nuclear deal with the U.S. administration of President Bill Clinton, but it was broken shortly afterward when the newly elected Republican Congress took over. Given Trumps apparent determination to follow suit and scrap the current Iran agreement, why would the U.S. expect North Korea to go down this road once again? Tony Burman is former head of Al Jazeera English and CBC News. Reach him @TonyBurman or at tony.burman@gmail.com. Read more about: What do caricature art and laneway housing have in common? Both can be cute. Neither is likely to be the solution to any grand-scale problem. Both seem like fine and good things to have around. And both have been so severely, absurdly overregulated by Torontos city council that they have been virtually illegal to create on the streets of Toronto. That was supposed to change, in both cases, starting this week. In the case of laneway housing, however, our elected officials look like theyre gonna council the whole thing up. Faced with a new policy that would set rules for homeowners to relatively easily build rental units on laneways on their property, Toronto and East York Community Council sent it back for more study. It was almost a caricature of their micromanaging and overregulating impulses. The same impulses that led them to create rules requiring any artist who wants to sell drawings in the street to carry $2 million in liability insurance and pay $468 per year for permits and stay in one of 26 designated zones. As if drawing people with exaggerated noses and chins was a hazard to be contained and requiring forbidding barriers to entry. As reported by the Star earlier this week, this has resulted in there being exactly zero artists carrying such permits or working on the streets of Toronto. So on May 4, the licensing committee was considering a motion to eliminate most of those barriers to again encourage the broad-strokes satirical arts to take to the sidewalks. Youd have thought the visibility of that agenda item coming up might have served as a bit of a cautionary note to those considering the laneway item on May 2. The Changing Lanes report from the citys planning department proposed to allow construction of laneway unit secondary suites available for use by homeowners or for rent. They would not be severable as separate properties like basement apartments they would be attached legally and in the provision of services and utilities to the existing homes. Specific design guidelines dictate height, distance from the lane, angles of rooflines, window and balcony placement, and so on. The idea is that given these rules developed over a year of study and consultation people could go ahead and replace their garage with a rental home as of right. That is, they would be able to do it with a simple building permit, rather than needing to go through the traditional complicated and expensive bureaucratic development process. This is good stuff. Everyone said so. Even those councillors who clearly thought that this stuff might be too good. This is the tradition on city council. When you are in the process of tossing a great idea into a deep hole and shovelling dirt onto it, you typically do so while making a speech about how you came to praise the idea, not to bury it. And so it was with Councillor Joe Mihevc, who said hed move his own aged parents into a laneway house while he moved a big motion delaying any plan until staff could reconsider and do more study and perhaps only perhaps, you understand! make it a lot more complicated. He was joined by most of the rest of councils downtown left-wing, who typically fancy themselves city builders. They wonder why this proposal to do one thing cannot also simultaneously solve every other problem in the city. And they also wonder about ensuring it doesnt actually result in any change of any kind to their neighbourhoods. So they want to see about requiring anyone who builds one of these homes to offer it permanently at below-market rent, so as to ensure it is available to the poor. They want to see about requiring more stringent rules for these landlords than exist for other landlords, so as to protect tenants. They want to see about maybe making these builders go through the traditional zoning and committee of adjustment processes, so as to defeat the entire purpose of the plan. Councillor Mary Fragedakis even complained about the possible loss of minimum parking space requirements. And then, dear reader, my head exploded. In the end, only Ana Bailao, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Gord Perks, and Lucy Troisi resisted the calls to radically de-simplify the simplification plan. They lost. Better to go a little stricter at the beginning and loosen up later, said Mihevc. He said this in a city that has, over the past decade, made a complicated administrative nightmare or a controversial clownshow out of virtually every single thing it has said it wants to encourage. He said this in a city where, on Friday, a committee was reckoning with the fact that they made street caricature art extinct through the application of their brand of good-intentioned encouragement. At least councillors managed not to botch that up approving the liberation of caricature rules without debate. These downtown council progressives claim they will revisit and approve laneway housing guidelines before the end of this term. They love it, they say! Lets watch and see if they can, for once, manage not to love it to death. Justice should be blind. It should also not be opaque. In the case of the ousting of Saskatchewan MP Erin Weir from the NDP caucus on Thursday, neither of those fundamental principles was respected. But first, a recap. Earlier this year, allegations of misconduct were levelled at Weir. Those allegations were initially based on hearsay. Still, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh took them seriously enough to appoint an independent investigator. The investigation did bring to light instances of bad behaviour, albeit on a scale that falls short of what would normally constitute a firing offence. Or at least that is what the NDP leadership thought upon being apprised of the findings. In Singhs own words, the investigation found that Mr. Weir failed to read non-verbal cues in social settings and that his behaviour resulted in significant negative impacts to the complainants. Weir claims he is labelled a sexual harasser because, in the words of a statement from his office, he had probably sat or stood too close to people at social events and engaged them in conversation more than they wished to speak with him. The MP may be misrepresenting the findings but, if that is the case, the NDP is declining to set the record straight. For instance, the party has not attempted to provide a scope for the word significant as it applies to the negative impacts that have been endured by the complainants. Taken strictly at face value, the words used by Singh to describe Weirs purported transgressions could apply to any MP who has ever been guilty of cornering a person at a Parliament Hill function in the hope of either scoring a date or just a few political points. That would make for a pretty long list. Both parties do agree that Weir never broke the rule that no means no. He backed off as of the moment it was made clear that his advances were unwelcome. Singh said he was not ousting Weir from the NDP caucus based on the findings but rather because he questioned one of the complaints in the media. That, according to the NDP leader, showed the MP was not willing to take responsibility for his actions. Earlier this week, Weir suggested one complaint against him resulted from a run-in he had with a member of former leader Thomas Mulcairs staff at the 2016 NDP Saskatchewan convention. He says she was trying to prevent him from raising questions about the impact of a federal carbon tax. The harassment charge, he argues, is payback for that policy disagreement. He adds that he only responded to the allegation after it surfaced in a CBC report and became part of the public record. Weir is an MP from a province where opposition to a carbon tax is mainstream. He is by all indications not a big fan of the measure in a party whose policy is to support it. But thats hardly an uncommon situation. There are Liberal MPs who more or less privately wish the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion would never see the light of day. There are also carbon tax advocates within the anti-carbon pricing Conservative caucus. Weirs voting record in the House of Commons does not reflect active dissent from the partys pro-carbon pricing policy. That stands in contrast with some of his former NDP colleagues. Last March, veteran Ontario MP David Christopherson broke ranks to vote with the Conservatives against the governments requirement that organizations seeking funding from the federal summer jobs program attest they respect abortion rights. A few months before that, Quebec MP Romeo Saganash argued against the partys policy of advocating that Supreme Court justices be able to hear arguments in both official languages on the grounds that it made it more difficult for Indigenous jurists to be appointed to the top court. Both Saganash and Christopherson are still in prominent caucus positions. Nor is the public airing of dirty NDP laundry always a punishable offence. Just last month, Singhs former leadership rival, Charlie Angus, with support from Saganash, questioned the leaders decision to punish Christopherson for having bucked the party line on the summer jobs program attestation The sanction against Christopherson was promptly removed, and none was imposed on Angus or Saganash for bringing the disagreement in the public domain. Anyone seeking guidance in his or her future interactions with others on and around Parliament Hill will inevitably come away from the Weir episode with more questions than answers. One of those questions is whether Singh would have treated a more popular, more influential MP in the way he has treated Weir. Recent events suggest that not necessarily is the answer. Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Read more about: VANCOUVERThe flood risk in B.C. has increased since the beginning of April as the snowpack at higher elevations continued to grow in some regions over the last month. David Campbell, the head of the provinces River Forecast Centre, said more detail on that risk will be available Monday with the release of the May snow survey. In the meantime, evacuation orders and alerts have been issued in several regions, including along the Upper Nazko, which affected 74 properties. There was exceptionally hot weather across the interior last week which kick-started the flood season, Campbell said, noting temperatures in some regions were 10 C higher than normal. That led to rapid snow melt at the mid-elevations, between 1,000 m and 1,500 m. Almost half of that snow pack melted in the last seven to 10 days in some regions, he said during a flood risk update. Now, some of the highest elevation snowpack is also starting to melt. It really is, I would say, a significant flood risk across the province, including southern half of the province where we have exceptionally high snowpacks, Campbell said. Areas at risk include the Upper Fraser, the Cariboo, Central Interior, Nicola Basin, Okanagan, Boundary, Similkameen and Kootenays. Sarah Simon, a government flood safety engineer in the Thompson Okanagan region, said the water level in Nicola Lake, just northeast of Merritt, B.C. has risen about half a metre over the last week as snow melted rapidly at the lower elevations. But its too early to say if the dam reservoir will flood like last year, she said, noting they have increased the outflow and are working with the City of Merritt to ensure thats not causing issues downstream. The B.C. government released an advisory Thursday warning people up and downstream from the Nicola Lake dam to prepare for high water levels. Further east, Shawn Reimer, from Public Safety and Protection for the Thompson Okanagan region, said the risk in some of the Okanagans slightly bigger rivers will depend on how the high elevation snowpack melts. The problems occur when it all comes down at once, he explained. Campbell did say, though, that he is cautiously optimistic that the areas which have seen the most severe flooding this spring may be levelling off with slightly cooler weather. However, its too early to call the situation stable, as warmer weather next week could nudge water levels higher. Ainslie Cruickshank is a Vancouver-based reporter covering the environment. Follow her on Twitter: @ainscruickshank Read more about: VANCOUVER Vancouvers oldest left wing party supported a rally hosted by anti-poverty advocate Jean Swanson on Thursday at city hall to launch what theyre calling the peoples platform. The City We Need platform is based on the policies put forward by Jean Swanson, an anti-poverty activist who ran for council seat in the 2017 by-election but was not successful. Anne Roberts is seeking nomination for COPE this year. She previously served on city council from 2002 to 2005. The party currently holds no seats on city council. The groups goal is to put policy before individual politicians running in the election, both Roberts and Swanson said. This platform is about getting other parties and candidates to take these issues seriously, Swanson explained in her speech. The only way to make change is by pressuring all levels of government to make a plan. And fight like hell to make it happen. The platform calls for a four-year rent freeze, building 2,138 temporary modular homes to end homelessness, free transit, universal child care, free city-wide Wi-Fi, protection of arts spaces and a mansion tax. The latter would put a one per cent tax on homes worth more than $5 million and a two per cent tax on homes worth more than $10 million, which Swanson argued would generate roughly $1-billion in revenue over four years to end homelessness, fund public housing and start restoring Indigenous land. In addition, a public housing authority is desperately needed, Roberts said. Vancouver has an enormous amount of public land, she said. We could be building housing for people, not standing back and saying developers go ahead. The platform is modelled after a campaign in Barcelona called Fearless Cities, which got more than 30,000 citizens to sign a petition ensuring the politicians came from movements and are answerable to them, Swanson said. But the Vancouver petition which Swanson plans to take to every neighbourhood is aiming for only 10,000 signatures, she added. Roberts said there is a sense of urgency for change in the city. Its about the craziest election year Ive seen, she said. For every person we get on council, they will be committed to building a movement. Its bigger than Swansons campaign, she added. Read more: Adriane Carr, still undecided, rises in poll for Vancouver mayoral candidates Concerns over angry wealthy homeowners prompts Vancouver MLA to cancel town hall On Tuesday, the COPE executive released a proposed plan for the left to win control of council without supporting Mayor Gregor Robertsons centre-left Vision party. They called for two COPE, two Green, two OneCity and an independent (Swanson) for council candidates. Meanwhile, Green Party Councillor Adriane Carr has been seeking support from both the centre-left and left-wing parties as a unity mayoral candidate, in an attempt to prevent splitting the left which would give the centre-right Non-Partisan Association a chance to win a majority on council. But Carr has not decided whether she will run for mayor, and Swanson has not decided if she will run either. Clarification - May 7, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version to make clear that anti-poverty advocate Jean Swanson held the rally to launch the platform backed by COPE. Melanie Green is a Vancouver-based reporter covering food culture and policy. Follow her on Twitter: @mdgmedia Read more about: VANCOUVERPolice forces in British Columbia are keeping an eye on costs as the effects of a Supreme Court of Canada decision setting strict timelines for how long prosecutors have to wrap up criminal trials cascade through the justice system. The R. v. Jordan decision in 2016 resulted in the Supreme Court of Canada setting 18-month delay deadlines for criminal trials in provincial courts, and 30 months for criminal cases tried in superior courts, such as the B.C. Supreme Court. After the deadline is passed, charges against the accused may be stayed, regardless of the seriousness of the offence and the amount of time police and prosecutors have already spent. If theyre in custody, its a long time to sit on ice waiting for your day in court, said Richmond criminal defence lawyer Jason Tarnow. These delays could have been caused by factors such as vacations scheduled at the same time as trial or procedural missteps due to no fault of the accused. According to Dan McLaughlin with the BC Prosecution Service, a big part of meeting the deadline involves making sure police have completed and presented the vast majority of their evidence documents prior to approving a criminal charge. Then, the clock starts to tick. Police departments in the province contacted by StarMetro said they are now watching their costs. Delta Police Department conducted a review of their cases due to concerns about the increased workload. One major file alone, involving a single arrest, resulted in an extra $2,484 in overtime to meet the new deadlines. The costs primarily came from having to transcribe video and audio files for Crown prosecutors much faster than before. This is definitely an issue that our department believes will have significant financial implications, said Cris Leykauf, spokesperson for the force. The Vancouver Police Department said its officers must now front-load investigations so that not only interview transcripts but other evidence, such as forensic lab results, are included in the first package of information sent to prosecutors. The VPD doesnt have a cost assessment yet, but expects that this means more work for support staff, including crime analysts, assistants, transcribers and forensic workers. The B.C. RCMP, meanwhile, said the court decision has meant a new normal for day-to-day policing. Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau said the forces major crimes unit has had a 90 per cent increase in workload from 2014 to 2017, and that the Jordan decision will only increase that weight. For example, gang and organized crime investigations are often extremely complex and take a tremendous amount of resources to investigate and prosecute, she said. Both West Vancouver Police and Abbotsford Police say they are monitoring costs, but have yet to feel a financial impact from the Supreme Court of Canada decision. For the accused, police moving faster to provide evidence documents could help them determine how strong the prosecutions case is, and decide earlier how they should plea, Tarnow said. The plea determines whether or not the case goes to trial. Often, he said, an accused person would sit waiting for the results of laboratory tests for DNA, as an example to assess the strength of the prosecutions evidence. This wait could take months. So lets say its not til six months until these important pieces of evidence has been disclosed, Tarnow said. By that time, six months ... has already ticked away. Read more about: VANCOUVERThe City of Vancouver has chosen several non-profit housing societies to develop seven sites of city-owned land into 1,000 units of affordable housing for Vancouvers working class. The seven sites, which are spread across the city and total $130 million in value, will be a mix of affordable rental buildings, managed by several non-profit housing societies, as well as two new housing co-operatives in the Fraserview neighbourhood. That number falls short of the 1,350 plus units the city promised nearly one year ago when Mayor Gregor Robertson announced the opening of the bid process for the land parcels. Thats because one of the sites identified one year ago is part of a large plot of land that doesnt have infrastructure such as roads yet and is therefore not ready for development, according to city spokesperson Ellie Lambert. The new units could house as many as 2,000 residents and are targeted to single people who make less than $30,000 a year, and couples and families who make less than $80,000 a year, Robertson said at a Friday press conference. The planned 140 additional housing co-operative apartments will be priced under a slightly different formula, one the city is now applying to existing co-operatives throughout the city. People who want to move in to those units will only be eligible if their monthly income does not exceed five times the market rent for that neighbourhood, said Thom Armstrong, executive director of the Co-op Housing Federation of BC. The cap on incomes will only apply when people are moving in to the new co-op units. The plan is to build out all seven sites at once, work that will be coordinated by the Community Land Trust, a new agency being run by the Co-op Housing Federation of BC. There were 37 bids in total, said Luke Harrison, CEO of the Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency. Harrison said the Community Land Trust was chosen because the land-trust model will ensure the housing will remain affordable. Land trusts are an effective way of separating the ownership of land, and in the case of Vancouver, the rapidly-rising values of land, from the cost of building and maintaining a home, he said. Armstrong said new financing models have recently emerged to fund non-profit housing developments, similar to the way pension plans provide financing to infrastructure projects. The Community Land Trust plans to use that type of financing to build out the 1,000 new units. Because the non-profit operators do not have to pay for the land, it makes it possible to offer lower rent rates, Armstrong said. Itll be a wide spectrum of everybody that will come in, said Tiffany Duzita, director of development at the Community Land Trust. From people on shelter rates to the average, working-class here in Vancouver and providing a diverse mixture to young families just starting out, larger families who want to stay in their communities, and also seniors. The plan is part of a wholesale review of city housing policies intended to respond to an ongoing housing crisis, which has pushed many working Vancouverites to leave the city as both homeownership and rental housing climbed out of reach. Read more about: EAST ALTON Three students from East Alton Middle gear up to take part in the annual Students for the Information Age TECH 2018 event, among hundreds of others from across the state. The event will be held on Thursday, May 10 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and from 1-3 p.m. at the Illinois State Capitol Building in Springfield where students and teachers will represent various Illinois schools. At the event, students will show the public and members of the Illinois State Senate and House of Representatives how technology is being used in the classroom to increase student engagement and improve achievement. Taking part in the demonstrations are East Alton Middle School eighth-graders Ronald Myers, Riley Randolph, and Adrianna Ulrich. These students will be presenting about District #13 News, which is a student created and produced news program broadcast throughout the district and with internet capabilities for families and community members to view. This news broadcast shares events going on around the district, breakfast and lunch menus, Public Service Announcements on topics important to the students, spotlights on people in the district and other exciting information the student producers decide to share. The students are sponsored by Mrs. Alyssa Smith, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the East Alton Elementary District #13. From elementary to the high school classrooms, TECH 2018 highlights the crucial role that technology plays in education ranging from increases in collaboration and critical thinking, to promoting learning beyond the limits of the school day by creating a space for students to share their learning and innovative uses of devices, the internet, and digital curriculum. The purpose of TECH 2018 is to raise awareness of the critical role technology plays in preparing students to succeed in todays world, and to show the need for increased funding for classroom technology. Students will demonstrate for lawmakers and the public the creative ways technology is being used to enhance and accelerate student achievement in Illinois schools today. According to TECH 2018 Co-Chairs: Personal devices, the internet, and digital content are the enabling tools of the modern learning environment, expanding the boundaries of the classroom while promising to transform all aspects of learning: teachers, students, and parents are provided access to tools and resources that promote accountability, communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking; digital resources and curriculum offer dynamic, engaging, and affordable content to enhance or even replace traditional print-based resources; and blended and flipped classrooms extend the classroom beyond the limits of the school day, promoting increased student-centered and self-directed learning opportunities that put educational resources directly into the hands of students. TECH 2018 is a not-for-profit initiative presented by Illinois Computing Educators (ICE), and is supported by a broad range of education and business organizations. Corporate Platinum Plus partners are CDW-G and Comcast Business. EDWARDSVILLE A St. Clair County judge has thrown out a plan by the Metro East Sanitary District to create a special service taxing district within its boundaries. This comes as Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons announced Friday morning that he had filed a similar lawsuit against the MESD. After Gibbons announced the filing of the suit and issued a press release. St. Clair County Associate Judge Julie Katz issued an order voiding the ordinance creating the special service district. On April 30 Gibbons filed a lawsuit to terminate the new taxing district, which would cause an approximately 66 percent tax increase for more than 13,000 individuals and businesses in Madison and St. Clair counties, with most of the parcels located in St. Clair County. Gibbons discussed the suit Friday at the Madison County Boards Judiciary Committee meeting. According to the suit, in December MESD officials filed paperwork with the Madison County Circuit Clerks Office to create a special service district, primarily encompassing Madison, Venice and areas south in to East St. Louis. The agency filed similar paperwork in St. Clair County. The new tax would have added add 92 cents per $100 assessed value to the current $1.40 per $100 rate. Gibbons suit claimed that the MESD misrepresented itself as a municipality to create the district, which was cited by Katz as the reason for voiding the special service area. On Friday Gibbons said the Illinois Constitution specifies that those types of special service districts can only be created by counties or municipalities, and municipalities are by law cities, villages or incorporated towns. This is an illegal layer of government, Gibbons said. Its pretty extraordinary; Ive never seen anything like it. The issue came up in Madison County after County Clerk Debra Ming-Mendoza brought it to his attention. Ming-Mendoza and MESD Executive Director Steve Adler are both vying for the Madison County Clerks position in the November elections. Board Member Gussie Glasper, D-Madison, who represents part of the area affected by the taxing district, said it concerned her that the tax increase impacted predominately black neighborhoods. Ive been bombarded with questions from my constituents, she said. Gibbons also noted that legal notices were published in a Missouri newspaper at a cost of $39,600. Gibbons noted the filing of the St. Clair County lawsuit, and that it could have a significant impact on Madison Countys suit. Later that day Katz issued her ruling. In an emailed response, Gibbons said he was pleased with the ruling. Clearly, the Court recognized the strength of the legal arguments against this illegal taxing district and their unlawful attempt to impose a 66 percent tax increase on the thousands of families and businesses targeted by MESD, he said. We will be filing a copy of the St. Clair County Judgment with our court asking Circuit Judge David Dugan to recognize and accept the judgment for our case. MESD Executive Director Steve Adler said the plan had originally been developed under the MESDs previous administration and board, and was a way to deal with financial shortfalls within the Landsdowne System in St. Clair County. He said users in that area pay fees for service but the money does not cover the cost, which is borne by the rest of the MESD. In fact, Landsdowne has lost more than $4 million since 2000, and $680,000 last year, he said in a written reply to questions about the suit. MESD has shouldered the entire loss. He said the special service area would have included 143 parcels in Madison County, and 9,682 in St. Clair County. If approved, it would have brought in about $309,000, which would have gone toward securing a forgivable loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to line sewers in the area. Without that work, Adler said it would cost three to four times as much to replace the sewer lines if they fail. Its unfortunate because we had an opportunity to pursue a forgivable loan, he said. This wasnt my idea, this wasnt my boards idea. We have a hole to fill, and well look at all the options. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. EDWARDSVILLE The city of Granite City has filed suit against more than two dozen drug companies claiming the firms used deceptive advertising, failed to guard against illegal diversion into the illegal market and caused the city to increase spending on law enforcement. Plaintiff alleges that defendants unlawfully sold or caused to be sold millions of prescriptions into Granite City. Plaintiff asserts that such unlawful conduct in the foreseeable, widespread diversion of prescription opioids into the illicit market, creating a serious public health and safety crisis in the city involving opioid abuse, addiction, morbidity and mortality and is a public nuisance, the suit claims. EDWARDSVILLE The American Lung Association (ALA) has given Madison County a failing air quality grade for its high level of ozone, the organization recently announced. Madison County which earned an F is hardly the only county in the area get a bad score. There arent any counties around here (that pass), Susannah Fuchs, director of the ALAs Missouri clean air initiatives, said. Jersey and St. Clair dont get great grades, and neither do the counties on the other side of the river in Missouri either. Jersey County, according to a chart provided by the organization, scored a D, while St. Clair County got a C. It means that we have a lot of work to do yet as a metro area, Fuchs said. The scores were calculated by averaging three years of data collected from government monitoring stations around the St. Louis area, and encompassing the years 2014 through 2016. Fuchs said more recent data is not yet available, as scientists are currently validating the information. Ozone, which Fuchs explains is a lung irritant, tends to be much worse during the summer. Historically that is the time when the ozone levels get the highest, she said. Especially when we see those stretches of very hot days with little wind, and no clouds. So that combined with emissions forms ozone, which is really not good to breathe. The ALA, which issues a daily forecast for local air quality, just started doing so for the 2018 season. Forecasts are issued daily between May and September, and fall into one of four colored categories green, yellow, orange and red. Drivers who have gone under the St. Louis Science Centers bridge across Interstate 64 may be familiar with the metrics, which are prominently displayed on a sign overhanging the highway. The ozone pollution, which is created by the breakdown products of vehicle and other emissions, is chemically identical to the ozone that found in the upper-atmosphere that blocks the suns UV rays, Fuchs said. Air pollution specialists even have a rhyme to remind people that ozone is a benefit when in the upper-atmosphere, but not near the ground. Good up high, bad nearby, Fuchs said. While the government does take steps to regulate ozone pollution, Fuchs said it is individuals who may hold the key to good air quality. Working through the ALAs Clean Air Partnership, the organization encourages people to take steps to reduce pollutants things like carpooling, avoiding leaving your car running in idle, and planning ahead so you can make fewer trips. Theyre all pretty intuitive actions that you can take, she said. The kinds of things you would do be more green or environmentally friendly often are things that would make a positive difference in our air quality. Reach Alex Heeb at 618-656-4700 ext. 48 or on Twitter @alexheebs JERSEYVILLE Recent felony charges filed by the Jersey County States Attorneys office include: Javen E. Woolsey, 36, of the 700 block of Leavett, Jerseyville, was charged April 26 with theft, a Class 3 felony, after an April 14 incident involving the alleged theft of more than $500 in items from an individual. Bail was set at $10,000. David L. Heape, 36, of the 26500 block of Jersey Landing Road, Godfrey, was charged April 26 with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony. Bail was set at $25,000. Norman P. Loveless, 71, of the 28900 block of Comanche Lane, Jerseyville, was charged April 27 with unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 3 felony. The Illinois State Sex Offender database lists a conviction in Madison County. Bail was set at $15,000. Jayden M. Harper, 23, of the 700 block of Harrison Street, Jerseyville, was charged April 30 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony; and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. Bail was set at $15,000. Hailee T. Johanson, 26, of Craig, Colorado, was charged May 2 with theft, a Class 3 felony; and unlawful possession of cannabis, obstructing identification and resisting a peace officer, all Class A misdemeanors, after a May 1 incident. Bail was set at $15,000. Jason M. Farek, 37, of the 100 block of Grand Avenue, Wood River, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, after a May 1 incident in which he was allegedly found with less than 15 grams of heroin. Bail was set at $25,000. Charles Dewayne Blanton, 47, of Pensacola, Florida, was charged May 2 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. ALTON Prayers for education, youth, business, government and others were offered up as part of the annual National Day of Prayer celebration in Alton, held Thursday morning in the Post Commons. The event was sponsored by the Rotary of the Riverbend, and was among thousands of other events held throughout the country. Its just to bring the community together, and focus on all areas and segments of society in a nondenominational sort of way, said Lori Ehlers, who chairs the Rotarys National Day of Prayer committee. About 100 people attended the Alton event. This years national theme is Pray for America-UNITY and is based on Ephesians 4:3 Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The National Day of Prayer was established as an annual event in 1952. The law was later amended in 1988 designating the first Thursday in May. Historically, days of prayer have been called for since 1775, when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming the nation, according to the National Day of Prayer website. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for a day of prayer. Ron Wenzel, pastor of Rosewood Heights Community Church and First Baptist Church in Hartford, has been involved in the programs since the 1990s, and has emceed for the past 15 consecutive years. He said the theme of unity is very important. Ive been a member or minister in six different denominations, he said. I grew up Catholic but Im a Baptist minister now. I think its so important for us to be working together across denominational lines and showing unity. The program included the reading of proclamations by Alton Mayor Brant Walker and Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick. They were joined by Wood River Mayor Cheryl Maguire. Music was provided by the Marquette High School choir, including The Star-Spangled Banner by Nia Owens and Amazing Grace about halfway through the program. Selected individuals prayed for specific segments of society. Praying were Cadet/Major Jon Carroll of the Alton High School AFROTC, who prayed for Future of our youth; Larry Thompson, who prayed for education; Marquette High School Campus Minister Paula Mattix-Wand, who prayed for the sanctity of life; the Rev. Sheila Goins and her son, the Rev. Mark Goins, who prayed for family. Family is not just DNA, Sheila Goins said. Family is about relationships. That was followed by Sister Anastasia, manager of St. Claires Villa at OSF St. Anthonys Health Center, who prayed for firefighter, emergency responders and quality health care; the Rev. Bill Pyatt, who prayed for government; the Rev. Mike Adams, who prayed for business; Mike Roberts, former St. Louis television meteorologist and now with the Visiting Nurse Association, who prayed for media; former Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent, who prayed for law enforcement and the military; and the Rev. Jason Harrison and Rev. Mark Scandrett, who prayed for the church and national unity. The program ended with the reciting of The Lords Prayer, with Wenzel noting that for the sake of unity they would say trespasses rather than debts. Additional local events were scheduled Thursday evening for Jerseyville and Bethalto. For more information visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. Prince Harry's girlfriend Meghan Markle (right) is pictured with her mother Doria Ragland during the Invictus Games Closing Ceremony Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: (L-R) Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the 2018 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 12, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (L-R) Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, US actress Meghan Markle and her fiancee Britain's Prince Harry attend a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in central London, on March 12, 2018 GROVER/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a visit to Catalyst Inc science park in Belfast Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Meghan Markle, fiancee of Prince Harry, attends the Dawn Service at Wellington Arch to commemorate Anzac Day in London Meghan Markle and her mother Doria Radlan watch the closing ceremonies for the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, September 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Geoff RobinsGEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images Britain's Prince Harry (R) and his US fiancee Meghan Markle attend a service of commemoration and thanksgiving to mark Anzac Day in Westminster Abbey in London on April 25, 2018 Both of Meghan Markle's parents will be involved in her upcoming wedding to Prince Harry. Her mother Doria Ragland will travel with her by car to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and her father Thomas Markle Sr will walk her down the aisle, Kensington Palace confirmed today. Ms Ragland and Mr Markle, who have been divorced since Meghan was a child, will both travel to the UK later this month to meet their daughter's future in laws: Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Camilla and Kate Middleton and husband Prince William. The announcement comes days after Meghan's half brother penned a bizarre open letter in In Touch magazine claiming that their father wasn't invited to the wedding and telling Harry "it's not too late" to call off the wedding before calling the actress a "jaded, shallow, conceited woman". "The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding," a Kensington Palace spokesperson said. Expand Close Meghan Markle and her mother Doria Radlan watch the closing ceremonies for the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, September 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Geoff RobinsGEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Meghan Markle and her mother Doria Radlan watch the closing ceremonies for the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, September 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Geoff RobinsGEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images "Mr Thomas Markle and Ms Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harry's family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day. "Both of the bride's parents will have important roles in the wedding. On the morning of the wedding, Ms Ragland will travel with Ms Markle by car to Windsor Castle. "Mr Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St George's Chapel. Ms Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion." While Harry met his future mother-in-law Doria last year in Toronto, he hasn't met Thomas yet. The former Hollywood lighting director lives in a retirement community in Mexico. Expand Close Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a visit to Catalyst Inc science park in Belfast Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a visit to Catalyst Inc science park in Belfast Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire It was also confirmed that the bride won't be having a maid of honour, despite previous rumours that Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney would be taking the top honours. "She has a very close knit group of friends and did not want to choose one over the other. They have all been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day," a spokesperson said. Video of the Day It's believed that Princess Charlotte and Prince George will be flowergirl and pageboy, respectively. Here's a shout-out to almost every conservative in India who believes decency is the matter that needs their immediate attention, and it is his/her place to decide what should be done with people who do not comply with other peoples standards. When a couple were thrashed onboard the Kolkata Metro by a group of middle-aged men for standing too close in public, police took their own sweet time to attend to the matter. I wonder, if the same group of people were having an orgy publicly, would there be a similar delay in police action. The indecency in question here is the act of standing too close, which, by the way, is done mostly for protection. On board a train in India, women are groped, pushed and harassed on a regular basis. The fact that no official complaint has been lodged reflects on the most unfortunate fragment of reality. The victims did not find enough reasons to report their public humiliation. This victim shaming has its own legacy. It is, in fact, such an intricately woven norm in society that it has governed the entire structural mechanism of justice. These civilities are exceptionally powerful in India. They exert force not only on matters of crime, but dressing, education, career choices, partners, behaviours, attitudes and so on; It is deeply ingrained and even encouraged. When I was in 10th grade, my class teacher called me to speak in private. She told me that she had received a complaint that I was seeing a boy and we were seen kissing outside school premises. The words she used were enough to numb me. I didnt speak a word. She asked my mother to meet her along with my elder sister, who was an alumnus of the same school. This was to make sure that my entire family got to know about this. Before the meeting, my mother had told me to stand my ground and not get scared. When we arrived at the office, my teacher stated that I had accepted going out with a guy and kissing him. Then she started making up stories. At this point, I wasn't scared. I told mom that I never confessed to anything, but she was too angry. I was accused, and not asked about what may have happened. The entire teaching staff came up to my mother and narrated a made up story about my obscene acts. They wondered aloud if my mother would be able to take it now that I've done something shameful. However, the boy I was accused of seeing was told that girls like me lay honey traps for them, and that he should watch out for us. His parents were never called. For the rest of my days in school, I was shamed for my lewd character. My friends parents were advised to keep their prodigies away from me. The mother of a close friend of mine once interrupted our phone conversation and asked to speak to my mom. She went on to blame my mom for her daughters poor score in tests and concluded that theirs is a decent family. At the end of the year, my class teacher tried to remove me from the annual dance for which I had been working on for months. However, my dance instructor, who heard my side and believed in me, refused to to do so. She was, in fact, the only one to point out how I was being treated differently than the boy who had allegedly committed the same obscene act. The first example of recognised power we come across in our lives is the school administration. The first seeds of decency are institutionalised in us by the standards of the school staff. In most local schools, students are chastened over occurrences where they are not really guilty of anything. It could range from little taunts in class or a major thrashing. The problem is that they condition us to become individuals who walk with our eyes down and are scared to look at any authority because it was our mistake. Moral policing feeds off such conditioning. Barging into closed rooms, threatening people by calling their parents, abusing couples in public for being characterless is not just about having a conservative mind-set. It is about the power dynamics that gets established. Even harmless behaviour of the general public is subjected to scrutiny and regulation by vigilante groups and authorities, which align with the ruling ideology, by preying on what they perceive as indecent. The government even uses the taxpayers money to fund and resource something such as moral policing (with an actual task force), thereby emboldening individuals who think it is up to them to act against indecency. When a case like the Kolkata Metro incident is normalised, it will become more difficult to oppose this kind of imposition. Indecency is not in love or friendship with the opposite gender. It is not in your haircut, uniform, nails or the length of one's skirt. A polite Q and A session or debate with your teacher does not qualify as one either. Maybe they can learn some lessons in decency on how not to physically thrash or emotionally scar students. Dont let the vigilante groups school us the way our teachers did. Deepika Singh Rajawat, the confident lawyer representing the family of the girl who was brutally raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, is already a star on social media. And on Friday, she received words on encouragement from British actress Emma Watson. In what came as a pleasant surprise, Emma Watson who is also a United Nations women's goodwill ambassador tweeted: All power to Deepika Singh Rajawat. All power to Deepika Singh Rajawat https://t.co/sZzDVcIFNo Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) May 3, 2018 She was responding to an article on a photo of the lawyer that has gone viral on social media. The photo shows a fearless Deepika Singh Rajawat, wearing the lawyer's robes, walking confidently, flanked by men. Rajawat has been in the news ever since she took up the sensitive case. Speaking to media, she had said she feared for her life, was being branded as a anti-Hindu and socially boycotted. Today, I dont know, I am not in my senses. I can be raped, I can be killed and may be they wont allow me to practice in court. They (have) isolated me, I dont know how I can survive, the advocate told ANI. The Supreme Court has stayed till May 7 the trial in the Kathua gangrape and murder case, after being seized with petitions seeking shifting of the trial to Chandigarh and handing over the investigation to the CBI. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says the streaming giants spat with the Cannes Film Festival had escalated beyond what the company intended and acknowledged that "sometimes we make mistakes". Hastings spoke on the dispute during a session at the Series Mania festival in Lille, reports variety.com. "I know we have a reputation as a disruptor. Sometimes we make mistakes. We got into a bigger situation with Cannes than we meant to," Hastings said. Hastings said that Cannes, which has banned from competition any film not destined for theatrical release in France, was "very sincere at finding a model that works for them and us". He added: "We love Cannes. We've been many years and have buyers going this year." Hastings said that at least in France, Netflix would "focus now on series. Standup, docuseries - there is so much we can do without being a disruptor on the movie side". The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite... It is not often that an 80-year-old portrait makes front-page headlines and dominates political discourse. However, when the portrait is that of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, emotions will always run high. The upheaval at Aligarh Muslim University is not the first time Jinnah is causing a ruckus in India decades after his death in 1948. Ironically, the last time Jinnah hogged the headlines in India to this extent was in 2005 when then BJP chief L.K. Advani described the founder of Pakistan as secular and an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. What happened to Advani is well known, but less well remembered is the fact that the Congress also heavily criticised Advani' comments, lest we assume paranoia toward Jinnah is purely the preserve of the rightwing. It's not hard to understand why there is so much anger toward Jinnah. From being a vocal proponent of Partition, in which an estimated 2 million people lost their lives in a communal frenzy, to calling for a 'Direct Action Day' that saw thousands losing their lives in days of communal violence in Kolkata in August 1946, Jinnah's record in the time leading up to Partition will find few supporters in India. After the formation of Pakistan, Jinnah, more or less, brusquely pushed aside Lord Louis Mountbatten to become Pakistan's first governor-general, though his poor health made him woefully inadequate for such a role in a fledgling nation. Some historians argue that Jinnah's misplaced trust in an Islamic identity did not factor in ethnic differences and point to his decision in 1948 to make Urdu the state language of Pakistan as having laid the roots for the secession of East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) in 1971. So, it appears, we have enough reasons to hate Jinnah, but was he the sole architect of Partition? Did Jinnah create the demand for Pakistan? These questions are pertinent to ask in a country like India, which had a median age of little less than 27 years in 2017which means the majority of Indians were born 40 years after Jinnah died. The first arguments for two nations, or the two-nation theory, were raised by the educationalist Syed Ahmad Khan, who in 1875 founded Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, which would later become Aligarh Muslim University. Khan argued that Hindus and Muslims could not coexist after Hindus in Benares (later Varanasi) sought to replace Urdu as the official language with Hindi in 1867. The first 'formal' demand for a Muslim state was made at the 25th session of the All-India Muslim League at Allahabad in 1930 by the poet and philosopher Muhammed Iqbal. Iqbal then said, I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State. Self-government within the British Empire, or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim State appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India. Iqbal had been a proponent of Hindu-Muslim unity in his early days. Iqbal had mixed feelings for Jinnah. In his seminal work The Discovery of India, Jawaharlal Nehru records Iqbal telling him, What is there in common between Jinnah and you? He is a politician, you are a patriot. In later correspondence with Jinnah, Iqbalwho died in 1938argued for self-determination for Muslims. There were other forces such as the landed classes, which were in favour of a Muslim state, much before Jinnah publicly espoused the demand for Pakistan at the Muslim League's annual session in Lahore in 1940. Even if we argue that Pakistan wouldn't have emerged if it weren't for these handful of historical figures, we would be ignoring the role of the British Raj in instituting separate electorates to weaken the Independence movement and, of course, Hindu outfits such as the Hindu Mahasabha, which espoused a communal identity, alienating many Muslims. Arguably, the widespread resentment of Jinnah is anchored in India's tenuous relationship with Pakistan and the sins of Jinnah's successors. However, what is lost in the din is the fact most of these key architects of Pakistan evolved in their political positions. For example, Jinnah was lukewarm to Mahatma Gandhi's espousal of the Khilafat Movement of the 1920s against the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate as it involved supporting an overtly religious cause. Jinnah even defended Bhagat Singh's actions before his execution. India, and Pakistan for that matter, have not come to terms with the wounds of Partition. Merely removing an 80-year-old portrait will not help India better understand what Partition was, why it happened and whether religious wounds can be healed. The larger question Indians must ask is whether popular resentment of Jinnah is based on his personal role or the larger ideology he espoused? If all symbols associated with the architects of Pakistan are to be removed, perhaps we should do away with the most famous work of Muhammed Iqbal, the man who first called for a separate Muslim state: Sare Jahan se Accha! Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, his third visit to the Himalayan state since he took over the reins of the government in 2014, the ministry of external affairs said on Friday. This is also the first high-level visit from India since the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli in Nepal, the MEA said in a statement. PM Modi's visit to Nepal comes a little more than a month after Prime Minister Oli visited India. Oli had invited PM Modi to his country. During Oli's visit, 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". Oli's visit was seen as an attempt to repair Nepal's ties with India. In 2016, Oli had publicly criticised India for allegedly interfering in Nepal's internal matters and accused it of toppling his government. After talks with Oli last month, PM 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. On Thursday, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Indian and Nepalese sides are working on various aspects of Modi's visit. During the visit, besides holding talks with Oli, Modi will call on the president and the vice president of Nepal, and interact with senior leaders of various political parties of Nepal. PM Modi will also be visiting the historic cities of Janakpur and Muktinath, apart from engagements in Kathmandu. "The state visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal, and will enable leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and to strengthen cooperation in all areas of age-old, multi-faceted and expanding partnership between the two countries," the statement said. A clash erupted between the Congress workers and police in Kolkata on Friday as the party staged a protest over rotten meat supply racket. "Rotten meat market is thriving here. This kind of crime cannot take place without collusion with the ruling regime," West Bengal Congress chief A.R. Chowdhury told ANI. On Thursday, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest after the racket was busted by the police in the state capital. The party slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress, saying the state machinery was involved in the racket. Earlier this week, the state 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. More than 20 restaurants in Kolkata are facing investigation after having allegedly served rotten meat taken from a dumping ground to their customers. The West Bengal police have been carrying out a probe and found several hotels, including some iconic restaurants, were supplied with rotten meats. An official, however, refused to reveal the names as the investigation is still on. He, however, said, We collected the names from the notebooks maintained by one of the suspects, Kaushar Dhali of Rajarhat New Town. He is now absconding. His diary has names of several restaurants where he supplied rotten meat mostly collected from the dumping ground off the EM Bypass. The sudden revelation has left Kolkatans shocked with many of them deciding to abstain from eateries in the city. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India has issued a fresh guideline asking all restaurants in Kolkata to stick to their quality norms. The police had seized 20 tones of rotten meat from a cold storage operated by Dhali two weeks ago. This, police believe, is just the tip of an ice berg. A special superintendent rank officer told THE WEEK, The restaurants are from low end to middle end. Some of the restaurants which are frequented by high living standard people are also under the radar. Meanwhile, names of various eateries have been circulated on the social media leaving the restaurant owners jittery. A famous confectionery major has registered a complaint with the Kolkata polices Cyber Cell against spreading rumor on social media about its outlets in Kolkata. An iconic restaurant in Kolkatas Park Street has also lodged a similar complaint with police. Besides Kolkata, other small towns of South 24 Parganas like Budge Budge, have also reported cases of alleged use of rotten meat. The South 24 Parganas police have arrested Biswanath Garai from Narkeldanga in Kolkata, who is also in charge of managing a cold storage to store rotten meat. Kotswara Rao, Superintendent of Police, South 24 Parganas, said that Biswanath used to collect the meat from dumping grounds in Kolkata and processed them before putting in cold storage. After arresting a couple of his henchmen, we came to know about his modus operandi. We are looking for more people. We will also would like to know for how many years such business had been in progress, said he. Meanwhile, doctors in Kolkata have raised alarm over the presence of rotten meats in many restaurants in the city. If such a revelation is true, thousands of people would have already eaten them and the toxic elements in the meat would have entered their bodies. This is shocking. Its difficult to know whether they ate goat, beef or anything else like dog or cat. The repercussion would be serious, said Amit Banerjee, a senior medical specialist in Kolkata. Asked what kind of diseases they could be faced with, Banerjee said, It could be cancer, kidney failure or even brain diseases. The issue has taken a political twists with the BJP hitting the street against the alleged inaction of the West Bengal government. Now people of Bengal have to eat meat from the dustbin. What else could be more shocking than this? asked Biswapriya Roychowdhury, vice president of the BJP in West Bengal. Environmentalist Subhas Dutta has filed a petition against the alleged scam in Calcutta High Court. Dutta alleged that West Bengal did not follow any food safety norms. In states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and in the southern states, regular sampling checking in restaurants is done by state government. But in Bengal the situation is abysmal. In Gujarat about one lakh sampling checking are done per year, but in Bengal the number is 120. We are sitting on the volcano, Dutta said in the high court on Thursday. Despite action from police, it is alleged that limited attempts have been made by the West Bengal government for sampling tasting. Kolkata corporation said it did not have enough man power to check all those samplings. We have limited food inspectors and scope for verification is also limited. Despite that we are trying our best, said Atin Ghosh, Mayor in council in charge of health. Up in the high mountain meadows of Munda, father of an eight-year-old Bakarwal girl, who was gang-raped and killed in Kathua earlier this year, was having the morning tea with his cousin. His niece, wearing a red shalwar kameez, stood near to them carrying a blue flask as I trekked up to them. Half-way through the trek, I signaled to him to come down, but he insisted I come up. After another 500 meters of climb, we were face to face. '' I have to keep an eye on the sheep and goats from here,'' he said, pointing his finger below the summit of the mountain. A congregation of sheep, mostly white, and goats was liesurely grazing on the fresh green field. How many are they?'' I asked. Around 300,'' he said. ''Half of them are mine. There are 15 horses, too.'' Rest, he said, belong to his cousin. He said he reached there a few days back with police escort. Here we feel safe and can sleep under an open sky along with our herd and horses without fear,'' he said. Will you go back to Kathua in winters?,'' I asked him. I have to,'' he said .'' I have a house with two acres of land there. We are scared but we will have to go back.'' Asked about demanding police protection, he said: Woh baroosa nahe raha Ji (there is no trust). Dar lagta hain ke wapus jana hoga (We feel scared thinking that we have to go back). His two sons, Saddam and Fayaz, are in school in Koota, Samba. Bakarwals are a Muslim pastoral tribe in Jammu and Kashmir. Every summer, they travel hundreds of kilometres with their cattle to Kashmir and Ladakh and back to Jammu in the winters. Government says mobile schools travel with Bakarwals. ''That's a farce,'' he said. ''No school travels with us. And why would they? His daughter was eight-year-old when she was brutally attacked and killed. Asked why she didn't attend school, he said: The school was far from our home. We wanted her to grow up a bit to travel to school.'' He has opposed the demand for a CBI probe into the killing of her daughter. The Crime Branch has done investigations and there is no need for a CBI probe,'' he said. ''The case in the court. All eight men involved in the murder of my daughter should be hanged.'' Nobody from the government has met him so far. A madam came from Delhi and said I should ask for a CBI probe, but I refused,'' he said. He admits there are people who came and helped him with money. A Sikh man from Punjab gave me Rs 5 lakh. We want justice, not money.'' As I scanned the mountains, I could see a bunch of horses resting on a green patch. The girl was grazing her horses in a meadow when a man beckoned her into a forest. I asked about Sundar, her favourite horse. He would be there somewhere,'' he said with a smile. She had a pet dog also. ''It was mowed down by a vehicle after she (his daughter) was killed,'' he said. Asked about his summer journey with sheep and goats, he said: ''We camp here every year and then proceed to Wadwun and then to Kargil,'' he said. A small cloud of snow glistened in the sun in the nallah (a stream of water) in the mountain but there was not much water in it. Was your daughter here last year?, I asked. ''Yes, she was. Ab to woh rahe nahe (Now she is not alive),'' he said with a sigh. At the base of the mountain, his wife and mother-in-law were sitting on a polyethylene sheet, close to an earthen hearth. Khairoo, the sheepdog, was roaring loudly. ''It shouts at strangers,'' he said. ''When you came, it tried to break free.'' As I prepared to leave, I could see a group of men talking to the two women. I thought they were reporters. They came from Hyderabad with a cash cheque for the family. ''Asamaualikum,'' one of them said. ''Bhai can you ask him to come down. I cannot trek that far,'' he said. ''I too wanted him to come down for a chat, but he refused,'' I replied. The men then began to trek and I drove off on a breathtakingly scenic but hauntingly secluded metalled-track built exclusively for the Army. The US today warned China that it would face "consequences" for military buildup in the disputed South China Sea where Beijing has deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that the Trump administration has raised the issue with the Chinese leadership. "We are well aware of China's militarisation of the South China Sea. We've raised concerns directly with the Chinese leadership about this. And there will be near-term and long-term consequences," Sanders told reporters, responding to a question on the Chinese military build up in the South China Sea and other parts of the world. China yesterday defended the deployment of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the disputed waters, saying it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the area. The Pentagon has also expressed concern over the Chinese military buildup in the disputed waters. "We have been very vocal about our concerns about them militarising these artificial islands. China has to realise that they've benefited from the free navigation of the sea. And the US Navy has been the guarantor of that, Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Dana White told reporters. "We will continue to do our operations and ensure that the Chinese understand that they cannot, and should not, be hostile and understand that the Pacific is a place in which much commerce goes through. And it's in their interest to ensure that there's a free navigation of international waters, she said. 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. 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. 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. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed that Chinese military personnel have used lasers against US military planes in Djibouti. "They are very serious incidents. There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White told reporters at her weekly news conference. "We have formally demarched the Chinese government, and we've requested that the Chinese investigate these incidents," she said. US President Donald Trump today said the date and venue for his landmark summit with North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un have been decided and told reporters to "stay tuned". Trump had agreed to meet Kim Jong Un by May, the White House had announced in March, setting the stage for an unprecedented summit between the two leaders following months of tension over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme. The White House had said Trump was ready to meet Kim by May at a time and location yet to be determined. "We now have a date and we have a location, we'll be announcing it soon," Trump said during a brief interaction with reporters at White House before leaving on a trip to Texas. The United States is having substantive talks with the North Koreans, Trump said. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with regard to the hostages. I think you're going to be seeing very good things," Trump said in response to a question. The announcement for the summit the first ever between leaders of the two countries was made after months of tension between the two nations. Trump himself had confirmed the meeting in a tweet, but said that the US sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until a denuclearisation deal was achieved. Last month Trump had said he hoped that we would be able to deal in a "very open and honourable fashion" with North Korea. "I started a process, and when I did everybody thought I was doing it absolutely wrong," he had said. PTI Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America; Canada; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Asia Pacific; and Corporate and Other. The U.S. and Latin America segment markets individual and group life and health reinsurance to domestic clients for a variety of products through yearly renewable term agreements, coinsurance, and modified coinsurance. The Canada segment offers individual life reinsurance, and to a lesser extent creditor, group life and health, critical illness and disability reinsurance, through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment serves individual and group life and health products through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements, reinsurance of critical illness coverage that provides a benefit in the event of the diagnosis of a pre-defined critical illness and underwritten annuities. The Asia Pacific segment comprises individual and group life and health reinsurance, critical illness coverage, disability, and superannuation thr Read More Michael Sohn Volkswagen's former chief executive has been indicted on fraud charges in the United States over the carmaker's yearslong effort to rig its diesel vehicles to feign compliance with federal emissions standards. The executive, Martin Winterkorn, was among six Volkswagen executives named in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday in Federal District Court in Detroit. With spindly legs made of driftwood, the installation "Migration House" at the Albany Airport seems so fragile that it's about to collapse. Measuring 22 by 9 feet, it seemingly scampers across Concourse B on the way to catch a plane before it falls apart and becomes immobile. Made of materials from abandoned structures in the Hudson River Valley, Robert Hite's work is so many things at once. Pieced together with detritus of the past, it's reconceived as a new home. Tiny lights in the upper floor windows beckon you in, an anchor in a turbulent world. Yet it has an inescapable ethereal quality to it more metaphysical than physical that it could easily vanish. "It could be a dream" says Stephen Miller as he catches a plane to Maryland. With its off-kilter proportions, Carolyn Wilson finds it "humorous." Or it might be a big bird taking flight. A setting for a macabre Edger Allan Poe short story. In an airport, the idea of transience is most compelling. We are all travelers, always in between places, immigrants on a journey searching for home. The installation is augmented by "Above the Fray," a series of photographs of his installations that grew out of his paintings, which is where it all got started. Awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 2014, Hite, 61, describes himself as a bit of an outsider. We met with him at his studio in Esopus recently to ask him a few questions. Q: For a rather large installation, "Migration House" works so well with its surroundings. How did you develop the idea? What was the process? A: When I began to work with Kathy Greenwood at the Albany airport's arts and culture program we spent many months working toward a final design. There were two possible locations for me to work with and it was decided that the concourse was best as it would allow viewers close access to see detail. Once that was decided, it was Kathy who wisely suggested revisiting an existing work. We then chose ''Migration House'' as it was a great fit thematically and size-wise. I then reworked the pieces and as it was made in distinct sections and I remade the midsection, added elements and designed the lath pedestal it now sits on. The original work was made and then photographed in an apple orchid with a nod to thinking about seasonal labor in the Hudson Valley. The reworked piece inspired me to explore the stunning array of issues of migration that exist and will continue to challenge people all over the world. Q: ''Migration House'' seems so precariously balanced. How and where did you "harvest" the materials? A: I use found materials as much as possible in my sculptural work. A material that has history and patina jump-starts the process in the sense that there is already a narrative held within the materials. Q: Your paintings have similar aesthetics than the installations yet are different. What is the relationship between them? A: I started my art career as a painter and it is likely still the most challenging aspect of the work I do. It's the painters of the past that inspired me to look at the world in different ways. Rembrandt, Klee, Van Gogh, Bruegel, De Kooning are still my go-to places to be inspired and to continue to evolve and know that art and painting can capture aspects of the human experience. There is an organic cross-pollination between painting and other ways in which i work. Q: You've talked about being an "outsider" in the art world. What does that mean? Could you elaborate? A: I think the term outsider is not completely appropriate for me. I guess what I might have been trying to say is that I'm not a player in the sense that I don't do the New York City circuit or social art scene. I do like to see and be aware of what's going on in New York and other urban art scenes. There is lots of amazing work being done and I try to be careful to not be too influenced by the shifts and moments. Q: What has winning the Guggenheim grant meant to your art? Has it significantly altered your creativity or just reinforced what you were doing? A: I tend to not be very strategic or calculated in my approach to my career, so having such a prestigious award helps to keep me on the radar. Being somewhat visible is important because it allows you to have some gauge related to what is a very disparate and fickle arena to work in. Being somewhat isolated intentionally in a rural setting can be dangerous in the sense you do not always get nuanced and challenging feedback. Q: What does home mean to you? A: When I was a kid, after forays into the woods and back roads of rural Virginia, I would come home and be able to absorb my experiences from the safety and sanctity of home. Home to me is a place that should be safe and be able to let the soul wander. Tim Kane is a frequent contributor to the Times Union. This is the second in a four-part series spotlighting readers' favorite restaurant dishes in Capital Region cities. The series began last month with Troy restaurants, continues today with Albany, and will return in June with readers' favorites from Saratoga Springs restaurants and, in July, Schenectady. The lists are compiled from submissions from readers of the Table Hopping blog. Visit the blog at blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping. SCHENECTADY - Mark LaViolette, a retired city cop arrested last week in connection with a state investigation of the Galway police department, has been put on leave from his job as Schenectady County's director of emergency management, County Attorney Chris Gardner said. LaViolette will continue to collect his salary - nearly $67,000 a year - while he's on leave, Gardner said. LaViolette has worked for the county since 2010. It's his work as a sergeant in the Galway department that has his future in the county job up in the air. LaViolette was one of three high-ranking members of the tiny Saratoga County department accused by state prosecutors of systematically falsifying records that documented state-mandated training courses for officers. Also arrested were Chief Leslie R. Klein, 72, Galway sergeant David Goodwin and Mark Kirker, currently a deputy with the Schenectady County sheriff's office who at the time of the alleged crimes was a Glenville police officer. Klein, who allegedly sanctioned the filing of official forms with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated officers completed mandated training courses when they had not, works as a janitor with the Broadalbin-Perth school district. Kirker was suspended from his job with Schenectady County earlier this week. All four pleaded not guilty at their arraignments in Albany City Court. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Attorney general investigators obtained time and attendance records for both Klein and LaViolette from their other jobs, and compared those records with certification forms that stated when they had allegedly conducted training of Galway officers. The decision to put LaViolette on leave was first reported by The Daily Gazette. New York 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 underscored the thoroughness of his transformation from moderate Republican mayor of a liberal city to fiery conservative hero. 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. 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. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. 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. Giuliani has 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." NEW YORK Authorities unearthed a trove of electronic devices, emails and recordings when they raided a Halfmoon residence linked to NXIVM founder Keith Raniere as part of a federal probe into alleged sex slavery and human trafficking, a federal prosecutor said Friday. "There was a number of admissions by the defendant" among the evidence seized by investigators, Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Penza said in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. Penza said prosecutors took at least a year's worth of electronic records during the raid earlier this year. The U.S. Attorney's office made the disclosure as Raniere and his co-defendant, former "Smallville" actress Allison Mack, appeared in court to answer charges they coerced women into joining a secret sex cult that branded its members with the pair's initials during rituals conducted in Saratoga County. Penza said the investigation is continuing, and that a new indictment will be filed soon against Raniere and Mack. She indicated others are likely to face charges, too. Raniere, a 57-year-old known within NXIVM as "Vanguard," allegedly served as a "grand master" over female members of the organization including Mack who were forced to provide material known as "collateral" in order to join the club known as Dominus Obsequious Sororium (DOS), which means "Master Over the Slave Women," according to a federal complaint. If the women tried to leave, they faced the threat that the collateral such as damaging information about their family members or pictures of their genitalia would be released, the complaint said. The women, some of whom said they were pressured to have sex with Raniere, told federal authorities that a female doctor associated with NXIVM used a cauterizing iron to brand them with a design on their lower abdomen that contained the initials of Raniere and Mack. One of Raniere's attorneys, Marc Agnifilo, urged the judge to schedule the trial for early summer. "At the end of the day, this a case about consent," Agnifilo said, adding that he believed "99 percent" percent of the items seized by authorities would have no bearing on the case. Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis saw no reason to rush, setting an Oct. 1 trial date so "everyone knows when the trial will begin and you can get to work on that." Outside court, Agnifilo scoffed when asked if his client was part of a "sex cult," calling the term "a label that the government is attaching to conduct to make it nefarious." He downplayed the branding, as well. "There are well-known groups of men that brand themselves," Agnifilo said. "It's utterly incontroversial. But a group of women decides to brand themselves, and all of a sudden they're victims." He described DOS as nothing more than "a group. I mean, people form groups. They form sports teams, they form fraternities, they form different social groups. It's a group comprised of women who have joined the group for their own absolutely legitimate reasons." Agnifilo downplayed allegations that the women were coerced into remaining in the group. "If people want to join a group and give pictures of themselves and that's understood going in, that's ... a free choice that adult women made," he said. Paul DerOhannesian, a Capital Region lawyer also representing Raniere, said the media had wrongly portrayed what the group was about. "It's still the United States of America and adults engage in sexual relationships that they consent to," DerOhannesian said. "I think what you're going to see is these were consenting adults who knew what they were doing and approved of it." Toni Natalie, a former longtime girlfriend of Raniere, attended the court appearance. She described the NXIVM leader as a "sociopath" who should have faced federal charges long ago. Told prosecutors had suggested more members of NXIVM could be charged, Natalie said, "I can't wait." She said while she sees some people involved as victims, those facilitating the group "knew exactly what they were doing, and they need to be held accountable." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Raniere pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. Mack, who was arraigned last week, said little during the court appearance; her attorney suggested she should not be required to be in court for each development in the case. Raniere is in custody without bail and prosecutors said Friday that they would oppose any effort to set bail for him. "I do not see Mr. Raniere pleading guilty," Agnifilo said. "He has no reason to plead guilty. He steadfastly denies these charges and I expect that we're going to have a very vigorous defense and I predict that we will prevail." Penza said during the appearance that federal investigators seized "an enormous amount of electronic devices" from a NXVIM-connected townhouse in Halfmoon known within the group as "the Library." Federal prosecutors allege the home was where Raniere repeatedly had sex with an actress in her 30s who is not named in court filings. That townhouse on Hale Drive, searched by the FBI on March 27, is the location where federal authorities say the unidentified actress became a victim of sex trafficking and forced labor. The actress lived in Brooklyn during the time, which is part of the reason the case is being pursued in that borough. Court documents describe the actress' account of Mack instructing her to meet Raniere in the middle of the night near his home, where she was instructed to remove her clothing, and had a blindfold placed over her eyes. After driving around for a period of time, they walked through some woods to a shack where the actress said she was tied to a table and forced to engage in oral sex with an unidentified person who was in the room with Raniere. It's unclear if the unidentified person was male or female. Raniere has been held in custody without bond since he was taken into custody March 25 at a luxury villa in Puerto Vallarta by Mexican federal police officers, who arrested him at the request of U.S. law enforcement. He and Mack, 35, were indicted earlier this year on charges that include multiple counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit forced labor. If convicted, they each face a potential mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. FBI records allege Mack helped recruit women into the club and made them pose naked for photographs she forwarded to Raniere. She allegedly delivered some of the women to Raniere for sexual encounters and at least one of the women described the sex as unwanted. On "Smallville," Mack played the character of Chloe Sullivan, the best friend of Clark Kent, cousin of Lois Lane and the editor of the high school newspaper. Mack last appeared in Brooklyn federal court April 24 for a bail hearing. A judge allowed Mack to remain free on $5 million bond, but only after her mother, Melinda Mack, signed the bond to secure her release, which included putting Melinda Mack's Los Alamito, Calif., home up as collateral. Mack also agreed to use her retirement savings as collateral. Allison Mack is being electronically monitored and must reside at her parents' home while her case is pending. Her passport was seized. When Mack first appeared in court, Penza said that "under the guise of female empowerment ... she starved women until they fit her co-defendant's sexual ideal and she targeted vulnerable women in order to do that." New York 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 has yet done so because of daunting obstacles to such an endeavor. Among them: The sites would seem to violate federal law. The endorsement of the strategy by New York, the largest city in the country, may give the movement behind it special impetus. For the sites to open, New York City must still clear some significant hurdles. At a minimum, the plan calls for the support of several district attorneys, and, more critically, the state Health Department, which answers to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Although Cuomo and de Blasio are both Democrats, they've engaged in a yearslong feud that has seen few examples of cooperation. Cuomo, who is facing an energetic primary challenge from Cynthia Nixon, has not said whether he supports injection sites, although state health officials have been open to the possibility. The plan calls for four sites to open after a 6- to 12-month period of outreach to the communities where they will be located. They would operate as pilot programs for a year. At the sites, which would be called Overdose Prevention Centers, trained staff would be available to administer medications, such as naloxone, to counteract drug overdoses. Social workers would also be on hand to possibly counsel drug users in the hope that they could be steered into programs intended to help them with their addiction. The sites would be financed and run by nonprofit groups authorized by the city, and may be located within social service providers that already operate needle exchange sites. "After a rigorous review of similar efforts across the world, and after careful consideration of public health and safety expert views, we believe overdose prevention centers will save lives and get more New Yorkers into the treatment they need to beat this deadly addiction," de Blasio said in a statement. De Blasio has faced pressure from activist groups who support safe injection sites, and who have staged demonstrations at City Hall that have included civil disobedience, with numerous protesters, including City Council members, arrested. But even as the mayor unveiled his plan, he seemed to be doing so at arm's length. On Thursday morning, he held a news conference on the sunny Brooklyn waterfront to discuss ferry service, with no mention of the injection sites. A public announcement of the injection site plan had not been expected until Thursday evening at the earliest. City Hall officials declined to make de Blasio available for an interview. The plan is based on a report commissioned in 2016 by the City Council and pushed by the Council speaker, Corey Johnson, when he was chairman of the health committee. The report was completed months ago but its release was delayed by City Hall as the mayor weighed his decision. Deputy Mayor Herminia Palacio sent a letter on Thursday to Howard A. Zucker, the state health commissioner, asking him to authorize or license four injection sites. The letter said that Zucker had the authority to permit such sites if they were part of a "research study." "You are authorized to license research studies that may include the possession of controlled substances," the letter said. It cited as a precedent the authorization by the state health commissioner of needle exchanges in the early 1990s. Those exchanges began as an effort to halt the spread of HIV among drug users who shared needles. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Palacio said in an interview that she has not previously discussed safe injection sites with Zucker. The most serious obstacle to the safe injection sites may be the federal government. A section of federal law known as the crack house statute makes it illegal to own, rent or operate a location for the purpose of unlawfully using a controlled substance. The enforcement of the statute in the case of safe injection sites, however, would be up to the discretion of federal authorities. Advocates for the sites point out that needle exchanges were considered illegal when they began, and they are now commonplace. "We don't believe a president who has routinely voiced concern about the national opioid epidemic will use finite federal law enforcement resources to prevent New York City from saving lives," Eric F. Phillips, the mayor's press secretary, said in a written statement. The mayor's office said the centers would be located in Washington Heights and Midtown West in Manhattan; the Longwood section of the Bronx; and Gowanus, Brooklyn. There were 1,068 drug overdose deaths in New York City in the first nine months of last year, which officials said was more than the combined total of murders, suicides and vehicle crashes. Brooklyn, the most populous borough, had the greatest number of overdose deaths with 260. The Bronx, with a much smaller population, was second with 250. The Bronx and Staten Island have the highest rate of overdose deaths. In 2016, the Bronx saw 32 overdose deaths per 100,000 residents, and Staten Island had 30 deaths per 100,000. San Francisco may be on track to be the first U.S. city to open a safe injection site. Rachael Kagan, a spokesman for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said that officials expected to open two centers in the late summer or the fall although officials there had previously said they hoped to open them by July. She said officials were "addressing the legal and siting issues." San Francisco's program would place the injection centers in existing social service facilities. Philadelphia announced in January that it expected to open at least one site within 18 months. TROY The city Ethics Commission is investigating whether Mayor Patrick Madden has a conflict of interest in the city awarding a contract for the next 1 Monument Square project that involves his ex-wifes company. The ethics issue has clouded the citys latest and fifth attempt to win public support for the sale of the 1.2-acre former City Hall site to a developer. River Street Planning and Development of Troy, owned by Madden's former wife, Margaret Irwin, was hired as a subcontractor to conduct a three-day public design session and create the project's construction documents. The City Council voted 4-2 to permit the mayors administration to sign the $140,905 contract contingent on a finding by the ethics commission that there is not a conflict of interest, according to the contract and city clerk records reviewed Friday. Madden said Thursday night he requested the advisory opinion from the Ethics Commission after learning that Irwins firm is a subcontractor in the proposal submitted by Place Alliance of Saratoga Springs. The mayor said he withdrew from any participation in reviewing the nine applicants for the contract. Madden said he and his former wife separated in 2002 then divorced. The mayor said they do not own any property together and that they have no financial connections. Their only ties, he said, are their adult children. Madden has since remarried. I dont feel theres a conflict here, Irwin said Friday, adding she has no financial interactions with Madden. She said the amount her firm will receive for facilitating the three-day charette is less than $5,000. The City Council amended the motion awarding the contract to Place Alliance. The resolution reads that the contract is for a team lead by Place Alliance with River Street Planning and Development as a subcontractor. The first amendment came during the councils Finance Committee meeting Thursday night when the contract was made contingent on the Ethics Commission finding no conflict. The second amendment came during the City Councils regular May meeting when Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski was substituted for Madden as the administration member authorized to sign the contract. Council President Carmella Mantello amended the resolution to require the Ethics Commission ruling and that the selection committee be prepared with another recommendation. The Ethics Commission review was discussed without any council members citing it as a reason for not awarding the contract. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Still, Republican Councilmen Jim Gulli and Mark McGrath voted against awarding the contract. Gulli criticized if for being more than $40,000 higher than the lowest proposal. McGrath said Place Alliance did not have an engineer on its team and predicted this project for 1 Monument Square would fail just like the four previous proposals for the site between the Hudson River and River Street at the south end of Riverfront Park. Those e first four proposals for mixed-used development fell apart due to public opposition to the projects and developers problems with the city providing information about the sites utilities and public parkland. The last developer, Bow Tie Cinemas, last year pulled out of its proposal to build an 11-theater multiplex at the location, citing the citys failure to be forthcoming about parkland issues. The company has sued the city to recover its initial development costs in a case that is proceeding through State Supreme Court at the Rensselaer County Court House. Planning and Community Development Commissioner Steven Strichman said the goal is to hold the public planning sessions before the end of June and to find a developer for the site before the end of the year. [May 03, 2018] Arista Networks, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE: ANET), an industry leader in software-driven cloud networking solutions for large datacenter and computing environments, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2018. First Quarter Financial Highlights Revenue of $472.5 million, an increase of 1.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, and an increase of 40.8% from the first quarter of 2017. GAAP gross margin of 64.1%, compared to GAAP gross margin of 65.7% in the fourth quarter of 2017 and 63.9% in the first quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP gross margin of 64.4%, compared to non-GAAP gross margin of 65.9% in the fourth quarter of 2017 and 64.2% in the first quarter of 2017. GAAP net income of $144.5 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $83.0 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP net income of $134.1 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $71.8 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017. "As we kick off 2018, I am pleased with our performance this quarter," stated Jayshree Ullal, Arista President and CEO. "We continue to experience meaningful relevance and expansion as customers shift to cloud networking." Commenting on the company's financial results, Ita Brennan, Arista's CFO, said, "We are pleased with the strength of the business in the first quarter, driving healthy year over year revenue and earnings growth." Company Highlights Arista Networks announced an expanded family of platforms delivering 10x performance for switching and routing. The new generation of 25G and 100G systems add new capabilities for visibility, load balancing, network segmentation, scale and allow both Cloud and Enterprise customers to easily migrate their networks, retaining operational consistency. Arista Networks recognized as a leader with the top score in the current offering and strategy categories in The Forrester Wave(TM): Hardware Platforms for Software-Defined Networking, Q1 2018. San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal published "The Bay Area Best Places To Work". 130 companies have been selected for the Top Workplaces award and Arista Ranked in the Top 10 of the Large Companies Category. Financial Outlook For the second quarter of 2018, we expect: Revenue between $500 and $514 million Non-GAAP gross margin between 62% to 64%, and Non-GAAP operating margin of approximately 32% to 34% Guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes estimated legal expenses of approximately $6 million associated with the OptumSoft and Cisco (News - Alert) litigation, stock-based compensation expense, and other non-recurring items. A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis (see further explanation below). Prepared Materials and Conference Call Information Arista executives will discuss first quarter 2018 financial results on a conference call at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time today. To listen to the call via telephone, dial (833) 287-7905 in the United States or (647) 689-4469 from outside the US. The Conference ID is 6899956. The financial results conference call will also be available via live webcast on our investor relations website at http://investors.arista.com/. Shortly after the conclusion of the conference call, a replay of the audio webcast will be available on Arista's Investor Relations website. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" regarding our future performance, including statements in the section entitled "Financial Outlook," such as estimates regarding revenue, non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, and statements regarding the benefits from the introduction of new products. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by the forward-looking statements including risks associated with: Arista Networks' dispute with Cisco Systems, Inc. including the ITC remedial orders which prohibit the importation of Arista products (or components thereof) into the U.S., or the sale of previously imported products that are covered by those remedial orders, Arista Networks' ability to redesign its products in a manner not covered by such remedial orders and obtain appropriate governmental approvals for those redesigned products, any penalties assessed by the ITC if Arista's redesigned products are covered by such remedial orders and Arista Networks' ability to manage our manufacturing and supply chain including the sourcing of components on commercially reasonable terms; Arista Networks' limited operating history; Arista Networks' rapid growth; Arista Networks' customer concentration; our customer's adoption of our redesigned products and services; requests for more favorable terms and conditions from our large end customers; declines in the sales prices of our products and services; changes in customer demand for our products and services, customer order patterns or customer mix; the timing of orders and manufacturing and customer lead times; increased competition in our products and service markets; dependence on the introduction and market acceptance of new product offerings and standards; rapid technological and market change; the evolution of the cloud networking market and the adoption by end customers of Arista Networks' cloud networking solutions; Arista Networks' dispute with OptumSoft; and general market, political, economic and business conditions. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Arista Networks can be found in Arista's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC (News - Alert) on February 20, 2018, and other filings that the company makes to the SEC from time to time. You can locate these reports through our website at http://investors.arista.com/ and on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the company as of the date hereof and Arista Networks disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Non-GAAP Financial Measures The company reports certain non-GAAP financial measures that exclude stock-based compensation expense and related excess tax benefits, expenses associated with the OptumSoft and Cisco litigation, other non-recurring charges or benefits, and the income tax effect of these non-GAAP exclusions. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends. In addition, these measures are the primary indicators management uses as a basis for its planning and forecasting for future periods. Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP net income, net income per diluted share, gross margin, or operating margin. Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to limitations, and should be read only in conjunction with the company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A description of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the company's non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation. The Company's guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes stock-based compensation expense, expenses associated with the OptumSoft and Cisco litigation, and other non-recurring items. The Company does not provide guidance on GAAP gross margin or GAAP operating margin or the various reconciling items between GAAP gross margin and GAAP operating margin and non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin. Stock-based compensation expense is impacted by the Company's future hiring and retention needs and the future fair market value of the Company's common stock, all of which are difficult to predict and subject to constant change. The actual amount of stock-based compensation expense will have a significant impact on the Company's GAAP gross margin and GAAP operating margin. Accordingly, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure guidance to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. About Arista Networks Arista Networks was founded to pioneer and deliver software-driven cloud networking solutions for large datacenter storage and computing environments. Arista's award-winning platforms, ranging in Ethernet speeds from 10 to 100 gigabits per second, redefine scalability, agility and resilience. Arista has shipped more than fifteen million cloud networking ports worldwide with CloudVision and EOS, an advanced network operating system. Committed to open standards, Arista is a founding member of the 25/50GbE consortium. Arista Networks products are available worldwide directly and through partners. ARISTA, EOS, CloudVision, Flexroute and AlgoMatch are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Arista Networks, Inc. in jurisdictions around the world. Other company names or product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Additional information and resources can be found at: http://www.arista.com/ ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenue: Product $ 407,617 $ 291,367 Service 64,872 44,108 Total revenue 472,489 335,475 Cost of revenue: Product 156,691 109,836 Service 12,879 11,429 Total cost of revenue 169,570 121,265 Total gross profit 302,919 214,210 Operating expenses: Research and development 102,362 81,610 Sales and marketing 42,140 37,027 General and administrative 19,679 22,155 Total operating expenses 164,181 140,792 Income from operations 138,738 73,418 Other income (expense), net: Interest expense (687 ) (715 ) Other income (expense), net 4,843 1,025 Total other income (expense), net 4,156 310 Income before benefit from income taxes 142,894 73,728 Benefit from income taxes (1,644 ) (9,233 ) Net income $ 144,538 $ 82,961 Net income attributable to common stockholders: Basic $ 144,449 $ 82,694 Diluted $ 144,456 $ 82,716 Net income per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic $ 1.95 $ 1.16 Diluted $ 1.79 $ 1.07 Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic 73,994 71,114 Diluted 80,721 77,516 ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Reconciliation of Selected GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages and per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 GAAP gross profit $ 302,919 $ 214,210 GAAP gross margin 64.1 % 63.9 % Stock-based compensation expense 1,202 1,024 Non-GAAP gross profit $ 304,121 $ 215,234 Non-GAAP gross margin 64.4 % 64.2 % GAAP income from operations $ 138,738 $ 73,418 Stock-based compensation expense 20,851 16,439 Litigation expense 7,085 11,466 Non-GAAP income from operations $ 166,674 $ 101,323 Non-GAAP operating margin 35.3 % 30.2 % GAAP net income $ 144,538 $ 82,961 Stock-based compensation expense 20,851 16,439 Litigation expense 7,085 11,466 Excess tax benefit on share based awards (25,321 ) (28,790 ) Income tax effect on non-GAAP exclusions (13,030 ) (10,269 ) Non-GAAP net income $ 134,123 $ 71,807 GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders $ 1.79 $ 1.07 Non-GAAP adjustments to net income (0.13 ) (0.14 ) Non-GAAP diluted net income per share $ 1.66 $ 0.93 Weighted-average shares used in computing diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders 80,721 77,516 Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense: Cost of revenue $ 1,202 $ 1,024 Research and development 10,945 9,587 Sales and marketing 5,960 3,456 General and administrative 2,744 2,372 Total $ 20,851 $ 16,439 ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, in thousands) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 886,160 $ 859,192 Marketable securities 851,880 676,363 Accounts receivable 207,339 247,346 Inventories 268,131 306,198 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 165,664 177,330 Total current assets 2,379,174 2,266,429 Property and equipment, net 73,825 74,279 Investments 36,136 36,136 Deferred tax assets 68,020 65,125 Other assets 22,879 18,891 TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,580,034 $ 2,460,860 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable $ 70,431 $ 52,200 Accrued liabilities 85,728 133,827 Deferred revenue 274,677 327,706 Other current liabilities 26,943 16,172 Total current liabilities 457,779 529,905 Income taxes payable 37,358 34,067 Lease financing obligations, non-current 37,138 37,673 Deferred revenue, non-current 181,377 187,556 Other long-term liabilities 21,343 9,745 TOTAL LIABILITIES 734,995 798,946 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Common stock 8 7 Additional paid-in capital 841,431 804,731 Retained earnings (1) 1,007,226 859,114 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,626 ) (1,938 ) TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 1,845,039 1,661,914 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 2,580,034 $ 2,460,860 ____________________________ (1) The adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), and ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, in the first quarter of 2018 resulted in an adjustment to increase the retained earnings balance by $3.6 million as of January 1, 2018. ARISTA NETWORKS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 As Adjusted (1) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 144,538 $ 82,961 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation, amortization and other 5,697 4,939 Stock-based compensation 20,851 16,439 Deferred income taxes (3,541 ) 2,521 Amortization (accretion) of investment premiums (discounts) (30 ) 330 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net 40,007 44,057 Inventories 38,067 (50,296 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 13,722 (29,051 ) Other assets (2,027 ) 69 Accounts payable 20,040 (18,648 ) Accrued liabilities (48,140 ) (15,143 ) Deferred revenue (42,686 ) 124,236 Income taxes payable 3,478 2,923 Other liabilities 5,565 (2,475 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 195,541 162,862 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 90,448 64,488 Purchases of marketable securities (267,976 ) (61,511 ) Purchases of property and equipment (6,336 ) (4,645 ) Net cash used in investing activities (1) (183,864 ) (1,668 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Principal payments of lease financing obligations (456 ) (383 ) Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans 17,300 19,481 Tax withholding paid on behalf of employees for net share settlement (1,536 ) (580 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 15,308 18,518 Effect of exchange rate changes (14 ) 184 NET (News - Alert) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH 26,971 179,896 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH -Beginning of period (1) 864,697 572,168 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH -End of period (1) $ 891,668 $ 752,064 ____________________________________ (1) The adoption of ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash ("ASU 2016-18"), in the first quarter of 2018 requires the Company to include restricted cash together with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts presented on the statements of cash flows. As a result, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts increased by $4.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively, and net cash used in investing activities increased by $1.3 million. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006438/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Zayo Announces Resignation of Chief Operating Officer Today, Zayo Group (News - Alert) Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZAYO) announced that president and COO Andrew Crouch has resigned from the company, effective immediately. Crouch communicated that he has no immediate plans and will be taking time to consider his next venture. Crouch's resignation is not related to his or the company's performance. In his tenure as COO, Crouch expressed enthusiasm for Zayo's business plan, results, and trajectory. Management does not plan to pursue a replacement in the near term. "We think very highly of Andrew, and we wish him the best," said Dan Caruso, chairman and CEO at Zayo. "We are 100 percent focused on execution and driving accelerated growth; we do not believe this development will negatively impact our pace and progress." Management expects to further address this announcement on the company's fiscal third quarter earnings conference call, scheduled for this afternoon at 5:00 p.m. EDT, May 3, 2018. For more information about Zayo, visit zayo.com. About Zayo Grou Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZAYO) provides communications infrastructure solutions, including fiber and bandwidth connectivity, colocation and cloud infrastructure to the world's leading businesses. Customers include wireless and wireline carriers, media and content companies and finance, healthcare and other large enterprises. Zayo's 128,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. In addition to high-capacity dark fiber, wavelength, Ethernet and other connectivity solutions, Zayo offers colocation and cloud infrastructure in its carrier-neutral data centers. Zayo provides users with flexible, customized solutions and self-service through Tranzact, an innovative online platform for managing and purchasing bandwidth. For more information, visit zayo.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words such as "believe," "expect," "plan," "continue," "will," "should," and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements will be achieved and actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. For additional information on these and other factors that could affect our forward-looking statements, see our risk factors, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in our filings with the SEC (News - Alert) , including our 10-K dated August 22, 2017. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006502/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Osram strengthens portfolio for security applications via acquisition MUNICH, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Osram has added to its expertise in semiconductor-based optical security technology by acquiring US-based Vixar Inc. Already a technology leader in infrared LEDs and infrared laser diodes, Osram will have a unique breadth of technological expertise and an expanded product portfolio after bringing on board Vixar's specialist capabilities in the field of VCSEL. While currently known primarily for identification applications in mobile devices, VCSEL also can be used to recognize gestures and measure distances in medical, industrial, and automotive applications. Vixar was founded by pioneers in the VCSEL industry, having first brought VCSEL to the data communication market in the late 1990s, and more recently by founding Vixar in 2005 to pursue sensing applications. Approximately 20 employees of the company, which is based in Plymouth, Minnesota, will transfer to Osram as a result of the acquisition. Vixar is profitable both on an operational and net results level. The parties to the deal have agreed not to disclose financial details. Closing of the transaction is expected in summer. "The acquisition of Vixar is adding to our expertise, particularly in the fast-growing market for security technologies," said Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM Licht AG. Osram is a technology leader in infrared optical semiconductors and has already succeeded in bringing to market light sources for fingerprint sensors, iris scanners, and 2D facial recognition. The acquired capabilities will pave the way for further security technologies, including ultra-compact 3D facial recognition. In addition to unlocking smartphones and other consumer electronics devices, such technologies also can be used for high-security access controls in industry. The way in which VCSEL technology captures 3D environmental data has applications in everything from gesture recognition, augmented reality, robotics, and proximity sensors to autoomous driving. VCSEL stands for vertical cavity surface emitting laser and is a special type of laser diode in which the light is emitted perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor chip. Vixar is a fabless semiconductor company, and has developed a robust volume supply chain consisting of merchant foundries serving the optoelectronic market. Osram's depth and breadth of semiconductor experience will further strengthen the manufacturing capabilities for the rapidly growing VCSEL market. PRESS CONTACTS Torsten Wolf Tel: +49 89 6213 2506 Email: torsten.wolf@osram.com Jens Hack Tel. +49 89 6213 2129 Email: j.hack@osram.com ABOUT OSRAM OSRAM, based in Munich, is a leading global high-tech company with a history dating back more than 110 years. Primarily focused on semiconductor-based technologies, our products are used in highly diverse applications ranging from virtual reality to autonomous driving and from smartphones to networked, intelligent lighting solutions in buildings and cities. OSRAM utilizes the infinite possibilities of light to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities. OSRAM's innovations will enable people all over the world not only to see better, but also to communicate, travel, work, and live better. As of the end of fiscal year 2017 (September 30), OSRAM had approximately 26,400 employees worldwide. It generated revenue of more than 4.1 billion in fiscal year 2017. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Munich (ISIN: DE000LED4000; WKN: LED400; trading symbol: OSR). Additional information can be found at www.osram.com. Disclaimer This document contains forward-looking statements and information, i.e. statements about events that lie in the future rather than the past. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as 'expect', 'want', 'anticipate', 'intend', 'plan', 'believe', 'seek', 'estimate', 'will', and 'predict'. Such statements are based on current expectations and certain assumptions made by OSRAM's management, so they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. A wide range of factors, many of which are beyond OSRAM's control, have an influence on the business activities, success, business strategy, and results of OSRAM. These factors may cause the actual results, success, and performance of OSRAM to differ significantly from those expressly or implicitly communicated in the forward-looking statements or from those that are expected on the basis of past trends. In particular, these factors include, but are not limited to, the circumstances described in the report on risks and opportunities contained in the annual report of the OSRAM Licht Group. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the actual results, performance, and success of OSRAM may differ significantly from those described in forward-looking statements as being expected, anticipated, intended, planned, believed, sought, estimated, or projected. OSRAM assumes no obligation, nor does it intend, to update these forward-looking statements above and beyond the legal requirements or to adjust them in light of unexpected developments. Due to rounding, numbers presented in this and other reports may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures to which they relate. SOURCE Osram [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Xerox Settlement Agreement with Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason Has Expired Xerox (NYSE: XRX) today announced that the settlement agreement it had reached with Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason on May 1, 2018 has expired in accordance with its terms. As previously stated, the agreement would have become effective upon execution of stipulations discontinuing the Deason litigation with respect to the Xerox defendants. In the absence of such stipulations, the agreement expired at 8:00 p.m. ET on May 3, 2018. As a result, the current Board of Directors and management team will remain in place. Xerox and its Board of Directors recognize the uncertainty caused by the developments of the past several days among the company's investors and other stakeholders. The Xerox Board and management team remain focused on driving continued improvement in financial and operational performance, and will consider all options to create value for the company and its shareholders. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This filing, and other written or oral statements made from time to time by management contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "will", "should" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs, assumptions and expectations and are subject to a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Such factors include but are not limited to: our ability to address our business challenges in order to reverse revenue declines, reduce costs and increase productivity so that we can invest in and grow our business; changes in economic and political conditions, trade protection measures, licensing requirements and tax laws in the United States and in the foreign countries in which we do business; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to successfully develop new products, technologies and service offerings and to protect our intellectual property rights; the risk that multi-year contracts with governmental entities could be terminated prior to the end of the contract term and that civil or criminal penalties and administrative sanctions could be imposed on us if we fail to comply with the terms of such contracts and applicable law; the risk that partners, subcontractors and software vendors will not perform in a timely, quality manner; actions of competitors and our ability to promptly and effectively react to changing technologies and customer expectations; our ability to obtain adequate pricing for our products and services and to maintain and improve cost efficiency of operations, including savings from restructuring actions; the risk that individually dentifiable information of customers, clients and employees could be inadvertently disclosed or disclosed as a result of a breach of our security systems; reliance on third parties, including subcontractors, for manufacturing of products and provision of services; our ability to manage changes in the printing environment and expand equipment placements; interest rates, cost of borrowing and access to credit markets; funding requirements associated with our employee pension and retiree health benefit plans; the risk that our operations and products may not comply with applicable worldwide regulatory requirements, particularly environmental regulations and directives and anti-corruption laws; the outcome of litigation and regulatory proceedings to which we may be a party; the risk that we do not realize all of the expected strategic and financial benefits from the separation and spin-off of our Business Process Outsourcing business; the outcome of our process to evaluate all strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, including terminating or restructuring Xerox's relationship with FUJIFILM and the proposed transaction with FUJIFILM and other factors that are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section, the "Legal Proceedings" section, the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section and other sections of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC (News - Alert) .. Xerox assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law. Fuji Xerox is a joint venture between Xerox Corporation and Fujifilm in which Xerox holds a noncontrolling 25% equity interest and Fujifilm holds the remaining equity interest. In April 2017, Fujifilm formed an independent investigation committee (IIC) to primarily conduct a review of the appropriateness of the accounting practices at Fuji Xerox's New Zealand subsidiary and at other subsidiaries. The IIC completed its review during the second quarter 2017 and identified aggregate adjustments to Fuji Xerox's financial statements of approximately JPY 40 billion (approximately $360 million) primarily related to misstatements at Fuji Xerox's New Zealand and Australian subsidiaries. We determined that our share of the total adjustments identified as part of the investigation was approximately $90 million and impacted our fiscal years 2009 through 2017. We concluded that we should revise our previously issued annual and interim consolidated financial statements for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 the next time they are filed. However, Fujifilm and Fuji Xerox continue to review Fujifilm's oversight and governance of Fuji Xerox as well as Fuji Xerox's oversight and governance over its businesses in light of the findings of the IIC. At this time, we can provide no assurances relative to the outcome of any potential governmental investigations or any consequences thereof that may happen as a result of this matter. About Xerox Xerox Corporation is a technology leader that innovates the way the world communicates, connects and works. We understand what's at the heart of sharing information - and all of the forms it can take. We embrace the integration of paper and digital, the increasing requirement for mobility, and the need for seamless integration between work and personal worlds. Every day, our innovative print technologies and intelligent work solutions help people communicate and work better. Discover more at www.xerox.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @Xerox. Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit https://www.news.xerox.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://twitter.com/xerox, http://connect.blogs.xerox.com, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp, https://www.instagram.com/xerox/, http://www.linkedin.com/company/xerox, http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp. Xerox and Xerox and Design are trademarks of Xerox in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006838/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 04, 2018] Subic Bay Development Investment Conference by Sinosun to Attract FDI into the Philippines SUBIC BAY, Philippines, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinosun Subic Bay Holdings Corporation (Sinosun), a consultancy and independent advisory company bridging international corporations and investors to the Philippines, particularly in Subic Bay and Cagayan Valley, announced the successful conclusion of the Subic Bay Development Investments Conference (SDIC), which was held at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel & Event Center. The conference thatwas graced by Senior Deputy Administrator (SDA) of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Stefani Sano, OIC-Deputy Administrator of SBMA Investment Group, Kenneth Rementilla and Mayor of Olongapo City, Rolen Paulino, brought together over 40 attendees, including state owned enterprises, private investment firms, businessmen and individual investors from Malaysia and China. SDA Sano represented SBMA Chairperson & Administrator Atty. Wilma Eisma who is on an official visit to Shanghai, commented that more similar conferences should be held on a regular basis to introduce available investment opportunities in Subic Bay to international investors. Citing media reports regarding Sinosun's memorandum with Cagayan Economic Zone Authority to promote the development of blockchain and financial technologies, Sano said he hope that Sinosun will also consider establishing a "FinTech City" in Subic Bay. At the event, OIC-Deputy Administrator Rementilla's presentation provided participants important information regarding the business landscape in Subic Bay, the advantages of locating in Subic Bay and the roles of SBMA to assist locators to reach their goals. Chairman of Sinosun, Dr. Samuel Lim also presented a master plan for the development of Subic Bay and Olongapo City including power generation, industrial parks, seaport for transshipments and tourism enhancement. As the majority of manpower in Subic Bay comes from Olongapo City, Sinosun sees the importance of the development in Olongapo that must go hand in hand with Subic Bay. Mayor Paulino expressed his appreciation to Dr. Samuel Lim for putting priority to the development of Olongapo. "I will fully support all major projects by Sinosun for Olongapo City," said Paulino. The conference featured a broad range of general investments and discussions on key topics including commercial real estate, the importance of investments in financial planning, the conducive environment for blockchain and financial technology (FinTech) industry, compliance considerations and the current regulatory outlook. Mundo Financial Technology Group's President, Dr. Demian Ong said, "The business environment in Subic Bay is ideal for the development of financial technologies." Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180430/2118850-1 SOURCE Sinosun Subic Bay Holdings Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 04, 2018] Arctech Solar Partners with Europower to Kick Off Turkey PV Market SHANGHAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Arctech Solar recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with Europower, one of the biggest Turkey PV manufacturers, for the production, solution design, operation and maintenance of solar tracking systems in Turkey. Under the agreement signed between the two parties, Arctech Solar and Europower will launch the cobranding product "EuroSuntracker Powered by Arctech Solar" - which is to say, Arctech together with Europower will bring the innovative, reliable solar tracking system to investors in the Turkey PV market, which comes under Domestic Content Requirement (DCR), a part of the mandate that solar equipment be sourced locally. "We are now working with Arctech Solar as our exclusive prtner because of their innovative technology, excellent quality and rich project experience in PV solar industry," said Behic Harmanli, President of Europower. "We are confident that this cooperation will bring both of us opportunities and favorable conditions in Turkey PV market." The president of Arctech Solar's international business, Guy Rong commented, "Turkey is a very important market for us, the cooperation with Europower marked the successful entry of Arctech Solar into Turkey PV market. We will bring state-of-art tracker products to the market and work closely with Europower to deliver more values to the local solar projects." About Arctech Solar Arctech Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers and solution providers of solar tracking and racking systems. In the past 9 years, Arctech Solar has successfully set up overseas subsidiaries/service centers in North America, India, Japan, Spain and Mexico. As of the end of 2017, Arctech Solar has cumulatively installed 13.5GW capacity and completed 800 projects in 15 countries. With a production capacity of 6GW and 3GW in fixed mounting structure and tracker field respectively (a total annual capacity of 9GW), Arctech Solar is now a reliable partner in the global PV Tracking and Racking industry. For more information please visit: www.arctechsolar.com For product sales and other enquiries: sales@arctechsolar.com Press Contact: Sabrina Lyu Telephone: +86-15000853002 Email Address: sabrina.lu@arctechsolar.com Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180504/2124402-1 SOURCE Arctech Solar [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 04, 2018] TUV SUD South Asia Announces a New Chief Operating Officer Position MUMBAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) giant, TUV SUD, today announced a new position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the South Asia region. To that effect, Suresh Kumar has been elevated to the new role and will continue to report to Niranjan Nadkarni, CEO of South & South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa region. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568955/TUV_SUD_South_Asia_Logo.jpg ) The announcement follows a series of realignment decisions that revamped the management structure of TUV SUD at a global level. This resulted in the formation of a new region comprising of countries from four sub-regions, ASEAN, South Asia, Middle East and Africa. With this consolidation, the heads of all the four sub-regions, will report to Niranjan Nadkarni. This move is aimed to facilitate efficient cross-region functioning to drive efficiencies, better results and accelerate growth. Suresh Kumar, in his new role, will be responsible for operatins and sales across all divisions in the sub-region that comprises of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Suresh will work closely with all divisions in South Asia markets to drive robust strategic planning and business development. Ezhilan Neelan will now take over Suresh's most recent role of Senior Vice President of Product Services at TUV SUD South Asia and continue to lead Bangladesh as the country director. About TUV SUD TUV SUD is a leading international service organisation catering to the strategic business segments industry, mobility and certification. Headquartered in Munich, Germany and founded in 1866, it has over 24,000 employees representing more than 1,000+ locations throughout the world. Optimising technology, systems and know-how, the interdisciplinary specialist teams act as process partners to strengthen their customers' competitiveness. About TUV SUD South Asia TUV SUD South Asia is the leading consulting, testing, inspection and certification (TIC) company with presence across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. With more than 1,400 employees, TUV SUD South Asia has serviced over 10,000 clients to date through the past two decades. It is present at 32 locations including 19 labs across the three countries. Today, TUV SUD South Asia is internationally competent to provide TIC solutions cutting across a wide range of sectors that include management systems, conventional and renewable energy, water, sanitation, environmental technology, infrastructure, transit systems, real estate, food, supply chain, agriculture, toys, consumer electronics, textiles, leather and related products, automobile and components, and technical as well as soft-skills training. For further details, visit http://www.tuv-sud.in/. Follow us on social media platforms - Twitter and LinkedIn Media Contact: Sharwari Paranjape sharwari.paranjape@edelman.com +91-9820780054 Edelman [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 04, 2018] OmniJoin from Brother and GoMo Health Announce Joint Partnership BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OmniJoin, the teleheath and video conferencing service from Brother International Corporation, today announced a new strategic partnership with GoMo Health, a leading provider of population health management systems for healthcare plans, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. The new alliance aims to help improve remote care coordination across the continuum of care and throughout the patient journey. Todays healthcare delivery models are becoming less sustainable as patient engagement demands and expectations continue to evolve. Patients want more flexibility when it comes to engaging with their providers, said Bob Gold, CEO of Gold Group Enterprises, the parent company of GoMo Health. Our Concierge Care platform can help streamline patient communication efforts, allowing them to have better access to their providers through various channels resulting in improved outcomes. The venture with OmniJoin will amplify our video visit capabilities to provide a more personalized remote cre delivery experience. This new platform feature has already made headway into the market with GoMo Health customers. Schrafts 2.0, an advanced specialty pharmacy with emphasis on fertility, is a case-in-point. Many of our patients are busy professionals. We want to cater to their needs and the obvious choice was implementing a secure video system that will allow patients from all 50 states to speak directly with our expert team, explained Adam Hait, RPh, president of Schrafts 2.0. As the popularity of telehealth services continues to grow, the need for more complete programs that address patient demand is at an all-time high. The healthcare market is rapidly changing, and its exciting to be part of a new era of patient engagement capabilities, said Bill Henderson, Brother OmniJoin vice president of marketing. Were thrilled GoMo Health turned to us to be its video visit solutions partner and are looking forward to seeing the progressive possibilities in the coming months and years. About OmniJoin OmniJoin from Brother is a web and video conferencing service, delivering highly secure voice, video and remote collaboration through online meetings in our public cloud or in our customers own private cloud. With a focus on secure connections, OmniJoin has been able to offer businesses a way to meet that gives IT professionals peace of mind, and end-users confidence to share information freely. OmniJoins focus on security has led to the introduction of OmniJoin for Healthcare, which addresses the unique needs of healthcare institutions by meeting the HIPAA requirement. About Brother Brother International Corporation (www.brother.com) is an industry leading provider of small and mid-sized business printing and imaging solutions developed to help increase productivity, improve workflow, and enhance organizational efficiency, all while helping to reduce costs. Brother is also a leader in electronic labeling and provides the number one line of facsimile machines in the U.S. The U.S. corporate office in Bridgewater, NJ was established on April 21, 1954 and currently markets many industrial products, home appliances and business products manufactured by its parent company, Brother Industries, Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan. For more information, visit www.brother.com. Contact: Courtney Behrens 908.252.3090 courtney.behrens@brother.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 04, 2018] Messageries ADP signs major agreement with Hachette Canada MONTREAL, May 4, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Messageries ADP, a subsidiary of Quebecor, is pleased to announce a major agreement with Hachette Canada, a subsidiary of Hachette Livre, the world's largest publisher of French-language books, for the distribution of all its French-language titles in Canada. The agreement takes effect in January 2019 and provides for Messageries ADP to take over the distribution of Hachette books to bookstores, and the marketing and distribution of its titles to mass retailers. "We are pleased that Hachette has entrusted us with distribution of its catalogue, which incudes books from more than 60 publishers in Quebec and France," said Lyne Robitaille, Senior Vice President, Newspapers, Magazines, Distribution & Printing, of Quebecor. "It is testimony to our unique expertise and impact in the market." "Adding this high-quality publisher to our existing list of partner publishers strengthens our position as the number 1 marketer and distributor of French-language books in Canada," said Charles Cusson, General Manager, Messageries ADP. "The arrival of Hachette will also enable us to offer our customers an expanded range of products and services." About Messageries ADP Messageries ADP markets and distributes print and digital French-language books. It is Canada's largest French book marketer and distributor. Its turnkey service brings titles from nearly 200 Quebec and European publishers to bookstores, mass retailers, schools and libraries. www.messageries-adp.com SOURCE Quebecor [May 04, 2018] ActiveCampaign Deepens Shopify Integration to Enable Shopping Cart Abandonment CHICAGO, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ActiveCampaign, a leader in intelligence-driven sales & marketing automation, released Abandoned Cart today to make it easier to automate your abandoned cart emails, and ultimately increase sales. With so many ways to shop online, it's no surprise that more than 75% of consumers abandon purchases. Reminding consumers of their pending purchase can have a big impact on completing a sale, but without having the right technology, it can be cumbersome. The launch of Abandon Cart provides a seamless integration for Shopify users to build automations directly in ActiveCampaign. "ActiveCampaign is designed to simplify marketing automation for small- and medium-sized businesses," said Jason VandeBoom, Founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign. "Our new Abandoned Cart capabilites deepens our integrations with Shopify, making it easier to initiate communications with the right message when someone abandons a purchase in an effort to increase sales." ActiveCampaign's Abandoned Cart enables users to: Trigger new automations showing abandoned cart product data Segment users based on seven conditions View abandoned cart data in the contact profile Abandoned Cart is currently available for Shopify users and will be available for additional e-commerce platforms via ActiveCampaign in the coming months. To learn more, visit www.activecampaign.com/blog/announcing-abandoned-cart/. About ActiveCampaign Recognized as a leader in the sales and marketing automation space, ActiveCampaign helps businesses grow by strengthening their relationship with customers utilizing a blend of automation and human touch. Companies are able to automate many behind the scenes processes and communicate with their customers across channels with personalized, intelligence-driven messages. For more information, visit www.activecampaign.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/activecampaign-deepens-shopify-integration-to-enable-shopping-cart-abandonment-300642686.html SOURCE ActiveCampaign [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 04, 2018] Forum Aims to Promote Business Partnerships with Japan TORONTO, May 4, 2018 /CNW/ - Canadian companies will gather in Toronto on May 10 to learn how to take advantage of opportunities to increase their business in Japan with a focus on developing new innovation and new markets through Japanese partnerships. Canada is facing uncertainty with some existing trade and investment partners but at the same time can look forward to new markets as a result of initiatives such as The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CP-TPP), of which Canada and Japan are the two major economies. Also, both Canada and Japan need to innovate in order to compete with growing global competition. By working together, Canadian and Japanese companies can create new innovation and access new markets. As Keynote speaker, NTT Data, Japan's number one systems integrator, will explain how they find and introduce promising startups to business units and customers of NTT DATA and run programs that put partner startups on the fast track to proof-of-concept and new business. Attendees will also learn from a panel of Canadian companies in a variety of sectors that are having success in the Japanese market. Forum highlights include: iNAGO: Toronto firm that has been in Japan for two decades having partnered with major Japanese firms including Brother, Clarion, Denso, Fujitsu, NEC Personal Computers, NTT Docomo and Toyota to develop next-generation solutions for in-car infotainment systems, smartphones and robots. firm that has been in for two decades having partnered with major Japanese firms including Brother, Clarion, Denso, Fujitsu, NEC Personal Computers, NTT Docomo and Toyota to develop next-generation solutions for in-car infotainment systems, smartphones and robots. Autonomous_ID: Ottawa "Internet of Me" leader with its biometric credentialing system designed to meet security, mobility and privacy needs in a broad range of applications including mHealth for monitoring disease progression and responding to falls; winner of a Tokyo Government global Fintech accelerator competition. Ottawa "Internet of Me" leader with its biometric credentialing system designed to meet security, mobility and privacy needs in a broad range of applications including mHealth for monitoring disease progression and responding to falls; winner of a Tokyo Government global Fintech accelerator competition. Mnubo: Montreal IoT analytics and artificial intelligence solutions provider has recently entered and found customers in the Japanese market. The forum is co-organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service, which during the event will hold a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signing ceremony. Supporting organizations are Embassy of Japan in Canada, Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto, Ontario Government, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Toronto Global, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Centre Toronto | Toronto Region Board of Trade, MaRS, Japan Society and Japan-Canada Chambers Council. The Japan-Canada Innovation Partnership Forum will be held at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel (at Rogers Centre), 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2018. More details about this event can be found at the following link: https://www.jetro.go.jp/canada/events/jcinnovationforummay1018.html Opportunities for media interviews with JETRO's senior executive from Tokyo and the NTT Data keynote speaker are available between 10:30-11:30 am on May 10th at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, as well as during the forum itself. SOURCE Japan External Trade Organization [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] INVESTOR ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Reminds 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/20180504005550/en/ [May 04, 2018] Oncolytics Biotech Announces Voting Results from its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders CALGARY, Alberta and SAN DIEGO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX:ONC) (OTCQX:ONCYF), currently developing REOLYSIN (pelareorep), an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus turning cold tumors hot, today announced the voting results from its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on Thursday May 3rd, 2018. A total of 41.91% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation were represented either in person or by proxy at the meeting. On a vote by ballot, the following seven nominees proposed by the Corporation were elected as Directors of Oncolytics to serve until the Corporation's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed, with shares represented at the meeting voting in favour of individual nominees as follows: Director For % Withheld % Deborah Brown 13,040,116 82.67 % 2,732,896 17.33 % Matt Coffey 13,535,882 85.82 % 2,237,130 14.18 % Angela Holtham 12,783,058 81.04 % 2,989,954 18.96 % J. Mark Lievonen 12,861,059 81.54 % 2,911,953 18.46 % Wayne Pisano 12,738,759 80.76 % 3,034,253 19.24 % William G. Rice 12,745,509 80.81 % 3,027,503 19.19 % Bernd R. Seizinger 12,793,602 81.11 % 2,979,410 18.89 % Please refer to the Corporation's management information circular available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for more details on the matters covered at the annual meeting. Final voting results on all matters voted on at the annual meeting will also be filed on SEDAR. About Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing REOLYSIN, also known as pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype -- turning "cold" tumors "hot" -- through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Oncolytics' clinical development program emphasizes three pillars: chemotherapy combinations to trigger selective tumor lysis and immuno-therapy and immune modulator (IMiD) combinations to produce innate and adaptive immune responses. Oncolytics is currently planning its first registration study in metastatic breast cancer, as well as studies in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted and IMiD therapies in solid and hematological malignancies. For further information, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements, including the Company's belief as to the potential and mode of action of REOLYSIN, also known as pelareorep, as a cancer therapeutic; and other statements related to anticipated developments in the Company's business and technologies involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of pelareorep as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize pelareorep, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Company Contact Michael Moore Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications 858-886-7813 mmoore@oncolytics.ca Investor Relations Robert Uhl Westwicke Partners 858-356-5932 robert.uhl@westwicke.com Media Contact Jason Spark Canale Communications 619-849-6005 jason@canalecomm.com [ 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 Unum Group Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Unum Group ("Unum" or "the Company") (NYSE:UNM) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws. On May 1, 2018, Unum issued a press release announcing its first quarter 2018 financial results, disclosing that "The interest adjusted loss ratio for the long-term care line of business was 96.6 percent in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the 88.6 percent in the first quarter of 2017, due primarily to higher claims incidence." To obtain additional information, go to: http://www.zlk.com/pslra-d/unum-group 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/20180504005868/en/ SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Notifies Investors of an Investigation Involving Possible Securities Fraud Violations by the Board of Directors of Fluor Corporation Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Fluor Corporation ("Fluor" or "the Company") (NYSE: FLR) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws. On May 3, 2018, Fluor issued a press release announcing its first quarter 2018 financial results, disclosing an after-tax charge of approximately $96 million for forecast revision on a gas-fired power project. The Company revised its 2018 guidance for Earnings Per Share to a range of $2.10 to $2.50 per diluted share. Following this news, shares of Fluor fell more than 22% to close at $45.76 per share on May 4, 2018. To obtain additional information, go to: http://www.zlk.com/pslra-d/fluor-investigation 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/20180504005882/en/ Enjoying your shiny new Galaxy S9? Thats great, because the world has already moved onto Samsungs next flagship smartphone or, rather, smartphones. (Image credit: Samsung, from 2014 concept video) The ridiculous pace of the mobile industry means that already were hearing about the South Korean tech giants plans to launch its next products. And, if the latest rumors bear out, 2019 could prove to be a big year for Samsungs mobile division. A fresh report from business publication The Bell via BGR claims that the Galaxy S10 could launch as soon as January at CES 2019 in Las Vegas. Rumblings of a CES launch for an upcoming Galaxy S are nothing new, though theyve never actually come to pass. MORE: Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors: Everything You Need to Know However, this cycle might be different, and its because of Samsungs other big phone the foldable Galaxy X. According to The Bell, Samsung is targeting a late February or early March debut for that highly-anticipated product, now codenamed "Winner," at MWC 2019 in Barcelona. If you recall, the Galaxy S9 bowed at MWC this year, and Samsung has a habit of saving something big for that trade show. But just because the company might have two different high-end handsets to launch in the first half of 2019 doesnt necessarily mean The Bells report outlines the only way for Samsung to address the dilemma. One of the phones could make it to Barcelona, while the other gets launched at an exclusive event at a later date. Or, Samsung could kill two birds with one stone and roll them out alongside each other, as Apple tends to do with new iPhones. Its simply too early to tell which direction the company will end up leaning plus, these plans always have a habit of changing. Besides, this is the Galaxy X were talking about: a device first teased in 2014, that has suffered setback after setback. Samsung hinted it could show this year, until Qualcomm apparently put those dreams to bed in March. Samsung evidently wants to release the Galaxy X when its good and ready, rather have it turn out to be an experiment gone wrong. Admirable as that is, its hard to put stock in any news related to the phones development at this stage, and that includes its launch. Since the Galaxy S10s reveal hinges heavily on Samsungs other plans (and, again, these things are never set in stone), were definitely still in the wait-and-see phase here. We know what kind of features to expect from the LG G7 ThinQ, and even the kind of performance you can expect from the phone's AI-powered cameras. But what about buying the device? And just how much should you expect to pay from the G7 ThinQ? You'll have to turn to your favorite wireless carrier to find out, as LG is letting them handle sales. Even with AT&T taking a pass on this phone it plans to sell the more expensive LG V35 ThinQ instead you still have plenty of options, as the other three major carriers started selling the phone as of today (June 1). And they're joined by a surprise source Google's Project Fi, which is expanding the number of phones that now work on its cellular service. MORE: LG G7 vs. Galaxy S9: How They Compare We've had the chance to test a pre-production version of the LG ThinQ G7 and found it to be a solid though not particularly remarkable device. Its strongest features include an AI-powered camera and tight integration with the Google Assistant. If that's intriguing to you, here's where you can find out more about ordering the LG G7 ThinQ, which costs between $749 and $792 depending on where you buy it. Project Fi You probably didn't expect LG's new phone to land at Google's wireless service. But starting last year with the Moto X4, Google has been looking to allow more phones to work with Project Fi, which relies on the networks of Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular plus Wi-Fi to offer cellular connectivity. The G7 ThinQ is one of the new phones added to Project Fi, where you can get it for $749 or $31.21 a month if you pay for the phone in installments. While other carriers are now selling the G7, as of this writing, it's still listed as coming soon at the Project Fi site. Sprint The LG G7 ThinQ is now on sale, available for $33 a month if you lease it for 18 months through a Sprint Flex plan. You can upgrade to a new phone after 12 months or buy the phone by paying off the remaining balance at the end of your lease. Buying the G7 outright from Sprint will cost $792. Sprint's continuing an offer from when it was taking pre-orders on the phone where you can get a second G7 for free when you lease the first one. Credits for the second phone appear on your bill within two payment periods and run for the length of your lease. T-Mobile The Uncarrier sells the G7 for $750. Broken up over T-Mobile's 24-month payment plan, that comes out to $30 a month after you put $30 down on the new phone. T-Mobile customers have the option of going with the Raspberry Rose colorway, which other carriers will not be offering. If you're looking to pick up multiple phones, T-Mobile has a buy-one-get-one-free offer on the G7, though it requires you to pay for both phones in installments. The savings on the second G7 will come to you in the form of bill credits. Verizon After getting an early jump on other carriers by starting pre-sales early, Verizon is charging $31.25 a month for the phone if you pay for it monthly over the next two years. The G7 costs $750 at Verizon if you buy it outright. The carrier really wants you to buy the G7 in installments, though, as it's offering to knock $100 off the price of the phone when you pay for it over 24 months. That discount will be spread out over the life of your agreement, though. Verizon says you can stack that offer with additional trade-ins for further savings on the G7. Trading in an iPhone 6s or later, any Pixel phone, a Galaxy S7 Edge or later, a Galaxy Note 8, LG G6 or V30 or any Moto Z Force phone gets you a 50 percent discount. Older phones are eligible for 35 percent or 25 percent discounts. That trade-in amount is applied to your bill in the form of monthly credits. Updated on June 1 with Project Fi info. Twitter announced today (May 3) that it had accidentally "unmasked" user passwords by storing them unencrypted in an internal log file. (Image credit: Rizhka Nazar/Shutterstock) The company didn't say how many user accounts were involved or how long the possible exposure lasted. But the company did say it had fixed the mistake and that there was no evidence the passwords were ever accessed without authorization, or that there was any kind of data breach. How long the "unmasking" lasted is crucial. If it was one day, you probably needn't worry about changing your password. If it was six months, you should consider it, just as a precaution. If the passwords lay exposed for 10 years, then you definitely need to. But as of now, Twitter isn't saying. MORE: Here's the One Gmail Setting You Should Activate Now The least you should do is to turn on Twitter's two-factor authentication option, or "login verification," if you haven't already. Click or tap your Twitter icon on the website or mobile app and select "Settings and Privacy" from the resulting menu. Select "Login verification" under Security on the website, or Account > Security on the mobile app, and follow the directions to set up two-factor authentication. The website also gives you the option to "require personal information to reset your password," such as by providing an email address or a phone number, and you should choose that option. "We recently found a bug that stored passwords unmasked in an internal log," stated a tweet from the official Twitter Support account at 4:04 pm EDT Thursday. "We fixed the bug and have no indication of a breach or misuse by anyone. As a precaution, consider changing your password on all services where youve used this password." A linked blog posting explained that Twitter normally "hashes" passwords using the Bcrypt hashing algorithm, which is very strong and has never been compromised to our knowledge. Hashes are a form of one-way encryption input of any length results in a seemingly irreversible jumble of letters and numbers. Most online services keep hashes of user passwords instead of the passwords themselves. When you log in, whatever you enter in the password field is quickly run through the same hashing algorithm and then compared to your hashed password on file. MORE: Essential Tips to Avoid Getting Hacked "Due to a bug, passwords were written to an internal log before completing the hashing process," the blog posting states. "We found this error ourselves, removed the passwords, and are implementing plans to prevent this bug from happening again." The posting goes on to say that users should change their passwords on Twitter and anywhere else they'd use their Twitter passwords, and that the replacement password should be strong and unique. It also recommends using a password manager. Again, we don't know how long the file with the plaintext passwords existed, so we have no idea how much risk you run if you don't change your password. The fact that Twitter suggests you do could indicate that the risk is serious or that the company is simply covering its butt. But changing your Twitter password probably couldn't hurt. Best Identity Protection Recently, the Irish High Court referred a Privacy Shield, in which Facebook is involved, to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Facebook tried to block the case from reaching the CJEU, but the High Court denied Facebooks request. The court also accused Facebook of using stalling tactics to attempt to make its violations moot, once the GDPR passes. Facebook Defends Mass Surveillance Like the Safe Harbor before it, the Privacy Shield agreement between the European Union (EU) and the U.S. has also been sent for review to the CJEU. The Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) believes that the Privacy Shield agreement may be inadequate in protecting EU citizens privacy rights. American laws continue to allow the U.S. government to collect and search everyones data in bulk, including the data of foreigners. The recent FISA extension law even allows civil law enforcement agencies to scour through all the data passing through internet cables in the United States, without a warrant. Therefore, there seems to be a large chasm between what data protection is required for EU citizens by EU laws and what the U.S. laws allow its agencies to do with that data. Instead of agreeing that U.S. laws dont offer many protections for EU citizens data, Facebook defended the mass surveillance operations of the U.S. government as necessary for national security reasons. Facebook Stalls Privacy Shield Lawsuit After the Irish High Court denied Facebooks decision to stay the reference to the CJEU, Facebook said that it would appeal the ruling to the Irish Supreme Court. The High Court said that Facebook cannot rely on Irish national law to avoid a reference to the Supreme Court. Therefore, the issue cannot be appealed, as the High Court has the ability to reference cases to the CJEU at will. Facebook also said that if the Supreme Court will not hear an appeal, then it will appeal the Irish Court of Appeals. The High Court then concluded that Facebook is purposefully trying to stall the reference to the CJEU, in order for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to go into effect and make the judgement on previous EU privacy laws moot. Although this may be Facebooks plan, its unlikely to work. The Privacy Shield agreement and the GDPR regulate different aspects of EU privacy law. Additionally, just because the GDPR goes into effect doesnt necessarily mean the issue of U.S. mass surveillance of EU citizens data would be resolved--it cant be, until U.S. laws change to accommodate the privacy protections required by the Charter of Fundamental Rights for EU citizens. The online German computer magazine Heise.de is reporting that eight new Spectre-class vulnerabilities have been discovered. The vulnerabilities purportedly affect Intel and ARM processors, but the impact on AMD processors remain unknown. We reached out to Intel for comment, and the company provided this statement, which neither confirms nor denies the vulnerabilities: Protecting our customers data and ensuring the security of our products are critical priorities for us. We routinely work closely with customers, partners, other chipmakers and researchers to understand and mitigate any issues that are identified, and part of this process involves reserving blocks of CVE numbers. We believe strongly in the value of coordinated disclosure and will share additional details on any potential issues as we finalize mitigations. As a best practice, we continue to encourage everyone to keep their systems up-to-date. Much like the first round of Spectre vulnerabilities, these newly discovered vulnerabilities rely upon a side-channel attack on a processors' speculative execution engine. As per normal and responsible reporting policies, the teams of researchers that discovered the attacks are not releasing details until processor vendors are given a reasonable amount of time to develop patches, which should help ward off exploits, at least for now. The new discoveries, which Heise.de terms "Spectre-NG" (Next Generation), come after several processor vendors delivered the final round of Spectre and Meltdown patches to the public. As we've seen in our own testing, the existing patches can have an impact on performance in a wide range of applications, and further protections may bring about more pain-inducing mitigations. Heise.de discovered the vulnerabilities through the Common Vulnerability Enumerator (CVE) directory, which is the industry's central list of vulnerabilities. Details of the technical aspects are still slight, but as many have opined in the early days of the Spectre and Meltdown revelations, building more sophisticated attacks based on the same basic principles could allow attackers to circumvent the existing patches. That appears to have come to fruition, as these attacks are merely another iteration of the same tactic. Heise.de expects more information to surface in the coming days. Heise.de claims that Intel has already developed patches, which will roll out in two waves: One arrives in May, and the second is planned for August. Microsoft is also purportedly readying its own patches. According to the site, four of the vulnerabilities fall into the "high risk" category, while the other four are rated as "medium." The website also claims that one of the vulnerabilities is much more dangerous than the original Spectre. In theory, attackers could launch exploit code from within a virtual machine, which could then attack the host or other VMs. Unfortunately, these attacks could even sidestep Intel's Software Guard Extensions (SGX), which are designed to protect the most sensitive passwords and encryption keys. Unlike the fog of uncertainty that clouded CTS Labs' disclosures of AMD vulnerabilities, the Spectre-NG issues appear to be real. Intel has already promised that in-silicon fixes for the original Spectre/Meltdown issues will be released this year. These hardware-based mitigations should reduce, or even eliminate, the performance impact of the current patches. In light of Intel's recent disclosure that it's delaying its next-generation 10nm chips, we aren't sure if those fixes will come this year. If the Spectre-NG is real, there is a possibility that Intel had enough forewarning to include hardware-based fixes for those vulnerabilities, as well. We'll update as more information comes to light. No more veggie bacon or vegan cheese. Those nouns are now reserved for foods of animal origin. The French government has recently banned the use of meat-related names to describe vegetarian and vegan foods. The bill states that food producers will no longer be allowed to call products 'steak,' 'sausage,' or other meat-related terms if they do not contain animal products. The rules apply to dairy, as well, meaning no more vegan cheese or soy milk. Failure to comply will result in up to a 300,000 fine. The BBC reports that the regulation was "tabled in the form of an amendment to an agriculture bill, proposed by a farmer MP," who argued that these names are confusing for consumers. On Twitter, Jean Baptiste Moreau wrote (translated from French and edited for clarity): "The adoption of my amendment is to better inform the consumer about their food! It is important to fight against false allegations; our products must be designated correctly. Cheese or steak terms will be reserved for products of animal origin!" According to the Independent, Moreau based his argument on the fact that the European Court of Justice ruled last year that soya and tofu products could not be marketed as milk or butter within the EU. Reactions are mixed. Some people say it's absurd to think that customers would be confused by vegan alternatives: "This is ridiculous. I can tell you now no carnivore has ever bought veggie sausages or Quorn thinking they were buying meat." On the other hand, mix-ups do happen. I've purchased vegan sour cream by accident without realizing it was made by Tofutti; it turned out to be delicious, but it is disconcerting to have the same name on an entirely different product. The ruling could be a sign that the French meat industry is feeling threatened by the rise of plant-based alternatives. A similar debate is underway in the United States right now, where the U.S. Cattlemen's Association is pushing for a similar ban from the Department of Agriculture, saying the use of meat-related names on vegan products is misleading. Wendy Higgins of Humane Society International dislikes the ruling, telling the Independent: "Its a shame that instead of embracing vegan and vegetarian food, France has adopted a position of defensive paranoia. But ultimately it wont stop the rise of compassionate eating because the delicious, nutritious, Earth-friendly and ethical benefits will prevail regardless of what you call the products. I've come to think that the name doesn't really matter. Sure, it makes things easier for new vegans figuring out how to cook, but, as Higgins says, it won't stop the growth of plant-based eating. We need to give vegans more credit; they're passionate, determined people, and the absence of veggie meatballs and bacon will not deter them from doing what they believe in so strongly. As for the name, why call something the opposite of what it is, the very thing people are seeking to avoid? There must be other, better words out there. 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 We've enjoyed a few cruises to other destinations, but it wasn't how we wanted to explore Australia and NZ - i.e. we preferred to spend all of our time on land to get the most out of the trip, vs losing time to sea days, and we wanted to choose the destinations, vs. going to where the cruise ship takes you. Land trips are easy to plan for both countries. I'd suggest doing a bit more research to decide where you'd like to go and then if a land trip appeals, post back with a list so that others can help with feedback. Just a note that 4 weeks is quite short for both countries, so you'd need to be quite selective about where to go. Perhaps 10 days on the SI of NZ and the rest in Australia. Good luck with your plans :) Agree with AM. If you are includn Alice Soeings, you need more days in the Centre. It is a six hour drive from Alice to Uluru. Another day in Sydney would also be good, but you could also add it to PD for either just a relax or an atherton Tanlelands day trip. Whichever way you go, don't split your time in Sydney. Cheers. We enjoyed our AOL stay. They are farther from La Fortuna, but close to SkyAdventure. I also think that those in your family that might not participate in all the adventurous activities all the time, might enjoy hanging out on the property, walk its trails and enjoy spectacular views of the near by volcano and lake. Breakfast is included and the restaurant had glass walls, so you can see nice views even when the volcano is in the clouds. My suggestion would be to stay away from certain Standard category rooms located by La Casona (see property map ). We first ended up there, had no view and it was 1/2 km away from anything, so we moved to a Smithsonian category room. Still a modest room, no fridge/TV or a/c, but a spectacular view of the volcano and an easier access to the reception, restaurant, pool, trails. A sample 1-wk itinerary can be seen here, for ex. - . If you go to Manuel Antonio, remember that the park is closed on Mondays. Edited: 3 years ago The worst thing that happens in Tet is that most forms of transport get booked out and become more expensive as locals go home to be with families. If you are in a tourist area you wont notice much difference. Just make sure you have cash as ATMs often run dry. Ive been through Tet 3 times, best way is to hunker down near a tourist area for 3-4 days at least. Or go to Cambodia where they celebrate another form of Buddhism on a different date in April( I think) New Year Holidays are from Dec.29 to Jan. 3 in Japan, when many people return to their home town to cerebrate the New Year with their parents, relatives or friends. Thus, Shinkansens are crowded very much from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3, and you should not move until Jan. 4. We Japanese can book seats of any long distance JR trains from exactly 10am one months before. On the other hand, all foreign visitors could book only their seats of trains run by JR East online and could not book their seats of Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka online in advance, until JR Tokai (JR Central in English) and JR West released a new free smartphone App., Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen Reservation App,. last October, which allow booking of seats of Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen online, as follows. If you come in the New Year Holidays Season, you should book in advance using this App., but this App. is good only in several countries, such as the U.S.A., Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, and it cannot be combined with the JR Pass. However, if you come after Jan. 4, you can probably book your seats at any JR Stations after you come to Japan. If you use the JR Pass, book Shinkansen Hikari Superexpress, while if you don't use the JR Pass, book Shinkansen Nozomi Superexpress. Among the 3 Toyota Museums, which would you recommend to see more on robotics? Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology Toyota Automobile Museum, Nagoya. Toyota Municipal Museum of Art Thank you! ============================ Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology Toyota, now world famous for its cars, started life as a textile firm and the fascinating Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, housed in an old red-brick textile factory, displays textile looms and a history of automobile design in its two pavilions. Check out their hi-hi-hi-tech car-making robots. Admission 500 yen. 9.30am-5pm; closed Monday. Access: Sako Station on the Meitetsu line or Kamejima subway station. ============================ Toyota Automobile Museum, Nagoya. If you need even more of a car fix, head out east of the city to the amazing Toyota Automobile Museum, which has separate floors dedicated to European/American motors and Japanese cars. Never seen a 1926 Bugatti Type 35B or a 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost in mint condition? You can here. 500+ different miniature cars, and other assorted souvenirs available in the museum shop. Admission 1000 yen; 9:30am-5:00pm; Closed Monday. Access: Fujigaoka subway station, then Meitetsu bus. ============================ Toyota Municipal Museum of Art features works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Edvard Munch, and others. Not only strictly for art lovers, it is worth the trip just to see the building. The architect, Yoshio Taniguchibetter known for his recent work on the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)'s renovations in Manhattan has created a building that appears to float on water. Spectacular. Adults 00, high school/university Students 00 for the permanent collection (reductions for groups over 20). Elementary/junior high school students free. 10am-5.30pm (entrance until 5pm), closed Monday. Access: From Nagoya Station, take the Higashiyama line to Fushimi station. Then take the Tsurumai line bound for Toyota city and get off at the last stop. Approximately 12 minutes walk. --- Ref: -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Curvaceous nominated Senator Millicent Omanga has always wowed many with her gorgeous physique and outspoken personality. The Jubilee senator never shies away from displaying her voluptuous body and plus size figure which arguably leaves many Kenyan men drooling. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens In a Facebook post seen by TUKO.co.ke, on Thursday, May 3, a desperate Kenyan man identified as Anyamba Duncan was unable to contain his feelings for the bootylicious politician. READ ALSO: Raila Junior amkejeli Ruto baada ya kukataliwa kumuona Moi READ ALSO: Nominated Senator Milicent Omanga formally forgives Babu Owino after exchanging nasty insults Duncan went ahead to declare his undying love to Omanga who he affectionately referred to as 'mama miradi.' He disclosed his plans to send some elders from the village to assist him in persuading Omanga to accept his hand in marriage. The love struck man even promised to finance the senator's next election campaigns, pleading fervently with her to accept his love! "I'm in love with you mama miradi, I'm sending some elders from my village to convince you to accept my love proposal..I can finance you on next elections, please mama accept my proposal please," pleaded the smitten man. Omanga, who was undoubtedly tickled by the man's audacity just responded with a laugh. READ ALSO: Mike Sonko sued for barring matatus from accessing Nairobi city center Her laugh only seemed to aggravate the man further who even confessed to be confused by Omanga's looks, begging her to just accept his proposal. A quick check on the chap's profile showed the man's status as married. Duncan's bold move caused a stir among netizens who were quick to offer their views. 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 Source: Tuko Newspaper - 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 - Raila had flown in the morning to the area to condole with the family owner of Citizen TV - They milled around Raila's cars forcing him to alight and talk to them - He had to pause and smile at the crowd as other leaders clapped Songs, dance and ululations from ecstatic residents welcomed NASA leader Raila Odinga to Gatanga constituency in Murang'a county on Thursday, May 4. Raila had flown in the morning to the area accompanied by Senate Minority Leader James Orengo to condole with the family of media tycoon SK Macharia who lost his son. John Macharia died in a road crash on the Southern bypass on Thursday, April 26, evening. 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 Raila had flown in the morning to the area to condole with the family of media tycoon SK Macharia who lost his son. Photo: Raila Odinga/Facebook. READ ALSO: William Ruto impromptu meeting with retired president Daniel Moi aborts Singing Kikuyu songs, they milled around Raila's cars forcing him to alight and talk to them. At some point, he had to pause and smile at the crowd as other leaders clapped in appreciation. This is the second time under one month, the ODM leader made visit to Central Kenya after historic handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta. READ ALSO: Nominated Senator Milicent Omanga formally forgives Babu Owino after exchanging nasty insults TUKO.co.ke understands Raila was accorded the reception following his truce with Uhuru and recently with retired president Daniel arap Moi putting an end to years of protracted political grandstanding. Raila first met and held talks with Uhuru on Friday, March 9, at Harambee House where they agreed to end their hardline politics and lead efforts to reconcile the nation. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Uhuru and Raila full speech at Harambee House - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko.co.ke Senate minority leader James Orengo visited State House for the first time in over five years. This comes as political visits and handshakes continue to characterise the politics of the country in cue with the reconciliation of President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday, March 9 at Harambee House. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens TUKO.co.ke learnt, Orengo together with Jubilee leaders among others Deputy President William Ruto, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen and Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale were in State House on Friday, May 4. READ ALSO: Muimbaji Harmonize amfanya Lilian Muli kububujikwa na machozi ndani ya studio za Citizen TV The leaders together witnessed the president assent into law three Bills including the Equalization Fund Bill which will see 14 marginalised counties share KSh 11.98 billion to bridge development gaps. READ ALSO: Ruto deserved Mois snub, he said he didnt need his blessings- Rift Valley Kanu officials Uhuru shared the photos of the meeting on his twitter account igniting politically inclined discussions from the public, considering the individuals who jointly met at State House could not see each other eye to eye a few months ago. "Assented to three Bills including the Equalization Fund Bill in which 14 marginalized counties will share KSh 11.98 billion for development," read Uhuru's tweet seen by TUKO.co.ke Orengo particularly was Uhuru and Rutos fiercest critic ahead of the 2013 General Election through to after the 2017 August polls. Senator James Orengo of Siaya County. Photo: The Star. READ ALSO: Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka approves ODM's decision to kick out Wetangula The Siaya Senator elected through Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party is very close to Raila and even represented him successfully in the presidential election petition case in 2017. During the elections campaigns, Uhuru, Ruto, Murkomen, Duale and Lusaka fired from one end in advocacy for Jubilee while Orengo returned fire in defense of the opposition. READ ALSO: Raila meets Uhuru, agree to end dissent Siaya Senator James Orengo and National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale have been fierce political opponents. Photo: TUKO. The bitter rivalry seems to have suddenly ended following the famous handshake before which Orengo would have hardly stepped in the State House unless in his capacity as Senate Minority Leader. Lusaka, on Tuesday, March 20, ratified ODMs proposal to have Orengo replace Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula as the Senates Minority Leader barely 10 days after Raila shook hands with Uhuru. 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 News The families of three missing men from Barrackpore are calling on the authorities to help in 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. Natalie Hudson, director of the University of Dayton human rights studies program, spoke at the 2018 United Nations Global Citizenship Education Seminar about the role of human rights and global citizenship education in the U.N.'s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, 17 goals to eliminate poverty and achieve human rights for everyone economically, socially and environmentally. Click on video to go directly to Natalie Hudson's presentation. According to the U.N., the seminar aimed to shed new light on global citizenship education by exploring concepts applied in human rights, peace, and security and development; and ways global citizenship education can enhance and advance progress toward realizing sustainable development. In her presentation, Hudson gave an overview of a University of Dayton human rights education and how it's integrated throughout the curriculum Universitywide and with sustainability work in the Hanley Sustainability Institute. She also discussed the importance of experiential learning and offered suggestions for the future of human rights and global citizenship education. "Human rights and global citizenship education must be relevant to a global community. We must increase access to institutions, especially for marginalized groups and disadvantaged populations. Human rights and global citizenship education pushes us to be genuinely inclusive and diverse," Hudson said, proposing Sustainable Development Goals scholarships for these groups. "We also must create spaces for dialogue, especially across cultures." Hudson cited the work of University of Dayton human rights students in Uganda, Malawi and at the U.S.-Mexico border where "we're taking students to learn from people doing the work" as examples of UD students gaining relevant human rights experience and engaging in dialogue across cultures. The University of Dayton a Catholic, Marianist research university started the country's first undergraduate human rights program in 1998 and offered one of the nation's first bachelor's degrees in human rights studies in 2008. Founded in 2013, the Human Rights Center expands the University's mission to integrate theoretical and practical approaches to learning and engage others working toward the common good locally and globally. The ongoing failure to implement the Minsk agreements puts civilians on both sides of the contact line at risk. Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan stated this in Kyiv on Thursday, the press service of the OSCE SMM reported. "Civilian workers maintaining the Donetsk Filtration Station and the civilian monitoring officers from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) currently facilitating their access must be protected," Apakan said. The chief monitor noted with concern the continued failure to abide by the Minsk agreements. He said 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. These violations are being committed despite the security guarantees recently provided. Ertugrul Apakan 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. 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. This year's Ukraine-EU summit will take place in the first half of July, an EU diplomat has told Ukrinform's correspondent in Brussels. "The date of July 9 is being considered, but it has not been formally approved yet," the diplomat said. Bilateral summits between Ukraine and the European Union take place once a year, alternately in Kyiv and Brussels. The Ukrainian delegation at the summit is led by the head of state, and the European side by the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. As reported, the NATO summit will be held in Brussels on July 11-12. op The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has expressed disappointment that Russia remains the only country in the OSCE, which persistently blocks the extension of the mandate of the OSCE mission to the entire section of the border adjacent to the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. This is stated in a comment of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in connection with the decision by the OSCE Permanent Council to extend the mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk. "Discussions during the 1184th meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on May 3, 2018, at which the said decision was endorsed, showed Russia's isolation in its reluctance to ensure effective international control at the border. These actions by the Russian Federation indicate its intention to continue the supply of weapons, ammunition and military equipment, regular troops, mercenaries in order to support terrorist activity on Ukrainian territory. In this regard, joining the consensus on the decision, Ukraine's delegation to the OSCE issued a respective interpretation statement," reads the comment. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry urged Russia to steadily fulfill its obligations under the Minsk agreements, in particular, the provisions of paragraph 4 of the Minsk Protocol of September 5, 2014 on ensuring continuous monitoring and verification by the OSCE on the temporarily uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian state border, as well as the creation of a security zone along the border with Russia, which is critically important for de-socialization of the situation and peaceful settlement in Donbas. op Trilateral consultations between Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Turkey took place in Baku at the level of deputy foreign ministers, during which the sides discussed issues of trilateral cooperation. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine. "In the context of the implementation of the agreements reached during the official visit of Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin to Azerbaijan, the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani consultations on bilateral cooperation at the level of the deputy foreign ministers of Ukraine and Azerbaijan took place in Baku on May 3," the report reads. During the talks, the parties paid attention to the promising areas of Ukrainian-Azerbaijani cooperation in the political, trade and economic, energy, transport, cultural and humanitarian, military and technical fields. The participants of the meeting confirmed the interest of both countries in further deepening of bilateral cooperation. In addition, in Baku, Ukrainian-Azerbaijani-Turkish consultations took place at the level of deputy foreign ministers. "During these talks, the parties discussed trilateral cooperation issues of mutual interest," the Foreign Ministry reported. ish The police have opened 19 criminal proceedings following the elections to united territorial communities in Ukraine, Deputy Head of the National Police and Head of the Main Investigation Department Vitaliy Nevhad has said. "During these elections, police officers found violations of electoral legislation. Most of them concerned the obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights and the bribing of voters. Nevhad noted that 19 criminal proceedings had been initiated over the above cases," the media liaisons office of the National Police of Ukraine reported on Thursday, May 3. In particular, violations were recorded in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions (five cases in each region), Kharkiv region (three), Kirovohrad region (two), and Zaporizhia, Poltava, Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regions (one case in each of them). Law enforcement officers are currently taking the necessary measures and investigative actions to identify and bring perpetrators to justice. Earlier, the Interior Ministry proposed strengthening liability for violations of electoral law. op Estonian activists and members of the Ukrainian community held another picket in support of Ukraine and Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia on Thursday. "The weekly picketing of the Russian embassy in Tallinn has been taking place since October 2014, usually on Wednesdays. This time we agreed to hold it on Thursday. We picket precisely during the working hours, so that the embassy staff would surely see and hear us," activist Ants Erm told an Ukrinform correspondent. Pickets are held from 16:00 to 17:00. About ten people usually take part in them. The slogans "Stop Putin!", "Putin lies, people die", "Freedom to political prisoners", "Crimea is Ukraine" are heard. Activists also bring the Ukrainian, Estonian and Crimean Tatar flags. Photos by: Oleh Kudrin, Ukrinform ol On May 11, 2018, a presentation of the trade and economic potential of the United Arab Emirates will be held at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the direct support of the Embassy of the UAE. Participants of the event will receive comprehensive information on the prospects of entering the Arab markets and participating in the EXPO 2020 in Dubai. Representatives of all sectors are invited to participate in the event. A ticket for members of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce costs UAH 240, for members of other organizations and companies - UAH 320. According to the results of the visit of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko to the UAE at the end of 2017, Ukraine and the UAE have introduced a visa-free regime starting from December 31, 2017. As a result, Ukrainian tourists with biometric passport can travel to the UAE without a visa for up to 30 days. ish The Ukrainian State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting proposes the Cabinet of Ministers to introduce new economic sanctions against legal entities of the Russian Federation that systematically publish and spread books with anti-Ukrainian content. The press service of the committee told this to Ukrinform. In 2015- 2018, the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting carried out the monitoring of the book distribution industry so that to check the printed material for the content that contradicts the Ukrainian legislation. Following the monitoring, the committee compiled a list of books with the content that is aimed at eliminating Ukraine's independence, promoting violence, inciting interethnic, racial, religious hatred, committing terrorist acts, encroaching on human rights and freedoms. "The list, which has been posted on the official website of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting, includes 172 publications issued by 35 publishing houses, said the committee. iy Two hundred thousand schoolchildren are forced to study in a militarized environment against the backdrop of the armed hostilities in eastern Ukraine. As the statement of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reads, hundreds of schools have been destroyed and damaged over four years of the conflict in Ukraine. In particular, at least 45 schools were damaged or destroyed over the past 16 months. "Children study in schools with bullet holes in walls and windows clogged with sandbags. Bombproof shelters are equipped in cellars, and shell fragments remain in the courtyards. The education system in eastern Ukraine has been caught in the crossfire for more than four years," UNICEF Representative in Ukraine Giovanna Barberis said. The military facilities located nearby, for example, ammunition depots and checkpoints, pose the biggest threat for children on both sides of the contact line, the UNICEF Representative in Ukraine noted. ol Russian border guards have detained a Ukrainian fishing ship (the port of registry in Ochakiv) west of Cape Tarkhankut in the Russian-annexed Crimea, the press service of the Federal Security Service's department in Crimea has reported. According to Radio Liberty, the vessel was detained for "illegally fishing flatfish." "The YaMK-0041 Ukrainian fishing ship with the port of registry in Ochakiv, Ukraine, has been detained," reads the statement. According to the FSB, illegal fishing instruments, several kilometers of nets, were seized, and the crew of five Ukrainian citizens was taken to Crimea for processing. op OSINT experts claim the detention and further deportation of a Polish "journalist" was scripted as part of yet-another "active measures" plan, to provide a legitimate cover for the Russian intelligence asset. Russian intelligence has for the past two months been actively engaged in promoting its yet another project aimed at further antagonizing and radicalizing Ukrainian-Polish relations, creating the "International Anti-Bandera Movement." At the same time, Russian "active measures" masterminds chose the decoy tactics, deciding to insert into both Polish and Ukrainian information space a Polish national, Tomasz Maciejczuk, a longtime "opposition-favoring" puppet star of Russian panel shows, who in late February was "suddenly", but very timely detained for "defilement of historical memory," according to the Information Resistance OSINT project. Back then, IR predicted that Maciejczuk was a typical human intelligence asset who would soon be deported to Poland under the cover of an anti-Russian activist to enable him to openly conduct a fine-tuned propaganda work, which, in fact, would be in the Kremlin's interests. And so, on May 3, the Russian media spat out reports that the "Polish journalist" and "Russophobe" Tomasz Maziejczuk was indeed deported from Russia and banned from entering the country for 30 years. According to him, the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation considered that he "had previously stayed in Russia illegally and failed to leave the country in due time." Before that, on the evening of May 2, he was not allowed to enter Russia at the Domodedovo Airport, told that he was "persona non grata for participating in the armed conflict in Donbas on the side of Ukrainian nationalists and desecrating the graves of Soviet soldiers." Read also"In Kremlin's interests": Kyiv reacts to Polish nationalist rally outside embassy in Warsaw (Photo, video)Some Russian media, apparently acting as a team, immediately began to "sculpt" Maciejczuk's biography of "Russophobe" and a "pro-Ukrainian volunteer at the time of Maidan and ATO," etc. The operation to introduce Maciejczuk into the Polish information space began against the entry into force of the law on the National Memory Institute of Poland, also known as the "anti-Bandera" law, and the creation of an "international anti-Bandera movement" by Russian journalist Dmitry Yermolaev, who IR stresses is an SVR [Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia] operative and, what's even more interesting, Maciejczuk's curator. According to media reports, in 2002-2005 Dmitry Yermolaev worked in the Russian Embassy in Latvia as its third secretary and was identified by the Latvian counterintelligence as an SVR operative using a diplomatic cover. Read alsoKremlin propagandists spotted in anti-Ukrainian campaign in NetherlandsIR goes on to say that another co-chair of the "international anti-Bandera movement" are another Russian SVR agent, Latvian political scientist and journalist Andrei Tatarchuk, known for his numerous pro-Russian actions under Yermolayev's clear leadership, as well as their joint detention by Moldovan security services last year at the Chisinau airport when they were heading for Transnistria. The third co-chairman is, of course, Tomasz Maciejczuk. The founders say that the task of the "international anti-Bandera movement and its maternal structure should be the fight against "anti-humanist misanthropic Bandera ideology", worldwide condemnation and prohibition of the activities of "pro-Bandera organizations," and recognition of the "Volyn Massacre as genocide." So, while in Poland, Maciejczuk will most likely return keep supporting the "anti-Bandera law," intensify anti-Ukrainian efforts to antagonize Polish-Ukrainian relations, using the tool of the ultra-right Falanga organization, to which he is affiliated, or even pushing the organization to join efforts with other Polish radicals around the "international anti-Bandera movement," while positioning himself as a prominent "Russophobe" and "independent truth-seeker," who suffered from Russian repression, but fiercely hates "Banderites," i.e., all Ukrainians. Read alsoRussia's covert campaign underway to inflame East Europe - mediaRecently, against the backdrop of an active spin of anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations, members of Falanga were detained by Polish security forces for the act of arson they had committed at the office of the Hungarian Culture Association in the western Ukrainian city of Uzhgorod on February 4. An interesting fact is that Maciejczuk is one of the founders of Falanga's internet portal, IR recalls. As OSINT experts reported earlier, it is clear that Ukraine and Poland are facing the next round of Kremlin's "hybrid war." Both Warsaw, Kyiv, and the EU should already be looking for joint mechanisms to counter the Russian "hybrid aggression," especially in terms of limiting the destructive influence of Russian special services and their multiple-faced accomplices. By the way, Dmitry Yermolaev has already stated transferring his protege Maciejczuk onto his new "battlefield." He shared on Facebook Maciejczuk's post about Volyn movie with calls to recognize "Volyn Massacre as genocide." The man tells court Yanukovych and his guards landed at a military airfield in Crimea on the morning of February 23. Ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, who is being accused of committing treason, used Russian aircraft to move across Ukraine and then flee from country. The judicial panel of Kyiv's Obolon district court, which is considering the Yanukovych case, has completed the interrogation of Dmytro Ivantsov, a witness of defense, who is a former guard of the former president and who accompanied Yanukovych and fled with the latter to Russia, according to an UNIAN correspondent. It should be noted that the testimony of the witness generally coincided with that given by his colleagues who had already testified in the Yanukovych case. In particular, Ivantsov said that late on February 22, 2014, when Yanukovych and his guards were riding from Donetsk to Melitopol, they transferred to three military helicopters in the vicinity of Melitopol. After flying about 20 minutes, they landed at a military airfield, where they got aboard an AN-26 plane and flew to Crimea. Presiding judge Vladyslav Devyatko asked Ivantsov to specify the helicopters and the airfield. The latter confirmed that the helicopters were Russian. However, he did not specify the airfield. Read alsoUkraine's referendum law passed during Yanukovych's presidency designated as unconstitutionalIn addition, Ivantsov said that on the morning of February 23, Yanukovych and his guards landed at a military airfield in Crimea and went to a resort facility near Yalta. According to the witness, when they found out that Valentyn Nalyvaichenko (Chief of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine from February 24, 2014 to June 18, 2015), Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, and, allegedly, some armed men were looking for Yanukovych in Crimea, they moved to another facility under the guard of the Marine Corps of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The witness also said that after the ex-president along with his guards had moved to the Kosacha (Cossack) bay in Sevastopol, Yanukovych proposed to the Department officers that they continue guarding him. Some of them agreed and fled to Russia with Yanukovych. There were five crewmembers on board the ship. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands the immediate release of a Ukrainian fishing vessel and its crew detained by Russia in the Black Sea near the Russian-occupied Crimea. "Ukraine protests in the strongest terms the unlawful detention this morning by the Russian Federation of a Ukrainian fishing vessel and its crew in the vicinity of the Crimean coast. Ukraine demands the immediate release of the fishing vessel and its crew," the ministry said in a statement on May 4. Read alsoRussian coastguards detain Ukrainian fishing vessel off Crimea coast As the UN General Assembly has made clear, Russia's unlawful aggression does not alter the status of Crimea as Ukraine's sovereign territory, the ministry recalled. Ukraine remains the coastal state with regard to the waters around Crimea, including the territorial sea extending 12 nautical miles from its coast. "Russia's detention of this fishing vessel usurps Ukraine's sovereign rights in those waters and as such is a manifest violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as of customary international law," the ministry said. The vessel was detained by Russian border guards near the Crimean coast on the morning of May 4. There were five crewmembers on board the ship. Some media reported that the Russian border guards had detained the small-sized YaMK-0041 fishing vessel to the west of Cape Tarkhankut. Spokesman for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service Oleh Slobodyan said there was no contact with the crew and the Ukrainian authorities were examining the circumstances of the incident. "It's hard to say how and why the ship violated the state border of Ukraine and turned to be in the zone that is considered to be temporarily occupied by Russia," he said. In his opinion, most likely, the captain of the ship decided to go where, in his opinion, the catch would be better, having thus neglected the risk of detention by the border guards of the occupation forces. The Trilateral Contact Group's humanitarian subgroup, which deals with prisoner swaps, met in Minsk on May 4. The self-proclaimed republics in Donbas the "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") and "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") demand that 80 fighters convicted in Ukraine be handed over to them in exchange for 15 Ukrainian hostages. "As my colleagues told me, the meeting was unfortunately unsuccessful," Ukrainian envoy and First Deputy Speaker of Ukraine's parliament Iryna Gerashchenko commented on Facebook on the outcome of the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) humanitarian subgroup in Minsk on May 4. "And we haven't heard feedback from Russian representatives to the offer to hand 23 Russians convicted of crimes against the Ukrainian state over to them so that the Ukrainians who are political prisoners of the Kremlin could be freed," Gerashchenko wrote According to her, Russians continue insisting that "they are not there." Read alsoUkrainian nationalists catch Brazilian fighter Lusvarghi in Kyiv, bring him to SBU (Photo, video) "At the same time, representatives of the 'DPR' and the 'LPR', who are fully controlled by the Russian Federation, include these Russians in lists of the so-called militants, demanding that the Ukrainian side immediately release members of the [former] Berkut riot police, terrorists and Russians. They want to have over 80 criminals back in exchange for only 15 of our citizens. This is unacceptable," Gerashchenko stressed. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Ukrainian side announced on April 4 that it was ready to swap 23 Russians for Ukrainians jailed in Russia. Russia has not responded to the offer yet. After the previous meeting of the humanitarian subgroup in Minsk on April 18, Darka Olifer, the press secretary of former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who represents Ukraine in the TCG, said that Russia and the Russian-controlled statelets did not disclose information about dozens of Ukrainians kept hostage in the occupied areas in Donbas for years. The capital of Belarus, Minsk, is used as a transit destination for those travelling between Russia and Ukraine. Two Russian citizens a man and a woman have been refused entry into Ukraine and sent back to Minsk, Belarus, over a controversial St. George ribbon. The incident happened at Kyiv's Boryspil Airport on the evening of May 3, spokesman for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service Oleh Slobodyan has said. Read alsoRussian-led militants rehearse Victory Day parade in occupied Donetsk (Photo) "Both arrived on a private visit, with enough money to stay in Ukraine and having return tickets. But St. George ribbons that are outlawed in Ukraine were attached to the tourists' luggage," he wrote on Facebook. The two declined the border guards' instruction to remove the ribbons that are considered to be a symbol of Russian aggression against Ukraine. "In this connection, the border guards did not let these individuals cross the border and they took a return flight to Minsk," he said. There are no direct flights between Ukraine and Russia, therefore the capital of Belarus, Minsk, is used as a transit destination for those travelling between the two countries. The St. George ribbon, which is a reference to the Order of Saint George (Russian Empire's highest combat award), was widely used in Russia to informally symbolize the victory over the Nazis in World War II. However, following the Maidan events in 2014, the Revolution of Dignity of Ukraine, this symbol was widely used by counterrevolution forces and subsequently by Russian-led troops fighting against the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's parliament in May 2017 passed a law banning the use of the St. George ribbon in Ukraine. Lusvarghi's retrial is expected to begin on June 6. Rafael Lusvarghi, a 33-year-old Brazilian mercenary, who fought on the side of Russian-led troops against the Ukrainian army in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, and who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in Ukraine on charges of terrorism, has been secretly living in Kyiv's Moscow-controlled Sviato-Pokrovsky Holosiyivsky Monastery. "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," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. "When I was in prison I was reading books about the [Orthodox] religion, and I became a man of god. I pray every day," RFE/RL quoted Lusvarghi as saying in English after being approached outside the monastery's kitchen on April 29. Lusvarghi, the self-described former member of the French Foreign Legion, arrived in Russian-occupied Donbas in the middle of 2015, avowing "great love for Russia" and being determined to fight "fascism" in Ukraine. He fought in such "signal Ukrainian battles like the fights for the town of Debaltseve and Donetsk airport," where the Ukrainian army sustained heavy losses. Read alsoPriests of UOC of Moscow Patriarchate reportedly pray for militants in Donbas, bless arms mediaHe was also a military instructor and scout for Russian-led separatist forces. What is more, he was used as a propaganda tool to recruit foreign fighters to join those fighting Ukrainian forces. "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," RFE/RL wrote. 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." 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. Read alsoRFE/RL: Ukraine jails Brazilian for 13 years over conflict in east 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." "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," RFE/RL said. According to Radio Liberty's Ukrainian-language service, changing the measure of restraint was initiated by the prosecutor in the case, Ihor Vovk, in connection with preparations for the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and the self-proclaimed Donbas republics, the "DPR" and the "LPR." "He was supposed to be swapped for hostages held in the 'DPR' and the 'LPR.' Thus, his measure of restraint had to be changed, as he was accused of crimes that suggested imprisonment. Despite this, the court decided to do this [release him]," Vovk explained. According to the lawyer of the accused, Valentin Rybin, his client was on the swap lists, but the exchange of Lusvarghi did not take place. Lusvarghi says he had hoped to be included in the large prisoner exchange in December, RFE/RL wrote. 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 [occupied Donetsk]," he adds. Lusvarghi says his retrial is expected to begin on June 6. The fighting continued mainly in the Donetsk, Svitlodarsk and Mariupol directions. As a result of active defense measures by Ukraine's Joint Forces in Donbas, Russian-backed militants suffered casualties in the past 24 hours. Intelligence data claim, two militants were killed in action and another three wounded. The overall situation in the zone of hostilities remained complicated as Russian-backed militants used banned weapons 21 times near the settlements of Svitlodarsk, Luhanske, Troyitske, Prychepilivka, Novotoshkivske, Zaitseve, Krymske, Kamenka, and Talakivka. Another three attacks came overnight Friday, the Joint Forces Operation Staff reported. Read alsoReuters: Eight Moldovans jailed for fighting with pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine As of 7:00 Kyiv time on May 5, the Ukrainian side has suffered no losses. As reported by UNIAN, the occupation forces command intensified anti-Ukrainian propaganda across Donbas. In particular, militants are staging spontaneous rallies and plotting sabotage efforts to create additional obstacles for the Armed Forces in Ukraine. There are no casualties among local residents, the report said. Russia's hybrid military forces have shelled apartment buildings in the village of Maiorsk, using 120mm mortars banned by Minsk accords. "Today, Russian-occupation troops shelled the settlement of Maiorsk. The Ukrainian side of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) in Donbas has informed that the enemy used 120mm mortars against civilians," the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Staff wrote on Facebook. Read alsoJoint Forces Operation: Donbas militants suffer losses in past dayAs a result of the shelling, roofs and windows of multi-apartment buildings have been damaged. In particular, mortar rounds hit residential houses on Maiorska Street, as well as adjoining household plots. "Fortunately, no local residents were hurt. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine was briefed on the incident," the JFO Staff said. Such actions by Russian-led militants testify their disregard of all norms of international humanitarian law and pose a threat to the life and health of civilians, as well as inflict considerable damage on local households. Statements about the nomination of U.S. President Donald Trump, and some even say about the nomination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for this year's Nobel Peace Prize is just a curtsey made ahead of the meeting between the two top officials. In fact, only the outcome of this summit will tell whether they are able to move from a deadlock the issue of settlement of the Korean issue and the signing of a peace agreement between the United States and DPRK. At the moment, there are reasons to believe that such an agreement can actually be signed off. But it would be too early to say that it will lead to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This is still a big question, since North Korea has created a nuclear arsenal not to surrender it under certain conditions. Declarations of unconditional disarmament of the DPRK are fake and do not correspond to reality. After all, the basic condition set forward by North Korea was the complete elimination of the U.S. threat and withdrawal of American troops from the region. At the moment, this is impossible under the existing geopolitical circumstances. Therefore, the requirement will not be met. Declarations of unconditional disarmament of the DPRK are fake and do not correspond to reality The only thing that the United States can achieve in these developments is the halt to nuclear tests and a f the whole missile program in DPRK. But this will allow North Korea to maintain its nuclear arsenal, and then (when the circumstances that the DPRK can treat as a threat or conditions for a threat to the political regime in Pyongyang) will renew these tests. For Kim Jong-un, nuclear weapons are a deterrent against external threats to interference in the internal affairs of North Korea. He can go for suspending nuclear missile tests, rolling down the missile program for some time, and even allowing IAEA experts to visit some of the sites, partially and selectively, and returning to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But Pyongyang does not even speak about the destruction of and complete refusal from nuclear arms, because they have seen the experience of Libya and Ukraine. There's even a joke there that in exchange for denuclearization, Trump will have to sign another Budapest Memorandum. So I think that Pyongyang understood all these risks and will not go for it. By the way, there are certain questions to the Trump-Kim summit as well. At the moment, there are several possible options for the location to choose. But there is the position of "heavyweights" of U.S. policy, the "hawks," who find such summit inappropriate until North Korea takes concrete steps. And DPRK just won't. Therefore, there is a probability (somewhere around 20%) that the summit may not take place at all. For Kim Jong-un, nuclear weapons are a deterrent against external threats to interference in the internal affairs of North Korea We should wait for further developments. But today, there is neither reason nor sense to award a peace prize to anyone because there is no dry balance and no arrangements in place. The only agreement is to halt hostile actions at the 38th parallel and to restore contacts between South and North Koreas; possibly a restoration of the activities of the Kaisan Industrial Zone, and family reunification. But these are small steps that do not solve the Korean reconciliation issue in any way. Regarding the role of South Korean leader Moon Jae-in in this whole story, it should be noted that it was not he who persuaded Kim Jong-un to negotiate with Trump. There is a whole range of processes that has led to the actualization of the possibility of holding such a summit: it's the negotiations between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un, consultations with Russia, and talks with other countries' leaders, as well as the visit of Mike Pompeo... It's about a large complex of diplomatic efforts. So here the role of Moon Jae-in is far from being the main one. Although, of course, he did everything possible under the conditions South Korea is in. But he is not the main player in this story. Contacts between South and North Koreas are important because they removed the key tension and created an atmosphere for the upcoming summit. However, the basic arrangements are possible only in the North Korea U.S. format. Vitaliy Kulyk is a Director of the Center for the Study of Civil Society Problems The company says it had resolved the problem and an internal investigation had found no indication passwords were stolen or misused by insiders. Twitter Inc urged its more than 330 million users to change their passwords after a glitch caused some to be stored in readable text on its internal computer system rather than disguised by a process known as hashing. The social network disclosed the issue in a blog post and series of Tweets on Thursday afternoon, saying it had resolved the problem and an internal investigation had found no indication passwords were stolen or misused by insiders, according to Reuters. Still, the company urged all users to consider changing their passwords. We fixed the bug and have no indication of a breach or misuse by anyone, Chief Executive Jack Dorsey said in a Tweet. As a precaution, consider changing your password on all services where youve used this password. Read alsoBig tech groups snared in Russia internet curbsThe blog did not say how many passwords were affected. A person familiar with the companys response said the number was substantial and that they were exposed for several months. The disclosure comes as lawmakers and regulators around the world scrutinize the way that companies store and secure consumer data, after a string of security incidents at Equifax Inc, Facebook Inc and Uber Technologies Inc. Twitter discovered the bug a few weeks ago and has reported it to some regulators, said the person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The agency settled with Twitter in 2010 over accusations the site had serious lapses in data security that let hackers access private user data on two occasions. The settlement called for audits of Twitters data security program every other year for 10 years. The glitch was related to Twitters use of hashing and caused passwords to be written on an internal computer log before the scrambling process was completed, the blog said. Former Foreign Office officials admit that an institutional reluctance to call out Russia once permeated British diplomatic thinking, but say that after the Skripal poisoning that attitude is evaporating. The UK will use a series of international summits this year to call for a comprehensive strategy to combat Russian disinformation and urge a rethink over traditional diplomatic dialogue with Moscow, following the Kremlins aggressive campaign of denials over the use of chemical weapons in the UK and Syria. British diplomats plan to use four major summits this year the G7, the G20, NATO and the European Union to try to deepen the alliance against Russia hastily built by the Foreign Office after the poisoning of the former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in March, according to The Guardian. The foreign secretary regards Russias response to Douma and Salisbury as a turning point and thinks there is international support to do more, a Whitehall official said. The areas the UK are most likely to pursue are countering Russian disinformation and finding a mechanism to enforce accountability for the use of chemical weapons. Former Foreign Office officials admit that an institutional reluctance to call out Russia once permeated British diplomatic thinking, but say that after the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, that attitude is evaporating. Ministers want to pursue a broad Russian containment strategy at the coming summits covering cybersecurity, NATOs military posture, sanctions against Vladimir Putins oligarchs and a more comprehensive approach to Russian disinformation. It is argued that votes by MPs this week over public registers of beneficial share ownership in Britains overseas territories and the introduction of Magnitsky-style sanctions belatedly gives the UK greater moral credibility to urge wavering countries to join an international alliance. Read alsoExpelled spies included Russians suspected of tracking compatriots who resettled in U.S. mediaRussias critics say in case after case the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, the role of official Russian forces inside Ukraine, the murder of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko on UK soil, the Syrian governments repeated use of chemical weapons, the covert disruption in the western Balkans and repeated cyber-attacks the west finds itself arguing with Russia not just about ideology, or interests, but Moscows simple denial, or questioning, of what the western governments perceive as unchallengeable facts. Putin is waging an information war designed to turn our strongest asset freedom of speech against us. Russia is trying to fix us through deception, said Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee. British politicians are not alone in claiming Russias record of mendacity is not a personal trait of Putins, but a government-wide strategy that makes traditional diplomacy ineffective. Read alsoBritain shares "unprecedented" Skripal intelligence with alliesAngela Merkel, the German chancellor, famously came off one lengthy phone call with Putin she had more than 40 in a year to say he lived in a different world. David Cameron also once told friends that discussions with Putin were unlike with any other leader. He told colleagues the normal assumption was that his interlocutors were speaking their version of the truth. With Putin you came off the phone, and you were not quite sure he believed what he was saying, Cameron said. For some Baltic diplomats, Putins regime now lies so systematically that diplomatic dialogue is close to redundant. Linas Linkevicius, the Lithuanian foreign minister, said: A lie isnt an alternative point of view; it is simply a lie and needs to be identified as such. A T-90 tank in Ukraine isnt just a vehicle. Propaganda is not a legitimate form of public diplomacy. As UNIAN reported earlier, a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet went down in Syria on Thursday, May 3. Media reports claim that the SU-30SM fighter jet that crashed off the Syrian coast Thursday, was part of the 43rd separate naval assault aviation regiment of the Black Sea Fleet. Journalists of Wargonzo Telegram channel say that, if the fact is confirmed that the Russian Su-30SM fighter jet was equipped with anti-ship missiles, this indicates that the warplane belonged to Russia's Navy aviation rather than the Russian Aerospace Forces. Read alsoRAF Typhoon fighters to patrol airspace over Black SeaAs reported, several such fighter jets had a month ago been deployed to Syria's Khmeimim airbase from Novofedorivka Airbase located near the town of Saky in the occupied Crimea. "This means that the crashed SU-30SM belonged to the 43rd separate naval assault aviation regiment of the Black Sea Fleet," the journalists said. As UNIAN reported earlier, a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet crashed in Syria on Thursday, May 3. The plane went down in the Mediterranean Sea after taking off from Khmeimim Airbase. Two crew were killed in the crash which could be a result of a bird hitting the aircraft engine upon take-off. The Russian defense ministry's preliminary reports claim a bird may have hit an engine during a take-off. The move is the latest sign that the Navy is focusing its attention away from the war on terrorism and toward its major competitors China and Russia. A sharp increase in Russian naval activity in the Arctic and north Atlantic in the years since its invasion of eastern Ukraine has prompted the U.S. Navy to resurrect a command it disestablished seven years ago. At a ceremony marking Adm. Phil Davidson's change of command with Adm. Chris Grady as the head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson announced the Navy was set to reestablish the 2nd Fleet, Navy Times reported. Read alsoRussian fleet hunts British submarine in Mediterranean media The command was merged into Fleet Forces Command in 2011, but the Navy has been talking about bringing it back since it appeared as a recommendation in the Strategic Readiness Review into last year's 7 th Fleet collisions. The move is the latest sign that the Navy is focusing its attention away from the war on terrorism and toward its major competitors China and Russia. In the announcement, Richardson credited Davidson for the analysis that led to the decision. "It is in large part due to the analysis of Adm. Davidson and his team, in response to a changing security environment, that this summer we will stand up the U.S. 2nd Fleet here in Norfolk to train, certify and command U.S. naval forces at the very highest levels of naval warfare to the emerging global contingencies in the Atlantic," Richardson said. The announcement from Richardson was immediately followed by an announcement from the Office of the Secretary of Defense that it has offered to host a new NATO Joint Force Command for the Atlantic at Naval Station Norfolk. Davidson is going on to lead U.S. Pacific Command. Air France-KLM's inauguration Thursday of a flight to a little developed corner of Brazil highlights European airlines' attempt to bring the continents together, Fortaleza, Brazil, May 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Air France-KLM's inauguration Thursday of a flight to a little developed corner of Brazil highlights European airlines' attempt to bring the continents together, catching up with far more dominant routes between South and North America. Latin America is a fast-expanding destination, seeing 9.3 percent growth in air travel last year, its biggest increase since 2011, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said. That's ahead of the global increase last year of 7.6 percent, taking worldwide passenger numbers to four billion. ForwardKeys consultancy predicts another nine percent increase in international flights out of Latin America and the Caribbean in the first half of this year. Much of that will be thanks to Brazil, ForwardKeys says, which is predicted to see a 14.2 percent rise in international departures and 16.5 percent increase in international arrivals. Brazil is slowly emerging from a deep recession and will soon sign an "open skies" accord, which will facilitate growth in traffic with the United States. "The trend in flight bookings both to and from Latin America is incredibly healthy," said Olivier Jager, president of ForwardKeys. "Many airlines are increasing capacity." But Europe is still on the margins, with five times more traffic going from Latin America to North America than trans-Atlantic. Eighty one percent of international traffic in Latin America goes to North America. According to 2016 figures from the regional airlines group ALTA, there were 16.3 million passengers to North America and only 3.28 million to Europe. But that trend is shifting, with 14 percent growth in trans-Atlantic flights in 2016. And Air France-KLM's new flight between Paris and Brazil's north-eastern seaside city of Fortaleza hopes to catch the turning tide. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Zambia and Angola have agreed to cooperate in oil and gas exploration, according to a final joint communique issued on Friday following a two-day state visit by Angolan President Joao Lourenco LUSAKA(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Zambia and Angola have agreed to cooperate in oil and gas exploration, according to a final joint communique issued on Friday following a two-day state visit by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. The communique said the leaders of the two countries agreed to cooperate in the oil and gas sectors given the resource endowment and expertise that Angola possesses and the readily available market in Zambia. The two leaders further agreed to expedite plans for the construction of an oil pipeline from Angola to Zambia as well as renewed commitments to the development of transport infrastructure linking the two neighboring countries. The communique said the two leaders also underscored the need to increase the levels of bilateral trade. The Angolan president arrived in Zambia on Wednesday and held talks with his Zambian counterpart President Edgar Lungu. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of five agreements that included on the exemption of visas, security and public order, cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters and a protocol on agricultural cooperation. (@FahadShabbir) Under the spirit to deliver quality higher education in line with the needs of modern age, the State-run Mirpur University of Science & Technology Mirpur (MUST) has planned to launch the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programs in all the existing departments by the next academic session MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd May, 2018 ) , May 2 (APP):Under the spirit to deliver quality higher education in line with the needs of modern age, the State-run Mirpur University of Science & Technology Mirpur (MUST) has planned to launch the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programs in all the existing departments by the next academic session. This was disclosed by Vice Chancellor of Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST) Prof Dr Habib ur Rehman (Sitara e Imtiaz) while speaking at the 3rd Convocation- 2018 here on Wednesday. AJK President Sardar Masood Khan was the chief guest on this occasion who gave away degrees besides gold medals to the fresh scholars qualifying Ph.D, post graduation and graduation in various disciplines of engineering, science and technology and arts. A total of 1274 scholars including 1 qualifying Ph.D, 111 Post graduates and 274 graduates belonging to various disciplines of science, technology, social and arts who qualified by successfully completing their studies. The VC Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that the MUST varsity has decided to established its campus at Palandri in Poonch division launching the Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master's degree classes by the forth coming session. The VC also referred to the varsity's planning about shifting of some of the departments and administrative setup of the university to the new site after completion of the infrastructure in 2019. The Vice Chancellor said at present, seven research projects worth Rs. 46.808 million were being undertaken in different departments of the university. These projects have greatly enhanced the research activities of the respective departments and will go a long way in developing research culture in the university. Two research journals, the Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences in collaboration with the 'Cross Reference', UK and the Journal of Peace and Progress, have been launched by the university, he added. Dr Habib ur Rehman continued that MUST has won a grant of Rs. 14.8 million for the establishment of Artificial Intelligence Laboratory through competition at the national level; 57 universities applied for the funding while only 13 universities including the MUST won the grant for the establishment of the laboratory. He revealed that the university has, so far, produced 5478 graduates, 608 MS/ M.Phils and two Ph.Ds in the field of Biology. Today, 1259 degrees are being awarded including 852 BS and M.A./ M.Sc degrees, 111 MS/ M.Phil degrees and 1 Ph.D degree while 35 graduates will be decorated with Gold Medals, 259 degrees of BA/ B.Sc./ B.Com and MA will also be awarded to the students of the affiliated institutions. The Vice Chancellor said that the University has scored 91.50 points in the league table position in the HEC Quality Guide 2017. The sharp improvement in the quality guide from 41.30 in 2013 to 91.52 in 2017 is unprecedented achievement. All such achievements are a result of hard work of the Deans, Directors/ Chairpersons, Faculty Members and staff of the university. Dr. Habb ur Rehman said "I consider faculty as heart and soul of the University. We are blessed with 65 Ph.D. faculty members, 164 M. Phils and 88 MA/ M.Sc. Most of the MS/ M. Phil faculty members are enrolled for Ph.D and Masters for the MS/ M. Phil degree programs. The number of Ph.D faculty members increased three times, from 23 in 2013 to 66 in 2017". He said "Our faculty members are second to none. During the last year they have published 336 research papers in journals of international repute,90 per cent more than 2013 and 60 per cent more than the previous year. They have also presented their research work in the international and national conferences. We are conscious that our research should be directed at solving local problems and finding their scientific solutions by exploiting indigenous resources". He said that the Department of Civil Engineering studied and identified the actual cause of the slope failure of the Mangla Dam at the Mirpur-Kotli road. The University provided the technical assistance for protection and safety of the dam.The department has also provided consultancy services to carry out safe, realistic and economical design of the Potha-Bensi landslide. The university provided all these services at a very low cost to protect the lives and properties of thousands of people living downstream. During the year, Rs. 70 million spent on strengthening the laboratories of the engineering and science departments while another Rs. 20 million for strengthening the Department of Law, Department of Education and the MUST business School. I am happy to report that all our departments have secured accreditation of the respective accreditation councils. We have started providing outcome base education to our students and developing the departments of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology further, following the directions of the PEC to meeting the criteria of the 'Washington Accord', he added. Dr. Habib ur Rehman underlined that the establishment of the MUST was directed at providing the higher education facilities to the youth of the State including Kashmiri Diaspora and adjoining areas of Pakistan. With 22 teaching departments/ institutes, the University is currently running 56 degree programs including core engineering, natural and important social sciences' disciplines. The Center for Peace and Development is made functional. The Institute of Modern Languages is operational and the first batch of the Chinese language course has been completed. I must appreciate the faculty members who have made it happen, he added. The Vice Chancellor revealed that the Students Financial Assistance Office has been working in the University for Management of the financial assistance programs for students and to execute the financial assistance schemes of the government/ HEC, universityand other agencies. The university has been providing six different types of scholarships to its students. We have been providing 278 HEC Need Based Scholarships besides 274 merit scholarships, 50 the University Need Based Scholarships, 65 HBL Foundation Scholarships each year to our students. He said another 38 students have been awarded scholarships under the Guardian Insurance Scheme of the University and 10scholarships are being awarded by the Pakistan Scottish Scholarship Program. About 850 students are benefiting from the Prime Minister of Pakistan Fee Reimbursement Scheme each year while 550 students received laptops under the Prime Minister of Pakistan Laptop Scheme last year. Dr Habib ur Rehman said Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) is working in the university to managing, the research projects, promote innovation and commercialization and to developing links with industries. We have also provided Rs. 14 million to the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) for funding small research projects and developing university-industry linkages. The office is leading to preparing smart proposals for funding and has been successful in wining grants for carrying out research activities in the university. He said the MUST has signed MoUs with different organizations and Universities which include Promotion of Education in Pakistan (PEP), USA for Students Advancement Fund Endowment (SAFE), the Research Institute of Pomology, Chinese academy of Agricultural Sciences, China for the Establishment of the Sino-Pakistan Bilateral Cooperation on Pomology, the NILOP for Developing Joint Scientific Research and Technological Programs in Mutually Selected Areas, the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) for the Development of S&T Collaboration and to carry out joint research, SUPARCO for Pakistan National Students Satellite Program (PNSSP) to promote satellite technology and knowledge, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) for Conducting Workshops on Capacity Building and Social Entrepreneurship and AJK Chamber of Commerce and Industries to Enhance Collaboration in Development of Entrepreneurship and Industrial Skills. The Vice Chancellor said that University has signed 8 MoUs with the universities of the OIC countries for scientific and educational cooperation. The university has also signed MoU with the Institute of Career Development (ICD), Islamabad for the establishment of Skills Development Center in the University including the facility for teaching of Chinese Language. This will help developing human resource to meet the CPEC projects' requirements. Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that the varsity has also planned strengthening the i). Continuing Professional Development Center, ii) Business Incubation Center and iii) Consultancy Services during 2018-2019 and establishment of the i) Science and Technology Park, ii) Community Services Center, Institute of Modern Languages, Heritage and Tourism and iii) MUST Public school during 2019-2020. He said the progress and achievements of the MUST during 2017 reflect its potential for a successful future in the fields of education and research. The VC said that he was confident that the education imparted by the University will enable you face the world with dignity and honor. You have to pursue the highest moral principles. So be men and women of character, integrity and faith; upholding in all circumstances, truth, justice and fair-play because these values make you a blessing for the society and mankind. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Dream big dreams then work hard to make them true. There is no joy better than the joy of learning. If you want to predict the future, go invent it. Dr. Habib reaffirmed the pledge to protect the already accomplished excellence and to find new ways to fulfill the MUST's prime mission of imparting quality education to its students. Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Hulusi Akar Friday called on Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi here at Naval Headquarters and discussed professional matters and bilateral defence collaboration in diverse fields between the two countries ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Hulusi Akar Friday called on Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi here at Naval Headquarters and discussed professional matters and bilateral defence collaboration in diverse fields between the two countries. According to a statement issued here by directorate of public relations of Pakistan Navy, General Hulusi Akar lauded the commitment and performance of Pakistan Navy in maintaining peace and stability in the regional maritime domain. Upon arrival, the visiting dignitary was received by Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy presented him the guard of honour. It is expected that the recent visit of Chief of the Turkish General Staff will further enhance defence collaboration and defence ties between the two countries. MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) , May 04 (APP):The first unit of the AJK-based 969-MW Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project successfully completed the reliability test on Friday, paving the way for its commercial operation. Sources told APP that under the protocols, the unit will now be checked completely and adjustments, if any will be carried out by the manufacturer/contractor. The unit, the sources said is expected to start commercial operation thereafter. The first generating unit of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project was synchronized with the system on April 9. The second unit was scheduled in May, however, WAPDA succeeded in commissioning this unit for trial generation ahead of schedule and synchronized it with the National Grid on April 22. Both generating units, have provided around 20 million units of electricity to the National Grid during their test run, the sources said. The 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, located in Muzaffarabad district, has four generating units, each of them having generation capacity of 242. 25 MW. The remaining units are likely to commence by end June 2018 operation at one month interval each. Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, constructed on River Neelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is considered to be an engineering wonder, 90 percent of which exists underground in high mountainous region. The project has three main components including a 60 feet high and 160 feet long composite dam, a 52-kilometer long water way system and an underground power house. Besides, a 525 KV switch yard and transmission line have also been constructed to evacuate electricity, generated by the project. Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project will contribute about 5 billion units of electricity to the National Grid annually. The total revenue generation is expected to be over Rs 55 billion annually, the sources said. APP/ahr Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal Friday said enemies of Pakistan were sponsoring terrorism activities to create unrest and sabotage China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal Friday said enemies of Pakistan were sponsoring terrorism activities to create unrest and sabotage China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Talking to a private news channel, he said, since banned outfits were not organized here, foreign funded targeted activities against Hazara community in Quetta was conspiracy to create chaos. "Such activities are planned across the border," he said. He said Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government took security of the country as a challenge in 2013 and achieved success by improving overall situation of law and order throughout the country. Law enforcement agencies were fighting on front-line and rendering sacrifices of lives in line of duties in Balochistan, he said adding that terror related incidents had declined due to efforts jointly made by the Federal and provincial government. The minister said security had been beefed up in the province besides enhancing capacity of the Police there. "Work on fencing our border with Afghanistan is being completed on fast track as it is a permanent solution to stop illegal movement on the border," he added. (@ChaudhryMAli88) LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said the PML-N government wiped out terrorism and put the country on right path of development which resulted in a strong economy. Addressing a ceremony at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), he said the government inherited worst challenges when it came into power in 2013 but former prime minister Nawaz Sharif successfully coped with all crises and restored people's confidence. He said that all institutions should work within their limits, as they became weak by meddling in the affairs of each other. PML-N government would file appeal against Imran Khan's release in ptv attack case, he added. He said that as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) knew well that it could not come into power corridors through ballot, so it was leveling allegations against the PML-N government. The minister said that few years ago, when the government initiated Laptop Scheme for the students, the opponents of PML-N opposed it, and now due to this scheme and the government's steps in making digital Pakistan, the country had become the fourth largest free-lancing service provider in the world. APP/saa/zqr ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Supreme Court (SC) on Friday restrained Bahria Town from selling or allotting land in the Bahria Town Karachi project by terming allotment of land to the company by Sindh Government and by Malir Development Authority (MDA) illegal. A three-member bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan also directed the National Accountability Bureau to file references against responsible for violations. "We, therefore, request the Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a bench for the implementation of this judgment in its letter and spirit," the verdict said. The judges said that transactions between the Sindh Government and Bahria Town could be made legal, but the stipulations on these transactions will be established by the SC's special bench. The verdict cleared that the government land would go back to the government and the land of Bahria Town exchanged for the government land would go back to Bahria Town. The judgment stated that Bahria Town scheme no doubt had a dynamic modern design and its layout gave a spectacular look and was also being well organized by its management, but does that mean it should be one of the considerations in overlooking the illegality committed in the transfer of MDA's land in its favour. From the voluminous record of MDA placed on record it is established that no board meeting of MDA was held in which decision was taken as to what land from its controlled area was to be handed over to Bahria Town for its scheme, what to speak of settling the terms and conditions on which it was to be handed over, it added. It is for this reason that no site plan was prepared to show on what date, how much land, from which Dehs and with what boundaries was being handed over by MDA to Bahria Town. Presently Bahria was in occupation of 12,157 acres in the above referred five notified Dehs which MDA had acquired from Board of Revenue at concessional rates for launching its own schemes. The apex court maintained "It is really astounding that Bahria first occupied most valuable land available in MDA's controlled area without any legal process and straight away launched its scheme and later requested MDA to exchange the land under its occupation for several parcels of land which Bahria at its own convenience had purchased through its agents in far off scattered locations of 39 Dehs and MDA and Government of Sindh bent backwards in obliging it and quietly abandoned the launch of MDA's housing schemes on such land. Bahria may have the reputation of being one of the leading property developers of Asia, but then it should do its business on legitimately acquired land". "Since a great deal of work has been done by the Bahria Town and a third-party interest has been created in favour of hundreds of allotees, the land could be granted to the Bahria Town afresh by the Board of Revenue under the provisions of COGLA 1912." "What would be the terms and conditions of grant, what would be the price of the land, whether it would be the one at which the Bahria Town sold the land to the people by and large, how much of government land and how much of the private land has been utilized by the Bahria Town, and what Bahria Town was entitled to receive in terms of money on account of development of the land are the questions to be determined by the implementation bench of this court." "Bahria Town shall not sell any plot, built-up unit, apartment etc after the announcement of this judgment. Any allotment made after the announcement of this judgment shall be void," the court ordered. "The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) shall pick up the thread from where it left and take its investigation to its logical end. The investigation report which was submitted in the Court and sealed under its order may now be collected for further action. "The investigation be completed within a period of three months from the date of announcement of this judgment and a reference be filed in the Accountability Court against all those who are found responsible for causing loss to the state exchequer," the court ruled. "We have been told that government land has also been allotted to DHA and many other societies on cheaper rates as compared to the rates in this case. If so, we would request the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan to take Suo Moto action in this behalf so that like be treated alike. (@Aneesah05582539) The London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's most widely traveled classical institutions, announced Friday that it would tour South America for the first time New York, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :The London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's most widely traveled classical institutions, announced Friday that it would tour South America for the first time. Led by star conductor Simon Rattle, the leading British orchestra will travel in May 2019 to Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. The orchestra will perform 60 concerts overseas in the 2018-19 season and plans a new major tour of Asia this year. But it had held off on South America, a decision that in the past was partly linked to security concerns. The orchestra made the announcement in New York where it will perform all three late symphonies by Gustav Mahler starting Friday. "For me, Mahler was what first made me want to be a conductor. I'm of the generation who can remember when Mahler was new and wonderful," Rattle told reporters ahead of the concerts. The 63-year-old said that Mahler was little played in Britain until the 1960s and that, on hearing his momentous Symphony No. 3, "All of us just thought that the heavens had opened." Mahler wrote his last three works -- Symphony No. 9, Symphony No. 10 and "Das Lied von der Erde" ("The Song of the Earth") -- in his final years after he fled anti-Semitism in Vienna for the United States, where he led the New York Philharmonic. One of the last of the great Romantic composers, Mahler wrote the three pieces in despair as he suffered heart illness and mourned his daughter who had died in Austria of scarlet fever. Mahler, who died in 1911 before any of the three works was performed, was influenced as he composed by the sounds of New York, with a policeman's funeral inspiring the percussion at the end of Symphony No. 10 and Chinese music infusing "Das Lied von der Erde." Rattle, who said he has conducted Symphony No. 10 more than 100 times, found it "extraordinary" to perform the works in New York. "They were conceived in New York, they have so much to do with new York, but yet he never heard a note," Rattle said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) At least 183 people were killed and 215 others were injured in Rwanda by rain disasters during the first four months of 2018, said the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees of Rwanda. KIGALI, May 3 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) ::At least 183 people were killed and 215 others were injured in Rwanda by rain disasters during 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, Xinhua reported. 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. Burundi's press regulator on Friday said it was suspending broadcasts by the BBC and Voice of America (VOA) by local radio stations ahead of a constitutional referendum on May 17 Nairobi,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Burundi's press regulator on Friday said it was suspending broadcasts by the BBC and Voice of America (VOA) by local radio stations ahead of a constitutional referendum on May 17. The head of Burundi's National Communications Council told journalists in the capital Bujumbura that a six-month ban would come into force on Monday. Karenga Ramadhani accused the BBC and VOA of "breaches of the law governing the press and ethics". The BBC, he said, "damaged the reputation" of President Pierre Nkurunziza during a discussion programme and had "ignored" previous warnings. Burundi's government earlier this week urged the regulator to "take action" against the BBC which it accused of spreading "incendiary statements... hatred and subversion". VOA is accused of spreading "very tendentious" information and hiring a journalist "sought by Burundian justice". French broadcaster RFI also received a warning for disseminating "tendentious and misleading" information. Two local stations, Isanganiro and CCIB FM+, were also issued with warnings over an alleged lack of "rigorous verification of sources". The BBC did not immediately respond to the suspension but VOA issued a statement condemning the move. "We are dismayed by the actions taken today by the Burundi National Communications Council to ban VOA from broadcasting its news and information programs," said VOA director Amanda Bennett. Both the BBC and VOA broadcast daily in the national language, Kirundi, and have for decades drawn large numbers of avid listeners, especially in rural areas. "This is a sign of the times, because even the previous regimes never dared to close the BBC, even during the civil war when it gave voice to the rebels who are now in power," a Burundian journalist said on condition of anonymity. "The Burundian government has decided to silence them while we are in the middle of an referendum campaign, probably so that Burundians do not hear those who advocate 'no' or call for a boycott," he added. Burundians are due to vote in a constitutional referendum that would allow Nkurunziza to rule for another two terms up to 2034. The 54-year-old president has ruled the tiny central African nation since 2005. His run for a controversial third term in 2015 triggered a deep political crisis that has since seen 1,200 people killed and 400,000 flee their homes. The violence and abuses are being investigated by International Criminal Court (ICC) while a vicious press crackdown has seen the majority of independent journalists leave the country. The BBC on its website says it broadcasts to Burundi on FM relay stations and on two local partner stations. VOA, which has two FM transmitters, said its programmes would continue to be available on shortwave radio and via the internet. Mozambique's president said the country's fragile peace process must not collapse after rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, who had opened talks with the government Maputo, May 4 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Mozambique's president said the country's fragile peace process must not collapse after rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, who had opened talks with the government, died unexpectedly aged 65. President Filipe Nyusi hailed Dhlakama as "a citizen who has always worked for Mozambique" and said he was distraught at the news of his death. "I hope that we as Mozambicans can continue to do everything so things do not go down," Nyusi said in a telephone call to state television TVM late on Thursday. "He did everything so that there would be peace. The last time he spoke to me, he said he would not going to miss out anything in peace negotiations." Several sources in Dhlakama's opposition Renamo party said he died on Thursday after an unconfirmed heart attack. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Russia Friday said Armenia should resolve its domestic problems legally on the basis of its constitution and through consultations among its political forces MOSCOW,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Russia Friday said Armenia should resolve its domestic problems legally on the basis of its constitution and through consultations among its political forces. "We are in favour of resolving domestic problems existing in fraternal Armenia on the basis of the country's constitution, in the legal field, and through constructive dialogue between various political forces of the republic," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing, Xinhua reported. Armenia, once part of the former Soviet Union, experienced weeks of protests and civil disobedience over the deteriorating economy, which forced Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan to resign on April 23. The protests were led by opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who is eyeing the prime minister's post. He was the only candidate to run for prime minister Tuesday but his bid failed as parliament gave him only 45 votes, short of the 53 needed. A new election is scheduled for May 8 and Pashinyan will contest again. Armenia is a close ally of Russia in the South Caucasus, where Moscow has a military base. Bratislava, May 4 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2018 ) :Slovak prosecutors decided on Friday to extradite an Italian businessman wanted in Italy on drugs charges, who was also named by murdered journalist Jan Kuciak in an explosive report on alleged high-level corruption linked to the mafia. Police arrested Antonino Vadala, the owner of several companies based in Slovakia, in March in connection with a European arrest warrant issued by Italy last year over alleged drug trafficking. Vadala also faces charges of attempted EU subsidy fraud in Slovakia. He has flatly denied the allegations, which were first made public in Kuciak's article. The Italian had been detained and released earlier in March month over the alleged fraud. "The Regional Prosecutor's Office of Kosice on Friday issued a decision to execute the European arrest warrant issued by a court in Venice against the Italian entrepreneur Antonin Vadala," spokesman Milan Filicko said in a statement, using another name for Antonino Vadala. "The legal deadline for the physical handover of the person to the competent Italian authorities is 10 days," Filicko said, adding that Vadala had not appealed against the extradition. Vadala's name was mentioned several times in Kuciak's last unfinished investigative report, which was published after the journalist and his fiancee were found shot dead at their home near Bratislava in late February. The murders and the article sparked nationwide anti-government protests in the EU country of 5.4 million people, forcing the resignation in March of populist prime minister Robert Fico. Kuciak's article raised possible political links to Italian businessmen with alleged ties to Calabria's notorious 'Ndrangheta mafia, supposedly operating in eastern Slovakia. The EU member's National Criminal Agency (NAKA) investigator began criminal proceeding against Valdala in April. He is alleged to have attempted to trick the Slovak Agriculture Paying Agency to pay out subsidies amounting to roughly 120,000 Euros through one of his companies. He falsely declared liabilities connected with the conditions for the agricultural subsidies to be paid. Organisers have called another anti-government protest for Friday to honour the memory of the murdered couple on the eve of their wedding that was supposed to take place on May 5. Hanli Liu, an expert in brain imaging and a professor in the Bioengineering Department at The University of Texas at Arlington, was among 26 women named by the Dallas Business Journal as winners in the fifth annual Women in Technology Awards. The awards, which celebrate and honor the tech mavericks who are forging the way for both women and future tech leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth, were announced April 5. Liu and her fellow honorees will be recognized at a reception May 22 at the Westin Galleria in Dallas. Hanli Liu I am honored and humbled to be recognized at the Women in Technology Awards, Liu said. I am proud to be included alongside these brilliant women leaders as an example of the influence of women in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on their organizations and the greater community. Liu is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and a member of the UTA Academy of Distinguished Scholars. She joined UTAs College of Engineering in 1996 and has secured more than $11 million in research funding as principal investigator or co-investigator during her career at UTA. Her research includes medical instrumentation for imaging, minimally invasive or noninvasive spectroscopy of human tissue, optical diffuse imaging of cancer and brain activities. Her recent, technology-based research and development is related to non-invasive transcranial infrared brain stimulations or TIBS by shining low-power laser light on the human forehead. In 2016, she led a team that published groundbreaking research in Natures Scientific Reports that explained the underlying principle of TIBS, followed by another high-impact article in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. This publication has provided the first demonstration that TIBS can significantly improve metabolic activity, blood flow and blood oxygenation in the human brain. The teams novel and rigorous research contributes important insight into the physiological mechanisms, which may provide critical, scientific foundation for an effective, non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive, long-term intervention in the near future for treating brain disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, using light. This direction of technology-oriented research and development matches well the federal BRAIN or Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative and led into a $2.8 million federal funding from the National Institutes of Health to the multi-institutional research team under Lius leadership. Furthermore, she is currently working with a UT Southwestern neonatal intensivist to provide a portable brain imaging system and to develop advanced signal-processing techniques for very ill newborns. Her collaboration will help better measure the babies neurophysiology and brain networks over time, providing physicians with advanced analysis tools needed to guide treatments for encephalopathy or brain swelling more promptly and accurately, which could save the babies lives. Lius previous projects include a nearly $1 million NIH grant to investigate a minimally invasive method of screening and diagnosing prostate cancer using a multichannel optical imaging system. She also won a $1.37 million NIH grant to develop computational optical imaging methods for monitoring anti-stroke therapy. She won 2009 Department of Defense Prostate Research Program grant to develop an optical detection system that allows physicians to find lesions that may have cancer, correctly estimate the cancers severity and identify tiny, low-grade cancers not likely to cause problems. Liu earned her degrees in physics and applied physics, including a doctorate in applied physics, from Wake Forest University. She has published more than 130 journal articles and 140 conference proceedings and holds a few patents, including Optical Methods to Intraoperatively Detect Positive Prostate and Kidney Cancer Margins, which utilizes optical spectroscopy as an innovative technique for demonstration of renal and prostate tumors during surgery. Peter Crouch, dean of UTAs College of Engineering, said that the Women in Technology Award is a great honor for Liu and reflects UTAs commitment to health and the human condition, a theme of the Universitys Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact. Dr. Liu is extremely deserving of this prestigious award. She has distinguished herself as a scholar and a peerless researcher. On behalf of UTA and the College of Engineering, I extend our hearty congratulations, Crouch said. Her contributions in the area of non-invasive neuromodulation using light show great promise for helping scores of people who suffer from neurological or psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and similar afflictions, have a better quality of life. -- written by Jeremy Agor Fingerprinting Express is offering 400 teachers free fingerprinting services, in May, during Teacher Appreciation Week. Fingerprinting Express is based in Nevada with stores in Reno, Carson City, South West Las Vegas and Central Las Vegas, is the leader in fingerprinting, Notary, passport photos and additional services across the state of Nevada. They are proud to announce that they have launched a new Culture to Care promotion that will run between May 7 and 12, 2018. The promotion will run in conjunction with Teacher Appreciation Week. Since 1984, National PTA has designated one week in May to celebrate the outstanding contributions teachers make. The Fingerprinting Express teacher appreciation promotion is targeting teachers and substitute teachers that require fingerprints for their Nevada Department of Education License, in particular for initial licensing and renewals. Monica Pappas, CEO of Fingerprinting Express says: Fingerprinting Express will be providing free fingerprints for the first 100 teachers at each Fingerprinting Express store statewide for a total of 400 free fingerprint services for teachers whether they process either FD258 hard cards or Livescan technology. This will be offered by appointment only, made online through our website. The promotion will only be available for Nevada Department of Education licensure. This means those looking at fingerprinting services for County processing will not be able to access the service for free. If you happen to be a private or charter school, contact Fingerprinting Express directly to discuss special pricing for your teachers, substitute teachers and volunteers. The first 400 teachers to set an appointment online for a fingerprint background check, at one of the 4 store locations, will not be charged the fingerprint fees, resulting in discounts of up to $8,000 worth of fingerprints to teachers across the state of Nevada. This type of giving to the community is in line with Fingerprinting Express Culture to Care. Through this, they have already discounted over $60,000 in services for teachers, nonprofits, active military, and volunteers in the last two years alone. Our Culture to Care philosophy at Fingerprinting Express is simple, adds Monica Pappas. We believe that nothing touches people more than selfless acts of kindness. We practice this approach both with our customers and in our communities. We appreciate everything teachers do for our kids and the least we can do is show our appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week. When it comes to our communities, we encourage our partners, vendors and staff to volunteer their time and/or financial support to a cause close to their hearts. The companys core values will also be demonstrated during the promotion. These include handling all customers with patience, showing concern for their best interests, being willing to listen, being efficient during their servicing process, showing respect at all times, providing a superior service, being hospitable at all times, and respecting peoples privacy. Monica Pappas says: Culture to Care extends throughout all of our store locations. Our system is stronger when we are working together to protect our communitys vulnerable populations while setting high industry standards for accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. In our business, we have to care in order to properly process our applicants. Founded in 2003, Fingerprinting Express is a national leader in fingerprint background checks and is a designated Womens Business Enterprise. Most notably, Fingerprinting Express is one of just a few businesses in the state offering Livescan fingerprinting technology, widely considered the most accurate form of background checks available. Fingerprinting Express has the ability to send Livescan fingerprints electronically to the State of Nevada and to the FBI and to provide its customers with hard fingerprint cards and is an approved vendor for Nevada Boards and Divisions. The FBI Express Criminal History report generates results within 24 hours. Cambodian farmers and agri-business firms are being encouraged to use a state-run laboratory to analyze the quality and safety of their produce in a bid to build trust with consumers. A recent decree by the agriculture minister, Veng Sakhon, stated that the new control measures were intended to protect public health and promote better export-quality goods. The decree will create new quality standards on food and other agricultural produce. Sar Mora, president of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation, welcomed the move, saying higher quality standards would be a benefit to the entire sector. The union leader added that the laboratory should be transparent in its analysis and hoped that corruption would not influence its processing of cases. I think its a good news if there is no corruption issue or cronyism, he said. Its a chance to expand the production of producers, meaning that they will be aware that they have an obligation to produce with standards, he added. But he questioned whether there would be enough highly qualified staff to properly carry out the needed functions of the laboratory. This is another separate challenging issue that we are not aware [of the answer to] because its new for us. So, its hard to say about the capacity of our officials. We dont know how good they are, he said. The laboratory will implement food standards from the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, and Codex Alimentarius Commission, according to officials. It will also facilitate and promote food safety and offer training and research services, as well as retain the power to issue warnings, license suspensions and confiscations of produce if they are found to fall outside of the guidelines. Over the past several years, poor food standards have been high on the agenda for the Cambodian government, as several scandals involving tainted food products have garnered headlines, prompting Prime Minister Hun Sen to call for a boycott of foreign-grown vegetables tainted with excessive levels of pesticides and other chemicals. Hean Vanhorn, director general of the agriculture department, declined to comment on the capacity of officials to implement the safety standards. As preparations are being made for the U.S. president and North Korea's leader to hold an historic summit, activists and academics are urging Donald Trump not to sacrifice human rights to achieve denuclearization. "To date, attention had been paid to the threat against peace, such as nuclear testing and missile launches by the North Koreans, but we must not forget the abduction issue, where peoples' lives are under threat," said Koichiro Iizuka, a Japanese citizen whose mother was taken to North Korea when he was a baby. "It cannot be that the weight of human life is less heavy than nuclear weapons and missiles," he told a U.N. meeting Thursday on the abduction issue. "In the context of the U.S.-North Korea upcoming summit, it is important that the U.S. raise the issue of abduction and entice actual action from North Korea," said Katsunobu Kato, Japan's minister in charge of the abduction issue. Japan says 17 of its citizens have been abducted by North Korea and counts some 800 cases where the possibility of abduction by Pyongyang cannot be ruled out. Abductions are a sensitive and important political issue in Japan. "This is an extremely urgent issue that needs to be resolved," Kato said. Decades of pain The abduction issue has haunted some Japanese families for decades. Koichiro Iizuka was only one-year-old when his mother was abducted in 1978 by North Korean agents. "I am without any memories of my mother," the now 41-year old said. At a summit between the leaders of North Korea and Japan in 2002, his family first received information on his mother. The North Koreans said she had died in a traffic accident. "There are no words to describe how I felt back then, the only thing I can say is that endlessly tears dropped from my eyes," Iizuka told the meeting. But Iizuka says further investigation found that the death certificate was a fake and there was no information to confirm his mother's death. "She is still alive in North Korea; she is still waiting there to be saved," he said. For Takuya Yokota, the 1977 abduction of his then 13-year old sister on her way home from school continues to cause his family heartache. "My parents spent more than 20 years without knowing what had happened to her," Yokota said. His family was told by Pyongyang officials in 2002 that his sister was dead that she had committed suicide. Remains were returned, but subsequent DNA testing proved they were not his sister. "After all these decades of suffering and distress that North Korea imposed on us, they piled further despair on us," Yokota said. "The issue of North Korea is not only nuclear development and missiles, but the abduction matter must not be forgotten." "The near total absence of human rights concerns from the agenda of the inter-Korean summit meeting was a missed opportunity," Junya Nishino, a professor at Tokyo's Keio University said of last month's historic meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea. "It is imperative that human rights are not sidelined in any talks," he added. U.S. detainees North Korea is also holding three U.S. citizens, who the Trump administration has indicated could be released imminently. But another detainee, American student Otto Warmbier, was not so fortunate. The 21-year old was arrested in North Korea in January 2016 for stealing a propaganda poster and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He died in June 2017, days after he was released and returned to the U.S. with severe brain damage. "First, we were silenced by North Korea, we were afraid to say anything," Otto's father Fred Warmbier recounted. "We lived in fear, and fear of what they would do to our son. So they used him as political pawn for as long as they could. When he was of no value to them, they essentially sent him home to our family in a body bag." The Warmbiers filed a lawsuit last week in a U.S. district court seeking compensation for their son's death. Warmbier said the suit seeks to construct a narrative of the events that occurred while Otto was detained. "We are trying to build a pathway that leads directly to [leader] Kim [Jong Un] and his regime to force them to be answerable for their actions," he said. Cautious negotiations North Korea experts are urging the Trump administration to tread carefully at the expected summit. "We should not be optimistic about recent developments and also should keep a cautious eye on the North Korean leader's words and behaviors," said Professor Nishino of Keio University. "The North Korean leader has expressed his willingness to achieve a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, but any specific measures for denuclearization of North Korea were not mentioned in the Panmunjeom declaration last month," he noted. He said that at the U.S.-North Korea summit the leaders must deliver a detailed agreement on how North Korea will denuclearize. Jonathan Pollard of the Washington-based Brookings Institution wonders why this outreach from Kim now and what is he seeking. "He sees this as time to chip away at the coalition that has been arrayed against North Korea," Pollard said. "To erode America's alliances to the Republic of Korea and Japan, and to push through a door that the progressive president of the Republic of Korea, President Moon, has opened for him." Pollard points out that so far all Kim has offered the international community are gestures, ones that have little or no cost for him, such as halting nuclear and long-range missile tests. He says President Trump must be ready to disabuse Kim of the notion that nuclear weapons guarantee his regime's survival. "A murderous tyrant may don the clock of compliance, a sunny disposition, and dupe the world, but he is still a murderous tyrant," said Sung-Yoon Lee, of Tufts University's Fletcher School. "We have to keep up the pressure on North Korea, and remind the world of the basic nature of the North Korean regime cruel purveyors of inhumanity." A mother of two in Afghanistan sold her five-month-old daughter to raise money for medical treatment for a relative. The case sparked deep concern in the country, and officials and others have raised money for both medical costs and to get the child back to her mom. The mom, Obaidah, lives in Mimanah, in Afghanistan's Faryab province, and has been married for five years. Her husband's 20-year-old brother Jalaluddin is suffering from blood cancer, which is expensive to treat. To help pay for the treatment, baby "Mehraban" was sold to a childless couple. "I sold my daughter to treat my husbands young brother. I cried two nights and I did not sleep. I had to do that to save a persons life from death," said Obaidah in a phone interview with VOA. The story, first reported by the Pajhwok news agency, circulated widely on social media, attracting the attention of a local governor. A Pajhwok reporter says the governor of Faryab paid $420 to get the baby back and returned to her mother. Najibullah, a man who runs a restaurant in city of Maimana, bought the baby girl because he and his wife have not been able to have children. Five other people donated money for Jalaluddin's treatment. Mehraban's sale is the latest of several cases in which poverty, debt, or social difficulties prompted parents to sell babies. Afghan lawyer Diba Abhar says selling or buying children is usually illegal. He tells VOA's Ashna Radio that such transactions can only take place under exceptional circumstances and need court supervision. Jawid Bidar, spokesperson for Faryab province, called this case a "gloomy incident." He said authorities should prevent such actions, and journalists and others could help by reporting them. The sudden death of Mozambique's longtime rebel leader and opposition chief has caused shock and concern in the southern African nation and in the region, analysts say. Afonso Dhlakama, who died Thursday at the age of 65, was never far from the action in Mozambique. He led the Renamo rebel group through a bruising 16-year civil war that ended in 1992. He then led Renamo's transformation into a political party, and ran for president, unsuccessfully, five times. In 2013, frustrated with what he said were attempts by the ruling Frelimo party to stymie the opposition, Dhlakama retreated to the bush in northern Mozambique and led his supporters in a low-level insurgency. In the months before his death, he and President Filipe Nyusi were making progress on a peace deal. Nyusi confirmed Dhlakama's death on national television late Thursday. Nyusi said he had been told Dhlakama was ill, and had attempted to send him abroad for treatment the day before he died. Nyusi did not provide details on the illness. 'Untimely death' Journalist and commentator Fernando Lima said the nation was stunned by the news. "To lose such a person, such a kind of energizing person, is a big, big loss," he told VOA. "And so I would say that we are, in terms of the country, we are almost in a state of coma, in shock." Analyst Liesl Louw-Vaudran of the Institute for Security Studies said Dhlakama's death also leaves unanswered many serious questions. Dhlakama led Renamo since 1979, and did not leave a clear successor. "His death his untimely death, really puts a question mark over this peace deal and whether it will not be implemented," she told VOA. Accusations The U.S. State Department, among others, accused Renamo of committing crimes against humanity, including mass killings, mutilations, forced labor and recruitment of child soldiers, in its war effort. But Lima said that Dhlakama's legacy is ultimately a positive one, despite the serious allegations. "If it would not be for a person such as Dhlakama, the civil liberties in this country would be much more jeopardized," he said. "I cannot have the media I have and the freedom I have if it would not be for Dhlakama and what he has done for this country, despite [the fact that] he carried this message through a really violent and bloody insurgency, but we have those achievements, and everybody benefits from those achievements." Louw-Vaudran said economic implications are at stake in the wake of Dhlakama's death, as Mozambique's natural gas wealth is being developed. "Much of this political strife these last couple of years should also be seen in that context, where here you have an expectation of new wealth in Mozambique, but you have a lot of corruption the Frelimo government has been racked by one scandal after the other so within that backdrop, it really is very important for stability to return to Mozambique," she said. The Brazilian Air Force has begun flying Venezuelans from a remote border region to elsewhere in Brazil, trying to defuse a humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of migrants flee an economic collapse in their country. On Friday, 233 Venezuelans boarded a Boeing 767 bound for Manaus and Sao Paulo, the third flight in a month aimed at easing pressure on social services in northern Brazil. Brazil's government launched the Army-led operation in March with a budget of 190 million reais ($54 million) to control the flow of migrants, improve their temporary shelters and help with documents so they can move onward to find work in larger cities. The waves of Venezuelans driven by hunger and hardship have continued unabated, however, with hundreds of migrants entering Brazil each day at the only formal land crossing between the two nations, according to officials in the border state of Roraima. In the state capital of Boa Vista, 1,500 people have taken refuge in a square named after Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar, braving tropical downpours in a crowded tent city with no water, toilets or cooking facilities. "New steps are being taken to alleviate the situation, but the humanitarian crisis continues," said Rosilene Santiago, superintendent for federal police in Roraima. "Just look at the number of Venezuelans seeking work on the streets of Boa Vista." Asylum requests soar Requests for asylum by Venezuelans in Roraima have jumped to 20,000 since the start of the year, nearly surpassing the 22,000 requests in all of 2017, she said. There were 3,800 in 2016. Federal police said 92,656 Venezuelans entered Brazil between 2017 and 2018. Half of them have continued onward to neighboring Spanish-speaking countries such as Argentina and Chile, but many have stayed in Boa Vista. General Eduardo Pazuello, who is coordinating the operation with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said up to 7,000 Venezuelans still needed assistance in Boa Vista. UNHCR representative Isabel Marquez said the processing of refugees had improved since the army got involved, but warned the crisis was not over and the flow of migrants could grow. "The situation in Venezuela is not getting any better. It is deteriorating in many aspects. People are not getting food and not everyone has access to what little there is," Marquez said. Venezuelans have saturated the job market in Boa Vista and new arrivals are finding it hard to find work. Juan Roca, formerly a forklift driver at Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, has been sleeping on the streets for a month, living on rice and beans cooked on a fire. "Look how thin I am. There is no work here," he said, as he waited for a room in a shelter and a flight to a bigger city. 1 million and climbing According to the United Nations, nearly 1 million people left Venezuela between 2015 and 2017, fleeing an economic crisis and what critics call an increasingly authoritarian government. The trend appears to have accelerated this year. Evelin Garcia, who held a crying 10-month-old son in her arms before boarding the Air Force flight to Manaus, was happy to leave Boa Vista after four months in a UNHCR tent with her four children. The lack of food and medicine in Venezuela led her to follow her husband, Jose Gregorio Sucre, a bricklayer who traveled first to Brazil seeking work. "We're excited to be here, but I'm scared. I've never flown on a plane before," she said. "We don't know what awaits us. ... But until the government changes and things improve, I'm not going back." Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservative Party avoided a wipeout in London local elections and eked out gains in Brexit-supporting regions elsewhere, results Friday showed, denting the opposition Labour Partys hopes of a big win. The elections are viewed as a gauge of public support for May as she faces a possible revolt in parliament over her strategy for leaving the European Union. With two-thirds of results declared, May had avoided the kind of widespread losses that would have weakened her authority over Conservative lawmakers ahead of key tests of her plans to take Britain out of the EU customs union as it quits the bloc. These results are as good as any government party after eight years in power could expect, said Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics Department of Government. Theyll be a relief for May and the Conservative Party as a whole because theyre suggestive that despite the fact the Conservatives are in an on-and-off civil war over Brexit, the Labour Partys problems are possibly worse, he added. Labour's limitations Against a backdrop of heightened expectations for the Labour Party, the ballot also showed the limitations of its recent resurgence under veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn. Mays party held on to control of Wandsworth council, a low-tax Conservative stronghold since the time of late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The council had been one of Labours more ambitious targets in Thursdays vote and one it campaigned heavily to win. Labour will have to do far, far better than this in local elections in future to suggest they are convincing the electorate more generally, Travers said. Slim majority in Parliament Voting decides more than 4,400 council seats, determining the makeup of 150 local government authorities who are responsible for the day-to-day provision of public services. They do not affect seats in parliament, where May has only a slim working majority, thanks to a deal with a smaller party. The Conservatives also held the symbolic council of Westminster, Londons political district, indicating that the final scale of losses in the capital would come in at the lower end of the predicted range. Despite retaining overall control, the Conservatives lost individual seats in Westminster and Wandsworth. Ruling party losses typical Ruling parties typically suffer losses at local elections, and opinion polls had predicted a bad night in London for the Conservatives after eight years in power. May is also negotiating an exit from the EU that 60 percent of the capital rejected at the 2016 Brexit referendum. Results elsewhere in Londons 32 boroughs showed the forecast swing to Labour in the capital had materialized, although not strongly enough to inflict the heavy losses that would pose a serious headache for May. Corbyn has endured fierce criticism over the handling of anti-Semitism within his party. Critics also say he misjudged his response to military action in Syria and a row with Moscow over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in southern England. Despite intensive campaigning, Labour did not take overall control of Barnet, a borough previously thought to be easily winnable. Mays Conservatives won back control of the borough, which has the largest Jewish population of any single council area in the country. Outside London, the Conservatives regained control of councils in the pro-Brexit regions of Peterborough and Basildon, largely at the expense of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP). UKIP has suffered leadership issues and struggled for a new purpose since achieving its primary political aim at the 2016 Brexit referendum when Britons decided to leave the EU. But Mays party lost control of the highly prized council in the Trafford area of the northern city of Manchester, its only foothold in an Labour-dominated important economic region where the Conservatives have spent years trying to win support. Burundi has announced a six-month ban on broadcasts by Voice of America and the BBC, two weeks before the country votes on proposed amendments to the constitution, including changes in presidential term limits. The ban was announced Friday by Burundi's National Communications Council, which accused VOA and the BBC of breaching laws regulating the media and engaging in "unethical conduct." The statement said the ban would begin Monday. The council issued a warning to Radio France Internationale (RFI), accusing it of dishonest reporting about possible reprisals against those calling for a no vote in the referendum. In a statement Friday, VOA Director Amanda Bennett denounced the council's action. We are dismayed by the actions taken today by the Burundi National Communications Council to ban VOA from broadcasting its news and information programs, Bennett said. Our audience members count on VOA to provide factual, unbiased and objective coverage of current events, so this ban deprives the citizens of Burundi of a trusted news source during a critical time in that country. "This is even more distressing coming only one day after World Press Freedom Day a day calling for governments to remove, not impose, restrictions on the media. A State Department official said the United States is "disappointed" with the actions of Burundi and has raised those concerns directly with the government. VOA content will continue to be available in Kirundi and Kinyarwanda via shortwave channels, on the Internet and on FM transmitters located in neighboring countries. Nkurunziza until 2034? Burundi is holding a May 17 constitutional referendum that would extend presidential terms from five years to seven. The constitution would continue to limit presidents to two terms, but supporters of incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza say a "yes" vote would reset the clock and allow him to run for an additional two terms. Nkurunziza has led the central African country since 2005. The United States strongly criticized the president for seeking a third term in 2015, and this week the State Department denounced alleged acts of violence and intimidation against opponents of the constitutional referendum. "We call on the government to respect Burundi's international legal obligations regarding the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday. Accusation of censorship Reporters Without Borders also criticized the VOA and BBC suspensions, saying they were "intended to tighten the East African country's gag on the media..." Banning two major international broadcasters just days ahead of a referendum on constitutional amendments clearly indicates a desire by the Burundian authorities to censor the public debate and trample on the right to information, said a statement from Arnaud Froger, the head of RSFs Africa desk. Joanne Lomas, the British high commissioner to Rwanda and non-resident ambassador to Burundi, took to social media to express her concern. Very disappointed to hear BBC and others banned in Burundi for 6 months. Free press an essential part of any election process. Another backward step," she wrote. Burundi has officially kicked off campaigning ahead of the May 17 referendum, with government officials telling people to vote "yes" to the constitutional changes. Officials say the amendments would provide a much-needed update to the country's political system. However, critics say the initiative is all about extending the current president's rule. President Pierre Nkurunziza has made clear his opinion on the proposed constitutional changes. Speaking at a rally in the second largest city, Gitega, Wednesday, he warned those who want to vote "no." "I would like to declare this to Burundians and those who are not whoever opposes this constitutional changes will meet God's power," he declared. The most controversial proposed amendment deals with presidential term limits a topic that led to deadly unrest Burundi in recent years. The current term is five years, but the new amendment would give the president a seven-year mandate. The constitution limits the president to two terms, but it is argued that the change would reset the clock for Nkrunziza to run twice more. He has been in office since 2005. If the referendum passes, Nkurunziza could potentially stay in power until 2034. He told VOA there are threats everywhere Agathon Rwasa, a former presidential candidate and vice president of the National Assembly, is campaigning for "no." "There are threats," he told VOA. "If they hire to our group, they will be banned, so it's a big challenge. But we do hope these threats won't be effective." The government has insisted the changes are aimed at strengthening the country's laws to bring an end to political upheaval. But human rights groups have expressed concern over the political environment in which the referendum is being held. They say the ruling party youth wing, known as Imobonerakure, is targeting those suspected to be campaigning or are planning to vote against their party's wishes. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says opponents of the referendum have faced beatings and arrest in the run-up to the vote. HRW researcher Lewis Mudge says it will be difficult to get a fair result. "It's happening in the context of state killings of people who are against Nkurunziza's third mandate, which we saw significantly in 2015," he said. "It's happening in the context in which journalists and civil society have either been locked up or kicked out of the country and in which opposition internally is either muzzled or ceases to exist. So it's a very worrying perspective in terms of medium and long term." VOA, BBC ban At least 1,200 people have lost their lives since Nkrunziza announced his bid for a third term in 2015, and more than 400,000 Burundians have fled the country. On Friday, Burundi's National Communications Council announced a six-month ban on broadcasts by Voice of America and the BBC. The Council said the broadcasters have broken the country's media laws and engaged in "unethical conduct." The United States was a strong critic of the president's decision to seek a third term in 2015, and more recently denounced the alleged acts of violence against opponents of the referendum. China is denying accusations that it fired military-grade lasers at U.S. planes landing at Camp Lemonnier, in the East African nation of Djibouti. Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry, told reporters on Friday that U.S. allegations that the pilots suffered minor injuries after Chinese nationals aimed high-powered lasers at them were completely inconsistent with the facts. WATCH: Djibouti Laser Incident Highlights US-China Military Tensions In a written response to VOA, Chinas Ministry of National Defense said, The Chinese side has refuted the untrue allegations made by the United States through official channels. At a news conference Thursday, Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said the U.S. is confident Chinese nationals are behind two recent incidents involving four-engine military transport planes making their landings. They are very serious incidents. There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a threat to our airmen, White said. She added that the Pentagon had issued a formal complaint and asked China to conduct its own investigation. In its response, China did not explain why the U.S. claims are untrue or directly deny that they have employed lasers in Djibouti, where China recently opened a new logistics and military base. Guinea pigs The U.S. believes the laser was beamed from or near Chinas base, about 10.5 kilometers from Camp Lemonnier, the U.S. installation. Why China would attempt to injure U.S. pilots or possibly cause their aircraft to crash isnt clear. Joshua Meservey, a senior policy analyst for Africa and the Middle East at The Heritage Foundation, suspects the attacks might be a test of some kind. I think its probably just somewhat of a standard operating procedure, unfortunately, for the Chinese where they, if they see an opportunity to harass, or maybe theyre trying out it could well be that theyre experimenting with lasers as a way of disrupting flights and they thought that the U.S. military flights in Djibouti were great guinea pigs, Meservey said. Chinese military analysts who spoke to the South China Morning Post, a news organization based in Hong Kong, said the lasers may have been intended to disperse birds or intercept reconnaissance drones. China has signed the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons, which bans the use of lasers that cause blindness in warfare. It specifically allows for other applications, however, including blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of the legitimate military employment of laser systems. Sim Tack is the chief military analyst with Force Analysis, which assesses armed conflicts around the globe. He recently said that Chinas new base allows it to install communication, and possibly interception, systems that allow it to monitor what other powers are doing. Having that military presence there and having some kind of local intelligence node, thatll probably assist China in becoming a little more actively involved with its potential allies in that area, Tack told VOA in November. They have a very strong long-term strategy that they are following, and both that military diplomacy and the economic investments are key pillars of how they actually establish their presence in that region, Tack said. Room for cooperation Marine General Thomas Waldhauser, who oversees U.S. troops in Africa, has expressed the value of cooperation with China. Across the continent, we have shared interests in African stability. We see many areas where we can cooperate with the Chinese military. For example, we both support U.N. peacekeeping missions and training with African defense forces, Waldhauser said in prepared remarks at the United States Institute for Peace last year. But in March, Waldhauser warned U.S. lawmakers about a potential Chinese takeover of a key port in Djibouti, which he called a worst-case scenario. Waldhauser said that if China were to take over the port, that restricts our access. He also said, That restricts the Navys ability to get in there and just simply offload supplies and the like. Despite recent flare-ups, including this past weeks events, Meservey voiced optimism that the U.S. and China can still cooperate in Djibouti, at least on a small scale. If we exercise the appropriate level of caution and wariness, there is space to continue to try to improve the relationship as much as we can, without being naive. U.S. voters head to the polls in November for a high-stakes congressional midterm election in which Republican control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate appears to be in jeopardy. The outcome of the elections could have a profound impact on U.S. President Donald Trump as well, and the president is starting to take notice. At a recent campaign-style rally in Washington, Michigan, Trump turned up the heat on opposition Democrats: "A vote for a Democrat in November is a vote for open borders and crime. It's very simple," he said. WATCH: Democratic Gains in Midterms Would Alter Trump's Presidency Opinion polls give Democrats an edge looking ahead to the balloting in November, and Trump is trying to get his supporters excited about turning out at the polls. "You know what it is? You get complacent," he said. "We cannot be complacent. We have to go out, right?" The president also told supporters not to pay attention to Democrats who insist they have the House all but won in November. "We've got to go out and we've got to fight like hell and we have got to win the House and win the Senate," Trump told the audience. "And I think we are going to do great in the Senate and I think we are going to do great in the House because the economy is so good." Democratic advantage According to the website RealClearPolitics, the Democrats enjoy a generic ballot advantage of nearly 7 percentage points over the Republicans looking ahead to November. RealClearPolitics averaged several recent polls and found that 45.6 percent of those surveyed said they would support Democratic congressional candidates in November, compared with 38.9 percent who said they would vote for Republicans. Analysts see the generic ballot as a key indicator of party strength heading into the midterms. Historically, the president's party usually loses congressional seats two years after winning the White House.The losses are usually worse if the president's public approval rating is under 50 percent. Trump's approval has recently averaged about 41 percent. Democrats are organizing with help from billionaire Tom Steyer, who is on what he calls a "Need to Impeach" tour around the country with the aim of helping Democrats win back the House in November so they can initiate impeachment proceedings against the president. "We now know that this partisan fight has become a fierce battle for the soul of America, and we, the people, have to win this battle," he said. Steyer was in Orlando, Florida, this week and said his political action committee, NextGen America, planned to spend $35 million in organizing young people to vote in November. Trump front and center Apart from what appears to be building energy on the Democratic side, analysts said the president's low public approval ratings also leave Republicans vulnerable in November. "He is at a low level not the lowest ever, but he is in the 41 or 42 percent job approval range," said John Fortier of the Bipartisan Policy Center, a frequent guest on VOA's Encounter program."He still has the support of his Republican base very strongly, but has motivated many Democrats against him, and we see that in the special elections that have been going against Republicans." In addition, a large number of congressional Republicans have announced their retirements this year, opening up more potential gains for Democrats. As of late April, 38 House Republicans had announced they were either retiring or running for another office, compared with 18 on the Democratic side. Three Senate Republicans have also announced they are retiring. Jim Kessler of the centrist Democratic group said that was "a real sign of pessimism. Even the speaker [Paul Ryan of Wisconsin] has decided not to run for re-election. Democrats are overperforming in every race and special election since Donald Trump was elected." Midterm consequences For Trump, the loss of Republican control of even one congressional chamber could have enormous political consequences. "Losing control of the House of Representatives would stop the administration's legislative agenda in its tracks. Losing control of the Senate would stop its appointments in their tracks," said Brookings Institution political scholar Bill Galston. He is a guest on this week's Press Conference USA program on VOA. From the looks of his recent rally in Michigan, Trump seems determined to spend a lot of time on the campaign trail this year. In certain states and congressional districts, that could help boost Republican turnout in a year when Democrats are expected to flood the polls. Most political analysts believe Democrats have at least a 50 percent chance of taking the House in November, which would require picking up 23 seats now held by Republicans. Some analysts believe if the Democratic wave is big enough, it could also allow them to wrest control of the Senate away from Republicans, who currently hold a narrow 51-49 seat edge. U.S. voters head to the polls in November for a high stakes congressional midterm election in which Republican control of the House of Representatives and the Senate is in jeopardy. The outcome of the elections could have a profound impact on President Donald Trump as well, and the president is starting to take notice. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington. The Armenian ruling party's signal of support for opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan's bid to become interim prime minister has been greeted with disbelief by some on the streets of the capital. Opposition supporters lingered in Yerevan's Republic Square even after Pashinyan called to halt demonstrations as all sides negotiated a solution to the political crisis that has wracked the tiny South Caucasian country for weeks. On Thursday, Armen Ashotyan, deputy head of the ruling Republican Party, told reporters that his legislators would support Pashinyan in an upcoming May 8 parliamentary vote to elect a prime minister, as long as the opposition figure won at least a third of the votes cast. "We had two criteria to assist any candidate," Ashotyan said. "The first is a necessary ... 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." The statement comes just two days after Armenia's parliament voted 45-to-55 against Pashinyan, leaving him eight votes short of the majority needed to capture the former Soviet republic's most powerful office. "If that is true, we are very glad, but I can't believe that's possible," said a young Armenian woman who, like thousands of others, had participated in weeks of protests that forced the resignation of former Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. Sargsyan, who was elected prime minister by parliament on April 17 some eight days after his two-term presidency ended had previously said he would not seek to become prime minister after newly implemented constitutional changes, which he championed during his presidency, made the office of prime minister more powerful than that of the president. Republicans' Tuesday abstentions, which blocked Pashinyan's bid to become prime minister, leaving the office vacant, triggered city-wide street blockades and strikes. On a bench in Republic Square, one protester suggested Ashotyan's Thursday assurances of a plan to back Pashinyan seemed too good to be true. "We can't believe until we see it," he said. "We hope Nikol Pashinyan will be our premier," said the women seated beside him. "And by 'our,' I mean all of us." If the May 8 vote fails to elect a prime minister, parliament will be dissolved and fresh elections will be called. Optimistic opposition Although recants protests have been largely non-violent, some Pashinyan loyalists say the country appears to be on the verge of forcing a change of government. Gevorg Gorgisyan, a parliamentarian aligned with Pashinyan's Yelk or "Way Out"-alliance, which holds 47 votes among its loosely allied opposition constituency, described the majority Republican as out of touch with most Armenians. "[Republican leadership] speeches enraged our citizens, as they merely admitted minor mistakes and attempted to stay in power," he said, referring to widespread frustration over poverty, corruption and poor governance in the nation of some 3 million people. According to statistics by the United Nations, more than 11 percent of Armenians live below the poverty line, earning less than 1,530 Armenian drams ($3.20) per day, and, as Bloomberg reports, emigre remittances from Armenia's 8-million-strong diaspora comprise 14 percent of national GDP. Under Sargsyan, Armenia barely recovered from a GDP decline of 14 percent in 2009, only to witness a 7.5-percent surge of economic growth in 2017. By the end of last year, however, the economy faced deflation and extremely weak domestic demand. "They just don't realize that it's too late," Gorgisyan added. "That train has already left the station." Fellow Yelk Alliance MP Edmon Marukhyan expressed confidence in a May 8 triumph for Pashinyan, who has vowed to rid Armenia of corruption, poverty and nepotism, and has promised snap elections. "We will need to adapt the electoral code to guarantee that no administrative resource can be used during the elections and to prevent any bribe of the voters," he said, seeming to look well beyond the upcoming parliamentary vote. "Only the people's candidate can guarantee that, and today that person is Nikol Pashinyan." Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the slightly larger opposition Prosperous Armenia, told VOA's Armenian Service that although his party has been odds with their fellow Yelk Alliance legislators, they plan to back Pashinyan unconditionally. "Today the victory belongs entirely to the people, and the people should decide who their candidate [for prime minister] is," he said. "As for us, we will vote for that candidate as we did last time." In the United States, members of the vast Armenian diaspora community have given full-throated support for Pashinyan's candidacy, holding demonstrations in front of the Armenian embassy in Washington on the streets of Los Angeles, which is home to Armenia's largest diaspora community. "The people have said 'enough!'" said Gurgen Mkhitaryan, a member of the Los Angeles branch of Armenian Renaissance, a diaspora-led grass-roots organization composed of international and municipal chapters that aims to bring about true representative government and rule of law in Armenia. "We should have said it long ago, but we managed to do it today," he added, expressing skepticism about calls to slow the Armenian opposition's pursuit of radical change. "Questions about why now, why not a year ago, why not wait until 2022 they don't make sense," he said. "Armenia belongs to the people." This story originated in VOA's Armenian Service. Arman Tarjimanyan reported from Washington. Angelina Bagdasaryan of VOA's Russian Service contributed original reporting from Los Angeles. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday new legal team member Rudy Giuliani needs to "get his facts straight" about the hush money paid to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels in 2016, and maintained "we're not changing any stories" after a series of revised explanations that have clouded the settlement. Trump told reporters Friday at the White House that Giuliani, who joined Trump's team of personal attorneys, is "a great guy but he just started a day ago" and was still "learning the subject matter." Giuliani upended the previous White House defense of the settlement by saying on Wednesday that Trump was aware of personal lawyer Michael Cohen's payments to Daniels. WATCH: Trump Worries Legal Troubles Sidetrack Agenda In a statement issued later Friday, Giuliani said the payment did not violate U.S. campaign laws, and he added it would have been made even if Trump was not running for president. "The payment was made to resolve a personal and false allegation in order to protect the presidents family," he said. "It would have been done in any event, whether he was a candidate or not." White House press secretary Sarah Sanders acknowledged on Thursday she first learned Wednesday night, along with the rest of America, that Trump compensated Cohen for the payoff to Daniels just before the 2016 election when Giuliani made the comment on a Fox News Channel program Wednesday night. Sanders was pressed on whether she lied or was kept in the dark when she had 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. Trump confirmed earlier Thursday on Twitter what Giuliani said on the television program: that Cohen was reimbursed by the president for the payment made to Daniels. This directly contradicted Trump's earlier comments. On Air Force One a month ago, the president responded "no" after a reporter asked if 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 pornographic actress and director, whose real name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford, has alleged 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. Trump maintains the non-disclosure agreement reached with Daniels was "very common among celebrities and people of wealth" and said it "will be used in arbitration for damages" against Daniels since in recent weeks she has given interviews about the purported affair. Daniels has claimed the no-talk agreement is not valid because Trump never signed it. Trump said the non-disclosure 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," a statement Daniels said she signed under duress and subsequently has disavowed. Giuliani, who is a former mayor of New York City, first disclosed the monthly reimbursements by Trump to Cohen in a Fox News interview Wednesday with program host Sean Hannity. Hannity is a strong on-air defender of the president and frequently speaks with him. Giuliani told Hannity that Trump "didn't know about the specifics of [the payments], 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 Nov. 8, 2016, election against his Democratic challenger, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Imagine if that came out on Oct. 15, 2016, in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton," Giuliani told the Fox & Friends show Thursday. "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 of 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 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." Actress Rose McGowan will face indictment in Virginia on a felony drug-possession charge after a judge found probable cause Thursday to send the case to a grand jury. McGowan unsuccessfully sought to have the charges dismissed at a preliminary hearing in Leesburg. A grand jury will hear the case June 11. While it is possible the grand jury could choose not to indict, in all likelihood she will face an arraignment in circuit court June 12. She has suggested in court papers that the drugs may have been planted by agents hired by disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. McGowan was among the first actresses to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault. Weinstein has denied rape allegations. McGowan and others say Weinstein aggressively sought to discredit his accusers. Authorities say cocaine was found in a wallet McGowan accidentally left behind on a flight to Dulles International Airport in January 2017. At Thursday's hearing, McGowan's lawyers presented no evidence that the drugs may have been planted. Instead, they simply argued that at least several hours elapsed between the time McGowan left the plane and 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. 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. McGowan attended the hearing, holding hands with her lawyers as she entered the courthouse. She did not testify. Asked for comment after the hearing, she said only that it was good to be back in Virginia. Jennifer Robinson, another of McGowan's lawyers, said after the hearing that "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." Robinson said Weinstein hired ex-intelligence agents to investigate McGowan and undermine her credibility. "The sooner this case is resolved, the sooner she can focus her efforts on seeking accountability for Mr. Weinstein," she said. Freedom of expression in Pakistan has continued to face challenges in the past year, says a report published by Freedom Network, a Pakistani media watchdog organization. The report, Press Freedom Barometer 2018, published ahead of Thursday's observance of World Press Freedom Day, documents more than 150 violations against journalists and media groups in the country. The 16-page report's violations include officially enforced censorship, written or verbal threats, killings, harassment, arrests, abductions, illegal confinements and physical assaults, conducted by state and nonstate actors and political and religious parties. "At least 157 cases of attacks and violations were documented in Pakistan between May 1, 2017, and April 1, 2018, across all four provinces, Islamabad and tribal areas. That's an average of about 15 cases of violations a month," the report noted. The executive director of Freedom Network, Iqbal Khattak, told VOA that despite a noticeable decline in overall terrorism in the country, journalism and journalists have remained vulnerable. "There had been a significant decline in terrorism within the country, and we thought it will have a positive impact on journalism as well. But unfortunately that's not the case, and the situation of press freedom has deteriorated in Pakistan," Khattak told VOA. There has been no response from the government. Longtime, widespread problem The report was compiled after collecting registered data across the country. It marked Islamabad as the "riskiest and most dangerous" city in which to practice journalism in Pakistan, with 35 percent of all cases (55 out of 157) reported in the capital during the past year. Punjab province ranked second with 17 percent of the cases, Sindh with 16 percent and Baluchistan with 14 percent. Ten percent of the violations were noted in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Additionally, a semiautonomous tribal region bordering Afghanistan had 8 percent of the total registered cases. Five journalists from different cities of Pakistan died in the line of duty, and 20 attacks were registered on media organizations last year. The report indicated TV journalists were more vulnerable than journalists belonging to other media such as print, social media or radio. "This is the responsibility of the state and media houses to ensure the safety of journalists and that their rights are fully respected. Those who go out in the field to dig stories and bring facts to the nation should not be killed in the line of duty," said Rasul Baksh Raees, a political analyst from Pakistan. Raees and others say the threat to journalists is nothing new, because they have always paid a price in Pakistan. Independence jeopardized Some experts believe the continued oppression against freedom of speech and expression has forced many media companies and journalists to self-censor. "Journalists in Pakistan have surrendered to the continued oppression and have implemented self-censorship. They avoid reporting news and facts that may result in violence. This will have a serious and grave impact on investigative journalism in the country," Khattak said. Mehdi Hasan, a Lahore-based media historian and current chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, echoed those concerns. "Many newspapers and news channels are practicing self-censorship. That is a plague for freedom of expression and deprives people of their right to information," Hasan told VOA. He added that in its 70-year history, journalism in Pakistan has always faced pressure from state and nonstate circles. While many analysts and media experts criticize the self-censorship and the suppression of free speech in the country, some also maintain that journalism in Pakistan has to re-evaluate the problems within itself and find a solution. Soul searching "I agree the findings of this report are disturbing and heartbreaking. Journalists should not have to live in an environment of fear. Those who go out to report events should not be killed, and no media group should be made to practice self-censorship," said Amir Ilyas Rana, a senior Islamabad-based journalist. "However, I also believe that many so-called journalists who occupy TV screens during prime time have crossed their lines many times and are unaware of the intricacies of journalism. They invite problems by making false claims regarding different important institutions of the country. Uncontrolled freedom of speech is also not acceptable. This doesn't happen in Europe or the USA either," Rana added. During the past few months, the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) have faced harsh criticism for blacking out coverage of a peaceful movement by ethnic Pashtuns, known as the PTM, against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The government is also accused of blocking the signal for Geo TV, Pakistan's most widely watched news channel, for more than a month. "No coverage to PTM and to block Geo's transmission says a lot in itself. There is an unannounced censorship and it tells the freedom of speech is under pressure in Pakistan. Is there any solution to this? No one knows," Raees told VOA. The government and PEMRA officials deny any involvement in blocking Geo's signal. Last month, PEMRA instructed cable operators to restore Geo to normal distribution or face the suspension of their licenses. Muhammad Jaleel Akhtar of VOA's Urdu service contributed to this report from Islamabad. Editor's note: With four people working on (im)migration stories every day, we still struggle to keep up with all of the relevant news. So, we wanted a way to keep you updated with the top immigration, migration and refugee stories every week the ones that will most affect you, our international readers, viewers and listeners. We want you to know what's happening, why, and how it could impact your life, family or business. Questions? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com One more TPS termination The Trump administration continued whittling the Temporary Protected Status program this week, announcing that 57,000 Hondurans living legally in the United States under TPS would lose their residency in 2020. The Department of Homeland Security initially deferred the decision until July 2018, but on May 4 announced it would cancel TPS for the country: "Since 1999, conditions in Honduras that resulted from the hurricane have notably improved. ... Honduras has made substantial progress in post-hurricane recovery and reconstruction from the 1998 Hurricane Mitch." Caravan to the border Dozens of travelers who crossed through Central America into Mexico have entered the United States, requesting asylum this week. Read our reporting on how the deployment of U.S. troops to the border is and isn't changing how would-be migrants view their chances of crossing the border. What's next? U.S. officials will review the cases of migrants requesting asylum in the United States. Putin's effect on persecution claims The number of Russians seeking asylum in the United States has increased dramatically since Russian leader Vladimir Putin took office in 2012, an exclusive report by VOA partner agency RFE/RL showed this week. "I understood that I had to leave, and that it's unlikely I could live peacefully and find a partner in Russia," a gay Russian who requested protection from the United States told a reporter. From 2007 to 2016, the U.S. accepted nearly 5,000 asylum applications by Russians, according to a VOA review of federal data. Rohingya hunger Hot meals are falling short of meeting the needs of refugees in Bangladesh's district of Cox's Bazar, especially for children. Malnourishment is wrecking their young bodies. The next crisis: Reporter Jason Patinkin also documented preparations for the rainy season at the camps, where fears of landslides, flooding and disease are surging. Venezuela's expanding exodus So many Venezuelans are seeking safety outside their country that a Peruvian businessman started a shelter to accommodate the influx. Watch as VOA's Celia Mendoza interviews the founder and the Venezuelan exiles in Lima. In brief: Immigration director out Thomas Homan, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, made it known publicly this week that he would be retiring from the federal government. The Wall Street Journal first reported his plans to leave the federal government in June. President Donald Trump named Homan acting director in January 2017. In an unprecedented move, nuclear-capable South Asian rivals India and Pakistan are gearing up to take part in joint military drills. Last week, Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed that India would participate in anti-terrorism military drills alongside Pakistan. The two nations, partitioned in 1947, agreed to train under the auspices of the eight-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Ural Mountains of Russia in August. The SCO is an economic, security and political organization founded in Shanghai in 2001. China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are the member countries. The founder of India's Defense Intelligence Agency, Kamal Dawar, said that Pakistan's participation in the drills should not be "merely symbolic." He said that India and Pakistan had worked together as peacekeepers at the United Nations and that it would be a good thing to re-establish communications. Sincerity questioned However, Dawar, author of Tryst with Perfidy: The Deep State of Pakistan, is skeptical about whether Pakistan's army, intelligence agencies and "multiple terror organizations" would be sincere in working with India to defeat terrorism. Retired Colonel Farooq Ahmed, former deputy director of the Pakistan military's media wing, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), told VOA that Pakistan was "very excited" to participate in the drills, but that "India needs to stop pointing fingers at Pakistan and resist interfering in its internal affairs." India and Pakistan, which have been feuding over Kashmir since the two nations were partitioned, will most likely keep fighting over the disputed territory, even if they line up on the same platform. The Kashmir region has been a flashpoint between the two countries and they have fought two wars over it. Dawar had a visceral response at the bare mention of Kashmir. "Pakistan should forget about Kashmir. Kashmir is an integral part of India," he said. He said Pakistan's "interference" in Kashmir was unwarranted and the reason why its "deep state" would never allow it to work with India. But Brussels-based security analyst Khalid Farooqi said Pakistan's "moral position" on Kashmir was recognized by the United Nations. In his words, the Kashmiris' struggle for self-determination had resulted in 100,000 killed, 10,000 disappeared and thousands widowed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also recently met China's President Xi Jinping and agreed to defer the Indo-China territorial dispute by joining China's anti-terrorism drills in Russia. Pakistan acknowledges that it agreed to conduct military patrols alongside India after the Pakistan chief of army staff, General Qamar Bajwa, recently visited Russia. Korean model Mushtaq Mehar, Pakistan's former ambassador to Turkey, said recent signs of a detente between North and South Korea could serve as a model for India and Pakistan and pave the way for a softening of tensions between the two countries. According to him, America's status as a superpower allows it to intervene in a "complicated matter" like the Korean Peninsula situation. Mehar said the United States and Europe were also keen to see the militaries of India and Pakistan fight on the same side, not only to reduce tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations but also to curb the potential for terrorism exploding beyond the region. Iraqis will head to the polls May 12 for the country's first national election since the defeat of ISIL. At stake, 329 seats for the Council of Representatives, the political body that will elect Iraq's president and prime minister. Despite assurances by Iraqi authorities of rigid security measures aimed at protecting the country's election centers, analyst say the upcoming election is unlikely to bring the kind of political stability many Iraqis are hoping for. VOA's Rebaz Majeed reports. An Iraqi journalist who made headlines in 2008 for throwing his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush is running for office. Muntadhar al-Zeidi told reporters Friday while campaigning for a seat in the Iraqi parliament that he wants the United States to apologize for the Iraq war and to compensate all Iraqi families affected by the occupation. His campaign's Facebook page prominently features the video of Zeidi throwing his two shoes at Bush's head in quick succession in 2008 and shouting, "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." Zeidi was immediately tackled by guards following the incident and was sentenced to three years in prison. He served nine months behind bars and then moved to Beirut, Lebanon and Europe. While he only recently returned to Iraq, his protest made him famous in his home country, as well as across the Arab world. Zeidi, now 39, said Friday, "I really cannot say that hitting George Bush with a shoe will guarantee me votes or not, actually this is not my goal." Zeidi said he is running on a platform that includes holding accountable politicians who supported Bush. "They should be kicked out of Iraq just like we did with the U.S. occupying force. George Bush is gone, too they all must leave Iraq, they can't stay indefinitely," he said. In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt. In 2003, Iraqis took off their shoes and used them to hit a statue of Saddam Hussein after U.S. Marines toppled it to the ground. Iraqi's national elections are scheduled for May 12. As U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in the 1980s, Rudy Giuliani earned a reputation as a tough prosecutor in going after white-collar crime and members of the American mafia. Today, Giuliani finds himself in an opposite role, a member of President Donald Trump's legal team as special counsel Robert Mueller investigates Russia's alleged involvement in the 2016 presidential campaign. The former New York mayor was an informal adviser to Trump's presidential campaign, and he was a frequent spokesman. Giuliani was the first person to be mentioned by Trump in the latter's election acceptance speech. "He's unbelievable," Trump said. "He's traveled with us and he went through meetings, and Rudy never changes." Giuliani, an attorney, was considered for secretary of state in Trump's administration and often was mentioned as a possible attorney general. Giuliani's past legal and consulting work, which raised concerns about his overseas business relationships, thwarted his efforts to become America's top diplomat. Giuliani and Trump have known each other for decades and share an aggressive rhetorical style and similar policy beliefs including support for law enforcement in ways that have marginalized minorities, and adopting forceful positions on immigration enforcement. In the early 1990s, Giuliani became the first Republican elected mayor of New York City in two decades. Giuliani served two terms as mayor and during his tenure, which ended in 2001, crime in the city fell significantly. Later, he became known as "America's Mayor" for his efforts to unite the city following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which destroyed the World Trade Center towers. Giuliani's political ambitions included running for the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by then retiring four-term Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan. After medical, marital and other personal issues, Giuliani withdrew from the race in 2000. In 2002, the former mayor founded Giuliani Partners, a security consulting firm that had Qatar's Ministry of the Interior on its roster of clients. The contracts with the ministry were managed by Minister Abdullah bin Khalifah Al Thani, a member of Qatar's royal family. Abdullah bin Khalifah Al Thani was said to have hosted Osama bin Laden on two visits to the royal family member's farm, a charge that was repeated in a 2007 Congressional Research Service study. In 2016, Giuliani began working for the influential law firm Greenberg Traurig, where he led the firm's global cybersecurity and crisis management team, and served as a senior adviser to executive chairman Richard Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum announced in April that Giuliani would take a leave of absence "to handle matters unrelated to the law firm or its clients." Giuliani's work with the firm involved the Turkish government and a Turkish-Iranian businessman who was convicted in connection with a scheme to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions. Giuliani is a one-time presidential hopeful who sought the Republican candidacy for the White House in 2008, but lost the nomination to Arizona Senator John McCain. Giuliani has been married three times and reports say his current wife, Judith Nathan, filed for divorce in April. The couple have been married for 15 years. Giuliani is a Brooklyn, New York, native. He turns 74 later this month. Meghan Markles divorced parents will meet with Queen Elizabeth II and other royals before her May 19 wedding to Prince Harry and will have special roles in their daughters wedding, a palace spokesman said Friday. At the wedding, the royal couple also plan to honor the memory of the late Princess Diana, Harrys mother, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997. Officials didnt predict the weather springtime in England can be glorious or horrid, sometimes on the same day but they outlined plans for a celebration designed to spread from the privileged environs of Windsor Castle throughout Britain and the world, via television and the internet. Here are some of the plans disclosed by Harrys press secretary, Jason Knauf, during a briefing at Buckingham Palace: Meghans parents to meet the queen, take part in wedding Markles parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, will arrive during the week before the May 19 wedding so they have time to meet Harrys family. Knauf says they will visit with the queen, her husband Prince Philip, Harrys father Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and with Harrys brother Prince William and his sister-in-law Kate. Ragland will travel with her daughter by car to Windsor Castle on May 19 and Thomas Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St. Georges Chapel for the ceremony. Knauf says Markle is delighted that her parents will be by her side. He did not say whether Markles half brother and half sister will attend the wedding. Princess Dianas family will have a role as well The press secretary says Harry is keen to involve his mothers family in the wedding and that all three of Dianas siblings will be present. One of Dianas two older sisters, Jane Fellowes, will give a reading during the ceremony to represent Dianas family. No Maid of Honor Markle, an American actress who came to prominence in the TV series Suits, will not have a maid of honor during the ceremony. Harry has chosen William as his best man. Young bridesmaids and page boys Knauf says all the bridesmaids and page boys will be children. That may mean a role for Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 3, the children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. But dont bother looking for Prince Louis born in late April as the youngest prince will not attend the wedding. Dont ask about the dress Palace officials are determined that the style and designer of Markles wedding gown will be kept secret until the moment she gets out of the car to walk into the chapel. They say this tradition is very important but that wont keep speculators from trying to guess who has received the most important dressmaking assignment of the year. Separated the night before The press secretary says Harry and Markle will spend the night before the wedding apart. They have been living together in recent months since announcing their engagement. They will spend their first night as a married couple in Windsor Castle. Good wishes for Prince Philips health Palace officials say theyre hopeful that 96-year-old Prince Philip, Harrys grandfather, will be well enough to attend the wedding festivities . The queens husband has been recovering from hip replacement surgery and has not participated in any public events since being discharged from the hospital in mid-April. Follow the wedding at home The palace plans to publish the Order of Service on its website the morning of the wedding so people watching it on television will be better able to follow whats taking place inside the church. Delayed honeymoon Knauf would not reveal where the newest royal couple will spend their honeymoon, but he said they wont be leaving right after the wedding. Instead they plan to make their first public appearance as a married couple during the week following the ceremony. In the past, they have traveled in Africa together. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday that the high-level trade delegation he is leading is having very good conversations with the Chinese officials in Beijing, but did not elaborate further as he left his hotel for the second day of talks. The discussions, led by Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, who is also President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser, are expected to cover a wide range of U.S. complaints about China's trade practices, from technology transfers, especially for semiconductors, to state subsidies for technology development. The U.S. delegation includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House trade and manufacturing adviser Peter Navarro. The two-day 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. Nearly a month has passed since President Trump called on the National Guard to beef up security along the US-Mexico border. His order, which came as a caravan of some 1,500 migrants were headed through Mexico toward the border, cited a rise in illegal crossings and called the situation a crisis. VOA's Ramon Taylor and Arturo Martinez spoke with immigration officials and the National Guard to determine the effects of the deployment on border security and the lives of potential border-crossers. Russian police have detained supporters of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, raiding their homes and detaining them on the streets of various Russian cities ahead of Saturday protests against President Vladimir Putin, whose new term starts Monday. "Activist Ilya Gantvarg was detained in St. Petersburg last night," said an Open Russia Foundation press release reported by Interfax. "Ilya is an active participant in the actions held by Alexei Navalny's staff." The Open Russia document also says one of its own members, Viktor Chirikov, was detained in Krasnodar, and that an employee of Navalny's staff was detained in her own backyard in Krasnoyarsk. "She was taken to a court right from home ... tentatively [to be charged] in connection with the May 5 action," the group said. Navalny's supporters have planned 90 anti-Putin rallies around the country Saturday, some of which have not been approved. Crackdown warning In a recent interview with VOA's Russian service, Leonid Volkov, Navalny's chief of staff, warned that a crackdown was imminent. "The authorities have been and continue to be afraid of protests," he said. "They are trying everything they can threats, warnings, promises to shatter [the opposition] it's always the same." While at least one smaller protest has been sanctioned, Volkov said it was approved largely to project the appearance of direct democracy in action. "They'll approve and coordinate one protest, something that looks moderately decent," he said, explaining that the one demonstration usually occurs in a secure part of Moscow or St. Petersburg. Smaller cities are more tightly regulated so it doesn't "seem like protests are being dispersed throughout the country." "It's typical of this fascist police state," he added, explaining that no grass-roots protests have been approved in major cities for at least three years. "Politically speaking, they just can't afford to have a large-scale protest in Moscow. "I think it's very likely there will be more arrests," he said. "This is part of their routine when it comes to threatening everyone, to try to lower the number of protesters. They do that before every protest May 5th is no exception." Navalny office raided Navalny, who branded Saturday's protest "He's Not Our Tsar," saw his regional headquarters in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg raided early Friday. Police confiscated promotional materials for Saturday's rally. According to a report by Radio Free Europe, a Navalny organizer in the southern city of Volgograd tweeted that local students were "forced to sign papers acknowledging that they could face serious consequences, including expulsion, if they take part in the rally." Supporters were also detained in Cheboksary, Kemerovo, Tambov and Ryazan. All detainees are to face charges of violating regulations for holding public gatherings. Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999, is to be sworn in to a new six-year presidential term on Monday after winning a March 18 election that opponents said was marred by fraud and international observers said gave voters no real choice. Navalny, who organized massive street protests to coincide with Putin's 2012 re-election, was barred from the presidential ballot because of a conviction on financial crimes charges he contends were fabricated. Some information in this report came from RFE. The Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) has announced the five finalists for the design of a National Native American Veterans Memorial, slated to open in Washington in 2020. The significance of such a memorial on the National Mall is obvious, said NMAI director Kevin Gover in 2013, shortly after the U.S. Congress charged the museum with creating a memorial to allow all Americans to learn of the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans in the U.S. armed forces, and to accord these veterans the honor they have earned. Native Americans have participated in every U.S. war and conflict since colonial times: During the Revolutionary War, members of several Native tribes living in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, served in a militia against the British. Choctaw, Creeks and Cherokee participated in the War of 1812 and in a series of Indian wars against other tribes and the 1840s war with Mexico. More than 28,000 Native Americans participated on both sides of the Civil War of the 1860s. From 1866 to 1912, Native Americans served as Indian Scouts, aiding the U.S. Army in fighting and subjugating Western tribes. About 12,000 Native Americans served during World War I. More than 44,000 Native Americans served in World War II. In World War II, Navajo soldiers used their language to transmit messages that could not be understood by the enemy; and in World War I, Choctaw soldiers used languages to communicate secret messages by telephone. More than 10,000 American Indians served during the Korean War. More than 42,000 American Indians served during the Vietnam era, between 1965 and 1975. 3,000 served in the Gulf War. As of 2017, there were more than 31,000 American Indian and Alaska Native men and women on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Native Americans serve at a higher rate per capita than any other ethnic group in the U.S., and this begs the question of why they would put their lives on the line for a government that historically oppressed them, consigned them to reservations and forced them to assimilate into the dominant white culture. Douglas Good Feather said the answer is rooted in spiritually and culturally significant warrior traditions. He is the executive director of the Lakota Way Healing Center in Mead, Colorado. It is a nonprofit group that draws on Lakota spirituality to help people heal from trauma and addiction. An Army veteran, he served two tours in Iraq. In the old days, we had rites of passage, he said. They basically taught you there were different steps in your life and you changed with time. Rites of passage helped you from one age to the next. They gave you identity and helped you understand the next stage of your life. One of those rites of passage was to be accepted into the warrior societies. We dont have the old ways anymore, he continued. So many of us go into the military to fulfill that rite of passage. More importantly, he stressed that Native Americans are patriotic. This is our country. Our blood comes from here and no place else. We join the military because we love this country, so were going to defend it for our children. Revered status Oklahoma native Harvey Pratt, Cheyenne/Arapaho, is among the five artists whose designs for the Native Veterans memorial are under consideration. I served in Vietnam in the Marine Corps with the third Marine recon unit [Reconnaissance Battalion], he said. "I grew up with people who knew all the old ways and what we did with warriors. One of those relatives was his aunt, Laura Birdwoman, born in Oklahoma around 1880. I had three older sisters, and once they went to Aunt Laura and asked, Why do you treat the boys better than us? And Aunt Laura told my sisters, Those boys are going to have to die for you some day. Theyre going to have to defend you in battle. In point of fact, in many tribes, women served as warriors in the past, and today, Native American women enlist in greater numbers than Native American men. In Native communities today, warrior status is as revered as it was in history; every pow wow opens with a grand parade led by veterans carrying the U.S. flag to honor tribe members who have fought for their country, and memorials to veterans stand in many reservations today. Video (below) shows the grand entry of the 65th Annual Navajo Nation Fair, in Window Rock, Arizona, September 5, 2011. A national monument honoring Native veterans, said Pratt, is long overdue, and regardless of whatever design is selected, he said he is honored to have been part of this effort. The four other finalists are: James Dinh, Daniel SaSuWeh Jones (Ponca) and Enoch Kelly Haney (Seminole), Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne/Arapaho), Stefanie Rocknak, and Leroy Transfield (Maori: Ngai Tahu/Ngati Toa). The NMAI will announce the winner of the design competition July 4, the day America celebrates its independence. South Sudan's five-year civil war has forced many of its citizens, including unaccompanied children, to flee to neighboring Uganda. With more than half of these young refugees younger than 18, experts warn the situation is a "ticking time bomb" for a generation at risk of being lost. VOA Correspondent Mariama Diallo reports. It's Star Wars Day. Fans of the movie franchise are celebrating because Friday is May the Fourth, which sounds like the famous line from the movie, "May the force be with you." It has been 41 years since the original movie premiered, and its fans celebrate across the galaxy. Tickets have gone on sale for the next film, Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is slated to be in theaters on May 25. A departure board at London's Heathrow Airport features galaxy locations and characters. Throughout the world, enthusiasts are dressing the part and indulging in food and drinks based on the movies. The New York Yankees will give out Aaron Judge Jedi bobble head dolls featuring the slugger holding a light saber. International negotiators held a peace conference Friday to mark the dissolution of the Basque separatist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), after its 60-year fight for an independent Basque state in northern Spain and southern France. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy commended the victims of the Basque separatist group during an address in Madrid. "Now that ETA has at last announced its disappearance, our first thought must be for the victims, for all of them without exception, without distinctions," Rajoy said. ETA released an open letter Thursday to the Basque people, saying it had "completely dismantled all of its structures" and "will no longer express political positions, promote initiatives or interact with other stakeholders." ETA, whose full name translates to "Basque Homeland and Freedom" in the Basque language, is responsible for around 850 deaths in its decades-long campaign against Spain. Victim groups rejected the dissolution as propaganda and the Spanish government said it would continue to prosecute anyone involved in past violence. "Convictions will continue to be executed," Rajoy said. "There will be no impunity" for crimes committed by former ETA members. One of the mediators of the years-long peace process, South African attorney Brian Currin, told the conference in the southwestern French town of Cambo-les-Baines the decision to disband is "a commitment to take part in the democratic process" which would "require reconciliation." Basque militants founded the group in response to Spain's military dictator Francisco Franco, who banned the Basque language in public. But Basques say they were marginalized and suppressed for decades before Franco seized power in 1939. An upswing in informal relations with the United States helps isolated Taiwan offset the attrition in formal diplomatic alliances at the hands of an angry China but comes with its own risks, experts say. The number of countries that recognize Taiwan diplomatically fell to 19 Tuesday after the government severed ties with the Dominican Republic. The Caribbean nation allied with Taiwan for 77 years switched recognition to China. It was the third switch by a Taiwan ally to China since 2016. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory rather than a state entitled to diplomacy. It insists that the two sides eventually unify despite polls showing Taiwanese prefer autonomy. Taiwans ruling party rejects the Chinese idea of unification, and Taiwans government says China pays Taiwanese allies to switch allegiance. A congressional bill in Washington to promote high-level visits with Taiwan, a U.S. agreement to free up submarine technology for Taiwan and U.S. President Donald Trumps pick of John Bolton, a staunch Taiwan backer, as national security adviser have brought Taipei closer to Washington this year. Because these formal friends are gone, the number of formal diplomatic allies gets to be fewer and youd have relatively little so-called formal support, bit by bit you would need the United States to give you a voice, said Gratiana Jung, senior political researcher with the Yuanta-Polaris Research Institute think tank in Taipei. But totally to rely on favors from the United States has a definite risk, she added. Taiwan-U.S. relations on a roll Taiwan looks to its remaining formal allies, small and mostly poor countries, for a voice in international organizations, such as the United Nations. Keeping formal alliances abroad also helps Taiwans government argue, despite China, that its a country. Chinas more than 170 allies, including the worlds most powerful nations, now block Taiwan from participating in U.N. agencies on grounds that it lacks statehood. Washington, though one of the countries that recognize China, has long been a staunch informal backer of Taiwan as a fellow democracy aligned with formal U.S. military allies such as Japan and the Philippines. Confirming that relationship, Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act in March to encourage visits both ways by senior government officials. Trumps administration agreed last month to give American defense contractors marketing licenses for selling potentially sensitive Taiwan submarine technology. The government and members of Congress also speak out sometimes on behalf of Taiwan. After Taiwan and the Dominican Republic broke ties, a U.S. Department of State spokesperson said Washington urges China to work to restore productive dialogue and to avoid further escalatory or destabilizing moves. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has irritated Beijing since she took office in 2016 by rejecting Beijings idea that both sides belong under one flag. Further helping Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen cope with Santo Domingos diplomatic dis is the fact that she must be feeling good about U.S. President Trumps recent backing of Taiwan, said Sean King, vice president of the Park Strategies consultancy in New York. Risks and limitations Washington is building relations with Taiwan now as part of Trumps China policy, some experts say. China and the United States are poised for a trade war, and Trump wants Chinas help in reducing any military threat from North Korea. He might reward China if North Korea offers what he wants, King said. Judging from Trumps previous behavior, one cannot rule out the possibility he has just raised the ante to get more economic benefits from Beijing, and Taiwan is a pawn in this game, said Lin Chong-pin, a retired strategic studies professor in Taiwan. If a new president replaces Trump after elections in 2020, the next U.S. government might sideline Taiwan to work more closely with China, experts say. If Taiwan has only the United States as its official unofficial diplomatic partner, then Taiwan will subject itself to the fluctuation of the U.S. domestic politics and U.S. policy toward China on this issue, and I think it does increase Taiwans vulnerability, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington. The United States even as a staunch informal friend of Taiwan cannot give Taiwan the status it gets internationally from diplomatic partners, Sun said. Unless Taiwan warms up to Beijing, China may keep picking off the formal allies, she said. Taiwan would then risk becoming a second-class player with murky international status, she said. But if Taiwans formal allies keep switching to China, the government in Taipei must look more to other countries for help, King said. Theres always the risk to Taiwan of getting caught putting all its eggs in its American basket, but the island really has nowhere else to go, he said. The Trump administration will end temporary protections for immigrants in the United States from Honduras, leaving potentially 57,000 people vulnerable to deportation, according to media reports. It is the latest in a series of decisions by President Donald Trump to shut down temporary protected status (TPS) granted to immigrants after natural disasters or violent conflicts that would prevent them from safely returning to their home countries. The Washington Post and New York Times first reported the administration's plan. Trump has denounced a "caravan" of migrants, mostly from Central America, that has crossed Mexico seeking entry into the United States in San Diego. Many say they are fleeing violence and political unrest at home and hope to claim asylum in U.S. immigration courts. Marlon Tabora, Honduras' ambassador to the United States, said the conditions did not exist in the country to repatriate tens of thousands of people. "These families have lived in the United States for 20 years and re-integrating them into the country will not be easy if they decide to return," he said. Hondurans are the second largest nationality with TPS to lose their status, which was granted to the country along with Nicaragua in 1999 following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. In January, the Trump administration ended TPS classification for some 200,000 Salvadorans, which had allowed to live and work in the United States since 2001. Their status will expire in 2019. TPS critics have complained that repeated extensions in six- to 18-month increments of the status, sometimes for decades, has given beneficiaries de facto residency in the United States. In November, then-acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke set a deadline of six months to make a decision about TPS for Honduras, which is one of the most violent countries in the Western Hemisphere and recently has been convulsed by protests following a contested presidential election. Duke is no longer in charge, replaced by Kirstjen Nielsen. Most of the other countries that have come up for TPS review have been terminated except for Syria, which is in the midst of a devastating war. The administration also recently ended the program for Haiti and Nepal. Karen Valladares, the director of the National Forum for Migration, a non-governmental organization in Honduras, said people still are choosing to leave because of gang and drug-related violence and lack of economic opportunities. "There have not been concrete improvements in the security situation," Valladares said. In some ways, "Honduras is worse off than when they left." President Donald Trump is offering support for his chief of staff, telling reporters that John Kelly is "doing a fantastic job." Trump walked with his Kelly at Joint Base Andrews and cited "false reporting" about Kelly's potential departure from the White House. Kelly told reporters everything is going "phenomenally well." Trump spoke to reporters shortly before departing for Dallas to speak at the National Rifle Association convention. Pressed by reporters Friday on Air Force One about his upcoming summit with North Korean leader, U.S. President Donald Trump declined to reveal specifics. "It will be very soon. I have the date. I have the location," said Trump. "It's all agreed to." Before leaving Washington for a one-day visit to Dallas, Texas, the president indicated the location and date for the historic meeting had been confirmed with North Korean authorities. On the White House South Lawn, the president said the U.S. and North Korean governments were in constant contact and discussions also had included the release of three Americans held by Pyongyang. 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. The men are expected to be released as soon as Saturday, according to South Korean sources quoted by the Yonhap news agency in Seoul. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a new member of Trump's legal team, said earlier in the week that the Americans were expected to be freed Thursday from a labor camp. Later in the day, in remarks in Dallas to the annual convention of the National Rifle Association, Trump stated that because "we're really doing well with North Korea," he would refrain from uttering negative rhetoric about the communist state and its leader, whom he had previously referred to as "Little Rocket Man." But the president credited his tough language, despite admonitions from critics not to stoke the anger of potential adversaries, with bringing the North Koreans to the negotiating table. "You know what gets you nuclear war? Weakness. That's what gets you nuclear war," Trump declared. The White House said Friday that South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet with Trump in Washington on May 22 to discuss the upcoming Trump-Kim summit. This will be the third time that Trump and Moon have met to coordinate developments on the Korean Peninsula. At 11:30 Friday night North Korea moved its clocks ahead a half hour, putting the country on the same time as South Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had announced the plan to unify the time zones as a step toward unification of the peninsula when he met with Moon in Panmunjom last month. Withdrawal remarks rattle Seoul Amid preparations for the Trump-Kim summit, South Korean officials have been rattled by reports the U.S. president is considering withdrawing American forces from the peninsula if his talks with Kim go well. Trump told reporters Friday that "at some point into the future, I would like to save the money" spent on keeping the U.S. military in South Korea, but the president emphasized that "troops are not on the table" for his talks with Kim. Earlier in the day, national security adviser John Bolton, responding to a New York Times report, termed it "utter nonsense. The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea." The Defense Department also said in a statement that the newspaper's story was false. Trump has stated that the United States will continue to apply maximum pressure on Pyongyang until the country denuclearizes, which he has defined as "I want them to get rid of their nukes." South Korean officials say Kim told them he would abandon his nuclear weapons if the United States officially ended the Korean War. The North and the United States were among the signatories to a formal cessation of hostilities in 1953, known as an armistice. Many analysts are skeptical Kim will agree to abandon his nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles merely in exchange for a peace treaty. "A common definition of denuclearization" would be helpful before a meeting, said Tara O, an adjunct fellow at the Pacific Forum and author of The Collapse of North Korea. "Otherwise, there would be surprises." O, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, told VOA News that Kim and his generals view denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as including a withdrawal of U.S. troops and an end to the U.S.-South Korean alliance in order to remove the American nuclear umbrella and the joint military capability from the peninsula. Turkey's opposition parties have selected their candidates to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in next month's snap election. The main opposition CHP picked veteran deputy chairman Muharrem Ince, a fiery critic of Erdogan. Addressing party supporters in Ankara, Ince removed his party badge, replacing it with one of a Turkish flag. "I will be the president of 80 million, of rightists and leftists, of Alevis [an Islamic sect] and Sunnis, of Turks and Kurds," he said. "I will be an impartial president." The 54-year-old former physics teacher is seen as a shrewd choice by CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Ince has built a reputation of having a common touch. He is also social media savvy, being only second to Erdogan in Twitter followers. The announcement of his candidacy saw #INCEdenDemokrasiGelecek (Democracy will come with Ince) becoming the second global trending topic, after #StarWarsDay. In a sign of what possibly lies ahead, Erdogan supporters were quick to distribute across social media a photograph of Ince drinking a beer with his family, allegedly during the Islamic Holy fasting month of Ramadan. Unbeaten in 15 years of elections, Erdogan, a devout Muslim, routinely portrays Ince's pro-secular CHP as anti-religious. Turkey is an overwhelmingly conservative country, and the presidential elections will take place during Ramadan. But in a move to reach conservative voters, Ince pledged to hold meetings every night at 1:30 a.m. to coincide with the time that fasters rise to eat before sunrise. Political observers claim if Ince is to have any chance of success, he will need to make inroads into Erdogan's normally loyal conservative religious base. Critics claim the CHP should have chosen a nonpartisan, conservative candidate. "With a presidential candidate that has zero appeal outside its own 25-percent usual voter base, Turkey's main opposition CHP has shown once again that it has no vision to win elections," tweeted Mustafa Akyol, a conservative writer on Turkish politics. But the CHP has taken steps to reach out to religious voters. In a groundbreaking move ahead of parliamentary elections due to be held simultaneously with presidential polls, the CHP formed an electoral pact with the Islamist Sa'adet Party as part of a four-way party alliance. Temel Karamollaoglu Sa'adet's leader, Temel Karamollaoglu, has also declared himself a presidential candidate. With Sa'adet outside parliament, Karamollaoglu needs to secure 100,000 nominations. In a goodwill gesture, the CHP leader, Kilicdaroglu, has called on his members to support Karamollaoglu's nomination. Securing Karamollaoglu's backing in a presidential runoff is seen as offering Ince his best chance of luring away conservative voters from Erdogan. Kurdish vote But the potential kingmaker is Turkey's Kurdish voter base, which accounts for around 20 percent of the electorate. Friday the pro-Kurdish HDP, Turkey's second-largest opposition party, announced its imprisoned former leader Selahattin Demirtas as its candidate. The declaration was made in simultaneous events in Istanbul and Diyarbakir, the main city in Turkey's predominately Kurdish southeast. "The dignified stance of millions whose hearts beat with mine against all pressure has proven that a [prison] cell that can fit 6 million people has not been built yet. I have tried to represent the values of freedom, democracy, equality, and justice here in your name," Demirtas declared in a statement read by HDP leader Pervin Buldan to supporters in Diyarbakir. Demirtas is facing more than 100 years in jail on terrorism charges under Turkey's emergency rule, introduced after the failed 2016 coup. Even though he is in jail, he can still run in presidential elections under the election laws until convicted. Demirtas has a court hearing on June 8, when prosecutors are expected to press for a verdict. Analysts say because other opposition parties have excluded the HDP from an electoral alliance in parliamentary elections, the exclusion of Demirtas from the presidential elections could lead to calls for a boycott by HDP voters. "Kurds and Kurdish HDP are openly excluded from the [electoral] alliance," political scientist Cengiz Aktar said. "By doing so, frankly, the opposition actually tells everybody their stance towards the Kurds is little different from the AKP." The CHP voted in favor of lifting Demirtas's parliamentary immunity, opening the door to his prosecution and jailing. But Ince was among a number of dissident deputies that voted against the move a stance praised among HDP supporters. With the HDP having around 10 percent of the vote, their support, analysts say, is vital for any candidate seeking to defeat Erdogan, who remains the clear front-runner. But observers say with the opposition parties all fielding strong candidates, Erdogan for the first time, faces challenges from across the political spectrum. "Erdogan is facing the prospect of a complex electoral map, something he has not faced before. It will be more challenging," said political analyst Atilla Yesilada, of Global Source Partners. United Nations aviation agency directors will visit North Korea next week to discuss an earlier request by Pyongyang to open new air routes to South Korea, the organization said in a statement on Friday. North Korea's request to establish the new routes to South Korea is now under "consideration," the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said. "This request will be further discussed among other air navigation and safety matters," during the visit by ICAO Asia and Pacific Regional Director Arun Mishra and Stephen Creamer, head of the agency's Air Navigation Bureau. According to its website, North Korea's state-owned carrier Air Koryo flies to cities in Russia and China, two countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Pyongyang. It's the latest sign of practical reconciliation measures taken since North Korean and South Korean leaders met last month at their first historic summit in decades, where they signed a pledge to pursue peace on the peninsula. The meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in was short of specifics and failed to clear up the question of whether Pyongyang is really willing to give up nuclear missiles that now threaten the United States. The White House has said the first meeting between the sitting US and North Korean leaders could take place in coming weeks. In February, ICAO's Asia and Pacific regional office in Bangkok received a letter from North Korea's civil aviation administration asking to establish new air routes between the Pyongyang flight information region (FIR) and South Korea's Incheon FIR. Montreal-based ICAO cannot impose binding rules on governments, but wields clout through its safety and security standards which are approved by its 192 member states. A federal judge on Friday sharply criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller's criminal case in Virginia against President Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and openly questioned whether Mueller exceeded his prosecutorial powers by bringing it. "I don't see what relationship this indictment has with anything the special counsel is authorized to investigate," U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis in the Eastern District of Virginia said. At tense hearing at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, the judge said Mueller should not have "unfettered power" in his Russia probe and that the charges against Manafort did not arise from the investigation into Moscow's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. Manafort is facing charges in both Virginia and Washington. The Virginia case charges him with offenses including tax and bank fraud. The other case accuses him of conspiring to launder money and failing to register as a foreign agent when he lobbied for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government. None of the charges relate, however, to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign or possible collusion with Russia. Trump has denied any collusion. Lawyers for Manafort asked the judge in the Virginia case to dismiss an indictment filed against him in what was their third effort to beat back criminal charges by attacking Mueller's authority. The judge questioned why Manafort's case there could not be handled by the U.S. attorney's office in Virginia, rather than the special counsel's office. He also asked the special counsel's office to share privately with him a copy of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosentein's August 2017 memo elaborating on the scope of Mueller's Russia probe. He said the current version he has has been heavily redacted. U.S. President Donald Trump has not asked the Pentagon for options to reduce U.S. forces based in South Korea, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a statement on Friday. His comment comes after the New York Times, citing several people briefed on the deliberations, reported on Thursday that the president was seeking options to curb the number of American troops stationed in South Korea. "The New York Times story is utter nonsense. The President has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea," Bolton said. Trump's potential moves on the Korean peninsula come as the U.S. president is poised to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. The Trump administration is also engaged in efforts to secure the release of three Americans imprisoned in North Korea. The United States is warning China of "consequences" regarding its militarization in the South China Sea, amid reports of new weapons deployments there. The Trump administration is also increasing the pace and frequency of patrols in the disputed waters to challenge what it says are overly broad maritime claims by nations, under its Asia policy, the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy." "We've raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this. And there will be near-term and long-term consequences," said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Thursday, in response to a question from VOA. Her remarks come amid media reports that China has deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying denied such a deployment has anything to do with militarization. "China's peace-building activities in the Spratly Islands which are China's own territories, including the deployment of essential national defense facilities, are necessary to safeguard China's sovereignty and security, as well as the natural rights enjoyed by sovereign states," said Hua during a press briefing. Disputed waters China claims more than 90 percent of the 3.5 million square kilometer South China Sea, which is rich in fisheries, oil and natural gas and important for shipping lanes. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines also claim parts of the of the sea as their own. In July of 2016, The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled China's territorial claims had no legal validity. Washington said the ruling is binding, but Beijing said it would not recognize its legality. While the United States is not a claimant to the sovereignty of disputed islands in the South China Sea, Washington has said China's efforts to militarize outposts in the contested waters endanger the free flow of trade and undermine regional stability, a claim that Beijing rebuts. Trump's 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy' The Trump administration's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy" has replaced the Obama era policy of "rebalancing" toward Asia U.S. officials say the Trump administration is seeking an open Indo-Pacific where all nations are "free from coercion" and can pursue paths forward in a sovereign manner. Open sea lines of communication and open airways are said to be a vital part of this thinking. Pentagon officials said Thursday the U.S. has asked China to understand it is "in their interest" to ensure "there is a free navigation of international waters" in the South China Sea. "They cannot and should not be hostile and understand that the Pacific is a place in which much commerce goes through," Pentagon spokesperson Dana White told reporters. Notably, the Trump administration is intensifying the frequency of Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) by the U.S. Navy in the South China Sea, according to the Congressional Research Service and maritime experts. "The administration has done a nice job of conducting more freedom of navigation operations," said American Enterprise Institute research fellow Zack Cooper, adding Washington has been low-key about such operations. U.S. officials tell VOA these patrols mark a legal challenge to overly broad maritime claims by nations. "FONOPs challenge excessive maritime claims that restrict rights and freedoms provided to all nations under international law," a State Department spokesperson told VOA, on condition of anonymity. "They do not threaten the lawful security interests of coastal states." Chinese militarization The Obama administration's "pivot" to East Asia policy did not stop China's militarization in disputed islands in the South China Sea, and experts say the Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy is also unlikely to reverse course. "China made a bet that the U.S. would not risk war over uninhabited rocks and reefs on which it has no claim," said Atlantic Council senior fellow Robert Manning. Top U.S. military officials and maritime experts warn that China is establishing control over the disputed sea. Intelligence gathered by the United States during patrols suggest Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) had placed communication jamming devices on some of the artificial islands they built in the South China Sea. "China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios, short of war with the United States," according to U.S. Navy Admiral Philip Davidson, who was nominated to be the next Commander of the Pacific Command. "If current trends continue, the U.S. Navy will continue to sail through the South China Sea, but those presence operations or freedom of navigation operations will be largely hollow as the waters will effectively be a Chinese lake," Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told VOA. 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. Steven Best, 51, was driving near Columbia Pike and Edgewood Street about 8:30 p.m., police said in a statement. His passenger was Jessica Lary, 40, who was wanted on suspicion of a parole violation. She was arrested in 2016 on charges of battery against a family member and attempting to assault a law enforcement officer, and has a history of arrests related to drugs and alcohol dating to the mid-1990s, records show. Jim Noble has not lived in Westport for 40 years. He lives clear across the country, in California, and has spent his working life writing ads and copy for clients like Disney, Apple, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Ellen DeGeneres. (How clever is he? His freelance consulting firm is called Noble Ideas.) But the former Westporter recalls his idyllic boyhood here with clarity. He and his neighborhood buddies spent summers climbing trees, riding Stingray bikes and discovering girls. Many kids remember their youth. Some think about writing a book. Noble actually has. Nine Tana Leaves is his first novel. Its very Westport-specific with plenty of references to his West Ambler Road house, nearby St. Luke Church, and Borchettas store around the Post Road corner but its a book that can be enjoyed by anyone who grew up anywhere. We all had our childhoods. And though each is unique, there is something about growing up, discovering ourselves and figuring out the world that binds us together no matter where we were. Noble came to Westport at 2 years old. He left 20 years later for New York University. In between he went to Burr Farms Elementary School, then Bedford Junior High (his parents moved across town), and Staples High School (Class of 1978). It was such a special time, the author says. And Westport was such a glorious place. More Information Dan Woog COMMENTARY See More Collapse He started the book six years ago, with one chapter. But he stashed it away, and it sat in his desk for four years. Finally, Noble returned to his manuscript. It was, he says, a love letter to my childhood. He wanted to convey the humor and heartbreak of 1970s-era Westport. I lived an hour from the greatest city in the world. But this was really just a small town, he explains. There were beaches and woods. There were stores like Remarkable Book Shop, and there was an ice cream parlor. There were people from all walks of life. It was a magical place and time. Everything in the world felt green and fresh. Though the events he describes took place over several summers, for literary purposes he condenses them all into one year, when he was about 10. Nine Tana Leaves straddles the line between memoir and fiction. Hes changed names of people, and melded three or four characters into one. Yet 80 percent of what he writes about, he estimates, is true. He and his buddies really did ride their bikes death-defyingly down the Turkey Hill South hill, across the Post Road. He really was spooked by the gruff store owner, Mr. Borchetta. He really did steal money from the fountain at Disney World. (Spoiler alert: Not every scene takes place in Westport.) The finished product took a year to write. Noble spent much of that time searching his memory, conjuring up images and sounds and smells, making sure to do justice to a formative time in his life. He returns to Westport a couple of times a year his mother still lives here, in the home they moved to after West Ambler Road and he used those trips to jog his memory. Last year Noble drove around, revisiting beloved sites from his youth. Burr Farms Elementary School was gone. Staples nine separate low-slung buildings have been replaced by a three-story hulk. The Westport Pizzeria has moved from Main Street to the Post Road. But he lingered at each, conjuring up memories. And of course St. Luke, Compo and Longshore are still there, pretty much the way Noble remembered them. Though it seems as if Nine Tana Leaves is aimed at baby boomers, Noble says millennials have enjoyed it too. They are fascinated by life a decade or two before they were born. One reader could not believe that Times Square was ever dangerous. (The book describes Nobles jaunt into the pulsing city, from his safe suburban home.) Like any first-time author, Noble is learning the ropes about marketing and promotion. Hes using Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media tools that certainly did not exist in the 1970s, which may be the reason he and his buddies had so much time to ride bikes and climb trees to spread the word. Of course, book signings are important. Noble hopes to arrange a talk at the Westport Barnes & Noble (no relation) the next time he is in town. (Remarkable Book Shop, alas, is long gone.) Any authors biggest challenge, of course, is the reaction of relatives. Nobles mother told him the book made her cry. Thats the best review I could have gotten, he says. Nine Tana Leaves is available on Amazon, Kindle and other online sites. Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com. Recent news headlines foretelling a delay in the government's efforts to legalize and regulate cannabis caught Canadians' attention this week, but new comments made Thursday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggest the federal government is pushing forward with its plan. This article was published 3/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Recent news headlines foretelling a delay in the government's efforts to legalize and regulate cannabis caught Canadians' attention this week, but new comments made Thursday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggest the federal government is pushing forward with its plan. On Wednesday, The Canadian Press news agency published an article with the headline, "Trudeau won't say whether Liberals will delay cannabis legalization." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters before entering the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on Wednesday. (Justin Tang / The Canadian Press/) The article, which appeared in news outlets across Canada, said the Prime Minister "was non-committal on the question of whether his government would bend to a call from the Senate's Aboriginal Peoples committee to delay the measure by as much as a year." The story was premised on brief comments made by Prime Minister Trudeau to reporters as he entered a Liberal caucus meeting on Wednesday. Here's Trudeau's full statement in English, which followed a similar statement in French: "We have been focused on legalizing marijuana because the current system hurts Canadians. It gives easy access to young people and quite frankly, funds criminal organizations to the tunes of billions of dollars a year. We'll continue to consult with a broad range of Canadians. And as our Parliamentary Secretary, Bill Blair, says regularly, legalization is not an event, it's a process, and that process will continue." "We're going to bring in legalization as we've committed to this summer on schedule." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau But in a scrum on Thursday afternoon, the prime minister clarified that his government plans to stick to its current timeline for legalization. "We're going to continue to move forward," Trudeau told reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons. "We're going to bring in legalization as we've committed to this summer on schedule." Asked specifically whether he would delay legalization to address concerns from the Assembly of First Nations, the prime minister repeated the message. "We have been talking about this since well before we formed government. We have been working with our partners across the country on making this happen and we are going to be moving forward this summer on the legalization of cannabis," he said. Marijuana law 'on track': Pro-legalization Senator Sen. Tony Dean, who is sponsoring the government's Cannabis Act in the Senate, also said Thursday that legalization is proceeding apace. "Where this goes, and how it goes, will be a conversation between the government and Indigenous leaders, not the Senate," said Sen. Tony Dean. (Justin Tang / The Canadian Press files) "It's on track for September," Dean told The Leaf News. "I expect to see legal cannabis in Canada in September, and so do a few million other people." Even though the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples called on the government to delay its plan to legalize cannabis in a report on Tuesday, Dean said many many of the concerns raised in that report go far beyond the scope of the Cannabis Act, and can only be addressed by the government. "Where this goes, and how it goes, will be a conversation between the government and Indigenous leaders, not the Senate," said Dean. Certain recommendations from the Aboriginal Peoples committee could still be addressed by the Senate in time for a fall legalization deadline, he said. "There's an interest in funding commitments, there's an interest in access to licences for (cannabis) producers, there is an interest in culturally specific educational initiatives. Those things are all important. None of them is going to take a year." "I expect to see legal cannabis in Canada in September, and so do a few million other people." Sen Tony Dean The delay amendment proposed by the Aboriginal Peoples committee, along with amendments proposed by three other committees, will ultimately be voted on by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology over the coming weeks. Amendments approved by the committee will then be voted on by the Senate as a whole, along with any other amendments moved by individual senators. "I think there would be probably six or seven sitting days to do that in the Senate chamber," said Dean, who described a June 7 deadline for a final vote as feasible. "If a group of senators sets out to chew up the time in that process, that would obviously be concerning." Legal cannabis not a major election issue, says professor Even if the federal government were to delay cannabis legalization, it likely wouldn't matter to the vast majority of Canadian voters, said University of Toronto political scientist Nelson Wiseman. Cannabis legalization helped boost youth voter turnout in the 2015 election, but "other Canadians didn't give a damn about it," says Nelson Wiseman. (Supplied) Cannabis legalization helped boost youth voter turnout in the 2015 election, he explained. Doug Speirs | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "But other Canadians didn't give a damn about it," he said. "They saw what's going on in society more broadly, they're familiar with the fact that (cannabis is) legal in some places in the U.S., they're familiar with the fact that police and the courts aren't enforcing it as aggressively as they did twenty, thirty years ago. That isn't what they were voting on." The next federal election is scheduled for October 2019 at the latest, and Wiseman said it will be driven by images of the leaders. "Who do you trust more? Who are you more confident in?" solomon.israel@theleafnews.com @sol_israel Mayor Brian Bowman has shuffled his executive policy team, after Coun. Marty Morantz resigned as committee chairman to pursue a Conservative candidacy in the 2019 federal election. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Mayor Brian Bowman has shuffled his executive policy team, after Coun. Marty Morantz resigned as committee chairman to pursue a Conservative candidacy in the 2019 federal election. Bowman appointed Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) as chairman of the public works committee to replace Morantz, who stepped down from that role and from Bowmans executive policy committee to seek the Tory nomination in the riding of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley. Morantz said hell stay on to finish his term (the civic election is Oct. 24), but its uncertain if he will run for council again if his jump to federal politics falls short. "All members of council have to weigh whether they want to run again for city council or perhaps do other things," Bowman said, commenting on Morantzs decision. Bowman, Morantz and Allard were first elected to council in 2014. Bowman said Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge) has been an effective member of council during the past three-plus years. The mayor appointed Morantz as finance chairman for the first two years, and then moved him over to chair the public works committee. "Coun. Morantz has worked really, really hard over the last number of years. He is someone who I think is very well respected by his council colleagues and by Winnipeggers," Bowman said. Allard has been an unofficial part of Bowmans EPC for the past 19 months. Hes been regularly invited to attend the closed-door sessions, along with Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, getting exclusive administrative updates on most major issues going to council. Gerbasi the longest serving member of council has announced she won't be running for re-election in Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry. Bowman said he promoted Allard because of the interest he had shown in public works, and his passion for public and active transportation. "Hes someone who I think has been working very collaboratively with his council colleagues, and the discussions Ive had with him over the years has shown me someone who is thinking about the big picture of city building," Bowman said. Allard had been acting deputy mayor. Those duties have been given to Coun. Cindy Gilroy, another member of EPC and chairwoman of the innovation committee. Allard would also replace Morantz as councils representative on the transit advisory committee, Bowman said. There had been speculation Morantz would try to make a jump to federal politics, but before Thursday, he had refused to confirm the rumour. 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. "This seems the right time in my life to step forward and offer a positive, conservative alternative at the federal level with the goal of being able to impact and improve upon the lives of Canadians," Morantz said in a statement released Thursday morning. Morantz is joining what is becoming a crowded Tory nomination contest for the riding of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley (a seat held by Liberal MP Doug Eyolfson). Steven Fletcher, who held the riding from 2004 until 2015, has announced he wants it back. Fletcher currently sits as an Independent MLA in the provincial government, after being turfed from the Conservative caucus last year for insubordination. Manitoba Health employee Stephen Barber has also thrown his hat in the ring, seeking the federal Tory nomination. Morantz ran unsuccessfully in 2011 for the provincial Conservatives in the River Heights riding, finishing second to Jon Gerrard. aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca A twice-convicted killer awaits his sentence for causing the death of the woman he says he loved as a judge decides on a penalty for someone who has taken two lives. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A twice-convicted killer awaits his sentence for causing the death of the woman he says he loved as a judge decides on a penalty for someone who has taken two lives. Prosecutors are asking a Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench judge to sentence 46-year-old Ronald Alvin Thomas to 15 years in prison for manslaughter in the Nov. 21, 2014 death of 44-year-old Beatrice Crane. Thomas's defence lawyers are seeking a sentence between four and eight years. Justice Chris Martin has reserved his decision, noting a lack of legal precedent presented to him about the appropriate sentence for killers who have been convicted of manslaughter more than once. Twenty-eight years before he faced the jury that found him guilty in February of killing Crane, Thomas was convicted of manslaughter in the beating death of his friend's roommate, who suffered fatal head injuries. Thomas, then 18, was one of two men charged in the death of 24-year-old Victor Davis Cameron and was convicted of manslaughter in 1990. In both cases, he pleaded not guilty in court. The manslaughter case against him was sparse on details about what may have motivated him to stab Crane once in her side and leave her sitting in a chair inside her suite in a rooming house on Victor Street, where Thomas also lived. Thomas didn't offer any explanations or apologies during his sentencing hearing, and Justice Martin noted Thomas has never explicitly expressed remorse for causing Crane's death. He denied killing her when questioned by police. When asked if he had anything to say in court, Thomas silently shook his head. One of his defence lawyers read a statement on his behalf, saying Thomas has been diagnosed with palsy and is difficult to understand when he speaks. "Our relationship was a good one. It wasn't abusive. I really loved her. I miss her every day. There's not one day I don't think about her. I wish she was still here. We were always together and now I'm incredibly lonely without her. We tried to help each other get clean and free of booze and drugs," the statement said. Thomas called 911 to report Crane had been stabbed, but he told the dispatcher he didn't see who stabbed her and hung up when he was asked to give his name. He tried to hold the front door closed when emergency officials arrived at the rooming house, and then he fled. Crane's blood was found on a sweatshirt police seized from Thomas, but police weren't able to find the knife that was used in the stabbing or uncover any details about what happened leading up to Crane's death, while she and Thomas were alone in her suite. There were no signs of a physical struggle. 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. Crane's sister, Mary Muskego, submitted a victim-impact statement to the court, read by Crown prosecutor Melissa Hazelton, that said she felt a crushing pain when she found out her little sister had died. "My sister was a kind and loving person who gave what she had even though she did not have much," she wrote. Hazelton told the judge Thomas deserves a 15-year sentence, which would work out to 10 years and four months when taking into account the time he's already spent in custody, because of his prior manslaughter conviction. Defence lawyer Brodsky argued Thomas came from a traumatic background, having an alcoholic, abusive father and has done well while he's in custody, managing to leave gang life behind 18 years ago. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay OTTAWA After being accused of ignoring the rights of French-speaking Manitobans, Ottawa has confirmed it did not reach out to the community before selling real estate near Sage Creek. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA After being accused of ignoring the rights of French-speaking Manitobans, Ottawa has confirmed it did not reach out to the community before selling real estate near Sage Creek. Manitoba Sen. Raymonde Gagne has been taking Ottawa to task for breaching a policy that compels bureaucrats to consider local needs when transferring or selling surplus federal land. Its aimed at preventing protracted court battles, such as the dispute over the former Kapyong Barracks in Winnipeg. The issue involves the former Health Canada building at 510 Lagimodiere Blvd., which closed in 2012. Public Services and Procurement Canada admitted Thursday it did not offer the building to the Winnipeg francophone community, despite soliciting offers from eight other stakeholders, before putting it on the open market in October 2016. A November 2006 federal directive says when selling or transferring surplus real estate, Indigenous organizations and official language-minority communities are to be given first dibs and possibly special loans. The idea is to prevent debacles such as Kapyong, which sat dormant for 14 years after Ottawa tried transferring the land without consulting Treaty 1 First Nations, sparking a legal battle. In the case of 510 Lagimodiere Blvd., PSPC said it took three years to put the building on the market, after initial interest sputtered out from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Grain Commission, the Royal Canadian Mint, three Indigenous groups, the province and the City of Winnipeg. Gagne argues Ottawa should have notified Franco-Manitoban groups such as the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, whose schools are starting to run out of space. The school division caught wind of the sale last fall. In November, group representatives visited the building and realized it didnt fit their needs. "But the point is that were not supposed to have to go and investigate; we have to be consulted," DSFM head Bernard Lesage said. He confirmed the division launched the complaint, which is being investigated by the official languages commissioner. Gagne wrote to Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough about the issue four months ago, but said she still hadnt received a response as of Thursday, despite asking the minister about it during her April 17 visit to the Senate. PSPC "takes its obligations under the Official Languages Act seriously," spokeswoman Michele LaRose wrote. The Louis Riel School Division is also seeking space for its students, around one-third of whom are in French-immersion programs but they do not qualify as a minority-language group whom Ottawa must consult. Though the Manitoba government expanded its definition of francophones to include those "who have a special affinity for the French language and who use it on a regular basis," the federal definition is restricted to those who speak French as their first language. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. That means LRSD doesnt qualify as a "rights holder" under the Charter and thus the Official Languages Act. LRSD assistant superintendent Christian Michalik said any help for French-language schooling, in either system, reinforces the importance of the language. He said its possible if Ottawa helps the DSFM find space, it might help leave more Winnipeg options open for LRSD. Liberal MP Dan Vandal, who represents the riding, said no Franco-Manitoban groups had approached his office about this issue as of Tuesday. He noted the Liberals have boosted funding for minority-language communities, but they have to abide by existing rules. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The provincial government is selling a massive tree-growing operation near Hadashville that produces and stores seeds for every type of tree grown in Manitoba. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/5/2018 (1251 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The provincial government is selling a massive tree-growing operation near Hadashville that produces and stores seeds for every type of tree grown in Manitoba. The Pineland Forest Nursery provides seeds and seedlings for reforestation in their indigenous areas. There are 67 greenhouses on seven acres, and a 300-acre growing area on the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway. Minutes after the province announced Thursday afternoon that it would close the Pineland Forest Nursery Dec. 31 because it is costing too much, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen issued a request for proposals for a private buyer. He suggested a private buyer could use it to grow cannabis. The news came out of nowhere for the University of Winnipegs forestry and climate change researchers. "Pineland, for decades, has been our keeper of the seeds. At one point in the late 90s, Pineland would produce 20 million trees. Now its about 10 million," said University of Winnipeg Prof. Richard Westwood, chair of the department of environmental studies and science. "Its state of the art, its a valuable investment they produce fantastic trees. It provides a public service," said Westwood, who heads a team of U of W researchers that conducts climate change research at the site. He said Pinelands products reforest primarily after logging operations rather than after fires. "They have a very important seed bank storage area there for all the areas of Manitoba," Westwood said. "Its critical the province find a facility. Someones got to grow those trees for us." Aides to Pedersen and to Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires did not respond to questions Thursday about how Manitoba will handle reforestation once the Pineland facility closes, or about the financial reasons for selling the property. Instead, the civil service issued a statement: "As part of an ongoing, extensive value-for-money review across government it was determined that the Pineland Forest Nursery, near Hadashville, is no longer viable as a provincially run operation and will be ceasing its operation on Dec. 31, 2018. The province is seeking to maximize the value of this asset through the upcoming RFP." "Pineland Forest Nursery has been operating at Hadashville since 1953, and was originally established to produce seedlings for the province of Manitoba but grew to produce seedlings for customers outside the province as well. This year approximately 525,000 seedling are being grown for out-of-province contracts. Pineland can grow a variety of trees but specializes in conifers such as white spruce, black spruce, Norway spruce, jack pine, red pine, eastern white pine and Scots pine," said the provincial official. "Manitoba rarely replants forests that burn, as they regenerate naturally, so that is not an issue. Future seedling needs will be supplied through a tender process with private nurseries," he said. Pedersen was not made available to the media to answer questions. Instead, he issued a news release. In it, he made it clear that any buyer can decide how to use the property. "The RFP is expected to generate significant interest, with opportunities for new and creative ventures in areas such as agriculture, horticulture or even cannabis production," Pedersen said in the release. Pedersen said the 67 greenhouses are on seven acres, with adjacent access for the lease of 300 additional acres of growing area. It features "eco-friendly equipment including an 8.5-million BTU biomass boiler that is part of a Manitoba Hydro demonstration project." Even though permanent staff will be reassigned to other jobs, Manitoba Government and General Employees Union president Michelle Gawronski was "dumbfounded and horrified. "I cant believe they would do something this stupid," Gawronski said. "For heavens sake, he should be the steward of our environment, not an auctioneer. "Our environment is not for profit. How do we ensure our habitat is going to go back to the way it was?" she asked. 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. Gawronski said she toured the facility two years ago and watched staff harvesting acorns salvaged from the massive wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta., growing the seedlings so that the city could be reforested with native species. Its open to the public for sales, she pointed out, and people from eastern Manitoba know it well: "If you want to build a windbreak, you go over to Pineland." Westwood said the province has not informed the U of W that Pineland is closing. "We have some long-term climate change trials there. Theyre supposed to run 20 to 30 years there. Other people have research there," Westwood said. "Nobodys told us anything. "They have a really nice set-up there. Its designed to grow trees, not pot," he said. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/5/2018 (1251 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Editorial Free society benefits from a free press. No human institution is perfect, and news media outlets do make mistakes, but without them, theres no one holding those in power to account. This week saw World Press Freedom Day, which honours journalists and remembers those killed while pursuing the truth. That was sharply illustrated with news on Sunday that nine journalists were among the 29 dead in twin bombing attacks in Afghanistan. After the first bombing in Kabul, journalists rushed to the scene, where nine of them were killed by the second suicide bomber. In a separate attack in the eastern Khost province, a reporter for the BBCs Afghan service was shot dead. Reporters Without Borders called it the deadliest attack targeting reporters since the U.S.-led invasion that overthrew the Taliban in 2001. In Kabul, among the dead were an Agence France-Presse photographer and two reporters for the Afghan branch of Radio Free Europe, as well as a cameraman for the local Tolo TV station. Even local journalism has its risks. It may be unfair to compare the conditions of reporters working in war-torn countries with those working in Canada and the United States, but in a very real sense, local news is what can have the greatest effect. 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. Voters depend on accurate information about who is running for office, what the incumbents have done with their time in power and who may be opposing them. In the heat of an election cycle, promises and verbal attacks fly thick and fast. Voters depend on context to make sense of who is likely to do what with the reins of power, and that isnt conveyable in a sound bite. It takes years of paying attention to solid news coverage. Speaking truth to power has become a hotter topic in North America in recent years. Were only one U.S. election cycle on since "fake news" used to mean satirical news programs such as the Daily Show and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. In the Donald Trump era, the term has instead become a club for elected officials to wield against reporting they dont like. Think about that for a minute. Whether or not you agree with the politician in question on any other issue, do you think they should be declaring whether what you read, listen to or watch is fake? How long, then, before you hear the equivalent of the Marx Brothers broadside: "Who you gonna believe: me, or your lyin eyes?" That way lies authoritarianism. Of course, in a free society, citizens are welcome to do the work themselves. They can attend council meetings, legislative sessions and make inquiries for information. Theyre also free to demand a rigorous reporting from the media of those and other events that constitute a functioning democracy. But we should all remember that much of that work will never see print or get airtime, because getting the story means chasing down a lot of dead ends, weighing conflicting accounts or information and doing the work that, for some, would be convenient to ignore. That kind of pursuit is a full-time job. No, Canada isnt Afghanistan. Getting the story may not mean risking ones life. But for Winnipeggers, Manitobans, Canadians and others to have a clear idea of whats going on here, and create an honest picture of our society, that work needs to be done. Otherwise, we may find ourselves further from democracy than wed like. Eagle Materials, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of heavy construction materials, light building materials, and materials used for oil and natural gas extraction. It operates through the following segments: Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Gypsum Wallboard, Recycled Paperboard, and Oil and Gas Proppants. The Cement segment deals with the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of portland cement. The Concrete and Aggregates segment involves mixing cement, sand, gravel, or crushed stone and water to form concrete, which is then sold and distributed to construction contractors. The Gypsum Wallboard segment mines and extracts natural gypsum rock, which is used in the manufacture of gypsum wallboard. The Recycled Paperboard segment processes paper fiber, water, and paper chemicals to form recycled paperboards, then sell them to gypsum wallboard manufacturers. The Oil and Gas Proppants segment produces frac sand used in oil and natural gas exploration, and provides transloading and storage for well servicing companies. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Read More Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, papers, and cigars; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, as well as oral nicotine and heated tobacco products. The company sells its products under various brands, including Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, West, L&B, Bastos, Fine, Winston, News, Parker & Simpson, blu, Kool, Horizon, Jade, Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, Backwoods, Skruf, Golden Virginia, Rizla, and Knox in approximately 160 countries worldwide. It also provides logistics services that include the distribution of tobacco and NGP products for tobacco and NGP product manufacturers; and various non-tobacco and NGP products and services. In addition, the company is involved in the management of a golf course; marketing of papers; restaurant business; distribution of pharmaceuticals, POS software, and published materials and other products; printing and publishing activities; and provision of long haul transportation, industrial parcel and express delivery, advertising, and support management services. Further, it owns the trademarks; and retails its products. The company was formerly known as Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and changed its name to Imperial Brands PLC in February 2016. Imperial Brands PLC was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom. Read More 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. Federated Investors, Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, including high net worth individuals, banking or thrift institutions, investment companies, pension and profit sharing plans, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, state or municipal government entities, and registered investment advisors. Through its subsidiaries, it manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, balanced and money market mutual funds along with separate client-focused equity, fixed income, money market, and balanced portfolios. Through its subsidiaries, the firm invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap companies. The firm makes its fixed income investments in ultra-short, short-term, and intermediate-term mortgage-backed, U.S. Government, U.S. corporate, high yield, and municipal securities. It employs both fundamental and quantitative analysis to make its equity investments. Federated Investors, Inc. was founded in 1955 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with additional offices in New York City and London, United Kingdom. Read More Intu owns and manages some of the best shopping centres, in some of the strongest locations, in the UK and Spain. Our UK portfolio is made up of 17 centres, including eight of the top-20, and in Spain we own three of the country's top-10 centres, with advanced plans to build a fourth. We are passionate about creating compelling experiences, in centre and online, that make our customers smile and help our retailers flourish. We attract around 400 million customer visits and 26 million website visits a year offering a multichannel approach that truly supports retail strategies. Our strategic focus on prime, high-footfall flagship destinations, combined with the strength and popularity of our brand, means that intu offers enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty. This helps our tenants flourish, driving occupancy and income growth. We are committed to our local communities, with our centres supporting nearly 130,000 jobs (representing about 3 per cent of the total UK retail workforce), and to operating with environmental responsibility. We have already met or exceeded a significant number of our 2020 environmental targets. Read More American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact@marketbeat.com | (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. Augusta Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and other metals. The company holds interests in the Bullfrog gold project located in the north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It also owns, controls, or has acquired mineral rights on Federal patented and unpatented mining claims in the state of Nevada for the purpose of exploration and potential development of metals on a total of approximately 7,800 acres of land. The company was formerly known as Bullfrog Gold Corp. and changed its name to Augusta Gold Corp. in January 2021. Augusta Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Magna International Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Its Body Exteriors & Structures segment provides body and chassis systems, as well as engineering and testing services; exterior systems, including fascia and trims, front end modules, front integration panels, liftgate modules, active aerodynamics, engineered glass, running boards, truck bed access products, and side doors; and roof systems, such as modular and textile folding roofs, and hard and soft tops. The company's Power & Vision segment offers dedicated hybrid, dual and e-clutch, and manual transmissions; engine drive plates and accessories; AWD/4WD products, rear drive modules, and hybrid and battery electric drive systems; transmission, engine, and driveline components; advanced driver assistance systems, camera systems, ultrasonic sensors, and electronic controllers; interior and exterior mirrors, actuators, door handles, overhead consoles, and camera monitoring systems; head, tail, and fog lamps; signal and other lighting products; and latching systems, door modules, window systems, power closure systems, hinges and wire forming, and handle assemblies. Its Seating Systems segment provides seat structures, mechanism and hardware solutions, and foam and trim products. The company's Complete Vehicles segment offers vehicle manufacturing and engineering services. It also designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling products. Magna International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Aurora, Canada. Read More Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Seven W&M students to be commissioned at May 11 ceremony Seven William & Mary ROTC cadets will be commissioned as officers in the U.S. Army during a May 11 ceremony on campus. Lt. Gen. Theodore D. Martin, deputy commanding general/chief of staff of the U.S. Armys Training and Doctrine Command, will commission the cadets and speak at the ceremony, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in the Commonwealth Auditorium. W&M Chancellor and former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates 65, L.H.D. 98, W&M President Taylor Reveley and Army Maj. Dustin Menhart, chair of the universitys military science department, are also expected to provide remarks. Menhart, a W&M professor of military science, took over as department chair last summer after Army Lt. Col. James M. Kimbrough retired after four years at the university and 22 in the U.S. Army. "I am so proud of and confident in our newly commissioned second lieutenants, Menhart said. They have the ability and leadership skills to instantaneously contribute to the Army. Our program here at William & Mary continues to safeguard leaders of character and quality second lieutenants for the Department of Army, thanks to the support we receive from the faculty, administration and staff." The cadets to be commissioned are: Christian Alexander Chisolm, Armor/Signal Corps, Active Duty Thomas William Garcia, Medical Service Corps, Active Duty Max Michael Sterling, Infantry/Military Intelligence, Active Duty Madeline Rose Stolpe, Transportation Corps, Active Duty Duncan Cary Stone, Branch Unassigned, Reserve Duty Harrison Armstrong Tamke, Field Artillery/Military Intelligence, Active Duty Veasna Cedric Tan, Branch Unassigned, Reserve Duty Martin assumed duties as deputy commanding general/chief of staff at TRADOC in March. Martins family military heritage goes back more than 10 generations to 1776 when Pvt. Daniel Martin enlisted in the 1st New Jersey Infantry Regiment and fought the British during the American Revolution, including service at Valley Forge. Lt. Gen. Martin graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1983 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of armor. His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course (Cavalry Track), the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the Naval College of Command and Staff and the Army War College. He holds a masters degree in national security & strategic studies from the Naval War College, a masters degree in strategic studies from the Army War College and a masters degree in business from Webster University. W&Ms Commencement will take place May 12 at 9 a.m. at Zable Stadium, and for the second year red, white and blue graduation cords will be available for student veterans to wear at the ceremony. In a press statement on April 11, families of the victims of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapse revealed that Deputy Solicitor-General Brendan Horsley admitted there are grounds for prosecution, due to the negligence of building engineers. The poorly-designed building crumbled during the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, killing 115 people. During a seven-year investigation, over 300 design flaws were found in the structure. Last November, police announced no charges would be laid after Horsley argued there were insufficient grounds for prosecution. Police had previously considered manslaughter charges against Alan Reay, former principal of the engineering firm that designed the CTV building, and David Harding, who worked on the design. Horsley cited dubious legal barriers, including a law that prevents a prosecution for negligence causing death, if the death occurred more than a year after the negligent act. He said the case was at best marginal on the evidence and lacked sufficient public interest to prosecute. However, families spokesman Maan Alkaisi, whose wife Maysoon Abbas died in the CTV building, revealed that Horsley was apparently not told that Reay was aware of the defects and made insufficient efforts to remedy them. During a meeting on December 14 with Horsley, Christchurch Crown Solicitor Mark Zarifeh and senior police officers, Alkaisi stated that Reay had two opportunities to fix the defects: first in 1986 and then following an inspection in 1990 which identified structural weaknesses. In 1991, engineers installed steel drag bars (used to strengthen buildings) but only on three out of six floors, without a permit and non-compliant with the building code. When Horsley heard this, he indicated to Zarifeh and Detective Superintendent Peter Read that he did not know these details, which could be used to press charges for negligence. Alkaisi told the media it was simply outrageous that Horsley apparently was not aware of all the facts before he advised against a prosecution. I asked Mr Horsley and the other members of the panel to go back to their offices and reconsider the decision. The families also obtained documents through the Official Information Act, showing that police investigating the matter initially argued against Horsleys advice, including in a 16-page rebuttal, but eventually agreed with him. Superintendent Read, however, dismissed the families press statement, saying: It is still the police position that the decision not to prosecute was correct when all of the relevant evidence and opinions are taken into account, not just individual pieces of information. Alkaisi appealed to the government not to act as spectator on such an important national and international matter. On February 15, Labour Party Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had told the families: When it comes to decisions around prosecution... we unfortunately dont have the power to intervene. Alkaisi told the World Socialist Web Site the families waited until April to make their latest statement in order to give the government a chance to act on Horsleys admission. After realising that Horsleys decision would not be overturned, Alkaisi became even more determined to fight against it. I have no trust in our legal system, he said, because this is a very clear case if you look at the Pike River [mine disaster] and you look at the CTV case, and other examples, and nobody has justice, what does that mean for our legal system? He agreed that these cases, like Londons Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, exposed the criminal negligence of big business. He believed the government was afraid to take the CTV case to court because it would open up a can of worms and expose similar problems throughout the country. The Labour Party-led government, which came to power last October, is just as responsible as the previous National Party government for the lack of safeguards that led to the CTV disaster. The building was constructed during Labours 19841990 government, which was responsible for sweeping right-wing, pro-market deregulation of workplaces and industries. Last month also, Wellington City Council revealed it had identified 103 buildings in the capital that may have combustible cladding similar to Grenfell Tower. Nonetheless, the council maintained there was nothing that raises any concerns. An Auckland City Council investigation last November identified 209 similar cases in the countrys largest city. Both councils are led by Labour Party mayors. Labour has not addressed the social disaster in Christchurch. More than seven years since the earthquake, the Earthquake Commission (EQC), a state-owned insurer, and private insurers still have thousands of unsettled claims for housing repairs. EQC employed construction company Fletcher to carry out repairs, many of which were reportedly done to a poor standard. On April 17, EQC chief executive Sid Miller told Newshub that if EQC accepted liability for bad repair jobs it may have to pay over a billion dollars. The National Party government spent $1.48 billion bailing out private insurer AMI and established a new state-owned company, Southern Response, to take over its earthquake claims. Christchurch resident Peter Glasson recently went on hunger strike for eight days because of a lack of progress from Southern Response. His story attracted a large following from people outraged by the callousness of insurance companies. Glassons claim still has not been settled but the company has signed an agreement with him to hold facilitated talks. Part of Labours election campaign was a promise to bring justice to the families of the 29 miners who lost their lives in the 2010 Pike River explosion. As with the CTV disaster, no one has been held accountable despite the company being warned about dangerous conditions in the mine. For over seven years, the National Party government maintained that the shut-down mine was unsafe to enter to properly investigate the disaster. The Labour government is further delaying a re-entry to recover the bodies, despite evidence that the mine is safe to enter. The ruling class and its servants in parliament and the judicial system have done everything possible to shield those responsible for the CTV and Pike River disasters. Any trial could expose the role of company executives, as well as councils and successive governments, in allowing construction and mining companies to put profits before safety and the lives of working people. The author also recommends: Families spokesman on New Zealand earthquake building collapse: Are there people who are above the law? [6 February 2018] New Zealand government seeks to contain outrage over Pike River mine disaster [6 January 2018] UK: Report by building research firm reveals scale of criminality that led to Grenfell fire [20 April 2018] At the end of February, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) announced a new partnership in the CIAs Signature Schools program. The CIA is targeting UIC in the name of diversity. Its large student population of more than 30,000, drawn from many national and racial backgrounds, and located in the center of the city of Chicago, has attracted the agencys attention. In the words of Maja Lehnus, CIA associate director for talent recruitment, the CIA is committed to building a diverse workforce that has a broad range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, language expertise, and educational and life experiences to ensure diversity of thought and the ability to operate effectively worldwide. In 2016 under the Obama administration, John Brennan, then head of the CIA, announced its Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, with Lehnus at the helm. In 2016, UIC reported 15 percent of all students enrolled were international students, coming from more than 100 countries. The university reported international students made up more than a third (34.5 percent) of graduate and professional students that year. In that same year, the CIA launched its Signature Schools program. UIC is now fourth to join the program, which includes Baruch College of the City University of New York, the University of New Mexico, and Florida International University. All the institutions have large minority student populations, or majority minority student bodies, as well as large numbers of international students. The program is reported to permit the CIA, the arm of the US intelligence apparatus also known as Murder, Inc., to have a regular recruiting presence in order to build relationships and sustain contact with qualified student applicants through on-campus interviews, workshops, presentations and seminars on the business of intelligence, and other activities with CIA personnel, according to the joint press release. It is not clear, based on the reports of the CIA and the universities, what specific activities the spy agency will engage in on campus. It would be naive to assume, however, that it will not engage in espionage against campus opponents of its murderous operations all over the world. International students will be particularly vulnerable. The CIA is a violent and shadowy arm of American imperialism. It is richly documented that the agency has established black sites prisons, carried out coups, assassinations, extraordinary rendition kidnappings, torture, drone executions, misinformation campaigns, and dirty wars, and has sponsored the murderous activities of numerous puppet regimes. In an economic environment where good-paying jobs are scarce and students leave college with tens of thousands of dollars of debt, UIC administrators are emphasizing the job opportunities the program opens up to students. Announcing the program, UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis stated, The Signature School Program will provide UIC students with direct access to careers and internships within the agency for many years to come. Its a win-win situation for both of us. In 2016, Emile Nakhleh, former CIA intelligence officer and Director of University of New Mexicos Global and National Security Policy Institute, used nearly identical language in announcing the program: It's win-win for our students and faculty because the program will strengthen the students' competitive edge in their search for careers in the federal government and in global and national companies and organizations. University leaders are well-compensated for their work in establishing such relationships. Amiridis, a chemical engineering professor, came on as UIC chancellor in 2015 amid several scandals in the Illinois university system, which included fat compensation packages for top administrators. In a token sacrifice, Amiridis gave up his $50,000 per year housing allowance, but has still managed to take in a salary of $400,000 per year, in addition to bonuses of $75,000 per year in 2016 and 2017. Efforts to transform colleges and universities into centers of military-intelligence activity have been reenergized, with recent research indicating they are operating at an intensity not seen since the Cold War. Certainly, after September 11, 2001, military and intelligence agencies ramped up recruitment efforts on college and university campuses, as detailed in the book Spy Schools, by Daniel Golden. In the opening chapter, Golden quotes Austin Long, professor of security policy at Columbia University, September 11 led to a quiet reengagement of a lot of the academy with the national security community. The US-NATO war against Libya in 2011 opened a period of further infiltration of spy agencies on campuses, according to Golden. Collaboration between academia and the military-intelligence apparatus was not always so easy. Golden writes that the anti-Vietnam War movement in the 1960s and 70s, meant ties between academics and the American intelligence agencies were frowned upon, and departments and universities were reluctant to allow the FBI and the CIA to recruit from their students. There is a history of student protest against the CIA at UIC. Ami Chen Mills, in her CIA Off Campus, relates a number of protests in the 1980s at UIC against CIA recruitment that included active student-faculty campaigns. Students at the University of Illinois at Chicago sent flyers out to all UIC faculty and staff requesting donations for an anti-CIA speaker, she writes. In the wake of an arrest of a student protester, UIC professors formed a faculty solidarity group in the students defense that raised over $500. The group also complained to the university chancellor and sent letters to the university president demanding that charges be dropped. Now, the CIA, FBI, and other security agencies have, in the words of Golden, returned in force, forging a tenuous alliance of spies and scholars. In 2015, when VICE News reported a top 100 list of most militarized universities, it was notable that only a handful were considered traditionally conservative. Many, including the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (number 70 on the list), and New York University (91) advertise themselves as progressive, diverse, and liberal universities. Yet they have extensive contracts for research on behalf of the military-industrial complex and offer national defense and homeland security masters programs, which are approved by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. Why does the military-intelligence apparatus find fertile ground at such institutions of higher learning, places that were once associated with the antiwar movement? There is, of course, the direct payout of many millions of dollars to colleges, which are used to fatten the paychecks of administrators like Amiridis. There are also political factors. In recent decades, the upper reaches of the academic intelligentsiathe elite tenured professors as well as proliferating ranks of low-level administrators have entered the top 10 percent of the income bracket. The rightward shift that has accompanied this process has been stunning, transforming this layer into a new constituency for US war policies, both at home and abroad, and one that specializes in providing a human rights, democratic and diverse veneer to the operations of American imperialism. The US has been continuously at war for more than 25 years, longer than most high school and college students remember, with no end in sight. Last year the US Senate voted 89 to 9 to authorize $700 billion in spending for the military and intelligence agencies, which is $80 billion more than the 2016 budget, and $26 billion more than President Trump had requested. These figures dwarf the paltry funding allocated for higher education. Far from opposing mass spying and war, the Democrats are currently fielding candidates in the 2018 midterm elections who come directly from the CIA and the Pentagon. The WSWS has published a three-part report on the 57 military-intelligence candidates seeking Democratic congressional nominations this year, the largest single category in terms of background. The drive to war against Russia, China and Iran, a conspiracy of the capitalist elites, orchestrated by the highest levels of government, the military-intelligence apparatus, the corporate-financial oligarchy and a corrupted right-wing media, is rolling forward without even the pretext of democratic debate. No doubt the CIA operations at UIC and other campuses will have as a central aim the recruitment of a new generation of diverse College Democrats who can be used to populate state agencies and NGOs in the future. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at UIC is the only organization on campus organizing student opposition to the presence of the CIA and other military-intelligence agencies, in opposition to the Democratic and Republican parties, and fighting for the building a revolutionary party of the working class. We call on students to take up the fight for socialism and join the IYSSE. As Michelle Wolf was leaving the podium at the end of her courageous and funny takedown of Trump, the Democrats and the press at the White House correspondents dinner last Saturday, she added, and Flint still doesnt have clean water. This is a statement with which a large majority of the citys 100,000 residents would agree From the office of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, however, it elicited an indignant rejoinder. In an email to MLive/The Flint Journal, Snyders chief spokesperson, Anna Heaton, said, Inaccurate comments from comedians will not help the city move forward. Snyders use of the phrase move forward means closing the book on Flint. A month ago, Snyder announced the termination of the last of the PODS, the state-funded distribution sites for bottled water and filters to Flint residents. Even though the citys program for replacing lead and galvanized steel (which can also act as a repository of lead) service lines is only one-third finished and isnt scheduled to be completed until 2020, the minimal assistance of providing bottled water to residents has been wound up. The pipe replacement program does not even include the mains. There are no plans to replace the entire antiquated water infrastructure, which was built decades ago. Moreover, nothing has been done to address the damage done by corrosive Flint River water to the pipes inside residents homes. The governors justification for cutting off bottled water distribution for Flint was laid out in Heatons comments: All state scientists and independent scientists who have collected their own samples and data agree that Flints water system is testing well beneath the federal standards for lead and that the citys water is in fact of better quality than many other US cities of similar size and age. For Flints populace, the vast majority of whom will not drink Flint water, this merely adds insult to injury. In addition to being poisoned, losing unborn babies, enduring an outbreak of Legionnaires disease that killed at least 12 people, and having a generation of children who face lifelong neurological damage, the population as a whole has suffered immense trauma and stress, not to mention the collapse of their home values. The crisis in Flint has brought to light a widespread state and national lead-in-water crisis. Because of media attention and state and federal hearings, it is now widely known that the federal standards cited by the governor are long outdated. The action level set by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1991--only four years after lead pipe was outlawed in new construction--of 15 parts of lead to a billion parts of water, is long overdue for revision. There are no safe levels of lead exposure according to another government agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The states agenda is no different than it was when officials decided over five years ago to change Flints water source: privatize the water system in order to generate profits for investors, speculators and the ruling elite in general. In February, a report issued by the University of Michigan School of Public Health said Snyder bears significant legal responsibility for the (Flint water) crisis based on his supervisory role over state agencies, adding, But reports, interviews and released emails suggest that by October 2014, the governors staff was sufficiently aware that several top aides were arguing that Flint should return to using water from (the city of Detroit). Yet Snyder has never been charged, let alone prosecuted, for any crime, and he remains in office. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, a Democrat elected on the promise of solving the citys water crisis, issued a pathetic response to the exchange over Wolfs comment, saying that the comedian was helping the city by talking and thinking about Flint. Her administration has taken nothing but palliative measures to address the crisis, concentrating her efforts on dissipating public anger and channeling protests into futile lobbying of the political representatives of the banks and corporations such as Nestle Waters. Germanys grand coalition of conservative parties and the Social Democratic Party is intent on stepping up the deportation of refugees and expanding the countrys system of deportation centres. At the beginning of April, the administration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) also decided to tighten up its rules for deportations. A report in the current edition of Der Spiegel deals with the dire consequences of such policies for those incarcerated in the detention centre of Buren (NRW). The prison in Buren, near Paderborn, is currently the largest detention centre in Germany, with about 140 detainees. This number is due to increase to 175 in the near future. So far, there are eight detention prisons in Germany, which can accommodate about 400 people. The number of such prisons is to be greatly expanded, with new detention centres being built in Dresden (Saxony) and Darmstadt (Hesse), and a new facility is planned for Gluckstadt in Schleswig-Holstein. No one may be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This is laid down in Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The conditions outlined in the article in Der Spiegel clearly contradict this principle. The article begins with a description of the special secure rooms located in the basement of the detention centre. In these cells, there is just a mattress and a toilet in the floor. The walls are equipped with surveillance cameras. The prisoners usually wear just paper underpants, so that they cannot strangle themselves with their clothes. This type of detention is supposed to be a means of last resort to deal with violent prisoners, but in Buren such incarceration takes place with increasing frequency. Der Spiegel quotes several passages from a report by security guards, which apparently seeks to justify the inhumane practice. The report declares at the start that the situation in Buren escalated due to death threats, riots, and attempts to escape. In one case, a 28-year-old Egyptian prisoner asked for tea, but then threw the tea at the guard who brought it. The report continues: Later the detainee destroyed a television and armed himself with its remains, repeatedly threatening to kill colleagues. After reinforcement was requested, the detainee was brought down to the detention room by means of a protective suit and shield and then transferred to the special secure room 1. In this description, one can only guess at the manic state of the young man: He was on the verge of deportation to Egypt, a country ruled by the dictator General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who, since taking power in 2013, has murdered thousands of opponents of his regime. Additional tens of thousands have been imprisoned and tortured for political reasons. All those detained in Buren face deportation. Sufficient grounds for detention is reasonable suspicion that someone could evade his or her deportation, and it is enough for a police officer or immigration official to express such a suspicion. As a result, those concerned lose their basic right of freedom and are often locked away for months up to their deportation. The Der Spiegel report states: Those living in deportation detention are not be re-socialised. The prisoners have no work and have nothing to do except wait until they have to get on a plane against their will. Men between the ages of 18 and 40 are currently detained in Buren. They originate from Algeria, Morocco, Syria, India, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Mongolia and some other countries. They are to be deported as quickly as possible to the countries from which they have fled, because they sought security from political persecution, war or extreme hardship. In addition to Muslims, considered in the eyes of the authorities to be Islamist threats, the centre contains Chinese workers detained following a police raid on a restaurant. The Accommodation facilities for people leaving the country, UfA for short, as the deportation prisons are euphemistically named in German, are centres of hopelessness and desperation. The Buren deportation prison is located about 10 kilometres outside the city, in the middle of a forest. The 6-metre-high wall enclosing the site is reminiscent of a high-security prison. The refugees live in single cells equipped with a sink, a cupboard, a bed and a TV. The windows are barred and the cells locked at night. Most of the security guards are provided by a private security service. The length of stay in the detention centre can be from one month to half a year and even longer, depending on the time taken by the authorities to complete the necessary formalities. During this time, the refugees must wait in prison, largely isolated, to await their deportation. It is not surprising that some then resort to acts of desperation. One of the reports available to Der Spiegel centres on a Guinean inmate: He showed significant signs of depressive moods, so self-harm is not ruled out. ... On February 11, 2018, the housed person was found completely apathetic and crying on the floor of his room. He also hit his head twice on the floor. Four years ago, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that deportation detention centres must clearly differ from a normal prison, but the situation for detainees in Buren has clearly not improved since then. In January 2018, the public became aware of Buren when the lawyer of the association named Help for people in the Buren deportation centre laid charges against the chief of the prison with the public prosecutors office in Paderborn. Based on statements by former security guards, the prison head was accused of assault and mistreatment. In particular, she is said to have mixed liquefied medicine in the food of detainees to keep them quiet. The association also criticised the fact among those detained in Buren were people who should not be in prison: As an association we have taken up a total of 237 cases since 2015 and courts have determined that 60 percent of these people were illegally detained, Frank Gockel, spokesman for the initiative, told the press. Based on the indictment and several other reports, four members of the National Bureau for the Prevention of Torture visited the Buren detention centre on January 24-25. This organisation investigates possible ill-treatment in prisons and psychiatric clinics. Their report has not yet been published, but on site the inspectors criticised the fact that prisoners in the special secure rooms had been filmed when going to the toilet. This form of surveillance is not even practiced in prisons. One member of the delegation complained that some inmates did not know why they were in Buren. The local administration in Detmold, which is responsible for the prison in Buren, reacted dismissively to the Spiegel account of abuses and violence in the detention centre. The listed cases had taken place, officials admitted, but over a period from 2016 up until now. In the eyes of the Detmold administration, there were no daily incidents. The state government, a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the neo-liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) led by premier Armin Laschet, has failed to respond to criticism of the conditions in Buren. Instead, it recently decided to tighten up its law on deportation to allow prison staff in future to punish dangerous prisoners even more harshly. Anyone who makes trouble is to be isolated for even longer periods, denied the use of a mobile phone and the Internet or even visits. According to the state minister responsible for children, families, refugees and integration, Joachim Stamp (FDP), deportation centres could not be run by social workers. Stamp is the deputy premier of NRW. This brutal treatment of refugees is supported by all political parties. The expansion of Buren into a pure detention centre originates with the former Interior Minister Ralf Jager (SPD), who declared that deportation detention in Germany should not fail due to a lack of places. In fact, there is a competition to deport among states, regardless of the political composition of their respective governments. NRW, governed by a coalition of the SPD and the Greens until May 2017, bragged at that time that it had deported more people than any other state. In 2016, 5,121 people were forcibly deported, and last year 6,308. The systematic tightening of asylum and immigration policy in recent years has been taken even further by the current federal government. The grand coalition sitting in Berlin has effectively adopted the refugee policy of the racist Alternative for Germany. In the coalition agreement, the SPD and Union parties decided to strictly limit the admission of refugees, drive ahead with deportations, drastically curtail family reunifications, and extend the list of supposed safe countries of origin. The government also wants to permanently intern refugees in central camps, so-called AnkER centres. According to Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), AnkER stands for arrival, decision, repatriationi.e., staying in Germany is apparently not an option. Increasingly besieged at home by working class struggles against his draconian labour laws, French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to the other side of the world this week for a six-day visit to Australia and the nearby French outpost of New Caledonia. While Macron is undoubtedly seeking to use the trip to shore up his position domestically, it has taken to a new level moves by France and other European imperialist powers to assert their interests in the Indo-Pacific region under conditions of rising Chinese influence and waning US hegemony. For now, Macron and other European leaders are maneouvring in the context of a continuing drive by Washington to confront China and, if necessary, go to war against Beijing, to maintain the post-World War II dominance of the US. However, Macrons trip underscored the efforts being made to bolster European geo-strategic interests independently of the US, and potentially against it. Paris regards Australia as a useful platform for this push, as well as the five tiny territories where France has about 1.5 million citizens and 8,000 military personnel spread across the regionthe Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte and Reunion, and the Pacific Ocean islands of New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia. In a speech at an Australian naval base in Sydney on Wednesday, on the first leg of his trip, Macron called for a strategic alliance of France, India and Australia to respond to challenges across the region. This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives, Macron said. Were not naive: if we want to be seen and respected by China as an equal partner, we must organise ourselves. Macron couched his remarks in terms of ensuring that no single power exercised hegemony over the region. He said France would work with Australia, and was willing to use its frigates, submarines and aircraft to ensure that neutrality and freedom of circulation are protected. At an earlier joint media conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, both men were at pains to deny journalists suggestions that their quest for closer strategic and military ties was directed specifically against China. The ruling classes in the two countries are each wary of too openly denouncing China because of the huge markets it offers, as well as promised benefits of President Xi Jinpings One Belt One Road infrastructure project to link China to Europe. Nevertheless, Macron and Turnbull insisted on rules-based conduct in the region, a code phrase for challenging Chinas military, aid and investment activities. Chinas rise is very good news for everybody, Macron said. Whats important is to preserve a rules-based development in the region, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, and to preserve the necessary balances in the region. Likewise, Turnbull said: We welcome the benefits of the growth of China. But of course we are committed to the maintenance of the rules-based international order. In a crude jibe against China, Turnbull cited a quote from former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew, saying: Big fish cannot eat little fish, and little fish cannot eat shrimps. Macron added: And especially New Caledonian shrimps. Macron had visited China in January, where he warned Beijing that its One Belt One Road initiative should not be one-way. He then flew to India in March, where he committed to strengthening a military partnership that has already seen New Delhi buy French warplanes in 2016. This followed Februarys Munich Security Conference, where the European powers took advantage of Trump administrations America First demands for increased military spending and declared they would establish a new multi-polar world. A conference document stated: The European Union as a whole could play a stabilising role for the liberal international orderas could other groupings of liberal democracies, such as the renewed Quad [US, Japan, India, Australia] in the Asia-Pacific. Macron arrived in Australia having just joined the US and Britain in illegally attacking Syria with more than 100 cruise missiles after further fabricated reports of the Assad regime using chemical weapons. That attack endeared Macron to the Trump administration, which feted him in Washington last month, but it also highlighted Frances predatory interests in the Middle East, where it once controlled Syria and Lebanon. Macrons visit was only the second by a French president to Australia. From the 1960s to the 1990s, France was regarded as a Pacific Ocean rival to the imperialist interests of Australia and New Zealand, which denounced French nuclear weapons testing in the region. Now the relations are shifting in response to the global instability created by the visible slippage in Washingtons position. French imperialism also views China as a potential competitor in Frances former colonies in Africa, where it maintains a political and military presence. Since 2011, Paris has launched military interventions in Libya, Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic, Chad, Mali and the Congo, and it has a military base in Djibouti. At the Sydney naval base, Macron said increasing tensions over sovereignty were a threat to peace and stability, making it important for Australia and France to strengthen their defence ties. He thanked Australia for sending forces to fight in France during World War I and II and celebrated with Turnbull the fact that a French company, Naval Group, was awarded the contract to build Australias new fleet of 12 submarines, under a $50 billion deal. A series of agreements were announced, including to boost military inter-operability, maritime cooperation and cyberwarfare. Both countries, along with India and eight Pacific countries, will take part in the biennial Croix du Sud, or Southern Cross, military exercises, off New Caledonia later this month. Much of the media coverage focussed on Macrons awkward reference to Turnbulls wife Lucy as delicious. Far more significant was a terse exchange with a journalist, in which Macron angrily denied that he had travelled 15,000 kilometres to escape from the strife in France, including the violent police attacks on May Day demonstrators. Do you think that the government properly anticipated what happened or not? a reporter asked. Next, do you fear the protest might get more and more radical? Fuming, Macron declared that his government would stand firm. It had made arrests and all the right decisions. He added: My temperament is not to try to evade anything. I am continuing to work; the reforms will continue to be imposed. Macron, a former economy minister in President Francois Hollandes reviled Socialist Party government, is trying to strip away workers rights, raise retirement ages and impose deep cuts to social spending. He faces strikes by railway workers, stoppages by Air France staff, agitation on university campuses and hostility from public sector workers. On Thursday, Macron arrived in New Caledonia on a mission to defeat a long-promised self-determination referendum in November. On Saturday, he will attend ceremonies marking the 30th anniversary of a notorious 1986 massacre in which the Mitterrand Socialist Party administrations gendarmes killed 19 pro-independence Kanak men who had taken police hostage on Ouvea Island. The outcry over that massacre ultimately led a pledge to conduct an independence vote in 2018. Macrons participation in the commemoration, which his office says has been carefully coordinated with local tribal chiefs, is a sign of nervousness over the referendum, despite media polls indicating it may fail. About 40 percent of the territorys 270,000 people are Kanaks, for whom the social conditions remain appallingeven though the territory profitably supplies a quarter of the worlds nickeland unrest has been rising. Workers from every continent have registered to attend the fifth annual International Online May Day Rally this Saturday, May 5, 2018. This years rally, which will be broadcast live beginning at 5:30 p.m. EDT, coincides with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, the founder, with Friedrich Engels, of scientific socialism. The rally is taking place amid a resurgence of class struggle around the world, including an ongoing wave of walkouts by teachers and education workers in the United States. Diane, a teacher from Detroit, Michigan, who participated in city-wide wildcat teacher walkouts in 2015-16, explained why she is attending the rally: I am attending the May Day rally because I like the truth. It is truth that keeps me moving. Marx had a jump on it more than 150 years ago. Today the past and future are all coming together. I am somewhat encouraged by the teachers strikes, but when the unions say to go back, they do. Why, when their demands arent met? The unions do nothing. Wildcat teacher sickout in Detroit, 2016 Another Detroit teacher, H., said, The reason Im attending the May Day meeting is Im exhausted. As a member of the working class, all the things we once depended upon for support have been taken away by the capitalists and the unions. Even the things African-American workers once depended on, like the NAACP, are just arms of the capitalist establishment. The working class and poor own no means of production, and not only that, we have no political voice. The only people we can depend on are each other, the working class. The things that Marx said about the working class being the force for revolution are entirely correct. We are the revolutionary class. Teachers are slowly becoming politically conscious, leading in the direction of forming their own political parties. They are eventually going to have to break with the unions. On some level they already know that. We, Detroit Public School teachers, were sold out by the union too, but we started a conversation. Registrants for the May Day rally from around the world have already written in with May Day greetings. Here are some of them: Aidan from Guildford, England writes, Long live the ideas of Marx! May they guide us as we work towards a beautiful future where mankind is finally free from its chains! R. from Colombo, Sri Lanka writes, Now is the time in modern history, more than anytime else, for workers all over the world to unite under the common banner of international socialism. W., also from Colombo, writes, In the context of revival of struggles of international working class it will be a great event in providing a socialist perspective. A. from Nigeria writes, I am a teacher and had alerted my students about Marxs birthday anniversary. I look forward to the event of May 5. Referring to the Haymarket Massacre marked by the first May Day rally in Chicago in 1886, S. in Bangalore, India writes, Haymarket square to Tahrir square, workers have shown us they are ready. The beacon is wsws.org. Let us have our revolution soon... H. from Turkey writes, I salute the International Committee of the Fourth International, the conscious expression of the working class masses, and all the sympathizers who have cultivated themselves in this perspective. I. from Belgrade, Serbia writes, Glad to be with you, in the spirit of workers internationalism and solidarity! Thank you for all your daily reports and special actions. Gino from Windsor, Canada writes Enough is enough. Our leaders need to be held accountable. Those that manage us in the workplace use us and exploit us as animals while they themselves behave like nothing less than predators to gain an earthly position of comfort. John from Bradford in the United Kingdom writes, It is only on the World Socialist Web Site that the international traditions of the working class are celebrated and developed. Register for the 2018 International May Day Online Rally! Global military spending hit a record of more than $1.7 trillion in 2017, the highest level since the Cold War, according to figures published Thursday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report gives some idea of the scale of the squandering of resources for destructive ends. According to SIPRI, just 13 percent of annual world military spending would be enough to end world poverty and hunger; four percent would guarantee food security for the worlds population; five percent would meet health needs; 12 percent would provide everyone with an education; three percent would provide clean water and proper sanitation. Feeding its vast military machine with more than $610 billion in 2017, the United States remains by far the worlds biggest military spender, dedicating a greater amount to military spending than the next seven countries combined. The 2018 defense budget recently signed by President Donald Trump will push this figure to $700 billion. The US has been at war continuously for the past quarter-century, beginning with the 1991 invasion of Iraq, followed in the course of that decade by military interventions and strikes in Haiti, Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq and the air war against Yugoslavia. The 2000s saw the launching of the global war on terror, beginning with the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in 2001. That was followed by the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the extension of the Afghanistan war into Pakistan with the launching of drone attacks in 2004, the war for regime-change in Libya in 2011 and the beginning that same year of the continuing CIA-fomented civil war in Syria, followed by a third war in Iraq. The war in Syria, which began as a regime-change operation by US-armed and funded Islamist proxy forces fighting to overthrow the pro-Russian and pro-Iranian government of Bashar al-Assad, has evolved into a confrontation between US forces and those of Russia and Iran, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo boasting that the US has killed scores of Russians, the Israelis carrying out missile attacks on Iranian targets in Syria, and the US, Britain and France launching a joint missile strike against Syrian government facilities. After the dissolution of the USSR by the Stalinist bureaucracy in 1991, the apologists for capitalism proclaimed the end of historythe final triumph of capitalism and defeat of socialism. They hailed the dawn of a new era of liberal democracy, peace and prosperity. But more than a quarter-century later, capitalism has produced a nightmare world of feverish rearmament and war, millions of refugees confronting militarized borders and racist witch hunts, soaring inequality combined with brutal austerity, the growth of far-right and fascistic parties and a universal turn by governments to authoritarian rule. Now the regional wars are metastasizing into a third world war to redivide the globe. Every major power is rearming, pushing international military spending up by nearly 10 percent since the global economic crisis of 2008. The particularly sharp rise in military spending over the last decade in Central Europe (20 percent) and Eastern Europe (33 percent) reflects the preparations by the US and the NATO alliance for war with Russia. The 29 members of NATO now account for more than half of the worlds military spending. Under Obama and now Trump, Washington has pressured its European allies to push their military spending even higher. Germanys new grand coalition government has pledged to nearly double military spending to two percent of gross domestic product by 2024, while French President Emmanuel Macron plans to increase military spending by 35 percent and has called for a revival of the military draft. In all of these countries, rearmament has been accompanied by an onslaught on social programs and workers living standards. Despite incessant US propaganda proclaiming Russia to be a military juggernaut menacing its neighbors, the country had one of the largest annual declines in military spending, falling 20 percent from 2016. The Kremlin spent $66.3 billion on its military in 2017, little more than one tenth what the US spends. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, a key ally of the US in the Middle East, took the number three position from Russia, spending $69.4 billion in 2017. The oil-rich kingdom on the Arabian Peninsula expends 10 percent of its annual economic output on its military, the second highest percentage in the world. Much of Saudi Arabias military equipment, purchased from the US, has been dedicated to its slaughter in neighboring Yemen, but that is only a prelude to war against its main target, Iran. Asia and Oceania have seen military spending increase for an unparalleled 29 successive years. The region witnessed a major military buildup under Obamas so-called pivot to Asia, which is being continued under Trump. The arms race in the region is guaranteed to accelerate with India, under the government of Narendra Modi, initiating plans to expand and modernize the countrys military forces to prepare for war with China and Pakistan. The US sees its war preparations against Russia as the prelude to a military confrontation with China, deemed to be Washingtons most dangerous rival. The US is rapidly building up its naval forces in the region and setting up missile defense systems and other military installations in the region to encircle China, which is responding with its own military buildup. Japan is well on the way to casting aside all post-World War II pretensions to pacifism and remilitarizing. As US military spending has grown to historic heights, the Pentagon has established ever closer ties with the technology giants, creating a special unit, the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, based in Silicon Valley. Amazon has contracts with both the CIA and the Pentagon and Google has partnered with the Pentagon to expand the drone murder program. Record levels of military spending have been accompanied by ever greater concentrations of wealth in the hands of billionaires, the integration of the corporations they control with the state apparatus, an assault on the living standards of the working class, and the erosion of democratic rights, including censorship of socialist and anti-war voices on the Internet. The root cause of war, austerity and attacks on democratic rights is the decrepit and obsolete capitalist system, which subordinates every social need to the enrichment of the financial oligarchy that dominates society. In 2016, the International Committee of the Fourth International spelled out the following principles for building an international movement of the working class and youth against imperialist war: * The struggle against war must be based on the working class, the great revolutionary force in society, uniting behind it all progressive elements in the population. * The new anti-war movement must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and the economic system that is the fundamental cause of militarism and war. * The new anti-war movement must therefore, of necessity, be completely and unequivocally independent of, and hostile to, all political parties and organizations of the capitalist class. * The new anti-war movement must, above all, be international, mobilizing the vast power of the working class in a unified global struggle against imperialism. The permanent war of the bourgeoisie must be answered with the perspective of permanent revolution by the working class, the strategic goal of which is the abolition of the nation-state system and the establishment of a world socialist federation. This will make possible the rational, planned development of global resources and, on this basis, the eradication of poverty and the raising of human culture to new heights. This Saturday, May 5, at 5:30 pm EDT, on the 200th anniversary of Marxs birth, the ICFI is holding its annual International May Day Online Rally, which will be broadcast live throughout the world at wsws.org/mayday. We urge all our readers and all workers throughout the world to register and attend May Day 2018. The massive $US19 billion ExxonMobil-led liquid natural gas (LNG) project in the Hela region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has failed to deliver a promised economic boom for the country, a non-government organisation report has found. The Jubilee Australia report, titled Double or Nothing; the Broken Economic Promises of PNG LNG, says the project has contributed to PNG going backwards on most economic indicators. According to the author Paul Flanagan, a former Australian treasury official, the countrys impoverished population would have been better off on almost every measure of economic welfare without the project. ExxonMobil, the lead operator, is supported by the Australian-PNG company OilSearch. Both have stakes of just under one third in PNG LNG. The PNG government also has a large stake, as does Australian gas company Santos. The project, expected to run for 30 years, ships liquefied gas to Japan, South Korea and China. The operation was substantially financed by the US Export-Import Bank, backed by a $A500 million loan from the Australian governments Export Finance and Insurance Corporation. ExxonMobil invested primarily in order to profit from low labour and start-up costs. The company began exporting LNG in 2014, amounting to 7.9 million tonnes per year, delivering an initial boost to the countrys output. In 2016, however, the global economic crisis saw a precipitous drop in LNG prices to $US6.45 per million British thermal units (Btu), from a peak of $19.70. The facility remains vital to Washingtons geo-strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific. Speaking to a Congressional committee in 2011 following a visit to PNG, then US secretary of state Hillary Clinton declared: We are in a competition with China ExxonMobil is producing it [natural gas]. China is in there every day in every way trying to figure out how its going to come in behind us, come in under us. Donald Trumps nomination of ExxonMobils former CEO and chairman Rex Tillerson as US secretary of state in 2016 was welcomed by PNG Prime Minister Peter ONeill, who declared him to be a very good and genuine friend of the country. PNG became nominally independent from Australian colonial rule in 1975. US and Australian-based banks and conglomerates, however, still dominate much of the countrys economic and social life. Almost 5,000 Australian companies do business there, with total investments worth $A5.8 billion. PNGs military and police are funded through Australian grants and trained and advised by Australian forces. Proponents of the LNG project boasted it would be a transformational initiative for the PNG economy, contributing to a doubling of gross domestic product (GDP). The Jubilee report, however, catalogues a litany of economic failures. These included a GDP gain of just 10 percent, all focused on the largely foreign-owned resource sector. The decline in the social position of ordinary people has been stark. A significant recession hit the non-resource sector from 2015. By 2016, household incomes fell by 6 percent, employment by 27 percent and government services, including education, health and infrastructure, by 32 percent. Imports fell by 73 percent, and agricultural exports by 40 percent, due to exchange rate increases following the expansion of gas exports. The report notes that the extremely disappointing government revenues from the project cannot be put down to low global gas prices or cost blowouts in construction. Revenue, predicted to be around 1.4 billion PNG Kina ($A567.8 million) per year in 2016, despite low gas prices, was less than K0.5 billion. Including the interest costs of buying the governments equity share and direct payments to landowners, the project had a negative impact on the budget of at least K200 million in 2016 alone. Several reasons are advanced for the project failing to deliver on its promises. There were serious flaws in the Exxon-commissioned modelling produced in 2008 by consultants Acil Tasman. The model failed to take into account, among other factors, generous tax concessions and the aggressive tax avoidance methods of ExxonMobil and OilSearch, including their use of subsidiaries, shell companies and tax havens. Luke Fletcher, executive director of Jubilee, told the Guardian there was generally little or no transparency about the assumptions made by economic modellers hired by resource firms proposing large-scale projects. The report claims the PNG economy performed worse than would have been expected without any new gas projects at all. Poor policy decisions were made by the PNG government in response to the gas boom. They included ramping up expenditure on what the Sydney-based Lowy Institute criticised as prestige projects as gas prices fell, contributed to the largest budget deficits in the countrys history. The only beneficiary has been a corrupt layer of business leaders and politicians who operate in the interests of the US and Australian-based banks and corporations, looting the countrys extensive natural resources at the direct expense of working people. While ONeill has been embroiled in corruption allegations, his governments austerity measures have further impoverished the working class and rural poor. With none of the promised benefits to improve living standards realised, the government has turned to police-state methods to suppress social tensions that have produced student protests, workers strikes and, in the remote Highlands region, armed unrest. In April 2017, the government intensified a police and military operation, involving 300 personnel, to protect the ExxonMobil operations. Traditional landowners in Hela province carried out protests and blockades over the non-payment of promised royalties, development levies and dividends from the project, estimated at over K1 billion. During 2017, ExxonMobil and OilSearch boasted sharp jumps in profits on the back of rebounding energy prices and cost-cutting. OilSearch reported a net profit rise of 405 percent to $US129.1 million, from $25.6 million, for the first half-year, mainly from its PNG operations. ExxonMobils quarterly global income spiked to $8.38 billion, up from $1.68 billion in the same quarter a year previously. The result included a $5.9 billion non-cash benefit from recent US tax cuts. While the transnational energy corporations amass huge profits, PNG remains ranked at 154 out of 188 countries on the UN Human Development Index. Nearly 40 percent of the population live in grinding poverty, subsisting on less than $1.25 a day. PNG has one of the worlds highest rates of maternal deaths. Nearly half the people live in squatter settlements, and illiteracy is rampant. PNG has the highest percentage of its population in the world60 percentwithout access to safe water. 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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 [May 04, 2018] The B2B Marketing Lab to Host New Inbound Marketing HubSpot User Group Event in South London LONDON, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- - Inbound Marketing event to take place on Thursday, 10th May, 9 - 11:30 BST, at Sama Bankside, Southwark - The B2B Marketing Lab, the London-based Growth Marketing Consultancy, has today announced it will host a new quarterly HubSpot User Group (HUG) in South London. The first event, hosted by Bob Dearsley, Chief Executive of The B2B Marketing Lab, and Shauna Carroll, Channel Consultant at HubSpot, will discuss how businesses can align marketing and sales teams to create a successful Inbound marketing campaign. HubSpot User Groups are free quarterly events designed to educate and inspire marketers, salespeople on Inbound best practices, as well as provide attendees with a way to connect with other HubSpot users in their area. HubSpot User Groups provide hands-on tips and tricks to help grow businesses through Inbound Marketing. The B2B Marketing Lab, part of the ITPR Group, which also includes B2B Tech PR consultancy ITPR and digital marketing and search agency Be Found Online, is part of a 30-strong team of digital marketing consultants. The B2B Marketing Lab was named as the UK's largest and most successful HubSpot partner in 2017 and remains the only HubSpot Diamond partner in London. After undergoing a period of rapid growth, the company recently moved to new offices in Southwark, South London and opened a new office in Singapore with further expansion expected in the future. Bob said: "It's important to understand that your potential customers will interact with your website days, weeks and months before they speak to a member of your sales team. Inbound Marketing, and the use of HubSpot's growth stack allows you to set up your website to interact, engage, and generate leads 24/7. "Our HubSpot User Groups will help educate and inspire marketing and sales professionals to use Inbound Marketing methods in order to help their business grow, and gain a competitive advantage in 2018." The event will take place on Thursday, 10th May, 9 - 11:30 BST, at Sama Bankside, Southwark. For more information and registration details, visit: http://southlondon.hubspotusergroups.com/ . About The B2B Marketing Lab - http://www.b2bml.com The B2B Marketing Lab is the largest and most successful HubSpot Partner in the UK. This international Inbound Marketing consultancy is based in London, S.E.1. and also has offices in Singapore. Founded in 2012, as part of The ITPR Group, the business has grown almost exponentially - and helps B2B organisations to transform their digital marketing strategy through Inbound Marketing and HubSpot. The B2B Marketing Lab provides marketing automation software services and consultancy in lead generation, content marketing, lead nurturing, website design & build, customer acquisition and client engagement. The B2B Marketing Lab is 100% Inbound, 1,000% HubSpot. For more information, click here. For more information, please contact: David Beesley b2bmlPR@itpr.co.uk +44(0)20-7183-0288 [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] Star Wars Battlefront 2 Goes Back to the Original Trilogy in The Age of Rebellion Update A Florida judge has sentenced Donald James Smith to death for kidnapping, raping and killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in 2013 after luring her and her family into a Walmart. Donald Smith, you have not only forfeited your right to live among us, you have forfeited your right to life at all, said Judge Mallory Cooper in court, her voice breaking. May God have mercy on your soul. Smith, 61, was convicted of first-degree murder and sexual battery. Jurors determined his crimes were heinous, atrocious, or cruel, and met the criteria for the death penalty. Outside the courthouse, Cherishs mother, Rayne Perrywinkle, lashed out at the man who killed her daughter. I want him to burn in hell, she told reporters, according to the Florida Times-Union. Rayne Perrywinkle also said that she felt numb when she looked at Smith. Its like I am looking at something that is not even real, she told the newspaper, but he is real. A Heinous Crime According to a police report obtained by PEOPLE, Smith allegedly lured Cherishs family to a Jacksonville-area Walmart in June 2013, promising to buy them food and clothing. Rayne Perrywinkle initially declined to go with Smith, but he allegedly said that his wife had a $100 Walmart card and they would meet her at the store. Rayne Perrywinkle told police that she told him, I dont usually go with strangers, but if your wife is coming, then its OK. Perrywinkle was unaware that Smith was not married and that he was on the Florida sex offender registry. He had been released from prison just 21 days earlier. At some point on that trip, the girl vanished. Surveillance video showed Smith and Cherish leaving together. Her mother called 911. I hope to God he doesnt kill her and I hope to God he doesnt rape her, Perrywinkle told the dispatcher. The next morning, Cherishs half-naked body still wearing the same orange dress she wore to Walmart was found under a fallen tree in a grassy marsh area several miles away. Story continues 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. Donald James Smith pictured 2013. Hers Was A Brutal and Tortured Death The trial had been difficult for the jurors, who wiped their eyes, covered their mouths and looked away from the grisly crime scene photos. Medical Examiner Valerie Rao testified that Cherish had sustained severe injuries from being strangled, tortured and raped. As she looked at photos of Cherishs battered body, Dr. Rao began to cry and asked to take a break. Raos testimony came one day after State Attorney Melissa Nelson gave a devastating opening statement. Cherish did not die quickly, and she did not die easily, she told jurors. In fact, hers was a brutal and tortured death. The defense unsuccessfully tried to suppress several graphic photos of the girls injuries. According to records obtained by PEOPLE, Smith has a long criminal history. In 1977, he was convicted of lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 16. In 1993, he was sentenced to five years in prison for the attempted kidnapping of a minor. Last year he pleaded guilty to attempted impersonation of a public employee and attempted child abuse by mental harm. He spent a year in jail and was released just three weeks before Cherish was found dead. During the trial, Smiths attorney, Julie Schlax, urged jurors to focus on the law rather than emotion. She has not returned PEOPLEs call for comment. Smith will be remanded to jail while his case goes on automatic appeal. Photo credit: Getty Images From Esquire If you were driving down Indiana's Interstate 70 on Wednesday morning and happened to snatch a bunch of $20 bills off of the highway, the Indiana State Police would like to have a word with you. During rush hour outside of Indianapolis, the back doors of a Brinks armored bank truck opened and bags of money went sailing out. Some broke open, littering the highway with an estimated $600,000 in bills, local Fox affiliate WXIN-TV reports. Traffic came to a halt; some drivers and nearby residents started frantically gathering money. Others watched the mayhem unfold and withstood from the money grab, letting their better judgment make the call. Then the state troopers arrived and shut the party down. Video from Jazmyne Danae shows people picking up money on the side of WB I-70 after it flew out of a Brinks truck; the truck lost $600K in cash https://t.co/t1TK7VNthh pic.twitter.com/0L78CN9DXb - FOX59 News (@FOX59) May 2, 2018 Sort of something out of a movie scene, where you have bills, loose bills flying all over the interstate, vehicles stopping, people getting out of their cars," Corporal Brock McCooe said. "So it was pretty chaotic. And also pretty illegal, for anyone who pocketed a personal helping of the $600,000. People know right from wrong and anyone we track down who kept a dollar of this money will be arrested for theft, the police said in a statement. The time to do the right thing and call us to turn in the money is now, because once we knock on your door, you wont be able to avoid being arrested. Brinks said the incident is under investigation, according to The New York Times. So yeah, stealing is bad. But free money is hard to pass up. Just ask this guy. Here's hoping you don't have to choose between "doing the right thing" and the easiest payday ever anytime soon. You Might Also Like 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]. UPDATED with CBS News statement: Charlie Rose engaging in a lot more sexual misconduct than previously reported, Washington Post said this morning, finally publishing its long-awaited article on the topic. An additional 27 women, including 14 CBS News employees, said Charlie Rose sexually harassed them according to the report. More than 100 current and former CBS News employees were interviewed for the story, which claims Roses behavior had been flagged to CBS execs as early as 1986 and as recently as April 2017. Last November, WaPo broke the story that led to Rose being sacked by PBS and by CBS News. In that report, eight women told the newspaper the longtime television host made unwanted sexual advances toward them, including lewd phone calls, walking around naked in their presence, or groping their breasts, buttocks or genital areas. Those women were employees or aspired to work for Rose at the Charlie Rose show, seen on PBS and Bloomberg TV, from the late 90s to 2011. The new WaPo report goes back as far as 1976, citing a former research assistant who claims Rose exposed his penis and touched her breasts in NBC News Washington bureau, where Rose worked at that time. It also includes more claims of harassment from as recently as 2017, at CBS This Morning. CBS News said in a statement it cannot corroborate or confirm many of the situations described, while insisting that since we terminated Charlie Rose, weve worked to strengthen existing systems to ensure a safe environment where everyone can do their best work. CBS News added, 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. Todays report presumably drives a stake in that report from Tina Brown that someone had approached her about producing a show in which Rose would interview other men whose careers have been derailed due to credible claims they sexually harassed women. Story continues Brown made the remark at a recent lunch in Manhattan, NY Post had reported, at which she was featured speaker. Brown has said she turned it down, and that she could not remember who was going to produce the show, which she suggested might have been for Netflix, though she may have been using the name generically to mean digital. Netflix sources assured Deadline they had not been pitched the show, would not be interested in any such project and, further, that no one on any of their development teams had ever never heard of such a project being developed elsewhere. CBS News told WaPo its HR department received no complaints about Rose. Since we terminated Charlie Rose, weve worked to strengthen existing systems to ensure a safe environment where everyone can do their best work, CBS told the WaPo in a statement. WaPo reported Rose responded to the new report via email, saying, Your story is unfair and inaccurate. Related stories Peter Bart: Indicted By Media But Not By Law, Can Scandal-Scarred Men Return? CBS' Leslie Moonves Touts Broadcast Model's Visibility & Back-End In Battle For Talent With Deep-Pocketed SVOD Players CBS Chief Les Moonves Makes Subscriber Growth Case In Cord-Cutting Era Investigators say a 26-year-old Pennsylvania man suspected of murdering a young couple inside their home on Tuesday acted alone, though his motive remains unknown. Victims Tyler Roy, 28, and his wife Christina Roy, 27, were identified Wednesday, a day after a painter walked into their split-level home and discovered one of their bodies, officials said. The suspect in their murder, Daniel Mooney, was found dead on Wednesday from an apparent drug overdose. Gregg D. Shore of the Bucks County District Attorneys Office told The Morning Call that they believe that he didnt have help in the murders. Our team is unequivocally convinced that he killed the victims and that he acted alone, Shore told the paper. Both victims had been stabbed multiple times and both victims were shot. Its clear there was a struggle in the upstairs of the home. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy on Thursday to determine which of the wounds killed the Roys. Christina Roy, Tyler Roy The couples SUV and Mooneys cell phone were recovered Wednesday morning, officials said. Despite the fact that the Mooneys and Roys were neighbors, Shore said officials do not believe there was a prior relationship between the couple and Mooney, as Mooney had not been living with his family, NBC Philadelphia reports. Its very difficult to say what this was all about, said Shore. Its very obvious the suspect has struggled with drug addiction issues. 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. Daniel Mooney They seemed to be a nice, young couple that just happened to be unfortunate victims in this case, he says. Tyler and Christina Roy did not have any known enemies. He was a construction estimator and she was a photographer. They had recently been remodeling their home, which was nine miles outside of Philadelphia. Police are still seeking anyone with information about Mooney and are asked to call 215-322-6114. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on May 4, 2018 2018/05/04 Q: On May 3, the US National Taxpayers Union(NTU) sent an open letter, expressing its opposition to the protectionist measures recently adopted by the US government on trade. More than 1,100 economists have signed the letter. Economists are convinced that increased protective duties would be a mistake. They would operate, in general, to increase the prices which domestic consumers would have to pay. The policy of higher tariffs would affect their international relations and world peace. The letter also warned the US government against protectionist measures it imposed at the start of the Great Depression in 1930. What is your comment? A: I have noted relevant reports. You may all have noticed that in recent days, the international community has been repeatedly calling on the US to respect the WTO and multilateral rules. There are also more and more people in the US who came out opposing its trade protectionist measures. This open letter you cited which was signed by US economists unmasked the nature and consequences of enforced tariff actions and once again proved that unilateralism and trade protectionism are just like building a wall of self-isolation, which is against market principles, international rules, and will be detrimental to everyone. Q: State Councilor Wang Yi said during his visit to the DPRK that China and the DPRK will step up communication on the Korean Peninsula issue. Does the DPRK support the four-party talks mechanism with China included? A: May I suggest you read the press release we issued on State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to the DPRK. State Councilor Wang Yi said that the DPRK had a very good grasp of the situation, and take quick and decsive steps accordingly to lead in positive changes on the Korean Peninsula. China supports and expresses congratulations to the successful inter-Korean summit and the issuance of the epoch-making Panmunjom Declaration. The meeting presents favorable opportunities for the political settlement of the Peninsula issue. China supports the termination of the war status on the Peninsula and the replacement of armistice mechanism by peace regime, and supports the DPRK in shifting its strategic focus to economic development and addressing its legitimate security concern in the process of advancing denuclearization. China stands ready to maintain communication and strengthen coordination with the DPRK in this respect. Chairman Kim Jong-un said that the DPRK highly appraises China's positive contributions to peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and is willing to enhance strategic communication with China. He also said that realizing the denuclearization of the Peninsula is the firm position of the DPRK. The positive changes that have taken place recently on the Peninsula are meaningful and conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Peninsula issue. The DPRK is willing to discuss how to eliminate the root causes that endanger peace on the Peninsula through resumption of talks and establishment of mutual trust. China has been making relentless and constructive efforts to promote the political settlement of the Peninsula issue and we are willing to maintain close communication with various parties in the future. Q: A violent dust storm and torrential rain in northern India has caused major casualties. What is your comment? A: We express our deep sympathy and sincere condolence to the major casualties and property loss caused by the severe dust storm and heavy rain in northern India. We mourn for the victims, and wish the injured a speedy recovery. Q: Media reports said that lasers from the Chinese base in Djibouti harassed US military aircrafts near the US base. The Pentagon's spokesperson said the US side has formally complained to China. What's your reaction to this? How will the above-mentioned remarks by the US military affect the relations between the two countries and militaries? A: The Chinese Defense Ministry has responded to this already. I will tell you that after thorough verification, we have explicitly told the US side that their so-called accusations are completely at odds with facts. Q: President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic said yesterday that they hope the Chinese mainland will admit Dominican students studying in Taiwan with scholarships. Will the Chinese mainland admit them ? A: China cares a lot about the Dominican scholarship receivers who are now studying in Taiwan. As long as they wish to study in the mainland, we will admit them. I believe that the mainland will become a warm new home for them. Taking the establishment of diplomatic ties as a new starting point, China is willing to expand our people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including promoting cooperation between universities so as to offer more convenience to our young students for their study in and visit to the other country. Q: First, French President Emmanuel Macron, who was visiting Australia yesterday, said that no country should be allowed to any kind of hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region when talking about China's rise. Do you have any comments? Second, the US warned yesterday that China would face consequences for the buildup of Chinese military and "militarization" in the South China Sea. What's your comment? A: I haven't seen the full transcript of those remarks as you mentioned. But you mentioned the word "hegemony". I am curious that in the eyes of all the people around the world, which country can be called as a hegemon and which country is exercising hegemony worldwide in various ways both militarily and economically. The relevant person had better get the answer right before making comments. As for your second question, I have talked about China's position yesterday. China's peaceful construction activities on the Nansha Islands, which is part of its own territory, including the deployment of necessary national defense facilities, are meant to safeguard China's sovereignty and security, and it is also a right that any sovereign state is entitled to. It bears not the slightest resemblance to "militarization", a label someone is trying to pin on us. China will continue to work with all countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. It is worth mentioning that the US has been upping its military deployment and flexing its muscles in the South China Sea. That is exactly "militarization". They need to think about the consequences. We urge the US side to stop making these irresponsible remarks and think over what it has done so wrongly, and truly play a constructive role in preserving peace and stability in the South China Sea. Q: Have the China-US trade negotiations starting from yesterday wrapped up already? What are the outcomes? A: I have no authorized information to release so far. Q: US President Trump and the DPRK supreme leader Kim Jong-un will meet soon, allegedly in Mongolia or Singapore. Some also said that may take place in Panmunjom. Is that possible that President Trump will travel via Beijing? A: You may refer to the US spokespersons for this question. On China's part, we support and welcome all efforts that are conducive to promoting talks among various parties of the Peninsula issue and to the political settlement of that issue. In The Know by Yahoo Whether it's from a skating video on Instagram, the front row of the Fendace fashion show, or on your screen in the new Gossip Girl reboot, the chances are you know Evan Mock. Following his shoot for In The Know's October Muse issue, Mock talks to consulting Editor-At-Large, Elaine Welteroth, about his Hawaiian and Filipino roots and reads snippets from his Met Gala journal entry Meghan Markles father, Thomas Markle Sr., will walk her down the aisle, Kensington Palace has confirmed via Twitter. Meghan Markle with her father. (Photo: Splash) After months of speculation, the soon-to-be newlyweds press secretary has finally given a major update on the upcoming royal wedding. Today we have provided an update on the Wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle. Read the full statement here: https://t.co/bhrPnJtrNm Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 4, 2018 It was beginning to look unlikely that her father would attend the May 19 ceremony, let alone walk his daughter down the aisle, according to estranged family members. Meghan Markle as a young girl with her mother. (Photo: Splash) In an open letter addressed to Prince Harry, Markles half brother, Thomas Markle Jr., accused the 36-year-old of being a jaded, shallow, conceited woman and said that she had not invited any family members to the big day. At one point, speculation was rife that her mother, Doria Ragland, would instead take on the duty of walking her down the aisle at St. Georges Chapel. However, Ragland will be sitting in the pews, according to Kensington Palaces latest update. Mr. Thomas Markle and Ms. Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harrys family, including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day, the press statement notes. Although Ragland will travel with the bride by car to Windsor Castle, its Markle who will walk his daughter down the aisle. And thats not all, as other need-to-know details have emerged from the tell-all document. How will the big day unfold? On the morning of May 19 When royal fans from across the globe tune in, the first thing they will see are wedding guests arriving at the venue between 9:30 and 11 a.m. local time. Story continues Members of the royal family will begin to arrive at 11:20 a.m. and will enter St. Georges Chapel via a separate entrance. Prince Harry and his best man, Prince William, will arrive via the West Steps. While the royal family members gather, a separate camera will film Meghan Markle and her mothers departure from the bride-to-bes hotel location. They will then travel across the Long Walk, where they will be met by flag-bearing crowds. They will also make a brief stop at Windsor Castle, where Ragland will head into the chapel and Markle will be joined by her bridesmaids and page boys. On the afternoon of May 19 The wedding service is estimated to last an hour, and once it has concluded, the newlyweds will leave the chapel to greet the 200 charity representatives invited to the ceremony. They will then embark upon their carriage procession, which is likely to take around 25 minutes. This is the final public aspect to their nuptials, as the couple will then head to Frogmore House for the evening reception. Will Prince Louis attend the royal wedding? In rather unsurprising news, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges third child Prince Louis of Cambridge will most likely not attend the nuptials. The fifth in line to the throne will be less than a month old when the wedding rolls around. Will Prince George and Princess Charlotte have a role at the royal wedding? Its interesting to note that several royal experts have suggested that Markle has not chosen a maid of honor. In the official statement, it has been confirmed that she will, however, be joined by bridesmaids and page boys before she enters St. Georges Chapel. Details on whether Prince George and Princess Charlotte have been given these roles typically reserved for children in Britain will be confirmed in the week before the wedding, but its looking likely. How will Princess Diana be honored at the ceremony? Ever since their engagement, speculation has been rife as to how the couple will honor Princess Diana. According to Kensington Palace, the groom is eager to involve his late mothers family in the wedding. All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading, its statement reads, referring to the late royals older sister. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honored that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late princess on the wedding day. When will the royal wedding pictures be released? For royal fans who cannot wait to see Markles wedding dress, hold tight. According to the official statement, the couples wedding photographs which will be taken by engagement photographer Alexi Lubomirski will be released the week after the ceremony. The bride and groom have postponed their honeymoon According to the newly released document, Prince Harry and Markle have decided to postpone their honeymoon in order to carry out their first royal engagement as a married couple. The happy couple will postpone their honeymoon to carry out their first official engagement as husband and wife the week after the #RoyalWedding #HarryandMeghan Emily Nash (@emynash) May 4, 2018 It has not yet been confirmed where the couple will spend their honeymoon, though reports suggest that they could return to Botswana, where they fell in love beneath the stars. Following their 2011 nuptials, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed to the Seychelles for a break away from the media spotlight. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Meghan Markle lookalikes are the new stars of bridal campaigns Prince Harry officially names Prince William as his best man Meghan Markle rumored to be wearing a Burberry wedding dress Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The mother of two Native American teenagers believes her sons were victims of racial profiling after campus police removed them from a college tour on Monday. Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray told the Associated Press that her two sons, 19-year-old Thomas Kanewakeron Gray and 17-year-old Lloyd Skanahwati Gray, saved up all their money to afford the seven-hour drive from their family home in Santa Cruz, New Mexico, to Denver in order to tour Colorado State University. During the brothers' scheduled tour, Gray says that another woman in her sons' group called the police because she was concerned with how quiet the two were. "When they told me that on the phone I couldnt wrap my head around that," Gray said. "What do you mean, its because they were quiet?" According to the school, the woman actually called the police because the brothers joined the tour late and she was concerned with their sudden appearance. "A parent participating in the tour called campus police because she was nervous about the presence of two young men who joined the tour while it was in progress," the school said in a statement. After the two teens were stopped by a campus police officer, the older of the two brothers produced an email on his phone confirming their spot on the tour. However, by the time the incident was settled, their group had already moved on without them. Colorado State University officials released a statement following the incident, saying it is reviewing what happened in order to avoid a repeat. "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," it said. "As a university community, we deeply regret the experience of these students while they were guests on our campus." "The fact that these two students felt unwelcome on our campus while here as visitors runs counter to our principles of community and the goals and aspirations of the CSU Police Department." Rihanna cannot wait for summer, and understandably so. Those of us living in the sad, cold winter states faced three Noreasters this season and its incredibly safe to say that like RiRi, we are #overit. But the Barbados native seems to have found warmer weather somewhere. On Wednesday, the pop star-turned-fashion and beauty entrepreneur shared sexy bikini shots of herself sunbathing. when u cant wait for summer. A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on May 2, 2018 at 10:37am PDT At first swipe, we noticed only RiRi's gorgeous natural long locks, plus that wild animal-print bottom, which looks a lot like several Charlie By MZ pieces she wore a few years back. In the comments, fans of course were quick to praise her, writing things like, Does she just open a camera and its an automatic good angle, and You so hot. RELATED: Can Rihanna Revolutionize Lingerie the Way She Did the Makeup Industry? But apparently, some eagle-eyed fans also spotted a bit of hair, speculating that Rihanna didnt shave her legs for the photo opp. l love the fact that her legs are hairy! one commenter wrote, with another adding, When you cant shave your legs #nohate. Fans on Twitter reacted to the shot as well, inspiring some to declare what we suggest should be called #NoShaveSummer. RIHANNA'S LEG HAIR IS A MOOD pic.twitter.com/6EaE5E21BS queen G (@ifthehoefits) May 2, 2018 Rihanna, on Instagram with a wee bit of hair on her leg and stretchmarks. Shouldn't have to commend her on this, but hell yeah! Go girl! #fuckyourbeautystandards AQ (@Different_Name_) May 3, 2018 If Rihanna doesnt shave her legs neither am i pic.twitter.com/gPpkclE9ka ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? (@mikalawalker) May 2, 2018 To us, the backlit photo isnt all that hairy (doesnt it just look a healthy layer of peach fuzz?), but we're all for RiRi fans embracing their body hair. Story continues Better yet, Rihannas gram also inspired fans to be body positive. Some followers noticed lines on her behind that theyre calling stretch marks, again praising RiRi for flaunting her body in all its natural glory. Thank you for not editing these pictures and taking out your stretch marks, one fan wrote, with others adding, Look at them beautiful stretch marks and Them stretch marks though. Others werent convinced, writing that the sunlight had created an illusion. Rihanna has stretch marks so all the dudes out their with their unrealistic expectations of women can fucking SWIVEL FOR ME ???? pic.twitter.com/qHtLqyQTpB aimee (@heyaaimee) May 2, 2018 So whats the verdict? After a fan called out the lines on her butt, Rihanna herself chimed in, confirming that while she indeed has marks, were simply looking at the suns rays in the photo. I got stretch marks but dats the sun, she wrote. Regardless, the fact that shes inspired over 3 million people whove liked the photo to a) stop shaving and b) accept their body image is pretty badass, if we do say so ourselves. Mark Mangaccat, Kevin Prasad, Man killed coworkers fiancee Two San Francisco men are behind bars after police say one of them shot and killed a co-workers fiancee so he could date her. Kevin Prasad, 31, worked at the San Francisco International Aiport with Thandel Seinn, 31. Though she saw their relationship as strictly platonic friends, prosecutors believe Prasad developed some serious feelings that led him to commit murder. RELATED: New Details About The Two College Men Arrested For Gang Raping A Woman At A UCF Frat Party He just tell me, Dont go and I want to be with you, Seinn told CBS. He would just say something like a friendly joke." She says that Prasad was very aware of her longterm relationship with Mark Mangaccat, 31. They have a 3-year-old child together and were planning on getting married and moving to Las Vegas. "We were friends. At the airport we work in same job; [my] boyfriend, me and him, we were friends, she said. Last Wednesday was Seinn's final day of work at the airport. Prasad followed her and Mangaccat back to their home in Hayward, CA. He waited in a car with a man named Donovan Rivera until he approached the couple sitting in their vehicle and shot Mangaccat five to six times at close range. RELATED: Sad New Details About A Utah Man Who Shot His Wife And Children In A Murder-Suicide And How His Wife Was Involved In His Plan Seinn was not harmed and Mangaccat died on the scene. Prasad and Rivera drove away. The woman originally told police that she didn't see the shooter, but that there had been "some weird behavior from him." SFO worker Kevin Prasad accused of murder. DA says romantic obsession may be the motive. He is accused of killing a former Co-workers fiance hoping to have a relationship with her. Victims family and fiance are heartbroken. @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/LmY8hCvREJ Jean Elle (@nbcjeanelle) May 2, 2018 District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the main motivation behind the murder was Prasad's hopes to have a chance with Seinn. Story continues Its this bizarre thought process of, if I get rid of the boyfriend, I can be there to comfort the grieving girlfriend, the DA said. Both Prasad and Rivera are charged with murder, assault with a firearm, firing into an occupied vehicle and lying in wait. If convicted, they could face the death penalty. RELATED: Scary New Details About The Man Who Murdered His Ex-Girlfriend On Facebook Live After Telling Her He Was Going To 'Make Her Famous' Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 7:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTangos Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or on her website at www.emily-blackwood.com. Keywords: crime, murder read more Photo credit: Getty Images From Cosmopolitan A 38-year-old woman whose benign ovarian tumor grew 10 pounds a week over the course of two months is expected to make a full recovery after doctors removed the 132-pound mass from her abdomen on February 14, according to press release from Western Connecticut Health Network. It was one of the largest known ovarian tumors, the Thursday release noted. Photo credit: Western Connecticut Health Network "I might expect to see a 25-pound ovarian tumor, but a 132-pound tumor is very rare," said Dr. Vaagn Andikyan, M.D., a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at Western Connecticut Medical Group and assistant professor at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. The patient, a teacher who prefers to remain anonymous, initially went to her gynecologist with complaints of rapid weight gain. By the time she was treated, the placement of the tumor on her digestive tract had triggered malnourishment while the weight of it led her to rely on a wheelchair. The five-hour surgery, which was conducted at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut, involved a 25-person medical team including a gynecologic oncologist, plastic surgeon, anesthesiologist and a cardiologist, the latter because the tumor sat on a major blood vessel. In addition to extracting the mass, doctors removed the woman's left ovary and six pounds of excess tissue and skin stretched by the growth, before reconstructing her abdomen. Photo credit: Western Connecticut Health Network Danbury Hospital is still conducting tests to explain the rapid growth of the tumor, which was filled with a gelatin-like substance, Dr. Andikyan told CNN. Meanwhile, the patient has already returned to work: she went home from the hospital just two weeks after her surgery with a good prognosis. Since her uterus and right ovary remain intact, she'll be able to have children if she'd like, according to CNN. What an inspiring story to tell your kids - just maybe not at bedtime. Follow Elizabeth on Instagram and Twitter. You Might Also Like Daniel R. DePetris Security, That would be World War III. 1,000,000 People Would Become Casualties if North Korea Nuked Washington D.C. There is no evidence that would suggest that Kim Jong-un is a crazy, sociopathic nutcase who is spending billions of dollars and years of investment just to nuke an American city or kill hundreds of thousands of Americans. The only thing he values on about the same wavelength as himself is the regime that his family has built over seven decades. If Kim wants to be the man presiding over the deaths of millions of his citizens and the elimination of his country, then sending a nuclear ICBM towards Washington is the best way to do that. The test-fire of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-15, newly developed under the political resolution and strategic decision of the Workers Party of Korea, was successfully carried out, the Korean Central News Agency announced after Pyongyang conducted its twenty-third missile test since February. The ICBM Hwasong-15 type...is an intercontinental ballistic rocket tipped with [a] super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the U.S. How serious should the United States take this declaration from North Koreas state propaganda arm? Apparently seriously enough; although Pyongyangs newscasters can use comically colorful, overly exaggerated language at times, scientists and experts in the field of missile technology used the first twenty-four hours after the test launch to educate the American people about how powerful this Hwasong-15 rocket really is. The missile reached a height of 2,780 miles, the highest elevation that a North Korean-manufactured projectile has traveled to date, before crashing into Japans Exclusive Economic Zone after a 590-mile flight. Recommended: 1.2 Million Casualties: If North Korea Attacked Los Angeles with a Nuclear Weapon Immediately after the launch, David Wright of the Union of Concerned Scientists wrote a short assessment of the test, where he calculated that this particular missileif arced properly on a normal flight-path with a light warhead attachedcould land anywhere in the continental United States. "If these numbers are correct, then if flown on a standard trajectory...this missile would have a range of more than 13,000 kilometers (km) (8,100 miles), Wright wrote. This is significantly longer than North Koreas previous long range tests, which flew on lofted trajectories for 37 minutes (July 4) and 47 minutes (July 28). Such a missile would have more than enough range to reach Washington, D.C. Story continues Recommended: This Video Shows What Happens if Washington, D.C. Is Attacked with Nuclear Weapons Pyongyang couldnt be any clearer about what its overriding objective is: developing, testing, and successfully fielding a reliable and durable nuclear-tipped ICBM that can pummel an American city on the mainland United States. Most analysts studying the North Korean regime believe that the purpose of this ICBM is not to conduct some irrational nuclear first-strike on Washington or New York, but rather to deter a U.S. military attack or a regime-change campaign by ensuring that any U.S. strike would result in sever pain and punishment on the American mainland. The Trump administration would be much less likely to ponder a military operation against Pyongyang if such an operation ran the risk of placing hundreds of thousands of Americans in the crosshairs of North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Recommended: 8 Million People Could Die in a War with North Korea And hundreds of thousands of American casualties in a hypothetical North Korean nuclear attack is not an overstatement. According to Alex Wellersteins NukeMap program, the casualty rate is right on the money. The effects of a 250 kiloton North Korean nuke that blasted in Washington, D.C. would extend far outside what we typically refer to as the Beltway. The air blast of the explosion alone would destroy the White House, the International Spy Museum, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian, the U.S. Capitol Building, and all of the fancy bars and restaurants that reporters and government officials use as rendezvous points to socialize over drinks and spill the dirt on their colleagues. Every building within the air-blast radius would be destroyed, with the fatality rate reaching as high as 100 percent. If you were a tourist at the very end of the Washington Mall, perhaps taking pictures as the Jefferson Memorial southwest of the White House, your chances of survival are higher. But the fatality rate would still be 5090 percent, with blistering and radiation poisoning so unbearable that you may wish that you were killed instantaneously like White House staffers or congressional aides across town. If youre a student at Howard University, you are a bit luckierbut not by much. You may escape with your life (if you were in a building at the time of the explosion, theres a very high probability that you would be crushed underneath concrete, cement and glass), but the physical side-effects of a nuclear attack would be the stuff of horror movies. Passengers waiting for their flights at Ronald Reagan International Airport across the Potomac can expect third-degree burns which destroy the nerve endings in the skin. The final death tally based on the parameters of this particular nuclear strike: 412,880 fatalities and 527,490 injuries, casualties approaching nearly a million people. Is any of this a guarantee? Not my any stretch. There is no evidence that would suggest that Kim Jong-un is a crazy, sociopathic nutcase who is spending billions of dollars and years of investment just to nuke an American city or kill hundreds of thousands of Americans. The only thing he values on about the same wavelength as himself is the regime that his family has built over seven decades. If Kim wants to be the man presiding over the deaths of millions of his citizens and the elimination of his country, then sending a nuclear ICBM towards Washington is the best way to do that. The numbers, however, are a reminder of how truly ugly and calamitous a military conflict between the United States and North Korea could be. Add nuclear weapons into the scenario, and the calamity would look a bit like the Hollywood blockbuster Sum of All Fearsexcept actual people would be dying. Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities. This first appeared last November. Read full article Poisoned Up to 100 grams of liquid nerve agent was used in the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said (Picture: Rex) Up to 100 grams of liquid nerve agent were used in the chemical attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said. Ahmet Uzumcu told the New York Times the amount of Novichok used in the attack on the former Russian spy and his daughter around half a cup of liquid suggests it was intended for use as a weapon and was not created for research purposes. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4. Both their conditions have slowly improved but the attack sparked diplomatic tensions between the UK and Russia. Investigation the inquiry into the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal has involved 250 detectives who have gone through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses (Picture: AP) Mr Uzumcu told the paper the Novichok could have been applied as a liquid or aerosol. He said: For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that, without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection. MORE: One third of white Brits do not have any ethnic minority friends, survey finds MORE: Ruin unearthed in Israel could prove Bible stories of King David were true Its not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse. He added the samples collected suggested the nerve agent was of high purity. Tensions the attack sparked diplomatic tensions between Russia and the West (Picture: Reuters) Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals and the Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko has even suggested that they may have been injected with nerve agent produced at Porton Down by British authorities. The UK has stated that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. The inquiry into the nerve agent attack in the Wiltshire city has involved 250 detectives who have gone through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses. Sergei and Yulia Skripal, who were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being exposed to Novichok - supplied pixel8000 Up to 100 grams of liquid nerve agent were used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said. Ahmet Uzumcu told the New York Times the amount of Novichok used - around half a cup of liquid - suggests it was created for use as a weapon rather than for research purposes. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4. The inquiry into the nerve agent attack in the Wiltshire city has involved 250 detectives who have gone through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses. Mr Uzumcu told the paper the Novichok could have been applied as a liquid or aerosol. What is Novichok He said: "For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that, without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection. "It's not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse." He added the samples collected suggested the nerve agent was of "high purity". Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. The Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko previously suggested that Sergei and Yulia Skripal may have been injected by British authorities with nerve agent produced at Porton Down. Timeline Sergei Skripal How events have unfolded However the UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Karen Pierce, the UK's representative to the United Nations, told a meeting last month there was "no plausible alternative explanation than Russian State responsibility for what happened in Salisbury", suggesting Russia had the ability, operation experience and motive to carry out the attack. Story continues She said: "Russia has a proven record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations including on the territory of the United Kingdom. "The independent inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko concluded in January 2016 that he was deliberately poisoned with polonium; that the FSB had directed the operation; and that President Putin probably approved it." On the technical means of creating Novichok, she said: "No terrorist group or non-state actor would be able to produce this agent in the purity described by the OPCW testing and this is something Russia has acknowledged. "The Russian State has previously produced Novichoks and would still be capable of doing so today." 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. Meghan Markles wedding dress has been a hot topic of discussion since the actress announced her engagement to Prince Harry last fall. With the royal wedding upon us, theres still plenty of speculation about Markles wedding dress: what it will look like, what style shell go with, and of course, which designer shell choose for her big day. Thankfully for Markle, however (whos already proven that she has style fit for a princess on lock), there are plenty of royal ladies whove come before her whose iconic dresses can provide plenty of inspiration for all brides, even if they dont have a title. From Grace Kelly, another actress who became a princess, to her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, here are 25 gorgeous royal wedding dresses that Meghan Markle could draw inspiration from on her big day. Queen Elizabeth, 1947 Queen Elizabeth wore a tulle, chiffon, and silk wedding gown designer by Norman Hartnell when she married Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. Since the then-princess married only two years after the end of World War II, her wedding dress was made out of fabrics that she purchased using ration coupons that she had saved (she was also generously given 200 extra ration coupons for the occasion.) The dress design was inspired by a Botticelli painting and was embellished with 10,000 seed pearls, taking 350 women seven weeks to complete it. To top off her look for the big day, Elizabeth wore a matching veil, which was held in place by the Queen Marys Fringe Tiara, which was borrowed from her mother, Queen Elizabeth I. On the day of the wedding, the silver, diamond, and gold tiara broke and was quickly repaired by a jeweler before Elizabeth headed to the ceremony; if you look closely, you can see a minor gap towards the center of the tiara because of the unexpected break. Princess Soraya Esfandiari Bakhtiari of Iran (1951) Soraya Esfandiari Bakhtiari married Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to become the Empress of Iran in 1951. She wore a custom wedding dress designed by Christian Dior clocked in at nearly 20 meters of white silk embroidered with gold and strass and weighed more than 30 kilograms. Soraya had been ill with typhoid the year before the wedding, leaving her weak; on the day of the ceremony, the Shah and one of his aides cut off 8 meters off the train of her dress to make it lighter, so that she would be able to stand during the ceremony. Story continues Princess Grace of Monaco (1956) In what many considered to be a real-life fairy tale of sorts, American movie star Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in what was dubbed the wedding of the century. The wedding dress was designed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayers costumer Helen Rose, as a parting gift from the studio to Kelly; Rose had worked on Kellys wardrobe for four of her films, according to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The elegant gown was made of over 400 yards of fabric, including ivory faille taffeta and 100 yards of silk net, which was then embellished with antique Brussels lace and seed pearls. Kellys choices of accessories were refreshingly unconventional; she chose a circular veil so that the public could see her face more easily and opted for a matching, embellished Juliet cap instead of tiara to hold the veil in place. Finally, instead of carrying the traditional bouquet, she carried a prayer book that was embellished to match her dress and some lilies of the valley to accompany it. Queen Noor of Jordan (1978) Queen Noor, then known as Lisa Halaby, wed Jordans King Hussein in 1978, wearing a high-necked Christian Dior dress and matching veil. Princess Caroline of Monaco (1978) Grace Kellys daughter, Princess Caroline, married French banker Philippe Junot in an ethereal gown by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior. The dress featured bell sleeves and dainty embellishments on the outer layer, which was sheer. Most memorable, however, might be Carolines decision to wear two buns on either side of her head a la Princess Leia, which she then accessorized with individual flower crowns to hold her veil in place in lieu of the traditional tiara. Princess Diana (1981) Princess Dianas wedding dress is one of the most iconic royal wedding dresses of all time. The voluminous gown was designed by then husband and wife duo David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who crafted it out of ivory silk taffeta and a piece of antique lace that had belonged to Queen Mary. Her 25-foot train was only surpassed by her 153 yard veil, which she held in place with her family heirloom, the Spencer tiara. Queen Rania of Jordan (1993) Queen Rania of Jordan, a known fashionista, tapped British fashion designer (and Princess Diana favorite) Bruce Oldfield to create the regal dress she wore to tie the knot with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, who was a prince at the time. The white gown featured a suit-like over coat with short sleeves, exaggerated lapels, and an oversized belt, as well as gold embellishment. Rania opted to ditch a tiara in favor of a small embellished headband that fit around her large bun. Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece (1995) Marie-Chantal Miller became the Crown Princess of Greece when she married Pavlos, the countrys Crown Prince in 1995 and she did so in style, selecting a Valentino ivory silk gown that was embellished with embroidery and pearls. The dress featured a 4.5 meter Chantilly lace train, 12 different types of lace, took 4 months and 25 people to make, and reportedly cost a whopping $225,000. Countess Sophie Rhys-Jones (1999) To marry Queen Elizabeths youngest son, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones wore a a long-sleeved gown by British fashion designer Samantha Shaw that was embellished with 325,000 crystals and pearls. To hold her veil in place, Sophie wore a tiara from the Queens private collection, which she paired with a black and white pearl necklace and earrings that were designed by Prince Edward as a wedding gift. Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway (2001) When Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby exchanged vows, the princess wore a white silk crepe gown with long sleeves that was designed by Norwegian wedding dress designer Ove Harder Finseth. She paired her wedding dress with a 20 foot veil held in place by a tiara. Queen Letizia of Spain (2004) Queen Letizia of Spain selected an elegant gown by couturier Manuel Pertegaz to marry King Felipe VI in 2004. The long-sleeved dress featured an open collar and a 14-foot train, as well as a matching veil which was held in place with a diamond tiara. The dress was embroidered on its hems, cuffs, and bodice with real gold. Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark (2004) Mary Donaldson married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in an ivory duchesse satin gown by Danish fashion designer Uffe Frank. The dress had a 19 ft. train and 3/4 length sleeves. The princess paired it with an antique lace veil that was once worn by Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden. Princess Marie of Denmark (2008) Marie Cavallier married Prince Joachim of Denmark in 2008 while wearing a feminine dress with a full skirt and a sweetheart neckline. Her wedding day ensemble was designed by Spanish-Italian fashion house Arasa Morelli and featured a lace bodice and matching veil. Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden (2010) Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden married her husband, Daniel Westling in a simple but beautiful gown with a rounded, off-the shoulder style bodice made by Swedish fashion designer Par Engsheden. Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark (2010) Tatiana Blatnik married Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark in an elegant gown designed by New York-based Venezuelan designer Angel Sanchez. The dress took 131 feet of French chantilly lace to make, which she accessorized with a matching bolero and a full-length veil held in place with a tiara borrowed from her mother-in-law, Queen Anne-Marie; the same tiara was also worn by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece at her wedding. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (2011) To marry Prince William in 2011, Kate Middleton wore an elegant gown designed by designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. The dress featured a relatively deep-v neckline, a 9-foot train, and lace overlay, as well as Victorian-inspired corsetry and padding on the hips to create the illusion of a more narrow waist. Kate secured her veil by borrowing the Queens Cartier halo tiara. Princess Charlene of Monaco (2011) Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (2012) Princess Claire of Luxembourg (2013) Princess Elisabetta of Belgium (2014) Beatrice Borromeo (2015) Princess Sofia of Sweden, Duchess of Varmland (2015) Lady Charlotte Wellesley (2016) Princess Ekaterina of Hanover (2017) Princess Alessandra de Osma of Peru (2018) After being accused of sexual harassment by eight women and losing his positions at CBS News and PBS, Charlie Rose may have been staging a comeback. According to Page Six, Tina Brown said she was approached to produce a series from Rose, who wanted to interview other men accused of sexual misconduct. (She passed.) Now, in a brand-new investigation, 27 more women have accused Rose of harassment, putting his alleged misconduct back in the spotlight. In November, CBS News fired Rose one day after eight women accused the longtime anchor of sexual harassment in an investigation by The Washington Post. His PBS show, "Charlie Rose," was also dropped. Now, an additional 27 women have come forward saying Rose sexually harassed them over a period of 30 years. And the allegations, in a new report from the Post, are disturbing. The newspaper interviewed 107 current and former employees at CBS News, and 24 others who worked with Rose at other companies. Fourteen CBS News employees and 13 employees of his other programs said Rose harassed them. Despite complaints to managers from 1986 through 2017, nothing was done about it. In response to the new report, CBS said it received no human resources complaints against Rose, but it has mandated in-person sexual harassment training and started a working group to analyze the workplace environment. CBS News issued the following statement to the Post: Since we terminated Charlie Rose, weve worked to strengthen existing systems to ensure a safe environment where everyone can do their best work. 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. Story continues Rose responded to the latest report with just one sentence: Your story is unfair and inaccurate. Back in November, he issued a statement apologizing for inappropriate behavior. Here are some of the most shocking allegations from the new Post report: He allegedly harassed women as early as the 1970s. Joana Matthias, who was a research assistant at NBC News in 1976, told the Post Rose exposed his penis to her and touched her breasts while they worked together. This other personality would come through, and the groping would happen, she said. By 1986, when he was working at CBS News, Annemarie Parr, who was working as a news clerk, said Rose once asked her, Annemarie, do you like sex? and Do you enjoy it? How often do you like to have sex? Parr told the newspaper she reported it to her boss, who laughed and said she didnt have to be alone with Rose anymore. Rose reportedly answered his door naked. Beth Homan-Ross, who worked as an assistant producer in the 1980s for CBSs show "Nightwatch," where Rose was an anchor, was part of a lawsuit claiming the network was offensive and hostile to female employees. The lawsuit was settled in 1987 and the terms were kept confidential. Homan-Ross told the Post when she would deliver materials to his house, hed open the door naked, holding a towel, and would ask her to come into the bathroom while he took a shower. It was a sexual land mine everywhere you stepped, she said. He reportedly groped a contributor during a commercial break. In January 2012, when Rose was hosting "CBS This Morning," Rose reportedly drew an unnamed contributor close during a commercial break, grabbed her buttock, and whispered to her, Damn, you look good on TV. An assistant said he encouraged her to have sex with a female co-worker. At his PBS show, "Charlie Rose," assistant Brooks Harris said Rose told her he hired her because he liked tall women, and also encouraged her to have sex with another woman, Sydney McNeal, in the office. made me question my intelligence, dignity and worth as a human being almost every day, McNeal told the Post. New Delhi (AFP) - Dust storms tore across northern India killing at least 77 people and injuring 143 as trees and walls were flattened by powerful winds, officials said Thursday. The overnight storm ravaged Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states and the death toll was expected to rise, officials said. There were 46 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh in the north and 31 in the desert state of Rajasthan to the west. The Agra district of Uttar Pradesh was one of the worst hit with more than 30 people killed. The Taj Mahal is in Agra city but officials said the monument escaped damage. Most of the victims were hit by falling walls, trees and electric pylons and houses that collapsed. "We can confirm at least 46 deaths, 41 injuries from around 40 of the state's 75 districts," T.P. Gupta of the Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner's office told AFP. He said there were 36 deaths in Agra district. Officials said 157 animals were also killed across the state. Three districts in Rajasthan, a state popular with tourists for its heritage palaces and colourful culture, were hit the hardest. "Most of (the) 31 deaths and 102 injuries across our state were from three districts Alwar, Dholpur and Bharatpur," Hemant Gera, Rajasthan's Disaster Management and Relief Department's secretary, told AFP. Power supply was cut in Bharatpur as more than 1,000 electricity pylons were destroyed. Officials said it could take more than two days to restore power. The state government quickly released funds to compensate the families of those killed or suffered damage. "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," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter. "Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected," he added. Last month, a storm killed at least 15 people in Uttar Pradesh and destroyed two ancient pillars at the entryways to the Taj Mahal. Paris (AFP) - Air France-KLM boss Jean-Marc Janaillac announced his resignation Friday after staff at the carrier's French operations rejected a pay deal aimed at ending months of walkouts. "I accept the consequences of this vote and will tender my resignation to the boards of Air France and Air France-KLM in coming days," said Janaillac after 55.44 percent of Air France workers voted against accepting a pay rise of seven percent over four years. Unions said the increase was too little after six years of pay freezes and demanded a 5.1 percent raise this year instead. Staff and management at the carrier have been locked in a dispute over pay since February. Friday's vote came as workers embarked on a 13th day of intermittent strikes, prompting the cancellation of a quarter of flights on average. Janaillac, who had been in the post for under two years and staked his future at the company on staff accepting the deal, deplored their decision as a "huge waste". "Air France was on the road to success. I regret that that dynamic was not understood (by staff)," the 65-year-old said. In a statement the company said he would officially resign on May 9. The announcement of his departure came as Air France-KLM released its first-quarter earnings, which showed a net loss of 269 million euros ($322 million), weighed down by three days of strikes which cost about 25 million euros per day according to the company. The group warned the dispute would shave at least 300 million euros off its operating profit for the full year, pulling earnings "notably below" last year's 1.9 billion euros. Janaillac had been gambling on the strikers' resolve wavering, with just 21.5 percent of pilots participating in Friday's walkout, compared with 33 percent when the stoppages began in February. The French government, which owns a minority stake in the group, is watching the situation closely given the general atmosphere of discontent roiling the country, with rail workers, public servants and students also protesting a wide-ranging reform drive. Story continues Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne hailed Janaillac's "courage" and his efforts to put the company back on track over the past two years. Ahead of the vote, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had urged both sides "to assume their responsibilities". If employees reject the latest offer, "I would urge everyone to fasten their seat belts because in my opinion, the turbulence won't be light," Philippe told Europe 1 radio last week. - Cloudy outlook - Unions were divided on the outcome of the vote, which had an 80.33 percent participation rate. "It gives us added legitimacy, contrary to what management wanted," said Christophe Campestre, spokesman for the pilots' union Spaf, one of those arguing that pilots, cabin and ground crew deserve "their share of the pie" after six years of belt-tightening. But the moderate CFDT union, which is not taking part in the strikes, warned that Janaillac's departure "augurs a troubled period for our company and a serious management crisis, which Air France cannot afford, given the economic and competitive environment in which it is operating. Management had warned that Air France's finances were fragile and that competition from carriers in the Gulf as well as low-cost operators in Europe remained stiff. Air France's operating margin of 555 million euros in 2017 still lags behind that of the 910 million euros at KLM, and "still far behind those of many other rivals", it noted. Janaillac was named chief executive in 2016 with a mandate to defuse tensions after years of strikes and labour disputes -- including a notorious 2015 incident when two executives had their shirts torn off while escaping workers protesting plans to cut nearly 3,000 jobs. The company launched its own low-cost airline, Joon, in 2017, shortly after Janaillac unveiled his restructuring plan, ambitiously titled "Trust Together". sw-jta-js-cb/bmm Chinas homegrown e-commerce company Alibaba (BABA) is publicly traded in the U.S. and expanding worldwide so it would naturally be in the middle of trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. That concern came up during Fridays earnings call: How does Alibaba, a beneficiary and advocate for international trade, protect itself from a looming trade war. The trade war right now is really just between the United States and China, so its really limited to that trade flow, said Joe Tsai, Alibabas co-founder and executive vice chairman. When Chinese consumers look abroad to buy things from overseas, there could be replacements. Alibaba reported a strong quarter with a 61% revenue growth to $9.73 billion from a year earlier, and 552 million active annual users shopping on its online marketplace, up 37 million from a year earlier. You can view Alibaba as a very large platform for producers from all around the world to access Chinese consumers. And the number of users make it attractive to producers around the world, Tsai said. He also reiterated that a trade war is not good for anyone and will hurt small businesses in the U.S. But for Alibaba, there will always be alternative channels for us to bring in imported products to satisfy Chinese consumers. Alibabas interest in the U.S. In Jan. 2017 photo, Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma promised to then President-elect Donald Trump that he would create 1 million jobs in the U.S. Will this deliver? (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Though the U.S. is still far from a core market for Alibaba, the e-commerce giant has been aggressively courting U.S. small businesses to sell on its platform. Last June, Alibaba hosted its biggest public event in the U.S., where Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma addressed 3,000 small business owners and told them that they should not only import from China, but also sell to China. In a January 2017 meeting with President Donald Trump, Jack Ma pledged to create 1 million U.S. jobs for small businesses that sell goods to Chinese consumers within five years. But he backed off a bit as trade tensions escalated between the U.S. and China with both countries announcing tit-for-tat tariffs on imported goods. Story continues When asked about his promise at the Boao Forum for Asia last month, Ma said, If China, USA have a good relationship, we can not only make 1 million, we can make 10 million, 20 million jobs for both countries. If they have no good trade relationship, were going to destroy 10 million jobs. Alibaba has already felt some pressure in the U.S. as it tries to expand its footprint. Alipay, the affiliate mobile payment platform that Alibaba recently bought a 33% equity stake in, tried to acquire Dallas-based payment service provider MoneyGram. but the deal was blocked by the U.S. government earlier this year for national security concerns. Right now, Alibaba is doubling down on Southeast Asia, an early-stage market closer to its home base. Alibabas international commerce retail business grew 94% to $727 million from last fiscal year, with Southeast Asia as a major driver. We sent our best people in Alibaba who have tremendous operating experience and technology to Southeast Asia. Daniel Zhang, Alibaba CEO said on Friday. Were very committed to continue to invest in this market. Krystal Hu covers technology and economy for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. Read more: Trump: The stock market wouldve been up 60%, but I have to do things Why the soybean could be Chinas trump card in the trade war What Elon Musk missed in his China tariff tweets By Eric M. Johnson SEATTLE (Reuters) - Budweiser beer maker Anheuser-Busch said on Thursday it reserved up to 800 hydrogen-fueled semi-trucks from Nikola Motor Company as part of plans to convert its dedicated long-haul fleet to renewable powered trucks by 2025. The order would be large when compared to pre-orders so far for Tesla Inc's all-electric Semi and is further evidence that fleets needing to move cargo hundreds of miles are willing to give nascent, costlier technologies a try. Truck makers such as Daimler AG, Navistar International Corp and its partner Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) are also investing in electric models in a bet that the market will shift over the next decade. Anheuser-Busch expects to integrate the trucks into its fleet beginning in 2020, it said, but both companies declined to say how much if anything Anheuser-Busch plunked down to reserve the trucks or how many would ultimately be added to the beer maker's network. Salt Lake City, Utah-based Nikola said its trucks will have a range of between 500-1,200 miles (805-1,931 km) and take about 20 minutes to re-fuel, shaving minutes off the average time it takes to fuel up a diesel rig. Time-tested diesel trucks are capable of traveling up to 1,000 miles on a single tank of fuel and cost about $150,000 on average. Nikola said it plans to charge $400,000 on average for its trucks, but tractors can be leased as well. Truck leasing firm Ryder System Inc will be providing the dealer network for sales and service, Nikola said. Ryder did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nikola Chief Executive Officer Trevor Milton said the company plans to build more than 700 hydrogen stations across the United States and Canada by 2028 and the company has nearly $9 billion worth of pre-orders, though its trucks are still in the prototype phase. "We are building to order, not speculation, and are very excited for what's to come," Milton said, in a not-so-veiled dig at Tesla, which launched its all-electric Semi in November. Story continues Tesla promises its Semi will be delivered next year with a range of up to 500 miles on a single charge. It has more than 450 reservations so far - including 40 from Anheuser-Busch - but faces skepticism over range, payload, and cost. The fight between Nikola and Tesla - companies named after the Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla - spilled from the highway to the courtroom this week when Nikola sued Tesla alleging design patent infringements. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Stephen Coates) While the worlds attention has focused on the horror unleashed against the Rohingya population in Myanmars West, an old war in the countrys North has taken on a new ferocity, forcing thousands to leave their homes and farms and flee for their lives. Since early April, 5,000 people in northern Kachin state have fled renewed fighting between the Myanmar military, known locally as the Tatmadaw, and ethnic Kachin rebels, according to the U.N. Up to 2,000 people remain trapped in conflict-stricken areas with little access to food and clean water. Many who have fled are packed into overcrowded churches, squatting with host communities, or squeezing into existing displacement camps, but resources are stretched and food and water supplies are dwindling. The Tatmadaw came and there was lot of fighting. It wasnt safe, so we fled, says La Seng, a Kachin man from Bum Nan Yan village in Injayang township. La Seng, whose name has been changed for security reasons, fled to a church on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina. Hes crammed into the compound with 1,106 others currently seeking shelter there, but more displaced people are expected to arrive as the fighting continues. There was fighting in the village: airstrikes the first time, then big weapons, then smaller guns, he says though an interpreter. Read More: Inside the Kachin War Against Burma In what is one of the worlds longest civil wars, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an ethnic militia of about 10,000, has been fighting the Myanmar military for political autonomy and federal rights for more than 60 years. Since a 17-year ceasefire broke down in 2011, hundreds of civilians have been killed and more than 100,000 displaced. Atrocities against civilians, such as torture and rape, have been reportedly perpetrated on both sides. While sporadic fighting over resources and territory is common in the mountainous state, aid groups are concerned that this current escalation is more widespread than before, with conflict reaching five townships near the border with China including Tanai, Hpakant, Injingyang, Sumprabum and Waingmaw. Villagers and aid workers say that since April 11, the Myanmar military has conducted aerial bombing and mortar campaigns, causing civilian casualties and mass displacement. Many people displaced in previous bouts of fighting have been forced to flee yet again. Story continues #Kachin #Myanmar: More than 5,000 people newly displaced by clashes between Myanmar Military and Kachin Independence Army (KIA). There are reports of civilians that are unable to leave conflict-affected areas in Tanai, Hpakant and Injingyang townships. https://t.co/Isotfzfo2c pic.twitter.com/1VnBXRfhCo OCHA Myanmar (@ochamyanmar) April 30, 2018 Escalation of military operations and the use of airstrikes and heavy artillery in close proximity to [displacement] camps and populated areas have increased civilian casualties, injuries, and displacement and intensified fear and anxiety for [displaced people] and civilian populations, Gum Sha Awung, spokesperson for the Joint Strategy Team, a coordinating body of nine local and national NGOs leading the humanitarian response in Kachin tells TIME. La Seng is waiting to hear news of his children, whom he hasnt seen since they were separated when fighting came to his home. My children were on the other side of the village and fled into the jungle. If the fighting stops, they can come back and go freely to school, he says. My two children are still in the jungle after six days. There is no phone connection. Kachin women build shelters in Kachin state, Myanmar. Fighting between Kachin rebels and the Myanmar army has displaced 5,000 people since early April. No access for humanitarian groups Compounding the problem is the lack of access to those in need, with international humanitarian groups barred from most of Kachin state. The military retains a firm grip on where people can travel, and it can take months to be granted permission for food deliveries to some areas. The U.N. Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said they havent been granted access to areas affected by the recent outbreak of conflict and they have seen their access in Kachin decrease overall in the past two years. They are not alone. Oxfams Country Director Paul Joicey said in a written statement, It is critical that international humanitarian and human rights law is upheld throughout Kachin, with civilian safety the top priority. For civilians caught in conflict areas, safe passage out is urgent. No assistance has been able to reach the 2,000 people, many of them children, women and the elderly, who remain trapped in active conflict zones for more than three weeks. Their lives are at risk as repeated requests for safe passage and access to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance continue to be denied, said a statement from nearly 20 national and international aid agencies released Wednesday. It is critical that all warring parties uphold the protection of civilians and adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law. As well as artillery fire and and bombings, there have been reports of casualties from landmines, which litter the area after years of war. For the past six years, the government has repeatedly tried to bring the various ethnic rebel armies to the negotiating table, and it was a key issue for Myanmars defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who swept to power in 2016 after decades of military rule. But peace efforts have been slow and fighting between the KIA and military has continued. The much-touted transition has failed to reign in the military, which wields power much as it did during the junta days. The fighting in Kachin state comes after a campaign of ethnic cleansing conducted by the army against the Muslim Rohingya population in western Rakhine state. More than 700,000 Rohingya people fled into Bangladesh after attacks by the military and Buddhist vigilantes, in what the countrys U.N. rights envoy said bears the hallmarks of genocide. A Kachin Independence Army soldier patrols the frontline area on June 16, 2012. Fighting between the Myanmar army and KIA has escalated since early May, displacing 5,000 people in Kachin state. Rights violations In a March report, a fact-finding mission by the U.N. human rights council found a spike in human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in Kachin and neighboring Shan states. Credible reports said crimes committed by the military in the northern states include indiscriminate attacks, extrajudicial killings, torture, rape and forced labor. Members of the international community have called for the recent escalation in fighting to stop. Innocent civilians are being killed and injured, U.N. Special Rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, said in a statement Tuesday. What we are seeing in Kachin state over the past few weeks is wholly unacceptable, and must stop immediately. The U.S. embassy in Yangon said it was deeply troubled by the fighting, and urged all parties to end the hostilities. We call upon the government, including the military, to protect civilian populations and allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered to those affected by the conflicts, a statement said. Read More: Myanmars Crisis, Bangladeshs Burden: Among the Rohingya Refugees Waiting for a Miracle Those seeking shelter in the overcrowded church near Myitkyina are left in uncertainty, with many worried about being forced to return to their villages without guarantees of safety. Their kids are out of school, their rice paddies remain uncultivated, and the monsoon rains are just around the corner, a sign that even more hardship is to come. Elderly people and children are trapped. If we are all living in camps, what future do we have? says a 40-year-old Kachin woman from Injayang township. I only know suffering. Investigators searching for lost flight MH370 hoped they could put the mystery to rest when they detected wreckage deep below the Indian Ocean in 2015. Two wrecksfound in May and December of that yearwere discovered around 21 miles apart and more than 2 miles below the surface of the ocean. Investigators hoped that either one could be the resting place of the infamous passenger jet, which disappeared with 239 people on board in March 2014. Unfortunately, new analysis shows that both wrecks are 19th century merchant ships, and not the lost plane. Trending: Family Accused of Killing, Dismembering and Hiding Bodies of Two Men in Craigslist Gun Deal Gone Wrong Scientists at the Western Australian Museum were asked by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to examine sonar and video data taken from both wreck sites to provide further clarity on what had been discovered. MH370 REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Experts concluded that the shipsone wooden and one ironwere most likely used to transport coal, remains of which could still be seen on the seabed. Though they were unable to determine the exact identities of the wrecks, the scientists provided some likely candidates using shipping records and analysis of the debris. The wooden ship is believed to have weighed around 250 to 880 tons, and probably sank after a catastrophic event such as an explosion, museum curator of maritime archaeology Ross Anderson said. Explosions were a common danger for coal ships in this era, Anderson explained. Don't miss: Scarborough Says Trump, White House Are 'Self-Destructing' Following Giuliani's Stormy Daniels Admission Though the hull of the ship had rotted away, its cargo and metal fastenings were still visible. An object dubbed the mystery chest could be seen amid the wreckage, and was the largest feature at the site. The analysis concluded that it was an iron water tank. Story continues The iron ship was in better shape, found lying upright on the seafloor. The data indicated it weighted between 1,100 and 1,655 tons and had at least two decks. Anderson said both lost vessels likely had a crew of between 15 and 30 sailors, as well as additional passengers. It was unclear how many people died in each accident. For the wooden ship the brig W. Gordon and the barque Magdala are two possible candidates, Anderson said, 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. Most popular: Did Thanos Kill Me? Site Decides Whether You Survived Avengers: Infinity War mh370 search Paul Kane/Getty Images Though the discovery has not revealed the mystery of MH370, it sheds light on two long-forgotten and unsolved tragedies. Then, as now, the disappearance of so many lives would have had a devastating impact on maritime families and communities, Anderson said. Ocean Infinity is the company now leading the search for MH370 and its passengers. A company press release on Monday said there is no new evidence of the lost flight. Small amounts of debris have been found during the four years since it disappeared, but MH370s final resting place remains unknown. The plane went missing during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Malaysia, Australia and China launched a joint search effort that cost $200 million and covered 46,000 square miles of ocean by the time it was abandoned in January 2017. Ocean Infinity restarted the search in January 2018 as part of a "no find no fee" $70 million contract with the Malaysian government. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek (Photo: SOPA Images via Getty Images) Three months ago, President Donald Trump used his first State of the Union address to chastise North Koreas Kim Jong Un as depraved and a menace that threatens our world. A few weeks earlier, he taunted Pyongyang, saying his own nuclear button was much bigger & more powerful than Kims. He also threatened last year to totally destroy the North, said Little Rocket Man would be tested like never before and promised he would never call Kim short and fat. All of that makes the suggestion that Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize completely absurd. It has been floated repeatedly in recent days and was amplified on Monday after South Korean President Moon Jae-in responded to a message that he himself should get the prize by saying he felt Trump deserved it more. Its really President Trump who should receive it; we can just take peace, Moon said, according to his office. The comments came days after Moon met with Kim at the Demilitarized Zone, which was the first time in history a North Korean leader stepped into the Souths territory. Tensions on the peninsula have rapidly eased in recent weeks, and the pair of leaders announced plans to push for the official end of the Korean War and laid some groundwork for the denuclearization of the region. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met at the DMZ last week. Kim became the first North Korean leader to cross the border into South Korean territory. (Photo: Reuters) Trump is also expected to meet with Kim sometime this month or next month to discuss that process, although the terms of the summit have yet to be announced. But despite the significant and somewhat surprising progress toward that end, its unlikely Trump could even be nominated for his efforts on North Korea this year. The Nobel Committee accepts nominations for the years prize until Feb. 1, and most of the names submitted after that point are considered for the next calendar year. Those on the five-person committee are able to add additional names to the list after the nomination is closed, but that meeting had already happened by the time people began to call for Trump to receive the prize. Story continues The Nobel Committee has said 330 candidates have been submitted this year, 216 of which are individuals. The winner will be announced in October, but the full name of nominees will not be released publicly for 50 years. That hasnt stopped Trump or some of his supporters from taking up the idea with gusto. On Tuesday, Trump said it was very nice of Moon to throw his name in the ring. I want to get peace. The main thing, we want to get peace, Trump told reporters. It was a big problem, and I think its going to work out well. Well see. 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. The Saturday before, supporters at a Michigan rally chanted Nobel, Nobel, Nobel to a smiling Trump. I just want to get the job done, he said. Next year could be a different story, although many experts have cautioned that the Korean peace process will be a long, complicated process that cant be settled in a single summit. Trump was formally nominated for the 2019 Peace Prize by Republican members of the House on Wednesday. Rep. Luke Messer (Ind.) and 17 other Republicans sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee praising Trumps work and the barrage of new sanctions that have largely been credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table. President Trumps peace through strength policies are working and bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula, the letter reads. 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. Four U.S. presidents have been awarded Nobel Peace Prizes, most recently Barack Obama in 2009. Trump himself was nominated for the award this year and last year but both of those nominations were forgeries and were referred to Norwegian police for investigation. Only a limited number of people in select categories are eligible nominators, including political leaders, university professors and previous winners of the prize. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Models might normally dread the thought of the paparazzi lurking down the street, on the lookout for candid photo opportunities, but Ashley Graham has turned the concept to her advantage for her new Swimsuits For All campaign. The plus-size supermodel and body positive activist has unveiled her new Summer 2018 swimwear collection for the brand, and is celebrating the launch with a series of completely unretouched, paparazzi-style images. "This campaign is different than any other I have worked on throughout my entire career," Graham elaborated in a statement. "I hope these images instill a fearless belief in everyone to be happy in their own skin and enjoy living in the moment, no matter who is watching." The unedited images show Graham sporting her new designs on the beaches and streets of Miami, showcasing a nine-piece collection full of sexy cutouts and geometric motifs. The series, which was inspired by an art-deco aesthetic that is echoed in the architecture of the US city, includes one-pieces and bikinis ranging from sizes 4 through 22. Graham has fronted multiple high-profile campaigns for the size-inclusive label Swimsuits For All, and made waves earlier in the year when she posed alongside her mother for her collection's Resort 2018 campaign. Unretouched images are becoming a growing trend within the fashion industry, with brands such as Aerie, Asos and Missguided all eschewing Photoshop for fashion campaigns in the past. (PHILADELPHIA) Bill Cosbys 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 that must be undone. Camille Cosby 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. 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 contended that Constand framed him to score a big payday. Constands 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. Camille Cosby compared the dozens of other women whove accused her husband to a lynch mob spurred on by the medias 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. Camille 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. 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. Cosbys life. Story continues If they can do this to Mr. Cosby, they can do so to anyone, she said. Steeles office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Camille Cosby, 74, stayed away from both of her husbands trials, except for the defenses closing arguments. Before the jury came in last week, 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 prosecutions turn to argue, she left the courtroom, and Constand entered. Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing that could put him in prison for the rest of his life. Camille 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 Wednesday it was rescinding an honorary degree, while Yale University did the same Tuesday. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, as Constand has done. LONDON (Reuters) - 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 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." (Reporting by William James, editing by Estelle Shirbon) The California Department of Motor Vehicles explained on Monday one of the reasons why self-driving cars aren't buzzing around the Golden State's roads: human drivers still have to take over too often. In response to a request from the DMV, eight companies intent on putting driverless cars on California's roads submitted annual "disengagement reports" that detail when humans were forced to take charge, reported The Mercury-News. MORE: Nissan's self-driving car tech explained The reports reveal just why the DMV hasn't granted autonomous car permits to the more than 50 applicants. Googles Waymo division reported the lowest disengagement rate among the eight reports, with a total of 63 disengagements over 352,545 miles. In its follow-up report, Waymo reported that one of its cars did not see a no right turn on red signal among other hardware and software issues. At the opposite end of the spectrum, GM's Cruise Automation reported a much longer list of issues indicating the sensors in its cars had trouble detecting vehicles in opposite lanes, as well as processing data into conclusions about the movement of other cars. Additional issues reported by Cruise included its cars not breaking hard enough to stop at a stop sign, failing to yield to another vehicle entering a lane, taking a right turn too wide and even getting confused by construction cones. DON'T MISS: Self-driving Uber car in Arizona hits, kills bicyclist Aptiv, the arm of global automotive supplier Delphi, reported problems with handling human behavior that was unexpected and often illegal, loss of GPS signal and that one of its cars encountered difficulty identifying a particular traffic light. Chinas Baidu reported issues with misclassified traffic lights, failure to yield and delays in recognizing both pedestrians and vehicles that had cut in front of its test cars. The issues could push back deployment programs for self-driving cars. For instance, Waymo plans to launch a ride-hailing service later this year initially in Arizona and GM is targeting 2019 for a similar system. At least in California, those deadlines may present a big challenge. President Trump was back to his old self, celebrating the National Rifle Association during its annual convention in Dallas on Friday leaving his brief flirtation with liberal-approved gun control measures far behind. This was Trumps fourth consecutive year (his second as president) addressing the gun lobbys convention, and he quickly put to rest any doubt among gun rights activists that he might capitulate to politicians who want stricter gun control. Thanks to your activism and dedication, you have an administration that is fighting to protect your Second Amendment, Trump told a receptive crowd. Your Second Amendment rights are under siege. But they will never, ever be under siege as long as Im your president. Trump, who last year became the first sitting president to address the NRAs annual convention since Ronald Reagan, said everyone present at the NRA convention was united by the belief that liberty is a gift from God that no government can take away; the men and women of law enforcement should be respected; and that Americans should take pride in their history and heritage. We love our country and believe that our citizens deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return. For the last 15 months, that is exactly what we have been doing. We are all finally putting America first, Trump said. Throughout his speech, Trump praised the NRA for its patriotism and its dedication to protecting American liberty. It was a far cry from the man who snickered that Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., left a proposal to raise the gun purchasing age from 18 to 21 out of a bill on gun reform because he was, in Trumps words, afraid of the NRA. Photo: Susan Walsh/AP In the weeks and months following the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., there was concern among Second Amendment advocates that Trump was embracing liberal gun-control policies. The shooting, which left 17 people dead, touched off a nationwide student-run movement for tighter gun control and stricter background checks. Though the students won sympathy from many Americans, Congress was mostly unmoved. Story continues Trump, for his part, offered a number of extemporaneous and contradictory thoughts on gun control measures at the time. In several uncharacteristic moments during a bipartisan televised meeting with members of Congress on Feb. 28, just two weeks after the Parkland shooting, Trump proposed measures to protect Americans from gun violence that more commonly have been suggested by Democrats: raising the age limit for purchasing assault rifles to 21; giving law enforcement the authority to confiscate guns from suspicious citizens even if they have not broken any laws; preventing known domestic abusers from purchasing guns; and rejecting reciprocity for gun owners with concealed-carry permits across state lines. As the medias gaze turned away from Parkland, Trump walked back his intention to stand up to the gun lobby. In fact, by Friday, Trump had completely embraced the NRA and discarded any hints of his temporary support for stricter gun control. For Trump, this change is not tantamount to complacency. Rather, he maintained, the American people are safer when the good guys are armed. Trump said his administration has pursued an aggressive strategy on community safety to protect our most valuable resource, our children. This includes improving early warning systems so that reports of potentially dangerous people to the police result in prompt responses. When the community sees the red flags, which the community saw in Parkland all over the place, theres never been a case where more red flags have been shown, swift action is taken by the authorities, Trump said. Photo: Susan Walsh/AP Trump said he recently signed legislation that includes more than $2 billion to improve school safety, including the funding for training security, installing metal detectors, providing mental health services and improving background checks. Mental health is a big one. They dont like to talk about mental health. Mental health, that was the No. 1 example in Park[land], Trump said. Trump said schools should have armed guards and that police should be able to enter the buildings easily when needed. He said school shooters are cowards and will back down if they know guns are inside. He said theres no sign more inviting to a mass killer than one that declares a school to be a gun-free zone. At the same time, there is no stronger deterrent for a sick individual than the knowledge that their attack will end their life and will end in total failure. When they know that, theyre not going in, Trump said. In fact, Trump appears to have backed off his calls for stricter gun control just one day after proclaiming them. Both Trump and NRA lobbyist Chris Cox tweeted about a productive meeting they had in the Oval Office on March 1. I had a great meeting tonight with @realDonaldTrump & @VP. We all want safe schools, mental health reform and to keep guns away from dangerous people. POTUS & VPOTUS support the Second Amendment, support strong due process and dont want gun control. #NRA #MAGA Chris Cox (@ChrisCoxNRA) March 2, 2018 Good (Great) meeting in the Oval Office tonight with the NRA! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018 On March 12, in a pair of tweets, Trump said he backed improving background checks, but he would not pursue his proposal to raise the minimum age for purchasing an assault rifle from 18 to 21 anytime soon. Very strong improvement and strengthening of background checks will be fully backed by White House. Legislation moving forward. Bump Stocks will soon be out. Highly trained expert teachers will be allowed to conceal carry, subject to State Law. Armed guards OK, deterrent!. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2018 .On 18 to 21 Age Limits, watching court cases and rulings before acting. States are making this decision. Things are moving rapidly on this, but not much political support (to put it mildly). Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2018 The president did, however, follow through on his promise pursue a ban on bump stocks, accessories that enable semiautomatic rifles to fire faster. Twelve of the rifles that the Las Vegas shooter had in his hotel room were reportedly modified with these attachments. The NRA has endorsed additional regulations on bump stocks, but its spokeswoman, Dana Loesch, has said the organization doesnt endorse a ban. On Feb. 20, Trump announced that he had ordered Attorney General Jeff Sessions to draft regulations banning the attachments. We can do more to protect our children. We must do more to protect our children, Trump said. On March 23, Trump announced that the Justice Department would proceed with his plan to outlaw bump stocks, and Sessions released a statement shortly after saying that he had filed the proposed changes. The proposed bump stock bans public comment period extends to June 27. A Reuters analysis of 4,200 public comments of the 17,000 received by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that only 10 favored the bump stock ban, whereas nearly all the others criticized it as unconstitutional and excessive. Before Trump took the stage on Friday, Vice President Mike Pence laid out the administrations case that Trump has, in fact, taken great measures to prevent gun violence. He said Trumps leadership has been on full display after the Parkland shooting starting with a listening session with grieving students and families. Pence recalled Trumps words at the time: Its not enough to take actions that make us feel like were making a difference. We must actually make that difference. And so we have. He pointed out that just over one month ago Trump signed the Stop School Violence Act with the strong support of parents of Sandy Hook, Conn., shooting victims, Sandy Hook Promise and the NRA. Were now providing more than $2 billion to help local governments ensure the security of their schools and the safety of our students. It represents the single largest investment in school safety in American history, Pence said. He said Trump also signed critical legislation to fix the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of people who shouldnt have them in the first place and to make sure that people with mental health conditions have access to treatment. With the presidents leadership, weve joined the NRA to give families and law enforcement the tools they need to stop mass shootings before they happen because we know we can protect public safety and due process at the same time, Pence said. Read more from Yahoo News: [caption id="attachment_15272" align="alignnone" width="620"] Rudy Giuliani speaks at a Federalist Society convention in Washington in 2007. Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi/ NLJ [/caption] Rudy Giuliani was defiant Wednesday night on Sean Hannity's Fox News program, telling the host something he did not know: President Trump repaid his lawyer Michael Cohen for his $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. "They funneled through a law firm, and the president repaid it," Giuliani said. Up until that point, Trump had denied knowing about the payment, which silenced Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, from talking about her alleged affair with Trump. Clifford, represented by Michael Avenatti, is suing Trump over that nondisclosure agreement. Giuliani's acknowledgement set off a firestorm of controversy, raising questions about whether Trump lied to the public about denying knowing about the payment and whether the payment itself violated campaign finance laws. Giuliani, who's on leave from Greenberg Traurig to work for Trump, said Trump repaid Cohen, a Trump Organization lawyer, over several months. Giuliani and Trump both denied the money was campaign-related. [falcon-embed src="embed_1"] Here's a roundup of what lawyers are saying about Giuliani's remarks: Rick Hasen, election law specialist at the University of CaliforniaIrvine School of Law: "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." [Slate] Charles Spies, leader of Clark Hill PLC's political law practice: "Mayor Giuiianis new comments about reimbursement have no relevance to the election law allegation about Mr. Cohens payment. As long as the payment was made to protect the Trump Organization and/or Mr. Trumps business and reputational interests, then it is not an election law violation. The 'Trump' name is a valuable asset and he apparently has a pattern (outside the campaign context) of paying to protect that asset, meaning you can not presume the payment was for the purpose of influencing an election." Story continues Lawrence Noble, general counsel at Campaign Legal Center: "If the purpose of this was to stop [Daniels] from hurting the campaign, then what you have is Cohen made a loan to the campaign. And it was an excessive loan because lending the campaign money is a contribution. It was an excessive contribution until its repaid." He added: Giuliani suggesting it was funneled through the firm as legal fees is evidence of an intent to hide the source, which could make it knowing and willful, which is criminal. [The Washington Post] William Canfield, a former general counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and two-time chairman of the American Bar Associations standing committee on election law, said the payment most likely would not be deemed a campaign finance violation. [One], even if the payment could be deemed by the FEC general counsel as an expenditure that was made in furtherance of a campaign purpose, the funds appear to have come from the personal bank account of candidate Trump and a candidate is allowed to expend unlimited amounts of personal money to further a campaign purpose; and, [two] while some have argued this morning that the payment resulted in the filing of a false or inaccurate FEC report, by the Trump campaign, because the funding was not reported, that presumes that the campaign's treasurer knew about the funding before the FEC report was filed and filed it never the less highly unlikely. All the treasurer need do at this point is file an amendment to the previous report. Paul S. Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause, the watchdog group that filed a complaint with the FEC over Cohens $130,000 payment: Apparently Giuliani said this morning on Fox & Friends: Imagine if that came out of October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton And then said: Cohen made it go away. He did his job. But the payment wasn't related to the campaign??? [Twitter] And then there's George Conway, the Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz lawyer and husband of White House aide Kellyanne Conway. George Conway, of counsel in the firm's litigation department, on Thursday tweeted a link to Federal Election Commission guidance he clearly viewed as applicable to the $130,000 payment and Trumps reimbursement. According to the guidance, any gift or loan meant to influence an election is considered a contribution from the donor to the campaign, subject to the per-election limit and reportable by the campaign. Conway occasionally has used his Twitter account to rebut some statements or positions of Trump administration officials. Read more: Giuliani Joins Trump Legal Team, Takes Leave from Greenberg Traurig Emmet Flood Joins Trump Legal Team, Ty Cobb Is Out Trump Turns to Florida Lawyers; Speaker Shuffle; Martin on the Move Ex-Judge Appointed Special Master Overseeing Cohen Privilege Review Giuliani to Court: I Had No Role in Trump Travel Ban By Anna Mehler Paperny TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada has officials working with U.S. visa officers in Lagos, Nigeria, 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. (Graphic: tmsnrt.rs/2HCp4aD) 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. ... We've 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. 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 Canada's 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. The officials are "meeting regularly to exchange information on migration movements" with the aim of lowering the number of people who go through the United States to Canada using a U.S. visa. Since June, Canadian police have intercepted more than 7,600 Nigerian asylum seekers, 81 percent of whom had a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa, the spokeswoman added. 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 country's border and refugee system while obeying Canadian law and maintaining its image as compassionate and welcoming of newcomers. (Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny; Editing by Sandra Maler) MADRID (Reuters) - The Catalan regional parliament on Friday approved a law giving members the right to vote for a leader in absentia, a move aimed at allowing former head Carles Puigdemont to be voted leader even though he is in self-imposed exile. The Spanish government said it would appeal the new law via the Constitutional Court. The regional parliament - with a majority of parties seeking a split from Spain - approved the law by 70 votes to 65. Attempts by Madrid to derail a Catalan independence movement that plunged the country into its biggest crisis in decades by calling local elections backfired in December when pro-independence parties gained a majority. Puigdemont is currently in Berlin waiting for German authorities to rule on whether he should be extradited to Spain to be tried for mis-use of public funds. He fled to Belgium in October after his administration was fired by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy following an illegal declaration of independence. The Spanish government has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of long-distance rule by Puigdemont as absurd and has said Madrid would stay in charge of Catalonia if the ex-leader tried to govern from abroad. Time is running out for Catalan lawmakers to select a leader and form a government - they must do so before May 22 or new elections will be called. Since the election, the Catalan parliament has attempted to put forward a candidate for leader four times, but each attempt has been blocked by Madrid and courts because the candidates are either being held in custody in prison or living abroad. (Reporting By Raquel Castillo; Writing by Sonya Dowsett; Editing by Richard Balmforth) From time to time since we terminated Charlie Rose, Ive done my best to keep everyone as informed as possible about what we are doing to ensure a safe and respectful environment for people to do their best work here at CBS News. Some of these efforts have been confidential, particularly when they involved sensitive personnel issues. In light of todays article, Id like to share that we have continued to investigate a number of issues consistent with our long-standing policies. As needed our company has supported this effort with the independent advice of one of the nations pre-eminent employment lawyers from Proskauer, which has a highly-regarded practice in these matters. This has been a significant focus for us this year. It should be, since getting this right is critical. So is our responsibility to afford due process to all concerned. The journalism we do here is importantbut nothing is more important than the people who do it. Several important steps have already been taken. Weve added in-person training around misconduct, and this training is mandatory. Weve convened a Working Group of colleagues not limited to the HR and Legal areas in order to give each other the tools we need to report issues and handle problems as management. Weve seen that best practices in the workplace require a focus not just on sexual misconduct but also on pay practices, diversity, and inclusion. Weve made great strides in these areas in recent years, and we want to be in a leadership role in our industry in every one of these categories. We will continue our accounting for what has happened here before, and we will be the best place to do what we do in the futureI know we can be. N'Djamena (AFP) - Chad President Idriss Deby on Friday vowed to crack down on entrenched graft as he signed a decree to create a new republic based on constitutional changes attacked by the opposition. Deby, who has governed the poor, oil-rich state since 1990, said the incoming republic was "the quintessence of the people's aspirations and expectations." "It requires new and virtuous attitudes, practices and behaviour," he said. "I readily admit that many people have built large fortunes on the basis of embezzlement and corruption," Deby said. "My dear compatriots, I assure you that this illicit and immoral enrichment machine will stop." The new republic is the fourth since Chad gained independence from France in 1960. The landlocked country has a history of political violence and corruption. It is ranked a lowly 165th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index. The constitutional changes establish a full presidential regime without a prime minister or vice president. In addition, the current presidential term of five years, with no limits on re-election, is replaced by a six-year term, with a limit of two terms. The changes were passed by lawmakers on Monday despite calls from the opposition, civil society groups and the Catholic church for a referendum. The draft approved by the legislature was a text crafted in March by a national forum of politicians, religious and social groups, but boycotted by the opposition and part of civil society. The opposition argued that Deby's hold on power would be strengthened and democratic safeguards weakened by the change. Twenty-six lawmakers appealed to the constitutional court for the changes to be annulled, but this was rejected on Thursday. Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke and his government resigned shortly afterwards. Deby on Friday reiterated that legislative elections, which have been repeatedly postponed since 2015, would take place this November but said the date would be "difficult to keep" without international help. Story continues He also declared a "general amnesty" enabling all Chadians "who for one reason or another have left the country" to return home. Opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo said the changes to the national charter were a "constitutional coup d'etat against democracy and the Chadian people." "All power is now concentrated in the hands of one man," he said in a statement that called on the "international community to end its silence, which could be considered complicity" with Deby. * More discussions seen a likely outcome of Beijing talks * Trump to decide merits of any offers from China, tariffs * U.S. trade team has China hawks, market-focused officials (Recasts with analysts previewing talks, adds Chinese official) By David Lawder and Ben Blanchard WASHINGTON/BEIJING, May 2 (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 expected to cover a wide range of U.S. complaints about China's trade practices, from allegations of forced technology transfers to state subsidies for technology development. "This is going to be a series of relatively brief meetings with little pre-meeting planning on either side," said Scott Kennedy, head of China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "I think the goal from the American side is to get this conversation back on track from both sides talking past each other to China really understanding that the American concerns are genuine," he added. China's Commerce Ministry described the meeting with Liu, President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser, as allowing the governments to "exchange views" on issues of mutual concern about Sino-U.S. trade and business ties. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who also are part of the U.S. delegation, on Tuesday both downplayed expectations for a major deal. A Chinese government official warned that Beijing will not negotiate on its core interests nor accept preconditions on any issues, including its "Made in China 2025" program to upgrade its domestic manufacturing base with more advanced products. Story continues The first round of $50 billion in threatened tariffs under USTR's "Section 301" intellectual property probe focused heavily on technology products benefiting from the 2025 program. The U.S. tariffs could go into effect in June following the completion of a 60-day consultation period, but USTR has kept its activation plans vague. China, which denies it coerces technology transfers, has threatened retaliation in equal measure, including tariffs on U.S. soybeans and aircraft. "In the event of a trade war, we have a much greater ability to endure (the consequences) than the U.S.," the Chinese official said. GIFTS FOR TRUMP U.S.-based trade experts said they expected Beijing to offer Trump's team a package of policy changes that may include some previously announced moves, such as a phase-out of joint venture requirements for some sectors, autos tariff reductions and increased purchases of U.S. goods. Trump has demanded a $100 billion annual reduction in the $375 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China. But the divergent U.S. trade delegation group is likely to have differing views on the merits of such an offer. "They will bring back an offer and all give their opinions to Trump on whether to take it," said Derek Scissors, a China trade expert at the American Enterprise Institute, a business-oriented Washington think tank. "This will be a short-term offer to reduce the trade deficit." Mnuchin and new White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow are seen as likely to favor a package that keeps financial markets on an even keel and doesn't interfere with strong economic growth. But the administration's China hawks, Lighthizer and White House trade and manufacturing adviser Peter Navarro, are likely to favor a harder line demanding more fundamental trade changes, even if it means tariffs and short-term economic pain. "Navarro and Lighthizer are there to ensure that there isnt any incrementalism, that nobody gets taken in by an offer to drop a few tariffs or to open a few sectors that the Chinese were planning to open anyway," said Claire Reade, a Washington trade lawyer and former Assistant USTR for China affairs. The official China Daily newspaper said in a Wednesday editorial that the talks need some give-and-take. "If the U.S. 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." (Reporting by David Lawder in Washington and Ben Blanchard in Beijing Additional reporting by Cheng Fang Editing by Robert Birsel and James Dalgleish) Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in 2015 - REUTERS The United States has warned there will be "consequences" following a report that China deployed long-range missiles on three distant outposts in the South China Sea. The missiles were said by US media to have been installed in the Spratlys - a southerly island chain that Chinese president Xi Jinping vowed in 2015 would be not be militarised by China. Asked about the report, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a regular news briefing: "Were well aware of Chinas militarisation of the South China Sea. "Weve raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this and there will be near-term and long-term consequences." Sanders did not say what the consequences might be. Tensions have been escalating in the disputed waters in recent years as China transforms partially submerged reefs into fortified islands. China says its military facilities are purely defensive, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory. "Those who do not intend to be aggressive have no need to be worried or scared," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing on Thursday. However, the installation of surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles on the Spratlys - which was reported by US news network CNBC - would mark a major shift in the balance of power in the region. South China Sea - Competing claims in the Pacific Beijing claims nearly all of the strategic waters, despite partial counter-claims from Taiwan and several south-east Asian nations including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. CNBC quoted unnamed sources saying the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. The media outlet said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles allowed China to strike vessels within 295 nautical miles. It also said that HQ-9B long-range, surface-to-air missiles could target aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. President Xi said during a state visit to the US in September 2015 that China would not militarise the Spratly archipelago, although Washington believed air strips and radar were already being installed some months later. Story continues China has previously installed long-range missiles further north in the Paracel Islands, but is thought to have only deployed short-range missiles in the Spratlys on a temporary basis. Q&A | South China Sea dispute Bonnie Glaser, senior advisor for Asia at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said: "China's deployments and activity in the Paracels have served as a blueprint for what they are doing in (the) Spratlys. "HQ-9B SAMs are but one example. Next will be fighters and establishment of baselines." Defence officials in Washington said they would not comment on "matters of intelligence." The US Navy has been confronting China in the region with 'freedom of navigation' exercises. The US aircraft carriers Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Vinson have sailed through the South China Sea in recent months, angering Beijing. Meanwhile, the US military has reportedly warned its airman about unauthorised laser activity in Djibouti - the east African nation where China operates its only overseas base. "Multiple intelligence sources report that Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is suspected of operating a high-power lasing weapon at the base or on a ship offshore," said a report in IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Lasers were used by the Soviet military during the Cold War to temporarily blind US pilots. 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. 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) 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 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. Chinese officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 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 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. 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." 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; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Beijing (AFP) - China on Friday rejected US allegations that Chinese nationals shone military-grade lasers at American pilots in Djibouti, dismissing the claims as "inconsistent with facts". Beijing, which operates a naval base in the Horn of Africa country, denied Pentagon accusations that Chinese personnel have targeted US pilots in the country with the beams, resulting in minor injuries to airmen and creating the potential for an accident. "After careful verification, we have told the US explicitly that the so-called accusations are totally inconsistent with facts," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters. "You can remind relevant people in the US to pay attention to facts and not to make groundless accusations," she said during a regular briefing. US officials issued a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded Beijing investigate a series of incidents dating back several weeks, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said Thursday. "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 (kilometres) 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. By Babak Dehghanpisheh BEIRUT (Reuters) - 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 program. 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. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Samia Nakhoul and Giles Elgood) Beijing (AFP) - Senior Chinese and US officials met in Beijing Friday for a second day of high-stakes talks aimed at forestalling the growing momentum towards a trade war that could trigger billions of dollars of tariffs. The discussions mark a potential off ramp for the trade conflict that could dent humming global economic growth. US President Donald Trump has threatened to levy new tariffs on $150 billion of Chinese imports while Beijing shot back with a list of $50 billion in targeted US goods. The US and China are having "very good conversations", Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters before leaving his hotel Friday morning for the Diaoyutai state guest house, where the talks are being held. However, officials declined to give details of the discussions. "I have to get on this elevator and not talk to reporters," White House advisor and noted China hawk Peter Navarro told an AFP reporter at his hotel. During an event in Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence's economic advisor Mark Calabria said the first day of talks had been "fairly positive", according to Bloomberg News. The US has given China a "detailed list of asks", he said, adding that Washington wants Beijing to lower tariffs to match the American level. Trump has made reciprocity a key demand in negotiations with China. "The difficulty will always be that we will most of the time hear pretty positive things from China and the question is whether they will actually do them," Calabria said. Liu He, vice premier in charge of the economy, is leading the discussions for China. Known as President Xi Jinping's right hand man on economic matters, Liu was noticeably absent from Xi's speech Friday morning commemorating the birth of Karl Marx and the continued relevance of his theories to China, which he delivered to a full audience in the Great Hall of the People. China's state media showed little optimism that the trade talks would bring a breakthrough, suggesting that the best case scenario would be a further deterioration in the current situation. Story continues "If the two sides do not strike a deal, and they merely agree to keep talking, we ought to consider that a positive outcome," said an editorial in the state-run China Daily. "Let us hope that the US delegation has come with the willingness to talk sincerely rather than with the design to cause injury." - Trade data - The talks may receive some tailwinds from the latest trade data out of Washington, showing the US global trade deficit had narrowed in March. The goods deficit with China fell 11.5 percent from February to $25.8 billion, but analysts cautioned seasonal factors like China's New Year holidays were likely at play. Bilateral trade in coming months could be hurt by US and Chinese buyers planning to avoid tariffs, with news this week that China may already be downsizing its soybean imports from the US. "Whatever they're buying is non-US," said Soren Schroder, CEO of agricultural giant Bunge Limited. "They're buying beans in Canada, in Brazil, mostly Brazil, but very deliberately not buying anything from the US," Bunge said in the interview with Bloomberg News on Wednesday. Soybeans were China's largest import from the US last year, worth $14 billion. These past several weeks our community has been challenged by the discovery that the Pride Center in Wilton Manors had hired a sexual predator who had served time for aggravated sexual assault on a minor. This was a terrible crime and the law required the perpetrator that upon his release, he was to have no interaction with children and to live a good distance away from them. This person failed to abide by the law and misrepresented himself to the Center when he sought and maintained his employment there. The current director of the Pride Center, Robert Boo, was made aware of the employees predator status but stated that when he inquired with the authorities, he was not made aware of the conditions of the employees release from custody. Once he was fully informed, he immediately fired him. Opinions differ as to Roberts duty to have inquired further as to the basis of the employees status as a sexual predator. I know that I would have, even just out of curiosity. Nonetheless, our community is now being judged as to the measure of care that we practice as we have now brought upon ourselves new responsibilities as we enter the world of marriage, children, health care services, and the like. While we have generally led a trusting and carefree existence, we can no longer be nonchalant in our interactions with groups who deserve protection and privacy. If we assume these roles of responsibility, we must accept the fiduciary relationship this now brings. Children are fragile like glass, yet the environment that surrounds them is not. We must be extra careful as to what they eat, what they read, and what company they keep. If a person cannot accept this, then they should not have or be around children. Robert is the director of the Pride Center. As such, he has accepted the responsibility that comes along with it. If the center chooses to include children, then we must be willing to accept that extra responsibility to ensure their protection and care. But that is just one of many other responsibilities that he has, for the center engages seniors, religious groups, healthcare clients, and many many more constituencies. Its not an easy job. Most people believe that Robert. does a good job. I am one of those people. I know that he has lead our community through good times, as well as some very difficult times. I can recall the aftermath of the Pulse massacre as just such an example. We can all second guess as to what Robert. should have done under the circumstances with the knowledge that he had regarding the employee that was a sexual predator. We could all agree that this person should never have been brought close to the pride Center. I believe that Robert has accepted responsibility and made his apology. He is now suffering under the rebuke of many in our community as well as sanctions being imposed by his board. I do not think his resignation is the answer, but we must use this moment to learn from this mistake. I believe that we can be a better community by helping one another through this episode. We can be thankful that no hurt took place against any child. But let us move forward and understand how this must be a moment of learning and a moment of healing and not simply an opportunity to condemn. Please, lets not tear ourselves apart over this. There are so many out there eager to see just that. Mayor of Fort Lauderdale Dean Trantalis Brad Howard, Task and Purpose Security, Middle East Is that even possible? Did Israel Really Spoof U.S. Warplanes to Strike Iranian Targets in Syria? As the U.S. gets more deeply embroiled in the Syrian Civil War and considers pulling out of its nuclear agreement with Iran, the Middle East is being roiled by news that the Israeli air force bombed Iranian-connected military sites in Syria possibly by masking Israeli aircraft to identify as U.S. warplanes in contested airspace. All this is happening as Israel reportedly prepares for a larger military conflict with Iran. Heres what we know so far. - On April 30th, videos emerged of a massive explosion near Aleppo in Syria. An Iranian-connected munitions storage site was targeted by Israel. Reportedly the strike was carried out with GBU-39 small diameter bombs. This claim is backed up by unconfirmed photos of GBU-39 remnants. - Syria and Iran accused Israel of executing the strike, which destroyed 200 missiles and killed at least a dozen Iranians. - Rumors began circulating that Israel masked their attack by flying through Jordan and Iraq and using U.S. identification friend or foe (IFF) codes to conceal their aircrafts identities. - Another unconfirmed rumor states that this was Israels first downrange use of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which could theoretically be able to penetrate Syrian airspace directly due to its stealth features. - For Israel to pull off a strike using spoofed transponders, they would have to fool ground radars from Iraq and Jordan, as well as U.S. E-3C Sentry aircraft, who would likely have an established order of battle and tasking list to consult if several F-15s appeared from the direction of the Mediterranean. - Also the use of U.S. transponder codes, which are encrypted, would either mean that the Israeli air force has access to or was given U.S. IFF codes. This means it is very unlikely that the Israeli air force could have pulled off such an operation without U.S. support. Story continues - To date, Israel has lost one F-16I due to Syrian air defenses, despite conducting numerous strikes inside the country. It is likely that Israel utilized traditional airstrikes against the munitions facility with F-15Is or F-16Is. Iran has vowed to retaliate for the Israeli strikes. This post is part of BULLET POINTS, our running SITREP of the military stories you need to read now. Sign up for more updates in your inbox here. Brad Howard enjoys long walks on the beach, and reading non-fiction on the subway. He holds an M.A. in Film from American University, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He was also in the U.S. Air Force for four years, and complained about it constantly during those four years. Brad is best known for his "Most untrue take of 2018 right here" according to Terminal Lance, in regards to Battlefield: Bad Company 2. This article originally appeared at Task & Purpose. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter. More Articles from Task & Purpose: - 7 Veteran-Friendly Manufacturers That Are Hiring - The 6 Types Of Contractors You Encounter Overseas - Heres How Marines Fared On The New Physical Fitness Test Image: Wikimedia Commons Read full article Kirkuk (Iraq) (AFP) - In the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk it is hard to find posters of Kurdish candidates for Iraq's upcoming elections, but the campaigns of other hopefuls are in full swing. The past seven months have seen a dramatic turn of events in Kirkuk, the "Jerusalem of Kurdistan" where hopes of independence for Iraqi Kurdistan were dashed after Baghdad retaliated against a referendum held in September. The May 12 national elections have been welcomed by the city's Arab and Turkmen politicians, who are busy organising campaign meetings and whose election posters hang proudly in place. In the Kurdish neighbourhood of Rahim Awa, home to the polling station that received the largest number of votes in the referendum, passers-by prefer not to discuss the return to the polls. Only Freidoun Rahim, a 41-year-old Kurdish labourer, was willing to express his view. "I voted yes in the referendum but today we have to live together -- Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen -- and so I will vote on May 12," he told AFP, without indicating which list he supported. Rahim is one of around 940,000 registered voters in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, who will decide between 291 candidates -- 80 percent of which are new faces -- divided into 31 lists. The hopefuls are vying for just 13 seats, one of which is already reserved for a Christian politician. In the 2014 elections Kurds took eight of the available seats, with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) winning six seats and their rivals the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) securing the other two. Kirkuk's Arab and Turkmen communities each saw two lawmakers voted into parliament. - 'Dreaming' of the past - The outcome of this month's vote remains uncertain, with the KDP -- which initiated the referendum -- calling for a boycott and declaring the province an "occupied territory". Other Kurdish groups have refused to present a unified list of candidates, while the PUK is urging its supporters to go to the polls. Story continues But the party is facing allegations of betrayal after it facilitated the federal army's takeover of the province six months ago. Federal troops pushed Kurdish forces out of Kirkuk and its oilfields in October, part of Baghdad's response to the "illegal" referendum that also saw the central government impose economic sanctions. "My presence in Kirkuk during these difficult times is proof of my loyalty to the city," declares a slogan on the election poster of lawmaker Rebwar Taha Mustafa, head of the PUK list. Speaking to AFP in his office, Mustafa alluded to the Arab and Turkmen groups: "Today we are witnessing the revenge of certain people." He said the PUK had no choice but to allow federal troops into Kirkuk in October. "The referendum changed the equation, but it's very temporary," the 40-year-old politician said, while admitting it is unlikely the PUK will do as well in this year's election. "Kirkuk is Iraqi, yes, but with a Kurdish identity. The Kurds will still win but not with eight seats as in the last poll." When Kirkuk residents went out to vote in September, they were met with the green, white and red Kurdish flag, a sun in the centre, flying in the streets. It has since been replaced by the blue Turkmen flag, adorned with a crescent moon and one star, along with slogans for Arab candidates declaring "Kirkuk belongs to its residents". "The next elections will show the real weight of different communities," said Turkmen politician Hassan Tauran. "We warned the Kurds that the cost of the referendum would be very high and those that imagine a return (to the situation before) are dreaming," he told AFP. His view was echoed by Amer al-Juburi, a candidate from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's list, who said: "Kirkuk is Iraqi, those who don't like the new situation can go elsewhere." The political change can be seen in the office of governor Rakan al-Juburi, the Arab replacement of a pro-independence Kurd, who removed a photo of PUK founder Jalal Talabani from the wall. The image has been replaced by one of Fuad Masum, a Kurd who is also Iraq's sitting president. 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. 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." Story continues 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. 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." --- Story by SFGate writer Katie Dowd Donald Trump's Republican supporters sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee urging it to consider Mr Trump for next year's award - REUTERS 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. Story continues "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. Korean detente How did we get here? Beyond Mr Obama, three other US presidents have received the award: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter. Anticipating the Trump-Kim summit, and the protracted diplomatic negotiations that lie ahead, some have opted for a humorous approach. Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank penned a spoof acceptance speech by Mr Trump, complete with the leader's trademark verbal tics. "The haters and the liars say I don't deserve this award.... Wrong!" said Milbank's Trump. "I was, like, really smart, when I made peace with Rocket Man. By calling him short and fat and saying I would totally destroy him with fire and fury from my big and powerful nuclear button, I got him to negotiate." For Mr Trump's fervent supporters, the looming summit with Kim - all but unimaginable just months ago - is proof that his often-impulsive presidency can break through barriers, change the rules of the diplomatic game, and succeed where his predecessors have failed. Mr Trump's supporters on Capitol Hill are pushing the idea that he deserves a Nobel, and Mr Trump clearly enjoyed it Saturday when supporters at a Michigan rally began chanting "Nobel" as he talked about North Korea. Indiana Rep. Luke Messer made the suggestion in the letter sent to members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Wednesday, signed by 18 Republicans. The letter said that North Korea has long ignored international demands to cease its aggressions but that Mr 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. Korea summit | Read more "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. Mr Messer is running for the Senate in Indiana, where support for Mr 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 Republican-leaning or strongly GOP states. Among them: Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for a Senate seat in Tennessee; Rep. Kevin Cramer, who is running for the Senate in North Dakota; Rep. Evan Jenkins, who is running for the Senate in West Virginia; and Jim Renacci, who is running for a US Senate seat in Ohio. Rep. Diane Black, another signatory to the letter, is running for governor in Tennessee. President Donald Trump said his newest lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is a "great guy" but still learning all the facts about the myriad of legal issues the president is facing. "He started yesterday. Hell get his facts straight. He's a great guy," Mr Trump said speaking to the media at Joint Base Andrews base about to depart for Texas and flanked by Chief of Staff John Kelly. The former New York City mayor, Mr Giuliani stirred controversy this past week as he appeared on Fox News and directly contradicted the president on an issue regarding adult film star Stormy Daniels. Mr Giuliani said Mr Trump had reimbursed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment made just days before the November 2016 election in order to keep her quiet about an alleged affair between the president and Ms Daniels in 2006. The president has denied the affair and when asked if he knew about the payment on Air Force One on 9 April, he said the media should "go ask" Mr Cohen about it. In a statement later in the day, Mr Giuliani said the payment was not a "campaign violation," adding that the "payment was made to resolve a personal and false allegation in order to protect the president's family". Mr Trump had been married to First Lady Melania Trump at the time of the alleged affair. Mr Giuliani claimed in the rambling interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, considered a 'friendly audience' for Trump administration officials, that Mr Trump only recently learned the reason for the payment to Ms Daniels. Mr Trump then backed up those assertions the morning after the interview in a series of tweets in which he said the payment was not made from his presidential campaign funds, which could have been deemed a violation of US election law. "It would have been done in any event, whether he was a candidate or not," Mr Giuliani said about the payment in his statement. "My references to timing were not describing my understanding of the president's knowledge, but instead, my understanding of these matters". Story continues Mr Trump appeared to take his previous statement back about his knowledge of the payment to Ms Daniels, but said today that "we're not changing any stories," adding that Rudy had just started and he wasnt totally familiar with everything". It implied that Mr Giuliani may have gotten something wrong in his interview that night and subsequent comments about the payment, but the president was unclear about what exactly was inaccurate. The president fell back on his consistent claim of "totally false" reporting by media outlets and encouraged reporters to re-watch statements he has made in the past on the matter. "All Im telling you that this country is right now running so smooth and to be bringing up that kind of crap and bringing up witch hunts all the time. Thats all you want to talk about," Mr Trump complained, adding comments about the low unemployment rate. As for Mr Cohen, the beleaguered lawyer had admitted to paying the nearly $130,000 of his own money - not election coffers - just before as part of a nondisclosure agreement. Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is suing Mr Trump for the right to speak about the affair and claiming that Mr Trump never actually signed the document. Her lawyer has also asked a judge to allow him to depose the president and Mr Cohen. Working on a reference from special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged collusion between Mr Trump's 2016 campaign team and Russian officials, the FBI also raided Mr Cohen's home, office, and hotel room in April. Mr Cohen told CNN that he "would be lying to you if I told that I am not worried about the FBI investigation. Do I need this in my life? No. Do I want to be involved in this? No, he added. He commented that the raid of his home, office, and the hotel where he is currently staying was upsetting to say the least and said after seeing what the investigation has done to his family, in hindsight he would have handled the payment to Ms Daniels differently. There is also the matter of the possible violation of federal ethics law despite the confusion of what Mr Giuliani and Mr Trump have said. Congressman Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight committee said the president should have disclosed the supposed repayment to Mr Cohen on his public financial disclosure form and said concealing such a debt is a crime. Mr Cummings has urged Republicans on the committee to investigate the matter and find out when Mr Trump knew about the payment and purpose of the payment as well as where the funds came from. The president is in Dallas, Texas, to speak at a National Rifle Association (NRA) convention. Bullets flew in the direction of two Cincinnati police officers shortly after midnight Thursday. The shots were fired from a car as it pulled up onto a residential side street in College Hill. The officers were not wounded and they caught the suspect, but the close call puts further emphasis on the daily dangers of policing. The officers were checking a report of shots fired into a home when, police said, someone started firing at them from a vehicle as they stood at a front porch along East Way at Groesbeck Road.The officers took cover and returned fire. "It was, like, one, two, three, four, five," said Mary Harper, who lives close by. "I was on the phone. I told the girl, 'I hear a shot.' And I was countin' 'em, because it's not the first time we hear it over here." The violent episode ended near where it began after a 10-minute chase along Interstates and back again. The suspect, Khaylee Waller, 34, surrendered after crashing in a nearby driveway. Along East Way today, as weekday routines resumed, there was considerable worry. Freddie White, who has lived on the street for 10 years, talked about how much he likes the area, but said he keeps his children inside at times. They like to jump on the backyard trampoline, ride their bikes and romp aroud, he said, but the sound of their childhood joy is often interrupted by gunfire. "Bullets ain't got no eyes," he told us as he stood in his front yard. "People get very fearful about lettin' their kids roam around the neighborhood. I get fearful all the time, too. You know what I'm sayin'? My dogs will start barkin' and stuff like that and you hear shots just ringin' out. And people just runnin' and duckin' and stuff like that." Waller has an extensive record that includes arrests for violence, drugs and guns. Now, he is facing charges of attempted murder and felonious assault, as well as a weapons charge. Story continues The homicide unit is investigating and, in a statement, Chief Eliot Isaac acknowledged what he termed the heroic actions of the officers. "I am proud of the immense courage, dedication, and restraint displayed by the officers involved in bringing this critical incident to resolution," wrote Isaac. Twelve hours after the incident, as sanitation workers made their rounds along East Way, wadded-up crime scene tape was ready for trash pickup. No one did a double take. "And everybody's scared," said Harper. "And most of my neighbors say they just went to bed and covered up their head." She is 80 and has lived on the street more than half her life. "Right here, yeah," she said before driving to the beauty parlor. "My kids was raised up in the neighborhood and we never had a problem over here." Investigators spent the overnight hours picking up shell casings in the street and checking nearby homes for signs of bullet holes. "I'm just fearful about my kids bein' in the back and the guns are flyin' and the bullets are flyin' and stuff like that," said White. "That's just raisin' fear that one of them could stray, accidentally stray off, and hit one of my kids." CAIRO (Reuters) - Sending Arab troops to Syria is a possibility that is being discussed by officials from various countries, Egypt's foreign minister was quoted on Friday as saying. But a foreign ministry spokesman said Sameh Shoukry, who was speaking at a function on Wednesday night, was not raising the possibility that Egypt itself might be ready to send forces to Syria, adding that such a decision was subject to constitutional constraints. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump was seeking to assemble an Arab force to replace the U.S. military contingent in Syria. "In regards to the situation in Syria, Shoukry said that the idea of replacing forces with another that may be Arab is a possibility," Al-Ahram quoted the Egyptian foreign minister as telling journalists. "This proposition is not only being discussed by the media, but also during discussions and deliberations amongst officials of states to look into how these ideas could contribute to stabilizing Syria," he added, according to Al-Ahram. Shoukry did not name the countries discussing the matter. But an Egyptian Foreign Ministry official said Shoukry's comments did not pertain to Egypt. "The principles that govern sending Egyptian forces outside the country are known to everybody. That won't happen unless it was in line with constitutional mechanisms, and rules and regulations that have been affirmed more than once, such as cases related to United Nations peacekeeping operations," said Ahmed Abu Zeid in a statement. Saudi Arabia said last month it was open to sending troops to Syria under wider coalition. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in a civil war in Syria between rebels seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab World and has the strongest army. A U.N. advisor said on Thursday millions of civilians were still caught up in the seven-year-old conflict and many who escaped battle zones had to seek shelter in overcrowded camps for the displaced in Idlib in the northwest. (This story changes "Thursday" to "Wednesday" in seconnd graph.) (Reporting by Sami Aboudi and Ahmed Tolba,; Writing by Arwa Gaballa; Editing by Peter Graff and Richard Balmforth) Fort Lauderdale resident Steven Rule has been waiting 14 years for this one. But on February 6 his goal came to fruition and on March 10 an event was held to honor the achievement an official sanction of Florida as the 70th member of the International Imperial Court System. The Court (also known simply as the International Court System, or ICS) is one of the oldest LGBT organizations in the U.S., which Rule describes as a rich and beautiful history of LGBT pride. As part of the March 10 ceremonies, which took place at Hagen Park Community Center in Wilton Manors, Rule was also invested as the Czarina of All Florida. There were between 120 to 150 people in attendance from Orlando, Tampa, the Keys, Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. ICS functions are different than pageants, as emperors and empresses are voted in by the community in which they serve. They reign for one year, raising funds for their designated charities and travel (at their own expenses) around the country. Jose Julio Sarria founded the ICS 54 years ago in San Francisco. SFGN asked Rule to explain it all and tell us more about himself. Why should people care that Florida was sanctioned? Because we are an all-inclusive community and should always encourage people to develop new venues to become involved with. We all participate in drag in one way or another. [But] the ICS offers a new way to raise money for charity a fun and fashionable way. We do not discriminate; we want members from the gay, straight, drag, leather, rodeo, religious and the many other community groups to be involved. We are proud Floridians. What was the feedback at the ceremony? What became clear from the local people in attendance [is] there is a huge desire for a Court functioning here. Most felt that the charitable work that the Court does and is known for is quite different from the pageant world. Its welcoming to all walks of life, especially LGBT, seniors, drag, male [and] female that offers a venue for all to work together for charity. You are also known as Barbie LaChoy? Back in the mid-80s I was living in Anchorage. It was this part of my life where I was introduced to the ICS. I entered and won the Mr. Gay Alaska title, and the next year ran, and was elected, Denali Emperor 16 Steven Rule of All Alaska. Two years later on a dare, I decided to try drag and that is how Barbie Dawn LaChoy evolved. I ran for, and was elected, Aurora Empress 19 of All Alaska. I relocated to San Francisco in 1995 where my involvement with the ICS continued. This is when I was able to develop my friendship with Jose Sarria, the founder of the ICS. I ran and was elected Absolute Empress in San Francisco in 2002. To be quite honest, I was a better empress than I was an emperor, as I tended to be a bit shy. Becoming Barbie LaChoy, I am able to forget my shyness and raise more money for charity. Was it surprising Florida wasnt already part of the ICS? It was quite surprising. I knew there were a lot of pageants, and I love them also, but it was not my cup of tea, so I never got involved in the drag community here. About four years ago, my friends and I started talking about how much we missed our involvement with the ICS. We toyed with the idea of starting one. After speaking with Queen Mother 1 of The Americas, Nicole The Great, she asked me to look into forming a Court here. That is where it began. I put a board together, filed the nonprofit status (The Imperial Sun Empire of All Florida) and then petitioned the Council for sanctions. We were fully approved on February 6, 2018. What are your initial goals for the Court? We need to grow and be known and [tell people] what the ICS is all about having a Court family in Fort Lauderdale that will be known for their charitable outreach and fundraising abilities, in a unique and stylistic fashion. We hope to raise up to $10,000 for two of our selected charities, Grateful Paws and Pride Center Senior Services. We are also focused on encouraging involvement to be able to elect our emperor and empress at our first coronation in late January 2019. Whats your background? I am 55 [and] have been HIV positive for over 25 years. I was in the Air Force when I first realized I was gay, and served a total of 12 years of active duty and Air National Guard [duty]. I am a licensed nursing home administrator and currently employed at Park Summit in Coral Springs as the executive director, where I have been for the past eight years. My passion is LGBT senior living options, and [I] have been one of the leaders for training my staff in LGBT senior needs and issues. I have also worked for most of my adult life as an avid fundraiser for HIV/AIDS causes. I have been with my husband for 20 years and we have been married for four. More is at impcourt.org. Michael Hayden, Donald Trump (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: David Orrell/CNBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Image, Evan Vucci/AP) Former CIA Director Michael Hayden has some surprising advice for one-time colleagues who ask whether they should take a job working for President Trump: Dont do it. You will only endanger your own future and reputation. In a new interview featured on the Yahoo News podcast Skullduggery, Hayden said its been hard to watch top Trump administration officials including former national security adviser H.R. McMaster, former Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert and others defend an often indefensible president. The longer they were in the administration, the more their personal credentials were being threatened, Hayden said. At what point do you stop being a guardrail and become an enabler and a legitimizer? Hayden lays out his views in his new book, The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies, which serves as a searing indictment of a president who Hayden depicts as a congenital liar and a useful idiot of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The former CIA chief is quick to acknowledge that Trump is not the first modern president to have an attenuated relationship to the truth. Hayden himself served as CIA chief under a president (George W. Bush) who took the country to war based on false claims about the threat posed by the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. Weve had presidents who lie, who have argued with us, who have disagreed with our version of objective reality, said Hayden, without naming which ones he had in mind. But Trump, he said, is in a category all to himself. The difference here is this seems to be a president who bases a fair number of decisions on something other than a view of objective reality, he said. Download or subscribe on iTunes: Skullduggery by Yahoo News Hayden clicks off multiple examples of Trumps falsehoods, from his insistence that former President Barack Obama had him wiretapped at Trump Tower to the presidents claim belied by all the scientific evidence that global warming is a hoax. Story continues Just as troubling as Trumps propensity to misrepresent reality, according to Hayden, is the presidents constant demand for extreme fealty from his subordinates an extreme threat to vital American institutions. What we have is the president inarguably demanding of both the institutions and their leadership that their first priority is personal loyalty to him rather than to the norms that have governed their behavior for a couple of centuries, Hayden said. As jarring as it is to hear a retired four-star Air Force general and former director of the National Security Agency tell former colleagues not to enlist in government service under Trump, Haydens advice comes with several caveats: He mainly recommends that more seasoned former officials sit out the Trump administration. Those who are younger should still take the opportunity to serve in government. But when they do, Hayden advises they should take notes a practice former FBI Director James Comey adopted on his own. Remember your own moral thresholds, Hayden said, adding: You may want to keep a draft letter [of resignation} in your desk drawer. More Skullduggery from Yahoo News: Washington (AFP) - West Virginians came embarrassingly close to picking a prison inmate over president Barack Obama in the 2012 Democratic primary. Six years on, will the state's Republican voters make an ex-con Trumpist their party's US Senate nominee? The provocative dark horse in next week's Republican primary in West Virginia -- the heart of Donald Trump country -- is a coal baron who spent a year in prison after an explosion at his company's mine killed 29 people. Don Blankenship's surprisingly strong traction has establishment Republicans terrified that a tarnished conservative could trigger another political debacle as they struggle to maintain control of Congress. With November's mid-term elections now six months away, and President Trump's poor approval ratings an anchor around the necks of many Republican lawmakers, party grandees are closely watching what transpires in West Virginia. The impoverished Appalachian state has veered Republican over the last decade. But having an ex-con on probation as the party's nominee could make it harder to oust incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin, and paint the party as unable to control its rebellious wing at a time when political discipline is crucial. And yet there Blankenship was Tuesday night, one week before the primary, on stage debating two other main candidates: state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, deemed by some as a carpetbagger from New Jersey; and US congressman Evan Jenkins, a onetime Democrat who, along with much of West Virginia, turned Republican. "I'm up here with two guys that's never created a job," Blankenship, 68, told the audience in his soft drawl, as he promoted his former role as chief executive of Massey Energy. He also dismissed charges he was responsible for the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster of 2010, instead accusing the federal government of taking action that led to the explosion and then creating a "fake prosecution" that convicted him of skirting safety standards. Story continues "They sent me to prison for a misdemeanor," he said. Blankenship has expressed admiration for Trump's ability to confound expectations and win the White House. The latest GOP underdog and political rebel made clear he will take no orders from political heavyweights in Washington. "I'm not going to DC to get along," he said. "You can't drain the swamp being like the swamp." - 'Cocaine Mitch' - Republicans have been here before. Senate candidate Roy Moore lost to a Democrat in last December's special election in conservative Alabama amid accusations by women that Moore assaulted, molested or pursued them when they were teenagers. And Republicans missed two pick-up opportunities in 2012 and 2010 when tarnished Senate candidates deeply embarrassed the party. Stung by such failures, a political group aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pumped at least $1.3 million into anti-Blankenship ads, including branding the fellow Republican a "convicted criminal" whose company was "contaminating water supplies." Blankenship countered, using his personal fortune to launch ads blasting his Republican rivals as insufficiently conservative, and brazenly attacking the party's leaders. "One of my goals as US senator will be to ditch 'Cocaine Mitch,'" Blankenship said in an ad on Facebook, explaining later that he was referring to McConnell's father-in-law's Chinese company, whose ship was allegedly used to smuggle $7 million of drugs from Colombia to Europe. McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, is US Secretary of Transportation. A recent poll shows Blankenship, who backs Trump's positions on illegal immigration, trailing the other two top candidates, but a quarter of respondents remained undecided. "The concern of the Republican National Committee about a Blankenship nomination appears real," Robert Rupp, political science professor of West Virginia Wesleyan College, told AFP, noting that party intervention may solidify Blankenship's claim as the outsider taking on Washington. Given that ultimate outsider Keith Judd got 41 percent of the vote against Obama in West Virginia's 2012 Democratic primary despite sitting in prison, "no possibility is beyond expectation," Rupp said. By Christine Murray MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - 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. (Reporting by Christine Murray; Editing by Peter Cooney) By Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) - The landmark 2015 nuclear deal Iran made with major world powers slashed the scope of Tehran's atomic activities and created what the United Nations nuclear watchdog calls "the world's most robust verification regime." But U.S. President Donald Trump, a long-time critic of the deal, has threatened to pull out unless a follow-on agreement is reached to fix what he calls the deals flaws. Here is what a U.S. withdrawal would likely mean for the U.N.s nuclear watchdog and its policing of Irans nuclear activities. CURRENT SITUATION A central aim of the agreement signed by the United States, Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain - was to ensure Iran would be at least a year away from amassing enough nuclear material for a bomb. The deal made Tehran, among other things, sharply cut the number of centrifuges, machines that enrich uranium, it has in operation and slash its stock of enriched uranium. It also imposes a strict limit on the purity Iran enriches uranium to, far below the level at which it could be used in atom bombs. In signing the deal, Iran also agreed to comprehensive monitoring of its nuclear facilities and related sites by the U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency. That includes daily access by inspectors to and continuous monitoring, such as by camera feed, of its two underground enrichment sites at Natanz and Fordow. The deal requires Iran to implement the U.N. nuclear watchdog's Additional Protocol, which provides inspectors with wide-ranging access to information on Iran's nuclear activities and the ability to inspect any site it deems necessary to verify that those activities are peaceful. The deal -- officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA - requires Iran to grant long-term visas and provide proper working spaces to 130 to 150 designated U.N. nuclear inspectors. ARE INSPECTIONS ANYTIME, ANYWHERE? No. U.N. inspectors must present to Tehran their reason for wanting to visit a site that Iran has not declared as part of its nuclear programme. Story continues The U.N. nuclear watchdog does often conduct snap inspections. The head of the watchdog in March said that since the JCPOA has gone into effect the agency has carried out more than 60 so-called complementary access inspections. Many of those are done at short notice, diplomats familiar with the agency's work say. The U.N. agency says it has had access to all the sites it has needed to visit and details of inspections are confidential. Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog say Iran is implementing its commitments under the deal. WHAT HAPPENS IF TRUMP PULLS OUT? If Trump does not renew waivers of U.S. sanctions against Iran by May 12, as he has threatened to, it could unravel the deal by removing one of the main reasons Tehran signed up in the first place. According to the text of the deal, Iran stated that if sanctions were reinstated it will treat that as grounds to cease performing its commitments under this JCPOA in whole or in part." The three European signatories and the European Union, which also signed the deal, hope to keep the agreement alive even if the United States pulls out. Iran's president has warned there would be "severe consequences" if Trump pulled out of the deal. But Iran has also discussed salvaging the deal. TOTAL COLLAPSE If Iran pulled out of the deal completely, it would dramatically reduce the U.N. nuclear watchdogs ability to monitor the countrys activities. The U.N. agency says its presence in Iran in terms of inspectors' calendar days doubled to 3,000 in 2017 compared to 2013. It adds that its verification activities conducted have increased 152 percent over that time frame, without specifying total numbers. U.N. inspectors would still monitor Irans declared nuclear facilities because Tehran is a signatory to the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But, U.N. inspectors would no longer have daily access to the Fordow and Natanz sites, for example, and would have more limited oversight of areas including uranium mining and research without nuclear material. Some Iranian officials have even threatened to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a drastic move that would involve expelling U.N. inspectors altogether as North Korea did in 2009. CUSHIONING THE BLOW If Iran did pull out of the deal, the U.N. nuclear watchdog would hope that Tehran would continue to apply the protocol allowing it to retain much of its power to inspect any undeclared site it needs to. There is a precedent for this, even though Iran has not ratified the Additional Protocol since it signed it in 2003: Iran implemented it temporarily from 2003 to 2006. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Cassell Bryan-Low) (Reuters) - Top officials from China and the United States reached a consensus on some aspects of the countries' trade row, but disagreements over other issues remain "relatively big", according to the Chinese government on Friday. The talks over the past two days have involved a high-level U.S. trade delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and senior Chinese officials, and followed months of threats and counter-threats from both sides in a series of disputes over trade practices. Below are some key points from framework proposals put forward by the two countries at the start of the talks, according to sources with knowledge of the matter, and what is known of the outcome: TARIFFS AND NON-TARIFF BARRIERS: Chinese proposal: Said it would lower tariffs on some U.S. products, including cars. U.S. proposal: Asked China to cut tariffs on all products to levels no higher than that of the United States. Washington will impose additional tariffs if China fails to comply with agreed-upon commitments. What we know of outcome: The two sides exchanged opinions on solving tariff issues, Xinhua said. BILATERAL TRADE Chinese proposal: China proposed increasing imports from the United States; asked U.S. to let its government and companies freely buy and use Chinese technology products and services; asked the U.S. to resume imports of cooked poultry from China. U.S. proposal: Asked China to cut trade imbalance immediately and cut its trade surplus in goods with the United States by at least $200 billion by 2020; asked China not to distort trade through investment restrictions and ensure any investment restrictions or conditions imposed by China were "narrow and transparent". What we know of outcome: The two sides exchanged opinions on expanding U.S. exports to China and bilateral services trade, said Xinhua. BILATERAL INVESTMENT: Chinese proposal: Asked United States to treat Chinese investments equally under national security reviews; asked United States to stop issuing restrictions on new investments; agreed to implement its commitment to open up its financial and manufacturing sectors; proposed discussion on increasing film import quotas with U.S. and further opening up its Hainan free trade zone. Story continues U.S. proposal: Asked China not to oppose, challenge, or otherwise retaliate against the United States' imposition of restrictions on investments from China in sensitive U.S. technology sectors or sectors critical to U.S. national security, in light of China's investment restrictions and state-directed investment in sensitive U.S. technology sectors, including industrial plans such as Made in China 2025; asked China to give U.S. investors in China fair, effective and non-discriminatory market access and treatment. What we know of outcome: the two sides exchanged views on expanding two-way investment, according to Xinhua. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: Chinese proposal: Requested United States terminate its Section 301 IP probe, not implement proposed 25 percent tariffs. U.S. proposal: Asked China to protect U.S. IP by immediately ceasing market-distorting subsidies and other types of government support that can contribute to excess capacity in industries targeted by the Made in China 2025 plan; asked China to eliminate "specified policies and practices" with respect to technology transfer; asked China to agree to immediately cease the targeting of U.S. technology and IP through cyber operations, economic espionage, counterfeiting, and piracy, and abide by U.S. export control laws. What we know of outcome: the United States and China exchanged views on IP protection, said Xinhua. ZTE:Chinese proposal: United States should listen to ZTE's appeal on sanctions. U.S. proposal: No mention What we know of outcome: China lodged solemn representations on ZTE, the United States attached great value to those representations, Xinhua said. AGRICULTURE: Chinese proposal: China offered to consider new information provided by U.S. firms on Beijing's anti-dumping probe on sorghum imported from the United States. U.S. proposal: Asked China not to take any retaliatory action directed at imports of U.S. agricultural products in response to any U.S. actions, including any new U.S. restrictions on investments or imports; asked China to improve market access for U.S. agricultural products and U.S. services "in specified ways". What we know of outcome: No mention by Xinhua (By Michael Martina and Shu Zhang; Writing by Ben Blanchard and Ryan Woo; Editing by Alex Richardson) Kanye West has been on a weeklong tirade since reinstating his Twitter account April 13, culminating with his remarks Tuesday that slavery was a choice during a TMZ interview. It was the latest headline-grabbing statement in what has been a strange time for West's fan. Before his slavery comments, he tweeted about his admiration for "brother" President Donald Trump on Twitter April 25, suggesting the pair possess "dragon energy." On the same day, he criticized former President Barak Obama, saying the leader didnt do anything to help the rapper's hometown of Chicago during the eight years he was in office. While West seemed to claim black people chose to be enslaved, there are documented accounts of Africans and African Americans attempting to resist during the 400-year period that slavery was the law in the U.S., retold in books like Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Zarle Williams and Harriet Ann Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Newsweek spoke with five African American scholars about West's comments to gauge their thoughts on the matter. Their remarks have been edited for brevity below. Trending: Canadian Man Wins Lottery, Celebrates Birthday and Retires on Same Day You don't have to agree with trump but the mob can't make me not love him. We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don't agree with everything anyone does. That's what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought. KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018 Jeffrey Q. McCune Jr., author of On Kanye: A Philosophy of Black Genius and associate professor of women, gender, sexuality studies and African and African American studies at Washington University in St. Louis, in Missouri: The enigma which has been Kanye West for the last decade has never made itself user-friendly, or a product easily understood or digested by the passerby. I am probably one of [the] few people who think that the large majority of Kanye's rants make sense at [the] corerevealing an element of profound thought, usually relegated to society's philosophical academic types. This 'slavery' moment, as it will be called, is not one such genius moment. Even in his more erratic or spastic moments, he has never made such a nonsensical misstep.... In my opinion, there was no way that Kanye Westwho has illustrated as much intelligence and wittruly thought slavery was a choice.... There was no period of slavery where the choice to be mentally free would have been viable; it was a grave site of 'unfreedom' and violence. It was the freeing of the slaves in lawemancipationwhich offered them a sense of freedom. But, many had difficulty imagining freedom, after years of captivity and dehumanization. Kanye seems to be asking us to free our minds; to release ourselves of the captured mind. This is consistent with Kanye over the last decade. Kanye's whole musical cataloguethe body of work where musical artists instill their most consistent messageshas negated slavery was a choice. From New Slaves to Ultra Light Beam, Kanye has given us no reason to see this rhetorical slip as anything other than a really bad interview moment gone viral." Story continues Carole Boyce Davies, professor of Africana studies and English at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York: "Many documentations of the punishments meted out to people who dared exercise 'choice' not to stay enslaved are available. If We Must Die (2009) documents over 500 shipboard rebellions.... A whole genre of slave narratives and abolitionist work provides the information that Kanye needs to engage in an informed presentation of his ideas on slavery.... One can understand the frustration of Kanye West seeing no change in the Chicago of his childhood, even after having a politician from ChicagoBarack Obamabecome president. Perhaps the critique of Obama has been silenced in favor of a celebratory narrative. This critique cannot come at the expense of denigrating all black people, which he does by suggesting that our people chose brutality and enslavement for 400 years without resisting. Clearly, Obama in eight years could not undo that same 400 years of degradation and its results. My advice to Kanye: Read. Maybe finish your degree, even doing online study. Donate to African American studies departments. Maybe name a fellowship after your mother." Don't miss: Rodent Droppings Found on Domino's Pizza Dough in Tennessee Michael Hill, associate professor of English at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City: "Since the civil rights era, black celebrity has existed between opulent emulation and exalted exceptionalism. With the law enforcement crisis during Obamas presidency, black celebrities once again heard an activist calling. They could not risk irrelevance when Black Lives Matter and other grassroots protests were defining the spirit of the black community.... His half-huckster, half-eccentric epistemologist routine strikes the mainstream press as less amusing and more alarming. This truth brings us to the core of the matter: Kanye West's most generative guise is that of the tortured, gestating talent. When he slips that mantle and eyes authoritative racial spokespersonship, then he mocks the very panoply of viewpoints that he purports to cherish. Perhaps, his glib summaries of slavery are byproducts of awkward phrasing rather than heinous convictions." Greg Thomas, associate professor of English and Africana studies, at Tufts University, in Boston: "He is a caricature of many things, and one who always has things to sellfor somebody. He is known primarily for throwing tantrums at the door of white elite social acceptance.... He is supposed to be somehow pro-Trump and anti-slavery, the dropout, who knows neither the meaning of freedom or slavery but sickly wants to be the focus of this kind of attention at any cost. What too many too carelessly call Hip-Hop is not to be confused with the 'consumer society' commodification of personality put to beats.... 'Slavery' lasts for centuries because it motored a world system of profit backed by the ruling race and class's state militias. This is like asking, Why don't Syrians stop getting bombed, or Why don't black or 'black site' prisoners just leave?" B. Anthony Bogues, professor of humanities and critical theory, director of the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island: "Kanye is a really good artist, but [his comments are] very difficult to take because it is based on a lot of stark ignorance. It is troublesome when somebody of that stature displays that kind of stark ignorance. This is not free-thought, he's not bringing anything new into this debate [on slavery]. What he's doing is, quite frankly, displaying ignorance about the way slavery worked, the way in which people of African descent were enslaved and about those actual legacies, and how those legacies continue to structure the life of many African American's today.... He's simply talking a lot of nonsense." Kanye West Eduardo Munoz/Reuters This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Julia Hernandez suffered a severe stroke that left half of her face paralyzed, and her twin sister, Sophia, and a surgeon are helping her to regain her smile. (Photo: Courtesy of Julia Hernandez) Former beauty pageant contestant Julia Hernandez hasnt smiled from ear to ear since 2013, but her sister and a surgeon are helping to change that. Hernandez was 20, with multiple Los Angeles beauty pageant crowns under her belt, when she suffered a severe stroke. A cluster of blood cells burst in my brain and it caused a hemorrhagic stroke, she told ABC. Not only did the stroke affect her gait, but it paralyzed half of her face as well. I looked in the mirror and I saw my face for the first time, and I was shocked. I felt that my identity was completely gone, the beautiful brunette explained. The stroke curbed her crown collection, but it provided her with something even more valuable: a lesson in beauty. Theres so much more beyond that, behind that, that makes you a valuable person. I was able to focus on what life really meant, she said. Unfortunately, this newfound outlook on life isnt enough in the real world. I really wanted to smile again, Hernandez told Yahoo Lifestyle. I know that beauty lies within someones soul, but societys perception of beauty is different. I have found it difficult to get jobs that I am qualified for simply because of the way I look. And science says shes right. A 2010 Newsweek survey found that nearly 60 percent of 202 corporate hiring managers believed that an unattractive but qualified job candidate would have a tougher time getting hired (not that Hernandez is anything but stunning, full smile or half smile). Her twin sister, Sophia, saw how badly Julia wanted her smile back as well as her ability to breathe through her right nostril and blink her right eye so she did some research. The med student at the University of California, San Francisco, didnt have to look hard, as a doctor at the UCSF Medical Center happened to specialize in facial reanimation. Dr. Rahul Seth and I started the facial nerve center here at UCSF several years ago, and we treat many different kinds of facial nerve paralysis, P. Daniel Knott, MD, professor and director of the division of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at UCSF, told Yahoo Lifestyle. Dr. Seth and I work with facial rehabilitation specialists, neurologists, oculoplastic surgeons, and otologists, as well as the general plastic surgeons to do this work. We perform facial nerve surgeries on almost a weekly basis. According to ABC, he has a 95 percent success rate. Story continues I really wanted her to have the surgery because I know how much the stroke affected her, and this would potentially help her regain some sense of normalcy and help her feel like herself again, said Sophia. I think this surgery can help me have a brighter future, Julia said while recovering. Many people just dont understand that we are at a new place for the treatment of facial paralysis at this point in time, said Knott. His life and work experience has taught him that appearance and the ability to express emotion are critical. The face is ones window to the world, providing the ability to express emotion and interact with fellow humans. Not only does facial paralysis inflict deep physical wounds, its psychologically damaging as well, particularly in our current selfie-obsessed world, Knott pointed out. And while times are changing, facial paralysis is still particularly challenging for young patients and women in particular, he said, among whom appearance and beauty are important for social acceptance and success; facial paralysis inflicts a severe social penalty for all of its sufferers. So on May 1, Hernandez went into an eight-hour procedure conducted by Knott. Julia was not nervous about the surgery, Sophia said. She felt very zen. She had done physical and occupational therapy already, and she felt that this was the last thing she could do to help her regain some function after her stroke. She was up for the challenging recovery that lay ahead. From Knotts perspective, she was a little nervous, but at the same time she was very excited about it. She got a good nights sleep the night before and was really looking forward to it. The operation is similar to a facelift in some ways. Dr. Seth and I did a facelift approach incisions placed in the hairline and in front of the ear so they would be pretty, said Knott. They used a muscle from the inner, medial thigh called the gracilis muscle. Its a muscle that she wont miss in her thigh, he said. We took it out with its artery, vein, and motor nerve, leaving her with a minor scar in the thigh. We also took some fascia [tough, fibrous tissue] from the lateral thigh. They then lifted her mouth/cheek with the fascia to make her lips and cheeks symmetrical and transplanted the muscle into her left cheek. They reconnected the plumbing (an artery and vein to an artery and vein in her neck) so that the muscle had blood flow. They also connected the nerve. For blinking ability, they put a platinum weight in her eyelid so she can close her paralyzed eye. Sisters forever: Julia and Sophia Hernandez. (Photo: Courtesy of Julia Hernandez) And were happy to report that the surgery was a success. Her face looks much more symmetrical, and the transplanted muscle is doing well, Knott reported. She can breathe though her nostril now, and she can close her eye. And shell be able to beam about that success soon. We connected the nerve to one of the chewing nerves in her face, so that when she bites down, she will smile, Knott explained. It will take about a year for the nerve to heal and start working, but in the meantime the fascia will hold the face in a good position. She will hopefully get a normal-ish appearing smile. And while Hernandez will certainly be feeling more like her old self, she wont be going back to old routines. This experience taught her a lot about service, but she wants to focus on writing and her future career [instead of beauty pageants]. For myself as a microvascular facial plastic surgeon, I love being able to restore smiling, movement, normalcy, and beauty for my patients, said Knott. It isnt often that one can really transform a patients life in such a fundamental way. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. PARIS (Reuters) - France's finance minister said on Thursday that nothing short of an outright European Union exemption from U.S. steel tariffs would be acceptable and that there would be no talks with Washington if it was not granted. U.S. President Donald Trump has granted an exemption for the European Union until June 1, although EU officials have said it is not clear what Washington wants. Everybody would lose out in a trade war, France's finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, told France 2 public TV station. "We must stand firm and united versus the United States and convey one and the same message - that there must be a total, permanent exemption short of which there will be no talks," he said. (Reporting by Brian Love; Editing by Ingrid Melander) It was ladies night in the Parker-Broderick household. Sarah Jessica Parker made her first-ever red carpet appearance with her 8-year-old twin daughters, Tabitha and Loretta Broderick, at the New York City Ballets Spring Gala on Thursday night. The girls were pure spring bliss in their floral dresses and the same style graced their rose-adorned Mary Jane shoes. Loretta, who was born Marion Loretta but goes by her middle name, and Tabitha have been to events before, including the opening night of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway a year ago, but were accompanied by dad Matthew Broderick and big brother James Wilkie, 15. This was a girls night for sure and the twins, who attend different schools, held onto mom while they walked the red carpet. They carried their sweaters, and both had on headbands and carried the same purses. Sarah Jessica Parker with her red-carpet-ready beauties, Loretta and Tabitha, at the New York City Ballets Spring Gala on May 3, 2018. (Photo: Owen Hoffmann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) Parker, who rocked a high bun and light-colored sheer dress for the event, hinted ahead of time on Instagram that her gals would be her wee dates. She showed photos of them getting their hair done for the special night. The "baby" Time to get dressed! X A post shared by SJP (@sarahjessicaparker) on May 3, 2018 at 3:05pm PDT Of course, Parker also showed a photo of their shoes after all, she is a shoe designer. The girls adorably wore the same pair, but in different ways tights vs. non. The Sex and the City alum went with a sparkle. And she noted that she couldnt wait to get to the gala. After her social media tip-off that her daughters were coming, photogs made sure to snap the trio heading out of their downtown home. Story continues Sarah Jessica Parker, and Tabitha and Loretta Broderick seen on the streets of Manhattan on May 3, 2018. (Photo: James Devaney/GC Images) The girls were headliners before they were even born and not in the typical celebrity pregnancy sense. They were born by surrogate in 2009 before surrogacy was a widely discussed method of family-building. Parker and Brodericks surrogate was harassed to the point where she had to move out of her home and into a hotel. An Ohio police chief yes, we said police chief was later convicted of stealing items from her home related to the pregnancy and meeting with freelance photographers to sell the material. But that was ages ago and these beauties will be turning 9 in June. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: (Photo: Getty Images) FBI agents covertly surveilling a criminal gang suspected of holding at least one person hostage had their cover blown when a swarm of drones descended on them. Joe Mazel, the head of the FBIs operational technology law unit, said the small unmanned units hovered around the agents and made high-speed low passes at them. We were then blind without the situational awareness, he said. Mazel, a veteran federal agent, recounted the incident this week while speaking to attendees at the AUVSI Xponential tech conference in Denver, according to Defense One. He said it happened in a large U.S. city last winter but was reportedly careful not to share identifying details about the incident, saying it is law enforcement sensitive. The drones, according to Mazel, not only buzzed the agents but also livestreamed the entire thing. They put the footage to YouTube so that [other members of the gang] who had cellular access could go to the YouTube site, see the video and know the agents location, he said. The criminals reportedly managed to foil the FBIs plans. Mazel did not indicate whether any follow-up attempts were made. Drones are becoming less expensive and easier to operate. (Photo: Getty Images) The proliferation of drone use has been of increasing concern to law enforcement agencies as the technology has become easy to acquire and operate. Drones can be flown using GPS technology meaning it takes minimal practice to fly them and they can be adapted to carry small payloads. The technology presents a range of opportunities for criminals. They permit low-risk reconnaissance missions and can been used for everything from drug smuggling to dropping drugs and weapons behind prison walls. Mazel said criminal organizations have also been using drones to monitor activity outside police departments to see who is going in and out of the facility and who might be cooperating with police. Gene Robinson of Drone Pilot Inc, which works with law enforcement and emergency response agencies, said drone countermeasures are somewhat limited because of FAA rules and potential liability issues. Story continues There are effective jamming and spoofing methods out there, but the FCC says its a federal offense to jam any signal, he said. They dont make exceptions for anyone, including law enforcement. Other strategies, such as capturing drones in nets shot from the ground or another drone, can also be problematic, according to Robinson. Its a huge liability issue, he said. What if that thing falls to the ground and hits someone in the head? Or what if its loaded with explosives and detonates near a group of people? Who takes ownership of that? The most viable solution right now, Robinson said, is to educate the public. We do a lot in regard to counterdrone measures, but more than anything else, we educate people so they can recognize nonstandard configurations, he said. Typically, if you see a drone, you know what its supposed to look like with a camera on it, but if you see some big cube hanging off the bottom or a shuttlecock, you know its going to be bad. Send David Lohr an email or follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. George Clooney left behind his single title the moment he met Amal in July 2013. The human rights lawyer was passing through Italy with a mutual friend who decided to make a stop at Clooneys Lake Como home. The actors agent was also in on the meet-and-greet. I got a call from my agent who said, I met this woman who is coming to your house, who youre going to marry,' Clooney said in an interview with David Letterman. What was his first impression? I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart. While there was an attraction, the romance wasnt immediate. They ended up talking and emailing for a few weeks before going on their first date, in London. Six months later, Clooney proposed. He prepared a romantic home-cooked dinner. I did all the stuff, got down on my knee and did all the things youre supposed to do, Clooney said. A lavish Italian wedding followed, and in June 2017, the couple welcomed twins, Ella and Alexander. ATLANTA (AP) Guns are a frequent staple of the conservative campaign ad. But one candidate in the crowded Republican primary field for Georgia governor has caused an uproar with a campaign video in which he pretends to threaten a young man interested in his daughter with a shotgun. Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp tweeted his reaction to the controversy: "I'm conservative, folks. Get over it!" The video , which was posted to the Kemp campaign's social media accounts last week and ran on local television, features Kemp sitting in a room full of firearms while talking to a sheepish looking young man. "I'm Brian Kemp and this is Jake, a young man interested in one of my daughters," Kemp says while polishing a double-barreled shotgun sitting in his lap. "Yes sir," the young man replies with a nervous grin. Kemp then pretends to force the young man to recite a number of his campaign promises, including to cap government spending, cut regulations and make Georgia the best state for small businesses. Kemp then says, "And two things if you're gonna date one of my daughters?" "Respect," and "a healthy appreciation for the Second Amendment, sir," the young man says as Kemp trains the shotgun on him. Gun rights became a major campaign issue in February when Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, another leading Republican candidate for governor, tweeted he would punish Delta Air Lines for ending a discount program for members of the National Rifle Association. The NRA soon endorsed Cagle in the race. Republican candidates for governor have since taken to television airwaves and social media in a battle to highlight their pro-gun bona fides. Many of Kemp's supporters simply see the ad as a bit of light-hearted fun. But the video has not gone over well with critics who say it makes light of gun violence and is especially ill-timed, coming amid a national conversation around gun safety after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February. Story continues One commenter wrote on YouTube: "Pointing a weapon at anything or anyone you don't intend to shoot is dumber than dirt, Brian Kemp. You know who's going to be voting against you? Every responsible gun owner in Georgia.?" But another disagreed, saying: "Priceless!! Best electoral ad I've ever seen! Well done (you and) the haters know it too. We just seem to be evolving into an over-dramatic sensitive society is all."? WXIA-TV, a local NBC affiliate in the Atlanta area that aired the original advertisement from Kemp, said they had received many negative responses from viewers. "There has been some support for Kemp but most of the feedback coming to (the station) has been criticism," WXIA-TV said. "A number of the viewers who have contacted us have demanded that we take the ad off the air entirely." The station said Federal Communications Commission rules prohibit it from stopping the ads. "The liberal media and radical, left-wing activists who have probably never even held a firearm are freaking out and creating fake controversy," Kemp said in a statement Wednesday. "The real problem they have with me is my unapologetic support of our 2nd Amendment rights and common sense, conservative policies." Berlin (AFP) - German police Thursday raided a refugee centre where they had met violent resistance three days earlier when they tried to pick up a Togolese man for deportation. Several hundred armoured police searched the facility in Ellwangen, Baden-Wuerttemberg state, during the dawn operation and arrested the 23-year-old rejected asylum seeker, authorities said. In the early hours of Monday, four police had initially tried to detain the West African man to send him back to Italy, his first EU port of call. But the officers were forced to beat a retreat when they were confronted by about 150 mostly African migrants displaying "aggressive and threatening behaviour", said a local police spokesman. The crowd surrounded two police patrol cars and threatened officers until they handed over the keys to the Togo man's handcuffs. Regional police deputy chief Bernhard Weber said Monday's unrest was "unprecedented" following a mass influx of more than one million asylum seekers since 2015. Police in Thursday's raid searched the centre for weapons and collected evidence on 27 others who were suspected of having resisted police at the start of the week. Fifteen of them were to be initially transferred to other holding centres after Thursday's raid, in which police and several migrants suffered minor injuries. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, a proponent of tightening German borders and speeding up deportations, described the incident as "a slap in the face for law-abiding citizens". The head of the German police union DPolG, Rainer Wendt, called for the immediate expulsion of any refugee who has assaulted police, demanding that "they must not enjoy another hour of freedom until they're back in their country of origin". Rudy Giuliani lashed former FBI Director James Comey as a sensitive little baby Thursday after Comey defended the bureaus agents after Giuliani called them storm troopers, The Washington Post reported. Among a number of stunning comments by Giuliani in his Fox News interview Wednesday night, he compared FBI agents to Nazi storm troopers for raiding the office of President Donald Trumps personal lawyer Michael Cohen last month and collecting documents and computers. Agents, provided with court-issued warrants, were legally authorized to do so. Cohen is being investigated for bank fraud and possible campaign finance violations. Comey tweeted Thursday that there are no stormtroopers in the FBI just a group of people devoted to the rule of law and the truth. Comey said the country would be better off if our leaders tried to emulate them instead of comparing them to Nazis. 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. Our country would be better off if our leaders tried to be like them, rather than comparing them to Nazis. James Comey (@Comey) May 3, 2018 Giuliani, who just joined Trumps legal team, responded to the tweet in an interview with The Washington Post, calling Comey a sensitive little baby. He added, without offering details: He should be sensitive, because hes been caught lying over and over again. Bolstering his growing reputation as Trumps new insult man, Giuliani on Fox also called Comey a disgraceful liar and very perverted man again, without explaining what he was referring to. In defending Trump on Fox, Giuliani appeared to support suspicions that the president fired Comey a year ago to short-circuit an investigation into possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign to swing the election in Trumps favor. Story continues Giuliani said the president fired Comey because Comey would not among other things say that he wasnt a target of the investigation. So he fired him and he said, Im free of this guy. Giuliani has traditionally enjoyed strong ties with the FBI, both as a U.S. attorney and as New York City mayor. After Comey reopened the investigation into Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons emails just before the election, Giuliani indicated he learned that members of the bureau werent happy with the initial conclusion to not pursue her use of a private email server from both former and active agents. WATCH: Rudy Giuliani admits that Trump campaign had advanced warning from the @FBI about Comey's letter. pic.twitter.com/7AOJopgQOB Bridge Project (@BridgeProject21) November 4, 2016 Giulianis former law firm, then called Bracewell & Giuliani, was also general counsel to the FBI Agents Association, which represents 13,000 current and former agents. Giuliani left the firm in early 2016. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. (Get this roundup directly in your inbox each weekday sign up for The Morning Email here.) TOP STORIES Friday, May 4 IVANKA OFF LIMITS Rudy Giuliani has warned special counsel Robert Mueller not to target Ivanka Trump in his probe but said her husband, Jared Kushner, is disposable. Trumps new legal chief has also said that any interview the president gives to Mueller should be limited to a few hours and specific questions about the 2016 election. [HuffPost] [Tweet | Share on Facebook] PENINSULA PULLBACK Trump has reportedly ordered the Department of Defense to draw up plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. [HuffPost] WHITE HOUSE WARNING The Trump administration has warned Beijing against its growing militarization in the South China Sea, following reports of missile deployments to three islands in the disputed region. [CNN] RUDYS AWAKENING Giulianis revelation that Trump knew all along about the hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels is yet another reminder that Trump lies all the time. Even hosts on Fox News are growing tired of the deceit, with Neil Cavuto slamming Trump Thursday: You didnt know about that $130,000 payment to a porn star until you did. [HuffPost] PROFITEER IN CHIEF The RNC and other Republican committees and candidates have spent nearly $2 million of their donors money at hotels and resorts that directly enrich Trump. [HuffPost] HAWAII HELL Hawaiis Kilauea volcano erupted Friday, with lava flows sparking mandatory evacuations in neighborhoods across the island. [HuffPost] WHATS BREWING SCIENTISTS FLEE Six leading U.S. climate researchers have been selected for French President Emmanuel Macrons Make Our Planet Great Again initiative and will move to France to carry out cutting-edge work on climate change. [HuffPost] PRIZE POSTPONED This years Nobel Prize for literature has been postponed for 12 months in the wake of a sexual misconduct scandal at the Swedish academy. [HuffPost] Story continues HAPPY HUCKABEE White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she is doing great despite comedian Michelle Wolfs slams during the White House Correspondents Association dinner. Tina Fey jumped into the controversy Thursday, claiming Wolf simply did her job. [HuffPost] AL GIORDANO PROBE We investigated claims veteran journalist and liberal activist Al Giordano sexually harassed young women who attended his School of Authentic Journalism. [HuffPost] OSCAR SAYS OUT The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has expelled Roman Polanski and Bill Cosby because they have failed to live up to its ethical standards. [HuffPost] REALITY BITES The number of Americans who have gotten sick from mosquito, tick and flea bites more than tripled from 2004 to 2016, but the CDC refuses to blame climate change. [HuffPost] BEFORE YOU GO And love this newsletter? Share it with a friend! Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Just nine days after the arrival of her new brother, Princess Charlotte now the middle child of Prince William and Kate Middleton celebrated her third birthday Wednesday. Kensington Palace marked the occasion by posting a headshot of the little princess on social media. Wishing a happy third birthday to Princess Charlotte thank you all for your lovely messages! pic.twitter.com/IpLwFXveHp Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 2, 2018 The photo was taken in January when she started nursery school and was being re-shared with followers. Princess Charlotte is fourth in line to the throne and is rumored to be the flower girl to her uncle, Prince Harry, when he marries Meghan Markle on May 19. Princess Charlotte was the flower girl for her aunt, Pippa Middleton, when she wed race car driver James Matthews last May. The young princess has been charming crowds since she was a baby. Last week, she delighted onlookers outside St. Marys Hospital in London by waving as she visited her baby brother, Prince Louis. When her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, turned 90 in 2016, Charlotte was in awe of the Royal Air Force flying over Buckingham Palace. When her parents marked her first birthday in 2016, they posted images of her pushing around toys in a pink dress and another shot of her wearing a knit sweater, which had social media gushing. "So much sweetness. Thank you so much for sharing," one follower commented. Story continues Another wrote: "She is SO cute!! Looks so much like her brother!!" The toddler has also become a fashion icon in her short time on earth. After the princess turned 2, Kensington Palace released an image of her in a $23 yellow sweater from British retailer John Lewis, which promptly sold out. The Duke and Duchess are delighted to share a new photograph of Princess Charlotte to mark her second birthday tomorrow pic.twitter.com/0Xftc3EFPz Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 1, 2017 Princess Charlotte shares her birthday with another British icon David Beckham, who turned 43 Wednesday. After Charlottes parents welcomed Prince Louis, the former England skipper congratulated the couple and the whole royal family on Instagram. RELATED STORIES The Royal Line of Succession: 16 Brits in Line for the Throne: View the Gallery Royal Wedding Poses on the Famous Buckingham Palace Balcony: View the Gallery Royal Births: Christening Photos Through the Ages: View the Gallery Related Articles: A series of earthquakes rippled through a volcano-stricken island of Hawaii, where residents had already fled what one called a "curtain of fire". Earthquakes have shaken the archipelago's Big Island for days, setting off lava flows and prompting warnings from authorities. A 6.9 magnitude quake followed closely after a 5.8 magnitude event in the afternoon, both occurring near a town whose residents already faced mandatory evacuations due to bubbling lava Some 1,700 people were ordered from their homes as lava issued from the Kilaue volcano. More than 100 of them were staying in shelters as the danger showed no immediate signs of receding. Molten lava flowed from newly active fissures in Leilani Estates, a community of just over 1,500 people. Later in the day a magnitude 5.8 earthquake shook an area some 10.5 miles away, continuing a week of geologic volatility. Governor David Ige declared a state of emergency, noting that the lava flow was expected to continue advancing. The danger is of such magnitude that it warrants preemptive and protective action in order to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the residents of Leilani Estates and surrounding areas, Mr Ige said in a statement. His order activated the National Guard and deployed them to protect some 770 structures vacated by fleeing residents. The vent spilling lava towards homes has been active for decades since it first erupted in 1983, and Mr Ige cautioned that past lava flows had displaced people and destroyed homes. A new fissure estimated to be about 150m (492ft) long issued lava and bursts of gas for about two hours, imperilling areas downslope. Vents in Leilani Estates remained active the following morning, with scientists noting that at least three fissures had opened and predicting additional outbreaks. Officials warned residents that extremely high levels of sulfur dioxide had been detected and urged them to evacuate. Elderly residents, young people, and others with respiratory issues should leave the area immediately, officials said. Story continues County of Hawaii mayor Harry Kim told reporters at least two homes had been surrounded by lava, noting that people had been awoken by sirens warning them of sulfur fumes. Hopefully we will minimise the impact as much as we can. Its our job, he said. Multiple schools were shuttered and flights were restricted across the the affected area. Lava could be seen leaping and pouring smoke into the air as authorities directed traffic in a residential area. Drone footage captured by resident Jeremiah Osuna showed a glowing channel snaking through the forest and leaving a fiery pool spreading across a road. It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could. You could just smell sulfur and burning trees and underbrush and stuff, adding that the eruption resembled resembled a curtain of fire. The Federal Emergency Management Organisation was marshalling resources and keeping watch for forest fires, power outages and threats to water supplies, senator Brian Schatz said. Authorities had warned residents that danger was imminent and that they should be prepared to evacuate after a series of earthquakes reverberated through the island, including an estimated 5.0 tremor at about 10:30 am on Thursday. The Puu Oo crater collapsed earlier in the week, shooting a plume of ash skyward and sending a mass of magma under a highway and towards populated areas. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to delay their honeymoon after wedding [Photo: Getty] Today, Kensington Palace revealed more details about the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Among the good news that Meghans dad Thomas J. Markle WILL be attending (despite her brother saying he wasnt even invited) and walking her down the aisle. Today we have provided an update on the Wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle. Read the full statement here: https://t.co/bhrPnJtrNm Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 4, 2018 Its also been said that the royal couple will be delaying going on their honeymoon until atleast a week after the wedding. The happy couple will postpone their honeymoon to carry out their first official engagement as husband and wife the week after the #RoyalWedding #HarryandMeghan Emily Nash (@emynash) May 4, 2018 This is in order for the pair to carry out their first royal engagement as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Its also potential theyre delaying their romantic trip as Meghans parents Doria Radlan and Thomas J. Markle will be in London and they wish to spend some time showing them around and introducing them to the family. The official statement from Kensington Palace, explained: Thomas Markle and Ms. Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harrys family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day. Harry and Meghan are rumoured to be spending their honeymoon in Namibia, though others speculate they might return to Botswana, where they said they fell in love under the stars. Story continues The pair might also head over to the Philippines, as it was listed as one of the former actresss dream destinations on her now-deleted blog, The Tig. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Read more from Yahoo Style UK: Harry and Meghan take note, this is where royal newlyweds spent their honeymoon From royal rebellion to fashion influence: The striking similarities between Princess Diana and Meghan Markle From afternoon tea to rooftop screenings: The best ways to celebrate the royal wedding Prince Harry and Meghan Markles royal wedding: The date, details and latest news When Justice's was found, his penis had prolapsed due to severe frostbite: Animal Legal Defence Fund 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. 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. Iggy Azalea is standing up for herself. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Iggy Azalea is a divisive figure in the music industry, with many accusing her of appropriating black culture. But if you think the Australian rapper might back down or find a new career, youre sorely mistaken. One fan found that out the hard way after praising a racy new photo shoot featuring the Black Widow performer and commenting, Iggy Azalea needs [to] leave the mic and model more. Iggy Azealia needs leave the mic and model more, these shots are pic.twitter.com/UbK4bREmcU Dian (@thedoseofdian) May 2, 2018 The tweet which fetched 48,000 likes may have been intended as a compliment, but Azalea herself didnt see it that way. She promptly fired back a fiery response to the poster, accusing her of trying to shut women up. Stop telling women Look pretty & stop having a voice in 2018. You may not like my music but many do. next time you give a back handed compliment, try not to make it one that looks like youre low key into objectifying & silencing women. Its gross. https://t.co/IaR9ByE14s IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) May 3, 2018 Her rant got mixed reactions. Many accused Azalea of overreacting and noted that the poster had the right to not enjoy her music. Girlit's not that deep. She didn't come for womenshe came for youshe told you to stop music. Not all women. Khuli (@BitchesFinito) May 3, 2018 Many as the 16 people buying your music ? Youre thinking too much, we dont wanna silence you we just sayin that you look way better than you sound MUSICALLY Sehm-Li (@SehmeeR) May 3, 2018 Youre looking way too far into this I think. I dont think you should stop making music, but I dont think this person implied you should stop having a voice. And this person liking your modeling instead of your music doesnt mean theyre objectifying and silencing women. Christopher M. (@WNxChris) May 3, 2018 Modeling is also a well-established career. Learn how to take a compliment, considering the rarity of the occasion. S (@lushlegacy) May 3, 2018 But other fans cheered the rapper as a feminist queen and commented that female musicians are often expected to portray a sexy image, which then defines them. Azaleas statement is a reminder that women can be powerful and pretty, her supporters claim. Story continues Thank you for taking the time to express how many women feel! Heather Langerak (@HeatherLangerak) May 3, 2018 Drag them sis its time for them to understand u can do both prove them that with ur new music johnathan (@johnathan2021) May 3, 2018 Girl power or overreaction? Either way, the message is clear: Dont come for Iggy Azalea. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Indiana voters will head to the polls May 8 for 2018 primary elections. Southern Indiana voters will cast ballots for Republican candidates for U.S. Senate and sixth and ninth congressional district and local races. (Uncontested races are not listed) Senate Republican primary race: Indiana's U.S. Senate Republic primary is up for grabs in a three-way race between Rep. Luke Messer of the Sixth District and Rep. Todd Rokita of the Fourth District and businessman and former State Rep. Mike Braun of Jasper. The winner of the Republican primary advances to face Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, who is unopposed in the primary. All nine of Indiana's congressional seats are on the ballot in Tuesdays primary. 9th District primary races: Ninth District incumbent Republican Rep. Trey Hollingsworth faces one challenger in his first bid for re-election, James Dean Alspach. Three Democrats, Dan Canon, Rob Chatlos and Liz Watson, are vying for a spot on the ballot in November. Canon is a civil rights lawyer who went before the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark gay marriage case. Chatlos is a truck driver. Watson is also an attorney and former labor policy advisor to Democrats in Congress. The Ninth District has been held by Republicans since 2010 when now-Sen. Todd Young beat incumbent Baron Hill. 6th District primary races: With Republican Rep. Luke Messers run for Senate, the 6th District seat is up for grabs with crowded primaries on either side. On the Republican side, Vice President Mike Pences brother, Greg Pence, and Mike Campbell, Jonathan Lamb, Stephen MacKenzie and Jeff Smith are competing for the nomination. The Democrat side features a six-candidate field of George Holland, Jeannine Lee Lake, K. (Jason) Lave, Jim Pruett, Lane Siekman and Joshua Williamson. After the polls close, see local results by clicking on the links below: Clark County Floyd County Harrison County Crawford County Jackson County Jefferson County Jennings County Lawrence County Scott County Washington County Chicago (AFP) - The governor of the US state of Iowa signed into law Friday a ban on abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which occurs as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The bill, approved by the Midwestern state's Republican-controlled legislature just two days earlier, was expected to trigger a legal battle, which conservatives hope will land the flashpoint social issue back at the US Supreme Court. "I understand and anticipate that this will likely be challenged in court," Republican Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement after the signing. "However, this is bigger than just a law. This is about life. I am not going to back down from who I am or what I believe in," she said. Considered the most restrictive in the country, critics say the so-called "fetal heartbeat" law will deny abortions to many women before they even know they are pregnant -- with an exception for victims of rape or incest. The state legislature approved the bill Wednesday after heated debate. "We are taking a courageous step... to tell the nation that Iowa will defend its most vulnerable," Republican state legislator Shannon Lundgren said on the House floor. Beth Wessel-Koreschell, a Democratic legislator, countered that lawmakers believe "they know more than the medical experts on what is good medical practice." - 'Clearly unconstitutional' - Abortion foes hailed the law 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. But the Supreme Court has previously been hostile to "heartbeat" laws. In 2016, the high court rejected appeals by both North Dakota and Arkansas to preserve similar abortion restrictions, which had been struck down by lower courts. The law's supporters in Iowa argued that the Republican administration of President Donald Trump may have an opportunity to appoint more conservatives to the high court in the next few years, just in time for this latest law to wind through the legal system. Story continues As if on cue, the American Civil Liberties Union on Friday announced plans to file a lawsuit. "The ACLU of Iowa, along with Planned Parenthood, will not let this stand and will file a lawsuit to block this clearly unconstitutional law," the civil rights group said on Twitter. The debate over abortion rights continues to rage across the country, especially in areas where conservatives are in power. 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. The previously most restrictive abortion ban was enacted in March in the Southern state of Mississippi. It 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. In the latest attack against a womans right to choose, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law the most restrictive abortion ban in the U.S. Earlier this week, the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature passed a so-called heartbeat bill banning abortion at around six weeks of gestation, when most women dont even know theyre pregnant. Reproductive justice advocates say the legislation, which only provides few exceptions, would effectively make abortion illegal in the state. Reynolds, an anti-abortion lawmaker, signed the bill on Friday. Though banning abortion at (and beyond) six weeks is popular among anti-choice lawmakers, passing this type of legislation is not that easy. For example, a similar effort in Ohio failed in 2016 when Republican Gov. John Kasich vetoed the state's "heartbeat bill." This is a sad day for women and families in Iowatheir legislature and governor has thrown away their ability to plan their families and their futures. Banning abortion before most women even know theyre pregnant, this law will undoubtedly be challenged by the courts like other unconstitutional abortion bans before it," NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement provided to Refinery29. She added: "This law is not just about the women and families of Iowa, its about all Americans having the right to decide if, when, and how to have a family. This should be deeply concerning to anyone who believes women should be allowed to make decisions about their bodies and control their destinies, and we now look to the courts to defend our essential human rights." Abortion rates have declined nationwide in the last years, but research has found the procedure is still fairly common: About one in four women will have an abortion by the age of 45. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 91.7% of abortions take place in the first trimester. Before the six-week ban, Iowa was one of over a dozens states to prohibit abortion at 20 weeks of gestation. Story continues The new law has an exception for survivors of rape or incest, but it comes with a few caveats. In order to be allowed to undergo the procedure, the pregnant person would have to report the rape to the authorities or a physician within 45 days of the incident." Those who find themselves pregnant because of incest would have a period of 140 days to report the situation in order to be allowed an abortion. Iowas new ban is just one of many new abortion restrictions that have been pushed forward in recent months. Mississippi recently banned abortion at 15 weeks, though a federal judge blocked the law. In Ohio, anti-choice lawmakers introduced a total ban on abortion and proposed to charge with murder a crime punishable by the death penalty in the state both physicians who provide abortion care and women who undergo the procedure. Reproductive health advocates say anti-choice lawmakers have been emboldened by the Trump administration, since President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have been open about their desire to overturn Roe v. Wade. The law is likely to be challenged in court. Pro-choice advocates say it is unconstitutional, since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a woman's right to choose an abortion before viability in 1992. (Most researchers have said a fetus is not considered viable before 20 weeks of pregnancy.) Since that ruling, banning abortion before the 20-week mark has been interpreted by the courts as unconstitutional. Politicians in Iowa are hell bent on controlling womens bodies, taking away our rights, and blocking access to health care. People will not stand for it, and we will not stand for it," Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement provided to Refinery29. "Now is the time for us to unite and fight for every persons right to access the care they need. Gov. Reynolds, well see you in court. We will fight for our patients rights and access to care with everything weve got. This story was originally published on May 2 at 9:20 a.m. It has since been updated. Read these stories next: How Do Pro-Life Latinas Feel About Abortion? It's Complicated Why The Anti-Abortion Movement Is Treating Cardi B Like A Hero "You're Not Alone": Why Women Are Speaking Out About Their Abortions Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? New Hampshire Passed A Bill Protecting Transgender People Republican Mayor Faces Recall Vote After Taunting David Hogg On Twitter The South Carolina Senate Voted To Outlaw Almost All Abortions By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday U.S. demands to change its 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers were unacceptable as a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Europeans to "fix" the deal loomed. Trump has warned that unless European allies rectify the "terrible flaws" in the international accord by May 12, he will refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief for the oil-producing Islamic Republic. "Iran will not renegotiate what was agreed years ago and has been implemented," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a video message posted on YouTube. Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord as is, but now, in efforts to keep Washington in it, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile programme, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when key provisions of the deal expire - and its role in Middle East crises such as Syria and Yemen. A senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned Europeans on Thursday over "revising" the nuclear deal, under which Iran strictly limited its enrichment of uranium to help allay fears this could be put to producing atomic bomb material, and won major sanctions relief in return. "Even if U.S. allies, especially the Europeans, try to revise the deal..., one of our options will be withdrawing from it," state television quoted Ali Akbar Velayati as saying. The European signatories to the deal have been trying to persuade Trump to save the pact, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama. They argue it is crucial to forestalling a destabilising Middle East arms race and that Iran has been abiding by its terms, a position also taken by U.S. intelligence assessments and the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. Zarif said: "Let me make it absolutely clear and 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." Story continues Referring to Trump's past as a property magnate, Zarif added, "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 renegotiate the price." Defying Western demands, Iran has repeatedly said it has no intention of reducing its imprint in Middle East affairs and its missile capabilities, which it has said are defensive in nature and have nothing to with nuclear activity covered by the deal. "It now appears that ... some Europeans have been offering more concessions from our pocket," Zarif said. "This appeasement (of Trump) entails a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations." Zarif, speaking in English in the YouTube video, said the United States had "consistently violated the nuclear deal, particularly by bullying others to prevent businesses from returning to Iran". Major European banks and businesses continue to shun the Islamic Republic for fear of falling foul of remaining U.S. sanctions, hampering Iran's efforts to rebuild foreign trade and lure much-needed foreign investment to its economy. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Mark Heinrich) By Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's powerful top Shi'ite cleric suggested on Friday that he had not abandoned his opposition to ex-prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is bidding to return to power in elections on May 12. Making a rare intervention in politics, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani used his weekly sermon to tell Iraqis they should "avoid falling into the trap of those ... who are corrupt and those who have failed, whether they have been tried or not". Sistani, whose opinion is sacrosanct for millions in Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim majority and beyond, said he was keeping an "equal distance" from all candidates and did not identify any of them by name in his sermon, read by one of his envoys, Sheikh Abdulmehdi al-Karbalai, and broadcast on television. But the reference to Maliki was clear from his mention of the collapse of security forces in the face of Islamic State militants in 2014, when Maliki was in power. Sistani successfully blocked Maliki from taking the premiership after winning the 2014 election, paving the way for the appointment of the current prime minister, Haider al-Abadi. "Past electoral experiments were marked by failures, many of those who were elected or appointed to high positions in the government abused their power and took part in spreading corruption and squandering public money," Sistani also said. Abadi successfully led the campaign to defeat Islamic State, last year recapturing the city of Mosul, their main stronghold in northern Iraq, with the backing of a U.S.-led coalition. THREE-WAY FIGHT The May 12 election is shaping up as a three-way contest between Abadi, Maliki and Hadi al-Amiri, a former transportation minister who bolstered his clout during the war on Islamic State as the commander of Shi'ite paramilitary forces aligned with Abadi's government. Abadi, a Shi'ite, was quick to welcome Sistani's sermon, tweeting his "total support for the instructions given by the Supreme Religious Reference at Friday prayers." In a veiled reference to Maliki, Abadi added: "We note in particular (Sistani's) call for the widest participation in the election and making the correct choice after reviewing the past record of candidates, mainly those who held official positions." Maliki's group in parliament, State of Law, also welcomed Sistani's sermon as if it were not directed against him. "State of Law welcomes Sayyid Sistani's speech which contains precious instructions and advice to all the children of the Iraqi people," it said in a statement. The election victor will face daunting tasks of rebuilding the war-shattered country and a battle against entrenched corruption that is eating away at its oil revenue. Baghdad says at least $100 billion will be needed to reconstructing houses, businesses and infrastructure destroyed in the war. Maliki, who holds the ceremonial position of vice-president, remains one of the most influential Shi'ite politicians in his capacity as leader of the Dawa party. Though Abadi is a Dawa member, Maliki declined to endorse him, and the competition between the two means they would need to seek the support of other Shi'ite parties, as well as Sunni and Kurdish groups, to form governing coalitions. The prime minister heads Iraq's executive, a post reserved for Shi'ites under a power-sharing understanding put in place after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim. The unwritten accord gives Kurds the mainly ceremonial position of president of the Republic, while Sunnis fill the position of parliament speaker. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Karbala (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraq's highest Shiite authority, whose opinions carry great weight in the country, on Friday urged voters not to re-elect "corrupt" MPs during next week's national elections. Abdel Mehdi al-Karbalai, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, issued the call during weekly Friday prayers in the holy city of Karbala. He said Iraqis who will vote in the May 12 polls should not re-elect candidates from among MPs and officials who have already held government jobs and proved to be "corrupt and failing". Iraq is ranked the 12th most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International. More than 24 million Iraqis are registered to elect 320 deputies from a field of around 7,000 candidates on May 12, with 71 seats reserved for the capital. According to the electoral commission, only 20 percent of the candidates are newcomers. Karbalai said voters should "avoid falling into the trap of those who want to fool you", including "those whom you have known" -- a reference to outgoing MPs and other officials running in the polls. Political analyst Aziz Jaber said Karbalai's remarks targeted "heads of lists who have held government jobs and MPs such as vice-presidents Nuri al-Maliki and Ayad Allawi". Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi -- accused by critics of failing to tackle rampant corruption in Iraq -- heads one of the main lists and hopes to be re-elected. Shiite religious parties have come to play a greater role in the years since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Sistani, whose opinions are widely respected among Shiites, mobilised tens of thousands of men to join paramilitary units of the Hashed al-Shaabi, which played a crucial role in defeating the Islamic State group in Iraq. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Israel on Friday dropped out of a race for a Security Council seat in 2019 and 2020 following a campaign by Arab states at the United Nations to block the bid. The decision leaves the path clear for Germany and Belgium to take the two seats available for countries of the Western Europe and Others group when the General Assembly votes next month. "After consulting with our partners, including our good friends, the state of Israel has decided to postpone its candidacy for a seat on the Security Council," said a statement from the Israeli mission. It was Israel's first attempt to win a seat at the 15-member council. Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said last month that Arab countries were "doing everything possible to convince as many countries as possible to block the vote on Israel's bid for a seat at the Security Council." South Africa and the Dominican Republic are set to win two of the five seats up for election. Indonesia and the Maldives will be competing for one seat representing the Asia-Pacific group of countries. The Security Council is made up of five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- while the ten other seats are filled by elected members that serve two-year stints. Kanye West performs in September 2016 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images) With Kanye Wests wild antics as of late, its easy to forget he actually makes music. Kim Kardashians husband appears on Travis Scotts new song Watch, and as usual, his lyrics are buzzy. (Kylie Jenner also makes a cameo on her baby daddys song, but if youre not listening closely, you might miss it.) Wanna know how I feel? Step into my minefield/ Wanna know how pain feels? I got off my main pills, West raps. Bet my wifey stay close, she know Im on my Bezos/ Opioid addiction, pharmacys the real trap/ Sometimes I feel trapped, Jordan with no Phil Jack. This week, West, 40, opened up about battling opioid addiction before his 2016 breakdown. He also admitted doctors prescribed him a handful of other medications after his hospitalization but didnt specify what the pills were for. Two days before I was in the hospital I was on opioids. I was addicted to opioids, West shouted during his controversial appearance on TMZ Live. I had plastic surgery because I was trying to look good for yall. I got liposuction because I didnt want yall to call me fat like yall called Rob [Kardashian] at the wedding and made him fly home before me and Kim got married. I didnt want yall to call me fat, so I got liposuction. West was put on a psychiatric hold, the Associated Press reported at the time, after he abruptly canceled his Life of Pablo tour in November 2016. I was taking two pills a day at that time. When I left the hospital how many pills do you think I was given? Seven, West exclaimed. I went from taking two pills to taking seven. These pills that they want me to take three of a day, I take one a week, maybe, two a week. Yall had me scared of myself, of my vision, so I took some pills so I wouldnt go to the hospital and prove everyone right. The rapper hasnt discussed what if anything he was diagnosed with, causing him to be prescribed multiple medications. However, reports claim he hasnt been taking the pills and that this led to rants like Tuesdays, when he declared slavery was a choice. Story continues Hes refused to take his meds, and thats where hes been, for the last couple of weeks leading into last week, so almost a month now that its been, a source claims to People. Its sad. Kim hasnt publicly reacted to her husbands controversial remarks about slavery. A source told Yahoo Entertainment that behind closed doors she was concerned but will stand publicly united with her husband. Last week, she denounced the media for publicly speculating on Wests health. To the media trying to demonize my husband let me just say this your commentary on Kanye being erratic & his tweets being disturbing is actually scary. So quick to label him as having mental health issues for just being himself when he has always been expressive is not fair Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) April 25, 2018 As you heard from Ye, his wifey is clearly supportive. Then again, this verse was likely put together before everything that happened this week. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Olympia Coffee Roasting Company opens its fifth location today in the historic Proctor neighborhood in the north end of Tacoma, Washington. This is the company's first retail location in co-owner Oliver Stormshak's hometown and their second outside of Olympia (their shop in West Seattle opened earlier this year). Stormshak recalls visiting Tacoma cafes growing up in the 90s. Tacoma cafes played a huge role in shaping me as a coffee professional. Temple of the Bean was my personal favorite while I was in high school, Stormshak tells us (Temple of the Bean is now Cosmonaut). Our Westside Olympia location is greatly inspired by that cafe. I loved Cafe WA's space which is now our friends at Bluebeard. Shakabrah's original location was a great place to hang out with friends, couches, good music, open mics. I remember Duane Sorenson (we went to high school together and our mothers work together) who would found Stumptown making me ice mochas. I met my wife in Buzz City, a coffeehouse on the corner of I and Division at a record release party for Katie's Dimples. Olympia Coffee Roasting's new space, designed and built-out by The Artisans Group, features a La Marzocco Strada AV espresso machine, customized by Pantechnicon Designs, FETCO batch brew, and pour-over via the Poursteady automated dripper. Roasting will be done on-site using a custom-made Diedrich IR-5 Kilo Roaster. Customers have an opportunity to sit and watch the roasting take place on barstools with a view. A blend created for the Tacoma cafe called Little Buddy is named after Stormshaks sisters 1986 Honda Civic which, according to their press release, cruised around Tacoma in the 90s. Hours are Monday to Friday 5am to 7pm, Saturday 6am to 7pm, and Sunday 7am to 6pm. A grand opening celebration takes place Saturday, May 12th with artisanal goods neighbor Lapis. Stormshak tells us to expect snacks, music, libations, and free brewed coffee all day. I always dreamed of owning a coffee roastery, growing up. I always imagined it would be in Tacoma, in Proctor, says Stormshak. Even though this is our fifth location this is truly a lifelong dream for me. Zachary Carlsen is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Zachary Carlsen on Sprudge. Photos by Poppi Photography provided by Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. Former FBI director James Comey took a quick break from his A Higher Loyalty book tour, to take out his knife, after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now a member of President Donald Trumps Robert Mueller-preparedness legal team, stuck a shiv in the New York FBI. 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 tweeted. Our country would be better off if our leaders tried to be like them, rather than comparing them to Nazis, he added. Giuliani had compared the bureaus New York team to Nazis late Wednesday during an interview with Fox News primetime star Sean Hannity. In discussing the NDA payment Trumps personal attorney Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels, Giuliani brought up the FBI agents who raided Cohens office, home and hotel room. He called the settlement payment a very regular thing for lawyers to do. The question there was, the only possible violation there would be: Was it a campaign finance violation? Which usually results in a fine, by the way, not this big stormtroopers coming in and breaking down his apartment and breaking down his office, Giuliani told 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 doesnt matter and the President reimbursed that over the period of several months, he continued, stumping Hannity, since Trumps position had been that he knew nothing about a payment having been made and no knowledge of Stormy Daniels, who claims she and Trump had an affair more than a decade ago. Comeys tweet and clip of Giulianis interview: 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. Our country would be better off if our leaders tried to be like them, rather than comparing them to Nazis. James Comey (@Comey) May 3, 2018 Story continues Related Video: Giuliani May Have Opened New Legal Liability for Trump Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. Related stories Jimmy Kimmel Enlists Mike Myers To Probe "Raid" On Dr. Bornstein Office Donald Trump Tweets Damage Control After Rudy Giuliani's 'Hannity' Interview Michael Avenatti Unveils "New Evidence" In Stormy Daniels Case On Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' May the Fourth be with you. Star Wars fans around the world are celebrating what has come to be known as Star Wars Day, thanks to how much May the Fourth sounds like the iconic phrase May the Force be with you. Lucasfilm and parent Walt Disney have been celebrating this pun-tastic day with special themed events, celebrations, and sales. That got us to wondering: Exactly how many times is May the Force be with you actually uttered in the films? So we sat down and watched all nine feature films so far (work, work, work) and started tallying. The result: May the Force has only been said 24 times in the Star Wars live-action films. Perhaps most surprising is that the character who first said the iconic line wasnt Obi-Wan Kenobi or Luke Skywalker but the Rebellion leader Jan Dodonna in the 1977 original. And the second person to utter the phrase onscreen is none other than Force-agnostic Han Solo. In fact, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker only ever says the line once and its offscreen, to Lando in The Empire Strikes Back. His sister, Leia, also says the full phrase only once, and that is in The Force Awakens. The person who says it the most? That honor belongs to Rogue Ones blind hero Chirrut Imwe, who repeats the variation May the Force of others be with you four times offscreen. Another recently introduced character is the runner-up: Vice Admiral Holdo dispenses it three times in The Last Jedi. Meanwhile, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Mace Windu each delivered a May the Force twice in the prequel trilogy. Whether well hear the phrase in Solo: A Star Wars Story later this month remains to be seen. After all, while Han flew from one side of the galaxy to the other and saw a lot of strange stuff, he never saw anything that made him believe there was one all-powerful Force controlling everything. And for those of you who enjoy the dark side, remember tomorrow is Revenge of the Fifth. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: New York (AFP) - The London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's most widely traveled classical institutions, announced Friday that it would tour South America for the first time. Led by star conductor Simon Rattle, the leading British orchestra will travel in May 2019 to Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. The orchestra will perform 60 concerts overseas in the 2018-19 season and plans a new major tour of Asia this year. But it had held off on South America, a decision that in the past was partly linked to security concerns. The orchestra made the announcement in New York where it will perform all three late symphonies by Gustav Mahler starting Friday. "For me, Mahler was what first made me want to be a conductor. I'm of the generation who can remember when Mahler was new and wonderful," Rattle told reporters ahead of the concerts. The 63-year-old said that Mahler was little played in Britain until the 1960s and that, on hearing his momentous Symphony No. 3, "All of us just thought that the heavens had opened." Mahler wrote his last three works -- Symphony No. 9, Symphony No. 10 and "Das Lied von der Erde" ("The Song of the Earth") -- in his final years after he fled anti-Semitism in Vienna for the United States, where he led the New York Philharmonic. One of the last of the great Romantic composers, Mahler wrote the three pieces in despair as he suffered heart illness and mourned his daughter who had died in Austria of scarlet fever. Mahler, who died in 1911 before any of the three works was performed, was influenced as he composed by the sounds of New York, with a policeman's funeral inspiring the percussion at the end of Symphony No. 10 and Chinese music infusing "Das Lied von der Erde." Rattle, who said he has conducted Symphony No. 10 more than 100 times, found it "extraordinary" to perform the works in New York. "They were conceived in New York, they have so much to do with new York, but yet he never heard a note," Rattle said. Lima (AFP) - Peruvian prosecutors probing the lynching of a Canadian man in a remote area in the Amazon jungle said on Thursday they had concluded he was responsible for the fatal shooting of a female shaman. "The perpetrator of the death of the Shipibo leader was the Canadian citizen," a spokesman for the prosecutors' office in the Amazon town of Pucallpa told AFP. The body of the Canadian, Sebastian Paul Woodroffe, 42, was discovered April 21 in the Ucayali region of northeastern Peru bordering Brazil, not far from where the 81-year-old indigenous shaman, Olivia Arevalo, had been killed two days earlier outside her home. Grisly footage of Woodroffe's death at the hands of a mob circulated on social media. In the video, a man is seen trying to put a black rope around the neck of another man slumped in a puddle with blood on his face who tries -- unsuccessfully -- to fight him off. "Please, no!" he mumbles in Spanish, as someone can be heard saying: "You asked for it." Prosecutors had said the cause of Woodroffe's death was strangulation, noting there was also evidence of multiple other injuries. Woodroffe had been living in the area for about two years and had acquired 20 hectares (50 acres) of land there, Peruvian media said. Inca said gunpowder found on the Canadian's clothes was "the main proof" that he shot Arevalo. "The motives of the murder cannot be known. He is already dead. The only thing that has been determined is who killed the lady," the spokesman said. The prosecutors' office said two men suspected of being involved in Woodroffe's lynching -- both members of Arevalo's community -- were being sought, with rewards of $6,200 for each of them. Within her Shipibo-Konibo community, Arevalo was a healer widely revered for her knowledge of traditional medicine who was believed to have special powers. Antananarivo (AFP) - Madagascar on Friday scrapped part of new electoral laws that have sparked nearly two weeks of protests, its highest court said, after the opposition accused the government of trying to elbow them out of the race ahead of a general election later this year. Several elements of the laws, including the revision of electoral lists and the length of campaigns, went "against the constitution", according to a post on the court's website. The opposition had argued the new laws benefited incumbent President Hery Rajaonarimampianina and called for his resignation seven months ahead of polls on the Indian Ocean island. It came a day after the country's defence minister appealed to the warring political parties to reach an agreement, after anti-government protests erupted on April 21 in the capital Antananarivo. On the first day of demonstrations two people were killed and at least 16 people wounded, with the police accused of firing real bullets at the crowd. The large island, which has been beset by decades of political instability, is due to hold the election in late November or December. Conditions for presidential candidature and the use of single ballots were also among the details that have been dropped, the statement said. The opposition had alleged that the new laws could bar some candidates from standing in the presidential election. Elected in 2013, Rajaonarimampianina has not yet announced whether he will stand for re-election. But two former heads of state have already said they would contest: Marc Ravalomanana, who was president from 2002 to 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, who removed Ravalomanana during a coup. Both were barred from running in 2013 and their parties have been involved in the demonstrations. Representatives of both the president's party and of the opposition had met on Wednesday to try to find a solution to the crisis, but to no avail. You might be hearing this a lot today: May the Fourth be with you. Star Wars fans around the world are celebrating what has come to be known as Star Wars Day, thanks in no small part to how much May the Fourth sounds like the iconic phrase May the Force be with you. So, for the past few years the Walt Disney Company has been celebrating this pun-tastic day with special Star Wars events, celebrations, and sales. But while May the Force be with you is one of, if not the, most iconic line of the saga, just how often is the phrase actually said in the films? To answer this question, I sat down and watched all nine films so far8 Saga Episodes and 1 Story and found, much to my surprise, that May the Force has only been said 24 times in the Star Wars live-action films. What was perhaps surprising is the character who said the iconic line first wasnt Obi-Wan Kenobi or even Luke Skywalker but is in fact the Rebellion General Jan Dodonna. Whats even weirder is the second person to say the phrase onscreen is none other than Force-agnostic Han Solo. In fact, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker only ever says it once, and it was off-screen to Lando in The Empire Strikes Back. His sister Leia only ever says it fully once, and that was in The Force Awakens. The phrase is said the most in Rogue One thanks to Chirrut Imwe, who repeats the variation May the Force of other be with you four times off-screen, taking the crown as the character whos says the line the most. Vice Admiral Holdo is the runner up, saying it three times in The Last Jedi; while Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Mace Windu are tied for third, have said May the Force two times throughout the Prequel Trilogy. Whether well hear the phrase in Solo: A Star Wars Story in a couple of weeks remains to be seen because while Han flew from one side of the galaxy to the other and saw a lot of strange stuff, he never saw anything that made him believe there was one all powerful Force controlling everything. And for those of you who enjoy the Dark Side of the Force, fear not, tomorrow is Revenge of the Fifth. The two 19th century shipwrecks discovered in the hunt for the missing MH370 passenger jet are among the deepest and most remote ever found, an Australian scientist has told the Associated Press. The coal merchant shipsone wooden and one ironwere found around 21 miles apart and more than 2 miles below the surface of the Indian Ocean in 2015. Search teams initially hoped one of the wrecks marked the final resting place of the airliner that disappeared with 239 people aboard in March 2014. Recent analysis by experts at the Western Australian Museum may have dashed these hopes, but has shed light on two other long-forgotten tragedies. Trending: Iran and Russia Will Grow Closer If Trump Destroys Nuclear Deal, Official Says Shipwreck Australian Transport Safety Bureau Both shipwrecks remain unidentified, but using sonar and video data of the wrecks alongside shipping records, the scientists were able to suggest a list of missing vessels that fit the bill. Coal was found around both wrecks, marking them out as merchant craft using the Roaring 40s westerly winds to travel the important trading route from the northern hemisphere to Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. According to the Western Australian Museum curator of maritime archaeology Ross Anderson, a catastrophic event such as an explosion may have been to blame. Such accidents were a common concern on coal transport ships of the era. Don't miss: Republicans Who Voted Against Obamacare Could Lose in November, Poll Shows The wooden ship could be the missing brig W. Gordon or the barque Magdala. W. Gordon was on a voyage from the U.K. to Australia when it disappeared in 1877 with 10 crew aboard. Magdala was lost in 1882 while sailing from Wales to Indonesia. The iron ship could be one of three missing vessels: the Kooringa (1894), Lake Ontario (1897) or West Ridge (1883). Anderson said the West Ridgelost while sailing from the U.K. to India with 28 sailors in 1883is the most likely candidate. A sample taken from the wreck showed that the coal on the seabed was British. Story continues IOS-001 knees fastenings Australian Transport Safety Bureau Most popular: Trump NRA Speech: Live Stream, How To Watch That said, Anderson doubted that the identities of the two deepest wrecks found in the Indian Ocean would ever be confirmed without a wealthy private benefactor, because of their depth and remoteness. These are the deepest wrecks so far located in the Indian Ocean, theyre some of the most remote shipwrecks in the world, he said. The ships were found between 2.2 and 2.4 miles below the surface. The wrecks were around 1,450 miles from the west Australian coast. For reference, one of the most famous shipwrecks in historythe RMS Titanicsits at a depth of 2.37 miles, but a mere 370 miles off the Canadian coast in the Atlantic Ocean. The deepest wreck ever found is the SS Rio Grande, a World War Two German blockade runner sunk by American ships in the South Atlantic Ocean in January 1944. The wreck restes 3.57 miles below the ocean, and was discovered in 1996 using sonar technology and remotely operated vehicles. Given that around 95 percent of all oceans remain unexplored, there are no doubt deeper and more remote wrecks. As technology improves, more lost vessels will be found, whether through targeted searches oras in this caseaccidentally. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek After being interviewed by special counsel investigators on Wednesday, former aide to Donald Trump's presidential campaign Michael Caputo told CNN that Robert Mueller's team is "focused on Russia collusion." "It's clear they are still really focused on Russia collusion," Caputo said, adding, "They know more about the Trump campaign than anyone who ever worked there." Caputo, who advised the Trump campaign on communications in 2016, has long insisted he has no information about collusion between Trump's team and Russia. He spoke with Senate intelligence investigators on Tuesday for their Russia probe and outlined the differences between Congress' inquiries and the special counsel's. "The Senate and the House are net fishing," Caputo said. "The special counsel is spearfishing. They know what they are aiming at and are deadly accurate." Caputo lived and worked in Russia in the 1990s and later did business with Russian companies, including Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled energy giant. As a Republican consultant, Caputo worked with Trump adviser Roger Stone and Paul Manafort, the former campaign chairman. He denies any wrongdoing regarding Russia. Caputo is a longtime ally of Stone's, a close associate of Trump who has come under scrutiny in the Russian investigation because of Stone's contacts with WikiLeaks during the campaign. Caputo was interviewed behind closed doors on Tuesday as part of the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation. He was also interviewed last year by the House Intelligence Committee. Following the Senate meeting, Caputo passionately criticized the panel, charging that the probe has cost him $125,000 and is forcing him to move from the Buffalo area in order to pay off legal bills. "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," Caputo said in a prepared statement that he delivered at the end of the Senate interview, which was provided to CNN. "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," he added, concluding with, "I want to know because God Damn you to Hell." Caputo and other Trump associates have hired attorneys to deal with the various Russia investigations in Congress and by special counsel Mueller, often at a high price tag. CHICAGO (Reuters) - Michigan State University's heightened financial risk in the wake of a sex abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar led Moody's Investors Service to cut the school's credit rating to Aa2 from Aa1 on Thursday. The credit rating agency said the downgrade, which affects about $975 million of debt, was prompted by a growing number of lawsuits, federal and state probes, and Michigan legislation that could all hurt the university's finances. Plaintiffs and investigators question why the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where Nassar also worked, failed to probe complaints about him going back years. "We expect operating performance to thin over the short-term, with ongoing legal costs and university investment into enhanced risk management and governance issues increasing costs," Moody's said in a statement. A negative outlook reflects "uncertainty around timing of resolution of litigation and the magnitude of the financial and reputational ramifications to the university," it added. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nassar, a former faculty member and physician at an on-campus clinic at Michigan State University was sentenced in February to up to 125 years in prison after some 200 young women testified about decades of abuse at his hands. He had already received a sentence of up to 175 years in a different jurisdiction, and was sentenced to a 60-year federal term for child pornography convictions. In March, S&P Global Ratings revised the outlook on the university's AA-plus rating to negative from stable due to the fallout from the scandal. (Reporting by Karen Pierog; Editing by Richard Chang) A new report from the House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight revealed that as a candidate Eric Greitens had donors lists from two other campaign operations that were not reported on campaign finance reports. The House reports said now-Missouri Gov. Grietens had a donor list from a potential GOP rival, former state auditor Thomas Schweich. Schweich took his own life in 2015. A professional political fundraiser also gave a donor list linked to the Mitt Romney political operation to Greitens campaign shop. Greitens had also obtained a donor list from his charity -- The Mission Continues in 2014, well before he announced his campaign for governor. Greitens started The Mission Continues charity in 2007 to help veterans, But by 2014, he was moving away from its daily operation as he was preparing to run for governor. The detailed report said Greitens got the list without permission of the charity he formed, using list for political fundraising, despite the fact he signed a non-disclosure agreement with the charity not to do that. The non-disclosure agreement restricted use of the donor list to the activities of the charity. [ READ: Second Report of House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight ] The report said political fundraising was never approved by the charity. The report also examined the 2017 Missouri Ethics commission finding, where the governor and his campaign admit they received the list. The report to the ethics commission said it was an in-kind contribution made by campaign staffer Daniel Laub. However Laub testified he never worked for the charity. He said when a top Greitens aide, Austin Chambers, spoke to him about a complaint filed against the campaign for having the list, Chambers asked Laub, Can we put your name down? on the ethics commission report. Laub told investigators he was affirmatively misled by Chambers in why they wanted to use his name. Laub did not sign the report himself. The House report also said Laub told investigations that the Ethics Commission report from April 2018 was false in every particular. The report quoted Laub as saying, The whole document makes me sick. Last month, the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office indicted the governor, accusing him of tampering with a computer in connection to with Mission Continues donor list. By Steve Gorman (Reuters) - The Missouri General Assembly will convene a special session on May 18 to consider impeachment or any other discipline that a special House investigative panel may recommend against Governor Eric Greitens, legislative leaders announced on Thursday. The unprecedented move by the Republican-controlled legislature against Greitens, a first-term Republican governor, comes as he faces felony charges of invasion of privacy and computer tampering in separate criminal cases brought against him by prosecutors in St. Louis. The stage for the special session was set after a petition signed by at least three-fourths of the members of the state House of Representatives and the state Senate was presented to the Missouri secretary of state for certification, House Speaker Todd Richardson said. The petition was signed by 138 House members and 29 senators, comprising more than 80 percent of both bodies, Richardson told a news conference at the state capital in Jefferson City. Richardson said he expects the special House investigative committee, formed in February to examine misconduct allegations against the governor, to complete its work and present a final report to the Assembly during a special session that would begin May 18 and run for 30 days. The House and Senate are expected to complete their action on the panel's findings within that same time frame, he added. The petition process allowing the General Assembly to call itself into action when deemed necessary was established under a state constitutional amendment adopted by Missouri voters in 1988 and invoked for the first time this week, Richardson said. "The call of this historic act is for the sole purpose to consider the findings and recommendation of the House committee, including disciplinary actions against Governor Greitens," Richardson said. Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, among others, has said that findings presented in the House committee's initial report on April 11, detailing allegations of sexual coercion and physical abuse by Greitens, were grounds for impeachment. [L1N1RO26K] A second report issued on Wednesday concluded Greitens lied to the state ethics commission last year about how a donor list from a military veterans charity he founded in 2007 and ran for several years was obtained for use by his gubernatorial campaign. [L1N1S90LI] The Missouri state constitution counts "moral turpitude" as a impeachable conduct. Greitens, a former U.S. Navy Seal commando and onetime rising star in the Republican Party, has come under mounting pressure from Missouri politicians of both parties to resign since becoming embroiled in a sex scandal stemming from an admitted extramarital affair with a hairdresser. He has since come under renewed fire over questions raised by his use of the donor list to his former charity, The Mission Continues, when he was running for governor. Greitens has called the allegations in both instances part of a smear campaign orchestrated by his political opponents. He denies any criminal wrongdoing and has vowed to remain in office while he fights to clear his name in court. There was no immediate word from the governor or his legal team in response to Thursday's announcement, and Richardson said he had not spoken with Greitens during the day. Greitens was indicted in February on a single count of criminal invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a compromising photo without the consent of the woman with whom he was involved and threatening to blackmail her with it. Jury selection for a trial in that case is set to begin on May 10. Last month, prosecutors brought an unrelated charge of computer tampering against the governor, alleging he obtained and transmitted the donor list without the charity's consent for his own political gain. The charges in both cases are felonies punishable by up to four years in prison. Under Missouri law, any articles of impeachment would be proposed to the General Assembly by the special House committee. If the full House voted in favor of impeachment, the Senate would choose a special seven-judge panel to hear the charges presented by a House case manager and then vote whether to remove the governor from office. No Missouri governor has ever been impeached. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Sandra Maler and Darren Schuettler) Friday, May 4, 2018 What to watch today Friday will be highlighted by the April U.S. jobs report. Economists estimate 192,000 payrolls were added during the month, up from the 103,000 added in March. Wage growth will be closely watched. Average hourly earnings are estimated to have increased at 0.2% month-over-month or 2.7% year-over-year. But the week doesnt end with the jobs report. On Saturday, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger will lead the 2018 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting. Tune into Yahoo Finances exclusive livestream of the event at 9:45 a.m. ET, and listen for Buffett and Mungers takes in the economy, markets, politics, investing, and recent investments among other things. Read More Top news REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Files Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway bought stunning 75M Apple shares in 1Q: In the first quarter, Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) bought an astounding 75 million shares of Apple (AAPL). That adds to the 165.3 million shares Berkshire already owned at the end of 2017. Buffett revealed the additional purchases of Apple just ahead of the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, where 40,000 Berkshire shareholders will arrive this weekend. [CNBC] Ex-Volkswagen CEO charged in US over diesel scandal: The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday disclosed the filing of criminal charges against former Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, accusing him of conspiring to cover up the German automakers diesel emissions cheating. The indictment, filed in secret in March, was unsealed in U.S. District Court on Thursday as Volkswagen held its annual meeting in Germany. Winterkorn resigned days after the scandal over polluting vehicles in the United States became public in September 2015. [Reuters] Twitter urges all users to change passwords after glitch: Twitter (TWTR) urged its more than 330 million users to change their passwords after a glitch caused some to be stored in readable text on its internal computer system rather than disguised by a process known as hashing. [Reuters] Story continues Xerox says CEO, board will stay put: Xerox Corp. (XRX) said its board and management team will stay after an agreement it had reached with dissenting shareholders to oust them expired, adding another twist to a lengthy dispute over Fujifilm taking control of the U.S. company. The activists, Darwin Deason and Carl Icahn, confirmed that the agreement had expired, blamed Xerox for letting it dissolve and said they would continue to fight the company. [Reuters] China says big differences with US remain after talks: Chinese and American officials meeting in Beijing agreed to set up a mechanism to work through an escalating dispute over trade at the end of talks Friday, Chinese state media said. But it said big differences remain on some matters. The two sides reached consensus in some areas, but specifics were not provided. [AP] For more of the latest news, go to Yahoo Finance A person dressed up as Chewbacca character poses during a photocall to promote the new Star Wars Movie Solo: A Star Wars Story in Berlin, Germany, May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt Yahoo Finance Originals If Scott Pruitt were a CEO, hed be long gone Buffett: The surging cost of natural disasters isnt just about climate change Investors are ignoring a massive source of growth thats soon to come, expert says Tinder CEO on Facebooks dating service: They have an interesting set of baggage How to find secret discounted airfare Like what you just read? Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. And feel free to share it with a friend! The Morning Brief provides a quick rundown on what to watch in the markets, top news stories, and the best of Yahoo Finance Originals. A New Mexico mother said she believed her two sons were racially profiled after police were called over their presence on a campus tour at Colorado State University (CSU) on Monday. Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray said Thomas Kanewakeron Gray, 19, and Lloyd Skanahwati Gray, 17, who are Mohawk, had "scraped their dollars together" to take their family to Fort Collins to tour the Colorado State University campus because "it was their dream to study there." In a Facebook post, she wrote that during the tour, which the two teenagers had booked online, a parent in the group "got nervous" and called campus police on them because they were being "shy and quiet" and not "actively participating in the tour banter." Trending: Chris Jericho Makes Surprise Return to NJPW During Wrestling Dontaku to Attack Naito "The police officer pulled them aside and the tour continued without them," Gray said. She said her sons promptly showed the officer a confirmation email proving they had permission to be part of the tour, and they were "let go." "By that time, they had lost site of the tour group and called me frantically, saying, 'Someone called the police on us because we were quiet!'" Gray said. "I told them to leave immediately. I felt they had been the victim of racism and that they werent safe there," she continued, saying she was "so furious" over the incident she "could explode." Don't miss: Dr. Oz Will Serve on Trump Administration Sports Council, White House Says Gray mother said she called campus police, and the officer who responded told her he had moved there from Albuquerque 18 months ago and felt it "was a whole different culture up there [in Colorado]." He told her "someone recently called the police because someone pulled a bumper sticker off their car" and that "when someone calls, no matter how stupid, the police must respond." Story continues Gray said the officer directed her to the office of admissions to file a formal complaint. She called and was directed to a voicemail system, where she left a message detailing the incident. A letter reportedly sent out to students by CSU staff said the university was investigating the incident. Most popular: Who Is DJ Khaleds Wife? Nicole Tuck Hilariously Responds to Workout Encouragement on Snapchat This 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 letter, signed by Vice President for Enrollment and Access Leslie Taylor, Vice President for Diversity Mary Ontiveros and Vice President for Student Affairs Blanche Hughes, said, according to The Denver Post. As a University community, we deeply regret the experience of these students, while they were guests on our campus, the letter continued. CSU has not responded to a request for comment from Newsweek. The incident occurred in the wake of a number of incidents on the CSU campus that were believed to be bias-motivated. Last autumn, a paper noose was found in a residence hall, while fliers linked to an extremist white supremacist hate group were circulated on the campus more than once, according to the Coloradoan newspaper. In February, protests over a conservative speaker's appearance at CSU turned violent when a group of people, clad in face masks with skulls on them and wielding riot shields, confronted a group of protesters shouting Nazi slogans, the newspaper reported. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Elon Musk stuns analysts in his post-earnings conference call by dismissing many of their questions about Tesla as "stupid" and "boring." Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas says it was the "most unusual call" in his 20-year career on Wall Street. Tesla shares slump in the fallout, with key questions remaining over the company's outlook. 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. "Tesla' TSLA 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." It's anything but the normally amiable affairs between the CEO and those who follow his company closest. 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. 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. Story continues 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. More From CNBC YANGON, May 3 (Reuters) - Myanmar will "scrutinize" the identity of displaced people in war-torn Kachin State to ensure ethnic insurgents do not receive humanitarian aid after weeks of fighting, a government spokesman said on Thursday. One of Myanmar's strongest rebel groups, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), has regularly clashed with government troops in the mountainous region bordering China and India since 2011, when a 17-year-old ceasefire broke down. The latest fighting has escalated since early April, driving more than 5,000 people from their homes, the United Nations said. A U.N. human rights expert on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Tuesday, citing reports of the army using aerial bombings, heavy weapons and artillery fire on civilian areas. The KIA and aid workers say the fighting is the most intense since the early 1960s, when Kachin guerrillas took up arms against the government in a bid for greater autonomy. "We got information that shows KIA members might be among the refugees for humanitarian aid...we need to scrutinize whether members of the armed force are among them," government spokesman Zaw Htay said, adding that children, women and the elderly would get priority in receiving aid. He did not elaborate on how the displaced people will be screened. Zaw Htay confirmed reports that about 2,000 people were trapped in a remote forest near the village of Aung Lawt. Aid workers say they have had no access to humanitarian aid for more than three weeks. Fears of a delay in delivering aid should not compel the government to give unconditional humanitarian support to those trapped in Aung Lawt, said Zaw Htay. "The security forces have concerns. We are trying our best to work out the two situations," he said. KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu denied the government's allegation and said the screening would "make things more difficult" for the displaced people. Myanmar's military did not respond to requests for comment. The fighting has put a spotlight on Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's stuttering efforts to bring peace to the diverse, Buddhist-majority country that has seen near-perpetual war since its independence from Britain in 1949. The conflict has sent more than 1,000 people fleeing to the village of Tanghpre, where a church has been distributing food and proving shelter for displaced villagers, mostly from Kachin's eastern township of Injangyang. "I'd like to urge both sides to make sure that the fighting will not spread into this area as there are more than 1,000 people taking shelter in this village," said Stephen Supma Sut Awng, a priest at the Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. "My biggest concern for them is education for the children because there is no government facility in Tanghpre," he said. Thousands of people rallied in Kachin this week to demand humanitarian access for villagers trapped by fighting. Fighting between government forces and ethnic minority Kachin and other insurgents has been eclipsed in media coverage by the plight of nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees who have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since last August. (This story replaces term "refugees" with "displaced people" throughout.) (Reporting by Shoon Naing, Sam Aung Moon and Yimou Lee; Writing by Yimou Lee; Editing by Darren Schuettler) Tampa (AFP) - 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." 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. 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. Story continues 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. Its been a long journey to the big screen for Solo: A Star Wars Story, one thats been weighed down by lots of behind-the-scenes baggage as well as underwhelming sneak peeks. As the films May 25 release date approaches, though, were starting to get a good feeling about this Han Solo-centric prequel, overseen by Ron Howard. Earlier this week, Disney released a guided tour of the Millennium Falcon conducted by Donald Glover, whose charismatic presence as the young Lando Calrissian is already positioning him as the films breakout star. And now for Star Wars Day, theyve dropped a short, but sweet new clip from the film thats guaranteed to get fans engines revving. Why? Because it depicts the exact moment that Han Solo (played by Alden Ehrenreich) and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) went from being uneasy comrades to lifelong co-pilots. (Watch the clip above.) This momentous event appears to happen almost accidentally in Solo. Picking up in the middle of the action, the clip finds Han and his childhood accomplice QiRa (Emilia Clarke) piloting the Millennium Falcon through stormy weather while dodging incoming TIE Fighter fire. We need to divert auxiliary power to the rear deflector shields, Solo says, urgently. Thats when the Wookiee leans over and starts flipping switches with authority, much to the amazement of the Corellian co-pilots. Since when do you know how to fly? Han asks, and Chewie responds by pointing out that he has 190 years of experience a joke that provided one of the biggest laughs in the most recent Solo trailer. Realizing theres an expert in their midst, QiRa gives up her seat to help Lando in another part of the ship. As Chewie plops his furry behind down in the chair next to Han, Howard cues up a few bars of John Williamss immortal Star Wars theme, pushing the audiences nostalgia buttons as effectively as Chewie pushes those Falcon buttons. United at last, the duo blast off for what will almost certainly be a high-spirited, high-speed set-piece. To quote The Simpsons: Howard, youve done it again! Story continues Solo: A Star Wars Story soars into theaters on May 25. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Diplomacy is subtle, atomic science complex. But the perceived villainy of Iran by the average American is the stuff of cartoons. At the time the nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic was signed by the U.S. and its five global partners in 2015, Gallup found 84% of the American public viewed Iran unfavorably. The abiding antipathy the U.S. public feels toward Iran encouraged Donald Trump to attack the nuclear pact as a populist candidate. It also prompted Congress to give the U.S. President the levers to undo the deal, which lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for strict limits on its nuclear program. Skeptical lawmakers passed a law in 2015 requiring that any deal be recertified every 90 days by the President. On May 12, Trump gets his hand on those levers againand he seems to be on the fence about whether to finish it off. International observers say theres no reason for Trump to vacillate. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. body that conducts inspections, says Irans nuclear program has been taken down precisely as promised. An enterprise that in 2015 could have produced a nuclear warhead within months has largely been dismantled and is closely monitored. The U.S.plus China, Russia, Germany, France, Britain and the E.U.all have gotten what they asked for. At a presentation in Tel Aviv on April 30, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of hiding its nuclear program Trump wants more. His Administration argues that the deal is fatally flawed because its not permanent. After a decade, Iran would be allowed to resume enriching some uranium, and go back to basically business as usual after 15 years. Thats not acceptable. [2025] is tomorrow, Trump said at an April 30 press conference. But he added: That doesnt mean we wont renegotiate a real agreement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton, both hawks on Iran, have said the May 12 decision hinges on finding a credible way to do that. One person intent on having his say is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who took to the airwaves from Tel Aviv on April 30 to unveil what he described as an intelligence coup: 55,000 pages and 183 discs carried out of Tehran warehouses by Mossad agents. Netanyahu, who opposes the pact, described in detail what outside observers, including the IAEA, had known for yearsthat Iran had once pursued a nuclear weapon, dubbed Project Amad. Tehran failed to disclose this, but U.S. and other negotiators were more interested in what Iran would do in the future. But Netanyahus damning message (Iran lied, spelled out in giant letters) could provide the thin reed for a President in search of a premise for discarding the pact. Story continues In fact, Netanyahus presentation had been quietly coordinated with the White House. We had discussions with Israel about their rollout, Sarah Huckabee Sanders told TIME the next day. Even so, some understood Netanyahus prop-heavy presentation to be a lobbying effort directed at a visually orientedand undecidedPresident. He spoke in English rather than Hebrew because he has an audience of one, says David Makovsky, a scholar at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Honoring the pact would burnish the Presidents credibility in talks with North Korea, where credibility may be crucial: Kim Jong Un has signaled he will denuclearize if the U.S. promises not to invade. But French President Emmanuel Macron says Trump is not afraid of risking a second showdown: His experience with North Korea is that when you are very tough, you make the other side move and you can try to go to a good deal or a better deal, Macron said on April 25, after a White House visit. Thats a strategy of increasing tension. It could be useful. Iran, for its part, says the pact is not open for renegotiation, and that it will walk away from it if Trump does. We need to expect a change in the countrys situation, said Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, a spokesman for President Hassan Rouhani on May 2. Irans leaders are ambiguous about whether they would resume a weapons program in the event of the deals collapse, raising fears about U.S. airstrikes and a regional arms race. Saudi Arabia has vowed to build nukes if Iran does. But Iranian political analysts say undoing the nuclear deal will almost certainly be a boon to the hard-line conservatives who opposed it all along. Rouhani, a moderate, has no choice but to brace for impact. We are ready for a change in the situation, Nobakht said, and the necessary policies and funds for the days different from today have been prepared. Anyone holding out hope for a more favorable perception of Iran in the U.S. should prepare to be disappointed. The only thing simple about Iran is how Americans feel about it. With reporting by KAY ARMIN SERJOIE/TEHRAN; ILENE PRUSHER/BOCA RATON, FLA.; BRIAN BENNETT/WASHINGTON By Ben Hirschler and Michael Shields LONDON/ZURICH (Reuters) - Roche has won a reprieve from an expected wave of cheaper versions of its biotech cancer drugs as U.S. regulators knocked back a biosimilar form of rituximab from Swiss rival Novartis. Novartis's Sandoz unit said its copy of Roche blockbuster Rituxan -- used to treat blood cancers and certain immunological diseases -- had received a so-called complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA issues such letters when it is not ready to approve a product. The news follows a similar setback for another biosimilar copy of Rituxan from Celltrion and its partner Teva. Together, the two delays win Roche extra breathing space in the crucial U.S. market. Roche shares rose nearly 2 percent by 0840 GMT while Novartis stock was little changed. Deutsche Bank analyst Tim Race said Rituxan could now remain free from biosimilar competitors in the United States this year, with erosion threatening only from 2019. Rituxan generates about $4 billion of U.S. sales for Roche. Race said he had been expecting a sales loss to biosimilars of about $150 million in 2018 and Roche earnings would be around 0.5 percent higher if this was removed. For 2019 Race assumes a $1 billion fall in U.S. Rituxan sales versus 2017, so if biosimilars enter from mid-2019 there could be an earnings uplift of about 2 percent. Sandoz said it was evaluating the FDA letter and it stood behind the "robust" evidence included in the regulatory submission for its biosimilar. "While disappointed, Sandoz remains committed to further discussions with the FDA to bring this important medicine to U.S. patients as soon as possible," it said. The problems facing Rituxan biosimilars in the United States are in sharp contrast to the situation in Europe, where copies of the drug from both Celltrion and Novartis are already available and uptake of the cut-price medicine is hurting Roche. Rituxan sales plunged by 44 percent in Europe in the first quarter of 2018. The tussles in the biosimilars market are a growing focus for investors, with soaring valuations for some pioneers in the field, such as South Korea's Celltrion, and worries about the long-term sales threat to makers of original drugs, such as Roche and AbbVie. Overall, U.S. regulators have lagged behind Europe in approving biosimilars, while a complex system of rebates offered to insurers by original-brand drugmakers has also created barriers to use. Biological drugs such as Rituxan are complex molecules made inside living cells, which means that rivals seeking to make copies when patents expire can only ever produce medicines that are similar to the original rather than identical. ($1 = 0.9966 Swiss francs) (Editing by David Goodman) Half a cup of the Novichok nerve agent would have killed poisoned ex-spy Sergei Skripal and the entire town he lives in, a Soviet chemist who purportedly invented the poison has said. Skripal, who is now recovering in the U.K., was attacked in Salisbury with 50-100 grams of Novichoka dose too big to be made for scientific, as opposed to clandestine purposes, according to an independent watchdog. This estimate bolstered the British argument that few besides the Russian government were capable of the attack. A scientist identifying himself as an ex-member of the Novichok programme said the use of such a quantity would have resulted in a nightmare scenario for Skripal and the whole town around him. Trending: Why Do Sinkholes Keep Opening up in This Florida Neighborhood? Such a quantity would put down all of Salisbury, Leonid Rink, a Soviet state chemist who has said he once worked in the Novichok programme, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. This is an amount for combat. I dont know how many people such a volume would kill. Related: Russia says the U.S. disrespected its flag by taking it down under the cover of night Rink has repeatedly denied that Russia could be behind the attack but in doing so, has contributed to a tide of conflicting arguments coming from Moscow. He came forward as a former employee in the Soviet chemical arms programme, shortly after Skripals poisoning in March. At the time Russian officials were pleading innocence by denying that the programme even existed. Don't miss: Iran and Russia Will Grow Closer If Trump Destroys Nuclear Deal, Official Says 05_04_Salisbury Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images The Russian scientists latest comments came after the director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ahmet Uzumcu, said about 50-100 grams of liquid nerve agent were used in the attack. Story continues Another man involved in developing Novichok was much more critical of the Kremlins denials than Rink, but confirmed that the substance he designed poisoned Skripal. Most popular: Republicans Who Voted Against Obamacare Could Lose in November, Poll Shows I have no doubt that it was precisely A-234 which was used, Vladimir Uglev, the retired chemical weapons expert said, referring to an agent in the Novichok family. Uglev went further and backed Western sanctions against Russia for the attack, even before the independent verdict of the attack is final. As a Russian citizen, I do not accept the great-power chauvinism fanned by the regime of Kremlin-Lubyanka thieves and killers, and therefore fully understand and support the policy of the British government towards Russia, Uglev said. Uglev was hit by a car in his hometown on the Black Sea last week but dismissed suspicion that the driver intended to run him over. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The betting public was all over Chestnut Schofield in Thursdays $11,500 Preferred 2 for trotters at Flamboro Downs, and the gelding passed the test with flying colours for Team Hensley. Parked past the quarter pole in :28.4, Chestnut Schofield rolled to the lead and proceeded to carve out middle panels of :57.4 and 1:27.2 for driver/co-owner Ed Hensley. The five-year-old son of Muscle Mass-Beyond Limits then sped home in :29 to win by 5-3/4 lengths over Seeyou Men in 1:56.2. Third prize went to a well-beaten Bella Palazzo. Co-owned and trained by Ashleigh Hensley, Chestnut Schofield improved his 2018 record to 4-1-1 from eight trips to the track. The eight-time winner is closing in on $120,000 in lifetime earnings. Bred For Greatness recovered from an early miscue and erupted for a 40-1 upset for driver Scott Young in the $8,500 Preferred 3 for trotters. The Ben Baillargeon pupil made the early break and got away seventh while Nebraska Jack motored to the lead and threw down an opening quarter of :28. Major Muscle attacked the leader in the second quarter, and showed a short lead while racing parked past the mid-way point in :57. Major Muscle cleared before being confronted and prompted to the three-quarter pole in 1:27 by Fluff Me Up. Major Muscle made a last mistake and that left the door wide open for the backfield. Bred For Greatness, who was still sitting seventh heading into the closing quarter, kicked home in :30.2 to win by a length over Fluff Me Up in 1:58.2. Taking home third prize was Waikiki Hanover. Tom and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catherines, Ont. bred and own the nine-time winner who now owns a 6-2-3 record from 12 trips to the track this season. He bumped his cash stash over $75,000 with the win. Honourable mention on the 10-race card goes to the 11-year-old veteran Little Quick, who rallied for a win versus $8,500 claiming foes giving him the 50th victory of his career. The son of Quick Comeback, who was driven to victory by J Harris for owner/trainer Jack Harris, extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row while improving this years record to 5-1-0 from 15 trips postward. The charismatic campaigner is quickly closing in on $250,000 in career earnings. To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results Flamboro Downs. Pete Souza, the White House photographer under former President Barack Obama, has waded into the controversyover comedian Michelle Wolfs jokesat the White House Correspondents Association dinner with a gag of his own. The shutterbug baited PresidentDonald Trumpover his criticism of Wolfs jokes with this old snap ofJerry Seinfeldknocking at the Oval Office window: Back in the day when a comedian was a welcome intrusion in Washington, Souza captioned the image. Souza took the picture in December 2015, whenSeinfeld visited the White Houseto shoot Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with then-President Obama. Check out the trailer here: Last week,Souza mocked Trumpafter the president said he was too busy to be running out looking for presents for first ladyMelania Trumps48th birthday. Related Coverage Roseanne Barr Defends Supporting Donald Trump: 'I Dont Give A F**k' Donald Trump Ridiculed For Reportedly Writing His Own Doctor's Note Drag Queens Plan Massive Anti-Donald Trump Protest During His UK Visit This article originally appeared on HuffPost. An Ohio man has been arrested after flying out to Florida with the intention of smoking a joint with President Donald Trump. Tyler Jon Marrone, 27, of Columbus, Ohio, flew out to Palm Springs International Airport on April 18, hoping to meet up with the president at his Mar-a-Lago resort, reports WPTV-TV. Marrone had made the journey on the same day that Trump was hosting Japanese president Shinzo Abe in Palm Beach. Trending: I Grew Up In Foster CareUntil My Dads Gave Me The Family I Always Dreamed Of | Opinion According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit, Marrone purchased his plane ticket after finding a credit card and "thought it was a gift from God, reports WPLG. Deputy Kathleen Zeranski's said Marrone had "full intentions of driving to Mar-a-Lago and walking onto the property" to speak to the president as well as "smoking a joint with him. wptv-tyler-marrone_1525357645186_85743318_ver1 Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Don't miss: Credit Obama For Low Unemployment Rate, Former Obama Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett Says Marrone told police he wanted to speak to Trump about the static and frequency feedback that I constantly hear emanating from my basement and from fans and in my head. He was arrested at the airport after being flagged up by the U.S. Secret service following comments he made about Trump. After being stopped by authorities, he was also found to be in possession of a white substance which later proved to be methamphetamine. Most popular: The Walking Dead Season 9 Spoilers: New Set Photos Suggest Possible Time Skip Marrone told officers he was carrying "self-prescribed Adderall in his bag and was arrested for drug possession. Marrone was found to meet the criteria for Florida's Baker Act law, which means he can be involuntarily committed for a mental health assessment, reports KFOR-TV. Story continues This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Stephen Farrell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday offered an apology after he was accused of anti-Semitism for suggesting that historic persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct, not by their religion. Abbas condemned anti-Semitism and called the Holocaust the "most heinous crime in history" in a statement issued by his office in Ramallah after a four-day meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), at which he had made the remarks. "If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them," Abbas said in the statement. "I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths." Abbas, 82, was excoriated by Israeli and Jewish leaders and diplomats who accused him of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial for his remarks on Monday during his opening speech to the PNC, the de facto parliament of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He said 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, Abbas said: "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." Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman swiftly rejected Abbas' apology. He wrote on Twitter: "Abu Mazen is a wretched Holocaust denier, who wrote a doctorate of Holocaust denial and later also published a book on Holocaust denial. That is how he should be treated. His apologies are not accepted." Reacting to the speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday accused Abbas of grave anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper of the U.S.-based Jewish human rights organization the Simon Wiesenthal Center said Abbas' words were those of "a classic anti-Semite". U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov called Abbas' comments "deeply disturbing". The United States on Friday asked the U.N. Security Council to denounce the comments by Abbas as "unacceptable, deeply disturbing" and not in "the interests of the Palestinian people or peace in the Middle East." Such statements have to be agreed by consensus. PREVIOUS COMMENTS A veteran member of Fatah, the PLO's dominant faction, Abbas served for decades as a loyal deputy of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat. He assumed the leadership of Fatah, the PLO and the Palestinian Authority after Arafat died in 2004, and was re-elected as chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee on Friday. In 1982 Abbas obtained a doctorate in history at the Moscow Institute of Orientalism in the then-Soviet Union. His dissertation, entitled "The Secret Relationship between Nazism and the Zionist Movement" - to which Lieberman referred - drew widespread criticism from Jewish groups. The following year the Simon Wiesenthal Center released translated quotations from the book, including one excerpt about World War Two in which, according to the center's translation, Abbas wrote: "Following the war ... word was spread that six million Jews were amongst the victims and that a war of extermination was aimed primarily at the Jews ... The truth is that no one can either confirm or deny this figure. In other words, it is possible that the number of Jewish victims reached six million, but at the same time it is possible that the figure is much smaller - below one million." After Abbas' speech on Monday, Hier and Cooper said: "The world can now see that see that, for Palestinian Authority President Abbas, nothing has changed in the 45 years since his doctoral dissertation was first published." But in his apology on Friday, Abbas said: "I would also like to reiterate our long held condemnation of the Holocaust, as the most heinous crime in history, and express our sympathy with its victims. "Likewise, we condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms, and confirm our commitment to the two-state solution, and to live side by side in peace and security," he said, referring to an eventual resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. (Reporting by Stephen Farrell, additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the UNITED NATIONS; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Dozens of Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire on Friday as thousands returned to the Gaza border for a sixth week of protests that have seen nearly 50 demonstrators killed. Medics treated 1,143 people, most for tear gas inhalation but 83 for wounds caused by live fire, the Gaza health ministry said. Black smoke billowed over a protest camp east of Gaza City where Palestinians burned tyres and flew kites, at least one carrying a Molotov cocktail intended to set fire to nearby Israeli fields. After advancing toward the border fence, protesters would retreat as the Israeli army fired tear gas. A military spokeswoman said that some of the protesters threw stones at the Israeli forces. The army also said there was an attempt to "sabotage the security fence and to infiltrate into Israel". It said the attempt was "thwarted" when soldiers arrived at the scene and the Palestinians involved returned to the Gaza Strip. Forty-nine Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since protests and clashes began along the Gaza border on March 30, and hundreds of others have been wounded by gunfire. Crowds were smaller on Friday afternoon than in previous weeks, with Palestinians saying they expect a major protest on May 14, when the United States will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel says its soldiers only open fire when necessary to stop infiltrations, damage to the fence and attacks. No Israelis have been hurt in the weeks of protests and the military has faced international criticism for its use of live ammunition. - 'I'm not afraid' - Shifa Abu Qadous, 28, whose family is originally from Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv, was bringing water to protesters near the border fence. Wearing a headscarf and a dust-mask hanging around her neck, she said she came to the protests every week. "I'm not afraid, there's only one death," she said. "Today or tomorrow or after that we will return to our homes." Story continues In central Gaza, protesters gathered east of the Bureij refugee camp. Youths met behind a series of bunkers reinforced with sandbags in the area leading up to the border with Israel, while older demonstrators remained further back at protest tents. Early in the day, a group of Palestinian youths threw stones in the direction of Israeli soldiers, who had taken up position some 50 metres (yards) away on the other side of the fence. A Guy Fawkes mask strapped to his belt and a Palestinian flag around his neck, Abdullah Issa, 22, said they hoped to send dozens of kites with Molotov cocktails over the fence. "We will put Molotov cocktails on the Israeli farms," Issa said. "They have no solution for the kites." Israeli media have in recent days reported significant damage to farms due to kite-flown Molotov cocktails, though the devices face difficult odds in making it across the fence while still lit. - UN criticism - The Israeli army estimated that 10,000 Palestinians took part in this Friday's demonstrations in five main locations along the border fence. Hundreds of Palestinians vandalised the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom goods crossing and torched the pipes that carry fuel and gas from Israel, the army said. "This is a cynical act of terror that harms the wellbeing of the Gaza residents and the humanitarian efforts made by Israel and many other countries," the army said. In addition, two army drones crashed in the Gaza Strip during the day's events. "The matter is being looked into," a statement from the army said. Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs Gaza and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of seeking to use the weekly protests as a cover to carry out violence. The Israeli military has come in for criticism from abroad over its use of live fire, with UN chief Antonio Guterres and the European Union calling for an independent investigation, rejected by Israel. Demonstrators are demanding the right to return to their homes seized by Israel in 1948, which Israel argues would effectively spell the end of their country. The protests are due to continue until mid-May, when the US plans to move its embassy. The move has deeply angered the Palestinians, who see the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of the city as the capital of their future state. London (AFP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party fared better than expected in local elections in England as the final results were announced early Saturday, in her first test at the polls since losing her parliamentary majority last year. The centre-right party held on to key London councils despite a big push by Labour, the main opposition, which failed to live up to its own hype. The ruling party also scored highly in areas that voted in favour of Brexit in the 2016 referendum, while losing some ground in more pro-EU heartlands. The UK Independence Party (UKIP), which has seen its support collapse since cheerleading the 2016 vote for Brexit, was all but wiped out while the pro-European Liberal Democrats made the biggest gains. Labour's leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn had sought to build on momentum from last year's June general election, when an unexpected surge for his party deprived May of her majority. But Labour admitted "mixed" results despite a tough week for May, who has been plagued by cabinet divisions over Brexit as well as a row over immigration that toppled one of her top ministers. "We've done better than expected," Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis told Sky News television. "We have seen Labour -- who thought they would be sweeping the board in London... not gaining a single council in London." Matt Singh of Number Cruncher Politics noted: "Opposition parties are supposed to do well in mid-term contests, and these aren't the results of one that's about to storm the next general election." The final count over 150 councils showed Labour gain 62 seats and the Conservatives lose 32, with the Lib Dems up 75 seats and UKIP down 132. The Green Party were up eight council seats. The votes equated to a 35 percent national vote share for both Labour and the Conservatives, though such projections are an inexact science. A BBC projection suggested that such results at a general election would mean a hung parliament, with Labour on 283 seats compared with the Conservatives' 280, both well short of the 326 needed for a majority. Story continues - London battlegrounds - The Conservatives appeared to have benefited from the collapse of UKIP, which was instrumental in the Brexit vote but has since lost its way. On a victory tour in London, May said Labour "threw everything at it, but they failed", while adding: "We won't take anything for granted." Labour's goal to win Conservative strongholds in London like Wandsworth or Westminster always seemed a stretch, though it did gain seats in those councils. Its failure to take Barnet, a suburb with a large Jewish population that was Labour's top target in the capital, is likely to be more heavily scrutinised in the context of an ongoing row over anti-Semitism in the opposition party. "I think there are lots of voters, Jewish people in London, who don't feel comfortable voting Labour," London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC. Corbyn said he had secured a "solid set of results". "Labour has won even more council seats than at our high watermark of 2014 and we are on course to secure our best results in London since 1971," he said. Two results for Labour stood out: Labour lawmaker Dan Jarvis won a mayoral election in Sheffield in northern England, while the party retained control of Birmingham council in Britain's second-biggest conurbation. - Brexit vote - The Conservatives held Kensington and Chelsea, where the council had faced severe criticism over last year's devastating Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people, with a slightly reduced majority. However, they lost the southwestern city of Plymouth to Labour and lost control of Trafford, the Tories' flagship council in northern England. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson pointed to the party's success in Brexit-voting areas, remarking that Corbyn's promise to keep Britain in the EU customs union "means he is not trusted to deliver Brexit". The Conservatives lost the strongly anti-Brexit London borough of Richmond upon Thames to the Liberal Democrats, who had courted EU citizens' votes. The Lib Dems also won neighbouring Kingston upon Thames from the Conservatives. Lib Dem leader Vince Cable, whose centrist party has struggled in recent years after losing support for going into government with the Conservatives, said: "We are very much on the way back." A parent called campus police on two Native American teenagers who were on a university tour because she thought they were threatening. Lloyd Skanahwati Gray, 17, and Thomas Kanewakeron Gray, 19, are brothers from Santa Cruz, New Mexico, who had driven to Fort Collins, Colorado, to go on a tour of Colorado State University.Their family are members of the Mohawk tribe. The tour director was not even aware that the police had been called on the young men who told their mother Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray that they were too shy to speak up during the portion of the tour when prospective students introduced themselves. Officers told the boys that a parent was concerned because they were too quiet, Ms Gray told the Associated Press. I felt they had been the victim of racism and that they werent safe there, she said. "I was nervous for them to get in our family car and drive seven hours to a place they've never been before and find their way around and fight the Denver traffic," but ultimately agreed to the trip since though her son Thomas is a first-year student at Northern New Mexico College, he was hoping to attend his dream school with his younger brother, who is in his last year at Santa Fe Indian School. About 30 minutes after her children arrived on campus, a bit late for the tour after getting lost in a new city, Ms Gray got a frantic phone call from one her sons saying campus police had approached them. She said in a Facebook post that the boys "were patted down, and my 17 year old ordered to empty his pockets, then immediately ordered to keep his hands out of his pockets, until he was forced to ask which one do you want me to do? In another post she said simply: "I am lucky both my sons are alive" after comparing the incident to so many incidents of police-involved shooting deaths of African-American men in the US. The university said in an email to all students a few days later said gave a summary of the incident but did not address why the police were called by the parent on the tour in the first place. Story continues The university said the campus police allowed [the brothers] to rejoin the group. Unfortunately, due to the location of the tour when the contact was made...the tour group had moved on without the students, who returned to Ammons Hall briefly, then left campus to return home to New Mexico. 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. As a university community, we deeply regret the experience of these students while they were guests on our campus, the email went on to say. The campus police did not respond to a request for comment for more detail about the reason the parent called them. Ms Gray said her sons were reticent to bring the incident to the publics attention. I dont think they even grasped the magnitude of what happened to them until we talked, she said. But, she is of "the belief that if you keep quiet about things then they're going to continue to happen...It's our responsibility to speak out and let other people know what's happening. Two toddlers, just 1 and 2 years old, tumbled out of the family van in a Sheboygan roundabout on Tuesday evening, apparently without their father ever noticing, authorities said. The 40-year-old father is now facing OWI and child neglect charges. According to police, witnesses reported seeing the children fall out of the cargo van near South 8th Street and Indiana Avenue at about 7:30 p.m. Sheboygan hospital staff treated both children for road rash, but one had to later be moved to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee for treatment of more serious injuries. Both toddlers are expected to be OK, police said. During the investigation, one of the children was able to offer up their name. Officers who went to the family's home said the mother and father were looking for the kids when they arrived. "The level of impairment, we believe, was a contributing factor to this," said Capt. James Veeser. "The other factor was these children were not seat-belted. There was a number of other children in the vehicle." Investigators on Wednesday were still looking into what happened. The case was turned over to the Sheboygan County District Attorney's Office. Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app or our email newsletters. Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Princess Diana's sister Lady Jane Fellowes, right, is to give a reading at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding - John Stillwell/PA, Joe Giddens/PA and Stewart/GoffPhotos Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to honour Diana, Princess of Wales, in their wedding ceremony, saying they want to celebrate her memory during their big day. The Prince and Ms Markle have invited all three of the late Princess siblings to the wedding, with Lady Jane Fellowes giving the reading. Lady Jane, who remains close to members of the Royal family but has stayed away from the limelight following her sisters death, will be joined by her siblings Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer at the Windsor Castle wedding. The three Spencer siblings will join members of the Royal family, with Lady Jane representing Prince Harrys mother in delivering a reading. Lady Jane and Lady Sarah have already spent time getting to know Ms Markle, who spoke of her joy at meeting them in her engagement interview. Video: Meghan and Harry's engagement interview Then, describing the significance of her engagement ring containing a diamond from Dianas collection, Ms Markle said: Obviously not being able to meet his mom, it's so important to me to know that she's a part of this with us. And I think in being able to meet his aunts and and also like Julia [Samuel, Dianas friend] and just different people who were so important to his mom, I'm able to, in some way, know a part of her through them and of course through him. And it's incredibly special. Royal wedding | Read more Prince Harry said of his mother and fiance: They'd be thick as thieves, without question. I think she would be over the moon, jumping up and down, so excited for me. But then, as I said, would have probably been best friends with Meghan. In the hours after sharing news of his engagement with the world, he said: Its days like today when I really miss having her around and miss being able to share the happy news. But you know with the ring and with everything else that's going on I'm sure she's with us, you know, jumping up and down somewhere else. Story continues Lady Jane Fellowes giving a reading at Diana Princess of Wales' funeral Credit: BBC Prince Harry and Prince William have both taken steps to remember their mother at key moments of their lives, taking part in moving documentaries about her on the 20th anniversary of her death in August 2017. The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton also incorporated the late Princess' favourite songs. Their reading was given by the then Miss Middleton's brother, James. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: The story of their relationship, in pictures Jason Knauf, Kensington Palace communications secretary, said: In addition to having the support of The Queen, his father The Prince of Wales, and his brother Prince William as Best Man, Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother's family in his wedding. All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day. Royal wedding | Read more Meghan to have no adult bridesmaids as 'she can't choose between her friends' Meghan Markle will not be accompanied by any adult bridesmaids on her wedding day, after feeling unable to choose between her close group of friends. Ms Markle will instead be surrounded by children as page boys, bridesmaids and flower girls, in a bridal party expected to include Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Harrys godchildren, and the children of Ms Markles closest friends. The decision means that there will be no so-called Pippa Middleton moment on May 19, with Ms Markles friends supporting her in the lead-up to the wedding and on the day without taking an official role. Friends including Jessica Mulroney, Lindsay Roth, Benita Litt, Janina Gavankar and Priyanka Chopra are expected to be seen as part of the congregation. Ms Markles friends will be in Windsor in the days before the wedding, with a palace spokesman saying she did not want to choose one over another when it came to picking a maid of honour. Meghan's father to walk her down aisle - and mother gets starring role Meghan Markle has chosen her mother, Doria, to travel with her to the wedding, travelling from their overnight accommodation to St Georges Chapel by car. The decision breaks with UK tradition, which usually sees the bride travel with her father before he gives her away in the wedding ceremony. Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, watch the closing ceremony for the Invictus Games in Toronto last year Credit: MARK BLINCH /Reuters Instead, Ms Markle wanted to include both parents in her wedding day. Her father will meet her at St Georges Chapel, where he will walk her down the aisle. Mr Knauf said: Both of the bride's parents will have important roles in the wedding. On the morning of the wedding, Ms. Ragland will travel with Ms. Markle by car to Windsor Castle. Mr. Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St George's Chapel. Ms. Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion. Meghan Markle,pictured as a child with her father, Thomas Markle Credit: TIM STEWART NEWS LIMITED He added: Its very important to her that both her parents have a special role in the day. Prince Louis won't be attending the wedding (but hopefully Prince Philip will) Prince Louis will not attend his uncles wedding, Kensington Palace have confirmed. While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will both be there, with their older children Prince George and Princess Charlotte expected to be in the bridal party, the newborn Louis will stay away from the public eye. He is likely to be cared for by a nanny close by, allowing the Duchess to visit him privately throughout the day. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge presenting Prince Louis to the world last week Credit: JOHN STILLWELL /AFP Prince Louis, who will be less than a month old by the time of the wedding, could next be seen in public at Trooping the Colour in June, or at his christening. The Duke of Edinburgh, who is still recuperating from a hip transplant, is not yet confirmed as attending the wedding, with a spokesman saying Prince Harry and Ms Markle very much hope to have him there. The Duke, 96, is understood to be determined to build his strength up to attend the St Georges Chapel service after his stay in hospital a month ago. Queen to meet the Markles: Monarch to welcome in-laws to palace Meghan Markles parents, Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle, will meet the Queen and the rest of the Royal family after they fly into England the week before the wedding. Ms Markles mother and father, who are divorced, have not yet met their new in-laws, and will be welcomed into the palace later this month. The meeting is particularly significant for having all senior members of the Royal family present, in a rare moment where they are in the same place at the same time. Jason Knauf, Prince Harrys communications secretary, said at a briefing this morning: The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding. Mr. Thomas Markle and Ms. Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harry's family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day. Honeymoon delayed with first public engagement a week after wedding The newlyweds will delay their honeymoon to go straight back to work in the week after the wedding, scheduling their first public engagement as a married couple just days later. The Prince and Ms Markle, who will by then have new titles, will be back in the public eye on the week beginning May 21st, at an as-yet-unconfirmed engagement. The day out is likely to set the tone for their work as a married couple, and will be focused on charities and causes close to their hearts. They will go on honeymoon privately later this year, before a busy autumn including a trip to Sydney for the Invictus Games. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed a short minimoon after their 2011 wedding in their new home of Anglesey, before jetting off to the Seychelles months later. The wedding night: Guests of the Queen at Windsor Castle after glamorous party The Prince and Ms Markle will spend their wedding night at Windsor Castle, before moving back to Kensington Palace as newlyweds. There are currently no plans for the couple to copy Prince William and Kate Middleton in immediately moving out of London following their wedding. Meghan Markle joins the Royal Family at Christmas church service in Sandringham, in pictures The newlyweds will be granted a new title by the Queen to be announced after the wedding, likely to be a dukedom, before they return to Kensington Palace to begin their married life. Their wedding night will see them be a guest of the Queen at Windsor Castle along with members of their extended family, returning there after a glamorous private party at Frogmore House. The 'people's wedding': Celebrations designed with public in mind The wedding, Kensington Palace said, was designed with the public in mind after Ms Markle received a warm welcome in her travels around the UK with Prince Harry. Mr Knauf said: We are now just over two weeks away from the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle. As they have travelled around the UK in the months since their engagement last November, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have been incredibly grateful for the support they have received from members of the public. The crowds that have turned out in Nottingham, Cardiff, Brixton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Belfast, Bath and elsewhere have given Ms. Markle a welcome to the United Kingdom marked by warmth, enthusiasm, and a real sense of fun. We said from the outset that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle were keen to make sure that members of the public would have the opportunity to feel part of the celebrations on their wedding day. This is their way of expressing their gratitude for the messages of support they have received from around the UK, the Commonwealth, Ms. Markle's home country of the United States, and right around the world. Back in November at the Black Book Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, trainer Daniel Martin of Saint-Barnabe-Nord and Gaston Bibeau of Sorel-Tracy, were looking to buy a racehorse that was something special. That something special is named American Wiggle and Martin is certain that this horse will be the star of his stable in 2018. The purchase price was $55,000. We saw how good he was in the New York Sire Stakes, Martin explained. On the night of the $225,000 Final he raced super to finish third. I was also able to talk with Stephane Bouchard, who co-owned the horse and he told how good he really is and then we bought him. Now age four, American Wiggle has $106,000 in career earnings and a record of 1:51 taken last year. Last week at the Hippodrome 3R, American Wiggle and driver Stephane Brosseau, were very strong from post eight, moving to second place in the backstretch and then coming on in the stretch to win by four lengths. American Wiggle is back at the Hippodrome 3R this Sunday, starting again from post eight in the eighth race co-feature pace. How did American Wiggle come out of the race last week? He came out of the race just fine. Martin (pictured at right) said. With his races at Rideau Carleton under his belt, he was in perfect shape for last Sundays race and will be again this Sunday. He is ready now to put in even a better performance. The eight post is not great through. Martin also has high hopes that American Wiggle will develop into the type of horse that could compete in the Hippodrome 3Rs premier race, the $200,000 Prix DEte on August 19. If he continues to develop as he has been, Martin said, We will enter him in the Prix DEte. If he can draw a good post and depending on the competition, he could do well in there. You never know. He has been good on a half-mile track and that can make a lot of difference. What does Martin like best about American Wiggle? I really like his confirmation, Martin said. He is built like a racehorse should be. I also like that he is calm, relaxed and quiet both off and on the track and that when you do ask him for speed, he gives it to you. Martin has 15 horses in his stable and he feels that American Wiggle is the best of all of them. After his race on Sunday at 3R, Martin said he will be taking him to Toronto to race at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Fans at 3R could see him back in action before the Prix DEte. Martin is anxious to see how he will be on the big track. Now for this Sunday, American Wiggle and Brosseau face some new competition in the top racehorse National Debt, who starts from post seven for driver Jocelyn Gendron. Last week at Rideau Carleton, National Debt, a $400,000 career winner, came from off the pace to score in 1:53.2. Other contenders include DJ Power (post six) and the entry from trainer Isabelle Binet of Washington Hanover (post two) and Highpoint Chip (post 5). There is also a co-featured Invitational-Handicap Trot featuring last week's return winner, Torches Angel. She starts from post eight for driver Stephane Brosseau and was an easy winner last week over a sloppy track. Her main rivals include Holiday Party (post seven), Rocky Boy (post three) and Four Starz Speed (post six). Post time Sunday is 12:50 pm. To view entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R. (with files from the Quebec Jockey Club; Daniel Martin photo courtesy Dominique Michel) 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 Officeposted 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. Story continues 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." The young couple would be moving to Las Vegas. For her, it was the last day of work at San Francisco International Airport. For him, it was a matter of picking her up and heading home to pack. But as Mark Mangaccat backed into their Daly City driveway last week to begin packing, prosecutors said, a man approached and fired five to six shots into the car. Mangaccat died on the scene, but for some reason his girlfriend the mother of their 3-year-old child was left unharmed. It now appears the suspected shooter in the April 25 slaying was an obsessed suitor. Kevin B. Prasad, a 31-year-old airport security guard for Covenant Aviation Security, could face the death penalty for the shooting, according to San Mateo County prosecutors, who accused him of seeking out a relationship with the victims girlfriend, asking her to dump her boyfriend and then killing Mangaccat when he couldnt get his way. Prasad, Mangaccat, and Mangaccats girlfriend, identified by CBS San Francisco as Thandel Seinn, met in 2014. All three worked at the airport, said Tricia Povah, a San Mateo County deputy district attorney. We were friends. At the airport we work in same job; boyfriend, me and him, we were friends, said Seinn. Seinn said Prasad had asked her out before, but she never took him seriously. He just tell me, Dont go and I want to be with you,' said Seinn, He would just say something like a friendly joke. She said Prasad never made her nervous. She's now heartbroken by the loss of the man she said was her "soulmate." Though the suspected shooter most recently worked for Covenant, a federal contractor tasked with screening passengers and baggage at San Franciscos airport, its not clear if any of the three worked for the company at that time. Mangaccat had been out on medical leave from an unspecified position at the airport since December 2017, prosecutors said. The day Mangaccat died, prosecutors said, Prasad and Donovan Matthew Rivera, a 25-year-old Hayward resident, followed the couple to their home. Rivera allegedly acted as the getaway driver while Prasad was identified as the gunman. The mayor of small city in Maine could be removed from office after appearing to mock David Hogg, an 18-year-old gun control activist and one of the survivors of Februarys mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. Nick Isgro, a Republican, was reelected as the mayor of Waterville, Maine in November. In April, Isgro wrote Eat it, Hogg on Twitter in response to news that FOX News had thrown their support behind one of their anchors, Laura Ingraham, who faced an advertiser boycott after appearing to taunt Hogg. RELATED: Pro-Trump troll shoots up David Hogg effigy with assault rifle, gets banned from Twitter Trending: 'Far Cry' Creative Director Dan Hay on the 'Anecdote Factory' of Gameplay RTX5BA6V REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst The recall effort is being led by former Waterville mayor Karen Heck, according to a report in the Kennebec Journal. Heck is a Democrat. Isgro described the effort to recall him as being orchestrated by dark money funded outsiders in a statement on his Facebook page. It appears that outside special interest groups spending thousands of dollars while colluding with well-connected political elites and the local press allegedly turned in enough signatures to have a vote to repeal our accomplishments and repeal local control of Our City, he wrote. Don't miss: 51 States? More Republican Politicians Say Puerto Rico Should Become a State The activism of the Parkland shooting survivors has touched a nerve in conservative circles, and Hogg has been the subject of derision from supporters of gun rights. Hogg circulated a petition on Sunday backed by the activist group MoveOn.org, which called for Vice President Mike Pence to cancel his appearance at the National Rifle Association Convention in Dallas on Friday. Hogg and other gun control activists highlighted what they perceived to be the hypocrisy of that organizations prohibition of weapons at the event. Story continues President Trump will also address the convention on Friday. It will be the fourth consecutive year that Trump has spoken before the NRA. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek A robbery suspect was injured in a police-involved shooting in Elkridge early Friday morning before being apprehended, Howard County police said. A second robbery suspect was also arrested, police said. Police said the suspects robbed a CVS store in the 6400 block of Old Waterloo Road. Officers were called at 3:20 a.m. after Oxycontin, Percocet and cash were stolen from the CVS, police said. Officers found a fleeing vehicle and tried to stop it, but the car kept going and struck a curb, police said. The two suspects, who were the only occupants in the car, jumped out, police said. An officer saw one suspect brandish a weapon toward police, and the officer fired his own service weapon, police said. The suspect, identified as Jarkell Champion, 20, of Washington, D.C., was struck in the leg, police said. Champion ran away but was caught about 30 minutes later, police said. He was taken to a hospital and has since been released, police said. Police said some sharp-eyed residents who knew to call 911 helped officers track the suspect down. "We really got calls from neighbors. The community was really instrumental in this case. Multiple people heard something suspicious, saw him in their neighborhood, called 911 and we were able to make that apprehension in about a half an hour," Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said. "At 4 o'clock, we woke up to the noise of a helicopter overhead and we heard some shouting outside. So we opened the shades and saw a couple of police officers with guns drawn pointing at somebody, saying, 'Hands up. Higher.' The floodlights from the helicopter (were) right on our garage, and it was pretty scary for a moment," said Mike Ortman, a resident. The other suspect, Titus Kittrell, 18, of Washington, D.C., tried to run away but was quickly found and arrested, police said. "One was apprehended very quickly, but the other took us some time to find," Llewellyn said. Story continues The incident happened near Snowden River Parkway and Route 100 in Ellicott City. Snowden River Parkway was shut down for a time between Routes 108 to 100 for the investigation, police said. Authorities said they were searching a drainage pond near a townhome community for a weapon, which police believe may have been dropped by Champion when he ran away. "Law enforcement was doing their job. I'm very pleased, and I thanked them for their service," Ortman said. "They've been around the community all day, apparently looking for a lost weapon." Champion and Kittrell are both expected to go through the booking process at the Howard County Detention Center on Friday, police said. Stay with WBALTV.com and 11 News for more on this developing story. Also on WBALTV.com: Bucharest (AFP) - Doina Cornea, icon of the resistance against communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, died on Friday at the age of 88, her son told local media. "After a life full of challenges she's on her way to the big challenge. She left for a better world, she has entered a land where there is no hate or wickedness," Cornea's son Leontin Iuhas told the news.ro site. A writer and French language teacher, Cornea became famous between 1982 and 1989 for around 30 letters she wrote to Radio Free Europe in which she denounced the excesses of Ceausescu's totalitarian regime. Her bravery saw her sacked from the university in the city of Cluj where she lived most of her life, and subjected to interrogation by the feared Securitate secret police. "I forced myself to live as if the fear didn't exist, even when I was feeling it. We have to remain free and not become slaves to fear," she said in one interview. Despite facing threats and physical violence, in November 1987 she handed out leaflets in solidarity with workers who rose up in rebellion in the city of Brasov. She was arrested along with her son and spent several weeks in prison before being placed under house arrest. In November 1989 she took part in the revolution which overthrew Ceausescu. In Cluj and Bucharest, thousands paid tribute to her courage and chanted her name during protests. In the 1990s she opposed the "neo-communist" regime of strongman Ion Iliescu, who served as a minister under Ceausescu. Cornea then gradually retired from political activism. In 2009 she was made a commander of France's prestigious Legion d'Honneur award, which cited Cornea's "exemplary life" and "admirable journey of simplicity, courage and determination". Sonar image of wreck found on ocean seabed - AFP Two Victorian shipping mysteries may have been solved thanks to the 50 million search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. While sonar devices have failed to pinpoint the wreckage of the Boeing 777 which disappeared with 239 people on board in March 2014, they have located a pair of shipwrecks on the Indian Ocean seabed. One is believed to be West Ridge, a 220-foot iron barque, built in Scotland, which was lost while carrying British coal to India in 1883, claiming the lives of 28 crew. It was found on December 19 2015, 12,000 feet below the surface, 1.500 miles off the west coast of Australia. The wreck was found lying upright and evidence uncovered by Australian archaeologists suggest that the vessel weighed between 1,100 and 1,655 tons and had at least two decks. Sifting through the debris, scientists found a coal sample which, on further analysis, suggested that the ship was British. That information and the surviving anchors and metal fasteners enabled researchers to identify the West Ridge as the likeliest candidate. The search for MH370 Built in Glasgow in 1869 the 1,405 West Ridges dimensions appeared to match those of the wreck. However even if West Ridge is the most likely candidate, Dr Anderson did not rule out two other possibilities Kooringa and Lake Ontario, which were lost in 1894 and 1897 respectively. Greater uncertainty surrounds the identity of a second wreck, a wooden ship which was found on May 19 2015 about 22 miles away from the iron wreck. Using shipping records, scientists have narrowed down the identity of the wooden ship which weighed between 250 and 880 tons to one of two vessels. One is the W.Gordon which sailing from Scotland to Australia in 1877 with 10 crew on board when it sank and the other Magdala, which was lost five years later during a voyage from Wales to Indonesia. Most of the material widely scattered on the seabed consists of the remains of the coal cargo that had spilt out of the hull prior to it striking the seabed, said Dr Ross Anderson, curator of maritime archaeology at the West Australian Museum. Story continues In brief | The disappearance of Flight MH370 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. Dr Anderson said more work and funding is needed before his team can be certain over the identity of the wrecks. "If it was a shipwreck that we could dive on ... we'd be looking for any artefacts like ceramics or bottles or anything that could confirm providence," Dr Anderson added. "These are the deepest wrecks so far located in the Indian Ocean, they're some of the most remote shipwrecks in the world, so we try to maximize any information." The wrecks of two other trawlers, which were lost in the 20th century, were also found, but the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which supervised the hunt for MH370 did not ask the museum carry out further research. When the sonar search first located the wreckage, it was briefly thought that the remnants of MH370 had been found. Hopes were dashed when high-resolution images showed that it was a ship rather than aircraft which had been discovered. The search for MH370 is continuing with Texas-based Ocean Infinity carrying out the work. The Malaysian government has promised to pay the company $20 million if it finds the plane or its black boxes. 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. Story continues "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. The Daily Beast Clodagh Kilcoyne via ReutersROMEMarie was placed in a French Catholic boarding school for young girls from good families when she was in the fifth grade. She remembers a nun who would come to her class every day to choose a student to help her with Mass. But the nun wasnt looking for someone to help her. She was looking for a victim.I was 11 and looked 9. She would choose me once every two or three times, she recalls. She would take me to her office, lock the door, and then draw the cur PJI Helps Church Win Opening Round of Battle Over Property Tax's Constitutionality Contact: Brad Dacus, Pacific Justice Institute, 916-616-4126 SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 4, 2018 /Standard Newswire/ -- Represented by the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), a San Rafael church has won round one of its battle with the City of San Rafael over the constitutionality of a local tax on non-residential structures. In September 2017, Valley Baptist Church (VBC) filed a lawsuit in Marin County Superior Court asking that the City's Paramedic Services Special Tax be declared invalid as applied to the church under the California Constitution. The City's voters enacted the Tax, which taxes non-residential structures at a rate of up to 14 cents per square foot, via referendum by a two-thirds vote in 2010. Because the California Constitution exempts buildings used exclusively for religious purposes from property taxation, VBC sued to have the Tax declared unconstitutional as applied to the church, as well as to recover monies paid under protest pursuant to the Tax as a condition of filing suit. In an effort to uphold the Tax, the City attempted to get VBC's case thrown out of court, filing a motion for judgment on the pleadings in March 2018. Among other things, the City asserted that VBC did not state a claim for which relief could be granted because the Tax, in the City's view, is a "special tax" and not a "property tax." VBC countered that the Tax was, in fact, a "property tax"the "special tax" label notwithstandingbecause it triggered a duty on the part of owners of non-residential structures on real property in San Rafael to pay the Tax. The Court sided with VBC, denying the City's motion in its entirety. Because the Court has determined that VBC has stated a valid claim for relief, VBC can now proceed to have its case heard on the merits. "This is a huge victory for churches all over California," said PJI President Brad Dacus. "If all a city has to do to tax churches in the state is call a proposed tax on real property a 'special tax,' place it on a local ballot and get two-thirds of the city's voters to approve it, then the city has effectively found a way to get around California's constitutional and statutory provisions protecting church property from taxation. That would defeat the whole point of having such protections to begin with." Federal, state, and local governments have long granted tax exemptions to churches and other religious non-profit organizations because of the significant and beneficial social services such religious organizations provide to their communities. Churches or religious organizations that need assistance in a tax-related matter are encouraged to contact PJI at (916) 857-6900. There were no reports of injuries after Flight 957 landed safely at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport: Twitter/Chaikel A Southwest Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing after a window cracked mid-flight. The airline said no one was injured in the incident with the crack affecting one of multiple layers of the window pane. It followed two weeks after another Southwest jet made an emergency landing when an engine blowout caused shrapnel to puncture a window, causing a passenger to become partially sucked out of the plane. There were no reports of injuries after Wednesday's Flight 957, flying from Chicago to New Jersey, landed safely at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport. "The flight landed uneventfully in Cleveland. The aircraft has been taken out of service, and our local Cleveland employees are working diligently to accommodate the 76 customers on a new aircraft to Newark," the airline said in a statement. Passengers said the emergency exit window shattered and pictures showed damage to the pane. A spokeswoman for Southwest said the aircraft never lost cabin pressure. @SouthwestAir #WN957 diverts and makes emergency landing in CLE due to busted window pic.twitter.com/OJMZ5KTyMS Chaikel (@ChaikelK) May 2, 2018 She added that the pilots did not declare an emergency before landing and there were no other mechanical problems with the plane. A passenger who died after being partially sucked out of a Southwest jet window in April was the airline's first fatality, knocking the Dallas-based firm from its position as the safest airline in the world by passengers flown. She was named as Jennifer Riordan, a 43-year-old mother-of-two. The banking executive was travelling home to her family following a business trip when she was hit by shrapnel after the Boeing 737 blew an engine at 32,000ft on a flight from New York to Dallas. By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After decades exploring the surface of Mars, NASA is set for the weekend launch of its first robotic lander dedicated to studying the red planet's deep interior, with instruments to detect planetary seismic rumblings never measured anywhere but Earth. The Mars InSight probe is due for liftoff on Saturday before dawn from Vandenberg Air Force Base near the central California coast, treating early risers across a wide region to the luminous spectacle of the first interplanetary spacecraft to be launched from the U.S. West Coast. The lander will be carried aloft for NASA and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) atop a powerful, 19-story Atlas 5 rocket from the fleet of United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co. InSight will be released about 90 minutes after launch on a 301 million-mile (548 km) flight to Mars, and is due to reach its destination six months later, landing on a flat, smooth plain close to the planet's equator called the Elysium Planitia. The 800-pound (360 kg) spacecraft - its name is short for Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport - marks the 21st U.S.-launched Martian exploration, dating back to the Mariner fly-by missions of the 1960s. Nearly two dozen other Mars missions have been launched by other nations. Once settled, the solar-powered InSight will spend two years - one about one Martian year - plumbing the depths of the planet's interior for clues to how Mars took form and, by extension, the origins of the Earth and other rocky planets. "The science we want to do with this mission is really the science of understanding the early solar system," JPL's Bruce Banerdt, InSight principal investigator, said during a pre-launch briefing for reporters on Thursday. MARTIAN TIME MACHINE While Earth's tectonics and other forces have erased most evidence of its early history, much of Mars - about one-third the size of Earth - is believed to have remained relatively static for more than 3 billion years, creating a geologic time machine for scientists. InSight's primary instrument is a French-built seismometer, a device designed to detect the slightest ground motion from "marsquakes," even those on the opposite side of the planet. The instrument is so sensitive, Banerdt said, that it can measure a seismic wave just one-half the radius of a hydrogen atom. Scientists expect to see a dozen to 100 marsquakes over the course of the mission, producing data that will help them deduce the depth, density and composition of the planet's core, the rocky mantle surrounding it and the outermost layer, the crust. InSight is not the first attempt to measure Martian seismic activity. The Viking probes of the mid-1970s were equipped with seismometers, too, but they were bolted to the top of the landers, which swayed in Martian winds on legs built with shock absorbers. Banerdt called those "handicapped experiments," joking, "We didn't do seismology on Mars - we did it 3 feet above Mars." Apollo missions to the moon brought seismometers to the lunar surface as well, detecting thousands of moonquakes and meteorite impacts. But InSight is expected to yield the first meaningful data on internal planetary tremors beyond Earth. Insight also will be outfitted with a German-made drill designed to burrow as much as 16 feet (5 meters) underground, pulling behind it a cable encasing a thermal probe to measure heat flowing from inside the planet. A third instrument is a special transmitter to beam radio signals back to Earth, tracking Mars' subtle rotational wobble at its north pole to reveal the size of the planet's core and possibly whether it remains molten. Hitching a ride aboard the same rocket that launches InSight will be a pair of miniature satellites called CubeSats, which will fly to Mars on their own paths behind the lander in a first deep-space test of the technology. The twin briefcase-sized objects, if they survive the journey, will ultimately soar past the red planet, offering NASA a new interplanetary satellite platform that carries a fraction of the weight, and cost, of larger traditional spacecraft. (Reporting and writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles) Madrid (AFP) - Spain vowed to bring to justice all those who committed crimes in the name of former Basque separatist group ETA even as its formal dissolution was sealed on Friday with calls for reconciliation. By disbanding, the group put a definitive end to western Europe's last armed insurgency following more than four decades of killings and kidnappings. But the Spanish government reiterated its vow to pursue any outstanding cases against members of the group, which is blamed for more than 800 killings. "ETA's crimes will continue to be investigated, its offences will continue to be tried in the courts, convictions will continue to be issued accordingly and the sentences will continue to be served," conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in an address. "There has not been and will not be any impunity. We owe them nothing and have nothing to thank them for." Rajoy paid tribute to people the group is accused of killing and the victims' families. He said the group is now accused of killing 853 people. "They were all murdered unjustly and cruelly," he said. "We owe a homage to all of them -- to them, their families and the hundreds of Spaniards who survived the terrorist violence but who still suffer the consequences of that cruelty." - Calls for dialogue - Mediators gathered in the French Basque country on Friday for a peace conference to mark ETA's dissolution. In a closing statement, they said the move must lead to "reconciliation". ETA's decision marks "a commitment to take part in the democratic process" within Spain's institutions, "which will require reconciliation," South African lawyer Brian Currin said at the conference in Cambo-les-Bains, southwestern France. In the small village of Oiartzun in the Spanish Basque country, graffiti reading "Thanks ETA" appeared in several locations overnight, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. Story continues The Spanish government has refused to negotiate with ETA, which is classed as a terrorist organisation by the European Union. ETA "will not get anything in return for announcing its dissolution," Rajoy said. His allies in Brussels formally welcomed ETA's move. "There is no place in the European Union for terrorism, arms and guns," said European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas. "The European Union is based on the rule of law." - Engage for peace - Northern Ireland's Gerry Adams, the former head of Sinn Fein -- once considered the political wing of the Irish Republican Army -- called on the Madrid government to turn the page. "In my own view, there is a particular onus on governments, which are the more powerful actors in any conflict, to proactively engage and sustain the conditions for a peace process," he said in a speech at the conference. He urged the Spanish government to move imprisoned ETA members closer to their families -- a long-standing demand by the separatists and their relatives. "It would not be a sign of weakness," he said. But Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said "the government will not alter its penitentiary policy." Spain's former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose socialist government carried out secret talks with ETA, also defended dialogue. "The great thing of democracy is to integrate those who have been its worst enemies, it is its moral superiority," he said during a television interview. - Victims first - On April 20, ETA asked forgiveness from its victims for the first time for the "pain" caused by its decades-long campaign of violence. Victims' campaigners complained that the call for forgiveness did not extend to those the group considered legitimate targets, such as police officers and politicians. "ETA was not able to express a word of contrition for all the victims, but Basque society and institutions can do it," said the head of the Basque regional government, Inigo Urkullu, of the nationalist PNV party. 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. Sydney (AFP) - A third of Australia's threatened species are not being tracked, scientists said Friday, warning they could easily slide into extinction without anyone noticing. The first national assessment on the monitoring of threatened birds, mammals, frogs, freshwater fish, reptiles and ecological communities found 217 species were not being watched. Plants and insects were not included. The government-funded Threatened Species Recovery Hub said the results were poor for most groups, although keeping tabs on birds was better due to a large and enthusiastic volunteer base. In contrast, half of all threatened fish receive no monitoring and tracking reptiles was little better. "Overall, over a third of Australia's threatened animals received no monitoring at all, and where monitoring does exist, it is often inadequate," said project leader Sarah Legge. "This puts these species at risk. By the time we realise we have a problem it may be too late to act. Many people do not appreciate how vital monitoring is for all aspects of managing threatened biodiversity." She said that without adequate monitoring, researchers had no idea if populations were going up or down, what was driving changes, or whether conservation efforts needed to be adapted. The warning came on the heels of another study by the same group last month that said Australia's extinction rate for mammals, already the highest in the world, could worsen unless more efforts are made to protect them. It found that the potential extinction of 10 Australian birds and seven mammals, including the orange-bellied parrot and the central rock-rat, could be prevented if governments and communities were made aware of the risks they faced. The most recent study coincided with broadcaster ABC reporting that the government was planning to slash up to a third of staff from the biodiversity and conservation division of its environment department. It cited scientists calling the move an "absolute calamity" for threatened species. Story continues Threatened Species Recovery Hub director Brendan Wintle called Friday for a national effort to improve monitoring. "Many species occur across multiple states and territories, and the monitoring data that exists are currently scattered across many different agencies and research groups," he said. "Australia needs investment and coordination to manage, store, analyse and report on monitoring data." The main causes of species decline that have been identified include habitat loss, such as through land clearing and other development, and feral cats and foxes. Tina Fey and David Letterman on Netflixs My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. (Photo: Netflix) After the slightly awkward interview David Letterman did with Jay-Z last month, the white-bearded host gets back on track with a far cozier Tina Fey interview on a new edition of his Netflix show, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. Letterman and Fey have an easy rapport that loosens up both of them: Theyre fun to watch, riffing off each other. Fey asks, Do you want to hear my Trump story? and indeed we do. She also says shes glad shes not working at Saturday Night Live now because of the poisonous atmosphere Donald Trump has let loose in the land. Its a hard time: The level of outrage is so high, it feels like talking to anyone, anywhere, in 2018 is just land mine hopscotch. Letterman asks her the kind of question most interviewees would dismiss as unfair pick the eight best Saturday Night Live cast members to do a sketch with and Fey gives him a serious, thoughtful answer. Fey also admits to a mistake she made in executing one of her most famous SNL sketches, issuing a surprise apology. The interview is timed as a promotion: Feys Broadway musical version of Mean Girls has just opened, and Letterman gives her plenty of time to plug it. But one purpose of these hourlong interviews is to go over the entire career of the guest, so we also hear about Feys youth and her early performing days in Chicagos Second City improv group. This leads to a slight detour into Chicago food, which leads to the odd moment that occurs in all of these Netflix Letterman shows: the cutaway from the interview to a taped segment. This one finds Letterman eating chicken in a Chicago restaurant with blues guitarist Buddy Guy. No, it has nothing to do with Fey. Anyway, when Letterman asks her to pick eight SNL players she would like to do a sketch with, her choices span the history of the show. Im not going to spoil her list, but I will say that she says shes scared of Bill Murray: I feel like he can just smell how uncool I am. In the most revealing and intimate moment of this interview, Letterman brings up her viral sheet cake moment on SNL this past August, when Fey addressed the racist demonstrations that occurred in Charlottesville, Va. Story continues You may recall that Feys commentary was both widely admired and widely criticized. With Letterman, Fey says, Heres whats wrong with it and acknowledges that the skit could have been interpreted as loftily privileged. Or in her words: I chunked it. The implication was that I was telling people to give up and not be active and to not fight, says Fey. That was not my intention, obviously, but she owns it, albeit with some justifiable defensiveness: But at some point, I have decided that the culture of apology is not for me, so I promise, I swear to God, anyone who is mad at me, I hear you, and I will keep learning, but Im also not gonna stop trying. She also reveals the line she would insert into the sketch, if I had a time machine, if I could insert one sentence digitally. Again, I wont spoil this; check out the interview. My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman is streaming now on Netflix. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Allison Mack and Keith Raniere came face-to-face on Friday in Brooklyn federal court. Its the first time the Smallville actress has seen Raniere, the alleged leader of a sex cult purportedly involving Mack, since he was arrested in Mexico in March. A judge has scheduled a trial for the pair to begin on Oct. 1. Both Mack and Raniere have been charged with sex trafficking, sex-trafficking conspiracy, and forced-labor conspiracy for their involvement in the alleged sex cult. Allison Mack arrives at Brooklyn federal court on May 4, 2018. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images) Mack and Raniere have separate legal representation and did not look at each other at all during todays status conference, according to Fox News, which reported that Mack appeared nervous and shaken up in court, focusing her gaze mostly on the floor except when looking up at the judge. Raniere pleaded not guilty on all charges on Friday. He and the 35-year-old actress have been accused of running a secret sorority called DOS within the self-help group NXIVM, which was founded by Raniere. Mack, his alleged co-conspirator, supposedly recruited women as sex slaves, coerced them to perform sexual acts, and branded them with their initials. There are groups of men who brand themselves. When women choose to brand themselves they become victims? Keith Ranieres attorneys speaking outside of federal court right now regarding #NXIVM charges. Ayla Ferrone (@AylaFerrone) May 4, 2018 One bombshell revelation came when prosecutors revealed that Mack married Battlestar Galactica actress Nicki Clyne in February 2017 at the alleged request of Raniere. Clyne has supposedly been a member of NXIVM for years. In Fridays status conference, federal prosecutors told Judge Nicholas Garaufis they are anticipating more charges and additional suspects. A superseding indictment could come in a month or so, Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Penza said, according to the New York Daily News. Story continues Raniere has been held without bail, whereas Mack was released on $5 million bond last week. She has been placed under house arrest with GPS monitoring at her parents home in California. A follow-up status conference has been set for June 12, and Macks lawyers are apparently petitioning that she not be ordered to appear. Its believed that Mack is working on a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Mack is best known for portraying Chloe Sullivan on Smallville from 2001 to 2011. She has praised Raniere throughout the years, revealing that she joined NXIVM to cope with the overwhelming and intimidating success she experienced. I have a wonderful teacher and mentor named Keith Raniere who really gave me some incredible guidance, she said in an interview with Fine Magazine last year. I think everyone needs a mentor. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: By Mica Rosenberg and Gustavo Palencia NEW YORK/TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Trump administration said on Friday it will end temporary protections for immigrants in the United States from Honduras on Jan. 5, 2020, leaving potentially 57,000 people vulnerable to deportation. It is the latest in a series of decisions by President Donald Trump to shut down temporary protected status (TPS) granted to immigrants after natural disasters or violent conflicts that would prevent them from safely returning to their home countries. The government of Honduras said on Friday that it "profoundly regrets the cancellation of the program" and pledged free legal and consular support for Hondurans living in the United States. Marlon Tabora, the Honduras ambassador to the United States, said the conditions did not exist in the Central American country to deal with the repatriation of tens of thousands of people. "These families have lived in the United States for 20 years and re-integrating them into the country will not be easy if they decide to return," he said. After El Salvador, Hondurans are the second largest nationality with TPS to lose their status, which was granted to the country in 1999 following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. The government said it had conducted a review and found "conditions in Honduras that resulted from the hurricane have notably improved." The 18-month timeline to end the program would allow "individuals with TPS to arrange for their departure or to seek an alternative lawful immigration," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. The Boston-based Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice said later on Friday that it would amend a legal complaint filed in February to include the Hondurans affected. The original complaint challenged the Trump administration's decision to terminate a similar program protecting immigrants from Haiti and El Salvador. In January, the Trump administration ended TPS classification for some 200,000 Salvadorans, who had been allowed to live and work in the United States since 2001. Their status will expire in 2019. The administration also recently ended the program for Nepal. TPS critics complain that repeated extensions in six- to 18-month increments of the status, sometimes for decades, has given beneficiaries de facto residency in the United States. In November, then-acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke set a deadline of six months to make a decision about TPS for Honduras, which is one of the most violent countries in the Western Hemisphere and recently has been convulsed by protests following a contested presidential election. Duke is no longer in charge, replaced by Kirstjen Nielsen. Most of the other countries that have come up for TPS review have had the status terminated, except for Syria, which is in the midst of a devastating war. Canada has become the target of choice for those who fear deportation from the United States. Last year, almost 10,000 Haitians crossed the border illegally amid fears their U.S. temporary protected status might end. Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Hondurans had until 2020 to decide what to do, meaning it was unlikely people would rush north. "I don't believe we will see that wave of individuals coming to Canada," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. The decisions on TPS are upending the lives of people who have settled in the United States, sometimes for decades, according to immigration advocates. "They have made enormous contributions to this nation as workers, small-business owners, homeowners, parents of U.S. citizens and community members," said Frank Sharry, executive director at the Washington-based America's Voice Education Fund. Some Democratic lawmakers decried the decision and said Congress should act to pass legislation that would allow long-time TPS holders to remain in the United States. Karen Valladares, the director of the National Forum for Migration, a non-governmental organization in Honduras, said people continue to leave because of gang and drug-related violence and lack of economic opportunities. "There have not been concrete improvements in the security situation," Valladares said. In some ways, she added, "Honduras is worse off than when they left." (Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York and Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa; editing by Bill Trott and Rosalba O'Brien) Export-oriented Asian economies could emerge as the biggest losers if U.S.-China tensions evolve into a full-scale trade war. Southeast Asian nations are seen as vulnerable to Trump's tariffs because they are a significant contributor to Chinese exports that are headed stateside. The Philippines, one of the region's fastest growing economies, could be particularly badly hit. 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. Intermediate goods account for more than 50 percent of both Southeast Asian exports and imports with China, according to a 2017 report by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Even as Beijing increasingly produces its own intermediate goods instead of relying on imports, the world's second-largest economy is simultaneously investing heavily in Southeast Asia, resulting in "a strong trade-investment nexus" across the region, Park continued. Story continues As a result, if Chinese growth slows down by 1 percentage point under the weight of U.S. tariffs, that could shave growth in the rest of Asia by 0.3 percentage points, she warned. That's particularly bad news for the Philippines, one of the region's fastest-growing economies. A sizeable chunk of Philippine exports as much as 16.9 percent, according to Malaysian bank RHB are a part of China's value chain. For example, the Southeast Asian country exports electronic components to Beijing, with Chinese firms then using those parts in its own electronic shipments to the U.S. "There will certainly be some collateral damage to us," said Diwa Guinigundo, deputy governor for monetary stability at the Philippines central bank. Aside from growth, "there could also be financial spillovers," he warned. "FDI (foreign direct investment) and portfolio investments could also be affected in the process because you don't limit protectionist policies to just trade, they may also extend to include direct investment." Thus, export-oriented Asian economies could emerge as the biggest losers if U.S.-China tensions evolve into a full-scale trade war. Meanwhile, countries reliant on domestic demand to fuel growth are best positioned to weather current frictions, such as Vietnam, Indonesia and India, said DBS economist Taimur Baig. But open economies such as South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore could suffer, he added. Going forward, boosting intra-regional trade could be Southeast Asia's best safeguard if the situation between Washington and Beijing escalates. "The way to manage this, for us at least in the region, is to continue strengthening our regional integration," said Guinigundo: "If we can strengthen our regional integration and address other remaining outstanding issues like non-tariff barriers, that could really be a counterweight to whatever we can expect from any escalation in a trade war." More From CNBC Washington (AFP) - An angry Donald Trump dismissed a growing storm over a hush money payment to an adult movie star as "crap" Friday, as it threatened to become a second front in the president's deepening legal troubles. Trump promised to clarify what he called a "very simple" story after his newly recruited lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, revealed the president had reimbursed his personal attorney for the payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The secret $130,000 payment was made on the eve the hotly contested 2016 US presidential election to silence Daniel's claims of a decade-old affair with Trump. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, implied the payment was made just weeks before the election to prevent Daniels from hurting Trump's chances to win -- which if true could potentially have been a criminal violation of election laws. Trump though suggested Giuliani misspoke, while rejecting questions about changing his own positions after saying last month that he didn't know about the payment. "Virtually everything said has been said incorrectly and it's been said wrong or it's been covered wrong by the press," Trump told reporters before leaving the capital for a trip to Texas. "Rudy's great, but Rudy had just started and he wasn't totally familiar with everything," Trump told reporters. "He started yesterday. He'll get his facts straight." With experts saying Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, had jeopardized Trump's legal position, he later sought to walk back his comments. "My references to timing were not describing my understanding of the president's knowledge, but instead, my understanding of these measures," he said in a statement. - Payment linked to election - Giuliani was recruited to Trump's legal team two weeks ago to deal with special prosecutor Robert Mueller's push to interview the president in the investigation into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia in the election, and obstruction allegations against Trump. Story continues But in his first moves, he has taken what was a sideshow to the Mueller probe, the Daniels case, and placed it right in front of the White House. The $130,000 payment to Daniels was made in October 2016 by New York lawyer Michael Cohen, for years a "fixer" at Trump's real estate group, who said he used his private funds to seal a non-disclosure agreement with Daniels over the alleged affair. Trump has denied the affair and last month denied any knowledge of the hush payment. In interviews with Fox News on Wednesday and Thursday, however, Giuliani himself confirmed the payment and Cohen's reimbursement. He stressed that Cohen was repaid out of Trump's personal family accounts, and not by the election campaign. Trump himself echoed that in tweets on Thursday. "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," Trump said. "The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair," he said. Asked Thursday if he was now reversing his earlier denial of knowing about the Daniels payment, Trump replied: "We're not changing any stories." "All I'm telling you is that this country is right now running so smooth, and to be bringing up that kind of crap, and to be bringing up witch hunts all the time, that's all you want to talk about." - Campaign law violation - Nevertheless, experts said Giuliani had deepened the president's legal troubles when he tied the payment to the election, which could make it a violation of federal campaign finance laws, no matter where the money came from. "Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton," Giuliani said on Fox. "Cohen didn't even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job." Giuliani "put President Trump in legal peril for 'knowing and willful' violations of campaign finance law related to hush money payments," said Paul Ryan, vice president of Common Cause, which filed formal complaints in January calling for the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission to investigate the payment. Later Friday Giuliani backed off his statement after Trump's criticism. "There is no campaign violation. The payment was made to resolve a personal and false allegation in order to protect the president's family. It would have been done in any event, whether he was a candidate or not." President Trump said Friday that his lawyer Rudy Giuliani didnt know the facts about hush-money payments to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. Rudy is a great guy but he just started a day ago, Trump told reporters on the South Lawn before departing White House en route to Texas, where he is scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Associations annual convention. Hell get his facts straight. Giuliani announced he was joining Trumps legal team on April 19. In interviews with Fox News this week, the former mayor of New York City made the bombshell disclosure that Trump had reimbursed his personal attorney Michael Cohen for his $130,000 payment to Daniels in October 2016, as part of a non-disclosure agreement. Daniels has said she had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006. The president repaid it, Giuliani told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday. 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. The statement appeared to flatly contradict Trumps previous claim that he was unaware of the payment. On Thursday morning, Trump released a carefully-worded three-tweet statement that seemed to confirm Giulianis comments, saying the arrangement was very common among celebrities and people of wealth. But on Friday, Trump appeared to walk back that confirmation, saying Giuliani is learning the subject matter. The president criticized the press for its coverage of the administrations differing statements on the Stormy Daniels saga, but also seemed to blame Giuliani for the misinformation. I say, learn before you speak, its a lot easier, Trump said. President Trump speaks to reporters before departing the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Trump was asked whether he had changed his mind about sitting down for an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating the Trump campaigns contacts with Russia. Giuliani was hired by the Trump team, in part, to negotiate the terms of that interview. Story continues I would love to speak, I would love to, nobody wants to speak more than me, Trump said. I would love to speak because weve done nothing wrong. There was no collusion with the Russians. There was nothing. There was no obstruction. You know, very funny, the president continued. If you fight back, because you people say something wrong or they say something wrong or they leak, which theyve been doing, if you fight back they say, Oh, thats obstruction of justice. Somebody says something wrong, you fight back, they say thats obstruction of justice. Its nonsense. I would love to go but I have find a way to be treated fairly, he added. Why dont we have Republican people doing what these Democrats are doing? It is a very unfair thing. If I thought it was fair I would override my lawyers. Trump also falsely claimed that Muellers team was comprised of all Democrats and wrongly characterized how long Mueller worked for President Barack Obama. In all fairness, Bob Mueller worked for Obama for eight years, Trump said. Mueller was appointed FBI director by President George W. Bush in 2001 and served through 2013, covering both of Bushs terms and the first four years of the Obama administration. Related: Its been another tough week for Trump and the truth Speaking to press at Andrews Air Force Base, Trump sparred with an Associated Press reporter who asked him about his assertion aboard Air Force One that he did not know about Cohens payment to Daniels. Were not changing any stories, Trump said. All Im telling you is that this country is right now running so smooth and to be bringing up that kind of crap and to be bringing up witch hunts all the time thats all you want to talk about. You said on Air Force One that you did not know anything about the payments, the APs Catherine Lucey pressed. Excuse me, excuse me, Trump interjected. You take a look at what I said. You go back and take a look. Youll see what I said. You said no when I asked you about the payment, Lucey replied. In a gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One on April 5, Trump was asked whether he knew about Cohens payment. No, Trump replied. Do you know where he got the money to make that payment? another reporter asked Trump. No, Trump replied. I dont know. Read more from Yahoo News: By Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday said the date and location have been set for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, building suspense for the unprecedented talks, as South Korea said it would oppose a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the area. The White House has said the first meeting between sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders could take place in the coming weeks. Trump is to push North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, between North and South Korea, and Singapore are among the top choices being considered for the summit. Trump this week expressed a preference for the DMZ but also said Singapore was possible. The Peace House at the DMZ was the venue for a meeting last month between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The White House announced that Trump will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House on May 22, in talks aimed at demonstrating allied unity before the Trump-Kim summit. The Moon visit was announced after Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, met with his South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong, at the White House on Friday. Chung told reporters afterward that it was "unacceptable that the issue of the U.S. Forces Korea keeps being raised." The New York Times said Trump had asked the Pentagon for troop withdrawal options, although Trump said it was not true and Bolton called the report "utter nonsense." "Now, I have to tell you, at some point into the future, I would like to save the money," Trump told reporters. "But troops are not on the table." Trump, a former reality TV star who likes to build suspense about upcoming presidential news, did not give a date or location for the North Korea summit and White House officials did not immediately provide further clarity. He told the National Rifle Association's annual convention in Dallas that he had toned down his rhetoric in anticipation of the talks after labeling Kim "Little Rocket Man" last year and threatening him with "fire and fury." "I won't use the rhetoric now," he said. "Now I'm trying to calm it down a little bit." The U.S. government is looking into reports that three Americans arrested in recent years in North Korea had recently been relocated from a labor camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, as expectations grow that they will be released before the summit. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that if North Korea were to free the three Americans, "We certainly would see this as a sign of good will" ahead of the Trump-Kim summit. Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, suggested activity was under way involving the captives. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the (U.S.) hostages. I think you're going to see very good things," Trump told reporters. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert, Makini Brice, Roberta Rampton, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; editing by Alistair Bell and James Dalgleish) Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Friday that he is willing to be interviewed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia meddling probe, but only if he gets fair treatment. "I would love to speak, but I have to find that we're going to be treated fairly," Trump told reporters. "I would love to speak because we've done nothing wrong," he said. Trump said Mueller's team of veteran investigators were Democrats, suggesting he could not get a fair shake in the probe into whether his election campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, and whether he had illegally tried to obstruct the Mueller investigation. "The problem we have is that you have 13 people that are all Democrats and they're real Democrats. They're angry Democrats. And that's not a fair situation," Trump said as he left the White House for a trip to Texas. "I have to find that we're going to be treated fairly. Because everybody sees it now and it's a pure witch hunt." "There was no collusion with the Russians, there was nothing, there was no obstruction," he added. Trump also brushed off revelations by his newly recruited attorney, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, that he was aware of and approved reimbursements to his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Cohen made the payment just before the 2016 election to prevent her from going public with claims of an affair with Trump. After repeatedly denying knowledge of the payment, Trump tweeted on Thursday following the revelations by Giuliani that Cohen had undertaken the payout separately from the campaign "to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair." Trump referred to the payments story as "that kind of crap" and said Giuliani was still getting up to speed on his legal position. "Rudy's great, but Rudy had just started and he wasn't totally familiar with everything," Trump said. A Trump Administration delegation headed to China this week to negotiate an end to the trade standoff between the two countries includes three Cabinet level officials, two senior advisers and one prominent ambassador. But the group lacks one essential element: a clear set of demands for their Chinese counterparts. To deliver a win for the White House on trade in China and elsewhere, senior administration officials will first need to negotiate among themselves. The key split in the delegation lies between the hardliners who are skeptical of China and want to push for deep concessions and more moderate officials who are more likely to accept modest concessions from Beijing. The China trade hardliners headed to Beijing include Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer while Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and economic advisor Larry Kudlow are more likely to accept Chinas concession. There doesnt seem to be a comprehensive, coherent U.S. request to China, says Wendy Cutler, a former U.S. trade negotiator who is now a managing director at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a think tank. There are so many people on the U.S. delegation that it leads me to believe that it will be characterized by both sides putting down many markers in terms of what they may be able to do, what they wont do and what issues are of primary concern. Trumps stated demands namely, that China reduce the countrys trade surplus to the U.S. by $100 billion and that the country end its plan $300 billion plan to build a high-tech sector known as Made in China 2025 will likely be dismissed out of hand Beijing. Instead, the country has offered to open its auto and financial sectors, according to a New York Times report earlier this week. China has already announced related concessions this year, including allowing U.S. auto companies access to the Chinese market without a local partner. Trump has indicated those moves will not be enough saying on Twitter this week the Massive Trade Deficit with China should have been fixed years ago, not now. Story continues Delegation heading to China to begin talks on the Massive Trade Deficit that has been created with our Country. Very much like North Korea, this should have been fixed years ago, not now. Same with other countries and NAFTA...but it will all get done. Great Potential for USA! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 1, 2018 And no matter what his top officials say in China Trump will need to sign off. The discussions will take place in Beijing, Navarro said on Tuesday before heading to China, according to reports. The decisions will take place in Washington. The tensions with China are not the only trade negotiation where Trump and his advisors are still deciding what they will accept. Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminum in early March but delayed implementing them in the European Union, Canada and Mexico following an outcry from business leaders and key allies. This week, he again delayed for a month the tariffs targeting those countries with the White House saying the administration would focus on quotas that will restrain imports in ongoing talks. When the Trump Administration announced its first slew of tariffs earlier this year it seemed that the administration was ready to abandon decades of U.S. support for free trade. Some tariffs have taken effect to be sure, including the steel and aluminum measures in countries that did not receive an exemption and tariffs targeting solar panels and washing machines. But on many of the most significant trade issues, it remains to be seen how far the Administration is willing to go. Similarly, on NAFTA, the Administration has walked away from Trumps campaign threat to walk away from the free trade deal. Months of renegotiations have come down to the wire with rules about the origin of material used in cars remaining a major sticking point. The Administration said this week it expects a deal by mid-May. These have morphed into levers, cudgels, whatever you want to call them, says Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a professor of economics at Syracuse University of the administrations trade threats. Well see whats left in the end. Fox News host Tucker Carlson was chosen to speak at an NRA womens form and the internet is asking, Why? (Photo: Getty Images) The internet is perplexed about a flyer for a womens leadership forum that features Tucker Carlson, a conservative male political commenter. On Friday, the 12th Annual NRA Womens Leadership Forum Luncheon & Auction took place at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Tex., and despite the event serving to connect philanthropic women united in their goal to protect the Second Amendment, Carlson had been chosen as a featured speaker and cover boy notably for his razor-sharp wit, keen intellect, and no-holds-barred take on all things political. Twitter had emotions. Noted feminist and womens leadership expert Tucker Carlson will headline the @NRAs women's leadership luncheon at #NRAAM: https://t.co/lBie0fcj9c pic.twitter.com/oyBGjnd6QG Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 4, 2018 How is this even real pic.twitter.com/3g63h3F9ap Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) May 4, 2018 Maybe they couldnt find a female host because they shot all the women? OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) May 4, 2018 Oh I get it: the womens leadership forum isnt for women leaders its for leading women. Marcella Jonas (@Marcella_Jonas) May 4, 2018 He'll also be the featured speaker at the #NRA events for Latinos, Blacks & LGBTQAI members clearly Amanda Cronkhite (@abcronkhite) May 4, 2018 Because men know best how to lead women. PS: no guns allowed! J Holbrook (@joeholbrook42) May 4, 2018 Representatives from the Womens Leadership Forum did not return Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment. However, as Salon initially pointed out when the news broke, Carlson, host of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News, has a history of airing anti-feminist viewpoints, be it his series Men in America, which he ran during Womens History Month in March in which he attempted to deny the existence of feminism; his assertion that a female teacher having sex with an underage boy isnt rape; or his claim that Democrats made up the notion of sexual harassment. Story continues During the presidential campaign when footage of President Trump making his Grab em by the p***sy comments went viral, Carlson called the backlash manufactured outrage. And he said the Mar. 8th nationwide strike A Day Without Women to highlight womens societal contributions was obviously an attack on white men. Tucker Carlson is not a surprising choice for the luncheon because its hand-in-glove with the misogyny we see from the NRA, whether its mocking gun survivors or activists, comparing womens bodies to AR-15s, or blaming women for their own sexual assault by pointing to the fact that they were unarmed, Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. One example of that is mocking Kim Kardashian after she was held at gunpoint in Paris. Wait, criminals held @KimKardashian at gunpoint in Paris? How is that possible? Does anyone know if they passed a background check first? NRA (@NRA) October 3, 2016 The truth is, says Watts, is that the NRA employs very few women and only 12 to 18 percent of gun owners are female. So this conference, along with the organizations concealed-carry fashion show, which last year featured bra holsters, is likely a way to attract more women and open new revenue streams. Maybe next year, says Watts, the NRA will find a woman to speak at its leadership forum. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Ankara (AFP) - Turkey's main opposition party Friday named a senior lawmaker known for his fiery and impassioned rhetoric as its candidate to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in next month's election, paving the way for a potentially bruising campaign. The candidate of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in the June 24 poll is Muharrem Ince, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu announced. "On June 24, I will, God willing, be president by the wish of the people," Ince said after being called to the stage at an Ankara rally by Kilicdaroglu. "For 80 million people (Turkey's population)... I will be everyone's president. I will be an unbiased president," he added. The candidacy of Ince, a former physics teacher and MP since 2002, was approved at a meeting of CHP MPs where all 110 of its lawmakers voted for him to stand. Kilicdaroglu had already made clear he would not run. - 'So-called world leader' - Ince, who turned 54 Friday, faces an uphill struggle to convince voters, as he is running against Turkey's most experienced and rhetorically-gifted campaigner in the shape of Erdogan. Yet Ince's greatest political assets are his rhetorical skills and impassioned speeches which have made him a favourite with the CHP faithful in recent years. "Muharrem Ince is the best candidate the CHP could select in terms of rallying the party base," Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy and visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, told AFP. "He will be able to ensure a large turnout of the CHP electorate on election day." Ince's tough talking has drawn a sharp contrast with the more bookish manners of Kilicdaroglu, who has led the CHP since 2010 but without ever seriously troubling Erdogan. Ince twice -- in 2014 and 2018 -- challenged Kilicdaroglu for the leadership of the CHP but failed to oust the incumbent head. He has generally been more ready than Kilicdaroglu to adopt a gloves-off approach towards Erdogan, raising the prospect of a fierce political campaign. Story continues In his acceptance speech to the CHP meeting, Ince showed he would have no fear confronting Erdogan, describing him as "a so-called world leader (who) is everyday ranting and raving". Ince said Erdogan's new presidential palace, which opened in 2014 to sneers from the opposition, should be handed over to the youth and made a "home for science". - 'Political hostage' - The June 24 parliamentary and presidential elections will be a landmark in modern Turkish history. After the vote, a new presidential system agreed in an April 2017 referendum will come into force. The CHP has claimed the changes will give the head of state authoritarian powers. Should Erdogan win, he will receive another five-year mandate which would allow him to press on with a transformation of Turkey that began when he first became prime minister in 2003. The early stages of the race were dominated by speculation Erdogan's former comrade and predecessor Abdullah Gul could stand against him. But Gul confirmed last week he was not running, a move Kilicdaroglu said came after pressure in a personal visit from armed forces chief General Hulusi Akar. Gul said Friday such a visit had taken place but denied there had been "any threat, imposition, or lack of respect". Another key opposition candidate will be Meral Aksener of the new Iyi (Good) Party that split away from the main nationalist faction in protest at its alliance with Erdogan. Ulgen said both Ince and Aksener could vie for a place in a second round run-off against Erdogan but he would still need to "cannibalise" some of the conservative vote to beat the president. The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which is also strongly hostile to Erdogan, has named charismatic former leader Selahattin Demirtas as its presidential candidate even though he is currently behind bars and on trial. The HDP presented Demirtas as its candidate Friday in two separate rallies in Istanbul and the Kurdish majority city of Diyarbakir. "Despite being held a political hostage in a cell, I believe I can fulfil this tough mission," Demirtas said in a message read to the rallies, warning however that the campaign would be "hard and unjust". President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. border was "under siege" and accused Mexico of doing "little to help" in an early-morning tweet on Friday. "Our Southern Border is under siege. Congress must act now to change our weak and ineffective immigration laws," Trump wrote. "Must build a wall. Mexico, which has a massive crime problem, is doing little to help!" the president added. Trending: Who Is DJ Khaleds Wife? Nicole Tuck Hilariously Responds to Workout Encouragement on Snapchat GettyImages-954258450 Chip Somodevilla/Getty The tweets came as Fox & Friends aired a segment saying the number of asylum seekers arriving at the U.S. border, as part of the "caravan" that has gained national attention over the past month, had reached a "scary high." Reporting that 158 asylum seekers from the caravan had been allowed into the U.S., Fox & Friends cohost Brian Kilmeade said "now the number is scary high, in my estimation." "If you don't like it, change the law. That is where Congress has got to do something, but they have dragged their feet," cohost Steve Doocy chimed in. Don't miss: Why Do Sinkholes Keep Opening up in This Florida Neighborhood? Fellow cohost Ainsley Earhardt commented that asylum seekers should have been told to "stay in Mexico." Trump railed against the caravan, calling on Mexican authorities to stop it from reaching the U.S. border and ordering the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops to monitor the situation. While Fox & Friends appeared to report that the migrants were allowed to claim asylum, in fact they have been let into the U.S. to plead their cases for asylum, and have not been granted refuge at this point. Migrants have the right to request asylum in the U.S. and are not supposed to be turned away by border officials unless they fail to pass initial security screenings. Story continues Most popular: Iran and Russia Will Grow Closer If Trump Destroys Nuclear Deal, Official Says Caravan members have to formally request asylum as "arriving" asylum seekers from a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer before being taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at an immigration detention center. Asylum is only granted by the U.S. government to people who are determined to be "at risk of harm in their home countries because of who they arebecause of their religion, political opinion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, for exampleif the governments in their home countries will not protect them," Human Rights First stated on its website. Most of the asylum seekers who traveled to the U.S. with the caravan, which left southern Mexico for the U.S. border a month ago, came from countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, where, they said, they'd face threats of violence and/or political persecution if they returned. Much of the group is made up of Hondurans, who fled the country to escape the unrest and violence following the contested November reelection of President Juan Orlando Hernandez. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By David Brunnstrom and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has raised concerns with China about its latest militarization of the South China Sea and there will be near-term and long-term consequences, the White House said on Thursday. U.S. news network CNBC reported on Wednesday that China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three manmade outposts in the South China Sea. It cited sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence. Asked about the report, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a regular news briefing: "Were well aware of Chinas militarization of the South China Sea. Weve raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this and there will be near-term and long-term consequences." Sanders did not say what the consequences might be. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S. intelligence had seen some signs that China had moved some weapons systems to its artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago in the past month or so, but offered no details. CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to U.S. intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to the Spratlys within the past 30 days to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and also Mischief Reef, which is 216 km (135 miles) from the Philippines, well within Manila's Exclusive Economic Zone. They would be the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratlys, where Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have rival claims. China's defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Its foreign ministry said China has irrefutable sovereignty over the Spratlys and that 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 said. 'UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY' Close U.S. ally the Philippines, which is now pursuing strong ties with its historic rival China, gave a cautious response on Friday to the reported deployment. "With our recently developed close relationship and friendship with China, we are confident that those missiles are not directed at us," said Harry Roque, spokesmen for President Rodrigo Duterte. "Be that as it may, we would explore all diplomatic means to address this issue." Julie Bishop, the foreign minister of U.S. ally Australia, said the report, if accurate, would be a concern as the actions would be contrary to China's stated aspiration not to militarize features it controls. "China, of course, has a unique responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council, to uphold peace and security around the world," Bishop told reporters in Australia. "Any action to militarize unilaterally features in the South China Sea would go against that responsibility and that role. 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. Eric Sayers, a former consultant to the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, called the missile deployment "a major escalation" and said one immediate U.S. response could be to rescind Beijing's invitation to this year's RIMPAC multilateral naval exercises beginning in Hawaii in July. "When China sees that it can get away with these types of actions with little cost - as they did all through 2015 and 2016 - it only makes it more likely they will keep pressing," said Sayers, an adjunct fellow at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. "China sees its participation in the exercise as a sign of its acceptance among the world's maritime powers but Beijing should not be allowed to militarize this open maritime domain and still be honored as a welcomed member of the maritime community." Last month, U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson, nominated to head U.S. Pacific Command, said China could use its "forward operating bases" in the South China Sea to challenge the U.S. regional presence and "would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea claimants." (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Idrees Ali and Matt Spetalnick; Additional reporting by Colin Packham in SYDNEY and Martin Petty in MANILA; Editing by James Dalgleish and Lincoln Feast.) U.S. Army Special Forces have been covertly aiding in Saudi Arabia's war against Zaidi Shiite Muslim insurgents in neighboring Yemen, where the rebels control the capital and often fire ballistic missiles, according to a new report by The New York Times. Citing information provided by U.S. officials and European diplomats, the Times reported Thursday that about a dozen Green Berets were deployed to Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen in December, a month after the Houthi rebels fired a Burkan-2 ballistic missile at Riyadh's international airport. Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted the November attack with its U.S.-built MIM-104F Patriot missile defense system, but analysts have cast doubt on this official version of events. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman reportedly reached out to the U.S. for help in locating and destroying Houthi missile launch sites shortly after, opening what may be a new shadowy front for the Pentagon's operations in the Middle East. Trending: The Hottest April Temperature Ever Seen On Earth May Have Been Recorded This Week 4287747 Specialist Christopher Stevenson/U.S. Army/Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Yemen's current unrest began with the ouster of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh amid a wave of regional protests in 2012. Saleh was replaced by his deputy Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who himself faced growing dissent as well as dueling Shiite Muslim and ultraconservative Sunni Muslim insurgencies. The former, allied with Saleh loyalists, stormed Sanaa in 2014 and took control early the following year. Story continues Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of being a proxy for the kingdom's top regional rival, Iran, and gathered a coalition of Arab allies to begin bombing the rebels and attempt to restore Hadi's rule, which was relegated to the southern port city of Aden. Three years later, Saudi Arabia has helped its local allies gain some ground, but the conflict remains mostly in a stalemate, even after two major schisms within the warring alliances. Don't miss: Disney Tsum Tsum Star Wars Event Help: Flipped Hair, Black Nose, Round Eared and More May Event Character Tips Related: Who Are the Houthis and Why Are They Firing Missiles at Saudi Arabia? First, Saleh was shot dead in December under yet unknown circumstances, but his supporters have blamed their Houthi partners, who accused the former Yemeni leader of trying to reconcile with Riyadh. A month later, the Saudi-led coalition found itself under friendly fire after southern separatists supported by fellow Gulf monarchy the United Arab Emirates seized parts of Aden. The U.S., meanwhile, has launched airstrikes and raids against jihadi groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), and has offered strategic support to the Saudi-led campaign, but the Pentagon has avoided getting too deeply involved in the civil war. This may be set to change, however, as evidenced by the Times report as well as a contract last month that called for two fixed-wing aircraft and two helicopters to be deployed to Yemen, as website The Drive reported. Most popular: Sarah Huckabee Sanders Doing the Best She Can Says Anthony Scaramucci RTS1MOLP RiskIntelligence/Reuters President Donald Trump has sought a closer relationship with Saudi Arabia, who he views as a key ally against Iran. Months after taking office, Trump visited Riyadh and struck a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. When Prince Mohammed visited Defense Secretary James Mattis in Washington in March, he walked home with a $670 million deal for U.S. weapons and equipment. In addition to threatening to tear up a historic 2015 nuclear agreement, the Trump administration has also pressured Iran over allegations that it provides Houthis with the ballistic missiles they target Saudi Arabia with. Iran publicly supports the Houthis politically, but denies providing them with any weapons. A 2017 report by The Nation Institute's Tom Dispatch found that U.S. Special Forces were deployed to 138 nations, or 70 percent of the world. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The U.S. has warned Beijing that there will be consequences over its latest militarization of the South China Sea, following reports that it had recently installed missile systems on islands in the contested waters. CNBC reported Wednesday that in the past month, China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles systems on three of the Spratly Islands, an archipelago west of the Philippines that is partly claimed by various countries including the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. Were well aware of Chinas militarization of the South China Sea, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders told the press, Reuters reports. Weve raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this and there will be near-term and long-term consequences. The installation of the new missile systems would bolster Chinas reach in the region, allowing it to strike vessels 295 nautical miles away and cruise missiles and drones within 160 nautical miles, CNBC reported citing an unnamed source connected to U.S. intelligence. CNBC reports that the systems were installed on Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef. Since 2014, China has built artificial islands on top of reefs and rocks in the heavily contested waterway. Those islands have become increasingly militarized, with the installation of runways, missile batteries and other infrastructure. If the latest reports are confirmed, it would be the first time Beijing has deployed missiles in the Spratleys. The deployment marks a major escalation, Eric Sayers, a former U.S. military consultant, told Reuters. When China sees that it can get away with these types of actions with little cost it only makes it more likely they will keep pressing, he said. A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Chinas claims to the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei had no legal basis. China dismissed the verdict as a political farce. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States failed Friday to win United Nations Security Council backing for a statement rejecting as "unacceptable" remarks by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas about Jews that included "vile anti-Semitic slurs." Kuwait, a non-permanent council member that represents the Arab Group of countries, objected to the draft statement, arguing that Abbas had already apologized and that it was one-sided, diplomats said. The proposed statement expressed the council's "serious concern" about Abbas's remarks, which "included vile anti-Semitic slurs and baseless conspiracy theories, and do not serve the interests of the Palestinian people or peace in the Middle East." It called on him to "refrain from anti-Semitic comments." Security Council statements are adopted by consensus of all 15 members. The Palestinian leader triggered global outrage after he suggested that hostility toward Jews in Europe was not linked to religious intolerance, but stemmed from their "social function related to banks and interests." Abbas made the remarks at a meeting of the Palestinian National Council on Monday, but on Friday he offered an apology and said he condemned the Holocaust "as the most heinous crime in history." Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman immediately rejected the apology and said Abbas was a "pathetic Holocaust denier." US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the council's failure to agree on the statement "only further undermines the UN's credibility in addressing" the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Disgusting anti-Semitic statements from the Palestinian leadership obviously undermine the prospects for Middle East peace," she said. The United States has twice blocked draft statements at the council expressing concern about the violence in Gaza, in which nearly 50 people have been killed by Israeli forces. The United States is pushing ahead with plans to open its embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, a move that could further stoke violence. A man facing drug charges has survived after jumping head-first from the courthouse balcony. Christopher Clay Rudd had been scheduled to appear before a judge in Spanish Fork, Utah, on Monday after he was arrested for drug offences. CCTV footage from the building shows the 35-year-old, who was cuffed at the wrists, stand up and walk out of the courtroom. A second camera in a hallway then captures Rudd hurling himself over a guardrail onto a staircase, rotating in the air as he falls around 20 feet onto a tiled floor in the lobby. Police officers are unable to catch the inmate as he drops to the ground, but apprehend him almost immediately. Rudd reportedly suffered head and hip injuries during the fall and was later taken to hospital for treatment, although he is not thought to be in a life-threatening condition. Police are unsure as to whether he had been deliberately trying to injure himself, or if the dive was a last-ditch bid to escape. It almost looks like he purposely dove right over the railing, Spanish Fork officer Lieutenant Matt Johnson told the The Salt Lake Tribune. Lt Johnson added Rudds jump was the first incident of its kind at the courthouse, although officials would now look at how police and security were positioned around the building. He also said inmates appearing at the court would now be required to wear leg restraints. Rudd is due to appear back at the courthouse later in May, when he may face additional charges over the balcony plunge. FILE PHOTO: A car with the Volkswagen VW logo badge is seen on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 16, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo On Thursday, Volkswagen (VOW) CEO Martin Winterkorn and five other Volkswagen executives were indicted in federal court on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy, alleged crimes that stem from the German companys 2015 diesel emissions scandal. In 2017, the automaker pleaded guilty to installing devices in cars meant to cheat on emissions tests. The software allowed the car to go into a lower-emissions mode when a test was occurring. The company paid $4.3 billion in penalties. The main grievances in the 43-page complaint complaint are fraud and deception, which are both the charges and the chief source of pain for American consumers who were tricked into buying cars that they thought were environmentally friendly. (Besides the clean diesel marketing, Volkswagen diesel cars captured records for best non-hybrid fuel efficiency, making it an even stronger choice for drivers trying to be green.) But a larger point of why this is troubling is often lost in the larger discussion of Volkswagens (alleged) sins: what diesel can do to a city. Generally, people often only know the stakes after the fact, when theyve lost the public good of clean air. The real world effects In Germany, both home to Volkswagen and Rudolf Diesel, who invented the diesel engine, air quality has gotten so bad that a German court ruled that cities are now allowed to ban some diesel cars. About 70 German cities had NOx (nitrogen oxides) levels that exceeded the limits for the European Union, according to the BBC. NOx in the air mainly comes from diesel and causes numerous health problems, even in small amounts. One out of three cars in Germany runs on diesel, far more than in the U.S. After the ruling, Volkswagen said it was unable to comprehend it. Its not hard to see why. The defrauding VW cars, according to the complaint, had been polluting 35 times higher than the allowable NOx limits. A few weeks ago on a brief trip to Berlin, I was struck by how bad the air quality in an otherwise fantastic European city was, and asked about it. Coal-burning stoves in some of the citys quarters account for some of the clean air, but fingers pointed to diesel. Story continues One American I spoke with who had moved there nine months prior developed a post-nasal drip that a German doctor instantly recognized as a result of poor air quality, a common occurrence in Berlin. For much of the city, bad air is part of life there, a constant source of health issues, headaches, and complaints. The European Environment Agency calculated that 12,860 people died prematurely from NOx in Germanys air. A spokesperson from the agency told Deutsche Welle that every measuring station in Berlin exceeded EU limits in 2015. Looking beyond the letter of the crimes Much of the bad behavior in the business and financial worlds is abstract. Wells Fargos infamous fake account scandal in which the company allowed millions of fake accounts to be made in customers names did not necessarily cause major damage beyond dinging some credit scores. Every so often, the reverberations of a seemingly minor or victimless crime lying on an emissions test or having bad standards for mortgage lending can have significant consequences. They can precipitate a global financial crisis, or cause premature deaths and diminish the quality of life for millions. Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann. Confidential tip line: FinanceTips[at]oath[.com]. Exclusive: SECs Clayton wont blindly allow corporations to ban shareholder lawsuits Republican West Virginia Senate candidate Don Blankenships latest political ad has stirred controversy for its use of terms like China people and references to Sen. Mitch McConnell as cocaine Mitch and his China family. Blankenship, who is vying the chance to challenge West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin in November, is already known across his state. He spent a year in federal prison for mine safety violations following the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine that killed 29 miners. Blankenship was CEO of Massey Energy, the company that owned the mine. Don Blankenship doubles down on phrases like "China people" and "Cocaine Mitch" in new ad that also features his undeniable charisma and charm pic.twitter.com/eiv9WUADjz Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) May 3, 2018 Swamp captain Mitch McConnell has created millions of jobs for China people, while doing so, Mitch has gotten rich, Blankenship monotones in the ad. In fact, his China family has given him tens of millions of dollars. Mitchs swamp people are now running false negative ads about me. They are also childishly calling me despicable and mentally ill. The war to drain the swamp and create jobs for West Virginia people has begun. I will beat Joe Manchin and ditch cocaine Mitch for he sake of the kids. Hes defended his use of the phrase China people to news outlets saying the term was not racist. Theres no mention of race. Ive never used a race word, Blankenship said in an interview where he added races are Negro, white Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian. In an explanation Blankenship gave for the ad on his campaign website, the candidate says that McConnells father-in-law founded and owns a large Chinese shipping company and claimed he has given McConnell and his wife millions of dollars. As for the cocaine Mitch reference, Blankenship is referencing an article from the Nation that claims that McConnells in-laws company was found with drugs on one of its ships. However, the shipping company is actually American and based in New York, the Washington Post notes. James S. C. Chao, McConnells father-in-law and owner of the Foremost Group (the shipping company in question), is Chinese. The Post also notes that theres no record of the McConnell getting millions from his in-laws and no charges were filed for any drugs allegedly found on board a ship. The U.S. State Department has reportedly frozen funding to the Syrian White Helmets search and rescue group, whose fighters have received international acclaim for risking their lives to save civilians in the midst of the country's raging civil war. Raed Saleh, the groups leader, told CBS News he had no idea why the group, officially known as the Syrian Civil Defense, stopped receiving American contributions. About a third of the groups funding comes from the U.S., but the State Department has now placed its support under active review. Saleh said meetings with department officials in March were very positive. There were even remarks from senior officials about long-term commitments even into 2020. There were no suggestions whatsoever about stopping support. Trending: What Happened to Gamora? Avengers: Infinity War Director Confirms Soul Stone Theory White Helmets SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP/Getty Images The White Helmets has about 3,000 members, all volunteers, who have worked to rescue people caught in bombings, airstrikes and other attacks since the Syrian Civil War began, in 2011. The group claims to have saved more than 114,000 lives at the cost of 204 volunteers. The White Helmets were the subject of a 2016 British documentary which won the Academy Award for best documentary (short subject) in 2017. Syrias official emergency services do not operate in rebel-held areas, which left civilians helpless in the early stages of the war. The White Helmets stepped in to fill that gap as bombs, rockets and shells fell on cities across the country. The volunteers face constant danger, and not only when responding to emergencies. In August last year, seven medics were shot dead in their sleep by unknown gunmen in Idlib province. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert has praised the selfless men of the White Helmets, but the sudden pause in funding suggests Nauert's admiration for the group may not be shared by other officials. Story continues Don't miss: 'Edward Mordrake's Mummified Head' Photo Isn't Real, Two-Faced Skull Created by Artist Though the White Helmets have an emergency backup plan for such a loss of funding, Saleh told CBS News he was worried about the long-term prospects of the loss of cash flow. With no official notification from the U.S. government, the White Helmets are in limbo. If this is a long-term or permanent halt, it would have a serious impact on our ability to provide the same intensity and quality of services that we currently provide to civilians, Saleh explained. White Helmets ABDULMONAM EASSA/AFP/Getty Images The White Helmets only operate in rebel-held areas and have faced accusations of collaborating with ISIS and Al-Qaeda or serving as NATO-directed actors who only visit attack sites for photo opportunities. The organization is a favorite target for Kremlin-backed Russian media, which even accused it of staging chemical weapons attacks to slander Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian backers. Most popular: Who Is Junot Diaz's Partner Marjorie Liu? CBS cited an internal State Department document that said its Near East bureau required White House approval for continued funding for the White Helmets by April 15. It also required notification by April 6 as to whether it could continue other programs to clear explosives such as landmines; restore essential services like electricity and water; and provide food aid for civilians and some fighters. All those recovery programs are at risk because of President Donald Trumps $200 million cuts to U.S. spending in Syria. Trump has been skeptical of American involvement in the country and has repeatedly expressed a desire to withdraw U.S. personnel and money from Syria entirely. The White House wants other countries to step in and fill the enormous funding gap, which, the United Nations warns, stands at $9 billion. A recent donor conference in Brussels secured $4 billion more, but a significant gulf remains. There are fears that without significant and sustained investment to rebuild the shattered country, extremist groups like ISIS will be able to recruit new fighters and continue the war. The State Department did not respond to Newsweeks request for comment. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Its the early evening in Eliezer Berland s residence in Shomrei Hahomot (Guardians of the Walls), his small territory at the end of Mea Shearim, on the way to the Musrara neighborhood. The afternoon prayer comes to an end, and a young woman spots me and screams, Shes a reporter. Nows the time to make myself scarce. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Shes not allowed to be here, I hear people cry out. Three men with cameras move closer in an intimidating manner. Dont worry, they say, well expose your identity. The police are already on the line, as I hear angry shouts in the background: Its the last time you come here. A group of Hasidim chases me up the narrow alley. She posts things against the rabbi, one of them says. Get out of here, shiksa! An older woman approaches me, spits and shouts, You b*tch, dont you dare come anywhere near here. Rabbi Berland with paper bills received from his followers (Photo: Ariela Sternbach, Nina Fuchs) The woman who started the commotion by identifying me as an investigative reporter tries to help me now. Go into the gas station, she instructs me. I have to run back to the prayers. Meanwhile, the men around me keep offering blessings, their way. She smells like rabies, one of them shouts. Shes recording everything, beware. One of the few women in the group screams and warns me: Tell all your girlfriends that whoever comes here will be lynched. Well carry out a lynch against her. The police are still on the lineits been six minutes, and the station is hundreds of meters awaybut there isnt a single policeman in sight. A tall thug approaches me. This is the first and last time we restrain ourselves, I can assure you, he announces, as one of his Hasidic friends shouts: She has full of pictures on her phone. Several moments later, one of the men snatches my phone violently, and I finally hear police sirens in the background. Twenty-four hours later, the police return my iPhone. The holy magic potion Berland, 80, is the founder and head of the Shuvu Banim Yeshiva, which is affiliated with the Breslov Hasidic movement. Over the years, he gained a following of thousands of Hasidim, many of them newly religious Jews. Six years ago, one of his followers claimed to have seen him from the window in an intimate situation with a woman from his congregation. When testimonies of sexual harassment were received from other women, Berland fled the country with dozens of his followers, moving from Morocco to Zimbabwe to South Africa to Holland, before being extradited to Israel. In November 2016, as part of a plea bargain, Berland was convicted of two counts of indecent acts and one assault . He was sentenced to 18 months in prison but served less than 12 months. About a year ago, he was released from jail on medical grounds. Last month, 30 Breslov rabbis issued a scathing manifesto renouncing Berland and calling on their followers to stay away from him. He is one of the evils of the generations, they wrote. One of the destroyers of Torah and destroyers of the world. Berlands presence creates quite a stir and sparks protests almost everywhere he goes. Berland performs the upsherin haircutting ceremony. We grew his hair long again, because when he was three years old the rabbi was absent On the backdrop of these protests, Yedioth Ahronoth sent three female investigative reporters into the rabbis congregation. One after the other, without revealing the link between us, we spoke to his followers, men and women, witnessed the horrible neglect and were introduced to the dark and violent aspects as well as to the positive elements of community life and mutual responsibility. We witnessed Berlands complete control over his followers, their minds and their feelings. They see him as the doctor, the psychologist, the leader. They live for him, sometimes in disgracefully poor conditions and in medical and physical neglect. Many of them shower him with all their money, and sometimes they even take loans and pay him for blessings. And so, as he becomes richer, they become poorer. We were also exposed to additional testimonies on his dubious sexual conduct. We joined the congregations prayers and meetings, wearing clothes that wouldnt disclose the fact that we were outsiders. They were usually held in the outskirts of the Musrara neighborhood, where they live in small apartments and in high density. Every morning, afternoon and eveningon irregular hours, according to Berland timethey gather for prayers at the synagogue under his house. The men convene in a spacious, air-conditioned room, and the women gather in a tent outside the synagogue, standing on sort of stools with their eyes directed at the rabbis seat, watching him through a screen with small holes. Hodaya, a 23-year-old newly religious woman, crosses the street and stops, staring into space. Wheres the womens gallery, I ask her. At Rabbi Berlands? Come on, she points. I dont understand how I got to pray with the rabbi. Its such a great privilege, and I dont understand why I deserve it. its a special rabbi, a special prayer. Come, youll see. We enter the womens gallery tent, which isnt particularly clean and strongly reeks of food. Food leftovers are scattered on the floor, alongside childrens drawings, books, and more. As we sit down, Hodaya pulls out a pen and a paper and starts writing. Its a request for a full recovery from the rabbi, she explains. Do you want to write to the rabbi? She turns to me. Well give it to him now, during the prayer. She tears a piece from the paper in her hand and encourages me to write something. Hes a righteous man! she says. Hell give you good advice. I didnt know him either, and I sent him things about him and he knows how to reply. How does he reply? Through the warden, if you put down a phone number. you can write a question or ask for a blessing. After I am convinced, Hodaya guides me through the wording of the letter. For Rabbi Eliezer Berland, may he live a good and long life, Amen. And now ask for something, she instructs. I say, A request for a decent shidduch (match). Hodaya recommends that I ask the rabbi specifically if he has someone to offer me. Imagine youre writing a letter to the most righteous man in this generation. The same story repeats itself several days later. This time, one of us, who is really about to undergo a complicated operation and is experiencing pain, ask for the rabbis blessing. One of the women says she suffered a serious illness and received drops from the rabbi that saved her life. Give it a try, she suggests. The note is handed over to Berland through one of the holes in the screen, and in the middle of the prayer he opens it, stops the warden and signals him to give me a call. You dont have to be afraid of the surgery, the rabbi says. Ill be with you the entire time, and Ill operate on you myself. Several minutes later, we are secretly handed a small bottle with dropswhich, according to a Health Ministry investigation, is imported illegally and contains different botanicalsas well as old, moldy bread, which the women say I should eat, because its a remedy. In Hasidic lingo, its called shirayim the rabbis food leftovers. Rabbi, come on The human diversity in the synagogue is surprising. On one corner, there are Taliban women, whose entire body and face is covered with a shawl. Next to them sit elegant women wearing expensive golden jewelry, from the Jerusalem Hasidic community in which women shave off all their hair. On another bench, there is a group of modern, fashionable women, wearing makeup. Most women, however, are Breslov Hasidic women covered in many layers of cloth, with a neglected general appearance. Many children run around the tent, sharing Jerusalem Kugel (noodle-based pudding) which has been placed on one of the benches. Rabbi, come on, Rabbi. I cant take it anymore, come on, shouts a woman standing next to the screen, staring into the mens hall. Come on, rabbi, come out already, I cant take it. No matter what I eat, I cough. Its such a pity I didnt ask you what to do yesterday. Her name is Shira and she is in her 40s. The rabbi told me not to go back to my ex-husband, she says. But theyve been causing me trouble here, because I arrive early. They forbade me to come at 12. They said I should only come from 2 oclock. I dont ask them and come whenever I feel like it. Women peek through a screen at the womens gallery in the synagogue under Berlands house. Its a special rabbi and a special prayer (Photo: Ariela Sternbach, Nina Fuchs) Like many of the Hasidim, Naomi also has a slew of tales about the rabbis miracles. For example, a barren woman who got pregnant, she says, and shares her own personal case: The rabbi saved my tooth. We were with the rabbi in exile in Johannesburg, and my tooth hurt at the time. I didnt tell him, I didnt ask. He stood like that and suddenly his hand started doing like this, her hand strokes her cheek. He caressed me exactly where it hurt, protected my tooth for three years. The rabbi didnt know I was in pain. It was really strong pain. The exile issue is repeated quite often, mainly by Hasidim from the close circle who were with him when he fled the Israeli law and wandered around the world. He had about 40 families with him, but many others brag about escorting and meeting him there, in an attempt to demonstrate how close they are to him. These stories join a slew of other tales shared by the rabbis followers. We followed the rabbi wherever he went, says Hanni, who is in her 20s. He sentenced himself to exile because he is a great scholar. Its true that things were slightly rough financially, but we wouldnt give up being in the rabbis company. He performs great miracles and even saved my sister from death in Morocco. She stayed alive thanks to him. Back to the prayers, which are at the center of the congregations life. The sun has set a long time ago, and the rabbi has yet to come out. A woman from the congregation explains that there is no way of knowing when he will come out. When we try to understand how they can pray Minhah (the afternoon prayer, is recited from the afternoon hours until sunset) when its already dark outside, she replies: The rabbi directs the sun and the moon. The times are set by the rabbi. So dozens of Hasidim, who define themselves as ultra-Orthodox, recite a prayer long after its time according to every Jewish-halachic criterion. As they wait for the rabbi, the women register for vegetable deliveries. As most of them are extremely poor, the congregation takes care of all their needs. Thats one of the nice social aspects of communities of this kind, where everyone takes care of everyone. The few members with a stronger financial basis take care of the weak majority. Suddenly, there is a whisper in the crowd. Berland appears to be coming out, and all the women around us start pushing and stepping on each other to see him. To an outside observer, they might look like young girls standing next to the stage during a rock concert, shouting the rock stars name and passing out from all the excitement. Look! Its the rabbi, one of them screams. The rabbi, the rabbi, the rabbi, another one has trouble breathing. Oh my God, the rabbi, a third womans face is red from excitement. There is something about that strength, about that belief in a persons power. That in itself may be enough to improve a persons mood and health. When Berland starts talking, the girls around him cry out in amazement and admiration. One of them hands him jellybeans, hoping he will touch and bless them. We follow the box of candy with our gaze as it makes its way from the hands of three men into Berlands hands. He holds it for a minute and then tosses it at us. As new members of the congregation, we are given precedence. At this stage, its as if the signal has been given for an onrush: The women send a slew of notes, and the men pass notes and paper bills. From this moment until the end of the prayer, he already has a handsome sum of cash and an impressive collection of notes in his pocket. Its enough to ask for a blessing, and its already working, one of the women explains. They say that the lowest rank is a response from the rabbi. The higher and holiest rank is dreaming about the rabbi. Have you dreamt about the rabbi? Several times, she replies with shining eyes. You have to beg and pray before you go to sleep that the rabbi will appear in your dream. He actually guided me. He told me in the dream to stop drinking Nestea because its not sufficiently kosher. In another dream, he told me he refused to meet with me because I had to quit my studies. A day after I quit my studies, he waved at me at the traffic light. Shira silences us. The rabbi is reading my note, she cries out. There, its only the fourth note I sent him. Now hell tell me what to do. A few seconds later, her phone rings. The warden is on the line. It turns out that she is waiting for the rabbis instructions on whether she should take antibiotics prescribed by the doctor to treat a bacterial disease she is suffering from. As soon as the prayer ends, they all rush outside to get a good place in the chases. Naomi explains, I dont wait next to the rabbis house like everyone else but run past several traffic lights to catch up with him. There are hundreds of people standing around the house right nowmen, women and dozens of children, waiting to catch a glimpse of Berland through the cars window. When he emerges with his car, we burst out of the alley towards the busy main street, along with dozens of men, women and children. An outside observer may mistake the scene for the scene of a terror attack. Two minutes later, his luxurious car approaches, and he opens the window and waves goodbye. The fans are beside themselves. Where does the money go? This admiration for the rabbi is likely one of the reasons for the complexity of the investigation into the sex offenses he was convicted of. The congregations women believe in him blindly. With such absolute control over them, most of them have trouble acknowledging his misconduct. Others are afraid to speak out against the man they admired for years. Up until five years ago, we saw him as one of the righteous men in our generation, admits one of the people on the independent Haredi panel that collected the complaints against him. And then we began hearing about different incidents, including death threats. Its difficult, but when I receive threats I realize they have to be fought. The public has to understand that this person harms everything that is sacred and important to the Torah. The first complaints he received, he says, had to do with financial matters. They established an unbelievable financial empire, he says. For years, people had to pay extremely large sums to get in, and I know people who gave him huge sums in exchange for treatments. In this context, a former Hasid told us: I personally gave the rabbi $300,000 in cash as part of proceeds alone, at the rabbis specific order. (Photo: Ariela Sternbach, Nina Fuchs) Nechama, who barely made it out of the congregation, says the friends she left behind are repeatedly asked to transfer money to the rabbi in exchange for different blessings. Despite being penniless, they take loans and get into debt, because the rabbi means everything to them, she explains. Then their parents pay. It has created a rift in quite a few families, but the rabbi and the people around him dont care. Theyll tell you that this money goes to charity and welfare, but wont be able to present you with a shred of evidence supporting this claim. Theres a reason why the Berland family got so rich, and this wealth has created internal disputes. After all, someone will have to inherit the empire. The more dramatic issue, from a public perspective too, has to do with complaints against Berlands sexual conduct, an affair which prompted the independent panel of Haredi judges to issue a scathing manifesto against the rabbi. We sat in the court and received horrible testimonies from women, one of the people on the panel says. We helped the them file a civil claim against Berland, against his wife and against their son. Another issue the authorities are dealing with is the neglect of some of the children in the community: The clothing, the nutrition, the physical state. Some of the newborn babies are not given proper care and are not supervised by the authorities. The medical dependence on the rabbi could be particularly dangerous when it comes to people who are ill and may give up treatment if advised to do so by the rabbi. The congregation members are well aware of the welfare discussions. As soon as we pull out a phone from our pocket and try to take pictures, women storm at us from every direction: Where are you from? Why did you take pictures? Delete them! People come here and take pictures for the social services. Whoever takes pictures for them will be hanged. Berlands associates, on the other hand, present an entirely different picture: Thriving educational institutions, children whose needs are taken care of, and an internal welfare project that supports the poor and the weak. Youre invited to take a tour, they said to us several times. Youll see the work being done in the congregation, the mutual responsibility, the good education the children receive in the Talmud Torah school. There is no distress. It should be noted, however, that many of Berlands followers come from weak populations and rely on the support they receive from Berland and his congregation. Moreover, many of them arent interested in nonsense like earning a living, stylish clothes or things which may seem trivial to us. As far as they are concerned, they have everything they needa connection to the rabbi. Paid meetings Its late in the evening in a big synagogue near Derech HaTayasim in Tel Aviv. Many of the congregation members are excited ahead of Berlands arrival at a conference. They have come here from all over the country and include some exceptionstraditional, nearly secular, people who have come to hear what everyone is talking about. These conferences, which are held in different places in Israel every few days usually attract demonstrators as well, protesting the fact that Berland is still honored and invited to preach his doctrine. Inside, there is a festive atmosphere inside. After about an hour of speeches from different rabbis who still support him, Berland enters the room like a king to the sound of loud applause from the women sitting next to us in the womens gallery. Being charismatic, Berland knows how to draw the attention of his fans and followers. He is surrounded by an entourage of security guards and associates who prevent anyone from approaching anyone. At first, he stands up and dances for several minutes to the sound of Hasidic songs. As soon as I pull out my smartphone to take a picture, a young woman snatches it and asks, Who are you? Their fear of the media is hard to miss. The Hasidim repeatedly warn of a female journalist who infiltrated our community, without knowing that we work together. Dont let them scare you, says Ora, who escorted me to the conference. Theyre traumatized by every new woman that arrives, she says about the hostile girls. Theyre afraid of the media and they suspect everyone. Women peek beyond the womens gallery screen at the synagogue under Berlands house (Photo: Ariela Sternbach, Nina Fuchs) Despite their hostility, the Berland women reveal their caring and compassionate side later on. When I leave the conference after feeling unwell, they call me one after the other to make sure that Im okay, that nothing bad happened to be. Their concern continues in the following days, when I undergo surgery and while I recover. Its real, sincere concern, with a slight attempt at turning me into one of the rabbis believers too. Back to Jerusalem. We decided to try to get a blessing directly from Berland, to try to talk to him for a few seconds. This time, following the girls recommendation, I specifically write in the note that I need advice on using a certain medication, an ointment, as well as a shidduch if possible. As we wait, we spot a sticker reading A prayer for the wellbeing of the Rabbi and Rabbanit. That makes sense, considering his statuspractically a god. Shortly after 6 pm, the rabbi comes out. After the prayer, two toddlers are brought to the stage and the rabbi cuts their hair. Its the famous ushperin ceremony which is held when a boy turns three years old. One of the children, however, is already four years old. We grew his hair long again, because when he was three years old the rabbi was absent, his mother explains happily. An older woman approaches us, asks where weve come from and where were going. Quietly, she shares a secret with us. You can get to see the rabbi if you buy 100 letters for the Torah scroll, she promises. Its a standing order, 100 shekels a month for 36 months. Its quite a lot, but it guarantees that the rabbi will see you. One of the leaflets scattered around us includes a phone number for urgent medical cases. I dial the number and tell the secretary once again that I have a skin disorder and need to know what I should do. An hour later, the rabbis warden calls and passes him the phone. The rabbis unclear words are translated by his secretary: How old are you? 25. Married? No, single. A meeting with Yitzhaki. Will Yitzhaki be good for you? Whos that? He studies 24 hours. Are you ready for a guy who studies 24 hours? Ready for what? Hell work for you to have a child So well arrange the meeting today. Youll meet him on Sunday. A fine young man, charming, blue eyes, just the way you like it. Can I meet the rabbi too? Be here tomorrow at 4 pm. As for the skin disorder, the rabbi recommends applying ointment every hour and promises it will pass by Saturday. In this case, nothing happened. The rabbi wasnt present during the surgery either, as far as we know, neither physically nor in spirit. Thats the thing with religious clerics like himtheir followers see the rabbi as a sacred, righteous man who always speaks the truth, even if in reality the exact opposite happens. Berlands associates: Were being persecuted An associate to Berland offered the following response: The rabbi engages in charity activities, among other things, and often receives donations for the needy. These donations are usually handed out to the poor on the same occasion. The rest of the money and donations through a standing order are directed to the congregations charity organizations. In recent years, the rabbi hasnt been receiving women in his home and has been escorted by security guards 24/7 on behalf of a former deputy police commissioner to prevent a disaster or slander by the rabbis persecutors. As a man of the world, the rabbi acknowledges the global epidemic of an over-prescription of painkillers. However, there is no recommendation to avoid medical care, and all Shuvu Banim associates see doctors when necessary. As for the claims of violence, Rabbi Berland has been working for years to bring every Jews closer to the Jewish tradition. The rabbi is famous for appealing to the hearts of people with a violent past and mental stability issues as well. Nevertheless, members of the congregation have been feeling persecuted by the media in recent years following many negative reports. Although there is no justification, this is reflected in intolerance towards the media. We reject this behavior. Berland's car arrives at the Western Wall in early April The Ministry of Social Affairs directed us to the Jerusalem Municipalitys Social Services Department, which offered the following response: Significant cooperation has been advanced in recent years between representatives of the municipalitys Social Services Department and representatives of the Shuvu Bnaim congregation, thanks to great efforts to build a relationship of trust, after the congregation had segregated itself and rejected any contact with the states institutions for years. The Jerusalem Municipality has allocated special social workers to care for the families, opened workshops for parents in crisis and made them accessible, created a basket of modified responses for poor families, built a warm home for girls, introduced specific programs for children and youth at risk, including a summer camp for young children, and incorporated special care teams in the educational systems. In addition, truant officers and youth advancement workers have been introduced into the educational institutions. The Israel Police offered the following response: The Israel Police enforce the law and maintain public order wherever necessary, in a professional, impartial manner and proportional manner, and using constant discretion concerning the use of the arrest authority and use of force. In this case, thanks to the polices determination, the cellphone was located and returned to the reporter by the police officers. Dont talk about what happened between us Eight women testified against Berland in the special tribunal appointed by the Breslov Hasidic movement. According to one of the rabbis, they received complaints from other women who claimed to have been abused by the rabbi. Talia, in her 20s, is one of them. Here is a refined version of part of her testimony: The rabbi took me to the apartment down there, she said. He sat on the bed, made me sit on him, hugged me and inserted his hands. He said to me, It was so horrible, so horrible. I didnt get to see you for 72 hours! I thought I would die. When she asked him if it was okay that she had spoken, he said to her: The rabbi said no talking, not a sound! You know what? You can talk, but not about what happens between us, nothing about what happens between us!... You dont know the rabbi, you dont know who the rabbi is. You know nothing. She said she had felt as if he was preparing her for a police interrogation. In separate case, she testified: Each time he orders me to sit on him, and that day he sat down and I stood next to him, and he inserted his hands and it was just like he was doing something! In that direction and in the other direction He was with me for a long time, and then he possibly made me sit on him. In another incident, she said, he took his clothes off and undressed her completely, and that was the first time we were intimate, she said. He sort of hugged me and lay down in the bed, simply swinging me over him, I dont even know how I got there That time he inserted his And I dont know, I did nothing, I froze my mind. Talia, a married woman, described how in one case Berland read Tikkun Haklali (The General Remedy, a text attributed to the Breslov Rebbe) with her as his hand caressed her body, and how she and Berland had sexual intercourse. I dont (know) anything, she said. Its not a husband and wife being intimate. I dont know how its supposed to be. The "Great March of Return" protest on the Gaza border resumed Friday for the sixth week in a row, with IDF officials and residents of the Gaza vicinity weary of increased usage of incendiary kites intended to set fire to their fields as some 7,000 attend the violent demonstration. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Border rioters, using slingshots, managed to down two IDF surveillance drones used to monitor activities in the protesta simple Phantom 3 drone and a more advanced Matrice type drone. The IDF made clear that the scout UAVs were only used to document the border disturbances and that there was therefore no fear of classified intelligence being gathered from them. IDF drone intercepted by border rioters X The protesters published documentation of the downing of one of the drones, which was followed by cheers of joy and chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is the greatest). Palestinian rioter armed with slingshot aiming at a nearby hovering drone (Photo: AFP) Additional footage from the scene revealed the drones were used to knock down incendiary kites. Due to this, they were hovering at a relatively low altitude and were therefore easy targets for the protesters' slingshots. IDF drones used to intercept incendiary kites X Demonstrators, as per usual, burned tires, threw stones and firebombs at the security fence and IDF forces, and flew incendiary kites across the border fence in an effort to spark fires in Israeli territory. IDF forces responded by means of riot control and live fire in accordance with the IDF's Open-Fire Policy. The IDF Spokesperson stated that two attempts by a group of rioters to sabotage the border fence and cross into Israel in the area of the central Gaza Strip were foiled. Medics said around 82 people were shot and wounded with live fire, another 800 treated for gas inhalation and the rest for other injuries. Part of one of the drones downed by the rioters In the early afternoon, the IDF warned rioters near the fence against attempting to breach it as some did in last Friday's demonstration. "We do not want the situation to deteriorate," the IDF told protesters using loudspeakers. "We urge children against approaching the fence and advise adults to keep the children away from the fence and do so yourselves, because we are ready for any scenario. "If you're thinking of doing what you did last Friday, you're making a mistake. We have forces on all nearby mountains, snipers and monitors. You have been warned." Incendiary kite seized by the IDF (Photo: AFP) During the evening dozens of Palestinians broke through the Kerem Shalom border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, near the Egyptian border, and began to vandalize the site and sabotaged Israeli gas and fuel pipelines that supply the Gaza Strip for the use of its residents. The IDF called it "a cynical act that harms the welfare of the residents of Gaza and the humanitarian effort being carried out by Israel and many other countries." (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) Hamas plans to sustain the momentum it has gained with the weekly rioting near the border fence until Nakba Day in a week and a half. Seeing the effectiveness of incendiary kites, which have caused huge fires in southern Israel and destroyed crops, Hamas and protest organizers are encouraging their use. "The kites caused damage and fear among the Israelis," Hamas said in a statement referring to Wednesday's fire at Be'eri Forest which reduced hundreds of dunams of woodland to ash. IDF Spokesperson Maj. Avichai Adraeem, meanwhile, appealed to the residents of the Gaza Strip to warn them against sending incendiary kites flying into Israeli territory. "The phenomenon of incendiary kites is not hidden from our eyes and we see it very severely," he tweeted, adding that "the IDF views Hamas as responsible for everything that happens in Gaza and that comes out of it." Addressing the residents of Gaza directly, Adraee said: "Hamas is using you, and is pushing you towards the circle of terrorism." Terrorism through arson Hundreds of acres of JNF forests have beem set ablaze in the Gaza vicinity by incendiary kites launched from the strip since the start of the border riots. Moshe Baruchi, a JNF ranger in the Negev region, said in an interview with Ynet that millions of shekels in damage had been caused to agriculture fields in the region. "(But) it is not only about the money," he emphasized, explaining that it would take decades to re-grow the vegetation in the fields that were incinerated. "We have been experiencing this phenomenon for several weeks now. Dozens of incidents, between four and five kites a day," he added, noting that on Wednesday it took only "between five and seven kites" to set Be'eri Forest ablaze. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) "The kites are improvised from nylon and simple moldings, costing just a shekel and a half," he stressed, pointing at their efficiency. "(All they have to do is) attach to it a small Molotov cocktail or burning embers wrapped in a sack." According to Baruchi, the JNF does not have the means to deal with the phenomenon, "but I believe that the army is working on it." Since the offensive began some five weeks ago, hundreds of incendiary kites have been sent to Israel, setting ablaze about 800 dunams of agricultural fields and causing property damages worth an estimated half a million shekels. "We do not really have the ability to cope with this," lamented Reuven Nir on Wednesday, the field crops manager for the kibbutzim of Kfar Aza and Mefelsim in the Gaza vicinity. "We stay alert and as soon as we see a kite landing in a field, we rush to the place to stop the fire before it spreads to more and more areas," he said. "We have experience here in the Gaza vicinity. We went through everything. Rockets, tunnels, military operations, demonstrations, and what not. But this phenomenon is intolerable." South Korea's national security adviser is in Washington to meet his US counterpart, John Bolton, ahead of an expected summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, officials in Washington and Seoul said. The US National Security Council asked Chung Eui-yong to fly to the United States to discuss matters related to the summit, a South Korean presidential official told reporters on Friday. The United States had asked that the visit be kept quiet due to the issues to be addressed at meetings there, said the official, who declined to be identified. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was re-elected as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Executive Committee on Friday, as the veteran leader sought to renew his legitimacy while installing loyalists who he hopes will eventually continue his legacy. The expected reappointment came at the end of a four-day meeting by the Palestinian National Council (PNC) in Ramallah in the West Bank. The PNC chose a new Executive Committee, the most senior body of the PLO. "Members of the PLO Executive Committee consulted among themselves and decided to elect brother Abu Mazen (Abbas) as the chairman of the Executive Committee," said Azzam Al-Ahmad, a staunch ally of Abbas who was among nine new people elected to the 15-member committee. The PNC was convened by Abbas in part to forge a strategy in response to US President Donald Trump's decisions to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and to move the US embassy to the city. No areas will be off limits in talks next week when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Japan, but North Korea is not going to be a focus, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Friday. China and Japan, Asia's two largest economies, have been trying to reset ties after years of increasingly bitter dispute over a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea and the legacy of Japan's invasion of China before and during World War Two. Japan will host a summit with Li and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in in Tokyo on May 9 to discuss regional issues, where North Korea had been expected to be high on the agenda. China said Friday it hopes a visit by Premier Li Keqiang to Japan next week will help get ties back to normal following years of tensions over territorial claims and other sensitive issues. Li will travel to Japan on Tuesday for a four-day visit, including a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Tokyo on Wednesday, Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told reporters. Apart from the trilateral meeting, Li will hold talks with Abe, meet with Emperor Akihito and visit the northern island of Hokkaido, Kong said. An Arab Israeli employed at a shoe store in central Israel has claimed that he was fired for speaking Arabic in front of Jews. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Hillal Assi, 21, of Kfar Bara, started working at the shoe store six months ago. When the chain's deputy manager joined Assi's branch two weeks ago, a conversation between the two immediately led to discussions about his use of Arabic. "That day I was supposed to finish my shift early. I asked my co-worker who was supposed to replace me why she had been late in Arabic. The deputy manager overheard me and told me to stop speaking Arabic," said Assi. When Assi asked the deputy manager why he cannot speak his language, he was told: "Don't speak Arabic, we have customers." Following his conversation with the deputy manager, Assi went to the store's storeroom and asked his co-worker again in Arabic why she had been late. Hillal Assi, allegedly fired for speaking Arabic Overhearing the conversation, the deputy manager accused assi of not respecting him since he had already asked him three times before to cease to converse in Arabic. When Assi replied that he had spoken Arabic in the storeroom and not next to the customers, the deputy manager said he "can't speak Arabic in any part of the store's premises." A few days after the incident, Assi was informed that he was being fired. Hurt and offended by the chain's management, he approached the branch's manager about his dismissal. "I was fired because I had spoken Arabic in the store," Assi complained in a recorded conversation. In the recording, the branch's manager can be heard defending the decision to fire Assi. "He asked you to stop speaking and you continued to do so. You should have started speaking only Hebrew after the deputy manager yelled at you," the branch manager said. "The minute he told you off, you should have learned your lesson. When I am yelled at, I immediately understand and say it won't happen again," she went on to say. Assi also appealed to his supervisor to protest the decision. "He doesn't want the employees to speak Arabic in front of Jewish customers since customers have been complaining," the supervisor can be heard saying in the recorded conversation. However, the supervisor also says in the recording that Assi's use of Arabic was not the reason behind his dismissal. "Your dismissal has nothing to do with you speaking Arabic. It's because all the time you spent outside the store," Assi was told. The laid off employee, nevertheless said that he resented the decision to fire him. "I was so offended by their behavior. The deputy manager's demand that I don't speak Arabic is discriminative and racist. "Arabic is an official language and not a foreign one. All of Israel's citizens have to respect it as we respect other languages," he went on to say. The chain's deputy manager denied Assi's accusations, insisting that his claim was completely false and detached from reality. The shoe store chain also issued a statement on the incident. "The chain prides itself on hiring hundreds of employees from all ethnic group, religions and sectors of Israeli society, and acts in accordance with fair and strict procedures, thoroughly reviewing each and every report of incidents such as these," the statement read. "Every case is resolved based on purely professional considerations." After the complaint was made, it continued, "a comprehensive and thorough inquiry was launched. Any attempt to claim for discrimination is baseless and defamatory. We firecely reject any accusation of racist behavior." Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bleak assessment during a presentation on Iran nuclear weapons program on Monday, European Union Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret said earlier this week that he remains convinced that the Iran nuclear deal signed in 2015 works. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter I have to say that so far, the IAIE (International Atomic Energy Agency) has already issued ten reports since the implementation of the deal started and in all their reports they have certified the Iranian compliance with their obligations under the deal, he said in an interview with Ynet. Ynet interview with EU Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret (: ) X Netanyahu revealed Monday evening what he said was conclusive proof of a secret project underway in Iran for the development of a nuclear weaponevidence that he said proved that Tehran had lied big time to the international community. Asked how Iran can be trusted if Netanyahu's presentation showed that Iran had lied at the outset, Giaufret acknowledged that the agreement was never based on trust, accounting for its formulation in the first place. European Union Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret (Photo: EU) I think that what we have to understand is that this system is not based on trust. Its based on verification, he said, speaking from the Eshkol Regional Council during a visit to the area. Giaufret also maintained that its terms provided the most comprehensive scrutiny on the Islamic republic to ensure non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. PM Netanyahu gives presentation (Photo: AP) If there is doubts about compliance of Iran, I think this is something that people can legitimately have. If theres evidence of non-compliance, this evidence has to be transmitted by the existing mechanism at our supervising implementation, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action)," he said, adding that the deal was "based on the most robust, intrusive, complete verification system that any nuclear regime has ever produced. Giaufret also denied the claim that only Europe was clinging to the notion that the deal was not a bad deal, while rejecting an accusation by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked that Europe was burying its head in the sand. I wouldnt say that only Europe is saying the deal is functioning. Ive heard many people say that the deal is not perfect but it does deliver some guarantees, some reassurance, mechanism based on unity of the international community, he replied. So of course we have different views with Israel on this but its important that we continue engaging with all the parties. I think we don't bury our heads in the sand. We understand the sensitivity of the issue and interests and concerns that these issues create in Israel and its perfectly understandable. Asked how Europe would respond if US President Donald Trump decides to withdraw from the deal on May 12, Giaufret urged patience. Well, were not there yet. I think we are still waiting for a decision so I think it would be wrong to speculate on what the president will decide on 12 May. The renewal of sanctions on Iran, he argued, would only undermine a deal that he says works. It was a deal negotiated painfully in many years and it went through ups and downs We have something that works and I think it would be a mistake to throw it in the bin. I think its something that actually functions. This is why we think its worth keeping, he reiterated. Netanyahus presentation, however, would require a fresh assessment, the ambassador said. At the moment we have made clear many times that we think it is working. This new element that has been presented a couple of days ago needs to be assessed by the professionals but for the moment we have no indication that there was non-compliance. Felix Klein, who holds a newly created government post tasked with fighting anti-Semitism, said in remarks to online newsite watson.de on Thursday that the AfD tolerated party members calling for a new "culture of remembrance", making anti-Semitism "presentable" again in Germany. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "I don't want to say the AfD is anti-Semitic, per se, but it tolerates representatives who are demanding a new policy of remembrance," he said. "They initiated this discussion about drawing a line (under the Holocaust) and that is very dangerous because it helps make anti- Semitism presentable again." AfD calls on new 'culture of remembrance' (Photo: EPA) The AfD had no immediate comment on Klein's comments. The party has denied being anti-Semitic or racist but has drawn sharp criticism for not sanctioning a key party figure after he called for a "180 degree turnaround" in the way Germany seeks to atone for Nazi crimes. The AfD swept into the lower house of parliament for the first time after September elections, tapping into widespread frustration about Chancellor Angela Merkel's 2015 decision to open the borders to over 1 million mostly Muslim migrants. Klein's post was created by Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats as part of their coalition pact amid reports from Germany's small Jewish community about what they see as rising levels of prejudice and hatred. Anti-Semitism is a highly sensitive issue in Germany, whose 1933-45 Nazi regime murdered 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. Klein said last month anti-Semitism was still rooted largely in extreme right-wing ideology and was not only being driven by Germany's growing Muslim population. German schools have long taught about the Holocaust, but rights groups say the rise of the AfD and other far-right parties has frayed taboos against anti-Semitic utterances and other hate speech. AfD co-leader Alexander Gauland (Photo: Reuters) Klein has also called for a national database to record anti-Semitic incidents, including by Muslims, that are not included in crime statistics. He told watson.de that he would raise the issue with the German Conference on Islam, and encourage Muslim groups across Germany to take on the fight against anti-Semitism. "This would not only send an important signal, but would allow Muslim groups to ask for solidarity when a mosque or a woman wearing a head covering are attacked," he said. Sending Arab troops to Syria is a possibility that is being discussed by officials from various countries, Egypt's foreign minister was quoted on Friday as saying. However, A foreign ministry spokesman said Sameh Shoukry, who was speaking at a function on Thursday night, was not raising the possibility that Egypt itself might be ready to send forces to Syria, adding that such a decision was subject to constitutional constraints. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the administration of US President Donald Trump was seeking to assemble an Arab force to replace the US military contingent in Syria. Several thousands people participated in the annual SlutWalk March that got underway on Friday morning in Tel Aviv, as feminists paraded the citys streets clad in revealing attire protesting against sexual violence, rape and a culture of victim-blaming. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "The word slut is not just degrading to women, but it is also used by society and the system to justify rape," said Bracha Barad, a deputy director of the Kulan organization which orchestrated the march and which promotes feminism in Israel. SlutWalk march (: ) X Walking the streets with private areas partially, and in some cases fully, on display, the marchers sought to convey a message that no form of secxual harassment can be justified by revealing clothes worn by women. (Photo: Dana Kopel) The protesters also carried signs bearing the slogans such as, among other things: No means no, I want to be free, Silence doesnt mean consent, and Polite women dont make history. The marchers also waved pictures of individuals whose names have become, over the years, closely associated with sexual assault such as renowned Israeli actor and director Moshe Ivgy, who was charged Thursday with several counts of indecent acts and sexual harassment against four women with whom he worked. (Photo: Dana Kopel) Pictures also appeared of Brigadier General Ofek Buchris, who was charged in 2016 with 17 counts of sexual misconduct, and former Israeli president Moshe Katsav, who was granted early release in 2016 while serving a prison term for rape. (Photo: Dana Kopel) There is no connection whatsoever between sex and secxual violence and there is no connection between the victim's clothing or her sexual past and the attack she has undergone, Bracha said. (Photo: Dana Kopel) The law-enforcement authorities are quick to give a pass to rapists, but for the victims an impossible criminal bar is set by the establishment. Women are overwhelmingly abandoned by the establishment, and it starts in the police and continues up to the State Attorneys office and the courts, she complained, before saying that we demand justice and radical and systematic change. (Photo: Dana Kopel) The march began at 10am at Rabin Square, from where protesters made their way Habima Square and will conclude on Rothschild Boulevard. The march is organized by the international SlutWalk movement, which was founded in Canada in response to a local policeman who said that women should dressing like sluts if they dont want to be raped. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday offered an apology after he was criticized for anti-Semitism for a speech in which he suggested that historic persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct, not by their religion. Abbas condemned anti-Semitism and called the Holocaust the "most heinous crime in history" in a statement issued by his office in Ramallah after a four-day meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC). The statement said: "If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them. I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths." Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday offered an apology after he was criticized for anti-Semitism for a speech in which he suggested that historic persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct, not by their religion. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Abbas condemned anti-Semitism and called the Holocaust the "most heinous crime in history" in a statement issued by his office in Ramallah after a four-day meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC). "If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them. I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths," the statement said. President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: Reuters) "Likewise, we condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms, and confirm our commitment to the two-state solution, and to live side by side in peace and security," he said. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman however, rejected Abbass apology, labelling him a wretched Holocaust denier. 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. 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. 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. "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. UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov called Abbas' comments "deeply disturbing". President Reuven Rivlin questioned Wednesday how Abbas could be considered a legitimate peace partner in light of his speech. 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 speech. PREVIOUS COMMENTS A veteran member of Fatah, the PLO's dominant faction, Abbas served for decades as a loyal deputy of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat. He assumed the leadership of Fatah, the PLO and the Palestinian Authority after Arafat died in 2004, and was re-elected as chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee on Friday. This is not the first time he has been accused of anti-Semitism. In 1982 Abbas obtained a doctorate in history at the Moscow Institute of Orientalism in the then-Soviet Union. His dissertation, entitled "The Secret Relationship between Nazism and the Zionist Movement", drew widespread criticism from Jewish groups. The following year the Simon Wiesenthal Center released translated quotations from the book, including one excerpt about World War Two in which, according to the center's translation, Abbas wrote: "Following the war...word was spread that six million Jews were amongst the victims and that a war of extermination was aimed primarily at the Jews...The truth is that no one can either confirm or deny this figure. In other words, it is possible that the number of Jewish victims reached six million, but at the same time it is possible that the figure is much smallerbelow one million." After Abbas' speech on Monday, Hier and Cooper said: "The world can now see that see that, for Palestinian Authority President Abbas, nothing has changed in the 45 years since his doctoral dissertation was first published." Some 2,500 people joined the traditional Red Army Veteran March in Haifa, which honors military veterans of the former Soviet Union who fought during WWII. The annual march, which took place on Herzl street, takes place around May 9the official date in which the former Soviet Union declared victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Moscow would honor its commitments on the Iran nuclear deal for as long as other countries did, the Interfax news agency reported. Moscow has repeatedly said it wants the deal left intact. 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 US president makes good on a threat to withdraw, six sources said. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Trump, who says the 2015 accord is a "disaster," has all but decided to withdraw by May 12, US officials say, and looks set to reject four months of European efforts to address his concerns. 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 US State Department, their American interlocutors. Trump says the 2015 accord is a 'disaster' (Photo: AFP) 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 US desire to extend some of the limits on Iran's nuclear program, without reopening the July 2015 accord. Macron and Trump (Photo: AP) "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 one, I'm not convinced that it will be enough to stop the US withdrawing," the diplomat said. In their package for Trump, the Europeans are also grappling with a US 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 US 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. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, American President Donald Trump (Photo: AP) 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. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif 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 US 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 1990's but never fully used, to shield European firms doing business with Iran from U.S. legal action if Washington reimposes sanctions. European Union (Photo: AFP) 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. The sinkholes began appearing around pond in Wynchase, Ocala on the night of April 25, 2018, but have continued forming over the last two weeks. Now they are 12 huge craters And they are moving closer to houses. 12 sinkholes appeared in Ocala, Florida. via WFTV Baffled engineers are carrying out tests (without any success yet) and the retention pond has now been drained. A dozen sinkholes have opened up in a Florida city, forcing eight homes to be evacuated and prompting fears from other residents they will be the next to leave. The holes began appearing around a retention pond in the Wynchase neighborhood of Ocala on the night of April 25, and have carried on caving in over the last two weeks for a currently unknown reason. They just keep coming, local resident Maren Pinder told WFTV. Are we safe? We dont know. Its really scary. We just have a bag ready in case we are told to evacuate. The holes began appearing on the evening of April 25, and by the following day around eight could be seen. By this Tuesday there were 12, and they are beginning to move nearer to houses, according to local man Eddie Betaseourt. The huge sinkholes drained a small reservoir pond. via WFTV Its crazy, I got kids in the house and I want them to play in the backyard, but if a sinkhole opens up, they could get hurt or even disappear underground he told WCJB. One video posted by the fire department last week showed a sinkhole close to the pond opening up and filling with water. The pond has now been drained and engineers are carrying out tests to understand what has caused the collapses. Richard Morang told the Click Orlando he heard strange popping noises as the holes opened up, causing the tiles in his bathroom to crack. The Ocala Fire Rescue department said on Wednesday they thought the holes were linked to a water main break, but the collapses have multiplied since then. The Police Department said: At this time there is only one building thats been affected by the evacuations, but of course if theyre additional sinkholes that pop up in other areas that put a particular building at risk, those will be evacuated as well. The formation of the sinkholes is still unknown, although the big pipes speak for themselves. via WFTV The sinkgoles are dangerously approaching roads and houses in the neighborhood. via Click Orlando How Sinkholes Form? Sinkholes are caused by water flowing through channels below ground and eroding away soil or soft rock like limestone. And Ocala is no stranger to sinkholes, with the latest rash of them opening up in 2012. As the earth is carried into other parts of the ground large caverns can open up, usually unbeknownst to the authorities or the people living above them. Once the cavern cannot support the weight of the topsoil above it, it collapses into the ground. Sinkholes are depressions at the ground surface caused by the collapse of overlying chalk or superficial deposits into underground voids created by dissolution. And as shown in this map sinkhole-prone areas are widespread in the USA. Click Orlando, WFTV, WCJB, Daily Mail Follow us: Facebook and Twitter. By the way you can also support us on Paypal. Please and thank you! US President Donald Trump has not asked the Pentagon for options to reduce US forces based in South Korea, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a statement on Friday. His comment comes after the New York Times, citing several people briefed on the deliberations, reported on Thursday that the president was seeking options to curb the number of American troops stationed in South Korea. Leah Goldin, the mother of Lt. Hadar Goldin's whose body is held captive by Hamas in Gaza for some four years expressed on Friday her deep disappointment that Hadar's body had not been retrieved yet while protesting near the Gaza border fence. "How does Israel succeeds obtaining Iran nuclear documents in an glorious Mossad operation, but can't retrieve its soldiers?" "It is a tremendous disappointment that slowly transforms into sorrow and rage. Hadar's death was announced during the Protective Edge operation. We've been hearing only slogans since then," Goldin lamented. "We are doing everything we can. Hadar is in our hearts. We understand nothing is being done (by the state)," she added. Sending Arab troops to Syria is a possibility that is being discussed by officials from various countries, Egypt's foreign minister was quoted on Friday as saying. But a foreign ministry spokesman said Sameh Shoukry, who was speaking at a function on Wednesday night, was not raising the possibility that Egypt itself might be ready to send forces to Syria, adding that such a decision was subject to constitutional constraints. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the administration of US President Donald Trump was seeking to assemble an Arab force to replace the US military contingent in Syria. Russia will stand by the Iran nuclear deal and develop closer ties with Iran if US President Donald Trump withdraws from the agreement on May 12, a senior Russian official said on Friday. Vladimir Yermakov, Director General of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control at Russia's Foreign Ministry, told reporters that a US withdrawal from the 2015 accord known as the JCPOA did not necessarily mean the end of the deal. "It might even be easier for us on the economic front, because we wonat have any limits on economic cooperation with Iran. We would develop bilateral relations in all areas a energy, transport, high tech, medicine," he said. Trump, a long-time critic of the deal struck by major world powers, has threatened to pull out unless a follow-on agreement is reached to fix what he calls its "flaws." President Donald Trump is touting his administration's tough approaches to North Korea and Iran. Trump, speaking at the annual National Rifle Association in Dallas on Friday, says it was his "position of strength" that is bringing Pyongyang to the negotiating table. He is mocking critics' concerns that he would start a war with North Korea and instead says "things were going really well." Hours earlier, Trump said a date and place for his upcoming summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un would be announced in the coming days. The president is also repeating his criticism of his predecessor's negotiations with Iran to halt its nuclear weapons program. Trump will make a decision later this month as to whether the United States will remain in the deal. The family of Sgt. Hadar Goldin, whose body was captured by Hamas terrorists during fighting in Operation Protective Edge in 2014, began their first weekly protest on Friday afternoon near the Gaza border in their latest effort to boost their campaign to secure their sons return. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The family plans to stage a protest in a tent near the border every Friday, which is also part of a demonstration to bring back Oron Shaul, whose remains were also abducted by the Gaza-ruling group, which has since refused to return their bodies. The protest tent attracted members of the public, politicians and former officials in Israels defense establishment. Goldin family, supporters at border protest tent (Photo: Roee Idan) The first protest was staged at the "Black Arrow" memorial near the coastal enclave, which was created in honor of IDF paratroopers who fell during reprisal attacks in August 1954, along with those who fell during Operation Black Arrow in Gaza in 1955 and the Sinai campaign of 1956. Hadars parents, Leah and Simcha, were joined by former defense minister MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union), who also sits on the Knesset Lobby to Bring the Soldiers Home, and former head of the Eshkol Regional Council, Yesh Atid MK Haim Jelin. Organizers said that they had received permission from the IDF and from the police to proceed with the protest, which is taking place against the backdrop of heightened anxiety in south Israel as Palestinians in Gaza fly burning kites into its town. Hadar Goldin (L) and Oron Shaul Leah Goldin, who has grown increasingly frustrated with the Israeli government's refusal to take more drastic measures against the Gaza Strip in order to force their son's release, asked how Israel managed to steal Iranian documents on its nuclear weapons program, but could not bring her son home. "It is extremely disappointing. It is frustration that slowly turns into anger and sadness. They declared his death during the war. For four years we have heard only soundbites. We are doing everything we can. Hadar is in our hearts. We realize they are doing nothing," Leah said at the protest, before attacking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Especially after the prime minister's fiery speech about the intelligence operation around the nuclear program, how can it be that they know how to do that but not how to return Hadar?" "We just lack a prime minister that would give the green light," she accused. "He just does not want to (do that). And that's the biggest difficulty." (Photo: Roee Idan) She concluded by expressing her feeling of helplessness and her bitterness over the weekly March of Return border protests, which began anew for the sixth week in a row as they gazed at the strip. "We are in the nearest place to Gaza, where we can see it, where my son and Oron Shaul are. We do not see that there is any action or activity to restore them," she bemoaned. "Meanwhile, these terrorists shamelessly carry coffins with pictures of my son in the demonstrations." Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - Today, local Navajo businessman and entrepreneur, Shawn Redd, announces his run for Arizona U.S. Senate. The democrat is a member of the Navajo Nation. Originally from Cortez, Colorado, Redd has lived and done business in Arizona for 15 years. His mother was a Nez, from the Redhouse Clan and belongs to the Kaibeto Chapter. Growing up, Redd got a taste for entrepreneurial life working at his fathers car business in the Four Corners area. At a young age, Redd was tapped as a consultant to the Navajo Nation for more than 20 years, where he focused on economic development issues. As one of the only independent business owners on the entire Navajo Nation, Redd provides private investment and business expertise. Redd works daily to advocate for small businesses, rural Arizona, veterans and acts as a watch dog to Native American law enforcement. Driving more than 10,000 miles across the state a month, Redd visits low-income neighborhoods and has strong ties in less populated areas of the state. Redd is the only candidate that has lived and done business both on and off the reservation, making him invaluable in relating to the diversity of Arizona. Arizona needs to send someone to Washington who will make the government work for the people of our great state and advocate for individuals of all backgrounds, says Shawn Redd, Arizona U.S. Senate Democratic candidate. As a vocal advocate and supporter of veterans, Redd has firsthand experience understanding their needs. His father is a Korean War veteran, which makes Redd passionate about finding solutions to improve the Phoenix VA Health Care System. He also wants to work with health care providers and pharmaceutical companies to find solutions to stop the opioid epidemic that is plaguing the nation. It was recently announced that the Navajo Nation filed a federal lawsuit against opioid makers, distributors and pharmacies for playing a large role in addiction and overdose in the community. I plan to continue to fight for change, says Redd. An ally to teachers and those in the education field, Redd is a supporter of the #RedforEd movement. He wants to see teachers receive the salary they deserve for molding the minds of future leaders. Redd is also passionate about being a watch dog to the Native American Law Enforcement and is not afraid to stand up against violence towards Native American women. For more information about Shawn Redd or to learn how to get involved, visit https://shawnredd.com . Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Arizona Western Colleges May 18th commencement ceremony will mark an historical milestone. The celebration will feature graduating students from AWC as well as Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and University or Arizona. This is a first-ever combined commencement celebration with representation from all three universities at a community college. AWC is the only community college in the state that hosts face-to-face classes and entire academic programs from all three state universities: Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and University of Arizona. Students can start at AWC and transfer seamlessly to a variety of high-demand programs, including secondary education, agriculture, engineering and administration of justice. The educational partnerships Arizona Western College has developed are essential in empowering the communities we serve. AWC, in partnership with Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and University of Arizona, is transforming lives in Yuma and La Paz Counties, commented AWC President, Dr. Daniel Corr. These partnerships are all about creating thriving communities which is language from our newly revised Vision statement. We know that increasing the number of degrees and credentials in our communities will improve families lives and help build our economy. On May 18, a wide range of credentials will be awarded, from Associate degrees all the way up to Bachelors, Masters, and even Doctoral degrees. Commencement will be take place at Gila Ridge High Schools Veterans Memorial Stadium beginning at 8pm on Friday, May 18th. Graduates are asked to arrive by 7pm and check in at the Hawks Gym located east of the stadium. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - On Monday, January 29, 2018 at 3:35 a.m., the Yuma Police Department responded to a suspicious fire at Mesa Heights Apartment and several other residential structures, located in the 2100 block of Arizona Avenue, in reference to a fire. The Yuma Fire Department was already on scene. The initial investigation revealed the fire appears to be intentionally started. Over 20 properties suffered damage with 5 homes appearing to be a total loss. The fire has been determined to be Arson. The investigation has revealed two males scaled a construction fence with a lighter and gas can. They utilized the gasoline to initiate the fire. The suspects fled the scene. On Wednesday, April 11, 2018 18 year old Daniel Molina and a 17 year old male were located and arrested by Yuma Police Officers. Both are the primary suspects in this case. They are being charged with multiple counts of arson and endangerment. A 16 year old male was also arrested and is being charged with conspiracy and witness tampering. On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 25 year old James Mee and 18 year old Trayvon Johnson were located and arrested by Yuma Police Officers in reference to this case. Both have multiple felony charges. A fourth suspect, 18 year old Devon Munson has not been located. He is being sought and faces multiple charges of arson and endangerment. There were no reported injuries. This case is still under investigation. 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. The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call Detective E. Fell at (928) 373-4744 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Remember if your information leads to an arrest you may receive up to $1,000 cash reward. The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is the official examination in Ghana that is undertaken by Ghanaian Junior High School students nationwide for them to be eligible to graduate from Junior High school. The students take the examination and their marks are used to categorize them and place them in the various Secondary schools or vocational institutions in Ghana (popularly known as BECE placement). Source: modernghana.com The program is under the Ministry of Education in Ghana. However, the examinations and placement process is not handled by the ministry as the work has been left for the Ghana Education Service. Last year, the BECE school placement list saw a total of 460,941 students who sat for the examination get placements to different secondary schools all around the country. Who is eligible to take the Basic Education Certificate Examination? This examination is available for students who are in their third year in the junior high school level. It is only the registered student who is supposed to sit for the exam and no one should take the examination on their behalf. What you need to know about registration The registration for the examination is undertaken by the schools. They register their students with the Ghana Education Service. Failure to register a student will mean that they will not be allowed to take the examination. The registration process is open once every year. It runs for two months starting in October and ending in the month of November. What is required during registration for the Basic Education Certificate Examination? For a student to be registered for the examination, the school has to provide the following information to the West Africa Examination Council; 1. They have to upload the statement of entries with the examination council 2. They have to upload the school choices of the candidates with the examination council 3. They have to submit the results of the internal examinations (CATs) to the council offices using a compact disk. Source: wikipedia What you need to know about the examination The examination is based on multiple-choice type of questions and also questions with no choices. The final grade will comprise of the marks scored in the continuous assessment tests you took in your school. These marks are presented to the examination council before you take the BECE exam. The grading points range from 1 to 9(1 being the highest grade point and 9 being the lowest grade point). High school and the vocational institutions selections After successfully completing the BECE examination, students are automatically placed in the various senior high schools in the country. The CSSPS (Computerized School Selection and Placement System) is used to automatically place the successful candidates to the various schools Source: moderghana.com What are the remedies for students who are unhappy with their results? Students who feel aggrieved because of the results they have can approach their respective schools to try and sort the problem. The examination scripts are kept for a total of three months. It is during this time that you can have your script reviewed if you feel you have been wronged. This service is not free. It is done at a fee to be paid by the student. How do the successful candidates get recognized? Once you have successfully undertaken the exam, you are entitled to a certificate. The certificates are only produced once and you are not given another one after losing it. They are available within a month after the results are announced. BECE examination registration charges In November, the government came up with a way to ensure that no prospective candidate is left out of the examination process. The government, while presenting the budget, purposed to pay the examination registration fees (75 GHS) to all candidates in public schools. READ ALSO: Registration fees for BECE candidates to be paid by government However, this is only available to first time examination candidates in public schools. The students who take the exam as private candidates will be required to pay the GHS 75 fee. Also, the students who are sitting for the exam a second time will be treated as private candidates and they will be required to pay the fee. The government paid 70% of the total costs of registration for the exam. They did this for both the public school candidates and also the private candidates. New programs to be rolled out The ministry of education in Ghana was contemplating about improving the quality of education that is provided in basic schools. They planned to do this by focusing on the education programs that seeks to equip a learner with literacy skills accompanied by numeracy. They also hoped that the programs will be beneficial to the Ghanaian child by helping them develop the skill of critical thinking. The Ministry of Education planned to introduce some other programs in all the basic schools around the country. They announced that they are putting measures in place to help them introduce Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) in the schools. Free senior high school education Nana Akufo-Addo made free SHS education one of the campaign promises during the run-up to the election. He set the candidates as the first beneficiaries of the program. This program is aimed at easing the burden of education placed on parents in form of school fees. The program covers the following charges; 1. It covers the fees for admission 2. It covers the fees charged for using library services 3. It covers all the fees that are paid as exam fees 4. You will be given free textbooks In addition to this, the government has also promised to construct new schools in order to accommodate the expected increase in the number of beneficiaries. BECE placement 2020 In 2019, there have been some changes to the placement rules. The changes are that only form three students who are to be allowed to sit for the BECE and the GHS70 registration fee has been scrapped off for first time public candidates. There are instances where the candidates who are eligible to be placed in SHS and have not been placed in any institution. They are given a second chance to select their preferred institutions for a second time. The BECE placement deadlines are set out every year. You should check regularly to ensure you are not negatively affected by the deadlines. How to check BECE placement 2019/2020 There are several ways in which someone may opt to confirm their BECE school placement 2020 status. This ways are designed to ensure that every candidate is able to view their placement status.You can check your BECE placement through the SMS service and through the internet. 1. How to check placement through SMS The process of checking your BECE has been eased. It is possible to check your BECE placement status using your mobile phone. This is the guide to the BECE placement checker 2019 using your mobile phone; 1. Have a mobile phone that can send and receive SMSs 2. Have your 10 digit index number used in the BECE exam 3. Input your index number as a text in your phone. Do not put spaces between the numbers 4. Send the number to 1060 and wait for an SMS. 5. In case you are unsuccessful, then proceed to inputting the 10 digit index number followed by the last two digits of the year you sat for the exam. For example, if you did the exam in 2017 and your index number are 1234567890. You send 123456789017 to 1060. READ ALSO: WAEC Ghana BECE grading system. 2. How to check BECE placement on the internet It is possible to check your BECE placement status online. All you need is a device, preferably a computer that can access the internet. This is how you check BECE placement results online; 1. Go to the official online portal here 2. You will then be required to input your 10 digit Index number. Here, it is paramount that the last two digits of the year you sat for the exam is added to the index number as the last two digits. 3. You are required to have your scratch card with you. You will be required to enter the serial number of your scratch card that is at the top of the card 4. Enter the PIN that can be located on the same scratch card 5. The final step is submission of the information as you wait for your results to pop up. BECE placement form The WEAC BECE placement form can be downloaded online after you have completed the online check. It is important to have the form as proof of your placement status. It is important to know how to check your BECE placement status. You have to know how to check, and if the above mentioned ways does not work for you, it is advisable that you visit the BECE placement office for assistance. Source: Yen Friday, May 4, 2018 The National Taxpayer Advocate hosts the Third International Conference on Taxpayer Rights today and tomorrow in The Netherlands hosted by the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation. For a list of the panels and participants, see here. The Fourth International Conference on Taxpayer Rights will be held on May 23-24, 2019, at the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis. https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2018/05/third-international-conference-on-taxpayer-rights-kicks-off-today-in-the-netherlands.html Today's job market is skill-oriented, and if you lack the prerequisites demanded by a potential employer, you have no chance. Ghana's educational system has been evolving at a fast rate, and now, students can access a tremendous collection of accredited institutions of higher learning. Accra Technical University courses are at the forefront of this education revolution. The institution was created to provide students with vocational education and training, mostly in engineering, science, and technology. All the diverse courses offered at Accra Technical University lay the ideal foundation, equipping students with outstanding industrial knowledge perfect for developing Ghana's broad economy. Image: facebook.com, @Accra Technical University Source: Facebook Founded in 1949, ATU is a multidisciplinary, non-profit institution of higher learning with a bias in in-depth vocational education. Of course, being a significant university in Ghana, the National Accreditation Board, Ghana officially accredit them. The school's rich in culture and admits students from diverse backgrounds a perfect representation of Ghana's multifaceted populace. Since they are a coeducational learning institution, they offer different courses and programs, leading people to attain recognized academic qualifications in their areas of study. What courses can you apply for in this renowned institution of higher learning? Accra Technical University courses Accra Technical University is flaunted in various parts of the country while circulating all over social media and various internet websites. Its reputation precedes it. It's mostly known for high-quality education standards and state of the art facilities, accompanied by magnificent structural development. Being at the heart of the capital city makes it even more conspicuous. Since the school's inception, they have been offering hands-on and competency-based training in a wide array of fields. The learning institution is laden with amazingly-qualified and competent professors with extensive knowledge in their field. The school's conformity to the University Act, 2016 (922) has revolutionized its programs to fit the ever-growing job market ideally. They have a cool collection of courses that are delivered through three schools: Engineering Applied Arts Business and Management Studies These three schools have fifteen departments providing various bachelors degrees, HND (Higher National Diploma) programs, diploma and certificate programs. READ ALSO: UHAS admission portal 2020-2021: Fees, requirements, deadlines Tertiary programs at Accra Technical University These are bachelors courses offered at Accra Technical University, providing interested students with the ideal platform for advancing their skills. These are Bachelor of Technology degrees in: Medical Laboratory Science Science- Laboratory Technology Analytical Chemistry Option Environmental Technology Option Clinical Biochemistry Option Medical Laboratory Science (top-up at Level 200 or 300-weekend) Statistics Computer Science Mechanical Engineering Automobile Engineering Building Technology Civil Engineering Electrical/Electronic Engineering Power and Automation Engineering option Telecommunications Engineering option Fashion Design & Textiles Hospitality Management Procurement and Supply Chain Management (Evening/Weekend) Accounting (Evening/Weekend) Banking and Finance (Evening/Weekend) Secretaryship and Management Studies Marketing (Evening/Weekend) READ ALSO: Regent University courses, admission and fees Higher National Diploma courses Other than the above Accra Technical University degree courses, you can access various HND courses that will equip you with the best skills. These are grouped into science and technology, and business and arts programmes. HND Mechanical Engineering HND Electrical/ Electronic Engineering HND Building Technology HND Civil Engineering HND Interior Design and Technology HND Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) HND Statistics HND Computer Science HND Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management (HCIM) HND Accountancy HND Marketing HND Purchasing and Supply HND Secretaryship and Management Studies HND Bilingual Secretaryship and Management Studies HND Fashion Design and Textiles READ ALSO: UCC student portal: sign in, results checking, registration Non-HND Programs Image: facebook.com, @Accra Technical University Source: Facebook If you are looking for Accra Technical University courses and cut off points, it would help if you first knew the available courses. Non-HND programs are prevalent because of their ease of access and their skilled nature. Construction Technician Course (Part I & II) Mechanical Engineering Technician Part I Motor Vehicle Technician Part I Electrical Engineering Technician (Part I & II) Refrigeration Technician Part II Science Laboratory Technician Part I Diploma in Business Studies in the following areas: Accounting, Secretarial, Management, Purchasing & Supply, Marketing, Statistics, Entrepreneurship and ICT Diploma in Business Administration (DBA) Diploma in Computerized Accounting Diploma in Banking Technology & Accounting Diploma in Public Relations Advanced Business Certificate Examination (ABCE) General Business Certificate Examination (GBCE) Advanced Fashion Advance Cookery (812/2) TVET certificate ii in business studies (accounting/secretarial/ICT options) Access (pre-HND) courses to HND Science and Engineering programs These access programs are created for students with technical subjects in related fields. This means that after successful fulfilment, they can access their desired HND programs. Interior Design and Technology Furniture Design and Production Mechanical Engineering Electrical/Electronic Engineering Civil Engineering Building Technology Hotel Catering and Institutional Management Fashion Design and Textiles Professional programs Professional programs are among the best Accra Technical University courses. The primary target for these courses are supervisors in various industries. International Certificate in Logistics and Transport (CILT) International diploma in Logistics and Transport (dILT) International Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Transport (ADILT) Biomedical Equipment Maintenance Technician programme READ ALSO: iCampus login, registration, student portal Accra Technical University admission and cut-off points The courses determine Accra Technical University admission requirements a prospective student seeks to enrol in. The programmes give room for various ambitious students wishing to expand their learning. For instance, anyone looking to get admitted for the four-year, Bachelor of Technology program at the university must meet the following requirements. People with West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) must possess a minimum grade of C6 in three core subjects and three elective subjects. Individuals with Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSCE) ought to have a minimum grade of D in three core subjects and three elective subjects. Students with GCE Advanced level ought to have passed in the same group of subjects as the above qualifications. Additionally, all mature applicants must be at least 25 years old to qualify and have documents to prove their age. For the bachelors degree top-up applicants, they are supposed to satisfy the following: HND certificate in a relevant field At least two years of post-HND qualification working experience. Non-citizen Ghana card for all foreign applicants These stipulated conditions are considered minimum requirements for admission. As for Higher National Diploma, the courses run for about three years, for most of the programs, even though some may go for four years. The courses can be undertaken either at a full-time level or part-time. Similar to a Bachelor degree, conditions vary from one field to another. These are: SSSCE applicants for science and technology programmes must possess at least six passes (A D) in all subjects, and three of the core subjects must be credit or better. WASSCE applicants ought to have six passes (A1 D7) in all subjects, and at least three of the core subjects must be C6 or better. The conditions for admission and prerequisite cut-off points vary according to the program you desire. Therefore, it is better to confirm the admission requirements before making your application for Accra Technical University degree courses. Accra technical university fees Image: facebook.com, @Accra Technical University Source: Facebook According to the official Accra Technical University website, interested applicants can process their applications online after obtaining an e-voucher for successful log-in. Of course, Accra Technical University courses and fees vary significantly based on various factors. Mature students are obligated to pay GH 400 for tuition and during the application process GH 190 as the application fee. You can access a comprehensive breakdown of all relevant costs for different programs from the official website, which alters every academic year. Accra Technical University is a premier institution of higher learning in Ghana. If you are looking to gain the most advanced skills, ideal for the multifaceted, and fast-developing market, the schools courses are sufficient. It offers relevant aptitudes to needy students under a sophisticated curriculum that is perfectly customized for demanded skills. READ ALSO: KNUST fees 2020/2021: Masters, distance learning, freshmen UEW student portal: registration, admission, courses KNUST admission 2020/2021: forms, deadline, requirements Source: Yen Ghana Every Ghanaian interested in going to UK wonders how much is UK visa fees in Ghana. The charges depend on what kind of visa you want to acquire, the length of your stay, and the Border Agency charge of the UK visa Ghana supporting documents, contingent on various factors. The presented UK visa fees in Ghana 2018 will be helpful to the Ghanaians who need a UK visa to Study, work, settle, or to visit UK. Source: Buzz Ghana UK visa application in Ghana online Before you commence on your UK visa application, there are a few things that you should pay attention to. Toy must know how to apply for the UK visa and the UK visa Ghana requirements. Here are the current UK visa fees in Ghana 2020. UK student visa fee in Ghana UK visa fees in Ghana for study depend on the term period for your study. Read on carefully before you commerce on your application. Short-term study in UK A short-term study of up to 6 months - $144. If you want to take English Language on a short-term study; $ 275 A Ghanaian Parent Visiting their Child Studying in UK If your visit will take up to 12 months - $ 764 Special child visitors A short-term visit valid for 6 months, whether it is a multiple/single entry- $138 A longer-term visit, valid for up to 2 years - $518 A longer-term visit, valid for 5 years - $941 If it is a Longer-term valid for 10 years - $1181 Course F visitors Course F main applicant and dependants UK application fees - $764 Points-based system (Tier 4) For student applicant/dependants who want to see student visa page for full definition) - $515 Other Study UK embassy Ghana visa fees For those Ghanaians who want to acquire visa types like Chevening Scholarship or Fellowship, British Marshall Scholarship, Fulbright Scholarship, and Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan; the visa application is free of charge. Source: EMH Global UK visa application fees in Ghana for a visitor How long will your visit to UK take? Well, the visa type will determine the visa fees that you will be charged. Here is various UK visa types application fees in dollars for the Ghanaians. Have in mind that the more lengthy your stay is, the more the fees you will pay. Standard Visitor A short-term valid for 6 months either a single or multiple entry - $138 A Longer-term valid 2 years - $518 A Longer-term valid 5 years - $941 A Longer-term valid for 10 years - $1181 Business visitors If you want to acquire a UK visa as an academic visitor valid for 12 months and dependant - $275 If you want to acquire a clinical attachments/dental, observation/ PLAB/OSCE test - $138 A Diplomatic courier- $138 A Permitted Paid Engagement - $138 A Prospective Entrepreneur- $138 Special visitors If you are a Ghanaian who want to acquire a visa for a marriage or civil partnership you pay $138 Diplomatic or an official visitor - For a diplomatic passport holder or an official Invitation by UK Government, the visa application is free of charge. Course F (main applicant and dependants)- they have to pay $764 Visitors in transit- Visitors in transit pay $95 for the UK visa in Ghana. READ ALSO: Apply for UK visa in Ghana Source: Global 105.1 fm Cost of UK visa in Ghana for work UK provides attractive job opportunities and anyone who wishes should cease the opportunity. Here are the UK embassy in Ghana visa fees. Points- based system, tier 1 An investor as the main applicant - $2402 An entrepreneur as the main applicant - $1511 An exceptional talent (part one with an endorsement by a competent body application) as a main applicant - $675 An exceptional talent (part two with an entry clearance application) as the main applicant- $225 An exceptional talent (where no approval letter is needed) as the main applicant - $900 An exceptional talent applicant as a dependants only - $900 A general/ entrepreneur with dependants only - $1511 An investor as a dependants only - $2402 An entrepreneur CESC as a main applicant only - $1430 An exceptional talent CESC (part two with an entry clearance application) as a main applicant only- $144 A graduate Entrepreneur - $537 A graduate entrepreneur CESC as a main applicant only - $456 A graduate Entrepreneur as a dependant - $537 A post Study applicant as a dependant- $894 Points- based system, tier 2 General/ ICT long term staff/sport & MoR who are sponsered for a period valid for 3 years (applicant & dependants) - $903 General/ ICT long term staff/ sport & MoR who are sponsored for a period valid for less or 3 years (main applicant) CESC - $821 ICT short term staff/ graduate trainee & skills transfer (applicant & dependants) - $713 ICT short term staff/graduate trainee & skills transfer (main applicant) CESC - $632 General shortage occupation who is sponsored for a period valid 3 years (applicant & dependants) - $687 General shortage occupation who is sponsored for a period valid for 3 years (main applicant) CESC - $605 General/ ICT long-term staff who is sponsored for a period of not less than 3 years as an applicant & dependants - $1805 General/ICT long-term staff who is sponsored for period of not less than 3 years as a main applicant (CESC) - $1724 General/ shortage occupation who is sponsored for a period valid 3 years plus as an applicant & dependants - $1373 General/ shortage occupation who is sponsored for 3 years and above as an main applicant (CESC) - $1292 Points- based, tier 5 An applicant who is a temporary worker ( main applicant & dependants) - $361 An applicant who is a temporary worker( CESC) as a main applicant only- $280 An applicant who is a youth mobility scheme (main applicant only) - $361 Other categories UK visa fees for work in Ghana An overseas worker who is a domestic worker in one of the private household - $764 A UK ancestry - $764 A fisherman who is operating inside the UK waters - $764 An offshore worker - $764 A representative of the overseas business & dependants - $903 A Sheep Shearer - 764 A van der Elst, a Swiss posted worker, a Turkish businessperson & dependants visa application is Free of charge. Heads of state/diplomats/members of international organizations in Ghana with exempt status as well as courtesy endorsements. If any of the Ghanaian workers has undergone a diplomatic Posting to the UK as either the main applicant or dependant the visa application is free of charge. If any Ghanaian member of the International organizations wants to acquire a UK visa on an Official Visit/ official transit, the visa application is free of charge. Members of armed forces and their families (non-settlement) HM Forces personnel /Member of foreign-armed force (exempt from immigration control) application is Free of charge. Any dependants (exempt international forces applying under Part 10 of Appendix Armed Forces) - $764 Arms control personnel (Vienna document 1992) visa application is free of charge. READ ALSO: Why 40% of Ghanaians who apply for UK Visa are refused UK Settlement Visa Fee in Ghana Do you want to be among the many UK visa Ghana citizens? Well, here are the fees that you are supposed to pay to acquire you UK visa. Settled People (Family) A spouse/civil partner of a UK settled person - $2254 A fiance/ proposed by a civil partner of a UK settled person - $2254 An Unmarried/same-sex partner of a UK settled person - $2254 A child (any other dependant of Settled Person) - $2254 A family life as a parent - $2254 A parent/grandparent/other dependant relative of a settled person) - $4809 Settlement for current & former members of HM armed forces & their dependants. The former UK Armed Forces - $2254 Pre 1997 Gurkhas that are outside the immigration rules- $2254 Overage dependant children ( pre 1997 Gurkhas)- $2254 HM Forces (dependants applying under part 4,5,7 or 8 of Appendix Armed Forces)- $2254 Returning residents For a returning resident - $764 Family reunion for asylum seekers Family reunion (under Part 11 of the Immigration Rules), visa application fee is free of charge. A post flight (Non- Settled person) - $ 2254 Family reunion (other dependent relatives) - $574 Source: globe entertainment UK Visa processing fees in Ghana The good thing about the UK visas as well as immigrations in Ghana, is that try to make efforts to finish up with the processing as early as they can. The processing only takes place during working days. This means that weekends and public holidays are excluded. Since you now know the price of UK visa in Ghana, consider visa processing fees. Most long-term visits (that are valid for more than 6 months), general visits (valid for less than 6 months), Business visits (valid for less than 6 months), family visits (valid for less than 6 months), other visits (for 6 months and below), and point based system visas (PBS Tier 4) processing is within 15 days. How to pay for UK visa fees in Ghana The Guaranty Trust Bank is where to pay UK visa fees in Ghana. This bank has only 3 branches that you can for paying UK visa fees in Ghana, during your visa application. The branches are: Ridge, Head Office 25A, Castle Road, Ambassadorial Area Ridge, PMB CT416 Cantonments. Accra. Labone 3rd Soula Street, adjacent to South African High Commission Osu Plot No. 577, Oxford Street, Osu R. E Make sure you are given a receipt because it is one of the requirements when you visit the UK visa application Centre. If you prefer to do your payments at the UK visa application Centre, then be ready to pay extra charges for processing. READ ALSO: How to Apply For Us Visa Online Source: Yen In Ghanaian society, it is uncommon to witness women proposing marriage to men even though they may have deep feelings for them. Many are of opinion that the challenge in proposing love to someone of the opposite sex can be tricky and risky. Akumaa READ ALSO: 15-year-old musician shocks all after dropping a 'banging' dancehall song However, a popular Ghanaian radio and television presenter, Akumaa Mama Zimbi has said proposing marriage to men should not be a difficult thing for women. Speaking on Starr Chat show on Starr FM on Thursday, Akumaa disclosed that a women proposing to a man she claims to love isnt primitive as society has made it to look so. Yes! Women can propose marriage to men as well Its very important. Theres absolutely nothing wrong if a woman propose to a man. When my husband met me, he proposed and I told him, Ive heard but as time goes on, I told him I love you more. When a person tells you I love you doesnt mean he has married you, she said. READ ALSO: The Church of Pentecost issues serious threat to Akufo-Addo over homosexuality In the Ghanaian culture and tradition, it is the man who is expected to propose. The woman is expected to show initial resistance or woman do before she gives in no matter how much she loves the man. A woman who proposes to a man is seen as fast, pushy, cheap, desperate and worthy of love because she has given what many term as scholarship to a man. Akumaa in her interaction added that generally Ghanaian women are romantic but tradition has shut them down. To her, the education needed before and during marriage are not given by many parents. The mother of six also stated that sex plays a very essential part in a successful marriage and urged women not to shy away from such conversations with their husbands. READ ALSO: You don't deserve to be on my show Delay rejects slay queen 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 The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has taken remedial measures over the current state of Sovereign Bank by appointing an Advisor to supervise operations of the bank. The Advisor is expected to directly superintend the day-to-day running of the bank and report back to the Central Bank. Joy News reports that the action took place around the time that the regulator appointed an administrator to take over the management of UNIBANK earlier this year. Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Ernest Yedu Addision READ ALSO: Nana Abas alleged baby daddy tells critics to shut up The BoG is reported to have taken the decision after growing unhappy about the current state of the Sovereign bank. The Bank was incorporated on 9th October 2015 in Accra, before being granted a Universal Banking license by the Bank of Ghana a year later. However, checks and examinations by the BoG indicate that the Bank has been operating at an unsatisfactory level. There have been several hearings between the Bank and the Central Bank over the issue, with the latter going as far as serving queries. The BoG therefore resorted to appointing an Advisor for the Sovereign Bank after supervisory reports indicated a failure on the part of the Bank to comply with its directives. The appointment of the Advisor has been necessary to avoid the Bank relapsing into other phases that would require stringent remedial measures. Per the latest development, the Sovereign Bank is expected to comply with the BoGs order and extend their full co-operation to the Advisor. Join YEN on Instagram to be always informed and entertained! The Advisor will also be entitled to attend and fully participate in the meetings of the board of directors of the bank. The only restriction is that the Advisor shall not be able to vote on a matter for determination by board of the Bank. In return, the Advisor is expected to furnish the Bank of Ghana with a status report on the bank as frequently as possible and will give recommendations on the next course of action to enhance the operational efficiency of the bank. 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 YEN.com.gh is in possession of photos of a thief who was trapped by a bag of goods he attempted to steal from a farm. According to Kemifelani, he had to no choice than to surrender to the police, after the bag of stolen items got stuck to his head. It is further alleged that the unidentified suspect realized he could not put the bag down, and subsequently cried for help. The suspect READ ALSO: Lil Win 'bribes' former COCOBOD boss with a heartwarming message Information available indicates that the owner of the farm produce had used voodoo charms on his items, in a bid to safeguard them. Another photo od the suspect The suspect was thereafter paraded by the police through the principal streets of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. He was then relieved of his burden after he approached the owner, in order to plead for clemency. The police are currently investigating the matter. READ ALSO: I wish I was not a Ghanaian-Afia Schwar Apostle Opoku Onyinah reacts to Theresa Mays comments on LGBT rights in Ghana | Archbishop Duncan Williams warns the government: 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 You are a young man or woman in Ghana trying your best to remain relevant in your society. You just completed senior high school, about going tertiary, already at the university... no matter where you find yourself on the academic ladder - your life matter. You sit back at home, watch all the troubling news on unemployment, job loss, high taxes and you get to ask yourself what exactly is going on. Many young persons in Ghana are losing their lives at a fast rate. READ ALSO: My greatest regret is paying my bride price for a guy who later leaked my nude video - Afia Schwar The issue of premature deaths is really increasing as the days go by. We will be exploring some of the actual cause of these deaths in recent times. 1. Unprotected sex This is one of the leading cause of death among young people in Ghana today. Many fail to use condoms while having sex and this, unfortunately, exposes them to sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS. One thing about these diseases is that they slowly destroy your body so that by the time you know it, it's too late to correct things up. 2. Unsafe abortions Two in every five young ladies in Ghana today has practiced unsafe abortions in their lifetime. Unsafe abortions are just as the name goes - unsafe. Sadly enough, because these girls are so eager to get rid of their babies for fear of rejection, they rather choose to seek the service of quack doctors who end up given them concoctions which lead to their sudden death. 3. Blood money Times are hard and every young person would wish to find wealth in the shortest possible time. What happens is that these young people, mostly guys, subject themselves to so many dark rituals which require them to do things they do not wish to do. The effect of disrespecting these fetish priests will be death or terminal illness. Things of the spirit will always require strange things in return so that if you are not willing to give in, your life could be cut short. 4. Social vices As young persons, our blood is hot and boiling. It is for this reason that most of us fall victim to moments of protests and hooliganism, Others also engage in armed robbery attacks which most often results in bloody clashes with the police. 5. Drug abuse Ghana today is battling with a drug called Tramadol. Unfortunately, we have had so many young persons, especially those in the slums and crime-prone areas. Apostle Opoku Onyinah reacts to Theresa Mays comments on LGBT rights in Ghana | Archbishop Duncan Williams warns the government: Use the comments section below to share your views on this article. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram. Source: Yen - Gabby Otchere Darko has dismissed reports that he is inciting Akyems against the Asantehene - Otchere Darko says he is not stupid to pitch his mothers people against his fathers people A leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere-Darko, has denied claims that he is undermining the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. According to him, such claims are perplexing, adding that he is not stupid to do such a thing. On Wednesday, some leading executives of the NPP trooped to the Manhyia Palace to beg the Asantehene. Gabby Otchere Darko READ ALSO: Hydrocephalus child turned away at Korle-Bu Hospital due to lack of beds The executives were captured in photos kneeling in front of the Ashanti overlord to beg for forgiveness after he complained about some members of government trying to pitch him against the Akyems. In the aftermath, a group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Ashanti accused Mr. Otchere-Darko and Executive Secretary to the President, Asante Bediatuo, as being the men who actions angered the King. The group accused the two NPP executives of undermining the Asantehene and pitching him against the Akyem Stool. A couple of years ago under the leadership of Akufo-Addo, his nephew and relatives started making some comments concerning the Asantehene and the Asantehene himself mentioned Gabby Asare Otchere Darko and Asante Bediatuo at the Manhyia Palace, leader of the group, Nana Agyenim Boateng told Accra-based Starr FM. Everything they are saying about the Asantehene, he is in Manhyia Palace but he has heard of itso it is a warning and an advice to them. However, in a swift rebuttal, Mr. Otchere-Darko has denied ever undermining the Asantehene or even trying to put him in bad standing with the Akyems. In a Twitter post, he said it would be stupid to attempt such a move, especially when his mother and father are from Asante and Akyem respectively. Am I so stupid that I would work against my own interest and turn one half of me against the other half by inciting my mothers people against my fathers people; that I would bite the very hand that feeds us politically? Perplexing, Mr. Otchere-Darko wrote. Reports suggest that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is planning to lead a government delegation to the Manhyia Palace to resolve the matter. Top 4 Scandal Quotes from Moesha Boduong CNN Interview READ ALSO: Barbara Mahama reminisces how she spent her May Day with late husband last year 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 - The man who has come to be known as Anas Aremeyaw Anas is just a decoy - According to a former member of Anas' investigative team, the real Anas does not wear masks as Ghanaians know Contrary to the longheld belief that ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas is the man in who wears masks to functions, a former member Anas' Tiger Eye team has claimed. According to the investigator, the real Anas does not use a mask after all and the one in the mask is only a decoy to draw attention away from the real Anas. Speaking in an interview with Mynewsgh.com, the Tiger Eye investigator who claims to have been in the thick and thin with the real Anas disclosed that Anas' real name is Korshi Anyagli Mensah who hails from Adaklu in the Volta Region. READ ALSO: Rebecca Akufo-Addo receives her surprise gift of the year and its from Chelsea's Eden Hazard I used to work with them so I know how the Tiger Eye operates. The one in the mask is not the real Anas. "It is Kweku Baako who wears the mask most of the time. Actually they are two who interchangeably wear the mask. "He is the right-hand man of the actual Anas, Korshi Anyagli who rather goes about without the mask," he is quoted as saying in the interview. READ ALSO: REVEALED: Nana Aba Anamoah's 'baby daddy' impregnated her and said 'it wasn't me' The real Anas has been described as a very brilliant and quiet gentleman whose grandfather was known as Zanu Ametsikpli. He hails specifically from Abuadi-Adaklu. Korshi attended Mawuli School in Ho for his Ordinary Level and Presec-Legon for his Advanced Levels. There he met a relative of Ibn Chambas who was to introduce him later to Chambas who in turn, was to introduce him to the then Head of State. Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings. Check out some of the trending news in Ghana in YEN.com.gh's video below: 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 Self-acclaimed dancehall king, Charles Nii Armah Mensah, aka Shatta Wale has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to hashtag his new song Gringo on social media. According to Shatta, many state ministers are jamming to his latest banging song, therefore the President must take some off from his busy schedule and wine down with his Gringo. Shatta Wale known in 'Gringo' as El Shatta READ ALSO: Sarkodie honoured by Ghana Job Bank Initiative In a twitter comment, the SM boss said, Honourable ministers are saying #Gringo Mr President @NAkufoAddo can you please in the name of the Lord hashtag #Gringo? You have worked so much your Excellency! You need it. God bless you God bless Ghana. Shatta Wales 'Gringo' and its accompanying video has sparked some conversation on social media with mix reaction from music lovers. However, the controversial music video has crossed over 700,000 views on YouTube in just one week. READ ALSO: 15-year-old musician shocks all after dropping a 'banging' dancehall song President Nana Akufo-Addo last year extended invitation via social media to the controversial dancehall artiste to visit him at the Jubilee House on the occasion of his birthday. READ ALSO: NPP bigwigs go on their knees to beg 'angry' Asantehene 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 - An NDC Communicator, Eric Appiah Adjei is alleged to have accused the bodyguard of the Deputy Health Minister, Tina Mensah, of dealing with armed robbers - According to him, the unnamed bodyguard rents and sells firearms to the armed robbers Eric Appiah-Adjei, a Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is reported to have claimed that the bodyguard of the Deputy Health Minister, Tina Mensah, works with armed robbers. Information obtained from rainbowradioonline.com suggests that Appiah-Agyei repeated his words when queried on Thursday, May 3, 2018. According to him, Rainbow Radio is not responsible for this statement. Eric Appiah-Adjei should be held responsible for this allegation. Deputy Health Minister, Tina Mensah READ ALSO: 5 dangerous evils killing young Ghanaians today He went ahead to say that the unidentified bodyguard, who rents and sells guns to armed robbers is a police officer. Have you not heard that Tina Mensahs bodyguard is selling and renting guns to armed robbers? This is not an allegation but a fact. Eric Adjei said it not Rainbow Radio., he said. He further wondered how such an act could be covered up, given the security implications of the situation. The Deputy Minister is however yet to comment on the matter. READ ALSO: All the guys I dated are younger than I am - Sister Deborah Apostle Opoku Onyinah reacts to Theresa Mays comments on LGBT rights in Ghana | Archbishop Duncan Williams warns the government: We are looking for unique stories and photos about developments happening in your area. Get in touch with YEN on Facebook or Instagram Source: Yen HYSEA (Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association) in its 26th Annual General Body meeting elected a new Executive Committee comprising the following office bearers: Mr. Murali Bollu Founder & CEO, ZenQ takes over as President of HYSEA Mr. Bharani K Aroll CEO Infopeers Solutions Pvt. Ltd will be the new Vice President Mr. Ravi S Rao President, APAC, ValueMomentum Software Services Private Limited, will be the new Secretary Mr. Vijay Rangineni Global Delivery Head BSG and Centre Head Tech Mahindra will be the new Treasurer Ms. Padmaja Chowdary VP International Finance C3I Support Services will be the new Joint Secretary The new president Mr. Murali Bollu, has more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry including 13 years in the US. He has worked as a consultant at Tandem Computers, Wells Fargo Bank and Kaiser Permanente before returning to India in 2002. Murali is the founder & CEO of ZenQ, a 12-year-old software testing services company, with headquarters in Hyderabad and offices in Dallas. Murali has been active in HYSEA since 2007 in various capacities, as Managing Committee member, head of HYSEA SME Forum, and as Vice President for the terms 2014-16 and 2016-18. In addition to the SME Forum, Murali has been very actively associated with the Branding, Sponsorship and the Technology/Product forums of HYSEA and takes an active role in coordinating and conducting several key HYSEA events. HYSEA members also unanimously elected a new Managing Committee for the term 2018-2020: Bipin Chandra Pendyala, SVP, Moschip Semiconductor Ltd. Kiran Babu Cherukuri, Founder and CEO, Tech Era IT Consulting Pvt Ltd Manisha Saboo, AVP and Centre Head, Pocharam Campus, Infosys Ltd Sai Giridhar Chintamaneni, President and CEO, Promantra Synergy Solutions Ltd Gogineni Srinivasa Rao, Managing Director, FutureTech Information Systems Pvt Ltd Another five members will be co-opted to the Managing Committee by the newly elected Executive Committee. Speaking on the occasion, the outgoing President Mr. Ranga Pothula said, It has been an honor to have led HYSEA during the Silver Jubilee year of its foundation. Some of the important initiatives launched to mark this milestone like the Disruptive Digital Intervention (DDI) for the Government Schools, the IOT Makerspaces Labs in Engineering colleges, the HYSEA-IIIT technology series, the environmental initiatives, etc. should be taken to the next level. He congratulated the newly elected President, Executive and Managing Committee and wished them success in taking HYSEA to greater heights. Mr. Murali Bollu, the newly elected President, thanked the outgoing President and HYSEA members for his election and said, I have been part of HYSEAs journey in the last decade in various capacities. Our focus has primarily been on SMEs, Competency Development of associates from member companies, assisting our member companies fulfill their CSR obligations. Further, we have created a conducive eco-systems for software products, improving Industry-Academia connect and helping the Government with policy formulation. The newly elected Committee would like to increase efforts to assist IT SMEs accelerate their growth. It will be accomplished through organizing workshops/events on new business opportunities in emerging technologies and new geographies, by exploring funding options to meet their capex and opex needs, and by promoting innovations in sales & marketing of their services & products. We would also like to expand our competency development programs for employees of the member companies in leadership and technical skills. Further, we plan to start a Biz Series aimed at improving business and operational competencies. Mr. Murali also mentioned that HYSEA will be creating a new infrastructure forum to address the strategic needs of the industry focused on transportation, green energy and water management. @Technuter.com News Service YEN.com.gh has sighted a photo of Kumawood actress Rosemond Brown and her son. Rosemond shared this photo to her Instagram page with a caption suggestion that she is really in love with her son. Rosemond Brown in her VGMA outfit READ ALSO: Medikal is not the only younger boyfriend I have had Deborah Vanessa She wrote: My heart Beat the only one who can drive me Crazy. Rosemond Browns son looks very much like her in terms of facial and complexion. Both mother and son are captured smiling, an indication that the bond between them is great and they are both happy. READ ALSO: Fans wickedly jab Rosemond Brown for crying after allegedly being sacked from the Delay Show The photo has excited many of Rosemond Browns fans and they have commented. Read some of the comments here: realfarmer1: Cute boy. Keep bringing him as a man. lipsy.baby: @rosemond_brown Awwww hes soo cute just like the Mom . mznaapiedipalumbo: You are Blessed my love . Keep pushing harder. Proud mama. @rosemond_brown. raymhewillams: He is growing cute ..wish you all the best in life with him. x.orlali: Blessed is you dear. What a beautiful son from your womb..... concentrate on him ohhh he is the price.... sheihuda_firdaus: He's growing papa.. Sis @rosemond_brown get ready for the pamper ooh... May God bless him with more wealth... More knowledge and wisdom with understanding... Be bless our future leader . READ ALSO: Nana Ama McBrowns husband frowns in a new video and fans believe he is being forced to love her Rosemond Brown has been in the news lately. According to reports, she was supposed to have an interview on Delay Show, but she was rejected because Delays fans declared her unfit for the kind of pupolarity that that interview would bring her. Rosemond Brown has reportedly been crying since the incident, and fans are mocking her. She came into the limelight following a controversial attire to wore to the 2018 VGMAs. READ ALSO: Wisa mocked on social media for visiting Akufo-Addo without ironing his shirt 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 The former Vice President of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur, is currently having a hard time on social media. He had stated earlier that President Akufo-Addo has failed Ghanaians with regards to fulfilling his campaign promises, making him a liar. According to Amissah Arthur, Akufo Addos attitude in discharging his duties as President gives more assurance that the National Democratic Congress (NCD) will win the next election. READ ALSO: Photo of Rosemond Brown and her fine boy son excites social media users The former Vice President is reported to have said: Akufo-Addos government has failed to fulfil its campaign promises to Ghanaians; this would make it easier for the NDC to win the 2020 elections. But his comment seems to have not gone down well with Ghanaians, and some have taken to social media to attack him. These social media users made their views known on the official Facebook page of YEN.com.gh. READ ALSO: Bodyguard of Deputy Health Minister deals in guns NDC Communicator Read some of he comments here: This user feels the NDC never made any significant achievement when in office, therefore, Amissah Arthur has no right to speak about Akufo-Addo. This user also feels the former vice president is speaking for his own political interest. READ ALSO: 5 'bitter-sweet' things killing young folks in Ghana today More people disagree on Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur's claims READ ALSO: Nana Ama McBrowns husband frowns in a new video and fans believe he is being forced to love her READ ALSO: Rebecca Akufo-Addo receives signed Chelsea replica jersey from Eden Hazard 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 Suspended Upper West Regional Minister, Alhassan Suleman, has been reinstated into office by President Akufo-Addo. The President reinstated the Minister on Friday after investigations exonerated him from any involvement in the attack on the Upper West Regional offices of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Wa. President Akufo-Addo and Alhassan Suleman. READ ALSO: I believe when one dies, there is no heaven or hell Sister Deborah Mr. Suleman was suspended in February after being accused of shielding irate NPP supporters who invaded the NADMO office to wreak havoc. He was alleged to have prevented the Police from arresting the NPP thugs responsible for the attack. Despite denying the allegations, President Akufo-Addo decided to suspend him in order to allow investigations prevail. However, Mr. Suleman has been reinstated to his post after investigations proved he had no hand in the attack. The report from the investigation has cleared the regional minister from all accusations, including allegations that he attempted to pervert the course of justice. Meanwhile, the Police has arrested nine persons in connection with the attack on the NADMO offices in Wa. Join YEN on Instagram to be always informed and entertained! The suspects are Kamal Ismail, Bongaamwini Issahaku, Salifu Seidu Adnan, Abdulai Hakeem, Suglo Nugu, Dakura Peter, Nuhu Mohammed, Kasim Dramani and Issah Salifu. All the suspects are set to be arraigned before court to be prosecuted on various charges. The charges include conspiracy to commit a crime, assault and conspiracy to commit a crime. Top 4 Scandal Quotes from Moesha Boduong CNN Interview: READ ALSO: Nana Abas alleged baby daddy tells critics to shut up 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 Ghana - A police officer has suffered a severe in following an attack on a police post by students of the Atebubu SHS - The students attacked the station because the police intervened in a demonstration in their school - The students' demonstration cameacame about after teachers refused bribes from students to help them cheat in the WASSCE A police officer has been seriously injured after students of Atebubu Senior High School in the Brong Ahafo region attacked a police post in the area. Several vehicles belonging to the Police Service were also vandalised by the students. READ ALSO: Nana Ama McBrown finally reacts to rumours that she's 'forcing' her husband to love her The incident, which occurred Friday afternoon, started after some students of Atebubu SHS allegedly bribed some of their teachers to help them pass the final West African Senior High School Exams. But some of the teachers reported the development to the headmistress of the school who then seized the monies and vowed to punish the students. The students involved in the scandal got infuriated by the development and started vandalising school properties. The police was called in to help restore calm. READ ALSO: REVEALED: Nana Aba Anamoah's 'baby daddy' impregnated her and said 'it wasn't me' Atebubu Divisional Police commander ACP Kwame Akomeah who confirmed the incident to Starrfmonline.com stated that three students were arrested but authorities of the school pleaded for their release so they could complete their exams. We have arrested three students but their teachers say we should release but promise that anytime we need the students they ensure they are availableso we are releasing them now. ACP Akomeah added that the police officer suffered head injuries and has been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. READ ALSO: Rebecca Akufo-Addo receives Chelsea jersey from Eden Hazard and Chelsea fans are going 'gaga' Check out some of the trending news in Ghana in YEN.com.gh's video below: READ ALSO: He doesn't wear a mask - Insider unveils the identity of the 'real' Anas 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 No prisoner swap for bin Laden hunt doctor: Pakistan Al Jazeera News : Pakistan's foreign ministry has ruled out the possibility of a "prisoner swap" with the United States for Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA track down al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to a compound in the north of the country. The denial came in response to Pakistani media reports that Afridi was either being prepared for a prisoner exchange or was facing security risks, following his recent transfer to a different prison. "I am not aware of any deal regarding Dr Shakil Afridi," said Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Muhammad Faisal at a press briefing on Thursday. "On behalf of [the foreign ministry], I can assure you that he is not being handed over to US." Afridi has been in Pakistani custody since 2011, and was convicted the following year by a tribunal to 33 years in prison for aiding the Lashkar-e-Islam armed group, his lawyer, Qamar Nadeem, told Al Jazeera. Afridi has denied the charges and is in the process of appealing the verdict. His sentence was reduced to 23 years in 2014, his lawyer said. No charges have been brought against him regarding his aiding the CIA in administering fake vaccinations to members of bin Laden's family in the northern city of Abbottabad in order to confirm their identities. Youth dies after hit by pickup van Chattogram Bureau : A youth died after a pickup van hit him in Bhatiary area of Dhaka-Chattogram Highway under Sitakunda Upazila early : Wednesday. The youth was identified as Rabiul Islam Ledu, 25, son of Saleh Ahmed, hailed from Rajakhali area under Baklia thana in the city. A speeding pickup van ran over Ledu in Bhatiary area while he was returning to his residence after visiting the Boro Aulia shrine on the occasion of holy Shab-e-Barat, said Alauddin Talukder, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Chittagong Medical College Police Outpost.He was rushed to CMCH, where the attending doctors declared him dead. Wrong-doers be asked to explain first Appellate Division (Civil) : Md Abdul Wahhab Miah J Syed Mahmud Hossain J Md Imman Ali J Hasan Foez Siddique J Mirza Hussain Haider J Government of Bangladesh and others.....Pettioners vs Md Babul Howlader and others.........Respondents Judgment October 4th, 2017 Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972 Article 102(2) The authority is bound to identify any wrong doing on the part of any individual and to seek his explanation before cancelling appointment letter. The High Court Division rightly observed that the authority is always at liberty to take action against any individual who either suppressed any material information and/or took recourse to fraud or forgery in obtaining the appointment. We are fully in agreement with such observation and would not wish to condone any fraudulent or illegal activity on the part of the writ petitioners in obtaining their appointment. However, the authority is bound to identify any wrong doing on the part of any individual and to seek his explanation before cancelling his appointment letter. . ..... (11) University of Dhaka vs Zakir Ahmed, 16 DLR (SC) 722 ref. Ekramul Haque Deputy Attorney-General instructed by Haridas Paul Advocate-on- Record-For the Petitioners. Mahbub Ali Senior Advocate. instructed by Syed Mahbubar Rahman Advocate-on-Record-For Respondent No.2. None Represented -Respondent Nos. 1, 3-215. Judgment Md Imman Ali J : This civil petition for leave to appeal is directed against the judgement and order dated 22-8-2016 passed by the High Court Division in Writ Petition No, 1363 of 2016 disposing of the Rule. 2. The facts of the case, in brief, are that all the writ petitioners came out successful in the recruitment of 3rd and 4th class employees of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital, Barisal and upon appointment by the Medical College, joined and are performing their functions under the authority concerned in different posts. They were recruited vide appointment letters dated 1-12-015, 9-12-2015 and 10-12-2015 respectively. Writ petitioner No. 1 joined as Stenographer-cum-Computer Operator, writ petitioner No. 2 joined as Steno Typist-cum-Computer Operator, writ petitioner No. 3 joined as Photographer, writ petitioner No.4 joined as Instrument Technician, writ petitioner Nos. 5 and 6 joined as Medical Record Keeper, writ petitioner Nos. 7 and 8 joined as Telephone Operator, writ, petitioner No. 9 joined as Instrument Caretaker (ICT), writ petitioner No. 10 joined as Driver, writ petitioner Nos. 11-15 joined as Office Assistant (MLSS) Computer Operator, writ petitioner Nos. 16-20 joined as Electrician/Liftman/Mechanic, writ petitioner Nos. 21-124 joined as Office Assistant (MLSS), writ petitioner Nos. 125-128 joined as Security Guard, writ petitioner Nos. 129-143 joined as Cook and writ petitioner Nos. 144-2 15 joined as Cleaner under respondent No.4 and pursuant to their joining report, they have been discharging their duties with the satisfaction of the authority concerned. The Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare writ respondent No.3, issued a circular on 21-5-2013 to recruit 172 (one hundred and seventy two)3rd and 4th class employees in the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital, Barisal for different posts namely Stenographer-cum Computer Operator, Stenotypist-cum-Computer Operator, Photographer, Instrument Technician. Office Assistant-cum-Computer Typist, Medical Record Keeper, Telephone Operator, Driver. Electrician, Instrument Caretaker (lCT), Office Assistant (MLSS), Guard, Cleaner and Cook. Later on, the time limit for recruitment of the said 172 posts was extended several) times on 21-4-2014, 21-9-2014, 6-11-2014, 12-5-2015 and lastly on 12-11-2015. The said recruitment circular was also published in the Daily Samakal on 22-9-2014 and in the Financial Express on 23-9-2014 (annexure-A, A-I, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7). In addition to the above stated 172 sanctioned posts, the Deputy Secretary (Administration). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare supplemented the said recruitment circular on 27-4-2015 and proposed to recruit a further 54 (fifty four) 3rd and. 4th Class employees in the post of Office Assistant, Cook, Cleaner and Security Guard on top of the earlier 172 posts in the Shcr-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital and after this circular, the total number of posts to be recruited was increased to 226. (annexure-B). All writ petitioners applied against their respective posts and submitted their applications to the concerned authorities within the time frame as stipulated in the said recruitment circular. Thereafter, the applicants sat the written tests and attended the viva voce as necessary and in due course they received their appointment letters and all the writ petitioners joined in their respective posts by respective joining reports to writ respondent No.5 within the time frame set in the appointment letters (annexure-G Series). All the writ petitioners were appointed after complying all the necessary formalities and after joining, they have been discharging their duties and responsibilities with due diligence and to the satisfaction of the authority and they have been signing in their daily registrar as per Service Rules (annexure-II Series). While the writ petitioners were working in their respective posts, suddenly, the Deputy Secretary, Par-2, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, writ respondent No. 2, issued a letter to the Director and Chairman, Recruitment Committee, writ respondent No. 5, on 18-1-2016 stating that from different sources and, on a preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that there was corruption in the recruitment of 3rd and 4th class employees who joined against the said circular and asked the Notice recipient No. 3 to stop giving financial benefits to the employees who joined against the said recruitment circular and further asked to stop receiving appointment letter of any employees who are yet to join against the said recruitment. The said letter has not been forwarded to the writ petitioners, rather the writ petitioners obtained a copy of the same from the official of writ respondent No. 4. The said order is impugned in the instant writ petition. It is, stated that before passing the impugned order, no notice was ever been served upon the writ petitioners and they were never heard and no inquiry was held, thus the order is violative of the principle of natural justice. The writ petitioners having joined pursuant, to the appointment letters have a legitimate expectation that they will be allowed to work in their appointed posts. 3. Writ respondent No. 2 contested the Rule by filing affidavit-in-opposition contending, inter alia that after getting' information, from writ respondent No.1 regarding fraud and irregularity in connection with the appointment of 3rd and 4th class employees of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barisal, the concerned Ministry formed a 3 member Enquiry Committee, headed by a Joint Secretary for holding enquiry. The said Enquiry Committee submitted a report on 12-1-2016 stating that a gigantic, fraud/irregularity had been committed by the appointing authority and accordingly writ respondent No. 2 stayed the appointment procedure by the impugned Memo No. 45.143. 027.00.00.001.2015-60 dated 18-1-2016. It is stated that as per the report of the said enquiry committee the concerned authority has started departmental preceding against the persons who were involved with the said fraud/irregularity in connection with appointment procedure. 4. In due course after hearing both the parties, by the impugned judgement and order the said Rule Nisi issued, by the High Court Division was disposed of declaring the impugned memos to have been made without lawful authority and of no legal effect. Hence, the writ respondents are now before us having, filed the instant civil petition for leave to appeal. (To be continued) 5. Mr, Ekrarnul Haque, learned Deputy Attorney-General appearing on behalf of the petitioners submitted that the appointing authority from, the very beginning has been committing fraud/irregularities. with the appointment process of the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital Barisal and those were proved by the Enquiry Committee and writ respondent No. 1 as per Article 18 of the appointment Circular, issued the impugned Memo No. 45.143.027.00.001.2015-60 dated 18-1-2016 and as such the issuance of the said Memo is absolutely legal and lawful and the High Court Division without considering the same passed the impugned judgment and order which is liable to be set aside. He further submitted that after scrutiny of the said enquiry report it is clear that a gigantic fraud/irregularity has been committed by the appointing authority and accordingly writ respondent No. 2 stayed the appointment procedure by the impugned Memo No. 45.143.027.00.00.001.2015-60 dated 18-1-2016 and the High Court Division without considering the same passed the impugned judgement and order which is liable to be set aside. He submitted that after getting information from writ respondent No. 1 regarding fraud and irregularity in connection with appointment of 3rd and 4th class employees of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barisal, the concerned Ministry framed a 3 member enquiry committee for holding enquiry. The said enquiry committee visited the said hospital and collected evidence from the appointment committee and scrutinized all the papers/documents, oral evidence and submitted a report on 12-1-2016 and the allegations having been proved beyond reasonable doubt the appropriate authority passed the impugned Memo but the High Court Division without considering the same disposed of the writ petition which being not maintainable the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside. 6. Mr Mahbub Ali, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the respondent No. 2 made submission in support of the impugned judgement and order of the High Court Division. 7. We have considered the submissions of the learned Advocate appearing for the parties concerned, perused the impugned judgement of the High Court Division and other connected papers on record. 8. The writ petitioners in response to advertisement applied for the jobs advertised and having gone through the process of application, after sitting in written examination/viva voce interview they were issued appointment letters and many of them commenced working after submitting joining letters. Admittedly, the impugned memo was issued preventing those who had not yet joined from joining and those who had joined from continuing their service. It is also apparent that no opportunity was given to any of the writ petitioners to be heard. 9. The High Court Division observed that no show cause notice was issued against the allegations made against the writ petitioners although the inquiry report mentioned that there were serious allegations against some of them. Referring to the decision in the case of University of Dhaka vs Zakir Ahmed reported in 16 DLR (SC) 722, the High Court Division observed that the writ petitioners have every right to be heard. 10. Our considered view is that the writ petitioners having been issued appointment letters could not be whimsically deprived of their hard-earned opportunity of earning a livelihood without being told the reason for the cancellation of their appointment letters. 11. The High Court Division rightly observed that the authority is always at liberty to take action against any individual who either suppressed any material information and/or took recourse to fraud or forgery in obtaining the appointment. We are fully in agreement with such observation and would not wish to condone any fraudulent or illegal activity on the part of the writ petitioners in obtaining their appointment. However, the authority is bound to identify any wrong doing on the part of any individual and to seek his explanation before cancelling his appointment letter. 12. In view of the discussion above, we do not find any illegality or impropriety in the impugned judgement and order of the High Court Division. Accordingly, the civil petition for leave to appeal is dismissed. Farhana Mili, Urmila together in serial Sheikh Arif Bulbon : Farhana Mili and Urmila Srabonti Kar are two popular faces in the small screen. Though they have been working in media but could not get the scope to share the screen together. Mili has been acting in role of Joba in Noim Imtiaz Neyamuls serial Kagojer Phul for many days. In the serial, a new role Kushum will be seen by the viewers where Urmila acted in that role. Recently both Mili and Urmila took part in shooting of the serial at Sarkar Bari in Pubail, Gazipur. For the first time they worked together. Mir Sabbir, Saju Khadem, Rashed Mamun Apu and Swagota were also present during shooting of the serial as their co-actors. Mir Sabbir is acting against Urmila in the serial. While talking about acting with Urmila for the first time Farhana Mili told this correspondent, Earlier I watched Urmilas acted works. In fact, earlier I couldnt get the scope to work with her. Kagojer Phul serial is my first work with her. Recently we took part in two scenes of the serial. I felt comfortable to work with her. I could not get the scope to take part in gossiping with her. Earlier I had no idea about Urmila as a person. While working with her I could realize she is a good human being. Urmila shared her feelings by this way, It was my first work with Mili Apu on that day. I like her as a good actress. All kinds of necessary qualities of a full-fledged actress in her. I really enjoy working with her. Farhana Mili has already started shooting of Eid works. She has finished shooting of a play against Mosharraf Karim. Therefore, she has been also acting in Shahins serial Sonabhan and Sanjit Sarkars Mojnu Ekjon Pagol Nohey. Monpura is Mili acted only movie. But later she did not see to act in any other movie till now. On the other hand, Urmila is now staying Chattagram to attend her two friends wedding ceremonies. From there she will return to Dhaka on May 6. Later from May 8 she will start shooting, Urmila said. Spl tribunal to try crimes against children urged UNB, Dhaka : Kendrio Khelaghar Ashor, a national children's organisation, on Friday demanded forming a special tribunal to speedily try the perpetrators of the killings of children and violence against them across the country. The organisation made the demand from a human chain formed in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the morning, marking its 66th founding anniversary. Speaking on the occasion, Khelaghar General Secretary Jahirul Islam Jahir urged the government to create awareness and take stern actions against the perpetrators to stop violence against children. Researcher Dr Abu Sayeed demanded ensuring a safe and secure environment for the children. Presiding over the human chain, Khelaghar Chairperson Prof Mahfuza Khanam said children are being killed and exploited every day across the country. Presidium members of the organisation Dr Kazi Mozammel Hossain, Laila Hasan and Mokhlesur Rahman Sagar also spoke on the occasion. Five more gunned down : Revenge killings tense hills Five people were killed and nine others injured in a gun attack on a motorcade of the followers of slain Naniarchar Upazila Parishad Chairman Shaktiman Chakma at Betchhari Upazila in Rangamati. The victims were targeted in the funeral of slain Upazila Par Staff Reporter : Five revenge killing took place in brush fire yesterday from the funeral procession of Advocate Shaktiman Chakma, chairman of Naniarchar Upazila Parishad of Rangamati of Chittagong Hill Tracts, who was killed by miscreant on Thursday. Seven others were also injured in the fire. It was a highly charged political killing as a sequence of rivalry between Parbattya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samity and United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) in their bid to maintain control over local body politics. A similar killing of a Union Parishad chairman at Norshingdhi; who was six times elected popular chairman in the area has also left the situation highly tense as people fear retaliatory attack on the rivals any time. Sensational political killings are making many to fear about their safety all over the country as the law and order situation is rapidly deteriorating. At Naniarchar Upazila five were killed in brush fire on Friday morning when people were taking the body of Shaktiman Chakma to the funeral site for cremation. His supporters opened brush at a microbus from the funeral procession. The five deceased have been identified as Tapan Jyoti Chakma alias Barma (40), Setulal Chakma (41) Kanak Chakma (38) and Sujon Chakma (30) of Mahalchhari, and Bengali Sajib (34), a microbus driver of Khagrachharhi's Panchharhi. The seven injured are Jeevan Chakma (30), Orchin Chakma (28), Arjun Chakma (30) and Mihir Chakmaar (28) were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital due to their critical condition. "The assailants opened fire indiscriminately at a microbus by which the victims were travelling to Naniarchar" said Md Jahangir Alam, assistant superintendent of police (sadar circle) in Rangamati. OC of Naniarchar police station Abdul Latif said that the attack took place at Beetchhari area around 12pm. Eyewitnesses said the victims were also going to attend the funeral of Shaktiman Chakma as his well wishers but his supporters acted to take revenge. The miscreants opened the attack before reaching funeral spot at the area on the Rangamati-Khagrachari border in Beetchari area. The attackers first fired at the microbus driver Sajeeb. When the driver was shot, the car turned down. Then the miscreants simultaneously fired on the passengers of the microbus. On the spot, UPDF (democratic) chief Tapan Jyoti Chakma alias Barma, Kanak Chakma and Sujan Chakma were killed. Their bodies were taken to Rangamati Sadar Hospital, police said. On the other hand, the rest were taken to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital where driver Sajib and Setu Lal Chakma died. Their bodies were kept in the hospital. Naniarkar OC Abdul Latif said, the police and army personnel reached the spot after the attack and rescued the injured and took them to the hospital. He said that three of the dead were killed in the scene and the driver and another died at Khagrachari district hospital. On Thursday morning, Shaktiman Chakma was shot dead by miscreants while going to office. He deserted Chittagong Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samity in 2010 under the leadership of Santu Larma and joined a new group named Chittagong Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samity (MN Larma). The reformist leader was the vice-president of the organization's central committee. OIC plans strong role in tackling Rohingya crisis Ambassador Hesham Youssef, Assistant Secretary General for Cultural, Family and Humanitarian Affairs of the OIC speaking at a press conference after visiting Rohingya camps in Kutupalong on Friday. Staff Reporter : The 45th meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Minister (CFM) will open at Bangbandhu International Conference Center in the city on Saturday morning. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two-day event to be attended by over 550 delegates of 52 member states out of 56. Twenty-seven foreign ministers and 12 state ministers are expected to take part in the conference. Designated envoys will represent the remaining countries in the conference. Diplomatic sources said, the OIC Foreign Ministers meeting is taking place in Bangladesh in the back to back visit by 15 members UN Security Council. Sources said, Rohingya issue is now in global spotlight and would be a top agenda for discussion with a designated session on "Humanitarian Challenges in the OIC Member States with a special focus on the humanitarian situation of the Rohingyas Muslims" Dhaka believes that the OIC Foreign Ministers meeting here will be able to mount pressure on Myanmar and the international community to find a sustainable way to resolve the Rohingya crisis. The OIC was unable to make strong response to the Rohingya crisis until now, but its Asst Secretary General Hashim Yousuf yesterday said in Dhaka that the organization will play a vigorous role from now in collaboration with other international organizations to force Myanmar to take back the refugees now over 1.1 million in Bangladesh. Moreover the issue of Palestine, challenges facing the Muslim Ummah like conflicts, divisions, tension and instability will be at the center of the Dhaka meeting, Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali said. Moreover, terrorism, extremism, sectarian violence; hatred, prejudice and Islamophobia would be on the table for discussion when the Muslims all over the world are facing such problems from within and outside. Canada is sending a delegation to be led by its Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. Foireign Minister of Germany and Sweden were also invited, but they are not coming for their busy schedules otherwise. The theme of this year's CFM conference is "Islamic Values for Sustainable Peace, Solidarity and Development." This is the second time that Bangladesh is hosting a CFM after holding the first in 1983. After this meeting Bangladesh will become the chair of OIC Foreign Ministers Council taking over the responsibility from Ivory Coast for next one year. Election should be free and fair; there is no room for compromise Staff Reporter : Participants at a meeting on Friday in the city to exchange views on the country's ongoing political situation said no one would be able to make dictatorship permanent in this country. They said it's a matter of sorrow that they have to give call for a united movement for restoration of democracy after 46 years of the country's independence. They also said the next parliamentary election should be fair by all means. There is no option to compromise. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) arranged the meeting titled 'the rule of law and democracy' at the South Hall of the Supreme Court bar building in the city yesterday. Advocate Zainul Abedin, President of the SCBA was in the chair while veteran lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain was the lead discussant in the event. Former President of SCBA Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Senior journalist Dr Mahfuzullah, Convener of Nagarik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dr Shahdeen Malik, Professor Dr Asif Nazrul, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury were among others who spoke on the occasion. Suprme Court Bar Secretary Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan conducted the meeting. Senior lawyer Barrister Mainul Hosein sent a written statement in the meeting, as he could not attend it for being out of the country. Barrister Khokan read the statement at the meeting. Dr Kamal Hossain said, "No one can be able to make dictatorship permanent in this country. This is my firm belief. We have proved it many times. It's sad that we have to give call for a united movement again after 46 years of independence and we have to take the preparation for it. Election should be fair. We have found this Constitution with a high cost. So, there is no option to compromise." "Do not forget the contribution of the Supreme Court. The biggest experience of my life is the lawyers' movement against the autocratic regime of H M Ershad. We went to every district. We did break the court. The lawyers of Bangladesh have proved many times that they have played a leading and commendable role in the movements against injustice." Dr Kamal added. "Let us make sure that we all unite in favor of a free and fair election disregarding who come from which party. And we have to play as a watchdog. This election will not be like the election of January 5 in 2014," he said. Advocate Zainul Abedin said, "The reality is that the lower judiciary of the country is under the control of the government. The lower courts operate in directions of the government. We are afraid of this. It seems that the Supreme Court is also under their control. There is doubt whether the people of the country can depend on the Supreme Court. The lawyers' society is afraid after a former Chief Justice was forced to leave the country." Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain said, "There is no possibility to hold a free and fair election under a dictator. But a fair election is very important to establish democracy and to give people the right to vote. We all have to work in the field to establish the rule of law and democracy. Let us unite for the establishment of the democracy. The United Front was formed in 1954 to establish the right of the people. Now we have only one issue to regain the rule of law in the country." In the written statement, Barrister Mainul Hosein presented a revised outline of the election-time caretaker government which will be formed by the President in consultation with the major political parties. Barrister Mainul warned that no election-time government will be like taking over power unconstitutionally and the offence will be grave. Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, "There is no rule of law in the country. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not have been punished if there is rule of law. It is injustice that Khaleda Zia is in jail and it is more injustice that she is not being fairly treated." Professor Asif Nazrul said, "People had organized united movement even when misrule and anarchy were less than the present time. How much injustice we need to call for united resistance, he wondered saying he cannot understand why our political leaders, lawyers and journalists are not able to agree to a united movement to form a people's government. How much ruin we will have to see?" FTAs likely with trade partners, Asian countries Kazi Zahidul Hasan : Bangladesh has taken initiatives to sign free trade agreements (FTAs) with a number of countries in order to overcome challenges in its export arena after getting out of LDC block by 2024. As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Bangladesh gets duty-free market access to European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan and some other countries. But the country will not be able to enjoy the preferential trade benefit after its graduation from the LDC status. "Bangladesh may lose duty-free facilities once it becomes a developing country. The development will erode competitiveness of local commodities sending the export sector at risk," a senior Commerce Ministry official (FTA Cell) told The New Nation yesterday wishing to be anonymous. "To overcome the challenge, FTAs will be the best option." In this context, he said, Bangladesh has taken the initiatives to sign FTAs with its key trade partners and several Asian countries, including China, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia Sri Lanka and Nepal. He said even the Government of Bangladesh is working hard to get GSP plus status from the European Union. As a least-developed country, Bangladesh has been enjoying zero-duty benefit to the EU under its everything, but Arms scheme since 1971. But once it becomes a developing country, Bangladesh will no longer be eligible for the privilege. When asked, the Commerce Ministry official said, "Bangladesh may sign the first ever FTA with Sri Lanka. It has been negotiating the FTA with the country since 2013. The deal will be signed as soon as possible." "We're also actively considering signing a FTA with the USA, the single largest export market for Bangladesh. The issue will put in place at the next TICFA talks between Bangladesh and the USA," he noted. Bangladesh shipped goods worth US$ 5.84 billion to the US market in the last fiscal (2016-17), which accounted for nearly 17 per cent of its total exports. Trade analyst earlier feared that Bangladesh was likely to lose about $2.7 billion in export earnings every year once it graduates from the LDC bracket. They said Bangladesh's exports now enjoyed preferential access of varying degrees to markets of more than 40 countries. But exports will face an additional 6.7 per cent tariff once it leaves the LDC status leading to fall by 5.5-7.5 per cent as a result of withdrawal of preferential access. "Without FTAs, Bangladesh will lose competitive advantages to other countries where its exports continue to grow over the years," said the Commerce Ministry official, "If Bangladesh can negotiate fruitful FTA deals with its key regional and continental trade partners, it will ultimately have no problem in leaving the LDC bloc." So, the government is focusing on singing bilateral FTA deals with countries and nations to keep intact Bangladesh's export markets during post-LDC era. BNP collecting city polls` irregularities Those to be presented to media, dev partners A terribly dilapidated condition of a road in Kolatia area in South Keraniganj. This photo was taken on Friday. Reza Mahmud : The BNP is collecting all the irregularities that are taking place in the Khulna and Gazipur city corporations' elections to present those before the media and development partners to create pressure for fair general polls. "We have landed in Dhaka now after visiting Khulna City Corporation for ten days. There is no level playing field in Khulna. The same thing we have found in Gazipur. The police are arresting BNP men and making obstacles to the party's mayoral candidate's campaigns," BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy told The New Nation on Friday. He said the law enforcers have arrested 19 vital leaders in Khulna who are reliable for our mayor candidate's campaign without any acceptable reason. But the Election Commission is ignoring the BNP's allegations in this regard. It is also avoiding the BNP's allegations against the ruling Awami League candidates' irregularities and police administration's partisan steps in the both cities. Gayeshwar Chandra Roy along with other leaders from BNP and its 20-party alliance took part in the Khulna City Corporation polls campaign for their party nominated mayor candidate Nazrul Islam Monju for ten days till Thursday. During the period, they also collected evidences of every action taken by the police administration and the EC. Gayeshwar said, other leaders of the party also joined Gazipur City Corporation polls' campaign in several times in favour of the party nominated mayor candidate Hasan Uddin Sarker. They also are collected evidences besides taking part of the campaigns. When contacted, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday told The New Nation, "We have been collecting all the evidences about the serious irregularities of the ruling party and the administration during the ongoing campaign of the Gazipur and Khulna city corporation polls. We are also taking evidences about the EC's ignorance regarding the BNP candidates' allegations. All the evidences will be submitted before the nation as well as we will expose those before media frequently." He said, the EC claimed that they are ready to hold the next general elections in a free, fair and neutral manner. Senior leaders of the party said, they are taking the city polls as a test case for the EC as well for the government. They said the BNP always found the Awami League government not pro- democratic force, especially during any polls. But they want to see how the ruling party plays its role in the city polls ahead of the national election. The party leaders said they have taken part in the city polls for three vital reasons. Firstly, to prove the party's popularity if the election is held in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere. Secondly, to observe the ruling party and the EC's attitude in the city polls to asses their motives about the next general election. Thirdly, to point out the government and the EC's irregularities in holding the city polls. Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said, "What we found in Khulna, most of the voters are in favour of BNP candidate. If the EC and the government can hold a fair poll then there is no reason to defeat of Monju." He said, if the EC fails to hold fair polls in the two city corporations the people of the country will not accept it. They then must demand to form a new and neutral EC for a fair national election. The senior leaders of the party also sat in a meeting at its chairperson's Gulshan office on Friday afternoon. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the meeting. They discussed various strategies on forthcoming city polls. They also discussed the ongoing movement to free its chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail. Cops see previous enmity with family! Prime suspect Adnan denies his involvement Md Joynal Abedin Khan : The investigators of the murder case of Tasfia Amin have suspected that the prior enmity with the family might be the cause of killing of the schoolgirl. The members of law enforcing agencies raised the initial suspicion after getting the family history of Tasfia. The investigators have collected several video footages from different places where Tasfia, her family members and the prime suspect Adnan Mirza moved on the very fateful day and its previous days, Md Zahedul Islam, Supervisor of the case and Assistant Commissioner (Karnaphuli zone) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), told The New Nation on Friday evening. We have grilled Adnan at police custody for about 20 hours but he did not confess his involvement either with the killing or her body recovery, the police official said. Police also interrogated several other persons in connection with the incident and initially gathered the idea that the prior enmity with the family of Tasfia might be the cause of the murder, the AC said. In a query, the police official said, "Tasfia's father Mohammad Amin is a businessman. He changed his political ideology in 2015 and claimed himself as the influential leader of the ruling party front organization Jubo Leauge." "Earlier, he was arrested with arms in 2011 and 2013 respectively. His illegal arms business also might have created enmity with local goons that caused for murder," he said. "We are investigating the incident centering the video footage, mobile records, inquest report and family background of Tafia," he added. Earlier, a case was filed accusing six persons, including Adnan Mirza, over the murder of schoolgirl Tasfia Amin in Chattogram. Victim's father Mohammad Amin filed the case with Patenga Police Station on Thursday afternoon. Adnan was sent to jail after producing in the court. He will be taken to the court during the hearing of the remand plea on Sunday. On Wednesday morning, Patenga police recovered the body of Tasfia Amin, 16, a ninth grade student of Sunshine School and College, from Patenga sea beach. Later in the day, police detained victim's friend Adnan Mirza, 16, ninth grade student of Bangladesh Elementary School and son of one Iskandar Mirza from Jalalabad housing society area of Chittagong city. Her boy friend Adnan Mirza was picked up for interrogation soon after the body was recovered. "She was missing since Tuesday evening," our Chattogram correspondent reports quoting Abul Kashem, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Patenga Police Station. "Locals spotted the body of Tasfia on the concrete block at Sea Beach's area of Ghat No: 18 yesterday morning and informed police," said OC Abul Kashem, adding that her father and uncle identified the body. Quoting the father, the OC said she went out from her residence Tuesday evening and since then she was traceless. "Her mobile phone was found beside the body but it had no SIM card," the OC said, adding that an injury mark was found on her forehead. Yes, the decision belongs on the local level No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks Vote View Results As per my earlier blog post, I had arranged with Lise Liu to wear a qi pao/cheongsam to take on the role of an imaginary woman looking ... Left:Former BLP leader Owen Arthur will not be seen in RED for this election (Photo Credit: RJR) Right:Mia Mottley has done her best to shift the focus away from her becoming Prime Minister on to the issue affecting Barbados. (Photo Credit: Advocate) Focus on saving Barbados, not on electing its first female prime minister. That is the advice that Mai Mottley, Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is impressing upon her partys supporters and the electorate of that country. She made this clear last Saturday, as she addressed her partys annual Heroes Day picnic to celebrate the birthday of party founder Sir Grantley Adams, at Barclays Park along the Ermy Bourne Highway, St Andrew, Barbados. "The history to be made is not about me being the first female Prime Minister. The history that is going to be made and that matters, is about Barbadians coming to pull back their country and doing what people believe cant be done, she said. Encouraged by the massive turnout party members and supporters, the clear majority dressed in red, the colour of the BLP, Mottley impressed the partys position on a number of issues affecting Barbadians. Not least among these was her partys position against the National Social Responsibility Levy and tuition fees being introduced to students at the University of the West Indies. "I want to do right by the people in this country, but we can only do so by joining forces. I want to see Barbados prosper, with all the bush along this coast removed . . . and without the sargassum on our beaches. Give me and my team this one and we will earn the rest, Mottley promised. Missing from the gathering would have been Owen Arthur who, in July 2014, resigned as a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) which he led as Prime Minister for 14 years. Arthur led the party to defeat in the 2013 general election, but retained his parliamentary seat in the constituency of St Peter. He remained in parliament as an independent member until his term of office came to an end in this year. (Source: NationNews, Jamaica Observer) Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, lawyer for the Morgans, gave early indication that the Morgans would appeal their conviction and sentence. by HAYDN HUGGINS Kay Bacchus- Baptiste, Attorney for Pastor Nigel Morgan, his wife Althia and their daughter Crystal, confirmed to THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, that she was in the process of preparing an appeal to be filed on behalf of her clients, against their conviction and sentence for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Caruth villager Cuthbert Victory. Bacchus-Baptiste pointed out that the defendants are entitled to apply for bail, pending the outcome of the appeal. Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett, sitting at the Kingstown Magistrates Court on Monday, convicted and sentenced the Morgans to four years each in prison. The conviction stemmed from an incident at Hopewell on April 9, 2016, in which Victory was severely burnt with boiling water. The lawyer said that, while she was bound by the Courts decision, she is of the view that, based on the evidence, the conviction was unsafe. She also thinks that the sentence was harsh and excessive. "The prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, but I am not satisfied that the prosecution, in this matter, reached that standard of proof, because of the grave inconsistencies in their evidence, Bacchus-Baptiste said. A difficult case Bacchus-Baptiste admitted that the case had always been a difficult one. "The pre-trial publicity made it even more difficult, so it was always an uphill battle. She added that she was even maligned for representing the Morgans, and some persons saw it fit to make politics an issue. But the lawyer made it clear that she was a professional, and had taken an oath to defend her clients to the best of her ability. "I am not interested in what political party they support. The constitution says that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty, and they have a right to get the best defense. "I am sure that any member of the public would want somebody like me on their side, because I do my job fearlessly, thoroughly, and to the best of my ability, and I am satisfied that I gave the Morgans the best, the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) senator explained. The lawyer indicated that the appeal should have been filed by today, (Friday). H.E Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation for UAE and Sir Louis Straker signed a visa waiver agreement, which comes nine years after SVG established diplomatic relations with that country. Vincentians no longer require a visa if they wish to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On Wednesday, H.E Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation UAE, and Sir Louis Straker, SVGs Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed a visa waiver agreement. Addressing the media preceding the signing, Al Hashimy said that she was pleased to be able to learn about and explore some of the on-going projects being undertaken by the government of SVG.. She said that there was a tremendous amount of respect for St Vincent and the Grenadines and the role it plays within CARICOM. "We look to you not only as a friendly country, but one with significant influence, Al Hashimy said. She continued, saying that her government was keen on not only establishing government to government relations, but people to people relations. The signing of the waiver agreement was seen as a step in this direction. "One may wonder why we are here. we are here to continue to build bridges, she said, and disclosed that her government was interested in assisting SVG in a number of areas, including tourism and education. The UAE will be hosting an exposition in 2020 and the Special Olympics in 2019, and according to Al Hashimy, this was being done not only for the benefit of her country, but for the rest of the world. Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, also present at the signing ceremony, said that the significance of the event was not only the benefit of easy travel to the UAE but was an important step in the people to people dialogue. The next step, he said, would be for both countries to appoint honorary consuls a process that is expected to begin shortly. Discussions with the five-member UAE delegation, according to the Prime Minister, focused on an investor programme, particularly in the hotel industry, agreements concerning economic cooperation and culture. During the visit, Al Hashimy pledged another USD500,000 to the zero-hunger fund matching an amount given last year. H.E Baroness Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary General, spoke of the need for countries to access funding from the Green Fund. Even though 31 of the 53 Commonwealth member states were identified as "small states and they faced the existential threat of climate change, small island states are not availing themselves of the billions of dollars set aside in the Commonwealths Green Fund, a fund established to finance climate change projects. H.E Baroness Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, said, during a recent visit here, that this is because the expertise or ability does not exist to make claims. There are billions of dollars available under the Fund which was made operational in 2016. Jamaica has been credited as being among the first to have submitted two applications. It was announced earlier this year by that countrys National Climate Financial Advisor, Katherine Blackman, that a grant valued at $582,000 was secured in support of low carbon, climate resilience growth project, and was the second application submitted for that Commonwealth member state. It is anticipated that the funding will be used to host a national consultation with micro, small and medium enterprises, conduct a regional study and action plan, deliver training in project concept development and support accreditation of regional private sector entities. H.E Scotland explained that the Commonwealths Climate Finance Access Hub was set up to help countries untangle the red tape around climate financing, and make successful applications to the international funds that address climate change. The Hub is located in Mauritius with spokes in each region. The spoke for the Caribbean is located in Belize, and advisors are assigned to countries seeking assistance. Climate change H.E Scotland stressed that the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting London, April 16 16, addressed the issue of climate change with much seriousness. She noted that indications are that the next hurricane season is likely to be as bad, or worse than last years, "so how can we prepare for that? "Together during the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting, we not only endorse the approach which is the regenerative development approach for climate change, but we also came up with a blue charter. A charter that identifies the things that we together will have to do to keep our oceans healthy, H.E Scotland said. The situation was serious in that Hurricane Maria was a category 1 storm when it left Barbados, but became a category 5 within hours, devastating countries such as Dominica. "We are therefore determined to work together to make a difference by creating a vulnerability index, she said. "We are looking at building back better and how we get real toolkits to make that happen. The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) has announced the winners of this years global Blockchain Challenge. Irelands AID Tech came in first, while the UAEs Smart Crowd and the USAs Codex rounded up the top 3 winners from the 17 finalists that will receive a total of $45,000 for the exceptional Blockchain solutions presented in the challenge, supporting the strategy that aims to make Dubai the first blockchain-powered city within two years. They will also have the opportunity to network with the right government stakeholders and potentially develop their ideas further in Dubai. The Blockchain Challenge followed on from last years successful inaugural activity, with the latest instalment attracting 200 applications from companies in 85 cities across 44 countries. The contest was conceived to find the most promising blockchain solutions from the private sector that can assist in the implementation of the Dubai Blockchain Strategy. Announced in October 2016 by SDO and the Dubai Future Foundation, the strategy has the objective of making Dubai government paperwork transactions redundant by ensuring that blockchain is adopted across all its applicable services. The global Blockchain Challenge is an important empowerment activity that harnesses the entrepreneurship skills of the private sector achieve Dubais ambition of being an industry leader in Blockchain and establishing a Blockchain run ecosystem in the city. We congratulate the three winners of this years 17 finalists, who came from 17 cities across 14 countries - a statistic that reflects the truly global allure that this competition has generated in the two years it has been running, said Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, SDO director general. The 17 selected lead proposals in the second Dubai Blockchain Challenge covered 16 industries, with the finalists undertaking training with technology start-up organization Union, followed by the pitching of their concepts to an audience of government leaders, investors and experts from private and public institutions. The trio of winners was announced at the Blockchain Challenge Presentation and Awarding Ceremony, which took place within the Future Blockchain Summit at DWTC. We are proud of the three winners of this years global Blockchain Challenge, and I would like to thank all the 200 applicants who participated from across the world. Start-up challenges such as the Smart Dubai Blockchain Challenge essential to propel the growth of the Blockchain environment in Dubai. The winning start-ups be introduced to the relevant government partners to help them kick start their blockchain implementation in Dubai helping make the city a global benchmark for Blockchain adoption and implementation, said Wesam Lootah, CEO of the Smart Dubai Government Establishment. The Dubai Blockchain Strategy revolves around three main pillars; increasing government efficiency by transferring 100 per cent of applicable government transactions to blockchain; creating a blockchain industry and ecosystem and becoming global leaders in the advancement of blockchain technology. Over 20 government and private sector Blockchain use cases are currently in the POC phase, some these include renting and buying a property, obtaining non-objections certificates, managing the lifecycle of a vehicle, licensing medical institutions and doctors, obtaining e-prescriptions, enrolling and managing students, and ensuring food safety. TradeArabia News Service The construction of a deep-water part of the Turkish Stream gas pipelines first leg finished on Monday near Turkeys Black Sea coast, Russias energy giant Gazprom was quoted as saying in a media report. The average speed of the construction in the deep-water area, carried out by the Pioneering Spirit vessel, reached 4.3 km per day, Russian news agency Tass reported, noting that the maximum efficiency - 5.6 km per day - was achieved twice this February. The Pioneering Spirit vessel will continue the deep-water construction of the second leg of the gas pipeline in the third quarter of 2018. "The Turkish Stream projects implementation is successfully continuing. An important stage has been achieved - the gas pipelines first leg has been built. The construction rate is high," Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said. Since May 7, 2017 when the construction of Turkish Streams offshore section began, a total of 1,161 km of the gas pipeline or 62 per cent have been constructed, he said. New Delhi (IANS): As Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Rana courted controversy by ordering food from a restaurant instead of eating at a Dalits house, the Congress on Wednesday said the BJP was only indulging in pretence and drama in the name of Dalits. The opposition party also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to stop Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from indulging in such pretence. The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is only indulging in pretence and drama in the name of Dalits, Congress spokesperson Rajeev Shukla said. Support TwoCircles This is a message among the Dalits across the country that the central government is engaged in their destruction. What has happened in Aligarh is a very biggest form of hypocrisy. It is in their nature and then they say that are working for the welfare of the Dalits, he added. The Ministers visit to the Dalit family in Aligarh was part of the BJPs outreach programme for the community. By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net Twelve students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) have been booked under various sections, including the charges of attempt to murder, for protesting against Prof. Royana Singh, the universitys Chief Proctor. The students named in the FIR are Mrityunjay Maurya, Vikas Singh, Shivangi Choubey, Mithilesh Kumar, Garima Yadav, Deepak Singh, Rajat Singh, Anup Kumar, Shashwat Upadhyay, Aparna, Parul Shukla, and Jay Maurya. The charges imposed on the students include the sections 147, 148, 353, 332, 427, 504, 307 and 395 of Indian Penal Code, based on the complaint raised by Proctor Royana Singh. Support TwoCircles The issue dates back to September 2017, when the female students of Banaras Hindu University sat on protest demanding safety after one of the students was molested inside the campus and universitys proctorial board refused to take complaint at the moment. Last week, Zee News came to BHU campus and aired manufactured reports from the university through its much-debated DNA Test which implied that there have been no issues or problems to the girls inside the universitys hostels. The reports aired by Zee News also gave a clean chit to Prof GC Tripathi, the then vice-chancellor of the university, over his actions taken during the September 2017 protests. The reports quoted Prof Royana Singh that protesting girls were being given Pizza and soft drinks by outsiders during September protest. Singh was also quoted saying that JNU people were involved in instigating the protest. University students belonging to Joint Action Committee (JAC) a politico activity student group in BHU went to Singhs office on Thursday to ask her about the proof for her allegations. Divakar Singh, a member of JAC, told TwoCircles.net, We were peacefully protesting but proctor did not come out to meet us. We wanted to ask her if she really meant that asking for girls security in the campus is an outsider issue. But she did not come. There was a door glass which was painted with wooden colour giving false illusion of rge door being made of wood. When one of the members of JAC knocked on that part, it fell down, added Divakar. However, BHU states that the students threw a paperweight to break the glass and hurt the people behind the door, which is why they are named under the section 307, charge which pertains to attempt to murder, a charge with students deny. Prof Royana Singh told TwoCircles.net, The students did try to hurt me and the members present behind the door. It was nothing accidental as they allege, it was purely intentional. I stand by every word I said to Zee News. And I did not help them manufacture a report favoring BHU administration in the case, as the allegations are against me, added Singh. Shivangi Choubey, a graduate student in the university, is also named in the FIR filed on Thursday. Choubey has alleged that someone from the BHU administration, whose name she does not know, called up her parents and they are not talking to her anymore. She said, My father is not talking to me now, and I had a hard time convincing my mother on the issue. They do not know about the FIR, I wonder what will happen when they will know that I have been implicated for attempting to murder someone. However, BHU administration denies the allegation that it has been calling students home. Another range of allegation against BHU is that in Thursdays FIR, a couple of girls have been named who were not in the campus when the incident happened. One of such student Parul Shukla told, I was active in the protest, and I do oppose Royana Singhs version on the matter, but I was not present in BHU on Thursday. I came late night. Most of the students are busy in their semesters examinations at this time of the month. One FIR, that too with section 307, is enough to pull them from their examination desk and put them behind the bars. One would expect a humanitarian approach to such problems, but as Sanjeev Mishra, the SO at Lanka Police Station, said, there is no humanitarian ground when dealing with criminal cases. However, police have assured that any action will be taken only after investigation and gathering proof. The issue of the new Prime Minister of Armenia has been almost solved: three opposition factions, Tsarukyans Block, Yelk and Dashnaktsutyun nominated the Yelk leader, Nikol Pashinyan, and announced their intention to vote for him in the repeat elections on May 8th. The ruling Republican party, in turn, did not nominate its candidate and promised to vote for Pashinyan if he receives at least 35 votes. If all politicians keep their promises, then a transitional period will begin in Armenia, during which the team of Nikol Pashinyan, according to his plans, will change the Electoral Code and prepare the early parliamentary elections so that the RPA could no longer defeat them. However, the expected coming to power of young Yerevan politicians, instead of the old people from the Karabakh clan, poses other threats, first of all, for the foreign policy and economic development of new Armenia. Vestnik Kavkaza spoke about these developments with Aram Manukyan, the deputy chairman of the Armenian National Congress party, with whom Nikol Pashinyan started his political career. - Aram Vigenovich, first of all, do you expect that on May 8th, the opposition, including Tsarukyan's Block, will support Nikol Pashinyan, and the RPA will keep the promise and will vote for him too? - Yes, I'm sure of it. The opposition factions made the corresponding official statements, so if they do not keep their words, they wont be trusted. The stage of uncertainty has already passed. The opposition will support Nikol Pashinyan's candidacy on May 8th, after that the RPA will vote for him, since the head of the faction, Vahram Baghdasaryan, also officially announced the intention of the Republicans not to impede the election of the prime minister. - What changes in Armenia's foreign policy should be expected with the coming to power of Nikol Pashinyan's team? - I think that there will not be any changes. Our people, all the supporters of Pashinyan, people on the streets have a very good attitude towards Russia and do not want any major changes in the foreign policy to take place in one or another direction. Nikol himself in recent days has confirmed the preservation of the traditional foreign policy of the state, and, I am sure when he becomes the head of the state for a while, he will be even more sure that no changes are needed in the country. That is, the changes in Armenia are exclusively internal. I often say that there are so many problems in Armenia that ten revolutions could be headed on their backdrop, not the only current velvet one. What is happening here is not the Ukrainian Maidan, not the Ukrainian Orange Revolution and not the Georgian Rose Revolution, but exclusively an internal process. Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan have done so much that the people took to the streets neither for or against Russia, nor the US and the EU, but against preserving these problems inside the country, no one needs the changes in the foreign policy. I also want to emphasize that no one manages these events from outside, no external players are involved here, the only player is our people. Due to this, we did not have any casualties and clashes, the people have a decisive vote. And Nikol Pashinyan played on it, and played well, used technologies that we had not used before. That is, his victory is pure, and the people resolved its own problems, which were accumulating over twenty years. - How, in that case, can Nikol Pashinyan solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, which has a direct impact on the internal situation in Armenia? - For this, Pashinyan does not yet have the necessary staff. Yes, he has a very high legitimacy, all the people support him and will stand for him, as much as necessary - which, by the way, happened only with Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Serge Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan did not have such a support - but there is no real political team that would have had the necessary experience of working with strategically important state issues, his people have not been represented in the state structures. Therefore, now he will solve a big and difficult personnel question, and only after that, it will be possible to understand how the formed team of Pashinyan will deal with the Karabakh problem. In this regard, again, there will be no big changes in the near future, Pashinyan said that the format of the OSCE Minsk Group and the leading role of Russia in the settlement will remain. I even doubt that his plans now include the search of personnel who are well aware of the Karabakh problematic, but I hope that this will happen, he will bring together good, intelligent people and resume the process. We propose to coordinate the course of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the Armenian National Congress and work for a peaceful solution to the conflict proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group. I hope it will work. - In this case, what are possible scenarios for Armenia's withdrawal from the economic blockade under the new government and expansion of its participation in the regional economic projects? - The way out of the blockade will follow the resolution of the Karabakh issue, and Russia's role is very important. I think that the Russian authorities will accept what has happened in our country and take into account all the negative and positive aspects of these changes and will continue to work with those authorities that are supported by our people, preserving their influence and respect for Armenia. Former lawmaker from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Aghvan Vardanyan who voted against Nikol Pashinyan, the only candidate for prime minister on Tuesday, May 2, has been expelled from the party, the ARF said in a statement on Friday, May 4, PanARMENIAN.Net reports. Vardanyan was the only member of parliament from the ARF who defied party decision and voted against Pashinyan, who, in turn, needed more than half of all the votes - the support of at least 53 lawmakers - to secure the prime ministers spot, but got only 45. Vardanyan had earlier resigned from his parliamentary post. The President of Turkmenistan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Army General Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov conducted a sudden check of the combat readiness of the national army. Early in the morning, on a direct video call, he gave an order to the Secretary of the State Security Council, Defense Minister Yailym Berdiyev to bring the military units of the Armed Forces in the state of the combat readiness in the established order. Then the head of state arrived at one of the training grounds, where the situational center is located. Eight schoolchildren were hospitalized after rehearsals for the festive march dedicated to May 7th in Uralsk, the Health Department of the West Kazakhstan Region reports. The first call to an ambulance was received today at 9.12 am from a teacher who reported a child received a head injury. When the doctors arrived at the emergency site, other children began to complain feeling dizzy. "As a result, one child was hospitalised with a closed craniocerebral trauma, and seven more students were diagnosed with fatigue and taken to the regional multipurpose children's hospital, Sputnik Kazakhstan quotes spokeswoman for the health department Aynagul Sakpusunova as saying. Representatives of the fashion industry from different countries gathered in Tbilisi for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The event lasts several days after the end of the Tbilisi Fashion Week. An important event of the first day of the Fashion Week was a meeting of local designers with one of the most successful Russian designers, Gosha Rubchinsky, in the Basiani club. He shared his experience, told about his collections, brand name and further plans. The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, called the development of cooperation with Russia and other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) one of the main tasks of the republic's leadership. After taking the presidential office, I spent much time working to strengthen the relations with the neighboring states," he said during a visit to the Issyk-Kul region. "My first visit was to the Russian Federation," the Kyrgyz president recalled. "Cooperation with Russia and the member states of the EAEU is a priority of our foreign policy," he stressed. Over a thousand economists have written to Donald Trump warning his economic protectionism and tough rhetoric on trade threatens to repeat the mistakes the US made in the 1930s, mistakes that plunged the world into the Great Depression, the Guardian reports. The 1,140 economists, including 14 Nobel prize winners, sent the letter on Thursday amid an escalating row over trade between the US and the European Union. Trump has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports but has granted temporary reprieves to the EU, Australia and other countries. In 1930, 1,028 economists urged Congress to reject the protectionist Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, the authors write, citing a trade act that many economists argue was one of the triggers for the Great Depression. Today, Americans face 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 on washing machines, solar components, and even steel and aluminum used by US manufacturers.'' Any problems regarding the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program can be discussed exclusively within the framework of the P5+1 and Iran, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova said. "All issues related to IAEA inspections in Iran should be strictly addressed within the agency's tools," she said. "Any problems concerning the actual implementation of the JCPOA can only be discussed by the members of the joint commission of the P5+1 and Iran," the diplomat noted. More than 80 paragliders from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan and Kirov regions have traditionally arrived in Dagestan, the head of the paragliding club Sapsan, Marcel Magomedov, said. He recalled that every year on May 1-10 both experienced pilots and newcomers, alone or whole schools, gather in Dagestan. "Beginners, as a rule, prefer to fly near the city of Izberbash over the Pushkin-Tau mountain, experienced pilots go further to the mountains in Sergokalinsky, Buinaksky, Kayakent, Untsukul districts," RIA Dagestan quotes Magomedov as saying. Major-General Sergey Karpov was resigned from his post as deputy minister and chief of police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Dagestan, which he held since October 6, 2016. He was appointed the head of the Internal Affairs Directorate for the South-Eastern Administrative District of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in Moscow. The decree On dismissal and appointment to a position in some federal government bodies" was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. The document is published on the legal information official Internet portal. More than 1,500 drills are held annually in the Southern Military District (SMD), which contribute to improving the fighting efficiency of personnel, the commander of the troops of South Ossetia, Alexander Dvornikov said. He added that the command actively implements the experience of conducting modern combat operations, obtained during the Syrian conflict. According to Dvornikov, the tactical exercises of motorized rifle and tank units are conducted in cooperation with the army aviation and with the help of drones, Interfax-Yug reports. The Ukrainian side should be grateful to Russia for the fact that after the capture of the Crimean fishing vessel Nord, its vessels are only being examined in the Kerch Strait, State Duma deputy from Sevastopol Dmitry Belik said. He noted that the seizure of the Nord ship is piracy. "Ukraine itself has done everything possible to ensure that we, within the framework of the international law, take steps to protect our vessels and citizens of Russia, the MP explained. HCM CITY HCM City will continue to focus on developing supporting industry, and targets meeting 45 per cent of national demand for manufactured inputs by 2020 and 65 per cent by 2025. These are said to be ambitious targets in the context that the sector is still poorly developed. Since the citys Decision 15/2017/Q-UBND to help businesses develop the manufacturing and supporting sectors took effect on April 24, 2017, the Department of Industry and Trade has received applications from 11 projects. It has appraised nine projects requiring a total investment of VN943.2 billion (US$41.4 million), and two of them with a combined investment of VN222 billion have been approved by the Peoples Committee for interest-subsidised loans of VN110 billion. The department has also co-ordinated with the State Bank of Viet Nam to organise bank-business linkage programmes to actively help enterprises borrow money. It has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietinbank for a credit package of VN10 trillion ($438.59 million) for manufacturing and parts supply companies. In the first quarter of this year, the department also organised some other activities to enable parts manufacturers to market their products. They included a sourcing fair for connecting supporting industry with buyers, which featured more than 230 business-to-business meetings between 17 local and FDI firms in the electronics, automobile and mechanical engineering sectors and 80 local part suppliers. The departments Centre for Supporting Industries Development has built a comprehensive database for the industry at http://csid.gov.vn with information about 530 out of the 860 supporting industry enterprises based in the city. This would help parts suppliers and buyers understand each others capabilities and explore tie-ups. The department has also worked with industrial parks and processing zones, and many of them such as Tan Thuan, Hiep Phuoc, Linh Trung, and ong Nam processing zones plan to earmark areas or develop high-rise factories for supporting industry at reasonable rentals to meet demand. According to economists, there is huge demand for spare-part products, but domestic production is unable to meet it. HCM City has certain advantages as it seeks to develop supporting industry. Tran Anh Hao, head of the departments industry division, said the department would review the investment stimulus programme with regard to the manufacturing and parts sectors to submit to the city for approval. It would also build a programme to develop the sector, identify the most promising products this year, provide training and evaluate the local content rates in the citys four key industries (food processing, chemical-rubber, mechanics and information technology) and two traditional industries (garment and textile, and footwear), Hao said. The city has rolled out practical support policies for enterprises to invest in upgrading their machinery and equipment and technologies, thereby increasing local content rates and enabling them to take part in the global supply chain, the department said. VNS HCM CITY The HCM City Centre for Supporting Industry Development has collaborated with other agencies to provide human resource solutions to supporting industries. Together with the International Labour Organisation, it has organised the SCORE programme for training workers at small and medium-sized enterprises in supporting industries. After the programme, six enterprises have improved production by applying the Japanese 5S model and Kaizen method. The former is designed to improve productivity through organisation and cleanliness, and the latter is used to evaluate and find the ways to improve the work done by the company. The Japan International Cooperation Agency has supported five small and medium enterprises in the automobile industry. Thanks to these programmes, enterprises have overcome shortcomings with respect to finance their development strategies, thus making them become suppliers to companies like Mitsubishi and Samsung. The city Department of Labour- Invalids and Social Affairs has urged the Peoples Committee to hire foreign experts in the field of support industries, organise training programmes to skill managers and teachers at colleges and intermediate schools. The centre has also organised training courses for enterprises in areas such as starting up businesses and management. VNS HA NOI The World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) 2018 is scheduled to take place in Ha Noi from September 11-13, focusing on entrepreneurship and the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). The Prime Minister has set up an organising committee headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son for the event. The organising committee held the first meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday to discuss 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 countrys most important external activities in 2018, which aims to increase Viet Nam s position in the world and promote the country among global leading enterprises. He requested sub-committees and members of the organising committee proactively work together to gear up for the event. HCM CITY More than 30 Vietnamese investors participated in a seminar held on Thursday in HCM City as part of the US Mission to Viet Nams ongoing recruitment for the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC in June. The first Invest in the US seminar, co-organised by the US Consulate General and AmCham HCM City, described the benefits of investing in the US, home to the largest amount of FDI in the world. Experts from Baker & McKenzie law firm provided Vietnamese investors with an introduction on the legal and foreign exchange requirements for outbound investment and gave presentations on best practices for establishing operations in the US. One of the benefits of investing in the US is the variety of opportunities that exist across the countrys 52 states and territories. Representatives from the US states of Idaho, Iowa, and Pennsylvania spoke about investment opportunities in their states. Fred Burke, senior partner from Baker & McKenzie, highlighted how Viet Nams GDP growth was fueling greater interest in investing in the US. It is often said that investment follows trade, and Viet Nams trade with the US has grown enormously in recent years such that it is one of Viet Nams top export markets. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that Vietnamese firms are looking to invest in the US to support their trade relations and take advantage of opportunities there, Burke said. The Investment Summit promotes the US as a premier investment destination and connects qualified foreign firms with US economic development organisations to facilitate business investment and job creation. Last years SelectUSA Investment Summit hosted by US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross drew the largest crowd yet, with over 3,000 registered participants. With 28 delegates, Viet Nam had the 12th largest delegation at the summit and the largest delegation from Southeast Asia. VNS HA NOI Wholesale petrol traders should make more efforts to raise the market share of bio-fuel E5 in the country, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) o Thang Hai. Hai was speaking at a recent meeting with petrol wholesalers on the implementation of the bio-fuel, E5 RON 92, and solutions to ensure the fulfilment of the roadmap and target set by the Prime Minister. He said although the output of bio-fuel E5 had grown remarkably in recent times, it was not up to expectations. E5 RON 92 consists of five per cent ethanol and 95 per cent petrol. The fuel is used in many countries as it helps protect the environment and can ensure energy security and sustainable development. In Viet Nam, two kinds of gasoline are sold: E5 bio-fuel and mineral oil RON 95. In the first two months of this year, domestic petrol consumption reached some 1.43 million cu.m, of which E5 RON 92 was 593,609 cu.m, accounting for some 42 per cent, and RON 95 was 836,296 cu.m, accounting for some 52 per cent. The volume of bio-fuel consumption in January-February increased by 8 to 9 per cent compared to the same period last year. Some of the key players with high bio-fuel consumption of total sales include Thien Minh uc JSC (70.93 per cent), Military Petroleum Corporation (62.37 per cent), PetroVietnam Oil Corporation (PVOil) (51.37 per cent), Viet Nam National Petroleum Group, or Petrolimex (47.06 per cent) and Hai Linh Company Ltd (46.24 per cent). Deputy General Director of Petrolimex Tran Ngoc Nam said with the responsibility of being a key player in the market, Petrolimex had strongly directed the deployment of E5 trading throughout its system. Eighty-two per cent of Petrolimex stations sell E5. The group has developed a policy to encourage the retail sale of E5 in petrol stations, aiming to make the consumption of E5 higher than that of RON 95, said Nam. The Petrolimex leader said the proportion of bio-fuel had not reached the expected volume as consumers did not completely trust E5 and the price difference between bio-ethanol E5 and mineral oil RON 95 was not huge enough to attract consumers. Nam also said the price of cassava, needed to produce E100 for blending E5 gasoline, was rising, which increased the production price, creating difficulties for businesses. In the domestic market, Tung Lam Co., Ltd is the only E100 ethanol supplier. Due to the high price of cassava, the company has had to raise the price of E100 too. This is a major concern for gasoline dealers, which they mentioned at the meeting. Vu Kien Chinh, general director of Tung Lam Company, said in 10 months (from June 2017 to April 15, 2018), cassava price increased by VN2,000 per kilo (from VN3,600 to VN5,600). Chinh confirmed that the E100 price increase was not due to monopoly and that in increasing the price of cassava, the largest beneficiaries were the growers. We would like to be supported by State management agencies to facilitate the production of E100 in the country instead of importing it from abroad, said Chinh. General Director of PVOIL Cao Hoai Duong said to rightly understand E5, there was a need for public orientation and knowledge dissemination in the right way. The difference in price between E5 and RON 95 should be VN1,800-2,000, which will make E5 more attractive, said Duong. Concluding the meeting, Hai affirmed MoITs support to legitimate business enterprises that always co-operated with others to develop together. He requested enterprises to seriously and persistently implement and continue to take more aggressive measures to increase the market share of E5 petrol business. As for the supply of E100 for blending E5 gasoline, Hai asked the Tung Lam Company, as well as some other ethanol factories that will be launched in the near future, to minimise production costs in order to create the product E100, which will be able to compete with imported products and raise domestic consumption. Hai also requested petrol stations to install E5 gasoline pumps in convenient locations and said there was a need to have more pump piers. Each staff member at petrol stations must be an active consultant and facilitator, helping consumers have the right understanding of E5 bio-fuel and make the right choice, Hai said. VNS BRUSSELS Belgian Vietnamese Alliance and Flanders Investment and Trade held a meeting with a delegation of Belgian businesses on May 3. The meeting comes ahead of the delegations visit to Viet Nam from May 13-18 to explore cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese firms. The delegation, which comprises nearly 90 entrepreneurs from 65 Belgian enterprises and is led by Minister-President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois, is scheduled to visit Viet Nam as part of the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the two countries diplomatic ties. Addressing the meeting, Vietnamese ambassador to Belgium Vu Anh Quang praised the Flanders Minister-President for his efforts to develop relations between Viet Nam and the Flanders region in recent years. He hoped the upcoming visit of the delegation would help Vietnamese and Belgian businesses to understand more about each others potential as well as open up trade and investment cooperation opportunities. The diplomat said the two nations were working to elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership in some specific fields. According to him, the free trade agreement between the European Union and Viet Nam, once signed and ratified, will open up numerous opportunities for Vietnamese and Belgian enterprises to strengthen connectivity and collaboration. This will also help increase Belgiums investment in Viet Nam, particularly in the fields of shipbuilding, agriculture, high technology and clean energy, contributing to promoting sustainable and green growth in the country, the ambassador added. Bourgeois hailed Viet Nams strong development over the past 30 years with a remarkable gross domestic product growth of six to seven per cent. Viet Nam holds a lot of potential for economic development and, in fact, the country has been successful not only in seeking foreign investment but also in reforming trade and administrative procedures, he said. The Flanders leader added he had high expectations from the Belgium-Viet Nam partnership. He hoped the two countries would work together to improve trade balance in future, citing that while the Flanders region exported 492 million euros (US$5.8 million) worth of goods to Viet Nam, it imported goods worth two billion euros from the Vietnamese market. "The reality shows that goods produced in Belgium and Viet Nam, especially farm produce, are not competitive but supplementary, enabling the two countries to boost cooperation in trade and investment," he said. During the five-day visit to Viet Nam, the delegation from the Flanders region will hold meetings and field trips to promote their products and study cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese partners. VNS The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), including Viet Nams three largest cities, will enable Southeast Asia to sustainably develop its cities, further optimise the regions burgeoning internet economies, and elevate ASEANs international relevance HCM CITY The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), including Viet Nams three largest cities, will enable Southeast Asia to sustainably develop its cities, further optimise the regions burgeoning internet economies, and elevate ASEANs international relevance, according to an HSBC report. Ha Noi, HCM City and a Nang will be part of the ASCN proposed by Singapore, as announced by Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong during a recent official visit to Singapore of Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc. As part of the concept note, released by the ASEAN secretariat, the two governments will develop a platform to share best practices, link member cities with private investment, and secure funding from multilateral funding institutions. Danielle Walsh, HSBCs global head of client digital coverage, said Southeast Asias approach to Smart Cities was world-leading. The formation of the ASCN means that ASEANs smart city initiatives will become greater than the sum of its parts and catapult the region into the upper echelons of Smart City advancements globally, she said. The construction of Smart Cities means building urban areas that integrate information and communications technology to improve city operations in everything from traffic flows and infrastructure development to energy and water conservation. The development of ASCN and smart cities in general across Southeast Asia comes in response to increased urbanisation underway in the region which is placing significant strain on cities infrastructure, climate control measures, and basic sanitation of its people, said the report. About 49 per cent of the regions population live in urban areas. Rapid urbanisation means that between 2015 and 2030, about 100 million people in ASEAN are expected to migrate from the countryside to cities. Jennifer Doherty, head of innovation for HSBC Global Liquidity and Cash Management, said: Urbanisation brings growth and prosperity to economies, companies and individuals, but it also presents its own set of challenges too, including congestion, crime, pollution, inequality and high house prices. ASEAN countries are individually recognising these issues and are working towards a sustainable future through bespoke Smart City initiatives, but if the ASEAN integration ideal is to be realised, then these country programmes need to be linked, she said. Various themes fall into the smart-cities umbrella, including improvements in hard infrastructure like energy, transport and water, smart building, healthcare, mobility and security. ASEAN $200 billion potential The ASCN is a step forward in the modernisation of Southeast Asian cities enabling them to increase their efficiency, and promoting greater standardisation of technologies across the region, according to the report. This is vital to the digitisation of the regional internet economy which is forecast to hit US$200 billion by 2025. An area of acute focus will be in smart mobility, particularly in autonomous, connected, electric and shared modes of transportation such as electric vehicles, and ride and car sharing. Walsh of HSBCs global head of client digital coverage, said: ASEAN is on the cusp of an all-encompassing digital transformation with technology promising to offer a new way of life and better experiences for residents of smart cities. Accordingly, the business opportunities arising from the smart cities network are enormous. The transition in smart mobility along with smart energy, infrastructure and healthcare will be transformational for these cities over the next decade, and companies need to be on the right side of the innovation equation, he added. VNS HCM CITY Noise pollution is worsening in HCM city, posing health risks and contributing to social disorder. Measurements taken by the HCM City University of Natural Resources and Environment at 150 spots in the city showed that excessive noise levels were reported at streets with a high density of vehicles. The pollution surpassed the permissible levels even during night time, between 10pm and 6am. Similar results were found in examinations conducted by the HCM City Environmental Protection Agency. Specifically, the noise levels at Hang Xanh Intersection in Binh Thanh District, An Suong Intersection in District 12 and Go Vap roundabout were measured at over 85 decibels, much higher than the limit of 70 decibels promulgated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. According to Le Huy Ba, an environmental expert, the causes of noise pollution in the city are urban activities including the sounds from vehicles engines and drivers honking. The development of new construction works and loud music from bars, restaurants and stores also contributes to the noise level. Ly Pham Hoang Xuan, a doctor from Gia inh Peoples Hospital said that noise can cause or worsen many health problems. Noise pollution can have negative effective on human health, he said. Long exposure to noise will make people lose sensitivity to sound, eventually causing deafness. People living in areas with high levels of noise are often prone to sleep disorder, stress and exhaustion. If the above-mentioned problems last for a long time, the risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, gastric ulcer and mental disorder increases. Frequent exposure to loud noise will cause fatigue, tinnitus, sleep disorder and exacerbation of some diseases, especially cardiovascular and blood pressure, Xuan said. If a person lived in an environment with a noise level of more than 90 decibels for over 3 months, he would likely suffer hearing loss and had no chance to recover, he stressed. Noise pollution doesnt only affect the health of local people, but also causes social disorders. The number of noise-related cases had risen in HCM City over the past two years, Vietnam News Agency reported. Three people were reported to be seriously injured in an incident that resulted from loud noise on December 9 last year. About 8am that day, two groups of men and women armed with knives and sticks chased each other down an alley at Binh Tan Districts Tan Tao Ward, causing chaos in the area. The altercation began because a group of workers at a warehouse in the alley often made loud noise at night. Frustrated by their actions, local residents quarreled with these workers and then fought with each other. In January 2016, six people were sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison for murder. The incident happened at Tan Thoi Nhat Ward in District 12. It originated with a simple act: The owner of a motorbike repair shop frequently tested the engines after repairing motorbikes. Fed up with the noise from the shop, a young man residing in the neighbourhood incited his friends to destroy the shop. The shop owner then gathered a group of people to take revenge, resulting in the death of one person. According to environmental experts, noise makes people feel uncomfortable and easily angered, leading to fighting. Noise over 75 decibels affects the nervous system. Noise of over 100 decibels like those caused by drilling rock and aircraft engines can burst the eardrum and seriously affect the nervous system. Solutions To reduce noise pollution in the city, Phung Chi Sy, director of Environmental Technology Centre under the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, said vehicles should be checked regularly. Those with noise problems should be equipped with a noise reduction system. Officials should limit the number of personal vehicles and improve the service of the public transport to reduce traffic noise, Sy said. He also said more trees should be planted in residential areas as well as at public areas. In the meantime, environmental expert Ba said, special attention should be paid to enhance the management on building activities. He suggested covering the construction works carefully to ensure safety as well as prevent the escape of dust and noise. People should be away from areas with loud sound and use sound-proof materials and equipment if needed. Strict punishment should be imposed on violators, he said. Under current regulations, noise pollution violations are subject to fines of up to VN160 million (US$7,000) and violators can also be required to suspend operations for three months to a year, depending on the severity of their infringement. Ba suggested localities intensify efforts to raise peoples awareness on the impact of noise pollutions as well as encourage them to actively report cases of excessive noise to local authorities. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has ordered ministries and local authorities to tighten control over sand and gravel exploitation to manage agricultural land and protect forests. The request came amidst rampant violations taking place in several localities, including Van on District in Quang Ninh Province and Phu Quoc District in Kien Giang Province, which has raised public concern. The deputy prime minister has asked the Ministry of Public Security to launch a campaign until the end of July to tackle sand exploitation in cities and provinces. The ministry has also been assigned to set up joint inspection team to visit hotspots and handle illegal sand exploitation. He requested the peoples committee of provinces and cities, including HCM City, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Khanh Hoa and Kon Tum, to clarify the responsibility of individuals and organisations related to violations. Measures should be adopted to stop illegal mining, he said. The deputy prime minister ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the agencies and localities concerned to review the implementation of the law protection regulation and strictly deal with violators. The peoples committees of provinces, namely, ak Lak, ak Nong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Quang Nam, Quang Binh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Bac Kan and ien Bien, were requested to determine the responsibility of individuals and organisations involved in cases of deforestation. They are required to submit a report on the incidents to the Prime Minister before May 31. Regarding violations of the use of agricultural land, Binh ordered the peoples committees of Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa and Kien Giang to enhance the land management work, ensure that agricultural and forest land are utilised for the right purpose, and in accordance with the approved plan. Thus, authorities would be able to prevent illegal construction and sale of land, as well as inflated land prices. If violations are found, chairpersons of provincial peoples committees will have to answer the Prime Minister, Binh said. VNS by Chi Lan Vietnamese have avoided multi-level marketing as though it were the plague, and for fair reason. A quick Google search on the business model and the first page of results are rampant with warnings of fraud, plus one or two news stories on multi-level marketing companies which just got busted. There are more than three million search results listed for the phrase fraudulent multi-level marketing. The scale of multi-level marketing scandals was too big to ignore. In March, a group of cryptocurrency investors made a fuss about a company that allegedly swindled more than VN15 trillion (US$666.6 million) from thousands of the networks members by promising a huge return on their investment. The biggest yet confirmed fraud case involving multi-level marketing was the arrest of leaders of the Lien Ket Viet Company, which was found to have taken a total of more than VN2 trillion from some 67,000 victims. Many of them were poor, less educated people in rural areas who spent their hard-earned life savings in the hope of some big profit, and in doing so they wrecked their relationships with their family, friends, colleagues and other social connections by dragging them into the scam. The economic and social impacts were so big that there were calls urging the Government to completely ban the business model, which is very controversial around the world. The problem is, however, Vietnamese people were more than often confused about the difference between the legitimate multi-level marketer and an illegal pyramid scheme. While a pyramid scheme generates no real sale of products, and participants depend solely on more recruitment to make money from new members, distributors of a multi-level marketer will earn money by direct sales of the companys products, plus some commissions of sales from their downline - or their own recruited distributors. A multi-level marketing business model, in fact, has many advantages for its members. Their work can be flexible, which is meaningful for those who want to earn some extra money besides their current nine to five job. They can start-up with just a small amount of money to begin with, while their potential earnings are unlimited based on their efforts and effectiveness. That was perhaps the main reason why the Vietnamese Government was relatively reluctant to issue a ban on the model. Besides those fraudulent pyramid companies disguised as a multi-level marketers, there were still several multi-level marketing firms operating legally and generating proper income and opportunities for those dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur of their own. We cannot sacrifice the whole business because of our weak, incompetent fight against the wrong. In an effort to tackle the pyramid scheme problem, the Government recently issued a decree to tighten its grip on the multi-level marketing industry. The decree, obviously targeting the pyramid scheme, was very detailed about what a multi-level marketer must not do, including forcing new participants to pay a deposit firsthand, or organising mass audience conferences without licences granted by local authorities. A multi-level marketing company is also required to have the minimum registered capital of VN10 billion before it can get a business licence. At least the Government has tried to solve the tip of the problem. But it requires a healthy dose of doubt that the authorities, both central and local, will have sufficient resources to inspect and track every activity of a multi-level marketing company. Those regulations of the Decree 40 will hence mainly serve as the legal base for official investigation or a courts verdict rather than a powerful deterrence. Secondly, the issue lies deep with the very citizens who chose to join the pyramid network. A promise of huge profit at a rapid rate, which generally turns out to be a lie, can be too tempting for many to turn away. It was not easy for anyone to do so, and much more difficult for those less educated, less exposed to sophisticated fraudulent tricks living far in the countryside. Sad but true, the ones most vulnerable to the pyramid scheme tend to be the poorest people. The authorities should invest more time working on measures to help citizens make the right call when choosing a company, and start to question offers that are too good to be true. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (r) receives Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JP. Morgan in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat HA NOI The Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for US enterprises, including JP. Morgan, to do business successfully in the country, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said. The Government leader made the statement during a reception for Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JP. Morgan in Ha Noi yesterday, stressing that Viet Nam needs big partners like the US firm to join the underway economic restructuring process in the country. While praising the role played by JP. Morgan in the international financial market, PM Phuc applauded its active participation in the equitisation of Viet Nams major enterprises in the recent past. PM Phuc said that the flow of US investment into Viet Nam was increasing, noting that Viet Nam was constantly improving its investment environment, and encouraging large US firms to invest in the fields of finance, banking, energy, and high technology. He suggested JP. Morgan, with its reputation and experience, encourage more US businesses to invest in Viet Nam, thus actively boosting trade ties between the two countries on a mutually beneficial basis. The PM pointed out that the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), US businesses and major financial organisations had highly valued the business and investment environment of Viet Nam, as well as its stable economy, adding that this was a good premise for JP. Morgan to expand its investment in the country. Dimon, for his part, said the Vietnamese Government was on the right track to promote the countrys economic growth, especially in the restructuring and equitisation of the banking system, adding that JP. Morgan was ready to participate in this process. Viet Nam was an emerging economy in the region, with the fastest economic growth, and tireless efforts to intensively reforming its economy, he noted. Dimon affirmed that JP. Morgan wanted to do long-term business in Viet Nam, towards providing the best financial services to its partners, businesses and credit institutions in the country. VNS Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with voters in Tan Phu Ward, Cai Rang District, in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc CAN THO Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with voters in Tan Phu Ward, Cai Rang District, in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho yesterday ahead of the fifth meeting of the 14th legislature slated for mid-May. The voters expressed their concerns over anti-corruption work, health insurance, food safety and hygiene, counterfeit products, house and land use rights and allowances for the elderly. The chief legislator informed the voters about the expected agenda of the fifth meeting and the countrys socio-economic development in 2017 and the first months of this year. Apart from achievements, there remained shortcomings which had drawn public attention such as fire, especially in apartment buildings, she said, noting that the NA would conduct supervision on this issue in 2018. Mentioning Can Thos planning, NA Chairwoman Ngan stressed that the citys master plan must be ratified by the Government, and the management should follow the approved plan. She asked the Peoples Committee of Cai Rang District to review the Law on Housing as many households complained that they have yet to receive house and land use rights certificates in urban areas in the locality. Regarding the anti-corruption work, Ngan highlighted the determination of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption to fight corruption, as well as the spirit of no banned zones in combating corruptionthat is, all corrupt officials will be discovered and punished. Later the same day, NA Chairwoman Ngan attended the hand-over ceremony of Hung Thanh kindergarten in the resettlement area of Tay o cultural centre in Hung Thanh Ward, Cai Rang District. Members of the National Assemblys Ethnic Committee gathered on Thursday to discuss progress and problems in developing the countrys regions, which are home to its numerous ethnic groups. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI Members of the National Assemblys Ethnic Committee gathered on Thursday to discuss progress and problems in developing the countrys regions, which are home to its numerous ethnic groups. Chairman of the NAs Ethnic Committee Ha Ngoc Chien said last year, the Government, as well as the whole countrys political apparatus, continued to support the development of remote regions. Projects started to build roads, bridges, schools and hospitals to provide ethnic groups with modern amenities and help connect them with the rest of the country. He said there have been positive signs in such regions with increased commercial projects and young people enrolling in training programmes to meet with requirements for job opportunities in their hometowns. Notably, the number of children age five and over attending school has risen, which is a welcome change to regions where the drop-out rate was extremely high in the past. Children from ethnic groups are not only attending primary schools they also continue to go to higher grade schools, said Vice Chairman of the NAs Ethnic Committee Giang A Chu. The committees proposal for 2018 is to carry out some 15 programmes aiming to provide funding and technology transfer. Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong stressed the importance of such programmes, saying it remains one of the countrys strategic interests to help develop those regions. Members, however, pointed out various problems that must be addressed such as the large gap between ethnic groups and the rest of the population. The countrys 53 ethnic groups makes up just 14.2 per cent of the total population but counts for more than half of its poor households, according to an NA report. The fight against poverty must focus on sustainability, NA deputies said. On that particular topic, members said there have been hydro power and other development projects that require the resettlement of ethnic communities. Those communities are in need of land to cultivate and continue their agricultural production. In light of a recent proposal to form special economic zones, some of them are in regions with a large number of ethnic communities the committee urged lawmakers and the Government to ensure the countrys numerous ethnic groups socio-economic securities are a part of the development plans. VNS HCM CITY Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Transport to reassess costs and capital sources for two metro lines in HCM City and to submit the report to the city government. At a recent meeting on the first metro line Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien and second line Ben Thanh-Tham Luong, the Government Office said the new assessment must be based on the citys commitments and advice from concerned ministries. The Ministry of Transport has also been asked to establish a specialists group of concerned ministries and agencies to ensure strict compliance with current laws and policies. After agreement about capital sources from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Transport will report to the National Assembly on behalf of the Government. Previously, the PM assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport to create a funding plan for the metro lines. The two projects have run behind schedule because of a capital shortage, according to the Ministry of Transport. The metro line No 1 from Ben Thanh in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9 was approved by the city in April 2007, with an initial investment of VN17.4 trillion (US$766.4 million). That figure has increased to VN47 trillion ($2.07 billion) because of changes in design and the exchange rate. The developer has also been late in paying contractors, and may have to pay interest on late payments. To ensure the completion schedule, HCM City has offered the Ministry of Planning and Investment advance disbursement for metro line 1 while waiting for the NAs approval. More than half of the work on the project has been completed, and disbursement has topped 30 per cent. Meanwhile, investment capital for the second metro line Ben Thanh-Tham Luong also increased, from VN26 trillion ($1.14 billion) to VN48 trillion ($2.11 billion), after the completion deadline was extended from 2020 to 2026. VNS HA NOI Viet uc Hospitals Department of Plastic Surgery successfully conducted a surgery to remove part of a 45-kg tumour from a 34-year-old patient. The tumour had spread to his buttocks, back and almost the entire left thigh. The patient was unable to walk normally and had to crawl because of the tumour. The patients family members from the Nghe An central province said the tumour developed each year, and the family could not afford to get the patient treated when he was young so the tumour spread gradually. Sometimes, the tumour would burst, causing bleeding and fainting. Associate Professor Nguyen Hong Ha, head of Plastic Surgery Department, said the patient was hospitalised in poor health due to chronic blood loss. He had to crawl or go about in a wheelchair. His left femur neck was deformed and broken, Ha said. The tumour was 1 degree to 2 degrees warmer than the body temperature, as it had a large vascular hyperplasia, leading to high risk of bleeding during surgery. After examination, the patient was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. It was very difficult for doctors to discriminate the tumour from the nerves, because the patient was unable to lie on the magnetic resonance machine for scanning. He would have been paralysed if the nerves had been cut, the doctors said. After consultation, the doctors decided to perform the surgery in at least two stages. Cutting off the entire tumour in a single surgery could have endangered the patients life, they said. During the first surgery, the doctors cut off the tumour on the patients back and buttocks, weighing 23kg, Dr ao Van Giang, a member of the surgical team said. The remaining tumour would be removed when the patients health got better, he said. The patient was not in active recovery stage yet, but his heart, lung, kidney and liver was being closely monitored, he said. The patient needed a good antibiotic treatment to prevent infection. Before performing the surgery, the director of the hospital held a consultation with doctors and experts from the departments of haematology, blood transfusion, dialysis, imaging, anaesthesia , orthopaedic trauma and plastic surgery to examine and propose a long-term treatment for the patient. More than 10 surgeons and 20 staff and doctors were mobilised to conduct the surgery. VNS HCM CITY Nearly 74 per cent of the 925,961 candidates taking the upcoming national high school graduation examinations have applied to universities, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. The most popular courses are educational science and pedagogy, humanities, social and behavioural sciences, journalism and communications, social service, hotel-tourism, environment, and logistics. However, only 455,174 of them will get entry into universities and colleges, 1.2 per cent more than last year, with the rest going to vocational and other schools. At a press briefing, Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, head of the ministrys tertiary education department, said the quota for pedagogy was set to be reduced by 38 per cent this year. The high school exam will be held from June 24 to 27, with the scores used for admission to universities, colleges and vocational schools. Entrance exams were scrapped in 2015. There are 500 colleges and intermediate schools providing two-year training programmes besides 1,974 vocational schools this year. In recent years they have struggled to find enough students. According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Directorate of Vocational Training, universities have changed their admission system to take in more candidates, making it difficult for vocational schools. Last year only 5-7 per cent of junior high school students applied to vocational and intermediate schools though usually 80-90 per cent of their students get jobs on graduation. Worryingly, many colleges were unable to enrol a single student. To improve things, secondary school students need to be provided counselling on vocational training, the directorate said. This year the Viet Nam National University-HCM City will enrol 15 per cent of its candidates from schools for gifted students around the country. Others such as the HCM City University of Technology and Education and HCM City University of Economics will also give priority to students from gifted schools. An estimated 4,000 students who won national technology and science contests, and international and ASEAN competitions this year will also get priority in admission. VNS AK LAK Four border officials in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highland) province of ak Lak have been suspended pending investigation after the police discovered a large pile of illegal timber being transported to the provinces border area. This was said by Pham Quang Hung, commander of ak Lak Border Guard Command. The four officers are Cao Huu Tung and Bui Khac Hiep of Border Guard Station 747, Pham Cong Khanh and captain Tran Tien Vinh of Border Guard Station 749. They are allegedly involved in the case in which the Ministry of Public Security arrested 48-year-old Phan Huu Phuong, nicknamed Phuong Rau, with his accomplice, 35-year-old Nguyen Hoang Trang, for transporting and storing large quantities of illegally logged timber in the border area. Phuong is a resident of Ea Tling town in Cu Jut District, ak Nong province. At 3am on April 27, the Environmental Crime Prevention Police, in collaboration with officials and soldiers of the Ministry of Public Security, raided an illegal logging site in Yok on National Park. The police seized two trucks and other vehicles as well as machines used to illegally cut timber, which was being transported to timber tycoon Phuong. The ministry arrested Phuong on April 28 after a search of his house. Trang from Khanh Hoa Provinces Ninh Hoa District, was arrested by the police on May 1 for allegedly partnering with Phuong. The case is under further investigation. VNS The customs office at Saigon Port under the HCM City Customs Department on Thursday seized 3.3 tonnes of pangolin scales illegally imported from Africa. Photo vnexpress.net HCM CITY The customs office at Saigon Port under the HCM City Customs Department on Thursday seized 3.3 tonnes of pangolin scales illegally imported from Africa. The container was declared by Tan Vinh Thinh Trade Co. Ltd to contain dried cashew nuts. It was in transit to Cambodia from Nigeria. After examining, the customs office and the Anti-Smuggling Police Department (C74) under the Ministry of Public Security found the pangolin scales contained in bags and covered by cashew nut bags. The citys customs force is working with relevant agencies to further investigate the case. VNS HA NOI Tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy will continue to be exempted from visa until June 2021, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a Government meeting on Thursday. Visa will be waived for tourists coming to Viet Nam from these five countries for another three years (until June 30, 2021) after the visa waiver programme expires at the end of June this year. When the extension expires, Viet Nam would review its unilateral visa exemption policy and re-evaluate its electronic visa pilot, the PM said during a monthly Government meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday. Extending the visa exemption is definitely something we should opt for, since at the moment, Viet Nam waives visa one-sidedly for only 24 countries including nine ASEAN countries while our neighbours are doing more than that, he said. He also assigned the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review and report on the challenges facing electronic visa issuance and on making amendments to the Immigration Law. Visa exemption for tourists from the five Western European countries has helped increase the number of tourists from these markets by 10.1 per cent since it was introduced in mid-2015, according to the Viet Nam Tourism Advisory Board. VNS HAI PHONG An airline passenger was fined for issuing a bomb threat at Cat Bi International Airport in the northern city of Hai Phong. Fen Chengyu, a Chinese national, was completing the check-in procedure at the airport on Thursday when she suddenly said there were bombs in her luggage. The staff at the check-in desk immediately alerted the airports security department and asked them to come and check the passengers luggage. According to the airport authorities, the security staff did not find any bomb or other explosive device in her luggage. Airport security has transferred the case to the Cat Bi airport authority to deal with the passenger as per regulations. According to Dan Tri online newspaper, the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam is considering to ban her from all flights in Viet Nam for causing a bomb scare at the airport. VNS Five former officials of ai Tin Bank (Trust Bank) who had been charged with violating regulations on lending activities of credit institutes were sentenced to three to seven years in jail by the HCM City Peoples Court on Friday. VNA/VNS Photo HCM City Five former officials of ai Tin Bank (Trust Bank) who had been charged with violating regulations on lending activities of credit institutes were sentenced to three to seven years in jail by the HCM City Peoples Court on Friday. The chairman of the board of members of the bank, Hoang Van Toan, got seven years, and the general director Tran Son Nam six years. The former deputy general directors Lam Hong Trinh and Ngo Tri uc, and head of the banks Credit Management Department Ho Trong Thang received three years in jail each, while the former director of the banks accounting division Tran Thi Hong Phuong and former head of the banks legal affairs department Pham Thi Quynh Ngan received a three-year suspended sentence each. Former deputy general director o Hoang Linh has escaped and is wanted by police. At the trial, the defendants were not asked to compensate for losses because all compensation has been paid by Pham Cong Danh, which had been announced previously in court. This is the second phase of the trial of Pham Cong Danh, former chairman of the Viet Nam Construction Banks board of directors and the former general director of the Thien Thanh Group. Prior to 2013, after the State Bank of Viet Nam approved Trust Banks restructuring plan, Pham Cong Danh took over the small, debt-ridden bank and renamed it Viet Nam Construction Bank (VNCB). However, Danh abused his post as chairman of VNCBs board of directors and chairman of Thien Thanh Groups board of members, the court found. He allowed his staff in the group and the bank to violate rules, which resulted in the Government losing around VN9 trillion ($403.5 million), the largest economic loss caused by corruption in the countrys history. According to the indictment, the eight defendants were charged with the responsibility of causing a loss of VN471 billion (US$21 million). In particular, the three former deputy general directors approved lending of VN650 billion ($29 million) to two companies of Pham Cong Danh, while the other three wrongly assessed lending documents and disbursed the loans. These eight former Trust Bank senior officials approved credit from two submitted loan applications to borrow VN650 billion from ai Hoang Phuong Company and Thinh Quoc Company. The bank accepted as deposits land-use rights and land-use right certificate for a land lot in a multi-storey commercial and service complex at a Nang Citys Chi Lang stadium in Hai Chau District. However, site clearance and compensation for the lot had not been completed. There was also no investment licence or the approved master plan. The bank incurred a loss of more than VN471 billion because of the two loans. VNS by Thien Huong Tien Hai is the only island commune in Ha Tien District, southern province of Kien Giang. The commune also has another name: Hai Tac (Pirates) Archipelago. It boasts 16 islands and total area of 283ha. In the past few years, the island commune has developed community tourism models, making contributions to socio-economic development for Ha Tien District. Golden sands: A pristine beach on the archipelago. Photo foody.vn In December 2017, the Kien Giang Peoples Committee recognised the archipelago as a local tourism site. Tourists coming to Ha Tien District are always curious of Hai Tac archipelago, a famed place in the southwest sea of the country. According to local historic documents, in 17th century, Mac Thien Tich, a leader of the region, many times ordered his troops to fight against local pirates, who lived in the area. The archipelago name Hai Tac originated from that time. Popular: More tourists flock to the archipelago. Photo dulich.tuoitre.vn Besides its mysterious name, Tien Hai island commune has great potential for developing tourism thanks to its primitive landscapes, fresh and cool atmosphere, said Tang Hong Phuoc, deputy director of Ha Tien Towns Centre for Trade and Tourism Promotion. In order to utilise the tourism potential, in 2014 the local authorities implemented a community tourism project for the period 2014-2020. The commune consists of 16 large and small islands, locating 20km from Ha Tien Town and 40km from Phu Quoc Island. Peaceful: Son Hoa Tu Pagoda on the island. Photo quandaohaitac.com The commune hosts 500 families with 2,000 people, who live mainly in Hon Tre Lon, Hon Giang, Hon uoc and Hon U. The biggest among the islands is Hon Tre Lon (also know as Hon oc), which is an administration and socio-economic centre for the Tien Hai island commune. All people and agencies in the commune are informed about the project and encouraged to join in voluntarily. White wedding: A couple choose the archipelago for their wedding photo site. Photo quandaohaitac.com Hon Tre Village was chosen as a trial model with 17 families, who meet the requirements, to join the community tourism project. Eleven households among them offer food and accommodation services, four households have acted as guides to take visitors to islands and fishing; and two households keep sea fish for visitors to understand raising local fish. Two companies have been specialised in transporting tourists to and from the mainland. Over the last three years, the project has brought along active results, said Phuoc, The number of guests coming every year has significantly increased and is now up to 70,000 tourists per year. Right signs: A sovereignty signpost on the islands. Photo quandaohaitac.com Visitor Nguyen Thi Hong Phuong from Rach Gia City, northern province of Kien Giang said she spent two vacations in the area. What I like most when stay at the home of locals in Tien Hai is that I can live near them, see their routines and imagine as if I were a local, she said. However, the area is still lack of fresh water and electricity. By 2020, the national electricity system will reach the islands, Phuoc said, Tourism service will be better. Its name Hai Tac (Pirates) is scary but actually the islands are beautiful in peace and many romantic beaches with white sand and blue water run long, Phuong said. Birds eye view: Sea gulls fly high in the sky. Photo quandaohaitac.com Scary story of pirates Hai Viet, an old resident on Hon Tre Vinh Island recalled his grandfathers story on the pirates. There was once a pirate group named Canh Buom en (Black Sail) on this island, he said, They mostly robbed trading ships passing Ha Tien Rach Gia Bay. On the pirates ship hung a mop, meaning sweeping off all ships passing by. The gang controlled a big sea area of the Gulf of Thailand. Up to now, there are still rumours of treasure hidden by the pirates somewhere on this archipelago, he said. Many locals still believe there is treasure hidden on Hon oc and scattering around the archipelago. Sail away: Tranquil beauty of the islands. Photo mekongdeltaexplorer.com The only ancient mark on the island is a pagoda named Son Hoa Tu. It is said that once there was a head of a pirate gang named Nguyen Thanh Van. Rumours say he was strong, was a brilliant swimmer and could dive as well as an otter, rebellious but at the same time, had a kind heart. Once his gang travelled to Thailand, he fell in love with a beautiful woman and took her to Viet Nam. Since then, he quit the pirate life. They had a daughter called Nguyen Thi Gai, who was then respected by locals as she built the only pagoda on the islands. The Son Hoa Tu Pagoda remains up to now as an evidence of rumours on local pirates, a special attraction for tourists to the pristine islands. VNS SAN FRANCISCO Twitter on Thursday urged its more than 300 million users to change their passwords, saying they had been unintentionally "unmasked" inside the company by a software bug. The social media site said it found no sign that hackers accessed the exposed data, but advised users to change their passwords to be safe. Twitter practice is to store passwords encrypted, or "hashed," so they are masked to even people inside the company, Twitter chief technology officer Parag Agrawal explained in a blog post. "Due to a bug, passwords were written to an internal log before completing the hashing process," he said. "We found this error ourselves, removed the passwords, and are implementing plans to prevent this bug from happening again." The San Francisco-based internet company did not specify how many passwords were exposed or how long the glitch made data vulnerable to snooping. "Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that you consider changing your password on all services where youve used this password," Agrawal told users. "We are very sorry this happened," he said. The stumble comes as the sector faces intense scrutiny over the protection of personal data online, in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal which saw information from tens of millions of Facebook users hijacked and misused. Twitter last week reported its second consecutive quarterly profit, boosting the outlook for the messaging platform after years in the red. The social network earned $61 million in the first three months of the year, helped by strong growth in advertising revenue and modest gains in users. First quarter revenues rose 21 per cent from a year ago to $665 million, and the key metric of monthly active users increased by six million from late last year to 336 million. Chief executive Jack Dorsey said recent changes made to the service have helped "engagement," a measure of how often people turn to the social network and how long they stay. While Twitter has built a solid core base of celebrities, politicians and journalists, it has failed to match the broader appeal of Facebook and other social platforms, hurting its ability to bring in ad revenues. The network has stepped up efforts to boost its user base and engagement, adding streaming video partnerships, doubling the character limit on tweets to 280 and making it easier to create "tweetstorms" by stringing messaging together. 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Plus, Oakland gets an e-sports arena and Burning Man's founder dies at the age of 70. At These Pop-Up Dinners, The Chefs (And The Guests) Are Homeless, Fast Company On a recent night at a pop-up dinner in San Francisco's Civic Center neighborhoodwith a menu including seared mushroom red potato tostada and roasted broccoli with honey sriracha, some of the guests had paid $55 for a ticket for the multi-course meal. Other people, who are homeless, paid nothing. They sat together and talked, eating food prepared by people who are also homeless. Read more. Larry Harvey, the Man Behind Burning Man, Is Dead at 70, The New York Times Larry Harvey, the guru-like driving force behind Burning Man, the globally celebrated anti-establishment, anti-consumerist festival that he and a friend began 32 years ago on a San Francisco beach, died on Saturday at a hospital in San Francisco. He was 70. Read more. Yes, median pay at Facebook really is about $240,000 a year, San Francisco Chronicle A law that requires public companies to disclose the median pay of their employees and compare it with their CEO's compensation is producing some eye-popping numbers that spotlight income inequality in America. Among the 40 largest Bay Area companies that have reported, median employee pay last year ranged from $5,375 at Gap to $240,430 at Facebook. Read more. City designates cultural status to queer leather district, SF Curbed A cultural-district designation by the city would, ideally, help preserve the neighborhood's character by fighting increasing rents, helping boost longtime businesses, and preserve the history of the neighborhood. After all, the district hosts two annual sex-fetish themed festivals: Folsom Street Fair and Up Your Alley Fair. Read more. All We Want to Do Is Watch Each Other Play Video Games, New York Times Oakland's new esports arena threw a pre-opening party recently. A line stretched down the block. Nearly 4,000 people jammed into the former parking structure and onto the street around it, right in the touristy heart of Jack London Square. The sponsor was Cup of Noodles. Inside it was cacophony. Read more. Anna Danilova and Fan Zhang met at the house party of a friend-of-friend and it was immediately electric between them. "I saw him from across the room and couldn't look away," Danilova recalls. Though it was Zhang who approached her on the dance floor that night, three and a half years later, it would be the future bride who made the big move. "We went to Hawaii for vacation, and I popped the question with ring in hand after dinner at the Ritz-Carlton." Deciding on a small ceremony wasn't tough for Danilova and Zhangboth are immigrants without much family in the Statesso they planned an intimate gathering with just their parents at two intimate spots: San Francisco City Hall ("one of the most beautiful in the country"), and the condo they'd moved into just six months earlier, taking the opportunity to snap some photos of their new love nest. Dressed in a lavender gown, Valentino heels, and wild horsehair earrings of her own design, Danilova carried a bouquet of vivid primary-hued blooms as she approached her cerulean-maned husband-to-be. After the ceremony, it was back home to sip bubbly, nibble macarons, and to share a twilight rooftop dance with the 'rents. "Eventually, we plan to go to both China and Russia and celebrate again with our family and friends there," the bride says. Venue: San Francisco City Hall Dress: Reformation Shoes: Valentino Rings: Digby and Iona Floral Designer: Nicole K. Shaffer Hair: Skyhawk Artistry Photography: Clara Rice Photography 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 REDDING, Calif. - The owner of a new movie studio in Redding is hoping his business will attract filmmakers and put Redding on the map for movie production. Owner of Top Dollar Movie Studio Kasey Dollar has a vision to turn a warehouse space off North Market Street in Redding into a full fledged movie studio and sound stage. It'll slowly get to that point, Dollar said. Right now, we're kind of building it out to prove the concept that we can do a movie studio in Redding. He got the idea to convert the space into a studio after lending it to local filmmaker Rene Perez for his last movie. And we got to talking, and I heard his producers were all out of town, LA and other countries, Dollar said. And I thought it would be pretty neat to keep everything local in Redding. But Dollar hasn't always been in the movie business. During the day, he flips houses for a living. But after flipping nearly 100 homes in the community, he was looking to get into something new. So it was really just amazing timing that I ran into Rene decided to put my mind towards movie producing, he said. And I'm still going to continue flipping houses, but using the money I might make on this. I'm going to invest that right back into Redding. Right now he and perez are working on a three-part project called The Vampire and the Vigilante that they hope to eventually turn into a series. And so that's our big project, Dollar said. It's taken a while to get our main actor out of L.A., so we're going to go ahead and start a different movie called Bring the Pain. Unlike L.A., Dollar said it's relatively easy to get permits to shoot in Shasta County. And he said everyone hes met is more than willing to help in the movie making process. And everybody's really open to being a part of this and helping out because it's going to really put Redding on the map as far as a movie/film place. Top Dollar Movie Studio is having its ribbon cutting ceremony 6PM Friday at 895 North Market Street in Redding. Dollar invites anyone 18 or older with acting or movie making experience to stop on by. Related stories: Shasta County growing destination for TV and filmmakers 'Kindergarten Cop' actor, films new movie in Redding Redding, CALIF - Fighting fire from the air is often one of the most hazardous activities in wildland firefighting. That is why trainees from all over California Thursday participated in simulated aerial firefighting after learning skills in the classrooms. During the two-week course, students participated in both classroom and aerial training. The first week, April 23rd to April 27th, classroom training takes place in Sacramento. Full flight operations from the Redding Air Attack Base are currently being conducted this week, April 30th to May 4th. Students today coordinated air tankers, helicopters, and smokejumper firefighting aircraft, on a simulated fire in the Oak Run and Whitmore areas. Aerial Firefighting- Tactical Training at Redding Air Attack Base pic.twitter.com/SWT1SEHORi CAL FIRE SHU (@CALFIRESHU) May 3, 2018 Heres how it works when aircraft are fighting a fire high above is the air attack plane.From this aircraft is where the shots are all of the shots are called during an active fire.They control all of the other aircraft in the area.Helicopters fly much closer to the fire and carry buckets of water to bring to specific points on the fire.The Choppers can also drop crews off to specific areas of the burn that may need it.The biggest of all the aircraft are the tankers.These large aircraft are brought in by a lead plane that shows them the line they should take.Then the tankers will drop some or all of their payload on the fire.Today the fire wasnt real, just a simulated 20-acre brush fire which was marked by smoke bombs but these tankers primary mission is to keep any fire that should break out under control. Thats why this training is so important. Heffa Schuecking, executive director of the German environment and human rights organization Urgewald, says: The coal industry is the number one driver of climate change, and building new coal plants is incompatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement. We welcome Allianzs move as an important step towards making the coal industry uninsurable and uninvestable. Peter Bosshard, coordinator of the international Unfriend Coal campaign, says: The insurance industry is uniquely placed to support the transition away from coal, and four global insurers have now decided to shift away from coal. We call on Munich Re, Generali, AIG and other climate laggards in the industry to also stop insuring and investing in coal projects. According to the policy announced today, Allianz will no longer offer stand-alone insurance coverage for the construction and operation of coal mines and coal-fired power plants. Other than in exceptional cases, the insurer will also no longer renew existing contracts for such projects. Allianz will continue to offer company-wide policies for coal companies, but commits to completely withdraw from the coal sector by 2040. Regine Richter, a finance campaigner with Urgewald, says: It is significant that the worlds largest insurer has set a target of bringing its coal coverage down to zero. Allianz should however commit to a more ambitious sunset period than 2040. Allianz also announced measures to strengthen its coal divestment policy today. In addition to companies depending on coal for more than 30% of their business, which it divested from in 2015, the insurer will now also shed its investments in companies which are planning to build more than 500 MW of new coal power capacity. This sets a new standard for the exclusion of coal plant developers. Allianz also announced that it plans to reduce its 30% threshold for the divestment of coal companies to 20% in the coming years. Lucie Pinson, the European coordinator of the Unfriend Coal campaign, says: Allianzs consequential divestment strategy sets a model for other large investors such as Aviva and Prudential. Like other leading insurers, Allianz should, however, include the more than $1 trillion it manages for third parties in its divestment policy. Since 2017, AXA, Zurich, SCOR and now Allianz have decided to stop insuring some or all new coal projects, and Swiss Re has announced that it will adopt such a policy soon. So far 16 insurers have divested an estimated $22 billion from coal companies. Earlier this week, The Paris city council in a declaration called on the insurance industry, whose CEOs will hold their annual meeting in Paris under the guise of the Geneva Association later this month, to withdraw their support from projects and companies in the coal sector, notably in the European Union and more particularly in Poland. Todays decision by Allianz will add pressure on insurance CEOs to make their businesses compatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement and exit the coal sector. The better color is red. Autism should be acknowledged with all the alarm of a blaring red ambulance light because that is a more accurate color for the reality of autism. Autism is not simply an urgent health care concern. It is a national emergency. There are 200,000 adults with autism. At the current rate, there will be 5 million in twenty-five years. The cost of the service infrastructure that will soon need to deal with millions of adults who need housing, food, social services and other needs will be crippling. Which is why, from a national perspective, the autism catastrophe needs to be addressed. Finding what is causing the increase in autism is no longer really a choice. It is imperative and that means having the courage to say what is really going on here. The Myth is Crumbling Usually, if the media covers autism, we are told that autism is a genetic disorder. Millions of research dollars have been spent searching for autism genes. All that has been found are genes that might predispose someone to autism. If you are affected by autism, America has not been made great again. Autism should not be celebrated with pretty blue lights as Autism Speaks suggests. The new autism rate is 1 in 59 children born in 2006, 1 in 36 for children between the ages of 3 and 17. This years announcement again claimed that greater awareness of the disorder by diagnosticians is causing the apparent increase. The 2018 spin is that the data is reflecting new cases from minority communities who had been previously undercounted, underserved and not previously represented. But the truth is that the increase in autism blew through any artifact of data collection years ago. The implications are that the increase is real, awful, unbelievably expensive in dollars and catastrophic in human cost. Schools are reporting increases in autism that require never ending budget busting costs for special education. Waiting lists for state funded services for people with autism are years long. Resources are drying up. Children with autism are growing into adults with autism and have adult needs. Families strain to support them. Parents wont live forever. People with autism suffer. Many deal with seizures, chronic pain and social isolation. How many times do we read about people with autism drowning, wandering away or being assaulted and abused. If you have bad news at the CDC, release it on a Friday afternoon and get out of town. Autism is not a genetic disorder (except in very rare case) because genetic disorders that produce the behaviors seen in autism decline in frequency over time as people with autism rarely pass on their genes. From one generation to the next, genes dont change enough to produce the increases now manifest. And if one is to buy the argument that the increase is driven by better diagnosis then youre buying the argument that diagnosticians from every corner of the country were complete incompetents just a few years ago. Youre also buying the notion that they all got smart, all at the same time. Was a secret training event for the nations diagnosticians held in a packed Yankee Stadium at some point in the 1990s? Its time to admit what reasonable people already know but only dare whisper: the increase in autism is real and it is caused by environmental factors like toxins, pesticides and heavy metals. In other words, we are looking at a mass poisoning. The greatest mass poisoning in human history. The Great Poisoning. What is Behind the Great Poisoning? Consider this question: What route of toxic exposure could produce the same disorder in children in every corner of the country at similar rates of increase beginning in the early 1990s. The national vaccination program is the only candidate. Vaccines became a suspected cause of autism because thousands of parents observed children regressing developmentally following vaccines. Many cases of vaccine induced brain damage that feature autism are well documented. Despite all of the assurances that vaccines are safe and effective, the fact remains that they are injectable drugs that contain aluminum, mercury, glyphosate, formaldehyde and other toxins. The epidemiological research relied on by public health officials to claim that vaccines are not responsible for autism has primarily relied on the research that involved two men - Dr. William Thompson and Dr. Poul Thorsen. Dr. Poul Thorsen The Man Who Proved that Mercury in Vaccines Was Completely Safe: OIG Fugitive: Poul Thorsen From approximately February 2004 until February 2010, Poul Thorsen executed a scheme to steal grant money awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC had awarded grant money to Denmark for research involving infant disabilities, autism, genetic disorders, and fetal alcohol syndrome. CDC awarded the grant to fund studies of the relationship between autism and the exposure to vaccines, the relationship between cerebral palsy and infection during pregnancy, and the relationship between developmental outcomes and fetal alcohol exposure. Thorsen worked as a visiting scientist at CDC, Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, before the grant was awarded. The initial grant was awarded to the Danish Medical Research Council. In approximately 2007, a second grant was awarded to the Danish Agency for Science, Technology, and Innovation. Both agencies are governmental agencies in Denmark. The research was done by the Aarhaus University and Odense University Hospital in Denmark. Thorsen allegedly diverted over $1 million of the CDC grant money to his own personal bank account. Thorsen submitted fraudulent invoices on CDC letterhead to medical facilities assisting in the research for reimbursement of work allegedly covered by the grants. The invoices were addressed to Aarhaus University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The fact that the invoices were on CDC letterhead made it appear that CDC was requesting the money from Aarhaus University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital although the bank account listed on the invoices belonged to Thorsen. In April 2011, Thorsen was indicted on 22 counts of Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. According to bank account records, Thorsen purchased a home in Atlanta, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, an Audi automobile, and a Honda SUV with funds that he received from the CDC grants. Thorsen is currently in Denmark and is awaiting extradition to the United States. In the mid-2000s, Dr. Thorsen produced research that seemingly exonerated mercury in vaccines as a cause of autism. The research used dubious statistical gymnastics to make that claim but the journal Pediatrics published it anyway. CDC staff pressured the journal to do so. Poul Mugsy Thorsen recently celebrated his seventh year on the lam. Hes actually not hard to find. Hes living openly in Denmark, dating former CDC employees and working at public health institutions that receive CDC funding. The United States has yet to ask Denmark for Thorsens extradition. No one really knows why. It looks like Thorsen is keeping all the money he stole. His research continues to be cited and relied upon by the American medical establishment. Dr. William Thompson: Dr. Thompson filed for federal whistleblower protection after disclosing in legally recorded phone conversations that he and fellow CDC employees manipulated findings and tossed vaccine safety data in the garbage. The excluded data showed a strong association between the MMR vaccine and autism. Here is an excerpt from Dr. Thompsons statement on the Morgan-Verkamp website: My name is William Thompson. I am a Senior Scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where I have worked since 1998. I regret that my coauthors and I omitted statistically significant information in our 2004 article published in the journal Pediatrics. The omitted data suggested that African American males who received the MMR vaccine before age 36 months were at increased risk for autism. Decisions were made regarding which findings to report after the data were collected, and I believe that the final study protocol was not followed. Omitting and altering scientific data and altering study protocols to keep the real results from being published is scientific fraud. It may also be criminal conduct as the data belonged to the American people. Ultimately, Thorsens bad research and the CDCs fraud in the papers Thompson was a part of were ultimately used to dismiss the vaccine injury claims of over 5,000 petitioners in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in what is referred to as the Omnibus Autism Proceedings (OAP). Imagine if the petitioners in the OAP had access to the real data? Thousands of families might have received the compensation they deserved. Imagine if the truth behind these studies had been honestly disclosed? Doctors and families might be making very different vaccination decisions and the autism rate could be much lower. Think of all of the lives impacted by the decisions of a few people to conceal the truth. Dr. Thompson continues to work at the CDC. The CDC continues to bar him from testifying in court about what he knows even though he has stated a willingness to do so. Unlike Poul Thorsen, Thompsons statements show him to be a man tormented by his participation in the research fraud who deeply regrets his actions. Despite his public statement, main stream media has failed to investigate what he has openly stated. Believe it or not, this is what has really gone on behind the scenes of what the main stream media refers to as the settled science that proves vaccines dont cause autism. Why Investigative Journalism Refuses to Cover The Great Poisoning? The media has been informed about the actual state of the settled science, Thorsens indictment and fugitive status and Thompsons whistleblower claims. However, the media has not been willing to cover these stories and hardly covered Fridays announcement about the increase in autism. Apparently, the major networks have been unable to find space for a story on autism in between all of the drug commercials. Pick a show on a major network and simply count the number of pharmaceutical adds run during the show. It is obvious that these commercials dominate network programing and are a critical revenue source. Vaccine scandals are not the only crisis triggered by the pharmaceutical industry that mainstream media has hardly covered. The pharmaceutical industry is also responsible for Americas opioid addiction crisis. America lost more people to opioid overdose deaths in 2016 than it did during the entire Vietnam War. Other than the occasional story about the horrors of opioid addiction, little has been done about the pharmaceutical executives responsible for it. Back in the late 1990s, Pharma sponsored research showed that using opioid pain relievers was perfectly safe. Doctors relied on that research and began managing patients suffering from pain with these drugs at an unprecedented level. The result has been the worst addiction crisis in American history. The pattern is clear publishing fraudulent research is an industry strategy to increase profit. How bad is the Pharmaceutical industry sponsored opioid epidemic? The average life expectancy of Americans actually fell last year due to all of the deaths of young people. The opioid addiction crisis is brought to us by the same people who brought us the autism epidemic the pharmaceutical industry. Investigative journalism - unless it supports the views (pro-Trump or anti-Trump) that drive viewers to the network they work for - simply wont touch the pharmaceutical industry. Its not that we are being shown fake news. We are, however, only seeing sponsored news. The Great Poisoning is not sponsored news. The true cause of the opioid crisis and the autism crisis is not being covered on the major news outlets because it simply doesnt have a powerful sponsor. The industry pays too many of the networks bills. Just count the drug commercials. The Fourth Estate has become the Pharma Estate. Farewell to Autism Awareness Month Another year and nothing has changed for people with autism and the people who love them. Maybe next April we will finally correctly name what is really going on with the increase in autism. Maybe next April the blue lights will change to red. Because red is the color of The Great Poisoning. Louis Conte, author of The Autism War and co-author of Vaccine Injuries, published by Skyhorse Publishing New York City Mosul is Being Set Up By Media As a World Islamic Capital For anyone interested in seeing how a devastated city with a history stretching back several thousand years can rebuild itself, look no further than some of the stories coming out about Mosul, the newly liberated north central Iraqi city. Even before ISIS took over the place in 2014, Mosul had always been very dangerous and considered quite suspect. Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay, had lived there for years and even after they died in a gun battle in 2003, the place was rife with suicide bombers who killed whatever American military they found there plus many hapless Iraqis. I was in the area in 2004, visiting the Kurdish areas north and east of Mosul and my guides only dared take me to a place within 30 miles of the city. They didn't want me to risk getting any closer. Which is why I've been interested in international efforts to rebuild Mosul after two years of war have made it a ghost town in many places. This recent New York Times piece sets the stage: BAGHDAD -- The scars of battle remain deeply etched into the geography of Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, with thousands of homes, buildings and places of worship destroyed during the nine-month fight to oust the Islamic State. But now, thanks to a donation of $50 million from the United Arab Emirates, one of the ancient city's most renowned landmarks will rise from the rubble: Al Nuri Grand Mosque and its storied minaret. The announcement this week of a five-year plan to rebuild Mosul's centuries-old religious complex represents the largest cultural restoration project in Iraq, according to United Nations officials overseeing the project. Built in 1172, the minaret was approximately 145 feet tall and decorated with ornamental brickwork that was renowned during that period, widely considered a golden age of Islamic architecture and art. Medieval travelers wrote glowing descriptions of Mosul, especially the leaning minaret that local residents nicknamed Al Hudba, or the hunchback. The leaning tower came to define Mosul much like the arch in St. Louis, Mo. It towered over the skyline and symbolized the city's reputation as an ancient place of learning and beauty...The minaret was later chosen to adorn Iraq's 10,000 dinar note, cementing its place as one of the country's best-known landmarks. However, officials acknowledge a feeling of fatigue from international donors, especially after the wars in Iraq and Syria sparked the biggest mass migration since World War II... The U.S. alone spent $60 billion over nine years -- some $15 million a day -- to rebuild Iraq. Around $25 billion went to Iraq's military, which disintegrated during the lightning 2014 offensive of the Islamic State group, which grew out of al-Qaida in Iraq. U.S. government auditors also found massive waste and corruption, fueling suspicions of Western politicians like Trump who want to scale back foreign aid. One of the strengths of this project is its inclusiveness. Other partners in the project include the Sunni Endowment of Iraq, which owns the mosque, the Iccrom-Athar regional conservation centre in Sharjah, and Organisation of Islamic Conference. In 1165, Benjamin of Tudela, a medieval Spanish Jewish traveler, approached the city of Mosul on the banks of the Tigris. A visitor, even a thousand years ago, could marvel at its antiquity. "This city, situated on the confines of Persia, is of great extent and very ancient," he wrote in the chronicle of his journey. He gestured to the adjacent ruins of Nineveh, which had been sacked 15 centuries before his arrival. Mosul, perched in Mesopotamia's fertile river basin, was a walled trade city at the heart of the proverbial cradle of civilizations, linked to caravan routes threading east and other venerable urban centers like Aleppo to the west. Mosul is like a cross between Jerusalem and Los Angeles: A welter of religions, temples, biblical sites and culture. Its population includes Arabs, Kurds, Iraqi and Kurdish Jews; Assyrians, Turkmens, Mandeans, Yezidis, Armenians, Shabaks and Romani (who are connected with the gypies of Romania).I'll be interested in seeing if Mosul is re-packaged as a great Islamic center, as it has been for the past millennium and before that, the seat of vast empires that ruled the fertile crescent. The biblical prophet Jonah --- who ended up in a whale rather than go there to preach --- is buried there; which is ironic in that he truly hated the place even after a successful preaching trip. The Old Testament prophet is buried in Al Qosh, a village north of Mosul and there is a tomb of Seth in Mosul; Seth being Adam and Eve's third son. A lot of Mosul's future depends on who's coming up with the money to put the place back together. This CNBC story cites a $88.2 billion price tag for rebuilding the city but also adds that the money probably won't come from the West. Here's why:So late last month, the United Arab Emirates came up with $50 million to start rebuilding. Naturally they're more interested in helping rebuild the aforementioned tower and mosque in the hopes of making Mosul a 21st century "Arabian nights" spectacle. Another article in an Emirates publication also sets out the Islamic backing of Mosul's reconstruction.Mosul has a great history. Across the Tigris River are the ruins of Nineveh, one of the greatest cities of all time. What began as a center for the worship of the goddess Ishtar became the capital of Assyria and the largest city in the world around 700 BC. It fell in 612 BC to a coalition of Persians, Medes, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Scythians and more. Mosul is not only Muslim territory. It was once home to 70,000 Assyrian Christians, many of whom have fled, plus a former Jewish community that left for Israel years ago. To better understand the place, scan the Washington Post's summation of Iraqi map history in five easy lessons. It began:If Iraq can stay out of another war, I'm guessing the country will package itself as a pilgrimage spot for pious Muslims. There's already two pilgrimage centers in the southern part of the country and Mosul's religious monuments, if rebuilt, could rival Athens as a cradle of eastern civilization. Since the pilgrimage capitals of Mecca and Medina are closed to non-Muslims, Iraq's venues are the one place all faiths can go to outside of Jerusalem for the history, if anything else. Iraq has secular roots and was run as a secular republic during the past century, so I can't see it becoming the new Mecca But the Iraqis, if they are smart, will need to come up with some gimmick to explains the rebuilding of their country, as it's not everyday that $50 million grants arrive at your door. And reporters, if they are astute, will look for the rebranding of Mosul from the violence-prone decades before into something that either weaves the area's Christians, Muslims and many smaller groups together. Or it could be the new Cairo; a bustling Muslim metropolis. Mosul's rebuilding has great import. Stay tuned to how that turns out. 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. An-188 airlifter scale model unveiled at Eurasia 2018 airshow (Credit: Antonov) 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 new aircraft will bring the Ukrainian-Turkish project to the list of world leaders. According to the results of negotiations with the Turkish delegation headed by the Dr.Ismail Demir, Undersecretary for Defense Industries it was decided to move to the practical implementation of the project in the near future," said Director General of the SC UkrOboronProm, Pavlo Bukin. The An-188 aircraft, which is being 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. At the ILA International Air Show in Berlin, Diehl Defence and Boeing Defense, Space & Security signed a Teaming Agreement on cooperation of GBU-54 Laser JDAM weapon systems in Germany, the German defense company said on May 2, 2018. Staff Sgt. Chris White, USAF 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, loads a GBU-54 to an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a 30-day inspection at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Jan. 15, 2016 (Credit: U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys) Boeing's GBU-54 is a precision ammunition comprising an unguided, Mk-82 series warhead (500pound bomb body) and Boeings Laser JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) guidance kit enabling the weapon to be guided precisely to the target. Through the combination of GPS/INS navigation, laser seeker and target designation, stationary and mobile targets can also be engaged in adverse weather conditions. The GBU-54 is a combat proven air-to-surface weapon already in inventory and integrated onto the Tornado and could also improve the air-to-ground mission capability of the German Eurofighter. By this cooperation, the partners want to offer the Bundeswehr above all two advantages: utilizing one of the most modern weapon systems available in the market plus on-site support by a national missile system house with experience in the management of inventory and integration of equipment and weapon systems on a range of aircraft, including the Eurofighter. Boeing has been an active partner in the German aerospace industry for many decades and continues to be a strong contributor to the countrys economy through its supply chain and partnerships with local industry. The cooperation with Diehl is an example of how Boeing can offer industrial partnership opportunities across its enterprise, while supporting long-term growth for German companies of all sizes and areas of expertise. Why Purchase ? Great brand recognition and memorability from advertising, marketing, and your web site landing pages. This domain is likely to hold and increase its value over time. Poor domain names lose traffic and new customer conversions to better domain named companies, Microsoft Research calls this effect "domain bias in web search." is a category killer domain that may be commonly used around the world. Such a name offers your company a clear competitive advantage online and off. Argentina has welcomed the US governments offer of a tariff-free quota for aluminium shipments to the United States, while the Brazilian aluminium industry has opted to bear the imposition of a 10% tariff on such shipments with no limit on volume - deeming it a less harmful alternative. Under the quota, a total of 180,000 tonnes per year of Argentina-origin aluminium will be allowed to enter the US without facing the 10% import tariff linked to the latters Section 232 investigation. The 180,000-tonne volume is equal to the average amount of Argentinian aluminium shipped to the US on an annual basis over the past three years, according to Francisco Cabrera, Argentinas minister of production. But the quota is about 30% lower than the 260,000 tonnes of aluminium exported to the US last year. Despite this, the Argentinian government deemed the quota a success, highlighting that it had achieved a better deal than South Korea, which had settled for a tariff-free quota that equaled 70% of the Asian nations average annual exports to the US in 2015-17. Aluar, Argentinas sole primary aluminium producer, also said that the negotiations had delivered a positive result but added that the final evaluation of the deal will depend on the terms reached by other countries with the US. "It's a complex chess game in which, until all the pieces are there, it is not possible to know the triangulations. So far, with the information available, it's good to have been one step ahead," Aluar president Javier Madanes Quintanilla told Argentinian national newspaper La Nacion. Meanwhile, Argentina has 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%. On Monday April 30, the US government announced that it had reached agreements in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil with respect to steel and aluminium quotas, but it did not give further details. Then on May 1, when the new Section 232 tariffs were due to come into effect, the US government announced its decision to postpone imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium imported from the European Union, Canada and Mexico until June 1. Brazil Meanwhile, the Brazilian aluminium industry has opted to bear the 10% tariff on its deliveries to the US without a quota in place, stating that this was a less harmful alternative for its interests, according to a joint statement from Brazils Foreign Trade and Foreign Relations ministries. The decision came after the US halted the negotiation process with Brazils government on April 26 and gave the country the choice of either accepting restrictive quotas or facing the tariffs, the ministries added. In contrast, the Brazilian steel industry saw the imposition of a lower volume tariff-free quota as preferable to the 25% tariff established for the sector. "The Brazilian government regrets that the negotiations were interrupted, and it remains open to building reasonable solutions to both parties, the ministries said. The government added that it expects the USA will not move forward to apply the restrictions, preserving current bilateral trade flows in the steel and aluminium sectors. Sources in Brazils aluminium industry see little chance of talks being reestablished or a different outcome being achieved. Given continuing domestic production issues in Brazil, such as Hydros Albras smelter operating at 50% capacity, the expectation was for Brazil-origin shipments to the US to decline even before the imposition of the US tariffs, industry sources said. Supply concerns both domestically and globally, in respect to the US sanctions on Russian aluminium producer UC Rusal were behind a surge in Brazilian aluminium premiums over the past month. Metal Bulletins delivered Sao Paulo P1020 premium averaged $381.25 per tonne in April, up from an average of $307.50 per tonne in March and much higher than Januarys average of $239 per tonne. Meanwhile, Metal Bulletins cif main Brazilian ports premium averaged $246.88 per tonne in April compared with $192.50 per tonne in March. Aprils average was also significantly higher than the $167-per-tonne average recorded in January. Ferrous scrap prices in the major global markets remained firm during the working week from Monday April 30 to Friday May 4, with the exception of the United States. Although Turkish steel producers halted their deep-sea scrap purchases at the end of the previous week, suppliers have kept their offers strong this past week.But the decreases in Turkish import prices seen in previous weeks have only now been reflected in the US export markets.In the meantime, Indian scrap prices were rising, while conditions in the Taiwanese scrap market have been mostly stable over the past week.The Turkish deep-sea scrap markets have been quiet this past week, while steel mills in the country and their scrap suppliers continued to negotiate prices for cargoes to be delivered in May.The mills were said to be waiting for next weeks conference of the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) for market clarity to emerge and to resume their bookings in the deep-sea scrap market for May delivery.After booking around 20 cargoes, Turkish steel producers went silent at the end of this past week, following an uptick in prices.The most recent transactions into Turkey were done around $352-355 per tonne cfr for No. 1 and No. 2 heavy melting scrap (80:20) from the Baltic Sea region, after which the suppliers in the area raised their offers to $365 per tonne cfr, according to sources.But Turkish steel producers continued to bid no more than $355 per tonne for material, Metal Bulletin was told.Baltic Sea suppliers are still offering HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $365 per tonne cfr, but the Turkish mills are not ready to pay such high prices. However, the market seems to be strengthening, a Turkish source said.I think the mills are waiting for the Irepas conference to see the markets direction and we will probably hear more deals for May then, another Turkish source added.The Irepas conference will be held May 6-8 in Warsaw, Poland.Ferrous scrap export prices from the US dipped in four cargo sales to Turkey, prompting exporters on the countrys East Coast to consider further price reductions, while containerized scrap prices on the East and West coasts held firm due to Asian demand.Four cargoes three from the US East Coast and one from the Gulf Coast were traded to Turkey in the past week. The first two East Coast cargoes to Turkey traded at $357.50 per tonne cfr and $358 per tonne cfr for shredded scrap on April 26.The following day, a cargo was sold off the East Coast to Turkey at $359 per tonne cfr for shredded scrap. A fourth cargo originating from the Gulf Coast changed hands on the same day at $357 per tonne cfr for the same grade.Prices have fallen by $1-3 per tonne from a sale on April 18, which concluded at $360 per tonne cfr for shredded scrap. Some sources said that Turkish mills might try to push scrap prices lower, depending on their rebar export prices, but others see further falls in deep-sea prices as unlikely.An export source believed that bulk prices to Turkey will remain in the range of $350-360 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20). I dont think they can push prices down further; otherwise, where are they going to get the scrap from? Sooner or later, they will have to come back and make a dent in the [US] market, this source said.US East Coast exporters are grasping the opportunity to further reduce their buying prices at the docks, emboldened by an expected drop in domestic US scrap prices in May and improved flows at dealer yards due to warmer weather.Export is basically making the market this month. The docks have already made the decision by taking buy prices down, and people are still shipping... [The export yards] are still getting material so, of course, the domestics are going to follow suit, a seller in the domestic and export sector said.Prices for containerized shredded scrap on the US East Coast showed modest gains this past week due to rebounding demand from the Indian subcontinent. Prices inched upward to $345-350 per tonne fas from $340-350 per tonne fas the previous week.On the US West Coast, containerized HMS 1&2 (80:20) prices remained at $320-325 per tonne fas this past week, unchanged from the prior week. Container sales to Asia were held up by the Labor Day holiday on May 1, but delivered prices to major Asian destinations are expected to inch upward next week.Chinese steel futures are doing well, so thats a good sign of support for scrap prices, a West Coast export source said. But I dont think there is too much more upside to prices.Import prices for containerized HMS-grade scrap in Taiwan remained stable this past week due to unchanged market fundamentals.Metal Bulletins price assessment for US-origin HMS 1&2 (80:20) sold into Taiwan remained at $340-343 per tonne cfr on May 4.US-origin scrap was on offer at $343-348 per tonne cfr Taiwan this past week, up by $3-5 per tonne from the preceding week.Traders said there had been limited offers of US-origin scrap because sellers were still holding out for higher prices, expecting the upward trend to continue.Sellers in the US think that prices will increase [when] Japan returns to the spot market next week after its Golden Week holiday, a Taiwanese trader said.There were still some HMS 1&2 (50:50) bulk cargoes from Japan and Hong Kong being offered, as well as Japan-origin HMS 2 bulk cargoes, at about $345 per tonne cfr Taiwan.Bids were coming in at $338-340 per tonne cfr Taiwan, up from $335 per tonne cfr Taiwan the previous week, sources said.One major buyer purchased 2,000-3,000 tonnes of imported scrap at close to $340 per tonne cfr Taiwan.Prices for containerized shredded scrap imports into India went up this past week on better levels of demand, market sources told Metal Bulletin on May 4.This weeks price rise for containerized imports comes as buyers continue to return to the market after a recent lull in activity resulted in stagnant prices.Deals were heard at prices as high as $400 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva for 1,200 tonnes from the UK, as well as one deal for 4,000 tonnes done at $390 per tonne and another at $393 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva.UK-origin scrap was in favor this past week, with the majority of deals done for such material. One seller said that this was because delivery times are much shorter than for material from the United States.A deal for Europe-origin material was heard at $390 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva for 3,000 tonnes.Shredded scrap was offered at prices as low as $385 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva.Buyers are happy to pay $390 per tonne. Germany is asking for more than $400 per tonne [but its] prices are too high so we have not bought [from there], a trader said.Meanwhile, prices for HMS 1&2 imports into India edged up again this week, with demand continuing to increase with buyers coming back to the market after holding back for several weeks, keeping prices flat throughout April.Europe-origin HMS 1&2 was heard sold at $375 per tonne.Deals for Middle-East origin HMS 1&2 material were heard done at $377 per tonne and $379 per tonne early in the week, with offer prices for similar material edging up toward the end of the week to $383 per tonne.Turkish domestic auto bundle scrap prices went up in line with imported scrap prices, while ship scrap prices remained stable at the beginning of the week.Metal Bulletins weekly price assessment for domestic auto bundle scrap (DKP grade) in Turkey was TRY1,370-1,500 ($326-357) per tonne delivered, narrowing upward from the previous weeks TRY1,270-1,500 per tonne.This upward movement in the weekly assessment came after major scrapyard Kiliclar Hurda raised its buy price for the material by TRY100 to TRY1,370 per tonne delivered.Paul Lim in Singapore, Carrie Bone in London and Mei Ling Toh in New York contributed to this report. Posted on: May 4, 2018 2:27 PM Together as a church, Canadian Anglicans are taking steps towards ending human trafficking across their nation. Last month, the Anglican Church of Canada organised a regional consultation in Pickering, Ontario at the Manresa Jesuit Centre. Individuals from across the region of Ontario listened to stories of survivors, discussed the cycle that traps victims, and responded with priorities and action. The consultation involved panel discussions and presentations, with speakers including government representatives, indigenous leaders, Anglican Communion partners, and professions working to end human trafficking. In the words of one participant, We have been in the presence of evil and trauma It has confirmed my belief that trauma is healed through relationship. Think about the image of the Trinity. Together in solidarity together we can confront and heal it. Among the speakers and co-facilitator of the event was Rachel Carnegie, Co-Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance. Rachel shared her insight on responding to human trafficking from the Alliances work around the Communion. She explained the Alliances holistic response framework, which is based on the idea that each context is different and any response must be guided by local churches. She referred to this framework as the Seven Ps towards ending human trafficking: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Policy, Partnership, Participation, and Prayer. It is hugely encouraging to see how Canada is joining other provinces around the Communion in committing to tackle the scourge of human trafficking, she said. The stories we have heard from survivors have been truly heart breaking and disturbing, and yet the meeting was also informed by light and hope in the survivors courage and vision and also in the recognition that together, learning, praying and acting as a church and with others, we can help to end this crime against humanity. Experts informed participants on the nature of human trafficking, to better equip them to respond. They shared the stages that lead to exploitation and the groups that are most often targeted: women and girls, homeless and marginalised youth, young people who struggle with low self esteem, bullying, addiction, or mental health issues. Of these groups, indigenous women and girls are particularly at risk. Trafficking from indigenous communities was a key focus of the event and leaders played a critical role in the consultation. Among them was Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum of the Nichnawbe Aski Nation. She shared a presentation on the relationship between human trafficking and missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, as well as indigenous boys and men. Ultimately, the consultation responded with the following principles and priorities: raise awareness, be guided by survivors, building the local church as a safe space, and outreach to vulnerable groups. They also recognised that Indigenous communities must lead and guide any response in their own context. Ryan Weston, co-chair of the Human Trafficking Reference Group shared, If we are going to be effective in [working to eliminate human trafficking], it needs to be engaged in at every level of the church. So we want the grassroots parish folks to be aware and engaged and praying and taking action as much as folks that are closely affiliated with national initiatives. This consultation is the first of four regional consultations, one for each internal province of the Anglican Church of Canada. The need for these consultations grew out of a discussion at the churchs general synod. Archdeacon Michael Thompson, Provincial Secretary for the Anglican Church of Canada, shared his reflections on the recent event. The Primate will be grateful to know that this issue is stirring the heart of the Church. If anyone is in Christ there is a new creation. Because you have been here there is a new creation. Posted on: May 4, 2018 2:58 PM Churches and Christians throughout Asia will observe Asia Sunday next week (13 May) with a focus on prayer. Asia Sunday is an initiative of the Christian Conference of Asia, which includes all the Anglican Provinces in the region as well as the Anglican Church of Australia and the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia; as well as many other Christian denominations and ecumenical partners. This years theme is Embracing the Differently Abled and Upholding Their Dignity. The CCA observers Asia Sunday every year, although some churches switch it to a different time of the year. The Church as a community, called to be in Gods mission, should be concerned of all Gods people, and to embrace everyone, including those who live with disabilities, who are created in the image of God, the General Secretary of CCA, Dr Mathews George Chunakara, said. He said that this years theme was an opportunity to remind and sensitise churches in Asia to be concerned that all people with or without disabilities have unique gifts and abilities to share with others as they live in a community; the disabled people are included to be part of every community, where they can use their various God-given gifts. Throughout the world, the number of people who live with disabilities of one sort or another is increasing. The CCA says that this is due to ageing populations, natural disasters, conflicts and war, chronic health conditions, road accidents and related injuries, poor working conditions, and other factors. One in every six people in Asia has some form of disability, numbering about 650 million. Posted on: May 4, 2018 2:11 PM [Episcopal News Service, by David Paulsen] The Navajoland Area Mission is committed to fixing up one of its historic buildings in Farmington, New Mexico, as a labour of love. It would be easier and cheaper simply to demolish the 1922 structure, but this is no ordinary building. It originally served as an Episcopal hospital catering to the Navajo people. Generations of Navajo were born and treated at the hospital until it closed about 50 years ago. The hospitals chapel remained in use until about a decade ago, when it too was closed, out of safety concerns. Because of its deteriorating condition, saving the building is a herculean task, but through Episcopal Church grants, additional fundraising efforts and the dedication of Navajoland officials, a two-year restoration project had advanced enough to reopen the chapel last week in time for it to be re-consecrated and blessed during Presiding Bishop Michael Currys recent visit to Navajoland. We put things on hyper-overdrive to get the chapel ready for the presiding bishops visit, said the Revd Chan Osborn de Anaya, canon to the ordinary for Navajoland Bishop Dave Bailey. She called Hozho Chapel the heart of the body of Christ in that old hospital. The rest of the building will be finished hopefully in the autumn, she said. The chapel will share the second floor with a new womens wellness centre, while the ground floor will become the home of Cheiis Web Development, an upstart enterprise created by Navajoland to teach young people coding skills and create jobs in web design. Im very excited, G J Gordy, manager and web developer with Cheiis, told Episcopal News Service. Were going to start teaching web development and basic computer skills, and teaching has been a passion of mine, especially helping Navajo children. (ANSA) - Rome, May 4 - Antonino Vadala, the allegedly 'Ndrangheta-linked businessman that investigative reporter Jan Kuciak was probing before he was killed, will be extradited from Slovakia to Italy, judicial sources said Friday. Milan Filicko, spokesman for prosecutors in Kosice, said Italy had requested his extradition on drugs charges. Vadala has agreed to be extradited, a process that will take about 10 days, Czech news agency CTK said. The murders of Kuciak and his girlfriend have caused an earthquake in Slovakia and Premier Robert Fico stepped down in mid-March. The young investigative journalist was probing the Italian 'Ndrangheta Calabrian mafia's alleged ties to the country's business and political community. Fico was replaced by Deputy Premier Peter Pellegrini amid the backlash following the February murders of Kuciak and his fiance'e. Vadala', arrested then released in connection with Kuciak's murder, was re-arrested in Slovakia on March 14 in connection with a Venice probe into a Calabria-based organisation that brought drugs from South America into Italy. Eleven people were arrested in the probe. On March 1 Slovak police arrested entrepreneur Vadala' together with his brother and cousin and four other Italian men in connection with the murders. They were released two days later. Kuciak's last, unfinished report on suspected 'Ndrangheta links to Slovakia's business and political communities said Vadala' and others had fraudulently used EU funds. His former business associate, a former Miss Universe contestant named Premier Fico's assistant, is among those who have quit amid the public indignation over the case and corruption woes, which also brought down the interior minister. ANSAmed - Weekly diary from May 7 to May 13 (ANSAmed) - ROME, MAY 4 - Weekly diary of the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area from May 7 to May 13: MONDAY MAY 7 ROME - Foreign Ministry, 9 a.m. - Conference titled 'Youth Potential in the Mediterranean - Unlocking Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges'. ROME - Italian Society for International Organisation (SIOS) headquarters, 4:30 p.m. Seminar titled 'Immigration, Reception to Integration' with Interior Minister Marco Minniti. TUESDAY MAY 8 VARIOUS CITIES - World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. TURIN - Conference titled 'Erdogan's Turkey. The Narrow Ridge Between the West, Russia, and Ottoman Aspirations'. ANTWERP - Commemoration of the Holocaust, organised by the Forum of Jewish Organisations with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. WEDNESDAY MAY 9 VARIOUS CITIES - Europe Day, to celebrate peace and unity on the continent. CANNES - International Film Festival (until 20/5). THURSDAY MAY 10 NO MAJOR EVENTS SCHEDULED FRIDAY, MAY 11 FLORENCE - EU, 'The State of the Union', organised by the European University Institute with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini. SATURDAY MAY 12 PARIS - EU, citizens' dialogue with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, French European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau, and European Parliament MP Sylvie Guillaume. SUNDAY MAY 13 ROME - 'Greek Sunday', a day to celebrate Greek food, promoted by the Greek Embassy in Rome. (ANSAmed). BARI - More than 100 meetings to start and strengthen business relations and dialogue between entrepreneurs from Puglia and from the Arab world took place at the International Italo-Arab Business Exchange on Friday. The Exchange was organised in Bari by the Region of Puglia's Internationalisation department in collaboration with the Italo-Arab Chamber of Commerce and the region's in-house company Puglia Sviluppo (Puglia Development). There were 30 Arab professionals and business people present - 16 from Saudi Arabia, six from the United Arab Emirates, and the others from Oman, Kuwait, Egypt and Qatar - each of whom met an average of 33 business people from Puglia. Construction was the most popular sector for bilateral meetings, followed by advanced mechanics (as well as applied and oil and gas), green and blue economy, healthcare and cosmetics. On Friday and Saturday the Arab professionals are taking part in visits to local companies in their sectors of interest, organised by the Region of Puglia and Puglia Sviluppo. Additional planned and unplanned visits will also take place, as a result of meetings at the event itself. "The best success of this initiative is having started a dialogue that won't stop just at the business sphere, but will help us to get to know people and demands, shortening the distances and building bridges between worlds that can no longer stay far apart," Emiliano said. During Friday's meetings, dedicated to Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and halal certification, it was emphasized that a third of the world's population is Muslim and two million of that population live in Italy. Therefore, being able to offer halal-certified products (that is, products permissible as prescribed by Muslim law) presents significant economic opportunities. Emphasis was also placed on the equally important factor of building businesses with joint Puglia and Arab capital, with the double advantage of lowering costs and starting business relationships in countries with strong demand. Tunisian fruit exports +180% from Jan to May 2018 Exports to Italy +160% (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, May 4 - Tunisian fruit exports did very well in the first 5 months of the year. According to figures published by the Tunisian agricultural ministry, fruit exports rose by 180% on the same period in the previous year, with a 97% increase in value. Between January 2 and May 2, some 1,342.4 tons of fruit were exported to foreign markets, worth 7.7062 billion dinars, compared with 478.7 tons worth 3.9152 billion dinars in the same period in 2017. These figures, the Tunisian ministry noted, are explained by the return of the Libyan market, which imports about 40% of Tunisian fruit exported, as well as an increase to Italy (+160%), Qatar (+1,070%), new markets such as Belgium and the Sultanate of Oman. (ANSAmed). Gaza Health Ministry says 170 wounded in border clashes Sixth round of demonstrations against blockade (ANSAmed) - GAZA, MAY 4 - The Gaza Health Ministry on Friday said at least 170 Palestinians were wounded, 22 of which were hit by bullets while the others were intoxicated with tear gas, during the sixth round of weekly demonstrations against the Gaza Strip blockade. Local sources said the most serious incidents took place in Khan Yunis, east of Gaza City, and Jabalya. A tall smokescreen can be seen along the demarcation line, after numerous tyres were set on fire.(ANSAmed). Health ministry says 431 wounded in Gaza border clashes Demonstrators knock down Kerem Shalom border crossing (ANSAmed) - GAZA, MAY 4 - A total of 431 demonstrators were wounded by shots or intoxicated by tear gas shot by Israeli soldiers in clashes at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Friday, the local health ministry said, according to Palestinian news agency Maan. Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators knocked down the barrier fences at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the main entrance to Gaza for goods coming in from Israel. Demonstrators also broke into the Palestinian National Authority and Israel offices and set fire to packages of documents, according to Islamic jihadist broadcaster al-Quds al-Yaoum, which broadcast the break-in live. In that incident, Israeli soldiers eventually used a liberal amount of tear gas to force the demonstrators to flee.(ANSAmed). International mediators certify end of ETA in Spain Meeting in French Basque Country after news of 'dismantling' (ANSAmed) - MADRID, MAY 4 - The "dismantling" of the ETA announced on Thursday by the group's leader Josu Ternera was certified on Friday in the French Basque Country town of Cambo les Bains by a group of international mediators that accompanied the dissolution of the Basque armed separatist group, said Tv3. Participants at the meeting included former managing director of the International Monetary Fund Michel Camdessus, former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, South African attorney Brian Currin, former Mexican presidential candidate Cuauthemoc Cardenas, and representatives from the Spanish Basque nationalist parties. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the ETA was "defeated by Spanish democracy". In an institutional statement following a cabinet meeting, Rajoy paid tribute to the 853 people killed by the armed group over the past 50 years. "The ETA is gone, but the pain it caused is not," he said, adding that "there will not be any impunity" for the group's crimes.(ANSAmed). BEIRUT - Lebanon will head to the polls on Sunday, amid a problematic climate of instability including an economic crisis, regional tensions, corruption, and an influx of Syrian refugees unable to return home in the short-term. The last elections took place in 2009, and virtually no one expects that the election of a new Parliament will bring changes to political balances or resolve the current issues. An electoral reform introduced a proportional correction to the majority system that had been in force, a system that guaranteed various political-confessional groups absolute control over their territories. Despite the reform, expectations are that power will remain with two rival factions: the pro-Saudi coalition, led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his Future Movement party; and the Shiite combination Amal-Hezbollah, which is sympathetic to Iran and Syria. Following the vote, a national unity government will likely be confirmed in which both of these factions are a part, most likely still led by Hariri. At the end of the 2009 government's four-year mandate in 2013, Parliament decided to remain in office due to strong tensions that were rocking the country at the height of the Syrian Civil War. Two additional election postponements led to moving the vote to this year, nine years since the last elections. The voting-eligible population totals 3.6 million people, but voter turnout is always low, reflecting doubt in the possibility of changing the country's traditional confessional structures through a vote. In 2009, voter turnout was 54.8%. There are nearly 600 candidates vying for 128 electoral seats, which will have to be assigned half to Christians and half to Muslims. Of these, only 86 are women; however, this is a step forward compared to the total of 12 women who ran in the 2009 elections. BUDAPEST - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday spoke out against the European Commission's budget proposal, in an interview with Hungarian public radio M1. "It's unacceptable that cohesion funds and agricultural funds are cut to give more to countries that accept migrants," Orban said. Orban said no more should be spent for migrants, in opposition to increasing the fund to manage migrant flows. "Countries that accept migrants must resolve the problem with their own resources, and must not have even one cent from European coffers," he said. Orban said the seven-year budget requires unanimous approval. "Without the Hungarians' approval, no budget," he said, in an effort to reassure his electors. New industry standards, shorter asset lifespans and a new generation of technologically advanced aircraft have constantly kept operators and maintenance providers on their toes. James Elliott explains how airlines and MROs need granular insight into every part of every asset as new maintenance and planning models enter the commercial aviation industry. Commercial aviation maintenance models have changed drastically over the last 20 years. Back then, aircraft maintenance was a rigid A, B, C, D check process based on a batch of maintenance tasks executed at specific times in an aircrafts lifecycle. When an aircraft came in for D checks, there could be more than 1,000 maintenance items, meaning it could be out of service for six weeks. Fortunately, the industry then migrated to a more flexible model, MSG-3 packaging up individual maintenance items in any way an airline wanted. For example, if there was an opportunity to carry out D check maintenance during a C check, this could now be done. Fleet usage was optimised and balanced because maintenance could be managed more fluidly no tasks were missed and there was no unnecessary duplication. New generation aircraft such as the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A350 have been designed with MSG-3 in mind. These aircraft are now supported with phased maintenance programmes, with the aim of achieving the shortest possible turnarounds. When launching the A350, Airbus aimed for the aircraft to be maintained under its usage parameter concept based on flight hours, flight cost and other parameters rather than traditional checks to ensure optimised utilisation of available resources. The base check interval of the A350 has extended to 36 months, meaning the average number of base checks over 12 years has halved to just four, compared to previous generations of aircraft. But with fleets expanding and more routes being flown than ever before, this presents a challenge for operators as they are now looking at maintenance windows on an aircraft-by-aircraft basis. For any fleet with more than 100 aircraft, managing a maintenance plan and schedule for all aircraft becomes a complicated issue. Resource constraints, such as hangar availability and the number of available technicians, also influence the ability to carry out maintenance. Airlines must also manage known requirements, such as seasonal fluctuations fleet utilisation and air passenger traffic is much higher during holidays. The question then becomes, how do operators move hundreds of aircraft through MRO hangars during these busy spells? Maintenance planning tools must look to align flights, optimising fleets for usage and yields, then individual aircraft going into hangars for as little time as possible. Alongside this, MRO is currently in a boom period older fleets are yet to retire, while new aircraft are being delivered at a rapid rate. Global management consulting firm, Oliver Wyman, estimates a steady 3.8% compound annual growth rate MRO market growth, with 58% of fleets being new-generation aircraft by 2027. However, legacy aircraft arent as old as they used to be the lifespan of a narrow-bodied jet used to be 25 years; now its closer to 14. At MROs and airlines, technicians undergoing training to deliver staged maintenance services are the younger generation millennials for whom using technology in the workplace is a necessity, not an option. Maintenance is no longer about simply turning wrenches some of those technicians who have been around longer arent as interested or as fast at learning new software techniques as the younger generation. Some MROs are responding with new services, such as mobile technology and applications. For example, the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO) now has a mobile team that can work anywhere without a hangar. Historically, maintenance plans and schedules were certificate-based and, ultimately, the responsibility of an airline to report its practices to the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) or the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This schedule was then translated into the task cards to use for the tools, licenses and parts required for maintenance. The wrench turning required in the airlines plan could be outsourced to an MRO, which would take the task cards and execute them according to the airlines parameters. Now, OEMs and MROs are transitioning towards new business models to take the whole maintenance aspect away from the airline. In a highly competitive arena, airlines want to concentrate on flying passengers, selling tickets, managing fuel costs and beating competition from international and low-cost airlines. Commercial aviation is following the defence model of in-service support contracting out maintenance to OEMs or third-party providers. Outsourcing of line maintenance was one of the top three 2017 MRO trends outlined by market research company Technavio, while Boeing and Airbus have set up their own MRO divisions, where they are looking to generate 50 billion in annual revenue. But OEM contracts are taking a while to be introduced, as airlines are reluctant to be locked into an expensive in-service support contract. Independent MROs are realising they occupy a competitive position to provide fleet planning and the wrench turning associated with meeting that new model. Regardless of the chosen model, the end goal is to reduce aircraft maintenance windows the number one competitive differentiator between maintenance providers. From a planning perspective, what used to be called out of phase maintenance in the days of ABCD is now the industry standard whole maintenance programmes are planned with individual tasks in mind. This requires MRO software, which recognises and packages individual tasks where they fit best according to scheduling parameters flight hours, flight cycles etc. Software with a component-based view offers significant advantages by getting part numbers and granular detail into each maintenance programme. That information should then be packaged into the required maintenance format task-by-task, component-by-component. This means, as maintenance models and standards continue to shift, the software can easily adapt to keep track of all components. As commercial aviation MRO continues to move forward, those who adapt fast will remain competitive in a consolidating market. But these opportunities cannot be realised without component-centric support, providing the granularity required to react and take advantage of new maintenance models. On May 8th, Dezan Shira & Associates' Shanghai Office will host a group of EMBA students from NEOMA Business School for a seminar on Doing Business in China. Thibaut Minot, the Associate of International Business Advisory Department in Shanghai will provide an overview on doing business in China. The topic will cover Chinas Macroeconomic Environment, Foreign Investment Vehicles in China as well as common pitfalls and operational issues faced by foreign-invested companies in China. Both opportunities and challenges of doing business in China will be shared to the students based on what Thibaut has seen from his work experience. Organizer: Dezan Shira & Associates is a specialist foreign direct investment practice with a pan-Asian presence. Since its establishment in 1992, the firm has grown into one of Asia's most versatile full-service consultancies with operational offices across China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Vietnam, Dezan Shira Asian Alliance member-firms in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, as well as liaison offices in the United States, Italy and Germany. Neoma Business School offers a comprehensive range of degree-awarding programmes, including Executive MBA, MBA, and Specialised Masters, intensive programmes and custom programmes. Located in central Paris, Neoma Business School comprises a 1500m2 campus reserved exclusively for professionally active managers. On May 10th, Dezan Shira & Associates' Shanghai Office will host a group of MBA students from Temple University's Fox School of Business for a seminar on Doing Business in China. Thibaut Minot, the Associate of International Business Advisory Department in Shanghai will provide an overview on doing business in China. The topic will cover Chinas Macroeconomic Environment, Foreign Investment Vehicles in China as well as common pitfalls and operational issues faced by foreign-invested companies in China. Both opportunities and challenges of doing business in China will be shared to the students based on what Thibaut has seen from his work experience. Organizer: Dezan Shira & Associates is a specialist foreign direct investment practice with a pan-Asian presence. Since its establishment in 1992, the firm has grown into one of Asia's most versatile full-service consultancies with operational offices across China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Vietnam, Dezan Shira Asian Alliance member-firms in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, as well as liaison offices in the United States, Italy and Germany. The Fox School at Temple University has a distinguished tradition of preparing business leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs for successful careers. Today, it is the largest, most comprehensive business school in the greater Philadelphia region, and among the largest in the world. Their MBA program is ranked as top 10 in USA. Priyanka was present at the After Show with host Andy Cohen and she was joined the 'Avengers: Infinity War' actor Sebastian Stan. Mumbai: Two years back, Desi girl Priyanka Chopra's innocent flirting with Avengers: Infinity War actor Tom Hiddleston made lots of buzz, when the duo presented an award at the Emmy. Priyanka was present at the After Show with host Andy Cohen and she was joined the 'Avengers: Infinity War' actor Sebastian Stan. For those uninitiated, Hiddleston was seen flirting with our very own global star and even suggested her to twirl with him on stage. Following this rumour mills were abuzz with speculations of the two stars were dating. When Andy Cohen poked PeeCee about the reports of her getting touchy with Hiddleston at an awards show, she was definitely surprised at the fact and said, "We were presenting for like 10 minutes. I met him for 15 minutes. We were behind the curtains for 10 minutes where he was adjusting my dress since it had a long train. We had to figure out to manipulate not tripping. Watch video here: Sebastin was also asked about his reaction on Tom Hiddlestons relationship with pop star Taylor Swift to which he replied in a good humor that he was concerned for his good friend. PeeCee is currently busy promoting her American show, Quantico 3, which premiered on April 26, 2018. She is all set to return to Bollywood with Bharat opposite Salman Khan. Not just inaugurating it in style, the actor had a small performance on top of it in true 'Ranveer Singh' style. Mumbai: Its a well-known fact that the craze for Bollywood is not just restricted to India but is spread over various other parts of the world. And thats probably why so many countries have roped in Bollywood stars to draw tourists to their country. Shah Rukh Khan has been an ambassador for Dubai and some of the other partnerships involve Ranveer Singh for Switzerland, Parineeti Chopra for Australia, Sidharth Malhotra for New Zealand, among others. But none of the countries seem to have done something for their ambassadors what Switzerland has done for Ranveer. The nation has launched Ranveer on Tour, a train that you can hop to enjoy a spectacular experience through the Lake Geneva Region. Ranveer himself inaugurated the new vehicle, cutting the ribbon and posing with it in style. Just inaugurated: @RanveerOfficial 's @goldenpassmob train we think you both look great! Happy travelling along the #GoldenPassLine! pic.twitter.com/kiCwPXGHhq Swiss Travel System (@Media_STS) April 30, 2018 The Padmaavat stars joys knew no bounds as later he only got on it and sang the famous Udja Kale Kawan song from Gadar, perfect way to remember his country when abroad. The actors recent trip to Switzerland had already been making news, with his performance looking almost exactly like Charlie Chaplin to promote the legends museum, being lauded. The actors popularity is well-known, courtesy his becoming the first Non-Khan (along with Shahid Kapoor) to enter the Rs 300-crore club with Padmaavat recently, and theres no doubt thered be a good number queuing up to experience this Ranveer journey. Sources close to the film reveal that it was Namrata who strongly recommended Kiara for her husbands big political drama. If Kiara Advani, who waded through a period of uncertainty in Bollywood, has found unexpected success in Telugu cinema, it is because of Namrata Shirodkar, the wife of her first Telugu starrer Bharat Ane Nenus leading man Mahesh Babu. Sources close to the film reveal that it was Namrata who strongly recommended Kiara for her husbands big political drama. They were thinking of several big names from Andhra. But, it was Namrata who saw pictures of Kiara and was immediately convinced that the actress had it in her. Namrata recommended her to the director and producer of Bharat Ane Nenu and even contacted Kiara on their behalf, says the source. Apparently, Kiara was reluctant to go South. She was thinking once she moves out of Bollywood, shed be branded a regional actress. Namrata convinced her that such demarcation between Bollywood and non-Bollywood cinema was rapidly disintegrating. Namrata also made sure Kiara was paid handsomely, says the source. Even before Bharat Ane Nenu was released, Kiara signed her second Telugu film, this time with another Telugu superstar, Ramcharan Teja, once again courtesy Namrata. Apparently, Namrata introduced Kiara to Ramcharan and his team. Now that Kiaras career has taken off she is being considered for several other major Telugu films. Kiara says, Namrata has been too kind. She and Mahesh Babu have been like family in Hyderabad. Its still sinking in. This feeling is inexplicable. Extremely overwhelmed and I am thankful to the Telugu audience for giving me such a warm welcome and showering me with so much love and acceptance with my first film. A big thank you to my director Siva, sir, and Mahesh, sir, for reposing so much faith in me. The response has really charged me up and motivated me to work harder, so I can keep this up and continue to entertain my audience and do better. Kiara is now looking forward to her second Telugu release. I have already shot for a day for my next film with Boyapati sir and Ramcharan, and the energy on the sets is infectious, so I cant wait to get back! PM Narendra Modi, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had expressed their grief over accident and assured all possible help to families of the deceased. Motihari (Bihar): A day after it was reported that 27 people had died after a bus fell into a ditch and caught fire in Bihar's Motihari, the state's Disaster Management Minister, Dinesh Chandra Yadav, on Friday delivered a shocker. He said there were no casualties in the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had expressed their grief over the accident and assured all possible help to the families of the deceased. However, Dinesh Chandra Yadav told news agency ANI, "The information of deaths was wrong. Yes, I said 27 people have died, it was based on information from local sources, but I also said that only the final report will be considered." He added that only 13 passengers had boarded the bus. Eight of them were taken to the hospital, but there was no sign of the remaining five. "No bodies were found. They might have left the spot on their own," he said. The mishap happened around 3 pm on Thursday afternoon when the driver of the bus attempted to avoid a crash with a two-wheeler and overturned. It fell into a pit and caught fire near Belwa village of Bihar's west Champaran district. A new feature introduced this year was a group photograph of award recipients with the President. President Ram Nath Kovind confers Best Actress Award on veteran actress Sridevi (posthumously). The award was received by her husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi, during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. MoS for I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore is also seen. (Photo: G.N. Jha) 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 stated 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. 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 Hotel Ashok 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 to the issue, sources said. They were also told that the Rashtrapati Bhavan had said that the President attends all award functions for a maximum of one hour, sources added. 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 the audience was shown clips from the awarded movies. A new feature introduced this year was a group photograph of award recipients with the President. The awards passed off without incident as, sources stated, the government roped in committee members earlier in the day to placate the agitated recipients. About 66 awardees had threatened to boycott the ceremony with a signed letter of protest addressed to the Directorate of Film Festivals after they found out on Wednesday that President Kovind would hand over 11 only awards at the ceremony. Yogi Adityanath will visit Agra tonight where 43 people died due to the dust-storm that was accompanied by heavy rain. Hours after the stinging barb from Siddaramaiah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had tweeted that officials had been ordered to compile an estimate of the damage by Friday evening. (Photo: PTI | File) New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was campaigning for BJP for the upcoming elections in Karnataka, has cut short his visit and will return to Agra on Friday night a day after more than 70 people were killed in a massive dust storm in his state. The weather office has predicted more thunderstorms in parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Chief Minister was earlier scheduled to continue campaigning in Karnataka till Saturday noon and leave after addressing two more election meetings. His decision to stay put in Karnataka had been sharply criticised. Yogi Adityanath will visit Agra on Friday night, which bore the maximum brunt of the dust-storm that was accompanied by heavy rain. 43 people had died in Agra. The UP Chief Minister will review the relief and restoration works on Saturday morning. He will then leave for Kanpur to monitor the restoration work there. Adityanath was heavily criticised for campaigning in Karnataka for May 12 elections by the opposition while the dust storm wreaked havoc in his state. On Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to express sorrow and attack Yogi Adityanath for campagning in Karnataka while people in his state have lost lives due to storm. At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there. https://t.co/RwgDrhdn82 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 Hours after the stinging barb from Siddaramaiah, Yogi Adityanath had tweeted that officials had been ordered to compile an estimate of the damage by Friday evening. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, criticising Yogi Adityanath, had said that the 45-year-old monk-politician should have returned to Uttar Pradesh immediately. "People chose Yogi Adityanath to solve the issues of their state, not for politics in Karnataka. If he cannot return even in such circumstances, then he should form a math and stay in Karnataka forever," Akhilesh Yadav tweeted on Thursday. The announcement by the Chinese ambassador comes days after PM Narendra Modis China visit. New Delhi: In a move that is bound to strengthen Sino-Indian trade after the recent informal Summit at Wuhan between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi Luo Zhaohui on Thursday announced that China has exempted import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1 this year. He said this was good news for Indias pharmaceutical industry and medicine export to China. He also said this would help reduce trade imbalance between China and India in the future. The Chinese Ambassador tweeted, China has exempted import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1st. Good news for Indias pharmaceutical industry and medicine export to China. I believe this will help reduce trade imbalance between #China and #india in the future. Meanwhile on Thursday evening, the ministry of external affairs confirmed that the issue of India and China working together on a joint economic project in Afghanistan was indeed discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at their recent informal Summit at Wuhan in China. Asked about the matter, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the two countries would have to identify a special project that they want to work on jointly in Afghanistan. He said no specific project was focused on during the Summit at Wuhan but said the issue of working together on a project in Afghanistan was discussed. The MEA spokesperson said the issue of strategic guidance that would be given by the two leaders to their respective armies would build trust between the two militaries. He added that operational matters would be discussed between the two militaries and there would be no more aggressive patrolling by the two armies on the Line of Actual Control. The gangrape in moving bus in Delhi of a medical student, who came to be known as Nirbhaya, shook the nation in 2012. Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh and Akshay Kumar Singh - the four convicts in the case. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Four of the men who gangraped and tortured a paramedic student from Delhi on a moving bus in December 16, 2012, leaving the nation in shock and rage, asked the Supreme Court to spare them the death sentence as it was "cold-blooded killing in the name of Justice." As the court reserved its verdict, there was no decision on Friday on the convicts' petition challenging their death sentence. The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on the plea of two condemned convicts -- Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta -- who argued that they are "young and from poor families". The argument was rebutted by the public prosecutor. They were seeking a review of the 2017 verdict by which they, along with two others, were awarded death penalty in the sensational December 2012 gangrape cum murder case. The lawyer of the convicts, AP Singh claimed they were "not habitual offenders and have no criminal records, so the court must allow them to be reformed." Singh also said the death penalty has been abolished in many countries. Execution kills criminals and not the crime, he argued. He also claimed his clients were underage when they were arrested. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said, "Death penalty exists in the statute." The convicts told the Supreme Court that there were discrepancies in Nirbhaya's dying statements and she didn't name the accused. Special Public Prosecutor Sidharth Luthra countered that all their arguments had been considered by the Supreme Court when it confirmed death sentence in May 2017. The convicts had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows, after terming the December 16 incident as a "rarest of the rare" case. Earlier, the trial court had also sentenced all the four convicts to the death penalty. The paramedic student was gangraped on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012 inside a moving bus in South Delhi by six people and severely assaulted before being thrown out on streets naked. The girl died of her injuries on December 29, 2012 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. The incident led to big changes to laws on sexual crimes against women. Another accused in the case, bus driver Ram Singh, had committed suicide in Tihar Jail, while a convicted juvenile, just days short of 18 he committed the crime, was sent to juvenile home. He has come out of the reformation home after serving a three-year term. The victim, who died after battling for life for 16 days in hospital, came to be known as "Nirbhaya" or fearless. Her parents have said that all the rapists, including the youngest, should be hanged at the earliest. The accused alleged that the state had done a biased probe and it is motivated and tainted. Sanji Ram and Vikas Jagrotra, in their petition submitted that they had been falsely implicated and that the case must be transferred to CBI to get at the real culprits. (Photo: File | ANI) New Delhi: Two of the accused in Kathua gangrape and murder case on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking CBI probe into the incident and opposing transfer of trial outside Kathua court in Jammu and Kashmir and to a court in Chandigarh. The apex court had already stayed the trial. Sanji Ram and Vikas Jagrotra, in their petition submitted that they had been falsely implicated and that the case must be transferred to CBI to get at the real culprits. Opposing transfer of trial outside the state, they said the case couldnt be shifted merely because of apprehension. The accused are also entitled to free and fair trial. It was submitted that there are 221 witnesses and it is not possible to travel to Chandigarh, around 265 km from Kathua. There is no threat to the victims family as alleged by the victims father and his lawyer. On the other hand they had been threatened. Further advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat had already been provided security, which should be removed. They alleged that the state had done a biased probe and it is motivated and tainted. The SIT team member Irfan Wani is accused of rape and a corruption case is also pending against SIT Inspector Nisar Khan. The SIT had tortured the accused and witnesses. One of the accused Sanji Lal is like a grand father to the victim but he had also been roped into the case. They want justice and fair treatment, which can be achieved only by a CBI probe. The charge sheet had already been filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Kathua, and they would be directly affected if the trial were shifted outside Kathua without making them parties to the writ petition filed by victims father. The convenience of the complainant cannot be the sole consideration for transferring a criminal case out of the state. Courts have to consider the convenience of the accused, prosecution witnesses and larger interest of the society. The trial had already commenced and there is no apprehension on behalf of the complainant for any threat or coercion of prosecution witnesses. The matter is listed for hearing on May 7. According to officials, every funeral of a terrorist spawns at least two additions to the ranks of terror groups. Security agencies believe that in April there has seen a conspicuous rise in the number of locals joining various terror groups after 13 local terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces in Shopian and Anantnag. (Photo: File) Srinagar: At least 45 youths from the Kashmir valley, including an MBA and a PhD scholar, have joined terrorism 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 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 terror 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 terror 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 terrorist spawns at least two additions to the ranks of terror groups. "It has become a bottomless 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 it. 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 terror 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 terrorism. "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 terror groups, he had said, "...Is no one in a position of power in Delhi alarmed by this because I certainly am!" The 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 the 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 terror groups 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. Meanwhile, state authorities continued the drive against unauthorised constructions in the Kasauli town planning area. Accused 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, is seen talking to her hours before the incident. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Kasauli (HP): The man accused of killing a woman officer who was leading a demolition drive here was nabbed on Thursday from the Mathura, where he was hiding in disguise, the 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, Mr 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. Mr 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. Mr Singhs mother, Narayani, owner of the Narayani Guesthouse, while speaking before the arrest of her son, said he had lost mental balance as he couldnt see their guesthouse being demolished. Vijay Singh kept a low-profile and helped his mother run the guesthouse. The guesthouse 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 guesthouse. Meanwhile, state authorities continued the drive against unauthorised constructions in the Kasauli town planning area. Former Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbhal will be released on personal bond of Rs 5 lakh. Chhagan Bhujbal sought bail after the Supreme Court in December 2017 scrapped a provision in a special law that had made seeking bail difficult. (Photo: File) Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal after spending two years in jail in connection with a money laundering case. Bhujbal, 71, who is from the NCP, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2016. Bhujbal's son and NCP legislator Pankaj and his nephew Sameer are also accused in the case. According to the probe agency, the Bhujbal family allegedly had conspired along with several others to divert or 'launder' kickbacks received by Chhagan Bhujbal, when he was Public Works Department minister of Maharashtra. The money laundering charges against them relate to the contract for construction of the state guest house- 'Maharashtra Sadan' - in Delhi and the Kalina land-grabbing case in Mumbai. Bhujbal sought bail after the Supreme Court in December 2017 scrapped a provision in a special law that had made seeking bail difficult. IMDs additional director-general Mritunjay Mohapatra said the trigger for the storm was a cyclonic circulation over Haryana. 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 Wednesday night, 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, Pilib-hit, Firozabad, Chitrako-ot, 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. Nine people were killed in Alwar and eight in Dholpur, officials said. Two of those killed in Dholpur were from Agra in Uttar Pradesh. The India Meterological Department (IMD) has warned of severe thunderstorms in 32 districts of UP, including Gorakh-pur, Ballia, Mau, Ghazi-pur, Ambedkar Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajg-anj, Siddharthanagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Shra-vasti, Sitapur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur, Shahjahan-pur, Pilibhit, Rampur, Bareilly, Badaun, Aligarh, Etah, Amroha, Mathura, Greater Noida, Bulandshahr, Moradabad Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnore and Baghpat. The thunderstorms are expected to occur over the next 48 hours. IMDs 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. Power supply was cut off in many areas as the squall uprooted trees and snapped electricity cables. In Rajasthan alone, 13,000 electricty poles fell and about 100 transformers were damaged. Officials said power 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 crops being damaged due to the hailstorm. Farmers lost cattle and poultry. UP relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar said 160 heads of cattle were lost. Reports said the wall of an educational institution collapsed, killing 23 persons and injuring 21. Nine people died in Bah and two in Etmadpur and four in Kheragarh. In Rajasthan, about 250 animals perished. Most of the injured in Rajasthan have been discharged from hospitals. Rajasthans 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 duststorms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon, the PMO tweeted, quoting Mr Modi. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was in poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday, campaigning with Mr Modi. He directed officials to personally monitor the relief operations, warning against any laxity. Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje expressed grief over the calamity and said the district authorities had been directed to ensure all possible help to victims. Family members of those dead will get Rs 4 lakhs as compensation, and those injured will get between Rs 60,000 and Rs 2 lakhs. Uttar Pradesh Education Minister Anupma Jaiswal was speaking regarding UP minister Suresh Rana's visit to a Dalit household. Uttar Pradesh education minister Anupma Jaiswal said that the ministers felt 'satisfaction' after visiting Dalits in villages and staying at their homes despite the inconveniences. (Photo: ANI screengrab) Lucknow: Though the BJP, with its Dinner-with-Dalits programme, is trying hard to reach out to the community, its ministers are embarrassing the party, one after another. On Friday, one more minister has sparked a controversy while talking about visiting Dalit homes and braving mosquito bites to ensure the people receive government benefits. When Uttar Pradesh Education Minister Anupma Jaiswal was asked about the controversy on minister Suresh Rana's visit to a Dalit household she said, Schemes are made for benefit all sections and to ensure proper implementation. Ministers are paying several visits, even if mosquitoes bite them all night. She further said that the ministers felt satisfied after visiting Dalits in villages and staying at their homes despite the inconveniences. Most importantly they feel good by the experience. If someone has been assigned two places, he says no, I want to go to four. Thus when there is satisfaction in work, it empowers us. Even I am visiting more houses than allotted to me," Jaiswal added. Recently, two more BJP ministers have caused embarrassment to the party amid BJPs Dalit outreach programme. Suresh Rana, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet triggered a controversy after he reportedly brought with him his own food and water at a dinner hosted at a Dalit household at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. Another minister, Rajendra Pratap Singh, reportedly compared BJP leaders to Lord Ram. He said the way Lord Ram blessed Shabari (a Dalit) by eating his berries, BJP leaders were also blessing Dalits by going to their homes. The Supreme Court on Thursday sought to know the quantum of water that can be spared by the Karnataka government. The Centre was rapped by the apex court for failing to finalise the draft Cauvery management scheme. (Photo: File) 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 a shortage," Water Resources Minister M B Patil said. In a video message shared with reporters he said, "In this circumstance we cannot obey today's Supreme Court's order, as we don't have water. We will inform the Supreme Court about the availability of water currently and our needs." "Even if we want to release we don't have water. We have a shortage," he added. During the hearing, the court first asked Karnataka to release 4 tmc ft water by May 8, then asked it to release 2 tmc ft water and at the end, ordered it to appraise the bench as to how much water can be released. The Centre was 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. PM Modi is belittling his position by engaging in such attacks, says Rahul Gandhi. Aurad (Bidar District): 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 Mr 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. 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. MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said an Indian official advance team was already in Nepal ahead of PM Modi's scheduled visit. New Delhi: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Thursday announced two visits to the neighbourhood that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Himalayan neighbour Nepal on May 11 and 12 and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to Myanmar on May 10 and 11. MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said an Indian official advance team was already in Nepal ahead of PM Modi's scheduled visit. Apart from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, efforts are on to schedule a visit for PM Modi to Janakpur too in Nepal. A formal detailed announcement on the visit will take place once the entire schedule has been firmed up. The visit comes on the heels of the recent successful visit of Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to New Delhi during which both sides decided to further strengthen bilateral ties. PM Modi's visit will come at a time when China is increasing its influence in the Himalayan nation. On Ms Swaraj's visit to Myanmar, the MEA said that key agreements are expected to be signed. Yogi Adityanath accused his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah of playing the 'most corrupt innings' that divides society. Seeking to draw a comparison between Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said no jihadi element can raise his ugly head in his state.(Photo: File/PTI) Sirsi (Karnataka): Hitting the campaign trail in poll-bound Karnataka to mobilise support for the BJP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asked the people to reject what he called the "divisive" politics and "jihadi mindset" of the Congress. At a rally in Sirsi, 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 Uttar Pradesh 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. 87-year-old Rakki from Jammu and Kashmir's village said she had no idea about ill-effects of defecating in the open. 87-year-old woman from Jammu and Kashmir's village, Rakkhi says she wants to see her village open defecation free. (Photo: ANI) Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir): Residents of Jammu and Kashmirs Badali village in Udhampur have been defecating in open for years. However, an 87-year-old woman from the village, who attended numerous awareness camps about the Swachh Bharat Mission has taken up the task of building toilets in the village. Rakkhi, who has been going to the fields to defecate for years, decided to build a toilet in her village. As she comes from a humble background, Rakkhi, who did not have much money to hire labourers to build the toilet, started doing the masonry work all by herself. Rakkhi says that she wants to see her village open defecation free and has been drawn inspiration after a series of awareness campaigns in her village. While talking to news agency ANI, Rakki said she did not know about the ill-effects of defecating in the open. "I want everyone to use a toilet as defecating in open gives birth to many kinds of diseases," she said. "My son made the mud for my toilet after which I leveled the bricks and did the masonry work myself. Within 7 days my toilet will be completed," she added. Deputy Commissioner Udhampur praised her work and said, "It is time for people to change their traditional mindset. I was shocked to know that an 87-year-old woman built the toilet herself without any help. I salute the spirit of the woman and everyone should learn a lesson from her." The Deputy Commissioner also said that every possible help will be provided to the lady. The 87-year-old has led the way and has become a role model for not just her village, but for the entire country. (With inputs from ANI) Kensington Palace said guests have been advised to bring their own picnics as only light refreshments and snacks will be served. The royal palace has also announced that 600 guests are invited to attend the marriage ceremony itself in St George's Chapel, as well as the reception luncheon given by Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor Castle. (Photo: AP) The lucky few with a ticket to Windsor Castle for Britains royal wedding can expect a feast for a king. However, if you are one of those guests who have descended on the grounds of Windsor Castle for the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, they should expect no such thing. Kensington Palace told AFP Thursday that guests have been advised to bring their own picnics as only light refreshments and snacks will be served. Relaxing in the sun and enjoying drinks and a meal of your own making is intended to give the royal occasion a family feel, according to the same source. The 2,640 strong guest list will see 1,200 members of the public as well. One of those set to witness the arrival of the wedding party and the post-ceremony procession is Amelia Thompson, 12, a surviver of the Manchester Arena suicide bombing -- which claimed the lives of 22 concert-goers last May. Another guest on the list is Philip Gillespie, a 30-year-old veteran of the Armed Forces who lost his right leg in an explosion in Afghanistan. However, Saeed Atcha, 21, founder of a youth charity, said some disadvantaged people his organisation aids were bemused by the decision. "They were saying how come they (the royal family) have this money and you have to bring a picnic," he said, adding, I am of the same opinion. It's unfathomable. 200 members of charitable groups close to Prince Harry and Markle's hearts will be present. Some 610 members of the Windsor community, 530 employees of the royal household and pupils from nearby schools are also invited to join the celebrations in the castle park. The royal palace has also announced that 600 guests are invited to attend the marriage ceremony itself in St George's Chapel, as well as the reception luncheon given by Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor Castle. A reception will also be given later to 200 guests in the evening by Prince Charles. It will take place at Frogmore House, about a kilometre from the wedding site. George and Charlotte are expected to be among the couple's page boys and flower girls. The bride and groom will spend the night before the wedding apart and Harry's first glimpse of the dress will be as Meghan walks up the aisle. (Photo: AP) Sources have confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's page boys and bridesmaids will all be children. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son Prince George and daughter Princess Charlotte are expected to be among the children involved at Windsor Castle. On the other hand, Meghan won't have a maid of honour because she 'has a very close group of friends and didn't want to choose one over the other', a spokesman for the couple said. The spokesman said, Ms Markle will not have a maid of honour. She has a very close group of friends and didn't want to choose one over the other. They have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there with her the day before in London. She will be pleased to have their support on the day but they have no official role. Kensington Palace made a host of announcements about the royal wedding on Friday, including that Meghan's parents will meet the Queen ahead of the big day. Thomas Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle and Doria Ragland will accompany Meghan by car as she leaves for Windsor Castle, ready to marry Harry. Harry and Meghan will not be going on honeymoon straight away but will carry out their first engagement as a married couple the week after their wedding. The bride and groom will spend the night before the wedding apart and Harry's first glimpse of the dress will be as Meghan walks up the aisle. The couple also wanted to make sure the prince's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who was killed in a car crash in 1997, will be remembered on the day. Therefore Diana's three siblings - Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes - will all be present, with Lady Jane giving a reading. Four women bikers from Hyderabad recently returned to the city after an eight-week-long expedition Road to Mekong. 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. Police said the 22-year-old youth, a resident of south Mumbai, had brought a cat worth Rs 6,000 which did not go down well with his mother. The youth survived miraculously due to the barricades put up on the occasion of Shab-E-Barat at Marine Lines. (Photo: File) Mumbai: A 22-year-old youth tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge in south Mumbai on May 1, Tuesday, for not being allowed to pet a cat by his mother. According to a report in The Times of India, Maulvik Saundalkar, who works in the Merchant Navy, was excited when he purchased a cat for Rs 6,000 and brought home on Tuesday. However, his excitement was short lived as his mother immediately refused to have a pet in the house and this led to an argument. In a fit of rage, Saundalkar left home and headed towards Marine Lines station on his bike where he jumped off the Meghdoot bridge. The youth was later rushed to the hospital where he is being treated for multiple fractures and head injury. A police officer was quoted by The Indian Express as saying, "His mother, who earns Rs 10,000 per month, said with their income, it would be difficult to look after the cat. She apparently told him to first start earning before keeping a cat. Upset, he left the house on Wednesday and jumped off the bridge. Mr Bhagwat said that instead, regular interactions are needed to get rid of caste barriers, not the occasional symbolic gestures. Mumbai: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has criticised BJP leaders and asked them not to do drama of eating 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. Sources said that Mr Bhagwat said at the meeting: Eating 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. The RSS chief said that such interactions should be done both ways dalits should also be invited by upper caste people to their homes. 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 meals) 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 conclusion was reached that export of sugar to neighbouring countries was key to solving the current crisis. Mumbai: Representatives of the sugar industry, especially from Maharashtra and Karnataka, have decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the next few days to discuss the current sugar crisis in the country. All sugar mills operatives, whether cooperative or private, met in Mumbai on Friday, to discuss long-term and mid-term issues facing the industry. A conclusion was reached that export of sugar to neighbouring countries was key to solving the current crisis. The Indian sugar industry is facing a crisis due to fall in sugar prices internationally coupled with increased production in the country. During the Friday meeting, National Sugar Federation managing director Prakash Naiknaware, and Avinash Verma of Indian Sugar Mill Federation led presentations before the delegates. Both highlighted current issues and those facing the industry in the next two years. It was a historic meet. Maharashtra and Karnataka sugar industry leaders were present and gave their suggestions in the meeting, informed Mr Naiknaware. It was decided that India needed to export sugar to neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and others. It was decided that Sharad Pawar would seek the PMs appointment and a delegation of ten people would meet the PM to put forth their demands. On May 10, a few senior leaders would meet in Mumbai to finalise details of the demands to be placed before the PM. Two ministries, foreign affairs and commerce, are critical in the export of sugar. India will have to enter trade treaties with neighbouring countries for the export of sugar, especially white sugar. The industry hopes that after meeting the PM under Mr Pawars leadership, the issue will be resolved. Maharashtra is one of the 12 states where such courts will be established. Mumbai: Social activist Anjali Damania has demanded that a fast-track trial be conducted against senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who was granted bail by the Bombay high court on Friday, in the money laundering case against him. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Navin Sinha had, on December 12 2017, directed the Centre and state governments to set up special courts for the trial of the cases against Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly as 13,500 cases are pending across the country against the 1,581 politicians in courts. Maharashtra is one of the 12 states where such courts will be established. Ms Damania, who is a complainant in the money-laundering case and fought the legal battle against Bhujbal in the high court, said, Though Bhujbal got bail and he will come out, the case against him is not over. The trial should be expedited and I will try to make it happen. UN Secretary General said that 'things are on track for a meaningful negotiation and I believe it's in everyone's interest'. The JCPOA, signed in 2015, limits Iran nuclear development programme, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, and the UN chief described it as 'an important achievement'. (photo: File) United Nations: UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed optimism that the full denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula could become a reality, following last week's historic joint declaration by the leaders of the north and south which eased months of rising tension over North Korea's nuclear programme. The UN Secretary General said after talking to South Korea's President Moon Jae-in this week that "things are on track for a meaningful negotiation and I believe it's in everyone's interest", BBC reported. South Korea's leader met his counterpart in North Korea Kim Jong Un at a historic summit on the border between the two countries last Friday, in which they agreed to work towards a lasting peace and strengthen inter-Korean ties. Guterres was also asked if he was worried that the US is reportedly considering withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), involving Iran and the five Permanent Members of the Security Council plus Germany and the European Union. The JCPOA, signed in 2015, limits Iran nuclear development programme, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, and the UN chief described it as "an important achievement". "The JCPOA was an important diplomatic victory and I think it will be important to preserve it," he said. "But I also believe that there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaning dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position," he said during his trip to London. "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," said the Secretary-General. On Syria, the UN chief said that there was a "risk of fragmentation" of the entire country after more than seven years of brutal civil conflict. "I don't think that anybody can win the warOn the other hand, I don't see how Syria can be reconstructed with the support of the international community if there is no political solution in which all groups of Syrian society feel represented," he said. "We need to have a political solution that all Syrians feel comfortable with, and that requires a level of dialogue that until now has not been possible," he said, adding that "we have not yet had the leverage to create the conditions for that to happen." He said that he had "not given up" on making warring parties in Syria accountable for their use of chemical weapons. "I still believe that we need to insist, and we are looking for avenues that might allow, to create a mechanism of attribution agreed by the Security Council, that will be able to define who's responsible for any chemical attack, creating the conditions for accountability". He added that "the re-establishment of a mechanism of accountability in Syria is very important and I will not give up on that". After their informal summit meeting in China for two days, Modi and Xi agreed to improve communication over military and security matters. '(I) certainly think it's always good when other world leaders are getting along,' Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference. (Photo: AP) Washington: 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 news 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. Wylie has previously disclosed how users' data from Facebook was used by Cambridge Analytica to help elect US President Donald Trump. AggregateIQ did not immediately respond to request for comment on the remarks by Christopher Wylie, a whistleblower formerly of British political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. (Photo: AP) London: A Cambridge Analytica whistleblower said on Tuesday that Canadian company AggregateIQ worked on software called Ripon which was used to identify Republican voters ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. AggregateIQ did not immediately respond to request for comment on the remarks by Christopher Wylie, a whistleblower formerly of British political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. Wylie has previously disclosed how users' data from Facebook was used by Cambridge Analytica to help elect US President Donald Trump. Ripon, the town in which the Republican Party was founded in 1854, was the name given to a tool that let a campaign manage its voter database, target specific voters, conduct canvassing, manage fundraising and carry out surveys. "There's now tangible proof in the public domain that AIQ actually built Ripon, which is the software that utilised the algorithms from the Facebook data," Wylie told the British Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Also Read: Facebook ads apologise for Cambridge Analytica scandal AggregateIQ told Reuters on March 24 that it had never been and is not a part of Cambridge Analytica nor ever entered into a contract with Cambridge Analytica. It said it works in full compliance within all legal and regulatory requirements and had never knowingly been involved in any illegal activity. Cambridge Analytica said on Tuesday that it had not shared any of the Facebook profile data procured by a Cambridge academic with AggregateIQ. It said it had not had any communication with AggregateIQ since December 2015. Winds reach 100 km / h. The most affected states are Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where the administration has already announced compensation. Most of the victims died in the collapse of homes. Crops destroyed, cattle dead. New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - At least 125 people have died and about 200 have been injured in dust storms that have hit the northern part of India. Winds of over 100 km / h are flagellating the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, where the authorities advise the population not to venture out on the street. Andhra Pradesh has also been hit by bad weather that has caused several deaths. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the storm could last for 48 hours. The gusts have uprooted trees, caused the collapse of many shacks built with mud, torn and knocked down light poles. In many areas the electrical network has been damaged and the lighting is interrupted. In Rajasthan alone, winds caused faults in 13,000 light poles and 100 power transformers. In cities, the storm created chaos in urban traffic and caused delays in rail transport. The worst situations are in rural areas, where hail after the dust has destroyed crops and livestock. Sanjay Kumar, emergency commissioner in Uttar Pradesh, reports that 165 heads of cattle were lost in the state, most of them cattle; in Rajasthan, another 250 animals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on Twitter: "I am grieved by the loss of life in the dust storm in various parts of India. I offer my condolences to the bereaved families. May the wounded recover soon ". The local government of Uttar Pradesh has announced that it wants to compensate the families of the victims - most of whom died under the collapse of housing - with fees ranging between 200,000 and 400,000 rupees (2,500-5,000 euros). The White House does not confirm, but defines the step "a sign of good will" ahead of the summit. North Korea is preparing to meet Trump and seek support from its Chinese ally. Wang Yi in Pyongyang: "strategic" alliance and economic support. Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The release of three Americans of Korean descent held by Pyongyang would appear to be imminent, Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York, reports to Fox News. At the moment the White House claims not to "be able to confirm the validity of any of these reports" but "would see the release of US citizens as a sign of good will", in view of the summit between Trump and Kim Jong-un. The three are all of South Korean descent. Kim Dong-chul (see photo 2) is a missionary pastor arrested for proselytism in October 2015; Kim Sang-duk and Kim Hak-song are professors of science and technology at the University of Pyongyang, arrested last year for "hostile activities". Since yesterday, unconfirmed rumors have circulated that the three have been transferred from the labor camp where they were being held to a hotel near the capital. Meanwhile, Pyongyang seeks to strengthen ties with its historic ally in Beijing, awaiting the meeting with US President Donald Trump. Today, Kim Jong-un welcomed Wang Yi (see photo 3), Chinese Foreign Minister, ensuring that it is the Norths "firm strategy" to establish a strong relationship with China. For its part, the Asian giant promises financial support. In recent months, the two countries have re-established friendly relations, after a period of tensions due to the Beijing decision to apply the punitive measures imposed on North Korea by the United Nations. Faced with challenges and changes, including demographic decline, Christians must participate in the political process. In a message to his co-religionists, the Chaldean patriarch calls on them to choose leaders who intend to "serve" Iraq and its people, noting that Iraq needs a modern constitutional civil government to guarantee unity and pluralism. The primate also mentions the major role Chaldeans played in the nations history and development. Baghdad (AsiaNews) His Beatitude Mar Louis Raphael Sako addressed a message to the Chaldean community in Iraq and around the world a few days before Iraqs 12 May elections, an event that will mark the countrys future. In it, the prelate notes that, despite challenges and changes as well as demographic, social and cultural decline of the Christian presence in Iraq, this is an urgent historical moment for Chaldeans, in particular, and Christians in general to take part in a responsible way in the political process. To be authentic, this task must be free from fear that encourages emigration This is not the first time that the primate of the Iraqi Church has spoken out on such matters, telling Christians of the importance of voting and taking active part in the countrys political life. As a shepherd and a Father, he writes, I urge everyone, especially Iraqi Chaldeans, at home and abroad, to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election. At the same time, he warns to vote for those who are best suited to serve them [the voters] and Iraq. This means Keeping in mind that the election is a national, moral and Christian responsibility to ensure a modern constitutional civil government that believes in pluralism and preserves the cultural and civilizational heritage of all [its] components! Thus, Mar Sako invites the whole Christian community to play an active role in the election and warns them to evaluate carefully the opportunity of creating a political party called the Chaldean Union (Huyada Kaldaya) because the latter could attract opportunists and boasters who have nothing to do with Christian values and heritage. I hope that one of the priorities of this party would be a strong alliance with the Assyrian, Syriac and Armenian parties, representing the Christians in the House of Representatives and that such a vital project will be implemented away from the interference of the Church. The Chaldean primate said he had hoped to see Christians in this election together in a unified list because "we are stronger together". Hence, he bemoans the fact that it didnt work unfortunately due to [some] agendas supporting some Christian parties as well as individual interests! In this context, Mar Sako also mentions the thousands of years of history of the Chaldeans of Mesopotamia, one of the most ancient and authentic peoples who make up todays Iraq and who have given much in terms of culture, poetry, music, law and astronomy. Past and more recent persecutions from the Assyrian-Armenian genocide of 1915 to the violence of extremist groups like the Islamic State group should not be the source of any fear. Conversely, Emigration affects the historical presence of Christians in Iraq and weakens their role in society". (DS) by Shafique Khokhar The famous Pakistani blogger was strangled by her younger brother in the name of family honour. Her easy-going ways were disliked by orthodox Muslims. Justice for many other women killed or burnt for honour' waits for years. Multan (AsiaNews) A court in Multan indicted five people in connection with one Pakistans most notorious cases of honour killing, namely the murder in July 2016 of Qandeel Baloch, a well-known model, blogger and youtuber. One of those indicted is Imam Abdul Qavi, who was investigated for complicity right after the young woman was strangled by her younger brother Waseem Azaam to restore the familys lost honour". Qandeel Balochs murder was a tragedy, journalist Husnain Jamil told AsiaNews. In Pakistan the number of honour killings is increasing due to the inadequate application of existing laws. We demand a fair and impartial trial to reduce the cases of violence against women." The young model was a controversial figure and her murder in 2016 was a cause celebre. She was an iconic figure of female open-mindedness and courage, but by the standards of Pakistans male-dominated worldview, she was "too free". Her selfie with Islamic cleric Qavi (picture 2) caused scandal and led to a flood of criticism. For the models father, Azeem, the cleric was the instigator of the murder perpetrated by her younger brother Waseem. During the trial, Azeem said that the imam offered him money to withdraw the charges against him. The next hearing is scheduled for 14 May. Journalist Jamil hopes that "the lower court will follow the decision of the Supreme Court and come to a decision without being influenced by the pressures of influential people and religious figures. The perpetrator, he explained, must be punished according to the law. What women decide to do with their lives is their business. They should not be used as an excuse to incite extreme violence against them." For Naseem Kousar, researcher and writer, Although justice is being delivered, this wont ensure the absolute application of the law, nor will it mean equality and equity for vulnerable and minority groups." "The case of Qandeel Baloch was solved quickly only because she was famous on social media and the pressure exerted by the national and international community. Justice for many other women killed or burnt for honour' waits for years. We need the rule of law to be applied in a neutral manner." According to Bilal Warraich, a lawyer and activist, "it is good that all five were indicted, including the imam, the one who was the trigger for everything. We must welcome these developments in a positive way, but with caution. "The judicial system has always been very dismal, and the same goes for the role of the police and the investigation teams. This is a case that the judiciary should treat as a 'test case', which, if treated judiciously, could stem the rot of the institution itself. In fact, "It could be another landmark, like the 1997 Saima Roparri case*. Conversely, Pakistans clergy might weigh in Imam Qavis favour. A big question mark remains as to whether justice will be served in Qandeels case. * Saima Roparri challenged the practice of arranged marriage and married the man she loved. The image came to the Philippines from Mexico. The celebrations began with a river procession at 5 am and continued with a Mass. At 8 am the transfer of the image began, leading faithful in procession to San Sebastian Basilica. Participants in the celebrations will receive plenary indulgence. Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Filipino Church today is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the historic arrival of the image of Our Lady of Carmel in the country. This morning, thousands of devotees gathered at the Quirino Grandstand, in Manilas Rizal Park, for the Salubong and traslacion, a ceremony re-enacting the arrival of the sacred image from Mexico. The celebrations began with a river procession at 5 am and continued with a Mass led by Mgr Romulo Geolina Valles, archbishop of Davao and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The service began at 6.30 am with the traslacion or transfer of the sacred image, which led the faithful in procession towards the Basilica of San Sebastian. During the procession, the crowd stopped in front of the Basilica of St John the Baptist, also known as the Quiapo Church and the Basilica of the Black Nazarene. From here, the venerated statue of Christ was brought out for traditional Dugnaw or encounter (pictured). Once the procession was over, the image of Our Lady of Carmel was exposed for public veneration. Mgr Valles said that the event represents an opportunity for the faithful to pray together for the well-being of the country. We urgently need to seek Our Mothers intercession to protect the Philippines against natural calamities, the ongoing attacks on the sanctity of life and the family, and other serious difficulties that our nation faces, the bishop of Davao said. Celebrations will end this evening at 6 pm with a solemn Mass and the enthronement of the image of Our Lady of Carmel inside the basilica. Card Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila, announced that all participants in the celebrations will be able to receive plenary indulgence, as approved by the Holy See. Brought by the missionaries of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects, Our Lady of Carmel arrived in Manila in 1618. Originally, it was kept in the Church of San Juan de Bautista de Bagumbayan. The image was then enthroned in the first church of St Sebastian in Quiapo, when the building opened in 1621. It was crowned in 1991 by Card Jaime Sin, under the authority of Saint John Paul II. Our Lady of Mount Carmel remains the Queen of San Sebastian Basilica in Quiapo. By Lyndsey Collins-Praino, Senior Lecturer in School of Medicine, University of Adelaide from www.shutterstock.com Take it from me is a new series in Science and Technology, where we find an expert to provide a personal but informed perspective on a topical issue. In the 1983 film The Man with Two Brains, Steve Martins character falls in love with the disembodied brain of a woman named Anne. But what once sat in the realm of movies and science fiction novels now seems slightly more plausible. Recent advances in neuroscience have lead to human cells being grown into mini brains in the lab, and brains of decapitated pigs being kept alive for a day and a half. So are we closer to a time when brains may be able to function in isolation from a body leading to head transplants or even brains frozen and brought back to life in the future? I think such possibilities are a long way off. Read more: From blood letting to brain stimulation: 200 years of Parkinson's disease treatment A brain without a body Professor Nenad Sestan of Yale University reported in March that he and his team restored blood circulation to the brains of decapitated pigs, and kept brain cells alive and functioning for up to 36 hours. This technology, called BrainEx, restores circulation by connecting the brain to a series of pumps and heaters that pump artificial blood and carry oxygen to key regions, including areas deep inside the brain. This allows even microcirculation the flow of blood to the smallest blood vessels and cells to be restored. This work opens up a number of potential future research avenues, including the ability to test new treatments for Alzheimers disease and other neurological conditions. Read more: We can change our brain and its ability to cope with disease with simple lifestyle choices A more developed area of neuroscience is the generation of brain organoids, mini brains grown from human stem cells and kept alive in the laboratory. These organoids mimic features of the developing brain, allowing researchers to undertake research into conditions such as autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Are the brains really alive? Sestan believes his approach to keeping pig brains alive is likely to work in other species, including primates. But what might keeping brains alive mean for the individual? Might it be possible for the disembodied brain to retain its consciousness and memory, devoid of any sensory input or ability to communicate? Monitoring of the pig brains via a technique known as EEG showed no sign of complex electrical activity indicating thought or sensation. This could be due to lowered activity or damage of brain cells during the procedure. But some research has indicated that, even when the EEG is a flat line, there may still be some activity in deep brain structures such as the hippocampus, a brain area critical for memory. The question of measuring activity is also relevant to the brain organoids. With improvements in techniques, there is the potential that organoids may become more complex. Although its still very unlikely, its possible they may take on aspects of higher-order brain functioning, such as feeling pleasure and pain, storing memories, or even experiencing some degree of consciousness. Read more: Trust Me I'm An Expert: The science of pain What is consciousness? Consciousness is one of the most difficult brain phenomena to explain, and a question that modern neuroscience is just beginning to make progress on. Its even difficult to actually define what consciousness is. Australian philosopher David Chalmers has referred to these challenges as the hard problem of consciousness understanding why consciousness occurs. Multiple theories and models of consciousness have been proposed, and experts tussle back and forth about which is most accurate. Some critics even claim that most theories of consciousness are worse than wrong they dont actually explain anything. Physiologically, the EEG is still the most sensitive measure to indicate consciousness. When an individual is awake and alert, the EEG is activated, characterised by low voltage, high frequency fast brain waves. When there is a loss of consciousness, brain waves slow down and get higher in amplitude as brain cells alter their firing rates. Parts of the brain thought to be involved in consciousness include the rear part of the cerebral cortex (at the surface), and also deeper structures such as the brainstem. EEG activity in specific areas of the brain may be one of the most effective ways to discriminate between conscious and unconscious individuals. Read more: Explainer: what is traumatic brain injury? Can a brain without a body be conscious? Currently we are a long way from experimental models of the human brain such as brain organoids or disembodied brains being conscious. However, we could need to confront such a possibility as technology advances and models become more sophisticated. from www.shutterstock.com Indeed, the hope of this has led to initiatives such as cryogenically preserving (freezing) brains, and even proposed head transplants. But I wouldnt rush out and put my name down for these procedures just yet. In the case of cryogenically preserving tissue, evidence has yet to demonstrate that all areas of the brain are reached with the antifreeze used to protect tissue from fracturing at the extremely low temperatures. Even if the tissue can somehow be protected from freezing damage, warming that tissue back up again is likely to result in further extensive problems. This would make it difficult, if not impossible, to ever return the brain to a conscious state and thats all before you deal with the issues inherent in actually transplanting the brain into another body. Read more: Curious Kids: Why do our brains freak us out with scary dreams? Many unknowns also exist with head transplants. While Italian neurosurgeon Professor Sergio Canavero has claimed that he will carry out the first human head transplant in 2018, many neuroscientists are sceptical. There are a host of issues with such a procedure. Theres the possibility of rejection of the head by the donor body, and the difficulty of connecting the spinal cord to the brain in a way that the brain can control the donor body. Additionally, even if it did work in a physical sense, there are problems around how such a procedure might affect the individuals sense of self-awareness or consciousness. Where should the field go from here? There are many ethical concerns linked to the idea of brains in culture or removed from bodies including what protections are necessary, how to address issues around consent, ownership and post-research tissue handling, and even how to define death. In late April, 17 experts in neuroscience, stem-cell biology, ethics and philosophy published an editorial in Nature outlining many of the issues that need to be considered and calling for clear guidelines for research. Such conversations also need to be held outside of academic circles and should engage ethics committees, research funding bodies, and, most importantly, the wider public. While there has never been a more exciting time to work in neuroscience, it is critical that proper safeguards be put in place now as models continue to advance. Read more: Real Bodies controversy: how Australian museums regulate the display of human remains Lyndsey Collins-Praino receives funding from the NeuroSurgical Research Foundation and the Commercial Accelerator Scheme. Originally published in The Conversation. Basel, Switzerland, May 04, 2018 / B3C newswire / -- On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Swiss Biotech Association launches Swiss Biotech Success Stories in recognition of the industrys many accomplishments. Swiss Biotech Success Stories will grow over time to encompass all of the industrys different facets. An independent jury of experts annually selects the laureates. The first recognitions go to Biogen, Glycart, Okairos, Selexis and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma for their remarkable achievements and sustainable contributions to Switzerland and its biotech industry. Founders, scientists, investors and business partners celebrated the first laureates yesterday evening at this years Swiss Biotech Day. "Biotech is one of the most innovative sectors in Switzerland. The industry represents an unparalleled success story, attracting talents and investments from all around the globe", said Michael Altorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss Biotech Association. "Our industry is as diverse and multifaceted as its successes. With Swiss Biotech Success Stories we are honoring our pioneers, entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders all those extraordinary people who lead the way, open the horizon and prepare the ground for lasting achievements." Swiss Biotech Success Stories highlight significant achievements Swiss Biotech Success Stories celebrate the many accomplishments and honors those who have made important and sustainable contributions to the biotech industry in Switzerland. Laureates are individuals or groups who earned extraordinary merits. Success is broadly defined as scientific, translational, medical or commercial accomplishments and other aspects with a positive impact on biotech industry and society in Switzerland. The recognition is awarded annually and reflects the diversity and variety of this industry sector. Independent expert jury decides on recognition Current members of the jury are Luca Bolliger, vice president of Swiss Biotech Association, president of the jury; and in alphabetical order Patrick Aebischer, emeritus EPFL president, professor and serial entrepreneur; Martine Clozel, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Actelion and Idorsia; Gabrielle Gache, president of Swiss Healthcare Licensing Group; Ulrich Geilinger, head private equity at HBM Partners; Kaspar Hess, head of the entrepreneurial private banking at Mirabaud Basel; Birgit Voigt, business journalist at NZZ am Sonntag; Jurg Zurcher, partner, biotech/medtech leader GSA at Ernst & Young. Jury secretary: Thomas Staffelbach, senior advisor at TS Kommunikation. 2018 laureates of Swiss Biotech Success Stories (in alphabetical order) Biogen for the many Swiss ingredients in its success story. Founded in Geneva in 1978, Biogen has been a key stimulus and model for the biotech industry in Switzerland and on a global level. Todays success contains many Swiss roots such as todays best-selling drug against multiple sclerosis or its latest Alzheimers candidate currently in Phase III development. In 2004, Biogen returned to Switzerland establishing its international headquarters in Zug, and, more recently, announced new production facilities in Luterbach creating 600 new jobs. Glycart (now Roche Glycart) for its role as pioneer in antibody engineering in cancer immunotherapy. The Schlieren-based company successfully engineers antibody glycosylation to increase immune-mediated cancer cell killing. A first drug based on this technology has been approved in 2013 to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Since the takeover by Roche in 2005, the number of employees at Roche Glycart in Schlieren has increased from 29 to over 180. Okairos for its innovative T-cell based vaccines for major infectious diseases such as malaria, hepatitis C, HIV, Ebola and others. Its novel replication-incompetent adenovirus vectors could open the door to the development of important new vaccines and offer immunizations against illnesses that lack vaccines. Okairos moved its headquarters to Basel to benefit from the innovation-friendly Swiss environment. In 2013, the company was acquired and integrated into GSK. Selexis for its advanced technologies in protein expression particularly in novel and difficult-to-express proteins. With more than hundred partners worldwide, nearly hundred drug candidates in clinical development and three commercial products utilizing Selexis-generated cell lines, the technologies of the Plan-les-Ouates-based company allow biotech and pharmaceutical companies a rapid, stable, and cost-effective solution for the production of recombinant proteins. Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, a transformational joint venture, which provides Vifor Pharma direct access to dialysis patients facilitating the distribution of its products and recruitment for its clinical development. The success of the joint venture transformed Vifor Pharma into a global nephrology company in just 18 months. The vertical integration between a pharmaceutical and a medical device company could be a role model for the convergence of the two sectors. Partners of the Swiss Biotech Success Stories Swiss Biotech Success Stories are sponsored by Mirabaud & Cie. SA, Switzerland Global Enterprise and Ernst & Young. The campaign is supported by Gebert Ruf Stiftung, the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Bench International and TS Kommunikation. More information on the Swiss Biotech Success Stories: http://swissbiotechday.ch/success About the Swiss Biotech Association Founded in 1998, the Swiss Biotech Association represents the interests of the Swiss biotech industry. To support its members in a competitive market, the Swiss Biotech Association works to secure favorable framework conditions and facilitate access to talents, novel technologies and financial resources. To strengthen and promote the Swiss biotech industry, the Swiss Biotech Association collaborates with numerous partners and life science clusters globally under the brand Swiss Biotech. Contact Swiss Biotech Association Sabine Bamert Communication This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This press release is provided in English, French and German. Contact The Californians Herb Benham at 661-395-7279 or hbenham@bakersfield.com. His column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays; the views expressed are his own. 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. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Todd Pletcher is throwing numbers at the Kentucky Derby again. Bob Baffert is seeking a fifth victory and he's got the favorite, too. An old jinx could be disproved, and history would be written if Mendelssohn wears the garland of red roses. The 20-horse field for Saturday's 144th Run for the Roses includes a handful of top contenders who have been consistent this spring. Justify was the 7-2 favorite in early wagering Friday. Trained by Baffert, the Southern California colt, however, is green, with just three starts. "We have a good enough horse that can win it, but it's a very competitive race," Baffert said. "You're going to have to have some luck." Justify is undefeated and Magnum Moon is 4-0, neither having run as a 2-year-old. They'll be trying to upend a so-called curse: No horse since Apollo in 1882 has won without racing as a juvenile. Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon is one of four horses to be saddled by Todd Pletcher, who won last year's Derby with Always Dreaming. Pletcher's Audible was the co-third choice at 6-1 with Mendelssohn on Friday. Along with Magnum Moon, Vino Rosso and Noble Indy were double-digit longshots for the trainer, who is tied with mentor D. Wayne Lukas for the most Derby starters with 48. Mendelssohn has the least amount of time on the Churchill Downs dirt than any horse in the field. The Ireland-based colt made his first appearance Thursday drawing attention with his screeching after spending the first part of the week in quarantine for Aidan O'Brien. The trainer is 0 for 5 at the Derby, the biggest victory to elude him. Mendelssohn was an 18 -length winner of the UAE Derby. His regal bloodlines and $3 million price tag suggest he would be a worthy champion, but no Europe-based horse has won the Derby. My Boy Jack moved up to the 5-1 second choice in early wagering Friday. The closer is trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, a three-time Derby winner and Keith's brother. Despite Good Magic's top-notch credentials, he was relegated to the 7-1 fifth choice on Friday. He won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and claimed an Eclipse Award as last year's 2-year-old champion. The colt won the Blue Grass last month, one of six victories at six different tracks. Getting the ideal trip in the Derby is critical, especially with the traffic from 20 horses making a chaotic charge into the first turn. Jockeys want to avoid anything that would prevent their horse from getting into rhythm, like being bumped, cut off or blocked. "There's so many horses in the field that seem like they have good chances to win the race with a clean trip," said Chad Brown, who trains Good Magic. "I feel like we have one of them." High school dropout Mick Ruis will try to become just the third owner-trainer to win. He has Bolt d'Oro, the colt named in part for Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt. Bolt d'Oro finished second to Justify in the Santa Anita Derby. "This is the best we've had him," Ruis said. Besides Baffert, four other Hall of Fame trainers are in the race: Steve Asmussen (Combatant), Jerry Hollendorfer (Instilled Regard), Lukas (Bravazo) and Bill Mott (Hofburg). Baffert and Lukas are tied for the second-most wins with four each. None of the others has won a Derby. Hofburg is Mott's first Kentucky Derby runner in nine years. Hofburg has just three career starts, including a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby. "This may be as good a chance as I've ever had," Mott said. "Some of the tougher horses in the race are fairly lightly raced." The frequently changing forecast for Saturday calls for a chance of rain at different times during the day. Post time is 6:46 p.m. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Weeks after publishing his own story of sexual abuse in the New Yorker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz is facing an onslaught of accusations of sexual misconduct and misogyny directed at fellow writers. Zinzi Clemmons, who penned coming-of-age novel "What We Lose," tweeted early Friday morning that when she was a 26-year-old graduate student, Diaz cornered her and forcibly kissed her after she invited him to speak at a workshop several years ago. She said she believes she is far from the only woman he has "exploited" and told The Associated Press that she cannot bear to think of the others. "Junot Diaz has made his behavior the burden of young women particularly women of color for far too long, enabled by his team and the institutions that employ him," Clemmons wrote in a statement to the AP. "It is time for the burden of his bad behavior to be laid squarely at his feet, and for him to deal with the consequences of his actions." Through his literary agent, Diaz told the New York Times that he takes responsibility for his past. "That is the reason I made the decision to tell the truth of my (childhood) rape and its damaging aftermath," he said. "This conversation is important and must continue." Since Clemmons' tweets, other women have come forward with stories of alleged verbal abuse and misogyny by Diaz. On Facebook, author Monica Byrne detailed her encounter with Diaz at a dinner in 2014. She made a comment that Diaz responded was akin to saying "I haven't been raped, so rape must not exist." "His voice had risen to a shout. He literally shouted the word 'rape' in my face," Byrne wrote. "I was speechless and felt sick." Author Carmen Maria Machado, who is currently at the Sydney Writers' Festival with Diaz, shared over Twitter how she was treated when she attended a Q&A with the famed Dominican-American writer. "When I made the mistake of asking him a question about his protagonist's unhealthy, pathological relationship with women, he went off for me for 20 minutes," Machado tweeted. In April, Diaz published an essay in the New Yorker about his own experience with rape when he was eight years old and how the trauma manifested later in his personal life. "I think about the hurt I caused," he wrote. "I think of all the years and all the life I lost to the hiding and to the fear and to the pain. The mask got more of me than I ever did." Diaz won the Pulitzer for "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" in 2008. He is also known for his books, "Drown" and "This Is How You Lose Her." In his fiction, Diaz often represents unhealthy romantic relationships tinged with abuse and infidelity. Neither Diaz nor MIT have responded to the AP's requests for comment. ___ Associated Press reporter Philip Marcelo contributed to this report. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LUCKNOW, India (AP) Workers rushed to restore electricity Friday to scores of towns and villages in five Indian states where a powerful dust storm and thundershowers caused more than 120 deaths and injured another 200. Winds blew up to 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour as the storm swept through northern Uttar Pradesh and western Rajasthan states on Wednesday night, demolishing hundreds of mud huts, uprooting trees and causing extensive damage to wheat and vegetable crops. It also killed scores of cattle and buffalo. The storm also damaged electric poles and transformers, plunging parts of 20 districts of Uttar Pradesh state into darkness, state Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said Friday. Amid repair and relief work, India's meteorological department warned another powerful dust storm would sweep parts of the two states this weekend. The Home Ministry said 73 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh state and 35 in Rajasthan state. The storm also caused eight deaths in southern Telangana state and another eight deaths in northern Uttarakhand and Punjab states, it said. Another 83 people in Uttar Pradesh state were injured by the storm, which sent tin roofs and advertising displays flying, Kumar said. The devastation was particularly severe in Agra, the city where the white marble Taj Mahal is located. Forty-three people died there, but there was no damage to the monument, Kumar said. In neighboring Rajasthan state, another 35 people were killed and another 150 were injured. Many of the dead were sleeping when their houses collapsed after being struck by lightning or gusts of wind. The Press Trust of India news agency said the storm triggered traffic snarls and delayed some trains in Rajasthan state as overhead power lines snapped. The rainstorm caught people by surprise as the monsoon season is still more than six weeks away. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. JERUSALEM (AP) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued an apology Friday following uproar over a speech he made this week that was condemned as anti-Semitic and dismissive of Jewish historical connections to the Holy Land. Palestinian officials said Abbas was under "tremendous" pressure from numerous diplomats and foreign ministers to apologize. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to talk to the media. Abbas, in remarks that were part of a lengthy speech to the Palestine Liberation Organization parliament on Monday, said it was the Jews' "social function," including money lending, which caused animosity toward them in Europe. He also described the creation of Israel as a European colonial project, saying "history tells us there is no basis for the Jewish homeland." The Palestinian president's remarks were sharply condemned by the United Nations, European Union, United States, Israel and others as perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes and falsifying history. The official Palestinian news agency quoted Abbas as saying on Friday that "if people were offended by my statement ... especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them." He condemned anti-Semitism "in all its forms" and said he remains committed "to the two-state solution, and to live side by side in peace and security." Abbas also said "I would also like to reiterate our long held condemnation of the Holocaust, as the most heinous crime in history, and express our sympathy with its victims." In his doctoral thesis in the 1970s, Abbas questioned the extent of the Nazi genocide of Jews during WWII, drawing accusations that he was a Holocaust denier. He has since distanced himself from the claims. Israel's Defense Minister later lashed out at Abbas on Twitter, rejecting his apology. "Abu Mazen is a wretched Holocaust denier who wrote his doctorate on Holocaust denial and later also published a book about Holocaust denial," Avigdor Lieberman tweeted, referring to Abbas by his nickname. "His apology is not accepted," he added. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LOS ANGELES (AP) In a story May 4 about the expulsion of Roman Polanski from the organization that bestows the Academy Awards, The Associated Press reported erroneously the number of members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors. The board has 54 members, not 55. A corrected version of the story is below: Polanski's film academy expulsion, 40 years in the making Roman Polanski's film academy expulsion is 40 years in the making By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) Until Thursday, Roman Polanski had been a film academy member for over 40 years since pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a minor in 1977. In his 40 years as a fugitive the "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" filmmaker had been nominated for three additional Oscars, one for "Tess" and two for "The Pianist." He won an Academy Award for directing "The Pianist" in 2003 to thunderous applause. He continued attracting A-list talent for his films, A-list support for his freedom and had become a contradictory and uncomfortable symbol of an industry that seemed to pick and choose where to bestow its moral outrage. It's an incongruity that became untenable when the film academy expelled Harvey Weinstein from its ranks in October, made statements about standards of decency among its members and adopted a revised code of conduct, which would allow the organization to suspend or expel members who violate that code or "compromise the integrity" of the academy. And almost seven months after Weinstein got the boot, the film industry's most prestigious organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, closed the door on the 84-year-old Polanski too, announcing that it had revoked his nearly 50-year membership, along with Bill Cosby's. Polanski's attorney, Harlan Braun, said the director was "blindsided" by the decision. Fifteen years ago, the audience at the 2003 Oscars gave an absent Polanski a hearty standing ovation upon his win, Weinstein, Martin Scorsese and Meryl Streep among them. Nine years ago, when Polanski was arrested in Zurich and U.S. authorities attempted to extradite him, over 100 celebrities signed a petition for his release, including Woody Allen, Weinstein, Scorsese, Steven Soderberg, Darren Aronofsky, Natalie Portman, David Lynch, Penelope Cruz and Tilda Swinton. There were outliers, of course. Filmmaker Kevin Smith famously tweeted, "Look, I dig 'Rosemary's Baby,' but rape's rape. Do the crime, do the time." And author Kate Harding made waves with a Salon column questioning the outpouring of support from celebrities and various members of the media to exonerate him. "Roman Polanski may be a great director, an old man, a husband, a father, a friend to many powerful people, and even the target of some questionable legal shenanigans. He may very well be no threat to society at this point. He may even be a good person on balance, whatever that means," Harding wrote. "But none of that changes the basic, undisputed fact: Roman Polanski raped a child. And rushing past that point to focus on the reasons why we should forgive him, pity him, respect him, admire him, support him, whatever, is absolutely twisted." In 2010, he made a film, "The Ghost Writer," with Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan, and in 2011, "Carnage" with Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly, and more recently a few French productions, both of which screened at the Cannes Film Festival one as recently as last year. With the rise of #MeToo and Time's Up and the rush of many to distance themselves from accused men, from Weinstein to Allen, Polanski has remained somewhat of an outlier that the entertainment industry had seemingly not yet tried to reconcile publicly. Portman recently told BuzzFeed that she regretted signing the petition for Polanski. "We lived in a different world, and that doesn't excuse anything. But you can have your eyes opened and completely change the way you want to live," Portman said. "My eyes were not open." But few others have weighed in. Winslet in December told the New York Times that she had an "extraordinary experience" working with both Allen and Polanski. And Thursday, celebrity twitter was quiet too. Why the film academy is just now, 41 years after Polanski's guilty plea, seven months after Weinstein and five months after the code of conduct was implemented, addressing Polanski, is a question that has yet to be answered. That it came as a joint expulsion with Cosby, who was convicted last week of sexual assault in Pennsylvania, is perhaps telling, but also continues to raise questions about other members who have faced misconduct allegations in the past, like Mel Gibson, or in recent months like Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner, John Lasseter and Paul Haggis. Braun accused the academy of violating its own rules to expel Polanski. He said he had heard rumblings an expulsion was being considered, but expected to be able to present arguments to the board before any decision was made. The attorney said he and Polanski's agent will ask the academy to reconsider its decision, and give the director a hearing and his "due process." The academy's rules grant its board the ability to suspend or expel any member "for cause," provided at least two-thirds of the 54-member board of governors approves the disciplinary action. Polanski has been back in his Polish homeland this week promoting his latest film, "Based on a True Story," at a film festival in Krakow. But on Friday morning organizers said the director had left already and would not be available to comment. The organization that puts on the Oscars continues to wade into wholly unprecedented territory in this new moment in society. Before Weinstein, only one other member had been expelled for loaning out DVD screeners of films in contention for the Oscars. With Thursday's announcement, however, the organization made a bold indication as to what the future might hold. Even a man who is widely considered one of the greatest living directors, a five-time Oscars nominee, one-time winner and one whose past so many in the organization turned a blind-eye to for so many years, is now no longer a protected class. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) A private university says it is looking into whether grant money was misused after a former political aide for embattled Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens said he got paid from grant funds to promote one of Greitens' books as he simultaneously helped launch Greitens' gubernatorial campaign. Washington University in St. Louis became aware of potential issues with the grant after the aide's testimony was released as part of a legislative investigation into various allegations against the Republican governor, who already is facing felony charges related to an extramarital affair and the misuse of charity resources for political purposes. "As a grantee, we take accountability seriously. We are looking into the matter to ensure the funds were used appropriately," said Julie Flory, the university's assistant vice chancellor for campus communications. Greitens' spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. A report released Wednesday by a legislative panel included testimony from former Greitens' aide Danny Laub, who said he was paid both by Greitens and a nonprofit grant in early 2015 to simultaneously promote Greitens' political aspirations and the release of his book "Resilience." The book's acknowledgment section states that it was "generously supported" by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation's Character and Virtue Development program. Washington University administered the grant for the foundation, which is based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The grant agreement for the Templeton Foundation specifically prohibits the use of funds "to influence the outcome of any specific public election," Michael Murray, the foundation's senior vice president for programs, said Friday. Washington University's policies also prohibit grant funds from being used for campaign activities, Flory said. Federal law bars 501(c)(3) charities from intervening in political campaigns on behalf of candidates. Exactly how much Greitens and his aides were paid from the grant remains secret. The Templeton Foundation and Washington University both declined to release a copy of the grant agreement to The Associated Press. Murray said the grant supporting Greitens' work was active in 2011 and 2012 but doesn't appear on the foundation's online database of grants, because the agreement with Washington University didn't allow information about it to be publicly shared. Murray said that's not necessarily unusual, though two other grants to Washington University are listed online. The intermingling of politics and Greitens' grant-funded book was one of a variety of ways in which Greitens was working to build his political credentials both before and after he officially formed a political fundraising committee in February 2015, according to testimony from his former aides. Greitens already faces a felony charge in St. Louis of tampering with computer data for disclosing a donor list from The Mission Continues to his political fundraiser in 2015 without the permission of the St. Louis-based veterans charity he founded. According to the Missouri House panel investigating Greitens, Laub testified that he was misled by another Greitens' campaign aide into becoming a fall guy when Greitens filed documents with the Missouri Ethics Commission falsely stating that Laub was the source of the charity donor list. Greitens also faces a May 14 trial in St. Louis on an invasion of privacy indictment alleging he took and transmitted a nonconsensual photo of an at least partially nude woman in 2015. Greitens has acknowledged having a consensual affair with the woman but denied criminal wrongdoing. The report released by the House says Laub began getting paid in December 2014 by The Greitens Group, which was Greitens' personal promotional company. He testified that his job was primarily related to Greitens impending 2016 campaign for governor and to promoting his upcoming book. The two purposes often overlapped, he said. In July 2014, before he was officially on the payroll, Laub prepared a document for Greitens proposing to conduct a "Resilience" book tour focusing on Missouri's top 10 Republican primary counties to help build boost his political appeal. That particular tour never happened as planned, he said. But "Leveraging the 'Resilience' book tour" was back on the agenda during a December political meeting that involved Greitens, Laub and others. "Eric was going to do a book tour, of seeing what finance events he could set up in other cities that coincided with the book tour," Laub said in a deposition taken by the Missouri attorney general's office and shared with the House investigatory committee. "So when he was in New York or when he was in California and he was doing media hits, that he could also set up national donor meetings." Laub testified that he and Greitens went to Washington, D.C., in January 2015 to meet with possible vendors for a political campaign, including one company that he said Greitens wanted to test out. "The thought was to have them doing a little bit of work on his book tour to see how they performed," Laub said. Records discussed in the deposition indicate Laub received two checks of $3,250 from Washington University in early 2015 that were funded through the Templeton Foundation grant. Laub said he knew little about the details of the grant but understood that Greitens "could spend freely on 'Resilience'-related things" from the grant funds. ___ Follow David A. Lieb at: http://twitter.com/DavidALieb 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. Senator Bill Nelson made a trip to Tampa on May 3 to meet with several Puerto Rican families displaced from the island by Hurricane Maria. Nelson met with families at Tampa Underground Nelson said he was unaware so many families wanted to stay Nelson flying to Puerto Rico Friday Nelson met with five families, all from very different backgrounds at the Tampa Underground, along with the organizations that have been helping them. While FEMA announced that it had approved an extension on housing assistance for families displaced by Maria last year, their big questions for Nelson surrounded the possibility of additional government resources to continue long-term disaster relief efforts. Those questions weigh heavy on people like Nicolas Rodriguez, who more than half a year after the hurricane is still living in a hotel with his wife and two kids. Its been a bit complicated in finding a place that can open its doors to us," Rodriguez said. "A lot of the places are full and dont have anything available until July or August." Meanwhile, single mom Ingrid Montes has already found an apartment, but said the process was anything but easy as she struggled to take care of her daughter with special needs. The first four months were really hard, because I was trying to do everything with her, who gets restless and isnt really aware of whats going on. She needs her own space, so it was a bit hard, Montes said. Nelson listened to their stories during their visit, and said he wasnt aware that so many displaced families in Tampa Bay wanted to stay permanently. Organizations like Mujeres Restauradas Por Dios that have been helping the families wanted a promise from the senator -- a promise for more funding and resources from the government in the future. You cant count on being reimbursed, Nelson said. No, not reimbursed. [More funding and resources] moving forward, said Dammy Sanchez, founder of one of the organizations helping the residents. Well check that and see, Nelson replied. The senator will travel to Puerto Rico on Friday to see what needs still need to be met on the island. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Hundreds of Pinellas County residents gathered on Thursday for the National Day of Prayer. National Day of Prayer event held at Gibbs High School Event drew participants of many different faiths Organizers included dances, music to add local flavor to event This year's event, held at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, drew people of different faiths and beliefs. "We need prayer for different countries, our country, the president," said Kenneth Byers, who attended the event with his wife. "Crazy things are going on all around, and you need to keep prayed up." Endrica Stroman brought her children. She said with the recent school violence in Parkland and other cities, she is praying for their safety. "I pray that the kids can go to school and get an education without having to deal with all the violence and things around them," she said. Organizers added a local flavor to the service with music and dance performances. This year's theme was "unity," and people attending said that's something sorely needed in the country right now. "I think this is actually the only way we're ever going to get past those dividing lines, that we're ever going to get past that anger," Amber Sherwood said. Pastors prayed about a wide range of subjects, including the government, the military, youth and families. Congress designated a National Day of Prayer in 1952, and in 1988, the law was amended to make the observance the first Thursday in May. DALLAS President Trump and Vice President Pence, on Friday, addressed the National Rifle Association's annual convention in Dallas. The presidents speech was nearly 50 minutes and covered a multitude of topics, including school shootings, gun laws and immigration. Highlights On the Second Amendment: "Your Second Amendment rights are under siege, but they will never, ever be under siege as long as Im your President." "Your Second Amendment rights are under siege, but they will never, ever be under siege as long as Im your President." On arming teachers: "They love their students. And they're not going to let anybody hurt their students. But you have to give them a chance." "They love their students. And they're not going to let anybody hurt their students. But you have to give them a chance." On the Parkland school shooter: "There has never been a case where more red flags have been shown." "There has never been a case where more red flags have been shown." On North Korea : "Were really doing well with North Korea. Were really doing well, OK." : "Were really doing well with North Korea. Were really doing well, OK." On the midterm elections : "Don't be complacent. Don't be complacent." : "Don't be complacent. Don't be complacent." On current immigration laws : "We have laws written by people that truly could not love our country." : "We have laws written by people that truly could not love our country." On the special counsel investigation : "It's a witch hunt." : "It's a witch hunt." On Kayne West : By the way, Kanye West must have some power, because you probably saw I doubled my African-American poll numbers. We went from 11 to 22 in one week, thank you Kanye." Pence Wrap-Up "President Donald Trump and I both stand without apology for the Second Amendment, and in this administration, the right of the people to keep and bear arms will not be infringed," Pence said. During his speech to the National Rifle Association, he mentioned several of the most recent mass shootings. "We live in a time where mass shootings have claimed hundreds of lives in places of work and worship and public settings," Pence said. "An ISIS-inspired attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, an attack on a country music concert last year in Las Vegas the worst mass shooting in modern history. And the recent attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida." Pence then went on to chastise the national media, demanding that it start telling the whole story to the American people about firearms in this country. Pence provided several examples of gun owners who used their firearms to stop crimes in progress. Second Amendment 'under seige' The president first promised to protect the Second Amendment as long as he is President. "Thanks to your activism and dedication, you have an administration fighting to protect your Second Amendment and we will protect your Second Amendment," he said. Trump told the crowd of NRA members that their Second Amendment right is under siege. Thank you, Kanye He also took time to thank artist Kanye West for a boostin his African American approval numbers. By the way, Kanye West must have some power, because you probably saw I doubled my African-American poll numbers. We went from 11 to 22 in one week, thank you Kanye, he said, joking that even the pollsters thought there was a mistake. West has been vocal about his support of the president recently, tweeting a picture of himself wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat. Don't get 'complacent' "Don't be complacent. Don't be complacent," Trump urged the crowd. "History says that when you win the presidency, you get complacent. You know the feeling?...Like 90% of the time you win the presidency and for whatever reason you lose the midterm. We can't let that happen. And the word is complacent." State of the special counsel investigation Addressing the special counsel's investigation into Russia during his speech, he quoted comments from a federal judge who suggested on Friday that the special counsel was aiming to hurt Trump by prosecuting Paul Manafort. Trump argued that the investigation is an ongoing "witch hunt" and praised Manafort as a "good person. "Let me tell you folks, were all fighting battles, but I love fighting these battles," Trump said. Gun control "We all know whats going on in Chicago but Chicago has the toughest gun laws theyre so tough, but you know whats happening. It seems that if were going to outlaw guns like so many people want to do Democrats you better get out and vote, then we will We are going to have to outlaw immediately all vans and all trucks, which are now the new form of death," he said. He also referenced overseas attacks saying there are no guns there, but that there are knives and "blood all over the hospital floors." North Korea President Trump said the US is "doing really well with North Korea," and that he's making an attempt to turn down the rhetoric. He also said that nuclear war comes from weakness. Immigration "We have laws written by people that truly could not love our country," Trump told the NRA. Trump called existing laws "the worst laws," promising "we're going to start defending our country, we're going to start defending our borders." Parkland/school shootings The president said he is in favor of teachers carrying concealed weapons. "They're highly trained. And we want highly trained security guards," he said. "By the way, these teachers, they love their students," he said. "They love their students. They understand it. They love their students. And they're not going to let anybody hurt their students. But you have to give them a chance." "There has never been a case where more red flags have been shown," Trump said in reference to the Parkland shooter. "The administration is working to improve early warning systems." What he failed to mention was previous support for raising the age of purchase for certain firearms or calls "comprehensive" gun law reforms/background checks. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Parenting has always been simultaneously the most rewarding and difficult job any human being can undertake. To see Hollywood tell it, though, parenting is either unrelenting angst or endless Kodak moments. FamilyLifes new film, Like Arrows, seeks to correct that misperception and encourage parents or soon-to-be parents. Parenting, said Executive Producer Dennis Rainey, is one of the greatest privileges and hardest assignments humans are ever given[there arent] many movies that have been released around the value of being parents and the value of children. That said, Like Arrows does not shy away from the difficulties or challenges that come with being a parent. It deals with some pretty gritty stuff, said Rainey. That has not, however, stopped the film from being well received. The film was named the Best Feature Film and Audience Choice at the Christian Worldview Festival in Franklin, Tennessee. The title of the film comes from Pslam 127: 3-5, Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in ones youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. The film, however, was actually born out of a completely different project, an eight part video project called the Art of Parenting that is available through FamilyLife. What happened, said Rainey, was Bob Lepinewas shooting some vignettes [for the Art of Parenting]and realized he had the making of a movie. The creation of the film went forward and is meant to both entertain its audiences and offer parents some hope and encouragement. I think a lot of parents are looking for help, looking for hope, said Rainey. [They] see a lot of very challenging issues in the culture and do not know what to do. Rainey hopes that the Art of Parenting will help prepare parents for those challenges so that they can, in turn, prepare their children to face an increasingly complex world. When the Scripture described kids, Rainey said, God didnt describe them as a curse. He described them as a blessing, a reward[He] described them as the arrows in the hands of a warrior. I think thats fascinating, and I think that parents are warriors. FamilyLife is hoping to teach these warriorshow to aim their arrows. How to pull it up, aim it and release it. Like Arrows will be in theaters May 1 and 3, 2018, and Rainey hopes that the film gives parents some much needed encouragement. I hope that parents, and people in general, see the value of children and see the value of this assignment we are given. [It] is a generational hand off of spiritual and moral valuesWho better to craft that then parents operating from a Biblical standpoint? For Immediate Release, May 4, 2018 Contact: Rebecca Bullis, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-0295, rbullis@defenders.org Brian Segee, Center for Biological Diversity, (805) 750-8852, bsegee@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Launched to Protect Rare Borderlands Moth in Arizona WASHINGTON Defenders of Wildlife, along with the Center for Biological Diversity and Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, today filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Patagonia eyed silkmoth under the Endangered Species Act. The rare Patagonia eyed silkmoth is clinging to survival in only three isolated locations in Arizona and Mexico. The groups previously petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the moth under the Endangered Species Act and designate critical habitat for the species. The Patagonia eyed silkmoth is hanging by a thread. With the only U.S. population existing in an Arizona cemetery, where its only remaining food source could be wiped out by cattle, this species clearly needs federal protection to save it from extinction, said Lindsay Dofelmier, legal fellow at Defenders of Wildlife. The Fish and Wildlife Services decision to dismiss evidence supporting listing the Patagonia eyed silkmoth was arbitrary. By failing to provide adequate explanation for the decision and not allowing for a 12-month status review, the Fish and Wildlife Service put the species at risk. Listing the silkmoth and designating critical habitat provides the best chance for recovery. The Patagonia eyed silkmoth exists in a single U.S. location, in an Arizona cemetery less than half an acre in size. In Sonora, Mexico, it lives on two sky islands, higher elevation areas that are ecologically different from the lowlands surrounding them. The Patagonia eyed silkmoth needs endangered species protection now, so we can start the work of recovering this beautiful animal, said Brian Segee, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. The Endangered Species Act has saved more than 99 percent of plants and animals with its protection from extinction, and it can do the same for this rare moth. Cattle grazing was the primary historic cause of habitat loss for the moth and continues to play a major role in the precarious situation of the species. Mining and climate change also threaten to destroy the last vestiges of potential silkmoth habitat on both sides of the border. A catastrophic fire at critical times of the year, when the adults, eggs or larvae are out, could completely erase the moth from any of these remaining localities. Listing the silkmoth and designating critical habitat for the species offers its best chance of survival and recovery. . Suit Targets Oil Leases on 2 Million Acres of Grouse Habitat Our battle continues to save some of the West's most iconic animals. This week the Center for Biological Diversity and allies filed suit over Trump actions that gut protections for imperiled greater sage grouse, rare birds famous for their elaborate mating dances. Our lawsuit includes a challenge of indiscriminate oil and gas leases on nearly 2 million acres of the birds' prime habitat in five states. At issue are two Trump directives rolling back hard-won compromises to preserve dwindling grouse populations and cutting the public out of oil and gas planning on our public lands. "Trump can't ignore the law to fulfill the fossil fuel industry's wish list," said the Center's Michael Saul. "There's no scientific or legal basis for these policies, and no public support. What Trump's doing is both wrong and illegal." Read more in The Washington Post. The Association for Communication and Advertising has announced that CEO Odette van der Haar has resigned after eleven years to join J. Walter Thompson Johannesburg, also in the position of CEO. Odette van der Haar, outgoing CEO of the ACA. Boniswa Pezisa, ACA Board chair and Net#work BBDO group CEO. Haars decision to resign was taken after much reflection and introspection on her time with the organisation, and the goals achieved during her tenure as CEO. This has been a high-energy, fast-moving and a great challenge for anyone who thrives on pushing themselves further. It has been an exhilarating and a dynamic journey which has helped me grow as a person and as a leader. Looking back on my time at the ACA fills me with pride and Im extremely thankful for having had the opportunity to lead this incredible organisation, said van der Haar.While the ACA Board expresses its sadness at the impending departure of the CEO, the industry is assured of the continuation of the industry guidance and service excellence that she established together with the Board over the years. She leaves a legacy of organisational distinction and Odette has distinguished herself as an excellent and ethical leader, a symbol of professionalism within the organisation and the industry as a whole, says Boniswa Pezisa, ACA Board chair.Although she will be leaving the ACA, van der Haars skills, passion and energy will not be lost to the industry. While a change in the guard at the ACA takes place, van der Haar has stated her intention to continue playing an active role in the profession within the ACA structures where possible and if invited to do so.Of her time at the ACA, van der Haar notes that she has worked alongside men and women of great intellect and integrity, who demonstrated the same passion for the profession. I admire so many people with whom I have come into contact. These eleven years were incredibly stimulating for me and I hope that my colleagues, the Board and the committees feel the same way.Under her leadership, the ACA has achieved a number of goals and milestones. These include driving transformation and seeing the MAC Charter promulgated; growing the Apex Awards into a highly respected awards programme; fighting intellectual property abuse through the Tenders and Pitches Code of Conduct and increasing the level of professionalism and business efficiency at the AAA School and also raising 72 bursaries via the Apex Awards.Van der Haar fine-tuned and consistently promoted the industry code of conduct and professional culture, which has, over the past years, seen the ACA consistently judged to be the most highly respected industry organisation. She acknowledged the need to adapt the association in order to ensure long term relevance, while building a stable, financially secure base which would fund developmental and socio-economic priorities. She launched the Agency Locator, expanded the Salary Survey and was behind the soon-to-be-launched new website, which will include transactional functionality for members. Working tirelessly, she networked and developed mutual respect and an excellent working relationship with a number of government departments, NGOs and other industry associations.Van der Haar will remain in office through to the end of June 2018 and the board will in due course announce the official search for a new CEO.We will be engaging all stakeholders over the coming days and weeks and assure all of a smooth and transparent transition of leadership. We wish Odette well in her new role and look forward to her continued effective contribution to the industry, both as the CEO of a global agency, and through one or more of the ACA committees, concludes Pezisa. Republication of selected Bizcommunity content for non-commercial purposes is allowed if the original article is linked to with "Source: www.bizcommunity.com ". Please click here for more information and to request permission Global non-profit organisation SEED will host its Replicator Connect Workshops in Polokwane, 17-18 May, and in Pretoria, 23-24 May. Entrepreneurs with sustainable solutions across the energy, waste management, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism sectors are invited to apply for participation in the sponsored workshops. Unique challenges Proven business models With more than 15 years of experience and having supported and engaged over 600 entrepreneurs across six African countries in our SEED Replicator Programme, we know that our methodology has proven effective in enabling entrepreneurs who are currently contributing to South Africas green and inclusive economy to replicate proven solutions and facilitate business partnerships between successful entrepreneurs around the globe, says coordinator of the SEED Replicator Programme, Christine Meyer.While the country is home to a number of engines which support small business development, the challenges facing those in the eco-inclusive sector are unique, specifically as it relates to the capacity of entrepreneurs to successfully replicate and adapt proven solutions, adds Meyer. The programme helps eco-inclusive startups avoid common business pitfalls and tackle environmental and social challenges in the community while generating sustainable economic returns.To date, more than 1000 entrepreneurs are directly supported by SEED, and a huge number of those who joined the programme are still in business, a mean feat especially in South Africa where the mortality rate of small business is still quite high, with decreasing numbers making it pass the two-year mark.A critical success factor in our Replicator Connect workshops has been presenting proven business models which entrepreneurs can adapt, interrogate and adopt during the interactive workshops, equipping them with work-books and facilitating peer-to-peer feedback, offers Meyer.The programme includes an online matchmaking platform which also facilitates and stimulates collaboration and partnerships, much needed in advancing the growth of eco-inclusive enterprises which, more often than not, battle to learn from others to grow their businesses.The SEED workshops are open to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing enterprises interested in replicating eco-inclusive business models, and establishing business partnerships with successful entrepreneurs around the globe.Apply online at app.seed.uno When Mark Zuckerberg told Congress Facebook would use artificial intelligence to detect fake news posted on the social media site, he wasn't particularly specific about what that meant. Given my own work using image and video analytics , I suggest the company should be careful. Despite some basic potential flaws, AI can be a useful tool for spotting online propaganda - but it can also be startlingly good at creating misleading material Old Mutual and Startupbootcamp (SBC) Africa will be hosting an SBC Africa FastTrack in Johannesburg on 9 May 2018 as part of a global tour to source, grow, and scale the next generation of Africa-focused innovators. This is the last call to applications for high-growth, high-potential tech-enabled startups from the Gauteng region to apply to the FastTrack happening in Johannesburg on 9 May 2018.The Cape Town Accelerator was a huge success resulting in a record 32 corporate agreements , including pilots and proof-of-concepts.Philip Kiracofe, co-founder and CEO of SBC Africa, and Zachariah George, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of SBC Africa, explain that FastTrack events are a rare opportunity for startups across the globe to present their businesses to an elite group of mentors comprising industry experts, corporate executives and investors.Through more than two hours of personal, dedicated one-on-one feedback from mentors and specialists, startups are able to engage with the Startupbootcamp global community and also meet industry executives and access international opportunities.The Johannesburg FastTrack will be held on 9 May 2018 at the Old Mutual Head Office in Sandton. Applications are invited from disruptive startups in industries including blockchain, connected devices, payment solutions, capital markets and asset management, integrated supply chain, e-commerce, alternative financing, identity management, digital connectivity, data and behavioural analytics and enabling technologies. This job expired on 16 May 2018. This job expired on 7 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. NEWTOWN >> The 2021-22 Wordsmiths Poetry Series continues on Friday, Oct. 22 at the Bucks County Community College with readings by John Gallaher and Tyler Kline. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Tyler Hall 142 on the Newtown campus.The readings will also be streamed via Zoom using this registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vc-yvqjIpE9fhBNzyB3G1HVipO8nb1oin Poet and editor John Gallaher earned a BA... The Builders Merchants Federation has appointed Perspectiva Consultants to act as government relations consultants in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Perspectiva is an established consultancy with experience of working with members of both the Scottish and Northern Irish devolved legislatures. Its clients include Scottish Gas Networks, Montrose Port Authority, Government of Gibraltar, Infinis and Renewable Energy Systems. The team is headed up by Karen Freel, who will be the Account Manager and point of contact for the BMF and Scottish and Northern Irish BMF members. Perspectiva has been appointed to ensure that the BMF and its members develop a government relations action plan for Scotland and Northern Ireland, which consists of strategy, key messaging and key stakeholder identification and mapping. It will also ensure that the BMF is fully briefed on the political landscape and will raise awareness among MSPs, MLAs and MPs on the valuable contribution to the economy made by the BMF and its members. Freel said: I am delighted to work with the BMF to raise the profile of builders' merchants and ensure that politicians understand some of the challenges that they face." BMF CEO John Newcomb said: The BMF realises that the political situation is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland and we need to communicate at a more local level. Karen and her team at Perspectiva are ideally placed to ensure that the views and needs of our members are accurately communicated to politicians in Scotland and NI. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The Flipkart board has given its approval to a deal that will see US retail giant Walmart picking up close to 75 per cent in the Bengaluru-headquartered company with an investment of around $15 billion, putting to rest months of speculation surrounding the largest deal in the countrys fast-emerging Internet sector. The deal could be formalised as early as next week, with the signing of the papers, said a highly-placed source privy to the discussion. Some of the finer details of the deal are still being worked out, but it would be announced next week, ... The board of Flipkart Online Services Pvt has approved an agreement to sell about 75 per cent of the company to a Walmart Inc.-led group for approximately $15 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, an enormous bet by the American retailer on international expansion. Under the proposed deal, SoftBank Group Corp. will sell all of the 20-plus per cent stake it holds in Flipkart through an investment fund at a valuation of roughly $20 billion, said the people, asking not to be named because the matter is private. Google-parent Alphabet Inc. is likely to participate in the ... The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the Centre's demand for a stay on the court's March 20 ruling on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 or SC/ST Act, saying the judgment was only aimed at putting a filter on immediate arrest. "We have made it clear that there is no bar on arrest if any other offence is committed. The judgment does not say there should be no FIR but the judgment simply puts a filter on immediate arrest", the court said. The Centre has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court over its recent ... Most journalists encounter moments in their working lives when they pause, shake their heads and ask themselves: Am I actually being paid to cover this story? One such moment came in May 2003, when a television channel asked me to make the insanely beautiful, nine-day trek to the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal for the commemoration of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillarys first ascent of the mountain, 50 years earlier. 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 Prime Minister and Chinese have the opportunity to meet at least three times this year to take forward their friendship forged during their unprecedented informal summit in Wuhan, China's to said today. Addressing a seminar here on the 'Wuhan Summit: Sino- Relations and its Way Forward', Luo said the two leaders reached broad consensus on the overarching, long-term and strategic issues of global and bilateral importance during their two-day summit in the central Chinese city last week. The summit in Wuhan was seen as an effort by and to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff last year. Giving a first-hand briefing to scholars and journalists on the informal summit, which he dubbed as a "very special event" in Chinese diplomacy, Luo noted that Xi has never hosted a foreign leader twice outside the Chinese capital Xi had hosted in the central Chinese city of X'ian in 2015 and last week the two leaders met in Wuhan. "This shows that attaches high importance to its relations with India," he said. The envoy said the idea of holding an informal summit was first mooted by Prime Minister when he met Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana, in 2017. After that, the two side worked very hard to make it happen, he said. Luo said President Xi and Prime Minister Modi will have three more opportunities this year to carry forward their fruitful and wide-ranging conversations in Wuhan. The said the two leaders could meet at the next Shanaghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in June in Qingdao, China, the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, and the next Summit in Buenos Aires, He said the officials concerned of the two countries were closely working to facilitate these meetings and implement the consensus reached between the two leaders in Wuhan. The said the two leaders had in-depth discussions and reached consensus on their respective visions for national development as well as domestic and foreign policies. and India, the two biggest developing countries and emerging economies --each with a population of over one billion, are important countries with strategic autonomy. "A peaceful, stable and balanced relationship between China and India is an important positive factor for the stability of the world," he said. On the differences between China and India, including the vexed boundary issue, the envoy said the two leaders have given strategic guidance to the officials on both sides to properly manage and control their differences. He underlined that both countries have the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each other's concerns and aspirations. Both leaders have agreed to use the Special Representatives' Meeting on the boundary issue to seek a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement". The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures (CBMs) and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquillity. As the two major countries in Asia, China and India will work together to make international relations more democratic, increase the representation and say of developing countries and emerging markets, support the multilateral trading regime, oppose protectionism and work for an open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalisation that benefits all, he said. Luo also said that both sides have agreed to instruct officials to work out specific plans and measures to implement the consensus reached between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi and further build on the informal summit in Wuhan and work towards opening new vistas in China-India relations. Besides, nobody likes to hear from the cheap seats, especially when they just made a terrible, horrible, reckless investing error that poses an unnecessary risk and could cost quite literally billions of dollars. I bring this up after I read the headline This Billionaire Has Put Half His Net Worth Into Gold on Bloomberg News, and the story that went with it. It describes a very concentrated investing bet: Some big investors see warning signs ahead for markets but are ... 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. 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Digital Editor on Friday announced that date and venue for historic face-to-face meeting with North Korean leader will be announced "very soon". "We now have a date. And we have a location. We'll be announcing it very soon," the Hill reported Trump as saying from the lawn. Trump predicted "very good things" from the upcoming meeting. The Trump-Kim meet will be the first of its kind as it is the first meet between a US and a North Korean leader since the end of the Korean War. The two sides are likely to discuss the possible denuclearisation of the According to a report, Trump on Friday said the US remains in "constant contact with North Korea" ahead of a planned summit with despotic Korean leader and stated that the presence of US troops in the is not on the table. Coming down to time and venue, earlier in the month, Trump hinted, in a tweet, that the bilateral summit may be conducted at the Peace House situated at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) of the Earlier on April 29, Trump said a meeting between the US and is likely possible in "three or four weeks". The US Justice Department on Thursday disclosed the filing of criminal charges against former Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, accusing him of conspiring to cover up the German automaker's diesel emissions cheating. The indictment, filed in secret in March, was unsealed in US District Court on Thursday as Volkswagen held its annual meeting in Germany. Winterkorn resigned days after the scandal over polluting vehicles in the United States became public in September 2015. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Environmental Protection Administration chief Scott ... Afghan Ambassador to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali on Friday dwelled upon the killing of nine journalists in the war-torn country's capital city Kabul in dual blasts on Monday. "This was the bloodiest year for Afghan Media. This was an attack on global media. More importantly, this attack was on Afghan youth," Abdali said at a condolence meeting held here to pay homage to killed journalists. "Afghanistan, in terms of security, is a challenge but at the same time, it is not the most dangerous place. We are trying our best to protect media," the Afghan diplomat added. Earlier on Monday, two suicide bombers killed almost 30 people in the double bombing in Shash Darak area of Kabul city. Nine journalists were also killed in the incident. The second attacker impersonated as a member of the media fraternity. According to the reports, the journalists who have been killed have been identified as Agence France-Presse's (AFP) photographer Shah Marai, Radio Free Europe's Ebadullah Hananzai and Sabawoon Kakar Tolonews' Yar Mohammad Tokhi, 1TV's Ghazi Rasooli and Nowrooz Rajabj, Mashal TV's Saleem Talash and Ali Salimi, Shamsad TV's Mahram Durani. The condolence meet was jointly organised by South Asian Women in Media and Foreign Correspondents' Club here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A policeman in Assam's Hajo has been arrested and sent to judicial custody for allegedly raping a woman inside the police station. According to reports, police officer of Ramdia police station Binod Kumar Das raped the girl inside the police quarter. Hajo PS confirmed about the incident and said that an investigation in the regard is underway. "Based on FIR of woman one police officer has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Medical examination of the victim has to be done yet," a police official said. Reacting on the incident, Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called for severe punishment for the accused policeman. He further advised the government to take serious note of psychological test of police officers during recruitment. "A police officer whose responsibility is to protect women was himself involved in such a heinous crime. It is very unfortunate and most condemnable," Gogoi told ANI. "Accused should be punished severely. Government should take serious note of psychological test during recruitment of police officers," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A clash erupted between the Congress workers and police here on Friday as the party staged a protest over rotten meat supply racket. "Rotten meat market is thriving here, this kind of crime cannot take place without collusion with the ruling regime," West Bengal Congress chief A.R. Chowdhury told ANI. Yesterday, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest after the racket was busted by the police in the state capital. The party condemned the ruling Trinamool Congress, saying that the state machinery was involved in the racket. Earlier in the week, the state 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Siddharth Mohan Jain's four-year central deputation with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been cancelled after he opened fire during his farewell ceremony as Katihar Superintendent of Police (SP). The incident took place on May 1 when Jain was being given a farewell by his colleagues as the former was getting transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi. The whole incident was caught on camera wherein Jain could be seen firing six bullets in the air with his service revolver. Meanwhile, in another incident, son of an inspector in Uttar Pradesh was seen firing in the air as part of his sister's wedding in Kanpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One civilian was injured in the ceasefire violation by Pakistan late on Thursday night in Jammu and Kashmir's Keran sector. India retaliated to Pakistan's firing from across the Line of Control (LoC). The exchange of firing continued for nearly 45 minutes. This comes a week after Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan and his Pakistani counterpart held an unscheduled hot line interaction on ceasefire violation During the DGMO level talk, India stood its ground regarding Pakistan sponsored terrorism in the Kashmir Valley while Pakistani DGMO accused Indian security forces of resorting to unprovoked firing along LoC. In response, General Chauhan emphatically stated that retaliatory firing by Indian troops are only carried out in response to unabated support given by Pakistan Army to armed terrorists, who infiltrate across the border and target Indian Army posts with heavy calibre weapons. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bhaskar Kalita, the Officer in Charge of Bordumsa Police Station in eastern Assam's Tinsukia district, lost his life during an intense gun battle between United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent ULFA-(I) cadres and the security forces on Friday evening. Reportedly, two persons, including an ULFA-I member, were killed in the exchange of fire between the police and the militant outfit. Earlier, an intense gunfight took place between a combined team of Army, Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and suspected cadres of ULFA-I at Kujipathar area of Bordumsa. According to sources, the joint team of security forces had intel about the presence of ULFA-I cadres in the area and launched an operation leading to a massive firefight. Earlier, one ULFA terrorist was arrested by security forces in Charaideo, 2 NQ- 71 series pistols, 2 magazines and 78 live cartridges were recovered from him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution to rename the Physics department of Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, which was named after Pakistani physicist Dr Abdus Salam, belonging to minority Ahmadiyya community. The Ahmadis are not recognised as Muslims after the anti-Ahmadiyya ordinance was made in the Constitution of Pakistan in 1984, which restricted the freedom of religion for Ahmadis. The Abdus Salam Centre for Physics was named in hounour of Dr Abdus Salam, who won Pakistan's first Nobel Prize in sciences 1979, for his contribution to the electroweak unification theory. A resolution presented by lawmaker, Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar sought to rename the department after Pakistani scientist Abu al Fatah Abdul Rahman Al-Khazini, contending he was the "biggest name for Muslims in Physics," Geo TV reported. In 2016, then prime minister Nawaz Sharif had approved renaming of the National Centre for Physics after Dr Abdus Salam. Safdar, who is also Sharif's son-in-law, is known for his anti-Ahmadiyya stance, and has previously gone on record to criticize the decision to rename QAU's physics centre after Dr Salam. "Today, this Parliament has signed a resolution to highlight that the Physics department of Quaid-i-Azam University should be named after the famous scientist Abu al Fatah Abdul Rehman Al-Khazini who was the biggest name for Muslims in Physics," the resolution read. The resolution hailed Al-Khazini for following in the footsteps of his teacher Al-Biruni and stated that "the whole European used the works of this prominent Muslim scientist. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Internet services were suspended here on Friday to prevent the communal flare-up over Pakistan's Founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah portrait issue. In connection with the issue, the city witnessed a clash on Thursday between students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and the police. "There were so many messages coming on social media which were creating a negative effect on communal harmony. Keeping that in mind, the DM (district magistrate) of the area has imposed section 144 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure)," said Aligarh Additional District Magistrate Shyam Bahadur. The internet services in Aligarh will remain suspended from 2:00 pm (04 may 2018) to 12:00 am (06 May 2018). "The banks and government services will, however, remain unaffected with this move. We are taking all the necessary steps. Peace is continuously maintained in all over Aligarh district. Alertness is raised in the area," Singh added. Yesterday, 28 students and 13 cops were injured in a clash which broke out between AMU students and the police. The students were marching towards a police station after Hindu groups allegedly protested outside the university campus a day ago in connection with the presence of Jinnah's portrait in the office of the student's union. The matter hit the headlines after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Aligarh MP Satish Gautam questioned the portrait's presence in the office, which has been there for decades. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A protest was held on Friday outside Uttar Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi against clashes at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) over Pakistan's Founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah portrait issue in the varsity campus. Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh city witnessed a clash on Thursday between students of the AMU and the police. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Om Prakash Singh, told ANI, "The situation in Aligarh is under control. We are watchful and will not let any untoward incident take place." Internet services were suspended here to prevent the communal flare-up over Pakistan's Founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah portrait issue. According to media reports, section 144 has also been imposed in Aligarh amid high tension over the controversy. "There were so many messages coming on social media which were creating a negative effect on communal harmony. Keeping that in mind, the DM (district magistrate) of the area has imposed section 144 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure)," said Aligarh Additional District Magistrate Shyam Bahadur. Yesterday, 28 students and 13 cops were injured in a clash which broke out between the AMU students and the police. The students were marching towards a police station after Hindu groups allegedly protested outside the university campus a day ago in connection with the presence of Jinnah's portrait in the office of the student's union. The matter hit the headlines after Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Aligarh MP Satish Gautam questioned the portrait's presence in the office, which has been there for decades. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Journalist Upendra Rai, who was recently arrested for his alleged involvement in dubious money deals of over Rs 100 crore, has been sent to a three-day Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to interfere in the arrest of the senior journalist and deferred the case. Rai, who was arrested on Thursday, had approached the apex court against his arrest. The CBI had registered a case against the former CEO and editor-in-chief of Tehelka and Sahara Media, on allegations of giving false information to gain access to sensitive areas of importance such as airports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The main accused in the murder of an Assistant Town and Country Planning officer in Dharampur area of Solan district, Vijay Singh, was on Friday, sent to Police Custody for five days. The officer in question, Shail Bala Sharma (51), along with four teams of the Town and Country Planning Department, was, on Tuesday, razing unauthorised construction in the in Dharampur area of Solan district, on the orders of the Supreme Court, when the incident happened. When Sharma and her team reached Narayani Guest House, its owner Singh asked them to keep off his property. When the team went ahead with the demolition drive and tried to get the place evacuated, Singh opened fire on them. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had said that illegal constructions in Kasauli and other hilly areas were carried out during the Congress-led government in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) August 28, 2021, Saturday The US Intelligence Community assesses that the origins of the novel coronavirus disease may never be definitively identified ... The United States on Thursday rejected the reports on any deal with Pakistan to extradite former Pakistan ambassador Husain Haqqani in exchange of handing over Doctor Shakeel Afridi, the physician who helped the Central Investigation Agency to track Osama Bin Laden. As reported by the Geo TV a spokesperson of the US State Department denied reports any such deal between Pakistan and the US. Further as per some media reports, the Director General of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency said that the American authorities were contacted regarding Haqqani's extradition to which they replied, "you too have our man." On May 2, the Foreign Office of Pakistan clarified that no deal is being made with the US to hand over Afridi in exchange of Haqqani. Earlier, the US Department of State had said that it does not comment on pending or potential extradition requests. It further said that the extradition process is governed by relevant treaties and is not used to 'trade' prisoners. Haqqani was accused of sending a memo in 2011 that mentioned of a possible army coup in Pakistan, following the United States-conducted raid in Abbottabad to kill Laden. A case was registered against him in the Supreme Court. Following this Haqqani resigned and left Pakistan while the hearing was underway. Arrest warrants had been issued against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One person was critically injured in a shooting at a mall in Nashville, United States, and later succumbed to his injuries, on Thursday. The shooter was taken into custody after he surrendered before the police. The shooting at Opry Mills shopping mall was resultant of an ongoing dispute between two men but did not entail any additional threat, Metro Nashville Police said. "Dispute at Opry Mills Mall results in gunfire. One person shot. Suspected shooter in custody. No additional imminent threat known. Mall being swept by MNPD officers as a precaution," Metro Nashville Police wrote on Twitter. "Shooting at Opry Mills appears to have been the result of an ongoing dispute between 2 males. 1 of them was critically wounded. The suspected gunman left the mall building and immediately surrendered," another tweet read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi exuded confidence and asserted that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party will emerge victorious in the upcoming general elections. Addressing a public gathering in Kahuta in the Punjab Province, Abbasi said the next general elections would prove to be better for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) than the 2013 elections, Geo TV reported. Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N would win the next elections and the victory will be much massive as compared to previous polls, he added. Taking a pot shot at the opposition parties, Abbasi said, " of abuse and hurling allegations cannot work in Pakistan." The Prime Minister remarked that the ruling party's developmental work in the country would decide for the public to vote in its favour. "You may go anywhere, but you will only find work done by the PML-N," Abbasi said, adding, "Be it motorways, industry or other things, everything shows the PML-N's performance." The general elections in Pakistan are due to be held in the last week of July or first week of August. The PML-N government will complete its five-year term on May 31, and the caretaker government will then take over to oversee the elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the upcoming 45th session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dhaka expects that the Council of Foreign Ministers to exert pressure on Myanmar for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis. "Rohingya crisis will get greater focus at the two-day conference beginning on Saturday [tomorrow] and there will be a special session on the issue," Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said, as per The Daily Star. A delegation of ministers and representatives of the OIC countries would visit refugee camps in Cox's Bazar on Thursday, he added. A team consisting of foreign ministers and foreign secretaries from 38 countries is expected to visit the refugee camps. Over 700,000 Myanmar's Muslim Rohingyas are sheltered there after a military crackdown in Rakhine State. Foreign Minister Ali and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam are to accompany the delegation. Foreign Minister Ali yesterday said, Rohingya crisis would be the focus of the talks including all the other humanitarian challenges. "We'll discuss the possible ways to resolve the Rohingya crisis and intensify the efforts of the intentional community and the OIC member countries," as quoted by The Daily Star. Ali said over 550 representatives of the OIC and different international organisations, including around 40 ministers and state ministers, are expected to attend the event. This is the second time Bangladesh is hosting the council, under a democratic government. It was last conducted in 1983. Meanwhile, the U.S. President Donald Trump in a letter to Bangladeshi Prime minister, Sheikh Hasina assured Bangladesh of continuing to mount pressure on Myanmar to repatriate Rohingya Muslims. "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," he said in the letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after reports surfaced on Friday stating that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Dalit-outreach programme, calling it a "drama", the cultural organisation refuted such media reports. RSS All India Campaign chief Arun Kumar, in a press statement, said the reports are devoid of facts, and misleading, as no such meeting took place in which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gram Swaraj Abhiyan Mission - aimed at promoting social harmony, was discussed. According to reports, Bhagwat had slammed the BJP for its Dalit outreach programme. Over the past few weeks, ministers of the party visited several Dalit homes and shared food with them under the mission. RSS chief Bhagwat reportedly said merely visiting Dalit houses is not enough to eliminate discrimination, and that the BJP is creating a drama using the Dalits. However, Arun Kumar said the RSS does not believe in discrimination on grounds of caste and that since its inception, the RSS has been working for a society devoid of caste discrimination for every individual. (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 discussed bilateral issues with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dacic, who is on a three-day visit to India. The visit was conducted as part of the regular high-level exchanges between the two countries. Dacic was accompanied by certain ministers from his department. Dacic held a meeting with EAM Sushma Swaraj as part of which the two ministers discussed on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, as per a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday. The two countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of culture, sports, youth and mass media. Further discussions were held upon bilateral cooperation in sectors including trade and investment, agriculture and food processing, science and technology, information technology, Defence, health and pharmaceuticals, and culture and tourism. On May 3 Dacic called upon Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu. Earlier in the day, Dacic delivered a speech on 'Serbia in the region, Europe and the World' at the Indian Council of Affairs. Earlier on May 2 he also visited Agra. Further, the release noted that the India and Serbia had shared close and historic relationship and the bilateral trade between the countries has increased substantially. Several Indian companies had invested in Serbia in sectors such as farm equipment (tractors), food processing and pharmaceuticals. Further India had extended its e-visa facility to Serbian nationals. Serbia had abolished visas for the Indian nationals in September 2017. Such initiatives are expected to boost tourism between the two countries. Earlier in January 2017 Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic visited India. Dacic is scheduled to depart from India on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, who started the campaign for the 2019 elections with a massive rally here on Friday, took a dig at Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Addressing the party workers in Bhopal, he said, "Even if Rahul Gandhi uses binocular, he cannot see Congress emerging victorious in the coming days. I wonder how Rahul Ji can dream of such things." Continuing his tirade against the opposition party, Shah said that the BJP stood for farmers and the poor, while the Congress was synonymous with "corporate interests." He also praised the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan government for working for the welfare of poor and claimed that the BJP would surely win all the 29 seats in the state in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Shah arrived here from Karnataka's Bengaluru and addressed the state-level meeting of the party workers and office-bearers at the Dusshera Maidan in Bhopal. Later, he flew back to Bengaluru. Shah launched the election campaign today in Madhya Pradesh and boosted the morale of the party workers to gear up for the upcoming polls in the state. The assembly elections in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh are due later this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders came to the defence of President Donald Trump on Thursday, after his conflicting statements about the hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels put a question mark on his credibility. Sanders told press that the President initially did not know about the payment to Daniels but came to know later, which led to the conflicting claims, reported CNN. "This was information the President didn't know at the time, but eventually learned," Sander said at the daily press briefing. President Trump has denied the affair with Sanders and previously claimed that he didn't know about any payment made by his attorney Michael Cohen in return for her silence on the alleged affair. However, Trump's new lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told Fox News on Wednesday that Donald Trump reimbursed the payment to Cohen. Trump, in a series of tweets, admitted to reimbursing Cohen for payment to Daniels and defended himself saying Cohen received a monthly retainer for it which had "nothing to do with the campaign." He explained that the agreement "was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair." Sanders, on her part, said she came to know that Trump had learned of the reimbursement, during Giuliani's interview. On being pressed about the credibility of information provided by the White House, the spokeswoman said, "We give the very best information we have at the time." Daniels has been locked in a legal battle with President Trump, seeking to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement she and Cohen had signed more than a decade ago. In her previous lawsuit, the adult star is asking whether the hush agreement was legal and is looking at whether President Trump consented to it. The adult star revealed that the deal was not valid because the US President "never signed it himself". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish forces will remain in Syria's Afrin region that was recently liberated from the control of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PYD/PKK), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. "We will remain in Afrin and we will be there until we assure its security," Erdogan said at the Istanbul Youth Festival, and added that Idlib, Tal Rifaat and Manbij, the other war-torn Syrian provinces, would be next, reported the Anadolu Agency. Afrin town center was liberated from Kurdish forces on March 18, under Operation Olive Branch carried out by Turkish forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels under the The operation 'Olive Branch' was launched on January 20 to clear PYD/PKK and IS terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria. The PKK, which is based in Turkey, Iraq and parts of Syria, has been involved in an armed conflict with Turkey for the past few years. Its aim is to achieve the objective of creating an independent Kurdish state. It has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. President Erdogan also said that if Operation Euphrates Shield, held from August 2016 to late March 2017, was conducted sooner, "Kilis [southern province of Turkey] wouldn't be hit so many times. Turkey's Kilis province was targeted by terrorists while the country carried out Operation Olive Branch in Syria. On March 19, 48 rocket attacks from across the border killed two civilians and injured 38 others, according to the Kilis governor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The officials and representatives from the California business community on Friday took part in the third California-China Business Summit to address the rising trade conflicts between the two countries. The summit was co-organised by Los-Angeles-based China Week and Milken Institute. Several Chinese media had covered the summit as they seemed to collectively give an optimistic view about the summit, while seeming to advise caution to the Chinese policymakers. As reported by the China Daily, California Governor Jerry Brown said at the summit that both the countries are engaged. "This meeting brings chambers of commerce and businesses together, which is really important. I pledge California will be open to business and collaboration." The media outlet highlighted that the two countries must seek a win-win situation through dialogue than conflict while quoting Brown. Further chairman of the China Week Peter Shiao was quoted saying that the "silver lining" is that China and the US have engaged in communication "for the first time in a long time". A China's daily editorial highlighted the warning of the International Monetary Fund about the possibly devastating impact of the trade war on the global economy. Shia further called upon the people to come forth and preserve the bilateral trade relationship, which is "too important to fail". China's state-owned media Xinhua also quoted Brown saying China and the United States should work together to promote the global economy despite rising tensions due to the trade dispute between the two countries recently while adding, "a trade war is stupid". The article also highlighted that China is now California's largest trade partner, the largest source of imports and the third-largest export market. It took to its official Twitter handle to say, "China and the U.S. reach agreements on some issues in economic and trade consultations in Beijing and agree to set up a work mechanism to keep close communication." The South China Morning Post reported that Washington demanded Beijing to halt subsidies for industries under the "Made in China 2025" plan and that China should not resort to retaliatory measures against Washington. It further asked China to cut the trade deficit by at least US$200 billion by the end of 2020. The article clearly mentioned that though the trade talks were somewhat positive no breakthrough could take place as it featured a headline saying, "No breakthrough but some consensus in China-US trade talks". Earlier on Thursday US president Donald Trump tweeted, "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! " The two-day US-China trade talks will end on May 4. The US delegation is being led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin while China is represented by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The White House warned Beijing on Thursday, saying there will be consequences for its growing militarization in the South China Sea. This comes after China quietly installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three outposts in the disputed region. This would, in all probability, allow Beijing to further project its power in the South China Sea. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that the United States has concerns regarding the issue. "We're well aware of China's militarization of the South China Sea. There will be near-term and long-term consequences, and we'll certainly keep you up to date," she was quoted as saying by CNN. According to the U.S. intelligence reports, Chinese military had deployed missiles to three artificial islands during recent military drills on the contested sea, CNN reported. The South China Sea is one of the most contested regions in the China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, among several others, have overlapping territorial claims on the sea. China, in 2016 declared that it had already deployed similar weapons to Woody Island in the Paracel Islands, on the northwestern edge of the South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying earlier said, her nation has been involved in peaceful construction in the islands and such relevant deployments target no one. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, claimed that within ten days of the Congress party coming to power in the 2019 General Elections, all farmer loans nationwide will be waived off. While addressing a public rally in Kalgi ahead of the impending Karnataka Assembly Elections, Gandhi said, "When the Congress comes to power in 2019, we will waive the loans of farmers within 10 days of coming to power. We have also planned food processing plants for the benefit and growth of Karnataka farmers." Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not come to the aid of farmers, he said, "Narendra Modi Ji can forgive Rs 2.5 lakh Cr of the rich, but cannot waive a single rupee for the farmers of the nation. We waived off farmer loans in Karnataka worth Rs 8000 Cr, Modi Ji did not do anything for the state's farmers." Accusing the current BJP Government of corruption, Gandhi suggested that Modi saves money on the Petrol taxes and channels it to a few Ministers in his ranks. "Modi Ji saves money from Petrol and gives it to 5-10 Industrialist Ministers. Even Amit Shah (BJP President) admitted that Yeddyurappa is the most corrupt Chief Minister, does Modi Ji want that the Reddy brothers and Yeddyurappa loot Karnataka's, money?" he said. "His minister Piyush Goyal has not revealed to the nation that he owns a company, he keeps it hidden and earns crores of rupees from it, and Modi Ji is silent on the matter," he added on the corruption note. Gandhi also highlighted BJP president Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah's firm making a mind-boggling 16,000 percent increase in profits the year following election of PM Narendra Modi, saying, "Businesses across the nation are facing hardships, while Amit Shah's son turns 50,000 into 8 Cr! This is an outright theft, though Modi Ji has maintained his silence on the matter." Claiming that the Congress government in the state has delivered on its promises via various welfare schemes, he said that even the Prime Minister has acknowledged the state's better employment record. "Even PM Modi has acknowledged Karnataka's better employment record. We would further improve this record by increasing women employment. The BJP opposed the amendment to Article 371 (J), while the Congress actively pursued it to open up growth opportunities for the people." Claiming that the BJP-RSS is assaulting Dalits across the nation, he said, "Half the money that the Indian (BJP) Government gives to the Dalits and tribal people, the Congress gives in Karnataka alone." "The people of BJP want the RSS to run Karnataka. They want to crush your language, history, culture and food," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hong Kong share market closed lower on Friday, 04 May 2018, as investors continued booking recent gains amid cautious before the outcome of the Sino-US trade talks, released during the final minutes of trading. Top officials reached a consensus on some aspects of the countries' trade row, but remained relatively far apart on other issues, according to news agency reports on Friday. The Hang Seng index fell 1.3%, to 29,926.50, while the China Enterprises Index lost 1.1%, to 11,890.62 points. The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares dipped 0.7% while the IT sector dipped 0.65%, the financial sector was 1.8% lower and property sector dipped 0.7%. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Matrimony.com rose 8.51% to Rs 880 at 9:50 IST on BSE after consolidated net profit jumped 90.81% to Rs 16.81 crore on 11.86% increase in net sales to Rs 84.35 crore in Q4 March 2018 over Q4 March 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 3 May 2018. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 92.24 points, or 0.26% to 35,010.90. On the BSE, 2,779 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 122 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 920.10 and a low of Rs 850 so far during the day. The stock hit a record high of Rs 1,025 on 21 September 2017. The stock hit a record low of Rs 703.05 on 5 April 2018. Earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew 26.3% to Rs 19.95 crore in Q4 March 2018 over Q4 March 2017. Murugavel Janakiraman, managing director said match making business witnessed a profile growth of 15.8% year on year. During Q4 secondshaadi.com, an exclusive portal for divorcees has been acquired and combining with the company's existing portal divorceematrimony.com, the firm has become the leading player in this segment. The company will continue to invest in brand building in the matrimony segment and expect the revenue to expand in coming quarters, he added. Matrimony.com is India's leading consumer Internet company. It is a signature consumer internet conglomerate, managing marquee brands such as BharatMatrimony, CommunityMatrimony and EliteMatrimony. The company delivers matchmaking and marriage related services to users in India and the Indian diaspora. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has signed Memorandum of Understanding for the year 2018-19 with Ministry of Power, Government of India. The MoU was signed by Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India and Shri I. S. Jha, CMD, POWERGRID in the presence of senior officials from Ministry and POWERGRID. The MoU includes various targets to be achieved by POWERGRID during FY 2018-19. Capex target for the year has been set as Rs. 25,000 crore. Other targets in the MoU inter-alia include parameters related to human resources, project management, R&D and innovation and other efficiency and operational performance parameters. POWERGRID, a Navratna CPSE and the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) of the country, has been consistently receiving highest rating i.e. Excellent under since signing of the first MoU in 1993-94. As on March 31, 2018, the company owns & operates over 148,800 ckt. km. of transmission lines, 236 EHV sub-stations with transformation capacity of more than 322,000 MVA. Availability of this gigantic transmission network has been consistently maintained over 99.5%. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Almost 170 Palestinian protesters were injured on Friday in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, an official said. Ashraf al Qedra, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson, was quoted by Xinhua as saying that 170 demonstrators were injured, sustaining gunshots, rubber bullet injuries and gas suffocation. Eyewitnesses said after Friday prayers, hundreds headed to five different locations along the border. Israeli soldiers using loudspeakers warned the demonstrators, asking them to "Go home for your safety". The protestors rolled burning tires to within 500 meters of the fence. The Israeli military said some 7,000 Palestinians were protesting along the border. When "violent riots" erupted in five locations, it said troops responded with "riot dispersal means" and live fire. Sallah Abdul Aati, one of the organizers of the rallies, said the protests will continue. "The march of the millions is coming and is expected on May 15. This will be the climax of the Great March of Return," he said. The protests have been held for six consecutive weeks. As Israel celebrates its 70th independence anniversary, the Palestinians are demanding that the Palestinian refugees forced to leave their homes during the Arab-Israeli War in 1948 be allowed to return. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bizarre incident, police in Vadodara have found a second body of a murdered man who had been cremated by his family on May 1. As per reports, a businessman Suraj Shah (45) was murdered by his lawyer Vijay Ravji Rohit and two others. Shah owed Rohit Rs 4.6 lakh, which he had given to the former as a loan couple of months back. Two persons -- Shrikan Suresh Pawar and Mehul Santosh Mane -- helped Rohit kill Shah on April 25. The three apparently killed Shah and threw his body in Narmada canal near Vitoj with a stone tied to his legs. Sometime later, the police found a body floating in the canal. When asked to identify, Mane said the body was not of the killed businessman, but Shah's family claimed it to be his. Later, the police sent the body for autopsy and thereafter handed over to the family, who cremated it on May 1. The twist in the story came when the police recovered another dead body from the same canal, this time from Halol. The police believe that the body found later is that of Shah and not the earlier one, unlike what the family claimed. The possibility of the second body being that of Shah is also strengthened by the fact that the three accused had claimed that they had tied a stone to the legs of the deceased before throwing the body into the canal. While the body recovered earlier did not have any stones tied to it, a stone was found tied to the second dead body's legs. Clothes on the body also matched with the ones Shah was seen wearing in the CCTV footage of the day he vanished. The police also point out that while Shah was seen wearing a half-sleeve T-shirt in the CCTV footage, the dead body found earlier had a full-sleeve shirt on it. "What can we say? There appears to be some kind of mix-up," Shruti Shah, wife of the deceased, told the media. "The first body resembled with him to a great extent." The police have now launched an investigation to find out who the man was whose body was found first, even as the Shah family cremated the second body on Friday and also held a condolence meeting at their residence. --IANS amc/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UK has announced a $2 million aid to Libya to support its private sector and provide employment to young people and women. The British Embassy here said on Thursday that the aid is for a micro-finance scheme in partnership with Expertise France. They will design and implement projects to contribute to Libya's balanced development, Xinhua news agency reported. Libya is plagued by economic crisis due to escalating violence and political division following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. --IANS nks/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least six labourers were killed and one was injured when unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets at them in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Friday. The assailants targeted the labourers working on the site of a mobile phone company's tower in the Laijay area of Kharan and fled the scene, Dawn News reported. All the labourers hailed from Punjab province and the injured one was shifted to a hospital. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four bombers and three locals died following multiple suicide blasts early on Friday in Nigeria's Borno, local police said. Seven others were wounded following the blasts in two villages near Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, according to Edet Okon, spokesman of the police in the northern state. The suicide attackers, including one female bomber, targeted crowded areas in the two neighboring villages of Mainari Kanuri and Mainari Shuwa, Xinhua reported. The two villages are located in remote areas in Konduga district of the northern state. Okon added that security was immediately beefed up in the area and the Maiduguri Metropolis, following the attack. Boko Haram, a militant group emerging from northeastern Nigeria, was said to be responsible for the suicide blasts. On Thursday, four suicide bombers had blown up themselves in a failed attack on the outskirts of Maiduguri. Some suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base some 12 km to Maiduguri, also on Thursday. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was re-elected the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee on Friday following a four-day meeting by the top legislative body that was boycotted by the Islamist group Hamas. Abbas, 82, has been holding the position for decades and was elected by the Palestinian National Council, which met for the first time in 22 years, Efe news reported. The President has left three seats of the executive committee open for the factions that had boycotted the meeting, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twenty-one milk samples, including that of renowned producers Amul and Mother Dairy, were found to be "sub-standard" during tests conducted by the Delhi government, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday. He, however, hastened to add that these samples were "not unsafe" but they did not have the prescribed levels of components like fat among others. "Sub-standard means that if the fat content had to be 5 per cent, it was only 3 per cent. In simple terms, water was mixed. In most of the 21 samples which failed, milk powder was mixed," Jain told the media. He said the drive would continue and extend to milk products like 'paneer' and 'khoya'. Tests were done on 177 samples collected from across the city between April 13 and 28. Of the 165 samples whose results have arrived, 21 were found to be sub-standard, the Minister said. "Branded and non-branded were there (in the 21 samples which was sub-standard) and in branded, Amul and Mother Dairy were there," he said. Mother Dairy said it had not received the test findings but insisted that that each batch of its milk underwent stringent quality tests at four levels to ensure that safe and quality milk became available for consumption. "We have recently received Quality Mark certification for all our poly pack milk variants sold in Delhi NCR to ensure our consumers 100 per cent conformance to the prescribed norms," it said in a statement. Jain said the Delhi government collected samples of popular milk brands and also of locally available milk for the tests. He also said that all the cases would be forwarded to the court, adding that a penalty ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 5 lakh would be imposed. "Under any circumstances, unsafe food would not be allowed in Delhi," Jain said. Jain also said that of the three samples of ghee tested, one non-branded product was found "unsafe". "The issue was raised in the Delhi Assembly and after that I had given orders to collect milk samples in Delhi," he said. The Assembly question was regarding fake milk in Delhi and the diseases caused by it. Jain said 18 food inspectors have joined the Delhi government recently and this had helped in speeding up the process of testing samples. He added that he had given orders to do testing in private labs also so that the process would not face any obstacle. "If any food products are found unsafe, there are provisions to award imprisonment of six months to three years," he added. --IANS nkh/vsc/mr/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With an eye on returning to power in Karnataka, the BJP on Friday released its manifesto for the Assembly elections by promising free smartphones to poor women, free laptop to students entering college and visits to China and Israel by farmers. "Our manifesto aims to cater to the aspirations of the people of Karnataka. We have focused on the welfare of farmers, women, youth and backward sections," said the Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit head and Chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa. "All women from below poverty line (BPL) families will be given free smartphones under a 'Mukhya Mantri Smartphone Yojane'," Yeddyurappa told the media. And every student enrolling in a college will get a free laptop. One thousand farmers will be allowed each year to travel to countries like Israel and China to study the best practices in agriculture under the "Chief Minister's Fellowship for Agriculture", the manifesto said. The document proposes to waive off all farmers' loans upto Rs 1 lakh from nationalised banks and cooperative banks in the very first state Cabinet meeting. Assembly elections are due on May 12. The party said it will support about 20 lakh small and marginal dry land farmers through a direct income support of Rs 10,000. "We will ensure that farmers receive 1.5 times the cost of production as Minimum Support Price (MSP)," read the 60-page manifesto. The party will set aside Rs 5,000-crore "Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund" to support farmers during price fluctuations. "An amount of Rs 100-crore will be allocated for 'Raitha Bandhu Scholarship' to be given to farmers' children to pursue agriculture and allied sector courses in the state," the manifesto added. The BJP leader said the party will earmark Rs 10,000-crore for a "Stree Unnati" Fund to set up women-run cooperatives across the state and establish stores to market the products made by the women at district and sub-district headquarters. The party said it would ensure more work opportunities in the state but did not specify the number of jobs it aimed to create. The BJP also said it will reintroduce the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill, 2012. --IANS bha/in/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday directed a stop to all transportation of iron ore, for which royalty had been paid to the state government, by setting aside the Goa Chief Secretary's order allowing movement of royalty-paid iron ore lying outside the mining lease areas. The order by Justice Prithviraj Chavan and Justice N.M. Jamdar, which could be seen as a setback to the state's mining industry, also directs the state government decide within four weeks as to whether it can take possession, sell and dispose the disputed iron ore to utilise the proceeds for public purpose. "The court has also asked the Indian Bureau of Mines to verify the iron ore production figures in view of large discrepancies, while also asking the state Director of Mines and Geology to take charge of mines safety, since they were no longer in possession of lease holders," petitioner and Goa Foundation founder Claude Alvares, who had filed a petition in the High Court bench seeking a stoppage to the illegal transportation of iron ore, told reporters here. According to official statistics, nearly 30,000 tons of iron ore is lying dumped outside mining leases as of April-end. On March 15 this year, the Supreme Court had banned all mining activity, including transportation of iron ore, from Goa's 88 mining leases. Following the ban, the state government, through an order by Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma, had allowed the mining lease holders to transport iron ore from dumps which had accumulated outside the lease areas, after payment of due royalty to the state government. --IANS maya/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The opposition parties in Venezuela have said they will not participate in the May 20 presidential elections and urged citizens to refrain from "validating the fraud". The opposition coalition, Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) also called for more protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the day of the vote, Efe news reported. On behalf of the MUD, Congresswoman Delsa Solorzano announced that suspending the May 20 elections "is what suits the national interest the most and is what the government should do to restore democratic rules". However, she made it clear that "not participating in this May 20 elections does not mean we are not willing to participate in future elections". If Maduro should win the elections, as many predict, the coalition "will not recognise the regime", she said. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twitter has urged its 336 million users to change their passwords after the company discovered a bug that stored passwords in plain text in an internal system. "As a precaution", Twitter on Thursday recommended its users to consider changing their password on all services where they have used the same password. The company also assured it has fixed the problem and have seen "no indication of breach or misuse", the Guardian reported. On trying to login, a pop-up message said: "Keeping your account secure. When you set a password for your Twitter account, we use technology that masks it so no one at the company can see it. "We recently identified a bug that stored passwords unmasked in an internal log. We have fixed the bug, and our investigation shows no indication of breach or misuse by anyone. "Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that you consider changing your password on all services where you've used this password." "We are very sorry this happened," said Twitter's Chief Technology Officer, Parag Agrawal, in a blogpost. "We recognise and appreciate the trust you place in us, and are committed to earning that trust every day." Companies with good security practices typically store user passwords in a form that cannot be read. In Twitter's case, passwords are masked through a process called hashing, which replaces the actual password with a random set of numbers and letters that are stored in the company's system, the Gaurdian reported. "This allows our systems to validate your account credentials without revealing your password," said Agrawal. "This is an industry standard." "Due to a bug, passwords were written to an internal log before completing the hashing process. We found this error ourselves, removed the passwords, and are implementing plans to prevent this bug from happening again." In an initial tweet, Agarwal said the company did not have to tell users about the bug, but nevertheless did. But on receiving criticism for saying so, he followed it up with an apology, the Time reported. "I should not have said we didn't have to share. I have felt strongly that we should. My mistake," he tweeted. Twitter's CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted that he believes "it's important for us to be open about this internal defect". Agrawal advised people to change their passwords, enable two-factor authentication on their Twitter account and use a password manager to create strong, unique passwords on every service they use. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Making a strong pitch for granting of Scheduled Tribe status to 11 Sikkimese Nepali communities, an issue which has been lying unresolved for over 40 years, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Thursday regretted that the Nepali communities in India have not received "as much respect and dignity" as was extended to other citizens. "We are deliberating on recognition of 11 Nepali communities as Scheduled Tribe communities in Sikkim, as well as our brothers and sisters residing in other parts of the country, to ensure justice for their demand. "I firmly believe our sincere struggle and hard work will soon bear results," Chamling said while inaugurating the Sikkim Summit for Tribal Status 2018. The two-day summit has been organised by EIECOS, an association of the registered 11 indigenous ethnic communities of Sikkim, as also the Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes and the state's Social Justice Empowerment and Welfare Department. Pointing out that Sikkim was the only state to have joined India by way of referendum, Chamling said "Sikkim is the unique embedded example of commitment and patriotism for national integration". However, in 1978, the Nepali community was "unfortunately" left out when Scheduled Tribe recognition was granted, three years after the state joined India. "After so many years, we are still fighting for justice, demanding the inclusion of the leftout communities in the ST list. "We embraced India as a country on the condition of never compromising our uniqueness as Sikkimese people protected by the Indian constitution. "However, in 1978, through the constitution Scheduled Tribe order, only Lepchas and Bhutias were listed as Scheduled Tribes, and the Nepali community was virtually delisted," he said. "This was an unfortunate decision on the part of the Indian government because it led to the deprivation of pre-merger political privilege of our community. "This was gross injustice to the Nepali community which needs to be addressed, .... (though) partial justice was done when Tamangs and Limbus were given ST status in 2002." Saying that it has been historically proven that the Nepali community has made great contribution to nation-building at par with other citizens, he said: "But the Nepali community in India has not received respect and dignity at par with other citizens. They are still struggling with its identity crisis." "This contribution made by Nepali speaking citizens of India has gone unheard, and therefore they are suffering injustice till today," he said. "The time has come to take appropriate steps to address these shortcomings". Chamling said his government has taken note of the historical background of the demand, and is doing everything possible to secure constitutional recognition of the 11 left out communities for ST status. "I have been corresponding with the President, Prime Minister, and other union ministers concerned. Way back in 1996 we had sent list for inclusion of these communities in the ST list.". "We have been placing the demand at the highest level at the Centre, and our discussions and consultations are continuing," he added. --IANS ssp/hs/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Friday expressed grief over the death of nearly 100 people in dust storms and lightning strikes in India. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said: "We express out deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences to the large number of casualties and loss of property in the storms in India. We mourn the victims and hope the injured recover soon." A combination of weather systems emanating from hilly states and either side of the sea, East and West, resulted in the intense thundershowers and dust storms in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh late on Wednesday, leaving nearly 100 people dead. (Gaurav Sharma can be contacted at sharmagaurav71@gmail.com) --IANS gsh-him/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Dubai investment group and a New York real estate company have reached a deal to buy the majority stake owned by Subrata Roy's Sahara Group in the New York Plaza Hotel for $600 million, according to media reports. The prospective buyers have seven weeks to close the deal, real estate newspaper Real Deal reported quoting sources close to the buyers. Roy's Sahara Group has been under orders from the Indian Supreme Court to make refunds of thousands of crore rupees to investors. The New York Times identified the buyers as Shahal Khan, founder of the Dubai-based White City Ventures, and Kamran Hakim of the Hakim Organisation, a New York City real estate company. The newspaper said the deal was confirmed by Sandeep Wadhwa, head of corporate finance at the Sahara Group, which owns a 70 per cent stake in the hotel, and Sant Singh Chatwal, a hotelier who owns 5 per cent being sold. One of the sources for funding the acquisition by Khan and Hakim is a loan from David and Simon Reuben, whom the Real Deal described as "Mumbai-born British billionaires" who "bought the note on the Plaza from Sahara in 2015". A partnership of the real estate firm Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp and Saudi Prince Al-waleed bin Talel-controlled Kingdom Holdings owns the remaining 25 per cent of the Plaza, the Times said. The Plaza Hotel founded in 1907 is one of the city's landmarks. The Sahara Group is under court orders in India to pay off debts amounting to several thousands of crores of rupees. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had asked the court in 2014 to order the recovery of Rs 36,000 crore from Sahara to pay investors who had bought securities from two companies belonging to the group. Roy is now out on parole after spending time in Delhi's Tihar Jail for failing to comply with court orders. Last year, a New York company, MG Capital Holdings, backed out of an offer to buy the hotel for $550 million and failed to pay the required deposit of Rs 750 crore in the SEBI account for Sahara refunds to investors. The Supreme Court, which had ordered the repayment of Sahara debts, jailed Prakash Muthuswamy, who held the power of attorney for the prospective buyer, for one month. Unlike previous deals, the offer by Khan and Hakim is expected to go through because they made an irrevocable $30-million deposit, the Times said. However, the Times said that the minority shareholder, the Ashkenazy and Kingdom partnership, have the right of first refusal to buy the hotel at the same price. The Real Deal said that Sahara may consider a lower bid from Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that employees at the hotel were on strike and that guests who had booked rooms costing as much as $1,000 a night were being turned away. Real Deal described Khan as the founder of Chimera Group and the Dubai-based investment company, White City Ventures. According to the newspaper, Hakim is an immigrant from Iran and a company controlled by him owns more than 100 properties in New York. CNBC, the business TV channel, reported that Chimera had considered a proposal to raise money for buying the Plaza Hotel through a cryptocurrency offering valued at $375 million. But Real Deal said that cryptocurrency was not being used. --IANS al/ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The New York Plaza Hotel owned by Subrata Roy's Sahara Group is under contract to be sold to a Dubai company and a New York real estate group for $600 million, according to media reports. The prospective buyers have seven weeks to close the deal, Real Deal, a real estate newspaper, reported quoting sources close to the buyers. The New York Times identified the buyers as Shahal Khan, founder of the Dubai-based family office White City Ventures, and Kamran Hakim of the Hakim Organization, a landlord in New York City. The newspaper said the deal was confirmed by Sandeep Wadhwa, head of corporate finance at the Sahara Group, which owns a 70 per cent stake in the hotel, and Sant Singh Chatwal, a hotelier who owns the other 5 per cent being sold. The Sahara Group is under liquidation in India to pay off debts amounting to several thousands of crores of rupees. The Plaza Hotel founded in 1907 is one the city's landmarks. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported employees at the hotel were on strike and that guests who had booked rooms costing as much as $1,000 a night were bing turned away. While several reported deals to buy the hotel have failed, the deal with Khan and Hakim is expected to go through because they made an irrevocable $30 million deposit, the Times said. However, the Times said that a partnership of the real estate firm Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talel-controlled Kingdom Holdings owns the remaining 25 per cent of the Plaza and they have the right of first refusal to buy the hotel at the same price. The Real Deal said Sahara may consider a lower bid from Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation. One of the sources for funding Khan and Hakim's acquisition is a loan from David and Simon Reuben, whom the Real Deal described as "Mumbai-born British billionaires" who "bought the note on the Plaza from Sahara in 2015". --IANS al/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Enforcement Directorate has directed Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Pranab Balabantaray to appear for quesioning on May 7 on his alleged links with arrested gangster brothers Sushil and Sushant Dhal Samant. The Dharmasala MLA's transport company, Pranab Minerals and Transport, is under the ED scanner over business and financial transactions with the two brothers, ED sources said. The MLA has been asked to furnish all documents and audit reports of his company from 2005 to 2010, the sources added. The two brothers were arrested in January 2016 for alleged involvement in several murders, extortion, firearms racket and tender-fixing in the state. Earlier, Cuttack Municipal Corporation's BJD councillor Ranjita Biswal was arrested for her alleged links with the gangster brothers. --IANS cd/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US government on Thursday filed charges against the former executive of Volkswagen (VW), Martin Winterkorn, who resigned in 2015 after the Volkswagen emissions scandal, also known as "dieselgate" erupted in September of that year. In an indictment unsealed on Thursday by the US Department of Justice in a Michigan federal court, Winterkorn, 70, was charged with "conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with VW's long-running scheme to cheat US diesel vehicle emissions requirements", Efe reported. Winterkorn is Volkswagen's highest-ranking executive to be charged in a probe into the German company, which "deceived American regulators and defrauded American consumers for years," according to a statement by US Attorney Matthew J. Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan. VW's false representations to regulators and the public about the ability of VW's supposedly "clean diesel" vehicles to comply with US emissions requirements affected about 600,000 vehicles across the country. In addition to conspiracy and wire fraud, Winterkorn is also charged with the violation of the Clean Air Act, a law that aims to control air pollution. According to the Department of Justice, Winterkorn violated the Clean Air Act at least between May 2006 and November 2015, a period in which the company installed test-recognition software in its vehicles in order that that they could detect and evade emissions testing. The US Attorney General's Office now considers that the unveiling of "these documents will not affect the ongoing investigation". In a statement, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that "these are serious allegations" and that "the full force of the law" applies to this case. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French synth musician Stellar OM Source will tour India for three shows this month starting from Mumbai. Red Bull Music have a treat for the synthesizer community, and dance music fans in May as they are bringing the artiste to Mumbai (May 23-24), Hyderabad (May 26) and Bengaluru (May 27). Stellar OM Source, who is known as Christelle Gualdi when not making music, will also interact with Indian synth artistes on the International Synth Day on May 23 at a day-long programme organised at the True School of Music, Mumbai. Gualdi is no stranger to India, having spent time in the country in the past to learn Hatha yoga. She also played alongside late Indian producer Charanjit Singh in 2012. She is keen to interact with Indian electronic music fans and artistes on her first trip to India as a performing artiste. "Most of what I do is to reach people, coming in a state of exchange. This trip to India is such an incredible chance to bring my experience, knowledge and learn from people having similar interests," Gualdi said in a statement. "I am definitely curious about how Indians approach electronic music today. I'm only aware of Charanjit Singh with whom I played in Antwerp, so I'm very eager to know more, hear exciting music and make great discoveries as well as open some doors for people," she added. --IANS nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gunmen attacked mourners on Friday at a funeral in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong killing five people and injuring six others. The victims were attending the funeral for a slain local chairman when gunshots rang out at around 12.20 p.m., Xinhua news agency reported. Alamgir Kabir, the Superintendent of Police in Rangamati where the incident happened, told the media that unknown attackers opened fire on the mourners, leaving four dead on the spot. Another person who was seriously injured died at a hospital, he said. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. --IANS ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has disputed the recent report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) stating that Faridabad is at second place in the list of most polluted cities in the world. Haryana and Climate Change Minister Vipul Goel, in a statement here, said that the "source of the data on which the report is based is not clear". Goel said that the HSPCB has been monitoring the data since 2010 through a Continuous Air Ambient Quality Monitoring Station in Faridabad and Gurugram, both adjoining New Delhi. "As per the details available with the Board, the PM 2.5 value of both the cities are being monitored regularly since 2013. These values increase above 170 only during a brief season, that is during a few days around Diwali, crop harvesting season during which residue burning is reported and peak winter. "Therefore, it is not justified to claim that the average PM 2.5 value is above 170 in Faridabad," the minister pointed out. The WHO report had recently listed the most polluted cities in the world, 14 out of the top 15 most polluted cities listed were from India, with Kanpur and Faridabad leading the pack. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had earlier disputed the WHO report on Patiala city being among the top 15 most polluted cities in the world. "The report also claims city like Srinagar as polluted, which raises suspicions on the source of the data. Even Patiala's air pollution level has been placed quite high based on PM 2.5 values recorded from 2010 to 2016, and Punjab too claims, it never monitored the 2.5 values and the sources are not known to its own Pollution Control Board," Goel said. "Faridabad is affected mostly due to the pollution in neighbouring Delhi. Its own sources include mainly vehicles and construction dust and Delhi's pollution is considerably high with additional sources from municipal solid waste burning going on almost continuously as witnessed during the past years. "Delhi's pollution level has always remained higher than these two cities as indicated by our reports. Now, placing Faridabad above Delhi is not even logical," he added. --IANS js/ahm/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Comedy is gaining a lot of momentum in India and the challenge lies in monetising this space, says comedian-entrepreneur Adnan Nalwala, adding that comedians in this country need to come out of their "local" shells if they are to make a mark on the world stage. "The comedy space (in India) is gaining a lot of momentum. There is a tremendous amount of talent that is there in India and it is going to continue to grow. I think the challenge lies in monetising the space and it will take some time for the industry to figure out the mechanism," said Nalwala, born in Oman to Indian parents who has lived in eight countries and who describes himself as an entrepreneur by day and an entertainer by night. At the same time, he felt "the topics and the creativity existing in the Western cultures is more evolved and mature". "The mindframe and tolerance levels towards humour is higher in the West, which allows more comedic freedom. If that happens (here) a lot more can evolve in the industry. The other aspect of the comedy is that most of the Indian comedians more focused on local content rather than global issues. If those topics are also touched up on then the world can be their platform to perform", Nalwala told IANS in an email interview. He felt the Indian audience is one the best to perform in front of. "They are most accepting and are also well-informed. If you talk about things that relate to the Indians, they jump in on it and laugh really hard. They have the appetite and intelligence to take a joke well -- and yes, they can laugh at themselves well. If you involve them in a joke they get really excited and the best part is, after shows, many a times people ask you for a photograph or a quick video which feels great," said Nalwala. With a rare mix of management and creative skills, Nalwala has a BA in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University and an MBA from Boston University. He splits his time between Dubai and Oman as the Executive Director of his Al Ansari Group family business. Nalwala launched his stand-up comedy career a decade ago and has performed across the Middle East and India, including at The Comedy Store and Canvas Laugh Factory. He was part Vir Das' "Unbelievablish" in Dubai attended by over 1,200 people. He performed on several tours with the Indian Comedy Club and is a regular at Canvas Laugh Club; his solo act "This Thing That Thing" has been well received. His latest endeavour is RJing for Times FM 95.4 in Oman, hosts a show where he shares with listeners his funny insights to current affairs. He is currently performing (Thursday-Saturday) at Mumbai's Canvas Laugh Club in Lower Parel. About his journey, Nalwala said he started out doing comedy in Mumbai when it was in its nascent stages with very few good comedians in the market. "The concept was relatively new as there were not many venues for it. Over the last decade, several comedians have come up and there are many more venues that promote comedy. My first professional gig in Mumbai was in 2009. However, my first attempt on stage was at Jazz by Bay in Mumbai in 2009. I was performing in front of a crowd that had come to watch musicians and so for the crowd to accept me was a big winner. Two things happened -- one of the guys in the front row nearly fell off his chair laughing, and second, after I finished my set, one audience member asked, 'When is your next gig? I will bring my friends'. That really made me believe in my comedy," Nalwala said. Adnan, experts in the field say, is deft in turning social subjects into humour and has an effortless way with observational humour and impersonations. What's the difference between the two? "Observational comedy is something that could occur in front of you or something that you have experienced and you see the funny side of it. Incident-based comedy is something that actually happens to you and you narrate the experience," he explained. How does he juggle his performances in different countries? "At the end of the day," he explained, "jokes are subjective and many things differ on a cultural level. Human behaviour and the mindframe tends to overlap, which means some jokes are universal. Jokes on relationships are liked by all parts of the world. I have had the good fortune of living in eight different countries where I have been exposed to different nationalities and languages which has enabled me to pick up the subtle differences and present them as a facts and people enjoy it a lot more." "In India, I also tend to say many of my punch lines in Hindi as this would sit a lot better with the crowd and the relatability factor increases," he added. (Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in) --IANS vm/v/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Friday requested the (ADB) to expand its sovereign and non-sovereign operations in the country by providing financial assistance worth $4 billion a year and support its sustainable growth. Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, who is leading India's delegation to Manila, requested ADB to support in its endevour towards an inclusive and sustainable growth accompanied by rapid economic transformation and job creation. Highlighting the need for increased private sector operations by ADB in India, he said that the government had approved ADB's proposal to garner additional resources through INR bonds in the offshore markets, a government statement said. Leading the Indian delegation to Manila for attending ADB's 51st annual meeting, Garg also attended the Governors' Roundtable on role of governments in harnessing new technology for inclusive growth, and provided India's perspective on how to deal with changes being brought by new technologies and automation on jobs. He also attended the 12th informal meeting of SAARC Finance Ministers and highlighted the ongoing reforms in and India's economic performance. The delegation also held bilateral meetings with the official delegations of Hong Kong and and discussed a wide range of bilateral issues. Jio on Friday introduced 'Digital Champions', a five-week student learning programme aimed at empowering today's youth with the knowledge of leveraging digital technologies for businesses in the digital age, according to industry sources. The programme aims to share knowledge about digital solutions with the youth of the nation, build them as digital champions and contribute to their development. Jio, under the Digital Champions Programme will organise four batches across the country, with the first batch starting this summer from May 21. Each internship will last 5 weeks and undergraduates can choose from over 800 cities and towns to enrol in the batch of their choice. Over the course of this programme, students will learn about digital technologies and how digital can positively impact small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the future. --IANS ag/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan Ambassador to India Shaida Abdali on Friday said that the April 30 suicide attack in his country's capital Kabul that claimed the lives of nine journalists is an attack not only on the Afghan media, but the global as a whole. Two other journalists were also killed in separate attacks in Khost and Kandahar in the war-ravaged country the same day, making it the bloodiest day for the Afghan in 2018. Speaking at a condolence meeting at the Foreign Correspondents' Club here, Abdali, while expressing his condolences to the family, said: "This was an attack on not only the Afghan media, but on the global media. It was an attack on Afghan youth." Nine journalists were killed in a coordinated double suicide bombing in Kabul on April 30. A militant on a motorbike carried out the first explosion prompting journalists to rush to the scene. A second explosion took place about 20 minutes later as a second attacker, disguised as a cameraman, detonated explosives at the site of the initial blast, targeting journalists and rescue workers at the scene. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks. Abdali said that the attack was a setback to the freedom of media and freedom of expressed his country has attained over the last 16 years. He said that while in 2001 there was only one radio station in Afghanistan airing religious sermons, today there are over 100 television channels, 300 FM radio channels and around 1,000 print media publications. He said that 20 million people in his country now have access to mobile phones and internet. "We know how much responsibility there is on the fourth pillar of democracy in Afghanistan," the Ambassador stated. Stating that Afghan youth come to India for training in journalism, he said that his government is giving particular attention to protection of journalists. "We hope we will be able to provide an environment for journalists to move around freely," Abdali said. "The attack shows the common threat to all of us." At the same time, the Ambassador said that though Afghanistan is faced with a security challenge, it is still not the most dangerous place for journalists in the world. With the IS and the Taliban vying for power in Afghanistan, Abdali said that the two groups come from the same sources. "I hope our neighbouring countries will not divide the two and will stand united in the fight against terrorism," he said. Appreciating New Delhi's role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the Ambassador welcomed the decision by India and China to start a joint project in his country taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China last month. He also expressed gratitude to India and Iran for developing the Chabahar port in Iran that has opened connectivity to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. Stating that his country did not want to depend on one country for trade, Abdali said that while Afghanistan's trade with Pakistan has fallen from $2 billion to $500 million, trade with India has grown to $1 billion. --IANS ab/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The murder of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain in Ludhiana was part of a transnational conspiracy hatched by the senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) between January 2016 and October 2017, a NIA chargesheet said. The chargesheet, filed on Friday at a special court in Mohali against fifteen persons, revealed that eight incidents of targeted killings were executed as part of this conspiracy to "destabilize the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive the fledgling terrorism in the state". The killing of 60-year-old Gosain was part of the conspiracy. Gosain was shot dead on October 17, 2017 near his house while returning from a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) meeting. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case from Punjab Police. The chargesheet said "all the persons targeted belonged to certain specific communities and organisations" and that the conspiracy had its footprints in several countries comprising "Pakistan, the UK, Australia, France, Italy and the United Arab Emirates". "As part of the conspiracy, large amount of funds were supplied through Italy, Australia and the UK to the perpetrators of the killings, and attempted killings executed by accused persons Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh. "These funds were used by them to purchase weapons for executing the killings and other logistics," the chargesheet said. The conspiracy included recruitment and training of Hardeep and Ramandeep in Italy and Dubai respectively. Hardeep is a permanent resident of Italy while Ramandeep belongs to Ludhiana. "Both these persons were trained by one Gursharanbir Singh, a UK national." The chargesheet said that another UK national Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been arrested in the case, was involved in the funding of the conspiracy while the day to day coordination of the conspiracy was done by Pakistan-based Harmeet Singh. Officials said that the chargesheet is based on evidence collected from oral, documentary, material and electronic sources. "Besides, evidence has been sought from several other countries." Those named in the chargesheet are Hardeep, Ramandeep, Dharminder Singh, Anil Kumar, Jagtar, Amaninder Singh, Manpreet Singh, Ravipal, Pahad Singh, Parvez, Malook Tomar, Harmeet (suspected to be in Pakistan), Gurjinder Singh (suspected to be in Italy), Gursharanbir (suspected to be in UK) and Gurjant Singh (suspected to be in Australia). The NIA has so far arrested 11 persons in various cases relating to the targeted killings. --IANS rak/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Friday. The NCP legislator from Yeola in Nashik has been in jail for nearly two years and two months since his arrest on March 14, 2016 in certain cases pertaining to corruption and money laundering. After his bail pleas were rejected on at least five previous occasions, Bhujbal, 71, got bail on Friday on various grounds including his frail health, advanced age and the fact that the trial has not yet started, his lawyer Sujay Kantawala told mediapersons. NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, MP Supriya Sule-Pawar and state spokesperson Nawab Malik hailed the ruling as thousands of Bhujbal supporters erupted in celebrations with fireworks and distribution of sweets in both Mumbai and Nashik. However, former AAP leader and anti-graft activist Anjali Damania pointed out that the court has only granted him bail, "he has not been exonerated or acquitted in the corruption cases and he will again go to jail". The founder-president of the influential Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, Bhujbal's role during his tenure as Public Works Department Minister had been under a scanner after allegations of a scam in the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, money laundering and other charges. Suffering from ill health, he has been in and out of hospital several times in the past over two years, and it is not immediately known when he will return to active politics. Starting his career with the Shiv Sena, the senior OBC leader who is an aggressive force in state politics is expected to walk out of custody later this evening after completing the bail formalities, including furnishing a bail bond amount of Rs 5 lakh, said his lawyer. His nephew and former NCP MP from Nashik, Sameer Bhujbal, who was also arrested in February 2016 on various charges of corruption, is currently in judicial custody. --IANS qn/him/bg (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Malaysian High Court on Friday dismissed a suit by People's Justice Party's Chua Tian Chang, who had challenged an Election Commission decision. It dealt a heavy blow to Chua, who was attempting to hold on to his parliamentarian position in the upcoming May 9 polls, Xinhua news agency reported. Chua failed to secure a nomination last week, after returning officer from the EC Anwar Mohd Zain rejected him based on a fine of $508.2, issued by a court last year for insulting a police officer. --IANS nks/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will meet the leaders of the party's various cells like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and minorities on May 17 to give a pep talk to them asking them to convey to different sections the various schemes that the NDA government is bringing for their benefit. The day-long meeting of the national executive members of all seven morchas (cells) will be held at Kedar Nath Sahani auditorium of the Shyama Prasad Mukerjee Civic Centre in Central Delhi. The meeting will be attended by national executive members of the party's Mahila Morcha, Minority Morcha, S.C Morcha, S.T. Morcha, Yuva Morcha, Kisan Morcha and OBC Morcha. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah will address the meeting," an invitation sent to the heads of all the seven cells by party General Secretary Arun Singh read. The meeting, which will be held two days after the declaration of the results of the Karnataka Assembly polls, will focus mainly on the pro-poor initiatives of the government and the role of the cells in their publicity. A BJP leader, on the condition of anonymity, told IANS that each wing of the party organisation would be given responsibility of their concerned sections so that the government schemes could be popularised among that section of the voters before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "The women wing will be asked to counter the opposition's onslaught over women's issues with full facts and figures and make them aware about the programmes being run by the central government for their welfare," he said. The meeting comes at a time when the government is facing charges of being anti-Dalit, anti-Tribes, anti-women, anti-minority, anti-farmer and anti-youth in the wake of recent incidents related to different sections of the society. --IANS bns/ahm/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Presidents of South Korea and China on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to achieve peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. During a telephone conversation, Moon Jae-in praised Xi Jinping's role in helping Seoul and Pyongyang reach an agreement on denuclearization during a historic summit held last week, Efe news agency reported. "President Moon stressed that President Xi's continued interest and support, as well as the Chinese government's active contribution, are important in completely denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and establishing permanent peace," the South Korean president's office said in a statement. In last week's summit, Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had also agreed to sign a multilateral treaty - which would include China - to formally end the Korean War (1950-53). Moon and Xi had also agreed "the two countries will closely communicate and actively cooperate in the process of replacing the Korean armistice with a peace treaty," the statement added. Xi congratulated Moon on the success of the summit and said his efforts have been critical in achieving a positive outcome. The Chinese President added that Kim Jong-un had showed his willingness to denuclearize during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Pyongyang on Thursday. "Kim again confirmed his willingness to shut down the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site and end the history of hostility on the Korean Peninsula," Xi told Moon. During the summit with Moon, Kim had offered to shut down the Punggye-ri site this month in the presence of journalists and international observers. Xi also had a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during which both leaders stressed the need to cooperate to address the North Korean nuclear crisis, Kyodo news agency reported on Friday. The call comes ahead of a trilateral summit between Japan, South Korea and China, to be held in Tokyo on May 9. The summit, being held after the recent inter-Korean summit and ahead of the upcoming meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump, will be attended by Abe, Moon and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. --IANS ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several MPs and Vice Presidents of Cantonment Boards across the country on Friday spoke of "tragedies" civilians living around military stations have to go through and urged the government to amend an archaic British era law relating to the administration of such areas. Though media was barred from covering the event attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and senior officers of the ministry, but participants, who spoke at the event, were of the view that civilians were being subjected to hardships by military men in cantonment areas. They also complained that elected representatives had no say in running the administration of Cantonment Boards, headed by the military officer commanding the station. Senior BJP leader Murali Manohar Joshi, who is MP from Kanpur, said the military needed to change its behaviour in dealing with civilians in cantonments. "I have heard the military's behaviour towards citizens which is not at all encouraging and there should be some behavioural changes in the Army," Joshi told the gathering, including some senior Army officers, at Raksha Sampada Bhawan on Ulaanbaatar Road in Delhi Cantt area. National Conference MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah asked the Army officers not to consider themselves above civilians "because one day you are going to be like them". He said a healthy relationship should be maintained between civilians and the military. "Everyone spoke unanimously of the tragedies people have to endure in such areas. Everyone urged the government to amend the law governing Cantonment (Boards)," Abdullah told IANS outside the venue of the event. Defence Minister Sitharaman was scheduled to address the MPs of Cantonments and Vice Presidents of 62 Cantonment Boards in the coutry but she chose not to after hearing from some 20 speakers at the event. In a passing remark during the event, she said these issues related to the administration of of Cantonment Boards had already been noted. A Cantonment Board is a civic administration body that comes under the control of the Defence Ministry. It comprises elected members besides ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006. The act barring some minor amendments traces its origin to the British rule that was implemented on February 16, 1924. The board generally consists of eight elected members, three nominated military members, three ex-officio members (Station Commander, Garrison Engineer and senior executive Medical Officer) and a representative of the district magistrate. Dinesh Trivedi, Trinamool Congress MP from Barrackpore in West Bengal, said he suggested to the Defence Minister to order a status quo and stop demolitions in Cantonment areas, form a committee that will suggest amendments to the act and let those recommendations come to parliament. "No more construction should be allowed and no demolotion should happen. People living in these areas have a problem. Where will they go. People have become refugees in your own places. You have to listen to them and adress their problems," Trivedi told IANS. He said a Supreme Court ruling of 2016 denying voting rights in the Cantonment Board elections to encroachers on defence land needed a review and the government should move on that. "You vouch for voting rights of NRIs but deny citizens living in India their voting rights." Malla Reddy, the MP from Malkajgiri in Telangana, folded his hands and pleaded before the army not to treat people in Secunderabad Cantonment Board, which has the highest number of civilian population, "like Pakistanis". "Why is there unnecessary fencing and diversion of the roads all the time?" he asked. --IANS sandeep-sar/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A number of Muslims who reached the HUDA ground here for Friday prayers were turned back by police. They left without creating any ruckus. A team of nearly 40 policemen, headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Anil Yadav, was deployed at the ground in Wazirabad area and told them to go and pray in a mosque. The local administration has assured the Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti that there would not be 'namaz' prayers at the ground without prior permission from authorities. Controversy erupted two weeks ago when some locals objected to the namaaz, alleging that some people offering prayers chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad' and 'Hindustan Murdabad'. On Thursday last week, six persons were arrested after a FIR was filed for allegedly disrupting the Muslim prayers at the ground in Sector 53 and threatening those offering prayers. The FIR was registered against the five on charges of hurting religious feelings, disturbing religious worship and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code on a complaint by Wajid Khan and Nehru Yuva Sangathan Welfare Society Chairman Hazid Shahzad Khan. Civil Judge Neetika Bharadwaj on Sunday granted bail to the six accused on technical grounds. --IANS pradeep/vd/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flick through a story of love across races, borders and lifestyles; go through a heart-warming, hilarious and inspiring collection of true anecdotes from the life of writer Preeti Shenoy, telling us to love a little stronger; read a moving saga of a family as well as a commentary on the lives of hundreds who were affected by the Partition; and enjoy 10 free-wheeling articles written in conversational style, verging on the informally careless -- all with the flavour of Delhi. The IANS bookshelf has a good amount of love and romance to offer this weekend. 1. Book: Love Knows No Boundaries; Author: Sujay Kantawala; Publisher: publishing; Price: Rs 195; Pages: 133 As the son of a State Governor in Chad, Sayed Shaquille Ahamat, has little to worry about. However, his family expects him to eventually take over his father's business, marry a local girl and settle down, and there is a little reason for him not to fulfil their wishes. Then, a polo accident leaves him nearly paralysed below the hip and turns his life topsy turvy. As he struggles to return to a semblance of normalcy, his efforts bring him into contact with an Ayurvedic centre in Sharjah. The head of the treatment centre is a beautiful ascetic, Ritambhara Devi, and Shaquille falls in love with her. To everyone's surprise, she reciprocates his feelings. Meanwhile, Ritambhara's position and responsibilities elevate constantly at the Swami Samarthanand Ashram where she has lived since childhood. She will not give up her country, her religion and her Guruji to join Shaquille. Neither is Shaquille willing to forsake his way of life. So, what next? 2. Book: Love A Little Stronger; Author: Preeti Shenoy; Publisher: Srishti; Price: Rs 175; Pages: 164 Life is a collection of moments, some memorable and some mundane. Often it is the tiniest thing that brings the greatest joy, even though, at that time, we have no idea that what we are witnessing may be magical, something that we will talk about and laugh over after many years. Packed with her hilarious narratives, poignant observations and a writing style loved by millions across the world, this book is certain to strike a chord with anybody who has children. For those who have read "34 Bubble Gums" and "Candies", this is a new version, with many additional stories. For others, it is a heart-warming, hilarious and inspiring collection of true anecdotes from the author's life, telling us to love a little stronger, no matter what happens. 3. Book: The Tale of Two Countries; Author: B.K. Karkra; Publisher: Rupa; Price: Rs 295; Pages: 183 "The outside environment seemed to have completely overshadowed his genes. He was getting more and more Anglicised with every passing year and almost felt embarrassed of being the son of his parents. He felt that they were out of tune with life in Britain..." Having survived the horrors of Partition, young lovers Guru and Sukhi begin a journey of blissful matrimony. Supporting each other through the various ups and downs of life, they migrate to England, start a business and see the birth of their only child, Gursukh, in due course. Everything seems perfect, yet the couple makes one last journey back to India. What makes them take this journey? Weaving history with fiction, "The Tale of Two Countries" is a moving saga of a family and as well as a commentary on the lives of hundreds like the Grewals who, lured by life abroad, take the plunge, and have to deal with both the pressure to make good in an alien land as well as the longing for the motherland left behind. 4. Book: Earth Republic; Author: V. Shruti Devi; Publisher: Notion Press; Price: Rs 500; Pages: 201 "Earth Republic: Chatter from the Capital's Cauldron (and Beyond)" is a collection of 10 free-wheeling articles written in conversational style, verging on the informally careless. The potpourri of commentaries on theatre, sports, food, agriculture, world politics, Bruce Springsteen, Imran Khan, women's rights, world peace, people's belief systems, the right to privacy judgement -- all with the flavour of New Delhi, right up to the present-day NCR, with tribal India and outer space forming a billowing backdrop for the grand production that is the Republic of Earth. "Earth Republic" brings to the recliner, as well as to the office-desk-trying-to-look-busy, thoughts from time and space, and last night's rally at the mantle-piece. It is an invitation to forge reality and rattle the galaxy, all in one pranayama-yoga clarion call. --IANS mg/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korean police on Friday sought an arrest warrant against the younger daughter of the president of Korean Air for allegedly assaulting an advertising agency executive in April. Cho Hyun-min, 35, a former senior executive of Korean Air and daughter of its chief Cho Yang-ho, allegedly flew into a rage during a meeting in April and threw a glass at an advertising agency official and juice at several other participants, according to a report in Yonhap news agency. Cho denied the accusations during an interrogation on Wednesday, in which she said "she only pushed him when he failed to properly answer her question", a police official said. The incident involving one of most prominent business families of South Korea has stirred up a huge controversy in the country and reopened the debate over the excessive power wielded by families who own the "chaebol" -- huge South Korean conglomerates. Cho Hyun-min's elder sister and former Vice President of the group, Cho Hyun-ah, was sentenced to two years in prison for a notorious "nut rage" incident in 2014 during which she became enraged when a first-class flight attendant served her macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a dish. The plane was forced to return to the gate at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport Korean Air chief Cho Yang-ho recently offered a public apology and removed his two daughters from all their company posts. Prosecutors also accused Cho Hyun-min of smuggling in luxury goods into the country. Hundreds of employees of the airlines had convened a protest in central Seoul on Friday demanding that Cho Yang-ho step down as president. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wheat arrival in food grain state Punjab has crossed the 120 lakh tonnes mark this season, an official said here on Friday. "Progressive procurement of wheat by the state government agencies and the private traders is to the tune of 119.84 lakh tonnes out of the 120.30 lakh tonnes arrival in the mandis till May 3," an official spokesman of Punjab government said here on Friday. Government agencies have procured 119.37 lakh tonnes of the wheat. He claimed that over 88.1 lakh tonnes of wheat had been lifted from the grain markets so far. Sangrur, Patiala and Ludhiana districts were leading in wheat arrival. --IANS js/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its order on the plea of two of the four death row convicts seeking a review of the top court 2017 judgment upholding their death sentence in the December 16 Delhi gang rape case which shook the nation. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice R. Banumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan reserved the order after hearing arguments on behalf of the convicts Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta. The counsel appearing for the two told the bench that police had implicated "innocent" persons when they failed to arrest the real culprits. He said the death penalty is not the solution and goes against the principle of non-violence. The counsel defended the convicts, saying they were not habitual offenders and have no criminal history. Even the habitual offenders had reformed earlier, he added. The top court by its May 5, 2017 verdict upheld the death sentence of Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur. It had earlier reserved its verdict on the review petition filed by Mukesh. Akshay has not filed a review petition yet. The four were convicted of raping and assaulting a 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012 which led to her death due to internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital. The rapists, six in all, pounced on the young woman who had boarded the bus with her male friend to go home after watching a movie. After committing the crime, they dumped both on a roadside. Some passersby alerted the police. The sheer brutality of the crime led to nationwide revulsion and street protests. A fifth accused, Ram Singh, committed suicide in the Tihar Central Jail here. The sixth, a minor, accused of ripping apart the woman's intestines, was sent to a correction home and has been released after serving his probation period. --IAS gt/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With India continuing to boost its ties with the Asean regional bloc under New Delhi's Act East Policy, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called for greater connectivity between the northeastern states of India and southeast Asia. At an interactive session with the Chief Ministers of the northeastern states on the Act East Policy, she said that state governments of the northeastern region were active stakeholders in the Policy. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, she said that "greater connectivity and economic integration of India's northeast with its eastern neighbours was considered a key focus area for growth and development of the region". "India's Act East Policy had received a major boost following the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-India Commemorative Summit, which was held in New Delhi on January 25, 2018," the statement said. The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The Look East Policy, launched by then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in the 1990s, was formally enunciated as the Act East Policy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Asean-India Summit in Myanmar in 2014. Focussing on India's extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region, the policy, originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. Friday's interactive session deliberated on the northeast Indian region's intra-regional and sub-regional surface and air linkages, focusing on seamless connectivity with its contiguous neighbourhood. "Continued development of relevant infrastructure both within the state and at international borders was also discussed with a view to enhancing trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties," the statement said. The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam), Chief Minister N. Biren Singh (Manipur), Chief Minister Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya), Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland), Chief Minister Biplab Deb (Tripur) and Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein. Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh and Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar were also present as also officials from other central government ministries and departments of the northeastern states. Addressing the meeting, Sonowal, whose state is the only one with a separate Act East Policy Department, said that connectivity is the most crucial factor in furthering India's relations with southeast Asia. "Therefore, it is imperative to focus on improved airways, roadways, waterways, railways and information ways in this region," he said. "In order to establish air links with Asean and BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) countries, there is a need to launch direct flights between the capitals of Asean and BBIN countries and Guwahati." Sonowal also emphasised on the importance of development of mainland India-Bangladesh-northeast India corridors such as between Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata, Silchar-Dhaka-Kolkata and Shillong-Dhaka-Kolkata. "Development of road access to Chittagong port (in Bangladesh) also holds immense potential for growth of the region." Stating that waterways is another vital sector, he said that before India's independence, the region had access to sea route through the Chittagong port and "Assam tea was exported throughout out the world through this route". He also called for early completion of the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project that will connect the Sittwe port in Myanmar with Mizoram in India. On Thursday, in an informal interaction with journalists here, Sonowal said that the Act East Policy is a "golden opportunity" for northeast India. "The more we strengthen connectivity and transportation with the Asean countries, the more we will prosper," he said. Noting that Prime Minister Modi has given a new narrative that the Northeast is the new growth engine for new India, he said that "we have to work as a growth engine in the near future". "For that, the states in the Northeast will have to take their own respective initiatives. The Indian government will build the bridge for linkage (with southeast Asia). The rest of the follow-up actions are on us." --IANS ab/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The gross revenue of the telecom service sector declined from Rs 279,591 crore in 2016 to Rs 255,655 crore in 2017 with a yearly decline rate of 8.56 per cent, data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said here on Friday. Also the adjusted gross revenue declined from Rs 198,207 crore in the year 2016 to Rs 160,814 crore in the year 2017 with yearly decline rate of 18.87 per cent. However, the number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,151.78 million at the end of December 2016 to 1,190.67 million at the end of December 2017, registering a yearly growth rate of 3.38 per cent,. The overall teledensity in India increased from 89.90 at the end of December 2016 to 91.90 at the end of December 2017 at the growth rate of 2.22 per cent. Telephone subscription in urban areas increased from 683.14 million at the end of December 2016 to 688.25 million at the end of December 2017 at the yearly growth rate of 0.75 per cent. However, urban teledensity declined from 170.15 at the end of December 2016 to 168.29 at the end of December 2017 with yearly decline rate of 1.10 per cent. Rural telephone subscription increased from 468.64 million at the end of December 2016 to 502.42 million at the end of December 2017 at the yearly growth rate of 7.21 per cent. Rural teledensity also increased from 53.27 at the end of December 2016 to 56.66 at the end of December 2017 with yearly growth rate of 6.36 per cent. Out of the total telephone subscription, the shares of rural telephone subscription increased from 40.69 per cent at the end of December 2016 to 42.20 per cent at the end of December 2017. However, share of urban telephone subscription in total telephone subscription, declined from 59.31 per cent at the end of December 2016 to 57.80 per cent at the end of December 2017. Out of 1,190.67 million of total telephone subscriber, the number of wireless telephone subscribers is 1,167.44 million and the number of wireline telephone subscribers is 23.23 million at the end of December 2017. The TRAI data revealed Bharti Airtel continued to be the market leader with 24.69 per cent market share of total telephone subscription at the end of December 2017, while Reliance Jio Infocomm added maximum number of telephone subscribers, 87.93 million net addition, during the year. Vodafone is the service provider with highest proportion of rural subscribers (54.01 per cent), followed by Idea Cellular (53.97 per cent) to their total number of telephone subscribers at the end of December 2017. --IANS ag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump said on Friday that a time and a place had been set for a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, although no further details were provided. "We now have a date and we have a location. We'll be announcing it soon," Trump told reporters before flying to Dallas, Texas, where he will attend the annual National Rifle Association (NRA) convention. The President also expressed optimism regarding the release of the three US hostages held in a North Korean prison. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages. I think you're going to see very good things," he said. "As I said yesterday, stay tuned," Trump added. The three hostages, who were all born in South Korea but later became US citizens, are Kim Dong-chul, 64, Kim Sang-duk, 58, and Kim Hak-song, who is around 60 years old. Kim Dong-chul, a businessman, was arrested during a trip to North Korea in October 2015 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage. He is the US citizen who has served the longest prison sentence in North Korea. The other two men were professors at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), North Korea's first privately funded university. According to the North Korean media, the two professors were arrested for carrying out "hostile acts" against the government, although no court has formally sentenced them. On Wednesday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the three US citizens had been taken to a hotel near Pyongyang, which has raised prospects that they will be freed. This release could be planned to coincide with the preparation of the historic summit between Trump and Kim. --IANS ahm/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police on Friday arrested two foreigners who used to withdraw money from ATM machines in the capital using cloned plastic cards. The two were identified as Lulian Dumbrava and Cornel Traian Mirea, both Romanian nationals, police said. The accused had withdrawn over Rs 9 lakhs from various ATMs in south Delhi, police said. "Almost 48 cloned plastic cards on which PIN number were mentioned, two laptops and 18,550 rupees have been recovered from their procession," Romil Bannaya, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (South), said. "The accused came to India through Nepal and procured cloned plastic cards and PIN numbers from their Romanian associates," Bannaya said. Earlier in February 2018, in a similar ATM fraud in Mumbai, police had arrested two Romanian nationals in connection with the Axis Bank card cloning fraud, where nearly 50 people were duped of over nine lakh rupees. --IANS umer/ahm/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ambassador Joanna Wronecka of Poland, UN Security Council president for May, has said that the world body must act when Rohingya refugees are suffering. She made the remarks on Thursday here after visiting Myanmar Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh earlier this week, Xinhua news agency reported. "So, when you see the people suffering we have to act," she told reporters at the UN headquarters during a monthly briefing on the council's program of work. "The main question is how to help." Wronecka said the Security Council would meet on May 14 for a formal briefing on the situation. She said it was possible the panel "may adopt a PRST" (it carries the weight of international law), since "we are united, definitely committed to doing something..." "It is difficult to live in the camps," she said. "The conditions are extremely difficult because in Bangladesh due to the monsoon season there is always a risk for raining,..." The Monsoon has already started and have caused flooding in some areas, threatening the spread of disease and impeding the distribution of humanitarian aid. "I had the chance to speak especially to women because they are the most affected with the children...," said a visibly moved Wronecka. "But the refugees cannot stay for ever. It was obvious. So the question is how to help them return to their place of origin." The Warsaw envoy said members of the panel of 15 then met with Myanmar State Councilor Aung Sang Su Kyi. Bangladesh and Myanmar had signed an agreement on the return of refugees. However, the UN has been saying refugees should only return voluntarily when they are ready to go where they want to go in a dignified manner. "We see a possibility more for the role of different UN agencies to help." She particularly singled out the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). More than 670,000 ethnic Muslim Rohingya have fled northern Rakhine State since August 25, 2017. A PRST is a step below a resolution, which is read out by the president in a formal Security Council meeting and becomes an official document of the world organisation. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Friday visited a number in villages in Agra, where more than 50 people died and around 60 were injured in Wednesday thunderstorm, and distributed compensation, officials said. Sharma visted various villages in Khairagarh and Fatehabad tehsils to meet members of bereaved families and distributed cheques. In the afternoon, he visited the SN Medical College hospital to meet the injured and promised all help from the state government. Treatment and medicines are free, hospital authorities said. Sharma said earlier it took months for compensation to be distributed to the victims, but the BJP government has ensured there was prompt relief and cheques be distributed without delay. Those recorded as farmers will get additional Rs 5 lakh, and those killed due to power lines snapping would be adequately compensated by the Electricity Department, he added. Local MLAs and MPs accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister. District authorities said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was likely to land in Agra directly from Karnataka where he was campaigning for the BJP for the May 12 assembly elections. He would on Saturday visit affected areas and meet victims. --IANS bk/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US has formally complained to China after alleging that the Chinese military injured two American airmen by directing high-grade lasers at their aircraft in Djibouti. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana W. White said at a briefing on Thursday that Washington requested Beijing to investigate incidents in the past few weeks in which US aircraft in Djibouti had been affected by unauthorised Chinese laser activity. The Pentagon said people at the east African base had been shining military-grade lasers at US pilots coming in to land, the Washington Post reported. In one case, two pilots on a cargo plane suffered minor eye injuries, officials said. "This activity poses a true threat to our airmen," White said, adding that "the incidents had grown increasingly serious". China, however, rejected the complaint by the US. Military-grade laser beams, occasionally known as "dazzlers", omit a powerful beam of light that can travel great distances and be used to illuminate aircraft cockpits, temporarily blinding pilots. The US and China both have bases in Djibouti, an East African nation on the Gulf of Aden with fewer than one million people. Djibouti has become a hub of foreign military activity in recent years, hosting bases from an array of countries including France, Italy and Japan. Saudi Arabia is planning to build a base there as well. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua dismissed the allegations and said: "After careful verification we have told the US explicitly that the accusation is totally inconsistent with fact," she said. The incidents with the lasers, which can temporarily blind pilots, come as one of the first major dust-ups since China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017. The facility's opening raised concerns among American military officials about the proximity of the Chinese military installation to American forces. The Chinese have characterised the base as a logistics hub for peacekeeping and anti-piracy operations. American authorities recently issued a notice warning pilots to "use extreme caution when transiting near the area". --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Ambassador Kenneth Juster called on Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at his official palace here on Friday, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said. During the two-day visit, which concluded on Friday, the Ambassador met high-ranking officials of the CTA, including Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay twice. The CTA also hosted a dinner reception followed by cultural performances at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts for the visiting dignitary, a post on the CTA's website said. Following the audience with the Dalai Lama, the Ambassador said he had discussions on a wide-range of issues with the Dalai Lama. He expressed that he was particularly inspired by the Dalai Lama's views on how inner peace of individuals can be spread and bring broader peace to mankind, said the post. He also said he requested the Dalai Lama to visit the US again in the future. The Ambassador was accompanied by a four-member delegation from the US embassy, comprising Special Assistant Anood Taqui and Deputy Political Minister Counsellor Derek Westfall. The Dalai Lama, who believes in the "middle-path" policy that demands "greater autonomy" for the people in Tibet, is viewed by the Chinese as a hostile element who is bent on splitting Tibet from China. He lives in exile along with some 140,000 Tibetans, over 100,000 of them in India. Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet. The Tibetan exile administration is based in this northern Indian hill town, but is not recognised by any country. --IANS vg/ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A witness testified in a Sessions court here on Friday in a rape case in which the now-convicted self-styled godman Asaram and his son are accused, informed sources said. Asaram and his son Narayan Sai are accused of rape by two sisters from Surat in Gujarat. While the elder sister accused Asaram of sexual assault several times at his Motera ashram in Ahmedabad between 1997 and 2006, her younger sister levelled similar charges against Sai. Asaram, who is lodged in a Jodhpur jail, attended the Gandhinagar court hearing through video-conferencing. "As the trial court proceedings are held in-camera, we cannot disclose anything about it as per the law. The next hearing is fixed for May 14," counsel R.C. Kodekar said. Till date, more than two dozen witnesses have got recorded their statements in court while a few others are still to do so. The court proceedings are held in-camera due to security considerations vis-a-vis the witnesses. Even as Asaram and his son are in jail, six witnesses have been attacked and two of them killed allegedly by the godman's followers. Charges against Asaram in the rape case, which was transferred from Surat to Gandhinagar, were framed in March 2016. The Gujarat Police had included the names of Asaram's wife Lakshmi and daughter Bharti in the chargesheet. Four other women were named for helping him in the alleged crime. On April 25, a Special Court in Jodhpur convicted Asaram for raping a minor girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013 and sentenced him to a prison term for life till his natural death. The Supreme Court had adjourned Asaram's bail application in April and pulled up the Gujarat Police for its tardy investigations and said evidence must be recorded in the case within five weeks. The apex court has refused Asaram's bail plea several times. --IANS amc/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Any mention of yachts evokes images of the luxury boats owned by the wealthiest men in the world with the size of their ships directly proportional to the amount of money that's been spent on them. In that world, bigger is better, and around the globe, yachts have been a billionaire pursuit from Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis's 99-metre superyacht Christina O to absconding billionaire Vijay Mallya's 95-metre Indian Empress. But what most may not know is that it's possible to sail like a billionaire even if for a day or two because most ... Altogether 13 persons, a majority of them minors, have been arrested in connection with molestation case of a teenaged girl the video of which had gone viral on social media last weekend, police said today. "With the arrest today of Arvind Kumar, a resident of Khalidpur village under Kako police station area and another co-accused - a minor - the total number of arrests has reached 13", Superintendent of Police, Manish Kumar, said. He claimed "all those wanted in connection with the case are now behind the bars. Eight of them are minors while the remaining five are less than 20 years of age. Investigation will be completed quickly and charge-sheet will be filed in the trial court at the earliest". He also said "Arvind happens to be the guy who was known to the victim, a minor girl, from before. He had taken her to the spot where a group of youths pounced on her and tried to outrage her modesty". The matter had come to light last week when a video footage, shot by one of the accused, went viral on the social media prompting Patna zone Inspector General of Police N H Khan to set up a special investigating team. With the help of the number of the motorcycle as visible in the video clipping, the team came to the conclusion that the horrific crime had taken place in Jehanabad where an FIR was lodged by police on Sunday under relevant sections of the IPC, the POCSO Act and the IT Act. Four persons were arrested on Sunday itself, followed by another four on Tuesday and three on Wednesday. All the arrested persons hail from different villages in Kako police station area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 19-year-old woman and her male friend were today apprehended at a Delhi Metro station for allegedly carrying two live bullets, officials said. Simran, hailing from a locality in north east Delhi, was found carrying the rounds by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Kohat Enclave station when her bag was being scanned at around 4 pm today, the officials said. The woman could not furnish any license or document for carrying the bullet rounds and told the security personnel that they belonged to a male friend. The man was called to the station and as he could not give a valid reason for keeping the ammunition, both of them were handed over to the Delhi Police by the CISF team for further investigation, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Sudanese nationals have been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman from Uganda here. The incident occurred last night, police said. They said the 21-year-old woman had come to the city last week to meet one of the suspects, who is known to her. Amar Hasan and Mohammad Fageer are pursuing professional courses in the city, police said. They were arrested this afternoon, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four people were killed in the northern Kenyan town of Mandera, which borders Somalia, police said Friday, in an attack blamed on Islamist group Al-Shabaab. The four men, all non-Muslims who were not from the area, were attacked at a remote quarry on Thursday night, with some of them shot dead and others hacked with a machete. "They were killed at the quarry during the attack," said regional police commander Mohamud Saleh. "We suspect Al-Shabaab and we are pursuing them." A senior police source on the ground, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the group of more than 10 attackers "opened fire indiscriminately at the workers." He said several others were injured. National police spokesman Charles Owino confirmed the killings. "The attack was targeting non-locals and all those who died are not from here." Owino said police had received reports of an impending attack and security was beefed up in the region, however "no one knew exactly where" the attack would be. A major security operation was launched Friday to track the attackers, believed to have fled to Somalia. The Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu but also regularly carries out attacks in neighbouring Kenya, which has troops in Somalia as part of an African Union force. In its bloodiest single attack on Kenya so far, Shabaab gunmen raided a university in Garissa in April 2015 killing 148 people, most of them students, while in 2013 the group killed at least 67 people in an assault on a shopping mall in Nairobi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defence Expo 2018, the largest congregation of defence manufacturers in the country, witnessed signing of 40 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), according to a report. Sixteen MoUs were signed by defence public sector undertakings while seven business-to-business agreements were inked between India and Russia. "DefExpo provided great opportunity for bilateral meetings with international and national delegations participating in the event," the report said. Over 50 such bilateral meetings were held at various levels including by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, her deputy in the ministry Subhash Bhamre, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and other senior officials of the ministry Bilateral meeting with countries such as the US, UAE, Israel, UK, Russia, France, Philippines, Finland, Czech Republic, Ukraine were also held. The tenth edition of the Defence Expo was held from April 11 to April 14 at Thiruvidanthai in south Chennai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tension gripped two hill districts in southeastern Bangladesh today after five leaders of a tribal party's breakaway group were killed and 10 others injured in an attack by unidentified gunmen, police said. According to media reports, tension gripped Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts following the attack on the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) leaders, prompting police and army troops in the neighbourhood to intensify security vigil fearing eruption of further violence among the four factions of two regional tribal parties. The UPDF faction, called the UPDF-democratic, alleged that the attack was carried out by the party's original group, which, however, denied the charge. "Five leaders of the breakaway faction of the UPDF were gunned down while 10 others sustained injury when they were on way to join the funeral of Shaktiman Chakma, who was killed yesterday in Rangamati hill district by unknown assailants," a senior police official said. Chakma was the chairman of a Rangamati sub-district and factional leader of Janasanghati Samity, popularly called JSS-Reformist, which is said to be friendly to the UPDF's breakaway group. "Unidentified miscreants fired gunshots, killed the five leaders and injuring 10 others on the borders of Rangamati and Khagrachhari hill districts," the police officer told PTI over phone. Rangamati additional police chief Jahangir Alam said they came under assailants ambush while travelling in a bus to join Chakma's funeral at his hometown in Naniarchar upazila sub-district. "Three of the UPDF faction leaders died instantly and two others succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital while injured were being treated at the (nearby port city of ) Chittagong," he said. The JSS had led a nearly two-decade long insurgency in the hills, demanding ethnic minority hill peoples regional autonomy, until striking a landmark peace deal with the government in 1997 but soon witnessed the emergence of the UPDF as a rival regional party. Led by former insurgent commander Shantu Larma, the JSS suffered a split nearly a decade ago while the UPDF witnessed an internal divide last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six labourers working on a mobile tower installation were killed today by some unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said. The bike-borne assailants opened fire at the labourers in Kharan district's Laijay area, they said. The labourers, all hailing from Punjab, were working on network installation for a private telecommunication company when they were targeted, Dawn reported. Another labourer was said to be injured in the incident, police said. The attackers escaped unhurt from the spot after the attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. In the past, militants have repeatedly targeted labourers from Punjab and Sindh working in various parts of Balochistan. Last year, four labourers from Sindh working on a road project were gunned down in the same area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth is rushing back from Karnataka tonight, cutting short his election tour amid opposition flak for staying away from his own state even after a storm claimed 73 lives there. The chief minister will arrive in worst-hit Agra tonight and visit the affected areas tomorrow morning, state's Principal Secretary Information Avanish Awasthi said. Adityanath will review the relief efforts in the district and then leave for Kanpur and other areas. Parts of western UP were battered in Wednesday's storm which also struck the adjoining Rajasthan districts. Forty-three people died in Agra district alone. Altogether, 124 people were killed and over 300 others injured in five states due thunderstorms and lightning in the last two days, the Union Home Ministry said today. Adityanath was criticised in UP and in Karnataka, where he is campaigning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ahead of the the assembly elections on May 12. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah had tweeted. "I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there." Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, while condoling the deaths, said in a tweet, "CM should immediately return to UP leaving aside campaigning in Karnataka. People have elected him to resolve the problems of their state and not for politics of Karnataka. If he doesn't rush back even under such circumstances, he should form his own mutt there (in Karnataka) for all times, Yadav tweeted last night. Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati said despite the calamity, Modi and Adityanath were busy in the Karnataka campaign "only to serve their selfish electoral interests". In a statement, she said not much should be expected from the government "which has such a narrow mindset". This is the reason why both the Centre and the state governments of UP and Rajasthan "have remained totally lax and irresponsible" after the loss of life and property, she added. Congress spokesman Amarnath Agarwal also lashed out at the chief minister for continuing with his Karnataka tour, saying it indicated that the BJP government has "no concern for the people and their welfare at this critical juncture". Adityanath was earlier scheduled to campaign in Karnataka till Saturday noon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghanistan today said it welcomed joint development ventures by India and China in the country which were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Shaida Abdali, the Afghan envoy to India, also said the Chabahar port in Iran "is open for everyone". In March, Iran had invited Pakistan to participate in the Chabahar project. India has played a crucial role in building of the port which is being used by India to transport goods to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan. It has also been envisaged as an alternate route to reach the Central Asian market. "We fully welcome and support the joint ventures in Afghanistan by India and China to ensure that we have regional support for stability, peace and development. We look forward to it," Abdali said. This, he said, would lead all neighbours of Afghanistan to support regional economic projects in the war-torn country. In an informal summit between Modi and Xi held at Wuhan last week, the two countries agreed to work jointly on an economic project in Afghanistan, a development that can be expected to discomfit Pakistan that has worked strenuously to exclude India from a region it considers its strategic backyard. "Unfortunatley, Afghanistan is affected by issues that are in the region between neighbours. We really want tensions to be finished. We hope all, including Pakistan, will support such initiatives because the resolve of this initiative would be peace and stability," he said. Abdali was responding to a question at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondent's Club. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had invited Pakistan to participate in Chabahar seaport project and development of its link with Gwadar Port. When asked about Iran's move, Abdali said, "That is what we look at regional initiatives. That means Chabahar port is open for everyone but with sincerity to come and invest in Chabahar and look at it as a regional hub and not as a threat to anything else." He noted that the Chabahar project had helped Afghanistan diversify its trade links with India. India and Afghanistan started an air-corridor last year that gave better Kabul a better access to Indian markets. Abdali said the air corridor was doing very well and after Mumbai and Delhi, there were plans to have direct air-connectivity to Amritsar and Hyderabad. The trade volume between India and Afghanistan is nearly USD 2 billion. The major thrust of the event was a terror strike in Kabul that killed 11 journalists. Abdali described it as the "bloodiest year for journalists" and the message behind the attack was to "shut down voice of justice, equality". The Ministry of External Affairs also sent its representative to the event, as a mark of solidarity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ram Bharose stares blankly at the dark, still damp patch of earth where his son and nephew bled to death two nights ago, when a high-intensity dust storm reduced to a crumpled heap his home and his family's hopes for the future. Walls crumbled, roofs collapsed and tin sheets flew through the air as winds of over 100 kmph raged through parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on the night of May 2, killing more than 100 people in the two states. More than 40 people died in Agra district alone, officials said. The cries of those grieving for their dead and those in hospital with lacerations, broken bones and head injuries echo across the region, just beyond the spanking expressway linking the national capital to the state. But Ram Bharose has been stunned into silence. His son Sunil Kumar and nephew Gautam Singh, one 20 years old and the other two years older, were amongst those killed, the names beyond the bland statistics. The family in Mahuakhera village had been prepared for impending but inevitable sadness. After all, they were marrying off one of their dearest daughters. But little did they know that the bittersweet moment of separation would transform into a lifetime of mourning. It was the day after they had bid her farewell and seen her off to her marital home, said Udaiveer, Ram Bharose's brother, narrating the events of the night. Gautam, who had come from Katra in Jammu for the wedding, decided to stay back and help wind up when the most destructive dust storm in years and accompanying rain lashed the village. The cousins ran out to bring a cot inside so it didn't get wet and rushed inside. In the next instant, the roof collapsed on their heads. "We cried for help but in such a storm, nobody could hear us or come out for help. And by the time we could dig them out from under the debris they had already died, Udaiveer told PTI. While Gautam's head was crushed under the debris, Sunil received severe injuries in the abdomen. Sunil, who has a four-month-old baby, was the only brother among four sisters and the sole bread-earner of the family with Ram Bharose too old to earn a living. "How are we going to survive such a shock. We are still under so much debt from the wedding, Sunil's aunt managed to say between sobs. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, who visited the village, has promised support to the family of the deceased. Full financial support will be provided to the affected families. The SDM has already given cheques for Rs 8 lakh, he said. He also promised financial help towards the destroyed harvest and other damages. Besides the loss of human lives and structural damage, a great number of cattle and birds died, and huge portions of harvest destroyed. Burera, a village close to Mahuakhera in the Kheragarh tehsil region, is also in mourning. Here, too, two cousins died -- five-year-old Dev and 10-year-old Vivek. Also killed was 70-year-old Sunderlal. The two cousins were taking an evening nap in a little hut, when a wall collapsed, bringing down the ceiling and crushing them under it. All that is left of the once happy home is knee deep rubble. Dev's mother and younger sister who were also injured in the mishap are currently undergoing treatment. As the villagers lamented the loss of lives, they spoke in utter disbelief of the havoc wreaked by the storm. It was a clear sky and suddenly there was this heavy wind blowing, uprooting trees, toppling transformers and electric poles. We have never seen anything like this before, recalled a villager with a shudder. There are also those who lived to tell their terrible tales. Chandrabhan, a labourer in a village near Agra, and his wife Kiran had to dig into a heap of rubble for over an hour before they could find their six-month-old daughter Divyanshi. Divyanshi and her two brothers Divyansh (two years) and Aashu (five years) have been admitted to Agra's Sarojini Naidu Medical College. While Divyanshi has bruises all over her body, Divyansh has head injuries and Aashu a fractured arm. Their house had collapsed after a neighbouring hutment caught in the storm fell over the one room brick and mortar structure. Chandrabhan was holding onto a tin sheet on their veranda when the storm hit. Our entire house has collapsed, burying under it our monthly ration and whatever little possessions we had, the 23-year-old labourer said. But now he is just thankful that his family is alive. His 18-year-old sister Yashodhara has also sustained injuries after a flying tin sheet hit her leg. Vinod Rajput's family from Kheragarh village took shelter inside their house but the roof collapsed under the weight of the neighbour's wall. Six people of the family, including Ankit and Ravi, both seven years old, sustained severe injuries with fractures and lacerations and being treated at the hospital. The surgery wards and trauma centre at the medical college received 21 casualties after the storm. About 50 people were injured in the area. Most of them have superficial injuries as well as fractures. Since most of them come from the same families, we have kept the children and the adults in the same ward, Saroj Singh, principal- SN Medical College said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than two years after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, the Bombay High Court today granted bail to NCP leader and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, taking into account his old age and deteriorating health. Justice P N Deshmukh directed the 70-year-old leader to submit either a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh, or a cash surety of the same amount by May 14. The judge took into consideration, among other issues, his old age and deteriorating health. A detailed order is yet to be made available. The high court imposed several conditions on the Nationalist Congress Party leader. He will have to appear before the ED whenever required for questioning, and before the trial court when the trial begins, it said. Bhujbal was also directed not to leave the city without the trial court's permission. He must not make any attempt to influence the trial or the witnesses or tamper with the evidence, Justice Deshmukh said, warning that the bail will be cancelled if any of these conditions are breached. Bhujbal, who handled the Public Works Department in the Congress-NCP government, was arrested in March 2016 after an ED inquiry found that he allegedly misused his office in awarding contracts for PWD projects, causing a loss to the exchequer. According to the ED, Bhujbal awarded contracts including the one for the construction of a new Maharashtra Sadan -- the state guest house -- in Delhi to a private firm allegedly in return for kickbacks for himself and his family. He and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal channelled the ill-gotten money into shell companies, the agency alleged. Sameer Bhujbal, a former MP, was subsequently arrested and his bail plea is still pending before the high court. In December last year, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here rejected Chhagan Bhujbal's bail application. He had contended that he had recently undergone angioplasty, and was suffering from various ailments which needed medical attention. The court, however, ruled that government hospitals were capable of providing adequate treatment to him. He moved the high court earlier this year seeking bail citing a Supreme Court order of November last year that struck down section 45 of the PMLA. The section imposed restrictions on grant of bail to a person arrested under the Act. He also urged the high court to consider his age, his ill-health, and the fact that the probe against him was complete and a charge sheet had been filed. Vikram Chaudhary, his lawyer, argued that several other accused facing charges under the PMLA were granted bail by courts across the country after the apex court's order. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared for the ED, opposed the bail plea, arguing that though section 45 of the PMLA has been struck down, Chhagan Bhujbal could still be presumed prima facie guilty for the offence of money laundering under section 24 of the Act. Under section 24, the burden of proving that his properties are "untainted" lay on the accused, Singh submitted. His lawyer said that section 24 is to be dealt with at the time of trial and not during a bail hearing. He has been lodged at Arthur Road Jail here since his arrest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A leading philanthropic organisation has raised USD 1.84 million for children's in India as prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs came together at its annual gala to support its poverty-disrupting work on the ground in India. The annual gala of the American India Foundation (AIF) raised the amount as over 500 guests, including business executives, investors, entrepreneurs and community leaders, attended the gala to support the AIF's Learning and Migration Program (LAMP). The Program provides access to quality opportunities to children in areas of high migration, while also advocating to communities and governments the universal right to The April 30 gala held here helped raise funds to support AIF's poverty-disrupting work on the ground in India, an AIF statement said. AIF Vice Chair Harit Talwar and Head of Digital Finance at Goldman Sachs thanked the supporters. The AIF said in India each year, 70 million people migrate from their villages to find work, bringing their children with them to hazardous work sites like saltpans, brick kilns and sugar plantations, where they are vulnerable to child labour and trafficking. During the gala, Axis Bank Managing Director & CEO Shikha Sharma and Chairman & CEO of The Dow Chemical Company and Director & Former Executive Chairman of DowDuPont Andrew Liveris were honoured. Attending the gala Sunita Koli, a LAMP beneficiary, shared with guests how the programme had made an impact on her life. As a child, Koli worked long days in Gujarat and was not able to go to school and learn. Through AIF's Learning and Migration Program, she could continue her education and became the first girl in her community to graduate 10th grade. She is now studying for the Public Service Exam to help other girls like herself succeed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ambassadors of Jordan and Algeria today called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, an official spokesman said. Ambassador of Jordan, Hassan Al Jawarneh and Ambassador of Algeria, Hamza Yahia Cherrif, evinced keen interest in the natural beauty and landscape of the Kashmir valley, he said. The chief minister apprised the two visiting ambassadors of many of the welfare and humanitarian measures being taken by her government for the betterment of the people, the spokesman said. He said the two Arab ambassadors were accompanied by their spouses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi today dubbed the BJP's Karnataka manifesto as a "poorly crafted fantasy built around a weak plot" and asked the voters not to waste their time on it. Taking to Twitter, Gandhi gave the BJP's poll document a "1/5 rating". "New Book Review! "The BJP Karnataka Manifesto, inspired by Narendra Modi, is a poorly crafted fantasy built around a weak plot, that has nothing unique to offer voters. If you've read the Congress Manifesto, don't waste your time on this one. "Rating: 1/5 ? "Recommendation: Avoid," he tweeted. The BJP, in its manifesto released for Karnataka elections, made a plethora of promises to reach out to various sections --from farm loan waiver and other sops to farmers, freebies like laptops for students and smartphones for BPL women to a commission for cow protection. As it seeks to wrest the state from the Congress, the BJP said Rs 1.5 lakh crore will be spent on irrigation projects and farm loans of up to Rs 1 lakh borrowed from nationalised and cooperative banks will be waived if it is voted to power. The manifesto, unveiled by Karnataka BJP president and its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, said a 'white paper' will be brought out on the state's financial health under the Congress rule after the BJP forms a government. It said a Rs 5,000 crore 'Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund' would be launched to cushion farmers against the effects of price fluctuations. The party said farmers would be sent to countries like Israel and China every year to study best practices in agriculture. The manifesto said Rs 25,000 and 3 gm of gold will be provided to brides of families living Below Poverty Line (BPL) at the time of marriage under its new scheme named the 'Vivaha Mangala'. The Congress manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls, released on April 27, promised to create one crore jobs and spend Rs 1.25 lakh crore on irrigation over the next five years if re-elected to power. Releasing the "People's Manifesto" at a function in Mangaluru, the Congress president had described it as the "voice of the people of Karnataka" and not a document prepared by "three or four people in a closed room". He had taken potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying while the prime minister likes to tell people his "mann ki baat", this manifesto contained the "mann ki baat" of the people of Karnataka. The manifesto said the Congress, if voted to power, would create an "agricultural corridor" in the state with its 10 different agro-climatic zones and other natural advantages, offering immense opportunities for high growth in agriculture and allied sectors. It promised 50 per cent increase in"employability and creation of 15-20 lakh jobs per year and"reduction in professional tax. The Congress had also said it would endeavour to raise the employment level of women to 50 per cent in the government workforce and supply free sanitary napkins to girl students of government colleges and polytechnics, besides abolishing tax on sanitary pads. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump today said that he was being nice to China on trade related issues because he has a great respect for his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The world's two largest economies have been enganged in a trade spat after Trump last month imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imported into the US from China. In retaliation, Beijing also announced to slap additional tariffs worth about USD three billion on 128 US products. The two countries have not yet implemented their tariff increases to reach a negotiated settlement. "I have great respect for President Xi...that's why we're being so nice," Trump told White House reporters in a brief interaction before leaving for Dallas in Texas. Top US and Chinese officials today reached a consensus on some trade issues while differences existed on some others as they wrapped up their two day crucial talks in Beijing to end the tariff spat and avert a trade war between the two major trading partners. Trump said that the high-powered US delegation led by the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, which went to China to negotiate on trade related issues, was on its way back. "My people are coming back right now from China and we will be doing one thing or another," the US President said, without giving any further details. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US delegation has handed the Chinese a lengthy list of demands on trade, which among others include reducing the trade imbalance to USD 200 billion. Beijing has called the request as unfair. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From farm loan waiver and other sops to farmers, freebies like laptops for students and smartphones for BPL women to a commission for cow protection, the BJP today made a plethora of promises in its manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls to reach out to various sections. As it seeks to wrest the state from the Congress, the BJP said Rs 1.5 lakh crore will be spent on irrigation projects and farm loans of up to Rs 1 lakh borrowed from nationalised and cooperative banks will be waived if it is voted to power. The manifesto, unveiled by Karnataka BJP president and its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, says a 'white paper' will be brought out on the state's financial health under the Congress rule after the BJP forms a government. The manifesto said a Rs 5,000 crore 'Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund' would be launched to cushion farmers against the effects of price fluctuations. It said farmers would be sent to countries like Israel and China every year to study best practices in agriculture. The manifesto said Rs 25,000 and 3 gm of gold will be provided to brides of families living Below Poverty Line (BPL) at the time of marriage under the 'Vivaha Mangala' scheme. Targeting the vast constituency of women, the party promised sanitary napkins for BPL women at Re 1 under the 'Stree Suvidha' Scheme. It said 300 'Mukhya Mantri Annapoorna Canteens' would be opened to provide meals at affordable price. The state's Congress government already runs Indira Canteens-- a chain of fast-food joints-- in several places. The BJP, which has made alleged corruption under the Siddaramaiah government a major electoral plank, promised to restore the efficacy of the office of Lokayukta, the anti- corruption ombudsman. The party has often accused the Siddaramaiah government of having weakened the anti-corruption watchdog and diminished its importance by bringing it under the anti-corruption bureau. It claims the ACB is being used by the Congress government as a tool to target its opponents. There will be a 24x7 anti-corruption helpline directly under the chief minister's office to enable people to report instances of corruption, the manifesto said. It has also promised to enact a Karnataka Whistleblower Act to protect those exposing corruption. The "Gau Seva Ayog", disbanded by the Congress government, will be revived, the manifesto said. The BJP government had formed a commission for protection and conservation of cow and its progeny in 2012, but it was scrapped by the Siddaramaiah government, which entrusted the task to the Animal Welfare Board. The manifesto said the BJP government would launch 'Gobar-dhana Yojane' to help farmers monetise cow dung. The BJP will launch 'Mukhya Mantri Laptop Yojane' under which every student enrolling in a college will be given a laptop free of cost. Similarly, women of BPL families will get free smart phones under 'Mukhyamantri Smart Phone Yojane'. The manifesto said the BJP government would take steps for making Bengaluru, the IT hub of the country, a world class "zero garbage" city. Bengaluru got the unenviable moniker of "garbage city" during the last few years, with both BJP and the ruling Congress blaming each other for the civic mess. BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said the manifesto was a "vision document" which reflected people's aspirations and expectations. Over three lakh common people as also experts were consulted and their views incorporated in the manifesto, she said. The manifesto was released at a function after the state BJP leaders paid homage party MLA and its candidate for Jayanagar seat B N Vijaykumar, who died of a massive heart attack today. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar was also present. Polling for 223 seats of the 224-member Assembly will be held on May 12 and counting of votes will be taken up on May 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), a leading aviation consultancy, today said it feared Air India could head for two year loss of USD 1.5 to 2 billion and the failure to divest could see the airline closing down. It said that unless the bidders were confident that they would be "ring-fenced" from possible political risks, there could be a risk of possible non-participation by interested parties at the 'request for proposal (RFP)' stage. CAPA took to its Twitter handle to express its concern over the ongoing disinvestment process in Air India, calling for amendments in Expression of Interest, especially for labour and debt. "Critical that terms in EOI - particularly for labour and debt are amended, as successful bidder will need to invest in restructuring and absorbing losses for several years, in addition to consideration paid for 76%," it tweeted. The government had on March 28 issued preliminary information memorandum for the proposed sale of up to 76 per cent stake in Air India along with management control to private entities. It also put out clarifications for 160 questions from interested bidders on the disinvestment of Air India and its two subsidiaries -- Air India Express and AISATS. The opposition Congress and even RSS affiliates such as Swedeshi Jagran Manch had expressed their dissent over the sale of the national carrier. "Unless bidders confident that they will be ring-fenced from possible political risks if successful, this could prove to be a key reason for possible non-participation by some parties at RFP stage," CAPA tweeted. "CAPA estimates AI headed for 2-year losses of USD 1.5-2 billion in FY19/FY20. Failure to divest could see AI close unless government willing to spend taxpayer funds. Far less costly to make offer more attractive to investors," it added. Industry insiders, however, pointed out that if one was to compare employees' cost and strength, then Air India was at par with the best in industry. They pointed out that market leader IndiGo had 17,000 employees for a fleet of 150-160 aircraft while Air India had 138 aircraft and less than 17,000 employees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Xi Jinping today defended as "totally correct" the ruling Communist Party's adherence to Karl Marx's theory of socialism for 97 years, saying it has profoundly changed China from the "sick man of Asia" to the second-largest economy of the world. Marxism has strong influence in China where students begin learning the theories of Marx and Lenin in middle school. China, the world's second-largest economy after the US, has seen decades of market-driven growth. "There might be setbacks in the development of socialism in the world, but the overall trend for human society development has never changed, and it will never change," Xi told a special function here organised to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of Marx. "Marxism has not only profoundly changed the world, but also China," the President said. Marxism had pointed out the direction forward, offering a brand-new choice for the Chinese people in their struggle to survive, and setting the scene for the birth of the CPC, Xi said. Since the CPC's birth, it has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of Chinese revolution and construction, transforming the Chinese nation from "the sick man of East Asia" to the one who has stood up by uniting and leading the people through the long-term struggle, he said "This tremendous transformation serves as cast-iron proof that only through socialism can we save China," Xi said. Founded in 1921, the CPC headed by Mao Zedong came to power after a prolonged violent national liberation struggle in 1949 and remained in power since then in a one-party state. Since the advent of Mao and the CPC, the theories of socialism and communism propounded by Marx underwent rapid changes with radical ideological differences leading to a deep split in the international Communist movement including India. Skirting the deep divisions prevailing in the international Communist movement for the last several decades, Xi who headed the CPC ideological school for several years before he became the most powerful leader of China, said the reverberations of the October Revolution in Russia brought Marxism-Leninism to China. In his speech in defence of Marxism, Xi spoke of China's reform and opening up, while sticking to its ideological fundamentals evolving socialism with Chinese characteristics evolved by Mao's successor Deng Xiaoping. The CPC has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China's reform and opening up, and the nation who stood up has grown rich, Xi said. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast-iron proof that only through socialism with Chinese characteristics can we develop China," said Xi, who is set to become the ruler for life after Parliament last month removed the two-term limit for the President. In the new era, the CPC again combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China, uniting and leading the people in "undertaking the great struggle, building the great project, advancing the great cause and realising the great dream", he said. The Chinese nation has come to embrace a tremendous transformation, as the one who has grown rich now is becoming strong. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast-iron proof that only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics can we realise national rejuvenation. "It is perfectly right for history and the people to choose Marxism, as well as for the CPC to write Marxism on its own flag, to adhere to the principle of combining the fundamental principles of Marxism with China's reality, and continuously adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the times," Xi said. As a mark of its respect for Marx, China sent his giant statue to be erected in his birthplace Trier in Germany to celebrate his 200th birth anniversary. Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, a pathfinder for international communism and the greatest thinker of modern times". Xi said Marxism is a scientific theory that reveals the rule of human society development in a creative manner. Marxism is the first ideology for the liberation of the people themselves, is a theory of the people. "Marxism, for the first time, explored the path for humanity's freedom and liberation from the stance of the people, and pointed out the direction, with scientific theory, towards an ideal society with no oppression or exploitation, where every person would enjoy equality and freedom," state-run Xinhua agency quoted Xi as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China today said it was "quiet normal" for it to push ahead with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a sticking point in Beijing's ties with India, but maintained that the two "major powers" could find a way to cooperate, especially after the Wuhan summit. Addressing a seminar on 'Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and its Way Forward', Luo said the BRI would benefit all countries, including India, in the age of globalisation. The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013, has become a major irritant in bilateral ties. The BRI also includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which India opposes as it goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India had also boycotted last year's Belt and Road Forum organised by China in Beijing. "We seek common development through connectivity," Luo said as some Indian lawmakers, scholars and journalists raised the issue of the BRI during the seminar addressed by China's envoy on the outcomes of the April 27-28 informal summit between Chinese President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said it was "quite normal" for China to push for the BRI among countries in the region, while describing India as a "major power" as well as an emerging market. Luo also said that China wanted to share the fruits of its economic development with other countries and those like the US and the UK have benefitted from China's growth. Soon after the Wuhan summit ended, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou had said there was no fundamental difference with India on the issue of "inter-connectivity" and Beijing will "not be too hard" with New Delhi on the issue of the BRI. "We feel that there is no fundamental difference between China and India on the issue of supporting inter-connectivity," Kong had told the Chinese media. "The Indian side does not exclude this cooperation. It is also continuing to advance on interconnection. "As for whether India accepts the expression Belt and Road, I think it is not important and China will not be too hard on it," he had said. He had also referred to India's participation in the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor which is also part of the BRI. Another highlight of the informal summit, a "very special event" in Chinese diplomacy, Lu said, was the decision of President Xi and Prime Minister Modi to undertake a joint economic project in war-torn Afghanistan. Referring to the unresolved boundary issue, the Chinese ambassador said it was a matter leftover from history and it cannot be resolved overnight. The IndiaChina border dispute covers the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). While China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covered Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during the 1962 war. During the Wuhan summit, Luo said, both sides have agreed to properly manage and control their differences. Both sides have the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each other's concerns and aspirations. Further, the two leaders have agreed to use the Special Representatives' Meeting on the boundary issue to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquillity. Luo said China and India would also address the issue of trade imbalance and Beijing would open up its market for more Indian products. He cited Beijing's announcement yesterday to exempt import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1. This, the envoy said, was good for India's pharmaceutical industry and medicine exports to China. "I believe this will help reduce trade imbalance between China and India in the future," he said. While the bilateral trade reached USD 84.44 billion last year, a new landmark, the trade deficit too continued to remain high at USD 51.75 billion - registering a growth of 8.55 per cent year-on-year in 2017. President Xi and Prime Minister Modi also discussed the Korean peninsula and relations with the US as well as Russia, Luo said. He said both sides have agreed to promote more active regional and international cooperation. During the wide-ranging informal talks, the two leaders have agreed to cooperate in offering innovative and sustainable solutions to global challenges such as epidemics, natural disasters, climate change and terrorism, he said. As the two major countries in Asia, China and India will use their political influence and economic power to reinvigorate regional economic development. The two countries will work together to make international relations more democratic and increase the representation and say of developing countries and emerging markets. Both leaders also agreed to support the multilateral trading regime, oppose protectionism and work for an open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalisation that benefits all. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China today expressed condolences to the families of victims of dust storm in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, in which over 100 people were killed. "We express sympathy and our sincere condolences," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying told media here. "We mourn for the victims," she said and wished speedy recovery of the injured. A severe dust storm followed by thunder showers hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on May 2 killing at least 109 people and leaving a trail of destruction. Nearly 200 others were injured as the 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parts of a woman's body were found floating in a canal in outer Delhi's Mianwali Nagar today, the police said. The body was cut into three pieces, with the head found floating at a distance, while the torso and the legs were floating separately, they said. The torso was wrapped in a blanket and then covered by a sack, but the legs were not covered in any cloth, a senior police officer said. The police were informed about the body around 4 pm. The police officer said it is suspected that the woman was killed somewhere else and her body was dumped in the canal after cutting it into three pieces to conceal her identity. It appears that the woman was in her 20s, the officer said, adding they are focussing on identifying the victim. "We are checking the database of missing people and have also informed police stations across Delhi to inform us if any woman, in her 20s, was reported to be missing in the last few days. "Since the area where the body was found is bordering Haryana, we are also trying to ascertain whether the woman belonged to that state," he said. The officer said once the woman is identified, post-mortem will be conducted. It will help ascertain the extent of her injuries and whether she was sexually assaulted before being killed, the police officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CIA has declassified more information about Gina Haspel, US President Donald Trump's pick to lead the spy agency, including her key postings and her encounter with Mother Teresa during which she helped the nobel laureate get food aid to a region facing shortages. Haspel, 61, is currently serving as the Acting Director of the CIA after Mike Pompeo became the secretary of state. If conformed by the Senate, Haspel would be the first female head of the top spy agency of the US. She is facing tough questions from US lawmakers on her stance on torture ahead of her confirmation hearing for the post of CIA Director. Haspel began her career at CIA on January 6, 1985 as an officer in the Directorate of Operations. From that moment until she was named Deputy Director of the CIA in 2017, her entire CIA career was classified. The CIA this week declassified a summary of her assignments. This does not cover more than 30 short-term, temporary duty assignments over the course of her career. After her nomination, Haspel has been criticised for using torture during her career at CIA. But those familiar with her career at CIA, that spans more than three decades refer to the encounter that she had with Mother Teresa and how she won over her heart during one of her overseas postings. One fine weekend in late 1980s, when Haspel was on duty, Mother Teresa walked into the embassy. The time line of her postings released by the CIA indicate that she was posted in Africa at that time. "She was on weekend duty at the Embassy. And Mother Teresa arrived. She wanted to give a call to (the then US) President (Ronald) Regan to have wheat delivered to that country," an individual familiar with Haspel's career in CIA told PTI. The name of the country and the location of the embassy remains classified, but the declassified timeline of her career released by the CIA this week says that it was somewhere in Africa. Haspel acted quickly on the request of Mother Teresa. She worked with State Department to arrange for the phone call and also helped in the delivery of wheat. "Later on, Mother Teresa invited Haspel to visit the orphanage. The US embassy also invited children from the orphanage," people familiar with her career said. Haspel had some fluency in Spanish and French prior to joining CIA. As a CIA officer she learned Turkish and Russian. She also received extensive training as an operations officer. She is scheduled to appear before Senate Intelligence Committee for her confirmation hearing on May 9. Exactly a week before she appears for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the White engaged in sudden bout of advocacy, issuing a flurry of testimonials and holding a press briefing in support of her candidacy, the CBS said. The White House also highlighted portions of a story about Haspel published in The Wall Street Journal, whose headline read, "From Mother Teresa to Counterterrorism". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CIA has told senators privately that she would stand firm against any effort to restart the brutal detention and interrogation program the spy agency ran after 9/11, administration officials said today. In comments meant to soften the public profile of Gina Haspel before her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, two administration officials said she was not the "architect" of the programme, but a "line officer" who never interrogated any terrorism suspects. The officials, who are familiar with her meetings on Capitol Hill, were not authorised to discuss her private conversations with the senators and spoke only on condition of anonymity. It's unclear if Haspel's pledge will be enough to sway Democrats who say the acting CIA director should be disqualified because she was the chief of base at a covert detention site in Thailand where two terrorism suspects were subjected to waterboarding a technique that simulates drowning. Haspel's vow to fight any attempt to resurrect the programme puts her in the same camp as Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, who has advised Trump that he doesn't think torture is an effective interrogation tactic. But it's at odds with Trump, who spoke in the campaign about toughening the US approach to fighting extremists and vowed to authorise waterboarding and a "hell of a lot worse." Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, continue to ask the administration to declassify more detail about Haspel's involvement in the programme, which stained America's reputation abroad. "Nominees make all kinds of promises when they're trying to get confirmed," Wyden said. "The Senate and the public need to know what kind of person is making those assurances, or else they're just words. That's why Ms. Haspel's background needs to be declassified right now." Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, senior Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, where Haspel will appear, also is urging the CIA to declassify as much information as possible about her background before the full Senate votes on her confirmation. "Senator Warner recognizes that there have been many legitimate questions raised regarding Ms. Haspel's record," said his spokeswoman Rachel Cohen. Lawmakers on the Senate committee have not disclosed details of their conversations with Haspel in the run-up to her confirmation hearing and subsequent vote in the full Senate. The two administration officials said Haspel told them that she and the agency as a whole learned lessons from the 9/11-era programme, one of the darkest chapters in the CIA's history. Now that she is in a leadership position, she wants to make sure she never puts her CIA colleagues in a position again of taking on something so controversial and fraught with danger, they said. The officials said that Haspel didn't learn sensitive details about the CIA's counterterrorism activities until October 2002, which would have been after the agency's first high-value detainee, Abu Zubaydah, was waterboarded 83 times in August 2002. Haspel also has told the senators that she believes the government should continue to adhere to current law prohibiting harsh interrogation, the officials said. Haspel has received robust backing from former intelligence, diplomatic, military and national security officials, who praise her extensive intelligence career, which she served almost entirely undercover. Among those who back her are six former CIA directors Porter Goss, John Brennan, Leon Panetta, George Tenet, William Webster and Mike Hayden and three former national intelligence directors James Clapper, Mike McConnell and John Negroponte. On the opposing side are groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which says she should have stood up against the interrogation practices then. "Who in their right mind would think that it is legal to slam a man face first into a wall or waterboard someone to the brink of death?" asked Chris Anders, deputy director of the ACLU's legislative office in Washington. "If she did not stand up for the law and basic morality when it mattered, why should any senator believe that she will say no to any illegal order from this president?" Haspel, who has been with the CIA for more than 30 years, also is expected to be grilled by the Senate intelligence committee about how she drafted a memo that called for the destruction of 92 videotapes of interrogation sessions. Their destruction, ordered by her boss in 2005, prompted a lengthy Justice Department investigation that ended without charges. Last month, the CIA released a memo showing Haspel was cleared of wrongdoing in the destruction of the videotapes. The eight-page memo written in 2011 summarizes a disciplinary review conducted by then-CIA deputy director Mike Morell. He said that while Haspel was one of the two officers "directly involved in the decision to destroy the tapes," he "found no fault" with what she did. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP president Sharad Pawar today said that effective steps needed to be taken to improve the condition of the sugar industry that was reeling under low prices due to rise in production. The former Union Agriculture minister, while addressing a meeting of representatives of sugar mills, said the sector was facing a crisis because of over-production. He asked the Centre to compensate sugar exporters for the losses for the next two years as production is expected to grow further during this period. "Comparing international and domestic market prices, there will be a loss of Rs 8 per kilogram during export," He said. He asked industry representatives to form a committee to deliberate on the issues facing the sector and to make a detailed presentation of it to the Union government. "Allowing sugar mills to manufacture ethanol and permission to sell it to petrol pumps are also some of the issues," Pawar said. Suggesting the inclusion of sugar in the items sent to developing countries as part of India's assistance to them, Pawar said that it would improve the market situation here. "If about 50 to 60 lakh tonne sugar is earmarked for export as well as helping poor countries, the market situation here will improve considerably," Pawar said. The NCP chief said that creating a buffer stock of sugar would not help in easing the situation for the sector. State Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde, who also attended the meeting, said that low sugar prices, repayment of bank loans, revision of FRP formula and inclusion of the cost of sugar production while fixing the minimum support price were some of the issues which needed to be addressed. "This year monsoon was good and there was good sugarcane crop unlike previous years. But its prices have fallen. There is need to separate consumer and commercial rates of sugar,"she said. The minister added that industry was suffering and there should be restructuring of loans. "The state government has provided soft loans to sugar mills," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing the Congress of defaming 'sanatan dharma' and Hindus, BJP president Amit Shah today said Rahul Gandhi should apologise for projecting the concept of "Hindu terror" and dishonouring the country. Citing the acquittal by a Hyderabad court (on April 16) of all five people accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case including Swami Aseemanand, Shah said, "The Congress and its president tirelessly talked about Hindu terror in the 2014 elections and defamed Hindu culture and dishonoured India. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Hindu community for this." Shah was addressing party workers from across Madhya Pradesh at the BHEL Dussehra Maidan here. He said that the Hyderabad court had stated that the case against the activists was made due to political reasons. "He (Rahul Gandhi) will not do that (apologise). So we have to take this issue to the masses that the Congress is fuelling lies to divide the society," he said. Shah accused the Congress of practising " of division" and dividing the people on the basis of caste. "After becoming the prime minister, Narendra Modi brought a bill for the backward classes of this country, under which the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was to get constitutional status. This bill was passed in the Lok Sabha but in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress, including one member of a royal family from MP, created hindrances," he alleged. He said that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who is Rajya Sabha member, raised an objection and demanded that minorities should also be included in this bill. He urged party workers to expose such moves before the public. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court today that it was considering a policy under which one person, including bureaucrats and judges, will be allotted only one flat in the state under any state-sponsored scheme. "The government is open to consider a policy by which one person would be allotted only one flat in the entire state at the same time under any government scheme," advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhkoni told the court. Kumbhkoni was responding to a suggestion made by a division bench of Justices B R Gavai and Bharati Dangre yesterday that bureaucrats and judicial officers should be allotted only one flat in the state. Appreciating the government's statement, Justice Gavai said, "No government office, including high court office, should be used for personal profiteering. There should not be any misuse." "We understand one flat is required. Everyone is answerable to their family. Everyone cannot be Mahatma Gandhi," Justice Gavai said. Whether the individual is a judge or a bureaucrat, if he or she has already procured a flat under a government scheme, then they cannot be entitled to another flat in the same city or any other city in the state, the court said. "A person cannot go on profiteering himself using his official position," Justice Gavai said. Kumbhkoni added that if the person surrenders his or her flat, then they can apply for another flat under a government scheme. "It will not apply when the person sells the flat or transfers the ownership of the flat to any family member. (It will be applicable) only when they surrender the flat to the government or the authority concerned," he said. The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar questioning the state government's decision to construct a high-rise residential building in suburban Oshiwara for sitting high court judges. The court has posted the petition in June for passing the order. Tirodkar argued that apart from sitting judges, the government also allots flats to those judges who retire from the Bombay High Court or those, who were earlier here and were later promoted to the Supreme Court. According to Tirodkar's petition, in August 2015, the government had sanctioned a housing scheme for serving judges on a 32,300 sq ft public plot in Oshiwara, following a request made in this regard by the proposed cooperative housing society of judges. While the construction is yet to be carried out, the government has offered 84 homes, each of 1,076 sq ft, on ownership basis to judicial officers. While the government has sanctioned the membership of 39 judges so far, two serving judges have since surrendered their claim. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Nitin Gadkari today said young journalists passing out of Jawaharlal Nehru University have a "particular conviction", and though criticising the government is a democratic right, the criticism must be based on facts. "The young-generation journalists, who have passed out from Jawaharlal Nehru University, the conviction in their minds is clear," he said, without elaborating on what this "conviction" is. "Even if they criticise us, democracy gives them the right to do so. However, it should be based on facts," the Union road transport minister said at 'Narad Jayanti Programme and Excellence in Journalism Award Ceremony', organised by Vishwa Samvad Kendra here. If the government's policy or decisions are wrong, criticism is justified, but at times a misleading image of the government is portrayed, he said. "Values are needed in journalism as well. Some people have still saved these values. Even during the Emergency, while a lot of people went with the flow, some people stood their ground and upheld their values," Gadkari said. He recounted his exchange with a former British prime minister to stress the importance of values. "The (British) PM asked me what are the biggest issues of India. I told him they are related to unemployment, poverty, etc. "I asked him what was his country's biggest concern. He said it was live-in relationships that was posing a hazard to their society," Gadkari said. When asked if this "problem" plagued India too, Gadkari told the British PM that it was on a very small scale. "This is because our society, family, education are value-based. This is our biggest strength," the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A restored Dakota joined the Indian Air Force today in an induction ceremony at Hindan air force station, more than four decades after the aircraft fleet was phased out following an illustrious service record. The Dakota DC-3 VP 905 was formally inducted into the IAF at a grand ceremony at Hindan where a key was received by the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal B S Dhanoa from Air Commodore (retd) M K Chandrasekhar whose son and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar bought and restored the aircraft. Dhanoa dubbed Dakota as a "special" aircraft in the history of the Indian Air Force and added that its "reliability and ruggedness" were proved by its journey back home from the UK where it was restored. The Dakota was accepted by the Chief of Air Staff from the Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar on February 13 this year. The aircraft was bought by the MP from "scrap" and got restored in the UK. The restored Dakota rechristened as 'Parashuram' will join the 'Vintage Fly' of one each of Tiger Moth and Howard raised at Hindan air force station. The aircraft commenced its journey from the UK on April 17 to India with a joint crew of IAF and Reflight Airworks. It flew a total of 9,750 km during its ferry en-route halts in France, Italy, Greece, Jordan, Bahrain and Oman, and finally landed on Indian soil at air force station Jamnagar on April 25. It reached its final destination Hindan on April 26. Air Commodore(retd) MK Chandrasekhar was granted special permission by the Defence minister to fly on board the aircraft from Jamnagar to air force station Hindan. "This historic flight of the Dakota DC-3 VP 905, across seven countries, was a commemoration of the service provided by this venerable aircraft to the nation," the Air Force said in a statement. The Dakota popularly known as the Gooney Bird was the first major transport aircraft inducted in the fledgling Indian Air Force. It was at the forefront of operations from 1947 to 1971. The aircraft played crucial role in Kashmir operations in 1947 war and Bangladesh war. After 1971, the Dakota was replaced by Avro HS-748. The Dakotas were phased out and some of them were handed over to the BSF that used them up to 1978. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Throwing an open challenge to his critics who claimed that he literally gate-crashed into the house of a Dalit and had dinner with them in Aligarh's Lohagarh village, Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana today said that "Dalit tourism" is not in the BJP's tradition. "I am throwing an open challenge to them to prove that even a single grain of food came from outside. In fact, all food items were cooked in the village and by the villagers. "The programme was organised by the local MLA (Anoop Valmiki) and the village pradhan. As per the plan, a breakfast was planned with a Dalit family the next morning, but I had expressed a desire that instead of having dinner at the community centre, I will have it at the house of a Dalit," he said. The minister's reaction came after reports that he may have taken his own food and water. According to reports, 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. Minister of state (independent charge) for sugarcane development Rana told PTI that at around 11.00 pm (on Monday), he went to the house located opposite the community centre, and ate food with them, spent an hour with them and also slept there itself. Attacking the Congress, Rana said in an interview, "I want to convey one thing to the leaders of the Congress that the Dalit tourism undertaken by them is not a tradition of the BJP. If they spend a night at the community centre, then they will realize the drive of the BJP. We do not take 7-star facilities along with ourselves during pravaas (night halts). In fact we make pravaas in the existing facilities of the villages." The UP minister also said, "An issue was raised that heavy mattresses were arranged for me. Does this mean that the people of the village have no right to arrange a good quality mattress?" "The bed on which I slept was from the village. The pillow, bedsheet were all from the village itself," he asserted. Training his guns on his political rivals, Rana said, "I want to question the people who indulge in politics over meal (bhojan pe raajniti). My question to them is that if the Dalit society has come to a position where it can organize a meal for people visiting its village or host a good meal, then what is the problem? The root of the problem is not the meal, but the fact that at around 11.00 pm why a BJP minister is present in the village, and why a crowd of more than 2,000 people are present with him." In fact, such people felt that they were losing political ground as the campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to integrate Dalits, oppressed and deprived with the development process have shown positive results, he said. The villages which had not witnessed development and were away from the ambit of development due to caste factor, have been made a part of the development saga and a conscious effort has been initiated to resolve the problems of the villagers at the village level itself. This has created an atmosphere of trust and harmony, he said. The presence of 2,000 people during night in a village is enough indication that they have expressed happiness in the various schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said. "A number of beneficiaries of different schemes were given the certificates and other material. But, no one spoke about it," Rana said. He also observed that the rival political parties are afraid of Modi's mantra 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas'. "They feel threatened by this mantra and can visualize the reins of power slipping away from their hands," the UP minister said. In recent times, several leading politicans, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, had dinner at Dalit households. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb met Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi and sought financial assistance to implement the seventh Central Pay Commission recommendations in the state, a government statement said here. "The Union Finance Minister assured the CM to provide maximum possible financial assistance to the state," the statement issued by the Chief Minister's secretariat yesterday said. Deb had met Jaitely yesterday and made the request, it added. On March 10, a day after assuming office, he had announced an expert committee for assessing and implementing the Seventh Central Pay Commission benefits in Tripura. Implementing the recommendations for Tripura government employees was part of BJPs poll manifesto in the state. The chief minister also met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him issues of internal security and border management with neighbouring Bangladesh, the statement said. Tripura shares a 856 km long border with Bangladesh and some portions of border are still unfenced. "Discussions were also held to facilitate clearance of movement of heavy material and equipment of various public sector undertakings (PSU) such as ONGC via Ashuganj port in Bangladesh to Agartala directly into the go-downs as per the protocol adopted for Food Corporation of India (FCI) trucks," the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government has reconstituted the 'Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Welfare Board', an advisory body which will suggest the city administration on various aspects pertaining to the welfare of weaker section. The department for the welfare of SC/ST/OBC has issued a notification, reconstituting the board which will be headed by Social Welfare minister Rajender Pal Gautam. The board will have 145 members. The notification was issued yesterday after the approval of Lt Governor Anil Baijal. According to the notification, the board will advise the government after considering the matters referred to it from time to time, relating to economic and social development programmes being run for the welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe in the national capital. "Board will also advise government in matters relating to exploitation of the SCs...it will advise government in implementation of schemes for the welfare of SCs and STs," the notification stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) and the US today reached a consensus on some issues while differences existed on some others as top officials from both the countries wrapped up their two day crucial talks here to end the spat and avert a war between the two major trading partners, accrording to a media report. The US delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who is also Donald Trump's special envoy and Chinese side, led by Vice Premier Liu He, also in charge of the and a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Central Committee, met yesterday and today, and "agreed to stay in close communication on relevant issues and establish a corresponding work mechanism". A spat between the top two economies of the world began last month with Trump imposing tariffs on and aluminum imports into the US from China, which also retaliated by imposing additional tariffs worth about USD three billion on 128 US products. The two countries have not yet implemented their increases to reach a negotiated settlement. " and the US reached agreements on some issues in their economic and trade consultations in from Thursday to Friday. The two sides held candid, efficient and constructive on economic and trade issues of common concern. Both sides recognised that considerable differences still exist on some issues, continued hard work is required for more progress," the state-run Xinhua reported. The two sides agreed that a "sound and stable" China-US trade relationship is crucial for both, and they are committed to resolving relevant economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultation, it said. Both sides had thorough exchange of views on issues, including increasing US exports to China, bilateral service trade, two-way investment, protection of intellectual property rights, as well as resolving and non-tariff issues, reaching consensus in some areas, the report said. The US goods and services trade with China totalled to an estimated USD 648.2 billion in 2016 in which China had a lion's share with about USD 478.9 billion exports. The US exports to China stood at USD 169.3 billion, according to US trade figures. They also agreed to stay in close communication on relevant issues and establish a corresponding work mechanism, Xinhua reported. Earlier in the day, ahead of the talks, Mnuchin told reporters that the US and China were having "very good conversations". The US has given China a "detailed list of asks" and wants China to lower tariffs to match the American level. Hong Kong-based 'South China Morning Post' quoted an official statement as saying that both sides were still "very divided" on some issues and "more work needed to be done". In a separate statement, China's Ministry of Commerce said China also protested against a US ban on Chinese tech giant buying American components. The US delegation said it would report back to on the matter, according to the ministry. The Post report quoted a draft framework of US demands which included China to cut the trade deficit by at least USD 200 billion by the end of 2020. also demanded halt subsidies for industries under the "Made in China 2025" plan, and that China should not resort to retaliatory measures against the US, it said. The US delegation also include Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Assistant to the for economic policy and Peter Navarro, Assistant to the president for trade and manufacturing policy. The US, the world's largest economy, has a trade deficit of almost USD 500 billion with China, the world's second largest The RSS today said it does not accept any kind of caste-based discrimination and was votary of "One Temple, One Well and One Cremation ground " for all. In a statement, RSS' 'prachar pramukh' (chief information officer) Arun Kumar said the Sangh has been working towards creating a cohesive society on the basis of love and affection where it wants everyone to live in harmony without any caste based discrimination. "We do not accept any kind of caste based discrimination. Since its inception, the RSS has been votary of 'one temple, one well and one cremation ground' for all," Kumar said. He also rejected as "baseless and misguiding" the media reports that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat during an internal meeting in Delhi yesterday had said that BJP leaders visiting Dalit homes and eating with them isn't enough to uplift the community, and the leaders must invite Dalits to their own homes as well. "No such meeting was ever held in Delhi during the last few days where anything about BJP's Gram Swaraj Abhiyan was said," Kumar asserted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Health Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today stressed on the need for doctors to behave well with patients and provide proper services so that their gesture would make them feel better. He said that the infrastructure of the government hospitals would have to be made such that people start comparing private hospitals with these. "If doctors would empathise with patients then better results would be achieved," he said while speaking at the state felicitation ceremony for quality improvement in health care services, here. Also, facilities of government hospitals would have to be improved to a level that well to do people would also come to these for treatment, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Anil Vij said that in order to further improve the quality of treatment in hospitals, the state government has set a target to get National Accreditation Board for Hospital certification for 84 hospitals. He said that the target to get National Quality Assurance Plan certification for 44 hospitals would soon be achieved. Vij said that Cath Lab facility has been provided in four districts of Haryana namely Ambala, Panchkula, Faridabad and Gurugram and efforts were being made to extend this facility to all hospitals in the state. He said that dialysis facility has been started at 21 district hospitals and CT Scan, MRI facility would be given in all hospitals. The health minister said that the state government has been improving the parameters of hospitals. In order to facilitate the patients, best equipment and WHO grading medicines are being purchased, he said. As a result of this, the interest of people has increased towards civil hospitals, he said. An increase of about 20 per cent has been registered in OPD and IPD services, he said. He said that the Infant Mortality Rate of the state has reduced from 42 to 33, the Neonatal Mortality Rate has reduced from 28 to 22 and the Maternal Mortality Rate reduced from 146 to 127 per thousand. Apart from this, the institutional delivery rate has increased to about 93 per cent and sex ratio to 914 per thousand boys, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra today said it was the duty of the judges to show respect to the lawyers despite their age or status. Justice Misra was speaking at a function to bid farewell to Justice R K Agrawal, who retired from the apex court today. "The Supreme Court is one. The bar nurtures us and on every occasion, I have told the young members of the bar to be the guiding angels. It's not the age, it is the entry into the Bar that makes you an angel. Whatever be your stature or status, you deserve respect and it is the duty of the judges to show respect to the members of the bar despite their age or status," he said. On Justice Agrawal, the CJI said he was "getting liberated from one assignment... If you feel envy, you are boycotting him. If you are jealous, you give him another five years to work. When, where and how, I can't say." "But if that is the desire of the Bar, definitely you will have it. And I take it as a concurrence from the Bar that you want him somewhere. I hope there is no disagreement," Justice Misra said. Justice Agrawal, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, was sworn in as a Judge of the top court on February 17, 2014. During the farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Justice Agrawal said young lawyers were the "oxygen of the legal environment". "If only we give them fair opportunities of drafting and arguing, that will enable them to shoulder more responsibilities. Young lawyers are the oxygen of the legal environment. "The relationship of Bar and the Bench is akin to the two sides of a coin. Neither has a primacy over the other. Both are indispensable to a free society. "The independence of judiciary is one of the foundations of democracy and lawyers have worked hard to maintain the pillars of democracy. The freedom of Bar presupposes an independent judiciary through which their freedom may, if necessary, be vindicated," Justice Agrawal said. The SCBA President Vikas Singh referred to Justice Agrawal's farewell speech, which he had rendered in Chennai while he was the Chief Justice there, and said that he had called for unity among the bar and the bench for the betterment of the judiciary. "It's a very moving speech given by Justice Agrawal and it is so relevant for all of us here today because we have to all make a pledge that we will all strive to make our institution, the Supreme Court a great one and, do nothing, either in court or outside to any manner damage the prestige of this institution," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Industry body CII today welcomed the government's move to kick-start consultation process for framing a national policy on e-commerce and said any rules in this regard should be made in view of greater digital economy and larger national interest. The ministry's new effort to have the e-commerce policy consultation -- which follows an institutionalised structure of the think tank that will have various sub-groups so as to fast-track policy consultations and therefore policy making -- is a welcome move, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said. The chamber observed that as far as data protection and localisation is concerned, the industry is cognisant that these are larger issues that influence the greater digital economy and any policy on it should not be specific to e-commerce but in the larger national interest. "The e-commerce sector is an emerging sector with immense growth potential. A robust national e-commerce policy is required to provide the correct impetus to the sector," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. However, the chamber said the safeguard mechanism -- that came in the press note in 2016 which prohibits marketplaces from controlling inventory, influencing price and working through related entities -- are important measures to promote local enterprises and provide a level-playing field. Banerjee said he endorses the government's position that national policy is not just necessary to facilitate trade, but also to meet India's national economic goals. The idea that domestic policy must precede international commitments is well taken, he said. The government last month began the exercise to frame a national policy on e-commerce, with a think-tank constituted on the issue under the chairmanship of Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu which held its first meeting here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading bourses BSE and NSE hailed Sebi's decision to extend trading hours for equity derivatives contracts till 11:55 pm from October 1, terming it as the logical step towards a universal exchange model and bringing parity between equity and commodities trading. Currently, trading in equities, both derivatives and cash, is allowed from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm, while international investors get to trade up to 11:55 pm in equity derivatives. On the other hand, commodities derivatives are traded till 11:55 pm now by both domestic and international investors. Welcoming the Sebi move, BSE chief Ashishkumar Chauhan said, "Introduction of the extended trading hours is a positive development and will bring domestic market in line with international markets and domestic commodity derivative markets." He noted that globally, the derivative exchanges are already following the extended trading hours. Echoing similar views, Vikram Limaye, the managing director of NSE, which dominates the derivatives market volumes, said the move is good for the markets in general and for the domestic investors in particular, who substantially control the volume. "Since commodities space is already trading into midnight, this is another step towards the universal exchange model. In short, the Sebi move is a logical step towards this," he told PTI. He further said, "The biggest advantage from an investor's perspective is that this will help him/her hedge the positions, an advantage that is at present available only to foreign investors. Our investors are sitting on open positions as of now, unable to do anything, be it a good or a bad market announcement." He also said volume is likely to go up from October 1. Earlier in the day, a Sebi circular said, "It has been decided to permit stock exchanges to set their trading hours in the equity derivatives segment between 9.00 am and 11.55 pm effective October 1, 2018." The extended timing is similar to the trading hours for the commodity derivatives segment which are fixed between 10.00 am and 11:55 pm and is part of Sebi's efforts to integrate stocks and commodities trading on a single exchange. The extended timing has been a long pending demand from exchanges and domestic institutional investors as it will bring domestic markets in line with their international peers and increase the market depth. According to Sebi, the permission is subject to stock exchanges and clearing corporations have in place risk management system and infrastructure commensurate to the trading hours. In case stock exchanges plan to extend the trade timings beyond the extant trading hours, they would require prior approval from Sebi, the regulator said. Sanjit Prasad of Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX) said the Sebi move will help increase market depth with all segments now offering an equal and better opportunity. It will also mitigate risks for investors. However, Rajesh Baheti, president of ANMI (Association of National Exchanges Members of India) cautioned that extended trading hours should be restricted to index derivatives alone and not cover individual stocks, as they may be vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous elements. The decision comes after the Sebi board had last December announced the much-awaited integration of stocks and commodities trading on a single exchange from October 2018. Currently, commodity derivatives are traded on separate exchanges, which include MCX and NCDEX. In the budget 2018, finance minister Arun Jaitley had said equities and commodities derivative markets would be integrated further by integrating the participants, brokers and operational frameworks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 15th Finance Commission today expressed concern over the "skewed" child sex ratio in Haryana, saying it "continues to be a problem" and pitched for complete halt in prenatal sex determination tests. The commission also noted the "deterioration" in fiscal situation of power utility Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN). A delegation of the 15th Finance Commission led by its member and noted economist Ashok Lahiri today held a discussion with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Finance Minister Abhimanyu and representatives of different political parties. The commission was on a visit to Haryana to assess financial needs of the state. "Sex ratio continues to be a problem. We still have far too few women. Even the child sex ratio, though it has improved, but still it is much lower than the national average," said Lahiri. "If we do not stop prenatal sex determination tests then there will be problem....it is shameful that we are killing our so many daughters. Prenatal sex determination test have to be stopped," Lahiri asserted. However, another commission member Ramesh Chand lauded the state government for bringing a "marked" improvement in the child sex ratio. He said that state government achieved "major success" in the last three years in this area. He pointed out that imbalance in sex ratio did not happen in the last 10 or 20 years, saying there is a historical background to it. "It is not easy to change historical background," said Chand. Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu said, "Everybody knows about Beti Bachao programme (that) was launched from Haryana and maximum improvement in the ratio took place in Haryana. Sex ratio reached 914 per 1000 males and Haryana CM was committed to take it to 950." Talking about the power sector in Haryana, Lahiri said the commission noted that UHBVN had some "problems" in terms of losses. "The fiscal situation (of it) has deteriorated quite a bit after Uday bonds," he added. On this, Abhimanyu said the government was in the process of drafting a proposal for turning all electric tubewell pumps to solar pumps which will bring down the financial burden on the state exchequer. "There are six lakh tubewell connections for irrigation in the state and the power subsidy burden is pegged at Rs 7,000 crore. We have plans to convert all these tubewell connections into solar pumps in phased manner. Not only it will allow farmer to run pumps, but will also allow him to make money out of selling extra power," he said. He said the final proposal of this ambitious scheme will be put up before the chief minister soon. Lahiri said there was improved fiscal management in terms of integrated fiscal management system and public finance management system in Haryana. The state had framed Vision 2030 which was connected with sustainable development goals. "But the problem persists, for example the CM and FM pointed out that though Haryana's per capita income is much higher than the county, still there exist districts which are very poor particularly Nuh and Mewat," Lahiri said while talking to reporters here. He also stressed upon improvement in the state transport sector. Lahiri said the state debt to GSDP ratio of Haryana has increased in the last two years."There is a need for improving quality of public expenditure particularly capital expenditure which is as proportion to GDP not doing very well," he said. He also talked about water management system and pointed out dark zones in the state. "There is a need to introduce micro irrigation. One of the suggestions came that we need to move from crop agriculture that is paddy and wheat to Peri-urban agriculture as farmers are ready to supply vegetables, fruits, milk, poultry, fish to Delhi," he said. The crop residue burning issue also figured in the discussions. "Machines are required for managing crop stubble but it involves capital expenditure but that capital will be payed back in few years. What is to be done? It is a matter of investment," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The two men arrested for allegedly raping and murdering a Lithuanian woman tourist at Kovalam near here were sent to police custody today. The First Class Magistrate court at nearby Neyyattinkara sent Umesh and Udayan to police custody till May 17. The duo were arrested yesterday. Meanwhile, dramatic scenes were witnessed in the court premises as relatives of the accused staged aprotest and claimed that the two were innocent. They also alleged that the police had forced the duo to confess to the crime. Kerala Police had recorded the arrest of Umesh and Udayan yesterday in connection with the death of the 33-year-old Lithuanian tourist, who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances from Kovalam on March 14. Her highly decomposed and headless body was recovered from a mangrove forest at nearby Thiruvallam on April 21. Umesh and Udayan have been charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape)and 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, police said. Police said yesterday that the woman was raped and murdered by the two accused, who are drug peddlers, on March 14, the day she went missing. They 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, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several MPs and vice president of cantonment boards today requested Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to form a panel to study the problems in cantonment areas, including enhancing the representation of elected members in the boards and amendment of "outdated" laws. Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah said the Badami Bagh cantonment was one of the most vulnerable" cantonments despite it not being near Pakistan border and was also under constant threat due to terrorism. Most important thing is the security of the cantonment boards. Nowadays, we live in the world of terrorism. It can be anywhere and anyplace. We have to be very careful, he said. He was speaking at an event at Raksha Sampada Bhawan where MPs from cantonment areas and vice president of cantonment boards were in attendance. Abdullah appreciated the suggestion by some speakers of forming a committee to look into the issues related to cantonment areas and submission of the report within six months. He said the laws governing cantonment areas have been in place since the days of the British and called for their amendment to make them relevant in the current situation. Abdullah also raised the issue of non-functioning of Parliament, saying, Parliament did not run (in the Budget Session) and I don't see it functioning in the future also while this term of this Parliament is on. He also called for strict action against the CEO of the cantonment board whenever there have been complaints against them. Cantonment Board is a civic administration body under control of Ministry of Defence. The board comprise elected members besides ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006. New Delhi constituency MP Meenakshi Lekhi raised the issue of lack of amenities in the cantonment areas, saying the Army even objects to building toilets there. Besides pitching for establishments of community centres, skill development and education centres, she lamented that central and state welfare schemes did not reach the people living in the cantonment areas. Union minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said there had been instances when the roads were shut by the Army without informing the people, causing a lot of problem to the commuters. Some of the speakers also raised the issue of increasing congestion due to population in the areas, lack of infrastructure facilities. Union ministers Ram Kripal Yadav and Krishna Raj also spoke on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fortis Healthcare today said it has appointed Arpwood Capital Private Ltd to advise the board on various sale bids. The firm will act as financial advisor to the board to provide its independent opinion on the offers received or to be received from bidders for a potential significant equity investment and/or acquisition or restructuring of its assets, and on the appropriateness of the process put into place for dealing with the said offers, the healthcare major said in a regulatory filing. Arpwood Capital Pvt Ltd is an investment banking firm engaged in providing merger, acquisition and capital raising advisory services. Fortis Healthcare board is scheduled to meet on May 10 to take a decision on the binding bids for the company as recommended by the expert advisory committee (EAC). Fortis Healthcare has already received binding offers from four entities - KKR-backed Radiant Life Care, IHH Healthcare, Manipal/TPG consortium, and Munjal and Burman family offices. The fifth bidder, Fosun Health Holdings, an arm of Fosun International, which made a non-binding proposal to invest a total of USD 350 million (over Rs 2,295 crore) at a price up to Rs 156 per share, has so far not revised its offer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fresh warning about thunderstorm and squall hitting West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh today has been issued, the home ministry said, and noted that 124 people were killed while more than 300 injured in five states due to thunderstorm and lightning in the last two days. The maximum casualty was reported in Uttar Pradesh where 73 people were killed, while 91 others were injured. Most of the deaths and injuries in the state took place in Agra region, a home ministry spokesperson said. In Rajasthan, altogether 35 people were killed and 206 injured, while eight people were killed in Telangana, six in Uttarakhand and two in Punjab. Nearly 100 people were injured in Telangana, Uttarakhand and Punjab. Following the thunderstorms, power supply was cut off in many areas as squall uprooted trees and snapped electricity cables. At least 12,000 electric poles were uprooted and 2,500 transformers damaged in the affected states in the last two days. The home ministry spokesperson said a fresh warning has been issued about possible thunderstorms accompanied with squall which may hit four states --- West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh -- today. Thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura. Isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Odisha, northwest Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala are very likely to experience thunderstorm along with gusty winds. Heavy rains are very likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while dust storm and thunderstorm very likely at isolated places over Rajasthan. The home ministry has also issued an advisory for tomorrow saying thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, SubHimalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely to occur at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and gangetic West Bengal. Heavy rains are very likely at isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. Dust storms are very likely at isolated places in Rajasthan, an official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will lay the foundation stone for four National Highway projects costing Rs 1523 crore here tomorrow. These projects include six laning of Aramgarh-Shamsabad section of NH 44 between Hyderabad and Bangalore, an official release said. The other projects are rehabilitation and upgradation of NH 765D from Hyderabad outer ring road to Medak, construction of four-lane flyover at Amberpet-X Roads, and construction of six-lane elevated corridor from Uppal to Narapally on the Hyderabad-Bhopalpatnam section of NH 163. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao will also attend the ceremony to be held at the Hyderabad Public School grounds, it said. Gadkari, the Union minister for Road Transport and Highways and Water Resources, would also launch 'Vijaya Kranti' a Telugu daily, a state BJP release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the BJP opposing dynastic politics, giving a ticket to state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa's son to contest the Assembly polls would have "robbed" the party of its ammunition in fighting against it, BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao said today. Rao said he was confident that Karnataka would vote in the party's favour in the May 12 Assembly polls. Achieving the target of 150 seats in the 224-member assembly would "not be a difficult task", he told PTI. Rao said the party was fighting against dynastic "...it is not that we have not given ticket to anybody (father, son), but giving it to one of the senior leaders and his son or daughter is different, and giving ticket to Yeddyurappa (son) is different," he said. He said during one of the party sessions, Yeddyurappa thought it "would rob the BJP of its ammunition in its fight against dynasty politics". Rao said the "two plus one" formula has been adopted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is contesting from two constituencies Badami and Chamundeshwari, and his son Yatindra from the Varuna Assembly segment. "To counter this Yeddyurappa felt this is a small sacrifice. Yeddyurappa's thinking and BJP's thinking both have converged," Rao said. In a last minute move before the deadline for filing of nomination papers, Yeddyurappa on April 23 had announced that his son Vijayendra would not contest from Varuna and instead an ordinary party worker would be fielded against Yatindra. This move had led to a large-scale protest by party workers as Vijayendra was campaigning in Varuna projecting himself as the candidate. Asked whether the party denied the ticket for Vijayendra or he withdrew himself, Rao said "it was both ways". Rao claimed public anger against the Congress government has become increasingly visible due to the Siddaramaiah government's "failure" on all fronts in the last five years. "... there is no motivation among its workers...it is definitely working in BJP's advantage," he said. He said the Congress had followed a negative campaign and claimed that there were divisions within the Congress. The BJP has been able to address its internal issues and it was helping the party, Rao said. Asked about tickets given to tainted mining baron Janardhan Reddy's brothers and those from his camp, he said both Karunakara Reddy and Somashekhar Reddy have been working for the party at the grassroot level. "Giving them ticket has no direct or indirect link to their brother," the BJP leader said. Asked if the party would dissociate from Janardhan Reddy, who has been campaigning for a few party candidates, he said, "His association with the party is not there, so there is no need for dissociation when association is not there." The BJP has publicly distanced itself from Janardhan Reddy, with party chief Amit Shah recently saying it has nothing to do with him. Rao said the Siddaramaiah government's decision to recommend religious minority status for the dominant Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat community would have an impact during the Assembly election in the BJP's favour. Claiming that the community understood that the move was a "divide and rule policy" of the Congress government, he said, "They know Congress is not interested in anything other than to make it an election issue, so they have played this strategy...." "Lingayat or any others, most of them will not vote for Congress," he said. Not willing to accept the theory that there may be a hung assembly in the state, Rao said people would give his party the "absolute majority". Suggesting that giving vote to the JDS meant indirectly supporting the Congress, he said, "So it is a political status quo (if vote for JDS. I don't think people will give vote for continuity. There is need for change and change means BJP." On the Siddaramaiah government's portrayal of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government as anti-regional pride, Rao said "When has Congress started representing regional pride?" and hit out at the party, saying "Rahul Gandhi did not know the Congress' history nor the country's". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drug firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals today said it has suspended clinical trial at the Malpani Hospital in Jaipur as soon as it became aware of the alleged irregularities at the hospital. The company has "received the show-cause notice pertaining to the monitoring of the clinical trial at Malpani Hospital...," Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said in a BSE filing. Coming out with a clarification on the reports regarding clinical trial, the company said," As soon as the company became aware of the alleged irregularities at Malpani Hospital, the trials at the site were immediately suspended in the interest of patient safety." The company also said that it will respond to the notice in the stipulated time-frame. The hospital in Jaipur is one of the many sites that had recently initiated phase II clinical trial for the company's molecule GRC 27864 in patients with moderate osteoartritis pain, Glenamrk said. Malpani Hospital is a CDSCO-approved site for clinical trials and has been conducting trials for many companies including multi-nationals over the past several years, it added. Shares of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals today closed at Rs 535.05 per scrip on the BSE, down 1.25 per cent from its previous close. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Goa Congress leader Pratapsinh Rane today said the state government was moving like a "headless chicken" in the absence of chief minister Manohar Parrikar who is in the United States of America for medical treatment. He questioned the "lack of trust" on the part of Parrikar to delegate powers to his people. "Our government is moving like a headless chicken. There are no quick decisions. Months have passed and we are waiting patiently," the former chief minister said, adding that this patience could run out. "Why can't he (Parrikar) trust his own people? We have been without a leader for the last two and half months," Rane said. Parrikar was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on February 15 after being diagnosed with mild pancreatitis. He was discharged after a few days and returned to Goa to present the budget on February 21. He landed in USA for medical treatment on March 7. Meanwhile, the Congress' national secretary, A Chellakumar, today slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. Chellakumar was in Goa to oversee the appointment of Girish Chodankar as the president of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. Chodankar was appointed Goa Congress president last week on Thursday. "In Kathua, an 8-year-old girl was raped and murdered but Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promised a safe India when he assumed power in 2014, has remained completely silent on the issue," Chellakumar told a gathering of party workers here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Godrej Properties Ltd (GPL) will raise Rs 1,000 crore through preferential issue of shares to Singapore-based GIC-managed investment company, its executive chairman Pirojsha Godrej said. The fund would be utilised for business development and acquisition of new projects. "The board has approved preferential allotment of shares to an investment company managed by GIC to raise Rs 1,000 crore," Godrej told PTI. The investment company will have a stake of 5 per cent in the company post allotment of shares, he added. The company will issue about 1.27 crore shares at Rs 783.5 apiece to Gamnat Pte (GIC-managed firm) on preferential basis. Godrej said the company acquired 12 new projects during 2017-18 with saleable area of 23.5 million sq ft. About 83 per cent of the area added in the year was in partnership with other developers. "We will utilise Rs 1,000 crore for business development and add new projects in the geographies where the company is present," he said. Godrej said the real estate market, particularly housing, is still slow, which presents a huge opportunity for organised players. The company is developing residential, commercial and township projects spread across about 151 million square feet in 12 cities. GPL has major presence in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune. GIC, a Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund, has major investments in Indian real estate market. Recently, it picked up 33.34 per cent stake in DLF's rental arm for about Rs 9,000 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal was today granted bail by the Bombay High Court, his party, the NCP, blamed the Enforcement Directorate and the government for his long incarceration. Bhujbal has been in jail since his arrest by the ED in a money laundering case in March 2016. After the trial court rejected his bail application in December, the high court today gave him relief. The NCP welcomes the high court's decision, said party spokesperson Nawab Malik here. "Justice has now begun to be delivered. We are sure that soon all charges against him will be proven false and he will come out clean," Malik said. "The policy of long detention (before trial) has already been scrapped. Four months ago the Supreme Court repealed the law, yet no bail was given....When we went to the supreme court, it asked us to approach the high court for relief, which finally gave Bhujbal bail," Malik said. Bhujbal's lawyers relied on the apex court's November 2017 judgement which struck down section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The section restricted grant of bail for those arrested under the PMLA. The NCP spokesperson alleged that the ED kept opposing Bhujbal's bail plea, despite having no legal grounds, at the BJP-led state government's behest. "The government lawyer puts forth arguments on behalf of the state government. This means the party which is in power was misusing the state machinery to keep him in jail," Malik alleged. To a question, he said NCP leaders were always in touch with Bhujbal and the party made all efforts to secure bail for him. Bhujbal, who handled the Public Works Department (PWD) in the Congress-NCP government, was arrested in March 2016 after an ED inquiry revealed that he allegedly misused his office in awarding contracts for PWD projects, causing a loss to the exchequer. According to the ED, Bhujbal awarded contracts including the one for the construction of a new Maharashtra Sadan -- the state guest house -- in New Delhi to a private firm in return for kickbacks for himself and his family. He and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal channelled the ill-gotten money into shell companies, the agency alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of five women submitted a "factual" report on the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, and demanded a CBI probe into the incident. The five women are retired judge Meera Khadakkar, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora, Delhi University professor Sonali Chaitalkar, social activist Monicca Agarwaal and journalist Sarjana Sharma. The report claimed that the charge sheet filed by the Jammu and Kashmir crime branch in the case had discrepancies and the investigation was "botched-up". The women, who call themselves a Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), said they had met more than 25 people including the victim's family, the family members of the accused, and some influential people from the nomadic community to which the girl belonged. During their stay in Jammu and Kashmir, they had called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The crime branch has arrested eight people including a juvenile for raping and murdering of the eight-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped on January 10. The charge sheet claimed the kidnapping of the girl was part of a carefully planned strategy to remove the nomadic community from the area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The all-powerful GST Council today deferred a decision on levying a cess on sugar and referred the issue of incentivising digital payments to a group of state finance ministers. The panel, the highest decision making body of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, in its 27th meeting agreed to a proposal to convert the GST Network -- the company that provides IT backbone to the new indirect tax regime -- into a government-owned entity. Announcing the decisions taken today, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, who chaired the meeting conducted through a video conferencing, said a road map for introduction of simplified return filing has been decided. A single monthly return filing system would come into force in six months, Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said. Jaitley said while most states were in favour of giving a 2 per cent incentive if all payments are paid digitally or through cheques, some wanted a small negative list and so the issue will be referred to a five-member group of state finance ministers. Another group of ministers (GoM) would look at the issue of levy of cess on sugar beyond the GST tax rates. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said some states were not in favour of such a levy. Jaitley said the GST Network or GSTN currently is 24.5 per cent owned by the central government and a similar percentage is held by state governments collectively. The remaining 51 per cent is with five private financial insitutitions -- HDFC Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, NSE Strategic Investment Co and LIC Housing Finance Ltd. The council agreed to a proposal of buying out the stake of private entities to make GSTN a government-owned entity, he said adding the central government will own 50 per cent and the remaining would be collectively held by state governments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat CID today arrested Kirit Padalia, allegedly the mastermind in the crime of looting 176 bitcoins worth over Rs 9 crore from his partner and builder Sailesh Bhatt, officials said. The case has so far seen the arrest of Amreli Superintendent of Police Jagdish Patel, Amreli local Crime Branch inspector Anant Patel, two constables and others. Seven policemen, allegedly involved in the case, are on the run. "We have arrested Kirit Padalia today in the bitcoin case. He is the partner of the complainant and the mastermind of the entire conspiracy," CID DIG Dipankar Trivedi told reporters in Gandhinagar. According to the police, the complainant, Bhatt, a builder based in Surat, used to deal in crypto currencies, and he made Padalia a partner as the latter was well versed with technology. According to Bhatt's complaint, a CBI officer, Sunil Nair, had, in February, called and threatened him with a case as dealing in crytpo currencies had been banned by the government. Bhatt's complaint further alleged that Nair had taken Rs 5 crore from him for not filing a case. Bhatt had told police that he, along with Padalia, was kidnapped by Amreli police when he arrived in Gandhinagar on February 11. His complaint stated that he was taken to a farmhouse where he was assaulted by inspector Anant Patel and some other policemen and forced to transfer 176 bitcoins and Rs 32 crore to the police. The complainant narrated his ordeal to Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja who asked the state CID to investigate. CID DIG Dipankar Trivedi said that investigations had shown that 176 bitcoins never got transferred from Padalia's account to that of the police. "This entire plan was hatched by Padalia, he was the mastermind. On February 11, when they were kidnapped, Bhatt had told Padaliya to transfer the bitcoins to police to save himself," DIG said. "Padalia, who is a good technical hand and used to handle bitcoin transactions of Bhatt, convinced Bhatt that he had transferred bitcoins to police. But, actually, Padalia did not transfer the crypto currency and kept them in his possession," he said. The police, the middlemen and Padaliya were all in it together, Trivedi said. "The booty was to be divided between Padalia, police and middlemen. Padalia later sold 34 bitcoins out of 176 and gave 15 per cent of the money, which comes to Rs 1.32 crore, to police, including the SP (Jagdish Patel), PI (Anant Patel) and other constables. While another 15 per cent( Rs 1.32 crore) was given to middlemen Ketan Patel and others," he said. "Padalia kept the remaining 70 per cent of the bitcoins with himself," Trivedi said. The market value of a bitcoin, as on February 11, was Rs 5.37 lakh, so the value of 176 bitcoins came to Rs 9.45 crore, he said. He said that Padalia had hatched the entire plan with middlemen Ketan Patel who had roped in Amreli district police as well. Ketan Patel has already been arrested in connection with the case. Regarding the allegations made by Bhatt against CBI officer Sunil Nair, Trivedi said that a report on it had been sent to the investigative agency's headquarters in New Delhi. Trivedi informed that the name of former BJP MLA, Nalin Kotadia, had cropped up during the questioning of the accused. Trivedi added that the police was yet to question Kotadia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Maneka Gandhi today said that Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan have done well in implementation of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme, whereas Kashmir and Bihar have lagged behind in terms of child sex ratio. The Women and Child Development minister made these remarks while addressing a day-long national conference on 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' (BBBP) here. "The states that have done best so far are Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. These were the worst states (when the programme started) and they have gone from zero to hero. These are macho man states where there is a patriarchal system. They were not even expected to do well. Be it the problem of khaps in Haryana or Punjab's tandoori chicken culture, they are macho states," she said. "Whenever a state or its people feel that they are in war or there is a feeling that there is an atmosphere of war, they (people) are usually hesitant in giving birth to daughters," the minister said while talking about Kashmir. The campaign also failed in Bihar because the funds never reached the districts and due to frequent transfers of district magistrates in some districts, she added. "The money never reached the districts. It reached the state and languished in there. It failed in those districts where DMs were changed in every three months. There was no ownership," Gandhi said. The minister said that for the programme to be a success, we have to to pull together as a nation. "We have to pull together as a nation. If we have porous borders like this and people breaking rules in other state and not doing in the other, we have to do something," Gandhi said. "In Rajasthan, they exercised strictness under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act but some people crossed over to Madhya Pradesh, got an ultrasound done and got the baby girl aborted," she said. Launched in January 2015, the BBBP scheme is implemented in 161 districts. The new 244 districts from across the country will be covered under multi-sectoral intervention. The nodal officers of 244 districts, state nodal officers and senior officers were present in the day-long conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Australia captain Steve Smith today vowed to earn back the "trust" that he lost due to his role in the ball-tampering scandal, saying he has been left humbled by the "incredible" support that came his way after the furore. "It's great to be back home in Australia. I have had some time away to come to terms with everything and now it's time to get back into it," Smith wrote in an Instagram post. "The amount of e-mails and letters I have received has been incredible and I have been extremely humbled by the enormous amount of support you have given me. I now have a lot to do to earn back your trust," he added. The batsman is serving a one-year ban for his role in the scandal that also led to suspensions on vice-captain David Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft. This is Smith's first comment on his future plans since the emotional breakdown at the airport on his return from South Africa in March. "To my Mum, Dad and Dani (his wife) you have been my rock through this and I can't thank you enough. Family is the most important thing in the world and I thank you for your love and support," Smith said. Smith was found guilty of knowing the plan "to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball" during the infamous Cape Town Test against South Africa. Warner was charged with developing the plan. Both Smith and Warner were also banned from playing the Indian Premier League this year. Besides, Smith and Warner lost their leadership roles. While Smith won't be considered for the position until 12 months after the end of his ban, Warner won't be handed any leadership post ever. The man who was tasked with job of tampering the ball with a sand paper, Bancroft, has been suspended for nine months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has allowed the termination of pregnancy of a 14-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped five months ago by a person known to her. Justice T Raja gave the direction recently on a petition from the Child Welfare Committee, Chengalpattu. He directed the dean of Chengalpet Medical College and Hospital to terminate the pregnancy and preserve the foetus. The girl's parents had approached the Kancheepuram District Collector with a complaint that their daughter had been raped about five months ago, following which she was before the child welfare committee. Later she was admitted to the Christ Faith Home for Children at Manapakkam in Chennai. At that time, a doctor's report was submitted, stating that she had been raped by a person known to her. She was then taken to the Chengalpet Medical College and Hospital and a case was registered. The home sent a letter on April 12 to the Chengalpattu Medical College, seeking medical advice on continuation of the pregnancy of the girl. After she was medically examined, it was found she was pregnant "with single intra uterine pregnancy of around 18 weeks gestational age". The child and her mother were given counselling to give consent for the termination of pregnancy. The home also suggested that the pregnancy be terminated for securing the minor girl's health and life. As action needed to be taken immediately, the home moved the high court. When the matter came up before the judge on April 28, V Vanitha, Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Chengalpattu Medical College, suggested it was advisable to terminate the pregnancy at the earliest as adolescent pregnancies are prone to higher risk of complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, anaemia and increased infection. The court informed the mother and the girl, who were present that day about the advice of the doctor and they agreed for termination of pregnancy. The judge in his order said, "In view of the above, this Court directs the Dean, Chengalpet Medical College Hospital, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram District, to do the needful by terminating the single intra uterine pregnancy of about 18 weeks gestational age. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta High Court today made scathing observations on the State Election Commission's neutrality in the West Bengal panchayat elections and asked it to consider those as a wake-up call, but refused to interfere in the poll schedule announced by it. A division bench, comprising Justices B Somadder and A.Mukherjee, observed that the SEC should conduct itself in a manner which palpably demonstrates its paramount objective of maintaining absolute neutrality, fairness and transparency during the election process as an apolitical and neutral body. The bench said that it is expected that the SEC shall redeem itself by taking a note of the observations made in its order as a wake-up call. The division bench refused to interfere in a single bench order that had said that it does not intend to interrupt the electoral exercise further nor intervene by passing any direction in this petition. Petitioner Ritzu Ghosal, a general secretary of West Bengal unit of Indian National Congress, had appealed before the division bench after Justice Subrata Talukdar refused to intervene and disposed of his application. The bench observed that the SEC ever since the issuance of the initial notification of the state government for the 2018 panchayat elections "has acted in such a manner that eyebrows have been raised and accusatory fingers have been pointed against it time and again". Observing that its (SEC) neutrality has been seriously questioned, the court said it has floundered while performing its Constitutional obligation to uphold the democratic principles in a fair and transparent manner leading to a spate of litigations ever since the election process was set to motion. Opposition parties in the state, in a number of petitions before the HC, have accused the SEC of playing a partisan role. The ruling Trinamool Congress opposed the petitions along with the commission. The notification, dated April 26, for holding election on a single date without providing necessary clarification specially when three dates were announced in the previous notification dated March 31 has inevitably raised eyebrows and pointing of accusatory fingers at the commission, which could have been easily avoided. Stating that the commission has itself invited litigations after the election process has commenced, the bench said, "Instead, it ought to have allayed the fears and concern of all stakeholders and above all, the voters, who repose complete faith and trust on this august Constitutional body." Gaining their confidence, therefore, is the commissions paramount duty before, during and after the election process commences, the court said. Quoting from Dr B R Ambedkar, the bench said, "However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good." Negating the commission's contention that courts cannot intervene once the election process has started, the bench held that court can always intervene judging the quality of the action on the part of the Election Commission. The high court had on April 20 directed the electoral body to issue fresh notification to allow nominations for panchayat polls in West Bengal, quashing its cancellation of extension of deadline for filing nominations. Justice Subrata Talukdar had asked the poll panel to issue fresh notification extending the date for filing nominations. The court, which had earlier stayed the election process, directed the commission to reschedule the dates for panchayat election process and accordingly conduct the polls. In separate petitions today before another division bench presided by Chief Justice J Bhattacharya, which also took up some other matters with regard to panchayat elections including finalisation of date for the election as referred to it by a single bench, posted the matters for hearing on Tuesday. Justice Talukdar had on May 1 directed that the SEC's decision to hold the panchayat polls on May 14 cannot be treated as final and said that it can be considered to be a tentative date only. Justice Talukdar had also directed the commission to place details on security arrangements for the election before the bench. Passing the direction on petitions by political parties challenging the SEC's decision to hold the election on a single day, Justice Talukdar HAD said that the final decision on the date for the panchayat elections will be considered by a division bench headed by the Chief Justice. This issue, as well as a contempt petition by state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury would be taken up on Tuesday by the bench comprising Chief Justice Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to release Rs 13 crore from the 'frozen' accounts of the firm '63 Moons', owned by NSEL scam accused Jignesh Shah, to enable it pay salaries and meet day-to-day expenses. A bench of justices Shantanu Kemkar and M S Karnik said 63 Moons must ensure that the money is used only for these two purposes, and this should be verified by an independent auditor. The government had issued a directive on April 4 to the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police to freeze operating accounts of the company, as several depositors had lodged complaints of fraud against 63 Moons, owned National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL). Depositors had alleged that NSEL, run by erstwhile FTIL (later renamed as 63 Moons), promoted by Shah, collected money by promising attractive returns, but failed to return the money on maturity. Last month, 63 Moons moved the high court seeking that the EOW be directed to "de-freeze" its bank accounts, so that it could pay its employees and meet the day-to-day expenses. The state government opposed the plea, saying the EOW had frozen only four of over 30 operational accounts of the firm. The CBI has filed a charge-sheet against Shah and then FTIL CEO Anjani Sinha along with 20 others in the alleged NSEL scam, which is related to the commodity bourse defaulting on payments due to its investors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Why was a compensation of Rs one crore not paid to the kin of a cop, slain in line of duty in 2014, even after the ex-gratia was announced by the then Lieutenant Governor with much "fanfare", the Delhi High Court today asked the Centre and the AAP government. "There was all this fanfare that Rs one crore would be paid. Then why was it not paid," Justice Rajiv Shakdher asked while issuing notice to the state and the Centre seeking their stand on a plea moved by the slain constable's wife for grant of the promised compensation. The court sought the stand of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi government and the LG. The issue pertains to the death of Delhi Police Constable Jagvir Singh. He was shot dead allegedly by a gang of five burglers in Vijay Vihar area of Outer Delhi in the wee hours of October 13, 2014 when he and another constable tried to nab them. All the five accused were later arrested by police. On that day, at around 1:30 AM, when the two cops were patrolling on their motorcycle, they had intercepted an auto-rickshaw in which the five alleged burglars were moving looking for an opportunity to strike somewhere, the police had said. According to the petition filed by Singh's wife Anju Devi, the two policemen had found guns in the pockets of two of the alleged burglars and these were confiscated. As they proceeded to take the five persons to a nearby police station for further questioning, one of them opened fire at point blank range with a third weapon leading to grievous injury to Singh who was dragged for some distance alongside the auto before being dumped. His service weapon was stolen and his head was smashed by the assailants, the plea said. His colleague was also injured in the incident. The then LG, Najeeb Jung, had announced that Rs one crore financial assistance would be provided to the family of the cop who laid down his life in the line of duty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Questioning the functioning of government-run liquor outlets in Tamil Nadu even before lunch time, the Madras High Court has sought to know why they should not be opened from 2 PM. "It is not known as to why the outlets are opened even before lunch hours... Why should not they be opened from 2 pm after lunch," the court said in a recent interim order. It was referring to the timings of the outlets run by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, the sole retailer of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in the state, which function from 12 noon to 10 pm. The observation was made by a division bench comprising justices N Kirubakaran and V Parthiban while directing the state DGP, city Commissioner of Police and the TASMAC to continue the crackdown on illegal bars and outlets across the state. The court rejected a report filed by the DGP on the number of FIRs and arrests made in connection with the illegal bars, saying it was not convinced with the action taken so far. Citing the report that said about 100 FIRs were registered and 81 people were arrested between April 18 and 23 April, the court said the raids were not conducted properly and that the action taken was not satisfactory. On April 18, the court had ordered the officials and the TASMAC authorities to ensure by April 25 that there were no more illegal bars and liquor vends across the state. The court had earlier issued the directive to raid the illegal bars and outlets based on a report in an English daily that liquor trade was on round-the-clock in some parts of north Chennai. The directive was issued during the hearing of two petitions, one seeking bail for 25 people who participated in an agitation against TASMAC shops and the other for a direction to close a liquor outlet in the city. (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: DEL28 MHA-STORM-LD DEATHSFresh thunderstorm, squall warning for 4 states, 124 deaths in 2 days: MHANew Delhi: A fresh warning about thunderstorm and squall hitting West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh today has been issued, the home ministry said, and noted that 124 people were killed while more than 300 injured in five states due to thunderstorm and lightning in the last two days. DEL14 MODI-XI-MEETINGS PM Modi, President Xi could meet 3 more times this year: Chinese envoy New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have the opportunity to meet at least three times this year to take forward their friendship forged during their unprecedented informal summit in Wuhan, China's ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said today. DEL24 UP-STORM-CM UP CM cuts short Karnataka campaign, rushing back Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth, currently on an election campaign in Karnataka, is rushing back tonight to visit storm-ravaged Agra, a senior official said today. DEL22 POL-RAHUL-PM-BENGALURU Rahul attacks Modi over 'Bengaluru garbage city' jibe, says it's insulting New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's description of Karnataka capital Bengaluru as a "garbage city" was insulting, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said today. DEL23 DALITS-RSS Do not accept any kind of caste-based discrimination : RSS New Delhi: The RSS today said it does not accept any kind of caste-based discrimination and was votary of "One Temple, One Well and One Cremation ground " for all. DEL29 UP-LD-DALIT-MOSQUITO BITE Ministers spending nights in villages braving mosquito bites: UP BJP leader Lucknow: An Uttar Pradesh minister today defended BJP leaders visiting homes of Dalits, saying that they brave "mosquito bites the whole night", but still go there to make the community aware about government welfare schemes meant for them. CAL1 BH-BUS-ADMINISTRATION No death in bus mishap in East Champaran in Bihar: Dist administration Patna: The East Champaran district administration in Bihar today made it clear that no one was killed when a Delhi-bound bus fell into a 20-feet deep pit and burst into flames, saying all those on board have been accounted for. DEL17 LAW-HC-ACTING CJ Justice A K Mittal appointed acting chief justice of Punjab and Haryana HC New Delhi: Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal has been appointed as the acting chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after incumbent chief justice Shivax Jal Vazifdar demitted office at midnight upon his retirement. DEL16 UP-AMU-INTERNET Internet services suspended in Aligarh Aligarh (UP): Internet services were today suspended in Aligarh district in the wake of unrest in AMU after the Jinnah portrait row. DEL1 KA-VIJAYKUMAR-DEATH Sitting MLA B N Vijaykumar passes away Bengaluru: Sitting BJP MLA B N Vijaykumar died of a massive heart attack at a hospital here in the early hours today, the party said. LEGAL: DEL18 SC-LD GANGRAPE SC reserves order on review plea by 2 death row convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case New Delhi: The Supreme Court today reserved its order on the plea of two of the four condemned convicts seeking a review of its 2017 verdict upholding the death penalty awarded to them in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. FOREIGN: FGN10 US-2NDLD TWITTER Twitter urges users to change passwords San Francisco: Twitter today asked its over 300 million users to consider changing their account passwords after the social media giant identified a bug that stored "unmasked" information. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal has expressed "hope" that the deal to sell for USD 600 million a majority stake in the iconic US-based Plaza Hotel, in which the embattled Sahara Group led by Subrata Roy Sahara owns a 70 per cent stake, is closed soon. Chatwal confirmed that he will be signing the contract for the deal. "Hopefully. We hope that the deal will close by the end of June,", Chatwal told PTI. He did not comment further on the details of the deal. A report in the New York Times said that Shahal Khan, founder of the Dubai-based family office White City Ventures, and Kamran Hakim of the Hakim Organization, a major New York City landlord had reached a deal to buy a majority share of the Plaza Hotel for USD 600 million. Roy's Sahara-led Sahara Group owns a 70 per cent stake in the Plaza Hotel. The deal is scheduled to close on June 25. The report added that Sandeep Wadhwa, head of corporate finance at the Sahara Group confirmed the deal. Chatwal, who also confirmed the deal to NYT, owns the other 5 per cent being sold. The Sahara Group had been trying for a long time to sell the property, and last year, it hired brokerage firm Jones Lang LaSalle to carry out an auction of the property. Roy, chairman of the Sahara Group, and Chatwal had bought their shared stake in the hotel in 2012. "The latest deal follows a string of reported sales that never came to fruition, though this time the buyers have made a USD 30 million deposit that they would forfeit if they backed out, making a completed sale more likely," the report said. The Plaza Hotel, opened in 1907, is a city landmark and the only hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel was once owned by US President Donald Trump, who lost it in a bankruptcy. The report added that the deal is "complicated" by the fact that a partnership of the Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp, a real-estate firm, and Kingdom Holdings, which is controlled by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talel, owns the remaining 25 per cent of the Plaza. While the partners have the right of first refusal to buy the hotel at the same valuation, that right is set to expire sometime in the next week. While a deal has been reached to sell the majority stake, the NYT report said that the transaction is complex. The USD 600 million purchase price includes the refinancing of a more than USD 410 million mortgage on the hotel. Qatari Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani holds the mortgage, which is set to mature in early July. In 2010, Sahara had purchased the Grosvenor House, a historic hotel in London. Last year, Ashkenazy Acquisition, with financing from Al Thani, acquired that hotel. As part of that deal, the Qatari Sheikh took over the mortgage on the Plaza. Roy was arrested in in 2014, after evading for two days a non-bailable warrant issued by the Supreme Court for his failure to appear before it in a case of non-refund of Rs 20,000 crore to investors. Roy has spent almost two years in jail and been on parole since May 2016. The parole was granted the first time to enable him attend the funeral of his mother. It has been extended since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly Abhay Singh Chautala today said the INLD-BSP alliance will implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission in the state if voted to power. Earlier in the day, several INLD and BSP activists, including Chautala, courted arrest as part of their Jail Bharo protest seeking completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the BSP, which recently entered into an alliance in Haryana, had begun their Jail Bharo protest from Bhiwani last week. The parties have plans to stage similar agitations in several parts of the state. Chautala exuded confidence that the joint effort of the INLD and the BSP to secure justice for the state and get the SYL canal completed will bear positive results. He also said, "As soon as the INLD-BSP alliance is voted to power it will implement the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission report in Haryana." Today, the workers of INLD and BSP gathered in large number at the District Secretariat to court arrest as part of their protest. Those to be taken into custody were Abhay Singh Chautala, state president of BSP Prakash Bharati, INLD's state chief Ashok Arora, former MLA Dilbag Singh, MLAs Balwan Singh Daulatpuria, Anup Dhanak and hundreds of party workers. The next round of the Jail Bharo protest would take place in Nuh on May 8, a INLD spokesperson said. Accusing the BJP government in the state of betraying the cause of farmers, he claimed that the Dadupur Nalvi canal scheme was scrapped because the government did not want to pay the enhanced compensation to the farmers as directed by the Supreme Court. But this canal was essential for the survival of Yamunanagar, Ambala and Kurukeshtra districts as the groundwater in the region was fast depleting, the spokesperson said, adding the canal would not only irrigate the lands of these districts but also replenish groundwater level. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today laid the foundation stone of an off-campus centre of the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) here. The centre will give a boost to the Marathwada region's development, the chief minister said. The ICT, a chemical technology research university, is located in Mumbai. "One more promise fulfilled! Great moment for Marathwada as we laid the foundation stone for Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai Marathwada off-campus centre at Jalna! Decision to set up this sub-centre was taken at the Cabinet meeting held in Marathwada!," Fadnavis tweeted later. The centre will create great human resources in the region, the chief minister said, noting that Pune could become an industry and business centre because of the human resources developed by the local educational institutes. With the ICT Marathwada centre, Aurangabad and Jalna would become "magnets for industries", he said. "We are absolutely committed towards overall development of Marathwada. Shendra-Bidkin is going to be India's best industrial park. We need ports for export, now Dry Port is coming at Jalna," he tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drumming up international support for his call to "fix" or "nix" the Iran nuclear deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached out to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to update him on the recent developments. A statement from Netanyahu's media advisor yesterday said the Israeli Prime Minister spoke to three key international leaders, including Modi, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and British Prime Minister Theresa May. He discussed regional issues with the world leaders and also updated them on the important material that he revealed regarding the Iranian nuclear archive, the press release stated. Netanyahu had earlier told the media that he would share the archive of more than 100,000 documents said to have been obtained by Israel's espionage agency Mossad from a Tehran warehouse, which allegedly proves Iran's past clandestine efforts to assemble nuclear weapons. "The leaders of the E3 Britain, France, and Germany said they want to see the material. They're very interested in seeing what we discovered," Netanyahu told journalists in his Jerusalem office. Intelligence professionals from London, Paris and Berlin are coming to Jerusalem later this week to examine the material Israel presented, he said. The Israeli Premier spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to update them about the Mossad's findings on Monday. "I told Putin that he's welcome, too, to see the material. I also invited the leader of China and [Yukiya] Amano (the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency)," Netanyahu said. In a sensational presentation on Monday evening, Netanyahu showcased an enormous trove of Iranian documents that he said proved the existence of Iran's nuclear Project, Amad, which Tehran claimed to have frozen in 2003. In a daring operation, Mossad agents are said to have managed to obtain and smuggle into Israel 55,000 paper documents and 183 CDs with another 55,000 documents from what looked like a "dilapidated warehouse" in Tehran earlier this year. Israel has expressed hope that the "irrefutable findings" would help shore up international community's longstanding suspicion that the Islamic Republic was investing great efforts in building a nuclear weapon. There has been speculation in the Israeli media that close ally United States will pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal on May 12 and impose sanctions against the Islamic Republic "based on the reactions coming from Washington on the proof gathered by Mossad". Commenting on the expectations, Netanyahu gave a guarded response saying, "The decision is President [Donald] Trump's decision alone. He's a leader who knows to take decisions, and he takes them". Trump, a fervent critic of the seven-party agreement, has long threatened to walk away from the landmark deal unless its European signatories and Congress reconcile his concerns. The US President is said to be unhappy about key aspects of the "insane" pact. He has complained that the deal fails to restrict Iran's nuclear activities for long enough and to stop the country's development of ballistic missiles. A dramatic uptick in oil prices in recent weeks has partly been driven by mounting expectations that Trump will soon pull out of the 2015 accord. The Iran nuclear deal framework was a preliminary framework agreement reached in 2015 between the Islamic Republic of Iran and a group of world powers - P5+1 (meaning the five permanent members of the UNSC and Germany) and the European Union. Some critics have downplayed the claims by Israel and termed Netanyahu's press conference "theatrical" arguing that the existence of Iran's clandestine nuclear weapons programme was already known and detailed in an IAEA report from 2011. Israeli officials have refuted such critics saying that the world now has much more detailed knowledge of what went on there with "evidence of a whole different level". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The management of 300-year-old Jagannath temple in the district is deliberating with the government and local community members for removal of barricade near the sanctum sanctorum for unhindered darshan of the lord. The Jagannath temple in the sleepy village in Kendrapara district had hogged spotlight over a decade back over caste flare-up on dalits' right for darshan of Lord. The dalits were earlier denied access into the temple and were only allowed to peep through the inbuilt holes on the temple boundary wall to catch glimpse of the lord. However, after days of simmering dispute that had threatened to disrupt peace, the upper castes had relented and the dalits had broken the age-old barriers by entering the temple on January 14, 2007. The Orissa High Court had also ruled that the dalits have the right to enter any Hindu temple. Till 2006, members of the dalit communities were paying obeisance through the nine holes created on the temple wall while upper caste people had access to the main temple. The issue of dalit entry into temple had made two communities confront each other. The administration had later brokered a truce between the warring groups. It had been amicably settled then that the sanctum sanctorum of the temple will remain out of bounds for devotees. Both the caste groups were permitted access into the temple premises. But, the devotees could have darshan from outside the temple structure from a barricaded site. The in-built holes of the outer wall, that symbolised the caste divide, had also been blocked by the district administration. Devotees and followers of Jagannath cult are disappointed over denial of lord's darshan from a close distance. "So we have begun the process for removal of barricade structure so that everybody could go close to the deity for darshan. People from all sections will be taken into confidence. The administration will also play a role in un-barricaded darshan", said Sibendra Bhanjadeo, scion of Kanika Jamindari and trustee of the temple. The matter has been taken up for discussion. Dibyasingh Deb, regarded as Puri King who heads Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri, has assured us of all helps, he said. Rajkanika Tahasildar Nihar Ranjan Mallick said no proposal has been received by us from any quarters in this regard so far. However the administration will act as facilitator if consensus emerges over this sensitive issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The doppler radar in the Jaipur Met office, a critical component in the accurate forecasting of weather events, was not working the night of May 2 when a high velocity dust storm cut a swathe of destruction through parts of Rajasthan, killing at least 35 people, an IMD official said. The doppler, a product of Finnish company Vaisala, has been dysfunctional for the last 10 days, said Devendra Pradhan, additional director general of the India Meteorological Department. "The doppler radar of Jaipur has been dysfunctional for the last 10 days due to some technical issues. The engineers of Vaisala, a Finnish company, are here. The problem will be rectified in the next two-three days," Pradhan told PTI. Besides doppler radars, the IMD depends on observatories and satellites for accurate weather forecasts. A doppler radar helps in better assessment of the severity of a hailstorm, thunderstorms, wind movement and also helps in nowcasts, weather alerts issued for two-three hours, Pradhan explained. "It is an important tool for disaster management," Pradhan, who looks after doppler radars across the country, said. Of the 27 IMD doppler radars in the country, two, in Jaipur and Karaikal, are not working, Pradhan said. "We had been issuing alerts since April 29 using our doppler radar from Delhi. Had the Jaipur radar been working, we would have been in a much better position," he said. There was a fault in the doppler radar on May 2, which was rectified the next day, said Himanshu Sharma, acting director, IMD Jaipur. "However, we had issued a warning to the relief department about the dust storm that affected three districts of Rajasthan," Sharma added. More than 100 people were killed as the dust storm whipped through parts of Rajasthan, including Dholpur and Bharatpur, and Uttar Pradesh, bringing down houses, uprooting trees and electricity poles and flattening crops. A fresh warning was issued today about a possible thunderstorm accompanied with squall which may hit West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, a home ministry spokesperson said. A doppler has a radius of 250 km and the alert issued by the Jaipur IMD today was based on the doppler radar in Delhi, officials said. However, several places in the Agra division, where more than 40 people were killed, and areas like Dholpur fall beyond the radius. Dholpur, for instance, is much closer to Jaipur than Delhi. There is a doppler at Lucknow but the dust storm that hit parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh was beyond its range. The importance of doppler radars was felt after the 2005 Mumbai floods, in which hundreds of people were killed, following which the process was fast-tracked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Almost seven decades after he died, Pakistan's founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah continues to trigger controversies -- be it over praise by some BJP leaders or merely because of a portrait of him hanging on a university wall. The BJP is working overtime to put a lid on a row, which was ignited after its leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya called Jinnah a "great man" after some party leaders sought removal of his portrait from Aligarh Muslim Univeristy, but it is only a reminder of the bigger storms the Pakistan's founder has caused in the saffron party. Jinnah, who became became the Governor-General of Pakistan after partition, died in September 1948. His praise of Jinnah in 2005 had cost L K Advani -- the longest serving BJP president -- his job as the party chief eventually and, many believe, it caused a permanent strain in his relations with the RSS from which he could never recover. The BJP stalwart's tall stature within the party and impeccable Hindutva credentials as the leader behind the Ram temple movement helped him weather the storm and remain a formidable force for several years. There was no such comfort for party veteran Jaswant Singh, who was summarily expelled from the organisation in 2009 for his praise of Pakistan's founder. On a sentimental trip to Pakistan in June 2005, Advani, who was born in Karachi in 1927, had showered praise on Jinnah, calling him a great man and suggesting that he was a secular leader. In a visit to the Pakistan founder's mausoleum in Karachi, the then BJP president wrote, "There are many people who leave an inerasable stamp on history. But there are very few who actually create history." Advani further wrote, "Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was one such rare individual. In his early years, Sarojini Naidu, a leading luminary of India's freedom struggle, described Mr Jinnah as an Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity'." Continuing with his encomium, he said, "His address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, is a classic, a forceful espousal of a Secular State in which every citizen would be free to practise his own religion but the State shall make no distinction between one citizen and another on the grounds of faith. My respectful homage to this great man."Still reeling from its shock defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP was convulsed from its president's praise of a man, who has been a hate figure for the Hindutva movement. The party tried to distance itself from his comments while its ideological mentor RSS publicly expressed its disagreement with Advani's statement. Taken aback, he declined to withdraw his statement but offered to resign immediately upon his return to India. He continued for some months before Rajnath Singh replaced him in December 2005. Many believed at that time that Advani's lavish praise of Jinnah was driven by his desire to shun his Hindutva hardline image and project a soft and moderate image of him as a leader of a party keen to mend relations with Pakistan. The ghost of Jinnah came back to haunt the BJP again when Jaswant Singh, a party veteran who held external affairs and finance portfolios in the Vajpayee government between 1998-2004, showed praise on the man blamed by most Indians for division of India in 1947. In his book 'Jinnah- India, Partition, Independence', Singh blamed the Congress and its stalwart Jawahar Lal Nehru for the partition and said Jinnah was "demonised". Gujarat had also banned the book for its critical reference to Sardar Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was then the state's chief minister. Singh, never a favourite of the party hardliners, was expelled from the party. Advani later played a key role in admitting him back into the party. BJP leaders believe that praise for Jinnah by leaders like Advani and Singh underlined their discomfort with the party's hardline image as they believed that it affected the party's adversely in elections. Under Modi and Amit Shah, the BJP is unambiguous and unapologetic about its stand on Jinnah, that he was the man responsible for India's division. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ongoing turf-war between the and the executive over the appointment of judges in the higher today witnessed an open showdown in the with the Centre taking the Collegium head on for recommending few names to fill up huge vacancies in the high courts. The apex court also hit out at the Centre for keeping the names recommended by the Collegium pending. "Tell us, how many names (recommended by the Collegium) are pending with you," a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal. When the AG said "I will have to find out", the bench retorted "when it comes to the government, you say 'we will find out'". The strong remarks by the bench came after Venugopal said though the court was dealing with a matter relating to the vacancy of judges in the high courts of Manipur, and Tripura, the fact was that the Collegium has been recommending only three names for high courts where the vacancy was for 40 judges. "The Collegium will have to see the broad picture and recommend more names," the AG said, adding, "some high courts have 40 vacancies and recommendation of the Collegium is only for three. And the is being told that we are tardy in filing up the vacancy". "If there is no Collegium recommendation, nothing can be done," Venugopal said. The bench then reminded the that they have to make the appointments. The Collegium had on April 19 recommended to the Centre for appointing of Justice M Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar as the chief justices of the High Court and High Court respectively, which have not yet been cleared. During the hearing, Venugopal said the issues related to Justice Sudhakar and Justice Yaqoob Mir would be dealt with and orders would be issued "shortly". "What shortly? 'Shortly' could be three months," the bench reacted. On April 17, while hearing a petition filed by a man seeking transfer of his case from High Court to Gauhati High Court, the apex court had noted that the situation in the high courts in North-East states like Manipur, and was "critical" due to the vacancy of judges there. It had noted that High Court had only two judges against a sanctioned strength of seven, Meghalaya High Court had one judge against the sanctioned strength of four, while High Court had two judges against sanctioned strength of four. The top court's remarks assume significance as the Centre, after almost three months of Collegium's recommendation, returned for reconsideration the file of Uttarakhand High Court K M Joseph for elevation as an apex court judge. The AG during his arguments also referred to the Collegium resolution of March 6 relating to the appointment of Justice Songkhupchung Serto, an additional judge of Manipur High Court who was functioning on transfer in the Gauhati High Court, as a permanent judge. In this resolution, the Collegium had recommended that Justice Serto be appointed as a permanent judge of the Manipur High Court and would continue to function in Gauhati High Court. Venugopal referred to the resolution and said it was "very strange" that Justice Serto should continue to function from the Gauhati High Court. "That time, only two judges were there in Manipur High Court. It should not have been said that he (Justice Serto) would continue in Gauhati High Court. It was necessary to bring him back to Manipur High Court," he said. To this, the bench observed, "may be the Collegium does not want to get him back to Manipur. We do not know". The court then told the AG that it was not only a problem in the Manipur High Court as the situation was similar in the high courts of Meghalaya and Venugopal said he had inquired about Manipur High Court and once Justice Sudhakar goes there, the high court would have three judges and problem will be solved. "People from the Northeast, what are they supposed to do? They come to before us, to say that please transfer our case to other high courts. They spend money for this," the bench observed. The AG then said the Collegium should recommend more names for filing up the vacancies. When Venugopal said the recommendation related to Justice Mir for Meghalaya High Court was being processed, the bench said, "once the goes there, the and the other judge may recommend somebody who can be made the third judge there". The bench asked the Attorney General to file an affidavit in 10 days regarding the vacancies in high courts of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura. Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal has been appointed as the acting chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after incumbent chief justice Shivax Jal Vazifdar demitted office at midnight upon his retirement. The Law Ministry issued a notification late last night appointing Justice Mittal as the acting chief justice with effect from May 4. A recommendation of the Supreme Court collegium proposing the name of Justice Krishna Murari, senior-most judge of the Allahabad high court after the chief justice, to head the Punjab and Haryana High Court is pending before the Centre. Registrar (Judicial) of the Punjab and Haryana high court wrote to Justice Vazifdar last evening that there has been no communication from the Law Ministry about officiating chief justice to take charge with effect from May 4 even at 7.30 PM and it could create problems in allocating cases. Justice Vazifdar purportedly said he would not be able to decide on the roster after his retirement and the senior-most judge should be consulted in this regard. Late last night, the Law Ministry issued the notification appointing the acting chief justice. On April 19, the Supreme Court collegium had recommended the name of Justice Krishna Murari to head the Punjab and Haryana High Court. If the government agrees with the recommendation of the collegium, Justice Krishna Murari would head the Punjab and Haryana HC in the coming days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Narayani Devi, whose son is accused of killing a woman officer leading a demolition drive against illegal construction, began her day early today, digging deep into the rubble of the guesthouse named after her to try and salvage what she could. A day after her son Vijay Singh Thakur was arrested on charges of killing assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma, the owner of the Narayani Guest House, a part of which is being demolished, was stoic, her face giving away little as officials and police kept hawk-eyed vigil on the site that has become the cynosure of national attention. The court ordered demolition work of two of the four floors of the guesthouse, on the busy Dharampur-Kasauli road, is being carried out by different civil agencies of the Himachal Pradesh government under the careful watch of the Himachal Pradesh police, including commandos. The slender elderly woman, dressed in a salwar kameez and wearing slippers, rifled through the debris of plywood, brick and mortar, picking up pieces of her life as it were, stopping occasionally to tell those engaged in bringing down the floors to be careful. Narayani Devi had earlier said her son had lost his mental balance as he couldn't see their guesthouse being demolished. Thakur was arrested in Mathura yesterday in a joint operation by the police in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. He allegedly fired and killed Sharma, who was leading a demolition drive against illegal construction and had reached the Narayani Guest House in Kasauli, on Tuesday. Most of those in the neighbourhood where the shooting incident took place described Thakur, a government employee, as a man who kept a low-profile and helped his mother run the guesthouse. "We were shocked when we heard that Vijay Singh had killed a lady officer. He is an educated person who was also known for his good writing skills. He would take a bus to Shimla from Dharampur to reach his office and was polite and courteous with everyone," said a local who owns a juice shop. The Supreme Court had on April 17 ordered the state government to demolish unauthorised structures in several hotels and guesthouses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan district. Four teams were constituted by the authorities to carry out the work. Yesterday, the apex court said the "unfortunate death" of the woman government official was the result of "non-implementation of the law". Seeking the status of investigation in the case, it directed the Himachal Pradesh government to apprise it about the steps taken to ensure that no unauthorised constructions were carried out in the entire state. It also asked the state to inform it about the status of implementation of the order regarding demolition of unauthorised constructions in 13 hotels at Kasauli. Today, teams from different government departments, including Revenue, PWD, Electricity Department, Forests and Irrigation and Public Health, were engaged in the task of bringing down illegal structures with police personnel being deployed outside each building. Several hotel and guesthouse owners said they have decided to bring down unauthorised constructions on their premises. Aman, the manager of Hotel Whispering Winds, told PTI that they had decided to voluntarily demolish a portion of the hotel. Giving details, officials said unauthorised construction in four hotels and guest houses in Sanawar in the area had been demolished. A hotel on the Dharampur-Kasauli road had allegedly built several rooms without permission and most of the structure was being brought down. According to norms, only three storeys plus one for parking is admissible, but several hotels have openly violated the norms by constructing four to eight storeys. The issue has inevitably acquired political overtones. Attacking the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh over alleged poor law and order situation, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has said the murder of a lady officer at Kasauli had generated fear among law enforcing employees. He alleged that the crime graph had gone up since the BJP came to power in December last year. Hitting out at opposition parties, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the opposition should refrain from politicising the Kasauli incident. Unauthorised constructions in the area were old, he said, taking a potshot at rival Congress, which earlier ruled the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah today mocked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and said that his party was "daydreaming" of winning the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls slated for later this year. He said that the state was a "fortress" of the BJP where the party's government and organisation had stood their ground, claiming that his party would win in 2018 as well as 2023. Hitting out at Gandhi, Shah said, "I heard the statement of Rahul baba that his party is going to form the government in Madhya Pradesh. I wanted to know on what basis his party is going to form the government." He said,"The Congress is daydreaming about forming the government. Madhya Pradesh is a fortress of the BJP. Our government and the party organisation have firmly stood their ground in the state.". The BJP chief said that since his party came to power at the Centre in 2014, it had gone on to form governments in 14 states. "The Congress was talking about anti-incumbency in the state in 2013 but there was no such thing. The BJP will form the government (in MP) in 2018 and 2023 as well," he told a rally at the BHEL Dussehra Maidan here. Exuding confidence about the continuation of this winning streak in Karnataka as well, Shah asked party workers to keep crackers ready for May 15, when results of the Assembly polls in the southern state would be announced. Karnataka goes to the polls on May 12. He also claimed that while the BJP represented the farmers, the poor, tribals and the downtrodden, the Congress had been relying on "raja maharajas", apparently referring to Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Singh, both belonging to erstwhile royal families. "This is a fight with big people and corporate houses," Shah said. Without taking the name newly appointed chief of the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress, Kamal Nath, he said that the Congress had made "a favourite of the corporate houses" its state president. He did not also name Chhindwara and Guna Lok Sabha seats - won by former Union ministers Kamal Nath and Scindia respectively, while asking party workers to ensure that the BJP wins all the Assembly segments in these two seats. "There are two areas where the BJP has been facing problems. The workers should ensure victory in every (Assembly) seat in these two areas (Lok Sabha seats)." he said. He claimed the BJP win all 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state, besides a "bigger" win in the Assembly polls. Lauding the BJP government in the state, the party chief said that work done by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was an example in the country's history, as a BIMARU state had now become a developing state. "BIMARU" is an acronym for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, and used to describe the low levels of socio-economic development there. He exhorted party workers to "foil attempts by the Congress to ramp up caste divisions". Shah claimed that the Congress came to power to enjoy while the BJP formed governments to serve the people. Today's gathering, termed the "Pradesh Stariya Vistarit Baithak" (state-level extended meeting), was attended by over 5,000 party functionaries, the BJP said. The chief minister, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Thawarchand Gehlot and Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has given the green signal to Southern Railways to take possession of a 3.9-acre property worth more than Rs 100 crore in Velacherry for the Mass Rapid Transit System. In an interim order recently, the court permitted the railways to remove encroachments, including a fish market, which was constructed on 20 cents. Ninety seven people under the banner of Annai Indira Gandhi Hut Dwellers Welfare Association had challenged a single judge order. On March 21, Justice S Vaidyanathan had addressed the 97 people not as encroachers but land-grabbers and directed the government to remove encroachments on 4.8 acres and hand over the property to the southern railways to be used for the MRTS. Railway authorities made repeated attempts for removing the encroachments with the help of revenue authorities but in vain. Meanwhile, the association challenged the single judge order. When the appeal came up, counsel for the railways disputed the ownership claim of the 97 people. The counsel submitted that as an interim arrangement, the railways may be permitted to remove encroachments in 3.9 acres, excluding 97 cents occupied by the association, but including the fish market. As the association said they did not have any grievance in the railways removing encroachments in the remaining 3.9 acres, a division bench of Justices R Subbaiah and PD Audikesavalu passed the interim order permitting the railway to go ahead with the removal of encroachments. The matter dates back to 1992. With the Southern Railway requisitioning the land for the MRTS project, the government had, on December 29, 2003, passed an order, cancelling a 1992 government order for allotment of one cent each to the 97 people and allotted the property to the railways. Aggrieved by the order, they had challenged it in the high court. On June 30, 2004, the court had passed an interim order, staying the eviction of the encroachers. In 2017, the case was taken up for hearing by Justice Vaidyanathan, who ordered inspection of the entire property by a team led by the collector. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 29-year-old man was arrested from Jharkhand for allegedly killing his live-in partner and her minor son in southeast Delhi's Okhla area, police said. The accused allegedly killed the woman since he suspected her of infidelity, they said. On April 23, the accused purchased a bottle of liquor and after reaching home, he offered her drink. When she lost consciousness, he allegedly stabbed her in the neck and slit her throat. Later, he also silt the throat of the minor boy who was sleeping, police said. Police were informed about a foul smell emanating from the first floor of a house on April 25. The police team broke open the lock and found two decomposed bodies of a woman aged about 30-32 years and a boy aged around 8-10 years, they said. During inquiry from the landlord of the house, it was revealed that the woman and her son were living in the house along with the man from the last 8-10 months, they said. The landlord told police that they were introverts and were not in touch with other people in the neighbourhood, police said. The shanty of the victims was scanned and a school belt was found there. The police team went to the school at Tughlakabad Extension and the school was opened. The admission form of the child was retrieved from the school and on the basis of it, the deceased were identified, they said. In order to nab the accused, a team was sent to West Bengal but he was not found at his native village in Malda. On the basis of information gathered, a raid was conducted in the remote area of Sahibganj, Jharkhand and he was nabbed on April 29 from the border of Jharkhand and West Bengal, police said. During interrogation, the man told police that around seven years ago, the woman's husband had died in his village and after that she came to Delhi with her son, they said. She used to work as a maid and lived in a shanty in Okhla. About 7-8 months ago, he met the woman and they started living together as husband and wife, Chinmoy Biswal, deputy commissioner of police (Southeast), said. Even in the school record of the boy, the man's photo was there in the column for the father's picture, police said. The couple were having issues since he suspected her of being friendly with other men. He also said that he did not like her dominating nature, they said. He wanted to teach her a lesson and made a plan to kill her, the official said. After killing the duo, he ran away to West Bengal. The knife and the clothes have been recovered, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was arrested from here for withdrawing money from his dead mother's bank account after submitting fake life certificate to the bank, police said today. The manager of a public sector bank in Hooghly district lodged a police complaint alleging that Nandan Mitra was submitting fake life certificate of his dead mother Sarathi Mitra and withdrawing money from her bank account, the police said. Nandan's mother a retired school teacher had died in 2010 but he was submitting fake life support to the bank and withdrawing money from her account, they said. Every year in the month of November a pensioner has to submit a life certificate to the bank. Based on the complaint lodged by the bank, Nandan was arrested from his Goaltuli residence here, police said, adding further investigations were on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Uttar Pradesh minister today defended her party leaders visiting Dalit homes and having dinner there, saying they do so braving "mosquito bites the whole night", even as the ruling party's outreach programme faces criticism from opposition -- and some BJP leaders as well. Basic Education Minister Anupama Jaiswal said BJP leaders and ministers are visiting Dalit houses in villages to ensure the benefits of government schemes reached the poorest sections of society. She said the leaders inform them about government programmes and schemes so that they can get benefit from them. "The ministers have to face mosquito bites the whole night, still they visit the villages," she said. If a minister gets an opportunity to hold two chaupals (village meetings), he wants to take four more such meetings, she added. "They face mosquito bites the whole night still they visit and feel happy about it," Jaiswal said. The minister's comments came even as the ruling party's Dalit, OBC outreach programme faces criticism from opposition Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and some BJP leaders, including MP Udit Raj. Yesterday, Raj had said the Dalit outreach programme would not bring any electoral gains to the party, rather it would make Dalits feel "inferior". "Having nightstay 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. Earlier this week, a controversy erupted after UP government minister Suresh Rana reportedly brought with him his own food and water at a dinner hosted at a Dalit household in Aligarh. Rana had rejected the allegation, saying, "The food was prepared in the village, by the villagers themselves." BJP MP Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phoole, however, had said politicians rushing to Dalit households to have dinner with them but ordering food, utensils and even waiters from outside is an "insult" to the people belonging to the weaker sections. "I disagree with the trend of politicians going to Dalits' homes. The father of our Constitution Dr Bhimrao 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 had told PTI. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently spent one night each in Amroha and Pratapgarh and held "chaupal" to take feedback on government schemes. He had his dinner at a Dalit house, which was criticised by opposition Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). "How can the BJP wish away the anger and bad name it has earned by going all out to crush their voice during the 'Bharat Bandh' on April 2 and over its stand on dilution of the SC/ST Act...these programmes are merely an effort to somehow divert attention and a drama to show they are very concerned about Dalit issues," a BSP leader had said reacting the CM's visit. BSP supremo Mayawati has also questioned the purpose of having dinner with Dalit families when the government has been "adopting anti-Dalit policies". "First Congress leaders dined at the homes of Dalits and announced it to the world. Now, the BJP is walking its footsteps. While people think that they are eating food cooked by Dalits, the reality is that it is prepared by upper castes in their own homes," she had claimed after Yogi Adityanath's Pratapgarh visit. She has accused the BJP of "totally ignoring" the welfare of Dalits, adivasis, OBCs and upper caste poor and said that organising dinners was putting them in further trouble. "They do not care about the Dalit and backward classes but when elections come, they go for photo-ops and drama. The Congress and the BJP have proved to be two sides of the same coin. People won't be fooled, they know the truth," the BSP supremo had stated. The Dalits constitute around 18 to 20 per cent of Uttar Pradesh's voting population and are a force to reckon with during elections. The BSP is seeking to regain its lost ground, with the 2019 parliamentary elections barely few months away. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A minor girl was allegedly raped by three teenagers at Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, a police official said today. Acting on a complaint filed by the 17-year-old victim, the police registered a case against the three boys, all below 18 years of age, he said. The complainant told police that she was forcibly picked up by the three teenagers in a car when she had gone to the market. The accused were identified as Naveen, Sonu and Veer Singh, the official said, adding that they were arrested. Further investigation is underway, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, his third visit to the Himalayan state since he took over the reins of the government in 2014, the Ministry of External Affairs today said. This is also the first high-level visit from India since the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Nepal, the MEA said in a statement. Modi's visit to Nepal comes a little more than a month after Prime Minister Oli visited India. Oli had invited Modi to his country. During Oli's visit, 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". Oli's visit was seen as an attempt to repair Nepal's ties with India. In 2016, Oli had publicly criticised India for allegedly 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. Yesterday, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Indian and Nepalese sides are working on various aspects of Modi's visit. During the visit, besides holding talks with Oli, Modi will call on the President and the Vice President of Nepal, and interact with senior leaders of various political parties of Nepal. Modi will also be visiting the historic cities of Janakpur and Muktinath, apart from engagements in Kathmandu. "The state visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal, and will enable leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and to strengthen cooperation in all areas of age-old, multi-faceted and expanding partnership between the two countries," the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind today stressed the need to reform medical education and create room for more colleges and medical graduates to increase the number of healthcare professionals in the country. In his address at the centenary celebrations of 'Medical Education Programme of Christian Medical College' here, Kovind said the country was experiencing a "transition", which is associated with multiple challenges in disease control that have to be managed simultaneously. While the country has 1.47 million undergraduate engineering seats, there were only 67,352 such medical seats, he said. About 20 per cent of those medical seats were added in the past four years, he said, adding "as a country and a system, we need to address this gap quickly". "There is urgent need to do this... and to reform medical education so as to create room for more colleges and more medical graduates," he said. The President, on a two-day official visit to Tamil Nadu, said "countries go through epidemiological transitions" as societies evolve, economies develop and population patterns change. He said India, too, was experiencing such a transition and that it was marked by three challenges in disease control which have to be managed simultaneously. First, India has to reduce maternal and infant mortality as well as communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, vector-borne diseases like malaria, water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoeal diseases, and vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and tetanus, he said. Further, the country has to "find an answer" to the rise in non-communicable or lifestyle diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. "And finally, we need to develop systems to detect and cope with new and re-emerging infectious diseases like HIV, avian flu and H1N1 influenza," he said. In a globalised world, with people travelling in and out of India in larger numbers, "a few small cases can very quickly scale up into a large outbreak," he added. "Despite the strides we have taken as a country, there remain regional, rural-urban and gender and community imbalances in terms of health provision," he said. "Without adequately addressing these, we cannot rest," Kovind said. The President lauded the CMC, saying it ranked third among all medical colleges in India as per the Human Resource Development Ministry. He also recalled the contributions of CMC founder, Ida Sophia Scudder, saying she devoted her life to improving healthcare in India during the early 20th century when diseases like "cholera, smallpox and polio" and "several epidemics and diseases were rampant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The draft of the new telecom policy released by the government indicates it may usher in a new era for India's communications sector with a forward-looking and technology-friendly regulatory environment, Ficci said today. The draft, dubbed the 'National Digital Communications Policy 2018', was unveiled on May 1. It aims to provide broadband coverage at 50 megabit per second to every citizen, attract USD 100 billion investment in the sector and create 40 lakh jobs by 2022. In a statement, Ficci said it hopes that the policy will be ready for announcement by the monsoon session of Parliament this year. "The draft Policy is a consultation-based, well-considered document which addresses nearly all issues in the communications sector, such as licensing and regulatory reforms, reduction of costs, review of Universal Service Obligation Fund, augmentation of telecom infrastructure, new technologies such as 5G, IoT and AI etc," Ficci said. The chamber observed that the draft policy is a timely step towards a rethink on the overall development and direction of the sector, keeping in mind the interest of the Indian citizen, considering the rapidly changing landscape of the country's information and communication technology sector. The draft policy proposes to address woes of the debt ridden telecom sector by reviewing licence fees, spectrum usage charges and universal service obligation fund levy, all of which add to cost of telecom services, under the new policy for enhancing ease of doing business in the sector. Ficci said it was invited to provide inputs specifically in the area of 'licensing reforms' and the Ficci-ICT and Digital Economy Committee engaged in a six-month process with members to submit detailed recommendations in January 2018. The chamber said it will work through its members to join deliberations and provide further inputs as the policy is brought to its final form. The draft policy proposes to rationalise taxes and levies on digital communications equipment, infrastructure and services. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The East Champaran district administration in Bihar today made it clear that no one was killed when a Delhi-bound bus fell into a 20-feet deep pit and burst into flames, saying all those on board have been accounted for. Shortly after the accident at 5 pm yesterday, state Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav had said that there was apprehension of more than 20 people having been killed. In a tweet a couple of hours later, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had said the casualty figure might go up to 24 or more. East Champaran District Magistrate Raman Kumar today said that no one died in the accident and that a total of 13 passengers, who had boarded the bus from its starting point Muzaffarpur, were undergoing treatment for injuries. Secretary State Disaster Management department Pratyay Amrit also said no one was killed in the mishap that occurred on National Highway 28, about 30 km from Motihari town and over 120 km from here. "All the 13 passengers have been identified. They have sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment," the district magistrate told PTI over phone. "Bus driver Vijendra Kumar and helper Ratan are missing. But detailed investigations have been conducted by forensic experts and personnel of the disaster management department at the site of the mishap and it is unlikely that either of them has died," he added. Inspector General of Police, Muzaffarpur Zone, Sunil Kumar said that the survivors were identified on the basis of inputs provided by Saroj Singh, booking agent of the bus operator who was yesterday questioned by the police and later released. The district magistrate said, "We have lodged an FIR in connection with the accident, naming both the driver and the helper who apparently fled. Their details have been obtained and they are likely to be traced soon,." The bus had skidded off NH-28 in Belwa village under Kotwa police station area. Locals claimed that the driver had taken a sharp turn on the highway while trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle after which the air-conditioned bus fell into the pit and burst into flames. National Highway 28 connects Barauni in Bihar with Lucknow. Altogether 32 persons had booked their seats on the bus. While 13 people boarded it at Muzaffarpur, the others were scheduled get on later at Gopalganj. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The notice for impeachment of the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra was "unwarranted" and an assault on the judiciary, the Bar Association of India (BAI) said today. Stressing on the need to bring transparency in the judiciary, the laywers' body passed a resolution to improve judicial governance in the backdrop of the public scrutiny faced by Supreme Court judges. We (BAI executive committee) believe that the motion for impeachment of the Chief Justice of India, considering the facts and circumstances, was unwarranted, and was an assault on the institution of Indian judiciary," BAI President Lalit Bhasin said in a press release today. The resolution said apex court judges should collectively establish an institutional structure for the internal governance of judiciary. The impeachment notice submitted by seven opposition parties led by the Congress last month was rejected by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. Bhasin said, "There is a dire need to bring transparency in the Indian judiciary to improve judicial governance. The association recommends that the equal participation of the Supreme Court and its judges will be essential to create an institutional mechanism that streamlines the judiciary's governance." The resolution said that to create an environment of collegiality, the apex court judges should attend a mutual confidence building retreat to deliberate upon the issues in a cordial environment. "The collegium system cannot be and should never be a substitute for the court making key decisions affecting its functioning through the collectivity of judiciary which is represented by the full court," it said, adding that the Chief Justice will remain the Master of the Roster. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal police today arrested one more person involved in supply of rotten meat in the city and neighbouring areas after processing the flesh of carcasses collected from dumping grounds, a senior police officer said. Shiekh Sikander, the alleged linkman, was arrested from his hideout in Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas district by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the racket. The police had earlier arrested kingpin Biswanath Garai (52), a resident of Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas, from near Garia railway station. So far 12 people have been arrested, including a leader of a political outfit, in connection with the case. Sikander used to collect meat from carcasses left in dumping grounds in Madhyamgram and areas around the Netaji Subhas Chandra International Airport, the officer said, adding that he was sent to six days of police custody by a local court here. "This person used to collect meat of the dead animals from dumping grounds and supplied them to the prime accused, Biswanath Garai, for his Narkeldanga storage and to Sarafat Hossain in Kakinara (in North 24 Parganas district). We are questioning him to find out who else is involved in this racket," the officer said. The police also conducted raids at different places in the city and tried to net agents through whom Sikander used to run his business. The state 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. The municipal authorities today conducted raids in some hotels and restaurants at Sheoraphuli and Baidyabati in Hooghly district and collected samples of meat served by them, they said. The municipal authorities raided the hotels and restaurants after receiving complaints of stale biryani and rotten meat served by them, the officials said, adding that the food samples were later sent for tests. Earlier, the civic authorities had conducted raids at hotels and restaurants in Arambagh, Tarakeswar, Serampore and Dankuni in Hooghly district, they added. 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of Palestinians began gathering on the Gaza border today for the sixth week of protests in which dozens have already been killed by Israeli fire. At a protest camp east of Gaza City, several hundred people prepared for demonstrations expected to gain momentum in the mid-afternoon following the main weekly Muslim prayers. Organisers said part of today's plans included attempting to fly dozens of kites, some carrying Molotov cocktails, over the border fence. A 32-year-old man wearing a camouflage hat with his face masked, a traditional keffiyeh scarf around his neck, said they hoped to fly around 50 kites. "We hope to return back to our land, which is occupied," said the man who declined to give his name. "I'm not afraid, only of Allah." Forty-nine Palestinians have been killed since protests and clashes began along the Gaza border on March 30 and hundreds of others have been wounded from gunfire. Israel says it only opens fire when necessary to stop infiltrations, damage to the fence and attacks. In central Gaza, dozens were gathering east of the Bureij refugee camp. Youths met behind a series of bunkers reinforced with sandbags in the area leading up to the border with Israel, while older demonstrators remained further back at protest tents. Piles of dozens of tyres were also being prepared to burn later in the day. A group of Palestinian youths threw stones in the direction of Israeli soldiers, who had taken up position some 50 metres away on the other side of the fence. A Guy Fawkes mask strapped to his belt and a Palestinian flag around his neck, Abdullah Issa, 22, said they hoped to send dozens of kites with Molotov cocktails over the fence. "We will put Molotov cocktails on the Israeli farms," Issa said. "They have no solution for the kites." Israeli media have in recent days reported significant damage to farms due to kite-flown Molotov cocktails, though the devices face difficult odds in making it across the fence while still lit. Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs Gaza and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of seeking to use the weekly protests as a cover to carry out violence. No Israelis have been hurt and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no danger to soldiers. The military has faced international criticism over its use of live fire, with the United Nations and European Union calling for an independent investigation rejected by Israel. Demonstrators are demanding the right to return to their homes seized by Israel in 1948, which Israel argues would effectively spell the end of their country. The protests are due to continue until mid-May and grow in the run-up to the planned move of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14. The move has deeply angered the Palestinians, who see the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of the city as the capital of their future state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The controversial 'Patthalgadi movement' which started in tribal areas of neighbouring Jharkhand has spread to some tribal pockets in northern Chhattisgarh, a police official said today. Eight people, including a former IAS officer, have been arrested in connection with the movement in Chhattisgarh so far, the officer told PTI. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has termed the movement a conspiracy to provoke the tribal population in the election year. The main feature of the movement is placing of huge stones or plaques, with messages declaring "sovereignty" of the village body or 'gram sabha' written on them, outside the village. A police official from Jashpur district said that Joseph Tigga, a former ONGC employee, and H P Kindo, a retired IAS officer, gathered tribal people of the area and organised a 'gram sabha' at Bachhraon village on April 22. Plaques, painted in green and white, were put up outside the village, declaring the gram sabha as the only "sovereign authority" under the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension of Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996. The text inscribed on the plaques included excerpts from the PESA and declaration of "self rule" and "control" over the area, the police official said. Further, the slogans on the plaques also said that laws enacted by Parliament are not applicable in the scheduled areas where the gram sabha is supreme, he said. During the event, Tigga and Kindo allegedly said the gram sabha had the powers to prohibit a government or police officials from entering the village. The incident came to light when the local media reported it, the police officer said. There was a clash in two groups on April 28 over this issue in Butunga village, and when district officials and police reached there, some villagers allegedly gheraoed them and pelted stones at their vehicles, he said. "So far eight persons, including Kindo and Tigga, have been arrested in this connection under the Bagicha and Narayanpur police stations area of the district," Jashpur Superintendent of Police Prashant Singh Thakur told PTI. Kindo and Tigga were accused of misinterpreting the Constitution and provoking tribal people against the administration, he added. Meanwhile, Patron of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj (an umbrella body of tribal groups) Arvind Netam said the tribal population have been feeling cheated because the laws enacted to protect their interests have not been implemented properly. "Patthalgadi programmes had been frequently held in the villages of the scheduled areas, which has been a tradition there. Huge stones are put up outside the village where they declare the rights and powers of the gram sabha," Netam, a former MP, said. PESA has not been implemented effectively. Lands in the scheduled area are given to corporate firms. This leads to an "uprising to fight for their rights" but it should be under the ambit of the law, Netam said. Chief Minister Raman Singh termed the movement as "unconstitutional" and said it was a conspiracy hatched in view of the coming assembly election in the state. "How can anyone be prohibited from entering a village in any part of the country? How can anybody try and suppress the democracy," the chief minister said, speaking to reporters in Raigarh district yesterday. "It was a conspiracy in view of the election (due by this year-end). There were the forces involved in encouraging conversions (behind the movement)," Singh said. Opposition Congress has constituted a 17-member committee to ascertain the situation in the area. "The government has failed to discharge its constitutional duty in scheduled areas, which has resulted in these uprisings," state Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Tirvedi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For once the Chinese mandarins were caught napping by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his informal summit with President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, China's Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui revealed today. During his first one-on-one meeting with President Xi at the Hubei Provincial Museum, Prime Minister Modi told his host that this was his second visit to Hubei province, surprising the Chinese officials, who otherwise keep a track of all bilateral and official visits minutely. "We didn't know that Prime Minister Modi had visited Wuhan earlier," Luo told the participants of a seminar on the two-day informal summit between the leaders of India and China held in Wuhan city from April 27. Modi told Xi that when he was the Gujarat chief minister, he had an opportunity to visit central China's Hubei Province on a study tour to learn about the massive Three Gorges Dam. Modi was the Gujarat chief minister from October 2001 to May 2014 "The speed with which you constructed this dam and its scale inspired me. So I came on a study tour and spent a day at the dam," Modi had told Xi. As the world's largest hydropower project, the Three Gorges project is a multifunctional water control system on the mighty Yangtze river. It comprises a dam stretching 2,309 meters long and 185 meters high, 32 hydropower turbo-generators, a five-tier ship lock and ship lift system. Luo said China took special care to provide an enabling and comfortable environment for Prime Minister Modi in Wuhan, with the ambassador himself carrying with him table clothes from Gujarat and Assam tea for the visiting dignitary. While sharing some of the efforts made by the Chinese leadership to make Prime Minister Modi feel at home in the central Chinese city, over 1,000 km from Beijing, Luo said President Xi has met the Indian premier 13 times in the last five years of his first term. Luo said Chinese officials came to know that Prime Minister Modi liked table clothes from Gujarat. "So we decided to use them during the informal summit." "We didn't serve Chinese tea to Prime Minister Modi but Assam tea," he said. During the summit, the two leaders agreed to build on the rich cultures of the two great oriental civilisations and harness the rich human resources of their combined population of 2.6 billion. President Xi and Prime Minister Modi agreed to step up cultural exchanges by promoting people-to-people links and unleashing the vitality of the two emerging economies. For this, the two sides have agreed to establish a high-level cultural and people-to-people exchange mechanism, the envoy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "hypes his achievements" through surgical strike but is "not concerned" about the miseries of people affected by cross-LoC shelling which have become "routine" since the September 2016 raids. "We have really fallen to bad times. While the Prime Minister goes on to hype his achievements through surgical strike, he is not trying to feel concerned about the miseries of the people at borders in Jammu and Kashmir, through shelling which have become a routine since the surgical strike," Soz said in a statement here. Referring to the civilian killings in Kashmir, the former union minister lashed out at the ruling PDP, saying the party cannot keep just issuing statements. "Yes, Kashmir is experiencing a heart-breaking cycle of killings and these killings should stop forthwith," he said. Soz said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti should lead a delegation and take up this matter with the Prime Minister. "(It should be) followed by a decisive dialogue with the leadership in Kashmir, including the Hurriyat for resolving the political dispute, at the earliest," he said. "The first task, before the Chief Minister should be that before visiting Srinagar with the so-called Darbar-Move, she should travel to Delhi and speak to PM Modi that any more bloodshed in Kashmir is not acceptable to her. She can give a definite message that a ceasefire should be declared forthwith, followed by a decisive dialogue, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bhaskar Kalita, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bordumsa police station in Tinsukia district of Assam, was killed in an encounter with ULFA (Independent) militants along the interstate boundary with Arunachal Pradesh today, a top Assam Police official said in Guwahati. On receiving information about the presence of ULFA(I) extremists in a house near Bordumsa, Assam Police and Cobra Battalion of CRPF, led by Bhaskar Kalita, raided the area, Additional Director General of Police (Special Branch) Pallav Bhattacharyya told PTI tonight. With the security forces cordoning off the area, the insurgents opened fire at them and in the exchange of bullets the OC was killed, Bhattacharyya said. Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) of Eastern Range R P Meena rushed from his base in Jorhat to the site, along with Tinsukia district Superintendent of Police and other senior officials, he said. Asked about reported death of two ULFA ultras in the encounter and two women cadres being apprehended, the ADGP said, "We have no such information as of now... Only after the officials reach the site, we will know. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu today stressed on the need to promote the textile industry to give a boost to the manufacturing sector, as he claimed that the sector contributes only 16 per cent to the country's GDP at present. Prabhu said he is holding talks with various countries to explore new markets for Indian fabrics, garments and apparels in order to boost exports, as he said the industry is working in 'sub-optimal' level for its over-dependence on the European Union and the US for exports. "Contribution of manufacturing sector is only 16 per cent to our economy. It is also a fact that the textile sector is a major player in that contribution. But, when only 16 per cent of our GDP comes from manufacturing, it is not enough for a sustainable economy. Thus, it is necessary to scale up that contribution," said Prabhu. He was speaking here today at the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 'Farm to Fashion - Indian Textile Global Summit 2018', organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) as well as Maskati Cloth Market Mahajan. "We mainly export to the US and Europe. And, when the season goes away in those markets, we do not have enough orders, as we don't have markets in other parts of the world. Garment and apparel industry is working in sub-optimal level. They don't work for all the 12 months. "Things can change if we get orders, and that is why we are exploring new markets. We are talking to Latin American countries to explore new markets for our products. We are also working on making Khadi as globally accepted garment. We are also exploring Australia as a potential market," Prabhu said. The minister added that the Centre is also encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in the textile sector, which according to Prabhu has the potential to create "millions of jobs". On the occasion, GCCI president Shailesh Patwari urged the Central government to consider implementing a uniform textile policy across the country in line with GST. "Recently, Maharashtra announced its textile policy, under which, the state government is offering subsidies. We believe that there should be only one policy across the country. Otherwise textile units will shut down here and shift to Maharashtra," he said. "Just like the GST, dubbed as one nation-one tax, there should be a uniform policy not just for the textile industry, but for all the sectors. The government should think about 'one nation policy' for all the sectors," he added. Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani exuded confidence that the textile sector is capable of strengthening rural economy and create large-scale employment. Rupani added that his government is working towards building robust infrastructure to ensure that cotton produced by farmers gets consumed by the garment industry in the state, saving time and energy to export it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Final touches are being given to the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, an official said today. Security has been stepped up in Mustang district, home to famous Hindu pilgrimage site Muktinath, which Modi is scheduled to pay a visit. Modi will arrive in Muktinath from Janakpur, famous for Janaki Temple, from Bihar's capital Patna on May 11. From Muktinath he will fly to Kathmandu on the same day. "Security has been tightened throughout the district with the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, the Nepal Army and the National Investigation Department conducting security surveillance," Chief District Officer Sishir Poudel said. Arrangements have also been made for emergency medical service while the 76-km Beni-Jomsom road which is otherwise closed for eight hours daily for repair and maintenance has been opened for three days in view of Modi's visit, National Agency of Nepal reported. A team from India, including the officials of the Indian Army, arrived in Mustang on Wednesday to take stock of the security situation and the preparations for Modi's visit. Last month, a pressure cooker bomb went off outside an Indian consulate office in Nepal's Biratnagar, damaging the wall of the mission. Another blast happened at the office of a hydroelectricity project developed with the Indian assistance in the eastern part of the country. "There are two helipads near Muktinath and a third one is being constructed as an alternative," Poudel said. "Modi's visit to Muktinath is expected to further strengthen the Nepal-India relations at the people-to-people level and promote religious tourism," civil society leader Chandra Bahadur Thakali said. A committee has been formed under the coordination of Chhemchok Chheten Gurung, chairman of Bhragaon Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, to extend warm welcome to Modi. 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". After his talks with Oli, 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today asked the CBI and Delhi government to file a status report on a plea by Santosh Kumar Singh, who is serving life term for the rape and murder of law student Priyadarshini Mattoo in 1996, seeking parole to write LLM exams. Justice Mukta Gupta issued notice to the CBI and the state on Singh's plea in which he said that he be granted the relief for a week from May 19. The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 16. Advocate Avnish, appearing for the convict, said he was earlier granted the relief after which he surrendered and now his exams were going to start from May 19. CBI counsel Sanjeev Bhandari said Singh has been pursuing LLM, whose duration is of two years, for last four years and has not yet completed it. Earlier also Singh was granted parole to write exams. 25-year old Mattoo was raped and murdered in January 1996. Singh, a law student in Delhi University, was acquitted by the trial court in the case on December 3, 1999, but the Delhi High Court had on October 27, 2006 reversed the decision, holding him guilty of rape and murder. The high court had also awarded death penalty to him in the case. Singh, son of a former IPS officer, had challenged his conviction and death sentence awarded by the high court. In October 2010, the Supreme Court had upheld Singh's conviction, but reduced the death sentence to life imprisonment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against 15 people today in a case related to the killing of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader Ravinder Gosain in Punjab's Ludhiana in October last year. Gosain had just returned from an RSS shakha' when he was shot dead outside his house. The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Mohali. Those charge-sheeted by the agency include Ravipal, Pahad Singh, Parvez alias Farru, Malook Tomar, Harmeet Singh alias Ph.D (suspected to be in Pakistan), Gurjinder Singh alias Shastri (suspected to be in Italy), Gursharanbir Singh (suspected to be in the UK) and Gurjant Singh (suspected to be in Australia), the agency said in a statement. Hardeep Singh alias Shera, Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian, Dharminder Singh alias Guguni, Anil Kumar alias Kala, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, Amaninder Singh and Manpreet Singh alias Mani have also been charge-sheeted in the case, it said. During investigation, it was found that the killing of Gosain was part of a transnational conspiracy hatched by the senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force, the statement said. Eight incidents of targeted killing/attempted killing were executed as part of this conspiracy between January 2016 and October 2017 in Punjab. All the persons targeted belonged to certain communities and organisations, it said. The objective of the conspiracy was to destabilise the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive the fledgling terrorism in the state, the NIA said. "It was found that the conspiracy had its footprints in several countries including Pakistan, UK, Australia, France, Italy and the UAE. As part of the conspiracy, a large amount of funds were supplied through Italy, Australia and the UK to the perpetrators of the killings/attempted killings, viz. Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh. These funds were used by them to purchase weapons for executing the killings and other logistics," it said. The conspiracy included recruitment and training of Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh in Italy and the UAE respectively, the NIA said. Hardeep Singh is a permanent resident of Italy while Ramandeep Singh belongs to Ludhiana, it said. They were trained by Gursharanbir Singh, a UK national. Another UK national, Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been arrested in the case, was involved in the funding of the conspiracy, the probe agency said. "Day to day coordination of the conspiracy was done by Pakistan-based Harmeet Singh alias Ph.D. The charge sheet is based on evidence collected from oral, documentary, material and electronic sources. Besides, evidence has been sought from several other countries," it said. The accused have been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and the Arms Act, 1959. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" over alleged atrocities on Dalits, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused him of muzzling Dalit voice in Parliament. Modi, he alleged, was favouring a handful of industrialists and neglecting the weaker sections. "Modiji talks about (Baba Saheb) Ambedkar, but does not allow Kharge ji (Mallikarjun Kharge) to speak in Lok Sabha. "His men (saffron outfits) are crushing and beating up Dalits and tribals across the country, but Modiji does not utter a word," Gandhi told an election meeting here. The Congress chief's counter-attack came a day after Modi claimed at an election rally at Kalaburagi that the Congress did not make Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit, the chief minister of Karnataka even though he was projected for the top post during the 2013 polls. Kharge, the leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, had hit back at the prime minister, saying he does not need Modi's "crocodile tears" for Dalits or himself. "They killed Rohit Vemula and beat up Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and yet he remains silent," Gandhi, on his 8th visit to election-bound Karnataka, said. He said the Congress government in Karnataka was the only one in the country to have added half the money to the funds allocated by the Centre for the welfare of Dalits and tribals, and spent it on them. Gandhi alleged that the money the Modi government saved due to fall in international crude oil prices was given to 5-10 industrialists, instead of spending it for the welfare of weaker sections, Dalits and women. The Congress leader said even Modi acknowledged Karnataka's employment record which would improve further under the party government. The Congress, he said, would waive the loans of farmerswithin 10 days of coming to power at the Centre after the 2019 polls. He said the Congress government would also set up food processing plants to add value to agricultural products and benefit farmers. Voicing confidence about winning the Karnataka Assembly polls, he said the Congress would defeat BJP and Modi in subsequent elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan before forming the government at the Centre in 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Right-wing organisations today disrupted namaz at several places here today, police said. Police said they were present at the namaz sites and prevented any violence from taking place. Hindutva organisations have been trying to stop Friday prayers in Gurgaon over the last two weeks alleging that some people were trying to grab land in a bid to merge it with a mosque. There were disruptions to namaz at Wazirabad, Atul Kataria Chowk, Cyber Park, Bakhtawar Chowk and at South City, the police said. Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Kranti Dal, Gau Rakshak Dal and Shiv Sena arrived at the spots where people had assembled to offer Friday prayers. Ritu Raj, a member of a Hindutva organisation, claimed that they organised a havan at Wazirabad to stop the namaz. They allegedly shouted slogans like Jai Shri Ram and Radhe Radhe to disrupt the namaz. The Gurgaon Police spokesperson, Ravindra Kumar, said they received no complaint from any side. He said police will take further action once they receive a complaint. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) has asked the district magistrates and superintendents of police of various districts to prepare a comprehensive report on the categorisation of booths in their respective districts for the May 14 panchayat polls. According to SEC sources, the booths have been categorised as "super sensitive", "sensitive", "low sensitive" and "normal". The SEC, based on this categorisation, will ask the police to decide on deployment of security personnel in the booths. "We have asked the district administration to prepare a report on the categorisation of booths. The DMs and SPs will jointly prepare this report. We will get the report by early next week," said an SEC official who did not wish to be named. The SEC wants deployment of armed police personnel in every booth, he added. The SEC, earlier this week, had held a meeting with state home secretary, DGP and ADG (law and order) on security arrangement for the panchayat polls in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds has opened up about his struggles with "anxiety" and said he has been living with it for the most part of life. The 41-year-old actor made the admission in an interview with The New York Times where he was promoting his new film "Deadpool 2". "I have anxiety, I've always had anxiety. Both in the lighthearted 'I'm anxious about this' kind of thing, and I've been to the depths of the darker end of the spectrum, which is not fun," Reynold said. Reynolds also said that he went through a "real unhinged phase" in his 20s and "was partying and just trying to make myself vanish in some way". He also talked about the growing up with his father Jim Reynolds, a former police officer-turned-food wholesaler, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and called him "the stress dispensary in our house". "I became this young skin-covered micro manager. When you stress out kids, there's a weird paradox that happens because they're suddenly taking on things that aren't theirs to take on," Reynolds said. The actor also said that he has been doing press shows as the Deadpool as it helps him combat stress. "When the curtain opens, I turn on this knucklehead, and he kind of takes over and goes away again once I walk off set," he said. "That's that great self-defense mechanism. I figure if you're going to jump off a cliff, you might as well fly," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two investors have struck a deal to buy a majority stake in the iconic Plaza Hotel in the US for USD 600 million, in which the embattled Sahara Group led by Subrata Roy Sahara owns a 70 per cent stake, a media report has said. The report in the New York Times said that Shahal Khan, founder of the Dubai-based family office White City Ventures, and Kamran Hakim of the Hakim Organization, a major New York City landlord, have reached a deal to buy a majority share of the Plaza Hotel for USD 600 million. The deal is scheduled to close on June 25, it said. Sandeep Wadhwa, head of corporate finance at the Sahara Group, which owns a 70 per cent stake in the hotel, and Sant Singh Chatwal, a hotelier who owns the other five per cent being sold, confirmed the deal, the report said. Both men declined to comment further, citing confidentiality agreements, it said. The Sahara Group had been trying for a long time to sell the property, and last year, it hired brokerage firm Jones Lang LaSalle to carry out an auction of the property. Roy, chairman of the Sahara Group, and Chatwal had bought their shared stake in the hotel in 2012. "The latest deal follows a string of reported sales that never came to fruition, though this time the buyers have made a USD 30 million deposit that they would forfeit if they backed out, making a completed sale more likely," the report said. The Plaza Hotel, opened in 1907, is a city landmark and the only hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel was once owned by Donald Trump, who lost it in a bankruptcy. The report added that the deal is "complicated" by the fact that a partnership of the Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp, a real-estate firm, and Kingdom Holdings, which is controlled by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talel, owns the remaining 25 per cent of the Plaza. While the partners have the right of first refusal to buy the hotel at the same valuation, that right is set to expire sometime in the next week. While a deal has been reached to sell the majority stake, the NYT report said that the transaction is complex. The USD 600 million purchase price includes the refinancing of a more than USD 410 million mortgage on the hotel. Qatari Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani holds the mortgage, which is set to mature in early July. In 2010, Sahara had purchased the Grosvenor House, a historic hotel in London. Last year, Ashkenazy Acquisition, with financing from Al Thani, acquired that hotel. As part of that deal, the Qatari Sheikh took over the mortgage on the Plaza. Roy was arrested in 2014 after evading for two days a non-bailable warrant issued by the Supreme Court for his failure to appear before it in a case of non-refund of Rs 20,000 crore to investors. Roy has spent almost two years in jail. He is on parole since May 2016. The parole was granted the first time to enable him attend the funeral of his mother. It has been extended since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi-based journalist Upendra Rai was today sent to three-day CBI custody by a special court, hours after Supreme Court refused to interfere with his arrest for alleged involvement in dubious financial transactions and fraudulently acquiring an airport access pass. Special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann remanded Rai to CBI custody after the probe agency told the special court that substantial amount of incriminating material have been recovered and he has not been cooperating with the investigation. The CBI had yesterday arrested Rai for allegedly indulging in dubious financial transactions and getting an airport access pass made by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) by furnishing false information. The journalist in the morning claimed before the apex court that there was a witch-hunt by the investigating agencies against him and said whenever he made any averments against officials probing 2G spectrum allocation cases, he was falsely implicated. A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said it cannot interfere with the arrest and adjourned the matter for next week. Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, appearing for Rai, said "as a journalist whenever I have raised serious questions on the investigation done by Enforcement Directorate official probing 2G spectrum allocation scam or the department, I was framed". She said that day before yesterday, "I was called by CBI and yesterday I was arrested on a mere allegation that I had fraudulently acquired an aerodrome pass. "My case is that I have made certain averments against the officer concerned and the department with regard to investigation done in 2G case and I was framed." Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for ED official Rajeshwar Singh, said this was an attempt made by levelling scurrilous allegations against him. "False allegations are being made to tarnish the image of the officer and attempts being made to pressurise him." He said that 2G probe was being monitored by the apex court and allegations were made against the officer when he started probing Aircel-Maxis case and attached some properties in the matter. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), said that Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan accused in Aircel-Maxis deal case was not responding to summons and hence his properties should be attached. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, said since the bench is first time hearing the matter, he would like to submit a chornological summary of the events and the orders passed by the court, over the period of time. The top court said it cannot interfere in the matter and asked the ASG to submit a chronological chart of the facts and orders in the 2G case by next date of hearing. Rai was yesterday questioned at the agency headquarters along with two others for the entire day before being arrested, officials had said. Prasun Roy, chief security officer of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, was also booked by the CBI in the case, they had said, adding that the probe agency had carried out searches at eight locations in Lucknow, Noida, Delhi and Mumbai. In its FIR, the agency alleged that going by the value of transactions above Rs 1 lakh during 2017, Rai's accounts received Rs 79 crore while Rs 78.51 crore was debited from it during the same period. The CBI alleged that Rai had purchased a fleet of cars out of the ill-gotten money. It also claimed that that he had received Rs 16 crore in a year from shell companies for bribing and fixing cases in the Income Tax department and also received Rs 6.5 crore from Sahara India in one year. The agency had also alleged that two persons, Rahul Sharma and Sanjay Snehi, allegedly assisted Rai to park the money and claimed that Rai, in criminal conspiracy with Prasun Roy and others, cheated the BCAS and the Delhi International Airport (DIAL) and fraudulently obtained a temporary and later a permanent Aerodrome Entry Pass (AEP). By getting the right to access all airports in the country, Rai jeopardised national security, the agency had alleged, adding that Rai was not technically qualified and his name was not approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for the post of the director general of quality control of Air One. Rai also received Rs 1.02 crore from Air One in four installments, the CBI had claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a setback to BJP strongman and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy, the Supreme Court today refused to relax his bail condition to enter Ballari district in Karnataka to campaign for his younger brother and party candidate G Somashekhar Reddy. A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan refused to entertain the petition and dismissed it. The counsel for Reddy said assembly election campaigning was on in Karnataka and he should be allowed to enter Ballari district to campaign for his brother. She said the bail condition should be relaxed and Reddy allowed to visit Ballari district. To this, the bench said, "Sorry, we would not like to entertain it. The petition is dismissed". After spending more than three years in jail, Reddy, a former state minister and accused in the multi crore illegal mining case, was granted conditional bail by the apex court in January 2015. As part of the bail conditions, Reddy was directed by the court not to visit his home town Ballari, besides Ananthapur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. G Janardhana Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director of Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC), were arrested by CBI on September 5, 2011 from Ballari and brought to Hyderabad. In the OMC case, the company is accused of changing mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Ballari Reserve Forest area, spread over Ballari in Karnataka and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The Karnataka assembly election are slated to be held on May 12 in 224 constituencies of the state and the counting of votes and announcement of result will take place on May 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There was exchange of fire between security forces and a Maoist squad led by Asim Mondal alias Akash, who was allegedly involved in the killing of JMM MP Sunil Mahto, today in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district, police said. Akash carries a reward of Rs one crore on his head while his squad members Sachin and Madan Mahato carry rewards of Rs 15 lakh each, the police said. The Jharkhand government had recently recommended National Investigation Agency probe into the killing of Sunil Mahato in March 2007. The security forces who were conducting an anti-naxal operation came across a Maoist squad led by Asim Mondal alias Akash, secretary of the Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha border Maoist Coordination Committee in Kankadosa forest this morning, said Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop Birtheray. The Maoists fired at the security personnel, who returned it. The exchange continued for about 25 minutes after which the rebels, who included four women fled into the dense forest, the SSP said. A transit camp of Maoists was demolished by the forces and country-made rifle, items of daily use and medicines were recovered from the spot during the operation, Birtheray said. The SSP said the ongoing anti-naxal campaign would continue for the next couple of days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slovak prosecutors decided today to extradite an Italian businessman wanted in Italy on drugs charges, who was also named by murdered journalist Jan Kuciak in an explosive report on alleged high-level corruption linked to the mafia. Police arrested Antonino Vadala, the owner of several companies based in Slovakia, in March in connection with a European arrest warrant issued by Italy last year over alleged drug trafficking. Vadala also faces charges of attempted EU subsidy fraud in Slovakia. He has flatly denied the allegations, which were first made public in Kuciak's article. The Italian had been detained and released earlier in March month over the alleged fraud. "The Regional Prosecutor's Office of Kosice on Friday issued a decision to execute the European arrest warrant issued by a court in Venice against the Italian entrepreneur Antonin Vadala," spokesman Milan Filicko said in a statement, using another name for Antonino Vadala. "The legal deadline for the physical handover of the person to the competent Italian authorities is 10 days," Filicko said, adding that Vadala had not appealed against the extradition. Vadala's name was mentioned several times in Kuciak's last unfinished investigative report, which was published after the journalist and his fiancee were found shot dead at their home near Bratislava in late February. The murders and the article sparked nationwide anti-government protests in the EU country of 5.4 million people, forcing the resignation in March of populist prime minister Robert Fico. Kuciak's article raised possible political links to Italian businessmen with alleged ties to Calabria's notorious 'Ndrangheta mafia, supposedly operating in eastern Slovakia. The EU member's National Criminal Agency (NAKA) investigator began criminal proceeding against Valdala in April. He is alleged to have attempted to trick the Slovak Agriculture Paying Agency to pay out subsidies amounting to roughly 120,000 euros through one of his companies. He falsely declared liabilities connected with the conditions for the agricultural subsidies to be paid. Organisers have called another anti-government protest today to honour the memory of the murdered couple on the eve of their wedding that was supposed to take place on May 5. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Customs officials today seized 301.600 grams of gold from a Chennai-based man at the Biju Patnaik International Airport upon his arrival from Malaysia, official sources said. This is the 14th case of gold seizure, adding up to 5.5 kg, by the Bhubaneswar Customs officials in the last two months. Acting on a tip-off, Customs sleuths intercepted a passenger who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia flight on the intervening night of May 3 and 4. "Search of his personal baggage resulted into recovery of four cylindrical bars with hole, made of gold, each piece concealed inside the wheels of his trolley bag," he said. The official said the collective weight of recovered gold is valued at Rs 9.64 lakh. Although the airport got international tag in October 2010, the first direct international flight was launched in April, 2017 with an Air Asia flight to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Thereafter, Air India has also started international flight services to Bangkok from the Bhubaneswar airport in December. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has regretted the streaming giant's spat with the organisers of the Cannes Film Festival, saying "sometimes we make mistakes". Netflix had pulled out of the famed film festival after the organisers announced a ban on films from the main competition which do not have a proper theatrical release in France. "I know we have a reputation as a disruptor and sometimes we make mistakes. We got into a bigger situation with Cannes than we meant to," Hastings said in Lille, northern France, during an onstage session at the Series Mania festival, reported Variety. "I think we got into a more difficult situation with the Cannes Film Festival than we meant to because, you know, we're not trying to disrupt the movie system; we are trying to make our members happy. We make our content for them," he added. Hastings also said that at least in France, Netflix would "focus now on series. Standup, docuseries as there is so much we can do without being a disruptor on the movie side". He also indicated the discussions with the festival organisers are underway and they are trying to find a model that "works for them and works for us". "We love the film festival, and we still have buyers going. The festival is very sincere in trying to find a model that works for them and works for us. I'm sure over time we'll definitely (go back)." The ban came in response to huge controversy that erupted last year, when two Netflix films -- "Okja" and "The Meyerowitz Stories" -- entered the competition for the Palme d'Or without being released in cinemas. Theatrical releases in France can be available for subscription video on demand only after a gap of 36 months and a film cannot feature in the festival without a theatrical release, making it a Catch-22 situation for streaming companies like Netflix. This year, the streaming giant was supposed to present five features at the festival that included Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma"; Paul Greengrass' "Norway"; Jeremy Saulnier's "Hold the Dark"; Orson Welles' "The Other Side of the Wind", a newly completed version of the film that Welles shot in the 1970s; and Morgan Neville's "They'll Love Me When I'm Dead", a doc about the Welles film but they pulled out after the spat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Samajwadi Party MP today likened Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru as tension simmered at Aligarh Muslim University, the centre of a row over a portrait of the Pakistan founder. The administration suspended internet services in communally sensitive Aligarh district from 2 pm today to midnight tomorrow to prevent rumour mongering. AMU students continued their sit-in at the university's Baab-e-Syed gate, where they had clashed with the police on Wednesday. They are boycotting classes for the next two days. Wednesday's clash took place when the students were demanding action against right-wing protesters who had entered the campus and wanted Jinnah's portrait removed from the student union office, where it has been hanging for decades. The students offered Friday prayers at the scene of the dharna in which a large number of teachers and other members of the AMU fraternity participated. In Gorakhpur, newly elected Samajwadi Party MP Praveen Nishad sparked a controversy by comparing the contribution of Gandhi and Nehru to that of Jinnah during the freedom struggle. Nishad had scored a surprise victory in the recent bypolls from Gorakhpur, represented by Yogi Adityanath before he became the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. During his Karnataka election tour, Adityanath said he was against honouring Pakistan's founder. Nishad today accused the BJP of playing dirty politics' in Jinnah's name. Nehru and Gandhi contributed for the freedom of the country but it cannot be denied that Jinnah equally contributed for it," he told reporters. He said the BJP was trying to "divide the people in the name of religion and caste. The Jinnah row started after BJP's Aligarh MP Satish Gautam wrote to AMU raising objections to the portrait. The University said portraits of all life members of the student union hang there. Jinnah, a founder member of the University Court, had also been given this honour before Partition. AMU vice chancellor Tariq Mansoor today visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital where three of the students injured in the police lathi-charge are being treated. AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) has sent a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind asking him to "urgently institute" a high-level judicial probe into the incident. They said members of certain outfits entered the campus and disrupted the peaceful academic environment there. AMUTA secretary Najmul Islam told PTI that they have urged the President to treat the matter seriously as it involved a breach in the security of former Vice President Hamid Ansari. Ansari was supposed to be felicitated at the University the day the violence broke out. Islam said protesters who had entered the campus were reportedly carrying firearms. He said the police, instead of preventing the hooligans from entering the campus, "remained mute spectators". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newly elected Samajwadi Party MP Praveen Nishad today sparked a controversy by comparing the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to that of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, during the freedom struggle. His remarks come after violence broke out at the Aligarh Muslim University on Wednesday following a row over Jinnah's portrait on the campus triggering a right-wing protest and sparring between BJP leaders. "The BJP is playing dirty politics in the name of Jinnah which is highly condemnable. Nehru and Gandhi contributed for the freedom of the country but it cannot be denied that Jinnah equally contributed for it," Nishad told reporters here. "The people of a certain religion have become so-called nationalists," he said. The SP leader said keeping in view the 2019 general elections, the BJP was trying to "divide the people in the name of religion and caste. We are citizens of this country and Muslim brothers are also citizens and whoever has taken birth in the country belongs to it and has equal rights". India belongs to all citizens and let no one pose any threat to its unity, he said. "When we take the name of Bhagat Singh, we also take the name of Ashfaqulla Khan and Veer Abdul Hameed who sacrificed their lives for the county but the BJP wants the country to forget their names," Nishad said. He said Hindus and Muslims equally contributed for the country's freedom, "but the BJP wants communal riots for political gains". Nishad accused the saffron party of trying to polarise the people ahead the 2019 polls and said, "We won't let them play this dirty game. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DMK working president M K Stalin today led a demonstration here seeking the release of the party workers arrested in connection with a protest during a police raid on a gutka unit in the city. He alleged police raided the 'illegal' pan masala manufacturing unit in Kannampalayam without any prior information. When DMK workers sought a fair probe into the issue they were arrested after foisting of cases on them, Stalin charged in his speech at the demonstration. Police have registered cases against 10 DMK leaders including an MLA and arrested seven of them on the charge of obstructing officials from carrying out their duty during the raid on the gutka unit here on April 28. The raid came at a time when the state was rocked by a multi-crore gutka scam allegedly involving a Tamil Nadu minister besides a former and a serving top police officials, into which the Madras High Court has ordered a CBI probe. Referring to the gutka scam, Stalin said all those involved in it will definitely go to jail, once the inquiry by CBI in this regard was completed. Earlier, nearly 1,000 workers participated in the demonstration. Former ministers, A Raja, Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan and Pongalur Palanisamy were among those who participated. Meanwhile, a court here adjourned the anticipatory bail petition filed by DMK MLA N Karthik to May 10. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and chief ministers of the north eastern states today deliberated on intra-regional and sub-regional connectivity of the area, considered India's gateway to Southeast Asia. The focus of the discussion was on continued development of relevant infrastructure both within the state and at international borders with a view to enhance trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties. Swaraj said the state governments of the northeastern region were active stakeholders in India's Act East Policy. Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh participated in the meeting. Representatives from concerned ministries of the Centre and the governments of the northeastern states were also present. The meeting followed up on an earlier meeting chaired by Swaraj with the governors of the northeastern states in November 2017. "The meeting deliberated on the northeastern region's intra-regional and sub-regional surface and air linkages, focusing on seamless connectivity with its contiguous neighbourhood. "Continued development of relevant infrastructure both within the state and at international borders was also discussed with a view to enhancing trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties," the statement said. ASEAN is an important element of India's Act East Policy. Early this year, India hosted the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. The northeast is also considered India's gateway to Southeast Asia and New Delhi has initiated several connectivity projects like the trilateral highway involving India-Myanmar-Thailand to link the region with ASEAN countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A young male tiger, who had taken refuge inside an abandoned rubber factory in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly was captured by a wildlife body along with the state Forest Department. An operation to capture the wild cat was kicked off on April 22, soon after it was first spotted. The tiger was captured yesterday after the team attempted to tranquillise it at around 2 pm. "The tiger was wary and slightly agitated due to the presence of humans, which made the operation very challenging. Three doses of darts had to be shot to completely sedate the animal," WTI Veterinarian Dr Reetika Maheshwari said. Weighing 172.45 kg on an empty stomach and aged around three to four years old, the young male had an injured right foreleg, the second claw had been ripped off and the wound was infected, and a puncture wound between the second and the third digits was also infected. As a first step, camera traps were deployed across the premises of the abandoned building to understand the routine, movement patterns and condition of the tiger. A WTI statement quoting Dr PP Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests (Bareilly) and Field Director of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve said, "We wanted this tiger to be caught in a very scientific manner, so that it did not escape from the factory and enter a human habitation, potentially attacking people." Now home to herds of nilgai and blackbuck, the rubber factory was reportedly once Asia's largest, until it was abandoned in the 1980s following a legal dispute. The factory premises are a mosaic of water tanks, underground tunnels, warehouses for storing acid and buildings with up to 14 exits, all of which made the task of locating the tiger extremely challenging, the statement said. "We wanted to understand the routine of the tiger, the exits and entrances it uses, its habits, the areas where it would rest and finally where it slept. "The camera traps also told us of the abundant prey populations in the area. Finally, on May 2, we were able to identify a narrow tunnel where the tiger slept," said WTI Biologist Francis Ishmael. Given its injuries, the tiger's immediate release back into the wild could not be recommended, and it was decided that the animal would be temporarily moved to the Kanpur Zoo. "Although injured, the tiger did not attack any human and was surviving on natural prey in and around the rubber factory. Such cases outline the behaviour of these elusive big cats who try to avoid human encounters and conflict situations as far as possible," Chatterjee said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Every student from Tamil Nadu who travels to other states to appear for the NEET will be given train fare in addition to monetary assistance of Rs 1,000 per candidate, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said here today. He said these students and one attendant travelling with him or her would be provided second class train fare and given an assistance of Rs 1,000 towards other expenditure. Palaniswami said the direction was given following reports that those allotted centres outside Tamil Nadu were facing difficulties. Students could get the train fare and Rs 1,000 assistance from the district Chief Officer through their school either before or after their journey to write NEET, he said. Palaniswami's announcement comes a day after PMK demanded that the state government bear the travel expenses of students who have been allotted centres in other States. A section of students, about 200 from Tamil Nadu, have been allotted centres in Kerala and Rajasthan to write NEET, according to the PMK. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss had said yesterday that about 200 students, including those from Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, were allotted centres in Rajasthan and Kerala. When a petition was filed in the Madras High Court against centres outside the State, the court had asked the union government to allot the centres in Tamil Nadu itself. However, it was "shocking" that it was stayed by the Supreme Court, the PMK leader, who is also the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha MP, had said. "Tamil Nadu government should bear the air travel and lodging expenditure of the students if it could not get the Union government to allocate centres within the state for students," he had said The PMK leader had alleged that allotting NEET centres for Tamil Nadu students in Rajasthan and Kerala was "social injustice." DMK working president M K Stalin had also hit out at the Centre for not making arrangements to ensure that students from Tamil Nadu took the eligibility test in centres within the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 1,600 people from Tripura have been recruited by textile mills here at a recent job fair held in the north eastern state as part of efforts by industry apex body SIMA to overcome labour shortage and high attrition. In a release here today, the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) also apprecitated the efforts taken by Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for his involvement in the employment fair and recruitment process. SIMA Chairman P Nataraj said the job fair was conducted by the Tripura government in Agartala from April 25-26 in response to the association's recent communication to the labour departments of various states, including those in the North-East. The SIMA had petitioned the states for help in direct recruitment of workers as there was shortage of workers and high job attrition rate at a time when the textile industry was witnessing exponential growth. Around 4,000 unemployed youths from Tripura attended the fair and eight mills from Tamil Nadu recruited 1,635 candidates, including 264 women, it added. Nataraj also thanked senior officials Tripura for arranging a train to bring the recruits to Tamil Nadu. The association would soon come out with guidelines for the migrant workers in order to help them meet all the legal and social requirements in Tamil Nadu, the release added. The state directly employs over 60 lakh people and depends on migrant workers working in major clusters like Coimbatore, Tirupur, Dindigul, which account for 30-90 per cent of the workforce, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three days after police claimed to have found the body of a city-based trader who was allegedly killed, it has turned out that the body was not his. But the didn't come as a solace to his family, as the real body of the trader, Suraj Shah, was also found. Shah (47) was allegedly killed by his lawyer friend and two others on April 25 and the body was dumped in a canal in neighbouring Kalol town, police had said earlier. A highly decomposed body was recovered from the canal at Waghodia near Vadodara on May 1. Thinking it to be Shah's body, it was sent for autopsy and later handed over to his family, which cremated it. However, police had their doubts as to whether it was really Shah's body, said Vadodara police commissioner Manoj Shashidhar. The search continued, and another body was found from the canal near Kalol, around 30 km from here. "It has turned out that the body recovered from near Waghodia on May 1 was not Shah's. That body was so decomposed that even his family members could not confirm whether it was Shah's. But it was sent for post-mortem and then handed it over to the family which cremated it," Shashidhar told PTI. "We, however, had doubts from the beginning whether it was Shah's body. Since the accused had allegedly dumped his body in a canal near Halol Road near Vadodara on the night of April 25, it should have flown downstream. But the first body was recovered upstream, at Waghodia," he said. Along with Shah's 'real' body found near Kalol, police also recovered a nylon rope, allegedly used in tying a stone to his legs before it was dumped, Shashidhar said. "A key of Shah's house was found in the pocket of the pants on the body. The clothes were identified by the family," the commissioner said. The second body was sent to the Sir Sayajirao General Hospital in Vadodara for autopsy, and after conducting a DNA test, it will be handed over to Shah's family, he said. DNA sample of the first body too had been collected, but it was yet to be examined, he said. Identity of the first body is still a mystery. "The reports of DNA test of the first body will be sent to Waghodia police for further investigation," the police commissioner said. According to police, Shah's lawyer friend Vijay Rohit had paid Rs 50,000 to Shrikant Pawar and Mehul Mane to kill Shah. Shah dealt in electronic goods. Rohit had borrowed Rs 4.60 lakh from him. However, he didn't want to return the money and allegedly hatched the conspiracy to kill Shah, police said. The accused confessed to having strangulated Shah and thrown the body into the canal on Halol Road, police added. The trio has been booked on the charges of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and destruction of evidence under the IPC, police said. A local court has remanded the accused in police custody till May 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rich tributes were paid to former Bihar Chief Minister Mahamaya Prasad Sinha on his anniversary today. Born in 1909, Mahamaya Prasad Sinha served as the fifth Chief Minister of Bihar from March 1967 to January 1968 which was the first non Congress government in the state. He died in 1987. Addressing a function Akhil Bharatiya Kayastha Mahasabha national working president Rajib Ranjan Prasad, who is also JD(U) Bihar spokesman, said "Mahamaya babu was immensely popular among the weaker sections of the society. Taking inspiration from his life we have decided to launch a movement to apprise the community of its progressive past". "As part of our drive, we will be campaigning against consumption of alcohol, dowry and child marriage which is also in line with the policies of the Nitish Kumar government. We would solicit support of extremely backward classes, dalits and the minorities, which is essential to build a just and secular society which our ancestors like Mahamaya babu dreamed of", Prasad said. The Praja Socialist Party leader had made a sensational political debut in 1957 assembly polls when he defeated the then state home minister Mahesh Prasad Sinha. Speaking on the occasion, former Chairperson of Bihar SC/ST Commission Vidyanand Vikal and national president of Pichhda Varg Mahasangh (confederation of backward classes) Rajendra Yadav hailed the role of Kayastha community in championing the cause of the weaker sections of the society. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Activists and legal experts today paid rich tributes to former chief justice of Delhi High Court and activist Rajinder Singh Sachar who passed away last month. Sachar (94), responsible for bringing to the fore the socio-economic and educational conditions of the Muslim community, died of pneumonia with septic shock syndrome and heart-related complications on April 20. A meeting was held here to remember him. Syed Zafar Mahmood, who was part of the Rajinder Sachar Committee set up by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, said, "A man like him hasn't been born in ages. He would always support truth." The report on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims was tabled in Parliament in 2006. Mahmood said the 450-page report was replete with graphs and data and recalled how Sachar had worked to prepare it. Senior advocate RS Cheema called Sachar a "revolutionary" whose heart bled for the common man. "Partition brought out the best in him. it made him a humanist," he said. Mohammad Salim Engineer, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said he respected Sachar as an activist. Sachar was chief justice of the Delhi High Court from August 6, 1985 to December 22, 1985. He was also associated with the rights group People's Union for Civil Liberties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump today said the date and venue for his landmark summit with North Korea's supreme leadr Kim Jong Un have been decided and told reporters to "stay tuned". Trump had agreed to meet Kim Jong Un by May, the White House had announced in March, setting the stage for an unprecedented summit between the two leaders following months of tension over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme. The White House had said Trump was ready to meet Kim by May at a time and location yet to be determined. "We now have a date and we have a location, we'll be announcing it soon," Trump said during a brief interaction with reporters at White House before leaving on a trip to Texas. The United States is having substantive talks with the North Koreans, Trump said. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with regard to the hostages. I think you're going to be seeing very good things," Trump said in response to a question. The announcement for the summit -- the first ever between leaders of the two countries -- was made after months of tension between the two nations. Trump himself had confirmed the meeting in a tweet, but said that the US sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until a denuclearisation deal was achieved. Last month Trump had said he hoped that we would be able to deal in a "very open and honourable fashion" with North Korea. "I started a process, and when I did everybody thought I was doing it absolutely wrong," he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump said today that a date and venue for his landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been decided, and will shortly be made public. "We now have a date and we have a location, we'll be announcing it soon," Trump told reporters as he left the White House on a trip to Texas. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages," added the president, who recently hinted at imminent about three Americans detained in North Korea. "As I said yesterday, stay tuned," Trump said. "I think you will be seeing very, very good things. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two RSS activists were arrested in connection with the alleged attack on a photojournalist of a Malayalam daily at the Malappuram Press Club here, police said today. The two-Dilip Kumar (31) and Shibu (30) are RSS workers and were arrested last night, police said. The incident occurred when some RSS workers barged into the club and allegedly attacked the photographer, Faud Sanea, for having taken a video of their alleged manhandling of a two-wheeler rider during a protest march near here. A case had been registered against 10 RSS activists under various sections of the IPC including those related to unlawful assembly and rioting besides the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Procession Act. The case was registered on a complaint by the photojournalist, who suffered injuries on his legs and had been hospitalised. Police said trouble broke out when around 150 RSS workers took out the procession protesting the attack on an RSS office in the district a few 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 club and allegedly assaulted him and snatched his phone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed optimism that the full denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula could become a reality, following last week's historic joint declaration by the leaders of the north and south which eased months of rising tension over North Korea's nuclear programme. The UN Secretary General said after talking to South Korea's President Moon Jae-in this week that "things are on track for a meaningful negotiation and I believe it's in everyone's interest", BBC reported. South Korea's leader met his counterpart in North Korea Kim Jong Un at a historic summit on the border between the two countries last Friday, in which they agreed to work towards a lasting peace and strengthen inter-Korean ties. Guterres was also asked if he was worried that the US is reportedly considering withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), involving Iran and the five Permanent Members of the Security Council plus Germany and the European Union. The JCPOA, signed in 2015, limits Iran nuclear development programme, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, and the UN chief described it as "an important achievement". "The JCPOA was an important diplomatic victory and I think it will be important to preserve it," he said. "But I also believe that there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaning dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position," he said during his trip to London. "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," said the Secretary-General. On Syria, the UN chief said that there was a "risk of fragmentation" of the entire country after more than seven years of brutal civil conflict. "I don't think that anybody can win the warOn the other hand, I don't see how Syria can be reconstructed with the support of the international community if there is no political solution in which all groups of Syrian society feel represented," he said. "We need to have a political solution that all Syrians feel comfortable with, and that requires a level of dialogue that until now has not been possible," he said, adding that "we have not yet had the leverage to create the conditions for that to happen." He said that he had "not given up" on making warring parties in Syria accountable for their use of chemical weapons. "I still believe that we need to insist, and we are looking for avenues that might allow, to create a mechanism of attribution agreed by the Security Council, that will be able to define who's responsible for any chemical attack, creating the conditions for accountability". He added that "the re-establishment of a mechanism of accountability in Syria is very important and I will not give up on that". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth, currently on an election campaign in Karnataka, is rushing back tonight to visit storm-ravaged Agra, a senior official said today. The chief minister will arrive in Agra tonight and visit the calamity-hit areas tomorrow morning, Principal Secretary Information Avanish Awasthi said. Adityanath was criticised yesterday by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for remaining in Karnataka even after his own state was hit by the storm. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah had tweeted. "I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there." Adityanath will review the relief and restoration efforts in Agra district, the UP official said. The chief minister will later leave for Kanpur to monitor the relief work there and in nearby districts, Awasthi said. A high-intensity storm ravaged parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday night, leaving 73 people dead and 91 injured in Adityanath's state alone. Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for 43 deaths and injuries to 51 others. Adityanath was earlier scheduled to campaign in poll-bound Karnataka till Saturday noon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If the United States wants to improve its ties with India, it can no longer ignore or sideline Uttar Pradesh, a visiting delegation from the most populous Indian state has said. Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidhartha Nath Singh is leading the high-powered delegation of top state officials to the US. "It is important for the Government of the United states to understand that for any relationship with India to go up, obviously other states are important, but Uttar Pradesh remains the most important," Singh told PTI. "Even if you want to improve the health index of India, for example, India can come up only if UP scores well in this area," Singh said. Having concluded their trip to the Silicon Valley in California, the delegation was in Washington DC yesterday, holding meetings with US Government officials. They met with officials from the State Department, the Department of Commerce and USAID and had round tables with the industry representatives, sending them the common message that they can "no longer" afford to ignore or skip Uttar Pradesh if they want to invest in or improve ties with India. Singh said the BJP government had initiated a series of administrative reforms in sectors like health, agriculture, industry and education so as to make Uttar Pradesh a business-friendly destination. "In addition, UP offers a huge market for companies," Singh and his delegation said during their powerpoint presentation before representatives of US companies. He said the American corporate sector had shown interest to invest in defence manufacturing, IT and health sectors in Uttar Pradesh, while some of the top educational institutions wanted collaborative research and problem-solving projects. During the Investors Summit-2018 in February in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a defence industrial corridor in the Bundelkhand region, saying it would bring an investment of Rs 20,000 crore and generate employment avenues for 2.5 lakh people. "After recent announcement of defence corridor, a number of US defence companies have shown serious interest in investing in this sector in the state," said Singh. He held meetings with representatives of the Lockheed Martin here while a meeting with Boeing is also on the cards. "US companies have shown big interest in UP's health sector, for which the BJP government has announced ambitious expansion plans, and the fast-developing IT sector in Noida, adjoining the national capital," said Singh. He also suggested that the state could collaborate with some American universities for fellowship programmes, exchange programmes or research programmes. "That could be a big, big takeaway for us," Singh said, as he referred to a meeting that the delegation has had with the Stanford University in Silicon Valley this week. Companies like Pepsico and Cargill have shown interest in investing in the state's agriculture sector. Both the companies have signed memorandums of understanding with UP. Singh said his delegation has received an invitation from the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to visit the United States later this summer. "We hope the chief minister visits the US soon," Singh said. "The US trip is basically to get UP to be known in a new way and also to get investment from US into Uttar Pradesh, Singh said. The delegation would next travel to New York before leaving for India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man in the US state of Kansas who shot dead an Indian immigrant while shouting "get out of my country," was sentenced to life in prison, according to media reports. Adam Purinton had previously pleaded guilty to the racial slur-filled, drunken attack last year at a suburban bar and restaurant in the Midwestern state. He shot two Indian immigrant men and a bystander who had tried to intervene. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed. His friend Alok Madasani and bystander Ian Grillot were wounded. Purinton received the maximum punishment for the murder, and two sentences of 165 months each for the attempted murders, local television stations reported yesterday. While Purinton would be eligible for parole in 50 years, the 52-year-old was likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US Navy veteran who killed Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla in a racially motivated hate crime at a bar in Kansas City last year has been sentenced to life in prison. In March this year, Adam Purinton, 52, had pleaded guilty to the charges of murdering Kuchibhotla. He was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla, 32, and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of his friend, Alok Madasani, and a bystander, who chased Purinton after he fled the Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe city on February 22 last year. Purinton, yelled, "Get out of my country," before shooting Kuchibhotla, who later died from injuries sustained in the attack. A federal judge in Kansas yesterday sentenced Purinton to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla and 165 months imprisonment for each of the other two murder charges. Kuchibhotla is survived by his wife Sunayana Dumala, who welcomed the court's decision. "Today's sentencing in the murder of my husband will not bring back my Srinu, but it sends a strong message that hate is never acceptable," Dumala said in a statement. "I want to thank the District Attorney's office and the Olathe police for their efforts to bring this man to justice," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US today warned China that it would face "consequences" for military buildup in the disputed South China Sea where Beijing has deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that the Trump administration has raised the issue with the Chinese leadership. "We are well aware of China's militarisation of the South China Sea. We've raised concerns directly with the Chinese leadership about this. And there will be near-term and long-term consequences," Sanders told reporters, responding to a question on the Chinese military build up in the South China Sea and other parts of the world. China yesterday defended the deployment of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the disputed waters, saying it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the area. The Pentagon has also expressed concern over the Chinese military buildup in the disputed waters. "We have been very vocal about our concerns about them militarising these artificial islands. China has to realise that they've benefited from the free navigation of the sea. And the US Navy has been the guarantor of that, Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Dana White told reporters. "We will continue to do our operations and ensure that the Chinese understand that they cannot, and should not, be hostile and understand that the Pacific is a place in which much commerce goes through. And it's in their interest to ensure that there's a free navigation of international waters, she said. 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. 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. 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. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed that Chinese military personnel have used lasers against US military planes in Djibouti. "They are very serious incidents. There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White told reporters at her weekly conference. "We have formally demarched the Chinese government, and we've requested that the Chinese investigate these incidents," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The piles of garbage lying in the landfill sites of Delhi is a "very serious problem", the Supreme Court said today as it pulled up the National Highways Authority of India for not proceeding with its segregation to use part of the waste for road construction. The apex court also stayed the proceedings related to the landfill sites at Ghazipur and Bhalswa in Delhi pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). When a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked the NHAI why it was not proceeding with segregation of waste lying at Ghazipur landfill site, the authority said they had issued tender but the cost quoted by the parties to do the work was exorbitant. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand, appearing for NHAI, said a memorandum of understanding was entered into between East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) and NHAI, which included the issue of segregating the waste lying at Ghazipur landfill site. Anand, while maintaining that segregation of the waste was the work of EDMC, said they had floated a tender for it as per an NGT order but the quotations received was very high. She said the tender was for 1.3 million metric tonne of waste lying at a stretch of two kms, but as per NHAI's estimate, it would take roughly Rs 35 crore for this work. The ASG said the quotation received in the tender was of Rs 138 crore which was way higher than the estimated Rs 35 crore. ASG A N S Nadkarni, who appeared for EDMC, said as per the MoU, NHAI was the implementing agency for all these works and they were supposed to do it. "Why can't the amount come from the green cess? Sometime you have to pay more to save. Landfill is a very, very serious problem," the bench observed. Anand told the bench that EDMC has a segregation plant at Ghazipur which should do this work. The bench observed, "EDMC has created a situation that is irreversible". Nadkarni, however, told the bench that Ministry of Road Transport and Highways would pay for it and funds were not an issue. "Then you (NHAI) do it," the bench observed, after which the NHAI said, "the bid price is so high". "That is not your problem. The ministry is saying that they will pay the amount," the bench said, adding, "Somebody is giving you money, but you are saying how can you give money. How can you do that? Please file an affidavit." The court also heard the issue relating to sanitary landfill sites at Bhalswa and questioned how were these matters also pending before the NGT. "Are we bound by the orders of the NGT? We do not understand this," the bench said, adding, "Reports are filed before the NGT and arguments are advanced before the Supreme Court." "We will stay the proceedings before the NGT," the bench said. When the amicus said staying the proceedings before the NGT would not serve the problem and the tribunal could dispose of the matter, the bench shot back, "Are you saying the Supreme Court cannot do anything because the NGT is hearing it? Are you saying that we are not capable to decide this issue? Do not say all this." The bench listed the matter for further hearing in July. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal has directed the Ministry of and Forests (MoEF) to inform it on the steps it has taken against industries operating without clearance in Jasodharpur Industrial Area in Uttarakhand's Kotdwar area. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore also directed the Wildlife Institute of India to conduct a study in the area about ill effects of these industrial units and submit a report by May 30. "We direct the Ministry to file an additional affidavit of the officer concerned, as to what steps have been taken with regard to action against such industries for operating without EC or whether any application for environment clearance of industries concerned is pending before them," the bench said. During the hearing, advocate Sanjay Upadhyay, appearing for the petitioner Shiv Prasad, told the green panel that many industries were operating without obtaining environment clearance and other requisite permissions. The matter is posted for next hearing on July 4. The petition had alleged that several industries are operating illegally, without consent from the state pollution control board or an environmental clearance in JIA near Kotdwar. It had said that these industries are also major source of air pollution in the area and are a public health hazard. Prasad had alleged that the units have also been flouting industrial pollutant discharge norms by dumping foundry slag on the banks of the Sigaddi Srot river. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Good hand hygiene is needed to prevent sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition which affects over 30 million people globally every year, WHO said today and asked its South East Asian Region member nations, including India, to promote the practice. WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said promoting good hand hygiene is one of the most cost-effective ways to enhance the safety and quality of healthcare for all. She said good hand hygiene, including among patients and health workers, helps stop spread of infection, control the risk of bacterial mutations and makes healthcare significantly more efficient. "Good hand hygiene is particularly needed to prevent sepsis, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can result from the body's response to infection. "Globally, over 30 million patients are affected by sepsis every year, many of them in low and middle-income countries. Should antimicrobial resistance advance, this number will increase," Singh said. She asserted that enhanced hand hygiene in healthcare facilities is a pressing need, and is everyone's responsibility -- from patients and health workers to administrators and policymakers. 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. "From patients to health workers, administrators to policymakers, we must appreciate and understand that clean hands save lives and is one of the most powerful ways to prevent infection and sepsis. "Across WHO South-East Asia Region, promoting hand hygiene is imperative we must all prioritise and act on it decisively," she said. Elaborating on five key areas that demand action, Singh said first, health workers should fully embrace the WHO-recommended 'five moments for hand hygiene'. This five-step formula requires health workers to wash their hands using an alcohol-based product for 20-30 seconds, or soap and water for 40-60 seconds, before touching a patient, before clean or aseptic procedures, after exposure to bodily fluids, after touching a patient, and after touching patient's surroundings, she said. "Secondly, facility-based infection prevention and control leaders should seize every opportunity to champion the importance of good hand hygiene. "That can, and should, include communicating the critical importance of implementing WHO guidelines on hand hygiene to policymakers, hospital chief executive officers, administrators and health workers," the WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia said. Explaining the third point, she said health facility leaders and senior management should make hand hygiene a key quality monitoring indicator. "Compliance with hand hygiene standards should be a core part of every health facility's infection control regimen, with areas of risk identified and solutions found as a matter of priority. "As part of this, they should also sign up to WHO's global 'Save Lives: Clean Your Hands' campaign, which all health facilities can be a part of," she said. Singh said ministries of health from across the region should implement the 2017 World Health Assembly resolution on sepsis, which makes improving the prevention, diagnosis and management of sepsis a critical imperative. As the resolution outlines, one of the best ways to tackle the problem is good hand hygiene and the development of clear, country-wide guidelines on the issue, she said. Singh said patient advocacy groups should continue to insist on the value of hand hygiene as a good in itself, as well as a way to drive down the occurrence of sepsis. "That means advocating for the development and implementation of effective hand hygiene-related policies, as well as good hand hygiene practices among health workers," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump today said that he is willing to testify before Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, but wants assurance of fair treatment. In a brief interaction with reporters on the White House lawns before leaving for Dallas in Texas, Trump raised question on the impartiality of Mueller's team, alleging that investigators were mostly Democrats. In the past, the US President had accused the opposition Democrats of a witch hunt. He also pointed out that Mueller had worked as the FBI director under President Barack Obama. "The problem with this sitting is: You have a group of investigators, and they say that I am not a target. I'm not a target. But you have a group of investigators that are all Democrats. "In some cases, they went to the Hillary Clinton celebration that turned out to be a funeral. So you have all these investigators; they're Democrats. In all fairness, Bob Mueller worked for Obama for eight years," said the US president. Stressing that he would love to speak to Mueller, Trump said "I would say this: I would love to speak. I would love to. Nobody wants to speak more than me -- in fact, against my lawyers, because most lawyers, they never speak on anything. "I would love to speak, because we've done nothing wrong. There was no collusion with the Russians. There was nothing. There was no obstruction, Trump said, adding that I have to find out we're going to be treated fairly...right now it's a pure witch hunt. According to media reports, Mueller, a former FBI director, has sought to question Trump. Early this week, The New York Times published a set of leaked questions that the Special Counsel wants to ask Trump. If you fight back, because you people say something wrong, or they say something wrong, or they leak, which they've been doing; if you fight back, they say, oh, that's obstruction of justice. If somebody says something wrong, and you fight back, they say that's obstruction of justice. It's nonsense," he argued. I would love to speak. I would love to go. Nothing I want to do more, because we did nothing wrong. We ran a great campaign. We won easily. We won that easily: 306 to -- I think, it was 223. We won it easily. That was a great victory. That was a great day for this country," Trump said. This week, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has joined Trump as his personal attorney in the Mueller investigation case. Describing Guiliani as "great guy", Trump said, "Rudy is a great guy...he's working hard, learning the subject matter. He knows it's a witch hunt, that's what he knows. He's seen a lot of them. He said he's never seen anything so horrible, The President said that Guiliani would soon be going to issue a statement. In response to another question, Trump said "As an example, 33,000 emails requested by Congress with a subpoena, and they get burned, they get deleted. And nobody says anything". "Rudy knows it's a witch hunt. He started yesterday. He'll get his facts straight. He's a great guy. But what he does is he feels it's a very bad thing for our country, and he happens to be right," he said, adding he started yesterday...he'll get his facts straight. "It's actually very simple, there has been a lot of misinformation really." Russia's meddling in the 2016 election has been the subject of several Republican-led congressional inquiries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump today said that he is willing to testify before Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing the allegations of Russian interference in 2016 US presidential elections, but wants assurance of fair treatment. In a brief interaction with reporters on the White House lawns before leaving for Dallas in Texas, Trump raised question on the impartiality of Mueller's team, alleging that investigators were mostly Democrats. In the past, the US President had accused the opposition Democrats of doing witch hunt. He also pointed out that Mueller had worked as the FBI director under President Barack Obama. "You have a group of investigators...that are all Democrats...in all fairness Bob Mueller worked for Obama for eight years. I would love to speak...nobody wants to speak more than me...I would love to speak because we've done nothing wrong... he said responding to a shouter question from reporters. Trump said he would love to speak to Mueller. According to media reports, Mueller, a former FBI director, has sought to question Trump. Early this week, The New York Times published a set of leaked questions that the Special Counsel wants to ask Trump. I would love to go...we ran a great campaign, we won easily. I have to find out we're going to be treated fairly...right now it's a pure witch hunt, he said. This week, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has joined Trump as his personal attorney in the Mueller investigation case. Describing Guiliani as "great guy", Trump said, "Rudy is a great guy...he's working hard, learning the subject matter...he is a great guy. He knows it's a witch hunt, that's what he knows". In response to another question, Trump said "Rudy knows it's a witch hunt, he started yesterday...he'll get his facts straight. It's actually very simple, there has been a lot of misinformation really." Russia's meddling in the 2016 election has been the subject of several Republican-led congressional inquiries. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders yesterday announced that lawyer Ty Cobb, who is dealing with Mueller's probe, was leaving his position and being replaced by Emmet Flood, the attorney who represented former president Bill Clinton during his impeachment proceedings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that India is moving forward from women development to women-led development, and "women first" is the mantra of his government and the BJP. Reaching out to women ahead of the May 12 Assembly elections in Karnataka, Modi asked them to help the BJP win by focusing on polling booths. "Today, the country is moving forward from women development to women-led development," Modi said, interacting with Karnataka BJP Mahila Morcha workers through the 'NarendraModi App', his third such outreach aimed at galvanising the party machinery for the D-day. He had earlier interacted with BJP office-bearers and candidates, and state farmers' wing leaders. "We have such a mantra for country's development, our party also believes in this mantra," he said. "Mahila shakti" (woman power), Modi said, was important in the BJP's scheme of things. "For us, whether it is the organisation or the government, or framing of programmes, it is women first," he added. Noting that capable women hold important portfolios in his cabinet, Modi pointed at two group photos of the SCO summit in China where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were the only women. "Both of them have connection with Karnataka," he said. Sitaraman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, while Swaraj had contested the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from Ballari against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, which the latter won. Lauding women BJP workers, Modi asked them to focus on winning at the polling booth level. "We have to win the state election and we will win. We have to win Assembly constituency we will win. But as always I urge karyakartas (workers)...for me the most important thing is winning polling booths." Modi said if a party ensures it wins at the polling booth level, no power can defeat it. "Where is the victory? It is in polling booths, rest is all its effects. We have to win polling booths. When we have to win polling booths, we will have to go to homes, highlight the false promises and misdeeds of Karnataka's Congress government," he said. Modi asked the Mahila Morcha workers to appeal to everyone to join India's journey to progress. The prime minister said Mahila Morcha activists are the most effective in doing that as they do it by building trust. Responding to a question about the Congress spreading "falsehood" despite his government's work for empowering women, Modi said, "If they don't spread lies, how will their vehicle run? Spreading lies is the only thing left for them to do, and because of it they are losing trust...people are disappointed." He said though several schemes were launched for welfare of women in the past they lacked direction and did not take into account their basic and small needs. The prime minister enlisted various initiatives of his government for women empowerment, health care and maternity leave requirements. While responding to a question by a woman BJP activist about atrocities on women and ways to check them, he said a blend of family values, culture, functioning of police and authorities, and prompt justice can play an important role in checking such incidents. The prime minister also stressed on the need for instilling the "fear of law". He said provisions of the IPC, CRPC and POCSO were made more stringent by his government to instill that fear. "Those committing rape of innocent children can be hanged. Necessary steps have been taken for time-bound investigation and fast track courts have been set up for such crimes," he added. Terming female infanticide "perversity of the society", he spoke about 'Beti Bachao, Bati Padhao' programme of his government and the positive developments it has brought about in areas with poor gender ratio. Modi said whether they are homemaker, job seeker or job creator, his government stands by women.He said women should play an equal role in social, economic and other fields of life. The prime minister said whether it is the Olympics or Commonwealth games, Indian women made the country proud. They are also excelling in the defence forces and becoming entrepreneurs. In a first, his government has decided that women will be in a combat role in the Army, he said, adding a proposal for giving them 33 per cent reservation in police force in the Union Territories is also under consideration. Modi said his government and the BJP are "completely and comprehensively" committed to "naari shakti" (women power), a significant part of the New India vision. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil today said that the party leadership was looking into the issue of the family of late Palghar MP Chintaman Wanga joining the Shiv Sena. In a jolt to the BJP ahead of the May 28 bypoll to the Palghar Lok Sabha seat, Wanga's sons - Srinivas and Praful Wanga - along with their mother Jayashree had yesterday joined the Sena in the presence of its president Uddhav Thackeray. Speaking to reporters yesterday, the late MP's sons had 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. Patil today said that he did not agree with the late MP's family's charge that the BJP was neglecting them. "Wanga has been an MLA and MP for 35 years. It is wrong to say the party neglected the family," Patil. He, however, added that he respected the sentiments of the family and stated that they were in public life on their own merit and hardwork. Chintaman Wanga (67) was elected from Palghar on a BJP ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He died on January 30 this year in New Delhi. Responding to a query on how the BJP would deal with this setback, in the run-up to the bypoll there, Patil said that Fadnavis and Danve were "seized of the matter". He added that the BJP was confident of overcoming the situation. "Discussions are underway as to which member from the late MP's family should be selected as the party's candidate for the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll," Patil said. He ruled out the possibility of state Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savara or state Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule being nominees of the party for the Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia LS bypolls. "They are handling the party's election campaign in the two constituencies," he told reporters, adding that "you don't have complete information". Patil expressed happiness at the tie-up between the BJP and the Shiv Sena for the state Legislative Council polls saying that the two parties were of "one ideology, culture and vision". "We may disagree on other occasions but we should work together for elections," Patil said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Riding high on youth power, India is progressing fast and would soon leave China and England behind, National president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Punam Mahajan today said. Addressing a "Yuva Sammelan" (youth conference) here today, Mahajan said India has a huge youth population of 75 per cent and 65 per cent of the people are below 25 years of age. "India is now prepared in such a way that it will overtake China and England very soon at the pace it is going. This is the golden era for India, Mahajan said. The Yuva Morcha leader added that youths ensured that "Lal Salaam" (red salute) became redundant which led to a regime change in Tripura. "The Left Front government led people from poverty to worse. They (youth) chose to overthrow the worthless government and bloom lotus," Mahajan said and congratulated BJP and Yuva Morcha activists for emerging victorious against the Left Front. Addressing a state-level conference of the Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, Mahajan appreciated gymnast Dipa Karmakar of Tripura and advised youths to contribute towards the development of society. She blamed the previous Left Front government for unemployment and said that despite being a literate state, eight lakh people of a population of 37 lakh are unemployed. "We have seen our karyakartas (workers) being martyred. Recently, I have seen Yuva Morcha activists killed in Kerala and West Bengal," she said. State in-charge of BJP in Tripura Sunil Deodhar said that after coming to power, the real challenge facing the party is to fulfill the dreams of people. "Our real test has started after coming to power. Earlier, we were only delivering lectures against the misrule of CPI(M), but now the time has come for fulfilling the dreams of people," Deodhar said. He said Chief Minister Biplab Deb and the ministers of the state are very hard working, adding Deb himself works for 18 hours a day and the other ministers work for at least 16 hours. The BJP-Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) combine swept to power by winning 44 seats in the 60-member assembly in the February 18 elections. Deodhar said the Ganamukti Parishad, the tribal wing of the CPI(M) during its rule had exploited the tribals so much that it paved the way for winning 17 seats out of the total 20 tribal reserved seats. Deodhar also urged the party workers not to pay attention to media reports about the party's functioning as they are always after "spicy news". "A newspaper had written that there is tussle between me and the chief minister. This is not right. The newspapers always look for spicy news, because they have to sell their papers," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 aluminium 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 ... By Joori RohSEOUL (Reuters) - Hundreds of Korean Air Lines workers protested in the centre of Seoul on late Friday calling for the airline's chairman Cho Yang-ho to resign because of the bad behaviour of his daughters.Wearing Guy Fawkes masks to hide their faces, the protesters carried placards saying "Cho Yang-ho, OUT" and "No mercy".The South Korean airline conglomerate has faced mounting public outrage after the chairman's youngest daughter Cho Hyun-min was accused of throwing a drink at people at a business meeting last month.The tantrum by the heiress reignited public impatience with ... By Jessica Resnick-AultNEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose about 2 percent on Friday with U.S. crude hitting its highest in more than three years as global supplies remained tight and the market awaited news from Washington on possible new U.S. sanctions against Iran.The May 12 deadline for announcements on potential new U.S. sanctions on Iran bolstered the market, said Bob Yawger, director at Mizuho. "You have the May 12 Iran and Trump headlines that support the market," he said. U.S. light crude was $1.33 higher at $69.77 per barrel by 1:12 p.m. EDT (1712 GMT), after touching a session ... By Christopher JohnsonLONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Friday, consolidating after recent gains, as global supplies remained tight and the market awaited news from Washington on possible new U.S. sanctions against Iran.Brent crude oil was down 30 cents at $73.32 a barrel by 0900 GMT. The benchmark contract hit a 3-1/2 year closing high of $75.17 on Monday.U.S. light crude was 20 cents down at $68.23."Rising geopolitical risks have been a big factor behind oil's strong rise this year," ANZ analysts Daniel Hynes and Soni Kumari wrote in a note to clients. "The extent of the rally would ... By Agnieszka Flak and Stefano RebaudoROZZANO, Italy (Reuters) - U.S. hedge fund Elliott pulled off a boardroom coup at Telecom Italia on Friday, wresting control away from French media group Vivendi as the fund embarks on a campaign to shake up slumbering companies across Europe.Elliott and Vivendi have been at loggerheads for two months over the former state monopoly, with Elliott accusing Vivendi of serving only its own interests and the French media group saying Elliott was looking only for short-term financial gains.Elliott succeeded in appointing 10 independent directors to the board, ... | BY Ricki Green | The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has today announced Google as the Creative Marketer of the Year 2018. 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. 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. Says Jose Papa, managing director, Cannes Lions: 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. | BY Ricki Green | This week sees the national launch of an integrated campaign from Brisbane agency, Khemistry a GrowthOps Business for new national pork brand Three Aussie Farmers. The new pork brand is owned by three Queensland families with a farming history that stretches back three generations. Communicating the history behind the brand and its quality, authentic Australian produce is a key focus for the campaign. The commercial stars three farmers from the Queensland families and is set on their property located west of Toowoomba. Their quintessential humour and spirit highlight that Australian farmers cannot be imitated and creates a distinct personality for the brand. Says Stefanie Miller, senior marketing coordinator, SunPork: It was a pleasure working with the Khemistry team to develop the TVC to launch our Three Aussie Farmers brand into Woolworths. They helped us capture the laid back, salt of the earth personality of our three owners, which forms the backbone of our brand, so we could better communicate our Aussie farming history to our loyal shoppers. Says Priscilla Jeha, head of client service, Khemistry: We had a ball working with the client on this campaign. Our farmers are utterly authentic and embody that beautifully dry Australian wit that we were looking for. Khemistry created a microsite, TVC, in-store POS and digital content for the campaign. The campaign will run for the next two months. Agency: Khemistry Creative Director: Lindsay Thompson Art Director: Sal Borzillo Copywriter: Tim Kelly Head of Client Service: Priscilla Jeha Director: Phil Hagstrom Producer: Bec Dakin Sound Designer: David Gaylard Editor: Stephanie Gurdon Motion Graphics: Benjamin Drake | BY Ricki Green | Online accommodation pioneer Wotif has appointed Ogilvy Australia & NZ to evolve its brand to both Australian and New Zealand travellers as the organisation continues to develop and meet changing consumer needs. The appointment made after a three-month pitch process will be led by Ogilvy Brisbane working alongside Ogilvy Sydney and Ogilvy Auckland, across all Wotifs marketing and communications business including brand, creative, strategy, social media, content and public relations. The new win follows Ogilvy Australias recently being named as Digital Agency of the Year, further reinforcing the agencys expertise across the full remit of brand and digital communications. Says David Fox (left), CEO, Ogilvy Australia: Ogilvys ability to provide both traditional and innovative media executions across a broad spectrum of geographic locations is something weve worked hard to establish, and something that is now really paying dividends. To apply these capabilities to such an outstanding and pioneering brand like Wotif is exciting for all the Ogilvy teams involved. Weve pulled together a specialist team sourcing talent from Brisbane, Sydney & Auckland to service Wotif; who are truly aligned with this philosophy, allowing us to forge a powerful and collaborative relationship. Were an agency that believes brands earn their relevance by delivering audience value at every touchpoint emotionally, functionally, en masse and at a personal level. We find the most innovative ways to deal with the increasingly complex business issues faced by companies, using both digital, and non-digital touchpoints. Its fantastic to see that capability recognised by an organisation as dynamic as Wotif and we are looking forward to working closely with the team to lead the next evolution of its brand. 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. Small businesses exist in every community across the globe, but for Cape Coral, small businesses are the community. Almost 9,000 small businesses exist in the Cape, and that number continues to rise, with nearly 500 new enterprises applying for Business Tax Receipts through March. Economic Development Manager Dana Brunett believes Cape Coral is made for successful small businesses and that such enterprises have a massive impact on the economy. I think the impact it has is huge, Brunett said. Almost all of our businesses in Cape Coral are small businesses, it drives the commercial economy. These places are very important to us, Brunett added. A small business is defined as any business with 500 employees or less. This pretty much defines all businesses in Cape Coral other than big chains, city government, schools, and hospitals. Two out of three businesses in Cape Coral have 100 employees or less; its our strong suit, Brunett said. As National Small Business Week wraps up, Brunett said there are lots of resources available at no costs to help any small business in the area. We want to make sure they are aware of our programs and free services, he added. The Small Business Development Center at FGCU is a great tool for us. They put together business plans, help with marketing and social media and find employees. Navigating government may not always be a strong suit for owners so we lend them a hand that way. Brunett is extremely proud of the 3.4 percent unemployment rate in Cape Coral, and wants to see more business owners make the Cape their home. We have great schools, great land, vacation starts when you get home. Lots of people come here to work, we want them to work and live here as well, he said. President and CEO of the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce Donna Germain expands on how the city is there for business owners who may not know how they can get help in their own community. The Chamber has a number of resources and programs that help businesses get additional exposure whether they are brand new to our area or established. We offer numerous networking opportunities per month that help new business owners meet others in the community. Those opportunities help them establish new business connections, Germain said. We also partner with different community agencies like the Cape Coral Economic Development Office, SCORE, Small Business Development Center and SBA to educate the business community on the various services they offer. She also offered some words of wisdom to owners if they feel they arent finding success. One of the best pieces of advice we can offer is dont get so wrapped up in working in your business that you dont work on your business. Get out and network, get involved in your community. People, especially in this community, like to do business with people they know and trust. One of the biggest challenges we see with new businesses is the inability to get involved and get their name out there. Word of mouth goes a long way in Cape Coral. Some Cape Coral small businesses shared their advice and experiences: n Patty Campo, owner and operator of Best Pets dog daycare, boarding and grooming says owning her own business is something shes always wanted to do. I started off going to peoples homes, but I eventually wanted to have a place to call my own, Campo said. Once I was able to acquire a space, my challenge then was to find the right setting. What works without caging the dogs? Dogs are like people, they have lots of clashing personalities, but I have figured out a way to ensure every four-legged-friend has the best stay imaginable. Best Pets is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year and is a cage-free facility, with private rooms and cameras so that dog owners can see in real time how their dog is when theyre away from home. Customers tell me that they had the best vacation ever because they can trust me with their dogs, and that kind of trust is priceless, Campo said. Her advice to small business owners is this: Start small and let it grow organically, you will find challenges and make mistakes, but thats part of the process. Dont bite off more than you can chew to start or it may not turn out how you had hoped. n Dolphin Key Resort, owned by Magdalena Tengroth since 2011, has flourished under her direction. She says it has been a fun, but difficult project. Previously a senior buyer, Tengroth had stayed in hotels over half of the year, and had a clear vision of what she wanted in a hotel and bar. I used to go to the Tiki Hut (the bar at Dolphin Key), and would see it be busy, but it was run down. I thought I could make some positive changes, Tengroth said. The biggest challenge was to change the reputation. Its not just a job, but a way of life. Now, I see the shirts we sell wherever I travel and that lets me know Im doing something right. The Dolphin Key Resort has 100 rooms, and Tengroth says they are tenacious with keeping room conditions and cleanliness priority No. 1. Their core staff of 45 to 65 employees are with them year round, and the bar atmosphere at the Tiki Hut has improved drastically. We have an amazing atmosphere at the Dolphin Key and Tiki Hut Bar and Grill; I have customers who want to book the same room over and over. Our staff is so friendly, we never have any trouble with our late-night scene at the Tiki, Tengroth said. Her advice to anyone wanting to start a business: Plan better than I did. Look at your competition in the area and plan through each step. Immerse yourself in your business before hand, make sure you know the ins and outs. Failing to plan, is planning to fail. n Kevin Babesh, owner and operator of Fences Unlimited, found some hardships along the way while providing fencing services to Cape Coral residents. His business had to shut down in 2008 when the economy was taking a blow, but re-opened in 2017 and is committed to continuing his standard of excellence. Ive been in the fencing industry my whole life, I started my company when I was 18 years old, Babesh said. A life-long Cape Coral native, he says he has a passion to serve the community he loves. Fences Unlimited is dedicated to getting jobs done in the time frame they promise customers. Three weeks or less is our goal. Im out on every job for estimates, sales and construction. Beginning, middle and end, Im there to make sure our work is done right and in an efficient time frame, Babesh said. He is a stickler for perfection when it comes to his work, and he feels it shows when his customers see the finished product. Every customer Ive had is a happy customer. Im very hands on as an owner and operator, I make sure the work is done the right way and I think thats important to people, Babesh said. His advice to business owners is simple: Do what you say youre going to do. Dont cut corners. Show up on time. And dont make excuses. In the Cape, small is big. An estimated 90 percent of the businesses in Cape Coral are small and locally owned, Germain said Small Businesses and local companies are important to any city. The majority of businesses in Cape Coral are small which creates a greater sense of community, she added. Lee County activists 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 and 25 in the nations capital. Among them were Rae Ann Wessel, policy director for Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, and Captain 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 in D.C.on April 24 and 25, 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 (CEP) was approved for funding by the federal government two years ago in the 2016 Water Resources Development Act. But at that time, the state of Florida didnt 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 whats called the Everglades Agricultural Area into the future reservoir. Right now, 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 its 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 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 costshare with the state with the CEP, so lobbyists want to get the CEP amended to include the new EAA land in the scope. The CEP has to be amended for the EAA project to be included in funding, which comes through the WRDA bill. So, the two asks of the lobbyists last week were the need to amend the CEP and additional federal funding for CEP. The state of Florida has proffered $200 million, Wessel said, and she hopes the federal government will match. Theres no exact date when the WRDA bill will go for a vote; right now, its 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 whats 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, thats fast. In the past, its 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 2018 to finish the report and get it to Congress a timeline that could conflict with the WRDA bills forward momentum. But in a move that Wessel said jaws were dropping, U.S. Representative for Louisiana, Garrett Graves, said hed put a placeholder in the WRDA bill if the report isnt ready. Graves is also the chairman of the House subcomittee on water resources and the environment, and also serves of 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 Representative, 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 cant protect the birds up north if their Florida homes arent 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 werent 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 hes 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 from the rest of the world, he said. Thats an issue of national importance. With the tourism and fishing industries both bringing in billions annually for Florida, talking economics was important. Andrews was joined by the CEO of Hells Bay Boatworks, Chris Peterson, and a representative from SeaDek, a boat deck builder, 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 WRDA 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. news@breezenewspapers.com In a meeting intended to be informational, the Community Redevelopment Agency made a couple significant decisions that could have an impact on the South Cape. The board voted 3-1 to suspend the CRA sponsorship grant program for the next fiscal year because of the debt the agency has incurred as a result of the $13 million Southeast 47th Terrace streetscape project. The Special Event Sponsorship grants were intended for non-profits or other entities to bring new events into the CRA district. The grant would help these events get off the ground until they could become self-sufficient. Some of these events, though, have relied on grant money for years long after it as necessary, officials said. Also, the future of the grant program was up in the air as was the existence of CRAs as the state legislature mulled removing CRAs altogether. When the Cape Coral City Council served as the CRA Commission, it also discussed suspending or doing away with the grant program altogether. It was a late start because of what was happening in Tallahassee and we didnt know if we would offer it anyway, said Janis Keim, CRA board member. Requests were cut last year because we had no new events and some of them were receiving money for 15 years. CRA board chair Stacy LoMonaco, who did not attend the meeting, said in a memo that the program should be suspended and revisited next year. Due to the streetscape project, we have incurred quite a debt so feel its best to suspend this for the upcoming year and revisit it next year. Id like to see the CRA take out as little a loan as possible, LoMonaco said in her memo. Ragen St. Peter agreed, saying they should look at getting better events, take a year off, and reevaluate the program, while Keim said perhaps its time for organizations to think outside the box and consider raising vendor fees to make up for the grants. This idea could have an impact on newer events, such as the successful Touch-a-Truck autism-education event. Board member Linda Biondi disagreed, saying that after financing $4 million for the city-CRA streetscape project, she believed that an extra $20,000 would make that much difference. She cast the lone dissent on the motion to suspend. These events help bring people into the area to visit businesses in the area and it has worked for years, Biondi said. With the streetscape project, if we bring in events that bring 10,000 people into the district to spend their money, why would we not support those events? The CRA board also made a decision on the replacement of trees on Cape Coral Parkway that were destroyed because of Hurricane Irma. The storm took down 10 trees, two near Del Prado near Perkins, four in median three to the west, two near Leonard Street and two in the next median, Median 7. The city sought direction on what type of trees the CRA wanted in their place. Under consideration were high-rise and cathedral oaks, both shade trees. However, more favor went toward palm trees, which are meant to withstand hurricanes better and dont chew up the sidewalks and streets with their roots over time. Im not a fan of trees with roots after what they did to our sidewalks, Keim said. Im more of a palm girl, especially after Irma. Dan Sheppard, a professional landscaper, also recommended palms for different reasons. Palms are more economical than hardwood and nature doesnt approve of hardwood on the coast. It desires palms for tropical storms, which can withstand what homes cant, Sheppard said. Besides, what did we come to Florida for? Unlikely tragedies occur every day, but some of these devastating scenarios can be preventable with the proper knowledge. The Cape Coral Police Department, Cape Coral Fire Department, Cape Coral Yacht Club Pool and Parks and Recreation are sharing information to decrease aquatic-related accidents with the seventh annual Water Safety Day on Saturday. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Yacht Club Beach Pavilion at 5819 Driftwood Parkway. Cape Coral Fire Department spokesperson Andrea Schuch said water-related tragedies are a real concern in Lee County and across the state of Florida. Drowning is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14 after motor vehicle accidents. Florida has the highest unintentional drowning deaths in ages 1 to 4 in the country. Lee County is No. 3 in child drowning deaths in Florida. Florida has more pools per square mile than any other state, said Schuch. Various presentations will be put on by CCPD and CCFD including a CPR demonstration, paddling safety, sun safety, safety precautions around the pool, drowning prevention, life jacket fittings and rescue dive gear. A big part of this awareness day is making it fun for the kids. We will have lots of hands-on activities for children, Schuch said. Passport cards will be passed out to be completed at each table where children learn a water safety lesson. Prizes and giveaways will also be part of the day, including a poster contest, passport card winners and a raffle for free swim lessons. Kids fingerprinting is another activity in which kids can take part. This is a fun, family-friendly event. There are demonstrations including CPR and kayak self-rescue. The CCPD will have their Jet Skis and the CCFD will have a fire truck for visitors to tour. The CCFD fire boat will also spray water from offshore for visitors to see. There will be a number of tables with water safety displays for guests to visit. There are also door prizes and a poster contest. Kids can draw a water safety poster and enter it in the contest to win prizes, Schuch said. Each year more than 150 residents attend Water Safety Day, and they hope to see the turnout continue to grow. If you are not able to attend this event, Schuch has some advice for parents and children alike. Practice the ABCs of water safety: A Adult supervision. It is important to have a designated water watcher. B -Barriers. Barriers include door alarms and pool gates. C CPR and Emergency Response. We recommended everyone learn CPR. This event is made possible by donations from the Police Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Police. Boy Scouts of America announced this week a revamp of not only its program, but its service philosophy. The new Scout Me In campaign for its youngest members will target girls, yes, girls, as well as boys, for the Cub Scout program for the first time ever. Starting this summer, all kids are invited to say, Scout Me In, as they join the fun, adventure and character-building opportunities found in Cub Scouts, a release issued by Boy Scouts of America on Wednesday states. The campaign presents an energizing Scouting experience that speaks to kids by putting them in the middle of the action. It also engages parents who are looking for ways to make the most of the time they have with their kids and help them to be Prepared. For Life. The scouting organization will then take things a step further along its new era path next year with a name change for its program. As we enter a new era for our organization, it is important that all youth can see themselves in Scouting in every way possible. 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, said Michael Surbaugh, chief scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America, in the release. Starting in February 2019, the name of the older youth program will be Scouts BSA, and the name of our iconic organization will continue to be Boy Scouts of America. Although its career-based Explorer programs for teens have long been co-ed, the backlash has been immediate, and in some cases severe as critics blame the integration of girls on everything from liberal courts to snowflake lefties looking undermine yet another proud tradition in their quest to homogenize America. The reason, though, is pretty straightforward, as Boy Scouts of America plainly shares: Its a business decision designed to build membership, membership that has seen sharp declines since the 4 million-plus scouts the organization had at its peak. Admitting more girls to the organization that now serves about 2.3 million youth members between ages 5 and 21, will not only broaden the pool, but will allow families to enroll sibs in a single program, also revamped to show what its like to be a Scout from a kids point of view. A couple of things. For those who have fond memories of fathers and sons forging family bonds around the campfire, the Boy Scouts of Americas announcement that it is revamping to add daughters and sisters girls to the mix may be a little, well, disheartening. We get that. Scouting has built a lot of memories for a lot of boys. It has, in fact, helped build the characters of a lot of men. But times have changed and are continuing to change. If Boy Scouts of America, en route to becoming Scouts BSA, believes its offerings have value to more than the target audience it has served for more than 100 years, why should they not give it a try? Inclusion is seldom a bad thing. And the end of one era is often the start of a new one. Scout us in. Breeze editorial Photo: Contributed Okanagan winemakers say the regions 2017 vintages will be some of the best in recent history, thanks to wildfire smoke buffering late-summer heat and spring coming in colder and wetter than usual. (There are) definitely some rock-stars for this vintage its going to be among one of the best vintages weve had in the last ten years, Dwight Sick, a winemaker at Stags Hollow Winery and Vineyard, says. In a new report on last years season, the BC Wine Institute says a slightly strange seasonmarked by a freezing winter, wet spring, hot and dry summer, and natural disastersactually averaged out to create an overall well-balanced and quite normal growing season. But it was smoke from last season's wildfires, which gave reprieve to grapes buffeted by "searing temperatures," that made the real difference. For more on the newly-bottled 2017 vintages check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge. Photo: Contributed RCMP are at the scene of an incident in South Surrey. At around 2:30 p.m., Surrey RCMP responded to the 1300 block of 176th Street after getting reports of a distraught person. Traffic both north and southbound along 176th Street, between 8th and 16th Avenues, is currently closed. Motorists are being rerouted. An investigation is ongoing and multiple police units are assisting. More information to come. Photo: Instagram Kelownas Tree Brewing Co. will shut down its Richter Street production facility at the end of the month as it moves much of its beer-making operations to Vancouver. The move comes after the company that owns Tree agreed to a joint venture with Calgarys Big Rock Brewing. The agreement will see Fireweed Brewing Corp. team up with Big Rock to run the Calgary brewers Vancouver production facility, where both will brew most of their products. While Tree is closing down its Kelowna production facility (and shedding some jobs in the process), general manager Chris Stirling says the move wont affect Trees popular Beer Institute on Water Street. For more on Tree and Big Rock's partnership, including what it means for Tree's beer, and its future, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge. Photo: Twitter - VSA Highway Maintenance A crash on the Coquihalla has caused significant delays. UPDATE: 9:20 p.m. The crash on the Coquihalla Highway is completely cleared after crews spent Thursday evening recovering the crashed vehicle. ORIGINAL: 2:45 p.m. The Coquihalla Highway has been reduced to single-lane traffic in the northbound direction Thursday afternoon following a crash. The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. about 60 kilometres south of Merritt, near the Mine Creek Road exit. Images from the scene appear to show a large load from a truck spilled over the side of the highway. The highway was closed briefly in the northbound direction, but one lane has since been opened. VSA Highway Maintenance has warned drivers to expect heavy delays due to heavy traffic volume. The nature of the crash, or condition of those involved, is unknown at this time. Photo: Contributed The City of Vernon has a supply of pre-filled sandbags for residents at risk of flooding. The City of Vernon has a supply of pre-filled sandbags for residents at risk of flooding. Pre-filled sandbags are available at City operations yard, 1900 48th Ave., at the back gate off Pleasant Valley Road. Sandbags are free to City residents and will be available while supplies last. Tips on effective sandbagging can be found online. The City also reminds residents to exercise caution, particularly with children and pets, when in the vicinity of fast-moving creeks, streams and water. Photo: File photo Not only can they fly, but now these heroes will be able see in the dark. BC Emergency Health Services is installing night vision imaging technology aboard three of its air ambulance helicopters, to safely reach patients at night. The helicopters are based in Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Kamloops. The installation and necessary flight crew training is estimated at more than $1.7 million and is the result of an agreement last year between BCEHS and its primary helicopter service provider, Helijet International. This is an important investment to improve access to patient care in British Columbia, said Health Minister Adrian Dix. Night vision goggles use image enhancement technology to collect available light, including infrared, and amplify it so the pilot can see in the dark. The technology is used primarily by search and rescue groups and police. This new technology will increase our operational reliability, while ensuring the safest possible flying conditions during nighttime and low-light conditions, said Danny Sitnam, president and CEO of Helijet. BCEHSs first in-service night vision patient transport took place on April 20, utilizing one of its Vancouver-based helicopters. Chelsea Powrie Rapidly rising gas prices have been at the forefront of many people's minds in the Okanagan this week. Castanet hit the streets to ask whether the pricey fuel has anyone thinking twice before they drive. One woman said that although the prices worry her, she has no choice but to drive to get her kids everywhere they need to be. "I have taken to wanting to bike ride with the kids now though, just in the local area where I live," she said. Others agreed that while the prices are daunting, they really have no choice but to pay. If you have a thought on the matter, send a message to [email protected]. Photo: The Canadian Press UCP Leader Jason Kenney Alberta's United Conservatives take their first step this weekend in deciding what they stand for as they explore proposals ranging from a return to a flat income tax to more private health-care delivery in the public system. Party leader Jason Kenney has said about 2,200 people have registered for the founding policy convention in Red Deer, doubling expectations. But he said it's only the first step. The party will hash out a constitution and governance rules and look at draft policy resolutions. The caucus will hold public consultations on those policies before finalizing them a year from now. "What we come up with on Sunday evening will not be the platform but will be an important general direction," said Kenney. The party received about 1,300 resolutions and has whittled those down to about 800 to eliminate duplication and anything outside Alberta's legislative authority. About 250 proposals are expected to make the final cut by Friday for members to vote on over the weekend. The proposals include scrapping Alberta's progressive income tax introduced by the NDP and returning to a 10 per cent flat tax. Another calls for getting rid of the province's carbon levy, something Kenney has already said will be his first priority if he becomes premier in next spring's election. Other proposals call for a declaration that parents are the primary decision-makers in their children's education and have the right to all associated information. Critics say that's a back-door way to force schools to tell parents if a child joins a gay-straight alliance. Kenney has said parents need to be told unless doing so puts the child at risk. There is also a call for more private health care delivered through the public system and to re-examine medical procedures and defund them if they aren't deemed medically necessary. Anti-abortion groups, and pro-choice advocates, say that would open the door to defunding abortion. Kenney is a longtime critic of abortion but has said he would not legislate in that area. Janet Brown, a Calgary-based pollster and political analyst, says Kenney's party is enjoying a bump in recent polls that suggests it could form the next majority government, but she added that social issues remain a weakness. "This weekend is really just about giving Albertans assurances that this is a reasonable party that is the government in waiting," she said. "They have to approve resolutions and approve policies that just fit with what Albertans expect from them, and to not get sidelined by ... wacky excessively socially conservative policies that are going to make Albertans uncomfortable." Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario researchers have teamed up to test a portable device that can detect the presence of potentially deadly fentanyl in street drugs and deliver the results in mere seconds. The scientists at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University have set up the mass spectrometer instrument at the supervised injection site within the Sandy Hill Community Health Center in the nation's capital, which like many Canadian cities has witnessed rising numbers of overdose deaths due to the illicit narcotic. Jeff Smith, director of the mass spectrometry centre at Carleton, said the device is able to detect fentanyl in a minuscule sample of a street drug like heroin within 20 seconds compared to the months it would take through standard lab testing. Mass spectrometers are able to differentiate components of drugs by assessing their mass, or molecular weight. "If you can measure every individual component of a sample and get its mass, you can identify what's in that sample," Smith said Thursday from Ottawa. Substances, including drugs like fentanyl and the even more toxic carfentanil, each have unique molecular weights, allowing for them to be identified by their mass, he said. Only a tiny drop of a syringe-prepared drug needs to be taken as a sample and placed into the port of the laser printer-sized instrument made by U.S.-based Bayspec, which the universities purchased for about US$100,000 with a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. So far, the research team has created methods for the miniaturized mass spectrometer to test samples for five drugs fentanyl, carfentanil, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. "But that list can be dramatically expanded," he said. "And of course that is our plan over the next few months, to add more and more drugs to the list of all of the things that might be present in a user's sample." Rob Boyd, director of Sandy Hill's Oasis program that oversees the supervised-injection site, said because clients are purchasing unregulated drugs off the street, they have no idea what ingredients they contain. "So anyone purchasing heroin from the street, we have cautioned them to assume that you have fentanyl and to take the necessary provisions to prevent overdoses and overdose deaths," he said. "This will provide them with an opportunity to have their drug checked before they actually use the drug." Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould The federal government will intervene in B.C.'s reference case over the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, Justice Minister Judy Wilson-Raybould said Thursday. The case filed in the B.C. Court of Appeal asks if the province has jurisdiction to regulate the transport of oil through its territory, a key question in the political battle over the project. Wilson-Raybould said Ottawa's view will prevail. "We are confident in Parliament's jurisdiction and will intervene on the question in order to defend our clear jurisdiction over interprovincial pipelines," she said in a statement. While project architect Kinder Morgan has halted investment in the expansion unless and until the clouds of uncertainty looming over it can be cleared, giving the government a May 31 deadline, the federal government remains a strong and increasingly adamant backer. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed the pipeline will be built, and has instructed Finance Minister Bill Morneau to sit down with Kinder Morgan to find a financial solution that will soothe their investors. He also promised legislation that would reaffirm Ottawa's authority to press ahead with a development deemed to be in Canada's national interest. B.C. Premier John Horgan, meanwhile, has said he will use every tool available to stop the pipeline, arguing that his province has every right to protect its residents, economy and environment from the threat of an oil spill. Trudeau has made the pipeline a central component of a vision that couples economic expansion with environmental stewardship. Trudeau said the pipeline was approved by his government in 2016 after a rejigged environmental assessment and Indigenous consultation process, and only in concert with the Liberal climate change and oceans plan. Approval came in consultation with the previous B.C. Liberal government, which gave its consent to the project after its own conditions were met. Horgan's election last year changed everything. His minority government exists at the pleasure of the Green party, and on condition of his continued opposition to the project. Photo: The Canadian Press More than 500 families are living in newly built homes two years after a wildfire roared through parts of Fort McMurray, Alta. The flames in May 2016 forced more than 80,000 people to flee the area for at least a month. The fire destroyed more than 2,500 buildings, including many homes. Fire Chief Jody Butz says mental health continues to be a big issue for the first responders who faced the wildfire that was dubbed "The Beast." But Butz says he believes his staff are in a much better place mentally now. He says the biggest change for him is knowing that people in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo have a lot more knowledge about emergency preparedness. (CFVR) Photo: Contributed William R. Bennett Bridge. UPDATE: 5 p.m. It appears the debris that caused delays earlier this afternoon has been cleared, and traffic on the William R. Bennett Bridge is flowing smoothly. ORIGINAL: 4:30 p.m. It's slow going on the William R. Bennett Bridge during the afternoon commute Thursday, due to scattered debris in the westbound lanes. Webcam footage shows heavy volume backed up across the bridge. A commuter heading towards West Kelowna says the delay is due to objects on the highway. Just after the bridge, heading to Westbank, there's a bunch of debris all over the ground, people are picking it up, Ryan said. I guess it fell off a truck or something. Photo: Colton Davies The City of Penticton has taken the extraordinary step of publishing its final settlement offer to a well-known panhandler it is trying to remove from his regular spot on the 200 block of Main Street. The city has been prosecuting Paul Braun for eight unpaid bylaw tickets for panhandling within 10 metres of a breezeway, a spot he's been at for four years. In the settlement offer posted to the citys website, Penticton is demanding guilty pleas on all counts in exchange for court-ordered compliance of the bylaw and $88. If the matter goes to trial as scheduled for three days in September, the prosecution will be seeking a $500 fine on each count and jail time if the fines cannot be paid, as well as restitution to the city with community service. If the city cannot establish control of its downtown sidewalks around a simple 10 metre breezeway, we will not be successful in addressing other more serious issues, city lawyer Troy De Souza said in a statement. The city says it is taking steps to cleanup the downtown core in reaction to feedback from residents and released the settlement offer to show it has taken "all reasonable efforts" to conclude the case short of a trial. Brauns pro-bono defence lawyer Paul Varga was gobsmacked the city released the settlement offer to the public. In my years of doing law, I have never, ever, in my life seen the Crown or another body put out a press release about a settlement offer, Varga said. This is just another prime example of the city playing heavy-handed with its most vulnerable citizens. Varga also took issue with the highlights of the prosecution included in the letter, which include complaints from unnamed witnesses about Brauns conduct while panhandling at the breezeway. One complainant alleges Braun harassed her as she walked by, while another said he scared off another panhandler from the spot. Ill believe that when I see that statement in court, Varga said. They are not sworn statements, yet they are putting them out there to essentially defame Mr. Braun this is ridiculously uncharted territory. Varga disputed the city's point that Braun is no longer homeless, arguing he was when the tickets were written. The settlement offer would bind Braun, under court-order, to follow the bylaw and not panhandle near the breezeway. What are the possible ramifications if at some point they say hes not complying? Varga asked, explaining the city is refusing to take jail off the table. Just because he doesnt agree with this, doesnt mean hes driving this bus or pushing for a trial that shouldn't happen. What hes saying, is that he wants to ensure that his rights are respected, just like any other citizen. Photo: Nicholas Johansen The province has added 16.4 hectares to Myra-Bellevue Park. Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park has grown by 16.4 hectares after the province recently bought a parcel of private land. The land, known as the Harvard Road vacant acreage and located on the north end of the 7,677-hectare park, was purchased by the government for $947,000. The parcel of land contains an open forest and grassland ecosystem, as well as a significant wetland, the province said in a news release. The property contains habitat that supports various wildlife, some of which is considered at-risk in the province. Securement of the property also greatly increases habitat connectivity within the balance of the park. The land is also part of the Crawford-area mountain bike trail system. Friends of South Slope started advocating for the property to be purchased when the previous owner died in 2006, said Isabel Pritchard, with Friends of South Slope, a volunteer organization that promotes outdoor recreation in Myra-Bellevue and Okanagan Mountain Provincial Parks. It is considered to be highly important to Myra Bellevue Park, because the public has been using it for many years. Alanna Kelly Rivers and creeks are being watched closely as the flood threat looms in Kelowna. The turbidity level in Okanagan Lake and nearby creeks is expected to rise along with the high flows. Jeff Curtis, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at UBC Okanagan, said turbidity will change quickly. Its mostly dirt or suspended sediment and its going to sink, he said. It might cause some people along rivers and so forth issues when it starts to accumulate in places they dont want it to, but most of that material is going to sink out." Ed Hope, water quality and customer care supervisor with the City of Kelowna, said turbidity itself is not necessarily a health concern issue. Its more of what particular bacteria or virus may be attached to them, he said. Part of our date treatment involves UV radiation which is a high-intensity lamp and so if they are attached to these particles there is a possibility that the particles may be shielding some of the bacteria. Intakes across Kelowna are set up in strategic areas to isolate them from direct inflows. It is really up to Mother Nature in terms of how quickly that is all going to come and enter into the lake, said Hope. He added Kelowna has faced this before with higher snowpack levels and it didnt translate into water advisories. Last year was the first time since 1996 that a water advisory had to be issued. To check turbidity levels, you can do so online. Photo: CTV Canadians celebrating the onset of summer driving season have been dismayed by another spring phenomenon rising gasoline prices across the country. Metro Vancouver prices have spiked to all-time record highs over $1.61 per litre, and prices in the Okanagan are hovering in the $1.40 range. Read more Photo: The Canadian Press Until Thursday, Roman Polanski had been a film academy member for over 40 years since pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a minor in 1977. In his 40 years as a fugitive the "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" filmmaker had been nominated for three additional Oscars, one for "Tess" and two for "The Pianist." He won an Academy Award for directing "The Pianist" in 2003 to thunderous applause. He continued attracting A-list talent for his films, A-list support for his freedom and had become a contradictory and uncomfortable symbol of an industry that seemed to pick and choose where to bestow its moral outrage. It's an incongruity that became untenable when the film academy expelled Harvey Weinstein from its ranks in October, made statements about standards of decency among its members and adopted a revised code of conduct, which would allow the organization to suspend or expel members who violate that code or "compromise the integrity" of the academy. And almost seven months after Weinstein got the boot, the film industry's most prestigious organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, closed the door on the 84-year-old Polanski too, announcing that it had revoked his nearly 50-year membership, along with Bill Cosby's. Polanski's attorney, Harlan Braun, said the director was "blindsided" by the decision. Fifteen years ago, the audience at the 2003 Oscars gave an absent Polanski a hearty standing ovation upon his win, Weinstein, Martin Scorsese and Meryl Streep among them. Nine years ago, when Polanski was arrested in Zurich and U.S. authorities attempted to extradite him, over 100 celebrities signed a petition for his release, including Woody Allen, Weinstein, Scorsese, Steven Soderberg, Darren Aronofsky, Natalie Portman David Lynch, Penelope Cruz and Tilda Swinton. Photo: CTV Melting ice caused by climate change has given ships more access to Arctic waters, which researchers say could have serious consequences for the survival of bowhead and beluga whales. Lauren McWhinnie is the lead author on a study that says there is a window of opportunity to address the harmful effects of increased shipping on the whales' environment before they become more threatened. In most cases animal populations need to be visibly declining before protection against human impacts are carried out, she said in an interview. "But up there, this is our chance to learn for once, and hopefully be proactive." McWhinnie's research group looked at different vessel management schemes that might be adapted for Arctic waters. The group studied over 1,000 marine protected areas and identified 14 different tools across four categories that would be suitable for the Arctic. The study reviewed satellite data on shipping traffic between 2012 and 2016 in the eastern Beaufort Sea at the entrance to the Northwest Passage, one of the major shipping routes through the Canadian Arctic. The size of the passage allows for larger ships to enter the Arctic, a distinct problem for bowhead whales. "The resulting extended 'open water' season has many implications for vessel traffic and marine life," the study says. The proposed whale protection measures would only significantly affect very large, fast vessels travelling further away from the shoreline, rather than smaller community boats operating closer to the shore, the study says. The study was co-authored with experts at Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. Photo: The Canadian Press An emergency vehicle redirects traffic outside Opry Mills mall Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. A fatal shooting set off pandemonium inside a mall in Nashville, Tennessee, provoking an outsized police response in the city where a gunman killed several people at a Waffle House less than two weeks ago. The Opry Mills Mall was evacuated, a police tactical team swept the facility, at least a half a dozen ambulances converged on the scene and authorities said the adjacent Grand Ole Opry House and convention centre were put on lockdown. Two 22-year-old men were fighting inside the Opry Mills Mall before one of them pulled out a pistol and fatally wounded the other. Police said the gunman then gave up his weapon and surrendered, saying he didn't want any more trouble. The city is still processing the April 22 attack on a Waffle House restaurant by a nearly naked gunman with an AR-15. Four people were killed and four others were injured in that shooting. Nashville Police were asked if they had the Waffle House attack in mind when they heard reports of an active shooter in the city's largest shopping mall. "Well, certainly we're all human beings and there has to be the thought of Waffle House, just some days ago," Police spokesman Don Aaron said. But when the call came in, Aaron said, police training kicked into high gear. Investigators are still trying to determine why the two men were fighting and what prompted Justin Golson to allegedly shoot Demarco Churchwell, who died later Thursday at a hospital. Golson was charged with criminal homicide late Thursday, police announced on Twitter. It is not clear if he has a lawyer. Photo: Contributed 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 president's payment clashed with his past statements, created new legal headaches and stunned many in the West Wing. White House aides were blindsided when Trump's 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. Giuliani's revelation, which seemed to contradict Trump's past statements, came as the president's newly configured outside legal team pursued his defence, apparently with zero co-ordination with the West Wing. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she first learned that Trump had repaid the hush money from Giuliani's interview on Fox News Channel's "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 didn't know the specifics of Cohen's arrangement with Daniels until recently, telling "Fox & Friends" on Thursday that the president didn't 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 Trump's personal financial disclosure form, which was certified on June 16, 2017. Asked if Trump had filed a fraudulent form, Sanders said: "I don't 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. Photo: AbbyPD Counterfeit $20 bills are circulating in the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford Police warn. The "splice-and-tape" scam involves cutting the holographic strips from lesser bills and adding them to fake $20 bills. The scam was previously pulled on $100 bills, and the lower denominations are doctored with fake strips, producing two phoney banknotes. Businesses are being targeted during busy periods or when less experienced staff are working, police say. The numbers in the hologram don't match the denomination of the bill. The reflective pieces should show the Peace Tower and Queen Elizabeth on real $20s. The metallic portrait should match the larger portrait on the bill and should change colour when the bill is moved, police say. The word "Canada" should feel slightly raised. Real bills should be smooth, but the fakes often feel rough, and police say the counterfeits are often poorly cut and not uniform in size. If you suspect a bill is counterfeit, politely refuse it and ask for another one, police advise. The person trying to use it may be a victim of the scam as well. If you've been fooled, bring the bill to a bank or police department for verification. with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: Chelsea Powrie Recent flooding in Oliver. The organization that monitors river levels across British Columbia is warning of the potential for more flooding over the weekend and early next week, especially in the southern Interior, southeast B.C. and the northeastern corner of the province. The River Forecast Centre says those regions are expected to see the warmest temperatures over the next few days, speeding snowmelt into already surging rivers, and it says that warmth will be followed by rain next week. Flood warnings remain posted for the Nazko and West Road rivers in the Cariboo region, while flood watches cover central Interior rivers including the Bonaparte, Baker Creek and other waterways around Merritt, Cache Creek, Williams Lake and Quesnel. The Salmon River and tributaries around Prince George have been added to the many rivers and creeks under a high streamflow advisory and, in southern B.C., the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation alert for 64 properties in the Twin Lake area. A news release from the district says that area west of Kaleden experienced significant flooding last year and conditions this year are expected to be "significantly worse." EmergencyInfoBC says evacuation orders or alerts are in place in five regional districts, including a new alert affecting 39 properties near Prince George, but the evacuation order issued last week for 12 homes in Killiney Beach, southwest of Vernon, was lifted Thursday. Photo: The Canadian Press The Scottish State Coach, which will be used in the case of wet weather, for the royal wedding. Meghan Markle's divorced parents will meet with Queen Elizabeth II and other royals before her May 19 wedding to Prince Harry and will have special roles in their daughter's wedding, a palace spokesman said Friday. At the wedding, the royal couple also plan to honour the memory of the late Princess Diana, Harry's mother, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997. Officials didn't predict the weather springtime in England can be glorious or horrid, sometimes on the same day but they outlined plans for a celebration designed to spread from the privileged environs of Windsor Castle throughout Britain and the world, via television and the internet. Here are some of the plans disclosed by Harry's press secretary, Jason Knauf, during a briefing at Buckingham Palace: Markle's parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, will arrive during the week before the May 19 wedding so they have time to meet Harry's family. Knauf says they will visit with the queen, her husband Prince Philip, Harry's father Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and with Harry's brother Prince William and his sister-in-law Kate. Ragland will travel with her daughter by car to Windsor Castle on May 19 and Thomas Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St. George's Chapel for the ceremony. Knauf says Markle is "delighted" that her parents will be by her side. It is not yet known if Markle's siblings will attend the wedding. The press secretary says Harry is "keen to involve his mother's family in the wedding" and that all three of Diana's siblings will be present. One of Diana's two older sisters, Jane Fellowes, will give a reading during the ceremony to represent Diana's family at the big event. Markle, an American actress who came to prominence in the TV series "Suits," will not have a maid of honour during the ceremony. Harry has chosen William as his best man. Knauf says all the bridesmaids and page boys will be children. That may mean a role for Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 3, the children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. But don't bother looking for Prince Louis born in late April as the youngest prince will not attend. Palace officials are determined that the style and designer of Markle's wedding gown will be kept secret until the moment she gets out of the car to walk into the chapel. They say this tradition is very important but that won't keep speculators from trying to guess who has received the most important dressmaking assignment of the year. Knauf would not reveal where the newest royal couple will spend their honeymoon, but he said they won't be leaving right after the wedding. Instead they plan to make their first public appearance as a married couple during the week following the ceremony. Photo: The Canadian Press Back for a return engagement, President Donald Trump's address to the National Rifle Association on Friday comes after he temporarily strayed from the group's strong opposition to tougher gun controls following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida only to rapidly return to the fold. For the fourth year in a row, Trump will speak to the group, which meets this year in Dallas. Last year, he became the first sitting president to appear in more than 30 years, declaring that the "assault" on the Second Amendment had ended. But this year's speech comes as the issue of gun violence takes on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Student survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead are now leading a massive national gun control movement. While the shooting has not led to major changes from the White House or the Republican-led Congress, it did at least briefly prompt Trump to declare that he would stand up to the powerful gun lobby. He later backpedaled on that tough talk. Trump's attendance at this year's NRA convention was announced just days ago and came after Vice-President Mike Pence already was scheduled to appear. Asked why Trump was attending, given the current political tensions around gun violence, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said this week that safety was a "big priority." But, she added, "We also support the Second Amendment, and strongly support it, and don't see there to be a problem with speaking at the National Rifle Association's meeting." Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent about $30 million in support of his presidential campaign. The NRA showcased its high-profile guests for the event, with NRA Executive Director Chris Cox saying on Twitter: "We are honoured to celebrate American Freedom with @realDonaldTrump, @VP Mike Pence and others. #2A #watchtheleftmeltdown" Trump's moves have drawn concerns from both sides of the gun debate. Photo: Contributed Asian Heritage Month kicks off Saturday in Kelowna. Events start with the annual dinner and discussion about the Asian Canadian experience at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. This year we are focused on Asian community empowerment. We want to recognize struggles and triumphs of our communities comments Dr. Ruthann Lee, Cultural Studies professor at UBCO and the discussion moderator for the forum. The Opening Forum is exciting to me because I believe it is relevant to all Asian immigrants whether you belong to the first, second or third generation, says Asia Jong, a third generation Chinese Canadian whose family has a long history in the Okanagan. This years Asian Heritage Month boasts a heritage bus tour May 19th to the Last Spike Location in Revelstoke as well as an Asian Heritage Exhibition at the Kelowna Museum. Family Sundays featuring Asian craft-making workshops go each weekend at the Kelowna Art Gallery. Photo: The Canadian Press The Greater Montreal Real Estate Board says area home sales in April were up 10 per cent compared with a year ago as they recorded their highest mark for the month in eight years. The board says there were 5,432 home sales in April, up from 4,957 a year ago, based on the real estate brokers' Centris provincial database. Condominium sales climbed 18 per cent compared with a year ago. Meanwhile, sales of single-family homes and plexes, which include two to five units, both gained six per cent. The median price of single-family homes across Greater Montreal was $317,000 last month, up four per cent year-over-year, while plexes reached $500,000, a three per cent increase. As for condominiums, the median price was up two per cent compared with a year ago, with half of all units selling for more than $245,350. The increase in sales came as the number of active listings fell 17 per cent to 25,466, compared with 30,735 a year ago. New listings fell two per cent to 6,584 compared with 6,728 in April 2017. Photo: Contributed Rock Creek wildfire aftermath in 2015. Wildfire experts from across North America will converge in B.C. this summer for a wildfire and climate change conference in Nelson. The impact climate change is having on wildfire behaviour will be a focus of the June 26-28 event. "Our forests are changing, so we need to change, too," Forests Minister Doug Donaldson said in a press release announcing the conference. "Adapting to new challenges posed by wildfires and responding to the effects of climate change on our natural environment are critical, and require a concerted effort by all levels of government and land managers." The conference is organized by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and the Slocan Integral Forestry Co-operative. Attendees will learn about local, national and international initiatives to address growing challenges associated with climate change and wildfire behaviour, and the importance of creating fire-resilient ecosystems. Presenters are coming from as far away as Oregon and New Mexico. Discussion topics will include: Photo: The Canadian Press A raccoon caused an Air Canada flight bound for Toronto from Saskatoon to be delayed by nearly seven hours last night. Flight passenger Damien Lee says that it "was just like a circus" trying to get the raccoon off the plane. The assistant professor says the flight was originally delayed due to a baggage issue, but within an hour lassos were brought out to try to catch the animal. Lee says passengers hadn't yet boarded the plane and eventually the raccoon scurried off. Neither Air Canada nor officials from the John G. Diefenbaker International Airport immediately returned request for comment. Lee says the flight eventually took off and landed in Toronto about 3 a.m. Photo: BCLC It was one heck of a retirement day for Ping Kuen Shum. The Vancouver resident not only retired on his birthday, but also won a $2-million jackpot in the BC49 lottery on April 28. Shum was feeling in great spirits, celebrating both his birthday and retirement, when he decided to buy the ticket at Parker Place Convenience Centre in Richmond. Later that night, the draw confirmed his ticket matched all six numbers. Its unbelievable that all three events happened on the same day, said Shum. I have worked hard for so many years, and Im looking forward to sharing this fortune with my family. The odds of matching all six numbers for the BC/49 are one in 13,983,816. Photo: Colton Davies Emergency preparedness funding that British Columbia's public safety minister calls "critically important" is now being handed out to communities across the province that are at risk of spring flooding. Funds totalling $33.5 million are being released by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to cover five initiatives aimed at helping communities respond to disasters and reduce damage if or when they occur. A news release from the public safety ministry says payments for the first three initiatives have already been made. They include risk assessment, mapping and mitigation plans for flooding, the development of better registration systems and procedures for emergency social services and additional equipment, supplies and volunteer training for emergency operations centres. Cash for the final two disaster preparedness initiatives has yet to be allotted but will fund more pump stations and portable dikes, as well as the mapping and building of exit routes for communities currently reached by a single road. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the payments are vital as the province moves toward what he says appears to be another "incredibly taxing" spring flood season. "These resources will assist the most vulnerable communities, not only to prevent catastrophic losses, but also to rebound more quickly in the event of an emergency," Farnworth says in the release. Jennifer Rice, parliamentary secretary for emergency preparedness, says the payments will help communities "become more resilient and responsive in the face of natural and man-made disasters." Photo: The Canadian Press The federal government say it is one step away from issuing emergency protection orders for dwindling caribou herds in Alberta and British Columbia. The finding from Environment Canada covers 10 herds in the Southern Mountain population which are under imminent threat. They are all smaller than 100 animals and continue to decline. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says in a statement that immediate intervention is needed if the herds are to recover. She says measures being used by the provinces don't include enough habitat protection or restoration. An emergency protection order would allow Ottawa to control activity on critical habitat for a threatened species that is normally governed by the provinces. That would include energy development, forestry and agriculture. Protection orders have been issued previously for sage grouse and the western chorus frog. Photo: City of Penticton Damage to the Kiwanis Walking Pier from last year's high-water event is expected to cost $278,000 to fix It will cost close to $280,000 to repair 2017 flood damage to the Kiwanis Walking Pier in Penticton. A staff report going before council Tuesday outlines options to deal with the amenity, which has been closed since May 2017 after being battered with waves during a windstorm. The damage to the pier consisted of: pile cap damage, broken stringers and cross bracing, missing shims; loose deck boards and damaged piles, the report says, explaining insurance is expected to cover just $78,000 worth of repairs. The findings were that some of the damage was related to the flood and wave action and other damage was not related to flood conditions, the report continues. The insurance provider will only cover flood and wave action damage. Staff are recommending the city spend $200,000 to complete minimal repairs to get the pier back in safe condition. That plan, however, would leave the pier vulnerable to similar high water damage in the future, and will need annual monitoring and extra structural repairs within five years. It would cost between $1M and $1.5M to replace the pier with a new wooden or concrete and steel pier. Demolition costs included in the replacement estimates are $235,000. City staff are recommending council repair the existing structure, as the big price tag that comes with replacement would be best left for consideration during an annual budget process and after public engagement on the pier. Council will discuss the situation Tuesday afternoon. Photo: The Canadian Press Starbucks will close all its Canadian company-operated stores and offices for an afternoon next month to provide training about creating a "culture of warmth and belonging." The announcement comes nearly a month after the Seattle-based company publicly apologized for the arrest of two black men who had been refused permission to use the washroom of a Starbucks coffee shop in Philadelphia. A Philadelphia police spokesman said Starbucks employees called 911 after the men refused to leave. The company last month ordered more than 8,000 U.S. Starbucks stores to close on the afternoon of May 29 so that nearly 175,000 employees can receive training on unconscious bias, but said at the time it had not decided whether to follow suit in Canada. Starbucks Canada president Michael Conway sent a memo on Friday that schedules store and office closures for part of the afternoon on June 11 for a training session to address implicit bias and promote "conscious inclusion." "We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect. ...We must never be complacent in our desire to be inclusive," he said in the memo. The arrests prompted protests at the Starbucks and a national boycott. Philadelphia police released a recording of the call from the Starbucks employee that led to the arrests. In the recording, a woman is heard saying, "Hi, I have two gentlemen in my cafe that are refusing to make a purchase or leave.'' She gives the address of the Starbucks store, and the entire call lasts less than 30 seconds. In the communications between police and dispatch that were also released, someone refers to "a group of males inside causing a disturbance,'' and additional officers are sent. In the week since, the men received an apology from Philadelphia's police commissioner, have met with Starbucks' apologetic CEO and have started pushing for lasting change at the coffee shop chain, including new policies on discrimination and ejecting customers. Photo: Jon Manchester "Cat-astrophe averted," Hamilton police tweeted Friday in announcing the arrest of a suspect in the theft of a transport trailer loaded with kitty litter. Police say a man, driving a transport truck, broke into a compound in Hamilton on Feb. 17 and allegedly made off with the litter-laden trailer. They say the truck was tracked to a gas station where the suspect entered the store and was caught on video. It's alleged he then drove to Cambridge, Ont., where he abandoned the trailer and broke into another business. Police say the alleged "purrr-petrator," a 39-year-old Brampton, Ont., man, faces charges that include break and enter, motor vehicle theft, theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property over $5,000. Photo: Contributed Air Canada said Friday it will join rival WestJet in severing its ties with Hopper Inc. after the mobile travel app's suggestion it has sole access to "secret fares" caused confusion in the travel industry. Hopper, which notified when a fare matching their criteria becomes available, landed in hot water with other travel groups that sell air fares, such as travel agents and aggregator sites, when the company suggested earlier this week they were the only ones to have special fares at up to a 35 per cent discount and marketing them "Secret Fares." "For someone to say that we have a secret fare and that it applies to all of our network is totally incorrect, it doesn't happen, Duncan Bureau, Air Canada's vice-president of global sales said in an interview Friday. The country's largest airline had agreed to a trial of Hopper's program by giving it access to a low fare on one route between the United States and Asia, he said. Like other airlines around the world, Air Canada uses all kinds of distribution channels to drive sales, especially in markets where it isn't the dominant player. They offer various types of fares, including private ones available to partners depending on the route, competitive dynamics and season. "We don't disadvantage one distribution partner from another. What we do is we leverage distribution partners that have a strength in a particular market or particular niche," he said. Bureau said Air Canada isn't interested in selling the lowest possible fare or unloading seats at below cost. "We don't have secret fares. We have negotiated fares with all of our different partners and different partners bring different types of customers." Hopper was wrong to imply that Air Canada created an advantage for the app over its other partners, he said. "For us it's about integrity. We have a lot of distribution partners and what I cannot have is someone going to the marketplace insinuating that they have access to inventory or fares that no one else has fares to on a system wide basis." The airlines say there were caught off guard when their names were used in a news release and were the subject of news reports. WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said late Thursday that the company was severing ties with Hopper "due to the confusion this has created in the marketplace." WestJet said Hopper will still be able to sell the company's published fares, comparable to those available on its website, but that it will no longer provide the private, discounted fares it offers to travel agents and other partners. Having perhaps attracted more attention than it bargained for, Hopper apologized Friday. "We value our relationships with both Air Canada and WestJet, and sincerely apologize for any confusion caused by the way we marketed this initiative," Hopper spokeswoman Brianna Schneider wrote in an email. In its release Wednesday, Hopper said other "secret fare" airline partners include LATAM, Turkish, Copa and Air China, adding they will be joined by other carriers in the coming weeks. But the company clarified that "Secret Fares" was the name of a program. "Secret Fares is a Hopper-specific marketing strategy and not a unique class of airfare," she said. Special fishing events are being held this spring and summer across the state of Tennessee. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is among several organizations planning special fishing events, primarily for youngsters. The TWRA annually stocks several thousand pounds of fish for various events. For a list of events, visit the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org and the For Anglers section. Anglers and potential anglers should check the events list often since special events are frequently added. Tennessee will host its 2018 Free Fishing Day on Saturday, June 9. The day allows anyone the opportunity to try this great outdoor sport, especially children to celebrate fishing as a wholesome and healthy recreational option. Numerous events are schedule for Free Fishing Day. In addition, children ages 15 and younger may fish without a license beginning on Free Fishing Day through the following Friday (June 15). All events are great opportunities to introduce children to the enjoyment and excitement of a day on the water catching fish. The TWRA is among several organizations planning special fishing events, primarily for youngsters. The TWRA annually stocks several thousand pounds of fish for various events. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe will travel to Europe May 4-11 for an economic development trip designed to strengthen ties with European businesses and increase foreign direct investment in Tennessee. During the week-long trip, Governor Haslam and Commissioner Rolfe will pitch Tennessees advantages to a number of European businesses interested in establishing operations in the Southeast U.S. The trip will include stops in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Italy. As part of the economic development trip, Governor Haslam and Commissioner Rolfe will travel on the inaugural British Airways flight from Nashville International Airport to Heathrow Airport in London. British Airways announced in August 2017 plans to have a nonstop, direct flight between Nashville International Airport and London Heathrow Airport beginning this month. Tennessee continues to be one of the top locations for foreign direct investment, with more than 900 foreign companies operating in our state, Governor Haslam said. With this upcoming trip, I look forward to creating future partnerships with European companies as well as building upon the strong relationships we currently have with existing European companies in our state. European companies continue to have a strong presence in Tennessee and after this trip, I hope we are able to further strengthen that presence, Commissioner Rolfe said. Were also looking forward to the start of the British Airways nonstop service from Nashville to London. This will be the only nonstop service between the two cities, and those who take advantage of these flights will have access to 130 additional cities in Europe and across the globe. We believe this will have an incredibly positive impact on future business recruitment in the United Kingdom and Europe. There are more than 560 European-owned businesses that operate in Tennessee, employing approximately 71,000 Tennesseans. Since 2011, European businesses have pledged to invest $4.1 billion in Tennessee and committed to create more than 20,000 jobs. Among notable European FDI projects announced in 2018, Van Hool NV of Belgium announced in April it would invest $47 million to build the companys first U.S. manufacturing facility in Morristown and create nearly 640 jobs in Hamblen County. Trip updates can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/tnecd and Twitter at @tnecd. We were pleased with the development in the first quarter of 2018, we have had a good start to the year, said Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, commenting on the year-on-year rise in first-quarter earnings during the BASF Annual Shareholders Meeting at Congress Center Rosengarten in Mannheim, Germany. At 2.5 billion, income from operations (EBIT) before special items in the first quarter of 2018 was 55 million higher than in the same period of the previous year. This was mainly due to the significant improvement in earnings in the Chemicals and Oil & Gas segments. Sales declined slightly by 211 million compared with the first quarter of 2017 to 16.6 billion. This was attributable to significantly negative currency effects (8%) in all segments. Higher sales prices (+5%), especially in the Functional Materials & Solutions and Chemicals segments, and increased volumes (+2%) had a positive impact on sales. All segments except Performance Products recorded volumes growth. EBIT rose by 70 million as against the first quarter of 2017 to 2.5 billion. Income before taxes and minority interests rose by 36 million to 2.3 billion. The tax rate increased from 22.9% to 24.7%, mainly as a result of higher earnings contributions from companies in countries with a high tax rate, such as Norway. Net income declined by 30 million to 1.7 billion. Earnings per share were 1.83 in the first quarter of 2018, compared with 1.86 in the prior-year period. Earnings per share adjusted for special items and amortization of intangible assets amounted to 1.93 (first quarter of 2017: 1.97). Cash flows from operating activities in the first quarter of 2018 amounted to 1.2 billion, 398 million above the figure for the prior-year quarter. This was primarily attributable to the lower level of cash tied up in net working capital, largely from receivables. The main offsetting factors were lower amortization and depreciation of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. Free cash flow rose from 66 million in the prior-year quarter to 604 million. Both the higher cash flows from operating activities and the lower payments made for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets contributed to the increase. Dr. Kurt Bock confirmed the outlook for the full year 2018, speaking to shareholders at the BASF Annual Shareholders Meeting. Bock is retiring from BASF SEs Board of Executive Directors at the end of the Annual Shareholders Meeting. He will be succeeded as Chairman by Dr. Martin Brudermuller, who has been a member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE since 2006, Vice Chairman since 2011 and Chief Technology Officer since 2015. Upon the conclusion of the Annual Shareholders Meeting, Chief Financial Officer Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel will assume the role of Vice Chairman. Proposed dividend of 3.10 per share The Board of Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board have proposed to the Annual Shareholders Meeting that the dividend be raised by 0.10 to 3.10 per share. The BASF share thus once more offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.4% based on the 2017 year-end share price of 91.74. Following the adoption of the relevant resolution by the Annual Shareholders Meeting, a total of 2.8 billion will be paid out to shareholders of BASF SE on May 9. Our dividend policy stands for reliability and sustainability. This is a promise we keep, Bock told the shareholders at Rosengarten in Mannheim. Outlook for 2018 confirmed BASFs expectations for the global economic environment in 2018 remain unchanged: Growth in gross domestic product: +3.0% Growth in industrial production: +3.2% Growth in chemical production: +3.4% An average euro/dollar exchange rate of $1.20 per euro An average oil price (Brent) for the year of $65 per barrel BASF confirmed the sales and earnings forecasts for BASF Group contained in its 2017 annual report, which states the company aims to slightly increase sales and EBIT before special items and forecasts a slight decline in EBIT. We want to slightly increase EBIT before special items in 2018, said Bock. This is ambitious because 2017 was a very good year for BASF. Business development in the segments in first quarter 2018 At 4.3 billion, sales in the Chemicals segment slightly exceeded the figure for the prior-year period (first quarter 2017: 4.1 billion). This was largely due to higher prices in the Monomers and Intermediates divisions as well as sales volumes growth in the Petrochemicals division. Sales were however significantly weighed down by currency effects, mainly relating to the U.S. dollar. BASF considerably increased EBIT before special items to more than 1.1 billion, up by 18% compared with the first quarter of 2017, as a result of higher margins and volumes. Sales in the Performance Products segment declined considerably compared with the prior-year quarter and amounted to around 4 billion (first quarter 2017: around 4.3 billion). This was primarily attributable to negative currency effects in all divisions, mainly relating to the U.S. dollar. Sales were also reduced by lower volumes in the Nutrition & Health and Care Chemicals divisions as well as portfolio effects. BASF was able to increase sales prices and, adjusted for currency effects, increased the average margin compared with the prior-year quarter. EBIT before special items nevertheless declined slightly by 45 million year on year to 470 million, largely as a result of negative currency effects. Sales of 5.1 billion in the Functional Materials & Solutions segment were slightly lower than in the prior-year period (first quarter 2017: 5.2 billion). This was mainly due to negative currency effects, which could not be completely offset by higher prices and slight volumes growth. EBIT before special items declined considerably to 333 million as a result of lower margins and higher fixed costs (first quarter 2017: 531 million). Sales in the Agricultural Solutions segment amounted to 1.7 billion, down by 7% compared with the first quarter of 2017. This was primarily attributable to negative currency effects in all regions. Sales were also reduced by slightly lower prices in North America in particular. By contrast, sales volumes increased. Business development in the Northern Hemisphere was dampened by the long and cold winter. At 423 million, EBIT before special items was considerably lower than in the prior-year period (first quarter 2017: 533 million). This was mainly attributable to negative currency effects and higher fixed costs in areas such as production and research. BASF recorded considerable year-on-year sales growth in the Oil & Gas segment. The 14% increase in sales to 945 million was mainly due to price increases, as well as higher volumes from Norway and stronger trading volumes. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil averaged $67 in the first quarter of 2018 (prior-year quarter: $54). Gas prices on the European spot markets also rose significantly compared with the prior-year quarter. This was partially offset by currency effects, primarily relating to the U.S. dollar. EBIT before special items also improved considerably, rising by 195 million versus the previous first quarter to reach 365 million. Sales in Other were down by 9% on the prior-year quarter due, among other things, to lower sales of technical materials and workshop and engineering services. EBIT before special items increased considerably, primarily as a result of valuation effects from the long-term incentive program. One Lakeview man's registration application was denied because the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said he was not the primary resident of an Airbnb unit in a building with four or fewer dwelling units. But according to city Buildings Department records, he is the primary resident, and he holds a certificate of occupancy for seven legal units in the building, which he owns. In buildings with four or fewer apartments, potential hosts can only register a unit that is their primary residence. But because his building has more than four units, that section of the law doesn't appear to apply to him. That move was seen a big blow to ZTE, which has relied on U.S. chips and software to power its smartphones. But it has also reinforced China's determination to accelerate the development of its own high-tech industries and reduce reliance on the United States. In other words, it has reinforced China's determination to pursue its "Made in China 2025 plan" despite U.S. objections, experts said. Recently, Neely added sausages to the menu, but they're not made of pork, veal or even beef. Instead, he is using the new Beyond Sausages, which are the only sausages on offer. In fact, The Moonlighter is the first and currently only chef-driven restaurant in the Chicago area to have them. If you've ever visited Osteria Langhe in Logan Square, you know the strange power of chef Cameron Grant's plin. The petite pinched ravioli are stuffed with creamy La Tur (a three-milk cheese) and then tossed with a simple butter sauce. Each bite is indulgent and rich, yet the ravioli itself is supremely soft and light. Phil Vettel was a fan when he reviewed the restaurant. It's not unusual to look around the room and see a plate of that pasta on every other table. "Kroger is committed to the health and well-being of all our associates and customers. As a precaution, we ask that produce purchased from the store be discarded and customers who may have consumed that produce should be familiar with the symptoms of Hepatitis A and seek medical attention, if needed," a Kroger spokesperson told The Daily Meal. "We are cooperating fully with local health officials to identify both customers and associates who may be at risk and Kroger will reach out directly to them in the coming days." Fey encouraged Letterman to try a Greek spot in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. "There's a place called the Athenian Room, where I used to go all the time. Little, tiny place. They roast these chickens with like lemon and all this stuff, and then they take the big roasted chicken and they put it on a plate of steak fries, and all the lemony chicken fat sinks down into the fries," she said. "And that's why when I left Chicago, I rolled into New York at like a crisp 150 pounds. Just got to New York, and I was like, short hair with a perm, being like, 'Here I am big city.'" ABC/Randy HolmesThis summer, Thirty Seconds to Mars will embark on their Monolith North American tour in support their new album, America. In case you couldn't tell from its title, frontman Jared Leto promises that the Monolith trek will be the "biggest, most ambitious tour of the year." "Or of our lives, I should say," he tells Billboard. "We're playing the biggest venues, we have massive production," Leto continues. "It's ambitious in terms of the size of scope, the creative elements and the places that we're playing. We're incredibly excited about it -- it's really fun to have a summer in the States." Leto also teases that the Monolith shows will boast "a lot of energy, a lot of spontaneity, a lot of participation from the audience, a lot of breaking of tradition." "We're on stage every night to service the audience and put on a show that reminds people about the possibilities of life and how much we all have in common rather than differences," he says. "It's going to be a celebration." The Monolith tour kicks off June 6 in Toronto. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. That environment produced at least one globally popular band, Devo, and one of the decade's most important voices, Chrissie Hynde. It also gave birth to a handful of other important acts, among them the Waitresses, Tin Huey, the Rubber City Rebels and the Bizarros. Defined by its resistance to prevailing trends, the Akron scene borrowed from jazz, garage rock, performance art, Dada and the avant-garde to create a novel and influential musical cocktail. And we probably wouldn't have heard that music had it not been for the calamity at Kent State. Bychkov's recent recording of "Manfred" with the Czech Philharmonic, the orchestra he will take over as chief conductor and music director this fall (he and his new band are scheduled to bring an all-Czech program to Symphony Center in November), is exactly what this music needs: His passionate commitment is matched by orchestral playing of comparable feeling, insight and urgency. And that's the same kind of "Manfred" he delivered with the CSO, in top form, on Thursday night. Speculation had been rampant about whether the actor would still be featured on the show, given the turmoil around his role on Amazon's "Transparent." Tambor officially left that series in February ahead of its fifth season, following multiple misconduct allegations against him by his former personal assistant, Van Barnes, as well as guest star Trace Lysette. Those charges led to an internal investigation by Amazon. Lewis arrived in Mobile and was sold to the owner of a shipping business. He worked toting freight on the Alabama River for more than five years, until the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War freed him in 1865. Then, he and more than two dozen others who had been on the Clotilde banded together and founded Africatown in Plateau, Alabama, where they would be free to speak their language and continue their native customs - and where Hurston would find him more than 60 years later. MILAN Gigi Hadid and Vogue Italia have both apologized for the May Vogue Italia cover that showed the model with a dark skin tone, a distortion that unleashed a social media backlash and underlined the lack of diversity in the fashion industry. In a post on Instagram on Thursday, Hadid said diversity in the industry needs to be addressed and that she does not want "to take opportunities away from anyone else." The cover shot by Steven Klein showed the normally blonde Hadid with dark hair and heavily bronzed skin, wearing a Dolce & Gabbana sequined legging ensemble with matching tiara. Inside, Hadid poses in beachwear in the spread titled "High Voltage." Hadid said the photo shoot that also included digital editing of the photo, "was not executed correctly" and agreed that the concerns raised were "valid." Social media posts decried the dark skin tone, many likening it to the blackface minstrels of the 19th century that promoted racial stereotypes. Others pointed out that Vogue Italia under its previous editor, the late Franca Sozzani, was a prominent advocate for racial diversity in fashion, notably with its famed "All Black" cover in 2008. "I want to address this for those who were offended by the editing/retouch/coloring of the cover. Please know that things would have been different if my control of the situation was different," the model said. "Regardless, I want to apologize because I never want to diminish these concerns." Vogue Italia said Klein's "vision was to create a beachwear-themed story with a stylized bronzing effect," and that "throughout its history, Vogue Italia has respected and encouraged the creative viewpoints of commissioned photographers." But the fashion magazine added that it understood the issues it ignited among its readers. "We sincerely apologize if we have caused any offense." "I've been covering music in Chicago for years, but I did not realize that gospel was created here," Mlinaric said. "I assumed it was something that came up with the Great Migration, but the first gospel song, the first gospel choir, the first gospel publishing company all originated in Chicago. I've lived here for eight years ... there's so much weird history and things that couldn't have happened anywhere else I think it's so exciting to come face to face with those things ... you could easily overlook." Modernism is often accused of being cool and incomprehensible to the man or woman on the street. Yet at The Republic, it spoke with resonant clarity and conviction, powerfully symbolizing the transparency of the free press. Goldsmith's delicate brand of modernism, so different from the muscular structural expressionism associated with Chicago, was perfectly suited to its small-town setting. So deeply was the building ingrained in the life of the town that when the printing press was removed in 1998, to be replaced by a larger one that could only be housed in a new facility, the public took notice. In the Facebook post he goes on to state, "10 minutes into my ride and with no prior interaction between the driver and myself, it took only two words in Hebrew to get my driver (to) start yelling at me." Within weeks, Pruitt instructed his aides to find a way to procure Water-Gen's technology, according to two administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The EPA signed an agreement with the company in January; Pruitt had hoped to announce it while he was in Israel. Water-Gen is now working with EPA technical staff in Cincinnati to test its technology in hopes of obtaining a federal contract to provide drinking water in places where the water supply has been contaminated. "If ... someone finds out you're going to be called as a witness in the Jason Van Dyke trial, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that you're either going to be ostracized, that you'll be intimidated or you might be harmed," the judge said from the bench. The agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was wounded just blocks from where two Chicago police officers were shot by a high-powered rifle while riding in a covert van almost exactly a year ago. One officer was hit in the arm and hip, the other in the back. Last July, another Chicago police officer was shot in the leg while chasing robbers at 46th Street and Ashland Avenue, not far from the other attacks. But department officials said that the recent roster provided to the Tribune did not include some 90 officers on leave from the force or 102 cops who joined the department in April. As of late April, the department had 12,950 officers, a gain of about 1,050 cops since the start of 2017, according to West. That rate of growth would put the department on pace to come within 100 officers of Emanuel's goal. West said she believes the city will hit its hiring goal, in part because the department expects fewer officers to leave in 2018 than in 2017. According to a community alert issued by police, the woman had gotten off a westbound train at 430 S. Western Ave. in the Lawndale neighborhood shortly before 8:30 a.m. She was walking on the platform when a man ran up behind her and pushed her onto the tracks below, authorities said. She suffered only minor injuries. "We are hoping to show the city that it's not necessary no other city has required this," said Chris Nakutis Taylor, Ofo's North American head. He said Ofo educates its riders on correct parking, and that employees make sure bikes are evenly distributed, kept in good repair and out of the public's way. At least one of the robbers was described as black, about 30 years of age, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 150 pounds. He has short black hair and a medium complexion, police said. "That's antithetical to everything (federal law) stands for, which is that all decisions about special education should be individualized," said Ashley Fretthold, an attorney with the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, which has represented special education advocates who pushed for the state inquiry. "They are individualized educational programs. You shouldn't be aiming for some average number as an aggregate, you should be looking at the individual student in assessing their needs." Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort attends a motion hearing at the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 4, 2018. (Shawn Thew / EPA-EFE / Rex / Shutterstock) The president told reporters that "if you fight back because you people say something wrong or they ... something wrong, or they leak, which they've been doing, if you fight back, they say, 'Oh, that's obstruction of justice.' Somebody says something wrong, you fight back, they say, 'That's obstruction of justice.' It's nonsense." "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." "He did everything in his power to promote the program, to grow it and to help students," El-Mazaawi said. "He actually knew how the market changes for these types of jobs, so he was always adjusting the teaching and resources to match the changes." With a new baby coming, we are back in this turmoil and have been looking for infant care since we got pregnant. We are lucky to have supportive employers and, if need be, we can keep her home for several months, but it will be logistically and financially difficult. For many families the strain would be untenable. Paid family leave would offer young families a real solution for these precious first few months; it's the law in some states right now, but not in Illinois nor across the entire country. When we squeeze our eyes shut to imagine the result of Amazon's competition, we conclude Chicago should be a top contender. To establish a corporate hub that will employ thousands of engineers, Amazon according to its own criteria needs to be in a major city with a deep talent pool, strong universities and an international airport. The winning location will have tons of available office space or buildable land, with trains, buses and bike lanes for all those commuters. Amazon also seems inclined to pick a hip, liberal-leaning city not unlike Seattle, the company's home base. Taken aback, she locked herself in and gamely began to sanitize and set up. But she quickly became disgusted. She returned to the desk to request another room and was told there wasn't one. Surely, Keys insisted, she couldn't be the first to object to this arrangement. An argument ensued, and the clerk finally handed Keys a check for her service and told her she was dismissed. They screwed everything up. When the president lied about what he knew of the Daniels payoff, he was doing so because he didn't want people to know the truth. But once Giuliani revealed the truth, why was it necessary to dredge up the fact that the president previously lied? All that did was make the president's life more complicated. He's busy and doesn't have time for trivial things like accountability. At one time Theodore Roosevelt could best be described as a war-monger. He was an imperialist who supported expansionism, and when given the opportunity as assistant secretary of the Navy sent a fateful telegram to Commodore George Dewey that resulted in the rout of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay d+uring the early stages of the Spanish-American War. That's incel-speak. "Chads" in their world are guys who are cool and good-looking enough to attract what incels feel unfairly denied: sex with attractive and sexually active "Stacys." The "supreme gentleman" and "perfect guy" is how Elliot Rodger, perversely an incel patron saint, described himself in a lengthy manifesto before he killed six people and injured 14 others in a 2014 shooting rampage in Isla Vista, Calif. It's outrageous enough that one officer jumped from his car and emptied his gun at a suspect who was not advancing on or otherwise threatening him. But the systemic scandal is that a substantial network of authorities immediately shifted into concealment and denial mode, and that the truth would never have come out were it not for some dogged reporting and the emergence of the dash-cam video. For the most part, we escaped the severe weather Thursday with a few showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and later at night. The big story ended up being the huge 30-plus-degree temperature range across the area, as easterly winds dropped readings along the lakefront and in the Loop into the middle 40s, while inland locations such as Geneva, Joliet and Kankakee warmed into the mid- and upper-70s. O'Hare topped out at 70 degrees in the late morning, before falling back into the 50s when east winds hit later in the afternoon. "We would never dream of allowing students to leave the building unattended during the middle of the school day to walk home for lunch anymore," said Campbell, who marked the Arlington Heights school's 50th anniversary May 3 with students, parents and alumni. After seeing Naked Raygun in Chicago, he tried a seance in his garage to help kickstart his music career. The next decades would include Nirvana, the Foo Fighters and a family of his own. It will also help as IMSA's residence halls age and approach capacity, Armstrong said. The school receives about 80 percent of its funding from the state, which Armstrong said allows the school to maintain operations but does not allow it to keep up facilities. Di Santo said one of the features that persuaded the village to originally hire the firm was its capability to post the results on a series of maps. He said the maps are a visual analysis of responses, such as a community's perception of police services. He said the village can ascertain if residents in a specific area of the village are more satisfied with police services than in another part. The good news, these experts agree, is that kids are more proactive. Rather than sucking it up, as they were told to do in the past, they have been better trained to articulate their feelings and advocate for themselves. Plus, friends or family are more likely to come into the school and talk to counselors about concerns they have for a particular student, said District 131's Bell, "which is a powerful tool we did not have before." When police, alerted by an alarm, arrived minutes later, the group fled into two separate vehicles. Police followed, and they apprehended Holmes when the vehicle in which he was traveling ran out of gas. The other accomplices got into the second vehicle and escaped. Orr's report noted that every vote counts, and that three of the closest races in the county were in the Southland. The race for Bloom Township Democratic committeeman, in which challenger Lori Wilcox stunned incumbent Terry Matthews, was decided by 165 votes out of nearly 10,000 ballots. That's a margin of just 1.68 percent, the clerk said. Scrapping Illinois' constitutional protection of its flat income tax would remove the most significant safeguard against tax hikes for families and businesses. Making all Illinoisans pay more as state lawmakers did last summer is a tougher sell than tinkering with different rates for segregated income groups. You can also raise taxes on one group now and another group later and won't need to deal with nearly as many angry phone calls and emails. The two city parcels border the township's satellite office on Jay Street and the wetland area surrounding it. In 2013, 11 acres of land and a historic lodge were donated to the township by the Illinois chapter of the Izaak Walton League, a nonprofit organization dedicated to land preservation and conservation issues. The township has since set up office at the lodge, and allows the site to be used for activities and Izaak Walton League programs. Raleigh and her husband, Jacob Schuster, also received more than $1,000 for Hannah's Thursday arrival. Evanston Hospital was one of 19 in the Chicago area where Fifth Third Bank was to give $1,053 gift cards to every baby born on May 3 in honor of the bank's name, 5/3. "There is a clear confluence of emotions," Sterling said. "They have intense love for each other. Back then that's all they felt that they had. There is a degree of ambivalence that they had for the university given what they were put through and given that they barely recognize the university with the incredible changes that have occurred" since 1968. She also talked about her pets, Thunder and Lightning, and inviting everyone to come over to her house in the early 1950s to watch the presidential inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower, as they were one of the few families in town to have a TV at that point. "The fact that we don't have the money yet doesn't preclude us from doing so," Nahrstadt said. "We're waiting for the final environmental assessment (and then) we will go back and talk about what steps we can take." President Moon took office in a time of tension and uncertainty on both sides of the 38th Parallel, where the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) divides Korea. South Korea had just experienced impeachment and removal from office of President Park Geun-hye, the daughter of Gen. Park Chung-hee. He emerged from a military coup in the early 1960s to rule South Korea until his 1979 assassination. "These have a real impact on our ability to serve the community," he said, noting that the truck exhaust, especially diesel, can very harmful in the long run. He said the new air tanks are state-of-art, including one that is equipped with thermal imaging. "Something that really stood out to me about Griffin was his super-compassionate heart," she wrote. "If someone started to say that he had done a really good job on something, he always tried to turn it around to make sure they were receiving the praise. Kittur and the 52 other students who won those competitions now are in the running to become one of five national finalists, in which the public can help decide, starting May 7, by voting online for their favorite Doodle. "But these particular precincts increased a lot more than the other precincts relative to these precincts' turnout in 2014, considering how low they had been before," Kenny said. "I assume that face-to-face contact or at least the flyer left at each door may have been partially responsible for these precincts relatively significant increase from 2014." Zhang has been involved with the group since his freshman year. He has served as Naperville North's chapter president and nationally as the chief of staff and deputy director of fundraising. The concept proposed for VR 360 Playground, according to owner Marcus Beam, is the use of virtual reality devices that allow patrons to have experiences like climbing Mount Everest or touring Paris without ever leaving Naperville. Beyond that, customers could participate in activities such as virtual bowling and virtual hunting. "It does glorify it in a way, but it's not a problem because we also show the horrors and reality that those soldiers of the past faced," he says. "The glory was the only thing that got them out of their hole to go forward. When battle is engaged, no one can think about their family or country, just the people standing on either side of them. There is glory in sacrificing yourself. It's one of the most selfless things you can do and that's what we remember. We never hide the squalor, wounds or the mud. War in itself is the worst thing that can happen. One of the blessings and curses is that we have not had total war on our shores since the Civil War, so people can forget. If you minimize the cost of war, then you are minimizing these men's achievements in getting through it." "When I was in elementary school, I thought the evergreen trees at one edge of the property were the end of the world, literally," he said with a smile. "Our kids don't live in a world like that anymore. They know how big the world is. And I think [the fair] is a great way of helping everybody understand each other and hopefully make it a kinder, gentler world that we live in." "He was encouraging outside of providing a place to eat and sleep, he was like a father away from home," Boone said of Wells. "Through the years, he followed me and kept me in his mind. I am what I am today because of IU." Jones disappeared after she was last seen Oct. 8 at Gary City Court, police said at the time. Vann said he killed her for $300 and two eight-balls of crack cocaine after meeting at a house that was for sale in Merrillville to have sex, court records state. He used the same brown cord to strangle Jones that he later used on Hardy, according to the agreement. Her body was stuffed in a garbage can and he took her to the Glen Park home, records show. "Our police department here not only covers our campus, we patrol the surrounding streets as well," said officer Anthony Ortiz, who currently is an IUN police officer who will graduate this spring. "We have a partnership with the Gary Police Department three of our officers assist on their S.W.A.T. team, and we have our own Detective Department." Residences at Coffee Creek, 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, has announced Kaitlynn Redmon as executive director and Natalie Reisen as marketing coordinator. Both will serve as an integral part of the leadership team as the doors open to new senior living residents this summer. Redmon joins the team with ten years of senior living experience. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Indiana University South Bend and has a minor in business administration. Redmon is a licensed Indiana Health Facility Administrator and has had extensive training in residential and dementia care throughout her career. Reisen joins the team with six years of healthcare marketing and senior living experience. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from Purdue University North Central and holds a Masters of Business Administration from University of Saint Francis. In addition, she is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Slated to open this summer, Residences at Coffee Creek is locally owned and operated, providing a collection of private, senior living apartments, with maintenance-free living and personalized care, if needed. More information is at 219-921-5200 or www.ResidencesatCoffeeCreek.com. The Legislature this year amended the law giving the Indiana Election Commission until July 1 to identify Lake County voter precincts with fewer than 600 active voters; and to see that precinct boundaries conflict with state standards, according to the bill amendment. The bills said if the commission cannot adopt a plan that duty will fall to the secretary of state. "I would venture to say that there are likely to be many more native-born Americans engaging in those acts than are undocumented immigrants," Piquero told me. "What we are seeing, though, are similar findings including a recent study at the macro-level showing that undocumented immigration does not increase violence showing up in various studies around the United States, using various samples, cities, and methodologies. It is coalescing on what we in the social sciences call a fact: Immigrants are not engaging in the levels of crime that some people believe that they are." "Jordan Somer was just another kid who loved volunteering with the Special Olympics," the organization's website says. "Jordan took the premise of pageantry, a vehicle that she had always used to expand her potential, and made it accessible and empowering for the female athletes she had met at the Special Olympics." Here we sit as a nation with the most talented and dedicated president we have ever experienced nd his talents are watered down fighting off sore losers from the last election who are more concerned with revenge than the well being of the country in which they live? Our great president is attacking issues which have been swept under the carpet for over 8 years. He spends more time and effort explaining a 12 year old affair than past presidents did when they had the affair while in office. 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. Our weekly round up of other news affecting foreign investors throughout Asia: Singapore Announces New FinTech Fast Track Initiative 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. Indias Tourism Sector: New Investment Opportunities Emerge as Market Segments Widen Indias travel and tourism industry generated US$91.3 billion (Rs 5,949 billion) in 2017, and is projected to double over the next decade. Foreign spending alone accounted for US$26 billion (Rs 1,961 billion) last year. Russian e-Commerce Boost as Tax Threshold on Imported Parcels Reduced Russias e-commerce industry and those who sell to Russia online received a timely boost with the Ministry of Economic Development permitting a reduction in the import tax threshold for imported parcels to duty-free for all packages valued at 500 euros or less. How Foreign Businesses Can Prosper from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative: Exploit the Infrastructure An as yet unanswered question posed by many foreign commercial attaches to China and the international business community at large has been how their related businesses can be included in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and be part of that. Vietnam: New Regulations for Online Gaming, Social Networks, and Information Websites Vietnam has issued new regulations for social networking websites, information sites, and online gaming service providers. Read more to know about the new procedures and conditions related to licensing, user privacy, data retention, and content management. Karl Marx's statue in his hometown infuses philosopher's soul with art, writes its sculptor Wu Weishan. In the history of human civilization, people have erected statues to show their recognition of human values and to celebrate men of special significance. Thus, Western history can be read through sculptures, which aren't just about aesthetic appreciation but also have cultural and epochal value. On the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx's birth, a bronze statue of Marx, at a height of 5.5 meters, will find its home in a public square in Trier, Germany, Marx's hometown on Saturday. The statue also reflects the city's profound historical and cultural traditions. As the sculptor of the bronze statue, I'm proud that its appearance in Trier has drawn global attention. As history has entrusted me the mission to infuse the philosopher's soul with art, it is not only about conveying personal style and emotions, but also the friendship between Chinese and Germans. Recalling the two years of the creating process of the statue arouses waves of emotions in me. The story began with my trip to Trier in January 2016, with respect and dreams of decades. As one of the oldest cities in Germany, Trier got fame as early as 2,000 years ago during the Roman times. The river Moselle slowly winds through, reflecting the city's elegance and primitive simplicity. The red sandstone hills and warm purple forests under the winter sunshine echo with Roman architecture, whose poetic tone reminds me of the early Renaissance oil paintings. Having witnessed numerous pedestrians coming and going for thousands of years, the stone roads are burnished with sheen. The holy melody of the church organs and the slow rhythm of life tell the city's long history. All of these are filled with the historical and cultural profoundness of the great man's birthplace. Wolfram Leibe, the Lord Mayor, Andreas Ludwig, the director of the city's planning department, and all the citizens I saw were in high spirits. At Karl Marx House, the former residence of Marx, I sensed why a member of the lawyer family was born with the genes of reason and logic. Marx had spent his childhood and a part of his teenage life in Trier before he went to the University of Bonn at the age of 17, and later studied law at the University of Berlin, where he was fascinated by philosophy and history. Step by step, he walked toward the forefront of European culture and then made his way into the world. That was when I came up with the concept of the Marx statue. Accompanied by the mayor, we went to the designated location of the statue. Knowing that the city has invited a Chinese artist for the statue, some of my German peers had come from Berlin. And, a number of journalists, citizen representatives and role-players of Marx were there, too. In Germany, it requires social participation, repeated public discussions in media and a vote through parliament to build a statue in public spaces. Facing the media and the public, I talked about Marx's commitment to the dedication of happiness for all, his perseverance in search for the truth, his calmness when overcoming adversity in his life, as well as his optimism and confidence for enriching his life. Marx had been voted "the greatest thinker of the millennium" by BBC News Online readers and topped several lists of the greatest philosophers in history, which made Germany proud. For a century Chinese society has achieved great progress by combining Marxism with Chinese social realities. In that sense, a Marx statue by a Chinese sculptor will become a bond of friendship between China and Germany. As a Chinese artist, I grew up with a portrait of Marx at home. His iconic hairstyle and moustache, as well as the thoughtful expressions had found their way to my heart and soul. Images of a man change according to different stages in his life. As the first large outdoor sculpture of the city, I intended to conform it to Marx's identity as a great thinker and philosopher and meanwhile apply an image that had represented Chinese people's impression of him. Chen Xiaoqing, the chief and director of the first two seasons of the food documentary A Bite of China, is selecting free-range chickens in Beijing with Liu Guozhu, a chef specializing in "Tan family cuisine". Tan family cuisine is part of China's rich culinary heritage dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when Tan Zongjun (1846-88), an official from Canton, took up residence in Beijing and discovered Lu cuisine, one of the eight culinary traditions, which is derived from the cooking style found in the northern coastal province of Shandong. The pair are visiting markets in the capital to find ingredients for the dual Michelin-starred Golden Flower restaurant in the Wynn Macao, where Liu is the executive chef. A team of photographers and a camera crew record them as they inspect the birds, but instead of standing behind the camera, Chen is the focus of their lenses in his role as a guest host of the upcoming food documentary Gastronomy Treasures of Macao. "I used to direct others. This is the first time I'm being directed," Chen says. While shooting the documentary, Chen visited Japan, Beijing and Sichuan province and, of course, Macao. Joined on his journey by several different Macao-based chefs, the show sees them share their stories while demonstrating their cooking skills and use of ingredients. Lin Hwai-min, the founder and artistic director of an internationally acclaimed dance group from Taiwan, has been at the helm of his project for more than 40 years and is looking forward to winding down. The 71-year-old award-winning choreographer founded Cloud Gate in 1973, when he was 26. He wanted to create the first contemporary dance company for all Chinese-speaking communities. Lin will step down as artistic director at the end of 2019, something he is happy about, especially in light of the excessive traveling that comes with the job. At the start of 2020, I will look forward to staying in my own flat, washing the dishes, doing laundry, sweeping the floors, and going to the market, Lin said. He added that catching up on box-sets of the popular British drama series Downton Abbey is also high on his retirement to-do list. He will decide his next steps after that. Cloud Gate will not, however, be completely out of his life because he will remain a member of its board. We just wrapped up a 40-day United States tour and then we will be in Europe for seven weeks, with more to come. So, Ill be happy to stay home, he said. The troupe will be in Londons Sadlers Wells theater this month staging the UK premier of Formosa. Formosa, means beautiful in Portuguese and Lins new work takes inspiration from the legendary words uttered by Portuguese sailors in the 16th century when they first saw the island of Taiwan. In the production, Lin and 22 dancers explore how writing has the power to change memories, and how history can be rewritten and distorted. Taking inspiration from words about Taiwan that have appeared in poetry and essays, Lin said the performance is open to interpretation. Toward the end, they fall apart, characters fall apart and become meaningless strokes and lines, he said. Lin brings together Western contemporary dance with Chinese traditions and Cloud Gate dancers are trained in meditation, qigong, martial arts, modern dance, and ballet. At the beginning, all new dancers in the company hated it because they were brought up with Western training, classical ballet, and modern. All of a sudden, were asking them to sit down, close their eyes and meditate, Lin said. But, gradually, they started to love it. As Lin winds his career down, he feels he has achieved what he set out to do and is happy the company has toured internationally, performed in Hong Kong, and taken shows back to its roots in Taiwan, where it has performed for various communities. He hopes his work will continue after he retires and his company will remain a core institution on the island and attract a new generation of performers. Cheng Tsung-lung, artistic director of Cloud Gate 2, will succeed Lin and direct Cloud Gate. Formosa will be at Sadlers Wells from May 9 to May 12. Legendary Hong Kong director Tsui Hark returns with a new sequel to the blockbuster "Detective Dee" franchise to be released in the summer after a five-year wait. A combination of posters showing the six main characters of "Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings" are released on May 3, 2018. [Photo / China.org.cn] "Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings," the third installment of the series, stars actor Mark Chao as a young Detective Dee, while actors Feng Shaofeng, Lin Gengxin and actress Carina Lau will also return to reprise their roles. Tsui appeared with Chao, Feng, Lin and actress Ma Sichun on stage to promote the film in Beijing on Thursday alongside general executive producer Chen Kuo-fu, Huayi Brothers Media's founder and CEO Wang Zhonglei, Huayi Brothers Media's vice president Jerry Ye, and screenplay writer Chang Chia-lu. During the film production, Tsui came up with many new ideas, said Chen, which increased the costs. Wang did however finally approve the budget based on his trust in Tsui to deliver a new hit. "The summer season will be fiercely competitive for films, but the good quality of our film will make it a winner and praised by the audience," said Jerry Ye, also the general manager of Huayi Brothers Pictures. China is stepping up its support for small and micro businesses by offering new tax cuts and better financial services, officials said Thursday. Seven new tax policies are expected to save the businesses a total of 60 billion yuan ($9.45 billion) per year, vice finance minister Cheng Lihua said at a press conference. The reduction will act as an incentive for enterprises in upgrading equipment and improving employee training, as well as encouraging research and development efforts. Small and micro enterprises play a vital role in driving economic growth, employment and innovation, Cheng said, adding that China has created a framework of favorable policies to lower burdens, spur innovation and support financing. By eliminating excessive fees, the banking sector saw an increase of 44 billion yuan in revenue concessions in 2017 from a year earlier, Wang Zhaoxing, vice chairman of China's top banking and insurance regulator, said at the press conference. Banks are prohibited from charging small and micro-businesses fees other than loan interest, the rate of which is stable and declining, Wang said. "Commercial banks have been asked to weight more of their loans toward small and micro businesses," he said, adding that qualified banking institutions are encouraged to issue financial bonds to these businesses in expanding their financing channels. Total outstanding loans to small and micro businesses stood at 31.7 trillion yuan by the end of the first quarter this year, up 1.02 trillion yuan from the end of 2017, official data showed. China is speeding up reforms in the financial sector and focusing on solving the problem of small and micro enterprises finding it tough and expensive to access financing, according to this year's government work report. China's central bank said Thursday that it has inked a currency swap agreement with its counterpart in Nigeria. The agreement will allow the two sides to swap a total of 15 billion Chinese yuan ($2.35 billion) for 720 billion Nigerian naira, or vice versa, in the next three years, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) said on its website. The move is aimed at facilitating bilateral trade and investment and promoting the financial stability of both sides, the PBOC said. The deal can be extended by mutual consent. 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. Prosecutors in Hebei province began to build a public interest litigation case on Wednesday against people they say defamed a martyr. The action came a day after a national law protecting the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs went into effect in China to promote patriotism and socialist core values. The people's procuratorate of Zhangjiakou's Huailai county launched a campaign on Tuesday to investigate activities it says defame Dong Cunrui (1929-48). Dong was born in the county and killed during the civil war. According to investigators, a cemetery in Huailai commemorating Dong is not open to the public, and there is a lot of information on the internet defaming him - an activity that is now against the law. Memorials for heroes and martyrs should be open to the public for free, the law stipulates. It also bans activities that defame heroes and martyrs or distort or diminish their deeds. People who desecrate the names, portraits, reputations or honor of martyrs should be punished, it says. Based on the results of an investigation, the procuratorate sent out a suggestion the next day to local public security bureaus and civil affairs bureaus, demanding that they prevent such activities. This is a pre-litigation process, a procedure that takes place before a procuratorate files an administrative public interest litigation case in court, said He Yonggang, deputy head of the department for civil and administrative cases at Huailai county's procuratorate. The bureau of civil affairs in Huailai was ordered to open the cemetery to the public at no charge, while the bureau of public security was told to delete online information that undermines Dong's reputation. "If related administrative organs perform their duty after receiving a procuratorial suggestion, no lawsuit against them will be filed," He said, adding that administrative organs normally do as procuratorates demand, which saves trouble and resources. Dong Cunrui was killed in Longhua, Hebei, in 1948 after holding up a dynamite bag to destroy an enemy's blockhouse and clear a way for fellow soldiers. Because of his sacrifice, Dong was hailed as a war hero across China. However, the historical facts and his status as a hero have been challenged in recent years in media articles and on the internet. Those challenges twisted the facts, authorities said. A video clip showing a female student being chased and bitten by stray dogs on her campus has prompted authorities of her university to step up efforts to remove strays wandering around campus which pose a threat to student safety, the Beijing News reported on Thursday. In the 40-second video clip, shot at about 9 p.m. on May 1 on the campus of the Xiangtan University, Hunan province, one student is seen being chased by a group of stray dogs. In her panic, she ran in several directions before falling down in the grass. An announcement posted on the university's official WeChat account on May 3 gave a detailed description of the situation, saying that two female students from the university were chased and bitten by several stray dogs on campus on May 1 and May 2. One young woman was bitten in the back of the right hand and the waist, while the other was bitten in the right leg. Both were immediately accompanied by teachers to the school hospital to receive treatment for their bites and rabies vaccinations, according to the announcement. It was also announced that the two students' physical condition is now stable, and they have returned to normal school life. The Security Department of Xiangtan University said that it has immediately taken a series of emergency measures to deal with the situation, including an all-day security patrol across campus and an issuance of security tips to students. On May 2, the university authorities held an urgent meeting to address the improvement of the campus environment. They pledged follow-up care to the wounded students and further removal of the stray dogs to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. Regarding the large number of stray dogs on campus, an official at the university's publicity department explained that many of the animals were originally adopted pets belonging to students who later abandoned them upon graduating or beginning internships. In response to the announcement, the official added that, instead of catching and euthanizing the campus dogs, the university authorities will attempt to take more humane approaches, such as sending them to local animal rescue centers. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) attends a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 27, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] It is not common practice in transatlantic relations for the leaders of the two leading EU member-states, France and Germany, to pay successive visits within the same week to the White House. This is what happened a few days ago when both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel went to the U.S. to meet President Donald Trump. Clearly, transatlantic relations have been strained since Trump came to power. He does not believe in the project of European integration, he asks European NATO members to pay more, and he generally does not value the EU role in international affairs. But these issues are well-known and cannot explain the decision of Macron and Merkel to visit Trump in the last week of April as a matter of urgency. The main reason why they did so is related to two additional thorns in the transatlantic partnership. The first is the introduction of tariffs in the U.S. import of steel and aluminum, which might soon damage relevant European industries. And the second is the forthcoming speech of Trump regarding Iran, which is expected to be made on May 12 and might lead to a potential withdrawal of his country from the 2015 nuclear deal. Starting with the serious economic differences, Trump seems prepared to act in order to alter the trade imbalances. Looking at the trade volume of goods between the EU and the U.S., the former has been enjoying a significant surplus for years. European Commission data show that this surplus was 122.0 billion in 2015, 113.2 billion in 2016 and 119.7 in 2017. The degree of the problem is apparent when looking at some additional data. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the French trade surplus in goods with the U.S. was $17.6 billion in 2015, $15.5 billion in 2016 and $15.3 billion in 2017. The German surplus was $74.8 billion in 2015, $64.7 billion in 2016 and $64.2 billion in 2017. Trump often refers to both these economic relationships as unfair. He also did so during his press conference with Merkel, for instance, exposing the stance of his predecessors. The EU has been exempted from the tariffs introduced in March but for a short period expiring at the beginning of May. Both Macron and Merkel want to make some concessions in order to push Trump to continue exempting the EU from the tariffs in the long-term. The American president will hardly be conciliatory on the matter though. His determination to fix unfair trade is placed in the framework of the "America First" agenda and is becoming even more significant in view of the November mid-term elections. As far as the Iran nuclear agreement is concerned, the EU principally France, Germany and the U.K. are offering to Trump some new measures to punish Tehran for its ballistic missile program and its "destabilizing" actions in the Middle East region. The next few days will be important as the American president has to evaluate whether these measures are sufficient in order for the U.S. to keep the nuclear deal alive. The theme is very complicated because France, Germany and the U.K. also need to obtain consensus at the EU level to proceed. This has not happened yet. There are important European countries such as Italy which do not want to see the business honeymoon started after July 2015 to be suddenly stopped. Trump is putting the EU under serious pressure. He is able to use the verbal threat of tariff as a bargaining tool to ask Europe to do more to punish Iran. Irrespective of future developments it is straightforward that the EU cannot collaborate with the U.S. under its own terms as it used to do in the years of Barack Obama. So, Macron and Merkel are endeavoring to appease the pain as much as they can. Most international media frame the recent visits of Macron and Merkel in the U.S. from the perspective of the personal relationship between themselves and Trump. And they conclude that the latter likes the French president more than the German chancellor. But international politics are not shaped by that kind of sympathies. The main conclusion after the recent meetings in the White House is that the U.S. president is setting the tone in transatlantic relations. Nice speeches as the one given by Macron in the U.S. Congress are not warping the new reality. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to an exhibition of cultural relics at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei province, April 27, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] The recent informal summit meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the central Chinese city of Wuhan is likely to create a virtuous circle of relations among South Asian nations. In a dramatic move, Xi and Modi apparently held their fence-mending parleys to leave behind rancorous feelings caused by the Donglang (Doklam) standoff some months ago and make a fresh start. They sought to overcome distrust amidst changing regional and geopolitical circumstances. Certain segments of Indian society, including conservative political and elite groups as well as the media, were taken aback by Modi's unconventional way of thawing ties with China. But seen from a larger perspective, their rounds of informal meetings will be a milestone in ensuring regional security, development and peace. They will contribute to lessening the enmity between India and Pakistan to some extent. The Indian prime minister is expected to shed some amount of Sinophobia that had arisen from the growing number of Chinese-funded development projects in the region. A string of South Asian countries, such as Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bangladesh have already joined China's ambitious global project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to enhance their connectivity, investment, trade, economic growth and people-to-people relations. With a siege mentality, India is still shying away from participating in the BRI, as it sees the modern version of the ancient Silk Road only from a security lens, undermining its greater economic, technological and cultural prospects. It is imperative for India to stop looking askance at the myriad Chinese-funded projects aimed at bridging infrastructural deficits and creating jobs, among other goals. Sandwiched between the two giant neighbors, Nepal will benefit significantly more from their mutual bonhomie than from their confrontation. The Sino-Indian entente is propitious for the country when it comes to implementing projects under the BRI framework. India has been creating hurdles to the implementation of BRI projects in Nepal. If India's relations with China improve significantly, it won't put a spoke in Nepal's wheel. Nepal and China have been working to bring Chinese rail to the country, much to the consternation of its southern neighbor. The construction of proposed railway tracks from Kerung to Kathmandu will move smoothly as Sino-Indian tensions subside. Likewise, this will reduce the security threat coming from the south, thereby making more entry points along the Nepal-China border accessible to Nepalis. More importantly, the Sino-Indian entente will be catalytic in realizing the much talked-about trilateral cooperation between Nepal, China and India. On the geopolitical front, Nepal will feel confidence in dealing with Western powers, especially the European Union, if India and China become friendlier and more cooperative with each other. Of late, the EU has been funding some ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in Nepal to weaken the state and create grounds for social conflict. Such gratuitous foreign meddling will be checked once trilateral cooperation between the three countries takes a more concrete shape. Some detractors have warned that Nepal should be cautious as its two big neighbors prepare for a comprehensive partnership. They emphasize a proverb: When two elephants fight or play with each other, it is the grass that suffers the most. However, there is reason to be optimistic about the positive outcomes of improved Sino-Indian relations. China has repeatedly said that it respects and defends the sovereignty of Nepal. It has also made it clear that it won't enhance ties with India at the cost of smaller nations in South Asia. Modi is visiting Nepal on May 11 to give momentum to Nepal-India relations in the changed context. During the trip, his body language and tone will be closely watched to determine whether or not his surprising diplomatic venture to restore relations with China is motivated by vested geopolitical interest in the region. Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash A damaged bus is seen at a blast site in Attock, Punjab Province, Pakistan, on May 3, 2018. [Photo/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. Flash Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addresses the High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace at the UN headquarters in New York on April 24, 2018. [Xinhua] Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday ruled out renegotiating the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal or holding talks over its missile program. "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 May 12 deadline looms for U.S. 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 program after 2025. In January, Trump extended sanctions relief on Iran under the deal for the last time, threatening to withdraw from it if U.S. 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 United States a new deal particularly as it is not honoring the deal it has already made," he said. The Iranian minister also criticized the European parties in the deal for what he called their "concessions" to U.S. 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 defense capabilities, and regional influence," Zarif said. Washington should honor its commitments under the deal, otherwise should accept responsibility for the consequences of withdrawal from it, he added. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. 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. When going Dutch is the thing to do Updated: 2018-05-04 07:07 By Maggie Beale(HK Edition) Many places of the world share their cultures, cuisines and artistic talents with us here in Hong Kong. We revelled in Irish March in our restaurants, bars as well as over a lovely tram ride earlier in the year. And most recently, throughout April - for the fourth year in a row - we saw the rich highlights of The Kingdom of the Netherlands featured around town. Most often referred to as Holland, much of the country is bordered by the North Sea. It is known for its endless sandy beaches, with protective dykes and dunes, as well as its windmills and tulips, to say nothing of the extraordinary talents of its artists, particularly those from the country's 17th-century "Golden Age" such as Adert de Gelder and Jan de Brat. Who could fail to admire the talent of Dirck Hals, perfectly depicted in his Gentlemen Smoking and Playing Backgammon, or the prolific works of Vincent Van Gogh? Delftware - the famous blue and white tin-glazed pottery - was on show as part of the Dutch Days exposition. Dutch food dishes were showcased too, with special menus at Brasserie on the Eighth in the Conrad Hotel, and also in the concept store Van Gogh Senses at 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui. The art-themed concept store was created by shipping entrepreneur Reynold Li, liberally supported by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. It aims to present the work of Van Gogh to the masses with a selection of cakes, coffee and fine dining plates inspired by the artist's work. Pieter Onderwater founded the famous Orange Tree restaurant in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong. I remember it well from back in the 1990s. This was where the then fledgling Wine Writers Circle held many of its meetings and enjoyed the convenience of eating delicious food afterwards. These days at Orange Tree the menu features many of the Netherlands' prime dishes - the famous black mussels from Zeeland, classic steaks, fish and even kroket/frikandel and tiramisu with stroopwafels! The roasted North Sea cod loin in saffron sauce is super-tasty. And of course there are everyone's prime favorites such as bitter ballen, a type of Dutch meatball. I've even enjoyed these - by special request - at the Iron Fairies bar and restaurant in Central. Hey, you never know until you ask! At Orange Tree there are numerous palate teasers including mini beef croquettes, dijon mustard frikandels, North Sea shrimps, grilled squid, matjes herring, Amsterdam onions, gherkins and apple wood smoked eel fillets amongst other culinary delights. And that's before you even reach for the "main" dishes. For carnivores, there's lamb fillets and eggplant baked in puff pastry or perhaps steak tartare "Orange-Tree style", roasted organic chicken, sauted mushrooms, caramelized carrots, thyme, or oven-roasted lamb shanks. Everyone is a winner. Speaking of winners and bringing a touch of the Netherlands even closer to Hong Kong, the background music featured in the television broadcasts of Hong Kong Jockey Club's Mark Six draws is a version of "Inkpot", a song written by the Dutch rock band Shocking Blue from the Hague. (HK Edition 05/04/2018 page10) PJI Helps Church Win Opening Round of Battle Over Property Tax's Constitutionality Contact: Brad Dacus, Pacific Justice Institute, 916-616-4126 SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 4, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Represented by the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), a San Rafael church has won round one of its battle with the City of San Rafael over the constitutionality of a local tax on non-residential structures. In September 2017, Valley Baptist Church (VBC) filed a lawsuit in Marin County Superior Court asking that the City's Paramedic Services Special Tax be declared invalid as applied to the church under the California Constitution. The City's voters enacted the Tax, which taxes non-residential structures at a rate of up to 14 cents per square foot, via referendum by a two-thirds vote in 2010. Because the California Constitution exempts buildings used exclusively for religious purposes from property taxation, VBC sued to have the Tax declared unconstitutional as applied to the church, as well as to recover monies paid under protest pursuant to the Tax as a condition of filing suit. In an effort to uphold the Tax, the City attempted to get VBC's case thrown out of court, filing a motion for judgment on the pleadings in March 2018. Among other things, the City asserted that VBC did not state a claim for which relief could be granted because the Tax, in the City's view, is a "special tax" and not a "property tax." VBC countered that the Tax was, in fact, a "property tax"the "special tax" label notwithstandingbecause it triggered a duty on the part of owners of non-residential structures on real property in San Rafael to pay the Tax. The Court sided with VBC, denying the City's motion in its entirety. Because the Court has determined that VBC has stated a valid claim for relief, VBC can now proceed to have its case heard on the merits. "This is a huge victory for churches all over California," said PJI President Brad Dacus. "If all a city has to do to tax churches in the state is call a proposed tax on real property a 'special tax,' place it on a local ballot and get two-thirds of the city's voters to approve it, then the city has effectively found a way to get around California's constitutional and statutory provisions protecting church property from taxation. That would defeat the whole point of having such protections to begin with." Federal, state, and local governments have long granted tax exemptions to churches and other religious non-profit organizations because of the significant and beneficial social services such religious organizations provide to their communities. Churches or religious organizations that need assistance in a tax-related matter are encouraged to contact PJI at (916) 857-6900. Share Tweet Pulse Survivor is Free in Jesus WASHINGTON, May 4, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- A survivor of the 2016 mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse Nightclub will be speaking in Washington, D.C., this Saturday. Luis Ruiz is giving credit to Jesus Christ for setting him free from his past, including homosexuality. Ruiz will share his testimony at the Freedom March this Saturday, May 5, 2018. The event is open to the public and will have speakers from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the National Sylvan Theater, near the intersection of the northwest corner of 15th Street and Independence Avenue. Then at 3:00 p.m., they will begin marching from that location. That night in the Pulse Nightclub, the last call for alcohol went out when Ruiz and his friends heard someone screaming to get out. He and his friends were joking, "Wow, they [the bouncers] are trying to kick us out already!" Ruiz explained that right away, the shooter was in front of him. "My friend literally grabbed me and pushed me out the door, and thats when I was able to run out." However, a locked gate still trapped a group of them next to the building. They kept hearing screams and shots getting closer. Ruiz and another person started kicking down a locked gate. "Our adrenalin was pumping!" he said. He recalls his foot being caught in the gate and being trampled by people running out though the hole they opened. Because of their efforts, others were able to get to safety. In pain and unable to walk, he was taken to the hospital. He said his friend who pushed him out the door was still in the club. "He was there with his partner, and once rescued, they both died in the hospital." After the shooting, Ruiz felt God tugging on his heart, saying, "Hey, I'm giving you another chance." But Ruiz was still trying to drown the memories with alcohol. He described it as "really messy." The breaking point was when he found out he was HIV positive. "That hit me hard. I realized I was making a lot of bad choices. I was burned out and lying flat on the floor. I needed my life to change." Even though he knew there was medication for HIV, that was the point he decided to turn to Christ and to ask for help to make lifestyle changes. "Little by little, it was a process. I would leave church and go to the club. But in that time, Jesus was taking those things away without any effort from me." The 34-year-old grew up as a preacher's kid and said, "I had the Word inside me since I was a little babe." However, there was a gap between those struggling with homosexuality and the church. "When I came out of the closet, it was hard. The church was not equipped for it." So Ruiz left and joined the military. However, he passionately says, "I believe the time is now to bridge the gap that was broken between the church and the LBGTQ community and without compromising the truth of Scripture, they can come as they are and allow the Holy Spirit to take care of that." While every Christian struggles with sin of some kind, it has not been easy for Ruiz. "I feel there still is temptation, and some days are tougher than others, but I feel free from it. I am not doing it on my own I'm letting Christ guide me in that." Ruiz shared through a Facebook post about Saturday's march, "I remember my struggles of perversion, heavy drinking to drown out everything and having promiscuous sex that led to HIV. My struggles were real! The enemy had its grip, and now God has taken me from that moment and has given me Christ Jesus. I've grown to know His love in a deeper level. 2 out of the 49 [victims of the Pulse shooting] were my close friends and are no longer with us. They lost their life that night. I should have been number 50 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 His love. I know who I am and I am not defined with who the enemy says I use to be - but who Christ Jesus says I am." "In relationship with Jesus Christ, there is hope and forgiveness. You become a new creation. The old has past and the new has come. Luis Ruiz has been set free" said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "There is freedom and hope for all who believe," Staver said. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. 'Wall of Separation' Virginians Need Not Apply Ballot Access Requirements creates "Wall of Separation" Contact: Matt Waters, 757-254-4813, ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 4, 2018 / Waters said, "The Constitution has a few simple requirements in order to run for the United States Senate: that you be thirty years old, a resident of the state, and a citizen for nine years." "The state of Virginia, and in particular the two political parties, have added several additional and nearly impossible requirements in order to run for statewide office: you must collect 10,000 signatures, 4,400 must be from each one of Virginia's 11 congressional districts, and all signatures must be from registered voters." "In order to accomplish these additional burdens to run for office, the Republican and Democrat parties have erected a 'Wall of Separation' between the voters and their chosen candidates. Make no mistake, what Republicans and Democrats are saying to Virginians is: 'Regular citizens, whose career is not shameless self-promotion, raising taxes or running up the debt, they are not welcome to run for office.'" "Shame on the GOP for playing politics and excluding one of their own in the primary. But this is not new for the Virginian Republican Party. The GOP in Virginia has a long history of double-dealing and back-stabbing. One need only point to Lt. Col Oliver North's race for Senate, and the abysmal treatment to Lt. Gov. candidate Mike Farris. Both were rejected by the Establishment GOP and lost their bids for office." "It is my hope that Ivan Raiklin's lawsuit prevail over the special interests in Richmond who have actively worked to keep ordinary people out of the political process." Waters' campaign is actively collecting signatures from registered Virginian voters. "The ballot access process costs candidates, at a minimum, $25,000. My guess is ninety percent of Virginians are excluded because of this unreasonably high threshold to run for office. And its a sad day for liberty when a regular guy like Raiklin plays by the rules, and appears to have been sent packing by the GOP. The Libertarian Party welcomes all people, regardless of their status." Matt Waters can be contacted at 757-254-4813 or by email, Share Tweet Contact: Matt Waters, 757-254-4813, mw@mattwaters.com ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 4, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Libertarian nominee for US Senate, Matt Waters, voiced his support for GOP Candidate Ivan Raiklin's lawsuit against John Findlay, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, and others.Waters said, "The Constitution has a few simple requirements in order to run for the United States Senate: that you be thirty years old, a resident of the state, and a citizen for nine years.""The state of Virginia, and in particular the two political parties, have added several additional and nearly impossible requirements in order to run for statewide office: you must collect 10,000 signatures, 4,400 must be from each one of Virginia's 11 congressional districts, and all signatures must be from registered voters.""In order to accomplish these additional burdens to run for office, the Republican and Democrat parties have erected a 'Wall of Separation' between the voters and their chosen candidates. Make no mistake, what Republicans and Democrats are saying to Virginians is: 'Regular citizens, whose career is not shameless self-promotion, raising taxes or running up the debt, they are not welcome to run for office.'""Shame on the GOP for playing politics and excluding one of their own in the primary. But this is not new for the Virginian Republican Party. The GOP in Virginia has a long history of double-dealing and back-stabbing. One need only point to Lt. Col Oliver North's race for Senate, and the abysmal treatment to Lt. Gov. candidate Mike Farris. Both were rejected by the Establishment GOP and lost their bids for office.""It is my hope that Ivan Raiklin's lawsuit prevail over the special interests in Richmond who have actively worked to keep ordinary people out of the political process."Waters' campaign is actively collecting signatures from registered Virginian voters."The ballot access process costs candidates, at a minimum, $25,000. My guess is ninety percent of Virginians are excluded because of this unreasonably high threshold to run for office. And its a sad day for liberty when a regular guy like Raiklin plays by the rules, and appears to have been sent packing by the GOP. The Libertarian Party welcomes all people, regardless of their status."Matt Waters can be contacted at 757-254-4813 or by email, mw@mattwaters.com . The campaign website is MattWaters.com We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Asociatia Obsteasca DEMOS anunta concurs pentru angajarea unui expert/grup de experti/a unei companii care sa presteze servicii pentru lansarea afacerii sociale AKRON, Ohio - From local diners to living rooms, about 6,000 people from across Summit County gathered over a meal last October to discuss issues in the local community that affect their daily lives. On the Table Greater Akron, led by Akron Community Foundation and funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, offered an outlet for open conversation between friends and strangers with the goal of gaining deeper understanding of issues facing Greater Akron. On the Table was initiated in 2013 by the Chicago Community Trust to bring residents together to tackle community challenges. With $1.15 million in funding from the Knight Foundation, 10 community foundations across the United States hosted On the Table initiatives in 2017. In Akron, about 600 meal-time conversations took place Oct. 3 as attendees shared views on myriad issues. In the days following, Akron Community Foundation leaders discovered the conversations didn't end that day. "We heard from numerous groups and individuals that people found it so beneficial they continued the conversations," said Akron Community Foundation Vice President of Community Investment John Garofalo. Akron Entrepreneurs responded by organizing ongoing meetings to continue the dialogue, while South Street Ministries refocused existing efforts, Garofalo said. The city of Akron responded by launching the Akron Parks Collaborative, an initiative to support resident-led improvements in Akron parks, empowering neighborhood groups while enhancing gathering places. On the Table participants also were asked to complete a survey, which garnered more than 3,600 responses. The results were compiled in a report by the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Highlights of the report were presented to the community at the John S. Knight Center on Thursday. Respondents identified the following as Summit County's top five issues: Economic issues and poverty - 38 percent Equity and social inclusion - 31 percent Drugs and addiction - 31 percent Education and youth development - 30 percent Public safety and judicial system - 21 percent - The survey revealed that more than 86 percent of respondents want to be involved in solutions that address top issues. That percent was among the highest of all the cities that participated in On The Table, said Tracy Burt, Akron Community Foundation's senior director of marketing and communications. "It's that fact that goes to show how involved people are in Akron in general," Burt said. "Their voice matters and they know it." Looking to the future, Akron Community Foundation plans to use the survey results in several ways. During On the Table 2018, funded again through the Knight Foundation, the foundation plans to structure the day's conversations to focus on the above issues rather than the free-flowing dialogue of last year's event. "We're asking them to come up with actionable solutions that we can, as a community, address, that will help in one of those areas," Garofalo said. The foundation will award grants of up to $2,000 out of a designed total of $50,000 to fund selected solutions. The foundation also plans to use the results of this survey in conjunction with information gleaned from its annual community-needs assessment report, which will be released soon. The combined information will guide the foundation's quarterly discretionary grantmaking to become more proactive. Previously, grants were awarded in response to grantee applications. You can view highlights of the On the Table Greater Akron 2017 Impact Report here. Watch a video of highlights from the event below. 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. Spring's arrival at the end of a long winter seems to lift everyone's spirits, so what better time of year to consider those in our communities who may need a helping hand. With that in mind, elected officials in Middleburg Heights will again host the community's 15th Annual Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 12, at the Heinen's Supermarket parking area, 15300 Bagley Road. Due to increasing demand throughout the year, the food drive is held in the spring to best serve those in need. City officials will be on hand to oversee the collection of high demand food items which are needed, including peanut butter, jelly, pasta, macaroni, pasta sauce, cereal, canned or dry milk, canned meals, canned meats, baked beans, sugar, rice, applesauce, ketchup, salad dressing, coffee, tea, cooking oil, canned fruit juices and instant mashed potatoes. Non-food items are also in demand, including paper towels, toilet paper, paper napkins, soap, laundry products, baby supplies, toothpaste, facial tissue and personal care items. All food and cash donations, will go to the Middleburg Heights Food Pantry, 7000 Paula Drive and SCAN (Southwest Community Access Network) Hunger Center, 398 West Bagley Road. Food Drive sponsors include Mayor Gary W. Starr, Matthew J. Castelli, president of council, David Bortolotto, councilman at large, Tim Ali, Councilman at large, Bill Meany, Councilman Ward 1, Matthew G. McGregor, Councilman Ward 2, Michael Ference, Councilman Ward 3 and John J. Grech, Councilman Ward 4. Health & addiction: Mental Health and Addiction will be the topic at 6:30 p.m. May 17 at the Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Road. Speakers at the event include Michael Waggoner, MSN, RN, director-behavioral health, Judge Nancy M. Russo, Detective Tom Sensel and patrolman George Kosakowksi. This event is free and open to the public. Graduation day: Marissa Evans of Middleburg Heights received a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree in May 5 commencement ceremonies at Ashland College. Evans, a 2014 Berea High School graduate, is majoring in nursing. She is the daughter of Kimberly Evans of Middleburg Heights. A musical celebration: A cantata celebrating a legacy of liberty and the foundations of faith, will be presented at 1 p.m. May 27 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 276 East Bagley Road. All are welcome to attend this event. Grad gets degrees: Stephen Horning of Berea will receive Bachelor of Liberal Arts degrees May 12 at Cleveland State University commencement ceremonies. Horning, a 2006 Berea High School graduate, enrolled at CSU after serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He also attended Cuyahoga Community College prior to serving his mission. Horning, who has been on the Dean's List and has been active in many campus activities at CSU, will actually graduate with two Bachelor of Liberal Arts degrees, including one in promotional communications and the other in journalism. He has also started his own business while attending college: Integrity Advertising and Integrity Landscaping. Horning's younger brother, Mathew, will also graduate from CSU later this year. Stephen and Mathew are the sons of Mark and Teresa Horning of Berea. Middleburg Heights pantry: The Middleburg Heights Food Pantry at 7000 Paula Drive is open to serve clients from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. New pantry's hours: The Berea Community Outreach Food Pantry, 535 Wyleswood Drive (at front of Smith School), is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, call 440-826-4891. SCAN has regular hours: The SCAN Hunger Pantry, 398 W. Bagley Road, Suite 7, in Berea, has regular hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and from 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month. Contact SCAN by phone at 440-260-7226. Please email information (people photos, too. include ID's) on items you'd like to see included in this column to richatsun@gmail.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Despite close to $10 million in campaign spending by candidates in Ohio's gubernatorial primaries, a new poll says a large number of potential voters are undecided, indicating a lack of either strong feelings for the candidates or a lack of interest in the outcome. Perhaps this is a signal that Tuesday will mark another low turnout primary, despite it being a year in which there is a U.S. Senate race and the governor's seat is open. (Gov. John Kasich is prevented by law from running for a third term.) Polling by Baldwin Wallace University's Community Research Institute conducted from April 24 through Wednesday found more than 40 percent of Democrats were unsure whom they would support in the governor's race, and about one-fourth of the Republicans were unsure. Tom Sutton, director of BW's Community Research Institute, said the uncertainty of so many voters close to an election day could be an indicator of turnout, but that there is little historical data to draw a conclusion. The last time Ohio had an open seat for governor and a U.S. Senate race the same year was 2006, Sutton pointed out. Estimates for the number of undecided voters late in the race before the 2006 primary were not available for that year. Secretary of State records show 2006 did mark the largest primary turnout (24 percent) in a non-presidential year since 1998 (28 percent). The 1998 primary also was an election in which there was an open governor's seat and a U.S. Senate race. More recently, Ohio's primary turnout was just 17 percent of registered voters (1.3 million) in 2014 when Kasich was running for re-election, and 23 percent (1.9 million) in 2010 when Gov. Ted Strickland was seeking re-election. This pales in comparison to two years ago when 44 percent of Ohio's registered voters (3.3 million) took part in the presidential primaries. The totals include voters casting ballots for political candidates from any party, as well as those who voted only on non-partisan issues. In addition to the party primaries, Ohio voters on Tuesday are being asked to approve State Issue 1, which would amend the Ohio Constitution to reform the way congressional districts are determined. In some communities, there are also local issues to be decided. Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Most bettors don't give a spit about how many winners you had the day before the Kentucky Derby or the day after it. If the horse you selected to win the Run for the Roses performs so slowly that he has time to pause to make his jockey a mint julep at the half-mile pole, well, you're a bum. A year has passed since the last first Saturday in May, which means it's time to come out of the Handicappers Witness Protection Program (I picked also-ran Hence last spring) to take a whack at picking the winner of Saturday's 144th Kentucky Derby. This year's overstuffed starting gate of 20 is one of the most talented crop of three-year-olds in many a Derby. It should assure anybody who picks the winner or hits the exacta or trifecta of a very healthy payoff. My top selection is Audible. Winner of the March 31 Florida Derby. He possesses a stalk-and-strike running style that signals he won't be asked to run hard too early and should be in position to not have to do too much work late. At the wire, after a mile and a quarter without any water, my top four picks: FIRST: No. 5 Audible SECOND: No. 7 Justify THIRD: No. 6 Good Magic FOURTH: No. 16 Magnum Moon Not known as a good morning workout horse, Audible produced a pair of "bullet" (fastest of the day) workouts earlier this month, which means he's holding his form and could be peaking at just the right time. By the way, the Florida Derby has become the top prep race for horses headed for Louisville. The last two Florida Derby winners, Nyquist in 2016 and Always Dreaming last year, wore Kentucky Derby roses. Justify is the undefeated and lightly-raced (three starts) morning line favorite. Winner of the April 7 Santa Anita Derby, the chestnut colt didn't begin his career until Feb. 18 when he won a maiden race by 9 1/2 lengths. The last time a horse who was unraced as a two-year-old won the Kentucky Derby was Apollo in 1882. Good Magic is this Derby's Rodney Dangerfield. He won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was voted North America's champion two-year-old and has added this year's Blue Grass to his stakes victory collection. Yet he's a 12-1 outsider on the Derby's morning line. Overlooking him, especially in exactas and trifecta, could be dangerous to a bettor's wallet. Magnum Moon is another that didn't race as a two-year-old but has been a terror as a sophomore. Unbeaten in four starts, he ran big in two prep races at Oaklawn Park, winning the March 17 Rebel and then returning to win the April 14 Arkansas Derby. Audible's victory chances could get a boost should Magnum Moon and Justify, both confirmed front-runners, hook each other in an early speed duel. With or without help, Audible is the pick. I hope he's all ears and listening. BEACHWOOD, Ohio - The American Policy Coalition, a Montana-based nonprofit, has created a stir in this affluent suburb by paying for an online advertisement opposing a tax increase for this suburb's school district. Beachwood resident Loren Chylla, a supporter of the tax, told cleveland.com on Friday that he is unfamiliar with the coalition and wondered why anyone in Montana would care about a school tax in Ohio. "It's just baffling to me," Chylla said. "Who is behind getting them to do this?" The ad by the coalition was posted Tuesday and calls the tax a "bad idea." But the video offers no clue as to why the coalition is interested in the issue. The only reference to the coalition is in the closing frame, which discloses who paid for the ad. The coalition's main office is in Montana, according to state records that list Justin Myers as president, Ken Caubble as secretary and Steve Fairbank as treasurer. All three men have Montana addresses. Kentucky records show the American Policy Coalition also has office space in Covington, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Attempts to reach Myers and Fairbank were not immediately successful. The American Policy Coalition's website was not accessible on Friday. A Facebook page with a coalition logo shows no posts or contact information. The group used to be known as Bluegrass Votes, but the name was changed in 2015. Documentation for the change is signed by the group's secretary at the time, David Langdon. Langdon, who did not immediately return calls for comment, is a lawyer based in the Cincinnati suburb of West Chester, Ohio. He has represented numerous conservative groups, some of which spend millions in elections around the country, according to the Center for Public Integrity. The Associated Press reported in 2016 that the American Policy Coalition gave money to the super PAC SEALS for Truth, which gave nearly $2 million to Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, in a race against Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster. Filings from the Federal Election Commission list an mailbox for the group in Washington D.C.. A search of news sites found no other example of the coalition becoming involved in an issue such as the Beachwood school tax, which is of only communitywide interest. The Beachwood school district is looking to offset cuts in state funding, build an elementary school and demolish the existing Bryden and Hilltop Elementary Schools. The total cost of the ballot issue would be $304.50 annually for the owner of a $100,000 home. Opponents contend the tax increase is not needed. Mikhail Alterman, leader of a group called Low Tax Citizens, said Friday that the district is "out of control with its spending" and the demolition component of the tax could lead people who normally always vote yes on tax increases to reconsider. Alterman said though Low Tax Cizens paid for fliers, the group had nothing to do with the online advertisement. He thinks it might be people in the community who might be afraid to advocate against the tax because they have children in the schools or businesses in the area. If you know anything about the American Policy Coalition, this advertisement or the ties to Beachwood, please send an email to reporter Emily Bamforth at ebamforth@cleveland.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio --A 33-year-old man accused by federal investigators of selling crack cocaine and heroin recently received a $300,000 settlement from the city of Cleveland after he was shot by a city police officer. Federal agents arrested Xavier Hempstead Friday, some 16 months after he settled the suit. Hempstead, 33, is charged in federal court with manufacturing and distributing the drug. An FBI SWAT team and Cleveland vice detectives arrested him early Friday at a home on Emery Avenue on the city's West Side, according to the FBI. An FBI spokesperson woman said in a statement that she expects Hempstead will face more charges. Cleveland police have been investigating Hempstead since February, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. Investigators used an informant to buy drugs off Hempstead nine times between Feb. 20 and Tuesday, court records say. The deals happened at Hempstead's home on Every Avenue, where he was arrested, and at a home on Hirst Avenue between Bellaire Road and West 130th Street, the affidavit said. Hempstead settled with the city in December 2016 for $300,000. Cleveland police officer Robert Miles shot him in December 2013 as he was parked outside his mother's home on Emery Avenue. Miles believed Hempstead was a suspect in a burglary and that he stolen items and a gun with him, according to court records. Miles said he saw Hempstead lean back, point a gun at him and fire a shot. Miles shot several bullets through Hempstead's rear driver's side window. One bullet struck Hempstead in the left shoulder blade, while another went into the back of his neck. Hempstead sped off but later surrendered to police. Police never found a gun and a jury later found Hempstead not guilty of failing to comply with a police officer's order. Miles was cleared of any wrongdoing by a city investigation. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Five homes took gunfire Thursday night in drive-by shootings in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood three days after a 10-year-old boy was shot in the face and chest while sleeping. No one was hurt in the most recent shootings that happened between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Bullets struck three houses on East 93rd Street, and two on Cory Avenue. All eight houses struck in the three-day period are within about a half-mile radius. Cleveland police detectives, a gang unit sergeant and one agent from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms scoured the neighborhood and conducted interviews. Four men wearing black face masks cut between houses about 6:30 p.m. on East 93rd Street north of Wade Park Boulevard and fired at least 20 gunshots, according to police reports. One of the homes was struck 11 times, according to a woman who lived at the home but did not want to give her name for fear of being targeted. Bullets hit two other homes. Denise Williams, 17, was sleeping inside the home that got shot 11 times. "I was sleeping when I heard a bunch of loud noises like someone was banging on the door," Williams said. "I heard a car drive off really fast." Two Cory Avenue homes, just south of Wade Park, were shot about a half-hour later. Nine bullets hit another home and the third was struck twice. A woman who lived at the home hit nine times said she was asleep when she heard a barrage of gunfire. A woman who lives across the street, Earnestine Jones, said she was outside when she heard the gunfire on her street. She ran behind her home and waited until it stopped. "I didn't see anything, but I just ran," Jones said. The first shooting on Wednesday happened about 9:40 p.m. A 17-year-old girl was shot in the nose while walking out of the M&A Food mart on Wade Park Boulevard. She was treated and released from the hospital. Just after midnight on Thursday, someone fired more than a dozen shots in to the 10-year-old boy's home on East 93rd Street, south of Wade Park. Two other children, ages 6 and 9, and their mother were inside the home at the time. They were not injured. The boy is intubated and in critical but stable condition at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. Another home in the 8700 block of Kenmore Avenue was shot five times about 1 a.m. Two people were inside the home at the time but were not injured, according to police reports. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - An official with one of the IT firms named in a recent subpoena served on Cuyahoga County said this week that county officials abruptly ended negotiations with his company in April 2017 to provide telecom-auditing services and offered no explanation until March of this year. The high-ranking official at Westlake-based SpyGlass Group, who spoke to cleveland.com on the condition he not be named, said SpyGlass officials believed at the time that they were on the verge of inking a two-year deal. They even sent a thank-you email to the county. Then, he said, all communications from the county ended, despite inquiries from SpyGlass, until nearly one year later when SpyGlass reached out to a county official, who responded with an email stating that the project would have involved too much "human effort" on the county's part and that too many telecom agreements were expiring. County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan declined Thursday to comment on the assertions by the SpyGlass official, citing an ongoing public corruption investigation. The county has yet to respond to a request from cleveland.com seeking copies of any contracts with SpyGlass. Last month, corruption investigators served subpoenas on the county seeking contracts and other documents related to SpyGlass and another IT vendor, Vox Mobile. The investigators have not publicly disclosed what wrongdoing they suspect. But the county canceled the Vox Mobile contract last month on the advice of county Inspector General Mark Griffin. Griffin said he made the recommendation because of the ongoing corruption investigation. Vox Mobile had been auditing the county's mobile communications. A County Council staffer subsequently discovered that the county's IT Department had given Vox Mobile a two-year contract worth $75,600 despite the county's Board of Control having authorized a contract for only 13 months and no more than $39,060. The Board of Control, which is chaired by County Executive Armond Budish and includes members of Budish's administration and County Council appointees, approves or rejects contracts up to $500,000. Larger contracts require approval by County Council. Records show that the Board of Control authorized a 13-month Vox Mobile contract on Feb. 13, 2017. At the same meeting, the board authorized the county's IT Department to award SpyGlass a contract of the same length, but for up to $100,000. In an attempt to explain the discrepancy with the Vox Mobile contract, Jeanelle Greene, business services manager in the IT Department, stated in an email that it appeared an unnamed county worker "erroneously entered" the Vox Mobile contract as a two-year deal. Greene went on to suggest that the worker had confused the terms of the Vox Mobile contract with those of the SpyGlass contract. "Notes relating to this matter (the agenda item, the internal contracting system) indicate a one-year contract for Vox Mobile, and a two-year contract for Spyglass," she wrote. "With contracts being entered on the same item, it may have gotten confused. I can only speculate that this seems to be due to a user error, as this operator infrequently used MyPro/OnBase." The SpyGlass official recalled this week that his company had bid on the entire scope of work contained in a request for proposal that the county issued in 2016. The proposal was for the auditing of mobile and land-line phone bills. SpyGlass was notified in December of 2016 that the county intended to give the company a contract for work on land-line bills only, he said. After more paperwork was exchanged, the county sent a draft contract on Feb. 17, 2017 for a decreased scope of work over two years and for no more than $100,000. The county and SpyGlass continued to negotiate, he said, with phone conversations that included Michael Young, the IT Department's chief technology officer, among others. The official said Emily McNeeley, the IT Department's general counsel, participated in the first phone call but that IT Director Scot Rourke was never involved in the discussions. Rourke and McNeeley have been named in earlier subpoenas and were placed on unpaid leave early last month. County records show that Rourke had disclosed he was a founder of Vox Mobile and held an ownership stake of less than 5 percent in the company. After a third phone meeting with county officials on April 11, 2017, SpyGlass thought it had an agreement on the scope of work and the fees that the company would charge, the company official said. That was when the thank-you email was sent to the county, and the county stopped communicating. The SpyGlass official said the county did not respond to multiple phone calls and three emails from the company over over the next everal months. "That was a big head scratcher to us," he said. Then, on March 26 of this year, SpyGlass reached out to Young, who offered the first explanation for why the company did not get a contract. The SpyGlass official said Young also stated that he didn't know why the county had not notified SpyGlass sooner. County prosecutors have not contacted SpyGlass, the official said. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is calling on Gov. John Kasich to maintain funding for a Cuyahoga County program that serves youth with intensive mental health needs. Positive Education Program receives about $2.5 million a year through a Medicaid waiver to serve more than 800 youth in its Connections program. The program keeps youth dealing with debilitating mental illness in their homes and with their families, instead of more expensive hospitals or institutions, with the help of dedicated case managers and community partnerships. The Ohio Department of Medicaid has told PEP Connections the 27-year-old funding agreement will end June 30 as the department moves Medicaid-funded behavioral health care services over to private managed care organizations. Rep. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, and Sen. Dave Burke, a Marysville Republican, say the program is very cost effective for the state and its termination will leave many young people without alternative therapies such as art therapy and intensive case management, which are not currently reimbursed through Medicaid. In a letter to Kasich on Friday, Antonio and Burke suggest the state should extend the funding for 12 months, outside of the Medicaid program, or until officials develop a reimbursable "high-fidelity wraparound service." "A twelve-month reprieve would allow for the first point to occur during a budget bill, where such changes should occur, and allow for a more thoughtful integration with the managed care plans through High Fidelity Wraparound services rather than assuming a health benefit provider (managed care) has the in-place network ability to deliver these more social/family program benefits that yield health care utilization avoidance rather than directly obtain them through direct care," Antonio and Burke, both on the legislature's Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee, wrote. PEP Connections only serves Cuyahoga County, they noted, but finding a way to allow the program to thrive would benefit care across the state. The Ohio Department of Medicaid did not immediately respond to questions about Antonio and Burke's proposal. The department has said continuing to fund PEP Connections after the switch to managed care would result in duplicate payments. Medicaid officials said PEP Connections should work with each managed care plan to negotiate fees for its services, like any other provider. The state association representing Ohio's managed care plans says the plans are ready, and it is excited to begin offering behavioral health services to youth in Cuyahoga County and across the state. Mobile readers, click here to read the letter. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A tour company's abrupt cancellation of pre-paid field trips has left parents and officials from at least six school districts scrambling to get answers and make new plans. The school officials said they have been unable to reach anyone at the Mayfield Village offices of Discovery Tours since the company's last-minute cancellation on Tuesday of a trip to Washington, D.C., for 511 Mentor eighth-graders. Repeated calls to Discovery from the Plain Dealer went unanswered Wednesday and Thursday. The firm's offices on Wilson Mills Road were locked and apparently empty, as was the home of company president Alfred Cipolletti. Problems with the company emerged late Tuesday -- the evening before the scheduled departure for Washington -- when Mentor schools told parents that Discovery said it could not confirm hotel reservations, apparently putting blame on the Hyatt Regency Dulles Hotel in Herndon, Virginia. Bill Porter, Mentor's interim superintendent, said the hotel told the school system that it could say only that Discovery "was unable to meet contractual obligations." Middle-schoolers had prepaid $232,505, or $455 each for the three-day trip. More broken commitments followed. Hudson City Schools in Summit County advised parents in a letter sent Tuesday night that two field trips scheduled later this month "will not be taking place through Discovery Tours." The school system said hotel reservations had been canceled and two charter bus companies had not been paid for the trips, to Washington, D.C., and Dearborn, Michigan. Officials said they hope to re-book the trips with another company. North Royalton schools, meanwhile, told parents on Thursday that their eighth-grade trip to Washington would go forward with another company, Nowak Tours of Valley City. The system said Lakefront Lines would honor the contract it had with Discovery, because the charter company had been paid in advance, and that rooms at the Hyatt Regency Dulles "are secured." The Chagrin Falls Middle School trip to the nation's capital also will happen through a switch to Nowak, the school system said Thursday. The Twinsburg Board of Education earmarked up to $125,000 Wednesday to ensure an eighth-grade field trip to Washington could come off as planned next week. The appropriation came after school officials were unable to contact Discovery following reports of problems. Officials in the central Ohio school district of Hilliard terminated their contract with Discovery and demanded refunds for a planned trip to Washington this month, WSYX-TV in Columbus reported. Dublin school officials in suburban Columbus said they had a similar problem with Discovery last year. Schools in Elyria and Oberlin are examining their own plans for D.C. trips with Discovery later this month, the Chronicle-Telegram reported. But West Geauga Schools and schools in Upper Arlington, outside Columbus, both had eighth-graders in Washington with Discovery Tours this week, and said they have had no problems with the company. The company describes itself on its website as "a family-owned and operated travel business that has provided extraordinary service to school groups since 1972," though the Ohio Secretary of State's office shows the company starting in 1982. Cipolletti, the founder, is retired as a longtime teacher and guidance counselor with Mayfield City Schools, and served several terms on the Richmond Heights Board of Education. Plain Dealer reporter Patrick O'Donnell contributed to this story. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office has been inundated with more than 180 complaints from people around Ohio who prepaid for student tours that never materialized. Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh took the lead among local officials on the issue Friday, issuing a statement that "My office has been in contact with Hudson City School District and Twinsburg City School District concerning the recent issues with school trips booked through Discovery Tours. We are currently gathering information and looking into the matter." She advised parents who paid for trips through Discovery Tours to keep all documents and receipts associated with the purchases. The issue arose this week when more than 500 Mentor eighth-graders were told Tuesday, on the eve of a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., that Discovery Tours of Mayfield Village had cancelled it. That led parents and officials in other school districts with scheduled trips to call Discovery with their concerns, but none have made contact or received a response from the vendor. Some districts moved to make other plans or began examining options. Some simply switched to other tour operators. Among those was Chagrin Falls Middle School, which is planning a trip to Washington D.C. Mentor families paid a combined $232,505 or $455 per student, and they accounted for most of the complaints that DeWine received. Others originated in Hamilton, Franklin, Delaware and Union Counties. In a news release Friday, DeWine pledged that the issue "is a priority for my office." He said the complaints have been flowing into his office's Consumer Protection Section since Wednesday evening, and he encouraged other families and school districts to contact his office. Complaints can be filed online on the Ohio Attorney General's website or by calling between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 800-282-0515. Mentor schools provided The Plain Dealer with a copy of the information packet put together by Discovery Tours. It includes provisions for travel insurance covering the specific trip to Washington. A spokeswoman for Mentor Schools said Friday that principals of the three middle schools believe most parents did not buy the insurance. Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson said Friday that his office has received no complaints about the tour cancellation. AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron and its new neighbor, Stark State College, are discussing collaborations that would include allowing recipients of two-year degrees from Stark to transfer into the university's four-year programs. In an email on Thursday, UA spokesman Wayne Hill described the proposed transfer process as seamless. "Administrators have been discussing dual enrollment options, as well as shared services in the student support areas," Hill wrote. "Discussions are ongoing." Stark State College Akron will open this fall on Perkins Street, within walking distance of the UA campus. The college will enroll students in two-year associate degree and certificate programs. Stark's main campus is in Canton. The school decided to expand because about 30 percent of its students commuted from Summit County, which did not have a college that offered two-year degree programs. The $15.7 million project was announced in 2016. At that time, Akron officials said they saw the college as a partner, not a competitor, though UA had associate degree programs that enrolled several hundred students. Stark State will offer a variety of degrees and certificates and is expected to initially enroll about 1,500 students this fall. The school anticipates enrolling about 5,000 students once construction is complete. The 68,000-square-foot building will include 21 classrooms, offices, a book store, study nooks, and a vending and lounge area. Space around the main building may be used for future expansion. The public is invited to tour Stark State College Akron at 360 Perkins St. during an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on May 24. The Democratic primary race for Ohio's District 23 Senate seat continues to offer the best view of the Cuyahoga County party's self-destruction. It's been a mess from the get-go. The race pits Ohio Rep. Martin J. Sweeney of Cleveland, who passed on a re-election bid to chase the more powerful seat in the Senate, against State Rep. Nickie Antonio of Lakewood, who is prevented by term limits from seeking re-election to the Ohio House. (Sweeney's daughter, Bride Rose Sweeney, is running for the seat her father currently holds.) Sweeney secured the official backing of the party thanks to the traditional party insiders, but Antonio has been buoyed by the progressive wing of the party. Tension between the candidates and their backers has been running hotter than Donald Trump after a Stormy Daniels press tour. In recent days, Antonio mailed voters campaign literature that features the tagline "endorsed Democrat" below a picture of herself. And below that is a long list of Democrats, unions and organizations endorsing her over Sweeney. Sweeney is crying foul and claiming Antonio is trying to misappropriate his county party endorsement. Antonio told me Thursday that she has every right to promote her endorsements and the party has no copyright on the words "endorsed Democrat." She also said that given the current state of the local party, she is better off without the party's endorsement. (Ouch!) She said the party's endorsement of Sweeney has rallied Democrats behind her and inspired some to seek party positions to push back against the old guard. Sweeney isn't taking any chances. He recently began airing a radio advertisement proudly laying claim to the party's endorsement. "Voters -- don't fall for tricky Nickie and her dirty politics ... the endorsed candidate is Martin J. Sweeney," the spot says. Sweeney also recruited Mary Devring -- a former executive director of the county party who worked for the old guard, including former chairman Jimmy Dimora -- to author a letter admonishing Antonio for her "desperate antics." The Ohio Democratic Party mailed the letter for Sweeney. But Devring's letter is a bore compared to literature that hit mailboxes recently comparing Sweeney to movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who's been accused of sexually abusing dozens of women for decades and often paying them to remain quiet. "Marty Sweeney has more in common with Harvey Weinstein than he does with us," reads the headline below pictures of Sweeney and Weinstein. In 2007, Sweeney, who was then-Cleveland City Council President, wanted his colleagues to sign off on a $56,000 severance for then-Clerk of Council Emily Lipovan, before her sexual harassment allegations against him became public. Sweeney lacked the support of his colleagues to make the deal, so Lipovan filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Commission. She ultimately agreed to accept a $60,000 settlement from the city that included no admission of wrongdoing by Sweeney. The literature comparing Sweeney to Weinstein was mailed by the Washington, D.C.-based Victory Fund, which supports openly LGBTQ candidates. Antonio is gay. Even some of Sweeney's critics told me they believe the campaign mailer goes too far, noting that public accusations were never made against Sweeney before or after the council incident. Antonio told me she has nothing to do with the Victory Fund mailer and its attack on Sweeney is "not my style." She also said she is "disappointed" by its timing because the mailer is overshadowing her message that she is endorsed by Democrats and other groups. But Sweeney won't be out done. In his most recent campaign mailer, he charges that Antonio is benefitting from "DC influence peddlers" who are "funneling dark money" to help her "spread fake news." What's undeniably true is that this race is a train wreck - and we can't look away. Good reading: The groups battling over Shaker Heights Library's request to increase property taxes recently filed their first campaign reports, which offer some interesting reading. The group supporting the levy increase, which appears on the May 8 ballot as Issue 7, raised $21,216 through March 26. The group received 175 contributions, with the average contribution being about $123. The group opposing the levy raised $32,227 from around 75 people, who gave on average of $430 each. And some of the people giving the largest amounts - ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 - live on the city's priciest boulevards, including South Park, North Park, Parkland and Woodland. I point this out because the people behind the anti-levy campaign are prominent Shaker Heights leaders and wealthy residents. And their opposition has fed the narrative that they want to cut their property tax bills. That narrative over simplifies the debate, given that the proposed tax increase for the library would amount to pocket change for the wealthiest opponents. But Issue 7 has indeed generated a lot of discussion about the need to rein in the city's high taxes, which affect real estate sales and potentially threaten the school district's future tax increase requests. Those against the library levy want to force Shaker Heights library leaders to consider merging with the county system, which they believe can provide better service for fewer tax dollars. The library levy's supporters want to remain independent and believe they can offer the best services to residents at a fair price. The bottom line is Tuesday's election in Shaker Heights is about much more than books. This post was updated to include Nickie Antonio's most recent comments about the Victory Fund mailer. Are your neighbors donating to Mike DeWine or are they supporting Richard Cordray in the race for governor? Find out all contributions made to these Ohio political candidates and more in cleveland.com's updated campaign donations database. The database now includes all the donations made to Ohio political candidates so far in 2018. to load this Caspio Some mobile users may have to use this link to access the database. You can find all of the contributions to candidates for governor, secretary of state and other state offices from 2017 to late April 2018. (The database does not include federal offices, such as U.S. Senate). Which politician has raised the most money so far and where is the money coming from? Trace where Ohio politicians are getting their money from to fund their campaigns. You can search through the database in a variety of ways: by office and candidate, and also by donor name, zip code and even employer. The database will display information about the donor, the amount donated and basic candidate information, such as political party and office sought. Find the latest scoop on money in Ohio politics with this tool. Go ahead and give it a try. CLEVELAND, Ohio - All over the country and in Ohio, Democrats are talking about a so-called blue wave coming as a reckoning for Republicans in the midterm elections. Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said he isn't sure how much the Buckeye State might see. But Kondik, the guest on the latest episode of the Ohio Matters podcast, saw some promising signs for Democrats in the upcoming primary election on Tuesday. Play this week's episode of Ohio Matters: "Maybe if there's a Democratic wave, it hits harder in bluer states and maybe it doesn't quite hit in Ohio," Kondik said. "Although one thing we've seen from special election results all over the country this year ... we have seen that Democrats have been running well ahead of Hillary Clinton's performance in most places, and that includes some places that really liked Trump in the last election." Kondik, a Northeast Ohio native, joined Ohio Matters for a special primary election preview episode, breaking down races ranging from the governor's race to the hotly contested Ohio House Speaker race. He recently published a comprehensive examination of the primary in Ohio. Ohio Matters is the weekly politics podcast from cleveland.com. Every Friday, Andrew Tobias, Mary Kilpatrick and Seth Richardson sit down with political figures from around the state for in-depth interviews and discussions. Previous episodes can be found here and include full-length interviews with the gubernatorial candidates, former Attorney General Marc Dann reflecting on his life and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges on the GOP's internal politics. It is not news that the scourge of opioid abuse, made more lethal by the addition of fentanyl and its analogues, is one of the major problems we face in this country. In Ohio, drug overdose deaths rose by nearly a third from 2015 to 2016, the last full year for which data are available. Of the 4,050 unintentional drug overdose deaths in 2016, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were implicated in more than half. And apart from the toll in human life, the craving for these drugs has spawned an increase in crime that reaches into every village and town. As local law enforcement and social services agencies struggle for solutions, there is one constant: They don't come cheap. But the problem cannot be ignored, and efforts to combat it should be supported. So on May 8, this issue is coming to a ballot box near you. Our editorial board already has strongly supported Issue 9, renewal of the smaller of two critical Cuyahoga County health and human resources levies, providing vital support for treatments for the drug-addicted, among other safety-net functions. We also backed renewal via Portage County Issue 6 of a modest health district levy for most of Portage County, apart from the city of Kent, that has allowed Portage County to expand its anti-opioid efforts. Residents of Lake, Medina and Lorain counties also will find issues on the May 8 ballot aimed in whole or part at addressing the opioid problem. We urge voters to approve all four. Two are in Lake County. The first and most important is Issue 4, a 0.4-mill additional continuing levy that will generate enough money to keep the Lake County Crime Lab operational. The Crime Lab, which began under a government grant in 1973 and took wing after county voters approved a funding levy in 1986, is one of the crown jewels of local crime-fighting in Northeast Ohio. The advanced science the lab uses in DNA identification and other cutting-edge investigation has enabled law enforcement, among many other things, to track criminals from a single drop of sweat. Its loss would be felt across the region. Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson says the lab will be operating at a loss this year and without the levy's passage might have to shut down, which would be a devastating blow at a time when the caseload and complexity of cases are increasing dramatically because of the opioid epidemic. The other Lake County issue aims at the other end of spectrum: prevention and treatment of opioid addiction. It is Issue 3, a 0.7-mill ten-year renewal levy for the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board. In addition to efforts to combat opioid abuse, it supports services for children and families, and suicide prevention efforts. As a renewal, it would not raise taxes. In Medina County, approval of Issue 5 would create a 0.2 percent continuing increase in the county sales tax to help pay for criminal research, prosecution and other costs reflecting the opioid epidemic. The increase would bring Medina's sales tax to 6.95 percent, still lower than 77 percent of Ohio counties. In Lorain, Issue 4 is a 0.6-mill five-year renewal levy that would continue to fund both residential services for people suffering from mental illness and associated clinical services, in addition to opioid abuse identification and referrals. As a renewal, it will not raise taxes. All these issues are vital to efforts to prevent and/or treat opioid abuse. Voters should have an easy call in deciding to support them. Early voting in the May 8 primary has begun. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. 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. * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio - There was a celebratory mood at Cleveland Hopkins late Thursday night, as the airport welcomed its first transatlantic service in nearly a decade. Wow Air Flight 113, from Reykjavik to Cleveland, landed at Hopkins a few minutes before its scheduled 11:30 p.m. arrival, showered by a water cannon from two fire trucks as it pulled into the gate, a tradition for inaugural flights. The first flight from Cleveland to Reykjavik, meanwhile, left Hopkins about 30 minutes late and was scheduled to land this morning in Iceland at about 6:50 a.m. EST. Many travelers, gathered around gate A11 before boarding, said they were using the new flight as an easy, inexpensive way to get to multiple destinations in Europe. On the first flight: * Two Cleveland-area college students, on their way to study abroad in Madrid. * A family of four from Yellow Springs, Ohio, traveling to Israel. * A couple from St. Louis, on their way to Paris, who flew to Cleveland on Southwest to catch the inaugural Wow flight because it was cheaper than flying from Missouri. Passengers were treated to cake, balloons and music, plus speeches from airport and city personnel, thrilled with the new service. "It opens up a new world to us," said Airport Director Robert Kennedy. "People who didn't think they could fly to Europe in the past now can." Wow Air flight crews -- both incoming and outgoing -- pose for a photo on the A concourse at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer) Wow, founded in 2011, is known for its rock-bottom fares, with rates as low as $99 one way. (But be careful: baggage and other fees can add substantially to the price.) Wow is the first of two Iceland-based airlines to start service from Cleveland this month. Icelandair begins flying from Cleveland on May 16. Both offer connections to dozens of cities within Europe. The two airlines are the first to fly from Cleveland to Europe since 2009, when Continental Airlines canceled nonstop service to London. Wow's flight, on a 200-seat Airbus A321, was nearly full, with 190 seats occupied. Among the inaugural passengers were Carol Mata and Matt Gordon, who drove to Cleveland from Cincinnati to catch the flight. They're headed to Barcelona. Mata said she paid less for this flight - about $330 round-trip - than she did to fly to Florida earlier this year. After their 12 days in Europe, she and Gordon are flying home directly to Cincinnati, where Wow is starting service on May 9. Both Wow and Icelandair are expanding rapidly in the United States this year, adding service to eight new cities. Cleveland is one of six cities in the U.S. that will host both airlines. The airport estimates that the new flights will bring 30,000 visitors to the city annually. The inaugural flight to Cleveland from Reykjavik was about half full, according to the airport. Representatives from Destination Cleveland greeted arriving passengers with a goodie bag of items, including sunglasses, bottled water and a map. Among the visitors to Cleveland: Five women from London in town for a wedding in Chardon; and four travel writers from Europe, touring Cleveland for the next several days. Inbound passengers also included Paul Camper of Brunswick, returning home from a trip to Reykjavik and London. In the past, he said, he's driven to Pittsburgh, Toronto and other cities to find cheap fares to Europe. Now, he said, the cheap fares have finally arrived in Cleveland. Related: How Cleveland Hopkins International Airport scored two routes to Iceland in one week CLEVELAND, Ohio - Friday in Cleveland will kick off the weekend with summery, stormy weather. But starting Saturday, sun will return, before a chance of rain Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center placed Northeast Ohio under a slight risk of severe weather Friday. That means isolated intense storms are possible, but they would be short-lived, and not widespread. Winds will top 20 mph, and gusts up to 50 mph are likely, warranting a wind advisory from the National Weather Service in Cleveland. The storms will initiate ahead of a cold front passing later this afternoon, and will clear by the evening. The front will bring temperatures in the upper 70s this afternoon down to the 50s by late tonight. .@NWSSPC just updated today's convective outlook for the area, with the slight risk region now covering much of the area. Damaging wind gusts will be the biggest threat with thunderstorms today #OHWx pic.twitter.com/80JVWZ1ciA NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) May 4, 2018 Saturday will be clear for President Donald Trump's visit to Cleveland's public hall, and for Cavs fans with tickets to the 8:30 p.m. game against the Raptors. Skies will be sunniest in the morning, but a few clouds may move in later on. As winds shift from the southwest Friday to west Saturday, high temperatures will cool to the low 70s. Another cold front is in line to arrive Sunday. This one is looking relatively lighter, so we're looking at a slighter chance of scattered rain. A few rumbles of thunder can't be ruled out. The front will continue the cooling pattern, bringing highs into the 60s and lows back into the 40s. High temperature forecast this weekend in Northeast Ohio. Check out the forecast: Temperatures Temperature forecast. Precipitation chances Precipitation forecast. Winds Wind speed and direction forecast. Pollen Pollen forecast. Keep checking cleveland.com/weather for daily weather updates for Northeast Ohio, and don't forget to submit any weather questions you may have! Kelly Reardon is cleveland.com's meteorologist. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter @KellyRWeather and Instagram. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals Market poised to reach US$ 8,465 Mn by 2023 with CAGR of 6.7% over 2017-2023 Precision Business Insights (PBI) in its report titled Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals Market: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023 assesses the market performance over six years forecast period over 2017-2023. The report analyses the market value forecast, historical market size analysis, and provides the strategic insights into the market driving factors, challenges that are hindering the market revenue growth over forecast period. The Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market estimated to be valued at US$ 5,748 Mn in 2017 and projected to reach US$ 8,465 Mn by 2023 owing to strong brand loyalty for multinational brands, growing healthcare infrastructure, and mandatory healthcare insurance for expatriates. Moreover, recent healthcare reforms like 100% FDI in Pharma sector and conducive business environment for investing in manufacturing facilities are expected to drive market revenue growth of Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market. However, slower economic growth in recent times and lack of drug manufacturing capabilities are hampering the growth of Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market. A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/saudi-arabia-pharmaceuticals-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals market segmented on the basis of product type, diseases type, and distribution channel Drugs for Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Expected to Register Higher Growth Rate Based on disease type Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market segmented into diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, obesity, infectious diseases, and others. Diabetes accounted for larger revenue share in 2016 and projected to grow over the forecast period. However, cardiovascular and obesity projected exhibit higher growth rates over the forecast period owing to rising prevalence of co morbidities like hypertension and ischemia among Saudis. Hospital Pharmacies Accounted for Larger Revenue Share PBIs Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market report analyses the distribution channels such as Hospital Pharmacies and Retail Pharmacies. According to distribution channels analysis, hospital pharmacies accounted for larger revenue share through 2012-2016 and the same trend is projected to follow over 2017-2023. To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/saudi-arabia-pharmaceuticals-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu New Product Launches and Strategic Alliances are the Key Strategies Adopted by Market Players Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market further reveals that the key players increasingly adopting new product launches and strategic alliances strategies to improve product offerings and market presence in the country. For instance in 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim entered into a local production agreement with Cigalah and Tabuk to increase the amount of available treatment options in the Saudi Arabian market. Key players profiles in the report are GlaxoSmithKline plc. (UK), Jamjoom Pharma (Saudi Arabia), Julphar (UAE), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Pfizer Inc. (US), Riyadh Pharma (Saudi Arabia), Sanofi (France), SPIMACO (Saudi Arabia), and Tabuk Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Co. (Saudi Arabia) Need more information about this report @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/saudi-arabia-pharmaceuticals-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Something one mom, Hayley Hutchins says is girls dresses all north peace spca staff hope public can help prairie rose bloom new radio show explores criminal justice from the inside and ou There are many different types of organic nutrients for hydroponics, including Botanicare nutrients, and they each offer a slightly different recipe of nutrients for specific purposes. She's got a ticket to ride . We don have a senior in the offensive line so how far we come along there will determine who well we do on offense. Dehumanization is the type of concept that takes months to really land with students. Is the 5K run/walk. Plumlee and Faried have different skill sets. It's been amazing. Tours were offered throughout the day and visitors to the festival could take a scenic hayride through the park to visit the mill. He fast. Truly a special property, he said. It's never easy. We only played for about 40 minutes. '>Mid South Food Bank. Marlena Fobb and her husband, Jason, were inside the store Wednesday night when a man walked in and opened fire with a handgun, killing several shoppers. "Anytime a community is moved out of their current location that they've been at many years, it's challenging."Body Found Near White Rock LakeParents are also asking questions about transportation.Many students live close enough to the school to walk, but Martinez Elementary is more than a mile away.. They're superbly thin, skin on specimens overflowing from a metal bucket ($2.25, regular), and the spuds get buttery as they cool. (He's) humble. I like kids. It's a good advertisement for Miami: a peaceful ethnic stew where everyone is shooting either for a place on the south wall's Hall of Fame or for one of those plaques scattered hither and yon that honor both living and dead local bowlers.. Animal feed and cosmetics and personal care products are found to be emerging segments.. Resorts pass down ownership to next generationBlack Friday better for retailers even small stores than Small Business SaturdayComments on controversial oil pipeline due Wednesday; decision expected in springlifestyleHeadlinesHere is what our readers voted as the preferred side dish of choice for ThanksgivingHow to make green bean casserole the fancy way7 Thanksgiving desserts that aren pumpkin pieQuiz: 10 questions about turkeyHow to brine a turkey. On returning to the company, they note massive changes in everything for the better. The fitness center, named for its goal to help member's evolve at the gym is hoping to change that pattern. Friendship aside he the best. But this tends to detract from the riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma to pirate a line from Winston Churchill that lies at the core of this play. Jollyhers offers Up to 75% OFF girl dresses, you can also use 15% Off Code "APRIL" to buy any fashion women dresses and girl dresses at site wide. Visit Jollyhers to find Women Dresses, Women Tops, Girl Dresses, Girl Coats, Boy sets, Boy Coats, family matching clothes, kids shoes,and more. Enjoy designer stylish,high-quality materials,reasonable price,and free shipping from Jollyhers. Snap on https://www.jollyhers.com/dresses-150 Hawaii could become the first state in the United States to prohibit the sale of certain over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone or octinoxate. The chemicals themselves have been under fireresearch conducted prior to the bills passing showed the two ingredients could pose a threat to coral reefs. According to the bill, beach-goers wearing the specified ingredients renew environmental contamination in the waters of the states Waimea Bay, Waikiki Beach and others. The bill (Hawaii Senate Bill 2571) states it shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale in the State any SPF sunscreen protection personal care product that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate, or both, without a medically licensed prescription. The legislation goes on to specify: Sunscreen means a product marketed or intended for topical use to prevent sunburn. Sunscreen does not include products marketed or intended for use as a cosmetic, as defined in section 328-1, for the face. If other states follow suit, sunscreen formulators may face the choice between changing their ozybenzone- or octinoxate-containing formulas to contain alternative ingredients, or to be forced to stop selling in restricted areas altogether. The bill will go into effect in 2021 if signed by David Ige, Hawaii governor. Update: The bill was signed into law on July 3, 2018. In addition, the Peruvian leader noted he is deeply committed to the development of regions . Therefore, he will continue traveling throughout the Inca country with the purpose of reaching said goal. Said gathering also featured Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) representatives. According to Antonietti , this initiative seeks to improve the comprehensive adaptation capacity, as well as reduce disaster risks in the face of glacier retreat in the Inca country especially in Ancash region. In this regard, he informed this project fostered public and private investment initiatives. It also enabled the consolidation of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation mechanisms. At the meeting, authorities and communities were informed about the relevance, impacts, and opportunities of glacial risk management. "Before we lack oil, we might lack water," Antonietti warned. Thus, these kinds of projects seek to ensure water presence worldwide. He also referred to natural disasters and the need to prevent or be prepared to face them. For her part, Ancash Regional Governments Natural Resources Department Manager Mirtha Cervantes praised this project, as she noted there are 22 lagoons in the region, which pose a danger to the population. Lastly, the need to rely on a Regional Environmental Information System (SIAR) was stressed, which was a consensus among participants. 03 Mays 2018 Persembe, 08:41 The CHP, Good Party, Felicity Party (SP) and Democrat Party (DP) have agreed in principle on a four-way alliance. With delegations vested with full authority by the parties having negotiated in accordance with the principles, the resulting protocol is expected to be submitted to the leaders today. With the DP taking part in the election on the Good Partys lists, it is said the other parties will contest the election using their own names and lists. The final point has been reached in the alliance negotiations among opposition parties that have been in progress for a long time. The opposition, unable to agree on a joint candidate, have reached agreement in principle on a four-way alliance involving the CHP, Good Party, SP and DP. Delegations vested with full authority by the parties continued to negotiate last night in accordance with the principles. From what has been learnt, the principles that include the basic tenets of justice, the separation of powers, the supremacy of the law, democracy, judicial independence, an independent and impartial president and harmony, existence, unity, peace and prosperity for everyone will be included in the protocol in a form that each party has consented to and with correct definitions. The protocol will be penned in terms that embrace society. The name of the alliance is expected to be the democracy alliance. DP on Good Party lists The protocols on which the four parties delegations have reached agreement will be submitted to the leaders today. A ceremony is expected to be held tomorrow following approval of the protocol by the leaders. It is envisaged that the four leaders will sign the protocol at the same time and will then each make a speech at the ceremony. Following the ceremony, it is said that the protocol will be submitted to the Supreme Election Council (SEC). According to the SECs timetable, the final day for submission of the protocol to the SEC is 6 May. From what has been learnt, with the CHP, SP and Good Party entering the election using their own names and lists, agreement has been reached for the DP to contest the election on Good Party lists. As such, it appears certain that DP General Chair Gultekin Uysal will also appear as a candidate on the Good Party list. It is stated that a few figures from the SP may be fielded on Good Party or CHP lists, too. Tas may also stand It is said that the CHP, whose goal is justice in representation, may field on its own lists the party chairs of parties that have threshold issues such as ODP General Chair Alper Tas and DSP General Chair Onder Aksakal. The oppositions first goal is to get at least 301 parliamentary seats in the general election and attain the majority as against the Peoples Alliance. With the opposition wishing to get the majority in parliament on 24 June, it is making its plans with a view to the presidential election proceeding to a second round. The opposition, which will gain the psychological upper hand having attained a majority in parliament, is planning, should the presidential election make it through to 8 July, for the presidential candidate who obtains most votes to be supported by all parties against Erdogan. The four-way alliances protocol will be announced tomorrow The four parties that have agreed on an alliance will announce their protocol tomorrow, that is Thursday 3 May 2018. 4lu ittifakta son viraj: Ortak ilkeler liderlerin onunde As'ad's Bio As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants. Far have we travelled and much have we seen, but where-oh-where is our favourite baking queen? Rest easy, creme pat comrades. Last night, the great ship Mary Berry sailed back on to the small screen, at the judging helm of a new show to find Britains Best Home Cook (BBC1). The 83-year-old was looking sprightly in a pair of jeans and a polka dot blouse, her Lady Penelope hair a familiar whip of blonde precision. And as always, her sweet but stern admonishments broke the bad news gently to blundering culinary hopefuls. Youve been so keen to put so much in weve got a little bit too much variety, she said to a lunatic called Trevor, who had made a lamb, beef and bacon cheeseburger, then garnished it with tempura prawns because it wasnt quite barfsome enough. To a retired shopkeeper named Fiona, whose hamburger looked like a deep-fried camel hoof slapped in a bap, she was equally kindly. I would say it is slightly overcooked, she murmured pleasantly as she nearly broke a tooth on the gigantic meat puck. Welcome back, Mary, the queen of food show judges. How we have missed you. Mary Berry returns to TV. The star presenter, 83, chats to contestant Pippa on the new BBC1 show Britain's Best Home Cook A lot rests on this new show, which the BBC are hoping will replace The Great British Bake Off in the nations affections over the next eight weeks. As the contestants stay in the same house between episodes, its rather like GBBO meets The Apprentice, with the emphasis on cooking rather than baking, and the added spice of host Claudia Winkleman gliding between the kitchen worktops, squealing like an adolescent under her fringe, which is currently at its most Highland pony luxuriant. Claudia must have bat radar, to negotiate around the fridges in the way that she does. I promise you I am here to help, she tells contestants, and to be fair she did open a jar and mop up a spillage with kitchen roll, proving that she is not the highest-paid woman at the BBC for nothing. She does not touch a morsel of food ever. When Mary impishly asked her what she would make with a bag of walnuts, Claudia was stumped. I would panic. I would race home and weep, she said. Yeah, sister, and then call your chef. Rumour has it that Claudia once made a slice of toast back in 1987, but no matter. She can be irritating, but her anarchic head girl personality is just what this show needs. The special chemistry between Claudia and Mary who has never been more relaxed absolutely sparkles. Paul who? I dont even want to talk about him. Claudia Winkleman and Mary Berry chat with contestant Philip on the BBC1 show Britain's Best Home Cook The format finds ten home cooks cooking an ultimate dish, then making another preparation showcasing a prize ingredient. To avoid elimination those deemed to have failed must compete in a cook-off, which is bizarrely tasted in silence by the judges. Alongside Mary is Gregg Wallace-alike produce expert Chris Bavin, and top chef Dan Doherty. They are both sincere and straightforward with interesting things to say about the dishes, and they are not trying to be superstars. Just as well, because this is the Claudia and Mary show all the way, baby. The bland men seem to have been hired as pretty boy back-ups to pad out the panel, an unusual gender reversal which I enjoy hugely. Indeed, it would be fun to know what the gender pay gap is on this show. Suffice to say no one is expecting the BBCs Carrie Gracie to picket the frying pans on behalf of oppressed female broadcasters any time soon. Britain's Best Home Cook started tonight on the BBC and drew comparisons to Bake Off Pictured, l-r: Josie, Fiona, Chris Bavin, Trevor, Cyrus, Katie, Mary Berry, Tobi, Philip, Q, Dan Doherty, Pippa, Claudia Winkleman, Dipa Mary was joined by host Claudia Winkleman (far left) and produce expert Chris Bevan (far right) and chef Dan Doherty (second from right) on the judging lineup If there is one flaw, it is that the entire premise is about home cooks whatever they might be but contestants strain to make menu-friendly dishes and plate their food up restaurant style. There are meals served on slates, on marble ovals, there are chips in little wire baskets and mini buckets, plus towers and smears why? They dont eat like that at home, surely? And while there might be something inherently comic about a catastrophic cake it just looks funny on television there is nothing amusing about a catastrophic burger, which just looks like roadkill. Yet somehow somehow! the Beeb have dug deep and found bounce, innocence and grace in a tired format. There are charming contestants, including cool dude Tobi, a lady called Q who applies her lipstick when she is finished, and Asian flavour-obsessed Pippa, a tissue bank technician. Mary Berry has returned to TV screens as head judge on BBC show Fiona might have been my favourite cooking show contestant of all time, but she was gone before we got to know her, as the luckless Irish retired shopkeeper was the first to be booted off last night. She trembled with nerves throughout, she never got the hang of having to wear a health n safety plastic glove when handling raw meat in the studio kitchen, or of sizing down her efforts. Ive got five hungry men and I just think big, she said. Her Swiss roll resembled a hunk of rusty drainpipe filled with cream, while her poached eggs were an affront to chickendom. Relaxing in the house the cooks share between trials, she was seen holding a large glass of wine and looking worried. In spirit, in execution, in the flesh and on the plate, she was more like a home cook than any of the others. However, in the search for Britains Best Home Cook, the last thing they actually want is a real home cook. Still, what fun. Its a hit! Two Yorkshire lifeboatmen have been sacked for production of inappropriate material of a sexual nature. Ben Laws and Joe Winspear, from Whitby, were told by the RNLI that their behaviour posed a safeguarding risk to schoolchildren. Their crime was to give each other coffee mugs featuring images of semi-naked women one of them with Winspears head superimposed upon it. A senior female member of staff saw the mugs on a shelf at headquarters and decided they were a clear and present danger to any children who may be visiting the premises. One mug featured Mr Winspear's head superimposed on a naked woman's body (pictured, is a mock-up) Laws, with 15 years service under his lifebelt, and Winspear, who joined in 2014, were told over the phone that they were being stood down immediately. Several of their colleagues have since walked out in solidarity, or been sacked, too. No one seems quite sure. Their dismissal has sparked a North Sea-style storm of protest on social media and in the seaside town, where a petition is being raised demanding their reinstatement. But the RNLI is unrepentant. A spokesman said: The lifeboat station should be an environment where people can expect to be treated with dignity and respect. Whitby RNLI crewman Ben Laws and his workmate Joe Winspear were allegedly sacked because of mugs they had in the office with naked women on them. Pictured: Whitby RNLI We cannot allow bullying, harassment or discrimination in what should be a safe and inclusive environment and there will be serious consequences for anybody who demonstrates this behaviour within the RNLI. Hang on, were talking about a couple of jokey coffee mugs here, exchanged by colleagues as Secret Santa gifts. This unbelievably pious, and menacing, RNLI statement makes these two public-spirited individuals sound like serial sex pests. Wheres the alleged bullying, harassment and discrimination of which they have been found guilty? If anyone is on the wrong end of bullying and harassment not to mention character assassination its Ben Laws and Joe Winspear. As it happens, guys n gals, these two blameless lifeboatmen are merely the latest victims of the Jimmy Savile hysteria. Ever since it was revealed that the old monster had been at liberty to molest his evil way through hospitals, care homes and the BBC, public bodies and charities have been frantically slamming the stable door. In their desperation to be seen to be doing something, an entire safeguarding industry has sprung up. It took me only seconds on the internet yesterday to discover a current recruitment advert from the RNLI for a full-time Safeguarding Officer, on a salary of up to 41,926 a year. Nice work if you can get it. Ben Laws is reported to have 15 years experience with the RNLI but was let go over the mug Of course, in this febrile climate, its no wonder that a senior female member of staff decided that possession of inappropriate crockery was the greatest threat to child safety since Savile and that other novelty Northern nonce, Cyril Smith. Each time I hear the word inappropriate I want to retch. Who gets to decide whats appropriate and what isnt? Finding offence where none exists is our new national pastime. Lives and careers are wrecked daily by these deranged witch-hunts. Lets just pause, however, to examine the evidence in this latest case. Theres some muttering about WhatsApp messages, but nothing has been produced. From the available photographs, the images on the mugs arent remotely obscene. Youll find more explicit material in national newspapers and on TV. Trainee RNLI volunteer Joe Winspear (pictured), 26, was the other crew member to be sacked As Im writing this, at lunchtime, an advert has just popped up on Sky News for a range of ladies swimwear. The models are flaunting just as much if not more flesh than is exposed on the offending coffee cups. In the photo with Joe Winspears head plonked on top, the model is wearing what looks like a pair of passion-killing Bridget Jones big knickers. And heres a thought. Surely by putting a mans head on a womans body, they could have claimed they were making a stand against transphobia. Heck, Winspear could even have said he was now identifying as a woman and demanded that the RNLI provide him with his own toilet and changing facilities. Martyn Cairns (pictured) is also believed to have handed in his resignation over the mug row That would have sent them into complete Corporal Jones mode. Its a gender fluid lifeboat-person, Mr Mainwaring! Dont panic! OK, so I jest, up to a point. But this isnt in the least bit funny. Its simply another example of how our public institutions have been hijacked by professional Guardianistas to promote and impose their own warped brand of political bigotry and intolerance. One Mail Online reader, commenting on the story, wondered how much of the 50 hed just donated to the lifeboat service was going towards the wages of the senior female member of staff involved. Well, since the RNLI is prepared to pay the best part of 42,000 a year for a Safeguarding Officer, Id have thought quite a chunk. How many of these essential members of staff does the organisation employ? Compare and contrast that attractive salary with the volunteers who actually man the lifeboats for nothing. Fellow Whitby crew member Neil Cook (pictured) is believed to have quit over the saga Check out the website of the Whitby lifeboat crew. Along with Ben Laws, who is a chef, and Joe Winspear, a banker, youll find, among others, a mechanic, a joiner, a teaching assistant, a heating engineer, a publican even a potash miner. How many of us would devote our spare time from working down a potash mine to volunteering for lifeboat duty? They are the Best of British, ready to risk their lives in all weathers to rescue those in distress. In 2016, the most recently available figures, RNLI crews saved 431 people from drowning. The Whitby lifeboat station was established in 1802, pre-dating the RNLI by more than 20 years. For more than 200 years, selfless crews have been on standby around the clock, all day, every day, prepared to subject themselves to the mercy of the most treacherous seas imaginable in order to aid others. Navigator Steve Boocock (pictured) is another Whitby volunteer who has quit over the mug They know all about genuine risk, not the confected safeguarding variety. And confected really is the operative word. Someone with local knowledge pointed out that there was no need for any child to be exposed to these inappropriate mugs at headquarters. The lifeboat museum, which is open to families and school parties, is in a different building, on the other side of the River Esk. Ben Laws and Joe Winspear should be reinstated immediately, with a grovelling apology. Their courage and self-sacrifice deserve better than to be repaid by having their reputations trashed and their lifeboat service terminated because a couple of harmless novelty coffee cups are deemed insanely to pose a safeguarding risk to children. Donald Trump has admitted repaying his lawyer the money used to buy off Stormy Make America Horny Again Daniels. At least it was his own cash, unlike the eighty-six grand of taxpayers money which was given to the civil servant who alleges he was bullied by Commons Speaker John Bercow. Donald Trump has admitted repaying his lawyer the money used to buy off Stormy Make America Horny Again Daniels As if the NHS isnt under enough pressure, its now being urged to treat so-called sex addiction. Charities say there has been a 400 per cent increase over the past decade in the number of people claiming to be addicted to sex. But who can say whats addiction and what isnt? One woman was diagnosed with the disease because five times a day wasnt enough for her. There are those who would think her frigid. The internet has, of course, made sex freely available. Ephraim Hardcastle disclosed yesterday that the chap tipped to take over the RSPCA is a big fan of the gay dating app, Grindr. Chris Sherwood even used it on a visit to Uzbekistan. Your nearest hook-up is Vlad, 57km away, over the mountains, behind the goatshed. No two people are the same. A woman has just been jailed after stabbing her boyfriend while they were indulging in clown sex. I know I lead a sheltered life, but thats a new one on me. Making love while dressed up as Coco the Clown? How do they manage to keep a straight face? Im reminded of the man who was found hanging from a rope in his attic, wearing a deep-sea divers outfit. The coroner said it was a sex game that had gone horribly wrong. I recall speculating at the time that, presumably, it must have gone horribly right at some stage. Do we really want our A&E departments cluttered up with men in gimp masks and women in clown suits seeking sex addiction treatment? Excuse me, nurse, Ive been waiting hours. Im not a nurse, big boy, Im a serial sex addict with a medical fetish. Are you a doctor . . ? U-M Credit Union Carpenter Road Branch Groundbreaking Ceremony The University of Michigan Credit Union took another step forward in serving its members and the community this week with an official groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate UMCUs new branch location on Carpenter Road. Thank you to everyone who attended Tuesday's groundbreaking to help commemorate another milestone for UMCU!By Haley Burrill on May 3, 2018. He may be Britains favourite comic, but when Peter Kay agreed to be in a TV series focusing on a pair of supermarket employees during their journeys to work together he wasnt sure anyone would want to watch it. I worried viewers may not have the patience to stay with a simple idea of two people commuting, he admits. Especially when they have so many other things to watch. Peter Kays Car Share, in which we see characters John and Kayleigh being forced into sharing their journey to work by their boss, and then gradually forming a genuine bond, began without any fanfare on BBC iPlayer in 2015. Alongside Peter was Sian Gibson, an unknown actress who had recently decided to give up the profession all in all, it didnt sound like it would be a hit. Scroll down for video Peter Kay (pictured right with Sian Gibson as colleagues John and Kayleigh) revealed the final episode of Car Share is a fully improvised episode But then the word of mouth started about this poignant and life-affirming gentle comedy, which shows the pair as they chat and sing to pass the time, often accompanied by their fellow supermarket workers. Millions tuned in to watch it on BBC iPlayer, and when the second series started on BBC1 last year it had nearly 10 million viewers. In 2016, the show won two BAFTAs, and it won a National Television Award that year and again this year. The good news for fans who thought it was all over is that it isnt. Not quite, anyway. With two episodes set to air, hopefully we will finally learn what happens in the delicious slow-burn romance of the unlikely Romeo, Bolton supermarket assistant manager John Redmond, and his Juliet, promotions rep Kayleigh Kitson. At the end of the second series she got out of his car and walked away when he didnt reply to her declaration of love for him. Peter, 44, who in December cancelled a live tour due to unforeseen family circumstances, has made one new, completely ad-libbed episode, to be screened on Monday. Sian, 41, had a fear of letting Peter down just a week before they began filming And then not only is the entire second series being repeated on BBC1 but therell be a brand new finale the last-ever episode of Car Share which will air on 28 May. Peter says of the ad-libbed episode, Its always good to try to do something original and I couldnt think of any narrative comedies that have ever made a full improvised episode. As Sian and myself often ad-lib when filming we thought wed give it a go for an entire episode. We just reacted to whatever came on the radio and just went with it, good or bad. We hope people like it. Appearing in Car Share has changed 41-year-old Sians life instead of retiring she has gone on to work with Catherine Tate and earlier this year appeared in Death In Paradise. She was working in a call centre when Peter, a friend since they attended the University of Salford together, phoned to ask if she wanted to be on his new show. A week before we started filming I said, I dont mind if you want to ask Suranne Jones or Sheridan Smith you know, one of those really good actresses to do this, Sian later recalled. I thought, he cant just bring his mate in, surely? I was so scared of letting him down. Now shes been hailed a comedy genius and is getting the recognition she deserves. But the biggest bonus, for her, has been working with one of her oldest friends. Nearly all of the laughter you see in Car Share is totally genuine, she says. Peter knows how to make me laugh with just a look he constantly makes me giggle. Peter Kays Car Share Unscripted, Monday, 10pm, BBC1. Series 2 will be repeated on BBC1 before the new finale airs on 28 May. Most people look at chicken wings and think "These need buffalo sauce," or 'These need ranch dressing." But Jonathan Cheban, fan of all things flashy, thought: 'These need gold.' Whether others will agree with him enough to buy his new dish at a New York City restaurant is still yet to be seen. On Wednesday, the 44-year-old who calls Kim Kardashian BFF unveiled a menu collaboration with The Ainsworth, showing off a platter of chicken wings covered in edible 24-karat gold. Scroll down for video Metal mouth: These 24-karat gold chicken wings are now available to order in New York City Designed: Jonathan Cheban collaborated on the dish with The Ainsworth 'Introducing the FOODGOD 24k Gold Buffalo wings,' Jonathan wrote on Instagram. 'The most expensive and insanely tasting 24k Gold Wings in the world exclusively available at the Ainsworth.' The wings are smothers in some sort of metallic gold sauce, and can be ordered three different ways from the restaurant's locations in Chelsea and the East Village. Ten wings are $45, 20 wings are $90, and for $1,000 diners can order 50 wings with a bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac. Jonathan also posted a video of the wings, hyping them up. 'My camera's even trembling, these are so lit,' he says in the clip. 'These are unbelievable.' Glitzy dinner: The wings are covered in some sort of edible gold topping Pricey: Ten wings are $45, 20 wings are $90, and for $1,000 diners can order 50 wings with a bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac He approves! Jonathan posted a video of himself trying the new wings Lip gloss: 'My camera's even trembling, these are so lit,' he says in the clip. 'These are unbelievable' He also picks one up on camera, dips it in blue cheese, and takes a bite with some of the shimmery gold coming off on his lips. Jonathan created the wings in collaboration with The Ainsworth owner Brian Mazza, who raved about them as well. 'The creative process is hands down the best part of my job! This 24k Gold Wing collab with @foodgod was a really fun project!' 'Foodgod' is the brand Jonathan runs in which he promotes food and restaurants. He has said that it was Kim's husband Kanye West who came up with the name. Yum! Jonathan's 'foodgod' brand spotlights restaurants and interesting dishes Sure: Last year he claimed he was changing his name legally to 'foodgod' In June of last year, Page Six reported that Jonathan was legally changing his name to 'foodgod'. 'Everyone calls me foodgod; scream it in the streets and run up to me in restaurants, and I want people calling me foodgod when they write about me not Jonathan or "BFF,"' he said. But while the TV personality said he planned to change his name officially, it's unclear if he has since followed through. A Detroit woman has revealed how a discount microblading turned into a nightmare landed her in hospital for three days. Keeping her face concealed and identity private, the woman known as Jennifer shared that she was initially happy with the result and paid just $250 for the procedure, which usually costs in the region of $700 to $800. Microblading is a semi-permanent tattooing technique that creates individual hairlike strokes to fill in sparse or thinning brows. Raw deal: A Detroit woman known as Jennifer revealed how a discount microblading deal turned into a nightmare that landed her in hospital for three days Awful: She paid $250 for the service which usually costs between $700 and $800, and shortly after the treatment her skin began to swell and blister Correct procedure: Microblading is the process of creating a semi-permanent tattoo in order to achieve the look of a full, well-shaped brow However, her customer satisfaction was short-lived, as she explained to Karen Drew from WDIV4, a local station in Detroit, Michigan. A few days after I noticed that they were starting to get little lumps in it, she detailed. And as the pain and redness started to increase, leading to swelling around the eye area, Jennifer decided to seek medical attention. I went to Urgent Care and they diagnosed me with cellulitis on my face, gave me antibiotic and sent me on my way she shared. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that may spread rapidly. However, as the infection in her brows kept getting worse, Jennifer decided to take daily photos to document her injury, and when she saw they were getting worse, headed to the Emergency Room. When they admitted me, they put me on an IV antibiotic and then the next morning they started me on steroids. Jennifer spent three days in the hospital and said she felt terrified during that time. My face was swelling up, my eyes were closing, thinking I dont know whats going to happen, she added. Urgent: Jennifer visited an Urgent Care facility and was diagnosed with cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection, and prescribed a topical cream No improvement: However when Jennifer's infection seemed to get worse she went to the Emergency Room, was admitted and hooked up to an IV antibiotic Treatment: Jennifer is now under the care of Dr Steven Grekin, a dermatologist who has warned about the 'potentially life threatening' danger of an infection of this kind Jennifer is now under the care of dermatologist Dr Steven Grekin of The Grekin Skin Institute, who has prescribed a treatment to help heal Jennifers wounds. This is potentially life threatening if not treated, Dr Grekin told WDIV4, explaining that as the sinuses are right behind the eyes, an infection in this area can have an impact on the brain. Buyer beware: Dr Grekin also advised anyone else considering microblading to check out the salon ahead of treatment Dr Grekin then listed the different elements that could be to blame for Jennifers severe reaction to the treatment, including a potential allergy to the ink used, the products used to prep the skin or an infection due to being told not to wash her face for two days. Now I regret going in there and getting it done but it is vanity. You want to look good and you dont ever think thats going to happen to you, Jennifer added. Although Dr Grekin did share his top tips for anyone else considering microblading. I think its buyer beware. I think you have to do your research. I think you have to have multiple visits to make certain that youre comfortable the place is clean, that its efficiently run, that this is not taken as a sort of cavalier, come in and get your eyebrows waxed, he detailed. While Meghan Markle has picked up a few new skills since getting engaged to Prince Harry the curtsy, the wave, the Duchess Slant it's safe to say that there are a few things she mastered in her previous life as a commoner that she will no longer need. Take, for instance, the ability to touch up her make-up in the back seat of a moving vehicle which the 36-year-old star proved she's a total pro at in a newly-unearthed beauty campaign from before the royal engagement. Back in September of 2016, Meghan joined Bobbi Brown to promote some of her brand's latest products, and even demonstrated how easy it is to apply them in the back of a car. Look who it is! Newly-unearthed images show Meghan Markle with make-up brand boss Bobbi Brown Touch-up time: Meghan collaborated with Bobbi on a beauty campaign in 2016 On the go, girl! The actress is seen in photos and video touching up her make-up in the back of an Uber When you're in a hurry... Meghan easily and expertly applies concealer in the moving car While images and video of Meghan from the campaign were first released nearly two years ago, they appear to have flown mostly under-the-radar. At the time, she had only just met Prince Harry a couple months prior, in July of 2016, and was still pursuing her acting career. In fact, the pair was only publicly linked together for the first time that month. She reportedly met Prince Charles that September as well, but didn't meet Prince William until November. During that exciting time, she teamed up with Bobbi Brown for the Bobbi Brown x Uber Retouch campaign. In a video shared on Bobbi Brown's Facebook account, Meghan joins the beauty brand boss in the back of an Uber in New York City. Flashback: The campaign was initially released in September of 2016 Timeline: Meghan had met Prince Harry about two months before and reportedly met his dad, Prince Charles, the same month she filmed the video Pay day: At the time, she was still acting on Suits and teaming up on brand partnerships Well that's over: It seems unlikely Meghan will ever need her moving-car-make-up-skills again She does! Meghan is set to marry Harry on Saturday, May 19, in St. George's Chapel She's wearing a blush-colored blouse and high-waisted skirt, with her brown hair down around her shoulders. 'We're on hiatus from Suits so I am meeting some producers about a film, fingers crossed!' she tells Bobbi. Of course, that film never happened for Meghan, though it's not known whether that's because she didn't get the part or because things were getting serious with Prince Harry. Bobbi tells her that she wants to show her son things from her new Retouching product line. 'I don't know if you know this, but I do my make-up in the back of a car,' Bobbi says, before handing over a Retouching Wand and a compact to Meghan. Cute! In the video, she reacts with glee and surprise when Bobbi's phone plays Big Poppa as its ringtone Plans: She also tells Bobbi that Suits is on hiatus, and she is on her way to a meeting about potentially being in a movie How that ends: She never ended up being in that movie, though she did fall in love with The One Aha! Bobbi explained to her that the idea for the Retouching products came about because she herself does her make-up in the car Ommm... The two pretend to meditate for a moment in the video In touch: When they hug and say goodbye, Bobbi tells Meghan to text her later Business chic: Meghan wore a tight skirt and a blush blouse for the video The Suits star whose make-up already looks flawless dots a bit on her chin and a tad more on her forehead, rubbing it in as she raves about how well it blends. Bobbi next hands her a Retouching Pencil in the medium-to-dark shade, which Meghan uses to cover a spot on her forehead. She also uses a lighter pencil under eyes, applying it like a pro until Bobbi's phone goes off and interrupts the moment. Meghan opens her mouth in surprise as she hears the Notorious B.I.G.'s song 'Big Poppa' playing out of the speakers. She dances to it for a moment until Bobbi turns it off. They also briefly pretend to meditate before applying more make-up. All set with touch-ups, Meghan gives Bobbi a hug as the make-up guru says to 'text me later,' and Meghan climbs out of the car, studded Valentino heels first. Chloe Weinthal was a typical teenager 'coasting through school' when she faced a series of very difficult life hurdles. Within a few short years, she lost her grandmother to suicide, had three hip surgeries which forced her to drop out of the state netball team, her parents separated and her dog passed away. But instead of allowing those challenges to consume her, she used them to motivate her into launching her own business. Chloe Weinthal (pictured) was a typical teenager 'coasting through school' when she faced a series of very difficult life hurdles 'After going through these things I made a promise to myself that I would spend every day chasing what I loved and making the most of my life,' she told FEMAIL. 'For me, that involved building a business and creating a lifestyle I loved.' At just 15 she turned her attention to building a fully vegan, cruelty-free and Australian-made tanning range - which finally launched in early February this year as Sahara Soul. At just fifteen she turned her attention to building a fully vegan, cruelty-free and Aussie made tanning range - which finally launched in early February this year as Sahara Soul The reason for focusing on tanning products was to give women the same confidence Chloe felt being a few shades darker 'I have found that every single person has a time in there life that they face hardships, it's about how you handle these difficulties and what you are able to make of it,' she said. 'For me it was a matter of using it for motivation and a reminder to make the most of the time that you have.' The reason for focusing on tanning products was to give women the same confidence Chloe felt being a few shades darker. 'I found myself feeling a lot more confident in my body when my skin was looking healthy and bronzed,' she said. 'I wanted to create something affordable and great quality that can help women feel beautiful and confident in the same way it has helped me.' 'I found myself feeling a lot more confident in my body when my skin was looking healthy and bronzed,' she said Chloe is preparing to take the brand (pictured) from a national online store all the way to Amazon, America's largest online commercial store Since the launch two months ago, Sahara Soul has turned over a profit of $7,000 - with all of that money going back into the business to improve and expand the range. Chloe is preparing to take the brand from a national online store all the way to Amazon, America's largest online commercial store. 'I was lucky enough to have an incredible support base from my family, my dad especially,' she said of her home life. 'He has been there to offer help and support throughout the entire process.' And while people may believe 17 is young to start your own company, Chloe argues there is 'no right or wrong way to find and follow your passion' 'What I have learnt on my journey so far is that everybody has there own path to follow,' she explained And while people may believe 17 is young to start your own company, Chloe argues there is 'no right or wrong way to find and follow your passion'. 'What I have learnt on my journey so far is that everybody has there own path to follow,' she said. 'Whether that is completing school and starting when your 35 or if it is creating something at the age of 14. 'Being a young entrepreneur I have personally had struggles with being taken seriously by other business women or men. 'My advice for dealing with this is to continue pushing for success and have belief that your hard work will pay off.' Every three years, like millions of women over 50, I dutifully turn up for my mammogram scan, grateful that the state should provide this service. I am attended to by kindly nurses and technicians at St Marys Hospital in West London, where the Duchess of Cambridge recently gave birth. Unlike her treatment, mine is free, and would continue to be free should, God forbid, the scans ever find something. Being in that small room is always a sobering moment; as the compression plates grip and the X-ray machine buzzes, a woman can feel very vulnerable. There you are, half naked, a tiny, quaking worker bee inside a massive overworked, understaffed, oversubscribed, under resourced, buzzing hive of supposedly world-class medical care. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed that some womens lives may have been shortened as a result of a nine-year-long computer glitch failure in screening What if they find the black pip of something bad in your breast? What if they dont? Perhaps a wily cancer is there, but they miss it entirely? In this monolithic organisation, where hundreds of X-rays must be inspected every week, we patients must trust the tired human eyes scanning for abnormalities, we just have to trust the system. What other hope have we got? However, this week that hope and trust was shaken. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed that some womens lives may have been shortened as a result of a nine-year-long computer glitch failure in screening. Nearly a decade of malfunction that nobody noticed, on either side of the patient/doctor divide. The glitch concerns women due a screening between the ages of 68 to 71, from 2009 to now, but who were not called back for their appointments. What? Is that so bad, I initially thought, puffed up with the utter callousness of my relative youth. If one has lived to the ripe old age of 70-plus cancer free, then what a marvellous innings. A cause for celebration, rather than complaint? Surely individuals should have been more proactive about a check-up in the first place? Then I really started to think about it, and changed my mind entirely. For a start, for years the NHS has expounded a culture of care that nannies citizens to the point of distraction. We are nannied about everything, from our consumption of milk, sugar, alcohol, chocolates, red meat, cheese, you name it, to our exercise routines, or lack thereof, plus the frequency of sexual partners, cigarette smoking, hand washing, teeth cleaning, hair brushing and the drinking of absurd amounts of water every day. We have come to expect this nannying, this constant personal health caretaker whispering in our ear, insisting we check for warning signs for everything, and be tested regularly for everything else. If that persistent voice suddenly falls silent, its not wrong for those women of a certain age to presume the cancer cloud of danger must have passed, and that they were in the clear at last. The proportion of women who may have died prematurely as a result of this hiccup is actually quite small, but that is no consolation if your mother, grandmother or friend died. The NHS estimates that 450,000 women slipped through this glitch, and 140,000 have already died up to 270 potentially prematurely of undetected cancer, or cancer detected too late to save them. Now the remaining 310,000 face an anxious wait of up to six months to discover if they have the disease. I dont expect my check-up on time this year. This latest episode also makes me realise we have to recalibrate our relationship with the NHS, to curb expectations. That comforting assumption that we will be cared for from the cradle to the grave? Forget it. There is no longer the money for the latest drug treatments in this country, and services are no longer in place to help everyone. Unlike many knee-jerk Lefties keen to make political capital, I dont blame the Conservative government or Jeremy Hunt, who I think has been an exemplary public servant battling heroically with an unwinnable brief. I think it is more that Britain, or rather more specifically England, has changed in deep and cataclysmic ways. Population growth is swamping the NHS, along with people who use the system and dont pay into it, and medics who train in the system, then move into more lucrative private practice. That doesnt excuse this current breast screening debacle, but it does illuminate the fragile balance between modern expectations and reality when it comes to the NHS. However, one point. It would be wrong to lose faith in the screening system entirely. Not least because, for most of us, its all we have. More importantly, we should remember that while it is deeply regrettable and horrific that hundreds may have died before their time, thousands upon thousands have been saved. Nannied and harried or not, we have to hold on to that thought. Storm in a teacup for the RNLI Two Lifeboat men have been sacked and four have quit over a row about bawdy crockery featuring nude female bodies in the Whitby Lifeboat station. Thats what happens when you put a woman in charge, said one of my fisherman friends here in West Cornwall. I dont even have the heart to argue. On this treacherous coast, the RNLI are a big and comforting presence. My nearest lifeboat station is Penlee, situated between Newlyn and Mousehole, famous for one of the worst tragedies in RNLI history. Two Lifeboat men have been sacked and four have quit over a row about bawdy crockery featuring nude female bodies in the Whitby Lifeboat station On a wild December night in 1981, the Penlee lifeboat was launched in hurricane conditions to help a stricken ship. Eight lifeboat men died during the expedition, and their memory is commemorated each year, when the Christmas lights are turned off at the exact hour they went to sea. Today, the Penlee boys are still kept busy. On Wednesday night, there was a spotlight shoreline search for a missing person near Penzance. Recently they have attended stricken trawlers, lost kayakers, anglers cut off by the tide, medical evacuations from ships. Averted tragedies never hit the headlines, but it should not undermine the vital work the RNLI does across the country. All voluntarily, need I add. A few weeks ago, Penlee responded to a 999 call from a female paddle boarder, struggling against a Force 5 wind near St Michaels Mount. The lifeboat was launched within three minutes, they reached her within ten. Despite your selfless act in rescuing me, she told them as they drew near, I wont get into your boat unless you can assure me you possess no crockery featuring jokey pictures of undressed women. No, of course she bloody did not. I suspect she wept hot tears of relief and wanted to hug them for saving her life. Sometimes you have to concentrate on what is important, and what is not. Drinking tea from a saucy mug is well down the list of life-saving vitals. What matters to Penlees crew is raising money for a new lifeboat station. Lets crush political correctness and help them. Ive donated (via Penlee Lifeboat Stations page at virginmoneygiving.com). Perhaps you will too? Or to your local RNLI station. We need each other, after all. Unsightly day for a no-good menace No, I am not sad that Henry Vincent is dead. In his short and brutish life he was an absolute no-gooder, a thief, a menace and waste of space who terrorised home owners and paid the ultimate price. His funeral was held yesterday near Orpington in Kent, and the classy mourners from his travelling community made obscene gestures out of the windows of limousines in the cortege, and later threw stones and eggs at photographers and journalists. Last month, the police allowed Vincents family to erect and re-erect a floral tribute opposite the home of pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks who killed Vincent while defending his own home from the burglar after furious locals repeatedly tore the tributes down. Yet less than five miles away in South-East London, tributes have been removed from the makeshift shrine that commemorated Fusilier Lee Rigby, who was stabbed to death by Islamic fanatics in 2013. It was unsightly, according to the local council. And this ghastly travesty was not? How much more misery can Meghan take? Just who are the malformed mystery couple being commemorated on this special coin? Some Swedish dude who sailed the Kon-Tiki and a young Julia Roberts? Good grief, apparently it is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Come on, Royal Mint. I could make a more realistic Harry with some Play-Doh, two raisin eyes and a strip of orange Fuzzy-Felt. One wonders how much more humiliation Meghan Markle can take before the big day. Just who are the malformed mystery couple being commemorated on this special coin? Some Swedish dude who sailed the Kon-Tiki and a young Julia Roberts? Good grief, apparently it is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Just this week one more ghastly relative of hers seemed determined to spoil the party, another bitter Markle termite creeping out from the family woodwork. This time it was estranged half-brother Thomas Markle Jnr, who advised Prince Harry to call off the fake fairytale wedding because she is not the right woman for you. Even half-sister Samantha, who has called Meghan a social climber thought he had gone too far. Yet every time one of the members of her family try to drag her down, my admiration for the redoubtable Miss Markle increases exponentially. All these siblings had the same chances in life, but she was the only one who soared. She forged her own successful path by being focused, determined, hard-working and ambitious all credit to her. No wonder she is thought not have invited this shower of greedy, vengeance-seeking rellies who have never had a good word to say. I hope she holds her head high and has a lovely wedding it is the least she deserves. A mother who gave birth to her son when she was just 24 weeks pregnant has detailed the harrowing story of her son's traumatic birth. Kylie Angwin of Victoria, 38, hasn't had an easy path to motherhood - just to become pregnant she had to undergo seven rounds of IVF. She told FEMAIL her pregnancy with her son Oliver had been going fine, up until she hit the 20-week mark. Ms Angwin said a scan at this time revealed she had a short cervix, a rare complication that can lead to very premature birth. Kylie Angwin (pictured) gave birth to her son Oliver when she was just 24 weeks pregnant 'The next day I went in for an emergency cerclage (a stitch that helps hold the cervix closed) and then I was put on bedrest,' she said. Ms Angwin said she spent four weeks in bed, and at 24 weeks went into spontaneous labour and was rushed to the hospital. There she spent 96 hours in labour with her medical team doing all they could to try and stop the birth of her baby boy. 'I went in Saturday when my labour pains started and had him the following Wednesday,' she said. The mum-of-one said a 20-week scan revealed she had a weakened cervix - a complication that can lead to premature birth She said that over the course of her protracted labour she was also given steroid injections to help her son's lungs and was put on a magnesium drip to help with brain development. 'When we first went into hospital we had one of the neonatal staff speak to us about what to expect if I did deliver early,' she said. 'The chances of survival weren't great or there could have been brain bleeds causing brain damage.' 'When we were first went into hospital we had one of the neonatal staff speak to us about what to expect if I did deliver early,' Ms Angwin said Although Oliver survived his difficult birth, it was a situation that came down to the wire, especially with last minute heartbreaking news her child had 'died' in the womb. 'When I was ready to deliver I had cord prolapse and no pulse was found. They told us we had lost him,' she said. 'Everybody left the room and for an hour we just cried and hugged midwives and our obstetrician.' Then an hour later, a miraculous thing happened. Ms Angwin delivered her son naturally with a heartbeat. Although Oliver survived his difficult birth, it was a situation that came down to the wire, especially with last minute heartbreaking news her child had died in the womb 'A neonatal code blue was called. I was in shock, I was exhausted and I had to go straight into the theatre to have the placenta delivered manually,' she said. Her baby was born weighing a tiny 786 grams and measured just 30 centimetres long. He needed immediate resuscitation and was intubated and breathing with the help of a machine. Ms Angwin's son Oliver would spend the first 128 days of his life in the newborn intensive care unit of Monash Hospital before spending time in special care. Baby Oliver was born weighing a tiny 786 grams and measured just 30 centimetres long While the mother would spend as many as 16 hours a day at her baby's bedside, it would be a month before she would have her first cuddle. 'For the first three and a half weeks we were only allowed to change his nappy and wipe his eyes. 'The day I got to hold him was also the same day he opened his eyes so it was just amazing. 'All the emotions were running high but at the same time I was so scared because I was worried if I even moved slightly his breathing tubes would be dislodged. 'It took three nurses to get him out of his humidicrib and I had masking tape on my shoulder to hold all his tubes in place.' Ms Angwin said her baby would spend the first two-and-a-half months of his of his life in NICU Although Oliver needed oxygen for after he went home for a further 11 months, Ms Angwin said her son couldn't be a healthier or happier two-year-old After Oliver came home he was on home oxygen for a further 11 months but now she reveals he couldn't be a healthier or happier two-year-old. Ms Angwin said she couldn't speak highly enough of the care doctors and nurses of Monash Newborn showed to her and her baby. The new mum hopes by sharing her story she might be able to shed a light on the difficulties faced by as many as one in ten Australian families each year. 'Miracle Babies was almost our lifeline when we were in the hospital. The support and information they provide have helped us so much on our journey. Miracle Babies Foundation provides support, services and resources to families with premature and sick newborns, committed to ensuring better long-term outcomes for these miracles and their families. For more information about making a donation or hosting a Miracle May event, please visit www.miraclebabies.org.au Meghan Markle's rumoured maid of honour has already had a brush with royalty after reaching out to the Duchess of Cambridge in 2015, it's been revealed. The former Suits star has reportedly chosen long-time pal Lindsay Roth, 35, to accompany her down the aisle on 19th May, after Meghan acted as maid of honour at her own wedding in Greece in August 2016. Now fashion blog Meghan's Mirror has unearthed a tweet from Lindsay which revealed she'd received a thank you letter from Kensington Palace after sending her a copy of her novel What Pretty Girls Are Made Of. She even based the central character of an ambitious actress around Meghan, and it appears Kate was impressed by the gift. 'Her Royal Highness was very touched that you should think of her in this way and sends you her best wishes,' the letter read. Lindsay was thrilled by the response, tweeting: 'Thank you Kate Middleton. You are what pretty is. Can't stop smiling.' Meghan Markle's rumoured maid of honour Lindsay Roth has already had a brush with royalty after sending the Duchess of Cambridge a copy of her novel in 2015 A snap of the thank you letter which Lindsay received has recently been unearthed by fashion blog Meghan's Mirror Meghan was maid of honour for Lindsay's wedding in Greece in August 2016 Meghan and Lindsay first met when they took the same Toni Morrison literature class at Northwestern University and have remained close friends ever since. Meghan, 36, was maid of honour at Lindsay's wedding in Greece when the executive producer of Real Girls Kitchen and producer for Larry King Now married financier Gavin Jordan. After news of Meghan's romance with Prince Harry broke, Lindsay insisted that the nothing would change her 'generous and supportive' pal in an interview with People magazine. 'I think people assume that when someone gains notoriety that they change. But she's still the same girl I met years ago, with the same values and priorities,' she said. The Duchess of Cambridge sent a thank you letter to Meghan's rumoured maid of hounour after Lindsay Roth gifted her a copy of her novel 'She's selfless, and that's just a part of who she is and who she was raised to be.' She added that she wasn't surprised by how well Meghan handled the increased attention, saying everyone can learn from how she deals with life's challenges 'gracefully, smartly, elegantly, positively, realistically and graciously'. Referring to her close pal as 'Meg' she said that the pair have a shared motto that they've relied on over the years, which is: 'I choose happiness'. Germaine Greer has laid into the royal family for holding back Meghan Markle, claiming she's 'not allowed to shine' because of her soon-to-be sister-in-law Kate. During an appearance on ITV's This Morning the 79-year-old feminist icon didn't hold back as she berated the royals for Meghan's 'dreary' wardrobe as well as the 'cow turd' hat she donned when she attended Sandringham at Christmas. The outspoken author also reiterated her previous claim that Meghan will grow bored in the royal family and 'bolt' from the marriage - predicting the former Suits actress will leave Prince Harry within five years. 'I think she is not being allowed to shine at all,' Germaine ranted to presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. 'You send her to the dawn service at Anzac and the poor little thing she sits in the dark and we talk about her fashion.' Referring the outfit she wore to church at Sandringham at Christmas, she added: 'They keep dressing her in brown and what about that dreadful hat? The cow turd hat?' Germaine Greer believes Meghan will grow bored with life in the royal family and 'bolt' within five years The outspoken author slammed the former Suits actress's fashion sense, insisting the royal firm was at fault for dressing her in brown and a 'cow turd' hat Preparation has been in full flow for Meghan and Harry's May 19th wedding in Windsor, but Germaine believes that after the ceremony it will only be a matter of time before the former US star will leave her husband. 'I dont think she will bolt before the wedding. I think she will bolt after. Most of the royal spouses bolt eventually. 'I dont think I would get odds if I tried to get on now to back her to leave within five years,' she said. Worried that Meghan had given up too much of herself - after quitting her career, her chairty work and leaving behind friends in the US to move to the UK - Germaine said that an enormous amount of pressure had been placed on the marriage being a success. Prince William and Kate welcomed their third child Prince Louis just over a week ago, ahead of the royal wedding 'The more you give up for the love the more pressure you put on the love, to be first class,' she said. She even claimed that Meghan has been forced to ask William to escort her into the church on the big day even though it's been announced that he will be acting as his brother's best man. 'Its quite clear The Firm has to control it,' she said. 'What they are doing is actually restricting the amount of access the public has to her. 'A lot of people dont know that, that the mother wont be walking her down the aisle,' Germaine continued. 'How could she even imagine [what shes got herself into]?' Germaine slammed the royals for sitting Meghan in the dark when attending the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on April 25 As Eamonn questioned why Germaine felt the need to play the role of the 'wicked witch' and put a dampener on the fairytale romance, the activist snapped back. 'I hope she will bolt before the possibility of a life will be eradicated by the dreariness of the firm. Germaine also went on to blast Meghan having expensive facials and being sent to 'provincial towns' to press peoples hands and hug them. Asked about Harry being aware of how his mother, Diana, became unhappy in her royal marriage, she added: 'Thats the whole point. 'He knows how unhappy his mother was and he may try his best to make life possible for Meghan but I frankly think, in the setting shes in, its going to be really hard.' This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30am Advertisement Australian man Jake Snowden met Marie Ferling, from Dusseldorf, Germany, by chance on a beach in Thailand. Marie's friend had dropped her phone into ocean and 26-year-old Jake was nearby with a beer in hand. 'We would've never met if Marie's friend didn't drop her phone in the ocean, she decided to forget about it and have a few drinks on the beach and I was there waiting,' Jake said. After briefly getting to know each other for just four days, the pair went their separate ways: Jake to Cambodia and Marie to Vietnam. But determined to see Marie again, Jake gave a Cambodian man his passport and $210 in order to get a Vietnamese Visa. Two hours later, he caught a bus to Vietnam to surprise her. Now the couple have travelled to 22 countries in the same amount of months, their life mission: 'To keep our countries above our months!' Jake Snowden, 26, (right) from Adelaide in South Australia met Marie Ferling, (left) from Dusseldorf Germany by chance on a beach in Thailand. Now the couple have travelled to 22 countries in the same amount of months 'The key to having anything in life is to first CHOOSE it,' the couple posted to their Instagram account on Friday Images show the stunning pair enjoying their travels around the globe, from swimming in crystal clear waters to exploring some of the world's most popular cities. 'The key to having anything in life is to first CHOOSE it,' the couple posted to their Instagram account on Friday. 'A lot of people want a lifestyle they aren't ready to commit to. It is scary to think that maybe it won't work out, but it's also scary to think you might miss out on something incredible if you don't try,' Jake said. 'Our relationship feels like it developed at light speed - that's what travelling the world as a couple does to a relationship. The couples' Instagram account shows images of the pair traveling the globe, from swimming in crystal clear waters to exploring some of the world's most popular cities (pictured, London) 'A lot of people want a lifestyle they aren't ready to commit to. It is scary to think that maybe it won't work out, but it's also scary to think you might miss out on something incredible if you don't try,' Jake said 'After only two months we became official, when you travel together you spend every waking hour together, you see each other experience every emotion there is. 'We feel like our relationship had been through what most relationships wouldn't go through in five years, it really solidified us as a team and taught us everything we needed to know about each other to comfortably take some big risks regarding our future.' After the couple met in Asia, they explored Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia before heading to the USA, Mexico, Central America and the top of South America. Then the pair took to Germany, Spain and the Netherlands before flying to Australia and worked for three months. 'I knew that love takes you to a place nothing else can. l didn't know it would take me to the other side of the world,' another recent Instagram post read. After the couple met in Asia, they explored Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia before heading to the USA, Mexico, Central America and the top of South America Some of their shared passions are a love for adventure, the outdoors and photography, which plays an important role in their adventure 'We both come from opposite worlds,' Jake said. 'Marie worked in fashion management at a huge company in Germany. I've always explored the idea of seasonal work working hard for a few months and then travelling hard for more than a few months.' 'We are really starting to get a feel for what our passions are. What works well for us is that they [our passions] are the same'. Some of their shared passions are a love for adventure, the outdoors and photography, which plays an important role in their adventure. 'Early in our relationship we explored some incredible parts of the world and it would have been an injustice not to take photos and share them with our friends and family,' Jake said. 'We started our Instagram together midway through 2016, the commitment and energy we have put into photography has gradually increased from then until now. 'We always get a really positive reaction from people, although most of the time they mention they could never do it themselves. 'We understand that everyone is different and the life we lead is not for everybody but the message we try to portray to our followers is not to follow what we've done but to chase whatever it is they want that gives them the most fulfillment. 'Travelling helped us realise that some of the fickle things we used to worry about, like everyday stresses, are literally first world problems and we've learnt to let them go' 'Early in our relationship we explored some incredible parts of the world and it would have been an injustice not to take photos and share them with our friends and family,' Jake said 'The sacrifices you have to make are similar to those you make when you want to travel the world. You give up the security of routine, the comfort of your own bed in your own house and you sacrifice material possessions for experiences. 'We believe that when you have made these changes you start to feel a different kind of fulfilment a fulfilment that's deeper and lasts longer.' 'It's so easy to overcomplicate things and worry about the finer details that you lose the emotion you had when you first thought of an idea. 'The fear or hesitation we all have is a natural response to exposing ourselves to something uncomfortable, it would be easier to stay at home but not as fulfilling and you wouldn't experience so much personal growth. 'Travelling helped us realise that some of the fickle things we used to worry about, like everyday stresses, are literally first world problems and we've learnt to let them go,' Jake said 'Later in the year we are super excited to see the north of Africa and explore both Morroco and Egypt. One bucket list place we are really excited for is Petra in Jordan which we plan to see this year,' the couple said 'So, when you feel that hesitation, realise it's a good thing and then make your move.' But the couple still have more to tick off their bucket list. 'Our plans for this year are to spend some more time in Asia, we are really looking forward to visiting some new islands in Indonesia as well as new countries like the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. 'Later in the year we are super excited to see the north of Africa and explore both Morroco and Egypt. One bucket list place we are really excited for is Petra in Jordan which we plan to see this year. 'Travelling is like a key that unlocks sections of your brain that cannot be unlocked in any other way. 'I knew that love takes you to a place nothing else can. l didn't know it would take me to the other side of the world,' a recent Instagram post read 'Travelling is like a key that unlocks sections of your brain that cannot be unlocked in any other way,' the couple said 'It opens your mind and allows you to witness firsthand the vastness of different ways people live their lives. You become more accepting of people that are different and you also learn a lot from them. 'Travelling helped us realise that some of the fickle things we used to worry about, like everyday stresses, are literally first world problems and we've learnt to let them go. 'When you get home from a trip around the world worth thousands of dollars, you haven't just paid for a bunch of memories, you've paid for an improved version of yourself that's grown in many different ways. Travelling has helped both of us become the people we are today and we couldn't be happier with where we are at. 'In five years we would both love to look back and reminisce about times of adventure, growth, happiness and fulfillment. If we can pursue our passions and impact a lot of lives in a positive way, stay true to our conscious food choices and just be happy, then I would say the next five years will be a success'. Louis Lochner (right) interviews Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in this undated photo. After the war, Lochner translated Goebbels diary and found an entry about Goebbels complaining about his questions. Credit: Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society SHARE Louis Lochner, Berlin bureau chief for The Associated Press, is shown with a German military unit during World War II. Lochner, a Milwaukee native, was one of only a few American journalists accredited to cover German troops in battle before America joined World War II as well as American troops. Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society By of the If Louis Lochner ticked off Joseph Goebbels, he was doing something right. As The Associated Press Berlin bureau chief in the years leading up to World War II, Lochner had a front-row seat to history. He covered the alarming rise of the Nazis, and knew long before many had heard of Adolf Hitler that Germany was likely going to war. Lochner was among a handful of journalists who were accredited to cover both the German army in battle before America's entry into the war as well as U.S. forces. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1939 for his coverage; two years later, in the days after the attack on Pearl Harbor and Germany's declaration of war against the United States, Lochner was arrested and interned for five months by the Germans. After the war, he translated and edited Goebbels' diary, found in the courtyard of the Reich Ministry of Propaganda. Fluent in German and with two decades as a foreign correspondent, Lochner was the perfect person for the job. As he set about the task, he came across Goebbels' entry for May 19, 1942. "As regards the American journalists, the representative of the United Press (actually it was Associated Press) Lochner is behaving in an especially contemptible way. His attacks are directed above all against German propaganda and he aims at me personally. I have never thought much of Lochner. We made too much fuss about him. We can now see what happens in time of crisis," Goebbels wrote. Lochner grew up in a German-speaking household in Milwaukee both parents were German immigrants. He studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and spent his summer vacation in 1908 working as a reporter at the Milwaukee Free Press. Joining AP in Berlin in 1924 was a dream come true for Lochner. "It was Big League journalism whose gates I had crashed. I was now working for the world's largest newsgathering association, whose daily dissemination of information covered events in every corner of the globe and was read by millions of readers," he wrote in his memoir. Lochner's dispatches on the biggest story of the 1930s would be read by millions, although most would never know it, since AP did not usually give bylines to its writers. But it would be primarily Lochner's words and photos in newspapers throughout the world that chronicled the rise of Hitler. He interviewed Hitler for the first time in 1925, shortly after the latter's release from prison and the publication of "Mein Kampf." Lochner interviewed Hitler several times, and traveled with the German chancellor on a visit to Italy in 1938 to meet with that country's fascist leader, Benito Mussolini. By then, Lochner could see the daily terror that settled over Germany like a suffocating blanket. He witnessed Brown Shirts beating people in the street. He heard the anguished cries from Gestapo headquarters. When British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain triumphantly reported "peace in our time" after the 1938 Munich pact, Lochner was flabbergasted. He couldn't understand the naivete he knew better than anyone that Hitler would not stop until he had dominated all of Europe. A month later, Lochner wrote this AP story: Berlin, Nov. 10 The greatest wave of anti-Jewish violence since Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 swept Nazi Germany today, and Jews were threatened with new official measures against them. Millions of dollars' worth of Jewish property was destroyed by angry crowds. Jewish stores were looted. Synagogues were burned, dynamited or damaged in a dozen cities. Sounds of breaking glass and shouts of looters died away only near midnight. Hundreds of Jews voluntarily spent the night in jails fearing worse violence as reports of burning and looting continued to come in from many cities. Those three paragraphs were the first many in the English-speaking world learned of Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass. Coming Friday: A Harley goes to war via submarine. More on the war and Milwaukee This story is an excerpt from "World War II Milwaukee," a new book published by The History Press by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Meg Jones. The book focuses on some of the interesting warriors, witnesses and workers from Milwaukee who helped win World War II. Jones will appear at Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Ave., at 7 p.m. Dec. 29. Ellen Pompeo has slammed those who blamed her for the departure of two of her co-stars from Grey's Anatomy, branding the naysayers 'hypocrite little bratty 13-year-[olds]' and insisting her colleagues do not need fans to defend them. The actress, 48, opened up in a new interview with Bustle about the backlash she faced when it was announced in March that series regulars Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew would leave the show. Jessica, 41, has played Dr. Arizona Robbins for 10 seasons while Sarah, 37, has played Dr. April Kepner over the course of nine seasons. Fury: Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo has lashed out at show fans who 'bullied' her after it was suggested she was responsible for two co-stars being cut Committed: The 48-year-old has played central character Meredith Grey for the entirety of the show's existence; it was just renewed for a 15th season The news of their upcoming departure came shortly after it was revealed earlier this year that Ellen would now earn more than $20 million a year as part of a new deal negotiated with the Grey's Anatomy team. Fans were prompt to draw a link between Ellen's pay raise and her two co-stars' exits, with some speculating that there wasn't enough money to pay all three women's salaries. Ellen has always insisted this is untrue, and that her paycheck had nothing to do with Jessica and Sarah's removals from the show. In her new interview, Ellen said she was just as surprised as everybody else when she found out her two co-stars were to exit the hit series. 'I was shocked, because it came out of left field,' she told Bustle. 'I was in the middle of a workday, and I was shooting a scene. 'So I sort of learned about it and was like... [surprised expression] and then came this backlash about the article. I felt attacked right away.' Ellen said she was 'put into a defense mode' as fans of Arizona and April started speculating that she was the reason they were written out of the show, and that instead of being able to 'show compassion for [her] coworkers] she felt as though she had to defend herself. End of an era: It was revealed in March that two stars would not return after season 14, including Jessica Capshaw, pictured, who plays Dr. Arizona Robbins Farewell: Sarah Drew, who plays Dr. April Kepner, will also finish her Grey's Anatomy run at the end of the current season Back in March, Ellen went on Ellen DeGeneres' show to address the controversy. When asked if her paycheck had anything to do with Jessica and Sarah's exits, she replied: 'It's absolutely not true. I'm not involved in these kinds of decisions. However, there are a few problems creatively when doing a show for 14 seasons. 'Thinking up all these stories for all these characters is difficult.' After it emerged that Sarah and Jessica would leave the show after season 14, some fans of the two actresses took to Twitter to speak out against what they viewed as an unfair decision. Some referred to Ellen as a 'snake', accusing her of pushing her two fellow actresses out of the show. The 'unnecessary noise' surrounding her co-stars' departure, Ellen said, really honestly made the situation worse for [her]'. ''The bullying that went on on social media was so deplorable and so disgusting,' she told Bustle. 'It wasn't really cool for those girls, even though [fans] think they were defending them, and they think they were coming to their rescue. 'Let me tell you somethingthose two girls are bada** women. They don't need a bunch of 13-year-olds coming to their rescue. It's very nice that people are that passionate about the show, but those two chicks are amazing warriors, talented, beautiful, supermoms that can do anything. And [fans] just created a whole bunch of unnecessary tension and noise.' Ellen said that in her view, it is shocking to see fans of Arizona, who is a lesbian, and April, a Christian, turn onto someone else. 'It's like how dare you? You guys should know more than anything. First of all Christians, you shouldn't be bullying anybody,' she said. Shock: The news of their departure came not long after it was revealed that Ellen will now earn more than $20 million a year for her work on the show 'You're supporting a Christian character, you love a Christian character so much you're going to bully someone? You're gonna say horrible things to me? Tell me to go kill myself? Shame on you. And if you admire a gay character? Gay people are one of the most bullied groups on our planet. How dare you stand up for a gay person and bully me in the same sentence.' She took to task not just the young fans of the show, but also their parents, urging them to watch what their children are doing online. 'You hypocrite little bratty 13-year-old,' she added. 'And for the mothers of the 13-year-olds, watch what your children are saying on social media, because it really is disgusting. And that's the thing, if you fire back, it's like, she's only 13. Well for 13, she sure knows how to threaten.' Watch what your children are saying on social media, because it really is disgusting Ellen made it clear she is ready to fight back against bullying comments on social media, regardless of who they come from. 'So it's like, listen, if you're gonna jump into this arena, I don't care how old you are,' she said. 'Be ready for what's gonna come back at you. The same way I'll be ready for what comes back at me if I say something... If you dish it, you better be able to take it.' Back in January this year, Ellen spoke candidly about the reasons that pushed her to ask for more money after being on the show for 14 years. 'What I said to Shonda is the truth: "I don't get to do anything else, and that's frustrating for me creatively. I make 24 episodes of TV a year, and as part of this deal, I cannot appear anywhere else. And directing is cool but, to be honest, it just takes me away from my kids,"' she told The Hollywood Reported. 'Then I said, "So, it's got to be a ton of money. And it has to help me with my producing because producing is something I really enjoy. That's my creativity now." Acting, to me, is boring. An actor is the least powerful person on set, so I don't care about chasing roles. Plus, at my age, it's pretty unrealistic. Not that I can't do a cool cable thing, but I'm not going to have this whole second life as a movie star. I'm not f****n' Julia Roberts.' When Ashley Graham appeared in Rag & Bone's latest campaign, people were initially excited and then left confused - the brand does not stock 'plus-sizes' but used a plus-size model. Currently the largest size available at Rag & Bone is a 32, the equivalent of a US 10/12 or a UK 14/16. And after many pointed out the hypocrisy of using a plus-size model to promote 'straight' sizes, Rag & Bone has issued a swift response, detailing it will carry jeans up to size 40 from November 2018 onward. Scroll down for video Collaboration: Ashley Graham, who wears a US 12 has sparked controversy after she appeared in a campaign for US label Rag & Bone that only goes up to a size 32 Causing a stir: Some of the model's fans thought the images heralded a new plus-size range and were outraged when they found out that wasn't the case Making amends: However, Rag & Bone has swiftly responded to the criticism and has announced on its Instagram page it will carry up to size 40 from November 2018 Bear with us: The brand has pleaded for forgiveness and shared that it is working to get the best fit for its plus-size customers Taking to the comments section on Instagram, the brand wrote: 'We can confirm that starting in November we will be offering a selection of our best selling styles in an extended size range up to size 40.' It added: 'Please bear with us; as with all rag & bone products, fit is of the utmost importance and as such it takes time to test and develop a new iteration of our collection. We look forward to sharing more with you later this year!' In the campaign images, Ashley, 30, who is a US size 12 can be seen wearing two styles of jeans that are only available up to a size 32. Rag & Bone has confirmed to Teen Vogue that Ashley is wearing a size 32 in the images. Currently the brand's jeans come in sizes 23 to 32 and tops come in size small to large. The images had initially sparked excitement, with many believing the move by both Graham and the brand heralded the introduction of an extended range of Rag & Bones sizes. One commented: 'Rag & Bone makes plus sized jeans?! Take my money.' Straight cut jeans: On the brand's website, regular size models are used as they currently only stock jeans from size 23 to 32 No dice: One fan pointed out that they quickly checked what sizes were available Confusion: Fans wanted to know what size of jeans Graham was photographed wearing Suspicious: One fan suggested that the brand might have made custom jeans to fit Graham despite not stocking bigger sizes However fans were outraged when they found out the brand only had plans to release the jeans in 'straight sizes'. One follower asked: 'What size are you wearing? Because we all know rag & bone biggest size is 32 but first like a 27, so are they going plus size now?' Another posted: 'I already checked... unless size 32 is plus size, no dice...' Some even questioned whether the pieces she is photographed in were custom-made as the sizes can run so small. However, dozens also commented to praise Graham's appearance in the images, taken by her husband Justin Ervin. One wrote: 'I love you. Oh my goodness! You give full figured so much confidence.' Graham partnered with the brand for its DIY Project, which sees a range of different influencers style the label's pieces in their own way. MailOnline has contacted Rag & Bone for comment. A woman has recounted how her initial fear of death led her to become a mortician, and not only has she learned to live each day as if it were her last, she's found a profession that makes her 'feel like an artist.' At 30 years old, Miranda Robinson is the youngest mortician at Milward Funeral Directors in Lexington, Kentucky, but her zest for life and love of vintage fashion defies the morbid stereotypes associated with the once male-dominated career. 'Embalming makes me feel like an artist more than a scientist,' she explains in a video published by Refinery29. 'Yes, I know my anatomy. Yes, I know what these chemicals are doing, but it has everything to do with art after that.' Scroll down for video Bucking the trend: Miranda Robinson, 30, is the youngest mortician at Milward Funeral Directors in Lexington, Kentucky Purpose: 'Embalming makes me feel like an artist more than a scientist,' she says of her career Treatment: During the embalming process, she uses chemicals to preserve human remains Modern embalming involves treating human remains with chemicals to prevent decomposition, which leaves bodies suitable for public display during viewings and funerals. In the clip, Miranda showcases her sense of humor when describing how she uses a liquid tissue builder to help build out faces during the embalming process. The liquid turns into a gel when injected into sunken tissue, and Miranda explains that it is 'like Botox for the deceased.' An average embalming takes her anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours from start to finish, and she admits her job often has her thinking about the afterlife. 'I look at the deceased and think, "Wow." After everything they've done on Earth, it just must be amazing to be having the answers that they've finally been given. 'They haven't talked back yet': Miranda says an average embalming will take her anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours, and she admits she sometimes talks to the bodies Artist: Miranda applies special make-up to the deceased to try and make them look like they did when they were alive Added touch: Miranda is pictured applying pink lipstick to a deceased woman 'I might even talk to them sometimes,' she admits. 'They haven't talked back yet.' As part of the process, Miranda applies make-up to the deceased to try and make them look like they did when they were alive. 'When I die, I would like my make-up look to be like my everyday look. My lipstick will be a bright red preferably Ruby Woo from MAC. The brighter, the better,' she says. After applying make-up and dressing the deceased, Miranda will look at the body in the casket and wonder if that is how the person looks in the afterlife. Miranda truly believes it is important for people who are grieving to view their loved one's body even if it is only for a minute. 'I hope that's what families take away from what I do, as well, that they can have that image of their loved one enjoying whatever's next,' she says. Products: Miranda explains that liquid tissue builder is 'like Botox for the deceased' Sense of humor: Miranda has a coffee mug that says 'Embalming Fluid' on her desk Bestseller: While giving a tour of the funeral home, Miranda says their pink and white casket has 'been very popular with our little elderly ladies' On the go: As part of her job, Miranda has to pick up decedents after they've expired Although the funeral business was once dominated by men, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) reports that '60 per cent of mortuary science students in the United States are women.' According to the NFDA, many of the women pursuing careers in the funeral business have come to realize that they are drawn to the skills needed for the career path, including compassion and a desire to comfort. 'I believe that women in the death industry are the change we need in funeral service,' Miranda explains. 'For a long time it was a men driven business, and having women in this field, it's lightening the load for these grieving families.' As part of her job, Miranda has to pick up decedents after they've expired, and she admits that working in a funeral home has taught her more about the process of grief. 'I believe that my job has given me strength that I didn't know I was going to have,' she says. 'When I first realized what death was, I was scared. I would lay in bed [and] think about death and it was like this black whole. It was anxiety.' The mortician, who has a black cat and a Ouija board in her living room table at home, says her feelings about death have affected her feelings about life. Special request: The vintage lover says she wants to be buried in red lipstick, preferably Ruby Woo from MAC Cosmetics Change of heart: 'I really do live every day like maybe I'll die,' Miranda says Positive: Miranda used to fear death, but her job has made her see it in a new light. She wants people to know that it 'doesn't have to be a negative experience' 'I really do live every day like maybe I'll die,' she insists. 'When I'm washing my hair and putting myself together I'm like, 'What if I was in a car wreck?" It could just be cut off at any time. 'You really realize the big picture when you're faced with death, like how simple and sweet life can be.' Miranda is no longer afraid of death nor is she afraid to be a comfort to someone who has suffered a lost, someone who 'most people would be afraid to comfort.' She wants people to know that she gives the deceased the same love and attention that their friends and family would if they were the ones caring for the body. 'I will make sure that whatever happens to them happens with respect and dignity,' she says. 'I just hope that people can take away that death doesn't have to be a negative experience.' Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked elegant in black as she attended the National WWII Memorial ceremony in Amsterdam. The Dutch royal, 46, joined her husband King Willem-Alexander, 51, at the occasion held to remember all Dutch victims of war. Together with other political and military dignitaries the royal couple walked through a guard of honour formed by veterans and current personnel to the National Monument on Dam Square. Maxima opted for a form-fitting all-black ensemble with an updo hairstyle teamed with a statement dark coloured hat. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands stunned in black as she attended the National WWII Memorial ceremony in Amsterdam She finished the outfit by injecting a touch of glitz with teardrop earrings and a colourful gold bracelet. The Argentinian-born queen wore bright red nail varnish to add a little glam to her sombre look. A two minutes silence was observed at 8pm during the Remembrance Day ceremony which occurs annually on May 4. The Dutch royal, 46, joined her husband King Willem-Alexander, 51, at the occasion held to remember all Dutch victims of war Maxima opted for a form-fitting all-black ensemble with an updo hairstyle teamed with a statement dark coloured hat Prime Minister Mark Rutte attended the National commemoration alongside other representatives of the government. Victims of the war and the next of kin are also invited to the public event which was first established in 1968. An international financier by training, Maxima was born in Argentina and married into the Dutch royal family in 2002, three years after meeting her husband-to-be in Seville, Spain. She finished the outfit by injecting a touch of glitz with teardrop earrings and a colourful gold bracelet The Argentinian-born queen wore bright red nail varnish to glam up her sombre yet elegant look Despite reportedly having no inkling that Willem-Alexander was heir to the throne when the pair first met, she eventually became Queen consort when her husband ascended to the throne. Willem-Alexander became king after his mother, Beatrix, abdicated in April 2013 after 33 years as reigning monarch. The couple are parents to Princess Amalia, Alexia and Ariane - affectionately dubbed 'the A team' by their doting father. Meghan Markles hugely anticipated wedding dress will set the Royal Family back 100,000. Multiple royal and fashion industry sources have revealed the actress has opted for British couturiers Ralph & Russo to make the first of two gowns she plans to wear on May 19. She will wear the hand-stitched, heavily beaded design to walk down the aisle at St Georges Chapel in front of 600 guests and an estimated billion TV viewers worldwide as well as for the reception being held afterwards by the Queen in St Georges Hall at Windsor Castle. The dress imagined: Meghan Markle is reportedly set to wear a Ralph and Russo gown (not pictured) when she walks down the aisle at St Georges Chapel in Windsor on May 19 Another source revealed that the dress would cost around 100,000, which will be met by Prince Harry and his family privately. It sounds a lot but this is the wedding of the year and hundreds of hours of manpower have gone into making it, almost all by hand, they said. News of her dress came as Kensington Palace revealed new details about the wedding, including that Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, will not go on honeymoon until later in the summer and will conduct their first public engagement as man and wife days after their wedding. Meghan looks chic in a floor-length navy coat at the Terrance Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair in Nottingham As excitement builds, it was also announced that: Meghans parents will meet the Queen, Charles and Camilla ahead of the wedding before her mother accompanies her by car to the chapel and her father walks her down the aisle. Harry will honour his late mother Diana in the ceremony, with all three of her siblings attending and one, Lady Jane Fellowes, giving a reading. There will be no maids of honour. All the bridesmaids and pageboys believed to include Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Mia Tindall will be children. The Duchess of Cambridge will attend, but without her newborn son, Prince Louis. Prince Philip, 96, is hopeful of attending but is still convalescing from his hip replacement and may miss his grandsons big day. Harry, sources say, has been kept in the dark about his fiancees dress he doesnt even know who is designing it because he wants it to be a complete surprise on the day. He is so excited about the wedding and is being remarkably traditional about everything, the source said. Ralph & Russo have been odds-on favourite for the commission since Meghan wore a 56,000 semi-sheer black evening dress from the label for her official engagement portrait. Meghan and Harry at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Toronto last year Meghan in her younger years with her father Thomas Markle Intriguingly, earlier this week their haute couture atelier team visited the Royal School of Needlework, which was responsible for the bespoke lace on the Duchess of Cambridges wedding dress and boasts a long association with the Royal Family. Meghan will change into another dress for a second, black-tie evening reception thrown by Prince Charles at Frogmore House in the grounds of Windsor Great Park. British company Burberry and its outgoing chief designer Christopher Bailey or beloved royal label Erdem are tipped to create this dress. Royal children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Mia Tindall (left to right). They are believed to be among the bridesmaids and pageboys at the ceremony Kensington Palace said Harry and Meghans first engagement as a married couple will be the week after the wedding. It is thought that it might be associated with commemorations for last years Manchester Arena bomb attack on May 22. It is not unusual for royal couples to delay their honeymoon, and it is also thought Meghan is keen to spend time with the many friends and family who will travel from the US and Canada for the wedding. Officials also confirmed that Meghan would not have a US-style maid of honour because she couldnt choose between her close-knit group of girlfriends. A spokesman said: They have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there with her the day before in London. 'She will be pleased to have their support on the day but they have no official role. A disabled activist has posed on a striking magazine cover to urge the fashion industry to become more inclusive. Sinead Burke, 27, graces the cover of the May edition of Business of Fashion. The Irish advocate, a little person, is three feet, five and a half inches tall, and has campaigned for designersand among them, fashion designersto start creating clothes and items suiting the needs of everyone. On the powerful cover, Sinead, who has been an avid fashion fan all her life, wears a Burberry trench that has been cut off in the front, brandishing a pair of scissors. Making a statement: Activist Sinead Burke, 27, has gaced the cover of the May edition of Business of Fashion in a powerful statement in favor of more inclusivity in the industry Family: Sinead, who inherited achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism, from her father, has four younger siblingsthree sisters and a brother, all of average height She described the photo as such on her Instagram account,where 21,900 people follow her: 'Staring down the lens of the camera, I am holding a scissors and wearing a @Burberry trench coat that has been deconstructed and lacerated into pieces to fit. 'I'm also wearing laced Adidas Stan Smiths runners, blue eyeshadow and slicked back retro hair.' Sinead, who inherited achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism, from her father, has four younger siblingsthree sisters and a brother, all of average height. In March last year, the activist gave a TED Talk titled 'Why design should include everyone', in which she described how complicated it is for her to accomplish simple tasks, such as using a public bathroom, because public spaces are not designed to be accessible to everyone. Her talk has since been watched more than a million times. In her address, Sinead said she is 'incredibly proud' to be a little person, and credited her family for bolstering her curiosity and tenacity, while '[protecting her] from the unkindness and ignorance of strangers'. Spreading the word: In March last year, the activist (pictured with her cover) gave a TED Talk titled 'Why design should include everyone' As part of her accompanying interview with Business of Fashion, Sinead explained that coping with her condition all her life prepared her to be an assertive advocate later on. She described herself as 'organised, articulate and creative by nature,' adding: 'Primarily because I've had to be, from the earliest of ages. 'I had to develop a vocabulary I could use, the boldness to go up to strangers, to ask for help when I couldn't access something. 'So I have no qualms about saying this is what the industry needs to do to change. And I'm not talking about transformative change across different sectors. The skills are already in-house. It's about a change of mind, a change of presence. Visibility is so important.' Sinead is now mentoring a student at Ireland's National College of Art and Design. The student has designed a backpack that transforms into a footstoolan important tool for Sinead, who gets uncomfortable sitting on chairs built for people of average height and is more at ease sitting on a footstool. Passion: Sinead has been an avid fashion fan all her life. She has urged designers, including fashion designers, to create clothes and items suiting the needs of everyone Changes: In order to become more inclusive, Sinead said, the industry has to give power to disabled people Co-star: Business of Fashion also released two covers starring Kim Kardashian for its May issue 'Why should my experience and product and money be lessened purely by something I don't have control of?' she wondered as part of her interview with the magazine. 'And why isn't anyone looking at it as a creative opportunity?' In order to become more inclusive, Sinead said, the industry has to give power to disabled people. 'One of the challenges of fashion is that it is notoriously hierarchical, and it profits from exclusivity,' she said. 'In order for the disabled market to be relevant customers and to have their voices validated, there has to be power sharing. 'There are very few people within the fashion industry in positions of power who have lived experience or an empathy within this arena. If they design for difference without a tangible understanding, the product becomes patronizing. Or it comes about that we think only in terms of function.' Family pets may not be able to get passports or driver's licenses, but they can still be made to look pretty official with office or hospital ID badges. While it's unlikely that most places of work actually require pet pups to wear picture ID if they come to visit, following official human protocol for a poodle is clearly something pet owners get a kick out of. Several have taken to Twitter to post cute pictures of their dogs at work and unsurprisingly, the adorable snaps have earned thousands of likes apiece. This is Maddy, she works here: Twitter users have been sharing pictures of their dogs' photo ID badges Canine computer programmer: This pup named Kirby got an ID when he visited his owner's place of work, Microsoft Is he even qualified? This dog looks quite pleased to have official photo identification but sadly, his resume is probably pretty ruff Whoops, forgot to fetch his briefcase! Mostly, the dogs were given ID cards when they visited the offices of their owners Twitter Moments spotlighted the ID'ed dogs this week, rounding up some of the cutest ones. Julie Hubschman, a software engineer at Microsoft, wrote that all dogs brought to work there get ID badges, showing off one sported by a furry guy name Kirby. Kirby's badge not only includes the Microsoft logo, his name, and his picture, but the identifier K-9. A 'background artist' name Amanda Wong posted a photo of her pup Zoey who, interestingly, has a different last name from Amanda wearing an ID badge proclaiming her to be 'security.' A young woman from Pennsylvania shared a photo of an ID badge for a dog named Howard, which bares the logo for the fast food company Sheetz, where her aunt works. Meet Doctor Doggo: Some dogs got their ID cards at hospitals like this therapy dog in New Jersey Paging Nurse Puppy! Another therapy dog named Alfie is easily identifiable from the card on his collar A prescription for puppy kisses: Thousands of Twitter users have found the images of the official-looking pets adorable The next Lassie! This woman brought her two dogs, Myshkin and Pink, on set. Their names were written as nicknames alongside the name of their owner While the badges for dogs at places for work are likely done in fun, hospital ID badges may be actually required. Last month, a woman named Nicole Wanunu posted a picture of a Wheaten Terrier named Bogey McKay. Bogey is a volunteer for people who need pet therapy at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, and wears an ID badge on his collar when he comes to visit and let patients pet him. Other Twitter users have also shared images of therapy dogs in the UK baring ID badges. A former nurse left paralysed by an agonising spinal stroke has finally walked again - because of a futuristic robotic suit. Anne Marie Leonard, who lives in Perth, Australia after emigrating there, had the stroke after flying back to Ireland to surprise her mother for her 70th birthday. Doctors assumed her excruciating back pain and sudden inability to move her legs was due to deep vein thrombosis from the 9,000 mile (14,500km) trip. But tests found no evidence of DVT. Three months of investigations revealed it was, instead, a spinal stroke - where one of the arteries in her spine had been blocked. Mrs Leonard, 43, was told the damage to her spine was permanent and she had to come to terms with the idea of being in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Husband Mark came across the ReWalk - a wearable exoskeleton that can help those with spinal cord injuries to stand upright, walk and even go up and down stairs. The couple, who now live in Carrickmacross, Co. Dublin, after they were forced to move home, had to raise more than 60,000 (70,000 euros) to buy one. But the suit, nicknamed 'Percy' - short for perseverance - has been 'life-changing', according to Mrs Leonard, who spoke of her ordeal in August 2015 for the first time. Scroll down for video Anne Marie Leonard, who lives in Perth, Australia, had the stroke after flying back to Ireland to surprise her mother for her 70th birthday. It left her paralysed - but she can now walk again because of a futuristic robotic suit, called the ReWalk (pictured with the suit on) The former operating nurse said: 'Being able to take my first steps in this suit was such an incredible experience and it has absolutely changed my life. 'When we saw it, we knew I had to try it. The idea of being able to go outside and play with Tom sounded amazing.' Mrs Leonard, who emigrated to Perth in Australia in 2010, continued: 'It would give me so much more independence around the house as well.' For now, she can only use the suit for 40-minute stints, as her core muscles are still quite weak, but this should improve with time. Mrs Leonard added: 'It's incredible the difference it makes - just being able to climb stairs and take steps. 'Things like kitchen surfaces are not right height for my wheelchair, so this makes such a difference. 'It also helps keep my body healthy and strong, which is great, as there might be a point in the future where they have a new treatment for spinal cord injuries and I want to be in the best shape possible. 'It is a life changing device and I can't thank those who helped me fundraise enough.' Doctors assumed her excruciating back pain and sudden inability to move her legs was due to deep vein thrombosis from the 9,000 mile (14,500km) trip (pictured before her ordeal) But tests found no evidence of DVT. Three months of investigations revealed it was, instead, a spinal stroke - where one of the arteries in her spine had been blocked She added: 'I have a very slight sensation on my left leg, but it's not even enough to feel hot and cold.' Mrs Leonard had flown home to Ballybay in Monaghan to surprise her mother with her son Tom, three. Her civil engineer husband, also 43, stayed in Australia. After an idyllic few days at home, she woke in the middle of the night, first with back pain and then completely unable to move her legs. Speaking of that night in August three years ago, she said: 'The pain was really bad, but I didn't think it was anything untoward. 'Then, when I woke up again and my right leg gave way so I knew it was really serious.' Mrs Leonard, who continued to lose feeling in her body from below her chest, was rushed to A&E at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. After a series of tests and an MRI scan, doctors at the hospital told her she had suffered a spinal stroke. She said: 'As I had been on a long-haul flight, they were thinking it was DVT, but after all the tests, there was no evidence of anything like that. Mrs Leonard, 43, was told the damage to her spine was permanent and she had to come to terms with the idea of being in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. (pictured with husband Mark, using the ReWalk) WHAT IS A SPINAL STROKE? Normally, a stroke is caused either by a blockage to the blood supply to the brain, or a bleed from a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain. With a spinal stroke, the same principles apply, but the blockage or bleed affects the spinal cord. Stretching from the base of the brain to the small of the back, the spinal cord is a key part of the body's central nervous system, which transmits instructions from the brain to the rest of the body. Like the brain, the cord needs a constant blood supply to provide oxygen and nutrients. if it is halted, the nerves quickly become damaged and some die. As a result, these stop sending messages from the brain to the muscles - which muscles this affects depends on where the stroke occurs. If a person has a stroke around the mid-section of their spinal cord, they may suffer paralysis in their legs, but everything above this will be unaffected. But a stroke around the neck section of the spinal cord could affect the muscles in the arms. The most common cause of spinal strokes, as with brain strokes, is a build-up of cholesterol plaque in an artery wall, which then blocks it. Figures suggest spinal strokes are responsible for one per cent of all strokes. In the UK, there is around 100,000 strokes each year. This figure is closer to 800,000 in the US. Advertisement 'They couldn't pin point anything and, because the artery is so tiny, there is nothing you can do to explore it. It was one of those unexplained events.' Mr Leonard, who was still in Australia, swiftly organised a flight to Ireland, so that he could support her and look after Tom. Doctors warned it would be three months until they knew the true extent of damage to her spine - because they would need it to come out of shock. Mrs Leonard was admitted to Dublin's Beaumont Hospital to be monitored and begin her recovery. She did not regain any feeling after three months. She said: 'I had to come to terms with the idea of being in a wheelchair and we knew that we wouldn't be able to go back to Australia, where we had started a new life.' Mr Leonard had to 'go back and pack up our entire lives', she added, so they could move home to Ireland and help support her recovery. She was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, near Dublin, where she began a programme of physiotherapy. Following three months as an inpatient, she was finally well enough to be discharged - moving to an accessible rented property in Carrickmacross, with her family. Then, determined to find a way to help his wife, Mr Leonard discovered the ReWalk, which provides powered hip and knee motion. But, while she was given the chance to try one in 2017 - which she said was 'fantastic' - the couple still had to raise a five-figure sum to buy one. Husband Mark came across the ReWalk (pictured) - a wearable exoskeleton that can help those with spinal cord injuries to stand upright, walk and even go up and down stairs The couple, who now live in Carrickmacross, Co. Dublin, after they were forced to move home, had to raise more than 60,000 (70,000 euros) to buy one (pictured using the device) Fortunately, moved by her story, people in her local community joined forces to help, holding quiz nights, bake sales and sponsored walks. There was even a grand finale - a fundraising night at a local hotel, which involved her wearing the suit and walking with her husband on the dance floor. Mrs Leonard said: 'We even held a competition to name my ReWalk, which the first device in use in the Republic of Ireland. 'We ended up calling it Percy, short for Perseverance. It is such a fantastic thing and I am getting more and more used to it.' She added: 'At the minute, my husband is the only one trained to walk with me in it, as you need someone with you when you first start using it. 'But we are hoping more members of my family and friends will get trained up so I can use it as much as possible.' For more information about Mrs Leonard's journey, click here. But the suit, nicknamed 'Percy' - short for perseverance - has been 'life-changing', according to Mrs Leonard, who spoke of her ordeal in August 2015 for the first time (pictured with Mark and her three-year-old son, Tom, during her recovery) Mrs Leonard had flown home to Ballybay in Monaghan to surprise her mother with her son Tom, three. Her civil engineer husband, 43, stayed in Australia (pictured before her ordeal) A woman had a cockroach stuck in her ear for more than a week after the insect crawled in while she slept. Katie Holley, 29, from Florida, woke startled to find what felt like a piece of ice lodged in her left ear, only to discover two bug legs sticking out. After her husband was only able to remove a few legs with tweezers, Ms Holley rushed to A&E while the cockroach continue to wriggle deeper in her ear canal. Doctors thought they had removed the roach until, nine days later, Ms Holley continued to experience pain and a loss of hearing in her ear, leading to a local medic removing six more piece of the insect's carcass. Later that day, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist managed to remove the cockroach's entire head, upper torso, remaining limbs and antennae. Ms Holley said: 'He told me that he extracted bugs from peoples' ears at least once a month - and I was the second person that day who needed it.' Cockroaches are thought to crawl into people's ears in search of food. Katie Holley had a cockroach stuck in her ear for over a week after it crawled in while she slept At A&E, doctors thought they removed the cockroach, which was smaller than a little finger Nine days later, with her hearing still affected, a specialist pulled out the insect's head 'Roaches are searching for food and earwax might be appealing' When Ms Holley arrived at A&E, doctors administered the numbing drug Lidocaine in her ear, which caused the insect to 'react'. She told SELF: 'Feeling a roach in the throes of death, lodged in a very sensitive part of your body, is unlike anything I can adequately explain.' Ms Holley visited a doctor when her symptoms continued, who was confident all of the insect had been removed, but referred her to a ENT specialist to be safe. She said: 'Once I got situated in the fancy chair in his office later that day, the ENT placed some sort of microscope beside my ear. 'He didn't say much, but he did confirm there was still "something in there".' Professor Coby Schal, from North Carolina State University, who studies insects, previously told the National Geographic: 'It's actually not an uncommon phenomenon to have a cockroach in the ear. 'Roaches are searching for food everywhere. And earwax might be appealing to them.' Wax-covered pen cap was lodged in a patient's ear for years This comes after stomach-churning footage released last month showed a specialist removing a wax-covered pen cap that was lodged in a patient's ear for years. YouTube sensation Neel Raithatha, aka The Wax Whisperer, who runs The Hear Clinic in Oadby, Leicestershire, said: 'I was shocked as at first I was unaware of what the object was. It is the worst item I have seen stuck to date.' Buried deep in the unnamed patient's ear canal, footage shows Mr Raithatha using forceps to dislodge the waxy object, before presenting it to the camera. Mr Raithatha said: 'The patient advised he must have accidentally dislodged the bottom end of a pen inside his ear as he had a habit of scratching the inside of his ear canal using the back of a pen.' The patient was referred to Mr Raithatha after being unable to have his ear syringed due to the mysterious blockage. Some of the funniest and most bizarre questions ever asked by patients have been revealed by humoured dentists today. They include a confused patient wondering if it's safe to eat dental floss - or if a crisp packet can clean beneath their teeth better than floss. While another was reportedly baffled by the fact they are advised to regularly brush their own teeth - but their dog doesn't have to. One of the questions included: 'Is using a crisp packet between my teeth better than floss?' Thirty dentists from across the UK were quizzed about some of the most common, and less common, questions they are asked. They explained how they were frequently asked by patients whether they should be brushing their teeth all. Another popular question was patients wanting to know the differences between manual and electric toothbrushes. Dr Henry Clover, chief dental officer at Simplyhealth, behind Denplan payment plans, argued the 'revelations are not surprising'. He told MailOnline: 'In some cases, people are still unaware of the basics regarding oral health and recommended brushing routines. 'One of the biggest areas of confusion however, remains the link between oral health and general health.' Another was reportedly baffled by the fact they are advised to regularly brush their own teeth - but their dog doesn't have to WHAT WERE THE 9 STRANGEST QUESTIONS DENTISTS HAVE BEEN ASKED? Why do I have to brush my teeth when my dog doesnt have to? Is using a crisp packet between my teeth better than floss? What is floss, can I eat it? Is my filling going to melt if I drink hot soup? Will the ulcer in my mouth turn into a flesh-eating disease? Will my gum disease eat my face? Is it OK to only brush my teeth once a week? Can you take one of my teeth from the back and put it in the gap at the front? (In reference to a broken tooth) Cant you just paint something on top of it? Advertisement Dr Clover warned many people are 'still unaware that poor oral health can be linked to more serious conditions such as heart disease and diabetes'. The research also delved into whether the dentists had noticed any rising trends in dental care. It found most have noted an increase in patients trying teeth whitening and voicing a desire for aesthetically pleasing smiles, with neat, straight, white teeth. Peter Sedgwick, from Wedmore Dental Practice in Somerset, said: 'Ive seen a big rise in the desire for cosmetic dental treatments over the last few years, which are often sought at the expense of other clinically necessary treatments. 'For dentists, this means an ongoing job to educate patients that oral health comes first.' In Leicester, Andrea Brearley, from London Road Dental, added: 'People are more aesthetically aware with celebrities and social media showing the "perfect" smile.' The poll was commissioned by Simplyhealth, which also conducted research into how many Brits are turning to Dr Google for dental advice. A fifth use the internet as the first point of call for quick answers, according to the poll of 2,000 adults, which formed part of the firm's Smiles Uncovered campaign. According to Google trends, searches for how to clean teeth with baking soda and how to make a DIY tooth filling are up 140 per cent in the UK over the past year. Moreover, Brits searched for how to remove your own tooth 70 per cent more last year than the year before. On May 4, at 01:10, the body of soldier Artur Gasparyan, born in 1998, was found in the military position of one of the military units located in Armenias north-eastern direction, with a fatal gunshot wound in his head, Armenias defense ministry said. May 4, 2018, 11:21 Soldier found dead in military position STEPANAKERT, MAY 4, ARTSAKHPRESS:Investigation is underway to clarify the details of the incident. The defense ministry extends condolences to the family, relatives and co-servicemen of the soldier. A CT scan shows a small chicken bone lodged in the airways of an elderly Australian man - and it went unnoticed for five days. The 78-year-old choked on a piece of chicken and went straight to hospital as he was worried there was some poultry stuck in his throat. His fears were initially settled when two X-rays revealed no signs of the chicken and doctors in Clayton, Victoria sent him home. But five days later, he returned to the same emergency department with shortness of breath and a wheezing sound when he inhaled. Doctors at Monash Medical Centre published the man's tale - and a copy of his scan - in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine A CT scan then revealed a chicken vertebra bone stuck in the unnamed man's right mainstem bronchus - which branches into the lung. The man was discharged three days after recovering well from surgery to remove the chicken bone, LiveScience reports. Doctors at Monash Medical Centre published the man's tale - and a copy of his scan - in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. The case comes after MailOnline broke the news of doctors discovering a tiny toy cone in the airways of a 50-year-old British man. Specialists at the Royal Preston Hospital explained how a mass they suspected to be cancer proved to be a Playmobil cone he inhaled as a toddler. They published their bizarre tale in the BMJ Case Reports, and claimed the 40 years it went unnoticed is the longest time in medical history. Writing in the journal, they said it was likely Paul Baxter went symptomless for so long because of the age at which he inhaled the cone. As Mr Baxter, of Croston, Lancashire, aged, his airways would have moulded round the foreign body, the team explained. It is most common for young children to aspirate foreign objects - but adults can also experience food 'going down the wrong way'. The problem is usually spotted quickly as it causes breathing problems. Though, it can go unnoticed if it doesn't cause any symptoms. Dr Robert Glatter, an emergency medic at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told LiveScience that inhaling objects can prove deadly. He explained how a delayed diagnosis - which Dr Glatter said wasn't unreasonable in the Australian man's case - can lead to pneumonia. CT scans are known to be more powerful than X-rays and provide radiologists with a more detailed image of organs and bones. Being a loud snorer may weaken people's skulls, new research suggests. For unclear reasons, people with sleep apnoea have skulls that are up to 1.23mm thinner, a US study found today. Researchers claim skull erosion of up to 1mm is sufficient to cause life-threatening spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak (sCSF-L), which occurs when the liquid that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord flows away through a thin area. This can lead to dementia-like symptoms, as well as coma, stroke and even death. Sleep apnoea occurs when the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, which interrupts breathing and is a key cause of snoring. It affects around 18 million adults in the US. Being a loud snorer may weaken people's skulls, new research suggests (stock) Sleep apnoea 'may contribute to skull thinning' Study author Dr Rick Nelson, from the University of Indiana, said: 'Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may mechanistically contribute to the development of disorders related to skull thinning, such as sCSF-L. 'Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak is associated with obesity, females ex and middle age. 'Consistent with the rise in obesity in the United States, the rates of sCSF-L have more than doubled in the past decade. 'Future studies are needed to identify the mechanism of how OSA may lead to skull thinning and how this may increase the risk of sCSF-L. 'Patients with skull thinning on CT imaging may be at increased risk of OSA and those patients should be considered for OSA screening.' The researchers scanned the skulls of 114 people aged between 40 and 60, of which 56 had moderate-to-severe sleep apnoea. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. Researchers claim skull erosion of up to 1mm is sufficient to cause life-threatening spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak, which can cause crippling headaches (stock) What is sleep apnoea? Sleep apnoea is the most common sleep disorder in the UK, the NHS has reported. It occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax, which blocks the airways. The resulting lack of oxygen in the brain causes sufferers to wake regularly through the night. Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping and grunting during sleep. Although snoring is a symptom of sleep apnoea, not all those that snore have the disorder. The condition has serious physical health consequences, including an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Most sufferers manage their symptoms by wearing an oxygen mask at night or an oral device to keep their airways open. Advertisement Snoring linked to Alzheimer's This comes after research released last July suggested snoring is linked to Alzheimer's disease. Difficulty breathing while asleep accelerates memory decline in people at-risk of the condition, a study found. Daytime sleepiness and sleep apnoea are also linked to impaired attention, memory and thinking in people who are genetically susceptible to the degenerative condition, the research adds. Researchers hope the findings will support sleep-based treatments in people at-risk of developing Alzheimer's. Study author Dr Susan Redline, from Harvard University, said: 'Given the lack of effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, our results support the potential for sleep-disordered breathing screening and treatment as part of a strategy to reduce dementia risk.' A widow's risk of death can rise as much as 41 percent within the first six months of losing their loved-one, a new study from Rice University in Texas has revealed. The small study adds to our current understanding of how grief affects our health, and may open the door to more effective interventions for the recently bereaved. Losing a spouse is a stressful situation, and it's commonly noted that this stress can have adverse effects on the health of the living partner. For this reason, the world held its breath when former president George HW Bush displayed signs of failing health only weeks after the death of his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush. Bush is now recovering from his health scare, but his case is not isolated. Now, new research suggests this link between poor health and recent bereavement is not simply a coincidence but may have a biological explanation: while the idea of health repercussions of a broken heart is not new, this is the first study to link bereavement to higher levels of cytokines and lower heart rate variation. Scientists at Rice University in Texas found an unprecedented link between recent loss of a loved one and increased inflammation and lower heart rate, driving up the risk of death from cardiovascular disease It appears that the loss of a spouse has measurable effects on the living partner's health, and can increase their own risk of death not long after. 'In the first six months after the loss of a spouse, widows/widowers are at a 41 percent increased risk of mortality,' said Chris Fagundes, an assistant professor of psychology in Rice's School of Social Sciences and the study's lead author. 'Importantly, 53 percent of this increased risk is due to cardiovascular disease.' Researchers from Rice University in Texas analyzed the health of 32 individuals who had lost a spouse within an average of 89 days from the start of the study. The researchers also analyzed 33 healthy aged-matched controls. Both groups received a blood draw, an EKG, and completed self reported questionnaires. Seventy-eight percent of the volunteers were women and the remaining 22 percent were men. The team specifically looked at the volunteers' levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These molecules serve as a biomarker of inflammation, and are released into the bloodstream in response to infection and other signs of inflammation. The team also measured the volunteers' heart rate variability. This is the measurement of time between each heartbeat and is used to measure any cardiovascular abnormalities. Results revealed that the recently-widowed displayed more biological signs of poor health than the control group. For example, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the recently widowed group were between five and seven percent higher than those found in the control group. Heart rate variation of the recently widowed was 47 percent lower than that of the control group. In addition to the physical indications of poor health, levels of depressive symptoms were 20 percent higher in the recently-widowed than in the control group. Dr Ellen Carni, a psychologist in New York who specializes in helping patients deal with grief and bereavement, explained that she was not at all surprised by the study results. 'Within the mental health field, I think it is fairly well acknowledged that new widows and widowers who were with their spouses for many years can be at risk for health problems,' Dr Carni told Daily Mail Online. According to Dr Carni, these health problems can arise suddenly and their severity often depends on the quality of the relationship between the spouses and the resilience of the widow. 'Certainly, I've have seen widows develop health problems either fairly quickly after the loss of their spouses in older widows who have been married for many years,' said Dr Carni. 'I have even seen them develop health problems while the spouse was still alive if the spouse's health is declining and the woman (I've seen it in men, too) anticipates becoming a widow.' The association between recent bereavement and heart health risks is also not surprising. For example, broken heart syndrome, officially known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is an illness associated with severe emotional stress including the sudden loss of a loved one. In this illness the heart is also affected, and the left ventricle weakens and can no longer pump blood throughout the body as effectively. Scientists believe this weakening is caused by a sudden surge of hormones, but the exact cause remains unclear. The Rice University scientists hope their research on the effects of grief on health will lead to better interventions for the recently widowed. As scientists work to create these interventions, there are still steps the recently widowed can take to lessen the adverse health effects of their bereavement. 'If a spouse knows that his/her partner is terminally ill they can go to support groups even before their partner has passed away,' said Dr Carni. 'There are many caregiver support groups in the community, through churches and synagogues, for example, as well as those run privately by mental health professionals.' A top gynecologist is urging doctors to prescribe vibrators to women who struggle with sexual dysfunction. Once a medical device prescribed to treat 'female hysteria,' vibrators have largely been relegated to the realm of sex toys and novelties and remains illegal in two states - Alabama and Mississippi - in the US. But Dr Lauren Streicher, a gynecologist and sexual health specialist at Northwestern University, says that women's difficulty orgasming should be treated as a medical issue and that vibrators should be offered as a solution. Speaking at the American College of Obstetricians a Gynecologists' meeting this week, she pushed doctors to educate themselves and ask patients about their orgasms. Vibrators of all shapes and sizes stimulate blood flow to the clitoris, helping women who suffer from anorgasmia to reach their climaxes and, Dr Streicher says, should be prescribed regularly An estimated 4.7 percent of women in the US suffer from anorgasmia, meaning that they have difficulty climaxing, have weak climaxes or are unable to climax at all. Reaching orgasm is difficult for psychological reasons for some. But, 'certain medical conditions that result in decreased blood flow to the clitoris and nerve endings don't respond as well,' says Dr Streicher. But for many women, Dr Streicher says, a vibrator can change that, or at least be the exception. When she sees patients, Dr Streicher has them fill out a pre-screening form that includes detailed questions about their orgasms and how they achieve them. 'It's a little check list and they check off whether they can orgasm with digital stimulation, oral stimulation sex or a vibrator. 'It's no surprise that many women check 'no, no, no, no,' and then they get to the vibrator and check yes,' Dr Streicher says. Especially for an older woman who 'at one point in her life could orgasm through digital or oral simulation and now isn't able to, it may be due to a vascular or neurological problems so that she needs more stimulation so she can have an orgasm,' she says. But there is still an undeniable stigma around vibrators, and, in some places, even laws against them. You cannot own vibrators in Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia - where one town will give you jail time if you do buy one. In Texas, an arcane law limits dildo possession to six, while keeping as many guns is perfectly legal. Instead of being regulated like firearms, Dr Streicher says vibrators should be looked at more like medical devices. Vibrators provide that much more intense stimulation, and have the added benefit of increasing blood flow to the clitoris. About half of all women use vibrators, according to a 2009 survey. 'But many - especially over 50 - who come from a a different culture are not comfortable with the idea of using one,' says Dr Streicher. This is also the group most likely to have difficulty reaching orgasm for physical reasons, and for whom a vibrator might be most useful. 'So to have a doctor recommend to use once can really go a long way,' Dr Streicher says. A vibrator can be purchased for as little as $1 (or as much as $400 - but many cost around $30), making it a much cheaper option than a $200 sex therapy session. The problem is doctors and patients rarely reach that point in their conversations, says Dr Streicher. Women very rarely feel comfortable enough to take it upon themselves to broach the subject of their sex lives and satisfaction, a phenomenon so well-documented in medical literature that Dr Streicher says it is a fact. Equally well-established is the fact that doctor's don't ask. 'Women may just be too shy or embarrassed, and we know doctors don't ask about it,' Dr Streicher says. 'Doctors may as if you are sexually active or if you are okay sexually, but it's not the same thing as asking if you are able to orgasm,' says Streicher. And she says that the onus to bring it up should not be on the patient, any way, but on her doctor. 'From my point of view, it's not that doctors would be uncomfortable asking about [orgasm], the don't because they don't ask you about things if they don't have solutions,' she says. 'So if I continue to get out there and educate doctors that there are solutions' - namely, vibrators - 'the more likely it is that they will ask,' she explains. Dr Streicher says that her presentation was given to a 'packed room of wildly enthusiastic doctors' to whom she says she need to 'give a script,' for how to talk to patients about orgasms and the vibrators that can bring them on. Hybrid cars - like Toyota's Prius - could be banned from sale in 2040 along with traditional petrol and diesel cars, leaked reports claim. Additional restrictions for the sale of new vehicles are said to be being put in place by law-makers after the government was warned that stricter policy was needed to reduce dangerous air pollution levels in the country. Details of the leaked 'Road to Zero' strategy revealed new measures that will see the UK shift to a network of pure electric vehicles in the future. The UK motor industry has slammed the plans on Friday, blasting the 'unrealistic targets' and 'misleading messaging on bans'. Hybrid ban: Moves to restrict the sale of new hybrid cars in 2040 would spell the end for the Uber-favourite Toyota Prius The restriction will see any new cars incapable of travelling more than 50 miles using just electric power banned from sale in 2040. As a result, volume-selling hybrid cars like the Prius and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV - which claim to only be able to cover around 30 miles without the combustion engine being used - would be pulled from showrooms if they were still on sale at the time. According to Autocar, around 50 hybrid and plug-in hybrid models on the market today would be deemed not environmentally friendly enough to be allowed to go on sale. In fact, the rules would outlaw around 98 per cent of all vehicles currently in use in the UK, being sold when restrictions are in place in 22 years' time. The Road to Zero policy is expected to be an extension of DEFRA's (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 'Clean Growth Strategy' announcement last July by Michael Gove. It proposed to block the sale of petrol and diesel cars in that year, but still allow hybrids to be offered. Environment secretary Michael Gove announced DEFRA's Clean Air Strategy last July, proposing the ban of new petrol and diesel cars to meet air pollution targets All cars sold from 2040 would need to be able to cover 50 miles on electric power only, the Road to Zero policy is expected to state However, these plans were criticised by the Committee for Climate Change in January who warned ministers that additional targets for 2020 and 2030 needed to be put in place if the government was serious about meeting its legally-biding air pollution targets. It estimated that, in order to achieve emissions objectives, three in every five vehicles purchased by 2030 - 10 years before the petrol and diesel deadline - will need to be ultra-low emissions models. The additional measures reportedly being put in place by Mr Gove and business secretary Greg Clark should make these targets more achievable. The Financial Times reports that transport secretary Chris Grayling has resisted the plans, though. Around 50 hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars on sale today are unable to achieve 50 miles using just electric power. The Prius PHV can only cover just over 30 miles before the petrol engine engages A ban would also be a blow the best-selling plug-in model in recent years, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV If bans were to be introduced it would mount additional pressure on car manufacturers to fast-track the development of electric vehicles and ditch hybrid plans that have undergone enormous investments. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes criticised the proposals as being 'based neither on fact nor substance'. He said: 'Unrealistic targets and misleading messaging on bans will only undermine our efforts to realise this future, confusing consumers and wreaking havoc on the new car market and the thousands of jobs it supports. 'We cannot support ambition levels which do not appreciate how industry, the consumer or the market operate and which are based neither on fact nor substance. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, slammed the reports of a 2040 hybrid ban 'If Government wants the UK to be a global leader in zero emission transport it must provide a world class package of incentives and support to make this a credible policy. 'This includes ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place with sufficient charging points and energy supply. 'Consumers need clear information about the right vehicles for their driving needs and it is again disappointing for both industry and consumers that vitally important information about government policy is being communicated by leaks.' A spokesman for the Department for Transport has refuted the reports, saying: 'We do not comment on leaked draft documents. 'The Road to Zero strategy is yet to be finalised and has not been agreed by ministers. 'It is categorically untrue that Government is planning to ban the sale of hybrid [and plug-in hybrid] cars in the UK by 2040.' 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. 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. 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. An ultra-light drone which can fly high non-stop for a year is being developed by defence firm BAE Systems. The Phasa-35 aircraft will be made of carbon fibre not much thicker than tissue paper, and weigh just 150kg despite a wingspan larger than most commercial airliners. It will be able to soar into the stratosphere where temperatures reach - 80C, and stay there for weeks powered by the sun. The Phasa-35 aircraft will be made of carbon fibre not much thicker than tissue paper, and weigh just 150kg despite a wingspan larger than most commercial airliners It could be used by the military for spying and communications but would have many civilian applications too. The drone is likely to be in demand from tech titans such as Facebook, Google and Amazon to help remote parts of the world access the internet. It could also be used for everything from border surveillance and monitoring earthquakes and volcanos to science studies of ice floes and forest fires. A year-long flight would easily beat the current world record of 14 days, held by Airbuss Zephyr drone. A quarter-size version has already flown successfully, and the full-scale aircraft is due to start flight testing in September next year. FTSE 100 heavyweight HSBC saw shares fall today despite announcing a $2billion share buyback after it posted a surprise drop in profits. The banking giant said profit before tax fell by 4 per cent in the first quarter to $4.8billion (3.5billion) as it stepped up investments in its retail banking operations in the UK and China. Higher investments mean operating costs rose by 13 per cent to $9.4billion (6.9billion), outpacing revenues growth of 6 per cent at $13.7billion (10.1billion) in the first three months of the year. Share buyback: HSBC announced it would return a total of $2billion to shareholders HSBC also announced it would return a total of $2billion to shareholders, but said this would be the only share buyback programme this year. Last year, it returned $3billion to shareholders. HSBC, which is listed in the UK and Hong Kong, saw shares fall by 3.4 per cent overnight in Asia and by 2.5 per cent in London. Chief executive John Flint, who took the helm in February, said: Strong capital, liquidity and robust balance sheet continue to support strong revenue growth from retail and corporate customers across our network. This has enabled us to announce a further share buyback. We are investing to grow revenue further. The bank also said it had set aside $897million to cover the cost of legal and regulatory matters in relation to its mis-selling of mortgage-backed securities in the US in the run up to the 2008 financial crisis. The bank, which made over 75 per cent of its profits in Asia last year, is looking to expand further into Asia and China in particular, continuing with a plan launched in 2015. Charlie Huggins, manager of the HL Select UK Income Shares fund, which holds shares in HSBC, said: 'HSBCs vision is to become the premier bank for facilitating business between China and the rest of the world. Investment is being poured into Chinas Pearl River delta region and early signs are encouraging. 'The vast expansion of Chinese infrastructure and industrial capacity seen in recent decades bodes well for the regions future growth and HSBC should be well placed to benefit.' He also noted that the share buyback of $2billion is earlier, but also lower than expected. 'The increased investment for growth suggests that management are feeling more confident in their prospects. However, it will weigh on near term returns. We expect the shares to be a bit weaker this morning as investors focus on the latter and await evidence that these investments are paying off,' he added. Turkey, which has jailed more than 250 journalists and media workers, is ranked 157th among 180 countries in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index recently released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). May 4, 2018, 14:43 RSF reports historic decline in press freedom in Turkey STEPANAKERT, MAY 4, ARTSAKHPRESS: As the worlds biggest prison for professional journalists, Turkey has managed to fall another two places in the past year, which saw a succession of mass trials, according to RSF. If Turkey drops two more spots, it will make it to the list of countries on the blacklist, which have the worlds poorest record in press freedom. According to the index, Turkey, along wth some former Soviet countries, continues to be at the forefront of the worldwide decline in press freedom, the Turkish Minute reported. The worlds biggest prison for professional journalists, Turkey (157th) has managed to fall another two places in the past year, which saw a succession of mass trials. After more than a year in provisional detention, dozens of journalists have begun to be tried for alleged complicity in the July 2016 coup attempt. The first sentences to be handed down have included life imprisonment. The state of emergency in effect for nearly two years in Turkey has allowed the authorities to eradicate what was left of pluralism, opening the way for a constitutional reform consolidating President Erdogans grip on the country. The rule of law is now just a fading memory. That was confirmed by the failure to carry out a constitutional court ruling in January 2018 ordering the immediate release of two imprisoned journalists, RSF said in its summary of the report. Turkey is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world. The most recent figures documented by SCF show that 259 journalists and media workers were in jail as of April 21, 2018, most in pretrial detention. Of those in prison 200 were under arrest pending trial while only 59 journalists have been convicted and are serving their time. Detention warrants are outstanding for 141 journalists who are living in exile or remain at large in Turkey. British Airways owner IAG has reported a 75 per cent jump in profits in the first three months of the year, but kept tight-lipped on the future of its proposed takeover of Norwegian Air. IAG shares were on the up after it revealed profits in the first quarter surged to 280million, racing ahead of the 206million forecast by analysts and marking a jump of 120million since last year. Total revenues rose 2.1 per cent to more than 5billion and the group said it was on track to hit full-year targets. Profits soared in the first three months of the year for the owner of British Airways. Willie Walsh, IAG Chief Executive Officer, said: 'We're reporting another strong quarter performance with an operating profit of 280million before exceptional items, up from 160million last year. 'Our positive passenger unit revenue trend continued with an increase of 3.5 per cent at constant currency. This trend benefited partially from the timing of Easter. Non-fuel unit costs before exceptional items were down 0.9 per cent at constant currency. 'Despite higher market prices, our fuel unit costs have gone up by just 0.6 per cent in euros.' He added that British Airways had put in place a 'flexible defined contribution pension scheme' to replace the New Airways Pensions Scheme and BA Retirement Plan. IAG boss Willie Walsh (pictured) said it had been a 'strong quarter performance' but refused to divulge any information about the group's potential takeover of Norwegian The group bought a 4.6% stake in Norwegian this year but has not yet said what it plans to do with the business IAG said very little on its potential takeover of Norwegian, despite it buying a 4.6 per cent stake in the struggling airline in April. It later emerged that Norwegian had in fact turned down two offers from IAG, with its bosses claiming it had had 'serious' offers from other airlines sparking rumours of an imminent bidding war for the airline. The lack of an imminent offer sent shares in Norwegian down eight per cent in early trading, IAG had only said it was 'currently considering its options'. Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said the Norwegian deal would keep investors interested 'for the time being', and that deal made good business sense for the BA owner. On Norwegian's rebuffal of two IAG takeover bids, Wilson said: 'Whilst the conditions of Norwegian still suggest it needs a bidder, on balance the rebuttal reduces the immediate likelihood of a transaction. 'At the same time, if IAG cannot get a deal done quick it definitely raises the prospect of a counter from another suitor and a potential bidding war. 'Shares in Norwegian have slumped, suggesting the market believes the former is a shade more likely.' IAG shares on the other hand jumped five per cent higher on Friday morning following the solid results for the first quarter. Wilson added: 'Whatever the case, as long noted, the European airline sector is still stretched and capacity growth is only making things tougher - consolidation is a certainty and Norwegian is a prime candidate.' The convicted murderer who led hundreds of cops on a $23 million manhunt after a dramatic prison break has been granted his greatest wish - a move away from a notoriously tough state lock-up, DailyMail.com has learned exclusively. Cop-killer David Sweat had been on a five-month hunger strike in a bid to get himself out of New York's Attica prison - and now he has succeeded. But authorities adamantly deny that they caved to Sweat's demands, instead insisting the move to the maximum security Wende prison near Buffalo, New York, was routine. Corrections Department spokesman Thomas Mailey told DailyMail.com that any negotiation over a transfer would be 'a direct violation of Department policies and procedure'. Cop killer David Sweat was transferred from a prison in Attica, New York, to one in Wende Prison in Alden, New York, DailyMail.com can reveal Sweat has moved several times during his incarceration - his moves are detailed above. The 37-year-old had been on a five-month hunger strike in a bid to get himself out of New York's Attica prison 'David Sweat's transfer to Wende was simply one of the more than 60,000 transfers that occur each year,' said Mailey. 'These transfers often follow a regular review which considers factors like an individual's behavior, affiliations and length-of-stay within a facility,' he added. Sweat was moved to Wende - which also houses John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman - last week. He had been refusing to eat prison food in Attica because he claimed guards had constantly threatened to poison it. Sweat's fiancee, Fran Malanik, initially believed the transfer was due to the toll on his health that his hunger strike was taking. Wende has a specialized dialysis unit for prisoners suffering from kidney problems. One of the effects of hunger strike is deterioration of the kidneys. However, she has now learned he is not in the prison's medical unit. Malanik is currently barred from seeing Sweat because prison authorities claim she committed a sex act on him during a visit in March. She insists that she touched him innocently when she tried to check out a lump on his groin. She is not allowed to see him until May 19. Sweat, 37, filed numerous grievances while in Attica and released a five-page handwritten letter detailing his complaints. Malanik has shared that letter exclusively with DailyMail.com. Sweat broke out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, in 2015 with fellow killer Ricky Matt. After nearly three weeks on the run, Matt was shot and killed on June 26, 2015, the day after his 49th birthday The men used power tools to cut through a wall in their cell before leading hundreds of cops on a three-week, $23 million manhunt 'I did the only thing I could do, the thing I thought I would never do in my life,' Sweat wrote. 'I stopped eating.' When authorities threatened to force-feed him, Sweat agreed to take five cans of a nutrient every day. The cans were opened in his presence to prevent any possible tampering. Malanik said Sweat had lost 25-30 lb. during his hunger strike. The letter, which was written in late March while Sweat was still in Attica, contains numerous spelling errors. DailyMail.com has corrected them for ease of reading, but is also publishing the original in its entirety. Malanik, 45, confirmed the neat, tightly spaced handwriting is Sweat's. Sweat said that he was writing 'in the hope thatexposing all of this will somehow stop the insanity and hopefully save my life before it's too late, before they fulfill their threats to kill me and before there's too much irreparable damage done to my organs from the lack of any real food or nutrients'. The only time he ate after his first week in Attica was during visits from Malanik who said she 'would empty the vending machines for him'. 'Every day I wake up wondering if today will be my last,' Sweat wrote in the letter. 'If today will be the day the COs finally do what they've been threatening to do to me and take my life or if my body will give up its struggle to go on for a lack of any real nutrients,' He said since he was moved to Attica he had been subjected to threats because his escape had led to tightened security and several firings throughout the New York prison system. Prison worker Joyce 'Tilly' Mitchell smuggled tools into the prison for Sweat and Matt, who used the power tools to cut through pipes and escape through tunnels, like the one pictured above The men escaped through a manhole (pictured) in Dannemora, New York, just outside the prison facility on June 6, 2015 He started to refuse food after just six days in Attica, he wrote. Malanik said she is happy Sweat is out of Attica, the site of one of the most notorious prison riots in US history when 33 prisoners and 10 guards were killed in 1971. Sweat, who is serving life without parole had been in that lock-up for five months and has filed numerous complaints alleging guards were threatening to kill him. Malanik, who has a six-year-old daughter, alleges guards even set her up and prevented her from seeing Sweat on one visit, claiming she had failed a test for cocaine. That resulted in Child Protective Services being called to her home the following day, when a CPS-administered drug test proved negative. 'It was ridiculous,' Malanik told DailyMail.com. 'I have never taken cocaine in my life.' Sweat and his cousin Jeffrey Nabinger were both sentenced to life without parole for the 2002 murder of sheriff's officer Kevin Tarsia in Binghamton, New York. Sweat broke out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, on June 6, 2015 with fellow killer Ricky Matt. After nearly three weeks on the run, Matt was shot and killed the day after his 49th birthday. Two days later Sweat was shot and recaptured close to the Canadian border. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo likened the escape to the movie The Shawshank Redemption. Sweat was shot and recaptured close to the Canadian border on June 28, three weeks after his escape Sweat (pictured sitting) was captured two days after his fellow escapee Matt was shot and killed by police Nabinger, 38, is still serving his time in Clinton. Ben Stiller is directing a movie about the break-out with Paul Dano playing Sweat and Benicio Del Toro as Matt. Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette will star as prison worker Joyce 'Tilly' Mitchell, who smuggled tools into Clinton and was supposed to be their getaway driver but got cold feet. Mitchell is currently locked up in Bedford, New York, serving two to seven years. Her earliest release date is in June next year. After Sweat was recaptured, he was sent to Five Points prison in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Malanik says she got obsessed with the case and started writing to Sweat after his capture. She first met him in April 2016 and last August moved from Long Island to a house in walking distance of Five Points. Within four months of her move, Sweat was transferred to Attica, a two-hour drive from her home. Wende is about the same distance away. In Sweat's letter, he said Attica guards were punishing him for the escape from Clinton. 'The threats and harassment were and are a constant, never-ending tirade from multitudes of COs and continue on a daily basis!' he wrote. He claimed to have seen guards 'spit, spray and pour chemical cleaners in inmates' food'. 'COs urinate in prisoners' coffee,' he wrote. Mitchell (left), who helped the men escape, is currently in prison in Bedford, New York, serving two to seven years. Her earliest release date is in June next year 'And one CO wiped his rear end with toilet tissue and then wiped that on a prisoner's Salisbury steak before taking that tray to the prisoner,' Sweat alleged. 'And those were prisoners that the COs didn't hate like they do me.' He also claimed that guards at Attica had assaulted him and poured water through a vent from a catwalk above 'soaking my floor, property and reading materials.' He said all of his official grievances have come to nothing as the authorities have not followed up on them. He said one investigator had told him to stop complaining as he was only 'stirring the beehive and making things worse.' 'I don't know how I can or will be able to survive like this,' Sweat wrote. He said that when Malanik was given a 60-day ban from visiting him because of the alleged sexual contact, authorities in Attica quickly contacted the media to make him look bad. 'I've never in my life seen such abuses of power and authority unless of course I was watching the History Channel about World War II and the Nazis!' he wrote. 'I feel like I'm slowly dying,' he added. 'My body is cannibalizing itself to survive where the manmade nutrient supplement fails to provide what's needed. 'My mind isn't as sharp as it was and I've noticed my speech and thoughts during conversation have deteriorated. My visits were my sanity and survival. They knew this and that's why they took them.' He said when Malanik brought him food he ate it in 'massive' quantities that could carry him through days without prison food and he said interaction with her and her daughter were 'life itself.' 'I'll struggle on as long as I can because my love for them dictates it, but when is enough enough? 'It's already been allowed to go way too far and to serve what purpose if not for revenge and retaliation?' Mailey, the Corrections Department spokesman, said Sweat's complaints have been investigated and were found to have no merit. YouTube star Mars Argo has told how how her ex-boyfriend punched her in the face and made her life a 'living nightmare' and stole her identity to create a 'fake' copy of her in the form of YouTube rival 'Poppy'. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com Argo - real name Brittany Sheets told how Corey Mixter had created Poppy, now one of YouTube's biggest stars, months after she ended their relationship over claims he was cheating on her. Sheets is suing musician and internet persona Poppy real name Moriah Pereira - and Mixter, who performs as Titanic Sinclair, claiming their work is simply a copy of the performances which made her one of YouTube's early big names. Sheets is also seeking a domestic violence restraining order against Mixter who she says repeatedly broke into her apartment and punched her in the face. DailyMail.com has reached out to Mixter and Pereira and their management for comment but has not receive replies. YouTube star Mars Argo - real name Brittany Sheets told DailyMail.com how Corey Mixter had created Poppy, now one of YouTube's biggest stars, months after she ended their relationship. Sheets claims that soon after she abandoned the persona Mars Argo, Poppy died her hair blonde, started dressing like her and even using a similar voice Sheets (left) and Mixter (right) first met talking on MySpace in 2008 while they both lived in Saginaw, Michigan and started dating. The following year Mixter began making videos of Sheets and later started a YouTube channel After Sheets and Mixter broke up, Mixter started working with Moriah Pereira, or Poppy (right), who quickly became a popular YouTube star Sheets and Mixter first met talking on MySpace in 2008 while they both lived in Saginaw, Michigan and started dating. The following year Mixter began making videos of Sheets, a competitive equestrian, at horse riding events, then making music in their bedroom and posting videos on their YouTube channel, Grocerybag.tv. Sheets, who sang in her church choir, starred as her alter ego Mars Argo in the music videos, and Mixter took on the stage name Titanic Sinclair. 'It was a pretty quick period where we went from hanging out to collaborating and being excited about all these music things. And then, romantically involved pretty close to that too,' she said. Sheets says Mixter seemed like a 'nice guy' at first and they quickly fell in love. With their channel growing in popularity, the couple moved to Chicago and then in 2012 to Los Angeles, and Sheets began performing at live stage shows. By the end of 2014, she and Mixter had released 92 videos, a lot of which were shot in a makeshift studio in their apartment, which Sheets says began as a 'really organic, beautiful process'. Their channel had developed a cult following and was becoming one of the biggest on YouTube. In clips from YouTube videos, Sheets and Pereira can be seen dressing almost exactly the same. The staging in many videos appears to be similar as well At the time, Sheets claims, Mixter was relying on constant financial support from her and her family. Her father, a veterinarian, gave the two young YouTubers a loan in 2013 and set up a company with them, Mars Argo LLC. But despite her family's support and the couple's online success, Sheets claims she was 'living a nightmare' behind closed doors, suffering 'severe emotional and psychological abuse and manipulation' at the hands of her boyfriend. Tears welling in her eyes, an emotional Sheets told DailyMail.com: 'Corey made my life a living nightmare, he manipulated and controlled me and made me feel worthless. 'He threatened me and stalked me, monitored me on social media, broke into my home and punched me in the face, I was terrified of him and still am.' The couple split in 2014 after Sheets confronted Mixter for allegedly cheating on her, and asked him to move out of their LA apartment. She tried to maintain a professional relationship with him but Mixter began to 'harass, stalk, threaten, and abuse' her, she told DailyMail.com. Mixter showed up on her doorstep, broke into her apartment building and waited for her in the courtyard, physically assaulted her and threatened to commit suicide in text messages to her, Sheets said in court filings. With their channel growing in popularity, the couple moved to Chicago and then in 2012 to Los Angeles, and Sheets began performing at live stage shows. Sheets and Mixer are pictured above with musicians Brown Chernobyl (left) and Astro Almost (second right) at an event in 2014 By the end of 2014 Sheets (pictured) and Mixter had released 92 videos, a lot of which were shot in a makeshift studio in their apartment Sheets gained popularity and even had a circle of celebrity friends, including Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams (left) According to the lawsuit, Sheets says that Mixter 'calculatedly transformed' his new business partner, Poppy, (together in Los Angeles in 2017) into a 'Mars Argo knockoff' By mid-2014 she decided to also cut business ties with Mixter and stopped making videos with him. But Sheets claims that 'Mixter's intimidation only intensified'. In November 2014, Sheets claims, Mixter broke into her apartment at night through the bedroom window. 'He broke in numerous other times in different ways,' explains Sheets. 'It became terrifying, he would sit in my courtyard and wait for me to get home. 'I lived in constant fear of what he'd do next. The more I pulled away the more aggressive and obsessive he became.' According to the lawsuit, Sheets says that in November 2014 Mixter 'calculatedly transformed' his new business partner, Poppy, into a 'Mars Argo knockoff', and 'deliberately copied Mars Argo's identity'. Pereira cut and dyed her brunette hair blond to match Sheets' color, wore the same style of blue eyeliner and started talking at a higher pitch in her videos to 'mimic Mars Argo's distinctive speaking voice', according to the court documents. After that, she says, Mixter's harassment and his creation of a 'fake' Mars Ago went hand in hand. The first Poppy video, 'Poppy Eats Cotton Candy', was released in November 2014. Weeks later Mixter broke in again, logged into her Facebook account and blocked her new friends, she said. In January 2015 Mixter broke in a third time, and while 'seemingly intoxicated', he began 'smashing her wine glasses one by one'. Three months later Mixter allegedly texted Sheets a picture of himself sat outside her door at 2.01am and wrote: 'you probably blocked me so f*** you you b****. You blocked me so I showed up.' Weeks later, her ex showed up at her front gate and 'punched me in the face', then followed her as she ran inside and locked her door. Sheets claims he was angry because he had heard she was working with a different video producer. In May 2015, the lawsuit says, Pereira posted a photo on Instagram wearing Sheets' own leopard print jacket. Pereira appeared in her ThatPoppy videos wearing very similar clothes to Sheets, including an outfit of a white long sleeve button-down shirt and blue skirt in one video, bunny ears in another, and curtsying in a white dress in a third video. Sheets also claims that Mixter stole her merchandise ideas. She says in her legal complaint that in March 2015 she came up with a plan to sell heart shaped candy in a prescription bottle, but that months later Pereira and another artist working with Mixter began selling candy in prescription bottles. Pereira cut and dyed her brunette hair blond to match Sheets' color, wore the same style of blue eyeliner and started talking at a higher pitch in her videos to 'mimic Mars Argo's distinctive speaking voice', according to the court documents In November 2014, Sheets claims, Mixter broke into her apartment at night through the bedroom window In January 2015 Mixter broke in a third time, and while 'seemingly intoxicated', he began 'smashing her wine glasses one by one', Sheets claims. She included the above photos as evidence of the night in her lawsuit Three months later Mixter allegedly texted Sheets a picture of himself sat outside her door at 2.01am and wrote: 'you probably blocked me so f*** you you b****. You blocked me so I showed up' Along with similar staging and looks, Sheets (pictured) claims that Poppy also stole the title of at least one of her video titles Nearly three years after Mars Argo released a video called 'Delete Your Facebook', Poppy (pictured) released one of the same title Fans on social media immediately picked up on the similarities between Poppy and Mars Argo, but Sheets says it didn't stop her and Mixter from 'keeping going'. Sheets says this was her 'lowest point' saying she felt 'completely isolated'. She said: 'I was hiding what he had done to me because I was embarrassed by it and also I didn't want to be associated with it. 'And then a lot of my friends or people who I thought were my friends were working with her [Pereira] which was really confusing and upsetting. 'I kept it all in, I felt stuck and had a feeling like I couldn't move forward, that was the darkest moment.' In other disturbing alleged behavior Mixter texted Sheets in May 2015 about a seeming drug overdose, writing: 'Just took 11 oxy's laterrrrr'. The alleged harassment led Sheets to flee Los Angeles in late 2015 and to stop making videos. She was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and received treatment. She is still in therapy today. Poppy, however, has amassed a huge following online for her mysterious persona and strange, quirky videos which have been viewed 280million times worldwide. The pilot for YouTube Red's 'I'm Poppy' premiered at Sundance earlier this year. 'It's false,' says Sheets, her voice trembling with emotion. 'That's what I don't like about it, I'm true and that's false. I'm all for success and I'm all for making great art, but I'm not for something that's false and fake. 'It is deeply upsetting that she tried to steal my persona. It feels very very weird.' It was announced on Wednesday that Poppy is teaming up with electro-pop musician Grimes. While the details of the collaboration are unclear, Grimes posted a series of photos with Poppy on Twitter with the caption 'soon'. Sheets says that while she doesn't blame Pereira entirely, because she's 'young', she adds that she is willingly dressing like Sheets' Mars Argo persona. 'It seems like she's very aware, she must know what she's doing,' says Sheets. 'A lot of interviews mention me, fans say "Where's Mars Argo?" at her shows and she responds to it. It just seems like some sick joke.' Sheets is also seeking a restraining order, saying she had not done it before because 'I was afraid it would just agitate him more and that it would get worse.' Sheets, who was in her mid 20s at the height of the alleged harassment, also concedes she made excuses for him when the abuse first began. 'He was my first boyfriend, I like to believe in the good of people,' she said. 'I believed in our work together. I was in denial.' Sheets added: 'I don't know what motivates him, I don't know why he does what he does. I just know what's happened to me and what I've experienced.' She believes the producer thinks he 'created' Mars Argo and can simply move the persona to someone else. 'I can't dissect his chess moves, but yes he thinks that he created me, there's definitely like a control thing there,' she says. 'And his next step was to steal my work and steal my persona and morph some other girl into me.' Patrick Laubenstein, 27, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly leading police on a chase with his grandmother in the vehicle A Massachusetts man led police on a car chase with his 81-year-old grandmother in the backseat after he tried withdrawing money from her account. Patrick Laubenstein, 27, was arraigned on Wednesday in Randolph on charges including abuse or neglect of an elderly person and failure to stop for police. Authorities say he picked up his grandmother from her Milford nursing home on Tuesday and took her to Envision Bank, where he tried to withdraw $1,000 from her bank account. Laubenstein had reportedly tried to do the same thing on Monday without his grandmother, as reported by 7News Boston. The bank refused to give the money to Laubenstein, who took off as police arrived. Authorities caught up to him but called off the chase after they realized his grandmother was in the car. Police later arrested Laubenstein at his friend's house in Milton and his grandmother was found unharmed outside the home. The friend told local media the suspect had a cut on his leg and pictures from the moment of his arrest show him being taken away in a stretcher. Police say Laubenstein tried to withdraw money from his 81-year-old grandmother's account at Envision Bank (pictured) Police arrested Laubenstein at his friend's house in Milton and his grandmother was found unharmed outside the home His lawyer says he and his grandmother have a 'good relationship' and she wanted to give him the money. Prosecutors in court said the grandmother is dying of cancer. Laubenstein's has had his bail set at $7,500 cash. Local media reports Laubenstein's been arrested before for offences such as forging checks he allegedly stole from his sister. The suspect had a cut on his leg and pictures from the moment of his arrest show him being taken away in a stretcher Dozens more Central American caravan migrants were let into the United States to begin pleading their case for asylum despite sharp criticism from President Donald Trump, bringing the total to 158 since last weekend. Seventy men, women and children were allowed into the crowded port of entry border crossing early on Thursday morning, according to Alex Mensing, a caravan organizer with advocacy group Pueblos Sin Fronteras. Another 62 migrants were still waiting for a chance to begin the asylum process, he said. Seventy men, women and children part of a Central American caravan of migrants were allowed into the crowded port of entry border crossing early on Thursday morning The total of caravan migrants allowed into the US to request asylum has risen to 158 since last weekend On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions beefed up legal resources on the border, including more prosecutors and judges, to handle the groups of people from the caravan. Throughout the caravan's 2,000-mile odyssey from southern Mexico, its mostly Honduran, Salvadoran and Guatemalan members kept hoping they would ultimately get the chance to make their case for asylum in the United States. All the while, they have known their pleas might be rejected. The caravan is a tradition dating back to 2010 and is designed to draw attention to the plight of destitute Central Americans crossing through Mexico in a bid to reach the US and the promise of a better life. US border officials had allowed through only small groups at a time, saying the busy San Ysidro crossing to San Diego was saturated and the rest must be patient. Mostly Honduran, Salvadoran and Guatemalan migrants hope to get the chance to make their case for asylum in the United States Another 62 migrants were still waiting for a chance to begin the asylum process The migrants have spent four chilly nights camped outside the port of entry. 'I am fleeing because they were going to kill one of my sons,' Ana Suazo, a 38-year-old Honduran who was traveling with three children, told AFP. She added her mother was waiting for her on the other side of the border and she has relatives in New Orleans. In response to the caravan's arrival at the US-Mexico border crossing, the U.S. Justice Department said it was sending 35 additional assistant U.S. attorneys and 18 immigration judges to the border. Trump wants to tighten laws to make it harder for people to claim asylum, citing a more than tenfold rise in asylum claims versus 2011. President Trump wants to tighten laws to make it harder for people to claim asylum, citing a more than tenfold rise in asylum claims versus 2011 The Justice Department said it was sending 35 additional assistant U.S. attorneys and 18 immigration judges to the border He has railed against so-called 'catch and release' policies that allow some migrants to remain in the United States while their cases await hearing in a clogged legal system. However, international treaties signed by the US dictate the government must allow migrants to apply for asylum. The Republican president's hard-line stance on immigration, both legal and illegal, has animated many of his core supporters even as his support among the broader American public hovers around 40 percent. An eight-year-old horse named Justice is suing his former Oregon owner for $100,000 in damages in a neglect case that is setting a rare precedent. The suit has been filed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund in Portland against former owner Gwendolyn Vercher, 41, of Cornelius, Oregon. Justice, an American Quarter Horse, was said to have been 300lbs underweight and had lice, a skin infection, and had a deformed penis as a result of frostbite. Justice, an American Quarter Horse, was 300lbs underweight and had lice and a skin infection The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the Washington County Circuit Court, according to Oregon Live. Justice will need special medical attention for the rest of his life, but now lives in a horse rescue in Troutdale - with Kim Mosiman - after he was rescued from Vercher in March 2017. At the time of his rescue he was known as Shadow. State case law advocates for animals to have legally protected rights, according to one of the horse's lawyers, Sarah Hanneken. A picture of the eight-year-old horse when it was in better health The suit has been filed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund in Portland against former owner Gwendolyn Vercher, 41, of Cornelius, Oregon '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.' All damages would go towards helping bring Justice back to good health and would go to his guardian, but the horse's ailments have hindered his adoption. A bandage wrapped around Justice All damages would go towards helping bring Justice back to good health and would go to his guardian, but the horse's ailments have hindered his adoption In July 2017, Vercher was sentenced to three years of probation for first-degree animal neglect In July 2017, Vercher was sentenced to three years of probation for first-degree animal neglect. She is to complete 96 hours of community service within a year and has been prohibited from owning pets for five years. He will need special medical attention for the rest of his life, but Justice now lives in a horse rescue in Troutdale after he was rescued from Vercher in March 2017. Kim Mosiman pictured The woman paid $3,700 in restitution. The lawsuit isn't the first to go to court with an animal involved. An animal rights group filed a lawsuit for a chimpanzee named Tommy in 2013. They sought 'legal personhood' for the chimp who they felt was being brutally abused in a trailer in New York. The court ruled that animals don't have legal rights. Last month, an appeals court ruled in a case involving Naruto - a crested macaque with a love for selfies - and stated that animals couldn't claim to have copyrights to photos. In 2011, the monkey snapped images of itself and became a viral hit. The former lead detective who investigated the Golden State Killer has revealed why he thinks there was a five-year break in the crime spree that terrorized California in the 70s and 80s. Last week 72-year-old former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo was arrested in Sacramento and accused of 12 murders, at least 50 rapes and multiple home burglaries between 1976 and 1986. Investigators have struggled to understand why there was a gap in the attacks between a 1981 double homicide and the last murder attributed to him in 1986 as well as why the spree ultimately came to an end. In an ABC interview airing Friday retired detective Paul Holes said he believes the killer stopped the attacks after a physical fight with a victim shook his confidence. Scroll down for video Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested last week in Sacramento, California, on two murder charges. Officials say DNA evidence has confirmed that he is the Golden State Killer Former lead detective on the case Paul Holes revealed his theories about the killer's timeline in an interview airing Friday On April 24, DeAngelo was arrested at his home in the Citrus Heights neighborhood of Sacramento, California, after DNA evidence linked the married father-of-three to the Golden State Killer case that had been cold for decades. 'Finally I got to see the face of the man that I've been hunting for 24 years,' former Contra Costa County cold case detective Holes told ABC. 'I can now read these case files and visualize Joe DeAngelo committing these acts, as opposed to this nameless masked man.' The Golden State Killer's reign of terror began in the summer of 1976 with a series of rapes and burglaries in the cities of Carmichael and Rancho Cordova, California. Investigators say the masked serial killer would break into homes at night and tie up the victims raping the female one if present before pillaging the homes of money, jewelry, identification cards and other valuables. Some victims even told authorities that the attacker would call them up in the aftermath of the crime. The killer's crime spree turned deadly in 1978 when Brian and Katie Maggiore were murdered while out walking their dog in Rancho Cordova on February. Pictured are combination images the FBI released of sketches of the Golden State Killer who committed 12 murders, more than 50 rapes and multiple burglaries between 1976 and 1986 Decades after the Golden State Killer's reign of terror came to an end, DNA testing linked married father-of-three DeAngelo to several of the crimes The rampage continued with a series of additional murders and rapes in Modesto, Davis, Stockton and other San Francisco Bay area communities. However, after the murder of Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez in Goleta on July 27, 1981, the attacks suddenly stopped. It wasn't until five years later in 1986 that the killer was tempted to strike again when he came across Janelle Lisa Cruz, whom he raped and murdered in Irvine, California. Cruz was the last victim linked to the Golden State Killer rampage. Holes said: 'I believe what ended up happening were two things: In 1981, he ends up going into kill Gregory Sanchez and Cheri Domingo. And he gets in a physical fight with 6-foot-3 Gregory Sanchez. 'And I think that physical altercation with Sanchez scared him. We don't have an attack for five years. 'But then, for some reason, he runs across beautiful 19-year-old Janelle Cruz and can't help himself. And kills her.' Holes said it was 'possible but relatively unlikely' that the killer continued his spree after Cruz's death. 'At this point, he's an aging offender,' Holes said of DeAngelo, who would have been 40 years old at the time of Cruz's murder. 'He is no longer in that prime where he's now going out as frequently as he wants, naturally due to his age.' Multiple pieces of DNA evidence were found at crime scenes, including the fingerprints above DeAngelo had worked as a police officer in the rural central California town of Exeter from 1973 to 1976, and later for the Auburn, California, Police Department until 1979, when he was fired for shoplifting dog repellent and a hammer Holes added that the investigators have spent years surveying other cases to see if any more could be linked to the Golden State Killer, but they've been unsuccessful. 'I know we have looked over the years for additional cases because we wanted to try to see if we could find more. And we haven't,' he said. 'So, it's not just starting that search now. That's been ongoing for a long time.' The case is currently being investigated by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, which revealed last week that the suspect DeAngelo had worked as a police officer in the rural central California town of Exeter from 1973 to 1976, and later for the Auburn, California, Police Department until 1979, when he was fired for shoplifting dog repellent and a hammer. The department has not publicly revealed any theories as to why the killings paused during the five years or stopped after 1986. On Thursday a judge ruled that prosecutors in the case can collect DNA, fingerprints and take photographs of the DeAngelo's entire body. The ABC has issued a grovelling apology to former prime minister Kevin Rudd after it wrongly accused him of ignoring safety risks in the bungled home insulation scheme that killed four young men. The national broadcaster's managing director Michelle Guthrie sent him a letter apologising for a January story which incorrectly asserted he was warned about the occupational hazards of his stimulus package program in 2009. 'I wish to unreservedly apologise to you on behalf of the ABC,' Michelle Guthrie's letter, dated April 27, said. Scroll down for video ABC boss Michelle Guthrie (pictured) has issued a grovelling apology to former Labor PM Kevin Rudd after it wrongly accused him of ignoring home insulation scheme safety risks The national broadcaster sent Kevin Rudd a letter apologising for a January story which incorrectly asserted he was warned about the occupational hazards of his insulation scheme Rueben Barnes (pictured), a first-year carpentry apprentice, was just 16 when he was electrocuted at a home near Rockhampton in central Queensland in 2009 'Please accept this apology as a genuine reflection of the ABC's concern over the matter and the harm caused.' Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Marcus Wilson and Mitchell Sweeney died in 2009 and 2010 installing roof insulation in New South Wales and Queensland. However, the ABC accepted Mr Rudd had not received warnings from senior public servants about the risks of the subsidy scheme, which was implemented in February 2009 as part of the Rudd government's broader $42 billion stimulus package to ward off the effects of the global financial crisis. 'I also wish to restate that the ABC accepts you were not warned of and were not aware of the critical safety risks at the relevant time,' Ms Guthrie said. Mitchell Sweeney was 22 when he died after being electrocuted installing home insulation in a roof at Cairns, in far north Queensland, in February 2010 Matthew Fuller was 25 in October 2009 when he became the first of four men killed installing home insulation at Logan, south of Brisbane The ABC noted the 2014 royal commission into the home insulation scheme had not made any adverse findings against Kevin Rudd (pictured arriving at Brisbane Magistrates Court in 2014) The letter, obtained by Fairfax Media, also noted the royal commission into the home insulation scheme, established in December 2013 by Kevin Rudd's Liberal successor Tony Abbott, had not made any adverse findings against the former Labor PM. 'As you are of course aware, that position is supported by the fact that the royal commission made no adverse findings against you nor did it conclude that you were responsible for the tragic deaths that occurred,' it said. Before that January story was published, Kevin Rudd's legal advisers had told the ABC that no adverse findings had been made against the former Labor prime minister by the 2014 royal commission, presided over by Brisbane barrister Ian Hanger. 'I acknowledge the frustration this has caused,' Michelle Guthrie said. Marcus Wilson was 19 when he died of heat exhaustion installing home insulation in a roof at St Clair in western Sydney in November 2009 Radar footage in Victoria showed the city under attack from a very hungry, 80s style Pac-man. The rain and wind pattern of the impending heavy storms formed around Melbourne was likened to the classic arcade game character. The looming storm surrounded the city and battered near-by suburbs from 7.30pm. Radar footage in Victoria showed the city under attack from a very hungry, 80s style Pac-man. The pattern of the rainfall took the shape of the 80s gaming classic, Pac-man on Thursday night in Victoria The bizarre radar footage caused a stir online with users fearing the wrath of the ghost-gobbling creature. 'Melbourne is about to be eaten by a Pac-Man storm,' one Twitter user wrote. 'Its raining Pac-men hallelujah, its raining Pac-men amen,' a Melbourne resident joked online. Senior forecaster Richard Carlyon from the Bureau of Meteorology said the Pac-man shaped storm is actually described as 'rain shadow' 'Melbourne currently under attack by Pac-man rainstorm,' another said. Senior forecaster Richard Carlyon from the Bureau of Meteorology said the Pac-man shaped storm is actually described as 'rain shadow'. 'There's almost a hole in the rainfall because of the northerly winds, we're not getting much rain at all around the Melbourne city area,' he told the Herald Sun. The bizarre radar footage caused a stir online with users fearing the wrath of the ghost-gobbling creature Senior forecaster Richard Carlyon from the Bureau of Meteorology said the Pac-man shaped storm is actually described as 'rain shadow' Gusts reached up to 85km/h at Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne's south-east and in Fawkner. Heavy winds are expected to carry on until Friday and The State Emergency Service advised vehicles should be moved under-cover and loose items around the house to be tied down. Joanna Shields was plucked from the private sector by ex-PM David Cameron to become his adviser on the digital economy The controversial revolving door between Whitehall and business has turned again. After amassing tens of millions as an executive of Google and Facebook, American-born Cameron Cutie Joanna Shields was plucked from the private sector by ex-PM David Cameron to become his adviser on the digital economy and was ennobled as Baroness Shields of Maida Vale in 2014. But fewer than four years later, Lady Shields has shed the ermine-edged robes of the House of Lords to return to the private sector and become CEO of BenevolentAI, a 1.5 billion London start-up. She has just taken up a full-time paid role with her new employer which harnesses artificial intelligence to help discover new drugs to treat diseases such as Parkinsons. The baroness, who stepped down from her government role last year, once helped raise $400,000 in a single evening for Barack Obama during his first presidential campaign at a soiree held for supporters at the Notting Hill home of Elisabeth Murdoch. While she will no longer attend sittings in the Lords and cant claim a daily allowance of up to 300, she has not ruled out a return to the Upper House one day. To go out and do this [as CEO of BenevolentAI] and invest my time 100 per cent knowing one day I will go back into the Lords in an active status is why that institution is so powerful, she says. Perhaps she is getting out in time. A petition demanding a referendum on the abolition of the House of Lords has comfortably passed the 100,000 signatures required for it to be debated in Parliament. Peers have been accused of frustrating the result of the EU referendum after the Government faced rebellions on Brexit legislation in the upper house. Shields, 55, who arrived in London as a single mother with a one-year-old son well over a decade ago, declined to accept a salary throughout her time working for the Government. Once spoken of as a potential Conservative mayoral candidate for London, she now shares her life with Andy Stevenson, sporting director of Force India Formula One team. Cheer up Bianca, it's your (73rd) birthday! Sir Mick Jaggers ex-wife Bianca secured her place in the annals of nightlife legend when, for her birthday in 1977, she rode a white horse across the dancefloor of New Yorks famed club, Studio 54 . This week the haughty human rights activist showed she still appreciates the high life by celebrating her 73rd birthday at a five-star hotel. Her daughter Jade, 46, whose father is Sir Mick, joined her at Claridges in Mayfair where they took a joint selfie showing off their mutual admiration for black-and -white ensembles. Happy birthday mama lovely to spend time with you, Jade captioned it, to which Bianca replied: My darling child it was wonderful spending time with you on my birthday. I love you. Jade Jagger posts a Birthday picture for her mother Bianca Jagger Veteran actor Edward Fox is a classy old boy. In the biographical notes found in theatre programmes, actors normally list at length their past roles. Fox, 81, does not bother. In the programme for Oscar Wildes An Ideal Husband, which opened on Wednesday night in the West End, it simply says under his photograph: Edward Fox is an actor with a very long career. Just two weeks after the Queens beloved Corgi, Willow, died the Royal Family has welcomed a new furry friend. Lady Marina Windsor, 25, granddaughter of the Duke of Kent, has acquired a Labrador puppy. Brainstorming names for the little nuglet of heaven, she says on social media. Genius suggestions welcome. Doggy McDogface? President Armen Sarkissian of Armenia on Friday received the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon and charges d'affaires of Kuwait and Iraq in Armenia. May 4, 2018, 16:59 Armenian president hosts ambassadors of Arab countries STEPANAKERT, MAY 4, ARTSAKHPRESS:The officials discussed issues related to the bilateral agenda, especially the expansion of the economic cooperation, the presidential office said. President Sarkissian expressed his gratitude to the diplomats for the warm attitude displayed toward the Armenian communities in their countries, which allows them not only to preserve their national identity but also develop and actively participate in the political and socio-economic lives of the countries. The sides weighed in on the current political situation in Armenia. The diplomats expressed hope that everything will be settled within the framework of the Constitution and law, highlighting the respective efforts of Armenias president to that end. A couple are urging bureaucrats to shift a lamp post that sits in the middle of their driveway. Antonio and Nancy Grasso said dodging the lamp post, which has not worked for a year, is becoming more difficult. The grandparents fear they will crash into the pole while trying to pull into the garage of their home in Mullaloo, in Perth. The couple wants it moved to either side of their home's entry. But the local council claims the couple never obtained approval to build an extended double drive way around the pole, according to 9News. Scroll down for video Grandparents Antonio and Nancy Grasso (pictured) are urging their local council to shift a lamp post from the middle of their Perth driveway The couple said dodging the lamp post was becoming more difficult and they fear either one of them will crash into it while trying to pull into the garage of their Mullaloo home 'If we have visitors, we always have to say to them mind the post, we were going to put a flag there or something to remind them when they reverse,' Mrs Grasso said. '[The council] told us they're going to have to cut the concrete instead of shifting the post.' Moving the post would cut power to the street perpendicular to their home, the council told 9News. Nancy said she has to warn visitors about the pole before they come over (pictured are the Grassos) A Google image from 2014 shows the lamp post was in place before the Grassos built their home Western Power told the publication the lamp pole had not worked for 12 months because the driveway had prevented it from accessing a cable. Antonio and Nancy removed a portion of the driveway around the pole, but crews said they still can't get underground. The council has asked the couple to cut back their driveway. Not all MPs are screaming partisans. Not everyone speaks in cliched soundbites, greasing up to Whips, ignoring constituents and craving promotion. There are a few blessedly calm Hon Members balmy-spirited eggs who bring a leavening of normality to the place. One such is Bob Stewart (Con, Beckenham). In earlier life he was Col Bob Stewart, nicknamed 'Bosnia Bob' and even 'Bonking Bob'. A brave and lusty officer in the Cheshire Regiment, he faced down ethnic-cleansing thugs when commanding UN forces in the Balkans in the 1990s. He saw some pretty horrible things in those days. Tory MP Bob Stewart drew laughs with a comment he made in the House of Commons (Parliament TV) Since 2010 he has been in the Commons and it would be fair to say that he has not set the world alight. Nor has he tried to do that. He has instead made a contribution by being one of those gregarious amblers I mentioned: a member of the Conservative Party but a foot-soldier of the Congenial Party, that neglected platoon not much interested in dogma or petty procedural games. Having seen something of the world, these people are less arrogant about their personal power to change it. Yesterday being a quiet day the Commons does little when local elections are taking place the House held a general May Adjournment debate which allowed MPs to talk about pretty much anything that grabbed their fancy. Mr Stewart opted to speak about the financial plight of young barristers. He recounted that a young constituent of his had recently given up the criminal bar because she was making such a rotten income. The law had been her vocation but faced with having to live in London on about 10,000 a year for hellishly long weeks, she had quit criminal cases and gone into a different area of practice. Mr Stewart, 68, did not deliver his words with great bombastic oratory. He is more teddy-bearish than that. When he starts a sentence you never quite know where (or when) it will end. His speeches can resemble a Ronnie Corbett monologue. I don't think I have ever heard him utter a party slogan or attack a parliamentary opponent. His speech in support of young criminal barristers was not a fashionable cause. It did not suit the Conservatives particularly in effect, he was seeking more spending on Legal Aid, which is something many of us Righties would instinctively resist and it will probably have gone unheard by the Treasury. Yet here was a politician who had listened to an unhappy constituent and used it to illustrate a way in which, he suspected, our public affairs may be going awry. He asked: 'If there are no young criminal barristers, how will we, in a few years' time, run criminal trials?' Mr Stewart, speaking in a backbench business debate, was raising the issue of pay for young barristers when fellow Tory Sir Edward intervened to shed more light on the topic During his speech, Mr Stewart was intervened on a few times. He dealt with these sallies charmingly, at one point saying, 'I am amazed that people have put up with me here for eight years'. This drew supportive cries of 'nonsense!' from all sides. He made slight muddles of his words. He produced no raft of statistics. He did not lay blame at anyone's ministerial desk and did not resort to buzzwords or bluster. His contribution was also notable for the fact that he was not speaking as an interested party. Speeches in support of Legal Aid too often come from lawyers. Ker-ching ker-ching. There are not many Bob Stewarts in the current Commons. Labour has its soft-spoken environment spokesman, David Drew, 66, from Stroud, his fellow 're-tread' John Grogan, 57, from Keighley, and witty Stephen Pound, 69, from Ealing North. The Lib Dems have a 63-year-old newbie, Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross), who has a nicely tweedy air and was yesterday talking about space rockets. On the Tory benches, 69-year-old Keith Simpson (Broadland) has just about stopped his Europhilia spoiling his vibes. And then there is Deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, 60, long-serving, long-suffering and utterly decent. What a statement it would be were he to win the Chair. Owners of dogs diagnosed with a killer disease after consuming Advance Dermocare pet food may have their vet bills reimbursed. Manufacturer Mars Petcare has commenced contacting pet owners after dogs were struck down by megaoesophagus after eating the product. The University of Melbourne is reporting 74 cases of the condition, however, it may still be months before a direct link to the food is established. Owners of dogs diagnosed with megaoesophagus after consuming Advance Dermocare will have their vet bills reimbursed. Five-year-old maremma Chief had to be put down in February due to suspected megaesophagus. 'Despite no root cause being identified, we have commenced the process of contacting pet owners to provide support, including offering to reimburse vet bills,' the manufacturer said in a statement. 'As pet owners ourselves, we feel for pet owners who have lost their dogs to megaoesophagus, or whose dogs have been diagnosed with the condition.' The company recalled its Advance Dermocare dry dog range from 500 stores five weeks ago after a concerning and unexplained spike in megaesophagus cases. Symptoms of megaesophagus include bad breath, coughing, extreme weight-loss and more breathing noises. A rare disease, megaesophagus slowly closes the throat, making eating and drinking - even breathing - increasingly difficult. It's understood the number of megaesophagus deaths stands at eight. Symptoms of megaesophagus include bad breath, coughing, extreme weight-loss and more breathing noises. In the New South Wales town of Port Stephens, Shirley Benn and her family made the heartbreaking decision to put down their beloved five-year-old maremma Chief in February due to megaesophagus. 'He was my best friend,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Nine-year-old labradoodle Stan lost almost five kilograms and relied on intravenous drips for fluids when he was diagnosed with megaesophagus in March. Sadly, the much loved pet has since succumbed to the disease 'He'd just turned five. He was our baby, our protector and made us laugh. Most days when my husband was at work and the kids were at school, it was he and I.' Nine Victoria Police dogs were also struck down with the disease. One police dog died while another was expected to be euthanised at the time of the product recall. Since then, many owners have spoken out to say their dogs were diagnosed with the condition after being fed Advance Dermocare. Titan also ate the popular dog food brand before he was struck down with the condition Nine members of the Victoria Police Dog Squad have been struck down by megaesophagus, which causes an enlarged oesophagus As well as Advance, Mars Petcare makes popular pet foods including Chum, Pedigree, Schmackos and Whiskas. The voluntary recall on the dry food range remains in place. Pet owners who have purchased Advance Dermocare dry dog food in 3kg, 8kg and 15kg bags should return the product to the store they purchased it from for a full refund. The sick dogs contracted the debilitating condition in December and are still battling the 'extremely rare illness' (Victoria Police dog pictured) Neighbours were less than impressed with George Calombaris' windowless backyard gym but he claims they are going to love what he does next. The celebrity chef said his neighbours would be 'rapt' when they saw the new additions he had planned for the controversial gym tucked out the back of his Melbourne mansion. 'There's no question about it. Once it's finished, our neighbours are gonna (sic) be rapt,' Mr Calombaris told Herald Sun. Scroll down for video Neighbours were less than impressed with George Calombaris' windowless backyard gym (pictured) but he claims they are going to love what he does next The celebrity chef said his neighbours would be 'rapt' when they saw the new additions he had planned for the controversial gym tucked out the back of his Melbourne mansion (pictured) Mr Calombaris (pictured) said he did not want to displease anyone when asked about his gym Helen Elsworth, 71, (pictured) has described the gym behind her Toorak apartment as a 'monstrous eyesore' which she compared to a public toilet block 'It's pretty simple. The project is not complete yet. It's an unfinished building site.' The boxy steel structure, which Mr Calombaris has partially wrapped with a timber fence, is windowless on three sides and dominates the view from Helen Elsworth's bedroom. Ms Elsworth, 71, has described the gym behind her Toorak apartment as a 'monstrous eyesore' which she compared to a public toilet block. The stylish retiree, whose first-floor apartment backs onto the jutting pocket of land where Mr Calombaris has built his gym, told Daily Mail Australia the building was a 'monstrosity'. Ms Elsworth, who has lived in her apartment for 33 years, reserved her harshest words for Mr Calombaris rather than his wife Natalie Tricarico, who owns the property. 'He's the worst neighbour I've had in my life,' Ms Elsworth told A Current Affair. Ms Elsworth said Mr Calombaris' dark coloured boxy gym with no windows was a 'monstrosity' The celebrity chef said his gym (pictured) was not complete and needed more additions The Masterchef host, who will be returning to television screens next week with season 10 of the popular cooking show, said the gym was legally built However, Ms Elsworth slammed the gym claiming it destroyed the views from her apartment The 71-year-old said she had to keep her blinds closed all 'day and night' to block out the gym 'He should be living in Central Australia somewhere, where he can't bother people, not in the suburbs. 'I've got to keep the blinds closed day and night - well, all day. Shocking.' The Masterchef host, who will be returning to television screens next week with season 10 of the popular cooking show, said he never wanted to displease people. 'I don't want to upset anyone in my life,' Mr Calombaris told News Corp. 'We've done everything to the letter of the law. I think they're gonna (sic) be absolutely ecstatic with it.' The parents of a teenager who killed herself after years of relentless bullying have sought a court order to sue the state's Department of Education and Training. Joanne and Michael Piva filed documents in Townsville District Court this week seeking permission to take legal action against the State of Queensland outside the usual legal time frame, the Townsville Bulletin reported on Friday. May 21 will mark three years since their daughter Breannah, 16, tragically took her own life after being physically, verbally and emotionally traumatised by her bullies on a daily basis. According to court documents filed previously, Breannah was pushed in front of a car, chased home from school, told she was 'too fat' to model and physically assaulted. Breannah Piva, 16, tragically took her own life in May 2015 after years of relentless bullying Breannah's Joanne and Michael have confirmed that legal documentation was filed in Townsville District Court this week seeking permission to take legal action against the State of Queensland Joanne Piva (right) will ride a bike 200km through north Queensland on May 20-21 to spread awareness about teen mental health and to share her daughter's story Breannah's parents previously claimed in court documents they have been psychologically injured because of their daughter's tragic death and that Ayr State High School did not take appropriate action to stop the bullying or discipline students involved. Personal injury claims must be brought within three years but the Pivas have applied for an extension to lodge a claim as the coroner's findings from Breannah's death are yet to be handed down. According to the affidavit, the State of Queensland has said they would not take part in a compulsory conference until the coroners findings were complete, the Bulletin reported. Shine Lawyers solicitor Sarah Salinas said steps had been taken to ensure that the Pivas could still make their claim. The Pivas confirmed legal documentation was filed this week on the Do It for Bree Facebook page. The family has set up the foundation to help young people to deal with bullying, depression and talk about suicide prevention and increase their self-esteem. 'While ever we keep bullying in the spotlight something will be done about it,' the family posted on Friday. 'Hopefully it is a wake up to all schools that bullying is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.' Breannah allegedly received messages telling her to 'kill herself or [her bullies] would do it for her and make sure her body was never found' Daily Mail Australia reported in March that the Pivas had filed a lawsuit against her school for failing to protect their daughter from the ongoing abuse, according to court documents. Almost 30 bullying incidents over four years - which would start in school and continue long after the final bell went - were outlined in a set of court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia. The court documents allege she had a bottle of iced coffee thrown at her before marshmallow was rubbed over her face and uniform. In another incident, the Pivas alleged in court documents Breannah was 'hit across the back of her head by another student' on various occasions in 2011. The court documents allege in 2013, Breannah was chased for five blocks while walking home and forced to hide in a supermarket after a group of five students said they were going to 'bash and kill' her. Breannah's family confirmed on social media on Friday that legal documentation was filed in court this week A foundation has since been set up for Breannah (pictured) called 'Do It For Bree', which has produced a free online anti-bullying program for schools On May 20, Joanne Piva (pictured) will set off on a 200 kilometre bike ride from Ayr and plans to arrive in Airlie Beach the following day to mark the third anniversary of her daughter's death 'May 21 marks three years since I heard my baby's voice, since I saw her smile light up the room, heard her quirky snorting giggles,' Breannah's mum Joanne wrote on a GoFundMe page Breannah's mother is now on a mission to raise awareness for bullying, depression and youth suicide. On May 20, Mrs Piva will set off on a 200 kilometre bike ride from Ayr and plans to arrive in Airlie Beach the following day to mark the third anniversary of her daughter's death. Along the way, she plans to hand out flyers about bullying, depression and youth suicide, and share her daughter's story. 'May 21 marks three years since I heard my baby's voice, since I saw her smile light up the room, heard her quirky snorting giggles,' she wrote on the GoFundMe page. 'I cant do anything to bring my baby girl back but I will be darned if I sit here and do nothing in helping to prevent this happening to another child.' Readers seeking confidential support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Children as young as 11 are being treated for abusing the anxiety drug Xanax, it was revealed last night. Recreational use of the medication is soaring among young people in Britain following its glamorisation in American rap music. Xanax, the brand name for alprazolam, is not available on the NHS but can be obtained on private prescription. However, the drug and associated fake versions are increasingly finding their way on to social media and the 'dark web'. Xanax, the brand name for alprazolam, is not available on the NHS but can be obtained on private prescription One ambulance trust last year attended 240 call-outs for Xanax abuse relating to children and teenagers aged between 11 and 18, analysis by the BBC found. In response to a Freedom of Information request, the North East Ambulance Service said two of the cases involved 11-year-olds. It also recorded incidents relating to Xanax abuse involving children of 11 in 2014 and 2016. Leading drugs charity Addaction said it was aware of children of 13 'dealing' the strong medication, which is in the benzodiazepine group of drugs, in schools. It comes after the Daily Mail revealed this week that pharmacists have teamed up with organised crime gangs to divert drugs such as Xanax on to the black market. Within only seconds of meeting, one pharmacist sold 60 Xanax tablets to an undercover reporter for 150 without asking to see a prescription. Drugs from the legitimate supply chain can be sold on to dealers, who in turn peddle the highly addictive substance to vulnerable young people over the internet or on the street. Schools across the country have reported finding children affected by Xanax on their premises, with ambulances called out on some occasions. Users of the drug can appear drunk, with slurred speech and problems with memory. Potentially fatal side effects can occur if users fall unconscious and their respiratory system shuts down. In some cases, headteachers have written to parents to warn them of the drug's dangers. As well as using Xanax before parties for the supposed relaxant effects, pupils are also using it to self-medicate ahead of exams or other stressful events. Nick Lind, the deputy head of Redland Green School in Bristol, told the BBC that children can see Xanax as a 'safe way of getting into drugs'. Schools across the country have reported finding children affected by Xanax on their premises (stock image used) But it is highly addictive and can cause severe withdrawal symptoms in users who take it regularly for anything longer than a few weeks, including psychosis, depression and suicidal thoughts. Brighton University student Georgia Jackson, 21, took her life last December two days after using the drug. A coroner later warned of the 'pernicious influence' of Xanax. Kerry Robinson, a paediatrician at Whittington Hospital, North London, said she had treated children under 16 who had used the drug. 'The cases that I've seen, it's not a recreational party drug,' she told the BBC. 'Young people have taken it during the school day, then stumbled into their next lesson and someone has picked up that things are not right.' Neil Coles, from Addaction, said: 'We're seeing a lot of young people who don't realise the dosage. They're taking far too much, collapsing on school premises, and having to be taken to hospitals.' A new range of walking, talking sex machines are bringing intimacy into the 21st century - and they're coming Down Under. But while sex bots such as Harmony - the blonde, buxom pseudo-woman developed by tech company Realbotix - might look and even feel eerily similar to the real thing, tech sexperts are insisting that her purpose isn't strictly physical. She's also there for a chat, says SEXPO event organiser Bentleigh Gibson in the lead-up to the Sydney 2018 event. Scroll down for video A new range of walking, talking sex robots are bringing intimacy into the 21st century 'You can have a full conversation with Harmony,' said Mr Gibson, in conversation with news.com.au. 'She can remember facts about you and relay them back to you at a future date and time. She's fully interactive.' It's in this way that developers are peddling the sex robot as a companion rather than an escort; as a friend first, and a mate second. 'The idea behind this is not about sex, honestly,' says Realbotix CEO and Creative Director Matt McCullen. 'It's about companionship. And I feel that people will be able to find companionship in robots like this. 'I can think of no other reason why you would want to make a robot that looks like a human being.' 'The idea behind this is not about sex, honestly,' says Realbotix CEO and Creative Director Matt McCullen, insisting that the robots - which he refers to as companions rather than sexual partners - are also designed for wholesome conversation In addition to Harmony - the blonde, buxom pseudo-woman - developers have also created a male sex robot by the name of Henry Of course, there's many people who can think of a range of other reasons why you would want to make a robot that looks like a human being. Mr Gibson suggests that prosthetic partners like Harmony - along with her male counterpart, Henry - will allow users to explore their wildest, weirdest fantasies and learn a little more about what it is that flicks their switch. 'These dolls can allow users to explore their sexuality whether that be in a solo or a partner setting... I think [they] can help people have better, healthier sex lives,' he says. 'These robots can be used to assist users with an impairment in some ways, or people with social and intimacy issues. 'It allows them to explore their curiosities in a safe and secure environment.' 'These dolls can allow users to explore their sexuality' says SEXPO event organiser Bentleigh Gibson, adding that 'These robots can be used to assist users with an impairment in some ways, or people with social and intimacy issues' Other experts, however, are expressing a little more trepidation about where this slippery slope of robot-human relations might end up. 'We're just doing all this stuff with machines because we can, and not really thinking how this could change humanity completely,' said Noel Sharkey, from the Foundation for Responsible Robotics. 'Some people have suggested that sex robots create an attitude of 'too-easy' sex which is always available.' Other experts, however, are expressing a little more trepidation - with one academic stating that 'Underlying all this is a breakdown in what people think is a distinction between being a machine and being a human' Senior research fellow at De Montfort University Kathleen Richardson agrees that the prospects are troubling. 'Human beings can't have meaningful relationships with artifacts,' she said. 'Underlying all this is a breakdown in what people think is a distinction between being a machine and being a human. That's really what's underlying all this phenomena.' Sex robots will be on show at the 2018 SEXPO event, coming to Sydney on June 14-17. A Government website advertised jobs for naked cleaners in a move one MP has called appalling exploitation, it emerged last night. Applicants should bring rubber gloves and a smile according to the job listing. A jobseeker mistakenly clicked on the X-rated Fantasy Cleans advert entitled Flash, thinking it referred to a cleaning product. The listing had been posted on Government site Universal Jobmatch, the Daily Mirror reported. For 25-100 an hour, applicants could become cleaners with a difference the advert stated. The advert was looking for men and women 'of all sizes' across West Yorkshire for the naked cleaning service on offer The advert said it offers a 'cleaning and ironing service with a cheeky twist' as it advertised for staff who must be 'able to hold a good conversation' The naked cleaners advert made it clear they do not offer sexual services of any kind, although MP Labours Naz Shah said it is a 'normalisation of sex work' It included a picture of a scantily-clad blonde woman washing the floor with a scrubbing brush and was listed alongside job adverts for the NHS and British Airways. Successful applicants could expect to dress up in outfits of the clients choice meaning they may be fully clothed, in lingerie, or naked, the advert said. Clients may also be naked during 9am-5.30pm slots Monday to Friday and by special appointment during weekends. The jobseeker, from Yorkshire, notified her MP, Labours Naz Shah, who said that because the site is monitored by Jobcenture Plus staff and benefits can be taken from people if they do not use it enough, some might be pressured into this kind of work. It is the normalisation of sex work and exploitation of the vulnerable my staff were absolutely appalled, Miss Shah told the Mirror. The advert said they are 'cleaners with a difference' on the Government jobs site, sparking outrage from an MP and jobseekers A jobseeker discovered job advert for a nude cleaning company on the universal jobmatch website The advert reads: Fantasy Cleans want bubbly, chatty and friendly house proud girls and guys You must be comfortable being naked around people Must be able to clean and iron to a good standard. The website is being replaced in two weeks by a service called Find A Job. The Department for Work and Pensions said: We have removed the job advert for breaching Jobmatch terms and conditions. Fantasy Cleans was unavailable for comment. Its website states that it does not offer sexual services. Los Angeles police are seeking Brett Patrick Rogers, 44, for burglarizing homes while residents are at funerals A serial burglar who targets homes while families are at funerals has been identified. Los Angeles police are searching for Brett Patrick Rogers, 44, who they suspect is the man behind at least four home burglaries. All four of the robberies occurred while the families were attending funerals. He is suspected of burglarizing homes in suburban neighborhoods Glendale, Lakewood, Van Nuys and West Los Angeles, California. On March 11, the thief was caught on a home security camera that burglarizing a Los Angeles residence while the victims were attending a funeral. A jewelry box and credit cards were stolen, according to police. Authorities said he used one of the credit cards in Inglewood, California. The same man is seen in a March 7 residential burglary in West Los Angeles. However, Rogers was unsuccessful because an alarm system went off. Authorities said local residence helped identify Rogers as the suspect. Police believe Rogers may be staying in motels and hotels in Orange County. The wife of a terrorist recruiter has been convicted of disrespectful behaviour after refusing to stand for a judge in a Sydney court. Moutia Elzahed, the wife of jailed Islamic State extremist Hamdi Alqudsi, was the first person in NSW to face the charge after she refused to rise for a judge in 2016 purportedly on religious grounds. The 50-year-old Muslim woman was found guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court of nine counts of disrespectful behaviour in court. Elzahed again did not stand but folded her arms when magistrate Carolyn Huntsman left the bench after delivering her ruling on Friday. Scroll down for video Moutia Elzahad (pictured) the wife of convicted terrorist recruiter Hamdi Alqudsi, was found guilty on Friday of contempt of court for refusing to stand for a judge in late 2016 Ms Elzahad (pictured), who arrived in court dressed in a full black veil and surrounded by supporters, is the first person to be convicted of contempt of court in NSW on religious grounds The magistrate had found Elzahed intentionally flouted the established court convention on nine separate occasions in 2016 when she remained seated in front of District Court Judge Audrey Balla. Elzahed said she only stood for Allah, but Ms Huntsman on Friday ruled there was no evidence she was acting on a genuine religious belief or that the teachings of Islam compelled such behaviour. In 2016, Elzahed had been trying to sue the state and federal governments over claims of police violence during a raid on her Sydney home two years earlier. She was ultimately unsuccessful. CCTV footage previously played in court showed Elzahed failed to rise nine times in November and December 2016 with each offence carrying a maximum jail term of 14 days and/or a $1,100 fine. Ms Elzahed (pictured) reportedly told the court she only stood for Allah The defence had originally cast doubt over whether Elzahed was the woman under the black niqab but her lawyer later conceded her identity would no longer be contested. Defence barrister David Hume instead argued his client should be acquitted because there was no evidence Elzahed was under a legal duty to stand. Elzahed, who lost her civil action and was ordered to pay $250,000 in police legal costs, earlier this week appealed the trial judge's ruling that she could not give evidence while wearing a niqab. Moscow considers it necessary to wait for the stabilization of the situation in Armenia to discuss the issue of further developments around the Karabakh settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. May 4, 2018, 17:03 Russia MFA: Karabakh issue will be discussed after stabilization in Armenia STEPANAKERT, MAY 4, ARTSAKHPRESS:According to her, Armenia is now experiencing difficult political times. I think we should wait for the stabilization of the political situation in Armenia, when people, political forces determine the composition of the governing bodies. After that, I think there will be every opportunity to pursue foreign policy course, one of the problems of which is the Karabakh conflict, Zakharova said adding we will continue to assist the sides in the future. But we must wait for the stabilization of the situation in Armenia. The BBC has agreed to re-edit a documentary after admitting it implicated an innocent priest in the Gunpowder Plot. During Elizabeth Is Secret Agents, the BBC said Guy Fawkes met Father John Gerard to receive Gods blessing to blow up Parliament in 1605. But the show, which has been nominated for the specialist factual award at next weekends Baftas, came as a shock to Father Johns ten-times great nephew Michael Maslinski, The Daily Telegraph reported. During Elizabeth Is Secret Agents, the BBC said Guy Fawkes (pictured) met Father John Gerard to receive Gods blessing to blow up Parliament in 1605 John Gerard has been revered in my family for 400 years To see him represented as a terrorist was shocking, he said. Following a letter of complaint from Mr Maslinski, the BBC has agreed to re-edit the two episodes that the Jesuit priest is in and has admitted to a breach of editorial standards. The mini-series, which was made by 72 Films for BBC2 and began on October 23 last year, claimed that Father Gerard and Guy Fawkes had met to set in motion the Gunpowder plot. In reality, he denied any knowledge or involvement. It is yet to be seen if the inaccuracies will affect the shows involvement in the Baftas. Pictured: Colin Firth and Livia Giuggioli Colin Firths wife was left living in terror when her former lover started stalking her, Italian prosecutors have alleged. Livia Giuggioli, 48, had a secret romance with journalist Marco Brancaccia while she and her actor husband were temporarily separated. She later accused her 55-year-old lover of a campaign of harassment when their one-year relationship ended in 2016. Italian police are now investigating the journalist, who could get five years in jail if he is convicted. Court sources claim there is enough evidence for Brancaccia to go to trial. Prosecutor Maria Monteleone said: There was evidence of stalking against the victim in the form of messages and emails. She was very frightened and they were serious persecutory acts against her. She had to change her lifestyle because of the messages. She made her complaint in the prosecutors office in Rome and we recovered material from the defendants home. Brancaccia is said to have hounded Italian-born Miss Giuggioli with threatening telephone calls and messages. Kings Speech star Firth, 57, was reportedly alerted when Brancaccia sent him photographs by email. The pair are said to have exchanged messages, with the actor telling his love rival: You made me suffer but I know you are suffering too. Pictured: Marco Brancaccia. The journalist, who works for Italian news agency Ansa, is a childhood friend of Miss Giuggioli Police have reportedly seized Brancaccias computer and phone. The journalist, who works for Italian news agency Ansa, is a childhood friend of Miss Giuggioli. He is said to have started harassing the producer who has been married to Firth for more than 20 years because he could not face being cut out of her life. The journalist also threatened to write compromising articles about the couple, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Brancaccia has been charged with stalking, but under the Italian legal system a preliminary hearing will be held to decide if it should proceed to a full trial. A preliminary hearing on Wednesday was meant to be held in Rome but has been postponed until July due to a lawyers strike. Miss Giuggioli and Firth, who married in 1997, have two sons. He thanked her for putting with my fleeting delusions of royalty in his Oscar acceptance speech for his role in The Kings Speech. A lightning strike destroyed a Telstra cable overnight, triggering outages in Australia's capital cities. Numerous phone calls to Triple 0 emergency service lines were halted and hundreds of traffic lights in Victoria were knocked out after the cable between Orange and Bowral in NSW ignited in flames about 2am. A fibre repair crew is working to repair the underground cable, which Telstra said has 'significant fire damage'. People in Melbourne have complained about EFTPOS machine outages across the city and some Foxtel services have also been interrupted, according to 3AW. Scroll down for video A lightning strike destroyed a Telstra cable between Orange and Bowral in NSW overnight (pictured is the damaged cable) Phone calls to Triple 0 emergency service lines were halted and hundreds of traffic lights in Victoria were knocked out after the cable ignited in flames about 2am The incident triggered outages in Australia's capital cities (pictured) Outages have been reported in Melbourne, Sydney, Parramatta, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and South Yarra, according to website Aussie Outages. VicRoads told Sunrise the outage affected 700 sets of traffic lights, 70 of which were still not working about 8.30am. The telecommunications giant said services were beginning to return at 5am and an investigation was underway. On Tuesday, Telstra received more than 4,000 complaints after a nation-wide network outage impacted 4G and NBN voice calls. Anyone who isn't able to connect to Triple Zero should call 131 444. A rape victim is reminded of the 'monster' who sexually assaulted her every time she looks into her baby daughter's eyes. The 39-year-old woman from Queensland, known only as Tamara, said she can't escape the traumatic memory because her little girl shared her rapist's features. 'She has his eyes,' Tamara said of her daughter, adding she didn't regret her decision not to terminate the pregnancy, Gympie Times reports. The 39-year-old woman is reminded of the 'monster' who sexually assaulted her every time she looks into her baby daughter's eyes (stock photo) 'She has my hair, features and skin tone,' Tamara said. 'The rape meant I didn't have a choice about being pregnant but when I found out I was having a baby, I never thought of terminating her.' Tamara said she was the victim of reproductive coercion, which is when abusers take a variety of actions to purposely and non-consensually impregnate their victims. This could be in the form of stopping women taking a contraceptive, raping them, tampering with condoms, preventing abortions or the use of the morning after pill. Tamara said she was the victim of reproductive coercion, which is when abusers take a variety of actions to purposely and non-consensually impregnate their victims (stock photo) She said it was after a night out 'drinking with the boys' her partner at the time raped her while he was drunk and refused to wear a condom. The abuse continued into her pregnancy, and her attacker was soon convicted of assault and jailed - but was not charged with rape. In Australia there is no law that criminalises reproductive coercion. Tamara is determined to not let 'hate' enter her daughter's 'pure heart', and decided she would not tell her about how she was conceived. The abuse continued into her pregnancy, and her attacker was soon convicted of assault and jailed - but was not charged with rape (stock photo) 'She is so full of love and happiness and has the purest heart. We have a very strong bond and an amazing relationship,' she said. Her former partner has been released from prison and is on a domestic violence order but is allowed unsupervised access with the child. Tamara is distressed at the thought of her abuser being with her daughter but unfortunately there is little she can do about it. She said she is unable to pursue family court action because of her low wage. A father-son duo has flown a Boeing 737 across the country in an Australia-first. There were no family feuds inside the cock pit as Steve Gist, a 737 captain, and his son Taylor, a new first officer, flew the aeroplane from Perth to Brisbane, Escape reported. There were, however, a lot of dad jokes. 'For me personally I think it's me having the ability to pull the rank being the captain and him the first officer,' said Steve about their flight together. 'So he will have to laugh at my dad jokes. He just won't have any choice. Steve Gist (left) and his son Taylor (right) were the first father son duo to fly a Qantas flight Taylor had always dreamed of flying with his father and couldn't wipe the grin off his face the entire trip. Steve, who has been with Qantas for nearly 30 years, spends his days above the clouds ferrying people domestically and to international destinations like New Zealand, Noumea, Bali and Singapore. He exposed all his children to flying at an early age by bringing Taylor and his sisters into the cockpit to see his unique office. 'As a young child Taylor saw all these buttons and switches, it was a colourful and dynamic environment and an impressionable time,' Steve said. 'It gives a whole different perspective from being a passenger as you see the technical side to operating an aircraft.' Taylor soon developed a passion for aviation and Steve would take him along to fly vintage aircraft on his days off. As a kid, Taylor says he just couldn't believe it was a real job. And so he started his career as soon as he was old enough. Steve instilled a passion for aviation in his son from a young age by taking him flying He began training in general aviation at Melbourne's Moorabbin Airport as soon as he left school back in 2008. In a bizarre twist of fate, his instructor had also taught his father 30 years ago. Taylor trained for four years then worked as an instructor for another four. He spent a year flying corporate medevac jets across the South Pacific, Shipping hearts and lungs to patients who needed transplants and picking up Australians that needed to get home urgently. Afterwards, he joined the Qantas fleet. The pair flew the Boeing 737 from Perth to Brisbane together and apparently lots of dad jokes were told Taylor quickly moved up the ranks. He started as second officer on the 787 Dreamliner based in Perth but soon an opportunity to fly the 737 came up. He was soon flying the same aircraft as his dad. As the pair live in different cities the chances of them flying together were low but in early April it happened. His father, could not have been prouder. 'It was a proud moment, very special seeing him do what I love to do, we have a common passion,' Steve said. Claims that a popular Australian kids' show is peddling explicit subliminal messages has reached new extremes, as one commentator suggests the opening jingle for Play School involves a shocking sexual innuendo. 'Open wide, come inside' are the words that children and parents alike have been gleefully chanting for decades. But regular Today show guest John Mangos has weighed in on a political correctness debate to suggest that we should consider revising the classic lyric. John Mangos suggests that Play School's theme song contains sexual innuendo in the line 'Open wide, come inside' Mangos' suggestion was in response to a political correctness debate over whether Play School changing a song about a 'bear hunt' to one about a 'bush hunt' was too far 'Do we now have to change - wait for this - the intro to Play School?' he asked the panel. 'Open wide come inside?' Mangos' suggestion was in response to 2GB radio host Ben Fordham's recent outrage over the show's allegedly politically correct overreach. A recent episode saw Play School presenters changing the lyrics of an iconic song from 'We're going on a bear hunt' to 'We're going on a bush hunt.' 'Obviously, the national broadcaster has decided this classic children's song is no longer appropriate for children,' said Fordham. 'Are they trying to tackle the epidemic of children killing bears in Australia?' 2GB radio host Ben Fordham was outraged by the lyric tweak, stating that Play School were taking political correctness to excess Mangos seemed to agree, proposing that if broadcasters want to start red-taping all of the potentially explicit messages hidden throughout the program they should begin with the opening theme. 'John, what are you suggesting about that song?' asked an incredulous David Campbell, while Shelly Horton laughingly agreed 'That's not very PC.' Horton then proceeded to drop a suggestive quip about the next line of the song: 'Through the round window.' 'Thank god the third lyric is 'It's Play School' and not something else,' Campbell added. Horton went on to state that the bear hunt lyric should be changed, insofar as it might condone hunting in general. Daniel Morcombe's killer Brett Peter Cowan has been stabbed behind bars, prison officials confirmed Daniel Morcombe's killer Brett Peter Cowan has been attacked behind bars yet again, prison officials confirmed. A fellow inmate stabbed the 48-year-old in the ear and the neck at Wolston jail, south-west of Brisbane, about 9.30am on Friday morning. Authorities said the prisoner used an 'improvised implement' to assault Cowan in a common area. Reports have claimed the weapon was a sharpened toothbrush. Cowan suffered only 'very superficial injuries'. 'There was no blood,' a Queensland Corrective Services spokesman said. 'He sustained very superficial injuries and he is actually back at the secure unit.' Officers said the situation was quickly brought under control and no staff were hurt. Police are investigating. Cowan, a convicted child sex offender, abducted and murdered the 13-year-old schoolboy on the Sunshine Coast in December 2003. Cowan, 48, was stabbed in the neck and the ear but 'there was no blood', officials said The vile murderer has long been serving his sentence at Wolston jail (above), near Brisbane Schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, 13, was waiting for a bus when he was abducted and killed Morcombe had been planning to catch the bus to the shops to get a haircut and buy Christmas presents for his family. But the bus he was supposed to catch never arrived and Daniel disappeared, sparking one of the biggest missing person investigations in Australian history. Cowan was long a top police suspect in the boy's disappearance. Police finally elicited a confession from Cowan with an elaborate sting operations where officers posed as gangsters in a fake crime syndicate. The officers gained Cowan's confidence and he eventually admitted 'you know, yeah, I did it'. He even led detectives to the remote creek where he dumped the child's body. Cowan was sentenced to life in jail with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years in 2014. The injuries Cowan suffered when another prisoner tipped boiling water on him in August 2016 The prisoner who attacked him then said 'he was a f***ing grub. He deserved it' He was sitting playing cards when Adam Paul Davidson tipped boiling water on him at Wolston Cowan had a long rap sheet of twisted offences. He had lost count of the number of young boys he had abused. Today was not the first time Cowan has been targeted by vigilantes behind bars. On August 5, 2016, Cowan was left permanently scarred when fellow inmate Adam Paul Davidson scalded him with boiling water. 'He had it coming,' Davidson told prison officers later. 'He is a f***ing grub.' Davidson pleaded guilty to torture. He was freed on parole late last year. A Utah man ran out of a courtroom and dove off of a balcony in an attempt to escape law enforcement. Stunning security footage from the courthouse in Spanish Fork shows 35-year-old Christopher Clay Rudd darting out of the room in handcuffs and flipping over a second-floor railing before slamming into the floor below. Rudd had reportedly been arrested on drug allegations and was in court on Monday for failing to attend court-ordered rehab. Stunning security footage from a courthouse in Spanish Fork, Utah, shows 35-year-old Christopher Clay Rudd fleeing the courtroom and flipping over a second-floor railing Rudd, pictured, had reportedly been arrested on drug allegations and was in court on Monday for failing to attend court-ordered rehab In the video released Thursday Rudd can be seen standing up in the courtroom and running toward the door as a bailiff takes off after him. Outside the courtroom he can be seen leaping over the railing. He hits the floor right in front of two other bailiffs, one of whom appears to have tried to break his fall. Surrounded by blood spatter from a head wound, Rudd appears to wince in pain as the bailiffs hold him down. A spokesman for the court Geoffrey Fattah said Rudd broke his leg and pelvis and fractured his skull. The video released Thursday shows Rudd launching himself over the railing with his wrists handcuffed in front of him and flipping toward the floor below Rudd plummets to the floor below as two bailiffs reach out in a failed attempt to break his fall It is unclear whether Rudd was trying to injure himself intentionally, police spokesman Matt Johnson said. On April 26 Rudd was arrested for theft, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and drug-related charges, according to officials. He could face additional charges for trying to escape. Nearly an entire year after allegedly knocking his neighbour out with a heavy punch to the face, a Victorian policeman has been charged with assault. Ballarat sergeant David Berry admitted to punching 32-year-old Samantha Mitchell in May last year, but said he was acting in self-defence. Ms Mitchell claimed to have been deeply traumatised by the confrontation, which left her with a broken nose and dark purple bruising. Ballarat sergeant David Berry (pictured) has been charged with assault a year after allegedly knocking his neighbour out with one punch in a midnight confrontation in May Mr Berry, who has been charged on summons and is due to appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court on July 5, said the altercation left him 'upset and shaking'. 'I immediately threw a single punch with my right hand, fearing she was about to hit me and not knowing if she was holding anything,' he said in a statement. The woman was engaged in a heated argument with her partner about midnight on May 4 2017 when she ran 'hysterically' next door to Mr Berry's house for help. The couple's relationship was known to be volatile, having required previous intervention from the Family Violence Unit of Ballarat police. Ms Mitchell (pictured after being punched) claimed to have been deeply traumatised by the confrontation, which left her with a broken nose and dark purple bruising Ms Mitchell claimed the officer told her to 'f*** off' before bursting through the door and chasing her down the street. 'The one punch has impacted from my cheek to my nose, I hit the ground and was unconscious. 'I recall when I woke it was still dark and I was covered in blood and in so much pain,' her statement read. She was shocked to be told Mr Berry was the one in need of protection when she went to report to incident to Ballarat police station the next morning. The woman (pictured) was engaged in a heated argument with her partner about midnight May 4, when she ran 'hysterically' next door to Mr Berry's house for help 'Police hold fears for [Sgt Berry] as there have been numerous ongoing issues with [Ms Mitchell] confronting [Sgt Berry] and his wife when alcohol affected,' the order said. Two officers were initially cleared of the alleged attack of former policewoman Yvonne Berry at Ballarat station in 2015. The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission later found the incident was an 'alarming mistreatment of a vulnerable woman', and the two officers were charged with unlawful assault in February 2017. Mr Berry's charge follows backlash against two Victoria Police officers who were caught on CCTV allegedly assaulting a disability pensioner outside of his own house. The discovery of two huge structures on the bottom of the Indian Ocean this week had some hoping Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 had finally been found. But more than four years after the aircraft vanished on March 8, 2014, investigators have had little luck in finding the wreckage of the plane that vanished with 227 passengers on-board. This week's discovery - eventually identified as two 19th century merchant vessels - is just the latest twist in one of the modern world's biggest mysteries. With no clear answers about what happened to MH370 the internet is full of alternate views and theories which vary from the possible, to the flat out ridiculous. Scroll down for video Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (similar to the plane pictured) disappeared somewhere over the Indian Ocean March 8, 2014 The Boeing 777 aircraft took off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, headed for Beijing, China 'I FOUND IT ON GOOGLE EARTH' Australian engineer Peter McMahon claimed in mid-March he'd found what appeared to be a plane wreckage on Google Earth, in the MH370 search area. After spending years combing an online map of the Indian Ocean, the amateur crash investigator claimed to have found a plan wreckage 'riddled with bullet holes'. Sitting just off the coast of Round Island, north of Mauritius, in an area of ocean that has not been previously searched, Mr McMahon claimed investigators were refusing to dive in the area because they want to 'hide' crucial information. 'They have made sure that all information received has been hidden from the public, even our government, but why?' he said. '... (They) do not want it found as it's full of bullet holes, finding it will only open another inquiry.' WAS MH370 STOLEN? Prior to the plane's disappearance, Captain Zaharie Shah had listed the small island of Diego Garcia - 4700km northwest of Australia - on his flight simulator. Theorists suggested that Capt Shah may have been practicing landing the plane on the island's airstrip, which is controlled by Britain but is home to a US naval base. Suggestions have also been made that the plane may have been stolen by terrorists and hidden in North Pakistan, or even by North Korean dictator Kim Jong un. In a 2014 poll on the MH370 disappearance, five per cent of American respondents said they believed it had been affected by 'alien activities'. Australian engineer Peter McMahon claimed in mid-March he'd found what appeared to be a plane wreckage on Google earth (pictured), in the MH370 search area Authorities combing through the Indian Ocean for remains of missing Malaysia Airlines flight discovered two huge structures (pictured) on the sea floor this week, which they believed may have been the doomed plane The two shipwrecks discovered (pictured) were later identified as 19th century merchant sailing vessels which are believed to have been carrying cargoes of coal CYBER HACKERS TAKEOVER: In the wake of September 11, new technology was designed allowing planes to be controlled remotely in the event of a hijacking. British author Norman Davies claims Boeing's 'Honeywell Un-interruptible Autopilot on board computer' - which was featured on MH370 - could have been hacked and the plane flown to a secret location. 'There are reports that the cargo detailed in the manifest didn't add up,' he told The Sunday Times. 'I don't know what it might have been carrying but it may have been carrying something somebody didn't want to get to China.' In his book Beneath Another Sky: A Global Journey into History, Mr Davis suggested one hacker could have 'kidnapped' the plane before another controlled it remotely. 'The first kidnap was by the Americans, who wanted to stop the plane getting to Beijing and planned to divert it to Diego Garcia [a US naval base in the Indian Ocean], and then somebody hacked it to stop it from getting there,' he claimed. Sheryl Keen (pictured) from Perth, Western Australia, is in possession of 20 items she believes to be debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 The most exciting evidence Mrs Keen has come across is a brown slipper (pictured) which she believes is similar to that worn by a woman (right) on MH370 who she's dubbed 'Cinderella' DID THE PILOT COMMIT SUICIDE? Some have claimed that one of the pilots may have deliberately crashed the aircraft in a well-planned suicide. According to this theory, captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah deliberately chose to plunge the plane into an area of the ocean up to 25,000 feet deep, where it would be almost impossible to find. There have been suggestions Shah circled an area of the Indian Ocean just moments before the crash. Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott is among those to support this theory, saying in the lead up to the third anniversary of the plane's disappearance he found it 'plausible'. 'I have always said the most plausible scenario was murder-suicide and if this guy wanted to create the world's greatest mystery why wouldn't he have piloted the thing to the very end and gone further south?' Mr Abbott said. Just 12 months after the MH370 disaster a Germanwings flight from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany, crashed into the French Alps. It was later revealed the crash was orchestrated by co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who had previously been deemed unfit to work by a doctor over 'suicidal tendancies'. On board the doomed MH370 flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing were six Australians. little has been found during the four year search (debris pictured) Thai soldiers carry a piece of debris found in January 2016, believed to have come from MH370 The Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments called off search in January 2017, almost three-years after MH370 disappeared but Ocean Infinity (pictured) continued the search HAVE THEY ALREADY FOUND IT? Earlier this year a search vessel involved in searching for MH370 disappeared for just under three days after turning off its tracking system, sparking conspiracy theories. After more than 80 hours undetected, the vessel suddenly reappeared on the radar. Keen followers of the mystery have suggested that during this time the search boats may have been involved in a cover up, after coming across the wreckage. A MID-AIR EMERGENCY: According to pilot Chris Goodfellow, a serious possibility is that an emergency - such as a fire - left the pilots unable to land the plane. Writing on his Google Plus account, Mr Goodfellow claimed that in the event of a fire or other incident, pilots would have attempted to make it to their closest runway - a 13,000-foot strip on the Malaysian island of Pulau Langkawi - but never made it. 'For me the loss of transponders and communications makes perfect sense if a fire,' Mr Goodfellow wrote. 'In the case of fire the first response is to pull all the main fusses and restore circuits one by one until you have isolated the bad one. 'What I think happened is that they were overcome by smoke and the plane just continued on the heading probably on (autopilot) until either fuel exhaustion or fire destroyed the control surfaces and it crashed.' No transmissions were received from the aircraft after the first 38 minutes of the flight but it is believed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean DID A MYSTERY PASSENGER HIJACK IT? The official manifest of MH370 listed 239 people as missing. But Andre Milne, founder of military technology developer Unicorn Aerospace, says the flight actually had 226 passengers (of which four did not board) and 12 crew - totaling 238 people. He told The Express that the unidentified passenger may have gained control of the plane and flown it to a secret location. 'The extra passenger likely acted in conjunction with larger external operational support to take full command and control of the cockpit of MH370,' Mr Milne claims. A Malaysia Airlines spokesman said a discrepancy on the 'load sheet' hours prior to the plan taking off had occurred, with the actual number onboard 227 people - a dozen less than initially listed. 'The actual figures can differ from that transmitted on the load sheet due to last minute changes,' the spokesperson said. Crews have been searching for the Malaysia Airlines aircraft (stock image) since it vanished more than four years ago but have had little luck in finding any remains Six Australians were on board the doomed flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with any hope of finding survivors long gone. No transmissions were received from the aircraft after the first 38 minutes of the flight but it is believed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean. Ocean Infinity, an American technology company, are the current search crew who have explored 1,300 square kilometres per day since January, hoping to find the plane. The Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments called off the search in January 2017, almost three-years after MH370 disappeared. The session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will be held in the Russian city of Sochi on May 14, the Kremlin press service said. May 4, 2018, 17:56 EAEU summit to be held in Russias Sochi on May 14 STEPANAKERT, MAY 4, ARTSAKHPRESS:Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the preparation of the summit with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev. The preparation issues of the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council scheduled on May 14 in Sochi were discussed, the statement says. The two leaders also exchanged congratulations on the upcoming celebrations over the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. Britain could be trapped inside the EU's customs union until 2023 because the post-Brexit replacement is not ready, officials have warned ministers. Alternatives to the current system, which Britain has been part of for four decades, are at least give years away from being viable. The problem is complicated by the Government failing to agree what it wants from the negotiations and the fact no deal is expected with the EU until at least October. Theresa May met her senior ministers to discuss customs options on Monday night but the crunch Cabinet committee was deadlocked. 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 The claims, revealed today by the Daily Telegraph, will enrage Brexiteers and fuel calls for Britain to Brexit immediately. One senior Brexiteer told The Telegraph: 'There are genuine concerns that this delay will lead to the UK staying in the customs union permanently. 'Regardless of that, if we are still in the customs union by the time of the next general election in 2022 it will cause a catastrophe at the polls because we will not have delivered Brexit and voters will not have seen any benefits of leaving the EU.' Reports of the delay came amid fears 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 on Monday. 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. 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 Two brothers from western Sydney accused of plotting to bring down an Etihad plane last year will face a New South Wales Supreme Court trial next March. Khaled Mahmoud Khayat, 49, of Lakemba, and Mahmoud Khayat, 33, of Punchbowl, on Friday each pleaded not guilty to two counts of acting in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist attack on a flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi. Both counts allege the acts took place in Sydney, the first between April 13 and July 16, 2017, and the second between July 16 and July 29, 2017. Khaled Khayat (right) and his younger brother Mahmoud Khayat each pleaded not guilty to two counts of acting in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist attack After the brothers entered their pleas via video-link from the jail where they are held on remand, Justice Peter Johnson listed their estimated six-week trial to start on March 11, 2019. Their sibling, Islamic State commander and Lebanese citizen Tarek Khayat, was reportedly detained earlier this year. He allegedly directed them to smuggle a bomb hidden inside a meat grinder onto an Etihad plane due to depart from Sydney for Abu Dhabi on July 15 last year. Both counts allege the acts took place in Sydney, the first between April 13 and July 16, 2017, and the second between July 16 and July 29, 2017 (Khaled Khayat pictured) A pear-packing company has been fined an extra $100,000 on appeal after a young Irish backpacker's scalp and ear were torn off by a conveyor belt. Kalafatis Packing Pty Ltd, based in Shepparton, Victoria, has been convicted and ordered to pay $150,000 for failing to provide a safe workplace over the 2015 incident that left Annie Dunne with horrific injuries. The company was originally fined $50,000 without conviction and ordered to pay $22,000 in court costs in January. A Victorian pear-packing company has been fined an extra $100,000 on appeal after Annie Dunne (pictured) had her hair tangled in a rotating drive shaft But the Director of Public Prosecutions labelled the sentence 'manifestly inadequate' and appealed, with Shepparton County Court handing down an increased penalty on Thursday. Miss Dunne was scrubbing the underside of a conveyer belt on November 7, 2015, when her hair became tangled in a rotating drive shaft, a court had previously been told. Her scalp was then torn from her head and one of her ears ripped off. The unsafe practice that led to the incident was 'shocking and completely unacceptable', WorkSafe's acting health and safety director Paul Fowler said. T&R Contracting Shepparton, were also fined $60,000 and ordered to pay legal costs after pleading guilty in 2017. Ms Dunne (pictured)'s scalp was torn from her head and one of her ears ripped off 'The dangers of having workers reaching into moving machinery should be obvious to any employer,' he said in a statement on Friday. 'The time or cost saved by not powering down is never worth the horrific injuries that could occur and did ... occur on this occasion.' Ms Dunne was hired by a company that specialises in providing backpacker labour to the fruit industry. The 14-year-old boy who was attacked by a classmate's father said he suffers nightmares and has been bullied as a result of the incident. The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was strangled by father Mark Bladen, 53, at a Brisbane skate park on March 3. Through a statement released by his lawyer, the boy said he has been bullied himself since footage of the attack emerged, Nine News reported. 'I have been extremely distressed by this whole saga and cry at night from the repeat nightmares I have of this man's face strangling me,' he said. The 14-year-old boy who was attacked by a classmate's father said he suffers nightmares and has been bullied as a result of the incident The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was strangled by father Mark Bladen, 53, at a Brisbane skate park on March 3 'I don't know what is wrong with society as this was a blatant and unprovoked attack which has left me mentally scarred.' The boy admitted to calling Mr Bladen's step-daughter 'King Kong', but said it was only in retaliation for 'disgusting' insults towards his mother posted on Snapchat. 'I am only 14 years old and my grades are suffering at school from this whole experience and I am trying to deal with living my life without this on the go. It is horrid.' The boy said he has felt distressed by 'all this horrid media and the way I have been treated'. The letter comes after the girl's mother Jen Bladen said the teenagers knew each other for months before the assault. The boy admitted to calling Mr Bladen's step-daughter 'King Kong', but said it was only in retaliation for 'disgusting' insults towards his mother posted on Snapchat When asked what triggered the attack, Mr Bladen said his daughter had rang him in tears Her daughter was 'scared and anxious of going to school' after the alleged bullying. Mr Bladen told 60 Minutes he was 'not proud' of his actions but said he got the 'job done'. His step-daughter - who claims she was called a 'Gorilla', 'King Kong' and given shaving cream for Christmas - is no longer being bullied. When asked what triggered the attack, Mr Bladen said his daughter had rang him in tears. 'She was crying, she was upset,' he said. 'She said he was at the skate park, and I said 'that's it, I'm going to talk to him'. 'I walked with purpose, had an aggressive demeanor,' Mr Bladen said. Mr Bladen told 60 Minutes he was 'not proud' of his actions but said he got the 'job done' Mr Bladen, 53, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to choking the boy. The court heard he told police he just 'snapped' when he attacked the teenager, causing bruising to his throat when he held him on the ground. Mr Bladen held the boy around the throat until he began to lose consciousness, court heard. He was charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, later telling police he was 'aghast' at his behaviour and apologising to his victim outside court. 'I'm very sorry for what I did, very regretful and ashamed,' he said. 'Please don't do what I did, I just lost control, it's definitely not the way to handle things.' Mr Bladen was fined $1000 with no conviction recorded. Johnny Mercer, a leading member of the defence committee, said the failure to increase spending had been repeatedly raised on the doorstep A senior Tory MP today blamed a failure to properly invest in defence for Labour seizing control of Plymouth. Johnny Mercer, a leading member of the defence committee, said the failure to increase spending had been repeatedly raised on the doorstep. Mr Mercer is one of the Plymouth MPs but faces a fierce challenge to win back the marginal seat at the next election. Plymouth - a major home of the Royal Navy - was a rare bright spot at yesterday's local elections for Labour and is currently the only town hall to have switched from Tory to Labour control. Mr Mercer said the government's approach to defence had contributed to the Conservatives losing the city's council. The Tory MP told BBC News: 'We've lost control of the council. I think across the country, clearly, it's not been a good night for Labour, but certainly challenging down here.' Mr Mercer said on the doorstep voters believed the military was reducing under the Conservative government. 'It's pretty clear to me the biggest factor in this city is defence,' he said. 'It always has been.' He added: 'I've made very public my concerns around the handling of defence at the moment and what the vision is.' Plymouth is a major home for the Royal Navy, which bases operations out HMNB Devonport. Pictured is the decommissioning of HMS Ocean at the port in March Elsewhere, the Tories swept up pro-Brexit voters in the local elections, it was emerging today as results showed Labour failing to make breakthroughs. Theresa May's party seized advantage of a total collapse in the Ukip vote to win control in Peterborough and Basildon, save councils such as Swindon and make progress in traditional Labour areas like Sunderland. Labour meanwhile made few overall gains and looked likely to fall short of the major gains in London many had expected. Jeremy Corbyn's party could still seize Barnet but almost six hours after polls closed looked set to fail to win the Tory crown jewels of Westminster and Wandsworth. Former Tory education secretary Justine Greening claimed Labour's lacklustre results proved 'peak Corbyn' had past. An 80-year-old gunman has been found dead after he allegedly shot two people in a San Francisco suburb, according to reports. A man and woman were shot at an apartment complex in Mill Valley, California, on Thursday afternoon by a man police described as 'armed and dangerous'. Both victims were transported to the hospital where the woman reportedly died. Less than two hours after the shooting police were seen breaking down a door at the complex, where they discovered the elderly gunman had been killed by an apparent gunshot wound. Scroll down for video A woman has been killed and man is in the hospital after the two were reportedly shot by an 80-year-old man at a Mill Valley, California, apartment complex on Thursday afternoon Marin County police responded to reports of shots fired at the complex just after 3:30pm Video courtesy of KRON4 Just before 3:30pm deputies responded to reports of shots fired at the apartment complex found a man and a woman with possible gunshot wounds. A witness told NBC Bay Area that the two victims were a father and daughter who were landlords of the complex. The shooter was described as an approximately 80-year-old Hispanic or Filipino man about 5'2" and wearing a white T-shirt. 'First deputies on scene grabbed the two victims and carried them out of the scene to waiting ambulances,' Marin County Sheriff's Sgt. Brenton Schneider told CBS. 'Once they had the victims secure they started doing evacuations of all the apartments surrounding the apartment that we are currently fixated on.' Aerial footage shows residents of the complex evacuating with their hands above their heads. At around 5pm a SWAT team set up explosives at the door of an apartment that the suspect had been seen fleeing to. None of the names have been released and the condition of the male victim is unknown. Aerial footage shows residents of the complex evacuating with their hands above their heads Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is not just full of beauty and brains - but also incredible strength and bravery. The pageant queen, who was held up at gunpoint and nearly kidnapped by a gang of guys last June in Johannesburg one month after she was crowned Miss South Africa 2017, opened up about how she defended herself in the life-threatening incident. The 22-year-old model and self-defense teacher said she luckily took a female empowerment course just three months before the attack, while speaking to Page Six. 'It was scary,' Nel-Peters said. '(But) they taught me what to do if you go through a situation like that.' The bombshell had been driving during the daytime when five armed men carjacked her then attempted to kidnap her. This picture taken on March 9, 2018 shows South Africa's Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters during the finals of the 2018 Miss Indonesia beauty pageant in Jakarta Nel-Peters attends Beautycon Festival NYC 2018 - Day 1 at Jacob Javits Center on April 21, 2018 in New York City Nel-Peters said: 'I was driving and I stopped at a red traffic light in broad daylight... When I saw the weapons, I immediately surrendered and gave up the car. 'When I got out of the car, the guy actually tried to push me back in. I said to myself, I'd rather be shot here than kidnapped and never be seen again,' the beauty queen told Page Six. 'The second destination will never be better than the first. So I punched him in his throat and ran away.' She managed to exit the vehicle and flee - when a Good Samaritan spotted her and drove her to safety. She was left unharmed. Miss South Africa 2017 Nel-Peters competes in the swimsuit competition during the 2017 Miss Universe Pageant on November 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The model is seen right at Buca di Beppo in Times Square February 22, 2018 Nel-Peters reacts as she is crowned 2017 Miss Universe by Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere during the 2017 Miss Universe Pageant in Vegas Nel-Peters also told the gossip site she is thriving living in New York City. 'Living in New York, no big deal. I am loving New York - there is something about the energy.' Nel-Peters, who holds a business management degree, became inspired to teach her own self defense classes last year after the terrifying attack. The South African-born beauty had an eventful year of highs and lows. Nel-Peters is named a top 3 finalist during the 2017 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on November 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada Steve Harvey crowned her Miss America 2017 in November. Nel-Peters competed against women from 92 countries - the largest pageant of its kind to date. Harvey asked Nel-Peters what she believed was the biggest issue women face in the workplace during the pageant. The titleholder responded: 'In some places, women get paid 75% of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours - and I do not believe that this is right. 'I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world.' The Miss Universe runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez. The second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett. New Zealand post have damaged the sole image of a dead child and are refusing to hand it over to the mother. For their fifth wedding anniversary the Manawatu family commissioned a sketch of their first born child with her three siblings she was never able to meet. But, the hand-crafted family portrait was damaged in transit by New Zealand post in Auckland. For their fifth wedding anniversary the Manawatu family commissioned a sketch of their first born child with her three siblings she was never able to meet A part of the postal company's policy is they do not return damaged goods, instead the company apologise, compensate the item and it becomes theirs. 'I understand they have policies but surely they could have a bit of wiggle room when it is something like this. It just seems very heartless to me,' Ms Manawatu told the NZ herald. The only other images they have of their daughter is when she was covered in tubes on her phone. 'She was born with half a heart, and we later found out she had a very rare lung disease. It was fatal,' Ms Manawatu said. New Zealand post damaged the commissioned artwork and reimbursed the grieving mother but she wanted the image anyway The image was sketched by Auckland artist, Christine Rowntree who was shocked by the company's lack of compassion. She based the image on photos they sent her of their twin girls and son as well as her dead daughter. 'When I saw the picture all I could do was cry and cry as it is the only picture with her eyes open and no tubes,' the grief-stricken mother said. Ms Rowntree rolled up the portrait in a cardboard tube to protect it but had been crushed by the Auckland office. She said the apology from NZ post was completely 'insincere' and another painting will be made for the woman free of charge A New Zealand spokesperson told the Daily Mail Australia 'our team have now contacted the customer to sincerely apologise, discuss a suitable resolution and hand deliver the return of the artwork'. Advertisement Ten thousand Hawaii residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes after the Big Island's Kilauea volcano erupted and began spewing lava and deadly gases into the air. The eruption was accompanied by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by hundreds of smaller tremors Warning sirens sounded across the Big Island at 4.30pm on Thursday as Hawaii County Civil Defense urged residents of Leilani Estates, in Puna, to flee the approaching lava streams. A 492ft fissure opened in the ground with lava flowing from it for around two hours, officials said, with magma a few feet before stopping. Geologists warned the eruption is still ongoing. Dangerously high levels of sulfur dioxide have also been detected in the air, which is harmful to humans if breathed in and can cause acid rain after combining with water. Lower Puna resident Ikaika Marzo told the Honolulu Star Advertiser that he saw 'fountains of lava' shooting 150 feet in the air and molten lava spreading down Mohala Street in Leilani Estates. Scroll down for video Splitting the earth: Lava emerges from the ground after Kilauea Volcano erupted, on Hawaii's Big Island May 3 sending molten magma spewing Terrifying A fiery wall of lava is seen at the end of a street in Leilani Estates where authorities have ordered residents to evacuate Powerful: Ten thousand Hawaii residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes after the island's Kilauea volcano began spewing lava A plume of ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake on Thursday Officials have been warning residents to evacuate all week after the crater of the Puu Oo vent collapsed amid tremors earlier in the week, before it began spewing ash on Thursday Governor David Ige has declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard to assist. The county has ordered evacuations for all of Leilani Estates, which according to the 2010 U.S. Census has a population of 1,500. Resident Jeremiah Osuna captured drone footage of the lava burning through the trees, a scene he described as a 'curtain of fire.' 'It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could. You could just smell sulfur and burning trees and underbrush and stuff,' he told Honolulu television station KHON. Thick smoke was also seen rising from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano and experts said they could not say for certain how long the eruption will last, noting that some can last years. County, state and federal officials had been warning residents all week that they should be prepared to evacuate, as an eruption would give little warning. Officials at the U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday raised the volcano's alert level to warning status, the highest possible, meaning a hazardous eruption is imminent, underway or suspected. Nearby community centers have opened for shelter, while the American Red Cross has opened two shelters for those displaced from their homes Uber has announced that it will provide up to two free journeys per user to or from any Red Cross shelter, using code PUNASAFE. The code covers journeys up to a maximum cost of $50. Ranson Yoneda, the recreation director for a Pahoa community center, was readying the gymnasium for evacuees after it was selected as a Red Cross evacuation center. He said so far, about 15 people have arrived, some with animals, and they are hungry for information. 'They just want to know what's going on because they were told it's a mandatory evacuation,' he said by telephone. The U.S. Geological Survey said new ground cracks were reported Thursday afternoon. Hot vapor emerged from a crack and spattering lava began to erupt. All public access from the island's Puna District, has been shut down and visitors have been warned to stay away in case of an eruption Force of nature: Cracks begin to appear on the roads as boiling hot lava passes underneath, splitting the concrete Warning sirens sounded across the Big Island on Thursday as Hawaii County Civil Defense urged residents of Leilani Estates, in Puna, to flee the approaching lava streams (pictured, cars flee as lava erupts in the background) Residents say they saw lava fountains shooting 150 feet in the air and molten lava spreading down Mohala Street in Leilani Estate Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts, releasing red lava into a residential neighborhood and prompts mandatory evacuation orders for nearby homes Cracks appeared in roads around the Leilani Estates community as hundreds of tremors shook Hawaii The American Red Cross of Hawaii has opened an emergency shelter at Pahoa Community Center for evacuating residents. The eruption comes after multiple earthquakes rocked the Puna district in recent days. The crater floor of the Puu Oo vent collapsed during the tremors, earlier this week, which sent lava flowing ten miles down the mountain towards the community on the southeast coastline. The U.S. Geological Survey says new ground cracks were reported Thursday afternoon. Hot vapor emerged from a crack and spattering lava began to erupt. Hawaii County Civil Defense said a mandatory evacuation is in effect for residents in Leilani Estates, from Luana Street to Mohala Street, stretching to the end of Leilani Avenue and Pohoiki Road. Officials said that people coming to the emergency shelters should bring their 'emergency evacuation supply kit including necessary medicine, food, and necessary items.' Hawaii County Civil Defense officials say they are 'high alert on a 24-hour basis for the possibility of a volcanic eruption in the lower Puna area.' 'All areas bordering the east rift zone are at high risk for eruption activities,' they said. 'Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has identified magma movement in the lower east rift zone. We urge all residents to keep themselves informed and on the alert.' In this photo provided bt the US Geological Survey, lava can been seen in the Leilani Estates subdivision in the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island on May 3 Geologists said a 492ft fissure in the Leilani Estates subdivision erupted with lava for around two hours Residents said it was possible to smell sulfur and burning trees for miles around following the eruption A plume of ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilaueaa Volcano Up to 10,000 people have been asked to leave their homes on Hawaii's Big Island following the eruption of the Kilauea volcano. In this picture, smoke can be seen rising from behind a resident's home Panicked residents posted images of the ash-plume hanging over Big Island as the eruption rocked Hawaii HOW CAN RESEARCHERS PREDICT VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS? According to Eric Dunham, an associate professor of Stanford University's School of Earth, energy and Environmental Sciences, 'Volcanoes are complicated and there is currently no universally applicable means of predicting eruption. In all likelihood, there never will be.' However, there are indicators of increased volcanic activity, which researchers can use to help predict volcanic eruptions. Researchers can track indicators such as: Volcanic infrasound : When the lava lake rises up in the crater of an open vent volcano, a sign of a potential eruption, the pitch or frequency of the sounds generated by the magma tends to increase. : When the lava lake rises up in the crater of an open vent volcano, a sign of a potential eruption, the pitch or frequency of the sounds generated by the magma tends to increase. Seismic activity : Ahead of an eruption, seismic activity in the form of small earthquakes and tremors almost always increases as magma moves through the volcano's 'plumbing system'. : Ahead of an eruption, seismic activity in the form of small earthquakes and tremors almost always increases as magma moves through the volcano's 'plumbing system'. Gas emissions : As magma nears the surface and pressure decreases, gases escape. Sulfur dioxide is one of the main components of volcanic gases, and increasing amounts of it are a sign of increasing amounts of magma near the surface of a volcano. : As magma nears the surface and pressure decreases, gases escape. Sulfur dioxide is one of the main components of volcanic gases, and increasing amounts of it are a sign of increasing amounts of magma near the surface of a volcano. Ground deformation : Changes to a volcano's ground surface (volcano deformation) appear as swelling, sinking, or cracking, which can be caused by magma, gas, or other fluids (usually water) moving underground or by movements in the Earth's crust due to motion along fault lines. Swelling of a volcano cans signal that magma has accumulated near the surface. Source: United States Geological Survey Advertisement The eruption follows a 5.0 magnitude on Thursday morning, centered about 18 miles south-southwest of Hawaiian Paradise Park and around four miles deep. It was initially reported as a 4.6-magnitude tremor, but later upgraded. It has been the most powerful quake so far after days of earthquakes rumbled through the island, as experts fear it may indicate a bigger eruption is on its way. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are monitoring the situation carefully and reporting on changes as they happen. Residents on the island have been bracing themselves for a potential eruption after hundreds of seismic readings were measures during the past week. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency sent out an alert Tuesday morning warning residents in the area to monitor the situation and be prepared for the possibility of a new lava flow. Spokeswoman Kanani Aton said that the agency was 'planning ahead for a worst-case scenario' by reviewing emergency plans and monitoring the activity in conjunction with USGS officials. Governor David Ige has declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard to assist with evacuations A view inside one of the thermal vents inside the volcano, showing the scorching magma waiting to erupt All public access from the island's Puna District, near Kalapana, had been shut down earlier this week, and visitors have been warned to stay away in case of an eruption. Private excursions, including boat and hiking tours, were also suspended. 'It's been closed due to the possibility of an eruption and security has been posted to ensure that no unauthorised persons enter,' Ms Aton said, adding that anywhere from 500 to 2,000 people visit the site each day. 'It is important to note that although there is increased seismic activity in the area, the magnitude is not large enough to cause concern for tsunami.' Most of Kilauea's activity has been nonexplosive, but a 1924 eruption spewed ash and 10 ton rocks into the sky, leaving one man dead. The Mauna Ulu eruption was a five-year-long event at the volcano that lasted from May 24, 1969 until July 22, 1974. Puu Oo's 1983 eruption resulted in lava fountains soaring over 1,500 feet high. In the decades since, the lava flow has buried dozens of square miles of land and destroyed many homes. In 2008, after a series of small earthquakes rattled the island, Kilauea's summit crater opened and gushed lava and rock over 75 acres of the mountain, damaging a nearby visitor overlook. An aerial view taken during a Paradise Helicopters flight over the area shows smoke rising from the Pu'u 'O'o crater on the Hawaii island, on Wednesday - one day before the eruption The crater collapsed on Sunday, and since then the island has been rocked by hundreds of earthquakes. Above, the crater on Wednesday A view of a so-called 'skylight', a crack in the surface of solidified lava, taken during a Paradise Helicopters flight over the area allows a view on the hot glowing magma in an underground tube near the Pu'u 'O'o crater on the Hawaii island, May 2 This April 23, 2018 photo shows the extent of the large overflow of a lava lake in the Kilauea Volcano Active lava flow is glimpsed beneath the surface in this April 30 photo from Kilauea The inmate who stabbed Daniel Morcombe's killer Brett Peter Cowan has been hailed a hero by hundreds online. Cowan was attacked behind bars by a convicted criminal who stabbed him in the ear and neck at a Queensland jail Friday morning. Hundreds have praised the inmate's assault towards the convicted paedophile, who abducted and murdered 13-year-old Daniel in 2003, praising him as a 'legend'. The inmate who stabbed Daniel Morcombe's (pictured) killer Brett Peter Cowan has been hailed a hero by hundreds online Cowan (pictured) was attacked behind bars by a convicted criminal who stabbed him in the ear and neck at a Queensland jail Friday morning Hundreds have praised the inmate's assault towards the convicted paedophile, who abducted and murdered 13-year-old Daniel in 2003, praising him as a 'legend' (pictured) One person suggested sending the attacker a 'care package' with 'Tim Tams' as a reward 'Time to send the prisoner who stabbed him Tim Tams and a care package as a thank you,' one person wrote. 'Hope the boys in there keep up the good work,' another said. 'He deserves every horrible thing that happens to him. He's a vile excuse of a human,' one other shared. Others claimed the inmate 'did it for Daniel' while another suggested 'all paedophiles deserve what they get'. Cowan, who can't recall the number of young boys he has abused, received 'very superficial injuries' at the Wolston Correctional Centre where 'there was no blood'. 'Should have killed the piece of s***,' one person wrote online. 'Pity they didn't finish him off, evil b*****d,' someone shared. Many people deemed the inmate as a hero where Cowan 'deserved' the attack making it a 'glorious day' (pictured) Hundreds of social media users were happy to hear the paedophile was having a 'hard time' Others were disappointed in the attack, claiming the prisoner should have 'finished him off' 'He deserves every horrible thing that happens to him. He's a vile excuse of a human,' one said Cowan (pictured), who can't recall the number of young boys he has abused, received 'very superficial injuries' at the Wolston Correctional Centre where 'there was no blood' One satisfied person suggested the inmate should have 'his sentence reduced for dishing out the justice this creep deserves' (pictured) 'He (the inmate) should have his sentence reduced for dishing out the justice this creep deserves,' another wrote. The 48-year-old has been targeted by inmates before where Adam Paul Davidson scalded Cowan with boiling water on August 5, 2016. 'All paedophiles deserve what they get, good job,' one person wrote online. 'Glad he is having a hard time in there. No sympathy,' another said. 'Good. Imagine what poor Daniel and his family have been through,' someone commented. The 48-year-old has been targeted by inmates before where Adam Paul Davidson scalded Cowan with boiling water on August 5, 2016 (pictured) In December 15 years ago, the schoolboy planned to catch a bus to the shops at the Sunshine Coast to buy Christmas presents for his family and get a hair cut. The bus never arrived and the child was never seen again. Police created a fake crime syndicate and posed a gangsters to draw out a confession from Cowan, a long time suspect, who then led police to where he dumped the 13-year-old's body. Cowan received a life sentence in 2014 with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years. In December 2003, Daniel, 13, disappeared on the way to the shops and Cowan (pictured) confessed to young boy's kidnapping and murder to police posing as gangsters years later The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is closely following the situation in Armenia and welcomes the active dialogue among political forces, PA President George Tsereteli said, the OSCE Office said. May 4, 2018, 17:48 OSCE PA President welcomes active dialogue among political forces in Armenia STEPANAKERT, MAY 4, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS:I hope for a swift political agreement to the current impasse so that the government can focus on the many challenges facing Armenia, the President said. I encourage political leaders to continue engaging in parliamentary dialogue, as well as working with civil society and the international community, in finding a satisfactory outcome, which should be seen within the broader process of developing the countrys political culture. The OSCE statement says Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was officially nominated for prime minister for a second time by his Yelk party and allied opposition parties in parliament on Thursday. In recent days, Pashinyan has met with the ambassadors of the European Union, Russia, the United States, and Georgia, to discuss negotiations taking place to resolve the political crisis. George Tsereteli on May 3 held a telephone conversation with Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia Ara Babloyan discussing the situation and offering the support of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the process of dialogue. He also spoke with Hermine Naghdalyan, Head of Armenias Delegation to the OSCE PA. My conversations with parliamentary colleagues in Armenia reinforced my confidence that leading political figures in Yerevan are committed to finding a constructive solution to the situation, President Tsereteli said. I stressed that all sides must exercise due restraint and continue on the path of productive dialogue. The OSCE PA President stressed that peaceful assembly is an important avenue for expressing opinions but said that he was encouraged that political dialogue is taking place within the parliamentary system. Missouri governor Eric Greitens is currently facing two felony charges, leading lawmakers in the state to call for his impeachment Missouri lawmakers say they've collected enough signatures to call for a special session to consider impeaching Governor Eric Greitens. The Republican governor has been charged with felony invasion of privacy based on allegations that he took a nude photograph of his mistress and blackmailed her with it. In January of this year Greitens, 43, admitted to cheating on his wife with the woman, but has denied any illegal conduct and called the entire investigation a 'witch hunt'. State lawmakers announced Thursday that they have the necessary signatures to convene a special session to begin impeachment proceedings beginning May 18. Greitens is the first governor to be charged with a felony while in office, and if impeached he will be the first to be removed as well. He is currently facing two felony charges, the first being the invasion of privacy charge for which he was indicted on February 22. The married father-of-two was sleeping with the married woman back in 2015, which he admitted to earlier this year. However, he denied the woman's claims suggesting that he tied her up, blindfolded her and snapped photos to later use as blackmail if she failed to keep quiet. Earlier this year the 43-year-old father-of-two admitted to cheating on his wife with a married woman, but denied allegations that he blackmailed her with a nude photo Greitens has called the entire investigation into the affair a 'witch hunt' and said he has no intention of stepping down In April the House investigatory committee looking into the allegation released a graphic report alleging that Greitens had restrained, spanked, slapped, shoved, threatened and belittled the woman during a series of sexual encounters that at times left her crying and afraid. On Monday another report was released in response to efforts by Greitens to belittle her testimony. Grietens is set to face trial by jury beginning May 14, four days before the special session would begin. The 43-year-old was narrowly elected in November 2016 after presenting himself as an outsider intent on taking down corrupt career politicians. In April he was charged with felony computer tampering based on accusations that he stole a list of donors to a pro-veteran charity he founded with the intent of tapping the contributors for checks to fund his political campaign. Both felony charges were brought by St Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat. Grietens is pictured with his young family at Christmastime last year, just weeks before the allegations of his affair were revealed by local Missouri news media Greitens is currently facing two felony charges, one related to an extra-marital affair and the other to his 2016 election campaign. Both charges were brought by St Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, right Greitens been adamant that he has no plans to resign amidst the accusations, to the disappointment of members of his own party. A source told the Springfield News-Leader that Republican leaders were planning to put articles of impeachment on the floor next week if they weren't able to obtain the necessary signatures. Another source revealed that while Democrats in the House were split earlier on Thursday, they ultimately came around to support calling the special session. The petition submitted Thursday doesn't specifically mention impeachment, but sources say it is generally understood that Greitens's removal is on the table. It states that the session will convene 'for the sole purpose of considering the findings and recommendations of the House of Representatives Special Investigative Committee on Oversight including, but not limited to, disciplinary actions against Governor Eric R. Greitens'. The 43-year-old was narrowly elected in November 2016 after presenting himself as an outsider intent on taking down corrupt career politicians Greitens is the first governor to be charged with a felony while in office, and if impeached he will be the first to be removed as well This will be the first time lawmakers in the Midwestern state will use their constitutional authority to convene a special session, which requires at least 75 percent of both the House and Senate. The session will begin directly following the end of the regular session, with taxpayers footing the bill for the extra 30 days of legislating. 'The process has monumental consequences, and the gravity of what we are commencing is not taken lightly,' Republican state Sen. Ron Richard said. 'I believe we should give the House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight more time so they can continue their investigation and make sure they have all the facts. The House and Senate both have different roles in this process; however, the Senate stands ready to do our constitutional duty if it becomes necessary.' Georgia is preparing to execute a man this evening who was convicted of robbing and killing an off-duty prison guard 22 years ago after approaching him for a ride outside a Walmart store. Robert Earl Butts Jr, 40, is scheduled to die at 7pm on Friday by injection of the compounded barbiturate pentobarbital at the state prison in Jackson. Butts and his accomplice Marion Wilson Jr, 41, were both convicted of murder and armed robbery in the March 1996 slaying of 24-year-old Donovan Corey Parks. 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. Marked man: This undated file image shows Georgia death-row inmate Robert Butts Jr (left), 40, who is scheduled to be executed on Friday for the killing of Donovan Corey Parks (right), a 24-year-old off-duty prison guard Place of execution: Butts is scheduled to die at 7pm on Friday by injection of the compounded barbiturate pentobarbital at the state prison in Jackson, Georgia (execution chamber pictured) Butts had been scheduled to die on Thursday, but won a short reprieve when the state Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a stay on Wednesday to allow it extra time to weigh Butt's clemency request. The board, which is the only authority in Georgia with the power to commute a death sentence, voted Thursday not to spare his life. The execution was rescheduled for Friday. Last week, Butts submitted his request for his last meal before the execution, which will consist of a bacon cheeseburger with American and cheddar cheese, rib eye steak, six chicken tenders, seasoned French fries, cheesecake and strawberry lemonade, reported Fox 5. Butts still has several challenges pending in state and federal courts. He 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 in March. Prosecutors said Butts and Wilson targeted Parks after standing behind him in the checkout line of a Walmart store in the central Georgia city of Milledgeville. They asked Parks for a ride, and he agreed. A short distance from the store, one of the men showed Parks a shotgun and ordered him to pull over. Parks was dragged from the car and killed by a single shot to the head. Investigators later found a shotgun under Wilson's bed. A witness said Butts had given the shotgun to Wilson to hold after the killing. Butts was 18 (left) when he and accomplice Marion Wilson Jr (right) were arrested in 1996 for Parks' murder, of which they were later convicted and sentenced to death Authorities said Butts and Wilson were gang members who had gone looking for a victim when they drove Butts' car to the Walmart store. His attorneys insisted in a clemency application to the parole board that Butts wasn't the shooter and asked to commute his death sentence to life in prison. A jailhouse witness, Horace May, who testified at Butts' 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' lawyers wrote. Wilson also told May that the pair had agreed to steal Parks' car but that Butts believed they would release Parks, according to the statement. '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.' Butts' lawyers also argued to the parole board at the clemency hearing 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. In a flurry of recent court filings, Butts' lawyers presented several reasons why they believe he shouldn't be executed. Given the nature of the crime, they argued, he likely wouldn't be sentenced to death if he were prosecuted today. They also argued that his death sentence was 'grossly disproportionate' and that he should be resentenced. They also argued his sentence was unconstitutional because although he was 18 at the time of the killing, his mental age and maturity lagged behind his actual age. Executing him would be like executing someone who was younger than 18 when his crime was committed, and that's not lawful, they said. His attorneys have also consistently said 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. If the execution proceeds as planned, Butts will be the 10th inmate put to death this year in the United States. AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has slammed Dane Swan for his alleged involvement in a video being shared on social media. Swan, 34, confirmed he was the former footy star seen in the video, but said it was shot 'a long time ago' and was 'not a sex tape'. Speaking on 3AW radio on Friday, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said Swan shouldn't have let himself become involved. 'Everyone, man or woman, should have their privacy respected and if this comes out it needs to be with consent, I think that's very clear. 'But I think to your question specifically, just don't get yourself in that situation. I know that's challenging and I know people do what they do but that's ultimately all you can do I think,' Mr McLachlan said. Dane Swan, 34, confirmed he was the former footy star seen in the video, but said it was shot 'a long time ago' and was 'not a sex tape' (pictured with his girlfriend Taylor Wilson) Speaking on 3AW radio on Friday, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said Swan shouldn't have let himself become involved He said after naked photos of Swan were leaked to a woman's magazine in 2016 the former player should've been extra vigilant. Collingwood legend Tony Shaw said Mr McLachlan's comments were 'totally inappropriate and unwarranted'. 'This wasn't Swanny's fault at all,' he said. Radio host Neil Mitchell also gave his opinion, comparing the tape to an image of a topless woman wearing a premiership medal after Richmond won the AFL title last year. 'What happened to Dane Swan was wrong and nobody, male or female, should have to put up with that type of intrusion, but I'm a little amused by some of his mates, who are being outraged on his behalf,' he said. 'I didn't hear a lot of outrage when a young woman had her privacy brutalised by that Richmond player who photographed her topless and then circulated the photograph.' Swan 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. Dane Swan (pictured with girlfriend Taylor Wilson) denied he was involved in a 'sex tape' '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. 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 added that the matter is under investigation and asked for his privacy to be respected 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 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. 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 McDonald's sign has given a whole new meaning to flame-grilled as the golden arches went up in a blaze. The iconic golden 'M' at the McDonald's in Aldinga, South Australia, burst into flames this week. Footage captured by locals shows the sign going up in flames with sparks flying from it. The fire was contained within the arches and emergency crews were able to put it out within twenty minutes. Emergency workers waited for the fire to burn itself out while they made sure it didn't catch anywhere A spokesperson for the South Australian Country Fire Service said it was caused by an electrical fault. 'The reason the emergency crew is not actively fighting it is because with electrical fires it's more dangerous to put water on them,' they said. 'Because it was isolated they let it burn out, while monitoring it, in case something went wrong. Then after it was out, they check it was all safe before leaving.' Local Grace Pascoe said the store was quite when the blaze started. 'The restaurant wasn't busy with only a few customers inside, as far as i know it stayed open during the blaze,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I watched it for about 10 or 15 minutes until it was extinguished by the Aldinga Beach CFS.' The next day a local shared an image of the burnt out arches over social media 'There were sparks flying off of the sign onto the surroundings causing small fires in the vicinity of the sign, those were extinguished very quickly.' A spokesman for McDonald's said that the company was investigating. 'Were thankful no one was injured and would like to thank the firefighters for their quick response,' they said. A picture of the sign shared on social media the next day by a resident shows that half the golden arches were burnt out in the blaze. Other photos of the flames were shared over social media by residents who chose to see the funny side in the situation. 'Revenge for the soft serve machine being in 'self clean' mode all the time. Hey at least the fries n burgers will be hot for once!!' commented one of their followers on the post. 'Someone was mad they had no chicken nuggets left,' one joked. 'Supposed to go to hungry jacks for flame grilled,' another user pointed out. The wife of a terrorist recruiter has given the one-finger ISIS salute outside court after being found guilty of refusing to stand for a judge. Moutia Elzahed, the wife of jailed terrorist recruiter Hamdi Alqudsi, held up her index finger - which was covered completely in a black glove - to awaiting crowds. Wearing an ink black burqa, the 50-year-old Muslim woman walked away from the Sydney Downing Centre Court as she continued to perform the ISIS salute while her friend called journalists 'cockroaches'. The wife of a terrorist recruiter has given the one-finger Islamic State salute (pictured) outside court after being found guilty of disrespectful behaviour Moutia Elzahed (left), the wife of jailed Islamic State extremist Hamdi Alqudsi, held up her index finger - which was covered completely in a black glove - to awaiting crowds Ms Elzahad (pictured), who arrived in court dressed in a full black veil and surrounded by supporters, is the first person convicted of contempt of court in NSW on religious grounds The single finger salute of a right hand represents tawhid, a key component of Muslim religion, and signifies 'ISIS' violent and uncompromising posture' towards 'the destruction of the West', according to Foreign Affairs. The Muslim woman's decision to use the ISIS salute appears to reflect the moment her husband performed the same gesture moments before he was sentenced for eight years. Elzahed's extremist husband, Alqudsi, who was found guilty of recruiting terrorist fighters in 2016, held up his index finger to Supreme Court Judge Christine Adamson while he stood in the dock. The traditional Islamic gesture has been used by a number of Islamic State fighters which reportedly shows their belief towards world domination. Elzahed is the first person in New South Wales to face the charge after she refused to rise for a judge in 2016 purportedly on religious grounds. The 50-year-old woman was found guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court of nine counts of disrespectful behaviour in court. The stand-off came to a head when the magistrate Carolyn Huntsman returned to the bench and ordered Elzahed to leave her seat at the back of the courtroom and approach the bar table. 'Remain standing - you remain standing when I speak to you,' Ms Huntsman said. The Muslim woman's decision to use the ISIS salute appears to reflect the moment her husband (pictured 2016) performed the same gesture moments before being sentenced Elzahed's husband, Alqudsi (pictured), who was found guilty of recruiting terrorist fighters in 2016, held up his index finger to Supreme Court Judge Christine Adamson while at the dock Ms Elzahed (pictured) reportedly told the court she only stood for Allah and gave the single finger ISIS salute to awaiting crowds outside the Sydney Downing Centre Court The single finger salute of a right hand represents tawhid, a key component of Muslim religion, and signifies ISIS' violence and 'the destruction of the West' Last week, the devout Muslim's lawyer told the NSW Court of Appeal she could not give 'crucial' evidence about her version of what police did during the September 2014 raid The magistrate had found Elzahed intentionally flouted the established court convention on nine separate occasions in 2016 when she remained seated in front of District Court Judge Audrey Balla. Each offence carries a maximum jail term of 14 days and/or a $1100 fine. Elzahed, who has no prior convictions, said she only stood for Allah, but Ms Huntsman on Friday ruled there was no evidence she was acting on a genuine religious belief or that the teachings of Islam compelled such behaviour. The mother-of-two previously told Daily Mail Australia she did 'nothing wrong' and felt 'very happy about everything'. The woman, who is one of two wives of Alqudsi, said she refused to reveal her face in court to give evidence over an incident in 2014. The 50-year-old's black Islamic dress covers her entire body, including her hands, and she said only her 'brother, husband, father or son' can see her uncovered. Elzahed refused to stand in front of District Court Judge Audrey Balla on nine separate occasions in 2016 when she remained seated 'You are all missing the point. People who say rude things about me do not understand my beliefs,' Elzahed said. Last December the Australian National Imams Council said Islamic defendants have no faith-based reason not to stand before a judge or uncover their faces while giving testimony. In 2016, Elzahed, who has two sons, had been trying to sue the state and federal governments over claims of police violence during a raid on her Sydney home two years earlier. She was ultimately unsuccessful. WHAT IS THE ISLAMIC STATE ONE FINGER SALUTE? The traditional Islamic gesture of raising a single index finger has been widely adopted by Islamic State fighters. The salute refers to the tawhid - a belief in the oneness of God - and is a key component of the Islamic religion. The tawhid is the first half of the shahada, an affirmation of faith which is one of the five pillars of Islam and a part of the daily prayer ritual. 'There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.' But for ISIS the symbol is more sinister. Members of the terrorist group use the gesture to communicate their violent and uncompromising posture towards its adversaries in the West. It is an active reaffirmation that they are dedicated to their ideology which 'demands the destruction of the West'. The salute is used heavily in ISIS propaganda material, with militants seen holding their finger up alongside macabre beheading scenes. The traditional Islamic gesture of raising an index finger - which refers to the tawhid or 'the belief in the oneness of God' - has been adopted by Islamic State fighters (left) Source: ISIS Exposed: Beheadings, Slavery, and the Hellish Reality of Radical Islam By Erick Stakelbeck Advertisement CCTV footage previously played in court showed Elzahed failed to rise nine times in November and December 2016 with each offence carrying a maximum jail term of 14 days and/or a $1,100 fine. The defence had originally cast doubt over whether Elzahed was the woman under the black niqab but her lawyer later conceded her identity would no longer be contested. The court heard the mother-of-two had been subjected to online trolling and death threats since the case began. Defence barrister David Hume instead argued his client should be acquitted because there was no evidence Elzahed was under a legal duty to stand. Elzahed, who lost her civil action and was ordered to pay $250,000 in police legal costs, earlier this week appealed the trial judge's ruling that she could not give evidence while wearing a burqa. Ms Huntsman said the Muslim woman may be eligible for community work when the matter returns to court on June 15. The Muslim woman claimed it was because of religious belief but Australian National Imams Council said Islamic defendants have no faith-based reason not to stand before a judge Chris Evans said he was 'so happy' his mother was at peace as he returned to the airwaves this morning Chris Evans has said 'it's not the loss that gets you, it's the love following the loss that gets you' as he returned to the radio today following the loss of his mother. The broadcaster was forced to pull out of his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show at the last minute after his 92-year-old mother, Minnie, passed away yesterday morning. His colleague Vassos Alexander, who usually reads the sport on the morning programme, stepped in to present the show on Thursday. Returning to host his breakfast show this morning Evans told his millions of listeners: 'Thank you to Vanessa [Feltz] for the lovely card, thank you to the team for such wonderful support yesterday and thank you to you guys. 'It's not the loss that gets you, it's the love following the loss that gets you. So much love for a lady you never met.' He added: 'It seems actually some of you did know her, you had met her. My mum passed away just before we went on the air yesterday, so I had to go home to be with my family. 'The team here were just unbelievable as usual, I shouldn't have expected anything less...they were just marvellous. 'We are back [on air] as Mum would have insisted we should be.' The broadcaster said: 'I'm sounding quite chipper today but I'm just so happy my Mum's at peace. Chris Evans, pictured with his mother Minnie at London's Chelsea Flower Show in 2000 'My mum was only supposed to last a month or two, but five months after this, seven months in all, she was still there. All the carers, all the district nurses, have just been absolutely fantastic. But no more fantastic than you guys. You're all gorgeous. 'My brother-in-law Tom said "in the end maybe she was too tough for her own good", which I thought was a lovely way of putting it.' Sports reporter Vassos Alexander stepped in to host Evans' breakfast show on Thursday, reading a statement to explain the presenter's absence. Reading the note from the DJ to his millions of listeners, Alexander said: 'Chris isn't here. He has been here in fact. But he had to go just before we came on air. 'And he's left a little note for me to read out to you. Bear with me, this is a little bit difficult for me because we are talking about one of my best friends here.' He continued: 'Good morning, says Chris. The reason I'm not with you today is because just before I came on air my mum passed away and I needed to go straight back home to be with my family. But it's all OK, in fact it's very OK, mum needed to be at peace. Moreover, she deserved to be at peace. 'We've been ready for this for some time now and, as she has throughout her life, in death she has brought us together. 'She was an incredible woman. Anyone who's ever met her will tell you that and ultimately there was no battle lost, only a life won. Every single day. I'll be back tomorrow. 'If mum had the first idea I might not have shown up today because of her, she'd have been furious. 'I hope you all have a lovely Thursday. See you tomorrow.' Evans was very close to his mother Minnie, describing her as 'hard as nails' Alexander presented the show until 8.30am, before Ken Bruce came on air an hour early to present his programme. Mrs Evans, who managed a corner shop and later became a nurse, had three children, David, 65, Diane, 55 and Chris, 52. Her husband Martin was a bookmaker and died in 1979, aged 58. Evans was very close to his mother and described her as 'hard as nails', revealing that she once underwent eye surgery without any anaesthetic. In 2003, Mrs Evans had a battle with breast cancer. Concerned that she would be too old to survive a gruelling course of chemotherapy, Evans intervened and said he saved his mother's life by paying for her to be treated with the revolutionary drug Herceptin. Listeners to his breakfast show were often kept up to date with his mother's activities. In January last year, he revealed on Twitter she had tried pizza for the first time at the age of 91. He captioned the picture: 'My mum 91 years young first ever slice of pizza! She's broadening her horizons. 'It's time', she says.' Evans also revealed last year he had sought his mother's advice when it was disclosed he was the BBC's highest-paid presenter. He said she had told him to 'earn what you can, when you can, while you can' doing a job he loved. Evans celebrates his 40th birthday with his mother on The New Paul O'Grady Show in 2006 In his 2009 memoir It's Not What You Think, Evans described his mother as 'one of the original night nurses' who he had 'never heard complain once'. He revealed the 'top ten best things about Mrs Evans senior' in the book, which included 'her rapier wit', 'her vivid imagination' and 'her wicked laugh' as well as her 'magic hotpot from the war recipe, hardly any meat but oh so meaty!' The broadcaster often made media appearances with his mother and brought her on the Paul O'Grady show with him in 2006 as the radio host celebrated his 40th birthday. She also made an appearance on an episode of TFI Friday in 2015, where she performed a mock audition for Top Gear, and did a lap of a racing track on her mobility scooter. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, was among many to offer condolences to the broadcaster on social media. A nonprofit civil rights organization called Nexus Derechos Humanos said it is filing a federal lawsuit on Zachary Cruz's behalf challenging how he has been treated by law enforcement. The group claimed in a Wednesday email news release that Zachary Cruz's rights are being violated by the city and he has been subjected to 'intimidation' solely because of the identity of his brother. Broward County city officials named in the suit include State Attorney Michael Satz, Assistant State Attorney Sarahnell Murphy, Judge Kim Theresa Mollica and Broward County Sheriff's Captain Sherea Green. Nexus Derechos Humanos CEO Mike Donovan said in a press conference Thursday Cruz has suffered 'horrific constitutional abuses' after his brother Nikolas, 19, shot dead 17 and wounded several others at his Parkland, Florida high school on Valentine' Day. Zachary Cruz speaks with his attorney Mark S. Lowry while appearing in front of Judge Brown for a violation of probation hearing on April 30, 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida In this Thursday, March 29, 2018, file photo, Zachary Cruz, brother of Nikolas Cruz who's accused of killing 17 students and staff members at the school Feb. 14, appears in court in Fort Lauderdale Nexus Derechos Humanos CEO Mike Donovan (left) said in a press conference Thursday Cruz has suffered 'horrific constitutional abuses' 'At bottom, fear drove these Defendants to trample the Constitutional rights of Mr. Cruz, because he is related to a man who committed a most heinous act,' the suit claims. The brother of the suspect in the Florida high school shooting has been accused of violating his probation for earlier trespassing at the school where the massacre occurred. Palm Beach County jail records show Cruz was being held without bond Wednesday pending a transfer to neighboring Broward County for a court appearance that has not been scheduled. Cruz was arrested Tuesday on a Broward warrant. His attorney filed a written plea of not guilty to the probation violation allegation Wednesday. Judge Kim Theresa Mollica is pictured. She is one of several city officials named in the lawsuit Broward County Sheriff's Capt. Sherea Green is pictured. Green is also named in the suit The warrant says Nikolas Cruz's brother, 18, was stopped last week for driving without a license and was within 25 feet (7.6 meters) of the parking lot of a Lake Worth high school. Zachary Cruz is on six months' probation after pleading no contest in March for trespassing at the Parkland school. Deputies say they found Zachary Cruz riding his skateboard on campus March 19 about two hours after school had been let out. Officials say he had been told to stay away from the school, something his attorney on the trespassing charge, Joseph Kimok, had denied. The suit claims the teen was placed on 'unlawful detention in Broward County Jail' after he was released on $25 bail the night of the trespassing incident, but was deemed too 'dangerous to be released into the streets'. It reads further: 'While being held unlawfully, Cruz went before Defendant Mollica, who imposed a grossly disproportional and unconstitutional half-million dollar bond on a misdemeanor charge, that carried with it a $25 dollar bond that had already been paid. Said differently, Defendant Mollica imposed a bond that was literally 20,000 times than the court scheduled bond of $25.' Nikolas Cruz's brother Zachary is suing several Broward County officials, arguing his Constitutional rights were violated Zachary Cruz has allegedly suffered 'horrific constitutional abuses' after his brother Nikolas, shot dead seventeen and wounded several others at his Parkland, Florida high school in February The suit further claims Green 'condoned and ordered Cruz to be committed to a mental institution, despite his medical records indicating otherwise.' While at Broward Health Medical Center, health officials determined Cruz 'did not display signs of a mentally disturbed person' and was released back to Green before being placed on suicide watch. As part of his probation, Cruz was ordered to stay at least a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Stoneman Douglas and to not enter any school unless enrolled. The brothers are both former Stoneman Douglas students. Kimok said in an email Wednesday he has not yet been appointed to represent Cruz on the probation violation but he said he is 'very concerned' about the Broward Sheriff's Office's conduct in this arrest. First, he said it is 'very unusual' for a probation violation to be filed for driving without a license. In this handout provided by Broward's Sheriff's Office, suspect Nikolas Cruz poses for a mugshot photo after being arrested February 14, 2017 in Parkland, Florida He also said Cruz is not banned from being near a school other than Stoneman Douglas. 'We all drive past and walk past schools every day and many public parks are located near schools so I'm concerned if, as it appears, BSO has violated him simply for going near a school. That just wasn't a condition we agreed to as part of his plea,' Kimok said. Sheriff's spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said Cruz's caretaker reported him because he was driving without a license and insurance. She said violating any law is a violation of probation. 'From unlawfully confining Cruz to jail, imposing a grossly unconstitutional bond upon him, then shipping him to a mental health facility with no objective justification, then bringing him back to jail to place him under bright lights, while weighing him down with a suicide jacket, and posting a guard by his side for "one-on-one" intimidation, the Defendants unsurprisingly coerced a plea deal from Mr. Cruz,' the suit furthermore claims. 'Under those conditions, Cruz suffered nothing less than undue and severe duress.' Attorneys for Nikolas Cruz have conceded he is the shooter and say he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. A primary school teacher claims he experienced first hand the Queensland Education Department favouring bullies over teachers trying to help their victims. Grant Elmsly, 56, said he was filling in at Bribie Island State School last year when he allegedly saw a student stab another in the lower back with a pencil. After several attempts to report the incident through the correct channels, he identified what he believed to be a massive flaw in the system. Grant Elmsly was filling in at Bribie Island State School (pictured) last year when he witnessed an attack on a student - he believes the department inadequately dealt with his incident report He said he ended up reporting what he saw to police and the Department of Education's ethical standards unit, but the department ultimately sided with the bullies. Mr Elmsly claimed the children made stories up about him, which resulted in him being suspended from work. His claims followed backlash from parents in the wake of Amy 'Dolly' Everett's death, with many pushing for more to be done to put an end to bullying in schools. The 14-year-old took her own life in January after enduring years of relentless bullying at her Queensland boarding school. His claims followed backlash from parents in the wake of Amy 'Dolly' Everett's (pictured) death, with many pushing for more to be done to put an end to bullying in schools 'I read with amazement the story about Dolly,' Mr Elmsly said. 'But I don't know that teachers could have done anymore to help because we're not supported by the system to do so which makes us helpless to an extent.' He said after witnessing the alleged incident involving the pencil while teaching a class in August last year, he couldn't file the incident in the school's OnePortal system because he was employed as a casual. When he asked other staff to file it on his behalf, Mr Elmsly said they told him the victim had likely deserved it. The 14-year-old (pictured) took her own life in January after enduring years of relentless bullying at her Queensland boarding school 'They all seemed to support the bullies in saying the kid who was stabbed deserved it. I couldn't believe it was normal to them. There was just no excuse for that sort of behaviour,' he said. Mr Elmsly claimed his suspension, pending the outcome of an internal investigation, was an example of the department penalising teachers for standing up for bully victims. 'It's common for QLD principals to tell their staff not to write mandatory reports on OnePortal as it's available on request to parents and the regional education QLD office will think they are wonderful principals,' he said. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, QLD Department of Education said it could not comment on specific incidents but encouraged all cases of bullying to be reported. 'Bribie Island State School, like all Queensland state schools, does not tolerate bullying. 'Any situation that threatens the safety and wellbeing of any student is treated extremely seriously, and dealt with as a matter of urgent priority 'Students who engage in bullying behaviours at Bribie Island SS are dealt with under the schools Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students. It outlines the standard of behaviour expected from students and the consequences when those standards are not met.' Bribie Island State School did not return Daily Mail Australia's request for comment. Advertisement China today commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth a German philosopher who has been billed as 'the father of Communism'. A conference attended by China's President Xi Jinping was held in Beijing to celebrate the ideology of Karl Marx, known as Marxism, reported state-run Xinhua News Agency. Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Karl Marx as 'the greatest thinker of modern times' in a speech during the conference, which is seen as part of an effort so shore up his power against domestic critics. Chinese President Xi Jinping adjusts his clothing during an event to mark the bicentennial of Karl Marx's birth in Beijing today Participants stand as The Internationale anthem is played at conference to mark the bicentennial of Karl Marx's birth Participants clap during the conference to mark the bicentennial of Karl Marx's birth at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Xi's address at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing was one of a series of events in China marking the bicentennial of the philosopher-economist's birth on May 5, 1818, in Germany. 'We must win the advantages, win the initiative, and win the future. We must continuously improve the ability to use Marxism to analyse and solve practical problems,' Xi said beneath a massive portrait of the white-bearded Marx on a stage bedecked with scarlet and gold curtains. 'Today, we commemorate Marx in order to pay tribute to the greatest thinker in the history of mankind and also to declare our firm belief in the scientific truth of Marxism,' he said. President Xi praised Karl Marx as 'the greatest thinker of modern times,' calling his theories a tool for China to 'win the future' An attendee takes a photo of the stage where a giant portrait of Karl Marx is hung to mark the bicentennial of Marx's birth A security person stands on duty as participants file out of the important event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing today A camera screen displays Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking on the podium held to celebrate Karl Marx's ideology Promoting Marx is seen in part as a way for Xi to strengthen ideological control and counter critics within the ruling Communist Party unhappy with his move in March to eliminate presidential term limits. Xi is also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, an official that is also not term-limited. Marx's work became the inspiration for communism, an ideology that aims for shared ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes. China launched market reforms three decades ago but the party keeps an iron grip on power. President Xi said: 'We must continuously improve the ability to use Marxism to analyse and solve practical problems' Security personnel look over during the event to mark the bicentennial of Karl Marx's birth at the Great Hall of the People Paramilitary policemen prepare to leave after attending the event which took place in the heart of capital city Beijing A scammer who faked having terminal cancer and scammed $42,000 from her parents' friends and neighbours to maintain her party lifestyle has been bailed, pending an appeal. Hanna Dickenson, 24, of Melbourne, was sentenced on April 10 to three months behind bars and a 12-month community corrections order for her con act. The former property manager, who told her family and friends that she had cancer so she could obtain money off them, pleaded guilty to seven charges of obtaining property by deception, The Herald Sun has reported. Scammer Hanna Dickenson, 24, of Melbourne, has been granted bail this week But this week she has been granted freedom to go and live with her mum in Port Melbourne. Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen ordered she be released from the women's prison, Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, until her appeal is heard on June 19. Dickenson convinced her parents to give her money for life saving treatment in 2012 before later telling them she needed more funds for overseas treatments in Thailand and New Zealand. Her parents, who run a farm near in Victoria's north-west, were struggling financially and asked neighbours and friends for money, according to court documents. She raised $42,000 by telling them she only had several months to live unless she received costly treatment abroad. She then blew the money on a party lifestyle with booze, drugs and holidays. before she got caught one of her victims was under going his own cancer treatment and had just been discharged from hospital when he was duped into sending her $10,000. She lied to her family (pictured) and friends about having cancer to fund her party lifestyle Dickenson raised $42,000 off her parents who had to ask their friends to help But she was caught out when another of her victims discovered photos on her Facebook profile which made him suspicious that she was lying about her ill health. The victim contacted police who then identified a number of other victims. Dickenson was not present in court to hear of her release on bail. Police persecutors did not object. Magistrate David Starvaggi said her scam 'smacks of a Walter Mitty-kind of lifestyle,' and was a breach of social trust. 'People's conscious desire to assist has been touched ... that's the social trust,' he said. Being a good interviewer and writer, she interviewed me well and collected the needed information. Answers to some questions were emotional and I paused as I spoke. The pause to hold back tears appears to be a Melanesian way; and Telstar Jimmy also paused and gave me time to pick up my strength to answer. I have never sat so close to a Vanuatu woman. I forced other thoughts from my mind and concentrated on her questions. She asked what I wanted to talk about and I told her that I wanted to talk about the story of Nembare I have been writing. The participants were divided into pairs to develop their interviewing and writing skills. I sat with the slim, tall brown-skinned, long curly haired Telstar Jimmy from Vanuatu. THE devastating Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu reminded me of a beautiful woman from that country I met at a recent writers workshop in Fiji. One of the facilitators was interested in Telstars written account of her interview and asked me to share the story. However, the thought of the struggles of Nembare made me emotional with tears. The facilitator diverted the discussion. I interviewed Telstar and wrote the following article to share. It was difficult for a 14-year old to witness and accept her parents divorce. Telstra never expected this to happen. No way! Now she had to learn to grow up in such a situation with her younger siblings. What would be her parents explanation? They did not explain. Only time would heal this pain in this young child. She would remember the time they lived together when her father was an assistant manager with Telikom Vanuatu and her mother a personal assistant. Telstar Jimmy thought of the divorce and wanted to express her feelings but was not accorded the opportunity, so began putting her thoughts on paper. She started with Wishing you were here. She called it a poem and dedicated it to her mum. A year after the divorce, Telstars father married a woman with a daughter from a previous marriage. Telstars siblings learnt to understand their step-mother and half-sister while their parents struggled to understand each other and every little argument would turn into physical confrontation. The frequent fights between the couple created fear and confusion in the children. This was compounded with the Vanuatan view of marital fights as a private family affair, which prevented intervention or options to solve the problems. Telstar and her siblings faced double jeopardy as the step-mother vented her anger on them. It was evident she gave more care to her daughter than her step children. Telstar would do anything to protect her brothers. She would prepare meals and wash clothes for them and tried to spend most of her free time with them. She also read books to keep her mind busy and forget the bombarding thoughts of unequal treatment. She read more fiction and began to write about romance, mysteries and autobiographies. Her father continued to support her in any way he could, including paying her school fees. After completing high school, Telstar is in her eleventh year of marriage and has three children. They live in Torba Province in the northern part of Vanuatu. Telstars marriage after completing high school did not deter her from pursuing studies in other areas. She is now into her second year of studies in literature and journalism at the University of the South Pacifics Emalus campus. She shares time between family, studies and writing. The 33-year old mother of three wants to complete her studies and continue to write to inspire young people in her country with the message, Work hard and harness your potential to become good people in your communities. She also wants to become an advocate for womens issues. During the workshop, Telstar handed me a poem on politics together with some artwork which I tucked neatly in my folder. At the end of the workshop she wrote another poem which she copied and placed in neat frames, decorated them with a hibiscus and placed each in a bag to give to the facilitators. She may have missed lunch that day to look for frames in Suva. This woman reminded us all of the Pacific tradition of saying thank you. She said, Bomai, since you are a chief among us, come and hand over the gifts to each of our facilitators. I smiled and responded, Do I look like a chief? and could not thank her enough for such a rare treat to present gifts on which I spent nothing. I hope she reads this article in Vanuatu after the disaster is over. I will be reading her poem at one of our events to raise funds for the people of Vanuatu here at the University of Goroka. Kept from her children, grand-children and great-grandchildren for nine years, this is the moment a Windrush victim blocked from returning to the UK after going on holiday arrived back at Gatwick last night. Gretel Gocan, 81, who came to the UK in 1960, has been reunited with her family after almost a decade of enforced exile in Jamaica with no home, no cash and no pension. In emotional scenes yesterday Mrs Gocan was embraced in arrivals by family including her son Leigh nine years after she was last on British soil. Other relatives including her great-granddaughter Kia, 17, broke down as she met her grandson Shelumiel, eight, for the first time and they held hands as she walked back into the UK. Mrs Gocan had her passport stolen when she was in Jamaica on holiday and when she came back to Britain she was refused entry and told she needed a visa. Despite living in London since 1960 she had never needed a British passport and her robbed Jamaican documents contained a stamp proving she had indefinite leave to remain in the UK. This is the extraordinary moment Gretel Gocan, 81, was reunited with family at Gatwick last night after being blocked from returning to the UK nine years ago after a Jamaican holiday The 81-year-old was kept from her children and grand-children for nine years after coming to Britain in 1960 Mrs Gorcan with her son Leigh Gocan after returning to the UK last night Gretal told The Sun: 'I came to this country so long ago. They invited me in and suddenly they didn't want me any more. 'Britain let me down. But I am so happy to see my family again and so grateful to everyone who helped bring me home'. The 81-year-old said she lived in Britain for 50 years but had been stuck in Jamaica since 2010 unable to return to her south London home after taking a holiday to visit family. Her son Leigh Gocan said he was still furious with the Government but happy to have his mother home. He told 5 News: 'This Government's got no shame. My mum - we lost our mum a long time ago and it was very painful, and now she's back at home.' Ms Gocan said she came to the UK in 1960 and never applied for a British passport, but had a stamp in her Jamaican passport granting her indefinite leave to remain. That document was stolen in 2006 and when she went on a new passport to a funeral in Jamaica in 2010 she was refused permission to return to the UK and told she needed a visa, she said. Her daughter Pauline Blackwood said her mother was left with no money or medication for her diabetes and had not even met some of her grandchildren in the UK. She told 5 News: 'I don't know what's going to happen next, but I would like them to give my mum a home, and medication and her money and that's what I'd like, for that to happen for my mum.' Gretel with her son Leigh at his wedding in the UK in 2008 just before her ordeal started The treatment of the Windrush generation and their relatives is one of the great scandals of recent times The number of likely victims of the Windrush scandal is now 3,000 and the number will rise further, Sajid Javid said last week. It marks a dramatic increase in the number of potential cases in only a few days. Sajid Javid, pictured at the Home Office, replaced Amber Rudd as minister this week Windrush citizens, who arrived in the UK from the Commonwealth between the 1940s and 1970s, were wrongly being threatened with removal from Britain, even though they had the legal right to stay. A week ago the number of cases involved stood at 1,300, meaning the total has doubled in a week. Updating MPs on the dedicated taskforce set up last month after the scandal broke, the newly-appointed Home Secretary said the hotline has received more than 7,000 calls. He told the Commons: Each person that is identified as potentially from the Windrush generation is called back by an experienced and sympathetic caseworker, who then helps them through the process. Each person is invited to service centres around the country for appointments, with travel costs reimbursed by the Government. They will also be entitled to compensation. More than 700 appointments have been scheduled and over 100 people have had their cases processed and now have the documents they need, Mr Javid said. He added: These numbers are increasing by the day and we will continue to schedule these appointments as a matter of urgency. Mr Javid also insisted that any information provided to the taskforce will be used for no other immigration purpose than helping people confirm their status. The killer of a former model and socialite has appealed against his murder conviction. Thomas Lang was convicted in December 2017 for the brutal stabbing death of Maureen Boyce in Brisbane. The retired doctor was convicted in less than two hours after an 11-day trial and sentenced to life in prison. Thomas Lang was convicted in December 2017 for the brutal stabbing death of Maureen Boyce. The retired doctor is now appealing against his murder conviction less than a year a later The socialite and former model's body was found impaled with a kitchen knife at her Kangaroo Point home in October 22, 2015. She was stabbed four or five times with such force that part of the 32cm knife's handle was driven inside her body. According to the Courier Mail, the matter was briefly mentioned in the Queensland Court of Appeal on Friday morning and will be listed at the next call over date. Maureen Boyce (right) was stabbed with a kitchen knife four or five times in the chest at her Kangaroo Point home in Brisbane Ms Boyce had a on-and-off affair with Thomas Lung since the 1980s after they met in Texas The court heard in 2017 he killed his 68-year-old lover 'in a jealous rage' because she would not leave her husband. Lang claims Ms Boyce killed herself and had a long history of depression and bi-polar. He said the cause of her distress was because prospective buyers didn't make an offer for her $3.7 million luxury penthouse. Lang claims Ms Boyce killed herself and had a long history of depression and bi-polar but a post-mortem showed she could not have killed herself and ruled the most probable cause of death was murder A post-mortem showed she could not have killed herself and ruled the most probable cause of death was murder. The pair had an on-and-off affair for 40 years and met in the US during the 1980s. At the time Ms Boyce was a model in the states and Lang was a young doctor in Texas. Australia's endangered species are at threat of extinction due to Federal Government cuts, leading conservationists warn. Sixty full-time staff will be reportedly cut from the Department of Environment and Energy, documents obtained by ABC news revealed. But the department denied any jobs would be lost, describing the reports of job losses as 'misleading' in a statement to Daily Mail Australia. The news comes as the Threatened Species Hub revealed some animals may become extinct 'without it being noticed'. Mountain pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus), on boulder. Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, Australia. 'Good monitoring helps us understand how species are faring, where and when to act and if management investments are working,' the hub said in a statement. One third of the 200 staff within the department will be lost due to budget cuts, the ABC reported. 'The Department of the Environment and Energy will publish its budget position next week as part of the 2018-19 budget,' the department told the broadcaster. Australia's endangered species are at threat of extinction due to Federal Government cuts, leading conservationists warn. Pictured are Koalas in a gum tree on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia Australian National University ecologist Professor David Lindenmayer said the cuts are 'an absolute calamity for the Australian environment. Pictured is the orange bellied parrot male {Neophema chrysogaster} in Tasmania, Australia. Australian National University ecologist Professor David Lindenmayer said the cuts are 'an absolute calamity for the Australian environment and for the conservation of Australia's ecosystems and threatened species'. 'Without reasonable numbers of staff it becomes very difficult to deliver good programs and it becomes very difficult to do things such as stop species from going extinct,' he told the ABC. Threatened Species Recovery Hub project leader Dr Sarah Legge said one third of Australia's threatened animals receive no monitoring at all. 'And where monitoring does exist, it is often inadequate,' she said. Hub Director Professor Brendan Wintle, from the University of Melbourne, called for a national effort to improve the state of Australia's threatened species monitoring. 'Good information is crucial in the fight against extinctions,' he said. Endangered species could suffer silent extinction in the Environment Department reshuffle 'Without good monitoring we are flying blind and could waste precious scarce resources.' 'Many species occur across multiple states and territories, and the monitoring data that exists are currently scattered across many different agencies and research groups. A spokesperson for the Environment and Energy department told Daily Mail Australia reports of job losses are 'misleading'. 'No one is being fired or losing their job,' a spokesperson said. 'The staffing levels and budget for the Department of the Environment and Energy have remained relatively stable over the past four years. 'It is wrong to assume that reductions in staffing in one area of Department represents a reduction in the Governments efforts to protect and conserve biodiversity. The Government has committed around $2.3 billion over seven years from 2016-17 on biodiversity related programs. Including most recently $500m for the Great Barrier Reef, the single largest investment of its kind in Australias history.' Cecilia Haddad (above) never arrived to meet a disabled client on the weekend Murdered woman Cecilia Haddad was supposed to meet a disabled client on Saturday, but police now believe she had been killed hours earlier. As specialist police divers searched the Parramatta River on Friday for Ms Haddad's missing personal items - specifically a set of keys to her red Fiat 500 - friends of the dead woman revealed what led them to raise the alarm. Police have still not made contact with Ms Haddad's ex-lover and business partner Mario Marcelo Santoro who left Sydney on a flight to Rio de Janeiro over the weekend. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mr Marcelo deactivated his social media accounts the day after news broke that investigators were searching for him. A close friend of Ms Haddad said it was so odd for her to drop off the radar that three separate people reported her missing, while also questioning how her car got to be at West Ryde railway station, claiming she rarely used public transport. Scroll down for video Specialist police divers searched the Parramatta River on Friday (pictured) for car keys belonging to Ms Haddad, who they suspect was murdered Police said Cecilia Haddad's red Fiat 500 was found at Ryde train station on Sunday afternoon but friends have told Daily Mail Australia she rarely caught public transport 'Three of us that I know of reported her missing within 48 hours, that shows how out of character her disappearance was,' the friend said. Ms Haddad attended a 'brief' barbeque with friends on Friday night before heading home for an 'early night'. That was supposed to be followed by a mixture of personal and business events the next day. 'She spent the remainder of Friday evening on the phone to friends sharing her plans for the weekend. This is why we were concerned about her - we knew her plans and should have heard from her,' the friend said. 'The BBQ was brief and ended early. I spoke to her on Friday evening, Cecilia was an open book and an open communicator.' 'Her disability clients loved her because she treated them like real people, never like they were disabled... she had plans to provide assistance to one on the weekend.' Ms Haddad's body was discovered in the Lane Cove River on Sunday morning, the same day the Brazilian national was reported missing Police wish to speak to Marcelo Santoro (centre) over the suspected murder of his ex-girlfriend and business partner. Mr Santoro is believed to have flown home to Brazil at the weekend, days earlier than initially planned Ms Haddad (left, pictured with a friend) had ended her business and personal relationships with Mr Santoro in recent weeks, according to friends A TIMELINE OF CECILIA HADDAD'S DISAPPEARANCE: Friday, May 27 Ms Haddad 'briefly' attends a BBQ with friends before returning to her home at Ryde, north Sydney. She spends the rest of the evening on the phone to friends discussing their weekend plans. Saturday, May 28 8am-9.30am: The 38-year-old continues to call and message friends. Ms Haddad has several plans with her friends on Saturday, but never turns up. She is also due to meet with a disabled client she cares for, but never arrives. 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 Ms Haddad continued to talk to friends between 8am and 9.30am on Saturday over text message and phone calls, but was never heard from again. Police divers searched kilometres from where her body was found on Friday, the same day her father Jose arrived in Sydney to meet with homicide detectives. Daily Mail Australia can also reveal that Mr Santoro, one of several persons of interest in Ms Haddad's death, took down his Facebook account on Friday. A day earlier he was revealed as the man police want to speak to over her suspected murder, after he moved his journey home to Brazil forward by several days over the weekend. Ms Haddad and Mr Santoro are understood to have ended their business and personal relationships in recent weeks. Ms Haddad's ex-husband (left) flew from Perth to Sydney to help police with their investigation and to identify her body. Her father Jose also arrived in Sydney from Brazil on Friday Friends and relatives of Mr Santoro were expecting him to arrive home this week and were surprised to hear he had left Australia in recent days. Mr Santaro and Ms Haddad began their 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. A memorial service is set to be held for Ms Haddad in Sydney on Sunday morning. It has not yet been decided if her funeral service will be held in Sydney or Perth, where Ms Haddad lived upon moving to Australia in 2007. The identity of an Australian chiropractor who allegedly indecently filmed hundreds of his clients has been revealed. The District Court Judge Paul Muscat has lifted a suppression order on the name of South Australian man Peter Wayne Snodgrass, who has also admitted to assault charges. Judge Muscat kept a suppression order in place on the identity of the indecent filming victims. Snodgrass has pleaded guilty to more than 200 offences and may be sentenced in the Supreme Court if the prosecution asks for a determination on whether he is capable or unwilling to control his sexual instincts. That could depend on a report from a forensic psychologist who will examine the 51-year-old next month. The identity of a South Australian chiropractor who allegedly indecently filmed hundreds of his clients has been revealed as Peter Wayne Snodgrass (pictured) after the District Court lifted a suppression order The court was told on Friday that there would be so many victim impact statements in the case that reading them all could take a full day. The prosecution has also pledged to provide the court with material that would allow for a 'more comprehensive overview of the nature of the offending.' A previous hearing in Adelaide Magistrates Court was told that the chiropractor's victims, aged from 11 to 60, were secretly filmed in his practice at Rostrevor in Adelaide's east between 2012 and 2017. On two occasions, he allegedly filmed the genital areas of a young girl and a woman during massages, the ABC reported. When one patient discovered she was being filmed, he allegedly assaulted her while trying to retrieve his camera and SD card, the court heard. The court also heard that another charge had also been recently laid and would be considered during sentencing submissions. The District Court (pictured) was told on Friday that there would be so many victim impact statements in the case that reading them all could take a full day Outside court, one of his alleged victims supported the court's decision allowing him to be named. 'He deserves to go away for a long time. Whether that will happen or not is another question, but he deserves to lose his licence and never practice again in any health or medical industry,' she told the ABC. 'His name needs to be out there so people know and he can't do it again.' The woman said his alleged actions had destroyed her sense of trust and now views him as a 'monster'. 'As something as simple as going into a change room and trying on a new T-shirt, you find yourself looking around, is there something that shouldn't be in there,' she said. The case will return to court on July 16. The family of a heavily pregnant woman who was stabbed a total of 49 times when her partner repeatedly plunged a knife into her neck and chest - killing her and her unborn daughter - has spoken out about the senseless murder. Early on a September morning in 2015 Kylee D'Ugo's phone rang, only for her to learn her heavily pregnant sister and mother-of-four, Kirralee Paepaerei, had been killed in her western Sydney home. Ms D'Ugo and eight other family members broke down as they read out their victim impact statements in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, saying 'only the devil' was capable of the horrific attack. Ms Paepaerei's body was tragically found by her 15-year-old son. Scroll down for video Kirralee Paepaerei was stabbed 49 times when her partner, Joshua Homann, 40, (pictured) repeatedly plunged a knife into her neck and chest - killing her and her unborn daughter Joshua Homann (left) stabbed his de facto partner Kirralee Paepaerei (right) 49 times inside the home they shared at Mount Druit, in western Sydney, on the night of September 21, 2015 Joshua Homann, 40, was found guilty of killing his 37-year-old partner, who was remembered as 'beautiful, smart, kind and outspoken with 'no filter'. Ms D'Ugo said the phone call changed her life forever. 'Not only was my sister gone but my (unborn) niece was gone as well,' she told the court. 'The pain I feel, the emptiness I have inside, that will never go away.' Ms D'Ugo said Ms Paepaerei was not just her sister but her best friend and advisor whose 'infectious laugh' could brighten a person's day. She said she would never forgive Homann. 'You have destroyed me and my family beyond repair.' Ms Paepaerei's sister, Kylee D'Ugo, broke down as she read out her victim impact statement in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, saying 'only the devil' was capable of the horrific attack Ms Paepaerei, seven months pregnant at the time, was stabbed by Homann 28 times in the face, 21 times in the chest and beaten with a metal rod. Ms Paepaerei's mother, Joyce D'Ugo, said her daughter had been her 'strength in life' and had a 'heart of gold'. 'Kirralee was so loved,' she said, adding that hating Homann since her daughter's death had been 'draining her life'. She and Ms Paepaeri's stepfather wore purple shirts bearing a photo of their daughter next to the words, 'say no to domestic violence'. Ms D'Ugo (left) and eight other family members broke down as they read out their victim impact statements in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, saying 'only the devil' was capable of the horrific attack One shirt bore an ultrasound image of their unborn grandchild with the words: 'Taken with Mum'. Ms D'Ugo said her daughter had been excited to learn she was finally expecting a baby girl after having had four sons previously. The expectant daughter had been named Mia, referred to as 'her little pink one', the Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'You robbed us of seeing, holding and really knowing little Mia,' Ms D'Ugo said. 'I realised you are not worth the energy to hate you,' she added. Ms Paepaerei's father John Ciappara described Homann's attack as 'cowardly and ferocious'. 'Why? Why repeatedly comes to mind, did you do this? I have no answers,' he told the court, the Sydney Morning Herald said. The body of the 37-year-old woman was discovered by her 15-year-old son shortly after midnight at the Chester Street home (street view pictured) and raised the alarm Godwin D'Ugo described the man who took his stepdaughter's life as 'a waste of flesh' who 'to satisfy your evil desires'. 'When you are in prison, locked up in your cell, I hope you see what you did.' Homann's lawyer had told the jurors the case was about mental illness, rather than domestic violence or drug use. He will be sentenced on May 25. The national domestic violence helpline is 1800 737 732. In an emergency call triple zero. A former undercover police officer has been sacked after having a sexual relationship with a woman in a campaign group he was targeting. Detective Constable Jim Boyling was dismissed for gross misconduct for his actions when he was a member of the secretive Special Demonstration Squad. Using the name 'Jim Sutton' he had relationships with three women as he infiltrated the campaign group Reclaim the Streets. The secret disciplinary hearing focused on his relationship with a woman known as Rosa, which he claims was genuine. Detective Constable Jim Boyling was dismissed for gross misconduct for his actions when he was a member of the secretive Special Demonstration Squad Rosa said she had children from a nine-year relationship with Mr Boyling, who appeared to be a fellow green activist but turned out to be 'an actor, a police officer, who had played my partner'. As 'Jim the Van', he drove for Reclaim the Streets, taking protesters around the country and would become a key player in the protest movement run by anarchists and anti-capitalists. Earlier this week Mr Boyling hit back at his former bosses claiming Scotland Yard do a 'good line in selective amnesia'. It is the first time such a finding has been made in relation to an undercover officer, and the Met said his actions had been 'unacceptable'. Mr Boyling, who was an officer for 30 years, said: 'The disciplinary charge from the Met specifies that I had a relationship which constituted misconduct because it was 'without a police purpose'. As 'Jim the Van', he drove for Reclaim the Streets, taking protesters around the country and would become a key player in the protest movement run by anarchists and anti-capitalists. 'The position of the Met appears to be that a relationship entered into as an operational tactic is acceptable, but a genuine one resulting in marriage and children constitutes misconduct.' He says he used his real name and registered his occupation as a police officer on the marriage certificate and both birth certificates, that Rosa knew he had worked undercover and had made a written declaration of his marriage to the Met's vetting unit. Mr Boyling, now in his fifties, added: 'We were divorced in 2009, which I again notified in writing to the Met. 'The Met does a good line in selective amnesia, as indeed they do in selective disclosure.' Established in 1968, the SDS was an undercover unit within Special Branch that existed until 2008. Scotland Yard said in a statement: 'He was suspended from duty in November 2015 to prevent him from retiring to allow the misconduct process to take place. 'It was alleged that he had formed a long-term intimate sexual relationship using his cover identity 'Jim Sutton'. 'The investigation confirmed this and additionally identified that Jim Boyling took steps to conceal his relationship from the MPS and disclosed confidential information.' At least 12 women have received compensation after unwittingly being involved in relationships with undercover officers, and police chiefs have been forced to apologise. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin said: 'Jim Boyling's actions as an undercover officer were unacceptable. 'The Met recognises that cases such as these demonstrate there were failures of supervision and management. 'This will be fully explored through the Undercover Policing Public Inquiry, which we continue to fully support. 'Undercover policing is an important and lawful tactic, but it must never be abused.' Mr Boyling said he did not contest the Met disciplinary hearing because he says he could not afford to stay in London during the proceedings, and does not wish to drag former colleagues and his ex-wife through the process. He will however give evidence to the public inquiry into undercover policing. Mr Boyling said he feels he has been singled out to justify the cost of Operation Herne, a police inquiry into the activities of undercover officers. A groundskeeper who has spent 25 years tending for a fallen soldiers grave has finally tracked down the heros family. Wayne Hartshorne first noticed the unkempt grave while tending for his own grandfathers final resting place. He realised that it belonged to a fallen Australian airman, buried thousands of miles from home where no relatives could look after it and he decided he would take on the responsibility. The groundskeeper has spent 25 years tending for a fallen soldier's grave has finally tracked down the hero's family Warrant Officer John Benjamin Burrows is pictured, centre, at his wedding to Edna Preece in 1942 And after keeping the grave looking pristine for a quarter of a century, he has finally tracked down the mans family with the help of an amateur historian. They even arranged for an Australian airman to be visit the grave on the Australian armed forces or Anzac day. The 52-year-old, from Cannock, West Midlands, said: 'Itll be a big thing to speak to them - having tended to Johns grave for so long I do feel I have a bit of a connection with him and it will be amazing to finally speak with his family. The 52-year-old from Cannock in the West Midlands even arranged for an airman to come and lay a wreath at the grave on Anzac Day This is how the grave for John Burrows used to look at the West Midlands cemetery, before it was replaced with the headstone that is there today 'I came across John Benjamin of the Australian Airforce and I thought it was such a shame that he was resting thousands of miles away from his home. 'He was only 21 when he died and had been married for just six months - it was a tragedy. 'Making sure his grave is always presentable is my way of showing respect for a man who never go the chance to go back home. 'I have to go down anyway to visit my familys graves and its just an hour out of my time - its my small way of saying thank you.' They even arranged for an Australian airman to be visit the grave on the Australian armed forces or Anzac day. 'Having someone from the royal Australian Airforce there was fantastic, he must have been the first person from Australia to visit in 75 years - it was very moving. 'On Anzac day this year I had an Australian flight lieutenant Adam Gunthorpe visit the grave - he laid a wreath and saluted.' Wayne learnt that the airman had passed away at just 21 and that he had only been married for six months before his death. John Allman, president of the Cannock Chase Royal Air Forces Association, presented Wayne Hartshorne with this certificate of appreciation for tending the grave The heartbreaking letter informing the family of Burrows that he died following the crash of his plane he was on returning from operations on the 5th of April 1943 at the Weydhill Railway Station in Hampshire, England in WWII With the help of local historian group The Chase Project, Wayne discovered that the airman had enlisted in Melbourne and on arriving in Britain, trained as a navigator. Officer Burrows had flown in Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers from of RAF Netheravon. He married local woman Edna Marjorie Ruth Preece two years later in 1942 - they married in St. Luke church in Cannock. Tragically, John would be laid to rest in that same church just six months later after a mission dropping propaganda leaflets over France. The flight accident report states that his aircraft had come under heavy fire and the pilot suspected that the fuel system was damaged. On landing the plane hit the ground about a mile short of the aerodrome and both the pilot and John were killed, though three other crew members did survive. Buried at Cannock Cemetery, on his headstone are the words Still living, Still ours, Father and Mother - chosen by his parents, Alexander and Ada Burrows. Wayne Hartshorne (pictured) first started tending the grave 25 years ago when he noticed it while looking after his grandfather's at the cemetery Knowing the background story of Warrant Officer Burrows has given even more meaning to Waynes trips to the cemetery. He visits twice a month in winter and every week once the grass starts growing again. Almost a century later, Wayne is set to speak to the Johns nieces and nephews. Local military research group, The Chase Project, is run by Richard Pursehouse. He met Wayne in Cannock and after learning about the mysterious grave he had been tending, began looking in to the servicemans past. Using facebook and national records, he was able to track down what happened to Warrant Officer John Burrows and find his remaining family members. The 55-year-old said: 'After a while we decided to look into it and from there its just sprung to life. 'Were a military research/history group and were generally interested in these kinds of things. 'Its about bringing a persons story to life - these are real stories that people have lived through. 'Im so pleased that Wayne is able to speak to Johns family and finally find out about his past.' The former head of MI6 has accused civil servants 'ignorance or disloyalty' in a growing row over an EU satellite navigation system. Britain has been one of the biggest investors in the EU's 9billion Galileo satellite navigation system. But Brussels bureaucrats are insisting that the UK won't be able to use a back-up system which is vital to military and intelligence services after Brexit because it will no longer be a member state. Their diktat has caused fury in Downing Street, with officials drawing up plans to claw back the 1.2billion the UK has poured in to the project and design an independent system. But Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of Britain's foreign intelligence service, says civil servants should never have told ministers there was a chance we might continue to use the system after Brexit. The EU is insisting Britain won't be able to use a back-up system to the Galileo satellite system, in which the UK has invested 1.2billion, after Brexit He said: 'The idea that the EU might agree to the UK participating on its own terms was always totally unrealistic. 'British civil servants who sold this idea to their ministers were at best incompetently ignorant or, at worst, disloyal. In the world of EU officials, there can be no deviation from the rulebook.' His comment were made in a paper written with Professor Gwythian Prins, a former adviser to the chief of the defence staff, for the website Briefings for Brexit, but seen by The Times. The authors backed plans for Britain to build its own 5billion satellite navigation system to avoid becoming a 'powerless fly in a spider's web' set by the EU. They added: 'Since so much of Galileo is British, the UK might do as the prime minister is reported to be considering seriously, namely develop its own global navigation network. 'We strongly encourage her to take this prudent step in the interests of our national security.' The EU scheme will see the creation of a navigation service made up of 24 satellites to rival Americas dominant GPS and a similar system used by Russia. Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove says Theresa May should go ahead with Britain's own satellite system While the UK could be given access to parts of Galileo after Brexit, Brussels has raised concerns about whether Britain can be trusted to use elements reserved specifically for security matters. The armed forces and emergency services could be cut out of vital services. A heavily-encrypted arm of the service has been incorporated into security plans by the British armed forces, who need GPS technology to guide missiles. A Downing Street source said this week that the PM would never allow Britains security to be threatened by Brexit. The source said: The PM is clear our collective security is too important to haggle over. 'We want full access to Galileo, including the crucial secure elements that will help guide British missiles should they be needed to keep us all safe. But if we dont get access, we will find an alternative. Privately, Whitehall officials blame France for galvanising opposition to Britains continued participation in the scheme. And they warned that the EUs stance could backfire as the Galileo system relies on ground bases in far flung overseas British territories, which would instead be used to help run a British rival. The director of a prestigious Italian art gallery is facing a fraud trial for allegedly spending many of her working hours at the gym. Anna Coliva, who runs the Galleria Borghese in Rome, is accused of being absent from the museum for 41 hours over 12 days. The Italian culture ministry has suspended the director while she faces charges of absenteeism and defrauding the public purse. Coliva denies the claims and says she was leaving the building on business related to her work as director of the gallery, The Art Newspaper reports. Anna Coliva, pictured with a sculpture of Paolina Borghese at the Galleria Borghese in Rome, is accused of being absent from the museum for 41 hours over 12 days It is alleged that Coliva would sign in at work before going to the gym, after she was apparently followed in an effort to investigate her absence. Coliva said she had worked overtime which had compensated for her time away from the museum, while her lawyer said she should not need to punch in at work every day. The director also claimed that the strength and quality of the Galleria Borghese under her tenure had 'not been equalled by any other institution in Italy'. It is reported that the allegations were made by a member of staff who had themselves been punished for ticket touting. It is alleged that Coliva would sign in at work before going to the gym, after she was apparently followed in an effort to investigate her absence The gallery (pictured) was built as a party house in the 17th century by Cardinal Sciopione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V The gallery was built as a party house in the 17th century by Cardinal Sciopione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V. Borghese was an early patron of sculptor Bernini as well as being an art collector. Many of the works he sourced form part of todays collection, including works by Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael and Rubens. Its prized works include a Bernini sculpture, Daphne And Apollo, and Venus wearing only a rakishly angled hat in Cranach's Venus And Cupid With A Honeycomb. In seeking simplicity and context, I have divided my thoughts into periods that are meaningful to me because of where I was located at various times. In the compressed form required by this talk, I have tagged these periods to the constantly evolving relationship between PNG and Australia over half a century. Professor David Kavanamur's invitation to give this talk allowed me to crystallise in my mind many aspects of the PNG-Australia relationship over the half century I have been associated with PNG. PORT MORESBY - These days I publish and edit the PNG Attitude blog, as I have for the past 12 years, as a means of maintaining a conversation between Papua New Guineans and Australians and encouraging people to write about Papua New Guinea, its issues, challenges, heritage, society and stories. 1962 1966: ASOPA & THE HIGHLANDS In 1963, speaking in Port Moresby, Australias then prime minister, Robert Menzies said: I want to indicate that Australia is not going to be hurried out. We have a long job ahead of us and we intend to complete it. This does not mean we have a go-slow policy. If and when we reached a point at which we felt the people were approaching readiness for self-determination, it would be better to act. But we are a long way from that stage. In early 1962, straight out of high school, I had entered the Australian School of Pacific Administration in Sydney to train to teach in what was then called the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. I had responded to a brochure entitled Careers with a Challenge, and, with my parents exasperated that I had not won a place at university, I rather liked the sound of the words Challenge and Career and 'New Guinea' in juxtaposition. It was far enough away from my country town to give me the autonomy I craved. ASOPA was a red brick building on George's Heights, Sydney, looking out, appropriately enough, on the open sea beyond the entrance to the harbour. For us kiaps and teachers studying there, it was the beyond the Territory that we were focussed on. Back then, the assumption was that Australia would be in PNG for a very, very long time. It was wrong. Australians also thought of themselves as pretty good colonisers. And that was wrong. Soon after arriving in the Territory in late 1963, I asked an old New Ireland policeman how the Australian and the pre-World War I German administrations compared. We preferred the Germans, he replied. They were severe, but we knew where we stood. With you Australians, we never know where we are. It was an interesting comment and contrary to how we Australians see our national character as tough, straightforward, clear-eyed types. My first encounter with racism in PNG didnt take long to surface and I knew it when I saw it because of the way I had seen Australians treat our own Aboriginal people. In PNG it was more verbal than physical - although not always - but just as ugly. As a bolshy 18-year old who believed in socialism, I baulked at the idea of getting a hausboi, but soon was glad I bowed to pragmatism because Di Siune became my mentor, fixer and cultural guide for five important years during which I began my lifetime career, married and started a family. When my work took me elsewhere, Di Siune decided he had travelled enough and would return to Chimbu. I had received most of the benefits of that partnership. And so I was inducted into and moved through colonial society, over time coming to realise that colonialism of any kind is never benign because, no matter how mellow it may appear, its very nature is to classify people as unequal. In 1964, the school year had no sooner begun than I was told to participate in PNGs first national election as an assistant returning officer on a patrol that walked up and down endless ridges south of Chuave. There was hardly a government officer not involved in this major event that was to impact on everyones way of life. Western style democracy had arrived in PNG The relationship between PNG and Australia would now change at first slowly, but then at great speed. 1966 1970: PORT MORESBY RABAUL Historian Bill Gammage has written: "In 1967 the Moresby magazine Black & White warned, There will evolve in the Territory a clique of half-baked idiots who, by virtue of their attendance at a university whose degrees mean nothing, will set themselves up as intellectuals and social leaders of their own people. I wrote a few articles for Black & White in 1967 and thankfully that wasnt one of them because, not long after, I was a part-time student at UPNG studying economics and politics. The university was much scorned and mocked by Australian Territorians, as they called themselves, but for those of us fortunate enough to study there in those early days, it was clear that the pace of political change in PNG was accelerating even as disbelief in what was happening mounted. By now I had been transferred from my school in the highlands to Port Moresby to edit the school magazines and within a year I was recruited by the ABC to produce school broadcasts. But, eager to move out of Moresby and back to the field, after three years I left the ABC to join the government broadcasting service which assigned me to Radio Rabaul. In the Gazelle, the Tolai people were taking politics very seriously indeed with the community divided between pro-Administration leaders and the newly-formed Mataungan Association a proto-independence movement seeking greater access to alienated land and strenuously opposed to the establishment of a multiracial council. In the heated climate of the time, I felt the full force of antagonism to my role as a journalist at the government-owned station. 1970 was the year that Australian prime minister John Gorton, a pistol tucked into his trouser pocket, tried to address 10,000 people gathered at Rabaul airport who were as anxious to shout him down as he was to get away from them. Never previously had the Australian government encountered resistance like this to its Administration. Later, when Gorton wanted to send in troops to settle things down, he had a heated dispute with army minister Malcolm Fraser which was to ultimately help cost Gorton his leadership. By 1970, it was clear that the end of Australias presence in PNG was not far off and I saw how poorly prepared both sides were for self-determination, as it was called. A shrewd commentator later wrote, 80 years of political stagnation followed by 10 years of haste had not laid a sound base for the move to independence. But historys tide had turned and two years later, when Gough Whitlam was elected Australian prime minister, the pendulum was to swing even more dramatically. 1970 1973: BOUGAINVILLE If illness hadnt interrupted my schedule this past week, I would have gone to Rabaul and revisited the old New Guinea Club where a plaque is inscribed with words of mine written long ago: When I arrived in Rabaul in early 1970, the man most hated by the white residents was not one of the leaders of the feared Mataungan Association.... It was Australias most mercurial politician, Gough Whitlam. Whitlam had visited the town some month before and people would become abusive at the mere mention of his name. I dont know what kind of Australian it is that settles in New Guinea, he had said at a cocktail party. But its a very inferior breed. With experience in Rabaul under my belt including an unfriendly encounter near Vunapaladig plantation with bushknife-wielding Mataungan supporters from whom, not being a brave kiap, I fled at breakneck speed my superiors in the Department of Information in Port Moresby assigned me to transfer to Kieta as manager of Radio Bougainville, which had also run into problems. Radio Ashton, as the station was known locally as a slur against District Commissioner Des Ashton, had been established in a hurry to accompany the development of the Panguna copper and gold mine PNGs first large scale resource project and a real economic boon in terms of the independence that was coming. The mine was aggressively opposed by local landowners and the government propaganda that 'giving up your land is good for you' emitting from the radio station was not well received. When I arrived in Kieta, I discovered a storeroom packed floor to ceiling with boxes of radios. In those days, trying to encourage listening, we gave radios away free. But in the villages people were burning them and smashing them with axes and the station had stopped handing them out. The power of propaganda is not just a one-way street. Challenge peoples values and ingrained knowledge and it can backfire explosively. As manager, with my Departments approval, I set about taking the stations news and programs to the middle-ground. In doing so I ran into trouble from the kiaps who, after some time, decided I would be better relocated off the island. With the help of headquarters, and from my good friend Sam Piniau who was being groomed to run the NBC, that plan failed. I even knocked back a promotion to Moresby so I could stay in Bougainville. They were good years. I was in my mid-twenties, I was in my 'career with a challenge' and I was enjoying it. I also learned much about my profession and its relationship with the audience. And I fell in love with Bougainville and its beautiful people. Bougainville showed me that Australia was not only ill-prepared to guide PNG to independence; it was lacking a sophisticated understanding about how western politics and economics could successfully be transplanted within other cultures. It was an eye-opener for me. Id always assumed that, despite our administrative flaws and often deep conservatism, we Australians were better than that. 1973 1976: PORT MORESBY You may recall the words of Governor-General Sir John Guise at the lowering of the Australian flag on Independence Day eve: It is important the people of Papua New Guinea, and the rest of the world, realise the spirit in which we are lowering the flag of our colonisers. We are lowering the flag, not tearing it down." That was a great achievement for both PNG and Australia. In the period immediately before independence, most expatriate public servants ended up in Moresby, and I was no exception. In early 1973, I left Bougainville on a six-month consultancy with Unesco in Indonesia and, upon my return, found myself directing policy and planning in the new NBC under Sam Piniau, who had just been appointed chairman. A precise date had still not been set for independence but it seemed 1975 would be the year. Michael Somare was chief minister and, despite his great political skills, he was discovering that to his left was a Central Planning Office stacked with expats who were talking socialism and to his right was the Department of District Administration the kiaps department who were generally opposed to early independence and didnt seem to be trying hard to achieve it. As Phil Fitzpatrick wrote in PNG Attitude earlier this week, You couldnt be blamed for thinking the Department was somehow locked in the past and perpetuating some kind of dinosaur policy. Somare, pressing on to independence, saw that a strong kiap presence with its foot on the brake pedal would threaten progress. So, around that time, the fate of the kiaps was sealed. An independent PNG would have benefited if there had been the will and the time to transition them to a new nation-building role. But there was neither. They had to go. As for me, I expected that, given its importance in nation-building, the NBC an amalgam of government and ABC broadcasting organisations would be reasonably well-resourced. But the ABC wasnt up for significant funding and nor was the PNG government. In the circumstances, at my suggestion and under my management, the NBC decided take on advertising to supplement its budget. The Central Planning Office was furious. Somare intervened on its side. Piniau stood strong. They argued. Again I was told I faced deportation. I saw this conflict as essentially a battle between white men of opposing ideologies, a struggle which I saw as totally inappropriate in a newly independent nation and which distressed me a great deal. I resigned and some time later left PNG. A few weeks after I had gone, the government tried to change the NBC Act in parliament, lost the vote and advertising was introduced soon after. For me, in the process of setting up a new radio station in Australia, it was bitter-sweet moment. But despite all that and much other controversy Papua New Guinea had achieved independence. It was a great time. Im glad I was there for it. Even the most sour-faced colonials could not hide their pleasure on that day. Australia lost no international friends when PNG became independent but, inside its borders, many highlanders and many expats were anxious. But I agree with Dr Ron Mays assessment that notwithstanding all this, PNG made a smooth transition to independence and, in its first decade as an independent state, it performed well. 1976 2006: THE GAP YEARS Let me quote the grumpy but perceptive John Fowke to fill in my gap years, those years when I was pursuing my career elsewhere: As the twenty-first century opens, Fowke wrote, PNG is being forced through a process of massive social adjustment more intense than that experienced by almost any other nation. A simply-structured tribal society is becoming, willy-nilly, an incredibly more complex one.. Australia has been a humane and unusually generous foster-parent to PNG, both before and after independence. Australia laid solid foundations in terms of a wide appreciation of democratic ideals and principles among the educated of PNG, who are themselves largely the creation of Australia. The Australian poet, ASOPA lecturer and friend of PNG James McAuley once said that what it achieved in its relationship with PNG would come to define Australia as a nation. It has not turned out that way. A more prescient observation might be that what defines Australia as a nation has come to greatly influence our relationship with PNG. PNG was once much more important to Australia than it is today, and those gap years can be seen to have diluted the relationship. By the time 1976 gave way to 2006, the people-to-people contact had drifted apart. Sure there was aid and there was trade but there is more to a neighbourliness than that. Back near the turn of the century, John Fowke ventured the view that PNG still needed substantial assistance and it will come from nowhere but Australia. As we were to soon discover, the nowhere but Australia was to be challenged as PNG adopted a Look North Policy. And now PNG and the Pacific are a significant arena of a big power politics between China and the United States. But Fowke also noted that Australia must be much more insightful and much more cognisant of the causes of the problems of its close neighbour and ally. I believe the very existence of Abt PNG's governance project is a sign that we have moved in this direction, but it did take a long time to arrive. Forty odd years after independence it has only just happened. At the time PNG Attitude was first published in 2006, I was beginning to redirect my attention back to PNG. I hadnt been entirely absent I had lectured PNG media managers at the International training Institute in Sydney, maintained continuing friendships and worked to establish radio New Dawn FM in Bougainville. But, a bit like Australia, my attention had wandered. Until social media offered the opportunity for a new kind of conversation. 2006 2018: THE ATTITUDE YEARS The distinguished journalist Rowan Callick of The Australian newspaper, has written: PNG faces many physical as well as social challenges. But the chief hurdle at which it appears to fall is a moral one that of corruption. Culturally in PNG and Australia isnt much better leaders tend to love deals and ribbon-cutting and shun involvement in the nitty-gritty of competently delivering services and maintaining infrastructure. The choices involved in deal-making lend themselves to personal opportunity. Sam Koim recently estimated that about $200 million of PNG corruption proceeds are laundered to Australia annually. The developed world needs to stop the hypocrisy and start taking real action, Koim said. For developed world, read Australia. Just this week, we witnessed an argument about the resource curse - the paradox that countries with an abundance of natural resources tend to have less economic growth, less democracy and worse development outcomes. It quickly became politicised, as such matters do, which makes rational discourse difficult and solutions almost impossible. In this still incomplete decade I have seen the best of the PNG-Australia relationship in the struggle against multi-drug resistant TB and the worst of it in Australias dumping on Manus of unwanted refugees. In the columns of PNG Attitude, in 13,000 posts and 40,000 comments, Papua New Guineans and Australians have recorded their views and their stories about a relationship that always was capable of offering more than trade, aid and refugee deals. While in official pronouncements Australia states repeatedly that it has a special relationship with PNG, the truth is we have fallen well short of being true strategic partners. Over the last 15 years, Australias relationship with PNG has drifted from an aspirational strategic partnership to a more pragmatic formulation that is far from the new narrative encompassing a shared vision that Julie Bishop once spoke of and which never developed. On Tuesday this week the former colonial institution I knew as Adcol was rebirthed and rebranded as the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance. This has every appearance of possessing the potential to develop as a true partnership of PNG and Australia in the formidable task of creating ethical and capable public sector leaders. And the very fact it exists indicates a shared desire to tackle some tough problems afflicting the PNG-Australia relationship. The ideal, of course, would be to go beyond a workable relationship, which we seem to have, and to develop the stronger bond of partnership implying principles that can pass various tests: of mutuality, responsibility, equality, authenticity, transparency, transformational capacity and ethics. To achieve this will require a joint commitment to the shared national interests of both countries which means subsuming commercial, corporate, institutional and personal interests to the greater goal of bilateral understanding. I wonder if we know how to do that. Always interested in strategy, Ive parsed this notion of partnership to develop seven principles that I believe need to be satisfied to create effective partnerships between our two countries and their key institutions. I leave them with you for purposes of discussion and debate, and if you choose - further interrogation and enquiry. ______________ TRANSITIONING FROM RELATIONSHIP TO PARTNERSHIP My CREATTE principles of partnership theorises that an effective strategic partnership needs to satisfy each of the following seven principles or, if you like, tests: Conjointness - Reciprocity & mutuality between partners Responsibility - Accountability of partners to each other Equality - Fairness & parity between partners Authenticity - Honesty & realism between partners Transparency - Openness between partners Transformational - Meaningful change & outcomes for partners Ethical - Partnership based on moral principles When Papua New Guinea and Australia can look each other in the eye and say, "well, we've managed to do all that", we would really be partners - and what a great partnership that could be. Physics student Natasha Abrahart, who was originally from Nottingham, died on Monday A second-year physics student at the University of Bristol has died suddenly. Natasha Abrahart, 20, who was originally from Nottingham, passed away on Monday with the university saying it was 'deeply saddened' by the news. Her death was revealed hours after it emerged a 23-year-old student at the same university is suspected of taking his own life, raising concerns he was the tenth undergraduate in Bristol 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. But it is not yet known how Miss Abrahart, whose mother is called Margaret, 56, died. There are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death - and the coroner will hold an inquest. 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. Alex Elsmore, 23, was studying electrical and engineering at the University of Bristol On Miss Abrahart's death, a University of Bristol spokesman said: 'We have been informed of the sudden death of second year physics student Natasha Abrahart. 'Our thoughts are with Natasha's family, who have requested privacy at this very difficult time. We know this news may be distressing for members of the university community, especially those who knew and studied with Natasha. 'We are deeply saddened by this tragic news and encourage any students or staff who are affected to contact university wellbeing services for help as well as seek support from friends or family.' 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. The undergraduate, whose father has previously been praised for his 'outstanding facilitating and creative gifts', is originally from Liverpool and had four siblings. 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. Mr Elsmore is believed to have fallen from Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol (file picture) '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. The Samaritans charity has raised concerns at the potential impact of news of Mr Elsmore's death and has urged anyone affected to contact them if they wish. For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for details. Labour's John McDonnell became embroiled in an extraordinary on-air election night row with Tory minister Claire Perry, who accused him of sexism. The pair talked over each other and traded verbal insults in a bad-tempered appearance on the BBC as the council election results came flooding in. Ms Perry, a business minister, tore into the shadow chancellor for failing to apologise to Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey for repeating a joke about 'lynching' her. And as the pair clashed and Mr McDonnell tried to speak she suggested he has a sexism problem and said his gestures were telling her 'Get back in your box woman'. Scroll down for video Labour's John McDonnell became embroiled in an extraordinary on-air election night row with Tory minister Claire Perry (pictured during the row last night on the BBC) , who accused him of sexism Ms Perry, a business minister, tore into the shadow chancellor (pictured together diuring the on-air row last night) for failing to apologise to Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey for repeating a joke about 'lynching' her. Host Huw Edwards was left struggling to get a word in as the two frontbenchers traded blows on his show. In the extraordinary on-air clash, Ms Perry attacks Mr McDonnell for ever apologising to Ms McVey over the remarks. But the Labour frontbencher interrupts her saying: 'No, I a not accepting this, I am not accepting, this, the campaign is over.' He then puts his hand out towards Ms Perry and gestures to try to get her to stop talking. As the pair continue to row about the issue, Ms Perry attacks the labour Mp for gesturing her to be quiet. She said: 'Look at his hand gesture - get back in your box woman....the nasty party is in full force.' McDonnell replied: 'That is completely unacceptable in a programme like this.' The clash came in a night of dismal results for the Labour Party after they failed to deliver on vows to turn London red in the elections. In the biggest test of public opinion since the general election, efforts to wrest the strongholds of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet from the Tories fell flat. In Barnet, where Labour had just needed one seat to secure control, the Tories actually gained control of it. Defeated Labour councillors launched a furious attack on Jeremy Corbyn for failing to get a grip on the anti-Semitism crisis. Labour also came up short in crucial swing seats such as Nuneaton and Swindon, as the Tories appeared to hoover up votes from the collapsing Ukip. The results will fuel questions about Mr Corbyn's prospects of winning the key to Downing Street amid claims his 'peak' has passed. He tried to put a brave face on the results this morning as he visited Plymouth - the only council secured by Labour. 'Across the country we have made a lot of progress,' he said. 'We were defending seats won in 2014 which was a particularly good years.' Challenged on whether he had 'peaked', Mr Corbyn replied: 'There's much more to come and it's going to get even better.' By contrast Theresa May will be breathing a sigh of relief after defying expectations in the wake of last year's disastrous snap election. A peak-hour confrontation between group of men turned violent when a motorist allegedly pulled a gun on another driver. Three people have been arrested following the dramatic incident involving an allegedly stolen car just outside Melbourne's CBD just before 5pm. CityLink drivers were forced to swerve to avoid collision as a motorist fleeing in a white Nissan Skyline travelled through the Burnley tunnel the wrong way. A confrontation between a group of men turned violent when a gun was allegedly pulled in Melbourne's CBD When the car came emerged from the tunnel on the wrong side of the road, it smashed into an innocent motorist in a blue Alfa Romeo and a terrifying road rage ordeal unfolded. Police who were tailing the allegedly stolen car jumped out with guns drawn, according to 7 News. A witness, Brylee, told 3AW that she was driving out of the city centre towards the tunnel when a blue car travelling the opposite way in approached her. 'There must have been about six guys that got out of their cars and dragged these people out of their car.' Three people were arrested following incident involving allegedly stolen vehicle She explained a gun was pulled, and said there was a lot of punching and aggression. 'I had the gun pointed at my windscreen as I was trying to reverse away. 'These two guys were pinning one man down with a gun to his head,' she told Tom Elliott. Two men and one woman are expected to be interviewed later this evening in relation to the incident. A gynaecologist has died after her secret breast enlargement operation went wrong and left her in a coma for more than two months with her eyes wide open. Inna Moskovaya, 44, is the latest to die or suffer serious medical problems from recent plastic surgery cases in Russia. In one clinic, an 'angel of death' nurse is suspected of poisoning patients after breast of nose operations, but criminal investigators are also examining whether 'bad medicines' have been used to cut costs resulting in deaths and traumas. Respected medic Dr Moskovaya underwent the procedure in late February but had not told her friends and family. Inna Moskovaya, 44, had become a leading gynaecologist in the Russian city of Zheleznovodsk She reportedly failed to recover after being given a dose of anesthetic during the surgery Mikhail Kalchenko, 39, who performed the operation is the husband of one of Dr Moskovaya's close friends She was operated on by leading plastic surgeon Mikhail Kalchenko, 39, husband of her close friend, and she underwent detailed medical checks before the 1,900 operation. According to one account, she failed to recover from the anaesthetic and stopped breathing, her eyes wide open but completely unconscious in a 1st level coma. Kalchenko has told criminal investigators that she came round after the surgery and he talked to her briefly about her recovery. Only then did she suddenly sink into a coma. She was treated the hospital where she worked in her home city Zheleznovodsk, then regional capital Pyatigorsk, and finally flown to Moscow region for care, where she died. A friend of the dead gynaecologist - mother of an adult son - said: 'I think her surgeon is scared and shocked now. 'Inna was a good friend of his wife's. All of them are doctors. 'Her relatives have not received documents about what happened because Inna did not give next of kin names. A decision on whether or not a criminal case will be opened over her death will be made after the results of a forensic test are released Kalchenko claimed she recovered from the surgery and came to have a chat to him before she lapsed into the coma Her relatives promised to pursue the case so that others undergoing the same procedure wouldn't have to suffer her fate 'She did not want anybody to know about this surgery'. The victim's sister Valeria said: 'We will search for justice. 'We lost Inna but at least others won't suffer like this. 'We will pursue this to the end.' She claimed something went wrong in the aftermath of the surgery, but there has been no explanation. She claimed her sister was left alone after the surgery and stopped breathing. 'Why did they leave her? A million questions and no answers.' A decision on a formal criminal case being opened will be made after the results of forensic tests. In Moscow, criminal investigators are probing whether female patients were deliberately killed and harmed at an elite plastic surgery clinic. Three died recently in suspicious circumstances at fashionable MedLounge clinic and another three remain in hospital in 'grave' conditions amid fears of poisoning through the administering of inappropriate drugs. Beautician Marina Kushkhova, 29, died after sinking into a coma following an operation to alter the shape of her nose. There have been a number of plastic surgery related deaths in Russia recently - including Marina Kushkhova, 29 (pictured) Like Dr Moskovaya, Ms Kushkhova died after falling into a coma during her nose surgery procedure Last month, a Canadian woman, aged 41, died after travelling to the Russian capital for breast implant surgery, while the death of another unnamed female patient is also seen as suspicious. Criminal investigators say they are working on a theory that a nurse could be responsible for poisoning the patients, according to Vesti TV news. This theory is so far 'not confirmed', and the quality of the medicines used at the clinic is also being examined. A source in the Investigative Committee which probes serious crimes, said: 'We have seized documents from the clinic, computers, samples of medical drugs used during operations, and recordings from CCTV cameras. 'There are interrogations of medical personnel who directly participated in the operations, communicated with the affected patients, or had access to them. 'In addition, experts must conduct a detailed chemical analysis of the bodies of the dead women, as well as take tests from surviving patients.' In yet another case where a criminal probe is underway, at elite Triumph Palace clinic, mother of two Ekaterina Kiseleva, 32, died from heart failure after undergoing five-hour breast lift surgery Another woman, Ekaterina Kiseleva, 32, died from heart failure after a five-hour breast surgery A French manifesto calling for passages of the Koran to be deleted on the grounds of rising anti-Semitism has sparked outrage among Muslims amid claims their religion was being unfairly 'put on trial'. An open letter published in the French media blamed 'Islamist radicalisation' for a 'quiet ethnic purging' in the Paris region, with abuse forcing Jewish families to move out. The manifesto, whose signatories included ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and former PM Manuel Valls, called for verses of the Koran calling for the 'murder and punishment of Jews, Christians and disbelievers' to be removed on the grounds that they are 'obsolete'. But Muslim leaders say the nearly 300 signatories were blaming a whole religion for the actions of an extremist minority. A French manifesto calling for passages of the Koran to be removed on the grounds of rising anti-Semitism has sparked outrage among Muslims amid claims their religion was being unfairly 'put on trial' (file picture) The manifesto, whose signatories included ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured) and former PM Manuel Valls, calls for verses of the Koran calling for the 'murder and punishment of Jews, Christians and disbelievers' to be removed on the grounds that they are 'obsolete' Days after the manifesto was released, 30 imams signed a counter-letter in French newspaper Le Monde while the Observatory for Islamophobia called its contents 'hateful racism'. After a series of high-profile attacks on Jews, Muslim leaders contacted by AFP acknowledged that anti-Semitism was a problem in France. But Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, said the manifesto 'subjected French Muslims and French Islam to an unbelievable and unfair trial'. 'It creates a clear risk of pitching religious communities against one another,' he said in a statement. Ahmet Ogras, head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith umbrella group, said: 'The only thing we can agree on is that we must all unite against anti-Semitism.' Jewish pensioner Mireille Knoll (pictured) was stabbed 11 times in Paris before her body was set on fire, in a crime treated as anti-Semitic Tareq Oubrou, imam of the Grand Mosque of the southern city of the Bordeaux, pointed out that Islam was not the only religion whose ancient holy texts contain anachronistic passages. 'Any number of holy texts are violent, even the Gospel,' Oubrou said, adding that the signatories, who also included celebrities like actor Gerard Depardieu, had misinterpreted the Koran. He called the characterisation of the Koran 'nearly blasphemous', according to The Atlantic. The writer Pascal Bruckner, among those who signed the letter, told France Inter radio it had not been intended 'to stigmatise but to spur on the goodwill of reformist Muslims'. The letter, published in the Parisien newspaper on April 22, said that since 2006, '11 Jews have been assassinated - and some tortured - by radical Islamists because they were Jewish'. The latest attack rocked France in March when two perpetrators stabbed 85-year-old Jewish woman Mireille Knoll 11 times before setting her body on fire, in a crime treated as anti-Semitic. Officially, the number of anti-Semitic crimes fell in France in 2017 for a third year running, according to the interior ministry, down seven percent. But Jews are the target of about a third of France's recorded hate crimes despite making up only about 0.7 per cent of the population. The half-a-million-plus Jewish community is the largest in Europe but has been hit by a wave of emigration to Israel in the past two decades, partly due to anti-Semitism in immigrant neighbourhoods. Dr Ali Khoynezhad, the heart surgeon who operated on actor Bill Paxton days before he died, has denied negligence in his treatment The heart surgeon accused of performing a 'maverick' operation on actor Bill Paxton days before he died has denied negligence. Dr Ali Khoynezhad and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he worked have asked for a malpractice lawsuit brought by his family to be dismissed. Lawyers say that Mr Paxton 'knowingly and voluntarily' agreed to a procedure to fix an aortic aneurism despite having a 'preexisting condition' that rendered him 'susceptible to potential complications'. Mr Paxton, who was best-known for his roles in Apollo 13, Titanic and Twister, suffered immediate complication from the surgery and died of a stroke 11 days later. Dr Khoynezhad, a world-renowned heart surgeon, resigned from his position following the actor's death. Paxton's wife Louise and their two children allege in their lawsuit, filed last month, that Dr Khoynezhad performed a 'maverick' operation on the 61-year-old's heart. The suit added that he and his family were not fully briefed on the dangers before his operation on February 14 2017, and said they only learned afterward that the surgery was not necessary. 'We are pursuing accountability and justice from a physician and a hospital that failed to adequately protect Mr. Paxton,' the family lawyer, Steve Heimberg, says in the release. Paxton's wife Louise (pictured together in 2016) claims Dr Khoynezhad performed a 'maverick' operation on the actor without making them fully aware of the risks Dr Khoynezhad resigned from his position at Cedars Sinai Medical Center following Paxton's death. The hospital has also denied wrongdoing Paxton was survived by his wife of 30 years, Louise, and their two children, James and Lydia. According to the lawsuit, both Khoynezhad and the hospital failed to clearly explain to the family the risks of a 'minimally invasive surgery on an aortic aneurism' that Paxton underwent on February 14 of last year. Paxton at the time was diagnosed with two specific heart-related ailments bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital condition, and aortic aneurysm. This birth defect leaves the aortic valve - the main artery from the heart that distributes oxygen-rich blood to the body - operating with just two small leaflets that help regulate blood flow as opposed to three in a healthy heart, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The condition is not considered debilitating and does not produce noticeable symptoms. An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in a section of the aorta. This condition is potentially life threatening since it can cause the aorta to burst, leading to massive bleeding and eventually death in a short amount of time. Khoynezhad and the hospital recommended that Paxton undergo surgery for aortic aneurysm, according to the lawsuit. The family say they later learned the star's operation was 'unnecessary'. The family also alleges that neither Khoynezhad or Cedars-Sinai staff adequately made them aware of the potentially negative consequences of the surgery for Paxton. The lawsuit filed by Louise and Paxton's children (pictured together in 2011) also alleges that they were not aware the surgery was unnecessary until afterward According to the Paxton family, Khoynezhad and Cedars-Sinai failed to 'disclose that performing the procedure as a minimally invasive surgery was novel, unconventional, and not the standard of care.' The lawsuit also alleges that Khoynezhad 'lacked experience and/or expertise' in performing the procedure as a minimally invasive surgery.' Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Khoynezhad and Cedars-Sinai acted 'beyond the scope' of Paxton's 'consent' in performing a 'high-risk and unconventional' surgery on the late actor. The lawsuit alleges that the surgeon and the hospital allowed the unconventional operation to go forward in order to enhance their 'personal and reputational benefit.' Had Paxton or his family been aware of the nature of the operation, they likely would have declined 'a dangerous and risky' surgery, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit alleges that Khoynezhad may have had a financial incentive to go through with the procedure that he chose, which in turn 'affected [his] professional judgment'. The family says that after the operation, Paxton started to have complications. Paxton was best-known for his roles as astronaut Fred Haise in Apollo 13 (left) and storm chaser Bill Harding in Twister (right) Paxton also starred in Oscar-winning movie Titanic as deep-sea researcher Brock Lovett During these complications, Khoynezhad wasn't even at the hospital, 'causing a delay in treatment resulting in damage,' the lawsuit alleges. The family says that the initial failed operation led to subsequent surgeries on Paxton, including a 'coronary artery bypass graft, the placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump, the placement of a right ventricular assist device, and an ECMO (extracorporeal membrance oxygeneration) support' (also known as life support). Cedars-Sinai released a statement on Tuesday saying: 'State and federal privacy laws prevent us from commenting about patient care without written authorization.' Nonetheless, '[n]othing is more important to Cedars-Sinai than the health and safety of our patients. These remain our top priorities. 'One of the reasons for our high quality is that we thoroughly review concerns about any patient's medical care. 'This process ensures that we can continue to provide the highest quality care.' Khoynezhad has been practicing medicine for over two decades and is considered an internationally renowned heart surgeon, according to US News and World Report. He is currently working for MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Los Angeles. A spokesperson for MemorialCare said all questions on the operation should be referred to Cedars-Sinai and that Khoynezhad is 'in good standing with our organization.' Paxton rose to stardom in such Hollywood blockbusters as Titanic and inspired budding meteorologists as a tornado chaser in Twister. Paxton, who appeared in more than 90 films or television shows over four decades, had recently starred in the HBO television series Big Love about a polygamous Mormon family, and acted alongside Tom Cruise in the 2014 film Edge of Tomorrow. For his role in Apollo 13, Paxton won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture in 1996. The son of a Texas businessman, Paxton had a brush with history on Nov. 22, 1963, when as an 8-year-old he saw President John F. Kennedy speak outside a Fort Worth hotel hours before Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. A photo of Paxton held above the crowd to catch a glimpse of the president became famous, and 50 years later, Paxton narrated the documentary JFK: The Final Hours. A brazen gang of moped thieves who cleared out the perfume counter at a high street chemist are being hunted by police. The four came prepared with shopping bags on two mopeds and used a concrete post to smash their way in a north London Boots undeterred by passengers getting off night buses. The four wearing crash helmets then smashed the glass display cabinets to help themselves to 5,000 worth of the fragrances. They filled their bags with bottles of aftershave and perfumes from YSL, Armani, Hugo Boss, Paco Rabanne, Givenchy, Diesel, Dior, Lacoste, DKNY, Davidoff, Cerruti and CK One smellies. The gang then fled on their mopeds after the early morning raid last Thursday. Scotland yard said: Detectives in Barnet are appealing for information and have released CCTV following a burglary in Temple Fortune. The thieves help themselves to thousands of pounds worth of perfume and aftershave Police were called at 1.30am on Thursday, 26 April to reports of a burglary at Boots the Chemists, Finchley Road, Temple Fortune. Over 5,000 worth of aftershave and perfume was stolen. At 1.25am four suspects riding two dark coloured mopeds pulled up outside the chemist. They were carrying large shopping bags and one of them carried a large cement post. Four individuals wearing crash helmets were filmed on CCTV following daring bike raid One of the suspects used the post to smash open the front door of the chemist. Once broken, all four suspects entered the store, smashed the glass display cabinets and filled their bags with brands such as YSL, Armani, Hugo Boss, Paco Rabanne, Givenchy, Diesel, Dior, Lacoste, DKNY, Davidoff, Cerruti and CK One. The suspects then made off on their mopeds. Detective Constable Kim Louey from Barnets Major Crime Unit said: We are appealing for anyone who may have seen these suspects. We know from CCTV, drivers and buses were operating at the time of the offence, with passengers getting off the bus as the suspects loaded up their mopeds with the goods. Campaigners today won the right to launch a fresh legal challenge against the UK selling arms to Saudi Arabia. The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) want a ban to be imposed amid claims the Kingdom is breaching international human rights law in the war in Yemen. The High Court ruled last year that the sales could go ahead despite concerns about the humanitarian impact. But today two Court of Appeal judges gave the green light to campaigners to appeal the decision. Lord Justice Irwin and Lord Justice Flaux, granted permission for the appeal, which will be heard by the Court of Appeal in the months ahead. The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) want a ban to be imposed amid claims the kingdom is breaching international human rights law in the war in Yemen. The High Court (pictured) ruled last year that the sales could go ahead but today Court of Appeal judges said the ruling can be appealed Lawyers Leigh Day, representing CAAT, said the sales flout british policy which prohibits selling licences if there is a 'clear risk' the arms 'might' be used in 'a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law'. CAAT point out that thousands of people have been killed as a result of the bombing on Yemen. And many more have died as a result of the humanitarian catastrophe that has taken root in the war-torn country. Since the bombing of Yemen began in March 2015, the UK has licensed 4.6 billion worth of arms to the Saudi regime. This includes 2.7 billion worth of ML10 licences - which includes aircraft, helicopters and drones. And a further 1.9 billion worth of ML4 licences - handed out for grenades, bombs, and missiles - have also been sold. Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said: 'The Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen has killed thousands of people and created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world. 'Despite this, the Saudi regime has been armed and supported every step of the way by successive UK governments. We believe that these arms sales are immoral, and are confident that the Court of Appeal will agree that they are unlawful.' Rosa Curling of Leigh Day said: 'We are delighted the Court of Appeal judges have recognised that a full hearing into this case must take place. 'It is clear from the open evidence in this claim that there is a clear risk the arms sold from the UK might be used in serious violation of international law. Theresa May (pictured yesterday with her husband Philip after voting in local elections in London) wants the UK to continue to sell arms to Saudi Arabia as it brings billions of pounds into the UK's economy 'Where our politicians have sadly failed to follows UK legislation and policy, our client hopes the Court will ensure the rule of law is upheld.' A Government spokesman said: 'We remain confident that the UK operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world and will continue to defend the decisions being challenged. 'We keep our defence exports under careful review to ensure they meet the rigorous standards of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.' Rocco Blume, Head of Policy and Advocacy at War Child UK, said: 'All evidence shared publicly makes it clear that the UK government has blood on its hands as long as it sells arms to Saudi Arabia. 'UN verified data has found that Saudi Arabia is guilty of grave violations against children's rights.' 'The UK only has one chance to determine its identity in a post-EU Britain - it must cease its arms sales to Saudi Arabia to end its part in this conflict and show that it is prioritising human rights.' A Chinese girl was found bleeding on the head after being slammed into a cupboard by her kindergarten teacher in south China. The five-year-old girl, Liao Ziyu, had a two centimetres (0.8 inches) deep wound on the top of her head and was given three stitches at a hospital. Ziyu's class teacher explained that she was emotionally unstable. She has been detained for 15 days by the police. Video shows a teacher dragging a young girl to the front of the class at a kindergarten in China The five-year-old Ziyu was being punished by her class teacher during an activity after lunch The girl's father revealed the incident to Changsha TV Broadcast yesterday that his daughter was physically abused at Brown Wind Kindergarten in Xiangtan, Hunan Province. Mr Liao said a classmate sitting behind pulled his daughter's hair and caught the teacher's attention when Ziyu turned back. CCTV footage provided by the kindergarten captures the toe-curling moment the class teacher pulls Ziyu out of her seat and dragged her to the front of the class. She then hit the five-year-old against a cupboard. The girl was taken to Xiangtan Hospital by the head teacher immediately when she was found bleeding in the head. Ms Guo slammed her to a cupboard hard and caused Ziyu bleeding in the head instantly The little girl was sent to a hospital where doctors gave her three stitches on the wound Ziyu's mother reported to the police as soon as she rushed to the hospital. The teacher, surnamed Guo, explained to the policemen that she was feeling emotionally unstable during an activity after lunch. Ms Guo received a fine and has been detained 15 days for grievous bodily harm. Xu Fenglei, safety adviser of the kindergarten apologised to the parent and admitted that there are management issues in the kindergarten. The school had to close for a week while local education bureau investigated into the matter. Theresa May was today urged by leading Brexiteers to seize on today's local election victories to make a clean break from the EU. Boris Johnson said the local election results proved the Prime Minister had the backing over voters when she pledged to take Britain out of the EU customs union and single market. The Foreign Secretary said the Tory party's strong performance in Leave-supporting areas as evidence that the party must stick to its guns on cutting ties with Brussels. His words were echoed by other leading Tory MPs including Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the European Research Group - the powerful group of backbench Brexiteers. They said Labour's failure to win any of its target London boroughs or make a breakthrough elsewhere are a blow to his party's bid to keep the UK in a customs union with the EU. Meanwhile, Ukip faced a near total collapse in the local elections - with their eave voters largely being scooped up by the Tories. The better-than-expected showing has given Mrs May some welcome breathing space. The PM (pictured with Tory activists in Wandsworth today) is set to delay the introduction of two Brexit related bills amid fears she will suffer a humiliating defeat on them in Parliament The Prime Minister (pictured in Wandsworth today) said Labour threw 'everything' at their target boroughs in London - but 'failed' to snatch any away from the Tories Boris Johnson delivered a thinly-veiled message to the PM, while Tory backbenchers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries also stressed the importance of a clean break from the EU But the challenges facing her were emphasised as it emerged two crucial pieces of Brexit legislation could be delayed to avoid disastrous defeats. A beaming Mrs May visited jubilant Tory activists in Wandsworth, south London this morning to thank campaigners for their work in keeping the council blue. The Prime Minister said Labour threw 'everything' at their target boroughs in London - but 'failed' to snatch any away from the Tories. England's 2018 council elections at a glance Here are the highlights of the May 2018 local elections in England: Tories seize control of Barnet: Labour fail to win the north London borough in the wake of the anti-Semitism scandal. Furious defeated councillors have demanded Jeremy Corbyn personally apologise to them. Labour fails to win Westminster: The flagship Tory borough had been a key target for Labour. The party had hoped anger over Brexit would help them snatch the council. Labour fails to win Kensington & Chelsea: Labour had hoped to win the borough amid anger at the Tory council's handing of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Tories win in key swing areas outside London: The Conservatives are in control in Nuneaton and Swindon Tories lose Trafford: In Labour's biggest gain of the night, they snatch the Manchester Council off the Tories, who controlled it for 15 years. Labour wins control of Plymouth Council with Johnny Mercer the local Tory MP, blaming the upset on defence cuts which hit the area badly. Brexiteers, including Boris Johnson, say the Tory party's electoral success is a vote for a clean break from the EU. Dan Jarvis elected Sheffield city mayor. The Labour MP - one of a number of party moderates exiled to the backbenches who have now become city mayors - had been expected to win. Lib Dems make some inroads after three years years in the electoral wilderness, winning control of Richmond council. Ukip collapse as the party loses 92 council seats. Advertisement She said: 'Labour thought they could take control, this was one of their top targets and they threw everything at it, but they failed.' In London, the Tories managed to hold on to their flagship Tory boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth, while seizing overall control of Barnet - all local authorities Labour had hoped to win. While outside London the Conservatives took control of Nuneaton and Bedford Council - a bellweather for General Elections - and hung on to Dudley and Swindon. She has emerged unscathed from the vote as predictions the Tories would take a hammering in London failed to materialise. But the PM now faces her major challenge - getting her Brexit plan passed the House of Lords and her rebellious backbench MPs. Mrs May was humiliatingly overruled by her own Brexit War Cabinet earlier this week, when senior ministers dismissed her plan for a 'customs partnership' with the EU. New Home Secretary Sajid Javid joined Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Liam Fox and Gavin Williamson in criticising the 'compromise' option, which would see the UK collect border duties on behalf of the bloc. However, Downing Street believes the plan constitutes their best chance of getting a Brexit package through Parliament. Mrs May is now thought to have decided to delay tabling the Customs and Trade Bills, after her chief whip Julian Smith warned the government would lose a vote on rebel amendments demanding the UK stays in a customs union with the EU. The two Bills must be passed before the UK cuts ties with Brussels to ensure the country's ability to trade does not go into meltdown after Brexit. But up to 20 Tory MPs are reportedly considering joining Labour and the Lib Dems in backing potentially explosive amendments. Mrs May (pictured in Barnet) has been given some welcome breathing space amid the raging Brexit row A backbench rebellion on that scale would easily be enough to overturn Mrs May's wafer thin working majority, which stands at just 13 votes. A defeat on the bills over the next few months would be an embarrassing blow to the Prime Minister just as Britain is in the midst of the second stage of Brexit negotiations to thrash out a trade deal. UK could be in the EU's customs union until 2023 because the post-Brexit system is not ready Britain could be trapped inside the EU's customs union until 2023 because the post-Brexit replacement is not ready, officials have warned ministers. Alternatives to the current system, which Britain has been part of for four decades, are at least give years away from being viable. The problem is complicated by the Government failing to agree what it wants from the negotiations and the fact no deal is expected with the EU until at least October. Theresa May met her senior ministers to discuss customs options on Monday night but the crunch Cabinet committee was deadlocked. The claims, revealed today by the Daily Telegraph, will enrage Brexiteers and fuel calls for Britain to Brexit immediately. One senior Brexiteer told The Telegraph: 'There are genuine concerns that this delay will lead to the UK staying in the customs union permanently. 'Regardless of that, if we are still in the customs union by the time of the next general election in 2022 it will cause a catastrophe at the polls because we will not have delivered Brexit and voters will not have seen any benefits of leaving the EU.' Reports of the delay came amid fears 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 on Monday. Advertisement Mr Smith is desperate to shield the PM from such a defeat and defer the votes until October, by which time they hope the Brexit deal will be agreed, The Sun reports. A source told the newspaper: 'The PM' thinking is, why jeopardise everything by losing a customs union vote if we don't have to? 'There is time to get the Bills through after October, but it will be very tight.' The PM's official spokesman said: 'Timetabling will be set out in due course. 'We have always been clear we will have all the legislation in place in time for Brexit.' But critics have warned that the the Tories risk running out of time to get all the pieces of Brexit related legislation through before exit day on 31 December next year. Ministers still have to get the Immigration Bill and the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through Parliament. And the Agriculture Bill and the Fisheries Bill also need to be taken through both Houses. In an apparent reminder to the PM today, Mr Johnson tweeted: 'Jeremy Corbyn has been abandoned in many leave areas his pledge to stay in the customs union means he is not trusted to deliver Brexit. 'PMs clear Mansion House vision for leaving the single market and customs union a key part of Tory electoral success.' Senior Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has been leading backbench opposition to the customs partnership concept, today urged the PM to renew her commitment to Brexit. He highlighted election guru John Curtice saying that the Conservatives had performed best in Leave areas, adding: 'Sir John Curtices view that the local election result means the government must deliver on Brexit is surely right, he usually is.' Fellow Tory MP Nadine Dorries said: 'Message to the #Conservative party from its core vote is very clear (70% leave). Trusting us to deliver a clean #Brexit ,UKIP vote that denied us so many seats in the past has come home. We must deliver.' The House of Lords have dealt a series of crushing defeats to Mrs May's Brexit plans over the past week. The Tories emerged triumphant in Wandsworth (pictured) despite a massive effort by Labour to oust them A defeat on the bills in Parliament (pictured) over the next few months would be an embarrassing blow to the Prime Minister just as Britain is in the midst of the second stage of Brexit negotiations to thrash out a trade deal Peers backed an amendment to the Government's key Brexit bill to give Parliament decision-making power on the outcome of negotiations with the EU - including the power to call off the divorce. What is a customs partnership with the EU? A customs partnership is less formal than the current EU customs union the UK is a member of. Under the proposals, Britain would stay in a customs union with the EU for some sectors, while leaving it for others. This would mean it would impose the same tariffs as the Brussels bloc on some goods, but set its own on others. Backers of the plan say his would facilitate free trade in areas where Britain does a lot of its business with the EU, while freeing the country to sign new free trade deals with other countries. One possibility could be keeping the UK and EU in a customs union for trade in goods, but allowing divergence for the services sector. Under the so-called 'hybrid model', the UK would collect EU import tariffs on behalf of Brussels and then pay it to the EU. But Brexiteers are critical of the plan. which they think is unworkable and cumbersome. They fear it will effectively stop the UK from being able to negotiate free trade deals around the world after Brexit. Advertisement And they also voted against Mrs May's plans to leave the EU's customs union after Brexit. Labour peer and leading anti-Brexiteer, Lord Adonis, said: 'Theresa May is in office but not in power. The Prime Minister might dodge and duck vote afraid of defeats but that is not leadership. 'The Prime Minister just looks chicken. Is what 'Taking back Control' looks like? 'This whole process is a disaster. 'There is a very real possibility MPs won't approve important things like an immigration bill, a fisheries bill or an agriculture bill before they vote on withdrawal. MPs are being asked to vote blind.' It comes amid separate reports officials have warned ministers that Britain could be trapped inside the EU's customs union until 2023 because the post-Brexit replacement is not ready. Mrs May has vowed to take Britain out of the EU customs union - which must happen if the UK is to be free to sign trade deals with countries around the world. She has put forward two plans for a post Brexit customs arrangement. One is a a customs partnership which would see the UK act on the EU's behalf when imports arrive from the rest of the world - collecting duties which the ocuntry would then pay to the bloc. Under the second proposal, known as maximum facilitation or max-fac, the UK and EU would create as frictionless a customs border as possible. This would mean technology was used to track goods and businesses importing and exporting over the border regularly would get 'trusted status' to minimise the need for customs checks. Parents, guardians, academics and relatives and special education teachers from Simbu and Mt Sion Blind Centre who facilitated the duos learning were also present to witness their graduation. Both men had enrolled at the university in 2016. and completed the two year diploma programs successfully. Among them were two functionally blind students - Immanuel Simon from Gumine in Simbu with a diploma in technical vocational education and Israel Kine from East Sepik graduating in communication and creative industry. GOROKA - The University of Goroka has hosted its 21st graduation with more than 700 students graduating in various academic programs. Israel Kine was co-sponsored by Ungai Bena MP Benny Allan who was also present to witness and congratulate him. Besides other development projects, I have also funded disability programs in my district and have created a disability desk for people living with disabilities to seek support live a life that is productive and meaningful, said Benny Allan. Israel is one of the people who have benefitted from this fund. The mentor of visually-impaired education education and executive dean of the School of Education, Dr James Aiwa, congratulated the two men on their achievement. Dr Aiwa said Emmanuel and Israel were enrolled not because they had disabilities but on merit. They completed primary and secondary school and scored acceptable grade point averages to enter tertiary institutions. The University of Goroka is the only state tertiary institution in PNG that enrols and graduates a high number of students with special needs, Dr Aiwa said. Currently, there are seven students with visual impairment, one with hearing impairment and another with physical impairment studying at the university under different programs. The University of Goroka has also established a Disability Inclusion Resource Centre in the School of Education. Christofel Blinden Mission based in Wewak has funded the centre, office and learning facilities with a grant of K25,000 while other organisations have funded laptops and other devices. The centre will seek more assistance to purchase necessary equipment and assistive devices to enhance teaching and learning for students so they can complete their studies successfully. The challenge now is to liaise with the government and potential employers to create jobs for these people. Advertisement The death toll from freak storms that hit India climbed above 140 on Friday as people told how they had no time to escape the ferocious winds which tore down homes and toppled walls. The overnight storms ravaged the territories of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday - leaving hordes of people homeless and many people trapped by debris. More than 20 people were killed in a single village, Kheragarh, in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh state, where a number of homes were knocked down by the storm. Most of the victims were hit by falling walls and trees as powerful winds struck hundreds of towns and villages. The dust clouds plunged swathes of north India into darkness as winds of more than 130 kilometres per hour. Many people were sleeping as intense bursts of lightning destroyed their houses overnight as they became trapped inside. Relief workers are battling to clear debris in affected areas and provide urgent medical care to those injured in the storms - amid warnings the storms are set to continue. Scroll down for video A man stands near his demolished house on the outskirts of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal monument, on Friday morning The village of Kheragarh was one of the worst hit in the Agra area - with a score of homes and public buildings obliterated by the storm More than 20 people were killed in Kheragarh by falling debris from buildings and uprooted trees plummeting to the ground Fierce winds which peaked at over 130 kilometers per hour stripped houses of their brickwork and sent walls crashing down Relatives of a 24-year-old man who was crushed to death after the ceiling of a building fell in on top of him in Kheragarh Hundreds of power cables were severed leaving thousands in rural communities completely bereft of vital electricity supplies 'We couldn't sleep and were worried if the storm hits again. We took precautions and secured everything but nothing can stand up to nature's fury,' 40-year-old Agra resident Munna Lal Jha told AFP. Ram Bhorosi told how his son and a nephew died when their house caved in as they welcomed people who had attended his daughter's wedding. 'We had guests at home and my son went inside the room to get a bed when the storm struck,' he said. 'A big stone crushed his head after the roof collapsed. His cousin was also caught under the crumbling roof. Half a dozen men helped us to clear the rubble to take out bodies. They didn't get time to raise the alarm, it was so sudden.' In nearby Burera village, Anil Kumar told of his narrow escape when their house fell. 'We were sitting outside when the winds suddenly started raging. Four of us were crushed under the debris after the wall fell. My grandfather died but the others survived with injuries.' Neighbours look through the wedding pictures of 24-year-old Sunil Kumar who died after getting crushed under the debris of a ceiling that fell in Villagers inspecting the caved-in roof of a building in Kheragarh which killed 24-year-old Sunil Kumar who was in the room below Thousands of animals used as livestock were killed and injured in the storms as they were left outside to deal with the winds Commuters struggled to deal with the smog being forced to cover their eyes and mouths so as not to inhale the thick layer of dust Hundreds of people were left needing treatment as they sustained wounds from falling objects with doctors rushing to save them A an is lifted from the rubble of his own home after the storm destroyed the house in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday night Enormous lightning strikes set fire to houses and destroyed them completely sending walls and ceilings caving in as people slept Falling trees squashed cars and houses in several towns as many were killed by the tumbling branches in Uttar Pradesh Hemant Gera, secretary for disaster management and relief in Rajasthan, told the BBC the storms were 'the worst he'd seen for 20 years'. 'We had a high intensity dust storm on 11 April - 19 people died then - but this time it struck during the night so many people sleeping and couldn't get out of their houses when mud walls collapsed,' Mr Gora said. The state government has announced that families of the dead will receive 400,000 rupees (about $6,000; 4,400) as compensation. 200,000 rupees (about $3,000 or 2,200) will also be given to those who were seriously injured in the catastrophe. 'We can confirm at least 46 deaths, 41 injuries from around 40 of the state's 75 districts,' T.P. Gupta of the Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner's office told AFP. The Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, home to the Taj Mahal monument, was one of the worst hit, according to media reports. There were 46 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh in the north and 31 in Rajasthan to the west. The local government in Uttar Pradesh government has reportedly sounded an alert for the next 48 hours. The winds were so powerful that even solid brick walls fell victim to the storm as houses across the north of the country crumbled Doctors and volunteers worked tirelessly to try and help those injured in the freak weather tragedy as hospitals became highly crowded Falling telephone wires caused total power outages in many regions as relief workers battled to restore the electricity supply Torrential rain followed the dust storm and made accessing the affected areas even more difficult for emergency services Among the worst affected areas were the northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh where hundreds of people were injured The storm also hit the capital Delhi, more than 100km (62 miles) away, along with heavy rains late on Wednesday evening. A dramatic video, posted on Twitter, showed a thick layer of dust blanketing the Delhi skyline - hundreds of miles away from the centre of the storm. Tweeting his condolences, 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,' he tweeted. 'Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected.' The government said there were still storm warnings out in several Indian territories for the next few days as India's monsoon season is just six weeks away Traffic in Delhi was brought to a standstill as first dust then rain played havoc with transport systems and left the city's transport networks paralysed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would be coordinating with local authorities to provide relief The storm also killed thousands of animals - leaving scores of people across India without vital livestock like their sheep Among the dead animals were hundreds of parrots pictured here lying dead alongside a fallen tree in the state of Rajasthan The dust storms tore through several northern Indian towns, smashing down structures with powerful winds and leaving people struggling to breathe Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman has denied a charge that he plotted an attack on Downing Street to assassinate Theresa May An alleged Islamic State fanatic has denied plotting to assassinate Theresa May in an attack on Downing Street. Naa'imur Rahman, 20, planned to detonate an explosion at the security gates of Number 10 before stabbing the Prime Minister on 28 November, it is alleged. It is alleged he carried out reconnaissance of the target location, recorded a pledge of allegiance, and purchased a rucksack. According to prosecutors, he delivered the rucksack and jacket to be fitted with an improvised explosive device, and collected it 'with a view to committing attacks against persons in the UK'. The defendant, of Finchley, north London, also allegedly assisted Mohammad Aqib Imran, 22, in his terrorism plans. On or before November 28, Rahman recorded and sent to Imran 'a sponsorship video in order for him to be accepted by Islamic State', the charge says. Mrs May with her husband Philip yesterday. The alleged plot is suspected to have involved Imran, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, allegedly tried to join ISIS, and is charged with preparing acts of terrorism. His charge alleges that he saved money to pay for a fake passport and travel to Libya, and sent two photos of his passport data to secure a fake passport. Rahman and Imran were arrested in raids by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command in London and Birmingham. Mohammed Aqib Imran is charged with planning to join ISIS The pair appeared at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Haddon-Cave via video-link from Belmarsh Prison. They spoke only to confirm their identities and enter not-guilty pleas. They were remanded in custody ahead of their trial at the Old Bailey on June 18. Long-haired Rahman wore a grey sweatshirt, black trousers and plimsolls. He sat cross-legged on a chair next to his co-defendant, who has long curly hair and a beard and wore a pink sweatshirt and grey trousers. A nurse has been arrested for allegedly ripping out the catheters of four newborn babies and attempting to kill them. Simone Anjos dos Santos, 41, was arrested after footage emerged of her apparently tampering with a baby's catheter in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Padre Miguel, Rio de Janeiro. In the video, Santos can be seen walking past a baby in an incubator when she turns around, removes something from the apparatus and gives it to a colleague. Santos, who denies the allegations, then returns and grabs an object from the top of the incubator and, it is claimed, uses it to tamper with the newborn child. In the security footage Santos can be seen walking past a baby in an incubator when she turns around and appears to remove something from the apparatus Santos, who denies the allegations, then returns and grabs an object from the top of the incubator and, it is claimed, uses it to tamper with the newborn child Another nurse later came to check on the baby and reportedly noticed that the newborn's catheter had been cut. Local media say that an investigation was opened after four newborn babies were found with their catheters cut in the space of two weeks, between January 14 and January 31. The footage was captured on security cameras at the private Hospital Real D'Or in Rio de Janeiro and led to her arrest on Wednesday. According to prosecutors, Santos deliberately broke the catheters of the four babies leaving them exposed to imminent risks of potentially deadly hypoglycemia or blood infections. Santos was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police are also speaking to the families of the babies who were allegedly targeted. After she was arrested at her home in Santa Cruz she reportedly said she had been working as a nurse for more than a decade, according to O Globo. The website also reports that she was dismissed from her job after she was identified as the woman in the security recordings. The motives behind the alleged incidents are not known. Simone Anjos dos Santos, 41, was arrested after footage emerged of her apparently tampering with a baby's catheter in a private hospital in Rio de Janeiro A man sexually abused as a child more than 50 years ago says he is 'scarred for life with the horrors of that day' but feels justice has finally been served after the Christian Brother responsible was jailed. James Brian Hamilton, 84, pleaded guilty to one count of indecently dealing with the 13-year-old boy in 1964. The child was taken to an army cadet storeroom where his hands were tied with a cord and he was abused despite his screams for help, the WA District Court heard on Friday. former Christian Brother James Brian Hamilton, 84, pleaded guilty to one count of indecently dealing with the 13-year-old boy in 1964 and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years jail Hamilton, who now appears frail, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail and must serve at least half the term before he can be eligible for parole. The prosecutor said there was a degree of sexual violence that had a lifelong effect on the victim. In a statement he read to the court, the victim said he had been seeking justice for more than 50 years. 'I'm scarred for life with the horrors of that day,' the statement read. He described the anxiety and depression he suffered, and the 'soul-destroying' stress of the legal process. The victim said he was an over-protective parent who never allowed his children to have sleepovers and also had strict rules about school camps. The prosecutor, in the WA District Court, said there was a degree of sexual violence that had a lifelong effect on the victim He also said he had been 'robbed of any spirituality' and did not like attending any churches, even for weddings. The court heard Hamilton had written a letter of apology to the victim. Defence counsel Fiona Todd asked Judge Laurie Levy to consider her client's age. 'He is an old man of frail health,' she said. But Judge Levy said an immediate term of imprisonment was appropriate and described the victim as 'particularly vulnerable'. Outside court, the victim said he was pleased justice had been served. 'Age should not be a factor ... if you do something terribly wrong, then I think you have to be accountable for that,' he said. 'I found the court process today rather trying and I'm not exactly sure where all my emotions are at.' A man who stole thousands of shoes has been fined $4,000 and given a 12-month good behavior bond for his crime spree A man who stole more than 2,400 work boots over six years has been fined $4,000 and given a 12-month good behaviour bond for his bizarre crime spree. Andrew Muster, 44, said that there was no real reason behind what he did except he 'liked shoes for a long time', according to 7NEWS. Muster targeted a 25km radius of the northern suburbs of Melbourne, including Craigieburn and Doreen, during the time period. All up Victoria police estimate that 2,416 shoes were taken - some still had socks inside. Muster is a diagnosed kleptomaniac, the court heard. He had cleaning products and food stashed at his home as well. The thief even took into consideration not wearing shoes of his own. The barefoot bandit said it was so that he 'wouldn't be heard'. Earlier this year Victoria police invited people who had their shoes stolen Epping Memorial Hall to make statements and their stolen shoes. The shoes that weren't collected were donated to charity. In a video from Victoria police First Constable James Gardiner said he 'couldn't tell you' why someone would take the shoes. 'It's one of those things - it sort of baffles even me at times,' he said. Andrew Muster (pictured), 44, went on a six-year crime spree that saw him steal more than 2,400 work boots According to the program the magistrate conceded that this was more of a mental health case than a criminal one. Muster is already seeing a psychologist. He was charged in November 2017 with theft and handle of stolen goods. The Czech Republic's pro-Russian president has claimed a tiny amount of Novichok was produced, tested and destroyed in his country last year. Milos Zeman cited a report by Czech military spies - but admitted that a separate report by a counterintelligence agency does not in fact identify the agent as Novichok, but as A230. The 73-year-old, known for his pro-Kremlin views, said he believes it was the same nerve agent type used to poison ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury earlier this year. Moscow immediately jumped on the comments with a senator saying they were a 'crushing blow' to claims that Russia was behind the attack. The Czech Republic's pro-Russian president Milos Zeman has claimed a tiny amount of Novichok was produced, tested and destroyed in his country last year. He said he believes it was the same nerve agent type used to poison ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal (left) and his daughter Yulia (left) According to RT, Aleksey Pushkov said in a Twitter post: 'Novichok was produced and stored in the Czech territory in some small quantities. This fact is a crushing blow to London's theory that is already falling apart at the seams. 'London is confused: Its whole construct is crumbling.' Russian officials have previously suggested the nerve agent used for the attack may have originated in the Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia. Acting Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis called that claim a lie and the Czechs expelled three Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain. Neither the Czech agencies mentioned by Zeman nor the government have commented on the president's claims. Czech Republic president Milos Zeman (pictured) is known for his pro-Kremlin views Meanwhile, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said up to 100 grams of liquid nerve agent were used in the attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Ahmet Uzumcu told the New York Times the amount of Novichok used - around half a cup of liquid - suggests it was created for use as a weapon rather than for research purposes. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4. The inquiry into the nerve agent attack in the Wiltshire city has involved 250 detectives who have gone through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses. Mr Uzumcu told the paper the Novichok could have been applied as a liquid or aerosol. He said: 'For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that, without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection. 'It's not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse.' He added the samples collected suggested the nerve agent was of 'high purity'. Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. Army officers are pictured removing the bench where the Skripals collapsed Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. The Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko previously suggested that Sergei and Yulia Skripal may have been injected by British authorities with nerve agent produced at Porton Down. However the UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Karen Pierce, the UK's representative to the United Nations, told a meeting last month there was 'no plausible alternative explanation than Russian State responsibility for what happened in Salisbury', suggesting Russia had the ability, operation experience and motive to carry out the attack. The UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Pictured: Police at Sergei Skripal's home She said: 'Russia has a proven record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations including on the territory of the United Kingdom. 'The independent inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko concluded in January 2016 that he was deliberately poisoned with polonium; that the FSB had directed the operation; and that President Putin probably approved it.' On the technical means of creating Novichok, she said: 'No terrorist group or non-state actor would be able to produce this agent in the purity described by the OPCW testing and this is something Russia has acknowledged. 'The Russian State has previously produced Novichoks and would still be capable of doing so today.' A man has been charged after he allegedly stabbing his housemate and bashing him with a kettle. Police were called to the home in Auburn in Sydney's west at about 7.30pm on Thursday, after an alleged brawl between the two men. Officers from Auburn Police Area Command responded to the call and established a crime scene. A man has been charged after he allegedly stabbed another man in Auburn, Sydney on Thursday It is alleged the 55-year-old man struck the 46-year-old man in the head with a kettle and stabbed him in the hand with a knife. The 46-year-old man was taken to hospital with hand and head laceration where he remains in a stable condition. The 55-year-old was arrested and taken to hospital before he was charged with two counts of reckless wounding and armed with intent to commit indictable offence. He was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. Ken Livingstone waded back into the Labour anti-Semitism row today - despite conceding that his views could have cost the party in local elections. The former London Mayor, currently suspended from Labour, risked fuelling the spat by insisting that Zionists 'collaborated' with Hitler. The comments came as furious councillors warned that Jeremy Corbyn's failure to get a grip on a wave of on anti-Semitism had alienated Jewish voters. They suggested that the issue had spiralled out of control since the leadership's perceived weak response to Mr Livingstone's claims about links between Hitler and Zionists two years ago. Former London Mayor, currently suspended from Labour, risked fuelling the spat by insisting that Zionists 'collaborated' with Hitler Mr Corbyn went to Plymouth (pictured) - a rare bright spot for Labour - this morning as he tried to put a brave face on the results Speaking on Sky News, Mr Livingstone admitted that the row over his remarks could have been 'damaging' - but only because of 'smears' that he had stated Hitler 'was a Zionist'. He insisted it was a historical fact that there was a 'deal done' between the Nazis and Zionists in the 1930s. Hitler had wanted to eject Jews from Germany, and Zionists wanted to set up a state in Palestine, he said. 'They collaborated,' Mr Livingstone said. 'They didn't like each other but they collaborated to do that.' Asked whether his insistence on linking Hitler to Jewish nationalists had contributed to Labour's failure to gain in places like Barnet, Mr Livingstone said: 'If anybody believes I said Hitler was a Zionist, yes. That has been very damaging.' Labour had need just two gains to seize control of Barnet for the first time ever and the borough was among its top targets at yesterday's local elections. But instead the Conservatives came out on top, reclaiming it from no overall control, with three wards left to declare. A defeated Labour councillor, Adam Langleben (left), said it was a source of 'shame' for the party that Jewish people had felt obliged to vote based on 'their safety'. Labour's leader in Barnet, Barry Rawlings (right), also blamed the issue for the defeat Barnet was home to Margaret Thatcher's constituency and would have been an iconic loss for Theresa May's Conservatives. The area is home to a large Jewish population and local Labour leader Barry Rawlings admitted the party had struggled amid the anti-Semitism row. He told the BBC it had 'made a difference'. The area of North London, which has a Jewish population of around 16 per cent, has been a key battleground for both the Conservatives and Labour, particularly in light of the latter's recent difficulties over anti-Semitism allegations within the party. In a message to voters, Mr Rawlings admitted too many Jewish people had felt unable to support the party. 'It wasnt because they disagreed with our manifesto, but because they felt the Labour Party has failed to deal with anti-Semitism at a national level. They are right,' he said. 'I pledge that Barnet Labour will be a beacon to the rest of the Labour Party in tackling and defeating this anti-Semitism virus that has infected our party. For me dealing with anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate is not an electoral issue, win or lose, its a moral responsibility that defines who we are as a Party.' What are the anti-Semitic incidents in Labour that have reached a crisis under Corbyn's watch? Jeremy Corbyn defended an artist who painted an anti-Semitic mural in 2012, questioning why the offensive art should be removed He was a member of a Facebook group which was awash with anti-Semitic rhetoric, and he has described anti-Semitic groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah as 'our friends' The Labour leader stood by when a speaker disrupted the launch of his party's anti-Semitism policy by accusing a Jewish MP of colluding with the press Labour has still failed to expel former London mayor Ken Livingstone, two years after he claimed Hitler supported Zionism. He has still not apologised Delegates at last year's Labour conference complained of a 'witch hunt' against anti-Semitism and heard from a speaker who said it was legitimate to question the Holocaust The problem is so rife in the party the Jewish Labour Movement has had to hold training sessions for party members on how not to be anti-Semitic Labour members and councillors have shared disgusting messages and images on Facebook describing Jewish people of controlling world capitalism and being to blame for the policies of the Israeli government The party is failing to deal with a huge backlog of complaints and has failed to expel people even though they have committed offences such as referring to Jewish people as Yids Corbyn ally Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, has dismissed anti-Semitism claims as 'mood music' spread by Blairites. Labour's new general secretary Jennie Formby was accused of recruiting a party member suspended for saying Hitler was a Zionist god. Advertisement A defeated Labour councillor, Adam Langleben, said it was a source of 'shame' for the party that Jewish people had felt obliged to vote based on 'their safety'. 'Thanks to all those who voted for myself, Humayune and Agnes today. It was the greatest honour of my life to serve West Hendon,' he tweeted. 'We must NEVER have another election like this. No community group should have their vote dictated by their safety. That should shame us @UKLabour.' Mr Langleben told the Guardian: Every Jewish Labour household we visited, people said, not this time. 'Activists were being told, this is a racist party, an anti-Semitic party, doors were slammed in their faces. 'We as Jewish Labour activists were told we were endorsing anti-semitism. The reason we have lost here is the inability to deal with this issue and to tackle anti-Semitism.' He added: Jeremy Corbyn was supposed to come here tomorrow for a victory speech. 'We want him to come to Barnet anyway, to apologise to Jewish Labour activists, to Barnet Labour and to the Jewish community here so we can start the healing process. Labour MP Wes Streeting replied to Mr Langleben saying: 'I am so so sorry. This defeat wasn't yours.' Voter turnout was recorded at 43.7 per cent - an increase of 2.6 per cent from 41.1 per cent four years ago. Mr Corbyn has been accused of failing to get a grip on a wave of vile anti-Semitism among left-wing activists. Around 50 Labour MPs formed a guard around their colleague Ruth Smeeth last month when she arrived at a disciplinary case against one member who was expelled. An attempt by Mr Corbyn to smooth relations with the community by holding a meeting with the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) backfire as they lambasted him for failing to back his words with action. Unite union leader Len Mr McCluskey also inflamed the row by condemning backbench Labour critics for smearing Mr Corbyn, raising the prospect that those who have attacked him over issues like anti-Semitism could face mandatory reselection. In an incendiary intervention, Mr McCluskey said a 'small number' of incidents were being 'used' to 'attack and undermine' the Labour leader. He also delivered a dark threat about moves to deselect anti-Corbyn politicians - saying 'promiscuous critics' should expect to be 'held to account'. But shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'obvious' the party has an issue with anti-Semitism and those who deny it are 'part of the problem'. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas apologised today after he came under fire for suggesting the Holocaust and persecution of Jews were caused by their role in banking and money lending. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accused the Palestinian leader of anti-Semitism after Abbas suggested in an address to the Palestinian National Council that the 'social function' of Jews had led to past massacres. But Abbas, 82, today condemned anti-Semitism and called the Holocaust the 'most heinous crime in history' in a statement issued by his office in Ramallah. The statement said: 'If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to them. 'I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths.' Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (pictured), 82, apologised today after he came under fire for suggesting the Holocaust and persecution of Jews were caused by their role in banking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accused the Palestinian leader of anti-Semitism after Abbas suggested the 'social function' of Jews had led to past massacres Israel's foreign ministry had on Wednesday accused him of fueling 'religious and nationalist hatred against the Jewish people and Israel.' Netanyahu added on Twitter: 'It would appear that, once a Holocaust denier, always a Holocaust denier. 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.' He added: 'Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, gave another anti-Semitic speech. With utmost ignorance and brazen gall, he claimed that European Jews were persecuted and murdered not because they were Jews but because they gave loans with interest.' David Friedman, the US ambassador to Israel, said Abbas had reached a 'new low' while President Donald Trump's envoy Jason Greenblatt said 'peace cannot be built on this kind of foundation.' The comments came after Abbas, who has faced accusations of anti-Semitism before, suggested in an address to a rare meeting of the Palestinian National Council on Monday night that Jews' relations with banking had led to hostility against them. 'From the 11th century until the Holocaust that took place in Germany, those Jews - who moved to Western and Eastern Europe - were subjected to a massacre every 10 to 15 years. But why did this happen? They say 'it is because we are Jews',' he told the hundreds of delegates. He then cited 'three books' written by Jews as evidence that 'hostility against Jews is not because of their religion, but rather their social function,' adding he meant 'their social function related to banks and interest.' He contrasted this with Jews in Arabic countries, who he argued had not faced similar persecution. Friedman said on Twitter late on Tuesday Abbas had 'reached a new low in attributing the cause of massacres of Jewish people over the years to their 'social behaviour relating to interest and banks.'' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Palestinian president of anti-Semitism after Mahmud Abbas suggested Jews were to blame for the Holocaust 'To all those who think Israel is the reason that we don't have peace, think again,' he added. Greenblatt said the comments were 'very unfortunate, very distressing & terribly disheartening,' calling for them to be 'unconditionally condemned by all.' Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon told AFP Abbas's 'anti-Semitism' was 'all the more shocking considering that he presents himself as wanting to make peace with Israel.' The European Union condemned Abbas for 'unacceptable remarks'. 'The speech Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered on 30 April contained unacceptable remarks concerning the origins of the Holocaust and Israel's legitimacy,' a spokesman for the EU's diplomatic service said in a statement. 'Such rhetoric will only play into the hands of those who do not want a two-state solution, which President Abbas has repeatedly advocated.' The row comes as relations between the US and the Palestinian leadership have broken down over the controversial American plan to move its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move, which is due to be completed on May 14, sparked major protests by Palestinians, who consider east Jerusalem their capital, and led Abbas to cut off ties with Trump's administration. Uber driver Juma Ali Omar, pictured outside Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning, is accused of using fake documents to obtain a private hire licence and dangerous driving An Uber driver was allegedly using false documents in order to work when he 'ploughed into a group of people outside the Natural History museum', leaving 11 injured. Juma Ali Omar allegedly mounted the busy pavement at around 2.20pm in the London tourist hotspot, colliding with two cars and then striking pedestrians. The 47-year-old, who was working at the time of the collision, was charged with dangerous driving and having a fake passport, driving licence and private taxi hire licence. Eleven people suffered non-life threatening injuries in the collision, involving the Black Toyota Prius, in South Kensington, west London, on October 7 last year. Nigerian-born Omar was previously charged with dangerous driving, using a motor vehicle without third party insurance and driving without a licence. At Westminster Magistrates' Court today, another charge of possessing a false passport, driving license and a Public Carriage Office licence to prove his identify in order to get a private hire licence was added to the rap sheet. Omar appeared in the dock wearing a blue pinstripe suit and white shirt and was accompanied by his family who sat in the public gallery. Omar, pictured left and right outside the court today, is alleged to have ploughed into 11 people outside the Natural History Museum on October 7 last year The incident sparked fears it was a terror attack in the wake of the London Bridge and Westminster outrages last year He did not enter any pleas to the four charges and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and nationality. Deputy District Judge Margaret Dodd released him on bail ahead of his next court date. She said: 'I understand from the documents that the manner of the driving is under dispute. Members of the public, including Pixie Lott's boyfriend Oliver Cheshire, helped pin a man to the ground following the incident The scene outside the Natural History Museum last October after a car mounted the pavement outside the popular tourist spot London was on lockdown as armed police swooped on the South Kensington museum amid fears of a terrorist attack 'These matters cannot be dealt with by this court so it will be sent to crown court. 'I grant you bail but you must attend court when you are asked.' Omar, of Barking, east London, will next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on June 1 to enter his pleas. The trend teams at American Licorice Co. wanted to develop new flavors with a multicultural audience in mind, Shafer said. The Pineapple Mango Chili is a combination of two of the top four flavors chosen by Sour Punch consumers in our 2016 flavor contest. Online candy retailer CandyStore.com has noticed the demand for spicy flavors as well. One unique thing in particular we've seen is a massive increase in the number of traditional Mexican spicy candy, Clair Robins with CandyStore.com said. This trend has been happening for a couple years now. This is probably not surprising with the habanero and sriracha crazes we've seen overall in the food space. According to Robins, sales of traditional Mexican candy is up 31 percent in the past 18 months. Sales of the newer spicy variations are harder to track because theres no previous sales data, but spicy candy in general is up 21 percent in the past year. That's pretty huge, Robins said. A clear sign of a significant trend. Advertisement This historic 45-room castle worth 2.5 million could be yours for just a fiver. Orchardton Castle, is being raffled off by owner Susan DeVere, after repeated attempts to sell the stunning home failed. Last year Mrs DeVere revealed she has spent a small fortune turning the incredible property in the Scottish baronial style into the perfect family home. But she hopes to move to be closer to her mother 300 miles away and cut back on the expense of living in a large castle which can rack up serious bills for those who take on the challenge. The property, built in the 1880's, has been valued at around 2.5 million and contains 17 bedrooms, three self-sufficient flats, a 20-seat cinema, drawing room, music room, games room, and an art studio. It also comes with five acres of land and stunning views across Orchardton Bay to England and according to the owner, can be rented out for an eye-watering 2,500 per night. The castle is surrounded in amazing colours and bright blooms in the spring and summer Remarkably tickets for the draw, which closes this month, on May 18, cost just 5 and the prize comes with no strings attached including no mortgage, no stamp duty and no legal fees. Susan, a mum-of-one and an author from London, hopes to sell 550,000 tickets. She is looking for a smaller home nearer to her mum so plans to donate any extra cash to several charities, including children's charity Rainbow Trust. Susan, who bought the castle back in 2003, decided to raffle the property off after meeting many people with good intentions to buy it who couldn't afford it. She said: 'With so much natural beauty and history Orchardton gripped me immediately. The view from the castle is enough to encourage anyone to buy into the idea that this could be their dream home 'I found it to be a magical, tranquil and healing place; the castle and its lands have their own micro-climate due to the Gulf Stream and the sheltered bay, we even have a palm tree. How do I raffle off my home? Lotteries cannot be held for commercial gain or profit, so home-owners considering raffling off their house would need to run the raffle to benefit a charity or other not-for-profit cause. Those who want to keep the money gained for themselves must either hold a free prize draw or add a competition element to the raffle. Competitors should have to prove their skill, knowledge or judgment in order to win the top prize. Many people get around this by asking an incredibly simple question. It is also important to have watertight terms and conditions, such as a setting a minimum number of tickets in order for the raffle to ahead. The winner will still have to pay stamp duty on the house based on the open market value. Advertisement 'The competition is a great way to raise money for important causes and I only taking enough to pay off the mortgage and get somewhere closer to my mother. 'If you win you will be offered a week at Orchardton to decide if you want to accept the prize or to take a cash prize instead. 'Orchardton could be put to so many good uses, but I understand that some people will want to just sell the prize as it is such high value or take a cash prize. 'I will be happy to introduce the winner to the property and to discuss the ample opportunities for businesses Orchardton possesses. 'It would also make a fantastic home for several families.' Orchardton is within easy reach of Scotland's two largest cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and London can be reached in four hours by train. Orchardton has a colourful history, having being used as a stately home, a hotel, a school, and an artists' commune. One of its founders, William Douglas, a reputed smuggler, is said to have buried treasure on the property. The owner Mrs Devere has previously talked about falling in love with the castle after being hooked by its Disney style magic when she purchased it 15 years ago. She spotted it in a countryside magazine and it was love at first sight. However Life in the castle has not always been idyllic for the 56-year-old author, bringing her heartbreak as well as romance and the joy of motherhood - along with a vast renovation bill. She said: 'I immediately thought it was somewhere I wanted to live. It just looked like a Disney castle. The castle has access to a stunning lawn that could easily host a good game of croquet 'I imagined a kind of country life. I was going to ride, and have pet sheep.' Orchardton seemed like the perfect retreat where an author could concentrate on writing. The home has a lovely, modern bathroom and boasts massive rooms 'I had been in a fire at my last property and was looking for somewhere that was fireproof and had plenty of space, which would be an escape. I didn't know it was this big when I bought it. I came to see it, and I didn't have a lot of time, but I'd already decided I wanted to buy it from the picture. Farming life is right outside the window for those who love to be up close and personal with the great outdoors Built by smuggler William Douglas Robinson in the 1880s, it has five turrets, four floors, a library, and stables, along with a resident ghost. It even has its own water supply. Most would-be chatelaines would have regarded it as a bargain for 450,000, but Susan was soon undertaking major renovations that ended up costing another 500,000. The home has some beautiful stained glass and bright light which is unusual for a castle 'It was actually quite expensive for what I had to do here,' she says. 'There wasn't even a kitchen. There were ugly partitions through the rooms, there were pipes going through doors, there were a lot of walls painted red, ceilings painted red. There were all sorts of strange things that had been done before I owned it - it had been a commune. It was not very good.' The staircase is exceptional and is positioned in a well lit hallway that has a lovely antique clock The sun drenched lounge room is the perfect place to kick back and relax Sadly Susan soon discovered that not everyone shared her passion for the baronial life: 'When I moved here, I had my mother with me, I had my ex-partner, I had friends who came to live with me for a while. 'After they had all left - they'd had enough, it was too quiet and they went off to towns - it became too big.' The plans show the mammoth scale of the castle which has 45 rooms and would be perfect for a big family The owner has defended the property insisting that while it had previously been on the market for a long time that before she decided to raffle it that there is nothing wrong with it. She added: 'What I didn't realise is people look and say: 'It's been on sale for a long time, there must be something wrong with it.' 'But there isn't anything wrong with it. There's nearly always a buyer on the horizon, or someone trying to do something with it. 'The whole of the building is in good condition, including the roof. And it's really beautiful inside.' A veteran policeman has revealed how a self-confessed cop-hater ended his career by brutally bashing him to a pulp. Senior Constable Danny Poole was out on a routine evening in June 2016 inspecting a vehicle outside a home in Illawarra, south of Sydney, which hadn't been registered in 12 months following reports of a burnouts being performed in the area. The Commodore's tyres were completely blown and was sitting parked on the nature strip. Scroll down for video The policeman revealed how a self-confessed cop-hater ended his time in the force Senior Constable Danny Poole (pictured) was visiting a home in June 2016 when he was assaulted Jason Cormack (pictured) was handed down a sentence of four years and 10 months in jail in court on Friday for the horrific beating of Mr Poole Mr Poole headed to the door of the residence looking for the owner of the vehicle when he first laid eyes on Jason Cormack. 'The accused has come to the doorway - ''you're not taking me f*****g car'' and I said ''I am not going to take your car, I am going to take your number plates,'' he said. Cormack became agitated and pushed passed the grandfather - who boasted a 34-year long career in the force - and headed for his car. A scuffle ensued, and Mr Poole attempted to use his capsicum spray on Cormack after he spat on the officer. 'That sort of sent him into a rage and he has come back at me again so I have sprayed him again and that has virtually emptied the can,' Mr Poole said. As the grandfather tried to make an arrest, Cormack was growing more aggressive and eventually Mr Poole lost his footing but had been able to call for back up. Mr Poole was called to an Illawarra home after a vehicle in the area was doing burnouts The horrific beating which ensued ended Senior Constable Danny Poole's career Cormack unleashed a relentless beating on to Mr Poole, punching and kicking him a number of times as the constable tried to reach for his gun. 'He wrecked my life... I didn't know what was going to happen to me. I thought I was going to die,' he told A Current Affair. Mr Poole was transported to hospital after suffering soft tissue injuries to his head and body, as well as a fractured eye socket which needed about 10 stitches. Cormack pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding a police officer with intent to resist arrest but made bail for more than a year. Last month however, one week before sentencing, he breached the conditions of release for a second time and he was remanded in custody. Cormack was given a maximum sentence of four years and 10 months in jail in court on Friday, with a non-parole period of three years and one month. Mr Poole has since been medically discharged from the line of duty, and suffers today from post-traumatic stress while also struggling to sleep at night. Rudy Giuliani has said he is preparing for the possibility that special counsel Robert Mueller will subpoena President Trump as part of the ongoing Russia probe. Giuliani said he believes there is roughly a 50/50 chance that a subpoena will be issued, telling ABC News 'I got to prepare for that 50 per cent.' The former New York City mayor, who is now heading Trump's private legal team, also repeated his claims that the President repaid attorney Michael Cohen for $130,000 of hush-money allegedly given to porn star Stormy Daniels. But, Giuliani added, Trump was not aware of what the payments were for until he was informed by his legal team a week ago. Rudy Giuliani has said he is preparing for the possibility that Robert Mueller will subpoena Trump to answer questions in the Russia probe, and believes there is a 50/50 chance Giuliani also repeated his claim, first revealed in an interview with Fox, that Trump repaid attorney Michael Cohen for hush-money given to porn star Stormy Daniels - but said the President was not aware of what the money was for until a week ago Speaking to NBC News, Giuliani said Trump began paying Cohen back in January 2017, and in total paid 12 installments of $35,000 each. The full sum, $420,000, included other expenses and fees for Cohen but Giuliani was unable to give further details. Giuliani said the President was surprised when he learned what the money had be used for and approved Giuliani's decision to go public with the reimbursement, which he did while speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News on Wednesday night. 'You're not going to see daylight between the president and me,' he told NBC. 'We're going to work hard to have a consistent strategy.' Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, says she was paid $130,000 by Trump to keep quiet over their alleged affair during the presidential campaign The Hannity interview raised eyebrows across the country on Thursday because of the President and White House's repeated denials that Trump knew anything about the payment. In a series of tweets later that day, Trump said the payment to Cohen 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. Giuliani also denied the payment was due to the political campaign, saying 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.' Michael Cohen, Trump's long-term private attorney, is being investigated for fraud and campaign finance breaches over the alleged payment to Daniels, it is understood Mueller's team is understood to have raised the prospect of forcing Trump to answer questions in the Russia probe, though it is unclear how serious the threat was But in the same interview, Giuliani seemed to muddle his story, suggesting that had Daniels' claims of a months-long affair become public during the election, it could have swung the vote. 'Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton,' he said. On Wednesday attorney John Dowd, one of Trump's former lawyers, said Mueller's team broached issuing the President with a subpoena to testify before them. While it is not clear how serious Mueller was about the extraordinary move, legal precedent suggests it could work. The question was tested during the Watergate scandal in 1974, when justices held unanimously that a president could be compelled to comply with a subpoena for tapes and documents. After the ruling, President Richard Nixon turned the materials over to prosecutors and then resigned. Twenty-three years later, in allowing Paula Jones' sexual harassment suit to go forward against President Bill Clinton, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote: 'We have made clear that in a criminal case the powerful interest in the 'fair administration of criminal justice' requires that the evidence be given under appropriate circumstances lest the 'very integrity of the judicial system' be eroded.' In the same case, Stevens also said that presidents have given testimony and produced documents often enough that 'such interactions ... can scarcely be thought a novelty.' In 1998, independent prosecutor Ken Starr served a subpoena on Clinton that ordered him to testify about his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton soon agreed to testify voluntarily, an arrangement Starr went along with because it headed off a potential challenge to the subpoena on constitutional grounds. That testimony led to Clinton's impeachment on charges he lied under oath and obstructed justice. The occasion also was the first in which a sitting president testified under oath in a criminal investigation in which he was a potential target. Whether President Donald Trump will be the second as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe remains to be seen. Mueller is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, whether Trump's campaign coordinated with Russia in any way and whether Trump obstructed justice after the election. An internet prankster has added hilarious subtitles to a video of a group of furious Irish men challenging someone to a fight. It is unclear where exactly the video was filmed but the men repeatedly refer to the city of Cork and challenger their enemy, a man apparently called John-Paul, to come back to Ireland to 'fight'. They take turns in front of the camera while yelling incomprehensible, angry words at John-Paul and demanding a fight with 'Kathleen's bike'. The video of the men would be funny on its own, but the hilarious subtitles take it to another level. The clip has been uploaded to YouTube and has more than 140,000 views. It is captioned: 'Indecipherable threats to John-Paul and Kathleen's bike or something.' This man strikes a strange pose before chanting 'Kebab, kebab, kebab' at the camera, according to the 'translation' Throughout the video, the men can be seen taking turns to unload a barrage of angry comments at the camera and John-Paul. The footage stars with a man in a blue tracksuit shouting into the camera. According to the hilarious 'translation' he says: 'I'll fight the two of you. I'll fight Kathleen's bike first. Our Mamma was right, you go to bed.' The next man is even more funny as he strikes a pose while apparently shouting: 'Kebab, kebab, kebab balls. Listen, I've been streaking for three months, with my own gimp hair.' The group of ten seem to be challenging a man called John-Paul to a fight, as well as 'Kathleen's bike' The next man shouts a strings of abuse before the prankster translates him as saying: 'You dangerous llama.' As more and more men comment, the group gets increasingly angrier and increasingly more difficult to understand - making the subtitles even more amusing. One of the men is bizarrely covering his face with the hood of his rain coat. There seems to be ten men involved in the video all together and they individually take turns to hurl insults Other threats to John-Paul see one man offer to pay for his flight back to Ireland, while, according to the YouTuber, another says: 'Avoid any one of you that don't eat cabbages.' They get so rowdy that the prankster cannot keep up and stops 'translating' what they are saying. He instead decides to write: 'If we all shout at one it will be twice as menacing. Even though nobody will have a clue what we are on about.' Advertisement Proud Meghan Markle will have both her parents at her wedding to Prince Harry later this month - and the divorced couple will meet the Queen days before the ceremony, it can be revealed. Yoga teacher Doria Ragland and reclusive former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle will travel to the UK from the US in the week before the May 19 ceremony at Windsor Castle. In a major departure from tradition, Doria will accompany her daughter by car to St George's Chapel, where Thomas Markle will meet his daughter to walk her down the aisle. The divorced couple will be introduced to all senior members of the Royal Family including the monarch, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in advance of the big day. Astonishingly, it was also confirmed today that Prince Harry still hasn't met his fiancee's father - and won't until he flies over for the wedding. However, the pair have already spoken on the phone. The palace said the Queen, Charles and William would all be involved in the wedding - but it has emerged that 96-year-old Prince Philip could miss the event as he continues to recover from his hip operation on April 4, with an aide simply saying that they 'very much hope' he will attend. Meghan Markle, pictured with her father Thomas in her younger years, has admitted that she is a 'daddy's girl' even though her father divorced her mother when she was just six Meghan Markle, whose mother Doria Ragland (left) will travel with her in the car, will marry Prince Harry (right, on March 23 in Lisburn, Nothern Ireland) on May 19 The Queen will be involved in the wedding day - but the attendance of Prince Philip (pictured last November) is not confirmed On the day of her wedding, Meghan, 36, has also insisted that both her parents have roles. The page boys and flower girls at the ceremony are thought to include Prince William and Kate's children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Meghan, pictured in a wedding dress as Rachel Zane in Suits In a statement today, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding. 'Mr Thomas Markle and Ms Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harry's family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day. 'Both of the bride's parents will have important roles in the wedding. On the morning of the wedding, Ms Ragland will travel with Ms Markle by car to Windsor Castle. 'Mr Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St George's Chapel. Ms Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion.' Similarly, Prince Harry has made sure that his late mother's family will play a significant part in proceedings as a way of 'celebrating the memory' of Diana, Princess of Wales. All three of Princess Diana's siblings Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale will be present with their families and Lady Jane will give a reading during the service. The spokesman added: 'In addition to having the support of The Queen, his father The Prince of Wales, and his brother Prince William as Best Man, Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother's family in his wedding. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, pictured with their new son Louis in London on April 23, will also be at the wedding Prince William and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will meet the Markles before the royal wedding, it was confirmed today 'All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading. 'Prince Harry and Ms Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.' Harry and Meghan in London's Trafalgar Square on April 23 Further details around royal wedding day were also released by Kensington Palace during a briefing for media today including: The couple will spend, as according to tradition, the night before their wedding apart. There will be no American-style maid of honour and all of the couple's page boys and bridesmaids who are expected to include Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be children. The couple will not go on honeymoon straight away and will, remarkably, undertake their first public engagement as man and wife just days after the ceremony. The couple's guests will arrive at St George's Chapel between 9.30am and 11am on May 19. Guests will be arriving at the Round Tower by coach and will be seen walking to the South Door of St George's Chapel. Members of The Royal Family will begin to arrive from 11.20am, and enter St George's Chapel via the Galilee Porch. Some will be on foot, and others will arrive by car. Prince Harry and his brother The Duke of Cambridge, who is his best man, will arrive at St George's Chapel most likely by foot and will enter via the West Steps. This will allow Their Royal Highnesses to acknowledge the 1,200 members of the public invited into the Castle precincts, including the 200 charity representatives gathered in the Horseshoe Cloister at the bottom of the steps. On the morning of the wedding, Meghan will get ready with her mother and girlfriends at a mystery location. Mother and daughter will be filmed leaving in their car together. Meghan and Doria will stop just before they get to the venue. Doria will then head on into the chapel through the entrance reserved for members of the royal family, while Meghan will be joined by some of her Bridesmaids and Page Boys before she continues her journey to the church, entering via the West Steps. The Service will take around an hour and afterwards the newly married couple will process out of the church and acknowledge the 200 representatives of Prince Harry's charities gathered in the Cloister. A spokesman said: 'The couple are delighted that these people who will be such an important part of their official work in the years to come will be the first people they see after their wedding.' As the couple step into their Carriage, close family members will gather on the West Steps to wave them off on their Procession, which is due to take just under 25 minutes. A spokesman added: 'Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to this part of the day. It will be their chance to express their gratitude for the goodwill and warm wishes they have received from all quarters in the months since their engagement.' Members of the congregation will file out of the church onto the grass to see the start of the Procession before walking to the reception at St George's Hall. All guests will be attending the reception at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle afterwards, which will last until around 3.30pm. Later the bride and groom will be photographed by media departing Windsor Castle for the evening reception at Frogmore House. There will be no US-style rehearsal dinner, although there will, clearly, be rehearsals. 'There will be plenty of chances for family and friends to catch up during the week before,' a spokesman said. The page boys and flower girls at the ceremony are thought to include Prince George (left) and Princess Charlotte (right) Harry and Meghan will marry at St George's Chapel (above) on the grounds of Windsor Castle Preparations for the royal wedding continue in Windsor on the Long Walk today, with just over two weeks to go Construction workers begin to build up structures in Windsor ahead of Harry and Meghan's wedding on May 19 The Duchess of Cambridge will be there on the day, but not with Prince Louis. As to whether Prince Philip will be there: 'We very much hope so. We hope to offer guidance closer to the time.' A spokesman for the couple said: 'The bridesmaids and page boys are all children. Ms Markle will not have a maid of honour. She has a very close group of friends and didn't want to choose one over the other. 'They have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there with her the day before in London. She will be pleased to have their support on the day but they have no official role.' Kensington Palace said: 'The couple will be going on honeymoon but not straight away and I can say that they will have their first engagement as a married couple the week after the wedding, which we will be making more announcement about soon. They will not conduct any more engagements between now and the wedding. ' Asked whether the couple would kiss for the cameras on the steps of the chapel, their spokesman laughed: 'I have no comment on kissing today.' A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'On the day itself we expect Windsor to be very busy. The council has worked with partners including Thames Valley Police to plan what will be a fantastic day of celebrations. 'As the Royal Borough of Windsor has said, work is well underway to ensure the occasion is a memorable and joyous one for all involved and they are working closely with a wide range of partners. Bunting is pictured flying over the Windsor Castle pub in the Berkshire town today, two weeks ahead of the royal wedding Preparations for the Royal wedding continue in Windsor today as structures are put up for the crowds and media Union Jack bunting is flown across the streets of Windsor today ahead of the hotly-anticipated royal wedding on May 19 'Rail operators will be putting on extra trains and there will be park and walk and park and float services (arriving by boat) to help people get into town. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and book all travel arrangements early so they can make the most of their trip. 'I would very much appreciate the media's assistance in spreading the message that visitors to Windsor will have a chance to be part of a very special day, but those who will be heading to the town really do need to plan their journeys carefully.' The Royal Borough of Windsor has confirmed that preparations include: A 6,000 space pre-booked car parking area at the Review Ground, just off the Long Walk; Food stalls and facilities, including big screens showing live footage of the wedding and Procession, on the Long Walk and in Alexandra Gardens; Viewing areas along the whole Procession Route (Castle Hill, High Street, Sheet Street, Kings Road, Albert Road and the Long Walk); A team of 140 Royal Borough Ambassadors have volunteered to help steward the event and assist visitors throughout the day; The town centre will be decorated with bunting and ceremonial banners along parts of the Procession Route and; Live entertainment from local groups throughout the town centre. Concluding the briefing a spokesman for the couple added: 'We are now just over two weeks away from the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle. Shopfronts in Windsor have put up decorations to celebrate the royal wedding in the town in two weeks' time 'As they have travelled around the UK in the months since their engagement last November, Prince Harry and Ms Markle have been incredibly grateful for the support they have received from members of the public. 'The crowds that have turned out in Nottingham, Cardiff, Brixton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Belfast, Bath and elsewhere have given Ms Markle a welcome to the United Kingdom marked by warmth, enthusiasm, and a real sense of fun. 'We said from the outset that Prince Harry and Ms Markle were keen to make sure that members of the public would have the opportunity to feel part of the celebrations on their wedding day. 'This is their way of expressing their gratitude for the messages of support they have received from around the UK, the Commonwealth, Ms Markle's home country of the United States, and right around the world. 'As we said back in November, this wedding will be guided by tradition, allowing everyone to celebrate what makes Royal Weddings so special, but also one which reflects the personalities of Prince Harry and Ms Markle. ' Prince Philip might MISS the royal wedding: Kensington Palace is 'hopeful' the Duke of Edinburgh will have recovered from hip replacement in time to attend Royal aides will take guidance on whether Prince Philip should attend the royal wedding closer to the event Prince Philip may not be well enough to attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding, it emerged today. Buckingham Palace is hopeful Philip will be at the ceremony, but his attendance is not guaranteed. The Duke of Edinburgh is currently recuperating from a hip replacement and will likely be aided with a 'stylish stick or cane' if he does attend his grandson's big day. Asked whether Philip would be at the wedding, a palace aide said today: 'We very much hope so.' Royal staff will take guidance on whether he is well enough to attend the nuptials closer to the time, the aide added. The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to the private King Edward VII Hospital in early April for surgery after a month of severe discomfort on the advice of doctors. It seems as if the 96-year-old, who is likely to still be using walking sticks or crutches at this stage, was keen not to be seen incapacitated so left ten days later after a prolonged rest. Buckingham Palace has said he will continue his recovery at Windsor Castle, where the Queen is in residence, and both the Queen and Princess Anne have said he is in 'good form'. The elderly royal will have already begun his rehabilitation moving with the aid of a stick or crutches, and will face weeks of physiotherapy as he learns to walk again on his new hip. The Queen Mother underwent two successful hip replacement operations in the 1990s, first a planned procedure when aged 95 then later an emergency operation when 97 following a fall. For about a month before his operation the duke had complained about trouble with the joint but medical experts have said a few weeks after a hip replacement patients are usually back to their normal lifestyle, free from pain. Meghan's hotly-tipped maid of honour dubbed the 'Gwyneth Paltrow of Toronto' misses out as Harry's fiancee rejects the role... but George and Charlotte are expected to be among the page boys and flower girls Meghan Markle will not have a maid of honour - and the page boys and bridesmaids at her wedding to Prince Harry will all be children, it emerged today. Close friends of the former US actress include her stylist Jessica Mulroney, who runs a bridal store in Toronto and is said to have helped Meghan choose her gown. The glossy Canadian socialite, dubbed 'the Gwyneth Paltrow of Toronto', is a professional wedding planner and will have no doubt been passing on tips. Close friends of ex-US actress Meghan Markle include her stylist Jessica Mulroney (above), who runs a bridal store in Toronto and is said to have helped Meghan choose her gown Princess Charlotte and Prince George (pictured watching the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on June 17 last year) are expected to be involved in the bridal party later this month The Duke of Cambridge will be the best man for his brother, Prince Harry. They are pictured at Pippa Middleton and James Matthews's wedding in Englefield, Berkshire, in May 2017 Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children Prince George and Princess Charlotte are expected to be among the children involved in the wedding. Meghan's close-knit group of confidantes have been helping her with the wedding preparations and will be with her in London in the run-up to May 19. Kensington Palace said the bride-to-be had such strong bonds with her friends, who have all been invited, that she could not pick just one as her maid of honour. Instead she has picked youngsters as bridesmaids and pageboys - with Prince George and Princess Charlotte certain to be among them. A spokesman for the couple said: 'The bridesmaids and page boys are all children. Ms Markle will not have a maid of honour. She has a very close group of friends and didn't want to choose one over the other. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son Prince George (left) and Princess Charlotte (right, pictured in London on April 23) are expected to be a page boy and bridesmaid 'They have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there with her the day before in London. She will be pleased to have their support on the day but they have no official role.' Indian actress Priyanka Chopra will have been a source of support for Meghan in the run up to the wedding Indian actress and philanthropist Priyanka Chopra will also have been a source of support for Meghan in the run up to the big day at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. Chopra has paid tribute to Ms Markle as a 'strong, free spirit' who 'found her prince, fell in love and in turn made a cynical world believe in fairy tales again'. The actress wrote a piece to accompany Meghan's entry in Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2018, saying she would be a 'princess for the people'. Ms Markle is also close to tennis champion Serena Williams, after hitting it off immediately with her when they met at a celebrity flag football game in 2014. 'She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was travelling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down-to-earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto,' she revealed. 'We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces, and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations, our endless ambition.' Other friends include her former Suits co-star Sarah Rafferty, actress and musician Janina Gavankar, New York socialite Olivia Palermo, former Suits and Mad Men actress Abigail Spencer, author Lindsay Jill Roth and celebrity pilates instructor Heather Dorak. George and Charlotte gained a new brother last week, Prince Louis Arthur Charles (pictured) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave St Mary's Hospital on April 23 with their new baby Prince William and Kate walk with their children George and Charlotte in Berlin last July Who are the key players in Harry and Meghan's wedding party? Best man : Prince William : Prince William Father of the bride : Thomas Markle : Thomas Markle Ushers : Rumoured to be Tom Skippy Inskip, 31; Charlie Van Straubenzee, 29; Tom Van Straubenzee, 35; Adam Bidwell, 42; Arthur Landon, 37; William Van Cutsem, 38; and Mark Dyer, 52. : Rumoured to be Tom Skippy Inskip, 31; Charlie Van Straubenzee, 29; Tom Van Straubenzee, 35; Adam Bidwell, 42; Arthur Landon, 37; William Van Cutsem, 38; and Mark Dyer, 52. Flower girls : Rumoured to be Princess Charlotte, three; Benita Litt's twin daughters, five; and Jessica Mulroney's daughter Ivy, four : Rumoured to be Princess Charlotte, three; Benita Litt's twin daughters, five; and Jessica Mulroney's daughter Ivy, four Page boys : Prince George, four; and Jasper Dyer, five : Prince George, four; and Jasper Dyer, five Dianas siblings : Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale Advertisement Rafferty, who plays Donna Paulsen in the hit US legal drama, has been described by Meghan as 'not just my Suits sister wife, but my sister'. George and Charlotte gained a new brother last week, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, after their mother Kate gave birth at St Mary's Hospital in London on April 23. Kensington Palace made a host of announcements about the royal wedding today, including that Meghan's parents will meet the Queen ahead of the big day. Thomas Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle and Doria Ragland will accompany Meghan by car as she leaves for Windsor Castle, ready to marry Harry. Harry and Meghan will not be going on honeymoon straight away but will carry out their first engagement as a married couple the week after their wedding. The bride and groom will spend the night before the wedding apart and Harry's first glimpse of the dress will be as Meghan walks up the aisle. The couple also wanted to make sure the prince's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who was killed in a car crash in 1997, will be remembered on the day. Therefore Diana's three siblings - Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes - will all be present, with Lady Jane giving a reading. Harry's wedding tribute to Diana: Prince will 'celebrate his late mother's memory' by giving her siblings prominent roles in the ceremony Prince Harry will make a poignant tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana, on his big day, it was revealed today. The Prince is determined to make sure Diana plays a significant part in the royal wedding as a way of 'celebrating the memory' of his mother, royal aides said. All three of Princess Diana 's siblings Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale - will be present with their families and Lady Jane will give a reading during the service. Prince Harry's decisions about his wedding have been seen as a tribute to his late mother In an official statement, Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'In addition to having the support of The Queen, his father The Prince of Wales, and his brother Prince William as Best Man, Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother's family in his wedding. 'All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading. 'Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.' Earl Spencer, 53, is best known for the blistering eulogy he gave at Diana's funeral. He and his wife Karen Gordon live at the family seat of Althorp House, where Diana is buried. Earl Spencer and his family will be present at the May 19 ceremony at Windsor Castle Lady Jane Fellowes (left) will give a reading, while Lady Sarah McCorquodale (right) will also be present at the wedding Lady Sarah McCorquodale, 63, is the eldest of the Spencer children. She dated Prince Charles in 1977 and introduced the royal to her youngest sister. Lady Jane Fellowes, 61, is Diana's elder sister, who married Robert Fellowes, a former Private Secretary to the Queen. Earlier this week, former butler William French, who worked on the Royal Yacht, told in the ITV show Prince Harry's Story how Harry will remember his late mother on his big day. Mr French said: 'He'll take one look up, I can guarantee. He'll look up and say, "I've done it mum", and she'll be so proud... of him. That's what's so special.' Revealed: Prince Harry STILL hasn't met his father in law but will do so for the first time when Meghan's father flies over a week before the wedding Meghan's father has struck up a friendship with Prince Harry and has spoken to him regularly to discuss the wedding Prince Harry will not meet Meghan Markle 's father until a week before the wedding, it was revealed today. Thomas Markle, 73, is only jetting in to London from Rosarito, Mexico just a week before the couple walk down the aisle at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Saturday, May 19. Meeting the father-of-the bride is one of the most nerve-racking moments for any groom and Harry still hasn't done it despite his impending nuptials. But sources claim Meghan's father has already struck up a close friendship with Prince Harry and has spoken to him regularly to discuss the couple's wedding. Harry is also believed to have called Thomas at his home in Mexico to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. Meghan's mother Doria, 61, has met Harry - at last year's Invictus Games in Toronto, when he said his future mother-in-law was an 'amazing' woman. The ex-Suits star's parents will also meet the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Camilla, as well as Kate and William for the first time in the week before the wedding. Mr Markle has clearly been preparing himself for the wedding and meeting his future British family. The 72-year-old was pictured carrying an AA-published book called Images of Britain: A Pictorial Journey Through History as he strolled through his hometown of Rosarito, Mexico last month. Mr Markles guidebook, first published in August 1990, is packed full of the most beautiful landscapes and buildings Britain has to offer. Less than 20 pages in, he will have found a photograph of his daughters wedding venue, Windsor Castle, looming over boats on the Thames. Mr Markle was a leading Hollywood lighting director in his mid-30s when he met Meghan's mother, Doria, who was 12 years his junior and temping in his studio. They married and a year later Meghan was born, in August 1981. Mr Markle divorced Doria, who went on to become a social worker, when their daughter was six. Meghan is closer to her mother and is reportedly not on good terms with her half-sister Samantha and half brother Thomas Markle Jnr, who was arrested for allegedly putting a gun to his girlfriend's head during a row last year. Revealed: the full schedule and timings of Harry and Meghan's wedding from their arrival at Windsor Castle to a glitzy evening bash Royal fans across the country have been waiting with bated breath for the full details of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding day. And finally Kensington Palace have released the full schedule and timings for the big day. Here we look at what we can expect on May 19, from when the first guests arrive at Windsor Castle to the evening celebrations at Frogmore House. The couple will spend, as according to tradition, the night before their wedding apart. There will be no American-style maid of honour and all of the couples page boys and bridesmaids who are expected to include Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be children. The couple will not go on honeymoon straight away and will, remarkably, undertake their first public engagement as man and wife just days after the ceremony. The full details of the schedule for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day have finally been released by Kensington Palace 9am Members of the public who have been invited to watch the wedding day from the grounds of Windsor Castle begin to arrive. 9.30am to 11am Wedding guests arrive at the Castle's famous Round Tower by coach and enter the chapel through the South Door and take their seats. Guests will be arriving at the Round Tower at Windsor Castle by coach and will be seen walking to the South Door of St George's Chapel from 9.30am 11.20am Members of the royal family begin to arrive and enter via the Galilee Porch, some on foot others by car. The service begins at 12 noon at St George's Chapel, pictured, in the grounds of Windsor Castle 11.45am Possibly around this time Harry and his brother the Duke of Cambridge arrive at the Chapel's West Steps, probably on foot walking past the thousands of spectators invited into the grounds of the castle. The moment will give Harry the chance to acknowledge the 200 representatives from charities he is associated with gathered in the Horseshoe Cloister at the bottom of the steps. 11.55am to 11.59am Following protocol, the Queen will be the last member of the royal family to arrive for the wedding service. The Quire in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, where the royal wedding will be held on May 19 11.59am Ms Markle arrives at the Chapel's West Steps by car, from her overnight accommodation, with some of her bridesmaids and pageboys. She will start her journey, which will take her past some of the crowds in the Long Walk, with her mother Doria Ragland - but when the car stops at the castle her mother will exchange places with he bridesmaids and pageboys. Ms Ragland will enter the chapel by the Galilee Porch and at some point Meghan's father Thomas Markle will have arrived at the same entrance and make his way to the West Door where he will meet his daughter before the ceremony begins. Meghan Markle's journey through Windsor will take her past some of the crowds in the Long Walk (pictured today) 12pm Service starts. 1pm Service ends and the newlyweds emerge at the West Steps of the Chapel. They will be waved off on their carriage procession through Windsor by members of both families. The congregation will file out of the chapel to see the newlyweds leave before heading to St George's Hall for the lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen. St George's Hall at Windsor Castle where they will hold a reception for the guests until 3.30pm 1.05pm Possibly around this time the carriage procession through the streets of Windsor begins taking 25 minutes. 7pm Bride and groom departing Windsor castle for the evening reception Frogmore House hosted by the Prince of Wales. Frogmore House, where the newly married couple will hold the evening reception for their guests Harry and Meghan reveal they will not go on honeymoon straight away but instead carry out their first public engagement as man and wife just days after the wedding Harry and Meghan will shun a honeymoon straight after their wedding to focus on royal duties, it was revealed today. They will instead carry out their first engagement as a married couple the week after their wedding in the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 19 and spend time with the bride's family and friends who are flying in from the US. Harry and Meghan have not said when or where they will honeymoon but they may choose a trip to Africa - a continent they love and where both have done charity and animal conservation work. The most likely destinations are Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, where Harry took Meghan for a 36th birthday surprise last summer. The weather in that part of southern African is warmest and driest in August, September and October, suggesting a trip later in the year is more likely. Harry and Meghan Markle, pictured visiting Rwanda doing charity work with children, have not said when or where they will honeymoon but Africa is the most likely destination The couple have also done conservation work, Meghan left with Gorillas on a World Vision trip, and Harry, right, cuddling a sedated elephant in the Kruger National Park in South Africa Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stayed at the 1,000-a-night Meno a Kwena in Botswana last year, one of their more likely honeymoon destinations Last August Prince Harrys birthday surprise for his then girlfriend as a romantic trip to a secret hideaway with a stunning view of the African bush, overlooking the sparkling Boteti river. On Meghans first-ever wildlife safari, the couple watched the sun set behind a spectacular vista of acacia thorn trees and green-backed herons fishing in the river. The pair were photographed as they arrived at Maun airport in Botswana, smiling excitedly as they crossed the tarmac, Harrys arm affectionately around his girlfriends shoulder. The pair shunned luxury safari lodges in favour of fly camping, which involved setting up their tents in areas off the beaten track, with only the prince's taxpayer-funded police protection officers for company. They also visited Victoria Falls, the waterfall that straddles Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi river, and is one of the largest in the world, plunging 354ft. The fifth in line to the throne was said to be seriously considering it as an idyllic honeymoon destination after the three-week trip. Their room came with containing a king size bed inside while outside there was a terrace amd day bed overlooking the Boteli River on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park The resort's luxurious rooms also have outdoor showers with views over one of Botswana's national parks Harry (pictured over Christmas in in Maseru, Lesotho) has spoken of his deep connection with Africa and its people, and his mother Princess Diana said the same When the couple first met in 2016 they spent periods together in Toronto, Canada, where Meghan was filming suits. Although they spent Christmas apart, they saw in the New Year together in London and then travelled to Norway to see the Northern Lights. They celebrated in a glass igloo, camping under the winter stars. In March last year, Meghan flew from Toronto to Jamaica on a private jet to be by Harrys side for the wedding of his close friend Tom Inskip. Harry met her at the islands airport and, according to a fellow guest, the couple spent most of their week in their luxury ocean-front villa, complete with private pool and butler. Many countries across the world including Commonwealth nations have offered to host their honeymoons. The couple may be heading to Dublin on a 'mini-moon' shortly after their wedding as they are expected to head to Ireland for what could be their first trip abroad as newlyweds, weeks after tying the knot. Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, will have a series of engagements in the Irish capital Dublin over two days, it is believed. Reports in Middle Eastern media claimed a historic agreement had been made with Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (pictured), but the Vatican has denied the report The Vatican has denied making a deal with Saudi Arabia to build churches for Christian worshippers in the Arab country. Reports in Middle Eastern media claimed a historic agreement had been made between Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Mohammed bin Abdel Karim Al-Issa of the Muslim World League. But a spokesperson for the Vatican said the report was 'false'. The reports of the supposed agreement to build churches emerged in Egypt Independent. The cardinal has visited Saudi Arabia this year and met the royal family, urging the Muslim country to treat its citizens equally. Saudi Arabia's anti-extremism Etidal centre hosted Cardinal Tauran as the crown prince pushes for inter-religious exchange in the ultra-conservative Sunni kingdom. There are no Christian churches in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the region without one. During the visit earlier this year Riyadh-based Etidal, the Arabic acronym for the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, discussed with the cardinal its use of media and technology to 'disrupt extremist recruitment and promote tolerance', a government statement said. 'I think we have two enemies: extremism and ignorance,' Tauran was quoted as saying in the statement, while lauding the centre that was established in 2017. 'I don't believe in the clash of civilisation but rather in the clash of ignorance. Most of the time people react because they don't know who you are or who they are.' Tauran, seen as an energetic promoter of dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and Islam, also met Saudi King Salman in the capital. In November, the head of Lebanon's Maronite church, Beshara Rai, met King Salman and powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured) in a historic visit to Riyadh Saudi leaders have courted a flurry of representatives of various Christian traditions in recent months. In November, the head of Lebanon's Maronite church, Beshara Rai, met King Salman and powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a historic visit to Riyadh. The prince also reportedly met a group of Jewish and Catholic leaders in a recent visit to New York, which highlighted a rare show of interfaith dialogue. Prince Mohammed, the heir to the Saudi throne, has sought to project a moderate image of his austere kingdom, often associated in the West with jihadist ideology and subjugating women. The reformist prince has announced the lifting of a ban on women driving and has authorised cinemas for the first time in over three decades as part of his pledge to spread a more moderate version of Islam. A retired postman who left his wife and their four children for a woman half his age signed over his entire fortune to his young lover 'over a cup of tea'. John Payne, 59, handed over his 600,000 estate to Kim Payne, who was then in her twenties, a few years before his death. After he passed away in 2012 aged 74, Kim and his son John Payne Junior, 57, have been embroiled in a heated legal battle over the inheritance. Mrs Payne, now in her forties, claimed her husband signed over everything to her 'over a cup of tea' in a will witnessed and signed in 1998, the year after they wed. But Mr Payne Junior, 57, insisted there was 'no way' his late dad would have cut his kids out and left everything to Kim. John Payne with three of his children from his first marriage which ended in the mid-1990s Kim Payne celebrating victory in the appeal outside London's Appeal Court on Friday afternoon Ms Payne claimed her deceased husband left everything to her 'over a cup of tea' after they married He claimed his father made another will in 2012, trumping the earlier one, leaving Kim just 15,000 and the rest to him and his son Tommy. But today at London's Civil Appeal Court, Lord Justice Henderson ruled that the 1998 was validly executed and held sway. The judge told John Junior he 'must accept' that his step-mother would get the whole of his father's estate. The court heard that, in March 1997, after 30 years of marriage, Mr Payne senior dumped first wife, Vera Gabriel, who is now in her late 70s, later marrying Kim. Under the will dated May 1998, Kim was left the whole of his fortune, including his three-quarter stake in a 450,000 east London house, and a share portfolio his son says was worth 250,000. But, in February last year, after a 'protracted' battle between John Junior and Kim at Central London County Court, Judge Diana Faber concluded that neither the 2012 nor the 1998 will were in fact valid. The 2012 will was 'not witnessed correctly,' and the judge would not approve the 1998 will as Kim had been 'unable to produce a signed copy.' The 1998 document had not been signed by the witnesses, who instead wrote their names in capital letters. But Lord Justice Henderson said that the 1998 will ought to have been approved, having heard fresh oral evidence from one of the neighbours who witnessed it. That witness, costume designer Robert Gordon, had 'a reliable recollection' of having been telephoned and asked to Mr Payne's house. He and another man witnessed the making of the will and wrote their names, he told the court. Then 'they had a cup of tea together' with Mr Payne and Kim 'and the witnesses then left the house,' Lord Justice Henderson said. The judge, sitting with Lord Justice Flaux, said the new witness evidence provided 'strong support for Mrs Payne's case.' John Payne senior holding John Payne junior as a child before he left his first wife and family for his second wife His 450,000 house in East London (pictured) is at the centre of the debate over the inheritance money John Payne Junior and his mum Vera Gabriel outside London's appeal court before the hearing 'The two witnesses were each present when the deceased signed the will and, by separately filling in their details in the specified places on the will form, the natural inference to draw is that they thereby intended to write their names as witnesses of the deceased's signature,' he said. 'That was why they had been asked to come to Mr Payne's home,' he said, adding that there 'can be no sensible reason to doubt' that they intended to witness the will being made, despite printing rather than signing their names. He said that the 1998 will 'gives every appearance of having been validly executed.' 'There was no requirement in law for the witnesses to have signed the will in the modern sense of that word, as opposed to writing their names with the intention of attesting it,' he added. 'I am left in no doubt that the 1998 will was validly executed.' Addressing the visibly upset son, the judge said: 'It is important that John Payne should now recognise and accept our decision.' He told John junior, who sat shaking in court as the ruling was delivered, that his long-running bid to challenge the validity of the 1998 will 'must now cease.' 'He must accept that the 1998 will is the true last will and testament of his father,' the judge concluded. Outside court, after an earlier hearing John junior said: 'My family are not from a wealthy background. It has taken four generations of hard-working ancestors saving until there was enough money spare for my late father to put a deposit on a house.' Mrs Gabriel, who also attended court, said that her son had been 'crucified' by the strain of the court battle. Donald Trump sicced Friday morning on a retracted report that claimed his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, had been wiretapped. NBC News reported that the wiretaps were in place during the weeks before agents raided Cohen's home, offices and hotel room on April 9. But the network later walked its story back, broadcasting an update on MSNBC that read: 'Correction: Feds are monitoring, not listening to Cohen's calls.' 'NBC NEWS is wrong again! They cite sources which are constantly wrong. Problem is, like so many others, the sources probably dont exist, they are fabricated, fiction! NBC, my former home with the Apprentice, is now as bad as Fake News CNN. Sad! ' the president tweeted. Donald Trump sicced Friday morning on a retracted report that claimed his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, had been wiretapped Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, had come out swinging Thursday following the report later retracted that federal investigators had tapped phones belonging to Cohen. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is the president's newest legal spokesman, was furious that the news was leaked at all, and had said Attorney General Jeff Sessions should intervene and put the people behind the Cohen probe 'under investigation.' 'I am waiting for the attorney general to step in, in his role as defender of justice, and put these people under investigation,' Giuliani told The Hill, a Washington, D.C. newspaper. He predicted the president would be outraged by the prospect of the FBI listening to private conversations with the man who was recently his attorney, and conceded that he would have to tell Trump that 'the Department of Justice seems to want to trample all over the Constitution of the United States.' Ultimately, Giuliani said in a separate interview, he doesn't believe there was a wiretap even though prosecutors in New York have already said in court filings that they had also obtained warrants to sift through Cohen's email accounts. Giuliani was technically right. Rudy Giuliani accused Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office of leaking information about the federal wiretap warrant on Michael Cohen's phones, but correctly claimed the 'tap' wasn't real and then called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to intervene anyway and investigate the investigators NBC News reported that Cohen, President Donald Trump's former longtime personal attorney, was the subject of a wiretap warrant before the April 9 raid on his room at the Loews Hotel (shown), his home and his offices; the network later changed its story Following a frenzied day-long news cycle, NBC News corrected its reporting to reflect that the federal government was keeping a record of calls to and from Cohen's phones, but not actually snooping on who was speaking or what was being said Cohen's home in New York City's Trump Park Avenue building was swept up in the federal raid, following what was thought to be weeks of phone surveillance 'Us lawyers have talked about it, we dont believe its true,' he told The Daily Beast, referring to the wiretap story. Cohen has offices at 30 Rockefeller Center; that space was raided along with his home and hotel room 'We think its going to turn out to be untrue because it would be totally illegal. You cant wiretap a lawyer, you certainly cant wiretap his client whos not involved in the investigation.' 'No one has suggested that Trump was involved in that investigation. So theyre going to wiretap the lawyer, his client, and his client the president of the United States? I dont think so, not if they want to stay out of jail. [And] disclosing a wiretap is a federal felony.' NBC News reporter Tom Winter, who broke the corrected story, appeared on MSNBC to clarify that investigators were keeping track of calls made to and from Cohen's phones but not hearing what was said. 'We reported that there was a wiretap on Michael Cohen's phone, meaning that they were able to listen in to conversations,' Winter explained. 'Now three senior U.S. officials are telling us that ... it was not a wiretap. Instead it was what is referred to as a "pen register." In plain English that means it's a log of phone calls that were made from a specific phone line or specific phone lines.' Winter cautioned that the weaker form of surveillance on a personal lawyer affiliated with the President of the United States 'doesn't change the legal bar, here, to get a warrant of this type. It's still a very serious matter.' Giuliani had earlier blasted Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office for what he said was an inappropriate and illegal leak about what should have been a sealed court order. 'Look at all of the bad faith were seeing here. And whether this wiretap story is true or not true, its bad faith to leak it,' he said. 'We should find out about this with a notification from the Justice Department, theyre wiretapping the President of the United States, theyre wiretapping a man talking to his lawyer and then they want us to cooperate? Were not suckers.' What started as a report of a wiretap later became a milder story about a 'pen register' that tracks metadata about calling numbers, the length of calls and when they occurred Cohen was photographed Thursday walking to a Manhattan hotel where he maintains a room Michael Avenatti, the combative attorney representing pornographic actress Stormy Daniels, said on MSNBC that was likely the FBI raided Cohen quickly because federal agents heard him in a phone call discussion the destruction of evidence. NBC news later retracted its report, saying there was no live surveillance of Cohen's calls It's still not clear who provided NBC News with the information about a live wiretap, which the network corrected hours later. Michael Avenatti, the lawyer representing the porn star at the center of the hush-money controversy that has ensnared Cohen, had said hours earlier that agents listening to Cohen's calls likely heard him discussing the possibility of destroying evidence prompting them to carry our their no-knock warrant last month. That, he said, explained why they raided Cohen's home, hotel and office instead of merely subpoenaing his files, emails and phone data. The news from NBC briefly injected a new degree of gravity into Cohen's legal jeopardy, and opened wider the range of materials the FBI might have at the ready to connect the president to an infamous $130,000 hush-money payment to a porn star who claims she slept with a then-married Trump. NBC had reported that the feds intercepted at least one phone call between a Cohen-linked phone number and the White House. With the network's correction later in the day, that appeared implausible. Such a call could have connected Cohen to anyone at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. According to NBC, the president had called Cohen once after the FBI raid but then cut off all communications with him because Giuliani warned him that the bureau could be snooping. Cohen has acknowledged making a $130,000 payment during the waning weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign to Stephanie Clifford, who acts in pornographic movies under the stage name Stormy Daniels. Daniels had claimed she had a sexual affair with Donald Trump a decade earlier, when future first lady Melania Trump had recently given birth to their son Barron. The National Enquirer is a supermarket tabloid run by longtime Trump friend David Pecker; its recent attack on Cohen may have been a warning shot to intimidate him out of 'flipping' on the president as the special counsel circles overhead Cohen's payment was part of a nondisclosure agreement that Daniels has since flouted, claiming it's invalid because Trump himself never signed it. Ethics watchdogs have speculated that Cohen could be indicted for violating campaign finance law if there's proof the money changed hands as part of a strategy to save the president's election hopes. Giuliani said Wednesday night that Cohen paid the money out of his own funds in order to save Trump from personal embarrassment and divorce, and revealed that Trump had later reimbursed the funds as part of a months-long legal retainer. Daniels' combative lawyer Michael Avenatti said Thursday on MSNBC that federal investigators' tentacles were likely longer than they appear. 'I don't think we're going to find out that this was confined just to emails or voice wiretaps. I think they also my understanding is that they were also wiretapping text-message communications for the weeks leading up to the FBI raids,' he said. Giuliani is blaming Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office for the leak that led to Thursday's feeding frenzy about a possible wiretap capturing Cohen's phone calls for weeks before the FBI raided him Adult-film star Stormy Daniels' lawsuit against Cohen is an attempt to be released from a nondisclosure agreement she signed just before the 2016 election, forbidding her from discussing her claims of a Trump affair in exchange for a $130,000 payment that's now the center of a quickly expanding legal controversy Avenatti spoke just minutes after news of the wiretap broke. 'I also think that ultimately it will be disclosed that during these wiretaps the FBI learned of means by which Michael Cohen and others were going to potentially destroy or spoliate evidence or documentation,' he said. 'Once they had that information in hand, that is what served as the predicate, or the basis for them to be able to go in and get the warrants to search the home, the office and the hotel room of Michael Cohen.' The question of whether or not Cohen will 'flip' on his longtime former boss and legal client is Washington's favorite parlor game, but it's unclear what kind of information he might have that's not protected by attorney-client privilege. The president's campaign organization has paid more than $200,000 to cover Cohen's legal expenses. The funds went to a law firm representing Cohen in his legal battles. Afghan interpreters who served alongside British troops will no longer have to pay large fees to continue living in the UK, in a victory for the Daily Mail. Around 1,100 Afghans - mostly translators and their families - faced being kicked out of Britain from next year as their five-year visas were due to expire and they could not afford 2,400 to apply for indefinite leave to remain. But new Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said the loyal interpreters, all of whom served for more than a year on the frontline in Helmand Province, and their families could stay without paying. 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) Writing for the Mail in his first article since being promoted to Home Secretary on Monday, he said: 'It is only right that we honour their service and ensure they are able to continue with the lives that they have built here.' In another breakthrough, Mr Javid said he would review whether their wives and children should be allowed in. Many of them had complained they had not been able to bring relatives across at the same time for practical reasons, only to be told it was now too late. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson also vowed to fight for the 'courageous' translators. 'The Afghan interpreters have served this country with great loyalty and bravery by serving shoulder-to-shoulder with our Armed Forces,' he said. 'I am also really pleased the Home Office have supported me in making sure Britain delivers for these courageous interpreters who have always delivered for us.' The Mail's Betrayal of the Brave campaign, launched in 2015, has highlighted countless scandals in which Afghan interpreters have been abandoned. The ministers' pledges raised hopes for other interpreters who have not been allowed into Britain because they were not serving on an arbitrary date in 2012. Yesterday it was revealed that several hundred Afghan interpreters who were allowed into the UK under a relocation scheme feared they would be booted out from next year. New Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the loyal interpreters, all of whom served for more than a year on the frontline in Helmand Province, and their families could stay without paying They were given sanctuary after risking their lives for UK troops, but said they had been 'left in limbo' because of rules forcing them to pay 2,389 to apply to stay in Britain indefinitely. The rules, which also apply to migrants who illegally crossed the Channel to enter the UK, left the interpreters with the prospect of having to return to the war-ravaged nation and be hunted by the Taliban. Mohammad Hares, who served with UK troops for five years and leads the Sulha Network representing the interpreters, welcomed Mr Javid's pledge to waive the fees. 'This a big achievement and it's security for us,' he said. 'The fear that I and others could be sent back to Afghanistan is gone. The morale will lift because of this, as will our trust in the system.' The interpreters wrote to both ministers earlier this week urging them to overturn the 'shameful' policy. The Defence Secretary then urged the Home Office to waive the fees. Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, joined the calls, saying: 'These people are vital to us and it is vital we treat them properly.' The UK's current relocation policy excludes hundreds of interpreters who worked with British troops during some of the worst fighting in Helmand in the years before and after 2012. Dominic Chappell is attempting to clear his name after he was prosecuted by the pensions regulator over the collapse of BHS The former owner of collapsed high street giant BHS has launched a bid to clear his name today. Dominic Chappell, 51, bought the high street chain from billionaire Sir Philip Green for just 1 in March 2015. The company subsequently crashed with the loss of 11,000 jobs 13 months later leaving a pensions black hole of around 571million. In January he was fined 50,000 with 37,000 costs after being found guilty of failing to disclose vital details to the pensions watchdog as part of its investigation into the collapse of the high street chain. The former racing driver is now appealing that conviction for failing to provide the pensions watchdog with vital documents. Hove Crown Court heard solicitors had been unable to make much head way with the appeal case because Chappell could not afford to pay them. Michael Levy, defending, said: 'Mr Chappell does not have legal aid and funding has alway been a difficulty.' He said after he was convicted in he could not instruct solicitors because he did not have any money to do so. He told Judge Christine Henson QC: 'It's pathetic, I know, but this is why I am not in a position to give your honour the detail you require.' BHS went into administration in April 2016, leaving a 571 million pension deficit Chappell was ordered to pay more than 87,000 in February - including a 50,000 fine - after being found guilty of failing to provide information about the firm's pensions schemes to investigators when it collapsed Mr Levy told the court he wanted to call 'three or four witnesses' as part of the appeal as only calling Chappell as a sole witness in the original case in January was 'not satisfactory.' Chappell, of Blandford Forum, Dorset, did not take the stand and declined to comment after the hearing. Earlier this year, he was also hit with a bill of around 10m by the Pensions Regulator as it attempts to claw back money for the pension scheme. The Pension Regulator (TPR) launched an investigation into BHS just days after Chappell took over the company - which was once a mainstay of the high street and had 164 stores across the UK. The Regulator, which has a responsibility to safeguard pensions, said it made the move moved to protect the pensions of 19,000 members. It later agreed a deal with Sir Philip Green that he should pay around 363million towards the pension deficit. Giangreco said the board extends "a constant invitation" to representatives to board meetings. He said the district's advocacy work has bared results in the past. Giangreco said he believes Auburn attracts families as a "lighthouse" district in many respects, mentioning the high school's rising graduation rates. If he were someone from outside the district, he said, searching for "beautiful buildings, great teachers, great administration, and a nice atmosphere," he'd make a beeline for Auburn. He marveled at the idea of what the district could do with more money, as he argued the district does not receive as much funding as others do, but he said he believes students and teachers are still finding success with less resources. Phillips, who works for New York State United Teachers union, said his position in the union doesn't involve contract negotiations, but said that if he received legal advice to abstain from talks regarding contracts or labor relations, he would recuse himself. "I think in most cases that's not going to be an issue at all," he said. McCole said he doesn't plan to seek a fifth year as board president if elected. He said he was asked to take the spot for a fourth year by board members he believes are interested but didn't have the time. A former guardsman who captured the Queen's heart spent 25 years by her side and was a rock to her when her marriage hit hard times. Patrick Plunket had been close friends with Her Majesty since childhood, and was one of her closest confidants. He was eventually appointed as Deputy Master of the Household, and royal author Christopher Wilson says no man has even been that close to her - apart from her husband Prince Philip. Patrick Plunket had been friends with Her Majesty since childhood Plunket, seen here with Prince Margaret at the Epson Derby in 1958, stayed by her side during Prince Philip's royal tour in 1956 Patrick inherited the family title at just 15 from his father Lord Terence Plunket (right), 6th Baron Plunket, here with his wife and eldest son at the Fourth of June Eton celebrations in June 1937 Writing in The Sun, Mr Wilson told how the pair were so close that in 1975, when the bachelor died from liver cancer aged 51, she was so distraught she ordered a royal funeral for him at St James's Palace. A memorial temple was then built to him in Windsor Great Park, and she is still a regular visitor there were she pays her respects. Patrick's father, Irish peer Lord Plunket, had been a close friend of Elizabeth's parents, then the Duke and Duchess of York. His mother Dorothe was a half American heiress. But they both died in a plane crash in 1938 when Patrick was just 15-years-old and he inherited the family title. A memorial temple was then built to Patrick Plunket at Windsor Great Park, and she is a regular visit to the temple to pay her respects Plunket was often photographed by her side, including here when she opened Calder Hall, Cumberland, the world's first full-scale atomic power station In World War Two he served in the Irish Guards, then became an equerry for Elizabeth's father, King George VI. When Elizabeth became Queen, she appointed him Deputy Master of the Household. Plunket's cousin, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, told The Sun: 'He adored her from the outset. 'They enjoyed a very special connection. He was the one member of her staff who could talk to her on equal terms. 'There was an openness and honesty between them based on respect, friendship and a lot of teasing.' In 1956, when Prince Philip went on a world tour for four months, Plunket helped her cope with being alone. Queen Elizabeth with Dwight Eisenhower (front left) with Plunket behind on the right Patrick's father and mother, who died in a plane crash when Patrick was just 15-years-old The tour of 1956 put pressure on the marriage and reports started appearing in the US press about a rift. But Plunket was by her side throughout the crisis. Lady Goldsmith said: 'He was tall, impeccably dressed, with a voice full of merriment and his eyes crinkled up with laughter.' Philip finally came home and the royal marriage was rekindled. And royal biographer Charles Higham added: 'He was slender, handsome, with thinning, dark hair and aristocratic profile. 'The Queen was very fond of him, very probably in love with him.' Prolific tweeter Kanye West was recently spotted meeting Candace Owens, the right-wing commentator, and Charlie Kirk, founder of conservative think tank Turning Point right after his 'slavery was a choice' scandal. The rapper has praised YouTuber Candace Owens for her outspoken nature and views on Black Lives Matter on Twitter. After being praised on Twitter, Candace Owens and her boss Charlie Kirk secured a meeting with Kanye West and the trio met in California Returning to the social media platform after a breakdown in 2016, Kanye tweeted: I love the way Candace Owens thinks, and followed up this tweet with one reading Only free thinkers. Frank Ocean parodied this tweet by posting: I love the way Michelle Wolf thinks. But who is Candace Owens? Who is Candace Owens? Born in Stamford, Connecticut, Candace is an American writer and conservative commentator. While she was in high school, she received a number of racist phone calls that were later traced to a car in which the son of Governor Dannel Malloy was present. Candaces family sued the Stamford Board of Education and won a $37,500 settlement. She went on to graduate from the University of Rhode Island with a BA in journalism. In 2017, Candace started Red Pill Black, a website and YouTube channel that she used to promote conservatism and black Republicanism After working for Vogue, she worked at a private equity firm before quitting to start Degree180, a website with content for millennials. In 2016, she launched SocialAutopsy.com in order to expose Internet bullies by doxing, where users would take screenshots of offensive posts and send them to the website. Crowdfunded on Kickstarter, the website immediately garnered criticism with Candace herself stating: We attach [peoples] words to their places of employment, and anybody in the entire world can search for them. What we are doing is figuratively lifting the masks up so nobody can hide behind, you know, Twitter handles or privatized profiles. Its all real, and its all researchable. You can still say whatever you want to say on social media, but you have to be willing to stand by your words. After many online abuse prevention experts asked her to stop her project, Kickstarter suspended her campaign and the website was never created. In 2017, Candace started Red Pill Black, a website and YouTube channel that she used to promote conservatism and black Republicanism. At the MAGA Rally in Illinois, founder of think tank Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk announced that she would be their director of urban engagement At the MAGA Rally in Illinois, founder of think tank Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk announced that she would be their director of urban engagement. Kanye West Twitter and Candace Owens In April 2018, Kanye West tweeted: I love the way Candace Owens thinks. In response to this, Candace replied: Im freaking out. @kanyewest .please take a meeting with me. I tell every single person that everything that I have been inspired to do, was written in your music. I am my own biggest fan, because you made it okay. I need you to help wake up the black community. I love the way Candace Owens thinks KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 21, 2018 Im freaking out. @kanyewest ....please take a meeting with me. I tell every single person that everything that I have been inspired to do, was written in your music. I am my own biggest fan, because you made it okay. I need you to help wake up the black community. https://t.co/Uz1nB9K0Oz Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 21, 2018 Candace Owens, who has been in the spotlight since branding the Womens March on Washington as a joke, met with the Gold Digger rapper in California with Charlie Kirk. Kanye said later that he hoped her influence would allow people to recapture freedom of thought while she said she believed that he had a wonderful, beautiful vision for the future of America. Candace Owens pictured here with Nigel Farage, British politician and political analyst who was the former leader of the UK Independence Party Alongside this, it has become apparent that Kanye has been influenced by her views. In a phone call with DJ Ebro, he said that Candace would help to de-programme people to have people think differently than they have before. In his interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Kanye also said: 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? Candace Owens wrote this at the Office yesterday pic.twitter.com/3utFm74k75 KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 30, 2018 He went on to say: 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. Rudy Giuliani added chaos to confusion on Friday, walking back his claim that President Donald Trump learned just weeks ago that he had been reimbursing lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush-money payment to a porn star. The former New York City mayor, who has emerged as the president's latest and least steady legal adviser, said Thursday that Trump's lawyers gave him that information just weeks ago. 'I don't think the president realized he paid him back for that specific thing until we made him aware of the paperwork,' Giuliani said of the $130,000 payoff to Stormy Daniels. He told NBC News that Trump responded, 'Oh my goodness, I guess that's what it was for.' But on Friday he said he was wrong: 'My references to timing were not describing my understanding of the President's knowledge, but instead, my understanding of these matters.' Rudy Giuliani walked back some of the statements about Donald Trump that he mad eover the past 48 hours, admitting that he was wrong to say the president learned only recently that he had been reimbursing lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush-money payoff to a porn star Trump had given Giuliani tepid praise, saying he was still learning the substance of the president's legal predicament when he sent him on TV to be his mouthpiece Giuliani also tried to clarify a statement he made Thursday morning on 'Fox and Friends,' when he suggested that Daniels' allegations of a decade-ago tryst with Trump would have damaged his presidential campaign. 'Imagine if that came out on Oct. 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton?' Giuliani asked. 'Cohen made it go away. He did his job.' If Cohen had bought Daniels' silence in order to help his boss win the White House, and not merely to help him avoid a divorce, it could constitute a violation of a law that limits the amount of money individual Americans can give to federal election candidates. On Friday, Giuliani did his best to clean that up. 'There is no campaign violation,' he said. 'The payment was made to resolve a personal and false allegation in order to protect the President's family. It would have been done in any event, whether he was a candidate or not.' Trump slammed reporters on Friday for focusing on the Stormy Daniels saga instead of on positive economic news, and promising that Giuliani would clear the air soon Giuliani, the president's newest and least steady legal spokesman, also had to clarify that he wasn't suggesting Cohen paid off Stormey Daniels in order to avoid her allegations torpedoing Trump's White House hopes Trump had promised hours earlier that a statement would be coming soon from Giuliani, and raised new questions about the Daniels scandal when he told reporters that Giuliani had yet to 'get his facts straight.' 'Rudy is a great guy but he just started a day ago,' Trump said before leaving the White House for Dallas, praising Giuliani for 'working hard, learning the subject.' 'Rudy knows it's a witch hunt. He started yesterday. He's getting his facts straight. He's a great guy,' Trump said. Then he stopped to speak to reporters at the steps of Air Force One at Joint base Andrews a rare move and ratcheted up the head-scratching. 'We're not changing any stories,' he said. 'Take a look at what I said.' And he renewed his attacks on the media, saying news outlets shouldn't be focusing on 'c**p like that' when there's good news to tell about the state of the U.S. Speaking to DailyMail.com, the president also promised a 'full list' of what his year-long 2017 retainers to Cohen paid for Off to Texas: Trump boarded Marine One to fly to Joint Base Andrews for an Air Force One flight to Dallas, Texas, where he was addressing the NRA's annual convention Trump was suggesting that he was angry to see few news stories about Friday's 3.9 per cent unemployment figure, the lowest in nearly two decades. He also told DailyMail.com at the White House that he would release 'a full list' of payments Cohen made out of a legal retainer Trump paid the lawyer last year. Trump claimed that there was 'a lot of misinformation' about the scandal. 'We're going to give a full list,' he said. 'And people know virtually everything that's been said has been said incorrectly.' 'It's actually very simple,' Trump lectured. 'There's been a lot of misinformation, really, people wanting to say and I said, "You know what? Learn before you speak. It's a lot easier".' Giuliani had said Thursday that Trump had no idea his personal lawyer Michael Cohen was using part of a $35,000-per-month legal retainer as hush money for Daniels. At Joint Base Andrews, before jetting off the Dallas for a National Rifle Association speech, Trump blasted journalists' coverage of the Stormy Daniels epic as 'this kind of c**p' Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 in October 2016 in exchange for her silence about what she claims was a Trump affair a decade ago; Trump paid him $35,000 per month in retainers throughout all of 2017, part of which was a reimbursement NBC News analyst Willie Geist said Friday that Cohen told friend Donny Deutsch that Giuliani 'doesn't know what he's talking about' Trump's close counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters Friday that she was unaware of the Daniels payoff, which happened in October 2016 while she was Trump's campaign manager NBC analyst Willie Geist tweeted Friday morning, however, that Cohen believes Giuliani is twisting the facts of the case. 'In a conversation last night with @DonnyDeustch, Trump attorney Michael Cohen says "Rudy Giuliani doesn't know what he's talking about",' Geist wrote. Deutsch and Cohen have been seen dining together in the past week, and leaving the posh Barney's New York together after one lunch. Multiple different, and sometimes seemingly contradictory, accounts of the money trail in the now famous transaction could all be true. Cohen claims he withdrew cash from a home equity line of credit in October 2016 to pay for Daniels' silence, and later said neither the Trump presidential campaign nor the president's real estate company paid him back. Trump said a month ago that he knew nothing about the $130,000 payoff and was unaware of where the money might have come from. And Giuliani is now suggesting that was true at the time, and that Trump was shocked to learn the truth that he had been paying Cohen $35,000 per month throughout all 12 months of 2017, a total of $420,000. Trump's close counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters Friday that she was unaware of the Daniels payoff, which happened in October 2016 while she was Trump's campaign manager. She 'never heard about that during the campaign,' she insisted. 'I was the campaign manager. A lot crossed my desk." Conway also said she 'did not' hear about the payment last year at the White House while the reimbursements were ongoing. Giuliani first said Wednesday night that Trump personally refunded the Stormy Daniels hush money to Cohen through legal-retainer payments over a series of months. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 by Cohen in late 2016 to keep quiet over her alleged affair with Trump in 2006 and 2007 Even some legal analysts' claims that the initial payment represented a campaign finance violation an impermissibly large 'in-kind' donation could be off-base, if Cohen didn't intend it to be a campaign-saving Hail Mary. That might be the case if he thought, as most pollsters indicated at the time, that his boss would lose the election to Hillary Clinton. Trump tweeted his own unusually lengthy account on Thursday. '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,' the president 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 [sic] in this transaction,' Trump concluded. Giuliani also denied the payment Cohen made was a political move, saying on Fox News that 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 Giuliani seemed to give Daniels and her attorney Michael Avenatti fresh ammunition, suggesting that if Daniels' claims of a Trump affair become public during the election campaign, it could have been disastrous for the future president. 'Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton,' he said. A federal agent is in a critical condition after being shot in the head in Chicago while working undercover on an investigation with local cops. The agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was shot at 3.15am on Friday in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the city's South Side and taken to Stroger Hospital. Luz Campos, who lives near where the shooting took place, told the Chicago Tribune she was in her kitchen when she heard someone say 'open the door' followed by what she thought was the sound of fireworks. Dozens of extra cops have been deployed in Chicago's South Side where a federal agent was shot in the early hours of Friday morning The agent with the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco, and Firearms was shot at 3.15am on Friday in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the city's South Side, where cops are pictured Other locals said they heard a barrage of gunshots, with one woman saying these were too numerous to count. It is understood law enforcement fired several bullets during an exchange with a gunman or gunmen before the agent was shot. No one has been arrested. A local officer was taken to hospital for observation but had not been shot, according to Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Guglielmi said there had been a 'full deployment' of specialized units to help the ATF investigation, including organized crime units and a saturation patrol. President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized violence in Chicago, dispatched an ATF team to the city last summer. Federal agents and local cops have joined together as part of the Chicago Crime Gun Strike Force, which was about 40-strong last June. There have been a rash of rifle shootings in the city's south side in recent years, with more than 140 people shot, 50 fatally, from fall 2016 to the end of 2017. It is not known if a rifle was used in Friday's shooting. There have been a rash of rifle shootings in the city's south side in recent years, with more than 140 people shot, 50 fatally, from fall 2016 to the end of 2017. Pic: Police near the scene Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the shooting of an ATF agent, before adding that a local cop had been taken in for observation but had not been shot A 60-year-old Indian rickshaw driver accused of raping a nine-year-old girl has killed himself after admitting he had committed the crime. The mans death comes after protests erupted across southern India over the childs rape, as people vented their anger over the failure of the police to stop the ongoing tide of such horrendous attacks on children. Officers in Andhra Pradeshs Guntur district launched a manhunt for the accused, who fled after allegedly raping the nine-year-old on Wednesday, according to Hindustan Times. The girl has been receiving treatment at Guntur General Hospital since being found unconscious in the rural town of Dachepalli. Ministers have visited her in hospital, and handed over a cheque to her family as compensation from the state government. Traffic was brought to a halt when thousands of people held a protest on the state highway in Dachepalli after the rape of a nine-year-old girl On Thursday, an angry mob blocked highways and sat on railway tracks near Guntur, demanding public punishment for the rickshaw driver. The crowd also attacked the accused's house and thrashed his son. Guntur Police told Hindustan Times that officers had received a 'hint' of the accuseds intention to kill himself, after examining his call data. They said the man also told a relative that he felt ashamed after committing a crime The accused was today found hanging in a wood near a temple at Daida village, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister (home), N China Rajappa, told Times of India. He confirmed the dead man was the accused rapist, Annam Subbaiah, and that it was believed he killed himself. The attack is the latest in several cases of sexual assault of children which have come to light in recent weeks from different parts of the country, leading to a public outpouring of anger. Bid for chemical castration of child rapists Indias Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association has called upon the Prime Ministers office to bring in a law enabling the chemical castration of those convicted of raping minors. The group declared that all members are immensely appalled by the sudden rise of incidents of child rapes which is increasing alarmingly. These are atrocious, inconceivable and brutal sexual offences where perverted culprits have not spared even small babies, girls and boys. Culprits should be dealt with iron hands of the law, particularly given atrocious cases such as a recent rape which resulted in the father of the victim being killed in police custody for raising a voice. It called upon parliament to bring in chemical castration as soon as possible, in addition to the recently introduced death penalty. Advertisement Registered cases of sexual violence have been rising despite the national outrage that followed the fatal gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012. The government introduced the death penalty for the rape of girls younger than 12 last month after a particularly gruesome case of rape and murder of a Muslim girl in Jammu and Kashmir state. But over the past week, a 16-year-old gang-rape victim has killed herself after she was attacked by eight men in India. She was one of two teenagers recently gang-raped in separate incidents in the country, highlighting a rape epidemic that has shown no sign of abating despite the threat of tougher penalties. The 16-year-old was raped by eight men in the Nuh district of the northern state of Haryana on Sunday. 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. Meghan Markle will not have a maid of honour - and the page boys and bridesmaids at her wedding to Prince Harry will all be children, it emerged today. Close friends of the former US actress include her stylist Jessica Mulroney, who runs a bridal store in Toronto and is said to have helped Meghan choose her gown. The glossy Canadian socialite, dubbed 'the Gwyneth Paltrow of Toronto', is a professional wedding planner and will have no doubt been passing on tips. Close friends of ex-US actress Meghan Markle include her stylist Jessica Mulroney (above), who runs a bridal store in Toronto and is said to have helped Meghan choose her gown Princess Charlotte and Prince George (pictured watching the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on June 17 last year) are expected to be involved in the bridal party later this month The Duke of Cambridge will be the best man for his brother, Prince Harry. They are pictured at Pippa Middleton and James Matthews's wedding in Englefield, Berkshire, in May 2017 Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children Prince George and Princess Charlotte are expected to be among the children involved in the wedding. Meghan's close-knit group of confidantes have been helping her with the wedding preparations and will be with her in London in the run-up to May 19. Kensington Palace said the bride-to-be had such strong bonds with her friends, who have all been invited, that she could not pick just one as her maid of honour. Instead she has picked youngsters as bridesmaids and pageboys - with Prince George and Princess Charlotte certain to be among them. A spokesman for the couple said: 'The bridesmaids and page boys are all children. Ms Markle will not have a maid of honour. She has a very close group of friends and didn't want to choose one over the other. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son Prince George (left) and Princess Charlotte (right, pictured in London on April 23) are expected to be a page boy and bridesmaid 'They have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there with her the day before in London. She will be pleased to have their support on the day but they have no official role.' The decision comes after Pippa Middleton was seen by some to have upstaged Kate when she was bridesmaid at her sister's wedding to William in 2011. Indian actress and philanthropist Priyanka Chopra will have been a source of support for Meghan in the run up to the wedding Indian actress and philanthropist Priyanka Chopra will also have been a source of support for Meghan in the run up to the big day at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. Chopra has paid tribute to Ms Markle as a 'strong, free spirit' who 'found her prince, fell in love and in turn made a cynical world believe in fairy tales again'. The actress wrote a piece to accompany Meghan's entry in Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2018, saying she would be a 'princess for the people'. Ms Markle is also close to tennis champion Serena Williams, after hitting it off immediately with her when they met at a celebrity flag football game in 2014. 'She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was travelling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down-to-earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto,' she revealed. 'We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces, and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations, our endless ambition.' Other friends include her former Suits co-star Sarah Rafferty, actress and musician Janina Gavankar, New York socialite Olivia Palermo, former Suits and Mad Men actress Abigail Spencer, author Lindsay Jill Roth and celebrity pilates instructor Heather Dorak. George and Charlotte gained a new brother last week, Prince Louis Arthur Charles (pictured) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave St Mary's Hospital on April 23 with their new baby Prince William and Kate walk with their children George and Charlotte in Berlin last July Rafferty, who plays Donna Paulsen in the hit US legal drama, has been described by Meghan as 'not just my Suits sister wife, but my sister'. Who are the key players in Harry and Meghan's wedding party? Best man : Prince William : Prince William Father of the bride : Thomas Markle : Thomas Markle Ushers : Rumoured to be Tom Skippy Inskip, 31; Charlie Van Straubenzee, 29; Tom Van Straubenzee, 35; Adam Bidwell, 42; Arthur Landon, 37; William Van Cutsem, 38; and Mark Dyer, 52. : Rumoured to be Tom Skippy Inskip, 31; Charlie Van Straubenzee, 29; Tom Van Straubenzee, 35; Adam Bidwell, 42; Arthur Landon, 37; William Van Cutsem, 38; and Mark Dyer, 52. Flower girls : Rumoured to be Princess Charlotte, three; Benita Litt's twin daughters, five; and Jessica Mulroney's daughter Ivy, four : Rumoured to be Princess Charlotte, three; Benita Litt's twin daughters, five; and Jessica Mulroney's daughter Ivy, four Page boys : Prince George, four; and Jasper Dyer, five : Prince George, four; and Jasper Dyer, five Dianas siblings : Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale Advertisement George and Charlotte gained a new brother last week, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, after their mother Kate gave birth at St Mary's Hospital in London on April 23. Kensington Palace made a host of announcements about the royal wedding today, including that Meghan's parents will meet the Queen ahead of the big day. Thomas Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle and Doria Ragland will accompany Meghan by car as she leaves for Windsor Castle, ready to marry Harry. Harry and Meghan will not be going on honeymoon straight away but will carry out their first engagement as a married couple the week after their wedding. The bride and groom will spend the night before the wedding apart and Harry's first glimpse of the dress will be as Meghan walks up the aisle. The couple also wanted to make sure the prince's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who was killed in a car crash in 1997, will be remembered on the day. Therefore Diana's three siblings - Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes - will all be present, with Lady Jane giving a reading. Advertisement Dozens of Palestinians were wounded Friday as thousands demonstrated on the Gaza border for the sixth week in a row in a wave of protests that has already seen nearly 50 people killed by Israeli fire. Medics treated 170 demonstrators for gunshot wounds and tear gas, with 69 taken to hospital, a spokesman for the Gaza health ministry said. Black smoke billowed over a protest camp east of Gaza City where Palestinians were burning tyres and flying kites, at least one carrying a Molotov cocktail intended on setting fire to nearby Israeli fields. After advancing toward the border fence, protesters would retreat when the Israeli army fired tear gas. Thousands of Palestinian protesters headed to the border fence between Gaza and Israel on Friday as the 'right of return' demonstrations called by Hamas entered their sixth week Demonstrators, many wearing face masks, burned tyres and hurled rocks at Israeli security forces, who returned fire with live ammunition and tear gas Palestinians are demanding to be allowed to return to what they see as their land in Israel, while Israeli security services have threatened to shoot anyone who crosses the border fence At least 170 people were injured, according to medics in Gaza, with 69 taken to hospital and three reported to be in critical A wounded demonstrator is evacuated from the site of the protests. Since the demonstrations began six weeks ago, 45 Palestinians have been killed, according to reports in Gaza Protesters gathered near the border after Friday prayers and the confrontation quickly turned ugly, with tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition used Hamas has called for weekly protests against the blockade of Gaza to culminate on May 15 with a mass border crossing A member of the so-called 'tyre brigades' stands with a can of petrol having ignited several tyres, filling the air with smoke Slingshots were used by some protesters to fire rocks at the Israelis. Palestinians have also been using kites fitting with Molotov cocktails to set light to fields on the other side of the fence A Palestinian loads a slingshot near the Israeli border fence. There were no immediate reports of injuries on the Israeli side Palestinian protesters pull a piece of the barbed wire fence along the border with Israel during clashes with Israeli forces A military spokeswoman said that some of the protesters threw stones at the Israeli forces. Crowds were smaller than previous weeks, with Palestinians saying they were expecting a major protest on May 15, when the United States will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Forty-nine Palestinians have been killed since protests and clashes began along the Gaza border on March 30 and hundreds of others have been wounded by gunfire. Israel says its soldiers only open fire when necessary to stop infiltrations, damage to the fence and attacks. Shifa Abu Qadous, 28, whose family was originally from Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv, was bringing water to protesters near the border fence. Wearing a headscarf and a dust-mask hanging around her neck, she said she came to the protests every week. 'I'm not afraid, there's only one death,' she said. 'Today or tomorrow or after that we will return to our homes.' Yehiyeh Amarin, an 18-year-old protester, was among nearly two dozen activists rolling tires toward the fence on Friday to set them ablaze. His face partially covered with a black-and-white 'keffiyeh' scarf, he's part of a group of young protesters calling themselves 'the tires' unit,' responsible for collecting and burning old tires along the border. 'If no solution happens by May 15 we will continue the protests or we die. We will cut through the fence.' Amarin said, as another protester beside him brandished a yellow wire cutter. He said they spend their weekdays collecting tires to bring to the border fence on Friday protests which they attend every week. 'We want a dignified life and a return to our lands,' he said. In central Gaza, dozens were gathered east of the Bureij refugee camp. Youths met behind a series of bunkers reinforced with sandbags in the area leading up to the border with Israel, while older demonstrators remained further back at protest tents. A group of Palestinian youths threw stones in the direction of Israeli soldiers, who had taken up position some 50 metres (yards) away on the other side of the fence. A Guy Fawkes mask strapped to his belt and a Palestinian flag around his neck, Abdullah Issa, 22, said they hoped to send dozens of kites with Molotov cocktails over the fence. 'We will put Molotov cocktails on the Israeli farms,' Issa said. 'They have no solution for the kites.' A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli forces amid a sixth week of clashes in Gaza A Palestinian man runs for cover as tear gas canisters are fired. Israel has been condemned by the UN and EU for its use of live-fire in Gaza, but says it only targets 'instigators' Palestinian women hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border. Israel accuses Hamas of carrying out attacks on its sovereign territory under the guise of protests Demonstrators are demanding the right to return to their homes seized by Israel in 1948, which Israel argues would effectively spell the end of their country Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip Gaza has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hama seized control of the territory in 2007 A woman waves a Palestinian flag in front of black smoke from burning tires during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border Protesters shout slogans in response of Israeli soldiers' intervention during a protest in support of "Great March of Return" near Gaza-Israel border in Khan Yunis, Gaza A Palestinian protester hurls stones at Israeli soldiers during clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron Palestinian protester hurls stones at Israeli soldiers during clashes after a protest against the expanding of Jewish settlements in Kufr Qadoom village near the West Bank city of Nablus Israeli troops have been heavily criticised from within their own country and the wider international community for their use of live fire to counter protests Israeli media have in recent days reported significant damage to farms due to kite-flown Molotov cocktails, though the devices face difficult odds in making it across the fence while still lit. The Israeli army estimated that 7,000 Palestinians took place in this Friday's demonstrations in five main locations along the border fence. During the events, two army drones crashed in the Gaza Strip. 'The matter is being looked into,' a statement from the army said. Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs Gaza and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of seeking to use the weekly protests as a cover to carry out violence. No Israelis have been hurt and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no danger to soldiers. The military has faced international criticism over its use of live fire, with the United Nations and European Union calling for an independent investigation rejected by Israel. Demonstrators are demanding the right to return to their homes seized by Israel in 1948, which Israel argues would effectively spell the end of their country. The protests are due to continue until mid-May, when the US plans to move its embassy. The move has deeply angered the Palestinians, who see the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of the city as the capital of their future state. Hamas says the protests are aimed at breaking a crippling border blockade that was imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group assumed control of Gaza in 2007. Israel says it's defending its sovereign border, including nearby communities, and that soldiers only target instigators. It accuses Hamas, a militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, of trying to carry out attacks under the guise of the mass protests. It has said that some of those protesting at the border over the past few weeks tried to damage the border fence or plant explosives along it. Prince Harry will not meet Meghan Markle's father until a week before the wedding, it was revealed today. Thomas Markle, 73, is only jetting in to London from Rosarito, Mexico just a week before the couple walk down the aisle at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Saturday, May 19. Meeting the father-of-the bride is one of the most nerve-racking moments for any groom and Harry still hasn't done it despite his impending nuptials. But sources claim Meghan's father has already struck up a close friendship with Prince Harry and has spoken to him regularly to discuss the couple's wedding. Harry is also believed to have called Thomas at his home in Mexico to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. Meghan's mother Doria, 61, has met Harry - at last year's Invictus Games in Toronto, when he said his future mother-in-law was an 'amazing' woman. The ex-Suits star's parents will also meet the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Camilla, as well as Kate and William for the first time in the week before the wedding. Thomas Markle, 73, is only jetting in to London from Rosarito, Mexico just a week before his daughter and Harry walk down the aisle, meaning he hasn't met his future son in law yet Meghan's father has already struck up a close friendship with Prince Harry and has spoken to him regularly to discuss the couple's wedding Mr Markle has clearly been preparing himself for the wedding and meeting his future British family. The 73-year-old was pictured carrying an AA-published book called Images of Britain: A Pictorial Journey Through History as he strolled through his hometown of Rosarito, Mexico last month. Mr Markles guidebook, first published in August 1990, is packed full of the most beautiful landscapes and buildings Britain has to offer. Less than 20 pages in, he will have found a photograph of his daughters wedding venue, Windsor Castle, looming over boats on the Thames. Mr Markle was a leading Hollywood lighting director in his mid-30s when he met Meghan's mother, Doria, who was 12 years his junior and temping in his studio. They married and a year later Meghan was born, in August 1981. Mr Markle divorced Doria, who went on to become a social worker, when their daughter was six. Meghan is closer to her mother and is reportedly not on good terms with her half-sister Samantha and half brother Thomas Markle Jnr, who was arrested for allegedly putting a gun to his girlfriend's head during a row last year. Meghan's mother Doria, 61, has met Harry - at last year's Invictus Games in Toronto (pictured), when he said his future mother-in-law was an 'amazing' woman Meghan Markle - pictured (left) as Rachel Zane in US TV series Suits, and with her husband-to-be Prince Harry (right) on March 23 in Lisburn, Nothern Ireland - will be married on May 19 Royal bride to be Meghan Markle suffered fresh embarrassment at the hands of her dysfunctional family yesterday as her estranged half-brother branded her a phoney Diana. Thomas Markle Junior, who shares the same father as the former actress, hit out at his sibling for failing to invite himself and other relatives to next months royal wedding, claiming she had turned her back on them in her quest for fame. His sister, Samantha Markle, from whom both he and Miss Markle are estranged, then weighed in on social media, calling for Prince Harry to man up. She accused the Queens grandson of rank hypocrisy in offering shout outs about humanitarianism while allowing Meg to ignore the Markles. Someone must point out that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes, the 53-year-old raged. Although she has not seen either of her half siblings for up to ten years, the constant harrying by her US-based family is sure to be hitting Miss Markle, 36, hard with her wedding to the Queens grandson less than a month away. Kensington Palace declined to comment last night but sources close to the actress, who has given up her television career to take on royal duties, have previously done their best to distance her from the extended Markle clan. Meghan is not on good terms with her half-sister Samantha and half brother Thomas Markle Jnr, who have been snubbed for the wedding Meghan Markle 's estranged half-brother Thomas has shared a handwritten letter telling Prince Harry it's 'not too late' to cancel the wedding to his sister Almost four ounces of Novichok nerve agent were used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said. Ahmet Uzumcu told the New York Times the amount of Novichok used - around half a cup of liquid - suggests it was created for use as a weapon rather than for research purposes. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4. The inquiry into the nerve agent attack in the Wiltshire city has involved 250 detectives who have sifted through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses. Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia (pictured) were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4 Mr Uzumcu told the newspaper the Novichok could have been applied as a liquid or aerosol. He said: 'For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that, without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection. 'It's not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse.' He added the samples collected suggested the nerve agent was of 'high purity'. Mr Skripal and his daughter have defied medical odds - he is no longer in a critical condition and she has been discharged from hospital. Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. The Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko previously suggested that Sergei and Yulia Skripal may have been injected by British authorities with nerve agent produced at Porton Down. Almost four ounces of Novichok nerve agent were used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (left), the chemical weapons watchdog chief said However the UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Elsewhere today the Czech Republic's pro-Russian president Milos Zeman claimed a tiny amount of Novichok was produced, tested and destroyed in his country last year. He cited a report by Czech military spies - but admitted that a separate report by a counterintelligence agency did not in fact identify the agent as Novichok, but as A230. The 73-year-old, known for his pro-Kremlin views, said he thought it was the same nerve agent type used to poison ex-Russian spy Skripal and his daughter. Moscow immediately jumped on the comments with a senator saying they were a 'crushing blow' to claims that Russia was behind the attack. Russian officials have previously suggested the nerve agent used for the attack may have originated in the Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia. Acting Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis called that claim a lie and the Czechs expelled three Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain. Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. Army officers are pictured removing the bench where the Skripals collapsed The UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Pictured: Police at Sergei Skripal's home Karen Pierce, the UK's representative to the United Nations, told a meeting last month there was 'no plausible alternative explanation than Russian State responsibility for what happened in Salisbury', suggesting Russia had the ability, operation experience and motive to carry out the attack. She said: 'Russia has a proven record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations including on the territory of the United Kingdom. 'The independent inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko concluded in January 2016 that he was deliberately poisoned with polonium; that the FSB had directed the operation; and that President Putin probably approved it.' On the technical means of creating Novichok, she said: 'No terrorist group or non-state actor would be able to produce this agent in the purity described by the OPCW testing and this is something Russia has acknowledged. 'The Russian State has previously produced Novichoks and would still be capable of doing so today.' Police in Massachusetts are investigating a bizarre incident after a man was seen on video screaming at a bus driver and then jumping onto the hood of the vehicle. Joe Rizoli said he was driving the empty bus on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Newton around 7.30pm on Tuesday when the car in front of him, a red Toyota Corolla, suddenly slammed on the breaks forcing the bus driver to stop. As car whipped past them, the driver of the Corolla hopped out of his vehicle and walked up to the bus driver's side door trying to get in. A 42-year-old man from Dorchester was caught on a bus' dash camera stopping in the middle of a highway and then confronting the bus driver The bus driver said the man tried to get on the bus but when he refused to open the door the man climbed onto the hood of a bus The man kept screaming about the windows on the bus being dark, the driver said When Rizoli refused to let him in, the disheveled-looking man walked around to the front of the bus and jumped on the hood. Rizoli said the man kept screaming: 'Why are the windows on your bus dark?' Eventually, the man walked back to his car and Rizoli said he drove off. The strange incident was captured on the bus' dashboard camera. Massachusetts State Police identified the man in the video as a 42-year-old Dorchester man. They are not releasing his name. Rizoli told WCBI that the situation was dangerous, but his main concern is for the guy. 'He really broke a lot of rules here, a lot of laws,' he said. 'I just think he needs help. It was so dangerous for all of us, for him, for me, the people behind us could have smashed into us.' Police said the bus was headed back to Weston from Boston, and no school children were on board. They are still investigating why the man jumped on the bus. By publishing the inmate's full name, Fandrich said there was "an immediate threat to his safety." And while The Citizen argued that it is DOCCS' legal obligation to ensure inmate safety, not the public's, the judge said that is not always the case. "In reality, (DOCCS) can't accomplish that," Fandrich said, citing several contraband cases and violent inmate assaults he has covered in court. "Sex offenders are often subject to retaliation. ... It's reality." Fandrich agreed that the press has the "absolute right to cover proceedings" and said he would consider reopening the court. However, he would only do so if The Citizen would agree to only refer to the inmate as Donald G. and exclude his mug shot from publication in future coverage. The Citizen declined to accept that condition, and the trial proceedings have resumed in private. The newspaper is considering an appeal of the closure decision. "We believe that even though this order is unconstitutional, we nevertheless have complied with its provisions by using sources outside the court proceeding to confirm and publish the name and photo of a convicted sex offender," Executive Editor Jeremy Boyer said. "New York state is saying this offender is a danger to the public should he be released, and the offender is fighting that assertion. The public absolutely has a right to be fully informed about this process." Staff writer Megan Blarr can be reached at (315) 282-2282 or megan.blarr@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @CitizenBlarr. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 8 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Neil Rattue (pictured) was branded cowardly after he married a second wife and had two children with her A bigamist who set himself up with a new wife and children but continued to call his first wife every day for 17 years was today jailed for eight months. Neil Rattue, 60, was married to his first wife Susan for 15 years, buying a home together which he said they had to sell and move in with her mother because they were in debt. Fifteen years after his first wedding, he forged a divorce certificate so he could marry his second wife Rebecca, with whom he had two children and lived 256 miles away. Though he stopped seeing his first wife in 2001, he dutifully continued to call her daily for 17 years to ask how she was and discuss their debts, which she was paying off. A court previously heard Susan had paid off 30,000 of debt, from credit cards and loans taken out with Rattue, but still had a staggering 37,500 to be paid. Judge Richard Parkes QC today said Rattue had been cowardly and deceitful in maintaining his marriage to Susan despite having started a new life without her. Salisbury Crown Court, Wilts, heard today Rattue had met his first wife Susan in Wiltshire in 1980 and they were married three years later. The bigamist, who often worked away, then met his second wife Rebecca while in Stratford-upon-Avon. The pair, who married on October 3, 1998, lived together in York, North Yorks, having two children together. It was heard Susan was left with tens of thousands of pounds worth of debt, incurred after she and Rattue had taken out loans and credit cards in the 1980s. Prosecutor Phillip Warren said Rattue had taken a friends divorce certificate without him knowing, before using it to forge his own. Mr Warren said: 'The marriage between [Rattue and Susan], one might say coloquially, drifted apart. He was working away a lot. 'They had a house together, which they sold and moved in with Susans parents. She, it seems, got nothing out of the proceeds. 'Mr Rattue then met the second Mrs Rattue. He had taken up with her in the normal way, but for the fact he was already married. 'There was, he says, pressure from her family for them to get married and have children. 'Another factor of this case is that the defendant produced a doctored decree absolute to a registrar to establish his eligibility to get married. Fifteen years after his first wedding, Rattue (pictured outside court with a friend) forged a divorce certificate so he could marry his second wife 'The decree absolute that [Rattue] used [to prove he was divorced] was that of a friend, Paul Reid. 'Mr Reid showed him the decree absolute. The defendant got hold of that without Paul knowing and photocopied the document. 'He then changed the names and he produced that document to Rebecca to reassure her that he was not married. 'When it was shown to York County Court [before Rattues second marriage], it seems nobody looked at that document as well as should have been.' Rattue, of York, admitted bigamy at a a hearing at Salisbury Magistrates Court last month. The court today heard a victim statement from Susan Rattue, read out by the prosecutor, who said she felt like her husband had stolen her life from her. She said: 'Why did he not ask me years ago for a divorce or when he met his new wife? Instead he was leading a double life. 'I have spent the last 19 years living with my mum as he left me with no other option. I am paying for this both mentally and emotionally. 'He has stolen my life from me. 'I could have remarried and moved on. I could have had children. It hurt me to learn he has gone on to have children of his own. 'We were still married but I did not see my husband. 'I was having to work a lot of overtime in the hospital to pay off my debts. I could not get a mortgage with my debts and would not want to give a partner the baggage. '18 months ago he would still phone me at work every day where he would ask me how I was. He still made me pay off all the money. 'He said we have got to stay married for the purpose of the loan and I believed him. Little did I know, it was because he had already forged our divorce certificate. 'This has been a prison sentence since 2001 when he left and stole my life from me.' In mitigation, Nicholas Cotter, for Rattue, said that his client had acted in a cowardly fashion and should have dealt with the matter in his 20s or 30s. He said: 'Theres not many sights sadder than a man of an older age and good caharcter coming to court with a bag and entering the dock. 'This does not just affect him but his two wives and two children. He has acted in a cowardly fashion. 'But he takes responsibility, although he should have taken responsibility in his late 20s or early 30s. But he did not.' Appealing for his client not to be prisoned, Mr Cotter added: 'I do not think it helps anyone else [for him to go to jail].' Sentencing him to eight months in prison, judge Richard Parkes QC said a prison sentence was unavoidable after Rattue, who stared down at his feet, had acted in such a cowardly way. The judge said: 'You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the offence of bigamy. 'You have been a cowardly and deceitful man. You kept Susan married to you by telling her it was necessary for the debt repayments. 'She has been left owing a staggering amount, meanwhile you were saving money with Rebecca for a family home. 'This case undoubtedly meets the custody threshold. You shall go to prison for eight months. 'I am not going to make a compensation order simply because it is not possible for the court to quantify this. But I undertand there are proceedings ongoing to resolve this matter anyway.' President Donald Trump is speaking to his most reliable supporters at the National Rifle Association's annual convention today in Texas. Held in Dallas this year 80,000 people were expected to attend the 147th annual gathering of the gun advocacy group that staunchly opposes new restrictions on semi-automatic weapons like the firearm used in the Parkland, Florida massacre. The NRA endorsed Trump early in his campaign, and the president is repaying the lobbying organization for its loyalty with an appearance today. President Donald Trump on his way to Dallas where he is addressing the NRA's annual convention Second Amendment: The NRA's Dallas gathering is the first since the Parkland massacre, which prompted waves of protests and calls for restrictions on gun rights In the crosshairs: NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre has found his organization's political influence under intense scrutiny in the wake of gun control protests held after Nikolas Cruz killed 17 at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida He became the first sitting president since Ronald Reagan to speak to the organization last year. Under siege for the remarks that come fewer than three months after Parkland from left-wing activists, Trump's speech was expected to draw thousands of protesters, including actress Alyssa Milano. A downpour in Dallas undercut the anti-Trump effort outside the venue, though. Only NRA members were allowed inside. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, President Trump the NRA is 'a great organization that loves this country.' 'The NRA is a truly great organization that loves this country,' he repeated. 'And we have a record crowd. You probably heard, the people are lined up for long distances.' Trump publicized the trip on Twitter on Friday morning before leaving the White House. But he did not mention in the message why he was flying to Dallas. 'Going to Dallas (the GREAT State of Texas) today. Leaving soon!' he said. Since the Parkland high school shooting, the NRA has lost several battles at the state level to prevent new restrictions on firearms. Florida, Maryland, Tennessee and even deep-red Kansas. At the federal level it came out of a legislative debate almost entirely unscathed, with bipartisan measures failing with the exception of federal grants for school safety and incentives for states and agencies that better comply with existing background check regulations. The Justice Department is also moving forward with plans to ban bump stocks, devices that manipulate semi-automatic weapons to make them act like automatic weapons. Trump told GOP senators after Parkland that they should not be afraid of the NRA, and he would give them political cover if they imposed stricter federal rules on the background check process. In his speech to the NRA, Vice President Mike Pence pushed the administration's belief that the U.S. needs 'to allow qualified school personnel on a voluntary basis to carry concealed weapons. Because the quickest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun 'They have great power over you people,' Trump said during a televised discussion at the White House with lawmakers. 'Some of you people are petrified of the NRA.' Trump said hes a big fan of the NRA and they are great people. These are great patriots. They love our country, he said. But that doesn't mean we have to agree on everything. He then ordered a commission formed entirely of Republicans in his administration to study the idea, and others, like arming teachers in schools. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday, as she was asked about Trump's speech, that school safety remains a priority of the administration as she defended the president's trip. 'Certainly, as we have indicated on many occasions, safety is a big priority. Security is a big priority for the administration,' she said. 'But we also support the Second Amendment, and strongly support it, and dont see there to be a problem with speaking at the National Rifle Associations meeting. Challenge: The NRA is facing its most powerful challenge in the wake of the Parkland massacre. Students across the country took part in mass walkouts and took part in the March for Our Lives rally in Washington D.C. in March Fight back: The NRA s calling part of its 147th convention 'a show of strength' as it rallies its members to fight off restrictions on gun ownership Inconvenient truth: The NRA was mocked when it told its members they could not carry weapons during Trump and Mike Pence's speeches, in line with Secret Service rules The NRA endorsed Trump earlier than any other presidential candidate in history and contributed millions to supporting his candidacy. An analysis of NRA spending by The Washington Post found that the gun rights group spent three times as much money on efforts that benefited Trump $30 million as it spent helping the last GOP nominee, Mitt Romney in 2012, and aired 4.5 times as many ads. During the debate in Congress over how to proceed with gun reforms, Trump met with and spoke to the NRA multiple times. In a speech, he also claimed that Democrats want to abolish the Second Amendment. He's like to reprise those claims and his complaints against his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton in Dallas. During the campaign, Trump repeatedly made claims like, 'Crooked Hillary is the most anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment candidate ever to run for office.' Vice President Mike Pence was also delivering remarks at the NRA conference. 'We mourn with those who mourn. And grieve with those who grieve. But we also resolve to confront this menace with all our strength. And we are doing just that under the leadership of this president,' Pence said to loud applause. I promise you, under President Trump's leadership, we will not rest and we will not relent until we end this evil in our time.' Pence said the Parkland shooting highlighted the president's leadership abilities as he held a listening session for parents and students affected by the tragedy. 'We listened to their stories. We heard all sides of the debate. I'll never forget it,' Pence said. He reminded of the president's remarks that it is not enough to take action that feels good if it does not solve the problem. 'And so we act,' he said to clapping, bringing up the STOP School Violence Act and its support from Sandy Hook parents and the NRA. The measure, he said, represents the single largest investment in school safety in American history. He also pushed the administration's belief that the U.S. needs 'to allow qualified school personnel on a voluntary basis to carry concealed weapons. Because the quickest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.' 'We will end this evil,' he said of gun violence, 'and protect our liberties at the same time. That's the American way.' Chris Cox, the NRA-ILA executive director, said in a statement that he anticipates a 'meltdown' from Democrats over their appearances. 'I am honored to welcome President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to the NRA Convention in Dallas this Friday. While Im sure there will be a meltdown on the left, we will be unapologetic in our celebration of American Freedom,' he said. Everytown for Gun Safety said Monday in response to news that Trump would speak at the conference: You'd think a President who pays such close attention to the polls would realize that recommitting himself to the NRA's dangerous agenda is a losing bet. On the eve of Trumps speech, former Democratic Congresswoman and gun violence victim Gabby Giffords organization, also called Giffords, launched $105,000 in digital ads against 10 incumbent, federal lawmakers with ties to the NRA. The organization told NBC that the relatively small ad buy is just a first step in the groups 2018 efforts to unseat Republicans. A sample ad against New York Rep. John Faso asks, How does he vote You guessed it just like the NRA tells him. Giffords is also hitting Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada and Reps. Mimi Walters, Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, Mike Coffman of Colorado and Pete Sessions of Texas, among others. The NRA is otherwise under scrutiny over its connections to Alexander Torshin, a Russian banker and ally of Vladimir Putin who is under federal investigation. Torshin, who has also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department, is a lifetime member of the NRA and routinely ends the organizations functions. A body believed to be that of a 28-year-old Melbourne man missing for nearly a month has been found at a gorge west of the city. Yiwei 'Carl' Chu, from Mt Waverley, was last seen buying lunch in southeast Melbourne on April 11 before his car was spotted on April 27 near the Werribee Gorge State Park, sparking a search. The body of a man was discovered at the gorge by a passer-by on Thursday night and police are not treating the death as suspicious. Yiwei Chu (pictured), who also goes by Carl, was last seen at a food outlet in Notting Hill Just days ago his wife put out a desperate plea to her missing loved one urging him to make contact. 'Please come back. If you are in danger, please try your best to leave us a message. We will find you, we will never give up,' Emma Wang told The Age. Yiwei Chu, who also goes by Carl, was last seen at Hungry Jack's in Notting Hill. His wife, police and family members held grave fears for the 28-year-old and say it is extremely out of character for him to be missing. Emma Wang (left) put out a desperate plea to her husband Yiwei Chu (right) after he went missing Police held fears for Mr Chu (pictured) and family say it's out of character for him to be missing On Friday, Ms Wang was informed Mr Chu's car was found in a car park. Ms Wang was hoping her husband would be in the car. The search continued for Mr Chu with help from the Search and Rescue squad, local police, SES, and air teams. Ms Wang first noticed Mr Chu was missing when he failed to show up to pick her up from work. She thought his phone had died and did not think much of it. When he did not come home, Ms Wang grew worried and contacted friends, family, work colleagues, and hospitals to see if someone had seen him. Ms Wang can't stop thinking about what may have happened to her husband. 'He may be robbed, he may be dead,' Ms Wang said. If you are in need of support please contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636. Bradley Clifford, 24, drunkenly chased a scooter at nearly double the speed limit on the wrong side of the road after a bottle was thrown at his high-powered sports car A Ford Mustang driver who mowed down and killed a moped rider for smashing a bottle on his 'prized' car will serve 23 years in jail. Bradley Clifford, 24, became enraged when his 35,000 car was hit with a bottle and gave chase to a scooter being ridden by Sobhan Khan, 18, and his friend Jahshua Francis, 19. Mr Francis and his passenger drove into oncoming traffic and tried to mount the pavement but were flung into the air following the relentless pursuit through Enfield, north London, in the early hours of August 5 last year. Lying motionless and catastrophically injured, Mr Khan was then beaten up by Clifford who had got out of his car when it became entangled with the moped. Clifford told the teenager he 'deserved' it and punched him hard nine times, the Old Bailey heard. Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC had said: 'The moped was no match for the might of the Mustang. 'It was rapid, it was brutal and it was unrelenting. He pursued the moped down a straight stretch of road at speed. Not to apprehend the two people on it, but to mow them down for daring to damage his prized vehicle. 'As Sobhan Khan lay virtually motionless, totally defenceless and fatally injured, such was this defendant's rage that he went over to him and beat him.' Police and paramedics rushed to the scene and found the two moped riders seriously hurt. Mr Khan was pronounced dead at 4.38am while Mr Francis 'miraculously survived' and was taken to hospital for treatment. Mr Khan's father Najam Khan said his only son as a 'rising star' with a promising future, adding that 'no parent should ever have to bury their child The incident began when Clifford got into a row with one of Mr Khan's friends in a dispute over his girlfriend. The two men agreed to go to a car park for a fist fight, but as Clifford loitered in his Mustang his rival instead drove away from the scene. Mr Jafferjee said Mr Khan then 'stupidly, and indeed criminally' smashed a bottle on the side of the car, provoking a 'rapid, brutal, and unrelenting' response from Clifford. Clifford, who worked as an air conditioning firm manager, denied murder but was convicted by an Old Bailey jury by a majority of 10-2 on Wednesday. Judge Sarah Munro QC told Clifford that he clearly regarded his Ford Mustang as a 'status symbol which he took pride in' In an emotional impact statement Mr Khan's father Najam, said: 'Soban Khan was a very sensible, friendly and popular individual in both school and later in college. 'We all had such high hopes for Soban for his life and what was proving to be a very promising future.' 'Soban's younger sister is still at school and comes home asking to see her big brother every day. 'He was a great son and a great brother. Unfortunately with boundless pain we will never see him become anything more, not a husband, not a father and the successful man he wanted to be.' Mr Khan's death was the 'end of a generation', his father said. 'We will continue to grieve for the rest of our lives. His smile and words will never leave us.' Clifford, from Enfield, was found guilty of murdering Mr Khan (pictured) and attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Franci Clifford was today sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 23 years by Judge Sarah Munro QC. The judge said: 'In the early hours of 5 August last year having worked your way up into a rage at the words and actions of a group of teenagers you made a decision to drive your powerful Ford Mustang car into Jahshua Francis intending that he and his pillion passenger Soban Khan would be seriously injured. 'Soban was a rising star with a promising future. As Mr Khan says no parent should have to bury their child.' The court heard how, on July 31, Clifford sent a WhatsApp message to his 18-year-old girlfriend in which he said: 'Your boyfriend say he is gonna go after my car! I'll put a f***ing knife down the c***'s throat.' This showed how seriously he took any threats made to his vehicle, the judge said. 'Six days after you sent that message your car was threatened,' she told him. 'The two young teenagers who got onto the moped didn't know how enraged you were or what you were capable of. Your actions thereafter were a gross overreaction. 'You were already in a violent temper and the actions by those teenagers on the moped turned you into a murderer.' Clifford had become 'determined' that Mr Khan should die as he 'rained blows' upon him as he lay by a lamppost, the judge said. After attacking Mr Khan in an 'intense rage', Clifford had the presence of mind to lie to police about what happened, she said. But the jury was shown 'compelling' CCTV footage and saw through his 'false defence', in which he claimed it was an accident. Detective Sergeant Harbir Kooner, of Scotland Yard, said: 'The incident was initially investigated as a fatal collision but it quickly became apparent that Clifford had targeted the moped and even continued to assault Sobhan Khan after the collision. 'There is no judicial outcome that can bring Sobhan back to his family, but I hope, that in some small way, today's sentencing gives them a measure of closure and comfort.' Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has warned there will be 'no impunity' for crimes by former ETA members as the Basque separatist group sealed its dissolution. Rajoy paid tribute to victims of the group which has been blamed for hundreds of killings and kidnappings in its fight for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. ETA today ended its days-long dissolution process at a peace conference in the French Basque Country attended by former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and other European independence politicians. Adams posed for a selfie with others as he attended the event in Cambo-les-Bains. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and other European independence politicians gathered in French Basque country for a peace conference as ETA sealed its dissolution today. Adams (centre) posed for a selfie with others as he attended the event in Cambo-les-Bains Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (pictured today) has warned there will be 'no impunity' for crimes by former ETA members as the Basque separatist group sealed its dissolution ETA today ended its days-long dissolution process at a peace conference in the French Basque Country attended by former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams (centre) The conference ends western Europe's last armed insurgency after more than four decades of violence. But Rajoy dismissed it as 'noise and propaganda' and vowed there would be 'no impunity' for the group's crimes. 'Now that ETA has at last announced its disappearance, our first thought must be for the victims, for all of them without exception, without distinctions,' Rajoy said in an address. On April 20 ETA asked forgiveness from its victims for the first time for the 'pain' caused by its decades-long campaign of violence. Victims' campaigners complained that the call for forgiveness did not extend to those the group considered legitimate targets, such as police officers and politicians. Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders and a major drop in support among Basques, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 (pictured) and began formally surrendering its arms last year Created in 1959 at the height of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, ETA was blamed for more than 800 hundreds of killings and numerous kidnappings. It waged an armed campaign for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. Rajoy warned that ETA's dissolution did not mean its fugitive members were off the hook. 'Convictions will continue to be executed,' he said. 'There will be no impunity' for crimes by former ETA members. ETA had already announced it would be fully disbanding in a letter leaked on Wednesday in Spanish media, addressed to various groups and figures involved in recent peace efforts. International mediators (pictured at the event today) hailed the disbanding of ETA as a turning point for Europe. The International Contact Group worked to resolve the Basque conflict. They include Alberto Spectorovsky (back row, third from left); the Mayor of Hendaye and Counselor of the Department Kotte Ecenarro (fourth from left; Jonathan Powell (4-R) a former British Downing Street Chief of Staff under Tony Blair; Regional Councillor of New Aquitaine Frederique Espagnac (third from right); Senator of Pyrenees Atlantiques and Counselor of the Department Max Brisson (second from right) and Mayor of St-Pierre Irube Alain Iriart (right) Gerry Adams is pictured meeting guests at the event today. Adams was active in the Northern Ireland peace process which culminated with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement On Thursday, it released a 'final declaration' recorded by Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea, better known as 'Josu Ternera', a historic high-ranking ETA figure who has been on the run since 2002. In the recording, he announced that the separatist group had 'completely dismantled all its structures' and 'put an end to all its political activity'. Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders and a major drop in support among Basques, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. At the peace conference, Northern Ireland's Gerry Adams, the former head of Sinn Fein - once considered the political wing of the Irish Republican Army - was among several attendees. Adams was active in the Northern Ireland peace process which culminated with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern was also due to be present, along with Jonathan Powell, who once served as chief of staff for British leader Tony Blair. ETA's announcement has also been rejected by victims' groups, who argue it should first and foremost condemn its history of violence and Basque separatists must stop paying public homage to militants as they are released from prison. Pictured: A bomb blast in Rosas, Spain in 2001 which was blamed on ETA On the Spanish side, representatives of Basque nationalist party PNV, in power in the Spanish region, and far-left Podemos were also due to attend according to media reports. Since its ceasefire in 2011, ETA has wanted to follow the United Nations' peace steps of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration into society, just like the FARC rebels in Colombia. But Madrid has refused to make any gesture of appeasement, under pressure from ETA victim associations. ETA's announcement has also been rejected by victims' groups, who argue it should first and foremost condemn its history of violence and Basque separatists must stop paying public homage to militants as they are released from prison. They have also asked that light be shed on at least 358 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 stem the criticism. 'The victims are watching with pain and stupor how ETA is being allowed to direct this farce,' the Victims of Terrorism Association (AVT) said in a statement. So to seal the last chapter of its history on Friday, ETA chose the French Basque Country, which it once used as a safe haven. Neither the Spanish Basque Country's regional government, nor that of neighbouring Navarra, which is considered part of the wider Basque territories, have accepted invitations to attend. Going forward, the sensitive issue of ETA's 270 militants imprisoned across Spain and France will also need to be addressed. Separatist coalition EH Bildu, the second largest grouping in the Basque regional parliament, wants the prisoners to be transferred to jails that are closer to home and their families. Paris has started to make moves in that direction, but for now, Madrid will not hear of it. Harry and Meghan will shun a honeymoon straight after their wedding to focus on royal duties, it was revealed today. They will instead carry out their first engagement as a married couple the week after their wedding in the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 19 and spend time with the bride's family and friends who are flying in from the US. Harry and Meghan have not said when or where they will honeymoon but they may choose a trip to Africa - a continent they love and where both have done charity and animal conservation work. The most likely destinations are Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, where Harry took Meghan for a 36th birthday surprise last summer. The weather in that part of southern African is warmest and driest in August, September and October, suggesting a trip later in the year is more likely. Harry and Meghan Markle, pictured visiting Rwanda doing charity work with children, have not said when or where they will honeymoon but Africa is the most likely destination The couple have also done conservation work, Meghan left with Gorillas on a World Vision trip, and Harry, right, cuddling a sedated elephant in the Kruger National Park in South Africa Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stayed at the 1,000-a-night Meno a Kwena in Botswana last year, one of their more likely honeymoon destinations Last August Prince Harrys birthday surprise for his then girlfriend as a romantic trip to a secret hideaway with a stunning view of the African bush, overlooking the sparkling Boteti river. On Meghans first-ever wildlife safari, the couple watched the sun set behind a spectacular vista of acacia thorn trees and green-backed herons fishing in the river. The pair were photographed as they arrived at Maun airport in Botswana, smiling excitedly as they crossed the tarmac, Harrys arm affectionately around his girlfriends shoulder. The pair shunned luxury safari lodges in favour of fly camping, which involved setting up their tents in areas off the beaten track, with only the prince's taxpayer-funded police protection officers for company. They also visited Victoria Falls, the waterfall that straddles Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi river, and is one of the largest in the world, plunging 354ft. The fifth in line to the throne was said to be seriously considering it as an idyllic honeymoon destination after the three-week trip. When the couple first met in 2016 they spent periods together in Toronto, Canada, where Meghan was filming suits. Their room came with containing a king size bed inside while outside there was a terrace amd day bed overlooking the Boteli River on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park Although they spent Christmas apart, they saw in the New Year together in London and then travelled to Norway to see the Northern Lights. Harry (pictured over Christmas in in Maseru, Lesotho) has spoken of his deep connection with Africa and its people, and his mother Princess Diana said the same They celebrated in a glass igloo, camping under the winter stars. In March last year, Meghan flew from Toronto to Jamaica on a private jet to be by Harrys side for the wedding of his close friend Tom Inskip. Harry met her at the islands airport and, according to a fellow guest, the couple spent most of their week in their luxury ocean-front villa, complete with private pool and butler. Many countries across the world including Commonwealth nations have offered to host their honeymoons. The couple may be heading to Dublin on a 'mini-moon' shortly after their wedding as they are expected to head to Ireland for what could be their first trip abroad as newlyweds, weeks after tying the knot. Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, will have a series of engagements in the Irish capital Dublin over two days, it is believed. Crown Jewels Condoms is ensuring that Royal fanatics can celebrate the union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle safely. The English company recently debuted a pack of condoms commemorating the Royal Wedding, due to take place on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The unconventional memorabilia comes in a blue box with a portrait of Prince Harry and his soon-to-be bride as well as the flags of both England and the United States. The box, which contains four Royal Wedding condoms, plays a medley of God Save The Queen and The Star Spangled Banner when opened. Royal Wedding condoms are being sold in celebration of the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Crown Jewels Condoms claim their product is 'fit for a Prince' and at just 10 ($13.50) per pack, who could say no? If that's not your thing, there are plenty of other ways to commemorate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day. Here's what you need to know ahead of the Royal Wedding. Royal Wedding memorabilia Official commemorative china The Royal Collection releases official Royal Wedding china each time there's a Royal Wedding to commemorate. The full set contains a teacup, tankard, plate, pill box and an ornament, but single pieces can also be bought. Check it out. The Royal Wedding commemorative coin The Royal mint is celebrating the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a 5 ($6.76) coin with a photo of the couple as well as their wedding date and names, printed on it. Harry and Meghan's Wedding rings If you're looking for a less serious, but not-so-cheap, way to celebrate the Royal Wedding, may we suggest purchasing yourself a box of Harry and Meghan's wedding rings breakfast cereal? Pour yourself a box while you watch the Royal Wedding madness unfold from the comfort of your couch. In just over two weeks' time, Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle will marry at Windsor the sixteenth Royal Wedding to take place at the castle since 1863. #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/7xiRIa7eMy The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 4, 2018 A commemorative place mat Look back on Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding day year after year with this commemorative place mat. 'Harry & Meghan: A Love Story' This adorable coloring book celebrates Prince Harry and Meghan's journey as a couple. Meghan Markle wedding dress Thanks to Meghan Markle's famous BFF Priyanka Chopra, fans of the former Suits star know she's chosen a wedding dress and that the process was an emotional one for her. Asked during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen if Meghan cried when she found the dress she'd marry Prince Harry in, Priyanka said: 'Oh she did!' What's unclear is what the dress looks like and who designed it. Us Weekly has reported that Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo, the designers behind Ralph & Russo, were spotted pulling a late night in London. Since then, it's been rumored that the duo may be teaming up to design Meghan's wedding gown, reception dress or both. The future Royal has been seen wearing designs from the company in recent weeks, so it's clear she's a fan. Royal Wedding guest list Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been tight-lipped about who will be attending their wedding. It's known that the wedding will be smaller than Prince William and Kate Middleton's, which had 1,900 guests. St. George's Chapel holds 800 people at most. E! recently reported that Prince Harry and Meghan cut their guest list down from 800 to 600, however. They did so to allow for them to rearrange church pews, apparently. The couple want to arrange the pews on a diagonal to give guests a better view. Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle will take part in a Carriage Procession around Windsor after their wedding on May 19th. Go behind the scenes at The Royal Mews to learn more the Carriages and Horses that will be used: https://t.co/cKM7KpTgAF pic.twitter.com/HDHj2awXBq The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 2, 2018 As for who those guests will be, Priyanka Chopra, Meghan's mother and father Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle, Prince Harry's pals Tom Inskip and Guy Pelly, Serena Williams, Prince William and Kate Middleton and many more are said to be attending the couple's wedding. President Obama and Michelle Obama are reportedly not able to come due to political drama. If Prince Harry wished to invite the couple, he'd also have to extend an invite to Donald and Melania Trump. Elton John will also be attending the Royal Wedding along with all five of the Spice Girls. It's been rumored that the 90s girl group will perform at the couple's big day. What time will the Royal Wedding be televised in the U.S.? The Royal Wedding will be televised on a number of networks in the United states. NBC will begin their commentary at about 4:30am ET with Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb. The duo will be live from the vicinity of Windsor Castle. PBS will also be showing the wedding live. Times are unclear at this time. CBS is due to begin their Royal Wedding coverage at 4am ET from Windsor. Tina Brown, Gayle King and Kevin Frazier will be live. Their live-streaming site will also be broadcasting the wedding. The Duke of Cambridge is honoured to have been asked, and is very much looking forward to supporting his brother at St George's Chapel, Windsor on May 19th. pic.twitter.com/mQ0eh7Q0pR Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 26, 2018 Royal fanatics can watch the wedding on BBC America. E! will host their E! Live From the Royal Wedding event beginning at 5am ET on Prince Harry and Meghan's big day. They'll also be doing a Royal Wedding Rundown that evening. Royal Wedding 2018 time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding is set to take place midday in Windsor, England. Will Ferrell Royal Wedding Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon will reprise their characters, Cord and Tish, to cover the Royal Wedding for HBO. The event is being called The Royal Wedding Live with Cord and Tish! It's produced by Funny or Die and will air live on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 7:30am ET. You can catch a repeat on HBO at 9:45pm ET that night. Work is well underway to welcome the #RoyalWedding to Windsor. We can confirm there will be: large screens on the Long Walk and Alexandra Gardens decorations and public viewing areas on the procession route live entertainment from local groupshttps://t.co/NrnL21u31N RBWM (@RBWM) April 14, 2018 Is the Royal Wedding a bank holiday? The Royal Wedding is not a bank holiday. Unlike previous Royal Weddings, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be married on a Saturday. Although you won't be getting a day off, pubs have been allowed to stay open later on Friday, May 18, 2018 and Saturday, May 19, 2018. Rather than closing at 11pm GMT, they'll close at 1am GMT. Southwest mechanics had been complaining about the airline's safety procedures for months before a woman died after being partially sucked through a shattered window, newly surfaced documents have revealed. In 2017, mechanics at the airline's stations in airports in Dallas and Los Angeles filed whistleblower complaints with the Federal Aviation Association citing their concerns. They claimed that the airline is so focused on turning flights around quickly that they overlook safety concerns and put pressure on mechanics not to report them and cause problems. Fourteen mechanics from Southwest's base at LAX (pictured) said there was a cultural problem with reporting safety concerns The mechanics say they felt pressured to ignore problems or fear losing their jobs. In neither case was there any evidence that Southwest had violated FAA standards or procedures, but they point to an alarming culture which is also at the root of ongoing union negotiations. In the LAX complaint, 14 mechanics who were interviewed cited concerns. The complaint was filed by four of them including Michael Roca who worked for them for three years until he was fired in January. Michael Roca is one of the mechanics who alleged safety concerns against Southwest Airlines in whistleblower reports in 2017. He was fired in January that year, he claims unfairly He claims he was made an example of because he had been finding 'too many' things wrong with aircrafts. Southwest bosses said he was fired for improperly securing an oxygen bottle. As part of the investigation, the FAA spoke to 16 mechanics based at the airline's LAX hub. 'All of the mechanics interviewed except for two felt pressured and under scrutiny as to whether they were either doing their jobs correctly or if they were finding too many things wrong with the aircraft, i.e. finding discrepancies outside of the scope of the routine inspection,' the FAA inspector wrote in their report. The mechanics' complaints included that the culture 'has changed from a teamwork approach to scrutiny and threatening' and that mechanics were told not to 'make management look bad' with delays. Their supervisors disagreed and said the mechanics 'just need to get the work done'. While no violation was found, the FAA inspector observed a worrying culture. All of the (16) mechanics except for two felt pressured and under scrutiny as to whether they were doing their jobs correctly or if they were finding too many things wrong with the aircraft October 2017 FAA report into concerns over safety at Southwest Airline's LAX hub 'There is an absence of a "Just Safety Culture". Safety Promotion, a key part of an effective SMS seems to be deficient. 'There seems to lack an environment of trust, effective communication and the willingness for employees to share mistakes, concerns or failures without the fear of threats or reprisal. 'This ultimately leads to a degraded level of safety that the SMS is trying to maintain at the highest possible level.' Despite their observations, no action was required. In the Dallas complaint, a violation of FAA standards or procedures was found after five mechanics contacted the agency to report their fears. That report echoed the other's clams that mechanics were questioned when they raised concerns. 'The motivation behind management questioning AMTs and Inspectors when they discover anything outside the scope of a maintenance task and the subsequent use of formal [disciplinary] fact-finding meetings which management utilizes to formally document an inquiry into airworthiness discrepancies, appears as a tool used to influence a relaxing of standards, to look the other way, or to gain a degree of approval through a leniency of standards. The motivation behind management questioning mechanics and inspectors when they discover anything outside the scope of a maintenance task appears as a tool used to influence a relaxing of standards, to look the other way September 2017 FAA report into safety procedures at Southwest's hub in Dallas 'The result of this pattern is a capitulation of airworthiness and a culture of fear and retribution....the influence being utilized to pressure technicians and question findings influences the programs and reliability tracking of the aircraft both of which have a negative impact on the overall Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP),' the report said. That report cited problems such as damage to an aircrafts flight control rudder balance weight. A separate lawsuit against the airline includes a deposition from a supervisor who told an employee that if he was worried about losing his FAA license, he should report damage but that doing so could jeopardise his job with the airline. Southwest Airlines did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries regarding the claims and concerns about its safety culture on Friday. An NTSB investigator is pictured examining the fan blades of the engine which exploded during a flight on April 17, killing a passenger on board Union bosses however say it is proof of mounting problems for the company. 'These safety issues are going to continue to stay there, theyre not going to magically disappear Bret Oestreich, president of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association that represents 2,400 Southwest workers, told NBC Dallas. '[Workers] just do not trust management,' he added. The problems were described by Southwests Vice President Technical Operations Trevor Stedke in December. He said: 'Weve had several examples recently. 'Everything from calls to the FAA in DC, to AD over flies, engine operation. We had a wing that flew around [that] was damaged from an unknown period of time with of course nothing documented. We had a wing that flew around that was damaged... we've had several dents found to be non-compliant... the list goes on and on about several things that examples of what we're bypassing or policies and procedures Southwests Vice President Technical Operations Trevor Stedke in December 2017 in response to the FAA reports 'Weve been through a dent program. Weve had several dents found to be non-compliant, re-worked without anything documented in our maintenance systems. Damage events, lockout, carryout. 'And you all know that the list goes on and on about several things that examples of where were bypassing or policies and procedures and we have got to get that rectified and cleaned up if we have any hope of getting ETOPS and maintain ETOPS in the futurem.' On April 17, Jennifer Riordan died after being partially sucked out of a passenger window which was shattered by a piece of shrapnel from an exploding engine at 32,000ft. What caused the engine to fail and ultimately led to her death remains unclear but it is believed to have been triggered by a loose fan blade which, investigators believe, was compromised by metal fatigue. Now, engine fan blades are being subjected to a more through scanning process as part of pre-take off safety checks. The Boeing 737-700 which Riordan was flying on had been checked multiple times in the days before the accident and no problems were found. In the days immediately after the catastrophe, some speculated if Southwest's notoriously quick turnaround time between flights may have had something to do with the delay. Business and markets pundits used it to explain why it is a popular investment given the profitability its time in the air vs on the ground track record. In statement on Friday, an FAA spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'The Federal Aviation Administration investigated the whistleblower complaints against Southwest Airlines and found no substantial violation of Federal Aviation Regulations. 'However, investigators raised concerns that the strained relationship between the company and mechanics might potentially affect safety. 'As a precaution, the FAA assigned additional inspections to monitor the companys maintenance operations. 'This is standard protocol during contentious labor negotiations and other situations that warrant increased scrutiny.' A former colleague of acid attack victim Ellie Chessell told a court on Friday that he immediately suspected her 'violent' ex-boyfriend was to blame. Zamir Fazal said the TUI travel rep confided that former lover Claudio Gouveia had tried to strangle her during one assault and smashed her head against a wall in another weeks later. Ellie, 29, from Newport, Isle of Wight, left Madeira in March last year after the last incident and relocated to the Algarve holiday resort of Alvor where she was maimed with acid on May 6 2017. Claudio Gouveia is accused of ordering an acid attack on British holiday rep Ellie Chessell (together left) after they broke up. Zamir Fazal, a co-worker of Miss Chessell (together right) has told a court that he believes her 'violent' ex is to blame Gouveia, 35, is on trial for her attempted murder at nearby Portimao Court and is accused of masterminding the attack by using a friend as the 'hitman.' He claimed on Thursday that he had nothing to do with the sick crime and insisted alleged accomplice Edmundo Helder Fonseca had acted alone. He also refuted prosecution claims he had beaten Ellie up during their near two-year relationship and portrayed her as someone with a drink problem and a penchant for threesomes while she was drunk. Mr Fazal told the three judges set to decide Gouveia's fate that Ellie was hurt on two occasions during the 10 months he knew the couple and she named her then-boyfriend as the attacker both times. He said: 'She phoned me crying around the end of January last year and when she drove to my apartment she had a strangulation mark round her neck. 'She said Claudio had tried to grab her by the neck and push her against a wall. 'She didn't say why it had happened but she complained afterwards her boyfriend didn't work and she was always paying for everything and giving him money from her wages. Mr Fazal said Miss Chessell had previously confided in him that Gouveia strangled her and slammed her head into a wall 'Just before she left Madeira that March there was another incident when she phoned me while I was at a bar in town and said she was outside in her car. 'I walked out to find her with police and an ambulance and blood coming from the side of her head. 'The police were asking her questions and she was saying, "He smashed my head, he did this to my head".' He revealed Claudio messaged him afterwards, insisting: 'Please tell her I'm so sorry' before adding in a sinister follow-up text: 'Tell her to get off the island.' And he said Ellie's ex had quizzed him on her whereabouts during a chance meeting later in a pub before getting aggressive when Zamir insisted he had no idea where she was and growling: 'You don't need to tell me. I already know.' Speaking by video link on the third day of Gouveia's attempted murder trial, he added: 'He said something about the Algarve then. It was a couple of weeks after Ellie had left. 'A female colleague called Claire told me Ellie had been attacked with acid. 'She asked me what Claudio's surname was and told me to forward any messages he had sent me to give to the police. 'I think she suspected it was Claudio because that was where the problems came from. In my mind too I suspected it was him.' He added: 'I spoke to Ellie when she came out of hospital and she showed me the burn marks she had on her body. 'She said she was getting better but she wasn't herself. She was normally a really happy, bubbly person.' Gouveia's cousin Joao Pedro Aveiro described the couple's relationship as 'affectionate' and insisted he had never seen Ellie's ex being violent. He also claimed the travel rep became 'forward' after alcohol and he turned her down after she propositioned him during a night out. Joao Antonio Ferraz, a long-time friend of Gouveia's who gave evidence via video link from prison where he is serving time for an undisclosed offence, also claimed Ellie lost control after alcohol and said that on one night out, she instigated a threesome involving Claudio. He told the court: 'We were in a club called Dubai. It was around 4am. She approached me and showed me her phone. 'I thought she was going to show me some photos but it was a written message which said she would like to have sex with me and Claudio. Gouveia denies ordering the attack on Miss Chessell, saying alleged accomplice Edmundo Helder Fonseca acted alone Mr Fazal said that Miss Chessell (pictured right, outside court) was usually a 'happy, bubbly' person but was 'not herself' after the attack 'I was embarrassed at first. I didn't take it seriously but I approached Claudio to tell him. He told me she had that tendency when she drank. 'We went back to Claudio's house. At first it was weird but then we got more relaxed and it happened.' Maria Raquel Ribeiro Cabral, 19, confirmed Gouveia's court claim yesterday/on Thursday that Fonseca had admitted to her he had doused Ellie in acid. She said he made his confession after asking her for money to flee Madeira because he had 'committed a crime.' Asked by Gouveia's lawyer Etelvina Gomes to clarify what the crime was, she said: 'He told me he had taken revenge on Claudio's ex-girlfriend. 'He was repentant and didn't want to stay on Madeira because he said he would be thrown in jail.' She added: 'When I told Claudio afterwards what Edmundo had said he was shocked and really sad. 'He was asking if Ellie would be okay and why his friend had done something like that. He didn't understand how he could have done it without him knowing. 'But some days later when we were sending each other press articles about it, he said it would be better not to speak about it anymore, that it would be better to wait.' Gouveia, wearing the same blue linen jacket, black trousers and white shirt as yesterday/Thursday, sat impassively as witnesses testified during the four-hour session. He is pleading not guilty to Ellie's attempted murder. The trial is due to restart and finish with lawyers' closing speeches on May 28. Verdict and sentence will be delivered at a later as-yet-unspecified date in open court. No date has yet been set for Fonseca's trial. The 44-year-old was extradited to Portugal last month after being held in Belgium on a European Arrest Warrant The three American prisoners held for spying in North Korea could be released on Saturday, according to sources. The US citizens, who are being detained in the North on espionage or 'hostile acts' against the secretive regime, could be set free through the village of Panmunjom, which sits near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South. 'I am aware that North Korea and the United States have agreed to free the three Korean Americans -- Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul -- through Panmunjom tomorrow,' said one source to the Yonhap News Agency, who asked not to be named. Another source said that the three could be released on Sunday or Monday. Kim Dong-chul, pictured above, left and right, has been detained since 2015. He was arrested for spying and has since been sentenced to 10 years' hard labour Trump hinted at the possibility of their release on Wednesday, 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!' This comes as after the White House said 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. US citizen Kim Hak-song was detained 'on suspicion of acts against the state' '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. Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-Duk, a Korean-American professor and aid worker 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. 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. 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 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!' 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.' In 2014, the Supreme Court unexpectedly cleared the way for a dramatic expansion of gay marriage in the United States, and more events that ha Advertisement Heads bowed, a line of donkeys waits resignedly for its next turn to haul a cruise ship passenger from the harbour to one of the most picturesque tourist destinations in the world. Every day, the donkeys of Santorini will make four or five return journeys up 520 wide, cobbled steps on the switchback path that leads to the town of Fira and its iconic whitewashed buildings and blue-domed roofs. The practice has been going on for decades. The plight of the donkeys that are marched from fields at dawn for their gruelling shifts in temperatures that are regularly more than 86F (30C) has been labelled barbaric and 'Santorini's grubby little secret'. Some donkeys, their coats matted with sweat, stop to lick the stone walls that lie in shadow for vital moisture as little is supplied to them during their eight to ten hours on the cliff face. Donkeys in Santorini, Greece, make return journeys up steep, cobbled steps after picking up passengers at the harbour A line of donkeys waits at the harbour awaiting the next cruise ship passenger to haul up the steps in Santorini A group of tourists ride the donkeys up some of the 520 wide, cobbled steps leading to the whitewashed town of Fira Tourists smile for the camera and take pictures as they ride the donkeys on the wearying journey up the cobbled stairs Animal welfare workers were visiting the Greek island this week to plead for better conditions for the animals and to educate owners about the health dangers to animals that are forced to climb a combined distance of 60 miles during a season, treading over a quarter of a million of the cobbled steps which feature in holiday and cruise line excursion brochures. The Donkey Sanctuary paid for cloth screens to create shade for the donkeys at the top of the walk but they have been poorly maintained and have become detached. 'They have no shade so when they are waiting for the next passengers, they just stand in direct sunlight,' said Tim Wass, director of the Safe Haven for Donkeys, in Israel, who paid a fact-finding mission to Santorini last month. 'The donkeys suffer muscular, skeletal and ligament damage from theweight they carry and number of steps they climb. 'Their ligaments can become stretched over time to the point they are crippled and their backs are gradually compressed into a saddle back and they cannot carry anything. 'They are resilient animals and just keep taking it over and over again until one morning they drop dead. Seeing them standing in line with their heads bowed is clear indicator that they are unhappy and suffering stress.' Santorini, a beautiful island formed from volcanic action, attracts two million tourists a year and is a daily stop-off for cruise ships. Thousands of British tourists are among the 40,000 that are ferried from their luxury liners to the harbourside at the foot of a 1,000 feet climb every week. They are immediately hustled by hawkers for the 6 donkey ride up to the top of the cliff before they can reach a cable car alternative that has a 24 passenger capacity. The sorry procession of donkeys and mules with their bells clanking and hoarse shouts from owners, armed with bamboo sticks and leather straps, plays a cruel chorus from 8 am into the evening. 'It is incredibly cruel. Why would you do that to an animal,' said David Hamilton, who opted to walk up the steps with his wife Diana after disembarking from the 2,550-passenger MSC Musica, on a seven-day round trip from Venice. 'We are shocked to see this happening. We didn't think for a second about riding a donkey up steep steps, it is so unfair on them.' Donkeys line up to climb a steep section of stairs with the tourists on their backs during what can be ten-hour shifts Some donkeys carry tourists up the cobbled steps while others rest on the side of the path in Santorini A group of donkeys wait behind a barrier as they stand ready to be called for another tiring journey up the steps Some tourists chose to walk instead of subjecting the donkeys to the long climb up the steps on the island of Santorini One of the tourists sits on the back of a donkey as it makes its way up the steps during one of its eight to ten-hour shifts A donkey carrying a tourist and her baggage turns a corner as it climbs up the steep and difficult steps in Santorini A tourist poses for a picture with one of the donkeys which carries them up the steps towards the town of Fira Efforts by the UK charity, the Donkey Sanctuary, and local animal welfare groups have won some improvements for the animals but, despite mounting pressure - including TripAdvisor comments branding it barbaric and archaic - a ban on the donkey trade seems distant. Friends Caroline Tiernan-Locke and Cassandra Douglas instantly regretted being persuaded to take the donkey ride. 'We were in the harbour and went to have a look at the donkeys and they literally hustled us into a line and onto the donkeys before we realised what was happening. We immediately knew it was wrong,' said Caroline, a 33-year-old marketing manager from Bristol. 'I just had this feeling I'd done something wrong all the way up. I didn't realise how long the journey was and it must be terrible for those poor animals to do it day in, day out, through the summer. I wish I'd done more research about it then could have avoided it. 'But they are very skilled at getting you into the line and saying it's only a ten-minute trip but it took more like 20 minutes and the donkeys looked very unhappy. I was so glad when it was over and I'd advise anyone coming to Santorini not to ride on the donkeys.' A large group of donkeys carrying one tourist each on their backs takes a corner on the cobbled steps in Santorini The practice of carrying tourists on donkeys has faced opposition from charity Donkey Sanctuary and people on TripAdvisor A sign points to the port and the 'donkey station' where the animals pick up tourists for a tiring ride up the steps to Fira The donkeys are a money-spinning feature with soft toys, t-shirts and trinkets bearing donkey motifs sold in gift shops The steps from the seafront are seen from high above with donkeys carrying tourists at various levels The donkeys regularly work in temperatures over 80F (30C) and sometimes have to lick stone walls in shadow for moisture Cassandra, a 29-year-old dental nurse from Newquay, added: 'It is probably the worst thing I've done in my life. It was horrible. The donkey in front of me buckled and went down and the guy was just screaming at it to get moving again. He didn't seem to care about the animal at all.' Santorini has turned its donkeys into a money-spinning feature. Soft toys, t-shirts and trinkets bearing donkey motifs are sold in gift shops at the top of the steps and around the main town of Fira, the island's capital. The island brews signature yellow and red donkey beers and donkey riding tours are marketed in travel agencies. But there has been growing animal welfare concerns and in 2017 German tourist Susan Chopin was trampled to death after one of the donkeys bolted and charged into tourists who were walking up the steps. The 67-year-old, who was on a cruise with her husband and another couple, had just celebrated her birthday. The animals who walk up in lines of two to ten, offload at a 'donkey station' just before the summit of the steps and then return for their next load, often bumping into walkers or squeezing them into walls that look over steep drops. Santorini, which stretches to 77 square kilometres and has a population of 25,000, has grown in popularity to the point where Mayor Nikolos Zorzos has limited the number of cruise ship passengers that can disembark to 8,000 a day from a peak of 18,000 in 2016 because of over-crowding. The Donkey Sanctuary charity paid for cloth screens to create shade for the donkeys at the top of the walk A group of tourists, some of them carrying bags, make their way up the island of Santorini on the donkeys' backs A pair of tourists wearing sunglasses are pictured with the donkeys carrying fellow visitors to the island in the background Some tourists criticised the practice after visiting the Greek island with one choosing to walk and saying it was 'cruel' The donkeys and the tourists on their backs leave the sea far below them as they climb the 520 wearying steps Cruise ships are pictured in the background on the shore of the island of Santorini where people ride donkeys on the steps Labor leader Bill Shorten and Liberal Senate President Scott Ryan skipped an Anzac Day dinner to visit a Dubai shopping mall, it has been revealed. Despite blaming the bungle on a 'regrettable' mix-up, some military personnel weren't too impressed with the decision to overlook the gathering, according to the Daily Telegraph. 'There were a few noses out of joint and a few people disappointed ... he literally came here then wanted to go to Dubai ... maybe he was tired,' said one. On Friday Senator Ryan apologised 'unreservedly' for the 'misunderstanding'. Bill Shorten (pictured) and Liberal Senate President Scott Ryan missed an Anzac Day dinner The dinner was to be hosted by Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher, the head of Joint Task Group who commands all Australian forces deployed in the Middle East, at the end of Mr Shorten's trip to the Middle East. A number of female officers were among the half a dozen soldiers who were invited to attend. Mr Shorten and Senator Ryan however were unaware they still had commitments on the ground, and chose to depart Dubai earlier then scheduled after a spot of shopping. Claiming he would never have missed it should he had known, Mr Shorten blamed confusion over scheduling. It is understood the defence had organised for the dinner to take place across two tables in a 'discreet corner' of the ADF Middle East headquarters mess room but that plan was later reduced to just one. On Friday Senator Ryan (pictured) apologised 'unreservedly' for the 'misunderstanding' Senator Ryan told News Corp: 'It was a privilege to spend Anzac Day with our servicemen and women on active duty. Given this apparent misunderstanding I offer my unreserved apology.' Mr Shorten's office denied any intentional skipping of the dinner, and said instead the group decided it would be easier to head to the airport earlier, via the shopping centre. A spokesman for Mr Shorten said: 'At no point did Mr Shorten indicate to anyone that he would be available for dinner on the base that evening.' The representative explained that if there was any misunderstanding that the pair would attend the event, that was regrettable. Shocking suicide letters left behind by a South Dakota mother are helping police uncover the horrific motive for why she shot and killed her husband and son before turning the gun on herself. On the morning of September 26, police found the bodies of 38-year-old Rob Hoover, seven-year-old Zachary Hoover and 35-year-old Stephanie Hoover inside their Lennox home. Police said Stephanie wrote numerous suicide letters to her family before murdering her husband of 11 years and one of their sons. In a 19-page letter left for Stephanie's parents, the mother-of-four apologized for ruining her 'perfect family' before explaining why she felt she had to kill her husband and young son, the Argus Leader reports. 'Dear Mom (& Dad). I owe you an explanation. I've done something that I'm so sorry for and so ashamed of, and it has cost me my family and future,' she wrote. Stephanie Hoover, pictured with her husband Rob, wrote a 19-page suicide letter detailing why she killed him and their seven-year-old son Police found the bodies of Rob Hoover, 38; Zachary Hoover, 7; and Stephanie Hoover, 35, in their South Dakota home on September 26 Stephanie also killed their seven-year-old son Zachary, writing in the letter that he had behavioral issues and she could better take care of him in Heaven Stephanie then went on to explain how she had embezzled at least $80,000 from her employer over the last three-and-a-half years. 'I know it's a lot and didn't go to anything extravagant. We financed our cars & camper and vacations and furniture were paid by tax returns and house sale. It's just amazing how fast money flies out of the account for bills and other expenses,' the first page of the letter read. 'I've never been able to find a balance I work more and have to pay more daycare. I work less and don't have enough money.' Stephanie said she was struggling with how to balance work and taking care of her family and feared she would go to prison when she learned that her job, Southridge Healthcare, was being audited. Stephanie, who worked as an accounts receivable specialist, said she had sought advice from a lawyer and was told she could spend up to 15 years in prison for grand theft. According to the letter, she was worried that if she went to prison her husband, a group home manager for Southeastern Behavioral Health in Sioux Falls, would not be able to provide for the family. According to the suicide-letter, Stephanie felt that Rob would not be able to take care of or provide financially for their children without her Rob's father said Stephanie's claims in the letter are 'totally incorrect' and he still does not understand why she had to kill Rob and Zachary. Rob is pictured above with one of his children Stephanie and Rob Hoover had been married for 11 years. She wrote in the letter that he was unaware she had stolen $80,000 from her job Stephanie told her parents in the letter that she was having a rough time trying to balance work and the pressure of taking care of her family. She said the more she worked, the more she had to spend Stephanie worked as an accounts receivable specialist for , Southridge Healthcare. Her husband was a group home manager 'Rob can't take care of the kids alone, let alone provide for them,' she wrote, citing his parenting skills and fiances. 'They'd lose the house and have nothing.' In another portion of the letter Stephanie wrote about Zachary's behavior issues. She said her seven-year-old son, who was a twin, was a 'beautiful soul' but 'a struggle to deal with'. 'He's better off with his momma in heaven where I can take care of him and be at peace,' she wrote about the second-grader. The letter also told her parents to make sure her remaining three children - Ashton, 10; Mason, 7; and Madelyn, 1 - know how loved they are. 'The kids will be in pain (and so will you) but it WILL get better! It has to! Do NOT let this pain darken the rest of your life and theirs!' she wrote to her parents. 'Please don't let them know what I've done if possible, or try to explain. I'm not a monster I just wanted my kids to be cared for and loved.' She continued: 'I'm sorry for what this does to you guys. You gave us everything I had the perfect family, house, everything and I ruined it all. I pray that you can forgive me.' Detectives said Stephanie came up with her plan roughly two months before that fateful September 26 day. A few days before the murder-suicide took place, police said she convinced her husband to update their wills to state that if something were to happen to both of them her parents would become trustees, personal representatives and the guardians of their children. After their wills were changed, she went out and bought a gun. The night before the killings, police said Stephanie dropped her one-year-old daughter off at parents' house saying she and Rob had to work early the next day. The morning of September 26, she took Ashton and Mason to school, leaving Zachary at home. Police said Rob Hoover was shot three times while he was standing in the kitchen of their home. He was pronounce dead at the scene Authorities said seven-year-old Zachary was on the couch with headphones on and playing a game when Stephanie shot him four times Police said Rob Hoover was killed in the kitchen of the home and Zachary was killed while playing a game on the couch. Stephanie was also found dead in Lennox, South Dakota home According to the investigators, Stephanie shot her husband three times while he was standing at their kitchen counter. Police said Zachary was on the couch wearing headphones and playing a game when he was shot four times. Both father and son were later pronounced dead at the scene. After shooting Rob and Zachary, police said Stephanie packed up various items she thought her other three children would need, placed them in her van and left the vehicle parked in the driveway of her mother's home, about half-mile away. Stephanie was seen that morning walking from her parents' house back to her Lennox home. Once she was back at her house, detectives said Stephanie sent her mom a text message telling her to call 911 and not to come to the home. Within minutes, both police and Stephanie's mom were at the house. Police said she was already dead when they arrived. Bob Hoover, Rob's father, told Argus Leader that he does not understand why Stephanie had to kill his son and grandson. He said her reasoning that Rob wouldn't be able to take care of the kids because of parenting skills or finances was 'totally incorrect'. 'There are so many people that knew him, and that is what gets us through,' Rob's mother, Deb, added. 'The good memories. The happy stuff that we hold onto.' Detectives said the other suicide letters Stephanie left were for her remaining three children, her brothers, and for investigators. Police are still investigating the murder-suicide. Lincoln County Sheriff Dennis Johnson told the outlet that once the audit at Stephanie's workplace closes he hopes both families will be able to 'move on and heal'. Police are still investigating the murder-suicide and said Stephanie also left letters for her brothers, investigators and her three remaining children In the letter to her parents, Stephanie asked them to make sure her children know how much they are loved and apologized for ruining her 'perfect' family 'This audit - I think what that's going to do is pretty much confirm what we already know,' he said. Rob Hoover, a graduate of Watertown High School, was remembered by friends as a loving father and a 'genuinely great guy'. 'He was always the hard-worker on the team,' Will Frantz previously told the Argus Leader, reflecting on their time doing cross country in high school. 'Rob was always the guy who put the work in and got us going.' Another classmate, Emily Mitchell, said she reconnected with Rob when she posted about issues she was having with her son. She said Rob thought he could use the skills he had learned at his job with the Southeastern Behavioral Health to help her. 'That was just who he was. Saw someone struggling and if he could help them, he'd try,' she said. 'considering we were never close, that small gesture speaks volumes about his character.' RAF jets were scrambled today to intercept a Russian 'Coot' spy plane after it was seen approaching NATO airspace over the Black Sea. Typhoon fighters were dispatched from Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta on the Black Sea coast amid reports of a Russian IL-20 heading west. Crew were airborne 'within minutes' of being alerted having 'sprinted' to their planes, RAF chiefs revealed. The Russian military plane was monitored by Typhoons and tracked as it departed North East. RAF jets were scrambled today to intercept a Russian 'Coot' spy plane seen approaching NATO airspace over the Black Sea Typhoon fighters were dispatched from Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta on the Black Sea coast amid reports of a Russian IL-20 (file picture) heading west However, the British and Russian aircraft - code named 'Coot' - did not come within visual range of each other. Russian Il-20s are believed to perform frequent spying missions around the Baltic region and, with a range of more than 2,200 miles, are said to have been deployed during the Syria conflict on reconnaissance missions. The operation was confirmed on the RAF's official Twitter feed shortly after 12.30pm this afternoon. It comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries over Russia's role in the Syria conflict and after the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March. The current RAF mission in Romania is part of measures brought in four years ago aimed at countering the threat of Russian aggression against NATO Allies. The current RAF mission in Romania is part of measures brought in four years ago aimed at countering the threat of Russian aggression against NATO Allies. Typhoon Force Commander, Air Commodore Mark Chappell (left) gives a speech at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in Romania in April II (Army Co-operation) Squadron pilot, Squadron Leader Roger Cruickshank was on Quick Reaction Alert duty when today's scramble was called. He said: 'I received the order and alerted the team that we were scrambling. 'Sprinting to the aircraft, my wingman, Flight Lieutenant Pilbeam and I were able to get airborne due to the incredible job the ground crew did and within minutes, well within our NATO approved response timing, we were airborne. 'Quickly climbing to height and nearly supersonic, it was down to the superb collective response alongside our Romanian partners that we were able to successfully complete our mission.' In January, footage emerged showing the moment two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Russian planes approaching UK airspace. The planes took off from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray on the coast of Scotland just before 9.30am on January 15. They were said to have been flying towards two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers at about 28,000ft off the east coast of Scotland. Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Russian planes approaching UK airspace in January. Above, Russian planes (pictured middle and right) were tailed by an RAF Typhoon (left) Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers came within about 28,000ft of the east coast of Scotland in January The Blackjacks approached to within less than 50 miles of the UK, but the Ministry of Defence said that 'at no point' did they enter British sovereign airspace. At their closest the Russian aircraft were within 30 nautical miles (34.5 miles) of the UK's airspace, the MoD said - around 40 nautical miles (46 miles) from British soil. Officials would not confirm how many Typhoons were involved in the operation. The fighters were supported by a Voyager air-to-air tanker. The incident joined a series of aerial stand-offs in previous months over the North Sea between the Royal Air Force and the Russian Air Force. Typhoon by numbers Engines: 2 Eurojet EJ200 turbojets Thrust: 20,000lbs each Max speed: 1.8Mach Length: 15.96m Max altitude: 55,000ft Span: 11.09m Aircrew: 1 Armament: Paveway IV, AMRAAM, ASRAAM, Mauser 27mm Cannon, Enhanced Paveway II Advertisement On January 8 it was reported HMS Westminster, a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate, was tasked to intercept two of Vladimir Putin's warships and two supporting vessels as they passed close to UK waters. RAF jets were also scrambled from Lossiemouth to intercept Russian bombers in September. The Russian pilots subsequently turned around. A Voyager aircraft was also scrambled from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on that occasion to refuel the jetsas they guarded British airspace over the North Sea. Other instances where RAF aircraft have been scrambled to meet Russian bombers in UK airspace include an incident in May when two Typhoons responded to a 'quick alert'. An Airbus Voyager KC3 tanker was also dispatched from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and was tracked heading north before going into a holding pattern off the Aberdeenshire coast. Another incident took place in July when a Typhoon was launched from a base in Romania as a response to a nuclear bomber operating near NATO airspace over the Black Sea. Operating from the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta on the Black Sea coast, the RAF Typhoon responded to Russian Federation Air Force TU-22 Backfire strategic bombers heading south near NATO air space. The Russian military jets were flying over the western Black Sea and were monitored by the Typhoon. The Tupolevs - the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union - were tracked as they departed south but the jets did not come within visual range of each other. The restaurant chain Carluccios has been blasted for offering customers unlimited prosecco for breakfast. The eatery, which has around 100 eateries in the UK, is offering customers a bottomless brunch on Bank Holiday Monday on May 7. In an email promo, the restaurant chain, which was founded by the late Antonio Carluccio in 1999 before he sold it for around 90m to the Dubai-based Landmark Group in 2010, is offering customers a 26 breakfast deal with unlimited fizz. The ad states: 'Bottomless Brunch - 26 for a breakfast of your choice & bottomless prosecco...these two magic words - unlimited prosecco.' The restaurant chain tweeted about the upcoming promotional deal, which has come under fire from customers It adds: 'Brunch is all about taking your time. Its fresh juice and coffee; freshly-cooked eggs and crispy pancetta. And this Bank Holiday Monday its all about unlimited glasses of refreshing Santa Sara prosecco. 'From 10am-1pm on Monday 7th May...order any breakfast dish and get unlimited fizz for 26.' It states that the offer is only open to those aged 18 or over and is valid for a whole 90 minutes, adding: '(The) 90 minute window starts when order is placed. 'Were big advocates of sensible drinking - please dont get carried away as we wont be able to serve you.' Carluccio's says it advocates sensible drinking and urged people not to get too drunk as they will be refused service It states that if you are doing Bank Holiday brunch at home you can get 20 per cent off prosecco when you order six or more bottles online. Joanna Benson, 41, of Pinner, north west London - who often eats at the Italian restaurant chain - said she was shocked when she got an email from the eatery. She said: 'I know its a Bank Holiday and that people start drinking early, but this is encouraging people to start drinking to excess at 10am. 'If I had four or five glasses of prosecco in the morning I would not be fit for the day.' Another, Christopher Sommerville, 42, of Glasgow, Scotland, said he received an email from Carluccios on Thursday this week (May 3) offering unlimited prosecco on Bank Holiday Monday. He said: 'I like a drink as much as the next man, but even I draw the line at drinking at 10am. 'Alcohol is a big problem in Britain as a whole, and here in Scotland weve just had minimum alcohol prices introduced, so this flies in the face of what is happening here in Scotland. 'If you pay 26 for unlimited prosecco then youre going to drink as much as you can - theres no point paying 26 if you just have one or two glasses as its not good value for money. 'The only way to get your moneys worth is to drink a bottle or two as quickly as possible, and that is not something that should be encouraged.' Antonio Carluccio, who died in 2017 aged 80, was a well-known TV chef and restaurateur and was called the Godfather of Italian Gastronomy. NHS guidelines highlight the risk on single drinking sessions - also called binge drinking - saying that they can lead to serious accidents and even death. The NHS states that guidelines on boozing, drawn up by Chief Medical Officers of the UK, show that drinking more than seven glasses of wine or prosecco - around 14 units - is unsafe. Antonio Carluccio, who died in 2017, was known as the Godfather of Italian Gastronomy and passed away aged 80 It states that binge drinking dangers included accidents resulting in injury - sometime causing death - and losing self control. The guidelines state: 'To keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level you are safest not regularly drinking more than 14 units per week. '14 units is equivalent to a bottle and a half of wine or five pints of export-type lager over the course of a week - this applies to both men and women. 'If you have one or two heavy drinking sessions, you increase your risks of death from long-term illnesses and from accidents and injuries.' Giving guidelines on binge drinking, the NHS states: 'The potential risks of single drinking sessions...can include accidents resulting in injury (causing death in some cases), misjudging risky situations, and losing self-control. 'You can reduce these risks by limiting the total amount of alcohol you drink on any occasion (and) drinking more slowly, drinking with food, and alternating alcoholic drinks with water.' According to the charity Alcohol Concern there have already been 2,962 alcohol-related deaths this year - and there were 7,327 alcohol-related deaths in the UK in 2016, the latest figures available. The Drinkaware Trust - an independent alcohol education charity - states that if you drink more than six glasses of wine a week you are at a higher risk of alcohol affecting your health. President Donald Trump on Friday said the date and location have been set for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, building suspense for the unprecedented talks and hinting at progress in freeing three Americans held in North Korea. The White House has said the first meeting between sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders could take place in the coming weeks. Trump is expected to push for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, between North and South Korea and Singapore are among the top choices being considered for the summit. Trump this week expressed a preference for the DMZ but also said Singapore was possible. Peace move: Trump said Friday that a time and a venue have been decided for the summit with Kim Jong Un Peace location: Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in raised their hands after signing a joint declaration on the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone on April 27. The zone has been floated as a venue Peace House: The blue-pained building which straddles both Koreas was the venue last month for the meeting between the dictator and the president The Peace House at the DMZ was the venue for a meeting last month between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, was to discuss the summit with his South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong, at the White House on Friday, officials said. Trump, a former reality TV star who likes to build suspense about upcoming presidential news, did not give a date or location for the talks and White House officials did not immediately provide further clarity. The U.S. government is looking into reports that three Americans arrested in recent years in North Korea had recently been relocated from a labor camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, as expectations grow that they will be released before the summit. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that if North Korea were to free the three Americans, 'We certainly would see this as a sign of good will' ahead of the Trump-Kim summit. Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, suggested activity was under way involving the captives. 'We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the (U.S.) hostages. I think you're going to see very good things,' Trump told reporters. Trump also told reporters on Friday that he was not considering reducing the U.S. military's presence in South Korea as part of the negotiations. 'Troops are not on the table,' he said before a flight to Dallas, Texas, where he will address the National Rifle Association. But he also said he would eventually like to bring them home. The US citizens, who are being detained in the North on espionage or 'hostile acts' against the secretive regime, could be set free through the village of Panmunjom, which sits near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South. 'I am aware that North Korea and the United States have agreed to free the three Korean Americans -- Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul -- through Panmunjom tomorrow,' said one source to the Yonhap News Agency, who asked not to be named. Another source said that the three could be released on Sunday or Monday. Kim Dong-chul, pictured above, left and right, has been detained since 2015. He was arrested for spying and has since been sentenced to 10 years' hard labour The White House said 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. US citizen Kim Hak-song was detained 'on suspicion of acts against the state' '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. Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-Duk, a Korean-American professor and aid worker 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. 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. 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.' An Illinois mother has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for beating her one-year-old son to death with a belt and coat hangers, and throwing his body into a river before faking a kidnapping. Lakeshia Baker, 27, was sentenced after pleading guilty to murder on Thursday in connection to the April 2013 slaying of Bryeon Hunter, Chicago Tribune. Prosecutors alleged that Baker and her then-boyfriend, Michael Scott, now aged 26, beat the little boy with a belt and plastic hangers, leaving him to die on the bathroom floor inside their Maywood, Illinois, home on April 15, 2013. Guilty: Lakeshia Baker (left), 27, was sentenced to 35 years after pleading guilty to murder on Thursday in connection to the April 2013 slaying of her son, Bryeon Hunter (right) Watery grave: The toddler's decomposed body was fished out of the Des Plaines river in Illinois in May 2013, a month after he was beaten to death Scott allegedly covered the child's mouth so that his grandmother would not hear the baby scream or cry. When the couple realized Bryeon was dead, they stuffed his body into a backpack, drove to the Des Plaines river and threw it in the water. Baker then went to the police, claiming that her son had been abducted. She even made her four-year-old son practice their cover-up story over and over in case he was questioned. Baker claimed Bryeon was snatched from her on their way to a McDonald's, telling reporters that she and her son were attacked and beaten by three Hispanic men. Accomplice: Baker's boyfriend, 26-year-old Michael Scott, has been charged with murder and the case against him is still pending She even picked three out in a police mug book. 'They pulled up out of the alleyway and told me, 'Didn't we say we didn't want to see you here no more?' They pulled down my hair and pulled me in the car and started beating me and all I heard was my baby just screaming,' Baker told the local TV station at the time. She even appeared in news reports with with a swollen eye. The report of the kidnapping prompted an Amber Alert and set off a search of abandoned buildings, trash bins and industrial areas by authorities and volunteers. Canine units were brought in, and a search of the Des Plaines River was carried out with divers and sonar equipment. Under questioning, Baker ultimately admitted that the kidnapping story was a lie and that she and Scott had beaten her son so severely that he died. A month after the child's killing, a kayaker found Bryeons heavily decomposed body in the Des Plaines river near Brookfield Zoo in North Riverside. It took officials months to positively identify him. Scott's criminal case is still making its way through the court system. Daryll Rowe was sentenced to eight years in jail today after admitting further attacks A hairdresser already jailed for life for infecting his gay lovers with HIV has been sentenced to eight years today after admitting further attacks in Scotland. Daryll Rowe pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to four incidents where he had unprotected sex with partners despite being fully aware he was HIV positive. Rowe, 27, described as a 'devious and deceptive predator' was jailed for life last month for trying to infect 10 men in England. He became the first man in the country of intentionally setting out to spread the virus. Five of them contracted HIV. Today Rowe admitted four counts of culpable and reckless conduct. One of them contracted the virus. As well as being handed an eight-year prison term, he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life. Police Scotland, who confirmed details of the hearing, said the hairdresser, originally from Edinburgh, who was diagnosed in April 2015, would meet men using online dating apps like Grindr, and enter into sexual relationships without disclosing his illness. He would either refrain from wearing a condom during sex, or tamper with the protection, as he sought to deliberately infect others. Between October 2015 and December 2016, he continued to commit similar offences in Edinburgh as well as Sussex and North East England. Rowe, 27, (left in a topless selfie, and right, arriving at an earlier hearing was jailed for life last month for trying to infect 10 men in England He was snared following 'significant' enquiries carried out by officers in Scotland and England. Last month, Rowe was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court. The court heard he had sent mocking text messages after sex saying he was 'riddled'. During the sentencing last month Judge Christine Henson QC, said: 'You are the first individual to be sentenced for Section 18 offences in the context of infecting others with HIV. 'With the full knowledge of the risk you posed to others and the legal implications of engaging in risky sexual practices, you embarked on a deliberate campaign to infect other men with the HIV virus. The hairdresser targeted men between October 2015 and December 2016, carrying out offences in Edinburgh as well as Sussex and North East England. 'They describe living with a life sentence as a result of your cruel and senseless acts. Many of those men were young men in their 20s at the time they had the misfortune to meet you.' One of his victims told the court that he had considered 'committing suicide all the time' adding: 'I don't feel I can trust anyone. Daryll has destroyed my life.' Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean, of Police Scotland, said after today's hearing: 'Daryll Rowe is a devious and deceptive predator who has shown absolutely no remorse for the extensive suffering and distress he has caused his victims. 'Since April 2015 he was fully aware of his illness yet refused treatment that would ensure his own health and safeguard his sexual partners from the risk of infection. Rowe, (left arriving at Lewes Crown Court and right) was snared following 'significant' enquiries carried out by officers in Scotland and England 'To make matters worse, he would then knowingly engage in sexual activity with individuals he met without divulging his condition. 'Rowe would then go to great lengths to ensure he put partners at risk of contracting HIV, demonstrating the callous and reckless nature of his character.' He added: 'It is my sincere hope that all of those affected by Daryll Rowe's calculated criminality feel some sense of justice following today's outcome.' Allison Mack arrived in federal court on Friday morning for a status conference in her sex trafficking case. The Smallville actress said little and ignored her co-defendant, Nxivm leader Keith Raniere, in their first face-to-face encounter since she agreed to cut all ties with the cult as a condition of her $5 million bail. Raniere on the other hand made repeated attempts to catch Mack's eye after he was seated in court, but had no luck in getting her attention. Mack and Raniere have both been arraigned on federal charges including two counts of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit forced labor. Judge Nicholas Garaufis announced on Friday that the trial in the case would begin on October 1, and Raniere entered his plea of not guilty on all charges. Mack did not enter a plea on Friday, with negotiations between the actress and lawyers for the Eastern District of New York still underway at this time. Scroll down for video Back in black: Allison Mack (above on Friday) appeared in front of Judge Nicholas Garaufis on Friday for a status conference in her sex trafficking case Flanked: The Smallville star, 35, was released last week on $5million bail after agreeing to cut all ties with the cult Nxivm (Mack arrives with her lawyers on Friday) Big shift: On Friday, Mack came face-to-face with Nxivm leader Keith Raniere for the first time since declaring in court papers that she was seeking a plea deal in the case Lawyers for Raniere suggested that the defense will argue that the sexual acts between the cult leader and his younger female accusers were consensual. 'He believes in his innocence and Im impressed with his stamina. He has no reason to plead guilty,' said his attorney Marc Agnifilo outside the courtroom. He then questioned why the branding of young women was a crime by stating: 'There are groups of men who brand themselves. When women choose to brand themselves they become victims?' Agnifilio closed out his remarks by lashing out at those who are labeling Nxivm as a sex cult. 'Its a slogan, its a label that the government is attaching to conduct to make it nefarious. Women joined of their own volition,' argued the defense attorney. The prosecution also had news to share on Friday, revealing that more indictments would be coming in the case. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for next month with both defendants, but Mack's lawyers announced on Friday that they plan to petition the court to allow their client to skip all further court appearances prior to the actual trial. Mack was able to secure the $5 million bond last week thanks to her mother Melinda putting up her house as collateral along with a retirement account in addition to Mack's New York home in Clifton Park. Movers were seen at that property on Monday carrying out Mack's belongings. Melinda was in court to support her daughter last week, and traveled home with her to Los Alamitos where she the actress has been monitored by officials from the Central District of California. It was also Melinda who signed off on the bond, with a condition being that the money not be provided by any member of the cult. Mack filed an application for an Order of Excludable Delay on Friday requesting that trial against her not commence until after May 3, stating that her legal team and attorneys for the Eastern District of New York were in plea negotiations. She then informed the court that there is a 'reasonable likelihood' the negotiations 'will result in a disposition of this case without trial.' This application was filed shortly after she entered a plea of not guilty to the three charges she is facing in the case. The allegations against Raniere and Mack were outlined in the Complaint and Affidavit in Support of Arrest Warrant that was filed back on February 14. Special Agent Michael Lever with the FBI had been investigating Raniere and speaking with former cult members, including two women known as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. Lever states that Raniere came up with the idea for Nxivm's sex slave program, known as DOS, during the summer of 2015. Leader: Mack and Raniere have both been arraigned on federal charges including two counts of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit forced labor (Raniere above in 2009) Heavy charges: The two are facing life in prison and Raniere has been denied bail by the court Remarks: 'He believes in his innocence and Im impressed with his stamina. He has no reason to plead guilty,' said his attorney Marc Agnifilo (left) outside the courtroom A woman by the name of CC-1, who was revealed to be Mack in subsequent filings, was his first 'slave,' and provided 'colateral' which guaranteed she would remain faithful to him by providing Raniere with damning material. 'CC-1s email was titled "vow 3" and included an attached letter. The letter pledged CC-1s "full and complete life" to 14 RANIERE,' reads the complaint. 'In the letter, CC-1 used the terms "slave" and "master" to refer to herself and RANIERE. Moreover, the letter identified "collateral" to "cement" the vow made by CC-1. 'This collateral was described as: (1) a letter regarding CC-1 'smother and father that would "destroy their character"; (2) a contract that transferred custody of any children birthed by CC-1 to RANIERE if CC-1 broke her commitment to RANIERE; (3) a contract that transferred ownership of CC-1 's home if the commitment to RANIERE was broken; and (4) a letter addressed to social services alleging abuse to CC-1 's nephews.' Mack is facing life in prison, and more indictments are coming according to prosecutors (Mack on Smallville above) It is not clear if any of the claims made in those letters were true. Soon, CC-1 was recruiting slaves of her own and filling out the pyramid that Raniere had hoped to create, selecting Jane Doe 1 as one of these women. Jane Doe 1 stated that her first meeting with Raniere ended with the leader questioning her devotion, but soon things took a bizarre turn. 'The next night CC-1 again received a text message from RANIERE, woke Jane Doe 1 in the middle of the night and assigned her to meet RANIERE and tell him she would do anything he asked her to do. Jane Doe 1 did as she was assigned, and RANIERE led her to a house across the street,' reads the complaint. 'RANIERE directed her to remove all her clothes and made comments about her naked body. RANIERE then blindfolded Jane Doe 1, led her into a car and drove her around in a manner that made Jane Doe 1 believe RANIERE was trying to prevent her from knowing where they were going. 'RANIERE led, Jane Doe 1, still blindfolded, through some trees, into what she believed was a shack, and tied her to a table. 'Another person in the room, who Jane Doe 1 did not previously know was present, began performing oral sex on Jane Doe 1 as RANIERE circled the table making comments. 'Jane Doe 1 did not want to participate in this sexual activity, but believed it was part of her commitment to DOS and that if she broke her commitment to DOS her collateral could be released.' Dismissal: 'Its a slogan, its a label that the government is attaching to conduct to make it nefarious. Women joined of their own volition,' argued the defense attorney of those who label Nxivm a sex cult Command: Mack had been serving as leader of the cult for the past month DailyMail.com previously revealed, a role she assumed after Raniere was arrested by authorities in Mexico Jane Doe 1 said that she then began to frequently have sex with Raniere while also frequently posing nude for CC-1, who on one occasion sent 'close-up pictures of [her slaves'] vaginas' to Raniere. This was not the only task Jane Doe 1 had to undertake, as she was also responsible for reading, reviewing and editing Raniere's writings and texts. Allegations of Raniere's alarming and illegal sexual predilections are also outlined in a letter sent by US Attorney Richard P Donoghue to Judge Steven M Gold back in March. 'According to confidential sources, the defendant had repeated sexual encounters with multiple teenage girls in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s,' reads the letter. 'In one instance, the defendant met a fifteen-year-old girl while he was in his 20s and had repeated sexual contact with her. In another instance, the defendant met a twelve-year-old girl whose mother worked for the defendant and began tutoring her.' The letter goes on to say: 'Shortly thereafter, the defendant began having regular sexual intercourse with her, including at his home where he lived with multiple adult sexual partners.' Raniere is also said to have voiced his belief that the age of consent should be lowered to when a parent believes their child is capable of performing sexual activity. Raniere could be spared from serving any time though, with a former publicist for Nxivm telling DailyMail.com that member India Oxenberg has said she is willing to take the fall for Raniere if it will keep him out of prison. Frank Parlato, who has been covering Nxivm extensively on Art Voice, said that the female members of the cult have devised a plan they hope will save Raniere. First, all female members are prepared to deny that they were ever forced or coerced into performing sex acts in an attempt to discredit the allegations made by the two former members whose grand jury testimony resulted in the indictments of Mack and Raniere. If that does not work, Oxenberg is prepared to testify that they alone were responsible for coercing members into having sex claims Parlato. 'Mack, Oxenberg and Clyne have made a pact to go to prison, saying privately they are ready to walk into prison tomorrow if Raniere could be free today,' reports Parlato. That has likely changed in light of Mack's release. Melee: Mack is believe to be heading right back to California after her hearing on Friday (Mack above leaving court) Familiar scene: Mack (above after posting bail in April 24) was released on $5 million bail last week and headed home to California, where she is under house arrest Parlato told DailyMail.com that Mack's arrest had been in the works ever since Raniere's extradition from Mexico to the United States back in March. He posted video of Raniere's arrest at the time, which showed Mack in a state of disbelief as officials dragged away the self-proclaimed Svengali. The grand jury indictment states that Mack did 'benefit ... financially and by receiving a thing of value, from participation in a venture ... knowing that means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion, and a combination of such means, would be used to cause such persons to engage in one or more commercial sex acts.' The first of the women to testify in front of the grand jury, Jane Doe 1, also said that Mack 'did knowingly and intentionally conspire to provide and obtain the labor and services of a person .... by means of serious harm and threats.' 'As alleged in the indictment, Allison Mack recruited women to join what was purported to be a female mentorship group that was, in fact, created and led by Keith Raniere,' United States Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a statement on Friday. 'The victims were then exploited, both sexually and for their labor, to the defendants benefit. This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to prosecuting predators who victimize others through sex trafficking and forced labor.' Mack had been serving as leader of the cult for the past month DailyMail.com previously revealed, a role she assumed after Raniere was arrested by authorities in Mexico. Both her initials and those of Raniere's were branded on the pelvic area of women who joined the organization. The group had a large base in Albany, but a number of its most high-profile members decamped to Mexico earlier this year. They are now in Broooklyn. A man suspected of stabbing his sister to death in an 'honour killing' will be tried as an adult after investigators found out he was actually 21 years old, not a teenager as he claimed. The alleged knifeman from Afghanistan was going to be treated leniently by Austrian courts because his passport listed his date of birth as January 1, 1999. However, a medical check on the defendant, identified only as Hikmatullah S., showed he is actually 21 and can face the maximum penalty of life imprisonment if he is found guilty of stabbing his sister. His sister, named only as Bakhti S, was believed to be 14 years old when she was killed, but tests revealed she was 17 when she died in a suspected honour killing after her family discovered she had a secret boyfriend. The suspect, identified only as Hikmatulllah S., claimed to be a teenager but a medical check found he is actually 21 and can face life imprisonment if found guilty of murder Police carry the body of the alleged murder victim, who is claimed to have been stabbed 25 times in Vienna on September 18 last year If he had been under 21 he could only have been jailed for a maximum of 15 years, but investigators say he was actually born on May 29, 1996. Hikmatullah is accused of stabbing her 25 times in Vienna on September 18 last year, while she was on her way to school. The alleged victim is claimed to have suffered wounds almost four inches deep, the Austrian newspaper Heute reports. The woman's heartbroken lover, a 24-year-old man who has asked to remain anonymous, said: 'We chatted with each other for a few weeks. Then we had our first meeting, in a park. It was love at first sight.' He claims Bakhti told him to keep silent about their relationship as her father was very strict and did not let her make friends, even banning her from having a mobile phone. When the father eventually learned of their relationship, he is said to have beaten up Bakhti with a cable. She then fled the family home and filed a complaint against him. Hikmatullah S. is accused of stabbing his sister to death while she was walked to school CCTV footage apparently showing Hikmatullah S. together with his sister, named as Bakhti S. Austrian police are pictured investigating at the alleged murder scene in Vienna last year It is claimed that the family then decided she had to die, tasking Hikmatullah with carrying out the honour killing. He allegedly wore protective gloves when he killed her after she left the shelter where she lived and made her way to school. Vienna police claim that he followed his sister into a courtyard before repeatedly stabbing her and leaving her for dead. He later turned himself in to police reportedly saying: 'It is good that she is dead. She defiled our family's honour.' Hikmatullah now faces trial after denying murder, saying he did not plan to kill his sister and that he 'lost control' after bumping into her 'purely by chance.' Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Mazda delivered a new high of 102,022 vehicles in the first four months in China, jumping 16.9% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the automaker boasted a year-on-year sales growth of 7.6% in April with 24,572 units delivered in this country, according to Mazda Motor (China) Co., Ltd. FAW-Mazdas cumulative sales so far this year climbed 4.5% year on year to 41,449 units, while its monthly sales in April reached 9,808 units, edging up 2.9% over the previous year. Changan Mazda saw an impressive growth of 27.2% with 60,573 vehicles handed over from January to April. Last month, the automaker delivered 14,764 vehicles, increasing 11.0% compared with the same period of 2017. At Auto China 2018, the Japanese automaker announced that Changan Mazda will manufacture and sell the all-new mid-to-large 3-row 7-seat SUV model the CX-8 in the second half of this year. In addition, the MX-5 RF, whose presale was initiated by FAW-Mazda at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition in November last year, will be officially handed over soon. Donald Trump seized Friday on a federal judge who accused Robert Mueller's special counsel probe of trying to get Paul Manafort to 'sing' simply to impeach the president, telling a cheering crowd: 'I've been saying that for a long time. It's a witch hunt.' He spoke hours after U.S. Senior Judge T.S. Ellis III asked pointed questions about special counsel Robert Mueller's authority to bring charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort - and suggested that prosecutors' true motive is getting Manafort to 'sing'. Manafort's lawyers argued at a hearing in Alexandria, Virginia, that the tax and bank fraud charges are far afield from Mueller's mandate to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether any collusion occurred. 'I don't see what relationship this indictment has with what the special counsel is investigating,' Judge Ellis, a Reagan appointee, told government lawyers at Friday's hearing. In Dallas a few hours later Trump used a speech to the NRA's annual convention to seize on Judge Ellis's intervention. 'Just when I'm walking on the stage, a highly respected judge in Virginia - in the Wall Street Journal it says" judge questions Mueller's investigation of Manafort,' he said, to wild applause. 'Suggested the charges before the U.S. District court for the eastern district of Virginia were just part of the Mueller team design to pressure Mr Manafort into giving up information on president Donald Trump on the campaign. 'I've been saying that for a long time. It's a witch hunt.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO 'Witch hunt': President Donald Trump told the NRA annual convention in Dallas, Texas, that the judge's comments vindicated his description of the Mueller probe. Tense hearing: Judge T.S. Ellis asked pointed questions of prosecutors as he suggested they were going after Paul Manafort solely to build a case against Trump He's after one thing: Judge T.S. Ellis suggested to prosecutors that they wanted Manafort to 'sing' so Robert Mueller could build a case for the prosecution or impeachment of the president Critical: Judge T.S. Ellis, seen in a picture from www. law.com, asked a series of difficult questions of the prosecution, at one time saying: 'Come on, man!' Trump was fired up by the move, fist-pumping as he unleashed a tirade. He called Manafort 'a nice guy' saying 'he worked for me for just a short period of time, a couple of months'. And he said that Manafort had previously worked for Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and 'I think' John McCain and added: 'Does anybody say that? No!' Trump said that before he was about to start his speech he was shown an article from 'fake news CNN' about the judge. He read extensively from the article, saying: 'A federal judge on Friday questions special counsel Robert Mueller's authority to bring tax and bank fraud charges unrelated, unrelated! 'Nobody knows that. Everybody thinks oh! Unrelated to the 2016 election against former Trump campaign manager chairman Paul Manafort. REAGAN-APPOINTED JUDGE JAILED THE AMERICAN TALIBAN Judge J.S. - Thomas Selby - Ellis has been on the federal bench in Virginia since August 1987, after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan. A Navy pilot in the early 1960s, he studied at Harvard Law and at Magadalen College, Oxford and was a commercial litigator before becoming a judge. He took semi-retirement, known as senior status, in 2007, meaning he hears fewer cases but continues to have an office and clerks. Until now his most high-profile case was the sentencing of John Walker Lindh - the young American man captured unexpectedly in Afghanistan by U.S. forces routing the Taliban after 9/11. Lindh got 20 years in a plea deal which Ellis oversaw and is likely to be released next year. Ellis, 77, was assigned the Manafort case in March this year when the first charges were brought against him. He has set a trial date for July 2018, which would place any damaging revelations close to the mid-term elections. Advertisement 'He is a good person. He is. I really believe he is a good person. 'Judge T.S. Ellis who is really something very special I hear from many standpoints. He is a respected person. 'Suggested the charges before the U.S. District court for the Eastern District of Virginia were just part of the Mueller team's design to pressure Mr Manafort into giving up information on President Donald Trump on the campaign. 'I've been saying that for a long time. It's a witch hunt. 'Then none of that information has to do with information related to the Russian government toward nation and the campaign of Donald Trump. 'It doesn't have anything to do. It's from years before. Then how does this have anything to do with the campaign, the judge asks? Let me tell you, folks. We are all fighting battles.' The Virginia indictment at the center of Friday's hearing alleges Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars he earned advising pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine from the Internal Revenue Service, all occurring years before Donald Trump ran for president. Under questioning from Ellis, government lawyers admitted that Manafort had been under investigation for years in the Eastern District of Virginia before Mueller was ever appointed special counsel. And Ellis said it was implausible to think that the charges against Manafort, which primarily concern his business dealings and tax returns from about 2005 through 2015, could have a real connection to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Ellis suggested the real reason Mueller is pursuing Manafort is to pressure him to 'sing' against Trump, though he also noted that such a strategy is a 'time-honored practice' for prosecutors and not necessarily illegal. Ellis went on to say that defense lawyers are naturally concerned that defendants in that situation will not only sing but 'compose' - meaning that they'll make up facts. Trump speaks to a blond female supporter, on the South Lawn of the White House Trump also signed a MAGA hat as he greeted supporters at the White House on May 4 President Donald Trump chats with supporters after he arrived at the White House on May 4 President Donald Trump shakes hands with a gaggle of supporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday President Trump returns after delivering remarks at the National Rifle Association (NRA) leadership forum in Dallas, Texas President Donald Trump walks down the steps of Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland 'You really care about wanting information you could get from Mr. Manafort that would relate to Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution, or impeachment, or whatever,' Ellis said. Government lawyer Michael Dreeben said the special counsel's mandate is broad, and that Manafort fits within that jurisdiction because of his connections to both the Trump campaign and to Ukrainian and Russian officials. 'We needed to understand and explore those relationships and follow the money where it led,' Dreeben said. Dreeben also argued that the Justice Department has broad discretion to set its own rules for what should be designated to the special counsel's jurisdiction, and that a judge has no role trying to regulate it. 'We are the Justice Department,' Dreeben said of the special counsel's office. 'We are not separate from the Justice Department.' That argument provoked Ellis' ire to an extent and prompted him to question the wisdom of granting unfettered power to a special counsel with a $10 million budget. 'I'm sure you're sensitive to the fact that the American people feel pretty strongly about no one having unfettered power,' Ellis said. He asked Dreeben whether the special counsel had already blown through its $10 million budget; Dreeben declined to answer. Fox News reported that he pressed prosecutors on the source of their mandate to go after Manafort. Judge talk: Trump read from what he said was a CNN article about the courtroom criticism of Mueller and tossed aside the print out as he spoke Planned: Trump's full speech notes show he intended to say even more about the judge The Mueller team is relying on a memo prepared by Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general to whom the special counsel reports, which has been partly released but with significant redactions. The prosecution told the judge that some of the scope of its powers, which date back to August 2017, cannot be released because of national security. The judge offered a scathing response, characterizing their position as: 'We said this was what [the] investigation was about, but we are not bound by it and we were lying.' Then he quoted what he said was a football reference saying:'C'mon man!' Manafort's lawyer, Kevin Downing, has argued that a special counsel should be tightly constrained in how it operates. He noted that the law authorizing the special counsel was passed to replace the old independent counsel law, which was derided for allowing overbroad, yearslong investigations during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Downing has argued that the charges should be dismissed if Mueller lacked authority to bring them. Ellis, though, suggested another remedy would be to simply hand the case back to regular federal prosecutors. Ellis withheld ruling on the motion and will issue a written ruling at a later date. Then how does this have anything to do with the campaign, the judge asks? Let me tell you, folks. We are all fighting battles. Manafort is also facing a broader indictment in the District of Columbia, where the special counsel has brought the bulk of charges. The tax charges against Manafort had to be brought in Virginia, though, for jurisdictional reasons. Manafort's lawyers made similar arguments seeking dismissal to the judge in the District. She has also not yet ruled on the motion. The judge raising the memo may prove to be significant. Rosenstein sent the memo, titled 'The Scope of Investigation and Definition of Authority,' to Mueller on August 2 of last year, less than three months after his public order appointing him, kicking off a probe that President Donald Trump has branded a witch hunt. Two sentences in the document relate explicitly to Manafort but that section is both preceded and succeeded by blacked out text. A former Watergate prosecutor told DailyMail.com earlier this year that the first section may well refer to President Trump himself. Prosecutors filed the memo in opposition to an effort by Manafort to have Mueller's charges of money laundering and other crimes tossed out as an overreach of Mueller's original mandate. On its second page, the heavily redacted memo lists areas that are 'within the scope of the Investigation at the time of your appointment.' It then lists allegations that Manafort 'committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials with respect to the Russian government's efforts to interfere with the 2016 election for President of the United States, in violation of United States law.' The collusion allegation by Trump's former campaign chair which would constitute a bombshell charge if it were ever brought forward constitutes just a single one-sentence paragraph of the four-page memo. Another allegation alleged crimes out of payments Manafort received from the government of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych,' also constitutes just a single paragraph. Based on the blacked material, 'Its fair to infer from this that there are other investigations some of which may not even be public at this point,' said former Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman of Dorsey & Whitney, LLP. 'The only reason theyre releasing this part of it is just to show that Mueller is totally within his authority on this. Its a slam dunk,' he said. As for the paragraph before Mueller, he said: 'Maybe thats the allegations relating to Donald J. Trump, I dont know. Why wouldnt it be? That gives him a quarter of a page' the same amount of space given to Manafort. The charge about Ukrainian payments also appears to indicate that financial activities before the election by someone being examined as part of the Russia investigation are fair game for investigation something that could apply to the financial background of others in Trump's orbit who are under scrutiny. Overseer: Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, is who Robert Mueller reports to That unredacted portion is followed by text that is entirely blacked out that is three times as long as the now-public Manafort material. Manafort is identified by both his first and last name on Page Two, indicating this is likely the first reference to him in the document. That section is preceded by another portion, also blacked out, of equal length indicating that the information on the scope of the probe could refer to a different person specifically marked for investigation. 'What you would find in these other things would be other investigations that cover at least a full page or more,' said Akerman. 'They're covering their bases and making sure that they're following the regulations totally to a tee which they are doing which means that Manafort's motion is completely frivolous,' he said. Other areas of investigation that might have been codified could be the hack of Democratic National Committee emails, discussions of Russia sanctions, or any manner of people who have come under Mueller's focus, from longtime Trump associate Roger Stone to Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, who both have been reported to be of interest to Mueller's investigators. It is impossible to tell from the redacted version of the document filed with the court. In addition to whatever approval was provided by Rosenstein, who has oversight of the probe due to Attorney Jeff Sessions' recusal, the memo provides a way for Mueller to probe 'additional matters that otherwise may have arisen or may arise directly from the Investigation.' In that case, Rosenstein asks that he consult his office at DOJ for a determination of whether it is within the scope of his authority. A career car thief who began joyriding at 11 and killed a pedestrian aged 15 was back behind bars today over a 93 miles per hour police chase which a judge said 'defied belief.' Asa Hunter, 24, ignored a motoring ban and drove a stolen Audi A3 fitted with false plates along pavements and pedestrian footpaths in inner city Manchester in the hope of shaking off a police patrol. Officers were forced to deploy a stinger device to stop the car after it hit a wheelie bin on a pavement and drove along the wrong side of the road, over pot holes and speed humps at 70mph. They then had to scramble the force helicopter to track down Hunter after he ran off from the vehicle. Asa Hunter killed a person aged 15 (right) and is not thought to have a driving license (left now) Manchester Crown Court heard the shameless ex-plasterer had been in and out of the courts for almost 14 years of his life for joyriding offences and blamed his behaviour on a 'bad upbringing' from his jailbird father also called Asa and living on a gritty council estate. By the age of 16 he had clocked up 49 offences including car theft, robbery, criminal damage and ASBO related crimes before being locked away in 2009 for public protection after he mowed down and killed a 61-year old man in a 60mph hit and run crash during another police pursuit. It is thought he has never passed a driving test. Dramatic CCTV of last March's police pursuit emerged as Hunter, from Gorton, Manchester was locked away for another 18 months after he admitted dangerous driving, driving while banned and having no licence. Judge David Stockdale QC told him: 'I have seen that video and the driving of that car was appalling. You were driving at high speeds estimated at over 80mph in a residential area. It was a prolonged pursuit and you were well aware the police were following you. Asa Hunter has a record spanning back 13 years and killed a 61 year old 'I can only describe the standard of driving as terrifying. As you overtook vehicles there was oncoming traffic, and at one point you onto the pavement along terraced house where front doors go out onto the street. Even after your tyres had been deflated you carried on driving. It was an appalling piece of driving and particularly dangerous. 'All of this is aggravated by your previous convictions. How you thought fit to drive a stolen vehicle in that way on that night with your record defies belief.' In his teenage years Hunter had spent several periods in youth detention but he became a killer in April 2009 just hours after he was freed from Hindley Young Offenders Institution, near Wigan, following a three-month sentence for failing to comply with previous sentences. A Vauxhall Vectra had been stolen from a house and Hunter was seen driving in Gorton with three passengers including two girls and was showing off by doing handbrake turns. The frightening police chase was caught on camera before Mr Hunter was himself caught CCTV of the pursuit in which Hunter mounts a pavement and knocks down a blue wheelie bin But he then spotted police and sped off through the streets with his passengers pleading with him to slow down. He mowed down Thomas Drane who was crossing the road and propelled his body 37 metres by the force of the impact. Hunter drove on with a smashed windscreen then dumped the car before ringing his mother saying: 'It was an accident mum, I didn't mean to do it. I've got a grand in my pocket, I'm halfway to Scotland. I'm off.' One of the witnesses later told police: 'Asa hadn't seemed bothered about the accident.' Hunter was later arrested but was bailed and just three weeks later he drove another car into a group of young people following a minor row, injuring two boys. At the time he was ordered to be named and shamed and branded a 'dangerous offender' by the trial judge after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm but he was only required to serve three years of an indeterminate sentence before he would be considered for parole. It is not known when he was released. Last December, Hunter moaned on Facebook of gossip about him being 'wanted by police and on the run' saying: 'I really don't understand how my sh*t is so exciting that people come out of there little hole to make sh*t up (sic). I'm not going back to jail.' But the police pursuit occurred just three months later and just two weeks after the Audi was stolen in a house burglary. Prosecuting Miss Claire Brocklebank said: 'This vehicle was seen in Longsight travelling around 80mph when the limit in that area is 30 to 40mph. An unmarked police car drove after the vehicle and the vehicle continued to travel at speed. Mr Hunter Snr was identified in court as being partially responsible for his son's conduct 'It continued whilst being pursued and over took other motorists to avoid being hit. Normal vehicles had to stop or break suddenly as the defendant's vehicle continues in front of them. The police cars speed metre was up to at least 70mph and the car was speeding ahead of that. 'The highest reading was 80 or 90mph in a 30mph zone. At one point the vehicle swerves onto the pavement and hits a bin. Anyone who had stepped outside of their property at that time would have come into contact with that vehicle. The defendant was also seen going on the wrong side of the road on many occasions. 'A stinger was used by the police to deflate the car tyres and the vehicle came to a stop and the driver got out and ran away. By this point a police helicopter had been called and the defendant was detained. He was arrested and gave a no comment interview.' The court heard Hunter currently had 'multiple driving convictions' but the number was not specified. His lawyer Michael McKeown said in mitigation: 'The defendant had a very bad upbringing. His father is well-known to the courts and he ended up becoming involved with criminal associates which led him to commit the death by dangerous driving offence. Hunter's father, now 42, was jailed for ten months in 2016 for slashing a college student's face with a potato peeler 'In June last year he tried to make amends for six months but he broke his elbow and was unable to continue working as a plasterer and ended up falling back into the wrong crowd and wrong associates. 'The defendant says he is very upset with himself. His partner has just had a child and he wanted to be there for that. He says that where he lives, if things go wrong you end up falling into the wrong type of company.' Hunter's father, now 42, was jailed for ten months in 2016 for slashing a college student's face with a potato peeler after being told off for swearing at two young girls during a bus journey. Last December he posted apparently self penned poetry on Facebook about his spell in Strangeways jail saying inmates had a ready of supply of Budweiser beer and home-brewed alcohol. He wrote: 'Where men are living in a daze with Hooch and Bud - its all good. The screws think they're in charge but that sh*t is just a mirage - their rules are just for show.' A group of thieves have stolen around 10 trucks fresh off the assembly line from a Michigan factory. Warren Police were called to the Fiat Chrysler Warren Truck Assembly Plant before dawn on Thursday, after a security guard spotted the 2018 Ram trucks crashing through the factory's gate. The well-prepared thieves reportedly arrived at the plant in a 2003 Ram that was stolen from a Warren home. They cut through the chain link fence and once inside the factory unloaded as many as a dozen drivers who ran to the new trucks and drove away. Thieves broke into the Fiat Chrysler Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Michigan, on Thursday and stole about 10 2018 Ram trucks (pictured is a Ram truck at the factory) The thieves reportedly cut through the chain link fence (pictured) and once inside the factory unloaded as many as a dozen drivers who ran to the new trucks and drove away The truck the thieves arrived in was left abandoned by the fence, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. Police said they are looking at security footage of the roads leading away from the factory as they continue to search for the thieves. They added that it's possible someone with inside information such as a former employee is involved in the heist. The car company has not said definitively how many trucks were stolen but each is worth more than $30,000. They hadn't been titled yet which will make the search more difficult. They've also declined to say if keys were inside the vehicles when taken. Authorities have expressed frustration after the crime, claiming Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has not been cooperative in the investigation. The car company has not said definitively how many trucks were stolen but each is worth more than $30,000 Authorities have expressed frustration after the crime, claiming Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has not been cooperative in the investigation Commissioner Bill Dwyer told the Detroit Free Press on Friday: 'We have absolutely nothing. Why aren't they calling me? We can't do an investigation if they're not working with us. We don't even know if it's nine or 11 vehicles stolen. Or what colors. Or the VIN numbers.' Dyer said he's offering more than $1,000 for information leading to the suspects and the recovery of the trucks. There are currently no leads in the case. A spokesman with the car company said on Friday: 'FCA US is working with the Warren Police Department regarding the theft of several Ram Trucks ... The Company will be assessing security measures at the location and implementing any necessary changes to prevent future incidents.' Two New Jersey teacher union bosses have been suspended from their jobs after two separate sting videos captured them promising to 'bend the truth' to protect members and calling students 'dirtbags' and 'pieces of s**t'. Kathleen Valencia and David R. Perry were both suspended after the videos emerged last week. Valencia was filmed telling an undercover Project Veritas reporter that the Union City Teachers' Association had protected a male teacher from prosecution despite him having sex with a teenage girl and calling classes high school students 'dirt bags'. The undercover reporter had gone to her to ask for advice with a fictitious story about her brother who she claimed was also a teacher and had hit a student during an altercation. Valencia's advice was to say nothing and, if questioned, tell bosses that the student 'tripped and fell'. Scroll down for videos Kathleen Valencia and David Perry are the presidents of separate teacher unions in New Jersey. Both were suspended after the videos emerged this week In a different video, the same undercover reporter spoke with Perry who boasted about once getting a drug-using female teacher her job back five times. 'It's my job. It's almost like being a priest, it's my job to protect,' he said. Later, he said: 'I need to know the truth so that we can bend the truth.' The videos emerged on YouTube this week and prompted strong rebukes from the school districts where each worked. '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. Valencia was filmed calling high school students she had worked with 'dirt bags' and 'the biggest f***** pieces of s**t' '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,' Union City Public Schools said of Valencia's comments. Its superintendent has not revealed whether her claims about a male teacher who 'had sex with a teenage girl' are being looked into or not. In the video, the journalist gave Valencia a fabricated story about her brother who was also a teacher. She said that a student spat on him and called him the N-word so in retaliation, he pushed him. After insisting that the situation was 'hypothetical' and asking if there had been any witnesses, Valencia said: 'Nothing happened.' She then assured the journalist that since it happened 'two weeks ago' and she had heard 'nothing', there would likely be no rebuke. Perry was caught boasting about how he can 'bend the truth' and that he 'defends even the worst people' 'God forbid you anybody calls him in. Your brother has no idea. [He says], "Yeah, the kid tripped and fell, but I asked him and he said he was perfectly fine.' She then went on to describe how she had taught 'real dirtbags'. 'I have taught the dirtbag class,' she said, adding that she was 'not afraid of them'. Perry was suspended by Hamilton District Schools after footage emerged of him making similarly shocking remarks. '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,' Superintendent Scott Rocco said. The New Jersey Education Association, to which both their unions belong, however attacked the authenticity of Project Veritas, which has sparked controversy in the past with its stings. '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. '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,' it said in a statement on its website. Virgin mobile has been branded 'despicable' after getting a debt collection agency to chase an 88-year-old dementia sufferer for a 38 bill. Kenneth Harkins, from Edinburgh, was on a 10-a-month rolling contract but as his conditioned worsened he stopped using his mobile. His family say Virgin refused to cancel the contract unless they could get Mr Harkins' account password - which he could not remember because of his dementia. When the exasperated family went ahead and cancelled the direct debit, Virgin responded by passing the matter to a debt collection firm. Dementia sufferer Kenneth Harkins, 88, stopped using his mobile when his condition worsened The tweet Mr Harkins' daughter Julie sent to Virgin Mobile branding them 'despicable' They have put a 'default' against the pensioner's credit file and written two threatening letters, one of which warns him of 'further debt recovery action' if the 38 bill remains unpaid. However, today Virgin Mobile, who said they tried to contact Mr Harkin and his family several times, said they have looked into the case, and cleared the balance on the account as a gesture of goodwill. Mr Harkins, a former builder and plasterer, his daughter Julie Abu-Husan, and her husband Ali, also from Edinburgh, have tried to negotiate with the firm since October last year. Julie, 57, eventually took to Twitter, telling the firm: 'Virginmedia my 88-year-old father had a mobile contract with you for 10 per month. The debt collection letter sent to Mr Harkins as Virgin Mobile tried to recoup the outstanding 38 bill 'He can no longer use it, but when we have tried to cancel his contract, they insist on having his password which he cannot remember as he has dementia. He now had debt recovery letters. Despicable.' Speaking today, 57-year-old Julie said: 'As he was no longer using the phone and had no need for it, we contacted Virgin to cancel the contract. 'The person we spoke to asked for my father's password, but of course he had no idea. 'The virgin employee just kept repeating that he must be given the password and could offer no further help or discuss anything with us. My father then started receiving letters from a debt recovery company for 38.' Ali, 58, added: 'I don't understand why they are chasing him for such a small amount. 'We tried to explain it to them, and they just wouldn't listen. I mean he is a pensioner, and they were asking for a letter from a doctor to prove he had dementia. I mean seriously? Why should I have to provide a letter to prove he is ill? 'I don't understand why they didn't cancel the service, why did they keep it running when we told them we were going to cancel the payment? It doesn't make sense.' The first debt letter arrived on March 26 and warned the pensioner: 'We would like to draw to your attention that our client has registered a default against your credit file in relation to this account. The default may affect your ability to obtain credit in the future. 'Please do not ignore this letter.' A Virgin Media spokesman said: 'As a gesture of goodwill we have cleared the remaining balance on Mr Harkins' account. They added: 'Customers wishing to leave Virgin Media should contact us before they cancel their direct debit to ensure they do not receive any unexpected charges. 'We pride ourselves in giving all of our customers excellent service. If a customer believes we have made a mistake, we encourage them to get in touch with us so we can investigate.' Toyota is building a new testing facility for autonomous cars in Michigan to avoid driving the vehicles on public roads after a pedestrian was killed by a self-driving Uber in Arizona two months ago. The 60-acre site at Michigan Technical Resource Park (MITRP) in Ottawa Lake will be centered around a 1.75-mile oval track, a four-lane highway and a stretch of road designed to resemble a busy urban environment. The high-tech facility, which opens in October, will be used to test drive scenarios that are considered too dangerous for outside roads. An aerial view of the 1.75-mile test track inside the Michigan Technical Resource Park, which will be the center of the new Toyota facility due to open in October Toyota has not tested any autonomous cars since March 18, when an Uber test car killed 44-year-old Rafaela Vasquez in Tempe, Arizona. Video footage showed the Volvo XC-90 SUV hitting mother-of-two Vasquez at 38mph as she was wheeling her bike across the road. The car did not appear to slow down before the collision, raising concerns about its safety features. Toyota hopes to use its Michigan facility to develop a new autonomous vehicle that is 'incapable of causing a crash', although safety campaigners may question if it is possible to perfect the technology outside of real-word environments. '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,' said Ryan Eustice, senior vice president of automated driving. The high-tech facility will be used to test drive scenarios that are considered too dangerous for public roads. Pictured is one of the autonomous vehicles being developed by Toyota MITRP owns the oval test track and has agreed to build more test labs and mock roads on behalf of the Japanese automotive giant. '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 testing ground since 1968. Toyota declined to tell Dailymail.com how much the new facility will cost. A Texas woman who has admitted to embezzling $1.2million from her place of work was scheduled to be sentenced this week, but instead she took her own life just hours before she was due in court. Paige Moody Bisher, of Spring, fatally shot herself in the chest outside the Humble, Texas, Walmart ahead of the court hearing. Her death was ruled a suicide. In January, Bisher admitted to stealing the seven-figure sum from a small Houston company where she worked as an administrative assistant. Fatal decision: Paige Moody Bisher, 43 (left and right) killed herself this week, just hours before she was set to be sentenced in a $1.2million embezzlement scheme Bisher shot herself in the chest in this Walmart parking lot in Humble, Texas Under Texas Penal Code, theft of more than $200,000 is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison. Prosecutor Lester Blizzard told Houston Chronicle it was his intent to ask for a lengthy prison sentence for Bisher. As part of her misappropriation scheme, prosecutors said the married woman had funneled company funds into her own account by writing checks to herself. She was caught when her boss asked to take a look at the accounting books, which prompted Bisher to quit her job. The employees abrupt resignation led to an internal audit, which uncovered her financial malfeasance, and eventually resulted in her criminal indictment. Swindle: As part of her scheme, Bisher (pictured with husband Aaron) had funneled funds from her workplace into her own account by writing checks to herself. Bryan Vaclavik, the chief fraud examiner at the Harris County District Attorneys office who took part in the investigation, told the paper that the abuse of trust in this case was unprecedented in his 24 years with the agency. In 2017, Bisher and her husband, Aaron, who were both competitive barbecue cooks, opened a restaurant in Magnolia specialising in smoked meat. According to a Houston Chronicle story about The Feedlot BBQ restaurant, the Bishers invested most of their savings into the eatery, which opened its doors in August of that year, but has since shut down. Friends and family took to Facebook on Thursday to express their condolences to Bisher's husband and sister, talking about her smile and infectious laugh. Josh Cummings, 36, was fatally shot in the head as he walked towards a shooting range in Cypress, Texas on December 12, 2017 A 21-year-old man has been indicted in the killing of a Texas father at a shooting range, officials said Friday. Tyler Sutton was working at the counter of Hot Wells Shooting Range in Cypress, Texas, when he allegedly discharged a customer's hunting rifle, without checking if it was loaded. The bullet traveled through a window and struck Josh Cummings, 36, in the head as he walked towards the shooting range. Cummings was about 70 to 80 feet away when he was hit in the December 12, 2017 incident. The married father-of-triplets was rushed to a downtown Houston hospital by helicopter but was pronounced dead by the time he arrived due to his injury. On Friday the Harris County district attorney's office said Sutton has been indicted on a count of manslaughter. At first Harris County officials believed the shooting was an accident. Homicide detectives investigated to see if the gun accidentally fired due to human error or a mechanical issue. Authorities said that Sutton pulled the trigger without realizing that gun was loaded. On Friday a court indicted Tyler Sutton, 21, on a count of manslaughter for 'accidentally' firing a gun at a Texas Hot Wells Shooting Range, pictured above After he was shot, Cummings was airlifted to a Houston hospital and pronounced dead 'I have been around firearms my entire life, and this sad case is a perfect example that no matter how much experience one has with firearms you must treat every firearm as if it were loaded,' Harris County Assistant District Attorney Jim Leitner said. 'Presuming that a firearm is not loaded is always a recipe for disaster,' he added. If convicted, Sutton faces between two to 20 years in prison. After the incident, the shooting range released a statement and closed temporarily. 'We apologize in advance for the brevity of this response. We simply do not have the words to express the sorrow in our hearts. For 44 years we have operated this facility accident free, yet today we are shaken by tragedy,' the statement said. Cummings is survived by his wife Kathleen and three children. Cummings is survived by his wife Kathleen and their three children, pictured above Tina Fey expressed regret over how she ended her infamous Saturday Night Live skit dealing with the Charlottesville rally in an interview with David Letterman. 'I screwed up and the implication was that I was telling people to give up and not be active and not fight [white supremacy],' Fey told the former late night king on the fifth installment of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. 'That was not my intention, obviously,' she clarified to the former late night comedian. The episode with Fey, who is one of two women interviewed in Letterman's six-episode initial run of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, covered a wide range of serious and lighthearted topics, began streaming on Friday. Scroll down for video Tina Fey shared regret over how she ended her infamous Saturday Night Live skit dealing with the Charlottesville rally in an interview with David Letterman on Netflix that dropped Friday 'If I had a time machine, I would end the piece by saying, "Fight them in every way except the way that they want,"' she said The Weekend Update sketch at the top of Fey's mind was broadcast over eight months ago, in the wake of a violent and deadly white supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville The Weekend Update sketch at the top of Fey's mind was broadcast over eight months ago, in the wake of a violent and deadly white supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia. In it, Fey appeared as herself, who is truly a University of Virginia graduate in real life. She opened the skit by clarifying that she sat next to the white host, Colin Jost, instead of the black host, Michael Che, to show her 'good side'. Che joked back, 'I'm not buying it.' As the skit goes one, Fey admonishes racism and white supremacy, and calls out President Donald Trump for saying there was fault 'on many sides'. Throughout the clip, Fey suggested that drowning feelings of helplessness by eating sheet cake was a better alternative than engaging with people spewing hate. "'Sheetcaking' is a grassroots movement, Colin,' she said. 'Most of the women I know have been doing it once a week since the election.' At one point, Che even joins her in feeding his face, and stifling his emotions, with fistfuls of sheet cake. But in the end, Fey felt she missed the mark with the skit she wrote while on a plane to New York to film the segment. 'You try your best, you try to have your eyes open, you try to be mindful, but it's also a fast-moving train,' Fey told Letterman, referring to how quickly she had to have the skit ready for air. Throughout the clip, Fey suggested that drowning feelings of helplessness by eating sheet cake was a better alternative than engaging with people spewing hate At one point, Michael Che (right) even joins Fey in feeding his face, and stifling his emotions, with fistfuls of sheet cake, as Colin Jost (center) looks on Fey felt she missed the mark with the skit she wrote while on a plane to New York to film the segment, she told Letterman, while also sharing how she would have done things differently The Unite the Right rally took place over Friday and Saturday, on August 11 and 12 of 2017, and left three dead, including 32-year-old anti-racism activist Heather Heyer who was killed when a white supremacist from Ohio allegedly drove a car into a group of counter protesters, and two police officers who were killed after their helicopter crashed while flying over the rally. At least 35 others were injured in the fray, and the Ohio man, James Alex Fields Jr, is scheduled to go to trial for Heyer's death on November 26. Fey was grappling with all of that, as she scrambled to get her skit ready for the Saturday night show. 'I felt like a gymnast who did a very solid routine and broke her ankle on the landing. Because I think it's in the last 2-3 sentences of the piece, I think, that I chumped it,' Fey said. What she said in those last 2-3 sentences was this: 'In conclusion, I really wanna say, to encourage all good, sane Americans, to treat these rallies this weekend like the opening of a thoughtful movie with two female leads. Don't show up. Let these morons scream into the empty air. I love you Charlottesville, and as Thomas Jefferson once said, "Who's that hot light-skinned girl over by the butter churn?"' Fey told Letterman how she wished she would have written the last moments of the segment. 'If I had a time machine, I would end the piece by saying, "Fight them in every way except the way that they want,"' she said. The comedian notorious for staying off of Twitter even said she had considered creating an account on the social media site, just to apologize. Letterman offered his seal of approval, though, telling Fey he thought the sketch was 'perfect.' Fey, however, didn't let Letterman off the hook during their talk, for years of less than equal treatment in his writers' room on the Late show with David Letterman. 'I didn't know why there weren't women writers. There was no policy against women writers,' Letterman said. 'I always thought, "Well, geez, if I was a woman I don't know if I would want to write on my nickel-and-dime, dog-and-pony show anyway because we're on at 12:30."' Fey was quick to correct that line of thinking, saying, 'Yeah, we did want to write on it, though.' 'But that is my ignorance, and I feel bad for that, and it's changing, has changed,' Letterman said. Still, on his new show for Netflix, Fey is just one of two women Letterman slated to interview in this first run of the series. But despite the range of serious topics discussed, the two comedy giants also managed to share lighthearted moments. Letterman offered his seal of approval, though, telling Fey he thought the sketch was 'perfect' Fey even engaged in an attempted improv skit with Letterman, at his urging, which quickly devolved from a fun day at the beach to a weird conversation about a potential skin cancer growth, that Fey ended with a zinger after telling Letterman he should lay out in the sun to 'cook it off.' Letterman responded saying, 'That seems like an excellent idea, but I'm not as dumb as I look.' That's when Fey got in the line, 'How could you be?' implying the host, in fact, looked very dumb. Letterman's long-form interview show debuted with former President Barack Obama. In addition to Obama, the six episode series has already showcased George Clooney, Malala Yousafzai, who is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, and Jay Z. Howard Stern will be featured in the final upcoming episode in June. The show has been dropping on either the first or second Friday of every month since January. Fey's interview is available to stream now. President Donald Trump said Friday that he is still willing to talk directly with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, but worries that he would be treated unfairly. Mueller is helming a wide-ranging probe into unproven allegations that the president's campaign colluded with Russians to impact the result of the 2016 election. 'I would love to speak, but I have to find that we're going to be treated fairly,' Trump said at the White House in response to a question from DailyMail.com. 'I would love to speak because we've done nothing wrong,' he said. Trump said Mueller's team of veteran investigators are 'all Democrats. In some cases, they went to the Hillary Clinton celebration that turned out to be a funeral.' President Donald Trump told DailyMail.com as he left the White House on Friday for the NRA convention in Dallas that he would only let Special Counsel Robert Mueller interview him if he thought he could get a fair shake But Trump fears Mueller's operation is biased against him: 'We have 13 people and theyre all Democrats real Democrats. Angry Democrats' 'Nobody wants to speak more than me in fact, against my lawyers, because most lawyers, they say "Never speak on anything,"' Trump explained 'Bob Mueller worked for Obama for eight years,' he said, painting the man who could soon be his inquisitor as a partisan. Minutes later at Joint Base Andrews, Trump told a different gaggle of reporters before boarding Air Force One: 'Bottom line is I want to talk to people in charge if they can prove that its a fair situation.' 'The problem we have is, we have 13 people and theyre all Democrats real Democrats. Angry Democrats. And thats not a fair situation,' Trump said. At the White House, he told DailyMail.com that his legal team is counseling him against giving Mueller the chance to quiz him about his campaign's links to Moscow, and about claims that he obstructed justice in 2017 by firing then-FBI Director James Comey. The president's two chief legal strategists in the matter, Rudy Giuliani (left) and Jay Sekulow (right), are both counseling him against agreeing to an interview with Mueller Trump lawyer Ty Cobb has said recently that a Trump-Mueller sitdown was 'certainly not off the table' a position that will likely evaporate when he departs in a week's time 'Nobody wants to speak more than me in fact, against my lawyers, because most lawyers, they say "Never speak on anything,"' he explained. But Trump concluded that he would only participate in a sit-down session if he believes 'that we're going to be treated fairly. Because everybody sees it now and it's a pure witch hunt.' 'If I thought it was fair, I would override my lawyer,' he added. Trump's newest legal adviser, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, has counseled him against consenting to a face-to-face with Mueller. His departing lawyer Ty Cobb, however, had advised him to strike a more cooperative tone. Cobb's departure next week will elevate attorney Jay Sekulow, another lawyer who believes the president should keep the special counsel at arm's length. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Group delivered a total of 672,747 vehicles in the first four months, up 7.3% year on year, while its April sales edged down 3.2% over the previous year to 164,315 units, according to the data released by the Group. GAC Motor boasted a year-on-year sales growth of 4.26% with 43,481 units delivered last month. Meanwhile, its cumulative sales so far this year totaled 192,801 units, jumping 18.01% from a year ago and accomplishing 27.54% of its annual sales target 700,000 units. Some star models like the GS4, the GS8, the GA8 and the GA4 contributed a lot to the automaker's sales growth. As to joint ventures, GAC Honda handed over 52,628 units last month, dropping 12.54% from the previous year. For the first four months, the company achieved a year-on-year sales growth of 8.14% to 221,092 units, completing 29.48% of its sales target. The orders of the all-new Accord exceeded 7,500 units within two weeks. In spite of the effect by the all-new Accord, the deliveries of the existing Accord still reached 7,760 units in the past month. In addition, the sales of the large-sized SUV AVANCIER reached 5,768 units after some 100,000 units being sold in the first quarter. GAC Toyota saw a year-on-year sales jump of 22.45% with 43,140 vehicles handed over in April and its year-to-date deliveries grew 5.01% year on year to 154,298 units, finishing 30.86% of the sales target 500,000 units. Specifically, 10,771 units and 43,304 units of the eighth-generation Camry were delivered in April and in the first four months, surging 32.1% and 24.5% year on year respectively. The all-new Highlander saw a year-on-year increase of 7.6% last month to 9,360 units. Besides, the deliveries of the Levin family reached 16,356 units, with a substantial year-on-year growth of 14.9% in April. It is noteworthy that the total deliveries of the Camry Hybrid and the Levin Hybrid reached 4,888 units in April, surging 36.7% over the previous year. Particularly, 1,399 units of the Camry Hybrid were delivered, skyrocketing 249.8% over the previous year. GAC Mitsubishi maintained its upward momentum with 11,967 vehicles delivered last month, remarkably rising 19.55% from a year ago and exceeding 10,000 units for 8 consecutive months. At the same time, the automaker boasted a year-on-year leap of 39.83% with cumulative sales up to 50,355 units. As the company's major driving force, the sales of the Outlander reached 7,828 units in the past month. Advertisement Nearly a quarter century after the Rwanda's 1994 genocide began, its horrors are still coming to light. The Rwandan genocide, which is also known as the genocide against the Tutsi, was the mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority government. Around 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda between April and July 1994 at the instigation of the hardline Hutu government. Four unmarked mass graves have since been discovered hidden around 80ft under the surface in Rwanda's Gasabo district, located near the capital of Kigali. Based on the number of thighbone that have been discovered, 207 bodies have now been unearthed from the first pit which reaches about 25 meters deep. However it is believed that around 2,000 or 3,000 people could still be buried in the mass graves. The unmarked graves were discovered near the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where around 250,000 victims of the genocide have since been re-buried. The 1994 genocide was planned by members of the core political elite, many of whom took up posts at top levels of the national government. It is considered as one of the worst genocides of recent history, with the media urging Hutus to 'weed out the cockroaches'. Perpetrators came from the ranks of the Rwandan army, the Gendarmerie, government-backed groups including the Impuzamugambi and Interahamwe. A worker collecting victims' bones from a pit which was used as mass grave during 1994 Rwandan genocide and hidden under a house in Kabuga, the outskirts of Kigali, Rwanda An excavation worker walks beside the victims' items after being collected from a pit which was used as a mass grave during the Rwandan genocide Workers digging the ground after a woman testified that it was the location of one out of four pits, which was discovered at a local resident's house by survivors Crowds of locals gather as a 33-year-old woman explains the location of a pit which was used as a mass grave during 1994 Rwandan genocide in Kabuga There was a sombre mood from locals who reflected on the horrors of the mass genocide of 1994 as people collected victims' bones from a pit Based on the numbers of thighbone dug up my residents, a total of 207 bodies have been found from the first pit which reaches about 25 meters deep Hundreds of victims' bones and skulls were dug out and collected from the newly discovered pit hidden under a house at the local administration office in Kabuga A worker wearing a hard hat and carrying a light is setting coming out from a pit that was used as a mass grave during the 1994 Rwandan genocide A worker collects a victim's knitted hat in a bucket which was taken out from the pit containing hundreds of bones belonging to victims of the genocide A number of items belonging to the victims of the genocide include empty bottles, dishes, spoons and clothing, which were found buried deep in the pit which reached around 25 meters deep Workers removing soil from the pit under a house in Kaguba which contained hundreds of bones and items belonging to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide Around 800,000 people were slaughtered in Rwanda between April and July 1994 at the instigation of the hardline Hutu government Some of the 800,000 victims' portraits displayed during an exhibition at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda Ruzena Rafaelova Jr and Marian Rafael pictured on holiday A ruthless modern day slavery gang has been jailed for a total of 40 years after police discovered photographs of a large suitcase stuffed to the brim with tens of thousands of Euros from the family's 'enterprise'. The Rafaels - a family of Slovakian gypsies living in Newcastle - enjoyed the high life while their victims lived on stale food in cellars below their homes. While 'gang boss' Roman Rafael dressed himself and his wife in gold jewellery, took expensive holidays and drove a Mercedes, the people he enslaved were told: 'If you weren't with us you'd be eating dogs,' Teesside Crown Court heard. To the outside world the family, of Roma origin - led by brothers Roman and Marian Rafael - lived a modest life in terraced houses. In reality they were earning the kind of wealth they could only have dreamt of in their native town of Zlate Moravce, south western Slovakia. The victims were bought for 200 and shipped from Bratislava, through Edinburgh or London and eventually to Newcastle. Police investigators discovered photographs of a large suitcase stuffed to the brim with tens of thousands of Euros from their 'family enterprise', the court heard. Judge Peter Armstrong told the gang: 'This was a family business and it has been proven that business was modern slavery. The court heard that police investigators discovered photographs of a large suitcase stuffed to the brim with tens of thousands of Euros from their 'family enterprise'. 'The case arises from a police operation concerning the criminal exploitation of vulnerable people induced to come to this country with the promise of a better life with good work and income. 'Instead in your hands they were deceived, dominated and degraded. 'The victims were easily exploited, just as you intended they would be, because you knew how to use the government and recruitment agencies to exploit them. 'The truth is you were making a living from the hard work and efforts of people you had living in basic accommodation at your homes.' Judge Armstrong added: 'You regarded your victims as income generating assets who could be controlled, bought and sold. 'You funded a criminal lifestyle by the exploitation of vulnerable people, by robbing them of their dignity and their autonomy, by deliberately degrading them as human beings.' Prosecutor John Elvidge, QC, had earlier told the court: 'The full extent of their earnings from this systematic and sophisticated criminal enterprise cannot be calculated precisely. 'But what is clear is that the purpose of it was to generate a reliable stream of income running into hundreds of thousands of pounds over a period of years. 'They withdrew cash which was converted into gold and transported out of the UK to associates in Zlate Moravce. 'A single slave could generate 13,000 per annum and four slaves could generate 50,000 a year or 250,000 over five years. 'Further funds were created using overdraft and loan facilities on bank accounts which were nominally in the names of those unfortunate people they were exploiting. Ruzena Rafaelova Jr and Marian Rafael (left) at a party and pictured right is the family's Mercedes 'Also they dishonestly claimed state benefits with one man alone bringing them 15,200.' He said other slaves netted the family sums of 13,000, 10,000 and 3,100 in benefits which they continued to claim long after the claimants had left the country. Angelika Cech, 30, the wife of Roman Rafael and mother of his four children, 'simply drove out of the country with 8,500 to Slovakia where it was invested in gold and jewellery.' Mr Elvidge said police recovered a mobile phone owned by Roman Rafael's mother Ruzena Rafaelova Sr, which she had tried to smash. He said: 'There was a picture on there of a suitcase stuffed with tens of thousands in Euros.' One woman was treated as a 'personal servant' by Ruzena Rafaelova Jr and when she complained she was told: 'If you were not living with us you would be eating dogs.' The slaves were targeted in Slovakia and the Czech Republic because they were homeless or destitute and promised a better life in the UK. However they were made to work in back-breaking jobs and were paid very little money which one man said he spent on alcohol 'to drink away his sorrow.' One of the slaves - who cannot be named for legal reasons - said: 'I felt as though I had been squeezed out like a wet cloth.' The man continued that he came to the UK to support his young family in Slovakia. But he said: 'I have missed three years of my children growing up, I have missed their hugs, Christmases and birthdays but they think I am a bad father and bad person. While 'gang boss' Roman Rafael dressed himself and his wife in gold jewellery, took expensive holidays and drove a Mercedes, the people he enslaved were told: 'If you weren't with us you'd be eating dogs,' Teesside Crown Court heard. Pictured: Roman and his wife Angelika Chec The victims were bought and sold through a network that saw them shipped from Bratislava, through Edinburgh or London and eventually to Newcastle. Pictured: Victims being led through an airport 'I came to the UK to improve their lives but their lives did not improve because of the way I was treated.' Another of the slaves was paid 5 a week for 29 weeks working at a tyre factory - hard labour which should have earnt him 6,800. Mr Elvidge said: 'He used his tiny allowance "drinking for sorrow" while his keepers held big parties and Marian Rafael and his wife went out to casinos. 'He had nothing to show for his year of hard labour and long after he left the country fraudulent benefit claims were being made in his name by the Rafael family.' Mr Elvidge said: 'The victims in this case were not chained or bound, but that was not necessary because their circumstances made them compliant and to all intents and purposes captive. 'They were strangers in a foreign land with a foreign tongue and without access to money they were reliant on the people who were holding them.' The Rafaels continued their 'family business in slavery' from 2010 until 2017. They were convicted after a 15 week trial which began at the start of January. Roman Rafael, 33, who admitted conspiracy to traffic with a view to exploitation, money laundering and causing forced labour, was jailed for 10 years. Marian Rafael, 39, who also admitted conspiracy to traffic with a view to exploitation, money laundering and causing forced labour, was jailed for 10 years. Roman's wife Angelika Chec, 30, was convicted of the same charges and jailed for five years. Marian's wife Ruzena Rafaelova Jr, 37, was convicted of the same charges and jailed for five years. Their cousin Juraj Rafael, 38, was convicted of the same charges and jailed for four years and a youth aged 17 was convicted of the same charges and jailed for two years. Roman and Marian's mother Ruzena Rafaelova Sr, 58, was convicted of causing forced labour and money laundering and was jailed for four years. A North Korean hit squad is on a man hunt for a high-ranking espionage officer who is thought to have fled to Britain, according to a media report in South Korea. The international search is for one of North Korea's most senior counter-espionage officers, who disappeared in late February and is believed to have defected. Identified as Mr Kang, a colonel in his 50s with the Ministry of State Security, he is responsible for monitoring dissident and espionage efforts in China, Russia and south-east Asia. It has been claimed that at least 10 of Pyongyang's agents have been given orders from Kim Jong-un (pictured) to assassinate Mr Kang before he can be granted safety in Europe Sources told the Seoul-based DailyNK news website that he vanished from the Zhongpu International Hotel in the Chinese city of Shenyang on February 25. Previously known as the Chilbosan Hotel, it was operated jointly by the North Korean and Chinese governments. Reports suggest that the hotel served as a key base for North Korean hackers operating in China. Sources in China and North Korea claim Mr Kang was in charge of directing intelligence-gathering and ground operations. He was also responsible for overseeing the obtaining of data for North Korea's nuclear programme by arranging covert exchanges between scientists. According to the sources, Mr Kang is believed to have fled with a large amount of foreign currency and a 'machine capable of printing American dollars'. The high-ranking espionage officer was thought to be part of the elite of North Korean society as he is a direct descendant of Kang Pan-sok. He was a key figure in the regime's history as a leader of the guerrilla campaign going against the Japanese occupiers back in the 1930s. Because of his inside knowledge of North Korean espionage dealings, it has been claimed that at least 10 of Pyongyang's agents have been given orders from Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, to assassinate him before he can be granted safety in Europe. The DailyNK reported: 'Despite presently being unable to locate Mr Kang, the search is still under way. 'It is presumed that he has gone to France or Great Britain.' One other source suggests that Mr Kang had defected after members of Group 109 - charged with rooting out foreign media smuggled into North Korea - searched his son's home. In March toxic trace amounts of the Novichok poison was administered in liquid form to target former Russian sp Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33 in Wiltshire, Salisbury It is thought that they found documents that showed that he had secretly earned money while he was stationed overseas. Rather being summoned to Pyongyang to explain himself, Mr Kang instead chose to run. The UK has dealt with high profile defectors from North Korea before. Thae Yong Ho, the former deputy chief of mission at the North Korean embassy in London, defected in 2016. The diplomat later moved to South Korea. And in March this year, a former Russian spy and his daughter Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned on British soil. The attempted assassins, thought to be now residing in Russia, targeted former double agent Skripal and smeared the chemical nerve agent Novichok - in liquid form - on the front door of his home in Wiltshire, Salisbury. Vice President Mike Pence's physician, Army officer Jennifer Pena, resigned from the White House Medical Unit on Friday Vice President Mike Pence's physician resigned on Friday over accusations that she inflated the seriousness of a privacy mini-scandal involving Dr. Ronny Jackson, who was until recently President Donald Trump's doctor and his nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jackson, a naval rear admiral, had shared with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly details of an unspecified medical incident involving second lady Karen Pence. Dr. Jennifer Pena, Pence's doctor and an Army officer, then secretly leveled allegations at Jackson with Senate Democrats who were to vote on his confirmation to the top VA post. Jackson, Pena told them, had committed an egregious violation of Mrs. Pence's legally protected patient privacy rights. A person with knowledge of the internal workings of the vice president's office told DailyMail.com that Pena's complaints were met with anger from Pence himself after the fallout sparked the beginning of the end for Jackson. Jackson had shared with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly details of an unspecified medical incident involving second lady Karen Pence (pictured). Pena accused Jackson of committing an egregious violation of Mrs. Pence's legally protected patient privacy rights A person with knowledge of the internal workings of the vice president's office told DailyMail.com that Pena's complaints were met with anger from Pence (pictured on Friday) Kelly, too, was frustrated at the back-biting among medical professionals who are also military leaders. 'Pence was mad. Kelly was mad,' the Pence insider said. 'I don't know if the president got involved but nobody likes disloyalty around here.' 'If we can't count on doctors in uniform to back each other up, we've got problems.' Jackson, who had cared for President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama before Trump took him on as well, saw his star fall quickly. Instead of being promoted, he is no longer Trump's personal doctor. 'The Vice President's office was informed today by the White House Medical Unit of the resignation,' Pence spokeswoman Alyssa Farah said in a statement. The Pentagon has formally opened an investigation into Ronny Jackson, the White House physician who pulled his name from consideration for Veterans Affairs secretary last week 'Physicians assigned to the Vice President report to the White House Medical Unit and thus any resignation would go entirely through the Medical Unit, not the Vice President's office.' Jackson pulled his name out of consideration to lead the Veterans Affairs Department after Democratic Sen Jon Tester, the Veterans' Affairs Committee's ranking Democrat, publicly released a collection of allegations against him by 23 current and former colleagues. He was accused of overprescribing sleeping pills, drinking while on duty and presiding over a hostile work environment. Jackson denied all the allegations. He has returned to work in the White House Medical Unit, but lost his slot as Trump's personal doctor to another Navy officer named Sean Conley. People in Mexico, the United States and elsewhere in the world will soon commemorate Cinco de Mayo, one of Mexicos most famous holidays. The holiday, which marks the anniversary of a key military battle, is sometimes mistakenly thought to celebrate Mexicos independence. In recent decades in the United States and elsewhere in the world, its become increasingly popular and is often marked by Mexican-themed parties among friends, concerts, festivals and other celebrations of Mexicos rich culture. Heres how you can celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style and learn more about when the holiday is and what it is. Cinco de Mayo is often celebrated with Mexican food and drinks in the U.S. and other nations How to celebrate Cinco de Mayo In the Mexican city of Puebla, the holiday is commemorated with parades and historical reenactments. The popular Festival Internacional de Puebla, a celebration with dance and music, is also held in the city on Cinco de Mayo. Outside of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is often celebrated with parties, concerts and parades. Ironically, the holiday is generally more popular in the United States than in Mexico and is often celebrated with parades and special events to honor Mexican-Americans, folk dances, mariachi performances and Mexico-themed get-togethers among friends and family members. Notably, California has celebrated the holiday since 1863 on a continual basis. The holiday became popular among Mexican-Americans starting in the 1950s and 1960s and later on in the 1980s among the general U.S. population. In Canada, similar parties take place on a smaller scale while an annual skydiving event is held at the Abbotsford Skydive Center in Vancouver. Although Spain doesnt formally celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a similar celebration is held on May 2 called Dos de Mayo, which commemorates the nations defeat of France in 1808. Even in the Cayman Islands, Cinco de Mayo celebrations are held and marked with live music, the consumption of American food and drinks and even an air guitar competition at the Hard Rock Cafe. Those looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on their own have plenty of options. A common way to commemorate the holiday is to hold a fiesta with Mexican-themed food and beverages like guacamole, tacos and margaritas for friends and family members while playing Mexican music. Parades, concerts, street fairs and other festivities are also very common in the United States, taking place in major cities like Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver and many other locations. Those wishing to learn more about Mexican and Mexican-American history and culture can also attend acclaimed cultural institutions like El Museo de Barrio in New York City, the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin, Texas, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago and the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles. When is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo is celebrated every May 5 on an annual basis. The holiday falls on that specific date to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, in which Mexican forces defeated occupying French military forces on May 5, 1862. What is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday observed annually on May 5 to commemorate the nations victory over France during the bloody Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 under General Ignacio Zargozas leadership. French forces at the behest of Napoleon III invaded Mexico in late 1861, aiming to establish a new empire in the region to counter American and other European colonial interests. As the numerically-superior French forces closed in around Mexico City, they encountered tough resistance by outnumbered Mexican forces around Puebla, who ultimately defeated the French army. The military victory, though only temporary, still provided a morale boost for Mexicans and instilled a renewed sense of price and identity in the young nation. Han Zicheng was one of millions of desperately lonely elderly Chinese - their spouses dead, children gone, and their friends and neighbours too busy. The 85-year-old feared he would die alone in his small flat in Tianjin, southeast of Beijing, and all someone would find of him was his bones. So he gathered up scraps of white paper and scrawled a plea for help in blue ink: 'Looking for someone to adopt me.' Han Zicheng, 85, sits in bed to take off his pants, revealing the wool pants inside that he usually wears at home, fearing that he will be found just as a pile of bones 'Lonely old man in his 80s. Strong-bodied. Can shop, cook and take care of himself. No chronic illness,' he wrote, according to the Washington Post. 'I retired from a scientific research institute in Tianjin, with a monthly pension of 6,000 RMB (700) a month. 'I won't go to a nursing home. My hope is that a kindhearted person or family will adopt me, nourish me through old age and bury my body when I'm dead.' Han stuck it on a bus shelter in a busy part of his neighbourhood in December and went home to wait. He was a survivor of the Japanese occupation in World War II, the bloody Chinese civil war and Mao's even bloodier Cultural Revolution. But with his wife dead, one son estranged and another living in Canada since 2003, he didn't think he would survive his crippling loneliness. Han also worried for his future - he was well enough to ride to the market (pictured) to buy chestnuts, eggs and buns, but knew one day he would be too frail Han was one of millions of desperately lonely elderly Chinese - their spouses dead, children gone, and their friends and neighbours too busy to take care of him Han also worried for his future - he was well enough to ride to the market to buy chestnuts, eggs and buns, but knew one day he would be too frail. The old man was angry too, at his family for abandoning him, and at the state for not doing enough once the country's family traditions broke down. Chinese people were traditionally looked after by their children and grandchildren in family compounds, but in modern times that started to erode. Children would leave their hometowns to study overseas and often never return, too busy with their own lives to be a carer to their seniors. But the country's social safety net had not caught up to this new reality, made worse by improved living standards and the one child policy leading to a rapidly ageing population where one in four will soon be over 60. Nursing homes are few and far between and of dubious quality, and those who like Han who can afford them are often too proud to do so. Elderly people were 'like flowers and trees,' Han told the Post. #If we are not watered, we cannot grow.' A wedding photo of the younger son of Han Zicheng is displayed in Han's living room/bedroom. The son's family has migrated to Canada in 2003 The pantry in Han's kitchen has the bare minimum amount of cookware and ingredients His note was posted to social media and picked up by local media and soon hundreds of people began calling him offering help. But Han was picky about who he wanted to adopt him, refusing migrant workers and others he considered to be beneath him. Others he just ranted at down the phone about his situation, the quality and portion size of food at nursing homes, and the Chinese government. Han made some new friends, talking on the phone with Jiang Jing, a 20-year-old law student, and a military man named Cui. He also called the Beijing Love Delivery Hotline, set up to prevent suicide in lonely seniors just like Han, and ranted about similar topics. Then in March everyone suddenly stopped hearing from him. Neighbours noticed he wasn't walking the hall of his building, but no one checked on him. Jing Jing last heard from him on March 13, then missed a call on March 14. The next time she called in April, someone else picked up. Han's breakfast: soy milk, Chinese buns, a roasted chicken leg, and some spring onion with fermented bean curd dip. He preferred it to the food in seniors' homes With his wife dead, one son estranged and another living in Canada since 2003, he didn't think he would survive his crippling loneliness looking out his window alone It was Han's son Han Chang who flew in from Canada after hearing that his father died on March 17. But Chang said his father lied - he wasn't lonely, he has three sons, not two, and they all took turns to take care of him. He was just an angry old man, he said. However, Chan refused to give the contact details of his brothers or anyone else who cold confirm this. Even though Han was never adopted as he wished, in his last hours he had someone to call, though his son wouldn't say which number he dialed. Han's greatest fear in the end was avoided. Someone took him to a hospital and stayed with him until the end. He didn't die alone. Junot Diaz, the Pulitzer prize-winning author who last month detailed how he was sexually abused as a child in a widely acclaimed essay, has been accused of 'virulent misogyny' by three female writers - one of whom claims he forcibly kissed her. Author Zinzi Clemmons was the first to accuse Diaz of sexual misconduct in a tweet on Thursday. Monica Byrne and Carmen Maria Machado have since shared stories of their interactions with Diaz, who they accuse of having an 'unhealthy, pathological relationship with women.' Clemmons described how she was a grad student when she 'invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature.' 'I was an unknown wide-eyed 26 yo, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. I'm far from the only one he's done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore,' she said. Clemmons added that she had told 'several' people about it and that she has contemporaneous emails from Diaz which corroborate her story. The 33-year-old said the alleged incident put her off attending literary events in the years that followed. Author Zinzi Clemmons (left) has accused Junot Diaz (right) of forcibly kissing her at a workshop nine years ago Clemmons, 33, made her accusation on Twitter where she said she was 'far from the only one he's done this to' 'I've basically avoided literary functions and posted no photos of myself online in order to avoid people like Diaz and Stein (who I have my own set of terrible stories about as well). 'I'm sick of these talentless a**holes dictating my life. No more,' she wrote. Diaz, 49, has not responded to her allegations or any of the others which it triggered. In response to Clemmons' tweet, an avalanche of other women responded to say they were not surprised and had 'heard whispers' of such allegations before. Two aired more specific allegations against him but neither amounted to physical abuse. Writer Monica Byrne alleged that during a dinner, Diaz shouted 'RAPE' in her face when she disagreed with him about something in one of his books. 'The dinner just got worse from there. Ive never experienced such virulent misogyny. Every point I madeABOUT issues women face in publishinghe made a point of talking over me, cutting me off, ignoring me to talk to the other (male) scifi writer at the table, who played along.' Clemmons said she had emails that he sent her afterwards to back-up her version of events In response to her tweet, other women shared their own stories about how Diaz verbally abused them 'I was 32 and my first novel hadn't come out yet. I was invited to a dinner and sat next to him. I disagreed with him on a minor point. He shouted the word "rape" in my face to prove his. 'It was completely bizarre, disproportionate and violent,' she wrote. She was one of many women to question whether Diaz's essay in the New Yorker last month was an attempt to distract fans or preempt the '#MeToo' stories about him which are now emerging. In his piece for The New Yorker, he admitted to 'hurting' people and explained how he had sabotaged his own, adolescent and adult romances after being raped by a male relative when he was eight. 'Did no one at The New Yorker think to ask him what "I hurt people" might mean? F****** really? In this era?' Byrne added. Carmen Maria Machado levelled similar claims of verbal abuse. Diaz, 49, (pictured with his partner Marjorie Liu) has not responded to the allegations She said that Diaz 'went off' on her in front of an audience during one of his book tours when she questioned a theme in his work. 'Junot Diaz is a widely lauded, utterly beloved misogynist. His books are regressive and sexist. 'He has treated women horrifically in every way possible. And the #MeToo stories are just starting,' she wrote. In his essay last month, Diaz, who won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his book The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, wrote: 'I was raped when I was eight years old. By a grownup that I truly trusted. 'After he raped me, he told me I had to return the next day or I would be in trouble. Diaz is won the 2008 Pulitzer Price for Fiction with his book The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao 'And because I was terrified, and confused, I went back the next day and was raped again. I never told anyone what happened, but today Im telling you.' He candidly described how it 'defined and destroyed' him, led him to sabotage his later relationships and drove him to attempt suicide as a teenager. Diaz told how he was at first unable to have sex because of the trauma but how it later led him to have sex with 'everyone' and cheat on his fiancee. She discovered his infidelity by checking his emails and ended their romance by confronting him with a print-out of all of the illicit correspondence. 'Because I loved her more than I had ever loved anyone, and because I had revealed to her what I revealed about my past, I cheated on her more than I had ever cheated on anyone. '[She] decided to go snooping through my e-mails, and since I wasnt big on passwords or putting old e-mails in the trash it took her less than five minutes to find what she was looking for,' he wrote. He told how he had improved since then, writing: 'Im neither the brother who cant touch a girl nor the a**hole who sleeps around.' Diaz finished the piece optimistically by saying he felt he had been given another chance at 'the light' by admitting what had happened to him. 'I think about silence; I think about shame, I think about loneliness. I think about the hurt I caused....In Spanish we say that when a child is born it is given the light. And thats what it feels like to say the words...Like Im being given a second chance at the light.' Clemmons was a writer for Lena Dunham's newsletter but resigned when the Girls actress accused someone who claimed to have been raped by one of her colleagues of lying. In a statement about that, she accused Dunham, who she attended college with, of 'hipster racism'. 'It is time for women of color - black women in particular - to divest from Lena Dunham. She cannot have our words if she cannot respect us,' Clemmons wrote at the time. A teenager obsessed with the Columbine massacre said he and his brother stabbed their family and planned to go on a mass shooting spree during a graphic police interview played at his trial on Thursday. Michael Bever, then 16, told Broken Arrow Police Detective Eric Bentz in a videotaped interrogation that his older brother Robert was motivated by a hatred of 'everyone' and a desire to become 'famous', while he only wanted to 'get a learner's permit'. The pair went on to fatally stab their parents, two brothers and a sister but were delayed because their victims fought back. They then had to flee when one sibling managed to call 911. Two sisters, 13 and 2, survived and are both with a new family. Michael Bever, (pictured in court, on April 18, 2018, in Tulsa) told Broken Arrow Police Detective Eric Bentz in a videotaped interview that his older brother Robert (right) was motivated by a hatred of 'everyone' and a desire to become 'famous' Speaking to Detective Bentz on July 22, 2015, just after the attack at around midnight on July 21, Michael said the plan was to murder their relatives quickly and quietly before stealing a car and driving it to Washington State, Tulsa World reported. There they would stop off at petrol stations and restaurants, and use a stash of firearms purchased from a gun shop and 2,250 bullets to shoot five people at a time at random before driving off to their next target. Michael, now 19, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and one count of assault and battery with intent to kill. His attorneys say Robert, who pleaded guilty in 2016 and received life without parole, was responsible for the atrocity. In the videotaped interview played to the jury, Michael said he and Robert started planning the attack around June 20, 2015, after the older sibling realized he could purchase guns and bullets online. Explaining then 18-year-old Robert's apparent motive to detectives, Michael said: 'He says he hates everyone and says he thinks society is pointless. 'I didn't take it seriously at first, it kept escalating.' 'What about you?' an officer asked. 'Do you feel that way?' 'No,' Michael said, before conceding he was fascinated with mass shootings including the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999, during which 12 people died. Robert (seen in red shirt) killed Daniel, 12 (far right); Christopher, 7 (far left); and Victoria, 5 (center, in pink). His 13-year-old sister (second left) survived, and two-year-old sister Autumn was not harmed in the attack Speaking after the taped interview was played to the jury, Detective Benz said he had also heart Michael say about his brother: 'He just wanted to be famous. I just wanted to get my learner's permit.' Michael then described the attack, saying it began 'as we planned' but ultimately failed because their parents David, 52 and April, 44; brothers Daniel, 12, and Christopher, seven, and sister Victoria, five, 'didn't die like they were supposed to'. The attack began by Robert slashing their 13-year-old sisters throat, Michael said. The sister, known only as C.B. ran away. When her mother came to see what had happened, she was also stabbed by Robert - although Michael later admitted to attacking her too. Michael said then Robert murdered Daniel Jr and Daniel Snr before moving on to kill Christopher and Victoria in a downstairs bathroom. Michael said he stabbed Christopher in the neck, but this was contradicted by an autopsy. The younger brother claimed he had to take part in the attack otherwise Robert would kill him. Parents David, 52 and April, 44, were also killed in the attack. Two sisters, who were aged 13 and 2, survived The attack stopped at around 11.45pm when there was a knock on the door and the brothers fled, leaving their 23-month-old sister unscathed. The brothers were later found in the woods by a K-9 dog. Robert was sentenced to life in September 2016 after avoiding execution with a plea agreement aimed at preventing his surviving sister, then 13, from having to testify in court. Tulsa County district attorney Steve Kunzweiler said Bever's actions were 'savage' and that he 'deserves the death penalty.' But, he said, 'a death penalty prosecution would result in his teenage sister being forced to recount and relive the brutal details of the carnage that her brothers wrought again and again.' He also said that the plea deal meant that the second survivor - aged two - would be able to grow up free of the shadow of the killings. 'The toddler sister, who mercifully was asleep and did not witness the horror, would grow up learning details of the carnage in repeated court hearings that could easily stretch into her teen years or beyond,' Kunzweiler said. Linton, 25, of Selside, Brownsover, Rugby, was jailed for a total of four years and 11 months after pleading guilty to a string of offences at Warwick Crown Court (pictured) A 'career criminal' who attacked police officers has been jailed for causing a 2million stand-off which paralysed the main rail route from Birmingham to London. Saul Linton spent four hours on top of a metal cage above a bridge at Rugby station on June 30 last year. Power to the rail lines was cut, forcing the total or partial cancellation of 43 trains, Warwick Crown Court heard. Paramedics were called to a medical emergency on one of the affected trains and compensation payments for the disruption totalled 2m. The stand-off only ended when firefighters cut a hole in the cage and he climbed through, the court was told. It happened just four months after Linton sprayed police officers with illegal CS gas when they went to his home to arrest someone else. And, after the stand-off, he staged a roof-top protest, hurling chunks of mortar at the police. Linton, 25, of Selside, Brownsover, Rugby, was jailed for a total of four years and 11 months after pleading guilty to a string of offences. They included possessing a prohibited firearm, using a firearm with intent to resist arrest, assaulting police officers, obstructing the railway, causing a public nuisance, and theft. Katie Fox, prosecuting, said Linton told police he was 'staging a protest' at the station. He was bailed, and in November he stole a dirt track bike after pushing one of the owner's friends off it. And on November 7 he climbed onto the roof of a terraced house in Mill Road, opposite Rugby police station, and began shouting and refusing to come down. Twelve officers were needed to keep the road clear and to divert traffic as Linton dislodged the chimney and hurled lumps of mortar at them. He finally came down of his own accord after four hours. Caroline Harris, defending, said: 'The Mr Linton I met today is not the Mr Linton I was expecting. 'He has what appears to be a much greater insight into his behaviour than had previously been the case. 'He appreciates custody is inevitable. 'He describes himself as a career criminal. And he wants to stop. He says this time custody is going to make or break him.' She said the incidents on the railway bridge and the roof were reactions to difficulties Linton was having following his decision to stop drinking. Jailing Linton, the judge said the use of the CS gas on the officers was the most serious offence, for which he jailed Linton for three years and nine months. 'You were bailed, and on bail you carried out attention-seeking behaviour at Rugby railway station. 'Plainly this was planned, and plainly it was intended to cause maximum disruption.' Major Adam Jowett commanded Easy Company in Afghanistan in 2006 The cry for help froze my blood. 'Medic!' Ranger Diamond was yelling out as rifle in hand and still blazing away at the Taliban he stood protectively over the prone body of a downed comrade. I raced towards them across the roof of the Ops room building, the last-ditch stronghold at the heart of our besieged outpost in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. I rolled the stricken man onto his back and saw with raw horror that it was Lance Corporal Jon Hetherington. Only minutes ago the two of us had been playing backgammon and left the board for our fighting positions when the Taliban launched yet another full-frontal dawn attack. We were going to finish it later. A gunshot wound to the chest had felled him. I felt for a pulse. I couldn't find one. As the commander of Easy Company and tasked with holding at all costs an Afghan government compound in the hell-hole town of Musa Qala, I was experiencing my first fatality. As rounds thumped into the walls around us, we manhandled him down the stairs and piled him onto a quad bike which raced across the compound to the makeshift infirmary. There he was pronounced dead killed instantly, the doc said, by a bullet in one armpit and out of the other. He was just 22. I wanted to swear, punch the walls, throw my helmet across the room. But what would any of that have achieved? He had to decide whether to evacuate a wounded comrade or leave him for dead. 'How in good conscience could I have ordered a Chinook into that maelstrom of enemy guns?' I'd known from the moment we arrived in this remote Afghan town ordered to hold it for reasons I never quite understood that we'd take casualties. But that didn't make it any easier to bear. Yet the even more troubling question at the back of my mind was this: what if he hadn't been killed? What if he had been critical, but alive? What then? It would have been my decision whether to send for an emergency helicopter to evacuate him to the hospital at Camp Bastion, the British headquarters 50 miles and a 30-minute ride away. Yet how in good conscience could I have ordered a Chinook into that maelstrom of enemy guns, rockets and grenades? It could easily be shot from the sky in flames. The ten crew on board would die. What's more, the hard-pressed British forces with only three Chinooks to call on would lose a key weapon in our battle to contain the Taliban. Here was the terrible dilemma that faced battlefield commanders like me in Afghanistan in 2006. It has long been expected in the British Army that in return for a soldier being willing to fight and put his life at risk he is assured of speedy evacuation from the point of his injury to proper medical care. Soldiers call this the 'golden hour', and it is as good as law in their minds. Should a man be hit, he expects to be on a surgeon's table, in a hospital, within 60 minutes. As their commander, I was responsible for ensuring that solemn promise was upheld. At the scene: A helicopter powers away from their base with the soldier on board But at what price? Should a badly hurt soldier be left to die, to guarantee the safety of the helicopter's crew? We were, it must be said, an unorthodox company of soldiers, flung together in a hurry from the Royal Irish Regiment and anyone spare in 3 Para and sent into besieged Musa Qala when its garrison of Danish soldiers was wisely pulled out by their government before anyone was killed. We were thrown into the breach just 56 men from the Royal Irish and those few Paras against vastly superior numbers of merciless Taliban fighters whose only wish was to wipe us and all our kind off the face of the earth. I knew from the moment we were helicoptered in that it was going to be tough. Musa Qala sprawled in front of me, a labyrinth of buildings and alleyways and slap in the middle was the Afghan government compound we were under orders to defend. Though it supposedly had a population of 100,000, there were no civilians in the town. It was simply a shooting range occupied by ourselves and the Taliban. Lance Corporal Paul Muirhead was hit by a mortar and Major Jowett had to decide whether to evacuate him. He chose to do so but the young soldier later died anyway We were a small company with a large perimeter to defend in a compound that was not fit for purpose. We were not only surrounded, we were sitting ducks. But what added significantly to my worries was the position of the HLS, the helicopter landing site, where we'd choppered in. Abutting the compound, it was our supply line and our evacuation outlet for casualties, yet it was a totally exposed scrap of dirt a lethal trap waiting to be sprung with deadly consequences. The Taliban threw everything they could at us, their bullets zipping like deadly insects and dust blossoming from walls they hit. We fought back. There were enemy bodies everywhere, lying in front of the main gate and in the alleyways outside. And now we had one of our own, stretched out in a body bag in a cellar though we had little time to mourn him, as in that one day alone, the Taliban came at us seven times, with mortars, small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Hetherington's death unsettled the men, many of them barely out of their teens, as it dawned on them that they could be horribly wounded and die waiting to be evacuated if the Chinook couldn't get in. They had to come to terms with the realisation that there was such a thing as an un-survivable injury, terrifying thought that it was. The usual banter was replaced by muttered conversations about mortality. 'If I die, see that my brother gets this letter.' 'If I get brassed up, play this song at my funeral.' And so it went on for days and weeks as we clung on to Musa Qala. Between attacks, the lads rested for an hour or two, poured a brew of tea down a parched throat or snatched some shut-eye with rolled-up body armour as a pillow. Then came the day I'd been dreading when I might have to decide if an injured man died. It began with mortar rounds ploughing into the compound. 'One of our two mortars firing near vertical for a danger close mission' Grabbing my rifle, I ran out of the ops room and into the sunlight and my stomach balled into a knot as I saw the Alamo had been hit. On the exposed rooftop, two rounds had smacked into the sentries on the exposed rooftop. A report came in over the radio. 'One dead. One T1 [critically injured].' There was no time to mourn the unknown soldier now. My sole focus had to be on the evacuation of his wounded comrade. I raced to the medical centre where the doctor, Mike Stacey, was already examining the wounded man, Lance Corporal Paul Muirhead. He was heavily bandaged and looked in a bad way. 'He's as stable as he can be for now,' the doc told me, 'but he needs surgery.' Evacuating him to Bastion was vital, and soon. I radioed 3 Para battle headquarters, to be told they were reluctant to send in a Chinook. Too dangerous in daylight and while the battle was going on. Could we hold on? Outside, all hell was kicking off, with rockets in the air and tracer crossing the sky. On my say-so, two A-10 aircraft streaked in to destroy the building where most of the enemy fire was coming from. All the while, Muirhead's condition was deteriorating, to the point where an ultimatum came from the doctor: 'He can't wait any longer. He has to go now or he'll be dead before the end of the day.' 'I'd known from the moment we arrived in this remote Afghan town ordered to hold it for reasons I never quite understood that we'd take casualties. But that didn't make it any easier to bear' I called Battlegroup HQ, who were still reluctant to move. 'We can't risk a Chinook flying into that,' I was told. I replied: 'But we can't just leave him to die on a stretcher.' There was silence as they weighed up the risk of losing a precious Chinook and its crew to save one man. Eventually, Bastion made up its mind. The helicopter was coming. Quickly I began to make my plans for its arrival, which included asking HQ for preliminary fire from our big guns miles out in the desert to suppress the enemy positions before they got the chance to strike. No, I was told. 'The lawyers won't sign off on this. 'We can't use any artillery or fast air [airborne assault craft] unless you or the Chinook are under contact. Can't risk the collateral damage.' I was disgusted by the answer, but not surprised. Easy Company would have to take any defensive measures for the Chinook ourselves. We took up our positions, most of the men on the roof-tops ready to open fire, others standing by as stretcher bearers. I made my way to the edge of the helicopter landing site. Muirhead was carried out on a stretcher, along with the body bag containing Anare Draiva, the Fijian soldier who'd been killed. Their mates stood about them, grim-faced and angry. The doc was with Muirhead, which made me uneasy. I didn't want him of all people exposed to Taliban fire, but he insisted on a proper handover to the surgeon on the Chinook full knowledge of the patient's injuries and treatment could prove vital on the flight to Bastion. In the distance, I heard the deep rhythmic sound of the blades of the Chinook. The Taliban heard it too and immediately opened fire. Muzzle flash blinked and spat from the buildings all around us. Tracer shot across the darkening sky, ricocheting and bouncing as it ploughed into our fighting positions. We returned fire with everything we had, but we were handicapped. There was now no time to call in air support without risk of them hitting the landing zone itself. The enemy had kept their discipline long enough to deny us our ace card. Even our mortars had to be pulled from the fight we couldn't afford a bomb hitting the Chinook in mid-air. 'Though it supposedly had a population of 100,000, there were no civilians in the town. It was simply a shooting range occupied by ourselves and the Taliban' As machine gunners rattled off long bursts, it was now a toe-to-toe small-arms slog between British infantrymen and Taliban fighters. 'Thirty seconds out!' my Air Controller yelled and I saw the Chinook approach, the ungainly beast drawing fire from all over the town, tracer arcing up to it with deadly beauty. I could have aborted the mission and ordered the Chinook away. But this was Muirhead's one and only chance. The pilots could see the battle ahead of them and it was their brave call to fly into it regardless. By the time its wheels touched down, the stretcher parties were up and sprinting, with no thought for their own safety as enemy bullets stung the air. By the time it settled, they had reached the tail ramp and were on their way aboard. Handing over the stretchers, they grabbed at the fresh supplies of ammunition and sandbags the Chinook had brought and sprinted back to safety behind the compound wall. Within 30 seconds and as Apache helicopter gunships prowled overhead like angry angels, spitting cannon fire and missiles the Chinook was lurching into the air and away over the rooftops. The next day we were back into action, crouching behind machine guns in the early morning, at the ready to ward off the next attack. The waiting is always the worst, those moments when, mouth dry, a soldier has nothing to do but ponder. He has time to think about what his girlfriend is doing at this very moment: sleeping alone, he hopes. To picture his mother collapsing with grief should a sombre, uniformed man appear on her doorstep. And what his friends would say at his funeral best soldier they ever knew and never slow to pass out his fags. 'The waiting is always the worst, those moments when, mouth dry, a soldier has nothing to do but ponder' The agonised calm could not last. And it didn't. CRUMP! CRUMP! 'Incoming!' Mortars. Two barrels. Six shells. 'Get your effing heads down, lads!' As the weeks rolled by, we continued to take casualties six on one occasion. The most serious was a Fijian Ranger, Panapassa Matanisinga, whose throat was torn open by a mortar shell. The doc told me he needed surgery ASAP he would only survive for six hours at the very most, probably less. The trouble was that other British posts in Afghanistan were taking heavy hits and sustaining casualties. So we were put on hold, waiting our turn for the Chinook to get in and take our wounded to the hospital in Camp Bastion. Our situation had never looked so precarious. We finally got the nod after three hours and took up our positions for the arrival of the helicopter. It was five minutes out when the Taliban let rip with everything they had. My men returned fire. They knew what was at stake the survival of their friend and they faced the storm of enemy fire without a thought for their own safety. I could see it now, a lumbering beast lurching across the roof-tops. Chinooks were known by their crews as bullet magnets and I watched as green tracer slowly arced its way towards the machine. I could see its cockpit and sparks flying as rounds struck its body. They were taking fire. I looked towards Doc Stacey, who was crouched alongside Matanisinga. He needed to be out of here and on his way to hospital. 'We were put on hold, waiting our turn for the Chinook to get in and take our wounded to the hospital in Camp Bastion' And yet... the Chinook was the size of a bus and it was less than 100 metres away now. How could the Taliban miss? If it went down, a crew and a surgical team would go with it. Already stretched, my men would have to fight out to recover the survivors if there were any. It would mean fixing bayonets and fighting street to street. It would be carnage. I took one last look at Matanisinga. Then, I made the call: 'Hot LS! (Landing Site) Call her off!' The Chinook's nose pulled up, rounds continued to crack against its sides. A rocket was launched from no more than 80 yards away, screaming through the air. 'Get her out!' I urged the pilot, who must have been struggling valiantly at the helicopter's controls. He did, dipping the nose and pushing her through the fire and out over the town, trails of tracer chasing after her. 'How the f*** are we going to get them out, boss?' I was asked. I looked at the fear painted on the young faces of my men fear that their friend would die in front of them. I could not let them down. We would get Matanisinga out alive. Battlegroup HQ now pulled out all the stops to make sure that happened. In an unprecedented move, we were to get preliminary air support taking out enemy positions and not waiting for them to fire first. The lawyers had signed this off as legitimate for once. A Spectre gunship was on the way, a flying battleship that bristled with weapons. As we prepared again for the evacuation of our casualties, high in the skies above us, coalition aircraft were waiting like taxis in a rank for their turn to come in and pound targets. The power in our hands was formidable, and we were about to turn it loose. To save Matanisinga, we would lay waste to a town. Never in my life did I expect to see such havoc and I would never have believed that I would be at the helm controlling it. Every strike had to be signed off by myself, and for almost three hours I oversaw a rolling rain of bombs from the sky. The Taliban were in disarray. As we listened in on the radio net we heard one fighter screaming that his beard was on fire. Casualties were heavy. We listened to our enemy bleeding and burning in the sea of fire that we had created. Did we feel guilt? Not an an ounce of it. I called off the bombers in readiness for the Chinook. This time, it arrived unopposed, with no tracer arcing up to greet it. Within seconds, it was away with Matanisinga. He would live. But, as I took stock, I couldn't call the night a success. 'Easy Company knew now that they would not be abandoned should they become the injured party. Such knowledge is crucial for a soldier's morale and fighting spirit' In order to get our men to safety, we had been forced to destroy the town we had been sent here to protect. I did not regret a single bomb or shell that I had called in with my men's lives at stake, nothing else mattered to me. But more than ever, I questioned our mission. What were we achieving by being here? We were 'securing' a ghost town civilians were afraid to enter. We were killing the Taliban by the dozen almost daily, and yet still they came. But at least we had got Matanisinga away to safety, and the men were elated about that. I checked in on his progress via the satphone and he was stable after surgery. Also, Easy Company knew now that they would not be abandoned should they become the injured party. Such knowledge is crucial for a soldier's morale and fighting spirit. But there was a terrible blow to come. I called the ops room in Bastion and a voice said: 'I'm sorry, Adam, but Lance Corporal Muirhead died in hospital today.' 'Muirhead? You mean Matanisinga?' I asked, perplexed. It had been days since Paul Muirhead was evacuated out by Chinook, operated on in Bastion and flown to Bahrain to recover. 'No. Muirhead. He had injuries that were not survivable.' My shoulders slumped. I let out a breath. But there was more to come. 'Yesterday was a bad day for us in Helmand,' the ops officer went on. 'There was your incident, another one in Sangin and in Kajaki a patrol walked into a minefield. In one day the battlegroup lost three men and had 18 wounded. Three of those lost limbs.' News of Muirhead and the other casualties was still spreading when two rockets came hurtling in like freight trains, their explosions tearing huge gouges in the earth. We hit back at the enemy firing point with our artillery and there was an enormous explosion as an ammunition dump went up. Would it ever end? Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China saw robust imported and exported volume performance of NEVs in the first quarter. Strikingly, the volume of exported NEVs was doubled during the past three months, according to Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association. However, Tesla suffered unpleasant imported volume drop of its NEVs in Chinese market while the overall battery electric vehicle posted negative growth. 1. Imported volume of NEV in Q1 During the first three months, the total volume of imported passenger vehicles (PV) reached 6,397 units with a year-on-year increase of 13%. The total value of imported PVs jumped 27% over the previous year to RMB 530 million. The imported volume of hybrid totaled 15,615 units, soaring 140% compared with the same period last year with an average price of RMB 29,000 per vehicle. In March, China imported 2,684 NEVs, slumping 22% from a year earlier. From January to March, volume of the imported pure electric PVs reached 4,872 units, down 6% compared with the first quarter of 2017. China enjoyed remarkable YoY growth of 197% in imported volume of PHEV to 1,525 units. Tesla had dull retail performance during the first quarter with average monthly imported volume of less than 1,000 units. 2. Exported volume of NEVs in Q1 Thanks to the fast growth of exported ultra-miniature electric vehicles, the exported volume of NEVs reached 19,450 units, skyrocketing 650% from a year earlier. The exported volume of January, February and March reached 7,560 units, 8,414 units and 3,279 units respectively. Specifically, January and February saw remarkably robust growth in exported volume of NEVs and the exported volume of miniature PVs took up more than 95% of the total exported volume in the first two months. The total value of exported NEVs reached $150 million and the average price of $8,000. Since the average price of passenger vehicles dropped in 2018, the value didn't grow in sync with the volume. Pure electric bus was the highlight of the exported NEVs in 2018. Exported volume of pure electric bus was quadrupled compared with the first quarter in 2017 to 129 units. In general, the exported volume of pure electric PV maintained a stable growth. What's more, the pure electric bus also made breakthrough in exported volume. 3. Analysis of China's imported NEVs Most of China's imported hybrids are from Japan. In 2018, the hybrids imported from Japan took up 91% of China's total imported hybrids, flat with the same period of 2017. What's more, the imported PHEVs were primarily from Europe while Germany and Britain took up higher proportion. Pure electric vehicle is the major trend of American auto electrification. That means Tesla will play an important role in American electrification. Although Tesla suffered bad sales performance in China and even posted negative year-on-year change, its investment in batteries can also gain great attention in the future. On May 2, Tesla announced its Q1 financial report, saying that it enjoyed slight revenue growth but suffered expanded loss in the past three months. At the same day, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, noted that the company will establish a super battery factory in China, which will also manufacture automobiles in the future. If Tesla establishes a battery plant in China, the current layout of China's battery industry may be impacted greatly. Jamie Acourt one of the five men accused of the murder of Stephen Lawrence was yesterday arrested in Barcelona after two years on the run. The 41-year-old is believed to be involved in the large-scale supply of drugs and has been wanted by Scotland Yard since 2016. Dramatic pictures released by Spanish police last night showed a tanned Acourt in handcuffs and in custody after he was held outside a gym in the Spanish city. Jamie Acourt has been arrested at gunpoint in Spain in connection with a 4 million marijuana plot Wearing jeans and casual shoes, he was held on an European Arrest Warrant after a joint operation between the UKs National Crime Agency, Scotland Yard and the Spanish National Police. Armed officers detained Acourt after he left the Metropolitan Sagrada Familia Gym in Barcelona less than a month after the 25th anniversary of Stephens murder. He is believed to have been the mastermind behind an organised crime group involved in the multi-million pound supply of cannabis. Acourt will now appear at court in Madrid early next week for an extradition hearing. Armed police swooped on the 41-year-old, who was on the run for two years and on the National Crime Agency's 'most wanted' list, as he left a gym Last night Ian Cruxton, head of international operations for the National Crime Agency, said: Acourt thought he could evade capture but as a result of an intelligence-led operation his days on the run have ended. We were able to direct the Spanish authorities to his location in Barcelona. Our ability to share information and work at speed with our international partners ensures there is no safe haven for fugitives. We will never stop pursuing these individuals. Acourt is one of five youths accused of taking part in the 1993 racist murder of 18-year-old Stephen in Eltham, South London. In 1997, Acourt, his brother Neil, Gary Dobson, Luke Knight and David Norris were all named by the Daily Mail as Stephen Lawrences killers. The newspaper challenged the five to sue for libel after the Mail accused them of murder. They never did. In 2012, following a lengthy campaign for justice, both Norris and Dobson were convicted of Stephens murder at the Old Bailey and jailed for life. Jamie Acourt went on the run in 2016 and at one stage his face was emblazoned on a billboard unveiled in Malaga. Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers also issued appeal notices to trace him. Jamie Acourt is believed to have fled to the Costa del Crime after being linked to a major drug smuggling ring. He is suspected of being a principal member of an organised crime group involved in the large-scale supply of cannabis. As well as being wanted for drugs, Acourt was a suspect in the murder of Stephen Lawrence (left). Two of his co-accused were finally jailed in 2012 after advocacy efforts by Stephen's mother Doreen (right) Detectives believe the fugitive had been harboured by a network of contacts at locations along the southern Spanish coast. The unemployed father-of-two has previously tried to start a new life in Spain with his partner. In 2012, the Mail revealed his penchant for designer clothes, his preference for greased back hair and how he rarely drove anything more than a year old. Although he had no obvious signs of employment, he drove a 25,000 Vauxhall Insignia. Acourt was 16 when Stephen was murdered and at the time was under suspicion for stabbing a man at a nightclub in Greenwich. He revelled in the notoriety of the case and had an obsession with knives. In a 1999 TV interview with Martin Bashir he admitted it was an amazing coincidence that the five suspects fitted the descriptions of the white youths who killed Stephen. Acourt even admitted carrying a knife on occasion for protection. The Metropolitan Police said last night: Today Spanish authorities arrested Jamie Acourt, 41, in Barcelona on a European Arrest Warrant on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service. Extradition proceedings now await. Last month Stephen Lawrences mother Doreen suggested that the police inquiry into her sons murder should be closed after 25 years. Acourt (circled) and his co-accused are pelted with eggs after leaving a Public Inquiry into police handling of the case on June 30, 1998 President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen went to what is widely thought of as the worst law school in the United States, it has been revealed. Cohen graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, in 1991. While the school's roster of graduates includes two members of Congress, federal and state judges and business leaders, Cooley's reputation has never matched its alumni's successes. With an annual tuition of $51,000, Cooley has an 85 per cent admission rate and was rated No 1 on the National Advisory Council for Law School Transparency's '10 least selective law schools in the country' last year. Less than half of Cooley's graduates pass the bar on their first attempt. Country-wide, the bar's pass rate on first attempt is 75 per cent. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen graduated Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, in 1991 With an annual tuition of $51,000, Cooley has an 85 per cent admission rate and was rated No 1 on the National Advisory Council for Law School Transparency's '10 least selective law schools in the country' last year In 2017, Cooley was forced to go to court to fight over its accreditation from the American Bar Association. The ABA had found that the 46-year-old law school was out of compliance on basic admission standards, according to Politico. Cooley's general counsel, James Robb, told Politico that it was 'disappointing' that people were making fun of the school upon hearing it was Cohen's alma mater. He said: 'I wonder whether the "commentators" would say the same thing about the University of Alabama in light of Judge Roy Moore; about Columbia [University] in light of Roy Cohn, who also represented Donald Trump; about Duke [University] in light of Richard Nixon; about [the University of] Baltimore in light of Spiro Agnew; about Harvard in light of Alger Hiss, or Yale in light of William Clinton. I think not.' He called critics of the school 'elitists who do not appreciate, or do not care about, the opportunity to succeed'. Robb said that the school prided itself on its willingness to admit students, despite background or test scores. 'Our law school was founded on the premise that all qualified applicants should be given a chance,' he said. Cooley has long been considered one of the worst law schools in the United States, with less than half of its graduates passing the bar on their first attempt Cooley, named after former chief justice of the state Supreme Court in Michigan, became the largest law school in the country with a student body of 3,900 in 2010. But in recent years, enrollment has plummeted more than 60 per cent, forcing the school to close one of its campuses and lay-off or lose more than half of its full-time faculty. Cooley identifies as a nonprofit institution and as recently as 2016, paid its president, Don P DeLuc a $432,000 salary. In the years after graduating from Cooley, Cohen returned to New York. He practiced personal injury law, made millions in real estate, failed in a run for New York City Council and partnered with his Ukraine-born father-in-law to own a fleet of vehicles in New York City's gritty taxi cab industry. And he was a dealmaker, emerging as a key figure in trying to establish Trump-branded properties overseas, including in Russia. During the campaign, he was involved with a plan to help the Trump Organization build a tower in Moscow and in October 2016 brought Trump a letter of intent from a Russian developer. Later, he sent an email to Russian President Vladimir Putin's chief spokesman seeking help to advance the stalled project. He said he did not recall receiving a response. Interest in his ties to Russia only intensified in February 2017, when it was revealed that Cohen had hand-delivered a Moscow-friendly plan to settle the dispute in Ukraine to Gen. Michael Flynn, then Trump's national security adviser. Cohen later testified to Congress about the proposal and denied wrongdoing. Cooley's general counsel, James Robb, told Politico that it was 'disappointing' that people were making fun of the school upon hearing it was Cohen's alma mater after he hit headlines for being President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Cohen never worked for Trump's campaign but aided his political efforts: He set up 2012 and 2016 'Draft Trump' endeavors, helped put together Trump's diversity coalition and, despite his long-standing registration as a Democrat, threw himself into Republican fundraising. In the weeks since he hit headlines for organizing a $130,000 deal with Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet over an alleged affair with Trump, social media users have joked about Cohen's law school degree. Many joked that he had attended the worst law school in the United States. 'I'd like to point out that Trump attorney Michael Cohen graduated from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, widely viewed as America's worst law school,' one Twitter user said. 'Its admissions requirements are a joke and half its students don't pass the bar exam to actually practice law.' Another wrote: It turns out that, in 2013, Michael Cohen killed a story by Us Weekly about an affair between Don Jr. and Aubrey O'Day. The only class they must teach at Cooley Law School is 'How To Cover Up Affairs 101.' Another Twitter user said: 'Cooley Law School, Michael Cohen's alma mater, announced yesterday it's raising its admission standards. Might be a little late to close the barn door.' Cooley's general counsel Robb called those making fun of the school 'bullies'. 'What I am seeing is incivility and bullying by people who truly know little about legal educationand especially about our fine law school,' he said in a statement. Disturbing pictures show just a fraction of the terrifying arsenal of weapons being carried around the streets of Britain which were seized by police in a single week. The haul, including weapons confiscated from suspects as young as 14, is a graphic illustration of the knife crime epidemic. It comes after shocking figures were published last week showing that knife crime is at the highest level since comparable records began. Officers seized these two serrated blades being carried in sheaths from people on the streets of Britain A small axe with a black and yellow handle was among the terrifying weapons seized by police Police recorded 39,598 offences involving a knife in England and Wales in 2017. This is more than 100 a day and a 22 per cent increase on 2016, according to the figures. A police dog called Bella helped find an array of deadly weapons in Streatham, south London, including a machete, a zombie knife and two smaller blades. They were ditched by an offender as he was chased and then arrested by officers who had seen him openly carrying a large machete at 11.45pm on Tuesday, April 24. A 14-year-old boy was spotted walking around the streets of South Kilburn in north-west London with an axe tucked in the waistband of his trousers last Saturday. And two huge knives were recovered from a gang on an estate in Lambeth, south London, on Tuesday after a member of the public rang police to say they were acting suspiciously. Figures released by Scotland Yard yesterday show that there were 35 fatal stabbings in London alone in the first three months of the year. Eight of the victims were teenagers. These knives were among the disturbing haul, which included weapons confiscated from suspects as young as 14 The capital has seen a 44 per cent surge in killings over the past year. Police say the haul of knives illustrates the value of their controversial stop-and-search powers. Other weapons found include an 18in machete seized from a 19-year-old man after a fight broke out in Wolverhampton at 4pm Wednesday, April 25. A boy of 16 was found strolling around the streets of Hackney, East London, with a 15in hunting knife tucked down his trousers at 11am on Thursday, April 26. The following day, a man was arrested in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales for possessing a rainbow Karambit knife, which has a folding curved blade resembling a claw. The same day police stopped a 17-year-old boy on a rush-hour train in Grays, Essex, and found a 10in knife in his waistband and 20 wraps of heroin hidden in his underwear. And last Monday officers in Harrow, north-west London, discovered a 10in meat cleaver stuffed down a mans trousers, wrapped in a newspaper. Claims that up to half a cup of liquid nerve agent was used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal were in question last night. The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ahmet Uzumcu, had said 100g of Novichok was used, indicating it was deliberately applied as a weapon. But in a later statement, an OPCW spokesman said it was not able to 'estimate or determine' the amount of nerve agent used in the Salisbury attack on Skripal and his daughter on March 4. Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia (pictured) were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4 The spokesman added: 'The quantity should probably be characterised in milligrams.' The statement came as Czech president Milos Zeman disclosed that his country had produced small quantities of Novichok. Britain has argued the use of Novichok which was developed by the former Soviet Union in the 1980s meant there was no 'plausible alternative' explanation other than the Russian state was behind the attack. Mr Zeman's comments were seized on by Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said they were a 'clear illustration of the groundless stance the British authorities have taken'. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a park bench in the Wiltshire city. The inquiry into the nerve agent attack has involved 250 detectives who have gone through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4. Mr Uzumcu told the New York Times the Novichok could have been applied as a liquid or aerosol. He said: 'For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that, without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection. 'It's not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse.' He added the samples collected suggested the nerve agent was of 'high purity'. Mr Skripal and his daughter have defied medical odds - he is no longer in a critical condition and she has been discharged from hospital. Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. The Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko previously suggested that Sergei and Yulia Skripal may have been injected by British authorities with nerve agent produced at Porton Down. Almost four ounces of Novichok nerve agent were used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (left), the chemical weapons watchdog chief said However the UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Elsewhere today the Czech Republic's pro-Russian president Milos Zeman claimed a tiny amount of Novichok was produced, tested and destroyed in his country last year. He cited a report by Czech military spies - but admitted that a separate report by a counterintelligence agency did not in fact identify the agent as Novichok, but as A230. The 73-year-old, known for his pro-Kremlin views, said he thought it was the same nerve agent type used to poison ex-Russian spy Skripal and his daughter. Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. Army officers are pictured removing the bench where the Skripals collapsed Moscow immediately jumped on the comments with a senator saying they were a 'crushing blow' to claims that Russia was behind the attack. Russian officials have previously suggested the nerve agent used for the attack may have originated in the Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia. Acting Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis called that claim a lie and the Czechs expelled three Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain. The UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Pictured: Police at Sergei Skripal's home Karen Pierce, the UK's representative to the United Nations, told a meeting last month there was 'no plausible alternative explanation than Russian State responsibility for what happened in Salisbury', suggesting Russia had the ability, operation experience and motive to carry out the attack. She said: 'Russia has a proven record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations including on the territory of the United Kingdom. 'The independent inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko concluded in January 2016 that he was deliberately poisoned with polonium; that the FSB had directed the operation; and that President Putin probably approved it.' On the technical means of creating Novichok, she said: 'No terrorist group or non-state actor would be able to produce this agent in the purity described by the OPCW testing and this is something Russia has acknowledged. 'The Russian State has previously produced Novichoks and would still be capable of doing so today.' The youngest victim of the Golden State Killer is speaking about the 1977 attack. The killer, believed to be Joseph James DeAngelo, arrived to Margaret Wardlow's home around 2am in November 1977. Although Wardlow was just 13 years old at the time, she knew every detail of the killer's notorious attacks, having obsessively followed it in the news. 'I had a total obsession. I don't think I was the only person that was curious as to what was making this guy tick,' Wardlow, now 53, said in a sit down interview with 20/20. Speaking to 20/20, Margaret Wardlow revealed how she was sodomized by the 'Golden State Killer' when she was just 13 years old Suspect killer Joseph James DeAngelo broke into her California home on November 10, 1977, but she says she thought it was a joke as her family knew how obsessed she was with the killer 'And it was very clear that during the attacks he was using this fear that he was controlling people with, you know, by making them very much afraid of what he was saying to them and what he was doing to them,' she added. But her mother always told her she was too young to become a victim of the 'East Area Rapist'. 'She definitely believed that we just weren't, like, on the radar of this guy,' she said. That changed when she was awoken that night of November 10, 1977 with a flashlight in her face and was told her to turn around so he could tie her hands. To his surprise she said: 'Oh quit joking, stop joking', thinking it was a prank by her family who knew of her obsession. Only when he repeatedly said 'this isn't a joke' in a harsh whisper did she realize what was about to happen. 'And I knew at that moment, this is not my neighbor, Bill. This is the "East Area Rapist" most likely. And he's in my home,' she said. 'A little voice inside of me said, "You know, you get out of a lot of stuff, Margaret. But you're not gonna get out of this one,"' she added. Former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested after DNA evidence pointed to him as the killer. On Friday he was denied bail and did not enter a plea But even in her young age, she comforted and mentally prepared herself. 'But youre gonna be okay and hes not going to hurt me, hes not going to kill me. I was certain. He was not going to hurt or kill either myself or my mom,' she said to 20/20. 'I knew I was going to survive this, I was going to get raped, and that it was going to be okay,' she added. She said she was already familiar with the killer's tactics when he went into her mother's room to stack plates on her back - one of his signature moves to listen for the plate's rattle as a sign of the victim's attempts to escape. Wardlow, now 53, pictured above, said she felt she 'had the advantage' thanks to all her research on the killer's attacks Wardlow was tied her down, sodomized in her bedroom, and at one point he held a knife to her as he threatened to kill her and her mother to which she defiantly replied 'I don't care'. 'My instinct said don't let him see you sweat,' she said 'It was the best answer I could come up with in order to, like, let him know, "I'm not afraid of you". He wants fear. And I knew that. So, I just told him, "I don't care,"' she said. Knowing he fed off of fear in victims, she said she 'had the advantage'. 'He wasn't getting what he wanted. He wanted fear. He wanted to see fear in me,' she said. He eventually fled the scene, leaving her and her mother home safe. 'I think it was a combination, perhaps, of my age and my innocence that he realized once he was there,' she said. Wardlow, right, pictured with her mother, left, who the killer stacked plates on as he attacked the 13-year-old girl in the other room on November 10, 1977 Wardlow, right, again with mother, left, said upon hearing from the police that the Golden State Killer was arrested, 'It was... the most beautiful, beautiful phone call I've ever had' Two decades after the attack, 72-year-old Joseph DeAngelo has been arrested in the case. The retired cop who lived in Sacramento, California was identified through DNA database called GEDmatch as the suspected killer who murdered 12 and raped more than 50 women. Wardlow was called the night before DeAngelo's arrest was announced. 'I was elated. I could not believe it. It was ... the most beautiful, beautiful phone call I've ever had. I mean, I was just so excited,' she said on the call. She hopes the victory of DeAngelo's arrest will inspire other women with cold cases to not lose hope in finding justice. 'We have a message for everyone out there. No matter how cold your case is, its not hopeless. There's hope in solving the coldest of cases, we solved ours after 42 years and theres always hope,' she said. In another interview with Inside Edition, Wardlow revealed she found out that her brother used to work for DeAngelos ex-wife Sharon Huddle, marking a potential connection between the killer and victim. Following DeAngelo's arrest he did not enter a plea and was denied bail in court. He is being held in a psychiatric ward of the county jail where he has been in 'quiet reflection,' saying little aside from mumbling, according to ABC. Passengers aboard a flight headed to North Dakota on Thursday afternoon are being refunded after they were forced to deal with a drunk flight attendant. According to passenger Erika Gorman, the unnamed flight attendant used profanity while going over the safety instructions, telling passengers: 'If your seatbelt isn't tight, you f***ed up'. The air stewardess was then filmed getting up in a passenger's face. Gorman tweeted: 'Thanks United, for a terrifying flight! Drunk or stoned stewardess endangered everybody's lives. 'I had to go to the cockpit and call the pilot and tell him they had an out of control attendant. The cops and an ambulance were waiting for her when we landed.' Scroll down for video A passenger using United Airlines said Trans States Airlines flight 4689 was 'terrifying' because of a drunk flight attendant One passenger said the unnamed stewardess cursed during safety announcements and got within inches of a man's face United Airlines released a statement on Thursday apologizing to customers who took Trans States Airlines flight 4689 from Denver to Williston. According to Click 2 Houston, the stewardess was not arrested when the flight landed. Police in Willston, however, confirmed the woman was drunk and contacted the FBI to take over the investigation. Trans States Airlines said the flight attendant was 'being held out of service'. 'Trans States Airlines is aware of reports of erratic behavior by a flight attendant on flight 4689 from Denver to Willston. 'The situation is under investigation and the flight attendant is being held held out of service. The safety of our passengers and crew is our and United's top priority,' the company said. The flight was headed from Denver to North Carolina on Thursday afternoon, frustrated passenger Erika Gorman tweeted. her tweet above was later removed from Twitter Gorman followed up her original tweet with the one above. She said she contacted the captain to tell them about the 'out of control' flight attendant Were you on this flight? Please email newsUS@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement United said in a statement that it was refunding customers their airfare as a 'gesture of goodwill'. 'We are aware of a concerning incident involving a flight attendant serving on our regional service provider Trans States Airlines flight 4689. 'As a gesture of goodwill, we have compensated all customers aboard the flight and we apologize for any inconvenience or distress this may have caused,' the airliner said. 'The safety of our customers and crew aboard all united and trans states flights is a top priority.' Brexit voters rallied behind Theresa May to crush Labours hopes of an election breakthrough yesterday. A Conservative surge in Leave-backing areas raised fresh questions about Jeremy Corbyns leadership and his failure to deal with anti-Semitism. As Ukips vote collapsed, the Tories picked up support across the Midlands. Boris Johnson said the local election results showed the need to deliver a clean break from Brussels and avoid compromise over the customs union. Jeremy Corbyn has been abandoned in many Leave areas, said the Foreign Secretary. His pledge to stay in the customs union means he is not trusted to deliver Brexit. Brexit voters rallied behind Theresa May (pictured in Dudley) to crush Labours hopes of an election breakthrough yesterday The Prime Ministers clear Mansion House vision for leaving the single market and customs union was a key part of Tory success. Delivering on Brexit was critical to Tory fortunes, according to a senior party source. We have advocated a pretty consistent narrative on Brexit for a long time now, said the insider. The PMs credibility depends on delivering that. If you are a Leave supporter you will see the PM working pretty hard to deliver what you voted for. The results were a blow for Mr Corbyn who had boasted on Wednesday that Labour was going to do very well in the first test of public opinion since last years election. The Opposition had said it would paint London red and make inroads into Tory-supporting areas elsewhere. But Labour failed to gain a single town hall in the capital and conceded a swing in the overall vote share to the Conservatives. After an upbeat night for the Tories: A Ukip chief likened his party to the Black Death as its electoral support collapsed; Labour activists blamed the partys anti-Semitism crisis for its failure to seize control of its top target, Barnet council; Mr Corbyn faced fresh calls to expel his friend Ken Livingstone after he renewed his claim that Zionists collaborated with the Nazis before the Second World War; Jacob Rees-Mogg warned the Tories would lose the next election if they delayed Britains exit from the customs union; The Conservatives held on to their flagship London councils, Westminster and Wandsworth, despite an Unseat the Tories campaign by the hard-Left Momentum group. Britains leading elections expert Sir John Curtice described the result as a draw, with Labour unable to take a decisive lead, despite the Governments problems. The Conservative Party has done much better in Leave-voting areas than Remain-voting ones, said the professor. A Conservative surge in Leave-backing areas raised fresh questions about Jeremy Corbyns (pictured in Plymouth) leadership and his failure to deal with anti-Semitism As in last years general election, it looks as though former Ukip voters have moved disproportionately to the Conservatives and therefore the Conservative party has been reminded that it now has a disproportionately Leave electorate something like 70 per cent of supporters voted Leave. What the Conservative Party has to be able to do is deliver on Brexit in a way that satisfies the aspirations of Leave voters. Theresa Mays ability to negotiate the shoals of Brexit in the coming weeks and months is going to be pretty crucial. Pro-Brexit MPs said the results showed the Government could not afford to fudge Britains exit from the EU. Mr Rees-Mogg said: Leavers are voting Conservative because we have promised to deliver Brexit. We now need to get on with it. Fellow Tory Nadine Dorries said: The message to the Conservative Party from its core vote is very clear. Trusting us to deliver a clean Brexit, the Ukip vote that denied us so many seats in the past has come home. Nicky Morgan, a leading Remainer, acknowledged that her partys support for Brexit had proved pivotal. The Tory former education secretary said: It is inevitable in a way. It is the Conservative Party that is delivering on the referendum result. Mr Corbyn insisted Labour had delivered a solid set of results that left the party well placed to fight and win the next general election. But speaking in Plymouth, one of only two councils gained by Labour, he said he was obviously disappointed at any places where we lost a bit of ground. The 68-year-old denied claims he was past his peak and blamed the media for over-playing expectations of Labours performance. The Tories made a string of breakthroughs in the Midlands yesterday as they confounded predictions of a meltdown in the local elections. On a better than expected night for the party, it seized control of councils in Redditch and Peterborough and helped rob Labour of its majorities in Derby and Nuneaton and Bedworth. The Conservatives also made gains in Walsall and Dudley, where local Conservatives had feared a complete wipeout at the start of this year. On a campaign stop in Dudley yesterday, Theresa May said the success was down to the partys reputation for competence and low council taxes On a campaign stop in Dudley yesterday, Theresa May said the success was down to the partys reputation for competence and low council taxes. What we have seen is people recognising that Conservative councils deliver good local services, but also keep council taxes low, the Prime Minister said. In Swindon, which had been a top Labour target, the Conservatives held on leading Labours deputy leader Tom Watson to suggest the party should abandon hopes of winning in the fast-growing town, which has long been seen as a swing seat. The Tories were also helped by the collapse of the Ukip vote and continuing support for Brexit. Many of the areas where the Conservatives polled strongly had also backed leave in the referendum. In Dudley, the Tories gained six of Ukips seven seats, leaving control of the council tied with Labour. In Newcastle-under-Lyme, the Tories picked up all three of Ukips seats, again leaving the council in no overall control. In Derby, the Tories took three seats directly from Labour, ending its majority. Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield, warned that his partys leadership appeared to be struggling to win back traditional voters in provincial areas. He said: There were fewer elections in areas we need to improve small town, white working-class England but not nearly enough improvement. In some cases it got worse there thats the real worry. Overall, the Tories looked on course to lose a net total of fewer than 30 seats across the country far below the estimates of 200-300 predicted in the run-up to Thursdays vote. The results defied expectations for a government that has been rocked by rows over Brexit and the Windrush generation. Earlier this year ministers had feared they would be so grim they would spark a challenge to Mrs Mays leadership. The Tories better-than-expected performance extended to the capital, where Labour had boasted it would paint London red. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: This is one of the times when you would expect the governing party to take a bit of a hammering, but actually when you look at whats happened we have done well in Peterborough, we have done well in Dudley all sorts of places where we are doing very well. London, my own borough here in Hillingdon, we gained, which I dont think anybody was expecting, and held on to Wandsworth, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea. It certainly wasnt the result Labour were boasting they were going to get and I think that is because Conservatives do deliver better services for lower taxes. In Barnet, which ministers had privately written off, the Tories even gained control as voters in the area, which has a large Jewish population, turned away from Labour. But there was controversy in Pendle, Lancashire, where the Conservatives reinstated a councillor suspended over allegations of racism in order to gain control. Former mayor Rosemary Carroll was suspended last June over an offensive Facebook joke in which she compared an Asian with a dog. She was readmitted to the party yesterday while the votes were being counted, giving the Tories a one-seat majority on the council for the first time since 1979. Tory group leader Paul White said she had completed additional diversity training before being readmitted. But Labour group leader Mohammed Iqbal said it was an appalling state of affairs. 'Exit customs union...or lose poll' The Conservatives will lose the next election if they delay Britains exit from the customs union, Theresa May was warned last night. Whitehall sources confirmed that ministers at this weeks Brexit war cabinet were warned the UK could have to stay in the EUs customs union for another four or five years while a new customs system is implemented. One source said officials made it clear to ministers that the technology needed to operate either of the Governments options was not ready. If you set aside the political problems with both options, you are looking at four or five years until either could be workable, said the source. In civil service terms those are middle distance targets the truth is no one really knows how long it might take. The revelation raised the prospect of Britain staying in the customs union until 2023. Jacob Rees-Mogg last night urged ministers to get a grip and warned the Conservatives would face a backlash from voters if they failed to make a clean break with Brussels before the next election, due in 2022. The prominent Eurosceptic and Tory MP said: Government policy is to leave the customs union after the transition and it is the job of officials to deliver on that. People wont accept five more years in the customs union it would be a good way of losing the next election. Advertisement A battle of character ...and only one winner Commentary by Stephen Glover Any party that has been in power for eight years expects to lose a significant number of seats in local elections. Such has been the pattern for as long as pollsters can remember. The Tories have not merely been in government since 2010. They are grappling with the complexities of Brexit, and have recently been beset with many other difficulties, from the Windrush scandal to the latest NHS calamity over breast cancer screening. Many observers reasonably envisaged a Conservative wipeout in Thursdays elections. The BBC and other media organisations despatched legions of reporters to Wandsworth in London in the expectation that the Conservatives might be about to lose control of that flagship council for the first time since 1978. In the event, the Tories fared much better than almost anyone had predicted. There was a small swing of 1.5 per cent from the Conservatives to Labour in London, and a swing of about 1 per cent in the reverse direction outside the capital. I believe a large part of the explanation of what has happened has to do with voters assessment of the character of Theresa May, and the dogged manner in which she is pursuing Brexit This seems, in the circumstances, a remarkable outcome. Jeremy Corbyn may try to comfort himself and his supporters with the reflection that the result leaves Labour well poised for the next general election, but he must know in his heart that it does no such thing. I believe a large part of the explanation of what has happened has to do with voters assessment of the character of Theresa May, and the dogged manner in which she is pursuing Brexit. They could have elected to punish her in much greater numbers than they have chosen to do. After all, she was Home Secretary in 2014 when a policy of targeting illegal immigrants was conceived which has had the unintended effect of penalising untold numbers of blameless long-term Caribbean immigrants. She might have expected a more painful comeuppance. Only six days ago, Amber Rudd was forced to resign as Home Secretary, admittedly as much as a consequence of having misled Parliament as because of the shameful Windrush imbroglio. But her self-immolation did not reflect well on the Government. Moreover, it came after the Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Secretary and International Development Secretary have all been required to walk the plank. To lose four Cabinet ministers since last Junes general election might be thought to constitute a near-fatal achievement. And that election, of course, was conducted by Mrs May and her advisers with singular incompetence. How is it that Mrs May has survived these setbacks and more, and escaped the near-certain catastrophe which many pundits had forecast would be her lot in the local elections? Part of the explanation obviously has to do with the manifest shortcomings of Jeremy Corbyn, and in particular the recent allegations of anti-Semitism which have clung to him and his supporters. Jewish voters accordingly punished his party in the London borough of Barnet, where the Tories gained overall control of a council Labour had hoped to win. But it is not just a question of the myriad deficiencies of the Labour leader. I believe that, notwithstanding Mrs Mays undoubted mistakes, a larger proportion of voters than might have been expected have retained confidence in her as the best bet we have. She may not be the most imaginative leader in the world, and she is certainly no Margaret Thatcher. But she has demonstrated a cool-headedness under fire, and a commendable resilience, which have registered with many voters. A lesser politician would have walked away after the disastrous outcome of the general election. A feebler Prime Minister might have concluded that squeezed as she is between fervent Brexiteers insisting on a complete withdrawal from the EU customs union, and Remainers who want to keep a foot firmly in it there are more enjoyable ways of spending ones life. Nothing seems to floor Theresa May. She just keeps plugging away. When her preferred policy of entering a customs partnership with the EU was rejected by a majority on the Brexit Cabinet sub-committee on Wednesday, she dusted herself off and agreed another solution must be found. Her painstaking and methodical approach was shown to best advantage after the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury. She succeeded in meticulously assembling an international alliance against Russia, though many knowledgeable pundits had declared that Brexit Britain would find herself isolated. What that episode showed to many was that Mrs May is a dependable and imperturbable leader in a dangerous world, while the alternatives of Jeremy Corbyn and his old flame, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, are cravenly anxious to extend a quivering hand to the brutal Russian bear. Granted, its one thing to keep ones head in a crisis, quite another to provide solutions to daunting problems. Charting the best path through the thicket of Brexit negotiations wont be easy. But Thursdays elections appear to suggest that voters believe Theresa May is the politician most likely to find it. Donald Trump has described a London hospital as a 'war zone' because of knife crime. Speaking at a pro-gun rally, the US president claimed that knife crime in London is so bad that one unnamed hospital in the capital is 'like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds' with 'blood all over the floors'. He told the National Rifle Convention (NRA) in Dallas: 'I recently read a story that in London, which has unbelievably tough gun laws, a once very prestigious hospital right in the middle is like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds. Donald Trump has described an unnamed London hospital as a 'war zone', with 'blood all over the floors' because of knife crimes 'Yes that's right, they don't have guns they have knives. And instead there's blood all over the floors of this hospital. They say it's as bad as a military war zone hospital. 'We're here today because we recognise a simple fact. The one thing that has always stood between the American people and the elimination of our Second Amendment rights has been Conservatives and congress willing to fight for those rights, and we're fighting.' Mr Trump was trying to suggest that America was safer than the UK because guns are more widely available. But his comments are likely to strain relations with Britain further ahead of his visit to the UK in July. At least 38 people in London have lost their lives to knife crime so far this year, the Met confirmed. Defending the use of guns, the US president said: 'Yes that's right, they don't have guns they have knives. They say it's as bad as a military war zone hospital' Mr Trump also argued that the Paris terror attack could have been prevented if more people were armed. 'The terrorists would have fled or been shot and it would have been a whole different story,' he said. The 2015 attack left 130 dead after terrorists carried out a series of suicide bombs and mass shootings in the French capital. Anna Rose, 31, has made a critical breakthrough that could help in the early identification of children at high risk of developing prostate and breast cancer later in life All dressed up in her nurses outfit at three years old, it was clear from a very early age that Anna Rose was planning a career in medicine. The little girl would wear the uniform as she trotted behind her consultant father on his ward rounds. But shes done lots more than just follow in his footsteps. Anna, now a 31-year-old doctor, has made a critical breakthrough that could help in the early identification of children at high risk of developing prostate and breast cancer later in life. Her painstaking research on so-called junk DNA carried out in her spare time while she battled with the demanding workload of a junior doctor could not only save hundreds of thousands of lives but also many millions of pounds spent on long-term treatments. In future, the likelihood of a person developing cancer could be identified by a simple blood test, mouth swab or even the examination of a hair follicle at a cost of as little as 2 a patient. It is vital to identify an increased risk of developing any cancer at the earliest possible age stage, said Dr Rose. In the UK, mammogram screening begins at the age of 50 but for some women they might have developed a stage four [advanced] cancer by that age. 'My work will allow us to identify a woman who has a greatly increased risk of suffering from breast cancer before it has ever developed. Technically, it could be from the day a young baby is born but it is likely that the test would be aimed at teenagers or young adults who have decided they would like screening. Late-stage cancer costs a fortune to treat, but my findings will allow a cheap and simple test to be carried out which will allow effective screening and, therefore, early and hopefully life-saving interventions. Dr Roses findings have now been published in the Annals of Oncology journal and a string of pharmaceutical and biotech companies are monitoring her work in the hope of being able to develop early screening techniques. There are also suggestions she may be able to broaden her work with junk DNA to look at other forms of cancer or diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimers. The work was based on a PhD she undertook almost eight years ago while studying at University College London. All dressed up in her nurses outfit at three years old, it was clear from a very early age that she was planning a career in medicine DNA that contains coding, or instructions, to create proteins in a cell only accounts for around 4-5 per cent of human DNA. The rest is regarded as non-coding or junk DNA. Dr Rose found that by looking for numbered sequences within junk DNA it was possible to predict a persons likelihood of developing breast or prostate cancer. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who has recently come under fire after admitting that up to 450,000 women were not invited to attend their final screening for breast cancer She examined sequences involving a piece of junk DNA known as MSR1 and it is through a simple test for MSR1 repeats that she could identify a raised risk of developing breast cancer. Some people had nine repeats in their junk DNA while others had 11. Research in collaboration with the University of Dundee found women with the nine-copy version were up to five times more likely to develop breast cancer before the age of 50. Further work with the University of Queensland in Australia found that through a similar process it was possible to detect the likelihood of prostate cancer. Dr Rose and her researchers found that having a nine-copy MSR1 would make a man up to 1.65 times more likely to develop prostate cancer. DNA largely remains the same from the day you are born to the day you die and this allows a check on a patient much earlier than previously considered. If a potential patient is found to be at increased risk, then treatment could begin at the earliest opportunity. Dr Rose whose father Professor Geoffrey Rose is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Londons Moorfields Eye Hospital said: When I began looking at junk DNA it was assumed that properties within it had little value. My research has instead found that junk DNA not only controlled genes next door to certain numbered sequences but could have long lasting effects for years to come in terms of early prediction of disease risk. Dr Rose is currently working at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where she is an Academic Clinical Fellow in paediatrics and she will be specialising in childrens cancer. She said: I have always wanted to be a doctor and as with most doctors this was because of a desire to help people, and a sense of vocation. 'But as I went through my studies I became fascinated by the human genome and how DNA affected disease processes. In January 2017, the friends and family of John Martin revealed that the Emmy-winning NESN cameraman had been diagnosed with ALS, the incurable condition also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. In the 16 months since, those close to Martin have come up with an extremely cool way to keep his spirits high and lighten the burden on his family. As chronicled by the Boston Globes Chad Finn in a feature published Thursday, Martins wife and friends opened Cafe Martin on the familys patio for friends, colleagues and well-wishers to hang out with Martin, who was forced to leave his job last year. Martins wife, Adrienne, and his friends organically began the concept of Cafe Martin. It is a real place the Martins patio at their home in Newton, where friends drop by to hang out and make sure he knows theyll never let him fade from their tight circle. On the front side of his house in Newton, theres a little slab patio, said Brennan. And after he got diagnosed, when he started to slow down a little, he would just go outside. During the winter, he was still getting out and going to concerts and doing things. But in the spring, summer, he slowed down a little. Eventually he got the cane, and then the wheelchairs. Just to get out of the house, hed go outside, and people would come to visit him. People wanted to see him, people wanted to be around him. As fellow NESN cameraman Bryan Brennan told Finn, The idea is just to shoot the breeze, hang out, and forget all the crap going on. Martins friends have also begun selling Cafe Martin apparel, particularly hats. Per the Globe, they have sold 297 hats, raising about $5,800 to help Martins family pay medical bills. Brennan said the hats also serve to show Martin that people care. Yes, its to raise a few bucks, said Brennan. But mostly its to say, Youre here with me. Were thinking of you. Thats why I push the hat so far and put it down to make sure its in a picture. Any picture with a hat says, Hey, were with you. Youre in our thoughts all the time. It lets him know that were all with him, even if he cant be there with us. John cares about people. He deserves for that to be reciprocated. Martin, who has two young daughters, worked for NESN for 19 years, primarily shooting Red Sox and Bruins games. He won five Emmys for his work at NESN, according to the Globe. You can purchase a Cafe Martin hat right here and donate to a GoFundMe campaign benefiting Martins family right here. [Boston Globe][Photo via GoFundMe] A woman convicted of stealing a newborn from a Florida hospital decades ago testified Friday that she placed the infant in a bag to get her out of the building, and worried she would be discovered as she left. Gloria Williams, 52, described the kidnapping Friday during her sentencing hearing in a Jacksonville courtroom. Williams faces up to 22 years in prison for kidnapping and interference of custody. Williams wore scrubs into a Jacksonville hospital in 1998 and posed as a nurse to get a new mother to hand over her baby. She put the baby, Kamiyah Mobley, in a bag and left. Gloria Williams, 52, described the kidnapping Friday during her sentencing hearing in a Jacksonville courtroom 'What I remember is I was running, I was walking and at any time someone could grab my arm and say "What do you have in the bag?"' Williams said. Williams testified that she'd had a miscarriage about a month before taking Kamiyah. She said she was in an abusive relationship at the time, had lost custody of two other children and that the abuse led to the loss of her pregnancy. After her loss, she drove south to Jacksonville from South Carolina, and said she had no plans to kidnap a child. Williams wore scrubs into a Jacksonville hospital in 1998 and posed as a nurse to get a new mother to hand over her baby. She put the baby, Kamiyah Mobley (pictured), in a bag and left 'I felt like I was on autopilot. My life was out of control, I lost everything,' she said. Williams raised Mobley - who grew up as Alexis Manigo - in South Carolina until her arrest in 2017. Williams told Kamiyah of her true identity after the girl was unable apply for a job and get a driver's license because she didn't have a valid birth certificate or Social Security card. 'What I remember is I was running, I was walking and at any time someone could grab my arm and say "What do you have in the bag?"' Williams said Williams raised Mobley - who grew up as Alexis Manigo - in South Carolina until her arrest in 2017 Kamiyah eventually told a friend about it, but not police. Eventually, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received an anonymous tip about Kamiyah's whereabouts, and authorities were alerted. On Friday, Williams apologized to Shanara Mobley, the birth mother, who a day earlier testified that Williams should receive a death sentence. She told the girl she abducted that she still loved her. 'I will always love you, always,' Williams said to Kamiyah, who was also in the courtroom gallery. 'But you're not mine. Your mother and father are sitting right here.' On Friday, Williams apologized to Shanara Mobley, the birth mother, who a day earlier testified that Williams should receive a death sentence. Williams faces up to 22 years in jail for kidnapping and up to another five years in jail on an interference charge 'I will always love you, always,' Williams said to Kamiyah, who was also in the courtroom gallery. 'But you're not mine. Your mother (pictured) and father are sitting right here' Shanara Mobley, mother of Kamiyah Mobley, gave an emotional testimony on Thursday, where she described the torment of having her newborn baby stolen just hours after she gave birth. 'Thinking about suicide every day, people watching me all day every day, no one was leaving me unattended,' she said of the months following Kamiyah's abduction, as she wiped away tears. She said that even now, 20 years later, she still feels the loss of her daughter deeply and even called for the death penalty for kidnapper Gloria Williams. Shanara Mobley, the biological mom of a girl who was snatched at birth broke down during the hearing of her daughter's kidnapper, screaming, 'I am your mother!' on Thursday Mobley, mother of Kamiyah Mobley, gave an emotional testimony on Thursday, where she described the torment of having her newborn baby stolen just hours after she gave birth Mobley wiped away tears during her emotional testimony about her struggle after her daughter was kidnapped 'I always thought about my baby every day, every day, every day. I would catch myself in my car crying, in bed crying, taking a bath crying, doing something with her siblings and crying,' said Mobley, who said she suffered from depression since Kamiyah was stolen. Mobley said she had suffered fresh pain after seeing her daughter refer to her abductor Gloria Williams as mom and seeing Williams' number in her phone as 'mommy.' 'It doesn't heal now, I am still hurting. When you're reaching out to my child - I am your mother Kamiyah,' she shouted into the courtroom. 'I am your mother!' Kamiyah was just eight hours old on July 10, 1998, when Williams posed as a nurse and entered Mobley's hospital room at what is now known as UF Health-Jacksonville, claiming that Kamiyah had a fever and needed to be checked. 'It's not like she tortured me!' Florida teen snatched at birth and raised under a false identity pleads for leniency for her 'mom' Kamiyah Mobley issued an extraordinary plea for leniency before her mom's trial, telling DailyMailTV: 'It's not like she tortured me.' The teen said that while she recognizes Williams could spend years behind bars, Kamiyah says she's already forgiven her for the astonishing deception - and will never turn her back on the impostor. 'Don't get me wrong, I do feel like it was wrong. But we talked about it and I can understand at the time what was going on,' said Kamiyah, now aged 19. 'I sympathize with her, I'm not mad at her - of course I forgive her. 'I am certain that she's going to get time but I'm hoping not very, very long. I think they should be lenient. It's not like she took me and tortured me my whole life. She took care of me very well.' Kamiyah has spent the past year forging new ties with her biological parents, Shanara Mobley, 36, and Craig Aiken, 42, as well as getting to know the numerous siblings she never realized she had. She's already formed an 'incredible bond' with Aiken, staying at his Jacksonville home for weeks at a time and celebrating Christmas with him, his wife Shannon, 42, and her eight half-siblings. Aiken was in jail at the time of the birth for sleeping with Mobley when he was 19 and she was 15. But he told DailyMailTV he doesn't resent Kamiyah for refusing to sever ties with the woman who robbed him of the chance to cradle her as a baby or watch her growing up. 'She can't help what happened with Gloria or the feelings she's got for Gloria,' said Aiken, a radio DJ and property manager. 'She just wants her mama to understand that she's not trying to do anything to hurt her. The last thing she wants to do is hurt her mama. 'What I try and do is block out all the negativity and just focus on building that relationship with her. That helps me cope better too. As thrilled as she was to meet her biological parents, there was never any likelihood that Alexis Manigo would slip effortlessly into Kamiyah Moberly's shoes and leave her kidnapper languishing unloved and alone in a jail cell. When Williams made her first court appearance on charges of first-degree kidnapping and third-degree custodial interference, Kamiyah was there, tearfully calling out to her before reaching through the metal bars to touch her fingers. 'I know her and she's not a criminal,' she told DailyMailTV. 'It was emotional seeing her behind bars and not being able to touch her and hug her, knowing she's not coming home and I'm probably not going to see her for a very long time after that. 'To the world I was a victim but I'm too headstrong to personally call myself a victim. I do feel a crime was done but I don't feel comfortable calling myself a victim.' 'If she does end up going to prison for a long time I will never abandon her. We will always keep in touch.' Kamiyah now splits her time between Aiken's household and the house where she was raised, with friends and loved ones in Walterboro, South Carolina still referring to her as Alexis. Advertisement Williams then disappeared with the child, not to be seen again for the next 18 years. The deception began to unravel when Mobley applied for a restaurant job two years before Williams was arrested, according to court documents. When she demanded her ID and social security number, Williams supposedly broke down and confessed to the abduction. Kamiyah said she quietly pieced together the majority of her backstory by herself from Google. She once called her biological mother but hung up when she heard her voice. The teen first met her biological parents when Mobley and Aiken, who had separated after the abduction, raced to see her following Williams' arrest. Kamiyah has spent the last 12 months forging new ties with her biological parents, Mobley, 36, and Craig Aiken, 42, as well as getting to know the numerous siblings she never realized she had. The teen first met her biological parents when Shanara Mobley and Craig Aiken, who had separated after the abduction, raced to see her following Williams' arrest (above) She has already formed an 'incredible bond' with her biological father and has been staying at his home for weeks at a time. The teen celebrated Christmas with Aiken, his wife Shannon and her eight half-siblings. But her defense of Williams has made it harder for the teen to rebuild her relationship with her biological mother. Shanara Mobley wrote on Facebook last year: 'The tears won't stop. I see my baby girl wanting this lady in her life and not me.' 'It's been harder for my mother to cope. We are working on our relationship. I don't like to define which one is my mother, I like to be respectful of both parties,' the teen said. 'I don't like to take away from either one of their duties or what they did. I don't want to pick sides.' During her court testimony on Thursday, Mobley said that she was just 16 when her daughter was born in 1998. Despite her young age, she says she saw her pregnancy as a blessing - the chance to stop her partying lifestyle and settle down. 'I'm sorry baby, I love you': Moment teen was reunited with the woman who 'kidnapped her as a baby' for first time since her arrest as they vowed to stand by each other Gloria Williams and Kamiyah Mobley had an emotional reunion in February, for the first time since her arrest. 'I'm sorry baby. I love you,' Williams told the tearful Mobley in video of the meeting, held under the watchful eye of police following her arrest, and obtained by ABC News. Mobley then spoke of the officers who came to arrest the woman who raised her, saying: 'They are sending three people like you are some kind of violent person.' Footage has been released showing the moment Gloria Williams, 52, was reunited with Kamiyah Mobley - the girl she is charged with kidnapping at birth from Florida Williams responded: 'They just want to make sure you are okay.' Mobley told DailyMail.com that she refuses to label Williams a criminal and has already forgiven her for the astonishing deception. 'Don't get me wrong, I do feel like it was wrong. But we talked about it and I can understand at the time what was going on,' she said. 'I sympathize with her, I'm not mad at her - of course I forgive her. 'I am certain that she's going to get time but I'm hoping not very, very long. I think they should be lenient. It's not like she took me and tortured me my whole life. She took care of me very well.' Advertisement The day Kamiyah was born was the happiest - and the saddest - of her life. 'She was so beautiful. I just couldn't wait to take her home, to dress her up and show her off,' she said of her newborn. But she never got the chance to hold her baby as it was at that point Williams, dressed as a nurse, came into the room and took Kamiyah away, telling the new mom she needed to take her temperature. Mobley said she never questioned Williams who seemed nice and trustworthy. It wasn't until she realized that Kamiyah was never supposed to have been removed from the room did she panic. She said she crawled along the floor, 'I'm screaming and I'm hollering and cussing.' 'She preyed on a child because I was young, she preyed on a child and took my child,' said Mobley. The years went by slowly for Mobley, who would still mark her daughter's birthday every year, buying a cake which she would keep in the freezer in case Kamiyah ever came home. She never gave up hope that her daughter was alive. After finally being reunited with Kamiyah for the first time last year, Mobley says she is hoping to make up for lost time. 'I missed the first walk, the first word, graduating, prom, I missed all that, but I always try to look at it like life is a positive to a negative. When she get pregnant, I get to be the grandma, when she graduates college I get to be there. The future has so much to offer us now.' Williams is due to be sentenced this month and could face up to 22 years in jail. Steven Shapiro, 56, has been outed as a fake 9/11 first responder by other veterans, who say there is no proof of his employment A man facing fraud charges has been 'outed' as a fake 9/11 firefighter by veterans who were actually at the scene. Steven Shapiro, 56, who is accused of stealing his landlord's credit cards, had also told people he was a fire lieutenant in Connecticut, who had been called to the World Trade Center on September 11, The Palm Beach Post reported. Don Prince, who co-founded the Station House Retreat - a drug and alcohol rehab program designed for first responders - says while he has no evidence Shapiro used the claim for access to compensation or services, he did use it to ask Prince for a job at the retreat. He applied for a job as a handyman, Prince said, but the website has Shapiro listed as a Senior Behavioral Health Technician. In his biography, he claims his fire department was 'the first rescue squad on scene from Connecticut on that horrific morning', and said he and his colleagues were on 'the pile' for more than two weeks. Shapiro claimed to other first responders of the terror attacks and online that he was there in his role as Lieutenant for the Fairfield fire department (pictured is a hat he claimed was part of his uniform) - but the department can find no record of him ever working there 'After passing the psych evaluation, I was off to the races drinking myself into oblivion. 'In November of 2002, I retired after driving an engine full of water to a fire (alone and drunk) and almost tipping it over on a carload of children. 'For a long time, I suffered from post traumatic stress and trauma from 9/11 and all the sights and sounds that we all go through in our profession.' Shapiro said while he's now sober, he can still hear the sounds of PASS alarms going off - but has the tools to deal with the trauma. Prince, who was a volunteer fire chief at Brookhaven Fire Department until 2007, says he and his fellow first responders are enraged by Shapiro's behavior. 'There were 343 firefighters who died that day... it hits every one of us directly in the heart,' he said. Shaprio told people he worked for the Fairfield fire department in Connecticut, but the department Deputy Chief, Kyran Dunn, said he had no record of Shapiro's employment. Nearly 350 firefighters died in the September 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center, and many more have suffered residual physical and mental illnesses. Shapiro claimed to have PTSD from the attacks Photographs on Shapiro's social media accounts are also fakes, Mr Dunn said, claiming the department's hats are a different color and do not show ranks. Furthermore, Dunn said his department was not at Ground Zero on 9/11. Fairfield was only called in to help in the days after the terror attack. Shapiro was arrested by detectives for the credit card theft while he was inside a physical rehabilitation center. He told officers he had bought a television with the cards and had hurt his back mounting it to his bedroom wall - which is why he was at the center. He has pleaded not guilty to the theft. The 9/11 terror attacks killed 2,996 people, and wounded more than 6,000. Most of the fatalities were people inside the World Trade Center at the time, but 343 firefighters were killed in the attack. Fire chief Kyran Dunn said not only was Shapiro not an employee of the Fairfield fire department, the department wasn't even at the scene on the day A street level drug-dealer who posed as a 98-year-old pensioner on his phone contract to avoid being caught selling cocaine has avoided jail. Mortgage broker Michael James Geering received a two-year intensive corrections order in Downing Centre District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine and profiting from the crime. The 35-year-old, who was dubbed the 'Uber Eats of cocaine' in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, entertained more than 2200 texts and 35 phone calls requesting 'beers', a code word for drugs, over a three-week period, The Daily Telegraph reported. Mortgage broker Michael James Geering (pictured) received a two-year intensive corrections order in Downing Centre District Court on Friday He was arrested on December 29, 2016, as part of Strike Force Hannan and charged with two counts of supplying cocaine and one count of possessing the proceeds of crime. Yesterday Judge Clive Jeffreys told the court he had taken into account Geering's guilty plea and considered how apologetic he was during sentencing. 'I accept Geering has taken considerable steps towards rehabilitation and I am satisfied he has shown considerable remorse in the matter and what he has done since the time of his arrest,' Judge Jeffreys said. Yesterday Judge Clive Jeffreys told the court he had taken into account Geering's (pictured) guilty plea and considered how apologetic he was during sentencing A police statement of facts claims Geering (pictured) posed as a 98-year-old man called Nich Jones on his phone contract to avoid law enforcement suspicion A police statement of facts claims Geering posed as a 98-year-old man called Nich Jones on his phone contract to avoid law enforcement suspicion. They also watched him make 69 deliveries with a total of 107 grams of cocaine between December 8 and December 29, 2016. Geering delivered the party drug to Coogee Oval, Surry Hills, the Angel Hotel near Wynyard, the Clovelly Hotel and the Treehouse in North Sydney. Geering delivered the party drug to Coogee Oval, Surry Hills, the Angel Hotel near Wynyard, the Clovelly Hotel and the Treehouse in North Sydney (Oporto's in Coogee was also a popular choice) Police found $42,650 in cash, scales, multiple mobile phones and an erectile dysfunction drug when they searched his apartment on December 29, 2016. As part of his corrections order the 35-year-old must be of good behaviour for two years, can be searched without a warrant, must submit to drug and alcohol testing, carry out 32 hours of community service each month and may be required to wear an electronic monitoring device. Tammy Aikins, left, confronted a child who had been bullying her son Carson, right, on the school bus last August in Monroeville, Pennsylvania A Pennsylvania mother-of-two was banned from her son's school after she confronted a five-year-old who had allegedly bullied him. Last August on the second day of school, Tammy Aikins found her son Carson crying on the floor of the school bus as it arrived to drop him off at home in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. The driver gave Aikins permission to enter the bus, where her then-five-year old pointed out the boy who had allegedly been calling him names and physically hurting him. Aikins yelled out to the boy at the back of the bus saying: 'You - look at me. I'm his mom. I will not have you bully my five-year-old son. You know what you did.' 'The mommy in me came out - right, wrong or indifferent,' Aikins told ABC News. 'It was not this elaborate plan. It was a split-second decision.' Following the incident the substitute teacher was banned from her son's elementary school classroom, field trips and stripped of her role as a homeroom mom. Scroll down for video Aikins was banned from her then-five-year-old son's school-related events after the incident Aikins said it was not the first time she'd made an effort to prevent Carson and his older brother Tyler from being bullied. That same day she reported the bullying to the school principal, who told her it would be addressed, but Aikins claims that never happened. 'The principal should've done [her] job and I would've never been in that position,' she said. 'But being that they have failed my children on numerous occasions, I needed to make it [apparent] to my children that I will always have their backs.' Aikins was banned after school officials reviewed surveillance footage from the bus, according to a five-page letter her attorney sent to the Gateway School District lawyer. District superintendent William Short responded to the letter saying that the video revealed Aikins had not received permission to board the bus. 'The video and audio recording of you boarding the bus shows you verbally abusing kids and alleging someone was "bullying' your child",' Short wrote in the letter. The school district claims that surveillance footage, pictured above, shows that Aikins did not receive permission to enter the bus, which is a punishable crime in Pennsylvania Immediately following the confrontation Aikins reported the bullying to the principal, who said it would be addressed, but Aikins says that didn't happen While Aikins has not seen the full surveillance footage, she said that it should reveal that she had permission to board the bus and that no inappropriate language was used. A month after the bus incident, local police showed up at Aikins' home to investigate but determined that no law had been broken and ultimately no charges were filed. An administrator from the school indicated that the incident is no longer under review, but the bans are still in effect. Curiously, Aikins is only banned from her son Tyler's classroom even though the bus incident involved son Carson. The mom claims that a parent of two other students who were on the bus that day made a complaint about her addressing the alleged bully on the bus. Aikins said she is involved in pending litigation against that parent. 'I even told Mr. Short: "You want to give me a consequence then give me a consequence, but why does my consequence involve my children?"' she said. 'They could've chosen another punishment and they chose this.' Aikins said she wants to pursue further action against the district, but has not yet filed civil litigation. Her top priority is getting her rights reinstated at her children's school. 'I just want to be able to participate,' she said. Kailee Mills was driving with three friends to a Halloween party in Houston on October 28 when she took off her seat belt to snap a selfie A Texas teen, 16, was tragically killed in a car crash just blocks away from her home after she unbuckled her seat belt to take a selfie. Kailee Mills, a junior at Klein Collins High School, was driving with three friends to a Halloween party in Houston on October 28 when she proceeded to take off her seat belt to snap the picture. The car was involved in a single rollover wreck in Rothwood, Texas, and Kailee - sitting in the back seat - was ejected from the vehicle. She was the only passenger who died and was just 500 yards from her home. 'The car went off the road. She was ejected and she died instantly. All the other kids in the car they had their seat belts on and they all survived with very little injury,' her father, David Mills, explained to KRIV. The Harris County Sheriff's deputies stated that they believe that the driver of the vehicle was speeding and lost control, KTRK reported. 'All I kept saying was, "It's not real, it's not real,"' said mother Wendy Mills. The car was involved in a single rollover wreck in Rothwood, Texas, and Kailee - sitting in the back seat - was ejected from the vehicle David added: 'We know if she had her seat belt on, she'd still be here.' The Mills have started the Kailee Mills Foundations, a non-profit that puts decals in car windows with the hope of reminding folks to utilize their seat belts. They've also teamed up with the Texas Department of Transportation for the new 'Click It or Ticket' campaign. The campaign will feature a display memorial using a variety of white footwear to represent the nearly one thousand people who fall victim to seat belt and vehicle incidents in the state. She was the only passenger who died and was just 500 yards from her home Her parents - David and Wendy Mills - have started the Kailee Mills Foundations, a non-profit that puts decals in car windows with the hope of reminding folks to utilize their seat belts 'Our daughter's shoes are the pink ones that we placed there to represent her. They call them ghost shoes. I can almost see all the people standing here,' said David Mills. The Mills hope to honor their daughter's legacy by pushing for increased seat belt usage across the state. 'She had this laugh that was very unique. Her laugh alone made you smile and she loved to make people smile. My daughter was just outgoing, a ray of sunshine,' added Wendy Mills. The TXDOT states that the risk of dying by car crash goes down 45 per cent in a car and 60 per cent in a truck when utilizing a seat belt. Returning to the Cabinet this week, there were few signs of the shocking ordeal endured by James Brokenshire. The Bexley MP had a third of his right lung removed in January after a cancer diagnosis forced him to quit as Northern Ireland Secretary on his 50th birthday. The non-smoker had been in the job for barely 14 months when his world turned upside down. Doctors told him he had lung cancer which kills more people in the UK than prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer combined. James Brokenshire MP had a third of his right lung removed in January after a cancer diagnosis He had been on a family day out at Hillsborough Castle, Ulster, in September when he first coughed up blood. 'It came as a complete shock,' he said. 'I didn't know what to think. Your heart starts pounding and you get a knot at the core of your stomach.' A fitness fanatic, he ran regularly on a treadmill in his living room and hadn't been feeling unwell. But on his wife Cathy's recommendation, he went to see his GP. An x-ray ruled out infection. Referred to Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London, he underwent a CT scan, which revealed some inflammation. Next came a bronchoscopy a camera inserted into his lung. The procedure took place on December 7, the day the Prime Minister announced her breakthrough in the first phase of Brexit talks. Working late with Mrs May the previous night, he had told her why he wouldn't be around the following day. She was 'absolutely brilliant', he says, telling him: 'For goodness sake, you've got to put your health first.' Shortly afterwards, doctors confirmed they had found a tumour, although they still weren't sure if it was cancerous. Waiting for the results of a biopsy was the hardest part, he says. 'There are lots of thoughts racing through your mind.' Doctors told him he had lung cancer which kills more people in the UK than prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer combined Over Christmas, and by now fearing the worst, the family went on a long-planned holiday to Australia to visit relatives. He didn't tell his wider family, although he had a 'hard conversation' with his children Sophie, 15, Jemma, 13, and Ben, 11. 'You have to be honest, but try not to scare them. By that stage I knew something was pretty seriously wrong. You're looking to the future and thinking, 'is there a future?' Having never smoked, the MP was worried that if it was cancer, it had spread from elsewhere. The final diagnosis on January 2 confirmed cancer, but doctors said it wasn't a secondary tumour and they had caught it early enough to operate. He told the Prime Minister he would have to resign. She was 'amazingly supportive', he says. The surgery removed one-third of his right lung, the entire top lobe. He bears a scar on his back and two on his side. 'Some people describe it as keyhole surgery, but they use pretty large keys,' he jokes. He is brimming with praise for the surgeons and says he was 'privileged to have seen the NHS at its incredible best'. He bears a scar on his back and two on his side. 'Some people describe it as keyhole surgery, but they use pretty large keys,' he jokes But it's clear he thinks the NHS focuses too much on stopping people smoking and not enough on treating what many campaigners say is an overlooked 'Cinderella cancer'. Last year there were 46,400 cases of lung cancer in Britain and 16,300 deaths representing 21 per cent of all cancer fatalities. It kills more women than breast cancer. 'Too many of these cases are coming just far too late,' he says. 'In two-thirds the cancer has already spread and they can't have surgery. 'That's something I feel very strongly about having been through what I have. Frankly too many people are dying because of the very late diagnosis of lung cancer. It is the biggest cancer killer.' He is now campaigning for a national screening programme for those most at risk. This week, Mr Brokenshire sat behind Jeremy Hunt in the Commons as the Health Secretary announced that 450,000 women were not invited for breast scans and up to 270 may have died. It was 'sad and painful' and it is right there is a 'full and proper review', he said. The diagnosis forced him to quit as Northern Ireland Secretary on his 50th birthday, barely 14 months after taking the job Despite getting the all-clear, he will have regular CT scans for the next five years. He says he is immensely grateful to Cathy's insistence that he sought help: 'I didn't mind her nagging me. We blokes can be rubbish about this kind of stuff.' His wife is also, he says, delighted at his return to the Cabinet. Amber Rudd's resignation over the Windrush scandal took Sajid Javid from the Housing, Communities and Local Government department and Mr Brokenshire, who entered Parliament in 2005, replaced him on Monday. A Remainer, he has embraced Brexit and is positive about the country's 'bright new future'. He is positive about his own future, too, and confident in taking on his new brief, despite the drama of the past eight months. House of Horrors couple David and Louise Turpin, accused of abusing 12 of their 13 children for years, are now facing a total of 50 charges, including eight new counts of perjury, a court heard Friday. The Turpins, from Perris, California, are charged with 12 counts of torture and false imprisonment, nine counts of child abuse and seven counts of cruelty to a dependent adult. Mr Turpin faces one count of lewd acts on a child under 14, and Mrs Turpin faces one charge of felony assault. The couple has pleaded not guilty to all these charges, totalling 42 accusations. David and Louise Turpin are pictured in court on Friday. They now face a total of 50 charges The couple are both seen smiling during their court hearing. Riverside District Attorney filed eight new charges of perjury against Mr Turpin Friday Riverside District Attorney filed eight new charges of perjury against Mr Turpin Friday. The couple has yet to enter a plea over the new accusations. A spokesman for the DA said the charges related to eight private school affidavits Mr Turpin filed with the state Department of Education when he set up his two home schools. Mr Turpin first registered City Day School at their family home in Murrieta, then later registered Sandcastle Day School in 2011, at their new family home in Perris, allegedly to teach his children aged between six and 18. The alleged child abuser listed one full-time teacher and one administrator on the school forms, and declared that the schools were not tax-exempt. In the forms, Turpin also declared that he would keep attendance and qualification records, as required by the states Education Code. Attorney David J. Macher previously told The Orange County Register he understood the new charges were eight counts of perjury, though he could not confirm the details that gave rise to the new accusations. David Turpin speaks with his attorney David Macher in court on Friday May 4 Mr Turpin appeared in court wearing a turquoise button-down and cream chequered tie. His wife sat next to him, dressed in the same black suit that she appeared in for previous court hearings Until I see the complaint, I will not know for certain Of course the presumption of innocence applies to any new charges as well as to those already on file, Macher said. Mr Turpin appeared in court wearing a turquoise button-down and cream chequered tie, but without his glasses. His wife sat next to him, dressed in the same black suit that she appeared in for previous court hearings. Neither spoke while court was in session, but talked quietly with their lawyers beforehand. Riverside prosecution attorney Kevin Beecham told Judge Emma Smith that the attorneys for the defense have not yet responded with pleas to the new charges. The Turpins have both pleaded not guilty to more than 40 charges, including torture, false imprisonment, child abuse, and abuse of a dependent adult. The couple is accused of starving, choking and beating their children, aged between two and 29, and keeping many of them chained to their beds and keeping them locked in their rooms Mr Turpin also denied one count of lewd conduct with a minor. They could both face up to life in jail. The couple is accused of starving, choking and beating their children, aged between two and 29, and keeping many of them chained to their beds and keeping them locked in their rooms. They also reportedly only let them shower once a year. Judge Smith set a new federal settlement conference for May 18. As a result of the new charges, the first preliminary hearing in the case, where police officers who found the Turpin children are expected to give evidence, was delayed to June 20. A newly established pig model of Huntington's disease (HD) could provide researchers a more practical way of testing treatment for the inherited neurodegenerative disease. On a larger scale, the pig HD model suggests that large animal models could better model other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, a team of Chinese scientists introduced a segment of a human gene that causes Huntington's into pig fibroblast cells, the most common cells of connective tissue in animals. Researchers then used somatic cell nuclear transfer, a form of reproductive cloning, to produce pig embryos that carried the genetic alteration. The pig model of Huntington's disease may provide scientists a better way of testing treatment Scientists believe the pig model of HD will fill an important gap in the disease's research The alteration is referred to a 'knock in' because the changed gene is in its natural context. The research was published on science journal Cell on March 29. Huntington's is caused by a faulty gene in a person's DNA that causes brain cells to die, subsequently affecting the body's nervous system. Symptoms commonly appear in mid-life and include uncontrolled movements, such as involuntary jerking or stumbling, problems swallowing, mood swings and cognitive decline. It gets gradually worse over time and is usually fatal after a period of up to 20 years, according to NHS. Pigs also offer advantages of faster breeding and larger litter sizes, the researchers said Delivery of treatments to affected nervous system tissues in patients suffering from Huntington's disease can be better tested in pigs, as they are closer in size to humans Illustration of the genetic editing techniques used to create a pig model of Huntington's disease. The alteration is called a 'knock in' because the changed gene is in its natural context The new pig model can better mimic how the disease progresses in humans, researchers said. Delivery of treatments to affected nervous system tissues can be better tested in pigs, as they are closer in size to humans, compared with mice - which is often genetically modified to model neurodegenerative diseases. Pigs also offer advantages of faster breeding and larger litter sizes, the researchers said. Although genetically modified mice have been used widely to model neurodegenerative diseases, they lack the typical neurodegeneration or overt neuronal loss seen in human brains, said corresponding author Li Xiaojiang. The pig model of HD also better matches the symptoms of the human disease. The pigs are housed in Jinan University in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE: THE FACTS Huntington's disease is an illness caused by a faulty gene in your DNA (the biological 'instructions' you inherit which tell your cells what to do). If you have Huntington's, it affects your body's nervous system the network of nerve tissues in the brain and spinal cord that co-ordinate your body's activities. Huntington's can cause changes with movement, learning, thinking and emotions. Once symptoms begin, the disease gradually progresses, so living with it means having to adapt to change, taking one day at a time. Living with Huntington's disease can be very challenging. Getting the right information and support is vital and we're here to help. Huntington's is not something you can catch; it is inherited. Every child conceived naturally to a parent who carries the Huntington's gene has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting it. Advertisement The genetically-altered pigs showed symptoms of movement problems, as well as respiratory difficulties that resemble those experienced by humans with HD and are not seen in mouse models of HD, according to the study. In addition, the pigs show degeneration of the striatum, the region of the brain most affected by HD in humans, more than other regions of the brain. The striatum a critical component for voluntary motor control. The pig model of HD was established by researchers at Emory University School of Medicine in the US, together with colleagues at Jinan University and Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou. The pigs are housed in Jinan University in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. 'We think the pig model will fill an important gap,' said co-author Li Shihua in a press release by Emory University. 'In pigs, the pattern of neurodegeneration is almost the same as in humans, and there have been several treatments tested in mouse models that didn't translate to human.' Approximately 6,700 individuals in the UK are currently living with HD, according to Huntington Study Group, citing the number of patients cared for by the Huntington Disease Association. Delivery of treatments to affected nervous system tissues can be better tested in pigs A team of real estate agents begged their manager to slap their faces as punishment to improve work performance in central China. It's said the six male workers were criticised for their 'slack attitude' at the office and got asked to come up with a solution. The incident was confirmed with the real estate agency, however, the spokesperson refused to comment, according to local reports. Real estate manager Ms Zhang can be seen slapping the workers in the face during a meeting It's said the agents requested Ms Zhang to face-slap them for their 'slack attitude' at work Related video has been shared among local messaging groups on WeChat in Yichang of Hubei Province since yesterday. The workers can be seen standing next in lines and get slapped by a female manager in the face one by one. Both the workers and the manager were said to be crying during the punishment. Mr Hu who works at the real estate company told Huanqiu.com that the video was filmed during a monthly appraisal meeting in April. The manager can be seen crying while hitting the workers in the face (left). The video was widely shared online and Ms Zhang was blamed for physical assault to workers (right) Ms Zhang had to resign and rest at home since the incident got widely reported by news media He explained that the female manager was asking the agents 'what should the punishment be for not working hard'; the agents then asked the manager to slap them in the face. The manager, said to be of the surname, Zhang, did not agree the punishment until the workers begged four, five times to do so. The clip has been shared and posted on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, since then, and Ms Zhang was badly criticised by web users. She had to resign and stayed at home to rest, according to Mr Hu. A Chinese theme park known for its extreme tourist attractions has opened a giant swing over a whopping 300-metre (1,000ft) drop. The vertigo-inducing rocking seat is attached to a beam as high as 18 metres (59ft) - the equivalent to a six-storey building. It's the fifth extreme swing in the Wansheng Ordovician Theme Park, situated in Chongqing, which also has a transparent walkway 120 metres (390ft) above the ground. Every day, up to 4,000 people flock to the park to take a ride on the unique swings, according to a spokesperson. Daredevil tourists rock back and forth over a 1,000ft valley on the giant swing in Chongqing The Wansheng Ordovician Theme Park has four other swings, which are much smaller The park receives up to 4,000 visitors every day who want to take a ride on the unique swings The extra-ordinary swing opened to the public on April 29. In a video provided by the theme park, various tourists can be seen being strapped to the seat, pulled up to a 90-degree point facing the ground before being catapulted into the air over the valley. A spokesperson from the Wansheng Ordovician Theme Park told MailOnline that the swing is '100 per cent safe'. He also said that a tourist needs to be aged between 18 to 48, no shorter than 150cm (4ft9in) and lighter than 85kg (13st) to be able to ride the largest swing. All of the park's swings are located at an altitude of 1,300 metres (4,265 feet). They are around 300 metres (1,000 feet) above the ground. However, tourists are only protected by the safety belts and there are no safety nets below the cliff. The two swings open to the tourists have ropes measuring four metres (13 feet) long Since it was open last year, the cliff-side swings have been a star attraction for the park (left). One visitor enjoys a ride on the swing at the Wansheng Ordovician Theme Park (right) Apart from the two swings open to tourists, the park has two others swings built for acrobatic performance. Their ropes measure six and eight metres long (19 and 26.2 feet) respectively The park had already had four cliff-side swings before building the giant one. Two of them, with ropes measuring four metres (13 feet) long, are open to tourists. The other two, with ropes measuring six and eight metres long (19 and 26.2 feet) respectively, are reserved for acrobatic performance. '3,000 to 4,000 tourists can ride the swings every day during the peak season,' said the park's spokesperson. 'A lot of young people come to our park just for the swings.' The swings are said to be one of the two most popular attractions at the theme park. The other one is the glass-bottomed bridge which juts from a cliff face above a 390-foot drop. The glass-bottomed walkway is built on the side of a cliff face in the park at 390 feet high It has been accredited as the world's longest cantilevered glass-bottomed walkway The park spent one year and around 40 million yuan (4.5 million) building the star attraction The transparent walkway extends more than 80 metres (262 feet) from a cliff face above a vertigo-inducing 120-metre drop (390 feet). The impressive A-shaped bridge, which cost 40 million yuan (4.5 million) to build, has overtaken another observation deck in Chongqing to become the world's longest cantilevered glass-bottomed walkway. No more than 30 visitors are allowed to stand on the bridge at any one time. The admission to the park is 180 yuan (21) which allows the tourists to enjoy all attractions and ride the swings. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is going to start selling its phones in the UK after signing a deal with Three. Dubbed 'China's Apple', the company has a reputation for selling high-end phones very cheaply - but until now has only sold them in developing markets such as China and India. Xiaomi debuted in Spain in November last year and this latest announcement will lead to the phones being available in Three stores in the UK and Ireland. Xiaomi, founded in 2010, has grown quickly on the strength of smartphone handsets priced as low as $115 (85) and Internet-based marketing and distribution. Scroll down for video Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is going to start selling its phones in the UK after signing a deal with Three (pictured at a press conference) Beijing-based Xiaomi is the world's fourth biggest smartphone maker by shipment volume, according to International Data Corporation. The company's devices will be available in 3 Group's stores in Austria, Denmark and Sweden. They will be also available in A.S Watson's Fortress, Superdrug and Kruidvat stores in Hong Kong, the UK and Netherlands, writes Engadget. It is currently not known which models will become available or when but further announcements are expected soon. 'We have been watching Xiaomis success from afar and are impressed with the huge range of connected devices that they currently offer,' Three UKs chief digital officer, Tom Malleschitz said in a statement. 'This partnership provides us with another leading brand in our smartphone range and also opens the door for innovative new connected products that we can provide to Three customers in the future.' Xiaomi also makes devices such as laptops, robotic vacuums and smartbikes but it is not clear which ones will come to Europe in the future. Yesterday the Chinese smartphone company also filed documents with Hong Kong's stock exchange operator for an initial public offering that could be the world's biggest share sale in years. Xiaomi debuted in Spain in November last year and this latest announcement will lead to the phones being available in Three stores in the UK and Ireland In this photo a woman shows the new Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 during the Mobile World Congress wireless show, in Barcelona, Spain WHAT IS XIAOMI? Xiaomi was valued at $46 billion (34 billion) in its last fund-raising in 2014 - making it briefly the world's most valuable start-up at a time when it was China's best-selling smartphone maker and looked set to make a splash worldwide. But last year it missed its global smartphone targets by 12 per cent, while its third-quarter China smartphone sales have tumbled 45 per cent, according to research firm IDC - raising doubts that the valuation is still warranted. Xiaomi, which discloses little of its profit and revenue figures, has increasingly emphasised its range of home appliances such as air and water purifiers, and rice cookers as key earnings drivers. The Chinese smartphone company also filed documents with Hong Kong's stock exchange operator for an initial public offering that could be the world's biggest share sale in years. The newspaper South China Morning Post cited unnamed banking sources saying Xiaomi plans to raise up to $10 billion (7.4 billion) in a deal that would value the company at $100 billion (74 billion). That would make it the biggest IPO since Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's $21.8 billion (16 billion) IPO in 2014 on the New York Stock Exchange. Advertisement The listing documents, released yesterday, provided no financial details about the share sale or the company's valuation. A date for the listing was not disclosed. The newspaper South China Morning Post cited unnamed banking sources saying Xiaomi plans to raise up to $10 billion (7.4 billion) in a deal that would value the company at $100 billion (74 billion). That would make it the biggest IPO since Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's $21.8 billion (16 billion) IPO in 2014 on the New York Stock Exchange. Canning Fok, left, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison Holdings and Xiang Wang, right, Senior Vice President of Xiaomi. Yesterday the Chinese smartphone company also filed documents with Hong Kong's stock exchange operator for an initial public offering that could be the world's biggest share sale in years The listing documents, released yesterday, provided no financial details about the share sale or the company's valuation. A date for the listing was not disclosed The listing documents offered a glimpse of Xiaomi's finances, with the company reporting that revenue rose by two-thirds last year to 114.6 billion yuan ($18 billion/ 13 billion), including 80 billion yuan from its smartphone division. Xiaomi's decision to go public in Hong Kong comes days after the southern Chinese financial center's stock exchange loosened listing rules, an apparent vindication of its efforts to better compete with rival bourses in the race for blockbuster offerings. Xiaomi is applying for a Hong Kong stock listing with dual share classes that give certain shareholders much more power, which the new rules allow. The exchange modified its regulations to accommodate such companies after losing Alibaba's dual-class listing to New York because rules at the time only allowed a single share class. The announcement that Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos and Jamie Dimon are combining their bountiful resources to build a new healthcare system for their companies' employees demonstrates in the strongest terms yet a united front by the three billionaires against President Trump. All three have been critical of the president in the past in varied degrees of sharpness. Their announcement plants them in the void left by Trump and his administration's lack of action on healthcare after months of discussion and promises to repeal and replace Obamacare. It also falls in line with their track record of support for The Affordable Care Act. WARREN BUFFETT Buffett, whose net worth is estimated at $93billion, has emphatically stayed away from vocal criticisms of the president. 'I'm not in the business of attacking any president, nor do I think I should be', is what he told one CNBC interviewer last August. His Democratic allegiance is however clear - he endorsed Hillary Clinton during her election campaign and was a champion of Obama's Affordable Care Act, describing it as a 'step in the right direction' despite its flaws. Warren Buffett endorsed Hillary Clinton during the election (the pair are shown above in December 2015). He was an early advocate of the Affordable Care Act and much of his charity work includes large donations to health-focused organizations Buffet is a passionate health philanthropist and has used his fortune to upscale The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which places affordable healthcare at the forefront of its work. Trump has said little of him since he took office. In 2015, he suggested Buffett was the kind of talent he would like in his government and described him as a 'common sense guy'. JAMIE DINON Dimon was a long time Obama supporter and has made generous contributions to the Democratic party. He was a member of Trump's now disbanded Strategy and Policy Forum but abandoned the council along with other business leaders over Trump's controversial remarks about the alt-right Charlottesville riots which left a woman dead. Despite receiving criticism from fellow Democrats over his decision to join the counsel, he put his support behind the president at the time. 'I'm a patriot and will do what I can to help the United States of America; that includes helping whoever is president,' he said at the time. Jamie Dimon (far left during a 2009 meeting with Barack Obama and PNC Chairman and CEO Jim Rohr) was described as Obama's favorite banker. He is a long-term Democrat and has made contributions to the party Dimon was supportive of President Trump in the early stages of the presidency and was a member of his Strategy and Policy Forum but quit alongside other business leaders over Trump's controversial remarks about white supremacists at a Charlottesville rally in August. They are pictured in February 2017 Dimon reversed that position in a memo to staff after Trump sympathised with the white supremacists in charge of the Charlottesville rally. 'There is no room for equivocation here: the evil on display by these perpetrators of hate should be condemned and has no place in a country that draws strength from our diversity and humanity,' he said. JEFF BEZOS Bezos is the president's most visible foe out of the trio. Bezos is a regular target in President Trump's disgruntled tweets. He has retaliated by saying little of their feud but by donating to DACA recipients and by decrying Trump's immigration policies He was routinely ridiculed by Trump during the presidential campaign and deemed a herlader of 'Fake News' because of his newspaper, The Washington Post, and Trump's hatred of it. He believed he was unfairly attacked by its reporters and, in a separate gripe, has repeatedly alleged that Amazon does not pay internet taxes. Bezos has refrained from the same Twitter insults he was often the subject of, however he once claimed that Trump would threatened to 'erode democracy' before he won. In one rare, spatty come-back in 2015, Bezos started the hashtag 'sendDonaldtospace' and joked that he would 'save' the president a seat on his Blue Origin rocket. His remarks against the president since he took office have been limited to immigration. Earlier this month, he donated $33million to provide college tuition fees for 1,000 undocumented young Americans or 'Dreamers' whose right to stay in the country have been undercut by the president's harsh crackdown on immigration. His recent takeover of Whole Foods added hundreds of thousands of employees - the recipients of the new healthcare plan - to Amazon's roll call. In Bezos they won a new boss who, unlike former CEO John Mackley, supports Obamacare. Mackley compared the ACA to socialism in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal. Later, he said it was more akin to fascism. The Gaelic proverb goes that a 'gossip's mouth is the devil's postbag'. But research has found leaders who have positive gossip with staff will improve morale by sending 'an electric current of positive energy' through the team. Bosses can also raise spirits by praising a colleague who is not involved in the conversation before this is later passed onto the absent employee. Research has found leaders who have positive gossip with staff will improve morale by sending 'an electric current of positive energy' through the team (file picture) The study by experts in Salford and Taiwan is said to be the first to compile statistical evidence showing well-meaning gossip can be beneficial. Kirk Chang, professor of organisational behaviour research at Salford Business School, told The Times: 'Gossip is a term that carries some negative connotations. 'But our research suggests that managers who gossip in positive terms with the team members are likely to maintain a more committed workforce.' He added that a traditional view suggests managers should not gossip about staff - but the study found positive comments could result in a more committed team. The scientific study was co-led by a researcher from Salford Business School (file picture) Mr Chang, who worked with Chien-Chih Kuo of National Chengchi University in Taiwan, used panels of 130 managers and 231 of their staff across seven industries. They looked at how likely managers are to gossip, staff attitudes towards their boss and surveys about employee wellbeing and sense of empowerment in the team. Employees who worked for a boss who gossips told of a better psychological wellbeing, feel of team spirit and job satisfaction, the study found. Another study by Mr Chang published in the Daily Mail in March 2016 found gossip by employees about their love life or their plans for the weekend can be positive. But it also discovered that chitchat about office politics should be discouraged because it will leave colleagues feeling demotivated. The slow-moving delivery bots have already been trialled across the world Company has raised around $17 million (12 million) in venture capital funding Customers pay the usual in-store price place 1 ($1.36) for the delivery Member of staff - called a 'picker' - selects the items and puts them in a cooler The six-wheeled vehicles have been driving around for the past four weeks Grocery chain Co-op is delivering shopping to customers in Milton Keynes using cute robots created by Starship Technologies. A Co-op store near Starship's headquarters in Monkston has been using the six-wheeled 'ground drones' to deliver around 200 different products over the past four weeks. Customers pay the usual in-store price plus 1 ($1.36) for the delivery which goes to Starship. Earlier this month the company announced it plans to launch 1,000 bots to corporate and academic campuses in Europe and the US within the year. Scroll down for video Grocery chain Co-op is delivering shopping to customers in Milton Keynes using cute robots created by Starship Technologies (pictured) A Co-op member of staff - known as a 'picker' - selects the items and puts them in a cooler box compartment inside the robot. The machine drives using GPS and customers are sent a unique code to their smartphones so they can access their shopping. Created by the people who founded Skype, Starship has raised around $17 million (12 million) in venture capital funding. Unlike robots designed to resemble humans, Starship's bot is purely functional with a large compartment to hold deliveries, the equivalent size of two grocery bags. Each six-wheeled 'ground drone' is completely self-driving. 'Retailers need to be innovative and agile in their operations and the Co-op is committed to exploring new technologies and seeking new ways to innovate', said Co-op's head of food digital Chris Conway, writes Convenience Store. Starship Technologies has also worked with JustEat and has made 'thousands of deliveries' to customers in London. The company is now looking to carry out further trials on university campuses. A Co-op store (stock image) near the company's headquarters in Monkston has been using six-wheeled 'ground drones' to deliver around 200 different products over the past four weeks Earlier this month the company announced it plans to launch 1,000 bots to corporate and academic campuses in Europe and the US within the year WHAT ARE STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES' DELIVERY ROBOTS? The London-based company was created by Skype's Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis in 2014. The slow-moving delivery bots have already been trialled across the world, including in Hamburg, Washington and California, delivering everything from groceries to takeout pizza. They have travelled more than 100,000 miles in testing mode in more than 100 cities in 20 different countries. Unlike robots designed to resemble humans, Starship's bot is purely functional with a large compartment to hold deliveries, the equivalent size of two grocery bags. Each six-wheeled 'ground drone' is completely self-driving. Workers can drop a pin on a map (like Uber) to show their location and then select what food they want to order. Each vehicle is 55cm (22 inches) high by 70cm (28 inches) long. It has a secured compartment where parcels with a maximum weight of 10kg (22 pounds) can be transported, accessible to consumers via a link generated by a smartphone app. They have six wheels and can travel at speeds up to 4mph (6.4kmh) per hour. The company plans to distribute thousands of robots across campuses around the world by 2019. Advertisement The slow-moving delivery bots have already been trialled across the world, including in Hamburg, Washington and California, delivering everything from groceries to takeout pizza. They have travelled more than 100,000 miles in testing mode in more than 100 cities in 20 different countries. Just this month the company announced plans to launch 1,000 additional bots within the year. A Co-op member of staff - known as a 'picker' - selects the items and puts them in a cooler box compartment inside the robot. The trial is being carried out near Monkston (pictured) The commercial roll-out is an extension of a pilot scheme that has been running on a 4.3 acres campus in Mountain View for the past three months. 'We've already partnered with Compass Group on the Intuit Mountain View campus in the US to provide accessible, convenient and sustainable robotic delivery,' said CEO, Ahti Heinla from Starship Technologies, 'After a successful start to the year and great reception to our robots, we are planning to dramatically expand our services and distribute thousands of robots across campuses around the world by 2019', he said. Each vehicle (pictured) is 55cm (22 inches) high by 70cm (28 inches) long. It has a secured compartment where parcels with a maximum weight of 10kg (22 pounds) can be transported, accessible to consumers via a link generated by a smartphone app The commercial roll-out, announced earlier this month, is an extension of a pilot scheme that has been running on a 4.3 acres campus in Mountain View (pictured) for the past three months Unlike robots designed to resemble humans, Starship's bot (pictured) is purely functional with a large compartment to hold deliveries, the equivalent size of two grocery bags Workers can drop a pin on a map (like Uber) to show their location and then select what food they want to order. The robots do not enter buildings but arrive at the door of the building in an average of 17 minutes. The company said the delivery bots give people more time to be productive or enjoy their breaks around their campus, instead of standing in line. Each vehicle is 55cm (22 inches) high by 70cm (28 inches) long. It has a secured compartment where parcels with a maximum weight of 10kg (22 pounds) can be transported, accessible to consumers via a link generated by a smartphone app. They have six wheels and can travel at speeds up to 4mph (6.4kmh) per hour. Workers can drop a pin on a map (like Uber) to show their location and then select what food they want to order. The robots do not enter buildings but arrive at the door of the building in an average of 17 minutes (artist's impression) The robots do not exclusively deliver food, meaning some campuses use them for delivering supplies. However, the most common Starship delivery item at Intuit has been breakfast sandwiches. 'I normally miss breakfast because I'm in a rush on the way to work, but this service has allowed me to have breakfast again, by bringing it to me,' said Ha Ly, Lifecycle Marketing Manager at Intuit. 'The rollout of Starship's campus offering represents a major milestone in the development of delivery robots', said Mr Heinla. The robots do not exclusively deliver food, meaning some campuses use them for delivering supplies. However, the most common Starship delivery item at Intuit has been breakfast sandwiches In April last year the self-driving robots were deployed on the streets of London as part of their extensive testing. They trundled along the streets of London delivering Hermes parcels. Hermes first put the robots to work in Hamburg in 2016 and the London trial was a follow-up to see how quickly they could distribute parcels out for collection. 'The self-driving delivery robots offer a viable alternative to drones, especially in highly developed cities, towns and suburbs where strict aviation laws are in constant operation,' a spokesperson from Hermes said last year. If a thief attempts to tamper with the robot, or snatch it, the operator can take over - talking directly to the wrongdoer and sending police to the drone's location. The drone's nine cameras can also capture the criminal's face. In any case, the bot's 'cargo trunk' is sealed throughout the trip- only the customer can open it using a specific app upon the drone's arrival. A man pulls a Hermes delivery box from inside the buggy bot. Integrated navigation and 'obstacle avoidance software' enable the robots to steer clear of pedestrians The app also allowed shoppers to track the robot's location in real time. One of Starship's main selling points is the battery-powered bot's zero direct CO2 emission, as opposed to the pollution brought about but too many, short shopping car trips. 'Our vision revolves around three zeroes zero cost, zero waiting time and zero environmental impact,' said Mr Heinla at the time. 'We want to do to local deliveries what Skype did to telecommunications.' One of Starship's main selling points is the battery-powered bot's (pictured) zero direct CO2 emission, as opposed to the pollution brought about but too many, short shopping car trips For businesses, Starship's technology eliminates the largest inefficiency in the delivery chain, the last mile. Instead of expensive and time-consuming door-to-door delivery, retailers can ship the goods in bulk to a local hub, then the robot fleet completes the delivery to the shopper's door for a fraction of the cost. 'With ecommerce continuing to grow consumers expect to have more convenient options for delivery but at a cost that suits them,' Mr Heinla said. Mysterious stars from outside the Milky Way have been clocked zooming through the galaxy at 1.5 million miles per hour (2.5 million km/h). Nearly 30 'runaway' stars that have escaped their galaxy were spotted by a European Space Agency (ESA) satellite and at least two are travelling through the Milky Way. A number of these intergalactic objects were once part of binary star systems that were torn apart, sending one of the pair rocketing through space. Scroll down for video Mysterious stars from outside the Milky Way have been clocked zooming through the galaxy at 4,300 miles (700 kilometres) per second. Researchers pinpointed the interlopers using data from the ESA's Gaia satellite, which was used to create this map of the Milky Way in April Researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands pinpointed the celestial interlopers using data from the ESA's Gaia satellite. The space probe, which tracks the distance and velocity of stars in our galaxy, released its second batch of data on 1.7 billion stars last month. For seven million of these celestial objects, Gaia measured the velocity at which they were travelling towards or away from Earth. Scientists led by astronomer Tomasso Marchetti picked out stars from this batch travelling faster than 280 miles (450 kilometres) per second, finding 165 total. They calculated that 28 of this group had a more than 50 per cent chance of escaping the Milky Way's gravitational pull, suggesting they travelled from other galaxies. 'They are basically flying away forever from the Milky Way,' Mr Marchetti told New Scientist. Nearly 30 'runaway' stars were spotted by the ESA's Gaia satellite and at least two are travelling through the Milky Way. This Gaia image created from the same dataset shows stars within one of the nearest galaxies to out galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, or LMC A small number of these unbound stars had paths that suggested they were ejected from the centre of the galaxy. In these cases the enormous gravity of the central massive black hole tore a binary star system apart, sending one of the pair flying through space. Other stars were tracked to the Milky Way's stellar disc - the flat part of the spiral galaxy around the central bulge. WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY'S GAIA PROBE AND WHAT IS DESIGNED TO DO? Gaia is an ambitious mission to chart a three-dimensional map of our galaxy, the Milky Way, and in the process reveal its composition, formation and evolution. Gaia has been circling the sun nearly a million miles beyond Earth's orbit since its launch by the European Space Agency (ESA) in December 2013. On its journey, the probe has been discreetly snapping pictures of the Milky Way, identifying stars from smaller galaxies long ago swallowed up by our own. Tens of thousands of previously undetected objects are expected to be discovered by Gaia, including asteroids that may one day threaten Earth, planets circling nearby stars, and exploding supernovas. Artist's impression of Gaia mapping the stars of the Milky Way. Gaia maps the position of the Milky Way's stars in a couple of ways. It pinpoints the location of the stars but the probe can also plot their movement, by scanning each star about 70 times Astrophysicists also hope to learn more about the distribution of dark matter, the invisible substance thought to hold the observable universe together. They also plan to test Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity by watching how light is deflected by the sun and its planets. The satellite's billion-pixel camera, the largest ever in space, is so powerful it would be able to gauge the diameter of a human hair at a distance of 621 miles (1,000 km). This means nearby stars have been located with unprecedented accuracy. Gaia maps the position of the Milky Way's stars in a couple of ways. Gaias all-sky view of our Milky Way Galaxy and neighbouring galaxies, based on measurements of nearly 1.7 billion stars. The map shows the total brightness and colour of stars observed by the ESA satellite in each portion of the sky between July 2014 and May 2016. Brighter regions indicate denser concentrations of especially bright stars, while darker regions correspond to patches of the sky where fewer bright stars are observed. The colour representation is obtained by combining the total amount of light with the amount of blue and red light recorded by Gaia in each patch of the sky. It pinpoints the location of the stars but the probe can also plot their movement, by scanning each star about 70 times. This is what allows scientists to calculate the distance between Earth and each star, which is a crucial measure. In September 2016, ESA released the first batch of data collected by Gaia, which included information on the brightness and position of over a billion stars. In April 2018, this was expanded to high-precision measurements of almost 1.7 billion stars. Advertisement The likely source of these objects is a binary system in which one star exploded, researchers said. Reconstructions of speeds and orbits suggest that about half of the 28 high velocity stars have likely originated outside our galaxy. The most intriguing are two stars with velocities in excess of 700 kilometres per second. The velocities and orbits of half of the 28 high-velocity stars suggested they originated from outside of our galaxy. A number of these intergalactic objects were once part of binary star systems that were torn apart, sending the stars rocketing through space (stock image) At least two of these stars were travelling at speeds in excess of 4,300 miles (700 kilometres) per second, making them 'certain discoveries' according to one scientist. 'They have one object which is traveling towards us. Its radial velocity is minus 600 kilometres per second. That is pretty much a certain discovery,' Douglas Boubert of Cambridge University, who was not involved in the research, told New Scientist. 'Im sure there are people racing to get more data about it from ground based telescopes.' Mr Boubert added that while these stars are rapid, they're not even close to the fastest in the galaxy. He told MailOnline: 'Stars on these trajectories can reach speeds of 1,200 kilometres per second [2.7 million miles per hour/4.3 million km/h]. 'But the fastest circle around the galaxy's central black hole. These stars travel at up to 12,000 kilometres per second [27 million miles per hour/43 million km/h].' Cambridge Analytica this week issued a statement saying it was starting bankruptcy proceedings due to a 'seige of media coverage'. However, this may not be the end for its owners. Two new London-based companies, Firecrest Technologies and Emerdata, have been set up with the same registered address, same purpose and same directors. A former Cambridge Analytica employee and senior lawmakers have suggested these two companies could be picking up where Cambridge Analytica left off. The scandal-hit company profited from a Facebook feature that meant apps could ask for permission to access users' data as well as the data of all their friends. The massive data breach is believed to have affected more than 87 million Facebook users, but now some claim a new data scandal may be just around the corner. Scroll down for video The ex-chief of Cambridge Analytica Alexander Nix (pictured) and Julian Wheatland have been listed as directors of Esmerdata The ex-chief of Cambridge Analytica Alexander Nix and Julian Wheatland have been listed as directors of Esmerdata, writes the BBC. Cambridge Analytica's whistleblower Christopher Wylie worked for the scandal-hit political consultancy firm which announced on Wednesday that it was closing. 'REMEMBER: Cambridge Analytica specialises in disinformation!' tweeted Mr Wylie on Wednesday. 'We need to make sure their shut down is not just some rebranding or a way to hide from investigations. 'The SAME PEOPLE set up ANOTHER COMPANY and yesterday issued new company resolutions!' he tweeted. On Companies House, Emerdata says it is involved in 'data processing, hosting and related activities'. Firecrest describes itself as a 'business and domestic software' developer. Mr Nix was appointed a director of Firecrest on 7 March but stepped down the same day. Dr Alexander Bruce Tayler (pictured), Cambridge Analytica's chief data officer and acting chief executive, is still in charge of both new companies 'REMEMBER: Cambridge Analytica specialises in disinformation!' tweeted Cambridge Analytica's whistleblower Christopher Wylie on Wednesday Dr Alexander Bruce Tayler, Cambridge Analytica's chief data officer and acting chief executive, is still in charge. Dr Tayler, Mr Wheatland and Mr Nix are all active directors and Chief Operating Officers of Emerdata. BBC said it contacted Firecrest and Emerdata but the person who answered the phone said she was 'not prepared to make any comment'. Cambridge Analytica did not respond to MailOnline's request for comment at the time of writing. Mr Wylie (pictured) worked for the scandal-hit political consultancy firm, which announced on Wednesday that it and its parent company SCL Elections were closing WHAT IS THE CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SCANDAL? Communications firm Cambridge Analytica has offices in London, New York, Washington, as well as Brazil and Malaysia. The company boasts it can 'find your voters and move them to action' through data-driven campaigns and a team that includes data scientists and behavioural psychologists. 'Within the United States alone, we have played a pivotal role in winning presidential races as well as congressional and state elections,' with data on more than 230 million American voters, Cambridge Analytica claims on its website. The company profited from a feature that meant apps could ask for permission to access your own data as well as the data of all your Facebook friends. The data firm suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix (pictured), after recordings emerged of him making a series of controversial claims, including boasts that Cambridge Analytica had a pivotal role in the election of Donald Trump This meant the company was able to mine the information of 87 million Facebook users even though just 270,000 people gave them permission to do so. This was designed to help them create software that can predict and influence voters' choices at the ballot box. The data firm suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix, after recordings emerged of him making a series of controversial claims, including boasts that Cambridge Analytica had a pivotal role in the election of Donald Trump. This information is said to have been used to help the Brexit campaign in the UK. Advertisement All entities have the same London address - the offices of PKF Littlejohn based in Canary Wharf. On Wednesday, executive and part owner of SCL Group - which formed Cambridge Analytica - described Emerdata as a way of combing the two companies under a single banner, reported New York Times. Two more of the firm's directors are Rebekah and Jennifer Mercer. They are daughters of hedge fund billionaire and prominent Donald Trump supporter Robert Mercer, who is also reported to be a major investor in Cambridge Analytica. Rebekah Mercer's New York contact address is the same as Cambridge Analytica. Cambridge Analytica issued a statement saying it was starting bankruptcy proceedings due to a 'seige of media coverage'. However, it seems the scandal-hit company might not be going as quiet as previously thought. Pictured is the company's empty Washington office 'It's like the hydra beast of Greek mythology you cut one head off and another one grows,' Damian Collins, chair of the UK parliamentary select committee for digital, culture, media and sport said, writes the FT. 'I think it will be business as usual for Cambridge Analytica but under a different name', he said. Last week a Cambridge Analytica spokesperson did not deny the companies were linked. 'Many international corporates have different divisions and different arms for different types of the business,' he said. When asked if Cambridge Analytica would reformulate, the spokesperson said: 'That is a business decision, the [Cambridge Analytica] company board in due course will assess the findings of the independent investigation and will take any relevant decisions then.' The US military is funding a radical 'shape shifting' underwater robot than can transform between a sub and a humanoid robot. Called Aquanaut, it is billed as a 'multipurpose subsea robot' and removes the need for a 'mother' vehicle and tethers. Houston Mechatronics, the firm behind the gadget, is backed by the Defense Department. Scroll down for video Called Aquanaut, it is billed as a 'multipurpose subsea robot' and removes the need for a 'mother' vehicle and tethers. Houston Mechatronics, the firm behind the gadget, is backed by the DoD. The Aquanaut can travel hundreds of miles underwater in 'sub' mode', before transforming into a robot complete with 'arms' to perform delicate operations. 'We firmly believe that this technology is a revolution in subsea robotics, said Houston Mechatronics CEO Matthew Ondler. The 1,050-kg (2,315-lb) robot is propelled by two rear thrusters. 'Aquanaut, and our tightly coupled over-the-horizon software Commander, enables Houston Mechatronics to deliver more feature rich, safer subsea services to commercial and defense customers that demand it. 'Our team developed some of the most advanced robots that NASA ever produced and has been developing advanced subsea robotics technology for confidential customers for years. 'Aquanaut represents the pinnacle of our company's expertise and experience and we are beyond excited to introduce this vehicle to customers.' Houston Mechatronics revealed the Aquanaut at both the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston Texas, and the AUVSI Xponential Conference in Denver, Colorado. Its biggest backers are oil and gas exploration like Transocean. HOW DOES THE AQUANAUT WORK? Aquanaut can be delivered to the sea surface by a boat or helicopters. The commercial version can cut, move, or turn objects at depths of up to 3,000m commercially using command and control (C2) over acoustic networks. It is believed the military version can go even deeper - but the firm has declined to comment on this. The robot, which can extend from 2.87 meters to 3.5 meters with its arms out, can travel hundreds of kilometers between sites. Once the arms come out, the operator directs them over an acoustic modem with a range of tens of kilometers Aquanaut has a battery capacity of greater of 30 kW hours. The 1,050-kg (2,315-lb) robot is propelled by two rear thrusters, and can travel at a maximum speed of 7 knots, potentially covering a round-trip distance of over 200 km (124 miles) on one charge of its 30-kWh battery pack. The robot, which can extend from 2.87 meters to 3.5 meters with its arms out, can travel hundreds of kilometers between sites. Once the arms come out, the operator directs them over an acoustic modem with a range of tens of kilometers. Advertisement Houston Mechatronics co-founder and chief technical officer Nicholas Radford told Defence One the robots would travel from site to site. 'We intend to blanket the Gulf of Mexico,' he said. Radford said the firm 'saw a great opportunity to fundamentally change the commercial and defense subsea markets with Aquanaut. The Aquanaut's manipulator arms are tested. The commercial version can cut, move, or turn objects at depths of up to 3,000m commercially using command and control (C2) over acoustic networks. 'We have removed the need for onsite vessels (and people) from subsea work while still maintaining the operator's situational awareness and the ability to modify missions, which our customers demand. 'For the warfighter, this means increasing the standoff distance therefore resulting in safer conditions. 'For commercial customers, this means that we can provide more capability than they have today for much less cost.' Advertisement A new interactive map lets you travel back in time to view our planet as it appeared millions of years ago. 'Ancient Earth Globe' reveals how the continents have split and reformed while oceans advanced and receded across 600 million years of the planet's history. The map was built using research from Northern Arizona University and reveals that humans are 'just a blip in history', according to the former Google engineer behind it. Ian Webster, who now works for asteroid database Asterank in Mountain View, California, told MailOnline: 'I want people to learn that Earth has a long past that nearly defies imagination. 'The Earth went through so many phases in which it was fundamentally different from the way it is today. Humans are just a blip in history.' The website gives you views of the planet as it looked from 600 million years ago, when the first multicellular life appeared, through several key points in Earth's history. It allows you to jump back and forth from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the appearance of the first hominids - the primate family that includes humans and our fossil ancestors. Summaries of each period reveal what was happening at different stages, such as the Late Triassic period 200 million years ago, or the Early Cambrian period 540 million years ago. Of particular interest is the formation of Pangea around 280 million years ago, when all of Earth's landmass were clustered as a single super continent that was surrounded by one ocean, Panthalassa. 'Ancient Earth Globe' reveals how the continents have split and reformed while oceans advanced and receded across 600 million years of the planet's history. This image shows how the planet looked during the Jurassic period (left) and when the first primates appeared (right) The map was built using research from Northern Arizona University and reveals that humans are 'just a blip in history', according to the former Google engineer behind it. Pictured is the Earth as it appeared 430 million years ago The website gives you views of the planet as it looked from 600 million years ago, when the first multicellular life appeared (pictured), through several key points in Earth's history The East Coast of the United States would have bordered North Africa while America's Gulf Coast was nestled against Cuba. Also of interest is the end of the Cretaceous period - the extinction of the dinosaurs - 65 million years ago. At this time Africa had a huge ocean channelling down its north eastern edge, while Australia and Antarctica were almost touching. The first hominids emerged in Africa during the Neocene Period around 20 million years ago. The ape-like ancestors would eventually go on to form the human race among a number of other human-like species such as Neanderthals. Pictured is the Earth when hominids first appeared on the planet The first dinosaurs walked the Earth 220 million years ago during the Middle Triassic (pictured). At this point in time the Earth was recovering from the Permian-Triassic extinction. Therapsids and archosaurs emerged, along with the first flying invertebrates Also of interest is the end of the Cretaceous period - the extinction of the dinosaurs - 65 million years ago (pictured). At this time Africa had a huge ocean channelling down its north eastern edge, while Australia and Antarctica were almost touching Mr Webster told MailOnline: 'It's also interesting how Europe and the central US used to be under oceans, as that affects modern day geology and palaeontology.' The software engineer created the interactive map as a handy educational tool for younger generations. He said: 'I decided to make this map because I think ancient history and geology is fascinating. 'It can be difficult to conceptualise what Earth used to look like. Putting this knowledge in a format we're all used to - an interactive globe - goes a long way toward creating an educational tool for geological history.' Of particular interest is the formation of Pangea around 280 million years ago (pictured), when all of Earth's landmass formed a single super continent that was surrounded by one ocean, Panthalassa Poorer countries that have contributed to climate change the least will end up suffering the most consequences of the earth's warming temperatures, new research claims. Scientists from Wageningen University in the Netherlands examined swings in temperature on a local scale, with the aim of identifying regional 'hotspots' where there would be the greatest range between high and low temperatures. They found that tropical countries, which tend to be poorer and emit less greenhouse gas than wealthier Northern Hemisphere countries will suffer major swings in temperatures, which is one of the biggest effects of climate change. Scroll down for video A study has found that poorer tropical countries that have contributed less to climate change are set to disproportionately suffer major swings in temperature. Pictured: changing magnitudes of temperature fluctuations until 2100 This phenomenon has been coined 'climate-related inequality'. 'There has been a lot of debate about how rich countries can help poor countries to adapt, but they have overlooked this aspect that the impacts of climate variability change might be worse in the poorer countries,' Sebastian Bathiany, a climate change researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands who led the research, told the Washington Post. Thirteen of the wealthiest 15 countries by GDP are found in the Northern Hemisphere, and the US emits nearly 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. 'A growing body of climate-economy literature shows that poor countries are particularly vulnerable to weather and climate shocks, whereas rich countries tend to show no significant vulnerability,' according to the study. Researchers have identified the Amazon rainforest as a particular area of concern. A factor in these predicted extreme temperature swings is the drying of tropical soils due to increased evaporation as temperatures rise. Pictured: Negative values indicate that changes are driven by soil drying, whereas positive values relates to variations in the atmosphere The area is predicted to become a 'hotspot', suffering the largest magnitude of changes. One factor in these predicted extreme temperature swings is the drying of tropical soils due to increased evaporation as temperatures rise. As the soil gets drier, there will be less moisture to regulate the temperature swings. The rapid changes in temperature could be dangerous for both agriculture and humans, as well as detrimental to the economy. 'Tropical temperature fluctuations are not only strongly correlated with a temporal loss of agricultural output, as might be expected from anomalous weather affecting crop productivity and yields,' the study says. 'They also affect the economic growth rate of countries, leading to long-term economic disadvantages compared to the development of other nations. 'Moreover, it has been argued that high temperatures favor political instability and conflict in tropical countries,' the study concluded. Advertisement The trip between Singapore and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is the world busiest international air route, a new study has found. Research has shown that more than 30,500 flights between the two cities took place in the year to February. There were on average 84 flights daily making the short hop, which takes about an hour, according to the study by air travel intelligence firm OAG. The trip between Singapore and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is the world busiest international air route. Singapore Airlines is one of the carriers that flies the route A large number of airlines serve the route, from full-service carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines to budget ones like AirAsia. A high-speed railway line is being built to link the cities and is expected to be completed in 2026, cutting travel time overland to 90 minutes from around five hours. Asia dominated the list of the world's 20 busiest international air routes, with 14 operating to and from destinations in the region, British-based OAG said. The world's second busiest air route is between Hong Kong and the Taiwanese capital Taipei, with 28,887 flights in the year to February. A table showing the top 20 busiest international air routes in the world in the year to February This is followed by the Jakarta to Singapore route with 27,304 flights. Rounding off the top five are the routes between Hong Kong and Shanghai Pudong with 21,888 flights in the past year and Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur, with 19,849 flights. The busiest route outside of Asia comes in eighth place and it is the journey between New York's La Guardia airport and Toronto in Canada, with 16,956 flights taking place over the last year. In Europe, the routes from Dublin and Amsterdam to London Heathrow were the busiest coming in at 14th and 19th place. No Australian cities were featured in the top 20 list. John Grant, a senior analyst with OAG, said: 'These airline routes are among the most competitive in the world. 'Given the demand, frequency and consumer choice on these routes, airlines are investing heavily to maximise capacity, profitability and market share. 'Frequency, on time performance, connectivity and the in-flight experience all play a critical role in the battle to lead these markets.' The study also found that Aer Lingus is the most punctual airline on the route from Dublin to London Heathrow with 84.7 per cent on time performance (OTP). London is the final destination for 50 per cent of passengers on this route, while the other half travel onward to other cities, most commonly Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Lagos, Nigeria and Hong Kong. For passengers travelling west from London to Dublin, the top five connecting destinations are all located in the United States: Chicago, Boston, New York, Washington and Newark. The busiest route outside of Asia comes in eighth place and it is the journey between New York's La Guardia airport and Toronto in Canada. The airline with the biggest market share on that route is Air Canada On the route from Amsterdam to London Heathrow, which is serviced by KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines (77 per cent OTP) and British Airways (72 per cent OTP), 61 per cent of travellers originating in Amsterdam stay in London. The other 39 per cent connect elsewhere. The routes top five connecting destinations include New York, Los Angeles, Johannesburg, Miami and San Francisco. The trip between John F. Kennedy airport and London Heathrow is the 16th busiest international route, and the second most popular route out of the United States, with 13,888 flights serviced over the 12-month period. American Airlines is the most punctual airline on this route, with 77.9 percent OTP, whereas British Airways has the largest market share. Around 10 million holidaymakers travelled abroad without the right cover or any travel insurance at all last year, according to new research. The study by Abta found that as many as 9.9 million Brits who travelled abroad in the past 12 months holidayed without the right travel insurance, took part in activities which may not have been covered, or didnt have any insurance at all. And as the Bank Holiday signals the start of the holiday season, the findings show that many British holidaymakers jetting off this year could be putting themselves at risk by travelling without the necessary travel insurance. Around 10 million holidaymakers travelled abroad without the right cover or any travel insurance at all last year, according to new research Breaking down the figures, more than one in five (22 per cent) people reported travelling on some holidays completely uninsured in the past 12 months. One in four (27 per cent) British holidaymakers have risked invalidating their insurance by not telling their insurance companies about pre-existing medical conditions or by taking part in activities without checking they were covered under the policy. An insurer can reject a claim in either of these situations. Abta is urging holidaymakers to take out travel insurance that covers their circumstances and the activities they are planning to do. The travel association says this will avoid potentially costly medical bills should something go wrong. Its research found that the most common reason for not buying travel insurance was that people felt it wasnt needed and that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) would provide sufficient cover. But Abta points out that while it is important to have an EHIC card when travelling in Europe, the EHIC only provides access to state medical care and does not include repatriation to the UK if you are seriously ill, which can be extremely costly should you require an air ambulance, for example. For almost one third of people who didnt buy travel insurance (29 per cent) cost was a barrier and just over one in seven people (15 per cent) said that they received insurance through their bank account. More than one in five (22 per cent) people reported travelling on some holidays completely uninsured in the past 12 months FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE 1. Its important to have both a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and travel insurance before you travel in Europe. EHICs expire every five years so make sure your EHIC hasnt expired before you travel. 2. Always tell your travel insurer about any pre-existing condition if you have an annual policy you must inform your insurer about any changes, even if they seem minor. Dont be tempted to leave anything out, by not telling your insurer then your insurance may be void. 3. Activities as seemingly safe as cycling may require a higher level of cover. Before you travel, always check with your insurer if you are covered for any activities you may participate in while on holiday. 4. Travel insurance offered for free through bank accounts or cover offered through credit cards, often provides limited protection. Always check your policy to see if there are any restrictions. 5. European cover is generally cheaper than worldwide cover; however remember that popular holiday destinations like Turkey, Dubai, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, where thousands of Brits travel each year, will not be covered by a European policy. Source: Abta Advertisement But Abta is encouraging people who have travel insurance with their bank to check that it covers their requirements as there may be restrictions around age, health, destination and activities. Joyce Kettle, 74, a great grandmother from Blyth, Northumberland, was airlifted to hospital near Cancun having suffered from breathing difficulties on a cruise off the Mexican coast. She underwent an emergency heart operation resulting in a hospital bill of over 50,000. Mrs Kettle thought she had holiday insurance through her bank but the policy only covered her for trips in Europe. As a result, her family had to launch a Go Fund Me appeal to help pay for Joyces medical costs and bring her safely home. Mark Tanzer, Abta Chief Executive, said: 'Every year we see cases of people falling into difficulty due to travelling without sufficient travel insurance. 'While many people are still choosing not to take out travel insurance at all, others are travelling unaware that their insurance policy is not protecting them as they expect. 'While not declaring existing medical conditions or taking part in activities that arent covered are easy mistakes to make, they can be very costly, leaving holidaymakers and their families with expensive medical bills which run into thousands of pounds. 'I would urge all holidaymakers to make sure they take out travel insurance and check that it covers their circumstances and holiday plans.' Susan Crown from the Travel Aware team at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office added: 'People are risking thousands of pounds in medical bills by travelling without an insurance policy that covers them for everything they want to do abroad. 'Its important to know that the FCO cannot pay medical bills if you are hospitalised abroad nor can we fly you home. Make sure to take out an appropriate insurance policy and know what it covers. 'It may feel like an added expense but the costs of not being insured could be many thousands of pounds. Wed like to see all British holidaymakers enjoying their holiday safe in the knowledge that they are covered if anything goes wrong.' Low-cost airline Norwegian has rejected two takeover offers from the owners of British Airways. The board of Norwegian (NAS) unanimously rejected the 'conditional proposals' saying that they 'undervalued NAS and its prospects'. In a statement, the carrier also added that the board 'would remain fully committed to delivering on its stated strategy'. Low-cost airline Norwegian has announced it has rejected two takeover offers from the owners of British Airways, International Airlines Group (IAG) However, the news of the rejected takeover sent shares in the Oslo-listed company down eight per cent. Last month, the owner of British Airways, International Airlines Group (IAG), announced that it had acquired a 4.61 per cent stake in Norwegian. It added it was 'intended to establish a position from which to initiate discussion', including the possibility of a full offer for the firm. But in an analyst presentation, IAG said it had so far failed to reach an agreement with the carrier. In a statement IAG said: 'IAG confirms that it has had contact with the Norwegian board regarding a possible offer, without reaching an agreement. 'IAG is currently considering its options in relation to Norwegian.' IAG reported a sharp increase in first quarter profit, helped in part by the timing of Easter. It saw operating profit in the three months to March 31 rise 75 per cent to 280 million euro (247 million), traditionally the weakest quarter of the year for airlines. As well as owning British Airways, IAG also owns Irish carrier Aer Lingus and Spanish-based Iberia and Vueling Revenue grew 2.1 per cent to five billion euro (4.4 billion) as the group benefited from Easter falling within the reporting period. IAG also said sales were boosted by service improvements, with a particularly strong showing in North America, Europe and Latin America. Chief executive Willie Walsh said: 'We're reporting another strong quarter performance with an operating profit of 280 million euros before exceptional items, up from 160 million euros last year. 'Our positive passenger unit revenue trend continued with an increase of 3.5 per cent at constant currency. 'This trend benefited partially from the timing of Easter. Despite higher market prices, our fuel unit costs have gone up by just 0.6 per cent in euros.' As well as British Airways, Irish carrier Aer Lingus and Iberia, IAG also owns Spanish low-cost airline Vueling and recently launched a budget long-haul operator dubbed Level. Norwegian broke the record for the fastest subsonic transatlantic flight from New York to London, completing the journey in just five hours and nine minutes. Pictured is the entire crew who operated the flight on February 8 Meanwhile Norwegian, Europe's third largest low-cost carrier, operates double daily flights between London and New York using the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Earlier this year it broke its own record for the fastest subsonic transatlantic flight from New York to London, completing the journey in just five hours and nine minutes. A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as G-CJGI and captained by Gatwick-based Martin Wood, beat the record set in January by four minutes after reaching 799mph on the crossing. The flight left JFK on Thursday, February 8, and was able to touch down at Gatwick airport around an hour ahead of time thanks to a ferocious jet stream. However, the fastest ever transatlantic crossing by a passenger plane was in February 1996, when a British Airways Concorde flight from New York to London took just two hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds. Advertisement Will you be travelling to galaxies near or far, far away? Thats the question that Heathrow Airport asked this morning on Twitter as it celebrated with hilarious Star Wars-themed departure boards the day when many exclaim May the fourth be with you. They list a flight R2D2 to Tatooine, a flight C3PO to Hoth and a delayed BB8 departure for Jakku. Will you be travelling to galaxies near or far, far away? Heathrow Airport celebrated May 4th with hilarious Star Wars-themed departure boards They also list a flight TIE-11382 to the Death Star, but warn passengers to allow extra time for boarding because its possibly a trap. Theres also a flight to Kessel that is now less than 12 parsecs. The flight to Hoth is marked as being delayed due to snow on the runway and the departure to Jakku is indicated as being held up by sand storms. The tongue-in-cheek stunt, needless to say, has gone down a treat, with Twitter users quick to praise it. Zurich Airport tweeted we love that Star Wars fans must be on cloud 7. David Gautier, meanwhile, tweeted you rock and John McKinstry said absolute genius guys! The joke departure boards will be up in all terminals at Heathrow until 10pm tonight And one user, James Keighley, said it was a top effort, but wondered if the hub could have changed its name to Hothrow Airport for the day. It has been 41 years since the first Star Wars film premiered. May 4th is celebrated because it sounds like the famous line from the movie may the force be with you. The joke departure boards will be up in all terminals at Heathrow until 10pm tonight. 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. Victoria's Secret Angel Romee Strijd always makes a statement on the catwalk. But the 22-year-old lingerie model's arrival in Australia has been relatively low key. The Dutch stunner flew into Brisbane on Wednesday with her boyfriend Laurens van Leeuwen and has been seen enjoying the Queensland sunshine. 'Good morning!' Victoria's Secret Angel Romee Strijd has greeted her Aussie fans with a snap of herself wearing a figure-hugging swimsuit and kangaroo-emblazoned T-shirt Taking to the sand on Friday, Romee looked pleased to be Down Under as she wore a figure-hugging yellow swimsuit with a red T-shirt with a kangaroo on it. The fresh-faced beauty was all smiles as she excitedly pointed at the kangaroo on the shirt's design, captioning the post: 'Good morning Australia.' She has been sharing Instagram snaps of her stay so far, including a photo of herself enjoying a fruit-filled breakfast bowl. In another photo the blonde posed seductively in a leopard print cleavage-baring top with sleeves and white high-waisted mini shorts. Glowing: Since landing Down Under Romee has been sharing Instagram snaps of her stay, including a photo of herself enjoying a fruit-filled breakfast bowl Saucy: The blonde posed seductively in a leopard print cleavage-baring top while holding a Coca-Cola bottle during her trip The runway star accessorised with cat-eye sunglasses while holding a Coca-Cola bottle, captionioning her post: 'Drink anyone?' Romee has been busy working on a photo shoot for an undisclosed brand on the Gold Coast's Currumbin Beach, as seen in behind-scenes-snaps shared by her boyfriend Laurens. Following her beachside modelling gig, the couple drove an hour south to the tourist hot spot, Byron Bay. Work it: Romee has been busy working on a photo shoot for an undisclosed brand at Gold Coast's Currumbin Beach, as seen in behind-scenes-snaps shared by her boyfriend Laurens Making memories: She later took to her Instagram Story to share photos of herself and Laurens enjoying the sunrise at Byron Bay She later took to her Instagram Story to share photos of herself and Laurens enjoying the sunrise at Byron Bay. They also appeared to have enjoyed a brisk walk at Cape Byron. Romee made her VS debut in 2014 and received her wings in 2015, joining the likes of Alessandra Ambrosio and Candice Swanepoel. She's a mom of three boys with husband Marco Perego. And on Thursday, Zoe Saldana brought her adorable sons with her as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The movie actress, 39, posed with her twin sons Cy and Bowie, three, and her youngest, Zen, 16 months. Scroll down for video Family is everything: Zoe Saldana brought her adorable sons with her as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Thursday The beauty thanked her husband and her children in her speech during her Walk Of Fame ceremony. Zoe said: 'You are my everything. Every day you remind me to appreciate life's journey. You keep me grounded. And you help me slow down when I need to take in a moment,' via People. She continued: 'You keep me yearning to continue making art. You're that voice in my heart that keeps telling me mend your life, love what you do and do what you love.' Adding: 'So thank you, I'm taking this moment in.' Doting parents: The movie actress, 39, posed with her twin sons Cy and Bowie, three, and her youngest, Zen, 14 months Bliss: Zoe said: 'You are my everything. Every day you remind me to appreciate life's journey. You keep me grounded. And you help me slow down when I need to take in a moment,' via Just Jared Zoe continued: 'But you know what makes me most excited when I wake up? The three masterpieces that we have created: Zen, Cy, and Bowie. Mama te quiere, I love you.' The actress and her husband Marco, an Italian artist, began dating in March 2013; they secretly tied the knot three months later in London. They are set to celebrate their five year wedding anniversary in June. Family is everything: Zoe continued: 'But you know what makes me most excited when I wake up? The three masterpieces that we have created: Zen, Cy, and Bowie. Mama te quiere, I love you' So much love: The actress and her husband Marco, an Italian artist, began dating in March 2013; they secretly tied the knot three months later in London Zoe and Marco's kids are rarely seen in public. She welcomed the twins in Bowie and Cy on November 27, 2014; Zen was born December 12, 2016. Zoe was also joined by her sisters - Cisely and Mariel, her mother Asalia Nazario and her grandmother at the ceremony. Mila Kunis, who was joined by husband Ashton Kutcher, took the podium to speak about Zoe at the Walk Of Fame celebration. She said: 'For Zoe, the role that she cares about the most is mother. Somehow she does all these amazing things while being a mom to three boys. And like I said, she's a force of nature. Fortunately, she has a great supportive partner in life, her husband Marco,' via People. Adorable: Zoe was also joined by her sisters - Cisely and Mariel, her mother Asalia Nazario and her grandmother at the ceremony; Zen pictured too Wow: Zoe wowed in a pale peach colored dress featuring a sparkling silver and bronze accent Pals: Mila Kunis, who was joined by husband Ashton Kutcher, took the podium to speak about Zoe at the Walk Of Fame celebration Freddie Fox stars in An Ideal Husband alongside his father Edward Freddie Fox is the best thing in the latest Oscar Wilde revival at the Vaudeville, where they are doing a whole season of Wilde. Moreover, there are two Foxes for the price of one: while Freddie plays fizzy Viscount Goring, his father Edward gives us Goring's old buzzard of a pater, the Earl of Caversham. A class act, Edward. Add Frances Barber, overdoing it as the piece's vampish Mrs Cheveley, and Susan Hampshire as sweetly dotty Lady Markby, and this is a splashy cast. The set is gilded and gorgeous. The costumes rustle. Yet part of me wearies of Wilde. One or two Oscar revivals a year may be regarded as palatable; three starts to suffocate. I say that with regret, for the Vaudeville's management is admirably high-minded, but there just comes a point at which I can take no more Oscar aphorisms. An Ideal Husband is the one in which only dull people are brilliant at breakfast, nothing ages like happiness and there is nothing so difficult to marry as a large nose. Cast members Freddie Fox, Frances Barber, Nathaniel Parker and Sally Bretton bow at the curtain call after a performance of 'An Ideal Husband' at the Vaudeville These raise the usual chuckles. But don't we also need some psychological salt? Don't we need to see the playwright's anger against a conceited elite? After all, the London poobahs of 2018 are just as snobbish and excluding as in 1895. Adventuress Mrs Cheveley returns from abroad to cause marital and political mischief. She possesses a long-forgotten letter which details insider-trading by Sir Robert Chilton at the dawn of his noble career. Sir Robert (Nathaniel Parker, not quite on top of his lines at Wednesday's final preview) is now a Foreign Office minister. Mrs Cheveley intends to blackmail this princeling of the Establishment. Well, fancy that: a rising British politician may not be so pure as he claims. Ha! To relish that hypocrisy we must surely be left uncertain about the moralities on display. Yet Miss Barber pantomimes Mrs Cheveley's villainy with flashing eyes and bee-stung lips. Cast members Freddie Fox (L) and Frances Barber at the Vaudeville Theatre as they star in 'An Ideal Husband' The role needs subtlety, not this gurning. Though it may be ungallant to say, our Frances is too mature a collapsing Camembert to play a character who was supposedly at school with Lady Chilton (a lovely turn from the palpably newer Sally Bretton) and was a lover of Goring. Freddie Fox's viscount must have still been in short trousers when he was squiring this memsahib. It is Mr Fox's night. How beautifully he moves on stage. He plays Wilde with a free, enlivening normality no heavy pauses or hammery. This performance marks his coming of age on the West End stage. An Ideal Husband will be screened live in cinemas on June 5. For more information visit oscarwildecinema.com Lala Kent revealed her new tattoos in honor of her late father on Thursday. The Vanderpump Rules star posted a picture via Instagram of a heart with the word 'Dad' inside inked on her arm. 'Dad, I promise I'm going to make you proud. I'm going to be kind and tender hearted, just like you,' the 28-year-old captioned the shot. Inked: Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent revealed her new tattoos in honor of her late father on Thursday as she posted a picture of a heart with the word 'Dad' inside inked on her arm via Instagram 'Back to L.A. wtih my sweet beautiful mama, wearing my dad's watch, and an epic tattoo,' she continued. 'Repping my pops til the end of time,' she added to a photograph of her dad's watch on her wrist. The Vanderpump Rules star took to Instagram on April 23rd to share with the sad news of her father's passing. Tribute: The star made sure to honor her father with the inking (seen here in February in NYC) Representing: 'Repping my pops til the end of time,' she added to a photograph of her dad's watch on her wrist 'Rest in paradise, my sweet dad. The world seems to be spinning much slower. Ive never felt so lost. I've never felt so sad. My world has crumbled.' she wrote. Her female co-stars on the popular Bravo reality show attended the funeral according to US Weekly. Scheana Shay, Ariana Madix, Kristen Doute, Brittany Cartwright and Katie Maloney were all in attendance, The Bravo star has always been vocal about how close she is to her family. In 2015 she told Heavy: 'We talked about literally everything- we still do, which sometimes my dad is like, okay I don't need to know EVERYTHING! Announcement: The Vanderpump Rules star took to Instagram on April 23rd to share with the sad news of her father's passing 'My family is extremely close. I don't have family in Utah except for immediate family so it is kind of like 'we all we got!'.' And in 2016 the reality star - who has often found herself at the center of drama on the hugely popular show - wrote about her family's support on Twitter. 'My family is proud of me and will support me through anything & errythang-4 those of u who are wondering how they feel about my 'behavior'' she tweeted. It seems the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which stars Ellie Kemper, is coming to an end. Deadline is reporting that the popular Netflix series will be ending after the upcoming fourth season, which premieres on May 30th. According to the outlet Netflix is currently in talks with Universal Television to produce a movie to close out the series in lieu of a traditional finale. Scroll down for video Calling it quits: It seems the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which stars Ellie Kemper, is coming to an end Reportedly, co-creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock would share the writing duties for any feature. The series, which was originally destined for NBC, was launched back in 2015 on the streaming giant. It immediately garnered praise from critics, and ended up with 16 Emmy nominations over the course of three seasons. Unique: In the series, Kimmy, played by Ellie Kemper, struggles to adjust to life in New York City after being rescued from an Indiana doomsday cult which held her for 15 years Dynamic duo: Reportedly, co-creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock would share the writing duties for any feature (pair pictured in February 2018) In the series, Kimmy struggles to adjust to life in New York City after being rescued from an Indiana doomsday cult which held her for 15 years. For it's final season, the first six episodes will premiere on May 30th, with the remaining seven to debut later in the year. Kimmy was a very important show for Netflix, as it is widely regarded as legitimizing the service in terms of a its original content. Paying homage: For it's final season, the first six episodes will premiere on May 30th, with the remaining seven to debut later in the year Indeed, the show was the first original half hour series to appear on the streaming giant. The cast featured many well-known talents, such as Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski and Carol Kane. Creator Tina Fey also appeared several times in the show, once as a prosecutor and later as a therapist to Kimmy. Bachelor In Paradise star Sam Cochrane proposed to Tara Pavlovic with a dazzling 1.5 carat diamond ring worth an estimated $11,000. Now, the reality TV beauty has revealed 'producers' seized her stunning sparkler ahead of Monday evening's season finale. Speaking to Yahoo7 Be on Friday, the 28-year-old confessed TV bosses 'took' her bling so the Network Ten finale wasn't compromised. Scroll down for video 'They took my engagement ring off me': Bachelor In Paradise star Tara Pavlovic reveals the reason bosses SEIZED her stunning 1.5 carat sparkler after fiance, Sam Cochrane's emotional proposal 'They took my engagement ring off me,' Tara told the publication. After 'five months of hiding', Tara revealed she's feeling 'so happy' the pair can go public with their news. 'Im feeling so happy I can finally come out and be with Sam now that the finale has aired,' the lovable Queensland nanny explained. 'Im feeling so happy I can finally come out and be with Sam': After 'five months of hiding,' Tara revealed she's feeling 'so happy' the pair can go public with their news Tara told the publication she had 'no idea' the 34-year-old voice-over artist was planning a romantic proposal for the show's finale. Earlier this week, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed the finer details of the stunning engagement ring featured in Monday night's episode. It is understood that the piece, from GS Diamonds, is worth $11,000. Exclusive details: Sam proposed to Tara with a stunning 1.5 carat diamond ring worth $11,000 The ring, which can be found online, appears to be a 1.5 carat Angeli Halo setting with a claw set band. Tara looked overwhelmed with happiness when Sam bent down on one knee and presented the diamond ring. 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you,' a tearful Sam said before pulling out the magnificent sparkler and asking: 'Will you marry me?' Special moment: Tara, 28, looked overwhelmed with happiness when Sam bent down on one knee and presented the diamond ring Tara gasped in shock and put her hands over her mouth, before replying: 'Yes!' She appeared delighted with the accessory, shedding tears as she slid the engagement ring onto her finger. Daily Mail Australia has contacted GS Diamonds and Network Ten for comment. She's set to tie the knot with her former Made In Chelsea co-star, Hugo Taylor, this summer after two years together. And bride-to-be Millie Mackintosh shared her tips for feeling confident in her skin ahead of her forthcoming wedding as she appeared in a stunning cover shoot for the June issue of Women's Health magazine. Showcasing her gym-honed figure in skimpy swimwear, the TV personality turned designer, 28, discussed her secret anxiety battle, her healthy life with fiance Hugo, 31, and the failure of her fashion brand in a candid accompanying interview. Gym bunny: Millie Mackintosh shared her tips for feeling confident in her skin ahead of her wedding as she appeared in a cover shoot for the June issue of Women's Health magazine Millie - previously married to rapper Professor Green from 2013 to 2016 - revealed she is happy with her physique and won't be following a special plan in the run-up to the big day. She said: 'Im keeping up what I already do. I dont want to massively change my body - I feel good about my body Ive spent a while working out what works for me.' With her busy schedule, Millie said she relies upon yoga to maintain her mental health and manage her anxiety. 'When my thoughts get a bit out of control and my mind is rushing, yoga just brings everything back down to earth,' she said. 'It's hard to stay calm but you've got to remember that you're not your mind. You are an observer of your mind.' Coming soon: Showcasing her gym-honed figure in skimpy swimwear, the TV personality turned designer, 28, discussed her secret anxiety battle and maintaining a healthy life 'I use the app Headspace daily - I'm doing the meditation for anxiety at the moment. With the process I've just been through with my business, it's made a real difference.' 'You know, you can't control certain things that happen to you, but you can control how you react to them - and how they affect you.' Millie said she has found a new way to workout alongside her trainer Jojo Thompson, mixing things up with a variety of different home exercises. She said: 'I feel stronger than I did two years ago - in a different way. I've found a really great trainer (Jojo Thompson) who comes to my home once or twice a week. 'We do a mixture of mat work, core, Pilates-based movements and then, like, kettlebell hell. Lots of circuits. 'I work out what I need for the week - mentally and physically. Or I might have a goal in mind, like an event, and a particular dress I want to wear, so I'll do an arms and abs session.' Confident: Millie - previously married to Professor Green from 2013 to 2016 - revealed she is happy with her physique and won't be following a special plan in the run-up to the big day 'Before going to a new [exercise] class, I might still get a little bit nervous, it's just fear of the unknown. It wouldn't stop me from going.' Millie also opened up on her healthy home life with Hugo - owner of Taylor Morris sunglasses brand - explaining the couple like to cook and workout together. She said: 'We both love eggs for breakfast, so one of us will make some for the other - whoever is rushing least. Or we might both go to the gym, get breakfast together and then go about our days.' 'Obviously, being a guy, hes quite tall and can eat a lot more than me. He might have a few more treats He can go to the gym, like, not at all, and the suddenly go three times and come home with a six-pack. Im like, what?!' Millie discussed the recent loss of her fashion brand Cammac, which went into liquidation in March, owing over half a million pounds. But the former Made In Chelsea star said she feels her journey into the world of fashion is just beginning, and that failure is the key to ultimate success. Smitten: set to tie the knot with her former Made In Chelsea co-star, Hugo Taylor, 31, this summer after two years together (pictured in July 2017) Millie has herself lost out on 178,000 through the collapse of Cammac Venture Limited, according to liquidation papers. She said: 'I think you can't be successful without failing along the wayI think about lots of people I admire, and their first businesses didn't really make it. 'Look at Charlotte Tilbury. Her make-up line now wasn't her first attempt. So, although it's been a really difficult time, remembering that has helped me I've learnt so much doing it, so it's just it's a gamble. 'I was really passionate about it, I put my all into it and I don't regret it at all.' 'The road to success is not a straightforward one, we all go through a few challenges before we get it right. I think you can't be successful without failing along the way' 'I feel like my journey with fashion isn't finished at all. It's begun.' Millie's fashion brand went bust owing more than half a million pounds because of the 'challenging financial climate'. The full interview appears in the June issue of Womens Health, on sale 8th May Katie Price appeared to take aim at estranged husband Kieran Hayler on Thursday with a cryptic Instagram post, after he liked a racy bikini shot posted by Love Island beauty Kady McDermott. The 39-year-old posted a cryptic quote saying she had no concern with exes 'downgrading' after eagle-eyed fans noticed he had liked a revealing bikini snap of Kady posted on Tuesday morning. Kieran, 31, returned to social media 15 months earlier after the reformed sex addict atoned for cheating on wife Katie with two of her closest friends, but appears to be back in the dog house with his latest Insta-action. Biting back: Katie Price, 39, appeared to take aim at estranged husband Kieran Haylor, 31, on Thursday with a cryptic Instagram post after he 'liked' a snap of Love Island's Kady McDermott Katie posted a cryptic quote on Instagram appearing to brush past Kieran's behaviour, hinting that she is well and truly on another path. The quote read: 'I don't care if my ex upgrades, downgrades, moves to the left or to the right. What they do after me isn't my business.When I'm past you, I'm past you.' She captioned the snap: 'Fact!!!!' Kiern had been quick to show his appreciation for Love Island star Kady after the sultry brunette shared a racy throwback snap, in which she models provocative black lingerie, with her Instagram followers. Taking aim: Katie appeared to take a dig at husband Kieran with a cryptic quote on Instagram a day after he liked a snap posted by Kady Awkward: Reformed sex addict Kieran showed his appreciation for a racy throwback snap of Kady, little more than a year after his four year social media ban was lifted by wife Katie Here we go: The former stripper, whose social media ban was prompted by his repeated philandering with other women, may well be back in the dog-house after liking Kady's latest provocative snap However the move might not go down well with Katie who only lifted his four-year social media ban last February after his repeated philandering with other women sent their marriage into a tailspin. Kieran has since devoted his Instagram account to wholesome family photos - including numerous snaps of his wife - as they attempt to get their relationship back on track. Celebrating his return in a brief video posted on Katie's homepage, he announced: 'Hi guys, check out my new Instagram page! I haven't been on there for four years but you can see me, the wife and all the kids AND all our animals. Woo hoo!' Candid: Katie has previously revealed that social media played a part in her husband, who has since received treatment for sex addiction, organising secret trysts with two of her closest friends Kieran's ban was prompted by separate flings with Jane Pountney and Chrissy Thomas, two of Katie's closest friends. The former glamour model later revealed that social media played a part in her husband, who has since received treatment for sex addiction, organising secret trysts. 'He got their numbers from me or approached them on Twitter and began the process of getting them into bed,' she told the Sun On Sunday. Family first: Kieran has since devoted his Instagram account to wholesome family photos as they attempt to get their relationship back on track, including a cheery post of him and Katie riding horses - his first after returning to social media last February 'It came out in his therapy that he'd been having affairs with Chrissy and Jane at the same time. He usually sh***ed in a lay-by on the way home from his plastering job in Guildford, Surrey. 'He preferred to s**g Jane in a pub car park. The affairs were calculated and evil on his part but also on theirs.' Katie and Kieran announced plans to divorce last August amid claims of a third fling with their children's nanny, Nikki Brown, an allegation Brown has since refuted. Relaxed: Despite the potential for another confrontation with her husband, who still lives in the family home, Katie looked relaxed on Wednesday as she enjoyed a pampering session Getting involved: Daughter Princess got in on the act by trying out the same facial treatment as her mother Despite the potential for another confrontation with her husband, who still lives in the family home, Katie looked relaxed on Wednesday as she enjoyed a pampering session with her oldest daughter, Princess. The mother of five shared images of herself wearing a dark blue face-mask on Instagram, admitting her ten-year old child had opted for exactly the same treatment. Adding a separate shot of the youngster wearing the face-mask, she wrote: 'Even Princess loves it, I can't do a facemask without her.' Bachelor In Paradise star Ali Oetjen will have ANOTHER chance to find a suitor this year when she returns to Channel Ten as the series' fourth Bachelorette. But her former co-star Jarrod Woodgate appeared frustrated by the blonde bombshell being given the enviable TV role. Speaking to Nova 96.9's Fitzy And Wippa on Friday, he groaned at the thought of watching Ali on screen, claiming she was 'lame and boring'. 'All we saw was very lame': Jarrod Woodgate slams new Bachelorette Ali Oetjen as BORING adding 'all she did on Paradise was either tan or lay there' Ali starred on the inaugural Bachelor In Paradise with Jarrod, who went on to find love with fellow Bachelor franchise alumni, Keira Maguire. When Keira and Jarrod were asked by the radio hosts how they thought Ali would fare in the new role, Jarrod moaned: 'Ugh, next question.' Keira quickly stepped in: 'This was why I was worried about interviews this morning. Babe, you need to hold back and not say everything that comes to your mind.' Jarrod was asked to clarify if he had bad blood with the former Bachelor contestant, but Keira answered for him with a laugh. 'He does like her, he's just worried she's going to have a hard time choosing,' she said. Happy couple: Ali starred on the inaugural Bachelor In Paradise with Jarrod, who went on to find love with fellow Bachelor franchise alumni Keira Maguire 'He's just worried she's going to have a hard time choosing': Jarrod's girlfriend Keira also threw shade at Ali, hinting she's indecisive when it comes to dating 'Babe, you need to hold back and not say everything that comes to your mind': Keira joked that her boyfriend had no filter and was potentially more controversial than herself Jarrod frankly confessed: 'Honestly, she was on the island for a long time and basically all we saw was, well, very lame and boring.' 'I don't know how it's going to go,' he continued, seemingly not expecting fireworks from his 'boring' co-star. The studio erupted in laughter, as Keira insisted: 'I thought I was controversial. Sh**!' He also told Nova 100s Chrissie, Sam & Browny: 'I think its going to be boring. Its going to be boring... Her as a person. All she did on Paradise was either tan, lay there and thats it.' Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Ali Oetjen for comment. 'I don't know how it's going to go': Jarrod didn't appear to have much faith in the new season, as he claimed all he saw on the island from Ali was 'very lame and boring' To clarify, Nova 96.9's radio hosts asked: 'Are you saying this because you consider her boring or that she falls in love with lots of men?' Keira softly whispered 'boring' to Jarrod, which he then repeated loudly on the microphone. 'Keira you can't feed him the answers in front of us!' the host laughed. Ali's season of The Bachelorette is due to air later this year. Anthony Hopkins (pictured) has agreed to star in the film version of the phenomenally successful play The Father Anthony Hopkins has agreed to star in the film version of the phenomenally successful play The Father. The harrowing yet powerfully poignant thriller by Florian Zeller opened to laurels in Paris in 2012, and received further garlands when it was performed over here, in Christopher Hamptons English translation: first in Bath and then in London. Oscar winner Hopkins, still at the height of his powers at 80, will play Andre, who cant remember if he used to be an engineer . . . or a tap dancer. Andre has early onset Alzheimers and his daughter Anne becomes concerned when he dismisses his third carer, after blaming her for stealing his watch. Has it been stolen? Or is it behind the microwave? On stage, all was not what it seemed, and as a result the play became a gripping, emotionally charged exploration of the devastating psychology of ageing. Zeller and Hampton have jointly written the screenplay, and Zeller will direct the film, which is expected to begin shooting in October. Whats up in the air, at present, is where it will film. The writers have been discussing whether to shoot in Paris, or London. In any event it will be an English-language picture, and Im guessing Andre will become Andrew. Zeller and Hampton, who have collaborated on several of the French writers other plays, visited Hopkins at his home in Los Angeles to discuss the project. The actor was very taken by the script and recognised some parallels to Shakespeares King Lear a part he has become well acquainted with. In Richard Eyres excellent television version of Ronald Harwoods play The Dresser, with Hopkins and Ian McKellen, Hopkins played an old-style actor-manager touring Lear in the provinces during the War. The actor was very taken by the script and recognised some parallels to Shakespeares King Lear a part he has become well acquainted with I remember being at the Hackney Empire when Eyre shot the Lear scenes. They were so moving that he and Hopkins came up with the idea along with producers Colin Callender and Sonia Friedman of doing an actual Lear, for BBC TV. Which they did, with Hopkins surrounded by a cast including Emma Thompson, Emily Watson, Florence Pugh, Jim Broadbent, Jim Carter, Andrew Scott and John Macmillan. The latest version of Shakespeares great tragedy, shot in fictionalised contemporary settings, focuses as much on the harm the monarch does to his daughters as it does on his decline: the loss of his regal powers, his dignity and, ultimately, his marbles. Hopkins has been busier than ever. Hes currently portraying Pope Benedict, with Jonathan Pryce as current pontiff Francis, in director Fernando Meirelles Netflix film The Pope, written by Anthony McCarten who also wrote Churchill film Darkest Hour. A TV broadcast of Zellers Le Pere was shown in 2014, with a French film adaptation, Floride, released the following year. Sir Anthony Hopkins in the Westworld TV Series - the actor has been busier than ever. Hes currently portraying Pope Benedict, with Jonathan Pryce as current pontiff Francis, in director Fernando Meirelles Netflix film The Pope, written by Anthony McCarten The UK productions were led by Kenneth Cranham (who won an Olivier), at the Theatre Royal, Bath, and the Kiln (formerly the Tricycle) in Kilburn; followed by West End runs at Wyndhams and the Duke of Yorks. The anti-poaching movement can have no finer champion than Pulitzer prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage. I caught her play Mlimas Tale at the Public Theater in New York recently. It stars Sahr Ngaujah (he was in Fela at the National a few seasons ago) who bends and bucks his body to portray Mlima, a 40-year-old elephant who relates the story of how he was sold by corrupt officials so his enormous tusks could be harvested. Though in essence about the fate of a big beast, I had the feeling that Nottage was also talking about how humans are trafficked for organs, for slave labour, for . . . almost anything. I hope Mlimas Tale finds its way to London some time soon. Ella Hicksons jaw-droppingly good play The Writer is dividing audiences at the Almeida in the bar, and all the way to the pricey Ottolenghi restaurant on Upper Street, Islington. This sizzling production challenges perceptions on race, gender and sexual politics. The perfect Marmite play! Romola Garai, Michael Gould, Lara Rossi and Samuel West rip The Writer right off the page and run with it. A wonderfully waspish aunt runs away with the show Perfect timing - Cecilia Noble (pictured) Just how does an actor steal a show? They rarely do it on purpose. Its down to alchemy: a combination of how the part itself is written, and the ability of the artist (sometimes, but not always, with help from the director) to mine the lines. The best do it without going over the top to grab your attention. They use astute comic timing, and they burrow so deep into a character that you cant see the joins. Right now, the finest example of grand larceny is being perpetrated by Cecilia Noble on the Dorfman stage at the National Theatre, in Natasha Gordons debut play Nine Night, directed by Roy Alexander Weise. Ms Noble knows how to say something, wait a beat, and then come back with a zinger. She is also a great actor. One who knows how to make a bad show better, and a good show (like Nine Night) soar. That Noble can play Aunt Maggie with such ease is a blessing. Shes at a traditional Jamaican wake for Gloria, who has died leaving her family almost at the point of war. Auntie Maggie suggests that the wig Glorias wearing would frighten Jesus. Shes also alarmed at the idea of Glorias body being cremated. We dont cook our people! she exclaims. The finest example of grand larceny is being perpetrated by Cecilia Noble on the Dorfman stage at the National Theatre, in Natasha Gordons debut play Nine Night, directed by Roy Alexander Weise What I loved about Nobles characterisation is its universality. Maggie reminded me of my own wonderful Yoruba princess aunts, but also the deliciously wicked Aussie aunts who arrived, en masse, at a pre-wedding party in Perth to check me out. Give any of em a good glass of red and the joints a jumpin. Everybody has an Auntie Maggie. Ive seen variations of her from Nashville to Newcastle: the outspoken queen bee who will have her say. Ms Nobles cast mates Franc Ashman, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Ricky Fearon, Michelle Greenidge, Hattie Ladbury and Rebekah Murrell are on top form, too. The actress, who won an Olivier award for her Sister Moore in Amen Corner, has no honours. Not even an MBE. Even so, theres nothing like this dame. Oh, yes, and while Im at it, Nine Night needs to transfer. And it needs to be marketed to all communities, not just the usual suspects. Aspiring paparazzo Jayden Seyfarth is heading to London to watch Prince Harry marry Meghan Markle later in the month. On Friday, the 21-year-old won tickets to the historic event through a KIIS FM competition organised by The Kyle and Jackie O Show. However, the notorious celebrity chaser - who previously met Prince Harry back in 2015 - may have some trouble getting to the United Kingdom, after being banned from flying Virgin Airlines over a security breach last year. Will they meet again? On Friday, paparazzo Jayden Seyfarth won tickets to watch Prince Harry tie the knot with Meghan Markle in London later this month (pictured: Jayden and Harry in 2015) Last October, Jayden allegedly used a self-serve check-in to print the passes, before using them to enter Virgin's VIP lounge in order to get up close and personal with Sophie Monk and her then boyfriend, Stu Laundy. At the time, Australian Federal Police told Daily Mail Australia that they were investigating the issue. After winning KIIS FM's tickets on Friday, Jackie O asked producers: 'He's banned from Virgin, do you know who our flights are with?' Winners are grinners! Jayden pictured after winning the KIIS FM tickets on Friday Jayden was also banned from flying with Qantas after the airline issued the aspiring snapper with a 'no-fly notification until further notice'. On Friday, Kyle told the delighted youngster he will have a 'prime spot' outside St George's Chapel when Harry and Meghan tie the knot on Saturday, May 19. 'So random, how bizarre that Jayden won!' Jackie remarked after chatting with the star. History in the making! Jayden will have a 'prime spot' outside St George's Chapel when Harry and Meghan tie the knot on Saturday, May 19 She's constantly in full hair and makeup for Modern Family. But Sofia Vergara took a break from all the Hollywood magic as she was spotted in a casual ensemble in Los Angeles on Thursday. The 45-year-old beauty rocked a grey tee and ripped denim as she was accompanied by her 41-year-old husband Joe Manganiello. Stunner: Sofia Vergara took a break from all the Hollywood magic as she was spotted in a casual ensemble in Los Angeles on Thursday Daring to impress, the bombshell swathed her enviable figure in a graphic teeas she carried a matching hoodie. Her gorgeous gams were thrust on center stage as the jeans were form fitting. She kept her trademark brunette tresses long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders. Throwing caution to the wind, Sofia went virtually makeup free with just a smattering of berry lipstick. Casual: The 45-year-old beauty rocked a grey tee and ripped denim as she was accompanied by her 41-year-old husband Joe Manganiello Impressive: Daring to impress, the bombshell swathed her enviable figure in a graphic teeas she carried a matching hoodie Joe cut a casual figure in a white graphic tee and grey slacks as he carried a green romper jacket. The loved up couple have been married since 2015. In an interview with Cigar Aficionado, the Pittsburgh native, who's starring alongside his wife in Stano, revealed his 'biggest adjustment in marriage.' Leggy lady: Her gorgeous gams were thrust on center stage as the jeans were form fitting Hair story: She kept her trademark brunette tresses long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders 'The biggest adjustment in marriage? Coming to grips with the idea that someone who is not related to you could possibly love you that much. She was it for me.' 'People say things like, "Marriage and relationships are work." But it's not. Life is hard. Having somebody to help you deal with it is the greatest thing that ever happened.' Meanwhile, Sofia ex-fiance Nick Loeb has compared their embryo battle to the fight to end slavery. Stud: Joe cut a casual figure in a white graphic tee and grey slacks as he carried a green romper jacket Bulging: His bulging biceps were on full display She has been locked in a bitter lawsuit with the businessman since 2015 when he filed documents to protect, and bring to term, two female embryos, which they had created and planned to use with a surrogate during their relationship. Nick has been blocked from bringing the embryos to term twice by the Modern Family beauty, but he's now filed a third lawsuit claiming the debate over the cells being product or people has happened 'only one other time in United States history from which any legal precedent may be reviewed - the pre-Civil War era.' According to the documents obtained by The Blast, Nick then went on to give the full legal definition of slavery. 'Under these simple definitions, a human embryo, if believed to be a human being and alive, (which is our contention) would be considered a slave and the parents would be the owners of the slave, particularly in states where they are considered property,' he said. The judge is yet to make a decision on the matter. This week Today show stand-in host Ben Fordham lambasted the ABC for changing a lyric of the classic children's song 'Were Going On A Bear Hunt' for an episode of Play School. Now Today Extra hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger have weighed in on the debate. On Friday, the presenters explained the children's program occasionally tweaks lyrics of songs to suit the theme of the show, and not for political correctness. 'I find it a little offensive': Today Extras David and Sonia weigh in on Play School's 'Were Going On A Bear Hunt' song lyric controversy However, David said he found 'Bear Hunt' a 'little bit offensive' as the act of big game hunting is disrespectful. 'But you sort of have to think about it,' Sonia quipped, as newsreader Amelia chimmed in saying she did not find it offensive at all. 'We read this every night at home... The kids come home from daycare and kindergarten singing it. I don't think it is encouraging large game hunting is it?' she reasoned. David said he found 'Bear Hunt' a 'little bit offensive' as the act of big game hunting is disrespectful Earlier on the program, journalist John Mangos said it was up to the ABC to change the words to tailor it to the theme of an episode. Shelly Horton added: 'It is only Play School. Really, let's have fun with the kids. The bear hunt song probably comes from an American song we lifted.' Ben Fordham lashed out at the ABC the day before, accusing the network of 'political correctness' over changes made to the lyrics of the classic children's song. 'We read this every night at home.... The kids come home from daycare and kindergarten singing it. I don't think it is encouraging large game hunting is it?' newsreader Amelia argued Bear-ly an issue: This week Play School tweaked the lyrics of 'Were Going On A Bear Hunt' The lyrics had been changed to omit the phrase 'We're going on a bear hunt'. Instead the new lyrics are now 'We're going on a bush hunt. We're going to find some treasure. We're so excited. What a beautiful day'. All mention of hunting bears, including the lyrics 'We're going to catch a big one' and 'I'm not scared' were dropped in the upgraded version. On his radio show, Ben accused the ABC of changing the words 'to fit PC standards'. 'Obviously, the national broadcaster has decided this classic children's song is no longer appropriate for children,' the radio host raved. Not having it! On Thursday, Ben Fordham lashed out at the ABC, accusing the network of 'political correctness' over changes made to the lyrics of the classic children's song 'Are they trying to tackle the epidemic of children killing bears in Australia? Cases of kids with shotguns shooting bears?' Ben asked in his rant 'Are they trying to tackle the epidemic of children killing bears in Australia? Cases of kids with shotguns shooting bears?' Ben concluded in his rant. However, it turns out that the shock jock's concerns were much ado about nothing, as the ABC confirmed that the change was only temporary. An ABC spokesperson said: 'On this occasion, the lyrics of the song We're Going On A Bear Hunt were adapted to suit a specific episode that was based on an Australian bush theme, the core learning value of which was orientation through map reading literacy.' The original version of the song, featuring bear hunting and all, will return when performed in future episodes, the ABC spokesperson confirmed. On Thursday, radio stars Kyle and Jackie O subjected their producers to what is arguably many people's worst nightmare: a look through their internet browsing history. After shock jock Kyle revealed he had Googled an X-rated inquiry about rabbits, he and co-star Jackie decided to examine the strange and somewhat shocking questions their colleagues had entered into the search engine. 'This is disgusting!' Jackie wailed at one point, after it was revealed a producer had looked up whether or not a woman had once had sexual intercourse with a horse. 'This is disgusting!': On Thursday, Kyle and Jackie O decided to go through their producers' internet browser histories whilst live on air, and their Google searches were certainly shocking Another sex-related inquiry saw a female producer Google 'can women produce sperm?'. Kyle cackled into the microphone when the producer explained a raunchy chat with a gal pal led her to type the question into the search engine. According to Google - and the now-knowledgeable producer - women are NOT capable of producing the reproductive cell. Interesting! Several strange questions popped up on the employees' browser histories including: 'Do ants have d**ks?' and 'Why are farts hot?' Meanwhile, several other strange questions also popped up on the employees' browser histories including: 'Do ants have d**ks?', 'Why are farts hot?' and 'Is Meghan Markle into rangas (redheads)?' However, Kyle conceded he was also behind one of the stranger searches: 'Do dwarfs use full-size coffins when they die?' 'I asked that question,' the radio king confessed. Coffin query: Kyle conceded he was also behind one of the stranger searches: 'Do dwarfs use full-size coffins when they die?' 'Remember when Mini-Me (Verne Troyer) died, and everyone said they use full size (coffins) and I said 'What a waste of wood!'' he stated. Towards the end of the segment, the star claimed he and his colleagues weren't necessarily strange in comparison to other people. He urged listeners: 'Go through your own history! You'll be surprised at how whack you are, everyone!' They've endured several tense moments during My Kitchen Rules' most controversial season yet. And ahead of the grand finale on Sunday, finalists Alex and Emily looked somewhat stressed as they chatted and smoked cigarettes outside their Gold Coast bar, on Thursday. At one point Alex held his head in his hand as he sat on a step staring intensely at his iPhone. Everything OK? MKR's Alex and Emily look tense outside of their Gold Coast bar after winning a spot in the grand finale... as major spoiler is revealed on the Kyle and Jackie O show Steering away from the loud and bright outfits he usually wears on the show, he was casual in a navy button down shirt, black trousers and flip flops. He appeared tired and downcast as he chatted to his partner Emily outside of the eatery. Meanwhile, the brunette beauty looked brighter in a red floral jumpsuit. Alex pepped up a little bit when he received a kiss on the lips from his partner in between puffs of their cigarettes. Sweet: Alex pepped up a little bit when he received a kiss on the lips from his partner in between puffs of their cigarettes Break time: At one point, Alex held his head in his hand as he sat on a step staring intensely at his iPhone Over the course of the evening Alex and Emily stepped out separately to take their breaks. At one point the 'mixologist' was spotted sitting on a step outside, watching something on his phone still wearing with his bar tender apron and a towel over his shoulder. Fans of the cocktail couple were excited to see them progress through to the final stage of the competitive cooking show on Thursday's episode. This comes after an anonymous caller rang the Kyle And Jackie O show claiming Kim and Suong will scoop the $250,000 prize in a showdown with Queensland couple Alex and Emily this coming Sunday. A Channel Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'There are always unfounded rumours and wild speculation at this time of year. In it to win it: Fans of the cocktail couple were excited to see them progress through to the final stage of the competitive cooking show on Thursday's episode Alex and Emily beat out Perth's 'best waitresses' Stella and Jazzey who scored 37 points out of 60. Their entree of prawn toast, mussels and pippies with chilli jam for main, and a dessert of mango and fig lime sorbet won them 53 points out of 60. The couple will go up against Melbourne mums Kim and Soung in the show's grand finale on Sunday. Ronnie Ortiz-Magro's public split from Jen Harley seemed like a huge shock as it came just weeks after the birth of their first child. But the latest episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation showed that the couple had been having serious problems long before they split after an ugly public fight on social media. The episode, filmed at the beginning of the year, ended with Jen arriving at the vacation house to meet the rest of the Jersey Shore cast for the very first time. Welcome to the house! Jen Harley visited her boyfriend Ronnie Ortiz-Magro on the latest episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation However her trip almost never happened after Ronnie, 32, got a little too friendly with a scantily-clad blonde called French Fry - with their escapades caught by onlookers in the club. 'There's video of you grinding with a girl with like, her t*ts out,' Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, 35, had warned him. 'People are tagging each other... it's like a thing.' Ronnie then seemed to handle it in the worst way possible, calling Jen and constantly pressing her to express her anger even when she insisted she was OK. 'This is like Ronnie turning up to the police station with blood on his hands saying, "Guys, I didn't do it,"' Pauly D, 37, said with amazement. 'Like, "Do what?" - "the dead body, I didn't do it, I swear." Damage control: Ronnie then seemed to handle it in the worst way possible, calling Jen and constantly pressing her to express her anger even when she insisted she was OK Stunned: The boys were amazed that Ronnie was talking to Jen about his behavior the night prior 'This is an absolute disaster. Because he's burying himself f***ing deep as s**t.' Ronnie had amazed the others when he initially downplayed his behavior with the woman, saying it was not his fault she was wearing an almost completely see-through outfit, and insisting he was 'salsa dancing' rather than grinding with her, despite video evidence. 'I don't know where you learn to salsa dance like that - like, a salsa he saw in a porn once?' Vinny Guadagnino, 30, quipped to camera later. Hitting back: As he insisted he 'didn't do anything,' Vinny told him bluntly: 'Bro, you were f***ing in the bathroom with her and this and that' Explanation: 'I was giving her a tour of the house,' Ronnie shot back. 'I was being a nice hospitable person' As he insisted he 'didn't do anything,' Vinny told him bluntly: 'Bro, you were f***ing in the bathroom with her and this and that.' 'I was giving her a tour of the house,' Ronnie shot back. 'I was being a nice hospitable person.' He even blamed an 'automatic door' for him being in their in private with her, despite footage again showing clearly that he deliberately closed it to keep cameras out. Not so fast: He even blamed an 'automatic door' for him being in their in private with her, despite footage again showing clearly that he deliberately closed it to keep cameras out 'It feels like the world is crashing down': Ronnie expressed major regrets at the 'decision I made last night' But after his first awkward call with Jen - where he sounded like the injured party because she would not get angry at him - his actions soon seemed to hit home. 'My whole relationship just flashed before my eyes,' Ronnie said to camera. 'I don't want her to think that because of one drunken mistake is who I am. Because that's not who I am. I have a lot of damage control to do.' His actions soon seemed to hit home: 'My whole relationship just flashed before my eyes,' Ronnie said to camera He also admitted: 'My model has always been "deny deny deny" - but that s**ts not gonna work this time. 'It feels like the world is crashing down. The decision I made last night might have ruined my life. I'm f***ed.' He admitted feeling 'regret' and 'disappointment in myself,' saying to camera: 'I feel guilty. I disrespected Jen and I don't feel good. 'I've done it before, with Sam, and I keep saying, "I've grown up...." Have I really?' Reflecting: 'I've done it before, with Sam, and I keep saying, "I've grown up...." Have I really?' His doom seemed to clear on a guys' night out - with Deena Nicole Cortese, 31, forcing them to let her tag along - with him saying 'things could be a lot worse, and I've done worse.' 'I realized what I want, and that is to be with Jen and be a father,' he insisted. He called her again, and when she finally told him she loved him and would still visit he told her: 'It brings to my eyes because it makes me so happy.' Good times: His doom seemed to clear on a guys' night out - with Deena Nicole Cortese, 31, forcing them to let her tag along - with him saying 'things could be a lot worse, and I've done worse' Not good: Mike had taken Ronnie aside for a heart-to-heart earlier, but seemed upset when he kept teasing him about his tax woes that could land him in jail But he could not hide his nerves as he prepared for her arrival, with the others constantly teasing him about accidentally slipping up and revealing more details about what had gone on that was not seen online, including going in the bathroom together and him touching her behind in a hot tub. Mike had taken Ronnie aside for a heart-to-heart earlier, but seemed upset when he kept teasing him about his tax woes that could land him in jail. 'I'm not giving you the money, we all know what happens when you get the money, Mike,' he quipped at one point as his friend tried to collect cash for their food. Don't mess with him! Warning that he would have to 'check him' if he kept it up, Mike then threatened to make jokes in front of Jen, telling the others his greeting to her would be: 'Hi, I'm Mike, do you know Ron likes French fries?' Thanks a bunch! He had a bouquet of flowers ready for Jen ahead of her big arrival Warning that he would have to 'check him' if he kept it up, Mike then threatened to make jokes in front of Jen, telling the others his greeting to her would be: 'Hi, I'm Mike, do you know Ron likes French fries?' A teaser for the next episode suggests he followed through on the threat, saying pointedly at one point as they sat to eat: 'Just pass the French fries.' To make Jen's awkwardness even worse for the visit, the others - who lined the stairs to greet her as she arrived to a hug and flowers from Ronnie - dressed up their doll to stand in as Ronnie's ex Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola. Welcome party: The crew lined the stairs to greet Ron's girlfriend She's here! Jen had a smile on her face as she entered the lavish Miami house 'When you're meeting your ex's girl': To make Jen's awkwardness even worse for the visit, the others dressed up their doll to stand in as Ronnie's ex Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola 'When you're meeting your ex's girl, you gotta look better than her,' Vinny joked as the bathed the doll. Vinny, meanwhile, freaked out when he got what he thought was a bad haircut, saying: 'Every ounce of happiness just falls out of my body. I just prayed to God, and it didn't work. I now know there's no God because of my haircut.' He got it fixed later at a different barbers, joking that he 'feels like a new woman' and admitting: 'I am being a haircut diva, but my haircut is everything.' 'Vinny is more high maintenance than all three chicks in the house put together,' Jenni 'JWoww' Farley joked. 'How he dresses, how his hair has to be oh-so-perfect, how his meals have to keep him in a state of ketosis... Bro, you got, like, a bald head.' Vinny would soon be the one complaining after Deena ruined their boys' night out by repeatedly falling over and insisting they leave early. Best tressed! He got it fixed later at a different barbers, joking that he 'feels like a new woman' and admitting: 'I am being a haircut diva, but my haircut is everything' She's known for her impeccable sense of style. And AFL WAG Bec Judd cemented her sartorial credentials on Friday as she dressed in a head-to-toe designer ensemble at a 'mum's lunch' in Melbourne. The 35-year-old yummy mummy took to Instagram to flaunt her flawless figure in a sizzling hot-pink jumpsuit as she prepared to attend the St Kilda-based charity luncheon. Scroll down for video Ladies who lunch! AFL WAG Bec Judd flaunts her slender figure in sizzling hot-pink ensemble at 'mum's luncheon' in Melbourne The brunette beauty looked stunning in a colour-block asymmetrical jumpsuit by French fashion designer, Roland Mouret. The costly garb fell perfectly over her statuesque figure and further highlighted her ultra trim pins. Meanwhile the sleeveless one-shoulder design showcased her delicate decolletage and lithe arms. Designer duds: The brunette beauty looked stunning in colour-block asymmetrical jumpsuit by French fashion designer, Roland Mouret The Channel Nine TV host accessorised her envy-inducing outfit with a fuchsia YSL cross-body bag and a pair of red pointed high heels by Italian designer, Dolci Firme. In true Bec fashion she adorned herself with only the finest jewels by 'Australia's leading diamond broker and importer' - Paul Bram. Earlier in the year, Bec surprised her legions of fans by announcing her first foray into the literary world with 'The Baby Bible'. Accessories, accessories: The Channel Nine TV host accessorised her envy-inducing outfit with a fuchsia YSL cross-body bag and a pair of red pointed high heels by Italian designer, Dolci Firme The entrepreneur explained that her soon-to-be released book will cover all the ups and downs from pregnancy to their first year. Bec and her former AFL star hubby Chris share four children together, one-year-old twins, Tom and Darcy, Oscar, six and daughter Billie, four. Bec is set to go on a book signing tour with stops in Sydney and Melbourne and her hometown of Perth on May 11. She's an author too! Earlier in the year, Bec surprised her legions of fans by announcing her first foray into the literary world with 'The Baby Bible' She always looks preened to perfection at red carpet events. And Lara Bingle put on a typically stylish display on Thursday, as she attended the Tiffany & Co. Paper Flowers bash in New York. The model and beauty entrepreneur, 30, flashed a peek of her cleavage in a plunging gown which she accessorised with a $118,000 Tiffany diamond necklace. Taking the plunge: Lara Bingle flaunted her generous cleavage in a VERY plunging gown and $118,000 diamond necklace as she attends jewellery bash in New York on Thursday The brunette beauty certainly turned heads in the sleek column frock, adding height to her model frame with a simple pair of black platforms. The wife of Sam Worthington also accessorised with a pair of simple diamond stud earrings. Sweeping her glossy dark tresses into a severe middle-parting, she framed her striking features with minimal make-up. Ready for her close-up: Sweeping her glossy dark tresses into a severe middle-parting, she framed her striking features with minimal make-up 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 Instagram followers she would be staying within New York for two days on Thursday, before jetting off again. 'Dinner and diamonds': Lara dined alone in her New York hotel room while wearing $118,000 worth of Tiffany & Co jewels ahead of the event Husband and wife: Lara married Avatar star Sam Worthington in 2014 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, she continues to run her successful skincare and tanning brand, The Base. Lara currently resides in Los Angeles, after moving to the city 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. She won the heart of Bachelor Matty 'J' Johnson last year. And jewellery designer Laura Byrne spoke about getting engaged to her beau while discussing engagement rings on Thursday. The brunette beauty told Daily Mail Australia she is confident the handsome marketing manager would pick the perfect ring to propose to her with - if and when the time comes. EXCLUSIVE: 'He could give me an onion ring and I wouldnt care!' Laura Byrne drops engagement hint as she reveals Matty J knows she wants something 'a little less traditional' when it comes to the bling Speaking at the opening of her ToniMay store launch in Sydney, Laura said she would be happy with 'something a little less traditional.' Laura launched label ToniMay eight years ago in 2010 with her sister Alisha, and the brunette beauty opened her stand-alone store in Paddington this week. Stating that an engagement doesn't appear to be on the cards just yet, she said: 'Matt and I are really happy and if and when that happens, he could give me an onion ring and I wouldn't care!' When asked if she thought Matty J might feel under pressure to select a diamond dazzler that would impress the jeweller, Laura laughed: 'Everyone asks now, because what do you get a girl that designs engagement rings?' 'Matt and I are really happy': Laura and Matty J put on a loved-up display at her brand's official Sydney store launch on Thursday 'What do you get a girl that designs engagement rings?' Laura's ToniMay store opening coincides with the brand launching a selection of engagement rings as part of its new finery range (PICTURED) 'Were shying away from using white diamonds': Laura was once given a $22,000 diamond 'promise ring' from Matty J during the finale of the Bachelor, which she still wears (PICTURED) To coincide with Laura's ToniMay store opening, the brand has also launched a line of engagement rings as part of its new finery range. 'The reason why Im making this finery range is because were shying away from using white diamonds. Were creating something for the girl that wants something a little less traditional and thats definitely my desire and Im sure he knows that as well,' Laura explained. Speaking more on the range, the brunette beauty added: 'Some of it is engagement pieces, but its also forever pieces and one-of-a-kind pieces.' 'Were creating something for the girl that wants something a little less traditional and thats definitely my desire and Im sure he knows that as well': Laura added she'd be happy to wear one of her own designs as an engagement ring Family business: Laura launched label ToniMay eight years ago in 2010 with her sister Alisha, and the brunette beauty opened her stand-alone store in Paddington this week The store location, which was renovated by herself and Matty J, includes a spacious backyard where Laura plans to host clientele to discuss bespoke pieces. She gushed over her man in the interview, saying the Sydney-based marketing manager was so supportive of her efforts to grow her business. Matty J even sported Laura's new mens' range of rings on his fingers at the event, which the brand launched in January. The pair will live together in Matty J's Bondi abode from June and have a Bali holiday planned for later this month to mark their one-year anniversary. Male modelling sensation Jordan Barrett is back in the fashion capital New York. On Thursday, the 21-year-old stepped out for the Tiffany & Co. 'Paper Flowers' jewelry collection launch alongside Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes. He looked dapper for the event in a simple, yet sharp looking all-black ensemble. Just your average Thursday night out! Aussie model Jordan Barrett suits up as he attends New York event with former Victoria's Secret Angel Doutzen Kroes after saying he's just a normal '21-year-old' The model styled a black T-shirt with a blazer, tailored ankle length pants and a pair of horse bit buckle shoes by Gucci, for a touch of luxury. His shoulder length blonde locks were styled in his trademark beachy waves. Meanwhile the blonde Victoria's Secret veteran impressed in a vibrant red, 80s inspired power suit outfit. Stylish: The model styled a simple black T-shirt with a blazer, tailored ankle length pants and a pair of horse bit buckle shoes by Gucci, for a touch of luxury Power suit: Meanwhile the blonde Victoria's Secret veteran impressed in a vibrant red, 80s inspired power suit outfit She teamed her look with strappy stilettos and gold accents, including a necklace that dropped down to her decolletage and bracelets. Her hair was slicked back and hung down around her shoulders. The two models sent photographers into a frenzy as they smoldered for the cameras. Jordan's appearance at the New York event comes after he recently told The Daily Telegraph he's just a normal '21-year-old'. 'I am just working hard and making the most of the opportunities that come my way - but I am still the same kid,' he said. Speaking of his career, Jordan added: 'It all started happening very fast, and it has been pretty unreal. I never planned on being a model, it just all started happening.' Kerry Katona has revealed her infamous drug battle began when she was just 14, after her mother Sue gave her speed while pretending the substance was sweets. The 37-year-old former Atomic Kitten star gave a candid talk at The Hygrove, a new treatment centre, on Thursday, as she helped unveil the new and exclusive sanctuary in Gloucester during which she candidly discussed her addictions. Having previously revealed details of her addiction, she opened up about her first dabble in drugs, which occurred while she was in foster care and visiting her mum, who administered the stimulant during a trip to the pub. Tough: Kerry Katona has revealed her infamous drug battle began when she was just 14, after her mother Sue gave her speed while pretending the substance was sweets Kerry decided to bravely open up about her own battle in a speech as she urged people suffering to speak out, which she broadcasted live on Instagram. The mother-of-five has always been candid about her tricky relationship with her mother after she was placed in foster care from a young age, however during her supervised visits to see her mother she fell into the grasps of addiction. Revealing the start of her woes, she said: 'I know my mums watching. Im very proud of my mum and who she is today but my addition started back when I was 14. I was in a foster home and I was only allowed to see my mum via supervised visits. 'Im the only child. I went down to the pub on a Sunday, as one does from being up North, and I remember my mum going to the pub, she was with a woman at the time. 'Didn't know any better': Having previously discussed details of her addiction, she opened up about her first dabble in drugs, which occurred while she was in foster care and visiting her mum (pictured in 2012), who administered the stimulant during a trip to the pub 'My mum became a brief lesbian. And I walked into the toilet, I was 14, and she had this bag of white powder. I said: "Mum, whats that?" She said: "Its sherbet" before signalling that her mother dipped her finger in the bag and put it into Kerrys mouth. 'I went home to my foster parents and I must have been awake for 24 hours it was speed. For me that was normality. Every weekend wed go out and this is not me blaming my mum or me saying: "My mums a bad mum." 'My mum did not know any different. Nor did I and, as I got older and older, it went from doing speed and then I met a boy and he introduced me to cocaine, I must have been about 15, 16. 'I was a really, really good kid but when I became an adult it just kind of went downhill from there, really.' Open and honest: The 37-year-old former Atomic Kitten star gave a candid talk at The Hygrove, a new treatment centre, on Thursday, helping unveil the new and exclusive sanctuary in Gloucester during which she candidly discussed her addictions Honest and open Kerry revealed she was so normalised to drug use that she deemed people who did not use them 'snobs': 'For me, people who didnt do drugs, were snobs. I thought people who didnt do drugs were snobs. 'It was so surreal, until I realised, going through therapy, I thought: "Oh, well, that boyfriend does steroids but thats the norm, isnt it." And theyd go: "No, Kerry, that isnt normal behaviour. Not everybody does cocaine, not everybody does ecstasy, not everyone takes speed"'. The star shares daughters Molly, 14, and Lilly-Sue, 13, with ex-husband Brian McFadden; Heidi, eight and Max, seven with ex Mark Croft; and 22-month-old DJ with husband George Kay, who she split from last year. Her 2006 split from Brian appeared to shock the star into realising she had a problem, having moved to Ireland for him - yet returning home left her struggling. Struggles: Revealing the start of her woes, she said: 'Im very proud of my mum and who she is today but my addition started back when I was 14. I was in a foster home and I was only allowed to see my mum via supervised visits (pictured with Sue in 2005) She went on: 'I think it was probably after my first marriage breakdown. When I met my first husband, Brian, he came over to England and as far as I was concerned, he was my knight in shining armour. 'Unfortunately they dont exist. I just get a t**ser wrapped in tinfoil. He took me from England and took me over to Ireland and my life changed! I couldnt believe that I went to a nightclub in Ireland called Lillys and I stayed up until four oclock in the morning without taking any drugs! 'I was like, Oh my God! I cant believe this is happening! Just from having a really nice time, a really good time. I was buzzed off it, it was absolutely great. 'Unfortunately the w**ker left me Im joking, were on good terms And that meant I had to move back over to England but, me going back from where I started from, you lie down with dogs, youre going to get fleas. Hard times: Her 2006 split from Brian appeared to shock the star into realising she had a problem, having moved to Ireland for him - yet returning home left her struggling 'I think for me, after I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, my fame became so high, and being married to someone in Westlife and, when I did go over to England, all my friends around that time, they were all into the drugs. 'And I wanted to prove, Ive not changed. Im still our Kez, Im up for a good time. So Im buying all my friends coke and trying to get people to love me. I never grieved Brian which made me chase that first buzz, that first line, and it just went on and on and on.' Her relationship with Mark proved a crucial element of her drug use, as she claims the former taxi driver was also Sue's drug dealer. She said: 'My second husband, with him being my mums dealer, I only married him because I thought I was going to get the drugs for free. 'Not that I wanted to take the drugs. I was taking it more and more because I wanted him to stop me and show that he loved me but it didnt work out, he had me where he wanted.' Troubled: Atop her addiction, Kerry suffered a host of mental health problems, including a battle with bipolar which she revealed left her suicidal Atop her addiction, Kerry suffered a host of mental health problems, including a battle with bipolar which she revealed left her suicidal. During an infamous appearance on This Morning in 2008, she was seen to slur her words and appear dazed, which led to hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby quizzing her over using drugs prior to the interview - yet she put her trouble down to her medication for bipolar. She said: 'I was on lots of bipolar medication. Im sure you can remember the infamous interview on This Morning. If I was sitting on This Morning with my limb missing Because you cant see it, the family and the people surrounding the person suffering mental health problems or addiction dont understand it. 'Saying to me: "Get up out of your bed and get over yourself, Kerry," is like telling somebody in a wheelchair to get up and walk. Thats how severe my depression had actually got. I was having suicidal thoughts dont suffer in silence!' David Charvet enjoyed a supervised visit on Thursday with his daughter in Malibu, California. The 45-year-old French actor spent time with 11-year-old Heaven after splitting last month with wife Brooke Burke, 46. Brooke filed for divorce last month after nearly seven years of marriage. Supervised visti: David Charvet spent time with his daughter Heaven on Thursday in Malibu, California following a split with estranged wife Brooke Burke David had a two-hour supervised visit with the girl at an outdoor shopping center. They spent most of their time doing homework together. Heaven asked if they could go shopping, but the visitation monitor shut it down. David then pulled his daughter aside and they had a tender moment together. Study session: The French actor and his daughter spent their time doing homework together Divorce proceeding: Brooke filed for divorce last month to end her nearly seven-year marriage with David Baywatch star: The former Baywatch star kept it casual in a grey T-shirt and jeans Newly sing;e: Brooke, shown last month in Beverly Hills, filed for divorce in Los Angeles The visit ended with the girl and David going their separate ways. Brooke filed for divorce on April 6 from her second husband David. They also have a 10-year-old son Shaya together. The former Dancing With The Stars host spoke about the split in a blog post on Modern Mom. Family time: David and his daughter caught up in the presence of a monitor Shopping trip: The monitor shut down a request by his daughter to go shopping Tender moment: David and Heaven had a tender moment together Outdoor market: The girl spent time with their father at an outdoor shopping center in Malibu In her statement, the model said: 'There was nothing sensational that caused this divorce and nothing scandalous will surface, please believe that we are just finding new ways to remain a loving family. 'Big life decisions are hardest when made for the right reasons. It is sometimes painful to be strong and embrace change. I believe in letting go of ideas and dreams when the time is right. 'I am in that space right now as a woman and a mother, listening to my heart. Iam approaching this with gratitude and unconditional love.' She ended with: 'Thank you for the outpouring of love and support in the last days.' Brooke also has two children from her previous marriage to Dave Fisher. Rodrigo Alves had placenta intravenously administered into his veins as part of his latest unorthodox cosmetic enhancement. The TV personality, also known as Human Ken Doll, flew to Medico Beauty clinic in Prague on Thursday for the treatment. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the 34-year-old star revealed that he went under the knife again to have stem cell injections, vitamin cocktails, fillers, an eyebrow lift and botox in a bid to look younger. Shock new treatment: Rodrigo Alves had placenta intravenously administered into his veins as part of his latest unorthodox cosmetic enhancement Part of the treatment included having a drip that contains placenta, a treatment that has grown popularity in Japan. He explained: 'In order to carry on looking ageless and maintain all the plastic surgeries I have to have anti ageing treatments. 'I live in London but if I want to have an innovative out of the ordinary aesthetic procedure I have to travel abroad for it, because in London we just dont have it.' Transformed: The TV personality, also known as Human Ken Doll, flew to Medico Beauty clinic in Prague on Thursday for the treatment Ouch: Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the 34-year-old star revealed that he went under the knife again to have stem cell injections, vitamin cocktails, fillers, an eyebrow lift and botox Two's company: Rodrigo was comforted by his surgeon Dr Blanka at Medico Beauty clinic Looking good: Part of the treatment included having a drip that contains placenta, a treatment that has grown popularity in Japan Youthful: Rodrigo explained 'In order to carry on looking ageless and maintain all the plastic surgeries I have to have anti ageing treatments' Rodrigo told MailOnline on Wednesday that he was delighted to be no longer 'lonely' in Prague following a week of solo binge drinking in Miami, and hinted that he has since been considering more aesthetic procedures, despite saying he was 'done' with surgery. Speaking after his recent trip to the States, he admitted: 'My hotel was on Ocean Drive where all the lively bars are. And for eight days I felt permanently drunk. 'I found myself really lonely and drinking as a way to comfort myself.' Jetting off: He revealed 'I live in London but if I want to have an innovative out of the ordinary aesthetic procedure I have to travel abroad for it, because in London we just dont have it' Back under the knife: Rodrigo told MailOnline in January that he was 'perfect' and no longer wanted to embark of surgical procedures. Yet he had a change of heart before his procedure In good hands: Rodrigo has been delighted by the results of his latest procedure Feeling better: Rodrigo told MailOnline on Wednesday that he was delighted to be no longer 'lonely' in Prague following a week of solo binge drinking in Miami Purpose: Rodrigo reasoned: 'I think that if I ever stop looking after myself people will think that I have lost my will to live' After a brief stopover in London on Saturday, Rodrigo and flew to Prague to have some detox treatments. Rodrigo told MailOnline in January that he was 'perfect' and no longer wanted to embark of surgical procedures. Yet he had a change of heart before his latest procedure, reasoning: 'I think that if I ever stop looking after myself people will think that I have lost my will to live. 'My procedures are always done by pioneer doctors and the best in their fields which means that I have to travel out of the U.K. to have their services.' She's no stranger to flaunting her sartorial elegance on the red carpet. And Doutzen Kroes made sure all eyes were on her as she stepped out for the star-studded Tiffany & Co. Paper Flowers event and Believe In Dreams campaign launch in New York on Thursday. The former Victoria's Secret model, 33, couldn't be missed in a striking red blazer with a plunging neckline giving a glimpse of her black lingerie. Ravishing in red: Doutzen Kroes, 33, commanded attention in a plunging red suit at the Tiffany & Co. Paper Flowers event and Believe In Dreams campaign launch in New York on Thursday Doutzen slipped into a pair of matching red slacks, while shimmering gold strappy heels elongated her statuesque frame. Proving her model prowess, the Dutch beauty worked her best angles at the jewellery bash, styling her glossy blonde tresses into a sleek half up 'do. Doutzen teamed her eye-catching ensemble with glitzy gold accessories, and let her natural beauty shine through with neutral make-up. The Wonder Woman star exuded her supermodel glamour next to a host of other Hollywood and runway beauties, including Naomi Campbell, Elle Fanning and Kendall Jenner. Model prowess: The Dutch supermodel slipped her slender pins into a pair of matching red slacks, while shimmering gold strappy heels elongated her statuesque frame Posing up a storm: Australian model Jordan Barrett also posed with the catwalk queen Australian model Jordan Barrett also posed with the catwalk queen. While first making her name as a Victoria's Secret Angel, Doutzen has proved her career is going from strength to strength after unveiling her new swimwear range with Hunkemoller on Tuesday. The collection, titled Doutzen's Stories, will be available online from Friday, but the model recently debuted the garments at a sun-soaked catwalk event in Barcelona. Doutzen first rose to prominence after being chosen as Vogue.com's 'Model Of The Year' in 2005. Smiles: Proving her model prowess, the beauty worked her best angles at the jewelry bash, styling her glossy blonde tresses into a sleek half up'do Runway favourites: Doutzen, who posed alongside supermodel Naomi Campbell, teamed her eye-catching ensemble with glitzy gold accessories, and let her natural beauty shine She went on to be named a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2008, and represented the lingerie brand until 2015. In a recent interview with FASHION magazine, Doutzen discussed her success in the modelling world. Claiming it was purely down to genetics, she confessed: 'I'm very lucky I was born a certain way.' However, she acknowledged that the fashion world is completely different to when she first started, and that young models are now at an advantage. 'When I started out, the [fashion] industry was more playful and not as calculated,' she explained. 'Now, because of social media, everyone knows everything - there's all these 15-year-old girls who know all the big photographers and fashion designers.' They're set to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary next month. And Olivia Palermo, 32, and husband Johannes Huebl, 40, seemed to be kicking off their celebrations a little early, as they attended the New York City Ballet's Spring Gala at the Lincoln Center on Thursday night. The couple came dressed to impress at the glamorous event, and were sure to turn heads thanks to their bold yet stylish attire. Date night: Olivia Palermo, 32, and husband Johannes Huebl, 40, dazzled as they attended the New York City Ballet's Spring Gala at the Lincoln Center on Thursday night Olivia looked stunning in quirky brown printed co-ords, adorned with red flowers and had been fastened at the waist with a thin black belt. The fashion maven made sure her ensemble had an extra touch of glamour, as both the sleeves and hemline were lined with a beige marabou fur trim. The brunette beauty pulled her luscious locks back into a loose bun, and she brushed on a slick of pink lipstick and dark eyeliner to highlight her natural beauty. Olivia kept her accessories to a minimum so as to not distract from her bold outfit of choice, as she paired it with just a simple gold clutch bag. Chic: The couple came dressed to impress at the glamorous event, and were sure to turn heads thanks to their bold yet stylish attire Standing out: Olivia looked stunning in quirky brown printed co-ords, adorned with red flowers and had been fastened at the waist with a thin black belt The socialite's model husband was not going to shy away from the spotlight either, as he arrived in a stylish form-fitting tuxedo for the evening. Johannes looked handsome in the suit, which he wore with a white shirt, black bow tie, and matching loafers. The German star also added a pop of colour to his ensemble by slipping on a pair of bright orange socks which offset his formal attire. Olivia and Johannes tied the knot in June 2014, and they celebrated their 10th anniversary as a couple on November 15. The Brooklyn-based pair have yet to start a family, but they regularly attend fashion events and dote on their dog Mr. Butler. Happy couple: Olivia and her male model husband Johannes Huebl tied the knot in June 2014, and they celebrated their 10th anniversary as a couple on November 15 Furry nice: The fashion maven made sure her ensemble had an extra touch of glamour, as both the sleeves and hemline were lined with a beige marabou fur trim The beauty began her career alongside the likes of Louise Roe and Whitney Port on MTV's The City in 2008, and was then signed to Wilhelmina Models in 2009. Since making her big break as a model, Olivia has become well-known as a style icon and she can often be found on the front-row of the world's top fashion shows. Olivia also prides herself on living a very healthy lifestyle, as she visits her trainer six times a week and her dermatologist once a month. The Connecticut-born socialite spoke openly about her regime to InStyle in January, and said: 'I drink a lot of water, and I have berries every single day - something I've also picked up from my mother for antioxidants so that definitely helps. 'Also just making sure that you're relatively healthy - everything in moderation, but that also affects your skin as well.' She recently completed a 350-mile bike ride with Sport Relief in honour of her late boyfriend Billy Yates, who committed suicide last year. And Zoe Ball has paid tribute to the cameraman in a touching Instagram post on Friday, marking the one-year anniversary of his tragic death. In the moving post, the television presenter, 47, is pictured with a group of supporters, who are seen holding goofy snaps of Billy, 40. Gushing: Zoe Ball has paid tribute to the cameraman in a touching Instagram post on Friday, marking the one-year anniversary of his tragic death In remembrance of the BBC radio host's late partner, Zoe and her pals were clad in slogan tees emblazoned with the words 'Mates with Yates'. The Strictly Come Dancing star captioned the image: 'One year @billwahweewoo...sending out some big love, across the universe #mateswithyates'. Moreover, it emerged that Zoe tried in vain to help her boyfriend after two suicide attempts in the months before his death. Sad: In the moving post, the television presenter, 47, is pictured with a group of supporters, who are seen holding goofy snaps of Billy During an inquest, the extent of Billy's personal suffering was revealed as his friends and family heard how he had battled depression for years. It was revealed that troubled Billy, rammed his car into a motorway barrier and tried to commit suicide by inhaling toxic fumes before his death last May. He had concerns over a large tax bill but his relationship with Zoe was going well when he was found dead at his London home, Westminster Coroner's Court heard. Zoe and Mr Yates - who were first pictured together in February 2017 - had a 'beautiful relationship' and were the 'love of each others' life' after meeting through their TV work, the inquest was told by his family. After his first suicide attempt in November 2016, Zoe paid for a two-week stay in the Priory hospital where his mental health began to improve. Billy - who previously worked on Antiques Roadshow, The Xtra Factor and Famous and Fearless - was prescribed a cocktail of anti-depressants by his GP and private therapists throughout his life, the inquest heard. Zoe, the first female host of The Radio 1 Breakfast Show, had been dating Billy for several months before his sudden death. In March, the Lancashire native sobbed when it was revealed she had raised 1.2million for charity for Sport Relief. Zoe rode from her hometown of Blackpool to Brighton over a five day period. Ahead of the race, she said: 'I lost my boyfriend last year, and I really wanted to do something and find some hope for people that are living with mental illness. 'To help others find some help and see there are great projects out there. In 2016 over 6,000 people died by suicide. Help is really, really needed.' To contact the Samaritans, go to www.samaritans.org or call 116 123. She is set to star in the biographical crime-drama film Billionaire Boys Club. And Emma Roberts looked unrecognisable as she transformed into Joe Hunt's love interest, Sydney in scenes from the upcoming movie. The actress, 27, put on a racy display as she dressed as Pris from Blade Runner, wearing a mesh crop top, complete with a studded choker necklace, while Suki Waterhouse, 26, flaunted her model physique as she seductively stripped down to her underwear. Racy display: Emma Roberts looked unrecognisable as she transformed into Joe Hunt's love interest, Sydney in scenes from the upcoming movie Billionaire Boys Club Emma seemed to draw the attention of two men in her skin-flashing ensemble, protecting her modesty with strategically placed black tape. Smoking on a cigarette, the actress added to the edgy ensemble with a leopard print jacket and finger-less gloves. Sporting graphic black eye make-up and a choppy blonde wig, the American beauty looked dramatically different from another scene, in which she appeared to be having a ferocious argument with her love interest. Sets pulses racing: Suki Waterhouse, 26, flaunted her model physique as she seductively stripped down to her underwear Skin-flashing: The actress, 27, put on a racy display as she sported Pris from Blade Runner's costume, wearing a mesh crop top complete with a studded choker necklace Making an entrance: The American beauty sported graphic black eye make-up and a choppy blonde wig as she made her way to the party Meanwhile, Suki, who plays Quintana, switched things up from her usual blonde hairdo, donning a bright pink wig in one scene where she attempts to lure the affections her boyfriend Dean Karny. Stripping off her plush fluffy jacket, the star flaunted her toned physique and black lingerie as she seductively gazed into the crook's eyes. In another scene, the leggy model performed in a sultry Santa Claus costume at a Christmas bash. Flirty: Suki switched things up from her usual blonde hairdo, donning a bright pink wig in one scene where she attempts to lure the affections her boyfriend Dean Karny Putting on a show: In another scene, the leggy model can be seen performing in a sultry Santa Claus costume at a Christmas bash Rebellious: Smoking on a cigarette, the actress added to the edgy ensemble with a leopard print jacket and fingerless gloves The film, which will be released later this year, is based on the real-life Billionaire Boys Club from the 1980's, where group leader Joe Hunt (played by Ansel Elgort) led a group of wealthy boys in Angeles come up with a plan to get-rich-quick with a Ponzi scheme. However, the plan ends badly for all involved when Hunt and Pittman end up murdering investor and con-man, Ron Levin- who had allegedly swindled the group out of $4million. Volatile relationship: In another scene, Emma locked horns with her love interest Joe Hunt When authorities began to investigate the murders, Dean Karny, (Taron Egerton) the club's second-in-command and Hunt's best friend, turned state's evidence in return for immunity from prosecution. Hunt and club-security director Jim Pittman are later charged with the murder of Ron Levin, with the gangster leader being the only person in California's legal history to represent himself in a capital case and not receive the death penalty. Along with Billionaire Boys Club, Emma has three other projects in the pipeline, s Little Italy, Paradise Hills, and In A Relationship. Sam Cochrane proposed to his Bachelor In Paradise love Tara Paralovic with a 1.5 carat diamond sparkler on national television last Monday. And making it clear they aren't shy in the way of posting loved-up snaps since, the famed man-bun star took to social media to gush over his fiancee, yet again. With Tara sat on his lap and smiling sweetly, Sam was seen pouting with his eyes closed and leaning in for a cheek kiss. Scroll down for video 'You allow me to be me': Bachelor in Paradise's Sam Cochrane gushes over fiancee Tara Pavlovic as she sits on his lap wearing a 'fries before guys' T-shirt on date night Wearing an ever-appropriate T-shirt with 'Fries before guys' written on it, Sam captioned the post: 'You allow me to be me.' He added: 'Even though sometimes what I do makes little sense.' Fans were quick to comment, with the sweet snap rallying more than 16,700 likes within the first hour of it being posted. Cute couple! Sam Cochrane proposed to his Bachelor In Paradise love Tara Paralovic with a 1.5 carat diamond sparkler on national television last Monday Members of his 139 thousand following were equally quick to comment. 'You two are everything,' one fan wrote, while another added: ' You two seem so perfect for each other. It's so nice to see!' Smiles for miles! Fans praised the reality TV golden couple, gushing: 'You two are everything' Since the public airing of their engagement, the smitten love birds have been seen making the Sydney social scene rounds. Seen packing on the PDA, Tara and Sam showed face at Cruise Bar's inaugural Glamping Event on Thursday. Flaunting her diamond ring, it has been reported that the sparkler is a 1.5 carat Angeli Halo setting with a claw set band. The heat was on after the success of Channel 4s clever, contemporary, take on the Great British Bake Off. Unfortunately, torn between trying to match theirs or creating something to replace the original, the BBC didnt know whether to stick or twist with Britains Best Home Cook. Mary Berrys new show was neither radical nor traditional enough to be another GBBO - the new version let alone the old one. Mary Berry was as majestic as ever but even she was hampered by the innovations and omissions of the format, which managed to be a bewildering mix of too weird or too dull. Disappointment: Mary Berrys new show Britains Best Home Cook was neither radical nor traditional enough to be another GBBO - the new version let alone the old one Here are the main 10 reasons why Britains Best Home Cook didnt work or even make sense. 1. The title was not only unbelievably boring but bogus given that some of Britains Best Home Cooks couldnt make poached eggs either Unless youre a professional chef surely everyone cooks at home although has you ever heard anyone describe him/her-self as a home cook? Judging by the blunders in the first episode, the claim that the series will find the best home cook in Britain was also transparently rubbish. Dipa had never made a hollandaise and both she and Trevor couldnt even make poached eggs properly. Oh you are joking me! cried Trevor. Ive just cracked the yolk! 2. Mary Berry appearing without a meaner, more unpleasant, foil (a new Paul Hollywood in other words) Mary Berry may be the queen of TV cooking but part of her appeal on GBBO was the way she effortlessly put Paul Hollywood in his place and used his lack of refinement to show off her knowledge and class with a touch of regal mischief. Making her carry Britains Best Home Cook on her own was not only unfair, but self-defeating. She was so sensible she was almost dull. Missing ingredient: Mary Berry may be the queen of TV cooking but part of her appeal on GBBO was the way she effortlessly put Paul Hollywood in his place 3. Dan Doherty: TVs newest chef and its most boring yet Instead of giving one good judge for Mary to work with, BBHC had two bad ones. All we were told about Dan Doherty was he was an award-winning chef so he lacked even John Torodes authority on Masterchef. He was so nice and polite he made you pine for Paul Hollywood. 4. Chris Bavin: TVs first produce expert To paraphrase writer Gore Vidals withering putdown Dohertys partner-in-crime Chris Bavin had nothing to say just to add. As the self-styled king of produce he told the cooks: What Id like to see is you make the most of and RESPECT the ingredients youre using. He didnt say what this actually meant. 5. The absence of a Mel & Sue, Noel Fielding, or the old innuendo Claudia Winkleman was terrific as the friendly civilian liaising between the experts and the contestants. To be fair she was sweet and occasionally funny but given that shes not an actual comedian could hardly provide the humour that Mel & Sue or Noel Fielding have. There was so little humour even innuendo had been exiled. When Winkleman complimented Pippa on her buns and Trevor boasted about his nuts there was not a snigger. Lacklustre: Claudia Winkleman was terrific liaising between the experts and the contestants but given that shes not an actual comedian could hardly provide the humour of Mel & Sue 6. The innovation of a Big Baker house had been ruined by filling it with boring contestants Wow! said Trevor when he walked into the mock Tudor monstrosity the contestants were staying in. Its like youve tapped into my brain and asked; whats Trevors ideal kitchen? Mind you he was a farmer. It wasnt even the kitchen they were cooking in. (They were ferried to that in a fleet of people carriers like The Apprentice.) The house was a good idea but unlikely to cause the sort of tensions you wanted because the contestants were such a dull bunch: a compliance manager, a civil servant, a retired shopkeeper and so on. Id like to think that being a teacher helps me in this environment (cooking), said Philip, a maths teacher. Almost like a lesson plan. Bring back Jamie Oliver. Itll be strange sharing a house for the first time in 10 years, smiled Cyrus, a wine consultant. Leaving notes on the cheese and that kind of thing. Hold me back. 7. The radical innovation that turned out to be a choice between nuts and berries There were gasps when the contestants heard that the main ingredient in the second challenge was going to be decided by the winner of the first (Pippa). Unfortunately this promising innovation was immediately reduced to a choice of two between nuts and berries. Lucky girl eh?! Thats really hard... sighed Pippa. Well not really, you thought. Its one or the other. Why she couldnt have more (or an infinite number of options) wasnt explained. She went with nuts, prompting cries of that is nuts! from Dan Doherty as if it was the craziest thing hed ever witnessed. Wow, said Tobi later to his camera in his room in the Big Baker house. How I am feeling about nuts for tomorrow? He went for a Swiss roll with walnuts, like most of them. 8. When the contestants ignored the point of this radical innovation the judges didnothing Trevor in particular was flummoxed by the dilemma of which nut-based dish to make, or whether he actually knew one. I was thinking of Chicken Korma but then the chickens going to be the main thing then, he explained (correctly) before making it anyway. Josies pasta with chicken (and walnuts) was followed by a banana wrapped in filo pastry with almonds. Im not sure nuts are the defining element of this dish, suggested Dan ingeniously sensing that might be the banana. Delicious, declared Mary Berry. But I would rather have one dish that showcases nuts than two that didnt. Quite. Competitive: There were gasps when the contestants heard that the main ingredient in the second challenge was going to be decided by the winner of the first 9. The innovative play-off format let the worst cook off the hook Instead of any kind of Showstopper (the chance to make something extravagant), the third round was a play-off featuring only the worst cooks. Instead of just two, for reasons best known to themselves Mary, Dan, and the king of produce selected FOUR of the ten contestants, basically saying nearly half of them deserved to go home straight away. Mind you they had a point. Mary said she couldnt taste the peanuts in Dipas butter chicken, Fionas Swiss roll was upside down, and Josies burger was made out of prawns and beef. Trevor was such a meat fiend his burger had lamb, beef and bacon and still tasted grainy while his notorious chicken korma looked as if it had been cremated. Luckily for him, it didnt matter because only the play off determined which cook left the contest. Obviously this isnt a ideal situation, Trevor sighed faced with the task of making poached egg, asparagus, hollandaise sauce, and sourdough. After all it didnt involve any meat. OK, Claudia Winkleman reassured her. Dont be sad. Dipa, Trevor, and Josie messed up different combinations of the poached eggs, hollandaise, and asparagus, but not as badly, apparently as Fiona. The judges didnt really explain why, having sampled them in silence. As Claudia Winkleman said: its quite weird - the tasting without words because youre trying to just read their faces. True. 10. Like the loser it wasnt really clear why the judges voted Pippa as the winner There was one person who did a little more than everybody and the end was sheer brilliance! enthused Mary Berry, announcing whod made the best dish in round one. Personally I thought it must be Tobi, especially when Mary declared that Dan had independently selected the same cook for their presentation. After all Chris had said Tobis was beautiful! and claimed: that would not look out of place in an art gallery. Not bad for a burger. In fact the winner turned out to be Pippa in all three categories. Tobis only consolation came from the female contestant who worked as a childrens A&E nurse. Im a little bit worried that they thought Pippa was so amazing, said Q. She had a point, although no-one can call themselves Q unless they work with James Bond. Victorious: Like the loser it wasnt really clear why the judges voted Pippa as the winner : She was never afraid to dress-up and get into character during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing last year. And Gemma Atkinson channeled her inner super-villain on Thursday as she headed to Key 103 radio station in Manchester. The actress, 33, gave Margot Robbie a run for her money as she transformed into Harley Quinn for the annual Cash for Kids Superhero day. Transformed! Gemma Atkinson channeled her inner supervillain on Thursday as she headed to Key 103 radio station in Manchester Gemma layered the famous bomber jacket Margot Robbie sported in Suicide Squad atop of the slogan t-shirt 'Daddy's little monster'. As she headed into the studios, the ex-Emmerdale star donned a pair of black joggers before fulling getting into character, wearing a pair of blue and red silky shorts. She wore her long blonde tresses in bunches and finished off the Harley Quinn look with contrasting blue and red eye make-up. Superpowers: The actress, 33, dressed as Harley Quinn as she joined Denise Welch for the annual Cash for Kids Superhero day Adaptation: Margot Robbie made the outfit famous when she played the accomplice of the Joker in the 2016 film Suicide Squad Accomplice: The ex-Emmerdale star got into character by donning a pair of blue and red silky shorts Making a splash: Gemma proved she wasn't afraid to get stuck in and raise money for charity as she headed outside to jet wash a car The Strictly star appeared in high spirits, playfully sticking out her tongue as she posed with her radio breakfast co-stars, Mike Toolan and Matt Haslam, who were dressed as Black Panther and Super Mario. The star later took to Instagram to share a selfie with her arm wrapped around Denise Welch who had slipped into a black PVC Catwoman outfit. And Gemma proved she wasn't afraid to get stuck in and raise money for charity as she headed outside to jet wash a car. Allies: The star later took to Instagram to share a selfie with her arm wrapped around Denise Welch who had slipped into a black PVC Catwoman outfit Getting into character: Gemma appeared in high spirits as she posed with her radio breakfast co-stars, Mike Toolan and Matt Haslam who were dressed as Black Panther and Super Mario Gemma's boyfriend Gorka recently opened up about his relationship, after the pair went public with their romance of Valentines Day. Speaking to New! Magazine, the Spanish professional dancer, 27, spoke candidly about his blossoming romance, 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.' Causing trouble: Gemma layered the famous bomber jacket Margot Robbie sported in Suicide Squad atop of the slogan t-shirt 'Daddy's little monster' Getting into character: She wore her long blonde tresses in bunches and finished off the Harley Quinn look with contrasting blue and red eye make-up 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.' She won the hearts of the nation when she took on the role of Amy Pond in Doctor Who alongside Matt Smith. And Karen Gillan, 30, has enjoyed an equally successful career in the United States since then, as she's starred in a number of big blockbusters like Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle and, more recently, Avengers: Infinity War. Speaking candidly with American Way magazine for American Airlines in their May issue, the Scottish actress explained that moving to America made her feel like 'the shackles are off' as it gave her the freedom to pursue her dreams without judgement. More freedom: Karen Gillan admitted in American Way magazine for American Airlines' May issue that she feels free to pursue her acting dreams without judgement in America as 'the shackles are off' Having first caught the acting bug while she still lived in her hometown of Inverness, things weren't easy for the actress initially, as she admitted: 'Some people would be like, "Oh, she's very ambitious," like it's a negative thing.' As an avid horror film fan, one of Karen's childhood ambitions was 'to play the female equivalent of Jack Nicholson in The Shining,' a role she still hopes to make happen one day. Iconic Stanley Kubrick roles aside, the flame-haired beauty has done quite well for herself in the industry as she stars in a number of big-name franchises, and also has a key role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Troublesome: Having caught the acting bug while she still lived in Inverness, it wasn't easy for her at first: 'Some people would be like, "Oh, she's very ambitious," like it's a negative thing' Karen plays Nebula, a bald blue-skinned assassin who also happens to be one of the adoptive daughters to Marvel villain Thanos (Josh Brolin), who finally made his hugely-anticipated big screen debut in Avengers: Infinity War. His arrival onto the scene has been ten years in the making, and every film in the Marvel Universe up to now has been building to this moment, so it is great that Karen has such an integral role in the overall story. Despite her many appearances in the superhero franchise, Karen admitted that she still enjoys some form of anonymity across the pond because she's unrecognisable in the role - something she's grateful for. Unrecognisable: Karen plays Nebula in the Marvel films, a bald blue-skinned assassin who also happens to be one of the adoptive daughters to Marvel villain Thanos Free to be herself: Despite her many appearances in the superhero franchise, Karen admitted that she still enjoys some form of anonymity across the pond - something she's grateful for 'I don't know how I would cope if I couldn't just go get a coffee,' she said. 'Some of the actors I work with, they can't do that anymore.' Karen is aware that the hype around the comic book films may dwindle over the years though, and that's okay because she wants to do other things: 'The Marvel stuff isn't going to last forever. Even though I love doing it, I want to have variety in my life and career. 'I did not anticipate that I would be doing so many action sequences and playing these roleswhich is greatbut it's not really my forte.' And variety she will have, as she recently made her debut as both director and writer for her first feature-length film The Party's Just Beginning, which she also stars in. Future thoughts: Karen is happy to be in the comic book films, but she's okay if it doesn't last forever: 'Even though I love doing it, I want to have variety in my life and career Something new: The Guardians Of The Galaxy star is happy with her decision to go into film-making, as she said: 'It feels like there's change in the air, and it's exciting' Karen's full interview is in Mays edition of America Way magazine for American Airlines The Guardians Of The Galaxy star is happy with her decision to go into film-making, as she said: 'It feels like there's change in the air, and it's exciting. 'Not only to be given opportunities as a female filmmaker, but also to see other females looking at what I'm doing and then saying that they're going to start making films.' As well as making her own films, Karen is even interested in setting up her own production company that would act as 'some form of umbrella for other filmmakers.' She's quick to admit that she won't be leaving the film business permanently just yet, as she will only make her own company once she's 'stopped running around kicking people's butts.' As an A-list actress, she always looks her best. But after piling on 50lbs to play a mother-of-three in the new movie Tully, Charlize Theron found herself struggling with depression. Speaking on Good Morning America in Times Square on Friday she explained: 'I dealt with depression for the first time in my life, and I think a lot of it had to do with just the amount of processed foods I was eating and the amount of sugar.' Scroll down for video Mother of two: Charlize Theron swung by Good Morning America in Times Square on Friday to plug her parenthood-themed new movie Tully Out and about: Her slightly sheer full-sleeved dress featured a plunging V-neck and a neat collar, as well as a knee-length hemline that offered a glimpse of her svelte legs The 42-year-old said she found filming the movie intense. She was working with four child actors while caring for her own two small children. 'I had more injuries on this than I ever did on Mad Max or Atomic Blonde,' she laughed. 'It is hard being a mom!' The South African-born Oscar winner explained that 'I was working with a set of twins on the set, and a five-year-old and an eight-year-old, and then I had a one-year-old and a four-year-old in the trailer, and I literally just went from changing diapers on set to changing diapers in my trailer.' Charlize went on: 'It was just nonstop. I herniated a disc in my lower back.' Juggling it all: The 42-year-old had put on 50 pounds for the film, and worked with four child actors while caring for her own children during the shoot It is hard being a mom!': The Academy Award winner quipped that 'I had more injuries on this than I ever did on Mad Max or Atomic Blonde' The Prometheus star, who adopted her son Jackson in 2012 and her daughter called August in 2015, heaped praise on her own mother Gerda. When anchor Robin Roberts mentioned that Gerda had accompanied Charlize to a Tully premiere, the proud daughter joked: 'Well, I can't get rid of her.' Being more serious, she said: 'She is such a wonder. I mean, she's the greatest teacher that I have ever had, and she from the first moment I became a mom used to say this thing to me, and it's so profound. 'The greatest teacher that I have ever had': The Prometheus star, who adopted her son Jackson in 2012 and her daughter called August in 2015, heaped praise on her own mother Gerda 'She would just always say: "Tomorrow is a new day." And it was just such a good feeling of, like: "Oh, there is light at the end of the tunnel,"' Charlize shared. 'When you have those days when you're just feeling like: "This is never gonna stop." Again: "I'm the only person going through this. Nobody else is experiencing this. Why am I the only one?"' 'And she would just giggle and be like: "Tomorrow is a new day,"' said Charlize, who at 15 saw Gerda shoot the latter's abusive husband Charles dead in self-defense after he menaced his wife and daughter with a gun. 'You can't get complacent': The two-time BAFTA nominee confessed that 'Everything that I have ever done' as an actress has scared her - a tic she feels is a positive The two-time BAFTA nominee confessed that 'Everything that I have ever done' as an actress has scared her - a tic she feels is a positive. 'There's this little voice inside of me that always says: "They're gonna find out that you're lying. Like, they're gonna find out that you're terrible, and that you have no talent and you can't do this."' Her view is that 'that little bit of insecurity is the thing that makes you work harder, and you can't get complacent when you're in that space. And that's a good thing as an actor. I don't ever - I don't think I ever wanna feel like: "Oh, I got this." Like, I don't think that would be a good space to work from creatively.' On the go: Charlize was pap-snapped that day stepping out in New York City, wearing the same outfit she modeled on the ABC breakfast show Charlize was snapped that day stepping out in New York City, wearing the same outfit she modeled on the ABC breakfast show. Her slightly sheer full-sleeved dress featured a plunging V-neck and a neat collar, as well as a knee-length hemline that offered a glimpse of her svelte legs. A splotchy black and white motif was speckled over the dress' navy blue field, and the waistline was cinched in to emphasize her enviably trim frame. When you got it: A splotchy black and white motif was speckled over the dress' navy blue field, and the waistline was cinched in to emphasize her enviably trim frame Sweeping her blonde hair back, she balanced on black and white heels and accessorized with massive shades, as well as a tiny pair of hoop earrings. At another point on Friday, she was photographed emerging from The Mark Hotel, an Upper East Side establishment dating back to the 1920s. By then, she had swapped out her dress for a high-waisted pair of barely-there charcoal shorts cut off around her upper thigh. Charlize had buttoned herself into a translucent white blouse spattered with black polka dots, and her hair stayed up in its updo. On the move: Sweeping her blonde hair back, she balanced on black and white heels and accessorized with massive shades, as well as a tiny pair of hoop earrings Together again: Tully reunites her with Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, her director and screenwriter respectively on the 2011 darkly comic film Young Adult, co-starring Patton Oswalt Holding her pink-covered cellphone in one hand, she shoved the other in her pocket and ambled about on scarlet-accented black stilettos. On Thursday night's episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, she recounted her 'mortifying' audition for the 1996 Tom Hanks film That Thing You Do!. Charlize 'idolized' Tom, who wrote, directed and starred in the film, and her anxiety got the better of her as she tried to say the character Guy Patterson's name. 'I got so nervous I couldn't say Guy and kept saying Gay. And the more I tried to correct myself the more I said Gay. It was so horrible,' she remembered, gamely admitting: 'I don't know why he gave me the role, honestly.' Rollout: Charlize's new film, which currently commands a 90% rating on the review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes , premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23 Tully reunites her with Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, her director and screenwriter respectively on the 2011 darkly comic film Young Adult, co-starring Patton Oswalt. Charlize's new film, which currently commands a 90% rating on the review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23 and began its theatrical run this Friday in both the US and UK. From 2001 until 2010, she was in a relationship with Stuart Townsend - who shortly before had been cast as Aragorn in Peter Jackson's The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, only to be fired a day prior to the start of filming and replaced by Viggo Mortensen. She famously became engaged to Sean Penn in 2014, having dated him since the previous year, but over the summer of 2015 they split up. At another point on Friday, she was photographed emerging from The Mark Hotel, an Upper East Side establishment dating back to the 1920s Legs for days: By then, she had swapped out her dress for a high-waisted pair of barely-there charcoal shorts cut off around her upper thigh Out of her eyes: Charlize had buttoned herself into a translucent white blouse spattered with black polka dots, and her hair stayed up in its bun The blonde bombshell, who morphed garishly into serial killer Aileen Wuornos for an Oscar-winning turn in Monster, has complained of the drawback of being beautiful. 'Jobs with real gravitas go to people that are physically right for them and thats the end of the story,' she whinged to British GQ in 2016. 'How many roles are out there for the gorgeous, f***ing, gown-wearing eight-foot model? When meaty roles come through, Ive been in the room and pretty people get turned away first,' claimed the two-time Academy Award nominee. Holding her pink-covered cellphone in one hand, she shoved the other in her pocket and ambled about on scarlet-accented black stilettos She has previously described herself as an 'English rose with great boobs'. And Victoria Clay showed off her ample assets as she strutted down the beach in Broadstairs, Kent in an array of skimpy bikinis for her risque calendar shoot. The Britain's Next Top Model star, 23, set pulses racing as she flaunted her gym-honed figure in a black mesh bikini before changing into a plunging white swimsuit from the lingerie brand Bluebella. Busty: Victoria Clay showed off her ample assets as she strutted down the beach in Broadstairs, Kent in an array of skimpy bikinis for her risque calendar shoot Victoria ensured her curves were on full display in the figure-hugging bikini top, while the criss-cross style bottoms showed off her toned abs. In another snap, the starlet tousled her striking red locks as she modelled a plunging white semi-sheer swimsuit, which featured a zip going down to her navel. Soaking up the British sunshine, the model made the most of her shapely physique as she proceeded to stroll along the sandy shores in a selection of fishnet bikini tops and perilously low-cut swimming costumes. Risque: In another snap, the starlet tousled her striking red locks as she modelled a plunging white semi-sheer swimsuit, which featured a zip going down to her navel The tall redhead from Liverpool took advantage of the sunny weather to do the risque shoot at Botany Bay. The snaps were taken in and around the white cliffs and Victoria gathered a small crowd as she showed off her model prowess. One onlooker said: 'From a distance it looked like she was doing a lingerie shoot because the swimwear outfits were so risque. 'You could only tell it was swimwear when you got up close. Victoria was really good natured about the attention and chatted and did selfies with everyone who asked and then she just got on with the shoot.' Stunning beauty: The socialite later slipped into a black cut-out one-piece as she cooled off her feet in the water Revealing: Soaking up the British sunshine, the model made the most of her shapely physique as she proceeded to stroll along the sandy shores in a selection of fishnet bikini tops She complemented her pale complexion with deftly touches of make-up for the sultry beach shoot. Prior to appearing on Britain's Next Top Model, Victoria worked in admin and design and described herself as 'an English Rose with great boobs'. Elsewhere, the model has often promoted a body positive image on her social media, and has called for girls to 'wear whatever they please'. Working the camera: The flame-haired beauty certainly didn't shy away from parading her shapely physique as she sauntered down the sandy beach Daring: Victoria exhibited her ample assets in perilously low-cut swimming costume Victoria recently found herself in the spotlight as she was spotted enjoying a night on the town with Love Island's Marcel Somerville- just weeks before his split with Gabby Allen. The red-haired beauty found herself embroiled in rumours she made a beeline for him at an LOTD party in August 2017. According to The Daily Star, a very scantily-clad Victoria, rocked up to the party in an extremely revealing bondage-style lace bralet and was said to have headed over to talk with Marcel, who apparently looked shocked as he saw her outfit. Marcel has found himself in hot water after he admitted to cheating on his Love Island girlfriend Gabby during their romantic Mexico holiday, with new allegations from The Sun stating the Blazin' Squad star cheated on her multiple times with different women over the course of a few months. 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.' Nicky Whelan has asked for support in dealing with her relative's severe autism. The former Neighbours star and her sister Katie Brannaghan, have created a GoFundMe page, to raise funds for their brother Sean and his family. Sean's son Max, 11, has severe autism, and requires their home to be converted into a care facility to cater to his needs. Scroll down for video Support: Nicky Whelan [L] and her sister Katie Brannaghan [R] have asked for support in dealing with their relative's severe autism The GoFundMe page describes Max as having 'severe non-verbal autism,' a 'heart wrenching, extreme and complex disability that brings with it unfathomable frustration which results in him engaging in frequent, intense, aggressive and violent meltdowns.' Describing the house as a 'war zone' during Max's meltdown, Nicky and her family reveal that Max 'will hit out at anyone who is within his reach.' 'He will regularly tear doors from hinges and anything that is not nailed down becomes a weapon to be hurled across a room, regardless of what, or more importantly who is in the way.' Autism: Their brother Sean's son Max [pictured], 11, has 'severe non-verbal autism' that causes him to engage in 'frequent, intense, aggressive and violent meltdowns' The 36-year-old actress and her family are seeking support in the form of a $80,000 target on their GoFundMe page. The money would assist the family in converting their home into a care facility, to cater towards Max's needs, and ensure he has specialist carers around the clock. Nicky and her family write: 'This conversion to their home will mean that the rest of the children will move with their parents to a small rental house nearby that will provide them with the safety, peace of mind and normality that they all so desperately need. Cause: The family are asking for funds to be raised to renovate their home into a care facility to cater to Max's needs, and ensure he has specialist carers around the clock 'They will finally have a home that is free from meltdowns, violence and locks, an environment where they are free to relax - a normal home, a safe home, a normal life.' Sean and Liz are also parents to Tom, 13, Harry, nine, and Georgia, seven, and live in Mornington, Victoria. The GoFundMe page is currently sitting at $51,342. The stars aligned for Ellen DeGeneres' 60th birthday party last February. And perhaps Melissa McCarthy got a little too carried away at the A-list bash. The 47-year-old actress took some time out of her interview on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday to apologize to Jennifer Lopez for her 'aggressive' dancing. Scroll down for video Fun times: Melissa McCarthy took some time out of her interview on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday to apologize to Jennifer Lopez for her 'aggressive' dancing The 60-year-old host talked about how J-Lo was recently on the show and they talked about Ellen's birthday party as Ellen explained: 'She said you (McCarthy) were the most aggressive dancer she (Lopez) has ever seen in her life.' Melissa seemed embarrassed as she sighed while Ellen was describing J-Lo's comments. The Bridesmaids star said: 'First of all Jennifer, Miss Lopez, I would like to say sorry. 'But I'm sorry, there is something about when you're in the same room as her where you're like "this is my moment! This is my one shot!"' Hilarious: The 60-year-old host talked about how J-Lo was recently on the show and they talked about Ellen's birthday party as Ellen explained: 'She said you (McCarthy) were the most aggressive dancer she (Lopez) has ever seen in her life' Blast: The 47-year-old comedienne certainly seems to enjoy cutting the rug as Ellen called her an amazing dancer when showing this snap of them dancing at her birthday bash Ellen then brings up a picture of their dance session to which Melissa cringed and said 'Oh God!' She continued: 'Like she looks amazing and poised and it's like what's that little leprechaun doing over there?' Ellen explained that the two stars were having a dance-off then Melissa brought J-Lo around the party floor while knocking people out of the way. Hilarious: When introduced Melissa came out wearing a full-zip hoodie with Ellen's face printed on the front of the hood Pleased: The chat show host had a good chuckle at the gag Surprise: Melissa unzipped the hood to reveal herself Back in the day: The two joked about Melissa's old headshot in which she wore a tiny cowboy hat Melissa explained: 'I bet at the time, I thought "oh I'll pretend to be her security guard that will be enjoyable for her." No. God knows who I shoved, yelling just like "J-Lo is coming through!"' Ellen said that Melissa is that an amazing dancer as she shared an adorable photo of the two of them dancing together. The Mike & Molly Star said: ''Somehow when I hit a dance floor and there may be three drinks in me I think "I should do this professionally."' Good vibes: Melissa was joined by Life Of The Party co-stars Molly Gordon, Jessie Ennis, Debby Ryan, and Adria Arjona as they competed in flip cup She was later joined by her Life Of The Party co-stars as they played a party drinking game of flip cup. The comedy is centered around a woman played by McCarthy named Deanna who returns to college to complete her degree after her husband abruptly asks for a divorce. It also stars Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Christina Aguilera, Debby Ryan, Adria Arjona, Jimmy O. Yang, Molly Gordon, and Heidi Gardner. Life Of The Party - written and directed by Melissa's husband Ben Falcone - is set for release on 10 May in the UK with a US release following the next day on May 11. Showing her skills: Because she lost, Melissa had to dance battle Ellen's co-host tWitch Real Housewife Of Atlanta Kenya Moore is expecting her firstborn child after conceiving via in vitro fertilization. And the 47-year-old, who married businessman Marc Daly last year, has finally spoken about the experience, telling People that 'I don't have a horror story.' She shared that after taking a pregnancy blood test, she grew so impatient while waiting for the result that she picked up an over-the-counter test and discovered she was expecting before her doctor called her with the happy news. Mother to be: Real Housewife Of Atlanta Kenya Moore is expecting her firstborn child after conceiving via in vitro fertilization Kenya explained that 'they specifically tell you a start date to go and take a blood test because the ones you take over the counter, the pee-on-the-stick kind, dont always show the hormone level if its not strong enough so it may give you a negative when it's actually a positive.' At the doctor's office, 'I was nervous because I hate to have my blood drawn. And then the technician who was drawing my blood said: "Did you cheat?" And I said: "What do you mean?" And she said: "Most people go and theyll take the test over the counter." 'And I said: "No because its not as accurate as the blood test and I just dont want any false alarms or to be let down when I really wasnt supposed to be and its only a few hours away, so why not wait and get the proper results?"' And baby makes three: The 47-year-old, who married businessman Marc Daly last year, has finally spoken about the experience, telling People that 'I don't have a horror story' Yet and still, while 'driving home, Im like: "I should just go and get a test from the supermarket." So I rode to the supermarket and literally took the test in the supermarket bathroom because I could not wait. It was just overwhelming. I could not wait. And it was positive,' said Kenya, who is due late this year. 'And then I got the call from the doctor later that day confirming that I was indeed pregnant and had a positive test and what my HCG levels were. She said it was all really good news. I was like: "Oh my God, I dont know what to say!"' Of the whole experience, Kenya, who became a Real Housewife in 2012, said: 'Its weird because you hear other people's troubles with the injections and the hormones. And for me, it was a pretty simple process.' 'I could not wait': She shared that after taking a pregnancy blood test, she grew so impatient while waiting for the result that she picked up an over-the-counter test Before discovering she was pregnant, she had to inject herself with 'hormones to stimulate her ovaries' - a prospect that initially galled her. 'I tried it the first time, and Im unusually afraid of needles. I cant look when my blood is drawn and I hyperventilate when I see a needle. I hate it. But these needles, theyre very small. And it didnt hurt. And the first time I did it, it was okay. It wasnt any big deal. I just felt blessed because I was stronger than I thought I would be.' The couple want to wait for the birth to discover the sex of the baby because 'We want to be surprised and we want to make it as natural as we can at this point. We just want a healthy baby,' and 'don't really care' about the gender. He's known for being an icon in the fashion world. And Thomas Cohen showed no signs of stopping, as he stepped out in London's Mayfair on Thursday wearing a suave navy suit paired with a scarlet t-shirt. The SCUM front man, 27, was pictured holding hands with a friend as they strolled down one of the capital's busy shopping streets. Suave: Thomas Cohen stepped out in London's Mayfair on Thursday wearing a suave navy suit paired with a scarlet t-shirt Thomas completed his ensemble with a pair of leather ankle boots, and, ever the musician, headphones placed around his neck. His companion also wore an eye catching ensemble, pairing grey trousers with socks and sliders, and adding a pink silk tie to top off the look. Rocker Thomas is the widower of Peaches Geldof, who died in April 2014 after a drug overdose. Holding hands: The musician was pictured holding hands with a companion as he strolled down the street in Mayfair, London, on Thursday Widowed: Rocker Thomas is the widower of Peaches Geldof, who died in April 2014 after a drug overdose Heartbreaking: On discovering her body, Thomas recalled how his thoughts were forced to turn immediately to something as mundane as feeding his children their lunch, just one hour later The musician, who shares two sons with his late wife, spoke to German newspaper Bild about her fatal heroin overdose, on the third anniversary of her death. Thomas was left a single father after Peaches, daughter of Sir Bob Geldof, suffered a drug overdose aged 25 at their home in Wrotham, Kent, while Phaedra remained in the house with her for eight hours. On discovering her body, Thomas recalled how his thoughts were forced to turn immediately to something as mundane as feeding his children their lunch, just one hour later. New love: It was revealed in November 2016 that Thomas had found love once more with Zoe Sidel, who is the daughter of Rosanna Arquette It was revealed in November 2016 that Thomas had found love once more with Zoe Sidel, who is the daughter of Rosanna Arquette, as they were spotted out on the town following reports they had celebrated her birthday together in October. Zoe, 23, is the only daughter of actress Rosanna and her restaurateur ex-husband John Sidel and is both an artist and an actress. She had a small part in 2013 film The Bling Ring and is also set to appear in James Franco film The Institute. They're surely the most famous double act in the world of sci-fi. And a new clip from Solo: A Star Wars Story sheds light on how Chewie first teamed up with Hans Solo. The Wookie leaps into the co-pilot seat to help out Alden Ehrenreich's Solo and Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra as they struggle to control their ship. In the hot seat: Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer sees Chewie turn co-pilot for the first time... as he helps out Alden Ehrenreich's Han, seen here, and Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra Iconic: The action in the trailer takes place onboard the Millennium Falcon The trailer was released on Friday morning, in honor of May 4, aka Star Wars day. The action takes place onboard the Millennium Falcon, during a desperate race away from the Imperial Fighters. 'We need to divert auxiliary power to the rear deflector shield,' instructs Solo, as he takes charge of steering through what appears to be a huge electrical storm. With Donald Glover's youthful version of Lando Calrissian busy elsewhere, an obviously clueless,Qi'ra replies: 'We definitely do!' Let's swap: Chewbacca at first sits behind Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra, before realising she doesn't know how to fly the ship Chew on that! Realizing she has no idea what she's doing, Chewie leans forward, flips a few switches and solves the problem A lifelong partnership in the making: Shocked, Solo asks: ' Since when did you learn to fly?' Realizing she has no idea what she's doing, Chewie leans forward, flips a few switches and solves the problem. Shocked, Solo asks: 'Since when did you learn to fly?' Chewie answers, with Solo replying in shock: '190 years old? You look great'. Qi'ra gives up her seat, heading off to help Lando, while Chewie takes up residence beside his new partner. Setting the scene: Solo: A Star Wars Story follows the story of Solo, the captain of the Millennium Falcon and one of the great leaders of the Rebel Alliance Solo: A Star Wars Story follows the story of Solo, the captain of the Millennium Falcon and one of the great leaders of the Rebel Alliance. The movie will focus on a younger version of the iconic titular character, originally played by Harrison Ford. Solo and Chewbacca will be seen first meeting Calrissian and they will also encounter Woody Harrelson's alter-ego Beckett, who is believed to be a mentor to young Han who guides him on his journey to becoming a space smuggler. Making their escape: The dramatic scenes see the Falcon chased by the Imperial fighters during an electronic storm Space race: The short trailer promises plenty of action The new film even had the input of George Lucas, after director Ron Howard agreed to use a joke suggested by the legendary filmmaker. The 73-year-old handed over the reins from Lucasfilm to Disney in 2015, with fans assuming that would be his last dealings with the movies. However, Lucas has remained supportive of the forthcoming Han Solo spin-off, and one day he came over and interrupted Howard - who took over the director's chair from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who left the project due to creative differences - to suggest a quip on set, and he immediately agreed to add it in. Not flying Solo: The movie will focus on a younger version of the iconic titular character, originally played by Harrison Ford New ship: Qi'ra hasn't flown the Falcon before Treat in store: In the film Solo and Chewbacca will be seen first meeting Calrissian and they will also encounter Woody Harrelson's alter-ego Beckett, who is believed to be a mentor to young Han who guides him on his journey to becoming a space smuggler Appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Howard recalled: 'We were doing a scene and he was trying to stay out of the way, but he did lean over and he said, "You know what Han would really do there?" 'I said, 'What?' And he told me the joke, he gave me a little joke. 'And I said [to the crew], 'Hey, guess what? Here's what we're gonna do in the next take.' So I know when I hear a good idea.' Howard is thankful that he's stay on good terms with Lucas, despite him selling Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Company. He said: 'We've remained friends, so for me it was an incredible show of support and respect and it meant the world to me that he would go out of his way to show up.' Kanye West doesn't listen to the opinions of mother-in-law Kris Jenner or wife Kim Kardashian, a new report claims. After the rapper's latest controversial statements and weeks of frenzied Twitter activity, Kris and the rest of the family are reportedly worried about the hip hop star damaging the Kardashian brand. 'Theyre freaking out. They can try to dispute it, but its true,' a source told People. 'They're freaking out': Kanye West 'doesn't listen' to Kris Jenner or wife Kim Kardashian, a new report suggests, after weeks of unpredictable behavior from the rapper 'Kris is used to being able to control her girls and their brand, and this is something that shes not used to. She cant control it, and she so badly wants to be able to,' The insider added that while Kris' daughters listen to her and trust her advice, Kanye does not. 'Kanye does not have a good relationship with her, contrary to what she may say, 'She is the mama bear trying to protect her daughters and the brand that she has worked so tirelessly to build over the last however many years. This hurts their brand.' 'Kris is used to being able to control her girls and their brand, and this is something that shes not used to.' a source said of Kris, 62 The source explained that telling Kanye not to do something, such as tweeting, just 'fuels him to tweet more'. 'He thinks that he can do a better job managing his brand and Kims brand.' they added. 'Kris cant manage Kanye. She wants to and shes trying to, but she cant. No one can. Thats why Kim is trying in her way to add humor to a situation thats really sad.' In a pre-taped interview with Ellen DeGeneres which airs Friday, Kris addressed the Kanye issue. 'Kris cant manage Kanye. She wants to and shes trying to, but she cant. No one can' the source told People. The 40-year-old rapper is pictured out earlier this week in LA 'You know, Kanye has a lot of love for all of you, all of his fans, and everybody whos been there to support him forever, 'And, I know that he will explain himself in his own way,' she continued. 'And, I think that anything he does and I just think this is important to say is he always does things with really good intentions. So, Im going to let him explain himself when the time is ready and I just keep rolling on. Trying to keep up ' Among Kanye's controversial statements in recent weeks was his comment that 'slavery was a choice' when he appeared on TMZ last week. He also, amid his epic tweeting session last month, declared his support for President Trump and donned the red Make America Great Again cap for photos he posted to Twitter. Among Kanye's controversial statements in recent weeks was his comment that 'slavery was a choice' when he appeared on TMZ last week On Thursday the rapper left Los Angeles and jetted to Wyoming to finish up the five albums he is working on. Sources for TMZ claim that the Famous hitmaker is now at his secluded home in the cowboy state and that he will be there for at least several weeks. The Faded hitmaker has struggled with his mental health in recent years and suffered a breakdown in the fall of 2016 which he recently attributed to the stress of Kim's Paris robbery among other factors. He told radio presenter Charlamagne Tha God: 'Fear, stress, control, being controlled, manipulation like being a pawn in the chess piece of life. Stressing things that like create validation that I didn't need to worry about as much and just the concept of competition and being in competition with so many elements at one time.' Teen Wolf and American Horror Story star Colton Haynes' marriage to Jeff Leatham is over after just six months. The 29-year-old actor and the 46-year-old celebrity florist wed in a lavish Palm Springs ceremony officiated by Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner in October. Sofia Vergara and husband Joe Manganiello, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lisa Rinna, Chelsea Clinton, Dylan O'Brien, Melanie Griffith, Emily Rickards, Cheyenne Jackson, Billie Lourd and Leslie Grossman were among the guest list. Insiders claim the marriage is now over, however it is unclear what caused the split, TMZ reports. Split: Colton Haynes' marriage to Jeff Leatham is over just six months after they wed in a star-studded Palm Springs ceremony Matriarch: Kris Jenner officiated the glitzy wedding It follows are heartbreaking few months for Hayes - his mother Dana died in March after being diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and kidney failure. Hayes recently unfollowed Jeff on Instagram, and appears to have removed photos of Jeff from his social media page. He has also just released a song called Man It Sucks. Leatham proposed during a romantic getaway to the Las Ventanas al Paraiso resort in Cabo, Mexico in March 2017. The 'Arrow' actor previously revealed he had struggled with mental health issues before coming out as gay in 2016. Short lived: Hayes, pictured here on the big day, recently unfollowed Jeff on Instagram In a diary excerpt from November 2014 which he shared with Paper magazine, he wrote: 'I honestly wake up after five hours of sleep wide-awake. It's probably from the bottle of wine I drank before I finally fell asleep/passed out or the amount of pills I'd had. I read up on why I'm experiencing numbness and lack of circulation in my hands and feet and it's due to the stimulants I've been taking for quite some time now... 'I'm so closed off to the world that I can't even get up enough courage to go in public. I'm afraid of people and have become agoraphobic... 'To the public eye, my possibilities are endless, but in my mind, I'm fading away and battling to hide the pain and emotion that has plagued me my entire life. I've cheated, lied and finally owned up to it...I am lonely. This is my fault, though. I don't want to let anyone in. People don't understand the things you give up when you step into the limelight. No one really wants to get to know you.' But he shared another entry from November 2016, revealing he was the happiest he'd ever been after 'taking control' of his life by seeking help and speaking out. It's time to say a few more goodbyes, Grey's Anatomy fans. A preview for the penultimate episode of season 14 of the ABC medical drama teases the exits of both Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw. The way they're being written out of the show differs drastically, based on the clip and the accompanying episode description. A preview for the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy teases the exit of both Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw According to the network, this is what'll go down during season 14, episode 23: 'One of Grey Sloan Memorial's own is seriously injured, making the team reflect on what is truly important to them. Meanwhile, Nicole Herman (Geena Davis) pays a visit to Grey Sloan and talks to Arizona about an exciting opportunity.' The injured party appears to be April Kepner, played by Drew. When the clip opens, viewers see Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) running along until he spots something that stops him in his tracks. His shock suggests he may have stumbled upon April, who's fighting for her life. Shortly after, she's seen on a stretcher while doctors perform chest compressions. As for the Grey Sloan doctor receiving an exciting opportunity, that appears to be Arizona Robbins, played by Capshaw. In a previous episode, Arizona called ex-wife Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) to tell her she believed their daughter needed to come live with her in New York. She added that she felt she should accompany her. This appears like the perfect way for Arizona to pull out from her full-time role on Grey's Anatomy. RT if you wouldn't be opposed to Arizona showing up at your door. #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/ILPD7V1yOH Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) May 4, 2018 Grey's Anatomy Season 14, episode 23 preview The Grey's Anatomy Season 14, episode 23 preview was uploaded on YouTube on Thursday. It's been viewed more than 100,000 times since then. Does April Kepner die? Based on the trailer for season 14, episode 23 of Grey's Anatomy, it appears that April Kepner dies. She's shown lying seemingly lifeless in a hospital bed as her estranged husband Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) rushes to visit her. It appears there's a flat line on the heart monitor at the time. When is Grey's Anatomy on? Grey's Anatomy is on ABC on Thursdays at 8pm ET. She was glimpsed in John F. Kennedy International Airport that morning. And by Friday afternoon, 20-year-old Elle Fanning was hard at work on an outdoor photo-shoot in the TriBeCa area of Manhattan. The little sister of Dakota Fanning bared a bit of midriff when she raised her arms, causing her layered crop tops to ride slightly up. Workaday: On Friday afternoon, 20-year-old Elle Fanning was hard at work on an outdoor photo-shoot in the TriBeCa area of Manhattan She let her family's signature platinum blonde hair down, sweeping it away from her face as crew members were seen milling about behind her. Elle teamed the white T-shirt with a wide-set pair of faded jeans, slipping into a pair of black open-toed slippers decorated with metallic studs. A claque of staff held up white screens around Elle, and a photographer wearing a 'BEACH BUM' T-shirt snapped away at the starlet. Hinting: The little sister of Dakota Fanning bared a bit of midriff when she raised her arms, causing her layered crop tops to ride slightly up Company: She let her family's signature platinum blonde hair down, sweeping it away from her face as crew members were seen milling about behind her A bit of shine: Elle teamed the white T-shirt with a wide-set pair of faded jeans, slipping into a pair of black open-toed slippers decorated with metallic studs At another point in the photo-shoot, Elle swapped out the crop tops for a full-length grey sweater, throwing on an idiosyncratic jacket. One half of her wrap was entirely white, whereas the other half was distressed blue denim accented with massive tears, including at the shoulder. Elle, who was wearing the same jeans and slippers she teamed with the crop tops, had a smile on her face as she trod the cobblestones. Camera ready: A claque of staff held up white screens around Elle, and a photographer wearing a 'BEACH BUM' T-shirt snapped away at the starlet Half-and-half: At another point in the photo-shoot, Elle swapped out the crop tops for a full-length grey sweater, throwing on an idiosyncratic jacket Split: One half of her wrap was entirely white, whereas the other half was distressed blue denim accented with massive tears, including at the shoulder The white screens made a reappearance while she wore this outfit, and she flung her hands up into the air as the 'BEACH BUMP' photographed her. Elle was also seen sitting on a wooden block while wearing this outfit and apparently having her hair adjusted by a member of staff. The Georgia-born actress wore yet a third outfit during Friday's New York City photo-shoot - though again, the jeans and slippers remained the same. Step lively: Elle, who was wearing the same jeans and slippers she teamed with the crop tops, had a smile on her face as she trod the cobblestones Posing up a storm: The white screens made a reappearance while she wore this outfit, and she flung her hands up into the air as the 'BEACH BUMP' photographed her Moment of rest: Elle was also seen sitting on a wooden block while wearing this outfit and apparently having her hair adjusted by a member of staff She draped her figure in a beige slightly shiny top with a plunging neckline, buttoned on a grey overcoat and modeled a glinting necklace. The 2001 film I Am Sam was Dakota's ticket to fame, and she has sustained a career in the movies ever since, including in the forthcoming Oceans 8. Elle also had an appearance in I Am Sam, playing a two-year-old version of Dakota's character - and this part happened to be her film debut. In the offing: Her upcoming work includes an eponymous biopic of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley helmed by by Haifaa Al-Mansour, the first female Saudi Arabian director Premise: The movie follows Mary - daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft of A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman fame - as she strikes up her romance with Percy Bysshe Shelley Right around the corner: Mary Shelley, which premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, will open in American movie theaters May 25 Her upcoming work includes an eponymous biopic of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley helmed by by Haifaa Al-Mansour, the first female Saudi Arabian director. The movie follows Mary - daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft of A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman fame - as she strikes up her romance with Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mary Shelley, which premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, will open in American movie theaters May 25. Oceans 8 will bow two weeks later. Beginnings: Elle had an appearance in I Am Sam, playing a two-year-old version of Dakota's character - and this part happened to be her film debut Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring left little to the imagination on Friday as she attended a Miss Manchester bash in the city's Hilton Hotel with her newlywed co-star Ross Adams. The 40-year-old soap siren showed off her jaw-dropping cleavage in a plunging pink frilled frock as she arrived hand-in-hand with her pal for a night of partying, highlighting her tanned complexion with a matching fuchsia lip. Stephanie was joined by co-star Ross, 33, who appeared to leave his new husband Phil Crusham at home, just two weeks after the couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony attended by many of the Hollyoaks cast. Gorgeous: Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring, 40, put on a busty display in a plunging pink frock on Friday as she attended a Miss Manchester bash with co-star Ross Adams, 33 Stephanie - who plays Cindy Cunningham on the Channel 4 soap - put her ample cleavage on full display in the low-cut pink wrap frock covered in frilled detailing, highlighting her slender physique with off-the-shoulder sleeves and a thigh-high split. The Dancing On Ice star finished the colourful look with silver strapped heels and some dainty jewelery pieces. Allowing the frock to take centre stage, Stephanie kept her blonde tresses styled into a sleek side ponytail and highlighted her flawless complexion with a matching statement lip. Sensational: The soap siren flaunted her incredible cleavage in a low-cut pink frilled frock, with her slender physique accentuated by off-the-shoulder sleeves Pals: Stephanie was joined at the event by co-star Ross, just two weeks after attending his wedding to long-term boyfriend Phil Crusham Stephanie arrived for the event with co-star Ross, who put on a dapper display in a sharp navy blue blazer and striped shirt finishing the look with grey chinos and simple navy shows. The star - who has played Ross Drinkwell on Hollyoaks since 2015 - recently tied the knot with long-term boyfriend Phil in a lavish Lancashire ceremony, attended by many of his co-stars including Nikki Sanderson, Stephanie and Jennifer Metcalfe. Also spotted arriving for the lavish bash was Big Brother Chanelle McCleary, who put on a leggy display in a tiny semi-sheer nude dress with just carefully placed rhinestones to preserve her modesty. Fun night: Also joining Stephanie at the bash was Big Brother star Chanelle McCleary, who arrived hand in hand with fashion rebel Jsky Outlandish: The former best friend of actress Stephanie Davis appeared to be channelling Wesley Snipes in the 90s action film Blade by teaming leather with a long checked robe Joining Chanelle in arriving for the bash was fashion rebel Jsky, who appeared to be channelling Wesley Snipes in the 90s action film Blade by teaming a leather biker gilet with a long checked robe and black 'flatform' shoes. Model Grace Teal showed off every inch of her eye-turning curves in a low-cut semi-sheer black frock with a thigh-high split, finishing her look with punky studded heels. The raven-haired beauty's enormous cleavage was difficult to miss as the dress sported a sheer lace front, as she accentuated her tanned complexion with a dramatic smoky eye and pink lip. Revealing: Grace Teal showed off her amazing curves in a thigh-high split semi-sheer frock with plunging cleavage Residents of a house in Sydney's inner west which was ploughed into by a garbage truck won't be able to return home for some time after asbestos was discovered in the property. The asbestos was identified after the truck smashed into the Lilyfield house on Wednesday with Inner West Council general manager Rik Hart saying the property has been cordoned off while the removal process is underway. The truck began to roll down Gladstone Street after the driver got out to empty bins. He jumped back in the cabin but the truck still hit a boat, a caravan and a car before smashing into the side of the house. Two children inside at the time - a 10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl - luckily escaped uninjured. The 35-year-old driver was also uninjured but was taken to hospital for mandatory blood and urine tests. NSW Police and the Roads and Maritime Services on Thursday inspected Inner West Council's fleet at its Leichhardt depot and issued six defect notices for minor faults. The truck involved in the crash has not yet been inspected as it remains lodged in the house. Council says it will work with the home owner to rectify any damage and ensure the residents have accommodation while the work takes place. The jury in the trial of a Queensland police officer accused of raping and choking a woman on their first meeting continues its deliberations. Kurt Nesterowich has this week been on trial at Brisbane District Court after pleading not guilty to four charges, including two of rape. Crown prosecutor Matthew Hynes has argued he attacked his alleged victim, who can't be identified, despite her setting clear boundaries. That was conveyed in several texts, with one stating "are you coming over for sleep? or expecting booty because I'm telling you no sex will be had". The question of consent is central to deliberations, the court has heard. The jury will also consider whether Nesterowich, who was drunk when he arrived at the woman's home in the early hours of April 16, 2016, was so intoxicated he had an honest and reasonable belief there was consent. Brazilian authorities will help NSW detectives and the Australian Federal Police track down a man being treated as a person of interest in the murder of Cecilia Haddad. Kayakers found the Brazilian's fully-clothed body floating in the Lane Cove River at Woolwich on Sunday morning, 6km from her Ryde home in Sydney's northwest. Detectives are treating the 38-year-old's death as a murder after receiving the results of a post-mortem examination conducted on Wednesday - but few details have been released. Investigators, with the help of the Australian Federal Police and Brazilian authorities, are now seeking Ms Haddad's former lover after he flew home to Rio De Janeiro over the weekend. Police say the man, Mario Marcelo Santoro, is considered a person of interest. AAP understands NSW Police spent Thursday interviewing Ms Haddad's friends in Sydney who have provided them with information critical to piecing together her final day. They also flew to Perth on Thursday to interview other friends and former colleagues. Detectives have yet to establish how the popular 38-year-old's distinctive red Fiat came to be parked at West Ryde train station on Sunday afternoon. Ms Haddad's ex-husband, Felipe Torres, who detectives believe was in Perth at the time of her death, flew from Western Australia to formally identify her body. A widening corruption crisis at the Ipswich City Council has prompted the Queensland government to appoint an administrator after its mayor stepped down and resigned from the Labor Party. The council has been asked to show cause why it should not be dismissed after the Crime and Corruption Commission charged its second mayor in less than 12 months. Andrew Antoniolli, who replaced Paul Pisasale in August, has been charged with seven counts of fraud. Acting Mayor Wayne Wendt downplayed the most recent allegations to a paperwork and record-keeping error, relating to money given to charity. But Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said he had lost confidence in the council's ability to function effectively. Twelve people, including the two mayors and two chief executive officers, are facing a total of 66 charges stemming from the CCC's probe into the Labor-affiliated council. Mr Hinchliffe will next week ask cabinet to consider strengthening his legislative powers to dismiss councils when they lose the trust of communities. The Queensland government has vowed to work with the agricultural industry after contentious laws restricting farmers' rights to clear vegetation from their properties passed state parliament. The state Labor government pursued the controversial legislation to restrict land clearing after a relaxing of regulations under the previous Liberal National Party government. Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham says the reforms are pivotal to protecting the state's resources, including the Great Barrier Reef, for future generations. "Today marks the delivery of our promise to tackle unsustainable clearing for all Queenslanders," Dr Lynham said on Thursday. The laws have been welcomed by environmental campaigners who say it's a step forward for the state. "Today the Queensland government showed leadership in passing new laws to tackle the state's deforestation crisis, which is seeing a Gabba-sized area of forest and bushland bulldozed every three minutes," said the Wilderness Society Queensland Campaign Manager Gemma Plesman. WWF-Australia conservation director Paul Toni said it was a win for koalas, wildlife and the Great Barrier Reef. "This is one of the most significant conservation victories in Australia in recent years and WWF's supporters helped to secure this result," Mr Toni said. The laws have come under intense scrutiny from graziers who say they will be forced to downsize their businesses, leading to a loss of breeding stock and jobs in regional communities already struggling to hold a workforce. Farmers from across Queensland marched on state parliament to protest the laws on Tuesday, telling reporters they fear a flow-on effect down the supply chain, resulting in consumers being charged higher prices for beef. But the state government says the legislation will restore regrowth, better safeguard the environment against climate change and protect native wildlife. "We are at a point where we need to act on the matter before us," Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner told parliament this week. Mr Furner acknowledged the laws did not have the backing of industry, but promised to work with farmers to ensure business would grow. A 31-year-old man has been charged with murder after a man's body was found in a unit in Sydney's west. Police were called to a Villawood unit on Thursday afternoon after reports of an assault when they found the 41-year-old man's body inside. The 31-year-old was arrested in a nearby street and was taken to hospital where he was sedated and under police guard, NSW Police said in a statement. He has since been charged with murder and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and is due to face Bankstown Local Court on Friday. It's believed the two men were known to each other, but not related. A north Queensland mum wants all forms of bullying to be declared a crime, saying it drove her teenage daughter to commit suicide. Joanne Piva has petitioned the state government to amend the Criminal Code so that bullying that causes psychological harm, self-harm, or incites suicide is a crime punishable by law. Breannah Piva was 16 when she took her own life. Her family is reportedly preparing to sue the state education department over bullying she suffered at high school before her death in 2015. Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467. Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). Cabinet minister Mathias Cormann has questioned the need for a referendum on overturning a rule banning dual citizens from federal parliament. His WA Liberal colleague Linda Reynolds, who chaired a federal inquiry into section 44 of the constitution, has called for a national vote to scrap the provision. "But I'm personally not persuaded that the Australian people disagree with the proposition that a member of the federal parliament should be an Australian citizen only," Senator Cormann told reporters in Canberra on Friday. A WEEKLY ROUND-UP OF NEWS AFFECTING YOUR HEALTH. SALT Most Australian kids are still eating too much salt, a new study has found. The Deakin University report found there has been a small reduction in overall salt intake over the past nine years. However 80 per cent of the 6000 primary school-aged children involved in the study were consuming more salt than was recommended for good health. Children aged four to eight should eat no more than 3.5 grams of salt per day, according nutrition guidelines. VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said it's alarming young children are consuming excess salt on a regular basis. "It's concerning that 80 per cent of our kids are eating too much salt, putting them at risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and heart disease in adulthood," Ms Rechter said. "Not only are we putting our kids at risk of a future of poor health, we're setting them up to like the taste of salty food," she said. MIGRAINE Having been dealt a genetic 'bad hand' is the reason why many people suffer debilitating migraines. A new study published in journal Neuron has shed new light on why some families are susceptible to migraines and how genetics may influence the type of migraine they get. Researchers at the Institute for Molecular Medicine, Finland analysed the medical history and genetic data of 1589 families - made up of more than 8000 individuals - of known migraine sufferers. They found 'polygenic' genetic variants were driving migraine risk the most. If a trait is polygenic, that means that a group of genes collectively influence that characteristic. Like being dealt a bad hand in a card game, each common genetic variant may have only a small individual effect, but the collection of common variants builds up to influence the trait - or disease risk a person inherits. "This really shows, in a very big sample set, that common variants are very important factors in aggregation of migraines in the family," said lead researcher Aarno Palotie of the Institute for Molecular Medicine It's hoped the improved understanding of the genetics of migraine will lead to better drug treatments in the future. "This is of special interest for drug development," said Palotie. DEPRESSION Physical activity can protect against depression, regardless of age and where a person lives. A research review of 49 published studies that took in a total of 266,939 people found the more active a person was the less likely they were to develop depression. "We found that higher levels of physical activity were protective from future depression in children, adults and older adults, across every continent and after taking into account other important factors such as body mass index, smoking and physical health conditions," said co-author Dr Brendon Stubbs from King's College London. "Given the multitude of other health benefits of physical activity, our data adds to the pressing calls to prioritise physical activity across the lifespan," he said. The findings are published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. BUDGET 2018 - WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR - Overall theme is: "A stronger economy means a stronger budget, creating more jobs while guaranteeing essential services." - Tax receipts are running at least $4.8 billion higher than estimated in mid-year review in December - Federal election is due before May 2019 Medicare levy hike scrapped - Won't go ahead with a 0.5 increase in the Medicare levy to pay for the NDIS. How it will be funded will be spelled out in the budget Budget surplus in 2021 - Budget papers to show a return to the black on time, as promised Income tax cuts - Not expected to be generous as under John Howard - Most likely option is a lift in all tax brackets. Current zero rate applies to incomes up to $18,200; 19 per cent bracket covers $18,201 to $37,000. 32.5 per cent covers $37,001-$87,000; 37 per cent covers $87,001-$180,000; 45 per cent top rate. Education - Needs-based funding to deliver an extra $23.5 billion to schools over the decade - New child care and early learning system starts July 2 - $271 million Community Child Care Fund for regional and disadvantaged communities - One year extension of preschool into 2019 at cost of $440 million - Extra funding for school chaplains expected - University funding frozen and changes to Higher Education Loan Program GST distribution - States and territories to benefit from an extra $3.4 billion in GST revenue in 2018/19 - NT and WA benefit from top-ups. Superannuation - New laws to guarantee tax rates and rules regarding superannuation - Expand limit on the maximum number of members in self-managed super funds from four to six. Infrastructure - $75 billion plan over the decade - Melbourne airport rail link $5 billion - M1 upgrade between Brisbane and Gold Coast, at cost of $1 billion - Other rail projects including Inland Rail, metropolitan commuter rail projects, study into possible Western Sydney Airport rail link - Package of projects for Western Australia. $3.2 billion for 2018/19 including $1.84 billion for Metronet rail. * $155 million for northbound bridge across the Shoalhaven River, southern NSW. Space - Australian Space Agency seed funding of $50 million, but no decision yet on where it will be based. Corporate tax cuts - Government will budget for a corporate tax rate to fall for all companies to 25 per cent by 2026/27, despite being stalled in the Senate. Instant Asset Write off extended: - Small businesses to benefit from extension of $20,000 instant asset write-off, first introduced in 2015. Allows firms with a turnover of up to $10 million a year to instantly claim tax deductions on all equipment purchases worth less than $20,000. Crackdown on illegal economy - Government has received advice on reaping extra income tax, GST and business tax revenue from the $32 billion a year black economy. A task force told the government last year the black economy "provides unfair competition for honest businesses". Research and development tax breaks - Changes to the way the $3 billion R&D tax incentive can be accessed, to prevent firms claiming tax breaks for business-as-usual activities. Medicare - Funding to upgrade computer system which handles $50 billion a year in payments Drug services - $40 million for drug addiction services Flying Doctors - $84 million to establish a mental health service as part of a four-year, $327 million commitment. Cancer - Medicare-funded MRI scans to check if men have prostate cancer - 200,000 women to receive $200 towards 3D breast cancer screening. Water safety - $36.9 million over three years to reduce the rate of drownings WA hospitals - Three WA hospitals to get a total boost of $189 million Aged Care - Possible boost to funding following a task force report into the sector which warns of billions of dollars of investment needed. Housing agreement - $4.6 billion to address housing affordability, working with the state and territory governments. Crime - $70 million on a new Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, based in Brisbane, for countering child exploitation and boost police and border force numbers to stamp out trafficking and live-streamed material. Climate - Clarification on future of the Emissions Reduction Fund, which had $265 million left in it as of December 2017 (out of an initial $2.55 billion). Snowy Hydro 2.0 - Commonwealth to buy Victoria and NSW government shares in project National security - New counter-espionage unit in the Department of Home Affairs, under a national countering foreign interference coordinator. Data - $65 million over four years for a national data commissioner to oversee access to government-held data Environment - $500 million Great Barrier Reef rescue plan including programs to tackle runoff from farming, the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish, and fund new research on coral bleaching. City deal - Perth to sign 'city deal' to integrate transport and housing Film - $140 million to boost tax rebate for filmmakers Alcohol - Tax break for craft brewers and distillers. AN ARMCHAIR GUIDE TO BUDGET TERMINOLOGY: --- BUDGET: Like a household budget, it estimates government income and spending. Income is generated through taxes and investments. Spending is on things like welfare, schools, roads, health and defence. BUDGET OR FORWARD ESTIMATES: The budget covers this financial year - the 12 months ending June 30 - and a further four-year period, known as the estimates. The first two years are forecasts, the latter two are projections. GDP (gross domestic product): The value of a nation's output. As the economy grows, the government collects more revenue from company taxes and income tax. Things like deficits, revenue, spending and debt are often measured as a proportion of GDP. UNDERLYING CASH BALANCE: The best guide to the nation's financial health. It estimates the balance of income and spending, removing one-off events like asset sales (Telstra and Medibank Private are examples). BALANCING THE BUDGET: The government can change tax rates, impose new taxes, abolish old ones, cut spending, introduce new programs and ditch existing ones. When outgoings exceed income, the government has to borrow to cover the shortfall (see GOVERNMENT DEBT). CYCLICAL DEFICIT: During lean economic times governments can decide to do things like offer short-term tax breaks for business or pump money into the economy, with schemes like Labor's controversial schools building program during the GFC. Because jobs disappear during an economic downturn, the government has to pay more in welfare and dole payments. These are known as "automatic stabilisers". That may force the budget into a cyclical or temporary deficit, but it should return to surplus when the economy improves. STRUCTURAL DEFICIT: The gap between income and spending that is not the result of changes in the economy. For example, income tax cuts in the 2000s when the government was enjoying the "rivers of gold" from the mining boom still have to be accounted for when revenue is not so abundant. It's like a household taking on a mortgage based on overtime or bonuses that are flowing at the time. It still has to be paid for when that extra money dries up. GOVERNMENT DEBT: To balance the books while the budget is in deficit, a government has to raise money through government securities or bonds - a type of IOU that pays interest. Gross debt is the amount of bonds a government has on issue. Net debt is the amount on issue minus government financial assets. CONTINGENCY RESERVE: Money set aside for policies yet to be announced or negotiated for commercial or security reasons. It may also include decisions made too late to be counted in the current budget or budgeted expenses incurred outside the current financial year. BUDGET PAPERS: Books containing nuts-and-bolts things like economic forecasts, financial strategy, spending and revenue measures, management of government debt. Masses of tables for the pointy-headed community. Federal Labor has warned Australia needs to shake itself out of its "holding pattern" on Pacific policy. Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles has made the case that Australia should put the Pacific on the same strategic pedestal as the US and China. "In truth, it is for Australia to earn its natural place as the partner of choice for these nations," he told the Centre for Strategic International Studies in Washington. "We need to demonstrate leadership which starts with making it clear that we care about the Pacific." Speculation in April that China was planning to build a military base in Vanuatu set tongues wagging in Australia. "China is spreading its wings and asserting itself within a region that includes the Pacific," Mr Marles said. "We can complain but we are unlikely to change China's direction." He said Pacific nations will welcome all interest shown in them and Australia has no right to expect them to do otherwise. Meanwhile, Minister for the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells is visiting New Caledonia. Her trip coincides with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and other Pacific leaders. Mr Macron is visiting the French territory to rally support to remain part of France ahead of a November independence referendum, which is the last step in a three-decade-long decolonisation process. Recent polling suggests people will vote to remain. Senator Fierravanti-Wells will have talks with French government and Pacific leaders about climate change, aid and environmental issues. "Australia is stepping up its engagement in the prosperity, security and stability of our region, in line with a vision for an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific as a whole," she said. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is "deeply concerned" the Palestinian president has suggested European Jews caused their own historical persecution. Mahmoud Abbas commented on the Holocaust in a speech at the Palestinian National Congress, sparking condemnation from Israel, the United Kingdom and now Australia. "We condemn any such comments by anyone, anywhere," Ms Bishop told reporters on the Gold Coast on Friday. "It's deeply regrettable that such statements should be made. "They are anti-Semitic, they go against the facts - the historical facts - and I'm deeply concerned that a leader would make such comments." Israel has accused Mr Abbas of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial after the Palestinian leader suggested in a speech that historical persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct. "The Jewish issue that was widespread in all European countries... was not because of their religion, but rather their social role related to usury and banks," the 83-year-old Palestinian leader reportedly said. Britain's Middle-East minister Alistair Burt said any attempt to justify or explain away any element of the Holocaust is unacceptable. "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 Burt said in a statement. Mr Abbas was on Friday re-elected as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. The Turnbull government is concerned by reports that China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea. 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. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said if the media reports are accurate, then the Australian Government would be concerned. "This would be contrary to China's stated aspiration that it would not militarise these features," she told reporters on the Gold Coast. "China, of course, has a unique responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council, to uphold peace and security around the world." She said any action to unilaterally militarise artificial islands in the South China Sea would go against that responsibility. 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. China claims most of the South China Sea, while Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei claim parts of the waters. With its rich fisheries and oil and gas potential, the South China Sea has been a source of contention for decades. China has copped international criticism for its reclamation activities in the disputed territory. Both Australia and the US are concerned about freedom of navigation across important trade shipping routes. A Victorian pear-packing company has been fined an extra $100,000 on appeal after a young Irish backpacker's scalp and ear were torn off by a conveyor belt. Shepparton-based Kalafatis Packing Pty Ltd has been convicted and ordered to pay $150,000 for failing to provide a safe workplace over the 2015 incident. The company was originally fined $50,000 without conviction and ordered to pay $22,000 in court costs in January. But the Director of Public Prosecutions labelled the sentence "manifestly inadequate" and appealed, with Shepparton County Court handing down an increased penalty on Thursday. The woman was scrubbing the underside of a conveyer belt on November 7, 2015, when her hair became tangled in a rotating drive shaft, a court had previously been told. Her scalp was then torn from her head and one of her ears ripped off. The unsafe practice that led to the incident was "shocking and completely unacceptable", WorkSafe's acting health and safety director Paul Fowler said. "The dangers of having workers reaching into moving machinery should be obvious to any employer," he said in a statement on Friday. "The time or cost saved by not powering down is never worth the horrific injuries that could occur and did ... occur on this occasion." The woman was hired by a company that specialises in providing backpacker labour to the fruit industry. Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have two tasks with this year's budget. The first is to show why the Liberal-National coalition's solid management of the economy and taxpayers' money should matter to average Australians. The second is to point out the risks of a Labor government. The coalition and Labor will face off in an election either later this year or early 2019. Despite the prime minister insisting the election will be next year, a popular budget - on the back of income tax cuts - could see him reconsider this and head to the polls before the Victorian state election on November 29. The federal treasurer appeared to have the polls on the brain when he conducted the traditional week-before-the-budget press conference outside the Treasury offices in Canberra. "At this election there is a clear choice - the Liberal and National Parties, the Turnbull government is for lower taxes and Bill Shorten and the Labor Party are for higher taxes. Under Labor you will pay more," Morrison said. A key part of the government's pre-budget positioning has been backflipping on the plan to jack up income tax on seven million Australians via a lift in the Medicare levy to pay for disability insurance. It has also strategically announced funding for a Melbourne airport rail link, Queensland motorway funding and a $3.2 billion road and rail package for Western Australia. Closer to election time the government is hopeful of neutralising issues which hurt it at the 2016 election. The "I Give a Gonski" campaign run so effectively by education unions and Labor has been countered by a boost in funding and the delivery of the Gonski 2.0 report into how to turn the extra money into better student results and improved teacher standards. The extent of the new funding - which Labor says is still $17 billion short over the decade - will be set out in the budget papers. The "Mediscare" campaign has been met with the unfreezing of GP rebates and legislation to set up the Medicare Guarantee Fund. Hospitals agreements are also being rolled out to the states. A banking royal commission, which Labor promised in April 2016, is under way despite the prime minister and his cabinet being dragged kicking and screaming into "reluctantly" implementing it. The hike in the Medicare levy to pay for the national disability insurance scheme was ditched, with the government arguing extra tax revenues stemming from a vastly improved economy will cost its operating costs. Disability advocates aren't happy though, and would like to see the government prove how it will lock in funding for the multi-billion-dollar scheme. However there's still room for a battle of ideas at the ballot box. Labor says housing affordability must be tackled by winding back generous negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions. The government says this penalises middle income earners like police and nurses, and instead proposes first home saver accounts. Shorten argues a company tax cut is money better spent on schools and hospitals, while the government remains firmly committed to getting the rate down to 25 per cent. And while the coalition talks big on roads and rail, money set aside for infrastructure is going unspent or targeted more to marginal seats than where the economy needs it. It's expected Labor will also seek to draw a distinction with the coalition over welfare and pensions. Whenever the election is called, it's unlikely to be the usual case of an opposition seeking to ride a wave of disillusionment with the government, but rather a battle of ideas. And the battleground will be set out on May 8. It's already been labelled the "latte and train fare" tax cut to rival former treasurer Peter Costello's ridiculed "sandwich and milkshake" version in 2003. Personal income tax cuts are expected to be the centrepiece of Treasurer Scott Morrison's third budget on Tuesday, which could prove to be his last before the next federal election. "We continue to make the decisions to put our economy on the strongest possible foundation trajectory for the future to facilitate the creation of more jobs,"' Mathias Cormann told AAP in summing up what will be his fifth budget as finance minister. "We continue to focus on getting the budget back into surplus as soon as possible and making sure that government lives within its means." Armed with a tax revenue windfall, the Turnbull government has already ditched its planned Medicare levy increase from last year's budget, claiming the National Disability Insurance Scheme is now fully funded without it. Economists at ANZ calculate the government can also afford personal tax cuts of $3 billion next year, building to $8 billion by 2020/21 without threatening a long-standing budget surplus projection. It sounds a lot, but in reality, it would mean the average household earning less than $87,000 a year would get a tax cut of $6.50 a week. "It would likely pay for a latte and a train fare each week in the first year, with a smashed avocado breakfast possible in three year's time," ANZ says in its pre-budget analysis. Costello's 2003 round of tax cuts was worth $4 a week for the average income earner - or $5.75 in today's money - and that was when the budget was in surplus. Mark Molesworth, a tax partner at consultants BDO, also expects a crackdown on the black or cash economy, as well as tax "integrity measures", which may include some sort of removal of work-related deductions. In recent years, the government has also targeted foreign residents, multinational businesses and the big banks. "Perhaps the financial planning sector can expect some attention this year," he told AAP. Infrastructure spending is likely to be another big-ticket item - the centrepiece here being the already announced $5 billion funding for the Melbourne-airport rail link. There has been a surge in tax revenue in the first few months of this year, the fastest pace in the past 20 years. A strong global economy has helped lift company profits and tax revenue, along with losses incurred during the 2008-2009 global financial having finally worked their way through the system. Record employment growth has also produced the double-whammy of additional tax receipts and less demand on welfare payments. Commonwealth Bank chief economist Michael Blythe calculates this will result in a $10 billion improvement in the budget bottom line for this financial year (2017/18) and a further $27 billion over the next three years. This would see the deficit shrink to $13.6 billion in 2017/18 before any new policy decisions from $23.6 billion as predicted in the mid-year budget review in December. Blythe also puts the starting point for 2018/19 at a deficit of just $9.7 billion compared to a previous Treasury forecast of $20.5 billion. But pre-election budget or not, the government's new-found wealth can't be seen to be squandered away, coming as it will under the watchful eye of the global credit rating agencies. Personal income tax cuts, more money to cut aged care waiting lists and a big spend on road and rail will be key elements of the federal budget to be delivered on Tuesday. In delivering his third budget, Treasurer Scott Morrison's will have one eye on the economy and another on the polls. A federal election is due by May 2019 but is more likely to be held well before that, depending on the success of Malcolm Turnbull's freshened-up economic message. "Responsible budget management and strong economic leadership is vital because that is what ensures that we have more money in the pockets of hard-working Australians, we guarantee and deliver essential services and infrastructure and the government lives within its means," Mr Turnbull said on Thursday. Low and middle income earners are expected to benefit from lifts to tax thresholds while high earners will have the two per cent deficit levy taken off. There have also been reports the energy supplement - initially paid as carbon tax compensation - will be kept in place, despite the government wanting to axe it as a budget saving. More home care packages will ease pressure on the 100,000 older Australians on the waiting list. The aged care sector is also hopeful of a generous response to two major reviews, to improve not only the quantity but quality and oversight of services. With the states and territories having pleaded with Canberra for extra road and rail funding, the infrastructure budget is set to top $75 billion over the decade. A $5 billion Melbourne airport rail link and $1 billion M1 upgrade between Brisbane and Gold Coast will be major projects giving funding. Having complained about its GST share, Western Australia will score a $3.2 billion road and rail package. Mr Morrison will reveal how he intends to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme, having ditched the proposed 0.5 per cent hike in the Medicare levy. Extra jobs and business activity has bolstered tax receipts by at least $4.8 billion more than estimated in the mid-year review in December. The budget papers are expected to show a return to the black in 2021. In a bid to quell fears in the coalition's political base, new laws will guarantee tax rates and rules regarding superannuation and the limit on the maximum number of members in self-managed super funds will be expanded from four to six. Corporate tax cuts from 30 per cent to 25 per cent will also remain on the books, despite the current Senate block, and an instant asset write-off for small business will be extended. Hospitals, cancer scans, drug addiction and mental health services are also set to be funded. In the environmental sphere, clarity is expected on the future of the Emissions Reduction Fund - which pays for so-called "direct action" climate projects - and $500 million will go to a Great Barrier Reef rescue plan. Two Sydney brothers accused of plotting to bring down an Etihad plane last year will face a NSW Supreme Court trial next March. Khaled Mahmoud Khayat, 49, of Lakemba, and Mahmoud Khayat, 33, of Punchbowl, on Friday each pleaded not guilty to two counts of acting in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist attack. Both counts allege the acts took place in Sydney, the first between April 13 and July 16, 2017, and the second between July 16 and July 29, 2017. After the brothers entered their pleas via video-link from the jail where they are held on remand, Justice Peter Johnson listed their estimated six-week trial to start on March 11, 2019. Their sibling, IS commander and Lebanese citizen Tarek Khayat, was reportedly detained earlier this year. He allegedly directed them to smuggle a bomb hidden inside a meat grinder onto an Etihad plane due to depart from Sydney for Abu Dhabi on July 15 last year. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has reaffirmed Labor's plan to bolster public TAFE while speaking in his home state of Victoria, where the state government has committed more than $170 million for free courses. Two in every three dollars of vocational educational spending would go toward public TAFE under a federal Labor government, Mr Shorten said. "There is a real apprenticeship crisis in Australia," he told reporters in Melbourne on Friday, days after a state skills drive was outlined by the Victorian government in its budget. A lithium refinery will be built in Perth's southern suburbs in a joint venture to meet increasing global demand for the mineral from the renewable energy industry. The Western Australian government has also announced $5.5 million in funding will be set aside in next week's budget for the Mineral Research Institute of Western Australia to boost the development and manufacturing of renewable technologies. Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said WA is the world's largest producer of lithium, and combined with reserves of it and other metals was well-placed to capitalise on the growing battery market. The wife of a terrorist recruiter has been convicted of disrespectful behaviour after refusing to stand for a judge in a Sydney court. Moutia Elzahed, the wife of jailed Islamic State extremist Hamdi Alqudsi, was the first person in NSW to face the charge after she refused to rise for a judge in 2016 purportedly on religious grounds. The 50-year-old Muslim woman was found guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court of nine counts of disrespectful behaviour in court. Elzahed again did not stand but folded her arms when magistrate Carolyn Huntsman left the bench after delivering her ruling on Friday. The magistrate had found Elzahed intentionally flouted the established court convention on nine separate occasions in 2016 when she remained seated in front of District Court Judge Audrey Balla. Elzahed said she only stood for Allah, but Ms Huntsman on Friday ruled there was no evidence she was acting on a genuine religious belief or that the teachings of Islam compelled such behaviour. In 2016, Elzahed had been trying to sue the state and federal governments over claims of police violence during a raid on her Sydney home two years earlier. She was ultimately unsuccessful. CCTV footage previously played in court showed Elzahed failed to rise nine times in November and December 2016 with each offence carrying a maximum jail term of 14 days and/or a $1100 fine. The defence had originally cast doubt over whether Elzahed was the woman under the black niqab but her lawyer later conceded her identity would no longer be contested. Defence barrister David Hume instead argued his client should be acquitted because there was no evidence Elzahed was under a legal duty to stand. Elzahed, who lost her civil action and was ordered to pay $250,000 in police legal costs, earlier this week appealed the trial judge's ruling that she could not give evidence while wearing a niqab. The identity of an Adelaide chiropractor who indecently filmed hundreds of his clients has been revealed. The District Court has lifted a suppression order on the name of Peter Wayne Snodgrass, who has also admitted to assault charges. He's pleaded guilty to more than 200 offences and may be sentenced in the Supreme Court if the prosecution asks for a determination on whether he is capable or unwilling to control his sexual instincts. That could depend on a report from a forensic psychologist who will examine the 51-year-old next month. The court was told on Friday that there would be so many victim impact statements in the case that reading them all could take a full day. The prosecution has also pledged to provide the court with material that would allow for a "more comprehensive overview of the nature of the offending." A previous hearing in Adelaide Magistrates Court was told that the chiropractor's victims, aged from 11 to 60, were secretly filmed in his practice between 2012 and 2017. The court also heard that another charge had also been recently laid and would be considered during sentencing submissions. The case will return to court on July 16. A search is underway for a man missing for almost two weeks in rural South Australia after fleeing from a high-speed car chase with police. Police believe Scott Redman was an occupant of a car involved in a pursuit on the Eyre Highway near Kimba on April 21. The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns, with the black station wagon found on a dirt road 40km east of Kimba four days later. Extensive inquiries to track down the 19-year-old have proved fruitless and police now hold grave fears for his welfare. "The area in which we have been searching is rural and isolated," Inspector Mark Hubbard said. "It is possible that Mr Redman has also caught a lift with someone, but we have no evidence of that at this time. "Mr Redman's family, friends and acquaintances have not heard from him and we are appealing for him to make contact with authorities." The car's other occupant was arrested in Whyalla on April 23 after hitchhiking to the town. Mr Redman is described as 178cm tall with a slim build and blonde hair. A Melbourne woman accused of killing her partner had struck up a relationship with a "besotted" personal trainer who allegedly planned to kill his rival, a court has been told. The woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, is on trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria for the May 3, 2005 murder of her partner, whose body has never been found. It is alleged she complained to her friends and lovers about her partner, claiming he was controlling, violent, had raped her and had locked her in their home. It is also claimed she told friends she planned to kill her partner by shooting him under the cover of New Year fireworks with a purse pistol she kept in her bungalow. On Friday, the woman's former employer gave evidence via video link from Las Vegas. The witness said she introduced the woman to a "good-looking", leather-pants-clad personal trainer at their workplace. The personal trainer "went mental" and was "into her, big time", the employer said. The pair struck up a relationship while the woman was still living with her now-deceased partner at their Reservoir home, she added. The employer subsequently quit her early morning personal training sessions when she "started getting frightened" being with the man. "He was completely besotted with her. He was into her big time. He just wanted to spend time with her and see her," the employer said. "A lot of the time he was really upset and angry - I mean sobbing ... basically didn't like (the woman's partner), didn't like that she was locked up and wasn't let out. "He said he wanted to kill (the man)." Crown prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC previously said the woman either killed her partner herself or took part in a "joint criminal enterprise" with one or more others. He claimed she boasted about murdering the man with a fire poker as he slept and told another person she slit his throat while they had sex and "it was the best orgasm I ever had". Mr Tinney also said the woman told another lover she had help disposing of the man's body, dismembering it and dropping it into Port Phillip Bay. But defence barrister John Kelly SC said on Friday that "every one of those allegations is denied", adding that the woman had nothing to do with the man's disappearance. Dumped Logan City Council chief executive Sharon Kelsey has been reinstated to the role following a ruling by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. Ms Kelsey, who was ousted in February when a majority of councillors voted against extending her contract, will return to her job at the council on May 14. Logan mayor Luke Smith, who excluded himself from the vote on the CEO's future, is currently fighting corruption and perjury charges in relation to a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation that Ms Kelsey cooperated with. Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission will look into the controversial appointment of an Energy Queensland director after his CV was forwarded to the energy minister by a union boss. Mark Algie was appointed to the Energy Queensland board in 2016, less than a fortnight after Electrical Trades Union secretary Peter Simpson sent his resume to Minister Mark Bailey on his private "mangocube6" email account. CCC chairman Alan MacSporran on Friday told a parliamentary committee the corruption watchdog has requested documents to see if the appointment was made with any improper interference. Australia is chipping in an extra $13 million in aid to help people from Myanmar ethnic minority groups fleeing violence at the hands of the country's military. The plight of Rohingya people in Rakhine state has received much international attention, following an exodus of more than 700,000 people to neighbouring Bangladesh after a military crackdown last August. An estimated 500,000 Rohingya people remaining behind in Myanmar are in need of humanitarian relief. Human rights abuses and conflict in Kachin and the northern Shan states have also ramped up. Since early April, an estimated 5000 people in the northern Kachin state have fled their homes because of intensified fighting between the military and rebels. "The Australian government calls on all parties to end the fighting, protect civilian populations, and allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered to affected communities," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said. Ms Bishop said the $13 million would go to aid groups such as Save the Children and the UN's refugee agency to help provide health care, shelter and schooling in Rakhine state. In Kachin and Shan states Australia's support would help protect families fleeing violence. Last week, Ms Bishop announced an extra $15 million of assistance for the Rohingya refugee camps at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. Australia's total assistance to the Rohingya crisis is $51.5 million since last September. Once-jailed Palm Island rioter Lex Wotton and relations of the late Cameron Doomadgee will address two upcoming community meetings about a proposed $30 million settlement. The meetings, to be held in Townsville on Wednesday and on Palm Island on Thursday, have been announced three days after the Queensland government revealed it had reached the settlement with island residents and would also offer a public apology. Mr Wotton led the community's class action in a landmark racial discrimination case which saw the Federal Court find police were racist in their response to riots that followed Mr Doomadgee's 2004 death in custody. He will address group members at the community meetings as well as Doomadgee family members, according to legal counsel Levitt Robinson Solicitors. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jackie Trad announced on Tuesday the state government had reached a $30 million settlement scheme with the 447 claimants, pending the court's approval. Mr Wotton said residents had sought a $40 million settlement, but he was relieved the proceedings were over. "How people react to it, that's up to them," he told AAP. "The only process that can slow it down if someone wants to go off on his own, thinks he's worth more than what's being given." Mr Wotton was jailed for inciting the riots that led to the local police station and home of arresting officer Chris Hurley - who would later be found responsible for Doomadgee's fatal injuries - being burnt to the ground. Mr Wotton and two of his family members were later compensated $220,000 for the pain they endured during early morning raids. Coles has recalled its own brand of ice cream after the supermarket discovered pieces of metal may be in the product. The recall applies to Coles Mini Classic 360ml six-pack ice cream in vanilla stamped best for use before April 16 and April 17, 2020, and almond flavour marked best before April 18, 2020. The products were sold in Coles supermarkets, online and in Coles Express in Western Australia, Queensland, NSW and the ACT. "The recall is due to the potential presence of metal fragments," Coles said in a statement on Friday. Customers who purchased any of the ice creams are advised to return them to their nearest Coles supermarket store for a full refund. The NSW greyhound industry's governing body has charged four racing participants, including a board member, for their alleged role in the unauthorised export of a greyhound. Greyhound Racing NSW on Friday said it charged board member Michael Eberand with aiding or abetting and facilitating the export of registered greyhound Wandering Mija to Dubai, without a greyhound passport. Peter Lagogiane, James Cortis and Bradley Eberand were also charged with facilitating the export of the same greyhound without a greyhound passport. The charges are part of Greyhound Racing NSW's ongoing inquiry into the unauthorised exports of greyhounds to areas not fully compliant with Australian animal welfare standards such as China, Macau and Dubai. The Wallabies look set to take on Six Nations champions Ireland in next month's three-Test series without Will Genia after the star halfback injured his knee. Genia limped off late in the first half of the Melbourne Rebels' 55-10 Super Rugby thrashing by the Crusaders at AAMI Park with the early diagnosis a medial ligament tear. That means the 30-year-old is likely to be sidelined for up to eight weeks, ruling him out of the series against the Irish starting in Brisbane on June 9. Genia will have a scan on Saturday but a Rebels spokesman said the initial diagnosis wasn't good. "At this stage it looks like a grade two or three tear according to the physio," the spokesman said. Without Genia, the No.9 Test jersey is wide open with Nick Phipps starting on the bench for the Waratahs behind Jake Gordon while Brumbies halfback Joe Powell is also in the mix. While Genia has starred for the Rebels, who he joined after two years playing in France, he missed their two previous games with a hamstring injury. That didn't appear to give him any trouble in the AAMI Park match and he looked at his dangerous best before the injury that was caused by a tackle midway through the opening half. Genia had the knee strapped and battled on for another 10 minutes before being forced off. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man allegedly involved in the fatal stabbing of another man outside a methadone clinic in Wollongong. Emergency services were called to the Denison street methadone clinic in the city centre about 6am on Friday after reports of a stabbing. It is believed a fight had broken out between two men resulting in a 39-year-old Bulli man, who was visiting the clinic, being stabbed in the chest. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died. Detectives on Friday issued a warrant for the arrest of Michael Graham Gale, 52. He's described as being of Caucasian appearance with a medium build and fair blond hair. The two men were known to each other with police reassuring the public the attacker was not "out to target other individuals," NSW Police Acting Superintendent Chad Gillies said. Police are still searching for the weapon. Detectives are searching for an unshaven male in dark clothing after a 30-year-old man died in hospital after being stabbed in the chest in broad daylight at a NSW mid-north coast beach. The 30-year-old man was found with a "severe penetrative wound to his chest" about 12.30pm on Friday at Lighthouse Beach, NSW Ambulance said. He was rushed to the local hospital in a critical condition where he later died. A manhunt is underway for Ben Black, 32, who was last seen about 12.40pm on Friday at Rushcutter Way about one kilometre from the beach. He's described as having dark hair, an unshaven appearance with an average build. He was last seen wearing dark clothing. Police have released an image of Mr Black and have urged the public to not approach him but call triple zero, if he is sighted. Indigenous activist Lex Wotton will address Palm Island community members this coming week about a $30 million settlement proposed by the Queensland government. Two community meetings, to be held in Townsville on Wednesday and on Palm Island on Thursday, will take place after the government revealed it had reached the settlement with island residents over their 2016 class action. Mr Wotton led the class action in a landmark racial discrimination case, which saw the Federal Court find police were racist in their response to riots that followed Cameron Doomadgee's 2004 death in custody. Members of Mr Doomadgee family will address the Palm Island community members, as well as Mr Wotton, at the two meetings, according to legal counsel Levitt Robinson Solicitors. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jackie Trad announced on Tuesday the state government had reached a $30 million settlement scheme with 447 claimants, pending the court's approval. Mr Wotton said residents had sought a $40 million settlement, but he was relieved the proceedings were over. Mr Wotton was jailed for inciting the riots that led to the local police station and home of arresting officer Chris Hurley - who would later be found responsible for Doomadgee's fatal injuries - being burnt to the ground. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has reacted with anger to a suggestion he stood up a group of Diggers for dinner to go shopping during his return to Australia from Anzac Day ceremonies. News Corp Australia suggested in a page one story that Mr Shorten had turned down dinner with a group of ADF officers in Dubai to go shopping with Liberal Senator Scott Ryan. "Earlier today, I personally confirmed with Vice Chief of Defence Force designate, Admiral David Johnston, that neither I nor Senator Ryan were provided with advice that a small number of staff officers were expecting to have dinner with us in the United Arab Emirates as we transited from Afghanistan back to Australia," Mr Shorten said in a statement on Friday night. "Despite being informed of the facts, News Corp has published an article that suggested Senator Ryan and I stood up some Australian Defence Force personnel in the UAE. That suggestion is offensive." Mr Shorten had spent Anzac Day with military personnel in the Afghanistan capital Kabul and returned via a military base in Dubai before catching a flight home from the international airport. The Labor leader said had he been aware that a dinner had been especially arranged for Senator Ryan and him at the base, and that troops were expecting to dine with them, he would have attended. He described the situation as a "stuff-up" on the part of the ADF. "Mr Shorten did not have dinner in Dubai. Mr Shorten spent most of the evening at Dubai International Airport attending to work matters," Mr Shorten's office told The Daily Telegraph. "As a routine part of the visit, an optional program was developed for the post Afghanistan visit while in transit through an ADF logistics base," the paper cited an ADF spokeswoman as saying. "Given the nature of VIP visits, they are subject to change." Eurovision, it seems, is a truly bonding experience. Last year, comedian Joel Creasey hosted coverage of the event for the first time for SBS alongside ABC's Myf Warhurst and the two have since become besties. "We ended up going to Bali together for New Year's Eve," Creasey said. It's easy to see how two people could become close after the experience, especially after the challenges they faced during their first year covering the song contest in the Ukraine. "We actually had lots of technical issues and it was our first year. Some of the commentary booths had issues, ours being one of them and it was terrifying," he said. But Australia's dream team are feeling a lot more confident about the set-up in Lisbon, Portugal where they've returned alongside this year's Australian entrant, Jessica Mauboy. "This year we have licence to kill and we're just going to come in and slay it because we know what we're doing now. I don't think there'll be the technical issues that hampered us in the Ukraine, we'll be ready to go," he said. Before anyone can start to question how Australia has ended up in a European song contest for the fourth year in a row, Creasey and Warhurst will have set up camp backstage where they intend to get into the thick of it fairly quickly. "There can be no diva element because everyone is in on top of each other backstage," he said. "Nobody has their own dressing room where they can lock the door and have time to themselves because it's such a big production and there are so many film crews backstage wanting a piece of you, Myf and I being one of them. Everyone's back there and everyone wants to win and if you ask them to sing their song backstage they'll actually do it, they'll sing it for you." For his first year in the gig, Creasey admits it was pretty intimidating being backstage among 42 competing countries. "It was so much bigger than I expected. I had no idea," he said. But it was also a big love-in and he says most delegates were supportive of everyone else's song. Into their second year, Creasey says Warhurst and he have some tricks up their sleeves to tap into some of that zany Eurovision energy. "We're going to start putting our stamp on it. We're going to try and bring in our own makeshift set and turn it into a talk-show and see how long we get away with that until Eurovision tell us to take the couch away. "We're just going to go to town on the commentary and really tell people what we think." * Eurovision coverage starts on SBS from May 9-13. Rural communities in Zamfara have been under siege for several years from cattle rustlers and kidnapping gangs At least 25 people were killed in separate attacks in northern Nigeria, police said Thursday, putting the spotlight on rising levels of rural violence in the country. Thirteen people were killed in prolonged clashes between cattle thieves and local civilian militia in the northern state of Zamfara. In Adamawa, in the northeast, at least 12 people were killed in an attack on several villages. The attacks underlined the diversity of Nigeria's security threats that persist in the absence of a robust police force and efficient judicial system. In Zamfara, the militia and cattle thieves fought a gun battle Tuesday through Wednesday in the remote village of Fankashi in the Maru district, 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. In Adamawa, state police spokesman Othman Abubakar said there was an overnight attack on Wednesday in the Numan district that saw scores of homes torched. "From reports sent to us by the divisional police officer from Numan, 12 people were killed in the attacks and 150 homes were destroyed by unknown gunmen," said Abubakar. Local chairman Arnold Jibila said the death toll was higher and that 30 people were killed by suspected "herdsmen." "Search teams are still combing the bushes and the river for more bodies. We don't know what they will come up with," Jibila said. Nigeria is in the grip of a security crisis as nomadic herders and sedentary farmers fight over land in an increasingly bloody battle for resources. 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. To defend themselves, villages and herdsmen form vigilante groups, but they too are often accused of extra-judicial killings and provoking a bloody cycle of retaliatory attacks. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been criticised for failing to curb the violence, which is becoming a key election issue ahead of the upcoming presidential polls in 2018. Military and police are overstretched in Nigeria, which, along with fighting Boko Haram jihadists in the north, is battling militants and pirates in the oil-rich south, a simmering separatist movement in the east and a bloody battle between herdsmen and farmers spanning the vast central region. Thousands of Arizona teachers march through downtown Phoenix on their way to the State Capitol as part of a rally for on April 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona Arizona teachers ended their five-day walkout Thursday after lawmakers approved a 20-percent pay raise, in the latest protest by US educators over public school funding. "Signed. Teacher raises are on the way," tweeted Republican Governor Doug Ducey, who had advocated for the increase in response to demonstrators' demands. Ducey posted a video of him ratifying a budget bill passed during the night by the Southwestern state's Republican-controlled legislature. "This is a big win for Arizona students, teachers and for public education." he added, with the hashtag #20x2020 to signify that the increase would be 20 percent by 2020. The Arizona Education Association (AEU), which organized the demonstrations that brought 850,000 teachers to the streets since last Thursday, tweeted that "the education budget has been passed and signed." The organization called for an "end to the walkout." The state's Democratic lawmakers, however, expressed skepticism over whether the promised pay raises would be possible without additional sources of revenue. "If school boards use part of this money for support staff, then there's not enough to give teachers the promised 20-percent raise," state House Democrats said in a statement. In addition to teachers' salary increases, the AEU also asked for a review of cuts to the education budget over the past decade. Arizona is, along with Oklahoma, one of the states where education funding has suffered the most in recent years (with a $1 billion cut since 2008, according to the AEU). The Southwestern state is near the bottom of the 50-state salary range for teachers, who average $47,660 a year there -- $12,000 less than the national average, according to a study by the National Education Association. With state governments the primary sources of public education funding in the US, teachers in several Republican-dominated states have recently protested for more funding after years of cuts. In Oklahoma, teachers recently earned an average pay increase of $6,000 a year, but still staged a two-week strike that won them even more concessions. In West Virginia, a teacher protest resulted in a five-percent salary hike, while protests in Kentucky also resulted in additional school funding. Massive strikes also took place in Colorado last week. And, a new movement is developing in North Carolina, where a teacher walkout is scheduled for May 16. Wallabies star Israel Folau says he has no regrets about saying gay people would go to "hell" Wallabies star Israel Folau said he has no regrets about saying gay people would go to "hell" and holds no grudges against his critics as he prepares for a return to Super Rugby. Folau, sidelined from the New South Wales Waratahs with a hamstring injury since late March, has been selected to face the Auckland Blues in Sydney on Saturday. The devout Christian, one of Australia's most marketable players, caused a storm when he made the comments on social media last month. But he said he was not backing away from his staunch beliefs regarding homosexuality, and insisted the backlash had not diminished his desire to play. "I've said what I've said in recent weeks, for personally, just standing up for what I believe and standing firm on that," he was cited as saying by Australian media Friday. "That's something that comes truly from the bottom of my heart, it doesn't interfere with anything to do with my rugby and the guys around, team-mates. I'm still the same person and I try to bring that energy as best as I can when I'm around the team. "Going out and playing on weekends doesn't change who I am." Folau said he wasn't upset by the angry response to his remarks, notably from All Blacks TJ Perenara and Brad Weber. "Absolutely not, I don't take anything personally," Folau said. "I understand everyone is entitled to their opinions. I've said what I've said in recent weeks, I leave it there." Rugby Australia did not sanction Folau for his comments despite the outrage of some sponsors and fans, given he was expressing his religious beliefs. Folau, who is out of contract at the end of this season and has been linked with a move to rugby league, said the furore would not affect any decision on his future. "Absolutely not, it's nothing personal," he said. "You're an adult, you've got to clear those things up and look at what are the main things out of it. "You can't hold grudges, you can't take anything personal. I've been fine with how everything has rolled out the last month." Central American migrants who traveled through Mexico in a caravan sleep outside a border in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 30, 2018 A total of 145 Central American migrants who traveled as part of a "caravan" from their home countries through Mexico have so far entered the United States to seek asylum, officials said Thursday. The migrants were part of a group of around 1,000 people who set out from Mexico's southern border on March 25, before reaching the northern border town of Tijuana on Sunday. "There were 70 people who crossed this morning," bringing the total up to Thursday to 145, said Mexican immigration official Edgar Antonio Gonzalez Rubio Nunez. The figure included people from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, he added. The caravan is a tradition dating back to 2010 and is designed to draw attention to the plight of destitute Central Americans crossing through Mexico in a bid to reach the US and the promise of a better life. Media coverage of the US-bound caravan triggered a flurry of furious tweets from US President Donald Trump, who ordered thousands of National Guard troops to the border and called on Mexico to stop the migrants. Mexico rejected the pressure from Trump. Instead, it gave the migrants a one-month transit pass to decide if they want to seek refuge in Mexico, go back home or keep trudging toward the United States. Some 150 more remain at a camp in Tijuana, many of whom said they were fleeing gang violence. "I am fleeing because they were going to kill one of my sons," Ana Suazo, a 38-year-old Honduran who was traveling with three children, told AFP. She added her mother was waiting for her on the other side of the border and she has relatives in New Orleans. The ongoing talks are aimed at preventing a US-China trade war that could dent global economic growth Senior Chinese and US officials met in Beijing Friday for a second day of high-stakes talks aimed at forestalling the growing momentum towards a trade war that could trigger billions of dollars of tariffs. The discussions mark a potential off ramp for the trade conflict that could dent humming global economic growth. US President Donald Trump has threatened to levy new tariffs on $150 billion of Chinese imports while Beijing shot back with a list of $50 billion in targeted US goods. The US and China are having "very good conversations", Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters before leaving his hotel Friday morning for the Diaoyutai state guest house, where the talks are being held. However, officials declined to give details of the discussions. "I have to get on this elevator and not talk to reporters," White House advisor and noted China hawk Peter Navarro told an AFP reporter at his hotel. During an event in Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence's economic advisor Mark Calabria said the first day of talks had been "fairly positive", according to Bloomberg News. The US has given China a "detailed list of asks", he said, adding that Washington wants Beijing to lower tariffs to match the American level. Trump has made reciprocity a key demand in negotiations with China. China-US economic ties "The difficulty will always be that we will most of the time hear pretty positive things from China and the question is whether they will actually do them," Calabria said. Liu He, vice premier in charge of the economy, is leading the discussions for China. Known as President Xi Jinping's right hand man on economic matters, Liu was noticeably absent from Xi's speech Friday morning commemorating the birth of Karl Marx and the continued relevance of his theories to China, which he delivered to a full audience in the Great Hall of the People. China's state media showed little optimism that the trade talks would bring a breakthrough, suggesting that the best case scenario would be a further deterioration in the current situation. "If the two sides do not strike a deal, and they merely agree to keep talking, we ought to consider that a positive outcome," said an editorial in the state-run China Daily. "Let us hope that the US delegation has come with the willingness to talk sincerely rather than with the design to cause injury." - Trade data - The talks may receive some tailwinds from the latest trade data out of Washington, showing the US global trade deficit had narrowed in March. The US and China are having "very good conversations," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters The goods deficit with China fell 11.5 percent from February to $25.8 billion, but analysts cautioned seasonal factors like China's New Year holidays were likely at play. Bilateral trade in coming months could be hurt by US and Chinese buyers planning to avoid tariffs, with news this week that China may already be downsizing its soybean imports from the US. "Whatever they're buying is non-US," said Soren Schroder, CEO of agricultural giant Bunge Limited. "They're buying beans in Canada, in Brazil, mostly Brazil, but very deliberately not buying anything from the US," Bunge said in the interview with Bloomberg News on Wednesday. Soybeans were China's largest import from the US last year, worth $14 billion. About 15 million Malaysians are registered to vote, and analysts have warned the poll could be the dirtiest in the country's history as Najib seeks to ensure his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition extends its six-decade hold on power Malaysian electoral watchdogs said Friday there were major discrepancies in voter lists, including some two million people registered without addresses, warning the flaws could help the scandal-hit government at polls next week. Prime Minister Najib Razak is facing a tough test at the Wednesday vote due to a corruption scandal surrounding state fund 1MDB and a challenge from veteran ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, 92. About 15 million Malaysians are registered to vote, and analysts have warned the poll could be the dirtiest in the country's history as Najib seeks to ensure his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition extends its six-decade hold on power. Yap Swee Seng, executive director of electoral reform group Bersih, said there were 10 major irregularities in voter lists, claiming the flaws reflected the Election Commission's failure to ensure a clean and fair poll. "This election is going to be fiercely fought and these discrepancies reflect possible fraud which will enable Barisan Nasional to win the election," he told AFP. "We are outraged and angry with the conduct of the EC." The irregularities, detailed by Berish and electoral reform group Engage, included about 500,000 cases of excessive numbers of voters being registered at one address, over two million voters without addresses and instances of dead people being listed as new voters. "A defective electoral roll will bring into question the legitimacy of the whole election," the groups said in a joint statement. "We believe that these preliminary findings are just the tip of the iceberg." Just one address in the parliamentary constituency of Bagan Dato in northern Perak state, which is held by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had 300 registered voters, according to Yap. Yap said Bersih had written to the EC highlighting the discrepancies and its concerns but had not received a reply. "This electoral cheating and manipulation can be overcome if voters come out in overwhelming numbers on May 9," he said. Najib is battling allegations that billions of dollars were looted from 1MDB -- which he set up -- in a campaign of fraud and money-laundering. The leader and 1MDB deny any wrongdoing. Mahathir led Malaysia for 22 years and was spurred out of retirement to take on Najib due to 1MDB. He is the opposition's prime ministerial candidate. Despite the challenges, BN is expected to win. Hong Kong's military-style youth groups rejected Chinese foot drills at an annual flag-raising ceremony Friday after pressure to change their marching traditions inherited from the British colonial era Hong Kong's military-style youth groups rejected Chinese foot drills at an annual flag raising ceremony Friday despite pressure to change their marching traditions inherited from the British colonial era. The groups had received requests from China's liaison office in Hong Kong in recent weeks to change their foot drills to follow those used by the People's Liberation Army, which has a garrison in the semi-autonomous city. The groups had received requests from China's liaison office in Hong Kong in recent weeks to change their foot drills to follow those used by the People's Liberation Army It comes as Hong Kong's freedoms are under increasing pressure from an assertive Beijing with authorities accused of trying to rewrite history. As 14 groups dressed in their different uniforms gathered Friday morning on the harbourfront in Hong Kong, only one used the PLA style. "We've been using British foot drills all this time. We don't have any plan to change them for the time being," said Colonel Matthew Wong of the Hong Kong Adventure Corps (HKAC), adding that they reflect the group's traditions and cultural background. HKAC was set up by some former staff of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment who had remained after Britain handed the city back to China in 1997. Only members of Hong Kong Army Cadets Association (HKACA), seen here in green, used the PLA quick march Senior Boys' Brigade drill instructor Alex Fong said members had "shown their concerns" over the requests. Its foot drills originated in Scotland and have been used for almost six decades. The May 4 event marks student-led anti-imperialist protests in China in 1919 which reflected a surge in Chinese nationalism. Youth groups told AFP they had been invited to the liaison office and to a meeting at a restaurant with the event organiser to discuss changing their drill style for the ceremony. They were offered help with retraining. Last month, several youth groups were also invited to a four-day PLA foot drill training session at one of its barracks. Although HKAC keeps an open mind on learning new skills, Wong said the response had not be "enthusiastic", with only 14 of HKAC's 5000 members taking up the offer. The May 4 event marks student-led anti-imperialist protests in China in 1919 which reflected a surge in Chinese nationalism Youth members who attended the ceremony said it's not up to them to decide whether or not to change the foot drills in the future. "We need to listen our Madame and Sir's decision," said Ms Ng, a Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps youth member, who had never learnt PLA foot drill. The one group that stuck with the PLA foot drill Friday was the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association (HKACA), set up in 2015, a year after massive student-led pro-democracy rallies in Hong Kong and seen by some observers as a tool to get Beijing's message across to young people. But instead of using the PLA's ceremonial "goose-step" marching which the legs are lifted to knee-height off the ground with the knees bent, they used PLA quick march which looks more "natural" and "relaxed". The annual flag raising ceremony took place on the Hong Kong harbourfront "As a Chinese, attending a flag-raising ceremony of the Chinese and the HKSAR flags, I feel proud," said Ms Suen, who had joined HKACA two years ago. Hong Kong's government, loyal to Beijing, was this week reported to have erased all mention of a "handover of sovereignty" -- in reference to the end of British rule in 1997 -- from the website of its protocol division by the South China Morning Post. One senior Beijing official has also publicly called for the city to change its colonial era street names. Thousands of people have been told to leave their homes on Hawaii's Big Island following the eruption of the Kilauea volcano Hundreds of residents sought shelter on Friday after red-hot lava seeped from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano and plumes of ash and dangerous gases spewed into the air. Drone footage of the volcanic eruption on Hawaii's Big Island showed orange magma gushing up from cracks in the ground in a wooded area. Authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation of Lanipuna Gardens and the Leilani Estates neighborhood, home to about 1,700 people and 770 structures. No injuries have been reported. Governor David Ige said residents were being housed in community centers until the danger from Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanos, has passed. Ige signed an emergency proclamation releasing disaster funds to Big Island. "Hawaii Fire Department reports extremely high levels of dangerous Sulfur Dioxide gas detected in the evacuation area," the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said. It said there had been "active volcanic fountaining" in the Leilani Estates area, located several miles from the summit of the Kilauea volcano. Aerial footage showed orange lava bubbling up from a fissure around 500 feet (150 meters) long and spouting into the air like a fountain. The eruption began around 4:45 pm local time Thursday 0245 GMT Friday) and stopped at around 6:30 pm local time, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS warned, however, that "the opening phases of fissure eruptions are dynamic and uncertain. "Additional erupting fissures and new lava outbreaks may occur," it said. - 'Fire curtain' - The eruption came after hundreds of small earthquakes in recent days that followed the collapse of a crater floor on the Puu Oo volcanic cone. A 5.0-magnitude earthquake on Thursday morning south of the cone triggered rockfalls and potential additional collapse of the crater, USGS said. It sent a short-lived but massive pink plume of ash wafting into the air. Big Island resident Janice Wei, who moved to Hawaii from California -- known for its high earthquake risk -- said the eruption was almost a "relief." "We've been waiting for big movement from the crater, after so many small earthquakes," she told AFP. A map of Hawaii locating the Kilauea volcano "Hawaiians and local people have lived here forever," she said. "You know what's going on; we have warning systems." "Everybody should be prepared." The broader district potentially impacted by the threat is home to some 10,000 people. Using his drone, area resident Jeremiah Osuna captured video footage of the lava flow, which he described as a "fire curtain" that left him feeling "shock and awe." "It was like if you put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turned it on -- a lot of earth and pressure and fire just moving around," Osuna told AFP. Governor Ige activated the state's National Guard troops, and told residents to pay heed to official warnings. In his emergency declaration, the governor noted the current flow was similar to a 1960 eruption in the Kapoho area that "caused significant damage." - FEMA mobilizing - Geologist Janet Babb of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory told AFP that scientists had been following an "intrusion of magma" down the rift zone since Monday afternoon in anticipation of a possible eruption. Though the cracks from which lava was emitting had gone dormant, she emphasized that "the overall concern and the overall event has not ended." Hawaii Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation and activated the state's National Guard troops after the eruption US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was mobilizing resources, as well as monitoring for forest fires, power outages and water supply issues. Hawaii Island, or the Big Island, is the largest of the eight main islands that comprise the Pacific US state, an archipelago that includes hundreds of smaller volcanic islands. Anti-government protests have erupted in the capital Antananarivo Madagascar on Friday scrapped part of new electoral laws that have sparked nearly two weeks of protests, its highest court said, after the opposition accused the government of trying to elbow them out of the race ahead of a general election later this year. Several elements of the laws, including the revision of electoral lists and the length of campaigns, went "against the constitution", according to a post on the court's website. The opposition had argued the new laws benefited incumbent President Hery Rajaonarimampianina and called for his resignation seven months ahead of polls on the Indian Ocean island. It came a day after the country's defence minister appealed to the warring political parties to reach an agreement, after anti-government protests erupted on April 21 in the capital Antananarivo. On the first day of demonstrations two people were killed and at least 16 people wounded, with the police accused of firing real bullets at the crowd. The large island, which has been beset by decades of political instability, is due to hold the election in late November or December. Conditions for presidential candidature and the use of single ballots were also among the details that have been dropped, the statement said. The opposition had alleged that the new laws could bar some candidates from standing in the presidential election. Elected in 2013, Rajaonarimampianina has not yet announced whether he will stand for re-election. But two former heads of state have already said they would contest: Marc Ravalomanana, who was president from 2002 to 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, who removed Ravalomanana during a coup. Both were barred from running in 2013 and their parties have been involved in the demonstrations. Representatives of both the president's party and of the opposition had met on Wednesday to try to find a solution to the crisis, but to no avail. Loyalty is prized in South Korea and it is rare for employees of major conglomerates to publicly turn against their owners Hundreds of angry Korean Air employees took to the streets in Seoul demanding the overthrow of the firm's controversial controlling family Friday, after police failed to secure an arrest warrant for one daughter over allegations she sprayed juice over a business associate. A series of scandals have put Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho and his family among the country's most notorious super-wealthy and sparked a rare outburst of hostility from the firm's employees. Chanting "Cho family must step down!" around 400 Korean Air staff members, their families and other protesters gathered at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul late Friday. The family first shot to international infamy in 2014, when Cho's oldest daughter Cho Hyun-ah forced two Korean Air flight attendants to kneel and beg for forgiveness after she was served macadamia nuts in a bag rather than a bowl. She ordered the Seoul-bound flight back to the gate so one of them could be ejected in an incident quickly dubbed "nut rage". Her younger sister Cho Hyun-min recently emerged into the unflattering limelight with her own tantrum -- dubbed "water rage" -- when she allegedly splashed fruit juice over a business associate. The Gangseo police station in Seoul said Friday it was seeking an arrest warrant for Cho, who was accused of assault and obstruction of business. But the request was dismissed by prosecutors. The fruit juice accusation hit a nerve within the Korean Air workforce, prompting hundreds of staff members to join an online chat room to allege Cho family misdeeds against employees and domestic staff. Loyalty is prized in South Korea and it is rare for employees of major conglomerates to publicly turn against company owners. Many of the protesters on Friday were dressed in work uniforms or in all black, with their faces covered by sunglasses or Guy Fawkes masks for fear of being identified by their employer. Many declined to be interviewed by the media. "There are many people from the company's HR team here to keep an eye on what we do and say," said one Korean Air pilot in uniform, but with his face covered by a mask. "The owners are living in clover while the employees are suffering from extreme stress," he added. Many protesters carried signs saying "Cho, you are fired!" and "Cho Yang-ho out!". Lee Tae-hoon, a student, told AFP: "They were scared to speak up for a long time but have now found the collective courage to do so. I hope they can bring change." - Clan controversy - Police said in a statement that Cho Hyun-min was "denying her criminal actions", but "a review of the probe including testimonies by victims and witnesses as well as recorded audio files point to alleged crime". Korean Air had attempted to influence the victims, police added, and there were concerns Cho could destroy evidence if she was not detained. The 34-year-old has apologised in front of journalists and TV cameras but denied any wrongdoing during police questioning. Police said last week they also investigating allegations that the sisters' mother Lee Myung-hee had abused employees verbally and physically. The family are also accused of using Korean Air planes to smuggle luxury goods into the country to avoid import duties and customs authorities raided their residence and the airline's headquarters last week. Chairman Cho Yang-ho -- who last year faced accusations of embezzling company funds, although prosecutors rejected a request for his arrest -- apologised for the "immature" behaviour of his daughters, both of whom resigned from their executive posts. Cho's Hanjin is among the country's 15 biggest business groups, and as well as Korean Air it owns logistics and transport firms, and has interests in information technology and hotels. It used to own Hanjin Shipping, once one of the world's biggest shipping firms, which was declared bankrupt last year. At the protest in Seoul Park Chang-jin, the flight attendant berated by Cho's older daughter for the macadamia nuts said the demonstrators were not trying to "harm". "We are here because we love Korean Air and to make it better," said Park, who is seeking damages in a court battle against the firm, claiming he has faced discrimination since the incident. Twenty-four-year-old Sunil Kumar was killed when the ceiling collapsed in fierce winds in Kheragarh on the outskirts of Agra The death toll from freak storms that hit India climbed above 140 on Friday as people told how they had no time to escape fierce winds which tore down homes, walls and trees. Many families in the worst hit states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan spent the night fearing new chaos and the interior ministry warned of possible thunderstorms in the region on Friday. Victims told how 130 kilometre (80 mile) an hour winds carrying choking sand hit so quickly late Wednesday that they had no time to reach safety from falling walls. The dust storms claimed 121 lives in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and nearby Uttarakhand and Punjab states, according to latest official tolls. Separately 21 people were killed by lightning in two southern states. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh, where 76 died, and Rajasthan, where the storms claimed 39 lives, battled to restore power, clear roads and help people who lost houses. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath cut short an election campaigning trip in Karnataka state to return to visit storm-hit areas where residents remain fearful. The storm flattened homes and toppled electricity pylons in Rajasthan "We couldn't sleep and were worried if the storm hits again. We took precautions and secured everything but nothing can stand up to nature's fury," 40-year-old Agra resident Munna Lal Jha told AFP. Agra district was one of the worst hit areas with at least 43 people killed, according to the state disaster management authority. Twenty-four of them were killed in the small town of Kheragarh, near Agra. Many people in the region live in mud-wall homes that would have barely resisted the ferocious winds. Four children from the same family were killed when a wall collapsed on them in Kheragarh. - Left to mourn - Damaged houses lined the town's dusty roads. Heaps of stones and bricks lay where dozens of homes were destroyed by the gale-force winds. Villagers salvaged belongings from under the debris or fixed broken windows and doors blown away in the storm. Relatives mourn 24-year-old Sunil Kumar who was among 24 killed in the small town of Kheragarh on the outskirts of Agra Some were only left to mourn. Ram Bhorosi told AFP how his son and a nephew died when their house caved in as they welcomed people who had attended his daughter's wedding. "We had guests at home and my son went inside the room to get a bed when the storm struck," he said. "A big stone crushed his head after the roof collapsed. His cousin was also caught under the crumbling roof. Half a dozen men helped us to clear the rubble to take out bodies. They didn't get time to raise the alarm, it was so sudden." In nearby Burera village, Anil Kumar told of his narrow escape when their house fell. "We were sitting outside when the winds suddenly started raging. Four of us were crushed under the debris after the wall fell. My grandfather died but the others survived with injuries." At Bharatpur in Rajasthan, another of the worst-hit towns, a college gate pillar toppled killing three young men, all 18, who had just been accepted as police constables or soldiers, media reported. The winds in Rajasthan raged at more than 100 kph, destroying houses and uprooting trees. Nearly 13,000 electricity pylons were damaged, snapping power supply to scores of localities and stranding many electric-run trains. The India Meteorological Department has warned there are likely to be more storms over a wider area until Tuesday. Storms and lightning strikes kill many people every year in India but this was one of the most severe series of storms in recent decades. The head of the Telangana state disaster management department, R V Chandravadan, said volatile weather would also continue in the southern region. Seven people were killed Thursday in lightning strikes and strong winds. "We have similar weather warnings for next two days," Chandravadan told AFP. Another 14 people were killed in Andhra Pradesh, which was hit by more than 41,000 lightning strikes late Tuesday. French President Emmanuel Macron began his first visit to the tiny French overseas territory on Thursday Thousands of pro-France campaigners on Friday filled the streets of New Caledonia's capital as President Emmanuel Macron visited the remote French archipelago six months ahead of a key independence referendum. Demonstrators dressed in red, white and blue, the vast majority of European origin, waved French flags and sang the national anthem as they marched through Noumea, with police putting turnout at around 4,000. "We are trying to show the president and people in Metropolitan France that the majority of Caledonians want to stay in the French Republic," said Sonia Backes, leader of the anti-independence political party that organised the event. An independence referendum is due to take place in November -- the culmination of decades of campaigning by separatists to break from their old colonial master. The territory is a strategic foothold for Paris in the Asia Pacific region, but economic inequality has persisted despite efforts to improve living standards for the indigenous Kanak population. The ethnic group, the majority of whom support a full break with France, make up around 40 percent of New Caledonia's roughly 270,000 residents. Backes said the protest was "peaceful and friendly" but expressed disappointment that Macron had not paid more attention to pro-French Caledonians during his visit, which began on Thursday. While the march was taking place, the president was in the north of the tiny French overseas territory, around 280 kilometres (170 miles) from the capital. Better known for pristine beaches and diverse wildlife, the South Pacific islands are an extensive nickel reserve for France and present a "geopolitical opportunity", Macron said in Sydney this week, while also noting their economic potential. "France provides money and everything we have here. What would we do without it?" a demonstrator named Malia told AFP. As the march began, a group of Kanak women surrounded by police unfurled a pro-independence flag and shouted at the campaigners, accusing them of "dividing people". New Zealand boasts a mountain range larger than Europe's Alps but complains the country is still left off many world maps New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has joined an online campaign launched by Kiwis tired of finding their remote South Pacific homeland missing from global maps. In a video launched by Tourism New Zealand, comedian Rhys Darby highlights New Zealand's absence from maps at Ikea, Starbucks and New York's Central Park Zoo, and tells Ardern it is part of a vast plot to undermine New Zealand's popularity. "Australia want our tourists, England want to get rid of the All Blacks and the wine industry, they can't beat our pinot (noir) or sav (sauvignon blanc)," he says. "Sacre bleu, sneaky Frenchies!" he explains when he comes across a world wine map with no reference to New Zealand. Alerted to the conspiracy theory, Ardern responds: "You might be onto something." The government's official website is on board too, with its 404 error page saying "we're sorry, something's missing..." alongside a New Zealand-free map. A worldmapswithoutnz website and a hashtag #getNZonthemap have added further momentum to the campaign and prompted endless discussion online. The website lists several other maps which do not include New Zealand, including a submission from Pyongyang International Airport, which shows a large yellow clock displaying the time in Sydney where New Zealand should be. A caption below reads: "Hopefully they use the same map in the rocket launch command centre." Tourism New Zealand chief executive Stephen England-Hall said the campaign was a light-hearted way to get the message across and promote the country as a holiday destination. "It's unfathomable that New Zealand is left off world maps," he said. "New Zealand is bigger than the United Kingdom. We're over two-thirds the size of Japan and Germany. We have a lake (than) the size of Singapore, a mountain range larger than the European Alps, and more coastline than California." A general view taken on February 13, 2018 shows destruction in one Al-Houla, a rebel-held town in Syria's central Homs province Syrian rebels on Friday were surrendering their heavy weapons after reaching a new deal with the government for a central swathe of territory, a war monitor said. Opposition fighters agreed with regime forces and their allies to a ceasefire deal earlier this week for parts of Syria's central provinces of Hama and Homs, including the rebel towns of Talbisseh, Rastan, and Al-Houla. "The fighters are handing over their heavy and intermediate weapons to Russian and regime forces for the second consecutive day," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. It included artillery and machine guns, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Observatory. "Once the handovers are finished, the rebels who want to leave will be evacuated out with civilians," Abdel Rahman told AFP. Rebels and civilians will be granted safe passage to the rebel-held town of Jarabulus, in Aleppo province, and the neighbouring province of Idlib which largely escapes government control, according to state news agency SANA. It said the deal also provided for the return of government institutions to the three towns and the reopening of a key highway. That highway runs from the capital Damascus, through Homs, and onto second city Aleppo, in the north. Securing it has been a major target for the regime's military operations. The area in Homs was part of a "de-escalation zone" agreed one year ago by opposition supporter Turkey and regime allies Iran and Russia. The four zones initially saw a reduction in shelling but violence has since escalated. One of them, Eastern Ghouta, was recaptured last month by the Syrian government after a blistering two-month offensive that ended in forced evacuations of rebels and civilians there. Jaish al-Izza, one rebel faction present in the Homs zone, has said it rejects the agreement and pledged to remain deployed on its front lines. The agreement comes after several days of intermittent clashes and regime reinforcements to the area. It is the third such transfer deal for Homs province, after thousands were bussed out in a pair of agreements for the city itself. Such negotiated withdrawals have brought swathes of territory back under government control during the country's seven-year war, most recently near Damascus. Syrian rebels and civilians prepare to be evacuated from the town of Yalda on the southern outskirts of Damascus on May 3, 2018 Another evacuation deal was underway on Friday in rebel-held areas south of the capital. SANA reported buses were entering the towns of Yalda, Babila, and Beit Saham to take opposition fighters and civilians north to rebel territory. It was the second day of transfers for the towns. Around 1,650 people, including rebels and civilians, were bussed out on Thursday and reached northern Syria the following morning, according to the Observatory. Police are investigating whether criminal gangs were involved in an April protest over veterans' pensions which turned violent Taiwanese police have arrested more than 300 suspected gang members ahead of local elections in a crackdown triggered by concerns over the increasing involvement of organised crime in the island's tense politics. Four of the 310 arrested are reportedly members of a small pro-China party founded by a former gang leader that regularly organises protests in support of Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory. Police said in a statement Thursday they had confiscated illegal weapons and drugs following raids on 762 locations across the island in the sweep launched on April 30. Local elections scheduled for November are seen as an important barometer of popular support for the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or the China-friendly Kuomintang. Former gang leader-turned-politician Chang An-lo, known as "White Wolf", spent 10 years in a US jail for drug trafficking and lived in exile for 17 years in China before returning to Taiwan in 2013. He was a leader of the Bamboo Union -- one of Taiwan's largest criminal gangs -- before founding the China Unification Promotion Party. Members of Chang's party have been accused of attacking Taiwanese independence supporters and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong when he visited Taipei in January 2017. They also allegedly attacked several student protesters last September at a music concert that was cut short following scuffles between pro-independence and pro-China protesters. Police also said a former senior Bamboo Union member had encouraged other gang members to take part in the China Unification Promotion Party's activities. Authorities are also investigating whether there was gang involvement in a protest last month over planned cuts to military veterans' pensions. More than a dozen reporters and over 80 policemen were injured during the protest that descended into chaos, with some throwing smoke bombs and attempting to pull down the gate to the parliament compound with ropes and chains. Beijing has turned hostile towards Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP took office in 2016 as she has refused to accept that the island is part of "one China". China has stepped up pressure by convincing several of Taiwan's diplomatic allies to switch recognition to Beijing and intensifying military patrols close to the island. Afonso Dhlakama led Renamo for 39 years before turning his rebel group into an opposition party that retained an armed wing. In 2014, he made his fifth bid for the presidency, showing his ink-stained finger after voting at a polling station in Maputo Mozambique's president said the country's fragile peace process must not collapse after veteran rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, who had opened talks with the government, died unexpectedly aged 65. President Filipe Nyusi hailed Dhlakama as "a citizen who always worked for Mozambique" and said he was distraught at the news of his death. "I hope that we as Mozambicans can continue to do everything so things do not go down," Nyusi said in a telephone call to state television TVM late on Thursday evening. "He did everything so that there would be peace. The last time he spoke to me, he said he was not going to miss out anything in peace negotiations." Sources in Dhlakama's opposition Renamo party said he died on Thursday after a heart attack, while local media said he suffered severe diabetes. For 39 years, Dhlakama led Renamo, the rebel group which fought a 16-year civil war against the ruling Frelimo party until 1992 and then emerged as an opposition party that still retained its armed fighters. He had been in hiding for much of time since 2013 in the remote Gorongosa mountains after sporadic conflict again erupted in the country. But Dhlakama had recently held meetings with Nyusi and he was seen as playing a key role in advancing the country's nascent peace process. - Surprise truce - Dhlakama's death "increases the difficulty of turning the current ceasefire with the government into a lasting political settlement," said Ed Hobey-Hamsher of the Maplecroft Risk consultancy, adding that Renamo now faced a leadership vacuum. Analysts said Dhlakama would be remembered for challenging the abuses of the ruling Frelimo party, but also for allowing his own forces to commit serious human rights violations with impunity. In December 2016, he announced a surprise truce with the government in the major first step towards a formal peace deal. Nyusi and Dhlakama last met in February in Gorongosa to discuss disarmament and reintegration, and they appeared to have agreed on constitutional reforms that would decentralise power. The reforms, currently under debate in parliament, would allow voters to directly elect provincial governors, who at present are appointed by the president. But Renamo's demands for better integration of its supporters into the police and military remained a sticking point in discussions. "The person to succeed him has to come from the armed wing of Renamo," said supporter Delphina Joaquim, 29, in the rebel stronghold of Beira city. "The strength and stability that Dhlakama had -- we want someone like him. We will continue working with the mission he left us." Dhlakama repeatedly stood as an unsuccessful presidential candidate in elections, despite alleging electoral fraud. Mozambique will hold elections in October 2019, with observers saying Renamo had recently increased its public support. Frelimo has ruled the country since independence from Portugal in 1975. - Restive legacy - Nyusi reportedly sent a helicopter to the Gorongosa mountains to fly Dhlakama abroad for emergency medical treatment. "The weight for me is worse than for everyone," Nyusi said. "I tried to transfer him but I could not because he was in a place where I could not help." "We have lost our father, our teacher, the person who is the light of the majority of Mozambicans," Renamo secretary-general Manuel Bissopo told TVM. Local media said Dhlakama's body arrived early on Friday in Beira, though no funeral details have yet been announced. Between 2013 and 2016, Renamo -- which also holds seats in parliament -- attacked government and civilian vehicles, while soldiers were accused of ruthlessly targeting suspected rebels. The United States issued a statement expressing condolences and calling for all sides to work towards a peace deal after Dhlakama's death. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas gestures as he chairs a Palestinian National Council meeting in Ramallah on April 30, 2018 President Mahmud Abbas was reelected head of the Palestine Liberation Organization Friday, as the veteran leader seeks to strengthen his control over politics in the occupied West Bank. A four-day meeting of the PLO's parliament, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), which was not attended by Abbas's Islamist rivals Hamas, backed Abbas and selected a new leadership of the PLO's executive committee. "President Abu Mazen (Abbas) was nominated and unanimously approved as the president of the State of Palestine," senior Palestinian official Nabil Shaath told AFP. "An executive committee was chosen and an executive council was chosen." The PLO, an umbrella group which is dominated by Abbas's Fatah party and includes most Palestinian factions but not Hamas, represents the Palestinians internationally. The first regular PNC meeting in 22 years was seen as an opportunity for 82-year-old Abbas to try to increase his legitimacy. Although his term as president expired in 2009, infighting with Hamas has made elections impossible. But the event was overshadowed by comments made by Abbas during his opening speech in which he appeared to blame Jewish behaviour for their persecution in Europe. Israel, the European Union, United States and others lined up to criticise his words, which were labelled anti-Semitic. In closing remarks early Friday, Abbas did not respond to the criticism. He also did not directly address the upcoming US move of its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that prompted the Palestinians to boycott the Trump administration. The new executive committee, the most senior body of the PLO and effectively Abbas's cabinet, included nine new names out of 15. A number of potential rivals, including Yasser Abed Rabbo, were removed. The previously 18-member committee was kept to just 15 representatives to leave space for Hamas and two smaller parties that boycotted the event. Some opposed the event being held in the West Bank, where Israel controls movement, and others wanted the meeting to be postponed until a later date. Hamas, which controls Gaza, has dismissed the PNC meeting. A reconciliation deal signed by Hamas and Abbas's Fatah party in October has collapsed. Indonesian authorities display crystal methamphetamine before authorities destroyed 2.6 tonnes of the drug More than two tonnes of crystal methamphetamine were destroyed Friday as Indonesia stepped up its drugs crackdown in one of the biggest such operations of recent years. The Southeast Asian country has some of the world's toughest anti-narcotics laws, and imposes the death penalty for trafficking. The crystal meth had been seized from foreign-registered ships in two separate operations in Indonesian waters near Singapore earlier this year. Four Taiwanese and four Chinese crew members were arrested. Vice President Jusuf Kalla inspected the drugs wearing protective gloves and mask before tossing some bags of the crystal meth into an incinerator in the capital Jakarta. "We respect the police for seizing this ... 2.6 tonnes (of crystal meth) have been confiscated but there are still many out there, so the danger is still real," he said. Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim majority country -- has made combating narcotics a top priority and resumed the execution of traffickers in 2015 after an unofficial hiatus. Eighteen convicted drug smugglers -- including 15 foreigners -- have been sent to the firing squad under President Joko Widodo, sparking a diplomatic backlash. Last month eight Taiwanese drug smugglers were sentenced to death. Widodo has repeatedly defended his tough stance, claiming Indonesia faces a "drugs emergency" and must act to protect the next generation. There were about six million drug users in Indonesia in 2016 out of a total population of 260 million, according to the national narcotics agency. The UK government says 400 Afghan interpreters are in Britain after being made redundant when the "military drawdown" of combat forces in Afghanistan started at the end of 2012 Four hundred Afghan interpreters who served British armed forces in 13 years of combat operations will be allowed to remain in Britain free of charge, government ministers said on Friday. Home Secretary Sajid Javid made the announcement in one of his first moves in the post -- after a scandal over threatened deportations of Caribbean immigrants forced his predecessor Amber Rudd to step down. "The local Afghan interpreters worked in dangerous and challenging situations, regularly putting their lives at risk," he said in a statement. "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." After being appointed on Monday, Javid had promised a "fair and humane" immigration system. Previously Afghan interpreters -- who performed their services sometimes at risk to themselves and their families -- faced a fee of 2,398 (2,715 euros, $3,248) to secure permanent settlement. More than 150 translators who served in Helmand province -- which saw some of the fiercest combat in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 -- wrote to ministers saying they had been "left in limbo" by the "shameful and indefensible policy", according to British media. In total, the interior ministry says 400 interpreters are in Britain after being made redundant when the "military drawdown" of combat forces in Afghanistan started at the end of 2012. They were offered relocation as they "faced particular danger in their role", the ministry said. Now those interpreters who have been in Britain for five years, as well as their families, will have the costs waived. "In addition, the Home Office has committed to looking again at what can be done to make the process easier for Afghan interpreters to bring family members still in Afghanistan over to the UK," the statement said. Legislation required to enact the changes will be introduced in July. "It clearly wasn't right that after putting their lives on the line for us that we then expected them to pay for the right to stay in this country," Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson wrote in an editorial for The Times on Friday. Villagers at Onkolde in Kenya's Tana River delta region struggled with flood water after the river burst its banks. More than 60,000 people have displaced from the area, according to the Kenya Red Cross. Flooding across Kenya triggered by weeks of torrential rain has left 112 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands of others, the Red Cross said Friday. Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Abbas Gullet made an appeal for $5 million (four million euros) to help those affected in 32 counties. Since early March, "112 people have lost their lives countrywide," he told a press conference. "About 48,177 households have been displaced so far and this translates to 260,200 people that are displaced," he said. Gullet said over 21,000 acres (8,500 hectares) of crops had been destroyed and some 20,000 animals washed away, while more than a hundred schools had been affected, many of which remain closed. The disaster comes after three failed rainy seasons inflicted a crippling drought that sent food prices soaring and left more than three million people requiring food aid. Many of the millions of Syrians displaced by war lack paperwork Rights groups and specialists are sounding the alarm over a new Syrian law on urban development, saying millions of displaced risk never returning home after losing claim to land left behind. The Urban Renewal Law, commonly known as Decree 10, allows the government to take private property to create zoned developments, compensating owners with shares of the new projects. It's a nationwide expansion of 2012's Decree 66, which plans the construction of two glitzy complexes atop the bombed-out suburbs of Damascus. Similar land acquisitions are used worldwide to redevelop neglected or battle-damaged areas. But experts worry its application in Syria, whose war has displaced more than five million people outside their homeland and six million internally, is riddled with violations. "The margin of abuse is so big, and that's what informs our concern," says Sara Kayyali, Human Rights Watch's Syria researcher. If their land is part of a new development, owners inevitably lose the property itself and must complete bureaucratic procedures within tight deadlines to get shares in exchange. It's a tall order for displaced Syrians, who are often missing paperwork, struggling financially, or may not learn of requirements in time. "The primary concern we are hearing from people who may be affected by this law is that they really don't know whether they can return," she says. - 'As if nothing happened' - The law itself makes no mention of the millions of displaced -- a major red flag for Amnesty International's Diana Semaan. "Nothing in the law guarantees their safety," she warns. "It tackles the issue as if nothing happened and everyone is in Syria, able to assign power of attorney or come themselves to claim property." Under Decree 10, once Syria's government designates a development zone, authorities have one month to publicly notify landowners of the shares option. Those with deeds in government registries automatically receive shares, but those without must prove ownership within 30 days. Therein lies a major snag. Even before war erupted, a "significant proportion" of Syrians did not have legally valid documents proving land rights, according to a 2016 Norwegian Refugee Council report. Syrians with deeds in official registries may still struggle to demonstrate ownership, as several centres were destroyed by fighting, including in third city Homs. "The loss of these records may enable the occupation and transfer of these properties to other individuals and commercial interests," wrote the NRC. Many displaced internally or across the border did not bring relevant papers with them: deeds, identification cards, old bills. Just 20 percent of Syrian refugee households in Jordan asked by the NRC said they had such documents with them. And less than 40 percent of those displaced to northwest Syria by a government offensive on the Eastern Ghouta rebel bastion had saved theirs, according to a survey by Syrian civil society group The Day After. A 2017 decree is meant to help replace deeds but Kayyali notes "extensive bureaucratic and financial obstacles". "Given the extent of the displacement and loss of personal documents, the law won't give people enough time to make a claim," she says. Even shares claimed successfully will likely be worth "much less" than seized land, says Amnesty's Semaan. "The valuation of property in the law is not properly thought through or fair for those affected," she says. - 'No hope' - Syria's opposition accuses the government of using military and legal means to conduct demographic engineering along sectarian lines. But Amnesty and HRW say Decree 10 is part of a worrying trend that instead disenfranchises Syrians for political or financial reasons. One law, passed in 2012, allows the government to confiscate the property of anyone accused of "terrorism," a term the regime uses for all its opponents. Syrians in government territory won't dare make property claims for Decree 10 on behalf of displaced people branded traitors, says Syrian lawyer Hussein Bakri, who wrote TDA's assessment of the law. "It doesn't make sense for your relatives to represent you, because the strength of the security services means they will almost certainly be arrested," says Bakri. Decree 10, he says, "will inevitably lead to landowners losing rights and being dispossessed of their property to the benefit of regime loyalists and supporters." Such dispossession may be just as much about money as politics, says Jihad Yazigi, editor-in-chief of The Syrian Report. The "dynamic" rate of property-related legislation demonstrates the government's desire to consolidate control of a rare resource in Syria's war-ravaged economy: property. "Land has lots of advantages. What else can they do? Manufacturing, agriculture, banks? No, land. It's very clear," says Yazigi. In the interim, those left stranded in areas outside regime control have little recourse, he says. "This marks the end of any hope for these people to return. If they had some hope, now it's over." Flipkart is India's largest e-commerce group by sales but has been fighting off a huge challenge from Amazon since the US tech giant entered the country in 2013 Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has agreed to sell 75 percent of the company to US retail behemoth Walmart for about $15 billion, a report said Friday, in what would be a blow to rival Amazon. Bloomberg News said Flipkart's board had agreed the sale. Flipkart declined to comment when contacted by AFP. There has been months of speculation that Walmart was preparing to buy Flipkart to take on Amazon which is aggressively expanding in India, one of the world's key online markets. Flipkart is India's largest e-commerce group on the basis of sales but has been fighting off a huge challenge from Amazon since the US conglomerate entered the country in 2013. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has committed $5 billion to grabbing a big slice of India's e-commerce pie after failing to make inroads in China. India's e-commerce sales hit $21 billion last year according to market research company Forrester and are expected to soar as its population of 1.3 billion people make greater use of increased internet access. Bloomberg said that under the proposed deal Japan's Softbank Group would give up its 20 percent stake in Flipkart. The report said the deal could be announced soon, however it added that it was not yet certain. Indian media said this week that Walmart was moving closer to striking a deal with Flipkart even as Amazon was trying to negotiate its own deal. Reports quoting unnamed sources said Amazon was willing to value Flipkart higher, at around $22 billion, but that all of Flipkart's major investors were leaning towards Walmart. Flipkart, Amazon and Walmart have all repeatedly declined to comment on the talks. Flipkart was founded in 2007 by former Amazon employees Sachin and Binny Bansal. As well as Softbank it is also backed by New York-based fund Tiger Management. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas gestures as he chairs a Palestinian National Council meeting in Ramallah on April 30, 2018. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas apologised Friday over alleged anti-Semitic comments that drew global condemnation. "If people were offended by my statement at the Palestinian National Council, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to them," he said in a statement, days after appearing to suggest Jewish behaviour, including money lending, led to their persecution in Europe. The English-language statement added he wanted "to reiterate our long held condemnation of the Holocaust, as the most heinous crime in history". "We condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms, and confirm our commitment to the two-state solution, and to (living) side by side in peace and security." It did not specifically apologise for his claim about Jewish persecution. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman immediately rejected the statement on Twitter. Abbas "is a pathetic Holocaust denier who wrote a doctorate about Holocaust denial and then a book about Holocaust denial," he said, citing past works that had already led to accusations of anti-Semitism. "His apology is not accepted." Monday's comments sparked global anger, with the United States, United Nations, European Union and others criticising them, as well as Israeli leaders. In a rambling speech to hundreds of Palestinian officials, the 82-year-old said for centuries Jews in Europe were "subjected to a massacre every 10 to 15 years. But why did this happen? They say 'it is because we are Jews'." He then cited "three books" written by Jews as evidence that "hostility against Jews is not because of their religion, but rather their social function," adding he meant "their social function related to banks and interest". He also reiterated claims that Israel was a colonial project encouraged by European leaders who wanted to be rid of their Jewish populations. - International criticism - Abbas has made similar comments before but his speech at the Palestinian National Council sparked global condemnation. "Apparently the Holocaust denier is still a Holocaust denier," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday on Twitter. David Friedman, US ambassador to Israel, said Abbas had reached a "new low", while President Donald Trump's envoy Jason Greenblatt said "peace cannot be built on this kind of foundation". Foreign officials also said Abbas's words undermined his call for an independent Palestinian state. United Nations envoy Nickolay Mladenov said on Twitter Abbas had expressed "contemptuous anti-Semitic slurs". "Denying the Jewish connection to the land & its holy sites stands in contrast to reality." Netanyahu regularly argues that the reason there is not peace between Israel and the Palestinians is the lack of a real partner for them to negotiate with. He has called on Abbas to recognise Israel as a Jewish state. The Palestinians point out Israel continues to expand settlements throughout the West Bank, while maintaining a crippling blockade of Gaza. The controversy comes as the ageing Abbas sought to use the Palestinian National Council to reassert his dominance of secular Palestinian politics. Unlike his Islamist rivals Hamas, who control Gaza and with whom Israel has fought three wars since 2008, Abbas's political grouping has recognised Israel. Chad's President Idriss Deby, right, seen with then US secretary of state Rex Tillerson in N'Djamena in March Chad President Idriss Deby on Friday vowed to crack down on entrenched graft as he signed a decree to create a new republic based on constitutional changes attacked by the opposition. Deby, who has governed the poor, oil-rich state since 1990, said the incoming republic was "the quintessence of the people's aspirations and expectations." "It requires new and virtuous attitudes, practices and behaviour," he said. "I readily admit that many people have built large fortunes on the basis of embezzlement and corruption," Deby said. "My dear compatriots, I assure you that this illicit and immoral enrichment machine will stop." The new republic is the fourth since Chad gained independence from France in 1960. The landlocked country has a history of political violence and corruption. It is ranked a lowly 165th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index. The constitutional changes establish a full presidential regime without a prime minister or vice president. In addition, the current presidential term of five years, with no limits on re-election, is replaced by a six-year term, with a limit of two terms. The changes were passed by lawmakers on Monday despite calls from the opposition, civil society groups and the Catholic church for a referendum. The draft approved by the legislature was a text crafted in March by a national forum of politicians, religious and social groups, but boycotted by the opposition and part of civil society. The opposition argued that Deby's hold on power would be strengthened and democratic safeguards weakened by the change. Twenty-six lawmakers appealed to the constitutional court for the changes to be annulled, but this was rejected on Thursday. Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke and his government resigned shortly afterwards. Deby on Friday reiterated that legislative elections, which have been repeatedly postponed since 2015, would take place this November but said the date would be "difficult to keep" without international help. He also declared a "general amnesty" enabling all Chadians "who for one reason or another have left the country" to return home. Opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo said the changes to the national charter were a "constitutional coup d'etat against democracy and the Chadian people." "All power is now concentrated in the hands of one man," he said in a statement that called on the "international community to end its silence, which could be considered complicity" with Deby. US President Donald Trump accused investigators in the Russia collusion probe of being "real Democrats," suggesting he could not get a fair shake US President Donald Trump said Friday that he is willing to be interviewed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia meddling probe, but only if he gets fair treatment. "I would love to speak, but I have to find that we're going to be treated fairly," Trump told reporters. "I would love to speak because we've done nothing wrong," he said. Trump said Mueller's team of veteran investigators were Democrats, suggesting he could not get a fair shake in the probe into whether his election campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, and whether he had illegally tried to obstruct the Mueller investigation. "The problem we have is that you have 13 people that are all Democrats and they're real Democrats. They're angry Democrats. And that's not a fair situation," Trump said as he left the White House for a trip to Texas. "I have to find that we're going to be treated fairly. Because everybody sees it now and it's a pure witch hunt." "There was no collusion with the Russians, there was nothing, there was no obstruction," he added. Trump also brushed off revelations by his newly recruited attorney, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, that he was aware of and approved reimbursements to his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Cohen made the payment just before the 2016 election to prevent her from going public with claims of an affair with Trump. After repeatedly denying knowledge of the payment, Trump tweeted on Thursday following the revelations by Giuliani that Cohen had undertaken the payout separately from the campaign "to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair." Trump referred to the payments story as "that kind of crap" and said Giuliani was still getting up to speed on his legal position. "Rudy's great, but Rudy had just started and he wasn't totally familiar with everything," Trump said. US President Donald Trump told reporters the date and venue of his summit with Kim Jong Un would be announced soon US President Donald Trump said Friday that a date and venue for his landmark summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un would be unveiled soon, as anticipation builds for the unprecedented talks between the mercurial leaders. And while Trump said he was not envisaging a drawdown of troops in South Korea for now -- something the regime in Pyongyang has long wanted -- he admitted it was a possibility in the longer term. Since Kim met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Trump has been steadily offering tidbits about his expected meeting with the North's ruler -- even hinting that three Americans imprisoned there could soon be freed. Trump will discuss preparations for the summit when he hosts Moon at the White House on May 22, with "close coordination on developments regarding the Korean Peninsula," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. "We now have a date and we have a location, we'll be announcing it soon," Trump told reporters on Friday about his summit, as he left the White House on a trip to Texas. The US president suggested earlier this week that the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas -- scene of the historic Kim-Moon talks -- could also be an appropriate venue for his own meeting with Kim. Other possible sites reportedly include Mongolia, Singapore and Switzerland. Preparations for a Trump-Kim meeting have gained momentum since the Korean summit a week ago, which saw Pyongyang and Seoul promise to pursue the complete denuclearization of the peninsula and a permanent peace. North Korea has offered to close its nuclear test site this month -- and invited US experts to verify the move. Other less dramatic but notable signs of rapprochement have emerged almost daily, including North Korea moving its clocks forward by 30 minutes early Saturday to match time with the South. - Troops 'not on the table' - As for a reduction in the number of troops stationed in South Korea, Trump said that was not under negotiation -- for now. "We haven't been asked it," he said. "I think a lot of great things will happen. But troops are not on the table. Absolutely." The US president added, however: "Now I have to tell you, at some point into the future, I would like to save the money. You know, we have 32,000 troops there." Relations between North and South Korea have improved dramatically ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L), after Kim's talks with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in on April 27, 2018 US National Security Advisor John Bolton earlier denied as "utter nonsense" a New York Times report saying Trump had asked the Pentagon for options to prepare for drawing down the 28,500-strong US force. The Times report, which cited several unidentified officials briefed on the deliberations, said reduced troop levels were not intended to be a bargaining chip in Trump-Kim talks. But officials acknowledged that a peace treaty between the two Koreas -- technically still at war since the 1950s, with only an armistice in place -- could diminish the need for the US forces, The Times said. - 'Stay tuned' on US prisoners - Trump, who has hinted at imminent news about three Americans detained in North Korea, once more sounded an upbeat note regarding their fate. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages," he said. Map of the Korean peninsula showing the nuclear test site that North Korea has pledged to close sometime this month "Stay tuned," Trump added. "I think you will be seeing very, very good things." 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. Plans for a Trump-Kim summit follow months of tense saber-rattling over Pyongyang's testing of atomic weapons and long-range missiles, including some theoretically capable of reaching the American mainland. But a spectacular detente in recent months has fed hopes of a historic turning point in the region. Several new steps reflect the harmonious atmosphere between the two Koreas. After their united women's hockey team captured hearts at this year's Olympics, the two Koreas joined forces this week at the world table tennis championships in Sweden rather than play each other in the semi-finals. On Friday the Koreans lost to Japan in the finals. The International Civil Aviation Organization said North Korea had asked for permission to open an air corridor between Pyongyang and Incheon, near Seoul, a move the UN agency expressed a "willingness" to facilitate. Given the progress on multiple fronts, Trump exulted before a crowd at a National Rifle Association meeting in Dallas later Friday. "We're really doing well with North Korea," he said, adding that he had agreed to temper his rhetoric -- such as branding Kim Jong Un a "Rocket man" and threatening "fire and fury" last year as nuclear tensions spiked. "Now I'm trying to calm it down a little bit," Trump said. Egypt Today CAIRO - 3 May 2018: Italian Energy company Eni announced on Thursday a new oil discovery in Egypt's western desert. In a press release, Eni announced an oil discovery on the A-2X exploration prospect located in the South West Meleiha license, in the Egyptian Western Desert, some 103 km North of the oasis of Siwa. The well is the first one drilled by Eni to explore the deep geological sequences of the Faghur Basin. 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. The discovery on A-2X prospect is the result of a new exploration campaign designed to target the deep geological sequences of the Faghur Basin. Eni plans, in the near term, the drilling of other exploratory prospects located nearby A2-X discovery that, in case of success, may open a new productive area in Egypt, the company said in the statement. Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, holds a 100% stake in the South West Meleiha license. Eni discovered Egypt's giant Zohr gas field in 2015. In December 2017, the company delivered the first gas from the field, whose estimated 30 trillion cubic feet makes it the biggest gas field in the Mediterranean. Eni announced last week the start of the second production line of Zohr. Production of the field is scheduled to reach 1.2 billion cubic feet per day in May and two billion cubic feet per day by the end of 2018, amassing 2.7 billion cubic feet per day. Leader Kim Jong Un promised the move during the meeting at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, when he and the South's President Moon Jae-in pledged to pursue denuclearisation and a peace treaty North Korea went forward in time by 30 minutes on Saturday, state media said, to match its clocks with those of the South following last week's inter-Korean summit. Leader Kim Jong Un promised the move during the meeting at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, when he and the South's President Moon Jae-in pledged to pursue denuclearisation and a peace treaty. "The time-resetting is the first practical step taken after the historic third north-south summit meeting to speed up the process for the North and the South to become one," said the official KCNA news agency. In Panmunjom, Kim had said he found it a "painful wrench" to see clocks at the summit venue showing different times for the two neighbours, KCNA reported earlier. Kim expressed "his resolution to unify the two times... as the first practical step for national reconciliation and unity", it said, and the North's parliament on Monday adopted a decree to put the move into effect from Saturday. Seoul welcomed the decision as a "symbolic move" towards better inter-Korean ties. North and South are now vastly different societies, one a democratic member of the OECD club of developed countries, and the other an impoverished, hereditary one-party state left isolated by its pursuit of nuclear weapons. But it was only in 2015 that the Koreas' clocks diverged, when Pyongyang put itself back 30 minutes to return to the time zone used in the peninsula before Japan colonised it in 1910. As of Saturday, Seoul, Pyongyang and Tokyo are all in the same time zone. North Korea is not the only country to have used time to assert its national identity. China and India have both imposed single time zones to promote unity across their vast territories, with people in China's westernmost provinces officially keeping to Beijing time despite the sun rising and setting two hours later than in the capital. Most time zones around the world are an hour apart, but some have smaller differences - Myanmar is half an hour behind next-door Thailand, while Nepal sets itself 15 minutes ahead of India to assert a difference from its giant neighbour. And despite lying on Europe's western edge, mainland Spain has been in the same time zone as central Europe since 1942, when Francisco Franco's fascist government adopted it to line itself up with Nazi Germany. US President Donald Trump heads to Texas to address a National Rifle Association annual meeting in Dallas US President Donald Trump headed to Dallas, Texas Friday to address the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, the powerful lobby's first since the Parkland high school massacre sparked a grassroots campaign for gun control. The president's decision to go before the NRA so soon after the February 14 rampage in Florida signals a political shift as his Republicans head into sharply contested mid-term elections. Public demands for stricter gun control measures soared after 17 people were shot dead in Parkland, with students mobilizing hundreds of thousands of people in Washington March 24 for a mass display of outrage. But so far, the US Congress has taken little action and polls indicate public sentiment in favor of stricter gun laws is cooling, as it has after previous mass shootings. "As we have indicated on many occasions, safety is a big priority, security is a big priority for the administration," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said this week when asked if it was "insensitive" of the president to go to the NRA meeting. "But we also support the Second Amendment and strongly support it, and don't see there to be a problem with speaking at the National Rifle Association's meeting." The four-day gathering in Dallas brings together hundreds of exhibitors as well as special events for NRA members like the "Leadership Forum" that Trump, is scheduled to address. - Feared political force - With more than five million members, the NRA is long established as a feared political force in the United States and fierce defender of the constitutional right to bear arms. This will be the fourth time Trump has addressed the NRA convention. Vice President Mike Pence also will speak to the gathering. After the Parkland shootings, Trump said he was open to stronger gun control measures but has opposed a ban on assault rifles, a key demand of the student protesters. Trump has instead proposed a ban on "bump stocks," devices used to convert semi-automatic weapons into automatic-like weapons by accelerating their rate of fire. Bump stocks were used by the gunman who mowed down 58 people at a country music concert in Las Vegas in October, the deadliest such attack in modern US history. The president also has sided with student protesters in calling for raising the minimum age for gun purchases from 18 to 21, a position the NRA opposes. Controversially, though, Trump also advocates arming teachers as a first line of defense against school shooters, echoing the NRA's claim that "the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is good guy with a gun." The organization exerts outsized influence in Congress and state legislatures by financing the campaigns of supporters and targeting opponents. After the Parkland massacre, the outpouring of emotion indicated that the political environment might be changing, putting the NRA on the defensive. A Gallup poll in early March found that some 67 percent of Americans believed gun laws should be stricter, a 15-year high in the firm's surveys. But by mid-April a Marist poll found that the percentage of people for whom gun policy will heavily influence their vote in November had fallen to 46 percent from 59 percent in February. Syrians walks down a street in the Eastern Ghouta town of Douma on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on April 20, 2018, during an army-organised media tour Chemical weapons experts have completed their mission to the Syrian town of Douma to probe last month's alleged chemical attack, but the analysis of samples may still take weeks, the global watchdog said Friday. "The initial deployment of the fact-finding mission... in Douma is complete," the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said from its headquarters in The Hague. "Samples have been brought to the OPCW laboratory where they will be split and then dispatched to the OPCW designated laboratories," it added in a statement. The OPCW's mission to Douma was launched amid international outrage over images of adults and children appearing to be suffering from the effects of a toxic weapon attack. The gruesome footage from the apparent April 7 attack horrified the world and prompted unprecedented Western strikes on Syrian military installations. The fact-finding mission gained access to Douma on April 21 after several delays since deploying to Syria on April 14. But the global watchdog warned that the analysis of samples "may take at least three to four weeks," with inspectors continuing to collect more information and material. "At this time it is not possible to give a timeframe for when the Douma report will be issued to states parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention," the OPCW said. On April 7, the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) and the White Helmets jointly said dozens of people died in a "poisonous chlorine gas attack" in Douma. But Syria and Russia have accused Syrian volunteer rescue workers of staging the video footage at the behest of the United States and its allies. Hugo Chavez who pulled Venezuela's clocks back by half an hour in 2007, a move that was undone by his successor Nicolas Maduro nearly a decade later North Korea is not alone in its penchant for setting its own time. Geopolitics, economics and the whims of kings and strongmen have seen meridian-meddling across the world -- challenging the theory of 24 time zones pegged to Greenwich Mean Time, which was established in 1884. Here are five countries with time-keeping issues. - Venezuela: Turning the clocks back - In 2016 amid power cuts and protests, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the clocks in the oil-dependent South American nation to be moved 30 minutes forward, to four hours behind GMT. The government argued that extra daylight would reduce use of electricity and air conditioning. Putting a positive spin on the change, Maduro said the country would have "half an hour more future". The move unstitched a 2007 time-tweak by Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez who pulled the clocks back by half an hour in one of the more eccentric moves of his rule. - Crimea: The march of time - When Russian-backed authorities in Crimea split from Ukraine in 2014, they declared independence and moved to expel Ukrainian forces from the peninsula. Clocks were not spared. In March that year the timezone was moved two hours forward to match Moscow, a symbolic gesture that would shake up the rhythm of day to day life. - Nepal: 15 minutes of fame - Nepal Standard Time was born in 1956 when authorities shifted their meridian line closer to the capital Kathmandu. That put the Himalayan nation 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT, and crucially 15 minutes ahead of neighbouring India - in a move to distinguish itself from its giant neighbour and generate national pride in the country. - Samoa: Never too late - In 2011, Samoa jumped the dateline, unpicking the 119-year-old legacy of a king who wanted his islands aligned with America. But as the Pacific Island was pulled culturally and economically closer to Australia's orbit the decision was made to jump to the east of the dateline, instantly leaping from 21 hours behind Sydney time to three hours ahead. But it came at a cost. American Samoa was suddenly separated by 24 hours, despite the tiny distance between the two. - China: Time is of the essence - In a bid to promote unity in 1949 following years of civil war, Mao Zedong condensed China's multiple time zones into one: Beijing time, or 8 hours ahead of GMT. That means people in China's westernmost provinces adhere to Beijing time even as the sun rises two hours later than in the capital. Though administered separately, Macau and Hong Kong operate on Beijing time, as does Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province that will one day be under its control. Yet all is not entirely well - the Muslim Uighurs in far western province of Xinjiang defiantly use their own "local time", a political statement against alleged cultural and religious repression by Beijing. burs-apj/klm/amu US President Donald Trump denied his recent admission he had reimbursed his lawyer for a hush money payment to a porn star amounted to a U-turn An angry Donald Trump dismissed a growing storm over a hush money payment to an adult movie star as "crap" Friday, as he denied changing his story on the scandal. After months of claiming he knew nothing of the $130,000 his personal lawyer paid the porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleges an affair with Trump, the president changed tack this week, admitting he reimbursed his attorney Michael Cohen for the payment. The president's admission followed the revelation by Rudy Giuliani -- the former New York mayor and new recruit to Trump's legal team -- that the president repaid the sum, intended to stop what Trump called "false and extortionist accusations" against him. But on Friday the president denied this amounted to a U-turn -- while saying Giuliani still needed to get "his facts straight." "I'm not changing any stories," he told reporters as he left Washington on a trip to Dallas. "All I'm telling is you that this country is right now running so smooth. And to be bringing up that kind of crap, and to be bringing up witch hunts all the time -- that's all you want to talk about," Trump said. "You take a look at what I said," he added. "You'll see what I said." Trump added that Giuliani was still getting up to speed. "When Rudy made the statement -- Rudy is great -- but Rudy had just started, and he wasn't totally familiar with every -- you know, with everything," Trump said. "And Rudy -- we love Rudy, he's a special guy. What he really understands is that this is a witch hunt." Speaking moments earlier Trump also sought to explain away his attorney's statement, saying: "He started yesterday. He'll get his facts straight. He's a great guy." Cohen made the payment to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, just before the 2016 election to prevent her from going public with claims she had an affair with Trump a decade earlier. There had been suggestions it could have fallen foul of campaign finance laws, as an undeclared contribution aimed at preventing negative press for the candidate. Giuliani has argued that the fact Trump reimbursed the sum should remove any suspicion of campaign finance violation. 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." Rudy Giuliani dropped a bombshell when he went on Fox News to disclose that Donald Trump had paid back hush-money given in October 2016 to a porn star Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, 9/11 hero and prosecutor who jailed the mafia, was thrust into a gathering storm Friday, accused of exacerbating Donald Trump's already fraught legal woes. Appointed to the president's personal legal team on April 19, the 73-year-old maverick dropped a bombshell when he went on Fox News to disclose that Trump had paid back hush-money given in October 2016 to porn star Stormy Daniels. Some saw Giuliani's revelations as a calculated -- if risky -- ploy to protect Trump from a looming legal threat: he argues that because the president reimbursed the $130,000 sum to his lawyer, it cannot be viewed as an illicit contribution to his election campaign. But in orchestrating the media blitz -- and undercutting Trump's past statements -- legal analysts and US media suggested Giuliani may have given investigators new avenues of inquiry to chase. And the ensuing uproar certainly dampened the suggestion Giuliani, the man famous for prosecuting Wall Street crime, jailing the mob and steeped in crisis management could turn out to be his old friend's knight in shining armor. A breathless US media went into panic overdrive. "Rudy Giuliani throws Trump's legal team into disarray" shrieked CNN. "Giuliani outs Trump: did the president just admit to a campaign finance law violation?" wondered The Washington Post. Trump faces numerous legal challenges, including the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into possible links between his campaign and Russia, and possible obstruction of justice; allegations that women he slept with were paid money to stay quiet; and challenges over his family businesses. "You won't see daylight between me and the president," Giuliani hit back on CNN, denying that his intervention had been uncoordinated. But has Giuliani's straight-talking, loose cannon reputation already heaped more damage on the US president? On Friday, it seemed not even Trump was sure. - 'Blow it up' - "He started yesterday. He'll get his facts straight," the president said. "He's a great guy," he added, lacing his ticking off with an endorsement. But if the loudest voices come down heavily against the man once admired for his leadership as "America's Mayor" in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, others have urged caution. "I think it's a mistake to write off any experienced lawyer as an object of casual ridicule. If you look at Mr Giuliani's career he has a lot of relevant high-level experience," a former Manhattan federal prosecutor told AFP. Critics say few lawyers worth their salt would spout so publicly in the media, but Giuliani is not someone who operates in the shadows. "Giuliani has an operatic quality. He likes to kind of walk into a situation and blow it up. Sometimes for strategic reasons... also because he just likes it," Andrew Kirtzman, the author of a Giuliani biography published in 2000. Neither is he only a lawyer. Mayor of New York from 1994-2001, he presided over a 57 percent fall in overall crime that turned him into a cause celebre. He chairs an international security consulting firm, he is a multi-millionaire and perhaps most crucially, he is close to the mercurial Trump. "Giuliani's value is not just as a lawyer but as a friend and a confidante," says Kirtzman. "Those were in short supply in the Oval Office these days." Both men are of the same generation, of similar temperament and both created in New York, at home in the rough-and-tumble world of the tabloids. - 'Lobbying' - But many question whether Giuliani is still at the top of the legal game that in the 1980s made him US Attorney in Manhattan, a highly prestigious job. "It's not clear that he still possesses those skills," says Rick Hasen, professor at University of California Irvine School of Law. "I don't think he's been doing that kind of work for many years. He has been doing more lobbying and government relations," he added. His public performances have become increasingly extreme. He ran a disastrous campaign for president in 2008. He was one of Trump's most ardent surrogates during the bitterly divisive 2016 presidential campaign. His hero-status after 9/11 has also taken a major hit. Hoping to become Trump's secretary of state, Giuliani dropped out after coming under scrutiny for business dealings that could pose conflicts of interest. Instead he was tapped to advise the administration on cyber security. When it comes to his legal strategy for Trump, it may still be early days. "Who could realistically judge that at this point? It's so early in Giuliani's involvement, there's no way to know exactly what the longer-term strategy is at this point," the former federal prosecutor told AFP. Comments about Jews by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas triggered global condemnation The United States failed Friday to win United Nations Security Council backing for a statement rejecting as "unacceptable" remarks by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas about Jews that included "vile anti-Semitic slurs." Kuwait, a non-permanent council member that represents the Arab Group of countries, objected to the draft statement, arguing that Abbas had already apologized and that it was one-sided, diplomats said. The proposed statement expressed the council's "serious concern" about Abbas's remarks, which "included vile anti-Semitic slurs and baseless conspiracy theories, and do not serve the interests of the Palestinian people or peace in the Middle East." It called on him to "refrain from anti-Semitic comments." Security Council statements are adopted by consensus of all 15 members. The Palestinian leader triggered global outrage after he suggested that hostility toward Jews in Europe was not linked to religious intolerance, but stemmed from their "social function related to banks and interests." Abbas made the remarks at a meeting of the Palestinian National Council on Monday, but on Friday he offered an apology and said he condemned the Holocaust "as the most heinous crime in history." Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman immediately rejected the apology and said Abbas was a "pathetic Holocaust denier." US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the council's failure to agree on the statement "only further undermines the UN's credibility in addressing" the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Disgusting anti-Semitic statements from the Palestinian leadership obviously undermine the prospects for Middle East peace," she said. The United States has twice blocked draft statements at the council expressing concern about the violence in Gaza, in which nearly 50 people have been killed by Israeli forces. The United States is pushing ahead with plans to open its embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, a move that could further stoke violence. Huawai says no government has ever asked it to compromise the security of its devices and networks Personnel on US military bases can no longer buy phones and other gear manufactured by Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE, after the Pentagon said the devices pose an "unacceptable" security risk. Concerns have heightened at the Pentagon about consumer electronics being used to snoop on or track service members. "Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to (military) personnel, information and mission," Pentagon spokesman Major Dave Eastburn said on Friday. "In light of this information, it was not prudent for the Department's exchanges to continue selling them," he added, referring to the military-run shops on US bases around the world. Eastburn said the order to pull Huawei devices was given on April 25. "Given security concerns about ZTE cell phones and related products, the (Pentagon's) exchange services also removed ZTE products from their stores," he said. Eastburn could not discuss the technical aspects of the potential threats, but The Wall Street Journal said the Pentagon fears the Chinese government could track soldiers using Huawei or ZTE devices. Huawei spokesman Charles Zinkowski said the firm's devices meet the highest standards of security, privacy and engineering in every country it operates in, 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," Zinkowski said in a statement. ZTE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In January, the Pentagon said it was reviewing its policy on fitness apps and wearable fitness trackers after exercise-logging company Strava published a map compiling its users' activity. In Iraq and Syria, viewers could easily spot beacons of activity in remote places where military bases are located, presumably indicating favorite jogging or walking routes. In February, Dan Coats, the Director of National Intelligence, along with several other top intel officials, said Americans should not buy Huawei or ZTE products. "Chinese cyber espionage and cyber attack capabilities will continue to support China's national security and economic priorities," Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee. During his visit to Sydney, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France, India and Australia shared a responsibility to protect the region from "hegemony" -- in a remark widely interpreted as a stab at China China on Friday hit back at French President Emmanuel Macron's warnings against allowing a single nation to dominate the Indo-Pacific region, where many countries fear Beijing's growing might. During his visit to Sydney on Wednesday, Macron said that France, India and Australia shared a responsibility to protect the region from "hegemony" -- in a remark widely interpreted as a stab at China. "What's important is to preserve rules-based development in the region... and to preserve necessary balances in the region," Macron said then. "It's important with this new context not to have any hegemony," Macron added through an interpreter. But Beijing shot back on Friday, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying saying that while she had not seen Macron's comments, any fears about Chinese hegemony amounted to "groundless accusations". "In the eyes of the world, which country could be said actually to be exercising hegemony in the world nowadays? Who has also long exercised military or economic hegemony of every kind in the region?" Hua said to reporters during a regular press briefing, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States. "Before making such comments or groundless accusations, you should clarify these facts," Hua added. China's nationalist tabloid Global Times also criticised the French leader, accusing him of staging an "opportunistic show in (the) Indo-Pacific". "As France is in decline, opportunism is rising within its diplomacy," the newspaper said. France has a number of island territories in the Pacific Ocean. Australia has become increasingly alarmed at China's push into the Pacific, while neighbouring New Zealand has also voiced concerns about "strategic anxiety" -- diplomatic code for Beijing's influence among the region's island nations. Reports last month -- which were denied -- said Beijing wanted to establish a permanent military base in Vanuatu. Macron signed several agreements while in Australia, including on defence and cybersecurity. Australia's Lowy Institute estimates China provided US$1.78 billion in aid, including concessional loans, to Pacific nations between 2006-16. US President Donald Trump addressed the National Rifle Association annual meeting in Dallas three months after a classroom bloodbath that shocked the world US President Donald Trump rallied gun owners in Texas Friday, summarily rejecting calls for stricter laws despite a high school massacre in Florida that fuelled public demands for change. Making a pilgrimage to the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Dallas, Trump tackled head-on the controversy over his visit, which comes three months after a classroom bloodbath that shocked the world. Political advisors, he said, had told him not to go, to which he responded "bye, bye, got to get on a plane," prompting extended cheers. "We have to do the right thing," he said. It is the second year running that Trump has addressed the gun-toting, hat-waving jamboree, but the first time since the school massacre in Parkland, Florida. Trump made only brief allusion to the February 14 high school rampage in Parkland, signaling a return to politics as normal, as his Republicans head into sharply contested mid-term elections. "Our hearts break for every American who has suffered," Trump said, while dismissing calls for curbs on civilians' ability to buy semi-automatic weapons. "It's not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference," he said. "In America we trust the people to be wise and to be good." With more than five million members, the NRA is long established as a powerful political force in the United States and fierce defender of the constitutional right to bear arms Trump's warm up act, Vice President Mike Pence, went as far as to say there was too much coverage of the sorrow of mass shootings and not enough of "good guys" with guns. The White House duo instead doled out red meat to their political base, trashing the "fake news" media and the "witch hunt" Russia investigation, endorsing Republican election wannabees and praising the "great American flag." Public demands for stricter gun control measures soared after 17 people were shot dead in Parkland, with students mobilizing hundreds of thousands of people in Washington March 24 for a mass display of outrage. But the Republican-controlled Congress has taken little action and polls indicate public sentiment in favor of stricter gun laws is cooling, as it has after previous mass shootings. Aides promised a stemwinder of a speech -- with one eye on the electoral calendar -- and Trump delivered. Just a 10 minute walk from the plaza where his predecessor John F. Kennedy was shot dead, the 45th president vowed that the right to bear arms would "never ever be under siege as long as I am president." He slammed countries like France and Britain, which have tough gun laws, claiming attacks and stabbings could have been prevented if only citizens were armed -- at one point mimicking the assailants in the Paris Bataclan attack of November 2015 picking out their victims: "Boom! Come over here. Boom! Come over here." Trump had flirted with tougher gun laws in the wake of the Parkland attack, but under pressure from donors and facing a Democratic landslide in Congressional elections this November, he quickly backtracked. - A political force - The four-day NRA gathering in Dallas brings together hundreds of exhibitors as well as special events for members like the "Leadership Forum" where Trump gave his address. With more than five million members, the NRA is long established as a powerful political force in the United States and fierce defender of the constitutional right to bear arms. Since the massacre in Parkland, Trump has made clear he would not back a ban on assault rifles, a key demand of the student protesters. Instead he has proposed a ban on "bump stocks," devices used to convert semi-automatic weapons into automatic-like weapons by accelerating their rate of fire. The four-day NRA gathering in Dallas brings together hundreds of exhibitors as well as special events for members like the "Leadership Forum" where Trump gave his address Bump stocks were used by the gunman who mowed down 58 people at a country music concert in Las Vegas in October, the deadliest such attack in modern US history. The president has also voiced support for student protesters calling for the minimum age for gun purchases to rise from 18 to 21, a position the NRA opposes. Controversially, though, Trump also advocates arming teachers as a first line of defense against school shooters, echoing the NRA's claim that "the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is good guy with a gun." The organization exerts outsized influence in Congress and state legislatures by financing the campaigns of supporters and targeting opponents. After the Parkland massacre, the outpouring of emotion indicated that the political environment might be changing, putting the NRA on the defensive. A Gallup poll in early March found that some 67 percent of Americans believed gun laws should be stricter, a 15-year high in the firm's surveys. But by mid-April a Marist poll found that the percentage of people for whom gun policy will heavily influence their vote in November had fallen to 46 percent from 59 percent in February. 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 Wells Fargo came under fire from investors and lawmakers over the 2016 fake accounts scandal and was fined $1 billion by US regulators in April 2018 for deficiencies that harmed consumers in its mortgage and auto loan businesses Scandal-plagued Wells Fargo said Friday it would pay $480 million to settle a lawsuit over alleged securities fraud. While the bank said it denies the claims in the suit over "misstatements and omissions" in disclosures about its sales practices, it agreed to pay the sum "to avoid the cost and disruption of further litigation." The deal is subject to approval by the US District Court in northern California. "We are pleased to reach this agreement in principle and believe that moving to put this case behind us is in the best interest of our team members, customers, investors and other stakeholders," CEO Tim Sloan said. "We are making strong progress in our work to rebuild trust and this represents another step forward." It was the latest development in the saga of Wells Fargo, which came under fire from investors and lawmakers over the 2016 fake accounts scandal and was fined $1 billion by US regulators in April for deficiencies that harmed consumers in its mortgage and auto loan businesses. The Federal Reserve, in an unprecedented move, in February ordered the bank to halt its expansion until it improved governance, following "persistent misconduct." Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla -- whose widow Sunayana Dumala is pictured at his funeral in February 2017 -- was shot dead in Kansas in a crime that caused shockwaves around his home country A man in the US state of Kansas who shot dead an Indian immigrant while shouting "get out of my country," was sentenced Friday to life in prison. Adam Purinton had previously pleaded guilty to the racial slur-filled, drunken attack in February last year at a suburban bar and restaurant in the Midwestern state. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed in the assault in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe. His friend Alok Madasani, also Indian, was injured along with a bystander, Ian Grillot, who tried to intervene. The 52-year-old Purinton received the maximum punishment for the murder, and two sentences of 165 months each for the attempted murders, the prosecutor's office said. While Purinton would be eligible for parole in 50 years, he was likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. He is also facing federal hate crime and firearms charges, which could result in the death penalty. Purinton has pleaded not guilty in the federal case. - International outrage - Witnesses told US media that Purinton screamed racial slurs and shouted "get out of my country!" at the two victims, before opening fire inside Austin's Bar and Grill. Kuchibhotla and Madasani were aviation systems engineers for GPS manufacturer Garmin. Madasani later said the two close friends met regularly at the bar. Purinton was captured later in the day at a restaurant, where he had allegedly boasted of killing Middle Easterners, according to the Kansas City Star newspaper. He was charged with three counts -- one charge of premeditated first-degree murder and two charges of attempted premeditated fist-degree murder -- and pleaded guilty in March after reaching a deal with prosecutors. The shooting came a month after President Donald Trump was sworn into office -- and ignited international outrage amid concerns of rising racial prejudice following the Republican's divisive election campaign. With thousands of Indians visiting the United States every year for work or study -- especially high-skilled tech workers via H-1B visas -- the attack triggered shockwaves overseas. In the weeks after the attack, Indians were concerned that animus against immigrants was on the rise in the US. Hundreds of mourners had marched through the Kansas City suburb in memory of the victim and also honored Grillot. They held a vigil with Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh prayers. An Iowa bill banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected is expcted to trigger a legal battle, which conservatives hope will land the flashpoint social issue back at the US Supreme Court The governor of the US state of Iowa signed into law Friday a ban on abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which occurs as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The bill, approved by the Midwestern state's Republican-controlled legislature just two days earlier, was expected to trigger a legal battle, which conservatives hope will land the flashpoint social issue back at the US Supreme Court. "I understand and anticipate that this will likely be challenged in court," Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement after the signing. "However, this is bigger than just a law. This is about life. I am not going to back down from who I am or what I believe in," she said. Considered the most restrictive in the country, critics say the law would deny abortions to many women before they even know they are pregnant -- with an exception for victims of rape or incest. The state legislature approved the bill Wednesday after heated debate. 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. But 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. Abortion opponents in Iowa argued that the Republican administration of President Donald Trump may have an opportunity to appoint more conservatives to the high court in the next few years, just in time for this latest law to wind through the legal system. The American Civil Liberties Union condemned the Iowa bill's passage Wednesday 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. With no parliament in place, the government now refers solely to Gabon's President Ali Bongo A new interim government was installed in Gabon on Friday, three days after the former administration resigned over delays in holding legislative elections, a presidency official told AFP. The incoming government will remain in office until the elections, delayed since December 2016, are held. There is still no date for Gabonese voters to go to the polls. On Monday Gabon's constitutional court dissolved the national parliament and called on the government to step down, criticising its failure to organise the legislative elections. According to the court, the government should have organised the twice-delayed polls by the end of April. The government duly resigned on Tuesday. The new interim government, which has 40 ministers and deputy ministers, includes seven opposition figures. With no parliament in place, the government now refers solely to the President Ali Bongo. The legislative elections are unlikely to take place before July at the earliest, according to commentators. Bongo's re-election in 2016 led to opposition accusations of electoral fraud and days of deadly violence. He took over power from his father Omar Bongo, who had ruled for 41 years until his death in 2009. The country has large oil, mineral and tropical timber resources, and its per-capita national income is four times greater than that of most sub-Saharan nations. But about a third of its population of 1.8 million still live below the poverty line -- the result, say experts, of inequality, poor governance and corruption. DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - 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. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Officials say a week-old wildfire burning in an Arizona forest has destroyed 30 homes and 17 other structures. Fire management officials included the count of destroyed or heavily damaged buildings in a Thursday update. The fire is 12 percent contained. Coconino County spokesman Matt Rudig tells the Arizona Daily Sun that most homes lost to the fire were second residences. The fire near Clints Well, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Flagstaff, has burned 19.2 square miles (50 square kilometers). Fire officials say it spread from an illegally built and abandoned campfire. Cooler and damper weather aided firefighters this week but temperatures are expected to rise this weekend. Officials are considering when they can lift evacuation notices for residences in the area. ___ This story has been updated to correct the name of the county spokesman to Matt. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - 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. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The man convicted of killing of a New Orleans police officer with a gun smuggled into a police car was formally ordered to spend life in prison Thursday, confronted at sentencing by the victim's grieving, angry mother. Travis Boys was convicted of first-degree murder in March for the 2015 slaying of Officer Daryle Holloway. Prosecutors opted not to seek the death penalty, leaving Boys with a mandatory life sentence that was imposed by state Judge Karen Herman. New Orleans news outlets reported that Holloway's mother, Olander Holloway, accused Boys at Thursday's sentencing hearing of feigning mental illness in an attempt to escape punishment. Boys had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. And his courtroom antics included smuggling feces into the courtroom and smearing them on his face at one hearing last year, leading to a delay in proceedings so he could undergo mental evaluations. "If I could, I would ask Judge Herman to have your cell lined with pictures of Daryle, so first thing in the morning and last thing at night you would see Daryle's picture," she said, according to an account by NOLA.com|The Times-Picayune . "I will ask her to make sure you never leave (the state prison) Angola, that you will even be buried there." Holloway was taking Boys to jail following an arrest in a domestic violence case when he was shot. The SUV with a fatally wounded Holloway at the wheel crashed into a utility pole. Boys escaped and was captured a day later. One of Holloway's fellow officers, Wardell Johnson, was sentenced to five years in prison last month in connection with the case. He had pleaded guilty to malfeasance and obstruction of justice in connection with sloppy police work connected to Boys' arrest. That sloppy work included failure to properly search Boys in the hours before he shot Holloway. Four people including a 16-year-old boy have charged in the deaths of two black men who were found dismembered and chained to cinder blocks in an Oklahoma City pond. The bodies of Alize Smith and Jarron Moreland, both 21, were found April 18, according to police in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore. Both men had been reported missing four days prior. The boy's older brother, mother and the mother's boyfriend in the deaths of after what authorities say was a gun sale arranged on Craigslist that turned deadly. The bodies of Jarron Moreland (left) and Alize Smith were found at the bottom of a pond Smith and Moreland both were black, while all four suspects are white, and the killings have received attention from bloggers and activists on social media with some comparing them to lynchings. But the prosecutor handling the case said Thursday that the slayings are not believed to be racially motivated. 'We definitely explored that, and the evidence absolutely shows that this was not racially motivated,' said Cleveland County prosecutor Greg Mashburn, who does not plan to seek hate-related charges in the case. Kevin Garcia-Boettler faces charges of being an accessory to murder, desecration of a corpse and unlawful removal of a body Johnny Barker, the boyfriend of the mother of Kevin Garcia-Boettler and Brett Boettler, also facing charges of being an accessory to murder, desecration of a corpse and unlawful removal of a body The 16-year-old, Brett Boettler, is charged with one count each of first-degree murder and second-degree murder, desecration of a corpse, unlawful removal of a body and for having a gun after he had been convicted as a juvenile. No attorney is listed for him in court paperwork. He is jailed on $5 million bond. His brother, Kevin Garcia-Boettler, 22, faces charges of being an accessory to murder, desecration of a corpse and unlawful removal of a body. He is jailed on $3 million bond. Bill Smith, an attorney listed in court paperwork as representing Garcia-Boettler, did not return a message seeking comment. The brothers' mother, Crystal Boettler, 40, is charged with being an accessory to murder. Her boyfriend, Johnny Barker, 43, is charged with being an accessory to murder, desecration of a corpse and unlawful removal of a body. Authorities say the two brothers arranged a meeting over Craigslist to buy a gun from Smith and Moreland. Investigators say Garcia-Boettler told them that he and his brother picked up Smith and drove to a grocery store parking lot in Moore where Moreland approached and entered their van. Police say Garcia-Boettler told them he heard a gun cock and that Brett Boettler then fired. Moreland's mother told television station KFOR she wonders whether more happened than a gun sale gone bad. 'To me, it's like y'all planned to torture them,' Kennetha Moreland said of the suspects. LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Latest on Las Vegas police videos showing some of the response to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history (all times local): 5:50 p.m. Police and hotel employees' actions as gunfire rained from a Las Vegas hotel are drawing mixed reactions after the release of some officer body-camera video. 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) Security experts and a survivor of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history said Thursday that the 2 hours of footage 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. California attorney and concert survivor Brian Claypool says the videos provide no context or glue to put the puzzle together. He now represents dozens of people considering suing for damages. Police tactical training expert Thor Eells dismisses questions about whether the Mandalay Bay casino should have been evacuated. He says the last thing to do is potentially force people into the line of gunfire. ___ 12:01 a.m. As the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was happening, people inside a Las Vegas hotel continued to gamble, seemingly unaware of the massacre happening just outside. Police body camera footage made public Wednesday showed officers passing people still playing slot machines inside the Mandalay Bay casino-hotel on Oct. 1. In a tower above, Stephen Paddock was unleashing a hail of gunfire from his hotel suite window, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more. The body camera video represents a sample of hundreds of hours of recordings captured during the massacre. The Associated Press and other media outlets sued to obtain videos, 911 recordings, evidence logs and interview reports. More than seven months after the shooting, police are no closer to determining Stephen Paddock's motive for the deadly attack. 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) SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) - El Salvador's government has approved an initiative presented by women's rights groups for a national alert over gender-based violence. Among the measures is a campaign to combat sexual harassment in public institutions, emphasizing prevention of sexual violence and killings of women. Government institutions have 10 days to present their plans for aligning with the initiative. President Salvador Sanchez Ceren called Thursday for "forceful" actions to diminish gender violence in the Central American nation, which has one of the world's highest homicide rates. According to government figures, 154 women have been murdered this year from January through May 2. That's up from 127 during the same period in 2017. The statistics also say four out of every 10 women have experienced some kind of violence. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A high-ranking New Zealand military officer has been accused of hiding a camera in a bathroom at the nation's embassy in Washington in a case that has raised unusual jurisdictional questions. Alfred Keating was a navy commodore and the embassy's senior defense attache at the time of the incident last July. He would have been eligible to claim diplomatic immunity from being prosecuted by U.S. authorities. But the case was handled by New Zealand police, who traveled to Washington to investigate. A New Zealand judge on Friday dismissed an appeal by Keating to have his name and other personal details suppressed. In this March 29, 2018, photo, Alfred Keating, a former Navy commodore and senior defense attache, walks towards the Auckland District Court in Auckland, New Zealand. Keating, a high-ranking New Zealand military officer, has been accused Friday, May 4, 2018, of hiding a camera in a bathroom at the nation's embassy in Washington D.C. and has been charged with attempting to make an intimate visual recording, in a case that has raised unusual jurisdictional questions. (Michael Craig/NZ Herald via AP) Keating, who has returned to New Zealand, has been charged with attempting to make an intimate visual recording. If convicted, he faces a maximum 18 months in prison. Court documents say a camera was found in a unisex bathroom that was available for use by the 60 or so people who worked at the embassy. "It had been purposely mounted inside a heating duct unit in the bathroom, at a height and direction that captured recordings from people who arrived and used the toilet," the documents say. The camera was discovered after it fell on the floor. It had likely been in place for many months, according to the documents. It had been activated the morning it was found and had 19 images of people from that day, the documents say. Prosecutors say they didn't find any indecent images when they searched Keating's computer but they did find that he had installed the driver software for the camera. Bill Hodge, a teaching fellow at the University of Auckland's Law School, said the case had parallels with that of Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder who has been cooped up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, where he remains beyond the reach of British authorities. Hodge said that although Keating might be beyond the reach of American law, he could still be charged under New Zealand law. He said there were precedents, including cases for crimes at sea that took place outside New Zealand's territorial waters. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for July. Trump says Giuliani needs to 'get facts straight' on Stormy WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump suggested Friday that Rudy Giuliani, the aggressive new face of his legal team, needed to "get his facts straight" about the hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. Giuliani quickly came up with a new version. Trump chided Giuliani even as he insisted that "we're not changing any stories" about the $130,000 settlement, which was paid to Daniels to keep her quiet about her allegations of an affair with Trump.. Hours later, Giuliani backed away from his previous suggestion that the Oct. 27 settlement had been made because Trump was in the stretch run of his campaign. "The payment was made to resolve a personal and false allegation in order to protect the president's family," Giuliani said in a statement released Friday. "It would have been done in any event, whether he was a candidate or not." A day earlier, Giuliani had said on Fox News: "Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton." Trump said Friday that Giuliani was "a great guy but he just started a day ago" and the former mayor of New York City was still "learning the subject matter." Giuliani revealed this week that Trump knew about the payment to Daniels made by his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and the president paid Cohen back. ___ Quakes, lava and gas: Hawaii residents flee volcanic threats PAHOA, Hawaii (AP) - Many rural residents living on an erupting volcano in Hawaii fled the threat of lava that spewed into the air in bursts of fire and pushed up steam from cracks in roadways Friday, while others tried to get back to their homes. Officials ordered more than 1,700 people out of neighborhoods near Kilauea volcano's newest lava flow, warning of the dangers of spattering hot rock and high levels of sulfuric gas that could threaten the elderly and people with breathing problems. Two homes have burned. Adding to the chaos, a huge magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck near the south part of the volcano, following a smaller quake that rattled the same spot. Officials said the airport and highways were not damaged, but residents said they felt strong shaking and more stress as they dealt with the dual environmental phenomena. Communities in the mostly rural Puna district, which sits on Kilauea's eastern flank, know it is one of the world's most active volcanoes and have seen its destruction before. Julie Woolsey evacuated her home late Thursday as a volcanic vent, or an opening in the Earth's surface where lava emerges, sprouted up on her street in the Leilani Estates neighborhood. ___ Indiana police officer fatally shot; suspect still at large TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - A western Indiana police officer has been fatally shot, and officers have surrounded an apartment complex where they believe the suspect remains at large. Terre Haute police spokesman Ryan Adamson says the city police officer was shot and fatally wounded Friday evening while investigating a homicide at an apartment complex on the west side of the city that's about 70 miles west of Indianapolis. Adamson says a suspect in that homicide opened fire and shot one of the officers, who later died. He says no additional information was immediately available on the male officer who was killed. Adamson says Terre Haute police and police from other agencies have a building at surrounded at the Garden Quarter apartment complex. They believe the suspect remains inside. ___ Ex-President George HW Bush released from Houston hospital HOUSTON (AP) - Former President George H.W. Bush was released from a Houston hospital on Friday after spending 13 days being treated for an infection that required his hospitalization a day after his wife's funeral. Jim McGrath, a spokesman for the 93-year-old Bush, tweeted that doctors at Houston Methodist Hospital "report he is doing well" and that the former president is "happy to return home." The nation's 41st president was admitted to the hospital on April 22 for treatment of an infection that spread to his blood. Bush spent some time in an intensive care unit before being moved to a regular patient room. Bush was hospitalized a day after he attended the funeral and burial of his 92-year-old wife, Barbara, who died on April 17 at their Houston home. Married for 73 years, the Bushes were the longest-married presidential couple in U.S. history. In a tweet sent out during his hospitalization, Bush thanked Houston for its "professionalism and obvious care" during the memorials and services for his wife. ___ Court vacates Kennedy cousin Skakel's murder conviction HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - In a stunning reversal, the Connecticut Supreme Court on Friday overturned Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel's murder conviction in the 1975 bludgeoning death of a girl in wealthy Greenwich. The high court issued a 4-3 ruling that Skakel's trial attorney failed to present evidence of an alibi. The same court in December 2016 had reinstated Skakel's conviction after a lower court ordered a new trial, citing mistakes by the trial attorney, Mickey Sherman. It wasn't immediately clear if prosecutors will subject Skakel to a new trial. A spokesman for Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane said prosecutors were reviewing the new ruling. He declined further comment. Skakel, a nephew of Robert F. Kennedy's widow, Ethel Kennedy, was convicted of murder in 2002 in the death of Martha Moxley in 1975 when they were teenagers. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison, but was freed on $1.2 million bail after serving 11 years behind bars when the lower court overturned his murder conviction in 2013. The case has drawn international attention because of the Kennedy name, Skakel's rich family, numerous theories about who killed Moxley and the brutal way in which she died. Several other people, including Skakel's brother Tommy Skakel, have been mentioned as possible killers. ___ Iowa governor signs strictest abortion regulation in US DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed a law banning most abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected, or at around six weeks of pregnancy, marking the strictest abortion regulation in the nation - but setting the state up for a lengthy court fight. The Republican governor signed the legislation in her formal office at the state Capitol as protesters gathered outside chanting, "My body, my choice!" Reynolds acknowledged that the new law would likely face litigation, but said: "This is bigger than just a law, this is about life, and I'm not going to back down." Reynolds has previously said she was "proud to be pro-life." The ban, set to take effect on July 1, has propelled Iowa to the front of a push among conservative statehouses jockeying to enact restrictive regulations on the medical procedure. Mississippi passed a law earlier this year banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, but it's on hold after a court challenge. The Iowa law provides for some exemptions that allow abortions during a later pregnancy stage to save a pregnant woman's life or in some cases of rape and incest. Maggie DeWitte, who leads the group Iowans for Life, called Reynolds' move "historic." ___ Trump salutes NRA, says elect Republicans to save gun rights DALLAS (AP) - Months after the horror of the Parkland school shootings in Florida, President Donald Trump stood before cheering members of the National Rifle Association on Friday and implored them to elect more Republicans to Congress to defend gun rights. Trump claimed that Democrats want to "outlaw guns" and said if the nation takes that drastic step, it might as well ban all vans and trucks because they are the new weapons for "maniac terrorists." "We will never give up our freedom. We will live free and we will die free," Trump said, as he sought to rally pro-gun voters for the 2018 congressional elections. "We've got to do great in '18." Activists energized by shootings at schools, churches and elsewhere are also focused on those elections. In the aftermath of the February school shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 dead and many more wounded, Trump had temporarily strayed from gun rights dogma. ___ Judge poses pointed questions on Manafort charges at hearing ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A federal judge on Friday asked pointed questions about special counsel Robert Mueller's authority to bring charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and suggested that prosecutors' true motive is getting Manafort to "sing" against the president. Manafort's lawyers argued at a hearing in Alexandria that the tax and bank fraud charges are far afield from Mueller's mandate to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether any coordination with Trump associates occurred. "I don't see what relationship this indictment has with what the special counsel is investigating," U.S. Senior Judge T.S. Ellis III, a Reagan appointee, told government lawyers at Friday's hearing. The Virginia indictment alleges Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars he earned advising pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine from the Internal Revenue Service, money earned from 2006 through 2015. The indictment accuses Manafort of fraudulently obtaining millions in loans from financial institutions later, after his Ukrainian work dwindled. Prosecutors say that part of the conspiracy stretched from 2015 through January 2017, including the months while he was working on the Trump campaign. Under questioning from Ellis, government lawyers admitted that Manafort had been under investigation for years in the Eastern District of Virginia before Mueller was ever appointed special counsel. And Ellis said it was implausible to think that the charges against Manafort, which primarily concern his business dealings and tax returns from about 2005 through 2015, could have a real connection to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. ___ 2nd-longest US expansion on record keeps churning out jobs WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy has delivered steady if only modest gains for most Americans since the Great Recession ended in 2009. It's been a frustration for many. Yet the very sluggishness of the economic expansion helps explain why it's now the second-longest on record and why more of the country might soon benefit from higher pay. Nearly nine years into the recovery, the job market keeps delivering: The government said Friday that employers added 164,000 jobs in April - the 91st straight month of hiring growth, the longest such streak on record. More tellingly, the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, the lowest since December 2000. Eight years ago, the jobless rate was 10 percent. But for much of the expansion, many people have felt left behind. Some have found only part-time work. Pay growth, on average, has been meager. The stock market boom and low interest rates that defined the recovery have favored the wealthy. The economy's modest growth, though, has helped prevent it from overheating and skidding into another recession, as often happened during more robust expansions. And some economists say the ever-lower unemployment rate suggests that a wider swath of Americans soon stand to benefit from stronger pay growth. ___ Dozens of wild horses found dead amid Southwest drought CAMERON, Ariz. (AP) - Off a northern Arizona highway surrounded by pastel-colored desert is one of the starkest examples of drought's grip on the American Southwest: Dozens of dead horses surrounded by cracked earth, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Flesh exposed and in various stages of decomposition, the carcasses form a circle around a dry watering hole sunken in the landscape. It's clear this isn't the first time the animals have struggled. Skeletal remain are scattered on the fringes and in an adjacent ravine. It's a symptom of a burgeoning wild horse population and the scarcity of water on the western edge of the Navajo Nation following a dry winter and dismal spring runoff. Conditions aren't forecast to improve anytime soon, and tribal officials suspect other animals have died with not enough to eat or drink. "One of the things we do is we picture the worst-case scenario when we got out there," said Harlan Cleveland of the tribe's Department of Emergency Management. "I did smell the decomposition and the bodies starting to smell, the carcasses. But I didn't realize until I looked down from the berm and saw all those horses down there." DALLAS (AP) - More than 70,000 members of the National Rifle Association are expected in Dallas for the group's annual meeting, which featured an appearance Friday by President Donald Trump who lauded NRA members for "fighting for our beloved Constitution." The meeting is also drawing protests, including by those who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Those attending the meeting of the nation's most powerful gun lobby are listening to political speeches, checking out the latest firearms, attending gun training courses and socializing. The meeting runs through Sunday. BIG NAME SPEAKERS An overall view of the main concourse of Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center shown convention goers during the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting on Friday, May 4, 2018, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) Trump headlined the group's leadership forum on Friday, making his fourth consecutive visit to the NRA meeting. He was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. "You give your time, your energy, your vote and your voice to stand strong for those sacred rights given to us by God, including the right to self-defense," Trump said in his speech. "And now, thanks to your activism and dedication, you have an administration fighting to protect your Second Amendment." Trump linked the sanctity of the Constitution's Second Amendment to his party's prospects in the 2018 midterm elections, telling NRA members that "we've got to get Republicans elected." The speech came as the issue of gun violence has taken on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Student survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead, are now leading a massive national gun control movement. They too are looking to the midterm elections for action. Pence pointed to the Trump administration's work to address school security and support for changes to the background check system, as well as arming teachers. The vice president said, "The quickest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent about $30 million in support of his presidential campaign. SUTHERLAND SPRINGS HERO The Texas man who grabbed his rifle and ran barefoot across the street to open fire on a gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people in a church in the small town of Sutherland Springs was honored by NRA officials. Stephen Willeford's actions that day in November were also hailed by government officials who spoke during the leadership forum. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said "because (Willeford) had a gun, he saved lives." Willeford was at his home when his daughter alerted him that she'd heard gunfire at the First Baptist Church nearby. Willeford has said he immediately retrieved his rifle from his weapon safe. Running across the street to the church, he saw 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley and exchanged gunfire. As Kelley sped away, Willeford ran to a driver in a pickup truck stopped in an intersection, jumped in and the two called 911 and pursued Kelley. Kelley died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Willeford, an NRA member who has served as an instructor, told those gathered for the NRA's leadership forum, "I took care of my community on that day and I'd do it again." NRA SUPPORTERS Those attending the NRA meeting say it's a chance for them to talk to like-minded people. Lyndie Goggans, 71, of Paris, Tennessee, said she and her husband have been coming to the annual meetings for about 15 years. Goggans says she attends the meetings to see what new guns are available and visit with friends who also attend. Tara Dixon Engel has made her first trip to a National Rifle Association annual meeting, traveling to Dallas from Florida. The 56-year-old from Merritt Island, Florida, is author of a handgun guide for women and director of strategic development for the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, Florida. She says the NRA is necessary to protect the Second Amendment. She says if gun rights go away, "so does freedom of the press, so does freedom of assembly, so does freedom of religion." PROTESTS Several groups planned to protest during the weekend. The protesters will include parents who lost children in the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and during other shootings. Teenagers from the Florida high school began pushing for gun restrictions almost immediately after a former student killed 17 people at the school in February. The survivors have led a series of rallies and marches, most notably an event in Washington in March that was the anchor for a national day of protest. The students have pressed to raise the legal age to purchase a rifle, curb access to AR-style firearms and adopt other gun restrictions. While there's been no movement at the federal level, several states have enacted tougher gun laws. Donald Trump Jr., from left, President Donal Trump, Chris Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum and NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, right, stand on stage at the NRA meeting in Dallas, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Vice President Mike Pence waves after speaking at the National Rifle Association annual convention in Dallas, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Stephen Willeford and a guest walk up onto the stage at the National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum in Dallas, Friday, May 4, 2018. Willeford, who grabbed his rife and ran barefoot across the street to open fire on a gunman who slaughtered 26 people in a church in the small town of Sutherland Springs has been honored at the annual NRA meeting. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Governor Greg Abbott speaks at the National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum in Dallas, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Johnathan Davis, 37, voices his support for gun rights outside the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting on Friday, May 4, 2018 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) David Lyles, a 60-year-old military veteran, converses with National Rifle Association member and gunpowder manufacturer Chris Hodgdon, right, outside the NRA Meeting on Friday, May 4, 2018, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) MILL VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - An 80-year-old man shot two people, killing one, at a Northern California apartment complex and later turned the gun on himself, authorities said Thursday. A woman died and a man remained hospitalized in intensive care after the shooting in Mill Valley, about 14 miles (23 kilometers) north of San Francisco, Marin County sheriff's Sgt. Brenton Schneider said. Deputies found the wounded victims after responding to a report of shots being fired at the apartment complex on east Blithedale Avenue shortly before 3:30 p.m., authorities said. The woman later was pronounced dead. Law enforcement personnel head to the scene of a shooting in Mill Valley, Calif., Thursday, May 3, 2018. Authorities said they found an 80-year-old suspect dead of a gunshot wound Thursday in a Northern California apartment where he fled after two people were shot, one fatally. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal via AP) The suspected gunman was spotted fleeing into an apartment at the complex and deputies evacuated nearby units, surrounded the area and urged other residents to shelter in place. Video from the scene showed a deputy with his gun drawn shielding two people as they ran from an apartment. Deputies finally entered the apartment about two hours after the shooting and found the gunman dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, Schneider said. The identities of the victims and the gunman weren't immediately released. There was no immediate word on a motive for the attack or whether the gunman knew the victims. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Before the 2016 elections, Billy Graham's son went to the evangelist's mountain home, seeking advice before a 50-state tour to pray with Christian voters. In his new book, "Through My Father's Eyes," Franklin Graham recounts that his father had concerns. Billy Graham had become known as "America's Pastor" by advising presidents of both parties, from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush. Would his son, coming into his own as a more partisan evangelical, be taking sides? In this May 1, 2018, photo, the Rev. Franklin Graham listens during an interview about his latest book "Through my Father's Eyes," about his father the late evangelist Billy Graham in New York. Billy Graham's oldest son, Franklin, says his new book about his father is meant to share lessons he learned from the man known as "America's Pastor." (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) "He was concerned because it was a political year and that, 'Franklin you don't want this to be seen as political,'" the son said in an interview. "And that's why I went out of my way to make sure that this was a prayer rally. ... And I made sure I did not tell anyone how to vote." The younger Graham pointedly avoided endorsing candidate Donald Trump, but neither did he abandon him, as other evangelicals did in response to scandals that surfaced during the campaign. He has since become an outspoken Trump ally, and writes in the book that he thanks God the Republican was elected. As the leader of his father's namesake association and the Samaritan's Purse charity, Graham has been more in the spotlight since his father's death in February at age 99. It's a sensitive time for American Christians: While some evangelicals support Republicans without question, others struggle to find support in the Bible for what Trump says and does. Graham acknowledges both conservative Christians and a wider audience in his book, which intersperses his views on religion, culture and Trump with quotes from his father and family anecdotes. "I started by just looking at the things that I have learned from my father that I thought I could pass on to others, that would help them in their lives," Graham explained in an interview. Each chapter starts with a Billy Graham quote, and there are poignant stories about their relationship, from the father's admonishment against playing with matches, to his advice to a son committing his life to Jesus at 22. Others are laugh-out-loud funny, such as when Franklin Graham's mother, Ruth Graham, spotted a "most ridiculous-looking man" walking down a beach wearing loud shorts, black socks and Hush Puppy shoes: "As he drew closer, she gasped. 'Oh no, it's my husband!'" But Graham, now 65, doesn't hold back his own views. He writes that while Republicans shouldn't take Christian voters for granted, "The progressives have infiltrated our schools, our government and our nation. Progressivism is nothing more than godless secularism, and it has stormed through the gates of America's bulwark." And in a page-long condemnation of sex and vulgar language on television, he writes: "Freedom of speech has evolved into a massive monster." While Graham is ostensibly referring to racy shows and advertisements, the pronouncement is open to multiple interpretations, said Bill Leonard, professor of Baptist Studies at Wake Forest University. "The country, and the Christian community in the U.S., is so divided that there will be some who will read him and think he's trying to put words in his father's mouth. But then there will be others who say Franklin is standing in the footsteps of his father." Asked how he squares his book's admonishments against profanity and pornography with his defense of Trump, who has been accused of sexually harassing women and trying to cover up an affair with a porn star, Graham gave a measured answer. "On this thing with Stormy Daniels and so forth: This stuff happened 12 years ago. This isn't behavior that has taken place since he's been president. These things happened long before he became president," he said in the interview. "That doesn't make it right. And I don't defend those kinds of relationships he had. But the country knew the kind of person he was back then, and they still made the decision to make him the president of the United States." As for his criticism of progressives, he says he's not trying to align with either party. "Unfortunately this progressive movement is more prevalent right now in the Democratic Party, but it's also in the Republican Party. And it's growing. And this is a very dangerous thing," he said. "I was a Republican and I went independent -- I just got sick of all of them and didn't want to be beholden to any group." Eschewing party labels would likely have pleased the father Graham describes as a humble man who wanted to keep the focus on God. Some have started working to place a statue of him in the Capitol, while others are petitioning for a Billy Graham holiday. "My father would have said: 'This is too much Billy Graham.' He wouldn't have liked it," Graham said. "There was discussion at one time about taking his name off the name of the organization. He didn't like it being called the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He didn't want people talking about Billy Graham. And this is one of the things in the book that I want to try to get people to understand: My father wanted his life to be about God." ___ Follow Drew at www.twitter.com/JonathanLDrew . This May 1, 2018, photo shows Franklin Graham's latest book "Through my Father's Eyes," about his father the late son of the late evangelist Billy Graham in New York. Billy Graham's oldest son, Franklin, says his new book about his father is meant to share lessons he learned from the man known as "America's Pastor." (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) In this May 1, 2018, photo, the Rev. Franklin Graham speaks during an interview about his latest book "Through my Father's Eyes," about his father the late evangelist Billy Graham in New York. Billy Graham's oldest son, Franklin, says his new book about his father is meant to share lessons he learned from the man known as "America's Pastor." (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Doina Cornea, a Romanian anti-communist dissident who was beaten and arrested after criticizing the destruction of Romanian villages and churches during the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, has died. She was 88. Her son, Leontin Juhasz, said Cornea died overnight Thursday at her home in the northwestern city of Cluj after a long illness. Cornea, a French professor at Cluj's Babes Bolyai University, sent her first letter protesting the communist regime to Radio Free Europe in 1982 and went on to send dozens of similar letters, attracting the attention of the Securitate secret police. She was fired from the university in 1983 after her daughter smuggled an open letter to France in which she was critical of Ceausescu. Along with her son, Cornea was arrested in 1987 after releasing manifestos in support of a workers' uprising in the city of Brasov. She was later put under house arrest, and was freed during the December 1989 revolution when Ceausescu was toppled and executed. President Klaus Iohannis called her "the symbol of courage and anti-communist resistance." "For many Romanians, she was our voice of freedom and hope." Explaining her decision to oppose communism in an interview with historian Cornel Jurju, Cornea said that "I am nothing special.... just as scared and cowardly as others. "But every day I practice 'resistance' which enriches and strengthens me." After communism ended, she briefly became part of the National Salvation Front that came to power during the uprising, but after a month she became disillusioned and left. Cornea, a member of the Eastern Rite Catholic Church, received several awards, including one from Pope John Paul II in 2003 and the French Legion of Honor for civil merits. She is survived by her son. Her daughter Ariadna Combes died in 2016. No funeral plans were immediately available. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says the Taliban have captured another district in the northern province of Badakhshan. Abdullah Naji Nazari, a provincial council member, says the insurgents launched a surprise attack on Thursday in the strategic Kohistanat district, which is located along a route to the provincial capital, Fayz Abad. Nazari says no casualties were reported in the day-long assault. He added that the captured district is now the third under Taliban control in Badakhshan, which has about two dozen districts. Army spokesman in nearby northern Balkh province, Mohammad Anif Rezaye, says reinforcements have arrived in Fayz Abad but are awaiting orders to move against the Taliban due to bad weather in the region. Last month, the Taliban announced the start of their annual spring offensive, when they regularly launch attacks. JOHANNESBURG (AP) - A mining company in South Africa says four workers have died and two others are missing after an earth tremor caused a rockfall at a gold mine. The Sibanye-Stillwater company says 13 miners had been trapped at the Masakhane mine in Driefontein after the 2.2-magnitude quake on Thursday. The company says six miners were rescued and one has been "located" in the mine. A South African labor group is expressing concern over what it calls the "deteriorating safety record" at Sibanye-Stillwater facilities. Earlier this year, about 1,000 miners were trapped at another Sibanye-Stillwater gold mine for nearly a day after a power failure. The Congress of South African Trade Unions says there have been more than 25 deaths in the country's mining industry this year. MILAN (AP) - Gigi Hadid and Vogue Italia have both apologized for the May Vogue Italia cover that showed the model with a dark skin tone, a distortion that unleashed a social media backlash and underlined the lack of diversity in the fashion industry. In a post on Instagram on Thursday, Hadid said diversity in the industry needs to be addressed and that she does not want "to take opportunities away from anyone else." The cover shot by Steven Klein showed the normally blonde Hadid with dark hair and heavily bronzed skin, wearing a Dolce & Gabbana sequined legging ensemble with matching tiara. Inside, Hadid poses in beachwear in the spread titled "High Voltage." May Vogue Italia cover hits a newsstand in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 4, 2018. Gigi Hadid and Vogue Italia have separately apologized for the May Vogue Italia cover showing the top model with a darker skin tone and hair color that set off a social media backlash and underlined the lack of diversity in the fashion industry. The cover shot by Steven Klein shows the normally blonde Hadid with dark hair and heavily bronzed skin, wearing matching a Dolce & Gabbana sequined legging ensemble with matching tiara. Inside, Hadid poses in beachwear in the spread titled ''High Voltage.'' (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Hadid said the photo shoot that also included digital editing of the photo, "was not executed correctly" and agreed that the concerns raised were "valid." Social media posts decried the dark skin tone, many likening it to the blackface minstrels of the 19th century that promoted racial stereotypes. Others pointed out that Vogue Italia under its previous editor, the late Franca Sozzani, was a prominent advocate for racial diversity in fashion, notably with its famed "All Black" cover in 2008. "I want to address this for those who were offended by the editing/retouch/coloring of the cover. Please know that things would have been different if my control of the situation was different," the model said. "Regardless, I want to apologize because I never want to diminish these concerns." Vogue Italia said Klein's "vision was to create a beachwear-themed story with a stylized bronzing effect," and that "throughout its history, Vogue Italia has respected and encouraged the creative viewpoints of commissioned photographers." But the fashion magazine added that it understood the issues it ignited among its readers. "We sincerely apologize if we have caused any offense." May Vogue Italia cover hits a newsstand in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 4, 2018. Gigi Hadid and Vogue Italia have separately apologized for the May Vogue Italia cover showing the top model with a darker skin tone and hair color that set off a social media backlash and underlined the lack of diversity in the fashion industry. The cover shot by Steven Klein shows the normally blonde Hadid with dark hair and heavily bronzed skin, wearing matching a Dolce & Gabbana sequined legging ensemble with matching tiara. Inside, Hadid poses in beachwear in the spread titled ''High Voltage.'' (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) May Vogue Italia cover hits a newsstand in Milan, Italy, Friday, May 4, 2018. Gigi Hadid and Vogue Italia have separately apologized for the May Vogue Italia cover showing the top model with a darker skin tone and hair color that set off a social media backlash and underlined the lack of diversity in the fashion industry. The cover shot by Steven Klein shows the normally blonde Hadid with dark hair and heavily bronzed skin, wearing matching a Dolce & Gabbana sequined legging ensemble with matching tiara. Inside, Hadid poses in beachwear in the spread titled ''High Voltage.'' (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) MOSCOW (AP) - A look at some of the significant dates in Vladimir Putin's 18 years in power as Russia's president and prime minister: Dec. 31, 1999 - In a surprise address to the nation, President Boris Yeltsin announces his resignation and makes Putin, the prime minister he appointed four months earlier, the acting president. May 7, 2000 - After winning election with about 53 percent of the vote, Putin is inaugurated for his first four-year term. FILE In this file photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, Russia. If Putin fulfills the goals he's set for his new six-year term as president, Russia in 2024 will be far advanced in new technologies and artificial intelligence, many of its notoriously poor roads will be improved, and its people will be living significantly longer. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File) May 11, 2000 - Tax police raid the offices of NTV, a popular independent channel noted for critical coverage of the Kremlin. It is the first salvo in moves against prominent independent media that have characterized the Putin era. Aug. 12, 2000 - The Kursk submarine sinks with 118 people aboard, setting off the first widespread and sustained criticism of Putin. News media take him to task for remaining on vacation during the early period of the crisis and waiting five days before accepting Western offers of help. Oct. 23, 2002 - Chechen terrorists take some 850 people hostage at a Moscow theater. Three days later, Russian special forces pump an unidentified gas into the theater to end the crisis, killing at least 130 hostages along with the terrorists. Putin defends the operation as having saved hundreds of lives. Oct. 25, 2003 - Russia's richest man, oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, is arrested. Khodorkovsky was seen as a potential challenger to Putin. Khodorkovsky is later sentenced to 10 years in prison for tax evasion and fraud and his Yukos oil company dismantled, most of it acquired by state oil company Rosneft. March 14, 2004 - Putin is elected to a second presidential term. Sept. 1, 2004 - Islamic militants seize a school in Beslan. More than 300 people die in the chaotic explosions and shootout that end the siege two days later. Putin blames regional leaders' incompetence and announces that governors will be appointed rather than elected. April 25, 2005 - Putin alarms international observers by describing the collapse of the Soviet Union as "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century." Although Putin referred to the economic chaos and ethnic conflicts that followed the collapse, the statement is seen by many as revealing a neo-Soviet mindset. Feb. 10, 2007 - In a speech at a conference in Munich, Putin turns away radically from earlier attempts to develop closer ties with the United States. June 5, 2007 - Russia is chosen to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, a pet project of Putin. His personal presentation to the International Olympic Committee is seen as key to winning the prestigious event. May 8, 2008 - Barred by the constitution from running for a third consecutive term, Putin is appointed prime minister by new President Dmitry Medvedev. He effectively remains the country's political leader. Aug. 8-12, 2008 - Russia fights a short war with Georgia, gaining full control of the separatist Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. Sept. 24, 2011 - Medvedev calls for Putin to be nominated for a third term as president. March 4, 2012 - Putin elected to a new presidential term, which is now six years long. Protests by tens of thousands before the election and on the eve of his inauguration lead to legislation harshening penalties for unauthorized political protests. June 6, 2013 - Putin announces on Russian state television that he and his wife, Lyudmila, are divorcing. March 18, 2014 - Russia annexes Crimea from Ukraine, after the Kremlin sends in troops without insignia following the ouster of Ukraine's Russia-friendly president, and stages a quick referendum on splitting from Ukraine. Although Russia denied involvement at the time, Putin admits a year later that he planned the annexation weeks previously, taking advantage of Ukraine's political chaos. April 2014 - Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatist rebels begins in eastern Ukraine, starting a war that has killed more than 10,000 people to date. Russia denies its troops are involved. July 17, 2014 - A Malaysian airliner is shot down over Ukraine, killing all 283 aboard. Russia promotes several theories, but other investigators point to a Russian mobile missile-launcher. Feb. 27, 2015 - Boris Nemtsov, a top figure of Russia's beleaguered political opposition, is gunned down on a bridge a few hundred meters from the Kremlin. Nemtsov was working on a report about Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine. Sept. 30, 2015 - Russia begins airstrikes in Syria. Putin says the action is necessary to destroy terrorist groups, but critics note it also helps Syria's President Bashar Assad hold on to power. July 7, 2017 - Putin and President Donald Trump meet for the first time. Putin says he believes Trump accepted his denial of allegations that Russians meddled in the election that brought Trump to power. March 1, 2018 - Putin says Russia has tested an array of new nuclear weapons invulnerable to enemy intercept. March 18, 2018 - Putin wins a new, six-year term in office with a reported 77 percent of the vote. BEIRUT (AP) - Few countries are as vulnerable to the Middle East's mayhem as Lebanon, which has taken in a million refugees from the catastrophic war in neighboring Syria, seen the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia embroiled in that war and watched Saudi Arabia try to oust its prime minister. Yet campaigning for Sunday's parliamentary election, the first in nine years, has timidly sidestepped the big issues, leaving many Lebanese expecting more of the same. It's especially galling for Lebanese concerned that a still-dominant Hezbollah could drag the country into a looming Iran-Israel regional confrontation. The vote is expected to be a test for the country's Western-backed Sunni prime minister, Saad Hariri, and his Iran-backed Shiite militant opponent, Hezbollah, which is looking to tighten its grip and expand its presence in the 128-seat parliament - likely at Hariri's expense. FILE - In this Friday, April 13, 2018 file photo, supporters of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah hold a banner with his portrait and Arabic words that reads: "All the loyalty to the man of nobility," during an election campaign speech, in a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouk, a member of Hariri's inner circle, said the election is not "a Sunni-Shiite conflict but rather a conflict between a group that believes in a state and a nation, and another that has regional and Iranian leanings." The sides, however, can hardly govern effectively without each other and are expected to recreate the unity government that currently exists, which incorporates members of the militant group. Most of the campaigning by more than 500 candidates has revolved around platforms of stability and economic growth, with many of Lebanon's civil war-era political titans set to return, including Lebanon's aging Shiite parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who has held the post for more than 25 years and who is virtually uncontested. Some warlords are passing on their seats to their sons, including Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. "Divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and the controversy over its participation in regional conflicts are almost entirely absent from the electoral campaigns, indicating implicit acceptance of the party's domestic hegemony," wrote analyst Joseph Bahout in an article for the Carnegie Middle East Center. A new election law agreed on last year has opened cracks through which rivals within the Shiite community could potentially challenge Hezbollah, and political newcomers and independents could try to break through the monopoly long enjoyed by the political dynasties. It also promises to shake things up by reorganizing Lebanon's electoral map, consolidating 23 districts into 15, and awarding seats by share of the vote received, rather than winner takes all. The law also allows Lebanese expatriates to vote abroad for the first time, adding a new level of unpredictability to the mix. The last time elections were held in Lebanon was in 2009. Since then, members of parliament have extended their terms twice, citing security threats linked to the war in neighboring Syria. Lebanon is technically a parliamentary democracy but is shackled by a decades-old sectarian-based power-sharing system, and its politics are dominated by former warlords that have long exploited the system to perpetuate corruption and nepotism. All senior government positions are allocated according to sect, including the head of state, who should be a Christian, the prime minister, a Sunni Muslim, and the parliament speaker, a Shiite. Parliament is divided equally between Christians and Muslims, with seats allotted according to religious sect. The formula, based on outdated demographic data that does not account for nearly 200,000 Palestinians who are denied citizenship and a vote, allows people to vote according to their religious affiliations, not a political program. A record number of first-time hopefuls are campaigning for change, urging voters to shun politicians who have drowned the country in corruption and debt. Many rose to prominence as organizers of protests over a 2015 trash collection crisis that left garbage in the streets for months and laid bare the extent of the public sector mismanagement plaguing Lebanon. "It reflects a new mindset emerging among significant sectors of the Lebanese electorate, pointing in the direction of making a small dent in the religious sect-based political system," said Randa Slim, an analyst with the Washington-based Middle East Institute. Still, the biggest winners appear to be Hezbollah and its allies, who look set to scoop up at least some of the seats lost by Hariri's coalition, largely because of the expected fragmentation of the Sunni vote. Hariri now has the largest block in parliament, but is likely to lose seats to rival politicians. Some of Hariri's supporters shifted their allegiance after the billionaire businessman, who also holds Saudi citizenship, laid off scores of employees in his development company, Saudi Oger, as well as in Hariri-owned charities and media outlets in Lebanon, largely because of Saudi spending cuts. That loss of support has been compounded by what some see as a weak stance vis-a-vis Hezbollah, accusing him of catering to and giving political cover to the militant group, which a U.N.-backed tribunal has accused in the 2015 assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri. Hezbollah offered its support to Hariri after he was detained in Saudi Arabia late last year during a visit to Riyadh in which he announced his resignation as prime minister, citing Iran and Hezbollah's meddling in the region. The move was widely seen as Saudi coercion, although Hariri denies stepping down against his will and has since reversed his resignation. Hezbollah now seeks, along with its allies, to win at least 43 seats in the 128-member legislature, which would enable the militant group to veto any laws it opposes. Hezbollah has sent thousands of fighters to Syria to shore up President Bashar Assad, and has cleared the vast region along the countries' shared border of Islamic militants, leaving hundreds of its fighters killed and wounded. It is now campaigning heavily on those achievements. Its leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, called for heavy voter turnout, particularly in the Baalbek-Hermel region in eastern Lebanon, traditionally a Hezbollah stronghold which now faces a challenge from rivals. "You should protect with your votes your victories and achievements, for which you've paid a very high price," Nasrallah said in an appeal to supporters at an election rally in the area on Monday. Despite limited pushback from the Shiite community, Hezbollah has largely delivered on its promises in Syria as far as the Shiite community is concerned and will now be expected to deliver on the economic front, Slim said. She expects a governing coalition between Hariri and Hezbollah to re-emerge from Sunday's vote and says if the elections produce a weaker Hariri, it will be all the more reason for Hezbollah to push for him to be the next prime minister. "In light of the talk of a looming Iranian-Israeli confrontation in Syria, Hezbollah will be more incentivized in not rocking the boat in Lebanon," she said. ___ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. In this picture taken on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Supporters of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri who is a candidate for the parliamentary elections which will be held on May 6, cheers during an elections campaign, in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) In this picture taken on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri who is a candidate for the parliamentary elections which will be held on May 6, addresses a speech during an elections campaign, in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) In this picture taken on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, left, who is a candidate for the parliamentary elections which will be held on May 6, waves to his supporters during an elections campaign, in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) In this picture taken on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, center, who is a candidate for the parliamentary elections which will be held on May 6, takes selfie with young girls during an elections campaign, in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) FILE - In this Friday, April 13, 2018 file photo, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivers a broadcast speech through a giant screen during an election campaign in a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) FILE - In this Sunday, 29, 2018 file photo, a luna park wheel decorated by posters that show portraits of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and his son the current Prime Minister Saad Hariri who is a candidate for the parliamentary elections which will be held on May 6, in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. The Arabic banners read:" We are the eye that protects Lebanon, Support the project of Rafik Hariri by voting intensely." (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) In this Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo, campaign posters for parliamentary candidates elections adorn the fisher port in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) In this Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo, campaign posters for parliamentary candidates elections adorn a street in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) In this Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo, campaign posters for parliamentary candidates elections adorn a street in Beirut, Lebanon. Campaigning for the first election in nine years has revolved around promises of stability and growth and has avoided divisive issues such as Hezbollah's weapons and its regional alliances, virtually guaranteeing the Iran-backed militant group's continued domestic hegemony. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A federal judge on Friday asked pointed questions about special counsel Robert Mueller's authority to bring charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and suggested that prosecutors' true motive is getting Manafort to "sing" against the president. Manafort's lawyers argued at a hearing in Alexandria that the tax and bank fraud charges are far afield from Mueller's mandate to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether any coordination with Trump associates occurred. "I don't see what relationship this indictment has with what the special counsel is investigating," U.S. Senior Judge T.S. Ellis III, a Reagan appointee, told government lawyers at Friday's hearing. Paul Manafort leaves the Alexandria Federal Courthouse with his wife, Kathleen Manafort, left, and attorney Kevin Downing, right, on Friday, May 4, 2018, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf) The Virginia indictment alleges Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars he earned advising pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine from the Internal Revenue Service, money earned from 2006 through 2015. The indictment accuses Manafort of fraudulently obtaining millions in loans from financial institutions later, after his Ukrainian work dwindled. Prosecutors say that part of the conspiracy stretched from 2015 through January 2017, including the months while he was working on the Trump campaign. Under questioning from Ellis, government lawyers admitted that Manafort had been under investigation for years in the Eastern District of Virginia before Mueller was ever appointed special counsel. And Ellis said it was implausible to think that the charges against Manafort, which primarily concern his business dealings and tax returns from about 2005 through 2015, could have a real connection to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Ellis suggested the real reason Mueller is pursuing Manafort is to pressure him to "sing" against Trump, though he also noted that such a strategy is a "time-honored practice" for prosecutors and not necessarily illegal. Ellis went on to say that defense lawyers are naturally concerned that defendants in that situation will not only sing but "compose" - meaning that they'll make up facts. "You really care about wanting information you could get from Mr. Manafort that would relate to Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution, or impeachment, or whatever," Ellis said. Later Friday, President Trump praised Ellis during a speech to the National Rifle Association and called him a "highly respected judge." Trump read news articles highlighting Ellis' quotes about the case and his suggestion that the special counsel's goal is to squeeze Manfort. "I've been saying that for a long time," Trump said. At the hearing, government lawyer Michael Dreeben responded to Ellis that the special counsel's mandate is broad, and that Manafort fits within that jurisdiction because of his connections to both the Trump campaign and to Ukrainian and Russian officials. "We needed to understand and explore those relationships and follow the money where it led," Dreeben said. Dreeben also argued that the Justice Department has broad discretion to set its own rules for what should be designated to the special counsel's jurisdiction, and that a judge has no role trying to regulate it. "We are the Justice Department," Dreeben said of the special counsel's office. "We are not separate from the Justice Department." That argument provoked Ellis' ire to an extent and prompted him to question the wisdom of granting unfettered power to a special counsel with a $10 million budget. "I'm sure you're sensitive to the fact that the American people feel pretty strongly about no one having unfettered power," Ellis said. He asked Dreeben whether the special counsel had already blown through its $10 million budget; Dreeben declined to answer. Manafort's lawyer, Kevin Downing, has argued that a special counsel should be tightly constrained in how it operates. He noted that the law authorizing the special counsel was passed to replace the old independent counsel law, which was derided for allowing overbroad, yearslong investigations during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Downing has argued that the charges should be dismissed if Mueller lacked authority to bring them. Ellis, though, suggested another remedy would be to simply hand the case back to regular federal prosecutors. Ellis withheld ruling on the motion and will issue a written ruling at a later date. Manafort is also facing a separate indictment in the District of Columbia, where the special counsel has brought the bulk of charges. Prosecutors also wanted to bring the Virginia charges in the District of Columbia, arguing it would be more efficient. But Manafort had the right to have the case heard in Virginia, because that is where the alleged misconduct in the Virginia indictment occurred. Manafort declined to waive his right to have the charges adjudicated in Virginia. Manafort's lawyers made similar arguments seeking dismissal to the judge overseeing the District case. She has also not yet ruled on the motion. ___ Associated Press writer Anne Flaherty contributed to this report from Washington. MOSCOW (AP) - A Russian biathlete who competed at the Sochi Olympics has been banned for two years for doping. The International Biathlon Union said Friday it found Ekaterina Glazyrina guilty of using a banned substance, and said it would reveal further details of the case on Monday. The decision follows an investigation based on the McLaren report into Russian doping and cover-ups, and appears to be the first case based on that report to result in a ban for a winter sports athlete. FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 file photo, Russia's second placed Ekaterina Glazyrina celebrates on her way to the podium after the women's 10 kilometers pursuit race at the Biathlon World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria. The International Biathlon Union said Friday May 4, 2018, it found Ekaterina Glazyrina guilty of using a banned substance, and has been banned for two years for doping. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson, File) All of Glazyrina's results from 2013 will be erased, suggesting the offense occurred in the run-up to the Sochi Olympics, where Russia is accused of widespread doping. Glazyrina was at the peak of her career ahead of the Sochi Games, recording seven podium finishes in World Cup races in the two seasons leading up to the Olympics. However, she failed to win a medal in the individual race in Sochi and was dropped from the relay team amid reported conflicts with coaches. Glazyrina told Russian media she would appeal the ban. "The IBU presented no facts or proof," she told Russian news agency RIA Novosti. The verdict comes as the IBU itself faces allegations that some of its top officials accepted money from Russian officials to cover up drug use. The IBU's president and general secretary both stepped down last month after Austrian police raided the body's headquarters as part of an investigation into bribery. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Swedish prosecutor says a person has been arrested for preparing an act of terror. Lars Morand says the person, born in 1987, was arrested Friday in the southern Swedish city of Lund. Morand declined to elaborate further. It was unclear whether the arrest was linked to three men - aged 29, 38 and 45 and holding passports from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan - who were arrested Monday in northern Sweden and Stockholm's northern suburbs on suspected terror-related activities. ___ This story has been corrected to fix spelling of Kyrgyzstan in third paragraph. NEW YORK (AP) - It's "Star Wars" Day. Fans of the movie franchise are celebrating because Friday is May the Fourth, which sounds like the famous line from the movie, "May the force be with you." It has been 41 years since the original movie premiered, and its fans celebrate across the galaxy. Tickets have gone on sale for the next film, "Solo: A Star Wars Story," which is slated to be in theaters on May 25. A departure board at London's Heathrow Airport features galaxy locations and characters. Throughout the world, enthusiasts are dressing the part and indulging in food and drinks based on the movies. The New York Yankees will give out Aaron Judge Jedi bobble head dolls featuring the slugger holding a light saber. JERUSALEM (AP) - Chris Froome got off to a rocky start in his quest to win a third consecutive Grand Tour title, crashing during a training run ahead of Friday's opening stage of the Giro d'Italia and drawing blood around his right knee. A video showed the four-time Tour de France champion limping gingerly after the accident. His shorts were ripped around the hip and his jersey was ripped near his shoulder blade. He appeared to also have an abrasion on the right side of his body. Team Sky said Froome was slightly injured but would compete in the opening time trial. British cyclist Chris Froome rides during Team Sky presentation in Jerusalem, Thursday, May 3, 2018. The Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race is scheduled to start on Friday in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) It was hardly an ideal start for Froome, who is facing a potential doping ban after a urine sample he provided at the Spanish Vuelta in September showed a concentration of the asthma drug salbutamol that was twice the permitted level. Froome is looking to become only the third person ever to win the three Grand Tour titles in a row. Team Sky coach Nicolas Portal told Eurosport that Froome's front wheel slid at low speed during the first lap of training but that the accident would not prevent the British rider from competing. "It's pretty painful obviously, but then straight away he went right back on his bike and he did two laps again," Portal said. "It's going to be a painful TT for him but he is fine." Astana team leader Miguel Angel Lopez also crashed in training but the Colombian will compete as well. Belarussian cyclist Kanstantstin Siutsou of the Bahrain-Merida team was not as fortunate. He was knocked out of the race after a nasty spill. The series of crashes came shortly before the Giro opened in Jerusalem, the first time a Grand Tour cycling race has ever been held outside Europe. The 9.7-kilometer (6-mile) opening time trial passed Israel's parliament, Supreme Court, the Israel Museum and the Hebrew University in its route through Jerusalem. The 167-kilometer (104-mile) second stage on Saturday will whizz down the Mediterranean coast from Haifa to Tel Aviv. Stage 3 will follow a lengthy, 229-kilometer (143-mile) route - the second-longest leg of the entire race - from Beersheba in the Negev desert down to Israel's southern tip of Eilat along the Red Sea. The race will then transfer to Italy, and the island of Sicily, for an early rest day on Monday. The Giro ends in Rome on May 27. ___ Follow Heller at www.twitter.com/aronhellerap ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's supreme court is hearing the government's appeal against the granting of asylum to one of the eight Turkish servicemen who fled Turkey after the failed military coup in 2016. The serviceman has already been granted asylum, but the courts have suspended the decision following the government appeal. The serviceman was not present at Friday's hearing. He is the only one of the eight out of police custody, as his asylum bid is at a more advanced stage. The ruling on his case could affect his colleagues' asylum bids. The fate of the eight servicemen, who flew to Greece in a military helicopter, has strained relations between the two countries. Greek courts have refused to extradite them, saying they would not get a fair trial in Turkey. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Tens of thousands of investors will fill an Omaha arena this weekend to spend hours listening to Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger talk about business and life. The two men submit to the annual questioning from Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, reporters and analysts at the conglomerate's annual meeting each spring that has become an annual tradition for many in the crowd. Thousands of people continue to attend even though the meetings are now broadcast live online by Yahoo Finance. Berkshire officials say this year's attendance could top the record of 42,000 set a few years ago when the company marked 50 years of Buffett's leadership, but the attendance figures are only an estimate based on the number of meeting pass requests. Some shareholders request passes just for the shopping discounts at Berkshire companies. FILE - In this May 8, 2017, file photo, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett speaks during an interview with Liz Claman of the Fox Business Network in Omaha, Neb. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reports earnings Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File) Here are a few of the key questions Berkshire's top two executives may face questions about on Saturday: WHO WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE BUFFETT? Buffett has no plans to retire because he enjoys what he does and making investment decisions doesn't involve any heavy lifting. Buffett has long said that Berkshire had a short list of executives within the company who could take over the company after he's gone, but he always refused to name the candidates. Earlier this year, Buffett inspired new speculation on the subject when he promoted Greg Abel and Ajit Jain to vice chairmen and expanded their responsibilities. But he didn't say much about the change in his shareholder letter. Abel, who leads Berkshire Hathaway's utility unit, has begun overseeing all of the conglomerate's non-insurance business operations. Jain now oversees all of Berkshire's insurance operations after previously dealing just with the reinsurance side of the business. Clayton Homes CEO Kevin Clayton said the move is already paying off. For instance, he said Abel encouraged him to think more long-term about potential investments in Berkshire's manufactured home builder because he's used to investing big sums in utilities. "Greg Abel and Ajit was such a great move. They're great people, and they're already adding value," Clayton said. HOW HEALTHY ARE THEY? Buffett and Munger appear to be in good health for their ages, and neither one has reported any major health problems since Buffett underwent prostate cancer treatment in 2012. The meeting gives shareholders a chance to evaluate Buffett and Munger's health for themselves, said Andy Kilpatrick, who has followed Berkshire for years while writing and updating "Of Permanent Value: The Story of Warren Buffett." "I think it's a chance to see how he is and how Munger is," Kilpatrick said. CASH CONSTERNATION Over more than five decades, Buffett has used acquisitions to build Berkshire into a sprawling conglomerate that owns more than 90 different companies in a variety of industries, including electric utilities, retail jewelers, insurance and BNSF railroad. Berkshire also holds major investments in companies such as Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, American Express and Apple. But Buffett is sitting on more than $116 billion of cash and bonds because he's struggled to find acquisitions at sensible prices in recent years. That was the total at the end of last year, but Berkshire's businesses generate roughly $1.5 billion a month. "They're sitting on all the cash," Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said. Buffett's options include buying entire businesses, picking up a few million shares of stock or investing more in companies Berkshire already owns, such as BNSF railroad and the utilities of Berkshire Hathaway energy. Investors will be looking for clues about what Buffett might buy next or whether he is any closer to considering paying a dividend. In the past, Buffett has always said he believes shareholders will gain more if the cash is reinvested. EARNINGS WORRIES New accounting rules that took effect this year will force Berkshire to change the way it accounts for the value of its stock investments in its earnings reports. The first test of that change will come Saturday morning when the first-quarter earnings report is released. Shanahan, the Edward Jones analyst, said Berkshire could wind up reported a loss in net income during the quarter because of the accounting change even though the loss would mostly be on paper because Berkshire doesn't often sell its stocks. "Berkshire could report a pretty significant loss for the period," Shanahan said. Berkshire already reports operating earnings, which exclude investment values and tax changes, alongside net income every quarter. Buffett says investors should pay more attention to those to get a sense of how the company's various businesses are performing. PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) - Kosovo's president has agreed the country's border with Montenegro, a development that takes Kosovo one step nearer to joining Europe's free travel Schengen zone. Montenegro has already approved the deal. Montenegro, which like Kosovo was part of the former Yugoslavia, recognized Kosovo's 2008 independence. Serbia has not. The journey to President Hashim Thaci's decree Friday has been difficult. In March opposition lawmakers used tear gas in the chamber to prevent the vote. However, it passed. The opposition in Kosovo claims the country loses territory under the deal, a claim denied by the government and international experts. PHOENIX (AP) - The Latest on the end of a six-day teacher walkout in Arizona (all times local): 10:10 a.m. Teachers in classrooms across metropolitan Phoenix are quickly getting back to business after a six-day walkout. Cindy Cordts, a third grade teacher at Oakwood Elementary School, laughs along with some of her students as schools opened after a statewide teachers strike ended Friday, May 4, 2018, in Peoria, Ariz. Hundreds of thousands of Arizona schoolchildren returned to classes Friday a day after state lawmakers approved 20 percent raises for teachers and they ended a six-day walkout that shuttered most classrooms around the state. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Cindy Cordts, a teacher in the suburb of Peoria, already had a worksheet waiting for her third-graders. She briefly acknowledged the hiatus as "kind of like we had an extra spring break." At an elementary school in the suburb of Chandler, Jennifer Boettcher's first-grade class had a breakfast of muffins, milk and juice waiting for them. Boettcher called out names for attendance while students ate and then invited them to sit and read poetry. Strike organizers called for an end to the walkout Thursday after an all-night legislative session resulted in a 20 percent pay raise by 2020. Most districts planned to reopen Friday. But some will resume classes next week. ___ 7:50 a.m. Most Arizona schools closed during a six-day teacher walkout over pay raises and education funding have reopened. Teachers back at work Friday at a high school in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa lined up to greet students with cheers and handshakes. The principal of an elementary school on the other side of the Phoenix metro area greeted students with high-fives. Teachers at an elementary school in the Chandler suburb hugged each other and wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders as they walked in from the staff parking lot. Strike organizers called for an end to the walkout Thursday after an all-night legislative session resulted in a 20 percent pay raise by 2020. Most districts planned to reopen Friday. But the largest Tucson district will resume classes next week. The education funding plan approved Thursday by the Legislature and Gov. Doug Ducey awards teachers a 9 percent raise next fall and 5 percent in each of the next two years. That's in addition to a 1 percent raise granted last year. ___ 11:20 p.m. Hundreds of thousands of Arizona schoolchildren can go back to class now that the Legislature passed an education funding deal, ending a six-day walkout that shuttered classrooms around the state. Strike organizers called for an end to the walkout Thursday after a dramatic all-night legislative session resulted in a 20 percent pay raise by 2020. Some districts plan to reopen Friday, while others say they'll resume classes next week. The education funding plan approved by lawmakers shortly before dawn was immediately signed by Gov. Doug Ducey, awarding teachers a 9 percent raise in the fall and 5 percent in each of the next two years. That's in addition to a 1 percent raise granted last year. Security guard Jasmine Gutierrez, center, hugs kids as they return to classes at San Marcos Elementary School, Friday, May 4, 2018, in Chandler, Ariz., after a statewide teachers strike ended. (AP Photo/Matt York) Third grade teacher Jennifer Boettcher reads a story to kids as they eat breakfast at San Marcos Elementary School Friday, May 4, 2018, in Chandler, Ariz., after a statewide teachers strike ended. (AP Photo/Matt York) SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Hundreds of war veterans and civilians rallied Friday in support of a Bosnian Muslim wartime military commander who is suspected of war crimes against Serb civilians during the 1992-95 conflict. Carrying wartime Bosnian flags and banners, the protesters gathered in central Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, carrying a huge banner saying "Heroes, not criminals!" Last week, police briefly detained Atif Dudakovic and 12 other members of the Bosnian army's former 5th Corps for alleged war crimes against hundreds of Serb civilians in northwestern Bosnia. Bosnian war veterans wave Bosnian war flags during a protest in Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, on Friday May 4, 2018. Several hundred Bosnian war veterans and civilians gathered in Sarajevo to protest the arrest of general Atif Dudakovic, the Bosnian army commander, indicted of charges of war crimes against Serb prisoners and civilians during the Bosnian war in 1995. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) The arrests angered many Bosnian Muslims who view Dudakovic and his men as defenders of the northwestern region that was under siege for much of the war. About 100,000 people died during the war in Bosnia that erupted when Bosnian Serbs rebelled against the country's independence from the Serbia-dominated former Yugoslavia. Bosnian Serbs, led by Radovan Karadzic and his military commander Ratko Mladic, took control of large swaths of land with an aim to create an all-Serb state in the ethnically-mixed nation. Both Karadzic and Mladic have been convicted of war crimes by a United Nations tribunal. The court in The Hague, Netherlands, has sentenced Karadzic to 40 years in prison and Mladic to life in jail for atrocities against non-Serbs in Bosnia. "Victims of this war were Bosnian Muslims, who suffered the most," war veteran Sanin Musa said during the protest in Sarajevo. He described Dudakovic as a "symbol of the defense of Bosnia and Bosnians." Dudakovic has also served as the Muslim-led Bosnian Army chief of staff after the conflict. Bosnian war veterans wave Bosnian war flags during a protest in Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, on Friday May 4, 2018. Several hundred Bosnian war veterans and civilians gathered in Sarajevo to protest the arrest of general Atif Dudakovic, the Bosnian army commander, indicted of charges of war crimes against Serb prisoners and civilians during the Bosnian war in 1995. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) Bosnian war veterans wave Bosnian war flags during a protest in Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, on Friday May 4, 2018. Several hundred Bosnian war veterans and civilians gathered in Sarajevo to protest the arrest of general Atif Dudakovic, the Bosnian army commander, indicted of charges of war crimes against Serb prisoners and civilians during the Bosnian war in 1995. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police say a worker at Philadelphia's airport used his keys to fatally stab a colleague during an argument at the airport. Philadelphia police say 35-year-old Kevin Emanuel and another man argued about a light inside a room set aside for employees to use during breaks from work. Their dispute Thursday turned physical but was broken up by another worker, 28-year-old Aaron Jenkins. Authorities say Emanuel and Jenkins started fighting, and Emanuel allegedly stuck his keys into Jenkins' left thigh, striking the femoral artery. Jenkins later died. Emanuel is charged with murder and possession of an instrument of crime. Authorities say the men were employed by a company that cleans planes for Frontier Airlines. It wasn't known Friday if Emanuel has retained an attorney. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Black smoke from burning tires mixed with streaks of tear gas fired by Israeli forces Friday as several thousand Palestinians staged a sixth weekly protest on the Gaza-Israel border. At least 70 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, the lowest casualty toll since the protests began. Hundreds of demonstrators broke into the Gaza side of a cargo crossing with Israel, damaging pipelines that carry fuel and gas into Gaza, the Israeli military said. Photos on social media showed large flames near the Kerem Shalom crossing, near where the borders of Gaza, Israel and Egypt converge. Palestinian officials said protesters smashed some equipment near the crossing but were unaware of any damage to pipelines. The Israeli military called the incident a "cynical act of terror" that harms Gaza civilians. A woman waves a Palestinian flag in front of black smoke from burning tires during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Elsewhere, witnesses said small Israeli drones faced off against flaming kites that were flown by Palestinians over the border fence in recent weeks to set ablaze dry wheat fields on the Israeli side. The witnesses said two kites with burning rags were brought down by the drones, while two other drones crashed after being hit by stones. The protests are part of a weekly campaign organized by Gaza's Hamas rulers. The marches each Friday are aimed, in part, at breaking a decade-old blockade of the territory that imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group took control there in 2007. The Islamic militant group Hamas has said the protests would culminate in a mass march on May 15, with some officials suggesting a possible border breach at the time and others saying the protests might continue beyond that date. Israel has warned that it will prevent such a breach at any cost. May 15 is the day Palestinians commemorate their mass uprooting in the 1948 war over Israel's creation. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from homes in what is now Israel. Two-thirds of Gaza's residents are descendants of refugees. Despite the risks faced by the protesters near the border, turnout has been sustained by the widespread desperation of blockade-linked hardships of life in Gaza. Virtually all of the territory's 2 million people are barred from travel, about two-thirds of young people are unemployed and power is on only a few hours a day. On Friday, 229 protesters were hospitalized, including 70 with bullet wounds, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Three of the wounded were in serious condition. Since late March, 40 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,700 wounded by Israeli army fire. Friday marked the first weekly protest in which no Palestinian were reported killed by sundown. Yehiyeh Amarin, 18, said he and his friends will keep going to the border until the blockade has been lifted. "If no solution happens by May 15, we will continue the protests or we die," he said, as another protester behind him brandished a yellow wire cutter. "We will cut through the fence." He said he and his friends call themselves the "tires unit," spending their weekdays collecting tires for the weekly demonstrations. "We want a dignified life and a return to our lands," said Amarin, as he and others rolled tires toward the fence to set them ablaze. The mounting casualty toll has led to growing criticism of Israel. Rights groups say Israeli open-fire regulations are unlawful because they permit troops to use potentially lethal force against unarmed protesters. Israel's Supreme Court is currently weighing a petition by six rights groups to restrict or ban the use of live fire on the border. The European Union and the United Nations have also criticized the use of lethal force. Israel says it is defending its sovereign border, including nearby communities, and that soldiers only target instigators. It accuses Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, of trying to carry out attacks under the guise of the mass protests. It has said that some of those protesting at the border in recent weeks tried to damage the border fence or plant explosives along it. Hamas says the protests are aimed at breaking the border blockade and pressing for the "right of return" of displaced Palestinians and their descendants. Palestinian medics evacuate a wounded youth during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) A Palestinian protester hurls stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters run for cover from teargas fired by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Teargas canisters fired by Israeli troops fall over Palestinian protesters gathered during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) A Palestinian protester tries to pick up a teargas canister to throw it back at Israeli soldiers after they burn tires near the fence during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) Palestinian protesters throw back teargas canisters at Israeli soldiers after they burn tires near the fence during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) Palestinian protesters react to teargas fired by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters react from teargas fired by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) A drone used by the Israeli troops catches a kite Palestinian activists use with burning rags dangling from its tail to set ablaze drying wheat fields on the Israeli side, during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters react from teargas fired by Israeli troops as one hurls stones during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) A Palestinian woman hurls stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian women hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) A Palestinian woman hurls stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Two women hold Palestinian flags as they walk through burning tires during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Two women hold Palestinian flags as they walk through burning tires during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian medics run to evacuate a wounded youth during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinian protesters chant slogans during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) A Palestinian protester tries to pick up a teargas canister to throw it back at Israeli soldiers after they burn tires near the fence during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) MEXICO CITY (AP) - Business groups are once again attacking the front-runner in Mexico's July 1 presidential race, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The Mexican Business Council said in a statement Thursday it "categorically rejects the slanderous and offensive statements" made by Lopez Obrador this week. Lopez Obrador had claimed earlier this week that business leaders were trying to persuade the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party to join forces with the second-place candidate to reverse Lopez Obrador's commanding lead in the polls. Lopez Obrador said in interviews Thursday that some businessmen oppose him because "they don't want to stop stealing." On Friday Lopez Obrador tried to defuse the fight, saying "we don't want a fight with businessmen ... we don't have any problem with businesspeople." Lopez Obrador is a leftist who dislikes many of the current administration's market-oriented reforms. In 2006, business groups took out ads against Lopez Obrador that may have cost him the election. This is Lopez Obrador's third run for the presidency, and he has tried to avoid the angry, radical tone he often lapsed into in 2006 and 2012. JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - The proposed removal of a statue in New Jersey honoring victims of a 1940 Soviet massacre of Poles has sparked a cross-Atlantic war of words, with a Polish senator decrying the move and Jersey City's mayor calling that man an anti-Semite with no moral authority. The memorial commemorates the Katyn massacre of tens of thousands of Polish officers with shots to the back of the head. The bronze statue depicts a Polish soldier gagged, bound and impaled in the back with a bayonet. It stands on a granite base containing soil from the Katyn Forest, where many victims were buried on the western edge of Russia. Created by Polish-American monument sculptor Andrzej Pitynski, the statue has been a fixture since 1991 at Exchange Place in Jersey City just across the Hudson River from New York City. Buildings in Lower Manhattan provide a backdrop to a statue dedicated to the victims of the Katyn massacre of 1940, Friday, May 4, 2018, in Jersey City, N.J. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop took to twitter to respond to Stanisaw Karczewski, the speaker of the Polish senate, who has criticized Fulop after word got out that the statue will be moved. The memorial will be moved for a renovation of the plaza where it stands. The memorial commemorates the Katyn massacre of tens of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police in 1940. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) The memorial will be moved for a renovation of the plaza where it stands, The Jersey Journal reported. The head of the group organizing the renovation has called the statue "gruesome" and has said he prefers that it get a new home. "I don't think the statue's appropriate for a major metropolitan area," Mike DeMarco, chair of the Exchange Place Special Improvement District, told the newspaper. "It's a little gruesome. ... I can't imagine how many mothers go by and have to explain it to their children." But Stanislaw Karczewski, the speaker of the Polish senate, said removing the memorial would be unacceptable. "It is a really scandalous and very unpleasant situation for us," Karczewski told Polish radio this week. He said the memorial "speaks of Polish heroism, Polish heroes, and also speaks of tragic events." Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop scoffed at the criticism, saying Karczewski is a "known anti-Semite" and alleging the Polish government has no moral authority to criticize his city. He pointed to a new Polish law that makes it a crime to blame Poland for any of the Holocaust crimes of Nazi Germany. The law has sparked criticism in the U.S. and particularly in Israel, where some fear its aim is to quash discussions about Polish anti-Semitic violence during the German occupation in World War II. Karczewski belongs to the ruling party that pushed through the law. "The fact that he's engaging and trying to dictate the high moral ground to me and trying to dictate to me what I should be doing with a park is kind of laughable," Fulop said. "Poland can pass laws and pretend they weren't complicit, but no matter how many laws they pass they can't rewrite history." Fulop's maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. His grandmother was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, where more than 1 million people were murdered, mostly Jews. His grandfather spent time in a labor camp. The mayor said there will be a discussion with the community on when, where and if the statue would be re-installed after the work on the park is complete. Krzysztof Szczerski, an adviser to Polish President Andrzej Duda, said the president believes the Katyn monument "is an important testimony to homage and remembrance of the victims of genocide" and hopes for a resolution. He added that the president believes that a country that "treats heroes with such respect, especially those killed for their homeland," would respect such a monument, according to a report by the state news agency PAP. The Katyn massacre came after the Soviet Red Army invaded eastern Poland in September 1939 took the Polish officers prisoner. The secret police killed 22,000 Poles, aiming to eliminate a military and intellectual elite that might have put up stiff resistance to Soviet control. For decades, Moscow blamed the Nazis for the massacre, but then in 1990 admitted that Soviet leader Josef Stalin had ordered it. A man walks in front of a statue dedicated to the victims of the Katyn massacre of 1940, Friday, May 4, 2018, in Jersey City, N.J. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop took to twitter to respond to Stanisaw Karczewski, the speaker of the Polish senate, who has criticized Fulop after word got out that the statue will be moved. The memorial will be moved for a renovation of the plaza where it stands. The memorial commemorates the Katyn massacre of tens of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police in 1940. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) WACO, Texas (AP) - Prosecutors have dismissed 15 more cases relating to the 2015 shootout in Waco involving rival biker gangs that left nine dead and 20 others injured. McLennan County prosecutors said Thursday they're dismissing the cases while focusing on others with "a higher level of culpability." More than a dozen other cases were dismissed in February and officials said last week that only about 25 cases will be prosecuted out of the more than 150 people indicted on felony charges of engaging in organized criminal activity. Police arrested 177 bikers following the mayhem at a Twin Peaks restaurant involving members of the Bandidos and Cossacks motorcycle clubs. Law enforcement officers monitoring the gathering also fired on the bikers. Only one biker has ever been tried and it ended in a mistrial. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google says it will do a better job of verifying the identity of political ad buyers in the U.S. by requiring a copy of a government-issued ID and other information. Google will also require the disclosure of who is paying for the ad. Google executive Kent Walker is repeating a pledge he made in November to create a library of such ads that will be searchable by anyone by this summer. Google's blog post comes short of declaring support for the Honest Ads Act, a bill that would impose disclosure requirements on online ads, similar to what's required for television and other media. Facebook and Twitter support that bill. FILE - This March 19, 2018 file photo shows the Google app on an iPad in Baltimore. Google says it will do a better job of verifying the identity of political ad buyers in the U.S., requiring them to provide a government-issued ID and other key information before allowing them to buy ads. Senior vice president Kent Walker says in a blog post Google will also require ad buyers to disclose who is paying for the ad. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Google says applications under the new system will open by the end of May, with approval taking up to five days. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the felony conviction Friday of a man who tricked a woman into having sex with him by convincing her through social media that he was an old high school friend. Michael Kelso-Christy, 23, had argued that Iowa law doesn't outlaw sex by fraud or deception, but he was eventually convicted of burglary, a charge that also can include entering a home with intent to commit sexual abuse. Prosecutors said he set up a fake Facebook account in April 2015 under the name of the woman's classmate. Through messages that became increasingly sexual, the woman eventually agreed to a sexual encounter wherein the man would arrive at her home while she was blindfolded and restrained. She said the man didn't speak during the encounter and left her handcuffed. This undated photo provided by the Iowa Department of Corrections shows Michael Kelso-Christy. The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the felony conviction of Kelso-Christy who tricked a woman into having sex with him blindfolded and restrained by claiming he was an old high school classmate. Kelso-Christy, of Albia, Ill., set up a fake Facebook account in April 2015 under the name of the woman's classmate and through messages convinced her to agree to a sexual encounter blindfolded and restrained. (Iowa Department of Corrections via AP) The woman grew suspicious when text messages stopped and the Facebook profile became inactive. She determined the next day, through mutual contacts, that the man who arrived at her home wasn't her former classmate. She immediately contacted the sheriff's office and reported an assault. Kelso-Christy was linked to the crime through a phone number he gave the woman and a fingerprint found at her home. Investigators determined he'd used a similar social media scheme with several women, and the man Kelso-Christy was pretending to be testified that several men were angry with him for soliciting sex from their wives or girlfriends. Kelso-Christy was initially charged with sex abuse, but the charge was later dropped. He was later convicted during a bench trial of burglary and sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the judge saying consent inherently requires knowledge of the identity of a sexual partner. Kelso-Christy appealed, arguing that the sexual encounter was consensual and he therefore didn't intend to commit sexual abuse as outlined under the burglary charge. But in the majority opinion released Friday, Iowa Supreme Court justices said Kelso-Christy knew the woman never consented to physical contact with him. "The identity of a sexual partner is no mere collateral matter. Women, and men, must be free to decide, on their own terms, who their sexual partners will be," Chief Justice Mark Cady wrote for the majority, further concluding that Kelso-Christy's actions denied the woman "the freedom of choice that breathes life into our sexual abuse statutes." Justices David Wiggins and Brent Appel dissented, saying Iowa's second-degree burglary law does not specifically provide for sexual abuse by fraud or deception. Wiggins wrote: "We must not write words into the statute." Iowa Department of Corrections records show Kelso-Christy is imprisoned in Fort Dodge. His attorney, Assistant Appellate Defender Melinda Nye, said Kelso-Christy was disappointed in Friday's ruling and has "challenged the applicability of Iowa's sex abuse statutes to his case since he was charged." She said he'll decide later whether to pursue further appeals. The prosecutor did not immediately respond to messages. ___ Follow David Pitt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davepitt Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a law banning most abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected, or at around six weeks of pregnancy, marking the strictest abortion regulation in the nation - but setting the state up for a lengthy court fight. The Republican governor signed the legislation on Friday in her formal office at the state Capitol in Des Moines as protesters gathered outside chanting, 'My body, my choice!' Reynolds acknowledged that the new law would likely face litigation, but said: 'This is bigger than just a law, this is about life, and I'm not going to back down.' Reynolds has previously said she was 'proud to be pro-life.' The ban, set to take effect on July 1, has propelled Iowa to the front of a push among conservative statehouses jockeying to enact restrictive regulations on the medical procedure. Mississippi passed a law earlier this year banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, but it's on hold after a court challenge. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, center, signs a six-week abortion ban bill into law during a ceremony in her formal office on Friday in Des Moines Reynolds reacts after signing a six-week abortion ban bill into law during a ceremony Friday The Iowa law provides for some exemptions that allow abortions during a later pregnancy stage to save a pregnant woman's life or in some cases of rape and incest. Maggie DeWitte, who leads the group Iowans for Life, called Reynolds' move 'historic.' 'We couldn't be more pleased,' DeWitte said Friday. 'She is following through on her pledge to the people of Iowa that she is 100 percent pro-life.' The bill signing came shortly after the Iowa affiliates of Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union warned that they would sue the governor if she signed the bill, which the Republican-controlled Legislature quickly approved in after-hours votes earlier in the week. 'We will challenge this law with absolutely everything we have on behalf of our patients because Iowa will not go back,' Suzanna de Baca, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, said in a statement. Protesters rally at the Statehouse in Des Moines on Friday decrying a strict new abortion law Backers of the so-called heartbeat bill - which didn't get a single Democratic vote in the Legislature during final passage - expressed hope it could challenge Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that established women have a right to terminate pregnancies until a fetus is viable. Conservatives say an influx of right-leaning judicial appointments under President Donald Trump could make it a possibility. Critics argued the bill would ban abortions before some women even know they're pregnant. That likely sets the state up for a legal challenge, including from the same federal appeals court that three years ago struck down similar legislation approved in Arkansas and North Dakota. Planned Parenthood supporters rally outside the Iowa Capitol Building, Friday, May 4, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa. The rally called for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to veto a six-week abortion ban bill that would give the state the strictest abortion restrictions in the nation. (AP Photo/Barbara Rodriguez) In Iowa, the same Republican-majority Legislature passed a 20-week abortion ban last year. It's now in effect, though a provision requiring a three-day waiting period to get an abortion is tied up in a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. Still, Republican lawmakers indicated they would push for more restrictions this session. Outside of Reynolds' office earlier Friday, critics of the bill began leaving coat hangers by her staff's desks. The protests followed the morning rally outside of the Capitol where more than 100 people showed up to oppose the legislation. One of them was Georgia Jecklin, a retired teacher who drove in from Davenport. 'As a 66-year-old woman, I feel very strongly that women have a right to their own body decisions,' she said. AMSTERDAM (AP) - Dutch police have detained a man who screamed during a national service commemorating the Netherlands' war dead. The man briefly screamed Friday evening shortly before thousands of people observed two minutes of silence at the national service on Amsterdam's Dam Square that was attended by King Willem-Alexander and other dignitaries. Police quickly surrounded him, cuffed his hands behind his back and led him away. The two minutes of silence went ahead undisturbed at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). Police detain a man near the royal palace, rear right, after he screamed at a national service commemorating the Netherlands' war dead in Amsterdam, Friday, May 4, 2018. The man screamed about five minutes before two minutes of silence at the national service on Amsterdam's Dam Square that was attended by King Willem-Alexander and other dignitaries. Earlier in the day, activists said they had cancelled a planned noisy demonstration during the service, saying it ignores the thousands of people who died during the Indonesian war for independence from Dutch colonial rule. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Earlier in the day, activists said they had called off a planned noisy demonstration during the service. The activists say the commemoration ignores the thousands of people who died during the Indonesian war for independence from Dutch colonial rule. A judge on Thursday banned the demonstration. Police detained a man after he screamed at a national service commemorating the Netherlands' war dead in Amsterdam, Friday, May 4, 2018. The man screamed about five minutes before two minutes of silence at the national service on Amsterdam's Dam Square that was attended by King Willem-Alexander and other dignitaries. Earlier in the day, activists said they had cancelled a planned noisy demonstration during the service, saying it ignores the thousands of people who died during the Indonesian war for independence from Dutch colonial rule. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) NEW YORK (AP) - The Trump administration said Friday that it is ending special immigration protections for about 57,000 Hondurans, adding them to hundreds of thousands of immigrants from other countries battered by violence and natural disasters who are losing permission to be in the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's widely anticipated decision not to renew temporary protected status for Hondurans means an estimated 428,000 people from several countries face rolling deadlines beginning late this year to leave or obtain legal residency in other ways. Hondurans will have until Jan. 5, 2020, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. The Vice-Chancellor of the of Honduras, Isaias Barahona speaks during a press conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Friday, May 4, 2018. The Honduran government is expressing regret over a U.S. move to end temporary protected status for tens of thousands of the Central American nation's citizens residing in the United States. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) President Donald Trump - who wants to curtail legal immigration and has been cracking down broadly on illegal immigration - and his supporters note that the protections were never meant to be permanent. Immigrant advocates decried the move and contend that ending the status will drive people underground who have been establishing roots in the U.S. for years or decades, including having American-born children. For Hondurans, the program known as TPS has been in place since 1999 after Hurricane Mitch devastated in the Central American nation the year before. The administration says conditions in Honduras have improved, while advocates argue that it still hasn't fully recovered from the hurricane and is now plagued by rampant violence. Trump, his opponents argue, is effectively adding tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people to the ranks of those in the U.S. without legal status. Marta Connor, a 50-year-old union organizer in Southern California who has lived in the U.S. for decades and has three American-born children, said before the announcement that she wasn't leaving, regardless of the administration's policies. "One thing I can tell you is I am not going to Honduras," she said, noting that many of the asylum-seeking migrants in a caravan that recently reached the U.S.-Mexico border are from Honduras. "If they are coming, why am I going over there?" "There is no way I will go back," Connor said. Around 437,000 immigrants hailing from 10 countries have had temporary protected status, a designation created in 1990 to allow people from countries affected by natural disasters like earthquakes or man-made disasters like war to have a short-term safe haven. Only a few thousand still have that status. Those with it have generally been able to work and with permission, travel outside the U.S. and return. Countries are added to the list as circumstances warrant, with renewals coming usually around every 18 months. While some countries have been taken off the list, others have stayed on it for extended periods, which critics say turns the program into default amnesty. Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has terminated the program for Sudan, Nicaragua, Nepal, Haiti, and notably El Salvador, which accounted for more holders of the special status than any other nation. They have been given deadlines to leave or gain legal status if possible, starting in November for Sudan and throughout 2019 for the other countries. Several groups are suing to stay in the U.S. The protections have been extended for 6,900 Syrians who already have them, but the administration has said it won't take on new applicants. Decisions are upcoming for South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, which cover fewer than 1,700 people. Daniel Sharp, legal director at the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles, said he doesn't believe most immigrants with the status will leave after setting down roots with U.S.-born children, jobs and homes. "People don't want to go back to being undocumented, but I don't think you are going to see a ton of people returning to their countries of origin," he said. El Salvador actually had the protections twice, the first time in the early 1990s until December 1994. It's estimated that about 150,000 people were covered then. Cecilia Menjivar, a University of Kansas sociology professor, said that while exact numbers are unknown, it's clear many stayed in the U.S. when the program ended. Some got permanent residency through family sponsorship, but immigration law has changed since then that "there are fewer avenues for legalization," she said. Ramba Regmi, 53, a native of Nepal who's been in New York City for close to two decades, doesn't know what she's going to do. She spent many of those years without legal status after overstaying a visa but got protections after an April 2015 earthquake in Nepal killed more than 8,000 people. With the legal authorization the program provides, she was able to go from working in a nail salon to owning one, where she employs three people. She financially supports her husband and adult children in Nepal, which she says still hasn't recovered from the earthquake. "I never thought this was going to end, so what can I say?" Regmi said after the government declined last week to renew protections for about 9,000 Nepalis. "This is very difficult." ___ Taxin reported from Santa Ana, California. Hajela and Taxin cover immigration issues for The Associated Press. Follow them on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dhajela and https://twitter.com/ataxin . For more of their work, search for their names at https://apnews.com . Ramba Regmi, an immigrant from Nepal and a business woman, stands inside her salon as she waits for customers to arrive in New York on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Regmi and immigrants from ten countries granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) face uncertain futures in the U.S., after being told they have to leave the country at various points next year as their TPS terminates. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) The Vice-Chancellor of the of Honduras, Isaias Barahona speaks during a press conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Friday, May 4, 2018. The Honduran government is expressing regret over a U.S. move to end temporary protected status for tens of thousands of the Central American nation's citizens residing in the United States. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) Ramba Regmi, an immigrant from Nepal and a business woman speaks during an interview in New York on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Regmi and immigrants from ten countries granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) face uncertain futures in the U.S., after being told they have to leave the country at various points next year as their TPS terminates. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Ramba Regmi, an immigrant from Nepal and a business woman, wipes away tears as she talks about her uncertain future in the U.S., during an interview in New York on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Regmi and immigrants from ten countries granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) face uncertain futures in the U.S., after being told they have to leave the country at various points next year as their TPS terminates. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) Don Prudhomme feels like he has driven more miles in the desert than he ever did on the drag strip. It wouldn't be a shock since the drag-racing legend recently completed the Mexican 1000, a grueling, five-day off-road rally covering 1,300 miles in Baja California. The 77-year-old Prudhomme, a four-time NHRA Funny Car champion nicknamed "The Snake," finished 10th in the Stock Turbo UTV class at the annual National Off Road Racing Association event last weekend. "It was the wildest, craziest thing I've ever done," Prudhomme told The Associated Press from his home in San Diego. "I said halfway through it I would never do this again. But you keep going and going and it just gets better and better. Pulling in for the end of the race was the most unbelievable experience." In this April 22, 2018 image provided by Elana Scherr, four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Don Prudhomme, 77, drives his vehicle at the start in Enseneda, Mexico, during the Mexican 1000, a grueling, five-day off-road rally covering 1,300 miles along the Baja peninsula. (Elana Scherr via AP) He drove away with more racing stories to add to his vast collection that spans nearly half a century just at the professional level. Among them: He was forced to replace his co-driver and wrecked twice, including once when he drove into a cactus that was "bigger than the Empire State Building." Still, it was a much more enjoyable venture than his first Baja experience in 1968. Prudhomme was a last-minute fill-in for actor Steve McQueen, who had to bail out because of filming obligations. Prudhomme teamed with friend and fellow racer Tony Nancy for the 1,000-mile trek across the desert and through tiny towns in Mexico. They drove McQueen's car - a dune buggy Nancy built that had a Porsche engine - and made it about 100 miles before flames started spewing from the tailpipes. Prudhomme walked away with more regrets than recollections. He waited 50 years to try again. "I got a little extra attention," he said of his return. "People wanted their cars signed or sign this and that, but that was cool. I think maybe they thought I was a joke going in. But when I finished the thousand miles, they treated me way different." He plans to do it again, believing his experience from the first go-around in his Polaris RZR will give him a chance to vie for a class win in 2019. "It's going to be hard to top this one," he said. "But it's a huge challenge to go back and really get it on." He'd also like to avoid some of the pitfalls he faced in his first competitive race since retiring from NHRA in 1994.His first co-driver and main navigator decided to try some tacos at one of the early stops and had to withdraw. "He goes and eats a couple of tacos like he's He-Man and guess what? He got sick and couldn't continue," Prudhomme said. He pulled crewmember Shane Chatwell into the cockpit for the rest of the trip. They bonded through adverse conditions that included terrible dust, rock quarries and exhaustion. And two accidents. Prudhomme got rear-ended once and drove head-first into a cactus another time. "The driver's a big deal, but the guy sitting next to you is everything because part of the time you can't see," Prudhomme said. "He says, 'Right, right, right in 200 feet.' You've got to judge the distance and there's dust everywhere. Well, I didn't make the right turn and I hit a cactus that was bigger than the Empire State Building. It didn't move. It was like running into King Kong's foot." The wreck shredded the front-end suspension. The crew fixed it, and Prudhomme finished the leg - and eventually the entire course. "The thing is dangerous, but I think that's what makes it so damn thrilling to people," he said, adding that maintaining concentration was like nothing he ever dealt with while covering quarter-mile drags strips in seconds. "I hate to get dramatic about this (stuff), but this was a mind-boggling deal," he said. "The sense of accomplishment was like nothing I ever felt before. The race is all about is finishing. They don't give a (care) if you finish first or 150th. You couldn't tell any difference between the winner and the rest of the 100 or so on people that finished the thing. It was really cool." ___ More AP auto racing: www.racing.ap.org In this April 22, 2018 image provided by Elana Scherr, four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Don Prudhomme, 77, drives his vehicle at the start in Enseneda, Mexico, during the Mexican 1000, a grueling, five-day off-road rally covering 1,300 miles along the Baja peninsula. (Elana Scherr via AP) In this April 22, 2018 image provided by Elana Scherr, four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Don Prudhomme, 77, poses by his vehicle in Enseneda, Mexico, during the Mexican 1000, a grueling, five-day off-road rally covering 1,300 miles along the Baja peninsula. (Elana Scherr via AP) UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Facing an uphill struggle in an election next month, Israel announced Friday it was pulling out of a race for a seat on the U.N. Security Council. Israel was in a three-way contest with Germany and Belgium for two seats representing the Western-democratic group of nations on the U.N.'s most powerful body starting in January. The Security Council has five permanent members - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - and 10 members elected by the 193-member General Assembly for two-year terms. Israel's U.N. Mission said in a statement Friday that "after consulting with our partners, including our good friends, the State of Israel has decided to postpone its candidacy for a seat on the Security Council." "It was decided that we will continue to act with our allies to allow for Israel to realize its right for full participation and inclusion in decision-making processes at the U.N.," the statement said. "This includes the Security Council as well as an emphasis on areas related to development and innovation." Israel's withdrawal virtually guarantees Germany and Belgium victory in the June 8 election and seats on the council. Candidates for non-permanent seats on the Security Council are chosen by regional groups and for 55 years Israel was not part of a regional group, which barred it from many U.N. positions. The late U.S. ambassador Richard Holbrooke succeeded in 2000 in getting the Western European and Others regional group known as WEOG to invite Israel to be a temporary member, which later was extended indefinitely. Israel announced its withdrawal minutes before WEOG candidates were scheduled to appear and answer questions Friday afternoon from U.N. member states. Germany's U.N. Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said in response to a question about Israel's withdrawal: "We have never run against a country. There is nothing where we really oppose each other. We went for our own program. We asked support, and we want also to seek high support from you." He noted that there's been a lot of discussion at the U.N. on whether regional groups should put forward contested slates or uncontested slates. "I'm in favor of having more candidates," Heusgen said, even though "this is tougher" because candidates then have to say what they stand for and respond to sometimes tough questions about their country. "So therefore to a certain degree - this will surprise you - I regret that Israel withdrew from the race," he said. A survey has found Mormon support for gay marriage is growing with 40 per cent of the parishioners in the United States supporting gay marriage in 2017, up from 27 per cent in 2014. Mormon Alex Landers supports the legalization of gay marriage despite her religion's opposition for a simple reason: She has LGBTQ friends who she loves and respects, including her best friend who is a bisexual man. 'I can't look at him and his boyfriend and tell them that they can't be happy and they can't love each other,' said Landers, 20, of Draper, Utah. 'Heavenly Father loves us for who we are. He wants us to be happy, as long as we're treating people well and we're being who we truly are and we're not hurting anyone.' She is among a growing number of young Mormons driving the faith's gradual acceptance of same-sex marriages, even though the religion's support still lags well behind national approval and those of Catholics, Muslims and Jews, according to the survey released this week by the Public Religion Research Institute. Mark Lindsay, left, and Tom Kerns kiss after mailing a resignation letter as Mormons gather for a mass resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nov 14, 2015 Among Mormons between the ages of 18-29, the acceptance is 52 per cent. That's up from 43 per cent in 2014. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are 65 and older have the lowest rate of support at 32 per cent, according a survey based on about 40,000 phone interviews done last year. That's up from 18 percent in 2014. Nationally, 61 per cent of Americans support gay marriage, up from 52 per cent in 2013. The Utah-based religion of 16 million worldwide members has held firm to its opposition of gay marriage and homosexual activity while trying to foster an empathetic stance toward LGBTQ people. Last year, church leaders updated a website to advise that attraction to people of the same sex is not a sin or a measure of their faithfulness and may never go away. But the church reminded members that being in an intimate same-sex relationship is a sin. Among religious groups included in the survey, only white evangelical Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses had lower levels of support for gay marriage. Support was higher among Catholics (about 65 per cent), Muslims (51 per cent) and Jews (77 per cent). The survey found that Mormons had the largest gap between support for gay marriage and support for anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people. While only 40 per cent of Mormons favor gay marriage, 69 per cent support anti-discrimination laws. Luis Miranda, a 30-year-old heterosexual Mormon, said he wasn't surprised by the survey results because he senses a shifting tone among other young Mormons in the singles congregation he attends. He said he grew up as a Catholic in Guatemala believing that traditional marriage between a man and a woman was sacred and important. He continued to hold that belief after he moved to Utah as a teenager and converted to Mormonism. But as he grew older, he realized he needed to meet and spend more time with gays and lesbians. 'I realized they were just as beautiful and loving with each other, and as pure as anyone else,' said Miranda, of Salt Lake City. Miranda said he sometimes struggles to reconcile his opinion with what church leaders are teaching. He believes Mormon leaders have good intentions. He is committed to remain in the religion to be a voice of support for gay marriage. He finds hope in the fact that the religion believes church doctrine can be altered through revelations from God. That's how the church explained why it lifted the ban on blacks in the religion's lay priesthood in 1978. 'If it's happened before, it could happen again,' Miranda said. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Five animal rights activists are facing felony charges and up to 10 years in prison for taking turkeys from a central Utah farm in what they call a rescue of suffering animals. Prosecutors call it criminal theft. Sanpete County prosecutors filed charges Wednesday against members of the California-based Direct Action Everywhere for actions that occurred while capturing undercover video at farms that supply the Norbest turkey plant in Moroni about 105 miles (168 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City last January. "What we saw was suffering on a horrendous scale," Jon Frohnmayer, one of the activists, said Friday. He and another man last year interrupted Gov. Gary Herbert's pardoning of a Thanksgiving turkey, shouting "Show us all the barns!" The five members were each charged with one count of felony burglary and felony poultry theft. A sixth man was charged with felony burglary. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Frohnmayer said the activists took at least three suffering birds as a so-called "open rescue," including a chick they named Abby. "We rescued Abby because that was simply the compassionate thing to do," he said. "She was on the verge of death. She couldn't hold her head up." One of the group's strategies is to identify apparently needy animals and take them from commercial facilities to a veterinary clinic and then to a sanctuary. Undercover images from Utah farms released by Direct Action Everywhere last November show allegedly haggard and sick birds crowded into tight spaces. Norbest, which claims its turkeys come "from pristine high mountain valleys," has said that the images were "deeply disturbing." The company said it had already documented violations at the farms and taken action to address them before the photos and video were released. It did not respond to a request for comment about the charges on Friday. Norbest is Utah's largest producer of turkey products, including ground and sliced meat. County prosecutor Kevin Daniels said that the activists' motivations are irrelevant. "They went into the property belonging to another without permission, they entered into that building and they stole something that did not belong to them," he said. "Regardless of their motives or their desires, they broke the law." "If they believed there was a crime being committed - in this case cruelty to animals, as they allege - there are proper ways that the rule of law dictates how you should handle that." Last July, a federal court struck down a Utah law banning secret filming at farm and livestock sites as an unconstitutional violation of free speech. Activists say that those so-called "ag-gag" laws are designed to hide shocking treatment of animals from the public. Similar laws are under scrutiny elsewhere in the country. Activists claim that the charges filed this week amount to an end-run around that decision. "The industry is very, very afraid of people doing what we are doing," Frohnmayer said. "They're afraid of transparency." Daniels said he has never spoken with anyone in the agricultural industry about the case. A court hearing is scheduled for June 13. Frohnmayer, who lives in Berkeley, California, said he and the other defendants plan to attend. MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - President Daniel Ortega looked out over a sea of waving flags and clapped to the same songs that first accompanied him to power nearly 40 years ago. To his left stood his first lady and vice president, Rosario Murillo, and to the right, Victor Tirado, another aging former guerrilla commander. The pageantry seemed designed to recall the heyday of Ortega's Cuban-backed Sandinista revolution, even as these days many Nicaraguans - including onetime allies - are comparing him to the dictatorial Somoza dynasty he helped overthrow in 1979 This Monday, April 30, 2018 photo shows a flag emblazoned with an image of Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega during a government event at Las Victorias Square in Managua, Nicaragua. The April 2018 protests in which dozens of people were killed amid a harsh crackdown by police and government-allied civilians have weakened Ortega. Many Nicaraguans, including onetime allies, are comparing Ortega to the dictatorial Somoza dynasty he helped overthrow in 1979. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga) Protests in which dozens of people were killed amid a harsh crackdown by police and government-allied civilians have weakened Ortega, one of the few leftist leaders remaining in power in Latin America, forcing him to pull back on social security reforms that sparked the unrest and facing a newly emboldened opposition determined to see him leave office. "In repressive, criminal brutality, (Ortega) has been equal to the Somozas and is showing signs of surpassing them," said retired Gen. Hugo Torres, who broke with the Sandinista Front more than 20 years ago. Ortega has consolidated nearly all levers of power in his hands or those of allies. The Supreme Court pushed aside a ban on presidential re-election in 2011 to let him continue in office. Opponents complain a friendly electoral council tilts the scales in his favor. For many, Ortega's choice of Murillo as his vice president in last year's election suggests dynastic ambitions. Many would dispute, however, that the Ortega era matches the thuggish corruption under Anastasio Somoza, who dissolved congress, imprisoned and tortured opponents - Ortega included - and came to own vast tracts of the country. While tensions have calmed somewhat in recent days, large anti-government demonstrations have continued. Many expect Ortega, 72, to draw on years of crafty political experience to buy time through an upcoming dialogue mediated by the Catholic Church. Some opponents have already said they will not participate but instead call for a referendum on removing him from power. This week's rally presided over by Ortega gathered thousands of government loyalists and state workers at Managua's Plaza of Victories and was billed as a call for peace and dialogue. But even as the crowd observed a moment of silence for those who died in the protests, a little over a mile away Sandinista Youth dismantled a memorial to the victims that had sprung up in a traffic circle. And the president struck a combative tone, peppering his words with battle references and vowing not to take a single step backward. "Unfortunately the same people who incited the war before are inciting violence once again," Ortega said. "Once again the sowers of hate have made a deep wound in the heart of the country." Torres said that was a reference to the dissident Sandinista Renovation Movement, which was founded by breakaway Sandinistas over 20 years ago and of which he is a member. Some of the dead were children of Sandinistas raised on principles they now accuse Ortega of abandoning. Victor Cuadras, a 25-year-old chemical engineering student and spokesman for the April 19 University Movement, said he used to belong to Ortega's Sandinista Front and his grandfather died fighting for the Sandinistas in 1978. Standing in front of his shuttered university, he said the only way out of the current crisis is for Ortega to leave power. "We don't want this dictator anymore, who keeps oppressing us, who keeps persecuting us and with whom we will never have a free Nicaragua," Cuadras said. Ortega led Nicaragua from 1979 until 1990, fending off a U.S.-sponsored armed rebellion until he was voted out of office. He regained the presidency 11 years ago and has built bridges to former foes in the business community and Catholic Church. At least until recently, he has been generally popular, presiding over a country with above-average rates of economic growth and anti-poverty programs praised by the World Bank. "It's the only government that has worried about the poor," said Ada Lopez, a 48-year-old lawyer who attended Monday's pro-government rally. But lately there have been signs of discontent amid growing reports of government corruption and favored treatment of Ortega's family members. The government was criticized for its response to wildfires that burned 13,500 acres in a tropical nature reserve last month, sparking some protests that in hindsight seem a precursor to the more recent demonstrations. The smoldering resentment became a conflagration in mid-April when Ortega decreed changes to prop up the country's troubled social security system that would have raised citizen contributions while reducing benefits. "What he (Ortega) didn't count on was that the public was actually more open to voice opposition to him and his wife," said Manuel Orozco, a senior associate at The Inter-American Dialogue in Washington. "That was a big, unpleasant surprise for him. He thought that he could contain any type of dissidence with the mobs, but it turned out that wasn't the case." Relatively small protests by elderly pensioners began April 18 in Managua, the capital, and in Leon. After the protesters were attacked by Sandinista youth groups, university students - historically, a bastion of Sandinista support - reacted in great numbers. Suddenly marchers carried signs with slogans such as "Daniel and Somoza are the same thing." Protests spread to other cities, authorities yanked independent news channels covering the unrest off the air, and Murillo accused unspecified political interests of manipulating the demonstrators for shadowy purposes. In some cases polices fired live rounds on protesters, and the non-governmental Permanent Commission on Human Rights says the death toll ultimately reached 63. Dr. Carlos Jarquin, a medical school professor who was a high-ranking health official in Ortega's first government during the 1980s, found himself volunteering to treat the wounded at a clinic. "I couldn't sit at home seeing that they were shooting them, that they were torturing them, that they were killing them, and not do anything for them," said Jarquin, who still considers himself a Sandinista. "The current government has abandoned the Sandinista principles of work, of giving to the poor and the repressed." As the violent clashes continued and international pressure mounted, Ortega announced he would repeal the social security decree and released jailed protesters. The Catholic Church agreed to mediate talks. Even many allies believed the crackdown had gone too far. "My reaction was to be extremely worried about the trend of violence that again bloodied the Nicaraguan people's youth - exactly what we had fought against," said Jaime Wheelock, who along with Ortega and Tirado was among the nine commanders of the Nicaraguan revolution. Wheelock said anguished Sandinista friends had called and pleaded with him to talk to Ortega, and in late April he sent a letter saying protesters had been unjustly attacked and disputing claims that they were part of an "opposition faction. The crisis indicates that alliances with the private sector and the Catholic Church that Ortega has relied on since returning to power are fraying. "For the first time, it's the government that is calling for dialogue in a moment in which it finds itself very weakened and in a situation with a very large lack of credibility," said Silvio Baez, Managua's auxiliary bishop, who will participate in the dialogue. "We hope it is a dialogue to change things, not to buy time." ___ This story makes a correction in paragraph 17 to say that Cuadras' grandfather fought with the Sandinistas. In this Monday, April 30, 2018 photo, Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega speaks to supporters accompanied by Vice President and first lady Rosario Murillo, and former guerrilla commanders of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, Eden Pastora, left, and Victor Tirado Lopez, in Las Victorias square in Managua, Nicaragua. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga) In this Tuesday, May 1, 2018 photo, Victor Cuadras, a 25-year-old chemical engineering student and spokesman for the April 19 University Movement, poses for a photo in Managua, Nicaragua. Cuadras used to belong to Daniel Ortega's Sandinista Front and his father is a Sandinista war veteran. Standing in front of his shuttered university, he said the only way out of the current crisis is for Ortega to leave power. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) FILE - In this April 21, 2018 file photo, masked protesters stand behind a barricade they erected as they face off with security forces near the University Politecnica de Nicaragua, in Managua, Nicaragua. Tensions have calmed somewhat in recent days, but large anti-government demonstrations have continued. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga, File) FILE - In this April 24, 2018 photo, demonstrators protest in honor of those who have died during anti-government protests in Managua, Nicaragua. Authorities released some student protesters arrested during anti-government demonstrations over the past week and the Roman Catholic Church agreed to act as a mediator as President Daniel Ortega sought to lower tensions in Nicaragua. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga, File) In this Wednesday, May 2, 2018 photo, retired Sandinista Gen. Hugo Torres poses for photo at his home, in Managua, Nicaragua. "In repressive, criminal brutality, (Daniel Ortega) has been equal to the Somozas and is showing signs of surpassing them," said Torres, who broke with the Sandinista Front more than 20 years ago. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) This Wednesday, May 2, 2018 photo, shows a poster with an image depicting President Daniel Ortega and a message that reads in Spanish: "Killer Wanted" displayed on an utility pole, in Managua, Nicaragua. Some say the Ortega era matches the thuggish corruption under dictator Anastasio Somoza, who dissolved congress, imprisoned and tortured opponents, Ortega included, and came to own vast tracts of the country. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A federal indictment unsealed Friday accuses Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O'Donnell of stealing $10,500 from his campaign accounts to put into his personal bank account and to give to friends, and then covering it up by making false reports. O'Donnell, 33, is charged with five counts of wire fraud, five counts of bank fraud and two counts of money laundering. He was issued a summons to appear May 9 in U.S. District Court in Wichita for his first appearance. O'Donnell did not respond to phone and email messages. His defense attorney, Mark Shoenhofer, said in a phone interview that his client plans to "continue to serve the people of Sedgwick County and that won't change unless something happens in this case, and we don't anticipate anything happening at this point." Other commissioners were generally supportive of letting the legal process play out with the exception of Commissioner Richard Ranzau, who urged O'Donnell to resign immediately so the commission can begin to build trust with the community. "Mr. O'Donnell's time in elective office has been overshadowed by investigations and questionable judgment," Ranzau said. "I have been deeply troubled by O'Donnell's repeated efforts to use his position to help his friends and campaign contributors. This is why I have opposed and spoken out against his actions on numerous occasions." O'Donnell, a Wichita Republican, was elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2012 for a term that ended in January 2017. He did not run for re-election and instead was elected to the Sedgwick County Commission for a term that began in 2017 and is set to expire in 2020. The 12-count indictment, which had been initially filed under seal on April 25, outlines a scheme whereby O'Donnell allegedly wrote a series of checks from his campaign accounts to various people who would cash the checks. Some of the money went into his personal checking account and some to friends. The indictment identifies the people who cashed the checks only by their initials. "My client asserts his innocence and we are just at the stage of waiting for the government to provide something in support of their accusations," Shoenhofer said. Commission Chairman David Dennis said in an emailed statement that commissioners learned about the indictment Friday and they only know what is in the public court record. "As elected officials, we will continue to monitor and consult with the proper authorities about any implications to Sedgwick County while also recognizing due process is important for any citizen," Dennis said. That sentiment was echoed by Commissioner Dave Unruh who issued a separate statement saying it's important to follow the legal process. Commissioner Jim Howell said the allegations have nothing to do with O'Donnell serving alongside them, and urged "mutual respect" for all commission members. Prosecutors outlined in the indictment a series of transactions, including a couple of $1,000 checks written in January 2016 from his "Michael for Kansas" campaign account that were cashed by someone else and the money deposited into O'Donnell's personal account. Other transactions include 12 checks drawn between January 2015 and August 2016 from that same campaign account totaling $5,750 to a friend, six checks totaling $2,100 to another friend written between December 2015 and May 2016. He also allegedly wrote three checks totaling $750 from his "Michael for Sedgwick County" campaign account to a friend. The indictment alleges O'Donnell falsely represented the transactions to be campaign-related expenses in five reports filed with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. Several people, including then Gov. Sam Brownback and other state officials, received notification letters last year from the U.S. Justice Department telling them that the federal government intercepted phone calls between them and O'Donnell's phone number. O'Donnell told reporters last year that he was shocked to learn that his phone was tapped in 2015. ___ This version of the story corrects the date of some checks to 2016 from 2017. SAN DIEGO (AP) - A federal judge asked pointed questions of the Trump administration and the American Civil Liberties Union on Friday over a proposed ban on U.S. immigration authorities separating parents from their children at the border. The ACLU sued on behalf of a Congolese woman who was separated from her 7-year-old daughter for five months after seeking asylum at a San Diego border crossing and a Brazilian asylum-seeker who has been separated from her 14-year-old son since an arrest for illegal entry in August near the Texas-New Mexico border. The ACLU has asked for a preliminary injunction to prohibit family separation unless the parent is determined to be unfit or poses a danger to the child. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw ended a nearly two-hour hearing by saying he would rule at a later date. Noting the administration's broad discretion to enforce immigration laws, Sabraw questioned why he should issue an order that would require families be detained together or freed on parole. "How can the court issue such a blanket and overarching order?" he asked Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the ACLU. The judge, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003, also pressed a government attorney to explain how the practice respects constitutional rights to due process and a 2008 law that says the government should act in the best interest of unaccompanied children. Increasingly, people taken into custody at the border are asylum-seekers arriving as families or as children traveling alone. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen testified in Congress last week that the administration had no policy to separate parents from their children as a punitive or deterrent measure but that it happens when there is doubt about whether an adult may be a parent or when the child might be in danger. When the judge asked the government attorney how many children have been separated, Sarah Fabian didn't dispute a report in The New York Times last month that there were about 700, including more than 100 younger than 4. Fabian said she couldn't answer whether the numbers represent a shift under Trump because they have not been historically tracked. She said there were fewer than 2,700 beds at family detention centers nationwide. The Border Patrol arrested nearly 9,700 people who came as families from Mexico and another 5,500 were taken into custody at border crossings with Mexico. In the lawsuit, a mother identified in court documents as Mrs. L claimed asylum at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing on Nov. 1, 2017, and four days later she was separated from her daughter. The girl, then 6, was sent to a Chicago shelter overseen by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's Office of Refugee Resettlement, while the mother was held at a San Diego immigration detention facility until March 6. The administration says the Congolese woman had no documents and was unable to prove she was the girl's mother when she claimed asylum. U.S. authorities confirmed through DNA testing on March 12 that the woman was the girl's mother and the two were reunited. The Brazilian woman, identified as Mrs. C, served nearly a month in jail after her Aug. 26, 2017 arrest for illegal entry near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and then spent about six months in immigration detention. The government said in a court filing April 20 that it was seeking to reunify her with her son. JACKSON, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia inmate executed Friday for a 1996 shotgun slaying twitched briefly as the lethal injection flowed into his body and groaned, "It burns, man." Robert Earl Butts Jr., 40, was declared dead by a prison warden at 9:58 p.m. after the compounded barbiturate pentobarbital was injected into his body. Prison officials said he had declined to take a sedative. Strapped to a gurney with his arms out to his sides, Butts kept his eyes closed throughout the procedure. A tube that delivers the killing drugs through a wall appeared to pulse soon after the warden left the death chamber at 9:42. This undated, file image provided by the Georgia Department of Corrections shows death-row inmate Robert Butts Jr., who is convicted of robbing and killing an off-duty prison guard. A trial witness has acknowledged giving false testimony that Butts confessed to being the triggerman in a 1996 shotgun slaying for which he is to be executed this week, the inmate's attorneys said in court documents Tuesday, May 1. (Georgia Department of Corrections via AP, File) "It burns, man," Butts said in a low voice. Those were his final words. His feet, in white socks visible under a blanket, briefly twitched. He yawned, then a short time later, opened his mouth again, noiselessly. His chest rose high as his back arched. Then he took about nine deep breaths, and after that, he lay still. Butts was convicted along with 41-year-old Marion Wilson Jr. in the March 1996 slaying of Donovan Corey Parks, an off-duty prison guard. Parks, 24, gave the men a ride outside a Walmart store in Milledgeville. The men then ordered him out of the car and fatally shot him, prosecutors said. 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. Prison officials said Butts declined to make a recorded statement before his execution. Asked if he had any last words in the death chamber, he said simply, "Yeah, I've been drinking caffeine all day." Butts was put to death after the U.S. Supreme Court, without explanation, denied his final appeal. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles, the only authority in Georgia with the power to commute a death sentence, voted earlier not to spare his life. He was the second Georgia inmate executed this year; Carlton Gary, known as the "stocking strangler" for raping and killing three older women, was put to death in March. Butts' attorneys insisted in a clemency application to the parole board that he wasn't the shooter, and didn't expect Parks to be killed. They also said he shouldn't be executed because given the nature of the crime, they argued that he likely wouldn't be sentenced to death if he were prosecuted today. They said a death sentence was "grossly disproportionate," and unconstitutional because although he was 18 at the time of the killing, his mental age and maturity lagged behind his actual age, it would be like sentencing a juvenile to death. His attorneys also said his trial lawyers failed to thoroughly investigate his case or to present mitigating evidence such as childhood abuse and neglect that could have spared him the death penalty. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CIA has told senators privately that she would stand firm against any effort to restart the brutal detention and interrogation program the spy agency ran after 9/11, administration officials said Friday. In comments meant to soften the public profile of Gina Haspel before her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, two administration officials said she was not the "architect" of the program, but a "line officer" who never interrogated any terrorism suspects. The officials, who are familiar with her meetings on Capitol Hill, were not authorized to discuss her private conversations with the senators and spoke only on condition of anonymity. It's unclear if Haspel's pledge will be enough to sway Democrats who say the acting CIA director should be disqualified because she was the chief of base at a covert detention site in Thailand where two terrorism suspects were subjected to waterboarding - a technique that simulates drowning. In this May 2, 2018, photo, CIA Director-nominee Gina Haspel attends the ceremonial swearing in for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department in Washington. Haspel is telling senators that she would stand firm against restarting the spy agency's brutal interrogation program of terrorist suspects. Two administration officials said May 4 that Haspel is saying that if confirmed, she would be against resurrecting the program even though Trump has supported waterboarding and worse.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Haspel's vow to fight any attempt to resurrect the program puts her in the same camp as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has advised Trump that he doesn't think torture is an effective interrogation tactic. But it's at odds with Trump, who spoke in the campaign about toughening the U.S. approach to fighting extremists and vowed to authorize waterboarding and a "hell of a lot worse." Democrats, including Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, continue to ask the administration to declassify more detail about Haspel's involvement in the program, which stained America's reputation abroad. "Nominees make all kinds of promises when they're trying to get confirmed," Wyden said. "The Senate and the public need to know what kind of person is making those assurances, or else they're just words. That's why Ms. Haspel's background needs to be declassified right now." Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, senior Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, where Haspel will appear, also is urging the CIA to declassify as much information as possible about her background before the full Senate votes on her confirmation. "Senator Warner recognizes that there have been many legitimate questions raised regarding Ms. Haspel's record," said his spokeswoman Rachel Cohen. Lawmakers on the Senate committee have not disclosed details of their conversations with Haspel in the run-up to her confirmation hearing and subsequent vote in the full Senate. The two administration officials said Haspel told them that she - and the agency as a whole - learned lessons from the 9/11-era program, one of the darkest chapters in the CIA's history. Now that she is in a leadership position, she wants to make sure she never puts her CIA colleagues in a position again of taking on something so controversial and fraught with danger, they said. The officials said that Haspel didn't learn sensitive details about the CIA's counterterrorism activities until October 2002, which would have been after the agency's first high-value detainee, Abu Zubaydah, was waterboarded 83 times in August 2002. Haspel also has told the senators that she believes the government should continue to adhere to current law prohibiting harsh interrogation, the officials said. Haspel has received robust backing from former intelligence, diplomatic, military and national security officials, who praise her extensive intelligence career, which she served almost entirely undercover. Among those who back her are six former CIA directors - Porter Goss, John Brennan, Leon Panetta, George Tenet, William Webster and Mike Hayden - and three former national intelligence directors - James Clapper, Mike McConnell and John Negroponte. On the opposing side are groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which says she should have stood up against the interrogation practices then. "Who in their right mind would think that it is legal to slam a man face first into a wall or waterboard someone to the brink of death?" asked Chris Anders, deputy director of the ACLU's legislative office in Washington. "If she did not stand up for the law and basic morality when it mattered, why should any senator believe that she will say no to any illegal order from this president?" Haspel, who has been with the CIA for more than 30 years, also is expected to be grilled by the Senate intelligence committee about how she drafted a memo that called for the destruction of 92 videotapes of interrogation sessions. Their destruction, ordered by her boss in 2005, prompted a lengthy Justice Department investigation that ended without charges. Last month, the CIA released a memo showing Haspel was cleared of wrongdoing in the destruction of the videotapes. The eight-page memo written in 2011 summarizes a disciplinary review conducted by then-CIA deputy director Mike Morell. He said that while Haspel was one of the two officers "directly involved in the decision to destroy the tapes," he "found no fault" with what she did. BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Supreme Court has overturned a man's conviction for distributing Ku Klux Klan recruitment fliers to two minority women in Burlington. William Schenk had pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge that he gave the fliers to a black woman and a Hispanic woman in Burlington in October of 2015. He was sentenced to 120 days in prison. But Schenk later appealed to the state Supreme Court, arguing his speech was protected by the Constitution because he was trying to recruit new members. The Burlington Free Press reports the Supreme Court issued a split decision Friday, ruling that the disorderly conduct statute applies to behavior, not speech, and that leaving the fliers amounted to speech. The court disagreed that the distributing the fliers were "threatening behavior." DALLAS (AP) - Months after the horror of the Parkland school shootings in Florida, President Donald Trump stood before cheering members of the National Rifle Association on Friday and implored them to elect more Republicans to Congress to defend gun rights. Trump claimed that Democrats want to "outlaw guns" and said if the nation takes that drastic step, it might as well ban all vans and trucks because they are the new weapons for "maniac terrorists." "We will never give up our freedom. We will live free and we will die free," Trump said, as he sought to rally pro-gun voters for the 2018 congressional elections. "We've got to do great in '18." President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association annual convention in Dallas, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Activists energized by shootings at schools, churches and elsewhere are also focused on those elections. In the aftermath of the February school shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 dead and many more wounded, Trump had temporarily strayed from gun rights dogma. During a televised gun meeting with lawmakers in late February, he wagged his finger at a Republican senator and scolded him for being "afraid of the NRA," declaring that he would stand up to the group and finally get results in quelling gun violence. But he later backpedaled on that tough talk. He was clearly back in the fold at the NRA's annual convention, pledging that Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms will "never ever be under siege as long as I am your president." Trump briefly referenced the Parkland shootings in his speech, saying that he "mourned for the victims and their families" and noting that he signed a spending bill that included provisions to strengthen the federal background check system for gun purchases as well as add money to improve school safety. He also repeated his strong support for "letting highly trained teachers carry concealed weapons." Trump's speech in Dallas was his fourth consecutive appearance at the NRA's annual convention. His gun comments were woven into a campaign-style speech that touched on the Russia probe, the 2016 campaign, his efforts in North Korea and Iran and his fight against illegal immigration. In strikingly personal criticism of members of Congress, he decried what he said were terribly weak immigration laws, declaring, "We have laws that were written by people that truly could not love our country." While the president veered wildly off topic at times - speaking about entertainer Kanye West's recent support and former Secretary of State John Kerry's bicycle accident three years ago - he repeatedly returned to the message of the day: his support for the Second Amendment. Trump said some political advisers had told him attending the NRA convention might be controversial, but, "You know what I said? 'Bye, bye, gotta get on the plane.'" Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent about $30 million in support of his presidential campaign. He was introduced by Vice President Mike Pence, who pointed to his own support for gun rights and accused the news media of failing to tell "the whole story" that "firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens" make communities safer. One of the Parkland student survivors, David Hogg, criticized Trump's appearance in advance. "It's kind of hypocritical of him to go there after saying so many politicians bow to the NRA and are owned by them," Hogg said. "It proves that his heart and his wallet are in the same place." Back in February, Trump had praised members of the gun lobby as "great patriots" but declared "that doesn't mean we have to agree on everything. It doesn't make sense that I have to wait until I'm 21 to get a handgun, but I can get this weapon at 18." He was referring to the AR-15 the Parkland shooting suspect is accused of using. Those words rattled some Republicans in Congress and sparked hope among gun-control advocates that, unlike after previous mass shootings, tougher regulations might be enacted. But after expressing interest in increasing the minimum age to purchase an assault weapon to 21, Trump later declared there was "not much political support" for that. He then pushed off the issue of age restrictions by assigning it to a commission. Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman who was shot outside a grocery store during a constituent gathering in 2011, said Trump had "allowed his presidency to be hijacked by gun lobbyists and campaign dollars." She said Trump had "ignored the pleas of young people demanding safer gun laws." ___ Associated Press writer Ken Thomas in Washington contributed. President Donald Trump speaks at the NRA convention in Dallas, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Donald Trump waves to the audience as Chris Cox, right, executive director of the National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum after Trump spoke at the annual meeting in Dallas, Friday, May 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - Prosecutors have filed eight new charges against a California father accused of shackling and starving some of his 13 children, alleging that he lied on government forms about their schooling. The Riverside County district attorney's office said Friday that David Turpin was charged with eight felony counts of perjury related to paperwork he filed yearly with the California Department of Education certifying his children were receiving a fulltime education in a private day school. John Hall, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said one charge was filed for each year the paperwork was completed from 2010 to 2017. Turpin and his wife Louise previously pleaded not guilty to torture, child abuse and other charges in a case that has drawn international attention since the couple's 17-year-old daughter escaped the family's Perris, California, home in January and called 911. Authorities said evidence of starvation was obvious, with the oldest sibling weighing only 82 pounds, and the children were shackled as punishment, denied food and toys and allowed to do little except write in journals. Turpin, who appeared in court briefly Friday wearing a sage green button down shirt and yellow tie, didn't enter a plea to the new charges during a brief hearing in Riverside. His attorney declined to comment after the hearing. The couple, who are each being held on $12 million in bail, is due back in court May 18 and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 20. State records show Turpin listed the family's home address in Perris, California, as the site of a private day school. The children, who were removed from the home and initially hospitalized, ranged in age from 2 to 29. ___ Associated Press reporter Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles contributed to this report. CHICAGO (AP) - The judge presiding over the case of a Chicago police officer charged in the shooting death of a black teenager cleared the courtroom for a hearing in the first-degree murder case. Judge Vincent Gaughan said he was sealing Friday's hearing out of concern for the safety of witnesses. The witnesses called by Officer Jason Van Dyke's defense team were to outline Laquan McDonald's troubled past. Van Dyke is charged in the 2014 shooting death of the 17-year-old. Under Illinois law, attorneys can attempt to present evidence of a victim's violent character or history to prove the defendant acted in self-defense. Gaughan must decide how much of that testimony will be allowed. Video show Van Dyke opened fire as McDonald walked away from police with a knife in his hand. CAMERON, Ariz. (AP) - Off a northern Arizona highway surrounded by pastel-colored desert is one of the starkest examples of drought's grip on the American Southwest: Dozens of dead horses surrounded by cracked earth, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Flesh exposed and in various stages of decomposition, the carcasses form a circle around a dry watering hole sunken in the landscape. It's clear this isn't the first time the animals have struggled. Skeletal remain are scattered on the fringes and in an adjacent ravine. This Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo shows dozens of horse carcasses lying in a dry watering hole now surrounded by a barbed wire fence near Cameron, Ariz. A couple of miles off the highway through northern Arizona is one of the most stark examples of the toll drought has taken on the region: more than 100 dead horses surrounding by cracked dirt, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Officials on the Navajo Nation are working to cover the site with lime to help the animals decompose and keep away scavengers. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) It's a symptom of a burgeoning wild horse population and the scarcity of water on the western edge of the Navajo Nation following a dry winter and dismal spring runoff. Conditions aren't forecast to improve anytime soon, and tribal officials suspect other animals have died with not enough to eat or drink. "One of the things we do is we picture the worst-case scenario when we got out there," said Harlan Cleveland of the tribe's Department of Emergency Management. "I did smell the decomposition and the bodies starting to smell, the carcasses. But I didn't realize until I looked down from the berm and saw all those horses down there." Here, drought doesn't manifest in having to shut down swimming pools or let lawns go dry. This rural community does not have its own potable water source. Those who have running water in their homes get it from a well, piped from over 30 miles (48.2 kilometers) away. Most haul water, carrying large plastic tanks in the beds of their pickup trucks. The groundwater is brackish and recommended for livestock only, but the two storage tanks closest to the watering hole no longer function. Animals were accustomed to finding relief at the stock pond where the horses died, but locals say the pool of water beneath the decades-old earthen dam has dried up more quickly each year. Families have been downsizing their herds because they can't rely on the vegetation or watering holes. Some have hauled water and left it in troughs for animals. Charlie Smith Jr. climbed the small berm overlooking the watering hole three weeks ago in search of his cattle. At the time, he counted 29 dead horses and a cow that wasn't his stranded at the edge looking up at him. "It's very emotional," he said, standing beside his truck loaded with hay. "I kept calling my sister saying 'this is bad.' It just hits you. You tear up. You know you don't have the capability to save them." Tribal officials counted 118 dead horses and two cows this week but that tally doesn't account for any carcasses that might have been pushed deeper into the mud by the other struggling animals, or for skeletal remains. Tribal officials estimate tens of thousands of feral horses on the Navajo Nation, the country's largest reservation spanning 27,000 square miles (69,929.679 square kilometers) in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Some communities have called for roundups, but often they're halted with public outcry tied to Navajo spiritual beliefs about the animals and the role they play in prayers and ceremonies. When Emmett Kerley was a teenager in the late 1970s in Gray Mountain, the community controlled horse populations by castrating the smaller ones, he said. Navajo culture taught that young men should train horses and tame them, part of building endurance, a strong work ethic and managing livestock, he said. "There were no feral horses back then, but then the society changed in greater America but on Navajo, on the reservation as well," he said. Staff with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs put up a barbed wire fence around the watering hole where horses laid overlapping one another. Federal and tribal workers this week used heavy equipment to bring horses found on the outskirts closer to the others. Hydrated lime was spread over the site to aid decomposition and to ward off scavengers. Friday's work focused on collapsing the berm and burying the animals on site. Eventually, the tribe will redirect any water that flowed into that watering hole into a safer area. "Knock on wood, God forbid, that we have that situation anywhere else within the reservation," Cleveland said. "This will lay the foundation for how we respond to this." For all the devastation, there was a bright spot. As Cleveland surveyed ground earlier this week determining how best to respond to the deaths, he saw a foal - no more than four weeks old - moving next to what was assumed to be its mother. Tribal officials carried it to a truck and used a long-sleeved, white T-shirt to keep it warm for the trip to a veterinary clinic 45 minutes away. They named her Grace. Erin Hisrich, who owns the clinic, said Grace was severely dehydrated and will need to have her blood-sugar stabilized and kidneys functioning before she could be adopted. On Thursday, the brown foal with a long patch of white hair on its face splashed in a tub of water and cozied up to visitors. "In the end, that made my day responding to this emergency and this chaotic scene," Cleveland said. "At least this baby foal made it out." In this Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo,Erin Hisrich, owner of Aspen Veterinary Clinic in Flagstaff, Ariz., attempts to bottle feed a foal that nearly died from dehydration. A couple of miles off the highway through northern Arizona is one of the most stark examples of the toll drought has taken on the region: more than 100 dead horses surrounding by cracked dirt, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Officials on the Navajo Nation are working to cover the site with lime to help the animals decompose and keep away scavengers. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) This Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo shows skeletal remains of animals in a ravine adjacent to a watering hole where dozens of horses were discovered dead near Cameron, Ariz. A couple of miles off the highway through northern Arizona is one of the most stark examples of the toll drought has taken on the region: more than 100 dead horses surrounding by cracked dirt, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Officials on the Navajo Nation are working to cover the site with lime to help the animals decompose and keep away scavengers. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) In this Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo, Charlie Smith Jr. stands outside his pickup truck near the site where dozens of horses were found dead near Cameron, Ariz. A couple of miles off the highway through northern Arizona is one of the most stark examples of the toll drought has taken on the region: more than 100 dead horses surrounding by cracked dirt, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Officials on the Navajo Nation are working to cover the site with lime to help the animals decompose and keep away scavengers. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) In this Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo,Erin Hisrich, owner of Aspen Veterinary Clinic in Flagstaff, Ariz., plays with a foal that nearly died from dehydration. A couple of miles off the highway through northern Arizona is one of the most stark examples of the toll drought has taken on the region: more than 100 dead horses surrounding by cracked dirt, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Officials on the Navajo Nation are working to cover the site with lime to help the animals decompose and keep away scavengers. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) This Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo shows Harland Cleveland of the Navajo Nation Department of Emergency Management talking about efforts to bury dozens of horses that died after becoming trapped in a muddy watering hole near Cameron, Ariz. A couple of miles off the highway through northern Arizona is one of the most stark examples of the toll drought has taken on the region: more than 100 dead horses surrounding by cracked dirt, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Officials on the Navajo Nation are working to cover the site with lime to help the animals decompose and keep away scavengers. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) This Thursday, May 3, 2018 photo shows dozens of horse carcasses lying in a dry watering near Cameron, Ariz. A couple of miles off the highway through northern Arizona is one of the most stark examples of the toll drought has taken on the region: more than 100 dead horses surrounding by cracked dirt, swirling dust and a ribbon of water that couldn't quench their thirst. Officials on the Navajo Nation are working to cover the site with lime to help the animals decompose and keep away scavengers. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) WASHINGTON (AP) - It's not as simple as just saying "we're out" of the Iran nuclear deal. If President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal on May 12, the rest of the world will be thrust into uncharted territory, forced to navigate a complex web of U.S. sanctions that were lifted under the landmark accord but would ostensibly be put back in place. Would Trump re-impose sanctions on those who do business with Iran? How quickly? And would Europe follow suit? How would Iran respond? And what happens to Iran's pre-existing obligations to allow nuclear inspections? FILE- In this Nov. 4, 2017 file photo, Iranian schoolboys chant slogan while holding an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump in an annual gathering in front of the former U.S. Embassy marking the anniversary of its 1979 takeover in Tehran, Iran. President Donald Trump is weighing whether to pull the U.S. out of Iran's nuclear deal, a 2015 agreement that capped over a decade of hostility between Tehran and the West over its atomic program. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) "It's going to be very complicated," said Ama Adams, who advises clients on international sanctions compliance at the law firm Ropes & Gray. "There are lots of opportunities to trip up and make mistakes. It's going to be a period of a lot of activity and flurry." A look at possible scenarios for what stays and goes if Trump exits the accord: U.S. SANCTIONS Under the 2015 deal, the United States issued waivers to longstanding sanctions punishing Iran for its nuclear program. Iran, in turn, restricted its program and allowed more inspections. Trump has essentially two options for re-imposing sanctions. On May 12, he faces a deadline on whether to renew the waivers that eased one basket of sanctions: those on Iran's central bank, intended to hit Iranian oil exports. Another basket of sanctions waivers are up for renewal on July 11, focusing on more than 400 specific Iranian companies, individuals and business sectors. One of Trump's options, being called "the nuclear option" by some experts, would re-impose all the sanctions at once - even those not scheduled for renewal until July. That would put the U.S. in immediate violation of the deal's terms, which say sanctions remain lifted as long as Iran is complying with its terms. So far, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear monitoring agency, has said Iran is complying, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agrees. A second option: re-imposing only the central bank sanctions. That would start a 180-day clock in which companies or countries would be expected to reduce their purchases of oil from Iran. Those that don't would ultimately be penalized by Washington. Why not restore all the sanctions at once? Proponents of doing it piece by piece say it would give the U.S. more leverage to bring about a "fix" to the deal so that Trump could stay in after all. Trump has long said the deal needed to be strengthened or abandoned, but efforts with European allies to strengthen it haven't yet succeeded. With sanctions about to kick in again in 180 days, there might be enough pressure on the Iranians, the Europeans and other members of the deal to give in to Trump's demands, proponents say. But supporters of the nuclear deal say that's not a viable option because the U.S., by starting the 180-day clock, would have already breached the deal. And as soon as Trump announces sanctions will be coming back, companies will immediately start shutting down their business with Iran. That means Iran would suffer from lost business and could decide to walk away from the deal itself. Adams, the sanctions attorney, said some companies have already started winding down business in anticipation that Trump may re-impose sanctions. __ THE REST OF THE WORLD What would Europe do? Germany, France and the U.K. have suggested they have no intention of leaving the deal, even if the U.S. withdraws. But it might not matter much. The global financial system is so interconnected and so tied to New York that it would be almost impossible for anyone anywhere in the world to continue their business with Iran without risk of violating U.S. sanctions. For example, Europe businesses owned or controlled by American parent companies would breach the sanctions if they didn't cut off Iran. It's a major dilemma for European businesses, made even more complicated if the European Union decides to invoke a measure put in place in the 1990s to counter the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The EU can use those regulations to prohibit European companies from complying with some U.S. sanctions. That puts businesses in the position of choosing whether to defy the United States or the EU. __ IRAN'S RESPONSE Iran's leaders have been coy, although Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told The Associated Press last week Iran would "most likely" abandon the deal if Trump withdraws. Yet the key question is whether Iran would resume nuclear activities, such as enrichment and processing, beyond the limits that were imposed by the deal - and how aggressively. How would the world even know? If the deal collapses, Iran would no longer be bound by the rigorous inspections regime by the IAEA that it agreed to in the deal. That regime included the so-called Additional Protocol, which expanded the IAEA's access to sites in Iran, including giving inspectors insight into all parts of the nuclear fuel cycle, access on short notice to all buildings at an acknowledged nuclear site, and the right to obtain samples from military sites. Even without the nuclear deal, Iran would still be required to allow a more limited regime of inspections required by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which Iran has signed. But it's unclear how rigorously Iran would comply. After all, alleged cheating and delay tactics by Iran were a major concern prior to the 2015 deal. And Iranian officials haven't explicitly ruled out the possibility that if Trump blows up the nuclear deal, Iran may also leave the Nonproliferation Treaty. Then there's the question of whether Iran, feeling swindled on a deal the U.S. itself brokered, would take other steps to retaliate - such as ballistic missile tests or more support for militant groups abroad. CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Police Department is struggling to hire more black officers despite a push to diversify the agency amid controversial shootings of black men by white officers. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced efforts in September 2016 to expand the department by about 1,000 officers. The department lost about 600 officers between when Emanuel took office in 2011 and October 2016. The announcement followed increased street violence and fallout from a video of the death of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager who was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer. The department gained nearly 800 officers between October 2016 and March 2018, but the number of black officers on the force decreased, The Chicago Tribune reported . Black residents make up about 30 percent of Chicago's population, but only 20 percent of officers on the force, down from about 22 percent in 2016. Despite the overall underrepresentation, half of the department's 24 highest ranking officers are black, Emanuel's administration said. The city has paid contractor Brown Farmer Media Group at least $167,500 to recruit minority applicants, according to city records. City Hall announced in October that 38 percent of applicants were black during the early stages of the hiring process. But about 44 percent of black applicants didn't take the entrance exam in December, said Barbara West, chief of the Police Department's Bureau of Organizational Development. "The biggest hurdle and the biggest first step is actually showing up for the exam," West said. About 14 percent of officers hired last year and this year are black. Black politicians say black candidates who pass the exam are screened out of the hiring process by debt restrictions, the college credit requirement and psychological testing. The department should re-evaluate its background check procedures, said Alderman Anthony Beale. The department has relaxed standards on debt in recent years, said Frank Giancamilli, a police spokesman. There is also an appeals process for candidates who fail the psychological exam, he said. The department has made other changes aimed at making the hiring process more accessible, West said. The city recently eliminated a $30 exam fee, began offering test preparation and is sending texts and emails to remind applicants about the test, she said. ___ Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper accused of taking sexually explicit photos with a teen has been indicted in federal court. The Springfield News-Leader reports that 46-year-old Justin D. Watson is already facing state-level charges on allegations of having a sexual relationship with a high school student. State court documents show authorities believe Watson took pornographic photos of a 16-year-old boy last year at his home in Mountain View. They allege the photos include sex toys and the genitalia of both the teen and Watson. Watson was a trooper in south-central Missouri at the time of the alleged offenses. A highway patrol spokesman says Watson is no longer employed by the agency. Watson's attorney, Devin Kirby, didn't immediately respond Friday to a telephone message from The Associated Press. ___ Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The father of a 16-year-old girl who was tortured and starved to death has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Des Moines Register reports that 47-year-old Joseph Finn II was sentenced Friday in Des Moines. He had pleaded guilty in March to three counts of assault while participating in a felony causing a serious injury. Finn's ex-wife, Nicole Finn, is serving three life sentences for the October 2016 death of Natalie Finn. Officials have said the emaciated girl weighed just 81 pounds when she died. Joseph Finn did not live in the West Des Moines home where his adopted daughter died, but prosecutors say he boarded up the windows in the house after Nicole complained that Natalie and other adopted children were escaping and begging for food. ___ Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com Sinn Feins Orfhlaith Begley declared herself a history maker as she became the first woman elected as West Tyrone MP. The 26-year-old political newcomer comfortably held onto a seat relinquished by party colleague Barry McElduff when he quit amid a furore over a controversial social media post. The solicitor from the Co Tyrone village of Carrickmore secured an almost 8,000 majority in the parliamentary by-election, ahead of second placed Democratic Unionist Thomas Buchanan, though Sinn Feins percentage of the vote did drop from over 50% in last years general election to 47%. Abstentionist MP Ms Begley noted that her victory, secured with 16,346 votes, came in the centenary year of the first woman MP elected to Westminster, the Irish nationalist Countess Markievicz. Sinn Feins Orfhlaith Begley successfully defended the seat for her party (Liam McBurney/PA) This is the first female MP for West Tyrone you are looking at, she told cheering supporters inside the count centre in Omagh, among them Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and vice president Michelle ONeill. So today we have made history, we are the history makers and we will continue to be. Mr McElduff resigned as MP for the area in January, 10 days after a controversy flared when he posted a video of himself with a Kingsmill-branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the notorious Kingsmill massacre. He insisted the video was not an intentional reference to the 1976 sectarian murders of 10 Protestant workmen by republican paramilitaries near the Co Armagh village of Kingsmill, but he acknowledged it had caused hurt and offence to victims families. Ms Begley referred to the controversy in her victory speech at Omagh Leisure Centre. SFs @OrfhlaithBegley notes election as West Tyrone MP comes on centenary of the first woman Westminster MP, Countess Markievicz. This is the first female MP for West Tyrone you are looking at. So today we have made history, we are the history makers and we will continue to be. pic.twitter.com/y2CCUX4lnz David Young (@DavidYoungPA) May 4, 2018 She said there were lessons to learn. Going forward its vital for people in public life to recognise and acknowledge the pain that exists, she said. The new MP also issued a direct message to unionists, urging reconciliation. What I am about is building for the future, she said. Reaching out to unionism and building bridges between our communities so that we can live in a shared and reconciled future together. I am fully open to that if you are. Mrs McDonald said the result was a stunning endorsement of Sinn Fein. I believe this is vindication for real powersharing based on equality, based on respect, she said, referring to the ongoing absence of devolution at Stormont. Its certainly a vindication for our position on Brexit. Video grab taken from the Twitter feed of former Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff showing him with a Kingsmill-branded loaf on his head (PA) People in the north voted to Remain, there has been no consent given to Brexit, hard, soft or otherwise. It is the electoral energy for us to move forward,to plan economically, socially and politically for what are going to be very, very challenging times. The DUPs Mr Buchanan polled 8,390, with the partys 24% vote share down 3% on last year. The people of West Tyrone have spoken and I respect their decision, he said. I am extremely disappointed however that the constituency will continue to be unrepresented in parliament. Whilst West Tyrone has an MP it does not have one who is prepared to do the full job expected of them. The SDLPs Daniel McCrossan came in third with 6,254. (PA Graphics) The partys 18% vote shared was up almost 5%. He was the only candidate not to make a speech after the declaration in the early hours of Friday. Ulster Unionist Chris Smyth increased his partys vote share to 8%. The 2,909 ballots cast represented a 3% increase on 2017. The fifth candidate in the race, Alliances Stephen Donnelly, polled 1,130 votes. The 3% vote share was up almost 1% on last time out. There was a security incident during the day when a man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm at a polling station. Police investigating the incident in Greencastle, Co Tyrone, detained the 59-year-old on suspicion of possession with intent to cause fear or alarm. He was later charged and is due before a district judge in Dungannon on Friday morning. Given the circumstances around Mr McElduffs departure, issues affecting victims of the Troubles were a key feature of what was a relatively low-key campaign. Kevin Skelton, whose wife was killed in the 1998 Omagh bomb, put himself forward as a potential victims unity candidate, asking the other parties to unify behind him in a bid to defeat Sinn Fein. He failed to secure the necessary cross-party support and did not end up putting his name on the ballot. Unsurprisingly Brexit also featured on the campaign trail in a constituency whose western boundary runs along the Irish border. The ongoing referendum campaign in the Irish Republic on the states restrictive legal framework on abortion undoubtedly also had an impact on the dynamic of the by-election debate north of the border. The candidates position on the emotive issue was subjected to greater scrutiny than they might have expected. Up to 100 grams of liquid nerve agent were used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said. Ahmet Uzumcu told the New York Times the amount of Novichok used around half a cup of liquid suggests it was created for use as a weapon rather than for research purposes. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were left fighting for their lives in hospital after being found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4. Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were victims of a nerve agent attack (Ben Mitchell/PA) The inquiry into the nerve agent attack in the Wiltshire city has involved 250 detectives who have gone through more than 5,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed more than 500 witnesses. Mr Uzumcu told the paper the Novichok could have been applied as a liquid or aerosol. He said: For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that, without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection. Its not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse. He added the samples collected suggested the nerve agent was of high purity. Russia has denied any involvement in the attack (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Moscow has denied accusations it was responsible for the poisoning of the Skripals but the incident plunged diplomatic relations between Russia and the West into the deep freeze. The Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko previously suggested that Sergei and Yulia Skripal may have been injected by British authorities with nerve agent produced at Porton Down. However the UK has previously stated its conviction that only Russia had the means and motive to target the former spy. Karen Pierce, the UKs representative to the United Nations, told a meeting last month there was no plausible alternative explanation than Russian State responsibility for what happened in Salisbury, suggesting Russia had the ability, operation experience and motive to carry out the attack. She said: Russia has a proven record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations including on the territory of the United Kingdom. The independent inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko concluded in January 2016 that he was deliberately poisoned with polonium; that the FSB had directed the operation; and that President Putin probably approved it. On the technical means of creating Novichok, she said: No terrorist group or non-state actor would be able to produce this agent in the purity described by the OPCW testing and this is something Russia has acknowledged. The Russian State has previously produced Novichoks and would still be capable of doing so today. A service has been held at sea to remember around 700 First World War soldiers who lost their lives in the sinking of two US ships off the coast of a small Scottish island. Lord George Robertson holds a wreath prior to throwing it in the sea close to the wreck of SS Tuscania (Jane Barlow/PA) The SS Tuscania and HMS Otranto sunk off the coast of Islay within eight months of each other in 1918. Nick Hide lays a cross at the grave of his grandfather, Captain Ernest Davidson (Jane Barlow/PA) Almost a century on, the British, US, French and Germany navies paid their respects to the dead in a ceremony above the wreck of the Tuscania. USS Ross at sea close to the wreck of SS Tuscania (Jane Barlow/PA) Aboard HMS Raider on Thursday, Rev Dr Karen Campbell, national chaplain of the Royal British Legion Scotland, led a service while a wreath was laid at sea by Lord George Robertson of Port Ellen, whose grandfather was the police sergeant on Islay and dealt with the aftermath of the sinkings. Royal Marines bugler Steven Booth and Reverend Dr Karen Campbell, on board HMS Raider (Jane Barlow/PA) Lord George Robertson waits to throw a wreath into the sea (Jane Barlow/PA) Nick Hide, Lynne Vandertie, John Roberts, Morvern McPhee and Mark Jabbusch, direct descendants of the crew and survivors from the HMS Otranto disaster (Jane Barlow/PA) Nick Hide in the graveyard where his grandfather Captain Ernest Davidson, who died in the HMS Otranto disaster which sank off the coast of Islay in 1918, is buried (Jane Barlow/PA) Jenni Minto, from the Museum of Islay Life (left) and Jennifer Jones from the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC alongside the flag made 100 years ago on the island of Islay for the US crew members who lost their lives in the SS Tuscania disaster (Jane Barlow/PA) Jennifer Jones alongside part of the display in the Museum of Islay Life (Jane Barlow/PA) Nick Hide, in the graveyard alongside Kilchoman beach (Jane Barlow/PA) The Princess Royal, with her husband Sir Timothy Laurance (left) and Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute Patrick Stewart (right), during a commemoration service at the War Memorial (Jane Barlow/PA) At the War Memorial in Port Ellen (Jane Barlow/PA) Standard bearers during the commemoration service (Jane Barlow/PA) Pipe major Neil MacTaggart, from the Islay Community band, plays during the service (Jane Barlow/PA) Jeremy Corbyn has sought to put a brave face on local elections which saw Labour fail to make a breakthrough despite limited gains in some parts of the country. In a night of mixed fortunes for the two major parties, Labour took Plymouth from the Conservatives but was unable to seize Tory crown jewel authorities in London, where it had hoped to make gains. Far from seizing control of the key target borough of Barnet, Labour saw it fall into the hands of Conservatives amid indications that Mr Corbyns party was hit by allegations of anti-Semitism in an area with a large Jewish population. Tories held on to Hillingdon and Mr Corbyns party fell well short of the upsets some had predicted in Tory strongholds Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington. Mr Corbyns party lost Nuneaton and Bedworth an area that often indicates the colour of the government at general elections as well as Derby and fell short of gaining control in areas like Swindon, Dudley and Walsall, where they had hoped to establish middle England strongholds. (PA Graphics) The Conservatives gained control of councils in Peterborough, Southend and Basildon, and saw a small swing in their favour outside the capital. But they lost Trafford, their flagship council in the North West, to no overall control. Theresa Mays party appeared to have benefited from an almost total collapse in the Ukip vote, which saw the Eurosceptic party shed councillors across the country. (PA Graphics) Liberal Democrats were celebrating victory in the south-west London borough of Richmond, one of a number of Remain-backing areas which saw an upsurge in votes for Vince Cables party. On an early morning visit to Plymouth to congratulate activists, Labours leader denied that his party has passed the moment of peak Corbyn. No, no, there is much more to come and its going to get even better, Mr Corbyn told Sky News. (PA Graphics) We were defending seats that were last won in 2014, which was a particularly good year for Labour in local government. Obviously, I am disappointed at any places where we lost a bit of ground, but if you look at the overall picture, Labour gained a lot of seats across the whole country, we gained a lot of votes in places we never had those votes before. In Barnet, former Labour councillor Adam Langleben voiced his anger at the impact which the row over anti-Semitism had on his partys fortunes. After losing his seat in West Hendon, Mr Langleben tweeted: We must NEVER have another election like this. No community group should have their vote dictated by their safety. That should shame us. Thanks to all those who voted for myself, Humayune and Agnes today. It was the greatest honour of my life to serve West Hendon. We must NEVER have another election like this. No community group should have their vote dictated by their safety. That should shame us @UKLabour. Adam Langleben (@adamlangleben) May 4, 2018 And he won support from Labour MP and Corbyn critic Wes Streeting, who told him: I am so so sorry. This defeat wasnt yours. Conservative chairman Brandon Lewis said voters were being turned off by hard abuse from some of the hard left, that anti-Semitism problem that Labour clearly have got and are just not dealing with. Mr Lewis hailed a good night for Tories, with Labour not gaining a single council in London. Eight years into a government, Labour was losing 4,000 councillors, whereas we at the moment are holding councils and in some areas making positive inroads, he said. (PA Graphics) Labour sources described their results as solid, saying that the party had consolidated advances made at last years general election. But the impact of its underwhelming performance was amplified by a failure to damp down expectations ahead of a set of elections where a massive ground campaign by activists and members of the Corbyn-backing Momentum organisation appears to have been unpersuasive for many voters. Carrie Symonds, the Conservative Partys director of communications, said Labour threw the kitchen sink at Wandsworth, adding it was brilliant news that they had failed. How Labour has fared against those targets: Swindon Trafford Amber Valley Westminster Carlisle Plymouth Wandsworth Dudley Barnet Walsall Kirklees - still to come Tower Hamlets - still to come#Election2018 Ian Jones (@ian_a_jones) May 4, 2018 Liberal Democrat MP Sir Edward Davey described the partys advances in areas like Richmond as a sign of things to come. Sir Edward told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: People are desperate for a voice that isnt a right-wing Brexit Tory voice or a left-wing Corbynista voice. Under Vince Cable, Liberal Democrats can become that and last nights results show we are becoming that. Meanwhile, Ukips general secretary Paul Oakley compared his party to the Black Death as he struggled to find positives in a night of virtual wipeout. Its not all over at all, Mr Oakley told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Think of the Black Death in the Middle Ages. It comes along and it causes disruption and then it goes dormant, and thats exactly what we are going to do. Our time isnt finished because Brexit is being betrayed. He later tweeted a picture of his raised thumb next to a screen showing that the phrase Black Death was trending on Twitter, in an apparently sign that the surprising comment had been an attempt to gain publicity for Ukip. The one point of light for Ukip was Derby, where the party held one seat and picked up another, unseating Labours leader in the city. Former deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans openly discussed the prospect of the party crumbling. Across England, more than 4,000 seats were contested in around 150 councils, including all 32 London boroughs, as well as every ward in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Mayoral elections were held in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Watford and the Sheffield City region. Voters in some areas piloting controversial ID trials were reportedly unable to cast their ballot. NHS trusts raised concerns about breast cancer screening invitations last year but were told it was a local issue, it has been claimed. 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 Mr Hunt said was discovered in January and dates back to 2009. NHS trusts raised concerns over the IT issue (Rui Vieira/PA) However, as early as March 2017, two breast cancer screening centres in London and the West Midlands raised concerns some women were not being invited for mammograms. 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 Software provider Hitachi Consulting said at the time it was a local problem and the full scale of the issue was not realised until January, Public Health England (PHE) said. The company has denied it is responsible for the blunder, which Mr Hunt said may have led up to 270 women to have their lives cut short. A spokesman said: Hitachi Consulting has no responsibility for the error that has led to this situation. The software responsible for inviting patients for breast cancer screening was written by others and implemented in 2009, fully six years before Hitachi Consulting began working with Public Health England. Hitachi Consulting was engaged in late 2015 merely to maintain and support the system as designed, and has had no responsibility for decisions made on which patients should be selected for screening. Our hearts go out to those people and their families who may have been affected. More than 10,000 calls have been made to a dedicated helpline for those affected, while charity Breast Cancer Care said it had also seen increased demand on its own helpline. 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. Duncan Selbies Friday message focuses on the NHS breast screening story: https://t.co/FyYO3nZLje UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) May 4, 2018 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. Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, emeritus professor of nursing at the University of West London, believes she is one of those affected by the error. The 70-year-olds last mammogram was in 2013, but she did not receive an invitation for her next screening in 2016. When she called the helpline she was surprised to be told she may have to wait up to six months for a catch-up screening. Its not necessarily that I was panicking about getting breast cancer before then, but I had a sort of realisation of the enormity of what must be going on, she said. I could imagine it could cause a lot of anxiety for people who now know they are in this group, but may have to wait until October to get the breast screening appointment. Dame Elizabeth, who previously worked in the NHS, said women were reliant on the system, adding that it had not struck her she had not received an appointment. She said: If a system has been set up, you can understand how time can pass. You know, weve got lives to live, we are not waiting every morning for our breast screening appointment. The official helpline for those who think they may be affected is 0800 169 2692. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has apologised following a speech he made this week widely condemned as anti-Semitic. He said it was the social functions of Jews, including money-lending, that caused hatred toward them in Europe. He also said there was no historical basis for the Jewish homeland. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas apologised after a speech he made was criticised as anti-Semitic. (Majdi Mohammed/AP) The speech drew criticism around the world that Abbas perpetuated anti-Semitic stereotypes and ignored deep Jewish historical connections to the Holy Land. Palestinian officials say Mr Abbas was under intense pressure from diplomats to apologise. If people were offended by my statement especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to them, news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying. Israels defence minister later lashed out at Abbas on Twitter, rejecting his apology. Abu Mazen is a wretched Holocaust denier who wrote his doctorate on Holocaust denial and later also published a book about Holocaust denial, Avigdor Lieberman tweeted, referring to Abbas by his nickname. His apology is not accepted, he added. A man accused of producing a gun at a polling station and threatening to sort the DUP has refused to tell police where the firearm is, a judge has said. The district judge rejected Michael OHagans bail application and remanded him in custody, expressing concern that the accuseds unexplained motives and mental state rendered him a real and imminent risk. Judge John Meehan was earlier told that OHagan, 59, denies the charges facing him and has no recollection of even being inside the voting centre in the village of Greencastle, Co Tyrone during Thursdays parliamentary by-election for the vacant West Tyrone seat. A man has been refused bail after allegedly taking a gon to a polling station (Yui Mok/PA) Omagh police investigating an incident at a polling station in Greencastle, have arrested a 59 yo man on susp of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or alarm. He has been taken into custody for questioning. Further searches as part of the investigation are ongoing. Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) May 3, 2018 He is accused of carrying a firearm with criminal intent and possession of a firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances. A police officer told Dungannon magistrates court that OHagan was arrested at his home a short time after officials at the polling station reported that a man with a bushy beard, bright yellow jacket and smelling of alcohol entered the building and pulled out a gun. Heavily bearded OHagan, wearing a grey jumper and green t-shirt, sat impassively in the dock as the detective constable recounted the eyewitness reports. The accused, from Leaghan Road, between Greencastle and Omagh, only spoke at the outset of the remand hearing to confirm his name. The police officer said that witnesses inside the polling station at Our Lady Of Lourdes primary school on the Crockanboy Road claim the man with the gun threatened to take action against unionists. She said he allegedly stated: Where is the DUP, is there unionists here, there will be no DUP here. There better be no DUP in here or I will sort them. The officer said the man in the polling station had not disclosed his name before leaving, but she said local people in the building at the time identified him as OHagan. She said when detained by officers at his house, OHagan told police he had no memory of being at the polling station, explaining that he had been drinking heavily for the previous three days. The detective constable, who said she could connect OHagan to the charges, told the court that no gun had been located. Searches are ongoing for the firearm, she said. Objecting to bail, the officer claimed: Hes the only person who knows where the firearm is, so if hes not remanded he may go and get the firearm. Judge Meehan questioned an assertion from OHagans defence solicitor that he co-operated during police custody interviews, pointing out that when asked by detectives where the gun was he said: Im not telling you. Mr Meehan described the alleged offence as very serious. The accuseds lawyer said his client had an alcohol problem, insisting: there is nothing in his background to suggest he has a predilection for this type of behaviour. He asked the detective constable to confirm that there was no evidence that he was involved in dissident republican activity. She said there was no evidence of any links to a dissident organisation. But she added: No dissident activity, but he is alleged to have made his political views quite clear during the incident. Judge Meehan remanded OHagan in custody to appear, via videolink, at Omagh magistrates court on May 29. A Jewish holocaust survivor honoured by the Queen has hit out at Jeremy Corbyn over his handling of alleged anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. Retired doctor and immunologist Martin Stern accused the Labour leader of building a reputation as a humanitarian on false premises and revealed he had serious concerns about recent stories of anti-Semitism. Dr Stern, who collected an MBE at Buckingham Palace on Friday morning, arrived in the UK aged 12 in 1950 after his parents were both killed during the Second World War. Dr Martin Stern is awarded an MBE by the Queen (Yui Mok/PA) The 79-year-old was honoured for his services to holocaust education and compared Mr Corbyn to literary character Don Quixote, for whom Israel represents an evil giant. It comes after Mr Corbyn faced angry recriminations on Friday over his alleged failure to tackle anti-Semitism in the Labour Party after it lost out to the Tories in Barnet, one of the most strongly Jewish boroughs in the country, in the local elections. Dr Stern told the Press Association: It concerns me very seriously and it is not only Jews who are affected we need politicians not only of high intellectual calibre but with intellectual courage. In politics a lot of trouble comes from people who have got a theory according to which they can run the human race. They make the facts conform to their theory a human being needs to be open to new facts. Dr Stern with the Queen (Yui Mok/PA) I think currently we have a problem with the quality of top politicians, and in the case of one of them he is a kind of a Don Quixote for whom Israel is the windmill that he imagines to be an evil giant. He added: There are people who make themselves feel good by portraying others as bad no human being is perfect, no state is perfect, but this kind of biased, political attitude, designed to steal the good reputation as it were. To get a reputation as a humanitarian but on false premises is to be condemned. Asked what he would say to Mr Corbyn if they were to sit down together, Dr Stern said: The problem with being an ideologue is youre not open to discussion. There are people far better than me doing that it seems to me that my task is to talk to people whose minds have not been frozen into rigidity yet and to teach them and question and think and not necessarily hold my view but to keep searching for facts, keep looking at the possibility that I might be wrong or they themselves may be wrong. As human beings we are not infallible and humility and self-questioning needs to be part of any healthy human being and even more so of any politician. Dr Stern travels across the UK to speak at schools, universities and events to teach about the dangers of intolerance and speak of his own experiences. He volunteers with both the National Holocaust Centre and Museum and the Holocaust Educational Trust and is also central to the Forever Project which aims to keep alive stories of survivors. Dr Stern also works closely with academics at Leicester University, speaking at academic conferences about the psychology behind genocide. A commemoration ceremony has been held to remember about 700 First World War soldiers who lost their lives in the sinking of two US ships off the coast of a small Scottish island. The SS Tuscania and HMS Otranto sunk off the coast of Islay within eight months of each other in 1918. While carrying 2,500 British and US troops, the Tuscania was torpedoed by a German U-boat and began to sink. Most onboard were rescued by the Royal Navy but more than 200 men were lost at sea, with many swept up on the shore of Islay. Today Im on the Isle of #Islay in Scotland to pay my respects on behalf of all Americans to the brave U.S. soldiers who lost their lives 100 years ago. #WW100 pic.twitter.com/i1ioBFxTlA Charge d'Affaires Philip T. Reeker (@USAmbUK) May 4, 2018 Another tragedy followed shortly after when the Otranto perished on October 6. Amid a strong storm, the ship crashed into HMS Kashmir while travelling in convoy. Many US troops were saved by HMS Mounsey but those that could not escape the Otranto were swept toward an Islay reef that wrecked the ship. Around 470 men died. On Friday, the Princess Royal laid a wreath at the war memorial in Port Ellen during a ceremony which included speakers such as MSP Fiona Hyslop. Also attending the event were US ambassador Robert Woody Johnson, Scottish Secretary David Mundell and about 1,000 people paying their respects. Islay remembers #WW100. Commemorating the 700 lives lost in two incidents off the coast of the island in 1918 and honouring those who risked life and limb to save them pic.twitter.com/z0TdAGSEn6 Conor Riordan (@cmriordan) May 4, 2018 Mr Johnson and Ms Hyslop were also among those to lay a wreath. Speaking at the service, Ms Hyslop said: Let us, all together, be mindful of the loss of so many young Americans on the Tuscania and the Otranto, and the merchant seamen who died with them. Let us all together be mindful of the people of this island who save the lives of those who could be saved and recovered as many as possible from the sea. United States Ambassador Robert `Woody Johnson and Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop lay wreathes (Jane Barlow/PA) She added: Let us all together be mindful of the men of Islay and Jura, who went to war and never returned. A parade of the state flags, produced by the Islay Quilters, were carried by children from the islands schools to start the WW100 Scotland Day Commemoration. Leading the procession was Marian Senior, who helped stitch a replica of a US flag created by islanders to fly while burying those who died in the Tuscania sinking. As well as speeches, music was played throughout the ceremony by military bands and others. People leave after a service at the American monument at the Mull of Oa on Islay (PA/Jane Barlow) Lament for the Brave was sang by the Islay Gaelic Choir and Royal National Mod Gold winner Alasdair Currie sang Amazing Grace. Towards the end of the event, four Royal Marine buglers played the Last Post. The Princess Royal later visited the towns Ramsay Hall to meet with islanders, dignitaries and descendants of people who had been caught up in the two sinking events. Earlier in the day, a small rededication service was held at the American monument on Islays Mull of Oa. Aboard HMS Raider on Thursday, Rev Dr Karen Campbell, national chaplain of the Royal British Legion Scotland, led a service while a wreath was laid at sea by Lord George Robertson of Port Ellen, whose grandfather was the police sergeant on Islay and dealt with the aftermath of the sinkings. Lord George Robertson holds a wreath prior to throwing it in the sea close to the wreck of SS Tuscania (PA/Jane Barlow) More than 100 people went to the 10-metre high tower to pay their respects, including descendants of those who lost their lives in the Tuscania and Otranto tragedies. It followed a similar service which saw the British, US, French and Germany navies pay their respects to the dead in a ceremony above the wreck of the Tuscania. Donald Trump is gearing up for an address to the National Rifle Association (NRA) as more than 70,000 members are expected in Texas for the groups annual meeting. It comes after the president temporarily strayed from the groups strong opposition to tougher gun controls following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida only to rapidly return to the fold. He will speak at the event for the fourth year in a row. Last year, he became the first sitting president to appear in more than 30 years, declaring that the assault on the Second Amendment had ended. But this years speech in Dallas comes as the issue of gun violence takes on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. Survivors of the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead are leading a massive national gun control movement. Several groups have announced plans to protest over the weekend during the NRA event. The protesters will include parents of those killed in Parkland and other shootings. The survivors campaign has not led to major changes from the White House or the Republican-led Congress but Mr Trump did briefly declare he would stand up to the powerful gun lobby. Donald Trump speaks during the NRA event last year in Atlanta (Mike Stewart/AP) He later backpedalled, expressing support for modest changes to the background check system, as well as arming teachers. His attendance at this years NRA convention was announced just days ago and came after Vice President Mike Pence was already scheduled to appear. Asked why Mr Trump was attending, given political tensions around gun violence, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said this week that safety was a big priority. We also support the Second Amendment, and strongly support it, and dont see there to be a problem with speaking at the National Rifle Associations meeting, she said. Breaking news: The President of the United States will address the @NRA Convention in Dallas this Friday. We are honored to celebrate American Freedom with @realDonaldTrump, @VP Mike Pence and others. #2A #watchtheleftmeltdown Chris Cox (@ChrisCoxCap6) May 1, 2018 Mr Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent about 30 million US dollars (22 million) supporting his presidential campaign. One of the Parkland survivors, David Hogg, was critical of the presidents planned attendance. Its kind of hypocritical of him to go there after saying so many politicians bow to the NRA and are owned by them, he said. It proves that his heart and his wallet are in the same place. At a televised meeting with politicians in February, Mr Trump wagged his finger at a Republican senator and scolded him for being afraid of the NRA, declaring that he would stand up to the group and finally get results in quelling gun violence. NRA convention raffle items at the convention centre in Dallas (Sue Ogrocki/AP) He praised members of the gun lobby as great patriots but declared that doesnt mean we have to agree on everything. He said: It doesnt make sense that I have to wait until Im 21 to get a handgun, but I can get this weapon at 18. He was referring to the AR-15 the Parkland shooting suspect is accused of using. After expressing interest in increasing the minimum age to purchase a so-called assault weapon to 21, Mr Trump later declared there was not much political support for the move. He then pushed off the issue of age restrictions by assigning the question to a commission. Trumps moves have drawn concerns from both sides of the gun debate. He ran as supposedly the best friend of the Second Amendment and has become gun grabber in chief, said Michael Hammond, legislative counsel to the Gun Owners of America. He said his members were upset Mr Trump had approved a spending bill that included background check updates. Were not confident at all. We are very disappointed, he said. Kristin Brown, of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said Mr Trump had offered mixed messages since the Parkland shooting. Which Donald Trump is going to show up? she asked. Will it be the one who sympathised with the Parkland students he brought to the White House, the one who met with members of the Senate or the one who had burgers with NRA head Wayne LaPierre. The US president has said the time and place has been set for his landmark meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un but kept the world guessing about when and where. Donald Trump also said that withdrawal of US troops from South Korea was not on the table as he looks to get Mr Kim to give up his nuclear weapons at what will be the first summit between a US and a North Korean leader. The New York Times said he has asked the Pentagon to prepare plans for scaling back US military presence in the allied Asian nation. Some 28,500 US forces are based there, a military presence that has been preserved since the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty. North Korea has long sought the removal of those troops as one of its conditions for denuclearisation. It remains unclear if Mr Kim has relaxed that demand as he turns to diplomacy with adversaries after a year of escalating tensions. We now have a date and we have a location. Well be announcing it soon, Trump said from the White House South Lawn before departing for Dallas. Mr Trump suggested on Monday that he was looking for his historic meeting with the North Korean dictator to be held at the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas. Thats where Mr Kim met South Korean president Moon Jae-in last Friday a summit that has paved the way for the US presidents planned face-to-face with Mr Kim. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and South Korean president Moon Jae-in met in the demilitarized zone (Korea Summit Press Pool via AP) He also said then that the city state of Singapore was in the running to play host. Mr Trump previously said the summit was planned for May or early June. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence postponed a planned trip to Brazil at the end of May to free resources for the summit. The president also heavily hinted that the release of three Americans by North Korea was in the offing, but again was sparing on the details. Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages, and I think youre going to see very good things. As I said yesterday, stay tuned, he said, referring to an earlier tweet on the issue. National security adviser John Bolton, who was due to meet his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong in Washington on Friday, called the Times report utter nonsense. The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea, he said. A consultant neurologist whose work prompted the recall of thousands of patients kept his own records in private practice, his former clinic has said. The Ulster Independent Clinic has sought advice on urgently obtaining access to the information required from files held by Dr Michael Watt to accurately identify any patients who may need to be contacted. Its statement said: We are acutely aware of the seriousness of this situation and the anxiety it is causing many patients and their families. Dr Michael Watt kept his own records in private practice, his former clinic said (Anthony Devlin/PA) As we focus on identifying those private patients who may need to be contacted in light of the concerns raised by the Royal College of Physicians report, we would like to reassure any of Dr Watts patients, potentially impacted by this issue, that we are moving as quickly as possible to alleviate their concerns. Belfast Trust has today recalled 2500 patients following an independent review of patient notes relating to the work of a single Consultant Neurologist Dr Michael Watt. Read the full statement https://t.co/eezfcLtaFE pic.twitter.com/PoBqimvA3z Belfast Trust (@BelfastTrust) May 1, 2018 The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has said it is truly sorry for having to recall 2,500 patients after a probe into the work of Dr Watt and a review of patient notes by the trust and the Royal College of Physicians. The consultant is currently not treating patients but is still an employee, the trust said. The Independent Clinic added: Since this issue came to our attention, we have been liaising with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust team to devise the best course of action to identify those patients impacted so as to avoid duplication or additional concern. Our early discussions with the trust have highlighted the complex and time-consuming nature of this process and we are currently examining the best way to expedite matters to enable us to communicate with the relevant patients in an appropriate manner and as quickly as possible. As an independent clinical practitioner who used the facilities at the Ulster Independent Clinic, Dr Watt retains his own patient records. Theresa May shrugged off a difficult week as Prime Minister as she hailed Conservative success in English local elections after Jeremy Corbyns Labour failed to make predicted breakthroughs. The Conservatives held on to crown jewel authorities in London including Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington, as well as the key Labour targets of Barnet and Hillingdon, while picking up votes from Ukip across England. But despite the ongoing row over anti-Semitism and the lack of eye-catching victories, there were signs of progress for Labour and analysis suggested the two main parties were neck-and-neck overall in terms of national vote share. Labour MP Dan Jarvis comfortably won the Sheffield City Region mayoralty after a fight with his own party to be allowed to do both jobs. Ukip suffered a bloodbath, with dozens of councillors culled and its own general secretary comparing the party to the Black Death. (PA Graphics) But the Liberal Democrats enjoyed success, ousting the Tories in Richmond upon Thames in south-west London leader Sir Vince Cables back yard and achieved a surprising success in South Cambridge. Tower Hamlets was the final council to declare with the count ongoing on Friday evening. With results in from 149 of 150 councils: Labour had a net gain of 61 seats but a net loss of control of one authority The Tories suffered a net loss of two councils and had 93 fewer councillors The Liberal Democrats put on an extra 77 seats and gained control of four extra councils The polarisation within British politics was laid bare by an analysis conducted by election guru Professor Sir John Curtice. Votes in the local elections equated to a 35% share for both Labour and the Conservatives. The BBCs projection suggests that if the result was repeated at a general election there would be another hung parliament with Labour on 283 seats in the Commons compared to the Conservatives 280. Labour had entered the election with high hopes of victories in the capital, but in Barnet, there was clear evidence of voters from the areas large Jewish community turning their backs on the party after it became embroiled in allegations of anti-Semitism. Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson acknowledged the Jewish community had sent us a message and said the party had to learn lessons when it came to dealing with anti-Semitism in its own ranks. Mr Corbyn sought to put a brave face on overnight results which saw Labour gain control of Plymouth. I was delighted to be in Plymouth this morning where Labour took control of the council from the Tories. Plymouth now has a council that will stand up against Tory austerity and for equality and justice. pic.twitter.com/idObPqfKIW Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) May 4, 2018 Meeting activists in the Devon city, Labours leader denied that his party has passed the moment of peak Corbyn. No, no, there is much more to come, and its going to get even better, Mr Corbyn told Sky News. Obviously, I am disappointed at any places where we lost a bit of ground, but if you look at the overall picture, Labour gained a lot of seats across the whole country, we gained a lot of votes in places we never had those votes before. Congratulations to @RaviGovindia1 and all the @Wandsworth team for holding control of the council. I know you will continue to keep council tax low and provide great local services. pic.twitter.com/ErEkOssLbs Theresa May (@theresa_may) May 4, 2018 But the impact of its underwhelming performance was amplified by a failure to damp down expectations of victory in Tory strongholds which have not voted Labour in decades. Labour MP Chuka Umunna called for an internal inquiry into the partys campaign, warning that the results cannot leave it confident of success at the next national poll. The Prime Minister just days after suffering the resignation of home secretary Amber Rudd and a setback over finding Cabinet agreement on the post-Brexit customs plan was greeted by cheering supporters in Wandsworth. (PA Graphics) She praised their efforts in beating off a Labour challenge which had seen the streets flooded with activists, including members of the Corbyn-backing Momentum campaign. Labour thought they could take control, this was one of their top targets and they threw everything at it, but they failed, said the Prime Minister. Labour said that tight results in four Wandsworth wards meant it missed out on victory by just 141 votes. Other dramatic scenes in the capital saw Liberal Democrats gain 25 seats in Richmond to regain control of the Remain-backing borough for the first time in eight years. Tories lost 27 councillors and were reduced to a rump of just 11. Sir Vince said the Lib Dems were very much on the way back. Mr Corbyns party lost Nuneaton and Bedworth a bellwether area that often indicates the colour of the government at general elections as well as Derby. And it fell short of gaining control in areas like Swindon, Dudley and Walsall, where it had hoped to establish middle England strongholds. The Conservatives gained control of councils in Peterborough, Southend and Basildon, and saw a small swing in their favour outside the capital. But they lost Trafford, their flagship council in the North West, to no overall control. Ukips general secretary Paul Oakley compared his party to the Black Death as he struggled to find positives in a night of virtual wipeout. Its not all over at all, Mr Oakley told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Think of the Black Death in the Middle Ages. It comes along and it causes disruption and then it goes dormant, and thats exactly what we are going to do. Our time isnt finished because Brexit is being betrayed. A mixed set of election results saw Theresa May shrug off a difficult week as Prime Minister as she hailed Conservative success while Jeremy Corbyn pointed to solid progress despite failing to secure key targets. The Conservatives held on to crown jewel authorities in London including Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington, as well as the key Labour targets of Barnet and Hillingdon, while picking up votes from Ukip across England. But despite the ongoing row over anti-Semitism and the lack of eye-catching victories, there were signs of progress for Labour and analysis suggested the two main parties were neck-and-neck overall in terms of national vote share. Total councillors elected after 149 of 150 councils declared. As counting continued in Tower Hamlets, Labour claimed that even without snatching authorities in the capital from the Tories, the results amounted to the partys best showing in London since 1971. Ukip suffered a bloodbath, with dozens of councillors culled and its own general secretary comparing the party with the Black Death. (PA Graphics) But the Liberal Democrats enjoyed success, ousting the Tories in Richmond upon Thames in south-west London leader Sir Vince Cables back yard and neighbouring Kingston while a more unexpected victory came for the party in South Cambridgeshire. Tower Hamlets, which has been the scene of voting controversies in the past, was continuing to count late into Friday night. With results in from 149 of 150 councils: Labour had a net gain of 61 seats but a net loss of control of one authority. The Tories suffered a net loss of two councils and had 93 fewer councillors. The Liberal Democrats put on an extra 77 seats and gained control of four extra councils. The polarisation within British politics was laid bare by an analysis conducted by election guru Professor Sir John Curtice. Votes in the local elections equated to a 35% share for both Labour and the Conservatives. The BBCs projection suggests that if the result was repeated at a general election there would be another hung parliament with Labour on 283 seats in the Commons compared with the Conservatives 280. Labour had entered the election with high hopes of victories in the capital, but in Barnet, there was clear evidence of voters from the areas large Jewish community turning their backs on the party after it became embroiled in allegations of anti-Semitism. Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson acknowledged the Jewish community had sent us a message and said the party had to learn lessons when it came to dealing with anti-Semitism in its own ranks. Mr Corbyn sought to put a brave face on overnight results which saw Labour gain control of Plymouth. I was delighted to be in Plymouth this morning where Labour took control of the council from the Tories. Plymouth now has a council that will stand up against Tory austerity and for equality and justice. pic.twitter.com/idObPqfKIW Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) May 4, 2018 Meeting activists in the Devon city, Labours leader denied that his party has passed the moment of peak Corbyn. No, no, there is much more to come, and its going to get even better, Mr Corbyn told Sky News. In an email to supporters, Mr Corbyn said it had been a a solid set of results for Labour and we have consolidated and built on the advances we made at last years general election. Scrutiny of Labours performance was amplified by a failure to damp down expectations of victory in Tory strongholds which have not voted Labour in decades. Labour MP Chuka Umunna called for an internal inquiry into the partys campaign, warning that the results cannot leave it confident of success at the next national poll. For the Prime Minister just days after suffering the resignation of home secretary Amber Rudd and amid ongoing difficulties over Brexit the results will come as a relief despite the loss of scores of councillors. (PA Graphics) On a visit to Wandsworth she praised campaigners efforts in seeing off a Labour challenge which had seen the streets flooded with activists, including members of the Corbyn-backing Momentum campaign. Labour thought they could take control, this was one of their top targets and they threw everything at it, but they failed, said the Prime Minister. Labour said that tight results in four Wandsworth wards meant it missed out on victory by just 141 votes. Mr Corbyns party lost Nuneaton and Bedworth a bellwether area that often indicates the colour of the Government at general elections as well as Derby. And it fell short of gaining control in areas like Swindon, Dudley and Walsall, where it had hoped to establish middle England strongholds. Labour MP Dan Jarvis comfortably won the Sheffield City Region mayoralty after a fight with his own party to be allowed to do both jobs. The Conservatives gained control of councils in Peterborough, Southend and Basildon, and saw a small swing in their favour outside the capital. But they lost Trafford, their flagship council in the North West, to no overall control. Ukips general secretary Paul Oakley compared his party with the Black Death as he struggled to find positives in a night of virtual wipeout. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Think of the Black Death in the Middle Ages. It comes along and it causes disruption and then it goes dormant, and thats exactly what we are going to do. Our time isnt finished because Brexit is being betrayed. To increase lending to US $ 600-800mn this year from an annual average of US $ 400mn Says remain positive about countrys economic potential: urges govt. to look beyond five years By Indika Sakalasooriya in Manila The Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday said it would substantially increase its lending to Sri Lanka this year as the country has undertaken larger development projects in recent times and its economy offers a tremendous growth potential compared to its South Asian peers. According to Hun Kim, ADBs Director General for South Asia, the development lender will increase its lending to between US $ 600 to US $ 800 million in 2018, a substantial increase from the current annual average of US $ 400 million extended to the country during the last three years. Sri Lanka is doing big projects compared to some of its South Asian peers. We look at Sri Lanka very positively. That is why weve decided to increase our lending this year to US $ 600-800 million. This is a very big amount for a country with a population of 20 million, Kim said on the sidelines of ADBs 51st Annual Meetings currently being held in Manila, Philippines. The Manila based-development financier has been very generous in extending funding to both the State and private sector and has remained a close development partner of Sri Lanka over the years. However, Kim pointed out the immediate need for Sri Lanka to up its game to achieve its true potential. Sri Lanka is one country which really should grow. Our President visited Sri Lanka three years ago. We were all talking about Sri Lanka as the emerging star in South Asia. Sri Lanka needs to move up. The government must have a long-term vision to build the new engine of growth to bring the economy to grow above five-six percent. They have to look beyond five years, Kim said. Sri Lanka recorded an economic growth of 3.1 percent last year the lowest in 16 years, although the Central Bank says the potential growth would have been around 5.75 percent. Political uncertainty and weather-induced disasters, which negatively affected the agriculture sector, have been identified as the key reasons for the record low growth. However, Sri Lanka recorded a primary surplus in six decades, which the countrys Finance Ministry attributed to sound economic management. Yet, the country saw its overall budget deficit increasing in 2017 largely due to the sharp increase in interest expenditure. According to economic analysts, the biggest challenge Sri Lanka will face in the coming years would be the bunched-up foreign debt payments. The government estimates a whopping US $ 15 billion in foreign debt service payments during the four years from 2019 to 2022. The Central Bank is seen beefing up its foreign reserves this year through sale of sovereign bonds and term-loans in preparation to tackle this uphill task. Sri Lanka so far has an unblemished track record in paying back its loans. According to the Central Bank Governor Dr.Indrajit Coomaraswamy, despite the short-term difficulties, Sri Lanka should not deviate from the economic reform agenda it has embarked upon. Sri Lankas growth must come from reform and not from deficit spending, he told a recent forum in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A staff-level agreement was recently reached on the 4th review of the EFF subject to Cabinet approval of an automatic pricing formula for fuel. According to State-run utility, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, they are losing Rs.266 million a week due to subsidized fuel sales. lighting of the traditional oil lamp by Abdullah Kassim, Director Spearheading the Takaful concept in Sri Lanka, Amana Takaful (ATL) held its eagerly awaited Annual Awards to celebrate the companys performance and to reward outstanding achievements of its dynamic employees. A gala awards ceremony was held at the Golden Rose, where more than 550 participants witnessed the glitzy event unfold with many top performers walking away with accolades and remarkable prizes that included foreign tours, cash prizes, medals and trophies. All this celebration and fanfare was held in the presence of the board, Fazal Ghaffoor, CEO ATL, and Gehan Rajapakse, CEO ATL Life who addressed the attendees and thanked employees and staff of the company for their tireless commitment to ensuring the companys profitability and success. Ibrahim Suluki from ATL General together with Hamdhi Nizam from ATL Life were feted as Champion of Champions of their respective companies, winning top honours at this spectacular event. Easily the most anticipated event in its annual calendar, ATLs Annual Awards Night provides an ideal opportunity to recognize and reward employee contributions and drive home the fact that every contribution is important both big and small. It also proves to be a vital motivational tool for employees to be recognized as top achievers in the presence of board members, senior management and staff of ATL. Gehan Rajapakse, CEO - ATL Life PLC, Addressing the gathering Commenting on this performance, Fazal Ghaffoor, CEO ATL PLC, stated Having established our credentials as the pioneer and market leader in Takaful, I am proud to state that the Amana Takaful Group consistently delivered its profit momentum through the four quarters in 2017, with each of the three group companies, Amana Takaful PLC, Amana Takaful Life PLC & Amana Takaful Maldives PLC contributing positively. The joint synergies of the companies resulted in profit before tax of Rs.169.9Mn for the financial year 2017. We took bold steps to position the group for exemplary growth, including group restructuring and optimizing synergies, all of which have made this performance possible. Productivity improvements, new product launches and strategic tie-ups together with prudent claims management contributed in a large measure to the results of 2017. Gehan Rajapakse - CEO ATL Life PLC, said, I am truly proud of the top achievers for delivering a superlative performance. I would also like to commend each and every employee for their unstinted support and contribution to realize our corporate vision. Their dedication and belief makes us strive to sustain and grow our leadership position in the Takaful industry. Strategic measures taken such as new product lines, efficient cost & claims management and investment returns have contributed to this performance. Fazal Ghaffoor, CEO - ATL PLC, Addressing the gathering As the pioneer Takaful provider, ATL operates through 35 branches and is eager on expanding further - to better serve its customers around the country. ATL continuously reaches out to customers from all segments of society and offers innovative and state-of-the-art insurance products that are convenient, affordable and reliable. As part of its commitment to remain open to all, ATL serves all communities and employs a multi-ethnic team across its network. Amana Takaful Maldives PLC (ATM), recognized for their stellar contribution to the group The Champion of Champions award winners. The Champion of Champions award winners. 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. And party reorganisations would not muster peoples support The UNP and the SLFP are also struggling with their internal problems compelling the leaders of the two parties to dedicate most of their time to sort out those issues It is not clear whether the Cabinet reshuffle and the UNP reorganisation would serve the purpose of the leaders of the government and the UNP This week saw another Cabinet reshuffle which was the fourth of the sort for the past three years after the present so-called Yahapalana government assumed office and the third this year. Government ministers told the media before the new ministers were sworn in that this would be a scientific Cabinet and President Maithripala Sirisena also claimed on Monday that what he has appointed was a scientific Cabinet. However, this is not a scientific Cabinet as many subjects that should have come under one ministry have been assigned to various ministries. Besides, there cannot be a scientific Cabinet under a so-called National Government as subjects that should be under one ministry gets scattered under several ministries when the number of ministries are increased in order to form the National Government. National governments are meant to face national crises or to implement special programmes under special circumstances and political parties are expected to sacrifice towards this end. Yet under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution political parties can be bribed with portfolios in order to form National Governments, since the expected national governments are not only ones instituted to implement such national programmes or to face such national crises, rather they are also formed just because no party has the absolute majority power in the Parliament to form the government alone. The Cabinet was not rearranged this time because of the need to institute it on a scientific basis. It was carried out purely as an attempt to continue the so-called unity government which was on the brink of collapse after the no-confidence motion presented by the Joint Opposition last month against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Nevertheless, it is not clear that this would be the last Cabinet reshuffle in this year as there seem to be members of the ruling coalition, especially in the United National Party (UNP) who are not satisfied with the current allocation of portfolios. It is also a well-known fact that the UNP wants former minister Ravi Karunanayake to be absorbed into the Cabinet, despite the Presidential Commission on the Central Bank bond scam having recommended to take legal action against him. It is said that it was President Maithripala Sirisena who dismissed the UNPs overture. This is not a scientific Cabinet as many subjects that should have come under one ministry have been assigned to various ministries Meanwhile, the two main political parties of the government, the UNP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are also struggling with their internal problems compelling the leaders of the two parties to dedicate most of their time to sort out those issues. The UNP is now fresh from a party reorganization process where number of top posts except for the posts of Leader, Deputy Leader and Assistant Leader of the party have been changed. However, it is not clear whether there is a change in the decision making powers of the new office bearers. The decision for the reorganisaton of the UNP was also not taken collectively by the party hierarchy to face the current political challenges, rather it was a direct upshot of the outcry by some leading members of the party against the leadership following the partys humiliating defeat at the February 10 local government elections. State Minister Palitha Range Bandara was one openly challenging the party leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe claiming that he would bring in a no-confidence motion against the latter. Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake had stated several times that he wished to see a change in the party leadership. Deputy Minister Eran Wickramarathna opines that all office bearers including the party leader be appointed by vote. In the wake of the defeat of the two ruling parties at the local council elections Mr. Wickremesinghe responding to the journalists who questioned him about the agitations within the party at a media briefing told that a collective leadership would be formed in the near future. Accordingly, a politburo was appointed apparently to bring in changes in the top posts in the party. However, the politburo was not the top most body of the party as the ones in the leftist parties or not empowered to take final decisions on the party reorganisation. The politburo had recommended some changes in the top positions of the party and they were ratified by the partys Working Committee before being implemented. Thus, former General Secretary Kabir Hashim was appointed new Chairman while Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam being appointed in his former place and Sajith Premadasa and Ravi Karunanayake were reappointed as Deputy Leader and Assistant Leader respectively. Leaders of the government and the UNP do not have the most important tool, a coherent economic programme to muster the support of the masses This was not the first time Mr. Wickremesinghe had to come upon rebellions from within his party. Since 2001 several times his leadership was challenged and every time partys election defeats were cited as reasons behind the agitations. There were two such major revolts in 2001 and 2014 and interestingly the party in both times succeeded in major elections instituting its rule over the country and putting an end to the revolts within months. In 2001, it was party General Secretary Gamini Athukorale and former Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara were in the forefront against Mr. Wickremesinghe. There was a failed attempt to oust him while he was in Norway in July 2001. The rebels then wanted to appoint Karu Jayasuriya as the leader. Then in 2010 Sajith Premadasa challenged Wickremsnghes leadership and the row lasted till 2014 when Mr. Wickremesinghe appointed a leadership council in order to pacify his adversaries within the party. Though it was not up to the satisfaction of the rebels, the premature Presidential election announced by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa saved the day for Wickremesinghe. In fact, after the defeat of the UNP at the Presidential as well as the General Election in 1994 following its 17 year rule, the party failed to install a stable government, despite it being voted into power twice. And except for the 2001 Parliamentary election the party had been repeatedly unsuccessful in all national, provincial and local elections. In spite of the UNP having won the 2001 December General Election its administration came to an abrupt end just in two years and two months when President Chandrika Kumaratunga dissolved the Parliament on February 7, 2004 at the instance of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna over differences on the peace talks between the government and the LTTE. And this time within three years into its administration the party as well as its government have run into storms threatening the survival of its leadership and the government. It is not clear whether the Cabinet reshuffle and the UNP reorganisation would serve the purpose of the leaders of the government and the UNP. The professed purpose of them are to win over the people before the next Presidential and General Election. However, leaders of the government and the UNP lack the most important tool, a coherent economic programme to muster the support of the masses. The High Commission of India presents YOGA FOR YOUTHYOGA FOR ALL, an innovative Yoga programme that envisages reaching out to more than 20,000 students at different Universities all over Sri Lanka. It aims to create awareness and spread the essence of yoga among the youth of Sri Lanka. This programme will lead on to the 4th International Day of Yoga schedule for next month. Yoga is a key element of the shared cultural heritage of India and Sri Lanka and an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition to humanity. In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution piloted by India to declare June 21 each year as the International Day of Yoga. The resolution was supported by more than 170 countries, with Sri Lanka being one of the first co-sponsors. Since then, International Day of Yoga has been celebrated with great enthusiasm each year throughout Sri Lanka. A team of Yoga instructors from all the eminent yoga institutes of Sri Lanka, as well as the Indian Cultural Centre, will travel to different Universities and conduct a series of Yoga lecture-demonstrations and workshops from 9th May to 28th May. These events are being organized in collaboration with Consulate General of India, Jaffna, Consulate General of India, Hambantota, Assistant High Commission of India, Kandy and eminent Yoga institutes of Sri Lanka such as Astanka Yoga Mandir, Sethsada Yoga, Youth Council of Sri Lanka, Institute of Human Excellence, A.A.Y.U.S.H., Sri Lanka, Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Center, Om Kriya Babaji Yoga Aranyam, Hatha Yoga Centre, Prana Lounge and Shakhti Ananda Yoga school. Further details about 4th International Day of Yoga can be obtained by visiting Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo or by calling 2684698. Details can also be obtained by sending a mail to iccrcolombo2@gmail.com The recent death of Ariyasena U. Gamage was a great loss for not only the medical profession, but also for people who are thinkers, philosophers and explorers. One outstanding feature about him was that he was never dogmatic about his views as a Western medicine doctor and was willing to explore other truths of the world. In a recent article penned by Science writer and journalist Nalaka Gunawardene for Sunday Ravaya he says that Dr. Gamage had even seen some positives in wearing pirith nool, a thread blessed by a black magician and often worn by patients. The doctor had said that the pirith nool can help the patient because there were positive human thoughts and wishes to get well embedded in it. He even chose to do a study of alternative medicine for his PHD. For this purpose he travelled to countries like India, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and China He began his career in 1979 as Medical Officer Health (MoH) of Mawanella. He also served as Medical Director Kegalle and even lectured at Peradeniya University. However, later in his medical career, he opened a dispensary in Mawanella and served the public. Its said that the late Dr. Gamage had used kind words when dealing with patients which many vouch had a soothing effect on patients who came for treatment. Though he was open to the ideas of others the doctor was also on a mission to squash myth and educate people. For this he used media tools like Youtube, television, newspaper and books. Some of the books that are popular with his readers are Mata Aduma Dan Suwai (Im now cured of my wheeze), Rajek Unath Ledek Unoth (Whats the use of being a doctor whos sick) and Puthgalikai Rahasigathai (Private and confidential). He also wrote extensively on rebirth and invested time and energy on pursuing this subject. He was a critic of myths and often condemned the talk about the existence of pills which made females lose the ability to bear children. He also squashed several myths associated with the decease cancer. Dr. Gamage led a happy life which was full of accomplishments. He bid goodbye to this world on March 29. The funeral of the Dr. Gamage was held at his hometown in Mawanella on April 1. Research on alternative medicine Much if his time and energies went in to doing research on alternative medicine. Dr. Gamage affirmed that alternative medicine practised in Sri Lanka could be used for primary cures. He even chose to do a study of alternative medicine for his PHD. For this purpose he travelled to countries like India, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and China. Apart from ayurveda, he also explored the possibility available for curing patients using Sri Lankas very own native treating methods. Dr. Gamage also invested time on doing research on rebirth. He was a patient listener when stories were related to him on these lines. But the doctor was never hasty in forming his opinion on these subjects. He didnt hesitate to question myth and never spoke about any such subject without thoroughly analysing its content. He also wrote extensively using print media and even regularly spoke on the subject sex education. He used media to open a column by the name Wedek unath ledek unoth (Whats the use of being a doctor if you are sick). By this time he was diagnosed with cancer. (Hodgkins Lymphone). Saradiel Village Dr. Gamage created time for other activities. Being a doctor consumes most of the hours when a medical practitioner is awake. But he had time to travel and explore. One of his patients Aloysius Perera, a teacher, had once told him about how Uthuwankande Saradiel had hid in the balcony at his residence in Mawanella. This residence is now known as Galle Gedara. Its said that hearing such stories had prompted Dr. Gamage to build Saradiel Village in Uthuwana, Mawanella. He had later said that he had build this village to honour the country and the medical profession. An old boy of Richmond College Galle, Dr. Gamage married Dr. Manel Dissanayake, also a product of the same medical college he graduated from. They raised two daughters who also went on to become doctors themselves. According to media reports their offspring also chose doctors as their life partners. Its somewhat perplexing for us laymen to fathom that doctors who prescribe medicine for us also fall ill. Dr. Gamage was said to have been in the best of health before being diagnosed with cancer. But the positive nature of this man didnt allow him to succumb to depression despite the cancer within his body spreading rapidly and causing disruption within. Dr. Gamage led a happy life which was full of accomplishments. He bid goodbye to this world on March 29. The funeral of the late Dr. Gamage was held at his hometown in Mawanella on April 1. This candle in the medical profession that blew out, leaves a void for a person who explores, does research and analyses matters that are outside the medical syllabus but are important to people. His medical colleagues and close associates will vouch that Dr. Gamage was one of the best examples for a person who never removed his thinking cap. Korea, (rt.com), 3 May 2018 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he strongly supports denuclearization during a rare meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The diplomat is visiting Pyongyang after a landmark agreement between the two Koreas. The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is the firm position of the North Korean side, Kim Jong-un told Wang Yi on Thursday. During the talks Kim also emphasized peaceful changes and further promotion of peace in the region that came after he traveled to the South and met his counterpart Moon Jae-in. The declaration, signed by the duo at the historic meeting on April 27, marked the beginning of new age of peace and sought complete denuclearization. Beijing hailed the agreement that ends the state of war and said it fully supports North Koreas commitment. On Wednesday, Wang Yi started a two-day visit to the neighbouring communist state and met his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-Ho. Wang became the highest-ranking Chinese official to travel to North Korea in 11 years. Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera who is currently attending the 51st Annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila held discussions with In-Chang Song, an Executive Director of the Board of ADB at the ADB Headquarters yesterday. The ADB programme in Sri Lanka has provided loans, grants and technical assistance to boost the countrys economy and improve the lives of people, particularly the poor, women, children and other vulnerable groups. ADB has worked closely with Sri Lanka since 1966, signing loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling US$9.1 billion as of 31 December 2017. The government, formed following the presidential and general elections in January 2015 and August 2015 respectively is focused on inclusive growth, good governance, and private sector development. Over the next 5 years, ADB will contribute to the Government of Sri Lankas key development goals of job creation, income enhancement, rural economic development, knowledge formation, and economic diversification (including export development). Both sides agreed at the meeting to accelerate ongoing bilateral projects, which currently surpass US$ 3.6 billion. The Sri Lankan delegation to the ADB conference includes Secretary to Treasury Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and other senior officials from the budget department and the ERD. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera was among a four-member panel that discussed Technology for Change live on CNBC Global yesterday on the sidelines of the 51st Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank. The other panelists were Takehiko Nakao, President of the ADB, Minnette Navarette, President of Kickstart Ventures, and Nandita Parshad, Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, who were engaged in a debate by CNBCs Anchor Oriel Morrison. The discussion focused on the emerging new technologies and the impact of such advanced systems on developing societies particularly on employment generation. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence were identified as new areas of concern, but the panelists agreed that better educated well-trained youth will be able to adjust to these changes if governments are encouraged to steer educational systems fitting to contemporary demands of the global job markets. Penny Black was the worlds first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was issued in Great Britain on 1 May 1840, for official use from 6 May of that year. It features a profile of Queen Victoria. The stamp marks its 178th anniversary on May 6 (Sunday). In 1837, British postal rates were high, complex and anomalous. To simplify matters, Sir Rowland Hill proposed an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment of postage. At the time it was normal for the recipient to pay postage on delivery, charged by the sheet and on the distance travelled. The picture in the stamp features Queen Victoria, based on a sketch of her by William Wyon when she visited London in 1837. The Penny Black stamp was only used for one year because the red cancellation mark was hard to spot on its black background. As a result, nine months later, the stamp was reprinted as a red stamp, so that the black cancellation marks were easily visible and harder to remove. Cancellation A special postmark was also introduced to cancel the stamps. This was popularly known as the Maltese Cross. It was to begin with in black. But since it was difficult to spot a black postmark on a black stamp the color was changed to red. The postal authorities were clearly worried that people might clean the stamp so that it could be used again. The colour of Penny Black was later changed to red for this very reason. Printing plates The stamps were printed on sheets of 240, from engraved steel plates, on gummed paper with a single small crown watermark on each stamp. They were imperforated and had to be cut out with scissors. Corner letters The stamps were printed on sheets of 240 (2012) and they had corner letters (bottom left and right of the stamp) corresponding to its position on the plate. Starting with AA, AB, ACto AL for the top row, the second row goes from BA to BL and the twentieth row from TA to TL. Four different alphabets were used in the course of time to form the corner letters. A penny black with the corner letters SG is shown below, as well as its position on the sheet. Main factors affecting value 1- The condition grading and centering. An unused or mint stamp is generally worth more than a used one. The number, size, and regularity of the margins make a big difference to the value. The stamps were not perforated, and had to be separated using scissors. As there is only about 1mm between one stamp and another, it is very easy to wander off just a little and cut into the printed design of the stamp. 2- The plate the stamp was printed from 3- The overall appearance of the stamp. Any fault such as a thin, tear, crease, or stain will reduce the value BOI approves projects exceeding US $ 1bn Export earnings surpass EDB targets Three trade zones in pipeline for this year BOI approves US $ 500mn LNG project by CMEC By Nishel Fernando Sri Lanka has attracted US $465 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2018 (1Q18), exceeding the Board of Investment (BOI) target of US $378 million for the period, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama told reporters in Colombo, yesterday. He said during the three months, the BOI approved US $ 1 billion worth of new projects, with the BOI giving approval for a US $ 500 million LNG project by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) in Hambanthota. According to BOI data, infrastructure projects have brought in US $201 million worth of FDI to the country while utilities projects have attracted US $157 million followed by manufacturing, tourism & leisure and apparel, at US $42 million, US $46 million and US $16 million, respectively. Speaking on the new export processing zones in the pipeline, Minister Samarawickrama said that the government is planning to finalise the agreement with the Thailand-based Rojana, a joint venture between Japans Nippon Steel and Thailands Vinichbutr Group, to develop the Milleniya free trade zone. He also noted that the government is seeking Japanese investors to develop the 400-acre Bingiriya free trade zone and the 165-acre Mawathagama free trade zone, where the construction is set to begin within this year. Meanwhile, Samarawickrama also revealed that merchandise exports recorded a 6.3 percent growth in 1Q18 to reach US $ 2.91 billion against US $2.74 billion recorded in the corresponding period a year ago, achieving the 22 percent export target of the year set by the Export Development Board (EDB). The overall exports, which include service exports, grew by 6.7 percent to US $3.93 billion. The government has set a target to achieve US $17.4 billion in overall exports this year. According to EDB figures based on Customs data, apparel and textiles exports during 1Q18 grew by 4 percent year-on-year (YoY) to US $1.324 billion from while tea exports grew 5.2 percent YoY to US $ 363.15 million. Rubber and rubber-finished products exports grew by a healthy 9 percent YoY to reach US $236.9 million while coconut and coconut-based products exports grew marginally by 0.8 percent to reach US $147.5 million. Electrical and electronics exports grew by 10.7 percent YoY to US $100.6 million while exports of petroleum products grew by 45.5 percent YoY to reach US $79.3 million. Exports to the United States (US) recorded a growth of 6 percent to reach US $782 million while exports to the United Kingdom (UK) declined by 1.09 percent YoY to US $270 million. Exports to Germany, India and China grew by 23 percent, 5.8 percent and 0.3 percent YoY to US $153.9 million, US $182 million and US $ 51.7 percent, respectively. Samarawickrama noted that since the Yahaplayana regime came into power in 2015, the overall exports have grown from US $12 billion in 2015 to US $15.15 billion in 2017. Bilateral trade talks steaming ahead Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry, Chandani Wijewardane said the Sri Lankan and South Korean governments are planning to start negotiations for a trade and investment agreement shortly, which could potentially lead to a free trade agreement (FTA). Responding to media queries, Wijewardane said that the seventh round of Sri Lanka-China FTA talks is likely to be held in June after almost 9 months while the Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) talks with India are scheduled to commence by the end of May. The FTA talks between Sri Lanka and Thailand are also scheduled to commence in June with the scoping session. Minister Samarawickrama stressed that Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA, which is set to come into force from May 1st, has sent a strong message to the world that Sri Lanka is open to reforms and committed to liberalisation of its economy. By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The Coalition Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe may soon be facing a political challenge from an unexpected quarter, namely the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). The TNA regarded as the premier political configuration of the Sri Lankan Tamil people is becoming increasingly frustrated at what it perceives as the slow pace and tardy progress of the Constitution-making process. Therefore the TNA is planning to launch a non-violent protest campaign against the UNP-SLFP coalition Government if it continues to procrastinate and dilly-dally on this issue. If and when matters do reach a point where a political confrontation becomes inevitable, the TNA proposes to embark on a huge non-violent protest campaign to pressure the Government to expedite the making of a new Constitution. The TNA currently comprises the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE). Another constituent, the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) has dropped out of the TNA because of alleged political differences. The TNA contested the August 2015 parliamentary polls under the house symbol of its chief constituent the ITAK (Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi) which is referred to in English as the FP (Federal Party). The TNA contesting as ITAK won sixteen seats consisting of fourteen elected and two national list MPs in the 2015 election. After the EPRLF pull-out the number has dropped to 15 from 16 MPs. From the inception of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government in 2015, the TNA has pursued a non-confrontational, conciliatory approach towards the regime. In spite of TNA parliamentary group leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan becoming the leader of the opposition, the TNA has co-operated with the Government in many ways like voting for the Budget etc. The TNA even voted against the no-confidence motion brought by sections of the opposition against incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Despite much criticism from hawkish elements on either side of the ethnic divide, the TNA has adopted this collaborative relationship with the ruling regime for the primary purpose of enacting a new Constitution. The TNA has been hopeful that a new Constituted formulated through a consensual approach with the full participation of the Tamil MPs in the Constitution drafting process could help resolve the Tamil national question through an effective power-sharing arrangement providing maximum devolution possible to the pre-dominantly Tamil Northern Province and the Tamil majority Eastern Province. In fairness to the Yahapalanaya/Nallaatchi/Good Governance Government it did proceed with sincerity to implement its pledged commitments towards Constitution-making. The Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe formulated a different approach towards Constitution-making as opposed to similar exercises in 1972 and 1978. Initially a framework resolution was passed on March 9, 2016, by which all 225 Members of Parliament converted themselves into a Constitutional Assembly. The Constitutional Assembly is chaired by the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. A constitutional assembly secretariat was also established. Constitutional Assembly Steering Committee On April 5, 2016 the Constitutional Assembly set up a 21-member Steering Committee comprising Parliamentarians of different hues. The composition of the steering committee reflected the configuration of different political parties as represented in Parliament. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe became the Steering committees chairman. Other members of the Steering Committee are Lakshman Kiriella, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Rauff Hakeem, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, A.D. Susil Premajayantha, Rishad Bathiudeen, Patali Champika Ranawaka, D. M. Swaminathan, Mano Ganesan, Malik Samarawickrama, Rajavarothyam Sampanthan, Anura Dissanayake, Dilan Perera, Dinesh Gunawardena, Jayampathy Wickramaratne, M. A. Sumanthiran, Ms. Thusitha Wijemanne, Bimal Rathnayake, Prasanna Ranatunga and Douglas Devananda. According to the envisaged Constitution drafting procedure the Steering Committees task was to prepare the Draft Constitutional Proposal for consideration of the Constitutional Assembly The Steering Committee identified 12 main subject areas. It was decided by the Steering Committee that certain subjects would be dealt with directly by the Committee itself. Those were matters covered by Chapter 1 and 2 of the present Constitution, Nature of the State, Sovereignty, Religion, Form of Government, Electoral Reforms, Principles of Devolution and Land. The other six subjects were assigned to specially set up sub-committees. The Steering Committee on April 28, 2016 resolved that a Management Committee should be appointed to make arrangements and facilitate the work of the Steering Committee, Sub-Committees, and all secretarial work including staff requirements. Accordingly, the following persons were appointed as members of the Management Committee: Jayampathy Wickramaratne, MP Co-chairman, M.A. Sumanthiran, MP Co-Chairman, Neil Iddawala, Chief of Staff, Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, and Secretary to the Steering Committee, Naufel Abdul-Rahman, Secretary to the Leader of the House of Parliament, Ms. Bimba Jayasinghe Tillekeratne PC, Additional Secretary (Legal Affairs) to the Hon. Prime Minister The Constitutional Assembly at a sitting held on May 5th 2016, appointed six thematic Sub-Committees to assist the Steering Committee in drafting a constitutional proposal. The six sub-committees and their themes are Fundamental Rights, The Judiciary, Law and Order, Public Finance, Public Services and Centre-Periphery Relations. Each Sub-committee consists of 11 members, including the Chairman. The six Chairmen were appointed from among the members selected to the Sub-Committees based on considerations of seniority. According to the envisaged Constitution drafting procedure the Steering Committees task was to prepare the Draft Constitutional Proposal for consideration of the Constitutional Assembly. Once the Constitutional draft proposals were accepted and approved by the Constitutional Assembly with a two-thirds majority, it would be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. Thereafter the cabinet was expected to approve them -- with or without changes - and present the Constitutional provisions to Parliament as a bill to get passed by a two-thirds majority. Following which, the approval and sanction of the people would be obtained by way of an Island-wide referendum. With that Sri Lanka hopefully would once again be able to have a new Constitution. The steering committee was required to present both an interim report and a final report. The Reports of the six Sub Committees and another report by an ad-hoc Committee appointed by the Steering Committee were tabled before the Constitutional Assembly on 19th November and 10th December 2016 respectively. The Interim Report of the Steering Committee dealt with the remaining subjects that were not assigned to any Sub-Committee and also contained principles and formulations that reflected the deliberations of the Steering Committee. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe The Constitutional assembly Steering Committee met 73 times between April, 2016 and September, 2017. The Constitutional Assembly Steering Committees Interim Report was presented to Parliament in its Constitutional Assembly Avatar by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the committee Chairman.The committee had accomplished the first part of its mandate through the presentation of its interim report on September 21, 2017. The Parliamentary debate on the interim report was held for five days in the last week of October and first week of November 2017. There was no vote taken as the Steering committee comprising representatives of all political formations in Parliament had approved the interim report. The debate provided much time for all concerned to air their views publicly. It was expected that the Steering Committee final report would be compiled and completed by the end of the year and placed before the Constitutional Assembly/Parliament in January 2018. What is required now is for the Govt to take certain policy decisions at one level and for the Steering Committee to meet and arrive at definite conclusions at another level Unfortunately there was very little forward movement on the Constitutional front since then. The personality clash between President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, the simmering tensions between the UNP and SLFP elements within Govt folds, the Local authority poll electoral campaign, the Central Bank treasury bonds scam related matters, the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister etc., resulted in a standstill in constitution making matters. This lack of progress on the Constitutional front has had a tremendous impact on the TNA in general and its leader Sampanthan in particular. Trincomalee district MP and leader of the opposition Rajavarothayam Sampanthan is the senior-most Tamil leader in Parliament today. Born in February 1933 the 85-year-old TNA leader has participated in almost every meaningful attempt to bring about a negotiated settlement to the Tamil national question over the past 40 years since 1977. Currently Sampanthan and TNA lawyer - parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran have fully involved themselves with the Constitutional assembly tasked with the formulation of a new constitution. They have dedicated themselves to the task of achieving political equality for Tamils on the Island through this envisaged constitution. The overseas tigers are strongly opposed to the current constitution making exercise. That is why they and their acolytes in Sri Lanka display venomous hatred towards Sampanthan and Sumanthiran who are fully supportive of and are immersed in the Constitutional exercise. Sampanthan has hitched the TNA wagon to the new Constitution star and would very much like to attain his political objectives in the near future. Being an octogenarian he knows that the sands of time are running out. Sampanthan realises and recognizes that the best possible chance to bring about a satisfactory resolution of the Tamil question through acceptable power sharing arrangements in a new Constitution is under this Govt. In meetings with International leaders, diplomats and senior officials ,the TNA leader has consistently and constantly requested that the Govt should be encouraged and supported to bring about a new Constitution ensuring equal rights and power sharing arrangements. Local Authority Election Results The constructive support extended by the TNA to the Sirisena - Wickremesinghe Govt has had a negative fallout too. The recent local authority election results indicated that the TNA had lost considerable support in the Tamil areas of the North and East. The TNA came first in 41 Pradeshiya sabhas/sabhais and the councils it contested in the North-east but obtained outright majorities in only four. More importantly the total number of votes polled in the 2018 local polls dropped by 34% when compared to the 2015 Parliamentary elections. One of the chief reasons - if not the sole reason -- for such a decline is attributed by some analysts to the TNAs association with the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe regime. The TNA cannot show the fruits of cooperation by way of jobs,schemes or projects because it does not have ministerial portfolios. It has only sought to redress Tamil grievances and accommodate legitimate Tamil aspirations Unlike other political parties representing the Muslim and Up Country Tamil communities the TNA did not seek ministerial office in this Government. The TNA cannot show the fruits of cooperation by way of jobs,schemes or projects because it does not have ministerial portfolios. The TNA has only sought to redress Tamil grievances and accommodate legitimate Tamil aspirations through cooperation with the Government. Although there has been some progress in issues like return of military held lands back to civilian owners and release of Tamil detainees etc there is little progress in the prized objective of the TNA namely Constitutional reform or a new Constitution. To the TNA in general and Sampanthan in particular it was a single item political agenda -a new Constitution. However as stated earlier the progress on the Constitution front has been slow and not up to the mark. Moreover there was no progress at all after the Steering Committee Interim Report was presented and debated upon last year. There was a general impression that the Constitutional process was paralysed after the interim report was presented. This affected the TNA badly in the polls. It was unable to effectively present strong proof that its cooperation with the Govt was indeed paying dividends. The TNA was depicted by its hardline opponents as either a diabolical or naive entity. At worst the TNA had sold out like a charlatan and at best the party had been taken for a ride like a fool.This impacted to a great extent in the local poll results. Thus the TNA faced the prospect of further political decline within its constituency if it continued to cooperate with the Government without gaining anything on the Constitutional front. The TNA is in a dilemma. Either it gets the Government to deliver on the new constitution or it has to exit from its current stance of lending constructive support. It is against this backdrop that TNA leader Sampanthan had separate meetings with President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe last month. Sampanthan urged both to revive and renew the Constitution making process. Both assured the opposition leader that the Constitutional Assembly Steering Committee would be convened after the re-allocation of portfolios to cabinet ministers,state ministers and deputy -ministers. Now that the scientific re-shuffle is over the TNA expects the President and Prime Minister to demonstrate their bona fides by delivering on the new Constitution. Jayampathy Wickramaratne and MA Sumanthiran It is learnt reliably that despite the lull in the convening of the Constitutional Assembly steering committee, considerable progress has been made in drafting by the management committee co-chaired by Jayampathy Wickramaratne and MA Sumanthiran. What is required now is for the Govt to take certain policy decisions at one level and for the Steering Committee to meet and arrive at definite conclusions at another level. If political agreement is reached at multiple levels and the green light is given the final report of Constitutional proposals by the Steering committee or the draft constitution proposals would be ready for presentation to the Constitutional Assembly within two weeks. For all this to happen the political will, courage and strength must be there for the Government. This lack of progress on the Constitutional front has had a tremendous impact on the TNA in general and its leader Sampanthan in particular Bitter experience of defaulting Governments over the years and current political realities have naturally made the TNA wary. It is no longer willing to trust the Government fully on this count and provide carte blanche. If the Govt is found to be dilly-dallying or procrastinating without convening the Steering Committe, the TNA will for the first time since January 2015 confront the Govt politically. The ITAK and TNA spokesman, MA Sumanthiran in an interview given to a Tamil TV on April 21st 2018 made an announcement to this effect. Sumanthiran said that if the Government does not deliver within a reasonable period of time the TNA would launch a totally non - violent protest campaign to demonstrate to the world at large that the Govt is not fulfilling its promises about formulating a new Constitution. According to informed Tamil sources the TNA game-plan seems to be this. The TNA will be urging the Government to show progress on the Constitutional front by convening the Steering Committee and working on a Constitutional draft in May and early June. Meanwhile the chief constituent of the TNA the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) will hold its biennial party convention in late June. If the Govt does convene the Steering Committee and there is forward movement by that time the ITAK convention will approve and endorse the efforts through a resolution.If on the other hand the Govt does not move forward and defaults on its assurances before early June, the ITAK Convention would pass a different resolution calling for large -scale non-violent direct action protesting the Governments inaction and drawing the attention of the world. Thereafter the TNA also would meet and ratify the ITAK resolution. This would be followed by the launch of a non - violent protest amounting to a civil disobedience campaign on Gandhian lines of Ahimsa and Satyagraha. Historical Precedent in Tamil Politics There is a historical precedent in Tamil politics for this. In 1961 the ITAK/FP launched a Satyagraha campaign that paralysed the work of Kachcheris in the Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts. (There were no Mullaitheevu or Kilinochchi districts then). The campaign lasted for weeks and was finally crushed by the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Govt through the deployment of the armed services and the house arrest of prominent Tamil leaders. Prior to the commencement of the campaign the ITAK held its party convention and passed a unanimous resolution calling for a non - violent campaign. Likewise the ITAK convention in 2014 during the Rajapaksa regime also passed a resolution calling for a massive non - violent protest campaign. The ITAK was planning to launch its campaign in January 2015 and began making preparations. Thousands of headgear known as Gandhi capshad been stitched. The Congress party in India launched many non - violent campaigns under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi against British rulers during the colonial period. All Congress volunteers participating in the non - violent campaigns wore the Gandhi caps. The ITAK which has a history of being inspired by Gandhian ideals and methods planned to stage a non - violent campaign with volunteers wearing Gandhi caps then. However the political situation changed in November with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa calling for an early election. The TNA backed the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena who defeated Rajapaksa on January 8th 2015. History was made. Thereafter the TNA shelved the idea of a non - violent campaign as unnecessary and commenced its co-operative phase with the new President and Government. Campaign Not Confined To Tamils Alone Now due to the lack of progress on the Constitutional front the TNA may be compelled to launch a non - violent campaign again. According to TNA sources the campaign unlike in the past would not be confined to Tamils alone.It would seek to embrace all shades of opinion supportive of greater devolution in a new Constitution. By this the ITAK/TNA will seek to De-ethnicise the quest for a new Constitution and greater devolution. Moreover the protest demonstrations would not only be held in Sri Lanka but held simultaneously in all international cities in the West with substantial Tamil Diaspora concentrations and in India ,Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore and Mauritius. The idea is to draw attention to the legitimate Tamil cause and enlist international support for a new Constitution. Furthermore the Non - violent protest campaign and its resultant political fall-out will enable the TNA to make a break with this Govt. Although the TNA is not an intergral component of this Govt it is perceived as an extensionof the regime in some matters. The TNA needs to break out of this image trap in order to face elections successfully. If there is progress on the Constitutional front the TNA can utilise it to political advantage.If there is no progress then the TNA needs to exit from this Collaborative relationship with the Govt. Hence the protest campaign can pave the way for the TNA to liberate itself from Govt bondage This then is the prevailing political situation concerning the TNA. It appears that the Tamil alliance would have no option but to launch a non - violent campaign against the present Govt if there is no forward movement on the making of a new Constitution. This in turn could alter the political situation drastically. It is advisable that the TNA exercises restraint and patience as far as possible without rushing into direct action. After all the differences with the current Govt amount to friendly contradictions more than fundamental contradictions. Shortage Of Pragmatism And Common Sense Even though the TNA is planning to commence a non - violent protest campaign on Gandhian lines it is to be hoped that the need to launch such a campaign does not arise. For that to happen President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe must patch up their differences, put their house in order and pursue a realistic policy of Constitutional reform with sincerity. For all that to happen there is an immense need for pragmatic common sense to prevail among all concerned.Sadly there is a serious shortage of pragmatism and common sense among Sri Lankan politicians right now. D.B.S. Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com The next few days are fraught with danger. One of the most momentous decisions of the century is about to be made. Will President Donald Trump certify or not that Iran is honouring the agreement made with the US and the other permanent members of the UN Security Council to end its nuclear enrichment research, which some observers argued (but not the CIA) was leading to an Iranian nuclear bomb? Danger number one is that it will push Iran to break its side of the bargain and the fear of nuclear bomb manufacture will provoke Saudi Arabia to emulate Iran. Already the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, has charged that Iran is on a rampage. Danger number two is that Israel, no longer constrained by the negotiations led by John Kerry, President Barack Obamas Secretary of State, will launch a preemptive attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Already there is talk- and some evidence -- that Iran likewise is gearing up for an attack on Israel. It will be a limited attack, a preemptive, preemptive attack, if you will, to warn the Israeli public of the cost of war. Iran could never win a war with Israel but it can inflict far more damage than was incurred with Israels previous wars against Arab nations. Militarily it is far stronger than when Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded it in 1980. Now it has missiles that can match Israels, albeit it has no defensive iron shield like Israel. The war with Iraq of 1980-1988 was Irans darkest hour. It went on for eight years. Iraq used chemical weapons on a large scale. Iran refused to use them, with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini pronouncing that Islam did not allow weapons of mass destruction. The US, under President Ronald Reagan and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, provided Saddam with intelligence. The West as a whole supported Saddam, as did the UN. To understand this one has to recollect how deep was the fear of the export of Irans Islamic fundamentalism. Its fundamentalism spread far beyond Irans borders, even into Sunni countries. Iran will not forget this. It has long made it wary of American policies. Trust was forged during the nuclear negotiations. But if Trump withdraws from the treaty then it will be never again. Like the pre-Trump CIA, I think there is no evidence that Iran will build nukes. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khomeinis successor, has already said that would go against the Koran. But others will think thats what Iran will be up to. Tensions could rise to boiling point with Saudi Arabia and Israel and also with the US. It is important to remember, as John Hopkins professor, Vali Nasr writes in Foreign Affairs this month, Trump seems to believe that rolling back Iranian influence would restore order to the Middle East. But that expectation rests on a faulty understanding of what caused the breakdown in the first place. Iran did not cause the collapse. And containing Iran will not bring back stability. The 2003 US/UK invasion of Iraq was the trigger for instability. Iran no longer is dominated by those who regard their country as a cause not a country. The religious fervour of the 1979 revolution that overthrew the Shah has died down. Now the political leadership is largely pragmatic nationalists, although there are still plenty of hard-liners around. It has retreated towards the Shahs nationalism and moved away from fundamentalism. (By the way, the Shah when he was overthrown was trying to develop nuclear weapons with US help. The US thought that if Iran dominated the Gulf this would be a force for peace, ensuring Americas supply of oil.) Irans military strength is often overstated. Iran spends only 3% of its GNP on its military whereas Saudi Arabia spends 10% of a much larger GNP, Israel 6% and Iraq 4%. Iran spends only 13 billion US dollars a year compared with Saudi Arabias 64 billion. Irans strength is its militias and insurgents across the Middle East. They give support to Syrias Assad and the Shiites of Iraq. Iran calls this forward defence. They played an important role in the defeat of ISIS, which it saw correctly as a Sunni threat, indirectly supported by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. An important element in Irans political strength lies in its de facto alliance with Moscow. Moscow is 100% behind the nuclear agreement and, along with the Europeans and China, is struggling to persuade Trump to back down. Moscow found itself allied with Iran in Syria. By working together the two militaries and intelligence communities have built deep ties. The US cannot crack this alliance unless it invades. The bitter irony is that Trump, if he goes ahead with decertifying the nuclear treaty, will add to the instability, the propensity towards violence and anti-Americanism that lies at the heart of the Middle East. For 17 years Power was a foreign affairs columnist and commentator for the International Herald Tribune/New York Times. 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. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 1:00 pm Melinda C. Miller, 45, was arrested April 23 on a charge of trespassing when officers responded to the report of trespassing in the 100 block of Broad Street. Hamad M.H. Almenhali, 20, was arrested April 24 on charges of speeding and driving without valid operators license. Craig A. Ruppel, 48, was arrested on two warrants in another jurisdiction. Ernest R. Yates, 40, was arrested April 24 on charges of possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and a warrant in another jurisdiction. Officers responded April 14 to the report of a verbal domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Jefferson Street. Officers responded April 19 to the report of suspicious activity. Officers responded April 23 to the report of burglary and stealing in the 300 block of East North Street. Officers responded April 23 to the report of theft. Officers responded April 23 to the report of property damage. Officers responded April 4 to the report of a collision in the westbound lane of East Gay Street between Joyce E. Hunters 2014 RAM 150 and a parked 2001 Toyota RAV4 as Hunter is reported to have backed out of a parking space. Officers responded April 4 to the report of an injury collision at the intersection of South Maguire and East Clark streets when Thomas J. Fisher is reported to have been distracted/inattentive causing a collision between his 2010 Chevrolet Impala that was westbound on East Clark Street and Damian N. Mizeras, Maryville, 2011 Chevrolet Suburban that was southbound on Maguire Street. The Johnson County Ambulance District transported a passenger in Mizeras vehicle to the hospital. Officers responded April 10 to the report of a property damage at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Drummond Street. Officers responded April 7 to the report of a collision April 7 in the northbound lane of North Maguire Street when Bonnie K. Wyatt is reported to have improper lane usage/change causing a collision between her 1996 Ford Ranger and Donna J. Johnsons 1999 Mercury Marquis. Officers responded April 8 to the report of an injury collision in the eastbound lane of East Young Avenue when Ciaran U. Veal, Knob Noster, is reported to speed and improper lane usage/change causing a collision between his 2008 Ford Taurus and Roman A. Blanchards, Kansas City, 2012 KIA Soul. The report states alcohol is also believed to have caused Veal to collide with Blanchard. Officers responded April 9 to the report of a collision in the southbound lane of Main Street when Timothy D. Hancock is reported to have improper lane usage/change as he attempted to turn right from westbound Gay Street onto northbound Main Street causing a collision between his 2005 Scion Fr-S and Anahit N. Dilkes, Wichita, Kansas, 2007 Mazda 3 that was in the southbound lane of Main Street. Officers responded April 10 to the report of a collision in the southbound lane of Maguire Street between Arthur A. Lopez 1999 Chrysler Concorde and Brian L. Schooleys 2017 GMC Sierra. The 18th Goodguys Del Mar Nationals was arguably the best yet. Where to begin? The show was held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, home of the San Diego County Fair. In addition to the incredible array of rods and customs, this year also included a large and colorful display of amazing lowriders long a part of the Southern California car culture. Even if youre not familiar with the term lowriders, youve probably seen them hopping on their tires. Saturday was a big day. Special parking was reserved for the Camaro Corral, the Tri-5 Chevy Corral, Mighty Muscle and others. The Good Wood Area was a spectacular gathering of woodies in the Plaza de Mexico. There were over 2,500 hot rods and custom cars on display in the Show n Shine area. Proving that they were not all show and no go, several cars and a truck produced billowing clouds of tire smoke in the burnout competition. Pontiac GTO muscle car in the burnout competition Jan Wagner Terrific bargains were available at the huge swap meet. Treasures included vintage car parts, road signs, toys, old license plates and even complete cars. A blue-with-black-fenders, 1928 Ford Model A was being advertised for only $13,000! If only I had room for it. There were also project and parts cars available, including a rollover-wrecked, 2014 Shelby GT500 Mustang with what was described as a sound engine and drivetrain for an asking price of $16,500 or best offer. A beautiful 1950 Ford F1 panel truck, in Gongoras Body and Paint livery and painted in two-tone light green and off-white, was towing a matching 1955 StarFire vintage trailer, which was outfitted with period-correct camping knick-knacks, plates and pillows. Its proud owners do a lot of vintage camping. The sky is the limit for what people do to enhance these rigs, with some cleverly concealing all of the modern comforts of home while keeping the vintage look. A stunning 1932 Lincoln upgraded with a Chevrolet LS3 engine and modern independent suspension, so as to be safe for freeway driving was staged to include a chauffeur patiently waiting for his master to return to be driven somewhere. 1950 Ford F1 truck & 1955 StarFire trailer Jan Wagner Nearby was a wonderfully home-built/restored, 1940 Autocar Cab-Over-Engine truck. At the popular Goodguys Nitro Thunderfest, extremely loud dragsters were fired up in all their raucous glory. Earplugs were strongly recommended. At the Goodguys Autocross, the on-track action was as intense as ever as the fans in the stands cheered on their favorite cars and drivers. One at a time the drivers negotiated the tight turns, slipping and sliding up to and sometimes beyond the limits of adhesion as they each raced their way towards the checkered flags at the finish line. The penalty for pushing just a little too hard was hitting at least one cone, and perhaps several, knocking them high into the air and earning penalty points for each one struck. Corvette competing in the Goodguys autocross Jan Wagner The main autocross competition concluded on Saturday afternoon with the 16-car Duel in Del Mar. Then, on All American Sunday, the autocross was opened up to all years of American made or American-powered cars and trucks, including an American V-8-powered Porsche! That raised some eyebrows. As in past years I could not resist the temptation to dust off my 2011 Mustang GT, put on my helmet and go for it once again. Im getting rusty, as was evidenced by the huge drop in my times over the span of my first three runs. However, by the end I was back to my former form. Slowly cruising through the Del Mar Fairgrounds Jan Wagner There was also plenty for kids to see and do. At the Kids Zone, they could bounce and compete in kids-sized games of skill. At the Kids Model Car Make nTake, they were each given their own model car kit to build and then take home. For kids of any age, there was also an exhibition of highly detailed model cars and trucks. On Sunday, right before the presentation of the 70 awards, several little kids were invited to go up on stage, join the band and sing to a very appreciative audience. Throughout the year, Goodguys presents these popular gatherings for car enthusiasts across the country. To find an event near you, go to good-guys.com. To best enjoy this column, you will want to see the most photos. To do that go to www.drivetribe.com, search for AutoMatters & More and click on TRIBES. Until next time, send your comments and suggestions to AutoMatters@gmail.com. By Jim Morrison 24 April 2018 (Yale E360) Seen from a pedestrian footbridge overlooking Myrtle Park a sliver of land that Norfolk, Virginia is allowing to revert to wetlands the panorama of surrounding homes illustrates the accelerating sea level rise that has beleaguered this neighborhood along the Lafayette River. A grey house, among the first raised in the area, is slightly elevated on cinderblocks, standing 2 feet off the ground. Nearby, owners of a white-sided house with black shutters have lifted their dwelling about 4 feet above ground level. And on the right, a brick house resting on cinderblocks rises incongruously 11 feet above the street. The roads circling Myrtle Park are cracked and disintegrating due to frequent flooding. Tidal grasses like Spartina are springing up. The boulevard a block away, which leads to the worlds largest naval base, floods several times a year and the frequency is increasing.Things are getting worse, says William Skip Stiles, executive director of Wetlands Watch, a local advocacy group. Were now requiring you to go even higher in Norfolk because we get it.What Norfolk gets is that while sea level is rising globally at about a tenth of an inch per year, cities along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States including Norfolk; Baltimore; Charleston, South Carolina; and Miami, among others have suffered sunny day flooding from seas rising far faster than the global average. One study published last year shows that from 2011 to 2015, sea level rose up to 5 inches an inch per year in some locales from North Carolina to Florida. Given growing concerns over the flooding, scientists are now working to unravel the mystery of why some parts of the globe are experiencing so-called sunny day flooding that had not been expected for decades under conventional sea level rise projections. Along the southeastern coast of the U.S., researchers have zeroed in on three factors that have made this shoreline a regional hot spot of sea level rise. They include a slowing Gulf Stream, shifts in a major North Atlantic weather pattern, and the effects of El Nino climate cycles.These coastal areas are more vulnerable than they realize to short-term rapid acceleration of sea level rise, says Andrea Dutton, a University of Florida geologist who studies the history of sea level fluctuations. If theyre hanging their hat on sea level rise projections looking at the potential over decades, they need to refocus and think about the potential for short-term variability in that rate. [more] Ive lived in Iowa my entire life. Its the definition of landlocked. Its one of those states forgotten by the rest of the country and its not uncommon to meet someone while traveling that asks if Iowa is the one with the potatoes (Idaho) or the one with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Ohio). Iowa and the rest of the Midwest might be known more for agriculture, plains and the Great Lakes, but theres a rich culture in Middle America that a lot of people miss. Each state is unique with pace of life, terrain, history and industry, and thats worth celebrating. One of the things Ive always loved about home and studio tours on Design*Sponge is how each one gives a glimpse of life in a different part of the country. We get to see the lifestyles and design tastes of people from big cities, small towns and every place in between. Im proud to launch this new D*S regional series with the Midwest, my beautiful and sometimes unappreciated stomping grounds. Each post in the series will feature homes we love from the states of specific regions, along with notable people who live or grew up there and why they love it. Lauren SaveSave 2/24 Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight, a lifestyle blog and brand based in Minneapolis, MN. Find her gorgeous studio tour here. 3/24 OHIO Colorful walls, rugs and furniture give Lauren and Rians Cleveland rental a deep sense of home. 4/24 Dinara is a folk artist and illustrator originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan before moving to the United States with her parents. Ohio became her home when she got married, and Dinara has embraced the state she didnt think she would like. 5/24 MISSOURI Unexpected color and style combinations make this Springfield, MO craftsman the home of Brittany and Justins dreams. 6/24 Emily is the ceramic artist also known as The Object Enthusiast. Before moving back to Missouri, she lived in Omaha, Nebraska. 7/24 KANSAS Rich color and eclectic design have given new life to this fixer-upper ranch in Wichita. 8/24 After attending art school in Lawrence, KS, Grace decided to stay and pursue her artwork and activism in the Midwest. 9/24 WISCONSIN Jamie and AJs home had to be completely gutted, but the end result is a gorgeous house perfect for this family of seven. 10/24 Jenna is the entrepreneur/expert behind the Goal Digger Podcast and JennaKutcher.com. She has a deep love for her home state of Wisconsin and recently moved across the border to Minnesota. 11/24 INDIANA The charming Indianapolis home of Natalie, Dan and their three sons is perfect for family time and fun. 12/24 Ashley might live in New York now but her appreciation for her home state of Indiana is woven through her writings. 13/24 IOWA Liz Lidgett transformed her Des Moines, IA home into an art collectors haven. 14/24 Fine art photographer, Anna Jones, calls Des Moines, IA home while taking advantage of its central location and low cost of living to travel anywhere and everywhere with her husband and baby. 15/24 ILLINOIS Mindy MacNeils home in the suburbs of Chicago is layered with antique pieces, modern elements and every style in between. 16/24 Glendas use of color, tone and emotion in her mixed media work is brilliant. She grew up in Guatemala but now calls Illinois home. 17/24 MICHIGAN Not only is Veronica Hamlets Michigan home stunning, it launched her career in interior design. 18/24 Kelly Venturas paintings and surface designs are captivating. Her love for her state of Michigan is, too. 19/24 SOUTH DAKOTA Oksanas minimal and bohemian home in Sioux Falls, SD featured on Apartment Therapy reminds us that simplicity can be striking. 20/24 Juliana Brown Eyes music, photography, artwork and activism depict the true beauty of the people and scenery of South Dakota. Shes based on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with her tribe, Olgala Lakota. 21/24 NORTH DAKOTA Every space Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss photographs in North Dakota is as dreamy as the next. 22/24 Molly Yeh is a talented baker, cook and author living in North Dakota. Get a sample of her incredible cook book here. 23/24 NEBRASKA Youd never know this charming home in Omaha is a rental unit. Megan Pettipoole has turned it into a creative hub to share with her husband. Light-Gauge Steel Framing Washington Photo provided by NWCB The angular wood walls at Juno Therapeutics were covered in prefabricated and finished wood panels. Juno Therapeutics Location: Seattle Contractor: Firstline Systems Architect: Flad Architects Team: Cemco, Drywall Distributors, Georgia-Pacific, USG Building Systems Juno Therapeutics engaged Flad Architects to design a new workplace that would accelerate scientific research, recruit and retain world class talent, and promote collaboration. The design of this 260,000-square-foot headquarters creates a workplace planned around research neighborhoods. Each community is tethered to a central stair that connects the culture and preserves the bustle of Junos early days as a startup. The result is a seamless, transparent hub that offers individuals and groups a place for informal meetings, lunch, gatherings and solitary activities. A long wood wall forms the backdrop to each community in Junos open office culture. Junos science of optimizing the natural properties of T-cells is imitated in the walls architecture: The wood wall is folded to develop structural strength along the creases, using its natural properties to make it stronger. At regular intervals along the wood walls, floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide views into Junos research space, putting their science on display and shortening the distance between the research and support environments. The main challenges of the build-out were the designed angles located everywhere. In the plan, the walls leaned and the soffit sloped, creating complicated angles, which were covered in prefabricated and finished wood panels. The panels contained critical -inch reveals that highlighted any discrepancies in the substructure. The project was completed on budget and on time in September 2017. Judges comment: Much of the building carried angular designs going in multiple directions requiring surprisingly complex and technological construction framing solutions. Other Stories: Interior Commercial Oregon Photo provided by NWCB Domaine Serenes new visitor center in Willamette Valley required a half-mile of plasterwork. Domaine Serene Location: Dayton Contractor: Billings & Cronn Co. Architect: Waterleaf Architecture Team: BASF Senergy, BMI Products, Evergreen Building Products, GTS Interior Supply, Knez Building Materials Co., Spears Construction Supply, Steeler, USG Building Systems, Western Materials Domaine Serene, an established winery nestled in the Dundee Hills of Oregonas Willamette Valley, opened a new visitor center and tasting room last year called The Clubhouse. The ownersa vision for The Clubhouse was inspired by Chateau de la Cree, their 15th-century estate in the Burgundy region of France. This project was a unique opportunity to combine old-world craftsmanship and detailing with modern building materials and techniques. The 34,000-square-foot Clubhouse includes a vaulted public wine-tasting room, exclusive wine club member areas, an underground cave with wine storage, catering kitchens and administrative offices. Meeting current standards for seismic codes, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, speakers and HVAC was a complex process. It took the Schommer & Sons construction team five sample boards to find the right stone to meet seismic demands. Meanwhile, Waterleaf Architecture was working with design-build craftsmen who built trapezoidal ductwork to fit in the arches, concealed sprinkler heads, hidden speakers and old iron gates equipped with ventilation air grilles. Another challenge was the half-mile of plasterwork needed. Plaster is an old-world technology that has become nearly obsolete. Schommer & Sons worked with contractor Billings & Cronn Co. to convince retired craftsmen to train the next generation of plasterers. Instead of wood frames, they used laser-cut profiles to make the plaster frieze. The site is an active winery surrounded by prized vineyards. Because of this, the project sought to minimize environmental impacts by using an old logging road to protect the existing approach from damage, preventing dust and stormwater pollution, relocating native white oak trees during construction, and carefully integrating parking and walkways. The Clubhouse was designed to last for generations, and is truly a destination for those who enjoy fine craftsmanship. Judges comment: The plasterers artistry is incredible. This classic building technique is too rarely used in todays construction, which is a real loss. Achievements like this plasterwork deserve to be celebrated. Just wow. Other Stories: Subscriber content preview Image by Lorig Associates [enlarge] The 1931 building was surplused in 1981. Partnerships led by Lorig Associates have had a ground lease since 1986. It was designated a city landmark in 2009. What is currently called Lake City Professional Center, at 2611 N.E. 125th St., was built in 1931 as Lake City School, on about 2.7 acres that were then far beyond the Seattle city line at 85th Street. . . . Subscriber content preview AUBURN A La Quinta Inn & Suites, at 225 Sixth St. S.E., in Auburn, has sold for $11.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was S&B Hospitality LLC, which acquired the land in 2010 for $640,000. The buyer was Auburn Inn-Vestments LLC, which is associated with Hospitality Associates of Spokane Valley. Public records indicate a loan from Mountain America Federal Credit Union. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The Allview Apartments, at 4427 Fifth Ave. N.E., have sold for $3.8 million, according to King County records. The seller was Wallingford Passage LLC, which acquired the property in 2003 for a little over $900,000. The buyer was Camden Apartments LLC, which is associated with Walls Property Management of Ballard. . . . Combining their expertise in marketing and pharmaceuticals, Queensland father/daughter duo Glenn and Pip Summerville have wasted no time in taking to the global stage with their natural elixir company. In the space of 18 months, Tonik has achieved 250% sales growth and successfully courted international stockists such as Gwyneth Paltrows Goop. Pip Summerville, who also heads up Base Agency, a boutique creative agency on the Gold Coast, spoke to Dynamic Business about being in business with her father, the strategies that have fuelled Toniks early success and plans for the companys future growth. DB: How did you and your father come to partner on Tonik? PS: Tonik was born out of my desire to make natural health supplements easier and more convenient for health and beauty conscious individuals. Id been drinking coconut oil and apple cider vinegar as a means of enhancing my health and wellness but struggled not to gag due to the oily and acidic after tastes. Wanting to create a no nonsense approach to natural health care, I founded Tonik in 2016. About six months into the business, I approached my dad Glenn a semi-retired pharmacist whos had ownership interests in three large NZ-based pharmacies and he helped me develop gel-filled capsules containing my favourite supplements organic coconut oil (Tonik #1), organic apple cider (Tonik #2) and organic turmeric (Tonik #3). DB: How would you sum up your working dynamic? PS: My dad and I work incredibly well together due to our complementary skills, our very strong focus on work/life balance and our willingness to roll up our sleeves and give anything a go. Theres trust too, as well as family prideand it doesnt hurt that were both competitive people! In terms of day-to-day business, dad focuses his energy on product development, governmental compliance, certification and the business aspects of Tonik. Meanwhile, I oversee the warehousing and distribution of Tonik products as well as our marketing and social media. Honestly, Im very fortunate to be working with my dad. Ive always admired the commitment he demonstrated with his own businesses, and my own work ethic and business acumen have very much been informed by him. Plus, his knowledge of and passion for the pharmaceutical, natural health and clinical industries, developed over four decades, is priceless. DB: What success have you achieved with Tonik? PS: In less than 18 months, weve gone from operating out of a kitchen to operating from a commercial warehouse and office space totalling 250 square metres. Moreover, weve enjoyed sales growth of 250% (balanced between direct website sales and bricks-and-mortar) and our range is currently stocked in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Hong Kong, including by international heavy weights Free People, Urban Outfitters and Gwyneth Paltrows Goop. Being approached by Goop was, of course, a huge confidence boost and business model validation. Ultimately, we believe that success breeds success. DB: What strategies have fuelled your early success? PS: I attribute our strong sales to a combination of strong word of mouth and a hip, funky and almost tongue-in-cheek approach to social media and website marketing, which has set us to apart from mainstream supplements. Weve also occasionally turned to PR companies and influencers. In this way, Tonik has been informed by my background in marketing, including work I performed as a marketing manager for the likes of Billabong, Quicksilver and Hi Smile, who I was contracted to in the early days of their business growth. In addition, our strategy has been to align with health and wellness-focused businesses (e.g. beauty clinics, spas, salons and fitness centres) who FIT our aspirations, NOT mainstream retail outlets we dont want to be at the mercy of sales assistants who have many brands to sell. Were currently in discussion with potential stockists in South Eastern and Central Asian countries and in the UK, so its very exciting times for us. DB: How do you manage to run two businesses? PS: Tonik and the Base Agency are very complementary in that being across social media and digital marketing trends, as they happen, is vital for the success of both. In fact, being exposed to different sectors and industries through Base Agency has helped my teams and I implement a diverse marketing strategy with Tonik. DB: How do you plan to capitalise on your early success? PS: We see that it is essential to gain Therapeutic Goods Authority (TGA) accreditation for our Tonik products. Currently, our products are classified as food supplements and governmental regulations prohibit us from making any health claims at all or even including links in any of our marketing to the many international websites detailing the beneficial health effects that may be attained after taking similar ingredients. Yes, obtaining TGA accreditation is a time-consuming and expensive process but it will ultimately give us more credibility in the marketplace and allow us to make well-researched and documented health claims across our labelling, advertising and marketing. TGA accreditation aside, we will continue to take a truly global approach to our sales and distribution. In the months ahead, we will expand our range with Tonik #4 watch this space! Ahead of the release of the 2018-19 Federal Budget on Tuesday (8 May), Dynamic Business spoke to a cohort of startup advocates about the measures they hope to see from the Turnbull Government. In this article, the first in a two-part series, Sarah Moran (Girl Geek Academy), Beau Leese (Intersective), Mick Spencer (ONTHEGO), Bridget Loudon (Expert360) and Jonathan Miller (Bit Trade) discuss the need for Government to, amongst other things, better sell innovation to voters, improve the Export Marketing Development Grant (EMDG), increase funding for the R&D tax incentive scheme and catalyse startup-university collaborations. Few everyday Aussies care about innovation Noting that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has thrown his support behind the blueprint for Gonski 2.0, Sarah Moran, co-founder and CEO of Girl Geek Academy an advocacy group for women in STEM careers said she hoped to see a big focus on education in the Budget. A major investment is needed within our education system if we want to fill our workplaces with local talent in the future, she explained. We need to be globally competitive with schools overseas, where a native focus on building entrepreneurial mindsets and technology skills is built into curriculums. In addition, Moran said the Government must not fail to budget for innovation and that it must work hard to sell innovation budget items to the general public. We know that few everyday Australians actually care about innovation while the money needed to advance the space is quite large, she said. While it may appease voters to decrease budget across innovation, its not healthy for Australias economic future in the long-term. I hope this year there is budget allocated to innovation and R&D projects within the areas of public concern, such as education, job creation, health care and national defence. This is one way to repackage the budget around technology and innovation and help get Australians to back spend in this area. Uni/business collaborations worth $19.4b Morans comments about innovation were echoed by Beau Leese, the co-CEO and co-founder of experiential education technology startup Intersective. Noting that innovation is the key to the nations future prosperity, Leese said it must not only be prioritised in the budget but have bipartisan support. Australia has no choice but to work hard on innovation fundamentals and long-term, continued transformation of the economy to be more dynamic, competitive, internationalised and technologically intensive, he said. A thriving and intensifying tech startup sector is a critical driver of innovation and while weve made advances, were not yet playing at the top tier globally. The National Innovation & Science Agenda was great policy and has been pretty effective CSIROs ON science accelerator program and Main Sequence Ventures innovation fund are two great examples of large scale, deep tech innovation translation mechanisms now in place and successfully operating. The Future Fund has started investing in early stage VC funds. Weve now had another fundamental innovation strategy brought forward. The Government (and opposition) should both lift their commitment to boosting Australias innovation performance and making the case for kitchen table voters around great jobs and standard of living for our children. Leese said he would like to see the Government improve long-term settings for skilled migration pathways for international students. He explained, Were the third most popular destination market worldwide and these students are an underappreciated source of talent for startups and long-term linkages for Australia into international markets. In addition, Leese said he also hoped the Government would invest in catalysing collaborations between universities and the business sector, including startups. These collaborations drive innovation performance and change the innovation capacity and culture of participants on both sides, he said. A recent report by Universities Australia showed 16,000 businesses have formal partnerships with a university, generating more than A$10 billion a year in revenue for those firms. Those collaborations were found to have flow-on effect worth 30,000 full-time Australian jobs and A$19.4 billion a year to the national economy. Small companies need REAL customers to scale Mick Spencer, founder and CEO of custom sportswear startup ONTHEGO said he would like the Federal Budget to reflect a continued commitment from Government to funding innovation and overseas business expansion through the R&D tax incentive scheme plus key grants. He described the R&D tax concession as an important accelerator for ONTHEGO, explaining that it enabled the company to channel all available funds into R&D to become a leader in our industry. In addition, Spencer said the Export Marketing Development Grant (EMDG) and Accelerating Commercialisation grants have played an integral role in supporting companies to grow and innovate. However, he said funding limitations around the EMDG program allowance must be addressed to enable companies such as ONTHEGO to fully realise their plans for expansion into international markets. He explained, Expansion is a factor of innovation, allowing access to new markets and new customers, and a growing Australian business is good for our local economy. Finally, Spencer said he would like to see the Federal Government facilitate a tighter relationship between emerging, innovative companies and government bodies through the procurement process. I believe young companies do not get the opportunity to have their goods procured through certain larger bodies because of bureaucracy, he said. Small emerging companies and ideas need REAL customers to scale, this is what will build the next generation of employers in this country. Capping R&D refunds means capping innovation Bridget Loudon, CEO of online consulting marketplace Expert360, hopes that talk of the Government imposing restrictions on accessing the R&D Tax Incentive Scheme remain just that talk. By placing an annual cap on R&D refunds the government is essentially placing a cap on innovation, she said. Its important to note that its not just startup businesses who will suffer from R&D cuts, but scaleups too. In the last year, 60%of our expenditure has been on R&D and I think its great that the government is looking to reward businesses achieving high levels of R&D intensity. When the budget is announced, Im excited to see how the government will further incentivise corporate Australias commitment to true R&D. Jonathon Miller, co-founder and managing Director of Bit Trade said the bitcoin and blockchain service provider would like to see the government grant more tax concessions and more direct and indirect incentives for investors to look to startups rather than traditional areas, such as property. In addition, the R&D and commercialisation acceleration budget have been underfunded and there has been little indication of a turnaround, he said. R&D is a critical investment in an economy and the ability for Australian startups to compete on the global stage requires government support. PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Pascagoula police are searching for two men who allegedly entered a residence and stole property, according to the Pascagoula Police Department Facebook page. In their statement, police are asking for the public's assistance in locating the two men who are wanted for burglary of a residence. On Thursday, May 3, 2018, officers responded to the area of Eastwood Apartments regarding a burglary of a residence. During the investigation, evidence and property were recovered. However, police say they are still trying to locate suspects 25-year-old Michael Spanks and 23-year-old Danarius "Man" Agee. Anyone who knows of their whereabouts are asked to please contact us at 228-762-2211 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898. VANCLEAVE, Mississippi -- A Vancleave High School student is one of four Mississippi students selected as semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program. Wei Li of Vancleave High School was selected, along with Richard Grimes of Germantown High School, Herleen Kaur of Clinton High School, and Darryl Skinner of Pass Christian High School. Established in 1964 by executive order from President Lyndon Johnson, the U.S. Presidential Scholars program recognizes and honors the nation's most distinguished high school seniors. In 1979, the program was expanded to include students who excel in the visual, creative and performing arts, and in 2015, was again expanded to include students of outstanding accomplishment in the career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named Presidential Scholars. Mississippi's four semifinalists were selected from 5,300 students nominated nationwide and are among 630 high school seniors named as semifinalists. "I am incredibly proud of our Mississippi semifinalists and congratulate them for earning this national recognition," said Carey Wright, Mississippi's state superintendent of education. "Our schools have done an outstanding job helping these students reach their greatest potential, and I look forward to seeing what these future leaders accomplish after high school." The 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected on the basis of their accomplishments in areas including academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement within their school and community, while representing excellence in education. In its 54 years, the U.S. Presidential Scholars program has honored nearly 7,000 of the nation's top-performing students. , Last Saturday, I heard a very funny story from my co-worker, Hu. He has taken a vacation and has taken the chance to visit China. However, it seemed Hu was not satisfied for the trip. He complained that this vacation made him , . If you want to learn more, please read the following paragraphs. After struggling for living in the United States for several decades, Hu finally has time to visit his hometown in China. The words struggle means two. One is about paying tuition and living expenses for two kids, who just graduated from the Universities. Another one is taking care of his wife, who has suffered a long term disability for many years. In China, Hu has parents there. Recent years, his father is disabled and hospitalized there. Gratefully, government paid all Medicare and Medicaid fee. The purpose of this trip was to see his parents and visit Great China. Unexpectedly, Hu experienced some strange things that made him totally confused due to this vacation. Confusion One Before starting his trip, Hus mother sent a message to tell him, Once coming home, never tell people you are an American citizen. That was the first time that Hu was confused: What is wrong? My two kids are the US citizens and why not me? He asked his sister for this issue and the answer was, Now thing is different from before: if you have changed nationality, some people may judge you do not love motherland, China. And family members will feel shame. Hu sent massage to his family members, You guys should not worry about any thing. Lay down your burdens and shame. Even though I am an immigrant, I love both China and America. When landing on an airport in China, his brother and sister all come to meet him and express their welcome. During staying, Hu spent a wonderful time, such as eating delicious foods and visiting tremendous buildings. All his family members question him, You have seen how marvelous China has changed. Sooner, it will go to top one in world and become a global leader instead of the US. You absolutely made a mistake to immigrate to the US. Hu didnt agree them, but he did not say anything. He thought, I did nothing wrong. Why did they judge me like that? I am a humble and real man. If lived in China, I might not able to take good position or run business to make big money. In the US, I did hard work and successfully supported family. I just had to live my life. Actually, trust your journey since not everyone is able to understand your journey. It is not necessary to make everyone to understand you. You should be proud of yourself because you already go so far away from where you used to be. Anyway, you still have long journey to go. Confusion Two Hu is a quiet and silent guy. He did not accept some invitations for party because he wanted to spend more time with family members. Someone gossiped him, Hu shames to see friends, because he may not be such successful in his career. He must not hold a senior position and earn much money in the US. That was the second time that Hu felt confused, I live in the US and spend time with my family. Nobody should judge my personal life. I have right to choose the country I wish to live. I no need to show off my career and position any more. Actually, this world does not need more successful people. It needs people who know how to respect others and make others happy. Confusion Three Eventually, Hu came back to the US and next day he went back to his office. According to the traditional habit, Hu left some Chinese cookies and candies in the break room for sharing with his co-workers. Three days passed, but almost nobody touched the desserts. That was the third time that Hu was confused, Hi, guys what is wrong for my desserts? Why does nobody like it? After the office, Hu mentioned this issue to his wife. She laughed at Hu and told him that the answer may be the desserts come from China, an environment polluted area. Hus co-workers must worry about the foods, rather than Hu. Hu had to said, Good things dont go out, but bad things spread over thousands mail away. Actually, during the whole life, you are always facing something unexpected. You cannot change any peoples feel about you. You must accept any fact, even though you may unlike it. The positive attitude is that you just focus on living your life, taking care of yourself and being happy. I dont have problem with heights. If I have to choose between open sea swimming or flying, I will pick flying anytime of the day. The day I went Tandem Paragliding last May 1, 2018 was a spur of the moment adventure trip. I saw it on my events suggestions on Facebook . I checked the event page, visited the site, and made my a reservations. I can be spontaneous sometimes especially if it is something I really like to do. Plus Inhave an enabler sister who already have gome tandem. Paragliding a few years back. When I told her there is a paragliding even she told me to go for it so I did. I had to get her approval coz she will be theome to watch over daughter when I am away. I did not expect to get a slot but I did. Instructions on how to pay the reservation fee was sent via email and the rest led me to the next day of my paragliding adventure. We met at 6am somewhere along C5 in Kalayaan. There was a bit of miscommunications with the pickup point. Which gave me a chance to explore the community along C5 Kalayaan. Who knew there was a hostel and a co-working space in there! I was picked up by the owner of the paragliding adventure site I signed up for. We did not have a pleasant first meeting because of the confusing directions he gave about the meeting place. I sat by the passenger seat in front coz there were two other passengers at the back. Everyone was silent the entkre drive, I guess they all felt how pissed-off I was. Hey, it was too early and I havent had coffee yet so dont me. I felt I need to be the one to start the conversation coz I was the one who silenced them. Talked with my fellow co passengers who said they too were confused with the meeting point directions he gave. Anyway , we arrived at the flying site and it was a couple hectares of land with lots of cows roaming around. You can see a hill not very far from it amd that was the lift-off point . To go up there you need to ride or it might take about 15 minutes hike or so. Up on the hill were nipa huts for resting and waitinf.. The hill is covered with banana trees and many other trees I cant name. Uwe (the owner of the paragliding adventure trip) described the place as a special place for paragliding . In Europe and other paragliding site, they always start high, like from a mountain or a cliff. Here they can only start from 100 meters. This was a challenge paragliding pilots love to conquer start low and try to pick up the wind to go higher up to the clouds. Observations While my entire flying time was pleasant, I cant help notice how unorganized they are on the ground. There was no briefing on what to expect when flying. What are the dos and donts when up in the air and so forth. Everyone was just waiting for their name to be called and get strapped on with the flying gears and strapped in front of the pilot. It would have been better if the lady assisting (Tina) would gather passengers and tell the dos and donts. I overheard from the pilot that the lightest passengers fly first so they can asses the wind. What to wear and what to bring when flying? Wear comfortable clothes, something light and less dangly. Rubber shoes are important you dont wanna hurt your feet when taking off and landing. It would be nice if you have a GoPro if not you can rent theirs for Php500 . I did not rent and used my Fuji X-A5 instead. Yep, daredevil with my cam. I have used it on a floater on the sea. When it wasy turn to fly An assistant strapped the parachute and harness on me. Then clipped me to my pilot who got was positioning to take-off. Instead of being scared of heights of my personal well-being, I worry more about my cam not falling off the ground! Our time up in the sky was so relaxing. We kept going higher and higher. The higher we went the stronger the wind gets. I even have to catch my breathe a few times and got slightly dizzy. My pilot has been flying for 25 years amd 6 years in the Philippines ! Occasionally he would ask if I was feeling fine coz there were instances some passengers passed out or vomit. I guess you have to be fit with no seriois health problems when you try this adventure, I am glad I take my vitamins everyday. After a solid time in the air, we did a top landing, meaning we went back to where we started, at the top of the hill. Taking off and landing were the crucial points of the flight . I got a bruise on my left arm after coz it was a slightly rough landing that I had to hold on tight and secure my camera! Yup my camera was my main concern! Watch my Tandem Paragliding experience below Where to go on a Tandem Paragliding adventure in the Philippines ? I booked my trip at high5paragliding.com. From there you can make reservations. Tandem paragliding fee is Php3,000 if you want to join the pickup that will take you to the flying site and back add Php500 for gas and toll fees. You can send full payment or just send reservation fee of Php1,000 and pay directly to Uwe after flying. Verdict Uwe Klein was my pilot and owner of the paragliding adventure site I booled at. Personally, I. Enjoyed pur time. Up in the sky. It was more than enough. When he told me we could have gone as high as the clouds, I wish we did. But for first timers he tries to make the passenger as comfy as possible. For all the 10 passengers he took flying that day our flight was the best of the day he said. Wind was perfect, it was a beautiful sunny day. It was not too hot from the sky coz of the wind. I could almost fall asleep coz it was calming to me. Best time to fly Uwe said that May was the last of the flying season as the wind starts to become stronger or it starts raining. March, April, May would be my bet for best days coz it was start of summer. They rely on wind forecast and there are cases trips are canceled due to no wind or it is raining. There are two paragliding sites in NCR, one in Carmona Cavite where we fly, and the other in Tanay Rizal. Where he takes his passengers flying depends on the weather and wind conditions . I am super glad to have finally crossed Tandem Paragliding on my bucket list unexpectedly . Unplanned trips are the ones that push through sometimes amd sometimes you just have to go for it! Would you try Tandem Paragliding? Let me know at the comment section below! Stay gorgeous everyone! Sharing is caring ! Facebook Pinterest Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Skype Reddit Tumblr Print Email Washington Support for school choice dipped after President Donald Trumps first year in office, but remains strong in general, according to survey results discussed Thursday at a conference here. Overall, 63 percent of those surveyed by Beck Research LLC, a political research organization, said they support school choice in general, and 33 percent were opposed to it. Thats a decline from a poll taken in 2016 before Trump embraced the policy, when school choice received support from 70 percent of those surveyed, with just 24 percent opposed. The conference was put on by the American Federation for Children. The federation, which advocates for school choice, was founded and formerly chaired by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The poll was commissioned by AFC. So whats behind the dip? In a word, theres been a bit of a Trump effect, said Deborah Beck, the president and founder of Beck Research. The president made school choice a focus of his first state-of-the-union address, and DeVos is a long-time supporter. But he has yet to enact a far-reaching choice initiative that benefits low-income students. Its been a tough year but theres still a strong majority of support for school choice. Whats increased is the strong opposition to school choice. That has ticked up a little bit, Beck said. In particular, she said, theres been an uptick in opposition among college-educated women and suburban women. Theyre still supportive, but weve lost some support because theres Donald Trumps name is associated with the policy, said Beck, a Democrat who is personally supportive of choie. In a year or two, if things have changed, that could change as well. ... Were weathering the storm. They threw everything they had at us and the kitchen sink and the policy still has strong backing, in her view. The survey also found an uptick in support for education savings accounts, which are typically paid for with public funds and which parents can use for a range of things including private school tuition, tutoring, and dual-enrollment programs. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed support ESAs, up from 69 percent last year and 65 percent in 2016. The survey also found support for a federal tax-credit scholarship, which DeVos pitched behind the scenes last year, but was unable to get into the Republicans tax-overhaul bill. Two-thirds of those surveyed support the idea of a federal tax-credit scholarship, which would offer a tax break to individuals and corporations who donate to organizations that grant scholarships, typically to low-income students, for private-school tuition. And the survey found support for vouchers for military families, an idea backed by DeVos. More than 75 percent of respondents favored the policy, while just 20 percent were opposed. The data is based on a survey conducted January 8-13 of this year, among a total of 1,100 likely November 2018 voters. That included a representative sample of 800 likely voters, plus 200 additional likely Latino voters and 100 additional Millennials, defined in the poll as likely voters born after 1981. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percent. Photo: President Donald Trump, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos hold cards received from the children in a 4th grade class during a tour of St. Andrews Catholic School on March 3 in Orlando, Fla. Trumps daughter, Ivanka and her husband, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, are in the rear - Alex Brandon, AP School choice is one of the biggest topics we cover. See a sample of our top stories: Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Bank set to build on a record year of delivery The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will demonstrate how it is playing a key role in helping countries to confront common challenges as it holds its Annual Meeting next week on the Dead Sea in Jordan. Taking place on 9-10 May, this Annual Meeting is the first to be held in the southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region where the Bank has been investing since 2012 in the wake of political upheaval in the Arab world. It comes after another record-breaking year for the EBRD in its delivery to the 38 economies where it invests across three continents to promote competitive and sustainable market economies. The Bank delivered impressive impact on the ground in terms of furthering transition. It was achieved through a record level of financing in 2017 of 9.7 billion, with a particular focus on the green economy. The President of the EBRD, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, will tell a meeting of the Board of Governors, which represents the Banks 68 shareholders, how the Bank met its green economy targets set at the 2015 Paris Climate agreement three years ahead of time. He will also point to the EBRDs increasing emphasis on inclusion and its outreach to women entrepreneurs, as well as its work to make economies more resilient, especially through local currency financing. President Chakrabarti will say that, on top of its current high levels of delivery, the EBRD can do even more to help the international community deal with common global challenges: particularly in the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were agreed by the international community in 2015 and which have to be fulfilled by 2030, helping to mitigate the impact of climate change and tackling the consequences of migration flows. He will say that mobilising the private sector using the Banks widely recognised expertise will be crucial. The President will discuss with shareholders how to proceed. The EBRD is planning to examine how to invest even more in its existing countries of operations. Once that study is completed, the Bank could then look at what more might be done elsewhere. The EBRD has made large profits in recent years which are used for further lending and are added to its reserves. President Chakrabarti has said that the Bank has the capital capacity to lend an extra three billion euros a year, if shareholders wish. The Banks triple A credit rating was recently affirmed by the ratings agencies. The Annual Meeting in Jordan will open with an address from His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and this year the Chair of the Board of Governors is Jordans Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Imad Najib Fakhoury, who will also address the conference alongside President Chakrabarti. The EBRD Business Forum, which traditionally accompanies the Annual Meeting, is being held this year under the banner of Energising Economies. A discussion on the Future of Work, a key theme for all EBRD economies, will be introduced by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah. The EBRDs economists will also publish their latest economic outlook for the EBRD regions during the conference in Jordan, focusing on the recovery in the region but also looking ahead to potential challenges. The following post was contributed by my good friend Frank Houston. Frank is the Michigan Regional Program Manager of the BlueGreen Alliance, a group that encompasses a variety of progressive values: labor, environmental, and political action. For this reason, its a group that Im happy to share this platform with. The gains made in federal environmental policy under the Obama administration are under serious threat under the Trump administration. Few people embody the precise opposite of our values when it comes to our role as environmental stewards and leaders than EPA Director Scott Pruitt. As we move forward, groups like the BlueGreen Alliance will help us to fight back and to do so effectively and in coalition with with partners who dont always find themselves working together. Enjoy. Innovation Moves in One Direction: Forward U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administration Scott Pruitt has made a name for himself by delaying or eliminating polices that protect public health and the environment attempting to roll back years of progress and policy in a matter of months. Pruitts actions and directives are even more confounding when considering the rapid advancements of technology that impact so many facets of our economy. From energy and infrastructure to the next generation of advanced vehicles and manufacturing, states like Michigan and countries around the world are moving toward a very different future than the policies Pruitt is pushing. History has taught us that innovation moves in one direction forward. With this backdrop, perhaps now more than ever it is important that activists, labor unions, environmental organizations, and community groups come together with the common purpose of solving todays environmental challenges. Not just solving them, in fact, but solving them in ways that create and maintain quality jobs and build a stronger, fairer economy. The BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) unites Americas largest labor unions and its most influential environmental organizations to do just that. Right now, BGAs work in Michigan is focused on making sure we sustain the jobs we currently have and continue to grow new ones building cars, SUVs, and trucks that are the best and most fuel efficient in the world. Under todays strong long-term fuel economy standards automakers have made $23 billion in investments in 41 facilities in Michigan alone much of it added investment in technology and plant upgrades to meet these commonsense standards. Suppliers to the vehicle manufacturers have made still more. This investment represents jobs in communities around the state. Almost 70,000 workers in Michigan are building technology or materials that are needed specifically to make cars and trucks more fuel-efficient. We need to keep this upward trajectory of standards, jobs, and American manufacturing going. At BGA, weve put together a searchable database and visualization of those jobs, which you can see HERE. To keep Michigans innovation engine running, we also need to grow our clean energy and energy efficiency options and push for investment in infrastructure that both creates good jobs and helps our communities be ready for the extreme weather that climate change is bringing. These initiatives must also ensure our communities and our workplaces become safer and healthier. Im really excited to be leading BlueGreen Alliances work here in Michigan at such an important time. I look forward to working with you on seizing this tremendous opportunity to create and sustain quality jobs that are good for our economy and environment. To learn more about the BlueGreen Alliance and their work visit BlueGreenAlliance.org or contact Frank at [email protected]. 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The bill aims to ensure that history classes in public schools include lessons on the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this state. Regional superintendents would be required to ensure the rule is enforced. If the bill is made into law, Illinois would become just the second state to require public schools to teach LGBT history. In 2012, California became the first with passage of the Fair Education Act . Last week, Massachusetts announced a new LGBT curriculum that will be released in the summer. The Massachusetts curriculum, however, is not required. If California is any indicator, a law requiring LGBT-inclusive teaching doesnt necessarily ensure the lessons will be delivered to classrooms right away . Californias mandate has been on the books for six years now, yet it took until late last year before the state approved K-8 textbooks that include discussion of LGBT individuals. Funding could also be an obstacle. The Illinois bill, like Californias, may also fall into a funding trap as it doesnt set aside money to pay for new textbooks, curriculum materials, and teacher training. Another hindrance, as Stephen Sawchuk has reported, is the dearth of scholarship on how to integrate LGBT topics into K-12 education . For the most part, its up to teachers to decide when and how to incorporate those topics into their lessons and to deal with fallout from parents and administrators. Some groups have pushed back against the bill. The School Management Alliance, a local organization that supports the interests of principals and school board members, opposes the bill on the grounds that it takes control over curriculum decisions away from school districts. Laurie Higgins, a spokeswoman for the Christian-based Illinois Family Institute, argued that high school juniors and seniors could get lessons on LGBT issues, according to the Associated Press , but only as long as those lessons also included the reasons some groups object to what she called the homosexual movement. The lefts motive is what it always is: It is to normalize homosexuality, Laurie Higgins told AP. Some, like state Senator Chuck Weaver, a Republican, have opposed the bill on religious grounds. Theres also concerns about religious freedom in regard to folks who may have a difference of opinion with regard to how this is handled on a curriculum basis, he said in a debate over the bill on the senate floor. But state Senator Jason Barickman, a Republican, argued that the bill ensures simply that the history that is taught [about the LGBT community] is factual and accurate. One of the bills sponsors, state Senator Heather Steans, a Democrat, said the goal is to help students to feel less isolated. What we find is that theres an enormous drop, 36 percent drop, in people feeling bullied and getting derogatory remarks made about them when theyre included in the curriculum, she said. In a 2016 survey, LGBT students were more likely to report bias-based bullying , online harassment, and feeling unsafe at school than their peers. If passed, the law would take effect in Illinois on July 1, 2019. Related stories: By Ma Zhiping in Haikou China Daily Updated: 2018-05-03 Technology experts check the condition of the Tianhe-1 supercomputer at the National SuperComputer Center in Tianjin. [Photo/Xinhua] 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. UPDATED The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative this week gave $14 million over two years to support personalized learning in more than 100 Chicago-area schools. The money will be split between Chicago Public Schools (which is receiving $4 million of the total, to help bring personalized learning to more than three dozen of its schools) and the nonprofit group LEAP Innovations (which is receiving $10 million, to support dozens of other district, charter, and parochial schools in the city and its suburbs.) For both recipients, the aim is to help schools better tailor education to the needs and preferences of each individual students. The focus will be on training teachers and principals, purchasing technology, and creating more flexible classrooms. Successful personalized learning starts with engaged and passionate teachers looking to support each student with an individualized path that helps them reach their goals, said Janice K. Jackson, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, in a statement. The 371,000-student district already has its own Department of Personalized Learning . About 120 schools participate in some form. LEAP Innovations works with about 80 of those schools, providing professional development and other supports. The group also promotes personalized learning and related research and works directly with ed-tech companies to develop and pilot products in the classroom. LEAP Innovations recently published a study showing mixed academic results at 14 of its Chicago schools testing new personalized-learning technology products. Students in grades 3-8 who were part of the pilot showed significant gains in literacy relative to peers in non-personalized-learning schools, but there were no significant differences in math. In addition, a recent analysis of six breakthrough schools in Chicago that are working with LEAP to integrate personalized learning throughout their buildings found that the cost typically involves a six-figure upfront investment . Those results are broadly consistent with national research into whole-school personalized-learning approaches , which have generally found modest learning gains and significant implementation challenges. Big-picture, personalized learning remains a nebulous concept that means many different things to many different groups. Still, the idea has proved enticing to school leaders, more than half of whom described personalized learning as either a promising idea or transformational way to improve public education in a recent survey conducted by the Education Week Research Center . In recent years, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, have emerged as prime backers of the trend. Through their venture-philanthropy organization, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the couple has committed to investing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the movement. Last year, CZI president of education Jim Shelton laid out his vision of whole-child personalized learning, which includes a focus not just on technology-enabled customization, but also a holistic approach to nurturing students social, emotional, and physical development. The groups new grants to the Chicago schools mark its largest single gift made directly to a school district to support personalized learning to date. CZI has also provided money for personalized learning (and other purposes) to the California-based Summit Public Schools charter network and to Bay Area school districts, such as Ravenswood and Redwood City. Were partnering with Chicago Public Schools and LEAP Innovations to redesign learning environments and put far better tools in the hands of teachers, Shelton said in a statement. Photo: Janice Jackson, chief executive officer for Chicago Public Schools, appears at a news conference in 2015.--Charles Rex Arbogast/AP This post has been updated to reflect the current number of Chicago public schools which which LEAP Innovations works. The current number is about 80. See also: for the latest news on ed-tech policies, practices, and trends. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 8:34 pm Community members have come together to host a fundraising spaghetti dinner and silent auction for Sydney Campbell and her service dog, Sophie, from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at First Christian Church, 407 W. Broadway St., Bolivar. Campbell is battling a severe form of epilepsy, and her dog is being trained to recognize when the 7-year-old needs help and to alert a nearby adult. Proceeds will help offset Sophies training costs, as well as Campbells medical expenses. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to the Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri and Kansas. The event which is sponsored by several local businesses including Stephens Pharmacy, Douglas, Haun and Heidemann P.C. and All Creatures Animal Clinic Ltd. will feature a cake walk, a drawing and the chance to meet Sophie. To donate an item for the silent auction, contact Mary Hopwood at 328-8958. In addition to the dinner and silent auction, a bank account has been established for donations, which may be sent to Bank of Bolivar, PO Box 560, Bolivar MO 65613 to the benefit of Sydney Campbell. The family has also created a Facebook page, Sydneys Journey, that chronicles the childs progress and provides updates. Turkeys main opposition named presidential candidate Muharrem Ince was named as the presidential candidate by the Turkish opposition Republican People's Party for the upcoming June 24 elections. In the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)'s parliamentary group on Friday, the candidate for the upcoming presidential elections was officially announced. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu formally announced the CHP's choice of Muharrem Ince as their presidential hopeful. "I will not just be my party's president, but a president for all people in Turkey" Yalova deputy Ince said. On April 20, parliament passed a bill calling for early presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24, cementing Turkeys move to a presidential system. Could not establish database connection. DB: bostonimc and SQL: --> The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP. Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski, both guilty of sexual misconduct, have been nixed off the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The board of governors, which had been adopting a new Standards of Conduct after the waves of women came out accusing film mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, voted and has decided to boot the actor and the director out of their organization. "The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity," the Academy said in a statement. The code of conduct stated that serious and grave matters should be referred to the board of governors. The board will have the final say on whether to remove a member or not. Polanski's Case Polanski, whose handiwork includes The Ghost Writer, Chinatown, and Tess, has had a lot of prestigious awards he earned because of his masterpieces. The 84-year-old five time Oscar nominee will get to keep his Oscar he won for The Pianist, but wasn't able to personally get it, though, because he flew out of the United States in the '70s. The director pleaded guilty of five charges he was facing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. After which, he was put behind bars for more than a month before he went to France and has since lived there. Cosby's Case The news for Cosby, meanwhile, came just days after he was convicted on April 26 in Pennsylvania. The case was filed by Andrea Constand, who revealed that in 2004, the actor, dubbed as the America's Dad, drugged her before sexually assaulting her in his mansion. The case was the lone filed against the 80-year-old actor from The Cosby Show, even if there were many women who came out accusing him of sexual misconduct with the same details as Constand. Cosby is awaiting his sentencing but he could face up to 30 years in jail. His honorary degrees from Yale University and Temple University were also rescinded. So was the case for disgraced producer Weinstein in October last year, when the academy also voted him out following the decades-old sexual harassment allegations by throngs of women, such as high-profile celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, and the latest to reveal, Cate Blanchett, all of which he had denied. Before this came, a petition asking for his removal from the academy was signed by more than 116,500 people. Actor Liam Neeson is returning to the world of serious drama movies. The Irishman is done with train and plane-set action movies for the time being as he joins Charlie Johnson in the Flames. Neeson Becomes Charlie Johnson The upcoming movie, to be directed by Swedish filmmaker Tarik Saleh, is adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name. It was the second book from Canadian academic and ex-politician Michael Ignatieff. The crime thriller revolves around Neeson's titular character, an American-born war correspondent who works for the BBC. After witnessing the death of a young woman while covering the conflict in the Congo, he's haunted by the memory and returns to the area to find her killer and bring him to justice. Johnson then becomes embroiled in an escalating situation in the war-torn Congo which was filled with violence and intrigue. He risks his life to expose the culprit, exposing a network of murder and corruption while questioning his own humanity in the process. Back Where He Belongs The role is a return to form for celebrated thespian Neeson, a well-respected dramatic actor who became more known for his roles in the pulpy likes of Taken and The Commuter rather than his esteemed performances in Schindler's List, Kinsey, and Michael Collins. He turned to the action genre following the untimely loss of his wife, actress Natasha Richardson, in 2009. His movies have grossed a combined $7 billion worldwide. His latest was the mixed-bag Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House. Up next, he'll be seen in action flick Hard Powder opposite Shameless star Emmy Rossum and Big Little Lies' Laura Dern. An Impressive Back Catalogue Saleh helmed 2014's Tommy, which is currently getting the Hollywood remake treatment, as well as 2009 animated feature Metropia. He's also responsible for the recent well-received real-world mystery vehicle The Nile Hilton Incident, which won the Grand Jury Prize at last year's Sundance Film Festival and was also nominated for Best Foreign Film at the French Cesars. He recently directed an episode of hit sci-fi show Westworld, too. BAFTA-nominated writer Justin Haythe, who scripted Red Sparrow, The Lone Ranger, and Revolutionary Road, adapted Charlie Johnson in the Flames for the big screen. Sierra/Affinity is taking on international sales for the flick, which will be introduced at Cannes next week, while movie's domestic release will be handled by CAA. There's nothing like a mother's love! During a sit-down interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Kris Jenner addressed how Khloe Kardashian is doing in the wake of Tristan Thompson's cheating scandal. Kris Gets Extremely Emotional About Khloe The matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner clan immediately got choked up and tried her best to hold back the tears while appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which airs on Friday, May 4. Jenner stated that she recently visited the new mom in Cleveland and that despite all the drama, she's doing really well. "She's figuring it out one day at a time, she's just the best mom already. That baby is so cute, little True," the momager remarked. While the world may have been shocked to know that Thompson had been disloyal to Kardashian just days before she gave birth to their daughter, Jenner said that the family handled it all pretty well and just supported each other. The 62-year-old mother of six told DeGeneres that she's always going to support her kids no matter what and that they are there for one another when they need to be. Earlier this week, Khloe's older sister, Kim Kardashian, also shared her thoughts about Thompson's cheating while appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "Poor Khloe. Like, I don't even know how to describe it besides it's just so f-ed up," the KKW Beauty founder said. Khloe Reappears On Social Media Fans of the Good American designer know that Khloe had refrained from posting anything on social media since confirming her daughter's name via Instagram. Well, the first-time mom has slowly but surely returned to social media by making subtle comments. First, she commented on her little sister Kylie Jenner's new Instagram photo of herself and her daughter, Stormi, while on vacation in Turks and Caicos for Travis Scott's 26th birthday. "Both of my cuties!!!!!" Khloe wrote. Then, the 33-year-old Revenge Body host clapped back at E! News after they posted a photo of her and Kourtney Kardashian claiming that they both could relate to one another as Kourtney continuously made headlines due to her tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Scott Disick. "Oh damn.... I hope I don't crush her by leaning on her. I love my little @kourtneykardash," Khloe commented. Columnists Make sure she gets on the bike again, Dad instructed Dorothy after my heel was bandaged. We all knew what he meant; I needed to ride again to overcome the fear of getting hurt. In challenging life situations our father was known to say, Its like getting thrown off a horse; you just have to get back on again. I was glad he didnt say that this time because he made it clear that I could not have a horse. 4 May 2018 Some 200 representatives from 36 countries gathered in Ljubljana this week at the EPO's 2018 PATLIB conference to discuss how best to support companies and inventors through their patent information services. The event, organised annually since 1990, brings together staff of patent information centres to share their experience and knowledge in providing information and advice on intellectual property at local level. "I am particularly pleased to see so many of Europe's patent information specialists here in Ljubljana today," said EPO President Benoit Battistelli, in his welcome address. "The EPO attaches great importance to supporting the PATLIB network, which serves the patent system - and the public interest - by providing much-needed patent information services, and thus fostering a favourable climate for innovation." The Director of the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), Vojko Toman, thanked the EPO for organising the event in Slovenia. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of innovation for a modern society. "Innovation and patent protection ensure a competitive economy, which affects economic growth and ultimately impacts on the welfare of society as a whole." Vojko Toman, Director of the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office, Eva Stravs Podlogar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and EPO President Benoit Battistelli Dr Toman also hosted the meeting of the EPO President and Eva Stravs Podlogar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia, at the premises of the SIPO. Topics discussed included bilateral co-operation between the EPO and SIPO, and recent developments related to the planned Unitary Patent system, which is expected to cut costs and formalities, while providing greater legal certainty for European companies and inventors. Both sides welcomed the news of the ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement by the United Kingdom last week as a decisive step forward. The EPO President also stressed the importance of a full completion of ratification of the UPC Agreement by Slovenia, not least because Ljubljana will host one of the seats of the new court's Mediation and Arbitration Centre. A network of 300 information centres across Europe PATLIB is the network of more than 300 patent information centres spread out across the EPO member states. PATLIB centres provide practical assistance to companies and inventors on patents and other intellectual property issues. Staffed with experienced patent search experts and providing a range of different services, the centres are often the first point of contact for local entrepreneurs, SMEs, private inventors and students. Further information The leaders of the Baltic states, Nordic countries, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland, which were recently branded Hanseatic League 2.0, discussed a range of issues at the end of last year, including Eurozone reform, the next multiannual EU budget, and upcoming vacancies for top EU jobs. While there is nothing unusual for ministers to convene, this particular group of countries has attracted some attention due to its potential political weight following the Brexit. After the UK leaves the EU, the political dynamic in Europe will change significantly. While a great deal of attention has been given to the big players such as France and Germany, the dynamic between smaller states has been not been a major focus yet. The departure of the UK a large, liberal, northern country will have a profound impact on the balance of power in the European Union. The Nordic countries and the Dutch are going to lose about 12 percent of their voting power in Brussels as a result of Brexit, and Southern states will gain prominence. This will ultimately change the way politics is done at the EU level. Two mutually reinforcing trends are already appearing. First, there is a clear realignment going on throughout Europe. Particularly smaller states begin to realize that they will have to do much more coalition building and policymakers are already actively seeking new partnerships across the continent to make themselves heard more in Brussels. Second, Brexit has unified the EU in some regards. There is more unity and the ultimate balance of power is moving in that direction. This could have profound political implications from the long-term perspective. This has also led some big wigs in Brussels, including Klaus Welle, Secretary General of the European Parliament, to see fresh political energy emerging in Europe: For the EU, he says, Brexit means losing capacity, because a large and influential country is leaving. But Brexit also means that we gain the capacity to act. We are fully on the move again. It will be a different union from now on. The need to build new partnerships and coalitions permeates all post-Brexit strategic discussions in Europe. Member states that have relied heavily on the UK for years are realizing that there will not be one single replacement for it and smaller EU countries in particular are looking to identify with other EU states that share hopes or priorities. It is fair to say that Brexit has triggered a major political movement across the continent. The direction of this new dynamic is not yet known, but it has implanted a new sense of unity among the EUs twenty-seven remaining members. In stark contrast to what some analysts had predicted, Brexit has not unleashed more EU departures. On the contrary, member states have so far showed their willingness to work on the European future and explore new ways to stay together. There Is Life for the EU After Brexit Commentary by Caroline de Gruyter Carnegie Europe. (The Commentary can be downloaded here) On International Star Wars Day a group of top global media with a combined circulation of 12 million from India, Australia, the Middle East, Canada, the US and Europe (Italy, UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria) have landed in Donegal to discover for themselves why it was named the Coolest Place on the Planet for 2017 by National Geographic Traveller. Today they are visiting Malin Head, one of the Star Wars film locations in Ireland as part of their trip, to follow in Luke Skywalkers footsteps to see for themselves how the force was awakened. The journalists visit was hosted and managed by Failte Ireland in collaboration with Tourism Ireland. The journalists write for some of the worlds leading magazines and newspapers including the Epoch Times, USA, Newscorp Escape, Australia, Mans World magazine, India, Margriet, weekly lifestyle magazine, the Netherlands, together with UK blogger Brogan Abroad and will get to explore our Galaxy and Donegal, one of the Star Wars film locations for themselves. With its breathtaking scenery and rugged landscape the many places on showcase in Donegal and the Wild Atlantic Way to the group on their visit included a visit to Donegal Castle, a boat trip with Paddy Byrne to see the spectacular sight of the cliffs at Sliabh League, a stop at the heritage town of Ardara, a major centre for the manufacture of hand-woven tweed, a visit to Glenveagh National Park, Horsetrekking with Dunfanaghy Riding Stables, a visit to Grianan of Aileach Stone Fort finishing off with a guided walking tour with Brendan Whelan at Banba Crown, Malin Head. Bren also worked with the Star Wars team when they were in Donegal. Alex Connolly, Head of Communications and International Publicity at Failte Ireland, said: The best way to write about something is to experience it first. We will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that these world class media see and do as much as possible in Donegal and the Wild Atlantic Way and share their experiences with their readers afterwards as well. We are hopeful that this visit of over 10 journalists will encourage more people to explore the epic landscapes of our Atlantic coast. From a visit to Malin Head, one of the Star Wars film locations to a visit to Irelands highest sea cliffs at Slieve League, we hope to showcase the culture and beauty of Donegal, giving them the opportunity to generate many interesting stories for their publications. ated 235,000 people. Jump to top Ipsos conducted a poll on behalf of Dairy Farmers of Canada By Diego Flammini Staff Writer Farms.com Three out of four Canadians support supply management, a new poll has found. Ipsos conducted the poll of 1,000 adults between April 26 and 27 on behalf of Dairy Farmers of Canada. The majority (75 per cent) of respondents believe the Canadian dairy sector should be defended, Ipsos said in a statement yesterday . The same number say the government should do more during NAFTA renegotiations to protect the dairy industry, and 80 per cent of respondents share dairy farmers concerns regarding the NAFTA renegotiations. Dairy farmers are pleased with the poll results but arent surprised that Canadian consumers support them. Were very excited to see that and it shows what we already knew that our consumers are appreciative of our high-quality milk, Bonnie den Haan, a producer from Simcoe County, told Farms.com today. Canadians also feel that U.S. dairy products should be held to the same standards as Canadian dairy, the poll found. Nine out of 10 respondents agreed holding U.S. dairy to a higher standard should be part of the terms of the new NAFTA agreement, the survey said. These results reaffirm that the supply management system works, den Haan said. Consumers like to buy Canadian milk because the product is highly regulated, she said. It gives them assurance that theyre purchasing the best products and that farmers are being paid fairly to produce it. The United States continues to target Canadas dairy sector during NAFTA discussions. But Canadian negotiators have stood firm, calling the issue a non-starter on multiple occasions. The poll shows 60 per cent of respondents indicated the governments ability to protect supply management may impact the way they vote in an election. SimplyCreativePhotography/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo From January 14 to 19, four members of Parliament travelled with Foodgrains Bank executive director Jim Cornelius to visit Government of Canada-funded agricultural development projects in Nicaragua. They saw first-hand how Canadian support is making a difference for people around the world fighting their way out of poverty. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. But abject poverty isnt what Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier remembers most about her trip to visit Government of Canada-funded agricultural development projects in Nicaragua. Instead, Fortier recalls Rosa Martinez, a Nicaraguan woman the group visited in the rural community of Teustepe. I was overwhelmed by Rosas dedication and resilience, says Fortier. She is an amazing woman and mother who is taking action and making a difference for her community. Martinez, alongside her husband, supports her family by growing a crop on a small plot of land. Climate change, and its effects makes it difficult for farmers like Martinez to predict when to plant. Irregular rainfall can result in crop failures. Families in the community regularly experience hunger. Through a sustainable agriculture project implemented by Canadian Foodgrains Bank member Presbyterian World Service & Development with support from the Government of Canada, Rosa has learned about crop diversification for better nutrition and crop resilience, how to store water, and how to start seedlings in cups for better plant growth and strength. Because of what shes learned, Martinez is growing more food for her family, and selling some of her crops as well. Even though farmers here deal with climate change, levels of poverty are high, and there are very hard conditions for growing crops, I was moved by how proud the project participants were to share their realities and individual experiences, says Fortier. For Fortier, the trip was a chance to see how support from Canada is making a positive difference for people in poor countries who are working their way out of poverty through agriculture. As a Member of Parliament, you are pulled in many directions on a daily basis, she says. It was empowering for me to meet with farmers and see hands-on how our work has a global benefit. --Amanda Thorsteinsson, Communications coordinator Source : foodgrainsbank Cattle Council regards the announcement made by Labor to support a ban of live sheep exports as reckless and ill-informed. Cattle Council President Howard Smith said "we will continue to support the trade of live animals from Australia because of the role it plays in supporting jobs and economic development in regional Australia, and in feeding hundreds of thousands of people abroad". "Time and time again we see producers thrown under the bus by the negligence of others and this has got to stop". The inhumane treatment of animals is unacceptable to cattle producers and Cattle Council supports harsh penalties applying to those who are found to be in deliberate breach of standards and regulations. "Cattle Council will continue to advocate for improvements to welfare outcomes for livestock exported from Australia, but a knee jerk reaction is not the answer" he said. Cattle Council supports Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull's statement that Labor's pledge was a 'reckless and emotional decision with no scientific basis'. Cattle Council continues to work alongside Minister Littleproud, his Department and Industry to ensure that sound scientific evidence is used to inform policies and regulation. "Cattle Council regards the Australian livestock export trade as an economically significant alternative market to domestic processing, creating essential market diversity and competition for Australian cattle producers. This trade continues to support individuals, families and their communities right across Australia," Mr Smith said. Mr Smith concluded "as an industry we are conscious that we must continue to improve the way we operate and recognise that good animal welfare practices are crucial for the future of our industry." ARGUABLY the biggest pain involved with clay spreading is the second operation smudging, or levelling clay, employing a smudge bar. Normally its a home-made three metre (10 foot) frame of welded railway iron pulled behind a tractor to smooth out the clay lumps. If youve got an inexperienced operator, it can be a hit-and-miss operation. Which is another pain. And, of course, its a time-consuming exercise. But for a small number of WA farmers, smudging is no longer required after spreading clay they are owners of a New South Wales-made KB Grader Board, manufactured by KB Engineering, Deniliquin. Its 12.2m (40ft) in width and provides a true grade to level the clay. The working width alone will get the attention of farmers, as it did with South Stirlings farmer John Howard, who heard about it being used by several Esperance farmers. Mr Howards tractor driver Scott Ganza is in no doubt in the decision to buy a KB Grader Board was a good one. We did 80 hectares with the grader board in four to five hours, Mr Howard said. That compared with our smudge bar, which is about three feet (1m) in working width, doing 10ha in the same time. It did a brilliant job and was a big time saver. Mr Howard estimates he has cut the amount of hours smudging by two thirds. Its very simple to operate and it takes about two minutes to manually fold for transport, he said. The KG Grader Board is folded in one length with road grader blades bolted on. It also has been designed with a hydraulically-controlled adjustable tilt on the blade to suit working conditions and horsepower (recommended 134-250 kilowatts, 180-330 horspower). A cleverly-designed pivot system enables the manual fold-unfold and in working position, transport wheels are hydraulically raised while ground wheels are lowered. You can basically use the board to skim, straight grade or adjust the height of spread with the ground working wheels acting as height adjusters by tilting the blade backwards, Mr Ganza said. The adjustment on the wheels is easy to operate and quick. According the KB Engineerings marketing manager Bob Healey, the KB Grader Board also can be used for land levelling and firming seed beds before sowing and any general work required to provide a smooth finish. More information: Bob Healey 0407 078 831. The DOJ unsealed an indictment Thursday charging the former head of Germanys biggest company with helping hide emissions cheating software used to deceive U.S. regulators and car buyers. Martin Winterkorn, 70, Volkswagens former chief executive, was charged in a sixteen-count indictment with conspiracy and wire fraud. The superseding indictment (pdf) unsealed Thursday was issued by a federal grand jury in Michigan. Winterkorn served as Volkswagens CEO from 2007 to 2015. Hes believed to be living in Germany. Winterkorn resigned from Volkswagen in September 2015. He first denied but later admitted knowing the company had created and installed software to cheat diesel emissions tests. Volkswagon pleaded guilty in 2017 to three felony counts. It paid a $2.8 billion criminal penalty for cheating on federal and state emissions tests and lying to regulators. The cheating related to 590,000 diesel vehicles Volkswagen sold in the United States. VW also settled civil claims for $1.5 billion brought by the EPA for import violations and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for customs fraud. The company admitted it lied about emissions tests for about 11 million diesel vehicles world wide. Earlier in 2017, Volkswagen agreed to spend up to $14.7 billion to resolve other federal and California civil allegations. The company said it would fix the vehicles or buy them back. According to the indictment unsealed Thursday, other VW employees told Winterkorn in May 2014 and July 2015 about the plan to cheat on U.S. diesel emissions tests. He allegedly didnt stop the cheating and helped conceal it. The indictment was first filed in March but kept under seal to protect the DOJs ongoing investigation. Winterkorn faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count and up to 20 years in jail on each of three wire fraud counts. The DOJ said Thursday it has now indicted nine individuals in the case. Two former VW engineers, Oliver Schmidt, 48, and James Liang, 63, both German citizens, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Liangs plea was in 2016 and Schmidts in 2017. Schmidt led Volkswagens regulatory compliance office in the United States from 2014 to March 2015. Hes serving an 84-month prison sentence and Liang is serving a 40-month sentence. Five other former VW executives and senior managers were indicted in January 2017 but are still at large, the DOJ said Thursday. All are believed to be German citizens living in Germany. In July 2017, the DOJ also charged the former manager of VWs subsidiary, Audi AG. Giovanni Pamio, 61, an Italian citizen, is in Germany pending extradition, the DOJ said Thursday. ____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. UNODCs Dr. Oliver LandwehrDr. Oliver Landwehr has been a legal officer at the UN Office of Drugs and Crime in Vienna since 2012. His job is conducting country reviews under the framework set out in the UN Convention against Corruption. Its hard work. But he took time this week to brief a MACS (Master) class from the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna. We tagged along. There are 184 parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, or UNCAC. Each party is supposed to have two reviews. The first cycle of reviews started in 2010 and covers the UNCAC chapters on criminalization and law enforcement, and international cooperation. The second cycle started in late 2015 and covers preventive measures and asset recovery. UNODC thats who Dr. Landwehr works for is the secretariat of whats called the Implementation Review Mechanism or IRM. The IRM is the review framework set out in the UN Convention against Corruption. So far, 162 countries have been through the first cycle. In the second cycle, less than 10 of the reviews are complete. In addition to being reviewed, each State party must also perform from one to three reviews of other States. This peer review process is cooperative, not adversarial. Its supposed to help countries implement the UN Convention against Corruption. The two peers (countries) who perform each review are picked from a hat one from the same regional group as the country under review and one from outside the region. The UN, including UNODC, has six official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese. Each reviewer works in one of those languages, and the country under review might work in a third language. So each review might involve parties working in (at least) three languages. Beyond the obstacles created by different languages, it can be hard to measure and assess different legal traditions and systems. (American lawyers face this issue in a small way when they encounter civil law in Louisiana, say, as opposed to English common law in all the other states.) And then, of course, there are constraints on funding and resources. Right now, Dr. Landwehr is one of 15 lawyers at UNODC involved in the country reviews. His name is on the reports for Cambodia, Ireland, and Sweden, among others. When the reviews reveal gaps in a State members compliance with the UN Convention against Corruption, the ideal scenario is for UNODC to send in technical experts to help put things right. But with the funding constraints, that doesnt always happen. Are the UNODC peer reviews effective? All the reports are public and posted online. Its not in-your-face naming and shaming. But like the OECD Working Group reviews, it puts pressure on governments and their enforcement agencies to do better. And it supports civil society groups, local journalists, academics and others in their calls for reform. Countries that arent compliant with the UN Convention against Corruption also risk losing access to money. The multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, now refer to UNODC country reviews when weighing funding decisions. The second cycle of reviews that started in late 2015 covers some important ground. What are the countrys anti-corruption policies and bodies? How are civil servants recruited and retained? Are there codes of conduct for public officials? What about freedom of information laws and mechanisms? Whats the standard of integrity in the judiciary? What role do civil society groups play? ___ Our thanks to UNODCs Dr. Oliver Landwehr for his time this week, and for most of the above information. (Any inaccuracies are our fault, not his.) ____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. George Lucas has contributed to 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' after Ron Howard agreed to use a joke he suggested. George Lucas The 73-year-old filmmaker created the blockbuster sci-fi franchise, but handed over the reins from Lucasfilm to Disney in 2015, with fans assuming that would be his last dealings with the movies. However, Lucas has remained supportive of the forthcoming Han Solo spin-off, and one day he came over and interrupted Howard - who took over the director's chair from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who left the project due to creative differences - to suggest a quip on set, and he immediately agreed to add it in. Appearing on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert', Howard recalled: "We were doing a scene and he was trying to stay out of the way, but he did lean over and he said, 'You know what Han would really do there?' "I said, 'What?' And he told me the joke, he gave me a little joke. "And I said [to the crew], 'Hey, guess what? Here's what we're gonna do in the next take.' So I know when I hear a good idea." Howard is thankful that he's stay on good terms with Lucas, despite him selling Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Company. He said: "We've remained friends, so for me it was an incredible show of support and respect and it meant the world to me that he would go out of his way to show up." Lucas' quip suggestion comes after Donald Glover promised 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' is "a lot more fun" than other 'Star Wars' movies. The 34-year-old actor - who portrays the young Lando Calrissian in the upcoming Han Solo spin-off - said: "I think it's just a lot more fun. All the 'Star Wars' [movies] are really fun, but I think this movie, we know what's going to happen, we know they're not going to die, ya know?" 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' follows the story of Han Solo, the captain of the Millennium Falcon and one of the great leaders of the Rebel Alliance. The movie will focus on a younger version of the titular character, with Alden Ehrenreich taking over the iconic role from Harrison Ford. Han and Chewbacca will be seen first meeting Lando Calrissian (Glover) and they will also encounter Woody Harrelson's alter-ego Beckett, who is believed to be a mentor to young Han who guides him on his journey to becoming a space smuggler. Liam Neeson is set to star in new thriller 'Charlie Johnson in the Flames'. Liam Neeson The 65-year-old actor - who saw his career rebooted in 2008 by action franchise 'Taken' - has signed up to the lead titular role in the action movie. Neeson will star as Charlie Johnson, a BBC war correspondent covering civil disorder in the Congo, according to Deadline. The death of an innocent woman sets him on a crusade to justice, which sees him caught up in murder, corruption and violence. The film will be adapted from the Michael Ignatieff thriller novel and will be directed by Tarik Saleh, who helmed the 2017 award-winning indie hit 'The Nile Hilton Incident'. Justin Haythe, who worked on Jennifer Lawrence's spy thriller 'Red Sparrow', has penned the script. Neeson's films have made over $7 billion worldwide, and his latest action was 'The Commuter'. The 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace' actor recently spoke at the Toronto International Film Festival to claim that cinema goers would soon stop to believe a man of his age would be able to pull off such death-defying feats. He said: "The thrillers, that was all a pure accident. They're still throwing serious money at me to do that stuff ... Audiences are eventually going to go, 'Come on.' " However, Neeson has now revealed that "it was a joke" but he is adamant he'll know when "enough is enough" in the action genre. The 'Schindler's List' star said: "It was a joke but, of course, everyone picks up on that. I am aware of audiences looking at certain action stars and going, 'Oh, come on.' I know when enough is enough." Noel Gallagher harks back to Manchester's Hacienda days on the new High Flying Birds 'It's A Beautiful World Remix EP'. Noel Gallagher The song from the former Oasis star's third LP 'Who Built The Moon?' - which was produced by David Holmes - has been remixed by legendary Hacienda nightclub residents Mike Pickering and Graeme Park and electronica/house DJ Andrew Weatherall, who put his own vocal mix and darker dub on the psychedelic track, featuring scissor player Charlotte Marionneau. The 'Some Might Say' songwriter frequented The Hacienda - which was forced to close in 1997 due to financial issues - in his hometown, which was responsible for the rise of acid house and rave music in the 80s, before forming the Britpop group in 1991. The four-track release contains four extended instrumental versions of the song, which pay homage to acts like New Order and Depeche Mode. Noel previously released the collection of remixes on limited edition monochrome and dipped 12" vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day, but now fans can get their ears around the tracks digitally. Noel said: "I love Record Store Day. It gives us, the artists, a chance to put music out there that otherwise might never see the light of day. "I love the fact that the items are very limited edition and I do utter the phrase 'I'll save that for Record Store Day' a LOT. Here's a question though - since when do we have 'stores' in the UK?" Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' third record debuted at number one - a record-breaking 10th consecutive chart-topping studio album for the 50-year-old rocker. The 'Holy Mountain' hitmaker is currently on tour and performs in his hometown at Manchester Arena tonight (04.05.18). The 'It's A Beautiful World Remix EP' tracklisting is as follows: 'It's A Beautiful World' (Andrew Weatherall Vocal Remix) 'It's A Beautiful World' (Andrew Weatherall Dub Remix) 'It's A Beautiful World' (Mike Pickering Graeme Park Hacienda Mix) 'It's A Beautiful World' (Mike Pickering Graeme Park Hacienda Instrumental Mix) Surfing Australia: CASUARINA/NSW - May 4, 2018 - AirAsia, Australias Official Airline of Surfing, has announced changes to its baggage policy as part of its partnership with Surfing Australia and state surfing bodies. From today, surfers from across Australia will be able to travel with their surfboard to and from surfing hot spots such as Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives, Japan and the Philippines, at no additional cost. AirAsia X Group Head of Commercial Barry Klipp said, Todays announcement demonstrates the commitment from both AirAsia and AirAsia X to making low-cost travel a reality for Australians, in particular, those who are surfing enthusiasts. Weve made these changes in recognition of what we know makes Australia so unique its passion for aquatic activities, such as surfing. Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark said, For the waves of surfers who head to South East Asia each year, the changes to AirAsias baggage policy was a welcomed benefit for the surfing community. When it comes to travelling with your surfboard, baggage policies differ between airlines and often come with additional costs. This initiative would provide surfers with peace-of-mind when it comes to embarking on their next surfing adventure. The new policy comes into effect today, and is valid until further notice for all passengers who depart to and from Australia on point to point and fly-thru bookings made at airasia.com To view the new baggage policy: Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Private equity firm Francisco Partners has agreed to acquire Renaissance, a Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.-based provider of pre K-12 learning analytics solutions. The financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018, were not disclosed. The sellers were Hellman & Friedman and its other stockholders. In conjunction with the closing, Chris Bauleke, the former CEO of myON, now a part of Renaissance, will succeed Daniel Hamburger as Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance. Hamburger will remain with the company as a Special Advisor. Renaissance provides a pre-K12 learning analytics platform, enabling educators to analyze, customize, and plan personalized learning paths for students, to create learning experiences in the classroom. In March, the company acquired digital literacy solution provider, myON, from Francisco Partners to leverage its digital content library and literacy tools and deliver a comprehensive suite of reading solutions to educators and students. Renaissance products are used in approximately one-third of U.S. schools and more than 70 countries worldwide. By working with Francisco Partners, the organization plans to continue to evolve its solutions and expand its global presence to serve additional school districts around the world. FinSMEs 04/05/2018 OncoSynergy, a South San Francisco, CA-based oncology therapeutics spinout from UCSF, closed a Series A equity funding round. The round was led by Connecticut Innovations (CI) with participation from current shareholders NLabs, Inc., and Korea Information & Communication Co., Ltd. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate their lead program, OS2966, to the clinic for the treatment of glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest primary brain tumor in adults. Led by W. Shawn Carbonell, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO, OncoSynergy has developed a new class of oncology therapeutics called Resistance Mechanism Inhibitors (RMIs). RMIs feature multiple simultaneous mechanisms of action, synergy in combination with other treatments, including immunotherapies in preclinical models, and can potentially be used to treat many types of solid and hematological cancers. The FDA has granted two Orphan Drug Designations for OS2966, the lead RMI program, including in the treatment of glioblastoma. The planned clinical trial is a strategic alliance with Infuseon Therapeutics, a medical device spinout of the Cleveland Clinic. OncoSynergy will be relocating its headquarters to Connecticut and expanding its team in anticipation of its first clinical trial in 2019. FinSMEs 04/05/2018 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 Do you believe in miracles? I do believe one happened at Immanuel on Sunday morning. Pastor Cody started teaching about the book of Acts during Bible study. It talks about the Disciples being . () , ... Posted 5/3/18 John Joseph Frye, 22, Elkland, was charged in Dallas County Court with the Class C felony of unlawful possession of a firearm on Dec. 26, 2016. Dallas County Prosecuting Attorney Barbara J. Viets OnePlus is all set to launch next-gen flagship in less than two weeks. However, Before the formal launch, the company had been teasing the features of the upcoming flagship OnePlus 6, which is touted to be its fastest smartphone, equipped with the latest and powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and up to 8GB RAM. Till now, many rumours and speculations about the device have surfaced online revealing the nitty-gritty details of the yet-to-be-launched OnePlus 6, while the company has also confirmed some of the features of the phone, as well as launch dates and pop-up events. The OnePlus 6 is expected to feature a 19:9 aspect ratio to fit a notch on top where the front camera and other sensors will reside. The top-notch will measure exactly 19.62 x 7.69 mm. The phone will come with up to 256GB storage for the first time. It will retain their very popular feature, the alert slider, which is now present on the right side of the phone. Pete Lau, CEO and Founder, recently confirmed that the OnePlus 6 will feature a glass design. He also said that OnePlus design team tested over 70 glass prototypes before selecting the best one. The glass back of the OnePlus 6 is to have five printed layers of Nanotech coating, instead of three, which is a first in the smartphone industry. The additional layers give the back of the device a stronger impression of depth and a premium feel. The companys latest teaser confirmed the OnePlus 6 x Marvel Avengers Limited Edition which will launch along with the OnePlus 6 on May 17th, a few months after the launch of OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition, in partnership with Disney. It also hinted at a 19:9 display and a unique textured back, which is rumored to be kevlar back. OnePlus confirmed that it will feature design elements inspired from the movie. Another teaser confirmed that the OnePlus 6 is launching in India on May 17 at Dome @ NSCI Mumbai at 3PM. The company also said that Amazon.in Prime members will be able to purchase the OnePlus 6 in an exclusive sale beginning at 12:00 IST on 21st May 2018, and Notify me for the sale started couple of weeks back. OnePlus, with the launch of the 5T was the first company to offer community members an opportunity to attend the launch event. The OnePlus 6 launch event will be its biggest community event yet. Tickets to attend the event will be available via oneplus.in at Rs. 999 from 10:00 IST on Tuesday, 8th May 2018. All fans who attend the launch event will get a gift hamper with OnePlus Tote Bag, Marvel Avengers Cap, Marvel Avengers T-shirt, OnePlus Notebook, Cash Cannon and OnePlus Voucher for Rs.999. OnePlus and Vogue gave us a sneak peek of the OnePlus 6s camera with the release of Vogues cover image for its May issue, also hinting as to what they can expect from the much-awaited upcoming OnePlus flagship. Vogue Indias cover for their May edition featuring popular Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari, was shot on the upcoming flagship OnePlus 6! This is also the first-ever try in India to shoot a magazine cover on a smartphone and a global first for Vogue. The amount of detailing we see in the photo is a clear indication of what the OnePlus 6 is capable of. With the OnePlus 6, the company wants to create a faster, simpler and smoother phone with a seamless experience for the users. We're bringing #TheSpeedYouNeed to your city! The OnePlus 6 hits India on the 21st this month for the #OnePlusPopUp. Sign up for your respective city here - https://t.co/uGUOLrltCS pic.twitter.com/USkygydxWv OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) May 2, 2018 OnePlus started conducting pop-up events from 2015 with the OnePlus 2. This lets users experience the smartphone before buying and a chance to purchase the smartphone first in the world before general open sales. This time in India, pop-up events will happen across 8 cities Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Across the globe pop-ups will be held in New York, London, Paris, Milan and Beijing. OnePlus will also offer goodies for people purchasing the phone. In India, the OnePlus 6 pop-ups will take place between 3:30PM-8PM on 21st May , and between 11AM-7PM on 22nd May. Stocks will be limited, so you will have to get there early to buy the OnePlus 6. We should know all the details when the phone goes official in a couple of weeks. Keep an eye for more details about the OnePlus 6. iStock/Thinkstock(CHICAGO) -- More than 100 local and federal officials are combing parts of Chicago as authorities try to track down the people responsible for shooting at undercover agents, injuring one, in the early morning hours on Friday. "The actions of the offenders in this were barbaric," Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said today. "This is the fourth law enforcement officer in a year that's been shot over in that area. ... I got a message for them (shooters): 'We're coming for you.'" According to Celinez Nunez, the special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agent was "ambushed" at approximately 3 a.m. today and shot in the face. The ATF agent had been involved in an investigation as part of a special multi-agency "crime gun task force" utilizing federal and local authorities. Nunez said the task force had been set up last year to get illegal guns off Chicago's streets and to go after "the worst of the worst." She said the injured agent had been carrying out an operation to intercept illegal guns when individuals opened fire, striking the agent in the face. Fellow officers put the agent into a silver SUV and took him to a hospital. FBI special agent Jeffrey Sallet called the police officers and agents who responded to the shooting heroes because "when the gunfire erupted. ... They ran toward that gunfire." Johnson said today that the agent would survive and "be OK." The police chief also said he'd ordered specialized units into the area to ensure the safety of residents and "conduct a manhunt for anyone involved in this reprehensible crime." "We will knock on every door, talk to every witness, watch every piece of video and analyze every piece of evidence," Johnson said today. "Believe me. You will not get away with this." The ATF's Nunez implored the community to help with the manhunt. "This has to be an all-hands-on-deck approach," she said. "We cannot do this alone." Authorities are offering reward money totaling $61,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. With that reward, Sallet said, "the people who did this will not have a lot of friends." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Reports and rumors about Walmart acquiring Flipkart go back to a couple of months where Walmart was said to acquire about 40% of Flipkart. A couple of weeks back, it is again reported that Walmart said to acquire 51% stake in Flipkart. Freshly we hear that Walmart might get hold of 73% of Flipkart valued at $16 billion. Walmart is said to have sealed the deal on May 3rd spending at least $14.6 billion in the cash-and-stock buyout. According to the report, one of the sources said that Flipkart was valued at $20 billion, while other sources said Walmart had put the target companys value at as much as $22 billion, a price at which it will spend more than $16 billion. In an interesting move, Alphabet, parent company of Google is also said to be participating in the deal with a $3 billion investment. It is also heard that both the companies have signed tentative agreements after meetings. The sources also confirmed that the deal will be a mix of cash and stock as mentioned above, says the report. Cash component will be close to 55%, which will mark the exit of some of the largest investors in Flipkart, sources said. As for the investors, some of the friendly investors like Tencent, Microsoft, and Tiger Global will not cash out completely. Softbank, which currently holds a little over 20% stake in Flipkart will exit the company fully and is expected to make $4 billion. JP Morgan Chase as Walmarts banker, Amarchand Mangaldas are involved in the deal as legal advisors and Bain & Co. as management consultants. Neither of the companies responded to requests for comment. It is also reported that Walmart has told Flipkarts board that it intends to sell shares of the Indian e-commerce firm in an initial public offer (IPO) in three years time. Furthermore, CEO Krishnamurthy will continue to helm Flipkart, as Sachin Bansal, the chairman may exit the company as he had no plans to sell any of his shares until last week and was seeking a bigger role, though Walmart wants them to continue to serve. According to the report, sources claim that Walmart plans to build food and grocery chains in India and will have huge upsides. Nothing is official until either of the companies make an announcement, but it should be interesting to see where Flipkart is headed post the acquisition. Source Authorities say an extremely intoxicated man who was attempting to have sex with the tailpipe of a car in central Kansas was subdued with a stun gun after he refused to stop. Newton Lt. Scott Powell says the 24-year-old was taken to an emergency room Tuesday because of his life threateningly high .35 blood alcohol level and possible drug use. Powell says the man had a possible head injury and "was completely oblivious to everyone standing around and telling him to stop." Powell says the man is expected to be released from the hospital Thursday. Police submitted a report to city prosecutors recommending a misdemeanor charge of lewd and lascivious behavior. Nothing had been filed as of Thursday. A gang of thieves broke into a Ram truck factory parking lot early Thursday morning and stole around 10 pickups that were fresh off of the assembly line. Police believe the crooks arrived at the Warren Truck Assembly plant near Detroit at around 4 a.m. in another stolen truck found nearby, cut through a security fence and each jumped in a Ram 1500. A guard said one of the trucks smashed through a security gate and was followed by a convoy as they all took off in the same direction. Police said there is security footage of the crime and that they are looking for more along the roads leading away from the facility. However, Warren police commissioner William Dwyer told Fox News that as of Friday morning Fiat Chrysler had not provided his department the video from the factory, or the colors and VIN numbers of the stolen vehicles. A spokesperson for the automaker said that the vehicle information had been shared with the Macomb County Sheriff's auto theft squad, and that eight vehicles were confirmed to have been stolen. A spokesperson for the auto theft squad confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and that Fiat Chrysler had not provided it with any video from the crime scene as of Friday afternoon. ARE YOU FOLLOWING FOX NEWS AUTOS ON FACEBOOK YET? Dwyer told Fox 2 News that its possible it was an inside job involving a current or former employee at the factory. The Warren Truck Assembly plant currently builds the last-generation Ram 1500 pickup, but will soon be retooled to build Heavy Duty Ram pickups as the automaker shifts production of those trucks from Mexico. This is a developing story... With AP For NBC News, it was another in a series of embarrassments on Thursday as it had to correct a story saying federal investigators had placed a wiretap on the phone lines of President Donald Trumps attorney Michael Cohen. As Fox News is reporting, the feds were monitoring only what calls were being made but werent listening in contrary to NBCs earlier reporting. The Peacock Networks major turnabout was made more than four hours after the original story moved online Thursday, when it caused immediate chatter in the cable news universe. NBC had attributed its original story to two anonymous sources with knowledge of the legal proceedings against Cohen. In an editors note preceding the rewritten story, NBC explains that three senior U.S. officials disputed the account, saying that the phones were monitored by a pen register, which records the phone numbers on both ends of the conversation, not the substance of the calls themselves. The erroneous NBC report added to widespread speculation about what exactly the feds were able to seize in their April raid. Cohens lawyers and President Trumps legal team have been battling in court over access to those materials. NBC moved its original story online shortly after 1 p.m. on Thursday, and it became immediate fodder on MSNBC and other cable networks. The correction was issued online at 5:27 p.m. with that editors note, and was discussed on MSNBCs Meet the Press Daily. The correction offered ammunition to the nations highest-ranked media critic: Trump has frequently criticized the mainstream media for catering to Americas left wing and coastal elite with fake news. The screw-up also gave media watchdogs a chance to mock NBC online for its latest blast of fake news. The Washington Posts Fact Checker, Glenn Kessler, tweeted that the mistake was pretty big. The correction is just the latest storm for a network reeling from them. It is currently dealing with unflattering stories involving sexual misconduct, secrecy, homophobia and bad decision-making, causing headaches for NBC and its news chairman, Andy Lack. Theres the controversy over the findings of an internal review to determine who knew about disgraced Today host Matt Lauers bad behavior but didnt report it in a timely manner; antigay slurs connected to MSNBC star Joy Reids blog posts; and the accusations that legendary anchor Tom Brokaw engaged in forceful and unwanted kissing of then-NBC correspondent Linda Vester in the 1990s. Also still in play are persistent questions over why NBC sat on two major sex harassment stories: the Access Hollywood tape of Trump and the blockbuster reporting on alleged Hollywood sex predator Harvey Weinstein by Ronan Farrow, which won him the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for public service. Then theres the foundering and hugely expensive experiment with former Fox News star Megyn Kelly, who reportedly has been dragging down NBC News most important show by far, Today. NBC has been silent on the Reid and Brokaw matters, the two most recent humiliations before the news story correction. If legendary icons like Matt Lauer and Tom Brokaw can be accused by apparently responsible individuals, the company should act as others have done and dispense with internal investigations and engage a high profile, independent investigator to determine the root causes as well as the specifics of these horrendous accusations, famed reporter-turned-entrepreneur Porter Bibb previously told Fox News, adding that NBC was seriously derelict in not ordering an independent investigation of the entire companys policies, protocols, and past performance. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Disgraced TV journalist Charlie Rose is being sued by three former CBS employees who claim the former This Morning host sexually harassed them and threatened their jobs. The lawsuit was filed Friday in New York Supreme Court by Katherine Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal and Yuqing Wei. The women allege the 76-year-old frequently made sexually suggestive comments and engaged in unwanted sexual contact in the course of 2017. They were all in their 20s. The lawsuit also goes after CBS executives, whom they claimed failed to warn the employees about Roses troubling history of sexual misconduct. It also alleges CBS has a history of workplace harassment against women over a period of decades from at least the 1980s forward, adding Rose himself has allegedly sexually harassed more than two dozen women at CBS. Harris, who joined CBS in 2016, claimed Rose initially approached her and attempted to lure her with expensive lunch dates where he bought her wine and floated job opportunities at 60 Minutes, as well as his PBS show Charlie Rose. In a job offer letter, Rose made questionable comments, such as I want you to be at the center of my professional world, You help me get through the day and I look forward to the most exciting year of our lives. The plaintiffs insisted Rose would repeatedly touch them, pull them close to his body and kiss them on the cheek. Rose allegedly went as far as placing his hands on Harris thigh and called other women prostitutes. McNeal, who was required by Rose to join him and Harris for dinner, claimed he sexually touched her without her consent. The women also claimed Rose repeatedly asked the women about their sex lives and insisted them on sharing details. He suggested McNeal and Harris to have sex with each other and told them words to the effect of, You just need to become lovers already, and 'you should have seen the women I was with when I was younger.' The lawsuit alleges Rose went as far as to order Harris and McNeal to visit his home for a reported errand and said I better not hear any stories about two young women swimming naked together in his swimming pool. Wei alleged Rose would refer to her as China Doll and said comments such as I love the way you do that while she was being caressed. She too insisted Rose allegedly would want to kiss her. An expose published Wednesday by The Washington Post claimed 27 additional women are accusing Rose of sexual misconduct and that managers at CBS and PBS were told about his alleged inappropriate behavior over the years. CBS News denies that any human resources complaints were ever filed against Rose. Rose was first accused of grabbing womens genitals, walking around naked in front of them and making lewd phone calls in a bombshell report the Washington 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." Here is the weekly road construction report for Hamilton County: I-75 North Exit 1 interchange reconfiguration project at mile marker 1: Work on this project continues. There is now only one exit ramp that allows drivers to turn both east and west on Ringgold Road at a signalized intersection. Traffic has been shifted onto the newly constructed portion of Camp Jordan Parkway, and the intersection (I-75 NB off-ramp and SR-8/Camp Jordan Parkway) is now controlled by a traffic signal. Estimated project completion date is May. [C.W. Matthews Contracting/City Of East Ridge/LCLPRGM] US-27 (I-124) widening from I-24/US-27 interchange to north of the Olgiati Bridge over the Tennessee River, including widening the Olgiati Bridge: Work on this project continues. The contractor has closed the 12th Street tie-in ramp to US-27 South. This closure will be in place until May 18. Traffic from 12th Street will be detoured to Carter Street and then to Westbound MLK where motorists may access the US-27 South on-ramp. Detours are posted. Motorists should exercise caution when traveling through the construction zone and pay close attention to the detour signage posted. The speed limit has been reduced from 45 MPH to 35 MPH between Main Street and 4th Street on US-27 North. The speed limit on US-27 in the rest of the construction zone remains 45 MPH. On Thursday night, the contractor will implement a night time lane closure on US-27 South from 7 p.m.-6 a.m. There will be a left lane closure coming across the Olgiati Bridge, transitioning to a right lane closure from 4th Street to the I 24 interchange. The ramp traffic will not be affected. Weather permitting, the contractor may implement temporary lane/shoulder closures on weeknights between the hours of 7 p.m.-6 a.m. At least one lane will remain open in each direction on US-27. THP will assist with traffic control on the project as necessary. RESTRICTIONS: I-124 (US-27) Northbound Exit 1C 4th Street Off Ramp. No oversize/over-dimensional loads. Width Limit is 11 feet. Estimated project completion date is January 2020. [Dement Construction Company, LLC/Micka/CNP230] SR-111 resurfacing from SR-29 to Jones Gap Road: During this report period the contractor will have lane closures in place during resurfacing operations. No closures will occur from 5-8 a.m. in the southbound direction and from 4-6 p.m. in the northbound direction. Flaggers will be on hand to assist as needed. Estimated project completion date is July. [Wright Brothers, LLC/Pruett/CNS020] SR-320 (East Brainerd Road) grading, drainage, installation of signals, construction of seven retaining walls and paving from east of Graysville Road to east of Bel-Air Road: During this report period, the contractor will have intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. This work may affect either direction of East Brainerd Road or side streets from Graysville Road to Bel-Air Road. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is June. [Jones Bros. Contractors, LLC/Pruett/CNN383] SR-58 intersection improvement at Champion Road: During this report period, the contractor will have lane closures between 9 a.m.-7 p.m. This work may affect either direction of SR-58 at the Champion Road intersection. No lane closures will be in effect from 5-9 a.m. in the southbound direction and from 3-6 p.m. in the northbound direction. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is June. [Greenstar, LLC/Pruett/CNS025] SR-58 northbound 500 ft. north of Sims Harris Road: The contractor will implement a partial lane closure on weekdays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. to install valve, vault and by-pass on existing water main. Utility construction signs, flagger signs, cones and flaggers will be present to assist with traffic control. Estimated project completion date is June. [Savannah Valley Utility District/Utility Permit/UO-2007] A Detroit radio station said it will ban Kanye West's music over controversial comments the rapper made earlier this week that slavery was a choice. Hosts Shay Shay and BiGG of 105.1 the Morning Bounce made the announcement Thursday on Facebook with the hashtag Mute Kanye. Kanye has gone too far with his latest comments, they said. They wrote that they are refusing to give him a platform, according to New York Post. "We don't want to hear Kanye's music, we don't want to play Kanye on our show, we don't want to talk about Kanye anymore, the post read. So we are taking a stand and we aren't playing his music anymore; we just are refusing to give him a platform." The ban will be for the entire hip-hop station and will include tracks that West produced or is featured in as well, the Detroit Free Press reported. West faced swift backlash following an interview with TMZ on Tuesday, where he said "when you hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years?! That sounds like a choice." The music mogul took to Twitter shortly after to try and walk back his comments and compared himself to both Nat Turner and Harriet Tubman. "when you hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years?! That sounds like a choice." Kanye West If this was 148 years ago I would have been more like Harriet or Nat," West tweeted, before clarifying the reason he 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 thoughtIt was just an idea. The two morning DJs didnt announce how long the ban will last, and left it open to a gut feeling. Thats what it is right now. We need a break, Shay Shay, told the paper. I think its a gut feeling of when well be able to feel comfortable playing it again, when well want to hear it again, and more importantly, when will our listeners want to hear it again. West was banned from a Hot 103.5 in Sacramento in 2016 after he attacked radio stations and fellow artists during a concert for his Saint Pablo Tour, USA Today reported. American screen siren Meghan Markle may be a welcoming addition to the House of Windsor, but shes not the first star to captivate a prince. Royal expert Leslie Carroll, who recently published a book titled American Princess: The Love Story of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, told Fox News the British royal family's fascination with actresses goes as far back as the 17th century. And while the Suits star managed to get Prince Harry to propose on November 2017, other actresses in history werent as lucky. Back then actresses were taken as mistresses, Carroll told Fox News. But even then that was considered scandalous. Look at Charles II in the 17th century. In the 1660s his mistress was Nell Gwyn. "She was raised in a brothel and grew up selling oranges at the theater and then she became an actress herself. She was never even literate. But she was very witty and funny Once she became Charles mistress he never gave her a title because she didnt come from an aristocratic family. Carroll pointed out that high-profile romances between British royals and actresses were far from a trend. George IV, when he was just the Prince of Wales as a 17-year-old, he saw the hottest young actress of the day, Mary Robinson, on stage. "But actresses were considered disreputable and one set above prostitutes because they basically retail themselves to the public and show themselves off for money They were showing their bodies on stage for men to leer at. Georges brother, the Duke of Clarence, fell in love with an actress as well, Dora Jordan, who would bear him 10 illegitimate children. She reportedly lived with the royal for several years before she was suddenly dumped for an aristocrat. Carroll also mentioned Queen Victorias older son, King Edward VII, who became infamous for having numerous affairs with actresses, chorus girls and opera dancers. Now we have the grandson of the queen of England whos marrying a woman who had been a professional actress for years, said Carroll. Now were going to have a California girl whose ancestors from her mothers side were slaves whos actually going to be a duchess and probably be the first Duchess of Sussex ever. However, the 36-year-old is different from those who came before her. Carroll said she managed to win the approval of her fiances grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who shares a close bond with the 33-year-old prince. The queen likes women who work, she explained. Its one of the reasons why she wasnt crazy about the fact that Kate Middleton or waity Katie just seemed to be waiting around for Prince William to propose and wasnt getting herself a job. "I think the queen loves the fact that Meghan is a professional woman whos had her own career and is a woman of the world. And also, the fact she has bonafide herself as a humanitarian, which is a big part of what the royal family does. Carroll said she wasnt surprised when Prince Harry proposed in late 2017. While he was often linked to blondes, most notably aspiring British actress Cressida Bonas, Carroll insisted Harry and Markle connected on their love for humanitarian work before the romance blossomed. And it helped that Markle is already familiar with fame. The blondes didnt want the life of a royal, she claimed. They werent ready for it. They werent interested in sacrificing the privacy that goes with that. The 24/7 scrutiny. Meghan has already been in the public eye. I think Meghan is very much in the mold of [his mother] Princess Diana in terms of the kindness and compassion. And thats what they connected with. Still, Carroll warned that nothing can ever prepare anyone for what would be Markles greatest role: that of a royal. I dont think anything, anything at all could prepare her for what its like to be a royal and how prescribed her life is going to be, from the way she has to sit so the cameras cant go up to her skirt, she explained. I have read that during the engagement period she suffered from cabin fever because she cant really go outside Kensington Palace on her own without being recognized. "In one interview she said theres nothing in life that cant be cured with the beach, some yoga and a few avocados. But her life is going to be far from that. Markle may have a difficult time adjusting to her new life far away from her native California, but Carroll said her relationship with Prince Harry works because he isnt fazed by being sixth in line to the throne. Harry has always said he wants to live in Africa, she said. He said he doesnt even like London. He has talked about buying a house in the country near where the Beckhams live. I just dont know if theyll be able to get away with that all the time. "And thats why I think Harry was so happy in the army. He just wanted to be one of the lads. He has always chased against the princely factor. Hes much more laid back. So its not too surprising he ended up finding a California girl. Time will tell if Markle and Harry will live happily ever after. However, Carroll insisted the princes bad boy days of the past, including his high-profile drunken antics and fighting with photographers, are long over. The main reason is that once he reached his late 20s, he finally realized he needed to go to mental health counseling to deal with the death of his mother Diana, she said. Carroll described that decision as very un-British and extremely unroyal." "He openly talked about going to mental health counseling to finally process his grief and anger over his mothers death," she said. "And once he got through that, it opened him up for love. Stormy Daniels attorney, Michael Avenatti, has emerged as the face of the liberal medias efforts to impeach President Trump but MSNBC turned up the spotlight on him Thursday after reports emerged that the porn stars attorney is seeking a TV gig. Vanity Fair reported earlier this week that Avenatti approached MSNBC president Phil Griffin at a party following the White house Correspondents Dinner last weekend and made a casual remark about getting his own MSNBC show. Griffin reportedly laughed it off, but less than a week later MSNBC viewers could have assumed Avenatti was auditioning based on the overwhelming amount of airtime he was given. On Thursday, Avenatti was planted in a chair on MSNBC for most of the day, with the network essentially programming shows around him. He appeared on Morning Joe, Andrea Mitchell Reports, two separate editions of MSNBC Live, Deadline: White House, Hardball and Last Word with Lawrence ODonnell. The porn stars attorney made his first appearance on MSNBC at 7:07 a.m. ET and wrapped up his day with a two-segment, primetime chat with ODonnell at 10:41 p.m. ET. The network even kept him on set for an hour without commercial interruptions from 1-2 p.m. ET and several of MSNBCs programs that didnt feature a live appearance by Avenatti re-aired highlights of his previous segments. Including panel discussion when other people were also allowed to chime in, Avenatti was live on MSNBC for over two hours in total on Thursday alone. Avenatti reportedly told Vanity Fair that he doesnt recall the Griffin conversation, and that hes focused on representing Daniels. However, Avenatti also told the publication that hes a hot commodity in the television industry. Ive been approached by a number of networks who have explored the possibility of me possibly having my own show once the case is resolved, Avenatti reportedly told Vanity Fair. He called the interest very flattering and didnt rule it out in the future. I may consider it, but Im not going to worry about it or pursue it right now because my main priority is finishing this case, he told Vanity Fair. Media watchdogs took notice of Avenattis busy day on Thursday and took to Twitter to poke fun at the situation. Daily Caller reporter Benny Johnson accused him of squatting in the MSNBC greenroom, while writer Sacha Zimmerman wrote, Michael Avenatti is like the house band of the @Lawrence O'Donnell Show. But MSNBC isnt the only liberal network obsessed with Avenatti. Avenatti was a guest on CNN a total of 59 times from March 7 through April 30, an average of more than once per day, according to the Media Research Center. Over the same time period, all Republican Senators reportedly appeared on the network only 34 times combined. CNN has exhibited a fetish for the Stormy Daniels story, particularly for her Trump-smacking lawyer, MRC research analyst Bill DAgostino wrote. Avenatti even managed to slip away from MSNBCs greenroom long enough for an in-studio interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper on Thursday. Former CNN producer Steve Krakauer wrote, Congrats to Michael Avenatti on your promotion to Lead Everything Analyst For Every Media Outlet. The MRC also noted that if CNN continues to put Avenatti on air at its current pace, he will finish 2018 with 327 appearances on the network. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had an affair with the president over a decade before he took office. Avenatti is hardly an impartial legal expert. In addition to filing a lawsuit against the President, he has repeatedly proclaimed that Trump will be removed from office and has well-established ties to the Democratic Party, NewsBusters Kyle Drennen wrote. MSNBC did not immediately respond when asked if Avenatti was auditioning for his own show. CBS News has hired a prestigious outside law firm to investigate claims of sexual misconduct, leaving NBC as the only high-profile news organization not employing a white-shoe firm to review emerging sex scandals. As NBC relies on its own human resources department, CBS has enlisted Proskauer Rose LLP to look into accusations made against former anchor Charlie Rose. (Three former CBS employees filed a lawsuit Friday against the news anchor and the network claiming harassment and retaliation.) The firm, which recently investigated misconduct claims at New York Public Radio, is among the most powerful law firms in the nation and has long championed the advancement of women. In stark contrast with CBS, the Peacock Network is relying on in-house general counsel Kim Harris to oversee an investigation into who knew about disgraced Today host Matt Lauers sexual misconduct and whether NBC executives looked the other way. Observers worry that this investigation will lack the apolitical nature of those done by outside law firms many of which lead to the dismissal of top executives at companies with troubled sex harassment cultures. Some NBC insiders are skeptical that an investigation is even taking place. NBC News chairman Andy Lack and his deputy, Noah Oppenheim, have promised to share findings of an internal review. Ten days after NBC News fired Lauer, its biggest star, in late 2017, Lack sent a memo to staffers outlining his efforts to find out why this was able to happen, why it wasnt reported sooner, and what we can do to make employees feel more empowered to report unacceptable behavior. More than five months later, the company has not disclosed any findings and was stone-silent until new allegations against legendary NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw put the story back in the spotlight. Lack finally addressed the situation last week in an email to staffers. We will have findings and further steps to share with you as soon as next week, he wrote. NBC did not respond when asked by Fox News if the findings would be announced this week as promised. Cornell University business professor J. Bruce Tracey told Fox News that its not evident that NBC did their homework when it comes to how Lack and Oppenheim have handled the Lauer situation. Taking formal actions without completing a formal investigation is akin to shooting first and asking questions later, he said. Lack has deftly avoided an outside investigation as he clings to his job amid a series of embarrassing gaffes. A recent Washington Post bombshell portrayed the NBC News honcho as sitting atop a culture in which women were afraid to report serious acts of harassment. Harris, who is running the investigation, is a peer of Lacks who does not supervise him. Last year, two separate groups of anonymous current and former NBC News female staffers reached out to Fox News to express concerns about that Lack and Oppenheim werent being transparent about a toxic environment at NBC News. One of the groups planned to contact Madeline S. Bell, Comcasts only female director, asking her to intervene. (Comcast owns NBCUniversal.) Bell did not respond to multiple requests for comment through both Comcast and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she is the president and CEO. A former anchor at NBC News told Fox News last year she was in contact with multiple women who were frustrated that Lack had refused to hire an outside investigator to review a culture of sexual misconduct at the network. Media analyst Jeffrey McCall told Fox News earlier this week that NBC has had more than its share of public relations challenges in recent months and therefore can't afford any more public image missteps as a result of the Lauer review. Most corporate entities can get by with internal reviews of personnel misbehavior, but NBC is not just another corporation, McCall said. That's because of their recent track record of problems, and also because they are such a highly visible media organization. The situation has even made its way to NBCs own airwaves, as Megyn Kelly and correspondent Kate Snow discussed it on Monday during a segment on Megyn Kelly Today. "NBC universal, our parent company, decided that it should be the general counsel of this parent company that does this investigation internally, Snow said. What Ari Wilkenfeld is saying, the attorney for [Brokaws accuser] Linda Vester, is saying is: not enough, I wish you had gotten an outside lawyer. He thinks that's us investigating ourselves, Kelly added, going on to describe how when she was at Fox News, parent company 21st Century Fox hired an outside law firm to investigate Fox's sex harassment woes. NBC Universal and Comcast did not respond to separate requests for comment. The New York Times and NBCs Today show are in a feud between elite liberal media organizations over a Gray Lady report that Washington Redskins cheerleaders were treated inappropriately during a 2013 trip to Costa Rica for a calendar shoot. The NBC morning show welcomed two former Redskins cheerleaders on Friday who wanted to dispute the Times bombshell that cheerleaders were put in an uncomfortable position on the trip that allegedly included topless photo shoots and being forced to accompany men to a night club. Former cheerleader and team captain Charo Bishop, who was on the trip to Costa Rica, told Today that the allegations that women were forced to pose topless are just simply not true. All optional. Voluntarily. Some girls were excited to do those things, Bishop said. In terms of being an escort, that was never a perception I had. I think that being friendly and receptive and welcoming to sponsors is completely different than being an escort. Another former cheerleading captain who attended the Costa Rica trip, Rachel Gill, told the morning show that terms such as pimped out and escort need to stop. Its absolutely not what happened, she said. The Times didnt appreciate NBC allowing their story to be disputed without an opportunity to respond and took to Twitter to express frustration with the Peacock Network. ".@todayshow, we wouldve appreciated the opportunity to respond to criticism of our journalism, especially after booking Juliet Macur (who broke the story) to appear on your show & then canceling her, The Times' communications department tweeted with a link to the original report. The Times also accused NBC of canceling a scheduled appearance by the reporter who broke the story. NBC did not respond to request for comment. On Wednesday, The Times reported that three dozen cheerleaders made the trip to Occidental Grand Papagayo, an adults-only resort, for the photo shoot and were forced to pose topless and wear body paint. The near-nude photos were never published, the news organization reported. The Redskins had also invited sponsors all male to the photo shoot, and nine of the cheerleaders were chosen to act as personal escorts to a nightclub later that night, The Times reported. They werent putting a gun to our heads, but it was mandatory for us to go, one cheerleader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the newspaper. We werent asked, we were told. Other girls were devastated because we knew exactly what she was doing. The cheerleaders felt as though the arrangement was equivalent to being pimped out, though going to the club with the men didnt involve having sex with them, the newspaper reported. The cheerleaders alleged that their director, Stephanie Jojokian, demanded that they go, though it wasnt part of their job. The cheerleaders werent paid anything aside from cost of the trip, meals and lodging, the Redskins organization told The Times. Its just not right to send cheerleaders out with strange men when some of the girls clearly dont want to go, one cheerleader, who was at the club, told The Times. But unfortunately, I feel like it wont change until something terrible happens, like a girl is assaulted in some way, or raped. I think teams will start paying attention to this only when its too late. The Redskins didnt address the allegations in an initial statement to the Times. However, team President Bruce Allen issued a statement Thursday saying the team was "very concerned by the allegations in the report." "Based on the dialogue we've had with a number of current and former cheerleaders over the past 48 hours, we've heard very different first-hand that directly contradict many of the details of the ... article," Allen said. "I can promise that once we have completed looking into this matter, if it is revealed that any of our employees acted inappropriately, those employees will face significant repercussions." Both Gill and Bishop were asked by the Redskins to speak to NBC on behalf of the team, the network reported. Fox News Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. At age 76, Paula Anka can still vividly recall what it was like hanging out with the Rat Pack in Sin City. The Canadian crooner, a former 60s teen idol whos still the only artist to have a Billboard Top 100 song through seven consecutive decades, also garnered fame for writing Frank Sinatras 1973 hit My Way. NANCY SINATRA TALKS FRANK SINATRA, MIA FARROW AND RONAN FARROW PATERNITY RUMOR Me, Bobby Darin and a couple of others started in pop music, and we wanted to test ourselves: How are we going to evolve? Anka told Closer Weekly Thursday. ... The Rat Pack were the only guys to emulate. "Hanging out with them in the steam room, socializing, they knew who they were, and acquired wisdom to deal with their success. But they had a soft side. Frank [Sinatra] would say, If I could just get another hit.'" Anka was all too willing to grant Sinatras wish. I was 26, 27, said Anka. [Frank and I] were having dinner in Florida and he told me he was quitting he was being hassled, had all kinds of things going against him, but he wanted to do one last album. I realized that if I wanted to write for him, it had to be now. I wrote it in the way he talked spit it out. When the record company found Id written it, they were kinda pissed off that I didnt do it myself. Despite the song's lasting success for Ol Blue Eyes, Anka has zero regrets penning the beloved track for his friend. I tell people: I dont have a job. I have a passion, said Anka. Back in 2007, Anka told UKs Telegraph he did get some help in writing My Way. The publication revealed the melody is an adaptation of the 1967 French pop song Comme dhabitude by Claude Francois. Anka heard it while vacationing in Paris. I thought it was a s--- record, but there was something in it, he said at the time. Anka would go on to acquire the songs publishing rights, and it sat in a drawer in his New York apartment for two years before Sinatra learned about it over dinner. Sinatra had started to understand that he needed to do pop songs, which he hated, said Anka. He was a purist of the standards. He hated Presley, and only liked me because I made money for the mob in Vegas. "When my record company caught wind of it, they were pissed that I didnt keep it for myself. I said, Hey, I can write it, but Im not the guy to sing it. It was for Frank, no one else. Sinatra wouldnt be the only artist to sing My Way. Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, the Gypsy Kings and even the Sex Pistols have all recorded their own renditions of the single. Anka said he was surprised Elvis Presley would also perform it on stage. I spent time with him and watched him self-destruct, he said. He was a good guy, a Southern gentleman, a little naive, but he started to lose it he got locked into that cocoon, the comfort of the posse, the aluminum foil on the windows and no sun. I told him, Its not your kind of song, but it meant a lot to him. Anka admitted he grew tired of the songs popularity over the years. Fans, including prisoners on death row, would reach out to him about how the track resonated with them, he claimed. Everyone thinks its their song but how many people really do it their own way? he said. Press secretary Sarah Sanders responded to comedian Michelle Wolf's personal attacks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last week. Sanders addresses Wolf's remarks on Fox & Friends Thursday morning saying the obnoxious jokes say "a whole lot more about her than it does about me." "I hope that she can find some of the same happiness that we all have, because I think she may need a little bit more of that in her life because the rest of us here are doing great," Sanders said, adding that she's focusing on her job and not the comedian's remarks. Sanders continued, "The people that were my friends before that evening are my friends today." Wolf, who has stood by her controversial comments, came under fire for her remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. She joked that Sanders "burns facts and uses the ash to create a perfect smokey eye," among other remarks. WHCA's leader spoke out against the routine saying Wolf's jokes may end up defining an evening that was designed to rally around journalism. WHCA President Margaret Talev said she has "heard from members expressing dismay with the entertainer's monologue and concerns about how it reflects on our mission." She said she will work with the incoming president of the group and take comments from members on their views "on the format of the dinner going forward." Trump joined in the criticism. "Everyone is talking about the fact that the White House Correspondents Dinner was a very big, boring bust...the so-called comedian really 'bombed,'" Trump tweeted the day after the event. Wolf is known as a contributor on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Trevor Noah." But some of her jokes, particularly a series of barbs about Sanders as Sanders sat just feet away, seemed to spark the most outrage. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Snoop Dogg has taken another swing at Kanye West and his recent statements supporting President Trump. On Thursday the rapper took to Instagram to express his thoughts and shared an edited image of Kanye with his skin significantly lightened. The new. Kanye well all white now way to go dude, the rapper wrote on Instagram, accompanied by a photo of West with white skin." Snoop's recent Instagram jab was not the first time he attacked the Yeezy fashion designer on social media. Roseanne Barr defends Kanye West: People 'do not want to hear the truth' A week ago, Snoop reposted an image of West walking in his MAGA hat and wrote, "Thats mighty white of u Kanye. !N---- if u dont snap out of it Get out part 2." The "Drop it like it's hot" rapper is just one of the many celebrities who has clapped back at West following his recent statements. "Westworld" star Jeffrey Wright tweeted, "If you think Donald Trump is a good alternative to anything, you're out of your phucking tree." "Get Out" director Jordan Peele followed Snoop's theme about this Oscar-nominated film and tweeted that West was the inspiration he needed for the sequel. Follow West's controversial TMZ interview where he stated that slavery was "a choice" for African Americans, it was reported that Daz Dillinger, a cousin of legendary rapper Snoop Dogg, issued a Crip alert for gang members in an Instagram video. "We are in one boat and theyre killing all of us. He jumps over there and says 'Master, I'm [on] your side, he said about West in the now-deleted clip, TMZ reported. "I'm with you master Trump. Burn all these n------." 'The new. Kanye well all white now way to go dude' Snoop Dogg Yo national alert, all the Crips out there, yall f--- Kanye up, Dillinger continued, referring to the infamous Crips gang in California. Better not ever see you in concert; better not ever see you around the LBC; better not ever see you around California. The rapper went on to mention the city where West lives, saying: Stay in Calabasas, ya hear me? Cuz we got a Crip alert for Kanye All the Crips out there you see him, bang on his ass, f--- his a-- up. Dillinger is a well-known rap artist who is still releasing music together with his cousin Snoop Dogg. West, does have some celebrity support. His wife Kim Kardashian called him a "free thinker," and Roseanne Barr took to social media on Thursday to voice her support for one of the points West made on Twitter about Chicago, the city he is from. Barr said West is telling the truth about Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuels city. Ppl (sic) do not want to hear the truth-that Chicago could be a better city for its citizens, but the establishment is corrupted, Barr wrote. Alleged sex cult leader Keith Raniere and former "Smallville" actress Allison Mack came face to face for the first time since the pair were charged with sex trafficking when they appeared before a federal judge in Brooklyn on Friday. Raniere and Mack, who have separate representation, did not look at each other during the status conference where Judge Nicholas Garaufis set a trial date for October 1, 2018. Both Raniere and Mack have pleaded not guilty to charges including sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit forced labor. They face 15 years to life if convicted. Mack, 35, appeared nervous and shaken up in court, focusing her gaze mostly on the floor except when looking up at the judge. Raniere, who was wearing a prison jumpsuit, focused his attention on the judge and his lawyers. The two are accused of coercing women who joined the self-help group NXIVM into becoming a part of a secret sub-group called DOS. The group, whose name is an acronym based on a Latin phrase that loosely translates to "Lord/Master of obedient female companions, allegedly carried out brandings in the homes of followers, including Macks upstate New York townhouse, and forced women to have sex with Raniere and participate in various forms of public humiliation. According to court paper, women were also required to provide damaging material about their friends and family, naked photos, and even sign over their assets as a condition of membership. The court appearance Friday is one of several the pair will have before trial. A follow-up status conference has been set for June 12 at 11 a.m. Mack's lawyers are petitioning the court to allow the actress not to be present for future status conferences. Raniere has been held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Mack was released last month from federal custody on $5 million bail. She is currently living with her parents in California and, as a condition of her bail, is to have no connection with any current or former NXIVM members and is monitored by an electronic bracelet. Following Fridays conference at the federal courthouse in downtown Brooklyn, Ranieres lawyers said they were happy that Judge Garaufis had set a trial date, although they were hoping that it would have been earlier. I do not see Mr. Raniere pleading guilty. He has no reason to plead guilty, Marc Agnifilo, one of Ranieres lawyers said following the conference. We will have a very vigorous defense and I predict that we will prevail after a trial in this case. There have been rumors that Mack will accept a plea deal from federal prosecutors in exchange for information that would help convict Raniere, but Agnifilo said he was not concerned by that. Im not concerned about anything that is not the truth, he said. The truth is on our side. I think that when the allegations are actually meant to be proven in court they will not be proven in court. Neither Mack nor her legal team made any comment upon leaving the courthouse. In attendance in court on Friday was Toni Natalie, Ranieres girlfriend from 1991 to 1999. Speaking to reporters before the conference, Natalie, who was part on NXIVM during its first years before leaving, lambasted Raniere as a sociopath. An ad that ran Thursday in honor of World Press Freedom Day that encouraged viewers to consume news from a multiple outlets and featured more than 25 examples, ranging from CNN and MSNBC to local newspapers but Fox News was left out. Fox News is the most-watched cable news network in America by a wide margin, but wasnt featured in the ad, which was put together by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The ad, which was captured by TheWraps Jon Levine, mentions The Guardian, The Atlantic, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NBC News, The Economist, NPR, The New York Times, BBC News, National Review, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, Chicago Tribune, New York Magazine, Inter Press Service, New Yorker, New York Daily News and a variety of other new organizations. There was no mention of Fox News. Fox News didn't make the cut, Levine captioned the video. "I happened to have MSNBC on when the ad flashed by and I noticed it. Given the size and influence of Fox News, it's hard for me to believe it was left off by accident, Levine told Fox News. The ad resulted in headlines such as, The United Nations Doesnt Want You to Watch Fox News, which was published in The Observer. UNESCO spokesperson Monia Adjiwanou provided Fox News with the following statement when asked why the news organization wasnt included: The spirit of this effort is to encourage people to consume all quality, independent news sources. In the time we had, we tried to include as many of those partners as possible, but as you will see, there are a few that arent on this list. We welcome all organizations to champion this cause, and we hope there will be more initiatives like this in the future. The Hill's media reporter and columnist Joe Concha tried to get a detailed explanation and didnt have much luck ironic, given that the point of the ad was to promote journalism in the first place. You can't celebrate Press Freedom Day and simultaneously ignore requests for comment, Concha told Fox News. Media Research Center Managing Editor Curtis Houck, a watchdog for liberal bias, isnt surprised that Fox News was passed over for the ad but pointed out that the network wouldnt exist if it werent for the liberties the day was supposed to represent. If the U.N. was truly concerned about preaching the important need to be well-rounded in one's news consumption, Fox News would seem like a no-brainer to include in any list, Houck said. If the UN was truly concerned about preaching the important need to be well-rounded in one's news consumption, Fox News would seem like a no brainer to include in any list." Media Research Center Managing Editor Curtis Houck The U.N. General Assembly started World Press Freedom Day in 1993 to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty, according to the U.N. website. Mediaite columnist Joseph Wulfsohn told Fox News that much of the left and in this case, the United Nations, haphazardly considers Fox News a right-leaning opinion network because of its outspoken prime-time hosts but says it shouldnt be dismissed as a legitimate news organization. Concha agrees and said that, Oftentimes the opinion side gets lumped in with the news side by those looking to push a narrative that Fox shouldn't be taken seriously," while pointing out that Bret Baier won the 2017 Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism, and Chris Wallace and Shep Smith are "widely respected" by Fox News competitors. Ben Evansky, a Fox News field producer, approached U.N. Secretary General Spox Farhan Haq about the situation. Theres no anti-Fox feeling at the U.N.; we work quite well together; look at you and I talking right now, Haq told Evansky. Fox News Ben Evansky contributed to this report. The Tennessee Valley Authority on Friday reported $5.3 billion in operating revenues through the six-month period ended March 31, 2018, a five percent increase from the same period a year ago. The higher revenues were driven by a six percent increase in electricity sales, primarily due to weather conditions. During the same six-month period, total operating expenses decreased four percent, as compared to the same period last year, primarily due to decreased fuel expense driven by higher hydro and natural gas generation and lower market prices for natural gas. Power demand has been higher so far in 2018 compared to last years record warm winter, but our customers are paying less, said Bill Johnson, TVA president and chief executive officer. Higher output from hydro, nuclear and natural gas-fired generation helped keep the Valley warm during cold weather in January while our diversified fleet kept prices lower for TVAs customers during more moderate temperatures. Operating and maintenance expense was down $34 million, or two percent lower, for the first six months of this fiscal year, compared to the same period last year, mostly driven by a decrease in planned nuclear outage days and an increase in workforce efficiencies. Higher revenues from the more normal weather this year, and lower operating expenses along with lower interest on debt, contributed to a stronger bottom line, said John Thomas, TVA chief financial officer. These results are helping TVA realize its strategic objectives to keep rates low while prudently managing debt and investing in a cleaner, more diverse power system. Additional highlights of TVAs second quarter fiscal year 2018 results include: Net income for the six months ended March 31, 2018 was $750 million, up 140 percent from net income of $313 million for the same period of fiscal year 2017. TVAs cash position was temporarily higher, at $1.2 billion, at March 31, 2018, due to the timing of financing activities related to maturing long-term debt. Colder-than-normal weather during January 2018 led to TVA setting an all-time record for energy demand in a 24-hour period, delivering 706 million kilowatt-hours of energy to the Tennessee Valley. TVA set three of its top-12 winter peak demand records in January 2018. TVA retired Allen Fossil Plant Units 1-3 in March 2018. With these retirements, TVA has completed the requirements related to retiring or installing controls on coal-fired units imposed by the 2011 Environmental Agreements with the EPA, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and three environmental advocacy groups. The Allen Combined Cycle Plant began operational testing in September 2017 and officially entered commercial operation on April 30. TVA completed its first extended power uprate at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 3, which will result in an additional 155 megawatts of carbon-free energy. The unit was returned to service in April 2018 and power ascension testing is in progress. Extended power uprates at Browns Ferry Units 1 and 2 will be completed by spring 2019. TVA continued to update its Integrated Resource Plan to determine the best way to meet future power demand while evaluating the optimal mix of resources and the evolving role of distributed energy resources. These actions taken during the first six months of fiscal year 2018 have enabled our diversified generating fleet to produce more than half of our power from carbon-free sources and reduce our carbon emissions almost 50 percent below 2005 levels, said Mr. Johnson. Moving forward, we will remain focused on making the right decisions that allow us to build on these results and provide cleaner, reliable energy at the lowest costs feasible to those we serve. TVA executive management will host a conference call to discuss second quarter fiscal year 2018 results at 9:30 a.m., on Friday. The conference call can be accessed from TVAs website via webcast, at http://www.tva.com , on the Investor Relations homepage. For quicker access to the live conference call, please pre-register through TVAs website before the scheduled start time, and follow the instructions provided. Once pre-registered, the dial-in number will be provided via an email. If you are unable to pre-register, you may access the conference call by dialing toll free 844 308-6432 in the United States, or 412 717-9611 outside the United States. A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call until 9:30 a.m., June 4, by calling toll free 877 344-7529 in the United States or 412 317-0088 outside the United States and using the conference number 10118527. A webcast replay and transcript will also be available for one year on TVAs website at http://www.tva.com/investors. TVAs quarterly report on Form 10-Q provides additional financial, operational and descriptive information, including unaudited financial statements for the quarter ended March 3. TVAs quarterly report and other SEC reports are available without charge on TVAs website at http://www.tva.com/investors, on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov or by calling TVA toll free at 888 882-4975. Ready, set, sip. The 144th Kentucky Derby kicks off this Saturday, and racing enthusiasts will be flocking to Churchill Downs to take in the race. And along with the big bets and even bigger hats, the classic Southern bourbon specialty, the mint julep, will be taking center stage. The whiskey-based cocktail includes a touch of simple syrup, mint, and lots of crushed ice and it has been a staple for Derby goers since the 1930s. WALT DISNEY WORLD HAS A BOURBON TRAIL It goes back to the 1800s, with Southern farmers drinking [juleps] in the early morning They didnt have aspirin back then [but] they had whiskey, Elizabeth McCall, assistant master distiller for Woodford Reserve, told FOX News during an interview at Ward III in New York City. "They would have the simple syrup to soften it and mint to freshen their breath, and the whiskey, of course, helped cure all those aches and pains." McCall explains that the mint julep eventually worked its way into the culture of horse racing, and now over 140,000 mint juleps are consumed over Derby weekend. Since 2006, to help celebrate Woodford Reserves partnership with the Derby, the distillery unveiled a $1,000 mint julep. Served in a pewter cup (which is best to keep your julep nice and frosty), the pricey cocktail is special for Derby goers. Fans online can reserve their chalice or spring for a $2,500 gold plated one to pick up and sip on the big day. Its not just a $1,000 mint julep cup. All the net proceeds go to a charity, explains McCall. In fact, since the start of the mint julep program, Woodford Reserve has raised over $450,000 for charity. This years lucky recipient is the Jennifer Lawrence Art Fund, which is dedicated to supporting arts access and education throughout Greater Louisville, Ky. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Be sure to watch McCalls full video above and learn how to make your very own Kentucky Derby-inspired Mint Julep. As the old saying goes, One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor. But before they hit "floor," most tequila fans would likely be curious to know where their favorite spirit actually comes from, especially on National Margarita Day. To answer that question, Fox News consulted Guillaume Cuvelier, tequila expert and co-owner of Astral Tequila, and he took us all the way back to the 16th century. The Scotch were distilling Scotch, the French were distilling cognac, the Russian and the Scandinavian folks were distilling vodka, the Spanish were distilling grapes to make brandy, and the Mexican people started to distill the agave plant to make mezcal," said Cuvelier. PICS: JACK DANIEL'S SAYS COMPANY IS USING A LOOK-A-LIKE BOTTLE Cuvelier steered tequilas history to the Spanish conquistadors who, he explained, ran out of brandy, which is a problem when you have an army of thirsty soldiers, so they wanted to drink something, and discovered mezcal. So, are tequila and mezcal the same thing? Not quite. All tequilas are mezcal, but not all mezcals are tequila, said Cuvelier. More specifically, it works like this: Mezcals can be made anywhere in Mexico from multiple agave plants, but tequila can only be made from the Blue Weber Agave plant. Therefore, all tequila is technically mezcal, but only mezcals that are made to certain specifications and with a specific agave plant can call itself tequila. Tequila production is also confined to certain locations in Mexico, including the Mexican state of Jalisco and particular municipalities in the states of Tamaulipas, Nayarit, Michoacan, and Guanajuato, according to Cuvelier. BOB DYLAN RELEASING OWN LINE OF 'HEAVEN'S DOOR' WHISKEY There's one other qualifier for a great tequila, according to the Astral co-owner: "One of the things critical in the making of tequila is a the roasting of the agave. To see more about the process, along with Guillaume Cuveliers full interview, watch the video above. (And beware of that pesky floor, while you're at it.) Amanda Miller had just started making dinner when she noticed her 17-year-old son, CJ, was missing. She left the teen with autism "content" in her room watching YouTube videos as she boiled water. Three minutes later, when she went to check on the boy, she saw a window open with the screen popped out. The concerned mom from Jacksonville, Florida, went into panic mode, running out to her backyard to see if CJ's father saw him leave. "We had no idea which way he had gone," Miller told Fox News. "Our biggest fear seems he has no fear of the dangers of a moving car." CJ's dad took off in his car and Miller started on foot, circling the neighborhood in hopes of finding the teen, who is non-verbal. "He struggles to communicate with us in his everyday life," said Miller, adding that she constantly keeps an eye on him. "He is an amazing boy who at 17 can communicate at a 2 to 3-year-old age level." Local police joined the parents in their search, dispatching a description of CJ to officers. A woman found Miller's cell phone near a creek on the side of the road and called the mom. CJ apparently took it with him. "Our panic got much worse as we were worried he may have gotten attracted to the water," Miller said. "His father went to the bridge at the creek and was down by the water searching for CJ's footprints." Miller waited with police at a nearby Home Depot as they took over the search ready to deploy a helicopter and release K-9 officers. At the 2-hour mark, police got a call from Good Samaritans Susan Bolton and Jason Gaston, who informed officers they found a special needs boy "dodging" cars in the middle of Interstate 295 in Jacksonville. "[CJ was] wandering in the highway looking up at the sky without a care in the world," a GoFundme page to raise money for the family described in a post. "[Gaston] witnessed a truck almost hit the child doing 70 mph and he went into survival mode." The pair both stopped their vehicles to block traffic in order to save the teen. Bolton escorted the boy back to her van while Gaston reported the incident to local police, who arranged for CJ to be transported home to reunite with his parents. "He was delivered to us safely and we were more than relieved," Miller said. "We were shocked to find out the horrifying details and the many close calls that CJ had with traffic." When Miller opened the police door, she asked CJ where he was going. "Orlando ... Mickey Mouse," CJ replied. "He loves Disney world had been asking for Orlando for weeks," Miller explained. Since the incident on April 18, Miller said she personally reached out to Gaston and Bolton to thank the "heroes" for saving her son. "It's all about awareness and kind hearted heros that I can say are now our family," Miller said, adding that she's planning to purchase a GPS device to track her son's whereabouts as well as installing alarms on all of the windows inside of her home. Something strange is brewing at this Starbucks location. For the second time in less than two weeks, a hidden camera has been found in the bathroom at one of the coffee chains stores in Alpharetta, Georgia. Police said Thursday a barista spotted the device underneath a baby changing station the exact same location of the first camera, found by a customer on April 17. TEEN ACCUSED OF SLUT-SHAMING HIS GIRLFRIEND OVER HER PROM DRESS SAYS IT WASN'T HIM "We're not sure if it's the person, or if it's a copycat," Alpharetta Police spokesman Howard Miller told Fox 5 Atlanta. Police have also been investigating other businesses at the strip mall where the Starbucks is located to see if there are more hidden cameras, the station added. It was not immediately clear how long the second camera was there before it was discovered. Police said the first camera had recorded around 25 videos, including several that reportedly showed people using the restroom. Weve learned that the device had about an hours worth of recorded video on it and detectives found 8 to 10 men and women videotaped while in that restroom, one officer had told Fox 5 Atlanta. He added that the video quality was poor and no private parts were seen. No suspects have been identified. Police say whoever is responsible faces a charge of eavesdropping, which is a felony. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS "Since the original incident, weve increased [the] rate of bathroom checks to prevent any foul play, Starbucks said in a statement in mid-April. Our partners (employees) moved swiftly once they found the device and called law enforcement." Fox News Bradford Betz contributed to this report. If youve spent any time on social media, chances are youve seen the buzz about what many are calling a liquid nose job, also known as a non-surgical nose job. Before-and-after photos show dramatic results thanks to the quick procedure, which touts zero down time and minimal pain at a much lower cost than rhinoplasty. But while this new trend might seem like an easy solution, doctors warn it isnt all its cracked up to be, crediting social media as contributing to its popularity. 'PREVENTATIVE BOTOX' RISING TREND AMONG MILLENNIALS Dr. Cangello of Cangello Plastic Surgery in New York City told Fox News that selfies have led to an increase in cosmetic facial procedures on the nose, both surgical and non-surgical. I think that people are made more self-conscious by the frequency with which they take pictures of themselves. This leads them to seek correction of their perceived imperfections, he said. Liquid nose jobs use fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm to fill areas of structural deficiency in the nose, according to Dr. Cangello. They can camouflage imperfections such as a dorsal hump and make the dorsum appear straight. The results last on average about six months, but some patients get up to a year, depending on whats been done. Its understandable that not everyone wants to go under the knife. So filler can be used to fill around the bump and camouflage its appearance making it an option for these people, he said. While liquid nose jobs are a relatively inexpensive and easy alternative to surgery, they have some downsides that often arent discussed, and Dr. Cangello warns the procedure shouldnt be used as a long-term solution. The filler tends to spread, since it is like a gel as opposed to a solid material. Over time, repeated trauma from injections with a needle causes inflammation, and the filler material itself causes an inflammatory reaction, he told Fox News. The result of inflammation along with the accumulation of filler that spreads through the tissue (instead of remaining in the place it was initially put) can lead to thickening of the soft tissue of the nose, which leads to a wider and bulkier appearance, Dr. Cangello said. He also warns that people need to be wary of the extreme transformation photos on social media, even if theyve been posted by a doctor. If something looks too good to be true in before-and-after photos, you have every right to question authenticity, Dr. Cangello said. Ive heard firsthand that some clinicians have made noses larger than they were to begin with [in the before photo] by using Photoshop. So their before-and-after pictures show really dramatic improvements. If a nose looks large to begin with, and then looks more petite in the after picture, you really have to beware. While some optical illusion can occur from changing the shape of the nose, you really cant make a nose appear smaller by adding material to it, he explained. For these reasons, Dr. Cangello said he prefers the surgical route, rhinoplasty, for better results that will last long term. People should understand a non-surgical nose job is not as good an option as surgery, and it has its pitfalls. Over time, the cost of filler can add up to be much more than the cost of a rhinoplasty, he said. Additionally, Dr. Cangello said oftentimes what people need is for the overall size of the nose to be decreased, which cant be done with fillers. While fillers can make a dorsum go from humped to straight, the overall size of the nose is increased by adding filler, when really the problem is that the nose needs to be reduced in size, he said. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS He said that in addition to potentially falsifying photos, doctors might try to sell a patient on the non-surgical route simply as a way to make money. Often the temptation is to sell to a patient only what can be offered instead of what is the best course of treatment. Its unfortunate, but it happens. I think the patients best bet is to see someone who can offer you both surgical and non-surgical treatments as opposed to one or the other. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The news media love to criticize hypocrisy at least by conservatives even when it doesnt exist. This week they gleefully targeted the National Rifle Association for criticism but as usual, they made errors in their claims. First, the media reported that the NRA has banned guns at its annual meeting in Dallas during speeches scheduled for Friday by President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. But then the media soon acknowledged that the gun ban was the Secret Services decision not the NRAs. And following that admission of error, many in the media still derided the NRA for not pushing back on the Secret Services gun ban. In one of the Washington Posts articles this week on the NRAs hypocrisy, the paper asked an NRA spokeswoman whether the NRA tried to convince the Secret Service that more guns would make Trump and Pence more secure. The Post reports that the NRA did not answer the questions directly. Piling on, USA Today, the New York Times, national television news broadcasts and other media across the country also joined in the criticism of the NRA. There was even criticism from international media. Student activists from the high school in Parkland, Florida that was the scene of a mass shooting where 17 people were killed Feb. 14 called the NRA hypocritical. But there is an obvious and very simple response. Protecting the president and vice president of the United States from assassination is not the same as protecting a group of people from a mass public shooting or protecting you or me from being robbed on a dark street. First, the president and vice president already have armed Secret Service agents flooding an area and guarding each of them. Local police are also always on hand to help provide security. Ordinary citizens dont have this kind of protection. Second, if a shooter has only one big target, the attack might be over with a single shot before gun permit holders have a chance to respond. So having armed NRA members in the audience for the Trump and Pence speeches wouldnt provide any protection to the president and vice president beyond what the Secret Service and police already provide. By contrast, mass public shooters are trying to kill as many people as possible. They know that the more people they kill, the more media attention they receive. If the target is protected by a couple of uniformed officers, killers will know to take out the officers first. Alternatively, mass shooters can move on to an unprotected target. This gives them a strategic advantage that can only be taken away by the presence of concealed handgun permit holders. When that happens, killers dont know who to attack first and dont know who might shoot back. When you take away the ability of mass public shooters to kill or injure many people, you take away their publicity and their motivation for carrying out these attacks. There are 17 million permitted concealed handgun holders in the U.S., versus about 650,000 police officers. So permit holders are much more likely to be at the scene of an attack against ordinary citizens. The media refuse to include any information about how gun-free zones are targeted for mass public shootings. You would never know that 97 percent of mass public shootings from 1950 to today have occurred in places where ordinary citizens arent allowed to have guns. Gun permit holders are allowed to carry almost everywhere in right-to-carry states, but the attacks keep occurring in those tiny areas where they cant protect themselves. The national media ignore the statements from killers explaining why they pick the targets that they do. The gun control debate would be very different if the news media would mention these facts. For example, the recent Waffle House restaurant shooting in Antioch, Tennessee took place in another gun-free zone. The news media didnt mention the prominent sign posted at the front of the restaurant, which denies entrance to anyone with a permitted concealed handgun. Instead, it was just wall-to-wall coverage about the need for new gun control laws. How is the fact that the attack occurred in a gun-free zone any less a part of the news than the type of gun used in the attack or how the killer obtained his weapon? Indeed, so-called assault weapons are relatively rarely used in mass public shootings, but they are a central focus of media discussions during those attacks. Eighteen states allow teachers and staff to carry guns at schools, but Florida isnt one of them. So students at the Parkland high school were unprotected. The claims of NRA hypocrisy have become perennial. In 2015, the New York Times ran a story headlined No Firing Pins, Please, as the N.R.A. Gathers. It falsely claimed that all guns at that years NRA annual meeting were not operational because of convention security concerns. But this only applied to the guns being exhibited for sale. Many attendees were carrying loaded personal weapons with firing pins. Dry-firing some types of guns can dull the firing pin and cause the weapon to misfire when it is actually used to shoot a bullet. The news media simply arent neutral and unbiased sources on gun issues. Most selectively report facts that color peoples perceptions of what policies will protect us. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The Iran nuclear deal is dead and the mullahs who rule the Islamic Republic have only themselves to blame. There is no need for President Trump to even announce that the United States is pulling out of the deal. Iran killed the agreement through its own willful actions and blatant lies, even before the deal was officially implemented on Jan. 16, 2016. President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry who negotiated the nuclear deal with Iran and the European Union, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany heaped praise on the agreement when it was reached in July 2015, ignoring its fatal flaws. The premise of the deal, which was designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, was simple: Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities and said it would provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with a full accounting of its past military activities meaning its secret efforts to develop nuclear weapons. The Atomic Archive shows that Iran lied to keep its nuclear program a secret. The Iranian governments lies mean the Iran deal is null and void, because Iran never fulfilled its end of the bargain. In exchange for Iran accepting these restriction and disclosure requirements, the international community agreed to lift crippling economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Doing this pumped an estimated $100 billion and $150 billion into the coffers of the Iranian regime. It was as if Iran hit the jackpot in the richest lottery in the world quite a victory. But Mondays revelation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be a game-changer. Netanyahu revealed a spectacular coup by the Mossad (Israels foreign intelligence agency) that spirited away Irans Atomic Archive, providing unequivocal proof that Iran never kept its commitments to disclose information about its nuclear weapons program. Instead, the Atomic Archive shows that Iran lied to keep its nuclear program a secret. The Iranian governments lies mean the Iran deal is null and void, because Iran never fulfilled its end of the bargain. Iran got the money from the nuclear deal and by all accounts has been using it to brutally repress its own people, support Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in his civil war that has killed hundreds thousands of people in seven years, and wage a proxy war in Yemen against Saudi Arabia. In addition, Iran has expanded funding for the terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas, which today bracket Israel from north and south with over 150,000 rockets and missiles. New armed Iranian drones, based in Syria, have attempted four separate attacks on Israel. The first was shot down by Israel inside Israeli air space and the other three drones were shot down by the Russians before they left Syria. The Netanyahu press conference was blocked initially by Twitter when Netanyahu posted segments on his official Twitter account. This is not surprising. Netanyahus revelations have got the Obama-Kerry echo chamber in the media and the arms control community in full damage control mode, trying to save an agreement that never should have been signed in the first place. A report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency in December 2015 clearly shows that the agency acknowledged that Iran had stonewalled its questions, failed to provide answers about multiple nuclear weapons-related programs, and flat-out denied it ever had a plan to build five 10-kiloton nuclear warheads. The Atomic Archive that Netanyahu revealed on Monday exposed Irans denial as a lie, and proved that Iran had maintained a clandestine nuclear weapons program beyond 2003, when Iran falsely claimed its program had ended. The International Atomic Agency report also exposed other Iranian lies about its nuclear program, including Iranian claims denying that it did metallurgy work for nuclear devices; denying that it conducted nuclear weapons-related multipoint initiation experiments; and hiding that fact that it deliberately scrubbed an area of the Parchin military complex where it had been engaged in explosives testing of non-nuclear components of a nuclear weapon. The report also showed Iran lied when it denied doing computer modeling of nuclear explosive devices up through 2009; was clearly hiding information when it refused to answer questions about 2002 preparations for underground nuclear tests; and hid the fact that it operated two workshops where it conducted tests to fit a nuclear warhead onto a missile. These are key areas of Irans previous nuclear weapons development activity that Iran failed to resolve with the International Atomic Energy Agency. In other words, the agency report that the Obama administration claimed resolved Irans previous bad behavior did nothing of the sort. It was a whitewash. But Iran was taking no chances, even with a toothless watchdog like the International Atomic Energy Agency and a rock-solid guarantee from the Obama-Kerry team that no U.S. inspectors would ever visit Iran. As Netanyahu revealed on Monday, Iran gave the order in January 2016 to collect all incriminating documents dealing with its nuclear weapons development program and hide them away in high-tech vaults in a nondescript warehouse in the south of Tehran. For two years, Mossad probed and planned. And then, as Netanyahu revealed Monday, in January Mossad pulled off what must be the most astonishing intelligence coup of Israels history and spirited out documents weighing over half a ton and brought them or copies to Israel. So now we have incontrovertible proof that Iran was never in compliance with the nuclear deal. It never came clean on its past nuclear activities, and it set up an Atomic Archive so it could resume nuclear weapons work at a moments notice. In other words, there never was an Iran nuclear deal. It was a hoax a deception crafted with the full participation of President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry to let Iran off the hook. In a YouTube message Thursday, Iranian Foreign minister Javad Zarif said you dont broker the sale of a house, move in, and then two years later get to renegotiate the price. To extend his metaphor, if you move into the house but fail to make any payments on the mortgage including the initial down payment you get evicted. Its time for President Trump to serve Iran with its eviction notice. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! MSNBC host Joy Reid, whos been sharply criticized for homophobic language in her old blog, is no homophobe. I can say this with confidence as someone who has met her, interacted with her off-camera, and even discussed LGBT equality with her on MSNBC. I know that in her heart of hearts, Reid does not have a shred of contempt for gay people today. But did she ever? Probably. And could this compromise her journalistic integrity moving forward? The answer to that question remains to be seen. Hints at what Reids future holds were on full display last Saturday when flanked by a panel of LGBT supporters on her MSNBC show she was praised by liberal activist Brandon Wolf. Wolf shunted aside any criticism of Reid and instead turned his ire on Vice President Mike Pence who no one claims had any involvement with Reids blog. Wolf made this preposterous claim: If Mike Pence, God bless him, ended up in the White House, sitting behind that desk in the Oval Office, he would have us all in concentration camps hoping to pray away the gay. Concentration camps? Wolfs hyperbolic comment went entirely unchallenged by Reid and really, how could she challenge it? Reid is no longer in any position to question the opinion of any of her LGBT guests. Reid offered an underwhelming apology for posts on her blog from a decade ago, which were critical of people who were gay or suspected of being gay. She stated: I genuinely do not believe I wrote those hateful things. But Reid was clearly walking on eggshells with her guests, all of whom were members of the LGBT community, and all of them Democrats. People can change, and thats a good thing. Its one of the key goals of Log Cabin Republicans the nations original and largest organization representing LGBT conservatives and straight allies who support fairness, freedom and equality for all Americans where I serve as president. If it was impossible to change the hearts and minds of Republicans on issues related to LGBT equality, we wouldnt have made gains on marriage equality and non-discrimination legislation. Just this week, in the Republican-controlled state Senate, New Hampshire legislators passed a historic transgender non-discrimination law. But changing the opinions of our fellow Americans on LGBT issues hasnt been a challenge exclusive to Republicans. In 2006, the blog post Reid now claims was fabricated stated that most straight people cringe at the sight of two men kissing. At the time, that was true gay people knew that. And therein lies the indication that Reid in all likelihood was the author of each of these newly unearthed archived blog posts. If someone was going to hack the Internet Archive, doctor old posts, and then leak them to a left-wing activist to post on Twitter in an elaborate attempt to smear Joy Reid, the hacker would have probably written something more inflammatory. For example, a hacker out to really get Reid could write something like: Gay people should be in concentration camps hoping to pray away the gay and falsely claim Reid wrote such a hateful comment. If you are Reids age or older, you came of age in a culture that wasnt nearly as welcoming of the LGBT community as it is today. There is certainly still a lot of prejudice directed at the LGBT community today, but a lot less than in years past. The entire controversy over Reids old blog could be a teachable moment about how Americans of all stripes even journalists and liberals have taken the journey from intolerance to love, or at least acceptance, of those who are LGBT. Tortuous as it was, I know Joy Reids apology was sincere. Of far greater concern is how this needlessly protracted scandal will impact Reids coverage of LGBT issues in the future. Will Reid be able to be an ally of the LGBT community while treating Republicans many of whom are currently on the same journey she took over the past 12 years fairly? Stay tuned. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The prospect of winning the Nobel Peace Prize is understandably tantalizing for President Trump. After all the contempt he has faced from the political establishment, watching liberal heads explode at the suggestion by South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he deserves the award must be gratifying. It would be even more gratifying to watch the collective meltdown as he delivered his Nobel acceptance speech. Moon understands this, which precisely is why he dangled the prospect of a Nobel Prize in front of Trump. He is flattering Trump in the hopes that this will make him more flexible in his negotiations with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Trump should refuse to take the bait. To his credit, Trump seems to not be taking the Nobel talk too seriously. At a rally in Michigan, Trump smiled while the crowd chanted "No-bel! No-bel! No-bel!" and said "That's very nice, thank you" before adding "I just want to get the job done." Getting the job done could very well mean walking away from the negotiating table, just as Ronald Reagan walked away at his 1986 Reykjavik summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev -- a move that was derided by foreign policy elites but proved pivotal to the collapse of the Soviet Union five short years later. Trump has made clear that he, like Reagan, is willing to walk away. "If we don't think it's going to be successful, we won't have it," the president said of a summit with Kim. "If the meeting when I'm there isn't fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting." This is exactly the right approach. Trump needs to go into his summit not with visions of Nobel prizes, but with eyes wide open. As Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats pointed out last May, "Pyongyang's enshrinement of the possession of nuclear weapons in its constitution, while repeatedly stating that nuclear weapons are the basis for its survival, suggests that Kim does not intend to negotiate them away at any price." Just last year, an American college student, Otto Warmbier, died after being detained by North Korea, and Kim was promising to fire missiles at Guam. Now he is on a charm offensive designed to buy him breathing room, lift sanctions, extort money from the West and "decouple" the United States from its ally South Korea. To get these things, Kim will lie to Trump just as his father lied in 1994 when he promised the Clinton administration that he would abandon his nuclear program in exchange for light-water reactors and fuel oil. If Trump wants to succeed, he must want a deal less than Kim does. He must be willing to walk away and to make Kim understand that he is serious about a military option if negotiations fail. He can't do so if he is even remotely thinking about a Nobel. Winning a Nobel Prize is irrelevant. Reagan never got a Nobel, but he is remembered as the president who brought about the peaceful collapse of the Soviet Union and won the Cold War. Barack Obama, by contrast, won a Nobel Prize just nine months after taking office for doing nothing (except not being George W. Bush). Simply by forcing North Korea to the negotiating table, Trump has already done more to deserve the prize than Obama did. History will judge Trump not by whether he won a Nobel, but by whether he was able to stop North Korea from deploying the capability to destroy an American city with a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile. If he fails, no prize will make up for the fact that millions of Americans will now be hostages to one of the world's cruelest tyrants. If he succeeds, he will be remembered as one of the greatest foreign policy presidents in American history. And then, the accolades will take care of themselves. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The timing of next weeks visit to North Korea by the leader of the United Nations World Food Program is good news for the United States and the world. WFP executive director and former South Carolina Governor David Beasley is headed to Pyongyang early next week to get a first-hand look at the food and hunger issues and needs of North Koreans, and while the timing of the long-planned visit is coincidental, it will give us some important information at a critical time. The food and hunger issues in North Korea have always been bad, but in recent years they have gotten worse. As I noted on Fox News last year, North Korea has experienced a horrendous drought and its crop production was down one a third from what it was the previous year, which was very bad in itself. The U.N. World Food Program has a long history of emergency food distributions to North Koreans with the primary focus on women and children. In fact, in some North Korean schools, the children receive eighty percent of their food from the WFP. The purpose of next weeks trip is to evaluate current operations to ensure their effectiveness from a programmatic and financial standpoint. Beasley will spend time in Pyongyang and elsewhere, and then brief leaders in China, Japan and South Korea, all of which have strong interest in WFPs work in the region. The fact that the mission is being headed by a no-nonsense administrator whom the president recommended means that his administration will get the unvarnished version of whats really going on. Following next weeks visit, we should have better information on the distribution of food and other nutritional resources including whether they are truly getting to those who need it the most and what the future could look like if North Korea undertakes more reforms. Every WFP executive director has visited North Korea, where the agency has had a presence for decades, so Beasleys visit in and of itself isnt all that unusual. But hes also not your typical U.N. bureaucrat he even told one reporter that hes not a U.N. kind of guy. Instead, this former governor, recommended for the post by President Donald Trump, is a businessman and executive who has focused on modernizing the WFP with new technology platforms and by reaching out to and integrating the private sector. What has impressed me most, though, is how Beasley and his team have positioned the World Food Programs work as a bulwark against terrorism and extremism. In fact, just last week, Beasley told The Guardian that Europe needed to wake up to the fact that ISIS militants fleeing Syria are working with other radical Islamist groups in Africa to destabilize the continent and push more migration into Europe. Since he took over the WFP, Beasley has said WFPs work could and should counter the efforts of terrorist groups who have used a lack of food as both a tool for recruitment and for fighting local and national government structures. At North Koreas recent Workers Party Plenum, Kim Jong Un focused on economic issues rather than nuclear ones. While the WFP trip to North Korea has been in the works for several months, the fact that senior leaders in both North Korea and at the White House have agreed for the visit to go forward now, tells us much. It will be an opportunity for us to get a better sense of ground truth on what is really going on with regards to food and hunger and what can be done to improve it. The fact that the mission is being headed by a no-nonsense administrator whom the president recommended means that his administration will get the unvarnished version of whats really going on and have the best information available before the joint U.S.-North Korea summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un occurs. All of us should hope that next weeks trip can add to information required to obtain an honest, on the ground assessment of the situation in North Korea. Lets face it, as President Trump tries to pull off the deal of all deals by denuclearizing North Korea, it is vital that he knows all the cards, and next weeks visit can help with the ground truth that he needs. West Virginia Republican Senate candidate Don Blankenship has attacked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over his "China family" in the latest use of racially charged language by the former Massey Energy CEO. In a campaign ad, which Politico reports will start airing on Friday, Blankenship says: "Swamp captain Mitch McConnell has created millions of jobs for China people. By doing so, Mitch has gotten rich. In fact, his China family has given him tens of millions of dollars." McConnell is married to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who was born in Taiwan and whose parents are Chinese. Blankenship previously referred to McConnell's father-in-law, shipping magnate James S.C. Chao, as a "wealthy Chinaperson" but has denied he meant it as a racial slur. He has also referred to McConnell as "Cocaine Mitch," a reference to a 2014 magazine article alleging that drugs were found aboard a commercial cargo ship owned by the Chao family. The allegation did not directly involve McConnell. FOX NEWS POLL: THREE TOP-TIER CANDIDATES IN WEST VIRGINIA SENATE PRIMARY Former McConnell Chief of Staff Josh Holmes responded on Twitter: "This clown is a walking, talking case study for the limitation of a prison's ability to rehabilitate." Blankenship served a year in federal prison for a misdemeanor conviction related to the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 men in southern West Virginia. Blankenship's ad leaked on social media hours after President Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. called on West Virginia voters to "reject" Blankenship in the May 8 primary. In a series of tweets, Trump Jr. said Blankenship was "a train wreck who would guarantee another term for [Democratic incumbent] Joe Manchin." BLANKENSHIP AT FOX NEWS DEBATE: I SEE NOTHING OFFENSIVE ABOUT THE TERM 'CHINAPERSON' "No more fumbles like Alabama," said Trump Jr., referencing last year's Senate special election won by Democrat Doug Jones. "We need to win in November." A Fox News poll published April 24 showed Blankenship in third place behind Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney Patrick Morrisey. National GOP forces are believed to be behind the Mountain Families PAC, an organization created in March that has invested more than $700,000 attacking Blankenship on television. A spokesman for the Senate GOP's most powerful super PAC has declined to confirm or deny a connection to the group. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is firing back at critics who claim his proposal to reform federal government housing subsidies is an example of the Trump administrations war on poor people, as one congressional Democrat put it. I would say its just the opposite, Carson said in a phone interview this week with Fox News. It is our attempt to give poor people a way out of poverty. Carson is proposing overhauling the HUD programs that help 4.7 million low-income, disabled and elderly people pay rent. He argues that the current system discourages work, discourages stable families, is overly complex and is financially unsustainable. Among the proposals is simplifying the process by requiring residents to verify their income every three years, instead of every year. He also calls for increasing minimum monthly payments from $50 to $150 a month, and having households contribute 35 percent of their income toward rent instead of 30 percent (though this excludes the elderly and disabled). Carson said he believes people on government assistance will welcome his plan if its not presented by hysterical people who are saying, These people hate you and theyre trying to balance the budget on your back and they dont care. "My best message is to ask yourself: What is your goal in life, and what is your goal for your children? Carson said. And how can you best achieve that, are you going to achieve that under the current system, or is there a better system that might be more effective? CARSON PROPOSES HIKING RENTS FOR SOME LOW-INCOME AMERICANS GETTING HOUSING SUBSIDIES Louisiana Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, has railed against the rent increases, calling Carsons proposal an immoral, ill-advised proposal and the latest example of the Trump administrations war on poor people. Carson says his message to people receiving rental assistance is that the system is broken. Carson's proposal also includes work requirements, which he says will incentivize people. He says his proposal will encourage family unification by not keeping another earner, like a spouse, from living with a family and making the household ineligible for subsidies. Were removing all those kinds of perverse disincentives, Carson said. As he developed the policy, Carson said, he has thought of the people he grew up with in Detroit who lived in government housing. They were very, very smart, clever, he said. But they were trapped in a system. He added: They dont know any other lifestyle. And thats not necessarily their fault. I think thats our fault. When I say our fault, I mean the government. Were the ones who created these situations. And I think we have an obligation to fix them. "Is there a better system that might be more effective? HUD Secretary Ben Carson Carsons proposal would need to be passed by Congress. He says the released plan is the beginning of a conversation. In recent months, Carson has faced other criticism at HUD, amid reports that a $31,000 dining room set had been ordered for his office to replace aging furniture. He eventually canceled the order amid an outcry over the high cost. It took a month to actually find out who actually signed off on that, Carson said. But the important thing is there were financial controls that were necessary that were not in place. We have put those in place. And the other important thing is that the order was cancelled with no consequences. So not a single penny that the taxpayers have to pay. Added Carson, It still needs to be replaced, but Ive directed my attention to other things. Carson, who ran in the 2016 Republican primary for president, worked as a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins before retiring and did not have a background in housing before President Trump tapped him for the job. I dont know if 'enjoy' would be the right word," Carson said of his job. "But I recognize that this is something that is critically important. Weve got to change this. Because the current system is not sustainable. State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, for decades one of the most powerful Democrats in Massachusetts, announced Thursday that he will resign Friday after 31 years as a lawmaker because of a scandal involving his estranged husband. His decision follows Wednesdays release of an ethics report that states Rosenberg failed to protect the Senate from his estranged husband, who faces charges of racially and sexually harassing Senate employees. In light of the disciplinary measure 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, Rosenberg said in a letter to the Senate clerk, the Boston Herald reported. Rosenberg, 68, of Amherst, a former president of the Massachusetts Senate, was the first openly gay lawmaker to lead a legislative chamber in the Bay State, Bostons Fox 25 reported. He stepped down as president in December, after the Boston Globe reported in November that four men alleged that Rosenbergs husband, Byron Hefner, had sexually assaulted and harassed them, and boasted of his influence in the Senate. Hefner was indicted in March. Rosenberg claims to have been unaware of Hefners alleged crimes. Rosenbergs resignation will take effect at 5 p.m. Friday, State House News Service reported. Following the release of the ethics report, both Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey called for Rosenberg to resign, Fox 25 reported. According to the station, the report was prepared by independent investigators hired by the Senate Ethics Committee. It said that while Rosenberg did not violate any formal Senate rules, he showed poor judgment and violated the Senate's information technology policies by granting Hefner unfettered access to Rosenberg's Senate email account. That access began before Rosenberg became Senate president in 2015 and ended in March 2017, after staffers detected two instances of Hefner allegedly sending emails to public officials under Rosenbergs name. Rosenberg "knew or should have known Hefner had racially and sexually harassed Senate employees" and failed to address the issue adequately, the report said. Hefner, 30, pleaded not guilty in Suffolk Superior Court in April to charges of sexual assault, criminal lewdness and distributing nude photos without consent. He was released on his own recognizance pending further court action. The federal court case against Imran Awan, the former IT aide to congressional Democrats, has been hit with repeated delays over the last six months -- a situation fueled by allegations in the media that, according to his attorney, have piqued the curiosity of prosecutors. Since November, a judge has postponed Awans court hearing in U.S. District Court five times at the request of the prosecution and defense. The latest postponement came Thursday, when the judge pushed Fridays scheduled hearing to June 7. In an interview Thursday with Fox News, Awans attorney, Christopher J. Gowen, blamed the delays on the steady stream of allegations against Awan that have been published online, especially by The Daily Caller, and pushed by President Trump and Republican members of Congress. The reports suggest Awan, who worked for former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and others, could have been involved in a cyber breach operation, something his legal team vigorously denies. Gowen -- who argues his client is a victim of made up allegations -- said federal prosecutors have repeatedly asked them to provide information in response to these stories. The defense has been cooperative in turning over evidence, documentation, Gowen said, but the process has slowed the case. We are trying to be as helpful as possible to law enforcement to provide them any information or access they need, Gowen said. The U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment on the postponements. We typically do not comment on pending cases and have no comment on this particular matter, said Bill Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. But in a Thursday court filing, prosecutors hinted that a deal could be in the works. The parties are currently exploring a possible resolution of this matter, prosecutors wrote. Therefore, the parties are requesting additional time in which to explore that resolution. A grand jury in August returned an indictment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charging Awan and his wife, Hina Alvi, with a total of four counts, which included federal bank fraud and conspiracy. Awan has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The facts of the case on paper are relatively mundane. Awan and his wife are facing allegations they engaged in a conspiracy to obtain home equity lines of credit from the Congressional Federal Credit Union by giving false information about two properties and sending the proceeds to individuals in Pakistan. But the case has drawn interest from Republican lawmakers because of Awans role for prominent Democrats and the access he had to sensitive data. The Daily Caller has published numerous news stories suggesting Awan inappropriately accessed congressional servers while working for Democrats. Gowen dismissed those stories as lies. I know that my client did not have access to any confidential or security clearance documents, he said. Gowen also took aim at President Trump, who has tweeted about the case and referred to Awan as the Pakistani mystery man. I do not think these tweets by the president are assisting the administration of justice in any way, Gowen said. The presidents tweets are irresponsible, false and disrespectful to law enforcement. Trump also mentioned Awan in a New York Times story last year, saying, Whatever happened to this Pakistani guy who worked with the DNC? The Daily Caller has published extensive reports on Awans case. In a recent story reported from Pakistan, a reporter interviewed a person they said is Awans fathers ex-business partner. That person reportedly claimed Awans father once transferred a USB drive to a former head of a Pakistani intelligence agency. Fox News has not independently confirmed the claim, and it's unclear whether it has anything to do with Awans work in Congress. Awan and other IT aides for House Democrats originally had been on investigators radar for months over concerns of alleged equipment theft, access to sensitive computer systems and more, according to reports dating back to early 2017. Awan was born in Pakistan, but came to the U.S. with his family when he was a teenager. He became a U.S. citizen more than a decade ago. The broader case surrounding him also has put renewed scrutiny on Wasserman Schultz for keeping Awan on the payroll for months, even after a criminal investigation was revealed and he was barred from the House IT network. Most lawmakers fired Awan in February 2017, but Wasserman Schultz had kept him on until his arrest in July. Prosecutors have warned that Awan is a flight risk and could flee to Pakistan if a judge approves his request to lift all of the conditions of his release. Awan has been enrolled in the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with conditions that he abide by an electronically monitored curfew of 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and a limit on traveling beyond 150 miles from his residence, according to court documents. Wasserman Schultz has blamed the right-wing media circus fringe for the attention on Awan, suggesting it's all part of an effort to distract from the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign and possible ties to Trump's team. Fox News Brooke Singman and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. Rudy Giuliani just changed the playing field on the investigations of Donald Trumpbut perhaps not in the way he intended. It's hardly shocking that the former mayor, now part of the Trump legal team, would go on Fox News and attack the Mueller investigation. (It's a bit surprising that he would attack James Comey as a "very perverted man" and the FBI agents who raided Cohen's home and office as "storm troopers," given that Giuliani once worked for the Justice Department.) But what was stunning was the almost casual way that Rudy, with Sean Hannity, reversed Trump's and Cohen's previous denials in the Stormy Daniels mess. Before I go further, I agree with many of you that most Americans don't care if Trump messed around with Daniels more than a decade ago. But I've covered the story when warranted because I knew the mysterious $130,000 payment would inevitably lead to legal problems. The previous position was a.) Cohen saying he paid Daniels the money in the final weeks of the campaign and was not reimbursed, and b.) the president saying he did not know about the payment. But Giuliani told Hannity on Wednesday night that the money was "funneled" through a law firm "and the president repaid it." So much for not being reimbursed. If Trump covered the payment by his lawyeras part of a $35,000 monthly retainerthen he must have known about the hush money to the porn star, right? "He didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know," Giuliani said. "But he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this." Things like this. Giuliani knew what he was doing (and said the president approved the remarks). His main point was to say "that money was not campaign money ... no campaign finance violation. Faced with two unappealing alternatives, the Trump team decided to avoid being cited for breaking FEC rules. And that matches what Cohen recently told me in an interview: that he was not trying to influence the campaign, only to spare his friend and client the personal embarrassment of what they say are Daniels' false allegations. Giuliani proceeded to step in it yesterday on "Fox & Friends," saying, "It was not for the campaign. It was to save the marriage" here he stopped himself "save the relationship." One reaction, from co-host Ainsley Earhardt: "It sounds like the story is changing." Giuliani also told Hannityin the course of suggesting that Bob Mueller stay away from the president's daughterthat Jared Kushner is a fine man but "men are disposable. But a fine woman like Ivanka? Come on." I covered Rudy at DOJ, when he was U.S. attorney, when he first ran for mayor, and during his ill-fated 2008 presidential campaign. He's a media-savvy guy who has answered questions thousands of times. Maybe it's that he's on cleanup duty here, but he committed several unforced errors in these interviews. I'm sure it was deliberate when he said of Mueller's prosecutors that "what they're really trying to do is trap him into perjury, and we're not suckers," adding that Trump has more important things to do than sit for a "silly deposition." That's great for a cable commentator and Friend of Donald, but perhaps not the wisest approach for a lawyer negotiating with the special counsel over whether there will be an interview with Trump and what form it would take. Mueller started out investigating alleged Russian collusion and seems to have little evidence of that. But as Bill Clinton can attest, special prosecutors can end up straying far beyond their original mandate. Paul Manafort's prison stay was extended Wednesday nearly a week after he was sentenced to 47 months on bank and tax fraud charges in a separate case. The former Trump campaign chairman is now slated to spend a total of 81 months in prison. He was given extra prison time at his second sentencing in connection with his guilty plea related to foreign lobbying and witness tampering. In August, Manafort became the first Trump campaign associate to be found guilty by a jury as part of Special Counsel Robert Muellers long-running probe. He was convicted of eight bank and tax fraud charges at that time. PAUL MANAFORT SENTENCED ON FOREIGN LOBBYING AND WITNESS TAMPERING CHARGES Manafort has been the subject of an investigation over his dealings in Ukraine several years ago he didnt file as a foreign agent until June 2017. But Mueller has incorporated that investigation into his probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with Trump associates. Manafort was convicted on multiple counts of financial fraud last year in connection with his Ukranian work, and is in prison. In November, Mueller accused Manafort of lying "on a variety of subject matters" since his plea deal, thus violating that agreement. Read on for a look at Manafort's work with the Trump campaign and how he is connected to the Russia investigation. What kind of foreign work did Manafort do? A GOP operative who worked for former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Manafort reportedly began his work in Republican politics in the 1970s. Eventually, Manafort was hired by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a controversial pro-Russia politician who was ousted from power twice. After Yanukovych was elected president in 2010, Manafort reportedly stayed on as an adviser and worked on other projects in Eastern Europe, including the Party of Regions political party. Manafort also worked for Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. In 2005, Manafort allegedly came up with a plan to influence U.S. politics, business dealings and the media in order to greatly benefit the Putin government, according to The Associated Press. Deripaska is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and signed a $10 million annual contract with Manafort in 2006; they maintained a business relationship until at least 2009. Financial records obtained by The New York Times indicated that Manafort was in debt to pro-Russian interests by up to $17 million prior to joining Donald Trumps presidential campaign. He also took more than a dozen trips to Moscow and frequently talked to Putin allies over a period of about 10 years, McClatchy reported. He traveled to Kiev at least 19 times in 20 months after the February 2014 removal of Ukraines pro-Russia leader. How was Manafort involved with Trump's campaign? Manafort joined Trump's presidential campaign in March 2016 to help wrangle delegates ahead of the Republican National Convention in Ohio, something he'd done for former President Gerald Ford. Just two months later, Manafort became Trump's campaign chairman. Manaforts resignation from the campaign was announced on August 19, 2016, after The Times reported that he'd received $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments from Yanukovychs pro-Russian party between 2007 and 2012. Manafort and Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, met with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016. She reportedly was said to have damaging information on Trumps campaign rival, Hillary Clinton, which was "part of Russia and its governments support for Mr. Trump." What was Manafort charged with? Along with his former business associate Rick Gates, Manafort was initially indicted in October 2017 on multiple counts that included: conspiracy against the U.S., conspiracy to launder money, false statements and failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Nearly four months later, in February 2018, the pair were hit with additional tax evasion and bank fraud charges. These charges involved much of the same conduct Manafort and Gates were initially accused of, but the amount of money Manafort said to have laundered through offshore accounts increased to $30 million. In June 2018, Mueller's team brought additional charges of obstruction of justice against Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik, an associate. The charges against Manafort and Gates dont relate to allegations of misconduct during Trumps campaign. Mueller also accused Manafort of secretly paying former European politicians to lobby on behalf of Ukraine. Manafort was found guilty of eight counts in August in the first trial victory for Mueller's team. The judge declared a mistrial on 10 other counts after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. In September, Manafort pleaded guilty as part of an agreement with Mueller's team ahead of his second trial. According to Politico, the plea deal includes a 10-year cap for how long Manafort will be in prison. It also includes allowing Manafort to serve his time for both trials concurrently. He received a nearly 4-year prison sentence on March 7 after a federal jury in Virginia convicted him on eight counts of bank and tax fraud last year. A week later, on March 13, he received an additional three and a half years on foreign lobbying and witness tampering charges. Manafort previously maintained his innocence despite all of the charges brought before him but he has since expressed remorse for his actions. "I am sorry for what I have done and all the activities that have gotten us here today," Manafort said in a written statement in March, begging a judge for mercy. Fox News' Ann Schmidt, Jake Gibson, Alex Pappas, Matt Richardson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A judge has sided with a band of wealthy residents at a New York high-rise who want to yank President Trump's name from their building. Owners at Trump Place, situated in the ultra left-wing Upper West Side neighborhood, a Mecca for wealthy liberals, have been trying to clear off the large brass letters of Trumps name from the building on Riverside Boulevard. The decision Thursday by State Supreme Court Justice Eileen Bransten does not order the removal of the name, but allows the owners to vote for such a move if they choose. The suit was filed afterTrumps ascendancy to the White House in 2016, from a state that voted overwhelmingly for Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Trump had licensed his name in 2000 to the building, which boasts pristine sunset views of New Yorks Hudson River, as part of a redevelopment of former rail yards. But in the wake of his political maneuvers, Trumps name has fallen out of fashion in the trendy elite enclave. There are a lot of us who cringe when people associate the building with his name, Marti Frucci, a resident who rents her apartment from the owner, told The New York Times. The Associated Press reported that 63 percent of owners had responded to an informal survey wanting the name removed, although real estate brokers had differed on whether the Trump name hurt or helped the buildings marketability -- while police said that it didnt make the building a significant terror target. Trumps company had argued that Trump Place is obligated to keep the name, citing that the condo was obligated to use the name as part of the original deal. But the judge found that the license agreement allows, but does not obligate, the use of Trumps name. The Trump Organization said it would appeal the ruling. The decision today by Judge Bransten was limited to a narrow technical issue of law, for which there is no precedent in New York, a spokesperson for the Trump Organization said in a statement. While we respect Judge Branstens ruling, we are confident that the appeals court will conclude otherwise. To be clear, this was not a ruling concerning changing the name of the building at 200 Riverside Boulevard, but rather an interpretation of the license agreement and the process that the condominium must adhere to in order to consider future changes, the statement said. The push to pull Trumps name from buildings is not limited to Trump Place. The Trump SoHo had the name removed from its building in the trendy lower Manhattan area. The Times reports that three other buildings near Trump Place have also pulled the Trump name from both the buildings and staff uniforms without legal repercussions. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Gov. Eric Greitens said he will resign this week following a report that an affair he had was at times violent and non-consensual and allegations of misuse of a charity donor list. "The time has come, though, to tend to those who have been wounded and to care for those who need us most," Greitens, a Republican, said on May 29. "So for the moment, let us walk off the battlefield with our heads held high." Greitens' last day in office will be June 1. His resignation allows him to avoid the potentially dubious distinction of becoming the first Missouri governor ever impeached. Earlier in May, prosecutors dropped the felony invasion-of-privacy charges against Greitens but said they planned to re-file the case. After he resigned, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner said her office is dropping another charge of computer data tampering, related to allegations that he misused a charity donor list. Missouri lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had been asking Greitens to step down ever since the sexual misconduct scandal surfaced. He's been accused of taking and transmitting a non-consensual -- partially nude -- photo of a woman with whom he was having the affair. Heres a look at the allegations and what the Republican governor has said about it. Why was Greitens on trial? Greitens was indicted in February on a felony invasion-of-privacy charge. He was booked at the St. Louis Justice Center before he was released on his own recognizance, according to a circuit attorney spokeswoman. The charges came after a man secretly recorded his wife admitting to having an extramarital affair with Greitens in March 2015. In the recording, she alleged that Greitens took a photo of her when she was partially nude without her permission and threatened to release photos of her if she told anyone about the affair, KMOV-TV reported. The couple, not publicly identified, have since divorced. Greitens admitted to the affair in February in a joint statement with his wife, Sheena. He said he'd made a deeply personal mistake before he was elected, and that the family had dealt with this together honestly and privately. However, his attorney told KMOV-TV that there was no blackmail. In a Facebook post, Greitens slammed the reckless liberal prosecutor who uses her office to score political points. He said that while he'd made a personal mistake before becoming governor, he did not commit a crime. If convicted, Greitens could have face up to four years in prison. He has declined to directly answer questions about whether he took the photo. What was in the accusers testimony? WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS BELOW A Missouri House investigative committee was assembled shortly after Greitens was indicted on the felony charge. After speaking to the accuser and other witnesses, it released a report signed by five Republicans and two Democrats that included a sensitive-content warning. The lawmakers said they found the woman to be an overall credible witness. The meeting The woman said she met Greitens in 2013 when he became a client at the hair salon where she worked, according to the report. She said that she developed a crush on Greitens, but when she saw him in the salon in March 2015, he moved his hand up her leg all the way up to [her] crotch without her consent." Sexy workout Later that month, she said Greitens asked her to come to his house when his wife was out of town. She said he did not want to be seen in public with her because he was running for office. At his house, she testified that Greitens told her he thought she hadnt been treated good in so long and wanted her to exercise. She said for whatever reason, I trusted him. Greitens then gave her mens pajama pants and a mans white T-shirt with a slit at the top and instructed her to change into them, she said. After she changed, she claimed he told her he was going to teach her how to do a proper pull-up. She said she thought this is going to be some sort of sexy workout. I still really thought he was perfect, the woman testified, adding that Greitens knew she had not cheated on her husband in the past, and she didnt want to do anything physical with him. So I think I was just confused, kind of shocked. And I was curious enough he likes me this much that he has something planned for our workout? The photo When the two got to the basement, the woman alleged, Greitens taped her hands to the pull-up rings and blindfolded her. She said the items he used were already on a workout bench nearby. He then spit water into her mouth, telling her she needed to be hydrated, she testified. She said it was his way of trying to kiss her, but she did not want to be kissed. Greitens began to kiss her, and he tore off the white shirt, she testified. During this time, he was also pull[ing] down [her] pants, but she did not give consent, she said. [T]hen I hear him kind of, like, step back take a step back and I hear I can hear like a, like a cell phone like a picture, and I can see a flash through the blindfold, she added. Greitens said: Youre not going to mention my name. Dont even mention my name to anybody at all, because if you do, Im going to take these pictures, and Im going to put them everywhere I can. They are going to be everywhere, and then everyone will know what a little whore you are, she testified. She alleged he spanked her after she didnt respond. I was definitely fearful. I was so embarrassed and ashamed, because I really felt like a whore because I had let him get me in this position before weve even kissed. I felt really used, she said. A photo has not been obtained by lawmakers on the committee nor by the prosecutor in the criminal case. The aftermath As she was trying to leave, Greitens gave her a hug and laid her on the floor while she wept, the woman testified. On the floor, the woman testified, she performed oral sex on Greitens because she felt that she had no other choice if she were going to get out of the basement, according to the report. She said Greitens didnt prevent her from leaving after that, but she forgot her keys at the house. When she went back to get them, she said she confronted Greitens about the picture. You have to understand, Im running for office, and people will get me and I have to have some sort of thing to protect myself, she claimed he told her. The woman testified that Greitens told her he had deleted the photo, but that she didnt believe him. How has Greitens responded? Greitens has called the accusations a political witch hunt. He did not testify before the House committee and said the report was one-sided tabloid, trash gossip that was produced in a secret room. He also highlighted a comment the woman made during a deposition in his criminal case in which she was asked if she saw what she believed to be a phone used to take the photo. A court filing from Greitens attorneys quoted her as saying, I havent talked about it because I dont know if its because Im remembering it through a dream or I Im not sure, but yes, I feel like I saw it after that happened. Additionally, Sheena claimed in a letter to the Missouri lawmakers investigating the allegations that she was stalked by the accusers ex-husband, The Washington Examiner reported. When I didnt respond to his anonymous emails, he sent me a letter, Sheena said. When a letter to me didnt produce the desired response, he contacted my parents. When letters didnt satisfy him, he made his accusations public on Twitter. And finally, when targeting our family on social media didnt fulfill his agenda, he secretly recorded his wife admitting to the affair and began shopping the audio tape to news outlets. How have lawmakers responded? House Speaker Todd Richardson called the woman's testimony beyond disturbing and defended the integrity of the investigation. He said, Let me be very clear about this: This is not a witch hunt, and the committee had no political agenda. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called on Greitens to resign. They include the states Republican Attorney Gen. Josh Hawley, who is also a U.S. Senate candidate. The conduct the report details is certainly impeachable, in my judgment, and the House is well within its rights to proceed on that front, Hawley said in a statement. But the people of Missouri should not be put through that ordeal. Governor Greitens should resign immediately. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said she read the House investigators report and believes it is clearly time to put the interests of the people of Missouri first in calling for Greitens to resign. This is a sad chapter in our history that should never have come to pass, Missouri Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican, said on social media. The transcripts paint the picture of a vulnerable woman and a man who preyed on that vulnerability. I am disgusted, disheartened and I believe Governor Greitens is unfit to lead our state. State Rep. Jean Evans also called on Greitens to resign, saying, Violence against women is always wrong. State Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe is the highest-ranking member of the legislature to call on Greitens to resign. He said the governor has lost the "moral authority and the ability to lead," KMBC-TV reported. What is Greitens background? A onetime Navy SEAL, Greitens assumed office in January 2017. He beat Democrat and former Attorney General Chris Koster. Hawley is also investigating The Mission Continues, a veterans charity founded by Greitens, as it relates to the state's consumer protection and charitable registration and reporting laws. That probe came after media reports alleged Greitens' campaign had obtained and used a charity donor list in 2015 as it ramped up fundraising for his gubernatorial bid. Greitens married Sheena in August 2011, and the pair have two children. He was married once before, but it ended in divorce in 2003, according to The Kansas City Star. Fox News Samuel Chamberlain and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Vice President Pences physician resigned this week, as fallout continued to swirl around President Trumps failed nomination of his own doctor, Ronny Jackson, to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Jennifer Pena, a military physician on detail at the White House, like Jackson, submitted her resignation this week. Pences office learned of her resignation on Friday. The Vice Presidents office was informed today by the White House Medical unit of the resignation, press secretary to Pence, Alyssa Farah, said in a statement to Fox News. Physicians assigned to the Vice President report to the White House Medical Unit and thus any resignation would go entirely through the Medical Unit, not the Vice Presidents office. First reported by CNN, Pena detailed her claims of professional misconduct against Jackson in memos to senators considering his nomination to head the VA. CNN also reported that Pena claimed Jackson may have violated Second Lady Karen Pences patient privacy rights by sharing details of a medical incident involving her to chief of staff John Kelly. Jackson withdrew his name from consideration last week, saying the false allegations against him had become a distraction for the president. Jackson resigned last week from his post as White House physician. Jackson was accused of multiple incidents of drunkenness on duty, including one where he allegedly got drunk at a Secret Service going-away party and wrecked a government car. Jackson said he had no idea where the claim came from. Jackson was also said to be nicknamed Candyman because he would provide prescriptions without paperwork such as the sleep aide Ambien. A 2012 report by the Navys Medical Inspector General also accused him of exhibiting unprofessional behaviors amid a power struggle over the White House medical unit. The allegations against me are completely false and fabricated. If they had any merit, I would not have been selected, promoted and entrusted to serve in such a sensitive and important role as physician to three presidents over the past 12 years, Jackson said in a statement. Unfortunately, because of how Washington works, these false allegations have become a distraction for the president and the important issue we must be addressinghow we give the best care to our nations heroes. Fox News John Roberts, Jennifer Bowman, and Adam Shaw contributed to this report. President Trump slammed Robert Mueller's team before a massive audience in Texas on Friday, hours after a federal judge rebuked the special counsel's office at a hearing for ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Its what Ive been saying for a long time, its a witch hunt, Trump told the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Dallas, Texas. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III told Mueller's team earlier Friday that they dont really care about Manafort -- who is seeking the dismissal of an 18-count indictment on tax and bank fraud-related charges -- and accused them of being more interested in information leading to a possible impeachment of Trump. The judge also demanded to see an unredacted version of the scope memo, a document outlining the scope of the Russia probe. FEDERAL JUDGE ACCUSES MUELLER'S TEAM OF 'LYING,' TRYING TO TARGET TRUMP Trump, in his speech to the NRA, read from news reports on Ellis remarks approvingly, particularly quotes from the judge that asked what the charges had to do with the campaign -- considering they indicted Manafort on alleged crimes dating back as far back as 2005. "It's really a disgrace," Trump said, while calling the judge "really something very special." Trump also offered his support for Manafort, noting that he had worked for President Ronald Reagan: I truly believe hes a good person. Muellers team says its authorities are laid out in documents including the August 2017 scope memo and that some powers are secret because they involve ongoing investigations and national security matters that cannot be publicly disclosed. But Ellis scoffed, summing up the argument of the Special Counsels Office as, "We said this was what [the] investigation was about, but we are not bound by it and we were lying." Trump, despite having continually criticized the probe as a witch hunt, suggested to the crowd in Dallas that he loved fighting battles, including with Muellers team. Were all fighting battles, but I love fighting these battles, he said. Trump told reporters earlier in the day that he would love to speak with Muellereven against the legal advice of his attorneys. The problem we have is we have 13 people and theyre all Democratsreal Democratsangry Democrats. And thats not a fair situation, Trump said of the investigators on the special counsel's team. The president stressed that the investigators "say that I am not a target." "You have a group of investigators that are so Democratic ... they went to Hillary Clinton's celebration which turned out to be a funeral," Trump said. "I would love to speak, nobody wants to speak [with Mueller] more than I do." In the speech at the NRA convention, he praised the group, which has been criticized by gun control groups in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting in February. He promised that his administration would defend Second Amendment rights, while touting efforts the administration has taken to encourage school safety. I want to thank all of you, the true American patriots of the NRA who defend our rights, our liberty, and our great American flag," he said. In his wide-ranging remarks, the president also hailed the results of the tax cuts he signed into law last year, praising the strength of the economy and job numbers announced Friday that show the unemployment rate is at 3.9 percent. And he warned attendees about being complacent in the November midterms, noting that history suggests that midterms are bad for first-term presidents. We cannot get complacent, we have to win the midterms, he said. Fox News Jake Gibson and Brooke Singman contributed to this report. The federal judge presiding over Paul Manaforts case has rebuked Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation and chastised lawyers on both teams for behavior in the courtroom. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III has said he hopes to finish this case much sooner than anyone predicted. Manafort faces tax and bank fraud-related charges for work unrelated to the Trump campaign. Attorneys on both sides got the brunt of Ellis criticism after lawyers were caught rolling their eyes in response to his rulings or after stepping back from the bench. Rein in your facial expressions, Ellis admonished. MUELLER PROSECUTORS REBUKED REPEATEDLY BY TRIAL JUDGE WITH A HISTORY OF COLORFUL RULINGS As Manaforts trial progresses and Ellis continues to make headlines read on for a look at the judges background. He took over the Manafort case in March Based in Alexandria, Virginia, Ellis began to preside over an indictment against Manafort in March. At the time, he suggested Manafort faced "the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. He also said Manafort poses a substantial flight risk due to his financial means and international connections to flee and remain at large. Throughout the trial thus far, the 78-year-old judge has criticized Muellers team for attempting to introduce evidence regarding Manaforts lavish spending habits. DAY ONE TRIAL RECAP: PROSECUTION CALLS FIRST WITNESS, WHO PRAISES MANAFORT'S WORK ETHIC Enough is enough. We dont convict people because they have a lot of money and throw it around, Ellis told prosecutors. Additionally, Ellis interjected during the prosecutors' opening statement to remind jurors that wealth alone is not criminal, and he rebuked a prosecutor in front of the jury for saying evidence will show Manafort is guilty. It isn't a crime to have a lot of money and be profligate in your spending, Ellis said. He also interrupted a defense attorney, prompting him to give evidence of Manafort's efforts to improve American international political outreach on the spot. Before the case even began, Ellis accused Muellers team of trying to take down Trump and seeking unfettered power in the investigation. You don't really care about Mr. Manafort, Ellis told Muellers team during the preliminary hearing in May. You really care about what information Mr. Manafort can give you to lead you to Mr. Trump and an impeachment, or whatever." Ellis was appointed to the federal bench by Reagan Former President Ronald Reagan appointed Ellis to the federal bench in 1987 and was confirmed by the Senate that same year. He garnered senior status in 2007, according to the Federal Judicial Center. His past cases include the American Taliban Ellis sentenced John Walker Lindh, who was then 21 years old, to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges related to his activity with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Lindh, from California, told the judge he provided "services as a soldier to the Taliban ... and in the course of doing so [he] carried a rifle and two grenades. The judge also threw out a case in 2006 involving a German citizen who alleged he was taken and beaten by the CIA. Ellis rejected the suit, not necessarily because of the validity of the allegations, but because of national security. In times of war, our country, chiefly through the executive branch, must often take exceptional steps to thwart the enemy, Ellis said. He served in the Navy Ellis served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1966, according to the Federal Judicial Center. Born in Bogota, Colombia, Ellis graduated from Princeton University before getting his J.D. from the Harvard School of Law. He also studied law at the University of Oxford Faculty of Law. Fox News Jake Gibson, Gregg Re and Brooke Singman contributed to this report. Two Airbnb hosts are being sued by the city of San Francisco for $5.5 million for allegedly renting out 14 apartments illegally on the home sharing site for nearly a year, netting over $700,000 from the illicit scam. On May 2, the City Attorney's Office filed a motion against Darren and Valerie Lee, who own 45 apartments in 17 buildings across San Francisco, KCBS reported. According to the outlet, city laws limit landlords to one short-term rental per building, which must be in the owners residence. The Lees are being slammed with the hefty fine as 14 of those properties were short-term rentals, listed under the names of friends who pretended to live there. SPRING CLEANING: 10 TRICKS FOR SAVING MONEY ALL YEAR This is the second time that the pair is being taken to court, as the city first sued the couple in 2014 for booting out tenants at their 3073 Clay Street property in Pacific Heights to rent out the space on Airbnb. "I think they have the wrong information. I've got a tenant in there right now, a long-term tenant who's paying me rent, Darren Lee, a real estate agent, had said at the time, according to SF Gate. One year later, they settled for $276,000 and a promise to accept the short-term rental law, according to a release from City Attorney Dennis Herreras office. Herrera said that the Lees' "greed, fraud and deceit was breathtaking." According to the filing, when city inspectors looked at eight of the units, each "had been staged to appear as if a tenant lived there, but it was obvious that it was a ruse, KCBS reports. "Every apartment had the same staging: the same Costco food items scattered about, the same arrangement of dirty breakfast dishes in every kitchen sink, same personal products in each bathroom, same damp towels artfully draped over doors as though someone had recently showered, the same collection of shoes and clothes in closets, and same houseplants in each apartment," the lawyers wrote. "This couple broke the law, got caught, pledged to stop and then did it again only this time, with an elaborate ruse to try to hide their tracks," Herrera mused. This time around, the properties under investigation include a patchwork of homes around San Francisco, including five on Fell Street, two on Leavenworth Street, two on Utah Street, and a scattering of units on Broderick, Masonic, Natick and San Jose Avenue, SF Curbed reported. FLORIDA'S 'STARRY NIGHT' HOMEOWNERS BATTLE CITY OVER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS The motion seeks to penalize the Lees $750 per day that each apartment was available, and $1,500 for every day that an apartment was rented, calculating out to $5.5 million, Travel + Leisure noted. The case will be heard on June 12. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Airbnb returned Fox News request for comment with the following statement: In January of 2018, Airbnb finalized and implemented an agreement with the City of San Francisco that allows the City to ensure every host on our platform is in full compliance with the rules, a company spokesman said. We are happy to see that the Citys rules are working and have zero tolerance for bad actors. Looks like all may not be fair in love and real estate wars, after all. Expect to see more showers in May meteor showers, that is. The night's sky is going to sparkle with meteors this weekend as the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower reaches its peak with 10 to 30 meteors dropping per hour. The shower, which is expected to last through May 28, will be blocked by the moon for some in the Northern Hemisphere. But your best bet to catch the stunning view, according to NASA, is just before dawn on May 6. Have your binoculars ready: this particular meteor shower is known for its speed, "traveling at about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into Earth's atmosphere," NASA reports. Here's what you need to know about the spring celestial event. How are meteors formed? A meteor forms when a meteoroid, a type of space rock that breaks off from an asteroid -- a rocky body orbiting the sun -- enters Earth's atmosphere. As soon as the space debris crosses over, it breaks down into what scientists call a "meteor," which then vaporizes and -- as a result of friction -- appears as a bright streak of light in the sky. "Because of their appearance, these streaks of light some people call meteors 'shooting stars,'" NASA explains in a blog post online. "But scientists know that meteors are not stars at all they are just bits of rock!" What is an Eta Aquarid meteor, specifically? Eta Aquarid meteors are small chunks of rock that break off of Comet Halley, which "takes about 76 years to orbit the sun once," Space.com reports. Every time Halley hits the inner solar system, debris from the comet enters space and become meteors once they enter Earth's atmosphere. "All meteors move off the track of the comet orbit," NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com. "When they come off the comet, they are at a slightly different speed, and that changes the orbit a bit Other things besides gravity mess with it [such as radiation pressure and even interplanetary gas]." What's a meteor "outburst"? Occasionally a meteor shower develops into a storm, dropping up to 1,000 meteors per hour. This occurence is rare, though, and often difficult to predict. "People say there is some periodicity there, but the data doesn't support that," Cooke told Space.com, adding that these so-called "outbursts" are usually at least 30 years apart. When can I see the Eta Aquarid meteor shower? You can catch the starry spectacle through May 28. However, you'll have the best chance to spot the meteors before dawn on May 6 when the shower reaches its peak. How can I watch it? Unlike solar eclipses, which requires special equipment to view the astrological event, you don't need anything to spot this celestial event. "Get to a dark spot, get comfortable, bring extra blankets to stay warm, and let your eyes adjust to the dark sky," NASA suggests. "A cozy lounge chair makes for a great seat, as does simply lying on your back on a blanket, eyes scanning the whole sky." It takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, so you should head outside about an hour before the meteors are expected to shoot across the sky. "Their radiantthe point in the sky from which the Eta Aquarids appear to come fromis the constellation Aquarius, the water bearer. One of the brightest stars within Aquarius is called Eta Aquarii, and these meteors appear from this area of the constellation," NASA explains. Red molten lava continued to spurt into the sky Friday morning hours after Hawaiis Kilauea volcano erupted, forcing officials to issue widespread evacuation orders to more than 1,500 residents. Aerial drone footage showed a line of lava snaking its way through forest land and bubbling up on paved streets near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island. Elsewhere, lava spurted into the sky from cracks in the road. The activity continued early Friday with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirming reports of eruptions from volcanic vents on at least two streets. All residents in the area were ordered to evacuate immediately. Jeremiah Osuna, who captured the drone footage, described the scene as a curtain of fire roaring through the landscape. It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could, he told Honolulus KHON-TV. You could just smell sulfur and burning trees and underbrush and stuff. There were no immediate reports of injuries, however more than 100 people were staying in shelters. Gov. David Ige activated the National Guard to help with evacuations and provide security for about 770 structures left empty by residents fleeing the area. One homeowner in the Leilani Estates subdivision, which is near the town of Pahoa on the eastern side of the Big Island, said he knew when he bought a house near a volcano that this day might eventually come. But I had no idea the reality of [it], he told Hawaii News Now. Its sinking in now, for sure. He added: My family and my pets are safe. Thats what I really care about. I mean, the rest is just stuff. We can make more money and get more stuff. My family is safe. Thats the main thing. Fire officials warned that theyve detected extremely high levels of sulfur in the area and reiterated that people should leave until the threat has passed. The best thing they can do right now is stay out of the area. Its not a stable situation at all, Talmadge Magno of Big Islands Civil Defense told the Hawaii News Now. This is not over, it could escalate at any time. We dont know how this is going to go. Officials said the eruption sent lava soaring as high as 125 feet into the air and stressed that new lava outbreaks remain a high possibility. They said they cannot predict how long the eruption could last. Asta Miklius, a geophysicist with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, told the Associated Press the volcano has quite a bit of magma in the system. "It wont be just an hours-long eruption probably, but how long it will last will depend on whether the summit magma reservoir gets involved," Miklius said. "And so we are watching that very, very closely." Henry Calio said the first sign that something might be wrong happened when cracks emerged in the driveway of his home in Leilani Estates. His wife, Stella, then received a call from an official who told them to get out immediately. The two feared that they might lose their house. "This is our retirement dream," Henry Calio said. Kilauea has erupted periodically for decades. Most of its activity has been nonexplosive, but a 1924 eruption spewed ash and 10-ton (9-metric ton) rocks into the sky, leaving one man dead. Puu Oo's 1983 eruption resulted in lava fountains soaring over 1,500 feet (457 meters) high. In the decades since, the lava flow has buried dozens of square miles of land and destroyed many homes. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NASA is making the final preparations for the historic launch of its InSight Mars lander early Saturday. InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) will be the first spacecraft to launch to another planet from the West Coast when it blasts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Central California. The two-hour launch window at Vandenbergs Space Launch Complex-3 starts at 7:05 a.m. EDT. "For those Southern Californians who are interested in rockets or space exploration, or have insomnia, we hope to put on a great show this Saturday," said Tom Hoffman, InSight project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managing the mission. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket is scheduled to carry the spacecraft over the Channel Islands just off the California coast and continue climbing out over the Pacific, shadowing the coastline south beyond Baja California, according to NASA. The Atlas V will reach orbit about 13 minutes after launch, when the rocket is about 1,200 miles northwest of Isabella Island, Ecuador. NASA SETS SIGHTS ON MARS WITH HISTORIC INSIGHT LAUNCH The unmanned InSight spacecraft and lander, which are built by Lockheed Martin, will take about 6 months to reach Mars. The lander is expected to touch down on the Red Planets surface just after Thanksgiving, on Nov. 26, 2018. NASA teams have conducted a successful Launch Readiness Review, the agencys Launch Services Program tweeted Friday. There are no technical issues being worked at this time. Teams are proceeding for liftoff on May 5, at 4:05 a.m. PDT/7:05 a.m. EDT. If NASA is unable to launch InSight on Saturday, the agency has over a month to make another attempt. The InSight launch period extends to June 8, 2018, with multiple launch opportunities over windows of approximately two hours. Launch opportunities are set five minutes apart during each date's window, it said. Even if the launch date changes, the lander is still scheduled to arrive at Mars on Nov. 26. HEAT SHIELD FOR NASA'S MARS 2020 ROVER CRACKS DURING TEST During a pre-launch briefing with journalists Thursday, Scott Messer, ULAs program manager for NASA missions, explained that interplanetary missions usually launch from the East Coast to get an extra boost from the Earths rotation. The Atlas V rocket, however, has the capability to deliver the InSight mission from California, he said, noting that it also gives ULA the opportunity to move off Americas more congested Eastern launch range. The mission will provide scientists with a wealth of data. InSight will be the first mission to peer deep beneath the Martian surface, studying the planet's interior by measuring its heat output and listening for marsquakes, which are seismic events similar to earthquakes on Earth, explained NASA, in a statement. It will use the seismic waves generated by marsquakes to develop a map of the planets deep interior. The resulting insight into Mars formation will help us better understand how other rocky planets, including Earth, were and are created. InSight had originally been scheduled to blast off in March 2016, although NASA suspended its launch preparations when a vacuum leak was found in the crafts prime science instrument. MARS EXPLORATION: NASA PROGRAMS SET TO 'TAKE' FIRST HUMANS TO THE RED PLANET Mars looms ever larger in Americas space future. NASAs long-term goal is to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s. However, former astronaut Buzz Aldrin thinks that a slightly later target date of 2040 is more realistic. In an interview in 2016, the Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 astronaut told Fox News that by 2040, astronauts could have visited Mars moon Phobos, which could serve as a sort of stepping stone to the Red Planet. Other NASA missions to Mars are also planned, although the heat shield for the agencys 2020 Mars Rover recently cracked during tests. Officials say that the incident wont affect the missions 2020 launch date, according to Space.com. The six-wheeled robot is expected to arrive on Mars in 2021. Earlier this year, NASA announced a project to build robotic bees capable of flying on Mars. ELON MUSK PLANS MARS SPACESHIP, WARNS THERE'S A 'GOOD CHANCE' THAT EARLY PASSENGERS COULD DIE NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recently celebrated 12 years at the Red Planet. Private space company SpaceX is also working to reach Mars. Speaking at the South by Southwest festival earlier this year, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that he expects to see test flights of the firms Mars spacecraft next year. SpaceX plans to use its upcoming BFR rocket system for unmanned cargo missions to Mars by 2022. The objectives for the first mission will be to confirm water resources and identify hazards along with putting in place initial power, mining, and life support infrastructure, explains SpaceX, on its website. A second mission, carrying cargo and crew, is targeted for 2024, with the primary objectives of building a propellant depot and preparing for future crew flights, according to SpaceX. The ships from the initial missions will be used to build a Mars base, it said. Fox News Chris Ciaccia contributed to the article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers The search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370, which has been missing for more than four years, has led to the discovery of two 19th-century shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean. Experts announced Thursday that two shipwrecks discovered 1,429 miles off the coast of Western Australia during the initial search for MH370 have been identified as coal-carrying merchant ships that sank during the 19th century. Flight MH370 disappeared March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing with 239 people aboard. No transmissions were received from the aircraft after its first 38 minutes of flight, but it is believed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean based on the drift patterns of crash debris that washed ashore on distant beaches. HUGE WORLD WAR II SHIPWRECK RAISED FROM THE DEPTHS IN MASSIVE SALVAGE OPERATION The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) asked the Western Australian Museum to study sonar and video data taken in international waters by the search vessels Fugro Equator and Havilah Harmony in May and December 2015. Dr. Ross Anderson, Curator of Maritime Archaeology at the Museum, said that the wrecks were found at depths between 12,139 feet and 12,795 feet, approximately 22.4 miles apart. We used a combination of all of the data supplied by ATSB, historical research and maritime archaeological analyses to determine both wrecks were in fact 19th Century merchant sailing ships one wooden and one iron both carrying coal, he said, in a statement. The wooden sailing ship would have been in the 225-800 ton range, according to Anderson. Analysis revealed that the ships hull and loose timbers appeared to have degraded, leaving only the vessels coal cargo and metal objects such as fastenings, anchors and fittings. FLORIDA BEACHGOERS DISCOVER 'HOLY GRAIL OF SHIPWRECKS' AFTER REMAINS OF 18TH CENTURY SHIP WASH ASHORE Most of the material widely scattered on the seabed consists of the remains of the coal cargo that spilled out of the hull prior to it striking the seabed, Anderson explained, in the statement. 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. Trawling through the data gathered by the research vessels, experts also spotted a large rectangular metal object 19.7 feet in length, which was identified as the ships iron water tank. In contrast, the second wreck discovered was relatively intact, lying upright on the seabed. Analysis of the sonar and video data revealed that it was an iron sailing ship with at least two decks, weighing between 1,000 and 1,500 tons. The Museum noted that deck rails and stanchions were visible on the bow, and portholes were visible on the stern. WRECK OF THE USS JUNEAU, FAMOUS FOR THE DEATHS OF THE 5 SULLIVAN BROTHERS, DISCOVERED IN PACIFIC The ships offer tangible evidence of the famous Roaring 40s sailing ship trade route that harnessed strong westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere. Incomplete historical records mean that experts cannot conclusively identify the ships. However, by using mostly British records, they have narrowed the candidates down. The brig W. Gordon and the barque Magdala are two possible candidates for the wooden ship, according to Anderson, while the barques Kooringa, Lake Ontario and West Ridge are possible candidates for the iron ship, with the West Ridge the most likely. The West Ridge went missing in 1883 during a voyage from Liverpool, U.K. to Bombay, India. Twenty-eight souls were lost as a result. WWII WRECK USS HELENA DISCOVERED BY MICROSOFT CO-FOUNDER PAUL ALLEN'S CREW Historic wrecks have been making news recently. A massive World War II shipwreck, for example, was raised from the bottom of a harbor in Sri Lanka 75 years after the vessel was sunk following an attack by Japanese forces. In March, the wreck of the USS Juneau, which was sunk by a Japanese torpedo with the loss 687 sailors in 1942, was discovered by billionaire Paul Allens crew. Beachgoers in Florida recently discovered the holy grail of shipwrecks after the remains of an 18th -century ship washed up on Ponte Vedra Beach. Shipwreck hunters also say they've found the remains of a schooner that sank in Lake Michigan in 1873. EXPERTS DISCOVER 'CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS' ANCHOR AT CARIBBEAN SHIPWRECK SITE The hunt for the wreckage of MH370 continues. A new scan of the Indian Ocean floor for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has searched nearly 31,000 square miles since January 2018 without finding any sign of the wreckage. But Ocean Infinity, the American technology company looking for the plane, said it is still determined to find it. Fox News Madeline Farber and the Associated Press contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers The Air Force has begun early testing, software development and weapons integration for its upcoming Block 4 variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, an emerging model intended to give the multi-role fighter a new dimension of attack mission possibilities, service leaders said. The new version, to emerge in the early 2020s, will add new long-range precision-tracking weapons such as the Small Diameter Bomb II and also integrate a computer-generated automatic ground collision avoidance technology. The next step for F-35 weapons integration will be to address the weapon requirements within Block 4. Integration of the Small Diameter Bomb II has already begun, and flight test is scheduled to start as early as 2019, Capt. Emily Grabowski, Air Force Spokeswoman, told Warrior Maven in a statement. The current consensus among senior Pentagon weapons developers holds that, at the moment, the F-35 is the most capable 5th generation plane in the world. Maintaining this edge, however, is anticipated to quickly become more and more difficult now that both Russia and China are building 5th-gen stealth fighters. Block 4 is important with the national defense strategy to make sure we are modernizing the plane to keep it dominant on the battlefield. We are close to knowing the strategy for how to go after it, Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, told a group of reporters. Click on Warrior Maven for more. This is a rush transcript from "Your World," May 4, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Anyway, the DOJ inspector general is looking into possible FBI misconduct and was supposed to testify next week on Capitol Hill. Now, that hearing is delayed to make sure the investigation is complete and unimpeded, all this as the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, you might remember, continues to come under fire for his handling of the whole Mueller probe and how he reacted to all of that. Critics claim he's botching it. He says the critics are piling on and they better be careful. Florida Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis is a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Congressman, I wonder if Rod Rosenstein was talking about you or guys like you when he talked about this pressure. What was it? REP. RON DESANTIS, R-FLORIDA: I just think Rod Rosenstein has a peculiar view of the Constitution and rule of law. He seems to think we have the Congress, we have the president, the courts, and then the Justice Department is superior to all of them, and that the rule of law is basically whatever some arbitrary decision is made by him or Mueller or other people in the department. That is not the way this operates. They are a statutorily created department. They get their funding from Congress. And we, the American people and their elected representatives, have a right to conduct oversight over their activity. So, he has stonewalled our investigations for months and months. And, yes, I do think he has botched this whole Mueller thing. I don't think there was a basis to appoint Mueller, but he certainly has not reined him in. He has let this thing go far beyond the original mandate. CAVUTO: But isn't that what you're supposed to do? I don't know what the procedures are, Congressman. You know better than I. But isn't that what you're supposed to do, just let him do his thing and see what happens? Because the danger is that you guys, with maybe the best of legal intentions and all, could prolong this. DESANTIS: Well, but look at those questions, Neil. You have Mueller, who is an inferior officer in the executive branch -- he's beneath Sessions, beneath Rosenstein -- asking -- wants to ask the president of the United States, the head of the executive branch, what was your opinion of James Comey? What did you think when you tweeted this? What was your mind when you fired Comey? He doesn't have a right to conduct oversight over presidential decisions that are basic uses of presidential power, where there's no criminal activity at issue. And so... (CROSSTALK) CAVUTO: But you could make the same argument, right -- I know it's a little apples and oranges, Congressman -- with the kind of questions Ken Starr had, and were way below the pay grade of some of his superiors at Justice and elsewhere, asking the questions of then President Bill Clinton on a variety of other matters that might have been deemed and were, in fact, criticized for being insulting and way beyond his bounds. DESANTIS: And they were, Neil. But here's the difference. Ken Starr was an independent prosecutor. He did not answer formally to the executive branch. Now, I think and Justice Scalia wrote eloquently that that's unconstitutional, and that statute has expired. And I think that that was the right thing to do. Mueller is not an independent counsel. He's just an officer in the executive branch. CAVUTO: Well, what do you think of Rod Rosenstein then? When he spoke to the president a couple of weeks ago and reportedly told the president, you're not a target of this investigation, might be a subject, whatever, not a target? What did you think of him saying that? And, B, do you agree with that? Does that look like the case to you? DESANTIS: Two things. One, that's elusive. I was a former prosecutor. You may not be a target today. That can change very quickly. And then the second thing is, is, if he's not a target, the president can't be indicted under basic Justice Department guidelines in place for decades. Then why do they want to interview him? What are they trying to do? And I think guys like me see it as they're trying to create grist for the mill for a potential impeachment if the Democrats retake the House. That's not a proper use of a special counsel. (CROSSTALK) CAVUTO: But you don't have to be a target, you don't have to be a target, as far as I understand, or certain things can come up on you that the prosecutor would then sort of leave open to Congress to deal with, without making an impeachment recommendation or not. In other words, we could be getting ahead ourselves here, right? DESANTIS: Yes, we could. But, Neil, what's the underlying crime in dealing with the campaign? They haven't produced anything involving anyone associated with the campaign. So you're going to subpoena the president to try to answer questions when you have not identified a crime? CAVUTO: When is this going to be wrapped up, Congressman? What does your gut tell you? DESANTIS: My gut is saying is that this thing has gone off the rails. I think Rod needs to reel it in. I think Mueller should put up or shut up. If he doesn't have collusion evidence, then let's move on. CAVUTO: Congressman, thank you for taking the time. Good seeing you again. DESANTIS: Thank you. CAVUTO: All right. END Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. 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 CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. An issue with the Carnival Dream's fire suppression system reportedly caused water to begin flowing down walls and pooling in the hallways of the cruise ship on the evening of May 3. Around 50 of the ships staterooms on Deck 9 flooded as a result of the break, Carnival Cruise Line confirmed in a statement. The liner was five days into a week-long voyage around the Western Caribbean at the time of the incident. Footage from the ship shows water pouring from the ceiling and walls in one of the ships corridors as passengers and staff look on. VIKING ANNOUNCES 245-DAY 'ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE' Carnival Cruise Line has since stated that the water stemmed from a fire suppression system and employees began cleaning immediately. Our onboard teams began cleanup immediately related to this clean water from a fire suppression system, Carnival told Fox News. We appreciate our guests understanding and sincerely apologize for this disruption. We also thank our crew members for their quick action and hard work. The cruise line added that the majority of the affected guests were able to stay in their own staterooms following cleanup. Cruise guest Marla DeAnn Haase, who shared the above footage, was one of the passengers relocated in the wake of the flooding. She wrote on Facebook that she and family members were moved to the ships spa, where they slept on yoga mats. She added that her brother-in-laws cpap machine caught on fire just before he fell asleep, allegedly as a result of the transformer being submerged in water for too long. RITZ-CARLTON LAUNCHES LUXURY YACHT-STYLE CRUISE Carnival has confirmed that inconvenienced guests would be refunded for the cruise, and given a 50 percent-off voucher for a future cruise. The company also offered to fly passengers home if they chose to disembark early. "We appreciate our guests understanding and sincerely apologize. We also thank our crew members for their quick action and hard work," said Carnival, adding the incident should not delay the ship's subsequent itineraries. Pictures provided by Carnival on Friday appeared to show the previously soaked corridors cleaned and relatively dry. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The mishap isnt the first headline to plague the cruise line in recent months. In December 2017, a Florida family became livid after finding a hidden camera in their bedroom aboard the Carnival Fantasy. In January, two female passengers on two separate ships, the Carnival Triumph and Carnival Elation, fell overboard and are presumed dead. And in February, the Carnival Legend ship was forced to dock early in New South Wales to eject 23 passengers following a violent bloodbath of a brawl. The National Transportation Safety Board released new details of the fatal accident aboard Southwest Flight 1380 in an investigation update released Thursday. The NTSB said investigators recovered pieces of the broken engine fan blade fan blade #13 suspected of triggering the accident after breaking off due to metal fatigue. Other blades, too, had shown signs of impact damage and missing materials, but none showed the same signs of cracking as #13. WOMAN CLAIMS 'DRUNK OR STONED' FLIGHT ATTENDANT ENDANGERED LIVES The NTSB also shared photos of its findings, including one showing the fan blade, one showing the engine, and another showing damage to the edge of the planes left wing. A separate figure included in the report pictured the gouge near window 14, which appeard consistent in shape to a recovered portion of fan cowl and latching mechanism. FAMILY OF DOG KILLED ON UNITED FLIGHT CONSIDERING LAWSUIT The NTBS further detailed the efforts of the flight crew to land the aircraft safely immediately following the April 17 incident. Captain Tammie Jo Shults, a former Navy combat pilot, reportedly took over flying duties from First Officer Darren Ellisor after Ellisor had begun a descent. Shults then expedited a landing upon learning of injuries to a passenger. Jennifer Riordan, the 43-year-old mother who was partially blown out of the shattered window during the flight, was later pronounced dead at a Pennsylvania hospital. Following the deadly accident, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered for more frequent inspections of fan blades in CFM56-7B engines made by CFM International, Dallas News reported. CFM itself had first recommended more inspections using ultrasound and electrical currents after an engine broke apart on another Southwest plane in 2016. Southwest Airlines has inspected over 25,000 of its fan blades since April 17, and found only one other that showed signs of cracking, according to the Associated Press. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The Associated Press contributed to this report. Viking Cruises announced Tuesday it will launch the longest continuous world cruise itinerary in history with the new Ultimate World Cruise, which will span 245 days, six continents, 59 countries and 113 ports. The eight-month world cruise on the Viking Sun departs from London August 31, 2019, but travelers have the option to sail one of two shorter segments during the voyage. The shorter itineraries include Viking World Treasures, a 127-day sailing from London to Los Angeles that visits 33 countries and 61 ports, or Viking World Wonders, a 119-day journey from Los Angeles to London that visits 29 countries and 55 ports. All Viking passengers will receive complimentary shore excursions in each port and unlimited Wi-Fi, and World Cruise guests will be eligible to receive Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees included in the cost. Viking's Ultimate World Cruise will feature overnight stays in 22 cities and learning opportunities during excursions in every port. Some of the top destinations the voyage will visit include Egypt, Ho Chi Minh City, London, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro, Tasmania and many more. For more than 20 years we have been offering guests the most culturally immersive journeys available in the industry and we are pleased to announce the most extensive itinerary in our history, Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said in a statement. Our World Cruises offer guests the rare opportunity to unpack once and explore dozens of the best destinations on Earth at a value that is unprecedented in the travel industry. As for what passengers should expect during a journey on the Viking Sun, the ship accommodates 930 guests in 465 All-Veranda Staterooms, boasts two pool choices, provides comfort in the LivNordic Spa and features eight dining options. Prices for Vikings Ultimate World Cruise start $92,990 per person, with the shorter voyages running travelers $47,995 per person for the Viking World Treasures sailing and $45,995 per person for the Viking World Wonders sailing. All three of the itineraries include Business Class international air, transfers to and from the ship, all gratuities and service fees, three complimentary visa services, free luggage shipping services for embarkation and Viking's Silver Spirits beverage package. Passengers who book their travel before December 31 will receive $4,000 in shore-excursion credit and $2,000 in shipboard credit. As for guests who book Viking World Treasures or Viking World Wonders before December 31, they will receive $2,000 in shore-excursion credit per person for any optional land programs and $1,000 in shipboard credit. This story originally appeared in TravelPulse. Missouri lawmakers on Thursday announced they're calling a special session to order to discuss the possible impeachment of Gov. Eric Greitens. The session, to be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 18, will explore the allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of charity resources against the Republican governor. MISSOURI GOV. GREITENS FIGHTS ACCUSATIONS OF VIOLENT NONCONSENSUAL 'SEXY WORKOUT' The move will mark the first time in state history that lawmakers have called a special session, which are typically called by governors. Missouri House and Senate leaders said they've collected more than the constitutionally required signatures of three-fourths of the members of each chamber to summon the session. Lawmakers will consider "disciplinary actions" against Greitens, according to their petition, which could include less reprimands than impeachment. A special House committee investigating Greitens released a report Wednesday alleging the governor misused a list of charity donors from The Mission Continues, a charity he founded, for his gubernatorial campaign. Last month, the same committee released a report with testimony from a woman who alleged Greitens had restrained, slapped, shoved, threatened and belittled her during a series of sexual encounters in 2015. Greitens is scheduled to go on trial on May 14 for an invasion of privacy indictment stemming from his encounter with the woman. He is accused of taking and transmitting a partially nude and unauthorized photo of the woman while she was bound and blindfolded in the basement of his home. Greitens has acknowledged having a consensual affair but has denied criminal wrongdoing. The governor was also charged on April 20 with a felony of tampering with computer data for allegedly disclosing The Mission Continues donor list to a political fundraiser in 2015 without the permission of the charity. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Authorities say a man tried to entice someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl into meeting him at a Rhode Island mall so he could dress her in a diaper and engage in sexual acts with her. Prosecutors say the person 43-year-old Christopher Kinney was communicating with on Facebook was an undercover detective. Court documents say the detective began communicating with Kinney after receiving a tip about disturbing images on Kinney's Facebook page. Prosecutors say officers who arrested Kinney found a diaper bag and condoms in his car. They say dozens of images of child pornography were on his phone. Kinney is charged with attempted enticement of a minor and possession and distribution of child pornography. Kinney's attorney says she can't comment on the case. A paroled sex offender who led police on an hours-long chase through California in an RV on Tuesday has been arrested. Stephen Merle Houk was taken into custody around 4:30 p.m. in Barstow, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office tweeted Thursday. "He was found in a Rail Car and taken into custody without further incident," according to police. Houk, 46, led police on a chase in his motor home with his two young children a 3-year-old boy and an 11-month-girl in Los Angeles after deputies had tried to talk to him about allegations he threatened his wife. The children were found unharmed after the RV stopped in an orchard north of Bakersfield after a 100-mile northern freeway drive, but Houk was nowhere to be found. HUNT ON FOR PAROLEE WHO FLED WITH CHILDREN IN MOTOR HOME Houk is a registered sex offender who was on parole following a conviction in Oregon for felony sodomy, records indicated. 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 crime involved sex with a child under 14 years old but the circumstances were "too egregious to discuss," Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Darren Harris said earlier this week. Authorities said Houk had an argument with his wife on Tuesday morning and apparently took the children with him when he left. As many as 15 California Highway Patrol cars followed Houk in pursuit of his RV, but didn't close in following reports that he might have a gun with two children in the vehicle. Houk was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, making terrorist threats, kidnapping and other charges. Fox News' Bradford Betz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A 16-year-old girl in Utah reportedly delivered her aunts baby girl over the weekend, only a few days after being taught about child birth in high school. Morlie Hayes was home on Saturday when she got an unexpected visit from her aunt and 7-year-old cousin, she told the Deseret News on Monday. "My mom's outside. She's going to have her baby!" the young girl told Hayes, according to the outlet. Hayes aunt, Laura Creager, was reportedly not expecting to have her baby for a few more weeks but ultimately had to make an unexpected stop at her relatives house in Eden, where she went into labor. INFANT TWIN BOYS GET LIFE-SAVING BONE MARROW DONATION FROM 4-YEAR-OLD BIG BROTHER As the teen talked to 911 dispatchers about what to do, she heard her aunt shout, My water broke! the Deseret News said. Hayes reportedly jumped to action, cushioning Creager with pillows and towels and instructing her to lay on her back in the bathroom. Minutes later, and after another strong contraction, baby Kayla was welcomed into the world, according to the outlet. Recalling what shed be taught in school, the teen reportedly checked the newborns umbilical cord and coloring. She was cleaning the baby up by the time medical professionals got to the residence and cut the umbilical cord, the Deseret News reported. UTAH FAMILY FINDS REMAINS OF ANCIENT HORSE IN BACKYARD "My 16-year-old niece delivered the baby," Creager told the outlet. "She was amazing." Hayes reportedly described her cousins birth as an amazing experience. Creagers husband, Wendell, who was at a sporting event at the University of Utah when he learned of his daughters birth, told the Deseret News that the moment happened the way it was supposed to. Wendell joined his family at the hospital and met his newborn daughter, the outlet said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A supermarket in Southern California harassed its Hispanic employees and subjected them to a hostile work environment by limiting when they could speak Spanish on the job, federal officials said Thursday. In its lawsuit, the EEOC alleged that managers at an Alberstons store in San Diego barred Hispanic workers from speaking Spanish around non-Spanish speakers, even during breaks or when dealing with Spanish-speaking customers. Targeting a particular language for censorship is often synonymous with targeting a particular national origin, which is both illegal and highly destructive to workplace morale and productivity, said Anna Park, an attorney with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions Los Angeles district office. Targeting a particular language for censorship is often synonymous with targeting a particular national origin, which is both illegal and highly destructive to workplace morale and productivity. Anna Park, attorney, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission The policy drew employee complaints and caused some workers to transfer to other stores, the EEOC said. Albertsons wouldn't comment on the lawsuit, but said in a statement that it does not require its employees speak English only. "Albertsons serves a diverse customer population and encourages employees with foreign language abilities to use those skills to serve its customers," the statement said. The conduct violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC said. "It is extremely important for workers to feel safe in coming forward to report harassment," Christopher Green, director of the EEOC's San Diego office, told the Associated Press. "It is equally important for employers to make certain that harassment is investigated and addressed appropriately." Albertsons employs about 280,000 people in 35 states. The Associated Press contributed to this story. An undercover ATF agent was expected to survive after being shot in the face Friday in Chicago during a joint operation with the city's police force. The agent was rushed to a hospital in critical condition after shots rang out in the Back of the Yard neighborhood around 3:15 a.m. local time, but the injuries he suffered to his face were not considered life-threatening, police told the Chicago Tribune. Officer hit, we need an escort to the hospital now! an officer is heard saying in police scanner traffic in the moments after the shooting. We need an ambulance as soon as possible. Find someone to meet us. He may be hit in the head. Officials said the agent is part of a joint task force with the ATF, Chicago Police Department and Illinois State Police investigating the flow of illegal firearms into the Windy City, the Chicago Tribune reported. The exact details of the mission are still unclear, however, and no one has been taken into custody in the shooting. The Back of the Yards neighborhood has become a hotbed for gang-related shootings in the last two years, leading to the deaths of 50 people out of the more than 140 that have been hit by gunfire, according to the Chicago Tribune. A second officer was taken to a local hospital for observation following the Friday shooting but he was not hit by gunfire, police said. In 2017, the ATF sent 20 agents to Chicago to help local authorities combat the city's gun violence epidemic. The agents reportedly joined dozens already in the city, according to US News. Before the announcement about the agent surge, President Trump tweeted: "Crime and killings in Chicago have reached such epidemic proportions that I am sending in Federal help. 1714 shootings in Chicago this year!" The Pentagon says China is responsible for nearly 10 instances of military-grade lasers being flashed at American pilots trying to landing at a base in Africa, charges Beijing dismissed Friday as "groundless accusations." The U.S. believes Chinese nationals are perpetrating the laser attacks, which have caused minor injuries to two pilots, and has filed a formal complaint asking Beijing to investigate, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said Thursday. But China pushed back, denying any culpability. "After careful verification, we have told the U.S. explicitly that the so-called accusations are totally inconsistent with facts," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Friday, AFP reported. "You can remind relevant people in the U.S. to pay attention to facts and not to make groundless accusations." The base China has recently built in Djibouti the country's first station overseas is suspected to be the source of the laser attacks, and it's located just a few miles from Camp Lemonnier, which is used for American counterterrorism operations in the region. China's Defense Ministry also denied having any role in the laser incidents. "China always strictly abides by international law and the law of the country of residency and is committed to maintaining regional security and stability," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website, according to the Associated Press. White estimated Thursday there has been fewer than 10 very serious laser incidents around the base in recent weeks. "This activity poses a true threat to our airmen, she added. In one case, two pilots flying a C-130 cargo plane suffered minor eye injuries while attempting to land, Pentagon spokeswoman Maj. Sheryll Klinkel told AFP. The Federal Aviation Administration has also put out a notice warning pilots to be on alert when operating aircraft in the Horn of Africa region. The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled for a new trial to be held for Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, who was convicted for the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, according to The Associated Press. Friday's 4-3 decision by the court vacated Skakel's earlier conviction and ruled that Michael Sherman, his trial attorney, did not show the court evidence of a possible alibi. As a result of the decision, the court's previous 2016 ruling, which reinstated Skakel's conviction following a lower court's order for a new trial, was overturned. OFFICIALS ASK COURT TO SEND KENNEDY COUSIN BACK TO PRISON Skakel was accused of bludgeoning Martha Moxley to death in 1975 in Greenwich, Conn., while the pair were in their teens. He was found guilty of the murder in 2002. After being handed a 20-year-to-life prison term, he was released on bail following a lower court's 2013 decision to overturn his conviction. Skakel is the nephew of Ethel Kennedy, who was married to Robert F. Kennedy. The well-known name and his wealthy family have generated international attention to the case, as well as a number of theories about who killed Moxley and the brutal way in which she died. Several others, including Skakel's brother, Tommy, were mentioned as potential suspects. CONNECTICUT'S TOP COURT REINSTATES KENNEDY COUSIN MURDER CONVICTION Justice Richard Palmer, who wrote for the majority on Friday's decision, said Skakel had been biased against due to the fact that his attorney hadn't gotten alibi testimony from a witness, Denis Ossorio. "Without Ossorio's testimony, the state was able to attack the petitioner's (Skakel's) abili - a complete alibi for the time period during which it is highly likely that the victim was murdered - as part of a Skakel family conspiracy to cover up the petitioner's involvement in the victim's murder," Palmer wrote. The court was previously asked by Hubert Santos, an appellate lawyer representing Skakel, to re-examine its ruling reinstating the conviction. KENNEDY COUSIN SKAKEL GRANTED BAIL AS HE AWAITS NEW TRIAL FOR 1975 KILLING Santos maintained that Sherman, Skakel's previous lawyer, did not make good choices in the case, claiming that he did not focus on Skakel's brother as a possible suspect and did not attempt to get in touch with an alibi witness. He also claimed that his client was not near the crime scene when Moxley was killed. Santos also argued that there was no physical evidence or eyewitnesses connecting Skakel to Moxley's murder. Sherman has defended his work and state prosecutors have argued that he did an adequate job. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Oregon horse named Justice is at least, on paper suing his former owner for $100,000 in damages. The lawsuit, which alleges negligence against Justice's former guardian, Gwendolyn Vercher, claims the horse was 300 pounds underweight, had lice and a skin infection. Vercher lives in Cornelius, which is about 25 miles west of Portland. The lawsuit was filed in Washington County Circuit Court. Last year, Oregon Horse Rescue received a call from a concerned neighbor requesting the organization take custody of Justice, according to the suit. Justice was reportedly taken from Verchers care and transferred to a horse rescue. The lawsuit said Justice will require medical care for the remainder of his life. According to court records cited by The Oregonian, Vercher was charged with first-degree animal neglect and sentenced to three years probation. Washing County Circuit Court also prohibited Vercher from owning any animals for five years. The paper reported that Vercher did not respond for the article. One of the horses lawyers cited two Oregon Supreme Court cases that established legally protected rights for animals. "The Oregon legislature clearly established an anti-cruelty statute for the safety and protection of animals," the lawyer 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." The Latest on bills in Oklahoma and Kansas to protect faith-based adoption agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes (all times local): 1:55 a.m. Kansas lawmakers have joined their counterparts in Oklahoma in passing legislation to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes. The Kansas Senate approved a bill early Friday that would prevent agencies from being barred from providing adoption services for the state if they refuse to place children in homes violating their religious beliefs. The vote was 24-15. The House approved it earlier on 63-58 vote. It goes next to Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer, who supports it. In Oklahoma, the state House approved similar legislation on a 56-21 vote Thursday and sent it to GOP Gov. Mary Fallin. Supporters argued that the measures would protect the right of adoption agencies to follow their religious beliefs. Critics said they would sanction taxpayer-funded discrimination. ___ 11:02 p.m. Kansas lawmakers are close to joining their counterparts in Oklahoma in passing legislation to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes. The Kansas House approved a bill Thursday that would prevent agencies from being barred from providing adoption services for the state if they refuse to place children in homes violating their religious beliefs. The vote was 63-58. The Senate also had to vote on it, but its approval was expected because senators approved another version of the bill in March. Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer's administration supports it. In Oklahoma, the state House approved similar legislation on a 56-21 vote Thursday and sent it to GOP Gov. Mary Fallin. Supporters viewed both measures religious freedom initiatives. Critics said they would sanction taxpayer-funded discrimination. ___ 5:10 p.m. The Oklahoma House has given final approval to a bill that would grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that don't want to place children in homes with same-sex couples. The House voted 56-21 on Thursday for the bill over the boisterous objections of Democrats, who tried several parliamentary maneuvers to derail it. At one point, the presiding officer in the House threatened to have a member forcibly removed. The bill would protect child-placing agencies that block adoptive parents who do not meet the agencies' religious or moral standards. It now heads to Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who hasn't indicated if she would sign it. The vote in Oklahoma comes as Republican legislators in Kansas are trying to break a political stalemate over a similar measure. ___ 1:44 p.m. Republican legislators in Kansas are trying to break a political stalemate over a bill granting legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes. House and Senate negotiators Thursday drafted a new version of a bill that would prevent the state from barring agencies from providing adoption services if they refuse to place children in homes violating their religious beliefs. The Senate passed an earlier version in March but it has stalled in the House. Supporters hoped both chambers could vote on the new version Thursday, with the House going first. The debate in Kansas occurred as Oklahoma legislators considered a similar proposal. LGBT-rights advocates hope to stop both states' measures and view them as sanctioning discrimination. Supporters argue that they're religious freedom measures. A Florida police officer is under fire after a video surfaced this week of him kicking a handcuffed suspect on the head during an arrest. The video, apparently captured by a woman nearby, shows a male suspect lying on the ground with his hands behind his back as a City of Miami police officer is handcuffing him. A second officer is seen coming into the screen, running toward the suspect and kicking him in the head before grabbing him and holding him to the ground. You aint have to do all that, buddy, the woman can be heard saying in the recording. Authorities said the incident was triggered after the suspect, identified as 31-year-old David Suazo, ran from police after he stole a vehicle. Suazo allegedly led police on a chase that ended in a housing complex. Witnesses said once he was cornered by police inside the complex, Suazo cooperated and did not resist arrest. He stopped, put his hand on his back, got on this knees, and then the guy told him: Lay down. Lay down, the woman who recorded the video told WSVN. He laid down. Once he laid down, thats when he handcuffed him and the other person just comes and runs right at him and kicks him. That man should get fired. That police [officer] should get fired. It's unclear when the incident happened. The officer, identified as Mario Figueroa, has been stripped of his badge and relieved from duty amid an internal investigation, WSVN reported. Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said in a statement that the video depicts a clear violation of policy, while the Miami-Dade County State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, said she was shocked and appalled by what she saw in the video. Lazaria Celestine, Suazos mother, told WSVN that she wants justice for her son. Its a big pain in my heart, she told the station. Because he is my son. I carried him in my womb for nine months. To treat my son like this not even a dog is treated like that. He abused his authority because he is police. He think he a god? No! Suazo has be charged with grand theft and is being held at Turner Guildford Knight Correctional Center. Police searching for a California woman who vanished more than a year ago have a new lead to work with after her car was found in New Mexico. The Toyota Avalon belonging to Krista Rae Bowman, of Morongo Valley, was recently discovered in Taos, KRQE-TV reported. She was 32 in March 2017, when she was last seen. Taos police went to an apartment complex last week and found the car abandoned. They said it appears the car had been parked there for longer than six months. Bowman's family believes she drove to Colorado to see her boyfriend and she sent a Facebook message saying she made it in April 2017. Since then, however, no one has heard from her. The boyfriend was found in Wyoming after being picked up on a parole violation, the Taos News reported. A mother and her three young children were found dead in a North Dakota home Thursday in an apparent triple murder-suicide, police said. Astra Volk, 35, and her children -- Tyler Talmage, 14, Aidan Talmage, 10, and Arianna Talmage, 6 -- all died from gunshot wounds. A handgun was found at the scene in the Grand Forks home and police said no suspects were being sought. It was not immediately clear if the handgun found was the one used in the shootings, the Grand Forks Herald reported. 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 and went inside. "You have a horrific scene that encapsulates a great tragedy and I think we're all going to be affected by that," Lt. Derik Zimmel of the Grand Forks Police Department said. Grand Forks Public Schools said in a statement that families were notified and the district was working with the schools the children attended to provide support and counseling to students and staff. 3 STUDENTS, ONE PARENT FOUND DEAD IN NORTH DAKOTA HOME: POLICE Neighbors said the area is quiet and the house the family was found dead in sat empty forever until it was recently renovated. They said the woman was living there as a renter. Neighbor Paula Stevens, 58, told the Associated Press that 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." The Grand Forks Herald reported Volk set up a GoFundMe account last week for help with living expenses due to medical bills. Volk wrote on the website that she and her two sons suffer from mental illness, bi-polar, manic depression, autism and all had been hospitalized for this. I work full time but my wages have recently been garnished for medical bills, she wrote. Im looking for help with 1 months bills to help get on our feet and look for a second job. I am trying to stay positive so I do not end up back in the hospital. Court records showed Volk appeared in civil court three times during the past year for collections totaling to $3,700. Neighbors said it appeared she was a single mother and may have been separated from her husband, the childrens father. ATF AGENT SHOT IN THE FACE DURING MISSION TO INVESTIGATE ILLEGAL GUNS IN CHICAGO Police are continuing to investigate the incident. "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." The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trumps comments about a U.S. Army deserter and a suspected New York City terrorist sparked a debate Thursday at the pre-trial of the alleged conspirators of the 9/11 attacks. Defense lawyers for the alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and others argued that the death penalty should be dropped from consideration, or the case dropped altogether, saying Trump's past tweets could influence the jury. The fiery exchange at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was over Trumps tweets concerning Bowe Bergdahl, a military deserter who was captured by the Taliban, and Sayfullo Saipov, a suspected ISIS terrorist who allegedly drove a truck through a bike lane last Halloween, killing eight people and injuring 12. The decision on Sergeant Bergdahl is a complete and total disgrace to our Country and to our Military, Trump tweeted shortly after a military judge ruled to dishonorably discharge Bergdahl but spare him of prison time. In the case of Saipov, Trump suggested the death penalty shortly after the attack, before the suspect was officially charged with a crime. NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY! Trump tweeted. Would love to send the NYC terrorist to Guantanamo but statistically that process takes much longer than going through the Federal system. A lawyer for Mohammed urged the military commission, led by the judge, Army Col. James Pohl, argued that the president's attitude toward those only suspected of crimes made the death penalty consideration, if not the case itself, hard to justify, the Miami Herald reported. But prosecutor Bob Swann downplayed the influence of the presidents past social media commentary, insisting that the jury of U.S. military officers would be objective and reach their verdict based on the evidence presented. Even the judge took a shot at Trump over his criticism regarding the handling of the Bergdahl case, saying The president of the United States, the commander-in-chief, feels necessary to criticize a colonel of the United States Army for a decision that we all know he's empowered to make." Defense attorney David Nevin said that, in the case of the New York City attack, The commander-in-chief is telling them the result that he wants here, that is a death penalty. He also pointed out that Trump has complained that war-court proceedings were too slow. The prosecutor said the issue of the presidents tweets could be mitigated during the jury-selection process. Jury members "will decide the death issue based on a host of other things. Not just a few comments made by the president," Swann said, the Herald reported. Swann was also asked by the judge whether its appropriate to state that a guy who is presumed innocent should get the death penalty a reference to Trumps call for the death penalty for Saipov. No, sir, the prosecutor replied, noting that there will be more similar public remarks before jury selection in the 9/11 case, according to the Herald. Asked how to stop the president from possibly tainting the 9/11 trial, for which a start date hasn't been specified yet, the judge said "I have ways to stop it. He added: "With all due respect to the commander-in-chief, if he wants to interject himself into this process by making these kind of comments, it is my job to make sure this process is still fair." Farid Benyettou is trying to rebuild his life. For a time, the 37-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent was a popular Salafist preacher in Paris. He recruited jihadists to go to Iraq. And he was extremely close to Cherif Kouachi, one of the two brothers who massacred 12 people at the offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in January 2015. It was more than a friendship. It was complicity, Benyettou told Fox News. We became confidants. At the time I met him, he already wanted to go to Iraq. He knew some guys from the neighborhood who had gone. But Benyettou said Kouachi in the end wavered about going to Iraq, and Benyettou was always there to shore him up. They jogged together, conspired together, until both were arrested in 2005. The arrests occurred on the very day Kouachi was supposed to go to Iraq. He had his ticket and his plan. But police swooped in on both him and Benyettou instead. Benyettou explains that they were separated in prison. And they went very separate ways, along different paths. Deradicalization started for me in prison, Benyettou said. That in itself is a surprising statement. Prisons are notorious for being hotbeds of recruitment and Islamic extremism. Benyettou said despite getting full respect in prison if you are a terrorist, he tried to separate himself from his jihadist past. In prison, I studied and took up lots of activities, but really it was a pretext for meeting other people who didnt have the same convictions as I did, nor even the same religion. It was something new for me. It opened me up, he said. The man who mentored the Paris attackers now is part of a movement to deradicalize jihadists. Experts say former jihadists like him are an important tool to deradicalize potential terrorists. One of the other key factors in Benyettous deradicalization was the kindness showed to him by longtime Jewish neighbors who knew that he had done jail time and why, but who welcomed him into their home regardless. Before his release in 2009, he decided he would turn his life around and become a nurse. Benyettou took up medical studies. As Benyettou started to leave radical Islam behind, he realized he would need to ditch the old crowd too if he was going to start a new chapter in his life. But the process wasnt linear, and the first person he contacted upon his release from jail was Cherif Kouachi, who had hardened in prison. Benyettou claims he tried and failed to deradicalize Kouchai, who reportedly received weapons training in Yemen and started to follow American-born cleric Anwar al- Awlaki. Awlaki, who was on a terrorist capture/kill list, was killed by an American drone strike in Yemen September 2011. Deradicalization expert Dounia Bouzar believes that even though Benyettou was not able to stop the Kouachi brothers, those like him who have been down the extremist path can be powerful examples for those under the influence of jihadist groups. Despite ISIS losing most of its geographic territory, the recruiters have not let up and are efficient at targeting young people who know very little about Islam. The less the young person knows about Islam, the better it works, Bouzar said. In France, we have 50 percent of people who knew nothing of Islam before becoming pro-Daesh (ISIS) in three months. One 15-year-old girl from the French countryside tried to join ISIS in Syria three times and failed. The teenager said the recruiters made her numb. "I became a real robot with no heart and no feelings," she said in an on-camera interview. Benyettou claims he tried to talk Kouachi out of his ideology. Perhaps his attempts came too late. Perhaps they were half-hearted. I had tried to deradicalize Cherif during our last discussions, during the last time we saw each other at the end of 2014, he said. When I was talking to him, I was talking to myself at the same time. Benyettou admits he had his own doubts about leaving the path of jihad behind. He said one does not get out that easily. He was trying to convince himself, as much as Kouachi, that jihadism was the wrong path. Still, he read between Kouachis hard lines. Benyettou somehow sensed Kouachi was evolving in his conversations, so the fact that he went on to carry out the Charlie Hebdo massacre with his older brother, Said Kouachi, was a complete shock. Benyettou feels responsibility for his role even though Kouachis journey had evolved with the guidance of other extremists. It is I who gave him the ideology, he said. Who encouraged him at a time, to go to Iraq. When he had doubts, he came to see me, and I would dissipate those doubts. I participated in some way. Benyettou, now a full-fledged repentant, sought out Dounia Bouzar, who has worked with thousands of young people caught under the spell of jihadist recruiters. He wanted to help her in her work. Bouzar told Fox that Benyettou has helped prevent 30 people from going to Syria, adding: There is nothing stronger to deradicalize than a repentant who can speak about the ISIS lies. Giving those who have deradicalized credence is controversial, as many lie or slip back into extremism in the way an addict returns to bad habits. But Bouzar believes those who have experienced the lies and violence of organizations like ISIS are powerful tools for taking down the propaganda, which she says is increasingly tailor-made and frighteningly effective. ISIS looks into the profile of each young person and adapts its jihadist ideology according to the psychological and social profile of each. It touches everyone rich, poor, Christian, Jew, atheist, Muslim, practicing and non-practicing. The less the person knows about Islam, the better it works. Bouzar says the online recruiters go for weak spots in individuals. If a woman has suffered violence, she will be told the men of ISIS will protect her. If someone has do-gooder instincts, they were told they could help children and orphans in Syria. But even now, with the so-called Caliphate been destroyed, the recruiters are keeping up their quest for vulnerable young people to whom they promise an ideal life under divine law, according to Bouzar. It is not that ISIS having lost its territories is less dangerous, she said. Bouzar explained that the brain washing involves making vulnerable young people believe that friends, teachers and relatives can no longer be trusted, that great powers like the United States and the Mossad have bought them all off, together with the media. Bouzar said kids come to believe that the narratives they have learned about the world are false. ISIS starts with an emotional approach to its subjects. It scares young people. Part of reversing that fear is getting families to steadily recall memories, tastes, and other sensations that gave their sons and daughters joy or comfort in youth. She believes extremists can in most cases be brought back from the dark side. Benyettou finished his nursing degree but has been barred from practicing because of his past. He had been working at the same hospital many of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack were taken. He is distressed that he cant put his training to use. Somewhat ironically, he is training to be a truck driver. He said that doesnt interest him, but it is the only way he can figure to earn a wage. Meanwhile France struggles to confront its significant extremist threat. A recent European Union report revealed that France had an overwhelmingly higher number of jihadist arrests than other member states. Some estimates show that 19,000 people have radicalized in France and, of those, 2,000 are considered extremely dangerous. Twelve individuals convicted for involvement in terrorist attacks in France are scheduled for release 2020. Fox News asked Benyettou why he thinks France has such a problem with Islamic extremism. I think today there is more and more of a feeling of discrimination and injustice and people are propelled towards these ideologies, he said. However, Benyettou added: Whether they correspond to reality or not, that is another question, but the sentiments are there. He stressed that people have to have felt some injustice to be ready to fall for ISIS propaganda. He said he lives with a certain amount of guilt and regret. We must not lose hope. You have in front of you someone who preached hate for years and who is responsible for many terrible acts and who has finally changed his ways, he said. Clean shaven and looking relaxed in a brown leather coat, Benyettou tried to be optimistic. You might think we are in a spiral which will never end, and will oblige us to forget about ourselves and accept much more security, and forget our values, he said, if I have a message to deliver in this dramatic situation which hopefully will not endure it is to keep hope. Additional reporting by Cicely Medintzeff. A protest on Thursday over the influx of migrants in Greece ultimately turned violent. Greek riot police fired tear gas at angry protesters on the island of Lesbos who had been trying to topple a police bus during a demonstration against a European Union migration policy. It has gone too far. Every day buses (with refugees) arrive, and theyre full, protester Yannis Vaxevanis said. The (government) has to do something and take the people somewhere else. 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, and scores of them then tried to push over a police bus in clashes that lasted more than an hour. No arrests or injuries were reported. Officers fired tear gas and earlier discharged several flash grenades. A general strike Thursday virtually shut down the island to protest a 2016 agreement between the E.U. 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. Additional police officers, including antiriot 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. 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. 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. Our aim is to deal with delays as swiftly as possible, Tsipras said, before adding: There are people who didnt want me to visit the island and tried to scare (the government) away ... We did not run away. In the meantime, the number of daily arrivals continues to rise on the island and Greeces land border with Turkey. The Associated Press contributed to this report. On this mountaintop where a Yazidi minority faced slaughter and extermination under a savage Islamic State siege, there's new concern about Iran establishing a key strategic foothold that could literally leave much of the region -- reaching as far as Israel -- in the crosshairs of attack. The tip of the 4,800-foot Sinjar Mountain, known locally as Chilmera, is a mostly quiet place. But this ostensibly picturesque setting -- it features a small white temple dedicated to Sharafadin, a holy Yazidi figure -- belies its potential strategic importance. A lookout spot atop the mountain offers a clear view across tens of miles in all directions. And some believe it could serve as an effective missile site against Israel, more than 500 miles away. This point is the closest point to Israel in which Iran can do harm. And the view is clear, the plain is wide, there are no mountains in the way, said Abdulrazaq Ali, an Erbil-based analyst who has long studied the issue. It is also possible for Hezbollah to enter from Syria and get to this position. The importance of the spot apparently didn't go unnoticed by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who is said to have used the mountain as the likely launch site for the 39 Scud missiles he fired into Israel during the Gulf War of 1991. Sinjar may also have been a testing site for Saddam's much-hyped plan to develop a supergun in the late 1980s. Dubbed Big Babylon, the weapon would have had a potential range of more than 600 miles, but it was never built. Whatever the potential as a missile site, Sinjar also serves as a vital piece of territory connecting Iraq and Syria, and is part of a larger land corridor that has taken shape in the recent years in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS). The emergence of an Iranian-backed, Iraqi paramilitary force to fight ISIS allowed 100,000-plus fighters to secure control of a ground supply route that enables free passage from Tehran through Iraq, to its allies in the Syrian regime, and then directly into Hezbollah groups in Lebanon -- and thus, Israels doorstep. There's little of the Iraqi military presence remaining from that time. But along with the chapel, there is a structure featuring a slab of six-foot-wide concrete steps that appear to lead some 30 feet up into nowhere. It was from here, some locals believe, that Saddam launched his Scuds. An Iraq flag flies high above the lookout point, but it's the forces of the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish-dominated Syria opposition group that locals also refer to as the PKK -- the initials of the Kurdish force that has waged a separatist war against Turkey for more than 30 years -- standing guard here. Farther down the mountain, however, the roads and towns are controlled by a variety of militias influenced or entirely controlled by Iran. And with that influence, military analysts fear, comes the power for Iran to create trouble for its enemies far beyond what Hussein attempted. Irans present arsenal is more diverse and more capable than Saddams arsenal, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Irans missiles can function as both a tool of deterrence and coercion. Iranian-backed militias have gained uncontested control of not just Sinjar, but also the larger region. The four-hour drive from the Kurdish-held city of Duhok, through former ISIS bastions in Mosul and Tel Afar, requires passage through more than 40 checkpoints governed by a shifting array of Iraqi security forces and militia groups openly back by Iran, called Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU). The mostly decimated city of Sinjar, at the foot of the mountain, is filled with Iraqi flags flapping above burned and bombed-out streets. But there's also a smattering of flags from militia groups that have carved out their own areas of control. The PMU, known here as the Lalish Forces, is one of those groups. Named after the holy Yazidi temple, the group relies on support from BADR, which hs long been seen as Iran's oldest proxy group in Iraq. According to 24-year-old Lalish Forces leader Hamo Sherkani of the 400-person forces, half are volunteers and the other half receive salaries -- around $400 monthly -- directly from the BADR organization. We get all our support from BADR. Our food, trucks, oil, weapons, he said, noting that the group receives shipments of everything from AK-47s to heavier weapons. Other pro-Iranian groups are also active in Sinjar. There's the Imam Ali Combat Division, which is reportedly tightly linked with Irans religious leadership. There is also the Ezidxan Protection Force, a local Yazidi militia that is said to get its money from Baghdad. Then there's the PKK/YPG, whose quiet presence in Chilmera has long attracted the ire of Turkey. The group allegedly withdrew and removed itsr flags in recent weeks, but locals still consider it one of their protectors.It's not historically known as a particularly pro-Iranian group, and some analysts have seen a drift toward Tehran as the convenient allies pursue common goals. A Washington Institute policy paper last year note the two groups share the commonality of weakening Turkeys influence, and suggested that the PKK was distracted by their rivalry and allowed itself to be used as a proxy by Iran and regional powers. While the PKK is reviled in Turkey, it is widely credited by the Yazidi community with saving many lives by coming to their aid after ISIS overran the region in August 2014. The various groups operating in Sinjar are, for now at least, getting along. Qasim Shesho, a top Yazidi commander in the area, said his forces sees groups of Persian speakers routinely moving through, using the mountainous terrain to cross into Syria. The mountain top is even open to visitors. While there are logistical challenges in getting here, Qassim Osman, Chilmera's caretaker, emphasized there are no restrictions. We want this to be open to everyone. We wont close our doors for those who are not Yazidi, he said. Christians, Muslims - anyone can come to visit. Some U.S. officials and experts in the northern region seem less concerned about the possibility of attacks on Israel from Mount Sinjar. Taleblus assessment is that at least in the short term, Iran would not risk moving a medium-range ballistic missile into Iraq to fire at Israel, noting Irans medium-range ballistic missiles already have the capability to reach Israel. The risk of a potential Israeli strikes in Iraqs Sinjar go up if a next war breaks out, Israel shuts down or significantly hampers Irans bridge to Syria, Amir Toumaj, an Iran research analyst at FDD added. Any government in Baghdad would be opposed, and potential Israeli strikes would be more way to pressure if that comes to pass. But to Israelis themselves, the threat is lurking. The takeover of this strategic point in the region is a part of their successful strategy to control every possible point in the region, to fill every vacuum, and to use it for the next aggression and subversion, Gen. Ephraim Sneh, former deputy defense minister of Israel, told Fox News. Since their aim is to control Iraq entirely, it gives them a huge advantage. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 If Vladimir Putin fulfills the goals he's set for his new six-year term as president, Russia in 2024 will be far advanced in new technologies and artificial intelligence, many of its notoriously poor roads will be improved, and its people will be living significantly longer. There's wide doubt about how much of that he'll achieve, if any of it. Analysts assessing the prospects of his term that begins with Monday's inauguration often use the expression "neo-stagnation." Putin won the new term, which will extend his rule in Russia to a quarter-century if he completes it, with an official tally of 77 percent of the vote in March. Yet, when state pollster VTsIOM asked Russians a month later which politician they trusted to solve the country's problems, only 47 percent chose Putin. German Chancellor Angela Merkels government vowed to get tough on deporting failed asylum seekers after it was embarrassed by an uprising at a refugee shelter that forced police officers out of the area and prevented them, temporarily, from deporting a rejected asylum seeker. Hundreds of officers raided the refugee shelter in Ellwangen in southern Germany on Thursday and successfully took hold of a 23-year-old man from Togo, but only after a failed attempt on Monday, when approximately 200 refugees pushed back against police officers and freed the man. Die Welt reported that during the raid, several asylum seekers tried to escape by leaping out of a window, while police found drugs and cash. At least 27 people were eventually arrested. The Associated Press reported that four people, including one police officer, were taken to the hospital for injuries suffered in the raid. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who has promised a tough stance on illegal immigrants, has promised to speed up deportations and to crack down on illegal immigration as part of a master plan. "What happened [in Ellwangen] was a slap in the face of the law-abiding population," Seehofer told reporters. "The right to hospitality cannot be trampled on like that," he said before promising that violent asylum seekers involved in Mondays clashes would be prosecuted with force and determination. Seehofer has proposed a plan that would see asylum seekers placed in centralized anchor centers, where judges will also work. This means that rejected asylum seekers can be deported straight from there. Der Spiegel reports that police have expressed concern that each center could contain as many as 1,500 refugees making violence and uprisings more likely. His plan would mark countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria as secure, meaning that seekers from those countries would have less chance to claim asylum. According to Deutsche Welle, Seehofers ministry is drafting a law that would limit which family members would be allowed to join refugees in Germany limiting it to only spouses, unmarried minor children and the parents of minors already in Germany. Merkels appointment of the right-wing Seehofers to the Interior Ministry marks the latest push by Merkel to regain ground she lost politically because of the opening up of Germanys border in the wake of the 2015 migration crisis. GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER UNDERCUTS MERKEL, SAYS 'ISLAM DOES NOT BELONG TO GERMANY' Her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lost seats in the September federal elections, with the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining support. Seehofer belongs to the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian and often more conservative ally of the CDU. Seehofer sparked controversy in March by saying that Islam does not belong to Germany, and calling for Muslim migrants to integrate into German society. Germany is shaped by Christianity. That means not working on Sundays and celebrating religious holidays such as Easter, Pentecost and Christmas," he said. My message is: Muslims need to live with us, not next to us or against us, he added. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Just days before President Trump is expected to make a key decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal he has repeatedly threatened to scrap, Iran's foreign minister has publicly vowed that the country will not take any part in renegotiating the terms of the 2015 agreement. Iran will not renegotiate what was agreed years ago and has been implemented, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a five-minute English-language video posted on YouTube. Zarif's speech, delivered directly to the camera as he sat at his desk, is significant because the White House has shown some willingness to preserve the structure of the Iran deal if some of its key terms are modified. But Zarif rebuked that notion as well as "the response from some Europeans," which he described as "offer[ing] the United States more concessions from our pocket." TRUMP RESPONDS TO ISRAEL'S BOMBSHELL REVELATIONS ON IRAN Also on Thursday, a top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Europe and the U.S. against seeking changes to the deal. Even if U.S. allies, especially the Europeans, try to revise the deal..., one of our options will be withdrawing from it, Ali Akbar Velayati told state television, according to Reuters. The comments rachet up a week already marked by sky-high tensions surrounding the nuclear arrangement. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed new "dramatic" intelligence which he claimed shows Iran is "brazenly lying" about its nuclear weapons program and shows the country is not complying with the nuclear deal. Speaking to the Manhattan Institute Wednesday, where she was honored with the Alexander Hamilton Award, United States ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley seemed to suggest that abandoning or significantly altering the Iran deal were the only two options. "Some argue that if the United States leaves or significantly alters the Iran deal that would send the message to North Korea that we cant be trusted to live up to our commitments," Haley said. "Notice that the people who make that argument all think the Iran deal was something to be proud of. "In fact, the argument has it backwards," Haley continued. By showing that we are willing to walk away from a bad deal with Iran, or to hold out for major improvements in that deal, we send the best possible message going into discussions with North Korea. The message is that we will not accept a bad deal just so that we can declare a hollow victory that fails to enhance our security." Even as the leaders of Britain, Germany, and France work to save the arrangement, Trump has also long signaled that the deal's days may be numbered. WATCH: TRUMP SAYS WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS MAY 12 By law, Trump must decide by May 12 whether the U.S. should remain part of the current Iran deal. In April, he called the agreement "terrible" while sitting just inches away from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has proposed ways to salvage the deal. "It should have never, ever been made," Trump said, echoing his longstanding criticisms. "We paid $150 billion dollars -- we gave $1.8 billion in cash -- that's actual cash, barrels of cash. It's insane, it's ridiciulous, it should have never been made." OPINION: THE IRAN DEAL IS LIKELY DOOMED The $150 billion figure refers to the approximate value of assets that were previously frozen by sanctions prior to the deal, which was reached by President Obama's administration in 2015. The Obama administration acknowledged in 2016 that it paid $1.3 billion in interest to Iran in January of that year to end a longstanding dispute over arms that were sold to Iran but never delivered. The news came shortly after it was revealed Obama had allowed $400 million in cash to fly to Tehran, which Republicans called a "ransom" because its delivery coincided with the release of four American prisoners. A squad of North Korean assassins are reportedly hunting a high-ranking defector believed to have fled to the United Kingdom in February with a stack of cash -- and perhaps a trove of nuclear secrets. The man, identified only as Mr. Kang, was a colonel and senior counter-espionage official said to be in his 50s, and reportedly defected during a visit to China. The colonels responsibilities in the Hermit Kingdom included an order to monitor dissident and espionage efforts in Russia, China and southeast Asia, The Telegraph reported. Kang is also considered an elite North Korean citizen. He is a direct descendant of Kang Pan-sok, the mastermind behind the guerrilla campaign against Japanese inhabitants in the 1930s. Kang vanished form the Zhongpu International Hospital in Shenyang on Feb. 25, sources told Seoul media outlet DailyNK. The hotel is operated by the North Korean and Chinese governments, and reportedly serves as a place for North Korean hackers working in China. Kang was reportedly responsible for getting information for the rogue regime's nuclear program through meetings with scientists. He was also in charge of directing intelligence-gathering and ground operations. All of that information would be of great value to western allies and, particularly, American officials who are soon set to meet with leader Kim Jong Un in an attempt to negotiate an end to the nuclear weapons crisis. STILL SOME WORK TO DO TO FREE US PRISONERS IN NORTH KOREA, OFFICIALS SAY And Kang took more than secrets with him when he left. He is believed to have fled with a machine that prints American currency and a stack of foreign money. Due to his knowledge of North Korea's nuke program and intelligence gathering apparatus, Kim Jong Un has reportedly ordered a hit squad to kill Kang before he's officially granted asylum and reveals his secrets. Despite presently being unable to locate Mr. Kang, the search is still under way, the DailyNK reported. It is presumed that he has gone to France or Great Britain. Another source told the Daily NK that Kang may have defected from the Hermit Kingdom to save his own skin. Kang's son's residence was reportedly raided and documents were discovered that show Kang receiving money while overseas, leading Kang to flea rather than plead for mercy in Pyongyang. His family is believed to still be in North Korea. NORTH KOREA MOVES 3 DETAINED AMERICANS TO HOTEL, REPORTS SAY; TRUMP SAYS STAY TUNED! North Koreans have defected to the UK before. In 2016, Thae Yong Ho, a former deputy chief of mission stationed at the Pyongyang embassy in London, defected with his family. He is currently living in South Korea. The report of Kang's alleged defection comes as the Trump administration is reportedly working with North Korea to release three Americans being held as prisoners. The U.S. views the prisoner release as a goodwill gesture by North Korea in advance of the anticipated nuke talks. As President Trump prepares for a sitdown with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denuclearization is the No. 1 priority but it is not the only issue that needs to be addressed at a meeting that could become one of the most historic diplomatic achievements in decades. Retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane acknowledged in an interview with Fox News that discussions over the North's nuclear program are just the beginning, and that there are also other "critical issues" that he believes will eventually be addressed. "The resolution of the nuclear issue, while it's the most important issue to be sure and it's the one that threatens the region and the U.S. . . . these other issues are of vital interest," he explained. "I think we'll go in there with our eyes wide open, and understanding that we're dealing with a liar, a cheater, a manipulator . . . " Gen. Jack Keane "I think we'll go in there with our eyes wide open, and understanding that we're dealing with a liar, a cheater, a manipulator. But we are also dealing with a potentially historic diplomatic achievement," according to Keane, who serves as Fox News senior strategic analyst. Convincing Kim Jong Un to give up his nuclear program in an "irreversible" and "verifiable" way, as the White House and others have demanded, "could be the most historic diplomatic achievement since WWII, if it happens," he added. Fox News spoke with Keane and other experts about some of those topics, and came up with a list of at least 10 different items that the world will likely want to know more about if the veil of secrecy that surrounds almost all aspects of the Hermit Kingdom is finally lifted. CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS In December, Fox News reported on North Korea's "other weapons" that keep experts up at night. "They have a large stockpile of chemical weapons, but the one that gets the least attention, and that I worry most about, is their biological weapons program," said Andrew Weber, the former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for nuclear chemical and biological defense programs from 2009-2014. North Korea has denied producing or stockpiling things like smallpox and anthrax, which can deliver lethal results when used in incredibly small amounts (think ounces, or a few pounds at most). ASSASSINATION OF NORTH KOREAN OFFICIAL OUTSIDE KIM'S BORDERS The apparent assassination of the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong Un not only reads like something out of a spy novel, it is a specific and recent case that many experts point to when debating whether or not North Korea actually possesses chemical or biological weapons. Kim Jong Nam died as a result of being exposed to VX nerve agent while in Kuala Lumpur's airport in February 2017. A Vietnamese woman and an Indonesian woman have been accused of murdering him, but have argued in court that they believed they were taking part in a reality television prank when they were given a rag and an unidentified liquid, and asked to smear the man's face. "Kim and his regime have portrayed themselves as innocent, while they intentionally destroyed our sons life." Fred Warmbier The State Department announced new sanctions in March in response to the incident, stating explicitly that "the government of North Korea used the chemical warfare agent VX to assassinate Kim Jong Nam, in the Kuala Lumpur airport. CONCENTRATION CAMPS & CRIMES AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE Human rights commissions estimate there are more than 100,000 people in North Korea's concentration/detention camps, and that upwards of 400,000 people have died in those camps as a result of "torture, starvation, disease and execution." According to Joshua Stanton of the One Free Korea blog, "these reports, in the context of estimates that North Korea has allowed between 600,000 and 2,500,000 of its people to starve to death while its government squandered the nations resources on weapons and luxuries for its ruling elite, suggest that North Koreas oppression and politically targeted starvation of its people collectively constitute the worlds greatest ongoing atrocity, and almost certainly the most catastrophic anywhere on Earth since the end of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979." Stanton argues that this is where the discussions with North Korea should begin, and he thinks he knows a way to hold Kim to account as negotiations progress. "I think we should demand that the NK government allow the transparent delivery of food aid to its 'expendable' people as a test of their willingness to accept transparency," Stanton told Fox News. DEATH OF AMERICAN OTTO WARMBIER The death of American student Otto Warmbier served as a stark reminder of the brutality that people experience inside the prison camps as recently as last year. In 2017, the previously healthy 22-year-old was unceremoniously released to his family in the United States after being detained for some 17 months. Warmbier had been sentenced to 15 years hard labor for allegedly stealing a political banner, but was medically evacuated and suffering from severe brain damage. North Korea denies medical evaluations conducted in the U.S. that suggested Warmbier was tortured, but a lawsuit filed by his parents on April 26 suggests that is exactly what happened. The filing alleges the North "tortured [Otto], kept him in detention for a year and a half without allowing him to communicate with his family, and returned him to them in a non-responsive state and brain dead." "A key issue not yet covered involves not the remains of Americans, but an account from North Korea for Americans last known alive in their hands and not returned." Mark Sauter DISAPPEARANCE OF AMERICAN DAVID SNEDDON David Sneddon's family hasn't seen or heard from him since his disappearance in 2004 while hiking through China. His parents, as well as sources inside Japan and South Korea, believe Sneddon -- a devout Mormon fluent in Korean who would be in his late 30s now -- was kidnapped by North Korean agents to serve as an English tutor, possibly to Kim Jong Un himself. The Chinese government claims Sneddon -- an experienced traveler who had served as a missionary in South Korea -- plunged to his death while backpacking through Tiger Leaping Gorge and drowned. But Sneddon's body was never found and his family members -- several of whom retraced his footsteps -- do not believe China's explanation. "There's no evidence of that zero," said Kathleen Sneddon, noting her son is the "only American missing in China since World II whose body has not been found and whose whereabouts remain unknown." THREE AMERICANS STILL BEING DETAINED ON QUESTIONABLE CHARGES FROM 2015-2017 Korean-Americans Kim Hak Song, Kim Dong Chul and Tony Kim were detained in three unrelated cases between 2015-2017, and all of them have been accused of a variety of vaguely described "hostile" acts. Gen. Keane says "if Kim Jong Un is serious, he's going to give us the three American hostages relatively soon as a sign of good faith." It appears that could actually be in the works, after President Trump suggested in a tweet on the evening of May 2 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!" The three were even transferred out of a labor camp last month, according to a report from South Koreas Yonhap News Agency. (Update - On May 9, 2017 Kim Hak Song, Kim Dong Chul and Tony Kim were released.) AMERICAN POWs HELD BY NORTH KOREA, AND NEVER RETURNED The three Korean-Americans detained in North Korea aren't the only American detainees that people are looking for more information about. "There is unquestioned evidence that five specific Americans were held alive by the North Koreans after the Armistice but never returned," says Mark Sauter, co-author of "American Trophies: How U.S. POWs Were Surrendered to North Korea, China, and Russia by Washingtons 'Cynical Attitude.'" Sauter says President Trump should demand information about the group, known as the Ashley Five, and others like them -- including the South Korean soldiers captured around the same time, believed to number in the hundreds. And that's just scratching the surface, he says. "A key issue not yet covered involves not the remains of Americans, but an account from North Korea for Americans last known alive in their hands and not returned," Sauter said. JAPANESE ABDUCTEES Ahead of his meeting with Kim Jong Un at the end of April, South Korean President Moon Jae-in stated his intention to discuss the issue of the Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago. Japan has suggested as many as 17 of its citizens were snatched back in the 70s-80s. Much like the claims from David Sneddon's family, it is believed these citizens were abducted as part of a plan to help teach Japanese customs to North Korean spies. Back in 2002, five of those people were actually allowed to visit Japan. Unsurprisingly, they never returned to the Hermit Kingdom. BALLISTIC MISSILES & OTHER HEAVY FIREPOWER In November 2017, shortly before Kim Jong Un kicked off his whirlwind of unexpected diplomacy, North Korea tested a ballistic missile with the capability of hitting any city within the United States. Kim has promised that the testing of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is currently on hold, but that doesn't mean the Hermit Kingdoms arsenal has disappeared. Joshua Stanton points out that it's not just missiles the U.S. and its allies should be worried about. "We should also raise the issue of NK artillery aimed at Seoul," Stanton says. DECADES OF ANTI-U.S. SENTIMENT Kim Jong Un may be suggesting that he is coming around to the idea of working with the United States, but it only comes after decades of heavily anti-U.S. rhetoric straight from not only his mouth, but that of his father, and his father's father before that. In a piece for the History Channel website, one long-time North Korea watcher points out that "for the Kim family, there has never been any doubt who the boogeyman must be. Its the United States," says Blaine Harden, the author of several books on the Hermit Kingdom and a longtime Washington Post correspondent. Harden says these sentiments were perhaps best explained by the man known as the Great Leader, who Harden calls the country's "founding despot," Kim Il Sung. In remarks to American journalists in 1972, Harden says the eldest Kim blamed the "strong anti-U.S. sentiments" among his citizens on the fact that "they suffered great damage at the hands of the U.S. imperialists during the war... Since the situation is tense, we cannot but continue stepping up preparations for war. We make no secret of this. Who can guarantee that the U.S. imperialists will not attack this country again? What is most important in our preparations is to educate all the people to hate U.S. imperialism. COULD KIM BE PUNISHED? If and when Kim Jong Un is forced to take responsibility for the issues listed above (among others), there is still a sense that he may escape any kind of punishment because of the gravity of his promise to denuclearize. According to Gen. Keane, "if Kim Jong Un denuclearizes and starts to make other changes, certainly he'll get credit for that and I don't think there will be any attempt to drag him into international court as a war criminal or anything like that." Fox News' Cristina Corbin contributed to this report. International mediators are holding a peace gathering to mark the end of Basque separatist group ETA after a decades-long campaign against Spain that saw more than 850 people killed. Basque civilians are also taking part in Friday's conference in the southern French town of Cambo-les-Bains but the Spanish and French governments are not. In an open letter Thursday 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." Victims' groups dismissed the move as propaganda, and the Spanish government said it would continue to prosecute anyone with any links to past violence. ETA staged bombings, shootings and kidnappings as it sought to create a new Basque homeland in northern Spain and southern France. The PLO has affirmed 83-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as its unchallenged leader in a carefully staged four-day event. The PLO parliament also backed Abbas' positions in several resolutions early on Friday, including rejecting the idea of a Palestinian state within provisional borders. Palestinians fear such a "mini-state" will be the core of the Trump administration's eventual proposal for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Delegates also elected new members to the main leadership body, voting out some of the remaining Abbas critics. The PLO, founded in the 1960s, was meant to represent Palestinians everywhere, but decision-making has shifted to the Abbas-led West Bank autonomy government. Critics say that in the absence of Palestinian general elections, the PLO serves largely to lend legitimacy to Abbas' increasingly autocratic rule in the West Bank. Saudi Arabia reportedly agreed to a historic deal with the Vatican to build Christian churches in the Kingdom, a potentially stunning development for the country that's home to Islams holiest site, Middle Eastern media is reporting. The move would continue the nations effort to transition to a moderate Islam. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdel Karim Al-Issa of the Muslim World League and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Vaticans Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, allegedly signed the agreement April 14, according to the Egyptian Independent. Under the agreement, a joint committee with representatives from both parties will also be established to organize future meetings, which will alternate between Rome and a city chosen by the Islamic World League. "During my meetings, I insisted very muchthat Christians and non-Muslims are spoken of well in schools and that they are never considered second-class citizens," Tauran told the Vatican News, adding that he believes Saudi authorities wanted "to show that even in Saudi Arabia there is the possibility of discussion, and therefore of changing the country's image." Taurans trip was also the first time the Saudi king met with such a high-profile official from the Vatican. Inspired by the rigorous doctrine of Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia is the only country in the region that bans the building of churches and all forms of open Christian worship. Home to Islams holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, the move would no doubt spark outrage among Islamic hardliners. But the Vatican has urged the country to build Christian churches since a large number of foreign workers who identify as Christian are now forced to cross the border to find places where they can worship. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been pushing a reform agenda called Vision 2030, aimed at weaning the country off oil and introducing social changes, such as permitting public concerts, building movie theaters and allowing women to drive. "If there is anything I said that hurt you, I ask you to forgive me", he noted said. The NASA principals led by Raila Odinga while rejecting the presidential election results organised a series of protests in the opposition strongholds to force the electoral body IEBC out of office. Odinga contested the outcome of two presidential elections previous year - the first of which was annulled by the Supreme Court, while the second was boycotted by his supporters. At a campaign rally in September, he labeled Odinga a "witchdoctor", according to footage broadcast by the Nairobi-based Standard Group. Taking to Twitter moments later, DP Ruto, who accompanied President Uhuru for the State of the Nation address in Parliament, also pleaded with Kenyans to forgive him for any offence he might have done. Kenya's presidential system, under which the victor takes all, has been blamed for political tensions and post-election violence in Kenya, where controversy marred five of the six elections held since the advent of multi-party democracy in 1991. "First I pray that all of us will spend the days and weeks after this address repairing the bones that frayed past year. let us each apologise for our words, anger and malice that Kenya had", said Kenyatta as the House burst in applause. "Let us apologize for our words, and for the anger and malice that Kenyans heard". 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 year's elections threatened national unity. Mr Odinga and Mr Kenyatta shook hands in March to promote reconciliation. (CNN) Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski are no longer members of one of Hollywood's most important organizations. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the group behind the Academy Awards, has voted to expel the actor and director from its membership, according to a statement from the organization which cited its conduct standards. "The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity," a statement from the Academy read. Cosby was found guilty last week on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Although he is more strongly associated with television, Cosby was a long-time member of the Academy for his work in film but never won an Oscar. He has starred in more than a dozen movies since the early '70s, including "Jack," "The Meteor Man" and "Fat Albert." Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978 after being charged with statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl. He has continued filmmaking in Europe. He won the Oscar in 2003 for directing the World War II drama "The Pianist." RELATED: Camille Cosby says her husband is a victim of mob justice Since producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled from the Academy in October, following allegations of sexual misconduct that Weinstein has denied, the group received criticism by some in Hollywood for not taking similar action with Polanski. No additional information was immediately available about the pair being expelled from the Academy. Separately Thursday, members of the American Advertising Federation's (AFF), a trade organization that recognizes professional achievements in the advertising industry, voted to rescind Cosby's induction into the Advertising Hall of Fame. The group also rescinded Cosby's President's Award, which was presented to him at the time of his 2011 induction. According to the AFF, this is the first time members have voted to rescind an induction or award in its 69-year-history. CNN has reached out to Cosby's representatives for comment. This story was first published on CNN.com, "https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/03/entertainment/bill-cosby-roman-pollanski/index.htmlBill Cosby, Roman Polanski expelled from the Academy." 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. (CNN) The 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature is being postponed in the wake of a sexual and financial scandal that has engulfed the Swedish Academy, the cultural institution responsible for awarding the prestigious prize. The academy, one of Sweden's most highly respected institutions, made the announcement Friday morning following a meeting of its remaining 10 active members Thursday evening. Six of the group's members have stepped down from their positions in recent weeks, some reportedly in protest at the way the crisis has been handled. Traditionally, members must be approved by the king and keep their chairs for life. The last time the literature prize was postponed was in 1943 at the height of World War II. This year, the crisis centers on Jean-Claude Arnault, a leading cultural figure in Sweden and husband of Katarina Frostenson, one of the six academy members to step down. Arnault, who has attended many Swedish Academy events, is facing multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment, first reported in the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter late last year. The academy announced the following day that it had cut all ties with Arnault. He is also facing the accusation that he touched Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria inappropriately at a Swedish Academy event over a decade ago. In an emailed statement to CNN earlier this week, Arnault's lawyer, Bjorn Hurtig, said his client denies all the allegations. The academy has also faced criticism for contravening its own conflict of interest regulations by providing funding to the Kulturplats Forum, a cultural center run by Arnault and Frostenson. An independent investigation, commissioned by the academy and carried out by a Swedish law firm, confirmed that financial rules had been breached and that there was evidence of "unacceptable behaviour by (Arnault) in the form of unwanted intimacy, but the knowledge was not widely spread in the Academy." But the team of lawyers also discovered that the academy had received a letter in 1996 outlining alleged sexual assault at Arnault's cultural forum, indicating that November was not the first time that at least some members of the academy were aware that the photographer's name had been connected with misconduct. In a statement in April, the organization said it "deeply regrets that the letter was shelved and no measures taken to investigate the charges." The scandal has exposed deep rifts within the group's membership and severely damaged its reputation, both in Sweden (often considered a model of gender equality) and abroad. Alexandra Pascalidou, a Swedish-Greek journalist and author of a book about the #MeToo movement in Sweden, told CNN earlier this week that the scandal had exposed the institution as "too stale and old-fashioned to be Sweden 2018." She said the academy's members had "managed to turn one of Sweden's strongest and brightest brands into something dirty." The Nobel Prize for Literature has been awarded by the Swedish Academy since its inception following the death of Alfred Nobel in 1896. The prize was postponed on seven previous occasions, six of which occurred during World War I and II. Recent winners include Kazuo Ishiguro, Doris Lessing and Bob Dylan. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Nobel Prize for Literature postponed after sexual misconduct scandal." Farmers are being urged to make one last big push to respond to Defra plans for British agriculture after the UK leaves the European Union including proposals to phase out direct payments. Just days remain until the 8 May deadline for responses to the government consultation. Farm leaders have warned that the UK is on the cusp of a pivotal moment for the sector that government ministers must get right if the industry is to thrive. See also: Defras policy consultation: Key points and how to respond Defra plans include proposals to replace direct payments with a new system of support largely based on rewarding farmers who undertake environmental measures. Farmers are being urged to have their say to ensure that food production isnt sidelined. Food producers NFU president Minette Batters said: Food production is at the heart of everything we do. While there are a whole host of endeavours we turn our hand to energy provision, rural tourism, business services, environmental management if were not producing food, were not farmers. She added: Not only is it important that this is recognised, but also that we ensure, in an uncertain future, we dont take any steps that undermine those high British food and farming standards standards we know the British people value as much as we do. Food imports should also be scrutinised, said Ms Batters. It would be short-sighted to pursue a policy that reduces British food production and means this country relies increasingly on food produced elsewhere in the world where we have little control over how it was produced. Farming voice Industry leaders say the farming voice must not be lost amid thousands of responses expected to be submitted by campaigners who believe the environment should be prioritised above food production. The Country Land and Business Association has also urged its members to respond. The CLA says it supports a policy that balances both profitable food production and environmental work, but has cautioned against a poorly devised transition towards the new system. CLA president Tim Breitmeyer said: It will only be achieved through a carefully planned transition that gives all farm businesses the time and the certainty they need to adapt and prepare for a new policy that has been rigorously tested and has broad support. High standards must be properly recognised Essex farmer Tom Bradshaw says growers will be left fighting with our hands tied behind our back unless the government properly recognises that UK crops are produced to high standards without access to controversial technologies used overseas. Mr Bradshaw, who is also chairman of the NFU combinable crops board, says the government should reward British farmers for delivering a public good if it expects them to compete against food imports produced using methods that are illegal in the UK. The lack of access to technologies such as neonicotinoids and genetic modification should be deemed an environmental or public good because it isnt rewarded by the marketplace, says Mr Bradshaw. I think that should be recognised in a new policy. Like neonicotinoids, GM crops are banned in the UK but some three million tonnes of GM soyabeans are still imported annually which Mr Bradshaw says undermines the domestic protein market. If we are not careful, we are exporting our environmental and moral conscious overseas, he adds. Lower prices put pressure on farmers Suggestions that food prices could fall by 10% following a planned merger between supermarket giants Sainsburys and Asda highlight the need for farmers to get a fair deal from the supply chain, say sheep producers. The National Sheep Association says this loss of competition in the marketplace and the expectation that farmers should produce more food for less money is not in the long-term interests of producers, nor of society at large. NSA chief executive Phil Stocker says: It may result in reduced prices, but all this will lead to is less realisation of the value of food and a host of things being lost that may be invisible today but will become very visible at some stage in the future. If we end up putting pressure on the bulk of our sheep farming families and businesses we will end up with a very different countryside and rural community and the danger is that it wont be noticed until it is lost. Certainty needed over trade and labour Growers and livestock producers are already restructuring their businesses amid ongoing uncertainty over access to labour and the UKs trading relationship with other countries. Despite repeated lobbying, the government still refuses to introduce a scheme that the NFU says would encourage overseas workers to help on UK farms during busy periods prompting some British vegetable growers, such as Gs Fresh, to move production abroad. Last year, UK Brexit secretary David Davis conceded that British livestock farmers could face tariffs of 30-40% if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal. Although some consider such a scenario unlikely, others dont want to take the risk. Restructuring livestock producers include Richard Tudor, who won the Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year Award in 2016. Mr Tudor, who farms at Llysun Farm, Llanerfyl, near Welshpool, is replacing his beef herd with 300 dairy cows in a bid to stay profitable. How to have your say The government wants all farmers to have their say on its proposals for the industry. Defra says all responses will be considered ahead of an Agriculture Bill published later this year. You can read the consultation on Defras website. To respond, email Defra at agricultureconsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk. If you are short of time, you can respond via a 10-minute NFU survey. The deadline for responses is 11.45pm on Tuesday 8 May. Defra wants quality responses not just quantity Defra secretary Michael Gove says it is important that the consultation is as broad as possible but the quality as well as quantity of responses will help refine the governments proposals. It is not just the volume, it is also the weight and the thought that has gone [into responses] that helps us to shape and to change policy, Mr Gove told farmers attending consultation workshop co-hosted by Defra and the NFU on the outskirts of Coventry on Monday (30 April). Leaving the EU meant the UK was able to decide its own policies for agriculture and the environment, said Mr Gove. This coincided with growing interest in how food is produced, where it comes from and what it does to those who eat it, he said. There was also increasing interest and appreciation of the environment. Mr Gove said: That growing interest in food overall can be harnessed in food overall can be harnessed in a progressive way that helps those of us who are involved directly in food production. Mr Gove said he was taken aback by the 80,000 responses submitted to a previous Defra consultation on safeguarding the African elephant by restricting the ivory trade. Farm leaders believe this consultation could attract even more responses. Sheriffs office seeks help in finding missing man Free Access The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office needs the publics assistance in locating a 56-year-old man reported missing earlier this week. Glen Dale Godwin of McGinnis Road in Cowpens was reported missing... AND THE BAND PLAYED ON Gaffney High Band of Gold members perform in the stands during Fridays region opener against Boiling Springs. To continue reading this article, log in or click here to subscribe. Username Password... I-85 Exit 90 on and off ramps closed until Nov. 21 Exit 90 southbound exit and entrance ramps to Interstate 85 has been temporarily closed. These will be alternating closures with the exit ramp closing first, followed by the entrance ramp... City-wide clean-up day The City of Gaffney is holding a city-wide clean-up day Saturday, Oct. 9 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Anyone interested in participating should contact Gaffney City Hall at (864) 487-6247 by 5... Over these next few days Missouri residents looking to place a bet on the Kentucky Derby will be seeing plenty of advertisements for TwinSpires.com (keeping in mind they will ask for your social security number), There are plenty of other alternatives - some with great bonuses to boot. 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So, stop horsing around and check out the following quick guide. By learning about different bet types and developing strategies, you can begin winning on horse racing sooner. Firenze Fire odds to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby were at 81-1. Odds were previously at 40-1. POST POSITION POSSIBILITIES He is racing from the dreaded number one post position, which has resulted in some very inflated odds of winning this year's Kentucky Derby. THE GOOD Owner Ron Lombardi says "don't count him out" and here is why: He won in Saratoga. He won the Sanford, a grade three. And then a couple of months later he won the Champagne at Belmont. So, it's been a great run, Lombardi said. And then he won the Jerome. He's a great horse. His temperament, he's just mature for his age. He handles the paddock well, he handles the crowds well, Lombardi said. We'll see about this, he hasn't faced 170,000 fans so it will be exciting. THE BAD He seems to have very little desire to race farther than a mile, and hes finished fourth in each of his last two races. He may well be the longest shot on the board. In the end, it's that post position that has us exercising caution. THE 2018 KENTUCKY DERBY OVERNIGHT BETTING ODDS - FIND UPDATED ODDS HERE KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURES - May 05 Race 12 - Kentucky Derby Winner Firenze Fire 81-1 Free Drop Billy 46-1 Promises Fulfilled 61-1 Flameaway 35-1 Audible 7-1 Good Magic 8-1 Justify 3-1 Lone Sailor 66-1 Hofburg 16-1 My Boy Jack 16-1 Bolt d'Oro 6-1 Enticed 31-1 Bravazo 66-1 Mendelssohn 6-1 Instilled Regard 46-1 Magnum Moon 8-1 Solomini 33-1 Vino Rosso 16-1 Noble Indy 45-1 Combatant 61-1 - Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) Philippine Labor officials in Kuwait did not know about the rescue mission which caused the souring of the relationship between the two countries. This was revealed by Labor Undersecretary Jing Paras to CNN Philippines Thursday, amid discussions on the mending of frayed ties with the Gulf state. "The DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) people, OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) people were not part of this so-called rescue. It is purely a work of the Embassy, " Paras said. When asked if Labor attache Resty dela Fuente was involved, Paras responded, "Not that I know of." He speculated that people may have called the Embassy to tip them off regarding supposedly maltreated workers, and responded. "Being Filipinos, that's their job to protect the Filipinos there and they did their job," Paras added. Paras, however admitted, that it was not standard operating procedure to inform the Labor attache about any rescue as these actions sometimes need to be done swiftly. He said the DOLE has also conducted rescue missions, but that these were never videotaped and were always coordinated with the police of the host country. "I asked them, I had a conversation with them. There's no such thing na vini-video. Because the rescue...that are being done by the Department of Labor through the POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Offices) and the labatt (Labor attache) and the OWWA they are coordinated with the police," he explained. Police from the host country accompany Philippine representatives during rescue missions, Paras explained, not just for legitimacy, but also for security reasons. Paras also called those who uploaded of the video showing the rescue mission in Kuwait "stupid." 'Kuwaiti officials felt their actions were justified' Congressman Ruffy Biazon, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said Kuwaiti officials were "offended" by the actions of the Philippine Embassy staff. "They believed that it was a violation of their sovereignty and they felt na justified yung action nila in expelling our ambassador," Biazon said. The solon said he understood the sentiments of the Kuwaiti officials and had the same incident happened in the country, Biazon said he would cry foul as well. Biazon is calling for calm on both sides as discussions on how to move forward from the incident are forthcoming. AKBAYAN Party-list Representative Ciriaco "Acoy" Calalang also appealed for calm and let things settle down first. He said he agreed with President Rodrigo Duterte's move to suspend deployments to Kuwait, and that the country should reconsider its deployment policies. He said domestic household workers are the most vulnerable, the country should instead deploy more skilled workers. Mediators needed Calalang said experienced mediators were needed to help smooth over relations with Kuwait. We should have experienced administrators or Philippine government officials who can mediate between the Philippines and Kuwait," he said. He specifically mentioned former Labor Secretary Marianito Roque and former OWWA Administrator Angelo Jimenez, saying they could be hired by President Rodrigo Duterte to help mend relationships with Kuwait. "We need more experienced people in the Labor and Foreign Department sector," he added. Watch the full episode here: On Monday morning, dozens of workers in hazmat suits could be seen picking up globs of oil from the shoreline at Huntington State Beach. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) China may have deployed missile systems in three islands of the South China Sea, a United States defense official told CNN. The report from CNN said the official referred to intelligence analysts, who said the missiles were placed on the Spratly Islands during Chinese exercises last month. READ: White House warns China on growing militarization in South China Sea Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said they are considering taking "diplomatic action" against China anew over the reports. "We're taking it seriously. We're verifying the information," he told reporters Friday. Cayetano said he will coordinate with the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Adviser and the National International Coordinating Agency to verify the reports. But he explained it would take both claimants in the region and non-regional players to talk to settle concerns on territory and militarization. "The problem is it can't be solved just by the Philippines and China," Cayetano said. "This is what the President was saying, that it's not directed at us, but of course our allies and defense are saying that they may have missiles there. It could affect anyone." This is the latest in militarization activities in the contested waters. Two weeks ago, reports of two Chinese military transport planes on Panganiban Reef or Mischief Reef in the contested Spratly Islands surfaced. In a press conference Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated the deployment of "national defense facilities" targets no specific country. "Our peaceful construction activities on the Nansha Islands, including the deployment of necessary national defense facilities, are meant to safeguard China's sovereignty and security, which is also the rights a sovereign state is entitled to," Hua said, when asked about the missile deployment. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told CNN Thursday that the United States has "raised concerns" with China, as they are well aware of the ongoing militarization in the region. "There will be near-term and long-term consequences, and we'll certainly keep you up to date," she added. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim reiterated their country's stand against militarization in the South China Sea. Kim calls on all claimants including China to refrain from unilateral aggressive actions that are inconsistent with international law and norms. "We are concerned. I think we are concerned anytime a claimant including China takes aggressive unilateral actions towards militarization which is clear what they seem to have done i saw the report. It seems to suggest that they're moving towards militarization so we are concerned," Kim said in a press briefing Thursday. Kim said the U.S. will continue to do whatever it can to protect international rights and freedom of navigation and freedom of commerce, among others because these are important rights to everybody and not just rights to the U.S. "We have as you know consistently called on all claimants including China to call on unilateral aggressive actions that are inconsistent with international law and norms. We have called on countries to refrain from reclamation and militarization over claimed lands and we'll continue to do so," Kim added. Meanwhile, Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary Alejano said China's continuing activities in the disputed waters are "threats to our national security." "Let us not let China's sweet talks of investments and loans lull us into a false sense of security. Their actions clearly belie their pronouncements," Alejano said in a statement Wednesday. China earlier said it has the "natural right" to station troops and deploy defense facilities in the islands. The construction of Chinese air and naval base structures on the Spratly's Islands has been met with criticisms from other claimants in the South China Sea, including the Philippines. But President Rodrigo Duterte's administration has introduced warmer ties with China, with Duterte repeatedly saying the Philippines cannot afford to go to war with China over the sea dispute. Updated to include reactions from President Rodrigo Duterte. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte denied on Tuesday that he is a strongman, after he was featured as one on the cover of TIME magazine. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte denied on Friday that he is a strongman, after he was featured as one on the cover of TIME Magazine. "Ako hindi man ako strongman [I am not a strongman]," Duterte said during a speech delivered to teachers at Davao City. " I have never sent anybody to jail for criticizing me. I said, for all I care, yung security guard, o police general, o NPA o si Sison, or a teacher, or a gardener, can criticize me and bullshit me to no end. I will take that. Pero kung foreigner ka [But if you're a foreigner], that is another thing," he added. Duterte was featured as one of the 'strongmen' on the United States' weekly magazine, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. A strongman is a political leader who rules by force of will and character or by military methods. Duterte has been lambasted by local and international critics for his "bloody" anti-illegal drug campaign in the Philippines, which allegedly left up to 13,000 people dead. Government data show 4,075 drug suspects were killed in anti-drug operations since the start of Duterte's war on drugs in July 2016. Duterte's most prominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, "remained in detention on politically motivated drug charges," New York-based Human Rights Watch said in its annual report released earlier this year. In turn, Duterte has criticized opposition lawmakers and representatives from the United Nations and European Union and disputed their claims of human rights violations in the country. Related: Duterte 'insulted' with how world leaders raised human rights TIME writer Ian Bremmer detailed the alarming rise in strongmen leaders, and why it should be a cause for concern. "In every region of the world, changing times have boosted public demand for more muscular, assertive leadership. These tough-talking populists promise to protect 'us' from 'them,' it read. It added, "Depending on who's talking, 'them' can mean the corrupt elite or the grasping poor; foreigners or members of racial, ethnic or religious minorities. Or disloyal politicians, bureaucrats, bankers or judges. Or lying reporters. Out of this divide, a new archetype of leader has emerged. We're now in the strongman era." President Duterte, who won the 2016 national elections through a landslide victory, has long been branded as a tough-talking leader known for his unrelenting war against illegal drugs. TIME wrote, "In the Philippines, a rising tide of violent street crime helped elect Rodrigo Duterte, a former mayor who talked more like a mob boss than a president, on his promises to wipe out the drug trade with his own brand of justice." Malacanang in a statement Friday said regardless of TIME's slant, Filipinos appreciate Duterte's "strong" and "decisive" leadership. "Filipinos have learned not to take (Duterte) literally with his colorful language but they have surely taken seriously the issues the President has espoused, such as the war on drugs and crime," Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said. Worrying rise Bremmer wrote the most prominent strongman is Putin with his "image of Russian virility and swagger." But Asia also has its set of strongmen, among them, are China's Xi Jinping, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and Duterte. "These leaders have won followers by targeting 'them' ... But they have succeeded because they know something about 'us,' or the people they're speaking to. They understand the sense of threat and they're willing to exploit it," TIME said. Missing in the cover is U.S. President Donald Trump, but the cover story revolves around his presidency. "What is Trump's place in all this? The U.S. President has expressed sincere admiration for the likes of Putin, Xi, [Egypt President Abdel Fattah] al-Sisi, and Duterte. Related: Duterte, Trump skip human rights issue in bilateral talks The writer expressed concern over the rising number of leaders who rule with force. "Perhaps the most worrying element of the strongman's rise is the message it sends," it wrote. It adds, "Why emulate the U.S. or European political systems, with all the checks and balances that prevent even the most determined leaders from taking on chronic problems, when one determined leader can offer a credible shortcut to greater security and national pride? As long as that rings true, the greatest threat may be the strongmen yet to come." The print edition of this American weekly news magazine will be released on May 14. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) Credit card users will now have more protection while card issuers are required to be more transparent under new rules issued by the central bank to implement a law enacted two years ago. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday said the Monetary Board approved the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Credit Card Industry Law or Republic Act 10870. "The IRR addresses the key customer concerns regarding credit cards, particularly on the transparency and manner of computing charges and fees, safeguards against unfair collection practices, immediate posting of payments, confidentiality of consumer data, and expeditious resolution of complaints and disputed transactions, among others," the BSP said in a statement. The central bank said credit card issuers should be transparent in the manner of computing finance charges and fees, including prior notification if there would be changes in the charges. The disclosures shall be in application forms, the terms and conditions of credit card contracts, and billing statements. It said finance charges shall be computed on the unpaid amount of the outstanding balance as of statement cut-off date, and shall not include current and deferred charges. Card issuers are also required to post cash, check, and debit card payments on the same day. Due dates falling on weekends or holidays, it added, shall be automatically moved the next business day. The BSP said the rules also strengthened prohibitions against unfair collection practices. "Collection agents must observe good faith, fair and reasonable conduct, and proper decorum when dealing with all consumers, including cardholders already in default," it said. The monetary regulator said the rules strengthened data privacy provisions, as customer information may not be shared to third parties without consent. Banks must also address credit card concerns, such as billing errors, unauthorized transactions and other credit card related issues, within 90 days from receipt of the concern. "The IRR contemplates a phased implementation of some provisions to account for the necessary adjustments in the systems and processes of existing credit card issuers," the BSP said. It said there are more than eight million credit cards issued in the country, and it sees the industry growing because of economic growth, demographics and increasingly digital payment system. President Buhari Returns To Nigeria After His Meeting With Donald Trump In The US (Photos) kacylee at 4-05-2018 08:03 AM (3 years ago) (f) President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to the country, following his official visit to the United States. The President landed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 10.30pm. More photos below; President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to the country, following his official visit to the United States. The President landed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 10.30pm. More photos below; 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. 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The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has jailed three internet fraudster after securing their conviction at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State. Two of the convicts, Prince Henry Ofeyi and Afatakpa David were convicted and sentenced by Justice P. I. Ajoku on Wednesday April 2 while the third convict, David Abumhere was convicted and sentenced on Thursday April 3, by the same judge. Henry Ofeyi and David Afatakpa were arraigned by the EFCC on a One count charge each bordering on intent to defraud. Prince Henry Ofeyi was said to have on or about the 5th of October, 2017 falsely represented himself to be one Dexter Smith, a false identity he used in defrauding his victims. For Afatakpa David, he was alleged to have represented himself as Vin Diesel, an American Movie Star on social media platforms, an identity he used to defraud his victims. Upon arraignment, the duo pleaded guilty to charge prompting the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peter to ask the court to convict the accused persons accordingly. He also told the court that the EFCC recovered from Prince Henry Ofeyi the sum of N400,590.00 (Four Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Naira) only and a Toyota Corolla Saloon car while the sum of N200,342.99 (Two Hundred Thousand, Three Hundred and Fourth Two Naira Ninety Nine Kobo) only was recovered from Akatakpa. D.Tageme. The defence counsel Moses Oriazowan pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy saying the accused persons were remorseful and have promised never to go back to such despicable act. After listening to both counsels, Justice P.I.Ajoku sentenced the accused persons to one month imprisonment each adding that the proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government so that their victims can be restituted. On Thursday April, 3, 2018, the EFCC secured the conviction of David Abumhenre on a one count of internet fraud. The convict was sentenced to one month imprisonment by Justice P. I. Ajoku after pleading guilty to the charge. The convict is to forfeit the sum of N3.5million recovered from him to the Federal Government. Abumhere was said to have falsely represented himself as Tom Hanks, an American Movie Star, an identity he used to defraud his victims. Two of the convicts, Prince Henry Ofeyi and Afatakpa David were convicted and sentenced by Justice P. I. Ajoku on Wednesday April 2 while the third convict, David Abumhere was convicted and sentenced on Thursday April 3, by the same judge.Henry Ofeyi and David Afatakpa were arraigned by the EFCC on a One count charge each bordering on intent to defraud.Prince Henry Ofeyi was said to have on or about the 5th of October, 2017 falsely represented himself to be one Dexter Smith, a false identity he used in defrauding his victims.For Afatakpa David, he was alleged to have represented himself as Vin Diesel, an American Movie Star on social media platforms, an identity he used to defraud his victims.Upon arraignment, the duo pleaded guilty to charge prompting the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peter to ask the court to convict the accused persons accordingly. He also told the court that the EFCC recovered from Prince Henry Ofeyi the sum of N400,590.00 (Four Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Naira) only and a Toyota Corolla Saloon car while the sum of N200,342.99 (Two Hundred Thousand, Three Hundred and Fourth Two Naira Ninety Nine Kobo) only was recovered from Akatakpa. D.Tageme.The defence counsel Moses Oriazowan pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy saying the accused persons were remorseful and have promised never to go back to such despicable act.After listening to both counsels, Justice P.I.Ajoku sentenced the accused persons to one month imprisonment each adding that the proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government so that their victims can be restituted.On Thursday April, 3, 2018, the EFCC secured the conviction of David Abumhenre on a one count of internet fraud. The convict was sentenced to one month imprisonment by Justice P. I. Ajoku after pleading guilty to the charge.The convict is to forfeit the sum of N3.5million recovered from him to the Federal Government. Abumhere was said to have falsely represented himself as Tom Hanks, an American Movie Star, an identity he used to defraud his victims. Post Reply Posted: at 4-05-2018 12:50 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) The Philippines relayed requests to Kuwait that must be met before it can lift the deployment ban and sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU), Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano said on Friday. "May apat, lima tayong hiningi sa Kuwait bago magpirmahan and i-lift yung (deployment) ban," Cayetano told the press. [Translation: We requested for four, five things from Kuwait before signing and lifting the (deployment) ban.] One of the requests is to help 120 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who called the Philippine embassy seeking for assistance. Their cases range from simple requests like food and being given proper hours for sleep to extreme cases like being beaten. "Doon ako humihingi ng pangunawa sa nagsasabi na mali ang rescue [This is where I ask for understanding from those who said the rescue was wrong]. We beg to disagree. It is within the international conventions," said Cayetano. He added, however, that proper coordination with Kuwaiti authorities was necessary. According to Cayetano, 35 out of 38 rescue operations were conducted in coordination with the Kuwaiti government. He admitted the remaining three were not, saying they needed to be acted on urgently. A viral video of the rescue prompted Kuwait to accuse Philippine embassy officials of violating an international convention. It declared Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa a persona non grata and issued warrants of arrest against Filipino diplomats. One of the other requests the Philippines raised was to allow between 600 to 800 Filipino workers in shelters to go home. "Kaugnay noon, na huwag magkaroon ng harsh na crackdown after the amnesty kasi may 5,000 pa na hindi umuwi," said Cayetano. [In line with that, (we asked) that the crackdown after amnesty will not be harsh, as there are 5,000 who did not come home.] He also asked the same of Filipino diplomats. At least two diplomats involved in the rescue mission are facing kidnapping charges in Kuwait. "Ang aming buong paniniwala ay [Our belief is] they will follow their own processes, but they will also consider what we have been communicating to them," said Cayetano. Finally, Cayetano asked that Kuwaiti authorities file charges against abusive employers. "The best deterrent for abusive employers ay may makasuhan at may ma-convict [is if cases are filed and they are convicted]," he said. The comments come ahead of plans for Cayetano to join Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello in a visit to Kuwait next week. Cayetano denies letter Cayetano also denied the existence of a letter signed by career diplomats which called for his resignation. "There's no such letter. We haven't seen it. I've asked around, no one has seen it," Cayetano told the press on Friday. The Philippine Star first reported diplomats wanted Cayetano out for "gross incompetence" on Wednesday. It was reportedly sent to the President. Cayetano previously said that his critics should not involve the department and career officials in calls for his resignation. He added that in his meetings with those in DFA, his collagues "might not necessarily agree with our direction, but they understand." The secretary also denied there was a loyalty check and stressed that a letter was not even necessary for him to resign. "Puntahan lang ako ng apat, lima, anim na representatives. Go to my office... and tell me 'Sir, pasensya na po kayo, hindi kayo masuportahan ng mga career (diplomats),' I will pack my bags and move out," said Cayetano. [Let four to six representatives approach me. Go to my office... and tell me, 'Sir, with all due respect, the career (diplomats) cannot support you,' (then) I will pack my bags and move out.] Electricity restored at embassy Cayetano also denied that electricity and water were cut off at the Philippine Embassy or at Villa's official residence in Kuwait. "Pag nabasa na naman sa Kuwait na pinutulan daw ng kuryente at tubig, it will make it appear as if hindi sila civilized, which is not true," he said. "There was a temporary interruption ng kuryente, and then naibalik kaagad." [Translation: If Kuwait reads that electricity and water were cut, it will make (Kuwait) appear as if they are not civilized, which is not true. There was a temporary electricity interruption, but it came back on at once.] Filipino movements in Kuwait were reportedly restricted following the diplomatic row. Warrants of arrest were even issued against some Flipino diplomats. However, DFA maintained in a statement released on Thursday, "at no point did [Villa] feel unsafe... to move to the Embassy." Villa has since returned to the Philippines. Muslim villagers in eastern Uganda mutilated the corpse of a convert from Islam likely killed for his faith last month, his widow said. Fatuma Muluuta told Morning Star News that Muslims in Kachomo village, Budaka District cut and stuck pins into her husband's body before burying it and have since threatened to kill her. When her husband, Muluuta Kuzaifa, put his faith in Christ two years ago, his family immediately ostracized him, she said. The couple and their two children found refuge with a church pastor whose name is withheld for security reasons. After two years, Kuzaifa decided to return home with his wife and children, but relatives chased them away, and they left for Kampala, the Ugandan capital 126 miles (204 kilometers) away. He found menial work on the outskirts of the city. Within a few weeks, Kuzaifa began receiving threatening messages, Fatuma Muluuta told Morning Star News by phone. "You think you are safe in Kampala," one text message read. "We shall soon come for your neck." On April 1, while returning from work in Kampala, unknown assailants attacked him near their home, she said. "I heard him shouting for help, and immediately some neighbors rushed to the scene, and we found him bleeding with head injuries," she said. Kuzaifa was taken to a nearby clinic for treatment, but he died the next day. After his wife and others transported his body to a Kachomo funeral home, they went to his family to inform them of his death. She said her father in-law, Mukongo Jamada Muluuta Mubaraka, gave them a cold reception, and those who accompanied her gave him 400,000 Uganda shillings (US$107) for funeral preparations. Kuzaifa's father, she added, had called Muzaifa in Kampala several times. "I think that is why the attackers managed to get hold of him," Fatuma Muluuta said. Before the indecent burial of Muzaifa, she added, his father had said, "My son thought that he can run away from Allah, but he could not." On April 4, family members and other Muslims took the body from the mortuary and buried it in an indecent manner, she said. "Word went around that Kuzaifa's body was mutilated and not properly buried," Fatuma Muuluta said. "His body was not washed, several pins were inserted into his body, they dug a very small grave for the body, and several cuts were made on his corpse." Enraged Christians in Kachomo Sub-County mobilized in large numbers and stormed the burial site to exhume Kuzaifa's body. They washed it and provided a decent burial service, his widow said. Kuzaifa's pastor said many Muslims put their faith in Christ at his funeral. "But tension has been mounting up between the Christians and the Muslims after the burial of Kuzaifa," the pastor said. "The family of Kuzaifa needs prayers for God to comfort the young family left behind and for financial assistance." Muluuta Mubaraka said she is now being threatened. "If you continue with Christianity," read one text message, "you will go the same way of your husband," she said. The crime was the latest in a series of attacks on Christians in Eastern Uganda. On March 10, a week after a young Muslim in eastern Uganda put his faith in Christ, relatives attacked him with hot cooking oil, sources said. Gobera Bashir, 27, suffered burns on 40 percent of his body after the attack. Bashir, from Kakoli village, Naboa Sub-County in Budaka District, had received Christ as Lord and Savior the previous Sunday (March 4) when he accompanied a friend to a church in another village (undisclosed for security reasons), he said. In January another Christian in eastern Uganda, Munabi Abudallah, lost his wife and seven children less than a day after putting his faith in Christ. In another village in eastern Uganda, a widowed mother of five was poisoned on Christmas Day for converting to Christianity. Uganda's constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate one's faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Uganda's population, with many concentrated in the eastern part of the country. Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation. (CNN) The White House warned Beijing on Thursday that there will be consequences for its growing militarization in the disputed South China Sea. U.S. intelligence assessed that there is a high probability the Chinese military deployed anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles to three islands in the region. A U.S. defense official told CNN that intelligence analysts think missiles were put on some of the Spratly Islands during recent exercises. The Chinese conducted those exercises last month; the official added it is not entirely clear whether the missiles remain. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Thursday that the United States has "raised concerns" with the Chinese. "We're well aware of China's militarization of the South China Sea," she said. "There will be near-term and long-term consequences, and we'll certainly keep you up to date," she added. Pentagon chief spokeswoman Dana White reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the international waters. She said the Chinese must understand that "they cannot, and should not, be hostile, and understand that the Pacific is is a place in which much commerce goes through. And it's in their interest to ensure that there's a free navigation of international waters." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said his nation has been involved in peaceful construction in the islands, which includes "the deployment of necessary national defense facilities." "The relevant deployment targets no one. Anyone with no invasive intention will find no reason to worry about this," Wang said. "We hope that the relevant party could view this matter in an objective and calm way. " He said China has "indisputable sovereignty" over the islands. CNBC first reported the Chinese military had deployed the weapons systems to islands east of the Philippines on Thursday, quoting a source with knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports. Hotly contested region If confirmed, the move would mark the first Chinese missile deployment in the Spratly Islands, a series of small inlets and reefs that Beijing has slowly built into militarized, artificial islands. The South China Sea is one of the most contested regions in the world, with overlapping territorial claims by China, the Philippines and Vietnam, among several others. According to CNBC, the YJ-12B anti-ship missiles would be able to strike ships up to 295 nautical miles away from the artificial islands. Beijing previously announced in 2016 it had already deployed similar weapons to Woody Island in the Paracel Islands, on the northwestern edge of the South China Sea. Point of no return, expert says The militarization has alarmed countries both in the region and around the world, prompting freedom of navigation operations by the U.S. Navy to assert its right to travel in international waters. "The United States has long raised concerns about the militarization of outposts on disputed features in the South China Sea," said a State Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. "China's leadership has publicly pledged not to pursue militarization in the disputed Spratlys. We are concerned that China is not acting in accordance with this pledge." "China and other claimants should cease activity that is inconsistent with their commitments under the 2002 Declaration of Conduct to refrain from actions that would 'complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability,'" the official said. Speaking during a visit to Australia on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was important not to have any one "hegemony" in the region. "What's important is to preserve a rules-based development in the region, especially the Indo-Pacific region and to preserve the necessary balances," he said. But China's steady military buildup on the islands is reaching a "point of no return," Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' Maritime Security Program, told CNN "There is no way we can reverse all these ongoing additions, it will be up to China. They will decide whether they will deploy these systems or withdraw these systems. All we can do is manage it," Koh said. China's unmovable aircraft carriers Beijing claims an enormous swath of territory through the center of the sea, and has attempted to reinforce its hold on the area by creating and militarizing artificial islands in the Spratlys and the Paracels. Koh said China's string of militarized islands equipped with airfields and radar facilities have become like a series of immovable aircraft carriers. He said that the missiles will allow China's armed forces to form "a multilayer military umbrella over the South China Sea," with interlocking sensors and weapons systems. According to CNBC, China has deployed the missiles to Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef in the Spratlys. Satellite imagery had previously emerged of China building installations to hold these missiles, said Bonnie Glaser, the director of the China Power Project at Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "This is exactly what we have expected the Chinese to do," she said. "Next thing we'll see is fighter aircraft to deploy, probably on rotation, then they'll begin exercises near the islands. I just think that (Beijing) believes everybody, including the claimants, understands this is inevitable." Rapid militarization It is just the latest example of Beijing tightening its hold on the South China Sea in recent years, as the world's attention focused farther north, on the Korean Peninsula. In April, the Wall Street Journal reported U.S. officials had confirmed China had installed military radar jamming equipment on the Spratly Islands. The same month, Australian warships en route to Vietnam were challenged by the Chinese navy as they traversed the South China Sea, leading Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to assert Australia's right to travel international waters. Hanging over everything was a massive display of Chinese military might in the sea on April 12, culminating in a parade led by Beijing's only aircraft carrier and personally reviewed by President Xi Jinping. The United States under the Trump administration has increased the number of freedom of navigation operations near China's artificial islands, but Glaser said it was difficult for the United States to stand up to Beijing with little support in the region. "(China) believes they can get away with it and they have probably calculated correctly," she said. "The big question has always been: How do we impose enough costs so we stop the Chinese where they are, and not go any further? And so far we haven't been successful in that." This story was first published on CNN.com, "White House warns China on growing militarization in South China Sea." Its a sad but familiar story. A plant closes, and dozens or hundreds or thousands of decently paid factory workers lose their jobs. Unable to find work that compensates them nearly as well, they have little choice but to accept low-wage employment in retail or restaurants.Whats less familiar is that under such scenarios factory towns lose sizable chunks of their white-collar workforce as well. Consider Erie, Pa., which in recent years has experienced shutdowns at General Electric and Hammermill facilities, among others. Over the past decade, Erie has lost 8 percent of its accountants, 20 percent of its lawyers and 40 percent of its engineers, according to the Associated Press. Similar stories can be told about Sheboygan, Wis., Decatur, Ill., and Wichita, Kan. All told, a third of the nations major metropolitan areas are now losing more white-collar jobs than blue-collar ones.Unlike many of the former factory workers, members of the professional class have options. They can pick up and move. John Dombrowski is an engineer who started a firm in Erie that moved across the border into Ohio. There was no advantage to being in Erie, he says. Local customers either wanted a cheap rate or preferred hiring out-of-town firms. Whats more, theres not enough happening in Erie to keep engineering talent in town. From the standpoint of trying to attract people to Erie, it was difficult, says Dombrowski, who now works for a national firm. There were more leaving town as they graduated.The attractions of bigger cities, which include cultural amenities and better-paying jobs, can be hard for professionals to resist once an anchor employer shuts down. Newton, Iowa, is an example. Newton has made a pretty good comeback since Maytag closed its headquarters and manufacturing plant there. A dozen new firms have helped create 2,000 jobs, more than Maytag employed at the time it shut its doors. The unemployment rate is at a low 3 percent and companies are having a hard time filling openings.But most of the newer jobs are blue collar. With the state capital of Des Moines and its insurance companies just half an hour away, the professional class in Newton has packed up and left. We did lose a significant number of white-collar jobs, says Frank Liebl, executive director of the Newton Development Corporation. The majority of white-collar workers we had went to work in Des Moines. The Arkansas Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared election officials to enforce the state's controversial voter-ID law in this month's primary and judicial elections.Only last week, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Alice Gray declared the 2017 law unconstitutional, but the high court, in a one-page order, halted Gray's injunction.Since August last year, the law -- Act 633 of 2017 -- has required voters to show government-issued identification to poll workers to ensure their votes are counted.Secretary of State Mark Martin appealed Gray's ruling, asking the state's high court to stay the circuit judge's decision until after the May 22 election, when the matter can be fully heard. Chief Justice John Dan Kemp would've denied Martin's request, the court's order notes.Early voting for the May 22 primary begins Monday.Martin had asked the Supreme Court to expedite its review of the case with a federal deadline looming Friday for mailing certain absentee and overseas ballots."The Supreme Court's prompt attention to this matter, on an emergency basis, gives the county clerks and county boards of election commissioners reassurance that the year-long preparations for the election have not been wasted," Martin's office said in a Wednesday statement. In other public finance news this week: Oregon Launches 'Sustainability Bonds' Pension Payment Growth Slowing Less than five years after it declared what was then the largest municipal bankruptcy in history, Detroit emerged from state financial oversight on Monday. But the milestone is largely a symbolic one: The Motor City is still deeply troubled.There's no question that Detroit has improved. The city has reported balanced budgets in each of the past three years, a big turnaround from the years leading up to its $18 billion bankruptcy. But a big part of that success is because it was able to unload $7 billion of its liabilities during the bankruptcy process. That deal also gave the city temporary pension payment relief, meaning its current budgets dont include the full cost of the citys retirement obligations.Detroit officials say they're focused on preparing to resume debt and pension payments in 2024. The city is projecting a $36 million surplus this year, thanks in part to increasing property tax revenues. Those trends play a big role in officials' plan to have $335 million set aside by the 2024 deadline to restart payments.Still, notes S&P Global Ratings, the current balance is fragile: The city's challenge will be to manage these rising costs in relation to economic growth, and the costs the city incurs to support [that] growth."One such cost the city is grappling with when it comes to growth is blight removal. Bankruptcy may have helped the balance sheets, but it didnt change Detroits physical problem. Thanks to the half-century of population decline, entire neighborhoods have been practically abandoned, thus making it difficult and expensive to serve the remaining spread out, isolated pockets.What's more, to spur reinvestment in abandoned neighborhoods, the city is spending millions to raze vacant buildings. It cost the city nearly $70 million last year and is projected to cost more than $150 million in 2018 and 2019. Seeing as Detroits total general fund budget is about $1 billion, these are no small considerations.Given these concerns, some think the citys emergence from oversight was incredibly speedy. By comparison, Flint, Mich., which never went into bankruptcy, was under state receivership for more than six years, and some cities in Pennsylvania have been under state oversight for decades. Rather than suggestive of an actual turnaround, municipal analyst Matt Fabian suggests the exit from oversight shows "that the state continues to value a narrative of quick rebound versus evidence that [one] can be sustained."Too speedy or not, the decision this week to release Detroit from oversight is significant in a larger sense: Since 1977, at least one city agency has been subject to some kind of oversight by a government entity. With Monday's announcement, it's the first time in more than 40 years that Detroits elected leadership has complete control of government functions.To remain independent, most agree that leadership and disciplined spending will be key. On that last item, S&P happily notes that Detroit's revenue forecasts are conservative and dont assume increases from economic expansions that have been announced or are already in progress.Observers are further encouraged by the city's economy: Quicken Loans and Ford Motor Company have been investing hundreds of millions in business operations in the city. On the same day Detroit exited from state oversight, the Ilitch family -- owners of the fast food pizza franchise Little Caesars, among other things -- unrelatedly confirmed plans for another $200 million investment in the city."Capital goes where its invited and stays where its welcomed,"columnist Daniel Howes, who credits Mayor Mike Duggan and the city council, recently wrote . "Right now, Detroit is showing a refreshing ability to do both: to attract investment by business leaders who know the city, its leaders and its foibles best."But, notes Fabian, elected officials come and go. "Not only is the path forward threatened with each election cycle," he says, but the state is unlikely to intervene with any more aid if the citys recovery hits a setback. "Going forward, he says, the city is likely on its own."Seeking to capitalize on the growing popularity of environmentally and socially responsible investing, Oregon is selling a new kind of municipal bond. Called Oregon Sustainability Bonds , the $40.2 million taxable bonds will help finance affordable housing projects and will have a higher level of transparency. Each year, Oregon will report on which projects received sustainability bond money and how much of the bond proceeds are left until the funds are spent in full.The Oregon Housing and Community Services Department will select which projects receive the money; ultimately the goal is to build 500 units of affordable housing for rent and purchase.State and local payments into pension plans are higher than ever, but a new analysis shows the annual increases are not as stark as they once were. In 2011, pension payments on average jumped by 8.6 percent, according to Fitch Ratings. That followed major stock market losses during the financial crisis that eliminated about one-quarter of pension plan holdings. Now, year-over-year increases are hovering below 4 percent.While thats an improvement, it still means that pension plans are pressuring state and local budgets. That's largely because most systems are underfunded to some degree and, as a result, require higher and higher payments. Fitch notes that over the past decade, payments into pension plans have jumped a whopping 74 percent.Meanwhile, growth in state and local tax resources is only about one-third higher. Slower growth is taking place against a backdrop of longer-term unfavorable factors, says Fitch Raings' Senior Director Douglas Offerman, that will continue to push the carrying costs of pension liabilities higher over time. Description GIS 04 May 2018: The Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness Campaign 2018 was launched this morning at the Port Louis Fire Station to mark the International Firefighters Day. The Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Outer Islands, Mrs. Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, the Chief Fire Officer of the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services (MFRS), Mr. Louis Pallen, and other personalities were present on this occasion. In her address, the Vice-Prime Minister highlighted that the International Firefighters Day is an opportunity where the worlds community can recognise and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible. It is also a day in which current and past firefighters can be thanked for their engagement, courage and determination, she observed. Mrs. Jeewa-Daureeawoo underscored there are 922 firefighters, including 14 women, in Mauritius who work to ensure the safety and security of the population. However, with the climatic change, the role of firefighters has evolved and they are called upon to carry out additional tasks. There is thus a need to reflect on new measures to be implemented to improve the services offered by the MFRS, she pointed out, adding that provisions will be made in fire stations across the island for women who intend to work on night shift. Government, underlined the Vice-Prime Minister, acknowledges the hard work of firefighters and is determined to improve their working conditions and provide them with more facilities and equipment. She recalled that Budget 2017/2018 earmarked Rs 570 million for purchase of equipment for the MFRS, and afterwards an additional sum of Rs 86 million was disbursed for the same purpose. She also outlined that one of Governments primary objectives is the security and protection of the population and in this endeavour, firefighters play a key role. For his part, the Chief Fire Officer stated that the International Firefighters Day was introduced in 1999 in Australia following the death of five firefighters on duty. He added that the MFRS works in close collaboration with Ministries, Non-Governmental Organisations and the population to ensure safety and security of the society at large. The MFRS carried out 7 103 interventions and recruited 104 firefighters in 2017 and since January 2018 to date, 836 interventions have been made. An additional 114 firefighters are expected to join the MFRS and two fire stations will also be built in Rose Belle and Goodlands respectively so as to better ensure protection and security of citizens. Description GIS 04 May 2018: The Prefab housing unit project of the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment in collaboration with the National Empowerment Foundation will provide low-income families with eco-friendly and cost effective housing units to improve their socio-economic and living conditions. The project is in line with Governments policy to eradicate poverty by providing a decent housing to disadvantaged families at the lower rung of the social ladder. The Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Alain Wong, made this statement yesterday during a site visit showcasing the model of Prefab housing units in Reduit. He highlighted that the Prefab housing unit project will be undertaken by the Government to encourage better social integration of low-income families by providing them with adequate social integration facilities. The housing units, he underlined, will be provided to families who own a plot of land and are facing difficulties to construct a housing unit and those living in a deplorable state. According to the Minister, the three models of Prefab housing units which have been identified will be equipped with basic amenities namely a refrigerator, a washing machine, electricity and water supply, and a septic tank. The housing units are weather-resistant, can resist cyclonic winds of up to 280km/h and have a life span similar to that of conventional houses, he added. Furthermore, Minister Wong underlined that compared to conventional concrete houses provided by Government to the tune of Rs 1.2 million, the Prefab housing units will result in cost savings of almost 40% and can be set up within eight months. The cost of a unit, he pointed out, is estimated at around Rs 700 000 out of which 25% will be financed by the owner and the remaining 75% will be met by the Government. Prefab housing units The Prefab housing units is an ongoing project of the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment in collaboration with the National Empowerment Foundation with objective to ease the living conditions of low-income families as well as to strengthen social and cultural integration of these families. The houses are made up of composite structures which are lightweight, easy to transport, quick to install on site, requiring minimal labour and equipment. Description GIS 04 May 2018: The newly elected President of the Republic of Botswana, Mr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, was on a one-day visit to Mauritius on 03 May 2018. Soon after his arrival, he paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis. In the afternoon, a joint press conference was held by Prime Minister Jugnauth and President Keabetswe Masisi at the Treaty Room of the Treasury Building following a working session with key stakeholders from both the Mauritian and Botswanese sides. Prime Minister Jugnauth congratulated President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi who has taken office on 1st April 2018. He pointed out that the newly elected President of the Republic of Botswana is currently on a tour to meet with leaders in SADC countries with a view to strengthening bilateral relations as well as reviewing ongoing activities under the bilateral cooperation framework. The Prime Minister informed that he and the President of the Republic of Botswana had recently met during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London held from 16 to 20 April 2018. He expressed gratitude to the Republic of Botswana who supported Mauritius at the United Nations General Assembly on the Chagos Archipelago case. He underlined that the case has reached a crucial stage while adding that the hearing has been fixed for 3rd September 2018. He recalled that he has solicited a number of countries to intervene in favour of Mauritius. Speaking about the working session, the Prime Minister said that discussions focused on exploring avenues of cooperation between the two countries. Talks are ongoing for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Economic Development Board of Mauritius and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, he pointed out. Other avenues of cooperation which were at the fore of discussions include: collaboration between the Stock Exchange of both countries; encouraging Mauritian enterprises to explore the diamond sector in Botswana; and possibility of setting up a Special Economic Zone in Botswana. For his part, President Masisi highlighted that the courtesy call and the working session the Botswanese delegation had with their Mauritian counter parts enabled them to renew bonds of friendship and solidarity as well as identify key sector areas where cooperation could be deepened and broadened. Mr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is the 5th President of Botswana since 1 April 2018. He also served as Minister of Education since 2014, and previously he was Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration from 2011 to 2014. He was first elected to Parliament in 2009. Description GIS 04 May 2018: Women economic empowerment remains the cornerstone of sustainable development and entails multiple gains ranging from greater productivity, increased employment, poverty alleviation to enhanced livelihoods and economic growth, said the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus, yesterday at Pearle Beach Resort and Spa, in Flic en Flac. The Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of a workshop on Strengthening Women Economic Empowerment in the Indian Ocean. It is jointly organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Sixteen IORA Member States are participating in the two-day workshop. In her opening address, Mrs Jadoo-Jaunbocus recalled that women economic empowerment remains a sine qua none for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and therefore, it is fitting for all stakeholders to work together in accelerating joint actions to chart out a Roadmap and Action Plan geared towards strengthening the economic empowerment of women. According to the Minister IORA member States share many commonalities despite their geographical location. Besides the vast Indian Ocean, diversity of cultures and socioeconomic context, the strong bonds of sisterhood brings IORA women together. Some Member States, she said, have excelled in the implementation of gender-sensitive policies and tailor-made programmes to boost women economic empowerment. Others, are in the process of doing so whilst a few countries have a long way to go before their womenfolk are economically empowered, and it is, within this backdrop that Mauritius proposed to spearhead the establishment of a Working Group on Womens Economic Empowerment, she added. Moreover, the Minister spoke of the need to think in terms of having legislative frameworks that treat women at par with men in the social, economic and political spheres. We need to have institutional mechanisms that are dedicated to work for women economic empowerment and promote the concept of mentoring and role models, she outlined. For her part the Secretary General of the IORA, Dr Nomvuyo N. Nokwe, stated that the IORA increasingly recognises that the economic participation of women stimulates the growth of the economy and contributes to sustainable development. According to her, economic empowerment is one of the most powerful roots for women to achieve their great potential as they are multi-skilled and contribute a lot within the economic sphere. A woman is economically empowered when she has both the ability to succeed and to make decisions shaping her life, she pointed out. Greater equality is what we have to strive for and it is also associated with better education and health, she added. The Workshop The objective is to provide a platform for IORA Member States to share experiences and best practices related to women economic empowerment. The aim is also to identify structural barriers that impede womens full participation in economic activities and strategies for future course of action. The workshop is organised within the perspective that the SDGs, adopted in 2015, sought to change the course of the 21st century by addressing key challenges such as poverty, inequality and violence against women. Women economic empowerment is a prerequisite for this objective to become a reality. It is also paving the way to the IORA Ministerial Meeting which the Republic of Mauritius will be hosting on 19-20 July 2018. San Antonio seeks to hire a smart city coordinator San Francisco expands digital inclusion effort for public housing residents Philadelphia seeks user input on city forms While Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai officially began the rollback of net neutrality protections in December, the efforts to prevent it have continued in Congress, and next week Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., plans to introduce a Congressional Review Act that could block Pais order.Markey and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have announced they will officially file a discharge petition for the Congressional Review Act to reinstate net neutrality protections on Wednesday, May 9. In a press release, Markeys office said they expect the support of all 49 members of the Senate Democratic caucus, as well as Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. This leaves the effort one vote short. The deadline for a vote on the proposal is June 12.In 2018, access to a free and open Internet isnt a privilege, its a right, Senator Markey said in a press release. Since the FCCs decision to repeal net neutrality, we have witnessed a historic movement emerge to protect that right, and it continues to build. With only one more vote needed for my CRA resolution to undo the Trump administrations political decision on net neutrality, Republicans have a choice stand with the overwhelming number of Americans who support net neutrality or side with the corporate interests who only care about their bottom line. The day of reckoning in the Senate on net neutrality is coming, and Republicans are on notice.Gov tech leaders at the municipal level have certainly been outspoken in their opposition of Pais move to roll back the protections both before and after the decision was made official and a number of states have worked to pass their own workarounds aimed at preserving an open Internet.Whats at question here is the FCCs Open Internet Order, which was passed during the Obama Administrations time in the White House to prohibit Internet service providers from blocking, slowing down or discriminating against online content. Opponents of the rollback argue that it would lead to higher prices for consumers, slower Internet traffic and even the blocking of certain websites.San Antonio, Texas, is seeking to hire a full-time smart city coordinator, who, according to the job description posted by the city, would be responsible for performing highly analytical work involving the use of smart city technology, including collaborating with city stakeholders, partners, IT staff, vendors and members of the community.The position would be housed within San Antonios Office of Innovation, and its one thats becoming increasingly common in cites that are pushing to step up smart city efforts, including leaders in the field, such as Kansas City, Mo., and Seattle. This has already been a year of significant progress for San Antonios own work with smart city technologies.In January, the mayor announced the creation of San Antonios seven-member Innovation and Technology Committee, which was tasked with working with the Office of Innovation to develop smart city initiatives. In March, the city held the Smart Cities Readiness Workshop to collect feedback and further discuss the development of a road map to guide its smart cities work.San Francisco has announced plans to expand a digital equity pilot program that brings high-speed Internet, use of Google Wi-Fi devices and access to digital skills training to the residents of two public housing sites.Dating back to January, this program has been in the pilot stage for San Franciscos Robert B. Pitts and Hunters Point West public housing sites, which include 313 housing units selected for participation after a needs assessment was conducted last year by the citys Office of Digital Equity. As part of the program, the sites have gotten free high-speed Internet access for all residents, onsite computer labs that offer digital literacy classes and free technology support and hardware repair services. Google has also donated 100 Google Wi-Fi devices to connect residents to the Internet.The expansion calls for this program to include five additional public housing sites by the end of the year, according to reports by local media In a press release, San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell stressed the importance of digital inclusion work, noting that more than 100,000 San Franciscans still lack Internet access in their homes, and that he is working every day to provide equitable solutions for communities and residents who have been left behind by the status quo.State and municipal government agencies across the country are starting to use human-centric design to reshape the services they provide to the public and a big part of that includes making a serious and prolonged effort to collect feedback from the residents who use them.To that end, Philadelphia is hosting something called the PHL Form Redesign event, within which public servants will hold workshops with residents aimed at making government forms easier to understand and complete. The event is slated for May 19 at the Innovation Lab in the Philadelphia Municipal Services building.Forms that the city is seeking to redesign with an emphasis on accessibility include the Philadelphia language access grievance form, Tax Review Board appeals form, marketing grant application, installation permit for combustion engine, special events application and outdoor food establishment application.Using human-centric design is proving to be a viable way to reduce the stress on constituents as well as the amount of time that staff must spend processing forms. In Michigan, for example, a studio that specializes in human-centric design helped the state reduce the size of one form by as much as 80 percent, taking it from more than 40 pages down to a spry 18. Geoengineering may destroy us all: Hysterical climate change scientists now trying to DIM the sun through planned atmospheric pollution 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. 100% organic essential oil sets now available for your home and personal care, including Rosemary, Oregano, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Clary Sage and more, all 100% organic and laboratory tested for safety. A multitude of uses, from stress reduction to topical first aid. See the complete listing here, and help support this news site. 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 (TNS) - For years, CJ Renaud commuted from the Greeley area every day to the Aurora high school where she worked as a school resource officer. Back then, the officers had a morning meeting twice per week. One day, when she got there, she found two men in suits who weren't taking part in any of the usual pre-meeting banter between officers.They were, as they said later, from the FBI.When they did speak, they told the officers in the room about the three Aurora teenage girls who had boarded a plane bound for the Middle East after ISIS recruited them online. Authorities intercepted the girls in Germany and returned them to their parents.The girls weren't from Renaud's school, but they were nearby. Renaud and her police partner, Jake Bunch, wanted to know how an overseas terrorist organization wooed three girls from the Cherry Creek School District. It was concerning, Renaud said, and as a school resource officer, she felt she should know.They took classes from the Department of Homeland Security and talked to people who studied extremist groups. They started to identify such groups' tactics and why kids fall prey to them. Then Renaud and Bunch put together presentations on the topic. They've given those presentations about 50 times across the country.CJ Renaud sits in her office downtown. Renaud now works with Greeley-Evans School District 6 to help train teachers and others in the community to identify warning signs in youth being indoctrinated and recruited into extremist groups. (Joshua Polson/jpolson@greeleytribune.com)Now Renaud, who is retired and lives in Weld County, wants to share that knowledge. It's why she and Bunch will give a presentation Saturday in Greeley about how to spot the warning signs of youths being indoctrinated and recruited into extremist groups.People become radicalized more often than might be thought. The Aurora high school students are one example, Renaud said. So is the Aurora resident who, in 2009, stockpiled chemicals to make bombs he planned to use on a New York City subway.Extremist groups, Renaud said, often exploit a person's vulnerabilities when recruiting them. That strategy is especially common when it comes to teens. In the 21st century, she said, it's easier than ever online, where kids might have unsupervised conversations with adults who have ulterior motives."Radicalization is still a form of bullying," she said. "It picks that one little thing apart."It's not just ISIS and other Muslim extremists either Renaud pointed out domestic terrorism is often the biggest threat to public safety.Regardless of how an extremist group recruits its members, the end result is often mass violence. Even Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold the teens responsible for the 1999 Columbine High School shooting had an ideology, she said. Their vulnerabilities pushed them to embrace it."Imagine if we had looked at Klebold and Harris' notebooks," she said. "Imagine if we had that little bit of knowledge at the front end."Jeff Neel wants that knowledge. He works at Northern Colorado Youth for Christ and interacts with Weld's teens every day. He invited Renaud to give the presentation Saturday at the organization's building."We don't want to be a reactive community," he said. "A way to take a step as a community is to say we are proactive in engaging kids who are going down this route."Neel said anyone can attend the presentation. Afterward, he said, attendees will break into smaller groups to talk about how the information relates to Greeley.For Neel, educating himself about the topic isn't going above and beyond his duties as a mentor to youth. It's fulfilling a responsibility."I felt like I should have some sort of responsibility to be engaged," he said. "The more disengaged we are, that's when more problems happen."2018 the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.)Visit the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.) at www.greeleytribune.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) - State officials are working to help fire departments recruit and retain volunteers, clear up a backlog of inspections and work harder investigating arson cases, according to North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.The commissioner made several stops in Henderson County Thursday.At Edneyville Fire and Rescue, Causey spoke with Chief Robert Griffin about everything from the struggle to keep volunteers to insurance ratings. Causey also stopped by the Western Crime Lab in Edneyville and Earle Insurance Agency.Griffin, whos been chief since 2009 following an earlier tenure as chief from 2001-06, has been with the department since 1987. Edneyville does pretty well recruiting new members, he said, but struggles to hold on to volunteers.Of the 52 firefighters at Edneyville, 38 are volunteers, he said. There are more positions still open, including some that arent fighting fires.High housing costs and time constraints are two big reasons volunteers cant stick around, Griffin said, noting that sometimes a volunteer will work two jobs to afford housing and doesnt have the time left to volunteer.Edneyville used to have entry level- style homes on the market, he added, but that doesn't seem to be the case any more.That is a challenge for us. We dont have the apartment complexes to pull from in our district, he said. Thats starting to affect us more and more.He said that since the 1980s, call volumes have increased by a factor of more than 10, from around 100 per year to 1,200 to 1,300 per year, which comes to about 10,000 volunteer man hours.That means more demands on a volunteers time, on top of 200 hours of training per year.Thats just a huge time commitment for people to be away from their families, their jobs, Griffin said.Causey also talked about the time constraints for volunteer firefighters, saying recruitment and retainment of volunteers are the biggest problems for most fire departments in the state.There are positive things that help them retain folks, though, including fire service training at no cost and fuel reimbursements. But when operating on a fire service tax and trying to be good stewards of the publics money, thats about all they can do, Griffin said.One program that Causey said he's seen make a big difference are junior firefighter programs that introduce students in high school to the opportunities in firefighting careers.He also mentioned possibilities for increasing retirement contributions for firefighters, which he said are the most common requests his office receives. Volunteers currently contribute $10 per month to retirement, and Causey said maybe a contribution could be made per call for those volunteers to help make that happen."We've got to be creative and think outside the box," he said, adding that he's heard suggestions like lifetime hunting/fishing licenses for volunteers.Across the country, 70 percent of departments are volunteer, he said, but 90 percent of departments depend on volunteers."It is what I call mission critical to find ways to recruit and retain volunteers and help our fire departments," Causey said.When he took office in 2017, Causey was sworn into the fire department because he wanted to send a message. One of the first things he did was to work on the backlog of inspecting fire departments.Causey got a list of all 1,351 fire station buildings across North Carolina's 100 counties and found that there were departments in the state that hadn't been inspected in nearly 25 years. Many hadn't been inspected in at least 18 years, and hundreds were way over the 10- or 15-year period. Those inspections should take place ideally every four or five years, he said.There were only five inspectors at the time, so Causey and the department went to the state legislature, which provided 42 additional positions in the 2017 budget.Edneyville is set to be inspected in June, the first time since 2008 that the departments rating of 5 will be evaluated. With added personnel, more hydrants, a larger tanker and other improvements, Griffin hopes that rating can be boosted to a 4.Chief State Fire Marshall Brian Taylor, also at Edneyville Thursday, said studies have shown a one-point change in the rating can mean $120 in savings per year for a homeowner."From a 9 to a 5 will affect the homeowner's rate," he said, and below that the rating tends to help industries more. Specific savings can't be studied, however, since there are so many variables when it comes to industry.More important than a rating, Causey noted, is the quicker response time it represents and the potential to save a home from being destroyed or save a life.The state Department of Insurance also hired three new attorneys to work with the state's district attorneys to investigate and prosecute arson cases. In one day, the state swore in 18 new law enforcement officers who are out there now making arrests, he said."We've doubled our criminal investigations" in the past year, and more fire inspections are being done than ever before, he added.2018 Times-News, Hendersonville, N.C.Visit Times-News, Hendersonville, N.C. at www.blueridgenow.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Santa Cruz 911 Rolls Out Updated System and Mobile TerminalsMotorola PremierOne adds several nuances to previous system for responders.On the rollout day of the new communication system, Dennis Kidd got a call from a mother whose daughter was suicidal. The two were along a beach in Santa Cruz, Calif., and the daughter was heading toward a cliff. Kidd, via the new mapping feature on the updated system, assured the mother that a police cruiser was but two blocks away.That kind of detail wouldnt have been possible with the old system and its but one the improvements for the Santa Cruz Regional 911, which serves six law enforcement agencies; 11 fire departments; and two ambulance companies within four-member agencies Santa Cruz County, and the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville.Kidd, Santa Cruz Regional 911 general manager, said that prior to the upgrade, they would have only been able to tell the mother that police would get there as soon as they could. From all kinds of perspectives, knowing the real-time locations of police officers is extremely helpful, not only for their safety but so we can help direct them to where they need to be, he said.And that goes for fire and EMS as well, some of which got mobile data terminals for the first time with the upgraded system.Kidd said that a few years ago, Motorola informed them that their current CAD system, a Motorola Premier system, was nearing the end of its life. That prompted a search for another system, which ended in a Motorola upgrade to Motorola PremierOne, which included the new mobile data terminals that every response vehicle now has.Previously we had our CAD system, but there were three different mobile systems out there in the field we were trying to connect to, Kidd said. Now its seamless, everybody has access and there is a license for every vehicle.It was about a two-year project that cost $180,00 a year for a decade and offers a number of improvements.One is that the system is constantly updating. With the old system, the last piece of data sent would remain until someone sent new data. Now the system refreshes on its own to reflect any new data being transmitted.There is also a way to flag an important detail. For instance, if theres a call about a fight and a mention of a gun, that mention of the gun would be broadcast in red.Also, a police officer can initiate or create his or her own call in the field by providing an address or latitude and longitude, in which case the system will come up with the nearest address.An officer can also answer a low-priority call without getting on the radio, which cuts down traffic.The system was rolled out on April 18, along with some intensive training for dispatchers and for responders. Some of the training started eight months ago and included YouTube videos. Each dispatcher had 21 hours (fire dispatchers had 28 hours) of instruction on the new system before it was deployed.During the first three days after rollout, there was a coordinated effort to funnel any problems that may turn into issues toward a single source. The issues were categorized, and that made the process of identifying errors easy because you didnt have four people reporting to four more people and describing it in four different ways, Kidd said.After having used the system for a few months, each responder will get special instruction on how to better use it. Were going out to every law enforcement roll call and every responder to give them some tier-two training on their mobile, Kidd said. There are habits you develop, but well show them things to make it easier. (TNS) LAKETOWN TWP., Mich. Two years after voters rejected the controversial idea of a township-owned utility, most Laketown Township residents will finally have high-speed Internet.Cable giant Comcast Corp. will be expanding its network to bring high-speed service to most of Laketown and Saugatuck townships in the coming months.Michelle Gilbert, vice president of public relations for Comcast's Heartland Region, said crews will finalize network design over the next couple of weeks in the townships.Then the infrastructure will be laid and connected to the existing network.Comcast will not be able to release a network map for the two townships until the project is completed because changes can occur and problems can pop up during the build, the company said. However, the plan is to expand the network to as much of the township as possible.The project will be completed in phases and should be finished around the end of the year, Gilbert said.Gerry Wise said he and five other Laketown residents have been searching for reliable providers to bring Internet service to Laketown since 2016.Wyse was "shocked" when he moved to the area about two and a half years ago and couldn't get broadband Internet."We said there has to be some solution for the underserved portion of the township," Wyse said. "We banded together to try and find that solution."The biggest hurdle was finding a network that could be deployed at a reasonable cost to the residents, Wyse said.Although Comcast is making a multi-million dollar investment in Laketown and Saugatuck townships, the infrastructure build should not cost residents anything, Gilbert said.The Comcast proposal was everything Laketown residents have been looking for and a "no-brainer," Wyse said.Residents in the townships have similar needs, which made it cost effective for Comcast to expand its network to these areas, Gilbert said.Advancements in technology also made the expansion to the two townships possible for Comcast."In these two townships, there tends to be very large lots of land," Gilbert said. "With the technology available now, we are able to build fiber to the home versus building traditional coax cable."This new technology came about in recent years and will make network expansion more cost effective than it was just five years ago, Gilbert said.Laketown Township's $8.7 million millage in May 2016 would have used revenue to build a township-owned fiber-optic Internet cable network.Although it was shot down by voters, 47 percent voted in favor of the proposal.The proposal's opponents questioned whether Laketown officials could deliver on their promises of a faster and cheaper Internet service. They also argued that a millage which taxes more on greater property values was not a fair way of funding a network that everyone benefits from equally.As Comcast moves forward with network expansion, Gilbert said service for Laketown and Saugatuck township residents will be priced depending on promotional costs at the time.Service costs will also depend on what types of plans residents choose. Comcast will offer a variety of Internet speed options to new customers, ranging from 25 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second."Internet today is not a luxury, it's a necessity," Gilbert said. "We rely on Internet every single day for important functions like paying bills, staying connected with family and doing homework."Wise said reliable Internet access will mean a lot to residents of Laketown Township."We are so excited for what this means to Laketown," Wise said. "Kids have had to go down to Burger King just to do their homework. I've gone to bed so frustrated with slow Internet speeds. It will be state-of-the-art technology and a real game changer." C-suite officials who leave the public sector dont typically stay very close, but Oregons technology leader, who announced his impending departure last month, has accepted a high-level post elsewhere in state government, an official confirmed toIn an April 6 news release, the state announced that Alex Pettit, its chief information officer, would be resigning effective June 1 , making way for Deputy CIO Terrence Woods to serve as interim CIO during a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.Pettit, the states CIO of four years, will join Secretary of State Dennis Richardson's office in June as the business continuity program manager, a newly created position, Debra Royal, Richardsons chief of staff, said via email.In his role as a business continuity program manager for the Secretary of State, Alex will oversee our business continuity project, enhance elections infrastructure, lead the agency emergency management program and direct the implementation of the Agency Operations Center, which will be used by agency managers to respond to crisis situations, Royal said.Pettit was previously Oklahomas first-ever CIO and has a doctorate in information sciences, Royal said, pointing out he is also designated a certified business continuity professional by Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI), a nonprofit that helps organizations globally handle disasters.Gov. Kate Browns Press Secretary Bryan Hockaday confirmed that the states nationwide search for a permanent CIO to replace Pettit is underway but said there was nothing to update at this point.In an interview with the East Oregonian (EO) Media Groups Capital Bureau reporter Claire Withycombe, Richardson described hiring Pettit as an absolute coup and said it was part of a drive to bring world-class people to the Secretary of States office.I have great respect for him, Richardson told EO Media Group. In an interview published on May 2, Richardson told the Willamette Week he would give the state an A grade for electoral integrity and described its election system as secure or more secure than any other state.In its announcement last month, the state said Brown and the CIO had mutually agreed the time was right for a new tech leader to build on his work and move the governors vision for information technology [IT] governance forward. (TNS) A newly formed commission convened to study Pennsylvania's election cybersecurity aims to reduce vulnerability of the state's polls in time for the next presidential contest.David Hickton, a former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the head of University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security, and Grove City College President Paul McNulty will lead the Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvania's Election Security.Every part of our government and every part of what we stand for is premised upon free and fair elections and the public's belief and confidence in our electoral system, Hickton said. Our systems are vulnerable.Hickton said there is a sense of urgency in the commission's work. He said he hopes the commission will wrap up later this year and present its recommendations to policymakers in time to have changes in place for 2020.Hickton first told the Tribune-Review about the commission in February after a discussion he led with David Sanger, who covers cybersecurity for the New York Times . Sanger called Russia's meddling in the 2016 elections a sophisticated cyberattack but said it probably will never be known if it affected the outcome of the election.The Russian cyberattacks and meddling in the 2016 election brought concerns about the vulnerability of voting systems across the country to the forefront. Polling places across the United States have used electronic voting machines for about 15 years. These machines, even ones not directly connected to the Internet, could put the integrity of the vote at risk.The Department of Homeland Security reported in September that Pennsylvania was among 21 states targeted by hackers during the 2016 election. The Center for American Progress gave Pennsylvania a D for the security of its voting systems, noting that its paper trail and post-election audits were unsatisfactory.Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf ordered counties purchasing new voting machines or replacing problematic ones to buy machines that provide a paper backup. Hickton said Wolf has shown good leadership in trying to improve the security of the state's voting system.Hickton said the United States and Pennsylvania should be prepared for Russia and others to mount another attack in 2020.The commission will research cybervulnerabilities in the state's voting machines and the ways votes are tabulated and stored. It will also look at cybersecurity surrounding voter registration data and the ability of the state's system to survive and recover from an attack.McNulty said the commission will focus attention on the security of the state's vote and the recommendations could serve as models for other states.The commission will be independent and nonpartisan. It will meet three times, starting in June. Pitt Cyber will host a public portal on its website for people to participate in the commission's work.There will be 21 commissioners, including Hickton and McNulty. Commissioners include the former chief privacy officer at the Department of Homeland Security, the director of the cybersecurity emergency response team at Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute and the former chief of staff to U.S. Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch. The heads of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh; the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania; and Verified Voting, a Pennsylvania voting transparency nonprofit, are on the commission. So are former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey; Nelson Diaz, a retired Philadelphia judge; and Grant Oliphant, president of the Heinz Endowments.Former Pennsylvania Gov. Dick Thornburgh, who was also U.S. attorney general and undersecretary-general of the United Nations; Paul O'Neill, former U.S. Treasury secretary; and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Allentown, who is not seeking re-election, will be senior advisers.A grant from the Heinz Endowments will help fund the commission. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Ferrari's field-leading 2018 car continues to raise suspicions. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that, without naming a team specifically, the FIA has now banned teams from topping up oil during qualifying. It follows rumours the 2018 Ferrari engine, which smokes excessively when started up, may have taken a big step forward thanks to clever trickery in the area of oil consumption. "The FIA examined the Ferrari in China and looked at drawings of the entire oil system," Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports. It was found to be legal. But that's not all. First, Auto Motor und Sport says Red Bull is alleging that the shape of Ferrari's 2018 rear view mirrors does not comply with the regulations. And after Baku, it emerged that Mercedes has doubts about the clever design of Ferrari's 2018 battery cells, which may produce more than the allowed 4 megajoules. "The topic could occupy formula one in the coming weeks," said correspondent Michael Schmidt. Finally, there are claims Ferrari is using the turbocharger to produce gas that then blows the rear wing. "One possibility is that former Ferrari engine boss Lorenzo Sassi, who has been working for Mercedes since April, has been talking," Schmidt added. (GMM) The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) will, for the first time, use renewable diesel, a low-emissions, 99% petroleum-free fuel, to power more than 1,000 City government vehicles, including in large vehicles such as sanitation trucks. The renewable diesel used by NYC will be produced domestically by Renewable Energy Group (REG) and will be distributed by Sprague Energy. Renewable diesel is a 100% hydrocarbon renewable fuel produced by hydrotreating fats and oils; it can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. Renewable diesel provides very similar horsepower, torque and fuel mileage as compared to petroleum diesel fuel. Increased cetane aids self-ignition of fuel and allows for easier starting, smoother running engines and reliable operation. REG utilizes Bio-Synfining technology developed and patented by its Synthetic Fuels Division in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Synthetic Fuels Division was launched in 2014 as part of the acquisition of Syntroleum (earlier post) that included the 75 million gallon per year nameplate capacity biorefinery located in Geismar, Louisiana. The Geismar biorefinery produces a high cetane renewable diesel fuel that can be blended with petroleum diesel in all proportions and can be produced to meet arctic cloud point requirements. The process allows the Geismar plant to utilize a wide array of feedstocks including inedible corn oil, used cooking oil, waste vegetable oils, animal fats, greases and vegetable oils to produce a renewable diesel fuel that meets the same requirements as ASTM D975 specification for petroleum diesel. Pretreated feedstock is charged to a high-pressure reactor system where the renewable molecules are transformed into clean-burning saturated hydrocarbons. High-pressure hydrogen and a patented catalyst configuration are used to affect the chemical transformation by saturating unstable double bonds (hydrogenation), reacting with oxygenates of the fatty acid molecules to form hydrocarbons and water (hydrodeoxygenation), and removing sulfur molecules (hydrodesulfurization) from the intermediate renewable hydrocarbons. The intermediate hydrocarbons are very pure paraffinsthey are then isomerized to reconfigure the molecules into branched paraffins (isoparaffins) to yield low cloud point clean fuels that are characteristic of the process. The final step in this process is classic refiningthe products are distilled into three main products: renewable hydrocarbon diesel, renewable naphtha and renewable liquefied petroleum gas. The renewable diesel will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% compared to traditional petroleum-based diesel. New York City will be one of the first fleets to use renewable diesel in the northeast. Currently, San Francisco uses renewable diesel for its entire municipal fleet. Most renewable diesel use is currently concentrated in California. The use of renewable diesel builds upon the Citys success using alternative fuels, including biodiesel; almost every City truck, including those used by Fire and Sanitation, runs on biodiesel. The City also uses solar and wind energy to power government buildings and vehicles. This initiative is part of Mayor Bill de Blasios commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in New York City by at least 80% by 2050 (80 x 50). DCAS made the announcement at a Biofuels Forum hosted by DCAS and the NYC Parks Department in Prospect Park. The forum is produced in partnership with the National Biodiesel Board and CALSTART and discusses the latest trends and technologies in biofuels. Researchers in Canada have demonstrated a new photochemical diode artificial photosynthesis system that can enable efficient, unassisted overall pure water splitting without using any sacrificial reagent. As reported in an open-access paper in Nature Communications, the wafer-level photochemical diode arrays exhibited solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of ~3.3% in neutral (pH ~ 7.0) overall water splitting reaction. In part of the visible spectrum (400485 nm), the energy conversion efficiency and apparent quantum yield reaches ~8.75% and ~20%, respectivelythe highest values ever reported for one-step visible-light driven photocatalytic overall pure water splitting. The device could also be reconfigured to turn carbon dioxide back into fuel. The wafer level photochemical diodes consist of vertically aligned InGaN nanosheets, with well-defined anode and cathode surfaces for water oxidation and proton reduction, respectively. Schematic illustration of wafer-level unassisted photocatalytic overall water splitting on double-band nanowire arrays, which are vertically aligned on a planar substrate and decorated with co-catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Unlike tandem PEC cells or photovoltaic (PV) devices, this approach does not require any carrier recombination/transfer or current matching between the layers along vertical direction. Both water oxidation and proton reduction reaction occur on the radial non-polar surfaces of each layer. Chowdhury et al. Click to enlarge. Previous direct solar water splitters have achieved a little more than 1 percent stable solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in fresh or saltwater. Other approaches suffer from the use of costly, inefficient or unstable materials, such as titanium dioxide, that also might involve adding highly acidic solutions to reach higher efficiencies. The new device is made from the same widely used materials as solar cells and other electronics, including silicon and gallium nitride (often found in LEDs). With an industry-ready design that operates with just sunlight and seawater, the device could pave the way for large-scale production of clean hydrogen fuel. Zetian Mi, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Michigan who led the research while at McGill University in Montreal, and his team built a nano-sized cityscape of gallium nitride towers that generated an electric field. The gallium nitride turns light, or photons, into mobile electrons and positively charged vacancies called holes. These free charges split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. we propose and demonstrate multi-band InGaN nanosheet photochemical diode (PCD) structures, which can spontaneously induce charge carrier separation and steer charge carriers toward the distinct redox sites for water oxidation and proton reduction. During the synthesis of InGaN photochemical diode nanosheet structure, p-type dopant (Mg) concentrations are rationally tailored, which induces a large built-in electric field between the two parallel surfaces. Consequently, the two surfaces are enriched with photo-generated holes and electrons to perform water oxidation and proton reduction reactions, respectively. In addition to the efficient charge carrier separation and extraction, the spatial separation of catalytic sites in such a nanoscale photochemical diode effectively reduces carrier recombination and back reaction. Chowdhury et al. By precisely controlling charge carrier flow at the nanoscale, the wafer-level photochemical diode arrays delivered the observed solar-to-hydrogen efficiency. The effective manipulation and control of charge carrier flow in nanostructured photocatalysts provides critical insight in achieving high efficiency artificial photosynthesis, including the efficient and selective reduction of CO 2 to hydrocarbon fuels. Chowdhury et al. At present, the silicon backing of the chip does not contribute to its function, but it could be doing more. The next step may be to use the silicon to help capture light and funnel charge carriers to the gallium nitride towers. Although the 3 percent efficiency might seem low, when put in the context of the 40 years of research on this process, its actually a big breakthrough. Natural photosynthesis, depending how you calculate it, has an efficiency of about 0.6 percent. Zetian Mi Mi said that 5 percent efficiency is the threshold for commercialization, but that his team is aiming for 20 or 30 percent efficiency. Mi conducts similar research to strip carbon dioxide of its oxygen to turn the resulting carbon into hydrocarbons, such as methanol and syngas. This research path could potentially remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as plants do. The work was supported by the Fuel Cell Technologies Office of the US Department of Energy and Emissions Reduction Alberta. Resources Anheuser-Busch has placed an order for up to 800 hydrogen-fuel-cell range-extended electric semi-trucks from Nikola Motor Company. The truckswhich will be able to travel between 500 and 1,200 miles and be refilled within 20 minutes, reducing idle timeare expected to be integrated into Anheuser-Buschs dedicated fleet beginning in 2020. Rendering of Nikola Two in Anheuser-Busch livery. 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. Hydrogen-electric technology is the future of logistics and were proud to be leading the way. 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 dollars in pre-order reservations, we are building to order, not speculation, and are very excited for whats to come. Trevor Milton, CEO of Nikola Motor Company The partnership with Nikola will contribute to Anheuser-Buschs recently announced 2025 Sustainability Goals, which include reducing CO 2 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 thousand passenger vehicles off the road annually. In 2006, the brewer joined the US Environmental Protection Agencys SmartWay Transport program; since 2008, it has reduced its total energy use in US breweries by more than 30%. Other themes include doing better science, job advice, teaching, mental health, and humour. Welcome to my thoughts about quantum many-body science, especially at the interface of condensed matter physics, chemistry, and molecular biology. Page Content The possibility that Serbia and Montenegro could join the European Union in 2025, a conditional target date proposed by the European Commission, should encourage municipal and regional reform across the Western Balkans, speakers said on 4 May during the leading annual conference focused on the local and regional dimension of EU accession. The European Commission and the presidency of the Council of the EU were among those who, during the Enlargement Day conference organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), emphasised that the success of the EU's next enlargement will heavily depend on cities and regions. Karl-Heinz Lambertz , the CoR's President, said: "Future EU membership is a tangible reality for the Western Balkans but it needs political commitment from every level of government. Given that 70% of EU legislation is delivered by regions and cities, local and regional governments from candidate countries must be fully engaged throughout the EU accession process. The EU must help by establishing a Local Administration Facility that would help sub-national levels to work together with their EU peers. Well-established activities such as cross-border cooperation, macro-regional strategies, and networks such as the Covenant of Mayors, where cities and regions are improving energy efficiency and fighting climate challenges, should be bolstered to drive change." Johannes Hahn , the European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, used the Enlargement Day conference for the first time to present this year's EU's latest reports on the progress made by candidate countries. The reports modest progress at the local and regional level. The Commission's appraisals , published on 17 April, will serve as a basis for discussions at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia on 17 May. Commissioner Hahn said: "I am deeply convinced we will not be successful if all our efforts are not translated into concrete actions on the local and regional level. We will only stay on the surface if we deal only with the national level. What is necessary is to get on the ground. Local and regional governments play an important role as an anchor of stability, promoting socio-economic development and facilitating cross-border cooperation. Accession to the EU remains merit-based. One thing is not negotiable: quality comes before speed. Our partners know enlargement will only happen if it is a win-win situation for both sides." Lilyana Pavlova , Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, presented the progress on the Presidencys priority for European perspective of the Western Balkans and said: "The enlargement process represents a strategic investment in the peace, democracy, prosperity, security and stability in Europe. Bulgaria recognises the high added value of being part of the EU, which has significantly contributed to the development and economic growth of the country, respectively the well-being of our citizens. I am glad that the Bulgarian Presidency has achieved one of our primary aims and that the European perspective for the Western Balkans is now high in the EU agenda, because Western Balkans is a region with high potential, economies in the region are growing fast, and deepening relations between the EU and the countries in the region is of mutual interest." Since 2006 the CoR has been working with local and regional authorities from countries seeking EU membership , developing structured work programmes with Serbia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia through joint consultative committees and less structured dialogues with other countries in the region and with Turkey. The Enlargement Day conference was preceded, on 3 May, by meetings of the joint consultative committees and working groups, each focused on a particular practical challenge identified by cities and regions in the would-be member states. These included waste management , corruption , the digital transformation , the protection of cultural heritage , and city-to-city partnerships . Notes to editors : Photos are available on Flickr . Haiti - News : Zapping... The American Ambassador discusses elections with the CEP Thursday, Ambassador Sison met with the President of the Provisional Electoral Council, Leopold Berlanger, and the Executive Director, Uder Antoine. They agreed on the importance of an impartial Permanent Electoral Council for Haitis long-term political development. They also discussed Haitian government preparations for the 2019 elections, including the planning, administration and budgeting of these elections. Moise for a free and independent press "On this World Press Freedom Day, I reiterate my commitment to work for a free and independent press. I also renew the commitment of my Administration to cooperate with the Corporation to strengthen the spirit of professionalism among journalists who play a vital role in the democratization of the country," said President Jovenel Moise. The PM questioned in the Senate On Wednesday, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Justice answered Senators' questions. The dialogue was very animated around the criminal attack in Cap Haitien https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24235-haiti-flash-attack-with-tear-gas-during-a-conference-1-death-and-several-wounded.html and repeated demonstrations that hinder the smooth running of our schools," said Senator Joseph Lambert. Senator Lambert encourages the 4th power "It is my duty and pleasure to participate in the celebration of World Press Freedom Day (3 May). The expression is free. The civilized world can only encourage the strengthening of the 4th Power. I subscribe to that ! Senator Joseph Lambert, President of the Senate. Launch of a UNIVOC Center in Haiti At the beginning of the week, the National Institute of Vocational Training (INFP), in collaboration with UNESCO, launched the "UNESCO VOCational Training Center" (UNEVOC) Haiti. With 247 centers in more than 160 member countries of the Network, UNEVOC is a leading global platform for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) aimed at strengthening South-South and North-South cooperation. Haiti takes the presidency of CREDAF At the 33rd International Conference of the Center for Meetings and Studies of Directors of Tax Administrations (CREDAF) of French-speaking countries, which ended on Wednesday, representatives of 30 countries unanimously elected Haiti to the Presidency of CREDAF. In addition, it was decided to open CREDAF to other non-French speaking countries. HL/ HaitiLibre We are thrilled to announce even more wonderful programming for this years festival. We will be presenting some of the best films from all over the world, which will transport our audiences to different places, perspectives and stories and help us understand the world that we are in, said David Nugent, Artistic Director of HamptonsFilm. We cant wait to be back in theaters to see and hear how our passionate audiences respond to the films in this years Festival. Page Content Cohesion policy is the EU's most powerful investment tool and currently accounts for one-third of the EU budget but cuts proposed by the European Commission for the years 2021-2017 would reduce its share from 34% to 29%. Such reduction risks deepening divides in Europe and making Europe's future weaker according to the EU-wide #CohesionAlliance . The European Commission proposal for the EU long term budget or Multiannual Financial Framework which sets the EU's expenditure ceilings for the period after 2020, attracted serious concern among the #CohesionAlliance supporters. The EU-wide coalition was launched by the leading associations of regions and cities - the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and EUROCITIES - and the European Committee of the Regions - in October last year and since then has attracted around 5000 individual signatories, 115 regions, 80 cities, 50 associations of regional and local authorities, 40 Members of the European Parliament and 30 sectorial associations representing more than 90% of the EU's population. In the proposal unveiled on 2 May, the Commission proposed reducing funding, a separation of the European Social Fund from the other cohesion funds, the introduction of new conditionalities and links to macro-economic governance, alongside potentially centralising investment decisions. These proposals are in clear contrast with the Alliance's declaration that calls for a stronger EU cohesion policy after 2020, covering all regions, preserving the role of cities and regions in delivering the policy, better integrating the different funds and tools, and not submitted to new conditionalities. " Cohesion policy risks being fragmented and centralised. The proposal to cut cohesion funding downsizes the only EU policy that brings true European added-value to regions and cities. Excluding regional and local communities from having a direct say on EU investment plan and decisions, coupled with separating tools and cuts to regional policy, risks seriously undermining the cohesion of Europe over the next decade", said the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertz. While appreciating the overall size of the EU budget - given the financial impact of Brexit - and the introduction of new own resources, the President of CPMR and of Portugal's Regional Autonomous Government of the Azores, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, stressed that: The Commission's EU budget proposals meet neither the expectations nor the needs of the European Union. The proposed budget cuts to key policies for our regions, including Cohesion Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy, are very worrying and will only drive the EU further away from its citizens . The vital role of cohesion policy was stressed by the President of EUROCITIES and Mayor of Ghent in Belgium Daniel Termont: " Cohesion policy should remain a strong pillar in the EU budget. It should reach all cities in the EU and empower them to act locally for a more inclusive, prosperous, democratic and sustainable Europe. I call on all European leaders to financially strengthen this policy and use it as a firm basis for a genuine partnership between the EU and its cities." AEBR's President Oliver Paasch, Minister-President of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, said: "Cohesion Policy should keep, at least, the weight it has in the current period both in terms of architecture and financing, addressing all EU territories and keeping local and regional authorities involved as much as possible in the definition or regulations, the setting of priorities and its relationship with other EU policies. " CALRE President, Ana Luis, president of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of The Azores, pointed out that : "The EU's proposal for the next multiannual financial framework is a clear disappointment, especially for those who defend, as CALRE does, a more cohesive Europe and closer to its regions, namely by virtue of a significant reduction of the financial envelope for Cohesion Policy. It is true that initial expectations were not very high, however it was expected that the EU would truly assume its role as the driving force behind integration and present a proposal which, notwithstanding realistic, would also be ambitious and serve as a good basis for the discussions with the European Parliament and the Member States in the Council". The president of the Emilia-Romagna Region and CEMR president, Stefano Bonacini, declared: " By cutting cohesion policy the Commission is seriously letting down Europe's towns and regions. Even on the basis of 2018 prices, this will represent a loss of 41 billion EUR for local and regional governments for the 2020-2027 period. On top of this, much more clarification is still needed regarding the future programmes and issues such as co-financing of cohesion projects. What does the Commission mean by saying it will increase national co-financing? Will all regions still be able to receive funding? What does the "rule of law" clause mean for local and regional governments? But every cloud has a silver lining. We are pleased that simplification and flexibility will be two pillars of the next cohesion policy, as towns and regions have long called for. Moreover, the Commission's decision to include climate, digitalisation, transport or innovation as priorities is definitely a step forward. However, it still needs to say whether towns and regions will have direct access to this funding. " The AER President, and President of the Region Vastra Gotaland in Sweden, Magnus Berntsson said: " While the Commissions proposal to simplify the cohesion policy framework is welcomed, the proposed EU cohesion budget is less ambitious than we hoped. The proposed cuts to cohesion policy show a lack of commitment to scale up a budget that works towards economic, social and territorial cohesion across the EU. The proposal to take out the European Social Fund of the Cohesion heading also worries us. Such decisions are likely to undermine the ability of the Union to achieve sustainable, inclusive and smart growth outcomes in the future. We are still waiting to see what these proposed numbers will look like, but whatever the outcome, we will work hard with our member regions to use this budget in a way that helps the regions of Europe to stay strong and grow stronger." Background note Worth over 350 billion between 2014 and 2020, cohesion policy implemented through the European Structural and Investment Funds is the EU's main investment tool that works to reduce regional disparities, create jobs, open new business opportunities and address major global issues such as climate change and migration. It is the only EU policy that covers all of Europe's local communities involving local stakeholders to deliver growth strategies led by shared EU goals. The #CohesionAlliance is a coalition of those who believe that EU cohesion policy must continue to be a pillar of the EU's future. The Alliance was created through cooperation between the leading European associations of cities and regions and the European Committee of the Regions. It demands that the EU budget after 2020 makes cohesion policy stronger, more effective, visible and available for every region in the European Union. From national, regional and local governments to SMEs, NGOs, schools, universities, cultural organisations, anyone who believes in EU cohesion policy is welcome to join the #CohesionAlliance by signing the declaration. Page Content On 4 May, the historical city of Burgos in Northern Spain gathered together local and regional representatives from EU Member States in the framework of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. The seminar was organised jointly by the Government of Castilla y Leon and the SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions with the aim to highlight and boost the role of culture as an important resource for for the future of Europe. The discussion on the importance of cultural heritage and its financing in the future of Europe comes timely as the new budget proposal for the EU after 2020 was presented by the European Commission last 2 May. From 2007 to 2013, almost EUR 4.5 billion was dedicated to European cultural heritage coming from a range of EU policies, programmes and funding schemes . In his opening speech, Juan Vicente Herrera Campo (ES/EPP), President of the Government of Castilla y Leon, highlighted the rich cultural heritage of his region which hosts the highest number (11) of UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world, among them the Burgos Cathedral and the city's historical centre. "The region of Castilla y Leon wants cultural heritage to be part of the future of Europe. Its our duty to work for Europes cultural heritage preservation, also for our economic and social cohesion", said President Herrera Campo. The SEDEC Commission is currently chaired by Jose Ignacio Ceniceros (ES/EPP), President of the Government of La Rioja. In his intervention, President Ceniceros highlighted the social and economic importance of cultural heritage as well as its role in building the future of Europe and the resulting effect on local and regional development. "Cultural and creative sectors have proved their value even during the difficult times of the economic and financial crisis. In recent years, they have been one of the key sources of employment and growth in many of our communities", President Ceniceros said. Delegates pointed out that Europe's rich cultural heritage is an invaluable asset: by contributing to the quality of life it determines attractiveness for business, investors and creative and enterprising individuals. Designing cultural development strategies can therefore boost local and regional competitiveness and increase a community's comparative advantage. Participants also signalled the fundamental role of local and regional authorities in the management, promotion, protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage. Some best practices were presented from the Castilla y Leon region such as the excavations at the archaeological site of Atapuerca and the Museum of Human Evolution. The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 will be a key moment of the next plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions on 16-17 May. In the presence of Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the assembly will adopt two opinions on Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture (rapporteur Tanya Hristova, BG/EPP) and on Cultural Heritage as a strategic resource for more cohesive and sustainable regions in the EU (rapporteur Babette Winter, DE/PES). Note to editors: European cultural heritage benefits from a range of EU policies, programmes and funding. In 2007-13, 3.2 billion was invested in heritage from the European Regional Development Fund; a further 1.2 billion on rural heritage from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and around 100 million worth of heritage research was funded from the 7th Framework Programme. For more information click here. Contact: Lauri Ouvinen | lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu LINK: Drone Video of Eruption in Leilani Estates (Shows eruption slicing through Mohala St. in the late afternon of Thursday, May 3, 2018) * * * * * USGS: M 6.9 - 16km SW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii, 2018-05-04 12:32:55 HST, 5.0 km depth. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us1000dyad#executive Epicenter near abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision. This is near the location of the deadly 1975 M 7.4 earthquake. HTH: Large quake shakes Hawaii Island, causes power outages HTH: Lava erupts from fourth vent in Leilani Estates -- "According to Civil Defense, the first three fissures are located on Makamae, Kaupili and Mohala streets in the lower portion of the subdivision. At least two homes have been destroyed so far. The fourth fissure is located in the vicinity of Mohala and Kaupili streets, Babb said....only the fourth vent was active as of 11 a.m....." HTH: Lava crosses Pohoiki Road; large quakes rattle residents KITV: Puna evacuees may be able to return to their homes Fissure Count up to Six USPS: Hilo Downtown Post Office Closed Due to Structural Concerns HNN: LIST: Lava threat forces evacuations and closures of roads, schools SA: Hawaiis largest quake since 1975 knocks out power, causes minor sea-level changes KITV: Scientists at Pacific Tsunami Warning Center say have a plan SA: Hawaii is still open for business, tourism officials say HNN: Geologists: Kilauea eruption similar to 1955 event that went on for months HNN: Some Big Island residents placed under emergency water restrictions 70 Hawaii Guard members sent to Puna Big Island eruptions and earthquakes result in public school closures and early releases Ige Visits Pahoa HELCO: No power shortfall expected Tourists Call After Eruption : About every 30 seconds, were getting calls, Birch said. Our telephones yesterday and today have been overwhelmed with questions from potential guests and future guests checking on the status. Police Pull out of Area, Looters Move In? --KHON: While lava and quakes continue to impact lower Puna, there is also an unseen danger - sulfur dioxide gas being released by the lava. "First responders felt sick," said Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno. Hawaii County Police Chief Paul Ferreira says it's not even safe for his officers to be in and patrol Leilani estates. When asked about burglaries and looting, Ferreira said, don't believe everything you see on social media. "Just FYI, as a fire chief, we ask you guys to stay out of the area," said Hawaii Fire Department Chief Renwick Victorino. AP: Reports of Looting -- Brad Stanfill says the lava is more than three miles (5 kilometers) from his house but he's still not being allowed in. He wants go home to feed his pets and check on his property. He's concerned about reports of looting. One woman angrily told police guarding Leilani Estates she was going into the area and they couldn't arrest her. She stormed past the police unopposed. KHON: Resident resolves to stay, protect community for as long as possible during eruption read Police Pull out of Area, Looters Move In SA: Eight Fissures -- Five Homes Destroyed May 5, 2018: Hawaii County officials say the eight lava fissures in Leilani Estates in lower Puna went quiet for now after destroying at least five homes since Thursday evening. Talmadge Magno, administrator of Hawaii County Civil Defense, said this afternoon that the eight separate fissures now appear connected by the lava that flowed out of them. He said the seismic activity and the lava flows have died down (but) we are pretty sure we are not done. Officials also want to set up a process to vet the residents to make sure people who do not belong in the subdivision are allowed in. Officials also want to set up a process to vet the residents to make sure people who do not belong in the subdivision are not allowed in. * * * * * HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE From U.S. Geological Survey, Friday, May 4, 2018, 7:45 AM HST KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010) 1925'16" N 15517'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Summary: An eruption is in progress along Kilauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. Since late afternoon May 3, at least three small fissure vents have opened in Leilani Estates subdivision in the lower Puna district. At this time, activity consists mostly of vigorous lava spattering. Additional outbreaks in the area are likely. Deflationary tilt at the summit of the volcano continues and the lava lake level continues to drop. Mohala St at dawn, Friday, May 4, 2018 Photo: HELCO Steaming cracks at 5:57 a.m. HST Friday May 4, 2018 in Leilani Estates subdivision, moments before a fissure opened up on Kaupili Street (One block mauka of Mohala St). PHOTO: HVO Photos and maps of activity will be posted to the HVO web site as they become available. https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html Lower East Rift Zone: The first outbreak of lava occurred late in the afternoon of May 3 following days of increased earthquake activity and ground deformation. As of this morning, three separate fissures have opened in the eastern portion of Leilani Estates. Each outbreak has been preceded by ground cracking and strong gas emission. Activity consists primarily of vigorous spattering of lava and development of very short lava flows that have yet to travel more than a few tens of yards from the vent. Earthquake activity in the area remains elevated and ground deformation is continuing. High levels of volcanic gas are reported around the fissure vents. Residents of the Puna District to remain alert, review individual, family, and business emergency plans, and watch for further information about the status of the volcano. Hawaii County Civil Defense messages regarding conditions, warning, and evacuations may be found at http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts/. Summit Observations: Deflationary tilt at the summit continues. In concert, the summit lava lake is dropping. Tremor amplitude is fluctuating with lava lake spattering. Elevated summit sulfur dioxide emission rates persist. Gas emissions remain elevated. Current webcam views are here: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html Puu Oo Observations: Seismicity remains elevated at Puu Oo but tiltmeters near the cone show no significant deformation overnight. During fieldwork at Puu Oo yesterday, no lava activity was observed in the area. The 61g lava flow is no longer being fed. The summit crater of the cone continues to collapse intermittently producing small plumes of ash; yesterday there were several episodes of ash emission in response to collapse, including immediately after the nearby M5.0 earthquake. MORE INFORMATION Activity Summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862 Lava viewing information: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm County of Hawaii: http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lava-viewing/ Kalapana lava-viewing area: 808-430-1966 Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/ Webcam images: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html Photos/Video: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html Lava Flow Maps: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html Definitions of terms used in update: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/extra/definitions.pdf Overview of Kilauea summit (Halemaumau) and East Rift Zone (Puu Oo ) eruptions: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/extra/background.pdf Summary of volcanic hazards from Kilauea eruptions: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/extra/hazards.pdf Recent Earthquakes in Hawai'i (map and list): https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/earthquakes/ Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3139/ * * * * * Evacuation Ordered As Lava Erupts in Leilani Estates From Hawaii Tribune-Herald May 3, 2018 6:10PM: The crack in Mohala street has extended to a fissure between 150-200 yards long, gushing lava along its length, as of 7 p.m. Hawaii County Civil Defense has ordered all residents of the Leilani Estates subdivision as well as Lanipuna Gardens to evacuate the area. Two Red Cross shelters have been established at Pahoa Regional Community Center and Keaau Community Center. The Pahoa Community Center will allow evacuees to bring caged pets; the Keaau Center will not allow pets. Evacuees are advised to bring an emergency evacuation supply kit including medicine, food and other essential items. Kim met with Governor David Ige and brigadier general Moses Kaoiwi Jr. of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Both the county and the state are expected to issue emergency proclamations. Resident Ikaika Marzo said he saw tons of lava pumping from a fissure in the ground, filling a space over a hundred yards wide. You never expect to see that kind of fountaining outside the crater, said resident Dawn Javellana. To see that so close to home, I never could have expected it.... Puna Geothermal Venture is shutting down operations and removing hazardous chemicals from the facility as part of its emergency plan..... (Mohala St is about 1 mile from Puna Geothermal) read UPDATES PDF: Hawaii County Emergency Proclamation NEWS RELEASE GOVERNOR IGE SIGNS EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION FOR HAWAII ISLAND IN WAKE OF VOLCANIC ERUPTION MAP: Mohala St, Leilani Estates, Pahoa, HI 96778 2008: Red Hot Lava Menaces Old-boy Scam Michigan magnesium plant fire injures two Two people were injured and nearly 150 workers were evacuated from an auto parts plant in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, on May 2 after a fire and a series of explosions. The blaze at Meridian Magnesium, the citys largest employer, was extinguished within 24 hours but the main building suffered serious damage, with part of the roof blown off. Stock image Firefighters waited for the fire to burn out because water will not extinguish a magnesium-fuelled blaze. Residents were asked to avoid the immediate area surrounding the factory. Eaton Rapids City Manager Aaron Desentz said the fire that occurred close to a shift change at the plant, with the seat in an area called the "tunnel" where workers put magnesium scraps on a conveyor belt to be melted down. The Lansing State Journal quoted local residents claiming fires often break out at the plant, though none have been as extensive as this one so far. (Hedgeweek) Neuberger Berman has moved into the broader specialty finance industry with the formation of Neuberger Berman Specialty Finance group (NBSF). The firm manages USD299 billion in assets, of which USD60 billion is alternative investments for institutions and individuals. To read this article: Elsewhere, Kela has refuted claims made by the Scottish government that baby boxes can help to reduce infant mortality, while The Times has reported that Finland is set to share its citizens private data with professionals, researchers and pharmaceutical companies in order to offer more personalised healthcare. Although it was recently reported that Finland has decided to scrap its experiment with universal basic income, The Economist has reported that the truth is not quite so simple. According to the weekly news magazine, the trial is not necessarily viewed by Kela as a failure and was always due to finish after two years. The lapsing of Finlands universal basic income trial The Economist The concept of a universal basic income (UBI), an unconditional cash payment to all citizens, has in recent years captured the imagination of a wide spectrum of people, from leftist activists to libertarian Silicon Valley techies. Proponents see a neat solution to poverty and the challenges of automation; detractors argue it would remove the incentive to work. Trials of UBI have been launched, or are about to be, in several countries. Most are publicly funded, although Y Combinator, a Silicon Valley startup accelerator, is starting a privately funded experiment in America. Finland was one of the first movers. In January 2017 it began a trial for 2,000 people, each receiving 560 ($680) a month. That drew legions of foreign journalists and camera crews. This week, however, international media attention abruptly centred on the ending of the experiment in December 2018. Headlines suggested that it had been scrapped or had failed. The truth is more nuanced. The trial was always due to finish after two years, although Kela, Finlands national welfare body, which was responsible for the experiment, had hoped to expand it (it was denied funding in January). The scheme was also more limited than the hype suggested; it was not a truly universal benefit, because all the recipients were chosen from among the unemployed. And the trial is not ending because of failure. Indeed, Kela has refused to publish any results until it is finished, for privacy reasons and to avoid biasing outcomes. The government simply has other priorities. In particular, it has decided to adopt Danish-style active labour-market policies. Original article was published by The Economist on 26/04/2018 and can be found here. Finland disputes Scotland's baby box claims after expert warning The Guardian The Finnish welfare and benefits agency that pioneered the use of baby boxes has challenged claims in Scotland that the temporary cribs can reduce infant mortality. The agency, Kela, supported warnings by a leading expert on infant health, Dr Peter Blair, that it was wrong to say that Finlands scheme had been proven to prevent or reduce infant mortality. Blair said baby boxes should only be used for sleeping babies in an emergency or when no cot was available. Sturgeon unveiled the baby box scheme two years ago, saying they would cut infant mortality. The first minister, speaking at the height of the 2016 Scottish parliament elections, told her partys conference in March that year: This simple but powerful idea originated in Finland. It provides practical help for parents and has reduced infant mortality and improved child health. But Kela told the Guardian it had never made that claim and there was no evidence to support it. We dont want to promote the idea that there is evidence the baby box as such has decreased infant mortality in Finland or that Finland has made such claims. Rather, it has been the improving of our healthcare system of which the baby box is a part of, that our low infant mortality can be attributed to, a Kela spokesperson said. Original article was published by The Guardian on 03/05/2018 and can be found here. Finns to share data in bid for state of permanent wellbeing The Times Finland, a land of lakes and forests, used to be known for tangible things: sawn pine timber for furniture, then Nokia mobile phones. Now its claims to fame are intangible. Its schools were the worlds best before being eclipsed by those in Shanghai and Singapore. It is still the worlds happiest country but this, too, is in the balance as Finns grapple with twin challenges that are putting strain on its tax-funded welfare system. A falling birth rate means that Finland is ageing faster than any country except Japan. The proportion of over-65s is projected to rise from 20 per cent to 29 per cent in 30 years. Many young men, especially in the remote north and east, are disaffected and drop out of school to live on benefits. The youth unemployment rate is 18.6 per cent. Finlands answer is to revolutionise welfare services by making citizens personal wellbeing records available to professionals and researchers. Electronic social security and health records for every Finn will be merged to create a dataset of unrivalled richness and, the government hopes, value. It will enable more personal healthcare and greater emphasis on preventative work. But it will also be offered to pharmaceutical companies and academics. Original article was published by The Times on 28/04/2018 and can be found here. Finnish study: Frequent sauna bathing significantly reduces risk of stroke Xinhua Frequent sauna bathing could significantly reduce the risk of stroke, a study conducted by researchers has shown. The 15-year follow-up study has found that people taking a sauna four to seven times a week have a 61% lower risk of suffering a stroke than those taking a sauna once a week, according to a press release issued by the University of Eastern Finland on Thursday. Conducted by scientists at the University of Eastern Finland, the study was carried out in cooperation with the University of Bristol, the University of Cambridge, the University of Innsbruck and other international universities. The findings are based on a population-based study involving 1,628 men and women aged 53 to 74 years living in the eastern part of Finland. The study indicated that reduced blood pressure, stimulation of the immune system and improvement of the heart and circulatory system were some of the reasons that led to regular sauna bathing reducing the risk of stroke. Original article was published by Xinhua News Agency on 04/05/2018 and can be found here. Dan Anderson HT Photo: Lehtikuva / Kela The cities argue that the bill not only fails to take into consideration the special characteristics of the capital region, but also contains several flaws and risks from the regions perspective. The cities of Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa have issued a joint statement urging lawmakers to reject the bill for the social, health care and regional government reform, viewing that the long-discussed reform will not reach its objectives. The quartet justifies its opposition to the reform by drawing attention to a lack of clarity surrounding the overall impacts of the reform, the non-applicability of a single solution and the enormous financial and operational challenges associated with establishing the counties. Jan Vapaavuori (NCP), the Mayor of Helsinki, revealed at the beginning of last month that Helsinki has submitted a concrete proposal to the government for establishing two counties one for Greater Helsinki and another for the rest of Uusimaa instead of a single one in Uusimaa. News of the proposal came as a surprise even to the City of Espoo. A joint collaborative task force established by the four municipalities will convene to mull over the social, health care and regional reform in Vantaa on 15 May. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Martti Kainulainen Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi The roughly 18-month-old case has received a great deal of publicity because the perpetrator was sentenced to three years in prison for aggravated child sexual abuse by both the District Court of Pirkanmaa and Turku Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court of Finland (KKO) on Thursday announced it has turned down a leave to appeal against a decision not to convict a man who had sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old girl of rape. Both of the courts ruled that while the man had had sexual intercourse with the victim, the prosecution failed to substantiate its claim that the victim had been unable to defend herself and express her lack of consent due to being in a state of fear or helplessness. The prosecution filed an appeal against both of the rulings, demanding that the offender be also convicted of aggravated rape. All three rulings have provoked calls for amending the provisions on sex crimes in Finland. The focus should be on whether both sides are able to express or form consent. Ten-year-olds are not capable of expressing whether they want sex or not, Matti Tolvanen, a professor of criminal law at the University of Eastern Finland, commented to Helsingin Sanomat on Thursday. Antti Hakkanen (NCP), the Minister of Justice, announced last month that the government has earmarked funds for raising the punishments dished out for sex crimes especially against children and reducing the legislative ambiguity in cases where the provisions on rape and child sexual abuse are currently applied simultaneously. Helsingin Sanomat, however, wrote that the legal experts it contacted believe the provisions on sex crimes are in need of a thorough overhaul rather than minor adjustments. The provisions have so far been revised here and there, which has led to the law being difficult to interpret. The relationship between sexual abuse and rape is currently very problematic, said Minna Kimpimaki, a professor of criminal law at the University of Lapland. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Markku Ulander Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi The trade unions board of directors decided yesterday to pay 50 euros a day in financial support to its members who are left without pay for the duration of the lockout, which is scheduled to be introduced by all member companies of the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (RT) on 10 May. The Construction Trade Union said the financial support will be offered to members who have no outstanding membership fees and who have joined the union no later than at the end of March, 2018. The amount of financial support, it adds, has been calculated in a way that enables the trade union to withstand a prolonged industrial dispute. RT has said the lockout is an attempt to put an end to the recent wave strikes and reach an agreement in the long-running collective bargaining negotiations in the construction industry. A lockout is a forceful measure, the only objective of which is to expedite putting an end to the strikes and reaching an agreement. The Construction Trade Union has chosen to go down the road of scattered strikes that, at worst, could continue until the autumn and cause substantial harm to both companies and bystanders, explained Harri Kailasalo, the board chairman at RT. Differences over wage increases have been cited as the main reason for the strikes. The Finnish Construction Trade Union has argued that the lockout is illegal and pledged to take legal action if construction workers are discriminated against on grounds of their membership in the union. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Roni Rekomaa Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi A ROOM at Townlands Memorial Hospital in Henley could be named after a former mayor of the town. Terry Buckett, who served as a councillor from 1995 until his death in 2009 and was Mayor twice, led a campaign to save the old hospital in 2005. A room at the 10 million hospital off York Road, which opened in 2016, is already named after Maurice Tate, a Henley man who died following a car crash. Town councillor Ken Arlett says that Mr Buckett, who was a postman, should be recognised for his efforts and he would be willing to pay for a plaque himself. He said: We want a room named after Terry so it can stay there in perpetuity. Its something to remember him by. Terry was the main mover and shaker when the campaign started. He put an enormous amount of work into it and got other people involved. If it wasnt for the likes of him it never would have happened. One of the things he said to me before he died was that he really wanted to see a new Townlands hospital. He was a likeable fellow. When he was elected he didnt count the votes, he weighed them he was that popular. Mr Bucketts widow Pauline, who served as a councillor after her husbands death, said: I know he would have been very proud and honoured for this to happen. Terry did work hard on Townlands before he passed, as did I for a few years when I was on the council. I would love it and I feel that a lot of other people in the town would be proud too. People thought a lot of Terry and some say they wish he was still on the council. A spokesman for NHS Property Services, which is responsible for the site, said: We are discussing the proposal with our local NHS partners and members of the Townlands Stakeholder Reference Group. Mr Buckett led the action group which campaigned for the old Townlands Community Hospital to remain open. The Save Townlands group organised a march around the town in 2005 and delivered a petition containing 11,800 names to then prime minister Tony Blair at No 10 Downing Street. The campaign succeeded in saving the old hospital from closure and led to NHS plans to eventually redevelop the facility. Town councillor Ian Reissmann, who chairs the Townlands Steering Group, said: We have a Maurice Tate room and Im not sure if theres another room thats suitable. It will be NHS Property Services decision and Im not that hopeful. Im not a great fan of naming things after people and many people were involved in the Townlands campaign. Singling out one person doesnt seem the right thing to do. The Maurice Tate Room was opened at the old Townlands Hospital in 1973 and was reprovided in the new development. Mr Tate, who was chairman of Henley Round Table, died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash in 1969. His wife Christina, who lost her sight in one eye, died in 2011. The couples son David is joint managing director of estate agent Davis Tate. THE Henley Choral Society will give a May day concert in Falaise, Henleys French twin town, tomorrow (Saturday). Sixty members of the choir have travelled to Normandy to perform with a local choir. Musical director Peter Asprey said: We are thrilled to go abroad and take our music to a French audience. The programme will be predominantly French, including Faures Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine. Mr Asprey said: Ill have to ensure our pronunciation avoids Franglais as much as possible. Fortunately, we have some French nationals in the choir to keep us on our toes, including soprano Valentine Ford, who will sing the exquisite Piu Jesu solo in the Requiem. Ms Ford, who grew up in Caen and moved to Henley two years ago, said: You can imagine how honoured Ill feel to perform in front of my family and friends. Members of the Henley Falaise Twinning Association have also travelled to France for the weekend. Chairman Denis McCoy said: On the Saturday there will be a civic reception and the concert and, on the Sunday, a walk around historic Falaise followed by lunch for well over 140 people offered by the town. The Falaisiens are not new to hosting Henleys musical talent. In May 2014, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the twinning of Henley and Falaise, they enjoyed a much-appreciated concert given by the Henley Symphony Orchestra. Trips, trips, trips. Ive been running around a bit and desperately trying to catch up with various things. One of those is to share this blog about the delightful visit I had to Miami Universitys Physics Department a few weeks ago. As I wrote about earlier, I had the good fortune to deliver the annual George C. Benson Memorial Lecture at Miami on April 12, talking about The New Cosmos. As a guest of Physics Department chair Herbert Jaeger, my good friend Associate Professor Jennifer Blue, and others, I had a wonderful visit with the department and its staff, prior to the talk. I want to share some highlights of this special day with you here. I felt so honored and lucky to be back, having grown up as a professors son in Oxford, Ohio, Miamis locale, and counting Miami and the Department of Physics! as my alma mater. The department conducts a wide array of research and its faculty and staff have a broad range of expertise in many subfields of physics. Professor and Department Chair Herbert Jaeger is an expert on materials physics, focusing on the physics of ceramic materials. He employs spectroscopy to study structures and defects in materials at microscopic levels, for example. I spent lovely time catching up with Associate Professor Jennifer Blue, a friend who is also a friend of my sister Nancys, and was a friend and colleague of my father John, a chemistry professor at Miami who passed away in 2016. Jennifers interesting research and activities focus on physics education research, the study of how physics students learn and develop their ideas and concepts. I was really pleased to meet Steve Alexander, Associate Professor and Chief Departmental Advisor, who teaches the introductory astronomy courses at Miami. Steve studies computational astrophysics and is very interested in the dark matter problem, having researched MOND as an alternative to explain the nature of dark matter, among many other topics. I was also delighted and amazed to see the laboratory of Professor Samir Bali, whose research group focuses on the properties of ultracold atoms in a so-called optical lattice. These studies may be very important or quantum computing applications. The optical lattice consists of atoms at temperatures of few microKelvins organized in crystal-like fashion in periodic potential wells induced by the interference of several laser beams. The lecture went well, as I wrote. I had a wonderful time seeing the campus again, including various icons such as the Physics Departments great Foucault Pendulum display. I look forward to visiting many old and new friends at Miami sometime again soon. For more on Miamis great Physics Department and its activities, see: http://www.miamioh.edu/cas/academics/departments/physics/ For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser How do Israelis celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day? Like many Israeli holidays, there's a lot of singing, dancing, and eating. Family and friends gather to reminisce of both victory and statehood. Yet, Israel Independence Day takes place right after Yom Hazikaron-the Memorial Day for fallen Israel Defense Forces soldiers. Placing the two holidays so close together is a reminder that Israeli independence has come at the very highest cost-the lives of sacrificed soldiers. So what does this combination look like in Israel? In Beit She'an, Israel, a tombstone commemorates Captain Tzvi Kaplan, aged 28 when he died in Operation Protective Edge in 2014. (This was a military operation aimed at stopping frequent rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.) Kaplan was known to be a particularly kind and spirited individual. Friends of his built a stream passing through a park near where he lived honoring his memory. At the other end of the spectrum, Yom Ha'atzmaut's happy festivities ring out in Jerusalem, and everywhere in Israel. It's often the kids who truly take holiday celebrations to heart. Ice cream cones, dress up, or flag-waving anyone? Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is hosting "Israel at 70," featuring Yossi Klein Halevi on Tuesday, May 15. The event will be held at The Roth Family JCC, 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland. At 5:45 p.m. there will be a Club member pre-reception and book signing. The program will begin at 7 p.m. This event is open to the community. There will be dessert and coffee. Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Together with Imam Abdullah Antepli of Duke University, he co-directs the Institute's Muslim Leadership Initiative. Yossi is the author of "Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem" and "Divided a Nation," published by HarperCollins in 2013, which won the Jewish Book Council's Everett Family Foundation Jewish Book of the Year Award. Halevi writes for the op-ed pages of leading American newspapers. Halevi's first book, "Memoirs of a Jewish Extremist," told the story of his teenage attraction to, and subsequent disillusionment with Jewish militancy. The New York Times called it "a book of burning importance." His next book is being released in May and titled "Letters to my Palestinian Neighbor." For more information about the event, call 954-382-6110. (JNS)-The death toll from flash floods that hit a group of teenage hikers in southern Israel Thursday rose from nine to 10 after a body found overnight was identified as the last missing teen Friday morning. The ten victims, nine girls and one boy of around 18 years old, were killed during a field trip Thursday during flash floods that pummeled Israel. A group of 25 students, ages 17 and 18, who were accepted to the Bnei Tzion pre-military academy in Tel Aviv for the coming year, were hiking in the Judean Desert along the Nahal Tzafit riverbed trail, that empties into the Dead Sea. Fifteen other students missing for several hours, were rescued during a massive search and rescue operation that included Israeli Police, the Air Force's 669 rescue team and a regional search and rescue unit. Two were lightly wounded. Israel's Ministry of Education claims that it was not made aware of the trip, as per protocol. Its director has been arrested for suspected negligent manslaughter. Minister of Education Naftali Bennett said in a statement, "A heavy tragedy has struck the state of Israel. Our hearts are with the families of the teenagers who found their deaths in flash floods in the south," while adding that "the Ministry of Education will continue, over the coming hours and days, to closely escort the educational staff in the schools the students attended." Bennett also thanked the search and rescue teams "for their determined work to rescue the boys and girls." The young people killed in a flash flood April 27, 2018. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on Twitter, "The state of Israel grieves the promising young lives that were cut short by this tragedy in the Arava [Desert Region]. We embrace the families in grief, and pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded." In Israel, rivers fill up with water during the winter rain season, which typically ends around the Passover holiday. The river had been dry for several weeks before unseasonable torrential downpours struck the country on Wednesday and Thursday. During heavy rains, the water in the rivers can rise quickly leading to flash floods. Hikers are warned to steer clear of riverbeds during inclement weather, when they can be notoriously dangerous. When dry, riverbeds are popular hiking destinations. Two Bedouin teenagers were killed in separate incidents during floods on Wednesday. WASHINGTON (JTA)The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to help Holocaust survivors and the families of victims obtain restitution or the return of Holocaust-era assets. The measure approved Tuesday requires the State Department to report on the progress of certain European countries toward the return of or restitution for wrongfully confiscated or transferred Holocaust-era assets, including property, art and other movable property. It also requires a report specifically on progress on the resolution of claims for U.S. citizen Holocaust survivors and family members. The Senate unanimously approved its version of the bill in December. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., are its lead sponsors. The World Jewish Restitution Organization praised the bills passage. This is a powerful statement of Americas unwavering commitment to supporting Holocaust survivors in their quest for justice, Gideon Taylor, the WJRO chairman of operations, said in a statement. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. HOUSTON (JTA)-Over a four-day period at the end of August, Hurricane Harvey drenched this city with over 50 inches of rain, inflicting $125 billion in damages. The result of the flooding was especially devastating for the tight-knit and geographically close Jewish community of Houston. Seven major Jewish institutions have been severely impacted by Harvey, and an estimated 2,000 Jewish families were affected by the floodwaters. United Orthodox Synagogues was particularly hard hit, as approximately one-third of our member households was damaged by the flood. The waters also destroyed our beautiful sanctuary, and ruined our daily and High Holidays prayer books as well as our extensive Judaica library. Our current building has been the home of our merged congregation since 1960. Harvey was only the latest in a series of floods, including in 2015 and 2016. As I write these words, the main sanctuary, executive wing and classrooms are being demolished. A room that holds memories of so many happy occasions has become a place of tears. We recently held a "farewell" to the building and joined together one last time in our beautiful sanctuary for morning services. It was a morning of mixed emotions as many spoke about memories of growing up in our synagogues. Others spoke about the "end of an era," while others sat alone in small groups or alone and just cried. I shared some thoughts with the congregation: These walls brought together three different congregations and ultimately combined them into one united synagogue. The seats of this sanctuary cradled generations of families... grandparents, parents and their children, who came to pray here, to cry here and to rejoice here. These walls have absorbed the sounds of our prayers and the wisdom of our Torah. This room has been the setting where we offered thanksgiving for our greatest triumphs and called out to God in turbulent times. We have expressed our greatest hopes and dreams here. Echoing off the walls of this holy chamber is the lifetime of our community... the multigenerational and diverse sounds that can only be created by a community like ours. So many of us have seen our kids graduate from UOSGMS [the local Jewish Montessori preschool/kindergarten program] and RMBA [Robert M. Beren Academy, our Modern Orthodox day school] on our bimah. And how many hundreds and hundreds of lollipops have been distributed up there... reminding our kids that Torah, shul and community are the sweetest treats they will ever get. Yet there was also hope in the room that day. While it is simplistic and often insensitive to say things like "it's just a building" or "it's just stuff," the community is resolute in believing that its strength derives from our members. We are facing a choice of how to rebuild our synagogue and where exactly in the neighborhood it will be. These are important questions, even as we know that we are each others' most important resource. For now we will hold services and events in Freedman Hall, a nearby building that has the advantage of being elevated. It's important that we try to save the monumental stained glass mural that serves as a dramatic backdrop to our bimah. A room in United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston that was stripped of its furniture and floors. Since the flood, our community has seen its prayer books and library replaced, and funds have been raised to help our families recover from the devastation. The outpouring of concern, expressed by hundreds of volunteers coming to our neighborhood to help and provide food for flooded families for a full month after the hurricane, have been nothing short of extraordinary. One of the most astonishing aspects of our recovery, however, is how flooded families have been helping each other. Despite individual suffering and anguish, members of our community have continued to reach out to others. It is so easy (and understandable) for those suffering from loss to close in on themselves and focus only on their own challenges, of which there are many-economic, psychological, social. I have not seen that. I have seen the opposite. Rabbi Barry Gelman is rabbi of United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston. KRAKOW, Poland (JTA)-At one of Poland's plushest synagogues, leaders of this city's small but vibrant Jewish community welcomed visitors from around the world to a celebration of what the hosts call their minority's "revival" in this country. The occasion for the party Sunday at Tempel Synagogue was the 10th anniversary of the adjacent Jewish Community Center of Krakow, located in the heart of the city's historic Jewish quarter, Kazimierz. Since its opening in 2008, the three-story building, with its club for some 60 Holocaust survivors and newly opened Jewish kindergarten, has become a symbol for the return of Jewish community life to the city near Auschwitz, where the Nazis obliterated centuries of Jewish presence. "As we have grown, we have also been able to share the story of Krakow's Jewish revival with hundreds of thousands of visitors," a beaming Jonathan Ornstein, the New York-born director of JCC Krakow, told the 200 people attending the anniversary party. "Thank you for letting me be a part of the bright, beautiful Jewish future we are building together." Many of Krakow's hundreds of Jewish residents acknowledge the progress made since communism, which drove underground what little remained of its Jewish community. But not all of them share Ornstein's optimism in a country whose nationalist government recently unleashed what critics say is one of the worst waves of anti-Semitic rhetoric in decades. Several blocks away from the JCC, volunteers of the Czulent association of Jewish students are converting the cellar of their building-a former apartment synagogue, or shtiebel-into what Czulent founder Anna Makowka-Kwapisiewicz calls a "safe space." It's essentially a room where Jews can hole up in the event of an emergency. "It's not something I thought I'd be doing in Poland even five years ago," she said about the shelter. Makowka-Kwapisiewicz said her confidence began to recede two years ago, when five men harassed and intimidated Jewish boys playing at a playground in a poor area of Krakow because one was wearing a kippah. One of the men spat on a Jewish child at the playground while shouting at both kids. The boys' parents never pressed charges, which is why the incident was not widely reported in the media, said a mother of one of the boys, according to Makowka-Kwapisiewicz, who works for the international nonprofit National Democratic Institute. Since the fall of communism, such incidents were unheard of in Krakow, a tourist magnet for its Jewish heritage sites and one of the few old Polish cities that was spared major damage during World War II. The city celebrates its ancient Jewish heritage at the annual Jewish Festival, one of the largest events of its kind in Europe. The city's seven large synagogues-of which three are active-swing open their doors for one night a year, attracting thousands of visitors. On the way to the nearby museum on the grounds of the former Auschwitz death camp, hundreds of thousands of tourists pass through Krakow's picturesque streets, some of them featuring Jewish-flavored shops and restaurants with Yiddish signs. Many visit the grounds of Oskar Schindler's factory, where the German industrialist saved hundreds of Jews. The playground incident came one year after the 2015 election of the right-wing Law and Justice party, which some leaders of Polish Jewry and others accuse of encouraging or tolerating a wave of xenophobic incidents, including against Jews. The taboo on open expressions of hatred toward Jews in Poland, where the Nazis killed millions of Jews in the 1940s, began to loosen in 2015, said Makowka-Kwapisiewicz. That year, a far-right activist burned the effigy of a haredi Orthodox Jew during a march against Muslim immigration in Wroclaw. "I never expected I would live in such circumstances," she added. More recently, in November, tens of thousands of nationalists marched through Warsaw shouting "Jews out" and other racist slogans while carrying banners against Islam. Two weeks after the march, a Warsaw mosque that for years was targeted with threats was vandalized. "When places of worship are being attacked, we need to prepare," Makowka-Kwapisiewicz said of the shelter her group is preparing. Against this backdrop, the president of the Union of Jewish Communities in Poland, Leslaw Piszewski, and Anna Chipczynska, who heads the Warsaw community, wrote last year to a founder of Law and Justice to say that they are "appalled by recent events and fearful for our security as the situation in our country is becoming more dangerous." Things went from bad to worse following a row between Poland and Israel over Warsaw passing a law in January that criminalizes blaming the Polish nation for Nazi crimes. The dispute unleashed the worst wave of anti-Semitism since the fall of the Iron Curtain, according to Rafal Pankowski, co-founder of the Polish anti-racism group Never Again. In the wake of the fight over the law, he told JTA: "In the space of one month, I have seen more anti-Semitic hate speech than in the previous 10 years combined." At least one person reported an assault that he suspected was anti-Semitic: The Catholic journalist Bogdan Bialek said he was attacked by a person who shouted about Bialek's efforts to commemorate victims of an anti-Semitic pogrom in Kielce in 1946. Poland lacks a systematic effort by the state to collect data on attacks against minority groups, according to Amnesty International, "meaning that authorities have no way of knowing the scope of the problem," the group said. The tsunami of hate speech about Jews was conducted mostly on social networks, where calls to "stuff TNT up Pankowski's ass" and "punch him" were recorded after a government official singled him out for attack on Twitter. But since January, several Polish politicians and prominent figures have joined the Twitter rabble. Beata Mazurek, the spokeswoman for Law and Justice and a deputy parliament speaker, favorably tweeted a quote from a Catholic priest who said that the Israeli ambassador's criticism of the Holocaust bill "made it hard for me to look at Jews with sympathy and kindness." TVP, a public television station, aired an interview with a priest who said that the Jews' perception of the truth is whatever is "beneficial" to them or Israel. And the Do Reczy conservative weekly published a drawing showing two silhouettes-one bearing a swastika and the other a Star of David-pointing a gun at a third figure emblazoned with the Polish flag. Last month, Kornel Morawiecki, a former senator whose son, Mateusz, became prime minister last year, said in an interview that Jews moved gladly into ghettos during the Holocaust to avoid having "to deal with those nasty Poles," as the ex-senator put it. Government officials have consistently vowed to act tough on nationalist extremism, "but at the same time they are encouraging it, creating a schizophrenic attitude," Makowka-Kwapisiewicz said. Despite the rhetoric, many Poles still say their country is safer for their religious minorities than many Western European countries, where Islamists and other extremists are responsible for hundreds of physical assaults on Jews, including deadly ones. "OK, the situation is less comfortable than one year ago," Peter Nawrocki, a 44-year-old computer science university professor, told JTA at the JCC celebration. "Extremists are a problem. But this is not France." Nawrocki is confident that Poland is good place to raise his 1-year-old son, Shimon. "I think Poland is one of the safest places in Europe to be Jewish," he said, citing the absence in recent years of a violent hate crime attack on a Jew. Anna Swies, a Jewish-American investment consultant with Polish roots, traded Chicago for Krakow six years ago and married a local man. She said she feels "connected" to her true identity here. Having a luxury Jewish kindergarten for her two children, aged 4 and 6, for a fraction of what a comparable institution would cost in the United States "also helps," she said. But like Makowka-Kwapisiewicz-she said she would like to leave at least for one year or two-other JCC regulars are having a tough time envisioning a future for themselves here because of rising xenophobia. Serhii Chupryna, a Ukrainian-Jewish student who settled in Krakow in 2013 for his studies, said he feels significantly less comfortable living in Poland than he did when he first arrived. As a gay man, "I feel like I'm everything the ultranationalists here hate rolled into one person," he joked. Adding that "Ukraine is no better," he said he plans to save some money and move to Israel in a few years. The JCC, with an annual budget of $1.5 million,was set up with help from the World Jewish Relief group in the United Kingdom and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Chupryna said it has become "something of a safe space" amid growing expressions of hostility. Jakub Wlodek Jonathan Ornstein lighting fireworks at the 10th anniversary celebration of the JCC Krakow, April 22, 2018. The current reality in Poland makes the JCC's mission "even more critical," said Dan Rosenfield, the chair of the World Jewish Relief group, which provides the institution with $140,000 annually. In recent weeks, "things have calmed down a little bit" when it comes to expressions of anti-Semitism, Jonathan Ornstein, the JCC director, told JTA. But even at the height of the anti-Semitic wave, Krakow Jews have not experienced direct assaults, he added. Nonetheless, young people who are now discovering their Jewish ancestry-many Jewish Poles hid it during communism-"are starting to question their place in Poland moving forward," he said. The new challenges, Ornstein suggested, "are a reminder of how we've taken for granted all these incredible positive changes in Poland. When something bad happens, it's shocking for us, which is maybe a sign of how good we've come to expect things to be." (JNS)-The U.S. Senate easily confirmed Mike Pompeo as secretary of state on Thursday, elevating the former CIA director as the nation's top diplomat amid a slew of foreign-policy challenges. In a 57-42 vote, which included several moderate Democrats, Senate lawmakers moved quickly to confirm Pompeo, aware that the new secretary of state faces a number of serious international issues, including whether or not to remain in the Iran nuclear deal, tensions with Russia, the breaking of ice with North Korea and the ongoing Syrian civil war. While his confirmation went smoothly, uncertainty surrounded his confirmation process within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over objections by Democrats. However, a last-minute switch to a "yes" vote by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) staved off an embarrassing rejection by the committee. Several American Jewish groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, openly opposed Pompeo's nomination over his views regarding Muslims. The ADL claimed that Pompeo had "demonstrated a consistent pattern of casting doubt in the minds of constituents about the trustworthiness of their Muslim neighbors." Following his confirmation, the ADL wished Pompeo success in his new job. "Now that he is Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo will have an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping American foreign policy-to help build respect for the United States around the world and help to ensure its security," said ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt. Nevertheless, the group urged Pompeo to uphold his pledges made during the confirmation process, including "to manage affairs of state fairly and equally, defending the human rights and dignity of every U.S. citizen and State Department employee, and his assurances about the importance of U.S.-Israel relations, denying nuclear weapons to Iran and promoting Middle East Peace." The American Jewish Committee also congratulated Pompeo on his confirmation. "As longtime admirers and supporters of the State Department's defense of American interests and values across the globe, and as proud civil society partners in that vital mission, AJC congratulates you on your swearing-in as Secretary of State," said AJC CEO David Harris. Both the ADL and AJC urged Pompeo to assign a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism as soon as possible. "Given rising anti-Semitism globally, we urge Secretary Pompeo to appoint a qualified person to serve as the congressionally mandated position of anti-Semitism envoy as one of his first orders of business," said Greenblatt. Almost immediately after his confirmation, Pompeo was set to fly to Brussels to attend a NATO foreign-ministers trip. The new top diplomat will also visit several other countries next week, including Israel, a senior Israeli official told Israel's Channel 10 news station on Thursday. It was also rumored in recent days that Pompeo could also lead a delegation to Israel next month to open the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Liviu Dragnea, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party who effectively runs the Romanian government, said in a television interview late Thursday that the government had decided to move the nations embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His statement coincided with Israels 70th Independence Day celebrations. On Friday, President Klaus Iohannis, who is in charge of Romanias foreign policy, said he hadnt been informed and that the decision lacked a solid... base. However, he said such a decision could be made after a deep analysis which takes into consideration all the foreign policy consequences and implications. The statement seemed to be an attempt to downplay Dragneas assertion that the country was ready to soon join the US and move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Romanias foreign ministry said authorities were analyzing the situation and would consult and coordinate with strategic allies. In December, Dragnea said Romania should seriously consider moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. We should think about it very seriously. All Israeli central institutions are in Jerusalem, and the ambassadors and embassys staff are commuting from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he said. He made his remarks shortly after President Donald Trumps historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital and his announcement that the US embassy in Israel would move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A few countries have shown support for Trumps move, including the Czech Republic which recognized western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel following Trumps policy changes on the city. The Czech governments move on western Jerusalem follows the Czech Parliaments approval of legislation in May that recognizes Jerusalem as Israels capital. In April 2017, the Russian Foreign Ministry made a similar move to recognize west Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Earlier this month, lawmakers in Honduras voted to relocate the countrys embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Honduran lawmakers approved the measure 59-33, which now must be confirmed by the executive branch. In March, Guatemalan President Morales announced that his countrys embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May. Van-mounted billboards in central London were the latest escalation in British Jews' publicized row with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. LONDON (JTA)-Keith Walker was having a sandwich in Parliament Square when he saw something that made him sit up straight and cut short his lunch. What did the 42-year-old activist for disabled people's rights find so fascinating? It was three billboards on wheels that circled around the square for several long minutes last week during one of its busiest days of the year. They carried text accusing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of tolerating anti-Semitism in the party. Inspired by the award-winning American film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," the billboards were part of a series of unprecedented street protests by British Jews against a leader of the party that used to be their political home. The April 17 protest coincided with a rare parliamentary debate on anti-Semitism that focused on Labour. During the discussion, Jewish Labour lawmakers like Ruth Smeeth and Luciana Berger recounted the many verbal attacks that they have encountered since 2015, when Corbyn was elected party leader. The row over anti-Semitism in Labour under Corbyn has been raging for two years inside the party and beyond. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and other Jewish groups have accused Corbyn, a hard-left politician, of tolerating and at times encouraging expressions of anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Zionism or anti-capitalism by thousands of supporters who joined the party under him. Corbyn has vowed to fight racism. His party has kicked out some members caught engaging in anti-Semitic rhetoric. But under Corbyn-who in 2009 called Hamas and Hezbollah his "friends" whom he said he was "honored" to host in parliament-Labour has also readmitted or refrained from punishing others who made statements perceived as anti-Semitic. The signs, which cost $6,300 that organizers raised online from dozens of donors, reflect a new development in the dispute, in which Jewish criticism of Corbyn over anti-Semitism in Labour has moved from Facebook and dinner table conversation onto the street. But if the organizers of the signs initiative and other street actions in recent weeks have sought to turn Corbyn's supporters against him over these issues, then they have had only partial results. "I think it's a load of bollocks," an outraged Walker told JTA as he engaged one of the drivers. "Who's paying you, bruv? Who'd you work for? Is it the Tories or Tony Blair?" he demanded as he snapped pictures of the vans with his cellphone. Walker's suggestion that protests by Jews against Corbyn are orchestrated by the ruling Conservative Party or the center-left former leader of Labour is typical of how the allegations are strengthening his popularity with some diehard supporters rather than weakening it. "It's obvious, innit, they're trying to smear him to keep him from redistributing wealth and taking it from the rich to give to the rest of us," Walker said. Igor Martynowski, a 26-year-old cartoon artist, also was "disgusted" by the protest. "Instead of doing something with the potential of helping someone, or the environment, they're just spending money smearing someone else. It's just sad," he said about the signs, which spoke about "Holocaust deniers harbored by Labour" and "institutional anti-Semitism in Corbyn's Labour." Carina Garret, a 21-year-old student from Liverpool, said she agreed that Labour has an anti-Semitism problem, "but Corbyn's not it." Some of his supporters are the problem, she said. Garret called the initiative of the three signs and other initiatives targeting Corbyn a "distraction" and a "real shame." Her schoolmate Dave Aldwinkle said Corbyn's Jewish critics have "gone too far." Aldwinkle and Garret, who are not Jewish, both said they support Corbyn for prime minister. "He's an activist, not a politician, and that's his strength," Aldwinkle said. Garret said she could think of no weaknesses or faults preventing Corbyn from being a good prime minister. Aldwinkle said Corbyn at times was "too soft" on his critics instead of "fighting back." Amid intense and unprecedented scrutiny by the media over Labour's anti-Semitism problem, Corbyn won 40 percent of the vote in the 2017 parliamentary elections despite predictions that Prime Minister Theresa May of the Conservative Party would win handily. But among Jews, Corbyn is so unpopular that some, including Jonathan Hoffman, an organizer of the tree signs initiative and former vice chair of the Zionist Federation of Britain, are saying they would leave Britain if he is elected prime minister. Last month, hundreds showed up at a rally protesting Labour anti-Semitism organized by the Board of Deputies of British Jews outside Parliament under the banner "Enough is Enough." On April 8, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at a rowdier rally by a British Jewish group, the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, in which speakers accused Corbyn personally of being an anti-Semite. The street-level mobilization follows recent cases in which Corbyn was implicated personally in a speech deemed anti-Semitic, according to Hoffman, who called it a "tipping point." Corbyn recently has had to apologize for his 2013 defense of a London mural widely seen as anti-Semitic. It shows stereotypical Jewish men playing Monopoly on the backs of black men. After the media dredged up his Facebook post on the mural, Corbyn deleted it. He was also found this year to have been a longtime member, until 2015, of a private Facebook group rife with anti-Semitic hate speech. "In the past, Corbyn was able to hind behind criticism of Israel to dismiss allegations of anti-Semitism," Hoffman said. "But the mural had nothing to do with Israel, and Corbyn was personally a member of the anti-Semitic Facebook group." In an apparent bid to mollify his Jewish critics, Corbyn on Passover attended a seder dinner-organized, however, by a fringe, far-left group called Jewdas. But even this gesture backfired when the Jewish media highlighted how Jewdas' Haggadah, the text used during the seder dinner, was an alternative version featuring a prayer for Israel's destruction. Whereas Corbyn has shown himself capable of transcending his Jewish detractors in elections, the issue is nonetheless exposing him to scathing criticism within his own party. And it has cost his party several major donors, including Jewish ones, while widening the gulf between Labour centrists who resent Corbyn and those further to the left. During the parliamentary debate last week on anti-Semitism, Smeeth, the Jewish Labour lawmaker, denounced inaction on anti-Semitism within her own party. She read out in Parliament one of the thousands of anti-Semitic emails she says she has received since 2015. "Hang yourself, you vile treacherous Zionist filth, you're a cancer of humanity," one email said. She and Berger both received standing ovations in the House of Commons, the Parliament's lower house, after sharing the abuse they had received. But even Smeeth conceded that opposition to the alleged proliferation of anti-Semitic rhetoric within Labour is causing some Corbyn supporters-known in Britain as "Corbynistas"-to rally around him. "For every comment like those you just heard," she said of the anti-Semitic emails she had read aloud, "you can find 10 people ready to dismiss it, to cry 'smear,' to say that we are weaponizing anti-Semitism." As the debate grinds on, the Corbyn effect is making itself felt in very tangible ways in some Jewish households in London. Mark Ruben, a 57-year-old hotelier, recently sold his $7 million property in London, which he called his "dream home," partly out of concern over Corbyn winning an election and imposing a mansion tax, as his party has vowed to do. Another consideration in favor of selling, Ruben said, had been the proliferation of anti-Semitic rhetoric and incidents. In 2017, they reached a new record for the second straight year, at 1,382 cases. "The prospect of Corbyn becoming prime minister is deeply worrisome to me also because of anti-Semitism," he said. "It's suppressed now, and he's denying being anti-Semitic, but it could all be reversed the day he's in power." But the concern of Jews-a population of 250,000 in a country of 65 million-is of little interest to the average voter in Britain, Ruben said. "We're just a small minority," he said. "Even with all the headlines about anti-Semitism, Corbyn will get the Muslim votes, he'll get the votes of students whose loans he's promising to repay because he's offering something that doesn't exist and they're too young and naive to realize it." Student organizers of an Israel Independence Day event at New York University, April 19, 2018. They include Adela Cojab, Jenny Labovitz and Esther Bildirici, front row, left to right, and Gabe Hoffman, back row, right. NEW YORK (JTA)-Though it was raining, students still gathered to celebrate Israel's Independence Day at New York University's downtown Manhattan campus. Passers-by mostly rushed by as organizers blasted pop music, displayed Israeli flags and shouted "Happy Birthday, Israel!" Some stopped to grab a blue-and-white cookie. One person shouted at an organizer of Thursday's event who was draped in an Israeli flag, and someone else criticized the group for a poster featuring a quote by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. praising the Jewish state, but there were no major disruptions. The relative lack of negative reactions put things in perspective for Adela Cojab, a Jewish student leader on campus who said a recent resolution signed by over 50 student groups pledging support to the movement to boycott Israel had made it "the worst week of my life." "Watching people who walk by and smile reminds me that a list of 50 clubs sounds really big, [but] in a school this big, most people have no idea that this is happening," Cojab, 21, told JTA on Thursday. Last week's resolution, signed by 53 student groups among the some 300 on campus, was spearheaded by the NYU chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine. In addition to calling on the university to boycott companies that do business with Israel, the groups also pledged not to co-sponsor any events with two Israel advocacy campus groups-Realize Israel and TorchPAC-as well as eight off-campus groups, including Birthright-Taglit, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Anti-Defamation League. The NYU resolution is part of a campaign on college campuses by BDS activists to isolate Israel and its supporters. On Wednesday, the student government at Barnard College, a women's college affiliated with Columbia University, said that nearly two-thirds of students voted to ask the administration to divest from eight companies doing business with Israel. Both Barnard and NYU have large Jewish student populations, suggesting to some that the tide against Israel has swelled even-or precisely-at campuses that should be friendly to Israel. But the reality is more nuanced. Following the resolution's publication Cojab, who serves as president of Realize Israel, described the atmosphere on campus surrounding Israel as "one of animosity." But at Thursday's event, she felt relief. "The climate that exists is mostly among the activism community and the students who are highly involved in campus life," Cojab said. The NYU administration criticized the resolution, whose signatories included groups such as the Asian American Women's Alliance, the Black Students Union and the Muslim Students Association. A university spokesman said that boycotting student groups "is at odds with our traditions and values," and NYU President Andrew Hamilton denounced BDS at a public forum on Friday. (He had previously said in 2016 that the school would not acquiesce to a demand by its graduate student union to cut its Israel ties.) Gabe Hoffman, who serves as treasurer for Realize Israel, believes that many of the groups who signed the resolution have overlapping membership. "I still think it's a group of 15, 20, 30 students that are running 50 groups on campus and it's kind of their choir, and their echo chamber doesn't like our echo chamber," he said. Hoffman, 21, said that despite the resolution, he is comfortable identifying publicly as Jewish and pro-Israel on campus. "It's unfortunate that it happens to be those student groups that are running the [student] government, but I still feel proud to walk around with a kippah on my head, proud to walk around with [an Israeli] flag on my back," he said. Still, Realize Israel member Marci Brustman, 19, said the resolution changed her level of comfort about speaking about Israel. "Once this protest came out, I feel like I have to hold my tongue in some places," she said. Between handing out cookies and singing along to Hebrew songs, Brustman said she was nervous there would be a confrontation at the Yom Haatzmaut event. "There definitely is a pit in my stomach right now," she said. Earlier this month, the NYU student government passed a resolution urging the university to look into its policies at a program the university runs in Tel Aviv. The resolution cited an Israeli law enacted last year that bans entry into the country for foreigners who call for a boycott against Israel and said that members of NYU's Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine would be affected by the law. Two of the resolution's signatories-the Asian American Women's Alliance and Brownstone Publication, a black student publication-said they decided to sign the resolution because they sympathized with the struggles of Palestinians. The Asian American Women's Alliance was approached by the resolution's sponsors and invited to learn more about the struggles of Palestinians, Vice President Julia Yuge told JTA in an email. Yuge said her group "learned that the Israeli state systematically violates Palestinians' rights under international law, including the right to education." In her group's decision to sign the petition, she also cited the fact that academic bodies-including the Association for Asian American Studies and the National Women's Studies Association-have endorsed boycotts of Israel. "There are many ways in which Asian-American women relate to their human rights being stripped away, such as the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II," Yuge added. Brownstone Publication said it decided to sign the petition because it supports "the liberation of all people." "This includes the people of Palestine," the group told JTA in a statement. "That is why we have given our support to BDS. We are happy to stand alongside them and support their efforts to obtain justice for the people of Palestine." Jenny Labovitz, a Realize Israel board member, said the point of the Yom Haatzmaut celebration and similar events was to show pro-Israel students that there are others who share their opinions. "[I]t's more important, not necessarily to counter JVP, but to provide a space for pro-Israel students to say it's OK to celebrate Yom Hazikaron [Israel's Memorial Day], it's OK to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut with us," said Labovitz, 21. Even so, fellow group member Esther Bildirici, 20, said she did not generally feel comfortable speaking about Israel in class. "Somehow it became the cool thing to do, to be anti-Zionist on the college campus," Bildirici said. "In school or in class, I have a very hard time ever admitting that I've been to Israel and I've studied in Israel." Nearly eight years ago, four women met and discussed what they could do to support Israel and how they could encourage others, whether Jewish or Christian, to join them. Thus, the organization "Zionistas" was born. The founders-Sandi Solomon, Eva Ritt, Judy Shujman, and Diana Scimone-had the foresight and dedication to grow the organization to over 250 people. Recently the Zionistas board reached out to the Zionist Organization of America, one of the oldest pro-Israel organizations in the country, to find out if they could transform the Zionistas group into an active ZOA chapter. The group is pleased to announce that because of the community's involvement these past eight years, they are able to continue pro-Israel efforts, activism, and education here in Central Florida through ZOA. Helping with transitioning Zionistas into a ZOA group and continuing pro-Israel activities, are Dr. Daniel Layish of Orlando, Joe Davis of Orlando, and Sharona Whisler (swhisler@zoa.org), executive director of ZOA Florida (based in South Florida). For more than 120 years, ZOA has been the preeminent, unapologetic advocate for a strong, independent, sovereign and safe Jewish homeland in Israel, with an undivided Jerusalem as its capital and with the right to protect its citizens. The organization works to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations through various educational activities, as well as combating what it perceives as anti-Israel bias in the media, textbooks, travel guides, and on college campuses. They also sponsor educational and cultural programs in Israel. ZOA lobbyists in Washington, DC, maintain strong ties to U.S. legislators and law makers, ensuring that Israel's interests are always considered and that the bond between The United States and Israel remains solid. For those who are interested in lobbying with ZOA this year, please register for ZOA's Lobbying Mission to Capitol Hill, using this link https://zoa.org/mission-events/zoa-mission-to-washington/washington-mission-2018/. They'd love to have a strong Central Florida representation! ZOA's Center for Law and Justice is committed to securing the safety of all Jews, fearlessly tackling every form of anti-Semitism, on a college campus, in the media, or in your neighborhood. Learn more about ZOA's Center for Law and Justice here https://zoa.org/center-for-law-and-justice/ ZOA's Campus Division and ZOA's Fuel for Truth program for young professionals, is educating and empowering the next generation of Zionists, providing them with the knowledge and the skills necessary to ensure that our Zionist mission is eternal. Learn more about ZOA Campus here http://campus.zoa.org/ and ZOA's Fuel for Truth here http://www.fuelfortruth.org/ "The ZOA is a dynamic organization and we hope you will consider becoming a part of it," said David Moldau, Zionistas board member. "Please remember, today Israel needs us more than ever. ZOA member or not, we hope you will continue advocating for Israel, whether with us or with other organizations." If you wish to become a member of this new ZOA chapter and receive emails about upcoming programs and initiatives, click on the link below or go to the website https://zoa.org/donate/florida/ for an application. The dues are $50 a year. If you have questions, feel free to contact either Dr. Dan Layish at dlayishmd@gmail.com or Sharona Whisler, swhisler@zoa.org. (JTA)We are Jewish and pro-Israel students who are active within our Jewish communities on college campuses across North America. Many of us have helped organize against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions-affiliated movements throughout our time on campus. Over the course of our time fighting BDS campaigns, Canary Mission was brought to our attention repeatedly. Canary Mission is an anonymous site that blacklists individuals and professors across the country for their support of the BDS movement, presumed anti-Semitic remarks and hateful rhetoric against Israel and the United States. As a group of conscientious students on the front lines fighting BDS on our campuses, we are compelled to speak out against this website because it uses intimidation tactics, is antithetical to our democratic and Jewish values, is counterproductive to our efforts and is morally reprehensible. This blacklist aggregates public information about students across the country under the guise of combating anti-Semitism. It highlights their LinkedIn profiles, Facebook pictures, old tweets, quotes in newspapers and YouTube videos. The site chronicles each students involvement with pro-Palestinian causes and names other students and organizations with whom the given student may be affiliated. We view much of the rhetoric employed to villainize these individuals as hateful and, in some cases, Islamophobic and racist. In addition, Canary Missions wide scope wrongfully equates supporting a BDS resolution with some of the most virulent expressions of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel rhetoric and activity. Throughout our time on campus, many among us have been active in the fight against BDS. Some of us have campaigned against BDS, others have vigorously spoken out against BDS, and some have even cast votes on our central student governments against BDS. We have opposed, and continue to oppose, BDS because we believe that BDS delegitimizes the State of Israel, aims to isolate it as a pariah, paints the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a zero-sum and oversimplified issue, continually reinforces double standards and polarizes our campuses in the process. Given our experiences on our campuses, we believe that the best way to combat such ideas is through open discourse and critical analysis of the issues surrounding the conflict. That said, we condemn all forms of hate in the strongest possible terms, which includes any and all anti-Semitic rhetoric used by some pro-Palestinian activists. However, we believe that promoting a negative perception of Muslims, particularly Muslim students on our campuses, as Canary Mission does, is similarly hateful. As students on the front lines, we hope that Jewish and pro-Israel communal organizations will trust us and work more collaboratively with us to handle this fight in a credible, respectful and moral manner among our student communities. We believe that Canary Mission is antithetical and destructive to our shared cause of supporting Israel and eliminating anti-Semitism on campus. Instead, we expect credible Jewish and pro-Israel communal organizations to help us combat anti-Semitism on college campuses, and around the world, in a diplomatic manner that seeks to protect our community rather than shaming the other side anonymously, as Canary Mission does. We wish to highlight how counterproductive this blacklist is to our efforts refuting BDS on campus. In some cases, such as at the University of Michigan, fear of being blacklisted led pro-BDS students to successfully argue in support of a secret ballot, which made student government members less accountable to their fellow students. It also granted them anonymity to vote in favor of seemingly advancing Palestinian human rights while disregarding the nuance of the conflict. At George Washington University, not only did the student government plan to hold a secret ballot, but the extremist tactics used by Canary Mission discouraged pro-Israel students from wanting to fight BDS due to fear of association with the shadowy blacklist. Canary Mission obstructed pro-Israel George Washington students from pursuing inclusive and respectful dialogue to combat BDS. The passing of BDS-affiliated legislation in many of this years student government votes across the country showed us how the apparent intent of Canary Mission, to combat BDS, actually has the opposite impact. It only makes it easier for BDS-affiliated legislation to pass. It seems that somewhere along the way, a disconnect has formed between the goals of our Jewish peers and institutions (to combat anti-Semitism and create a positive campus climate) and the true impact of their efforts. Unfortunately, the disconnect has created a situation in which we feel the Jewish values we hold deep, such as loving our neighbors as ourselves and all of Israel being responsible for one another, are being misrepresented and perverted. It is time to bridge that gap. As students devoted to this issue, we will work to promote strong education and programming around Israel that does not demonize one side over the other. We will work to figure out how we can share our passion for Israel with others at our universities while fostering a positive, inclusive and educated student body. Finally, we will work to call out anti-Semitism for what it is, in all of its modern nuanced forms, and hold our fellow students and professors accountable for their remarks and actions. At the same time, it is time that Jewish and pro-Israel organizations stand up for what is right. It is time to call out and put pressure on those in our community whose efforts are counterproductive and immoral. We are thankful to the few Jewish and pro-Israel organizations that have engaged with us on this issue and promised to work with us. However, we are disappointed that in many of our conversations with other organizations, we have been told that the organization is tied, unable to say or do anything because of their donors. This lack of moral compass cannot go on. It is time that we strengthen our backbone and stand true to our Jewish values by wholeheartedly condemning Canary Mission and pursuing justice for all. If you find this issue concerning and/or are interested in speaking more about it or getting involved in our efforts, please reach out to jpgold@umich.edu and gabilana@umich.edu. Signed, Hillel Governing/Executive Boards: University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Ohio State University Campus Pro-Israel Organizations: University of Michigan: Hillel Israel Cohort; Ohio State University: Buckeyes for Israel; University of Minnesota: GopherIsrael; University of Wisconsin: Badgers for Israel, Madison Student Alliance for Israel; University of Maryland: Terps for Israel; and George Washington University: George Washington for Israel This letter was also signed by 107 students at seven universities. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. Theres a famous quote attributed to Henry Wotton that An ambassador is an honest gentleman sent to lie abroad for the good of his country. If one takes this aphorism to heart, it is not limited to ambassadors, but to anyone in a nations foreign policy establishment. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is not an honest gentleman, has taken the art of lying for his country to a new level. He brazenly lies about easily verifiable facts. He claims that his nation that is currently exporting its revolution across the Middle East is the unfair victim of the United States. And he claims that Iran has never sought a nuclear weapon. Zarifs serial dishonesty was on display this weekend when he appeared on the CBS news show, Face the Nation, and answered the questions asked by the shows moderator, Margaret Brennan. We do not mean that Zarif engaged in only seven deceptions, but these appeared to be the most egregious. 1. Well, first of all it will lead to U.S. isolation in the international community. This was Zarifs answer to what the unpleasant consequences would be to the United States for withdrawing from the nuclear deal. However, as sanctions expert Richard Goldberg explained in February, the nature of sanctions law would now mean that if the U.S. were to re-impose its toughest sanctions and secondary sanctions, banks around the world would immediately be at risk of losing their correspondent accounts in the United States. So if sanctions of any kindnuclear or ballistic missile-relatedare imposed, the United States has the economic power to isolate Iran. 2. What is important is for the Europeans to bring the United States into compliance because Iran has been in compliance with the deal. The fact is that Iran has not been in compliance with the deal. And it is by standards that Zarif himself set out in 2015, that Iran can be seen as violating the deal. Iran has refused to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to enter military sites, so we dont really have a complete picture of Iranian compliance or non-compliance with the deal. In Congressional testimony last year, former weapons inspector and head of the Institute for Science and International Security, David Albright, said that the IAEA had never judged Iran to be fully compliant with the deal. He criticized the agency for a lack of transparency in reporting on Iranian violations. Albright described the violations as flirting with violations in several areas. These areas include its development of advanced centrifuges, twice exceeding its limits on heavy water, suspicious nuclear procurement efforts, and seeking to exceed the allowable cap on low enriched uranium. In addition, Iran has continued to develop ballistic missilesUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which implemented the nuclear deal, explicitly called on Iran to stop it. The United States, as well as its European allies, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all consider the launch of a satellite last year to be a violation of 2231. As Albright noted, Iran has also violated the provisions of 2231 governing conventional weapons sales and transfers and against making procurements for its military and missile programs without UN Security Council authorization. In January of this year, a UN experts panel found that Iran had violated a UN arms embargo on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Though the panel was focused on a different resolution governing the conflict in Yemen, the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 are quite clear. Iran doesnt consider its violations of UN Security Resolutions to be significant. In August 2015, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, one of Irans nuclear negotiators and currently a deputy foreign minister, said, JCPOA is attached to the resolution; its violation breaches the resolution; while violation of the resolution is not a breach of JCPOA. (Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has made similar comments. It appears that Araghcis comment isnt the careless comment of a rogue bureaucrat, but actual government policy.) Aside from the dubious logic, a party that intends to keep its side of an agreement would not make a statement like this. Essentially, Iran has declared that it will only observe the parts of the agreement that it agrees to. In order to believe, as Zarif asserted, that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear deal, requires a massive suspension of disbelief. 3. Well, note President Trump has made it very clear that it is trying to dissuade our economic partners from engaging with Iran and thats a clear violation of the deal. The United States was obligated to lift nuclear-related sanctions on Iran due to the deal, but is free to impose other sanctions targeting Irans support for terror, destabilizing actions, and human right abuses. President Donald Trump has, until now, renewed the waivers that allows the United States sanctions to remain lifted. Still, the Trump administration has targeted the Iranian regime for its appalling mistreatment of its citizens, including those imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of people assembly and for censoring its own people as they stand up in protest against their government. In addition, the United States under Trump has targeted Iran with sanctions for its ballistic missile program and destabilizing activities. In another egregious lie, Zarif, in a talk at the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday said that since President Trump came to office, not a single license has been issued, not a single OFAC license, in 16 months. In fact, the United State Treasury Department last month issued two OFAC licenses to enable regular Iranians to access the Internet. 4. We never wanted to produce a bomb. Later on Zarif reiterated this, saying, Iran commits itself never to develop a nuclear weapon. In fact, a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate assessed that Iran had sought to develop a nuclear weapon until 2003. The IAEA, in 2015, prior to implementation of the nuclear deal in January 2016, determined that Iran was attempting to design a nuclear weapon at least until 2009. Iran also failed to answer all of the questions asked of it about its nuclear program by the IAEA prompting The New York Times to observe, Irans refusal to cooperate on central points could set a dangerous precedent as the United Nations agency tries to convince other countries with nuclear technology that they must fully answer queries to determine if they have a secret weapons program. Iran has tried to develop nuclear weapons in the past and no matter whats written on a piece of paper (that Iran never signed), Iran can be expected to do so in the future. 5. Our judiciary is an independent organ. This answer was given with respect to the five Americans currently being held in Iranian prisons. Zarifs claim is bogus. Three American hikers who had been arrested in 2009 were freed after the Oman paid $1.5 million in bail to Iran. Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian was convicted of espionage in October 2015 but was released along with four other Americans in January 2016, after the United States released $1.7 billion in frozen Iranian assets as part of the nuclear deal. This money did not go to the judiciary, it went to the regime. The judiciary targets the hostages and puts them through an opaque process, which leaves no room for appeal, only payment for ones freedom. Or to put it in cruder terms: ransom. 6. Who used the chemical weapons? Zarif got self-righteous when he was asked why Iran hadnt asked Bashar al-Assad to stop using chemical weapons. He launched into a sermon about how Iran opposes all use of chemical weapons because it was the victim of chemical weapons at the hands of Saddam Hussein. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Iran not only has a chemical weapons program, but actually used the proscribed weapons in 1987 against Iraqi troops. German intelligence reported that Iran sought chemical weapon technology in 2015. A year ago, Benjamin Weinthal, a research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, reported that Iran had helped build Syrias chemical weapons program. Earlier this year, he reported that German parts that had been sold to Iran were used in Syrian chemical weapons attacks. In addition only Syria, which has a known stockpile of sarin, is likely to have used that toxic gas for attacks. Furthermore, only the Syrian regime, not the rebels, has the helicopters, which are capable of dropping barrel bombs filled with chlorine. Its clear who has been behind the chemical attacks and there are strong indications that, despite Zarifs indignation, Iran helped Assad build his chemical weapons capacity. 7. Israel has continued its violations with international law. This statement was made in response to a question about whether Irans establishment of bases in Syria was a provocation. Zarif deflected the question by speaking of Israeli incursions into Syria. In addition to preventing Iran, whose leaders threaten Israels existence, from establishing bases in neighboring Syria, Israel also has struck in Syria to prevent Iran from giving Hezbollah game-changing weapons. (It is thought that one of the strikes was to keep illicit chemical weapons from the Lebanese terror group.) But Zarifs self-righteousness here is misplaced. Iran is forbidden from sending arms to Hezbollah by UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In the absence of any enforcement mechanism, Israel is forced to defend itself from Irans serial violations of international law and, specifically, its support of Hezbollah. Zarif is aware of the threat Hezbollah presents to Israel, as he assured Hezollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah in August 2015 that the nuclear deal would present the terror group with a historic opportunity to threaten Israel. Irans financing of Hezbollah has allowed it to build a massive rocket arsenal with which to threaten Israel. Zarif is quite adept at feigning indignation, but most of his responses in this interview were deflections of the questions about Irans record, not answers. He has no real answers for Irans aggressive and destabilizing behavior. But Zarif does possess the quality identified by Wotton: the ability to lie. David Gerstman is senior policy analyst at The Israel Project. (Sephardi Perspective via JNS)German Chancellor Angela Merkel has finally woken up and smelled the coffee. Speaking after a 19-year-old Syrian refugee lunged with a belt at an Israeli wearing a kipah, Merkel denounced a different type of anti-Semitism that has taken root in her country. We have refugees now, for example, or people of Arab origin, who bring a different type of anti-Semitism into the country, Merkel said in an interview with Israels Channel 10. Jews have been among the first to virtue signal their compassion for refugees from the Syrian civil war. When the refugee crisis broke, Jewish organizations coordinated their responses. They launched appeals for emergency aid. U.S. rabbis signed a petition asking Congress to welcome the refugees in. Meetings were packed with people who wanted to know what they could do to help. In conjunction with Islamic Relief US, the Jewish relief agency HIAS is providing legal services to Syrian refugees in Greece. The HIAS slogan is welcome the stranger. After all, Jews, of all people, should empathize with Syrian refugees. As former US President Barack Obama told them: In the Syrian seeking refuge today, we should see the Jewish refugee of the Second World War. When news of the refugee crisis first broke, during a meeting in the Syrian-Jewish heartland at a synagogue in Brooklyn, N.Y., New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged the congregation to show compassion for the Syrian refugees. But the congregants shifted uneasily in their seats. They only applauded the mayor when he vowed to protect the citys Jews against terrorist attacks. I was sitting next to a woman who is a Syrian [Jewish] refugee, and she really reacted and it was uncomfortable, one congregant told the New York Post. Another congregant whose family fled Syria commented: The difference between me coming here in 1991 with my family is that we were kicked out for being Jewish. The Jews never had a history of being destructive, said another. The Syrian-Jewish congregants of that Brooklyn synagogue could have warned Angela Merkel before she opened Germanys floodgates to a million Syrian refugees that she was in danger of unleashing the demons of anti-Semitism. The Syrian Jews ordeal and escape were still fresh in their memories: They were rescued as recently as the 1990s from the clutches of the Syrians. The regime spied on them, treated them as hostages, abducted their leaders and murdered those trying to escape, while the people at large nurtured a fearsome level of anti-Jewish hatred. The same anti-Semitism the refugees are now importing into Europe. Chastened Western governments have revised their open door policies toward refugees. Scandinavian governments have sent back the sizeable numbers who are not bona fide refugees and asylum-seekers. There are hardly any Jews left in Syria. Today, the locus of Muslim hatred is on the Syrian Christian refugees, who have been avoiding official camps for fear of harassment. Their priests have had their throats cut. More Christian than Muslim refugees were admitted to the United States in the first months of the Trump administration, reversing a trend that had seen Muslims outnumber Christians in the final fiscal year under President Obama. But among Jews in the West (and not for the first time), the Syrian-Jewish refugee narrative has been eclipsed by the Ashkenazi refugee experience. For a variety of reasons, the analogy between Middle East refugees and Jews escaping the Nazis does not fit. As the Syrian-Jewish refugees know only too well, there is a difference between people who are driven from their homes by war and people who have been singled out because of who they are. But liberal opinion and Jewish-relief organizations are still adopting too broad-brush an approach toward the refugee crisis. They need to wake up to the acrid smell of anti-Semitism they are helping to propagate. Lyn Julius is the founder of Harif, the UK Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, and the author of Uprooted: How 3,000 Years of Jewish Civilisation in the Arab World Vanished Overnight (Vallentine Mitchell). A group photo of media staff, friends and (seat right to left: Guest Speaker Police Commissioner Albert Nalpini, PINA President and Cr. Moses Stevens, MAV President Evelyne Toa and VANGO President Lai Nakita). Elsewhere, I needed to do the Bob Geldof On Fathers documentary for Channel 4, because that bothered me at the time, although I dont think that was successful. I think Geldof In Africa kind of worked, but I think with the Channel 4 project I missed the target slightly. Perhaps it was effective to a point. Anyway, with WB Yeats, there was an element of him being the original Irish punk. What he was saying to the Irish public was, You are not defeated, you are this great people of Homeric legend. He was telling them, You are not bereft, you are this great people with creation heroes as grand as the Arthurian legends or the Wagnerian Cycles. This is who you are, theres no defeat in that. I first developed an interest in Yeats when I was in school. I was around 15 or 16 in 1966 when the 50th anniversary of the Rising took place, and I was dismayed by it. I was into the Rolling Stones and The Who, and I was getting politically engaged. There was a war in Vietnam that I was against, there was all the anti-apartheid stuff that my mates and I were a part of. A statement reads:"It is with regret we announce that the below event (scheduled tomorrow, Friday 4th May) is postponed in light of the sad news that Monica Barnes has died.Thank you for your understanding." Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin TD has said that the untimely death of former TD for Dun Laoghaire, Monica Barnes is a loss for Irish politics. Monica was a courageous and outspoken voice in Irish politics at a time when progressive voices were few and far between. She was, in many respects, ahead of her time and always thought outside the box. I served in Dail Eireann with Monica, and while we didnt always agree, I always admired her fiery passion and commitment to the causes she cared deeply about. Advertisement Fearless yet courteous, Monica made friends across the political spectrum, and I know that there are many people in Leinster House and across the country who will mourn her passing today. On behalf of the Fianna Fail organisation, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Monicas family and to her friends and colleagues in the Fine Gael party. Ar Dheis De go raibh a hanam dhilis. 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. Jonas Cullwick, a former General Manager of VBTC is now a Senior Journalist with the Daily Post. Contact: [email protected]. Cell # 678 5460922 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. Imagine venturing so far into nature that your only surroundings are the beauty of the landscape, the sky and the wildlife living in that unspoiled habitat. Two volunteers for the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, an affiliate of The HSUS, recently did just that, visiting protected land to observe and document the animals living there. The Trust has 116 sanctuaries in the United States and Canada, preserving more than 20,000 acres and countless species of endangered, threatened and vulnerable animals. The lands are protected from hunting and provide safe habitat for native carnivores who are critical to the ecosystem. Alice Henderson, a wildlife researcher and rehabilitator, and Jason Patnode, a photographer, filmmaker and wildlife rehabilitator, got to see and hear some of those animals during their two-month road trip to seven Trust sanctuaries and one prospective site. Using special equipment, they recorded ultrasonic calls of bats and audible calls of birds, amphibians, coyotes and other wildlife at each site to identify the unique species living in the habitat. Here are a few of their photos from the field, along with highlights from Hendersons log entries. Allranch Wildlife Sanctuary, New Mexico New Mexico is certainly the Land of Enchantment. We were treated to some stunningly fiery sunsets with great, towering thunderheads above. Insects sang in the warm desert night, and we saw scurrying horned lizards, bats and many birds, including a loggerhead shrike [a species in decline because of habitat loss]. As we recorded bats in the evening, the wind brought with it the fresh scent of creosote bushes, and the stars spanned the dark sky in a glorious arc of glittering lights. I was thrilled to record my dream bat herethe greater bonneted bat. With a two-foot wingspan, this bat enjoys roosting in cliffs and has an echolocation call thats audible to humans. Demetriades Wildlife Sanctuary, Montana Pronghorns browsed in the sagebrush beneath some of the most stunning sunsets wed ever seen. Carrying a telephoto lens, Jason crawled on his belly through a field for a quarter of a mile to get photos of a sandhill crane family. We also saw eagles, trumpeter swans, badgers and moose, and we conducted a bat survey. We did Bortle dark-sky tests here and at each of the sanctuaries and found some truly valuable and preserved darkness [see below]. Dark skies are another benefit of protecting habitat, as theyre vital to migratory birds who use the stars to navigate. Meadowcreek Wildlife Sanctuary, Arkansas We experienced some terrific thunderstorms at Meadowcreek, with thunder booming and resonating down the valleys. Huge thunderhead clouds built up in the warm afternoons, unleashing torrents of rain. At night, lightning flashed in every part of the sky. But the near-constant thunderstorms didnt keep the bats from their nightly flights to feed on insects over the river and lush meadows. We were thrilled to record the gray and Indiana bat species, both endangered, as well as a multitude of frogs and toads. As we waded down the creek, looking for a good place to set up the bioacoustic recorders, a deer suddenly came splashing into the water and leaping toward us. A coyote was in close pursuit! Upon encountering us, they each chose to head a different way. We watched river otters rolling in the crystal-clear water, and with an underwater camera, we recorded footage of the yellowcheek darter, a federally listed endangered fish. At night, we heard whip-poor-wills, Eastern screech owls and barred owls calling, and coyotes yipping and singing in the distance. Lindebo Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wisconsin We recorded a number of bat species foraging, despite some pretty intense thunderstorms. During the day, we heard American goldfinches and cardinals singing and the drumming and calling of hairy woodpeckers. One of the most moving aspects of our trip was spending time with like-minded people. Standing out under the stars with landowner Harold Lindebo, we used our night-vision scope to watch bats emerge from a barn. They wriggled out of the eaves and took flight. We were recording their ultrasonic calls and noticed that when they returned, theyd announce their arrival quite audibly for us before tucking back in under the eaves. Meteors streaked across the dark sky and we chatted companionably about the wonders of wildlife. It was magical. Daisy Wildlife Sanctuary, Texas We saw an incredible variety of dragonflies, armadillos, wild boars and many migratory birds, including the scissor-tailed flycatcher. While we were taking photos of the Milky Way, a snuffling sound drew our attention to the ground. Two armadillos meandered by, digging and eating. They returned every night. Our underwater camera picked up charming footage of a smiling red-eared slider turtle who explored the lens. And each time we headed out to the vernal pools to check on our remote cameras and recorders, we happened across the same cottonmouth snake, cooling himself in a little mud wallow hed staked out as his own. Did you know? To rate the darkness of the sky, researchers like Henderson and Patnode use the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale. They look for certain objects in the night sky that are difficult to see with the naked eye, such as the Milky Way or various constellations. They also document light domes, bright arcs of light over cities, to determine the skys rating. The lower the Bortle number, the darker the sky. A 1 is an absolutely dark sky, like what you might find in very rural areas. A 9 is a bright sky such as what youd see over a big city such as Dallas, where you can only pick out a handful of stars because of the extreme light pollution. Label Execs, Big Media Launch Digital Future Council Executives from Sony Music, Warners Music and Universal Music have teamed with leading media and ad firms to launch a think tank about the integration of media and emerging technology. The Digital Future Council will kick off at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity one of the advertising worlds most coveted annual events in June with an initial focus on examining the impact of blockchain technology on audience interaction, content distribution, and monetization. It is the hope of the council that the think tank will ignite meaningful debates and conversations, formulate tangible advice, and promulgate best practices for the global marketing and advertising communities. Additional founding members of The Digital Future Council include Havas Media, Vice Media, Hearst Digital Media, The Lego Group, GoDaddy and others. CelebrityAccess Share on: Stacy Parsons has been active in Lanesborough's government for two decades. Lanesborough Town Administrator Interviews 5 & 6 This is the is the third 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 and the second one here. Mark Shea said he is looking to move back to Massachusetts to be closer to family. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. It was at her college graduation some 20 years ago when Stacy Parsons was recruited to work in town government. She became the conservation agent and has been involved in a number of town government functions. Now she is the executive director at Head Start and she's looking to become the town's next town administrator. "I see myself staying in the Berkshires. I see myself still being very active in the community. I like to stay put. I don't hop around a lot." Parsons told the Board of Selectmen when asked where she saw herself in five years. Adding, "It takes five to seven years to change a culture and make an impact. So I like to stay long-term and set long-term goals." The Lanesborough native was educated through the town's schools and then studied environmental policy in Keene, N.H. She moved back after graduation and took a job as a substitute teacher at Lanesborough Elementary School. That led her into a preschool teaching career. But, when the town temporarily closed the preschool program, she moved on to Head Start. Throughout the last two decades, she has kept involved with municipal government, helping on a number of town projects. "I know the town, know the people," Parsons said. And that's something she brings to the table for the town of Lanesborough. While social media and e-mail blasts do reach a lot of people, Parsons says it is the face-to-face contact with residents that residents want out of their town administrator. "They want to see you at events, at meetings," Parsons said. "It is a very engaged population that really wants to have a conversation." And the same goes for working with the Board of Selectmen. She said while there are times when a text or an email suffice, there are other occasions where she'd want to have sit-down meetings with the board members to go discuss issues. At Head Start, she manages a $5 million budget that does not all come from one source. She said she knows how to manage a complex budget consisting of different pools of money. And, because Head Start is grant funded, she has experience finding and writing grants. "There is a lot of ongoing conversations because the forecast changes," she said. When crafting a budget for the town, she said she'd start with a community needs assessment. Then line by line makes sure the expenses are matching up with the town's goals. She also manages a staff of 135 and had recently gone through a full rewrite of the organization's personnel policies. With that and new job descriptions, she said she put in place strategies to make sure every staff member was on a professional development plan to fulfill the job requirements at the top level. As town manager, she'd manage staff similarly and hold regular briefings with department managers. She said an important part of her job is determining how to allocate both funds and time because "there is never enough of either." And she said she won't back down from difficult decisions. "We've had some very challenging things with families and children and allocating resources or finding resources," Parsons said. She'd also like to promote the town more and take a collaborative approach to tackling issues such as the Berkshire Mall, the Police Station, infrastructure, and the tax rate. Mark Shea grew up in Massachusetts and used to vacation in the Berkshires. But his career path has most recently led him to Castleton, Vt. He wants to come back and said if he was chosen, he'd pack a U-Haul truck immediately. "Let me get a U-Haul. I've been planning to move back for a couple months and I'm ready," Shea said. Shea had made most of his career working with the Department of Corrections after receiving his master's degree in public administration. From there, he went on to run a marketing business and was elected as a selectman. Eventually, he took a job as the town administrator in Readsboro, Vt, and then to become the town administrator in Castleton, just west of Rutland near the New York border. "This is all about customer service. I think this is an essential part of the job," Shea said. When he took the job in Castleton, the town office had been closed and government officials were working out of a trailer. The Police Station was in disrepair. He said he led the charge in crafting a master plan that bolstered the tourism economy. And the floundering tourism reversed. "We were able to get tourists back. We were able to get rentals on the water back," Shea said. With that, he said he was able to build a new police station and town offices without busting the budget. "It is about economic development," he said. He sees the same thing happening in Lanesborough. He said there is a tourism economy in the Berkshires that Lanesborough can bolster. And with the Berkshire Mall, he said there are a lot of opportunities. In Readsboro, he said he professionalized an assessor's office that had previously required little experience. But in order to tackle big issues, Shea said the town needs "integrity" and honesty. "Being a part of the community, I think is an essential part," he said. "You get to see all of the people all the time and that's what I like about local government, you get to know names and get to know families. It is really rewarding." He said when it comes to communication, one of his pet peeves is being surprised. He vowed, if chosen, to make sure the Selectmen know everything that is happening in town because he doesn't want to be the one who surprises others. He said the day after a town meeting, he'd be talking with the residents and town officials about the next town meeting so nobody is surprised when issues come to a vote. When it comes to budgeting, he said he takes direction from the Board of Selectmen but his focus tends to be first on the tax rate and then keeping an eye on the bond rating and reserves. "It is the biggest plan of the year. It involves goals and objectives. That's how we pull people together," he said. The Board of Selectmen interview both Parsons and Shea for the open town administrator position on Wednesday. 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. Kelli Robbins and Josh Garcia were also interviewed on Wednesday. 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. Backed by supporters, Paul Caccaviello kicked off his campaign on Thursday for district attorney. Caccaviello Officially Kicks Off Campaign For District Attorney Caccaviello has worked in the Berkshire District Attorney's office for almost 30 years. PITTSFIELD, Mass. If wisdom comes from experience, Paul Caccaviello says his 30 years of working in the district attorney's office has given him the wisdom to lead it. Caccaviello is currently the district attorney after David Capeless resigned from the post earlier this year. The former first assistant district attorney took to the Berkshire Superior Courthouse steps on Thursday to officially kick off his campaign for the job. "You should not expect political jargon or spin, buzzwords and vague talking points, from your candidate. You should expect decisions based on the truth and a sincere and sustained quest to serve the public from anyone seeking to be your district attorney. That's what you will get from me," Caccaviello said. The 53-year old Caccaviello is running against Andrea Harrington and Judith Knight in the Democratic primary on Sept. 4, a contest that will essentially decide the winner. He is a Pittsfield native who graduated from Berkshire Community College, the former North Adams State College, and Western New England College School of Law. "I am so grateful for the day I walked into the office of the district attorney. I met with then DA Anthony Ruberto Jr., ever so grateful for his decision to take me on as an intern. In some ways today is a little deja vu some 30 years later," Caccaviello said. He was hired as an assistant district attorney in 1989 and has worked under four different Berkshire district attorneys since. With Capeless' resignation, Gov. Charlie Baker appointed Caccaviello to step into the role in March. But he still remembers when Ruberto had asked him why he wanted to work at the office; Caccaviello said he wanted to serve the public. "In our pursuit of public service, we achieved success because of the team approach to prosecutions, our victim advocates, successful because of the tremendous work of our law enforcement agencies. With each opportunity and every success my commitment to public service grew stronger and more well-rooted," Caccaviello said. As a prosecutor, he has taken on cases from as simple as larceny and misdemeanors to murders without bodies and decades-old rapes. "Those experiences and so many more gave me 30 years of blessings. They inform my judgment and for that I am grateful. Those lessons will be invaluable to me in serving this community as your next district attorney," Caccaviello said. Particularly, Caccaviello said he has learned how to balance when to use compassion and when to use consequences. "Others seeking your vote cannot know the challenges and awesome responsibility of balancing compassion and consequence. Consequence for those who violate the law and reject community standards and compassion for those who earnestly and honestly try to earn a second chance. They have simply not acquired the wisdom or the judgment to know the difference," Caccaviello said. That was one of Caccaviello's main talking points on Thursday, as he was flanked by county police chiefs, those working in the district attorney's office, members of the sheriff's department, and his family. He believes what really separates him from the other candidates is that experience. "There is one thing we will not be able to share and that's experience. They cannot draw upon the experience that I can of sitting across from mothers and fathers who have lost their children to violence, across from siblings who lost a brother or sister, of explaining the process, explaining the challenges that must be met and overcome before we ever enter a courtroom to seek justice," Caccaviello said. Caccaviello focused on the wisdom he gained throughout his career. "They do not know what it means to sit across from a victim of a rape by her husband, explaining what her role will be in bringing the accused to justice. It means describing in excruciating detail the most agonizing, the most personal, most criminal of details sitting in front of the accused. And then that she must remain on the witness stand only to be further questioned by the accused's lawyer. All in a public setting and all for the world to see." He said he's been in the position of gaining the trust of children who were sexually abused by someone they had trusted in order to bring the perpetrator to justice. He's met with the families of those who had their children die of a drug overdose after purchasing from a friend. But, Caccaviello said he also knows that prosecution and protection alone will not make for a better community. "A proactive approach matters equally in what we do, have been doing, and will continue to do. It is the genesis of the community outreach department that started over a decade ago," Caccaviello said. "We in the Da's office are not latecomers to the conversation. We started on this path under Gerard Downing and continued under David Capeless. I will continue that walk and I will hasten its pace." That program works with area youth and in schools to provide training, mentoring, and life skills. Caccaviello said many times the issues that ultimately lead to a crime stem way before the courtroom and that's what those outreach efforts are hoping to curb. With Thursday's launch, the campaign kicks off in earnest. "I know I have to earn the confidence of the votes from Adams to Sheffield, from Clarksburg to Egremont, and the residents of the larger populations of Pittsfield, North Adams, and Great Barrington to the smaller populations of Alford and Florida and everything in between," Caccaviello said. Kelli Robbins of the town of Holland was selected to succeed Paul Sieloff as the town's chief executive. Lanesborough Selects Holland Executive as Town Administrator LANESBOROUGH, Mass. After eight interviews, the Selectmen on Thursday night unanimously voted to offer the post of town administrator to Kelli Robbins. The board felt no need to go to a second round of interviews Thursday evening and after interviewing two more candidates voted to hire Robbins, the executive secretary for the town of Holland, after about 15 minutes of debate. "I would feel comfortable with her. Personally, I feel she could do your [current Town Manager Paul Sieloff] job," Selectman Henry 'Hank' Sayers said. "She would have to learn about the town but otherwise she could sit in that seat." After interviewing final candidates Christine Dobert, the current Florida town administrator, and George Sutherland, a selectman in Plainfield, Sieloff asked the board members what they wanted to do next. Sieloff offered to bring more candidates before the board if they felt it was necessary but suggested they move to Phase 2 of the process and narrow down the field to three or four candidates. Earlier this week, the Selectmen also interviewed Tanya Stepasiuk, Kevin Towle, Josh Garcia, Stacy Parsons and Mark Shea. The Selectmen agreed that their top three candidates were Robbins, Sutherland and Dobbert but Selectman John Goerlach and Sayers felt Robbins was the clear choice. "I don't think we need to go to second round," Goerlach said. "I would say I would be more than alright with Kelli." Selectman Robert Ericson said he had the same top three candidates but had them ranked closer. He said he would still like to have them return for a final interview of some kind. "If we did bring them back I would like to specifically ask them to solve some problems that we have come up with," he said. "I would want to see what their solutions were instead of just sitting down and talking about things." Resident Barb Davis-Hassan, who was involved in the process of hiring Sieloff, said she did not think it was necessary to ask more of the candidates. "I would be concerned about putting someone on the spot of solving the problems that we have that are so massive and so intensive that it might be a little standoffish," she said. "It took us a year and a half to come up with a viable solution to the beginning of solving problems with our economic development so how fair would that be?" She added that Robbins was the clear choice to her and said she was impressed that she also had a law degree. She noted that part of the reason they decided to hire Sieloff was that he also had a law degree. Sieloff also offered his opinion and said although he thought Sutherland was a good candidate he did not have the actual municipal administrative experience Robbins had. "It is an easier choice because she is actually doing the job, and she seems very serious," he said. "She would have to learn about our issues but the day-to-day stuff she could fall right in." He added that Robbins was the kind of candidate he was searching for and said he is familiar with her from the Small Town Administrators of Massachusetts group. "That kind of gave me a comfort level because people can say what they want to say but you need to get to the foundation of them to see what their real substance is," he said. Sieloff said Robbins was willing to relocate closer to town and the vote is still subject to a background check and contract negotiation. The School Committee approved the school budget and set a cap of $300,000 on school choice funds. Clarksburg School Committee OKs Budget, Sets Funding Cap CLARKSBURG, Mass. The School Committee voted on Thursday to cap the amount of school choice funds that can be used to offset the budget. The committee determined an amount of $300,000 to prevent the account from being completely drained. "I think it's really important," Superintendent Jonathan Lev said in recommending the action. "It's our only emergency money." He called the dependence on school choice worrisome because budgets are not going down. The district is keeping services level for next fiscal year since it's not hiring any staff but not also not cutting any. The district expects to start the year with $350,000 in the account, but, Lev added, "if it continued like this, we would run out of choice money in like three or four years." The school is expected to use about $355,000 out of the school choice account this coming year; $45,000 will be for the school's balance of the feasibility study for the failed school project, up to $40,000 is being considered for security upgrades at the entrance and removal of asbestos around the boilers. The bulk will be to offset the budget and prevent cuts. Lev said the school district had initially been asked by the town's Finance Committee to come in at 2 percent over this year. The district had come in with a proposed 6.55 percent increase. "They called us back and it seemed to me they were going to ask us to level fund but we were asked to come in 1 1/2 [percent] under level funding," he said. "What we're being asked to come on budget is $2,409,567. We were at $2,448,000 for this year." Lev said the Finance Committee was cognizant of the need to keep funds in the account and aware that cuts would likely have to be made on the town side next year. "We obviously have been increasing the amount we've been receiving since we started this 2010-2011," he said. "But also the amount the town has used to balance their budget has increased every year." The committee also voted to approve the school budget and to open four school-choice slots -- two in kindergarten and two in Grade 6. Principal Tara Barnes said the kindergarten is already expected to number 14 and that there were at least five families interested in the spots who already had children in the school. "We try to shoot for classes of 16," she said. "Nineteen becomes larger than the classes we normally have." Grades 1 and 5 will be split next year so there won't be space to consider splitting kindergarten. It's also unclear if there are more kindergarteners in town who will be registering, she said. There was a discussion about waiting until later in the summer when the numbers are firmer before opening any slots. Chairwoman Patricia Prengruber thought opening slots now would at least allow a few families to be prepared for the school year. The slots will be filled by lottery with those with siblings at Clarksburg School having priority and with the possibility of being revisited later in the summer. The committee also bid farewell to John Solari, who is not running for re-election. The retired Drury High principal is completing his second term. He said the failure of the school project was "a big disappointment" and hoped the volunteer group could fix some of the issues. The proposed merger with Stamford was a "wow," he said, because it had never been done before. Barnes thanked Solari for being "a tremendous support to me doing this job." Lev thanked him for his time and service and Prengruber told him she'd miss him. "I'll miss being here but sometimes you have to move on," he said. In other business: Graduation for eighth grade is June 1, school picnic is June 4, and the last day of school is a half-day on June 11. The committee approved a calendar for 2108-19 that has school starting the Thursday before Labor Day, Aug. 30, and will end on June 12, if there are no snow days. Both the first days of school, on Thursday, Aug. 30, and Friday, Aug. 31, will be half days. The supervisory union will participate in "Promoting Motivational Learning and Achievement," a professional development program that will run through the school year, including three days before school starts. "This aligns a lot with what we have been doing," Barnes said. "One of the big pieces in our vision is developing lifelong learners. ... This course I feel like offers a lot of opportunities for teachers to grow in that area." A bike rodeo is planned for May 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the school to prepare for Bike to School Day on May 11. The rodeo will include helmet fittings and bike tuneups, along with games. A second Bike to School Day will be held on June 7. The superintendent search committee expects to begin finalist interviews at the beginning of June; applications for the position are due Friday, May 4. Enjoy more than a dozen different art shows featuring work by more than two dozen accomplished regional and student artists in Pittsfield's bustling Upstreet Cultural District during the First Friday Artswalk , and all month long! In most venues, artists will be present from 5-8 p.m. A free guided tour begins at 5 p.m. at the Intermodal Center @ BRTA, 1 Columbus Ave. This month's Artswalk is part of Massachusetts ArtWeek , and will feature a community painting of Pittsfield at Berkshire Paint and Sip; open studios and art demos at the Lichtenstein and NUarts; burlesque life drawing at Dottie's; and art making during the opening reception for the Art in Our Schools exhibit at the Lichtenstein. The Whitney Center for the Arts will feature The View from Behind the Bars: Therapeutic Art by Massachusetts Inmates, including a gallery walk-through talk by curator and author Phyllis Kornfeld. There will also be an opportunity to participate in a free therapeutic art project . Economic Development Secretary to Speak at BCC Commencement PITTSFIELD, Mass. Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash will be teh keynote speaker at Berkshire Community College's 58th commencement exercises to be held Friday, June 1, at Tanglewood in Lenox. Ash is responsible for directing and executing Gov. Charlie Baker's agenda on housing and community development, job creation, business development, consumer affairs, and business regulation. Since joining the Baker-Polito administration, Ash has prioritized efforts to grow jobs, help communities realize their economic development priorities, connect citizens to new economic opportunities, and build prosperity across Massachusetts. "On behalf of the students, faculty, staff and board of trustees at Berkshire Community College, we are so excited to have Secretary Ash as our 2018 commencement speaker," said Ellen Kennedy, president of BCC. "Secretary Ash has spent much time in the Berkshires and on our campus. He understands the Berkshires and is a champion of our efforts. He helped us secure the additional funding for the Berkshire Innovation Center. Many of us have appreciated his wise counsel and his friendship. We should anticipate thoughtful and entertaining remarks." Under Ash's leadership, the commonwealth has substantially increased its commitment to public infrastructure that unlocks economic development, to the revitalization of brownfields, to workforce training equipment, and to the development and commercialization of emerging technologies. He has led efforts to increase affordable housing production, to redevelop and modernize public housing communities, and to substantially reduce the number of homeless families sheltered in motel rooms. Ash has also played a leadership role in the recruitment and expansion of major employers, including Amazon, General Electric, IBM Watson Health, Kronos, Mass Mutual, and Siemens. The secretary previously was the city manager of his native Chelsea, a position he held from 2000 to 2014. In Chelsea, Ash's leadership produced both economic expansion and fiscal stability. He grew the city's housing stock, expanded its commercial base, developed 10 new parks, secured five credit rating increases, and won two All-America City designations for Chelsea. Officials and experts from the 11 IEA for EU4Energy countries met in Vienna on April 24 for the EU4Energy programmes fifth renewables policy forum. Previous forums in Astana, Minsk, Kiev and Odessa examined renewable energy policy more broadly, system integration and renewable heat. As a follow-up to the Kiev heat forum, this event focused on bioenergy barriers, drivers and best practice. It included presentations from the European Commission and European bioenergy associations, as well as several country case studies (presentations are available for download). Globally, bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source and especially important in the heat sector. In the IEA for EU4Energy countries, the potential for bioenergy generally remains underexploited and reliance on fossil fuels for heat production is high. At the forum, presentations from three EU4Energy countries demonstrated the diversity of the challenges facing bioenergy development. In Georgia, 90% of rural households depend on wood energy which is generally combusted at very low efficiency. This has led to the unsustainable exploitation of the countrys forestry resources forests. However, this is likely to change with the country having recently joined the European Energy Community. New renewable energy targets and a new forestry code provide a more optimistic outlook for the future use of bioenergy in the country and protection of forests. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, energy security has been a main driver of the deployment of bioenergy in the district heating sector. The Ukrainian government adopted a new energy strategy in 2017 which aims to achieve a large increase in renewable heat consumption from 6% at present to 40% in 2035. Much of this growth will have to come from agricultural residues and a lot of effort is needed to develop this potential. In Moldova, bioenergy also plays an important role in reducing dependence on energy imports. An EU/UNDP biomass programme in the country has successfully promoted the use of bioenergy in the public sector and supported the development of local biomass boiler manufacturing to reduce costs and create local jobs. Austria has demonstrated that it is possible to use a high share of bioenergy (which provides 30% of heat consumption), create local jobs and continue to grow the forest stock. Air pollution concerns can also be dealt with through modern boilers which have very low emissions, and ensuring best practice in fuel selection. In the future, the contribution of bioenergy can grow still further, provided this goes hand in hand with energy efficiency improvements in buildings. While not all countries have as good a resource base as Austria, most EU4Energy countries agreed that they had some potential for expanding bioenergy, for example from a variety of agricultural residues such as straw, manure, and cotton stalks. Challenges include developing supply chains, creating awareness about bioenergy options amongst the public and decision-makers, as well as building technical capacity. The IEA for EU4Energy programme will continue to engage with the 11 countries to explore how bioenergy and the deployment of other renewables can progress. The IEA is leading the implementation of the EU4Energy Programme funded by the European Union (EU) for 11 Eastern Partnership (EaP) and Central Asian countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. This week, Rhode Island Superior Court judge Jeffrey A. Lanphear heard arguments from attorneys representing over 30 parents in a lawsuit attempting to overturn Gov. Dan McKee's executive order requiring students in Rhode Island schools to wear masks while in the classroom. In the lawsuit, the parents argue mask-wearing poses harm to students and negatively impacts their physical and mental health. They are attempting to overturn McKee's executive order on the grounds that it unconstitutional. Do you agree that the mask mandate should be overturned by the courts? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: Everyone eligible should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. Vaccination should be voluntary but those who don't get vaccinated should be frequently tested for COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel and employment. Both vaccination and testing should be voluntary and not required as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. I defer to the judgment of lawmakers as long as they base their decisions on a consensus of medical professionals. Vote View Results Starting in 2008 and continuing until June 2013, Pranav Patel fraudulently obtained at least $950,000 in payments from Medicare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the indictment stated. (representational image/Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) Aspiring Indian American medical student Cavya Chandra, who forged her way into admission at Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell, and Purdue, has been sentenced to five years probation, and a $70,000 fine. Her lawyer, Kimberly M. Zimmer, said Chandra had felt an enormous amount of pressure from her parents to succeed academically. (screen grab of YouTube video) File photo of President Ram Nath Kovind garlanding a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his 127th birth anniversary, at his memorial in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, on April 14, 2018. The unveiling of a bust of Ambedkar at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass., will be held May 5, graced by the universitys Indian American chancellor, Kumble Subbaswamy. (IANS/RB photo) Center for American Progress president and CEO Neera Tanden has been accused of outing a woman who was sexually harassed by another staff member at the non-profit think tank. I am deeply sorry that anyone has felt unsupported after having the courage to come forward, the Indian American political leader wrote in an e-mail to staff members, a day after Buzz Feed reported a story about the allegedly sexually abusive culture at the think tank. But at a staff meeting the following day, Tanden named the victim. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) This is a SHORT, easy read for those of you who have dyslexia or other reading disabilities...so no worries.Anderson Cooper was momentarily stunned speechless when a top GOP strategist insisted he had never heard President Donald Trump tell a lie.The presidents never lied to me and I dont think the presidents lied to the American people, insisted former Trump campaign strategist David Urban on CNNs Anderson Copper 360 Wednesday. I think the president is prone to hyperbole, yes, absolutely. Do I think hes purposefully misleading the American people? No, I dont.Cooper simply stared into the camera for seconds before responding: Wow. Wow. Okay. I am not sure I believe ... thats what you really believe ... Factually, he has said things which are not true, and which he obviously knows are not true.Urban stuck to his story even when Cooper pointed out findings by The Washington Post earlier this week that Trump has lied or misconstrued facts more than 3,000 times in 466 days 6.5 false claims a day. Cooper added: Youre saying youve never heard the president say something which is demonstrably false and he knew was false?Urban laughed: Youre asking me my opinion. We now offer lithium prices and coverage free for reference. Click here to read all about it. Join our growing community of participants who want to learn more about electrification and how this market is developing. May 03, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Things are escalating again in one of Syria's many wars. On 29 April, two massive strikes - presumed by Israel - reportedly hit the Syrian Arab Army's 47th Brigade military base and arms depots near Hama, as well as Nayrab Military Airport in Aleppo. The strikes reportedly targeted Iranian surface-to-surface missiles intended for deployment in Syria, and killed between 26 and 38 people, including 11 Iranians. Red lines updated The attack appears to have been coordinated with the US, coming just hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left Jerusalem - where, according to Haaretz, he had "thrilled Netanyahu with hawkish talk on Iran". That same day, noted the Times of Israel, "news also broke of a phone call between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump", while Israel's defence minister, Avigdor Liberman, was meeting his US counterpart James Mattis in Washington. This feverish activity came less than a week after General Joseph Votel, the head of the US armys Central Command, or Centcom, whose sphere of responsibility includes Syria and Iran, made "a largely unpublicised visit to Israel." While the danger of escalation remains real, many analysts have overstated the friction between Russia and Israel - and, indeed, the convergence of interests between Russia and Iran The Times of Israel article concluded: "All this is beginning to look rather like a coordinated Israeli-American operation to limit Iran's military activities in Syria - simultaneously conveying the message to Moscow that Russia's green light for Iran to establish itself militarily in Syria is not acceptable in Jerusalem and Washington." Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The war on Iran, in other words, has begun. It has been brewing for some time. In January 2018, with the battle against Islamic State (IS) almost won, former US secretary of state Rex Tillerson announced new goals for US troops in Syria, vowing that they would remain until "Iranian influence in Syria is diminished, and Syria's neighbours are secure from all threats emanating from Syria." In February the International Crisis Group warned that Israel had "updated its red lines signalling it would take matters into its own hands if necessary to keep Iran from establishing a permanent military presence in Syria". Since then, Israel has been directly targeting Iranian personnel and facilities. Its shooting down of an Iranian drone on 9 February led to one of its own F-16s being downed by the Syrian army after it bombed the drones command centre, the first time an Israeli warplane had been shot down since the 1980s. Yet, in a very rare admission of responsibility, Israel still called the mission a success, claiming that between one third and one half of Syrias air defences had been destroyed in the strikes. Russia's response Two months later, on 9 April, Israeli missiles again struck the same "T4" military base they hit in February. The target was specifically Iranian installations and equipment, and 14 Iranian soldiers were killed. According to one Israeli official, this was the first time Israel had attacked "live Iranian targets". It was also, apparently, the first time Israel had failed to inform Russia to provide advance warning of an upcoming strike, breaking the "de-confliction" agreement made between Israel and Russia right at the start of Russian entry into the Syrian conflict in 2015. Russia's response was similarly unprecedented, with Russia immediately revealing Israel's role in the attack, and Russian President Vladimir Putin calling Netanyahu to warn him that Israel can no longer expect to be able to attack Syria with impunity. Then, following the US-UK-French air strikes on Syria on 13 April, the chief of the Russian General Staff's main operations directorate, Colonel General Sergey Rudskoy, floated the idea of providing Syria with the powerful Russian-made S300 air defence system. Russia may believe that the Iranian presence in Iran - as an alternative source of support for President Assad - makes the Syrian government itself less willing to sign up to Russias diplomatic initiatives The S300, capable of tracking up to 100 targets simultaneously over a range of 200km, "would create a no-go situation for Israel if allowed to be made operational by the Syrian regime", according to former US naval officer Jennifer Dyer, who added that: "The kinds of low-level, preemptive strikes (in Syria) the IAF [Israeli Air Force] has executed in the last few years, against Hezbollah targets and the special weapons targets of Iran and the Assad regime, would become virtually impossible." Israel would lose the ability to carry out pre-emptive strikes. Russia had originally signed a contract with Syria to deliver the S300 system in 2010, but this was scrapped after pressure from Israel. But, on 23 April, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the decision to reverse that suspension and supply the S300 had now been made, with only the technical details left to iron out. A few days later, the Israelis struck again, this time with their earth-shaking bunker busters, directly targeting Iranian troops and equipment for the second time. No S300, you see. The unfolding scenario Media reports, both mainstream and alternative (my own included), are increasingly nervous about the scenario now unfolding, and rightly so. Yet while the danger of escalation and miscalculation - and specifically, the drawing in of Russia into the Israeli-Iranian conflict developing in Syria - remains real, many analysts have overstated the friction between Russia and Israel - and, indeed, the convergence of interests between Russia and Iran. Despite both being opposed to western-backed regime change in Syria, Russian and Iranian objectives in the region are in fact very different. According to intelligence analysts Stratfor: "Russia's strategic vision is chiefly focused on eliminating sources of instability and preventing US-led military interventions", with a "broader goal of establishing itself as an indispensable guarantor of collective security in the Middle East". Safe in the knowledge that Iran really has no-one else to turn to, Russia can afford to let Israel loose on them In Syria, therefore, the Russians have the "limited objective of ensuring that Assad controls enough territory to negotiate with Syrian opposition factions from a position of strength" in order to create a mediated, negotiated settlement, overseen and guaranteed by Russia. The Iranians, however, are more focused on "containing Saudi Arabia's power projection capacity across the Arab world", according to Stratfor analysis, leading to an "unwillingness to suspend military operations in Syria until Assad has completely vanquished opposition forces Iran's belief in the feasibility of a military solution in Syria has made it less willing than Russia to diplomatically engage with Syrian opposition or Kurdish factions during diplomatic negotiations, limiting the scope of the Moscow-Tehran partnership." Furthermore, "Iran's use of Syrian territory to create a permanent transit point of weaponry to Hezbollah has alarmed Russian policymakers who seek to preserve strong relations with Israel." Iranian entrenchment From this point of view, far from seeking to protect Iranian entrenchment in Syria, Russia has a direct interest in restricting it. Israeli strikes may thus serve a function for Russia, putting pressure on Iran to "rein in" the activities Russia views as disruptive to its own aims. Furthermore, Russia may believe that the Iranian presence in Syria - as an alternative source of support for President Assad - makes the Syrian government itself less willing to sign up to Russia's diplomatic initiatives. Indeed, on a very basic level, a reduced Iranian presence leaves Assad more thoroughly dependent on Russia. And anyway, a cynic might argue, now the rebellion has been all but quashed, havent the Iranians served their purpose? Many people claim that the alliance with Iran is too important for Russia to risk a gambit like this. And no doubt it is. But what if there is no risk? While the Russian-Iranian alliance remains crucial for Moscow's projection of power into the Middle East, Russia may well calculate that Iran has no interest in jeopardising this, however poorly they are treated by their Russian "ally" in Syria. After all, the provision of protection against a US attack on Iran is hardly a buyer's market - Russia is a monopoly supplier. Safe in the knowledge that Iran really has no-one else to turn to, Russia can afford to let Israel loose on them in Syria. Certainly, Israel's belligerent defence minister does not appear to see Russia as an obstacle to Israeli plans for Syria. "What is important to understand is that the Russians, they are very pragmatic players," he said in Washington recently. "At the end of the day, they are reasonable guys, its possible to close deals with them and we understand what is their interest." He certainly doesn't sound like he is referring to a steadfast ally of a state Israel is just about to wage war on. Isolating Russia It may even be that Russia is still, against all hope, expecting to get something out of the Trump administration, in the form of sanctions relief, or at least some recognition of their security concerns in Ukraine and eastern Europe, and does not wish to damage that possibility by resisting strikes on Iran. Such hopes are surely forlorn. I would like to think Russia is neither so cynical as to stand back and allow Israeli aggression against Iran in order to gain leverage in its own relationship with the Iranians and Syrians, nor so naive as to expect anything from the US. But the omens are not good. The failure to deliver the S300s, or to create any other meaningful deterrent, even after the opening shots in this new war on Iran were fired on 9 April, suggests either cowardice or collusion. And the Russians are not cowards. If Russia really is going to allow their erstwhile Iranian comrades to get wiped out, they really should understand that this is not simply a matter of Israel's "legitimate security concerns". This is about eliminating Irans chance of building up a deterrent in Syria, in advance of an all-out war against Iran itself. And the destruction of states such as Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Iran is, in turn, about isolating Russia when its own turn comes. - Dan Glazebrook May 03, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - After a year of investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has, in effect, admitted that he has hit a dry well. He is under strong pressure to keep the charade going until the November elections, however, so he and his high-priced legal brain-trust have devised a new tactic. One would think they could come up with something less transparent. After all, Mueller was FBI Director from 2001 to 2013 and knows where the bodies are buried, so to speak. But it does not appear likely that he is going to get his man this time. So, rather than throw in the towel, he is making a college try at cajoling President Donald Trump into helping him out. Todays New York Times print-edition lede by Michael S. Schmidt, Questions for President Show Depth of Inquiry Into Russian Meddling, bespeaks an embarrassingly desperate attempt to get President Donald Trump to incriminate himself. And, given Trumps temperament and his dismissive attitude toward his legal advisers, the President might just rise to the bait. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Schmidt reports that Muellers high-powered legal team has prepared over four dozen questions for Trump on an exhaustive array of subjects. Assuming the Times is correct and the questions indeed are Muellers, an earlier electronic Times headline would seem more to the point: Mueller Has Dozens of Inquiries for Trump in Broad Quest on Russia Ties and Obstruction. Not depth, as in the earlier headline, but breadth. Deep dry well already dug. A broad quest, yep, now that could be the ticket! The questions leaked to the the Times betoken a very wide quest, indeed, stopping just short of the proverbial, When did you stop beating your wife? Or, in Trumps case, What discussions did you have with Stormy Daniels during your dalliance with her? Schmidt reports that 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. Heres one open-ended query as described by the Times: [W]hat happened during Mr. Trumps 2013 visit to Moscow. Thats the trip about which an opposition-research investigator working for the Clinton campaign (through a cutout) came up with the scurrilous pee-tape story about Trump consorting with prostitutes. Also included in the exhaustive array of subjects are questions like this: What discussions did you have with Reince Priebus in July 2017 about obtaining the Sessions resignation? With whom did you discuss it? In an attempt to put some gravitas behind this question, the Times explains that Mr. Priebus, who was Mr. Trumps chief of staff, has said he raced out of the White House after Mr. Sessions and implored him not to resign. Mr. Mueller has interviewed Mr. Priebus and would be able to compare his answers with those of Mr. Trump. Aha! Might this be a clue to Muellers approach? Something informally called The Flynn-Papadopoulos Playbook for Dummies? What if the Presidents recollection does not exactly match that of Priebus? A gotcha moment? Perjury. But does anyone really care if recollections dont square on such trivia? Never before has it been clearer that the Mueller investigation is 90 percent charade. Often, lawyers are not very good at the game. This is no exception. Theater of the Absurd Mueller knows better than anyone, where and how to find the dirt on the Trump campaign, collusion with Russia, or anything else. That he has been able to come up with so little and is trying to get some help from the President himself speaks volumes. Mueller does not need to send his team off on a broad quest with open-ended queries on an exhaustive array of subjects. If there were any tangible evidence of Trump campaign-Russia collusion, Mueller would almost certainly have known where to look and, in todays world of blanket surveillance, would have found it by now. It beggars belief that he would have failed, in the course of his year-old investigation, to use all the levers at his disposal the levers Edward Snowden called turnkey tyranny to get the goods on Trump. Heres what the mainstream media keeps from most Americans: The National Security Agency (NSA) collects everything: all email, telephone calls, texts, faxes everything, and stores it in giant databases. OK; we know that boggles the mind, but the technical capability is available, and the policy is to collect it all. All is collected and stored in vast warehouses. (The tools to properly analyze/evaluate this flood of information do not match the miraculous state of the art of collection, so the haystack keeps growing and the needles get harder and harder to find. But that is another story.) How did collection go on steroids? Youve heard it a thousand times After 9/11 everything changed. In short, when Vice President Dick Cheney told NSA Director and Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden to disregard the Fourth Amendment, Hayden saluted sharply. And so, after 9/11, NSAs erstwhile super-strict First Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Collect Information on Americans Without a Court Warrant, went the way of the Fourth Amendment. (When this became public, former NSA Director Adm. Bobby Ray Inman stated openly that Hayden violated the law, and former NSA Director Army Gen. William Odom said Hayden ought to be courtmartialed. The timorous mainstream media suppressed what Inman and Odom said.) Mischievous Hops On January 17, 2014, when President Barack Obama directed the intelligence community to limit their warrantless data searches for analysis/evaluation to two hops, either he did not understand what he was authorizing or he was bowing, as was his custom, to what the intelligence community claimed was needed (lest anyone call him soft on terrorism). Intelligence directors were quite happy with his decision because, basically, it authorized them to spy on anyone on the planet. To explain: Hop is a term used in Graph Theory for social network analysis. (In WW I, this activity was called net reconstruction. During and after WW II it was labeled contact chaining. The general practice in the U.S. goes back at least as far as the Civil War. By watching who was visiting whom in Washington, the Pinkertons were able to uncover a Confederate spy ring.) Hop refers to one connection in a series of connections in a social network. For example, I call you (thats the first hop); then you call someone else (second hop). Another term for hop is degree of separation, 2 hops = 2 degrees of separation. Several of us NSA alumni/members of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) tried, in vain, to warn the White House of the danger of allowing the second hop to apply to government departments or to businesses. The reason is straightforward; if you include businesses like Google, for example, which has up to a billion connections per day, it will not take very long before you have included everyone. Small wonder, then, that leaders of NSA and the rest of the intelligence community were delighted with Obamas January 2014 decision. It meant they could continue collecting and targeting anyone they wanted. In essence, this means that the FBI/NSA/CIA believe they have approval to surveil any US citizen without a court warrant. And that is what they are doing. Parallel Construction & Wiretapping But when the FBI, for example, does find evidence enough to prosecute, it is has to circumvent rules of criminal procedure by creating a parallel construction. This involves obtaining evidence similar to that in NSA-collected data and using the new legal evidence in court, without telling the judges, lawyers, or defendants where they originally got it from. This, of course, can amount to perjury and applies also to any warrant requests and sworn affidavits submitted to get the warrants. Former FBI Director Mueller has said he was comfortable with this process, which the Bureau has been using since 2001, right after 9/11. In a 2011 interview by Barton Gellman for Time magazine, Mueller made it clear his FBI had been using the Stellar Wind program since late 2001. This is the program by which the NSA has been collecting and storing domestic data on virtually all US citizens. So, in essence, Mueller and his FBI were fine with deceiving court and defendant alike, denying defendants the right to proper and full discovery. Finally, performing surveillance on anyone in the Trump campaign or in his administration, would mean the NSA/FBI/CIA could legally (by their own warped standards) spy on everyone associated with the Trump administration even retroactively, going back to before the campaign began. That means Mueller could have access to all the answers before he even asks Trump the first question. We do not know exactly what prompted Trump to claim a year ago that he had been wiretapped (wiretapping has gone the way of the Edsel Ford), but if he was told he had been surveilled, he was probably accurately informed. No doubt he was/is but one hop, skip, and a jump away from others under surveillance, without any requirement even for the skip and the jump much less a warrant. Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. His 27-year career as a CIA analyst includes serving as Chief of the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch and preparer/briefer of the Presidents Daily Brief. He is co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). May 03, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - 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 investigationwhich the Iranians had not been cooperating withwas also not an option. What it came down to was a choice between punishment for Irans past violations and guarantees that those violations would never be repeated in the future. Obamas 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 investigationwith the cooperation of the Iraniansto 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 Irans cooperation to complete the investigation. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter 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 couldnt drag on indefinitely, and delinked from the sanctions relief process, so that the decision to lift sanctions couldnt 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 IAEAs assessments and Irans responses and contributions. The report would essentially include two narratives, which meant that there wouldnt 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 IAEAs 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 Irans 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 Irans past weaponization work. The case was officially closed. Now, without presenting any new information and without even attempting to claim that Irans undeclared activities had continued beyond 2009 or 2015 Bibi wants to convince the world that he has discovered something new. He hasnt. As one former IAEA official publicly commented: I just saw a lot of pictures I had seen before. Irans past military activities are precisely why the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is needed: The deal significantly limited Irans program and closed off all of Tehrans pathways to a bomb. And thanks to the inspections regime, Iran cannot engage in any such clandestine activities without getting caught. All of these restrictions, limitations and inspections will be lost if Donald Trump follows Netanyahus advice and kills the deal on May 12. And therein lies the tragedy of Netanyahu. By helping to kill the Iran deal, Netanyahu may advance his own political interest, but only by undermining that of Israels. Bibi may consider himself the biggest political winner of the Iran deals collapse. Yet, Israel will count among some of the biggest losers of this diplomatic travesty. Trita Parsi is the author of Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy and president of the National Iranian American Council. May 03, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The bombing of Syrian sites where chemical weapons are allegedly being manufactured or stocked, allegedly to be used by the Bashar al-Assad government against the rebels, has left citizens all over the world in a state of confusion, filled with a mixture of perplexity and skepticism. In spite of the bombing by the Western media (a particularly apt metaphor in this case), in their attempt to persuade public opinion of the latest atrocities committed by al-Assads regime; in spite of the near unanimous opinion of political commentators that this was nothing but a humanitarian response, a fair punishment, and one more proof of the vitality of the Western alliance; in spite of all this, citizens in the West (and much more so in the rest of the world), whenever asked, expressed their doubts about this media narrative and for the most part spoke against the attacks. Why is that? The consequences Because citizens who possess at least a modicum of information have a better memory than commentators, and because, although they lack expertise on the causes of such acts of war, they have an expert knowledge of their consequences, which is something that said commentators always fail to notice. They remember that in 2003 the justification for the invasion of Iraq was the existence of weapons of mass destruction that turned out not to exist. They remember that the photos that were exhibited at the time had been tampered with so as to lend credibility to the big lie. They remember that then, as now, the attack occurred on the eve of the arrival of an independent commission of experts sent to investigate the existence of such weapons. They remember that the lie left behind a million dead and a destroyed country, with fat reconstruction contracts being handed over to US companies (such as Halliburton) and oil exploration contracts given to Western oil companies. They remember that in 2011 the same coalition destroyed Libya, turning it into a den of terrorists and traffickers in refugees and emigrants, and yielding the same type of fat contracts. They remember that so far the war in Syria has caused 500,000 dead, 5 million refugees, and 6 million displaced within Syrian borders. Above all, thanks perhaps to that mysterious cunning of reason whereof Hegel spoke, they remember what the media does not tell them. They remember that two genocides are underway in the region. They are being perpetrated by state terrorism but they are almost never mentioned because the aggressor states are our allies: one is the Yemeni genocide at the hands of Saudi Arabia, the other is Israels genocide of the Palestinian people. These are the more visible consequences. But there are other victims, of which the ordinary citizen is hardly aware, her suspicions sometimes not more than a vague discomfort. I will focus on three of those victims. The first is international law, which has once again been violated, given that actions of war are legitimate only in case of self-defense or under a UN Security Council mandate. None of these conditions has been met. Bilateral and multilateral treaties are being thrown out one after another, as trade wars become increasingly fierce. Are we in the process of entering a new Cold War, with fewer rules and more innocent deaths? Are we heading toward a third world war? Where is the UN, to prevent it through diplomacy? What else can countries like Russia, China or Iran be expected to do but move further away from Western countries and their fake multilateralism, and come up with their own alternatives for cooperation? The second victim is human rights. Here the West reached a paroxysm of hypocrisy: the military destruction of entire countries and the killing of innocent populations has become the sole means of promoting human rights. It somehow seems that there is no other means of fostering human rights except by violating them, and Western-style democracy does not know how to flourish except among ruins. The third victim is the war on terror. No person of good will can accept the death of innocent victims in the name of some political or ideological goal, much less when perpetrated by the countries the United States and its allies that over the last twenty years have given full priority to the war on terrorism. So how can one comprehend the current financing and arming, by the Western powers, of groups of Syrian rebels that are known to be terrorist organizations and that, like Bashar al-Assad, have also used chemical weapons against innocent populations in the past? I allude in particular to the al-Nusra front, the extremist Salafist group also known as the Al Qaeda of Syria, which seeks to establish an Islamic state. In fact, the most frequent accusations, by US institutions, with regard to the financing of extremist and terrorist groups point the finger precisely at that most loyal of US allies, Saudi Arabia. What are the hidden goals of a war on terror that supports terrorists with money and arms? The causes Given that the causes elude all the news noise, it is more difficult for ordinary citizens to identify them. Convention has it that one can distinguish between proximate and structural causes. Among the proximate causes, the dispute over the natural gas pipeline is the one most frequently mentioned. The large natural gas reserves in the Qatar and Iran region can take two alternative routes to reach the wealthy, voracious consumer called Europe: the Qatar pipeline, going through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey, and the Iranian pipeline, across Iran, Iraq and Syria. For geopolitical reasons, the US favors the former route while Russia prefers the latter. Bashar al-Assad was also in favor of the latter, as it benefitted Shiite governments only. From that moment on, the West viewed him as a target to be taken down. Major Rob Taylor, a professor at the US Armys Command and General Staff College, wrote in the Armed Forces Journal of March 21, 2014: Viewed through a geopolitical and economic lens, the conflict in Syria is not a civil war, but the result of larger international players positioning themselves on the geopolitical chessboard in preparation for the opening of the pipeline in 2016. The structural causes are perhaps more convincing. It has been my contention that we are at a transitional moment between capitalisms globalizations. The first globalization took place from 1860 to 1914 and was dominated by England. The second took place from 1944 to 1971 and was dominated by the US. The third began in 1989 and is now coming to an end. It was dominated by the US, but with the growing multilateral participation of Europe and China. In between globalizations, rivalry between would-be dominant countries tends to increase and can give rise to wars between them or their respective allies. At this point in time, the rivalry is between the US, an empire in decline, and China, a rising empire. In a study titled Global Trends, 2030, the US National Intelligence Council an institution that could hardly be viewed as biased states that in the year 2030 Asia is going to be the center of world economy just as it was until 1500, and China could become the worlds first economy. The rivalry escalates but cannot lead to head-on confrontation because China already has a major influence in the domestic economy of the US and is a major creditor of its public debt. Trade wars are critical and they spread to the high-tech areas, because whoever gets to dominate those areas (namely automation or robotics) will be poised to dominate the next globalization. The US will only enter treaties that are likely to isolate China. Since China is already too strong as it is, it has to be confronted through its allies. The most prominent among them is Russia, and recent agreements between the two countries provide for non-dollar denominated transactions, especially oil-related, which poses a fatal threat to the international reserve currency. Russia couldnt possibly be permitted to boast about a victory in Syria, a victory, let it be said, against terrorist extremists, and one that Russia has been on the verge of obtaining, thanks supposedly to President Obamas lack of direction when he left Syria out of his list of priorities. It was therefore necessary to find a pretext for returning to Syria to resume the war for a few more years, as is the case with Iraq and Afghanistan. North Korea is also an ally and must be treated with hostility so as to embarrass China. Finally, there is the fact that China, like all rising empires, is pursuing (fake) multilateralisms and therefore is responding to the trade war by fostering open trade. But it has also pursued limited multilateral agreements aimed at creating alternatives to US economic and financial dominance. The most salient of these agreements was the BRICS, formed by Russia, India, South Africa and Brazil, besides China. The BRICS even created an alternative world bank. They had to be neutralized. Since Modis rise to power, India has lost interest in the agreement. Brazil was a particularly strategic partner because of the countrys articulation albeit a reluctant one with a more radical alternative that had emerged in Latin America at the initiative of a number of progressive governments, notably Hugo Chavezs Venezuela. Mention should be made, in this regard, to ALBA, UNASUR and CELAC, a set of political and trade agreements aimed at freeing Latin America and the Caribbean from US century-old tutelage. The most vulnerable of the BRICS countries was Brazil, perhaps because it was also the most democratic. The process whereby it was neutralized began with the institutional coup against President Dilma Rousseff and was taken further with the illegal imprisonment of Lula da Silva and the dismantling of every single nationalist policy undertaken by the PT governments. Curiously enough, South Africas Jacob Zuma, no doubt a corrupt leader and a BRICS enthusiast, has been replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa, one of the richest men in Africa (not as corrupt as Zuma?) and a staunch advocate of global neoliberalism. The Summit of the Americas, which took place in Lima on 13-14 April and was virtually ignored by the European media, was a most relevant geopolitical piece in this context. Venezuelas participation was vetoed, and according to El Pais of 15 April (Brazilian edition), the meeting signaled the demise of Bolivarian America. The strengthening of US influence in the region has become very clear, judging from the way in which the US delegation criticized Chinas growing influence on the continent. For all these reasons, the war in Syria is part of a much broader geopolitical game, whose future looks very uncertain. May 2, 2018 Boaventura de Sousa Santos is portuguese professor of Sociology at the School of Economics, University of Coimbra (Portugal), distinguished legal scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, and global legal scholar at the University of Warwick. Co-founder and one of the main leaders of the World Social Forum. Article provided to Other News by the author May 03, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Three more Palestinians were killed and 611 wounded last Friday, when tens of thousands of Gazans continued their largely non-violent protests at the Gaza-Israel border. Yet as the casualty count keeps climbing nearly 45 dead and over 5,500 wounded the deafening silence also continues. Tellingly, many of those who long chastised Palestinians for using armed resistance against the Israeli occupation are nowhere to be found, while children, journalists, women and men are all targeted by hundreds of Israeli snipers who dot the Gaza border. Israeli officials are adamant. The likes of Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, perceives his war against the unarmed protesters as a war on terrorists. He believes that there are no innocents in Gaza. While the Israeli mindset is not in the least surprising, it is emboldened by the lack of meaningful action, or outright international silence to the atrocities taking place at the border. The International Criminal Court (ICC), aside from frequent statements laced with ambiguous legal jargon, has been quite useless thus far. Its Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, derided Israels killings in a recent statement, but also distorted facts in her attempt at even-handed language, to the delight of Israeli media. Violence against civilians in a situation such as the one prevailing in Gaza could constitute crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as could the use of civilian presence for the purpose of shielding military activities, she said. Encouraged by Bensoudas statement, Israel is exploiting the opportunity to deflect from its own crimes. On April 25, an Israeli law group, Shurat Hadin, is seeking to indict three Hamas leaders at the ICC, accusing Hamas of using children as human shields at the border protests. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter It is tragic that many still find it difficult to grasp the notion that the Palestinian people are capable of mobilizing, resisting and making decisions independent from Palestinian factions. Indeed, for the nearly decade-long Hamas-Fatah feud, the Israeli siege on Gaza and throughout the various destructive wars, Gazans have been sidelined, often seen as hapless victims of war and factionalism, and lacking any human agency. Shurat Hadin, like Bensouda, are all feeding into that dehumanizing discourse. By insisting that Palestinians are not capable of operating outside the confines of political factions, few feel the sense of political responsibility or moral accountability to come to the aid of the Palestinians. This is reminiscent of former US President Barack Obamas unsolicited lecture to Palestinians during his Cairo speech to the Muslim world in 2009. Palestinians must abandon violence, he said. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. He then offered his own questionable version of history of how all nations, including black people in America, the nations of South Africa, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and Indonesia fought and won their freedom by peaceful means only. This demeaning approach of comparing supposed Palestinian failures to others successes is always meant to highlight that Palestinians are different, lesser beings who are incapable of being like the rest of humanity. Interestingly, this is very much the core of the Zionist narrative about the Palestinians. That very notion is often presented in the question where is the Palestinian Gandhi? The inquiry, often asked by so-called liberals and progressives, is not an inquiry at all, but is a judgement and an unfair one at that. Addressing the question soon after the last Israeli war on Gaza in 2014, Jeff Stein wrote in Newsweek, The answer has been blown away in the smoke and rubble of Gaza, where the idea of non-violent protest seems as quaint as Peter, Paul and Mary. The Palestinians who preached non-violence and led peaceful marches, boycotts, mass sit-downs and the like are mostly dead, in jail, marginalized or in exile. Yet, astonishingly, it is being resurrected again, despite the numerous odds, the unfathomable anger and unrelenting pain. Tens of thousands of protesters, raising Palestinian flags continue to hold their massive rallies across the Gaza border. Despite the high death toll and the thousands maimed, they return everyday with the same commitment to popular resistance that is predicated on collective unity, beyond factionalism and politics. But why are they still being largely ignored? Why isnt Obama tweeting in solidarity with Gazans? Why isnt Hillary Clinton taking the podium to address the unremitting Israeli violence? It is politically convenient to criticize Palestinians as a matter of course, and utterly inconvenient to credit them, even when they display such courage, prowess and commitment to peaceful change. The likes of famed author, J.K. Rowling, had much to stay in criticism of the peaceful Palestinian boycott movement, which aims at holding Israel accountable for its military occupation and violations of human rights. But she became mute when Israeli snipers killed children in Gaza, while cheering whenever a child falls. However, there is a lesson in all of this. The Palestinian people should have no expectations of those who have constantly failed them. Chastising Palestinians for failing at this or that is an old habit, meant to simply hold Palestinians responsible for their own suffering, and to absolve Israel from any wrong doing. Not even Israels incremental genocide in Gaza will change that paradigm. Instead, Palestinians must continue to count on themselves; to stay focused on formulating a proper strategy that will serve their own interests in the long run, the kind of strategy that transcends factionalism and offer all Palestinians a true roadmap to the coveted freedom. The popular resistance in Gaza is just the beginning; it must serve as a foundation for a new outlook, a vision that will ensure that the blood of Mohammed Ibrahim Ayoub is not spilled in vain. Ramzy Baroud Yemen - Massacres and Assassinations Trigger a New Phase of War By Moon Of Alabama May 03, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - 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 regard their Wahhabi neighbors as 'monkeys with laptops'. Their Houthi movement leads the fight. To overcome their 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. During his speech the U.S. vice president singled out Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Of Cuba he said the island continued to live under tyrannical legacy, using terminology and rhetoric used by right-wing Cuban Americans against the communist government of Cuba. Later it was Nicaraguas turn. Pence accused Daniel Ortegas government of brutally repressing peaceful protesters, a common allegation used by successive U.S. governments and their western allies to justify interference despite lacking proper evidence to back their claims. The he attacked the Venezuelan government calling President Nicolas Maduro a "dictator" and charged him with turning one of South Americas most prosperous countries into one of the poorests. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Over the years Washington has maintained economic and political attacks against these three countries hoping to bring about regime change. Since 1960 consecutive U.S. governments have imposed an economic blockade against Cuba. In the 1980s U.S. President Ronald Reagan began financing and training a paramilitary group within Nicaragua known as the Contras. In 2015 the Obama administration declared Venezuela a threat to its national security and the policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation was unleashed. The U.S. Senior Director for Latin America Juan Cruz called Monday for the Venezuelan military to overthrow Maduro under a constitutional provision that justifies rebellion against dictatorial rule. Juan Cruz, Special Assistant to President Trump and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, when asked if the US government supports a military coup in Venezuela. #HSC2018 pic.twitter.com/e915UgxyiN Andrei Serbin Pont (@SerbinPont) April 30, 2018 Earlier this year former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also hinted at a military coup in Venezuela. The new U.S. ambassador to the OAS announced Wednesday that the OAS general assembly meeting scheduled for June will include a debate on the situation in Venezuela. We can get there with a resolution condemning Venezuela for not accepting basic humanitarian aid. That is the first step, Trujillo explained. Maduro has refused to accept international aid because he says he is certain that the economic crisis Venezuela faces has been created by the U.S.-sponsored sanctions that affect all Venezuelans. Pence is expected to address the OAS permanent council next Monday. May 03, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - If you dont think we live in a crazy world, here is Netanyahu, the genocidal zionist leader of Israel, an invader which has destroyed Palestine and seized Palestine for Jews, expelling Palestinians from their homes, villages and country, accusing Abbas, the front man chosen by Washington and Israel as Palestines leader, of being a Holocaust denier. https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201805021064078676-netanyahu-abbas-holcaust-denial/ A rival absurdity is the nomination of President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?521843-Trump-Formally-Nominated-For-Nobel-Peace-Prize In the account I read, Abbas says nothing about the Holocaust. He says that the European prejudice against Jews resulted from Europeans experience with their sharp financial practices, not from some sort of religious hostility. This is, of course, consistent with numerous historical accounts predating the Israeli colonial occupation of Palestine. What was the Holocaust? According to zionists, the Holocaust was National Socialist Germanys elimination of 6 million Jews by first gassing them and then cremating the bodies. It is unclear how Germany managed this feat when all of its limited and dwindling resources were employed, unsuccessfully as it turns out, on the Russian front. Photos demonstrating the Holocaust include dead skeletal-like bodies. But these are not people gased and cremated. These are deaths from typhus and starvation. The disintegrating German state had no food or medicines for Germans and often not for its own soldiers. Concentration camp inmates were on the bottom of the totem pole. We know very little about the Holocaust, because no one is allowed to study it. Anyone in Europe who studies it and makes the slightest correction to the zionist narrative is arrested and imprisoned as a Holocaust denier. There is no doubt that many Jews were killed, but there are different views about the various means employed and the extent to which the process was organized or haphazard. Before differences could be resolved and sorted out, the subject was put off limits. For example, suppose a scholar in Germany discovers a previously unknown document that proves that National Socialist Germany exterminated 3 million Jews. This discovery of proof of the Holocaust would be rewarded with the arrest and imprisonment of the scholar for reporting the document, because it conflicts with the official zionist declaration of 6 million. The document would be branded a falsification and discarded. The scholars career would be ruined. The Holocaust is not a subject that can be studied or investigated. It is an occurance handed down by zionists that cannot be examined or modified and certainly not questioned. We must take it on faith alone. If a scholar does not, he is a Holocaust denier and, if European or captured in Europe, he is imprisoned. For many people, this has raised quesions about the Holocaust as studies of the event should confirm the zionists account and be welcomed, not suppressed. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The Holocaust occurred about 75 years ago. Norman Finkelstein and other Jewish scholars have explained how the Holocaust has been used to deflect criticism of Israels treatment of the Palestinians. Before our eyes the Israelis are committing holocaust against the Palestinians, and nothing is done about it. You are not even permitted to protest. South Carolina has recently passed a law making it illegal to criticize Israel for anything, no matter how egregious. The bill purports to be combating anti-semitism, but the definition of anti-semitism is criticism of Israel or support for boycotts against Israel. In other words, in South Carolina it is illegal to sanction Israel or to criticize its inhumane policies toward the Palestinians. But Russia, Iran, and North Korea can be sanctioned on the basis of false accusations alone. http://www.thetower.org/6154-south-carolina-is-first-state-to-pass-law-defining-anti-semitism-countering-on-campus-hate/ Three years ago South Carolina passed a law prohibiting state contracts with US companies that boycott Israel. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/06/05/south-carolina-passes-historic-anti-boycott-law/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.2224f9d85293 The South Carolina government, like most other states, is in Israels pocket. The state and federal governments respond to Israel, not to Americans, and certainly not to moral imperatives. So what are we to conclude? That Holocaust against Jews is morally unaceptable, but Holocaust against Palestinians is morally acceptable? The myth of Western democracy is based on voting, which never changes anything. Trump campaigned on ending the war in Syria and normalizing relations with Russia, but where are we today? The US is attacking Syrian Army positions and fomenting war with Russia. Yet this has not prevented Trump from being nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Former CIA officer Philip Giraldi says that Americas neoconservative Jews are driving Americas wars for Israels benefit. http://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/americas-jews-are-driving-americas-wars/?highlight=Philip+Girandi+America%27s+Jews+are+driving+America%27s+Wars The neoconservatives have created a new think tank with which to demonize Russia and foment war. https://russia-insider.com/en/boot-applebaum-kristol-and-bunch-other-neocons-form-brand-new-russia-bashing-think-tank/ri23312 The Israel Lobby has often demonstrated its power to overturn the US Constitutions guarantee of free speech and to remove tenured professors from American Universities for criticizing Israels inhumane treatment of Palestinians. No American university professor has the right of free speech or the protection of tenure if the Israel Lobby objects. https://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/11/10/the-tragic-case-of-denis-rancourt-and-arthur-topham/ A crazed or corrupt federal judge in New Yorkpaid off by who?has ordered Iran to pay $6 billion to 9/11 victims although Iran has nothing whatsoever to do with the 9/11 attack. https://sputniknews.com/world/201805021064081568-us-court-billions-iran/ Clearly, the purpose of this hoax judicial decision is to make insouciant Americans believe that Iran was behind 9/11 and therefore muster Americans support for a military attack on Iran. Meanwhile the Russians are so befuddled by their desire to be part of the West that they have no idea of the decadence that they would be joining: In the UK teenage girls sell their virginity. One got $1.5 million. https://www.rt.com/search?q=UK+teens+sell+their+virginity UK ministers secretary caught selling sex online. Extra price for doing it on the ministers desk. https://www.rt.com/search?q=UK+minister%27s+secretary+caught+selling+sex+online German university teaches women how to masturbate for maximum pleasure. https://www.rt.com/search?q=Masturbation+workshops+for+women Human relations break down as Western civilization turns to sex robots. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/13/sex-love-and-robots-the-end-of-intimacy From the looks of things, males in the West are as endangered as morality, truth, and facts: https://www.rt.com/uk/423553-school-gender-inclusive-uniforms/ https://www.rt.com/usa/425720-boy-scouts-name-change-girls/ At one time these reports would have been shocking. Today they are lost in the decadence of the West. If Washington had any sense, Washington would get rid of Russia by allowing Russia to join the West and become firmly mired in the decadence before the emasculation of American males leaves them unfit as soldiers. Does the West, the culture of which is geared toward the emasculation of males, really want to go to war against Russia and China? Doesnt seem to me like a good decision. After meeting with United States President Donald Trump in Washington D.C., President Muhammadu Buhari was supposed to be on his way back to Nigeria. However, Buhari had an unannounced stopover in London, which got many Nigerians talking. Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, in his explanation, blamed the situation on the aircraft which conveyed the president to the US and how the aircraft couldnt undertake a really long trip. What he said While delivering a speech titled, The role of media in the Nigerian electoral process at the 69th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, the INEC boss said debates provide a necessary platform for candidates to articulate their positions. He said, Such debates are necessary for deepening democracy by promoting civil discourse and providing a platform for candidates to articulate their positions on public policy issues. They also allow the public to judge aspiring candidates for political office under pressure and evaluate their arguments in competition with other candidates. Debates also serve an important role of demonstrating to the aspiring candidates that democracy is about standing before the public and answering their questions. While reacting to the remarks by the INEC boss on Thursday, May 3, Atiku said debates will enrich Nigerias democracy and governance. Taking to his official Twitter account (@atiku), he posted, Kudos to @inecnigeria for recognising debates are a vital part of the democratic process. Our democracy and governance will be better enriched when voters have the opportunity to make the needed distinction in the offerings of those who apply to govern them. Kudos to @inecnigeria for recognising debates are a vital part of the democratic process. Our democracy & governance will be better enriched when voters have the opportunity to make the needed distinction in the offerings of those who apply to govern them. 5:14 PM May 3, 2018 2019: INEC wants candidates subjected to debate Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission has stated the importance of debates among candidates running for political offices in 2019. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahm Atiku is expected to be President Muhammadu Buharis biggest challenger in the 2019 presidential election after he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and moved back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017. Source: www.punch.ng Rochas Okorocha, Imo State Governor hosted Big Brother Naija 2018 winner, Miracle alongside former housemates, Nina, BamBam, and Teddy A. 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. Now, former Big Brother Naija housemate, Nina has met her lover, Miracles mum today during their reception in Imo state by the governor. See photos below: The governor also gave Nina, Teddy and BamBam N2million each. He has also promised to support Nina in the completion of her course. Leave a Comment comments John Ugbe MD/CEO Multichoice has explained why Big Brother Naija housemate, Cee-C wasnt disqualified from the show. He spoke at a press briefing held in honour of the finalists.s Ugbe said Cee-C and others made it to the final stage because they adhered to the rules of the house. Many had expected that Cee-c, who was adjudged to be the most controversial housemate on the show disqualified due to her attitude; but she surprisingly made it to the final stage. From injuring Lolu, fighting Tobi, destroying her Payporte party dress, Cee-c was christened Margaret Thatcher of the BBNaija house by viewers. Ugbe also faulted the earlier claim in some quarters that some housemates were placed into the house by the sponsors to win the show. He said: Those questions about her (Cee-c) disqualification would always come. I think when the show started; there was a perception that some housemates were placed into the house by the sponsors to win the show. Then it switched by the next week At every point, the housemates were aware of the rules of being in the house, and those were adhered to throughout. At the end of the day guys, its a game, and the rules were adhered to. Throughout the time the housemates were in the house, there was fairness. At a time we heard about the votes, and then, week after week, we published those percentages and people saw the reality behind the numbers. Often times when people complain and we ask them: Did you vote? They tell you I actually forgot to vote. Leave a Comment comments Former Big Brother Naija housemates, Cee-C and Angel were on Thursday, hosted by the Deputy Senate Presisdent, Ike Ekweremadu. The dignitary hosted the duo in his office at the National Assembly Abuja the ex-housemates also caught up with actress, Tonto Dikeh and Halima Abubakar. See photos below: Meanwhile, former housemate and 1st runner up, Cee-c has revealed her next step. Cee-c, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria at the Laurent-Perrier night by Play Network Nigeria, in Abuja said she will be going to a film school to study script writing. I want to write scripts that would portray strong characters and depict a society where different people who share different opinions are appreciated. Many people are not confident enough to express their values and opinions. My next priority this year is to go to a film school because I am aspiring to also produce. I will definitely go to a film school because I want to become a producer; I want to tell stories; that is my plan for this year. The ex-housemate, who also spoke on her love for artificial eyelashes, said she does not think she can do without it; however, she expressed the desire to also do without them. I have been fixing lashes for about five years now consistently, I am used to it; I dont think I can do without it but I must try to do without it. I think it is because of my poor eyesight, they kind of help me out when I squint. Leave a Comment comments A female Twitter user shared a post on Nigerian women advising a lady to forgive her husband even after she found out he had been sleeping with her 11 year old sister for one year. Displeased by the advise, Eketi stated that there will be more cases of misconduct if women continue telling their daughters that marriage is the greatest achievement a woman can attain. Another female Twitter user identified as Onyi, supported the notion of forgiveness, stating that she wont divorce her husband if her does the same to her underage daughter. In fact, she went on to justify her stance using the Bible verses. Read the Tweets below:- Source Naijaloaded Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday said the Commission spent only N100million on the failed bid to recall Dino Melaye. Debunking reports in several quarters that N100Billion was spent by INEC in the recall bid of the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Yakubu said at a press conference in Abuja that only N100m was spent . He said a recall exercise is just like conducting a Senatorial election, adding that Kogi-West which Melaye represents, has 552 polling units and seven local governments. Reactions from some Nigerians If this cash was invested in 100 youths At 1million naira per youth to aid entrepreneurship I guess they would be forever thankful to the country. #InvestInNigerianYouthsNow Prince Kalejaiye A.O (@kalliente007) May 4, 2018 We all know the story of Symba, the curvy model who held up traffic in Victoria Island, Lagos for about 30 minutes all for a photo shoot session. Ever since Symba stepped her foot in Nigeria, she has been the talk of the town. Not one to shy away from the media attention, she has been creating controversies left and right. The Curvy Model who is known for keeping her instagram fans in the mood took to Insta-live to flaunt her fat camel toe and gigantic butt in a sexy thong. See more photos below:- Source Gistreel Instagram curvy model Symba sometime ago held up traffic in Victoria Island, Lagos for about 30 minutes just for a photoshoot session. Ever since she stepped her foot in Nigeria, she has been the talk of the town. Not one to shy away from the media attention, she has been creating controversies left and right. The Curvy Model who is known for keeping her instagram fans in the mood took to Insta-live to flaunt her fat camel toe and gigantic butt in a sexy thong. See more photos below: Leave a Comment comments Ahmed Kuru, managing director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, has said the organisations intervention in Arik Air and Aero Contractors were intended to be value adding and not destroy the airlines. Speaking at the 6th Nigeria Transport Day Newspaper Awards and Lecture on Thursday April 26, in Lagos on AMCONs intervention in Transport and Allied Sector; Achievements, Challenges and Prospects, Kuru noted that the Corporation has adopted a similar approach to the revitalization of Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN), which is back to operation and assembling vehicles for the road transport sector. He observed that towards achieving their mandate, it purchased non-performing loans of about N181 billion from various banks, adding that over 90percent of this was in the aviation sector. He explained that: AMCONs intervention through the instrumentality of Receiver Management was first to stabilize the operations of the airlines, put them in a position to generate positive cash flow, then resolve their debt situation through either the owners paying the debts or the sale of the companies/underlining assets. Kuru explained further that at the point of intervening in Arik, the company was witnessing high spate of flight cancellations of up to 40percent, on-time performance (OTP), which measures the promptness of schedule flights had fallen to as low as 15per cent while staff, including pilots were owed salaries, in some cases for up to six months. In his words: Staff morale was therefore understandably low. Several service providers including fuel marketers, maintenance and spare part companies were withdrawing services or were unwilling to extend credits. There were indeed significant concerns at various governmental cycles for safety and the possible impact of the collapse of the company on the economy. We are glad to report that this position has been largely arrested. Cancellations are down to 4percent, OTP is over 60percent, all owed salaries of current staff are fully paid, suppliers are now being paid as at when due. This of course has come at a cost to AMCON and not without the unparalleled support of the Central Bank of Nigeria and local banks. He added that at Aero, AMCON succeeded in ensuring that the airline remains a going concern. Kuru stressed that with the strengthening of Aero management, the Corporation has seen a refocus on the strengths and capabilities of the airline. The Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) licence has been made active. The airline in February succeeded in completing a c-check on a Boeing 737; a huge feat with a potential for savings in foreign exchange demands by local airlines, he said. Kuru pointed out that their intervention in the sector has ensured that Nigerians are offered choices with an enhanced positive competition leading to improved service offering for the flying public. He stated that as a major policy drive of this government, AMCON were able to save over 3,000 direct jobs, and hundreds of indirect jobs in the airline industry. Kuru maintained that the new management in Arik had to take bold decisions to downsize its operations, especially cutting down all the long haul flights, due to the losses being sustained on those operations, and the lack of equity capital to absorb the losses. Source: Business Day News NGO workers arrested for mismanaging N4.5m funds meant for people living with the HIV Virus. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, May 3, 2018, arraigned the trio of Owolabi Kayode Samuel, Esther Olubukola Mate and Abimbola David-Orugun before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N4.576m The defendants, who are staff of Hope Worldwide Foundation, were arraigned alongside Cumulative Ventures Limited and Continental Best Buys Limited. . Led by the prosecution counsel, the first prosecution witness, PW1, Abasiekong Udobang, Programme Manager, MTN Nigeria, told the court how the defendants misappropriated funds meant for the treatment of people living with AIDS and the less-privileged in the society. Udobang also informed the court that the money belonged to MTN Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria, which was established for the purpose of giving back to the society, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, J. O.Odubela, SAN, the witness confirmed that the money meant for the treatment of the AIDs victim was usually paid to Hope Worldwide quarterly. Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to June 26, 2018 for continuation of trial. Leave a Comment comments Punch President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed past leaders, especially the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, for neglecting the health sector between 2010 and 2015. Vanguard THE Senate, yesterday, took a swipe at the over N44 billion the Military Pensions Board expended without budgetary provisions between 2015 and 2017. The Sun Ahead of the 2019 election, Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, will conduct a mock election for President Muhammadu Buhari and other presidential candidates. Thisday Barely 48 hours after a twin bomb blast rocked a mosque in Mubi town, resulting in the deaths of over 60 people, 15 persons have been reportedly killed by armed herdsmen in four villages in Numan and Lamurde Local Government Areas of Adamawa State. Guardian Africa needs $170bn annually to meet infrastructure requirement AfDB The African Development Bank (AfDB) says Africa needs about 170 billion dollars annually to meet its infrastructure requirement. Tribune The Presidency has criticized the media for the way they presented the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and his host, United States President Donald Trump, especially on the killing of Christians in the country. Leadership The silence that has greeted the allegation of N10 billion against Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara is intriguing. The fund was allegedly approved by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, in collusion with the Accountant General The Authority Two days after suicide bombers kill 27 people in a mosque and market in Adamawa State, herdsmen have struck in the state, killing 15 villagers. The Nation A Nigerian student identified as Chinaza Asiegbu has been accepted into all eight Ivy league schools in the United States. So proud of the achievement, the young lady took to twitter to share the good news. Nigerian Student Gets Accepted Into All 8 Ivy League Schools In The United States She disclosed how her parents left Nigeria for the States with God and a dream. According to her, she has decided to reward their efforts by making them proud in everything. The young lady who hasnt disclosed her choice of school yet is set to make a decision between Harvard, Stanford, Duke and other prestigious universities that have given her admission offer. A very big congratulations to her!. Reno Omokri has called on the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye, to withdraw the pastorship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He made this known via a statement released on social media where he stated that such is needed because of the lies peddled by the VP concerning former president Goodluck Jonathan. Reno Omokri wrote: 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 Presidents 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. Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has called on the general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye, to withdraw the pastorship of vice president Yemi Osinbajo. He made this known via a statement released on social media where he stated that such is needed because of the lies peddled by the VP concerning former president Goodluck Jonathan. Reno Omokri wrote: 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 Presidents 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:? * Subsidy was a fraud they they would stop * Fuel would be sold at ?40 per liter, and * Fuel scarcity would end. Today, after three years: * 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. 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 advise, 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. Leave a Comment comments A Uniben student has shared a photo of their examination question paper and shaku shaku, science student, and I like your waist in particular were included in the questions. The examination question set for students in the department of English and Literature in University of Benin had a question that goes; Explain shaku shaku, science students, and I like your waist in particular as products of a society that is highly influenced by popular culture and dance. The question carries 10 marks and was given to second-year students of the department. A student of the school identified as Gift Biokoro took to Facebook to reveal that there were more unusual questions asides the one going viral. Gift Biokoro wrote; There is nothing you will not see in uniben todays exam was all about shaku-shaku, science student and I love your waist in particular. And for movies we have jennifas diary, died wretched and tongues of fire.. Source ToriMill The Management of Tonwei Refinery Limited has concluded plans to build a conventional petroleum refinery in Siluko community of Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo. Osaro Aghedo, the Chief Press Secretary of the local government council, disclosed this in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin. Aghedo said that the refinery, when completed, would refine 30,000 barrel of petroleum products per day in the first 12 months and 100,000 barrel per day in the next three years. According him, the Executive Chairman of the company, George Timi, led the management team to meet with the council chairman, Comrade Destiny Enabulele on the proposal. He said that companys management team also visited the elders and leaders of the community on the issue. The chief press secretary said the Tonwei group as well as the elders and leaders of the community jointly visited the site for the proposed refinery Siluko riverside. He quoted Timi as describing Ovia South-West local government area as most suitable site to build a refinery due to its proximity to the Siluko River. Aghedo stated that the peopled assured the companys chairman and his group of providing conducive atmosphere including security for the project to take off and thrive. The company had on April 25, held a meeting with the council chairman during which it indicated interest to build a refinery in the area. The team had earlier said that the project would generate 2000 direct jobs and 7000 indirect jobs. Source: firms_thumbnail Founded almost 10 years ago, Picon & Asociados is a leading Peruvian consultancy firm in tax and customs matters focusing on tax planning, compliance and transfer pricing. This covers a range of private and corporate clients. The firm has strong expertise in banking, real estate and public-private partnerships. The firms key partners are Jorge Picon Gonzales and Oscar Picon Gonzales. The Lima-based practice joins a dozen Latin American firms which are associated with Andersen Global association, spanning fifteen offices across the region. The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ. Share this article Fixed establishment Poland The issue of fixed establishment is highly important in taxation of services provided by Polish entities to foreign businesses as it affects the place of taxation and VAT obligations. If a foreign company has a fixed establishment in Poland, the services supplied to the company for the purposes of such establishment are subject to Polish VAT. Moreover, the company must register for Polish VAT purposes and charge Polish VAT on its domestic supplies of services, unless the fixed establishment is not involved in the transaction. Definition of a fixed establishment A definition of fixed establishment is provided in EU regulations (Article 11 of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 282/2011 of March 15 2011, laying down implementing measures for Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of VAT). As implementing regulations apply as law in each EU country without the need to transfer into national law, the definition implemented by the EU is also applicable in Poland. According to the definition, for a fixed establishment to be created it is necessary that a company has a sufficient degree of permanence as well as human and technical resources to allow it to receive and use the services supplied to it for its own needs. What does sufficient human and technical resources mean? It is, however, unclear what human and technical resources qualify as sufficient human and technical resources. Neither Polish nor EU regulations offer an explanation. This leads to the question of what scale of human and technical resources is required for a fixed establishment to exist. As a difference in opinion across EU countries about what constitutes a fixed establishment could result in double or non-taxation or, at least, time-consuming clarifications, it is important to know how the different member states define a fixed establishment. Taxpayer-unfriendly approach The Polish tax authorities and courts recently tend to prefer a taxpayer-unfriendly approach to the issue of fixed establishments for VAT purposes by broadening the scope according to which a company may be viewed as having a fixed establishment in Poland. They are also becoming more and more focused on this issue. Foreign business presence in Poland has been increasingly considered to meet the conditions of a fixed establishment for VAT purposes, even when not all the related requirements are met. According to some recent tax rulings and court decisions, a foreign entity can be considered to have a fixed establishment in Poland under VAT regulations even if it has no human or technical resources there. It suffices if it transacts in Poland on a permanent basis, using its Polish subcontractors' infrastructure and personnel for this purpose. The Polish tax authorities and administrative courts standpoint in this respect is based on the European Court of Justices (ECJs) standpoint presented in its judgment in Polish case C-605/12 (Welmory Sp. z o.o. vs Director of Gdansk Tax Chamber). In this judgement the ECJ held thatto create a fixed establishment, a firm does not need to have its own human and technical resources, provided third-party resources at the establishment are available to it in a way that is comparable to having its own resources. The Polish tax authorities, however, tend to interpret this more broadly than the ECJ. In the latest tax ruling issued for a Norwegian company, the Polish tax authorities came to a conclusion that its barge manufacturing contract with a Polish producer creates a fixed establishment for the company even though it does not have its own personnel or infrastructure in Poland. The Polish tax authorities held that for a fixed establishment to exist in Polish territory it is sufficient that the foreign entity conducts business on an organised and permanent basis using some personnel and infrastructure in Poland (beneficial use of people and equipment) and making taxable transactions in course of this business. Bearing the above in mind, the existence or non-existence of a fixed establishment is critically important and should be taken into consideration when doing business in Poland. Lidia Adamek-Baczynska Olga Palczewska Lidia Adamek-Baczynska lidia.adamek@wtssaja.pl Olga Palczewska olga.palczewska@wtssaja.pl Doradztwo Podatkowe WTS&SAJA Sp. z o.o. Memeber of WTS Global in Poland ul. Roosevelta 22 60-829 Poznan The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ. Share this article LOS ANGELES - May 4, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) UBTECH Robotics, the world leader in intelligent humanoid robots, announced today the completion of its Series C investment totaling USD$820 million with a market valuation of USD$5 billion, the single largest funding round ever for an artificial intelligence company. The investment was led by Tencent, and also includes funding from ICBC, Haier, Minsheng Securities, Telstra, Easyhome Furnishings, Chia Tai Group, China Minsheng Bank, China Film and TV Capital, CGN, Sichuan Railway Investment Group, Green Pine Capital Partners, Whale Capital, and Shenzhen JinFuZi Network Technology. The lead investor of UBTECH's Series B funding, CDH Investments, also participated. As part of its investment, Tencent will work closely with UBTECH on future product development. Tencent has already worked with UBTECH, launching the humanoid robot Qrobot Alpha last December the first robot to feature the Tencent Cloud Xiaowei service; and the personalized educational robot Alpha Ebot in February which integrates the high-quality, comprehensive, and open AI services and interactivity of the Tencent Dingdang assistant. "We are honored and gratified by this investment, the exceptionally high quality of our investors, and the strategic initiatives we will be able to launch as we innovate a new era of consumer robots," said James Zhou, UBTECH founder and Chief Executive Officer. "As technology evolves to include more voice and touch capabilities, people need new devices that communicate and interact more naturally and intuitively at home, at school and at work. While trends in robots and robotics are developing, no company has yet stepped forward with the resources, vision and products ecosystem to transform robot fantasy and fiction into robot reality. UBTECH is bringing this reality to life by expanding the possibilities for innovation." Mr. Zhou said the latest capital infusion represents a new round of strategic funding, with UBTECH and Tencent committed to building an ecosystem of services and content for intelligent, humanoid robots. Mr. Zhou said the proceeds from this funding round will mainly be used for research and development, market and brand expansion, as well as talent recruitment. For R&D, UBTECH will increase investment in large-size humanoid robots, humanoid robot servo, gait planning and motion control algorithms, computer vision, and more . For market and brand expansion, UBTECH will accelerate its deployment in the global market and improve its brand awareness worldwide. For talent recruitment, UBTECH will continue its plan to hire workers from around the world. UBTECH has already made key, global hires, including: Professor Tao Dacheng from the University of Sydney, who is also an academician of Academia Europaea, as UBTECH's Artificial Intelligence Chief Scientist Professor Zhao Mingguo from Tsinghua University as UBTECH's Humanoid Robotics Chief Scientist Former IEEE President Howard Michel as UBTECH's director Jimmy Zhang, as UBTECH's CFO and Secretary of the Board of Directors; New Fortune Gold Medal Secretary for three consecutive years Michael Tam as UBTECH's Chief Brand Officer; formerly CEO Ogilvy fashion and President of Hogarth & Ogilvy China Inventor Tomotaka Takahashi, father of the Robi robots, as its Chief Product Officer Since its founding in 2012, UBTECH has introduced several groundbreaking, consumer humanoid robots, including its Alpha series interactive system of robotic building blocks; JIMU Robot; the Cloud-based intelligent humanoid service robot Cruzr; and the Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper Robot (in partnership with Disney). UBTECHs revolutionary, bi-pedal Robot Walker gained international recognition for gait planning and motion control algorithms, computer vision, machine learning, emotion recognition, and SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping). About UBTECH UBTECH is pioneering a future populated by affordable and intuitive robots. Blending its clear vision with real products and the financial backing to ensure its longevity, UBTECH wants to be the one to introduce the captivating capabilities of robots to the market, and then serve as the long-term partner to implement these compelling technologies. UBTECH is the only company offering such a broad, open ecosystem of robot innovations, from entry level consumer products, to educational tools, to advanced devices offering complex capabilities solving difficult challenges. No other company has this vision, these resources, and the actual products that UBTECH has, making it the perfect partner for today, and the best guide for customers into the future. Today, UBTECH's products are sold in more than 40 countries and regions, including China, North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, at over 7,000 retail outlets around the globe, including nearly 500 Apple stores worldwide. Contacts UBTECH Sara Griggs, +1 310-907-6909 sara.griggs@ubtrobot.com Zeno Group Vince Bitong, +1 818-268-9137 vince.bitong@zenogroup.com TechSectorStocks.com - investing ideas in tech stocks- mobile payments, social media, AI and Robotics, Drone Stocks, GPS, Internet of Things (IoT) Like Tech Stocks? View our Tech Stocks Directory More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Vancouver, British Columbia - May 3, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (the "Company"or "PreveCeutical") (CSE: PREV, OTCQB: PRVCF, FSE: 18H), announces the grant of two additional permits (the "Permits") by the Australian Government, Department of Health, for the importation of a second shipment of cannabis plant materials into Australia for research purposes and the shipment of dried cannabis materials pursuant to the Permits. The Permits, which were granted to the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence ("PACE") at the University of Queensland ("UQ"), allow PACE to import shipments of cannabis material for research purposes. PreveCeutical's Canadian licensed producer partner has also received the required Canadian permits to export their medical cannabis materials to PACE. The cannabis materials are used for PreveCeutical's soluble gel ("Sol-gel") drug delivery research program (the "Program"), for testing an array of cannabis strains for the development and commercialisation of cannabinoid-based Sol-gels. The Program is led by PreveCeutical's Chief Research Officer, Dr. Harendra Parekh and conducted by PreveCeutical's research partner, the University of Queensland, and aims to develop a technology that will increase the bioavailability of drugs by using a nose-to-brain delivery system. By applying Sol-gel technology to cannabis, PreveCeutical intends to develop therapies for relief from a range of symptoms, including pain, inflammation, seizures and neurological disorders (see news release dated April 24, 2017). The advantages of Sol-gels over conventional liquid nasal sprays include longer therapeutic effects, reduced dosage requirements, and reduced negative side effects, such as irritation. Cannabis Storage and Security Regulations The Australian Government, Department of Health, has strict regulations with regard to procuring, possessing, using and disposing of cannabis and cannabis-derived materials that govern both the Company's production and in-vitro testing of cannabinoid-based Sol-gels. Regulations include, but are not limited to, maintaining records of imported materials, using approved storage receptacles and restricting access and use of controlled substances to authorized persons. A recent audit of the Program, conducted by the Department of Health, revealed that Dr. Parekh and PACE are doing exceptional work complying with the regulations. About PreveCeutical PreveCeutical is a health sciences company that develops innovative options for preventive and curative therapies utilizing organic and nature identical products. PreveCeutical aims to be a leader in preventive health sciences and currently has five research and development programs, including: dual gene therapy for curative and prevention therapies for diabetes and obesity; the Program; Nature Identicalpeptides for treatment of various ailments; non-addictive analgesic peptides as a replacement to the highly addictive analgesics such as morphine, fentanyl and oxycodone; and a therapeutic product for treating athletes who suffer from concussions (mild traumatic brain injury). PreveCeutical sells CELLB9, an Immune System Booster. CELLB9 is an oral solution containing polarized and potentiated essential minerals extracted from a novel peptide obtained from Caribbean Blue Scorpion venom. This product is available on the Company's website. For more information about PreveCeutical, please visit www.PreveCeutical.com, follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PreveCeuticals and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PreveCeutical. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Stephen Van Deventer" Chairman, CEO and President For further information, please contact: Joshua Plant Susan Blond Group, Inc. Cell: 646-853-0609 Office: 212-333-7728 ext: 102 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. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Washington, D.C., Toronto - May 4, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Global leader in sustainability and utility-scale solar production, SkyPower, has announced an estimated $1.3 billion foreign direct investment in Uzbekistan to build 1,000 MW of solar energy generation capacity throughout the country. This project will bring the largest foreign direct investment in Uzbekistan's history. Uzbekistan and SkyPower also signed the first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in the country's history, whereby the government will be purchasing power from an international and private company. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyyoyev has signed a decree signifying the government's full support of the project and sovereign guarantees. SkyPower will be the first independent power producer in the history of Uzbekistan, working closely with state-owned utility company Uzbekenergo. This project is also the first public-private partnership between Uzbekistan and a truly North American company. Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade for the Government of Canada, remarked, "Growing Canada's cleantech and renewable sectors and encouraging the export of locally developed ideas and solutions that benefit the world is a priority for our government. I am pleased to see industry leaders like SkyPower Global help us towards that goal. This historic partnership with UzbekEnergo and the government of Uzbekistan will bolster growth in the region and help establish Canadian expertise in this fast-growing sector. I commend the SkyPower team for thinking big!" SkyPower Chief Executive Officer Kerry Adler said that, "There are still more than a billion people globally without access to energy services, and our mission is to bring solar power to people who need it most. This is a historic partnership that will benefit both the Government of Uzbekistan and SkyPower, and we are happy to be building Uzbekistan's first solar power installation. President Mirziyoyev's forward-thinking vision for Uzbekistan, along with the commitment of the Deputy Prime Ministers and the leadership of the National Project Management Office in concert with Uzbekenergo leadership, together have really helped move this project forward. Uzbekistan is a country that holds tremendous opportunities for foreign investors under the vision for growth and expansion of President Mirziyoyev." Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been praised for his progressive approach to growing the nation's economy, and the SkyPower project will be the first ever solar power generation project in Uzbekistan. The project will contribute an estimated $2.9 billion to Uzbekistan's gross domestic product and create thousands of jobs. This will ultimately bring Uzbekistan to about 10 percent renewable of its total generation capacity, helping Uzbekistan reach its 2030 Paris Climate commitments while bringing power to the people of Uzbekistan. About SkyPower Global www.skypower.com With roots dating back more than 15 years, SkyPower's global team possesses a vast track record of over 1,000 years of combined experience in power and large infrastructure projects. The experienced and accomplished SkyPower team has built, assembled and acquired an extensive pipeline of over 25 GW worldwide - some of which were recently announced in bilateral agreements, and other contract awards, to be built in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia over the next five years. SkyPower's over 30 utility-scale solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Contracts at various stages of development, construction and operation, representing billions of dollars' worth of long-term renewable energy sales to leading utilities and governments around the world. For more information please visit our website www.skypower.com. SkyPower Contacts Lynnette Williams Lynnette.williams@edelman.com (202) 326-1755 Shamini Selvaratnam shaminis@skypower.com (202) 660-8499 Maria Vorobieva mariav@skypower.com (647) 965-7187 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 The Ames Main Street Farmers Market is a local market that has been a staple of downtown Ames for the past eight years. The market All people have the right to make fundamental decisions about their own bodies and health. Thats why we work with diverse local, regional and international partners toward the goal of reproductive justice: a world where all human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Denis Bradley It's time to subscribe and see everything I am in danger of becoming a bore. I am finding it difficult to get past the belief that unionists need to save themselves and the rest of us from a fate that is all too reminiscent of our past. No[...] 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. In March, I argued that the connections between climate change and security are complex, contingent, and not fully understood. Most of the academic literature has firmly focused on conflict onset with the broader security consequences largely understudied . For policy audiences, the nuance can be frustrating. It is difficult to know what to do with such complexity, other than talk broadly of climate change as a threat multiplier. However, the policy community does not have the luxury of waiting for academics to reach some consensus on climate-conflict links that might never materialize. Whats more, they have other preoccupations other than conflict to worry about such as humanitarian emergencies, interstate jockeying over hydrocarbons freed up by melting Arctic ice, and people on the move for many reasons, climate among them. How can climate security academics who aspire for policy relevance seek to orient their work without compromising academic rigor? This is the question I sought to address in remarks at a recent conference organized by the Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO), which accompanied the public event at the Wilson Center I blogged about several weeks ago. Here are my thoughts on bridging the policy-academic divide on climate and security, which represents a distillation of the wider theme I explored in the latest issue of the Texas National Security Review. Lessons for Climate Security It is very hard for us to do signposting for policymakers about what our sometimes ambiguous findings mean for policy, but I think we could see some portents for how to make our work policy relevant. For example, Nina von Uexkull and colleagues have a 2016 PNAS piece that showed conflict risk potential was greatest in places that were highly dependent on agriculture, in areas of high political exclusion, and where growing season rainfall declined precipitously. We should seek to further test those findings with out of sample predictions, but then I could imagine an early warning network to be incorporated in or alongside FEWSNET to flag those chronically vulnerable areas of high agricultural dependency and exclusion alongside those seasonal shocks in rainfall. Lets say we did have an early warning system for climate-related conflict, that would only be a beginning. Policymakers often want to know about particular places so we may need to make a more earnest effort to specify how our arguments travel from the general to the specific. So, in general, if we say that agricultural dependent countries with high political exclusion are vulnerable to rainy season shocks, what are the candidates that emerge from that analysis as high risk? Where are the low risk places? Case Studies of Climate Security Vulnerability Can we write narratives of political exclusion and the intersection with climate risks for particular countries? For example, take the recent Oromo peoples unrest in Ethiopia that erupted in the wake of the 2015 drought. Agricultural Dependence. 80% of Ethiopians still rely on agriculture for their livelihoods so from a structural perspective, Ethiopia is a good candidate for potential weather-induced unrest. Political Exclusion If you look at the latest Ethnic Power Relations score for Ethiopia from 2014, the Oromo were counted as junior partners in terms of political representation, but its pretty clear from the recent movement that there was a feeling of political exclusion in practice. Despite accounting for 36% of the population in Ethiopia, the Oromo have felt marginalized from the seat of power which until recently was being run largely by Tigrayans who account for 6% of the population. Agricultural Season Rainfall Deviation In 2015, the belg season rains, which normally fall between February and May, were late. The kiremt rains that normally account for about 50-80% of annual rainfall from June-September were late, volatile, and far below normal. The drought was caused by an especially intense El Nino, though it may be difficult to establish an anthropogenic climate change link. Needless to say, it was an especially severe and extremely rare drought, occurring only about once every few hundred years and affected the food security of some 20 million Ethiopians, about a fifth of the population . Despite the Ethiopian states improved ability to prevent famine compared to say the 1980s, the government still faced widespread social discontent in the wake of the drought. The drought stretched the ability of the regime to cope and perhaps diminished its capacity to prevent discontented groups from mobilizing. Protests Oromo protests really took off after November 2015. ACLED data from 2014 show when a student movement began and the progression over time. A flashpoint for Oromo mobilization has been the expansion of Addis Ababa, where a 2014 master plan was set to displace more Oromo from their ancestral lands. The Oromo claimed that 150,000 had already been evicted over the previous decade. Oromo mobilization triggered a crackdown on the protesters and a state of emergency, with the violence claiming as many as 1200 lives. Other ethnic groups such as the Amhara joined the protests. With more widespread violence a possibility, the Ethiopian government shelved the Addis the master plan in January 2016. However, protests continued, ultimately culminating in the resignation of the prime minister in February 2018. Tensions now may be alleviated as Ethiopia just installed in April a new prime minister from the Oromo people, though well have to watch for favoritism and friction with the Tigrayans going forward. I think an analytically informed narrative like this one about particular places could be quite useful for policy if we take what we know in general and try to apply it to particular places. Its also vitally important to ground truth these cases with regional experts. I ran this Oromo sketch by Clionadh Raleigh who said the recent Oromo unrest had everything to do with Addis expansion rather than the drought, though I think the timing in the wake of the drought is potentially important. For this case, I would want additional detail assessing and exploring the links between the drought and the protests. At the same time, if there are places that face similar exposure but did not have conflict or other security outcomes, we should pair cases accordingly so that were not constantly fixing just-so narratives around our preferred explanation. For example, Somalia had a famine in 2011 but Ethiopia, just across the border, did not. As Ed Carr argued in a blog post some years ago, by pairing cases with different outcomes, we can isolate the conditions under which climate exposure leads to bad security outcomes in some places but not others: Famine stops at the Somali border. I assure you this is not a political manipulation of the data it is the data we have. Basically, the people without a functional state and collapsing markets are being hit much harder than their counterparts in Ethiopia and Kenya, even though everyone is affected by the same bad rains, and the livelihoods of those in Somalia are not all that different than those across the borders in Ethiopia and Kenya. Beyond Early Warning Early warning systems dont tell policymakers much about what to do. On the disaster side of things, we have an established practice for how to prevent famine including pre-positioning of aid, cash support systems, and other measures, all of which Ethiopia deployed to some success in 2015 despite the severity of the drought. However, on the conflict side, we need some more empirics on what kinds of peace-building institutions, practices, and projects tend to dampen the risk of conflict. We have some general findings on regime type and some more specific ideas about institutional configurations in the transboundary water space, but we dont really know what institutional configurations can prevent conflict, particularly resource or climate related conflicts. I think we have to do more than say development is the best tonic for conflict, as we have 70 years of development practice, with a foreign aid industry that continues to struggle to identify what kinds of approaches are most successful. There are some tantalizing portents from randomized control trials that have become quite common in development, though I am suspicious of project level interventions in the absence of national government institutional change or for transboundary resource issues, regional resource management institutions. That said, I think we have to try to develop some more standard rules of thumb for what interventions dampen the risk of conflict like we have for transboundary water management, institutions that do dispute resolution, that allocate flows, that have plans in place for shocks, etc. What kinds of investments work best? Is there a proper sequencing? While some of this may be a bit of a stretch for us, I am inclined to believe that where we have some more confidence in the clarity of our findings, we can draw important lessons for policy, but we need to do a better job translating our work in ways that are useful for decision-makers. *Mystery Readers Journal: Lone Star Mysteries* (Volume 37:3// Fall 2021) is now available as* PDF* and hardcopy. If you're a PDF subscriber, you should h... 4 hours ago Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch "Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia 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 Google Ad Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN Joint statement Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining 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 Arayik Harutyunyan: The first impression was that inside the Republican Party there was a great deal of pressure on the MPs Most likely the government will be formed under the leadership of a popular movement and will make changes in the Electoral Code. Arayik Harutyunyan, a member of Yerevan Council of Elders, told reporters today. "It's a shameful thing to make a choice for 10,000 drams in a wide public domain." Arayik Harutyunyan stated that on May 1 many RPA MPs were for Nikol Pashinyan becoming the Prime Minister. "The first impression was that inside the Republican Party there was a great deal of pressure on the MPs because before that there were groups of Deputies announcing that they would support the candidacy of Nikol Pashinyan. There were pressures on the MPs, so changes took place, and they united. " Referring to the peaceful disobedience, Arayik Harutyunyan mentioned that after the rude behavior of the RPA members they were equivalent steps, but personal insults and vendettas were unacceptable. OSCE PA President Tsereteli welcomes constructive efforts to resolve political impasse in Armenia The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is closely following the situation in Armenia and welcomes the active dialogue among political forces, said PA President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) today. I hope for a swift political agreement to the current impasse so that the government can focus on the many challenges facing Armenia, the President said. I encourage political leaders to continue engaging in parliamentary dialogue, as well as working with civil society and the international community, in finding a satisfactory outcome, which should be seen within the broader process of developing the countrys political culture. President Tsereteli spoke by telephone on Thursday with the Speaker of Parliament, Ara Babloyan, to discuss the situation and offer the support of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the process of dialogue. He also spoke with Hermine Naghdalyan, Head of Armenias Delegation to the OSCE PA. My conversations with parliamentary colleagues in Armenia reinforced my confidence that leading political figures in Yerevan are committed to finding a constructive solution to the situation, President Tsereteli said. I stressed that all sides must exercise due restraint and continue on the path of productive dialogue. The President stressed that peaceful assembly is an important avenue for expressing opinions but said that he was encouraged that political dialogue is taking place within the parliamentary system. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Northern California detectives still trying to identify the infamous Zodiac Killer who targeted victims in the late 1960s and taunted investigators with letters say they hope to try the same DNA tracing technology recently used to arrest a suspect in another string of cold-case serial slayings those blamed on the Golden State Killer. But first they have to get a better DNA profile. Several months ago, the Vallejo Police Department sent two letters written by the Zodiac Killer to a private lab in hopes of finding his DNA on the back of the stamps or envelope flaps he may have licked. They are expecting results soon. "They were confident they would be able to get something off it," Vallejo police Detective Terry Poyser told the Sacramento Bee. Poyser said he hopes a full DNA profile will be found that will let detectives try the same DNA sleuthing techniques that investigators used to arrest Joseph DeAngelo on April 25. Authorities suspect he committed at least a 12 murders and 50 rapes in California between 1976 and 1986. Investigators uploaded DNA collected at one of the crime scenes to an open-source genealogical website and found a partial match to a distant relative of DeAngelo's. From there, they painstakingly constructed a family tree dating back several generations before they zeroed in on DeAngelo. Some privacy advocates say they are concerned with the process and worry about future abuses, but detectives investigating the Zodiac Killer say they hope the technique will help solve one of the most vexing cold cases in the country. "That's a great idea," said Gary Harmor, founder and director of the Serological Research Institute, a private DNA lab. "I think we'll see more investigations use this technique." Detectives in Southern California are testing DNA collected from a double murder and rape to see if they can be tied to DeAngelo. Another man, Craig Coley, was recently cleared of those crimes after spending 38 years in prison in the murder of a 24-year-old college student and her 4-year-old son in 1978. The Zodiac Killer fatally stabbed or shot to death five people in Northern California in 1968 and 1969, and their killer sent taunting letters and cryptograms to the police and newspapers. The Vallejo police became the lead investigators because the first two victims were killed there. He was dubbed the Zodiac Killer because some of his cryptograms included astrological symbols and references. Various pieces of evidence, including a rope used to tie a victim as well as the letters, have been tested unsuccessfully for the killer's DNA profile. Poyser said recent advances in DNA testing prompted investigators to seek a match on two of the killer's letters. "We actually sent these samples in a few months ago, just as a matter of due diligence in the case," Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan told the San Francisco Chronicle. Sampayan, a former Vallejo police homicide investigator, said, "It's the right thing to do. The database gets larger and larger every year, and technology improves, so there is always a possibility of something coming up." The 2007 movie "Zodiac," starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr., renewed widespread interest in a case that has always had a cult following of amateur detectives and cryptographers who sought to crack the killer's code. One of those amateur sleuths, Tom Voigt, said the key to solving the Zodiac killings is mimicking the Golden State Killer investigation, which included forming a full-time task force dedicated to the case and exploiting publicly accessible DNA databases. Voigt said the Zodiac case was being investigated part time by a Police Department in a city that filed for municipal bankruptcy. "There's a formula to follow," Voigt said. "And it's to simply copy what happened to the Golden State Killer." ___ Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com By ANDREW TAYLOR , Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The embattled chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives has won his job back just hours after sending a scalding letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan that accused 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, forced Reverend Pat Conroy to tender his resignation last month, sparking a firestorm. Ryan has said he was dissatisfied with Conroy's pastoral care to lawmakers. But in a statement Thursday, Ryan himself a Catholic reversed course. "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 position," Ryan said. Ryan's statement came soon after Conroy delivered a two-page letter that said he has never "heard a complaint about my ministry" as House chaplain. 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. Ryan did not directly address Conroy's explosive charge, saying, "To be clear, that decision was based on my duty to ensure that the House has the kind of pastoral services that it deserves." Burks, in a statement released by Ryan's office, said "I strongly disagree with Father Conroy's recollection of our conversation." Conroy also wrote that 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 last week that shortly afterward Ryan warned Conroy to "stay out of politics." Conroy also invited a Muslim cleric last year to give the opening prayer, a move that Democrats say may have upset GOP conservatives. Conroy's resignation sparked an uproar last week when it became known that he was asked to quit. Catholic lawmakers such as Reps. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., and Peter King, R-N.Y., were particularly upset, especially after a Republican lawmaker, Mark Walker, R-N.C., was quoted in The Hill as saying Conroy's replacement should have a family which would rule out Catholic priests to better serve the needs of lawmakers. Ryan's retreat came quickly. Congress is on vacation this week but Ryan said he would meet with Conroy early next week "so that we can move forward for the good of the whole House." The chaplain is elected by the full House and Democrats said 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." But on Thursday, Conroy said, 'I wish to serve the remainder of my term as House Chaplain, unless terminated 'for cause.' Please be guided accordingly." Conroy copied New Jersey attorney Daniel Marchese on the letter. Marchese declined to comment other than to say Conroy is seeking to get his job back. 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. By CALEB JONES and MARCO GARCIA , Associated Press PAHOA, Hawaii (AP) The Kilauea volcano sent more lava into Hawaii communities Friday, a day after forcing nearly 1,500 people to flee from their mountainside homes, and authorities detected high levels of sulfur gas that could threaten the elderly and people with breathing problems. The eruption that began Thursday spewed molten lava that chewed through forests and bubbled up on paved streets. One resident described the scene as "a curtain of fire." After a week of earthquakes and warnings that an eruption could be imminent, steam and lava poured out of a crack in the community of Leilani Estates near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island, officials said. Video showed lava spurting into the sky from a crack in a road and a line of lava snaking through a forest. On Friday, the activity continued, with reports of eruptions from volcanic vents on two streets. Civil defense officials cautioned the public about high levels of sulfur dioxide near the volcano and urged vulnerable people to leave immediately. Exposure to the gas can cause irritation or burns, sore throats, runny noses, burning eyes and coughing. Jeremiah Osuna, who captured the drone footage, described the scene as a curtain of flame roaring through the vegetation. "It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could. You could just smell sulfur and burning trees and underbrush and stuff," he told Honolulu television station KHON. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but at least 100 people were staying in shelters Friday, with many more evacuees believed to be with relatives and friends. The Hawaii governor activated the National Guard to help with evacuations and provide security to about 770 structures left empty when residents sought shelter. Kilauea has erupted periodically for decades, and scientists said they have no way of predicting how long the eruption will continue. A key factor will be whether magma reservoir at the summit starts to drain in response to the eruption, which has not happened yet, said Asta Miklius, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. "There is quite a bit of magma in the system. . It won't be just an hours-long eruption probably, but how long it will last will depend on whether the summit magma reservoir gets involved. And so we are watching that very, very closely," Miklius said. County, state and federal officials had been warning residents all week that they should be prepared to evacuate because an eruption would give little warning. The geological survey on Thursday raised the volcano's alert level to warning status, the highest possible, meaning a hazardous eruption was imminent, underway or expected. Henry Calio said the first sign that something might be wrong happened when cracks emerged in the driveway of his home in Leilani Estates. His wife, Stella, then received a call from an official who told them to get out immediately. The two feared they might lose their house. "This is our retirement dream," Henry Calio said. Geologists said new ground cracks were reported Thursday. Hot vapor emerged from a crack and spattering lava began to erupt. Areas downslope of the erupting vents were at risk of being covered by lava. Leilani Estates appeared to be at greatest risk, but scientists said new vents and outbreaks could occur, and it's impossible to say where. Kilauea's Puu Oo crater floor began to collapse Monday, triggering the earthquakes and pushing the lava into new underground chambers. The collapse caused magma to push more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) downslope toward the populated southeast coastline of the island. The magma later crossed under Highway 130, which leads to a popular volcano access point. Civil defense authorities closed the area to visitors and ordered private tour companies to stop taking people into the region. Most of Kilauea's activity has been nonexplosive, but a 1924 eruption spewed ash and 10-ton (9-metric ton) rocks into the sky and killed one person. A 1983 eruption resulted in lava fountains soaring over 1,500 feet (457 meters) into the sky. In the decades since, the lava flow has buried dozens of square miles of land and destroyed many homes. ___ Jones reported from Honolulu. Associated Press writers Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, contributed to this report. MEDFORD, Ore. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is looking to build a sustainable trails strategy for the forest with your help. The forest service says its trail system is vast, and it can be hard to maintain it alone. The public was invited to an open house to talk about what trails are important to them, network with other groups and to bring trail users and trail partners together with the forest service. Chamise Kramer says, "Limited budget, limited personnel and Southern Oregon is growing in terms of recreation popularity and we have a lot of people who want to help so we're going to tap into that." SUTA Board Member Annette Parsons says, "It's really important we get as many people active using the trails and involved in maintaining them. It's good to see a lot of trail interest, outdoor recreation, riding, horseback, great healthy outdoor exercise." There are many local groups that partner with the Forest Service like the Pacific Crest Trail Association the Siskiyou Upland Trails Association, Siskiyou Mountain Club, Trash Dogs, and more. ClICK HERE to sign up and volunteer for trail maintenance. The Scottish State Coach, which will be used in the case of wet weather, for the wedding of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, while it is prepared for the special day, in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace in London, Tuesday May 1, 2018. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will tie the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, southern England on May 19, with about 600 guests and some 2,600 neighbours, staff and specially selected members of the public greeting the happy couple outside the chapel. The Ascot Landau open carriage will be used if it turns out to be a sunny day. (Victoria Jones/Pool via AP) Quebec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir hugs his wife Nima Machouf after announcing he will not run in the next provincial elections during a news conference Friday, May 4, 2018 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson A resident paddles his kayak at Darlings Island, N.B. on Thursday, May 3, 2018 as the Kennebecasis River flooded the only road into the community. Swollen rivers across New Brunswick are still rising, flooding streets and properties and forcing people from their homes in several communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan An asylum seekers, claiming to be from Eritrea, is confronted by an RCMP officer as he crosses the border into Canada from the United States Monday, August 21, 2017 near Champlain, N.Y. The federal government is seeking to temporarily accommodate up to 520 people at a Quebec border crossing that has been the scene of an influx of asylum seekers in the past. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson Film producer Harvey Weinstein poses for a photo in New York on Nov. 23, 2011. Harvey Weinstein has asked an Ontario court to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him by a Toronto actress, arguing in court documents that he denies "each and every" one of the woman's allegations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, John Carucci File - In this Friday, April 27, 2018 file photo, Palestinian protesters evacuate a wounded youth during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, east of Khan Younis. The deadly scenes that have been playing out for weeks now along GazaAos border, with thousands of Palestinians marching and threatening to storm the security fence and Israeli troops opening fire, are eerily familiar to Israeli author Mishka Ben-David. They have already taken place _ on the pages of his best-selling thriller last year, AuThe Shark.Au And while the novelAos doomsday scenario may seem far-fetched to some, Ben-David fears for the region in the absence of an overall peace initiative. (AP Photo/Adel Hana, File) Policemen stand behind a banner outside the venue hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Lisbon. The Eurovision Song Contest final will be held on Saturday May 12. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) President Donald Trump talks to the media as he leaves for Dallas to address the National Rifle Association, Friday, May 4, 2018 at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) FILE- In this April 9, 2018 file photo, a man looks at the painting entitled 'Flesh and Spirit' by Jean-Michel Basquiat, in London, Prominent art collector Hubert Neumann has filed a lawsuit against Sotheby's auction house on Thursday, May 3, 2018, seeking to block the artist's daughter from selling the masterpiece that's worth an estimated $30 million. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File) MONMOUTH, Ore. -- Highway 99W is now open after being closed due to a crash that occurred Thursday morning 3 miles south of Monmouth at milepost 66. Oregon State Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle wreck at 6:50 a.m. and a detour was in place as crews worked to clear the scene. According to a news release from the Oregon State Police, Taylor Boquist, 23, of Cove was traveling eastbound on Parker Road in a green 2002 Toyota pickup when he pulled onto the highway and was struck by a 2002 Kenworth log truck traveling southbound, causing the truck to lose its load. The driver of the log truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. Authorities are notifying the next of kin. Boquist was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. OSP was assisted by the Polk County Sheriffs Office, Salem Police Department, ODOT, Polk County Public works and Polk County Fire. The investigation is ongoing. DEPOE BAY, Ore. -- Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputies responded Thursday afternoon to reports of a man with a covered head and face displaying a gun outside a local store in Depoe Bay. Kim Nye, 49, of Newport was detained at gunpoint and taken into custody on the charge of disorderly conduct. A standard safety search revealed a black BB Gun handgun in his possession, according to a news release from the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office. Witnesses advised the deputies that the man walked away from the store and crossed Highway 101 from East to West before returning to his original location and that he was causing a traffic hazard on the highway. Deputies located Nye on the West side of the highway near NW Sunset Street. Highway 101 was briefly closed during the incident and no injuries were reported. Bail has been set at $10,000. Oregon State Police assisted the sheriffs office in the incident. SHADY COVE, Ore. -- Officials have successfully treated and released two deer illegally shot with arrows in the Shady Cove area. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State Police tranquilized the deer, an adult doe and a yearling doe, and removed the arrows Wednesday, according to a press release from ODFW. The deer were in good health with no visible infection at the time of release. Pictures of these deer stuck with arrows have been circulating widely in the media and social media, and understandably, its upsetting to see. We are happy to say the arrows were removed and these deer have a very good chance of survival, said Steve Niemela, Rogue District Wildlife Biologist. Landowners in the area called ODFW and OSP last week to report the deer on their properties. Niemela said this is the second time in two years deer were illegally shot with arrows. This is not ethical hunting, its a twisted act of poaching, said Zach Lycett, board member of the Rogue Valley Chapter of Oregon Hunters Association. True ethical hunters respect the animals they hunt and are grateful for the opportunities to hunt. We do not stand for these kinds of criminal acts. OSP Sergeant Jim Collom said OSP is investigating. Anyone with information should call 1-800-452-7888. The reward for information leading to an arrest or citation is now $2,600, with contributions from Rogue Valley OHA, Ashland Archers and Dewclaw Archery adding on to the Oregon Hunters Associations standard $500 reward. MASON CITY, Iowa Video surveillance from a car wash near a vehicle vs. bike accident on Wednesday has been released. A bicyclist was taken to the hospital after being hit by a truck Wednesday morning. It happened near the intersection of 2nd St. and S. Monroe Ave. in Mason City. Law enforcement said the truck driver is being cited for failure to yield at a stop sign. ROCHESTER, Minn. More than 30 mental health and chemical dependency agencies across Southeastern Minnesota set up booths at a mental health fair. Highland Meadows Counseling Center hosted the event at RCTC's Heintz Center. People at the event had the opportunity talk to with organizations about the resources they offer, get information regarding job opportunities in the mental health field, and take free mental health screenings. These mental health screenings inlcude rating symptoms from 1 to 10, or marking yes or no, to find out if they should consider meeting with a mental health professional to talk about their mental health. AUSTIN, Minn. A traffic stop has resulted in 20 years of probation for an Austin resident. Austin police say they stopped a pickup truck just before midnight on March 8 after noticing its license tabs were expired. Officers say the driver identified himself as Benito Gorenez and indicated he did not speak English and did not have a drivers license, identification card, or insurance for the truck. Police say they looked in the drivers wallet for some identification and found instead some checks connected to a fraud investigation being conducted by the Albert Lea Police Department. Austin police decided to search the truck and found a checkbook, a forged ID card, 13.85 grams of methamphetamine, and a small amount of marijuana. The driver was eventually identified as Benito Silva Martinez, 32, and he pleaded guilty Friday to 3rd degree drug possession and giving a false name to a peace officer. Besides the 20 years of probation, Martinez will also serve three days in the Mower County Jail. According to court documents, Martinez has been twice deported from the United States to Mexico and is known to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as Diego Benito Silva-Godinez. MASON CITY, Iowa - The Mason City Police Department responded to a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon. It happened at the intersection of 15th St. SE and S. Pennsylvania Ave. Officers say a vehicle was trying to make a turn when it was rear-ended by the other vehicle. While an ambulance was dispatched, it is unclear if anyone was transported to the hospital. Police say no one was seriously injured. (Kitco News) - Korean janitor hit a jackpot as he uncovered seven gold bars while cleaning out a garbage bin in South Koreas biggest international airport. An unnamed male cleaner found $325,000 worth of gold bars on Thursday in Incheon International Airport located in South Koreas capital Seoul. Each gold bar weighed 1 kilogram and was wrapped in a newspaper. After looking into the matter, local police concluded that the gold bars were dumped by two men transporting them from Hong Kong to Japan in an effort not to get caught by customs, The Korea Times reported. The best part of janitors discovery is that the man might be allowed to keep the gold bars under Koreas Finders Keepers law. But, this will only be possible if the real owners do not come forward within the next six months and further investigation does not reveal any criminal activity. The janitor will not even be left penniless if the owners do choose to make a claim, as under Koreas Lost Articles Act anyone who finds lost items can keep 5-20% of their market value, which will amount to a maximum of $65,000. But, everything might not be as simple, with a report from BBC quoting airport authorities as saying that the cleaner might not get any reward after all because he was working as airport staff and it is a part of the cleaner's job to find lost things. If this turns out to be the case, it is unclear who will get to keep the gold bars if they turn out to be unclaimed. Michael Martina, Tom Daly BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday praised his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as officials from the worlds two largest economies began trade talks in Beijing, while state media said China would stand up to U.S. bullying. A breakthrough deal to fundamentally change Chinas economic policies is viewed as highly unlikely during the two days of talks, though a package of short-term Chinese measures could delay Washingtons decision to impose tariffs on about $50 billion worth of Chinese exports. The discussions, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, are expected to cover a wide range of U.S. complaints about Chinas trade practices, from accusations of forced technology transfers to state subsidies for technology development. Thrilled to be here. Thank you, Mnuchin told Reuters at his hotel when asked if he expected progress. He made no other comments. As Mnuchin arrived, Trump tweeted: 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! It was not clear when Trump and Xi might meet again next, though both will likely attend some of the same multilateral summits this year, including those of the G20 and APEC. Throughout his 2016 election campaign, Trump routinely threatened to impose a 45 percent across-the-board tariff on Chinese goods as a way to level the playing field for American workers. At the time, he was also accusing China of manipulating its currency to gain an export advantage, a claim that his administration has since dropped. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said the U.S. delegation planned to meet Chinese officials on both days, in addition to U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad, before leaving on Friday evening. The delegation returned to their hotel late on Thursday evening without taking questions from reporters, though, when asked how the talks were going, one unidentified U.S. official said Well. In Washington, the U.S.-China Business Council, which represents American companies doing business in China, said it was pleased the two governments were talking and urged a deal to end forced technology transfers and improve Chinas intellectual property protections. USCBC believes it is unlikely that the issues will be fully resolved in this meeting, but we hope the two sides will be able to lay out a path for continued negotiations that will lead to a solution and avoid tariffs and other commerce-slowing sanctions, the group said in a statement. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a briefing in Beijing: The outcome should be mutually beneficial and win-win. In a commentary widely cited in Chinese media on Thursday, the official Xinhua news agency said if things went poorly and a trade war did break out, China would never yield and would hit back strongly. China will inevitably suffer losses, but China has the political advantage of a centralized and unified leadership and support of a massive domestic market, it said. The official China Daily said in an editorial that China would stand up to the U.S. bullying as necessary. The U.S. wants greater access to Chinas market, but it should not use trade actions as a battering ram to force China to open its doors. It is already in the process of opening them wider, the English-language newspaper said. In doing so, China expected Washington to reciprocate and open its market to Chinese investment and competition, it said. U.S. TARIFFS READY IN JUNE The first round of threatened tariffs under the U.S. governments Section 301 intellectual property probe focused heavily on technology products benefiting from a Made in China 2025 program to upgrade Chinas domestic manufacturing base with more advanced products. The U.S. tariffs could go into effect in June following the completion of a 60-day consultation period. U.S.-based trade experts said they expected Beijing to offer Trumps team a package of policy changes that may include some previously announced moves, such as a phase-out of joint venture requirements for some sectors, auto tariff reductions and increased purchases of U.S. goods. Trump has demanded a $100 billion annual reduction in the $375 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China. But members of the diverse U.S. trade delegation, which includes U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, both of whom have been critical of China, are likely to have differing views on the merits of such an offer. Reporting by Michael Martina and Tom Daly; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing and David Lawder in Washington; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie, Richard Balmforth and Paul Simao Babak Dehghanpisheh BEIRUT (Reuters) - 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 Shiite 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 Shiite 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 Lebanons Hezbollah have been involved in Syrias war since 2012. Iran has armed and trained thousands of Shiite paramilitary fighters to shore up the government. Israel says Iran has recruited at least 80,000 Shiite fighters. Irans 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 Shiite 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 Irans 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 Irans Shiite 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 Shiite 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. Im not ruling out Iranian support to the Houthis, said Khashan TREATY Iran also has options directly related to its nuclear program. 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, Irans 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 Irans Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Iran was able to enrich uranium to a higher level than it could before the deal. Irans 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. Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Samia Nakhoul and Giles Elgood (Reuters) - Apple Incs stock hit an all-time high on Friday after Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc disclosed it had bought 75 million more shares of the iPhone maker in the first three months of the year. Buffetts increased stake, confirmed by a representative of the billionaire investor, pushed Apples shares up as much as 3.8 percent to $183.65. It was the stocks second significant gain this week after the Cupertino, California-based firm surprised Wall Street on Tuesday with resilient iPhone sales and quarterly results that topped expectations. "If you look at Apple, I think it earns almost twice as much as the second most profitable company in the United States," Buffett told CNBC, which first reported here the news on Thursday. Buffetts Apple commitment over the past two years has surprised many, given his historical aversion to companies associated with the technology sector. Berkshires initial investment in Apple was small, suggesting it was made by one of Buffetts investment deputies, but with the latest stake purchase, it has grown to a massive 240.3 million shares worth $42.5 billion. In February, Berkshire had said its Apple stake grew by about 23 percent since the end of September to roughly 165.3 million shares. The billionaire investor recently sold out of an unsuccessful investment in IBM Corp, at the same time he was buying Apple. Buffett has praised Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and suggested he views Apple more as a consumer company, despite its Silicon Valley pedigree. However, there may also be another reason for the investment: Berkshires cash position. Berkshire has gone more than two years since a major acquisition, and Buffett said in his annual letter that he wants one or more huge non-insurance acquisitions to help him reduce Berkshires $116 billion in cash and equivalents. Buying Apple accomplishes that, even though Buffett would rather buy whole companies than their stocks. Berkshire typically discloses its largest common stock holdings and percentage stakes in its quarterly and annual reports. The report for the first quarter is scheduled for release on Saturday morning, just before Berkshires annual shareholder meeting in its Omaha, Nebraska hometown. Apple reported $61.1 billion in revenue for the March quarter, up from $52.9 billion last year, and promised $100 billion in additional stock buybacks. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Up to Thursdays close, Apple stock had risen more than 5 percent since Berkshire disclosed on Feb. 14 that it had raised its stake in the company. BEIJING (Reuters) - Top officials from China and the United States reached a consensus on some aspects of the countries trade row, but disagreements over other issues remain relatively big, according to Chinas Xinhua news agency on Friday. The two sides, though, committed to resolving their trade disputes through dialogue, state-run Xinhua reported. And the U.S. negotiators agreed to bring up with U.S. President Donald Trump the question of a ban on U.S. companies selling goods and software to Chinese telecommunication equipment maker ZTE Corp after representations from the Chinese side, the report said. ZTE faced the seven-year ban after the U.S. said it failed to keep to an agreement it made after breaching U.S. sanctions. The talks over the past two days have involved a high-level U.S. trade delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and top Chinese officials, including Vice Premier Liu He, following months of threats and counter threats from both sides in a series of disputes over trade practices. The U.S. team has already left Beijing and is heading back to the U.S., a U.S. official told Reuters early on Friday evening. The Americans have yet to give their account of the talks. The trade discussions had been candid, efficient and constructive, Xinhua said, but gave almost no details on what the officials had agreed. The officials exchanged opinions on resolving tariffs and non-tariffs measures, on expanding two-way investment and the protection of intellectual property, and on expanding U.S. exports to China and bilateral services trade, Xinhua reported. It gave no indication of what actions might be taken based on those exchanges. My impression was that (the talks) didnt go well given the rhetoric, said Kevin Lai, senior economist at Daiwa Capital markets in Hong Kong. I think the divide is still very big. The United States has proposed tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods under its so-called Section 301 intellectual property probe. Those could go into effect in June following the completion of a 60-day consultation period, but activation plans have been kept vague. China has said its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including soybeans and aircraft, will go into effect if the U.S. duties are imposed. The U.S. tariffs focus heavily on technology products benefiting from the Made in China 2025 program, which promotes the development of 10 sectors including aerospace, robotics and clean-energy cars. A breakthrough deal to fundamentally change Chinas economic policies was viewed as highly unlikely during the two-day visit, though any signs of meaningful progress in the dispute could delay any punitive action from the U.S. We are having very good conversations, Mnuchin told reporters earlier on Friday as he left his hotel. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday praised his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as the U.S delegation began their talks, which were held at a state guest house in the western part of the Chinese capital. Trump has targeted Chinas massive trade surplus with the United States, in recent months demanding a $100 billion annual reduction in the $375 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China. According to two sources with knowledge of the matter, the U.S. delegation submitted a document to the Chinese before the talks asking China to cut its trade surplus with the United States by $200 billion by 2020 and lower tariffs on all products to levels no higher than those imposed by the United States. The delegation also asked China to halt subsidies for advanced technology, the sources said. Chinese officials believed the proposal was unfair, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people with knowledge of the negotiations. I think the U.S. is asking for the impossible. Reducing the deficit by $200 billion by 2020 is quite an unrealistic demand, but it may also be a negotiation tactic to start high first, said Tommy Xie, economist at OCBC Bank in Singapore. NO ILLUSIONS U.S.-based trade experts have said they expected Beijing to offer Trumps team a package of policy changes that may include some previously announced moves, such as a phase-out of joint venture requirements for some sectors, autos tariff reductions and increased purchases of U.S. goods. U.S. complaints about Chinese intellectual property abuses are at the core of the current dispute. The Trump administration says U.S. companies lose hundreds of billions of dollars annually to Chinas theft of trade secrets. Members of the Trump administrations delegation to Beijing for talks to try to stave off a trade war between the worlds two largest economies included U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, a hard-line and experienced trade negotiator. Lighthizer said on Tuesday it was not his objective to change Chinas economic system, but that he would try to find ways to limit the damage it causes to the United States and open it further for U.S. companies. Some economists noted that the deficit with China was the natural result of the large amount of manufacturing assembly of U.S. products, such as iPhones, that takes place in China. As long as China remains the assembly hub of the world, its always going to have a large trade surplus with developed consumer countries like the U.S. and the E.U. and thats not necessarily a problem, said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics. The U.S. delegation also included Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and White House trade and manufacturing adviser Peter Navarro, a noted China trade hawk. Navarro advised Trump throughout his 2016 election campaign, during which the candidate routinely threatened to impose a 45 percent across-the-board tariff on Chinese goods as a way to level the playing field for American workers. FSS chief nominee Yoon Suk-heun responds to a question at an industry forum held in downtown Seoul in January. / Korea Times file photo By Kim Yoo-chul Korea may ease rules and relevant policies regarding cryptocurrencies, as the nominee of the country's top financial regulator hinted at a possible adjustment of regulations that have been applied to the cryptocurrency market. Yoon Suk-heun, a visiting professor of business administration at Seoul National University, has been named to lead the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) after the former FSS head Kim Ki-sik stepped down from the post. In a statement, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), which also regulates the FSS, said it notified the presidential office of its choice for approval by President Moon Jae-in. The new FSS nominee is an activist and well-known to have been a "reform-minded" experienced bureaucrat. He is also the head of a government commission that designs measures to reform issues and affairs of the financial industry. "Yoon is a qualified person to take a leading role for reforms and changes in the financial industry," said the FSC statement, Friday. Yoon seemed to be responsive and inclined to pursue policies according to market rules not based on heavy intervention, raising expectations that Korea will ease restrictions on the controversial initial coin offerings (ICOs) and other types of crypto-based trading. "What I think is that exchanges are to function to meet the needs of investors and market participants, broadly, to help them keep trading and making transactions. Any forceful ban against them would hurt the nature of the market," Yoon said at an industry event on January 31. "The government is saying cryptocurrencies are neither currency nor financial assets. Given the high volatility in cryptocurrencies, the government stance is understandable. However, the country's position on cryptocurrencies, which it said are not financial assets, is hard to understand," the nominee said. At that time, he said the government has a greater role for its assessment of financial services that will be operational within blockchain or blockchain-based technologies. "Regulation is good. However, it would be more than just good when it is used to help new businesses grow. Imposing taxes on crypto exchanges and investors needs to be considered, if necessary," the new FSS chief nominee said. The remarks side with the country's central bank after the Bank of Korea said recently it was thinking about crypto-based assets and blockchain applications for its project aimed at delivering a "cashless society." For a time, the Korean public was confused about the country's complicated stance on cryptocurrencies, with the justice minister preparing a bill to ban cryptocurrency trading. But the government has since refuted those claims of a ban. Instead, it has applied rules and regulations that ensure the market conforms and investors aren't put at risk. Still, the government has been maintaining its blanket ban on ICOs, which became effective last September. Policymakers and industry executives have indicated they have no intent to ban local cryptocurrency exchanges but will instead work within the existing framework to promote the safety of investors and boost transparency. Japan, Switzerland and Malta are positioning themselves as the future centers for blockchain and cryptocurrency. 'Chusa Kim Jeong-hui' unravels why multi-talented scholar was not well-known By Kang Hyun-kyung Kim Jeong-hui (1786-1856) was one of the more prominent figures of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, but very few know who he really was. He is widely known as a Late Joseon calligrapher who invented the iconic Chusa font and has since earned the nickname Chusa. Yoo Hong-joon, art historian and author of "Chusa Kim Jeong-hui: The Mountains Are High, The Seas Are Deep" / Courtesy of Changbi Publishers In his new book, "Chusa Kim Jeong-hui: The Mountains Are High, The Seas Are Deep," art historian Yoo Hong-joon says calligraphy was just one of the skills with which Kim was gifted. He was a multi-talented man who indulged in intellectual stimulation throughout his life by exchanging ideas with noted Chinese scholars, according to the author. Kim was a rare Joseon-era man who led a life of glory and international fame for his splendid academic accomplishments. His knowledgeable interpretation of practical learning, "Silhak," also known as "Northern Learning," inspired Chinese scholars, according to Yoo. Regarding the book's subtitle, "The Mountains Are High, The Seas Are Deep," Yoo says the phrase had never left his mind while he wrote the book. He gave no further details, but it seems to indicate the author was intrigued by the width and depth of the Joseon era scholar's academic learning. The author says Kim was an artist, a historian and an internationally renowned scholar of his time. According to Yoo, Kim was also a towering figure in epigraphy, the study of ancient symbols, and discovered and interpreted the monument to mark Silla King Jinheung's inspection of Mount Bukhan in Seoul. During his prolific life, King Jinheung (526-576) established monuments after achieving territorial expansion. The multi-talented scholar, ironically, was outshone by his remarkable calligraphy skill and thus his other talents were relatively unknown to the public, Yoo says. Yoo's new book is the result of three decades of unraveling why the great man of the Joseon era was understated among historians and only part of his accomplishments are known to the public. Yoo, a former cultural heritage administrator (2004-2008) and author of 12 books about Korean art history and cultural heritage, says what Kim achieved during his time is akin to feats achieved by today's globally renowned artists, such as video artist Paik Nam-june. "It's no exaggeration that Kim was better or maybe even greater than Paik when it comes to his achievements," the author says. "Kim rose to global fame and stayed there for a long time." Kim introduced evidential scholarship in the study of history, influencing his fellow scholars to turn their attention to Northern Learning from neo-Confucianism that had dominated society for a long time. Neo-Confucianism was blamed for causing Joseon scholars and politicians to engage in time-consuming, unproductive, theoretical debates at a time when the nation was in peril in the face of the fast-changing geopolitical circumstances of the 1800s. Kim's life took a drastic turn after he accompanied his father on a trip to China in 1809. Kim was 24 and his father 44. His two-month stay in China was intellectually stimulating. He met and exchanged his ideas with top-notch Chinese scholars and the Chinese soon discovered Kim was a prodigy. "Chusa Kim Jeong-hui: The Mountains Are High, The Seas Are Deep" Mark Peterson, a long-time Korean studies professor / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Korean studies scholar to found foundation dedicated to history, Confucianism By Kim Ji-soo Mark Peterson, 71, a "Koreanist," has enjoyed a charmed life, according to his and his late mother's account. "That's what my mother used to say, because I travel between Korea and the United States so often," said Peterson, associate professor of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah. His mother said traveling between her hometown of Snowflake, Arizona and Salt Lake City itself was a challenge far enough for her. Peterson has lived in Korea for 15 years and still travels between Korea and the United States frequently. He first arrived in Korea in 1965 as a missionary of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, and returned later, staying in the country from 1978 to 1983 as head of the Fulbright Scholarship Foundation in Seoul. During that time, he wrote an article on the 1980 Gwangju Pro-Democracy Uprising titled "American Officials and the Kwangju Uprising." He earned his master's and Ph.D. from Harvard University, where he technically focused on Korean studies under East Asian Languages and Civilizations. In 1996, he received the Yeonam Award for his paper, "Creation of a Confucian Society Change in Adoption and Inheritance in Mid-Joseon Dynasty." "I am a Koreanist, because I don't think it's humble to call myself a Korea scholar," he said in an interview held with The Korea Times in Seoul. When he retires in July, Peterson will establish a research foundation called Jeong Woe Wa, based on a Korean expression that means "a frog that got out of the well." The institute is to help Koreans get a global view of their proud 5,000-year history. "About the time I turned 60, I felt that I should teach Korean history the way I read it," Peterson said. Peterson disagrees with the narrow-minded frog-in-the-well' mainstream view on the Korean history, including that Korea was a country that had suffered from multiple invasions. "The Korean view is that Korea has suffered from many, many invasions. And I argue against that. This may be a victimization history. My argument is that Korea has not suffered from so many invasions, with only two major ones being the Imjin War (1592-98) and the invasion by the Mongols," he said, with the latter invasion referring to the series of campaigns by the Mongol Empire against the Goryeo Kingdom between 1231 and 1270. He knows his view is still a minority view among Koreans. "From the 20th century perspective, Korea is a victimized country but from the satellite view of Korea's 5,000-year history, Korea was a stable country," he said. Why should Koreans be proud of their history? Each of the two kingdoms, Goryeo and Joseon, lasted around 500 years and Silla lasted 992 years unprecedented in the world. "Generally, dynasties and kingdoms of the other countries lasted 200-350 years," he said. "In addition, succession from Shilla to Goryeo and to Joseon was smooth," unlike other countries where dynastic change was preceded by decades of bloody civil war." "I will have three goals with Jeong Woe Wa. First, I want to change Korean history education," Peterson said. "I think we need to get back to real Korean culture, to get away from the distortions of the Korean history of the 20th century." By distortions, he means Korea's interpretation of its own history as a land that was invaded multiple times, a perspective he believes is a Japanese colonial point of view that justifies their occupation. His second goal is to highlight the impact of Confucianism on the Korean society. He said Confucianism took concrete shape in the late 17th century. "You can see there was a change in the system of inheritance, in which daughters could no longer inherit. Once they marry, they get a dowry, but they don't get an inheritance," he said. Peterson said other changes came along because of the disinheritance for daughters, the preference for sons. The next changes were in the adoption of sons, the "jokbo" or family records and the "jesa" or ancestral rituals. Then marriage practices changed, with women considered as entering the in-law's house more often than men coming to live in the wife's family. "Practices in marriage also changed; for instance, the married couple more often lived with the groom's family than with the bride's." The last change was the beginning of a lineal village. In sum, a patrilineal society began to form in the late 17th century. Peterson's third goal is to promote the Korean poetic form of "sijo." "Sijo expresses creative mind of Koreans,"he said. "Sadly, American schools teach students 'haiku,' the Japanese poetic form but not sijo," he said. "Like Koreans, my stomach hurts when a cousin buys land," in an apparent reference to the popularity of haiku and ignorance of sijo among American students. Peterson has chosen these three goals for his foundation because he has seen positive responses to them when he taught Korean history from his perspective and wants to bring that positive angle to Korea. He acknowledges Confucianism's negative aspects, such as authoritarianism and disregard for women. "But those are not essential parts of Confucianism. And I think there is much good inside of Confucianism," he said. "As I would like to say, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater," he said, stressing the philosophy's good aspects. His favorite Confucian book is "Mencius," and his favorite Korean Confucian scholar is Yulgok Yi I. His decades of living in Korea have inevitably made him politically engaged as shown in his article on Gwangju. In the article he wrote that the incident was planned by the new junta, that led by Major General Chun Doo-hwan, and that the U.S. was caught off-guard and pulled into the event. In that article he interviewed then ambassador William Gleysteen and USFK Commander John Wickham and put them on the record concerning the events of Gwangju. Peterson's life in Korea has entered another chapter. His two daughters, whom he adopted in Korea, have married and moved out, and thus he has been renting out his basement apartment to a family of North Korean defectors in their 20s. "My wife and I had an argument initially as my wife wanted to rent it out and use the income for our travels. But we decided to rent to the defector couple," he said. The husband first escaped North Korea and settled in the South, but he could not forget his love. So he worked to earn money to bring his love back, now his wife. The two are from an area near Pyongyang. "They just gave birth to a child, whom I call my third grandchild," he said, laughing. Jung Da-min contributed to the article. Olivecon / Courtesy of CJ E&M 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 Emergency medical staff is swiftly escorting a critical patient after unloading him from the doctor helicopter. The Korea Times file By Kim Hyun-bin Ajou University Hospital will be able to get its own emergency helicopter that can transport patients in critical condition. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has decided to dispatch a so-called "doctor helicopter" to the hospital. It said Thursday this would be the country's seventh medical transport helicopter. "It is extremely difficult to rapidly transport seriously injured patients by land in Gyeonggi Province. The roads in the region face constant traffic congestion. This is why the government decided to dispatch the helicopter to Ajou Hospital," the ministry said in a press statement. This comes after Lee Cook-jong, a trauma specialist at Ajou Hospital, has repeatedly requested such a transport helicopter over the past seven years in order to treat patients in time. Lee is known for treating Seok Hye-gyun, captain of the freighter Samho Jewerly, who was shot during a rescue mission after being held hostage by Somali pirates in January 2011. He also treated a North Korean defector soldier who was seriously injured by rifle fire from North Korean soldiers while crossing the Military Demarcation Line via the Joint Security Area (JSA) last November. Lee said trauma centers need financial support and equipment, stressing their poor working conditions and lack of manpower. South Korea's top national security adviser made another secret visit to the United States on Thursday, sources said, ahead of a high-stakes summit between the U.S. and North Korean leaders. Chung Eui-yong, chief of the presidential National Security Office, arrived in Washington possibly to meet with his U.S. counterpart, National Security Adviser John Bolton, according to multiple diplomatic sources. The White House did not respond to a Yonhap request for confirmation. Chung's visit comes ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in late May or early June. The summit will be closely watched after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim agreed in their own meeting last week to pursue "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula. Trump has said he will be going into the negotiations aiming to get rid of the regime's nuclear weapons. An announcement on the date and location of the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit is expected to come in the next few days after Trump hinted at the possibility of meeting Kim in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Koreas. Chung traveled to Washington in early March after meeting Kim in Pyongyang to convey the North Korean leader's wish to meet with Trump and his willingness to discuss the denuclearization of the regime. Trump and Kim exchanged threats and personal insults last year as North Korea tested its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The South Korean official is in Washington for his third known visit since Bolton took office last month. (Yonhap) / Captured from The New York Times U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to review downsizing American troops stationed in South Korea, a U.S. news report said Friday. The president told the Department of Defense to "prepare options for drawing down American troops in South Korea" in the run-up to his landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the following weeks, the New York Times reported. The news outlet cited several people briefed on the order. Read the original article: https://nyti.ms/2HOM7zu South Korea and China will closely work together to push for a peace treaty with North Korea that would formally end the Korean War, the countries' leaders said Friday. In a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korean President Moon Jae-in also stressed the importance of China's role in ridding North Korea of its nuclear ambitions, Moon's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said. "President Moon stressed that President Xi's continued interest and support, as well as the Chinese government's active contribution, are important in completely denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and establishing permanent peace," it said in a press release. The Moon-Xi conversation came one week after the South Korean president held a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the border village of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas. In a joint statement, called the Panmunjom Declaration, Moon and Kim agreed to push for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War with a peace treaty. By Park Si-soo Police are hunting a Filipino man as a prime suspect in the "factory water tank" homicide case in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Earlier, police identified four Filipino men as suspects and were tracing their whereabouts. But the investigation is now zeroing in on one as new evidence has emerged. Police investigators said the suspect is believed to be in the Philippines. They identified him as a prime suspect after finding a critical mismatch between his allegations and evidence. They did not give further details. Meanwhile, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported police had secured testimony that indicated a possible motive for the killing. The paper said the suspect was homosexual and had feelings for the victim who was heterosexual. By Kang Aa-young A Korean pastor is missing in the Philippines, South Korea's Presbyterian Church and the Korean Embassy in the Philippines said this week, following reports suggesting he might have been kidnapped. Na Ji-sung, 41, was on his way to a theological school in the city of Dasmarinas, northern Cavite Province. His wife received a text message from him about 5:20 a.m. Tuesday (local time), saying there had been an accident and he would not be back for a while. The church, the embassy and police are cooperating in efforts to find Na. Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo appears at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shm Sang-soon By Kim Hyun-bin Police questioned Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea Friday over his alleged involvement in online opinion-rigging. Kim appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) at around 10 a.m. Friday _ just two days after police subpoenaed him. The police questioned him as a witness for allegedly helping a power blogger known as Druking. Druking allegedly set up a team in January 2017 to increase the number of clicks on news articles in favor of then-presidential candidate Moon Jae-in during the presidential race. Druking admitted to using a software macro, a computer program used to create automated repetitive sequences. Seoul police have arrested and charged Druking for manipulating internet comments via the software. Kim, a confidant of President Moon Jae-in, is running for governor of South Gyeongsang Province in the local elections on June 13. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LPK) has been pushing for an independent probe of the case. The police are investigating how much Kim was involved in or whether he had knowledge of the alleged online comment-rigging. They are also trying to find out if he was aware of the 5 million won ($4,600) one of his aides received from Druking's associate earlier this year. The money was returned right after Druking's arrest. Kim is also facing allegations that Druking requested Kim to recommend his acquaintance as a consul general in Osaka. Druking told police the opinion-rigging was carried out until Kim refused his request to have two lawyers appointed to the position. The police said they will further investigate the two lawyers, only identified by their family names Yoon and Doh, to see if they were involved in the alleged opinion-rigging. The police claim Kim sent at least 10 messages containing links to news articles related to the President from November 2016 to last month. Druking received the messages via Telegram, a Russia-based mobile messenger. But the messages are untraceable. The police are expanding their investigation into members of an association run by Druking to see if any of them were involved. They have been analyzing Naver IDs of the association members linked to the power blogger and plan to call in anyone suspicious for questioning. The police have also been investigating if the suspects have carried out similar schemes before and after the presidential election last year. More than 7000 South Koreans are believed linked to smuggling gold into Japan. / Courtesy of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office By Kang Aa-young More than 7,000 South Koreans are suspected of smuggling 2 trillion won of gold into Japan in 2015 and 2016. The Busan District Prosecutors' Office said the criminal ring had transported 40,000 gold bars from Hong Kong to the international airports in Incheon and Gimhae before moving them to Japan. They made at least 40 billion won in illegal profit, mainly from taxes and price differences. The couriers were lured by offers of free trips to Hong Kong. About 5,000 people were hired in 2016 and about 7,000 in total took part. Hong Kong does not impose a consumption tax on gold. Each courier carries five or six bars. The smugglers knew it is illegal but took the deal, police said. The daily amount of smuggled gold reached 200 bars worth about 10 billion won, they said. National Police Agency/ Yonhap By Kim Hyun-bin The National Police Agency (NPA) is expected to reduce the power of its police intelligence unit. This comes after a committee recommended this move to the NPA. The intelligence unit had collected data on civic groups, political parties, religious groups and the press to drive public sentiment under the direction of previous administrations. This will end as pledged by President Moon Jae-in. The government will also move to punish any members of the intelligence unit involved in politics in support of a particular party. The police reform committee held its 25th plenary session and submitted the "Police Intelligence Activity Reform Plan" to the NPA. "We respect the reform committee's recommendation. We will try to implement all possible measures," NPA Commissioner General Lee Chul-sung said. The plan is divided into four sections _ restructuring the information bureau and its functions, establishing legal grounds and strengthening rules on the intelligence unit's activities. The intelligence unit had been responsible for collecting data as a front to maintain public order. It had been under fire for abusing investigative power. The law will be revised to prevent this extensive investigative activity. Once implemented, the jurisdiction of the intelligence unit will be drastically reduced. The NPA plans to come up with a new set of guidelines by October, following the committee's recommendations. Not only the intelligence unit, but the police force in general will be restricted from intervening in politics. Police officers who violate this will face criminal punishment under the revised law. Background checks of government officials and policy information will be transferred to a government entity. Police power distribution The government is pushing to introduce a regional autonomous police system by as early as 2020. This includes handing over some of the national police duties to local units. Cheong Wa Dae's Committee on Local Autonomy Development recently unveiled a plan dubbed "Autonomous Police Act" where the local police system will be introduced through a pilot program in five major cities and provinces starting next year. The system is scheduled to be expanded to all 17 major cities and provinces in the near future, the committee stated. Currently, the nation's police forces, except those on Jeju Island, are under the direct control of the central National Police Agency (NPA). President Moon is seeking to decentralize the police to prevent excessive force and abuse of power. This was part of his key campaign pledge to reform the country's legal and law enforcement agencies. This reform has been backed by the public, calling for stricter checks and balances between prosecutors and police. The details of the plan would need further ironing out, including how the duties of local police forces will be transferred from the national police and how much investigative authority police should be given. The proposal also includes maintaining the current national police organization while creating separate local police forces, which will be directed by heads of local agencies. This system would be similar to the working relationship between the FBI and state police forces in the U.S. Commissioner General Lee said he prefers to delegate 40 percent of his agency's duties to local police forces that can investigate cases involving sexual assault and school and domestic violence. The United States is not considering a reduction in the number of its troops stationed in South Korea, an official from Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Friday, quoting an official from the White House National Security Council (NSC). The New York Times earlier reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed the Department of Defense to review a possible reduction of U.S. Forces Korea. "A key official from the White House NSC has said the report is not true at all," Yoon Young-chan, chief press secretary to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, said in a released statement. The U.S. official dismissed the report in a meeting with Moon's top security adviser Chung Eui-yong, who is currently in Washington for talks on Trump's upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Cheong Wa Dae earlier said Chung left for Washington on Thursday at the invitation of the U.S. NSC. By Park Ji-won U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the late Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian female officer in the U.S. Navy and a code breaker during World War II, in the May 2018 proclamations as part of honoring Asian-Americans' contributions to the nation. In the White House official statement released on April 30, Trump mentioned Susan Ahn Cuddy, saying "she was the first Asian-American woman to join the U.S. Navy during World War II." "She was the daughter of the first Korean couple to immigrate to the United States, also uplifted the Nation through strong work ethic, an unwavering love of country, and a steadfast devotion to her life mission, even in the face of great adversity," Trump said in the statement. Her father was Ahn Chang-ho, a prominent independence fighter during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea and an early Korean-American immigrant, moving to San Francisco with his wife in 1902. He died in Korea in 1938 due to harsh prison conditions after the Japanese arrested him for his independence activities. Ahn Cuddy enlisted in the U.S. Navy when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1942. Trump's proclamation added she excelled as a code breaker and became the Navy's first female aerial gunnery officer. The U.S. Embassy to South Korea welcomed her nomination on May 2, tweeting "May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Donald Trump highlights and honors Susan Ahn Cuddy, Korean-American trailblazer and daughter of Korean independence activist Ahn Chang-ho, in his Presidential Proclamation for #asianheritagemonth. ." Along with Ahn Cuddy, Trump also hailed Indian-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla. The U.S. administration said they decided to honor two people as the two contributed immeasurably to the U.S.' development and diversity as a people. By Sun Xi "Nobody wants a trade war," wrote Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in an opinion piece for the Washington Post, one of the most influential newspapers in America. This viewpoint must be widely echoed by most people who advocate free trade and globalization, but will the "America First" Trump administration be happy to agree? It is good news that a U.S. delegation headed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin may visited Beijing in early May to try to resolve the differences over trade with China. Optimists believe that a trade war will probably be avoided as it is highly possible for the two countries to reach a compromised deal in which China is likely to make more concessions just as it did in past trade friction. However, pessimists warn that more friction between American and China beyond trade are yet to come, and even a "new cold war" between the two countries is brewing. Different perceptions There are four pillars underpinning America's dominant power in the world, namely military, technology, the U.S. dollar and culture. China is considered a strong competitor and even a threat to America in almost all domains. And those perceptions lead to real actions. Along with Russia, China was identified as a "strategic competitor" in the Trump administration's 2017 National Security Strategy and 2018 National Defense Strategy. The two so-called "revisionist powers" are thought to challenge the international order and pose a strategic threat to America. China's strategic plan "Made in China 2025" aiming to transform itself into the global technology nexus was considered "frightening" by the U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. That explains why America emphasizes intellectual property protections and restricts high-tech product exports to China, such as the recent chips ban on ZTE. Moreover, China's recent introduction of RMB-denominated oil futures was viewed as an attempt to dethrone the U.S. dollar. In the cultural domain, there has been an intensive crackdown on Confucius Institutes across America, citing concerns that they are part of China's covert spying and influencing operations. Meanwhile, China has its own perceptions on America too. In Mao Zedong's view, "imperialism and all reactionaries are paper tigers," that was why Mao dared to directly fight with America in the Korean War (1950-1953). In Deng Xiaoping's view, "the China-America relationship can never be too good or too bad," that was why Deng suggested the two counties might "fight without splitting." Currently, China views itself and America as "different, but not distant," following Confucian philosophy "accommodating divergent views." From the Chinese perspective, the "Thucydides Trap" _ wherein a rising power causes fear in an established power, which escalates towards war _ is not inevitable. Therefore, China has proposed to build a "new type of major power relations" of "no conflicts and confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation" with America, but unfortunately America seems reluctant to buy such an idea. Difficult to be friends In Chinese, we call America "meiguo" _ meaning "a beautiful country." Nowadays, most Chinese people do not view America as an enemy. In contrast, a recent poll shows that Americans now consider China as their third greatest enemy, just after North Korea and Russia. Americans see China's growing economic power as a "critical threat" to the "vital interest" of America. It is difficult for America and China to become real friends, because "persons who walk different paths cannot make plans together" (dao bu tong bu xiang wei mou). America is a missionary nation which wants to spread its democratic model to the whole world, but China insists on developing its socialism with Chinese characteristics in its own way. China's development towards strongman and new authoritarianism politics is against American values such as individualism, equality and freedom. For most Americans, it is unacceptable to be overtaken by China, a non-democratic communist regime. Unwise to be enemies America and China are set to compete or rival each other inevitably, but it will be unwise and even dangerous for the two countries to become enemies. The Chinese and American people have much more to gain by maintaining a friendly and cooperative partnership with each other, than the other way around. A possible trade war between China and America has panicked the whole world, thus confrontation or conflicts between the two countries will definitely make all of humanity suffer. It will be a risky and dangerous tactic for America itself if it plans to use a "new cold war" to break down China, because highly united and centralized China is not another Soviet Union. To avoid a "hot war" or a "new cold war," America as the existing greatest power and China as the emerging one have no other choice than to collectively forge a "new type of great-power relationship." Coexistence and cooperation must overcome confrontation and conflicts. Without the cooperation of both countries, none of those big global and regional challenges, such as climate change, terrorism, nuclear proliferation and global economic recovery, will likely be fully addressed. Sooner or later, the two countries will have to cooperate as they did in World War II to keep a peaceful and prosperous world together. A recent good example is that America thanked China for addressing the trouble-making North Korea. China-America relations will remain the world's most important bilateral relationship for many years to come. We sincerely hope it can be true that "the broad Pacific Ocean is vast enough to embrace both China and America." As a good start, the two countries need to update their perceptions towards each other in a more positive but realistic way. The writer (sunshinelkyspp@gmail.com) a 1980s China-born alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, is an independent commentary writer based in Singapore. By Andrew Hammond The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan announced on Tuesday that they will meet May 9 for their first trilateral talks since 2015. The session is only the latest example of the changing geopolitical chessboard in the region, following the mini-rapprochement between South and North Korea. Yet, it is not just the implications of warming ties between Seoul and Pyongyang that is driving the trilateral session. Another key driver behind the May 9 meeting is uncertainty evoked by U.S. President Donald Trump's agenda, including the trade tariff measures against Japan and China in recent weeks that give both nations greater incentive to engage, despite the fact that relations have been at a relative historical low point in recent years over the claims both have made to islands in the East China Sea. To this end, Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a full diplomatic visit to Japan, as part of the trilateral dialogue, from May 8 to 11. His trip represents the latest salvo by both Beijing and Tokyo to enhance relations in advance of the 40th anniversary this summer of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship which established the diplomatic baseline for bilateral relations. Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will also be keen to use the trilateral dialogue to get insights from South Korea President Moon Jae-in about last week's inter-Korean summit. Given the deep interests of both Beijing and Tokyo here, neither wants to watch this dialogue completely from the sidelines. Hence the reason why Kim was summoned to Beijing in March _ his first foreign trip since taking power in 2011. Both Xi and Abe are acutely aware that plans appear to be advancing fast for the proposed Trump-Kim summit in May or June with the U.S. president saying this week he is looking at Singapore and the Demilitarized Zone in Korea as possible locations. This follows new U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement Sunday that there is a "real opportunity" for a nuclear deal, especially following Kim's announcement that North Korea's main nuclear testing site, Punggye-ri, is to close this month. All of these developments underline the potential extent of the changing geopolitical reality in the region. Even hawkish new U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton contributed to the positive mood music by suggesting Sunday that a U.S.-North Korean agreement could be modeled on that agreed by Libya to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction program in 2003 in return for the lifting of sanctions. Following spiraling tensions in 2017 over the North's nuclear weapons and missile programs, the remarkable diplomatic respite that 2018 has brought has so far been remarkable. Characteristically, Trump has taken much credit for this, and his hard-line policies may indeed have been part of the mix of events that have brought Kim to the negotiating table. Yet, as much as U.S. pressure may well have been important in creating this diplomatic "window of opportunity," the role of Beijing has also been key, given its own increasing support for international sanctions against Pyongyang. Traditionally, Beijing has been reluctant to take too sweeping measures against its Communist neighbor because of fears that squeezing it so hard would produce significant destabilization. Xi believes that this is probably not in Chinese interests for at least two reasons. Firstly, if the Communist regime in the North falls, it could undermine the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party too. In addition, he fears that the collapse of order in its neighbor could lead to instability on the North Korea-China border, a potentially large influx of refugees that it would need to manage, and ultimately the potential emergence of a pro-U.S. successor state. As positive as the atmospherics currently appear around the planned Trump-Kim meeting, all sides will know there remain significant downside risks as well as opportunities in play. While Trump appears keen to meet Kim, he has previously said "that talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!" This commentary reflects not just the volatility of Trump, but also the political pressure he is personally under on this issue having drawn a political "red line," previously, on Pyongyang possessing a nuclear warhead capable of being fitted on to an intercontinental ballistic missile that could strike the U.S. homeland. Strikingly, the U.S. Union of Concerned Scientists has calculated that if the last missile launched by North Korea _ in November _ had flown on a standard trajectory rather than a lofted one, it would have had a range of 13,000 kilometers which is enough to strike Europe, Australia, or any part of the continental United States. And this is why Trump will continue to keep all options on the table. Taken overall, the Japan-China-South Korea announcement is only the latest indicator that the geopolitical chessboard is changing in Asia. Yet, while the mood music is presently mostly positive, significant downside risks remain and if the South-North dialogue ultimately proves a mirage, Trump will seek to pile on the pressure on Pyongyang again given the pressure he is under on this issue. . Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. Contact him at andrewkorea@outlook.com Import quota and punitive tariffs mean double taxation On Monday, the United States formally exempted South Korea from a 25 percent tariff on steel imports. Washington will instead impose an annual export quota equivalent to 70 percent of Korean steelmakers' recent shipment volume. Trade officials in Seoul welcomed the move. "The U.S. step has finally resolved uncertainty on our steel exports, giving a competitive edge to Korean steelmakers," they said. Barely 24 hours later, however, the U.S. International Trade Commission said it had determined that America's industry was being "materially injured" by imports of carbon and specific alloy steel rods from five countries, including Korea. Industry watchers here view that the 41.1 percent antidumping duties on wire rods would offset any competitive gains Korean exports may have with the exemption of additional tariffs. The domestic industrialists are understandably enraged, saying the shipment quota and punitive duties will give them "double trouble." The reality on the bilateral trade front seems to be significantly different from the self-praising comments made by Minister of Trade Kim Hyun-jong after he wrapped up the renegotiations on the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement last month. "Korea has received an export quota roughly equal to 70 percent of its annual average shipment between 2015 and 2017, and will be able to ship that volume without additional tariffs," Kim said at the time. What Kim failed to point out was the U.S. antidumping duties that had been applied to more than 80 percent of Korean steel exports remained unchanged. Kim added Seoul had secured the procedural transparency of the U.S. investigations for import restraint, but steelmakers here don't seem to know what has changed in this regard, either. Government officials say the imposition of antidumping duties on wire rods was the "result of investigations that had begun well before the start of FTA bargaining." They may be right technically, but this is not a matter of apportioning blame. The Korea International Trade Association stated, "It is not fair to limit export volume with a quota and slap on antidumping duties, which is little different from double taxation." Trade officials should come up with plausible explanations for the U.S. move and work on practical countermeasures. Moon should not be complacent over high approval rating President Moon Jae-in will mark his first year in office next week. He was sworn in as President in a small ceremony at the National Assembly on May 10, 2017, after being elected as successor to the impeached former President Park Geun-hye. Based on latest polls, the general assessment of Moon's presidency is positive. A recent Gallup poll showed Moon's job approval rating at 83 percent, right after a highly anticipated meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The third inter-Korean summit resulted in the Panmunjeom Declaration aimed at establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Resuming summit diplomacy with North Korea after an absence of more than a decade since the last inter-Korean summit in 2007 has certainly boosted Moon's job approval rating. More than 80 percent of respondents in the Gallup poll said the President was doing a fine job with North Korea affairs and 74 percent gave a positive review of the President's diplomacy. He has been lauded by the international media for serving as a mediator who brought the U.S. and North Korea back to the negotiating table over denuclearization. Moon should be given credit for his sincere efforts to bring peace on the peninsula, starting with the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in which North Korea took part at the last minute, creating a much-needed reconciliatory mood between the two Koreas. Despite Moon's diplomatic achievements, he has failed in areas that are directly linked to the people's livelihoods, such as employment and education. He has also received much criticism for his personnel decisions. Due to the circumstances that led to Park's early removal from office, Moon has faced stronger pressure to deliver on his promise of building a new Korea by rooting out longstanding evils in society, such as corruption. One year is too short to determine the long-term effectiveness of his anti-corruption drive. The biggest failure so far is that the President has not been able to turn around the unemployment crisis. Many young people are still struggling for jobs, and even those who are employed are just barely getting by as Korea has a high rate of irregular workers. The President has also not been very impressive in dealing with the population crisis, which is one of the biggest challenges facing Korea today. Cheong Wa Dae should not get too excited about the President's high approval rating. Recounting his first year in office, Moon should, above all else, prioritize becoming the "jobs president" as pledged during the election. By Oh Young-jin A week after the April 27 inter-Korean summit, much of the euphoria a strong sense of anticipation about lasting peace on the peninsula remains. That sense is, however, based on wishful thinking after full-day coverage bombarded us with President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un holding hands, walking together and dining with their wives. Kim spoke well, was witty and appeared in control. But, most of all, he could be seen to be "normal," in a departure from a crazy human butcher born out of the lineage of dictators with absolute power. Thrown into the mix was the desperation South Koreans had if they didn't get peace this time, there could be a war, considering the U.S.-North Korean confrontation that preceded the North' sudden charm offensive. Only South Koreans had this desperation, because their North Korean counterparts were only allowed to enjoy selected scenes from their leader's frolicking with Moon in the southern truce village of Panmunjeom, perhaps 100 meters from the inter-Korean border. One commentator summed it up well with no sense of sarcasm: "The summit coverage was more a movie than a movie could be." After all, there was a willing audience scared by the threat of nuclear war with a great cast highlighted by the dictator who killed his half-brother in daylight at an international airport and had his uncle killed by anti-aircraft guns (Of course, there is a persistent rumor that Jang Song-thaek is alive because his execution was kept from the public gaze). Making it even more interesting and anticipatory was that there would be a sequel the summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, which would determine the future of the peninsula and affect the regional balance of power at a far greater level than possible in the Moon-Kim summit. Trump welcomed his new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, his hatchet man, and vowed to terminate the vicious cycle with North Korea, so to speak. But there are sober minds of course. Evans Revere, former U.S. deputy chief of mission in Seoul and meant to be the first ambassador to the North during the Clinton era, dubbed the Kim-Trump summit a potential "Neville Chamberlain moment," a reference to the disastrous attempt to appease Nazi leader Adolf Hitler that is seen as a lost chance to rein in the murderous Nazi regime and prevent World War II. Revere said the North knew exactly what Trump wanted and would play him, citing as a tantalizing foretaste Pyongyang's moratorium decision on nuclear and missile testing. He said Trump would accept whatever the North offered, as long as it would make him look good to the world whether it means denuclearization or not. Robert Gallucci, the leading U.S. negotiator in the lead-up to the 1994 Framework Agreement on the North's nuclear challenge, also dampened the hope of Trump chasing full denuclearization. Both Revere and Gallucci attended Thursday's Korea Forum organized by The Korea Times and its sister paper Hankook Ilbo. Their sober views have been pushed to the margins thanks to the haphazard, unfounded optimism that this time the North would be different and separate itself from its nuclear arsenal. Again, the Revere wisdom boils down to the fact that during the previous two summits, the North didn't have a functioning nuclear force but now it has, so there are fewer reasons that it will give it up. The situation may be comparable to the atmosphere in the lead-up to the Brexit vote. Intellectuals called for a "no" vote but populists and David Cameron, the prime minister who surrendered himself as hostage to the "leavers" camp, won the day. Now, much of the nation is regretting it. The chance is that, at least, Koreans may end up having regrets for being swept away by the heat-of-the-moment sentiment about peace. Because he has triggered it, Kim Jong-un would appreciate the turmoil in the South, the Trump administration and by extension the rest of the world by switching adroitly from young dictator of one of the world's poorest countries to a kind of darling a case study for other dictators who want to legitimize their rule. Would it be too much of a stretch if we assume that Kim thinks he can achieve what his father and grandfather wanted to but failed unifying the South on the North's terms? True, the South is economically many times bigger than the North, but was David bigger than Goliath in their duel? Maybe it is a case of paranoia. The U.S. hurriedly signed a peace accord with the communist North Vietnamese and withdrew before Saigon fell. How about the South asking Americans to leave? "Yankees go home" was the slogan of the 1970s and 1980s and irrespective of the student movement's zeitgeist at the time, some of the leading anti-America figures of the time are now in power. They have mellowed but President Moon's security adviser Moon Jung-in recently talked about the reduced justification for a U.S. military presence after an inter-Korean peace treaty is signed. So what would Kim's endgame be? Perhaps a Korea where the South is at his beck and call, with Americans no longer breathing down his neck, and with nuclear missiles on standby. What would it remind you of? I have one idea and I am sure yours would be quite similar to mine. Oh Young-jin ( ) is the digital managing editor of The Korea Times. By Kim Yoo-chul The 50:1 stock split in ordinary Samsung Electronics shares heavily boosted the trading volume as the split offered retail investors greater accessibility to the company shares. Total trading volume was 39.2 million, while the turnover for Samsung shares amounted to 2.06 trillion won ($1.94 billion), accounting for more than 30 percent of the main board's KOSPI total daily turnover, data provided by the Korea Exchange (KRX) showed, Friday. KRX is the bourse operator which also oversees the junior Kosdaq. Both volume and turnover broke records as Samsung took up an average 9 percent of total turnover in one month just before the stock split, said officials at KRX. On Friday, Samsung Electronics ended with 51,900 won, down 2.08 percent. Its basis price started with 53,000 won per share. KRX recalculated the base price by reflecting the share's pre-split closing price by 50. Samsung halted its stock trading for three trading sessions from April 30. It lowered the book value of its one ordinary stock to 100 won from 5,000 won in line with its stock split plan. "Friday was just huge for Samsung shares as greater amount of retail investors bought Samsung shares, once regarded as an emperor stock, while institutional investors lowered their holdings on Samsung shares for profit taking," said Lee Seung-woo, a senior analyst at Eugene Investment. Institutional investors sold 11 million Samsung shares only Friday. Stock market analysts say Samsung Electronics shares are expected to continue their volatile sessions "for a while" due to high turnover between retail and institutional investors. Given increased shareholder return policy, commitment by the company, which is the world's top supplier in memory chips, handsets and televisions, the company shares are forecast to go rise, but gradually. "For institutional investors, greater accessibility for large-cap stocks such as Samsung Electronics isn't always good because increased daily transactions and volume mean high volatility. But Samsung's continued efforts to boost shareholder returns is a positive factor which is worthwhile to see," a hedge fund manager, from a U.S.-based investment bank operating in Seoul, said by telephone, adding the bank plans to readjust its investment portfolio by buying more Samsung shares. Samsung Electronics had 70 trillion won in net cash by the end of the first quarter of this year thanks to the company's solid performance in the memory chip sector. Samsung also said it will be paying out its yearly dividends of 9.6 trillion won in accordance with its three-year shareholder return policy that will run until 2020. Eugene's Lee expects Samsung Electronics to generate 252.4 trillion won as its annual revenue this year, with the company earning 65.5 trillion won as operating profit, up 5 percent and 22 percent from the previous year. By Baek Byung-yeul Major Korean memory chip suppliers are looking to take legal action against U.S.-based private law firm denying accusations they were involved in a price-fixing scheme. SK hynix, the world's second-largest DRAM manufacturer, is considering filing a countersuit against Hagens Berman that accused chipmakers including Samsung and SK of artificially fixing DRAM prices, according to an industrial source, Friday. The law firm making the class action suit, announced on April 27 that it filed the lawsuit against the world's three largest electronics chipmakers Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron Technology. The law firm claimed the three firms illegally agreed to raise the prices of DRAM chips so they could pass on price increases to electronic device manufacturers that bought DRAM between 2016 and 2017. The firm indicated revenues for the three makers doubled between the first quarter of 2016 and the third quarter of 2017. Stating that it hadn't received the petition yet, an SK hynix spokesman in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, declined to comment. "We will consider whether to file a countersuit once the company receives the petition," he said. However, industry watchers say the claim that the three chipmakers have colluded to artificially control the DRAM prices is debatable and needs further discussion. "The DRAM market has seen rapid solid growth due to healthy demand in memory chip-embedded content with growing demand from server and data center markets over the given periods. Given that DRAM supply remained tight while the demand went up, the market determines the demand and the average chip selling prices," a source said. "Last year's overall bit growth was at a mid-20 percent. Supply and demand saw good equilibrium, helping the chip market continue the uprising momentum," another source said. Bit growth is a barometer measuring the health of the semiconductor market. The more bit growth means the more demand. DRAM chips are used to read and write data in all devices from smartphones to TVs and it is also a vital component for all things in cloud computing, virtual reality and crypto-based items. The three companies control 96 percent of the global DRAM market as of mid-2017. The price of 4GB of DRAM jumped 130 percent during the period specified in the lawsuit. The class action suit is aimed at representing any consumer in the U.S. who bought a device with a DRAM chip from July 1, 2016, to Feb. 1, 2018, the law firm said. Hagens Berman won a similar suit in 2006 against DRAM chip makers, winning $300 million. This is not the first time for Korean chip makers to be accused of fixing DRAM prices. Samsung Electronics paid out $300 million in a 2005 settlement for price fixing between 1999 and 2002 while Hynix Semiconductor, now SK hynix, paid $185 million at the same time. By Baek Byung-yeul SK Telecom, Korea's top mobile carrier, saw its operating profit in the first quarter of this year plunged 20.71 percent to 325.5 billion won ($302 million) due to decrease in its mobile communications business. The mobile carrier said Friday it posted sales of 4.1 trillion won during the January-March period, 1.2 percent down from a year earlier while it posted a net profit of 693.4 billion won, an 18.8 percent increase compared with 583.5 billion won over the cited period on the back of a rise in equity income from its chip making affiliate SK hynix. SK Telecom said the overall decrease came as the company provided discounts for its subscription plans, especially those for financially vulnerable users. However, SK Telecom said it could witness improved numbers in its information and communication technology (ICT) business. The company said it posted improved performance in its IPTV business, with the number of subscribers rising 9.6 percent on-year to reach 4.46 million in the first quarter. The subscribers of its mobile IPTV Oksusu also increased a 25.5 percent to 8.88 million users from a year earlier. SK Telecom also displayed its strength in artificial intelligence (AI) Services with its NUGU speaker. The company said the monthly active users of NUGU speaker came to 3 million and it aims to attract 5 million active users by the end of this year. SK Telecom also said it will bolster investment in fifth-generation (5G) network technology. The company acquired Swiss-based quantum information ID Quantique SA (IDQ) as it bought more than 50 percent of the shares of the firm for $65 million in February. The mobile carrier claimed the acquisition is to ensure security in the hyper-connected 5G era. "Although there may be concerns over the short-term losses of sales, we plan to regain trust from clients through innovations and maintain a sound portfolio down the road," SK Telecom said. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Forum in China, Friday. / Courtesy of SK Group By Nam Hyun-woo SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won stressed the significance of a company's contribution in creating social value, saying it can guarantee long term growth and stability for businesses. Chey's remark came amid his speech at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Forum in China, Friday, participated in by more than 600 global leaders, including Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, Yale University President Peter Salovey and University of Tokyo President Makoto Gonokami. An ash cloud rises above Kilauea Volcano after it erupted, on Hawaii's Big Island May 3, 2018, in this photo obtained from social media. / REUTERS The Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island came to life on Thursday, belching ash into the sky and spewing lava into a residential area where people were ordered to leave their homes, officials said. The eruption occurred after a series of earthquakes on the island over the last couple of days, including a 5.0 tremor at about 10:30 a.m., the U.S. Geological Survey reported on its website. Residents in the Puna community, home to about 10,000 people, were ordered to evacuate after public works officials reported steam and lava emissions from a crack, according to media and the county's website. An view of a so-called 'skylight', a crack in the surface of solidified lava, taken during a Paradise Helicopters flight over the area allows a view on the hot glowing magma in an underground tube near the Pu'u 'O'o crater on the Hawaii island, May 2, 2018. / EPA Resident Ikaika Marzo told Hawaii News Now that he saw "fountains" of lava. A plume of red ash rose from the volcano's Pu'u 'O'o vent high into the sky over the island, according to photos on social media. The Kilauea Volcano has been erupting nearly continuously for more than three decades. Lava flows from the volcano, one of five on the island, have buried 48 square miles (125 km), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The leading edge of the lava can reach temperatures of about 2,100 Fahrenheit (1,149 Celsius). (REUTERS) Four South Korean tourists have been killed and four others injured in a car accident in Antalya Province, Turkey, the foreign ministry said Friday. A rented mini bus carrying eight South Koreans bumped into a passenger van in Turkey's Kemer at around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday (Turkey time). Four of them were killed at the scene, and the other four were hospitalized for injuries. Two of the survivors were then sent home on the same date, but the other two are still undergoing treatment, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The South Korean Embassy in Turkey has immediately requested the local government and the police agency's support for dealing with the aftermath of the accident and is currently providing consular services to the victims and their families back home, it said. (Yonhap) Rome, May 4 - 5-Star Movement (M5S) Senate whip Danilo Toninelli said Friday that the anti-establishment group would knock back President Sergio Mattarella if he asked it to join the other major parties in forming a 'government of truce' to end Italy's two-month post-election political deadlock. "These technical governments, of truce, of transition or of the president, are designed just get by," Toninelli told Radio Anch'Io. "I prefer to have (new) elections. What would the citizens say about a government just designed to get by with (ex-premier and former Democratic Party leader Matteo) Renzi and (ex-premier and Forza Italia chief Silvio) Berlusconi inside? "We won't let them continue destroying the country". Rome, May 4 - Innocent Oseghale, a 29-year-old Nigerian suspected of involvement in the murder of an 18-year-old Roman woman near Macerata at the end of January, allegedly asked a compatriot if he wanted to rape her, according to a secret recording made in prison. The transcript of the recording of the conversation in Ancona prison between two other Nigerians arrested in relation to the case is part of court documentation related to a new order for Oseghale to be held at a different jail, at Ascoli Piceno. Oseghale on Thursday was charged with the murder of Pamela Mastropietro, whose chopped up body was found in two suitcases. He had previously only been charged with abusing and hiding a corpse. "On January 30 Innocent called me and asked if I wanted to rape a girl who was sleeping," Lucky Awelima, one of the arrested men, told fellow suspect Desmond Lucky, according to the wiretap. A preliminary investigations judge has so far refused to consider rape among the charges. Genoa, May 4 - An Italian yachtsman has been missing in the Atlantic along with a crewman friend since May 2, his wife said Friday. Aldo Revello, 53, and Antonio Voinea were heading home to La Spezia from Martinique, she said. They were on board a 14-metre yacht called Bright, she said. The boat reportedly went missing between the Azores and Gibraltar, sources said. "I ask authorities to keep searching for my husband and Antonio," said Rosa Cilano, 37. "I don't understand what happened, the last contact I had was at 00:16 on May first. The meteo was good, with one-two metre waves and 15-20 knot wind. "They are experienced yachtsmen, look for them with great use of resources," said the woman, mother of a four-year-old girl. Aldo Revello has been a professional skipper for more than 15 years and usually sails in the Caribbean. After sailing there for a long time last summer he returned home. In April he returned to Martinique to bring the boat back to La Spezia. Antonio Voinea, a 30-year-old Romanian, is a resident of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands after several years spent in Veneto. "He is like a brother for us," said Cileno. The duo left Martinique on April 7 and after a stopover set out again for Gibraltar on April 28, she told ANSA. Ascoli Piceno, May 4 - A Nigerian drug pusher who has been accused of killing and dismembering an 18-year-old Roman woman near Macerata at the end of January on Friday said he didn't kill her. Innocent Oseghale said of Pamela Mastropietro," I didn't kill her and I didn't dismember the body. Still less did I propose her to (fellow Nigerian pusher Lucky) Awelima for sex". Prosecutors on Thursday said Oseghale raped, murdered and dismembered Mastropietro, whose body was found in two suitcases near Macerata on January 31. On February 4 a neo-Nazi shot and wounded four North Africans in the Marche city, in supposed retaliation. Milan, May 4 - A 17-year-old Milanese student fell from a hotel window in Naples after smoking a joint on Thursday night, sources said Friday. The girl was with classmates on a trip to the southern Italian city. The girl suffered a fracture to her pelvis and was rushed to hospital but it said not be in life-threatening condition. The school is at Corbetta near Milan. One in 10 high-school students admits using soft drugs during school trips, Skuiola.net reported Friday, saying the figure was on the rise. Alcohol and 'balconing' were also up, it said. Senigallia, May 4 - A care home on Friday denied a Senegalese worker had been denied a steady job because inmates complained she was black. The care home said the case of Fatima Sy, let go after a trial period, "was not racism, and we have many foreign employees". Senigallia Mayor Maurizio Mangialardi said "this was just an unfortunate misunderstanding". Sy, 40, has been living in the Marche coastal town for 15 years and had two children. "I'm only asking to be able to work and so have an economic stability that allows me to see my children," she said. She said that also in a previous job as a worker with the disabled, "elderly people can come out with certain comments". Sy reported Thursday that some residents of the home told her "we don't like you because you're black". Addressing experts, Governments, and other participants at the Intersessional Expert Meeting on the full enjoyment of human rights by all women and girls and the systematic mainstreaming of gender perspective into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva stated It is incumbent on all stakeholders to strive to create a culture of respect for equality and non-discrimination and to work towards dispelling the myth of inferiority attributed to women over centuries. He called for all stakeholders to work together to ensure a dignified life and a better future for all women and girls. The Intersessional Expert Meeting began its two day session in Geneva today, with the opening remarks of Ms. Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, followed by presentations by experts representing different UN agencies and an interactive dialogue. Carefully thought-through and targeted approaches geared to empowering women, Ambassador Azeez stated, were imperative for the effective advancement of development goals in national and international programmes. He emphasized that ensuring access to quality health services and quality education would significantly improve life chances and better employment opportunities for women and girls. Such empowered women and girls can bring transformational improvements in the health and prosperity of families, communities, societies and nations they live in, he remarked. Sharing the experiences of Sri Lanka in recent times, he outlined the measures taken by the Government to address challenges faced by women, such as the adoption of a National Action Plan for prevention of gender based violence (GBV) and the National Human Rights Action Plan (2017-2021) as well as the enactment of legislation aimed at increasing women representation in local governing authorities. Sri Lankas Permanent Representative reiterated that achieving gender equality was not just an issue of women and girls, and that it went way beyond, calling for the active involvement of all stakeholders. Full Statement Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Geneva 2 May 2018 Jake Tapper, the tenacious anchor of CNN, the merciless slayer of alternative facts, the dogged deflator of political egos, has written a novel about corruption in Washington. In the scandal-a-day era of President Trump, the news doesnt leave much room for fiction about our governments debauchery, but Tapper still heaps plenty of scorn on the king of chaos: Hes impossible to ignore. Hes become this . . . planet . . . blocking the sun. And whatever points he makes that have validity are blotted out by his indecency and his lies and his predilection to smear. Im not sure whom youre thinking of, but thats Tappers description of Joseph McCarthy, the U.S. senator from Wisconsin whose pyrotechnics fueled the flames of communist paranoia in the 1950s. McCarthy is the dark lord of The Hellfire Club, Tappers debut political thriller, which reminds us that our republic has survived leadership crises just as dire as todays. The novel opens in 1954 with an echo of the Chappaquiddick incident reset in Washingtons Rock Creek Park. A handsome new congressman named Charlie Marder wakes up from a drunken stupor after a car accident. The body of a young woman lies nearby in a ditch. Before he can figure out what happened, a quick-thinking lobbyist pulls up, burns the evidence and whisks Charlie away. His family, his career, his life have been saved but at what cost? Advertisement As openings go, this is terrific a handful of taut pages steamed with confusion, sex and dread. But no sooner does Charlie climb out of that ditch than this novel careens into another one and stays there, spinning its wheels for 150 pages of leaden back story before we finally arrive again at that fateful morning crash. The only Red threat here is the danger of running out of Red Bull. Perhaps all this exposition stems from the good journalists determination to provide context, but the whole enterprise labors under a heavy burden of explainism, accentuated by the novels flat, irony-free prose. Every senator, representative, lobbyist and aide including many historical figures arrives with a resume that gets dutifully unfurled over the ever-dwindling action, mostly meetings, hearings and poker games. All historical references are carefully elucidated in the same teacherly tone, from the House Un-American Activities Committee to the Senate hearings on juvenile delinquency to the development of photocopies and pesticides. But there is actually a thriller gestating in this husk of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Tappers 33-year-old protagonist, Charlie, is a World War II hero as attractive and flavor-free as a genetically engineered tomato. Tall and broad-shouldered with piercing blue eyes the best kind Charlie is a former Columbia University professor who published a bestselling work of history before being appointed by the governor of New York to fill an empty congressional seat. (That would require changing the U.S. Constitution, but if we get bogged down in technicalities like that, well never finish.) His Brooks Bros. suit fits so well you can hardly see the Boy Scout uniform underneath. Youre good, his father tells him. And even more than that, you believe in goodness. Nothing like a few months in Washington to test that mettle. Charlie barely finds his seat on the House floor before he crosses a powerful committee chairman and gets humiliated. He quickly learns that McCarthy and his henchman Roy Cohn (Donald Trumps future lawyer) arent the only power-hungry creeps slithering around Washington. And whats more ominous, theres a shadowy network of secret societies where toxic information is swapped and important deals are cut. One of those nefarious groups may be a descendant of the lecherous Hellfire Club that Ben Franklin visited in London before the American Revolution. Its members dont play by the normal rules, and theyll stop at nothing not even murder to secure their aims. The Hellfire Club, " a novel by Jake Tapper. (Little, Brown and Company via AP ) Once all this cloak-and-dagger is methodically laid out, The Hellfire Club finally lurches into the crazy Dan Brownish adventure it was meant to be. Naturally, there are deathbed statements to ponder, enigmatic codes to decipher and shocking secrets to unearth in the bowels of the Library of Congress, where all the most shocking secrets are kept (Shhhhh). Soon, Charlie realizes Oh my God! that hes not just trying to save his own skin, hes fighting to save hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of Americans. As the countrys future hangs in the balance, Tapper dutifully attends to the clashing racial attitudes of the era. Charlie, precocious as ever, possesses all the enlightened attitudes of a Brooklyn barista in 2018. Ethnic slurs nauseate him. He knows those Confederate statues should come down. And if someone would knit him a pussyhat, he would wear it proudly. His pregnant wife is, of course, a gorgeous zoologist who studies ponies. Im not complaining. The Hellfire Club is most enjoyable when its most groan-worthy. Theres a particularly ludicrous scene in which political opponents confront each other with competing dossiers of compromising photos. The gun-toting thugs chuckle like Batman villains. In Charlies most valiant scene, he picks up his wife and the horse she rode in on! And did I mention that Charlie has an unusually acute sense of smell? Possibly the least sexy superpower ever. Throughout the novel, he identifies peoples perfumes and colognes as if its some kind of nasal parlor trick. By the end of The Hellfire Club, you can be sure hell sniff out a rat. And everybody will catch the pungent scent of a sequel in the wind. Charles is the editor of the Washington Posts Book World. :: The Hellfire Club Jake Tapper Little, Brown: 352 pp., $27 Elon Musk promised the short burn of the century Friday. Flamethrowers should arrive just in time, he said in an early-morning tweet. He directed his aim at short sellers, investors who bet that a companys stock will dive. The burn will come soon, he said, presumably in the form of some kind of positive news announcement to make Teslas share price soar. Short seller Mark Spiegel of Stanphyl Capital didnt sound scared: Tesla stock has now officially entered the transition from when the shorts go from being mocked to being blamed. Spiegel said that switch reinforces his negative take on the company. Tesla has been facing a barrage of bad news lately. Its crucial Model 3 electric sedan project is suffering severe production problems, a key reason the company reported a billion-dollar deficit in free cash flow for the first quarter. Advertisement The short burn news, judging from Musks conference call with analysts on Wednesday, is likely to involve China. We expect to announce a gigafactory in China soon, Musk had said. Tesla uses the word gigafactory where most people would say manufacturing plant. Whether any new China deal would include cash infusions from Chinese investors was left unsaid. Chinese internet giant Tencent already holds a 5% stake in Tesla. Musk has been talking for months about setting up a site in or near Shanghai, but Chinese restrictions on foreign automakers in China stand in the way. China requires a 50-50 joint venture with a Chinese company in return for access to Chinas vast market. But trade skirmishes between the U.S. and China might lead to changes allowing Tesla and other automakers to hold majority ownership. Chinas government has signaled its open to the idea. China is Teslas largest non-U.S. market, followed by Norway, although the company accounted for only a tiny fraction of the 1 million electric cars sold in China last year, most of them built by domestic companies. Government policy in China favors electric vehicles, and all major global automakers want part of the huge, fast-growing market. Why would China want to ease up on foreign ownership restrictions? Consultant Michael Dunn, who lived in China from 1990 to 2015 before moving to San Diego, said China wants into the U.S. market. Every Chinese automaker has plans to compete in the United States in the next three to five years, he said. Easing restrictions on manufacturing in China could help avoid a backlash against Chinese exports to the U.S., he said. A severe auto manufacturing overcapacity problem is pressuring Chinese carmakers to get serious about exports, according to Dunn. Whether such news, if it happens, will help Tesla stock is uncertain. But if it does, it could put a crimp on short positions. Shorted stock constitutes nearly 30% of Teslas outstanding shares, making Tesla one of the most heavily shorted stocks on Wall Street. Teslas stock price rose 3.4% Friday, to $294.09. russ.mitchell@latimes.com Twitter: @russ1mitchell UPDATES: 2 p.m.: This article was updated with a final stock price. This article was originally published at 12:25 p.m. Three women who worked for former CBS News anchor Charlie Rose have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him and the network. The suit filed Friday in New York State Supreme Court follows a detailed report by the Washington Post in which 27 women, including 13 at CBS, claimed they were sexually harassed by Rose over his 40-year career in television news. Rose, 76, who was co-anchor of CBS This Morning for nearly six years, was fired in November after a Post report said eight women who worked on his talk show Charlie Rose on PBS alleged he harassed them. After the initial Post story came out, Rose said, I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken. He told the Post that its most recent report on his behavior is unfair and inaccurate. The suit filed by Sydney McNeal, Katherine Brooks Harris and Chelsea Wei alleges that CBS management, numerous broadcasters and studio staff witnessed Mr. Roses unlawful conduct and failed to take any action to correct it. Advertisement The three women, all in their 20s, worked at CBS This Morning while Rose was co-anchor there. McNeal and Harris went on to work at his talk show and lost their jobs when it was canceled in November. A representative for CBS News said the division will vigorously defend itself against the allegations made against it in the lawsuit. Roses attorney Bob Bodian said in a statement that the claims in the lawsuit are without merit. CBS News said Thursday that it had hired an employment law firm, Proskuer Rose, to advise the company following the publication of the Post report. The lawsuit describes various incidents in which Rose allegedly made inappropriate sexual comments to the women. They also claim that Rose was frequently caressing and touching their arms, shoulders, waist and back, pulling them close to his body and kissing them on the cheek. Rose allegedly described his sexual conquests to McNeal and Harris and directed them to share details with him about their sex lives. He suggested to them that they become lovers. The suit also claims that Rose used profane language to all three women when he was unhappy with their work. The women are being represented by New York-based employment lawyer Kenneth Goldberg. stephen.battaglio@latimes.com Twitter: @SteveBattaglio UPDATES: 9:02 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Charlie Roses attorney. This article was originally published at 2:10 p.m. CBS Corp. stock surged Friday on strong earnings and speculation that controlling shareholder Shari Redstone had offered a compromise to try to nudge along the stalled merger talks with Viacom Inc. CBS rose 9% to $53.17 a share on Friday after the company reported record revenue in the first quarter. Shares of Viacom, which owns MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET and the Paramount Pictures movie studio, climbed 3% to $30.29. Reuters reported late Friday that Redstone was trying to fashion a compromise to win over CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves by dropping a demand that Viacom CEO Bob Bakish, 54, should have a prominent management role in the merged entity. Bakishs role has been a major sticking point in talks to reunite the media companies. However, Viacom and CBS are not close to a deal, according to three people close to the process who were not authorized to speak publicly about confidential negotiations. And its not clear Redstones concession will remove a key hurdle in the talks. Advertisement In recent weeks, negotiations have fallen apart over a valuation of Viacom, Redstones demands over who should run the combined company, and a reluctance by CBS to pair with the weaker Viacom. Analysts have long been divided over whether a merger makes sense. We have always liked CBS as a standalone company, Wells Fargo Securities analyst Marci Ryvicker wrote in a research report early Friday after CBS set a revenue record by raking in $3.76 billion during the first quarter, an increase of nearly 13% over the year-earlier period. CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves has been cool to merger talks with Viacom Inc. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images ) She and other analysts pointed to CBS solid earnings to support the companys position that owning a bunch of cable TV channels might not be a winning strategy in an era of accelerating cord-cutting. Pay-TV companies have reported higher customer losses in the first quarter, and cable channels are most vulnerable to the changing landscape. Redstone wants the two companies to combine, and this is the second time in two years that she has tried to make a merger happen. Her family controls CBS and Viacom through their investment vehicle National Amusements Inc., and she says the two companies would be stronger together as traditional media companies gird for battle with such technology companies as Facebook, Google, Netflix and Amazon.com. Redstone has said that she would like Moonves, 68, to serve as chief executive of the combined company for at least two years. But she has been pushing to have her hand-picked lieutenant, Bakish, to serve as the No. 2 at the combined company to position him as Moonves successor. Moonves dismissed that demand because he wants to run the combined company as he sees fit with his own management team, including Chief Operating Officer Joseph Ianniello. As part of a compromise, Redstone has proposed that Bakish would have a seat on the board of the combined company so that he still would be in line to replace Moonves. It is not immediately clear whether Moonves would agree to have Bakish installed as one of his bosses after Moonves rejected having Bakish as one of his subordinates. CBS and Viacom declined to comment. Redstones spokeswoman declined to comment. meg.james@latimes.com @MegJamesLAT Albertsons grocery stores violated the rights of Latino employees with a policy forbidding workers to speak Spanish around non-Spanish speakers even when conversing with one another during breaks or helping Spanish-speaking customers, according to a new lawsuit. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Albertsons Cos. on Thursday in federal court. The lawsuit accuses the Idaho-based chain of discriminating against Latino employees at San Diego-area stores, harassing them and subjecting them to a hostile workplace because of their race or country of origin. Employers have to be aware of the consequences of certain language policies, Anna Park, an attorney for the commissions district office covering San Diego County, said in a statement Thursday. Targeting a particular language for censorship is often synonymous with targeting a particular national origin, which is both illegal and highly destructive to workplace morale and productivity. Albertsons is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, operating stores including Safeway, Vons and Pavilions in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Advertisement While we cannot comment on this pending litigation specifically, Albertsons does not require that its employees speak English only, company spokeswoman Jenna Watkinson said in a statement. Albertsons serves a diverse customer population and encourages employees with foreign language abilities to use those skills to serve its customers. In or around 2012, Albertsons developed an unwritten English-only policy, which Albertsons implemented as essentially a no Spanish policy, the lawsuit alleges. Christine Park-Gonzalez, deputy director of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions Los Angeles district office, said one of the key issues of the lawsuit is that, in an Albertsons training video, two workers are shown speaking Spanish, and the video suggests that its best if workers refrain from speaking Spanish in front of workers who do not speak the language. Park-Gonzalez said an upper-level manager at an Albertsons store on Lake Murray Boulevard in San Diego took an aggressive stance regarding the policy, telling workers they couldnt speak Spanish at the store, even on break and even if a customer started talking to them in Spanish. The lawsuit said non-Latino employees were not similarly harassed or subjected to the no-Spanish policy. It became a hostile work environment that impacted the employees of the store where they were disciplined and disciplined publicly in front of others, Park-Gonzalez said. David Loy, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union in San Diego, said that he did not know enough about the facts of the lawsuit to comment on it specifically, but that typically, English-only policies must be justified by a business as a necessity, such as for safety reasons. Loy said it was not obvious to him what business necessity would require employees to speak only English, even on their breaks or when serving Spanish-speaking customers, but the justification may be more clear once the parties have had time to present the facts and circumstances surrounding the policy decision. One on occasion in October 2012, the manager reprimanded Hispanic workers Guadalupe Zamorano, an employee since 2007, and Hermelinda Stevenson, an employee since 1989, in front of the store for speaking Spanish, the lawsuit alleged. Afterward, Zamorano called Albertsons hotline to complain about the managers conduct and prohibition against speaking Spanish at work, the lawsuit reads. After she lodged her complaint, a union representative investigated the complaint, and told Zamorano that she needed to speak English because she was living in the United States. There was no further action taken in regards to the complaint, the lawsuit said. Staffers at the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135 union office, which represents workers in San Diego County, said they never received a complaint from Albertsons employees regarding an English-only policy. The first we heard about it at the union was [Thursday] when it broke in the news, said Mickey Kasparian, the Local 135 union president. He said union staffers then looked through grievances from earlier years and found no such complaint. We take these matters very seriously, and if it had been reported to us, we would have been immediately on top of this. Park-Gonzalez, with the employment commission, said that the union was involved in some capacity, but that she couldnt expand further on what that means because of the pending litigation. In December 2012, Zamorano was again reprimanded this time because she was speaking Spanish to a Spanish-speaking customer and told to speak only English at work, the lawsuit says. The following year, the suit says, Zamorano and Stevenson requested transfers to other stores. Stevenson asked for the transfer in June 2013 because harassment and other issues at work were making her sick with anxiety and stomach problems, the lawsuit says. It says that in November 2013, Zamorano also asked for a transfer, citing harassment and that the manager refused to submit her request until she removed the statement about harassment. The lawsuit asks the court to order Albertsons to stop discriminating against employees based on their national origin, to compensate the aggrieved employees for monetary losses and emotional pain according to proof at trial, to award punitive damages and to pay the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions legal costs. morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com Cook writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Times staff writer Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report. UPDATES: 4:05 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Christine Park-Gonzalez and Mickey Kasparian. This article was originally published at 7:30 a.m. Aaron Stallings, who used to work as a bill collector for Capital One, says hes no longer interested in having a full-time job. Instead, for the past year, he has cobbled together work 50, sometimes 60 hours a week by parachuting into restaurants in Richmond, Va., that have last-minute openings to prep food, bus tables and bottle beer. There are obvious downsides, like the lack of health insurance benefits and the trouble of not having an employer withhold money for taxes. But he says the arrangement reflects a new reality in which flexibility trumps stability. Plus, he says, he is often treated better than full-time employees. Its definitely stressful to show up and have your first day almost every time, said 25-year-old Stallings, but at least I dont feel miserable and stuck on the job. The gig economy is clocking in to retailers and restaurants. Advertisement The unemployment rate is at a 17-year low, but stagnant wages, chronic underemployment and growing inequality are leading more Americans to take on so-called side hustles. Some want to supplement their incomes. Others are just trying to eke out a living. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans now earn money from the digital platform economy, according to the Pew Research Center. Most of that work is for domestic tasks, such as housecleaning and repairs, or driving for companies such as Uber. Uber, Lyft and other gig jobs may face a shakeup under new California work rules By moving into shops and cafes, on-demand work stands to reshape a broader slice of the U.S. economy. There are implications for low-wage workers, too, as a new class of employers fills its labor pool with on-call temp workers. Retail and hospitality which accounts for 20% of U.S. positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is the on-ramp for many employees to better jobs. But the sector is also pinched by rising minimum wages and healthcare costs, and employers are seeking more flexible work arrangements that respond to the ebbs and flows of their businesses. But labor experts say companies such as Snag Work could set a dangerous precedent. Employers are already wary of hiring full-time employees because of overtime and healthcare costs, they say, and having a pool of potential gig workers at the ready could make matters worse for those seeking the stability, benefits and protections that come with full-time work. Were seeing only one trend here, which is that the gig economy is big and getting bigger, said Diane Mulcahy, a lecturer at Babson College and author of The Gig Economy. Companies will do just about anything to avoid hiring full-time employees. Add to that the fact that there is no job security anymore, and workers are increasingly aware that they need to work differently if they want to create any sort of stability for themselves. Snag Work and other new platforms are the go-betweens, enabling users to pick up open shifts from retailers, restaurants and hotels that have gaps in their schedules. Wonolo, which bills itself as 40% cheaper than traditional temporary staffing companies, counts Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Papa Johns Pizza among its clients. Other such start-ups include AllWork and Coople. Snag Work which has a presence in Richmond and in Washington, D.C., and plans to expand to other U.S. cities says the arrangements are mutually beneficial for cash-strapped workers and understaffed businesses. Workers now have lots of options to pick up shifts Instacart, TaskRabbit, Postmates, Lyft, said Peter Harrison, chief executive of Snag, the parent company of Snag Work, which says it has 2.1 million active users. But for small businesses, there are not ways for them to participate in this revolution. Theyre suffering for it because theyre losing workers to these other platforms. Thats where Snag Work comes in, he says. This is how it works: Interested workers sign up online and are vetted by Snag Work via Skype interviews and background checks. They can search for open shifts which typically pay $10 to $15 an hour on the companys app and sign up for the ones that interest them. (The median hourly pay for retail work in the United States is $13.20, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.) They clock in and clock out and are paid through Snag Works online platform. A spokeswoman for Snag Work said the company provides workers compensation coverage to all workers. Labor economists and law professors say the system raises concerns for some of the countrys most vulnerable workers. If a restaurant has dishwashers, cooks, busboys, servers those people are employees, they have a fair number of protections under employment law, including a minimum wage, overtime pay and family medical leave, said Catherine Fisk, a law professor at UC Berkeley. What is at risk for all of these Snag workers is that they are potentially entitled to none of that if they are treated as independent contractors. Temporary workers also have fewer rights: They cant unionize, for example, and dont have the same legal protections against workplace harassment that regular employees do, according to Erin Johansson, research director at Jobs With Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for workers rights. This is a very problematic trend that has a downward pull on employer standards, she said. Whos going to stand up and speak up about sexual harassment if they feel like theyre just going to be replaced by a gig worker who has no rights on that? The consequences for low-wage workers could be far-reaching, labor advocates said, if companies such as Snag Work encourage businesses to hire temporary workers at the expense of permanent employees. At Walmart, for example, union leaders say workers have long complained that they are underemployed and dont receive enough hours to be considered full-time employees, who qualify for more benefits. Companies such as Snag Work may exacerbate those issues by making it easy to replace workers in low-paying industries with temp workers, Fisk said. The rise in gig work comes as state legislatures across the country are considering bills that would legally classify gig workers as independent contractors, stripping them of a number of workplace rights and protections. Until now, the distinction between on-demand employee and contractor has been largely unclear, as evidenced by a number of lawsuits alleging that companies such as Uber, Grubhub and Handy are incorrectly classifying their workers as independent contractors. In late April, the California Supreme Court issued a ruling making it harder for employers to classify their workers that way. Contract workers, who are not covered under the National Labor Relations Act, dont have rights to employee protections including the minimum wage and state anti-discrimination laws. A recent search on Snag Works site for jobs in Richmond, where the company has been testing its business for the past year, included shifts for a dishwasher at a local market, a cashier at a Potbelly sandwich shop and a room attendant at a Marriott hotel. Almost all of the positions paid $10 per hour. (Virginias minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and the state requires that employees who work more than 40 hours per week be paid overtime of at least $10.88 per hour.) Five Guys restaurants in Richmond have been using Snag Work to fill about four shifts a week, according to Sara Ortiz, the vice president of human resources for Five Guys. Company stores typically have 25 workers, 20 of them part time, Ortiz said, adding that in the past, the burger chain filled unmanned shifts by asking employees and managers to take on extra work. Stallings, the full-time gig worker, said he regularly picks up dishwashing and food-prep shifts at the Five Guys near Virginia Commonwealth University. He reports to work wearing the company uniform and says managers frequently treat him better than they treat other workers for example, he said, they go out of their way to tell him how grateful they are for his help. Part of the reason for that, Snags Harrison says, is that the company asks workers to rate employers after each shift. (Employers also rate the workers.) Ill show up, and the managers are like, Thank you so much, like Im doing something special, Stallings said. (His temporary shifts have also led to a number of job offers, he said, though hes turned them all down. The freedom of working when I want to is worth all of the stress, he said. And it helps, he added, that, at 25, he still qualifies for health insurance through his parents.) Molly Catalano, a spokeswoman for Five Guys, said the assertion that gig workers are treated better than full-time employees is very concerning to us and we would like to investigate this right away. She added that the companys starting wage in Richmond is $8.25. The other workers get a little upset when they hear Im making more than minimum wage, Stallings said. Youll hear them talk about how theyre struggling to keep full-time hours, and then I come in to wash dishes, and at $10 an hour am making almost as much as the cooks are. Although the gig economy has been touted as an effective way for Americans to make money on their own terms, most gig workers 85% make less than $500 a month, on average, through those services, according to San Francisco-based loan provider Earnest, which analyzed tens of thousands of loan applications to study the impact of gig-economy jobs. Snag Work is the latest offering from Snag (previously called Snagajob), an Arlington, Va., technology company that has built a multimillion-dollar business helping job seekers find and apply for low-wage, hourly work on their phones. At Boulevard Burger & Brew in Richmond, managers use Snag Work to fill about three shifts a week, often during peak weekend hours. But, they say, they use the service as a last resort. Were a very high-volume restaurant, a turn-and-burn kind of place, so sometimes we need help filling shifts, said Jake Lee, a manager at the restaurant, which has 30 employees, half of whom are full time. But on the whole, its way better if you can hire someone whos always there when you need them. Bhattarai writes for the Washington Post. Elon Musk pledged to burn investors shorting Tesla Inc. stock and criticized analysts and even himself after exchanges during the electric carmakers earnings call sent shares tumbling. Musk tweeted that analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. and RBC Capital Markets were representing a short seller thesis, not investors when posing questions that Musk cut off during the Wednesday earnings call. The chief executive reiterated that an inquiry about capital expenditures by Bernsteins Toni Sacconaghi was boneheaded and said RBCs Joseph Spak posed an absurd query about Model 3 reservations. Oh and uh short burn of the century comin soon. Flamethrowers should arrive just in time, Musk wrote Friday. Thats an apparent reference to devices he sold this year to raise money for his tunnel-digging company Boring Co. Nine quotes from Elon Musks abnormal Tesla conference call Advertisement Tesla shares wobbled in early trading Friday; around 7:20 a.m. Pacific time, they were up 0.9% at $286.90. On Thursday, the stock sank 5.5%, its biggest drop in more than a month. After receiving a suggestion on Twitter that blocking analysts who are going to be negative would solve his problem, Musk wrote back: True. And once they were on the call, I should have answered their questions live. It was foolish of me to ignore them. Musk, 46, rejected Sacconaghis and Spaks questions during the Wednesday call to discuss another quarter in which Tesla burned more than $1 billion in cash. The CEO said questions he was getting were so dry and told the conference-call operator to pivot instead to inquiries from a YouTube channel owner who said he was representing retail investors. Bernsteins Sacconaghi and RBCs Spak both rate Tesla shares the equivalent of hold. There is incremental concern when, on an analyst financial quarterly call, the CEO doesnt appear to want to talk about important financial metrics, Sacconaghi said Thursday on Bloomberg Television. The read-through is that potentially the CEO doesnt care or isnt focused about those financial metrics or ultimately the numbers dont tell a good story. But either of those interpretations are not particularly comforting. Sacconaghi has a $265 price target on the stock, while Spak sees the shares falling to $280. The news that Tesla released in its earnings report was actually super good, Musk said in another tweet. The companys Model S and Model X vehicles are producing major positive cash flow & Model 3 is about to do same, he said. Wells Fargo & Co. said Friday that it had agreed to pay $480 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the banking giant of securities fraud related to the fake-accounts scandal that has rocked the company since 2016. The San Francisco-based bank denied the allegations but said it had entered into the agreement in principle to avoid the cost and disruption of further litigation. We are making strong progress in our work to rebuild trust, and this represents another step forward, Wells Fargo Chief Executive Tim Sloan said in a statement. Wells Fargo said it already had set aside reserves to pay for the settlement, which is subject to approval by the court. In the fourth quarter, the bank took a $3.25-billion charge against earnings to settle what it called a variety of matters, including mortgage-related regulatory investigations, sales practices, and other consumer-related matters. Advertisement The suit stemmed from the scandal over Wells Fargos aggressive cross-selling efforts, in which employees created millions of new accounts in customers names without their consent, such as new credit card accounts. The tactics were first uncovered by the Los Angeles Times in 2013, and the scandal mushroomed in September 2016 when Wells Fargo agreed to pay $185 million to settle investigations by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer. In the class action suit filed with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, the investors claimed that Wells Fargo knew but deliberately failed to disclose known material true facts about its actions, including that the companys cross-selling strategy was not focused on or designed to benefit customers. Rather, the effort was designed to fulfill sales quotes or otherwise advance the interests of Wells Fargo or its employees and increase sources of profitability while simultaneously burdening customers with financial products they did not authorize, need and/or even know about, the suit claimed. That scenario resulted in Wells Fargos stock trading at artificially inflated prices, the suit claimed. The suit was brought on behalf of investors who bought Wells Fargos stock between Feb. 26, 2014, and Sept. 15, 2016, one week after the bank reported its $185-million settlement, which caused the stocks drop in value. The court-appointed lead plaintiff in the case was Union Investment, a European asset-management firm. We are pleased that with this settlement, Wells Fargo is taking an important step towards reckoning with its prior mistakes and focusing on creating value for its investors while acting with integrity, Andreas Zubrod, a Union Investment executive board member, said in a statement. Fabricating customer accounts and then concealing how those fake accounts impacted cross-sell metrics is simply unacceptable and undermines the trust that Union Investment and other investors put in Wells Fargos management, Zubrod said. Wells Fargo still faces other lawsuits, and the settlement announced Friday is only the latest in a series of penalties and other actions that have taken a financial toll on the bank not only for the fake-accounts scandal but also for its risk-management practices overall. Last month, federal regulators slapped Wells Fargo with a $1-billion penalty for abuses that harmed mortgage and auto-loan borrowers and for what regulators said was a pervasive and reckless lack of risk management. The penalty announced by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was one of the largest fines levied against a U.S. bank that was not related to the financial crisis. And in February, the Federal Reserve took the rare step of ordering the bank to cap its growth while it worked to improve its corporate governance for what the central bank called widespread consumer abuses and other compliance breakdowns. Still, the massive bank has been able to absorb the financial hits. The bank generated profit of $22.2 billion last year and last month reported $5.9 billion in this years first quarter. However, the $1-billion penalty did require Wells Fargo to adjust its first-quarter results to reflect the fines, cutting profit for the first three months of the year to $4.7 billion. Since the fake-accounts scandal exploded and other wrongdoing has come to light, the bank has changed its chief executive and chairman and seen turnover on its board. But it still must show the Fed that it has improved its governance. Until it does that, Wells Fargo will remain under close scrutiny and will not be allowed to grow its assets beyond $1.95 trillion, where they stood at the end of last year. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has demanded that the Feds Board of Governors vote on any reform plan and not leave the decision to lower-level staff. Shares of Wells Fargo gained 87 cents, or 1.7%, to $52.41 on Friday. james.peltz@latimes.com UPDATES: 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting throughout. This article was originally published at 2:50 p.m. The White House Office of Management and Budget recently declared its support for legislation called the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. The bill has been passed by the Senate and is expected to be approved by the House in coming weeks. The administration is committed to consumer protection and ensuring that consumers have the tools needed to manage their finances in the manner that best suits their own personal needs and financial goals, the OMB said. Good news, right? Maybe not. Advertisement The OMB is run by Mick Mulvaney, who also serves as President Trumps interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In that capacity, he has shown himself to be committed to rolling back consumer protections and favoring business interests with the presidents blessing. This new bill, while touted as enhancing consumer rights, in reality would leave many people with fewer safeguards. Thats why 85 advocacy groups representing consumers, communities, service members and others sent a letter to members of the House this week calling on them to oppose the legislation, S.2155. This is a bad bill, straight across the board, Mike Litt, consumer campaign director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, told me. At first glance, the legislation appears to give consumers a major perk: It would allow people to freeze their credit files for free a highly effective way of keeping fraudsters and identity thieves at bay by requiring a PIN to access credit info. Right now, the big credit agencies Experian, Equifax and TransUnion charge about $10 each time someone wants to lock or unlock their credit files. That can be a costly burden in an era of near-daily security breaches. This provision will empower consumers to protect their credit in the event of future data breaches or incidents of identity theft, the OMB said in its endorsement of the bill. But the legislation has a hidden trap and theres no way an ordinary person would even know its there. The nearly 200-page bill says, innocuously, that it amends Section 625(b)(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681t(b)(1)) by adding (J) subsections (i) and (j) of section 605A relating to security freezes. What does that mean? Obviously the drafters of the bill dont want you to know, otherwise theyd have said it in plain English. Whats happening, though, is that the right to free credit freezes is being linked to a provision of the existing Fair Credit Reporting Act that prevents states from adopting tougher measures. In other words, the new bill would pre-empt state laws. Thats a thing. Californias credit-freeze law, for example, says no one can access your credit file if a freeze is in place, including a potential employer performing a background check or an insurance company. The new federal bill, however, stipulates that even if you freeze your credit file, its contents still could be accessed by any person using the information for employment, tenant or background screening purposes and any person using the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance. That obviously means more business for the credit agencies, freeze or no freeze. At the end of the day, this is a bill that benefits the big three credit agencies, Litt said. Dont forget, Equifax was at the center of a massive security breach last September, exposing the confidential information of 148 million people to hackers. Heres another sneaky element of the bill: It would require credit agencies to provide free credit monitoring to service members, which is a good thing. But it goes on to say that Sections 616 and 617 shall not apply to any violation of this subsection and this subsection shall be enforced exclusively under section 621 by the Federal agencies and Federal and State officials identified in that section. This means if a credit agency failed to provide a service member with a timely fraud notice, and if that service members credit score was harmed as a result, he or she wouldnt be allowed to sue. Seriously. Does anyone think the authors of this legislation didnt go out of their way to hide that particular nugget? Francis Creighton, chief executive of the Consumer Data Industry Assn., an industry group, said credit agencies support the bill. But he said the companies didnt seek favorable treatment from lawmakers. Creighton also said free credit freezes and monitoring represent a pretty good deal for people. If service members want a right to sue, he added, they can pay for credit monitoring like other customers. Message: Theres no free lunch, kids. We give you something. You give something back. Its worth noting that this legislation is concerned primarily with banking issues rather than consumer affairs. As such, its significant that it has bipartisan support, which is something of an endangered species in Washington these days, and it was produced through a relatively open process. Compare that with the 500-page Republican tax bill, which was fiddled with by lobbyists right up to the last minute and was passed by the Senate at 2 a.m. without a single public hearing. The new bill is the first meaningful tweaking of the landmark DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2010 after financial firms created havoc in the mortgage market and ushered in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Dodd-Frank runs 2,300 pages, and no legislation of such scope gets everything right the first time (see: Obamacare). Critics say Dodd-Frank, which was aimed primarily at big banks, created an unfairly rigid regulatory burden on smaller institutions. The new bill would remedy this by raising the financial threshold for Dodd-Franks rules to apply. The legislation doesnt roll back Dodd-Franks consumer protections per se it wouldnt kill off the CFPB, although many Republicans favor such a move. But it notably ignores the recent scandals involving Wells Fargo, which has been fined more than $1 billion for opening accounts without customers permission and forcing people to buy insurance they didnt need. Lawmakers had a chance to heighten transparency and accountability in consumer financial transactions, and instead chose to maintain the status quo. A missed opportunity. Mulvaneys OMB says the net impact of this legislation will be to foster economic growth by expanding prudent lending, reducing regulatory costs and strengthening consumers ability to protect their credit records. It concludes that if S.2155 were presented to the president in its current form, his advisors would recommend he sign the bill into law. Considering Trumps stance on consumer protection, as seen in his evisceration of the CFPB, thats probably all you need to know. David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. When cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes started automating its quality assurance testing last year, it knew that the move could put more than four dozen employees out of work. Rather than simply replace them with tech, though, the Santa Clara, Calif., firm turned to tech to save their jobs. The company signed up with Udemy for Business, an online learning platform that teaches courses ranging from data science to sourdough bread-making. Malwarebytes identified the skills its quality assurance testers would need to stay relevant in the rapidly changing cybersecurity industry. Then it told its staffers to buckle in it was time to get up-skilled. Advertisement As automation becomes ubiquitous, education start-ups such as Udemy, Coursera and General Assembly are positioning themselves as the nexus between todays workforce and tomorrows jobs. Unlike traditional college programs that can take anywhere from two to four years and tens of thousands of dollars to complete, the online schools frame themselves like vocational programs for the Silicon Valley set. They offer training in a specific skill say, learning a programming language in months, rather than years. Coursera offers some of its courses for free but also has programs where it charges upward of a few hundred dollars. Udemys courses for individuals start at $10.99, while its enterprise-facing arm, Udemy for Business, offers group rates for companies that want to sign up entire teams. Online learning and micro-certification are increasingly appealing to individuals and businesses seeking to future-proof themselves against automation, or introduce automation without having to fire and rehire a more highly skilled workforce. Malwarebytes quality assurance engineer Noah Christianson-Stafford views his Udemy course progress. (Noah Berger / For the Times ) Its completely changed how we think of training, said Brent Boeckman, global learning and development manager at Malwarebytes. In the past, youd have to budget to send employees across several states to do a course, youd have to think about travel and hotel costs, and if you only had the budget to send three people youd have to think, who are the three I can send? With automation predicted to displace as many as 73 million, or a third, of U.S. workers by 2030, futurists and automation experts say that retraining at every stage of a persons career will probably be the most viable path for those who intend to keep working. The quality assurance testers at Malwarebytes, for example, previously tested the companys software manually: They would run a program, check to see if it logged any errors, lather, rinse, repeat. A computer now handles those mundane tasks, which frees the up-skilled workers to take on the more complex tasks. With their newfound programming knowledge, theyre able to identify errors in the companys codebase and contribute to a solution with the companys developers. The level of understanding between teams is now more on an even par, said Noah Christianson-Stafford, 47, a software quality assurance engineer who started at Malwarebytes five years ago as an entry-level tester and now, having learned coding languages Python and PowerShell, can handle more challenging work. In San Francisco, bonds trader David Gagnon, 50, has done more than a dozen courses in programming and machine learning on Coursera to protect his own career. In his more than 20 years in the business, hes seen global trading desks go from employing 10 traders and 10 assistants, to 10 traders and a handful of computer programmers who, working together, do 10 times the trades. Weve had huge productivity gains, and almost all of that is driven by electronic trading, Gagnon said. Rather than wait around for automation to render his role obsolete, Gagnon pursues online retraining in his spare time, which helps him understand how the electronic systems work. Automation is far from perfect, Gagnon said, which is why having basic programming and data science skills lets him spot errors and vulnerabilities before they balloon and cause mayhem making him a more valuable bonds trader. It used to be that you could go to law school or medical school and, boom-boom, you were done, Gagnon said. Now you have to think about how youre going to up-skill yourself every couple of years. Futurists who say that automation will ultimately improve society rather than lead to mass unemployment have said that if everyone can do a job slightly more complex than what theyre currently doing, then most people will remain employed in the automation age. But even the most optimistic of futurists arent convinced that Americas education system is equipped to retrain the nations more than 126 million full-time workers. Malwarebytes quality assurance engineer Noah Christianson-Stafford in Santa Clara, Calif. (Noah Berger / For the Times ) The jobs of the future will probably need more education than the K-12 system currently provides, according to Byron Reese, author of The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity. This is where education platforms such as Udemy, Coursera and General Assembly seek to make a mark, helping individuals and employers plug skills gaps that will arise from automation and profiting from it. Already, the online schools have seen a surge in sign-ups from businesses that want to retrain entire teams within their workforce. Since launching Coursera for Business, its business-facing service nearly two years ago, Coursera, which is backed by venture capital firms such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers and New Enterprise Associates, now has more than 1,000 employers on board. Udemy, which has raised funding from firms such as Stripes Group and Norwest Venture Partners, declined to say how many companies it currently works with, but said it counts PayPal, Lyft, Pinterest and Booking.com among its customers. Udemy for Business has grown 265% in the last year. General Assembly, best known for its in-person coding boot camps, has seen its business customers double over the last year to more than 300 companies. It was acquired by one of the largest temp staffing agencies in the world, Adecco, last month for nearly half a billion dollars. Individuals have also sought out these platforms to bolster their skills, or to change careers entirely. The for-profit education sector has faced growing scrutiny over its costs and efficacy, and some start-ups have failed to pass muster. Silicon Valleys Coding House, for instance, promised to teach students programming languages and guaranteed high-salaried job placements, but failed to deliver, according to regulators. The school was fined $50,000 by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education in 2016 for making false statements and ordered to shut down. And even if schools do right by students and dont overpromise, they still arent a panacea. Reese likened them to home exercise equipment completion rates are low, and you only get as much out of it as you put into it. Theres also irony in the fact that these online schools purport to help students stay relevant in the labor market while they themselves pose a potential threat to the relevance of the existing education industry. Where traditional education institutions might hire many instructors to teach a course, online learning allows for lessons to be disseminated to an endless number of students, bypassing the faculty-intensive model. A more radical idea is to make junior college free for everyone, or to extend high school through grade 14, Reese said. The extra two years could be vocational for some students and pre-university for others. It wouldnt be unprecedented: At the dawn of the 20th century when most American children left school before eighth grade, America was one of the first countries in the world to guarantee a high school education under the premise that the jobs of the future would require more education. This, as much as anything, propelled the U.S. into the preeminent economic position it continues to enjoy, Reese said. Now we are at that same place again. In lieu of major shifts in the public education system, Gabe Batstone, chief executive of Contextere, a company that provides artificial-intelligence tools to blue-collar workers to increase their productivity, says companies, individuals and government need to be proactive in training workers and finding ways to support those who cant retrain. Companies have a responsibility to their employees, governments have a responsibility to their constituents, and we all have individual accountability, Batstone said. We all have to take ownership of what we want to do, assess the skills we have and the ones we dont but want, and go get them. tracey.lien@latimes.com Twitter: @traceylien An otherwise modest group exhibition at the Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College is striking and timely if only because it commemorates the 30th anniversary of one short-lived, poetically potent art installation. Richard Lous site-specific 1988 Border Door, erected at the perennially charged U.S.-Mexico boundary, is a landmark sculpture created during the artists affiliation with San Diegos famed Border Art Workshop. Today, as a caravan of Central American refugees fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries has finished crossing the Tijuana border seeking asylum, the memory of Lous long-lost portal has new life. The border walls and other barriers we see today didnt start being vigorously erected until the 1990s. Before then, an occasional fence delineated sections along the 1,989 miles of international border. At a breach in a tumble-down barbed-wire fence at windswept Otay Mesa, not far from Tijuana International Airport, Lou erected a wooden door on a hinged metal frame. Richard Lou, "Border Door," 1988, mixed media Jim Elliott / Vincent Price Art Museum Row upon row of keys, 134 in all, hung from nails hammered into the door on the Mexican side. The door opened only one way into the United States. Lous sculpture was a symbolic gesture of migratory welcome in a harshly contested landscape. The artists choice of that specific, hardscrabble Otay Mesa site endowed the open doors functionality with a wryly absurdist twist: To cross over the border from Mexico to the United States, a person could just as easily walk around the sculpture, key or no key. For that matter, with enough money, a migrant could just get a flight from the nearby Tijuana airport and then overstay their visa. (For more than the past decade, that has been the preferred method for undocumented immigrants to the U.S. from any country.) Poverty and xenophobia thrum within the site-specific sculptures social mix. One source of its power is that the work is simplicity itself. Or, rather, was: The sculpture lasted just two days, recorded in Jim Elliotts widely shown black-and-white documentary photographs, before the Border Patrol tore it down. Lous work was initiated as part of an annual Border Art Workshop exhibition at Centro Cultural de la Raza in San Diegos Balboa Park. Necessary permits had been obtained for the off-site installation. The fact that the Border Patrol hauled it away anyhow spoke mostly of the power that an artistic symbol can have. Its worth looking at those photographs again at the Vincent Price Art Museum. The path around the sculpture, side-stepping derelict razor-wire battered by weather or trampled by unseen animals, is bleakly demeaning. Beneath cloud-filled skies, the Border Door framed human passage with humble dignity. Lou self-identifies as Chicano, but the traveling VPAM show, organized by the Arizona State University Art Museum in Tempe, puts him into a slightly different context. Soul Mining, as the small show is titled, considers Chinese immigration to the Americas, highlighting a different aspect of the artists own Chinese Mexican heritage. Hung Liu, "Resident Alien," 1988, oil on canvas, from the exhibition "Soul Mining." Vincent Price Art Museum Sergio de la Torre, "This Is Not Spanish," 2007, mixed media Vincent Price Art Museum During an earlier authoritarian era, Congress in 1882 passed a law forbidding immigrants from China to enter the United States and hounding thousands of those already here to leave. The California Gold Rush was over, the Golden Spike completing the transcontinental railroad had been driven and the era that Mark Twain dubbed the Gilded Age was in full swing. Chinese labor was instrumental to all of them. All that gold and gilding put a viewer of Lous Border Crossing in mind of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Emma Lazarus sonnet, The New Colossus, with its imagery of a lifted lamp lighting immigrations golden door to America, was written a year after the racist law passed. Washington had decided that it was time to officially marginalize Chinese laborers, whose back-breaking work made possible much of the Gilded Ages obscene wealth gap between rich and poor. The Chinese Exclusion Act banned all immigration from China for a period of 10 years the first federal law to forbid U.S. entry to an ethnic group. Soul Mining is too small just 15 works by 12 artists made over three decades to rise to the ambitious occasion. But, in addition to Border Door, it does include some provocative examples. Among them is Hung Lius well-known 1988 painting of her U.S. immigration card, subtly fused with a birth announcement that corresponds to the date of the cards issuance. An immigrant is metaphorically born-again, in a civic rather than religious sense. As self-portraiture about the fluidity of identity, the layers of Resident Alien deepen. Also notable is Sergio de la Torres This Is Not Spanish, red-neon Chinese characters recalling an ordinary sign for a restaurant or dry-cleaning store, accompanied by three short videos. Backed by the hum of a droning soundtrack, reminiscences of long-ago communal life in a large house in China bump up against images of a Tijuana apartment building and young men and women moving furniture around inside a shop in Tijuanas primary Chinese Mexican neighborhood. Eventually the furniture piles up against the windows, a barricade against the outside world that also opens a controlled space within. A wall text at the exhibition entry suggests that the Chinese Exclusion Act was part of the impetus to create a border fence with Mexico in the first place, so that Chinese deportees who fled the U.S. to Latin America would be deterred from returning. That was news to me (although no details or citations are given). Soul Mining, if not fully satisfying, is still the kind of show that makes a visitor want to know more. "Soul Mining" looks at art about Chinese immigrant experiences in the Americas. Christopher Knight / Los Angeles Times Soul Mining Where: Vincent Price Art Museum, East Los Angeles College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park When: Through July 14; closed Sundays and Mondays. christopher.knight@latimes.com Twitter: @KnightLAT MORE ART: The city of L.A. gave local artists $10,000. See what they did with it Visual artist and theater company make magic from Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse' David Hockney, a portrait of the portrait artist at 80: 'I'm still curious' Women of a Certain Age Susan Bay Nimoy wrote, directed and stars in Eve, this semi-autobiographical short film (which premiered this year at Sundance) about a recently widowed woman adjusting to life as a single woman after decades of marriage. The Times Kenneth Turan calls the film honest and quietly affecting. Nimoy, widow of Leonard Nimoy, and Kirsten Schaffer of Women in Film will discuss the film after the screening. Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theatre, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 443-7000. May 10, 7:30 p.m. Free. www.hammer.ucla.edu Lets Scare Jessica to Death Cinematic Voids New England Nightmares series kicks off with director John Hancocks 1971 psychological horror film starring Zohra Lampert. Post-breakdown emotionally fragile heroine? Rambling and isolated farmhouse? Mysterious houseguest? Check, check and check. American Cinematheque and Cinematic Void, Spielberg Theatre at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 466-3456. May 10, 7:30 p.m. $8-$12. www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/ Cuban Double Feature U.S. premieres of two films by the late director Tomas Gutierrez Alea. A Cuban Fight Against the Demons (1972) is a historical drama about a 17th century uprising against the Spanish colonial government. With The Survivors (1979), a satire about an aristocratic family that holes up in the family palacio, refusing to accept the changes in Castros post-revolution Cuba. There will be a panel discussion with Cuban actress (and widow of Alea) Mirta Ibarra. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with the Cinemateca de Cuba, Linwood Dunn Theater, 1313 Vine St., Hollywood. May 11, 7 p.m. $3-$5. www.oscars.org/events The British Raj Between Page and Screen Master Indian filmmaker Satyajit Rays The Chess Players (1977) stars Richard Attenborough as a British general on a secret mission on the cusp of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. With Amjad Khan as the Nawab, and Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey as the titular chess players, noblemen who are pompous in their obliviousness and impotence. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 449-6840. The Chess Players, May 11, 5:30 p.m. The series continues May 18 with Jean Renoirs The River (1951) and May 25 with The Home and the World (1984). Free with museum admission. www.nortonsimon.org Advertisement EatSeeHear Director Michel Gondrys dreamy 2004 sci-fi romantic dramedy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind takes us into a not-too-distant future where the painful memories of love gone awry can be scrubbed by a medical procedure. Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey, in one of his most effective performances, star as the former lovers at the center of the story. The excellent ensemble includes Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo and Tom Wilkinson. EatSeeHear, Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., Los Angeles. May 12; gates open at 5:30 p.m.; movie at 8:30 p.m. $14-$21; children ages 12 and under, $8. www.eatseehear.com ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caused a media frenzy in November 2017, and Lifetime took notice. The cable channel immediately fast-tracked a film about the unlikely couple him a member of the British royal family and she a divorced biracial American actress and gave the writers just two weeks to submit a first draft. But it reads like we wrote it in three, co-writer Scarlett Lacey joked at a press conference for the movie held Thursday at the Beverly Hills Peninsula. The film, premiering May 13, charts the romance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (played by Murray Fraser and Parisa Fitz-Henley, respectively) from the early secretive days of their relationship to the engagement that grabbed headlines around the world. The film comes six days ahead of the couples May 19 nuptials. Advertisement The film cut other corners as well, subbing Vancouver for Great Britain and Simi Valley for Africa, but the creative team did intense research on the couple, compiling a Google document with links to old interviews, videos and other appearances. There were plenty of lawyers who looked over everything, said executive producer Michele Weiss, and we cleared. Although there were certain areas where Lacey and co-writer Terrence Coli took artistic license in Laceys words, the duo insist they didnt stray too far from Harry and Markles real, and documented, love story. There was so much drama in the real story, we didnt have to make a lot up, Coli said. It almost feels like we cheated in a way. While people may think they know the story of the famed couple, Fraser said the film would show a new side of the two a more private side behind closed doors, he said. (Yes, that includes a sex scene, or a love scene, as Weiss called it.) For Harry, that meant showing how his mothers death affected him and his relationship with Markle. Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997, is part of the film. Shes such a large factor for him that we had to have her somehow in the movie, executive producer Merideth Finn said. For Markle, that included a focus on her identity as a biracial woman and as a feminist. It had to have a strong feminist point of view, Lacey said. As a British native familiar with the royal family, she was particularly inspired by reading an Elle essay Markle wrote about her racial identity and watching a speech she gave at the United Nations about female empowerment. I just thought, Holy crap this woman is everything, Lacey recalled. I was excited to try and put her into the world that I grew up with and see how is she going to react to those inevitable moments that are going to be quite tricky? Theres a reason I live in California. But the real question is how the royal family will, or wont, react to the film. We admire the couple so we hope that they watch it and think that its funny and that its sweet and that we hit on the historical import of the moment, Weiss said diplomatically. Lacey had a different response. Theyre pretty worried about the film, she said, and Im pretty sure theyre going to watch it. Theyll probably turn it in a royal drinking game. ALSO: For Meghan Markle, playing a princess carries some risks. Is this L.A. girl up to it? Find out how Meghan Markle bid farewell to Suits ahead of her royal wedding From L.A. girl to British royalty: Meghan Markle is now the talk of the town A few years ago, I was asked to sit on the dissertation committee of a young woman whose academic obsession was cannibal movies and their place in the culture. I still dont know as much about Lacanian theory as I probably should, but as it turned out I had seen a lot of cannibal movies not just the obvious ones like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but the films like Delicatessen and The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover that spent most of their time in art houses, grinder classics like I Drink Your Blood, and implicitly every zombie, vampire and grisly horror movie ever made. Have you ever seen Larry Cohens The Stuff? You really should. In movies, food is rarely just food it is a way of signaling obsession and atavism, consumption and desire. It is hard to interpret the flash of a knife as the portent of a really well-made brunoise onscreen; the combination of rabbit and stockpot does not equal fricassee. Even Nancy Meyers happy kitchens are foodie abattoirs in their way. Here are some food movies I like, ones without a smidgen of human flesh on a plate. Advertisement Udon Can we can agree that Tampopo is the greatest food movie ever made? It kind of is: a film where the ramen and ketchup omelets may represent all kinds of obsessiveness but are also pretty clearly noodles and eggs. Udon is only the second-greatest noodle movie ever made, and director Yuki Motohiro lays rom-com tropes over the plot like gaudy fishcakes over a steaming bowl. But you see a whole lot of Sanuki udon along the way, and the hunger you feel at the end is not for puppy love. Jiro Dreams of Sushi Famed sushi chef Jiro Ono stands before his staff in a scene from the 2011 documentary on the master, Jiro Dreams of Sushi. (Magnolia Pictures ) If you have been wondering whether Jiro Ono is the best sushi chef in Tokyo, you are not alone. I have never been able to score a seat at his Sukiyabashi Jiro, nor at Sushi Saito, usually mentioned as the main competitor. But director David Gelb makes a vivid case for Jiro, his fixation on tradition, and the stunning way that a sliver of fish settles onto rice. The Gleaners The film is named for a Jean-Francois Millet painting of peasant women scrounging for grain in an already-harvested field. France in 1857 was not quite ready for Millets ennobling of the poor. Agnes Vardas demi-documentary follows a band of latter-day gleaners, becomes a freegan manifesto, then drifts into meditations on the meaning of heart-shaped potatoes. If I had this on DVD, I would watch it twice a week. The Exterminating Angel Hell, I have often imagined, is an endless dinner party, surrounded by handsome but vapid people, eating fashionable things that must have seemed clever on paper but are vile on the plate. In Luis Bunuels surreal opus, the party is quite eternal the guests, but not the servants, find themselves unable to leave and the menu includes honeyed organ meats. Jacqueline Andere, Silvia Pinal and Enrique Garcia Alvarez in writer-director Luis Bunuels The Exterminating Angel. (Criterion Collection ) The Bakery Girl of Monceau The cookies are not good. The woman behind the counter is sweet. He cannot love her, because his heart belongs to a woman he bumped into on the street once, but he comes back to the shop again and again, just to have something to do. Is he a stalker? Kind of, he realizes. Eric Rohmer squeezes quite a lot of life and pastry into this 22-minute short. Christmas in Connecticut Some food movies are about cooking. Christmas in Connecticut, which stars Barbara Stanwyck as a magazine cookery columnist, is about not-cooking instead she cant cook, she has neither a family nor a country house, and the publisher has invited himself to one of the homey Christmas dinners she keeps writing about. The foodiest of all the screwball comedies the drinkiest still belongs to The Thin Man and always swell. Barbara Stanwyck and S.Z. Sakall get up to speed in the kitchen in Christmas in Connecticut, a 1945 rom-com with cooking. (Warner Bros. ) Killer of Sheep In a way, Charles Burnetts masterpiece is as famous for not being famous as it is for anything else. It is often on lists of the all-time best American films, but it wasnt released until nearly 30 years after it was made. The battered VHS tape I own was passed down like samizdat. And the movie, about the family life of a man who works in a Watts slaughterhouse, is about the brutal effects of the food system, not quite about food. But there is love hidden behind the pain, and beauty bubbles through the frustration. Nothing has ever expressed the grim loveliness of Los Angeles nearly so well. The Secret of the Grain If I am ever lucky enough to visit a makeshift floating restaurant near Marseilles might one really exist? I would consider myself extremely fortunate if the couscous were as lovingly seasoned with love, strife and family as it is in the gorgeous, glistening meal at the end of this film. Abdellatif Kechiche is probably more famous for Blue is the Warmest Color naked women still trump couscous, even in this food-obsessed era. Hafsia Herzi, left, and Habib Boufares star in writer-director Abdellatif Kechiche s 2007 film The Secret of the Grain. (IFC Films ) The Grand Budapest Hotel Is the star of Wes Andersons movie Ralph Fiennes? Pretty much. Hes on the screen most of the time, and he was nominated for a Golden Globe. But you and I both know that the real star of the film was the courtesans au chocolat from Mendels down in the village, vivid stacks of cream puffs arranged in pink pasteboard boxes. Chungking Express Love and canned pineapples. Faye Wong stars as a cafe waitress with access to a cop s apartment in writer-director Wong Kar-wai s Chungking Express. (Christopher Doyle ) jonathan.gold@latimes.com @thejgold The charged debate over whether children should be vaccinated against infectious diseases waxes and wanes, but it never really goes away. A few years ago, after a spate of measles and whooping cough outbreaks in California, it became apparent that the vogue against inoculations was imperiling the health of our kids. The state Legislature stepped in, enacting a law eliminating the personal belief exemption that allowed so many families to send unvaccinated kids to that teeming petri dish of germs we call school. Since then, immunization rates have risen, but there are many vaccine-skeptical parents who feel their families are being punished for the greater good. Which brings us to Eureka Day, a new play by Jonathan Spector, commissioned by the Aurora Theatre Company, about a precious private school in the Berkeley Hills that is ripped apart when a letter about a mumps outbreak arrives from county health department. A case has been diagnosed at Eureka Day School, and children with no documentation of immunity to mumps will have to be kept at home, under quarantine, until the risk of exposure passes. Advertisement Anyone who has had a child in a progressive private school, as I have, will recognize the Eureka Day gestalt, and why so many parents are thrown into a panic. Eureka Day is a place where the budget is being eaten up converting bathrooms to all gender, where someone has proposed adding trans-racial adoptee to the drop-down list of racial categories on the school application, and where the ensuing rift between pro-vaccine parents and anti-vaccine parents absolutely and hilariously demolishes the schools veneer of egalitarian civility. This becomes most apparent during an ingenious scene in which the school executive committee meeting is streamed on Facebook Live. Parents watching at home begin commenting on the meeting. Their rolling comments are projected above the stage, and their electronic conversation, taking place simultaneously with the meeting onstage, soon disintegrates into what many will recognize as a social media-enabled brawl: Christian Burns: Remember that time I got crippled from polio? Oh, no wait. I didnt. Cause I got VACCINATED. Lena Birnbaum-Tullstein: Your complacency in the destruction of childrens lives is disgusting. Tyler Coppins: What do stupid people and dead people have in common? The dead people dont know theyre dead either! Pila Baum: Sorry but refusing to acknowledge vaccine injury is like the GERMANS circa 1944 claiming that they had no knowledge of the concentration camps. Tyler Coppins: Ding ding ding! We have a winner! First Nazi reference! Eventually, the head of school slams down the cover of his laptop, bringing the disastrous meeting to an unceremonious end. :: As you might imagine, the play also reflects the larger political moment, where scientific truths are under assault, faith in institutions is being undermined for political ends, and describing the White House press secretarys smoky eye makeup is perceived as a partisan insult. I wondered what prompted Spector, 38, to take on this particular topic, which remains as explosive now as it has ever been, despite Californias stricter law. The initial spark was a conversation I had with someone who was well-educated and smart, and you would assume you would agree on about most things, he told me in a little cafe next to the Aurora Theatre on Wednesday afternoon. And then you discover this thing where you live in a parallel reality from them. Also, unlike gun control, or abortion or climate change, beliefs around vaccines dont track closely with political beliefs. At the height of the debate over the new law in the spring of 2015, I spent an afternoon in Santa Cruz with a group of college-educated, politically active mothers who oppose vaccines to varying degrees. We agreed on many things, not least of which was the profound love we felt for our children. But we could find no common ground about the critical role of vaccines in a healthy society. :: After the personal exemption ban ended, California public health officials soon discovered that vaccine-skeptical parents began seeking out physicians for medical exemptions to the vaccine requirement. In order to receive a medical exemption, a child is supposed to have either a compromised immune system (as happens during cancer treatment) or a previous serious allergic reaction to a vaccine. Parental choice is not supposed to be a factor, but of course, it probably is, as medical exemptions to the law have tripled in the past two years. Some doctors have found themselves in hot water with the state medical board. In Eureka Day, a mother named Suzanne, played by Lisa Anne Porter, will not allow her children to be vaccinated. She describes in heart-wrenching detail how her firstborn died after her first immunization shots. Doctors insisted the cause of death was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. But Suzanne knows for certain the death was caused by the vaccine. No one is in a position to contradict such a wounded mom. Yet another Eureka Day mom, Carina, played by Elizabeth Carter, explains to Suzanne that many times, parents misremember the sequence of events that led to a childs injury or death, mistakenly blaming vaccines. Suzanne plaintively asks, How do we do whats best for the whole community? What she really means, though, is How do we do whats best for me? In the context of vaccines and the importance of herd immunity, this question is richly, if inadvertently, ironic. It can really only be answered one way: By making sure as many children as possible get their shots before coming to school. In Eureka Day, school officials discuss how to address a mumps outbreak as pro- and anti-vaccine parents argue on social media. (Courtesy of Aurora Theatre Company ) robin.abcarian@latimes.com Twitter: @AbcarianLAT Northern California detectives still trying to identify the infamous Zodiac Killer, who targeted victims in the late 1960s and taunted investigators with letters, say they hope to try the same DNA tracing technology recently used to arrest a suspect in another string of cold-case serial slayings those blamed on the Golden State Killer. But first they have to get a better DNA profile. Several months ago, the Vallejo Police Department sent two letters written by the Zodiac Killer to a private lab in hopes of finding his DNA on the back of the stamps or envelope flaps that may have been licked. They are expecting results soon. They were confident they would be able to get something off it, Vallejo police Det. Terry Poyser told the Sacramento Bee. Advertisement Poyser said he hopes a full DNA profile will be found that will enable detectives to try the same DNA sleuthing techniques that were used to arrest Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. last month. Authorities suspect he committed at least 12 slayings and 46 rapes in California between 1976 and 1986. Investigators uploaded DNA collected at one of the crime scenes to an open-source genealogical website and found a partial match to a distant relative of DeAngelos. From there, they constructed a family tree dating back several generations before they zeroed in on DeAngelo. Some privacy advocates say they are concerned with the process and worry about future abuses, but detectives investigating the Zodiac Killer say they hope the technique will help solve one of the most vexing cold cases in the country. Thats a great idea, said Gary Harmor, founder and director of the Serological Research Institute, a private DNA lab. I think well see more investigations use this technique. Detectives in Southern California are testing DNA collected from a double-killing and rape to see if they can be tied to DeAngelo. Another man, Craig Coley, was recently cleared of those crimes after spending 38 years in prison in the slaying of a 24-year-old college student and her 4-year-old son in 1978. The Zodiac Killer fatally stabbed or shot to death five people in Northern California in 1968 and 1969, then sent taunting letters and cryptograms to the police and newspapers. The Vallejo police are the lead investigators because the first two victims were killed there. The suspect was dubbed the Zodiac Killer because some of the cryptograms included astrological symbols and references. Various pieces of evidence, including a rope used to tie a victim as well as the letters, have been tested unsuccessfully for the killers DNA profile. Poyser said recent advances in DNA testing prompted investigators to seek a match on two of the killers letters. Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan said the samples were sent to the lab as a matter of routine. Sampayan, a former homicide detective, said police submit samples every couple of years in hopes that advances in DNA testing will finally yield a profile detectives can use. It was coincidental, Sampayan said of the new DNA test occurring at the same time as the breakthrough in the Golden State Killer case. There will come a time when we get a match, he said. The 2007 movie Zodiac, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr., renewed widespread interest in a case that has always had a cult following of amateur detectives and cryptographers who sought to crack the killers code. One of those amateur sleuths, Tom Voigt, said the key to solving the Zodiac killings is mimicking the Golden State Killer investigation, which included forming a full-time task force dedicated to the case and exploiting publicly accessible DNA databases. Voigt said the Zodiac case was being investigated part time by a Police Department in a city that filed for municipal bankruptcy. Theres a formula to follow, Voigt said. And its to simply copy what happened to the Golden State Killer. In the late 1960s, the Rev. James H. Cone later recalled, I was within inches of leaving the Christian faith. He had spent a decade immersed in theology poring over the teachings of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, studying for a doctorate and closely following the sermons and speeches of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose nonviolent civil rights tactics were informed by his ministry. Then he heard Malcolm X. The Black Power leader proclaimed that Christianity is the white mans religion, one that encouraged African Americans to wait patiently for a milk and honey heaven, and he called for blacks to fight for their rights by any means necessary. His assassination in 1965, followed by the killing of King three years later, plunged Cone into what he described as a full-fledged spiritual crisis. To gather his thoughts, he traveled to Little Rock, Ark., and all but locked himself inside the church office of his older brother, also a minister. Six weeks later, he emerged with a new perspective, dubbed black liberation theology, that sought to reconcile the fiery cultural criticism of Malcolm X with the Christian message of King. Advertisement Through books such as Black Theology & Black Power, A Black Theology of Liberation and God of the Oppressed (1975), he changed the way we do theology, said the Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, a professor at Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan where Cone was long on the faculty. Cone, she said, centered the Gospels on racial justice and later on the struggles for gender and class equality. He could not understand how anyone could do Christian theology in America without talking about the black struggle for freedom, and how anyone could do Christian theology in general without talking about the oppressed. When crucifixion is at the center of the faith, said Douglas, who is also dean of Unions Episcopal Divinity School, you have to talk about the crucified classes of people. Cone, who upended the U.S. theological establishment when he argued that God had a radical identification with African Americans and poor peoples across the globe, died April 28 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, Douglas said. He was 79. In his writings, Cone suggested that God was black an argument that was famously advanced by his 19th century predecessor Henry McNeal Turner, who spurned the traditional image of Jesus as a blond, white-skinned prophet. Cone wasnt arguing that God was physically black, or that only black people were righteous, said Anthony B. Pinn, a religion professor at Rice University. He was arguing that Christians white, black, purple, red have to be committed to racial justice. That whites in their churches have to be committed to racial justice, or they need to call themselves something different. While Cones theology was founded on a King-like embrace of love and acceptance, he was fiercely critical of white churches and theologians, telling the New York Times in 1969 that white theology is basically racist and non-Christian. He once called himself the angriest theologian in America and explained that he was driven to rage by the failure of leading white theologians to forcefully condemn institutional racism, and especially lynching. James Hal Cone was born in Fordyce, a small town in central Arkansas, on Aug. 5, 1938. He was raised in nearby Bearden and said he was called to the ministry at 16. After receiving a doctorate in divinity from Northwestern University in 1963, Cone was teaching at Adrian College in Michigan when his political views began to shift toward the Black Power movement. According to Dwight N. Hopkins, a theology professor at the University of Chicago, Cone was the first to publish books of liberation theology works that said the heart of Jesus Christ ... is liberation of the economically poor. He was soon followed by Catholic theologians such as Gustavo Gutierrez, who called for the emancipation of the poor in Latin America. Hope, Cone told the Jesuit magazine America in 2006, is found where two or three small groups of people ... become willing to bear witness to the Gospels transcending racial bonding and move toward human bonding. We need some signs of that transcending. Where will they come from if not from the church? A 12-year-old boy was in custody Friday after he allegedly stabbed a classmate at a Santa Clarita Valley elementary school, authorities said. Sheriffs deputies received a call shortly after 8 a.m. of an assault victim at Pico Canyon Elementary School at Stevenson Ranch, said Lt. Ignacio Somoano, of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. We arrived and learned that a 12-year-old student had stabbed another 12-year-old student, Somoano said. School staff was able to address the situation quickly and had everyone separated and detained by the time we arrived. The students were both boys and the injuries were minor, Somoano said. Advertisement The assaulted student was transported to a hospital for treatment and was accompanied by his parents, according to a statement from the Newhall School District. The suspect was taken into custody by deputies. Our immediate goal is to support our students and their families, the school district said in a statement. We have counselors and psychologists on site. Further, we are in direct communication with parents to assure them that we are following up in every possible way. As always, our top priority is the safety of all students and adults on campus. brittny.mejia@latimes.com Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia Four decades into the hunt for the Golden State Killer, investigators thought they finally had a break. By comparing DNA found at the crime scene against genealogy websites, they homed in on a 73-year-old man in an Oregon nursing home. The man had a rare genetic mutation found in only 2.3% of Caucasians in the database. They suspected he could be the killer or the killers relative. Early last year, a judge in Clackamas County gave authorities permission to obtain his DNA by force if necessary. He was one of two men whose DNA piqued the interest of investigators, but were ruled out as suspects. Advertisement The failed leads were overshadowed by last weeks capture of the suspected Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., in a Sacramento suburb an arrest that also hinged on the innovative tactic of comparing crime scene DNA with genealogy site data. Prosecutors are sure they have the killer, but their earlier probe into the Oregon man illustrates the potential pitfalls of a strategy that relies on a fishing expedition to identify potential suspects in a sea of genetic data. By casting such a wide net, authorities risk compromising the privacy of anyone whose genetic data appears online, along with their relatives, experts say. Now everybody is under suspicion until we find the person who did it, said New York University Professor Erin Murphy, who has written extensively on the legal perils of DNA testing. The rise of big data, whether its publicly searchable DNA databases or records from cellphone towers, has inverted traditional investigative tactics. Previously, law enforcement relied on evidence to build a case around an individual, then sought a warrant from a judge to confirm those suspicions. Modern tactics, enabled by technology, allow law enforcement to trawl a wider and more indiscriminate pool before narrowing in on a specific individual. This is a really good example of how broad this kind of genetic searching can be when totally unregulated. Its just chance that there was a match at all, and really very little support for that match leading to the suspect, Murphy later wrote in an email. In a 19-page warrant signed in April 2017, investigators outlined the lengths theyd gone to track down the man suspected of at least 12 slayings, 46 rapes and more than 120 residential burglaries from 1974 to 1986 in California and why they were focusing on a man in Oregon. The warrant cited the Oregon mans age and physical characteristics as potential links to the Golden State Killer. But the document mostly leaned on websites that allow genealogy enthusiasts to upload the results of DNA tests and compare their findings in a search for distant relatives. Their confidence hinged on a rare trait in the killers DNA that matched records uploaded to Ysearch.org, an amateur genealogy service with 189,016 genetic profiles, according to the warrant. One of those profiles was the Oregon mans daughter. The site outlined a family history dating back to 1842 and, according to the warrant, steered them toward other genealogy sites that led them to the 73-year-old Oregon City man. This is the closest match ever seen, the warrant reads. We thought it was worth going to take his DNA and to talk to him, said forensic criminologist Paul Holes, who spent years on the Golden State Killer investigation and is credited with using genealogy websites to pinpoint DeAngelo. A judge signed off on investigators taking a swab of the inside of the Oregon mans mouth. (The Times is not naming the man or his family because hes never been suspected of a crime. He and his daughter didnt respond to repeated requests for comment.) The man provided a DNA sample voluntarily after authorities explained why they wanted it, so the warrant proved unnecessary. The test results quickly ruled him out. It was a very weak connection, Holes said. Retired Contra Costa County cold case investigator Paul Holes spent 24 years trying to track down the Golden State Killer. (Inform vis KPIX San Francisco ) A second person was also tested sometime in the last six to eight weeks, Holes said. That person, a man with ties to California, also fit the criminal profile. So too does DeAngelo, prosecutors say. In his case, authorities zeroed in after locating a distant relative among GEDmatch.coms 850,000 genetic profiles. Investigators traced his family tree and surveilled him. They watched him discard his DNA in a public place, allowing them to obtain a sample. DNA can be obtained from gum, a used cup, skin cells or fallen hair. Officials have not revealed what type of DNA sample they obtained from DeAngelo or how they got it only that it matches the genetic evidence left behind after at least three rapes in Northern California and three killings in Orange County. A similar strategy is now being mirrored by other agencies, including the Vallejo Police Department, which is reportedly comparing DNA from the Zodiac Killer case to public databases in hopes of finding a relative that can point them to the perpetrator. The tactic could prove revelatory in cold case investigations, but invasive for those pulled into the DNA dragnet. When a person uploads his genealogical profile, hes surrendering not only his privacy, but that of his extended family. Yaniv Erlich, the chief science officer of MyHeritage.com and an assistant professor at Columbia University, recently created from open source genealogy data a 13-million-person family tree. Shared DNA extends to distant relations meaning we are able to identify many more individuals in the population, he said. You are a beacon who illuminates 300 people around you, Erlich said. At question is whether an individual should have a say in whether his or her privacy is compromised by a relative seeking a long-lost cousin. Its not just my relative whose privacy is at stake, its my privacy because we share those genes, said Murphy, the NYU professor. I have not knowingly exposed my DNA to the public. The rise of genealogy websites has given law enforcement access to heaps of genetic data otherwise inaccessible. For decades, law enforcement agencies have gathered DNA from individuals who have been arrested contributing to a federal database that has approximately 16 million profiles. Though sites like Ysearch.org and GEDmatch are far smaller, they provide a back door into the genome of the law-abiding public. The goal of the federal database is to find exact matches or close relatives, shaping the type of genetic data it holds. Some consumer databases store DNA with the goal of linking distant relatives and revealing hereditary traits, allowing law enforcement to more easily trace a family tree. In some ways, those in the federal database have more privacy protections than those whose relatives have uploaded information to genealogy sites. Authorities can run a sample found at a crime scene against the federal database only once per year. They can run that same sample against genealogy sites as frequently as they wish. Some states limit familial searches on the federal database. DNA is not the only investigative tool being reinvented by technology, nor is it the only one raising privacy concerns. Investigators have grown increasingly reliant on cellphone data to place a suspect at the scene of a crime. A pending Supreme Court case could rein in their ability to cast such a wide net without a warrant. The case of Carpenter vs. U.S. concerns police use of celltower data, which can reveal the approximate location of any cellphone user not just a criminal suspect. The case, expected to be decided by June, could set the stage for more legal challenges and have huge consequences for how police plumb data held by third parties, whether they are genealogy sites or phone companies. If law enforcement wants to get access to either set of data, the only protections we have are the companys policies and the basic protections of the 4th Amendment against unlawful search and seizure, said ACLU staff attorney Nate Wessler, who argued the case before the court. Leading commercial genealogy sites such as Ancestry.com and 23andme say they require a court order to hand over user information. But sites such as Ysearch.org and GEDmatch, where users voluntarily share their genetic profiles, are searchable by anyone with an internet connection. Privacy advocates applaud the combination of DNA-savvy and classic police work that led investigators to DeAngelo. Their concerns are that innocent people will be roped into investigations when law enforcement leans too heavily on DNA alone. Several years ago, investigators in Idaho used similar methods in an attempt to find a new suspect in the 1996 killing of Angie Dodge. They focused on a New Orleans filmmaker whose DNA showed similarities to the genetic profile found at the crime scene. He was later cleared. On Thursday, DeAngelo appeared in a Sacramento County courtroom, shackled to a wheelchair. Prosecutors were pressing the judge to obtain more DNA from the 72-year-old former police officer, along with fingerprints and photographs of his body. DeAngelos defense argued that law enforcement must go through the court and follow discovery rules to collect such evidence otherwise it infringes on his rights. 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, defense attorney Diane Howard argued in a filing. The judge sided with prosecutors. benjamin.oreskes@latimes.com joseph.serna@latimes.com richard.winton@latimes.com The Los Angeles Police Department has started an administrative investigation of an officer accused of sexually assaulting a minor, officials said. The officer, who has not been identified, has been assigned to stay home while the investigation continues, according to the LAPD. Authorities directed further questions to the Torrance Police Department, which is investigating the case. Torrance police would only confirm that they are investigating the sexual assault of a minor. The suspect will not be identified at this time, as this could compromise the investigation, said Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris. No arrests have been made and the Torrance police department has and will continue to work alongside the district attorneys office in this case. Advertisement KNBC-TV reported that the investigation involves the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The station also reported that the officer was hired by the LAPD in October 1995 and was involved in a police fatal shooting in 2009. The investigation comes on the heels of a series of arrests of LAPD officers. On April 24, an off-duty officer was arrested at a San Diego County checkpoint after Border Patrol agents found two men in his car who were in the country illegally, authorities said. Mambasse Patara a 42-year-old officer assigned to the LAPDs South Traffic Division later pleaded not guilty to federal charges of transporting people who were in the country illegally. The same day, Officer John Bailey was arrested and charged with workers compensation fraud, the LAPD said. Bailey, 43, was assigned to the departments Van Nuys Division. On April 27, LAPD Cmdr. Nicole Mehringer was booked by Glendale police on suspicion of being intoxicated in public. James Kelly, who is listed as a sergeant in LAPD records, was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence. Glendale police Sgt. Dan Suttles said Mehringer was not cited and wont be charged. Mehringer, who is identified on the LAPD website as Nicole Alberca, is one of 20 commanders in the 10,000-officer LAPD, reporting directly to Chief Charlie Beck. Beck promoted her to commander in March 2017, placing her in charge of the departments employee relations group. brittny.mejia@latimes.com Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia UPDATES: 8:45 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from the Torrance police department. This article was originally published at 7:25 a.m. Authorities on Thursday discovered human remains buried in the yard of a Long Beach home that may be linked to a 32-year-old man reported missing in October. Detectives learned that Zach Kennedy was last seen at a home in the 500 block of West 8th Street and was possibly buried in the yard, according to the Long Beach Police Department. They obtained a warrant to search the property, and when detectives began digging in the fenced yard, they found what they believe are human remains. Sgt. Brad Johnson said investigators are treating the investigation as a homicide. Los Angeles County coroners officials will identify the body and determine a cause of death. Advertisement The missing man, a Long Beach resident, did not live at the property, Johnson said, but he would not disclose who does. No one has been arrested. Anyone with information about Kennedys disappearance is asked to call homicide detectives at (562) 570-7244. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Authorities are searching for a person of interest after a woman was found stabbed to death in the parking structure of a mall in Rolling Hills Estates. Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies responded to the 500 block of Deep Valley Drive shortly after 12:20 p.m. Thursday for a fire rescue call, authorities said. When deputies arrived, they found a woman with multiple stab wounds to her upper torso inside a car parked at the Promenade on the Peninsula mall, authorities said. The woman, identified by coroners officials as Susan Leeds, 66, of Rancho Palos Verdes, was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives are examining surveillance video and canvassing the area for witnesses. Authorities have released a photo of a man who was near the location at the time of the stabbing and may have information about the crime. He is described as a person of interest and a transient. Advertisement On Friday morning, the department tweeted that a person was being detained in the 1600 block of Pacific Coast Highway that may POSSIBLY be the person of interest sought in connection with the stabbing death investigation. The city released a statement Thursday alerting residents about the investigation and noting that Rolling Hills Estates is a very safe community and incidents like this are highly unusual. The Daily Breeze reported that the city has not reported a homicide since 2009, when an attorney was shot execution-style outside his home. There is no known motive for the slaying or suspect information. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the departments homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. brittny.mejia@latimes.com Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia UPDATES: 9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with a department tweet stating that the person of interest has possibly been detained. This article was originally published at 8 a.m. A sex offender who led police on a wild pursuit from Los Angeles to Kern County in a motor home with his two children was arrested Thursday, authorities said. Stephen Houk was detained in Barstow around 4:30 p.m., more than 100 miles from where police last saw him, according to Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. He was found hiding in a rail car and taken into custody without incident, the Sheriffs Department said on Twitter. Houk was wanted on suspicion of evading, child abduction, child endangerment and weapons violations after he allegedly pointed a revolver at his wife during a dispute Tuesday morning in Santa Clarita, authorities said. Advertisement Capt. Eddie Hernandez of the Sheriffs Departments Major Crimes Bureau said Houk had been physically violent toward his wife and children in the past. After the incident in Santa Clarita, Houk, 46, fled to Los Angeles, where his motor home was spotted by police officers in Hollywood around 3 p.m. Tuesday. Police soon learned his two children, a 3-year-old son and 11-month old daughter, were in the vehicle. Houk then led California Highway Patrol officers on a chase north to Kern County. His wife made contact with him by phone during the chase, and pleaded with him to pull over, a CHP spokesman said Tuesday. The nearly four-hour pursuit ended when Houk drove into an almond orchard north of Bakersfield on Tuesday evening, forcing officers to hang back when dust from the road and heavy brush obscured their vision. Eventually, the motor home got stuck on soggy ground. Houk fled on foot, undetected by police. His 3-year-old son eventually emerged from the motor home unharmed, and police soon found an 11-year-old girl inside the vehicle. The children were not physically harmed. The kids didnt seem visually hurt, but we did have them medically cleared and given back to the mom, Officer Robert Rodriguez, a spokesman for the CHP in Bakersfield, said Wednesday. The little 3-year-old didnt know what was going on, and Im glad it was that way because it was a horrible experience for them to go through. Houk was believed to be armed during the chase, but it was not immediately clear whether he had a weapon when he was captured, Nishida said. Sheriffs officials said Houk is wanted in Oregon, where he is registered as a sex offender. In 2002, he was convicted of sodomy and sexual abuse, according to records from the Oregon Judicial Department. He had been on the run for almost two years before Tuesdays chase and had been living in the motor home with his wife and children as they left Oregon, police said. Houk had driven through Oregon and Arizona in recent days, and the family had been camping near Malibu and Calabasas the night before the chase, Hernandez said. Times staff writer Melissa Etehad contributed to this report. james.queally@latimes.com Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California. UPDATES: 6:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and background about the pursuit. This article was originally published at 5:35 p.m. A sex offender who was the subject of a two-day manhunt after leading authorities on a chase in a motor home changed his appearance by shaving off his beard before attempting to flee to Arizona, authorities said Friday. Stephen Houk, 46, was arrested about 4:30 p.m. Thursday when officers found him hiding inside the compartment of an empty rail car in Barstow, more than 100 miles from where police last saw him, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said. For the record: A previous version of this article said that Barstow is in Kern County. Barstow is in San Bernardino County. With his two young children inside the motor home, Houk had led authorities on an hours-long chase that began in L.A. County and ended when the vehicle became stuck in an almond orchard near Bakersfield. Houk escaped that time, but left his children at the scene. Speaking at a news conference Friday, the sheriff credited the cooperation of multiple police departments and agencies involved in the search for Houk, who was wanted on suspicion of violations including child abduction and child endangerment. Advertisement After his capture in Barstow, Houk was taken to the Lancaster sheriffs station, where he was booked on 14 felony counts, McDonnell said. His bail was set at $1 million. If convicted on all counts, Houk could spend up to 75 years in prison, said Capt. Eddie Hernandez of the Sheriffs Departments Major Crimes Bureau. While in custody, Houk told officials he had eluded arrest by avoiding highways and running for three hours in the dark toward Bakersfield. When it got dark, he figured that the manhunt had stopped, and so he started to walk and made his way down to Bakersfield, Hernandez said. Once there, Houk rested at a library and then went to a nearby homeless shelter to eat. By then, officials had information that Houk was in Bakersfield and learned from locals that a train there left nightly heading toward Arizona. After officials learned that Houk had hopped the train and was heading across the state, officers narrowed their search to Barstow, where the train had made a stop. Officials asked railroad police to stop all freight trains in order to continue the search, which eventually led them to Houk. The series of events began around 8 a.m. Tuesday, when Houk got into a heated argument in his motor home with the mother of his two young children, McDonnell said. The dispute escalated when Houk pointed a handgun at her and threatened to kill her and harm their kids, McDonnell said. Houk then head-butted the woman and pushed her out of the motor home and into a shopping center parking lot before driving off with their 3-year-old son and 11-month old daughter still inside the vehicle, officials said. Not long after the woman spoke with authorities, Los Angeles police spotted the motor home and attempted to pull it over. But Houk didnt stop, prompting officers to embark on a two-mile pursuit, they said. Officers soon canceled the pursuit to prevent injury to the children. Safety and retrieval of the children was the most important factor weighed in the pursuit, McDonnell said. At 2:30 p.m., officers spotted Houk inside his RV in the Culver City area and made a second attempt to stop him, hoping he would surrender. But Houk drove off, prompting a new pursuit. Officers followed Houks vehicle as he drove north on Interstate 5, heading through Santa Clarita, Castaic and Newhall until reaching Kern County. After heading north on Highway 99 through Bakersfield, Houk found himself in a rural location and began driving through an almond orchard. The nearly four-hour pursuit ended when the motor home got stuck on soggy ground. With dust in the air and thick brush obstructing officers view, Houk escaped on foot, leaving his two children in the vehicle. He later told authorities that he had hidden under foliage in the orchard, Hernandez said. His children were found unharmed inside the motor home and were reunited with their mother. The children have been placed with the Department of Children and Family Services while their mother receives support and resources in connection with domestic violence, Hernandez said. melissa.etehad@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad A man who was convicted of stalking actress Sandra Bullock in 2014 killed himself inside a La Crescenta home during a standoff with Los Angeles police, his attorney said. The incident began about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday when officers arrived at the residence in the 2400 block of Harmony Place to serve an arrest warrant, said LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar. Joshua James Corbett had missed a court date last month and officers had gone to his parents residence, where he lived in a guest house, to arrest him, attorney Steve Sitkoff said. When Corbett, 42, refused to leave and threatened to shoot officers, a SWAT team was called, Aguilar said. Advertisement About 10:30 a.m., Sitkoff received a call from the crisis negotiation team at the scene, asking if he would be willing to come talk to Corbett. Sitkoff agreed but said he didnt hear back. When negotiations stalled about five hours later, the SWAT team deployed canisters of gas. Officers then entered the house, where they found Corbett dead. An autopsy was performed Thursday. Corbetts cause of death is given as multiple incised wounds, according to Los Angeles County coroner spokesman David Smith. Corbett had mental health problems and had stopped going to counseling, Sitkoff said. When he was getting help and medication, he was really a gentle soul, Sitkoff said. He was a good person, but he had mental health demons that we really thought he was controlling. Corbett pleaded no contest last year and was sentenced to five years probation for stalking Bullock and breaking into her Los Angeles home in June 2014. When Bullock found Corbett inside her home, she locked herself in a room and dialed 911. He thought he was married to her, Sitkoff said. Corbett was ordered not to contact the actress for 10 years and to seek continued treatment for his mental health condition. melissa.etehad@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad The director of choral studies at San Diego State University has filed a lawsuit against two former music students who he claims defamed him in connection with an alleged affair with a student. Patrick Walders has worked for the university since 2011 and continues to hold his job there, though he has been suspended with pay for more than a year as officials investigate a complaint stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a female student. Cory Marshall, a spokesman for the university, provided a statement this week confirming that Walders remained in his job but was not teaching or conducting. Marshall declined further comment because it is a personnel matter. The lawsuit, filed April 2 in San Diego Superior Court, alleges defamation, public disclosure of private facts and other wrongdoing by former SDSU music students Michael Sakell and Jess Barrera. In the lawsuit, Walders contends the misinformation has harmed his reputation and cost him professional opportunities. Advertisement The allegations echo similar claims Walders made against Sakell, his former teaching assistant, last year. At that time, Walders unsuccessfully sought a court order to block Sakell from spreading allegedly false information about what Walders and a female student were doing when Sakell allegedly interrupted their private encounter during an SDSU-sponsored trip to Austria in February 2017. In the lawsuit Walders filed last month, Walders accuses Sakell and Barrera of spreading allegedly false information to professional colleagues and potential employers in San Diegos small choral community that was clearly intended to harm [Walders] and his reputation, standing in the community and his economic relationships with employers and others. Sakells attorney, Nicholas J. Moore, provided a statement responding to the lawsuit on his clients behalf. Truth is an absolute defense to a claim of defamation, the statement said. We are looking forward to Dr. Walders deposition where he will have to testify, under oath, about his relationships with students. We are confident that the evidence will show that any harm Dr. Walders has suffered is the direct result of his own inappropriate conduct. Barrera said by telephone on Thursday that some of the comments the lawsuit says he made about Walders were taken out of context and he is not to blame for the consequences of Walders choices. I think hes done it to himself, Barrera said. I dont think theres much of a case against me. The lawsuit includes examples of the alleged defamation, such as emails Walders believes Sakell sent to people including the executive director at La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, where Walders is the choral director, and a professional contact Walders had at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. The emails allegedly said Walders had been caught having sex with students, according to the lawsuit. Diane Salisbury, executive director for the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Wednesday that Walders was on administrative leave from his position as choral director until further notice. Sakell also allegedly contacted students from James Madison University in Virginia, where Walders once taught, and falsely asserted in text messages that Walders drugged, raped and impregnated a student, and forced her to have sex for her degree, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit alleges Sakell approached two local reporters in an attempt to reach a larger audience, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit did not name the reporters or their news organizations. The lawsuit was filed after a March 30 article in the Union-Tribune about Walders paid suspension from teaching duties at SDSU, pending the outcome of the universitys investigation into an alleged sexual relationship with a female student. Sakell declined the Union-Tribunes request for an interview for the March 30 article. He referred questions for this article to his lawyer. Walders lawsuit seeks unspecified damages to be determined according to proof in court. Walders, 43, is paid $77,000 by the state university, according to a database kept by the group Transparent California. Cook writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com Prosecutors filed felony perjury charges Friday against the father of 13 children found living captive in Perris. David Turpin and his wife, Louise Turpin, were arrested in January after their 17-year-old daughter escaped their Perris home and called police using a deactivated cellphone. That month, Riverside County prosecutors filed dozens of charges against both parents related to the alleged abuse, captivity and torture of the children. In February, prosecutors filed three additional charges of child abuse against the couple, and Louise Turpin was charged with felony assault in relation to an incident involving one of her daughters. The perjury charges filed Friday relate to affidavits David Turpin signed related to the homeschooling of the children, said John Hall, a spokesman for the district attorneys office. Advertisement Prosecutors say the Turpins inflicted severe abuse and torture on the siblings, who range in age from 2 to 29. The parents allegedly punished their children by beating and choking them, tying them to beds for weeks or months at a time, depriving them of food and forcing them to stay up all night and sleep during the day. The couple has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges. Pleas on the new charges will likely be entered when the couple appears in court later this month, attorneys said. They are expected back in court on May 18. paloma.esquivel@latimes.com Twitter: @palomaesquivel On a recent Monday afternoon, Emma Halbert sat across from her friend at the Westside Pavilion food court. With her laptop opened in front her, she tried to finish her homework, but was distracted by how eerily quiet the mall felt. The 18-year-old Santa Monica College student looked around the empty mall and turned to her friend, Kamanaopono Bednorz. No one comes here anymore, Halbert said. Yeah, Bednorz replied. But as long as there is free Wi-Fi, Ill keep coming. Advertisement Its a humble ending for a place that was once considered Los Angeles hottest mall. Its where popular movies such as Clueless and Tom Pettys video for Free Fallin were filmed. It was also a place neighbors fought against for years but came to cherish when Nordstrom opened one of its first stores there in the West Los Angeles area. But like so many American malls, Westside Pavilion has fallen. In recent years, as more consumers turned to online shopping and nearby competitors Westfield Century City, Santa Monica Place and the Third Street Promenade underwent renovation to adapt to retails changing landscape, Westside Pavilion has found itself financially strapped and struggling to reinvent itself. Terri Tippit stands on Pico Boulevard, across the street from the Westside Pavilion. The chairwoman for the Westside neighborhood council said she has shopped at the mall since its opening in 1985. The mall is set to close in 2021. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) Its downfall continued last year when Nordstrom closed its store and relocated to Westfield Century City. And then in March, its last anchor store, Macys, decamped. Now the mall faces an inevitable death: In March, mall landlord Hudson Pacific announced that by mid-2021 most of the barren three-story structure will be transformed into creative office spaces for media and technology companies, a befitting change as demand for office spaces in West Los Angeles continues to increase, but marking an end of an era for the longtime famed indoor mall. Experts and elected officials say Westside Pavilions rebirth into office spaces is an example of West Los Angeles growing appeal to media and technology companies. But longtime residents and shoppers worry that transforming the mall into office spaces will change the character of the neighborhood, which after early opposition largely came to see the mall as a town square of sorts. Opponents eventually got used to the mall, and now its an icon and part of the neighborhood, said Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz. The mall gave us a little sense of community, a place to go and meet people. And although developers intend to keep the malls Westside Tavern restaurant and 12-screen Landmark Theaters open to the public, other community members feel saddened by the malls downfall and nostalgic for the memories that will vanish. The fate of Westside Pavilion is not unique. Over the last decade, malls nationwide have slowly been rotting away and eventually closing because of change in shopping tastes. Retailers have closed stores, forcing department malls to either shut their doors or scale back operations. Oct. 8, 1991: The bridge over Westwood Boulevard connects the roof parking and the third floor of Nordstrom, left, at Westside Pavilion. (Brian Gadbery / Brian Gadbery ) Oct. 11, 1987: The parking entrance to the Westside Pavilion off Overland. (Brian Gadbery / Brian Gadbery ) As a result, revenue in the shopping mall industry has declined steadily over the last decade at around 1%, including a 2.5% decline in 2017, according to a 2017 shopping mall management report from IBISWorld. The situation has driven developers and landlords to come up with innovative solutions, such as converting malls into apartments, churches or schools and, in some cases, office space. Although the mall will remain open until mid-2021, its already beginning to look unrecognizable. Long gone are the days when the mall bustled with shoppers scurrying across its tiled floors, gripping their shopping bags as they browsed popular retail stores. But now, on any given day, the vast amounts of parking spaces remain empty and shoppers walk slowly throughout the mall, some looking unfazed as they pass rows of empty stores that have either closed or relocated to a different mall. The remaining retailers desperately try to lure customers with discounts some have giant banners hanging in front that read 50% off or Buy one get one 50% off! For Halbert, the malls closure is akin to losing a sanctuary. She said it was at the mall where she learned to make friends as a 5-year-old while playing at the indoor playground near the food court. In middle school, its where she got her first taste of independence, spending Saturday afternoons checking out the latest fashion at Hot Topic and Forever 21 without adult supervision. When she was 16 and a senior at the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, she went to Nordstrom and had her makeup done by professionals for homecoming. Coming to the mall these years felt freeing, she said. Im sad its closing. Its always been more than just a place where I could purchase stuff. Some employees feel the same. Michelle Arellano, who has worked six years at Justice, a popular clothing store for teenagers, said young adults who shopped at the store as children still stop by the store to visit her. I remember when some of the kids were little, and now they are graduating high school, she said. I have a close relationship with the customers. Nearby, Ilene Schwartz watched her 7-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, dance around the first floor of the mall from a nearby table. For years, the duo have come to Westside Pavilion at least a few times a week, preferring its indoor environment and affordable prices to that of more expensive retailers such as nearby Century City. In 2007, Landmark Theatres opened a new 12-screen facility in West L.A. The hope was that it would be an anchor for indie films targeting upscale audiences, who had not been served well in the area. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ) As her eyes remained fixed on her daughter twirling in circles, Schwartz said shes saddened that in a few years her daughter wont experience this any longer. Part of her childhood that she could have had here will be gone, Schwartz explained. Despite the malls desolate feel, Schwartz remains steadfast in continuing her tradition for as long as she can. It feels weird to come here, but we want to come here until its gone. Owen Rooney shares similar views. As he rode the escalator up to the third floor, his son ran ahead into GameStop, a video game store. Thats his favorite place to go, Rooney said of his 12-year-old son, Owen Jr. Its a tradition to come here. Like most nearby residents, Rooney said hes been coming to the mall at least once a week since his son was born, but says in recent years the mall has felt different. Itll be different when we cant come here anymore. Despite the fond memories for some, the Westside Pavilion wasnt always a place the community cherished. Before opening in 1985, the malls landlord faced great resistance from local residents who viewed the project as the type of development that would increase traffic congestion and create parking issues. Terri Tippit, the chairwoman for the Westside neighborhood council and 40-year Rancho Park resident, said for a long time the three-story, block-long structure felt like an intrusion. The local residents fought long and hard when the concept first came up, the 71-year-old said. Tippit worked alongside then Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavksy and the malls landlord to come up with solutions to ease traffic around the mall. The whole project was a shock to the neighborhood, Yaroslavksy said. People were not happy about it. By the late 1980s and early 90s, the situation began to improve. Streets near the mall became designated as permit parking, and 1,000 parking spaces and a two-tier bridge for cars and pedestrians were built when the mall expanded across Pico and Westwood boulevards. Then in 2007, Landmark Theatres opened a new 12screen facility. It didnt take long after the traffic issue was addressed that residents began to embrace Westside Pavilion, turning it into an integral part of the West Los Angeles landscape. Designed by architect Jon Jerde, thick white columns inside the mall link each level together, mirroring a European-style structure. And its clear skylights, which span vast portions of the mall, allow natural light to seep inside. But despite its popularity, Westside Pavilion has not been able to adapt to retails changing landscape. Chris Calott, professor of architecture and real estate development at UC Berkeley, estimates that up to 40% of shopping malls could close within the next three to five years. Calott said the malls transformation reflects the growing demand of office space from municipalities and developers across California We are at a point in the Bay Area and Los Angeles where both areas have a particularly high demand for office space, Calott said. Office development pays a lot more in taxes than residential or commercial development. So from a development standpoint, that will deliver the sweetest revenue return. The transformation project is estimated to cost around $425 million to $475 million. Hudson Pacific, which specializes in developing and operating office properties on the West Coast, will act as developer and be in charge of the day-to-day operations as the propertys manager. Former mall landlord and owner Macerich also contributed to the new joint venture with Hudson Pacific and owns 25%. But some residents are disappointed that future plans for the mall dont include housing, and worry that turning the mall into office spaces will increase traffic and change the culture of the neighborhood. Given the malls close proximity to bus stops, the Santa Monica and San Diego freeways and Expo Line along Westwood Boulevard, planners view it as a coveted location, said Evelyn Blumenberg, a 20-year Rancho Park resident and urban planning professor at UCLA. Its an area that is accessible by public transit, and so theres an assumption that it could lead to a thriving community and be easy access to markets and potential employees, Blumenberg said. But she also added that shes personally disappointed that the development doesnt include housing. Housing is becoming so expensive. Its an ideal location for transit, and it should be accompanied by housing that includes affordable units as well. Chris Barton, Hudson Pacifics executive vice president for development and capital investments, said although the developer didnt consider housing as an option for the mall, it is dedicated to addressing community members concerns. We are actively studying current and future conditions regarding traffic, and we are prepared to work with the city and community to ensure there is no impact, Barton said. We also plan to work closely with the community to ensure that the redevelopment will complement the neighborhoods character and become an asset to the community. As Tippit and Yaroslavsky reflect on their part in shaping the malls history, they feel proud about what the mall has come to mean for residents. Back then, I would have never imagined the mall could close. And if you told me people would be upset or sad, I would have told you that was impossible. Yaroslavsky said. The mall was controversial during my election in 1989. I didnt do well with voters who lived in the streets behind the Westside Pavilion. Even Tippit, who at first was against development of the mall, has come to feel saddened by its death. In recent years, its become a tradition for her to walk hand-in-hand with her 12-year-old granddaughter to the mall, a bonding activity she said would have otherwise been impossible. We walk together and chat on the way to the mall and watch movies, Tippit said. These are moments you cant buy and cant do if you drive. melissa.etehad@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad The last group of asylum seekers from the Central American caravan crossed into the United States on Friday morning. A little after 9 a.m., a group of about 70 walked into the U.S. port of entry as friends planning to stay in Mexico waved goodbye; some cheered as the others walked into the U.S. Since arriving in Tijuana on Sunday, approximately 228 members of the caravan have entered the U.S. to ask for asylum. Just because they entered the country doesnt mean they will stay. The asylum process takes months, if not years, to complete, and applicants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have high denial rates, records show. Advertisement As the asylum seekers left their makeshift tent city a few feet from the border, those who chose to stay in Mexico packed up. Among them was Mario Mejia, 35, of El Salvador. Mejia joined the caravan from the beginning at the Guatemala-Mexico border. He hoped to cross into the U.S. with his wife but decided not to go after a lawyer told him he had a weak case. Mejia has five deportations on his record from 2010 to 2013 for trying to cross from Mexico into Arizona. The latest one resulted in an 18-month stint inside an immigration detention center in southern Nevada, he said. Should he be caught again, he would face three years in detention. Im happy for the people who have the opportunity to go, he said. My wife has never been to the United States. She was very excited for the opportunity. The last thing he told his wife was, keep moving forward, he said. Mejia, who fled gang violence in El Salvador, wont be able to stay in Tijuana permanently. The Mexican government denied his asylum claim a year ago. I dont know what Im going to do, he said. Solis and Hernandez write for the San Diego Union-Tribune. gustavo.solis@sduniontribune.com david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com President Trump said Friday that he hopes to eventually withdraw U.S. troops from South Korea but would not use a pullout as a bargaining chip when he meets with North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un seeking a deal to curb Pyongyangs nuclear weapons. At some point into the future, I would like to save the money it costs to keep up to 32,000 American troops in South Korea, Trump told reporters on Air Force One. He added that a withdrawal will not be on the table at the first planned U.S.-North Korean summit after more than six decades of hostility. U.S. and North Korean officials have agreed on a date and location for the nuclear summit, Trump said, promising to announce the details shortly. The White House said South Korean President Moon Jae-in will visit the White House on May 22, so the summit is unlikely before then. Trumps vow not to immediately offer a U.S. withdrawal, a long-standing demand by Pyongyang, may be aimed at easing concerns among his military advisors and U.S. allies in the region that, in his eagerness for a deal, Trump would bargain away a cornerstone of U.S. security strategy in northeast Asia. Advertisement But Trump only added to the uncertainty Friday by repeating his previous vows to bring at least some U.S. troops home from South Korea because he considers the deployment a costly waste. His comments came after weeks of conflicting signals from administration officials, including reports that Trumps aides had to talk him out of ordering a major withdrawal from Korea. The topic is so sensitive that John Bolton, Trumps national security advisor, denounced as utter nonsense a New York Times story Friday that said Trump had asked the Pentagon for withdrawal options. Like Trump, Pentagon officials have given conflicting statements about a possible drawdown of U.S. troops from the region. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said last week that troop levels was one of the issues well be discussing with allies and with Pyongyang if North and South Korea sign a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War, which halted in 1953 with a tense cease-fire. In a statement Friday, Lt. Col Christopher B. Logan, a Pentagon spokesman, said the mission in South Korea remains the same and our force posture has not changed. He said the Defense Department is developing and maintaining military options for the president, and reinforcing our ironclad security commitment with our allies. We all remain committed to complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. has stationed troops in South Korea since the Korean War. Together with major U.S. air and Navy bases in Japan, the Pentagon keeps a massive military presence in northeast Asia to support a defense treaty that requires the United States to come to South Koreas aid if it is attacked. South Korean officials also have dismissed the idea that U.S. troops would be removed. A spokesman for President Moon told reporters Wednesday in Seoul that Moon considered U.S. troops a matter of the South Korea-U.S. alliance that has nothing to do with signing a peace treaty with Pyongyang. Over the decades Washington has gradually shifted the cost of keeping troops onto the government in Seoul. South Korea now pays more than $890 million a year, about half the annual cost for the deployment, not including personnel costs that the Defense Department would have to pay no matter where the troops were located. Trump has insisted repeatedly, and inaccurately, that Japan and other U.S. allies contribute little or nothing to the United States for their own defense. Advocates for reducing the U.S. presence in South Korea argue that if the threat from North Korea diminishes, so would the need for keeping large number of U.S. troops on the peninsula. The U.S. posture on the peninsula can be adjusted according to the threat South Korea perceives from North Korea, said Abraham Denmark, a former senior Pentagon official responsible for Asia. Thats different than it being a bargaining chip. Opponents argue that U.S. troops will be required for years to deter a conventional attack by North Korea even in the unlikely event it agrees to eliminate or reduce its nuclear and missile stockpiles after the Trump-Kim summit. North Korea has more than 1.2 million troops, a massive if increasingly obsolete ground force that poses a direct threat to Seoul, only 35 miles from the demilitarized zone dividing north and south, if hostilities broke out. Any reductions in the size of North Koreas armed forces are likely to occur over years as would any withdrawals of U.S. troops, officials said. Unlike his father and grandfather, who previously ruled North Korea, Kim has not made a withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea a priority and may not demand it at the summit, analysts say. I dont think he would object to having them leave, but Im not sure he would push for that, either, said Gi-Wook Shin, director of Stanford Universitys Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. The U.S. troops give Kim leverage with China, which sees North Korea as a buffer state between its border and a well-armed U.S. ally. A U.S. withdrawal could lessen North Koreas importance to Beijing, costing it economic aid and other support. Pentagon officials view U.S. bases in Korea and Japan as key to the regional contest for influence with an increasingly assertive China. Its another reason they are likely to resist any push by Trump to withdraw unilaterally. Despite Trumps complaints, the Pentagon shows every sign of wanting to stay indefinitely in South Korea. Last year, U.S. commanders began moving troops from bases in downtown Seoul and near the Demilitarized Zone along the border with North Korea to Camp Humphreys, an expansive military base that houses more than 10,000 American soldiers about 40 miles south of Seoul. Construction of the base cost an estimated $10.8 billion. The South Korean government paid nearly the entire tab. Leaving Seoul is meant to reduce friction between U.S. troops and Koreans in the countrys biggest city, while pulling back from the demilitarized zone is intended to get large number of U.S. troops out of range of North Korean artillery. But even some South Korean officials expect demands will intensify for American soldiers to go home if North and South Korea sign a peace treaty and relations improve. It will be difficult to justify their continuing presence in South Korea, Chung-in Moon, a special advisor to President Moon, wrote in Foreign Affairs this week. The uncertainty comes at a sensitive time. In March, U.S. and South Korean diplomats began negotiating an extension of the agreement specifying how much Seoul will pay toward the costs of keeping U.S. forces in South Korea. U.S. officials are expected to press Seoul to hike its contributions in the next four-year agreement. But the deal has to be approved by the South Korean parliament, where many legislators may be reluctant to pay more when they are seeking warmer ties with Pyongyang. Most of the money stays in South Korea, paying for local labor, rent, utilities and the construction of barracks and other military facilities. david.cloud@latimes.com Twitter: @davidcloudLAT At the reception (Photo: thanhuytphcm.vn) He made the statement while receiving Mr. Augusto Morelli, Peruvian Ambassador to Vietnam, on May 3 Appreciating his working visit to Ho Chi Minh city, Chairman Phong confirmed that the city wanted to welcome Peruvian investors, especially in agriculture, textile and garment, consumer products and infrastructure. Ho Chi Minh city is willing to make favourable conditions for the Peruvian Embassy in Vietnam to carry out cooperative programs, including upcoming activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam - Peru diplomatic relationship, he stressed. Expressing his thanks to the citys leader for the warm reception, Peruvian Ambassador to Vietnam Augusto Morelli said he cared about the promotion of investment opportunities between the two countries. According to the Peruvian Ambassador, the two sides share a lot of similarities in lifestyle and culture, while they both face challenges in population, infrastructure and future vision. He pledged, in his position, to encourage Peruvian investors in tourism, infrastructure and hi-tech industry to come to the city, thus promoting comprehensive cooperation./. The tweets are nothing new, coming at all hours and sometimes dozens in a single weekend. President Trump announces policy, castigates critics and touts allies in 280 characters. Amid the onslaught of tweets, a theme of sorts has emerged when Trump disagrees with something: He says its dead. But when Trump makes these proclamations an effort of sorts to show disregard for people, policy or organizations and dismiss their importance it does not necessarily mean the person or organization is on life support or worse. Advertisement Heres a look at a few of the things Trump has called dead, along with a reality check regarding their status. The White House Correspondents Dinner The White House Correspondents Dinner is DEAD as we know it. This was a total disaster and an embarrassment to our great Country and all that it stands for. FAKE NEWS is alive and well and beautifully represented on Saturday night! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018 Reality check: While the White House Correspondents Assn. dinner on April 28 received criticism for comedian Michelle Wolfs roast of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and many others, the annual gathering is not dead. The event, which honors journalists and awards scholarships to students, began in 1921 and is expected to be held next year. Trump did not attend the dinner this year or last year, but he did attend before becoming president. Its not unusual for the association to hire a comedian to roast the president, his Cabinet, members of the press and news organizations. At times, the administration, and even some in the media, express outrage over the jokes. In response to the jokes from this years dinner, the association, which was founded in 1914, issued a statement, saying, in part, that Wolfs roast was not in the spirit of the groups mission to promote a free press and civility. Obamacare I suggest that we add more dollars to Healthcare and make it the best anywhere. ObamaCare is dead - the Republicans will do much better! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2017 Reality check: Well, its not dead. In fact, nearly 11.8 million Americans signed up for 2018 health coverage through marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act commonly known as Obamacare according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This total was a slight dip compared to last years numbers and comes as Republicans and Trump continuously assail the Obama administrations 2010 signature healthcare law. Throughout the 2016 election, Trump vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare. Yet that has not happened. Last year, the Republican-controlled Congress failed to repeal Obamacare, as the GOP had planned. A poll released in March by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation showed that 54% of the public has a favorable view of the law, compared to 42% who have an unfavorable view. Its the highest favorable rating since the group began polling on the healthcare law in 2010. Attorneyclient privilege Attorneyclient privilege is dead! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 10, 2018 Reality check: This tweet came shortly after the FBI raided the offices of Michael Cohen, Trumps personal lawyer. The raid last month stemmed from special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs ongoing investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russians in the 2016 presidential election. Of course, attorney-client privilege still exists, and Trump certainly knows so. It allows clients who have a legal problem to talk candidly with a lawyer. However, there are limitations. The crime fraud exception notes that if a person is using the attorney-client relationship to perpetrate a crime, there is no privilege. You have a right to talk in confidence with your attorney about criminal activity, but you cant use your attorney to accomplish a crime, David Cole, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, recently wrote on the groups website. A mobster suspected of engaging in bribery can consult his attorney about the facts of his alleged bribery without fear that the attorney will disclose those communications. But he has no right to have the lawyer deliver the bribe for him. DACA DACA is dead because the Democrats didnt care or act, and now everyone wants to get onto the DACA bandwagon... No longer works. Must build Wall and secure our borders with proper Border legislation. Democrats want No Borders, hence drugs and crime! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2018 Reality check: In September, Trump ordered an end to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that shields young immigrants who are in the country illegally from deportation. He called on Congress to act by a March deadline, but no legislation came about. Even so, immigrant rights groups have filed a barrage of lawsuits to keep the program operating. To date, three federal judges have ruled against the administrations efforts to end the program. In April, in the latest ruling, U.S. District Court Judge John Bates called the administrations decision to end DACA virtually unexplained and therefore unlawful. Collusion This memo totally vindicates Trump in probe. But the Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on. Their was no Collusion and there was no Obstruction (the word now used because, after one year of looking endlessly and finding NOTHING, collusion is dead). This is an American disgrace! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2018 Reality check: Trumps tweet came in response to the release of a Republican House memo focused on FBI intelligence practices during the 2016 election. The partisan memo has been assailed by Democrats and lauded by Republicans. While Trump said the memo vindicates him in the Mueller probe, that investigation remains ongoing, exploring, among other things, possible collusion. Ted Cruz and John Kasich Lyin' Ted and Kasich are mathematically dead and totally desperate. Their donors & special interest groups are not happy with them. Sad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2016 Reality check This tweet foreshadowed what was to come, regardless of the mathematical lives at the time of the presidential campaigns by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. After racking up several victories in the Republican primaries, Trump sought to clear the remaining field with this message. Less than a week after it was sent, both Cruz and Kasich ended their campaigns. In July 2016, Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination at the partys convention in Cleveland, before going on to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the general election in November. Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Friday, May 4, and heres whats happening across California: TOP STORIES There were failed leads that came before last weeks dramatic capture of Golden State Killer suspect Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. in a Sacramento suburb an arrest that also hinged on the novel tactic of comparing crime scene DNA with genealogy site data. Though prosecutors are sure they have the killer, their earlier probes illustrate the potential pitfalls of a strategy that relies on a fishing expedition to identify potential suspects in a sea of genetic data. By casting such a wide net, authorities risk compromising the privacy of anyone whose genetic data appears online, along with their relatives, experts say. Los Angeles Times 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. Los Angeles Times Advertisement How the Golden State Killer case has some of its roots in another murder mystery in New Hampshire. New York Times Expelled The motion picture academy announced Thursday that it has expelled comedian Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from the groups ranks as the organization struggles to deal with #MeToo. In response to unfolding sexual misconduct charges against film mogul Harvey Weinstein, the academy had earlier expelled Weinstein and announced it would adopt new standards of ethical conduct that its members would be expected to uphold. How exactly those standards will be enforced has been the subject of some debate. Los Angeles Times Off to Mars 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. 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. Los Angeles Times Get the Essential California newsletter L.A. STORIES Allegations denied: Rep. Tony Cardenas, a San Fernando Valley Democrat, confirmed Thursday that he is the unidentified elected official targeted 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. Los Angeles Times Calls for reform: Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck acknowledged a need to reform a controversial deferred retirement program that pays city police officers and firefighters nearly double at the end of their careers while allowing them to take lengthy injury leaves, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Los Angeles Times Fashion report: How is Meghan Markles L.A. style playing in England? 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. She has tackled the challenge of royal dressing with aplomb since news broke of her engagement with Prince Harry in November. Los Angeles Times Finger-lickin good: How L.A. became a fried chicken hot spot. Los Angeles Times Bright future: Southern Californias economy is expected to keep humming for the next few years. Orange County Register Rolling: The L.A. River continues to be a magnet for development. Curbed Los Angeles CRIME AND COURTS Possible hate crime: 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. Los Angeles Times Big Pharma, take note: L.A. city prosecutors and Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a lawsuit against nine opioid drug companies and distributors over allegedly unethical business practices. Los Angeles Times Fatal stabbing: In quiet Rolling Hills Estates, a woman was found stabbed to death Thursday afternoon in a vehicle parked at a shopping mall. Daily Breeze Brian Casares, 12, of Honduras, along with other Central Americans, waits for an appointment to seek asylum at an encampment near the El Chaparral Port of Entry in Tijuana. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times ) POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Changing population: California lost lower-income residents to other states over a recent 11-year period, while gaining wealthier households from elsewhere in the U.S. The disparity reflects the states sky-high rents and home prices. From 2006 to 2016, 1.09 million more people left California for other states than moved here from other places in the U.S., with most decamping for Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, where housing costs are lower. Los Angeles Times Border update: Nearly 160 members of the Central American caravan have entered the United States. Los Angeles Times Disturbing findings: California health regulators have allowed poor care to proliferate at nursing homes around the state, and the number of incidents that could cause serious injury or death has increased significantly in recent years, according to a stinging state audit released this week. Los Angeles Times Near catastrophe: New video has surfaced in a close call at San Francisco International Airport in July. SFGate CALIFORNIA CULTURE Whose park? For nearly 50 years, the University of California and Berkeley activists have been locked in conflict over one of the states most contested pieces of land. The standoff dates to 1969, when hundreds of people hauled sod, trees and flowers to a scruffy lot that the university intended to build on and proclaimed it their own Peoples Park. Now, UC Berkeley officials hope they finally have a plan that will let them use the space without fierce backlash. Los Angeles Times A play with a message: In the past few years, California has gone through an exhausting and emotional process to make sure that most schoolchildren are vaccinated. A new play takes a look at what happens in a fictional private school in Berkeley when an unexpected letter from the health department arrives. Los Angeles Times Bad news, good news: Teslas finances are in an ugly phase at the moment, but the company still builds fun-to-drive, attractive cars. Automobile Magazine recently gave the Model 3 electric sedan its 2018 Design of the Year award, calling the car simple and straightforward, perfectly proportioned with minimal extraneous detailing. It has all been done with unmistakably good taste. Los Angeles Times Humble request: Stephen Curry isnt your average superstar. Mercury News CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles area: sunny, 82, Friday; mostly sunny, 86, Saturday. San Diego: sunny, 76, Friday; sunny, 79, Saturday. San Francisco area: partly cloudy, 65, Friday; partly cloudy, 62, Saturday. Sacramento: mostly sunny, 85, Friday; mostly cloudy, 84, Saturday. More weather is here. AND FINALLY Todays California memory comes from Patric Barry: In 1973, I was coming through LAX from Australia, and I looked down on approach and saw the brown air hanging over the city. Brown, yuck. I wondered why people chose to live in the place. I then had eight hours to kill, so I took a bus to downtown and saw freeways and discouraging things near the bus terminal. Same back to LAX. A year later I was back in Los Angeles, and I learned to fly, and I flew in the brown air. It smelled like a mix of diesel and cigar smoke at 3,000 feet. Now its clean. No smell. Life is better. Im still here. I love L.A. 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. Each month this year, the United States has deported 15,000 migrants to Mexico. They join some 2.5 million others who have returned over the past decade some forced to leave by deportation orders, others by economic and political conditions. Back in the country of their birth, however, they face discrimination and exclusion anew. Nancy Landa, a young woman living in Tijuana after being deported in 2009, put it plainly when she made her story public: Sometimes I feel that I have been more accepted in the U.S. even as undocumented, than how I have been accepted here as a Mexican national. The Mexican government makes bold promises to protect the rights and dignity of its citizens abroad, and its 50 consulates in the United States provide documents and legal guidance, as well as health, education, English language and even naturalization services. But that attentiveness does not extend to the Mexican side of the border. Deportees and returnees are no longer treated as migrant heroes as Mexican politicians often refer to them when they arrive at repatriation centers: All they get in terms of government support is a phone call, a repatriation certificate and a bus ticket. Because the U.S. government claims to prioritize those arrested for serious crimes for deportation, returnees are stigmatized as criminals in Mexico. Advertisement In 2014, in response to mass deportations during the Obama administration, Mexico launched a program called Somos Mexicanos. It promised to facilitate the economic and social reintegration of returnees, but it has not amounted to much. Patricia Carolina, who returned to Mexico in 2012 in search of the opportunities she was unable to find in the U.S. as a young undocumented migrant, explains Mexicos return policy in four words: It does not exist. Part of the problem is the discrimination against returnees based on their American accents in Spanish or their appearance. Because the U.S. government claims to prioritize those arrested for serious crimes for deportation, returnees are also stigmatized as criminals in Mexico. Institutional barriers are everywhere. For instance, since 2001 Mexico has given undocumented migrants in the United States consular identification cards and promoted them widely to facilitate access to American banks, libraries, schools, police departments and government offices. But there has been no parallel campaign in Mexico for migrants who reenter the country without valid identification. Even if returnees have a consular ID, these documents are not widely accepted as valid by Mexican bureaucrats. Compounding that problem, anyone returning to Mexico between March and June of this year did not even have the option of obtaining a voting card from the National Institute of Elections the primary form of ID used in Mexico because of restrictions imposed during the months before an election. Returnees are forced, in effect, to live without papers in their own country. Consulates in the U.S. have developed creative partnerships with American hospitals, schools and local governments to support the integration of Mexican migrants into their communities. These include social and health services such as the Ventanillas de Salud programs inside the consulates, adult education programs in Spanish, and college scholarships for undocumented youth. Meanwhile, these very same people have a difficult time accessing jobs and social services back in Mexico. Many returned children and youth lost years of schooling because of unreasonable requirements for notarized documents that would have to be obtained in the United States. Some of that red tape was recently cut in response to activists demands; however, once in school many children still face language and social barriers. Where similar problems exist in American schools, Mexico has offered textbooks in Spanish, teacher exchanges and literacy programs for parents. In Mexico, some community organizations have adapted those ideas, but they get no backing from the Mexican government. Workplace exploitation abounds, too. After living in the U.S. for decades, returnees lack the certifications, documents or local work experience required to get hired for jobs that match their skills. Many end up working in call centers for American companies, an entire industry that has benefited from the availability of thousands of underemployed English speakers. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Mexico actively promotes labor rights and skill certification programs so migrants can move up, earn more and advocate for themselves. Mexicos neglect of reintegration isnt new; the same was true after mass deportations during the Great Depression. Still, the current wave of deportations has been underway for years, and the needs of the thousands of people returning each week are clear. They need identification, housing, education, job placement and physical and mental health services. In the absence of public policy or even public debate civil society groups and organizations led by deported and returned migrants are stepping into the void to demand change. Migration is not a one-way movement. It consists of multiple processes including origin, transit, settlement and return. The Mexican government has been keen to look only in the direction of those who have gone north and who support millions of families with the remittances they send home. It is time Mexico shows the same concern for those crossing back into Mexico, including reducing the inequalities that pushed them to leave in the first place. Alexandra Delano Alonso is chair of Global Studies at the New School, and author of From Here and There: Diaspora Policies, Integration and Social Rights beyond Borders. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook Fifty-year anniversaries of the shocks of 1968 pour down: the Tet Offensive and the My Lai massacre in Vietnam, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, riots and demonstrations galore. All eminently deserve remembrance. But violent eruptions werent the whole story of that fateful year. On a global scale, 1968 was also the beginning of the end of Communism as a left-wing ideal. During the preceding half-century, despite all of Communisms recorded crimes, Marxist-Leninist revolutionaries had remained committed to the absolute rule of a single party as the only viable remedy for capitalism. Around the world, Soviet-style governments enjoyed a reputation as the best imaginable route to social progress, and even in Western Europe national Communist parties mattered. Then actual Communists of different stripes did a demolition job on their own world views. The notion that an autocratic superstate was the next and most desirable stage of history was battered beyond repair. After 1968, only the most blinded of the faithful could still be true believers. In the course of the year, four versions of Communist leadership were gravely discredited in France, Czechoslovakia, Cuba and China. When 1968 began, the French Communist Party was politically powerful but not exactly revolutionary. The students who rose up that spring against university authorities, police and capitalism in general owed no loyalty to the unreconstructed Stalinists in the calcified party. Communist-led unions supported a general strike in May 1968, but they were after conventional things like better wages and working conditions, not a total overhaul of society. Advertisement After 1968, Communism looked and felt passe. In fact, the French party vehemently opposed the students, led by anarchists and ultraleftists, when they pried cobblestones from Paris streets, built barricades and fought the police on behalf of a dimly glimpsed utopia. After the May uprisings were put down, radicals and the intellectual left condemned the Communists as de facto conservatives who were fronting for capitalism. Communism lost what remained of its luster in France. The party went into a steep decline from which it never recovered. On the other side of the Iron Curtain, in the spring of 1968, dissidents in Czechoslovakia were rejoicing. They thought they had found a way to liberate Communism from one-party dictatorship. Hoping to extend democracy and liberalize culture without overturning social ownership of the economy, they attempted to create socialism with a human face terminology that recognized the existing system was far from human. Under the leadership of the Czechoslovak Communist Party chairman, Alexander Dubcek, the government began to implement what became known as Prague Spring. Freedom sprouted: miniskirts on girls, long hair on boys. Banned books, films and plays emerged from the underground. Alarmed, in August, the Soviet Union and its satellites sent in 200,000 troops, literally crushing the reformers and their reform ideals. When dissidents rose again in 1989 to put an end to Communism, it was in the name of democracy and freedom, not socialism, whatever its face. Meanwhile, in Cuba, Fidel Castro had managed to inherited the internationalist mantle of his co-revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, martyred by the CIA in 1967 during his quixotic effort to instigate a peasant revolt in Bolivia. Because Castro made moves toward independence, the USSR responded by cutting off the islands oil supplies. Playing tit for tat, Castro began 1968 by arresting a pro-Soviet microfaction. But then he fell in line with the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, warning against fascist reactionary rabble who were moving Prague toward capitalism and into the arms of imperialism. As Castro grew more repressive at home, his international support withered and his revolutionary aura dissipated. The leftist mystique transferred back to the dead Che, who lingered in the dreams of young radicals like a sort of Cheshire cat. It only later became clear that by cultivating fantasies of successful guerrilla wars, the Cuban leadership condemned a whole generation of revolutionaries to death and failure. Increasingly, leftists search for a revolutionary lodestone turned to an imaginary version of China as an alternative to Soviet authoritarianism. Accurately perceiving that Mao was no ally of the Soviet Union, they construed Maoism to be purified Communism. But in 1968 and the years to come, the Cultural Revolution crushed such innocent fancies. Mao, who mobilized millions of youthful Red Guards to fight his enemies in the party, dispatched them to the countryside where their assaults on class enemies would leave many disillusioned. In time, Maos radicalism would be exposed as a murderous facade for totalitarian power. After his death, the party would scramble back, but what now passes as Chinese Communism is a cynical, paper-thin ideological escort for great-power capitalism wedded to a dictatorship not a revolutionary ideal at all. It took a while for the glow to fully fade, but after 1968, Communism looked and felt passe. Even radicals disdained Communist parties as fuddy-duddies, counter-revolutionaries, shields for Soviet imperialism or all three. Soon the only Communist state that sustained revolutionary esteem was North Vietnam, which for a while held onto its aura of nobility and idealism, albeit for a negative reason: It had withstood Americas ignoble war. Few of todays dissidents worship or rationalize power, however revolutionary its rhetoric. They undermine the authorities and revel in decentralization. When they seek inspiration, they usually find it in anarchism the ancestral bane of a Communism that is now not only obsolete but toxic. Todd Gitlin is a professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University and the author of The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage and 16 other books. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook Beginning on March 1, 1968, thousands of students walked out of five predominantly Latino high schools on the Eastside of Los Angeles. The students were protesting substandard facilities, a lack of books recognizing Latino culture, overcrowding and the decidedly racist attitudes of administrators and teaching staff, among other issues. The East L.A. Blowouts, as the protests came to be known, lasted for a week, growing to include some 15,000 students across seven schools. At Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights, alarmed administrators locked the school gates to prevent students from leaving, and Los Angeles Police Department squad cars surrounded the campus, to no avail. The primary setting for Blowout activities on the Roosevelt campus the site of both a student sit-in and an assembly held by Los Angeles Unified School District officials was the schools original auditorium and classroom building, commonly known as the R Building. The R Building, built in 1922, is one of 12 structures that make up a historic district. Because of the Blowouts, this district has been determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Nevertheless, two months after the 50th anniversary of the Blowouts, L.A. Unified will soon vote to demolish the R Building, along with Roosevelts gymnasium and other buildings on the campus. The decision comes as part of a proposed plan to modernize the campus. The Roosevelt High School Comprehensive Modernization Project will undertake some $173 million in upgrades, including critical seismic and accessibility improvements. It will also raze everything of historical significance. L.A. Unified will seal Roosevelts fate on May 8, when it votes to certify the projects final environmental impact report. Advertisement There is no question that Roosevelts students need and deserve the safest and highest quality facilities possible. Roosevelt High School should be modernized. But renovation need not come at the expense of historic preservation. There are clear, if unspoken, racial and cultural criteria for what gets deemed worthy of historic significance in this United States. There are clear, if unspoken, racial and cultural criteria for what gets deemed worthy of historic significance in this United States. Most of the sites that are included in the National Register of Historic Places and in the National Historic Landmarks Program recognize the accomplishments and experiences of white Americans. According to the National Park Service, which oversees both the register of historic places and the landmarks program, fewer than 5% of these protected sites are related to the histories of nonwhite communities, an imbalance the Obama administration fought to correct. Starting in 2010, the National Park Service began a series of studies on unrepresented communities. As a result of this research, the park services landmarks committee identified many new sites as eligible for national historic landmark status the highest recognition. I played a small part in the Latino study. As part of the review, many Los Angeles neighborhoods were surveyed. The five East Los Angeles schools where the Blowouts began were deemed eligible for landmark status for their architectural merits, yes, but primarily for the role they played in the social and political history of the city. Both the State Office of Historic Preservation and L.A.s Office of Historic Resources have also identified the schools as historically significant. Roosevelt High Schools R Building should be preserved, and there is no question that it can be done. L.A. Unified maintains that the buildings configuration of classrooms no longer meets educational standards. That may be true, but demolition is far from the only option. We could try building adaptation, an accepted practice worldwide in which partial preservation is combined with new construction. The Roosevelt campus encompasses more than 22 acres; this abundance of land affords flexibility. Surely L.A. Unified can come up with an alternative plan to preserve Roosevelts history while also upgrading its buildings something the district has managed to do at other historic campuses, including John Burroughs Middle School in Hancock Park and San Pedro High School in San Pedro. Schools have been flash points in some of the most important events in American history. Before Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954, there was Mendez vs. Westminster School District of Orange County, which in 1947 laid the groundwork for school desegregation throughout California. The five schools that sparked the East L.A. Blowouts are witnesses to a history that should not be erased. L.A. Unified needs to find the will to revitalize and preserve Roosevelt High Schools R Building while it still can. Luis Hoyos is an architect, a professor of architecture at Cal Poly Pomona and a member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook I was standing in a hotel lobby in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, one night in September 2014. Suddenly the windows exploded like a bomb going off and the walls and ceiling started to blow away. Diving under the reception desk, my legs bloody from flying glass, I kept my camera rolling and recorded the incredible onslaught of Hurricane Odile. Welcome to my world. I chase hurricanes. Im not a scientist but I collect field data that scientists use. My passion puts me in dangerous situations around the globe. The payoff: documenting nature at its most awe-inspiring moments. Odile was no exception. While I crawled across the lobby floor, bruised and bleeding, to find safety, one of my carefully calibrated instruments was up in my room, recording air-pressure data in a controlled environment. Air pressure drops as a hurricane approaches, and its usually lowest in the center the calm eye. When Odiles eye arrived and the roaring winds stopped for an hour, my device recorded its lowest pressure 943.1 millibars then rose as the eye moved away. Advertisement Ive been in dozens of hurricanes. Ive seen bad ones. But even I was shocked at Odiles devastation. Cabo San Lucas was mauled. The outside of my hotel looked like piranhas had attacked it. The large concrete building next door had collapsed into a mountain of rubble, crushing cars. Steel lampposts were bent to the ground. Thats how the whole city looked. Nothing this bad had ever struck Los Cabos. So imagine my surprise months later to find out Mexico was denied an insurance payout because the air pressure in Odiles center assessed from my data wasnt low enough. It was around this time I noticed financial and insurance folks praising my work on Twitter. Thats when I learned about catastrophe bonds (cat bonds), which are basically insurance policies that pay the customer (in this case, Mexico) only if the hurricanes central pressure is low enough. And imagine how unhappy I was to find myself at the center of the controversy reported in the Los Angeles Times article, Mexicos disaster bonds were meant to provide quick cash after hurricanes and earthquakes. But it often hasnt worked out that way. Im not a financial or insurance guy and Im frankly not interested in those worlds. I can comment only on what I know, which is hurricanes. And Ill say this: A hurricanes central pressure doesnt tell you much about its destructive potential. So Im amazed insurance products are tied to this metric. Generally, the lower the air pressure in a hurricanes center, the stronger the winds. But this relationship isnt fixed there are other factors. Therefore, you can have two hurricanes with the same central pressure say, 960 millibars but one has winds of 90 mph and the other has winds of 120 mph. So, central pressure is only a very loose proxy for a hurricanes strength. This aside, strength is only one ingredient for creating destruction. The other is size. A large, weak hurricane can do more damage than a tiny, strong one because it impacts more people. Given this, a combination of maximum sustained wind and size yields a better understanding of a hurricanes destructive potential than the central pressure. But wait its even more complicated, because a hurricanes rains can cause catastrophic flooding. These rainfall totals are totally unrelated to the other factors, and weak hurricanes can produce extreme rainfall. Bottom line: Hurricanes are complex things, and each is unique so you cant reduce an impact event to a single meteorological metric. And if you have to, central pressure isnt the one. What matters is the human impact the destruction. To the devastated communities in Cabo San Lucas, Odiles central pressure was purely academic. And an insurance system that denies payout because a hurricanes central pressure wasnt low enough makes as much sense as a fire-insurance policy that rejects a claim because scientists examined the wreckage and concluded the temperature never went over 1,300 degrees. Who cares how hot it was? The house burned down. I hope the insurance industry stops offering so-called catastrophe bonds that link payouts to a hurricanes central air pressure or any other meteorological metrics and instead focuses on the human impact. Until such common-sense reform happens, I caution customers (like Mexico) against investing in such bonds. Josh Morgerman is the founder of iCyclone (Twitter: @iCyclone), which collects real-time data from hurricanes. This piece is part of Blowback, our online forum for rebuttals to The Times. If you would like to write a full-length response to a recent Times article, editorial or Op-Ed and would like to participate in Blowback, here are our FAQs and submission policy. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The Protestants hate the Catholics, and the Catholics hate the Protestants Tom Lehrer, National Brotherhood Week When I saw Lehrer perform that satirical classic on TV, during my Catholic childhood in the 1960s, Protestants and Catholics still didnt get along that well, despite the election in 1960 of John F. Kennedy. But the 1960s also saw the flowering of the ecumenical movement nurtured by the Second Vatican Council. Aside from encouraging outreach to separated brethren, Vatican II launched reforms that led to the Mass being said in English, which made Catholicism seem less like a foreign faith to American Protestants. Advertisement Among Catholics, ecumenism was considered a liberal project. But by the 1990s, a new sort of right-wing ecumenism had emerged in the United States as politically conservative Catholics joined forces with like-minded evangelical Protestants, initially in opposing abortion. A milestone in this rapprochement was a 1994 document called Evangelicals and Catholics Together that was signed by, among others, two Catholic bishops and luminaries from the Southern Baptist Convention. It said that disagreements between Catholics and Protestants over doctrine must not be permitted to overshadow the truths on which we are, by the grace of God, in firm agreement. One of the principles on which the signatories agreed was a free society, including a vibrant market economy. But some cracks in the conservative evangelical-Catholic alliance at least in its Washington version appeared recently in the controversy over Speaker of the House Paul D. Ryans decision to fire the House chaplain, a Jesuit priest. On Thursday, Ryan reversed course and said he was happy to have the Rev. Patrick Conroy remain as chaplain after the priest retracted his resignation. In a feisty letter, Conroy disputed Ryans explanation for letting him go that members felt like the pastoral services were not being adequately served, or offered. For good measure, Conroy fingered Ryans chief of staff, Jonathan Burks, as the source for a different motivation. Mr. Burks mentioned dismissively something like maybe its time we had a chaplain that wasnt Catholic. He also mentioned my November prayer and an interview with the National Journal Daily. (Burks disputed Conroys recollection of their conversation.) The November prayer was the prayer Conroy delivered on Nov. 6 as members were preparing to act on a Republican tax-reform bill. It contained this plea: May their efforts these days guarantee that there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans. Not exactly liberation theology, but Ryan was reportedly not amused. According to Conroy, the speaker told him: Padre, you just got to stay out of politics. That makes it sound as if the dispute that led to Conroys sacking was political, not religious (and, anyway, Ryan himself is Catholic). But after Conroys resignation was announced, an uglier subtext surfaced: Apparently some Protestant House Republicans didnt like the idea of being ministered to by a Catholic priest. According to the New York Times, the chaplain controversy exposed long-simmering tensions between Roman Catholics and evangelical Christians over who should be the lawmakers religious counselor. Its story noted that after Ryan forced Conroy out, Rep. Mark Walker, Republican of North Carolina and a Southern Baptist minister, suggested that the next chaplain should be a family man a remark that caused upset among Catholics because it implied that Catholic priests, who take a vow of celibacy, would not be eligible. (Walkers spokesman said the congressman was not excluding any faith or denomination and that these traits were not qualifications.) In a syndicated column, the married journalists Cokie Roberts and Steven V. Roberts wrote: Terminating Father Conroy unveiled an ugly strain of anti-Catholicism infecting some House Republicans. No one likes religious prejudice, and were better off if the Protestants dont hate the Catholics and the Catholics dont hate the Protestants. And, in fact, anti-Catholic prejudice has declined dramatically in my lifetime. Yet a residue of ignorance (or worse) about Catholicism does exist among some evangelical Protestants, including politically active ones. Conservative Catholics who cozied up to them because of a common political faith need to be reminded of that from time to time. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Robin Abcarian wants to make the point that freedom of speech is a protected right regardless of the degree to which it offends no argument there. But in bouncing between college students in black face and comedian Michelle Wolfs performance at the White House Correspondents Assn. dinner, Abcarian ignores the real point that needs to be made: We as a society have a right and responsibility to defend and encourage good taste and proper behavior. In the first situation, the university president did exactly what he needed to do, which was to suspend the offending bodies until they conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful to all students. However, in Wolfs case, Abcarian should have said she was simply not funny. She was simply crass, with witless material. Watch a Dean Martin Roast and see how the pros used to do it. Humor entertains and allows the comedian to make a point accompanied by a laugh. In contrast, Wolf just wasted everyones time. Advertisement William Paxton, Eagle Rock .. To the editor: So whats the beef with Wolf? That she exceeded the bounds of good taste? Well, yes, she did has anyone ever been to an Eddie Murphy performance? That she mocked a president? Gosh, did anybody ever make fun of President Obama ears, for example? Saying President Trump wasnt very rich was very clever and very funny. That she wasnt ladylike? Aye, theres the rub, to borrow a phrase. Shame on the White House Correspondents Assn. for its lack of courage in criticizing Wolf after her performance. The concept of free speech only seems to apply to certain people. Lora Sigler, San Pedro .. To the editor: Nobody disputes Wolfs legal right to say what she said, as tasteless and hurtful as it was. The only questions for me were whether Wolfs comments were over the line, and whether it is appropriate to criticize her for her comments. Abcarian thinks not and claims that criticism of Wolf by the Republicans and by the journalists who had invited her to the roast was shameful, something Abcarian also had a legal right to say. But legitimate criticism of someone who makes nationally broadcast hurtful comments directed at another person is not shameful. Walt Lewis, La Canada Flintridge 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 Photo for illustration The renewed visa exemptions take effect from July 1st, 2018, and be valid for three years, after the pilot policy ends on June 30th, 2018. In 2015, 720,000 Western European tourists visited Vietnam, the figure increased to 855,000 in 2016 and 1.5 million in 2017, Minister Dung said. The result came from not only open visa policy, but also effective tourism promotion activities. He said the Government is considering petitions of the Vietnam Tourism Association to increase stay duration from 15 to 30 days or expand the list of countries with visa exemptions. The National Assembly has allowed the Government to pilot e-visas to help tourists worldwide apply for visas, contributing to attracting more tourists to Vietnam, he added. /. 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 A White House doctor who raised concerns about Ronny Jackson, the presidents former physician and scuttled nominee to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, has resigned. Jennifer Pena, the vice presidents lead doctor, left her position on Friday, according to a White House spokeswoman. The vice presidents office was informed today by the White House Medical Unit of the resignation, Alyssa Farah, the vice presidents spokeswoman, said in a statement. Physicians assigned to the vice president report to the White House Medical Unit and thus any resignation would go entirely through the medical unit, not the vice presidents office. Pena did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement According to a senior White House official, Pena clashed repeatedly with Jackson, whose nomination to run the VA was abandoned amid allegations of liberally prescribing drugs, drinking on the job and creating a hostile workforce. CNN reported Tuesday that the vice presidents doctor had raised concerns inside the White House that Jackson may have violated patient privacy protections for Mike Pences wife and sought to intimidate the doctor during confrontations over the episode. CNN did not name the doctor in the report, saying anonymity was requested as a condition of getting the memos. A person familiar with the concerns said Pena was the doctor who delineated those concerns. Jackson, a Navy rear admiral and former combat physician who served in Iraq, came under scrutiny after the office of Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) released a list of allegations about him from more than 20 unnamed current and former work colleagues. President Trump has decried the allegations as not true and has attacked Tester, who is up for reelection in November. Some of the allegations, including that Jackson crashed a government car after drinking, have been called into doubt by the Secret Service and the White House. Officials announced this week that Jackson would not return as Trumps personal physician but would continue to work within the White House Medical Unit. Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung informed the media that Vietnam purchased an additional US$32 billion over the past two years. He said that large reserves will provide more room for the State Bank of Vietnam to implement its monetary policy, especially in helping to maintain stability in exchange rates. In 2017, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Vietnamese dong increased by just 1.2%, lower than the 2% target set by the government. According to the National Financial Supervisory Commission, the USD/VND rate continued to remain stable in the first quarter of 2018 and was supported by a strong supply of foreign currency. The exchange rate stood at VND22,463 per US dollar as of March 29, up 0.21% against the end of 2017. In addition to providing adequate foreign currency for the economy and helping to control the foreign exchange market, strong foreign reserves will boost foreign investors confidence in the Vietnamese market, said central bank governor Le Minh Hung. President Trump further confused his legal strategy on Friday and undermined his credibility, disputing an account from his attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani that Trump paid $130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, just a day after hed confirmed the remarks. The presidents public rebuke Hell get his facts straight forced Giuliani within hours to issue a clarification that cleared up little. Trump, his legal worries seemingly mounting, also stepped up his attack against the special counsel investigating him and his associates, and hinted strongly that he would not submit to an interview with prosecutors a decision that could provoke a constitutional contest that goes to the Supreme Court. Giuliani had told multiple reporters this week that he had Trumps backing when he disclosed, starting Wednesday night on Fox News, that Trump reimbursed his personal attorney Michael Cohen for money given to Daniels just before the 2016 election, to silence her about an alleged tryst. Trump last month had told reporters he was unaware of the payoff. Advertisement Legal experts had questioned Giulianis move to reveal the new information, which Trump himself affirmed in tweets on Thursday morning. Their disclosures created additional political problems for Trump, suggesting hed lied previously and possibly violated federal law on reporting campaign and personal finances. He started yesterday, Trump said Friday of Giuliani, who joined the presidents legal team two weeks ago. Hell get his facts straight. Hes a great guy. The president, speaking three separate times to reporters as he left for Dallas to address a National Rifle Assn. convention, said Giuliani agrees with him that the federal investigation of Trump and his associates is a witch hunt. Yet even as Trump went on to contest Giulianis other statements, he declined to specify which facts were wrong or to clarify any inaccuracies. Well, youre going to find out, because, you know, were going to give a full list, Trump said to reporters, adding that there has been a lot of misinformation, really. He went on: I say, you know what, learn before you speak. Its a lot easier. The president bristled when a reporter asked why hed changed his story on Daniels. Im not changing any stories, he snapped. All Im telling you is that this country is right now running so smooth. And to be bringing up that kind of crap, and to be bringing up witch hunts all the time thats all you want to talk about. Giuliani later issued a statement intended to clarify the views [he] expressed over the past few days. It did little, however, to change his original version of events. During an NRA speech before a raucous and friendly crowd, Trump seized on comments made earlier in the day by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis in a federal courthouse in Virginia, to reinforce his own argument that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and his team are exceeding their investigative mandate in a desire to implicate the president in wrongdoing. Ellis seemed to side in a court hearing with Trumps former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, who is challenging his indictments for bank fraud and tax evasion. Manafort argues that they relate to his lobbying work long before he joined the Trump campaign and therefore are unrelated to Muellers mandate to investigate Russian efforts to manipulate the 2016 election. In Dallas, Trump pulled from his suit pocket copies of what appeared to be media accounts of the judges criticisms, citing the Wall Street Journal and fake news CNN. On CNN, they have a headline: Judge in Manafort case says Muellers aim is to hurt Trump, the president said. You believe that? he asked the vocally supportive audience, adding, Its called a witch hunt. Let me tell you folks, he continued, were all fighting battles. But I love fighting these battles. Its really a disgrace. Trump rambled freestyle through a number of topics at the NRA event, but didnt comment on the Daniels payoff or his and Giulianis remarks and reversals about it this week, which have stunned even the presidents own senior aides and others on his legal team. Giulianis accounts were surprising in their detail. He said on Wednesday that Trump had reimbursed his longtime personal attorney, Cohen, for the $130,000 payment to silence Daniels, in a series of monthly $35,000 installments that also covered other, unspecified legal services, for a total payment of as much as $460,000. Giuliani didnt say how Cohen spent the bulk of the money. Giulianis comments, if true, opened both Trump and Cohen up to possible legal liabilities over violating federal laws on reporting campaign-related finances and, in Trumps case, personal finances, including outstanding obligations to Cohen. To counter suggestions of campaign finance law violations, Giuliani denied in interviews that the payments were an effort to protect Trumps campaign. He asserted instead that they were intended to shield Trumps marriage and personal reputation from what Trump has called a false allegation. Yet one of Giulianis public comments about the alleged tryst with Daniels, and the hush money, undercut that argument. Imagine if that came out on Oct. 15, 2016, in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton, Giuliani said on Fox & Friends on Thursday morning. Giuliani had said the president didnt know the details of the payments to Daniels until the last two weeks a timeline that could account for Trumps previous denial and failure to report the expenditures. In Fridays clarification statement, Giuliani wrote, My references to timing were not describing my understanding of the Presidents knowledge, but instead, my understanding of these matters. Giuliani, in an interview late Thursday on NBC, said, I dont think the president realized he paid [Cohen] back for that specific thing until [his legal team] made him aware of the paperwork, Giuliani said. Trump has been increasingly outspoken and angry about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign, possible Trump campaign complicity and whether Trump has attempted to obstruct the probe. The president said on Friday that he would love to speak with Mueller but cast doubt that he actually would, citing his lawyers advice. I have to find out were going to be treated fairly, he said. Right now, its a pure witch hunt. The president also used his encounters with reporters to counter repeated stories of a soured relationship between him and his White House chief of staff, John F. Kelly, who reportedly has called Trump an idiot. Trump escorted Kelly over to reporters about to board Air Force One and said, Gen. Kelly is doing a fantastic job. There has been such false reporting about our relationship. We have a great relationship. He invited Kelly to reply and the former Marine general said its an absolute privilege to work for Trump, whose record to date is nothing less than brilliant. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington noah.bierman@latimes.com Twitter: @noahbierman Impulsive, risky, aimed at holding the loyalty of the his core supporters those characteristics of President Trumps actions have by now become familiar. Rudy Giulianis sudden announcement on Sean Hannitys TV program that Trump had, in fact, reimbursed his lawyer for the hush money that went to Stormy Daniels, the porn actress who claims she had an affair with Trump, shared all those hallmarks. Because Trump won the presidency in 2016, even his critics have a tendency to believe that a brilliant, if unorthodox, method must lie behind the seeming chaos that surrounds him. Giulianis latest move provides evidence to the contrary: Sometimes chaos really is just what it seems. Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter Advertisement THE PORN STAR AND THE PAYOFF The word backfire popped up nearly everywhere in the day-after commentary on Giulianis revelation. George Conway, the prominent attorney and husband of White House advisor Kellyanne Conway, whose Twitter feed has become an eagerly watched ironic commentary on his wifes employer, tweeted a copy of the Federal Election Commissions guidelines on personal gifts and loans one of several campaign finance and government ethics rules that Trumps arrangement with his lawyer, Michael Cohen, may have breached. Trump confirmed Giulianis comments in a series of tweets Thursday. On Friday, however, perhaps in response to the negative commentary, he tried to create some distance, saying that his lawyer, who started the job two weeks ago, started yesterday. Hell get his facts straight. Hes a great guy, Trump added in comments to reporters. Did Giuliani make things worse for Trump? Noah Bierman, Joe Tanfani and Michael Finnegan asked that question in their article. As they noted, a lot of legal experts believe he did: The payments may have violated campaign finance laws, and, if so, Giuliani has publicly laid a trail to Trumps doorstep. On the other hand, federal prosecutors in New York, having seized documents and computers from Cohens office, home and hotel room, almost certainly already knew the details of any such payments by Trump to the lawyer. Giuliani, who says he acted with Trumps knowledge, presumably wanted to get ahead of a story that would have become public anyway. Doing so effectively demonstrated that the president had previously lied to reporters. That would count as just a small downside in an administration where the accuracy of what the president says has long since traded at a steep discount. The fact that Giuliani blindsided the rest of Trumps legal team and his White House staff also now seems almost standard operating procedure. The statement and Trumps tweets seemed designed in part to provide talking points for the presidents core supporters. Thats the constituency Trump cares most about and the one he ultimately needs to hold if Democrats retake control of the House and begin impeachment proceedings. The big problem for Trump is that Giulianis statement, while clearing up some questions, opened a series of others: When did Trump know about the payments? Did Cohen pay off Daniels in an effort to protect Trumps reputation (arguably legal) or in a bid to protect his presidential campaign (a potentially illegal, unreported campaign expenditure)? Since Trump paid Cohen much more than the $130,000 that went to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, to what purpose did the rest of the money go? Finally, what message, if any, did Giulianis comments signal to Cohen, who faces potential criminal prosecution by the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan, which Giuliani once headed? Trump has tweeted that hes sure Cohen wont flip against him. How sure? MEANWHILE, MUELLER The latest Stormy storm came as the independent counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and Trump once again appear headed toward a confrontation. Only a month and a half ago, Trump, denying a New York Times story about an impending shakeup of his legal team, tweeted that he was happy with his lineup of John Dowd, Jay Sekulow and Ty Cobb, which had pursued a strategy of mostly cooperating with Mueller. Since then, two of three have gone Dowd replaced by Giuliani and Cobb replaced this week by Emmett Flood, who has previously opposed special counsels as a lawyer on the legal teams of both Bill Clinton and Dick Cheney. Cobb was the member of Trumps team who most consistently advocated cooperating with Mueller. His departure in favor of Flood signals a more combative approach, Chris Megerian wrote. We dont know, of course, exactly what shape the confrontation will take, but the probable outline appears clear: Mueller wants his prosecutors to interview Trump; the president and his lawyers want to avoid that. Mueller could issue a subpoena to compel Trumps testimony, Trump could go to court to try to have the subpoena quashed. Two decades ago, Ken Starr, the independent counsel investigating President Clinton about a land deal, issued a subpoena for his testimony. A few weeks later, Clinton agreed to talk his false statements in that interview about a sexual encounter formed the basis of the House vote to impeach him. A generation before that, the Watergate special prosecutor demanded that Richard Nixon turn over White House tapes. The Supreme Court upheld that move, which led to Nixons resignation after the tapes became public. As those precedents indicate, the odds would be against Trump if he tried to refuse testimony across the board. But he might win an effort to restrict the questions Mueller and his investigators could ask, several experts told Megerian, Trump and his spokespeople have argued, for example, that he cant be questioned about the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey because, as the president said in a tweet, The questions are an intrusion into the Presidents Article 2 powers under the Constitution to fire any Executive Branch Employee. That might not be a winning argument, but its at least enough to get into court and delay any testimony. It could also give supportive senators an argument in an impeachment trial. Even if Trump prevailed in court on that argument, however, Mueller might still have a lot to ask. As Megerian noted, the list of questions that Trumps lawyers compiled from their conversations with Mueller and his representatives a list that became public this week strongly indicates that possible Trump campaign collusion with Russians remains a main topic of the probe. House Republicans, meanwhile, released their report this week saying they found no collusion. Democrats called the report from the Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee a whitewash. THE NUCLEAR FILES While he fights with Mueller, Trump over the next several weeks must make key decisions on two international confrontations that involve nuclear arms. First up, the fate of the deal with Iran that aims to restrain that countrys nuclear program. Late last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel came to Washington to try to convince Trump to stick with the Iran deal, Tracy Wilkinson and Noah Bierman reported. Merkel followed French President Emmanuel Marcon. Neither European leader appears to have changed Trumps mind. Critics of the Iran deal make two big arguments against it: The deal only fully constrains Iran for a decade and, by easing sanctions, could make the Tehran government stronger and more able to withstand international pressure in the meantime. And while it has succeeded in rolling back Irans nuclear efforts, at least for now, the deal was not designed to do anything about other threatening Iranian activities. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used his initial visit to the Middle East this week to accuse Iran of destabilizing and malign activity across the region, Alex Zavis and Noga Tarnopolsky reported. (Pompeo also got a warm welcome at the State Department as he started his new post, Tracy Wilkinson reported.) The deals supporters argue that, while its not perfect, it has succeeded in rolling back a significant nuclear threat. Its shortcomings could be better addressed by staying in the deal and working to strengthen it than by pulling out, they say. Whether Trump has thought deeply about those questions is doubtful. His public statements have generally indicated confusion about what the deal actually does. But he knows he doesnt like it and seems all but certain to at least begin the process of pulling the U.S. out of it next week. Wilkinson took this look at how a pullout might work and what it would mean. Supporters of the Iran deal also argue that pulling out will discourage North Korea from negotiating seriously with the U.S. amid the recent push for better relations. After all, they say, why should anyone negotiate new deals if the U.S. wont stick to agreements its already made. North Korean officials have reportedly told the South Koreans that they would be willing to talk about giving up their nuclear arms as part of an agreement that would officially end the Korean War. Long-time Korea watchers express deep skepticism. Trump seems enthusiastic about meeting with Kim Jon Un, but administration officials insist theyre not starry-eyed, Laura King and Matt Stiles reported. Overall, as Bierman reported, Trump has developed a fairly clear pattern on the use of military force by his administration: He talks tough, but after 15 months, hes been risk averse when it comes to the actual use of military force. TRADE FIGHT Steel tariffs have squeezed U.S. businesses, and the resulting uncertainty threatens economic growth, Don Lee wrote. This week, the administration put off a decision on which countries to exempt from the tariffs Trump announced in March a move that frustrated some business groups that have pressed for a quick, clear decision. The economic numbers, meanwhile, continue to be healthy but unspectacular. As Jim Puzzanghera wrote, figures showed a slight slowdown in economic growth during the first quarter, despite the impact of Trumps tax cuts. The same picture came from Fridays jobs report steady growth, at about the same level as during the Obama administration. FUEL ECONOMY The administrations feud with California over fuel economy rules intensified this week. As Evan Halper wrote, EPA chief Scott Pruitt has signed off on a proposal that would strip California of its long-standing authority to set emissions standards that are tougher than the federal government requires. A few days after Halper disclosed Pruitts plan, California joined 16 other states and sued to block such a move, Patrick McGreevy and Halper wrote. The EPAs plan could have far-reaching consequences for climate and clean air. Halper took a look at the impact. TWO SIDES OF CALIFORNIAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION Whats it like to be a cross-country flight away from your constituents and your family? Sarah Wire took a look at the crazy commute that members of Congress from California endure. Meantime, Rep. Tony Cardenas denied uncorroborated allegations contained in a lawsuit regarding molesting a teenage girl. As Wire and Dave Zahniser reported, the suit doesnt name Cardenas, but rumors that he was the target have made their way through political circles. On Thursday, Cardenas lawyer Patricia Glaser confirmed that he was the unnamed John Doe referred to in the suit. But she vehemently denied that any of the allegations were true. Our California politics team will be covering the state GOP conventino all weekend here. LOGISTICS That wraps up this week. My colleague Christina Bellantoni will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration with our Essential Washington blog, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up. David.lauter@latimes.com @davidlauter NASAs InSight spacecraft is on its way to Mars after a predawn launch off Californias Central Coast. The lander blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 4:05 a.m. Pacific time in the fog-filled darkness of early morning. Its on its way, Sue Smrekar, the missions deputy principal investigator based at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said shortly after launch. At this early hour, the rising rocket could be seen just as a spark of light rising toward the sky. Advertisement It was thrilling, she said. The trip to Mars will take nearly seven months and cover roughly 301 million miles. Mission planners at JPL in La Canada Flintridge expect the lander to touch down in Elysium Planitia in late November. Once there, InSight will begin a two-year primary mission to study the planets deep interior. Scientists with the InSight mission its full name is Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport hope that clues beneath the Martian surface will help them learn more about what the red planet was like in the past when conditions could have been hospitable to life as we know it and how it came to be the barren world we know today. 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) InSight will examine Mars in three ways. It will place a seismometer on the ground to listen for seismic waves caused by marsquakes the Martian analogue to earthquakes and by falling meteorites. By studying the waves that have passed through the planet, scientists can get a better understanding of what the interior is made of. NASAs InSight mission will look deep into the heart of Mars for clues about its past InSight will also deploy a heat flow probe 16 feet underground to take the planets temperature. By comparing the readings from different depths, scientists can determine the temperature of the interior. Lastly, the lander will gather clues about the size and density of the Martian core by taking detailed measurements of its oscillations. Mars north pole wobbles as the planet travels around the sun, and that will affect the time it takes for radio signals to travel back and forth between InSight and Earth. Although JPL is located in Southern California, this was the first time NASA launched an interplanetary mission from the West Coast. Usually, such missions blast off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and head east over the Atlantic Ocean. That way, Earths eastward rotation can provide a natural boost. InSight is placed on a spin table during preflight processing at Vandenbergs Astrotech facility. (Dan Herrera / USAF 30th Space Wing ) InSight instead headed south over the Pacific aboard a powerful Atlas V-401 launch vehicle, which can ferry the spacecraft beyond the pull of Earths gravity all by itself. The rockets trajectory took it over the Channel Islands and along the coastline of California and Baja California, Mexico. By 7:11 a.m., it was traveling at a speed of more than 11,000 mph. It took about 13 minutes for InSight to reach Earths orbit, NASA said. It will land on Mars around noon on Nov. 26. InSights path from Earth to Mars. The date of arrival and atmospheric entry will be Nov. 26, 2018. Six trajectory maneuvers (TCMs) are scheduled. Dates are given relative to launch or entry. (NASA/JPL-Caltech ) UPDATES: 7:50 a.m.: This story was updated with comments from Sue Smrekar. 7:22 a.m.: This story was updated with details on the spacecrafts launch. This story was originally posted May 4 at 10:00 a.m. To follow up on Jamie OBrien Moores letter in the Mailbag (Rent increases threaten shops, April 21), Magnolia Park isnt the only Burbank area where exorbitant rents are driving out businesses; downtown Burbank is experiencing the same problem. There once was a newspaper and magazine shop in Burbank Village on San Fernando Boulevard in the block that houses Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. No matter which coffee house a person preferred, it was always convenient to stop and buy the paper before going for coffee. And the shops proprietor was a friendly man who would gladly engage in conversation about the news of the day. No more the shop owner could not afford the huge rent increase the building owner levied, so he called it quits. And its not just commercial rentals that have seen huge increases. Residential rentals in Burbank have also risen excessively, contributing to the burgeoning homeless population. Low-wage earners and the elderly living on fixed incomes can no longer afford to stay in their living quarters due to the greed that has consumed not only Burbank but most of California. Molly Shore Burbank *** Our family wishes to thank the Burbank Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center for its staffs kindness and support. We are humbled by the care and compassion they showed to our mother. We thank them for their excellent professional healthcare service and for showing our family great kindness, hope and comfort. Our family is grateful. The Rizzotti Family Burbank What started as a listening party in a downtown Santa Ana loft has blossomed into a popular gathering of artists, performers and art fans that changes location with every new show. Santa Ana Sites, founded in 2013 by Allen Moon and Grand Central Art Center, is gearing up for its 20th production, Cancion del Inmigrante. The free, multimedia opera takes place May 12 at 8 p.m. in the Bowers Museum outdoor courtyard. Performing live music will be Cunao, a Los Angeles-based Latin folk band. Also participating are Beth Peterson and One Grain of Sand Puppet Theater, as well as Crear Studio, a project founded by Grand Central artists-in-residence Sarah Rafael Garcia and Dino Perez. About 12 Santa Ana residents who have been involved with Crear Studio over the past eight weeks will be part of the procession as well. Cancion del Inmigrante started as a workshop project between Cunao and Peterson at Automata theater in L.A.s Chinatown district. I thought it was really touching, really beautiful, said Moon, a former professional dancer who now manages a roster of contemporary music, dance and theater acts for David Lieberman Artists Representatives. I wanted to support the creation or further development of the work. I thought it would be great to modify it and perhaps eventually tour it. It would be nice to see it have another life. Puppet artist Beth Peterson, center, works alongside Crear Studios artists to create a puppet for Santa Ana Sites presentation of Cunaos Cancion del Inmigrante on May 12 at Bowers Museum. The multimedia opera, features puppetry, song, dance and activism. (Courtesy of Dino Perez / Crear Studio ) In its original incarnation, Peterson created shadow puppets in the Japanese bunraku style to accompany songs performed by Cunao. With help from the Southern California-based nonprofit Community Engagement, the project expanded to include Crear Studio and Santa Ana residents who created their own puppets, masks and poems as part of the performance. I really feel like this is an important story, said Peterson, who has traveled the country and the world making puppets and helping others create them, too. The music and the lyrics are super beautiful, and the Crear poets really have a lot to say. What we really want to share are everyday peoples stories, which are not being told, shared or featured. We need to listen and learn more about our fellow neighbors. Julio Montero, founder of Cunao, which is Spanish slang for brother-in-law, dude or bro, said Cancion del Inmigrante is a set of stories about what the immigrant experience is genuinely like. One story follows a child crossing the desert with his family. Its very relevant the stories themselves, said Montero, 40, who plays guitar and percussion and sings. We want to just let the stories be, without having to politicize it. Its just about trying to create an understanding of this, which is their experience. Its not about us versus them, but being able to feel empathy for people going through this kind of experience. For Crear Studio, this performance is also an opportunity to showcase the community in and around downtown Santa Ana. The artists being marketed throughout Santa Ana are not folks who grew up here, said Garcia, who was raised in Santa Ana and returned there recently to write and work with Grand Central Art Center. Last year, she published six stories called SanTanas Fairy Tales, which also became a multimedia installation at Grand Central. Rents keep spiking for families, Garcia said. Thats why we started Crear, as an opportunity for us and to build equity and artists, rather than just become part of the cultural attraction. The works created out of Crear Studio will be on view through May 27 in Studio C of the Santora Arts Building in Santa Anas Artists Village. An opening reception was scheduled for May 5, and a closing reception is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. May 26. John Spiak, director and chief curator of Grand Central, said Santa Ana Sites has been an opportunity for folks to venture into spaces that they may not have been aware of, or may not have had access to before. Locales have included Frida Cinema, a subterranean racquetball court and Logan Creative, which used to be a staircase factory. I think its caused people to have experiences with both outside and local performance-based artists that they wouldnt typically have, in informal settings, Spiak said. Sites founder Moon said he wanted to challenge himself and present work in a way that audiences could get closer to the work. I wanted to take out the formality of going to a theater and sitting in an assigned seat, Moon said. One thing that arts really good at is putting a human face on a problem, a topic or an idea, and thats what a project like this does. If You Go What: Cancion del Inmigrante When: 8 p.m. May 12 Where: Bowers Museum courtyard, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana Cost: Free; online reservations highly recommended Information: (714) 567-3600 or santaanasites.com or bowers.org. Richard Chang is a contributor to Times Community News. Aditi Mayer surveyed the gathering crowd in the Viewpoint Gallery inside UC Irvines Student Center. She alternated between craning her neck and subtle pacing as the room began to fill up before the start of InSight Magazines launch event on April 24. The student-run publication out of UC Irvines Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation focuses on poverty and inequality in Southern California. Racks displaying the magazines glossy cover acted as bookends to a row of chairs awaiting guest panelists ranging from activists and social workers to writers and attorneys. Photographs illustrating the magazines stories decorated the backdrop while a short documentary explaining the magazines vision played on a silent loop on the adjacent wall. Its not about you being a savior for anyone, its about you engaging with poverty and understanding how poverty is constituted, regulated and lived, said Mayer, InSight Magazine founder and editor-in-chief. The magazines launch week of events put on by Mayer and a team of students consisted of a gallery reception and a panel on homelessness, a Q&A with UndocuMedia founders Ivan Ceja and Justino Mora, and an art and activism workshop led by artist Jenny Doh. Aditi Mayer, founder and editor-in-chief of Insight Magazine, speaks to a guest during a reception for the inaugural editions launch at Viewpoint Gallery in the UC Irvine Student Center on April 24. (Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer ) The kickoff event began with an address by Mayers mentor and Blum Center Director Richard Matthew. The panel on homelessness followed, with a lineup of L.A. Catholic Worker activist Kaleb Havens, advocate and writer for the homeless Patrick Hogan, social worker Sheena Innocente, and attorneys Brooke Weitzman and Mohammed Aly. Hogan, featured in the inaugural issue, tells of the death of a member of his Santa Ana riverbed homeless community. This is one of those things youre really proud of. Proud of yourself, proud of your team, said Sabrina Claros, the student photographer who helped illustrate Hogans story. Hogans contribution represents one of Mayers goals for the magazine: dissolving the idea of giving a voice to the voiceless and instead giving that power to the voiceless. Being in a university, I dont want to play into this ivory tower mentality of being able to speak on anothers experience. Instead, I want to create a platform where people kind of narrate their own story, Mayer said. InSights first issue is the fruition of a year and a halfs worth of effort, beginning as Mayers brainchild. The literary journalism and international studies major found inspiration through her academic history, having explored some of the social issues plaguing Southern California up close. These face-to-face confrontations with human poverty developed the understanding that once you see these issues face-to-face, it really leads to negotiations of identity, of privilege, of responsibility and political allegiance, Mayer said. Thats something I really wanted to create a platform for, for other students to experience. The initial InSight team expanded to roughly 35 students, ranging from journalism majors, like Mayer, to English and criminology majors. Mayer hopes the magazine will aid in developing students understanding of povertys many facets. I think once students do develop that understanding, they can really speak back to their disciplines, whatever that may be, Mayer said. And who knows, maybe something in the realm of poverty alleviation could tie into their long-term career trajectories. Sara Teal is a contributor to Times Community News. An easily forgotten but important chapter of Costa Mesas past is now on display. The Costa Mesa Historical Society is hosting Costa Mesa: The Hull Story, an exhibit that details the citys influential boatbuilding legacy that was largely centered in the Westside. The exhibit, a first for the historical society, began Thursday and will run at least least six months in the societys headquarters at Lions Park, 1870 Anaheim Ave. It was curated, researched and written by Nancy Pedersen, with graphics and design help from Art Goddard, lead volunteer for the historical society. The bulk of Costa Mesas boatbuilding, design and related industries started after World War II and lasted through 2003, by which time most of the businesses had left town. Many boatbuilders left California because of the states strict environmental laws, which made modern manufacturing more difficult than in the post-war era. Costa Mesa: The Hull Story is a new exhibit at the Costa Mesa Historical Society headquarters about Costa Mesas old boatbuilding industry. (Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer ) Goddard said Costa Mesa whose official slogan was Hub of the Harbor Area before it was changed to City of the Arts in 1999 became a boatbuilding center because of its proximity to Newport Harbor. As the Newport Beach coastline became more developed, boatmaking shifted up the hill to Costa Mesa, which had plentiful land and was within easy transporting distance for vessels that, once complete, could be towed to the water. It was a natural fit for Costa Mesa, Goddard said. It was willing to take on the industry. Pedersen, who runs a Facebook page called Newport-Mesa Boat Building History, got interested in the topic partially because its in her family. Don Pedersen, her husbands uncle, was a master shipwright who developed the Viking sailboat. Boats for Disneylands 1955 opening were built in Costa Mesa, as shown in the Costa Mesa Historical Societys new exhibit. (Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer ) For The Hull Story, she sifted through decades of phone books to find old businesses and talked to many people who were involved in the industry. By her count, Costa Mesa has had about 100 boatbuilders and associated businesses. But youre gonna miss some, Pedersen said, because many builders worked unofficially in their backyards. Her research took three years. Costa Mesa builders were particularly influential for their use of fiberglass. The first Duffy electric boats were built in Costa Mesa, as were boats built for the 1955 opening of Disneyland. When asked whether she plans to compile her research into a book someday, Pedersen replied, Believe me, thats in my head. Photographs, articles and a wooden model sailboat are part of a display in Costa Mesa: The Hull Story, a new Costa Mesa Historical Society exhibit about the citys boatbuilding history. (Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer ) BRADLEY ZINT is a contributor to Times Community News. Eastbluff Elementary School students were kept inside briefly Thursday afternoon as firefighters worked to extinguish a brush fire at Upper Newport Bay, authorities said. Newport Beach fire crews received a report of the fire in the area of Vista del Oro and Vista Grande at about 1:45 p.m. The roughly one-acre blaze was near homes in the citys Eastbluff neighborhood, but no structures were damaged. Students at nearby Eastbluff Elementary were told to stay inside because of the smoke, authorities said. Firefighters had the blaze controlled at about 2:50 p.m. The cause of the fire is being investigated. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN In what has become a trend among governing bodies throughout the state, the Costa Mesa Sanitary District is considering changing the method in which its board members are elected. Sanitary district officials have for some time mulled shifting to district-based elections, in which residents in particular areas elect one board candidate per area to represent them. But a recent letter from a Malibu-based lawyer challenging the districts current voting system accelerated the process, General Manager Scott Carroll said Friday. He is putting you on notice saying, Hey, if you dont do what I tell you, Im going to sue you, Carroll said of the letter from attorney Kevin Shenkman. Because of that, you have to meet some deadlines. Board members Tuesday will discuss launching the process to change to district-based elections starting in 2020. Currently, residents throughout the sanitary district which provides curbside trash collection and sewer services to about 116,700 ratepayers in Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach and unincorporated sections of Orange County can vote for any candidate running for the five-member board. In his letter to the district dated March 26, Shenkman alleges the at-large voting system dilutes the ability of Latinos to elect candidates of their choice or otherwise influence the outcome of the districts board elections and therefore violates the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. The districts election history is illustrative: During the past 15 years, there has not been a single Latino candidate for the Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Shenkman wrote. As of the 2010 Census, Latinos made up about 36% of Costa Mesas population. Shenkman, who identified his clients as the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and its members, warned he would be forced to seek judicial relief if the district doesnt voluntarily change its election system. Shenkman and his firm, Shenkman & Hughes, have filed or threatened California Voting Rights Act lawsuits throughout Southern California in recent years, including against the cities of Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and the Coast Community College District. Costa Mesa, Newport-Mesa and the college district decided to shift from at-large voting to district-based elections, but Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said last year that his city was ready, willing and able to fight any such lawsuit. Carroll said the sanitary district plans to have its recently formed citizens advisory committee study the issue and has hired a demographer the Center for Demographic Research at a cost of $14,597 to aid in the process. We were going to do this anyway, he said. Thats one benefit we have over other jurisdictions that got letters like this. Should the board give the go-ahead, the district would schedule additional public meetings over coming months to discuss it further, Carroll added. Tuesdays board meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. at the district office, 290 Paularino Ave. in Costa Mesa. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney Costa Mesa police are seeking the publics help in identifying a woman suspected of using someone elses credit cards to buy $6,000 worth of gift cards. Police said a woman purchased the gift cards Monday from two stores at Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive. Police described her as 5 feet 3 to 5 feet 6 and 130 to 145 pounds. Authorities are circulating images of the woman taken by security cameras from at least one of the stores. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Officer Jesse Chartier at (714) 327-7571. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN The delegation of nearly 90 entrepreneurs from 65 Belgian enterprises, led by Minister-President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois, is scheduled to visit Vietnam as part of activities to celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of the two countries diplomatic ties. Addressing the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Vu Anh Quang praised the Flanders Minister-President for his efforts to develop the relations between Vietnam and the Flanders region in recent years. He hoped the upcoming visit will help Vietnamese and Belgian businesses to understand more about each others potential as well as trade and investment cooperation opportunities. The diplomat said the two nations are working to elevate the bilateral ties to strategic partnership in some specific fields. He added that the free trade agreement between EU and Vietnam, once signed and ratified, will open up numerous opportunities for Vietnamese and Belgian enterprises to strengthen connectivity and collaboration. This will also help increase Belgiums investment in Vietnam, particularly in the fields of shipbuilding, agriculture, high technology, and clean energy, contributing to promoting sustainable and green growth in Vietnam, the ambassador added. For his part, Bourgeois hailed Vietnams strong development over the past 30 years with annual remarkable gross domestic product growth of 6-7%. Vietnam holds a lot of potential for economic development, and in fact, the country has been successful not only in calling for foreign investment but also in reforming trade and administrative procedures, he said. The Flanders leader added he has high expectations for Belgium-Vietnam partnership, adding that he hoped the two countries will work to improve trade balance in the coming time, citing the fact that the Flanders region exported EUR4.92 million worth of goods to Vietnam but imported EUR2 billion from the market. The reality shows that goods made in Belgium and Vietnam, especially farm produce, are not competitive but supplementary, enabling the two countries to boost cooperation in trade and investment, he added. On the occasion of five-day visit to Vietnam, businesses from the Flanders region will hold meetings, promotions and field trips to promote their products and study cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese partners. JetBlues announcement last week that it plans to decrease its flights at Long Beach Airport in September has Huntington Beach officials hoping for some relief for residents who say jet noise has damaged their quality of life. I dont know if itll make a lot of difference maybe a different player like Southwest Airlines may want to acquire those flight slots. But everyone has been hopeful, said Councilman Patrick Brenden, who serves on the Air Traffic Noise Working Group, a city task force created in January to tackle the issue. On April 25, JetBlue announced plans to refine its service in Long Beach to better meet the needs of the market while launching service in three cities, including Ontario, and increasing service in Burbank. The airline will reduce its daily flights at Long Beach from 35 to 23 in line with the 2016 level though it also said it would add service between Long Beach and Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Bozeman, Mont. The airlines decision to scale back its Long Beach flights stems from the City Councils decision last year to kill a proposal to build a federal inspection facility at the airport. Such a facility is necessary for an airport to welcome international travelers. Revising our schedule allows us to offer customers new destinations, capitalize on our leadership position in transcontinental flying and advance our margin commitments in Long Beach, where certain flying constraints have created challenges, Marty St. George, executive vice president for commercial and planning, said in the airlines announcement. Huntington Beach residents have increasingly complained about airline noise in the past year, since the Federal Aviation Administration implemented flight path alterations as part of its Southern California Metroplex project covering the regions airports, including Long Beach and Orange Countys John Wayne Airport. The agency said the changes would shore up inefficiencies, save fuel and reduce carbon emissions and flight delays. Residents in other cities also are unhappy with the new takeoff and landing patterns. Newport Beach and Laguna Beach sued the FAA over the system in 2016, saying the projects environmental review, which determined there would be no significant effects, was inadequate. Huntington Beachs task force has held meetings with residents and city officials to discuss potential solutions to air traffic noise. It also is tasked with establishing a working relationship with federal aviation and local airport officials and assessing opportunities for lawsuits. Mayor Mike Posey asked county and federal representatives in April to address aviation noise related to the FAAs regional air traffic system, describing Huntington as an epicenter for heavily concentrated new landing and flyover patterns. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor has said that more than two dozen air routes have historically passed over Huntington Beach. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher a Costa Mesa Republican whose 48th Congressional District includes Huntington Beach and parts of Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach joined the fray last month, asking JetBlue to retrofit some of its planes to help minimize noise. In an April 10 letter to JetBlues president and chief executive, Robin Hayes, Rohrabacher urged the airline to modify its Airbus A320 planes with vortex generators, known as air deflectors, and have them fly at the highest altitudes possible when approaching Long Beach Airport to alleviate their screeching noise. JetBlue spokesman Philip Stewart said last month that the airline was reviewing the letter. He could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. Rohrabacher also proposed four amendments to the FAAs annual reauthorization bill that he said would ease aircraft noise in Orange County. The amendments failed on a 375-37 vote by the House of Representatives last week. Brenden said the Huntington Beach group was pleased to hear that other amendments calling on the federal government to take steps to reduce the noise and health effects of commercial air traffic passed the House. I think we have hope there is some legislative action coming with the reauthorization bill that could offer some relief, Brenden said. He added that he plans to visit Washington this month to try to speak with legislators about the issue before the Senate votes on the reauthorization bill. A town hall meeting is slated for 6 p.m. June 13 at the Senior Center in Huntingtons Central Park, where community members can learn more about the groups efforts. Brenden said he believes the group has succeeded in having a seat at the table for potential remedies. Have we solved the problem? Not at all, he said. We have raised awareness to issues. Were taking action vs. being silent, like we have in the past. Priscella.Vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella Re: Scott Baughs signs disrespect Dana Rohrabacher: In your May 3 edition, letter writer John Devereux asserts that we should vote for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) since challenger Scott Baughs political signs were offensive and negative. Well, it just so happens that we got a mailing the same day paid for by Rohrabacher for Congress that is equally negative. By Devereauxs logic we should therefore not vote for Rohrabacher either. Politicians should honestly debate their platforms, even if it turns off some of their constituents. By that measure neither Baugh nor Rohrabacher deserve our vote. Both are just career politicians who look out for themselves rather than for the voters. Eberhard Neutz Laguna Beach Rehab homes are disruptive Apparently the powers that be felt it was OK to approve a rehab home on a family oriented street in our neighborhood. The neighbors have been subjected to belligerent behavior by the women in this home, have been cursed at and are left with a street littered with cigarette butts. The vaping in the park is out of control. Perhaps one of our city representatives might take steps to hold the operators of this home accountable and require these operators to stop using the guise of the Americans With Disabilities Act, giving them free rein to open these homes wherever they feel its monetarily beneficial. The owner of this particular rehab home lives in a nearby city. Our question is why this rehab home is not located next door to them. Juli Hayden Newport Beach Gang of Four are big spenders The Gang of Four on the Newport Beach City Council Scott Peotter, Kevin Muldoon, Marshall Duffield and Will ONeill go to comic extremes to pose as fiscal conservatives but the numbers tell another story. The gang cost the city $200,000 in legal fees and severance in the classless way they compelled City Manager Dave Kiff to retire early. The four were willing to forfeit $480,000 in fuel taxes paid by Newport residents to improve our streets in order to make a political point. They spent $300,000 on the so called City Hall audit. [Editors note: ONeill was not on the council at the time of the audit.] There are many other examples of waste. The four have cost taxpayers millions already. Peotter, Muldoon, Duffield and ONeill are not fiscal conservatives. Its time for a change at City Hall. Tim Stephens Corona del Mar How to get published: Email us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length. A 47-year-old man whose empty boat washed ashore in Newport Beach nearly two weeks ago is still missing, although he has not been declared dead. Orange County Sheriffs Department officials have said they dont consider Nicholas Busicks disappearance suspicious, but what happened to him while he was sailing his 17-foot Boston Whaler on April 22 remains a mystery. Busick rode his bicycle to a dock in Newport Harbor where his boat was kept and took the vessel out at about 1 p.m., authorities said. Busick, a father and husband, told his family he was going for a short ride, which was not unusual, said Carrie Braun, a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department. But shortly before 6 p.m., the boat washed up on the beach near 48th Street, still running, with no one aboard. The Coast Guard, Sheriffs Department and local lifeguards searched 186 square nautical miles by helicopter and boat for about 19 hours, authorities said. The Coast Guard suspended its search April 23, but the Sheriffs Department Harbor Patrol said it would continue to look for Busick as part of regular patrols. There has been no trace of him, Braun said. Busicks city of residence has not been released, and his family has made no public comment. Busick has not been declared legally dead, according to court records. The process to declare a missing person dead is handled through probate court and can take years, according to California law. Busick is described as about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. He was wearing a dark T-shirt and gray shorts. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Coast Guard at (310) 521-3801. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN Vanguard University nursing program graduate Miguel Rosado remembers hiding on rooftops and in bushes from both the army and guerrilla fighters while growing up in El Salvador. If either faction discovered him at age 12 or older, he would have been conscripted into one of Central Americas bloodiest civil wars. Like many Salvadorans caught between the factions, Rosados mother immigrated to the United States he was 8 when she left to work and send money home. I think that if I hadnt gone through that experience with the civil war, I wouldnt be as strong, said Rosado, 40. Vanguard, a Christian college in Costa Mesa, honored Rosado and 33 other nursing graduates Thursday during a nursing pinning ceremony, a tradition that dates to Florence Nightingale. The pins display the Nightingale lamp and a Christian cross chosen by the programs inaugural class. Miguel Rosado, 40, one of 34 Vanguard University graduating nursing students, speaks during a pinning ceremony Thursday. (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer ) We honor and celebrate the nurses being pinned today for the differences they make daily in caring for patients and their families through the provision of compassionate, quality and evidence-based care, Vanguard President Michael Beals said during the ceremony. Rosado and two other nursing program graduates, Kanoe Martin and Melissa Smith, were selected by their classmates to speak to administrators, faculty members, family and friends gathered at Newport Mesa Church. The nursing graduates also will participate in Vanguards commencement Friday. Before his mother left El Salvador, Rosado would place washcloths on her forehead when she was sick while wearing his white lab coat and toy stethoscope. With the help of his aunt, Rosado hid for more than five years before leaving El Salvador to be with his mother, who became a U.S. citizen. He has worked for 10 years as a licensed nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. I sincerely believe God has a calling for everyone, and Im so happy to be part of this calling, Rosado said. Vanguard University nursing graduate Miguel Rosado gets a kiss from his mother, Ana Zelia Gonzalez, after a pinning ceremony Thursday. Both are Salvadoran refugees. (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer ) Earning his bachelors degree in nursing while working full time came with challenges, including having his gallbladder removed shortly before his final presentation. God gave me a lot of angels that supported me in many ways, he said. Rosado plans to pursue a doctorate as a nurse practitioner in spring 2019, but that dream could be cut short because of his immigration status. Like many Salvadorans in the United States, Rosado has temporary protected status through Sept. 9, 2019. He could be deported to El Salvador unless the Trump administration takes action. Rosado hopes the program will be extended so he isnt sent back to a country he hasnt seen in more than 20 years. Its scary, but theres always hope, he said. Its going to work out somehow. The pin given to graduating nursing students at Vanguard University contains two symbols the Florence Nightingale lamp and the Christian cross. (Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer ) DANIEL LANGHORNE is a contributor to Times Community News. Twitter: @DanielLanghorne He was an inlander drawn to the water, though it would eventually claim him. When Ben Carlson died four years ago while saving a drowning swimmer in Newport Beach, it had a resounding influence on the community. A statue of his likeness erected near the pier and a lifeguard headquarters named after him are a few of the manifestations of this impact. Every year, residents gather on the beach on the anniversary of Carlsons death to pay tribute to his sacrifice. Now, Carlson will be further immortalized as the subject of the documentary Part of Water, which is being developed by Jack Murgatroyd and Tim Burnham. Burnham, a friend of Carlsons, said they started filming last year after clearing the idea with the Carlson family. The film will look at Carlson, his courageous death and his impact within a Newport Beach community that welcomed him despite being an inlander. Burnham remembers the moment he found out his friend had died. My mouth dropped and heart sank, Burnham said. Of all the Newport Beach lifeguards, I would have put Ben at the top in terms of physical ability. It didnt make sense to me. When Carlson, at age 32, was swallowed by a mammoth wave on July 6, 2014, it was the first death in the Newport Beach lifeguard divisions nearly 100-year history. But it wasnt just the rarity of the death that provoked the communitys emotional outpouring, but who it happened to. Carlson had the DNA of a waterman, the blood in his veins flowing with the current. Yet, he was largely raised in landlocked Rancho Cucamonga. Carlson ventured to Newport Beach at 17 a pilgrims journey to the sea, a mecca for the natural surfer and swimmer. A still of lifeguard Ben Carlson from the upcoming documentary Part of Water. (Courtesy of Hunt House Pictures ) Usually, beach communities are possessive of their space. Newport Beach locals reject inlanders as 909ers. He spent the majority of his life in Rancho, said Chris Carlson, Bens father. Its not easy for an outsider to break into the Newport Beach community. They are a protective group. But Carlson quickly endeared himself to the community as a lifeguard and bartender at a popular watering hole, Malarkeys Irish Pub. Since his sons death, Chris has been approached by countless individuals who were affected by his son. They speak of courage and humor, helping Chris piece together a life even he didnt fully comprehend. Ben had an impact on the Newport Beach and lifeguard communities far greater than we ever expected, Chris said. When Ben set his mind to something, he did it. That was the way he operated. I think thats what drew people to him. Chris said hes looking forward to learning more about his son from the film. There have been so many honors the renaming of Newport Beach headquarters, the statue thats near the Newport pier and this is another one, Chris said. For me, its going to be an opportunity to have something I can look at in quiet times and reflect. Aside from documenting Carlsons story, the film will also examine the heroism of the institution of lifeguards, which the filmmakers believe doesnt receive adequate reverence from the general public, though it demands death-defying feats like other public safety agencies police and firefighters, among others. Lifeguards dont get a fair shake, Burnham said. People have this Baywatch misconception. If you look at the rescues they are doing, they are putting themselves in natures dangerous elements. Bens accident was a wake-up call to the community that lifeguarding is really a dangerous profession. Like a firefighter going into a burning building, lifeguards go into dangerous waters to rescue others. Burnham said hes hoping they can release the film at the 2019 Newport Beach Film Festival. The largest hurdle so far is the need for substantial swells this summer so they can capture shots of the lifeguards, who are on duty during the summer. Last years disappointing surf season didnt furnish captivating action sequences. The film is not the first the pair have worked on together. In 2016, they released Dirty Old Wedge, which examines the popular big-wave bodysurfing spot in Newport Beach. Burnham directed the film and Murgatroyd produced it. For Burnham, filmmaking is more of a hobby. His primary job is at Albertini Italian Windows and Doors, a luxury Italian window brand based in Costa Mesa. Filmmaking is a passion thing for me, Burnham said. I dont necessarily want to make it my profession because I feel it would take the fun away if I was relying on it for money. Conversely, Murgatroyd is a filmmaking professional who founded the Los Angeles-based production company Hunt House Pictures. While the organization mostly produces commercials, Murgatroyd said he hopes the successes of Dirty Old Wedge and Part of Water will lead to further feature-length projects. Storytelling in a documentary fashion is what I got into filmmaking for, Murgatroyd said. We hope this film does well and we can keep making documentaries and progress with bigger budgets. Part of Water has already raised more funds than Dirty Old Wedge thanks to a recent Kickstarter campaign that reached its $25,000 goal in two days. Donations are currently more than $36,000 with 14 days left on the campaign. A trailer was also released with the Kickstarter. Chris Carlson thinks the fundraising successes exemplify the communitys faith in Burnham following Dirty Old Wedge, which became the top ticket seller at the festival. Burnham said it shows how resonant Ben Carlsons story is. Ben represents what people ultimately want to be like, Burnham said. For him to lose his life sacrificing for someone else people see the value in a story like that. Although any film has its roadblocks, one of the most difficult parts of the filmmaking process so far was coming up with an adequate title something that could describe the heroic poetry of Carlsons life arc. The title was a struggle for us we threw around a lot of different ideas, Burnham said. Bens sister in one of the interviews said he was always part of the water. That really stood out for us. We thought thats a great title. He was so connected with the water that he was a part of it. Having known him, he really was, even though he was born far from the ocean. He was an outsider and now hes a part of the water. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot It took nine months for her to trust the man who would almost kill her. So when he entered her Irvine home unannounced, she was a bit taken aback, but she didnt feel the need to panic. He said he was there to look at a treadmill she was hoping to sell something they had spoken about at the 24 Hour Fitness where she built up a rapport with the personal trainer. Then seemingly out of the blue he offered her a new weight loss supplement. It wasnt particularly odd for a trainer to offer supplements to a client, but this drink had a strange blue froth. She drank it. Then everything went dark. She woke up undressed with the man on top of her. Then Jeffrey Kelavos beat Patricia Wenskunas. He tried to suffocate her with Saran Wrap and threatened to kill her and then kill her 12-year-old son, Nathaniel who wasnt home at the time. I said, God if you give me my next breath, then I would live for community above self, she said during an interview. Wenskunas, fueled by the need to get to her son, was able to wrest herself away from Kelavos and took a plunge over a balcony to escape, fleeing into the neighborhood. Kelavos fled the scene and Wenskunas reunited with Nathaniel. In 2003, about a year after surviving that attack, Wenskunas founded Crime Survivors, an Orange County-based nonprofit that seeks to empower crime victims. The organization opened a resource center in Santa Ana on April 4, the 16th anniversary of the attack. After the incident happened, I went into the mode of helping people so they didnt have to suffer through the victimization and trauma that I did, said Wenskunas, 48, of Irvine. Before the attack, Wenskunas had been abused as a child and suffered through a violent relationship with a man who beat Nathaniel with a paint-mixing stick. Patricia Wenskunas was beaten by Jeffrey Kelavos. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail. (Courtesy of Patricia Wenskunas ) The reason she sought out Kelavos help in the first place was to try to tame eating disorders that had plagued her throughout her life. But it wasnt just the violent crime that fueled Wenskunas founding of Crime Survivors, it was the seemingly unjust legal saga that unfolded. During the trial, Wenskunas had to deal with PTSD and depression brought on by the attack as well as a judge who, in her words, lacked basic decency. Wenskunas said former Orange County Superior Court Judge Susanne Shaw berated her throughout the trial. At one point she got up off the bench I had my grandmothers rosary and my sons picture in my hand for some comfort and she took it out of my hand, set it on the counter and said I was making too much noise, Wenskunas said. The claim isnt unusual for Shaw, who was permanently barred from courtrooms in 2006 following an investigation that determined she had been abusive and demeaning to defendants, attorneys, witnesses and prospective jurors. The state Commission on Judicial Performance concluded that there was a high probability she will continue her unethical behavior if she were to sit in a judicial capacity in the future, after determining there were 42 instances of misconduct over five cases she presided over in 2003 and 2004. Shaw eventually tossed out attempted murder charges and Kelavos received 120 days in jail for assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats. All these years later and I still dont understand how he only had to serve 120 days, Wenskunas said. Wenskunas ended up filing a citation with the state against Shaw. Kelavos is a free man today. Wenskunas thinks hes still living in Southern California. But she tries to keep her mind from the demons of the past, focusing on the present so she can help crime victims heal. Crime Survivors has various programs depending on victims needs. We are really providing a place for them to turn to no matter if they need food, clothing or shelter, Wenskunas said. Patricia Wenskunas, founder and CEO of Crime Survivors, Inc. hugs one of the victims during a dove release in honor of crime victims during the unveiling of the Orange County Victims Monument design at William R. Mason Park in Irvine. (Photo by Susan Hoffman ) Included in the nonprofits several programs is supplying victims and law enforcement with victim emergency bags with tools that are helpful for victims in the days following an incident, support groups, assisting victims with travel and assistance related to legal support, and an education and career fund. Wenskunas also travels throughout the state to speak with law enforcement personnel about what crime victims go through in the wake of an incident in the hope that it will make first responders actions more empathetic. Patricia is compassionate and driven, Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel said through email. For more than a decade, she has championed victim rights in the region, providing reassurance, resources and support for members of our community who have suffered trauma and loss. I commend her for work and the impact she has made. Wenskunas also does a lot of advocacy work. Shes now taking on a computerized justice tool, called a public safety assessment, claiming there are flaws in how it comes to determine whether defendants should be released pending trial. She believes a person should be in charge of making the determination rather than an algorithm. With the addition of the new resource center, Wenskunas accomplished something shed been wanting for years. There, victims can get therapy, counseling, attend support groups and take self-defense classes. To be able to not be defined by what happened to me but to be empowered and strengthened to help other victims is what this is about, Wenskunas said. I believe there is a reason I am still here. I made that pact on April 4, 2002, that if God gave me my next breath then I would live for others above myself. For more information about Crime Survivors, visit www.crimesurvivors.org. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot A grassroots effort that began in Orange County following the 2013 suicide of Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warrens son has yielded a spirited call to action for Roman Catholics throughout California to help addicts and the mentally ill. In a nearly 6,000-word pastoral letter made public Wednesday, the California Catholic Bishops, an advocacy group that serves as the official voice of the states estimated 10 million Catholics including some 1.2 million in Orange County urged the faithful to move beyond stigmatization of the mentally ill toward ministry and care. I hope that (this letter) can go beyond the borders of Orange County and show that collaboration is possible among people of faith to really walk with their brothers and sisters who have these struggles so theyre not alone, said Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange. The document, Hope and Healing, is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States issued by a statewide Catholic leadership organization that addresses a topic traditionally not addressed by clergy and laity. The pastoral letter, timed to Mental Health Awareness Month in May, references the national opioid crisis such pain killers were involved in 42,249 deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the skyrocketing suicide rates among teenagers. Addiction issues often go hand in hand with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. We Christians have to get to know people, to befriend them, to listen generously to them, to walk with them, the bishops said in the pastoral letter. This is not because we have all the answers to their problems or can cure all of their afflictions, but simply because these encounters these small acts of love and compassion, understanding, and friendship are precisely what people need most. After Warrens son, Matthew, fatally shot himself after a lifelong struggle with addiction in April 2013, Vann, Warren and Warrens wife, Kay, had several discussions that led to a joint mental health conference in 2014. A joint mental health conference in 2014 grew out of conversations between Bishop Kevin Vann and Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Churchs founder, after the suicide of Warrens 27-year-old son. (Courtesy of Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange ) Then, in 2015, Vann established a Mental Health Taskforce of parish, community and medical mental health leaders that has resulted in the formation of mental health ministries at several Orange County parishes. These ministries host speakers and educational forums and provide links to medical services. In the beginning different things were going on throughout the diocese, but nothing was centralized, said Louise Dunn, director of New Hope Crisis Center, a counseling hotline run by Catholic Charities of Orange County. Now, more than 30 parishioners at several Orange County Catholic churches have been trained by Orange County Behavioral Health Services professionals to minister to churchgoers struggling with mental health issues and addiction, said Dunn, who also is chairwoman of the Diocese of Orange Mental Health Advisory Board. Among the Orange County parishes leading the effort to reach out to the mentally ill are St. John Neumann in Irvine, Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, Santiago de Compostela in Lake Forest, Christ our Savior in Santa Ana, and Sts. Simon and Jude in Huntington Beach. These and other Catholic parishes host educational forums that include members from law enforcement and the medical community including Mission Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, Hoag Hospital and CHOC Childrens, which now has a unit dedicated to treating minors with mental health issues. Theres been an understanding that we dont need to reinvent things, but instead work in collaboration so our (goals) can be accomplished, Dunn said. The letter urges collaboration between science and religion, health care and pastoral care. Clergy and health care professionals, families and mental health advocates should work together to encourage a both-and rather than either-or approach to psychological and spiritual healing, the bishops wrote. We welcome and encourage advances in science and medicine. Vann said he hopes the letter serves as a springboard to get all Catholic churches in Orange County, the state and, eventually, the nation to develop ministries dedicated to serving the mentally ill and those struggling with addictions. I hope that (the letter) finds its way into peoples hands so they can find some hope or healing for themselves, or learn how to help other people, said Vann, noting that the first homily he gave as a 29-year-old priest in Springfield, Ill., was at a funeral for a man who committed suicide. There are human faces behind these struggles and these labels, Vann said. The complete document, Hope and Healing: A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of California on Caring for those who Suffer from Mental Illness Addressed to All Catholics and People of Goodwill, is available at cacatholic.org/resources/mental-health Greg Hardesty is a contributor to Times Community News. A man who was on probation for stalking actress Sandra Bullock in 2014 took his own life after an hours-long standoff this week with police in La Crescenta. Joshua James Corbett, 42, barricaded himself inside his home in the 2400 block of Harmony Place around 7 a.m. on Wednesday after officers with the Los Angeles Police Department attempted to serve him a warrant. Steve Sitkoff, Corbetts attorney, told the Los Angeles Times the La Crescenta man missed a court date last month and police were there to arrest him. Lt. Gary Harman, a spokesman for the Crescenta Valley Sheriffs Station, said Corbett refused to comply with the officers and threatened to shoot them if they tried to arrest him. A SWAT team was called in and authorities tried to talk him into surrendering. At around 1 p.m., police were able to get inside the home but found Corbett had taken his own life. According to the Los Angeles County coroners office, Corbett made multiple lacerations on both of his arms and one of his legs. Sitkoff said Corbett had mental-health issues but stopped going to counseling. When he was getting help and medication, he was really a gentle soul, Sitkoff told The Times. He was a good person, but he had mental-health demons that we really thought he was controlling. In June 2014, Corbett was arrested after he was caught breaking into Bullocks West Los Angeles home. The actress was home alone at the time of the break-in and called 911 from a locked bedroom. Police found Corbett in possession of multiple photos of Bullock and a letter he wrote portraying himself as the actresss husband. He was convicted last year to five years of probation for the incident and was ordered to seek treatment at a mental-health facility. A 10-year protective order for Bullock was also issued against Corbett. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc A daily online crime data feed issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and regularly used by neighborhood watch captains to track and report local crime trends was temporarily suspended but is now back online, officials reported. The feed stopped in early February after the department decided the information was too tentative and subject to change to be statistically relevant. Last Thursday, after a legal disclaimer was added to the sheriffs public data sharing website, the feed was resumed. In a March 28 memo, representatives from the Sheriffs Information Bureau informed locals theyd no longer receive daily updates on crimes occurring in La Canada Flintridge and other areas falling under the jurisdiction of the department. Instead, a monthly report of verified crimes would be posted to ensure accuracy in reporting. Online crime reporting sites like SpotCrime.com and crimemapping.com, which aggregate daily crime data for easy digestion and dissemination, continued to report crimes logged by other agencies but not the sheriffs department. The change left neighborhood watch captains like La Canadas Cydney Motia in the dark about what was going on in town. Motia often shared daily online crime reports with neighbors on the LCF Community Watch Facebook page. I liked posting about burglaries because I wanted people to be aware of what was going on, she said. It was also a place where I could go back and keep track of crimes. Motia said she was disappointed to learn the daily feed had been suspended. Local neighborhood watch captains werent the only ones who expressed concern sheriffs deputies who used the daily feed to analyze crime trends and patterns were also alarmed by the shutdown of their own internal crime dashboards, according to SIB Capt. Darren Harris. Our crime prevention deputies understand its preliminary and subject to change, but theyre working on a certain zone, area or neighborhood, Harris said. People want the data fast and furiously, and they want it today. Capt. Chris Blasnek of the Crescenta Valley Sheriffs Station said daily data can be a good source of information but can also be misleading over time. Sometimes its good to let things be vetted a little bit, because there is misinformation out there, said Blasnek, who worked as a detective in East San Gabriel Valley from 1996 to 2000. If you release information too soon, not everything is as it seems on the face of it sometimes it turns out to be a different story later on. Victims may initially exaggerate narratives or omit information that would recategorize crimes as greater or lesser offenses out of fear or the desire to protect a loved one, the captain continued. Information gathered in an investigation can vary greatly from a deputys initial incident report. Harris said the ongoing discovery of such discrepancies is what caused the department to temporarily disable the feed. While some thought was given to allowing public access to only verified monthly statistics, feedback indicated a strong appetite for the continuation of the daily reports. Now, a disclaimer on the sheriffs daily crime reporting page asks users to acknowledge the information listed is for informational purposes only before they proceed. Visitors are also directed to the monthly verified information for reference. Harris said officials hope the fix offers the best of both worlds. It was a temporary disruption, but we hope the public understands what we were trying to do was for the interest of everybody involved, he said. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine The event is among the activities to celebrate the 128th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh while introducing visitors to the cultural practices of the Central Highlanders. The programme has attracted the participation of 80 ethnic people from 11 groups including the Tay, Dao, HMong, Kho Mu, Ta Oi, Co Tu and Raglai, as well as students from the Hanoi University of Culture, and members of the Vietnam Association of Crafts Villages. The event includes a display of photos, documents, objects, and articles on Uncle Ho and his sentiments towards ethnic groups in the Central Highlands region. There are also stories shared by those who were lucky enough to meet and talk with Uncle Ho. An art show will be held on May 19 and 15, introducing songs and dances praising President Ho. Traditional festivals and ceremonies will be re-enacted at the programme, including a wedding of the Raglai people in Ninh Thuan province on May 20, and a house warming ceremony of the Cham people on May 27. Visitors at the event will also have an opportunity to compete in folk games, taste Vietnamese dishes made from lotus seeds, enjoy gong performances, and try their hands at making the traditional cakes of the Central Highlanders. What does it mean when Hawaiians bestow a flower lei around your neck? When you give a lei, youre giving your intentions to that person, so lei are given for all sorts of occasions, said Emily Steele of Hawaii Flower Lei. Tourists who want to learn how to make a lei, a tradition steeped in centuries of Polynesian culture, can take free lessons at two Waikiki shopping centers in Honolulu. Visitors to Waikikis International Market Place select flowers and other plants to use in the making of lei during a free class. (International Market Place ) While tourists are most familiar with floral lei there is no s in the plural of the word they are also made from other types of plants. Advertisement Hawaiians came from Tahiti once upon a time, Steele said. And they definitely brought the idea of lei with them. Seeds and nuts, not just flowers. Colorful, fragrant flowers are the most popular components of lei in Hawaii. (Dana Edmunds/Hawaii Tourism Authority ) Visitors can learn how to string their own lei at classes held each Monday, Friday and Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Center. Participation is limited to the first 25 people (age 7 or older) who show up. Info: (808) 922-2299. A lengthier introduction to the island symbol of hospitality is held the first Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the International Market Place. (Mays class was held Tuesday, which was Lei Day.) No reservations are required for the monthly lessons, and guests leave with their custom-made lei. Lei are worn not only around the neck, but also on the head and the wrist. Ferns are woven together for the headgear of these hula dancers in Hilo. (Tor Johnson / Hawaii Tourism Authority ) While lei are given year-round, they were particularly popular on May Day. The City and County of Honolulus website explains that the unofficial holiday began in 1927 to celebrate and recognize the custom of giving and receiving lei. Steele said each spring she adds temporary staff to handle not only the May Day demand but the rush associated with school graduations as well. A greeter on the island of Oahu presents a floral lei to a visitor. Lei are given as gifts year-round, but are particularly popular on May 1, which is Lei Day. (Hawaii Flower Lei ) A growing portion of Steeles business is the lei welcome for visitors arriving at Hawaiis airports. In Honolulu, guests coming from the U.S. mainland are met at their gates by greeters who escort them to baggage claim or their connecting flight. ALSO Let Safari Wests wildlife and glamping transport you to Sonomas Serengeti Looking for somewhere new to stay? 11 California hotels among best new hotels in 2018 Barry Manilow will return to Las Vegas for 20 shows. Tickets go on sale soon travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Swiss is offering a $748 round-trip fare from LAX to Athens that includes taxes and fees. Pick your season. The offer covers two big travel windows: Aug. 20-Dec. 10 and Dec. 31-March 19. No expiration date is listed but buy sooner than later, as there are a limited number of seats available at this price. Other restrictions may apply. Info: (877) 359-7947, www.swiss.com Advertisement Source: Airfarewatchdog.com travel@latimes.com As it did everywhere, unemployment skyrocketed in Los Angeles County with the arrival of the Great Depression. Because farmers could not afford to hire workers to harvest their crops, food spoiled in the fields while families went hungry. Both the unemployed and the farmers benefited from a cooperative setup. In a Jan. 15, 1933, article, Los Angeles Times reporter Harold M. Finley explained: :: Henry, newest recruit of Unemployed Co-operative Relief Association Unit No. 1, was finishing his first mornings work in the field. That sounds kind of large, but this happened to be a carrot field. Henrys back was just about busted. A carrot doesnt weigh much, but a sack of them oh, boy! Advertisement They were working for a Japanese farmer, cleaning up a crop that was just laying there. The grower couldnt afford to hire men to harvest it with prices all shot to pieces as there were. It seemed like a good bet all around. The farmer had his crop harvested for him and the boys got a share for their labor. With his overhead cut down that way, the farmer could sell his stuff for a little profit. The boys share went to the warehouse to be pooled in with produce from other fields all around the district. Everything was on the shares basis labor for vegetables. And every unit member was entitled to his dig into the common store. :: The above photo was published with Finleys article. For more on 1930s cooperatives, check out this University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources blog post. This post was originally published on Oct. 7, 2011. See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here President Trumps economic advisors left Beijing on Friday with few apparent gains, accentuating the hurdles facing the worlds two largest economies as they careen toward a trade war. Both sides recognized that major differences remain, Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency said in a terse statement Friday afternoon. But they reached consensus in some areas and agreed to maintain communication. The U.S. delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, made a quick exit Friday evening without holding a news conference. Few analysts expected a breakthrough, but neither side held up even token wins. It remains unclear whether the U.S. will feel satisfied enough to delay an impending tariffs on $150 billion in Chinese goods. How could there be a negotiation in two days? said Ashley Qian Wan, China economist for Bloomberg Economics in Beijing. The U.S. came to give an offer and see if China would take it or not. Advertisement U.S. officials sent a list of hefty requests ahead of Thursdays meetings. They demanded China shrink its trade surplus $200 billion by the end of 2020 and stop subsidizing its high-tech production, according to a document first confirmed Friday by the Wall Street Journal. Even before the talks began, Chinese officials made it clear they wouldnt concede on Trumps desire to narrow the trade gap so dramatically or curb Chinas plan to develop homegrown, cutting-edge industries. If trade wars are fought, China will inevitably suffer losses, Xinhua said in a Wednesday commentary. However, China has the political advantage of centralized and unified leadership, a huge domestic market as its support and the international communitys support for a multilateral trading system. Liu He, Xis top economic advisor, led a delegation that produced its own demands including requests that the U.S. stop its investigation into Chinas intellectual property practices and remove proposed tariffs. But Liu had requested someone to talk to about the trade issue when he visited the White House in March. And this week for a few hours, at least, that happened. This might not be a negative thing, said Jianguang Shen, chief economist at Mizuho Securities Asia in Hong Kong. Theyre starting to negotiate, to meet. They have a wish list, and the Chinese can react to that. Its much better than not talking. Prior to the trip, even U.S. officials warned not to expect much. The White House jettisoned the legwork that usually goes into international visits and instead sent its entire team of trade advisors to Beijing for two days. Mnuchin led a delegation with competing views on how to deal with China. The group included economic advisor Larry Kudlow, a free trade advocate, as well as Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, trade advisor Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who take a more hard-line approach to the country. But the team does agree China has coerced American companies into handing over trade secrets and creating barriers that block entrance into its massive market. They fear the country will continue these practices and heavily subsidize key sectors, such as cloud computing and robotics, giving China control over the worlds most crucial technologies. Chinese officials argue theyre simply trying to catch up. They view the economys transition from labor-intensive production to advanced manufacturing as essential for its development. America complained for years about Beijings actions, they argue, and now its the protectionist bully. You are dealing with two different types of demands, said Chen Dingding, a professor of international relations at Jinan University in Guangzhou. One is a trade deficit, and the other is about who will control the future of technology. Tensions climbed last month after Trump proposed tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods that target high-tech products, including medical devices and aircraft parts. China matched the U.S. with a list of tariffs that would hit Trumps base, such as soybeans, tobacco and corn. Then Trump proposed tariffs on an additional $100 billion in goods. Adding to the tensions, the U.S. released a report on Thursday revealing the trade gap with China spiked by 16% to more than $91 billion in the first three months of the year. Chinese officials realize that, on this trip, the U.S. gave very unreasonable and unacceptable arguments, which China will definitely decline, Wan, the Bloomberg economist, said. But it will make the following requirement more acceptable and reasonable for the Chinese leaders. So, its a strategy for negotiation. The delegation dined at the state guesthouse Thursday evening, but neither the U.S. Embassy nor state media indicated the high-level delegation met with Xi. He spent much of Friday morning delivering a speech to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx, widely considered the father of communism. Xi took the opportunity to made pointed references to global interdependence. Whoever rejects the world, the world will reject them, he said, in a possible dig at the visitors. The dispute poses a threat to Xi, who must navigate between building up his economy and averting a trade war that could cripple global markets. But it also presents a challenge for Trump, whose Republican Party could take a hit in the midterm elections if China acts on its proposed tariffs. Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field, Trump tweeted Thursday as his advisors arrived. The groups ultimate success may appear, again, as a tweet. Nicolu Liu in The Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. Meyers is a special correspondent. Twitter: @jessicameyers On high-stakes trip to China, U.S. officials confront tech along with trade How Made in China 2025 became the real threat in a trade war A victim of its own industrial success, Chinas hanger capital is now just hanging on President Trump said Friday that the time and place have been set for his landmark meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un but kept the world guessing for now about the when and where. Trump also said that withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea was not on the table as he looks to get Kim to give up his nukes at what will be the first summit between a U.S. and a North Korean leader. The New York Times reported that Trump has asked the Pentagon to prepare plans for scaling back the U.S. military presence in the allied Asian nation. Some 28,500 U.S. forces are based there, a military presence that has been preserved since the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty. North Korea has long sought the removal of those troops as one of its conditions for denuclearization. It remains unclear if Kim has relaxed that demand as he turns to diplomacy with adversaries after a year of escalating tensions. Advertisement Trump suggested Monday that he was looking for his historic meeting with the North Korean dictator to be held at the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. Thats where Kim met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27 a summit that has paved the way for the U.S. presidents planned face-to-face with Kim. Trump also said then that the Southeast Asian city state of Singapore was also in the running to play host. We now have a date and we have a location. Well be announcing it soon, Trump told reporters Friday from the White House South Lawn before departing for Dallas. Hes previously said the summit was planned for May or early June. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence postponed a planned trip to Brazil at the end of May to free up resources for the summit. Trump on Friday also heavily hinted that the release of three Americans by North Korea was in the offing, but again was sparing on the details. Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages, and I think youre going to see very good things. As I said yesterday, stay tuned, Trump said, referring to an earlier tweet on the issue that has also weighed on U.S.-North Korean ties. Although Trump has placed considerable faith in South Korean leader Moons efforts to patch up relations with North Korea, the U.S. president has long complained that South Korea does not do enough to financially support the American military commitment. Still, it would be a quixotic move as he enters into negotiations with Kim. National security advisor John Bolton, who was due to meet his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong in Washington on Friday, called the Times report utter nonsense. The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea, Bolton said in a statement. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report. Meghan Markles divorced parents will meet with Queen Elizabeth II and other royals before her May 19 wedding to Prince Harry and will have special roles in their daughters wedding, a palace spokesman said Friday. At the wedding, the royal couple also plan to honor the memory of the late Princess Diana, Harrys mother, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997. Officials didnt predict the weather springtime in England can be glorious or horrid, sometimes on the same day but they outlined plans for a celebration designed to spread from the privileged environs of Windsor Castle throughout Britain and the world, via television and the internet. Here are some of the plans disclosed by Harrys press secretary, Jason Knauf, during a briefing at Buckingham Palace: Advertisement Meghan Markle, right, watches the closing ceremonies of the Invictus Games with her mother, Doria Ragland in Toronto, on Sept. 30, 2017. (Nathan Denette / AP Photo ) MORE: Find out how Meghan Markle bid farewell to Suits ahead of royal wedding Markles parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, will arrive during the week before the May 19 wedding so they have time to meet Harrys family. Knauf says they will visit with the queen; her husband, Prince Philip; Harrys father, Prince Charles; and his wife, Camilla; and with Harrys brother, Prince William, and his sister-in-law, Kate. Ragland will travel with her daughter by car to Windsor Castle on May 19 and Thomas Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St. Georges Chapel for the ceremony. Knauf says Markle is delighted that her parents will be by her side. He did not say whether Markles half-brother and half-sister will attend the wedding.The press secretary says Harry is keen to involve his mothers family in the wedding and that all three of Dianas siblings will be present. One of Dianas two older sisters, Jane Fellowes, will give a reading during the ceremony to represent Dianas family. Markle, an American actress who came to prominence in the TV series Suits, will not have a maid of honor during the ceremony. Harry has chosen William as his best man. Knauf says all the bridesmaids and page boys will be children. That may mean a role for Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 3, the children of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. But dont bother looking for Prince Louis born in late April as the youngest prince will not attend the wedding. Palace officials are determined that the style and designer of Markles wedding gown will be kept secret until the moment she gets out of the car to walk into the chapel. They say this tradition is very important but that wont keep speculators from trying to guess who has received the most important dressmaking assignment of the year. The Scottish State Coach, which will be used in the case of wet weather, for the wedding of Britains Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, while it is prepared for the special day, in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace in London on May 1. (Victoria Jones / AP ) The press secretary says Harry and Markle will spend the night before the wedding apart. They have been living together in recent months since announcing their engagement.They will spend their first night as a married couple in Windsor Castle. Palace officials say theyre hopeful that 96-year-old Prince Philip, Harrys grandfather, will be well enough to attend the wedding festivities. The queens husband has been recovering from hip replacement surgery and has not participated in any public events since being discharged from the hospital in mid-April. The palace plans to publish the Order of Service on its website the morning of the wedding so people watching it on television will be better able to follow whats taking place inside the church. Knauf would not reveal where the newest royal couple will spend their honeymoon, but he said they wont be leaving right after the wedding. Instead they plan to make their first public appearance as a married couple during the week following the ceremony. In the past, they have traveled in Africa together. Karl Marx and Frederic Engels built the revolutionary and scientific theological system which is considered to be the guideline and sharp spiritual weapon that led the revolutionary cause of the working class and workers around the world in the fight against oppression and exploitation. The Manifesto of the Communist Party, compiled by Marx and Engels, was first published in February 1848, it carries great theoretical and practical significance to the international communist and workers movement as well as for the development of the world and the progress of humankind. The President spoke highly of the contributions of Karl Marx to various fields such as philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism. With a complete theoretical system consisting of three components: Marxist philosophy, Marxist political economy, and scientific socialism, Marx and Engels created a scientific worldview and a revolutionary methodology to identify and improve the world, as Vladimir Lenin asserted, Marxism is a universal and exact doctrine. It is considered to be a sharp theoretical weapon for the working class and the workers around the world in the fight against oppression and exploitation, towards a brighter future. He went on to say that based on the fundamental principles of Marxism and from the reality of revolutionary struggle, Lenin successfully inherited the excellent legacy of Marx and Engels. He also supplemented and developed Marxism on many important issues in the context of capitalisms shift to the stage of imperialism, with theories on imperialism and proletarian revolution; the strategy and tactics of the proletarian class in the new age; ethnicity, colonialism, and the national liberation movement; and the role of the Communist Party and the State during the transition to socialism. The President also affirmed that for Vietnam, Marxism-Leninism has become a material strength and valuable spiritual asset associated with the patriotic tradition. On the path to find the truth for national salvation, the young patriot Nguyen Tat Thanh, Nguyen Ai Quoc, and later President Ho Chi Minh, soon absorbed the light of Marxism-Leninism. He found a way to liberate colonised peoples in association with the struggle of the proletarian class. From the beginning of 1923, Nguyen Ai Quoc asserted that only communism can save mankind, giving freedom, equality, charity, unity, wealthy, joy, peace and happiness to all without distinction of race or origin. The Communist Party of Vietnam was born in 1930 as a result of the combination of Marxism-Leninism with the workers movement and the patriotic movement in Vietnam, creating a great turning point in the history of the nation. Since its inception, the Party and the great President Ho Chi Minh have always taken Marxism-Leninism as the guideline for thoughts and action; creatively applied and developed Marxism-Leninism in the concrete conditions of the Vietnamese revolution, as well as combine skilfully issues related to class and the nation, and the national independence and socialism to lead the Vietnamese revolutionary from victory to victory. From the great victory of the August Revolution in 1945, which gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) the first ever peoples democratic State in Southeast Asia, under the sound leadership of the Party and beloved Uncle Ho, the Vietnamese people continued to gain glorious victories in the resistance wars against the French colonialists and the US imperialists to complete the national democratic revolution and succeed in the cause of national reunification to transit to socialism. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, due to many objective and subjective causes, the socialist regime in the Soviet Union and some Eastern European countries collapsed; the socialism and international communist and worker movements fell into recession. This is a great loss to the worlds revolutionary movements, but some countries have steadily followed the path to socialism with communist ideology and implemented the renewal process. The Communist Party of Vietnam has always maintained the revolutionary nature of the working class, steadily followed Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minhs Thought and the way of renewal, considering this as an urgent requirement of the revolutionary cause and a vital matter. History has shown that along with the development of the times, Vietnam needs to persist in the development of Marxism-Leninism and clearly identify that the renewal process does not mean an abandonment of the goal of socialism, but remaining aware of socialism in a correct and effective manner. Over 30 years of renewal process, the country has obtained great achievements of historical significance, affirming the renewal of the Party is correct and creative. The road to socialism in Vietnam should be in line with the countrys situation and the developmental trend of history. The revolutionary practice in Vietnam during the past 88 years is a lively and convincing proof of the great value and longevity of Marxism-Leninism, the President noted. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, the State leader called on each Party member and Vietnamese person to promote research and to creatively develop and contribute to the theoretical treasure of Marxism-Leninism as well as actively studying and selectively acquiring development theories and advanced social science achievements around the world; while continuing to clarify the perception of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam. In light of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minhs Thought, Vietnam firmly pursues the fine ideology of communism and the path to socialism that the Party, beloved Uncle Ho and the people have chosen. People across the country are determined to comprehensively and synchronously promote the renewal process, bring into full play the strength of the national unity bloc, seize opportunities and overcome all challenges to strive for the successful construction of socialism, and firmly protect the socialist fatherland of Vietnam for the sake of a prosperous people, strong country, democracy, justice, and civilisation. During his talks on May 3 with Carmen-Ileana Mihalcescu, Vice-Chairwoman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Romania, NA Vice Chairman Luu affirmed Vietnams policy of developing relations with its traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, including Romania. He appreciated the effective coordination and mutual support between the two countries in the international arena, especially within the framework of the United Nations, while asking Romania to continue backing Vietnams candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. Regarding the cooperation between the two legislative bodies, NA Vice Chairman Luu stated that the ties have developed continuously, contributing greatly to the Vietnam-Romania relations. The Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman took the occasion to thank Romania for training thousands of Vietnamese experts in different aspects, while currently providing 10 scholarships a year for Vietnamese students. Mentioning Romanias intention to recruit 2,000 Vietnamese labourers in 2018, NA Vice Chairman Luu said that there is good potential for their bilateral partnership in labour as Vietnam has a skilled and hardworking workforce who will meet the Romanian markets requirements. For her part, Mihalcescu affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner and market of Romania in Asia. Romania and Vietnam should maintain their close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, particularly the UN Security Council, she stated, adding that Romania backs the early signing of the EVFTA between the EU and Vietnam. At the talks with Deputy Speaker of the Senate Claudiu Manda, the Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman hailed Romanias socio-economic development achievements and its integration into the European Union. Claudiu Manda suggested that the two sides discuss specific measures to intensify their multi-faceted cooperation, while affirming that the Romanian Senate supports the promotion of bilateral economic ties. He affirmed that Vietnam holds a special important role for Romania in Southeast Asia. Earlier, the Vietnamese legislator had meetings with the heads of the Chamber of Deputies Committee for Legal Matters, Discipline, and Immunities and the Romania-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group. A Moravian Book Shop employee has started a petition urging Moravian College to keep America's oldest bookstore independent. The college and Moravian Church Northern Province announced last Friday that the Main Street institution would change hands in mid-June. Moravian College plans to relocate its Barnes and Noble-run campus bookstore to the shop, which will be managed by the company's college bookstore division. A small pop-up store will remain on the school's north campus. The Change.org petition launched Wednesday urges Moravian College to keep the bookstore independent and not allow Barnes and Noble to "take it over." By Thursday afternoon, it had garnered 2,535 signatures. "To be clear, it will not be a Barnes and Noble book store," college spokesman Michael Corr said Thursday. "It will continue to be called the Moravian Book Shop. However, we do need retail experts, like Barnes and Noble College, to help manage the store and ensure it's a viable business." Officially, the college and the book shop's board has said no decisions have been made regarding the existing employees or the independent businesses located in the store. But bookstore supervisor Leo Andrew Atkinson, who started the petition, said the almost 30 full-and-part-time employees were all told Friday they would be losing their jobs, but could reapply with Barnes and Noble. "It was a big shock for everybody," Atkinson, who has worked there for the last two years and also worked there in high school, said. "We hadn't realized they were looking for a buyer." Book shop board President Rick Santee said no employees were told they were being laid off on Friday. "What we have told them is that there are uncertainties no matter how they slice it," he said. "If we didn't sell, we couldn't guarantee the current staff would be here in December. If we had to stay with the store, one of the options was to dramatically reduce the footprint size and reduce staff." The board cannot make commitments on behalf of the college, but Santee has faith the school will give the staff fair treatment. "We're working with someone in the family that values the same things we value and has the same commitment to Bethlehem as we do and wants to treat employees as fair as possible," Santee said. Atkinson said employees were invited to apply to interview with the new store. "They told us we had no job security moving forward," he said. "It seemed like a nice way to tell everybody they were being laid off." Atkinson disagrees with characterizations that the Bethlehem bookstore is in financial duress. The store has been taking steps to streamline and modernize its operations and was on pace to have a great 2018, he said. He thinks the Main Street store is being forced to pay for the financial losses stemming from the failed effort to open a second location in Allentown's neighborhood improvement zone. After two years on Hamilton Street, the Allentown store closed at the end of May 2017. "The bookshop operation in Allentown was a calculated risk," Santee said. "It was by no means the tipping point much less the reason for our decision to transfer ownership to the college. We had a very favorable negotiation with City Center in Allentown and so, our exposure and our losses for that noble experiment were not substantial." In letters to the college and Bethlehem city officials, Atkinson disclosed figures about the shop's sales, which Santee says are inaccurate or out of context. "I am somewhat disappointed he would be publicly disclosing and discussing this financial information," Santee said. "It is not a secret, but we are a private corporation." Santee said he is surprised Atkinson has access to the store's financials given that he did not work in the accounting or finance departments. "While I appreciate his passion for the book shop, I find it disappointing he believes he should be forcing the denomination, the Moravian Church, to determine how it is a steward of its limited resources," Santee said. "We believe keeping it in the family and having someone like the college, who has made a commitment to us to maintain the quality and the ambiance of the bookshop, is the best way to be a steward." Many times over more than 200 years, church records show that Moravians have asked themselves if operating the book shop fits into their mission and purpose, Atkinson said. Having a local bookstore is a great asset for a local community, he said. "Every point in their history when that has come up they have decided, yes, a bookstore is an important thing to have in the community and fulfills their mission," Atkinson said. Atkinson doesn't deny that brick-and-mortar stores face a changing retail climate with the rise of online sales, But Moravian Book Shop has adjusted and found a niche giving local authors a larger online presence, he said. "We can't beat Amazon on the price of a bestseller, but we do let local authors have a larger platform," Atkinson said. Retail businesses on Bethlehem's Main Street struggle from a lack of foot traffic and the sale to Moravian is sure to draw many more feet on the street, Santee said. The college has said it hopes to create a linkage between its two campuses and bring more students into the downtown. The college says it has no plans to terminate the lease of the anyone living in apartments above the store. "Student housing is part of future plans, but no one is being kicked out when we take over in June," Corr said. The book shop's dedicated group of employees are at the heart of the store and it seems farcical to say the college intends to continue the store's traditions without them, Atkinson said. He hopes the loyal employees get a seat at the table in the coming weeks. "Ultimately, I don't know if the sale is basically impossible to be stopped, but what I do want to see is the local character of the bookshop to be retained," Atkinson said. "And retaining these employees who have dedicated years and decades of their life to the store." Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The former St. Joseph's Church in Easton will reopen Sunday nearly two years after a final Mass was celebrated there. The Divine Prayer Center based in Washington, Warren County, will bless the new church with an inaugural Mass at 4 p.m. May 6, according to the organization's website. The church will be a "Catholic prayer center," according to Father Thomas Sunil Aenekatt, director of the center. The center belongs to the Vincentian Congregation, a Catholic congregation founded in Kerala, India, under the Eastern Rite Church, according to Aenekatt. The congregation includes 600 priests working in different countries, and another 30 priests working in dioceses of the United States, Aenekatt confirmed. Diocese of Allentown spokesman Matt Kerr confirmed the sale of the church at 129-131 Davis St. to the Divine Prayer Center. Kerr said the diocese is negotiating the sale of the former church school. The graveyard will remain the property of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, which is now based in the former St. Bernard's Church in Downtown Easton. Our Lady of Mercy parish was formed when the former St. Joseph's, St. Bernard's and St. Michael's churches were merged to one parish. Now only the renamed St. Bernard's church remains property of the diocese. The final Mass under the direction of the Allentown diocese at the former St. Joseph's church was May 29, 2016. Northampton County online tax records show that the Divine Mercy Healing Center bought the church from the diocese for $266,589 on Sept. 5, 2017. According to the Allentown Diocese, the church needed $3 million in repairs. Divine Mercy Healing doesn't plan to invest nearly that amount, Aenekatt said. The priority is to repair leaks in the two church towers, he said. He said the inside of the church is in good shape. "We are not looking to repair the whole thing," he said. "We are going along with it one day at a time." Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Easton police have charged a homeless Phillipsburg man with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, records show. J Patrick Vulcano, 29, of Phillipsburg. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) J Patrick Vulcano, 29, sold meth to a cooperating source last month on the city's South Side, police said in court papers. Just before the sale, Vulcano met with another man, police said. The source met police at a predetermined location and turned over the drugs, which field tested positive for meth, police said. On Thursday, a detective swore out an arrest warrant before District Judge Daniel Corpora, records show. As of Friday morning, Vulcano, who is also charged with criminal use of a telephone, was not in custody. Vulcano is white, 6 feet tall, 160 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. Vulcano was in custody a few days prior to the sale, but he was extradited to New Jersey to face a shoplifting charge in Warren County. He was given a year of probation and community service on that charge and released, records show. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press A Penn State fraternity pledge who died after a night of drinking and hazing did not trip over sorority girls before tumbling down basement steps, the chief investigator testified Thursday. State College Police Detective David Scicchitano said he talked to the two members of the Trilogy sorority who some have linked to the February 2017 fall that left Tim Piazza unconscious at the foot of the stairs in the Beta Theta Pi house. A judge has to decide if there's enough evidence against 12 members of the now-shuttered fraternity who are facing charges that relate to Piazza's death to send the matter to county court for trial. The hearing is expected to conclude Friday. Although much of the action the night of the bid acceptance ceremony and party with the sorority was captured on the house's extensive security camera system, there apparently is no footage of the moment that a visibly intoxicated Piazza fell down the stairs. Asked by a defense attorney about the sorority members, Scicchitano replied that he spoke with two Trilogy members. One denied that Piazza tripped or fell over her, and the other said her friend was not in the area. "She heard the fall and looked down," Scicchitano said. "According to her statement, when she looked down her friend was nowhere to be seen on that stairwell." Piazza was carried upstairs unconscious, and later spent the night on the house's first floor in apparent severe discomfort. Fraternity members made ineffective or even counterproductive efforts to address his condition. They found him back in the basement the next morning, and then waited 40 minutes to summon an ambulance. Scicchitano said he has found "no outside causes" for the fall and blames it on Piazza's intoxication. Experts have estimated Piazza had three or four times the legal limit of alcohol for driving at the time. The detective told the judge he attributed the theory that Piazza tripped over Trilogy members to "somebody somewhere." The second day of the preliminary hearing focused on video of the party, as fraternity members, pledges and their guests were shown drinking and dancing after the bid acceptance ceremony. Scicchitano said three or four of the party attendees vomited, and one was shown urinating on the floor in the second-floor hallway. The fraternity members are charged with offenses that include hazing, reckless endangerment and alcohol violations. One is accused of deleting portions of the security camera footage. Prosecutors announced this week they were dropping the involuntary manslaughter and assault charges that some of the 12 had faced. A separate preliminary hearing was held previously for 14 members of the fraternity. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. At a reception for Peruvian Ambassador Augusto Morelli, on May 3, Phong expressed his hope for new steps in the development of cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and localities in Peru. The official said he believes that Ambassador Morelli would work as a bridge between Peru and Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City. For his part, Ambassador Morelli said he was impressed by the strong development of Vietnam, particularly the southern metropolis. Peru and Vietnam share many cultural similarities and have substantial potential for cooperation, especially when the two countries join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreement. The diplomat informed his host that he will propose the establishment of a Peruvian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. NJ Advance Media file photo By Tony Rhodin | For lehighvalleylive.com Most of the thousands of Megan's Law offenders in Pennsylvania keep their information and photographs up to date, as is required by authorities. But more than 30 "noncompliant" offenders are currently under investigation in the state, according to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Adam Reed. They need to check in with police, but have yet to be charged with a crime for not doing so, Reed added. And there are 22 other offenders, including one from the Lehigh Valley, who now have felony warrants out for their arrest and they are considered "absconded" -- one step further than noncompliant, Reed said. Wherever they go in the country, if they are stopped by police, a routine check of National Crime Information Center information will flag them as fugitives, Reed said. "All those guys have active arrest warrants," Reed said. And they now have something else. A listing on the state police Megan's Law site of the top most wanted offenders, which was recently added. Megan's Law is a series of sex-offender registries named after 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and murdered July 24, 1994, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, by Jesse Timmendequas, a neighbor who had two previous convictions for sexually assaulting young girls. The Kankas weren't aware of Timmendequas' record. The Kanka family fought hard for the mandatory registration laws. Megan's Law became state statue in 1995 in Pennsylvania, a history shows. Don't Edit How can you help? If you know where any of the 22 absconded fugitives might be, call 866-771-3170. Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Kim Lee - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on Dec. 28, 2012, on a minor Conviction: March 31, 2014 Last know address: Philadelphia Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, 7901 State Road, Philadelphia, Registration start: April 1, 2014 Last updated: April 23, 2014 Born: 1969 Description: Asian of Pacific Islander, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Phillip Clay - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on March 10, 2013, on a minor Conviction: Jan. 23, 2014 Last known address: 421 Main St., Darby, Pa. Registration start: April 30, 2014 Last updated: Oct. 29, 2016 Born: 1989 Description: Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 120 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: Tattoo on right arm (names and clouds) Don't Edit Courtesty photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Anthony James Worley Jr. - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Corruption of minors on March 18, 2014 Conviction: Oct. 15, 2014 Last known address: 367 W. Market St., York Registration start: Oct. 28, 2014 Last updated: March 29, 2017 Born: 1996 Description: Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 165 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Russell Allen Chamberlin - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse on Aug. 4, 1995 Conviction: Feb. 12, 1996 Last known address: 907 N. Third St., Apartment 5, Harrisburg Registration start: Dec. 19, 2014 Last updated: March 22, 2018 Born: 1974 Description: White, 6 feet tall, 210 pounds, green eyes and bald Other: Scar, abdomen (appendix), upper left arm (5 inches from shoulder to mid-bicep) Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Pedro Blasini - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Sexual abuse of children on March 28, 2014. Conviction: Aug. 18, 2014 Last known address: 49 Industrial Highway, Room 102, Tinicum Township Registration start: Feb. 4, 2015 Last updated: Feb. 4, 2015 Born: 1976 Description: White, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 150 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Thomas Flores - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on May 20, 2014, on a minor Conviction: Nov. 12, 2014 Last known address: 4543 N. Seventh St., Philadelphia Registration start: Feb. 12, 2015 Last updated: April 14, 2015 Born: 1990 Description: White, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 170 pounds, brown eyes, black hair Other: Tattoos on chest and both arms Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Troy Michael Pewterbaugh - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Rape on Aug. 18, 2015, involving a minor Conviction: Sept. 28, 2015 Last known address: 2426 Bumpville Road, Rome Township Registration start: March 6, 2018 Last updated: March 6, 2017 Born: 1996 Description: White, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 180 pounds, hazel eyes and brown hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Guy Denis McDevitt - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on Aug. 15, 2017 Conviction: Nov. 6, 2017 Last known address: 860 N. Front St. Wormleysburg Registration start: Nov. 7, 2017 Last updated: Dec. 22, 2017 Born: 1953 Description: White, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 210 pounds, blue eyes and white hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Don't Edit Tony Rhodin | For lehighvalleylive.com Michael Best - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault, Dec. 1, 2013, on a minor Conviction: Dec. 19, 2013 Last known address: Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, 302 N. 13th St., Philadelphia Registration start: Dec. 23, 2013 Last updated: Dec. 11, 2017 Born: 1962 Description: Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 160 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: Tattoo upper right arm (green heart with word "Mom" in the middle Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Joshua Emanuel Morciglio - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Corruption of minors on July 15, 2014 Conviction: April 14, 2017 Last known address: 61 Reily St., Harrisburg Registration start: June 28, 2016 Last updated: Dec. 15, 2016 Born: 1992 Description: White, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 184 pounds, brown eyes and brown hair Other: Tattoos left arm (Samantha with rosary), back (Everything is us), chest (heart "Love is loyalty, friendship, commitment, trust and honesty") Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Todd Eugene Thornhill - Absconded Tier 1 Primary offense: Indecent assault on Dec. 27, 2014 Conviction: March 3, 2016 Last known address: 8608 Westwood Road, Penn Hills Registration start: March 7, 2016 Last updated: March 3, 2017 Born: 1980 Description: Black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: Tattoos abdomen (Dog bite with dog picture), right arm (non-specific), upper right arm (Toddja) Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Harry Fox McDonald IV - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on Feb. 6, 2013 Conviction: Nov. 4, 2013 Last known address: 3200 Henry Ave, Philadelphia Registration start: Feb. 18, 2014 Last updated: Aug. 15, 2017 Born: 1973 Description: White, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 242 pounds, hazel eyes and brown hair Other: Scars on right forearm, right knee, right wrist. Tattoos on left arm (Lilly and Minnie Mouse), right forearm (incomplete), left hand (H4L), left shoulder (gothic angels), right shoulder (barbwire with his initials), right shoulder (flames with initials KB) Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Lloyd Henry Martin Jr. - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on Dec. 29, 2013, on a minor Conviction: Aug. 26, 2014 Last known address: 477 W. Fairview St., Somerset Registration start: March 5, 2015 Last updated: Sept. 5, 2017 Born: 1981 Description: White, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, brown eyes and brown hair Other: Tattoos left forearm (Dezerah), upper left arm (Paige), right bicep (Logan), right forearm (Zachery), back (tribal), left calf (Alexis), left hip (dragon), left wrist (11-11-11) Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Eliot Brown - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Statutory sexual assault on May 4, 2014 Conviction: Oct. 30, 2014 Last known address: 4919 Hawthorne St., Philadelphia Registration start: July 2, 2015 Last updated: Oct. 15, 2015 Born: 1992 Description: Black, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 192 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Troy Adam Peiffer - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Sexual abuse of children on Oct. 3, 2014, involving a minor Conviction: April 9, 2015 Last known address: 251 Crescent St., Harrisburg Registration start: Aug. 11, 2015 Last updated: June 12, 2017 Born: 1988 Description: White, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 170 pounds, blue eyes and brown hair Other: Scar (under arm on chest) Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Tyrei Rogers - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on Oct. 20, 2013, on a minor Conviction: Oct. 19, 2015 Last known address: 2622 S. Front St. Apartment 3 A, Philadelphia Registration start: Oct. 19, 2015 Last updated: Oct. 19, 2015 Born: 1983 Description: Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 150 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: Tattoos upper left arm (1 Life), chest (Aaliyah), chest (Joy and Pain), left forearm (Teddy Bear with D Boyz), Right forearm (Tyrei), left leg (Mom), neck (Destini) Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Dino Guy Paul - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Sexual abuse of children Aug. 6, 2015, involving a minor Conviction: June 20, 2016 Last known address: Washington, Pennsylvania Registration start: July 8, 2016 Last updated: July 8, 2016 Born: 1959 Description: White, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 156 pounds, green eyes and gray hair Other: Scar upper back Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Israel James - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on Sept. 28, 2015, on a minor Conviction: April 15, 2016 Last known address: 1998 Concord Road, Chester Registration start: July 26, 2016 Last updated: Oct. 6, 2016 Born: 1984 Description: Black, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 155 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Lauren Chambers - Absconded Tier 2 offender Primary offense: Lascivious act with a child on April 28, 2014 Conviction: Aug. 21, 2014 Last known address: 900 Blythe Ave., Drexel Hill Registration start: Feb. 21, 2017 Last updated: June 14, 2017 Born: 1985 Description: White, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 200 pounds, green eyes and brown hair Other: Nine three-inch scars (right forearm), Tattoos back (butterfly), left forearm (key fish), right forearm (butterfly with a rose), right forearm (loyalty) Don't Edit Courtersy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Isidro Mosquea - Absconded Tier 3 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on Jan. 25, 2015, on a minor Conviction: June 16, 2017 Last known address: 3346 Ella St., Philadelphia Registration start: June 16, 2017 Last updated: June 16, 2017 Born: 1975 Description: 5 feet 7 inches tall, 195 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: No scars or tattoos reported Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com John Randall Pyatt - Absconded Sexually violent predator Primary offense: Indecent assault on Dec. 25, 2015, on a minor Conviction: June 1, 2015 Last known address: 1513 Edgmont Ave., Chester Registration start: Jan. 5, 2016 Last updated: Jan. 4, 2017 Born: 1967 Description: Black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds, brown eyes and bald Other: Scars left arm, right hand, neck (one two inches long the other the size of a quarter), tattoos upper left arm (Merd) and upper right arm (dar and doc) Don't Edit Eniel Olivieri in 2014. Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com The only Lehigh Valley entry The only Lehigh Valley person on the absconded list as of May 3, 2016, was Eniel Olivieri. He had already served jail time for masturbating in November 2012 outside an Allentown nail salon when he entered a girl's room without his pants on in July 2013, records show. He sexually assaulted the girl and tried to remove her clothes, authorities said at the time. The girl ran from the home, and when Olivieri caught up with her, he apologized and then fled, city police said. He was found in a city backyard and admitted molesting the child, police said. He eventually pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault, while other counts were withdrawn. He was sentenced to one to two years in prison, records show. He is a Tier 1 Megan's Law offender, but is not listed as a sexually violent predator, records show. Don't Edit Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Eniel Olivieri - Absconded Tier 1 offender Primary offense: Indecent assault on July 18, 2013, on a minor Conviction: Jan. 31, 2014 Last known address: 819 Linden St., Allentown Registration start: Aug. 7, 2014 Last updated: July 19, 2017 Born: 1981 Description: Black, 6 feet 1 inches tall, 220 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Other: Tattoo upper right arm "Eniel" and right side of neck neck "Carmen" Don't Edit Don't Edit From 2017: Hidden among us: These 15 sex offenders from the Lehigh Valley failed to register Don't Edit Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. By Carl Golden In the 11 years I served as press secretary to Govs. (eight years) and (three years), it fell to me once a year to draft their speeches for the annual New Jersey Legislative . I was selected for the task presumably because my daily interactions with the statehouse press corps blessed me with insight into the personality quirks of the media, legislators and political figures, which I could then exploit into witty one-liners guaranteed to bring the house down. Carl Golden. I approached it determined to be funny but not cruel, to elicit laughter but not embarrassment, to skewer but not eviscerate, to launch barbed zingers that pinch but leave no scars. Sometimes it was easy; most times not. My first effort occurred in 1982, Kean's first year in office, and I turned out what I thought was a brilliant blend of satire and parody guaranteed to leave the audience rolling in the aisles and bring them to their feet in a spontaneous outburst of admiration and appreciation for the display of clever wit. I recall sitting across from Kean while he silently read my work, convinced he'd recognize the finely honed sense of humor it conveyed. He finished, dropped the pages on his desk, looked at me and said: "Why is this funny?" It should be noted here that Kean was a shaggy-dog story kind of guy, incapable of delivering a punch line that poked fun at others or used their foibles or perceived shortcomings in search of cheap laughs. I managed to salvage most of that 1982 speech, rewriting it to remove some of the sting while preserving most of its insight. If it elicited chuckles rather than belly laughs, well, I may have been a little disappointed but Kean was comfortable. His comment -- "Why is this funny?" -- bubbled to the surface of my memory when I watched the performance of Michelle Wolf, the comedian hired to entertain the audience at the White House Correspondents Association dinner last week. While her routine included a few guffaws, most of it was wince-inducing and cringeworthy. Flinging the f-bomb around the room as if it were no more embarrassing than uttering "aw, heck," and using various scatological references to make a point was a poor answer to "why is this funny?" I readily concede that the style of humor has changed dramatically since 1982 and the traditional boundaries on using profanity vanished long ago. There were no prudes in the media or in political life in 1982; it was simply that we all exercised self-restraint (admirable or not) to avoid using the kind of language Wolf so casually employed in mixed company. We just weren't into self-embarrassment by drawing gasps from the audience at the shock value of four-letter words. There were other limits recognized back then as well. Ridiculing the physical appearance of another was forbidden, as was any reference to race, ethnicity, gender or religion. Explicit comments or innuendos concerning sex were the greatest taboo of all. It wasn't as if these qualities weren't discussed occasionally in private among a few, but building a speech around them and delivering it from a podium in front of a few thousand dinner-goers begged Kean's "funny" question. Wolf certainly has her defenders, those who argue that speech, no matter how offensive, cannot and should not be suppressed. For standup comics, edgy is what they do. Others faulted the Correspondents Association itself for failing to research Wolf's career and past performances more diligently to get a better sense of her routines. The depth of dismay, though, was evident in the post-dinner comments of several reporters who felt Wolf's numerous personal broadsides were needless and excessively insulting. When reporters accustomed to street corner language and wisecracks about personal traits or intellectual deficiencies of others express over-the-top criticisms, it's time to rethink the premise of the entire social gathering. It's not likely the dinner tradition will end as a result of the uproar over Wolf's speech. Changes, perhaps, or more careful vetting of the person hired to entertain the crowd might be considered. One place to start might be running the draft speech by Kean, so he can look across his desk and ask, "Why is this funny?" Carl Golden was born and raised in Easton and currently lives in Burlington, N.J. A 45-year-old Alpha woman and a 41-year-old Irvington, New Jersey, man were arrested during a drug raid on Thursday in Alpha, Phillipsburg police report. The town police Special Operations Division worked with the Warren County Prosecutor's Narcotics Task Force, New Jersey State Police and the Warren County Tactical Response team on the investigation, Capt. Michael Swick said in a news release said. The tactical team executed a search warrant about noon at 737 Third Ave., Swick added. It was the culmination of a month-long probe into possession and distribution of heroin, Swick said. Tiffina Jankowski, of the Alpha address, was jailed on three counts of possession of heroin, three counts possession of heroin with intent to distribute and two counts of distribution of heroin, Swick said. Kevin D. Williams, of 855 Springfield Ave. in Irvington, was charged with two counts of possession of heroin, two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and one count of distribution of heroin, Swick said. All the charges are third-degree offenses, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail, Swick said. Jankowski and Williams were being held in Warren County jail awaiting upcoming court action, Swick said. A Hackettstown Police Department K-9 was part of the raid, according to a report from the scene. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Stock Market News Buoyant Polish economy boosts DP Poland in first quarter 04-05-2018 13:53 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News Europe midday: BNP, SocGen cap upside in Cac-40 as traders watch China talks 04-05-2018 12:08 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 Chinh, who is also Head of the Central Party Committees Organisation Commission, said he was happy to see that relations between the two countries parliamentarians and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians Group and the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance have been nurtured through many generations. He said Vietnam-Japan ties have enjoyed strong development with increasing trust between high-ranking officials of the two countries, adding that close cooperation between the two nations friendship parliamentarian groups in recent years has brought in successes. The two sides have jointly organised various cultural exchange activities in both countries and lifted up their voice in fostering bilateral cooperation in key areas, including economy, trade, investment, agriculture, security, defence and education-training, he added. Chinh also expressed his hope that Japan will share experiences in environmental protection to assist Vietnams sustainable development, as well as provide support in researching and forecasting the impacts of environment and climate change to the countrys growth. For his part, Arata Takebe said the two countries have been cooperating fruitfully in various fields. He affirmed that Japan is willing to share experiences to help Vietnam handle social and environmental issues during its development process. 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 Two years ago, after graduating with an MBA in the US, Quang chose to return to Vietnam in order to build his career with the free mobile app. To date, Clingme is one of the few startups in Vietnam that has raised capital worth over US$3 million and has become renowned for its outstanding and convenient functions. Dissimilar from other shopping support applications, Clingme has personalised the phone screen for each users group. At the same location, user groups will get different shopping recommendations, giving customers the most convenient and smart shopping experience. It also helps retailers to approach customers. Clingme is attractive due to its features that facilitate discounts, help users to find restaurants, gas stations and ATMs, and make orders, bookings and payments with QRcodes. In the context that 95% of all retail transactions in Vietnam are carried out directly, Online to Offline (O2O) business models are becoming an increasingly complementary method to make business more effective. Offline channels help to optimise online channels in experiencing the products, while the online channel is a sufficient condition to lure more customers to the stores. Clingme is following the O2O model and expects to become a leader in the trend in Vietnam, said CEO Tran Hai Quang. For us, Clingme is no longer a startup. Clingme has set a target to make itself the leading retail technological company in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Hai added. Style / Fashion May 04, 2018 | By Shirley Wang Malaysian property developer PRG Holdings is venturing into the luxury clothing business via its 75 per cent-owned unit Furniweb Holdings. In its filing with Bursa Malaysia, PRG said Furniweb, which is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, had signed a letter of intent with Philipp Plein Group and Plein Sport. PRGs recent business collaboration with the global fashion sensation, Philipp Plein International Group and Plein Sport will set to open shops in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Based in Switzerland, Philipp Plein designs, makes and retails luxury apparel ranging from lifestyle apparel to sportswear. With the agreement rolling out by the third quarter of 2018, Furniweb will be appointed as the authorised dealer, promotion and sale of luxury and lifestyle fashion apparel under the label, as well as a player in future business strategy and planning. Now, who is this Philipp Plein? Philipp who started out creating furnitures for dogs before switching his career path in 2003, describes himself as a dream chaser. His bold endeavors in fashion are outrageous, and the streak of defiance is further amplified by his unapologetic persona. Plein may be the designer/creative director of his show, but his character takes no less limelight. More than a mere behind-the-scenes force, he is the rockstar to his rock n roll fashions. Pleins social media presence, according to Remsen, is absolutely aligned with the pistons of his lucrative, incendiary and self-named label, which raked in 200 million [$236 million] in 2015 by selling gauchely conceived clothing and accessories to the nouveau riche. His personal Instagram account leaves a definitive footprint with photos of his black Rolls-Royce Wraith, Lamborghini Aventador and homes from Cannes to Lugano to Lexington Avenue, and of course, his latest girlfriend, whose right clavicle is branded with a Philipp Plein tattoo. These pictures are perfect representations of the ethos of the man and his namesake brand. Unsurprisingly, Pleins shows have incited very polarised reactions. Pleins shows have become legendary for all the wrong reasons: they are aggressive, loud and unforgivingly late, as Dan Thawley wrote for BoF this February. Often starting an hour past the call time, the runway features regulars from the likes of Paris Hilton, shirtless male models in body paint and fake machine guns, to ex-convicts such as Jeremy Meeks (pictured above) and other buzzy figures. Basically names that most big-name fashion brands will avoid casting, are exactly what that regularly round out Pleins line up. Pleins routine shows in Milan and New York might sound like gaudy marketing UFOs, fireworks, burlesque performers, ghost houses and 18-wheeler monster trucks, with no less of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens performing stunts and popping wheelies, pimped out with LEDs (as WWD so aptly put it), to complete his image as the King of Bling. He still doesnt have an official slot on the fashion week schedule, but his tactics have worked at attracted a loyal cult following. Plein is content with being an outsider in fashion, because on Instagram he has his own community with more than one million followers. His unabashed character is even more explicated in his interviews. When asked why he stages such outlandish runway shows, Plein told the Times Elizabeth Paton, simply: He is doing this for his fans, or the individuals whom the vast majority of designers would much more gracefully refer to as clients or customers. There is certainly no room for Plein to be politically correct or sugar-coat his words. In his review of Pleins S/S 2018 menswear show in June, Vogue fashion critic Luke Leitch best captured Pleins brilliance in his comment. Pleins personal blend of braggadocio and balls, plus a taste level so unabashedly trashy its almost genius, has seen him carve out a niche, it is hard not to admire. Plein has set his eyes to dominate the global fashion with his brazen wares. He is planning to double the count of stores in five years, expanding his current network of 80 stores globally, 13 of which are privately held. With PRGs core business in textile manufacturing and properties, there seems no stopping this deviant. On May 4, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), in coordination with the Delegation of the EU to Vietnam, held a policy dialogue to discuss the implementation of the aforementioned programme with non-refundable ODA funded by the EU. It targets to increase sustainable access to power in rural, mountainous and island areas and to build a more sustainable energy sector by promoting energy efficiency and the use of clean and renewable energy. MOIT Minister Tran Tuan Anh said that in Vietnam 99% of the population have access to the national grid, yet about 1% have no access to electricity. Therefore, the Government aims to set aside some of its budget to invest in measures to ensure that almost all islanders and locals in mountainous and disadvantaged areas have access to electricity by 2020. Vietnam is striving to not only turn to green and clean energy, but also to a green economy, making it the nations top development direction, the minister affirmed, adding that Vietnam wants technical assistance for connecting renewable energy to the national grid. He also asked the EU for their support in effective implementation of a market conversion towards high-performance equipment, energy efficiency and smart electricity. A representative from the EU delegation said that the two sides would need to discuss further on the issues related to Vietnam's legal, financial and personnel framework, as well as programmes and action plans, along with training high quality human resources to ensure the implementation of the schemes reached by both sides. The doctors namely Alain Delbary, Daniel Derval, Eric Wohlschies and Diep Mong Hung received the honour at a ceremony held by the General Hospital of the central province of Ha Tinh on May 3. The doctors, from the Cotes d'Armor Vietnam Association, have had working trips to Ha Tinh General Hospital. Over the past time, the Cotes d'Armor Vietnam Association has helped the hospital develop professional technologies and improve the quality of medical check-ups and treatment, benefiting thousands of patients in Ha Tinh. Of the total, there were more than 101,600 foreigners and 253,900 domestic holiday-makers, up 20.2 percent and 12 percent respectively from the same time last year. The majority of foreign visitors were from the Republic of Korea, Japan, and China. They arrived in the city via direct flights. Da Nang is the most popular destination for travellers in Vietnam during the public holidays, according to the online booking agent Agoda.com. Especially, the annual Da Nang International Fireworks Festival is considered a determining factor of tourists choice to visit this beautiful central coast city. In addition, a wide range of activities were held on the occasion, including the Da Nang sea tourism programme, street music, and a street festival. Da Nang has won the hearts of both domestic and foreign tourists thanks to its marvelous sandy beaches, stunning natural landscapes, and intriguing tourist attractions like Ba Na Hill Mountain Resort, Ngu Hanh Son, Son Tra Peninsula, Linh Ung Pagoda, and Han River, among others. Recently, the online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb announced a list of the worlds top 10 destinations for the 2018, in which Da Nang ranked fifth with bookings surging by up to 255 percent. This content is from: Africa Managing IP held three dinners for its 2018 awards in London, New York and Hong Kong. Find out all the winners and view photos from the events A new Code of Conduct for Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys (the code) came into effect on February 23 2018 to address two issues: 1) The introduction of the trans-Tasman patent attorney regime which was commenced on February 24 2017. This is the regulatory framework for patent attorneys to register and practise between Australia and New Zealand. 2) Amendment of the conflict of interest provisions in response to the development of publicly listed companies acquiring multiple attorney firms and operating in a group and concerns related to the potential for conflicts of interest. Registered patent and trade mark attorneys (attorneys) are bound by the code in relation to the following areas: Communication The code regulates the way attorneys communicate their legal and ownership structures to clients. In addition to informing clients about competency, costs, timing and procedures before taking on any new work, it is necessary to inform clients about whether the attorney is operating as part of a public or private incorporated company, or whether the attorney is a member of a group of entities which have a significant degree of common ownership or control or both (ownership group). Confidentiality The code provides that an attorney must not use or disclose or allow use and disclosure, of confidential information of a client, a former client or prospective client, without their consent. In essence, an ownership group is considered to have a single body of clients and for the purpose of the confidentiality and conflict obligations, this must be considered across all members of the group. Loyalty An attorney's fiduciary duty and duty of loyalty to the client requires that the attorney must not prefer the attorney's interests over the interests of the client or prefer one client's interest over the interests of another client unless consent is obtained from both clients after appropriate disclosure so the clients can make an informed decision. The code provides that an attorney may act adversely to a former client only if no confidential information is held by the attorney in relation to the matter or if an effective information barrier is established. However, an attorney must not act for two or more clients in the same matter in contentious proceedings. Conflicts An attorney must take all reasonable steps to avoid conflict of interest between the attorney's interests and those of a client and between the interest of one client and another client. Independence Where an attorney is a member of an ownership group, a client of any member of the group is considered to be a client of the attorney and subject to the duties of loyalty and to avoid conflicts, and will not be considered independent of the ownership group unless the attorney operates independently of the other members for providing attorney professional services, including not having access to client confidential information held by another member of the ownership group. Irrespective of independence, the attorney must not act for a client in a proceeding against a party that is a client of another member of the ownership group unless the client has given informed consent. Ownership Where an attorney is a member of an ownership group there is a requirement for clear public disclosure of this, including the identity of the other members of the group. The code mandates that clients' interests are paramount irrespective of the structure of any IP professional services entity. The code enshrines the primacy of client confidentiality, transparency and the avoidance of conflicts and is a practical solution to changing structures and practice in the Australian IP sector. Joanne Martin FB Rice Level 23, 44 Market St Sydney NSW 2000, Australia Tel: +61 2 8231 1000 Fax: +61 2 8231 1099 The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article China announced a huge government reshuffle programme. The sweeping government restructuring programme was said to be the largest reform since the end of the Mao Zedong era in the 1970s. The number of ministerial-level bodies was reduced significantly. The entire structure reflects the aim of streamlining governance, in key areas such as environmental protection, taxation, financial regulations and the legislature system on the administrative side. In the intellectual property world, the most relevant change is the establishment of a super State Market Regulatory Administration (SMRA). This combines the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). The antitrust divisions of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will also be merged into this super ministry. The patent and trade mark offices will be combined and housed under one roof - the SMRA. The responsibilities of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) for patents, trade marks and geographical indications respectively will all be governed under the SMRA. Placing the patent and trade mark offices under the new mega ministry SMRA is something that has been discussed before, but the extent of this new authority's powers comes as a surprise. With regard to how it will affect the capabilities of the patent and trade mark functions, it seems the change might be more administrative in nature and cause no major disruptions. It is not necessary that the reorganisation will impact either office negatively, as it will still be the same group of people working at both offices. Both offices should function in the same way as they have done previously. The restructuring also raises bigger picture questions such as who will now guide the overall direction of IP policy in China and whether there will be a redistribution of resources. Traditionally, the SIPO has been deeply involved in nurturing IP innovation policy and shaping the law, and it reports directly to the State Council, the highest level of authority in the country. SIPO plays an instrumental role in the new patent law amendments and inventor remuneration regulations. Now, any policies to be initiated by SIPO will be checked first by the new SMRA and, if approved, forwarded to the new Ministry of Justice, which is reinvigorated by including the former State Council Legislative Affairs Office. It is believed that before long the SMRA will dictate patent-related policies. Regarding the SMRA, what is mostly notable is its new leader. Bi Jingquan, former head of the CFDA was just appointed to lead the new regulatory body as party secretary general, together with Mr Zhang Mao, former head of the SAIC, as minister of the SMRA. Bi Jingquan is widely regarded as a hands-on pro-reform and pro-innovation leader who has, for example, been playing a critical role in introducing the pharmaceutical patent linkage system in China. The reform he led in the pharmaceutical area is unprecedented and is clearly part of the foundation for his promotion. He might continue instigating reforms at this new ministry. The progress he will initiate in the area of patent linkage, regulatory data protection and patent term extension will be signals of future reforms in the IP field. The impact of the consolidation at the central government level remains to be seen at the local level. In fact, in recent years local SMRAs have been established in many cities, starting from Shenzhen. Patent administrative enforcement has already been tried out at some of the local SMRAs. The consolidation of the enforcement powers in both the trade mark and patent area might arguably increase effectiveness and deterrence. What is also notable is the consolidation of the antitrust departments in the SMRA, as it may have some impact on IP-related antitrust regulations. The NDRC and SAIC arguably both have jurisdiction over IP-related antitrust issues. The consolidation, which aims to achieve uniform antitrust law enforcement will probably put an end to this dual jurisdiction. He Jing Chen Zhixing The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article 26/F, Tower D, Central International Trade Center6A Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022, PR ChinaTel: +86 10 8567 5988Fax: +86 10 8567 5999 wuli@anjielaw.com www.anjielaw.com In recent ex-parte appeal proceedings (decision 14 W (pat) 10/16 of January 23 2018), the German Federal Patent Court (GFPC) contributed to the interpretation of Article 3(a) of Regulation (EC) No 469/2009 (the Regulation). The appellant based the request to obtain a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) for the product a hexavalent combination vaccine containing previously known antigens in a formulation with special adjuvants on the corresponding market authorisations and the German part of granted European patent EP 0 835 663 B1 (the basic patent in the sense of Article 3(a) of the Regulation). The German Patent and Trademark Office (GPTO) rejected the request and pointed out that the vaccine composition is not protected by the basic patent. The requirement of Article 3(a) of the Regulation is not fulfilled, and, therefore, an SPC cannot be granted. According to the CJEU decisions Actavis/Sanofi (C-443/12),Georgetown II (C-484/12) and Actavis/Boehringer (C-577/13), a product can only be regarded as being protected by a basic patent if the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients is protected as such. The product in question must represent the central inventive concept of the subject matter claimed in the basic patent. In the present case, however, the central inventive concept was seen in the use of the special adjuvants in the preparation of the combination vaccine, but not in the combination vaccine composition itself. Therefore, the vaccine composition is not protected, the GPTO argued. The GFPC did not agree and granted the SPC. The Court emphasised that in the present case the principles defined in the CJEU's decisions Medeva(C-322/10) and Eli Lilly (C-493/12) for the assessment of whether a product can be regarded as being protected by the basic patent are fulfilled. Furthermore, decisions Actavis/Sanofi, Georgetown II and Actavis/Boehringer do not contain criteria extending beyond the principles defined in Medeva and Eli Lilly. Instead, these decisions primarily relate to the requirement of Article 3(c) of the Regulation, i.e. the assessment of whether the product has not already been the subject of an SPC. It remains to be seen whether the CJEU will comment on the GFPC's view when ruling on aspects of the interpretation of Article 3(a) of the Regulation in the future. The GFPC and the English Patents Court recently directed referrals to the CJEU concerning the interpretation of Article 3(a) of the Regulation. Klaus Breitenstein The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article Elisenhof, Elisenstr 3D-80335, Munich, GermanyTel: +49 89 74 72 660 Fax: +49 89 77 64 24 info@maiwald.eu www.maiwald.eu Singapore finance minister Heng Swee Keat delivered the Budget Statement to Parliament on February 19 2018. In his speech, Heng Swee Keat emphasised the importance of encouraging pervasive innovation throughout the economy and how crucial intellectual property (IP) has become for companies competing in a fast-paced business environment. To this end, the Budget Statement unveiled several initiatives such as tax deductions and funding aimed at boosting research and innovation. To support businesses as they buy and use new solutions, existing grants supporting the adoption of pre-scoped, off-the shelf technologies will be merged into a single Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG). PSGs provide funding support of up to 70% of qualifying costs. Additionally, tax deductions on licensing payments for commercial use of IP are raised from 100% to 200% for the first S$100,000 ($76,000) of qualifying IP in-licensing costs incurred each fiscal year. In addition, businesses building their own innovations can enjoy cheaper IP registration costs through tax deductions. Such tax deductions are enhanced from 100% to 200% for the first S$100,000 ($76,000) of qualifying IP registration costs (for example, patenting costs) incurred each year. Also, tax deductions for expenditures such as staff costs and consumables incurred on research and development activities in Singapore will be raised from 150% to 250%, capped at S$100,000 ($76,000) per fiscal year and will be available from 2019 to 2025. Also, to assist businesses in finding partners to co-create solutions, the government will pilot a virtual crowdsourcing platform called the Open Innovation Platform (OIP) where companies can list specific challenges that can be addressed by digital solutions. The OIP matches companies seeking solutions for their problems with info-communications and technology (ICT) firms or research institutes which have appropriate expertise to co-develop solutions. The government also seeks to harness Singapore's national research capabilities to enhance its global economic competitiveness. The National Research Foundation (NRF) and Temasek Holdings will launch a S$100 million ($76 million) investment venture called the NRF-Temasek IP Commercialisation Vehicle. This venture will bring together Temasek's global investment networks and NRF's connections with the local research and development community to grow companies that generate IP from publicly funded research. Finally, in a bid to drive greater adoption of digital technologies, automation and robotics, the government will launch an Aviation Transformation Programme (ATP) and a Maritime Transformation Programme (MTP) this year to strengthen the nation's status as an air and sea hub. These programmes allow Singapore's airport and seaport to become platforms for companies to develop, test and use new technologies. The government further provides funding of up to S$500 million ($380 million) for these two programmes with additional matching investments from industry partners. The launch of these initiatives by the Singapore government during 2018 and 2019 is a welcome boost for businesses and an incentive for increasing innovation by providing funding support for research projects and IP acquisition. Wu Zhexuan Daniel Collopy The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article 152 Beach Road#37-05/06 Gateway EastSingapore 189721Tel: +65 6333 7200Fax: +65 6333 7222 mail.asia@spruson.com www.spruson.com According to the World Economic Forum 2016, the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), building on the third industrial revolution, i.e. the digital revolution of information and communication technologies (ICT), is characterised by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital and biological fields. 4IR issues have been a hot topic in many countries and territories around the world. As key technologies of the 4IR, the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, big data, robotics and cyber-physical systems (CPS) have been extensively addressed in most expert reports. These 4IR technologies are expected to create up to $3.7 trillion in value by 2025, and global competition to be the leader in 4IR technologies is heating up. In the era of the 4IR, intellectual property in the form of patents, designs, trade marks and copyrights can be especially valuable. It is well known that global companies have utilised intellectual property as economic moats. This trend can be easily understood from the statistics showing a steep 12-fold increase in worldwide patent registrations for 4IR technologies from 2010 to 2015. According to the 2017 EPO Report Patents and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the USA, Europe and Japan have been the top innovators in 4IR technologies, and EP applications from South Korea and China have been on the rise in recent years. Furthermore, the report shows that core technology innovation is largely concentrated in a limited number of large ICT companies, such as Samsung, LG, Sony, GE and Google. Statistical data from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) also shows that the number of Korean patent applications for 4IR technologies is rapidly increasing. To keep pace with the 4IR, the KIPO has recently introduced and implemented new IP policies geared toward 4IR technologies. New technology classification system for seven core 4IR technologies Patents related to 4IR technologies have problems in that they cannot be clearly sorted according to the existing patent classification system due to their innovative characteristics such as super-connection, super-intelligence and convergence. In order to resolve these issues and establish suitable patent examination guidelines reflecting the attributes of the 4IR, the KIPO has established a new technology classification system for seven core 4IR technologies: AI, Big Data, IoT, 3D printing, autonomous driving, intelligent robotics and cloud computing. From January 2018, the KIPO has begun using this classification system for these seven core technical fields. This new classification system is expected to be useful in dealing with the 4IR for various government policies in industry, science and technology sectors, as well as in patent examination. Expedited examination Designs The KIPO has revised the Enforcement Decree of the Korean Design Protection Act (effective as of January 2 2018) to expand eligible subjects for expedited examination so that applicants can request expedited examination for design registration applications directly related to the fourth industrial revolution, such as AI or robot technology. If a request for expedited examination is filed, the examination period, which is generally more than five months, can be shortened to two months. For example, designs related to AI-based personal robots and conferencing hub devices based on IoT and unified communications can enjoy the benefit of expedited IP registration. Patents Expedited examination will be available for patent applications related to the seven 4IR technologies above from around May 2018. A request for accelerated examination can speed up the examination, allowing one to receive a patent within about 5.7 months on average, which is shorter than the normal examination process of about 16.4 months. In consideration of the unique characteristics of the 4IR (super-connection, super-intelligence, convergence), the KIPO plans to actively carry out the three-examiner consultation system. In the era of the 4IR, it is more important to secure intellectual property quickly since different technologies are converging and innovation is occurring rapidly. Therefore, these changes in the KIPO's IP system will provide greater opportunities for applicants. Updates to examination guidelines with regard to 4IR technology inventions The KIPO's patent/utility model examination guidelines, revised in January 2018, present specific cases for determining the inventiveness of inventions related to the fourth industrial revolution. 4IR technology inventions differ from those in other technical fields in that they are achieved through the convergence of different technologies, or are characterised by super-intelligence or super-connection on existing technologies. In principle, the general jurisprudence of judging the inventive step of an invention, which is based on technical difficulty and remarkable effects, also applies to these inventions. The revised guidelines, disclosing 14 example cases, have added that the inventive step can be recognised if there are any special difficulties in convergence, super-intelligence, or super-connection of technologies, or if there is an advantageous effect beyond effects predictable from the prior art. For example, for inventions of IoT-related technologies, if there is an advantageous effect over the prior art resulting from the utilisation of information obtained by connecting the object to the network, the advantageous effect can be positively considered when determining an inventive step. It is expected that the revised guidelines will be able to support more accurate, consistent and unbiased patent examination for fourth industrial revolution technologies in the future. Min Son Partner, Hanol IP & Law HANOL Intellectual Property & Law 6th Floor, Daemyung Tower, 135, Beobwon-ro, Songpa-gu Seoul, 05836 Republic of Korea Tel: +82 2 942 1100 Fax: +82 2 942 2600 hanol@hanollawip.com www.hanollawip.com The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article In 2008, a legislator's wig was ripped off at the Control Yuan of Taiwan, an incident which was recorded by photography by a number of reporters at the scene. As a newspaper company used a photograph taken by an on-the-spot reporter hired by another party without obtaining prior consent, the company was sued for violation of copyright law. In this lawsuit, whether the photograph at issue met the requirements of originality and creativity was one of the key issues addressed. The court of the first and second instances both ruled in favour of the copyright claimant. In January this year, the Supreme Court rendered a final decision upholding the ruling of the High Court. The Supreme Court found that insofar as an artwork passes the originality and creativity thresholds, it is eligible for copyright protection. In terms of a photographic work, if a photographer exercises his skill and independent creativity in framing, lighting, focal length adjustment, shutter speed control, photography techniques at the time of taking pictures, the photograph shall be copyrightable. In light of this, the photograph at issue should be protected under copyright law since it sufficiently showcased the original quality of an artwork built upon the photographer's personality and sentiments. Although there are not many similar cases heard by the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court rarely considers a photograph to be original and copyrightable as is in the above-mentioned case. For instance, in 2002, the Supreme Court held in its ruling that the photograph in question was only a faithful reproduction of a medal which was to be printed on the packaging as an indication of praise of the product inside without involving originality or creativity. In 2008, in another lawsuit, the copyright claimant averred that as well as adding a ribbon bow tie as decoration, he employed a polarising filter to remove reflections so as to render the medal captured brighter and clearer and hence the originality and creativity of the photograph should be unquestionable. The Supreme Court, however, held that the photograph did not exhibit sufficient originality and creativity on the following grounds: "Firstly, the application of bow ties is common in everyday life, such as bow ties affixed to collars or those used to arrange ornamental flowers. As for the applied polarising filters, they are generally used to reduce the light reflected by an object. For instance, when photographing, use of a polarising filter can reduce the light reflected from the blue sky, water surface and glass windows. Likewise, a photographer tends to use other devices, e.g. shooting with the use of a lens skirt or use of soft light, to avoid the reflection of an object caused by excessive lighting. Although the copyright claimant used a polarising filter when photographing the medal, the photograph did not suggest any adjustments on photography composition, camera angle, lighting and shutter speed control, factors dictated by personal preferences. Nor was it possible to tell the copyright claimant's thoughts or sentiments from the photograph based on the modification of photographic film, photographic visualisation, or photographic processing. In other words, the copyright claimant merely took a direct picture of the medal in an environment where there was sufficient light and no direct light source. As such, the photograph is not copyrightable for failing to meet the requirements of originality and creativity." In the determination of whether a photograph is copyrightable or not, a case-by-case approach is generally taken. However, it is undeniable that the more clearly a photographer elaborates on how his/her thoughts and sentiments are expressed through a photograph, the higher the chance that the photograph will be considered as meeting the requirements of originality and creativity. Frank Liu The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article 7th Floor, No. 248, Section 3Nanking East RoadTaipei 105-45, Taiwan, ROCTel: +886 2 2775 1823Fax: +886 2 2731 6377 siiplo@mail.saint-island.com.tw www.saint-island.com.tw The decision was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the regular Government meeting on May 3. Accordingly, citizens from the five aforementioned countries will continue to enjoy visa exemptions to enter Vietnam up to 2020 after the expiration of the visa-free policy in June this year. The PM said that Vietnam should continue to expand its visa-exemption policy as the country has unilaterally offered visa exemptions for citizens from only 24 countries, including nine ASEAN countries. According to Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, the open-door visa policy aligned with enhanced tourism promotion has contributed to maintaining Vietnam's growth rate of foreign visitors at nearly 30% annually. Minister Dung noted that the Government will consider proposals from the Vietnam Tourism Association concerning the extension of the period of stay in Vietnam from 15 to 30 days and the expansion of visa exemption for more countries, among others. Vietnam welcomed approximately 720,000 Western European visitors in 2015 and the number of visitors increased to 855,000 in 2016 and 1.5 million in 2017. The Thai Alcohol Control Act (ACA) B.E. 2551(2008) sets the legal framework for restrictions on alcoholic beverages in Thailand, as well as establishing governmental bodies to oversee such restrictions, i.e. the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee and the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee. Here, we summarise the relevant rules applicable to trade mark rights, drawn from Thai legislative instruments and further explore selected aspects of the relationship between trade mark rights and brand restriction laws. Restrictions imposed 1) Manufacturers/importers of alcoholic beverages must ensure packaging and labels do not feature any graphical element that directly or indirectly advertises positive characteristics, benefits or qualities of the products. 2) Graphical elements that directly or indirectly advertise positive characteristics, benefits or qualities, as prohibited on packaging and labels, include, among others: a) cartoon images; b) elements depicting actors, musicians or artists; and c) elements inducing the public to participate in music, sportive, competitive or other recreational activities. 3) Sales are prohibited in religious institutions, public health service facilities, government buildings, boarding houses, educational establishments, gas stations and public parks. 4) Alcoholic beverage products cannot be sold through vending machines or mobile booths. 5) Sales promotions of price reduction, sample distribution, throw-ins and prizes are prohibited. 6) Communication of sounds, words or images to the public relating to alcohol for trade-inducing purposes is prohibited. 7) Communication of names or elements of alcohol products to the public for purposes of showcasing their positive characteristics or inducing their consumption is prohibited. 8) Advertising of alcohol products is only permitted in the form of communication of information and/or socially responsible ideas that do not include images of the product's packaging but may feature trade marks showing the product or its manufacturer. Such trade marks must not contain any depiction of the product or its packaging or any positive marketing visual element, and can only occupy five percent of the advertising space or time. 9) Where a mark denoting an alcoholic beverage product or its manufacturer is shown, it must have a warning message. Trade mark implications Section 44 of the Thai Trademark Act decrees that "a person who is registered as the owner of a trade mark shall have the exclusive right to use it for the goods for which it is registered". However, for owners of marks registered for alcoholic products, this exclusive usage right is subject to conditions imposed by the ACA and related regulations. Trade marks registered as label marks are directly affected, as alcohol product labels and packaging are heavily regulated, especially in terms of the wide range of imagery included under the prohibited graphical element category. It is not clear why cartoon images should qualify as graphical elements that directly or indirectly advertise positive characteristics, benefits or qualities of the products, nor is the term cartoon images defined in any legislative text. Ordinary Thai usage of cartoon images suggests the term refers to any figurative graphical element. Due to the ACA's regulatory measures, imported alcohol products bearing labels or packaging that do not conform to Thai standards, are contraband and unmarketable unless the importer replaces the original labels/packaging with compliant ones. This requirement imposes a considerable obstacle for the free movement of goods. In terms of trade marks permitted for use in advertising alcohol products, the legal definition of positive marketing visual elements, which is prohibited in marks, is unclear. However, a strict interpretation precludes use of words such as reserve, premier cru and export blend as trade mark components. The debate continues Thailand maintains that the ACA and related measures are in line with Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of WIPO's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and also states that labelling regulations under the ACA do not aim to "block responsible communication with regard to the showing of trade marks, names and the symbols of the company." However, strict enforcement of these controls creates concerns due to a lack of clarity within the statutory provisions and in the interpretations provided in the official guidelines. Clearer guidance would be welcomed to ensure that the trade mark rights of alcohol brand owners are not adversely affected. Daniel Greif Dhanasun Chumchuay Spruson & Ferguson Nos. 496-502 Amarin Plaza BuildingUnit Nos. 1806-1807, 18th Floor, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini Sub-District, Pathumwan District, Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 2 305 6893 mail.asia@spruson.com www.spruson.com The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article One of the two IP courts of Istanbul rejected a crucial precautionary injunction (PI) demand of a patent owner on the ground that the demand requires a full trial due to the pending invalidation action against the relevant patent. The patent subject of the PI demand is disclosing use of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the treatment of certain conditions of a disease. As per the summaries of product characteristics (SmPCs) of the defendant's drug, the infringement of the patent was obvious. The main defence of the defendant was the invalidation action filed against the patent slightly before the PI demand. It is understood that the invalidation action was still at the international notification process therefore the patent owner was not aware of the action. It is known that pending invalidation actions do negatively impact a PI demand depending on the patent, due to the retroactive impact of a possible invalidity decision. However, the court may accept the PI demand considering the unrecoverable damages of the patent owner and therefore grant the PI. It is the first time that a court has considered the possible retroactive impact of an invalidation action at such an early stage. The IP court ruled that "considering the ongoing invalidation action and the retroactive impact of an invalidity decision, it has been decided that the PI demand requires an action on merits". This seems to be an over implementation of the retroactive effect of a barely pending invalidation action. The first instance decision in this action can be given at the earliest within two years and yet the IP court rejected the PI demand without knowing the result of the invalidation action. The conditions for a PI are set in the law as "proving that the usage which is the subject of the case occurs inside the country and in a way that violates industrial property rights, or proves that serious and effective preparations are being made for the purpose of such a usage." The characteristic of a PI demand is being urgent and necessary to secure the efficiency of the decision on merits to be given in future. Therefore blocking this legal right depending on the probability of an invalidation decision is an over restriction of patent rights. The court also determined that the defendant's drug was granted marketing authorisation but the defendant had not applied for the reimbursement list of the Social Security Institute. Upon this finding the court also evaluated the implementation of the so-called Bolar exemption and stated that all acts until launch of the drug should be exempted from the patent rights. However, at the ruling part of its decision the court did not rely on the Bolar exemption but rather on the pending invalidation action and asserted that the PI demand requires a full trial. The District Court's appeal evaluation on the decision of the IP court is awaited with curiosity. Selin Sinem Erciyas The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article Kore Sehitleri Cad. 17Zincirlikuyu 34394Istanbul, TurkeyTel: + (90) (212) 354 00 00Fax: + (90) (212) 274 20 95 gun@gun.av.tr gun.av.tr At a press conference, William Diaz, director of international economic cooperation at the island's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX), said the resolution to host this important meeting was a unanimous choice by Latin America and Caribbean countries. "This decision is to recognize the active role within the framework of ECLAC that Cuba has had for many years," he said. The event will bring together representatives of the 46 member countries and 13 associate members of ECLAC and coincide with the commemoration of the organization's 70th anniversary. The opening will take place on May 8 and be headed by Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of ECLAC, and Luis Videgaray, minister of foreign affairs from Mexico, which currently holds the ECLAC presidency. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel is expected to attend while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has yet to confirm his presence. According to the agenda, the delegations will discuss issues of common interest in the region as well as analyze the efforts of ECLAC's working groups. In addition, ECLAC will seek to urgently address growing inequality in the region and how this could affect the fulfillment of the UN's 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Alongside its leadership of ECLAC, Diaz said Cuba will also assume the presidency of the forum of Latin American and Caribbean countries on sustainable development and the South-South cooperation committee. Ahead of the event, Cuba will organize panels dedicated to its own economic progress, social priorities and international cooperation. A Moroccan proverb goes: the sheep spends his whole life being afraid of the wolf, but in the end, who feasts on the sheep? The shepherd! Well, some months after China and 10 days after Italy, Moroccan authorities announced the countrys first cases of COVID-19 on 2 March and attributed them to external factors. Specifically, a Moroccan returning from Italy, then French tourists. The epidemic has worsened, infecting 2,024 people, of whom 126 have died (as of 15 April, 45 days after the first infections) according to official data. SPRINGFIELD -- Two apartment buildings on Pearl Street near the city police station and across the street from Springfield Technical Community College sold last month to buyers who'd already spent $6.5 million on city apartment buildings. Buyers 212 Pearl LLC -- controlled by Moshe Wechsler and Michael Munk, according to records from the Secretary of the Commonwealth -- paid $1.92 million for 202-206 Pearl St. and $1.19 million for neighboring 208-212 Pearl St. The company also bought a parking lot and outbuilding at 196 Pearl St. for $100,000. All the sales information is according to deeds field with the Hampden County Registry of Deeds April 13. The building at 202-206 Pearl St. has 21 apartments, while 208-212 has 25 apartments, according to city assessors' records. Neither Wechsler nor Munk responded to messages left at the offices of their Springfield company, M&M Properties at 32 Belmont Ave. A cross check of Massachusetts-based LLCs registered by Wechsler and Munk with deeds on file at the Hampden Registry of Deeds show that they've spent more than $6.5 million on apartments on Belmont Avenue, Osgood Street and elsewhere in Springfield since 2016. Springfield real estate agent and property manager Roger J. Roberge is a manager and owner of Facta Non Verba LLC, the company that sold 196, 202-206 and 208-212 Pearl St. to Wechsler and Munk. Roberge, who has lately made headlines buying and rehabbing former city fire stations, said Wechsler and Munk are simply choosing to invest in Springfield as investors show more interest in real estate here, particularly apartment buildings. He said the Pearl Street deal is similar to The Silverbrick Group's $4.8 million purchase of the former YMCA at 122 Chestnut St. in January. Davenport Companies, of Boston, bought the former Willys-Overland Motor Co. building at 151 Chestnut St. in December for $450,000. Davenport, which is developing projects adjacent to MGM Springfield and owns Springfield Plaza, plans 60 apartments for the Willys building. Roberge said the new owners on Pearl Street have plans for the buildings, but he declined to go into any detail. His group bough them in 2015 and made improvements, he said. Both Pearl Street buildings are largely occupied, he said. Geraldine McCafferty, director of the city office of housing, said in an email that the city had cases against both Pearl Street buildings for code violations. Morgan Hardwick of the city's law office said neither case made it to court after the violations were corrected. At 202 Pearl St. the case closed on April 11, just days before the sale closed. The 212 Pearl St. case was closed October. Boston police data shows a 55 percent increase in fatal shootings across the city so far in 2018, compared with the same time period last year. Data compiled by the Boston police shows 14 fatal shootings as of April 29, 2018, up from 9 during the same period in 2017. The five year average for the first four months of the year is 10, according to the data. There was 58 homicides total in 2017, most of them shootings. The number of non-fatal shootings decreased from 51 in 2017 to 37 in 2018, about a 27 percent drop. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans will discuss a "summer strategy" for decreasing shootings at an event Friday morning. On Saturday in Boston, a man died near a home at 39 Hartford St. The victim was identified as 34-year-old Dwayne Thomas. No arrests have been made. The new Wegmans supermarket at the Natick Mall is no ordinary grocery store. For those who want to experience a wine tasting or tequila bar alongside their grocery shopping, a supermarket haven has arrived in the form of a new 146,500 square-foot megastore where a J.C. Penny once lived. "We've sort of given up on counting how many people are in line," said Jo Natale, Wegmans' Vice President of Media Relations. Natale said the store saw upwards of 2,000 customers within the first few hours of its opening on Sunday, April 29. The supermarket is attached to the Natick Mall and has five entrances total, as well as an enclosed walkway that leads to a parking garage with 1,800 spaces. It took several years and tens of millions of dollars for the century-old Rochester, New York chain to complete the project, its first-ever supermarket to have two stories. The final product was the sixth Wegmans in Massachusetts: an impressive combination of traditional supermarket, restaurants, cafes, and specialty food sections that offer a variety of natural and international dishes. It boasts having 45 checkout lanes -- 12 of which are self-checkout -- and carrying over 70,000 items. The lower floor is where typical shoppers will find the everyday necessities and discounted bulk items, as well as an expansive section for craft beers, liquor and wines of all prices. Against one wall sits both a wine tasting room and a fine wine room for collectors. Upstairs is where the grocery store turns into more of a foodie's playground: The upper level carries three different restaurants, a market cafe area with nearly a dozen options, a cheese shop and Mediterrenean bar, a deli and charcuterie, a fresh seafood station with local catches, an in-house bakery and a large produce section. On Friday, the supermarket's new Mexican restaurant, the Blue Dalia Restaurant & Tequila Bar, opened its doors to customers. In addition to the Blue Dalia, there are over 200 open seating spots throughout the various cafes and shopping areas. On any given morning there are customers plugging away at their laptops in the lounge area between Buzz Coffee Shop and the Burger Bar. "It's overwhelming," said Kerry Dinneen of Framingham after shopping at the Natick store for the first time with her son Jameson. "I was leery at first having a store at the mall...but I think it's fabulous," Dinneen said. She added that she especially liked the separate escalators for grocery carts, before jokingly warning, "Don't come here when you're hungry." Dinneen said she would likely come to the Natick store maybe twice a month to buy things in bulk. For smaller things, like a gallon of milk, she said she would probably stick to her local Stop & Shop. That pattern is common for some shoppers, according to Natale, though she said there are also regular customers who drive up to 25 miles each week to shop at a Wegmans. "We monitor our competitive pricing closely on items we know families buy every week," said spokeswoman Jo Natale. She said unlike other wholesale sellers, there is no paid membership necessary to buy bulk items, or "family packs," at a Wegmans store. Natale said the store is still looking for new hires, but said the opening so far has been a success. "Lunch and dinner have been quite busy," Natale said. "We've been very pleased." GREENFIELD -- Brittany Smith was withdrawing from heroin, taking pills, beset with "borderline personality disorder" and of low verbal intelligence the night an elderly couple were killed in their Orange home -- and "not capable of forming intent to murder," a forensic psychologist testified Thursday in Franklin Superior Court. Michael Sherry said he met with Smith 14 times at the Chicopee women's jail and performed a battery of psychological tests to evaluate the 29-year-old Athol woman, who is now on trial for murder in the deaths of Thomas Harty, 95, and Joanna Fisher, 77, attacked in their home on Oct. 5, 2016. Smith's co-defendant, Joshua Hart, 25, also of Athol, was convicted in April on two counts of first-degree murder, and faces life in prison without parole. Defense attorney Mary Ann Stamm delivered opening arguments after prosecutor Jeremy Bucci rested his case. Stamm said prosecutors do not have enough evidence to convict Smith, and have "not proven any of the elements" of first-degree murder, including intent and mental state. Stamm called Sherry as her first witness. Smith scored "exceptionally high" on psychological indicators for drug abuse and also tested for a personality disorder marked by emotionally instability, impaired relationships and uncertainty about life direction, he said. Nonetheless, he said he found Smith to be "graceful" and "well-behaved." Sherry launched into a description of Smith's early childhood -- including revelations that Smith's mother "liked to party," had split up with Smith's father and invited a new man into her life when Smith was 4 years old. Prosecutor Jeremy Bucci objected, and Judge John Agostini instructed the jury to ignore those statements. A forensic psychiatrist called by Bucci offered a different analysis of Smith's potential mindset. Dr. Alison Fife, who did not meet with Smith, said a person's "executive function" -- that is, their ability to plan, focus and organize -- would not necessarily be affected by illness or the use of certain drugs. While heroin withdrawal makes people sick, the symptoms are not life-threatening, said Fife. She said Gabapentin and Soma -- two pills Smith admitted to taking before the home invasion -- are mild sedatives. Crack cocaine, a strong stimulant, would "override" their effect, she said. Smith had told police investigators she was "high on crack" during the attack, withdrawing from heroin and that she had procured pills from her co-defendant's grandmother to allay her symptoms. Smith's lengthy confession to Massachusetts State Trooper Stephen Bushay was played in the courtroom earlier in the day. Stamm asked Bushay about the handling of evidence, including a wrench and broken rosary beads found in the Orange home. The rosary beads had been ripped from Hart's neck by Harty as the older man fought for his life and yelled "you bastard," Hart had told investigators. However, the beads were not immediately entered into evidence. Stamm also said that Fisher's shirt had never been found. Smith told Bushay in her taped confession, played Thursday, that Hart disposed of evidence during their flight, including clothing and a kitchen knife. Although details of Smith and Hart's respective roles are not clear, prosecutors have characterized the case as a "joint venture." Both Smith and Hart told police that Hart attacked and killed Harty. But the defendants have offered conflicting and inconsistent testimony about the attack on Fisher. The two allegedly burst into the older couple's home, stabbed and suffocated Harty, pushed Fisher from her wheelchair and beat and stabbed her, and then stole the older couple's car, cash and credit cards. Harty was killed that night, and Fisher, who died five weeks later, was found alive the next morning by a visiting nurse. Smith and Hart wished to steal a car and money to start a new life in a different state, each told police. Both parties were in trouble with the law, and Smith's mother wanted to commit her daughter to a drug treatment program. Closing arguments are expected on Friday. 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 asked Wang to transfer his greetings to President Xi and spoke highly of China's efforts and contributions to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. He said that the DPRK is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China. Kim also recalled his unofficial visit to China in late March, calling it a "historical visit." Following comprehensive and in-depth talks with President Xi, they have reached important consensus and achieved fruitful results, Kim said to Wang. During Kim's visit, Xi said that positive changes had taken place on the Korean Peninsula since this year, and China appreciates the important efforts made by the DPRK. The Chinese leader added that China sticks to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation. 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. It's meaningful that positive changes have appeared on the Korean Peninsula as they are helpful to solve problems peacefully, the DPRK leader said. As for the DPRK-China 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. Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (1st R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (3rd L) in Pyongyang, the DPRK, May 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Cheng Dayu) Wang said during his meeting with Ri that the traditional China-DPRK friendship is the shared and precious treasure of the two countries, hoping this friendship will be passed to future generations. GREENFIELD -- Brittany Smith and Joshua Hart planned a deadly Orange home invasion together, killed first and robbed later, and took knowing steps to dispose of evidence and cover their steps, Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Bucci told a Franklin County jury Friday. "This was at all times a joint venture -- acts committed in concert by two people," Bucci in his closing arguments at Smith's murder trial for the deaths of Thomas Harty, 95, and Joanna Fisher, 77. Bucci urged two first-degree murder convictions for Smith, 29, of Athol. Harty and Fisher were attacked in their Orange home on Oct. 5, 2016. Harty was repeatedly stabbed and suffocated and died that night. Fisher -- stabbed, beaten, slashed and suffocated -- died five weeks later. Hart, 25, Smith's boyfriend, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in April and faces life in prison without parole. Bucci on Friday said Smith took complex steps to aid in the slayings, said Bucci. He painted Smith as an opportunistic liar who gave police investigators inaccurate information to "throw Hart under the bus" and save her own skin when she realized a murder investigation was underway. "That's how her mind works," he said. In her closing, defense attorney Mary Ann Stamm argued that Smith was too impaired by drug addiction, heroin withdrawal, pills and mental health problems to "form an intent to murder." "Brittany Smith did not intend to kill anyone," Stamm told the jury. "Her intention was to break into a house, get a car and leave." Smith was suffering from heroin withdrawal, impaired by Gabapentin and Soma pills and incapable of making choices, including forming any intent to murder, Stamm said. "The issue is not whether she chose to get high," Stamm told the jury. "The burden of proof is not on Brittany Smith to explain her drug use. The burden of proof is on the Commonwealth to prove intent." Stamm further claimed that there is no conclusive evidence that Fisher's death was due to injuries inflicted on the night of the attack, and said her client did not take steps to kill anybody. As for motive, police and prosecutors have alleged that Hart, in trouble with the law, wanted to avoid jail time, and that Smith, with her own legal problems, wanted to avoid being committed to a residential drug treatment facility so she could spend time with Hart. Smith was foggy, impaired and tagging along with Hart, Stamm suggested. Bucci showed video of Smith driving Harty and Fisher's stolen car moments after the home invasion, and performing a perfect parking job at a convenience store. She then skillfully used a stolen cellphone to call her Fitchburg drug dealer, Bucci said. Bucci advised the jurors to "avoid falling into the trap of conflating motive with intent." He said he must prove intent for a murder conviction. Prosecutors have advanced a joint venture theory. Under Massachusetts law, it's not necessary to prove that Smith herself performed the act that caused the deaths, Judge John Agostini advised the jury. Instead, it must be proved that she knowingly participated in the crime of murder, and did so with intent. Participation can mean several things, including "aiding or assisting" in the commission of crimes. An agreement to help, made beforehand, can be part of the argument. It's not clear who stabbed Fisher, because the co-defendants gave conflicting and inconsistent statements to police, and a "kitchen knife" that may have been used in the attack was not recovered. In her taped interviews with police, Smith admitted to stabbing Fisher, but claimed she never broke skin. However, Fisher suffered a deep puncture wound to her side that resulted in a collapsed lung, doctors testified. Fisher also had broken ribs and evidence of being hit in the head. Smith admitted to police that she pushed Fisher from her wheelchair and beat the paralyzed woman with her fist. She admitted to taking other steps, such as closing blinds at the house before hitting the road with Hart. Bucci said Smith knew full well what she was doing and took prior steps such as bringing a change of clothes. He said she stabbed and beat Fisher and knowingly aided and abetted Hart as he killed Harty. With Harty dead and Fisher bleeding on the floor, Smith and Hart ransacked the house for money and credit cards, stole the couple's car and with Smith behind the wheel, stopped for cigarettes, dialed a drug dealer scored heroin in Fitchburg, shopped at a Worcester Walmart and headed south, prosecutors said. The pair were arrested two days later by Rockbridge County sheriff's deputies in Virginia after being tracked by Massachusetts State Police. Bucci claims that Smith committed first-degree murder with premeditation, extreme cruelty and in the commission of a felony. Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan was among many people sitting in the fourth floor courtroom at the Franklin County Justice Center. Friends and family of Harty and Fisher, who have attended every day of the trial, comforted each other as Bucci revisited details of the 2016 home invasion and its aftermath. Smith is charged with the murders of Harty and Fisher, attempted murder of Fisher, two counts of armed robbery, larceny of a motor vehicle, and fraudulent use of a credit card. Agostini delivered lengthy and comprehensive jury instructions, including standards for conviction on first degree murder, second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Agostini told the jury intoxication on drugs "is never in itself an excuse" for the commission of a crime, but the information "may be relevant to the determination of criminal intent." If convicted of first degree murder, Smith faces mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jury deliberations will resume on Monday. SPRINGFIELD - A Hampden County grand jury has indicted three men accused of stealing $18,000 worth jewelry, electronics and cash while allegedly collecting a $1,000 debt from an Indian Orchard man. The defendants -- Mohamed Liban, 19, and Abdullahi Issak, 21, and Hanson Adjei, 25, all of Springfield -- helped themselves to computers, cellphones, watches, 15 boxes of sneakers and $7,500 in cash during three visits to the victim's apartment in January, according to the arrest report. The intruders also assaulted the victim with a bat and smashed his TV as part of their debt-collection efforts, a prosecutor said during their arraignment in Springfield District Court in February. After pleading not guilty to home invasion, extortion and assault charges, the men were released on $10,000 bail and ordered to have no contact with the victim. During a hearing on April 19, a prosecutor announced that the men had been indicted by a grand jury. The move effectively transferred the case to Hampden Superior Court, where defendants face potentially longer sentences if convicted. The Superior Court arraignment took place Monday, with the men pleading not guilty to extortion by threat of an injury, two counts of home invasion and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Bail was set at $10,000, the same amount imposed when the trio was arraigned in district court. A judge also ordered the defendants to have no contact with the victim. Adjei is currently serving a 60-day sentence at the Hampden County Correctional Center for allegedly sending an acquaintance to speak to the victim. The acquaintance, identified in court documents as Ebenezer Ewusi, acknowledged visiting the man on Feb. 2 and asking him to consider dropping the charges, according to court records. In April, defense lawyer Tracy Duncan argued that Ewusi was friends with the victim and made the visit voluntarily, without consulting with Adjei, court records show. While the defendants were described in court as natives of Kenya, Ewusi said he, the victim and the defendants are all from Ghana. "Because we are all Ghanians, I believed this matter could be resolved without court intervention," Ewusi wrote in an affidavit. On April 6, Judge Bruce Melikian ruled the visit violated the conditions of Adjei's release, and his ruling was upheld following a request for reconsideration by Duncan. Adjei, Issak and Liban are due back in Superior Court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 13. NORTHAMPTON - The Northampton City Council is considering taking steps to allow young people to have a bigger say in local political affairs. A resolution considered Thursday asks Councilors to petition the state legislature to lower the local voting age to 16. The resolution, which calls the right to vote "elemental to democracy," is sponsored by Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz's Youth Commission, along with Councilor At-Large Bill Dwight. It was unanimously referred to the Council's Committee on Legislative Matters for further review Thursday. If deemed appropriate, the committee will refer the resolution back to the Council with a positive recommendation and an order with directions for further action, said Council President Ryan O'Donnell. According to the U.S. Constitution's 26th amendment, people 18 or older are allowed to vote in state and national elections. However, the amendment does not prevent states from lowering that age for state or local elections. However, almost no communities in the U.S. have successfully lowered the voting age. In the past, a number of other communities across Massachusetts have unsuccessfully lobbied state officials to lower their respective voting ages--including Cambridge and Lowell. Northampton's resolution was largely inspired by recent youth activist efforts to address gun violence and gun control reform, said Councilor Dwight Thursday. The resolution makes specific note of recent local anti-gun violence activist efforts--and commends youth efforts to "influence the government that serves them by demonstrating for sensible laws to prevent gun violence." The Northampton City Council has shown other 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. Dwight, who played a large role in the resolution, complimented youth activism Thursday. "The stage has been set, particularly by these demonstrations," Dwight said. "I think there's a broader community receptiveness to the notion that we are watching people we define as our children do the work that we should have done," Dwight said, of local youth activist efforts. Ward 7 Councilor Alisa Klein also commended the initiative. "The most sophisticated and robust discussions that I have right now are with my 15-year-old and my 17-year-old nieces," Klein said. "I see firsthand how youth really contribute to our political process and social betterment," Klein said. "This is probably one of the most remarkable things that has come out of the Youth Commission," said Ward 3 Councilor James Nash, who complimented the Youth Commission--calling it a great way for young people to get involved in the civic process. The resolution will be discussed by the Committee on Legislative Matters at their next meeting on May 14. NORTHAMPTON -- Mayor David Narkewicz has asked state officials for more time to allow candidates to file nomination papers to run for the seat of state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, who resigned Thursday. Rosenberg, whose district office is in Northampton, announced his decision to step down, effective Friday, amidst the ongoing scandal surrounding his husband, Byron Hefner. Rosenberg represented communities in Hampshire, including Northampton, Franklin and Worcester counties. Narkewicz asked officials for a two-week extension to the May 1 filing deadline, noting that Rosenberg's departure means that Northampton will have have no one to represent it in the state Legislature until January. "I call upon the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Senate President to work together to extend the filing deadline for the Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester District for an additional two weeks so that we can have a full and robust debate about the needs and future of its 24 cities and towns," Narkewicz said. Narkewicz noted that the Ethics Committee report that prompted Rosenberg's decision to resign was issued the day after the statewide filing deadline. Narkewicz said he respected Rosenberg's decision to resign and commended him for "accepting responsibility for the serious lapses in judgment outlined by the Ethics Committee report." Narkewicz also complimented Rosenberg's performance as a state official. "Stan Rosenberg has served the people of western Massachusetts ably and diligently for over thirty years as both a State Representative and State Senator," Narkewicz wrote. "He has been a tireless advocate for his constituents on so many important issues and all of our communities are better for his service." Massachusetts Sen. Stan Rosenberg made the "right decision" to resign after an "incredibly disturbing" Senate Ethics Committee report, Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday. The 80-page report, released Wednesday, detailed alleged repeated efforts by Rosenberg's husband, Bryon Hefner, to interfere with Senate business and sexually and racially harassed staffers. When he became Senate president, Rosenberg had insisted that there was a "firewall" to stop Hefner from injecting himself into Senate business. "But he broke that promise and the precise harm that the firewall was meant to deter occurred: Hefner continued to interject himself into the business and life of the Senate," the report said. Rosenberg, D-Amherst, had already stepped down from the Senate presidency and become a rank-and-file senator with reduced pay and a smaller staff. He insisted that Hefner, who has pleaded not guilty to felony charges in court, had no influence in Senate affairs. Rosenberg issued a resignation letter Thursday after the report said that while Rosenberg didn't break any laws and there is no evidence that he engaged in criminal activity, but there is "ample evidence" of Rosenberg's failures of judgment and leadership. Both Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey called for his resignation after the report's release. Several senators, including incoming Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, joined the calls. "The reason I called for his resignation is because I was concerned about the fact that he had said for quite a while that the firewall that existed between his personal and professional life was real, and it was pretty clear based on that report that it wasn't," Baker told reporters. "And there were plenty of opportunities for him to have done something about it." Baker and Rosenberg are both veterans of the Massachusetts State House who had mutual respect for each other. When Baker, a Republican, worked as Gov. William Weld's budget chief in the 1990s, Rosenberg served as the top state budget writer in the state Senate. "But in this particular instance I think that report made pretty clear there was damage done to the institution, to the Senate, and I think it was appropriate for him to step down and I'm glad he did," Baker said Thursday. Baker said the stories about harassment have hit not just the state Senate but other sectors of society. "What they spoke to was decades of concern and anxiety and fear from people about coming forward and speaking about their experiences and what had happened to them," Baker said. "And I honestly hope most of all that one of the products of all this is an environment in which they believe they can come forward." SPRINGFIELD -- Mariah Mauke was 16 when she came home from school and found her 17-year-old sister Kathryn Mauke dead on the kitchen floor. "I took about two steps in and I saw my sister lying on the floor in a pool of blood," Mariah Mauke testified Thursday as the Nickolas Lacrosse murder trial got underway in Hampden Superior Court. She said he ran outside, called her father, and waited in the driveway of her home at 136 Prentice St. in Springfield for police to get there on Feb. 11, 2015. Kathryn Mauke had dated Lacrosse, who was 20 at the time of the killing, on and off since she was 13 or 14, Mariah Mauke said. When she ended the relationship in December 2014, she seemed relieved. She then began dating a new man around whom she was relaxed and laughed a lot, Mariah Mauke said. Defense lawyer Alan J. Black did not give an opening statement, but reserved his right to do so later in the trial. Assistant District Attorney Mary A. Sandstrom told jurors Lacrosse felt if he could not have Kathryn Mauke, no one could. Mauke made it clear to Lacrosse in computer messages on the morning of her death that she loved someone else. Lacrosse was angry, Sandstrom said. Mauke was home sick from Sabis International Charter School and Lacrosse knew that. He made up an excuse to leave work early, had his friend drop him off at home, armed himself with a knife and went to Mauke's house and stabbed her to death, Sandstrom said. Lacrosse stabbed Mauke 32 times, in the middle of the back, the head, the lungs and the heart, the prosecutor said. Sandstrom said Lacrosse took the knife, put it to Mauke's neck and "slit from one side to the other, severing her muscle and severing her windpipe." She said Lacrosse "knew what he was doing every step of the way" and made the decision to dispose of evidence. He took off his clothing, which was covered in Mauke's blood, and dumped the items across the street from his home in a friend's garbage. He shaved his full beard off that day. When Lacrosse spoke to police, he asked if Mauke was missing or hurt or in the hospital. He said he had not been near her house that day and he was not angry at her, Sandstrom said. Facebook messages exchanged between Mauke and Lacrosse on the day she was killed are expected to be presented as evidence by the prosecution. Sandstrom called to the witness stand Christine Oliveira, a custodian of records at Facebook. She was there to certify records of the messages from Mauke's and Lacrosse's accounts. She said Facebook stores materials posted plus messages and will produce the records to law enforcement when presented with the appropriate legal process. About two dozen relatives and friends of Mauke were present in the courtroom Thursday, as well as four people for Lacrosse. SPRINGFIELD - Police, during two drug investigations Thursday, arrested 15 suspects and seized 18 rocks of crack cocaine, 74 bags of heroin and more than $9,800 in cash. The arrests came after police received information on drug activity from residents in various areas of the city, Ryan Walsh, spokesman for the department, said. The Strategic Impact Unit, under the direction of Lawrence Murphy, Christopher Hitas and Sgt. James Mazza, conducted the investigation with assistance from the Springfield Police Department's Street Crimes Unit and Forest Park C3 Unit. Police arrested four people on High Street shortly after noon. Leon Wyatt, 47, of Byers St., was charged with possession of crack cocaine; Gilberto Figueroa, 39, of High St., was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute; Leo Burbee, 53, of Southwick, was charged with possession of crack cocaine; Miriam Lozada, 35, of High St., was charged with possession of crack cocaine. At approximately 1 p.m. on Bay Street, police arrested Alton Graham, 58, of Columbus, Georgia on a charge of possession of crack cocaine. At approximately 1:40 p.m. on Temple Street, near School Street, Alexander Baez, 27, of Cambridge St., was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Noe Rivera of Dwight Road was also arrested for a default warrant on Temple St. After 4 p.m., police made their remaining arrests in the area of lower Fort Pleasant Avenue. Rafael Santos, 31, of Girard Ave was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of heroin; Luis Montanez, 33, of Worthington St. was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of heroin; Joseph Nai, 52 ,of West Springfield, was charged with possession of heroin and possession of crack cocaine. Francesco Rovelli, 27, of Ruskin St., was charged possession of heroin and possession of crack cocaine; Manuel Ortiz, 24, of Commonwealth Avenue, was charged with distribution of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute; Jose Melendez, 34, of School Street, was charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Kimberly Robinson, 27, of Nassau Drive was charged with possession of heroin; Shawn Dennehy, 44, of Newhouse St., was charged with possession of heroin. CHICOPEE - The owners of U.S. Tsubaki officially opened its new about 100,000 square-foot addition Wednesday and with it announced it is looking for new employees. Mayor Richard J. Kos and other city officials joined U.S. Tsubaki President Daniel Butterfield and many of the company's employees to celebrate the opening of the about $11.5 million project with a ribbon cutting. The decision by the international company in 2016 to expand operations in Chicopee was welcome and celebrated. Owners of the company, which manufactures automotive roller chains, had also considered plants in Tennessee and Mexico for the expansion. Chicopee offered the company a tax incentive agreement to entice the company to expand here. It will waive 70 percent of the taxes on the new construction that began this fiscal year. The savings will be cut to 60 percent in 2019 and then be reduced by 10 percent every year after until 2024 when the U.S. Tsubaki will pay 90 percent of the assessed value of the addition. In 2025 it will also pay 90 percent and in the two following fiscal years, 2026 and 2027 it will see a 5 percent reduction in taxes. The agreement ends in 2028. U.S. Tusbaki is one of the largest private employers in the city and had about 350 workers before the expansion. Along with seeing the about 35 new well-paid jobs added, Kos said the investment into the plant meant the company was also committed to continuing operations here. WESTFIELD - The City Council on Thursday failed to pass a $13 million bond request to address drinking water contamination. Councilors voted 8-5 in favor of the bond, but nine positive votes were needed for it to pass. The bond was requested by Mayor Brian P. Sullivan. The bond included filtration for Wells 7 and 8, which have been offline since late 2015 due to high levels of PFOA and PFOS contamination, as well as a connection to the Springfield Water Works and work on the East Mountain Road water tank. The city points to the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base as the source of the contamination. The city filed a tort claim against the Department of Defense and a lawsuit against three manufacturers of firefighting foam used on the base. Councilors Daniel Allie, Matthew Emmershy, Dave Flaherty, Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr. and Andrew K. Surprise voted against the bond. This was the third attempt at passing the bond. Councilors rejected it in March. It was reintroduced in April and passed the first reading, but failed to pass the necessary second reading Thursday. Throughout the process, Allie, Emmershy and Surprise, members of the Finance Subcommittee, have said they needed more information and more options. Flaherty also sought more information, but the swing vote Thursday was Morganelli, who said he weighed the vote heavily. "I've received an equal amount of calls from residents asking me to vote yes and no," said Morganelli. For Morganelli, the biggest reason he voted no was the inclusion of Wells 7 and 8 in the bond language. Those wells had the highest level of contamination of the three city wells currently offline. Well 2 was taken offline in February in anticipation of failing a test after the state Department of Environmental Protection added five new long-chain contaminants to its list. Emmershy and Surprise said Westfield could tap into Holyoke's water system for less than the cost of filtering Wells 7 and 8. They also said studies have shown that carbon filtration, the filtration method recommended by the city, does not remove all PFOA and PFOS contaminants. In a statement issued earlier in the week, Sullivan and Public Works Director David Billips said connecting to Holyoke's water supply would require construction of a treatment plant and replacement of a connecting pipe. Flaherty and Surprise agreed that Wells 7 and 8 are the biggest deterrent to passing the bond. "Everybody wants clean water," Flaherty said, "I think we would support a bond without Wells 7 and 8." Sullivan said Thursday night that he would not present a "half bond." "They need to own their actions," he said. "Their solution is 1: Wait for money from the Department of Defense, and 2: Pay Holyoke millions to clean their water while our citizens suffer with dirty water." Morganelli hesitated when City Clerk Karen Fanion called his name during the roll-call vote. He said later that it boiled down to what was best for families. "It's like if you bought a house and you're raising young children and found out afterward that someone threw lead chips all over the yard," Morganelli said. "What do you do? As a father I'd say spend the money and clean it up, but if someone did the research and had a better way, even if it cost more money, I'd do that." Councilor Brent B. Bean II supported the bond and said he looked at it from a public safety point of view. "Even if there is no reimbursement, would we still do it? The answer in my mind is yes, I'd absolutely do this," said Bean. Councilor Mary Ann Babinski said she would like the mayor to budget for a "crystal ball or time machine" to help make a decision, and said they needed to stop "kicking the can down the road" and give residents clean water. Morganelli, Surprise and Flaherty all said they hope Sullivan returns to the council with a bond that does not include Wells 7 and 8. Morganelli, chairman of the Health and Safety Subcommittee, committed Thursday to including a water update on every agenda moving forward. "I expect the Water Department will send someone to the meetings," Morganelli said, adding that "communication between this body and city departments needs to get better." A suspicious letter was sent to the home of a Worcester County judge, prompting a response from the state bomb squad, officials said. The investigation was at home of Worcester District Court Judge David Despotopoulos, according to law enforcement officials. The letter was sent to the house, but the letter's content did not warrant police intervention, according to Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst, a spokesman for the Worcester Police Department. There were some reports that the item was a package, not a letter. After the state bomb squad responded and investigated, the item was found to be non-hazardous, officials said. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. declined to answer questions about the incident, but said any threats are taken seriously. "I can't speak with regards to specific investigations," Early said at an unrelated event Friday morning. "We take any threats very seriously when it comes to our judiciary but I can't speak to any individual threats right now, or any investigation." The state Fire Marshal's office, which oversees the bomb squad, referred questions to Early's office. No further information was immediately available. Alex Wong/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Former New York City Mayor and President Donald Trumps attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday that the president fired former FBI Director James Comey last May in part because Comey wouldnt assure the president he wasnt a target of Special Counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasnt a target of the investigation, Giuliani said on Fox News. 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. Special counsel Robert Mueller told President Trumps attorneys in March that the president remains under investigation but is not a criminal target, multiple sources familiar with the discussion confirmed to ABC News. The claim from Giuliani marks the evolving narrative offered by Trump and his administration about the circumstances surrounding Comeys firing and comes as negotiations are ongoing between Trump's legal team and Mueller's office about a possible presidential interview. Mueller has expressed interest in probing the president on the circumstances surrounding Comey's firing. The White House initially said in a statement May 9 that President Trump decided to fire Comey on the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, delivered earlier that day. In the memo, Rosenstein was critical of Comey's handling of the FBI's investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email server while Secretary of State. Trump said May 10 he fired Comey "because he wasn't doing a good job." But in an interview on May 11, Trump told NBC News he had decided to fire Comey "regardless" of what Rosenstein recommended and said he was thinking about this Russia thing when he fired him. Asked by ABC News' Jonathan Karl that same to square the presidents comments to NBC News, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said she did not have the opportunity to directly ask the president until the Thursday following Comey's firing and was previously working with information she had at hand. "I've since had the conversation with him, right before I walked on today. And he laid it out very clearly. He had already made that decision," Sanders said, referring to the timing of Trump's decision to fire Comey. About a month after he was dismissed, Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he believed Trump fired him to impede the FBIs investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. "I was fired in some way to change or the endeavor was to change the way the Russia investigation was being conducted," Comey told the committee. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. TEHRAN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday ruled out renegotiating the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal or holding talks over its missile program. "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 May 12 deadline looms for U.S. 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 program after 2025. In January, Trump extended sanctions relief on Iran under the deal for the last time, threatening to withdraw from it if U.S. 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 United States a new deal particularly as it is not honoring the deal it has already made," he said. The Iranian minister also criticized the European parties in the deal for what he called their "concessions" to U.S. 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 defense capabilities, and regional influence," Zarif said. Washington should honor its commitments under the deal, otherwise should accept responsibility for the consequences of withdrawal from it, he added. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. 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. Top political leaders in Rhode Island are "working on a deal" with the Pawtucket Red Sox and hope to make a commitment to the team by the end of this legislative session, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said in an interview on Rhode Island Public Radio Thursday. "We're working currently with the PawSox and if we can negotiate a proposal where the risk is transferred away from the Rhode Island taxpayer, we will do something," Mattiello said on the radio show. Mattiello's most recent comments signal a dramatic shift from his position in January when he said the deal was "dead." Those comments provided a boost of optimism to those in Massachusetts looking to see the Triple-A affiliate to Worcester. The team and Worcester officials have met repeatedly over the past year. The Rhode Island Senate passed a bill in January that would allow for a new $82 million stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox. At that time, speaking on the program "Dan Yorke State of Mind" Mattiello said "two-thirds of Rhode Islanders do not support it" and said the House would not support the bill either. A meeting in March with Larry Lucchino, the chairman of the minor league team, as well as more communication with his constituents seem to have cooled the Speaker's resistance. Mattiello's biggest worry is the cost to the taxpayers -- a primary concern voiced in negotiations with the team, according to Larry Berman, a spokesman for the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Berman declined to provide specifics about the talks saying the Speaker "doesn't really want to negotiate this in the media right now." Under the current House bill, Rhode Island taxpayers would foot $38 million of the $83 million bill to replace McCoy Stadium with a new space in downtown Pawtucket. Also on Thursday Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus spoke to Worcester Magazine about his own meetings regarding the PawSox coming to Massachusetts. Augustus said he was meeting with Worcester leaders and businesses to talk about how a partnership with the PawSox could be funded. "There's a lot of ways people can participate, corporations, businesses," Augustus told the magazine. "It's more like feeling the temperature, feeling the level of interest. The Worcester Business Journal quoted an anonymous Worcester business owner who said he would "put money on" the PawSox coming to Worcester, promising an announcement as early as June. Mattiello declined to say if he was concerned that Worcester could scoop up the team while Rhode Island deliberates. "I'd like them to stay in Rhode Island but I'm not going to characterize the level of threat that Worcester is if you want to call it a threat," Mattiello told RIPR. The citizens of the district encompassing Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester counties deserve to have the opportunity for "a full and robust debate" about the needs of the districts 24 cities and towns. Those are the words of Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, and he is correct in asking Governor Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, Secretary of State William Galvin and Senate President Harriet Chandler to extend the candidates' filing deadline for an additional two weeks. Because the deadline for signatures written into state law, the Massachusetts and House and Senate would have to pass special legislation to change it, and the governor would have to sign in. But all of this can be done, and based on the extraordinary circumstances, it should be done. Senator Stanley Rosenberg's resignation came after an ethics investigation stemming from alleged influence peddling and misconduct by Bryon Hefner, Rosenberg's husband. Results of the probe were announced one day after the May 1 filing deadline, prompting Rosenberg to resign and leaving the district with no representation in Boston until January of 2019. The only candidate to have filed before the May 1 deadline is Democrat Chelsea Kline. Any other candidate wishing to pursue the seat must do so as a write-in candidate. Extending the deadline would be no reflection on Kline's candidacy. It would merely give ample time for other prospective candidates to create an issues-based campaign that will have no impetus to materialize if only one unopposed candidate's name is on the ballot. Write-in candidates have the odds stacked against them from the start. Rosenberg's dramatic downfall creates an unusual situation that would be recognized by this very modest extension of the filing deadline. If the two weeks passes with no one choosing to challenge Kline, voters in the district will still know the best and fairest effort was made to generate an issues-based campaign. Their choice or choices should not be determined by the timing of the calendar - the passing of deadline for a special election (which requires that a vacancy occur before April 1), and the timing in rapid succession of the filing deadline, the ethics probe's findings and Rosenberg's resignation. The resignation of Rosenberg and the passing of Rep. Peter Kocot, D-Northampton, will leave a void in western Massachusetts representation. Kocot died on Feb. 22 and House leadership opted against a special election for the First Hampshire district. Representative democracy should first and foremost be fair. Narkewicz is making a fair request based on the circumstances and the needs of the district. State officials will be respecting the voters of Rosenberg's district, and to the democratic process itself, by granting this short extension for filing. Citizens of the district have seen their representation disrupted by the Rosenberg scandal. They deserve to know that once his seat is filled, the best effort was made to give voters a chance to debate what their district needs and what choice of candidates - if any - was left to their decision. By Christine Klucznik After losing my father to brain cancer at the early age of 42 and seeing the compassionate care he received, I was inspired to become a nurse and make a difference in the lives of others. Nursing is a proud and respected profession, which in a Gallup poll is consistently rated each year at the top of the list for honesty and ethical standards. While it was an attractive choice even in my days as a fledgling nursing student, nursing has advanced in its scope of practice and breadth of opportunities for those entering the profession today. What has always impressed me is the voice nurses have in advocating for their patients. By giving nurses a voice in how care is provided today, we are elevating their sense of professionalism, decision making and autonomy. Now, one union representing less than a quarter of nurses in Massachusetts is threatening the professional voice of our nurses, which is so crucial to patient care. The Massachusetts Nurses Association has filed a ballot initiative that would take the nurses' voice away. The ballot, scheduled for a vote in November, imposes government-mandated nurse staffing ratios in every hospital across the state, regardless of the hospital's size, location, or the acuity of patients. Real-time decision making power would be taken away from care providers and put in the hands of a rigid government mandate. Hospitals operate in a dynamic, ever-changing environment where unplanned events, such as a natural disaster, could happen at any moment causing an influx of patients. Our nurse managers need to be able to flex staffing up and down depending on the situation. For example, if the mandate had been in effect during this year's flu season, which caused so many people to seek care at the hospital, we would have had to turn people away from the emergency room or not admit those who needed care. The reason being, our nurses would have reached their assigned government limit of patients based on the nurse staffing ratios. Fortunately, we were able to deploy resources where needed during the flu epidemic, but had the mandate been in place, moving nurses to areas of greater need would have been illegal with fines of $25,000 for each patient per day that we care for beyond the mandated ratio. It's natural to assume that more nurses caring for patients would be better. But there are so many factors that go into delivering patient care. The mandate presumes that more nurses on a unit equates with better patient outcomes. Yet, there are no scientific studies that credibly demonstrate it will improve the quality of care for patients or even what the perfect ratio is. California is the only state to adopt nurse staffing ratios. Beyond patient care and quality, the change to rigid government-mandated ratios would come at a price. The total added cost to the Massachusetts healthcare industry would be over $1.3 billion annually. For Baystate Health alone, the yearly cost would be $38 million. And, the big question is, "Who would absorb these costs?" In addition to the financial costs, passing the ballot initiative would have a far-ranging and catastrophic impact on both the delivery of and access to patient care. Hospitals like ours would be forced to close some patient units and critical programs, such as opioid treatment and mental health, could potentially be eliminated. There would also be dramatically increased wait times in the emergency room and delays for other life-saving care services. We cannot let this happen to our patients. In my many years as a nurse, I have seen our profession challenged by nursing shortages. But at no time has the need been greater than today. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies the need to attract 1.1 million new registered nurses to the profession, as some 500,000 seasoned professionals are preparing to retire by 2022. Therein lies another challenge in meeting government-mandated nurse staffing ratios. At a time when the healthcare industry is challenged to find experienced nurses, Baystate Health would not be able to meet the unrealistic requirement of hiring 220 additional nurses to meet the mandate. As a testimony to the exemplary care our nurses provide, Baystate Medical Center has earned the prestigious status as a Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence. Our community can be assured that the nurses caring for you are among the best in the country. Magnet is the ultimate seal of quality and the gold standard for nursing in the United States. We are among an elite group of hospitals, only 2 percent nationwide, who have achieved the prestigious honor of being designated a Magnet organization three consecutive times by the American Nurse Credentialing Center. During National Nurses Week, May 6-12, and on behalf of Baystate Health, I want to thank our entire nursing team for its commitment to the delivery of exemplary patient care, and also to recognize all of my nursing colleagues, wherever they may practice, who make up the backbone of the American healthcare system. You are greatly appreciated and valued. Christine Klucznik, DNP, RN is Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Baystate Medical Center The trail of broken trust, sordid accusations and political upheaval that led to State Senator Stanley Rosenberg's resignation will echo throughout Massachusetts politics for a long time. Rosenberg's exit leaves his district without representation until January of 2019. It toppled a man who, as Senate president, had given Western Massachusetts a rare voice atop the state political ladder, and who had served his district and region for more than 30 years - and in our view, served it dutifully and well. It led to the separation of Rosenberg and his husband, Bryon Hefner. It promises to end with litigation of criminal charges against Hefner for sexual assault and other wrongdoing. It ruins Hefner's reputation and badly tarnishes Rosenberg's. It also has another effect that will resonate long after this scandal subsides. It makes clear that public officials will be held accountable for the actions and behavior of their spouses, associates and friends. No longer will "I didn't know" be an acceptable mea culpa. Promises of a "firewall" that separates public responsibility from private relationships will be taken literally and seriously, more so than before. Mistakes ranging from carelessness and preoccupation to misplaced trust will no longer be accepted from public officials. The responsibility of maintaining a level of public integrity will be expected to extend to relationships involving a husband, wife, adult child, cousin, close friend or other connection. The debate over a public figure's accountability or responsibility for a spouse's activities is not new. Nationally, it has dominated public perception of the Clinton family. An investigation into a bank loan to a private college once operated by the wife of Bernie Sanders has affected his otherwise clean reputation, regardless of the senator's protests that the allegations are unfair. As the Rosenberg-Hefner case unfolded, it became clear that Rosenberg, at the very least, made errors in judgment. The controversy essentially forced him out - first from the presidency and any leadership role in Boston, and then from the Senate altogether. It speaks to heightened sensitivity toward sexual misconduct charges of any form. It also reveals a mood that demands not just apologies to restore public trust, but action. Stanley Rosenberg served his district with distinction for more than three decades. That will not be forgotten in the aftermath of this scandal, but his downfall and departure will undoubtedly share space in public memory - and to many citizens, take top billing. That's very sad but also very telling. It says moving forward, public servants must take seriously the need to maintain a firewall between their public and private lives. That is often very difficult to do, but the price for lapses is the risk of losing influence, a reputation and even a job. If it can bring down even a popular and powerful legislator who looked destined to hold office until he chose to leave, no one is exempt. Chelsea Kline is no stranger to struggle, whether as a poor teenage mother or a nontraditional college student. But this time, she appears to have gotten a lucky break. The political newcomer went from challenging a 27-year incumbent and recent Senate president to having a clear shot at the state Senate seat formerly held by Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst. But Kline, 40, of Northampton, said she is not counting on gliding into the seat. "I will take nothing for granted," Kline said in an interview Friday. "I'm planning on earning every vote and running a very strong campaign." Rosenberg resigned from the Senate, effective Friday, after the Senate Ethics Committee released a damning report that found Rosenberg allowed his husband Bryon Hefner to meddle in his Senate business and did not prevent Hefner from engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior toward people involved with the Senate. The report was released Wednesday, one day after the deadline for candidates to file signatures with city and town clerks to run for office in 2018. Kline, a Democrat, was the only one who filed to challenge Rosenberg. Kline announced her campaign in March, after Rosenberg stepped down from the presidency amid allegations of sexual harassment and assault by Hefner. A criminal case against Hefner is ongoing. Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz asked state officials for a two-week extension to allow additional candidates to file nomination papers. But the signature deadline is written into state law, so it would take special legislation to change it. Kline said she does not expect lawmakers to extend the deadline, in which case the only way to challenge her would be to mount a write-in campaign. But she said, "If anyone is interested in running, jump in, the water is fine. I'll be running a very strong campaign." Kline is a political neophyte, having never held elected office. She is an appointed commissioner on the Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, which was established about a year ago. In an interview, Kline stressed her background as an activist for social justice and reproductive rights. "I'm someone who's been looking out for marginalized people and vulnerable people for a long time now," Kline said. Kline was living outside of Washington when she had a child at 19 years old. At the time, she was working as a nanny, attending community college and relying on food stamps. "It was not easy to make a living and put food on the table," she said. Kline moved to Northampton in 2001 to help her mother, who had cancer, get health care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She was accepted into the Ada Comstock Scholars Program at Smith College, which helps women of nontraditional college age complete their bachelor's degree with flexible scheduling, academic advising and other assistance. Kline attended Greenfield Community College, then graduated from Smith College. Kline later got a master's degree from Harvard Divinity School, with a focus on women, religion, gender and sexuality. According to her biography, she has been active in numerous organizations that focus on women's health, including teen parent mentorship, the Feminist Majority, La Leche League and others. She has worked at Bay Path University since 2012, where she directs multiple programs geared toward helping adult women attend college. "Because I'm somebody who has struggled, I have lot of compassion for those struggling now," Kline said. Kline said she was inspired to run for office because she wants to "rebuild the social safety net" and strengthen Western Massachusetts. Her platform includes fighting for a $15 minimum wage, advocating for more transportation options in Western Massachusetts, fully funding public schools, pushing for single payer health care and taking a "compassionate approach" to opioid addiction. "It's all about strengthening Western Mass. and demanding more from Beacon Hill," Kline said. She just organized her campaign committee in March, so she has not yet filed a campaign finance report. The 2018 election comes amid a national culture shift, in which women are becoming increasingly vocal about problems of sexual harassment in the workplace. Kline, who is on the board of directors of the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, said she believes it is important for women to take leadership roles. "When a young parent or single parent looks at government, they should be able to see someone there and know that person speaks for them, understands where they're coming from," Kline said. She said the need for female representation is not only about gender, but about "understanding from the inside out what your constituents are experiencing and really care about." Kline is married to her husband Greg and has three children. President Donald Trump said Friday that a date and location for a highly anticipated summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been set and will soon be announced. Trump revealed that the White House is in the midst of scheduling the historic meeting, telling reporters as he boarded Marine One that "we now have a date and we have a location." The president did not say where or when he is expected to meet with Kim. "We'll be announcing it soon," he said, according to White House pool reports. The White House has reportedly been looking at Singapore and a facility inside the Korean peninsula's demilitarized zone as possible sites for Trump's anticipated meeting with Kim. Trump said Saturday that the meeting with Kim could happen in the next three or four weeks, according to reports. The president further said the United States is "having very substantive talks with North Korea" ahead of the upcoming summit. He added that "a lot of things have already happened with regard to the hostages" -- referencing the potential release of three Americans -- Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk, known as Tony Kim -- who have been imprisoned in North Korea for months. Trump hinted at the Americans' release on Twitter earlier this week. "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. Hours later, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who recently joined the president's legal team, announced that the Trump administration had got North Korea "impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners." White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, however, told reporters Thursday that the administration "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," she said. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who recently joined President Donald Trump's legal team, issued a statement Friday clarifying controversial remarks he made this week, including on the firing of FBI Director James Comey and a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Giuliani, in an email sent to various news outlets, appeared to walk back his suggestion that the $130,000 Trump's attorney Michael Cohen paid to Daniels sought to protect the then-GOP presidential nominee's campaign. Stressing that "there is no campaign violation," Giuliani reportedly argued that the payment was made "to resolve a personal and false allegation in order to protect the president's family" -- not his election chances. "It would have been done in any event, whether he was a candidate or not," he added in the reported statement. JUST IN: Rudy Giuliani issues statement "intended to clarify the views I expressed over the past few days." https://t.co/usoHflZShm pic.twitter.com/cHKwDvhMnq ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 4, 2018 Giuliani, in a Thursday interview, offered that Cohen made the payment because Daniels was alleging that she had a previous affair with Trump as the 2016 presidential race heated up. The former mayor further appeared to suggest that his references to timing "were not describing (his) understanding of the president's knowledge, but instead (his own) understanding of these matters," according to reports. Giuliani told Fox News' Sean Hannity that Trump had reimbursed Cohen for the payment to Daniels -- an arrangement the president had previously denied even having knowledge of. The former mayor's reported statement further sought to clarify details surrounding Comey's firing -- a dismissial which Giuliani this week appeared to attribute to the FBI director's failure to rule out Trump as a target of the Russia investigation. Giuliani, in the Friday statement, argued that "it is undisputed that the president's dismissal of former Director Comey -- an inferior executive officer -- was clearly within his Article II power." "Recent revelations about former Director Comey further confirm the wisdom of the President's decision, which was plainly in the best interests of our nation," he said in a statement. Trump, when asked about the former mayor's remarks, told reporters Friday that Giuliani will "get his facts straight." "It's actually very simple, there has been a lot of misinformation really," he said, according to White House pool reports. U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, urged federal regulators this week to require Facebook to implement a series of new privacy safeguards in wake of the social media giant's reported failure to protect users' data. Markey, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, penned a letter to the Federal Trade Commission Thursday asking commissioners to investigate whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent decree and to instruct the company to institute various privacy protections. Pointing to reports that have surfaced in wake of the Cambridge Analytical data scandal, the senator argued that there's compelling evidence Facebook violated its 2011 settlement with the FTC -- an agreement that barred the social media company from misrepresenting privacy or security of consumers' personal information and required it to establish and maintain a comprehensive privacy program, among other things. The Massachusetts Democrat called on the commission to use all necessary resources to investigate Facebook, demand that the company pay all monetary penalties owed for violating the 2011 order and instruct facebook to institute new safeguards. Such protections, Markey said, should include requiring that Facebook: make future audits of its privacy practices -- as mandated by the 2011 consent decree -- available to the public upon request; end all tracking of users across websites after they have logged out of their accounts; suspend deployment of facial recognition tools pending completion of the FTC investigation; and routinely brief employees on the company's rights to review third party applications. The senator also asked that the commission bar Facebook from repealing or weakening its current policy, which prohibits applications from collecting users' data based on their "friends'" permission, as well as take all steps necessary to ensure independence of entities conducting required privacy audits under the 2011 consent decree. Markey, who recently pressed Zuckerberg about Facebook's response to Cambridge Analytica's reported accessing of millions of users' private information, further called on the FTC to respond to a series of questions regarding its oversight of Facebook by May 24. The Democrat, for example, sought information on the steps the commission has taken as part of its investigation to ensure compliance with the 2011 agreement, as well as when its findings will be made public, among other things. The letter came weeks after Markey and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, announced legislation that seeks to protect Americans' personal information from privacy breaches. The Democrats said their bill would require the FTC to establish protections for customers of online providers, like Facebook and Google. It specifically calls for requiring providers to: obtain opt-in consent from users to use, share or sell personal information; develop reasonable data security practices; notify users about collection, use and sharing of personal information; and to make users aware of breaches. The FTC would enforce such requirements, according to Markey's office. White House Counsel Don McGhan is expected to soon leave his post with the Trump administration -- a departure which reportedly has been in the works for months, according to the Associated Press. Various sources told the AP that McGhan has long been making plans to leave his role at the White House, but his departure is not expected to be imminent. Emmet Flood, who joined President Donald Trump's legal team this week, is likely to replace the outgoing White House counsel, the news outlet reported. Flood represented President Bill Clinton during his impeachment and served in the White House counsel's office under President George W. Bush. He was hired to replace Trump's outgoing attorney Ty Cobb, the president's point person in the Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Although McGhan, as a witness in the special counsel's probe, has not been involved in the White House's response to the investigation, he reportedly lobbied for Flood to be added to the legal team and clashed with Cobb over strategy, AP reported. Those familiar with the White House's plans told the news outlet that McGhan would recommend Flood to Trump as his replacement and that the president has said he wants Flood to replace McGhan. Whether Flood is named White House counsel -- a position that largely advises the president on the legality of policy decisions and interacts with Congress -- could depend on the timing of Mueller's investigation. AP reported that some officials believe it's not a good idea to have the White House counsel sere as the point person for the special counsel's probe. The news outlet further noted that as a White House employee, Flood will not be representing Trump personally, meaning his conversations with the president will not be covered by attorney-client privilege and that he could be questioned like McGhan. The remaining state senators from Western Massachusetts on Friday pledged to represent the interests of Sen. Stan Rosenberg's district after Rosenberg resigns. Rosenberg, D-Amherst, is leaving the Senate, effective 5 p.m. Friday, in the wake of an ethics scandal involving his husband's sexual misconduct and influence in Senate affairs. The Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Senate District, which includes the city of Northampton and 23 towns, will be without representation until January. In a joint statement, State Sens. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, Eric Lesser, D- Longmeadow, Anne Gobi, D- Spencer, and Donald Humason, R-Westfield, said they would advocate on behalf of the towns formerly represented by Rosenberg. "We wish to assure the residents, local and regional officials in the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Senate District that we will work together to represent your needs and priorities on Beacon Hill," the senators said in a statement. "We will work collectively to advance your agenda and protect your interests for the remainder of this legislative session. It is the right thing to do for western Massachusetts and to keep our region strong." It is not the first time there has been a Senate vacancy. But what is unusual is that Northampton and Hatfield residents also lack a state representative, since Rep. Peter Kocot, D-Northampton, died in February. In addition, the Legislature is entering a key period at the end of the second year of the legislative session. The fiscal 2019 budget is up for consideration in the Senate, and local lawmakers typically use the budget to file local earmarks that are important to their district. Lawmakers will also consider multiple bond bills between now and July, which are also often used to direct money to local priorities. The Western Massachusetts lawmakers said they will sponsor bills, amendments and home rule petitions related to Rosenberg's district. This is similar to the way Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, filed local earmarks on behalf of Kocot's district during the House budget process. Kocot's district director is still doing constituent work in Kocot's district. Members of Rosenberg's staff will continue to be available for casework inquiries and to provide guidance on pending policy, the senators said. Senate President Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester, said the residents of Rosenberg's district "will continue to have a voice on Beacon Hill" through the Western Massachusetts delegation and through Chandler. Update, May 6, 9:40 a.m.: Although Sen. Jim Welch, D-West Springfield, was not part of the joint statement, a spokesman for Welch said the senator also publicly promised his support for Rosenberg's district. Two Myanmar drug dealers sentenced to death in Southwest China A court in Southwest China's Yunnan Province Wednesday sentenced two people from Myanmar to death for drug trafficking and killing a Chinese police officer. One was convicted of shooting and killing a police officer in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture on November 4, 2016, according to a local court. The other man and two accomplices escaped and fled to Myanmar, but were detained and turned over to the police. They were handed over to Chinese police on November 6, 2016 together with a handgun and 11 bullets. During the operation, police seized 17.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, also known as ice, and a handgun and bullets. The two accomplices were sentenced to life and 15 years in prison, respectively. The four have appealed. Yunnan Province, which borders the notorious "Golden Triangle" of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, is at the forefront of Chinese police' anti-drug efforts. On Thursday, Twitter chief technology officer Parag Agrawal disclosed in a blog post that the company had inadvertently recorded user passwords, in plaintext, in an internal system. This is not how things are supposed to go! And while Twitter has fixed the bug, and doesnt think any of the exposed passwords were accessed in any way, you should still change your Twitter password right now to make sure your account is secure. Lily Hay Newman https://www.wired.com/story/change-your-twitter-password-right-now/ As a company that cares deeply about the communities in which it operates, Engen is supporting Mauritian NGO efforts to reach vulnerable communities during national lockdown, thereby playing a small part to help flatten the curve. Joining hands with the M-Kids Organisation Youth Council, Engen has donated free fuel to ensure that food kit distribution continues to reach homeless and distressed families. To date the association has assisted 300 families and delivered 1,500 food packs. Managing Director of Engen in Mauritius, Jean Pierre Payet confirms that plans are also underway to provide fuel to aid FoodWise, which consolidates donations received from numerous food distribution channels and redistributes the food to 80 NGOs working in the field. This week Engen donated Rs12,000 worth of fuel and we plan to continue our show of support and commitment over the coming weeks, says Payet. Engen has also prioritised hygiene measure at all forecourts and convenience stores as well as the provision of safety materials, including sanitizers, gloves and masks to all of dedicated Engen forecourt and Quickshop staff. Were also working with our partners to source food kits for our staff, adds Payet. We are grateful to our government and humbled by the work of the many NGOs, businesses and individuals who have all pulled together in an effort to combat this outbreak. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- American researchers discovered, in mice, why a touch can cause severe itching for some elderly people or those with dry skins, thus providing some possible therapeutic targets. A study published in the journal Science on Thursday indicated that itching caused by touch was directly related to the number of touch receptors embedded in the skin and the fewer the receptors, the more likely it was that touching would induce itching. Usually, anti-itch treatments, including hydrocortisone, don't provide much relief for this type of itching. Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine discovered the number of touch receptors called Merkel cells in the skin declined as the animals aged. They also found fewer of these touch receptors in animals with dry skin. Not having as many Merkel cells made itch problems more likely when the animals were poked with a hair-like nylon device that scientists use to study itch responses, according to the study. "What exactly Merkel cells do has not been clear, but our findings suggest they help control the itch response. When you lose these cells, their ability to inhibit itch also is lost," said the senior investigator Hu Hongzhen, associate professor of anesthesiology who conducted research as part of the university's Center for the Study of Itch. The researchers turned to genetically engineered mice whose Merkel cells could be activated with a chemical compound. It revealed that when the animals were given the compound, they were less likely to scratch when touched with the hairlike device. "This gives us hope that if we can control the activity of the Merkel cells themselves, we may be able to control this type of itching," said the paper's first author Feng Jing, a postdoctoral fellow at the university's School of Medicine. The researchers also identified a second potential therapeutic target, a protein on the Merkel cells that appears to control itch. The protein, called Piezo2 or Piezo Type Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Component 2, is made on the membranes of the cells. In the mouse experiments, the researchers found that the Piezo2 protein played a role in controlling Merkel cells as they tamped down itch. Hu told Xinhua that since Piezo2 and Merkel cells play important role in mechanical itching, targeting those signaling might be a therapy for chronic itching symptom. Foreign banks gather in Shanghai, file photo. [Photo/VCG] Several well-known foreign investors are ready to enter the Chinese financial market, a swift response to the country's vow to accelerate opening-up and the reflection of an optimistic outlook on the stability of the world's second-largest economy, according to central bank officials. The People's Bank of China, the central bank, told China Daily on Thursday that it has received the first application from a foreign payment company to enter the country's booming third-party payment industry. The application was submitted by a UK-registered international foreign exchange service provider, WorldFirst, only three weeks after President Xi Jinping's announcement of the launch of a group of landmark measures this year targeting broader market access for foreign investors in the financial sector. The central bank also confirmed a separate application from Experian, a provider of consumer and business credit reporting based in Dublin, Ireland, which wants to offer corporate credit information services within China. "We have received the applications and will consider the registration in accordance with the law," said a spokesperson for the central bank, believing the foreign participants will contribute to long-term and sustainable development of the financial system. The moves are being seen as a signal of accelerated financial opening-up, with the central bank already listing specific measures and a corresponding timetable last month. 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, which is planned to take effect by the end of the year. Nonbank payment and credit information services became priorities chosen by the top financial regulator to fulfill its promise, with analysts' expectation that the foreigners' entrance is not likely to disrupt the existing industry structure in terms of market share, but to encourage competition and stimulate innovation. The financial watchdogs, meanwhile, pledged to apply in "an equal manner prudential regulation" to domestic and foreign market participants of all types of ownership, to secure a smooth opening process, defuse risks and maintain stability. "Weighing all the pros and cons, foreign investors may have greater incentive to develop asset management and investment banking services in China, compared with capital-intensive businesses including banking and insurance," said Wang Yaoping, an analyst with CITIC Securities. Clearly, the foreign companies have disadvantages in competition with Chinese commercial banks and insurance giants who are more knowledgeable about domestic clients' needs, according to Wang. They may prefer setting up joint ventures as a path to the core of the financial sector, the analyst said. Statistics from the central bank showed that in 2017, domestic payment institutions have processed 169 trillion yuan ($26.6 trillion), up from 18 trillion yuan five years earlier, with an annual growth rate of 75 percent. About 105.1 trillion yuan was transferred through the mobile payment service of third-party payment companies last year, a year-on-year growth of 106.1 percent. BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Two centuries on, despite huge and profound changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a grand gathering in Beijing to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth. Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, a pathfinder for international communism and the greatest thinker of modern times." "Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, to remember his great character and historic deeds and to review his noble spirit and brilliant thoughts," Xi said at the event. With noble ideals and no fear of difficulty or adversity, throughout his life, Marx devoted himself to perseveringly striving for the liberation of humanity, scaling the peak of thought in his pursuit of truth, and the unremitting fight to overturn the old world and establish a new one, according to Xi. Marx is not only a great figure who bore the weight of the world, but also an ordinary person with passion for life, who was sincere and true to friendship, Xi said. The most valuable and influential spiritual asset that Marx left us is the scientific theory named after him -- Marxism. Like a spectacular sunrise, the theory illuminated the path of humanity's exploration of the law of history, and humanity's search for their own liberation, Xi said. "The thought and theory of Marx are of his times and go beyond his times," Xi said. "They are the essence of the spirit of that times and the essence of the spirit of all humanity." Xi said Marxism is a scientific theory that reveals the rule of human society development in a creative manner. Having developed the materialist conception of history and surplus value theory, Marx showed how humanity would leap from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom and the road for the people to realize freedom and liberation, Xi said. Marxism, the first ideology for the liberation of the people themselves, is a theory of the people. "Marxism, for the first time, explored the path for humanity's freedom and liberation from the stance of the people, and pointed out the direction, with scientific theory, toward an ideal society with no oppression or exploitation, where every person would enjoy equality and freedom," Xi said. Stressing that practicality is a prominent characteristic of Marxism that makes it different from other theories, Xi said Marxism is a theory of practices that directs the people to change the world. It is an open theory that is constantly developing and always stands at the frontier of the times, Xi said. "That is why it is always able to keep young, explore the new issues in the development of times and respond to the new challenges for human society." The general secretary said that over the 170 years since the publication of The Communist Manifesto, Marxism had been spread around the world, unrivaled in the history of human ideology in terms of the breadth and depth of its influence. After the end of the World War II, a large number of socialist countries were established, Xi said, stressing that the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially, has greatly increased the socialist strength in the world. "There might be setbacks in the development of socialism in the world, but the overall trend for human society development has never changed, and it will never change," Xi said. "Marxism has not only profoundly changed the world, but also China," Xi said. The reverberations of the October Revolution in Russia brought Marxism-Leninism to China, pointing out the direction forward, offering a brand new choice for the Chinese people in their struggle to survive, and setting the scene for the birth of the CPC. Since the CPC's birth, it has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of Chinese revolution and construction, transforming the Chinese nation from "the sick man of East Asia" to one who has stood up, by uniting and leading the people through long-term struggle. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism can we save China," Xi said. Since reform and opening up, the CPC has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China's reform and opening up, and the nation who stood up has grown rich. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism with Chinese characteristics can we develop China," Xi said. In the new era, the CPC again combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China in this new era, uniting and leading the people in "undertaking the great struggle, building the great project, advancing the great cause and realizing the great dream." The Chinese nation has come to embrace a tremendous transformation, as the one who has grown rich now is becoming strong. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics can we realize national rejuvenation," Xi said. "It is perfectly right for history and the people to choose Marxism, as well as for the CPC to write Marxism on its own flag, to adhere to the principle of combining the fundamental principles of Marxism with China's reality, and continuously adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the times." President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at a grand gathering marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday morning. [Photo/CGTN] BEIJING - President Xi Jinping attends a grand gathering here to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx on Friday morning. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech at the gathering in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Here are the highlights of the speech: Marx's theory still shines with truth: Xi BEIJING - Two centuries on, despite huge and profound changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Xi said. Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, pathfinder for international communism and the greatest thinker of modern times." "Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, to remember his great character and historic deeds and to review his noble spirit and brilliant thoughts," Xi said at the event. 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. Xiaomi, a Chinese mobile phone company well known in Asia, will now be available in the UK through Three UK, according to the carrier: At long last @xiaomi's coming to the UK. And it's only on Three. Welcome, #xiaomi. Kettle's on. https://t.co/oCoih5FREc Three UK (@ThreeUK) May 3, 2018 Xiaomi Mi 6 smartphones launched in April 2017 The phone company is now 4th largest in the world, thanks to its success in Asian markets, especially India. Last November, the brand debuted in Spain and through the new partnership with Hutchinsons brand Three will see it sold in the UK and Ireland, with possibilities in Austria, Denmark and Sweden. Not only known for phones, Xiaomi also produce a range of tech products that could see themselves in the European market such as electric bikes, rice cookers, air purifiers and even robotic vacuums. Xiaomi is set to be the next in line of Chinese tech products that have become huge in both UK and European markets. Xiaomi is the next Chinese tech company poised to enter the European market, but its definitely not the first. Lenovo is a Beijing based firm that has claimed European fame over recent years. According to an article published by the Guardian, its now the worlds largest maker of PCs when it comes to number of units sold. Not to mention Huawei, who in February 2018 signed an agreement with BT Group to extend their strategic partnership, with a clear focus on ensuring 5G for BT Group and its mobile network, EE, to be at the forefront of 5G carriers in Europe, according to Huaweis website. According to the Guardian, a statement from Three UK said on the new partnership "We have been watching Xiaomi's success from afar and impressed with the huge range of connected devices that they currently offer Watch this space." A female Chinese obstetrician working in Morocco has delivered more than 1,000 babies during her 14 months there, Chinas Central Television reported Wednesday. Arriving in Morocco in early 2017, the young Chinese doctor Zhu Yuting embarked on a new journey, with a dedicated spirit. In addition to these deliveries, Zhu has also delivered over 200 babies by cesarean-section. 95% of Zhus patients came to the hospital for emergency operations, because prenatal examinations haven't been promoted on a large scale in the country. According to Zhu, it's common for her to handle 4 to 5 operations each day, but sometimes that figure goes much higher. Zhu said she once conducted 11 operations in a single day. After 14 months in Morocco, Zhu can now communicate with the nurses in French, which she said was one of her major achievements there. In addition, she found that her experience working in foreign aid has also helped her daughter's personal growth. Since hearing Zhus stories of her time in Morocco, her daughter is now more sensible and responsible. Apart from outpatient service, Chinese medical personnel like Zhu also make home visits for people in remote mountainous areas. It is an unshakable part of their job despite the harsh weather and geographical conditions. Chinese doctors are extremely welcome in Morocco's remote villages. Zhu once received almost 100 patients and conducted more than 70 B-ultrasound scans during 6 hours in one such village. Even though the work in Morocco is hard and tiring, Zhu believes it is worth the effort to help those in need. 66 Chinese enterprises have been ranked in the worlds top 500 most valuable brands, up by 11 from 2017, said a report issued by Brand Finance, the worlds leading independent branded business valuation and strategy consultancy. According to the report, Global 500 2018, 22 of the 66 Chinese brands are placed in the top 100. The number of Chinas trademark registration applications has grown 83% year on year, up to 1.5 million during the first quarter of 2018 which hits a historic high, said the countrys State Administration of Market Regulation. China ranks first in the world when it comes to number of trademark registrations. The country had 16 million registered trademarks by the end of this March, holding an average of 1,596.3 trademarks per 10,000 market entities. In addition, China has also witnessed enhanced awareness of innovation and patent application. A total of 391,000 applications for invention patents were handled in China over the first three months of 2018, up 36.4% from the same period in 2017. The number of patents held per 10,000 people in China stood at 10.2 at the end of March, signalling the first time that this figure has hit double digits. Data provided by a travel service platform indicates that air tickets to Bangkok saw the largest number of bookings when compared to other overseas destinations during the three-day May Day holiday. The Grand Palace in Bangkok For two consecutive years, Bangkok has replaced London and Paris to become the most frequented tourist destination in the world, according to MasterCard International. In 2016, the city welcomed 194 million tourists from around the world. Having lots of fun with less money is one travel draw for Chinese tourists holidaying in Thailand. The average person will spend around 3,000 yuan ($473) in the country, which is even cheaper than the cost of some hot Chinese destinations. Thailand was one of the earliest countries open to Chinese tourists, and it has always been a hot travel destination for Chinese tourists, said a developer of travel itineraries in Southeast Asia. Thailand is a country you will never tire of visiting, said one travel enthusiast. Moreover, the country offers a visa-on-arrival policy for Chinese tourists, which is more convenient than visa application processes in other countries. At the beginning of this year, the number of Chinese tourists arriving in Thailand hit 350,000, an increase of 113.8 percent from the previous year, according to statistics. That figure was more than a quarter of the total outbound Chinese tourism during the same period. In 2017, Chinese tourists brought more than 520 billion baht in revenue to Thailand, becoming the largest contributor to the countrys tourism sector in terms of the number of arrivals and the size of profit, said Pongpanu Svetarundra, Permanent Secretary of Thailands Ministry Of Tourism and Sports. JAKARTA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming official visit to Indonesia, the first stop of the first overseas tour since the new cabinet took office, shows the great importance China attaches to bilateral relations with Indonesia, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian said in a signed article. Li's visit shows that China has been concretely implementing its neighborhood diplomatic philosophy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefits and inclusiveness, and its neighborhood diplomatic principles of good-neighborly relations with countries in the region, Xiao said. Li's visit is also an important diplomatic action to promote the building of a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at its core and a community with a shared future for mankind, the ambassador said. The Chinese and Indonesian peoples have started friendly exchanges more than 2000 years ago, and Indonesia was one of the first countries that established a diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of China, he said. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the core has paid great attention to developing China-Indonesia relations and made the country a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, the ambassador said. Xi paid two separate visits to the Southeast Asian country, where he put forward the initiative of jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in 2013, and proposed to establish a new type of international relations in 2015, Xiao wrote. Over the past few years, the two neighbors took strategic docking as a guideline to promote all-round pragmatic cooperation, and their bilateral ties have entered the fast track, he said. He listed achievements yielded over the recent years, including frequent high-level exchanges and the continuous deepening of mutual political trust, the strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation and closer economic ties, vigorous people-to-people exchanges, further understanding between the peoples and smooth coordination and cooperation in international and regional issues. During Li's visit, the premier is expected to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and other leaders on deepening strategic docking and expanding practical cooperation, Xiao said. The leaders will witness the signing of multiple cooperation agreements concerning strategic docking, e-commerce and agricultural cooperation among others, injecting fresh momentum into bilateral friendly cooperation between the two countries, he added. Li will pay an official visit to Indonesia on May 6-8 at the invitation of the Indonesian president, and then fly to Japan and attend the 7th China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting in Japan until May 11, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday. Night view of the Beijing Olympic Park (File photo by Xinhua) The results from the Amazing China Poll 2017 were revealed by China Daily last week, showing that Shanghai is the number one city for expats to live and work in China for the sixth year in a row. The survey, which has been running for eight years, is based solely on the opinions of foreign experts. Shanghai has been on the top of the list since 2012, which isnt surprising as almost a quarter (23.7 percent) of all expats in China live there. Beijing last held the top spot in 2011. This year, the capital city takes 2nd place, followed by Hefei, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing and Guangzhou to make up the top 10. But whats the difference between Shanghai and Beijing? What do expats like best about both cities? When I asked what makes Shanghai the best city to live in, expats mentioned that its an easy city to live in, the city feels safe and transportation links are good. Many also mention that they find the city economically strong and that they can find more suitable jobs in Shanghai when compared with other Chinese cities. Its true that the income bracket in Shanghai is far higher than the average across the country. According to Business Insider, Shanghai was crowned as the 4th most lucrative city in the world for expats in a survey carried out by HSBC this year, with the average expat salary at a staggering $202,211. Beijing, unfortunately, didnt even make it onto the list. However, when asked the same question, expats in Beijing said they preferred the capital city because it wasnt as westernized as Shanghai. It still has historical culture and it had a more relaxed atmosphere. The chill vibe in Beijing is definitely something I dont see in Shanghai. said one Facebook user, adding plus, we have the Great Wall. Furthermore, the living cost in Beijing is relatively cheap when compared with Shanghai. According to an article published by thebeijinger.com, Beijing is cheaper than some other Chinese cities such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen and even Dalian. However, when looking at the cost of living, the article points out that theres only a 5-16 percent difference between Shanghai and Beijing, so if youre looking to make and save big money Shanghai is still the better option. Night view of Shanghai The survey, which is carried out from November-February each year, didnt have too many surprises apart from Chengdu making it onto the list for the first time. The results came from 4,066 votes from foreign experts in China as well as over 25,000 votes from internet users. Beijing is attempting to make the city more attractive to foreign experts, implementing a new policy this March to attract high-end, top talent. The policy consists of 20 new measures to help make the hiring process easier for high-end professionals, both foreign experts and overseas Chinese, especially focused on employing talent in the citys high-tech sector. Will this be enough to see it rivaling Shanghai this time next year? Well have to wait and see. The Homage To Walter Lange is powered by an entirely new movement equipped with a central jumping seconds hand and regular subsidiary seconds at 6 oclock. A. Lange & Sohne Flirt and Star The jumping seconds complication is mounted above the train / barrel bridge as opposed to being built into the movement and is controlled by a flirt and star mechanism. The escape wheel has a five-pointed star shaped wheel (star) fixed to the top of its central axis which both make a complete revolution once every 5 seconds. There is a tensioned lever (flirt) which makes contact with the star wheel at one end and has a pinion attached at the other. A. Lange & Sohne Once every second the lever in contact with the star wheel makes its way to the very tip of the tooth, the spring is released and completes one full revolution causing the attached pinion to also turn. That pinion then engages with an intermediate wheel which turns the wheel the jumping seconds hand is attached to. The centre seconds hand then makes a complete one second jump with this process being completed every second, when the flirt comes into contact with the tip of the star. Powering the jump The jumping seconds complication must of course receive power the same as the rest of the movement does. A normal gear train is powered by a mainspring and to effectively operate the jumping seconds without a separate mainspring some of that power needed to be borrowed. This is achieved via a wheel (ratchet wheel) that is mounted concentrically on a train wheel already receiving power from the mainspring, that power is then transferred to the jumping seconds hand via a series of independent wheels. A. Lange & Sohne Start/stop function The movement is fitted with a start/stop mechanism for the jumping hour complication which when operated does not affect the running of the watch. When the pusher to control the complication is pressed, a lever, activated by a column wheel, blocks the flirt or pushes it out of the way of the star wheel, ensuring the star wheel doesnt trip the lever and cause the jumping seconds hand to advance. This technical feature could potentially cause problems, forcing the whole watch to come to a halt. Imagine putting a metal pole into a series of gears, the whole mechanism would stop not just the one section, so to avoid this happening two clicks or slipping gears are used. When the jumping seconds is stopped, the ratchet wheel mounted on the train wheel will continue to run as it is powered by the base movement, the clicks will then slip on the teeth of the ratchet wheel allowing the power to escape, ensuring the jumping seconds stays stopped and the movement continues to function. A fitting tribute to a great man. From Tuesday, 1 May 2018 to Sunday, 13 May 2018, fans of IWC Schaffhausen who are in Singapore will be able to soak in the brands watchmaking history through a retrospective exhibition to celebrate its 150th anniversary (1868 to 2018) held at the level 1 atrium of the ION Orchard shopping mall. American Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841 to 1916), a former director of F. Howard & Cie, a leading watchmaking company then in Boston, USA, founded International Watch Company in 1868 in the small town of Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland. Schaffhausen was chosen because Jones was offered space in industrial buildings for his facility and the availability of hydroelectric power supply by industrialist Heinrich Moser (1805 to 1874). F.A Jones and the IWC factory in Schaffhausen IWC As the American watch industry was flourishing then, Jones vision was to utilise machinery efficiently to manufacture quality watches in Switzerland and enjoy lower production costs before exporting them back to America. In the early 1870s, the Jones calibres were made using industrial production processes. The finished watches classified as Pattern H were of the highest quality and shipped to America for sale. Some calibers produced by Jones. IWC However, the business model Jones had in mind was not a commercial success due to artificial trade barriers the American war duty of 25% in particular that was not lowered as was expected. In 1880, ownership of IWC was taken over by the Rauschenbachs, an industrial family based in Schaffhausen. In 1884, production began for Pallweber pocket watches featuring hour and minute digital displays. It is said that in the first half of the 1890s, some 20,000 of such watches were made. Pallweber pocket watch, 1886 IWC In the 1930s, IWC produced two watches that are today icons of the brand the Special Pilots Watch of 1936 the Ref. 436 and the Portugieser following the request from two Portuguese watch dealers, Rodrigues and Texeira, for a steel case wristwatch with marine chronometer features. Albert Pellaton joined IWC in 1944 and he was the gentleman credited for developing the brands first in-house automatic movement featuring an efficient bi-directional pawl-winding system the 85 Calibre launched in 1950. The first IWC Ingenieur, introduced in 1955, housed the 85 Calibre and had a soft-iron cage protecting the movement against magnetic fields. Three milestone watches were achieved in the 1960s the Aquatimer that was water-resistant to 200 metres (1967), the Yacht Club Automatic (1967) and the Da Vinci with the Beta 21 movement (1969). Aquatimer, 1967 IWC The IWC Perpetual Calendar is perhaps the must-have piece for every serious fan of the brand. The brands famed Perpetual Calendar with the calendar module debuted in a Da Vinci Reference IW3750 at the 1985 Basel watch fair. It was developed by IWC legend Kurt Klaus and everything was set and controlled by the crown. In the 1980s, IWC launched its first titanium wristwatch known as Porsche Design Titanium Chronograph (1980) and the first watch in a black ceramic case (1986). Through this summarised IWC history, one can therefore understand why some of the brands most iconic watches mentioned, such as the Pilots watch Ref. 436 of 1936, the Yacht Club Automatic Ref. 811 of 1967 and the Lepine Pallweber III pocket watch with digital displays (1886) will be the main focus of this upcoming retrospective exhibition. Watch collectors and IWC fans will also have the opportunity to view the Jubilee collection comprising 28 references that was launched in early 2018 at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie held in Geneva. Watch out for the Tribute to Pallweber pocket watches and wristwatches, the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition 150 Years set with diamonds and the Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition 150 Years. Portugieser Constant Force Tourbillon 150 Years IWC In addition to the 28 references of the Jubilee collection, there is a 29th reference which was only recently announced in April 2018 the Portugieser Chronograph Edition 150 Years IW371603 with a white hand-lacquered dial housed in an 18K red gold case. This Portugieser Chronograph will not be exhibited as it will only be showcased later in the year. DETROIT - Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is the latest ex-VW executive to be criminally charged in connection with the German automaker's emissions cheating scandal. The 70-year-old German, who was chairman of VW's management board at VW from 2007-2015, was indicted by a grand jury in Detroit federal court on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., wire fraud and violating the Clean Air Act. The indictment was issued in March and unsealed Thursday, May 3. Winterkorn is charged with conspiring with other senior VW executives to make false claims that the automaker's supposed "clean diesel" vehicles complied with U.S. emissions requirements, the U.S. Justice Department announced. Winterkorn became the ninth person charged in connection with the emissions cheating scandal. The indictment alleges that he was informed of VW's diesel emissions cheating in May 2014 and again in July 2015, and agreed with other senior VW executives to continue to deceive U.S. regulators. In March 2017, VW pleaded guilty to criminal charges that it deceived U.S. regulatory agencies by installing so-called "defeat devices" in diesel vehicles emissions control systems that were designed to cheat emissions tests. As part of its plea agreement, VW paid a criminal penalty of $2.8 billion. VW also agreed to allow an independent corporate compliance monitor for the duration of its probation, which is at least three years. The defeat devices consisted of software designed to recognize whether a vehicle was undergoing standard U.S. emissions testing on a dynamometer, altering emissions of harmful nitrogen oxide emissions during the tests. Two former VW engineers, Oliver Schmidt, 48, and James Liang, 63, both German citizens, pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy. Schmidt is serving a seven-year prison sentence and Liang is serving three years, four months behind bars. "If you try to deceive the United States, then you will pay a heavy price," said U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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. These are serious allegations, and we will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law." ANN ARBOR, MI - Local activists monitoring the spread of the Gelman dioxane plume in Ann Arbor's groundwater are welcoming the news of newly tightened standards for the toxic chemical. But there's good news and bad news, said Roger Rayle, chairman of the local Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane. The good news: At this week's CARD meeting, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials confirmed the state's standards for dioxane in groundwater venting to surface water were tightened on March 15, putting stricter limits in place. The limit for dioxane in surface waters that are protected as drinking water sources dropped from 34 parts per billion to 3.5 ppb, while the limit for dioxane in surface waters that are not protected as drinking water sources dropped from 2,800 ppb to 280 ppb. Those new limits are what the DEQ calls the groundwater-surface water interface criteria, or GSI criteria. They apply in groundwater that's reasonably expected to vent to surface water. The bad news: The tightened standards don't automatically apply to the Gelman dioxane plume that's slowly moving through Ann Arbor, so there's not likely going to be a more aggressive cleanup unless the polluter agrees to do so voluntarily or a court orders it. Rayle also suggested getting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency more involved could help. Gelman Sciences, a private company that operated on Wagner Road years ago, used dioxane as a solvent in the manufacturing of filter devices and discharged large amounts of the toxic chemical into the environment between the 1960s and 1980s, leaving the groundwater heavily polluted. The massive plume continues to spread through Ann Arbor's groundwater toward the Huron River, while pump-and-treat remediation efforts have slowed in recent years. The DEQ oversees the polluter's efforts to manage the plume under a Washtenaw County Circuit Court consent judgment that aims to keep the plume from poisoning more wells in neighboring Scio Township and Ann Arbor's main drinking water source at Barton Pond. That's the subject of ongoing litigation against Gelman Sciences, as Ann Arbor and others are fighting for a better cleanup and more monitoring. Under the court-ordered approach that's been in place for years, with a large zone where groundwater use is prohibited, dioxane is allowed to slowly spread through the city's groundwater and eventually reach the Huron River at concentrations up to 2,800 ppb. As far as dioxane in residential drinking water, the state's separate limit for that went down from 85 ppb to 7.2 ppb in 2016, a decision that came after years of lobbying by local officials and activists. Gelman Sciences has agreed to voluntarily follow the new 7.2 ppb drinking water standard, which local parties to the litigation and the DEQ are trying to get written into a revised consent judgment. Now some pushing for a better cleanup are hoping the new standards for dioxane in surface waters can be included as well. It remains to be seen how that might play out and what exactly the changes might mean in terms of a remedy for the Gelman plume, said Mitch Adelman, section manager for the DEQ's Remediation and Redevelopment Division. "The current groundwater remedy that is being implemented by Gelman pursuant to the consent judgment overseen by the DEQ and Washtenaw Circuit Court does not require Gelman to directly address the GSI, in part because the previous numbers were much higher and were not included in the court-ordered remedy," he said. Adelman said the state, Gelman and the intervening local parties in the litigation are in negotiations to modify the consent judgment in a way that's agreeable to all parties. The local parties include Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Scio Township and the Huron River Watershed Council, all of which have joined the DEQ in suing Gelman. Given the confidential nature of the negotiations, Adelman said he can't speculate on how the new GSI criteria might affect the Gelman plume. He noted the initial impetus for the consent judgment modification process was the revision of the generic drinking water standard from 85 ppb to 7.2 ppb in 2016. Rayle has created two maps that he posted online this week, showing the plumes of dioxane that are allowed to spread with the current 2,800-ppb GSI criteria, and the plumes that would be allowed to spread if 280 ppb was in the consent judgment. With a more protective consent judgment, Rayle said, much more dioxane would have to be removed in the well prohibition zone before the dioxane reached surface waters. He said it's ironic that the new standard for dioxane in groundwater venting to surface water is 3.5 ppb, the same number as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 guideline for dioxane in drinking water, which was based on a 1-in-100,000 cancer risk over 70 years. The EPA is more closely paying attention to the Gelman plume as of this past year, working alongside the DEQ and reserving the option to pursue federal enforcement action in the future, but holding off on declaring the plume a federal Superfund site for now. Dioxane is classified by the EPA as likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure. It also can cause kidney and liver damage, and respiratory problems. Short-term exposure to high levels of dioxane in the air can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. Just a few parts per billion in drinking water, with long-term exposure, poses a 1 in 100,000 cancer risk, according to the EPA. The expanding Gelman plume already has poisoned many area wells and trace amounts of dioxane were detected in shallow groundwater by Waterworks Park on Ann Arbor's west side in 2016. A DEQ report in January 2018 also indicated dioxane at 4.4 ppb was found in a branch of the Allen Creek in West Park in December 2017. There still are homes on well water in Scio Township on the edge of the plume where low levels of dioxane have been detected in the water. A family with young children was living in a house on Jackson Road where the water in recent years had dioxane levels that ranged anywhere from 13 to 54 ppb. Because that was below the state's outdated 85-ppb standard at the time, the polluter -- under the DEQ's oversight -- sent the family reports saying the water was safe. Gelman Sciences was acquired in 1997 by Pall Corp., which was acquired in 2015 by Danaher Corp., a multibillion-dollar corporation that some local officials and residents argue has the financial resources to do a better cleanup. PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI - Residents of Pittsfield Township will have the chance to see first-hand how local public service works and how community decisions are made. From 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 6, community members are invited to attend the 10th annual Passport to Pittsfield Open House. The free event gives residents an inside look into how the township conducts its work at any of its four facilities, according to a news release. Attendees can take an AAATA bus and visit either the township hall, 6201 W. Michigan Ave.; public safety, 6227 W. Michigan Ave.; the utilities field office, 4467 Concourse Drive; or parks and recreation at Lillie Park, 4365 Platt Road. Activities will include a build a box city, scavenger hunt, vehicle and equipment show, live sewer demo and more. Visitors will receive a "P2P" passport that will be stamped as they participate in each activity, according to the township. For more information, visit www.pittsfield-mi.gov/p2p. LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI - A Livingston County man has been charged with four felony counts after being shot by police during a suicidal episode Sunday, April 29. Robert McKee, 35, of Fowlerville was arrested and arraigned on Friday, May 4 at the University of Michigan Hospital, where he is recovering from a gun shot wound, according to the Michigan State Police Brighton Post. A trooper 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, according to police. 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. Officers were able to make contact with him and call for an ambulance, but when they attempted to help, he became combative and moved towards them with the knife, police said. The Fowlerville officer shot the man to stop the threat, police said. One bullet ricocheted and struck the state trooper in the leg, police said. McKee was airlifted to the hospital, while the trooper was treated and released. The Livingston County Prosecutor's Office charged McKee with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault, resisting or obstructing a police officer causing injury and one count of assault resisting or obstructing a police officer. A judge set bond at $10,000, police said. ANN ARBOR, MI - A power line caught fire near a University of Michigan fraternity house Friday afternoon and caused an evacuation of the residence, authorities say. Fire units were on scene about 1 p.m. Friday, May 4 at the Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity house in the 1500 block of Hill Street in Ann Arbor. A resident called 911 after seeing a sparking power line behind the house. Another line leading to the house later caught fire fire, Ann Arbor Fire Battalion Chief Derek Wiseley said. Firefighters found heavy smoke in the basement of the home upon arrival. The wire leading to the house overloaded the electrical panel, which caused a power outage, Wiseley said. "The whole wire was on fire and it finally burned through (to the house)," Wiseley said. "I'm sure there is damage, but where that damage is (remains unknown). It could go as far as a computer or anything that was plugged in." Wiseley said he believed the incident was likely related to strong winds in the area. Firefighters were waiting for a fire inspector and DTE to arrive on scene. The Ann Arbor Police Department assisted at the scene and paramedics from Huron Valley Ambulance were also on hand. No one was injured. UN Envoy Ghassan Salame is determined to see elections in Libya before the end of the year, but are his hopes realistic Egypt and France have joined together to support plans for holding general elections in Libya before the end of this year out of the hope that this democratic process will break a three-year-old political deadlock in the country. Difficulties still lie ahead, however, in spite of efforts on the part of UN Special Representative to Libya Ghassan Salame to pave the way for the electoral process. Preparations have not gone beyond the voter registration phase so far. Cairo hosted Sunday an extensive round of talks on the situation in the Middle East and in Libya, in particular, between a French delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit. Ambassador Bassam Radi, spokesman for the Egyptian presidency, said that the two sides agreed that there has been relative progress in the situation in Libya and that this necessitates accelerating plans to hold elections before the end of the year. They noted that conditions in Libya affect the security and the stability of the entire Mediterranean region. In a statement on the talks between Shoukri and Le Drian, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that both sides expressed their happiness at the coordination and consultation between their two countries on how to support efforts to build a national consensus to promote stability in Libya. He added that Shoukri took pains to bring his French counterpart up to date on Egyptian efforts to help unify the Libyan military establishment. In this regard, Cairo also hosted this week a delegation of military officers from Libya for another round of the talks sponsored by the Egyptian National Committee for Libya. Abu Zeid said the talks, which have been in progress since September 2017, have succeeded in making tangible progress towards bridging the views between eastern and western military leaders in Libya. In spite of the relative optimism shared by Cairo and Paris, the situation on the ground in Libya remains difficult in view of the sharp polarisation and governmental bifurcation in the country since 2014. Last year, on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremonies the UN General Assembly in New York, the UN special representative to Libya unveiled to a high-level meeting, attended by President Al-Sisi, a three-phase action plan to help Libyans end the political crisis. Limited amendments to the Libyan Political Accord signed in Skhirat, Morocco, on 17 December 2015, were to lead to a comprehensive national convention which would be followed by general elections before the end of 2018. Salames efforts quickly ran aground on the shoals of the intransigence of the Libyan factions and their refusal to make the necessary compromises to end the political deadlock. Nevertheless, the UN representative remains adamant on holding elections before the end of this year even though conditions in the country do not appear ready for a democratic poll. For one, a number of crucial, but controversial, practical issues need to be resolved before elections are held. A new electoral law needs to be drafted, the location of the seat of government needs to be agreed on and the parties still have to determine whether elections should be held in accordance with a ratified permanent constitution or in the framework of preparations for a fifth interim phase. Libya is currently in its fourth interim phase which began with the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement in December 2015. The first interim phase was overseen by the Interim National Council (2011-2013), the fourth by the General National Congress (2012-2013) and the third by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (2014-2015). The Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), which reinstated the legitimacy of the General National Congress (since renamed the High Council of State) and the House of Representatives, has run up against the wall of the latter which still refuses to incorporate the agreement into the Constitutional Declaration. As a result, the double executive created by the LPA and consisting of a Presidency Council and the Government of National Accord, is functioning without a genuine legislative foundation, even if it receives international backing. This status has obstructed approval of a national budget, requiring a continuation of the ad hoc arrangements that have been the norm since 2016. In addition, UN-brokered talks between the delegations from the House of Representatives and the High Council of State over limited amendments to the LPA have remained stalled since November last year. It is unclear how the UN envoy to Libya will make elections happen in Libya against the backdrop of the stagnating political process. Last year, when he unveiled the three-phase plan for Libya, Salame envisioned elections after a national plebiscite on a new constitution. In the absence of such a framework, would he succumb to pressures from the key players in the Libyan crisis and promote an electoral process that would usher in a governing body for a fifth interim phase which would only prolong the Libyan crisis? In order to bring interim processes to an end, Salame needs, firstly, to help Libyans settle the question of the constitutional bill that was approved by the Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA) on 29 July 2017. Either pressures will have to be brought to bear on the House of Representatives to ratify the referendum law or the bill will have to be returned to the CDA for amendments before being resubmitted to the House of Representatives in order to secure parliamentary go-ahead for the referendum. The fact is that either option faces the obstacle of a sharply divided house in the Tobruk-based parliament. In the event that the UN envoy decides to press ahead with elections outside of the framework of a new constitution, he will need to designate the body that will issue the new electoral law and introduce the electoral system for the polls. Also, he will have to ensure that there are guarantees against measures to overturn the new electoral law after the polls are held, as occurred following the general elections that created the current House of Representatives. Even before all this, will the main players on the ground in Libya agree to proceed to elections in an environment that does not guarantee their political survival or that jeopardises their interests? Last week, the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) submitted a proposal for a new legislative elections law. It provides that 80 per cent of the seats in the new legislature would be allocated for political entities while 20 per cent of the seats would be reserved for civil society organisations. The formula excludes independent candidates.This contrasts sharply with the electoral law that ushered in the General National Congress in 2012 and that allocated 80 per cent of the seats to independents and only 20 per cent to political entities. The House of Representatives elections in June 2014 restricted the polls to independents only. In August last year, Chairman of the Presidency Council Fayez Al-Sarraj proposed an initiative that also called for general elections to end the political deadlock in Libya. At the time he suggested that the Supreme Judicial Council could serve as an alternative to promulgate the required legislative elections law in the event that the House of Representatives and High Council of State continue to refuse to make the necessary compromises to resolve the political crisis. He also hinted that recourse to the higher court authority would prevent appeal against a new electoral law and a consequent disruption of the functioning of a newly elected authority. Still, there remains the persistent question as to the feasibility of holding elections in a climate where there are no solid guarantees that the results will be respected by all parties. The potential consequences would be to further protract the Libyan crisis, deepen the wounds in society and aggravate the countrys dire economic straits. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A former Oakland County Sheriff's sergeant who worked on a DEA drug task force is accused of having an affair with a woman he helped convict of heroin trafficking. There were no findings, however, that the relationship impacted the investigation or prosecution, a DEA spokeswoman said. The woman walked into the Oakland County Sheriff's Office in Pontiac at 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 and filed a report detailing a "long-term sexual relationship" with Sgt. Doug Stewart, according to an Oakland County Sheriff's Office internal affairs report. Stewart resigned four days after the complaint was filed, upon learning the department planned to pursue his firing, Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe said. "Quite frankly, he was an excellent officer," McCabe said, " ... but for whatever reason, he went of the rails." It appears the relationship came to light by way of a lovers' quarrel that involved the sergeant and his wife, an employee the Oakland County Jail, according to an interview summary contained in a March 2 report to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. The sergeant's ex-lover, who pleaded guilty in 2013 to involvement in a massive Detroit-area drug ring and served time in prison until 2016, told police she became angry after learning Stewart lied about his relationship with his eventual wife throughout the entirety of their affair. McCabe said the woman thought she was going to marry Stewart when she got out of prison. After learning the sergeant was married to another woman, she went to confront Stewart at his home, the internal affairs documents say. On Feb. 7, "Doug's current wife (name redacted) had texted her by cell phone in an almost threatening manner to stay away from her residence and her husband, Doug," the report says. "... She further stated she was going to contact her parole agent and attempt to get her violated." The report says the woman preemptively contacted her parole agent, who then advised the woman to report the situation to the Oakland County Sheriff's "She wanted to reiterate that the only reason she made the complaint was due to her thinking that she was possibly in trouble and she was trying not to go back to prison. There was no other reason for making the complaint," the report says. An investigative memo indicates the woman, after speaking to an attorney, again contacted the sheriff's office Feb. 20 and said she had changed her mind and "wished to move forward with a criminal complaint." Oakland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul T. Walton says that while no formal criminal review was conducted, his office looked at the possibility that a criminal sexual conduct law had been violated -- based on the power dynamic and the woman being a suspect under investigation when the affair allegedly began. "The way the law is currently written, the answer was no actionable case," Walton told MLive. "We also discussed the possibility of a federal violation. "My research showed no federal offense; however, both (McCabe) and I agreed federal authorities would be made aware of the complaint." The ex-lover told investigators "she was not coerced by Stewart to engage in sex, nor did Stewart use his position of authority to engage in sex with her," according to an investigative memo. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office notified the DEA about the claims on Feb. 12, but there were not findings that the inappropriate relationship impacted any of the cases Stewart worked on while with the DEA, public information officer Special Agent Cheryl Davis told MLive. Davis says Stewart left the drug task force in 2014 and returned to his post with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Stewart worked as a member of the DEA-led task force in 2011 when the woman and at least nine others in the Pontiac area were arrested and charged with federal crimes related to operating a heroin trafficking ring in Metro Detroit with ties to Mexican cartels. At the time, it was dubbed the largest heroin bust ever in Michigan. Stewart arrested the woman "and they began to have a physical and emotional love affair," the internal affairs report says. "... The relationship is described as close and intimate with Sgt. Stewart meeting her family and her meeting his family numerous times while (redacted) was on bond pending court action." The woman, who faced a possible life sentence, struck a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney's Office. She admitted to conspiring with others to possess and deliver at least 32 kilograms of heroin between 2010 and 2011. The U.S. Attorney's Office, according to the plea agreement filed in Detroit federal court, requested the woman serve 11-plus years in prison. She was, however, sentenced to far less time, about five years and seven months, which was later reduced after a post-conviction filing to four years and six months, which doesn't include federal allowances for early release based on good behavior. She entered prison in 2014, was released in 2016 and placed in a halfway house for six more months, according to the internal affairs report. The woman's attorney in the criminal case, D. Ellen Dennis, didn't notice an inappropriate relationship between her client and Stewart, who was the case agent, and said there was nothing unusual about the judge's sentence. The woman told internal investigators that Stewart drove her to prison in West Virginia when she was sentenced in 2014. Stewart would use Western Union to wire transfer $400 to her prison bank account every two weeks and they would communicate regularly by phone and mail, she said. Stewart, during one conversation, "was upset and stated that he can't have an affair with a felon and he was worried," the internal affairs report says. McCabe says Oakland County Sheriff's Office rules and procedures forbid officers from consorting with known felons. After her release from the halfway house in 2016, the woman and Stewart rekindled a sexual relationship, often "hooking up" at hotels near the woman's home, a trailer she purchased, according to the heavily redacted report. The woman provided detectives photos and receipts supporting her claims. MLive was unable to reach the woman who filed the complaint, despite requests for comment made to the U.S Probation Office, her civil attorney and her former criminal defense attorney. MLive was unable to find a working phone number for the woman through a public records search. James Tignanelli, a representative with Stewart's union, said he would notify Stewart that MLive was seeking comment on the case. Stewart hadn't responded as of this report. DETROIT, MI - A woman was killed in a wrong way crash on Interstate 75 in Detroit early Friday morning. The woman was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of I-75 at about 4 a.m., Friday, May 4, when she crashed head-on into an oncoming car at Mack Avenue, according to a report from WDIV Click on Detroit. The driver of the other vehicle was extracted from the wreckage and taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Michigan State Police said. UPDATE: I 75 is still closed. We are waiting on the Wayne County Medical Examiner and we will reopen the freeway. The driver of the not at fault vehicle is currently at a local hospital with non life threatening injuries. Next of Kin have NOT been notified. pic.twitter.com/DgqP8VdIQW MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) May 4, 2018 Southbound I-75 between Mack Avenue and I-94 was closed early Friday, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Michigan State Police is investigating the crash. FLINT, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder's administration is quickly learning the high price of picking up the tab on attorney bills related to Flint water crisis. Spending by the state to prosecute and defend current and former employees on matters related to water crisis cases has eclipsed $23 million with no billing slowdown on the horizon. Records requested by MLive-The Flint Journal from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, state Department of Health and Human Services, Governor's Office and Attorney General's Office detail the spending, which has increased by more than $6 million since October and by $3 million just since the start of the year. The $23 million -- enough money to supply Flint with bottled water until all lead and galvanized service lines have been removed and replaced -- does not include updated costs for attorneys provided to three former emergency managers, an expense neither the city nor the state have agreed to fully pay and which remains a point of negotiation. It's an expense that didn't have to burden taxpayers, according to Tony Daunt, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund, a group that supports low taxes and conservative causes. "The crisis in Flint represents an abject failure of government -- both at the state and local level," Daunt said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. "Unfortunately, the government's failure to address this problem correctly the first time is what led to an even more costly solution to clean up their incompetence." Included in the total is $6.2 million appropriated by the state Legislature for Attorney General Bill Schuette's criminal prosecution of 11 remaining water crisis defendants, $6.1 million for civil and criminal attorneys at the DEQ, $5.7 million in invoices for the office of Gov. Rick Snyder, and $4.7 million for DHHS. The total also includes at least $300,000, which the state has agreed to reimburse the city, for attorneys for former emergency managers Ed Kurtz, Gerald Ambrose and Darnell Earley. Any additional bills for the former financial managers will be considered on an invoice-by-invoice basis, and only $90,000 has been reimbursed so far even though the city has submitted bills totaling more than $300,000. Ron Leix, a spokesman for the state Department of Treasury, said the office has put together a reimbursement package that would pay for the first $300,000 in attorney fees for the managers, an arrangement that's in the process of being reviewed before it's paid. "Because this is outside of our typical day-to-day business, there's an extra layer to due diligence being taken to ensure everything is being done correctly," Leix said in an email to The Journal. "As additional invoices are received from the city, they will be considered for reimbursement." Through special prosecutor Todd Flood, Schuette's pursuit of criminal convictions continues Monday, May 7, when DHHS Director Nick Lyon is scheduled to return to Genesee District Court for continuation of his preliminary examination. The Lyon case could be the first to reach the point at which a district judge decides whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and that a particular defendant committed it. Flood has rested his preliminary exam case against Lyon and Dr. Eden Wells, the state's chief medical executive, but their attorneys haven't finished making their cases. Ambrose, who waived his preliminary exam, is also scheduled to return to court Monday for his first appearance before Circuit Judge Geoffrey Neithercut. Four current and former DEQ employees -- Liane Shekter-Smith, Stephen Busch, Michael Prysby and Patrick Cook -- are each in the midst of preliminary exams as well. Cases against Earley, former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft, and DHHS employees Nancy Peeler and Robert Scott have yet to start. Andrea Bitely, a spokeswoman for Schuette, said in an email to The Journal that the attorney general is "focused on providing justice for the families of Flint." "Twelve people died and children were poisoned by the water flowing from their taps," Bitely's email says. "The charges brought forward by the attorney general are about accountability, and restoring trust in government," Bitely's statement says. The state accounting for the legal fees shows the largest bills to date for criminal and civil defenses at the DEQ and at DHHS are for former DEQ district engineer Stephen Busch, $1.4 million; Lyon, $1.2 million; and former DEQ Director Dan Wyant, $1 million. Wyant was never charged with a crime related to the water crisis. The DEQ ledger shows the agency has spent nearly twice as much defending the department and its employees from civil lawsuits compared to criminal defense attorneys. On Thursday, May 3, state Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint, introduced a budget amendment to prohibit the approval of contracts for prosecution or defense of current or former state employees if the hourly rate exceeds $150 an hour. A spokeswoman for Ananich said the Senate minority leader's research showed $150 an hour is "more than sufficient" to get a good criminal defense attorney, but the proposal failed to win enough support to pass. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Former state Sen. Patty Birkholz, who served many years in both local and state government and was considered an environmental advocate, has died. Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday, May 3 issued a statement about Birkholz. "Patty was a tireless and highly regarded advocate for Michigan and our lakes," Snyder said. "Under her leadership, we saw the formation of the Great Lakes Inter-Basin Compact and the passage of significant legislation regarding water withdrawal assessment, the Michigan state parks passport, ballast water standards, and renewable energy mandates. We all should remember Patty for her dedication to protecting Michigan's environment and residents, which will benefit Michiganders for generations." A Facebook page created to honor Birkholz indicates she had "a sudden and aggressive return of cancer." Birkholz, of Saugatuck, served three terms in the state House and two terms in the state Senate, all beginning in 1995. Prior to serving in the Legislature, she served as a Saugatuck Township Parks and Recreation commissioner, a township trustee and county treasurer. In more recent years, she was director of the Office of the Great Lakes and also director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters West Michigan. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A growing trend of black bear sightings in urban areas of central and lower Michigan in recent years could be due to a growing bear population in the northern half of the state. This week alone, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources captured bears in Grand Rapids and Midland neighborhoods. Both were tranquilized, transported north and released back into the wild. Fifteen years ago, the sightings would have been more of a surprise, said John Niewoonder, a biologist with the DNR wildlife division for 20 years. "This is kind of an increasing trend," Niewoonder said. "It's not surprising that this year we've already had two bears because the bear numbers are higher. It's just something that happens this time of year." During their second spring, bears are forced by their mother to leave the den and set out to find a new home not already inhabited by another bear. Niewoonder said younger male black bears can wind up in urban areas because other bears force them to travel further to find uninhabited land. That's likely what caused the 2-year-old black bear to make its way into a neighborhood in Southwest Grand Rapids on Thursday, May 4. The 125-pound bear was chased up a tree by police, where he sat for more than two hours until DNR officers shot him with a tranquilizer and caged him. He was released later that afternoon in a non-populated area east of Grayling in Crawford County. Niewoonder said he looked "really healthy" as he ran from the cage. This afternoon, the 2-year-old bear that wandered into the City of Grand Rapids was released further north, after being safely captured and transported by staff from the DNRs Wildlife Division. Posted by Michigan Department of Natural Resources on Thursday, May 3, 2018 It's unclear where the Grand Rapids bear came from, but Niewoonder said a motivated bear can travel 100 miles a day in search of its new territory. He said it's possible he traveled from the Baldwin or Cadillac areas, where there's a "healthy bear population." "They can move a pretty good distance if they have to," he said. "Bigger males will kill them if they don't keep moving to find a space of their own. They like to follow river corridors, and other bears keep them moving." Food is also a factor. "They're driven by the need to find a new territory of their own, but bears are always looking for food; they're food-driven," Niewoonder said. "Especially when they come out of the den and they're low on body reserves. They're looking for easy access to food. "The problem with urban areas is they get used to free food sources like garbage cans or grills or bird feeders, and they really like that. Then they tend to come back and get comfortable." On Monday, a similar event unfolded in Midland. Midland County Central Dispatch sent out an alert of a bear spotted in a residential neighborhood near Jefferson Avenue and Hall Lane, triggering authorities from the Midland City Police, Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to work together and contain the 250-pound creature. It took five tranquilizers to subdue the bear. The DNR suggests that people who see a bear in their neighborhood stay away from it and contact their local police or DNR office. If the bear is eating from a bird feeder or garbage can, Niewoonder said owners should move those food sources to prevent the bear from getting comfortable in the area. He added that black bears are rarely aggressive toward people, but can be in instances when they feel cornered or threatened. The DNR tracks the bear population in the state and regulates it by adjusting the number of bear hunting permits allowed. LANSING, MI -- A fish hatchery upstream of a beloved fly fishing stretch of the Au Sable River has gotten approval from the state to increase the number of rainbow trout in its raceways. On Friday, May 4, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality announced a permit approval for the Harrietta Hills Trout Farm on the East Branch of the Au Sable River in Grayling. Anglers and environmental groups have fought the expansion, arguing the expansion threatens the downstream "Holy Waters" stretch with excess nutrient pollution and potential fish disease spread. The case has been pending for several years. Hatchery owner Dan Vogler needs a pollution discharge permit to raise up to 300,000 pounds of trout. DEQ director Heidi Grether said the decision followed a "careful, thorough and comprehensive review" under state environmental laws. "This was an extremely complex and important case, so it was very important to conduct a detailed review of the evidence," she said. The DEQ's decision modifies the original 2014 permit, placing conditions on the hatchery the agency says will help protect the river. Those conditions include required testing and mandated actions if whirling disease, a fatal condition that afflicts trout and salmon, is discovered at or downstream of the hatchery. Ammonia and dissolved oxygen testing is also required. The DEQ originally issued the hatchery a permit in 2014. The Anglers of the Au Sable and the Sierra Club challenged the permit in state administrative court in 2016. Michigan administrative law judge Dan Pulter recommended the permit be upheld if Vogler conducts additional testing and cleans fish waste from hatchery raceways. The groups also sued Vogler in Crawford County Circuit Court, where Judge George Mertz said last year that Vogler's use of former state and county property violates deed restrictions and state law. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources sold the old hatchery in 2014 to Crawford County, which then leased it to Vogler until 2034 for $1. Vogler also operates a fish farm in Wexford County. Mertz dismissed part of the lawsuit because the anglers lacked legal standing, but refused a defense request to dismiss their complaint under Michigan's Environmental Protection Act alleging that the fish farm is and will continue to pollute the river. That case remains open. Volger called the DEQ decision a "vindication." "The DEQ has gone through a very lengthy process and said that as long as we follow the directions in the permit, the river is going to be OK," he said. "That's what we've been saying all along." Anglers of the Au Sable expressed disappointment at the decision and said the group would appeal the permit in circuit court. Board president Joe Hemming said the anglers group is "pleased that the DEQ recognizes that the fish farm poses a substantial threat given the increased risk of whirling disease in the river and as such is requiring the fish farm to monitor for that disease which has been disastrous to trout fisheries in other rivers." Nonetheless, "to give a permit to allow this fish farm to operate and endanger the fishing economy, the tourism economy and the vacation home economy of the community is simply a bad decision." A parking deck located east of Downtown Detroit collapsed and sent eight parked vehicles tumbling from about 10 feet high on Thursday, May 3. The Associated Press reports that no one was injured in the incident, and that firefighters on the scene were removed because the area was deemed "extremely unstable." Vehicles that took the tumble are being left on the scene as responding engineers examine the scene at 1400 Woodbridge. Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner David Fornell said that the call regarding the collapse came in at about 10:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Upon arrival, firefighters first determined that the affected cars were empty and that no one was trapped. Several of the cars pictured seemed to plant the landing, but a black Ford SUV was tipped on its side leaning against a white Pontiac. The Detroit News reports that a spokesperson with Matrix Human Services confirmed that some of the vehicles belonged to employees of the company. Matrix Human Services has offices in Detroit at 120 Parson St. The News also reports that the collapsed parking deck's latest scheduled inspection for November 2017 was skipped due to the inspector being sick. The inspector has not been able to work since November due to the illness, so the inspection was not rescheduled. AUGUSTA, MI -- A veteran was buried Friday while a small group of strangers gathered to thank him for his service. The World War II veteran died 12 years ago. But only a year ago, his urn was found in the basement of a homeless ministry in Grand Rapids. With the service, a volunteer at the ministry ended a year-long journey to give the forgotten veteran a proper military burial. John Olson and his family, along with people from Degage Ministries and a representative from the Grand Rapids Fire Department, gathered at Fort Custer National Cemetery on Friday, May 4, to pay their respects. "As a fellow veteran, I wanted him to have a proper burial," Olson said. "He shouldn't be sitting on a shelf." Not much is known about the soldier. But after a year of research, Olson discovered John E. Neal was born March 18, 1916 and died in Chicago April 6, 2006. He had been married at one point and had enlisted in the Army in May 1942 at the age of 26. The facts ended there. No one knows how the green urn got to Grand Rapids or how it ended up on a shelf in the ministry's basement. Without a death certificate and with no known family, Olson, who served in the Vietnam War, arranged for Neal to have full military honors at Fort Custer National Cemetery. The small group of people gathered to pray, sing and watch as Olson was presented with a flag in honor of a man they never knew. A 21-gun salute and taps were played in Neal's honor. When Olson first found the urn in a cloth bag while helping to clean and sort through donations, he didn't know the cremains belonged to a veteran. But the "many calls, many months" spent tracking down information about a man he never met was the "Christian" thing to do. When no family was found, Olson took on the role of next of kin. On Friday, he was presented with the American flag, which will hang in a case in the dining room of Degage Ministries to honor Neal and all other veterans. During the funeral, Marge Palmerlee, executive director of Degage Ministries, said that while the people gathered didn't know Neal personally, they knew he deserved thanks for his service. She talked about the cost of a car and milk from the grocery store in 1916 when Neal was born. She talked about the newspaper headlines during his life that spoke only of war. She said he enlisted in the Army just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Friday's funeral was a testament to the community's respect for veterans, said Bob Kreter, Degage Ministry's marketing director. "It goes to show we value our veterans. They deserve a proper burial and respect," Kreter said. "We are driven by the Lord. He told us to love others, to reflect the love of Christ. That's what we're seeing today." BATTLE CREEK, MI -- A new jail could be built to house Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees in Calhoun County if the Department of Homeland Security chooses to move forward with a proposal for a new location, county documents show. Calhoun County, which currently houses as many as 240 ICE detainees at its jail in Battle Creek, could house 300 more if ICE gives the county the go-ahead to build a new facility. Calhoun County officials submitted the proposal to ICE in October 2017, offering to house ICE detainees for the Detroit and Chicago field offices, according to documents MLive obtained by the Freedom of Information Act. It was sent in response to ICE's "Request for Information" on options to house detainees, and calls for a temporary housing facility to be built that would later be replaced by a permanent structure. Sheriff Matthew Saxton told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette in April he believes the odds are against ICE telling Calhoun County to build the jail, which would bring in additional revenue beyond the millions Calhoun County rakes in now because of its current boarding contract with ICE. Calhoun County has been trying unsuccessfully for more than a decade to bring in more ICE detainees, records obtained by MLive show. In 2007, the previous sheriff, Allen Byam, applied to ICE to house a total of 500 their detainees in Calhoun County, county records show. The county's most recently submitted plans call for a temporary 250-bed facility to be built on county-owned land, and then a permanent 300-bed facility to be built, replacing the temporary facility. The county's submitted document indicates a portion of the proposal is the same as another submitted to ICE "a few years ago." In Michigan, ICE also has contracts to send detainees to facilities in Chippewa, Kent, Monroe and St. Clair counties. Saxton isn't betting on the proposal being approved and says he thinks he has a better chance at winning the lottery, "and I don't buy lottery tickets." But, the location that is 2.5 hours from the Chicago field office could be attractive to ICE, as well as the nearby airstrip, hospital, and interstate, as noted in the county's proposal. "The Calhoun County Correction Center can be used by ICE as a staging location for removal of alien detainees from Michigan / Ohio / Illinois via JPATS operations at the Michigan Air National Guard facilities in Battle Creek," the proposal states. Photos contained in a document Calhoun County submitted to ICE in response to the agency's request for information in 2017, showing the existing jail facility. The document describes a separate facility that would hold hundreds of ICE detainees. Details, including what price might be negotiated for each inmate boarded there, are not in the report. Claudia Valenzuela, detention project director at the National Immigration Justice Center, said the organization submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to ICE to find out which entities submitted responses to ICE's 2017 Request for Information, and has received no response. Valenzuela sees expanding detention as "expanding the system that is so broken," she said. "The RFI to us, is a signal there's going to definitely be aggressive enforcement and a need to detain more individuals," she said. She often sees sheriffs or local officials pushing ICE contracts. "The concern is that expansion of detention facilities will go hand in hand with jurisdictions that are willing to cooperate with ICE," Valenzuela said. Some officials or citizens elsewhere have said no to ICE boarding, she said. "It does require a little listening to a moral compass," she said. "I get it, the economic needs are very powerful. It's a complicated question, and I think there are alternatives out there. "We can't just default to this troubling system." Derek King, chairman of the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, said he agrees with the sheriff that it would be a longshot that the facility will become a reality, and that commissioners would approve construction including millions of dollars to build such a facility. "It seems like with ICE detainees, a lot of it is politically motivated from Washington," King said. "I think it would be a pretty tough sell with the conditions of our roads and other burning issues." ICE detainees are up, he said, mainly because of the way ICE is out enforcing immigration laws. But that could change. "It might have a decent payback, but on the other hand, what do you do when those funds dry up because the politics changed in Washington or a relationship changes (related to) sending detainees to Calhoun County?" King said. If the new facility becomes reality and a contract is established with ICE like the current one, it would mean millions more in revenue for Calhoun County. MUSKEGON, MI - A group of Muskegon Public Schools trustees attempted to hit "reset" by asking the superintendent to resign during a special meeting on Thursday, May 3. The Muskegon Public Schools Board of Education trustees voted 4-3 against a motion to call for Superintendent Justin Jennings' to resign. "I'm calling it," said Secretary Lynnette Marks in a prepared statement. "He is not a good fit. Our job is to do what is right for the students, the district and the community. I hereby ask Justin to do what is right and step aside. If he truly cares about our students, he will accept a reasonable compensation package and move on." Trustee Zachary Anderson made the motion to call for Jennings' resignation and terminate his contract. It was seconded by Secretary Pro-tem Billie Bruce. Anderson, Bruce and Marks voted yes. President Cindy Larson, Vice President Louis Churchwell, Treasurer Tasha Bibbs-Oakes and Trustee Earl "Bill" O'Brien voted no. The motion was voted down 4-3. "Our job is to represent the district, the students and the community, not to develop a superintendent," Marks said prior to the vote. "I was against the high level of compensation in his contract. Justin negotiated that he was worth it and would perform at an experienced superintendent level. He has not. I believe that we as a board made a mistake in hiring Justin, and we need to own it." Marks said that Jennings has lacked transparency and forthrightness, and has been fiscally irresponsible. This is the second time that at least one trustee has called for Jennings to leave the district. In January, Bruce read a statement calling for his dismissal. A vote was not taken. Before that, Anderson was the only known opponent of Jennings' leadership among the seven trustees. In December, the board discussed a $100,000 severance package for Jennings. The conversation occured over text messages between trustees, which is a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Churchwell called the actions of some board members to remove Jennings a "witch hunt." The board announced a "minimally effective" job performance rating for Jennings at its regular meeting in February. His evaluation was conducted in closed session meetings over several months. Larson said on Thursday that he received his plan of assistance earlier in the week at a meeting with herself, Anderson and O'Brien. "The ball is in Justin's court," Larson said during the meeting. "He knows exactly what's expected and what he needs to do as far as setting up goals and creating student growth, which was our focus. It's in play." When the "minimally effective" rating was released, board members cited low student test scores and "less than desirable" student achievement. It was announced at the February meeting that Jennings would be placed on a "plan of assistance" to increase his effectiveness, and it would focus on the following areas: Human resources hiring practices Financial planning Individualized instruction Accountability and transparency "The ball was dropped by the board, not by him," Bibbs-Oakes said Thursday. "I'm not saying that Justin hasn't made any mistakes, he has. ... We dropped the ball from the very beginning. Because we did not hold him accountable or provide him with what he needed to be successful." Following the vote and discussion, the board went into closed session to discuss "personnel matters." During the meeting, MLive/Muskegon Chronicle submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to receive a copy of the plan of assistance. Salah Fawzi, a professor of constitutional law at the Mansoura University and a member of the governments Legislative Reform Committee, told reporters on 25 April that changes are afoot to Law 40/1977 regulating political parties and to Law 46/2014 governing election to the House of Representatives. The 2018 presidential election made it crystal clear no existing political party is strong enough to field a presidential candidate, said Fawzi. Amendments being proposed to political laws will seek to energise political life by strengthening political parties and helping them field credible presidential candidates by 2022 and beyond. Fawzi says changes to the first law will focus on the conditions stipulated for the licensing of political parties. It is being suggested that if a party has 10 seats in parliament but then drops to below that number in a new parliament then its licence will be withdrawn. Fawzi argues that setting such a condition will help ensure only strong political parties remain. It will really be a matter of life and death. Only parties capable of winning a minimum of 10 parliamentary seats will survive. Once the minimum seat requirement is adopted it will encourage weaker parties to merge or join stronger political forces with similar ideological underpinnings. Political analyst Nabil Abdel-Fattah says the change will be significant. It will push political parties in the direction of mergers. The Wafd and Free Egyptians parties for instance, which have 101 MPs between them, could join forces to become a major liberal economic force. The five left leaning political parties the Tagammu, Nasserists, the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, the Free Egyptian Edifice and the Guardians of the Revolution which won just nine seats in the 2015 parliamentary election could similarly merge to present a united front. The hope is two major political parties will emerge, one in government, the other in opposition, rather like the Democrats and Republicans in the US or the Labour and Conservatives parties in the UK. This will be a healthy formula that will create a vibrant parliamentary life and promote the peaceful rotation of power. During the March presidential election President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi noted in a TV interview that Egypt has more than 100 political parties that seem to offer nothing to the electorate. They are not yet strong or influential enough to field a presidential candidate, but I am sure that in time these political parties will grow, said Al-Sisi. He urged political parties with similar platforms to merge into stronger competitive units. According to Fawzi, it is also being suggested that to be licensed a party must maintain an office in each of Egypts 27 governorates. Only well-resourced parties will be capable of doing this. Currently some licensed parties have just a handful of offices for the entire country. That is a situation we need to end. Proposals that political parties should also be able to show they have members from each of the 27 governorates are also being considered. The current law states that a party must have at least 5,000 members but does not stipulate any geographic distribution, says Fawzi, meaning in practice all the members could hail from the same village. In amending the law regulating the House of Representatives Law, Fawzi says attention is being focused on Article 6. Changes have become pressing after the parliamentary majority Support Egypt coalition announced in a meeting last week that it is seeking to turn itself into a licensed political party, said Fawzi. There is no constitutional obstacle to Support Egypt doing this. The only hurdle is Article 6 which states that elected MPs cannot change their political designation once elected. Independent MPs would lose their parliamentary membership if they decided to join a political party following their election. The same would be true if an MP elected on a party ticket suddenly became an independent. Fawzi points out that Article 386 of parliaments internal bylaws imposes the same stipulation. If an elected MP changes his/her political designation in parliament the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee would meet to write a report and recommend that the MP be expelled, says Fawzi. Experts are therefore reviewing changes to both Article 6 of the Houses election law and Article 386 of parliaments internal bylaws. The stipulation concerning political designation in both articles will likely be removed to allow elected MPs to switch alliances in a flexible way and without losing parliamentary membership. While amending Article 6 will be a relatively straightforward process, changing Article 386 will need parliaments political bureau or at least 50 MPs to make a request which must then be supported by at least two thirds of sitting MPs. Once this is done, says Fawzi, the path will be clear for Support Egypt to become a licensed political party and for other political parties to merge into stronger entities. Political analyst and constitutional lawyer Shawki Al-Sayed is less sanguine about the amendments being considered. What Article 6 requires MPs to do is respect the will of those who voted, many of whom will have based their choices on the candidates political designation rather than personal character or qualifications. Changing allegiances once elected to parliament insults the choice of voters, Al-Sayed told Al-Ahram Weekly. The best way to energise political life would be to allow political parties greater freedom to convene general assemblies, allocate them far more media coverage, and place no obstacles in the path of them recruiting younger members. Legislative amendments that turn majority parliamentary blocs into ruling parties have been tried repeatedly since 1952 and they have always proved futile. It would be far better to lift the plethora of restrictions on political activities in general if what we really want is to promote a culture of Western-style liberal democracy. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: EGELSTON TOWNSHIP, MI - A former Egelston Township official has filed a petition to undo a township vote that allows the growth and sale of medical marijuana within township limits. The petition was filed by former Planning Commission Chairman Rob Gustafson and was approve by the Egelston Township clerk on Monday. According to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, any amendment to an ordinance can be subject to a protest petition. Gustafson has already begun collecting signatures and needs just 362 to force it on the ballot. If he is successful, a recently approved medical marijuana ordinance will be delayed until voters can weigh in at the ballot box, according to Sec. 402 of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. Gustafson now has 30 days from Monday to collect those signatures to have the measure appear during a special election or during the November midterm election. Those details will have to be worked out by township brass, Gustafson said. If it does appear on the November ballot, it will likely appear next to a statewide measure seeking to legalize marijuana in Michigan for recreational use. Like the question about recreational pot, Gustafson said residents in his township should be the ones deciding whether medical marijuana facilities are allowed in Egelston, not five members of seven-person board. "I want the residents to decide," Gustafson said. "Not the Planning Commission, not the township board. Let the residents decide how and where they want medical marijuana. Period." On April 16, the Egelston Township Board of Trustees approved an ordinance allowing eight growers with 1,500 plants each and two dispensaries. With the ordinance, the township has opted in to new state rules that allow medical marijuana plants and products to be grown, manufactured and sold at provisioning centers. The provisions of the ordinance are set to take effect soon, but will be delayed if the petition drive proves successful. Trustees approved the measure 5-2. At the time, township officials told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle that they believed a majority of residents supported the measure. Gustafson said Tuesday after a regular Planning Commission meeting that the support for the ordinance was a matter of perspective. He added that opposition to the ordinance was possibly higher than what was officially stated. "I know it's kind of a cliche, but the way I looked at it like this, 'is a vote of the township board, the planning commission or the residents going to bring us closer to a place that's either heaven or hell? Is this a place where I want to live, or not live?'" Gustafson said. "We're a small rural township, and leave well enough alone. There's plenty of other places that this is being allowed, so I guess go there." Gustafson appeared before the commission Tuesday to announce that he would be collecting signatures after the meeting. It was by chance or just dumb luck, he said, that the Planning Commission was hearing a zoning change request for a would-be medical marijuana dispensary that -- if approved by the township -- would be located next to a home at the corner of Apple Avenue and Brooks Road South. Relighting the fuse on Egelston's marijuana drama Township Supervisor John Holter, who voted for the ordinance and supports marijuana for medical use, said that it was within every citizen's right to petition decisions made by township officials. Gustafson previously disagreed with several of the ordinance's key points before the it was passed on to the township board for a final vote. Soon after voicing his concerns, Gustafson was told by Holter that he would not reappointed to the Planning Commission after his term expired at the beginning of 2018. Several residents and Gustafson said the decision to move on without him was politically motivated because of his comments about medical marijuana - a claim that Holter vehemently denies and called patently false, chalking it up to a personal attack. The petition drive has reignited Egelston Township' marijuana drama. Before the measure passed, several residents claimed that the township was not listening to their side of the debate, and that at least one sitting trustee should have recused herself from the vote because of a perceived familial conflict of interest. One of those residents is Debbie Ackerman, a former township trustee. She said she believes that those who opposed the measure were flat out ignored. Ackerman also said that Township Treasurer Kelly Giddings-Gerard should have recused herself from the vote. Gerard's son, Justin Giddings, has been preparing to become one of eight licensed growers and a potential dispensary owner for the past year, around the same time planning commissioners and township trustees were fine tuning the ordinance. NASA's first mission focused at digging below the surface of Mars is set to launch 7:05 a.m. Saturday morning, May 5 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. NASA will broadcast launch coverage on the morning of the launch. To follow along with any coverage, click here for more information, or head to NASA TV or its YouTube channel early Saturday morning. The InSight lander will study the Red Planet's interior using a "self-hammering" probe that will dig deeper than ever before. InSight is short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport. Its main goal is to improve NASA's knowledge of how rocky planets, such as Earth, formed and evolved over the years. Once it lands on Mars, InSight will become the first since the Apollo missions to place a seismometer on the surface of another planet or moon. Also along for the ride on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, is the Mars Cube One which consists of two smaller spacecrafts that will test new communication and navigation methods in deep space, the space agency reports. "InSight will be the first mission to peer deep beneath the Martian surface, studying the planet's interior by measuring its heat output and listening for marsquakes, which are seismic events similar to earthquakes on Earth," NASA reports. "It will use the seismic waves generated by marsquakes to develop a map of the planet's deep interior." The government is taking final steps to clear the Maspero Triangle. Slated for development since 2015, the 200,000 square metre area adjacent to the Nile in Cairo is being demolished to make way for new-build commercial, residential and office space. Bulldozers and other heavy equipment are busy pulling down what remains of the neighbourhood to the right of 26 July Street, heading from the Nile Cornish towards Galaa Street, and levelling the area. In 2015 the cabinet issued a decree earmarking the triangle as an area for redevelopment. Work on the project began in 2017. The demolition stage is almost over, Mohamed Ayman Abdel-Tawab, deputy governor of Cairo for northern and western areas, told Al-Ahram Weekly. Demolitions will finish in a matter of days. Buildings not included in the demolition programme the Egyptian Radio and Television building, the Foreign Ministry and the Italian Consulate. Abdel-Tawab says former residents have now received the compensation packages agreed with the government. Some families opted for alternative accommodation while others took financial compensation. Around 3,000 families received compensation for their lost homes set at LE100,000 per room. Final agreements with the owners of cafes, workshops and warehouses have also been reached. We are now signing contracts with business owners who will be informed of the sites they will occupy in the new architectural plans, says Abdel-Tawab. The fate of owners of non-registered businesses remains unclear since any land or building for which there are no registered ownership documents will be confiscated. I think it is fair that people living in a room in a rundown building, sharing a single bathroom with all the other inhabitants, are moved to new developments like Asmarat where families will have a flat to themselves, says a shopkeeper who has been in the area for 40 years. He is one of the luckier business owners. His shop is in one of the three buildings in the district designated as part of Egypts cultural heritage and therefore saved from demolition. Had someone offered me such a package I would have accepted immediately, he says. According to the shopkeeper, 90 per cent of former inhabitants have now been given alternative homes or other compensation. The Ministry of Housing canvassed residents in 2017 to find out their preferred mode of compensation. But not everyone shares the shop owners point of view. Despite difficult living conditions many residents did not want to leave their homes for a distant residential area even if it offered better amenities. Many Maspero residents moved to Asmarat, a huge government-owned residential complex designed to rehouse slum dwellers. Tenants of Maspero who moved to Asmarat received a years rent-free tenancy with subsequent rental payments being treated as installments towards the cost of buying their homes. The LE300 that former Maspero Triangle residents pay in Asmarat are not rent but installments, says Abdel-Tawab, and after 30 years they will own their apartments. Yet many residents complain they cannot afford the monthly sums. In the meantime work continues. The Maspero Triangle is undergoing a cultural transformation, says Abdel-Tawab. I t is being developed in a way befitting the areas historical importance. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana. The Libya Quartet met this week in Cairo to discuss ways to promote Libyas transition towards an inclusive democracy The Quartet has agreed parliamentary and presidential elections in Libya must be held in a political and security environment that allows Libyan citizens to freely express their views, said Arab League chief Ahmed Abul-Gheit in a press conference following the conclusion of the Quartets meeting at the Arab Leagues headquarters in Cairo on Monday The Libya Quartet brings together the Arab League, the African Union, the United Nations and the European Union in support of UN mediation and regional efforts to promote political transition in Libya. Federica Mogherini, the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice president of the European Commission, stressed that the EU remained committed to providing support to Libya and its African neighbours. We want to help the Libyans unite and end their conflicts. Positive steps on the economic and security levels have already been taken and there is hope for a better future, she said in the press conference. Pierre Buyoya, a former president of Burundi and the AUs High Representative for Mali and the Sahel, said at the press conference that the situation in Libya remains of great concern to the AU given that the strife-torn state has borders with six African countries. The Libyan file is a top priority for the AU which is why we formed a committee devoted to Libyan affairs. We support the UN in its efforts to hold elections in Libya and we are happy to help all the bodies that will organise these elections, he said. The Quartet meeting was attended by Mogherini, Ghassan Salame, the UN envoy to Libya, and Abul-Gheit. Salame briefed the meeting on the progress of UN mediation efforts and ways in which key regional bodies can support the UN were discussed. Participants also agreed to continue efforts to unite the Libyan army. The ongoing Libyan crisis poses threats to Arab and African states as well as the EU. Europe is concerned that unless the situation in Libya is resolved it will continue to contribute to the growing number of migrants illegally crossing the Mediterranean. Other members of the Quartet hope that restoring a strong central authority in Libya will reduce threats to the security of Libyas neighbours. The Quartet is searching for ways to help Libyan parties resolve outstanding differences over the Skhirat agreement and hold a national reconciliation conference, paving the way for parliamentary and presidential elections. The Skhirat agreement was signed in December 2015 in Morocco. The agreement created a Presidential Council and a High Council of State and established the government of national accord. The next Quartet meeting is likely to be held in the AUs headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa within weeks. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: 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, The following events are planned for this weekend throughout the region: The King of Prussia Beerfest Royale will be held Saturday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. outside under tents at the King of Prussia Mall. The festival features more... Building Homes for Heroes donates home to war veteran and her children Egypt aims to accelerate the pace of negotiations after several fruitless rounds Egypt's Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel-Ati headed to Addis Ababa on Friday to attend the 18th round of talks of the technical committee of the Grand Renaissance Ethiopian Dam (GERD). This round of talks aims at reaching a consensus between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on the controversies which were found in the technical report written by French consulting firms Arterlia and BRL. The meeting also aims to adhere on the agreed articles of the Declaration of Principles, signed in 2015 between the leaders of the three countries, regarding the need to complete the studies on the dam to avoid any possible negative effects on the downstream states. This meeting comes following Egypt's call for a new round of talks to accelerate the pace of the negotiations. Egypt and Ethiopia are at loggerheads over the construction of the $4 billion-hydroelectric dam, with Cairo fearing that the project could reduce its share of the Nile water. However, Ethiopias newly appointed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday that the dam will not harm Egypts share of water. We dont have any intention to harm Sudan or Egypt, Ahmed told reporters in Khartoum after meeting Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. Al-Bashir told reporters that Egypts share of the Nile water would not be impacted by the construction of the dam. At the meeting, the two heads of state discussed the consequences of filling the dams reservoir, noting that it will not create any kind of threat on downstream countries irrigation, Egypts state-owned news agency MENA reported. Egypt and Sudan are both downstream of the dam. There are plans for further trilateral talks on 15 May. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Thursday stressed Egypt's support for a resolution to the political crisis in South Sudan while attending the opening session of the South Sudan Liberation Movement's (SPLM) National Liberation Council in Juba, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid. The opening session, which convenes from 3-5 May, was attended by President of Uganda Yoweri Musevenias well as South Sudanese President Salva Kiir. Abu Zeid explained that the meetings in Juba are aimed at finding an agreed solution to the current crisis in South Sudan. He added that Egypt's vision is based on the country's need to resolve the crises through negotiations while preserving South Sudan's sovereignty and regional integration. In a speech, Shoukry, who is attending on behalf of the Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, highlighted the commitment of the guarantor states to the Arusha Agreement to achieve peace, stability and prosperity for the people of Southern Sudan. "Egypt will continue its efforts to support the brothers in South Sudan in order to achieve peace," said the Egyptian minister. He expressed his hopes that the council's discussions will contribute to reaching an agreement that includes all the parties in South Sudan, as well as the success of the National Dialogue Committee in its efforts to achieve internal consensus. The 12-page Arusha agreement was signed in Tanzania in January 2015 by representatives from three conflicting factions of the SPLM party, outlining key steps towards a reunification of the party. The National Liberation Council is the second-highest level in the SPLM after its political bureau, and consists of 170 members as representatives of different states in South Sudan, according to Abu Zeid. Meanwhile, Shoukry pointed out that South Sudan can not afford to miss another opportunity to achieve peace and stability after years of its people's suffering, and praised President Kiir's ongoing efforts to achieve security and peace in the country. Shoukry also stressed Egypt's continuing role to support the political and economic stability of South Sudan. "Egypt has faith in justice and peace which will be meeting the rights of all parties and which could only be achieved through the implementation of the rule of law," Abu Zeid's statement read. During the session, Shoukry highlighted the historical relations between the two countries in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, as well as joint coordination at the bilateral, regional and international levels. The top diplomat said that this meeting is the best proof of the strong ties between Juba and Cairo. Search Keywords: Short link: The Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday that the foreign ministers recent statements about the possibility of deploying Arab troops to Syria did not pertain to Egypt. "Egypt does not send troops outside its territory unless it is in accordance with the constitution as well as legal and political mechanisms," read the statement by Ahmed Abu Zeid. In response to a query by diplomatic reporters following a seminar held at Al-Ahram on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that sending Arab troops to Syria was a possibility. The comments were widely reported by international and Arab media. "The principles that govern dispatching Egyptian forces outside the country are known to everybody, Abu Zeid said. It will not occur unless it is in line with constitutional mechanisms, and rules and regulations that have been affirmed more than once, such as cases related to United Nations peacekeeping operations. During the seminar on Wednesday, which featured a ceremony celebrating the issuing of a special supplement of Al-Ahram's Al-Siyasa Al-Dawliya (International Politics) magazine on the country's UN Security Council membership, Shoukry also said that the two main crises that have been taking up Egypts attention are Syria and the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: At its regular meeting on May 4, Michigan Techs Board of Trustees approved an operating budget and tuition rates, and granted president emeritus rank to outgoing President Glenn Mroz. Michigan Technological Universitys general operating fund budget for fiscal year 2019 will be $213,219,740, a $7.8 million increase over fiscal year 2018. The Board authorized the University administration to revise the budget to reflect any changes in state appropriations or tuition cap, while maintaining a balanced budget. The budget is based on anticipated state appropriations of $49,990,814, about $895,700 more than last year. Fiscal year 2019 begins on July 1, 2018. Included in the budget is a 3.8 percent increase in tuition and fees for undergraduate in-state students, meeting the requirements of the Governors proposed tuition cap. Also included is a 4.4 percent tuition increase for undergraduate non-residents and a 6 percent increase for graduate tuition. The budget increases financial aid for students by 9.5 percent. The budget also includes the new national service graduate tuition rates. Graduate students who have previously served as military personnel, AmeriCorps volunteers or Peace Corps volunteers are eligible for National Service Graduate Fellowships, which reduce the cost of tuition. Fellowship recipients who are pursuing graduate study in engineering or computer science will pay $766 per credit hour, compared to the standard $1,143, and fellowship recipients in all other areas of study will pay $675 per credit hour, compared to the standard $1,007. Resolution of appreciation and president emeritus rank for Mroz The Board opened the meeting by expressing its gratitude to Glenn Mroz, who will be returning to the Michigan Tech faculty after 14 years of service as University president. Board Chair Terry Woychowski noted some of the highlights of Mrozs tenure, including increases in enrollment, faculty recruitment, and research and development funding, before the Board unanimously passed a resolution of appreciation for Mroz. Later in the meeting, they again voted unanimously to grant him the rank of president emeritus. Glenn Mroz served as president from 2004 through June of 2018, said Board Vice Chair Brenda Ryan at the time of the vote. Under his leadership, the University reached record-breaking enrollment levels, expanded research, achieved fiscal stability and eliminated accumulated debt. Glenn has proven to be an outstanding leader and president. It is vital that the Board recognizes Glenn and all that he has accomplished as president by bestowing upon him the rank of president emeritus. In other business, the Board: Elected Brenda Ryan as chair and Bill Johnson as vice chair of the Board of Trustees for fiscal year 2019; Approved an updated strategic plan, which clarifies the Universitys vision, mission and goals; Granted dean and professor emeritus rank to outgoing deans Wayne Pennington, College of Engineering; Bruce Seely, College of Sciences and Arts; Terry Sharik, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; and James Frendewey, School of Technology; Granted professor emeritus rank to Mark Johnson, School of Technology; Approved 10 recommendations for promotions from assistant professor without tenure to associate professor with tenure; 11 recommendations for promotions from associate professor with tenure to full professor with tenure; and appointed as professors with tenure incoming deans Janet Callahan (College of Engineering) and David Hemmer (College of Sciences and Arts); Considered and approved proposals for three new graduate programs a PhD program in statistics, a master of science program in statistics and a master of science program in applied statistics all of which will now go to the state academic affairs officers for final approval. 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. Why is Egypt so far behind the rest of the world in both medical and scientific research, and the attitudes that enable an environment for both Every person involved in scientific research that I have spoken with recently is outraged by the bill of law introduced by the Egyptian Ministry of Health. It threatens to set scientific research in Egypt even further back than it already is, which is at such an embarrassingly pitiful level that we cannot even compete with the most underdeveloped nations in this domain. The Egyptian constitution is explicit on the subject of scientific research. Freedom of scientific research is constitutionally guaranteed and the government is required to promote it and allocate no less than 10 per cent of GDP to education, health and scientific research. Unfortunately, the Health Ministry has chosen to contradict this and sponsor a bill that will introduce such heavy restrictions on scientific research as to stifle new experimentation and hamper our ability to catch up with the rest of the world. Moreover, the reason the ministry offers is incomprehensible. It argues that it is sponsoring the law in the name of national security. One would think that national security would be better served by catching up and acquiring the ability to compete with the developed world, instead of walling ourselves into backwardness. Take a look at Israel. That parasitic state, which possesses nowhere near Egypts human resources and civilisational capacities, has attained rates of scientific progress that all Arab countries put together could not even dream of. The eminent physician Dr Magdi Yacoub told me about a new branch of science called Precision Medicine that has evolved in tandem with inroads in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and DNA mapping. The new medicine will put paid to the one remedy fits all approach to curing many diseases as it homes in on specific DNA tags or sequences. Since the DNA makeup of Middle Easterners differ from those of Europeans or South Americans, for example, the new medicines that will work for Europeans will not be as effective on Chinese, for example. It has recently been discovered that a well-known medicine that has been successfully used to treat breast cancer among European women has not had the same success rates in women from other parts of the world due to different genetic structures. In fact, the search for more effective cancer treatments has been one of the main driving forces behind the recent expansion in DNA mapping for different human groups. Yet, while scientists have acquired extensive knowledge on European DNA composition, there remains a huge lack of knowledge with regard to other human groups, especially those from the Middle East. This is why I was flabbergasted at Health Minister Ahmed Emadeddins call for a ban on the removal of Egyptian genes from Egypt! He also said that all genetic analyses and experiments should require the approval of General Security. Foreign nations are smuggling out Egyptian genes preparatory to waging a biological war against us, he said, adding, in an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm, anyone caught taking out human [genetic] samples without government approval will be sentenced to 10 to 15 years prison and a fine of LE 1 million. I find myself forced to make a confession to the minister. Last year, I sent a sample of my DNA abroad to have it analysed. I was in the process of writing my memoirs at the time. When I was very young, my fathers grandfather told me that we were descended from an Arab leader who had accompanied Amr Ibn Al-Aas on his conquest of Egypt. I was curious to find out, after many generations of interbreeding with families from other origins, whether that Arab component still prevailed in my genetic makeup. In my memoir, I published the results of the analysis sent to me by one of the famous laboratories in the US that perform these DNA analyses. I hereby declare to Father Confessor, the minister of health, that I repent my sin! I had no idea at the time that my sample, which was actually a drop of spit, was going to be used in a biological war against the people of Egypt to whose service I have dedicated my entire life. Still, in my defence, I must add that, from practical experience, I know that there are no restrictions to such experiments abroad and that any person from anywhere has the right to send, as I did, a drop or two of spittle to a lab without fear of triggering a biological, chemical or other horrible war. I have also come across a professional view that conflicts entirely with that of the minister. It was written by Dr Mohamed Abul-Ghar who did not seem all that worried about the biological war scenario that the health minister is so worked up about. In fact, he believes that the minister of health does not even have the authority to propose such bills as the clinical experiments bill, since this type of thing falls under the jurisdiction of the minister of scientific research. Abul-Ghar also warned that the proposed bill would spell the death of scientific research in Egypt. He added that experts in constitutional law pointed out that the bill is unconstitutional. Abul-Ghar, himself, was a member of the 50-member committee that drafted the current constitution. Dr Mahmoud Al-Matini, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University, advocates the promulgation of a law regulating clinical experiments. But he, too, fears that the Health Ministry bill is seriously flawed. He also notes that it was not submitted to universities for consideration, even though these are the institutions foremost concerned with scientific research. Perhaps we should consider some larger questions here. Why is it that we never study how other countries advance and what they do to do so? Why is it that we are so removed from the rest of a world? Why are we still in that weird space in which national security controls clinical experiments? *This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: SEATTLE (AP) Amazon has halted construction planning on a new high-rise building near its headquarters while it awaits the outcome of a Seattle city proposal to tax worker hours. The Seattle City Council is considering a "head tax" on high-grossing businesses to raise about $75 million a year for affordable housing and homelessness services. Supporters say businesses that have benefited most from Seattle's economic boom should help solve urgent problems that have come with it, such as soaring rents and a spike in people living on the streets. Amazon, which employs more than 45,000 workers in Seattle, is estimated to pay more than $20 million under the proposal. The employee-hours tax would apply to companies with gross annual income of more than $20 million, which would apply to about 585 businesses. Amazon vice president Drew Herdener said in a statement Wednesday that the Seattle-based online retailer has put on hold construction planning for a 17-story tower, pending a council vote on the tax. In addition, he said the company is evaluating options to sublease all space it recently leased in another downtown skyscraper under construction. The two office spaces would accommodate about 7,000 new Amazon jobs in more than 1.1 million square feet (0.1 million sq. meters) of office space. The Seattle Times first reported the news. Amazon also recently announced plans to add thousands of workers in Boston and Vancouver, British Columbia. In Seattle, the proposed head tax is roughly 26 cents per employee hour, or roughly $540 a year per worker. By 2021, the tax would switch to a .07 percent tax on the business payroll. At a council committee meeting Wednesday, Councilmember Kshama Sawant said it's critical that "we not accept this extortion." She called the tax "pocket change for these businesses" and said "Amazon is perfectly capable of paying that." Last month, Amazon reported that its first-quarter profit more than doubled from a year ago, fueled by the growth of online shopping and the cloud-computing service it provides to businesses and government agencies. Overall revenue jumped 43 percent to $51 billion. The company earned $1.63 billion in the three months ending March 31. It's the second time Amazon's quarterly profit has topped $1 billion. In the previous quarter, which included the busy holiday shopping season, it had a profit of more than $1.8 billion. Many social service workers and others supported the tax Wednesday, saying the city needs to add affordable housing and address the wealth disparity. Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez, a co-sponsor of the tax measure, tweeted her support Wednesday morning saying, "To address the massive humanitarian crisis our city is experiencing, we MUST create sustainable revenue sources to fund effective solutions that will get our Seattle residents off the streets." Businesses have been pushing back on the idea since it first surfaced last year. The City Council narrowly rejected a smaller tax proposal last fall. "Today's announcement shows that Seattle cannot take its economic prosperity for granted," Marilyn Strickland, president of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement Wednesday. "The City of Seattle has abundant tax resources today because many locally based businesses have chosen to grow here. That's why we urge the City Council to prioritize those resources including over $700 million in taxes paid by business each year before pursuing new revenue, and work with regional partners to develop a coordinated plan that will significantly reduce homelessness." Other businesses said that they operate on tight margins of 1 percent or so and won't be able to raise prices on consumers. "I'm deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have on a large range of jobs," Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a statement Wednesday. Durkan said the city must urgently address homelessness and the affordability crisis. She said she'll bring together councilmembers and other leaders to find common ground. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. DALLAS (AP) The Latest on the annual meeting in Dallas of the National Rifle Association (all times local): 3:45 p.m. Elected officials from Texas have joined President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in speaking to National Rifle Association members at the group's annual meeting. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott told the crowd Friday afternoon that the answer to gun violence is to strengthen gun rights under the Constitution's Second Amendment. He also talked about Stephen Willeford, who grabbed his rifle and ran across the street to open fire on the gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people in a church in the small town of Sutherland Springs in November. The gunman shot and killed 25 people at the church. Authorities have put the official toll at 26, because one of the victims was pregnant. Willeford is an NRA member who has served as an instructor. He was honored by the NRA earlier Friday. After he exchanged gunfire with 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, Willeford jumped in a man's pickup truck and they pursued him. Kelley died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Abbott says "because (Willeford) had a gun, he saved lives." U.S. Sen. John Cornyn also cited Willeford's actions that day. He says, "Guns can save lives, plain and simple." ___ 3 p.m. Tara Dixon Engel has made her first trip to a National Rifle Association annual meeting, traveling to Dallas from Florida. The 56-year-old from Merritt Island, Florida, is author of a handgun guide for women and director of strategic development for the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, Florida. She said she wanted to come to get a feel for the scope of the convention and "to be among like-minded people." She says the NRA is necessary to protect the Constitution's Second Amendment. She says if gun rights go away, "so does freedom of the press, so does freedom of assembly, so does freedom of religion." An estimated 70,000 people are expected to attend the convention that started Friday in Dallas. ___ 1:35 p.m. Vice President Mike Pence is offering a vigorous defense of gun rights an address to the National Rifle Association's annual convention in Dallas. Pence is pointing to work by President Donald Trump's administration work to address school security and support for changes to the background check system, as well as arming teachers. The vice president says "the quickest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." He is faulting media outlets for not telling "the whole story about firearms in America" and the role of "firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens" making communities safer. Pence was speaking ahead of President Donald Trump's address to the NRA. ___ 1:20 p.m. The Texas man who grabbed his rifle and ran barefoot across the street to open fire on a gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people in a church in the small town of Sutherland Springs has been honored at the annual National Rifle Association meeting. Stephen Willeford told those gathered for the group's leadership forum in Dallas on Friday, "I took care of my community on that day and I'd do it again." Willeford was at his home on a Sunday in November when his daughter alerted him that she'd heard gunfire at the First Baptist Church nearby. Willeford has said he immediately retrieved his rifle from his weapon safe. Running across the street to the church, he saw 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley and exchanged gunfire. As Kelley sped away, Willeford ran to a pickup truck stopped in an intersection, jumped in and the two called 911 and pursued Kelley. Kelley died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. ___ 1 p.m. Those attending the National Rifle Association say it's a chance for them to talk to like-minded people and learn about new products. Seventy-one-year-old Lyndie Goggans of Paris, Tennessee, said Friday morning that she and her husband have been coming to the annual meetings for about 15 years. Goggans says she attends the meetings to see what new guns are available and visit with friends who also attend. An estimated 70,000 people are expected to attend the convention that started Friday in Dallas. Christopher Daniel of Columbus, Ohio, came to the meeting with his brother. Both men served in the military. Daniel teaches middle school. Daniel, who is black, said there may be a misconception that the NRA is only for older white men. Daniel says, "It's for everyone who believes in their constitutional rights." President Donald Trump is among those scheduled to speak at the event Friday afternoon. ___ 12:15 p.m. President Donald Trump says the National Rifle Association is a "great organization that loves this country." Trump spoke to reporters Friday aboard Air Force One as he flew to Dallas to address the organization's annual convention for the fourth consecutive time. Trump's appearance comes after he temporarily strayed from NRA dogma opposing stronger gun control after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, earlier this year only to return to the fold. Trump also said he has a "record crowd" attending the convention. The forum where he is speaking is sold out, with a capacity of about 8,000 people. The NRA won't have exact figures on how many people attend the convention until later. Spokesman Jason Brown says its estimate of more than 70,000 people is based on a variety of factors. The record is 86,000 in Houston in 2013. The event is also drawing protests, including by those who lost loved ones to gun violence. ___ 11:45 a.m. For some people attending the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, President Donald Trump is the main draw. Jesse and Patricia Hopper, both wearing Make America Great Again hats, traveled from a small town in West Texas to attend the NRA meeting Friday. The Hoppers, who live in Ballinger, said Friday morning that they became NRA members so they could attend the meeting, their first, and see Trump. Jesse Hopper says he agrees with NRA policies. Sixty-five-year-old Patricia Hopper, who was wearing a T-shirt with Trump's face on it, said she'd been wanting to see the president "ever since we voted for him" and she added that her husband "likes guns." Sixty-six-year-old Jesse Hopper believes Trump "says what he thinks and he carries through with his promises." ___ 11:15 p.m. More than 70,000 National Rifle Association members are expected in Dallas for the group's annual meeting, which will feature an appearance by President Donald Trump. The event is also drawing protests, including by those who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Trump will be making his fourth consecutive visit to the NRA meeting when he speaks Friday at the leadership forum. He'll be joined by Vice President Mike Pence, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Those attending the meeting that runs through Saturday will listen to political speeches, check out the latest firearms, attend gun training courses and socialize. NRA officials Wayne LaPierre, Chris Cox and Dana Loesch will be among those speaking Friday. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. What are the reasons behind the current rise of right-wing populist movements across the world Trump, Putin, Modi, Erdogan, Orban, Le Pen, Wilders these are the names of but a few of the leaders representing the rise of right-wing populist movements across the world today. Right-wing populist movements share important commonalities including an anti-elite/establishment orientation, nationalism combined with racism and xenophobia, opposition to free trade and globalisation, and an emphasis on reasserting traditional gender and family roles. In the American context, right-wing populism began with the emergence of the Tea Party Movement within the Republican Party. This distinguished itself from traditional Republican politics by its appeal to white working-class Americans, its opposition to immigration, free trade and globalisation, and its desire to control womens bodies and reproductive freedom by banning birth control and abortion. The Tea Party Movement capitalised on a growing feeling of economic and social exclusion by white Americans, who increasingly fear that their dominant status within American society is being threatened by the rise of women, immigrants and minorities. It also built on the economic insecurity felt by an important segment of the American working class as a result of free trade and globalisation and the consequent de-industrialisation of the American economy. The movement built on the angst of American males who feel that the rise of women and racial and LGBT minorities to positions of power is threatening the traditional structure and power hierarchies of American society. In Europe, right-wing populism has had a stronger nationalist emphasis and has been closely tied to the rise of Islamophobia and the rejection of immigrants, especially from the Muslim world. It also has a strong anti-EU component. Right-wing populism in Western and Eastern Europe builds on the social and economic grievances of the European working class and attributes these to globalisation, European integration and immigration. It prescribes reducing the powers of the EU, greater economic protectionism, and restrictions on immigration as a solution to Europes problems. The recent success of the Brexit referendum in the UK has been attributed to the rise of nationalist and anti-EU sentiment in the UK. Similarly, the rise of leaders of right-wing populist movements to power in Poland and Hungary, in addition to the growing shares of the electoral vote won by parties such as the Front National in France and the Alternative for Germany Party in Germany, has also been a measure of the rising strength of these movements across Europe. Finally, the growing strength and popularity of leaders such Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents a growing backlash against globalisation, Westernisation and secularism in the non-Western world. These leaders adopt a nationalist and xenophobic outlook that seeks to reassert the past glories of their nations in opposition to western hegemony and globalisation. They propose a vision which emphasises nationalism, religion and social conservatism in the face of globalisation, individualisation and social diversification. In short, the right-wing populist movements across the world represent a yearning to return to an imagined past in which communities were homogenous, families were patriarchal and heterosexual, employment was secure and economies local, and religion and nationalism were unchallenged. This is an ideal posited in opposition to the complex reality of globalisation and of post-modern and post-industrial societies that encourage the free movement of goods, people and ideas and where traditional conceptions of nation, family, religion are being questioned and redefined. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 and the end of the Cold War the US political scientist Francis Fukayama famously declared the end of history and the final triumph of the Western liberal economic model. However, the recent upsurge in right-wing populist movements and leaders across the world represents a negation of the proposed triumph of the Western model and the rise of an alternative vision for the future characterised by rising nationalism, economic protectionism, and social and political conservatism. In fact, the rise of right-wing populist movements across the world seems to be validating the vision of fellow US political scientist Samuel Huntington of a post-Cold War future defined primarily by a clash of civilisations. Today we are seeing the emergence of a new multi-polar world order in which each nation and civilisation is reasserting its autonomy vis-a-vis the others, externally through growing nationalism and economic protectionism and internally through growing authoritarianism, social homogenisation and conservatism. Especially troubling in this new world order is the status of racial and ethnic minorities, who are often perceived as a kind of fifth column to be feared and contained rather than as citizens to be integrated. The rise of right-wing populism is thus likely to have a negative effect on the progress of democratic governance and individual and minority rights across the world. As more countries move in a more nationalist, conservative and authoritarian direction, individual and citizenship rights, especially those earned by women and minorities, will likely be eroded in the name of nationalist and religious ideals. Moreover, more international conflicts are likely to result from the spread of nationalist and xenophobic movements across the globe, with refugees, immigrants and minorities suffering the most. However, such multi-polarity might also have a limiting effect on the scope of such conflicts, with all-out wars being replaced by proxy wars such as the ones now being fought out in Syria and Yemen. The writer is a senior researcher at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies. *This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Cutting short his campaign trail in poll-bound Karnataka in the wake of the loss of 70 lives in rain and thunderstorm in UP on Wednesday night, CM Yogi Adityanath rescheduled his programme to reach Agra on Friday evening. Notably, Opposition, including Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had tweeted on Thursday referring to Yogis absence from the state when more than 70 people had lost their lives in a thunderstorm. Yogi, who was in Karnataka to campaign for the upcoming assembly elections, decided to leave Karnataka a day ahead of his plan to visit Agra, which had the maximum number of casualties 47 of 70 in the state in Wednesday nights storm. The CM will reach Agra on Friday evening and stay overnight in the Taj city. On Saturday morning he will inspect storm-affected areas and may meet some of the affected families. Then he will proceed to Kanpur. At both places, he will be holding review meetings with the administration and taking stock of the relief measures post-destruction. He will then return to Lucknow on Saturday evening and will then leave for Karnataka again either on Saturday itself or Sunday morning where he will remain for the next three to four days, said the government sources. On Thursday, while offering his condolences for the massive loss of life and property, Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress member Siddaramaiah tweeted: At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon and attend to his work there. While BSP chief Mayawati attacked both CM Yogi and PM Modi saying that they were not bothered about the destruction and deaths in the state while being busy with poll meetings in Karnataka, SP chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav also demanded that the CM return to UP at the earliest. The CM should leave campaigning for the Karnataka elections immediately and return to UP. He has been elected to solve the problems of UP and not Karnataka. If he does not return even under these circumstances, he should make his muthh in Karnataka, Yadav had tweeted. UP Congress chief Raj Babbar too spoke out against Yogis absence. People lost their lives due to a natural calamity but what makes it worse is the UP governments attitude. The UP CM should have been in the state supervising the relief and rescue but he is in Karnataka, busy with campaigning, Babbar said. However, the CM office claimed that relief was provided to the affected people and more than 90% of it was completed by Thursday night itself. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Reporter Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Chief Executive Carrie Lam will visit Chengdu and Bangkok in mid-May to attend a Hong Kong-Sichuan co-operation conference and a United Nations meeting. She will depart for Chengdu on May 10 to attend the high-level meeting and First Plenary of the Hong Kong-Sichuan Co-operation Conference. She will lead a delegation to meet Sichuan officials and attend the Hong Kong-Sichuan Trade & Investment Co-operation Symposium & Signing & Launching Ceremony. The delegation comprises Executive Council members, representatives of business chambers and sectors such as the creative and design industries and youth. Mrs Lam will also attend an exhibition and a sharing session on Hong Kong's reconstruction support work in Sichuan after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and visit local higher education institutions. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, Secretary for Innovation & Technology Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan and Secretary for Development Michael Wong will join parts of the visit. Mrs Lam will be accompanied by Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip and Director of the Chief Executive's Office Chan Kwok-ki. Mrs Lam will then depart for Bangkok on May 13 to attend and deliver a keynote speech at the opening of the Ministerial Segment of the 74th session of the United Nations Economic & Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific the next day. Mrs Lam will also meet senior Thai officials. She will return to Hong Kong on May 14. Within 2 Days, His Dad and His Son Were Dead of COVID (Newser) Middle Earth may be fictional, but New Zealand is not. Still, people tend to forget about the country "tucked away down there," as Homer Simpson would say. The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is guilty. So, too, is Starbucks and the board game Risk, according to an amusing subreddit dedicated to world maps that have omitted the country. There are a surprising numberand New Zealand is fighting back. A new tourism campaign centered around the hashtag #GetNZontheMap pokes fun at what New Zealand native and Flight of the Conchords star Rhys Darby calls "a major conspiracy," per Mashable. story continues below "This is big. Bigger than we thought," he tells Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a new ad. "Bigger than the moon landing and Loch Ness combined, which by the way is one of my theories, that those things are combined." He boils it down to two theories: That other countries are leaving New Zealand off maps in a bid to steals its tourists, get rid of its rugby team, and cover up its great wine. Or, it's that "we're quite a fiddly looking shaped country, a bit like a half-eaten lamb chop. Perhaps people are just leaving us off thinking we're a mistake." Shared Tuesday, the ad showcasing what the New York Times calls New Zealand's "trademark deadpan humor" has racked up nearly 30,000 views on YouTube. (Speaking of tourism, this little-known city might become the world's next hot spot.) (Newser) Three Washington, DC, high school juniors were thrilled when their idea for removing lead from drinking water landed them a finalist position in a NASA-sponsored high school science competition, reports the Washington Post. The high-achieving team had developed a filter that could purify water in older school buildings. The team was doubly excited to be the only all-black, all-female entry. But after NASA opened the competition to public voting, things went horribly wrong. When Mikayla Sharrieff, India Skinner, and Bria Snell, all 17, turned to social media to promote their project, users of 4chans politically incorrect board, known to be a place where racism is often spewed and hoaxes are generated, jumped in. They said the team was only getting attention due to race and attempted to hack the system to change vote totals and throw the contest to a team of teenage boys, reports CNN. story continues below NASA had to end public voting early in order to protect the results; it says it has an accurate record of the results before hackers interfered, and judges will also assess the projects. On Monday NASA issued a statement decrying the hacking attempt and offering encouragement to young scientists: "NASA continues to support outreach and education for all Americans, and encourages all of our children to reach for the stars." For now, the team is focusing on the positive. In the STEM field [science, technology, engineering, math] we are underrepresented, Sharrieff says. Its important to be role models for a younger generation who want to be in the STEM field but dont think they can. The winning team will visit NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for two days of workshops. NASA will announce the winners this month. (Read more NASA stories.) (Newser) Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has erupted, prompting Gov. David Ige to declare a state of emergency and activate the National Guard. Soldiers have been called in to assist with the mandatory evacuation of the Leilani Estates neighborhood in the Puna district of Big Island, which is in danger of being inundated by lava, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. The eruption sent lava flowing through the subdivision, where vapor is emerging from cracks, and witnesses say they saw fountains of lava rising around 150 feet from a crack in the volcano, reports the AP. Emergency shelters have been opened for around 1,700 people affected by the evacuation order. story continues below The eruption follows hundreds of earthquakes over the period of several days, most of them around 2.0 magnitude, CNN reports. The most severe was a 5.0 magnitude earthquake Thursday morning, according to the US Geological Survey. One local man tells KHON 2 that he flew his drone near a "curtain of fire" moving toward residential areas. "It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could," he says. "You could just smell sulfur and burning trees and underbrush and stuff." Scientists say there's a lot of magma in the extremely active volcano's reservoir and they're not sure how long the eruption will last. (Read more Hawaii stories.) (Newser) Four Toronto-area police officers face charges of theft, obstructing police, and perjury after they allegedly stole a "one-of-a-kind" Scarface statue from a suspected drug dealer. Though she said it was "highly likely" Lowell Somerville would've been found guilty of trafficking and heroin possession, a judge stayed charges against him last year because of the officers' alleged actions. Surveillance video showed Peel Regional Police Const. Richard Rerrie taking an item from a storage locker rented by Somerville during a warranted search in 2014, per the CBC. story continues below After first denying taking anything, Rerrie claimed the item was a heater he saw in the storage facility that was labeled "free." The three other officers claimed to not remember Rerrie taking anything. In staying Somerville's charges, the judge wrote in her ruling that it was actually a statue of the movie Scarface's Tony Montanaone that Somerville describes as wooden and 3.5-feet talland that Rerrie and three officers with him had lied under oath, per the Brampton Guardian. They're due back in court on June 4. (Read more Canada stories.) (Newser) In a historic move, Missouri lawmakers announced Thursday that they are calling themselves into a special session later this month to consider impeaching Gov. Eric Greitens following allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of charity resources for his political campaign. Republican House and Senate leaders said they had gathered more than the constitutionally required signatures of three-fourths of the members of each chamber to summon themselves into a special session that will start at 6:30pm on May 18just 30 minutes after the end of work in their regular session. It will mark the first time in Missouri history that lawmakers have called a special session. Extraordinary sessions typically are called by governors. story continues below "This was not a decision made lightly and certainly not without great deliberation and effort," Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson said. He pledged a "fair process that will not be rushed to conclusion," the AP reports. According to the Missouri Constitution, the special session can last no more than 30 days. If the House votes to impeach Greitens, which requires 82 votes, the Senate then would appoint a panel of seven judges to conduct a trial on whether to remove him from office. All of Missouri's top Republican and Democratic legislative leaders already had called on Greitens to resign, which he has declined to do. (Read more Eric Greitens stories.) (Newser) Someone's golden years just got a lot more golden. In what the BBC calls an "astonishing hat-trick," Canada's Ping Kuen Shum decided to buy a lottery ticket on his birthday, which also happened to be his last day of work before retirementand he hit it big. The numbers 09, 12, 13, 18, 21, and 29 came through on April 28 for the Vancouver man, who won $1.5 million, per the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. "It's unbelievable that all three events happened on the same day," marvels Ping. story continues below Newsweek notes Ping, whose age hasn't been reported, bought his winning ticket at a convenience store in British Columbia. "I have worked hard for so many years and I'm looking forward to sharing this fortune with my family," Ping says, per the BBC. And how do you celebrate what some might call the best day ever? In Ping's case, by chowing down on dim sum with loved ones. He also plans on taking a trip to visit China with some of his newfound cash. (A Canadian teen also won the lotto on a remarkable day.) (Newser) A former coal executive who served a year in prison related to a 2010 mine explosion in West Virginia that killed 29 people is now denying claims of racism as he seeks a Senate seat in the state. In a new ad, Republican Don Blankenship claims "swamp captain Mitch McConnell has created millions of jobs for China people," reports Politico. "While doing so, Mitch has gotten rich. In fact, his China family has given him tens of millions of dollars," Blankenship continues, apparently referencing the Senate majority leader's wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, whose parents moved to the US from Taiwan 60 years ago, per CNN. Blankenship defended the ad Thursday, telling Roll Call, "We're confused on our staff as to how it can be racist when there's no mention of a race. Races are Negro, white Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian." story continues below The attack comes as a McConnell-linked super PAC has branded Blankenship a "convicted criminal" and hypocrite ahead of the May 8 primary. Blankenship is not running against McConnell, who represents Kentucky, but he's hoping to score points by running against the DC "swamp." Blankenship trails two mainstream GOP opponents, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Rep. Evan Jenkins, in the polls. McConnell and other Republican leaders hope Blankenship loses because they fear it would kill the party's chance of defeating Democratic incumbent Joe Manchin in November, reports the New York Times. The paper notes Blankenship's attacks on McConnell are surprising since he once said he'd move to China, where his fiancee is from. "This clown is a walking talking case study for the limitation of a prison's ability to rehabilitate," says a McConnell adviser. (Read more Mitch McConnell stories.) (Newser) That an inmate escaped from an Iceland prison and fled the country on a plane that Iceland's prime minister happened to be aboard turns out to not be the wildest part of Sindri Stefansson's story. The 31-year-old is suspected of being one of a group of thieves who stole $2 million worth of computer servers used to mine bitcoin; he was arrested in early February, escaped to Sweden in mid-April, and spent five days on the lam in various countries. He's due to be extradited to Iceland Friday, and in his first interview since he was apprehended in Amsterdam, he tells the New York Times how easy it was to escape: Prisoners at Sogn can have phones, and he simply used his to look up flights the night before he fled. And here's the twist: The Times reports it's not illegal to bust out of prison in Iceland. story continues below As a former Icelandic Supreme Court judge explains: "Our system supposes that a person who has been deprived of his freedom will try to regain it. It's the responsibility of prison authorities to keep him there." And whether Stefansson should have even been in custody is up for debate: His custody order expired right before he escaped. He says police convinced him to sign a document that voluntarily extended his stay while a judge weighed whether to legally extend it. After giving his signature, he changed his mind. He says he didn't think police would look for him because of the looseness of the situation. The Reykjavik Grapeview reports police will now decide whether to keep him in custody in Iceland or just impose a travel ban. Another weird factoid from the Times: Authorities haven't been able to find the stolen computers, though they've even followed a psychic's advice in their hunt for them. (Read more prison escape stories.) (Newser) On Monday, Amy Throckmorton posted what she said was a "funny story" on Facebook, and it was definitely a doozy. "In college I was an egg donor," the married California mom of three wrote. "Today, I met that egg." The egg in question: University of California student Elizabeth Gaba, who was born to a surrogate using Throckmorton's donated egg almost 20 years ago. Gaba tells KTVU that even though she enjoys a happy life with her family, she'd always been curious about her biological origins. And so she took to the internet and recruited the manager of her college's a cappella group to help her track the egg donor down, with only an old photo and a few details, including the donor's first name, year of birth, and the fact that she'd been an honors student at Gaba's own school. story continues below Their journey began in the mid-'90s, when Throckmorton was a USC student and decided to donate her eggs. She says she didn't mind the medical process that sometimes makes others "squeamish," and "I liked the idea of helping a couple who couldn't have children of their own start a family." She also gave permission for any offspring who resulted from her eggs to contact her in the future. And that's exactly what Gaba did as soon as she turned 18, got access to her records, and tracked Throckmorton down. They had a "wonderful and surreal" meeting, per Throckmorton, with one more "mind-bending" revelation: Throckmorton sang in the same USC a cappella group Gaba does now. They croon a song together in Throckmorton's Facebook post, with Throckmorton noting: "Genetics, man!" (Swipe right for an egg donor with this app.) (Newser) The indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort took center stage in federal court on Friday and things got a bit testy. US District Court Judge T.S. Ellis tartly asked Robert Mueller's prosecution team to explain how their indictment of Manafort on financial charges relates to Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the election. "I don't see what relation this indictment has with what the special counsel is authorized to investigate," Ellis, a 77-year-old Reagan appointee, declared at the hearing, reports Politico. "You don't really care about Mr. Manafort's bank fraud. ... What you really care about is what information Mr. Manafort could give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump or lead to his prosecution or impeachment." story continues below Ellis suggested that the case was meant to pressure Trumps former campaign manager to sing and squeeze information that could be used against the president. In response, Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben asserted that Manaforts alleged crimes were relevant to Trumps campaign ties to Russia: In trying to understand the actions of Mr. Manafort in Ukraine and the association he had with Russian individuals and the depths of those financial relationships, we had to follow the money where it led, he told the court, reports the Washington Post. Manafort is facing criminal charges in Virginia of tax and bank fraud, and hes also facing criminal charges in Washington, DC, for failing to register as a foreign agent for Ukraine and conspiring to launder money, per Reuters. The judge held off on ruling on Manafort's request to toss the case. (Read more Paul Manafort stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: Sitting BJP MLA BN Vijayakumar from Jayanagar assembly segment, breathed his last on Friday in Bengaluru, the party informed. He was 60. The two-time lawmaker, who was contesting from the same seat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, suffered a cardiac arrest while campaigning. His last rites will be performed on Friday. The veteran leader, who joined Bharatiya Janta Party in 1990, was admitted to super speciality hospital Jayadeva Institute of Cardiac Sciences and Research Centre, after he collapsed on Thursday evening. BJP remembered Vijayakumaras commitment & hardwork and said that it was a great loss for the party. Sri BN Vijay Kumar, Jayanagar's popular 2 term MLA & BJP candidate passed away last night due to cardiac arrest. His humility, dedication & commitment to party and people will be remembered. A great loss for us. Our condolences to his family. We pray for his Sadgati. #OmShanti pic.twitter.com/EcAivkgtt4 a BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 4, 2018 BJPas state unit Chief BS Yeddyurappa mourned his death and said the party would work to strengthen his ideals. I am deeply pained at the untimely demise of my friend & party stalwart Jayanagar MLA Shri @BNVijaykumar. May God give strength to his family to bear this huge loss. We will work to strengthen his ideals. a B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) May 4, 2018 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his condolences to BN Vijayakumaras family. Jayanagara MLA Shri B N Vijaya Kumar has died suddenly apparently due to cardiac arrest. I express my condolences to his family & loved ones. Shri Vijaya Kumar was a sincere & hard working political leaders May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/Q7D8lERleZ a Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 4, 2018 BJP Chief Amit Shah took to Twitter to express his grief at the loss of his party leader. Shah wrote, ''Pained to know about the demise of Shri B N Vijaykumar ji, our candidate from Jayanagar, Bengaluru. My deepest condolences to his family & followers in this hour of grief. He had been a dedicated karyakarta & two term MLA who was loved & admired by all''. New Delhi: The Indian Rupee at 65-66 per US dollar is its fair value and intervention is not required, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg has said, dismissing concerns of the impact of a dropping currency on the economy. Garg, who is in Manila to attend a meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) told PTI that with oil steadying at $75 per barrel and India allowing foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to invest in treasury bills, the rupee would be around 66-67 against dollar for some time. "My sense is that there is stability now and this level of (rupee at) about 66-67 (to a dollar) should be the level that should prevail for some time," he said, adding, "Rupee appreciated to 64 or something. That is where it hurt our exports. 64 was not at the level which was justified by the real exchange rates. So coming back to 65-66 is a fair valuation." A fall in rupee can potentially impact the current account deficit as India relies on imports to meet over 80 per cent of its oil needs. Garg also said that there was no need to intervene as he does not believe that anything is likely to happen. "I don't think there is any move to intervene... there is depreciation and therefore RBI should sell dollars to support. I don't think there is any such need. I don't believe anything is likely to happen," he said. Earlier this week, the Reserve Bank permitted FPIs to invest in treasury bills issued by the central government. However, they will have to ensure that their exposure in government securities, as well as corporate bonds of less than one-year maturity, remains below 20 per cent, according to PTI. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The services on Delhi Metroas Violet Line on Friday were disrupted for one and a half hours between the Kashmiri Gate and Central Secretariat stations due to a glitch in the Over Head Electrification (OHE). The Violet Line connects Kashmere Gate in Delhi to parts of Faridabad in NCR. A Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official told PTI that the train services were affected from 8:34 am to 10:02 am on Friday. There was intermittent OHE tripping on the up line section between the stations Central Secretariat and Mandi House, according to DMRC. DMRC issued a statement which read, ''As a result, services were run on single line from Kashmere Gate to Central Secretariat during this period so that the OHE staff could identify and rectify the OHE tripping cause by going into the affected section,a the DMRC said in a statement. The glitch took place during peak office hours, leaving many passengers stranded at the metro stations. Many commuters, who had a harrowing time, took to Twitter to express their anguish and anger due to the delayed service. Commuters have been stuck in the Delhi Metro from last 30 minutes between Khan Market and Central Secretariate on Violet Line Please look into this @DelhiMetro_ @PMOIndia @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc#Delhi #delhimetro #metrotrains #delayeddelhimetro a Naman Gangrade (@naman_gangrade) May 4, 2018 Other incidents of glitch in Delhi MetroA This is not the first instance of a glitch in Delhi Metro this year as other lines were also affected by technical snags. The train services on Delhi Metroas Pink Line were affected due to a technical glitch in April. The metro train was left stranded at the Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus station. Delhi Metroas Blue Line, which is one of the busiest corridor of DMRC, was hit by a snag on March 29. The normal services were disrupted between Karol Bagh and RK Ashram stations, creating problems for the commuters. The services at the corridor were also affected on April 6 when a snag was detected between between Rajiv Chowk and Barakhamba Road stations. New Delhi: Alia Bhatt, the bubbly diva of Bollywood, is coming with her much-awaited release of the year Raazi and the trailer has already got the nation buzzing. The Highway actress will be seen playing the role of a Kashmiri girl Sehmat who is married to a Pakistani officer and becomes a spy for India. So far in the trailer, Alia looked quite promising in this Meghna Gulzar directorial. Indeed, Meghna has high hopes for her cross-border spy drama which is based on Harinder Sikka's novel Calling Sehmat. So what made Meghna rope in Alia for the role of Sehmat? To this Megha replied, "From the time I learnt that I have to helm the film, Alia's face popped up in my mind and that never changed. I am really thankful to Alia for agreeing to do the film. Otherwise, I couldn't have made the film. "I don't think anybody else could fit in, with all due respect to the other actresses," she said. Meghna further added, "Sehmat is an ordinary, simple 20-year-old girl with an innate strength which we all have in us, and we do things if circumstance demands... that we possibly won't do otherwise. So, the character needed to remain vulnerable, feminine and fragile; no matter what else was going on around her". Not just the director, but Alia's co-star from the movie Vicky Kaushal has also been singing praises about the diva. "I think she is one of the versatile, spontaneous and organic actresses we have in the country. Look at the kind of roles she has taken up. She really feels what she performs and that translates on-screen. As a human being, she is so easy going, she is a very genuine person, and we bonded really well during the shoot. She is always her real self," Vicky was quoted as saying. Also starring Soni Razdan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Rajit Kapoor, Raazi will hit the screens on May 11. New Delhi: China on Friday expressed condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives due to dust storm in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The high-intensity dust storms had wreaked havoc and killed more them 100 people. "We express sympathy and our sincere condolences," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying while addressing media in Bejing said. Hua mourned for the victims and wished for their speedy recovery. The powerful dust storm which were followed by thunder showers left a trail of destruction in parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on May 2. As per the latest figures, 109 people were killed while nearly 200 injured. A severe dust storm followed by thunder showers hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on May 2 killing at least 109 people and leaving a trail of destruction. The dust storms brought down mud houses, flattened crops and uprooted trees & poles, leading to power outrage. Several political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed sorrow at the loss of lives. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, announced a compensation for the victims. The dust storms brought down the temperature but caused devastation in several places. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bangalore: It is raining soaps and promises as the ruling Congress party and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engage in competitive populism. The two top contenders unleashed a plethora of poll promises and soaps galore for the masses as electioneering for Karnataka general elections onA A entered the slog overs, so to speak.A The BJP took its time to craft a manifesto that promised something for every section of the society and pledged to counter corruption in a big way a by strengthening the Lokayuka and announced its focus on the farm sector and the women on its journey to dislodge the Congress from one of its very few major states of Karnataka. BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa released the BJP vision document that contains a loan waiver scheme for the farmers under which loans of up to Rs 1 lakh taken from cooperative banks and nationalised banks will be waived off. A week ago, Congress president Rahul Gandhi released the party vision document that promised renewed focus on farmers and farm sector, uplift of women and war against atrocities against women besides accelerating the pace of economic growth and development. Both parties tried to reach out to the farmers a through their respective vision documents (election manifesto). Interestingly, none of the top BJP national leaders a Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah or Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who were in Karnataka on electioneering, were present when the BJP manifesto was released. Gandhi told the people that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had fulfilled 95 per cent of the promises the Congress made in its manifesto five years ago in 2013. Siddaramaiah told media persons in Bangalore onA A that aI have already fulfilled all the promises made during the last elections. We are going to the people with a development agenda and promise to improve the law and order situation and protection of women from criminals of all huesa. Predictably and naturally, the Congress and the BJP traded charges against each other and rubbished the manifesto of the rival. But for the record, the BJP vision document promised allocation of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for irrigation projects; farm loan waiver of up to Rs 1 lakh borrowed from nationalised banks and cooperative banks and declared it would bring out a white paper on the financial health of the state. Then come a list of sops for the poor a gold and money for brides from the BPL category for their marriage and opening of Annapoorna Canteens and a host of steps for the benefit of the people from the weaker sections. It may be recalled that the Congress has already started Indira Canteens, on the lines of Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu, that have become very popular with the masses. Cow protection is an issue that the BJP was concerned with and the manifesto said it would revive Go Seva Ayoga that aimed at cow protection. Jayaprakash Hegde, a former BJP MP, described the manifesto as a pragmatic plan to clean up the mess the Congress had landed the state into with its mega corruption and mismanagement. He said that on the corruption, the Yeddyurappa government will strengthen the Lokayukta and give it more powers to cleanse the system. BJP MP and Karnataka party unit leader Shobha Karandlaje said the manifesto was a "vision document" which reflected people's aspirations and expectations. She claimed that the party had consulted over three lakh people and experts to come out with the vision document. A aA fantasya is how Congress president Rahul Gandhi described the BJP vision document as when addressing a rally in Karnataka. The Congress manifesto, Rahul Gandhi said was a document that reflected the voice of the people of Karnataka and not a document prepared by athree or four people in a closed rooma. The Congress vision document promised to create one crore jobs and spend Rs 1.25 lakh crore for irrigating Karnataka over the next five years if elected to power again. Actually, the Congress government will create an aagricultural corridora in the state with its 10 different agro-climatic zones and other natural advantages, offering immense opportunities for high growth in agriculture and allied sectors. The focus will be on improving production and productivity, reducing production cost and wastage, increase value addition, price stabilisation, organic farming, integrated pest management and high unit value realisation in export markets. The Congress promised 50 per cent hike in employability and creation of 15 lakh to 20 lakh jobs a year and also try to raise the employment level of women to 50 per cent in the government. The women police force would be increased up to 33 per cent with three per cent reservation for transgenders, the Congress document said. On corruption, the Congress said it would take steps to improve delivery of services and a single window project clearance. Then there are subsidies galore for expanding IT services, start-ups and promised to utilise 80 tmcft additional water in the Cauvery basin. The manifesto contains inputs from every single district, block and community and region of the state. As against the chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa releasing the BJP vision document in the absence of senior party leaders, the Team Congress was very much in evidence a with Rahul Gandhi releasing the document in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president G Parameshwara, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state K C Venugopal and former Union minister Veerappa Moily. A The BJP's manifesto under the name 'Namma Karnataka Namma Vachana' not only features a host of sops for women, students, farmers and backward classes but also pushes BJP's core agendas of recommending a ban on PFI, reintroducing prevention of cow slaughter bill 2012 and revival of Bhagyalakshmi scheme. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on that India was moving forward from women development to women-led development and "women first" is the mantra of his government and party--Bharatiya Janata Party. In an attempt to woo women voters ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka, Modi interacted with BJP Mahila Morcha workers through the 'NarendraModi App. ", the country is moving forward from women development to women-led development... We have such a mantra for country's development, our party also believes in this mantra," Modi said. "Mahila shakti" (woman power), Modi said, was important in the BJP's scheme of things. "For us, whether it is the organisation or the government, or framing of programmes, it is women first," he added. Earlier, Modi interacted with BJP office-bearers and candidates, and state farmers' wing leaders. Pointing out that capable women hold important portfolios in his cabinet, Modi recalled two group photos of the SCO summit in China where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were the only women. "Both of them have connection with Karnataka," Modi said. Sitharaman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, while Swaraj had contested the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from Ballari against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, which the latter won. Modi then called upon women to focus on winning at the polling booth level. "We have to win the state election and we will win. We have to win Assembly constituency we will win. But as always I urge karyakartas (workers) for me the most important thing is winning polling booths. "Where is the victory? It is in polling booths, rest is all its effects. We have to win polling booths. When we have to win polling booths, we will have to go to homes, highlight the false promises and misdeeds of Karnataka's Congress government," he said. Modi said though several welfare schemes for women were launched in the past, they lacked direction and failed to take into account their basic and small needs. The prime minister enlisted various initiatives of his government for women empowerment, healthcare and maternity leave requirements. While responding to a question by a woman BJP activist about atrocities on women and ways to check them, he said a blend of family values, culture, functioning of police and authorities, and prompt justice can play an important role in checking such incidents. The prime minister also stressed on the need for instilling the "fear of law". He said provisions of the IPC, CRPC and POCSO were made more stringent by his government to instil that fear. "Those committing rape of innocent children can be hanged. Necessary steps have been taken for time-bound investigation and fast track courts have been set up for such crimes," he added. Terming female infanticide "perversity of the society", he spoke about 'Beti Bachao, Bati Padhao' programme of his government and the positive developments it has brought about in areas with poor gender ratio. Modi said women should play an equal role in social, economic and other fields of life. Whether it is the Olympics or Commonwealth games, Indian women made the country proud. They are also excelling in the defence forces and becoming entrepreneurs, he said. In a first, his government has decided that women will be in a combat role in the Army, he said, adding a proposal for giving them 33 per cent reservation in police force in the Union Territories is also under consideration. Modi said his government and the BJP are "completely and comprehensively" committed to "naari shakti" (women power), a significant part of the New India vision. Modi asked the Mahila Morcha workers to appeal to everyone to join India's journey to progres For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The United States on Thursday warned China that it would face serious consequences for building military base in the disputed South China Sea. Beijing has deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the disputed waters despite several White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that the Trump administration has raised the issue with the Chinese leadership. "We are well aware of China's militarisation of the South China Sea. We've raised concerns directly with the Chinese leadership about this. And there will be near-term and long-term consequences," Sanders told reporters, responding to a question on the Chinese military build-up in the South China Sea and other parts of the world. China on Wednesday denied the deployment of any missile systems in the region, saying it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the area. The Pentagon has also expressed concern over the Chinese military build-up in South China Sea. "We have been very vocal about our concerns about them militarising these artificial islands. China has to realise that they've benefited from the free navigation of the sea. And the US Navy has been the guarantor of that, Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Dana White told reporters. "We will continue to do our operations and ensure that the Chinese understand that they cannot, and should not, be hostile and understand that the Pacific is a place in which much commerce goes through. And it's in their interest to ensure that there's a free navigation of international waters, she added. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Apart from China that claims almost all of South China Sea, there are other nations including Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan with counter claims over the disputed waters. 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. Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed that Chinese military personnel have used lasers against US military planes in Djibouti. "They are very serious incidents. There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White told reporters at her weekly news conference. "We have formally demarched the Chinese government, and we've requested that the Chinese investigate these incidents, she said. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. ILION, N.Y. -- An Ilion man was arrested after making a threat against the Remington Arms plant, according to the New York State Police. Matthew J. Spaman, 30, of Ilion, was charged for falsely reporting an incident, a felony, police said. The Ilion Police Department found out about a possible bomb threat against the plant, which was posted to Facebook by Spaman, police said. The Ilion Police Department and state police K9 units swept the plant and didn't find any bombs, police said. Spaman was arrested at his house, police said. He was arraigned in the town of German Flats and remanded to the Herkimer County Jail without bail, police said. Not less than 133,324 candidates have been shortlisted to fill the 6,000 constable positions at the Nigeria police force. Not less than 133,324 candidates have been shortlisted to fill the 6,000 constable positions at the Nigeria police force. The Police Service Commission (PSC) said on Thursday that screening of the applicants will begin on Monday, May 7 at the various state police commands and the federal capital territory. According to the statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesman, Kaduna state has the highest number of applicants with 6,962 while Lagos has the lowest with 1,013. Katsina comes second with 6,676 applications, followed by Benue and Niger with 6474 and 6409 respectively. The Police Service Commission has deployed its staff to the 36 states of the federation and the FCT with Dr. Mike Okiro, chairman of the commission as the national coordinator, the statement said. The commission also warned its staff against compromising the exercise, adding that all staff must resist all forms of undue influences as their activities would be closely monitored. It said the various applicants have been notified to report at the screening venues on days they are meant to come. Pro-democracy and good governance group, Concerned Nigerians, has alleged that many critics of President Muhammadu Buhari will be framed in 2019.The group also claimed that both the Senators representing Kogi West and Kaduna Central, Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani, respectively, were framed because they have been Buharis critics and hence, that they have either suffered and or are still suffering some ordeals for doing so.The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Deji Adeyanju and made available to newsmen by its spokesperson, Theophilus Abu Agada, it condemned what it described as the re-arrest and re-arraignment of the Kogi Senator on a stretcher.The group also alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has a personal vendetta against Dino.It however called for the respect and adherence to democratic tenets by, especially the law enforcement agencies.The statement reads thus:We condemn the rearrest and re-arraignment of Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Mr. Dino Melaye on a stretcher for alleged criminal conspiracy, damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody after he was granted bail by a competent court of jurisdiction.The arrest, victimization and intimidation of people perceived to be critics of government by the Nigerian Police must be condemned by all and sundry. What makes democracy robust is when citizens can freely express themselves, oppose the government and hold public officials accountable without being hounded by the government.The Buhari led government of Nigeria must be reminded that power is transient and he will someday account for every atrocity done against the Nigerian people. The latest clampdown on critics of the government using the instrumentality of the state is nothing but political witch-hunting and shameless display of intolerance.We are deeply concerned about the new tactics being deployed by the government to frame critics up by cajoling hardened criminals to make confessional statement of being sponsored by opposition leaders as in the case of Shehu Sani and Dino Melaye, both of whom are serving senators and critics of the government.Those opposing the government must braze up for similar treatment or worse as what we are witnessing now reminds us of the dark days of Abacha.This government has failed to fulfill its most basic function of protecting lives and property of Nigerians.The government should be more concerned in protecting Nigerians in Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara, Adamawa and many other parts of Nigeria than this energy they are expending in fighting the opposition and critics.We are amazed by the level of impunity and disregard for democratic best practices that is being carried out by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who has constantly disregarded the National Assembly in pursuance of a personal vendetta against Dino Melaye.The Inspector General of Police cannot be greater than the National Assembly.If the IGP is tired of being a policeman, he should resign and obtain APC membership card so Nigerians will know that he is working for his party and not the Nigerian people.Nigerians, most especially the opposing voices must fight fiercely to make our nascent democracy work.Moreover, we are calling on the international community and interest groups to take cognizance of the Nigerian governments totalitarian attitude and clampdown on dissenting voices. Ahead of the 2019 general elections and amid concerns about the fidelity of the nations register of voters, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has assured Nigerians of the credibility of the register saying it has full proof safeguards against invalid registrants.This came even as the commission dismissed speculations that it expended hundreds of millions of naira in the botched attempt to recall Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, saying only N100 million was spent on the exercise.Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu announced this, Friday in Abuja at a news conference on the report of its investigation into allegations of underage voting in the last local government elections in Kano state where its register was used.It is important to remind us that this National Register of Voters has been used to conduct the 2011 and 2015 general elections, as well as several re-run, off-season and by-elections. Most of these elections have not only been adjudged to meet international standards but have also produced varied outcomes for different political parties at different times. Indeed, the Register used in the Kano Local Government election of 10th February 2018 was the one compiled in 2011, updated in 2014 and used for the 2015 general elections. This Commission did not add a single name to the voter register. As with all elections, some political parties have won and some have lost using the same Register. In fact, many constituencies have changed from one political party to another between elections on the basis of the same Register. Therefore, for anyone to suggest that the same register, on the basis of which political parties have won and lost elections at different times, is suddenly unreliable is curious to say the least.Let me reiterate that this Commission is convinced that we now have a dependable register, even if it is not perfect. We believe that it is a huge national asset, easily the largest database of Nigerians in existence today containing over 70 million entries of names, addresses, photographs, ten fingerprints, telephone numbers etc. I implore all Nigerians to see the value of this national asset and work with the Commission to continue to improve it. Considering that there are few if any perfect voters roll anywhere, we can continue to work together with stakeholders and indeed all citizens to ensure that all ineligible registrants and entries are removed from the register and that eligible voters who have not registered take advantage of the ongoing CVR, said Yakubu.He added that INEC was not in any way involved in organizing the Kano State Local Government election beyond the legal requirement that the register of voters compiled by INEC be used in all Local Government elections nationwide.He added that; Kano State Independent Electoral Commission requested for and received from INEC the Kano State Register of Voters for the election. The Register was produced for use for the elections. However, the Register was only sighted in a few polling units. In other words, the Register was not used in most of the polling units. In fact, accreditation using the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) largely did not take place.Given that the Register was substantially not used to accredit voters before voting, it is logical to conclude that if underaged voting occurred in the election, it was not due to any presence of underaged registrants on the Register of Voters. However, after examining some of the images in circulation, the Committee found that they have been available long before the Kano Local Government Elections. The few images and video clips from Kano show no accreditation of voters or any relationship with the Register of Voters. Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Thursday announced a donation of N2 million and a plot of land for Mr. Miracle Igbokwe, winner of t... Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Thursday announced a donation of N2 million and a plot of land for Mr. Miracle Igbokwe, winner of the 2018 edition of the BBNaija reality show.Another participant from the state, Miss Nina Chinonso, also got N2 million.The BBNaija participants were said to have promoted the free education programme of the state government during the reality show.The governor made the donations when Mr. Igbokwe and Nina visited him at the Government House Owerri.The governor saluted Miracle for making the state proud by emerging the winner of the show.He said, We are gathered here to welcome our son who has made us proud. Miracle is our son who went to South Africa for the Big Brother Naija Show. He spoke well of his State and was a good ambassador of his State. For this, we thought, it is proper that we receive him.The governor explained that Usually, our State does not engage in receiving people for outings they have made, unless we consider such an outing that has positive bearing to the image of the State. One thing outstanding is that these two great participants, Miracle and Nina spoke highly of Imo State. They stood tall and proud of their State, in South Africa. This is the reason for the honour and to say welcome back home.He advised Mr. Igbokwe to use the Fame to propagate the ideas he believes in and never allow it to enter his head, promising to collaborate with him in seeing to the establishment of a pilot School in Imo State.Miracle Igbokwe in his speech thanked the governor for finding them worthy to be honoured, adding that it is uncommon among the leaders.His words I am excited about our governor because of his educational strides, especially his free education in Imo State. This is a great gift to humanity.He said he would see to the collaboration of the State government towards the establishment of the Pilot College in the State, to further open the state to the world, adding that his vision is to expand the aircraft simulation centre to a world class Aviation College. Mike Ozekhome, the lawyer representing embattled Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, has opened up on the trial of his client. Mike Ozekhome, the lawyer representing embattled Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, has opened up on the trial of his client. Dino Melaye had on Thursday appeared before a Kogi court over alleged criminal conspiracy. He was consequently remanded in Police custody till June 11. Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, while speaking with Premium Times, said 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. 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. Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says the treatment Dino Melaye, embattled Kogi senator, is receiving from the police is similar to the ... Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says the treatment Dino Melaye, embattled Kogi senator, is receiving from the police is similar to the humiliation Nigerians face in the hands of security agencies. The senator accused of gunrunning, attempted suicide, among other offences was arraigned by the police before two courts in Abuja and Kogi on a stretcher. Prior to that, he was being treated for injuries sustained while trying to escape police custody. Falana said the senators arraignment on a stretcher is unacceptable, degrading and humiliating. He said the act violates the fundamental right to the senators dignity as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. He, however, added: 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. The lawyer said Melayes case should not be treated in isolation by the senate and the media. He said even though the solidarity of the federal lawmakers with the Kogi senator 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, he said. N1.6b illegal bank charges has been recovered from one of the many branches of one money deposit bank, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosu... N1.6b illegal bank charges has been recovered from one of the many branches of one money deposit bank, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun told the House of Representatives on Thursday.Adeosun, who said the recovery was made possible by the Treasury Single Account (TSA), added that other branches of the unamed bank would go through the same process.According to her, the fund was illegally taken by banks as excess charges on the accounts they maintained for government agencies in the pre-TSA era.Speaking during an investigative public hearing into the status of TSA by the Abubakar Danburam-Nuhu (APC-Kano)-led Ad-hoc Committee, the Minister also disclosed that another N600m was recovered from some money deposit banks in continuation of the TDA policy.She said that the level and nature of the operations of the recoveries required the expertise of consultants which made the discoveries posibble.She said: In one branch of a bank, we recovered N1.6b in just one branch. There are many other branches.You are looking at the many accounts holding government money before the TSA started. There is a lot, the Minister observed.On the recovered N600m, Adeosun said it was recovered as part of the ongoing mopping up of government funds in accounts still being traced, adding, We got the N600m recently, which was for charges by these banks. It was returned and we are still on it.The TSA had been implemented almost 100 percent by the MDAs, though there are a few accounts still outside the system were being followed up.She also said some accounts operated by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and West African School Certificate (WAEC) were exempted from the TSA because of the nature of their operations.On the engagement of Consultants for recoveries while the Office of Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) has competent hands, the Minister explained that Consultants are engaged because their engagement assisted in achieving faster result. Binta Masi, the only female senator from Northern Nigeria in the 8th assembly has expressed sadness over alleged moves by some political o... Binta Masi, the only female senator from Northern Nigeria in the 8th assembly has expressed sadness over alleged moves by some political opponents to portray her as a religious bigot. Masi made this known while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in her Ward, Jigalambu, in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State. According to Masi, 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 to 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. Politicians need to realise the danger of religious sentiments, particularly in our area and be kind enough to concentrate on issue-based campaign. 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. The house of representatives has rejected a bill seeking to grant leave to married men in advent of child birth by their wives. The house of representatives has rejected a bill seeking to grant leave to married men in advent of child birth by their wives. The bill aims to provide for an act to make provisions for optional paternity leave to all married male employees in private and public sectors. Lagos and Enugu states are among the few states in the country that have legal backing for such leave, with some giving as much as 21 days. It failed to scale through second reading when called up during plenary on Thursday. Edward Pwajok, a Plateau state lawmaker who sponsored the bill, argued that the idea that only women care for children is outdated. He added that nations such as Denmark, UK, Iceland, Australia have all made progress partly because of their recognition of the role of men in the upbringing of children. As fathers share of parenting is on the increase, they experience similar challenges with women, such as their jobs and family duties clashing, he said. Making provision for maternity leave without provision for maternity leave is discriminatory against men. Most of the lawmakers who contributed to the debate on the bill described it as unnecessary. Kingsley Chinda from Rivers state argued that both men and women go through different forms of pains in life. Nigerians. He also said the bill did not reflect the needs ofNigerians. What is the spirit behind the labour law? I think that this bill should be thrown out, he added. Nkem Uzoma-Abonta from Abia state however supported the bill, saying it is long overdue. Counsel to former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, Ben-Chuks Nwosu has expressed displeasure over a statement credited to the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Abubakar in which he allegedly accused Metuhs legal team of playing technicalities in his ongoing corruption trial.Barrister wondered why such a comment could me made on a case that is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.Our attention has been drawn to a recent statement credited to the Chairman of ICPC) Musa Abubakar, in which he singled out the case of our client, Chief Olisa Metuh, and claimed that we have been applying technicalities to delay the case.This statement made at a public event regarding a matter that is sudjudice is not only in bad taste; it is in total breach of a fundamental principle of law accepted in every civilised society, Nwosu said, adding that the ICPC boss has never attended the trial of Metuh.It is instructive to note that Dr. Abubakar who had never attended the trial of Chief Metuh knew exactly the month prosecution closed its case. The case is not prosecuted by his ICPC but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yet he has in-depth knowledge of what goes on in Chief Metuhs matter because ICPC and EFCC are in unison that a conviction must occur. This validates Chief Metuhs outcry at the conspiracy against him by the powers that be.According to Nwosu, The case of Metuh has progressed faster than any other trial that commenced at the same time with it, adding that The Prosecution has amended its charges twice, thereby causing delay on its own.He continued: The accusation that interlocutory appeals have been employed to delay the trail is unfounded. The trial judge in Metuhs case in his ruling on Metuhs application for leave to travel for medical reasons delivered on the 19th of April 2018 actually blamed Chief Metuh for not appealing his interlocutory decisions.The Court of Appeal in its judgment on Appeal No: CA/A/159C/2017, between Olisa Metuh vs Federal Republic of Nigeria & Anor, delivered on 29th of September, 2017, held that Metuh, contrary to the trial courts finding, has not delayed his trial. This decision is subsisting.Condemning what he termed the media trial of his client, the counsel said neither the prosecution nor the court accepted his request that an independent medical team be assembled to verify the health situation of our client, who is still suffering severe pains and the risk of deterioration. Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said the issue of state policing should be looked at again, noting that it would... Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said the issue of state policing should be looked at again, noting that it would provide a new opportunity to strengthen security in the country. According to him, nine governors were already in support of the creation of state police. El-Rufai made the remarks on Wednesday in Kaduna when members of Senior Executive Course 40 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies visited him. According to him, managing security requires exploring the root cause and taking effective measures to tackle the challenges. The governor identified the menace of street gangs, kidnapping, armed robbery as some of the security challenges in the state. We have been working with police to curtail that, and also prosecuting offenders with stiffer penalties, he said. According to him, the indigene- settler phenomenon has contributed immensely to creating deep division among the people of Nigeria. Until we retrace ourselves and move away from that and look at the citizen from what he or she can contribute; we are sad with the way people are now, as the more educated they are the more ignorant they become. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who is on a working visit to Ondo state, stopped over at Alagbaka Estate Primary School in Akure, the state ca... Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who is on a working visit to Ondo state, stopped over at Alagbaka Estate Primary School in Akure, the state capital. Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of the state, joined Osinbajo on the trip. Both men had launch with the distinguished visitors. Osinbajo also taught the pupils English language. Ondo is one of the states benefiting from the federal governments school feeding programme. President Muhammadu Buhari Friday afternoon, travelled to his home town Daura, Katsina State after the weekly juma`at service at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.President Buhari returned to Nigeria Thursday night after what his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu described as `technical stopover` in London after his meeting with the American President, Donald Trump on Monday.The presidential spokesman had explained that the President had to stop over in London, United Kingdom to `refuel` and do a routine check on the presidential jet that he travelled with to America for the bilateral meeting with Trump on the invitation of the American President.At his country home, he may use the visit to attend the All Progressives Congress, APC, ward congresses taking place this weekend. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night returned to Abuja after a successful official visit to the United States where he held bila... President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night returned to Abuja after a successful official visit to the United States where he held bilateral talks with President Donald Trump.The presidential aircraft carrying the president and some members of his entourage landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at about 10.35 p.m.Among those who received the president at the airport were the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Musa Bello, Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari and some heads of security agencies.President Buhari was accompanied on the US trip by the Governors of Ogun and Plateau; Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Industry, Trade and Investment.Also on the entourage were the Chairpersons of Senate and House of Representatives committees on international relations; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency and the Chief of Defence Staff.The presidents Specisl Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina had earlier today dismissed social and traditional media reports on the whereabouts of the president, who had a technical stopover in London.An online media outfit, Premium Times, had on Thursday reported that Buhari yet to arrive Nigeria two days after leaving U.S.Other traditional newspapers had also reported (online) that the president was yet to return to Nigeria after his official visit to the U.S.Malam Garba Shehu, who also commented on the matter, said the presidents aircraft had a technical stopover in London.I am sure if you keep your ears to the ground, you will hear of his arrival soon, he addedHe further explained that, 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, 40 minutes. But you dont need to push it to the edge. A 58-year-old Palmyra man was fatally struck by a box truck on Thursday night in Burlington Township, authorities said. Dean Pryor, of Palmyra, was riding his bike in the southbound travel lanes of Route 130 near Dulty's Lane around 9:30 p.m. when he was struck, police said. Burlington Township Police said the box truck was traveling south and struck Pryor, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the driver of the truck stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers. No charges have been filed. The crash remains under investigation by the Burlington Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit and Investigations Bureau. Police ask anyone with information to contact officers at 609-386-2019 or or 609-239-5889. Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A sex offender previously convicted for molesting a 6-year-old and possessing child porn has pleaded guilty to possessing it again. Timothy Corwonski, 37, of North Wildwood, admitted before Superior Court Judge Michael J. Donohue that he both possessed child pornography and violated his lifetime parole supervision, the state Office of the Attorney General announced Friday. Timothy Corwonski, of North Wildwood. He was arrested in February when investigators, acting on a tip given to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, got a search warrant and found more than three dozen child porn files on devices at Corwonski's home. The tipster said the files were being uploaded to a cloud storage account, which had an IP address that Corwonski used. In 2003, Corwonski pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, saying he inappropriately touched a sleeping 6-year-old boy. He received four years in state prison and community supervision for life. Then, in 2008, he was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty in federal court to possessing hundreds of child porn files. He also was sentenced to five years of federal parole supervision. "Corwonski is another example that some offenders who collect child pornography online do not stop there with their deviant impulses, but engage in hands-on predatory conduct against children," Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in the announcement of Corwonski's latest plea. "We are putting this predator in prison, where he cannot harm any child." In the plea deal, prosecutors will ask that Corwonski be sentenced to six and a half years in state prison. Five are for the possession of child pornography with the rest for violating his community supervision. Sentencing is scheduled for June 29 in Cape May County. Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips By Stephen Stirling | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Originally published May 3, 2018 They're coming. Or they might very well be you, much to the chagrin of the Jersey Shore's year-round residents. With Memorial Day right around the corner, beach season is upon us, and thousands upon thousands will soon begin their annual migration to New Jersey's illustrious white sand beaches. In many places, this will mean an explosion in population, in some cases several magnitudes above what exists from October to April. NJ Advance Media examined Census data to see which towns and counties see the biggest boost to their population during the summer months, with some caveats you can read about below. Don't Edit County by county To give you a sense of what we're talking about, here's a look at the four counties with ocean-front property and how they've changed in recent years. Statewide, about a third of the population in shore communities is seasonal with Cape May leading the pack, at nearly 43 percent. Don't Edit Starting from the top Monmouth County is by far the most residential of New Jersey's shorefront. About 16.5 percent of the population in the towns we analyzed was seasonal. Still, popular destinations like Sea Girt and Spring Lake see more than 20 percent of their population arrive in the summer months. Don't Edit It's all in the name Ocean County has seen the percent of its seasonal population tick up slightly in recent years, from 30 to 33 percent. But Ocean, which fittingly has the longest stretch of land abutting the Atlantic Ocean, has many towns that see their populations at least double if not triple during the summer. Long Beach, for example, adds at least 7,000 people during beach season, which makes up more than 70 percent of its population during peak months. Don't Edit The king of the beach migration No county sees its population spike more during the summer than Cape May. Nearly 43 percent of its population is around for about half the year, up by about 4 percent since 2010. Ocean City's population more than doubles and Avalon's population more than triples during the summer. Don't Edit Don't Edit Around the casinos' glittering lights Atlantic County is a bit different than the rest because so much of its draw is based around Atlantic City, and because of the hotel industry there (motels, hotels and campgrounds are not included in the data). Still, towns like Margate City and Brigantine add thousands of people to their population in the summer. Don't Edit What this is and what it isn't (methodology) To conduct this analysis, NJ Advance Media used Census data showing a town's permanent population and compared it to the year-round mean, or average, population. The latter gives us a look at how the population changes when rental homes and seasonal homes are occupied during the summer months. It is not a complete picture. The Census data does not account for hotels, motels and campgrounds. With those included, the seasonal population at any point in the summer would almost certainly be higher. Also, the Census data is an estimate and not based on the actual count every decade, so actual figures may vary. There also weren't figures for every municipality available. Keep reading for the top 10 Jersey Shore population boom towns in the summer: Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Read more N.J. data reporting Two education advocacy groups are calling for an investigation by state lawmakers following the release this week of two videos that appear to show New Jersey teachers unions presidents explaining how they protect teachers who commit criminal acts. The directors of JerseyCAN and Better Education for Kids say in a letter sent Friday to state Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Newark and chairwoman of the Senate Education committee, that the videos raise questions about how easy it is to manipulate the teacher disciplinary system. The groups say they want lawmakers to conduct hearings into the statements attributed to the union presidents in the videos. "These videos highlight that there may be weaknesses in teacher disciplinary procedures that unethical insiders can exploit to protect teachers accused of wrongdoing," the letter says. The videos were both products of Project Veritas, a conservative group that produces undercover reports aimed at exposing bad behavior by groups associated with liberals. The teachers identified in them, Union City Education Association President Kathleen Valencia and Hamilton Township Education Association President David R. Perry, were both suspended following their release. Valencia and Perry have not made public comments about the videos, which were recorded by women identified as journalists for Project Veritas. The videos are similar: the women say they are relatives of teachers who did bad things and they want to know what will happen to them. The people identified as Valencia and Perry say they will protect the teachers, with Perry saying, "I'm here to defend even the worst people." The New Jersey Education Association on Tuesday criticized Project Vertias for "using dishonest and illegal tactics" and said there should be no coverage of its videos. On Friday the union said in a statement that it is launching a probe of its affiliate members. "To ensure that appropriate practices are followed, we are commissioning an independent review of the practices of our local affiliates and staff. The purpose of that review is to ensure that every staff member and local affiliate leader understands and clearly communicates the responsibility of all school employees to report any suspected abuse of children," the union said in its release. JerseyCAN and Better Education for Kids often advocate for education reforms opposed by teachers unions. In the Union City video, Valencia references a teacher who she says had sex with a student but was not charged criminally because the student had no proof. Asked to comment, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement that her office is working with Union City police to "establish the veracity of any allegations of sexual misconduct referenced in the video in order to determine if there was any failure in reporting." Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. Jersey Journal file photos By Corey McDonald | The Jersey Journal It's the home stretch, ladies and gentlemen. Bayonne voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis should get a second term or one of his challengers -- former Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell or Dr. Mitchell Brown -- should take his job. Davis, 54, says the city is in a period of rebirth, with new developments being constructed throughout the city and new residents with high-incomes sitting on waiting lists to get into the luxury buildings that have been built. Both O'Donnell and Brown, meanwhile, say the city is on a path toward financial catastrophe with what they see is out of control spending and unchecked development only benefiting wealthy developers. The election is nonpartisan. If none of the mayoral candidates receives 50 percent of the vote plus one, the election will go to a runoff scheduled for June 12. Here are their stances on the city's prominent issues: Don't Edit Corey McDonald | The Jersey Journal TAX ABATEMENTS Davis: Tax abatements, Davis said during his state of the city address last month, "aren't the answer to all of our prayers, but they have proven to be an effective weapon in the war on the operating (structural) deficit." The city, by officials' own admission, has given out roughly 40 of these long-term abatements to attract new development. Davis' team has indicated that it will now begin bargaining with developers for shorter PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) lifespans with more benefits attached. O'Donnell: O'Donnell, it seems, has run his entire campaign based on the Davis administration's use of long-term tax abatements, saying it has "given them away like candy" with no community benefit agreements attached to them. "(The Davis administration has) spent the last four years handing out tax breaks to rich, out-of-town developers that will shortchange our kids' educations while city taxpayers pay the tab for decades," he said. O'Donnell says he would cut better deals with developers. Brown: Much like O'Donnell, Brown said the city should have been negotiating harder from the get-go. "I think 20 or so abatements ago we could have started negotiating a little harder," he said. He said he would be for long-term tax abatements for developments along the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and on Broadway -- ones that would attract younger residents with disposable income who wouldn't have children to burden the school system. But he railed against abatements given out on the former Military Ocean Terminal. Don't Edit Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal CITY INFRASTRUCTURE Davis: With a wave of new residents and commuters expected to come into the city, Davis and his administration don't see any issues with the potential strain on the city's infrastructure. He said the city's infrastructure will "absolutely... without a problem" handle new residents and commuters. O'Donnell: "I would say no" the city can't handle the influx of new residents, O'Donnell said. "I would question whether our infrastructure can handle it... there will be a quality of life effect," adding that the condition of the streets are "deplorable" while pointing to the numerous water main breaks that occurred this winter. The answer, he says, is to slow the pace of development. Brown: Brown doesn't see any infrastructure catastrophes on the horizon, however, he does think some of the development will lead to more traffic in a city already burdened with gridlock -- pointing specifically to Lincoln Equities Group deal to establish port jobs on the MOT. Don't Edit Corey McDonald | The Jersey Journal SCHOOL FUNDING Davis: Bayonne School District officials for years have called their district one of the most underfunded in the state. Davis, in 2017, started allocating 5 percent of PILOT funds to the school district. He's taken heat from critics for leaving it at that level, but he says regardless of what the school's budget is the city has to fund it so "they get their money regardless." But in an interview with The Jersey Journal he said he would be open to increasing the allocation percentage in the future. O'Donnell: Long-term tax abatements "will shortchange our kids' educations while city taxpayers pay the tab for decades," O'Donnell said. He hasn't elaborated on what the percentage of payments from PILOTs to schools would be if elected, but "we can't expect to pay 5 percent and not fall behind... now we're compounding that problem," he said. Brown: Brown believes many of the developments the city has approved will certainly bring children into the school system, particularly on the MOT. "The scrutiny for abatements should have been higher for them" since they may include children, he said. Don't Edit Corey McDonald | The Jersey Journal PUBLIC SAFETY Davis: Davis, a former captain with the Bayonne Police Department, said during a debate that "absolutely we can always do better," and that crime "has always been happening... "(But) is it something we sit on? Absolutely not," Davis said. "We have a great police department." O'Donnell: O'Donnell, the city's former public safety director, said in an interview that there's been an increase in violent crime, citing a daytime shooting in the area of Avenue C and 19th Street . "When you have daytime shootings... that's a problem. We're not going to accept that." Statistics indicate that violent crime has decreased over a period of six years, but "anecdotal or not, I don't recall these incidents happening during my tenure or during my lifetime." Brown: Brown's entire platform is based on reducing spending in the city, and "rightsizing" the city's police and fire departments. He said the police department has 27 officers for every 10,000 residents, which he says is too many. "We spend incredible amounts on municipal payroll, especially police and fire," he said, adding that payments for unused sick pay and overtime have only compounded the issue. He called the police department "top heavy" and said he's like to see more community policing instead of "reactive policing." When asked whether Bayonne is a safe, Brown said "I think Bayonne is a safe town," but added that he wants to see more community policing. Don't Edit Don't Edit Jonathan Lin | The Jersey Journal BROADWAY Davis: Davis says new businesses have been cropping up along Broadway and that it is in a period of revitalization. As more developments come on line, new residents will spend their disposable income at restaurants and cafes along Bayonne's main thoroughfare, he said. "Compared to four years ago, there's no comparison" in Broadway's condition, he said. He said the street's condition when he first took office "broke his heart" and "that's what drives me today, to make Broadway better." O'Donnell: O'Donnell said Broadway is a "difficult problem." He said one of his initiatives is to shut down portions of Broadway after 8 p.m. in certain sections to make it a pedestrian walkway. "It has worked in other places. If we don't do that Broadway will continue to deteriorate." He also suggested establishing a shuttle bus that would transport residents to and from Broadway. Brown: Brown, rather candidly, referred to Broadway as a blighted area. "I don't know what Broadway the mayor has been walking down," said Brown, whose office is located on Broadway. "All I see there is ultra low-end retail -- nail salons, massage parlors; it's blighted. The mayor hasn't done anything to help Broadway." He said developments given tax abatements should be concentrated on Broadway or along the Light Rail to raise the median income and have new residents spend money in businesses on the street. Don't Edit MORE COVERAGE Posted by The Jersey Journal on Thursday, April 12, 2018 Don't Edit Posted by The Jersey Journal on Monday, April 16, 2018 Don't Edit Thank you for tuning in for our livestreamed interview with Dr. Mitchell Brown, a candidate for Bayonne mayor. Feel free to leave your questions for the candidate in the comments section and we'll do our best to ask him. Posted by The Jersey Journal on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Don't Edit Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. Don't Edit A federal jury this week awarded $2.2 million to nine former Jersey City police officers after the panel found a now-retired police sergeant and eight others were not promoted because of political retaliation. The May 2 verdict ended a 12-year court battle that saw numerous twists and turns and will end up costing the city a bundle not just for the jury awards but for legal bills that have accumulated for more than a decade. John Green, attorney for former police sergeant Valerie Montone, said Montone was "emotional" when the verdict came in. "She feels vindicated as well as the other eight plaintiffs. They were innocent bystanders," Green said. The jury found Montone's political affiliation was a motivating factor in the city's decision not to promote her, that her conduct was protected by state anti-discrimination laws, that then-Police Chief Robert Troy and then-Mayor Jerramiah Healy discriminated and retaliated against her and that the other eight plaintiffs were not promoted as a result of the actions taken against Montone. The jury did not find for Montone on one point, her allegation that she was subjected to a hostile work environment. Montone will be awarded $276,834. The other eight plaintiffs will each get amounts ranging from $19,390 to $299,370. The total amount awarded is $2,168,442. The city, its police department, Troy and Healy were all named as defendants. Requests for comment from a city spokeswoman and from Troy's and Healy's lawyers were not returned. Montone, who joined the force in 1981, filed the lawsuit in 2006, alleging Troy and Healy refused to promote anyone to lieutenant in 2004 and 2005 to avoid promoting Montone, who was high on the promotion list. Montone, a supporter of a Healy opponent in the 2004 mayor's race, accused Troy of calling her a vulgar epithet generally directed at women and said he falsely accused her of acts such as handing out naked pictures of Healy at Healy's daughter's wedding. The other eight plaintiffs John Astriab, Clyde Banks, James Buckley, William Cullinane, Richard DeStefano, David LaBruno, Ezio Scerbo and John Whalen filed a separate lawsuit against the city after Montone's, saying their promotions were halted because the city refused to promote Montone. The suits were eventually consolidated into one. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- Luck ran out for a 49-year-old Jersey City man tied by DNA evidence to a 2016 Kearny robbery when he was picked up on charges he shoplifted a pair of sneaker this week. Shawn Clayton, of the 200 block of Winfield Avenue, was arrested after allegedly attempting to steal a pair of sneakers worth $85 from the Kohl's Department Store in Jersey City's Newport Centre mall on Monday, according to a criminal complaint. Police then found there was a warrant for Clayton's arrest on charges he snatched a man's necklace in Kearny on Oct. 16, 2016, the complaint states. In that incident, Clayton allegedly asked a man in a vehicle for money and when the man said he had none, Clayton grabbed his necklace. The victim bit Clayton's hand in order to make him release the necklace, the complaint says. The complaint says the robber left a hat at the scene and DNA analysis resulted in Clayton being charged with the robbery in 2017, the complaint says. Clayton made his first court appearance on both charges Tuesday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. At the hearing, the state moved to detain him through the course of his prosecution on the robbery charge. The shoplifting charge was remanded to Jersey City Municipal Court. JERSEY CITY Poland's consul general visited the Katyn monument in Jersey City Friday morning to make an appeal to city officials to keep the controversial statue at Exchange Place. Consul General Maciej Golubiewski said the monument, which critics say is not relevant to Jersey City, is of "absolutely universal significance" to all veterans. The city is mulling whether to move the statue from its longtime home. "This is not a parochial monument," Golubiewski told The Jersey Journal. "This is not something that interests only a very narrow group of people. This is a testimony to the sacrifice of all veterans who fought in the second World War." Golubiewski was in Jersey City to speak to a Polish television station about the statue controversy. The 34-foot-high memorial depicts a bound-and-gagged soldier stabbed in the back by a bayoneted rifle. It commemorates the 1940 massacre of over 20,000 Polish soldiers and others in the Katyn forest, killings ordered by the Soviet Union as an effort to eliminate Poland's elite. The statue was placed in Exchange Place in 1991. The city's initial plans were to designate the area the Katyn Monument Plaza. During an upcoming renovation of the city-owned plaza, it will be moved into storage. The city is not saying whether it will return to its current location, while Mack-Cali CEO Mike DeMarco, who heads the Exchange Place business group funding the plaza renovation, has said he would like the city to find the "gruesome" statue a new home. Golubiewski said he opposes any effort to place the Katyn monument somewhere else in Jersey City. "We believe that because of its non-parochial status it deserves a very prominent central location," he said. News that the monument may be moved created an international stir. Polish Senator Stanislaw Karczewski described the situation to a radio station on Wednesday as "scandalous." Mayor Steve Fulop responded Thursday by calling Karczewski an anti-Semite and an "a**hole" (Fulop is Jewish). The radio station on Friday said Karczewski would not respond to Fulop's insults except to say he may pursue legal action against the mayor. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY Jurors finished their first full day of deliberations without reaching a verdict today in the sexual assault trial of a North Bergen 'sexorcist' charged with using his stature as a 'prophet' to prey on a young man. Gregorio Martinez, 50, is charged with sexually assaulting the man when he was 18-years-old and he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The jury deliberated about four hours yesterday and will continue on Monday at 9 a.m. Martinez, who is said to speak in tongues, is already serving four years in prison for molesting a 13-year-old boy and five years for bail jumping. After this trial, Martinez has two more trials pending on sex charges. During this trial, the now 27-year-old man 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. He 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 Jersey City 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 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 testified that at the time, he thought Martinez's actions had religious purpose and were proper. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Baginski argued that the defendant used religion to manipulate the man for his own sexual gratification. In his closing argument, defense attorney Daniel Gonzalez told the jury that there was not one shred of evidence to corroborate the allegations, and that the case was rife with reasonable doubt. Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina released the jury for the day at about 3:45 p.m. The trial is in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. Closing statements were heard yesterday 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 Wednesday's testimony by the now 27-year-old alleged victim, 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 yesterday 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 deliberated for nearly four hours yesterday, wrapping up at 4:15 p.m. without a verdict. Deliberations will resume at 9 a.m. today. Martiniez 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. A Jersey City-based development firm is working on a $2.1 billion project in South Korea that would turn more than 2,000 acres of farmland into a new city. The aim of the project, which is spearheaded by Panepinto Properties and Panepinto Global Partners, is to construct a "medi-city" to drive medical tourism to the city of Incheon, which borders Seoul. GangHwa Medi-City is the largest project the developers have taken on. The agreement, signed in November with the South Korean city, includes the master planning of residential, commercial, and health care properties as well recreational facilities. Joseph Panepinto Jr., president of Panepinto Global Partners, is leading the development. He called the project "exciting for a variety of reasons," one of which is the economic growth of South Korea. The plan also calls for a bridge to connect the islands of Yeongjong and Ganghwa. "GangHwa Medi-City will become the world's best medical tourism complex where visitors come from all of Asia as well as Russia," Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeon-bok said in a statement. Panepinto Properties has been responsible for a number of projects in Jersey City over the past 40 years, most recently 3 Journal Square and 70 and 90 Columbus Drive. Joseph Panepinto Sr. is credited with helping develop Downtown Jersey City and the waterfront to what it is today. Panepinto Jr. has been working full-time for the business his father founded since 2003. He is on the board of directors for both Jersey City Medical Center and the Jersey City Library. 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. The 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. Authorities announced Friday they've charged three men with committing a January shooting that killed two men from Philadelphia and wounded a third person. One of the suspects, Tashawn Santiago, 25, was already in the county jail on unrelated case. Shaquille McNeil Another, Cecil Blake, 31, was wounded in a Trenton shooting last month, records show, and currently in custody of Mercer County corrections officers at an undisclosed location. And officers arrested Shaquille McNeil, 24, at a friend's house in Trenton Wednesday evening, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said. The U.S. Marshals' NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force tracked him down. The trio, all Trenton residents, are charged with being accomplices in the murders of Jerard Perdomo Santana, 25, and Ivan Rodriguez, 19, who were gunned down in a car at the intersection of Ashmore Avenue and Washington Street on Jan. 22 in the Chambersburg neighborhood. They also face accomplice to the attempted murder of a 25-year-old man, who the prosecutor's office said Friday suffered gunshot wounds to his left shoulder and left hand, and drove himself to the hospital. Prosecutors on Friday did not say why Rodriguez and Santana were in Trenton. Posted by Elmii Problema on Friday, January 12, 2018 Ten days before being shot to death, Santana recorded a Facebook live video while driving and listening to music with Rodriguez. Santana also made music under the name Elmii Problema, and released a Spanish rap album in late 2017 called Maxima Seguridad. The prosecutor's office said they've filed motions to detain the three suspects. Mercer County Homicide Task Force Detective Michael Hughes is the lead investigator in an ongoing investigation, the prosecutor's office said. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A Rutgers University graduate student was found dead on the Busch Campus on Friday morning, but his death is not considered suspicious, authorities said. The man was not identified nor did a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office say exactly when or where he was found on the Busch Campus, one of two Rutgers campuses in Piscataway. "The university extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the decedent," Rutgers said in a news release. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with them." A Rutgers spokeswoman said she had no further information. The investigation into the cause of the man's death is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Michelle Bolognini of the Rutgers University Police Department at (848) 932-4842, or Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-4436. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A Carteret mother and her 5-year-old daughter who went missing after missing a flight at Trenton-Mercer Airport on Thursday were found safe in Virginia on Friday morning, authorities said. Sawatha Ford, 47, of Carteret. (Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office) Chesterfield, Virginia police found Sawatha Ford, 47, of Carteret and the girl at a hotel there, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said. The two left the Union Township area at 3:43 a.m. Thursday to catch a flight at Trenton-Mercer Airport, but never boarded the plane, officials said previously. Ford and her daughter were last seen in a white Acura on Bear Tavern Road in Ewing, a short distance from the airport. They were reported missing by family members. The prosecutor's office said no additional information was available. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. UPDATE: Missing mom, 5 year-old daughter found safe in Virginia hotel Police are asking for help in locating a Carteret woman and her 5-year-old daughter who have been missing since early Thursday, authorities said. The Carteret Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office are seeking information on Sawatha Ford, 47, and her daughter after they were reported missing by family members. A release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office states that they left the Union Township area at 3:43 a.m. and were headed to the Trenton-Mercer Airport, but never boarded their plane. Ford and her daughter were last known to be in Ewing Township near Bear Tavern Road a short distance from the airport. Authorities said Ford was driving a white 2007 Acura MDX with license plate VPE96W. Anyone with information can call Carteret Police Sgt. Kenneth Freeman at 732-541-4181 or Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Det. Christopher Pennisi at 732-745-3300. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. A tax preparer has been charged with overstating or falsifying some clients' information to give them larger returns than they were entitled, and pocketing the extra for himself. Federal prosecutors believe the federal government lost about $290,000 from the alleged scheme involving 19 clients of tax prepper David Patterson, 37. He owned D&D Tax Service LLC in Woodbridge Township's Keasbey section, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey. He also did business in Jersey City. Patterson is accused of preparing 53 falsified tax returns between 2010 and 2015. Without their knowledge, he would fudge their income, charitable contributions, business expenses and other information, resulting in an extra-large return, prosecutors said. "Patterson then diverted a portion of the tax refunds to bank accounts he controlled without his clients' knowledge or consent," according to the prosecutors. He was indicted on 16 counts of aiding and abetting in the filing of false tax returns on Thursday. The maximum penalty on each charge is three years and a $250,000 fine. Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips UPDATE: Highway killing suspect ID'd, possible link to prior shootings ongoing A man is in custody after shooting and killing a 24-year-old woman as she was driving with her boyfriend and a 1-year-old child in Freehold Township late Thursday, authorities said. Sciasia Calhoun was on the ramp from Route 33 onto northbound Halls Mill Road when a gunman in another car opened fire at 11:44 p.m., a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said. The gunman, who has not been named, is suspected in two other shootings in Monmouth County, authorities said. The locations and details of those shootings have not been released. BREAKING: Regarding the shooting last night on Rt. 33 in Freehold Township, a suspect is in custody and there is no further threat to the public. More details to follow... #mcponj Monmouth Prosecutor (@MonCoProsecutor) May 4, 2018 Calhoun was taken to CentraState Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 12:46 a.m. The boyfriend and the 1-year-old were not harmed. The shooter, who has not been named, was alone in a late model Chevy Impala, the spokesman said. It is unclear if the Freehold shooting is connected to last weekend's fatal shooting along Route 18 in Colts Neck. This story has been updated to reflect additional information provided by authorities about previous shootings. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Authorities in Monmouth County Friday afternoon said ballistic tests on handguns seized during the arrest of the man they say killed a woman on Route 33 in Freehold Township Thursday night will tell them if he's responsible for two other recent shootings. Kader Mustafa Kader Mustafa, 34, is the gunman who opened fire on a car driven by Sciasia Calhoun, 24, on the ramp from Route 33 to Halls Mill Road at about 11:45 p.m. Thursday, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office alleged. He's charged with murder and several related felonies. Calhoun died about an hour later at a local hospital. Her boyfriend and their 1-year-old child were in the car, and not physically injured. Police caught Mustafa shortly after 8 a.m Friday on Oakland Mills Road in Manalapan. He was inside his vehicle, a white Chevrolet Impala, and police recovered two firearms during the arrest, a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a .38-caliber revolver. Investigators are waiting for the results of tests on the weapons that will help determine if there's a connection to two recent, nonfatal shootings - April 27 in Neptune Township and April 28 in Holmdel - First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said at an announcement. "Last night's incident was a substantial break (in the prior shootings)," Linskey said. The investigations into those incidents continues, and Linskey appealed to the public for more information about them. On Saturday April 28th at 2330 hrs. a subject reported to the Holmdel Police that his car was struck by a handgun round... Posted by Holmdel Township Police Department on Monday, April 30, 2018 Linskey said the office is confident, though, that there is no connection between Calhoun's murder and the killing of Lloyd Earl Sanders this past Sunday morning in Colts Neck. And the investigation of Mustafa has found no evidence of terrorism. Sanders, 54, of Neptune City, was also fired upon while driving on Route 18. His car was riddled with bullets, and his passenger was wounded. No arrests or charges have been reported in that crime. Holmdel police had posted on their Facebook page about the April 28 shooting in their town. A motorist reported his car was shot while northbound on South Holmdel Road, the post said. Anyone with information for authorities can contact Monmouth prosecutor's Detective Andrea Tozzi at 800-533-7443 or Freehold Township Detective Jamie Burdge at 732-462-7500. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook One month after publishing an essay about being raped as a child, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz is facing accusations he forcibly kissed a graduate student and verbally abused other women. Author Zinzi Clemmons, author of the 2017 novel "What We Lose," posted a string of tweets early Friday morning accusing Diaz of cornering her and forcibly kissing her when she invited him to speak a college workshop as a 26-year-old graduate student. "I'm far from the only one he's done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore," Clemmons wrote on Twitter, noting she has emails Diaz sent her after the incident. As a grad student, I invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature. I was an unknown wide-eyed 26 yo, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. I'm far from the only one he's done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore. zinziclemmons (@zinziclemmons) May 4, 2018 Her tweet was followed by a series of tweets and Facebook messages from other women accusing Diaz of misogynistic or verbally abusive behavior. Diaz has not responded to requests to comment, according to New York Magazine's The Cut, which compiled the social media posts accusing the author of misconduct. Diaz was in Australia this week, where he spoke at the Sydney Writer's Festival on Thursday. Junot Diaz is a widely lauded, utterly beloved misogynist. His books are regressive and sexist. He has treated women horrifically in every way possible. And the #MeToo stories are just starting. \_()_/ Carmen Maria Machado (@carmenmmachado) May 4, 2018 Ive been waiting for this one to come out for a long time. Heres my story about Junot Diaz. Its corroborated by my... Posted by Monica Byrne on Friday, May 4, 2018 The women accusing Diaz of misconduct include Carmen Maria Machado, a National Book Award finalist, who said the author yelled at her during a book tour appearance after she questioned his characters' treatment of women in his books. Another author, Monica Byrne, said Diaz shouted "rape" in her face during a dinner party in a bizarre response to her comment about statistics in publishing. She ended up leaving the party due to Diaz's behavior, she said. "I've never experienced such virulent misogyny in my adult life," Byrne wrote on Facebook. Diaz, 49, won a Pulitzer Prize for his 2007 novel "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao." He was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the U.S. at age 6. He grew up in Parlin in Middlesex County. In April, Diaz wrote as essay in the New Yorker revealing he was raped as a child by a man he knew. "I was raped when I was eight years old," Diaz wrote. "By a grownup that I truly trusted." Diaz said he kept the sexual abuse a secret and never got therapy. He wrote that the abuse contributed to a suicide attempt, depression and relationship problems with women as an adult. "I think about the hurt I caused," Diaz wrote. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. After two New Jersey teachers union leaders were suspended this week in response to the release of undercover videos in which they apparently sympathize with a fictitious teacher who abused a student, the statewide union has launched a probe of its affiliate members. The New Jersey Education Association said in a release Thursday afternoon it will commission an independent review of practices after teacher's union presidents from Hamilton and Union City said in the videos they would downplay and not report an incident of child abuse. The child abuse scenario presented by Project Veritas to the union presidents in the group's undercover videos was fake. "To ensure that appropriate practices are followed, we are commissioning an independent review of the practices of our local affiliates and staff. The purpose of that review is to ensure that every staff member and local affiliate leader understands and clearly communicates the responsibility of all school employees to report any suspected abuse of children," the union said in its release. "Based on that review, NJEA will undertake appropriate training to ensure that takes place in every local and in every instance. There is no place for any ambiguity about the responsibility of every adult, in every position within our public schools, to protect the wellbeing of all students." Hamilton Township Education Association President David R. Perry was suspended and the Hamilton Township school district opened an internal investigation within hours of the project's first video Wednesday. Kathleen Valencia, president of the Union City Education Association, was suspended after a similar incident Thursday. Despite the probe, the NJEA reiterated in the statement its initial stance, first articulated after the release of the Wednesday video, saying Project Veritas is a "political organization with a long history of releasing deceptively edited videos that later prove to have been dishonest and misleading." 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 union's primary concern, it said in the statement, is the safety and well-being of students. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The pilot who died Wednesday when his single-engine plane crashed near Greenwood Lake Airport was a pastor known for his humanitarian efforts to help victims devastated by disasters from Haiti to Texas. The Rev. Andrew Topp was the lone occupant of a Piper PA-32 that crashed in the densely-wooded former Jungle Habitat safari park site after takeoff from the nearby airport in West Milford. The aircraft that crashed was registered to the North Haledon non-profit he founded, according to officials and federal aviation records. "It is with great sadness to inform all who follow IHAF that our founder and hero Andrew Topp has passed away in a tragic airplane accident yesterday. Andy has touched the hearts of so many around the world," the International Humanitarian Aid Foundation said Thursday in a statement on Facebook. The pastor worked to build an orphanage and coordinate the delivery of medical supplies in Les Cayes, Haiti after the catastrophic 2010 quake killed thousands in the poverty-stricken nation. Topp stayed behind in Haiti to continue his work as he suffered through a suspected case of malaria. Jeff Wells, a fellow volunteer who joined Topp, told The Star-Ledger in a 2010 interview how Topp worked "around the clock" while taking malaria medication through the heat to provide relief after the quake. "We call him Handy Andy because he's like television's MacGyver," Wells said in the earlier interview. When Hurricane Harvey slammed Texas, Topp worked with Home for Good Dog Rescue to fly supplies to the region and return with dozens of dogs. It is a sad day at Home for Good Dog Rescue today. Yesterday, we lost one of our own, pilot, adopter, and humanitarian,... Posted by Home for Good Dog Rescue on Thursday, May 3, 2018 "If your dog arrived in New Jersey by rescue flight, chances are he or she was flown by Andy, as he had spent two years flying more than 300 Home for Good dogs safely home," the group said in a Facebook post. Topp was with the First Reformed Church of Boonton for two decades and served as a part-time pastor while also operating a small construction business, according to the church. He was also a member of Gift of Life and Rotary International District 7490. "His dedicated mission activities on behalf of us and the other philanthropies he represents over the past year, have carried him to many continents, positively impacting thousands of lives," a profile of Topp on the church website states. Officials were continuing to probe what caused the plane crash, which touched off a small brushfire. An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board was deployed to the scene Thursday, according to an agency spokesman. The investigation will cover a range of factors, including interviewing an unspecified number of witnesses and examining the aircraft, the spokesman said. More information is expected in about a week. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. After $15 million, what's another $64,000 a month? New Jersey taxpayers continue to foot the bill for long-term storage of e-mails and other electronic evidence related to the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal that rocked former Gov. Chris Christie's administration. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal told lawmakers at an Assembly Budget Committee hearing this week that his office has been paying an outside firm as much as $64,000 a month to comply with retention rules involving the evidence from the Bridgegate criminal case and related legal matters. Grewal, who was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy in January, said his office is moving to rein in costs. The attorney general was responding to questions from Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, about an Associated Press report that put the latest Bridgegate legal bill tally at more than $15 million overall. The lawmaker was incredulous. "$64,000 a month just to maintain?" he asked. "There's an extraordinary amount of data," Grewal said. "When I say data, I'm talking about e-mails and things like that -- electronic documents that are being stored by an outside vendor." "Is the person sitting next to the computer with a gun?" Burzichelli responded. "$64,000 a month, that's a big number." The attorney general said his office was in the process of "transitioning to another vendor, which will be much less." A spokesman for Grewal, Lee Moore, told NJ Advance Media on Thursday that the $64,000 figure the attorney general referenced was being paid to the data forensics firm Stroz Friedberg. The Associated Press report noted the company billed the state about $700,000 in 2017 and more than $60,000 so far in 2018. "Needless to say, the attorney general was shocked when he learned about these bills and immediately demanded that our office find a new vendor that would cost less money while still satisfying our document retention obligations," Moore said. That's a different position than the office took in 2016 when lawmakers expressed concern the state was being overbilled for legal work related to the scandal. At the time, officials there maintained the costs were reasonable. Moore said the office recently retained a new vendor, RVM Enterprises, and was "moving as quickly as possible to transfer the data and begin realizing significant savings." He said it would cost an estimated $9,300 to transfer the material from the old firm to the new one. But RVM Enterprises was expected to charge the state significantly less for storage, bringing the taxpayer tab down to $2,300 per month. State officials did not immediately respond to questions about the disparity in cost between the two firms. At the budget hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers requested more details from Grewal's office on the procurement process for the storage contract. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy just took action to save your federal property tax break from President Donald Trump's new tax law. The Democratic governor signed a law Friday that gives New Jersey taxpayers a shot at getting around the Republican tax overhaul, which sets limits on how much they can deduct in state and local taxes. The law Murphy, a frequent Trump critic, signed will soon allow New Jersey's towns, counties and school districts to set up charitable funds that taxpayers can contribute to instead of paying property taxes directly. Homeowners can then deduct those charitable contributions from their federal income taxes, uncapped. "We know that President Trump and the leadership in Congress cooked this up to benefit the states that were with him, instead of treating everyone fairly, and give a windfall to the wealthiest individuals in the biggest companies," Murphy said before signing the law at East Rutherford's town hall. "It is divisive, it is wrong, and we will continue to fight," the governor added. Both Democrat-controlled houses of the New Jersey Legislature passed the workaround (S1893/A3499) last month. Garden State Democrats have been pushing it since Trump, a Republican, signed the federal tax overhaul in December. That's because Trump's overhaul caps how much state and local taxes you can deduct to only $10,000. New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the country, averaging $8,690 last year. The state and local tax deduction helped take the edge off. Though 61.5 percent of New Jersey households will see a tax decrease under the federal law, that's a smaller percentage than 45 other states, according to the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the progressive Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. And more than 1 in 10 New Jersey households will see their taxes rise, more than any other state, according to the group. Murphy said Friday that Trump's cap is "a de facto tax hike on countless New Jersey households." In East Rutherford, the governor noted, the average household loses more than $3,000 in state and local tax deductions under Trump's law. But there's no guarantee the Internal Revenue Service will allow these deductions. The Trump administration is opposed to the workaround, saying the state and local tax deduction is an unfair subsidy for high-tax states. Republican state lawmakers skeptical of the scheme have warned that New Jerseyans could wind up facing fines and penalties if the IRS rejects it. But U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., told NJ Advance Media he's received assurances from the IRS's acting director that the agency gives some leeway while new kinks are worked out. "What (the acting director) said to me was they don't penalize individual taxpayers for interpretation based on new law," Gottheimer said, adding taxpayers should understand that "ultimately, there could be a fight over this." The matter might very well wind up in the courts, and Gottheimer said he is ready and anticipates the state is prepared to put up a fight. "Do you sit there and pay more? Or do you try to do everything possible to pay less?" he asked. "We as towns and taxpayers should do everything possible to get our property taxes down." Murphy said Friday that that sort of charitable giving isn't without precedent, and "it is is our deeply held opinion that if the IRS were to reconsider or review our situation, they would have to reconsider or review the other 33 state precedents that are out there." Murphy's office released an early list of towns that want to opt in, including Bloomingdale, Haledon, Madison, Morristown, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Prospect Park and West Milford. Gottheimer said he plans to hold a call with mayors in his district and state officials next week to help them along in implementing the funds. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., praised Murphy for signing the law, saying New Jerseyans already send more to the federal government that they get back. "Today we fight back against a tax policy that treats New Jersey like America's piggy bank," Menendez said at Friday's event. U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-9th Dist., said this issue is not about party allegiance. "If we don't come together, we're gonna be shafted," said Pacrell, who was also at the event. Murphy also has proposed to raise the state's own cap on the deduction taxpayers can take from their state income taxes for property taxes from $10,000 to $15,000 as part of his first budget. NJ Advance Media staff writer Jonathan D. Salant contributed to this report. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, who might run for president in 2020, came to the defense of former Gov. Chris Christie, who did run in 2016. Booker, appearing on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," said that it bothered him to see the other Republican presidential candidates take potshots at Christie for his embrace of President Barack Obama when he came to New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy. "I was really upset when I watched Republican presidential candidates pillorying Chris Christie," Booker said, even though he and the former governor had their policy differences. "I watched him getting pilloried for the sin of hugging Barack Obama." "Have we gotten to the point in America where we are so vilifying fellow Americans that even human contact with each other is considered a betrayal of your tribe or your party?" Booker said. His GOP primary opponents weren't the only ones berating Christie for embracing the Democratic president shortly before Election Day 2012. "There are still a lot of Republican voters who still got a little thing with me about that day," Christie said during a 2017 town hall meeting in New Hampshire. The interview with Booker, who said he was in California for a conference and to see family members, didn't touch on his future political plans, nor his frequent criticisms of President Donald Trump. Booker was asked again about the tweet Trump sent out following the senator's well-received speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, when the GOP presidential candidate declared, "I know more about Cory than he knows about himself." If Cory Booker is the future of the Democratic Party, they have no future! I know more about Cory than he knows about himself. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2016 "You can disagree with somebody -- you can angrily disagree with them -- but you can never let them or even their behavior or pull you down so low as to hate them," Booker said to applause from the audience. Asked on CNN at the time about his reaction to the tweet, Booker said he answered, "I love you Donald Trump. I don't want you to be my president but I will never let your mean words pull me so low as to hate you. I'll do everything I can to stop you from being president but I will never ever hate you." Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Police were investigating a double shooting late Thursday afternoon (May 3) in the 2200 block of N. Galvez Street in St. Roch, the NOPD reported. A 18-year-old man and 23-year-old woman arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds, police said. Around 5:19 p.m., man was walking on the street and the woman was sitting on a porch when they were struck by gunfire, according to initial police reports. At the scene, a man said he was sitting on his front porch when a car driving on North Galvez Street pulled up to a vehicle parked on the side of the road -- and then shots rang out. The man estimated he heard more than a dozen gunshots. About 5:30 p.m., officers were congregated toward the middle of the 2200 block of North Galvez, which runs between Marigny and Mandeville streets. Investigators placed about seven cones on the sidewalk, in the street and in an alley between homes. As police documented the scene, two women drove up in a Jeep, asked which hospital the victims had gone to, and then sped off. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The witness, who declined to give his name, said gunfire is not unusual in that block, which he said needs more attention from law enforcement. "I can't go nowhere else," he said, adding that he's a homeowner. "I'm sick of it," he said. "I love my life. I don't know if you love yours, but I love mine." No further details were immediately available. Staff photographer Michael DeMocker contributed to this report. A Brazilian man, who was arrested at an Algiers hotel, pleaded guilty Wednesday (May 2) to his involvement in a New Orleans card skimming scheme, according to the office of Duane Evans, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Herik Lucian Enedino Dos Santos, 32, and three other men were arrested at Federal City Inn & Suites on Aug. 3, 2017 after an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service led agents to the hotel. The Secret Service agents learned that a Brazilian group was mailing equipment used for ATM card skimming from Oklahoma City to a man named "Caio Lima" at the New Orleans hotel, court documents say. Hotel management informed agents that a group of four had rented two rooms under the pseudonym. When the agents knocked on the door of one of the rooms, Dos Santos answered and revealed a room filled with various tools used to steal debit and credit card information within plain view. Dos Santos was detained in the hallway and agents swept the room, finding no other occupants, but observing skimmers, FedEx packages and encoders, the documents continue. While waiting in the parking lot, agents saw two men exit a car. One man headed toward the other "Caio Lima" room, but upon seeing an agent started to flee. Agents detained both men and uncovered more card skimming materials and forged identification inside the other hotel room, documents say. In total, agents discovered 175 cards re-encoded with bank account information, as well as laptop data for 400 card numbers. They also found a miscellany of credit card skimming tools, such as pinhole cameras used to record individuals entering his or her PIN number and embossers used to personalize and label cards, the documents conclude. Dos Santos faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, one year of supervised release and $250,000 fine following his guilty plea to one charge of aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is scheduled for August 22. The Harahan Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating DeChell Delaney, who is accused in a home invasion. Investigators say Delaney, 26, forced her way into a home in the 7200 block of Sheringham Drive in Harahan around 4:20 p.m. on Friday (April 27), according to Police Chief Tim Walker. Once inside, Delany knocked down an elderly woman. The suspect is accused of threatening the victim with a gun and spraying her with some sort of chemical, Walker said. The victim suffered temporary blindness from the chemical. Delany forced the woman into a bedroom, and threatened to harm her before stealing money, Walker said. Harahan police did not say whether Delany and the victim knew one another. Delany's last known address was in the 1500 block of Lorne Drive in Harvey, Walker said. She has a tattoo on her left shoulder that is possibly an arrow design. Delany drives a 2014 Nissan Altima that is either dark brown or gray with a Louisiana license plate bearing the number 819BZC. . . . . . . . . Anyone with information on the whereabouts of DeChell Delaney is asked to contact the Harahan Police Department detective bureau at 504. 737.9763. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. Callers or texters do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an indictment. A U.S. Navy petty officer assigned to an aviation station in the New Orleans area was indicted Thursday (May 3) on a federal child-pornography charge, according to U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans' office. Petty Officer 2nd Class Don Edward Pannell II, 32, is accused of receiving child pornography, an allegation that stems from an undercover investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The investigation focused on child exploitation. Pannell, who lives in Harvey, is assigned to the New Orleans detachment of the Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic, based in Virginia. According to the website for the Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic, the station specializes in maintenance and repairs to carrier-based aircraft and equipment on aviation-capable ships. The New Orleans Detachment produces airframes, engines and other components for Navy aircraft, while also providing maintenance services. Pannell was arrested April 2 by special agents with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and with Homeland Security's investigations division. Special agents also seized electronic evidence from Pannell's apartment in Harvey. 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 "We would like to remind everyone that at the moment he remains innocent until proven guilty," said attorney Michael Kennedy, whose office is representing Pannell, in an emailed statement. "My client has dedicated his career to defending our nation on behalf of all of us, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt of the public until such time, if it ever comes, that he is proven to be guilty." Thursday night, Pannell remained in the Jefferson Parish jail, according to jail records. If convicted, Pannell faces five to 20 years in prison, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, according to Evans' office. This post was updated Friday (May 4) with comments from Pannell's attorney. More than 2,100 people filled the Mahalia Jackson Theater Friday (May 4) to celebrate alongside 300 high school seniors who have been accepted into colleges for next fall. The annual Senior Signing Day hosted by the Collegiate Academies charter group lauded the accomplishments of the students from G.W. Carver High School and Abramson Sci Academy. Collegiate Academies stated that 99 percent of its seniors have been accepted into a college. The charter group's class of 2018 received a total of 862 acceptances to 135 colleges nationwide. Those students were also awarded more than $9.3 million in merit-based financial aid, Collegiate Academies stated. The seniors were also joined by other students from Collegiate Academies schools as their teachers, staff and parents sat alongside them in the theater. The students received words of encouragement and support from keynote speaker Matthew Kincaid, an educator and founder of the Overcoming Racism organization. After some additional words of support from Sci Academy Principal Rhonda Dale and Carver High Principal Jerel Bryant, the seniors took to the stage to announce where they are headed to college. The crowd cheered throughout the theater as students threw their college T-shirts to celebrate their success. Stanford University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Louisiana State University, and Xavier University were among the names displayed among the chorus of college announcements. Sci Academy is located at 5552 Read Boulevard in New Orleans East, where it received a "C" letter grade in Louisiana's school performance scores last November. Carver High is located at 3059 Higgins Boulevard in the Desire neighborhood, where it received a "D" letter grade last year. 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 Collegiate Academies also manages Livingston Collegiate high school and Opportunities Academy, which is a post-secondary program housed at Sci Academy and Carver High for students with moderate to significant disabilities. The charter group is also opening the Rosenwald Collegiate high school in Algiers for 9th graders beginning in August. Watch the video above to find out where these graduates are going to college. . . . . . . . Wilborn P. Nobles III is an education reporter based in New Orleans. He can be reached at wnobles@nola.com or on Twitter at @WilNobles. South Carolina's Senate killed a proposal that would have banned nearly all abortions in the state, in an early morning vote on Friday (May 4), reports ABC News. The proposal, which was voted down narrowly 24-21, would have only allowed abortions in cases of rape, incest, or risk of the mother's life. Democrats said the broad language of the bill could also have been read as banning many forms of birth control including intrauterine devices and birth control pills. The ban was placed on a bill that originally made illegal a rare procedure called dismemberment abortion. Several other states have further restricted abortion rights this year. In March, Mississippi passed the most restrictive law in the country, banning abortions after 15 weeks. The law was immediately challenged in court. Iowa's Legislature passed a bill this week banning all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected around five weeks after conception, reports the Associated Press. Louisiana lawmakers are considering a 15-week ban similar to Mississippi's ban, although opponents have argued that it carries stricter consequences for abortion providers. Louisiana's ban imposes criminal penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and fines between $10,000 to $100,000 on abortion providers who break the law. A reproductive rights attorney and opponent to the ban, Ellie Schilling, explained at the Capitol recently that the Mississippi bill only imposes civil penalties. Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he would be inclined to sign Louisiana's 15-week ban if it passes the legislature. The measure has been amended to say it will only be enacted pending the outcome of the legal challenge to Mississippi's ban. It will soon head to the full House for consideration. A two-vehicle crash on Interstate 59 near Pearl River claimed the life of a Picayune, Mississippi, driver, State Police said Friday (May 4). Ronnie Joseph Reagan, 32, was not restrained at the time of the crash and was ejected from his vehicle when it flipped, State Police said. Reagan was driving a 2004 Ford Expedition northbound on I-59 around 8:17 p.m. Thursday when his vehicle was hit from behind by a 2012 Lexus. The crash sent Reagan's vehicle into the median, where it overturned and came to rest on its side, State Police said. Reagan was airlifted to a New Orleans hospital where he later died, State Police said. The driver of the Lexus, a 38-year-old man from Columbia, Mississippi, was taken to a Slidell area hospital with moderate injuries, State Police said. He has not been cited or charged with a crime. 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 State Police said a blood sample was taken from the driver of the Lexus as part of the ongoing investigation and will be sent to the State Police Crime Lab for analysis. State Police said there was no indication that the driver was impaired at the time of the crash. "At the conclusion of the investigation, troopers will forward their findings to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office for consultation of criminal charges,'' State Police said in the news release. Northbound I-59 was closed as emergency personnel worked the crash scene. The fatality was the second in as many days this week on major roadways in St. Tammany Parish. A 1-month-old infant died of injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle crash on I-12 south of Covington on Wednesday. A Kiln, Mississippi, man accused of using a stolen front-end loader to ram vehicles at a Gulfport Walmart said he thought "zombies'' were chasing him, the Sun Herald reported. The Biloxi-based newspaper reported Friday (May 4) that Shaun Michael Stroud had a court appearance stemming from the April 8 incident in which he is accused of stealing the front-end loader from another business, driving it to the Walmart and crashing it into trailers and vehicles. The story reported that it was disclosed during the hearing that Stroud told authorities "he thought it was the end of the world and zombies were chasing him." The story said Stroud remains in custody in Harrison County, Mississippi. It is illegal for a person under a protective order in Louisiana to possess a firearm, but as Helena Moreno, the former state representative and incoming New Orleans councilwoman, said in November, "Nobody ever gets rid of these guns!" Moreno, who overcame great odds and stiff opposition in passing a law that makes it illegal for domestic violence perpetrators to possess weapons, wasn't able to get her fellow lawmakers to take the next step: to establish a process for those who are prohibited from gun possession to get their guns out of their possession. States that have relinquishment laws that require abusers to turn over their weapons have, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine, an intimate partner homicide rate that's 14 percent lower than other states. Moreno said in November that she wrote 18 different versions of a relinquishment bill, trying desperately to appease critics who said her idea was unworkable. She also said that she didn't understand why lawmakers were acting like what she was proposing couldn't be done considering that Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre has already been doing it. Webre, who has served as the sheriff in Lafourche since 1992, said in a Wednesday interview that facilitating the transfer of guns out of the hands of people who are barred from having them has not been overly burdensome and, what's more, he's found that "most are very appreciative" that the sheriff's office is helping them stay on the right side of the law. People under these protective orders aren't prohibited from owning weapons, Webre said; they're prohibited from possessing them. So they don't have to relinquish ownership to abide by the law, he said. They can, if they want to sell or donate their weapons, hand them over to a third party. And if they can't find a third party who can or is willing to accept them, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office will hold them for them. When Webre explained the process his office goes through to hold such weapons when a third party isn't available -- including the issuing of a receipt and keeping an accurate inventory -- I asked him why his office doesn't just leave third-parties out of it and hold all the weapons that "prohibited possessors" can't keep. "Because the law doesn't specify that they have to be held by law enforcement," he said. In addition to that, he said, using a third party "is more expedient." The use of a third-party also may prevent people from complaining that the government is taking their guns -- even if it's the case that they can't possess their guns by law. The Lafourche Sheriff's Office either sends a letter or visits the person the office determines is ineligible to possess weapons. Sending a letter is standard procedure, Webre said. They visit if there's the mention of a weapon in the details of the protective order. As for the transfer itself, the sheriff's office verifies that the third party can legally possess weapons -- that is, that that person isn't under a protective order or have a conviction barring possession -- and then, Webre said, "We want to stress to them that this is not a straw transfer." At an April 25 hearing of the Lousiana House Administration of Justice Committee, Sen. J.P. Morrell, who has authored a bill that will do what Moreno was trying to do, said, "The Waffle House shooting that happened recently has kind of entered the conversation." On April 22, police say 29-year-old Travis Reinking used an AR-15 to slaughter 23-year-old Akila Dasilva, 21-year-old DeEbony Groves, 20-year-old Joe R. Perez and 29-year-old Taurean C. Sanderlin. In July 2017, Reinking breached a barrier at the White House, told Secret Service agents that he was a "sovereign citizen" who wanted to "inspect the grounds" and meet the president. An FBI agent investigating the Waffle House murders said that federal officials coordinated with officials in Tazewell County, Ill., to transfer Reinking's weapons and ammunition to his father. Nashville police say the father returned the weapons to his son. Mike Ranatza, executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association, said at the April 25 committee hearing that it was because of the Waffle House shooting that his organization pushed for an amendment to Morrell's bill that will make it a misdemeanor for a third-party to knowingly return a gun to a person who's prohibited from possessing it. Morrell's bill has passed the Senate, and it successfully made it through that House committee. The next step is approval by the full House. Webre said in Wednesday's conversation, "We have not had a prohibited possessor commit a homicide" in Lafourche since his office began facilitating transfers. That's significant. Because as clinical psychologist Tammy Savoie told the House committee, "In 2014, Louisiana (had) double the national average of domestic homicides. Women are most at risk of being murdered when they try to leave their abuser," she said. Webre said by facilitating gun transfers, his office is taking one more step to protect victims. Jarvis DeBerry is deputy opinions editor for NOLA.COM | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at jdeberry@nola.comor at twitter.com/jarvisdeberry. 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. A Canadian man has been involved in a legal battle with the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation after having his vanity license plate revoked for featuring a socially unacceptable slogan. The problem is that that slogan is also the mans family name. In December of 2016, Lorne Grabher, of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, was informed that his license plate which read GRABHER would be canceled because people could misinterpret it as a socially unacceptable slogan. The Department of Transportation had apparently received complaints from some individuals who considered the plate misogynistic and promoting violence against women, and had decided to revoke it. At the time, the phrase grab her had taken a political significance, following the leak of a 2005 tape of US President Donald Trump making his now famous statement about grabbing women by the Well, you know. Photo: YouTube screengrab However, Lorne Grabher made it absolutely clear that his plate had nothing to do with The Donalds controversial statement, adding that he was no fan of the President. Furthermore, the GRABHER plate was registered in 1991, as a gift to his father and a way to honor their German last name. His father passed away during the 1990s and the plate had remained in the family ever since. Authorities didnt care much for his explanation, though, and revoked the plate. It should be noted that the personalized plate program, introduced in Nova Scotia in 1989, reserves the right to refuse plates deemed offensive, socially unacceptable or in bad taste, but Mr. Grabher and his legal consider that in this case, the decision to have the plate revoked qualifies as discrimination against a persons name. I was taken aback. How can you say my name is a slogan when it is not? Grabher told CBC News, last year. Where does the province of Nova Scotia and the government of Nova Scotia get the right to discriminate against a persons name? Ive never once had anybody come up to me and say they were offended, Grabher added. They would look at it and say, Am I reading this right? And I would go, Yes. And they would go, Is this your last name? And I would go, Yes. And they would always just give a little chuckle. A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation told Canadian media that there was no way for the institution to denote that GRABHER was the plate owners last name (really???) and that it determined it was in the publics best interest to remove it from circulation. Although the department understands Mr. Grabhers frustration, it would not reconsider its decision. Instead, it offered to print alternative wording or to reimburse the man for the cost of the remaining life of the plate. Last year, Lorne Grabher took the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation to court over his right to have his family name displayed on vanity license plates, and is currently involved in a legal battle. He wants his name back on the plates and argues that he shouldnt be discriminated against just because he has an unusual family name. Grabher told reporters that according to the arguments invoked by the Department of Transportation, he should erase his name completely because it might offend somebody. I guess now Im going to have to take my name out of the phone book because a persons been offended by it, Grabher said. I guess my wife has to change the name of her consulting company, Grabhers Consulting. That has to be taken away? I guess Im going to have to change my birth certificate. Interestingly, Troy Grabher, Lornes son, also has GRABHER license plates, only they are registered in Alberta, and the Department of Transportation here has not revoked them. This controversial and somewhat silly case is scheduled to go to trial in September 2018. A 40-year-old man allegedly traveled almost 10,000 miles from England to an art gallery in Aspen, Colorado, where he used a sharp object to slash a $3 million dollar painting by New York artist Christopher Wool, before storming out. It was later revealed that the painting was owned by his father. The bizarre incident occurred last year, on May 2, when a man wearing sunglasses, black jeans, a black jacket, a hat, gloves and a full beard entered the Opera Gallery in Aspen and walked directly up to a painting called Untitled 2004. He then took a knife or other cutting object out of his jacket pocket and slashed the painting twice before running out of the gallery. A one-year investigation recently revealed that the man who carried out the slashing was none other than Nicholas Morley, son of the paintings owner, one Harold Morley. Photo: Aspen Police video screengrab He is the person charged with directly damaging this painting, Aspen prosecutor Don Nottingham said on Wednesday, when the results of the investigation were made public. A warrant for Morleys arrest has now been issued by a district court judge. Soon after the incident, Aspen police discovered that Untitled 2004 was owned by Harold Morley, a dentist turned property developer living in Barbados, through a holding company called Fallowfield. At first, the 74-year-old owner told police that he and his son Nicholas co-owned the damaged painting, but subsequently changed his statement, saying that Nicholas just signed for the consignment. He added that neither he nor his son recognized the suspect captured by the gallerys security cameras. Things started getting strange on May 5, 2017, when Harold Morley sent a letter to the Opera Gallery in Aspen, saying that the slashed painting can be easily restored and that he did not plan to file an insurance claim. He also asked the gallery to put out a statement that the slashing was only a minor incident, and instructing them to play the whole affair down as over enthusiastic reporting by local newspapers. 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, Harold Morleys letter states, according to the affidavit. It is a shame that as owners we were not consulted before the news story went public. Photo: Aspen Police video screengrab A day later, the paintings owner sent a text message to the gallery owner, asking him to defuse any idea that the painting is destroyed or even devalued, and adding that he wanted to block or remove online video of the slashing, restore the artwork, and then sell it for even more money. 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. Then it just becomes folklore.' On May 10, Nicholas Morley wrote to the gallery as well, saying that Fallowfield did not plan on holding Opera Gallery liable for the incident and adding that It would appear possible based on the video footage (and is our judgment) that this was an accident rather than malicious damage. Based on this, he requested that the gallery either issue a press release that the incident was in fact an accident or issue no further press comments. This wasnt really the standard attitude of owners whose prized possession had been damaged, but things got even weirder when Aspen police discovered that Nicholas Morley had flown from Londons Heathrow Airport to Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 1, a day before the slashing incident, under the name Nicola Marley. He drew some attention to himself by presenting a passport with his real name on it and the airport gate agent caught the discrepancy. The affidavit states that Morley then flew from Minneapolis to Denver. Airport surveillance footage shows Morleys arrival at both US locations. Denver airport police discovered that upon his arrival, Nicholas Morley rented a blue 2017 Hyundai Velostar under the name Nikola Marley, which he returned on May 4 after driving 246 miles, according to a car rental company official quoted in the affidavit. It should be mentioned that a one-way trip from Denver to Aspen is approximately 223 miles, which suggests that the rented car did not travel from Denver to Apen and back. According to sources close to the investigation, it was because of this discrepancy, coupled with a lack of any official proof of Nicholas Morleys physical presence in Aspen, that the investigation lasted nearly a year. However, that time was used to gather enough evidence to place Morley under accusation for the painting slashing. An Aspen detective confirmed that Nicholas Morley used a business credit card registered to himself to pay for the rented car, and another business card registered to his wife, to book a room at the local Ramada Hotel. Also, the gallery employee who witnessed the slashing of the painting, identified Morley as the perpetrator, after seeing his picture online. The person pointed out his crooked nose, his jawline and the lighter colored mustache as proof that it was him, the affidavit states. Nicholas Morleys whereabouts are currently unknown, prosecutor Don Nottingham told The Aspen Times. His motives are still unclear. I dont know about you, but I cant wait for a movie based on this story to come out. Rev. Patrick Conroy Hats Off to Speaker Paul Ryan for reinstating Rev. Patrick Conroy, whom he had canned in a huff, to his post as House chaplain. The Republican politico, owned up to his mistake and then fixed it. That's a very rare bird in DC. Ryan though didn't have a prayer against the eloquent and media savvy Jesuit whose dismissal triggered an uproar from Republicans and Democrats, an extraordinary occasion in super-partisan Washington. On May 3, the priest sent a letter to Ryan to revoke his resignation, which was effective May 24, on the advice of counsel after learning that the Speaker did not have the "absolute prerogative and authority" to fire up. That's the job of the full House. The retiring Ryan, who really didn't need this self-inflicted crisis, caved and gave his blessing to the feisty priest. Elected in 2011, Conroy's record of administering to the spiritual needs of Congress was unblemished. In a bit of face-saving, the Congressman said he accepted Conroy's letter and decided that he would remain on the job. 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, he said in a statement. Ryan, a conservative Catholic, was apparently irked by the chaplain's prayer in the House in which he expressed the wish for a guarantee that there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans. Ryan told him: "Padre, you just got to stay out of politics." But the miffed Ryan failed to realize that Conroy was just living his faith and following his order's "preferential option for the poor." Conroy is happy to be back in business and that people are reading his prayers. Keep 'em coming. Who wants to be a billionaire? A few years ago, Forbes published author Roberta Chinsky Matusons sensible advice to businesspersons seeking to shoot up that golden ladder. These lawful tips espoused such familiar virtues as hard work and community involvement, and as such, were easily adaptable to the rabbleartists, teachers, anyone in the service industry or non-profit sector It must pain her that so many billionaires have been behaving so badly of late. Lets hope so, anyway. While theres nothing inherently wrong with aspiring to amass lots of money, the next generation of billionaires are playing fast and loose with their souls if their primary role models are the ones dominating todays headlines. Wouldnt it be grand if they looked instead to the Hobo Ethical Code, a serious standard of behavior established at the Hobo National Convention of 1889. Given the peripatetic lifestyle of these migratory workers, it was up to the individual to hold him or herself to this knightly standard. Hoboes prided themselves on their self-reliance and honesty, as well as their compassion for their fellow humans. The environment and the most vulnerable members of our society stand to benefit if tomorrows billionaires take it to heart. The Hobo Ethical Code 1. Decide your own life; dont let another person run or rule you. 2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times. 3. Dont take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos. 4. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again. 5. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts. 6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals treatment of other hobos. 7. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as badly, if not worse than you. 8. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling. 9. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help. 10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible. 11. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member. 12. Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard. 13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children; expose all molesters to authoritiesthey are the worst garbage to infest any society. 14. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home. 15. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday. Related Content: How to Live a Good Life? Watch Philosophy Animations Narrated by Stephen Fry on Aristotle, Ayn Rand, Max Weber & More The Power of Empathy: A Quick Animated Lesson That Can Make You a Better Person Rules for Teachers in 1872 & 1915: No Drinking, Smoking, or Trips to Barber Shops and Ice Cream Parlors Ayun Halliday is an author, illustrator, theater maker and Chief Primatologist of the East Village Inky zine. Her play Zamboni Godot is opening in New York City in March 2017. Follow her @AyunHalliday. A cosmetic surgeon was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexually abusing at least two of his patients in Beaverton. George S. Allen, 49, is facing charges of third-degree sex abuse, and the Beaverton Police Department is asking for any possible other victims to come forward. Two women have reported Allen inappropriately touched them during cosmetic procedures at Nu U Laser Centers last month and sometime in 2016, according to Beaverton police spokesman Officer Jeremy Shaw. The business has locations in Beaverton and Vancouver. A representative of the company did not immediately return a message seeking comment Thursday. State corporate filings appear to show that Allen owns the business. The Oregon Medical Board shows no prior disciplinary actions or misconduct claims against Allen. Beaverton police ask anyone who has information on other possible victims to contact Detective Cindy Herring at 503-526-2281. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey The Oregon Supreme Court heard arguments Friday about whether state law forbids the city of Lake Oswego from denying the general public access to wade, swim or paddle a boat in the 405-acre lake in the center of town. An open water swimmer and a kayaker who don't own expensive lake-front property and thus aren't allowed to use the lake asked the high court to overrule previous decisions by a Clackamas County Circuit judge and the Oregon Court of Appeals that denied them access. Thane Tienson, an attorney representing plaintiffs Mark Kramer and Todd Prager, told the Supreme Court that this case is about much more than the body of water officially known as Oswego Lake. It is about the Supreme Court upholding the right of the people to use and access all navigable waters in the state, he said. "It's about the quality of life of all Oregonians," Tienson said. But, asked Justice Rives Kistler: "What if the lake is surrounded entirely by private property? ... Must public access be granted?" Tienson said yes. But that's not the case with Oswego Lake, he said. Although almost every inch of the lake's shore is surrounded by private property, the city does own some waterfront land, including Millennium Plaza Park, which includes steps leading into the water. The city could provide all members of the public access to the water there, Tienson said. But for nearly two decades, a sign stating "Private Lake" has warned visitors that they can't use the water. Those who have tried have been asked to leave or threatened with a ticket. The Lake Oswego Corporation, which is the non-profit entity that has managed the lake since 1942, argues that the entire lake is private. Nearly 700 lakeshore landowners pay yearly dues to pay for the lake's upkeep. Another 3,400 property owners who don't live on the lake have access to it through about 20 private easements, to which they also pay dues. In 2012, the City Council passed a resolution banning the public from accessing the water from city lands. Robert Koch, an attorney representing the city, told the Supreme Court that the city has health, safety and environmental concerns about opening up access for all from Millennium Plaza Park. That argument seemed to resonate with Chief Justice Thomas Balmer, who said it is difficult to see how the Supreme Court could order the city to open access to the lake at Millennium park when it has concerns, such as the safety of people swimming without a lifeguard on duty. The city does allow city residents to swim in the lake at the Lake Oswego Swim Park, which is open in July and August. Koch, the attorney representing the city, said the city lawfully restricts use of the swim park to residents because they are the ones whose tax dollars pay to maintain it. That argument raised questions from several justices, who asked: What if the city of Portland banned anyone who lived outside the city from enjoying Forest Park? Or could the state of Oregon prevent anyone from Washington from recreating in Oregon's parks? The Supreme Court also peppered Tienson, the plaintiffs' attorney, with questions about whether the court has the authority to tell the city how to govern itself on this particular issue. Tienson said the court does. "They wanted to make this lake an exclusive province of its own citizens and the Lake Oswego Corporation landowners," Tienson said. The high court gave no indication of when it will make its ruling. -- Aimee Green Change is coming to Ladd's Addition. OK Omens, a new bar with "naturally focused wine and playfully progressive food," will take over the longtime neighborhood restaurant Cafe Castagna, owner Monique Siu told The Oregonian/OregonLive. "We were exploring so many names," Siu said. "Omen seemed really dark, but Justin shared a menu he was working on, and wrote 'OK Omens' on the top. And that kind of stuck. I like the idea that an omen, though it can have ominous connotations, can be good or bad, and is just a portent of change. It seemed appropriate for the times we're living in." Cafe Castagna opened in 2001 as the casual sister to Castagna, one of Portland's best and most enduring fine-dining restaurants. It will close its doors for good May 19, taking its good burger and butter lettuce salad with it. After a light remodel, OK Omens will open in early June with wines hand picked by award-winning sommelier Brent Braun and food crafted by chef Justin Woodward, two of the guiding forces at Castagna next door. "The scene has changed completely," Siu said. "When we opened the cafe, you couldn't get good pizza in the area. Now we have Ken's and Apizza Scholls. And there was nothing on Division." "We basically have no choice," Woodward said. "Things have to change." Braun, Woodward and Siu are betting that a rebrand will bring new life to the restaurant and attract a younger clientele. There's data to back up their position. Recent studies suggest millennials have begun embracing wine and spirits over beer. "You feel it with the young producers," Braun says, "their naturally styled wines, their labels, the way they're tapping wine into the creative class and music. The idea that wine is an artisan product rather than a luxury product is starting to resonate." Braun says OK Omens will have good music, a lively vibe and eye-opening wines, many from a new generation of vintners. Expect to see a lot of dry riesling from organic or even biodynamic German producers and some more "humble" wines aged five years or more at Castagna but priced at a relatively affordable $70. "I think people are interested in old wines, even people who aren't particularly into wine," Braun says. "But the entry point is often $100 or more for anything with a little bit of age." Both Braun and Woodward mention their love of Les Caves, a similarly naturally focused wine bar in a cavernous space on Northeast Alberta Street. The main difference? Instead of Les Caves' simple menu of canned seafood and griddled sandwiches, OK Omens will have a full menu from one of Portland's top chefs. "I'm looking forward to thinking about a la carte food," Woodward says. "I've been here executing tasting menus for six years, and I document a lot of recipes. There will be things that appeared on menus over here that will end up over there." For now, Woodward is mostly sure about what won't be on the menu. That includes a handful of classic dishes that have stuck on Cafe Castagna's menu like percebes on a coastal rock -- the butter lettuce salad, the pizza, the penne pasta, the moules frites, even the classic burger. "Brent and I have all these ideas," Woodward said. "One day we just said, 'You know, there's a whole other restaurant just sitting there. Why don't we just do something?'" Cafe Castagna will close May 19. After a remodel, OK Omens will open at 1758 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. in early June. -- Michael Russell Portland architect Walter Gordon received many awards during his long career, but one stands out: In 1958, he was recognized by Artists Equity for infusing art into modern structures. Although best known now for designing handsome houses, the Ivy League-trained Gordon arrived in Portland during WWII to be the assistant director of the Portland Art Museum after being a curator of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He later accepted a position, for less money, to work for revered architect Pietro Belluschi at A.E. Doyle's prominent firm. Belluschi became Gordon's mentor, then his friend for more than 50 years. The most notable of Gordon's houses were in the Northwest Regional style, an aesthetic he honed during his time with Belluschi, who was one of the first to master marrying the spare International Style with glass and local wood. These modern dwellings have characteristics that are still coveted: An open floor plan, floor-to-ceiling windows and spaces that adapt to evolving lifestyles. A house Gordon designed on a cul-de-sac in Southwest Portland's Council Crest neighborhood as his persona residence was placed on the market in February and received an offer in 21 days for 10.2 percent above the asking price of $715,000. The 1952 house, on a landscaped, 6,970 square-foot lot, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and 2,784 square feet of living space, which includes an addition by Andrew Wheeler. Listing agents Rick Sadle and Judy Jensen of the Sadle Home Selling Team attribute the successful sale to the endearing qualities of Gordon's designs. Jensen says the home appeals to "someone who appreciates the simplicity and beauty of Northwest modern architecture, who has an eye for unique design and quality workmanship, who seeks serenity in life and to whom nature is important." Gordon's design stature is still strong. He earned degrees from Princeton University and studied at the University of Paris in France and Yale University. He was dean of the architecture department at the University of Oregon and a faculty member at Reed College. He worked as an architect from 1946 until he died in 1997 at age 89. Gordon and Belluschi's half-century friendship was honored in 2015 during a benefit for the Architecture Foundation of Oregon and the preservation organization Restore Oregon. The event was held inside another Gordon-designed house long owned by Jack and Betty Meier of Meier and Frank department stores. On that night, Belluschi's son, Portland architect Anthony Belluschi, read aloud some of the thoughtful and funny correspondence between Pietro Belluschi and Gordon. Topics ranged from architecture to politics and life. After Pietro Belluschi retired as dean of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Architecture and Planning, he returned to Portland where his reputation for innovation and elegant buildings began. Pietro Belluschi died here at age 94 in in 1994. Reflecting on Gordon and Pietro today, Anthony Belluschi says, "In their houses, you can see similarities in their sensitive use of wood and other indigenous materials, and their enthusiasm for the unique characteristics of Pacific Northwest midcentury modern design." -- Janet Eastman jeastman@oregonian.com 503-799-8739 @janeteastman By Edward Tenny It isn't surprising that discussions about changing Portland's form of city government arise from time to time. Our commission form of government, abandoned years ago by nearly every other significant American city, fosters frequent comparison to more common models. Recently, population growth, demographic changes, gentrification and other pressures have again generated suggestions that Portland should consider electing commissioners by district or ward instead of electing them at-large, as is our tradition. In my estimation, such a change would not be in the best interest of Portland and its citizens. I was a bureau manager for the city from 1980 until 1991, mostly as administrator of the Portland Water Bureau. I then left public service and worked with large cities across the nation for international engineering firms. My employers relocated me to Seattle (twice), Cleveland, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Phoenix before I returned home to retire in Portland. In addition to living in those locations, I worked in many other major cities, mostly with mayors, elected officials and senior civil servants. I've had opportunities to see the political workings of many large cities, up close and personal. As a result, I have two reasons for hesitation about moving toward elections by district in Portland First, in cities where district elections prevail, city council members become more parochial and much more "political" than in Portland. Instead of taking the broad interests of the city as a whole as their guide, they are understandably drawn to represent the more narrow, specific interests of "their" district -- even when that district's priorities are less critical than those in other parts of town. Focus on local interests and neighborhood concerns becomes the norm, while a commitment to the long-term best interests of the whole city becomes secondary. Second, district representation is incompatible with our odd commission form of government. For better or worse, we expect our city council members to be responsible for overseeing large, complex agencies. This is already challenging enough given that historically, very few of Portland's city council members have significant management experience. To ask these people to focus their representation -- and chances for re-election -- on one district and then to assign the operation of city bureaus on behalf of the whole city doesn't make sense. Where district representation works, it is usually because the actual city operations are directed by a city manager or strong mayor with the city council as a legislative body. If we want to continue managing our city by elected committee, district representation would be a serious flaw. The interest in changing the Portland City Council stems from serious concerns about serious issues. In my view, our present commission form of government is not a very good one for addressing these concerns. But combining the existing commission structure with district-based city council elections would be likely to make our governance worse, not better. -- Edward Tenny lives in Southeast Portland Share your opinion Submit your essay of 800 words or less on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. For 25 years, I've practiced family medicine, and I now also serve as state senator for Northwest Portland and Beaverton. Both of these positions provide insight into how large systems and agencies can work better together, and it's clear that the intersection of health policy and public safety policy needs to be strengthened. For too long, our criminal justice system has been overusing prisons instead of applying proven tools that promote greater health and public safety, especially for the mentally ill and drug addicted. I support Max Wall for Washington County district attorney because he understands these connections and is committed to policies that prevent crime, strengthen families and better support victims. As a state legislator representing Washington County, family physician and advocate for those who've been hurt, I support Max Wall and believe he is the leader we need as our district attorney. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, Northwest Portland A long-running dispute that could determine the future of the north side of Mount Hood, whether it's conserved as largely untouched wilderness or becomes home to a large destination resort, has hit another snag. The dispute involves about 700 acres of wilderness in and around the Cooper Spur inn and ski area, an area long eyed by owners Mt. Hood Meadows LLC as a potential site for expansion. The swap would see that land protected in exchange for valuable real estate in Government Camp, where potentially hundreds of new housing units could be built. The proposed trade touches on issues of great import to many Oregonians conservation, land use and development on the state's tallest mountain and has been in the works for nearly a decade. The most recent snag: Community groups object to land-value assessments made by an out-of-state appraiser hired by the Forest Service. Conservationists and Hood River residents have vehemently opposed a resort on the mountain's north side since Mt. Hood Meadows acquired the land in 2001. They cite environmental concerns and say it would directly compete with Hood River for valuable tourist dollars. The fracas grew heated enough that a land swap was signed into law by President Obama in 2009 as part of the Omnibus Public Lands Act. The law called on the Forest Service to trade just over 100 acres in Government Camp, increasing the developed footprint of the resort town by about 20 percent, for the 700 acres of land around Cooper Spur, most of which would become protected wilderness. Included in the bill was a provision to protect almost 4,000 additional acres of watershed and wilderness upon completion of the land swap. The swap was to take place within 16 months. But nearly a decade later, neither side appears any closer to a trade. Documents obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive show the latest appraisals appear seriously flawed, and negotiations may be headed back to the beginning. A dispute 40 years in the making Since at least the 1970s, Mt. Hood Meadows has looked at the north side of the mountain as a destination resort opportunity. The parent company's land already encompasses the Cooper Spur Inn and ski area, which includes a handful of small lifts. Both sides went back and forth until a 2005 agreement directed the Cooper Spur property be traded to the U.S. Forest Service for two parcels of Government Camp land, about 100 acres. Appraisals at the time valued the Cooper Spur property at $5.5 million and the Government Camp land at $3.8 million. Critics objected to those numbers, saying the development potential for the Government Camp parcels should demand a higher price tag. Four years later, what was supposed to be a permanent fix was included in the 2009 Omnibus Public Lands Act, which mandated the trade happen within 16 months. But by 2014, the deal had gone nowhere, and Oregon lawmakers began to prod the Forest Service to make it happen after residents sued to force the swap. "Completion of the exchange is exceptionally behind schedule," read a June 2015 letter from Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer. "We call upon the agency to complete ... the land exchange within one year from the date of this letter in order to avoid further noncompliance with the statutory deadline." The Forest Service hired Richard Maloy, an appraiser based in Birmingham, Alabama, to evaluate the properties. In summer 2017 he completed his estimates, valuing the Government Camp parcels at about $5 million and the Cooper Spur land at $9.5 million. The Hood River Valley community rebuked those numbers. An out-of-state appraisal Critics point to assumptions Maloy made about how the Cooper Spur land could be used, which they say falsely inflated the price tag. They also say he undervalued the Government Camp land. At the crux of the Cooper Spur dispute is the zoning around the inn and restaurant. That land is zoned for commercial use while the rest of the property is forest land, with commercial use prohibited. Despite that, Maloy wrote in his appraisal that the land around the inn "provides space for important ancillary structures that help the viability of the commercial improvements." Eric Walker, principal planner for Hood River County, disagreed. "The location of the commercial zone boundary was intentional," he wrote in an email to a county lawyer. "It was deliberately created small in order to allow the restaurant and inn to continue, but not necessarily to accommodate future growth opportunities." Don Palmer, an Oregon-based appraiser hired by an attorney for the Hood River community groups to review Maloy's work, found problems with Maloy's appraisal of the Government Camp lots. Maloy used other property sales in the region in Hood River, Sandy, Redmond and Medford to evaluate the land. Maloy valued the roughly 100 acres, which could theoretically be divided into about 200 lots, at just over $5 million. The problem, Palmer said in his review, was that Maloy failed to account for Government Camp's unique characteristics. The 500-acre resort town has limited area for development and sees few homes built and sold. Beyond that, as the closest lodging to the state's largest concentration of ski resorts, it's an increasingly popular winter recreation destination. Maloy declined to comment, citing a non-disclosure agreement with the Forest Service. Matthew Drake, the CEO of Mt. Hood Meadows LLC, also deferred to the Forest Service. Jim DeMaagd, Mt. Hood National Forest acting supervisor, also declined to comment about the appraisals directly, citing pending litigation, but released a statement. "The Forest Service is committed to continuing to carry out the land exchange pursuant to the direction of Congress," he wrote. "We are also seeking to carry out the Land Exchange in a way that can garner support from a broad cross-section of potentially affected interests and stakeholders, while still ensuring compliance with its legal requirements, in an effort to achieve a resolution that will bring an end to the litigation," he continued. A path forward Wyden said both sides deserve to be heard, but the deal should go through sooner than later. "The constant in this project has been the general agreement that if there was going to be more development on the Mountain then it was better suited around Government Camp where infrastructure already exists versus creating a lot of new development on the North Side," he said in a statement. "The Hood River Valley Residents Committee should have a say, but I hope it is not another 10 years to resolve this issue." In the coming weeks, both sides are expected to meet to discuss supplemental instructions for Maloy in revising the appraisals. Until then, the fate of the deal hangs in the balance, just as it has for almost a decade. -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 In three Oregon counties, the state has departed radically from its usual approach to providing legal help to foster children and their biological parents: It limits lawyers to 80 clients and pays them based on how much time they devote to each case. Under the experiment, launched in 2014, the state systematically tracks the quality of legal services the children and parents receive. That doesn't happen in Oregon's 33 other counties -- and the results of that lack of scrutiny can be disastrous, The Oregonian/OregonLive showed this week. In the first two counties where the new approach was instituted, Linn and Yamhill, it appears to benefit both families and taxpayers: A higher share of children have been returned to their parents, and fewer children enter the of foster care system in the first place. The wait time for children to get permanent homes adoption, guardianship or a return to biological parents also decreased. "It's pretty clear this new program is wildly successful," said Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, a Beaverton Democrat who has pushed for more funding. Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward But lawmakers have declined, most recently in 2017, to spend the money necessary to bring the program statewide, allowing proposals to languish without action. Instead, they've opted to slowly expand the approach into some of the state's smaller counties, including Columbia County in January 2016. That's despite a clear recommendation in 2016 from a task force initiated by former Gov. John Kitzhaber and the Legislature to improve family court outcomes that it should go statewide. Gov. Kate Brown has pointed out the need for improvement, including after news of abuse and neglect allegations at a Northeast Portland foster care provider. "When we went through the Give Us This Day situation several years ago, I know the governor asked, 'Where were the attorneys?"' Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, said during a hearing on expanding the pilot program earlier this year. "We want back and checked with the kids, 'Where were your attorneys?' They didn't know their attorneys' names." Still, a 2017 bill that Brown requested to expand the program died in committee. Gelser supports expanding the program. She said it's hard for lawmakers to see the Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis. connection between lawyers effectively representing children and parents in foster care cases and improving outcomes for families. She's heard people say the money would be better spent on other services for children and parents. "It is not popular to fund attorneys, but it is absolutely crucial," Gelser said. NORMALLY, CASELOADS TOP 100 For decades, lawyers who represent children and parents in Oregon's foster care system have struggled under huge caseloads and a pay system that doesn't reward the long hours necessary to vigorously advocate for their clients. It's common for lawyers to carry more than 100 foster child and parent cases even though the best practice is 80 or fewer, a top official at the agency that hires and oversees the legal contractors told state lawmakers this year. "Chronic underfunding has left us with high caseloads and difficulty finding lawyers willing to do this work," acting deputy director Amy Miller said. Lawyers for children and parents in Benton, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Jackson, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln and Polk counties have been particularly overburdened, the state has said. A 2015 state survey of lawyers revealed the attorneys in those 10 counties had caseloads higher than the state average, according to a document from the Office of Public Defense Services. All of those counties would be required to start lowering caseloads in 2016, the agency wrote. High caseloads are also a challenge in the Portland area. A decade ago, the governor experienced the problem first-hand. As a state senator and part-time lawyer in 2007, "I had 90 children on my caseload," Brown said recently. "This was work that I really struggled to do despite the fact that I was a legislator at the time, that I was an experienced lawyer at the time, because of the overwhelming caseloads, the lack of services." Big caseloads are still a reality for lawyers in most of Oregon because their and their firms' pay is tied closely to the number of children they represent. On average, they receive $830 per foster child, according to the agency that pays them. Attorneys don't get paid more to take a case to trial, attend key child welfare meetings, visit a child at home or check whether the child has received necessary evaluations. Lawyers in the pilot program, by contrast, are paid salaries based on how much work they put in. On average, they are paid $220,000 a year although that must also cover overhead, health care and administrative staff. They also have case managers who help parents attain the skills and behavior necessary to regain custody of their children. Miller has managed the program since starting at the Office of Public Defense Services in 2014. Rep. Duane Stark, a Grants Pass Republican and foster parent, said proposals to expand the program statewide last year fell flat amid worries about a $1.8 billion budget gap. But in the end, lawmakers balanced the budget with relatively little pain, thanks in part to tax revenues exceeding forecasts. "I couldn't quite convince people it was a high priority," Stark said. It would have cost an additional $18 million a year for Oregon to expand its program throughout the state, according to a state budget document. That would be a 60 percent increase, given Oregon currently spends $30 million a year on lawyers to represent children and parents in the foster system. The Office of Public Defense Services which contracts with and oversees the lawyers opted to ask for just a partial phase-in last year. Lawmakers ultimately decided against funding even that $10.8 million expansion, which would have helped thousands of children and parents. They did approve $3.5 million a year from the state general fund, plus federal matching dollars, for lawyers from the Oregon Department of Justice to represent state caseworkers at every court appearance. "You can't be sending these people in there like lawyers when they're not," Steiner Hayward said. "We really didn't have a choice about that. We had to do it." Gelser and Stark agreed. As a foster parent, Stark said he observed such a scenario first-hand when a caseworker didn't know what details of a case she was allowed to share in court, he said. That delayed by three months an update to the child's plan for a permanent home, Stark said. "We don't want non-attorneys practicing law." UNIVERSITY TO STUDY PROGRAM Faced with an opportunity to qualify for a free University of Chicago study of the program's effectiveness, lawmakers this year signed off on an additional $1.34 million to add Coos and Lincoln counties to the pilot starting in July, according to the Legislative Fiscal Office. The agency that contracts with the lawyers is careful to say in annual reports that although outcomes have improved in the pilot counties, "the observations do not prove a causal relationship between legal representation and improved results." Steiner Hayward said she hopes the study will provide independent verification that the pilot program helps children and parents and saves the state money through reduced use of foster care. The same researcher found millions of dollars in savings from a similar program for parents in Washington, Miller has said. JUDGE CITES BENEFITS In the three pilot counties, the state tracks metrics of good legal representation. These include the amount of time lawyers spend with clients, in court and in other meetings and preparing cases. It also tracks their caseloads, access to multi-disciplinary staff such as expert witnesses and client satisfaction. In Yamhill County, Judge John L. Collins says he's observed better outcomes for kids and parents since the program launched. "Attorneys are able to not only be effective advocates in court, but also often even more importantly, effective advocates in out-of-court (state child welfare) and (citizen review) meetings and counseling of clients that translates into better outcomes sooner for children and parents," Collins wrote in a letter to lawmakers last year. Attorneys in the program can be "re-engaged in representation if problems develop, often avoiding re-removal which can be particularly difficult for kids." Since the program started in 2014, the annual number of petitions to terminate parental rights in Yamhill County dropped from 23 to just three in 2016, Collins wrote. -- Hillary Borrud 503-294-4034; @hborrud Thomas Markle, Jr., isn't reveling in his new connection to British royalty. In fact, the Grants Pass man is seeking to have the planned wedding of Prince Harry and Markle's half-sister, actress Meghan Markle, called off. The 51-year-old Oregonian sent a handwritten letter to Harry insisting that "it's not too late" for the royal to come to his senses, In Touch magazine reported this week. "As more time passes to your royal wedding, it became very clear that this is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history," he wrote in the letter, which In Touch has published. "I'm confused why you don't see the real Meghan that the whole world sees." As the May 19 wedding has approached, Meghan Markle's strained relationships with her half-brother and half-sister have launched into the public sphere. Thomas Markle, Jr., who was arrested last year after he reportedly "grabbed a gun and pressed it" to his then-girlfriend's head, said in the letter that his sister is a "jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage." He then added: "Not to mention, to top it off, she doesn't invite her own family and instead invites complete strangers to the wedding, 'who does that.'" Thomas Jr. may not have been invited, but Meghan's divorced parents will be attending the nuptials. Thomas Jr.'s and Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, Sr., plans to walk Meghan down the aisle at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. -- Douglas Perry ATHENS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Hellenic Navy General Staff on Friday announced that a Turkish-flagged merchant ship "Karmate" approached and slightly collided with the Hellenic Navy gunboat "Armatolos" in the sea southeast of Lesvos island in the early hours of Friday morning. According to the announcement posted on Greek national news agency AMNA, there were no injuries or serious damage and no pollution of the marine environment as a result. Noting that the Turkish ship had been in violation of navigation rules for avoiding collisions at sea, it added that the Greek side will take all the necessary steps for the imposition of penal and civil sanctions on the basis of international maritime law. After striking the Greek gunboat, the "Karmate" increased speed and sailed toward the nearest Turkish shore, ignoring attempts by the "Armatolos" to hail it on the radio. Coast guard authorities and NATO authorities have also been alerted to the incident, which took place during a planned patrol by the "Armatolos" during the NATO operation "Aegean Activity" to combat migration flows in the Aegean. 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. Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Ottawa Citizen Headline News will soon be in your inbox. 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 Trump's coming talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Pence's 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, Pence's spokeswoman. No exact date or location has been announced for Trump's 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. Pence's trip had been expected to include a stop in Manaus, a city near the border with Venezuela. The Trump administration has been critical of Venezuela's 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. 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. 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." Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski have both been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, the Hollywood Reporter says. The board of governors voted at a meeting on Tuesday that both men have violated new rules that Academy members must adhere to. The rules were put into place after the New York Times and the New Yorker exposed Harvey Weinstein's decades of sexual harassment and assault and the culture of complicity that enabled him and other predators (Weinstein was expelled from the Academy in October). Related | Bill Cosby Found Guilty In Sexual Assault Retrial "The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity," the Academy said in a statement. Cosby was found guilty last month of drugging and raping Andrea Constand, and Polanski was accused of raping then-13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977. He fled the United States to avoid being charged, and while the LAPD opened an investigation into Polanski last year for a separate sexual assault, they declined to press charges. The Television Academy also removed Cosby's name from its Hall of Fame list honorees on its website, and a statue of Cosby that once stood in the Academy's Hall of Fame Plaza will not be returned following renovations. Image via Getty It's that time of year again the sun has finally reemerged and people are spending their Saturday afternoons lounging on crumpled blankets drinking La Croix in Prospect Park. While the change in weather is generally good news for those of us who suffered from SADD during this exceptionally long and cold winter, it's also anxiety-inducing. Come summer, it's always just a matter of time before a white person holds their arm up next to mine and exclaims, "I'm almost as dark as you are!" I've always been intrigued and slightly annoyed by white people's obsession with tanning. When they compare their skin tone to mine, it feels like appropriation, a co-option of Brownness without ever having to deal with the oppression people of color face for their skin color. Skin is, in biological terms, just another organ. It naturally stretches and grows and darkens. But it has also always symbolized so much more than that. Darkened skin on thin white bodies is read as sun-kissed, the lingering memory of an afternoon spent surfing waves and drinking beers on the beach. On Black and Brown bodies it has, time and time again, been equated with dirt and been imagined as proof of physical inferiority. So, to see white people so confidently flaunt their darker skin and pretend like they have suddenly achieved a certain level of Brownness feels unfair and ignorant of the reality that no matter how tan they are, they will never actually be shamed or deemed unemployable or excluded from social spaces. When white people don Brown or Black skin for photoshoots or Halloween costumes, they also reflect a long history of blackface, which was used by white actors to depict Black Americans as a number of dehumanizing stereotypes in minstrel shows. Recently, Gigi Hadid came under fire for her Vogue Italia cover, in which she appeared darker than she actually is. The politics of the specific cover are complicated. Gigi Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, is a woman of color, but one who benefits from passing as white in an industry that has always valorized thin, blonde bodies. Vogue Italia Editor-at-Large Patti Wilson, who's a Black woman, was behind the cover, so shaming her direction on the shoot feels out of place and misguided. In the midst of backlash, she defended herself on Instagram: "Gigi was meant to look bronze, tan, and gorgeous," she wrote. "Nothing more than that." Hadid apologized for being insensitive while also pointing out that she didn't have any creative control on the shoot's post-production. "Please understand that my control of a shoot is 1. non existent in terms of creative direction," Hadid wrote on her socials. "2. ends completely when I leave set, and anything done to a photo in post is out of my control fully." The model continued, "Regardless, I want to apologize because my intention is never to diminish those concerns or take opportunities away from anyone else, and I hope this can be an example to other magazines and teams in the future." High fashion shoots distort and reveal and reimagine celebrities and models, presenting them as an unrealistic fantasy that is treasured for its unfamiliarity. The issue is not so much with this specific project, but with the structures that lead to it happening again and again. There simply aren't enough people of color on major magazine covers photographed by people who know how to represent them. We see the same five white faces over and over, even when Brown or Black people would be much better suited for certain spreads. Haute couture never claims to capture bodies as they are. High fashion shoots distort and reveal and reimagine celebrities and models, presenting them as an unrealistic fantasy that is treasured for its unfamiliarity. Brown skin painted onto white bodies, then, positions it as a trend or a fetish, beautiful in stylized, abstract, and impractical terms the way tulle gowns and 10-inch heels are. But melanin is not an accessory reserved for photoshoots and runways, and it is not only beautiful on rich white bodies. For people of color who grow up around other Brown and Black people, melanin is perfectly ordinary. But the reality that we know too well is that while shoots of suburban white housewives overpopulate glossy magazine pages, the ordinary lives of people of color are never deemed worthy of representation. To make matters worse, when models of color are photographed, white photographers often don't know how to capture their skin tone accurately. Cameras have historically been calibrated to white skin something Kodak didn't stop doing until the 1970s and 80s after advertisers wanted to better photograph chocolate and wood. So to see a white person photographed as Brown, when people of color often can't even find a photographer who knows how to capture their skin without washing it out or erasing its hues, feels especially frustrating. It's no wonder given the way Brown and Black people are excluded from media representation, seen as less beautiful, and generally shamed for existing, that they feel pressure to lighten their skin. Light skin is associated with beauty, virtue, and purity in nearly all parts of the world. But while white people get away with darkening and lightening their skin at will, people of color are regularly shamed for "not loving themselves enough" to transcend internalized racial shame. Asians who lighten their skin, for example, are generally regarded as shallow for modifying their body to fit into the very beauty norms reified by a Western fashion industry that only celebrates white models. I'm sure the well-meaning white reader is wondering what they are supposed to do. Not go into the sun this summer? Wear SPF 90 at all times? Sadly, the answer is not so obvious or so easy. It requires acknowledging that Brown and Black people have experiences white people can never understand, no matter how tan or racially-conscious or accepting they are. It means seeing Brown and Black bodies as more than sources of inspiration that can be disregarded when a fashion shoot is over. It means seeing people of color as beautiful at their most ordinary, in the ways they see themselves. Image via BFA North Korea has apparently agreed to release three American citizens ahead of a U.S.-North Korea summit this month. U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted on 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!" Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who joined the White House legal team recently, told Fox News on Wednesday, "We've got Kim Jong-un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today." A group of American negotiators who went to the North recently will take them home. The three men have already been moved from a prison camp to a hotel outside Pyongyang, according to sources quoted by Choi Sung-ryong, an activist for South Koreans with family members abducted by the North. All are of South Korean descent. Kim Dong-chul, a pastor, was arrested for proselytizing in the Rajin-Sonbong special economic zone in October 2015. Kim Sang-duk, as known as Tony Kim, worked as a visiting accounting professor at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology when he was arrested for "hostile activities" against the regime during at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport in April last year. Kim Hak-song who taught agricultural technology in Pyongyang was also arrested for "hostile activities" at the railway station while waiting for a train bound for his home in Dandong, China in May last year. Six South Koreans also remain detained in the North, but their release was not on the agenda of the latest inter-Korean summit. The student loan problem is often discussed in the context of young adults. However, individuals in other age groups have student loans and can be burdened by the monthly payments. A recent report described increased student loan burdens in the hands of those above age 45. Ameritech Financial, a document preparation company that helps borrowers with federal repayment plan applications, reminds borrowers of all ages that they might be eligible for federal income-driven repayment plans. "No matter what age you are, student loans can pose a financial problem," said Tom Knickerbocker, Executive Vice President of Ameritech Financial. "While young adults might base job decisions on their monthly student loan payments, older borrowers may consider their ability to save for retirement when deciding what to do with the student loans they have." According to a recent report, student loan balances held by borrowers over 45 years of age are increasing at a faster rate than those held by younger borrowers. The report describes a situation in which older Americans may have their own education debt as well as debt for their children's or grandchildren's higher education. Common financial advice for those approaching retirement age is to pay down debts, which makes this trend to carry more student debt especially alarming. When they should be focusing on retirement, older Americans are having to contend with student loans. However, federal repayment programs may help with financial goals that shift focus from student loans to retirement or others. Federal income-driven repayment plans (IDRs) calculate payment based on income and family size and can end in the forgiveness of any remaining balance after 20 to 25 years of enrollment in the program. IDRs can potentially reduce payments and enable borrowers to redirect those saved funds elsewhere. "When retirement is on the line, borrowers shouldn't feel anchored by their student debt," said Knickerbocker. "At Ameritech Financial, we help borrowers understand and apply for IDRs that may be able to improve their ability to focus on financial goals that are important for their lives while staying current on their student loans." 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. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), announced that The Duchenne Registry has reached a significant milestone collecting 10-years of patient-reported data. Formerly known as DuchenneConnect, The Duchenne Registry is widely considered the go-to patient registry for researchers and clinical investigators in the Duchenne space. With two drug approvals in the U.S. for Duchenne, The Duchenne Registry continues to provide important patient-entered data that informs clinical trial protocol and helps inform regulatory agencies. To date, The Duchenne Registry has 4,200 registrants. This includes people living with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, as well as female carriers. Over 100 countries are represented. As a member of the TREAT-NMD International Neuromuscular Network, The Duchenne Registry shares several core data fields with the global Duchenne registry According to PPMD Founding President and CEO, Pat Furlong, "Families affected by Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy do not always receive a proper diagnosis; fewer receive the most up-to-date treatments for these diseases. The Duchenne Registry has provided families access to top researchers and clinicians in the field, as well as notification about clinical trials that may help their child. Gathering the community into a registry with global partnerships provides crucial information to researchers and clinical investigators, and we believe has helped accelerate therapeutic discoveries. To see the seed of an idea from a group of passionate leaders in the Duchenne community blossom into a thriving online resource is truly phenomenal." The Duchenne Registry currently has 17 industry partners and has helped recruit for approximately 60 clinical trials. Data from the Registry has been used in 7 publications and an additional 3 publications are pending. In addition, The Duchenne Registry was honored to be selected as one of the Patient-Powered Research Networks (PPRNs) in PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. The Duchenne Registry has been a PPRN within PCORnet for both Phase 1 and 2 of PCORnet, from 2014 - 2018. Not only has data from The Duchenne Registry been used to improve care and enhance the development of potential therapies for Duchenne, but the experiences families share through this registry inform regulators. As more therapies advance in the clinical trial pipeline and interactions between the Duchenne community and federal regulatory agencies like the FDA increase, the importance of patient-reported data has never been more critical for decision makers. New Name, New Features To mark the 10th anniversary of The Duchenne Registry, PPMD has implemented new features and tools to help enhance the user experience. New features include a more modern, streamlined homepage and website that is more fully integrated with the acclaimed PPMD patient advocacy website. In addition, once registrants log in to their registry account, they will experience a new, more interactive registry dashboard. A new feature on the dashboard is the medications module which will be critical in this new era of approved Duchenne therapies. Participants in The Duchenne Registry will still find the same medical surveys to complete, and the same ability to upload medical records, add healthcare providers, track height and weight, and add family members. Registrants will also continue to have direct access to PPMD's board-certified genetic counselors who specialize in Duchenne. As always, information entered into The Duchenne Registry is kept confidential and secure. Invitae, the company hosting the registry platform, complies with important research and privacy regulations for protecting patient data. However, de-identified data is shared with the community, including registrants, researchers, and clinicians. What's Next? The Duchenne Registry will continue to improve the user experience over the coming months. New functionality planned for the Registry includes upgrading the "View Data" feature so registrants can view their data in a graphic-rich format and see how they compare to others in the community. PPMD greatly appreciates the time and effort spent by families inputting and updating their data in the Registry, and a new section on the Registry dashboard ("Your Data at Work") highlights the impact of this data. Efforts will also be made to make the inputting of data less burdensome to families. In a post-approval landscape, The Duchenne Registry will also make several enhancements to the data collected so that industry partners can improve post-marketing surveillance of their products. The History of the Registry The Duchenne Registry (formerly DuchenneConnect) began in 2007, when a group of thought leaders in the Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy community began discussing the need for a new kind of resource that would connect and serve the needs of the entire community. What they envisioned was a central hub that would bring together those living with Duchenne or Becker, along with their families and caregivers, to connect them with medical research, clinical care, clinical trials, and each other. At the same time, it would also be a resource for researchers and industries with an interest in Duchenne, allowing access to aggregate, de-identified data provided by patients and their families - information that could prove vital to advances in care and treatment. Today, the result of this endeavor is The Duchenne Registry, the largest, most comprehensive registry for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, as well as female carriers. Ann Martin, Director of The Duchenne Registry, adds that the success of this platform is a direct result of community participation: "When families join and update their account in The Duchenne Registry, they are strengthening the power of a 10-year-old network of patient-powered data that will be used to improve care for people living with Duchenne and increase understanding of the disorder. Families become citizen scientists by contributing to real scientific research, without ever leaving their homes." When asked how they would impact the world with their law degrees, nearly 1,200 incoming law school students responded with answers as unique as their backgrounds, life circumstances, and career goals. Today, 10 of those students were named as finalists for the 3rd annual "One Lawyer Can Change the World Scholarship," a $10,000 scholarship sponsored by BARBRI Law Preview, a BARBRI company, and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. The scholarship challenged students from across the nation to submit a 500-word essay in response to the prompt: "How you hope to use your law degree to change our world and how would $10,000 towards your 1L tuition change your world?" A BARBRI Law Preview panel selected the finalists and will announce a winner on Friday, June 8, 2018. The $10,000 award will be applied to the winner's first year tuition, paid directly to his or her law school. "Over the past few months, I have personally read through hundreds of submissions and was so inspired by the selflessness reflected in the applicants' essays, I felt compelled to reach out to many of them personally," said Don Macaulay, president and founder of BARBRI Law Preview. "With their passion to become change agents stoked by past work experience or significant life challenges - some that, frankly, would have derailed even the most resolute students - our 10 finalists have completely restored my faith in Generation Z. If you've ever shaken your head and said, 'Kids today!' then I challenge you to read how these future lawyers plan to positively impact our world." For instance, there's Oscar Sarabia Roman, an entering student at UC Berkeley School of Law, who explains how his own deportation as an undocumented Mexican immigrant fueled a desire to represent others trapped in a broken immigration system. Or read about Taylor Davis, who'll begin her studies at Penn Law this fall, and how she intends to bring the experience (and bedside manner) she acquired as an ER nurse to serve as an effective advocate for healthcare reform. And, if you think becoming a lawyer means abandoning all artistic creativity, read this rap about criminal justice reform by Erin Bartenstein, an entering student at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Law, that would make Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B envious. The other seven? Trust us, they are equally impressive. "The standard thing to say when describing the finalists in a contest like this is that 'it's a shame we can't select everyone.' As stale as that platitude is, it's also true," Macaulay said. "We will certainly have a tough time picking a winner from such an impressive group." Want to help us decide? Review the 10 finalists' essays and anonymously suggest to whom we should award the $10kscholarship. About Law Preview Law Preview is an innovative, comprehensive law school prep course that has proven to enhance early law school academic success. Offered as week-long, law professor-led sessions in locations around the country, Law Preview teaches students how to brief cases, write outlines, study effectively, take tests and manage their time - all critical skills for success in law school. In addition to the skills portion, the classroom course also provides an overview of the six core law school subjects that are required for most students in their first year. About The BARBRI Group The BARBRI Group companies meet the legal education, cyber skills education and specialized training needs of law students, attorneys, IT students and other professionals throughout their careers. The companies offer a comprehensive portfolio of learning solutions for higher education institutions and law- and finance-related businesses. At the core of The BARBRI Group Companies is BARBRI Bar Review, which has helped more than 1.3 million lawyers around the world pass a U.S. bar exam. The company also provides online J.D., post-J.D. and international programs for U.S. law schools, hands-on cyber skills training for IT and criminal justice programs, and specialized ongoing training and certifications in areas such as financial crime prevention, eDiscovery and cyber literacy. The BARBRI Group, founded in 1967, is a Leeds Equity Partners portfolio company headquartered in Dallas with offices throughout the United States and around the world. 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 Apple introduced iPhone X with its controversial display notch design back in September with many fans not approving. A 9to5Mac survey posted on September 14, 2017 revealed unscientifically that 36.42% of Apple fans thought the notch was a hardware flaw, period. And yet like Zombies, Apple's competitors have maniacally raced to copy this so-called "hardware design mistake" or flaw with a new twist. On March 28th Patently Apple reported on Huawei's new P20 smartphone that introduced a new display notch design, though smaller as noted below. Last month Forbes quoted Huawei's mobile chief Li Changzhu saying that Apple using the notch was courageous. Li also noted that Huawei actually thought of the notch idea "three to four years ago," but the company didn't go with it out of concern that consumers wouldn't accept it. Li lamented that "We missed our chance to [pioneer] with the notch design because we were too conservative and cautious." In a report posted by the Korea Herald yesterday, they noted that LG's mobile chief Hwang Jeong-hwan told investors that they didn't copy Apple" in respect to the iPhone X notch design. Specifically he stated that "LG planned the notch design before Apple." How do the mobile chiefs from LG and Huawei deny reality? They had all the time in the world to beat Apple to the punch on the notch design and yet both failed until Apple introduced it. It's one thing to be a copycat and quite another to be delusional enough to say it was their idea after the fact, clearly after Apple actually brought it to market. The bottom line is that both Huawei and LG know that Apple leads in trends and makes the majority of the industry's profits. If they want their smartphones to attract young people, they have to copy Apple, notch and all and pretend it was their idea all along. A new breed of copycat has now entered mainstream. Those with the Copycat X syndrome not only physically copy an Apple feature, they delusionally believe that they were the original inventors of said feature. Something tells me that we're going to see a lot more of this over time. In fact Samsung recently showed signs of this syndrome as well when they stated that they didn't copy Apple's Animoji with Emoji AR. No, no, no - they believe that they had been working on it for years. Sound familiar? 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. This afternoon it's being reported that Apple Executive Eddy Cue and Tim Cook will be questioned by Qualcomm layers as part of a legal battle between the companies over billions of dollars in patents and licensing fees. Reuters is reporting late this afternoon that "The access to Cue is important because Qualcomm alleges talks between executives at Apple and its rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd were central to its decision to cut off Apple from a stream of nearly $1 billion in licensing rebate payments. Apple sued Qualcomm early last year, contesting the San Diego-based chipmaker's licensing practices and asking for those rebate payments back. Qualcomm then sued Apple for patent infringement in several countries. As part of the disputes, Qualcomm is also seeking to ban the import of some iPhones it believes are violating its patents. In the lawsuit in Southern California filed by Apple, Qualcomm has alleged that at a conference in Idaho in 2015, a top Apple executive encouraged Samsung to "get aggressive" in asking South Korean antitrust regulators to pursue action against the chipmaker. Cook and Cue are regular attendees of a media mogul conference held each year in Sun Valley, Idaho. The Apple executive in question, Qualcomm alleged, explained that a regulatory ruling on Samsung's home turf would be Samsung's "best chance" to force Qualcomm to change its licensing practices." For more on this, read the full Reuters report here. On December 28, 2016, Patently Apple posted a report titled "Korea's Antitrust Agency Hits Qualcomm with Record $865 Million Fine for Excessive Licensing Fees to Phone Makers." Going into 2017 there was a barrage of lawsuits flying back and forth between Apple and Qualcomm as outlined below. Apple Qualcomm Battle History The battle between Apple and Qualcomm has been raging on since 2017 as presented below: Jan 17, 2017: The U.S. Fair Trade Commission Sues Qualcomm for Forcing Apple to use its Chips in iDevices Jan 20, 2017 - Apple Sues Qualcomm for $1 Billion Claiming Unfair Exclusionary Tactics and Charging Excessive Royalties Jan 22, 2017: Apple's Full lawsuit against Qualcomm Comes to Light Revealing Secret Licensing Agreements and more Jan 25, 2017: Apple takes their War against Qualcomm to Beijing China Jan 25, 2017: While Qualcomm is Guilty of Gouging Asian Smartphone OEMs, the Chip Maker Believes that Apple is the Problem March 02, 2017: Apple has launched a new Lawsuit against Qualcomm in the U.K. April 11, 2017: Qualcomm Fires Back at Apple with Counterclaims Lawsuit Claiming Breach of Contract and more April 28, 2017: Qualcomm Lowers Q3 Fiscal 2017 Guidance due to Apple Holding back Royalty Payments May 03, 2017: Qualcomm Plans Retaliation against Apple and ask the International Trade Commission to Stop iPhone Sales May 12, 2017 - The FTC Responds to Qualcomm's Motion to dismiss their case about Monopoly Power, Samsung & Intel File Amicus Briefs May 17, 2017: New Court Filing Details Qualcomm Suing Apple's iPhone Suppliers for withholding Royalty Payments July 06, 2017: Qualcomm Files another Patent Infringement Complaint against Apple with International Trade Commission June 20, 2017: Apple has asked the Court to Stop Qualcomm's Double Dipping 'No License, No Chips' Market Tactic July 19, 2017: Apple joins in new Lawsuit against Qualcomm filed by Suppliers Hon Hai, Pegatron, Wistron and Compal July 21, 2017: Intel Files Statement with ITC claiming Qualcomm is trying to Force them out of the Modem Business with Apple Aug 09, 2017: U.S. International Trade Commission to Investigate Apple's Alleged Unfair Trade Practice within 45 Days Aug 14, 2017: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has Requested Qualcomm provide more info on Dispute with Apple Sept 08, 2017: U.S. Federal Judge Rules that Apple's Multiple Foreign Lawsuits against Qualcomm can Proceed Oct 11, 2017: Taiwan's FTC Hits Qualcomm with a Record $773 Million Fine for Abusing their Monopoly Power Oct 13, 2017: Qualcomm, as Expected, Seeks to Stop iPhone Sales in China with new Patent Infringement Case Filed Nov 02, 2017: Qualcomm Sues Apple for Providing Intel with Qualcomm source code to Assist Intel's Future modems for iDevices Nov 29, 2017: Apple Sues Qualcomm over Two Snapdragon Processors that Infringe on their Intellectual Property Nov 30, 2017: Qualcomm Wastes no Time in Retaliating against Apple with another Patent Infringement Lawsuit filed in California 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. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Owner Kim So-hee (35) declined to reveal the sale price, but industry insiders believe she will be making hundreds of billions of won considering the size of Stylenanda's revenues, real estate holdings and brand recognition in China. Some media reports have pegged the acquisition price at more than W400 billion (US$1=W1,076). Kim started her business from the ground up in 2004 by buying clothes in Seoul's Dongdaemun Market and selling them on at a time when online shopping was virtually nonexistent. Kim says she worked late nights taking orders, buying clothes, packaging them and mailing them herself. She expanded her business purely with cash from her sales and never on credit. In 2009, Kim launched her own cosmetics brand, 3CE, which has grown to account for 69 percent of her company's total revenues. Stylenanda has 59 shops in seven Asian countries including China, Hong Kong and Japan, and generated W164.1 billion in revenues last year alone. "I believe this sale is a breakthrough for the company," Kim said. "I hope Stylenanda can expand globally and spearhead beauty and fashion trends." L'Oreal bought Stylenanda to bolster its lineup of color cosmetics. Alexis Perakis-Valat at L'Oreal's said, "Stylenanda captures Seoul's vibe, edge and creativity. It is perfectly positioned to nourish the growing appetite for makeup of millennials in Korea, China and beyond." Kim keeps a job in charge of brand development. Russia's Rosatom begins work at phase 2 of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant 05/04/18 Source: Press TV Russia has begun "soil stabilization" work on the site of Phase 2 of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran, Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom has said. Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran (file photo "On 3 May 2018, soil stabilization works under the reactor building of power unit No 2 commenced at Bushehr-2 NPP construction site," the agency said on its website on Thursday. "These works will ensure the performance of the most important stage of the project implementation - first concrete pouring planned for the third quarter of 2019," it said. Soil stabilization is one of the preparatory stages for commencement of the nuclear power plant construction required to reduce the settlement of buildings and structures of the power plant and ensuring their stability in case of possible seismic impact. Rosatom said the commencement of the works in the pit of the new power unit is planned in 2018. "All the works are being performed in accordance with the project implementation schedule," it said. The construction of the power plant's second and third phases began last November. It was reported at the time that the two phases would begin supplying electricity to Iran's power grid in 10 years. The first phase of Bushehr was connected to Iran's power grid in September 2011. Rosatom said, "A successful experience of construction of the first power unit in Bushehr was the basis for expanding cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear power." Russia and Iran signed a number of documents in November 2014, expanding cooperation in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy and opening the possibility of construction in Iran of up to eight power units. The contract for construction of the second line of Bushehr NPP consisting of two units of Russian design with a total capacity of 2,100 megawatts. Russia is one of the signatories of the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers, the other parties to the contract being the United States, Britain, France, China, and Germany. So far, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has invariably confirmed Iran's commitment to the agreement. US President Donald Trump has threatened on repeated occasions to sabotage the deal, and has said it would decide on May 12 whether it would opt out of the deal and re-impose the sanctions. On Friday April 13, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom launched airstrikes against a number of targets across Syria after the strikes were ordered by US President Donald Trump in response to the Syrian Regimes use of chemical weapons to kill civilians. The strikes show just how much power the office of the President now hoards over military decisions. The ability of the President to launch military strikes at any time and in any country without any oversight or accountability is dangerous for the world and for American citizens. Although this military response may seem appropriate given the nature of the atrocities committed by the Syrian government over the past few years, the strike was ordered without even attaining the approval of Congress, revealing the excessive and increasingly exclusive war-making power wielded by the President. It was also meaningless in the greater scheme of the Syrian Civil War, and served only as a symbolic show of force by Trump. Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution states that The Congress shall have PowerTo declare War and this declaration has always been interpreted as a check on the power of the Executive Branch and the US President, who acts as the Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces, to engage in warfare without accountability to the citizens of the United States. James Madison, the Constitutions main architect, stated in 1793 that the power to declare war was fully and exclusively vested in the legislature. (i.e. Congress) He explained that the executive branch has a vested interest in engaging in war because it brings various benefits to the President, and therefore the power to engage in war needs to rest with Congress, who are more connected with the citizens. Hence it has grown into an axiom that the executive is the department of power most distinguished by its propensity to war, Madison concludes. Hence it is the practice of all states, in proportion as they are free, to disarm this propensity of its influence. Although it is clear that the Constitution seeks to limit the power of the President to unilaterally engage in warfare, US presidents have, since World War II, succeeded in pushing through military engagements without Congressional approval. They have done so without much pushback from the legislative and judicial branches of government, who should be checking the power of the executive. One particularly egregious example occurred during the Vietnam War, when President Nixon began a secret bombing campaign against Vietnams neighbor, Cambodia, because he believed that North Vietnamese troops were hiding in Cambodia. During the undisclosed assault, the US dropped 2.7 million tons of explosives on Cambodia more than the Allies dropped during the entirety of World War II. A report on the effects of the bombing of Cambodia by Taylor Owen and Ben Kiernan concluded that the USs bombing campaign led to widespread anger and radicalization of Cambodian citizens, driving them to join and support a small insurgent group called the Khmer Rouge. After the American bombings, the formerly small and scattered group of Maoist revolutionaries grew exponentially and quickly took over. Once in power, they began carrying out the Cambodian Genocide, during which between 1.5 and 3 million people deemed enemies of the new regime were killed. Reports on the consequences of modern military/drone strikes from the presidency of George W. Bush up to the present indicate that the same types of blowback and anger are occuring today. The actions of former President Barack Obama to ramp up the number of drone strikes across the world, in countries where the US was not officially engaged in war, increased levels of resentment toward the United States in places where the falsely justified invasion of Iraq had already made people highly suspicious of US intentions. Writers for the New York Times have stated that in Yemen and Pakistan, drone bombings have become the recruiting tool of choice for militants. These classified military strikes have vast unforeseen consequences, yet the office of the President seems unconcerned with the prospect of greater chaos around the world. Trumps most recent military strikes, and his continuation of drone bombing campaigns around the globe, simply show the ridiculous nature of a US Presidents ability to order wide scale destruction around the world without accountability to anyone. Trumps administration has reportedly loosened the rules of engagement and decreased the already dismal levels of transparency concerning the governments military strikes, according to The Guardian. Strikes under this administration are being ordered more broadly and with even less regard for innocent casualties compared with recent former administrations. While watching a previously recorded airstrike where the CIA had held off on firing at their target until he left the home where his family was with him, Trump reportedly asked, Why did you wait? No individual should have the ability to unilaterally order bomb strikes capable of destroying city blocks and entire buildings at will. These strikes dramatically shape the perception of the United States and its citizens around the world, yet the American public is largely unaware of what is being done in its name. Military strikes that kill innocent civilians across the Muslim world are used by terrorist organizations to recruit people to kill citizens in the West. The violence engaged in by US Presidents fuels this horrendous cycle of violence around the world and must be stopped. Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent each year in the US on war and the military while schools here are crumbling and children are starving. Trumps most recent military strike on Syria, meanwhile, is clearly not going to change much in the grand scheme of the Syrian Civil War. According to the Guardian, the strikes did not fully destroy the Syrian Regimes chemical weapons program, and many in the country suspect that the Syrian government moved most of their chemical stocks to secret locations in anticipation of the strike. It appears that this most recent strike was simply a show of force by President Trump; one meant to show that he doesnt back down on red lines, as opposed to what happened when President Obama chose not to strike Syria following the use of chemical weapons by the government of Assad during his tenure. But what is implied with these strikes, and with Trumps anti-Syrian refugee rhetoric and policies, is that it is okay for Assad to bomb innocent people in Syria to his hearts desire as long as he sticks with barrel bombs and missile strikes. Even in the run-up to this last strike, the US government did nothing to try to secure a deal that would protect the Syrians targeted by Assads regime. The US will only step in to make a stand in response to the arbitrary symbol of chemical weapons use rather than explosive munitions used to murder civilians. The fact that the US President can single-handedly order a military strike on a whim, like a military dictator, in order to prove a point is a reflection of the sad state of American politics and the vast, out-of-control powers that have been afforded to the US President. It is time for US citizens to reign in the powers of the executive branch and end unjustified military interventions with horrific consequences around the world. The Bank of Ghana has said it appointed an advisor to the Sovereign Bank Limited in April 2018. A statement issued by the governing bank on Friday, 4 May, said: The Bank of Ghana did not previously publish notice of the appointment of the advisor, as it was done as part of its normal supervisory routine. Given the recent press reports on the bank, however, we find it necessary to release this press statement to clarify the issues on Sovereign Bank, the statement said. Sovereign Bank was licensed by the Bank of Ghana as a universal bank in January 2016. As part of its supervisory functions, the Bank of Ghana completed an on-site examination of the bank in December 2017. The outcome of the on-site examination revealed some governance and capitalisation challenges which needed to be addressed, the statement said. The Bank of Ghana said it has a range of powers under the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act of 2016 (Act 930) to take prompt remedial action to address supervisory concerns it identifies in a regulated institution. One of such powers is to appoint an advisor under section 101 (1) of Act 930 that will advise an institutions management. Consequently, and in accordance with section 101 (1) of Act 930, the Bank of Ghana said it appointed an advisor in April 2018 to advise the management of Sovereign Bank Limited. The Advisor, the regulator said, is expected to help monitor the banks recapitalisation efforts and implementation of governance reforms agreed with the Bank of Ghana. The Advisor will stay in the bank until otherwise advised by the Bank of Ghana, and will furnish the Bank of Ghana with a status report on the bank as frequently as the Bank of Ghana may require. It is important to note that an advisor, unlike an official administrator, does not take over the powers, responsibilities, and duties of the banks shareholders, directors, or management. Under Act 930, the Advisor may attend meetings of the Board of Directors without voting at such meetings. The Bank of Ghana assured depositors and customers of Sovereign Bank Limited that Sovereign Bank remains open for business under the control of the banks own management, and that customers deposits are safe. The Bank of Ghana remains committed to promoting a strong and resilient banking sector that retains the trust and confidence of the general public, the statement added. 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 GOIL Board Chairman Kwamina Bartels has given the strongest indication yet that the state oil player is ready to be a major player in the upstream oil industry. Mr. Bartels made this disclosure when he addressed the 49th AGM of the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) in Accra. This development will give far more meaning to the Local Content Law and local content participation. Even though there is a law in place to ensure Ghanaian participation in the oil and gas industry, this has remained mostly in the downstream sector. Mr. Bartels announced that, currently, GOIL is supporting and rendering services to upstream companies, and that in the near-future GOIL will be a major player in the upstream since its future is bright. To this end, GOIL is to soon incorporate a company that will be responsible under the Group for handling GOILs activities upstream. With the commercial discovery of oil in the Jubilee Field in 2007, and other discoveries subsequently, Ghanaian companies have had to be content with operating in the downstream sector since most indigenous companies do not possess the financial muscle and expertise to take up major contracts upstream. This development is indeed welcome news, because it means Ghanaians are gradually going to benefit far more than we are currently doing from our oil resource and this is what we envisage before we can truly say we are an oil-producing country. We believe the move is in the right direction, since GOIL as a partly-state-owned company, is in a strong position to partner any of the worlds major exploration and producing companies. A pragmatic step taken to break the resource curse is enactment of Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2013 (L.I. 2204). The objective of the legislation is to, among others, promote job creation through the use of local expertise, and to develop local capacities in the petroleum industry. We must strive for its full application to ensure Ghanaians benefit from the oil resource. We believe the GNPC also can be positioned to play a major role in exploration as well as production, and it is incumbent on government to ensure the right capacities are built to realise this objective which will benefit the state more. Source: thebftonline.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 North Korea on Thursday urged South Korea and the U.S. to lift sanctions, withdraw the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in southwestern Korea, and stop mentioning human rights abuses in the North. The demands came after the recent inter-Korean summit and ahead of a summit with the U.S. "The American plot against human rights practices is a provocative racket that poses an obstacle to the trend towards dialogue and peace," the official Rodong Sinmun daily said. "We're doubtful of America's sincerity whether it really has the intention to have dialogue." The Uriminzokkiri propaganda website complained about remarks by U.S. officials in favor of keeping up maximum pressure on the North, calling them "an affront and insult to our sincere efforts towards peace." State media also said there is "no longer is any justification or excuse" for the presence of the THAAD battery. Propaganda outlet Meari said, "The THAAD battery is an ill-intentioned act running counter to the inter-Korean relations. The battery should be withdrawn immediately." Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a visit to Pyongyang, met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday. Wang expressed support of the regime's efforts to remove "justifiable worries" about security in the process of denuclearization. The North's "firm stance is to realize denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula," Kim reportedly said. He added Pyongyang is trying to "find ways to restore dialogue and build mutual trust to remove sources that threaten peace on the peninsula." A diplomatic source said the phrase "justifiable worries" refers to massive joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Benonita Bismarck, has debunked reports suggesting that she gave express permission to her deputy to sign a contract to undertake cargo fumigation exercise at the countrys ports. She says the Deputy CEO of the Authority, Sylvia Asana Dauda, signed an agreement with LCB World Wide to commence the cargo fumigation exercise at the ports without her consent. It would be recalled that a cargo fumigation exercise which started some few months ago was suspended by the government after importers and exporters complained that the exercise had increased their cost of doing business at the ports. Explaining her side of the story to Citi Business News, Madam Benonita Bismarck maintained that the contract was signed on the first day she reported to work, so she couldnt have ordered her deputy to sign it. I have not given any written consent to anybody to sign. This document was initially signed on the 13th of June, 2017. That was the first day I reported to work, and indeed I did not read the contract, I was not made to read it, so I didnt even know what it was about, so I couldnt have given my consent to a document that I didnt know anything about, she insisted. She disclosed that Subsequently, when I was given the document after I asked for it and it was shown to me, I noticed that the date was 23rd June, 2017, but I could remember that it was signed on my first day at work which was the 13th of June 2017. According her, upon realizing that the original date has changed on the document, she enquired and was told that it was altered to allow the Director General of the Ghana Health Service to sign since he wasnt around on the 13th of June, 2018. So I said by the same token it should have been brought back because I did not sign, because for the GSA, it was signed by the deputy CEO without my consent. Madam Bismarck insisted that she had no knowledge of the document on the 13th of June when she first arrived at the Authority, and had not even received a handing over note at the time. She recounted that on the said day, she saw the former CEO and some officials she couldnt identify, as well as the deputy CEO sign the contract in her office, but she never got an opportunity to see it or know its content. So when the exercise started and government stopped it, I called for the document and when I saw its content, I said no. The GSA cannot consent to such a contract because it goes against the very stakeholders we protect, who are the shippers. She bemoaned reports suggesting that she gave her blessings for the document to be signed, and pointed out that she was not involved. Source: Citinewsroom 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 title Okyehene does not exist in the books of Ghanas Chieftaincy Ministry, Dr Nana Agyenim Boateng, President of the Concerned Youth of Ashanti (CYA), has said. According to him, while the Asante King rules over a Kingdom, the Chieftaincy Ministry only recognises the title, Akyem Abuakwamanhene, for the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area. Dr Agyenim Boateng told Class FM on Friday, 4 May 2018 that: They always want to compare the paramount chief of Akyem Abuakwa to the Asante Kingdom, which is impossible. When you go into chieftaincy Ive worked with the Chieftaincy Ministry before we dont even have anything called Okyehene but we have Akyem Abuakwamanhene. He explained that the Akyems have three clans. We have Akyem Kotoku which is a paramount, we have Akyem Abuakwa, it is a paramount; and Akyem Bosome and they are all paramountcies, but, he added: The Asante King [rules over] a kingdom. His comments were a reply to Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, nephew to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who said he is not stupid enough to undermine Asante monarch Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as being alleged by the revered traditional leader. At the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi recently, the furious Asante monarch is said to have specifically named Mr Otchere-Darko and the presidents Executive Secretary, Nana Asante Bediatuo, as plotting to undermine him. Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and other leading figures of the NPP, including Acting General Secretary John Boadu; Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah, as well as the Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Kwabena Senkyire, went to the Manyhia Palace on Wednesday, 2 May 2018 for a different purpose but got confronted by the enraged monarch who revealed to them that certain people close to the seat of government were making disparaging comments about him and also pitching him against the people of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area native town of President Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Otchere-Darko and Nana Asante Bediatuo. This prompted an instant groveling apology by the four leading figures of the NPP, who fell on their knees before the traditional leader. Responding to the allegation against him, Mr Otchere-Darko wrote on his Facebook page: Am I so stupid that I would work against my own interest and turn one-half of me against the other half by inciting my mothers people against my fathers people; that I would bite the very hand that feeds us politically? Perplexing. But Dr Agyenim Boateng believes Mr Otchere-Darkos response was disrespectful. How can you respond in such a way to His Majesty? Lets be sincere; courtesy demands, if such a great king has spoken and mentioned your name, is this the way to respond to him, that you are not stupid? I mean we must look further, he stated. He continued: Gabby must come down; such arrogance cannot take him anywhere. This is not the way to respond when a father speaks to you. Asante Bediatuo has kept quiet but Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko is becoming unbecoming. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, nephew to President Nana Akufo-Addo, has said he is not stupid enough to undermine Asante monarch Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as being alleged by the revered traditional leader. At the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi recently, the furious Asante monarch is said to have specifically named Mr Otchere-Darko and the presidents Executive Secretary Nana Asante Bediatuo, as plotting to undermine him. A group called Concerned Youth of Ashanti led by Dr. Nana Agyenim Boateng, has come out to confirm the allegations. A couple of years ago under the leadership of Akufo-Addo, his nephew and relatives started making some comments concerning the Asantehene and the Asantehene himself mentioned Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and Asante Bediatuo at the Manhyia Palace. Everything they are saying about the Asantehene, he is in Manhyia Palace but he has heard of it, Dr Agyenim Boateng told Accra-based Starr FM in an interview on Thursday, 3 May. Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and other leading figures of the NPP, including Acting General Secretary John Boadu; Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah, as well as the Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Kwabena Senkyire, went to the Manyhia Palace on Wednesday, 2 May 2018 for a different purpose but got confronted by the enraged monarch who revealed to them that certain people close to the seat of government were making disparaging comments about him and also pitching him against the people of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area native town of President Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Otchere-Darko and Nana Asante Bediatuo. This prompted an instant groveling apology by the four leading figures of the NPP, who fell on their knees before the traditional leader. Responding to the allegation against him, Mr Otchere-Darko wrote on his Facebook page: Am I so stupid that I would work against my own interest and turn one-half of me against the other half by inciting my mothers people against my fathers people; that I would bite the very hand that feeds us politically? Perplexing. Post Below- 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 Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, NPP Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku consstituency in the Greater Accra region, has urged the youth of Ghana to embrace the governments Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) with an overwhelming joy and delight. According to him, the Nation Builders Corps is to help create employment opportunities for the teeming youth of the nation. Speaking on Peace FMs 'Kokrokoo' programme, Dr. Okoe Boye described Nana Akufo-Addo as a compassionate President and desires to help the youth to find a fulfilled life. He asked the youth not to pay attention to the detractors of the government but rather utilize the opportunity provided by President Akufo-Addo and his government. Dont look at the money; go for value. Get engaged . . . get inside the Nation Builders Corps if you are at home. Tomorrow will tell for itself. You dont need to know what will have tomorrow before you start. And for your own information, those who are telling you not to go for the GHc 700 are not ready to give you GHc 200 for staying at home, he advised. The President on Tuesday, 1st May, 2018, launched the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), which will employ, in this year alone, 100,000 young men and women to assist in the public sector service delivery needs of Ghana. NABCO will be the vehicle to deliver one hundred thousand (100,000) jobs in seven (7) prioritized areas, defined as the following modules: Educate Ghana; Heal Ghana; Feed Ghana; Revenue Ghana; Digitize Ghana; Enterprise Ghana; and Civic Ghana", the President said on the occasion. To Dr. Okoe Boye, President Akufo-Addo is competent to ensure the policy becomes a success. Hes not only competent. Theres one thing he has that some Presidents do not have. He has compassion. Thats a virtue of God . . . Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, hes aware that he has two choices either he invests in the Ghanaian or his family and friends. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The following list includes business bankruptcies that were filed in United States Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg) from March 1, 2018 - March 31, 2018. CHAPTER 7 Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may be used by businesses or individuals. A portion of the debtors assets is liquidated and distributed among creditors by a trustee to satisfy debts. In some cases, action can be brought against a debtor by creditors. Sldc Inc., 1546 Mount Zion Road, Bethel Township, Lebanon County. Docket No. 18-1162. CHAPTER 11 Provides businesses or large investors with protection from creditors while they continue operating and develop a repayment plan. Both creditors and owners must agree on a reorganization plan, which ultimately must be approved by a federal bankruptcy judge. Morningstar Marketplace Inc., P.O. Box 364, Thomasville. Docket No. 18-0875. CHAPTER 13 Provides protection from creditors to individuals, including those who are sole proprietors of a business, while they repay their debts from current assets and income, usually over three to five years. Kurvin R. Batdorf Jr. also known as Kurvin Batdorf, doing business as K&S Farms, 219 Middle Road, West Perry Township, Snyder County. Docket No. 18-0839. Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill is free from prison, but he's still battling the criminal justice system. Whether it's through speaking out about the problems within the process of long tail probation or working with Governor Tom Wolf to advocate for reform, Mill is refusing to be silent. His journey for justice is the subject for a six-part documentary series on Amazon, executive produced by Jay-Z. The series is set to premiere in 2019, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was sentenced to two to four years in prison after a judge declared he had violated his probation for a gun and drug conviction more than a decade before. He was released after five months by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after ethical and credibility issues emerged concerning the arresting officer. READ MORE: Timeline of Meek Mill's imprisonment The docuseries will highlight both his incarceration, investigations over his sentencing and the battle to free him from prison. His life after prison will also be included. This won't be the first docuseries produced by Jay-Z, who has also produced series revolving around Trayvon Martin and Kalief Browder. Jay-Z has been a vocal supporter of Mill's even writing an editorial in The New York Times about his situation. "Meek was around 19 when he was convicted on charges relating to drug and gun possession, and he served an eight-month sentence," Jay-Z wrote. "Now, he's 30, so he has been on probation for basically his entire adult life. "For about a decade, he's been stalked by a system that considers the slightest infraction a justification for locking him back inside," the editorial continues. "What's happening to Meek Mill is just one example of how our criminal justice system entraps and harasses hundreds of thousands of black people every day." READ MORE: Meek Mill, released from prison, makes appearance in Philadelphia, rings bell before Sixers-Heat Game 5 Relationships with parents can be complicated and the impact they have on their children's lives is uncertain. Such was the case with filmmaker Jean Renoir and his father, famous painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Their relationship and how it impacted their art is explored in a new exhibit at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia: "Renoir: Father and Son/Painting and Cinema." The exhibit opens on May 6 and runs until Sept. 3 before it moves to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Tickets are $30 for adults and includes admission to the Barnes' main collection. Both artists, Jean is featured in many of his father's paintings as a child model. He's dressed as a clown in "Jean Renoir en Pierrot (Le Pierrot blanc)" from 1901-2. He's shown eating in "L'Enfant au biscuit" (1899) and sewing in "Jean Renoir cousant" (1899-1910). In the latter he looks very much like a little girl, on account of his father refusing to let him cut his hair until he was seven. Then there's "Jean en chasseur," or "Jean as a Huntsman," from 1910. Jean stands in sportsman clothing, a gun in hand and pups at his feet. It's the one painting of his father's that he never parted with -- many others he would sell for cash in order to finance his films. Jean was never able to return the favor, as his father had died before Jean joined the cinematic world. Filmmaking was at first as a way to help his aspiring actress wife, who was also Pierre-Auguste's last model and is featured prominently in "Les Baigneuses" or "The Bathers" (which is on display in the exhibit, on loan from the Musee d'Orsay). Jean claimed he spent his life "trying to determine the extent of the influence of my father upon me." It's a question the exhibit attempts to answer -- or, at the very least, shed some light on. In addition to showing paintings of Jean by Pierre-Auguste, the exhibit includes more than 20 brief film clips, posters and costumes from Jean's work. The characters in them resemble those featured in his father's paintings, as do some of the scenic landscapes. The most obvious resemblance is in Jean's "A Day in the Country," where two women are shown on a set of swings in the countryside. One stands on a swing as gentlemen look on, reminiscent of Pierre-Auguste's famous 1876 painting "La Balancoire" or "The Swing." That painting is on display in the exhibit as well, on loan from the Musee d'Orsay. Because the Barnes Foundation is not allowed to move any of the paintings on its walls, a large part of the exhibit is on loan from private collections and several French museums. Martin Scorsese contributed to the exhibit as well, allowing the gallery to showcase four movie posters from Jean's films that he owned. The Barnes' contributions include ceramic vases created by Jean. Albert Barnes, the founder of the collection, was the most prominent collector of Jean's ceramic work, even if he did not always prominently display it. The connection between Jean and Albert Barnes is also explored in the exhibit, as both worked together to champion Pierre-Auguste's work, particularly the artists controversial later works. Letters between the two are in the exhibit, as are photographs showing Jean visiting his father's work at the Barnes. When visitors leave, they'll be handed a brochure encouraging them to go back through the collection and see more of Pierre-Auguste's work which is featured there. The Barnes will help visitors grow in understanding the Renoirs and their work with various gallery talks centered around the exhibit, spotlight tours and lectures, including "Why We Love to Hate Renoir" at 11:30 a.m. on May 13. Those looking to see more of Jean's films can do so at the Lightbox Film Center (3701 Chestnut St., University), which will be screening films throughout the run of the exhibit. Tickets to the screenings are $10 for the general public, $8 for students and seniors and free for Lightbox members and International House Philadelphia residents. Screening schedule is below: 7 p.m. May 11: "The Crime of Monsieur Lange" (1936) 7 p.m. June 2: "Rules of the Game" (1939) 7 p.m. June 29: "Elena and Her Men" (1956) 7 p.m. July 20: "Boudu Saved from Drowning" (1932) 7 p.m. Aug. 10: "French Cancan" (1955 7 p.m. Aug. 24: "The River" (1951) Conversely, they can also attend the opening day of the exhibit. Admission to the Barnes Foundation is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 6, part of the museum's first Sundays program. During the day there will be three screenings of Jean's "A Day in the Country." You can find the Barnes Foundation at 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. For more information and to purchase tickets visit barnesfoundation.org or call 215-278-7000. DETAILS: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Mondays May 6-Sept. 3 at the Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. Cost: $30 adults, $28 seniors, $5 students, free for members (includes admission to the collection). barnesfoundation.org; 215-278-7000. Want more stories about Philadelphia? Click here for all our coverage of the City of Brotherly Love. This story has been updated to correct the number of posters Scorsese has loaned to the exhibit. District Attorney Fran Chardo told the crowd gathered in the Dauphin County Courthouse lobby on Friday morning that it is important to recognize the "excellence in our midst." Then, he proceeded to do just that. Over the next few minutes, Chardo handed out his first Hometown Heroes Awards to four police officers, one of his busiest homicide prosecutors and three Harrisburg residents who stepped up after a horrific and ultimately fatal shooting spree in the city this past December. Dauphin County DA Fran Chardo bestows the first Hometown Heroes Awards on law enforcement and civilians who have helped keep their neighbors safe. Posted by PennLive.com on Friday, May 4, 2018 First up to the awards table was Susquehanna Township Patrol Officer Joshua Dupler, recipient of the Sergeant Robert "Bo" McAllister Outstanding Service as a Patrol Officer Award. Dupler, a two-year veteran of the township department and former member of the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police, makes a point of hitting the street with foot patrols and engaging and building relationships with the people on his beat, Chardo said. On a recent patrol, Dupler thwarted a 3 a.m. burglary. The Detective Samuel Thomas Kohr Memorial Award for Outstanding Service as a Detective went to Harrisburg Detective Richard Iachini. Iachini has been the lead investigator on an array of homicide cases. Chardo focused on Iachini's role in the convictions of two men for the March 2016 murder of John Carter, the nephew of city Police Chief Thomas Carter. Iachini's pursuit of that case was "dogged," Chardo said, even though he had to deal with hostile and uncooperative witnesses. "Rick got to the truth, but maintained his professionalism throughout," the DA said. Iachini's prosecutorial partner in the Carter murder case, Chief Deputy District Attorney Johnny Baer, was tapped for the LeRoy S. Zimmerman Award for Outstanding Service as a Prosecutor Award. The Carter case is just one of about 50 homicide prosecutions Baer has handled. "He is tireless in his preparation and devoted to doing it the right way," Chardo said of Baer. "Ensuring that murderers are held accountable is his passion." The District Attorney's Award for Valor went to state Trooper Wesley A. Johnson and Harrisburg Police Officer Chad McGowan. They risked their lives during the Dec. 22 shootout in Harrisburg that ended the spree of gunman Ahmed El-Mofty, Chardo said. "Both officers exhibited extraordinary courage," Chardo said. Police killed El-Mofty, a 51-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Egypt, after he went on a cross-city shooting spree targeting cops. El-Mofty shot at the cruiser of a Capitol Police officer and wounded a state trooper before being killed while shooting at more officers at 17thand Mulberry streets. Chardo's Citizens Award went to three city business owners - Kerry N. Hitt, Juan Carlos Valdez Ramos and Renato P. Dellaporta Jr. - who aided the investigation after El-Mofty was killed. Hitt and Ramos provided vital video evidence in the case, the DA said. He said Dellaporta also provided video of the shoot-out and temporarily closed his business so police could use it as a command post. WASHINGTON -- School kids know all about lockdown drills. They hear a lot about gun scares in or near schools, picking up snippets of news from conversations and TV at home, from social media and from talking with their friends. This may suggest a bit of a disconnect, since school shootings occur nowhere near the rate of other gun violence, as gun-rights and gun-control activists both acknowledge. A young demonstrator participates in the March for Our Lives Los Angeles rally on March 24, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Sarah Morris, Getty Images) And for some Americans, school is one of the most secure places they know. "I grew up in an urban area and every school had metal detectors, security, and police officers," said Ade Kelly, of East Orange, New Jersey. "For many of us, school was one of the safest places we could be." Yet the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 20 students and six adults, and the recent killing of 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, shook up families in a number of other settings. After Parkland, a majority of teens said they worried about a possible shooting at their schools, according to the Pew Research Center. Parents shared the concern. The Parkland shootings sparked rallies and marches across the country. Americans pleaded for better school safety, some asking for more guards or even armed teachers; others calling for limits on firearms purchases. There was talk of finding ways to better identify and counsel troubled people before they turn dangerously violent. And the shootings prompted a fresh round of discussions at home between parents and children. Participants in "Guns, an American Conversation," have talked about those home discussions over the last month. "Guns, an American Conversation" is an initiative by Advance Local newsrooms from across the country in partnership with Spaceship Media. The project has brought together 150 engaged readers with a broad spectrum of opinions to talk about guns in an honest and civil way through a closed Facebook group. Today's topic: Talking to children about gun violence Counselors and psychologists have an abundance of advice for parents who want to discuss gun violence with their children. A top discussion point recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists: "Schools are safe places. School staff works with parents and public safety providers (local police and fire departments, emergency responders, hospitals, etc.) to keep you safe." Joseph Jensen, 10, of Spanish Fork, Utah, carries a "Protect our kids with the 2nd Amendment" sign while attending a pro-gun rally on the steps of the State Capitol in Salt Lake City last month. (AP Photo) "You want your kids to feel safe," said Daniel J. Flannery, director of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention, Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University and a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at University Hospitals of Cleveland. While stressing that a school is safe, parents shouldn't dismiss a child's concerns, Flannery said in a telephone interview. And it's important for children to know that if they see something that concerns them, they should tell a teacher or other adult, he and others said. "And you say 'Look, sometimes bad things do happen,'" Flannery said. "'But when you go to school, you are going to be safe, and we will do everything to keep you safe.'" The tenor of parent-child talks depends somewhat on the child's age, authorities say: Early elementary school children need brief, simple information with reassurances that their school and homes are safe, and that adults are there to protect them, the school psychologists' association says. "Give simple examples of school safety like reminding children about exterior doors being locked, child-monitoring efforts on the playground and emergency drills practiced during the school day." Upper elementary and early middle school children are likely to ask more questions about whether they truly are safe. "They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to provide safe schools," the association says. Upper middle school and high school students "will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence," the association says. It recommends that parents emphasize the role that students themselves have in maintaining safe schools, which includes communicating any personal safety concerns to school administrators. Inside the conversation So how have participants in "Guns, an American Conversation," handled at-home discussions with their children? The group's moderation team asked parents in the group to share their experiences. Some of their answers differed but there was common advice: Be mindful of the statistical reality "I explain that schools are still the safest institution in America, and that their school is doing everything it can to keep them safe," J. Scott Lewis, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said he has told his 12-year-old son and his 8-year-old daughter. "I explain that schools are still the safest institution in America, and that their school is doing everything it can to keep them safe. At the same time, I am realistic that bad people will always exist to do bad things, and so we should be aware of our surroundings and know how to react." "I spoke with my children about the Parkland shooting," said Kimberly Gobla Krupka, of Bath, Pennsylvania, the mother of a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old. She said she "stressed they are very safe. We discussed there are 50.1 million children in the U.S. who attend school daily. The risk of being shot is less than .0001%. "While any single death is one too many, they should not be fearful of attending school. The risks associated with drugs, distracted driving and domestic (girlfriend/boyfriend) violence is much greater." Be aware of your environment and be willing to say something "I tell my 15-year-old son to report to his teachers anything he overhears kids saying about guns and to be aware of his surroundings," Jennifer Brush, of Solon Ohio, said. "Though I have not yet started asking if there are guns in the homes of his friends, I am thinking of starting." Gobla Krupa agreed. She said she "stressed 'see something, say something'" -- but she also said she looked "rationally at the statistical risk" and emphasized "living life to the fullest." Be true to your ideals, Part 1 Do you own guns? Then teach your children gun safety and respect for their power, said gun-owning parents. "Our kids know we're in the firearms industry and have seen us turn down sales to people we just don't feel right selling to," said Deborah Keen Butler, of River Ridge, Louisiana, who has two sons, ages 18 and 10. The younger one "said he felt sad that kids were hurt and killed. He wanted to know why someone wanted to hurt so many people. "We explained that sometimes a person is so broken that they just want everyone to hurt as much as they do. He thought about it for awhile and then asked why they couldn't just use words. I told him that I wish they would just use words, too." Keen Butler made a point stressed repeatedly by gun owners in "Guns, an American Conversation": They want safety as much as anyone. For example, her sons "know we have helped ATF arrest many people for straw purchases. They know that we do our best to teach people to be safe with firearms, we try to get everyone to take a class and if not we try to spend time with them at the time of their purchase to teach them as much safety as possible. "We are open with other parents that there are firearms in our home, but that they are stored very safely and never where a child can get to them. We have taught our children that if they are in a friend's home and see a firearm they are to go outside and yell that there's a gun, because to take it away is an adult problem and if their friend picks it up they are at the wrong end." Be true to your ideals, Part 2 But what if you want nothing to do with guns? This was emphasized by other parents: Talk about guns in the context of your lives. Reba Holley, for example, of Pennington, New Jersey, said she works to curb gun violence, and she talked with her children "about policy and politics and guns on campus." They are now young adults but "none of them were surprised when I wouldn't allow them to apply to colleges where guns were allowed on campus." "My children are grown," said Denise Trasatti Sellers, of Stratford, New Jersey. "I had many conversations with them as children, at all stages, and though I don't recall any specifics, they centered on my pacifist beliefs. I never allowed them to play with guns, or video games, and sent my son to a Quaker school ( a 'peace school,'not a 'war school,' as he called it) partly because of that." Know your schools and have a voice there "I am also keeping up with the board of education to ensure there is no discussion of arming teachers or teaching gun safety in the schools," Brush said. Teach some manners "I also teach him to be polite and respectful to everyone," Brush said. "I teach him to hold doors for people, greet them, look them in the eye and thank them for any kind or courteous gesture. "He just got his learner's driver's permit and I am stressing road manners, never to be in a rush and to yield if he perceives a driver as being aggressive. I teach him always to be cooperative and polite in any encounter with the police, and always to have his documents in order. I teach him to be kind and helpful if he sees others in need." Find positive influences "Most people are good people and want to help," Lewis said he tells his children. "Look for heroes and associate with them. Find positive influences, and avoid positions that increase the likelihood of victimization." Show some love "I conclude," Lewis said, "by telling them that no matter what, they are loved and cherished." What do you think? What are your feelings on the best ways to talk to kids about gun violence? Share your thoughts in the comments. This post was updated at 4:57 p.m. with some additional information and links to past coverage. STATE COLLEGE - Penn State trustees voted overwhelmingly Friday to extend President Eric Barron's contract through 2021-22 at a salary of slightly more than $1 million a year. The total value of the package is just under $5 million through the next four years. The motion passed 30 to 2, with three abstentions. Most of the opposition centered on a contract extension process that trustees who are directly elected to the board by alumni said left them feeling cut out. Trustee William Oldsey noted the hiring of the university president and providing for Penn State's governance is the board's single most important function. The motion from the board's Committee on Compensation, including salary and other terms of Barron's continued employment, were worked out exclusively by the board's smallest committee, Oldsey noted, and one without any representation from the alumni-elected trustees. "So now we're faced with making the most important decision that the board can make, and we're making it almost exclusively on the recommendations of a five-person committee... that worked privately and behind the committee curtain, away from the board at large," Oldsey complained. Because he and his fellow directly-elected trustees didn't have a say in such a big move, Oldsey said, he planned to abstain. That was not a reflection, he added, of his view of Barron's performance. He was joined by trustees Anthony Lubrano and Alice Pope, who also abstained. Trustees Jay Paterno and Ted Brown voted no. The alumni-elected trustees were not in lockstep on the point, though. Member Rob Tribeck said while he agreed with Oldsey's complaint, he viewed that as something for the board to correct going forward. But Tribeck called that an internal matter that he could separate from Barron's contract. That discussion aside, trustees said they are very happy with Barron's performance, and felt - with the university in the midst of a $1.6 billion capital campaign - this was the time to lock down continuity in governance. As part of that campaign, Barron noted earlier in the meeting, Penn State has just recorded its first two back-to-back years in which gifts and pledges exceeded $300 million. "I'm more confident in the future than I was when I first joined the board four years ago," said trustee Walter Rakowich. "I think we're stronger financially... and the most important thing is we've got a strategic vision, and it plays to our strengths." "Eric Barron has successfully advanced many of the goals and objectives established by the board, including tackling the issues of access and affordability, student success, and diversity and inclusion," said Keith Masser, chairman of the board's Committee on Compensation, which recommended the extended contract. "In addition, given that the University is nearing the end of year two of its fundraising campaign with 36 percent of the campaign elapsed and 41 percent of the goal reached, it is critical that we maintain leadership and momentum." Barron, 66, was initially elected as Penn State's president in February 2014 and took office that May. His initial contract was set to run through the 2018-19 academic year. Besides the capital campaign, Baron has worked to amplify Penn State's role as an economic driver for Pennsylvania, and sharpened the university's focus on areas of expertise where it is best suited for a leading role in higher education. He has launched several initiatives aimed at increasing the accessibility and affordability of Penn State to all types of students, especially by encouraging the completion of degrees in four years. He has also launched campus-wide efforts to prevent sexual assault and, in the wake of a 2017 hazing-related death, to modernize and rebuild a more accountable fraternity and sorority system. Here's the terms of Friday's extension as announced by Masser: * Base salary will continue at $834,364, plus an additional $200,000 retention payment upon the completion of each contract year. The board retains the ability to make annual adjustments going forward based on its assessments of the president's performance. * Barron will be paid an additional $800,000 in June, based on his completion of the first four years of his initial contract. This "completion" payment was initially set to be made in 2019, at $1 million for five years. The board has now established a separate, second completion payment of $800,000 set to be paid in 2022. * Barron would be able to qualify for a one-year consultancy period upon the completion of his contract, at the same salary of the last year of his full-time service as president. * Finally, Barron would be eligible to return to the faculty of Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences upon completion of his presidential service, at a salary equal to the average of the top three tenured faculty there. (Currently $232,000). Penn State trustees hired Barron away from Florida State University, where he had served as president from 2010 through 2014. It was a homecoming for Penn State's 18th president. A climate scientist by trade, Barron initally came to Penn State in 1986 and eventually became director of the university's Earth System Science Center. In 2002, he became the dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Barron left Penn State in 2006 to establish a school of geosciences at the University of Texas in Austin, an opportunity he said at the time he could not pass up. Barron also served as director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., from 2008 to 2010. Al-Falih gained the favor of the crown prince by taking charge of the US$2 trillion initial public offering of Aramco, which bin Salman is pursuing. He was appointed minister of energy in 2015, when bin Salman became the leading light in the Saudi royal family. Al-Falih is considered the right-hand man of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and keeper of the world's biggest oil reserves as a board member of Aramco, which accounts for more than 90 percent of the Saudi royal family's finances and 40 percent of the country's GDP. The government here rolled out the red carpet because Al-Falih oversees a $700 billion project called "Vision 2030" that aims to diversify the kingdom's industry and wean it off its dependence on oil. Out of the total budget, $500 billion is being spent with the aim of creating a Middle Eastern version of Silicon Valley called Neom. The new city is slated for completion in 2025 and will have its own tax, labor and judicial systems to bypass the bureaucracy and hardline sharia law. The minister visits Cheong Wa Dae on Friday after meeting with his Korean counterpart Paik Un-gyu. Later he will attend a reception hosted by the Saudi Arabian Embassy at a hotel in Seoul, where he will meet senior Korean business figures. He leaves for Japan after visiting an S-Oil plant in Ulsan. Korea and Japan are locked in a fierce competition for a slice of bin Salman's massive infrastructure projects including nuclear power plants and solar energy facilities. As part of its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is pursuing a $200 billion solar power generation project. Korea is hoping to win orders from this massive venture but is one step behind its Japanese rivals. In March, bin Salman met in New York with SoftBank chairman Masayoshi Son and agreed to set up a joint venture to build a 200 GW solar power plant by 2030. But Korea is also eyeing nuclear power plants. Saudi Arabia plans to spend $20 billion to build two 1,400 MW nuclear reactors, and Korean, Chinese, French, Russian and U.S. companies are competing fiercely to win the bids. The three preliminary favorites will be picked this month and Korea has high hopes of making in on that list. A Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official said, "The prospects of us winning the Saudi nuclear reactor orders has grown brighter with Al-Falih's visit." BELLEFONTE--The day he was mortally wounded, Tim Piazza ate only a peanut butter sandwich. Then he was summoned to the Beta Theta Pi house Feb. 2, 2017, and told to arrive within nine minutes. That meant he didn't have time to eat anything else, prosecutors said, before having to endure an alcohol-chugging obstacle course set up for pledges known as the "gauntlet" on a nearly empty stomach. The testimony during Friday's preliminary hearing against 12 defendants charged in connection with Piazza's death caused Piazza's father, Jim Piazza, to break down in tears in the front row of the courtroom, where he sat next to his wife Evelyn. Magisterial District Judge Steven Lachman then announced a break in the proceedings and he apologized to the Piazzas, representing the first time in three different preliminary hearings that a judge acknowledged their grief. "I'm extremely sorry for your loss," Lachman said. "I'm sorry you have to go through this over and over again." Jim and Evelyn Piazza, left, with a picture of their son, Tim. The evidence about Tim's food consumption was introduced by prosecutors Friday on the third and final expected day of testimony against this batch of defendants to counter arguments by defense attorneys that Piazza had expected to drink heavily at the pledge party and ate peanut butter all day to prepare. Prosecutors said one of Piazza's friends told police that Piazza was concerned that he only had time to eat the single sandwich. So it was the opposite, said Senior Deputy Andrew Notaristefano, and proved that Piazza didn't know what was going to happen to him at the Beta house. Most of the defendants represented in Centre County court Friday were charged with hazing and providing alcohol to minors while five defendants were charged with recklessly endangering another person. The charges stem from newly recovered basement video footage that was purposefully deleted two days after Piazza died, according to prosecutors. The FBI recovered the images, which showed new alcohol-fueled activities in the basement. Prosecutors have argued that pledges who attended the fatal party last year were forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol during the "gauntlet." But were those pledges seeking to join the Beta Theta Pi house compelled to continue drinking at a social party in the basement after the gauntlet? That's one of the questions Lachman said he hoped to gain clarity about Friday before deciding which criminal charges should proceed to trial against which defendants. He announced a list of four other lingering questions he had: Is it "legally proper" to file both criminal charges of furnishing alcohol to minors and unlawful acts relative to alcohol when both stem from the same act? Does each drink handed to a pledge constitute a new act of hazing, and therefore a new or additional charge, or does the entire night represent one single hazing incident? Does handing a drink to Tim Piazza meet the definition of "reckless" to support the reckless endangering charge? Under Pa. law, conduct is deemed reckless when a person consciously ignores a great or unjustifiable risk that what he is doing will cause another person to be seriously injured. How much pressure must be applied to pledges for drinking to be considered "force" under Pa. law? Lachman also asked prosecutors to show him a compilation of footage recorded by cameras inside the house that would show "all instances when Mr. Piazza was given alcohol during the party." Defendants who handed Piazza alcohol during the party were the ones charged with recklessly endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor. State College Police Det. David Scicchitano opened Friday's testimony on the stand, continuing to take questions on cross examination by defense attorneys. Another police officer is expected to be introduced later as a second witness to testify about his efforts to recover video equipment from the Beta house and his belief that the house manager, Braxton Becker, deleted basement footage in front of him, unbeknownst to him at the time. Becker is among the 12 defendants facing charges this week. He was charged with tampering with evidence and obstruction of law but not hazing or any alcohol violations. The officer's testimony before a grand jury last year indicated he took a photo of Becker sitting in a chair in front of the equipment as he sought to confiscate it, because Becker was the only one who knew how to operate the equipment. After the second witness testifies, and after defense attorneys cross examine him, the judge said he will allow defense attorneys 10 minutes each for closing arguments. Prosecutors also can issue a closing argument up to 75 minutes, Lachman said. Lachman said he would go beyond typical business hours on Friday, if necessary, to finish all the testimony and closing arguments. It's unclear whether Lachman will issue his ruling at the end of Friday's hearing or wait to issue the ruling next week. 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. Two former Franciscan friars from Altoona each have been sentenced to 5 years of probation after pleading no contest to charges that they shielded a member of their order who sexually abused more than 100 children. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Friday that Robert D'Aversa, 70, and Anthony Criscitelli, 63, entered their pleas to charges of endangering the welfare of children before being sentenced by Blair County Judge Judge Jolene G. Kopriva. The two also were fined $1,000 each. The AG's office arrested D'Aversa and Criscitelli two years ago. Charges against a third defendant, former Friar Giles Schinelli, were dismissed on statute of limitations grounds. All three men were charged with failing to properly supervise Brother Stephen Baker, who was accused of molesting children while working at a Johnstown Catholic high school in the 1990s. Baker later committed suicide. Investigators said the friars knew of the child-sex allegations against Baker but didn't contact the police. The charges against D'Aversa and Criscitelli stemmed from a two-year grand jury investigation. "These defendants knew the abuser was a serious threat to children, but they allowed him to engage with children and have access to them as part of his job within their order," Shapiro said. "They chose time and time again to prioritize their institution's reputation over the safety of victims." The D'Aversa and Criscitelli sentencings come as a grand jury investigating reports of child sex abuse in six Roman Catholic diocese across Pennsylvania reportedly is finishing work on its report. By Paul Mango Sixteen months ago, I began to explore the possibility of becoming a candidate for Governor. I was frustrated by Pennsylvania's unrealized potential to be a global economic leader. I was frustrated by an unresponsive state government bureaucracy. Most of all, I was frustrated by the lack of executive leadership demonstrated by our current Governor. We deserved better. Over these sixteen months, I have driven 80,000 miles, going from town-to-town, speaking with thousands of Pennsylvanians. My faith in our potential has heightened, but so too has my frustration with Harrisburg. At West Point, I learned that leadership is not about being on top, rather being out in front. It is about anticipating opportunities and threats and then acting accordingly. Governor Wolf does not subscribe to this principle. While governors of other states are fighting to attract new jobs, Gov. Tom Wolf consistently fails to promote the tremendous benefits of Pennsylvania. That is why I unveiled my plan titled "Restore the Dream" to the people of Pennsylvania last September. All positive change begins with a compelling vision. Our plan for Pennsylvania has a simple but inspiring objective: Bring our jobs and our children home. Pennsylvanians under the age of 40 know a Commonwealth mired only in mediocrity. Under my administration, that will end. We will slash our business taxes, we will end job killing regulations, we will rebuild our infrastructure, and we will reconstitute our skilled labor force. Pennsylvania will re-open for business. To ensure Pennsylvanians are ready for the jobs of tomorrow, we will free our children from failing school systems by increasing choice, providing the means to exercise that choice, and providing parents the information necessary to evaluate their choices. We will bring dignity back to vocational education, and will make certain our public schools and teachers have the latitude to adapt and innovate, versus simply teaching to a test and meeting mandates. Obamacare has been a disaster for Pennsylvania. We need to reform healthcare and make it affordable for everyone by liberating the healthcare marketplace, not empowering the bureaucracy. We will put the patient back in the center of healthcare and we will encourage healthier lifestyles, with a greater focus on wellness and prevention. We will maintain our commitment to those with pre-existing conditions, and those who are genuinely vulnerable, while ending the double-digit increases in premiums. Likewise, we must end the greatest public health crisis of the past century, a drug overdose epidemic destroying the fabric of our communities. We will take a much more comprehensive approach to the crisis than ever before. My administration will not simply pass a bill and "declare victory" while a hundred of our neighbors continue to die each week. We will engage stakeholders throughout our communities and launch a statewide initiative to address prevention, enforcement, education, and treatment. We will not rest until this scourge is eradicated. Throughout my travels, I have heard from countless Pennsylvanians who have grown tired of our bloated, unaccountable government. We will create a modern government less costly, less centralized, less bureaucratic, and more responsive to the needs of the people. We will focus on the complete elimination of school property taxes. I will sign honestly balanced budgets on time. We will no longer impose "one size fits all" mandates on communities across the Commonwealth. Lastly, we must end the lawless practice of sanctuary cities. They are dangerous, permit sworn officers of the law to obstruct the execution of the law, and grant preferences to illegal immigrants not granted to full citizens. We should embrace legal immigration, but end sanctuary cities. Accomplishing these goals is within our grasp. We have the talent, the know-how, and the fighting spirit - we simply need the leadership. As your governor, I will work to "Restore the Dream" of America to the people of Pennsylvania. We will bring our jobs and our children back home. But first I will need your help, so I humbly ask for your vote on May 15. Paul Mango, of Allegheny County, a former healthcare consultant, is a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor in the May 15 primary. By Joseph Minott Pennsylvanians know from experience that air pollution kills. Seventy years ago, a weather inversion in Donora trapped a poisonous mixture of air pollution that killed 20 people and sickened half the town. The disaster helped pave the way for national laws that protect Americans from dangerous air pollution. Today, our right to breathe clean air is once again being threatened -- this time, believe it or not, by the Environmental Protection Agency -- the very agency mandated to protect human health and the environment. Environmental Protection Administrator Scott Pruitt has recently announced plans to roll back rules designed to control pollution from automobiles. And now he's talking about restricting the rights of Pennsylvania and other states to offer their residents access to cleaner cars and trucks. According to the American Lung Association's just-released annual State of the Air report, Pennsylvania is home to some of the nation's worst air quality and is not showing adequate improvement. Allegheny County receives straight F grades in the 2018 assessment, the only county outside of California to earn this dubious honor. With respect to high ozone days, Allegheny County and Philadelphia received an F. With respect to high particle pollution days, Allegheny County and Dauphin County received an F. And many areas across the state - including the Philadelphia area - are suffering from an increase in high ozone days. Ozone (smog) forms when emissions from automobiles and other sources of pollution react chemically with sunlight. It can cause asthma attacks and exacerbates other medical problems, leading to emergency-room visits, hospitalizations, and premature deaths. Federal clean-car rules, which cover emissions and fuel efficiency, play a critical role in keeping smog in check. The most recent agreement, reached with the federal government in 2012, saw automakers agreeing to reasonable emissions and fuel-economy targets through model year 2025. But now, instead of honoring and enforcing this historic agreement, EPA chief Pruitt is claiming it is "not appropriate and should be revised." It's astonishing that the top environmental-protection official in the country objects to flexible, reasonable, life-saving standards the automakers have already agreed to -- especially considering that car makers have been complying with interim targets and at lower costs than originally projected. Going even further, Pruitt is now taking aim at leaders in Pennsylvania and other states, challenging their right and responsibility to protect their own citizens when the federal government refuses to do so. States have an established legal right to protect the health and welfare of their citizens by imposing more stringent vehicle emissions standards under the Clean Air Act. For twenty years, Pennsylvania and 11 other states have exercised this right, following California's stronger standards rather than the weaker national standards, in order to better address dangerous air pollution within their states. This makes it especially alarming that Pruitt is not only attempting to roll back federal clean car standards, but also threatening to repeal state authority on the issue. Pruitt seems to want to frame this as a battle between the Trump administration and blue states -- between right and left. But the truth is that the 13 "clean car" states that have protected their people by adopting stronger vehicle standards include states -- such as Pennsylvania -- that voted for Donald Trump in 2016. This coalition represents more than 113 million Americans and over one-third of the new car marketplace. And just this week, Pennsylvania joined an even broader coalition of 18 states, representing close to 50 percent of the nation's auto market, in suing the EPA over this issue. Pennsylvania leaders understand that our air quality is not a political issue -- it's about protecting public health and the environment. People across our state have worked for decades to improve air quality. They understand that Pennsylvania is still home to some of the smoggiest cities in the nation, and that cleaner air means healthier Pennsylvanians who spend less on medical care. The Clean Air Council also applauds leaders like Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and State College Mayor Don Hahn, who signed onto a statement from over 50 mayors and a dozen state attorneys general from across the country, vowing to fight for states' rights to insist on cleaner cars. Every Pennsylvanian who breathes should cheer them on, and every American who cares about a healthier future should join them. Joseph Minott is executive director and chief counsel of the Clean Air Council, a Pennsylvania nonprofit dedicated to protecting everyone' right to breathe clean air. By Scott Wagner I'm running for governor because I believe the special interests controlling Harrisburg are abusing ordinary Pennsylvanians. And I believe that you need a governor who's a lot more like you and a lot less like them. You need a governor on your side. Four years ago, I battled for a seat in the state Senate for the same reason, but it didn't take long for me to realize two critical realities: the dysfunction and the grip of special interests were far worse than I'd ever imagined, and there was only so much a senator could do to make change. The real ability to effect change lies with a governor -- one who's willing to get the job done. I grew up working seven days a week on a small family farm where I was taught that there is work that must be done, and I was being counted on to make it happen. I learned that no job is beneath me. I was taught that when you start something you finish it, you do it well, and you do it right. That early training allowed a farm boy to become a successful businessman despite not having gone to college. It allowed a farm boy to fight and win against bad actors within the business community. It allowed a farm boy to steer his businesses through five recessions, to provide thousands of family-sustaining jobs and issue more than a million paychecks. It will allow that same farm boy to take on the job of fixing what's wrong in Pennsylvania -- and finish it right and well. What's wrong in Pennsylvania never changes. We are over taxed. Government regulations, which favor special interests, sabotage small businesses that could otherwise provide job opportunities. We have a tax and spend culture that serves politicians at the expense of the people. And that's just the beginning. The solutions don't change either. We all know what needs to be done, and there's no shortage of politicians selling nifty promises that never materialize. I am running for Governor to defend people who've been sidelined, and to demonstrate what Pennsylvania can look like if we make it work for the them rather than politicians and their funders. My platform rests on common sense. My policies and ideas come from one source only: the hardworking men and women of our Commonwealth who have long been forgotten. We need a governor who'll end regulations that keep businesses from providing jobs and better wages. We need a governor who'll pay more than lip service to school safety, the opioid crisis and managing the peoples' tax dollars with respect for those that provide them. We need a governor who's willing to go to work for the right people. We need a governor who not only knows how to get the job done -- but who's actually willing and determined to do it. Change won't come easily -- and it sure won't come from accepting tens of millions from the special interests who want the status quo. It will come when we band together and refuse to back down. And when I'm governor, change will come because my loyalties are not in conflict. I don't owe any favors, and I don't need a job. It will come because when I start something, I finish it. I don't back down, I don't let up, and I don't take short cuts. I do what it takes to get the job done -- and I'm going to fix Pennsylvania. I'm going to do it well, and I'm going to do it right. State Sen. Scott Wagner, of York County, is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor in the May 15 primary. A model wears No Frills' new "Hauler" limited edition clothing line in this undated handout photo. No Frills says a new clothing line celebrating savvy discount shoppers will launch its online store on Monday. The four-decade old chain says the Hauler brand is born from customers' loyalty to their local No Frills shops and excitement around previous No-Frills branded swag.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Loblaw Companies Ltd. *MANDATORY CREDIT* A federal fisheries patrol boat cruises the waters of the Saint John River in Grand Lake, N.B. on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Swollen rivers across New Brunswick are still rising, flooding streets and properties and forcing people from their homes in several communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan Chinese FM, DPRK top leader meet on ties, Korean Peninsula issue From:Xinhua | 2018-05-03 20:19 Video PlayerClose 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. 1 2 Next 1 2 Next Video PlayerClose Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (1st R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (3rd L) in Pyongyang, the DPRK, May 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Cheng Dayu) Prev 1 2 Prev 1 2 Keven Drews is shown in a family handout photo with his wife Yvette and their children. A reporter with the British Columbia bureau of The Canadian Press has died after a long and tireless battle with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. Keven Drews was 45. T HE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Yvette Drews MANDATORY CREDIT In this photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, red ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano after a magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck the Big Island, Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The temblor Thursday is the latest and largest in a series of hundreds of small earthquakes to shake the island's active volcano since the Puu Oo vent crater floor collapsed and caused magma to rush into new underground chambers on Monday. Scientists say a new eruption in the region is possible. (Kevan Kamibayashi/U.S. Geological Survey via AP) FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2011 file photo, photographer Jean Claude Arnault attends the Kings Nobel dinner at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. The Nobel Prize in literature will be not awarded this year following sex-abuse allegations and other issues within the ranks of the Swedish Academy that selects the winner, it was announced on Friday, May 4, 2018. The Swedish Academy's internal feud was triggered by an abuse scandal linked to Jean-Claude Arnault, a major cultural figure in Sweden who is also the husband of poet Katarina Frostenson, an academy member. (Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency via AP, File) Shanghai Party chief meets US senator, calling for closer cooperation From:Shine | 2018-05-03 15:29 Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang met Steve Daines, US Senator of Montana, and his delegation yesterday. Li said this year marks the 40th anniversary of Chinas opening-up and reforms and as the countrys economic center, Shanghai is working hard to build itself into an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center as well as a technology and innovation center to exert its service functions and radiating effects. The city has extensive cooperation and exchanges with many regions of the US, especially in areas like trade, education, technology and research, and cultural industries. Many successful US companies have participated in and witnessed the process of Shanghais opening-up. And the city will keep improving the business environment for both Chinese and foreign companies, including US firms. Li hoped that Senator Daines could help promote and deepen Shanghais cooperation with the US in economy and cultural industries through his visit. Daines said Chinas achievements and changes since the opening-up and reforms have been impressive. And the Sino-US bilateral relationship is one of the most important in the world. He said his visit can help facilitate the two countries cooperation and exchanges in various industries. Zhuge Yujie, secretary-general of the CPC Shanghai Committee, also attended the meeting. Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang meets Steve Daines, US Senator of Montana. Oil prices inch up Friday on Iran sanction worries Reporting by Meng Meng and Henning Gloystein BEIJING Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 Oil prices edged up on Friday, extending the previous session's modest gains as looming geopolitical risks from possible new U.S. sanctions against Iran supported the market. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures added 3 cents to $68.46 per barrel by 0040 GMT. Brent crude oil futures were at $73.67 per barrel, up 5 cents, or 0.1 percent, from their last close. Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday U.S. demands to change its 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers were unacceptable, as a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Europeans to fix the deal loomed. Current prices reflect a premium for Iran uncertainties. Investors are worried about supplies after Iran took a tough stance in its response to the United States, Wang Xiao, Head of Crude Research with Guotai Junan Futures said, adding that prices may fall if expectations of new sanctions ease. European powers still want to hand Trump a plan to save the Iran nuclear deal next week, 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. Markets will remain skittish as the May 12 deadline to rectify the deal approaches, ANZ Research said in note. Iran resumed its role as a major oil exporter in January 2016 when international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. Aside from security concerns, growing U.S. crude supplies are capping price gains. West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in Midland slid for a fouth day on Thursday to hit their lowest in more than three-and-a-half years. WTI at Midland WTC-WTM traded as much as $14 a barrel below benchmark futures. Surging production in the Permian basin has continued to outpace pipeline capacity, while local refining issues have exacerbated oversupply in the region, dealers told Reuters. Multi-year low spot market prices followed U.S. government data that showed a 6.2-million-barrel jump in crude inventories last week. The United States now produces more crude oil than top exporter Saudi Arabia. Reporting by Meng Meng and Henning Gloystein; editing by Richard Pullin Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Concessions for oil companies should be dictated by law not Guyana's Government discretion - Dr. David Hinds By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 The shadow of corruption has always followed the award of concessions to companies in Guyana. But if the coalition government has any desire to not repeat the mistakes of its predecessors in this regard, it would do what is necessary to ensure concessions for oil companies are dictated by law and not mere discretion. This perspective was provided yesterday by Executive Member of the Working People's Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds. In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Dr. Hinds said that given how important the oil and gas sector is going to be to the country's future, concessions granted to those involved should not be left to the whims and fancies of an individual. The WPA Executive Member said it should be the subject of very broad deliberations. The political commentator stated that this is what the Parliament is there for. Parliament is the elected body for this and it should have the last say on matters of that nature. It would also ensure that the political opposition is part of the process. One of my disappointments in the way in which decisions were made as far as the contract is concerned is that these decisions were taken by one party, and in a democracy, matters that are so important should have the sanction of all political forces. TRINIDAD'S EXPERIENCE Chatham House Advisor on Energy, Anthony E. Paul is also in agreement that concessions for oil companies should be dictated by law not Government discretion. In a recent interview, this newspaper asked Paul to share the Trinidadian experience where these matters are concerned. The Energy and Strategy Consultant said that in his homeland, concessions to oil companies are fixed in law. He said that this is not uncommon or unknown but rather, accepted as an international best practice in the oil and gas industry. Paul emphasized that having concessions fixed in law is a great advantage for any country since in some jurisdictions; corrupt officials would give away the crown jewels. Paul said, The concessions are put into law and not during one-on-one negotiations because it creates a level playing field for all companies coming in. It also means that contracts are easier to administer because the terms are consistent. Paul noted that there are some cases in Trinidad and Tobago where the Minister has some discretion, but even in that area, he must be transparent. He added, Our concessions are fixed in the Petroleum Taxes Act. But I must say to you that while having the law in place is necessary, it is not sufficient. Legislators must be monitored and held accountable. In this regard, Paul explained that the failure of Trinidadian policy leaders to rigourously abide by the law in the past, resulted in loopholes in oil contracts. He said that these were subsequently abused by the operating companies. The Trinidadian noted that even though laws were in place, the failure of the nation's leaders to abide by it, led to the loss of billions of dollars in revenue. PUBLISH WHAT YOU PAY There are several international organizations which also call for governments with proven oil reserves, to establish tax benefits and concessions in law. One such entity is the Canada based, Publish What You Pay (PWYP). In one of its reports, the anti-corruption agency said that there are many different pathways through which government extractive sector revenues are lost. It stressed that closing off one pathway is of little benefit if other pathways remain unchecked. It stressed that protecting revenues that should ultimately provide benefits to citizens therefore requires a comprehensive approach. In this regard, PWYP said that countries are advised to adopt the now standard principle of embedding all fiscal terms in national legislation rather than project-specific contracts. It said that this will reduce the discretion left to government negotiators. PWYP said that there is great benefit to the citizenry when this is done, since it can be assured there is room for someone to be held accountable should the laws not be followed. PWYP emphasized, too, that having fiscal concessions be dictated by law removes opportunity for government to favour one company over another or for the said company to benefit from generous concessions. GENEROUS CONCESSIONS The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated in its November 2017 report that Guyana's Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) is generous to the contractor, ExxonMobil. Local critics and the IMF have bemoaned the fact that ExxonMobil's subcontractors can benefit from tax breaks galore. The company pays no excise tax and withholding tax, with the exception of an outrageously low 10 percent tax payment on imported fuel. The coalition government was also criticised for allowing ExxonMobil and all its affiliates engaged in Petroleum Operations to import, free of duty, VAT or all or any other duties, taxes, levies or imposts, all equipment and supplies required for Petroleum Operations. There is a list of all these items which can be imported by ExxonMobil in Annex D of the contract it has with Guyana. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Story from Kaieter News Kaieteurnewsonline.com 05 04 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 United Nations team to visit T&T over Venezuelan refugees By Gail Alexander PORT SPAIN Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is sending a team to T&T to inquire into Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley's recent complaint about criticism from the UN representative in T&T on the repatriation of 82 Venezuelans. Acting Attorney General Stuart Young revealed this at yesterday's post-Cabinet media conference. After T&T's UN representative Richard Blewitt recently aired concerns over the repatriation process, Rowley expressed concern about misinformation and said he would complain to the United Nations about comments from its representatives. He said there's a legal process to be followed by all potential migrants. Yesterday, Young said the PM sent the letter to the UN Secretary General pointing out the Government's position on the voluntary repatriation exercise and expressing discomfort and disappointment, to put it lightly on the UN representative's statements. He said T&T's ambassador at the UN, Penelope Beckles, also conveyed T&T's concerns and lodged a request with the UN Secretary General for a call with Rowley. The tele-conference occurred Tuesday. Young said, It was a positive, productive, vigorous and detailed conversation with the UN Secretary General. In the conversation, Young said Rowley defended T&T in the repatriation issue, saying T&T did everything according to laws and felt aggrieved that a UN representative, rather than consult with the Government to ascertain what occurred, went ahead and criticised T&T. Young said Guterres acknowledged T&T's position and noted that UN records showed T&T has about 40,000 Venezuelans here and the Government had treated them with dignity and respect. He added that Guterres said he'd send a team of senior officials from the UN's High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva to meet with the Government to ascertain what occurred, ensure the right facts are put forward and if there was some misrepresentation, that it would be dealt with. Whatever the outcome, Young said he assumed the UN would deal with their officials as they saw fit. He said the Guterres assured T&T continued to be a leading sovereign state in the UN, especially regionally, has an excellent UN record and the current issue wouldn't blot this. Young noted, however, that Guterres said he was unaware of the issue in T&T prior to contact from Beckles. After Beckles' request, Guterres then called for a report on the matter and from what he saw in that, required more facts, Young claimed. It didn't seem in his report that he was aware of any statement issued (by the representative in T&T) or where the authority for the statement came from, Young said. In the conversation with Rowley, Young said Guterres did differentiate between how economic migrants, seeking opportunities elsewhere, should be treated as opposed to legitimate asylum seekers. But Young said Rowley stressed those repatriated did so voluntarily, with proof in writing. We've heard suggestions some may have felt afterwards they didn't want to give up asylum. But that wasn't the information from Immigration. We were told they filmed people individually at Piarco when they left to ensure they were leaving voluntarily, Young said. On T&T's side, Young said Rowley promised to make all information available, but felt strongly, based on the Government level reports, there wasn't sufficient conversations between the UN and Government, prior to any statements being made. T&T felt very secure in Immigration's information there were no breaches and if there was any breach, it wasn't 82 people repatriated against their will, Young said. Young said he assumed there may have been conversations between T&T officials and the UN officials here after the local UN representative's statement arose. He said T&T had a policy on how refugees are to be dealt with and that's with an implementation team. Young, however, stressed the Government isn't considering a moratorium on people who are here illegally. I WAS AT CAMP CUMUTO TOOYOUNG Acting Attorney General Stuart Young yesterday admitted he was present at Camp Cumuto when Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and his children were also visiting in 2016. Following the Camp Cumuto visit, pictures of Al-Rawi's children posing with high-powered weapons had surfaced, sparking criticism. On whether he too was invited to Camp Cumuto, Young said, I don't want to go anywhere, I don't ask to go anywhereI was invited (on that occasion). He added that he couldn't comment on the AG's position in the issue. Young also commented on T&T's five-point drop in the Press Freedom Index (by Reporters Without Border). He said the Government had nothing to do with one of the reasons for the drop: an alleged attack on a photographer by AV Oil and Gas Drilling officials. On other reasons for the dropthe Cybercrime and Data Protection Billhe said there was need to provide legal safeguards against materials being posted that may involve illicit/illegal agenda. He stressed his Government never had a fight against the media. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Second A&V audit is review by TT Energy Ministry By Azard Ali PORT SPAIN Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 The Energy Ministry is reviewing the contents of a second audit report on A&V Drilling's output to state-owned Petrotrin. The exercise comes as A&V defends itself against findings, also in an audit, that it overstated crude oil production at its wells which have since been seized. Energy Minister Franklin Khan told Parliament last Friday that this second document is being investigated, after A&V's attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC submitted a copy to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Maharaj told media recently the supplemental report was dated August 21, 2017 and followed an initial audit four days before on August 17 which examined crude oil discrepancies. Petrotrin withheld $800 million from A&V claiming the lease operator inflated its output in what became known as the "fake oil scandal". Petrotrin's chairman Wilfred Espinet has since said he did not know about Maharaj's revelations about the April 21 report which he claimed the company failed to consider in its assessment of A&V's production. "He (Ramesh) has a supplemental report? I don't know what he is talking about and what it means. Petrotrin has may be a billion reports. If he believes it has relevance I would imagine the process is to go to the courts," Espinet said. The April 21 document titled Controls Governing Transmission of Crude raised questions about Petrotrin's systems to accurately measure crude received from operators. In an example of the findings, the second internal audit discovered 5.5 feet of water in tank 57 at the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery that was undetected by custody transfer and oil stocks personnel. The amount of water exceeded the maximum by 0.5 feet which would guarantee dry crude at suction height. And if this volume of water persisted and increased, the report said, water could enter the refinery with disastrous consequences. The report, signed by four auditors, said, "internal audit is certain that this occurred because personnel at both custody transfer and oil stock were not complying with the standard operating procedures and appropriate management action should be taken against these employees." To date, Petrotrin has not taken any such action. The April 21 report was signed by Avianne Maingot (internal auditor), Mahendra Persadsingh (senior internal auditor), Vidya Jaisingh (internal auditor) and Dianne Lochan (manager internal audit). The report concluded that the inaccurate measurement of water in the tanks at Pointe-a-Pierre at high/low gauges will cause the calculated net sales volumes to be skewed. Continuing on the water level in the crude tank, the report concluded that it was evident that the low free-water levels recorded on the sales tickets for January and February 2017, resulted in overstated net crude volumes. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Nigeria turns to renewable energy as population booms By Isabelle Gerretsen LONDON Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 Faced with a population boom that has sent carbon emissions soaring and stretched power supplies to breaking point, oil-rich Nigeria is turning to renewable energy in a big way. Africa's most populous country needs more than 10 times its current electricity output to guarantee supply for its 198 million people - nearly half of whom have no access at all, according to power minister Babatunde Fashola. Campaigners welcome the shift to renewables as an efficient way to bring power to rural communities and help clean up a country with some of the world's worst urban pollution rates. Ready access to electricity will reduce youth unemployment and increase productivity, Ifeoma Malo, Nigeria country director at the global campaign group Power For All, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. It will contribute greatly to reducing the carbon footprint of a growing energy demand by the urban population. Nigeria has set a target of expanding electricity access to 75 percent of the population by 2020 and 90 percent by 2030. It aims to generate 30 percent of its total energy from renewable sources by 2030, Fashola said in a recent speech in London, a major commitment for an economy that depends heavily on fossil fuels. Oil and gas production account for around 35 percent of Nigeria's gross domestic product and about 90 percent of total exports revenue, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Over the past year, the country has invested more than $20 billion in solar power projects, seeking to boost the capacity of the national grid and reduce reliance on it by building mini-grids in rural areas without mains electricity. Just one in four people in rural Nigeria is connected to the national grid, adding to a trend of outward migration that is piling pressure on Nigeria's already overburdened cities. POWER CUTS Power demand in Nigeria's largest city Lagos vastly outstrips supply, meaning its 25 million residents must either go without, or rely on expensive, fume-belching generators. In January the country suffered six power outages in just eight days as the national grid repeatedly collapsed under the strain, plunging most of the country into darkness. Urbanisation and rapid population growth will only add to the problem - Nigeria's population is projected to swell from 198 to 411 million by 2050, and more and more people are moving to its cities. By the start of 2020, demand for energy is forecast to be more than double its early 2018 levels. Nigeria currently has the capacity to produce an estimated 7,000 megawatts (MW) of power, but due to weak infrastructure, gas supply problems and water shortages only about 4,000 MW reaches the national grid, according to Fashola. The government is investing in hydropower, with several projects close to completion. The largest is the Mambilla Power Station in central Nigeria, a $5.79 billion project due to be completed in 2024 with most of the financing coming from Chinese lenders. It will be able to generate 3,050 MW of renewable energy in the rural region, and is scheduled to be completed in 2024. Given the country's climate though, most of the focus is on generating solar power. A $350 million World Bank loan will be used to build 10,000 solar-powered mini-grids by 2023 in rural areas, bringing power to hospitals, schools and households, said Damilola Ogunbiyi, managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency. RURAL AREAS One of these projects, Sabon Gari, aims to generate between 1-4 MW of solar energy for 12,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria's second largest city, Kano, by the end of the year. The chief executive of the energy company behind the project, Rensource, said companies' energy costs had fallen at least 30 percent since they started using the solar grids. Up until now, the entire market has been powered by a network of small-scale, dirty, unhealthy generators that are also quite expensive, Ademola Adesina told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview. We are replacing those generators with a network of solar hybrid systems that are powering the entire market. Rensource hopes to expand to rural areas, where the World Bank estimates 80 million Nigerians live without electricity. Power For All's Malo said small-scale projects such as these offered the best chance of bringing power to remote areas. "The Rural Electrification Agency realises that the traditional, public-sector-led grid extension system will not meet the demands of the growing population," he said. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Brazilian top banks, funds join collective arbitration against Petrobras By Reuters RIO DE JANEIRO Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 Top Brazilian funds and banks like Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Banco Bradesco SA and Banco Santander Brasil SA have joined a collective arbitration action against Petroleo Brasileiro SA seeking compensation for graft at the state-controlled oil giant, a newspaper report said on Thursday. State-owned banks Caixa Economica Federal and Banco do Brasil SA and pension funds including Petros, Previ and Funcef also took part in the action, Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico said, citing sources familiar with the matter. The move seeks to replicate a January settlement inked by U.S. investors who received nearly $3 billion from Petrobras for claims stemming from a massive corruption scandal, in which contractors bribed company officials and politicians to win inflated contracts from the company. Valor said foreign funds were also involved in the arbitration, which is being conducted in the Market Arbitration Chamber of the B3 segment of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange. Representatives for Petrobras, Itau, Bradesco, Santander, Caixa Economica Federal, Banco do Brasil, Petros and Funcef did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Previ declined to comment. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Petrobras and Engie to enter exclusive talks for Brazil TAG pipeline network -sources By Carolina Mandl and Tatiana Bautzer SAO PAULO Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA has chosen to enter exclusive talks with France's Engie SA for the sale of Petrobras' gas pipeline network Transportadora Associada de Gas, five people with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. According to the people, who asked for anonymity because talks are still private, the exclusivity period to discuss the sale contract would go through May 31. Petrobras and Engie did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Petrobras will take the full month to discuss the contract with Engie, according to two of the sources. To comply with rules established by a federal audit court, in June, Petrobras will invite the other two groups that presented bids, led by Australia's Macquarie Group and UAE's Mubadala Development Co, to offer new bids for the pipeline, based on the sale contract negotiated with Engie. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Russia still with OPEC deal even after overproducing Bloomberg Compliance with deal was 95.2% in April vs 93.4% in March. Country says it's fully committed' to bringing market balance. Play Video - The Market Determines Oil Prices Says Russian Energy Minister By Elena Mazneva MOSCOW Petroleumworld 05 04 2018 Russia reaffirmed its pledge to an alliance with OPEC, despite two months of breaching its target under a global oil-output deal. The country remains fully committed to bringing balance to the crude market, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in a statement Thursday. Russia's compliance with the deal was 95.2 percent in April, after a rate of 93.4 percent in March. While this over-production is more than offset by slumping output from some members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, missed Russian goals could become a feature of the pact, according to Massachusetts-based ESAI Energy LLC. Six months from now, Russia may follow Kazakhstan's example, restraining output at some fields to demonstrate good intentions' even as overall production climbs, ESAI Energy Principal Andrew Reed said by email. Growing spare capacity at oil projects run by state-controlled Rosneft PJSC and Gazprom Neft PJSC will soon lead to weakening Russian compliance. OPEC and its allies led by Russia have nearly succeeded in wiping out an oil glut through production cuts initiated in early 2017, boosting prices to a three-year high. While the deal formally expires at the end of this year, Saudi Arabia has signaled the curbs could be extended into 2019. Novak said earlier this month that the partners will discuss further cooperation in June, with all options on the table, including easing the caps, depending on the market situation. The compliance rate of the OPEC members was 168 percent in April, up from a revised 165 percent in March, according to a Bloomberg survey . New Projects Fluctuations in Russia's oil output in April were caused by activity at projects developed under production-sharing agreements, Novak said in the statement, without elaborating. Under the deal with OPEC, Russia pledged to cut production by 300,000 barrels a day from its October 2016 level. The country may boost output by 120,000 barrels a day from 2018 to 2019, even as the alliance holds, given all its new projects are moving forward, ESAI Energy said. That outlook echoes the one published on April 25 by Renaissance Capital, whose analysts Alexander Burgansky and Oleg Chistyukhin calculated Russia's spare production capacity at 215,000 barrels a day, led by Rosneft and Gazprom Neft. The market may see another occurrence of the brownfield renaissance first observed during 2002-2004, which could boost Russia's oil production to new highs in a cost-efficient way, supporting our favorable sector outlook, they said. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Home Just In No point in felicitating Modi until he says sorry: Former foreign minister Thapa Kathmandu, May 4 Former foreign minister and RPP leader Kamal Thapa says he is against the public felicitation of Indian Prime Minister Modi in Nepal. Thapa, who was foreign minister during the 2015 Indian Blockade, says Modi should not be felicitated until he welcomes the new constitution and expresses regret over the Indian Blockade. Thapas remarks come just a week before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to arrive in Janakpur in Province 2, where he will be felicitated by the local people. How does Prime Minister KP Oli justify such an action, says Thapa ahead of the religious visit, slated for May 11. The news that Modi will receive a big welcome in Janakpur troubles me, says the former minister. The Nepali peoples representatives made the constitution following the due process. The constitution may have its flaws, but Prime Minister Modi has not welcomed the constitution. Neither has he expressed regret for imposing a blockade on Nepal. Given all this, I think it is unnatural and unnecessary to felicitate him in Nepal, Thapa says. The blockade was inhumane and the wounds it caused will take time to heal, he added. I still remember the words of the Indian representative in Geneva when the representative was making negative and false comments about Nepals constitution. I also remember the words from the Indian leaders during my visit to India, he noted. Thapa also accused that India tried to spread false information about Nepals constitution in capitals such as Washington and Brussels and his government had to spend a lot of time and effort trying to debunk Indian propaganda. MOSCOW A joke I heard repeatedly during two weeks in Russia hints at what we should expect from Vladimir Putin's fourth term as president, which begins Monday. One Russian academic admitted, "This joke isn't really funny." But it does reveal the difficulties America will face in dealing with Putin in the coming six years (compounded by Donald Trump's strange affection for the Russian strongman). Angry at new Western sanctions, the joke goes, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov tells the minister of defense, "Bomb London." "But my daughter is studying there," the minister complains. "OK, bomb New York." "But my son is working there," another cabinet minister interjects. "Then bomb Voronezh," Lavrov finally snaps, referring to a Russian provincial city. Among the Russian intelligentsia, the meme "Bomb Voronezh" means that Putin's reactions to sanctions hurt ordinary Russians more than they do the West. On the surface, Moscow doesn't look as though it is hurting. Throughout the city, glitzy malls feature high-end Western brands of clothing and furniture. A wall plaque of Lenin not far from the Kremlin sits next to a huge glass window splashed with the Valentino label. Fancy restaurants and coffee houses are full. But the Russian ruble has slid as sanctions have taken hold, badly hurting ordinary Russians. A professor may make only around a thousand dollars a month, with salaries in the provinces far lower. >> READ MORE: Generation Putin: Young Russians, who have never known life without him, imagine their future During my stay, the Russian Duma proposed banning the import of Western medicines in retaliation to sanctions, although many of these meds are essential for Russians. (In retaliation for previous sanctions imposed by Congress, the Duma banned U.S. adoptions of Russian orphans.) Truly, perfect examples of "Bomb Voronezh." Moreover, Putin's hostility to Facebook and Twitter which he views as U.S. tools to overthrow autocrats encourages those in the Kremlin who want to take full control of social media and ban foreign internet servers. "For Putin, the internet is the enemy," says Alexander Baunov, editor-in-chief of Carnegie.ru. "He has no internet account, never." That kind of thinking led to the Russian government's disastrous attempt last month to shut down the Telegram messaging app. The "Bomb Voronezh" meme also hits at the hypocrisy of top Kremlin officials and pro-Putin oligarchs whose kids work or study in Western capitals. Ordinary Russians academics, students, business people, those with relatives in America must now wait for many months to get a U.S. visa. That's because of Russia's imposition of massive staff reductions at the American embassy, which was Moscow's response to last year's congressional sanctions over Russian election meddling in 2016. >> READ MORE: Can Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny use social media to combat Putin's presidency-for-life? But the meme also has a bigger geopolitical meaning. Putin's anger has grown at what he considers Western disrespect for Russian sovereignty and greatness. "Putin is after something he can never get," says Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. "He wants to be respected as a co-equal of the United States. There is a bit of obsession in his mind about the U.S." In his search for Russian greatness, the Russian leader has enmeshed his country in foreign ventures Ukraine, cyber-trolling, election meddling that have boomeranged badly. The resulting Western sanctions, along with much lower energy prices, have fueled economic stagnation in Russia. "The non-oil sectors of the economy are going down," says Andrey Movchan, director of the Economic Policy Program at Carnegie Russia. "Entrepreneurs, businessmen, don't invest because no one knows what comes next. Banks don't loan. Many companies are sold to the state. " The real problem, says Movchan, is the sanctions' impact on Russian access to needed technologies for oil extraction, avionics, lasers, extraction of shale, and other uses. This will impact Russia's future. In his State of the Union speech after Russian elections in March, Putin promised to advance high-tech and private business. But just about every Russian expert with whom I spoke said Putin has been making similar promises for his entire 18 years as president and prime minister, but has yet to deliver. Such modernization is even more unlikely if the Russian president further isolates Russia from the West. >> READ MORE: Report from Moscow: Russian TV news exacerbates disconnect between Putin and the U.S. The bottom line: Putin's foreign adventures and the resulting sanctions have undermined Russia's economy and threaten its future modernization. Yet there is little sign that the Kremlin is ready to back off or admit to the behavior that led to sanctions: whether the continued military venture in Ukraine, or cyber-meddling, or murdering opponents. So far, the Russian public accepts Putin's behavior. Focus groups by reputable pollsters such as the Levada Center find that 80 percent approve of the activities of the current president, seeing him as a symbol of Russian resurgence. This despite 41 percent, mainly among poorer Russians, saying they want a radical change in the economy to give them a better life. Aided by state television and intense internet propaganda, Putin has created the impression that there is no alternative to him, and that he is pushing back against Western efforts to destroy Russia. But that raises the question of how he will distract Russians if his overseas ventures continue to alienate the West and result in more sanctions. Someone has to be blamed for economic stagnation. Putin can't admit he is hurting his own. >> READ MORE: Report from Moscow: After missile strike, will Trump or Putin be seen as the winner? "No one knows how anti-Americanism in such a high degree, combined with World War III rhetoric, combined with a stagnating economy, will work in the next year," says political analyst Konstantin Gaaze. More educated, urban Russians may joke about "Bomb Voronezh." But Putin needs to give the hinterland a better reason for its problems. That means not only repressing "enemies" at home, but seeking them abroad. So we should expect deepening tensions between Russia and the West. The earliest backers of celebrity Philadelphia chef Jose Garces now his biggest foes moved swiftly Thursday to ask a federal court to toss out Garces' attempt to file for bankruptcy. The investors filed legal papers Thursday morning saying that Garces signed deals a decade ago stipulating that he had to have the support from at least one of two partners to seek bankruptcy protection and that he didn't have it. But later Thursday, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny, who presided over an initial hearing on Garces' financial affairs that day, let the status quo prevail at least for the short term. He made no immediate ruling on the investors' bid to shut down the bankruptcy pleading, left Garces in his role as leader of his many restaurants, and set May 21 as the date for the next hearing in the dispute. Lawyers for Garces noted at Thursday's hearing, in bankruptcy court in Camden, that prospective diners at his places hold gift cards for future meals worth $1.5 million. Kate Wilhelm, a spokeswoman for Garces, said those cards remain good and will be honored, as will any payments for future catered events. In their pleading Thursday, investors Jim Sorkin, an owner of a major Philadelphia food company, and Tom and Maria Spinner, a couple from New Jersey, also asserted that Garces late last month attempted a maneuver in which he spun off part of his financial share to two other entities wholly controlled by him and then sought to marshal all three ventures to outvote the two partners. Sorkin and the Spinners denounced this as a "sham" without legal merit and called it an attempted end-run around another vote in which they lined up, 2-1, against the chef to forbid any bankruptcy. Garces filed a bankruptcy petition Wednesday in federal court in a bid to win time to delay paying debts, or to pay less under the protection of federal bankruptcy law, as he gears up to sell his enterprises. He said that he had a $5 million deal to sell to Ballard Brands, a Louisiana company owned by three brothers that operates such "fast-casual" retail eateries as PJs Coffee; Wow Cafe: American Grill & Wingery; and the Original City Diner. The diner chain is known for selling a pancake as big as a pizza. However, in an additional federal filing Thursday, Garces said another bidder an unidentified "large multinational corporation" also was interested in a buy. And at the later hearing, Warren J. Martin Jr., a lawyer for Garces, said news of his financial troubles had snagged the interest of even more potential buyers, which Martin said raised the possibility of a future auction of Garces assets. Garces attended the hearing, but left the talking to his lawyers. The investors, for their part, struck first Monday by filing a suit in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court asking that a judge remove Garces from control and install a receiver to run his restaurants. In his own fresh pleading with the bankruptcy court, Garces renewed his rhetorical assault on his old partners, accusing them of pursing a "scorched-earth litigation approach." He complained of the investors' "antics," saying their lawsuits had caused "extensive damage to the brand." Garces said that he had "attempted to throw significant amounts" of the sale proceeds at them, but that they still fought his decisions. As Garces noted in his filing, the investors have been harsh in their rhetoric, too, complaining that his financial steps resembled a "Ponzi" scheme. The Spinners and Sorkin provided money to open Amada, the restaurant in Old City that first secured Garces his reputation, and two other places, Tinto and Village Whiskey, that opened a dozen years ago. Garces has gone on to open or manage as many as 30 restaurants, about half of which are still open. Garces has blamed his financial woes on the shuttering of the Revel casino in Atlanta City where he operated four places that brought in $13 million a year and the costly failure of an Amada restaurant in New York City. In his latest filing, Garces also disclosed new details of his financial predicament, saying his complex enterprise owed $7.5 million to M&T Bank, the Buffalo lender that placed it in default status in late 2016 after deeming the operation's balance sheet troubling. The bank which has lent the Garces operation $9.5 million has placed multimillion-dollar liens on Garces' home and farm to secure its money, putting it in the strongest position among all those owed money. For their part, it appears that the Spinners and Sorkin are owed a total of about $3.2 million in investments and extant debts for food bought from Sorkin's family business. Garces said his restaurants and massive catering operation took in $39 million last year, but lost $2.6 million. He said half of the loss was due to onetime expenses associated with reining in his operations. This year, Garces forecast, he would take in 15 percent less revenue, but still end up with a profit of $1.4 million. Areen Chakrabarti, celebrating a recent birthday, was declared brain dead at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which is seeking to remove him from life support. Read more Five times, Rumpa Banerjee has called New Jersey hospitals to see if they would admit her 14-year-old son. Five times, hospitals have told the Burlington County woman that first they need to speak to officials at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where her son is on life support nearly three weeks after suffering severe brain injury in a fire. And then, nothing. CHOP physicians have declared Areen Chakrabarti "brain dead" and seek to remove him from life support against his mother's wishes, according to the family's attorney, Christopher Bagnato. She has faith that more can be done. "It shouldn't be their choice," Banerjee said Thursday, referring to the hospital's physicians. "It is my son. It's my choice." The hospital has declined to comment. Banerjee seeks to move Areen to a hospital in New Jersey in part because the state's law regarding brain death would, at least for now, prevent a hospital from declaring him to be legally dead a necessary step before he can be removed from life support, Bagnato said. That strategy does have a legal basis, said Thaddeus Pope, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minn. In most states, a person can be declared legally dead if either heart or brain function has completely and irreversibly ceased, he said. But years ago, at the prompting of the state's large Orthodox Jewish community, New Jersey lawmakers enacted a special religious exemption. If the family's faith dictates that a patient is alive so long as the cardiovascular system is functioning, then a physician cannot declare the person dead based on brain death alone, said Pope, director of Mitchell Hamline's Health Law Institute. "There's at least a possibility that he could be dead in Pennsylvania, but if you cross the Delaware River, he would not be dead in New Jersey," Pope said. The New Jersey law applies to Areen because his mother subscribes to the Hindu faith, her attorneys said. Pope said that could be true, though he cautioned that the court may need to determine whether the tenets of her faith would apply legally to her son, a minor. In the meantime, Banerjee and her sister, Tumpa, have maintained a near-constant vigil at the boy's bedside, where he is connected to a ventilator and intravenous fluids. She said the boy's systolic blood pressure rises as high as 160 when she does not speak for an extended period of time, then falls to the more normal level of 130 when she resumes speaking. "He is trying to respond," she said. As she recounted her tale of heartache, Banerjee permitted herself a brief smile as she described the things that bring her son joy: Chinese food, Mario Brothers video games, and traveling to Disney World. Areen is on the autism spectrum, and in the confusion when their Bordentown home caught fire April 14, he ran upstairs rather than outside, and suffered severe brain damage from smoke inhalation. Common Pleas Court Judge Abbe Fletman ruled last week that CHOP must keep the boy on life support at least until a hearing can take place in Orphans' Court an event now scheduled for Wednesday. In the meantime, Banerjee continues her quest for another hospital. She is grateful to the nurses at CHOP, whom she said were "very compassionate." But she cannot fathom the stance of the institution as a whole. "It is like they are saying, 'We are not treating him as a human being. We are treating him as a number.'" she said. Fox News host Neil Cavuto denied he was a Never Trumper as he called out President Trump for repeated falsehoods. Read more There is a growing divide at Fox News between opinion hosts like Sean Hannity, who have tended to be ardent supporters of President Trump, and straight-news hosts like Shepard Smith, who have increasingly offered tough reporting on the president and his administration. It looks like we now know which side Neil Cavuto is leaning toward. Cavuto, the host of Your World With Neil Cavuto, is something of a hybrid at Fox News. Though he readily offers opinions on his show, he's also a veteran business journalist and tends to play things down the middle. But on Thursday, Cavuto blasted Trump over his habit of spreading falsehoods, the latest being the $130,000 hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. "Let me be clear, Mr. President. How can you drain the swamp if you're the one that keeps muddying the waters? You didn't know about the $130,000 payment to a porn star until you did," Cavuto said. "You insist that money from the campaign or campaign contributions played no role in this transaction. Of that you're sure. The thing is, not 24 hours ago, sir, you couldn't recall any of this. And you seemed very sure." Cavuto spent four minutes outlining falsehoods Trump has pushed during his time in office, including claiming there was no Russian interference in the election (there was), and stating his tax cuts were the largest in U.S. history (they weren't) and that his tax bill would personally cost him a fortune (it will likely make him much wealthier). Despite the lengthy list of falsehoods, Cavuto stopped short of calling the president a liar and denied being a "Never Trumper," a term used by conservatives who don't support Trump or his administration. "I'm not saying you're a liar," Cavuto said. "I guess you're too busy draining the swamp to ever stop and smell the stink you're creating. That's your doing. That's your stink, Mr. President, that's your swamp." Watch: Cavuto's commentary comes after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, acting as Trump's personal attorney, revealed on Fox News that the president knew about a $130,000 payout to Daniels by lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. The president had previously denied knowing anything about the payments or allegations he had a sexual relationship with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Cliffords. Giuliani also revealed Trump paid Cohen back through a monthly retainer, adding that it "had nothing to do with the campaign." But in a later interview on Fox & Friends, Giuliani appeared to explicitly link the payment 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." On Friday morning, Giuliani was still doing damage control over his series of potentially damaging interviews. In a new interview with NBC News, Giuliani said Trump didn't know until recently that the money he paid to Cohen was partly a repayment for the $130,000 in hush money that went to Daniels. "I don't think the president realized he paid him back for that specific thing until we made him aware of the paperwork," Giuliani said, adding that Trump paid Cohen a total of $420,000, which he claimed covered a number of fees and expenses. Giuliani didn't offer further details. Kevin Emanuel is charged with murder in the stabbing death of a co-worker at Philadelphia International Airport. Read more A 35-year-old Overbrook man who worked at Philadelphia International Airport used his keys to fatally stab a co-worker inside an employee break room Thursday following an argument about turning on the lights, police said Friday. Homicide Capt. John Ryan said Kevin Emanuel of the 2100 block of Hobart Street is charged with murder and possession of an instrument of crime for allegedly plunging his keys into the thigh of Aaron Jenkins, 28, of the 100 block of West Roselyn Street in Olney. Jenkins died from his injury. Jenkins, according to Ryan, had broken up a scuffle between Emanuel and another man who had been arguing about the break room lights in the Terminal E room. When the fight subsided and the other man whom Ryan did not identify left to speak with a supervisor, Emanuel and Jenkins started fighting, an altercation that ended when Emanuel stabbed Jenkins, striking his femoral artery, Ryan said. Police responded to a radio call at 11:01 a.m., and Jenkins was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:51 a.m., police said. Emanuel was taken into custody by airport police. The three men were employed by Worldwide Flight Services cleaning planes for Frontier Airlines, and the stabbing took place in a room not accessible to passengers, police said. Jenkins had worked for the firm since 2015. Airport CEO Chellie Cameron issued a statement Thursday saying the airport was cooperating with police in the probe. "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." Richard Oliver III, a spokesman for Colorado-based 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 a statement, Worldwide Flight Services said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and our priority is to give them our full support as well as the employees who witnessed the incident. "We wish to acknowledge the quick response of the police and local authorities and will, of course, assist them fully in their investigation," the statement said. Staff writer Joseph A. Gambardello contributed to this article. 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." 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." A construction worker on one of the top floors of The Rittenhouse. In Pennsylvania, construction is the only industry that has worker misclassification protections built into it. Read more What do construction workers, delivery drivers, and exotic dancers have in common? They're all likely to be classified incorrectly as independent contractors by their employers. People in the labor law world call it "misclassification," a jargony term that might make your eyes glaze over but that should have you paying attention: The practice is a way for companies to employ workers without paying payroll taxes and benefits like health care and overtime, as they would for a salaried employee. And independent contractors don't have the same protections, such as overtime and workers' comp, that traditional employees do. And though it's been a labor issue for decades across all types of industries, recent federal changes and the explosion of the gig economy in which workers take on jobs as freelancers have made it a hot topic again. This week, the California Supreme Court issued a ruling that will make it harder for employers to classify their employees as independent contractors, leaving observers to wonder how the decision will affect companies like Uber and Lyft, which have built their businesses on the independent contractor model. Now in California, employers have to prove that independent contractors are: free from the employer's control or direction doing work that is outside of the employer's core business engaging in a business that is truly independent meaning, for example, that they have other clients The California decision is similar to a 2015 ruling by a federal judge in New Jersey, where the law is very favorable toward employees. "Independent contractors don't exist in New Jersey, people say," said Denise Keyser, a labor attorney with Ballard Spahr. In New Jersey, employers face "a real uphill climb" if they're in court over a worker misclassification case, she said. Though that doesn't always stop companies from misclassifying workers: On Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Murphy signed an executive order to investigate companies that aren't complying with the law, saying the practice could be costing the state more than $500 million in lost taxes annually. And for what it's worth, Uber and Lyft drivers in New Jersey are still classified as independent contractors, even though that puts the companies at risk for penalties and lawsuits. (There are two such class-action lawsuits pending in California and Massachusetts.) Pennsylvania is not as employee-friendly as New Jersey or California though there is a law on the books when it comes to the construction industry. Signed by then-Gov. Ed Rendell in 2010, the law imposes fines on employers who misclassify construction workers. It was cheered by trade unions and scorned by employers, who said it would make it harder for new businesses because they often start out by using independent contractors. In the Philadelphia area, Andy Santillo, a labor lawyer with Winebrake & Santillo in Montgomery County, says that he hasn't seen an uptick in worker-misclassification cases, but that because of the headline-grabbing nature of some of them the Ubers, the Lyfts, the Grubhubs many people are examining these issues more closely. And because the Trump administration has taken an antiregulation stance when it comes to businesses, we'll begin to see these decisions fall to the states, Keyser said, as more lawsuits around the issue crop up nationally. At the same time, bills have been introduced in at least eight states that presume workers are contractors if they find their work through online platforms like TaskRabbit or Handy. Keyser suggests exercising caution. "If you'd like to avoid being in court, as most employers do, you need to be conservative about how you classify employees," she said. Democrat Scott Wallace is worth between $127 million and $309 million, according to our analysis. Read more Philadelphia-area Democrat Scott Wallace has been "fighting for change his whole life," his daughters boast in a TV ad. The congressional candidate helped uncover the horrific damage Agent Orange wreaked on soldiers, they say, and led a charitable group championing liberal causes. There's no doubt that Wallace is a progressive bulldog. He even comes from an iconic left-wing family: His grandfather was Henry Wallace, the "New Deal visionary" and onetime vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt. When it comes to Wallace's net worth, though, he's not exactly the face of change. In fact, he's pretty much the opposite of it. Like the majority of Washington lawmakers, Wallace is a millionaire. But Clout has learned that he's well-to-do even in that elite group. Wallace's wealth is between $127 million and $309 million, according to our analysis of his financial disclosure statement. That would make him the third-richest member of Congress if he joined the deep-pocketed chamber today. Congressional candidates are required to disclose a range of the value of their assets, making precise calculations impossible, but we used the same methodology as the watchdog Center for Responsive Politics. His campaign said his net worth is "closer" to $100 million. "I do have substantial assets," Wallace said in an interview. "I do not have a jet. I do not have a yacht. I do not drive fancy cars. I drive a Chevy. I grew up in Doylestown. I waited tables. I pumped gas." Wallace, who is largely self-funding his campaign, said he's "putting a significant amount of my own assets into this because this is the most important thing I can imagine doing for America at this point in my life this is a very expensive district to run in, but it is crucial in the Democrats' efforts to retake the House." Wallace is campaigning in Bucks County's First District, where Republican Brian Fitzpatrick is the incumbent. Wallace inherited his wealth: His grandfather founded a seed company that was bought by DuPont for $10 billion in the 1990s. He owns a large number of stocks, with his biggest holding being DowDuPont. A family feud may be brewing in Phillys Northwest Coalition Philadelphia's Northwest Coalition is one of the most powerful political alliances in the city. Just ask Mayor Kenney: One of the biggest reasons he's running this town is because U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans and former Councilwoman Marian Tasco, two leading Democrats in the coalition, endorsed him. So if Evans and Tasco brawl, it could completely alter the balance of political power throughout the city. That's why Clout listened closely when political insiders told us the two were in a family feud. They pointed to a couple of pieces of evidence. One: Kevin Johnson, who is running against Evans for Congress, recently made his campaign pitch in front of the 50th Ward committee, which Tasco leads. Second, Evans isn't endorsing anyone in the race for the state House in Northwest Philly's 200th District, where Tasco favorite Melissa Scott is challenging State Rep. Chris Rabb. Tasco said she "would love to have his endorsement" for Scott, but, "I think Congressman Evans made the best decision for him." As for why she allowed Johnson to ask her ward for her support, she said, "My ward is open to all candidates." She added that Evans will be on her ward's sample ballot of recommended candidates. (Johnson will not.) Evans, meanwhile, said only that his reelection campaign has been endorsed by both Tasco's 50th Ward committee as well as the Ninth Ward organization, which is controlled by Rabb. "I thank them both for their support," he said. Perhaps there really isn't any trouble in paradise. Tasco explicitly denied it. Or perhaps you have to read between the lines. Either way, we'll keep an eye out for cracks in the Northwest Coalition. Because if there are any, it could create a power vacuum that very well may change city politics as we know it. Was Rep. Taylors vote kosher? Pennsylvania politicians were required to file their latest statements of financial interests this week. Normally, this is boring reading material. Except when it's not. (See above!) An item in State Rep. John Taylor's 2017 statement caught our attention. Taylor, Philadelphia's soon-to-be-retired most powerful Republican, lists the large workers' comp law firm Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano as a source of income. That's interesting because Taylor voted last month against Senate Bill 936, which would have overhauled the state's workers' comp system by creating a list of pre-approved drugs that doctors are permitted to prescribe. Sam Pond, a co-founder of the law firm, has been leading the opposition to the idea. He's argued that it could prevent injured workers from accessing needed medicine. The bill, which Gov. Wolf vetoed last week, also would have hurt compounding pharmacies, one of which was owned by Pond Lehocky partners until they sold it in November. Taylor told us Thursday that he didn't see a conflict in voting on S.B. 936 even though he had received money from Pond Lehocky: "It is not a conflict because I am a member of a class of people similarly situated (lawyers that deal with workman's compensation issues) that it may effect. Plus, it affected every workman's comp claimant in the state." Taylor said Pond Lehocky paid him "a few hundred dollars for a case I sent" to the firm "a few years back." The firm's PAC, Pennsylvanians for Injured Workers, has also supported Taylor, campaign finance records show. We texted Taylor back Thursday to ask precisely what he meant by "a few hundred dollars." He responded that he's not positive, but "I think around $1,600." Staff writer Angela Couloumbis contributed to this column. On a recent trip to Athens we were somewhat taken back to learn that the little plastic bucket next to toilet was for the disposal of toilet paper because of the age of the city's plumbing systems, there was no flushing down the toilet permitted. Signs in the lobby and throughout the apartment warned of the dire consequences of ignoring this rule. Our vacation rental was fairly modern, not an ancient lodging from the time of the Acropolis, so were somewhat surprised at this restriction. It turns out that this is a common restriction throughout Greece. We've seen this method in other parts of the world, but hadn't expected to find it in an otherwise modern European country. Bathroom configurations and etiquette vary around the world, so it's wise to be prepared. We discovered a website that is cleverly called "Where do I put the paper?" at WhereDoIPutThePaper.com. With somewhat cheeky humor (yes, we couldn't resist that one) it informs travelers about proper toilet etiquette in 195 countries. Of all the websites we have found on this subject, this is one of the most useful. It turns out that in several countries you need to "bin" the paper. In many Asian cities, toilets have approached an art form, where a computerized keypad offers options for a personal rinse and dry after flushing sort of a toilet and bidet combined. However in rural Asia (and some parts of Europe), squat toilets are common, essentially a hole in the floor with foot pads on either side be sure to step aside before you flush! Signs on some modern public toilets ask that people not squat on top of the seat. Experienced travelers also know to carry a small packet of tissues, as toilet paper is rarely available at rural locales. Regardless of the plumbing, it can be a challenge to find a "friendly" toilet in an unfamiliar location. When Michael was a child, his mother taught him to seek out restrooms in fancy hotels. She'd say, "Just act like you belong there." (A skill he has to this day.) Fortunately, there are now apps for your smartphone to find toilets we like the one that's aptly named "Flush." It calls up restaurants, bookstores, shops, and other convenient locations. Here's a primer on the type of toilet you are likely to see on your travels: bfplumbingbayarea.com/blog/toilets-around-the-world. Knowing before you "go" can help smooth your experience overseas. Larissa and Michael Milne have been full-time global nomads since 2011. Follow their journey at ChangesInLongitude.com. From the wedding of Carole Flynn and Brad Anderson. Brad and Carole #submittedImage Read more Carole Flynn and Brad Anderson April 20, 2018, in Christmas Valley, Ore. Hello there Carole did not want a smartphone, but her children got her one. "Mom, look, you can play Scrabble anytime!" her daughter, Erin, said to sweeten the deal. "It's called Words with Friends." It was a stressful time: The owner of the home in Riverside, N.J., that Carole rented had died, and Carole had to move. She was on a waiting list for a senior citizens' apartment complex, living with a friend in the meantime. Words with Friends was a welcome distraction. "One day, I was scrolling through the list of players and I saw a picture of a man who looked like Grizzly Adams," she said. His name is Brad. For a year, Carole, who is now 77, and Brad, who is now 68, played the word game almost daily without additional communication. Then in late 2016, Brad didn't play for a few days, and Carole was worried. "Are you okay?" was the first message she sent him. "I'm feeling down because my cat died," he wrote back. More words without letter scores followed. Brad told her that Moxie's death had compounded his existing grief. His wife, Nancy, had died six months earlier. He had also lost his teenage daughter, Shelley, many years before. Carole told him she was once married, but had been divorced for four decades. Besides Erin, she has two sons, Sean and Timothy, and five grandchildren. Before retiring, Carole, a native of Kensington, had worked for 20 years as a nanny, and previously owned an insurance brokerage and a luncheonette. Brad, a former logging truck driver who lived most of his life in Oregon's Willamette Valley, had also been on the waiting list for senior housing. He was dissuaded by a great house on four acres next to a farm and was about to move in. "Send me pictures of your new place," Carole said. He did, with a request: "Send me a picture of you." Carole sent him a funny and rather risque photo from a greeting card instead. He called her immediately. "She was funny and caring, and we were kind of in the same boat," he said. Soon, they were talking for two to three hours every day friends, with a little flirtation. "Why don't you come out here and visit?" Brad suggested. "I've got a nice house, and you would have your own bedroom and bathroom." Carole thought that was a fantastic idea. Her children most vehemently disagreed. Despite their objections and dire warnings, she booked tickets for a few months down the road. "I just made up my mind that I'm going to go out there and find out what this was, because it might be something good for me," she said. On April 20, 2017, Brad picked her up at the Redmond airport. He showed her his house and acres, the antelope and coyote that visit, and, farther afield, Crater Lake, Hole-in-the-Ground, and Hell's Canyon Dam which his father, a crane operator, helped build. She met kitty Sheba and Brad's friends. "We were having fun more fun than I had had in a long, long time," Carole said. "I had somebody to go places with and do things with. Somebody who genuinely seemed to care for me." Brad felt the same, and there was still so much of the West he wanted Carole to see. At his suggestion, she pushed her return flight to July, and then to December with a return ticket to Oregon after New Year's 2018. They made more travel plans. They adopted kittens Puss and Boots. They fell in love. "It was the cookies," Brad said. "Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter." Then he laughed. OK, it wasn't the cookies. But it was the caring that the cookies, and the lunches she packs before he heads to work on his landlord/neighbor/preacher's hayfield, demonstrate. "He's got a very gruff exterior, but he is a very warm and tender person," Carole said. "He puts his arms around me and holds me, and I feel secure. He's always laughing." The engagement When your landlord, boss, and preacher are the same guy, you spend a lot of time together. Jeremy had been asking Brad about his future with Carole. "I got the impression that he wasn't real comfortable with us living together, and I thought, 'I love her. Why not be married?' " Brad said. A few weeks after Carole returned from the East Coast, Brad mentioned Jeremy's gently pointed questions. "If you like, we could get married," he said. "Yeah!" Carole said, and she gave him a big hug and kiss. It was so them Because Carole thinks her man looks like Grizzly Adams, and the couple's parcel of sage brush sits near the foot of Grizzly Mountain, she named the property Grizzly Grove. One day while Brad was cutting hay next door, she painted that name in red on a big rock beneath some trees. That's the spot where they married. Neighbor/landlord/preacher Jeremy officiated the ceremony, which began at 2 p.m. exactly one year after Carole's first plane to Oregon landed. Carole wore the same little blue dress she'd bought for that trip blue is Brad's favorite color. He bought a new pair of pants. Jeremy read some scripture, told the couple's story, and praised God for putting them together and blessing them with a relationship at this stage of their lives. Their 35 guests were seated at tables set up inside the garage and ate ziti with meatballs, tossed salad, and cake made by their friend Kathi, who runs one of Brad and Carole's favorite hang-outs, the Waterin' Hole. She wouldn't accept a dime. Carole made a big batch of the chocolate chip cookies that make Brad swoon. After dark, everyone moved back outside for drinks around a bonfire. Awestruck The couple faced each other and held hands during the ceremony. "He kept rubbing his thumbs over the back of my hand, and it was a closeness, a tenderness that I will never forget," Carole said. All she could think about was how great a choice she had made. "There's so much more to learn from each other and to experience together," Carole added. "We've really only just begun." "The most amazing part of the day is when everybody left," Brad said. "We were finally together, at last, by ourselves, as husband and wife." The budget crunch A host of bargains: Like the catering, the flowers were a wedding present (from Brad's sister Charlene and niece Tammi, a floral designer) as was the bride's headpiece (handmade by friend Terri). Carole already owned her dress. The groom's new pants cost $13. The splurge: A weeklong honeymoon in Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, Wyo., later this spring. More Words The couple still plays Words with Friends daily. "He sits at his computer, and I get on my smartphone," Carole said. "We try not to look at each other's boards and cheat." Behind the scenes Officiant: Pastor Jeremy Warkentin, Fork Rock Community Church, Fork Rock, Oregon Venue: The couple's home in Christmas Valley, Oregon Food: The Waterin' Hole, Fort Rock, Oregon Photography and videography: Friends of the couple, notably Terri Purchase Flowers: Arranged by Tammi Ferrando, niece of the groom. Bride's attire: Previously purchased from the sale rack at the Moorestown Mall. Groom's attire: Previously owned shirt, new pants from Bi-Mart. Calvin S. Turner IV (right), grandson and heir of radio icon Mary Mason, is greeted by his mother, Carla James, in the Montgomery County Courthouse on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Read more The grandson of Philadelphia radio legend Mary Mason pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of felony theft related to his looting of her life savings. Calvin Steven Turner IV, 34, entered his plea at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. Under terms of the deal, he will repay $331,000, perform 100 hours of community service work with the elderly, and be on probation for 10 years. Turner, Mason's only grandchild, was accused of stealing from her bank accounts and spending it on real estate, gambling, travel, and food. Last October, Turner was set to plead guilty but backed out of the deal at the last minute. His theft from his elderly and ailing grandmother was so prodigious that it resulted in Mason's having to be moved to a less-expensive nursing home, the Inquirer and Daily News reported last year. Mason was on the city's airwaves for more than 50 years, a significant voice in civic and political circles and in the African American community. On Friday, when Judge Wendy Rothstein asked Turner whether he wanted to address the court, he responded that he had thought he was spending his dead father's money, not Mason's. "I didn't understand commingling" of funds, Turner said in a soft voice. Turner, who was accompanied to court by his mother, Carla James, became the executor of his father's estate upon his 2012 death, and the same year became legal guardian over Mason's financial affairs, as she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Daniels said the decade-long probation period is intended to give Turner enough time to pay the ordered restitution to Mason, who will be 88 in July. "You're going to have 10 years. If anything happens, you're going to come back in front of me," Rothstein warned Turner. If Mason should die during the probation period, the required paperwork will be filed to free Turner from having to complete probation or pay restitution, his attorney, Martin P. Mullaney, said in court. "I would say that when the day comes that Mary unfortunately passes and leaves this world, I think restitution would terminate and I think his probation would terminate at that time," Mullaney said after leaving the courtroom. "When his grandmother dies, he's the sole beneficiary in her estate, so we have then come full circle where he would be paying restitution to himself," Mullaney said. Daniels told the judge he did not think Turner would reoffend, and did not dispute Mullaney's take on Turner's legal prospects in the event of Mason's demise. Initially, Turner was accused by prosecutors of stealing upward of $1.2 million from his grandmother, but that sum dropped to the restitution amount after deducting what he spent on her taxes, the services of two caregivers, and housing at the Sunrise Senior Living facility in Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County, Mullaney said. The money Turner misappropriated was mostly spent on a failed real estate company startup and on paying himself a biweekly salary of $2,500, the attorney said. "He was a very poor record-keeper," Mullaney said of Turner. "The bottom line here is he meant no ill will. He thought he was doing a good thing, and he just failed." Before leaving the courthouse, Turner repeated that he thought he had been spending his late father's money and insisted that he had spent Mason's money on her. "I didn't steal anything," he said. An unidentified man leaps onto the stage as Bernie Sanders speaks during a John Fetterman for lieutenant governor rally at Phila. City Hall in Phila., Pa. on May 4, 2018. Read more Two self-styled progressives who had campaigned for higher office promising reform if not a political revolution met for the first time Friday in Philadelphia. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.), who ran in the Democratic primary for president, and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who was sworn into office in January, sat side by side in a Center City television studio, participating in a panel discussion that centered on criminal justice reform but also touched on the similar political forces that propelled both men into the national spotlight. The appearance before a studio audience the first time the political firebrands have appeared together was the first in a series of events around the region this weekend for Sanders, who challenged Hillary Clinton for the 2016 presidential nomination and attracted attention for proposals including a $15 minimum wage and universal health care. Sanders also spoke Friday night at a City Hall rally for John Fetterman, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, where a protester with a bullhorn climbed onto the stage and berated the senator. The man, wearing a white T-shirt, black bandanna, and sunglasses, approached within 6 feet of Sanders and shouted something about Russia. He was on stage for at least 30 seconds before Philadelphia police apprehended him after a brief struggle. Police officials said Friday night they were unable to provide any information on the suspect. Sanders was scheduled to appear Saturday with two Democratic congressional candidates in Allentown. Although Sanders had expressed support for Krasner during the district attorney's race and Krasner did not shy away from comparisons to the senator Krasner's office said the two men had not previously met despite their shared appeal among left-leaning voters. The panel discussion also featured Premal Dharia, director of litigation at Civil Rights Corps, an advocacy group, and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. It was moderated by journalist Daniel Denvir and broadcast live on Facebook. The talk centered on familiar themes for Krasner: making changes to cash bail, sentencing recommendations, and specifying the cost of incarceration. Sanders was complimentary of those efforts, saying they constituted the beginning of a national wave to bring about change to a system that all panelists described as broken. "We have a broken criminal justice system that is begging, begging for real reform," Sanders said. "And the good news [is] we are seeing here in Philadelphia, and all around the country, the beginning of an effort to bring about significant reform." Staff writer Tom Avril and staff photographer Elizabeth Robertson contributed to this article. Members of the oversight board of the Mount Peace Cemetery (from left) Cornelius Butler, Yolanda Romero, Dolly Marshall, and Wanda Griffin-Thrower, pose in the section of the cemetery in Lawnside. Read more For nearly two decades, Yolanda Romero has kept a promise she made to her dying father: to keep up a historic cemetery in Lawnside that became the final resting place for black Civil War veterans, former slaves, and those who could not be buried in white-only cemeteries. Years of neglect have taken a toll on Mount Peace Cemetery, one of several sites in the historically African American Camden County community that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The ground around some graves is sinking, headstones are toppled, inscriptions on some markers are no longer legible, and the cemetery is covered with leaves, branches, and other debris. Romero and a small band of volunteers have been trying for years to keep up efforts started by her father and others to spruce up the cemetery, which stretches over more than 11 acres on the White Horse Pike. They have made progress, but lack the funds and manpower to restore dignity to the sacred place. "There's a lot of history here," said Romero, 66, a retired human resources manager, who serves on the board of the Mount Peace Cemetery Association. Mount Peace was established in 1900 as a private, nonsectarian option for African Americans. More than 3,000 people are interred there. Among them are 77 Civil War veterans, including Medal of Honor recipient John H. Lawson. During the Civil War, the veterans served in regiments on the East Coast, according to Romero. Their families sent their remains to Lawnside for burial because they were not permitted in white cemeteries, she said. Settled before the Civil War, the small borough was a haven for free blacks and runaway slaves. It is believed that the remains of as many as 125 Civil War veterans are buried there, but their graves have not been located, Romero said. Burial records and plot maps were lost when a fire destroyed a caretaker's house on the property.Veterans of the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War also are buried in Mount Peace. Dolly L. Marshall was surprised to learn last year that her maternal great-great grandfather, William Waters Hegamin, a seaman from Philadelphia, is buried in Mount Peace. He died in 1911. Records show that his wife, Loretta, was also interred there, but the grave has not been located, she said. Back then, spouses could not be buried next to veterans. "I'm looking for her," said Marshall, fundraising director for the cemetery association. During a tour Thursday, Romero pointed to a three-acre section in the back of the cemetery near I-295 where Boy Scout volunteers discovered more graves. The area is covered with growth and not easily accessible. "We know that there's more back there," she said. "But we just don't have the money to clear it." In some areas, graves without tombstones are surrounded by clusters of spiky yucca leaves, often used by African Americans to mark a burial spot, Romero said. Some family sections are surrounded by small stone markers in various shapes, but in many cases the family's name is unknown. Mount Peace also is listed on the state historic registry. Since 2012, Preservation New Jersey has classified it as an endangered site. The group will announce 10 new sites on May 17, an annual event to bring public awareness to sites that could be jeopardy. "These are places that don't get a lot of notoriety," said Courtenay D. Mercer, the group's director. "You're losing the history. That's what we're fighting for so that somebody will decide that they love it enough to help save it." Romero got involved in the cemetery project in 2000, after the death of her father, Lloyd, a founding board member, who recruited neighbors in the '70s to help clean up and place American flags on the veterans' graves. He installed paved cross roads in the cemetery, erected tool sheds, put together a primitive grave map, and compiled a list of the names of the Civil War soldiers, she said. "It was my father's dying wish that I take over when he was gone. I couldn't see letting go all that he had done over the years," Romero said. The Mount Peace association has $100,000 in its maintenance and preservation fund. But under state law, caretakers are only allowed to spend the interest, which has dropped to about $16 a year, Romero said. The former cemetery owners went bankrupt. So the trustees rely upon donations and cleanups by residents and members of local churches, civic groups, and fraternal organizations. A small landscaping crew, using riding mowers and trimmers, were clearing grass and weeds in a front section of the cemetery Thursday, carefully avoiding sinkholes and toppled markers. Businessman David Zallie, who owns an area Shop Rite store, serves on the cemetery board and has been picking up the cost of lawn service since 2014. About 50 volunteers are expected to fan out at the cemetery Saturday for a cleanup organized by a local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, said Wanda Griffin-Thrower, project coordinator. It is the second of three outings planned there by the chapter, which received a $500 grant from Camden County for the project, she said. New burials are no longer accepted at Mount Peace. There are signs that visitors come periodically to pay their respects plastic Christmas wreaths faded by the weather adorn a grave, while another is topped with a bouquet of red roses. Cemetery board members eventually hope to put a fence around the cemetery to deter pedestrians who walk through, often dropping trash. They also want to clear the remaining acres and identify as many remains as possible and put upright fallen tombstones. They hope to attract more tourists to learn about the cemetery's history, she said. "We have this historical location where there are people who died for our country. They were fighting for us to be free," Griffin-Thrower said. "How big a deal can you get?" If you go: Mount Peace Cleanup: Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 329 White Horse Pike, Lawnside, NJ Donations may be sent to Mount Peace Cemetery, 207 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Lawnside, NJ 08045. For more information call 609-206-9897 A man was recently seen walking through Abington with an AR-15 rifle. Police say they believe a resident took this photo, which was posted on Facebook. Read more In the last month, the internet searches on his iPhone had grown dark. "What weapons were used in Columbine" "Sandyhook" "Parkland shooter how many visits home" "How many times were AR-15s used in mass shootings" Then, on April 27 and again Monday, the young man walked the streets of Abington with a loaded AR-15 on his back. The first night, he told a police officer he was "doing this because people don't know the law," according to court documents. He had never interacted with law enforcement prior to that Friday. What he was doing, while "passive aggressive," wasn't illegal, authorities said. In Pennsylvania and 44 other states, citizens are allowed to openly carry firearms in public places. But the man's public displays led his friends to contact Abington police with additional information that made them concerned for his well-being and the public's safety. On Thursday morning, the Abington Township Police Department ordered the man's involuntary commitment through an application for urgent evaluation and treatment for those who have posed a danger to themselves or others in the last month due to a mental illness. Once someone has been involuntarily committed, he or she cannot legally own or possess a firearm in the United States. Authorities did not release his name, and he has not been charged with any crime. His name appeared on a search warrant but efforts to reach him or his family Friday night were unsuccessful. After talking to the man's friends, officers also searched the township home where he lived, and the contents of his cellphone. The police findings laid out in search warrants obtained by the Inquirer and Daily News were alarming. The man's friends, who are not identified in the documents, told police that he had joked about "shooting up" his schools first Abington High School, which he attended as recently as last June, and then Penn State-Abington, which he attended earlier this year, according to the documents. He also talked of suicide. One friend said they didn't take the threats seriously at the time because the man had a "dark sense of humor," according to the documents. But after he purchased the AR-15 in March, friends grew more concerned. "I think he is throwing up some red flags, because he recently dropped out of school," one friend told police this week. "He gave me the impression that he feels he has nothing to lose in a way." On April 27, he texted a different friend before taking his first walk with the AR-15. "Wish me luck, I'm headin' out ," he wrote, attaching a picture of the gun. "I'm gonna record the whole thing in case I get shot." That night, he walked for at least an hour, encountering an officer on Susquehanna Road and Maple Avenue. The man refused to identify himself and recorded his encounter with the officer on his phone, according to the documents. Before 1 p.m. Monday, he set out on a longer route, walking near stores and schools and through residential neighborhoods, according to the documents. Several residents called 911 upon seeing him. "It was scary. It frightened me," one caller said, according to the documents. "I was scared for my kids, who were in school." In conversations with authorities that day, the man told them he was trying to "gauge the political climate" of the township and educate citizens about the Second Amendment. On Tuesday, Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy said the man was not believed to be a threat to the public at the time. Online, reactions to the sightings initially sparked impassioned debates over gun rights. Some defended the man's actions, noting he was within his Second Amendment rights. Others said he was behaving as an irresponsible gun owner, or that those types of semiautomatic weapons should be outlawed. "This case illustrates the very complex nature of balancing an individual's Second Amendment rights with our primary mission to protect and serve all of our citizens," Abington police said in a statement Friday. "This individual's decision to exercise his rights does not, by itself, warrant an involuntary mental health evaluation." Mental health affects a person's ability to own a firearm in Pennsylvania in two scenarios, according to Joshua G. Prince, a Berks County attorney who focuses on Second Amendment law. Firearm ownership is prohibited for a person who is involuntarily committed to a mental-health facility or who has been adjudicated incompetent to manage his or her affairs, Prince said. Staff writer Tom Avril contributed to this article. Daniel Mooney, 26, is the suspected killer of a young couple in Churchville, according to police in Bucks County. Read more On the streets of Kensington, where he died, Daniel Mooney was relatively unknown, another member of a generation caught in the vise grip of heroin. But just 10 miles away, in the sleepy Bucks County community where he grew up, the 26-year-old was much more. A member of a hardworking, respected family. A young man who wrestled with a gnawing habit between stints at a mom-and-pop grocery. Now, those who knew him are struggling to comprehend the violence he left behind as a suspected killer, the perpetrator of a brutal double homicide in a home on the quiet street where his parents live. "All of us are in shock," said Murray Battleman, president of Murray's Richboro Market, which anchors the Richboro Shopping Center on Second Street Pike. "That doesn't excuse the drugs, and it certainly doesn't excuse this act. But it's a shame when you knew him and you know that he could've been turned around into a productive person." The Bucks County District Attorney's Office said Mooney carried out the murders of Tyler and Christina Roy, a young couple who lived across the street from his parents in Churchville. The victims were stabbed and shot after what appeared to be a prolonged struggle in the home's upper floor, according to First Assistant District Attorney Gregg Shore. Investigators believe Mooney acted alone, slipping into the home through a unlocked door sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning, when the couple's bodies were found. Christina Roy, 27, was a professional photographer. Her husband, 28, was a construction estimator. Authorities say they were repeatedly stabbed and shot with a rifle that belonged to Tyler Roy. The motive for the slayings remained under investigation Friday, and there didn't appear to be a previous link between the suspect and victims. It was unclear if Mooney was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident. "He was from a good family," said Michelle Brown, a longtime coworker of Mooney's at the market. "Drugs have no boundaries, and no one is immune from it. Now we all have to pray for three families." >>READ MORE: Suspect in murder of young Bucks County couple found dead of overdose Mooney's family did not return a request for comment Friday. Shore, at a news conference Wednesday, stressed that his parents fully cooperated with investigators, and cast them as victims of the opioid epidemic. Mooney died late Tuesday at Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus. His death was accidental, caused by "drug intoxication," according to officials from the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office. Police found the Roys' Ford Edge SUV, reported missing after their deaths, in Northeast Philadelphia with Mooney's cellphone inside. His stint at Murray's Richboro Market began during his days as a student at Council Rock High School South, Battleman said. He started part time, and kept consistent hours throughout his time there. He worked, at various points, alongside his brother, sister, and eventual sister-in-law, Battleman added. "He was an excellent employee," Battleman said. "With one exception: He had a drug problem." Over the course of the last decade, Mooney left and came back to the store three times, his co-workers said. Each time to go to a drug rehabilitation program. One stint was in Florida, at a faith-based facility called Dunklin Memorial Church. Employees at the church didn't return a request for comment, but those who went through the program with him flooded social media in the wake of the news. "Rest my brother," one wrote. "The fight is over, I'll miss ya." Battleman and John Brown, the store's manager, said they never hesitated to rehire Mooney when he came back. "When we know a young man like this who's done well for us before, as long as we don't feel there's a safety issue, we have him back," Battleman said. "We felt bad for him, getting caught up in the mess of that drug." Mooney's final tenure at the market started in 2015 and lasted until he picked up his final paycheck in December, Battleman said. During that time, he talked about taking classes at Bucks County Community College, studying nursing. Last they heard, he was heading to a residential rehabilitation program in Mays Landing, N.J. When they saw his face featured prominently in news reports, the staff at the market was reduced to muted disbelief. "He never seemed capable of doing something like this," Eillen Lagroix, another coworker, said Friday. "It's a shame to think it happens around these parts. You don't think it does, but it does." "We read about it and hear about it on the news, but when it happens to someone you know, it's completely different," she added. Lt. Gov. Mike Stack kicks off his reelection campaign at City Hall in the Mayors reception room in Philadelphia, PA on November 21, 2017. Read more HARRISBURG Democrat Mike Stack just might be the most politically hunted lieutenant governor in modern Pennsylvania history. Eight people are vying for his job four from his own party and come May 15, each hopes to make Stack the first lieutenant governor to lose reelection in a primary since the holder of the position was permitted two terms nearly a half-century ago. For Stack, a onetime state senator from Northeast Philadelphia who was elected the state's second-in-command in 2014, it's a chance to salvage a political career sullied last year by revelations that Gov. Wolf, also a Democrat, had ordered an inquiry into complaints that Stack and his wife had verbally abused or otherwise mistreated state employees. The inquiry's findings have not been made public. For Stack's four Democratic competitors, it's a chance to snag what Harrisburg insiders only half-jokingly refer to as the state's best job: It pays $163,672 annually, comes with a 2,400-square-foot residence funded by taxpayers, and involves a fraction of the work and stress of the governor's position. Stack's opponents are seeking to seize on an unusual and uncomfortable political scenario in the Capitol: a chilly relationship between Wolf and Stack, who are supposed to be a team but behind the scenes barely speak to each other. Wolf is taking a neutral stance and is not endorsing anyone. That may-the-best-person-win attitude has cast a dash of intrigue into what often is an overlooked race. It also could mark a new entry in Pennsylvania's history books if Stack is defeated while Wolf, who has no primary challenger, sails into the general election. "This is not the norm," said pollster and political science professor G. Terry Madonna of Franklin and Marshall College. "After four years of serving together, you usually see the governor and the lieutenant governor as running for reelection as a team." The lieutenant governor, Madonna noted, "is a heartbeat away from the governor's office. So you would think the governor would have a keen interest in the lieutenant governor's race." Stack did not respond to an interview request. Pennsylvania law does not allow governors to choose their running mates although there is a bill in the legislature to change that. As a result, governors and lieutenant governors do not run as a ticket in primaries, only in general elections. Almost all candidates said they are running to restore gravity to an office often viewed as largely ceremonial. The lieutenant governor has certain prescribed duties, including presiding over the 50-member Senate (and casting a tiebreaker vote, if necessary) and chairing the Board of Pardons. But most candidates said they also want to tackle meaty social and fiscal issues. Off to the races On the Democratic side, four candidates are challenging Stack to run with Wolf in November (originally there were more, but several candidates dropped out). Nina Ahmad, a onetime deputy mayor for public engagement in Mayor Kenney's administration, said she is running to "restore integrity and accountability" and to "give a voice to forgotten communities." A former president of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women, Ahmad said she also wants to bring diversity and inclusion to elected executive positions in the state, which for decades have largely been held by men. "I am a systems-change person," said Ahmad, "and that is what this position will allow me to do, working in concert with the governor: connecting with folks who feel marginalized." Kathi Cozzone, an accountant who has been a Chester County commissioner for the last decade, said she wants to give counties more of a voice in the Capitol. She said she has been frustrated that the legislature over the years has reduced state funding for county services "to the most vulnerable in our communities." She said she also would seek to bring attention to women's rights and better funding for public education, issues that Wolf has prioritized in his first term. "The governor," she said, "needs a partner he can work with." John Fetterman, the Braddock mayor who made national headlines when he ran for U.S. Senate in 2016, stands apart for his height (6 foot 8), his standard black T-shirts, and his tattoos marking the dates of homicides in his borough. Fetterman bills himself as a progressive, which he says means "championing common-sense, evidence-based public policies that benefit the most people possible." He's been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.) and by various progressive groups. But the Pittsburgh chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, which has become increasingly active since Sanders' presidential run, declined to endorse Fetterman. Another Democratic challenger, Ray Sosa, a career banker and insurance agent from Montgomery County, said he feels like he is "battling rock stars" in this year's Democratic primary. If elected, Sosa said, he would seek to make improvements in emergency management and criminal justice, using the office to push for compulsory education for prisoners and post-prison opportunities to cut down on recidivism. Having grown up in a farming family, the Puerto Rican native said he also wants to work on assisting agriculture through subsidy reform and "taxation that is crop-specific." "I've seen very effective lieutenant governors in other states," said Sosa, who moved to Pennsylvania from Florida nearly a decade ago. "We keep selecting people to these positions who are seeking something better. I think I can make this position relevant." Then there is Stack. In campaigning for reelection, the Philadelphia Democrat has stayed silent about the controversy surrounding his treatment of employees. Instead he has touted his political resume, built on nearly four years as lieutenant governor and another 13 years as a state senator representing Northeast Philadelphia. Campaign manager Marty Marks called Stack "a national role model in restorative justice," noting that he launched the Pathway to Pardons program, which aims to help former offenders learn how to clear their criminal records and ease their path to employment. Marks said Stack also has worked to streamline the daunting process of obtaining a pardon. Stack, Marks said, also established the lieutenant governor's veterans task force to bring together mental health experts and others to help veterans battling opioid addiction and post traumatic stress disorder. Despite reports of their estrangement, Stack supports Wolf's policies and reelection, Marks said. "He feels like he's made the most of his opportunity in office," Marks said of Stack. "He's stayed in his lane as lieutenant governor, and also stayed in lockstep with Gov. Wolf and his policies." The GOP contest Four Republicans are competing to appear on the November ballot. Two are running as a team with GOP contenders for governor. Among those running as teams despite the fact that they technically can't do so until the fall election is Jeff Bartos, a real estate executive from Lower Merion aligned with GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner. Together, they present themselves as anti-establishment candidates who would reform Harrisburg's finances and do away with government regulations that they say hamstring businesses and choke economic development. Bartos said Pennsylvania, with its natural resources, fertile farmland, well-established industries and ports, and cutting-edge universities, should be among the five fastest-growing states a distinction, according to recent census figures, that largely belongs to states in the southern and western regions of the country. "I want to be part of a leadership team that makes Pennsylvania an economic growth engine," said Bartos, who together with Wagner has been endorsed by the state party. Also part of a team for the primary is Diana Irey Vaughan, a longtime Washington County commissioner campaigning alongside GOP gubernatorial candidate Paul Mango. They pitch themselves as focused partly on promoting economic development and tempering the opioid crisis. Irey Vaughan, pointing to several projects she coordinated with Washington County's two other commissioners, said she believes she could be a stabilizing force in the Senate and "bring everyone together to work for the common good." That leaves Kathy Coder, a Republican State Committee member from Allegheny County, and Marguerite "Peg" Luksik, from Cambria County, running on their own. Coder said she chose to run for lieutenant governor in part to bring some diversity namely, a woman to the ballot. Coder, who runs a business that offers leadership training and served on the Bellevue Borough Council, said her first priority would be to gather Democrats and Republicans and outline a plan for which issues they can agree to work on. "We really need to stop this east-west" divide, she said. Luksik thinks her time living in various parts of the state near Philadelphia and in Erie, Clarion, and Pittsburgh positions her to understand the complexities of the diverse state. Though she has run for public office before, including governor, she has yet to win. If elected, she said, she would focus on developing lesser-known roles held by the lieutenant governor, such as serving at the helm of the state's Local Government Advisory Committee. "My whole history has been speaking for the little guy," she said. "I'm 5 foot 2." You could smell it before you saw it. For weeks, pedestrians walking along the 700 block of Market Street an area supposedly being revitalized to reconnect East Market with more vibrant areas of Center City were greeted by the stench of two mattresses, left overnight by homeless people. The problem pales compared with what residents endure daily in Kensington, where dozens of homeless people, many of them substance users, sleep underneath bridges to find shelter from the elements. But East Market, traversed daily by visitors to the historic district, deserves more respect than it is getting. For that matter, so do neighborhoods throughout the city including but not limited to Kensington that are bearing the burdens of the opioid addiction crisis and the resulting problem of homelessness. The opioid epidemic has not only ruined lives and torn up families, but devastated neighborhoods in the city. The city struggled in the early days to respond. Last year, the city finally evicted those living in a makeshift encampment in the Gurney Street train gulch in Kensington. After that about 200 people simply set up camp underneath the train bridges on Lehigh Avenue. The city on Thursday announced its plan to move them out by May 30. It's a good plan, which includes locating a mobile medical unit at the site, opening two 40-bed shelters, and intensifying efforts to get all who are willing into drug treatment. The city will even store personal items for a month after the camps are cleared so their owners can retrieve them. But it's not enough. Efforts that are just as intensive need to occur in other areas, including Center City, where LOVE Park and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway have at times been convenient locations for homeless people to pitch their tents. To help address that problem, a Project HOME service center was opened this year at Suburban Station, using funds from the city, SEPTA, and private contributors. That type of collaboration is essential. In California last year, the City of Sacramento and Sacramento County announced a $108 million, three-year plan to address homelessness and drug abuse. The county is providing $44 million, with $32 million in federal funds being matched dollar for dollar by the city and local hospitals, which makes sense, since addiction is a public health crisis. That level of funding may not be necessary in Philadelphia. It isn't experiencing the death of one homeless person per week, as Sacramento County did between 2002 and 2016. But this city can and should do more to help homeless substance users so they aren't forced to camp out under bridges in Kensington or set out mattresses on Market Street. Tolerance is admirable, but it shouldn't override city officials' responsibility to provide safe, sanitary environments for residents and inviting settings for visitors. In fact, many advocates say housing is the first step toward getting substance users to accept treatment and begin to rebuild their lives off the streets. More housing for homeless people must be part of the opioid solution. Now the city needs to figure out how to provide it. Joseph A. Burke, 88, of Philadelphia, a longtime DuPont Co. chemical engineer who dedicated his free time to volunteering with the Boy Scouts and helping recovering alcoholics, died Monday, April 30, of cancer at his home. Mr. Burke was an international chemical process engineer, responsible for understanding chemical and physical reactions, and the machinery needed to transform raw materials into finished products. A 1947 graduate of Upper Darby High School, he won a scholarship from the Navy ROTC program and earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1951. Seven years later, he followed up with a master's degree in applied statistics from Villanova University. Between 1951 and 1993, when he retired, Mr. Burke used his expertise to help build factories around the world that made paint, resins, and plastics. He designed and supervised the construction of facilities in Mexico, China, Brazil, Venezuela, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and the United States. For most of his career, he was based at offices in Grays Ferry. "He loved this work," said his wife, Linda. "His job entailed much more than the technical stuff. Because he worked internationally, he had to learn the ins and outs of the culture, and how to communicate. The travel was a big part of it. He loved the challenge of that." Mr. Burke was born and raised in Upper Darby. As a youngster, he joined the Boy Scouts. But rather than leave the scouts as an adult, he volunteered from 1957 through 2017. In 1977, after 20 years of service, Mr. Burke was honored by the local Cradle of Liberty Council with a Silver Beaver, the highest award that local chapters give to a volunteer. He assisted with training of leaders and served as a resource to Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders, mostly in Philadelphia. The Cradle of Liberty Council covers the city and Montgomery and Delaware Counties. His volunteer titles were neighborhood commissioner, district commissioner, district camping chairman, and assistant Boy Scout council commissioner. He continued to serve on the Scouts' investment and audit committees until late last year. In a Dec. 30, 2017, letter marking Mr. Burke's retirement from Scouting, council executive director Dan Templar wrote that the organization's role in helping young people build character and leadership skills "would not be possible without the mentorship and support of volunteers like Joe." Mr. Burke also was involved with helping recovering alcoholics. He could empathize because he was one. In 1973, he gave up drinking, and in March celebrated 45 years of sobriety. He was comfortable making this public if it would help others, his wife said. Mr. Burke joined the Southeastern Pennsylvania Intergroup Association, a nonprofit that uses the teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous and operates in Philadelphia and the four suburban counties. "Our primary purpose is to carry the message of recovery to the alcoholic who still suffers. If you want to drink, that's your business; if you want to stop, it's ours," the organization's mission statement says. Mr. Burke served as president of the nonprofit in 1983, and vice president, treasurer, and committee director at other times. He attended many meetings and helped newcomers get acclimated, an official said. Since 1968, Mr. Burke had been a member of Old St. Joseph's Church in Society Hill. He ushered, served on the parish council, chaired the church's social committee, and was a member of its finance committee. When not working or volunteering, he visited 60 countries with his wife. Mr. Burke also supported the Free Library of Philadelphia and the arts in the city. In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter Monika; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters; and a brother. His former wife, Bobbye James Burke, died in 2008. A viewing starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, will be followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at Old St. Joseph's Church, 321 Willings Alley. Interment will be in Woodlands Cemetery. Donations may be made to Penn Wissahickon Hospice, 150 Monument Rd., No. 300, Bala Cynwyd, Pa. 19004, or to the Woodlands, 4000 Woodland Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104. 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. On May 2nd, Squyres and Callas are scheduled to present the missions proposal before a Senior Review for an 11th mission extension, to keep Opportunity roving through 2019. As the process goes, the Senior Review will make recommendations to NASA officials, who, in turn, will make the final decision. [Beginning in 2020, NASA is to shift to granting mission extensions every three years as opposed to every two years; hence, this extension will be for just one year.] For years Opportunity and the MER team have cruised Mars comfortably, though sans bells and whistles, setting records and making textbook-changing discoveries on about $14 million annually. For the tenth mission extension (2016-2018), the budget was cut lean, to less than $13 million. Now the maximum funding that would be allotted for 2019, is further reduced, to $12 million, according to one source. Its a budget cut that will likely impact operations and there is, apparently, no negotiating room. Even though this smart bot is 171 months into what was originally slated as a 3-month tour and is still pioneering planetary exploration, still going where no rover has gone before, and still blazing trails for future Mars explorers, robot and human. Even though Mars exploration has dramatically increased in popularity and believability in large part because Spirit and Opportunity sent the Red Planet home, in breathtaking images of landscapes that seem somehow familiar, and stunning images of dawns and dusks, skies of pink, and rust red dunes. And even though this rover is now on the first-ever exploratory cruise through the rim of a large, ancient impact crater, pushing the limits of an adventurous expedition of discovery that has established and broken so many records, and uncovered more of Mars secrets than any other surface mission. The plan for 2019 is to keep roving along the tenth mission extension route, which will take Opportunity down to the interior of the crater, to the benches nearby, and, grim-budget-reaper willing, back out of the crater farther to the south. We want to complete that plan, said Callas. We are privileged NASA officials are talking about giving us another year of funding. Optimism, gratitude, and living the mantra Every day on Mars is a gift, are assets that throughout the years appear to have helped fuel this team. Those assets are still very much alive and roving alongside Opportunity on Mars. Deep Dive into April Opportunity woke up to April at San Juan Pueblo, an outcrop of dark glassy rocks chock-full of holes, what geologists call vesicular rocks. Located in the southern border area of the south trough, the site is named for a stop along the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the old, 2,560-kilometer (about 1,591-mile) trade route between Mexico City and San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico. The team adopted this naming theme once the rover entered Perseverance Valley last July. The Spanish Southwestern history theme the mission is using right now for naming rocks and outcrops is worth pointing out again. To my knowledge, this is the first time that Hispanic names and history have been used in any mission, said MER Athena Science Team member Larry Crumpler, a research curator at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and Associate Professor, University of New Mexico. The Phoenix Police Department took to Facebook to share a photo of one of its young supporters who wanted to join the motorcade for Vice President Mike Pence. The young boy, clad in a Superman costume, posed for a picture on his very own mini "police motorcycle." (Photo: Phoenix PD/Facebook) The Phoenix Police Department took to Facebook to share a photo of one of its young supporters who wanted to join the motorcade for Vice President Mike Pence. The young boy, clad in a Superman costume, posed for a picture on his very own mini "police motorcycle." The post reads, "PhxPD motorcycle officers participating in the motorcade for Vice President Pence on his recent visit had a special visitor of their own! This little Superman had to bring out his own electric motorcycle and pose with motorcade. It warmed the officers' hearts and his smile spoke volumes!" The post went on to thank all members of the community who support the police department, saying, "We continue to be amazed at our community and the support they show us, big or small." Newark, NJ, police officers are being praised for not shooting back when one of them was hit with gunfire while serving a warrant last year. Newark police executed a search warrant on a Goodwin Avenue home on Oct. 14, 2017. During the course of the investigation Detective Joe Soares was shot in the chest. His body armor saved his life. But neither Soares or other officers fired back after the shooting. They were instead able to de-escalate the situation by backing up and surrounding the house. They were eventually able to convince suspect James Dennard to surrender. Soares says that it is usually instinct to return gunfire in situations like this. If you have a target. But there was no target to engage at that time, he told News 12. We cant do that. Police say there was a 2-year-old child in the home during the raid. Officials say that the officers restraint prevented a potential tragedy. Blessed and proud of our officers in the city of Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka said after the shooting. The discipline that they did in being able to go into a house, take on fire and still execute an arrest without firing a weapon one time. The October raid will now be used as a case study on how to make sure everyone makes it out of a tense situation alive. James Dennard was indicted on attempted murder and six other counts. Joel Suss, an Australian psychologist, is An expert in applying what's known as human factors to law enforcement, Suss studies how officers respond physically and psychologically to different environments, such as how well an officer fires a gun while under stress. He wanted to make contacts inside the local police department, so he signed up for Wichita citizen police academy. While enrolled, he heard about some research being done internally by the Wichita Police Department. Captain Brian White had mounted body-worn cameras on different parts of a police officer and recorded shooting drills. They wanted to figure out the best camera position for the diverse scenarios police officers often encounter. Intrigued by the department's human factors problem, Suss asked White if they could repeat the experiments, keep a bit more data and expand the scope of the experiment -- the police department had limited the scope of their initial tests and hadnt kept the records after they finished. That new study, recently published in the journal "Ergonomics in Design," is the first, to Susss knowledge, to approach police body cameras from a design and ergonomics perspective. Its just one example of the ways researchers are starting to delve into the bigger questions associated with body cameras, from artificial intelligence analysis to perspective bias, Inside Science reports. If you could imagine that we've got cameras on the head and we've got cameras on the body, the head swivels first so head-mounted cameras gave a better perspective or captured more of the target than the ones on the body, explained Suss. She even wrote a New York Times best-selling book about the man who raped and murdered dozens from 1976 to 1986 in Southern California, "Ill Be Gone in the Dark: One Womans Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer." Last week, a suspect was arrested in the case, but McNamara wasnt here to see it. The true-crime writer died unexpectedly in her sleep in 2016, leaving it to friends and family to celebrate her determination to see what she saw as a "solvable case" solved. "When everyone woke up to that news, we were like, Holy s ," said Kera Bolonik, a Brooklyn resident and friend of McNamaras for 32 years. "Of course, theres this unanimous feeling that she did this. Oh my gosh, she did this. Its four days after her second anniversary of her death and a week and a half after what would have been her 48th birthday. All this work took them to this place, so theres a lot of pride and some sadness that shes not here to experience that pride and relief and elation, but ultimately what she did want to happen did happen." What McNamara wanted was for an identification to be made and resolution for the victims and their families, Bolonik said. The perpetrator was also known as the East Area Rapist and suspected of murders and rapes in 10 counties throughout California. While armed and wearing a mask, he would enter through windows at night and surprise sleeping victims who ranged in age from 13 to 41. "Michelle said this guy wasnt a genius, he just practiced a lot. Thats what this guy did," Paul Haynes, who collaborated with McNamara on the book, said in an April 5 episode of the "My Favorite Murder" podcast. Former cop Former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was taken into custody outside his Sacramento, Calif., home Tuesday and charged with numerous counts of murder. Sacramento County officials said DNA collected from a crime scene of the Golden State Killer was compared to online genetic profiles on genealogical sites to find a match for a suspect. McNamaras husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, was at Andersons Bookshop in Naperville, Ill., last week with Haynes, lead researcher of "Ill Be Gone in the Dark," and Billy Jensen, an investigative journalist who also collaborated on the book. At the time, an arrest had yet to be made. When the news broke, McNamaras sister Maureen Stratton, said the whole family was ecstatic but "so distraught" that her younger sister was not here to enjoy it. "We were in Naperville for the book event, and (Haynes and Jensen) seemed very confident talking about it like it was just a matter of time that an arrest was going to happen," Stratton, an Oak Park resident and Northwestern University law professor, said. "And I remember thinking to myself: Theyre never going to find him. I did not have that confidence, so it truly was stunning and shocking, and I think we all just cried. I think we were all like, Omigosh, this is incredible." Stratton recalled McNamaras writing of the book and the investigation of the case being a sort of push-and-pull that weighed on her. "She just kept thinking: I think we can solve this, I think we can solve this. She just felt so strongly that this was solvable and that it really needed to be solved because all of these victims so it was her lifes mission to figure it out." So important to her Becky Humbert, a Naperville resident and friend of McNamaras since seventh grade at Hawthorne Elementary, said she couldnt describe the emotions she felt after hearing the arrest news. "Her writing that book, her finishing that, which was always something so important to her was one thing, but this this arrest, this was what mattered to her. That was more important to her," Humbert said. "She definitely wanted to provide peace for the victims and the survivors. I think I wavered between crying and having chills all day long. Im sure all of us did, everyone who loved her and knew her lifes work felt that way." Amid expressing their pride in her work and drive, McNamaras circle reflected on her writing path from poetry to editor of the Oak Park River Forest High School newspaper to short stories and ultimately true-crime writing. Her blog, True Crime Diary, created soon after her marriage to Oswalt, according to Stratton, focused on hundreds of unsolved crimes. But it was the Golden State Killer that was her most defining case, Haynes said. "Ultimately Michelles objective was singular to identify the Golden State Killer," he said. "Its so sad that Michelle died without knowing this persons identity; its so sad that Michelle is not here right now to celebrate this momentous thing, which is really the prize at the end of the maze that Michelle was seeking." Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones told reporters that McNamaras work helped build interest in the case interest that led to television networks HLN and Investigation Discovery doing series about the case but he didnt go as far as saying her book led to a suspect. Haynes says otherwise. "Without Michelles book and Michelles involvement, the motivation and thrust to solve this case wouldnt be there, so I would say that Michelles involvement absolutely had an influence on this case being resolved," said the Los Angeles-based researcher. Tireless sleuth Bolonik agrees. "When you read her book, she was kind of putting pieces together. Nobody knew that it was this particular guy; the cops who had been working on the case for 20 years didnt know," she said. "But she had a very clear sense of what kind of person they were looking for and how it was going to come about even through DNA, genetic testing. "She suspected, she says in the book, that he was connected to the military somehow, that he must have been in law enforcement. Plus she named him the Golden State Killer, which allowed all these jurisdictions to come together that was the umbrella. Her work and the ability to talk among all these jurisdictions, it enabled her to look at information in new ways and ask questions that had never been asked. "It was a cold case. No one was talking about this case. It had just languished. But she brought attention to it with her blog and through her article and then with her book. It created a sense of urgency that was so crucial. She lived and breathed this." HBO Documentary Films has acquired rights to the book for a docuseries of its own. Haynes said hell definitely continue following every development in the case as it goes forward. "This is only the beginning of a new chapter in this case," he said. As the case evolves, McNamaras sister wants people to remember one thing about her "brilliant, funny" sister. "It wasnt about solving the case and getting the glory. She wouldnt care about that at all. She just wanted to put a face and a name to this horror and get some peace for people. I think she was a very selfless person that way," she said. Most of the 66 or so of the constellations we see require you to suspend any sense of reality and turn on the imagination big time. I always tell folks that constellations are like kids' dot-to-dot puzzles, but a lot more challenging. Not only do you have to draw the lines between the dots or stars in your minds eye, but not all of the dots are the same brightness and there are no numbers by the stars. Throw in urban lighting in a lot of places and constellation hunting can be really tough, but also a lot of fun at the same time. Leo the Lion is one of the easier constellations to find, and is arguably the best constellation of spring time, both for its brightness and distinct look. Even though its one of the first spring constellations, we actually start seeing it in the eastern evening sky in February in the throes of winter. Now that were actually moving toward the summer months, Leo is beginning its long goodbye in our western skies after evening twilight. Two-part constellation In a way, Leo is a two-part constellation. On the lower right side is a distinct sickle or backward question mark leaning to the right a bit. Without too much trouble, you can see how that sickle resembles the profile of a lions chest and head. The moderately bright star that marks the period at the bottom of the question mark marks the heart of the great celestial lion. That star is called Regulus, about 78 light-years away from Earth. Actually Regulus isnt just one star, but a system of four stars orbiting around each other. The second part of Leo the Lion is a fairly bright triangle of stars to the upper left of the sickle that outlines the rear end and tail of Leo. On the upper left hand corner of the triangle is the star Denebola. Just to the left of the lions tail is a cluster of distant galaxies around 60 million light-years away. If you have a really dark sky and a moderate to large backyard telescope, you may see some of the member galaxies as faint little smudges. Honestly, they arent all that impressive visually, but keep in mind that most of those little smudges are galaxies much, much larger than our Milky Way. Mythologically, Leo has been seen by many ancient cultures as a celestial lion. In ancient Sumeria, now present-day Iraq, there are etchings of a stellar lion in caves that go back thousands of years. The constellation we know as Leo is also seen on Egyptian star maps that go back to the time of Cleopatra. The gates of the Egyptian canals irrigating the Nile valley were often decorated with a lion's head. That constellation was a big deal to ancient civilizations that were much more connected to the night sky than we are. No laptops or tablets got in their way. The best constellation stories in my book go back to the mythology surrounding the famous Greek and Roman gods. As with most constellation stories, you find multiple tales even within the same culture. One of my favorite yarns involves a story that reminds me very much of Shakespeares "Romeo and Juliet." I cant help but wonder if Shakespeare got the idea from this old Roman tragedy. See what you think. Star-crossed lovers Pyramus and Thisbe were lovers, but were forbidden to marry by their parents. Who knows, maybe it went back to an old family feud. The two talked secretly through a tiny hole in the wall between their houses. Their love for each other grew and grew, and they decided that they had to rendezvous and make a break for it. So they planned to meet outside the city in a grove of mulberry trees with white berries. When Thisbe arrived at the grove, Pyramus wasnt there yet. While she waited for her true love, a hungry lion stalked her, and just before it dove at Thisbe for the kill, she ran away as fast as she could. In her haste she lost her veil, which the lion snatched up with its paw. When Pyramus arrived, he saw Thisbe's torn veil, saw the lion in the distance, and assumed the worst. In his extreme grief he did himself in with his sword. Moments later, Thisbe arrived at the bloody scene and clung to her dead boyfriends body. Overcome by her own grief, she took Pyramuss sword and thrust it into her broken heart. Their blood colored the white mulberries red, and ever since, most mulberries have a red hue. Not including the part about the mulberries changing colors, doesnt this sound like Romeo and Juliet? Enjoy the constellation Leo the Lion in the western sky. Dont wait too long to see it. Around the start of June, Leo will make a seasonal exit below the western horizon by the end of evening twilight. Somebody else's trash could be your treasure. Find it at the 100-Mile Garage Sale, the annual event featuring sales at nearly 200 homes and businesses up and down both sides (Minnesota and Wisconsin) of Lake Pepin. The sale is already underway and runs through Sunday. Find more info, including sale locations: www.100milegaragesale.org. 2. Brews bros There are a couple of cold ones in the forecast this weekend not the weather, but the beers at a couple of Rochester events. First there's the sixth-annual Beer Street Social, the annual block party on Historic Third Street Southwest, on Friday night (free admission). Then comes the Craft Beer Expo, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Mayo Civic Center ($40-$50). 3. Bleus bros What is the exact point where mint julep meets margarita? You can find out Saturday at Rochester's Bleu Duck restaurant(14 Fourth St. SW), which has its Kentucky Derby-themed Run for the Roses party at 3:24 p.m., followed by a Cinco de Mayo-themed taco night at 8, featuring free tacos, $5 margaritas and classic hip-hop tunes in the air. Info: 507-258-4663. 4. Market up Saturday's forecast is sunny with highs in the mid-70s. In other words, ideal for the Rochester Downtown Farmers Marketto open its outdoor season in comfortable style. The market, at the corner of Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue Southeast, features offerings from dozens of local farmers and includes ready-to-eat food from two new businessesthis year. 5. They grow up so fast Get the kids out to Aldrich Memorial Nursery School'sannual carnival, a fundraiser for the school's operating fund and scholarship fund, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. While you're there, find out about Aldrich's big expansion project, adding two classrooms and a wall-to-wall building makeover. That's getting underway now and will continue all summer long. On Wednesday, I wrote about a BRIDGES meeting scheduled for later in the day. BRIDGES is a program pursuant to which Department of Justice/FBI personnel meet quarterly with representatives of the Muslim community in southeast Michigan. BRIDGES stands for Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity. In practice, as I tried to show, it stands for whitewashing jihad and pandering to CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations), a group with ties to terrorist organizations. What happened at the BRIDGES meeting Wednesday? Im told it was mainly the usual fare. One difference from the previous meeting was that Bushra Alawie, an outreach specialist with the FBI in Detroit who claimed that jihad means inner struggle and gave the example of her struggle not to eat cheesecake, was absent this time. Participants reportedly complained that, with Alawie not there, the FBI had no representative present who was wearing a hijab! Rep. Debbie Dingell was, Im told, the only member of Michigans congressional delegation invited to the meeting. Reportedly, she and another participant whipped up the crowd with an aggressive denunciation of President Trump. Query 1: Should the FBI be holding public meetings at which our president is denounced? Query 2: Do harsh attacks on U.S. government policies at outreach meetings like this carry a risk of inciting acts of terrorism? My answers are No to Query 1 and Yes to Query 2. The media continue studiously to ignore the meaning and revelations of the Israeli intelligence coup announced this week. The media were of course willing tools of the Obama administrations promotion of the deal. There is no reason they might want to reconsider their role in the context of the Trump administrations great undoing. I want to pause over this episode in a few more posts. To the extent attention has been paid, the Obamabots and their media tools insist that Prime Minister Netanyahus presentation on the Iranian nuclear archive (which I think barely scratched the surface) added nothing to what they already knew. Here they demonstrate once again that they seek to force us into the world Orwell made in 1984. They are to assume control of language and of memory. 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! Thats why Israeli security experts are speaking out. 1/4 John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 1, 2018 Today President Obama and his faithful servants advise us that they knew their friends in Tehran were lying through their teeth to us about Irans nuclear weapons program. Nevertheless, this is not quite what they told us at the time, and we are not talking here about ancient history. It is only five years ago that President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly and cited the alleged fatwa of Irans Supreme Leader (thats what Obama called him) as proof of the Iranian regimes peaceful bona fides. Obama stated: The Supreme Leader has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons. And that wasnt all! President Rouhani has just recently reiterated that the Islamic Republic will never develop a nuclear weapon. Jordan Schachtel reminds us that Obama again brought up the nonexistent fatwa in a 2015 address commemorating the Persian holiday of Nowruz. He asserted: Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons, and President Rouhani has said that Iran would never develop a nuclear weapon. Schachtel adds this pertinent 2014 quote from Obama administration Secretary of State John Kerry: President Obama and I both are extremely welcoming and grateful for the fact that the supreme leader has issued a fatwa, former Secretary of State John Kerry added in 2014. In fact, no such fatwa was ever issued by Supreme Leader Khamenei. It does not exist. Neither the Iranian regime nor anybody else can present it. I collected MEMRIs research on this question at the time in the post Fatuous fatwa twaddle. Did Obama and Kerry themselves believe it or were they just peddling boob bait for their media friends? The asinine former Obama administration official Tommy Vietor takes another approach. According to Vietor, the Israelis cooked up the nuclear archive. See Armin Rosens Tablet column Ex-Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor says stolen Iranian nuclear archive was cooked. The difference between Kerry and Vietor illustrates David Harsanyis observation: Though they have yet to coalesce around a suitable talking point, some have already argued that the deal should stay in place because Iran lies. But in reality, from beginning to end, the deal has been a disaster for the United States and for peace. It has empowered our enemies and undermined our allies. There has never been anything quite like it. What an unsavory and duplicitous crew. UPDATE: In his excellent Atlantic column this morning, Reuel Marc Gerecht puts it this way: I really dont recall [Obama NSC official Ben] Rhodes and Kerry before the JCPOA was concluded harping on the consummate dishonesty of these people. Wire tapping the phone of the presidents lawyer? Thats quite a measure. But NBC News reports that federal investigators did just that tapping the phone of Michael Cohen, President Trumps personal lawyer. According to the report, the feds tapped Cohens phone before they raided his home, office, and hotel room. That makes sense. Once the raids occurred, they could expect Trump to be cautious enough not to call Cohen. Apparently, though, Trump wasnt that cautious. Rudy Giuliani told NBC that Trump did call Cohen after the raid. Thats in addition to at least one call Trump reportedly made before the raid but after the tap. Thus, the feds seem to snare the president coming and going. Assuming the accuracy of NBC News report, was it the feds intention to listen to Trump-Cohen communications? I suspect so. What calls other than ones with Trump did the feds hope to listen in on? Cohen may (or may not) have engaged in illegal dealings with Russians or other foreigners, but I understand these to be old transactions. Cohen wasnt likely to be making phone calls in connection with them (nor, as I understand it, would a tap be authorized to investigate old crimes). More likely, he would be making calls about Stormy Daniels related matters and quite possibly receiving them from Trump. In this sense, the surveillance of Cohen, assuming it occurred, reminds me of the surveillance of Carter Page. There seems to have been no compelling reason to tap the phone of Page, who still has not been charged with a crime. The surveillance arguably made sense only as an entree into Trump world. I think its reasonable, albeit speculative, to view the surveillance of Cohen, if it occurred, the same way. Tapping Cohens phone would, of course, require a number of sign-offs. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York (as opposed to Muellers team) would have to ask for it. A judge would have to approve it. So too, presumably, would someone high up in the Justice Department. Its questionable, however, whether any of these sign-offs would be difficult to obtain, given the anti-Trump animus that pervades the federal bureaucracy and judiciary, and DOJs likely desire to defer to its local prosecutors. Alan Dershowitz suggests that obtaining them would be easy. The fact that James Comey has vouched for the devotion to rule of law and truth of federal investigators in New York may be telling, and not in the way Comey intends. This is all speculation on my part. I await the analysis of those who can speculate more knowledgeably. But its not speculation to note the extraordinary nature of tapping the phone of the presidents lawyer, if that happened. The presumption against such a measure should be overwhelming. But when it comes to trying to injure this president, the presumption seems to be that anything goes. UPDATE: Now, NBC News says Cohens phones were being monitored by a pen register, not a wiretap. A pen register captures the to and from phones numbers, but not the content of calls and texts. Im glad I put all those qualifiers (assuming its true, if it happened) in my post. You have to with NBC News. Andreas Papandreou became Greeces first Socialist prime minister in 1981, running against the privileged. It was a political master stroke because, as one Greek historian put it, no self-respecting Greek considers himself privileged. Unlike Papandreou, when the modern American left rails against privilege, it leaves no ambiguity about who it thinks are its recipients. The left is talking explicitly about whites as in white privilege. Thus, it is attacking the current racial majority in America and the racial plurality for as far as the eye can see. Do American whites view themselves as privileged? It can be argued that, by definition, self-respecting ones dont. But the notion of white privilege is being drilled into white students at Americas colleges and universities, and probably at many high schools. Nor is the notion impossible to sell in the campus setting. One can rationally consider it a privilege to be pampered at elite colleges, although the privilege isnt a uniquely white one. Black students enjoy it and in many cases receive it with inferior credentials to their white counterparts. What about when white students enter the workforce, though? After a while, they may conclude that their main privileges are to wake up at 6:30 in the morning, work all day, and fork over a significant portion of their earnings to the government. Thus, in our democracy, the theme of white privilege seems like a political loser. That, of course, is why Democrats dont peddle it overtly. Yet, the notion seeps into their politics and their rhetoric at times (e.g., the constant push for racial preferences and sanctuary cities, attacks on the police, and expressions like deplorables). Whites have started to notice. Donald Trump is a beneficiary. Not content with branding whites privileged, the left also expresses its displeasure with men. Here, toxic masculinity has served the rhetorical and ideological function of white privilege. Recently, I heard a film critic describe Liberty Valance, the evil character marvelously played by Lee Marvin in John Fords classic Western, as plagued by toxic masculinity. His foil, the heroic and decidedly masculine character played by John Wayne, was not, she allowed. Im old enough to remember when bad guy and good guy sufficed in these cases. At the University of Texas, the Counseling and Mental Health Center recently launched a program to help male students take control over their gender identity and develop a healthy sense of masculinity. The University takes its critique of masculinity beyond the toxic. Now the target extends to restrictive masculinity. Men, the program argues, suffer when they are told to act like a man or when they are encouraged to fulfill traditional gender roles, such as being successful or the breadwinner. The John Wayne character in Liberty Valance clearly suffered from restrictive masculinity. Therein resided his heroism. Even the peaceable, apron-wearing Jimmy Stewart character would likely be deemed restrictively masculine. Only the cowardly sheriff played by Andy Devine would pass as mentally healthy, among the white characters anyway. Speaking of toxic, treating traditional masculinity as a mental health problem seems like as politically toxic an idea as labeling American whites privileged. Once this attitude seeps into our politics, as may be happening already, e.g., on the fringes of the MeToo movement, Democrats will be on their way to alienating not just white males and females, but men generally. Part of me says: Go for it. Poland's President Andrzej Duda holds disrespect for the Katyn Memorial in Jersey City for unimaginable, Andrzej Duda aide Krzysztof Szczerski told PAP on Friday commenting an ongoing conflict about the removal-designated monument. On Monday, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop informed about plans to build a park on the grounds on which the memorial stands, and the monument's temporary move to the city's Department of Public Works. Plans to move the memorial, which commemorates 1940 mass executions of 22,000 Polish POWs by the Soviets in west Russia's Katyn Forest, evoked a hefty response from the local Polish community, which had not been consulted about the plans. Protests against the memorial's removal have also been voiced by Poland. Commenting on the matter, Krzysztof Szczerski said the Polish President held the memorial for "an important token of remembrance about the victims of genocide", and stressed that President Duda "could not imagine that (the memorial - PAP) could be disrespected in a country which so highly tributes heroes, especially those who laid down their lives for their country." Krzysztof Szczerski voiced hope that talks around the issue between Jersey City authorities, the local Polish community and Polish diplomatic representatives will be an "open dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect." He also reminded about the Polish presidential couple's 2016 visit to the memorial. (PAP) JOIN EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES Assemble. Stand as one. You can achieve great things when you work together. Clarks Kids have been inspired by Marvel's mightiest heroes to create an exclusive multi-gender collection that celebrates strength in unity. Launching with the film release of the highly-anticipated Avengers: Infinity War out in UK cinemas on April 27, the iconic collection captures the spirit of each hero while providing kids with liberated movement through comfort for everyday adventures. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8322051-clarks-marvel-greater-together/ Like every kid on the planet, the Avengers all have very different and distinct identities. When they join forces, their strengths combine, and they become Earth's mightiest team of heroes. The campaign - Greater Together - will strive to encourage kids to celebrate their strengths and abilities and to stand together as one; empowering them to be fearless, to believe in themselves, and always to support each other through strength in unity. Experts in healthy foot development for over 170 years, Clarks' passion is to encourage the wonder, curiosity and imagination of kids through comfort in movement. "Kids have the power to change the world. They are the purest minds on the planet, and we - Clarks - are inspired by how they live their lives. In our view, they are all superheroes. So, what better way to celebrate that than joining forces with Marvel. We follow science and data to support the tradition of putting growing feet in safe hands. Combine that with collaborated passion, imagination and expertise, and you get an innovative footwear collection that provides kids with the freedom to be their true selves." Jason Beckley. Clarks Chief Brand Officer. Marvel x Clarks will launch May 4, 2018, online and in selected stores. Laura Vulto Global Communications & PR Manager Office: +31(0)20-233-79-50 [email protected] Esther Lopez Riva Global Head of Communications & PR [email protected] (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686554/Clarks_Kids_Marvel.jpg ) Video: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8322051-clarks-marvel-greater-together/ SOURCE Clarks Kids PUNE, India, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Digital Map Market by Component (Solution (Tracking and Telematics, Catchment Analysis, Risk Assessment and Disaster Management, Route Optimization and Planning, Geo-Analytics and Visualization) and Service), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market size is expected to grow from USD 9.26 Billion in 2018 to USD 20.36 Billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.1% during the forecast period. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 70 market data Tables and 51 Figures spread through 155 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Digital Map Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-map-market-174129746.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The major factors driving the growth of the Digital Map Market include an increasing use of 3D platforms, advanced technologies, intelligent PDAs in portable and smart devices, geospatial information, and digital maps across verticals. The risk assessment and disaster management solution segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Digital map solutions support the mapping and tracking of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions, which may have an immediate impact on the human health as well as a secondary impact, causing further death and suffering. Additionally, they assist in tracking environmental emergencies, such as forest fires caused by humans, and technological and industrial accidents usually involving the production, use, or transportation of hazardous materials. Digital map solutions for risk assessment provide flood maps and information, tools to better assess the risks from flooding, and precautionary planning information to help communities take actions to reduce flood risks. The deployment and integration service segment is estimated to hold the largest market size in 2018. Deployment and integration services help ensure a satisfactory user experience for digital maps, adhere to IT standards, and maintain budgetary guidelines. Deployment and integration service providers understand the requirements of companies across verticals and accordingly deploy digital map solutions. Service providers also design customized services based on clients' needs and budget to manage workflows and offer ease of use to customers and employees. Speak To Our analyst @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=174129746 The automotive vertical is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Automotive companies are some of the largest users of the digital map technology. This can be attributed to the growing interest of automakers in connected and self-driven cars. Digital maps offer various features that provide information on driving lanes, emergency lanes, parking areas, crossings, intersection areas, intersection lanes, lane markings, and traffic signs. Enterprises in the automotive vertical are rapidly adopting digital map solutions to use them in self-driving cars. Digital maps and GIS assist in the mapping of self-driving cars in real time. Automotive applications also include fleet management, logistics control systems, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). North America is estimated to hold the largest market size in 2018. In North America, digital maps are extensively used across verticals, such as automotive; energy and utilities; government and defense; and logistics, travel, and transportation. These verticals use the mapping technology to devise business strategies, check the feasibility of products, test the geographic conditions that affect the market, and assist in the process of decision-making. The demand for real-time information and real-time modeling is estimated to increase in the coming years, which is expected to have a positive impact on the Digital Map Market. Major vendors in the Digital Map Market include Esri (US), Google (US), TomTom (Netherlands), Mapbox (US), DigitalGlobe (US), Digital Map Products (US), HERE (Netherlands), MapmyIndia (India), Microsoft (US), NavInfo (China), Nearmap (Australia), Magellan (US), Apple (US), MapQuest (US), AutoNavi (China), Yahoo (US), INRIX (US), Mapmechanics (UK), ZENRIN (Japan), MapSherpa (Canada), OpenStreetMap (UK), Living Map (UK), Automotive Navigation Data (Netherlands), MapMan (UK), and Digital Mapping Solutions (Australia). Know more about Digital Map Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-map-market-174129746.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 PUNE, India, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Electric Traction Motor Market by Type (AC and DC), Power Rating (<200 kW, 200 kW to 400 kW, and >400 kW), Application (Railway, Electric Vehicles, Elevators, Conveyors, and Industrial Machinery), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market is expected to grow from an estimated USD 12.41 Billion in 2018 to USD 28.51 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 18.10% during the forecast period. The market is set to witness significant growth due to the rising demand from railway sector and the increased demand for energy efficient motors. Moreover, the rising demand of electric vehicles offers promising business opportunity in the Electric Traction Motor Market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 61 Tables and 38 Figures spread through 129 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Electric Traction Motor Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/electric-traction-motor-market-248269129.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report AC segment is expected to be the largest Electric Traction Motor Market segment, by type, in 2018. The AC segment is expected to be the largest segment of the Electric Traction Motor Market, by type, in 2018. AC electric traction motors are widely used in the electric vehicles and railway application to provide propulsion and higher torque. Advantages of AC motor, such as less maintenance compared to DC motor, better speed acceleration, and higher efficiency are the key drivers for the growth of the AC Electric Traction Motor Market. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=248269129 The <200 kW segment accounts for the largest share of the Electric Traction Motor Market, by power rating, during the forecast period. The <200 kW segment is expected to be the largest, by power rating, from 2018 to 2023. The factors driving the market for electric traction motors with a rated power <200 kW include vast implementation of these motors in electric vehicles and light rail vehicles such as trams, monorail, trolley lines, and street cars. Asia Pacific: The largest Electric Traction Motor Market during the forecast period. In this report, the Electric Traction Motor Market has been analyzed with respect to five regions, namely, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. Asia Pacific is the largest Electric Traction Motor Market, by region, during the forecast period. Rising urbanization and proliferation of electrification, demand from the railway sector, and supportive government plans are expected to drive the market for electric traction motor in this region. China, India, and Japan are the leading countries contributing to the growth of the Electric Traction Motor Market in Asia Pacific. To enable an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes the profiles of some of the top players in the Electric Traction Motor Market, such as CRRC (China), Alstom (France), TSA (Austria), Siemens (Germany), ABB (Switzerland), and Bosch (Germany). Know more about the Electric Traction Motor Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/electric-traction-motor-market-248269129.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/energy-and-power Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets PUNE, India, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Flooring Market Type by Material (Carpets & Rugs, Resilient (Vinyl, Cork, Linoleum, Rubber, Resin), Non-resilient (Ceramic, Stone, Wood, Laminate)), End-use (Residential, Non-residential), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the flooring market size is estimated to grow from USD 339.29 Billion in 2018 to USD 447.74 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 5.7%. The market is projected to witness steady growth in the next few years, due to the rise in renovation & remodeling activities resulting from rapid industrialization and urbanization. Increase in investments in the construction industry, rise in population, and growing focus toward interior decoration are also some of the key factors driving the growth of the flooring market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 146 market data Tables and 36 Figures spread through 175 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Flooring Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/flooring-market-110789434.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The vinyl segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Vinyl is one of the most versatile materials used in flooring. Its resistance to mold, mildew, and moisture makes it one of the most suitable flooring options for application areas where occasional spills and moisture are the major concerns. Its low cost and easy installation also contribute to its growing popularity in a range of residential and commercial applications. LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) is one of the popular forms of vinyl flooring and is gaining popularity as a versatile flooring solution, offering durability along with various design options. It offers cost advantages in terms of price as compared to other premium materials, owing to its minimal maintenance requirements and high durability. These factors contribute toward its increasing application in the corporate, hospitality, healthcare, and other commercial sectors. Get PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=110789434 The residential segment is estimated to dominate the market, in terms of value, through 2023. The residential segment dominated the market in 2017 and this trend is projected to continue through 2023, as a result of the demand for aesthetic flooring materials and growing trend toward interior decoration. Housing renovation and maintenance have increased steadily in the recent past and are expected to further increase in the coming years, owing to the increasing disposable income of people. These factors are expected to fuel the demand for flooring in the residential sector. The Asia Pacific market for flooring is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2023. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing market for flooring during the forecast period. The growth in the region can be attributed to the growing construction industry, supportive government policies & plans, and rapid urbanization. China is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in the Asia Pacific flooring market during the forecast period. The Middle Eastern & African market is projected to grow at the second-highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023. The key players operating in the Flooring Market include Mohawk Industries (US), Shaw Industries (US), Tarkett (France), Armstrong Flooring (US), Forbo (Switzerland), Gerflor (France), Interface (US), Beaulieu International (Belgium), TOLI Corporation (Japan), and Milliken & Company (US). These players have an extensive product portfolio and a wide geographical presence. New product launches, expansions, investments, acquisitions, and partnerships are some of the major strategies adopted by key players operating in the flooring market. Know more about Flooring Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/flooring-market-110789434.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/packaging Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets MUMBAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AutomationEdge - the leading IT Automation and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution provider - has been recognized in the recent 'Market Guide for IT Process Automation (Published: 18 April 2018)' report of the leading IT Advisory Company, Gartner. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/618525/AutomationEdge_Logo.jpg ) AutomationEdge offers a full range of intelligent automation technologies including IT automation orchestrator and ready actions library, chatbot support, ticket classification engine, machine learning orchestration capabilities, ETL, ready API integration framework and RPA. AutomationEdge is certified by various ITSM vendors and is available in marketplace / Stores of BMC, Service Now, Cherwell and Salesforce. AutomationEdge has a library of ready steps, adapters, and workflows for standard IT systems like Azure, Cisco, Active Directory, Splunk, Amazon EC2, VMware, Salesforce to name a few. As per Gartner Report, by 2023, ITPA tool adoption will increase by a modest 15% to 20%, up from current levels of 22%, as more I&O organizations eventually mature beyond the automation of IT operational tasks to deliver more-complex, cross-domain, business-valued services. "We are excited to be mentioned in the Gartner report; we believe this recognition is a display of value that our customers have realized using our IT automation tool. AutomationEdge orchestrates workflows, integrate systems and automates incidents and service requests across different functions," said Uday Birajdar, CEO, and Co-founder, AutomationEdge. AutomationEdge's ITPA capabilities are an extension of capabilities having ready adaptors to automate the repetitive process. The processes, which are automated, are mainly in data center operation, service requests and network operations. AutomationEdge is the only product which is mentioned in Gartner Market guide for IT process automation and RPA. About AutomationEdge AutomationEdge is the leading IT automation RPA solution. It offers a full range of intelligent automation technologies including RPA, cognitive automation including chatbot, machine learning, ETL, ready API integrations and IT automation as an Enterprise Automation Platform. For more information, please visit https://automationedge.com/news/automationedge-in-gartner-market-guide-for-it-process-automation/ Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/AutomationEdge https://www.linkedin.com/company/automationedge https://twitter.com/AutomationEdge https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQNT47rj29d84XABaULNT2w 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. Media Contact: Nilesh Shroff [email protected] +91-7030695950 Manager Marketing AutomationEdge Technologies Pvt. Ltd. SOURCE AutomationEdge Technologies Pvt. Ltd. PUNE, India, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report on "Industrial Metrology Market by Offering, Product, Application (Reverse Engineering, Quality & Inspection, Mapping & Modelling), Industry (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Precision Manufacturing, Consumer), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from USD 9.62 Billion in 2018 to USD 12.97 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. The growing big data analytics market and increasing demand for inspection services from precision manufacturing drive the growth of industrial metrology market. Moreover, increasing focus on quality control in various industries also contributes to the growth of this market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 74 market data Tables and 44 Figures spread through 139 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Industrial Metrology Market - Global Forecast to 2023" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/industrial-metrology-market-190782079.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report Hardware to hold largest size of industrial metrology market between 2018 and 2023 The major driver for the growth of the industrial metrology market for hardware is the increasing adoption of industrial metrology products in the industries such as aerospace and defense, and automotive to maintain product quality. Moreover, the use of 2D metrology products for dimensioning and inspection applications also contributes to the growth of the market for hardware. Industrial metrology market for coordinate measuring machine to grow at a high CAGR between 2018 and 2023 The rising need for precision dimensional analysis and validation of geometric accuracy in the manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and military industries contribute to the largest share of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) in the market based on equipment. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=190782079 Quality control and inspection application to hold largest size of industrial metrology market between 2018 and 2023 Industries such as automotive and aerospace face increasing demand for intense quality control and inspection; not meeting quality standards can hamper their reputation and, ultimately, their brand and business. Thus, these industries are prominently adopting industrial metrology for the quality control and inspection application. Industrial metrology market for automotive industry to grow at significant CAGR between 2018 and 2023 The shift in preference from off-line quality inspection to near-line or in-line measurement techniques, enabling higher sampling rates and shorter inspection times in automotive sector, drives the growth of the industrial metrology market for the automotive industry. Moreover, the growing demand for automobiles in developing countries, such as India and China, is expected to fuel the growth of industrial metrology market in the near future. APAC held largest share of industrial metrology market in 2017 Highest CAGR of the market in APAC is attributed to the high economic growth of the major countries, such as China and Japan, in this region. China has a huge potential in terms of the applications of industrial metrology offerings. Moreover, with the initiatives taken by the Government of India to encourage local and foreign players to have a manufacturing set-up in India is likely to boost the industrialization, thereby making it an attractive market for industrial metrology. The major players in the industrial metrology market include Hexagon (Sweden), FARO Technologies (US), Nikon Metrology (Belgium), Carl Zeiss Optotechnik (Germany), Jenoptik (Germany), GOM (Germany), and Creaform (Canada). Other prominent players are Renishaw (UK), KLA-Tencor (US), Applied Materials (US), Perceptron (US), GoM (Germany), Automated Precision (US), JLM Advanced Technical Services (US), Precision Products (US), CARMAR ACCURACY (Taiwan), Pollen Metrology (France), and Cairnhill Metrology (Singapore). Know more about the Industrial Metrology Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/industrial-metrology-market-190782079.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 MUMBAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight." Carly Fiorina, Former CEO of HP. The world will create 180 zettabytes of data by 2025, up from less than 10 zettabytes in 2015. The analytics market is expected to surpass $200 billion. This momentous growth of data is ushering in a fourth industrial revolution - Digital Business Transformation. Whether it is determining credit risk, developing new medicines, finding more efficient ways to deliver products and services, preventing fraud, uncovering cyber threats or retaining the most valuable customers, analytics can help to understand the organization - and the world around it. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686963/Niranjanlal_Dalmia_Logo.jpg ) According to Gartner's list of the top strategic trends for 2018, Business Intelligence and analytics have appeared as top priority. Previously, it was always thought that Business analytics is something that happens hand-in-hand with the operational functions of a business. As an example, cars are manufactured in India, and are shipped all across the world to be sold to the most suitable customers. This entire cycle creates a lot of data from which crucial insights can be attained, which in turn help to better or refine the processes in the future and also to keep track of the various steps involved. The same cycle takes place even today, but what has changed now is the way one looks at the acquired data. This new way, is the digital way. This same global supply chain is accomplished today, using data-driven technology solutions, which are quicker, intelligent, and flexible to changes. Now, these data-driven technology decisions are taken on the go, using analytics. Analytics can help create personalized responses to the customers based on their needs. Machine learning when paired with business analytics means the processes can update itself. This side steps the whole sales-funnel concept that was so popular traditionally. However, just owning analytics tools is not enough. Extracting value from the analytics investment requires professionals and leaders who can read the stories behind the humungous amount of data available and convert this flat boring data into hard hitting and penetrating business strategies. The Analytics/ Data Science/ Big Data industry in India is currently estimated to be $2.03 Billion annually in revenues, growing at a healthy rate of 23.8% CAGR, making India one of the Top 10 countries in the world, based on revenue from analytics. Of the annual inflow to analytics industry - almost 12% can be attributed to Advanced Analytics/ Predictive Modelling and Data Science. The Analytics Industry in India is expected to almost double by 2020. India is basically known for being the base for the analytics export to countries like USA, UK and the whole of Europe. Companies like Mu Sigma, Fractal Analytics, Global Analytics, Manthan are making their presence felt across the globe and are providing state-of-the-art service in the business analytics space. These companies are always looking for business analytics professionals to fill the analytics role giving an exposure to Big Data Management, Data Visualization, Predictive Analytics, etc. For the last several years, it has been forecasted that the demand for business analytics professionals will far surpass the supply, but this has become a reality in the last four years. As businesses in India, with the world, move away from 'gut-feel' based decisions to data-driven-decisions, the scope for a career in Business Analytics, is the career most demanded for. Keeping these exact thoughts in mind, N. L. Dalmia Centre for Excellence, Mumbai has collaborated with the Virginia Tech, USA to bring the most holistic and contemporary certificate program to India. Tarun Sen, Professor Emeritus of accounting and information systems and Managing Director of the Virginia Tech, India, Postgraduate Program in Business Analytics, said, "Virginia Tech was one of the first universities to develop an integrated, multidisciplinary program in Business Analytics." "What's more, the fact that this is a certificate, not a degree, gives us greater flexibility in collaborating closely with industry. This is a highly applied program," he added. Raja Roy Choudhury, Director of the institute in Mumbai, also pointed that the way to advance in the business analytics domain is to transform oneself to become innovative thinkers and provide effective solutions that benefit the organisation. This Virginia Tech Post Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics positions the aspirant for this transformation and not just thinks for the business but also entrepreneurially. The program helps the aspirant to identify the utility in data so that one can affect customer experience, diagnose problems, impact the bottom line, acquire customers using sophisticated technologies like MySQL, R, Python, BI tools, Scrum, AWS, Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms, Deep Learning, Mongo DB, OWASP, NVIDIA Analytics, etc. This partnership between Virginia Tech, USA and N. L. Dalmia Centre for Excellence is envisioned to bring about the rift between the number of data driven managers, with the an ability to use analytics to make decisions. About N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research (NLDIMSR) were established in the year 1995 by the Late Shri Niranjanlalji Dalmia with a vision to become a World Class Management Institute. Currently, NLDIMSR ranks amongst the top B-schools of India and is one of the most preferred business schools in Mumbai. The institute offers a plethora of academic services including Full Time and Part Time Post-graduate management courses, Global MBA Programs and the latest one - Post Graduate Programs in Quantitative Science. Media Contact : Dr. Raja Roy Choudhury [email protected] +91-9920888111 Director N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research . SOURCE Niranjanlal Dalmia Educational Society MUNICH, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Osram has added to its expertise in semiconductor-based optical security technology by acquiring US-based Vixar Inc. Already a technology leader in infrared LEDs and infrared laser diodes, Osram will have a unique breadth of technological expertise and an expanded product portfolio after bringing on board Vixar's specialist capabilities in the field of VCSEL. While currently known primarily for identification applications in mobile devices, VCSEL also can be used to recognize gestures and measure distances in medical, industrial, and automotive applications. Vixar was founded by pioneers in the VCSEL industry, having first brought VCSEL to the data communication market in the late 1990s, and more recently by founding Vixar in 2005 to pursue sensing applications. Approximately 20 employees of the company, which is based in Plymouth, Minnesota, will transfer to Osram as a result of the acquisition. Vixar is profitable both on an operational and net results level. The parties to the deal have agreed not to disclose financial details. Closing of the transaction is expected in summer. "The acquisition of Vixar is adding to our expertise, particularly in the fast-growing market for security technologies," said Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM Licht AG. Osram is a technology leader in infrared optical semiconductors and has already succeeded in bringing to market light sources for fingerprint sensors, iris scanners, and 2D facial recognition. The acquired capabilities will pave the way for further security technologies, including ultra-compact 3D facial recognition. In addition to unlocking smartphones and other consumer electronics devices, such technologies also can be used for high-security access controls in industry. The way in which VCSEL technology captures 3D environmental data has applications in everything from gesture recognition, augmented reality, robotics, and proximity sensors to autonomous driving. VCSEL stands for vertical cavity surface emitting laser and is a special type of laser diode in which the light is emitted perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor chip. Vixar is a fabless semiconductor company, and has developed a robust volume supply chain consisting of merchant foundries serving the optoelectronic market. Osram's depth and breadth of semiconductor experience will further strengthen the manufacturing capabilities for the rapidly growing VCSEL market. PRESS CONTACTS Torsten Wolf Tel: +49 89 6213 2506 Email: [email protected] Jens Hack Tel. +49 89 6213 2129 Email: [email protected] ABOUT OSRAM OSRAM, based in Munich, is a leading global high-tech company with a history dating back more than 110 years. Primarily focused on semiconductor-based technologies, our products are used in highly diverse applications ranging from virtual reality to autonomous driving and from smartphones to networked, intelligent lighting solutions in buildings and cities. OSRAM utilizes the infinite possibilities of light to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities. OSRAM's innovations will enable people all over the world not only to see better, but also to communicate, travel, work, and live better. As of the end of fiscal year 2017 (September 30), OSRAM had approximately 26,400 employees worldwide. It generated revenue of more than 4.1 billion in fiscal year 2017. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Munich (ISIN: DE000LED4000; WKN: LED400; trading symbol: OSR). Additional information can be found at www.osram.com. Disclaimer This document contains forward-looking statements and information, i.e. statements about events that lie in the future rather than the past. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as 'expect', 'want', 'anticipate', 'intend', 'plan', 'believe', 'seek', 'estimate', 'will', and 'predict'. Such statements are based on current expectations and certain assumptions made by OSRAM's management, so they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. A wide range of factors, many of which are beyond OSRAM's control, have an influence on the business activities, success, business strategy, and results of OSRAM. These factors may cause the actual results, success, and performance of OSRAM to differ significantly from those expressly or implicitly communicated in the forward-looking statements or from those that are expected on the basis of past trends. In particular, these factors include, but are not limited to, the circumstances described in the report on risks and opportunities contained in the annual report of the OSRAM Licht Group. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the actual results, performance, and success of OSRAM may differ significantly from those described in forward-looking statements as being expected, anticipated, intended, planned, believed, sought, estimated, or projected. OSRAM assumes no obligation, nor does it intend, to update these forward-looking statements above and beyond the legal requirements or to adjust them in light of unexpected developments. Due to rounding, numbers presented in this and other reports may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures to which they relate. SOURCE Osram MUMBAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) giant, TUV SUD, today announced a new position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the South Asia region. To that effect, Suresh Kumar has been elevated to the new role and will continue to report to Niranjan Nadkarni, CEO of South & South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa region. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568955/TUV_SUD_South_Asia_Logo.jpg ) The announcement follows a series of realignment decisions that revamped the management structure of TUV SUD at a global level. This resulted in the formation of a new region comprising of countries from four sub-regions, ASEAN, South Asia, Middle East and Africa. With this consolidation, the heads of all the four sub-regions, will report to Niranjan Nadkarni. This move is aimed to facilitate efficient cross-region functioning to drive efficiencies, better results and accelerate growth. Suresh Kumar, in his new role, will be responsible for operations and sales across all divisions in the sub-region that comprises of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Suresh will work closely with all divisions in South Asia markets to drive robust strategic planning and business development. Ezhilan Neelan will now take over Suresh's most recent role of Senior Vice President of Product Services at TUV SUD South Asia and continue to lead Bangladesh as the country director. About TUV SUD TUV SUD is a leading international service organisation catering to the strategic business segments industry, mobility and certification. Headquartered in Munich, Germany and founded in 1866, it has over 24,000 employees representing more than 1,000+ locations throughout the world. Optimising technology, systems and know-how, the interdisciplinary specialist teams act as process partners to strengthen their customers' competitiveness. About TUV SUD South Asia TUV SUD South Asia is the leading consulting, testing, inspection and certification (TIC) company with presence across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. With more than 1,400 employees, TUV SUD South Asia has serviced over 10,000 clients to date through the past two decades. It is present at 32 locations including 19 labs across the three countries. Today, TUV SUD South Asia is internationally competent to provide TIC solutions cutting across a wide range of sectors that include management systems, conventional and renewable energy, water, sanitation, environmental technology, infrastructure, transit systems, real estate, food, supply chain, agriculture, toys, consumer electronics, textiles, leather and related products, automobile and components, and technical as well as soft-skills training. For further details, visit http://www.tuv-sud.in/. Follow us on social media platforms - Twitter and LinkedIn Media Contact: Sharwari Paranjape [email protected] +91-9820780054 Edelman SOURCE TUV SUD South Asia Under the agreement signed between the two parties, Arctech Solar and Europower will launch the cobranding product "EuroSuntracker Powered by Arctech Solar" - which is to say, Arctech together with Europower will bring the innovative, reliable solar tracking system to investors in the Turkey PV market, which comes under Domestic Content Requirement (DCR), a part of the mandate that solar equipment be sourced locally. "We are now working with Arctech Solar as our exclusive partner because of their innovative technology, excellent quality and rich project experience in PV solar industry," said Behic Harmanli, President of Europower. "We are confident that this cooperation will bring both of us opportunities and favorable conditions in Turkey PV market." The president of Arctech Solar's international business, Guy Rong commented, "Turkey is a very important market for us, the cooperation with Europower marked the successful entry of Arctech Solar into Turkey PV market. We will bring state-of-art tracker products to the market and work closely with Europower to deliver more values to the local solar projects." About Arctech Solar Arctech Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers and solution providers of solar tracking and racking systems. In the past 9 years, Arctech Solar has successfully set up overseas subsidiaries/service centers in North America, India, Japan, Spain and Mexico. As of the end of 2017, Arctech Solar has cumulatively installed 13.5GW capacity and completed 800 projects in 15 countries. With a production capacity of 6GW and 3GW in fixed mounting structure and tracker field respectively (a total annual capacity of 9GW), Arctech Solar is now a reliable partner in the global PV Tracking and Racking industry. For more information please visit: www.arctechsolar.com For product sales and other enquiries: sales@arctechsolar.com Press Contact: Sabrina Lyu Telephone: +86-15000853002 Email Address: sabrina.lu@arctechsolar.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686901/Arctech_Solar_Europower.jpg Related Links http://www.arctechsolar.com SOURCE Arctech Solar SAN FRANCISCO, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today LINK Mobility, the leading European provider of mobile messaging and solutions, enters into an agreement with Loop AI Labs, a leading provider of unsupervised cognitive computing. The partnership will bring the power of cognitive computing and artificial intelligence to LINK's 16 500 Enterprise and Small Medium Business clients, serving 234 million people. Loop AI Labs is one of the leading providers in the cognitive software industry with operations in Asia, Europe, and USA. Loop Q, the flagship product, serves Global 2000 along with other large enterprises. It helps augment workforce productivity and automate repetitive processes previously managed by humans in all departments, typically retrofitting the existing enterprise legacy systems. Artificial intelligence is creating new ways for people and businesses to engage with one another. AI is already powering some of the world's most popular consumer experiences. However, the technical expertise and infrastructure required to develop artificial intelligence solutions within the context of their business have been beyond the reach of most companies: Thus far, to get started, it has been necessary to bring together advanced technology, massive diverse data sets, a high-performance computing infrastructure, and expensive integrations, as well as data scientists to facilitate it all. With this strategic agreement, LINK Mobility makes a drastic acceleration into artificial intelligence innovation by making a technology that has previously been affordable exclusively to the largest enterprises available to all its clients, regardless of their size. By leveraging Loop AI Labs' platform Loop Q, LINK Mobility will soon bring ready-to-use cognitive capabilities into sales, customer support, marketing and other functions, empowering businesses of all sizes to augment their teams, automate certain repetitive tasks, and deliver truly personalized customer experiences with no additional effort from customers. "By introducing cognitive capabilities into our current portfolio of mobile intelligence solutions we make it easy for everyone to take advantage of best-in-class artificial intelligence capabilities that are fully integrated with our advanced Mobile Messaging and Mobile Solutions in the context of their business", says Thomas W. Kohl, Vice President Mobile Intelligence at LINK Mobility Group. With Loop Q, GDPR compliant cognitive capabilities will be embedded across every LINK Mobility service and solution. LINK Mobility leverages all the data on its platformactivity data from chatbots, calendar, marketing and ecommerce, social data, and even IoT signalsto continuously train Loop Q in real time. Because LINK Mobility commercializes operations that are serving millions of people every day, it is uniquely positioned to deliver the best mobile cognitive services, even for those businesses that on their own would not have enough data. Powered by advanced machine learning, deep learning, predictive analytics, natural language processing, and smart data discovery, Loop Q's breakthrough innovations allow data models to be automatically built from scratch and customized for every single customer in their respective language without human supervision. LINK Mobility's cognitive services built on top of Loop Q will learn, self-tune, and get smarter with every interaction and additional piece of data. They will automatically discover relevant insights, predict future behavior, proactively recommend best next actions, and even automate tasks. Now every LINK customer will be able to leverage advanced AI capabilities to deliver more personalized and predictive customer experiences. "Loop AI Labs' mission is to turn any organization into a cognitive business so that it can meet future demand of knowledge workers and to augment the capacity of the current employees. I'm glad that thanks to LINK Mobility, we can deliver our vision to thousands more companies of any size serving millions of people, in addition to the Global 2000 enterprises that we currently serve directly", said GM Calafiore, CEO of Loop AI Labs. "I strongly believe that AI will prove very valuable to LINKs European customers. LINK will be way ahead of comparable solutions in Europe, and I am therefore very proud to announce this partnership with one of the worlds most exciting artificial intelligence companies, Loop AI Labs. I am also grateful that Loop AI Labs has chosen LINK as its European partner. This confirms LINKs core strategy of becoming the preferred partner within this space in Europe. This new partnership takes LINK another step into the future and ensures that LINK shall be the most innovative provider of advanced mobile messaging and solutions in the European market. LINK is at the forefront of the industry with our wide range of attractive products and services. This looks very promising for the years to come and will benefit our customers greatly." says Arild Hustad, Group CEO of LINK Mobility. For further information, please contact LINK Mobility: Thomas W. Kohl, Vice President Mobile Intelligence & Innovation LINK Mobility Group ASA thomas.kohl@linkmobility.com Mob: +47-93-42-87-42 or Arild Hustad, CEO LINK Mobility Group ASA arild.hustad@linkmobility.com Mob: +47-95-24-19-30 Contact Loop AI Labs: Marco Torresi, Head of Global PR & Analyst Relations Loop AI Labs Inc media@loop.ai Mob: +1(415) 384-1678 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/link-mobility-group-asa/r/link-mobility-partners-with-loop-ai-labs-to-introduce-the-next-generation-of-artificial-intelligence,c2512880 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/8551/2512880/835253.pdf PDF http://news.cision.com/link-mobility-group-asa/i/loop-ai-logo,c2402818 Loop AI logo http://news.cision.com/link-mobility-group-asa/i/link-mobility-logo,c2402819 LINK Mobility Logo http://news.cision.com/link-mobility-group-asa/i/press-loop-link-signed,c2402820 press loop link signed SOURCE LINK Mobility Group ASA MONTREAL, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Palais des congres de Montreal has assembled a group of leaders representing eight of the city's key economic sectors to form a new Multisector Strategic Taskforce. Their mission will be to establish ties with influencers who will actively contribute to attracting major international conferences to Montreal and the Palais des congres. Among the members sitting on this prestigious taskforce are: - Frank Beraud, Chief Executive Officer of Montreal InVivo - Mathieu Charbonneau, Executive Director of CargoM - James J. Clark, Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of McGill University - Fabrice Labeau, Interim Deputy Provost, Student Life and Learning, at McGill University - Marie Larue, Chief Executive Officer of the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauve en sante et en securite du travail - Maryse Lassonde, Scientific Director of the Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Nature et technologies - Serge Marchand, Scientific Director of the Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Sante -Louise Poissant, Scientific Director of the Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Societe et culture These top executives will become major collaborators in the process of finding researchers, scientists or business influencers who can be the difference maker when striving to persuade international associations that have been approached, to choose Montreal and the Palais as their destination for their next event. "The process of bidding for major international conferences is not unlike that of the Olympic Games, and many of these bids are won thanks to the paramount role these Montreal and Quebec experts play. Their involvement shows global decision-makers the dynamic spirit and support that exists within the city's key economic sectors," stated Raymond Larivee, President and CEO of the Palais des congres de Montreal, a Quebec government corporation. The role of the vastly experienced leaders who make up the new Multisector Strategic Taskforce will be to develop and nurture ties with researchers, scientists and business executives who might be inclined to actively participate in the process of bringing large-scale international gatherings to Montreal. They will be able to mine their networks for topnotch collaborators and match them with specific conferences. Conferences advance science Montreal is widely recognized as a knowledge hub. The city attracts international conferences that enable local researchers and experts to interact with peers who have travelled here from every continent. The Palais des congres de Montreal works very closely with its Ambassadors and partners to advocate for the major sectors driving the Montreal and Quebec economy. "Conventions represent a privileged opportunity to exchange with our peers from all over the world, and they help push the boundaries of knowledge for our industries. These intellectual benefits greatly contribute to Montreal's international reputation," added Hany Moustapha, President of the Ambassadors Club. Let's remember that over the years, the Palais has reached important agreements with partners like the Fonds de recherche du Quebec for the purpose of raising the profile of Quebec researchers and their fields of expertise. A prolific Ambassadors Club During the course of the Club's 33 years, its members have definitely made a difference, attracting 201 events that have drawn nearly 475,000 participants, and generated benefits estimated at almost $1 billion. Not to mention the invaluable intellectual wealth, including the establishment of international working groups, the creation of new research areas and the recruitment of researchers. Convention city A leading international knowledge hub, Montreal hosts more international events than any other city in North America, according to the rankings released by the International Congress and Convention Association. Shortlisted for the World's Best Congress Centre award (AIPC) and the recipient of the highest quality standards certification in the industry, the Palais des congres de Montreal has all the necessary assets to host a major convention with the level of professionalism and creativity the city is known for. About the Palais des congres de Montreal The Palais des congres de Montreal attracts and hosts conventions, exhibitions, conferences, meetings and other events, and generates major tourism revenues and intellectual wealth for Montreal and Quebec, while also contributing to Montreal's international reputation as a premier host city. congresmtl.com Source: Chrystine Loriaux, Fellow Adm.A., B.A.A., Director, Marketing and Communications, Palais des congres de Montreal, Phone: 514 871-3104; For information: Amelie Asselin, Advisor, Communications and Public Affairs, Palais des congres de Montreal, amelie.asselin@congresmtl.com, Phone: 514 871-5897 SOURCE Palais des congres de Montreal SHANGHAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- UnionPay International announced today that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with The Shared Electronic Banking Service Company (KNET) one of the largest processing National switches in the Gulf region at UnionPay Head Quarters in Shanghai which aims to accelerate the roll out of UnionPay's Cards acceptance and Cards issuance in Kuwait market. Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International and Abdullah Al-Ajmi, CEO of KNET jointly attended the signing ceremony. KNET became UnionPay Third Party Service Provider (TPSP) in year 2015 and signed a joint cooperation agreement to connect joint UnionPay and KNET switches which gave UnionPay a quick market entry strategy extending their services to local banks in state of Kuwait which in return further strengthened the KNET role to benefit the local financial payment industry in Kuwait market by introducing UnionPay Card scheme as Market Game Changer to drive healthy competition, substantially save the costs for the local institutions and offer new differentiated compelling consumer services in Kuwait market. Today UnionPay Cards are accepted in almost 45% of ATM's in Kuwait market to serve local Chinese companies and internationally issued worldwide Cards travelling to Kuwait and according to the cooperation agreement signed with KNET, the two parties will further deepen their collaboration to make breakthroughs in three aspects. Firstly, KNET has completed the modification of its POS switch system according to the UnionPay standards. The system will be connected to the local commercial banks and other POS acquirers, which will substantially increase UnionPay's POS acceptance scope. Secondly, UnionPay contactless payment feature, including UnionPay IC card QuickPass and UnionPay mobile QuickPass, will be accepted at these merchant POS terminals which will tremendously fast track UnionPay's expansion for UnionPay Cards acceptance in Kuwait market. Thirdly and most importantly, the two parties have also agreed to build a centralized settlement hub that offers services to financial institutions in and around Kuwait to process settlement of UPI acquiring and issuing transactions on behalf of all local Kuwaiti banks. In simple terms, any new acquirer or issuer will become UnionPay member bank and there will be no need to spend any investment or time efforts to configure front or Back-Office clearing systems for future on boarding local Kuwaiti banks to accept or issue UnionPay Cards, simply become UnionPay member and start acquiring or issuing UPI Cards in short period of time. Mr. Cai Jianbo said, UnionPay International is strengthening collaboration with switch networks outside mainland China in recent years. On the one hand, we leverage on the market influence of the local networks to expand UnionPay's business. On the other, we jointly improve the switch and settlement system of UnionPay cards in these markets to offer technical supports to the local institutions and merchants so that they can accept and issue UnionPay cards with greater ease. I believe this collaboration with KNET will drive the comprehensive development of UnionPay business in acceptance, issuance and mobile payments. Now, UnionPay is present in 11 countries and regions in the Middle East. For instance, UnionPay is accepted at all the POS terminals and ATMs in the UAE and Jordan, and between 50% to 95% POS and ATM acceptance coverage across remaining 9 markets such as Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lebanon, Kuwait , Qatar and growing aggressively in other countries. Besides, UnionPay cards are issued in Pakistan, UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen and soon in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Turkey markets offering new payment options to local banks and differentiated compelling travel related benefits to the local customers travelling to China and Asia pacific markets. Mr. Abdullah Al-Ajmi said, the signing of this agreement marks that the cooperation between KNET and UnionPay International has embarked on a new stage. It will facilitate the members of KNET to carry out UnionPay business. In the future, we are willing to further explore cooperation with UnionPay International in fields of QR code payment acceptance and card issuance, so as to drive the development of the payments industry in Kuwait. SOURCE UnionPay International ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Fedora Update Notification FEDORA-2018-ee6707d519 2018-05-03 15:24:49.298664 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Name : php Product : Fedora 28 Version : 7.2.5 Release : 1.fc28 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 7.2.5** (26 Apr 2018) **Core:** * Fixed bug php#75722 (Convert valgrind detection to configure option). (Michael Heimpold) **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) **intl:** * Fixed bug php#76153 (Intl compilation fails with icu4c 61.1). (Anatol) **iconv:** * Fixed bug php#76249 (stream filter convert.iconv leads to infinite loop on invalid sequence). (Stas) **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) **ODBC:** * Fixed bug php#76088 (ODBC functions are not available by default on Windows). (cmb) **Opcache:** * Fixed bug php#76094 (Access violation when using opcache). (Laruence) **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#74139 (mail.add_x_header default inconsistent with docs). (cmb) * Fixed bug php#75996 (incorrect url in header for mt_rand). (tatarbj) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ChangeLog: * Tue Apr 24 2018 Remi Collet - 7.2.5-1 - Update to 7.2.5 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_2_5.php * Wed Apr 11 2018 Remi Collet - 7.2.5~RC1-1 - update to 7.2.5RC1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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-ee6707d519' 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 Dental Implants downtown San Francisco To keep the Bay Area community up to date on the latest dental implant technology, we like to update our website and social media information frequently. San Francisco Dental Implants is proud to announce a new blog post focused on the importance of location for dental implant services. The Center is convenient to downtown, and many downtown San Francisco workers may not realize how important convenience is to the process. To keep the Bay Area community up to date on the latest dental implant technology, we like to update our website and social media information frequently. It still seems people tend to hear about us through their own networks, explained Dr. Alex Rabinovich, chief oral surgeon of San Francisco Dental Implant Center. Our new post discusses how networking is a great way to find the best dental implant support, and yet how important the the traditional factor of location can be, too. Interested persons can read the new blog post by San Francisco Dental Implants by going to http://www.sfdentalimplants.com/blog/in-downtown-san-francisco-time-is-a-priority-and-we-are-close-by/. Dental surgery procedures for implants can include the teeth in a day process and Trefoil dental implants. Bay Area locals searching for the best dental implants in downtown San Francisco can learn more about oral surgery at the sister website, located at http://www.oralsurgery-sf.com/pain/. Directions can be reviewed on the website. Oral Surgeon, Dr. Rabinovich and a dental implant team can be found conveniently located near the Financial District in the city of San Francisco. SMART NETWORKING CAN CONNECT BUSY BAY AREA LOCALS TO THE BEST DENTAL IMPLANTS IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO On-the-go Bay Area residents can rely on technology to manage a hectic schedule in San Francisco. An online calendar combined with several reminders can help keep a busy local moving on time from one place to the next. A solid network of friends and associates may be the connection to locating the best service if a Bay Area resident needs support. If a commuter has decided to eat at a top Pan-Asian bistro, it could mean reaching out to a group of friends on social media for recommendations. If a local has to find the best dental implants clinic in downtown San Francisco, a network of like-minded people can recommend the right fit. For these reasons, San Francisco Dental Implants has announced a new blog post. Busy locals working and living in the City by the Bay can rely on several networks to keep schedules moving smoothly. If a resident needs to find a place for expert dental implants in downtown San Francisco, it may require reaching out to friends and associates for support. A full calendar with little free time can mean a local may be interested in quick, professional dental implants including; teeth-in-a-day, all-in-one and single tooth replacement. Smart solutions to dental implant issues and busy schedules can be found through smart networking. A top dental implants clinic in downtown San Francisco can help a busy resident stay on schedule. ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO DENTAL IMPLANT CENTER San Francisco Dental Implant Center, under the direction of Dr. Alex Rabinovich, focuses on the placement and restoration of dental implants, making its team among the most experienced in the Bay Area. Dr. Rabinovich is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon specializing in the field of dental implants. The new Trefoil dental implants have been added to the list of procedures the professional oral surgeon provides. This additional training, along with his years of experience, sets Alex Rabinovich MD DDS apart from the growing number of general dentists offering dental implant treatments. Dr. Rabinovich provides services for the San Francisco Bay Area, Peninsula and surrounding North Bay Cities. Contact: San Francisco Dental Implant Center, Media Relations Web.http://www.sfdentalimplants.com/ Email. visage.sanfran(at)gmail(dot)com Tel. 415-817-9991 Moreno Ranches looks forward to attending the Miami International Agriculture & Cattle Show each year. Moreno Ranches, a top producer of Gray Brahman and Red Brahman females for sale, attended this years Miami International Agriculture & Cattle Show. The show is an annual show circuit highlight for Brahman cattle enthusiasts. Moreno Ranches has become a staple at the event, showcasing genetically superior Brahman females for sale and display. Moreno Ranches looks forward to attending the Miami International Agriculture & Cattle Show each year due to the large international audience, explained Kelvin Moreno, head of Moreno Ranches. This event draws Brahman cattle breeders from over 20 countries around the world, so it is an incredible platform to showcase our Brahman females for sale. During the open show at the Miami International Agriculture & Cattle Show in early April, Moreno Ranches won Grand Champion Red Brahman Female with MORENO MS. LADY REDI 901. In addition, the Ranch also won Reserve Grand Champion Red Brahman Female with MORENO MS. LADY REINA BONITA 892. The Ranchs Brahman females have a great reputation and are gaining much popularity for their incredible disposition, soundness and femininity. It is to no surprise that the Brahman females are winning titles in every cattle show that they appear in. The ranch takes great pride in its Brahman females because from the moment of choosing a breeding, the Ranch has greatness in mind. As the calf is growing, the Ranch takes great care of every detail to make sure that this will be the next Brahman female champion. Moreno Ranches has become one of the leaders of Brahman females for sale. It is because of its genetically superior seed stock that it has obtained recognition as a strong contender in the show ring and an exceptional value in the sales market. Moreno Ranches Brahman cattle for sale are backed by the M-check brand and are guaranteed to change the future of any ranch with any purpose in mind. It should be noted that the Ranch now has locations in both Florida and in Texas, and that - in combined with strong international export sales of Brahman cattle, embryos, and semen - makes Moreno Ranches one of the best Brahman cattle breeders throughout the United States, from Texas to Florida, to Latin America and beyond. To learn more about Moreno Ranches and their top-rated Brahman females for sale, visit http://www.morenoranches.com/. To learn more about Gray Brahman Cattle for sale, visit http://www.morenoranches.com/gray-brahman-cattle-for-sale/. Those who are interested in a Ranch tour, can reach out via the website. Ranch tours are available to qualified buyers at both the Texas Brahman cattle ranch and the Florida Brahman cattle ranch on a registered basis. ABOUT MORENO RANCHES Moreno Ranches is a top producer of Brahman females for sale. Customers come to the company for genetically superior Brahman bulls for sale and Brahman semen (seed stock) as well as Brahman embryos. The company produces both Brahman cattle for sale including heifers and calves, including for use as show cattle or to produce Brahman F1 hybrids. Visit the company's website to browse stock. The company is a trusted source of Brahman cattle for sale whether a buyer is in Florida, Texas, or Louisiana - Latin America, or anywhere in the world. Tim Clowney (center) poses with Green Pest Solutions' employees and Jeff Hill of the ESGR (far left) after Patriot Award Ceremony We all owe a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude to all the hard working members of our military. Supporting them in the workplace is the least I can do as an American. Tim Clowney, Operations Manager at Green Pest Solutions was honored with a Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The Patriot Award is given to those that exemplify above and beyond support of employees serving in the National Guard or Army Reserve. Jose Velez, a technician at Green Pest Solutions and a proud member of the National Guard, felt that his manager, Tim Clowney upheld those lofty standards and more when he submitted Tims nomination to the ESGR for the Patriot Award. Tim really is everything that I could hope for in a Supervisor. He has been amazingly flexible with my schedule so that I can fullfil my duties with the Army reserve and maintain a good work/home balance. says Jose Velez. Tim, a very modest person by nature, was certainly overwhelmed today when the company called a special meeting to recognize him for his award. Twenty-four members of the Green Pest Solutions team were on hand to see Tim receive his award from a member of the ESGR. Tim, as is his nature, turned the attention away from himself and onto the military. We all owe a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude to all the hard working members of our military. Supporting them in the workplace is the least I can do as an American. The active and former members of the military are among the best employees we have at Green Pest Solutions. Providing valuable team members like Jose whatever they need to be successful in their career here at Green Pest Solutions, and in their service to our country, is the most rewarding part of my job". ESGR is a Department of Defense program that promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and assists in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employees military commitment. They sent one of their proud volunteers, Jeff Hill, to present the award to Tim. Jeff was a former member of the Army reserve who did tours in Kuwait and Iraq. He shared a few of his war stories during a company luncheon held after the ceremony, which captured everyones attention. Green Pest Solutions and its parent company, Green Lawn Fertilizing have made a commitment to supporting the Military. The company has donated trucks to Cars for U.S. Troops, is an active participant in Project Evergreens GreenCare for Troops program, which provides complimentary lawn and landscape services for the families of currently deployed military personnel, and post 9/11 disabled veterans with a service-connected disability, has donated to the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and has been an active participant in Renewal and Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery, sending 10+ team members for the past ten years. Matt Jesson, President of Green Pest Solutions and Green Lawn Fertilizing, spoke about that commitment to the military at the awards ceremony. Im extremely proud of Tim, Jose and the entire company for their support of the military. Green Lawn Fertilizing and Green Pest Solutions has made a commitment to support our active military and veterans, whether that be through the volunteering events we have done, like Renewal and Remembrance, donations, or through our employee hiring practices. Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions has ten current employees with active or former military ties, and given how well they have performed their job functions, the company will continue to look to hire more of them. Their discipline, teamwork, professionalism, and pride in accomplishing a mission are all qualities that bode well in the military and in the lawn care and pest control industries. # # # Green Lawn Fertilizing and Green Pest Solutions is an independent lawn and pest control company that was founded in 2004. Under the leadership of Matt Jesson, President and Owner of Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions, the company has grown to over 130 team members and over 80 service vehicles in its fleet. They have a mission to become the leader in the lawn and pest industry by providing superior customer service. Over the last several years, highly reputable publications have taken notice of the company succeeding in that mission. For six consecutive years the company has received the Inc. 5000 award for being recognized as one of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the America. In 2014, Green Pest Solutions was named "Best Exterminator" by Philadelphia Magazine and in 2017 they were named "Best Pest Control by Philly.com" In 2017, the company received the Customer Service Excellence Award by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. PayCash4Houses.net has a solution for divorcing couples looking to sell the family home. The couple can contact PayCash4Houses.net for a fast cash sale, split the proceeds between themselves, and move on. A divorce is always fraught with emotions, no matter why or how its taking place, says company spokesperson, Veronica Hernandez. One of the most emotional and hardest things is to divest themselves of the family home. This is where the couple experienced many highs and lows together and perhaps even started a family. Going through the process of renovating the home, staging it, and showing it to strangers is painful and expensive. Thankfully, there is another way. Sell the home to PayCash4Houses.net. We will quickly offer you cash. Within days, the home sale can be finalized. PayCash4Houses.net knows that not having to renovate or fix the home in any way, and having it quickly sold for cash, helps many divorcing couples emotionally and financially through a very difficult time. The company is always respectful of the situation and works quickly to ensure the sale is as fast and efficient as possible. To learn more, read PayCash4Houses.nets home selling guide for divorcing couples, and fill out the form or call 904-531-3113 to get started. About PayCash4Houses.net PayCash4Houses.net buys houses in Jacksonville, Florida, and we pay you for your house in cash! This means you can get a quick sale no matter what condition the house is in. Free yourself from the nightmare of cleaning, renovating and staging your home, and simply go the new and progressive way to sell your house in Jacksonville fast, for cash. Contact Details: Veronica Hernandez 6001-21 Argyle Forest Blvd. #32244 Jacksonville, FL 32244 Phone: 904-531-3113 Source: PayCash4Houses.net As a customer-oriented hi-tech company, Intetics has made a step up with getting into Amazon Web Services Partner Network (AWS APN). In fact, Intetics has been implementing AWS solutions for a long time and finally formalized and confirmed the expertise by this certification, says Boris Kontsevoi, Intetics is a leading global technology company focused on creation and operation of distributed professional teams for custom software development has announced that the part of its membership in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (https://amzn.to/2FyWmpv), has achieved APN Standard Consulting Partner Status. Inteticss partner status is the result of companys proficiency, significant investment in technical resource development, successful customer reference base, and potential future growth delivering migration to the cloud, custom app development and integration or development of custom machine learning solutions. Inteticss experience in AWS gives the clients opportunity to access technical subject matter experts, experience on-demand scalability and leverage AWS to boost business processes. As a customer-oriented hi-tech company, Intetics has made a step up with getting into Amazon Web Services Partner Network (AWS APN). In fact, Intetics has been implementing AWS solutions for a long time and finally formalized and confirmed the expertise by this certification, says Boris Kontsevoi, Intetics President & CEO. To qualify for the AWS Standard Consulting Partner tier, organizations must meet the requirements that demonstrate the scale of their AWS expertise, capabilities and engagement in the AWS ecosystem helping and adding value to end customers. As an APN Standard Consulting Partner, Intetics assists customers of all sizes with design, architecture development, migration and management of their workloads and applications on AWS. AWS is a very powerful platform and the partner status will strengthen our offerings for cloud systems development, providing even better support to our clients, adds Boris Kontsevoi. The AWS Partner Network (APN) is the global partner program for AWS. It is focused on helping APN Partners build successful AWS-based solutions by providing business, technical, marketing, and go-to-market support. Requirements to be designated as an AWS Consulting Partner include, among others, a proven track record of client satisfaction as well as technical and business certifications and accreditations. About Intetics Inc. Intetics Inc. is a leading global technology company focused on creation and operation of distributed professional teams for custom software development, software testing, systems integration, and data processing. Intetics is the pioneer of Offshore Dedicated Teams, the inventor of Remote In-Sourcing, Predictive Software Engineering framework and Technical debt reduction platform (TETRA). Intetics has broad industry experience, deep software engineering expertise, an outstanding quality management platform and an unparalleled methodology for talent recruitment, team building and talent retention that guarantee that clients receive exceptional results for their software applications and data processing projects. At Intetics, our outcomes do not just meet clients expectations, they have been exceeding them for our two decades in business. Intetics is ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 27001 (security) certified and Microsoft and Oracle Gold Partner. The companys innovation and growth achievements are reflected in winning prestigious Inc 5000, Software 500, Chicago Innovation, CRN 100, Deloitte Technology Fast 50, European IT Excellence and Best European BPO awards, and inclusion into Top 100 Global Service Providers and Top 100 Outsourcing Companies lists. https://intetics.com 2018 Restaurant Takeout, Delivery and Catering Symposium Everyone knows it's no longer a question of whether to go off-premise the question for restaurants is how to navigate the shift, Thought leaders from all corners of the foodservice industry will converge in Denver on June 19 for the fourth annual Restaurant Takeout, Delivery & Catering Symposium, hosted by Catering Insights. The Symposium is open to all c-level executives and directors tasked with building and promoting restaurant takeout, catering, and delivery operations. Presented by Off Premise Insights, the Symposium will drill in on how to build a successful takeout, delivery and catering business in a cutthroat market where technology providers and third-party delivery channels are fighting for market share. The Symposium will kick off with a keynote address from Erle Dardick, founder and CEO of Monkey Group chief steward of Off-Premise Insights, The Catering Institute and MonkeyMedia Software and Darren Tristano, industry trends and data expert. The keynote will take a deep dive into never-before-seen data that will reveal market size and growth projections, and will relate the findings to a business framework operators can easily adopt. Everyone knows it's no longer a question of whether to go off-premise the question for restaurants is how to navigate the shift, says Dardick. With the global foodservice industry facing unprecedented change, the entire off-premise operating model is shifting under our feet. Restaurant and foodservice operators need to understand sizing and growth trends. Right now the opportunities are huge, and the stakes are high. Interactive sessions feature a powerful roster of restaurant industry and food service executives, including speakers from Bringg, Corner Bakery, La Madeleine, Red Robin, Mama Fus, Protein Bar, Potbelly, CoreLife Eatery, Field Day, Jasons Deli, Genghis Grill, and more, who will discuss todays biggest off-premise challenges and opportunities. Click here for full agenda and speakers list. Panel themes will include: sizing and growth trends of the off-premise marketplace, strategic areas of investment for off-premise success, building scalable and integrated technology platforms, channel differentiation in takeout and catering, third-party delivery, call centers, loyalty programs, and more. The Restaurant Takeout, Delivery, & Catering Symposium happens Tuesday June 19, 2018, at The Art Hotel in downtown Denver. General admission is $549. Click here to register. Symposium sponsors include Accurate Box, Cambro, Dinova, Field Day, Inktel, LBP Manufacturing, Mileage Scout, MonkeyMedia Software, The Catering Institute, Paytronix, PepsiCO, Precision Services, Southern Champion Tray, Vesture, Voice Teleservices, Whirley Drinks, and WNA. About Off Premise Insights Off Premise Insights shares industry best practices in the world of takeout, delivery & catering through research, media and events. Part of Monkey Group, which includes MonkeyMedia Software and The Catering Institute, the objective of Off-Premise Insights is to support the food service sector with information, stories and data to help operators make the right decisions to grow sales and increase profits. The Franchise Show, presented by Allstate, is pleased to be taking place at the Broward County Convention Center, May 5 & 6, 2018. The Show is the perfect venue for attendees to find their best opportunity to attain prosperity and success by taking the first step to becoming a business owner. Many entrepreneurs dream of starting their own business and every year thousands of Americans consider franchising as a way to make it happen. Visitors have the chance to speak directly with representatives from proven, successful franchises. Full-time franchises and part-time business opportunities are available across Florida. The show plays a critical role in helping people find the business thats right for them. Franchising gives people the opportunity to start a business without feeling overwhelmed and alone. They have the support system of a company behind them with training, marketing and in most cases a proven brand, said Fred Cox, president, National Event Management, which produces the Franchise Show. The event features companies that are household names such as Allstate, Benjamin Moore, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, and Rosatis Pizza. The exhibitors at the show offer a variety of industries from traditional retail stores and restaurants to fitness, home services, education and printing. The Show is also an excellent venue to discover new franchises and get in on the ground floor of a new opportunity. The Franchise Show successfully hosts thousands of attendees across North America every year, with the hope of helping each one become their own boss. Its important to be able to meet and speak with representatives from the companies at the event because it gives you a better understanding of the culture of a company and gives you a better indication of whether or not a company complements your specific personality, says Mr. Cox. The opportunity to speak directly with representatives from the hottest franchises as well as industry experts make this event a must attend for anyone considering owning a small business or looking to grow their already established business. The show is a significant source of information for people looking to open their own business and research franchising in depth. Visitors may attend free daily seminars given by industry experts including lawyers, financial specialists and franchise experts that have information that entrepreneurs need to know to start and grow a business. Seminar topics include: Buying a Franchise from A to Z, Reviewing and Understanding Franchise Documents, First Time Franchise Buyers: Should You Buy a Single Territory or Multiple Territories?, and How to Finance Your Franchise. For a full schedule of free seminars please visit http://www.franchiseshowinfo.com/fort-lauderdale/visitor/. The Franchise Show Dates: Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6 Time: Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Broward County Convention Center 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Admission: $10 at the door, 2 for 1 online For more info: http://www.franchiseshowinfo.com/fort-lauderdale/visitor/ Contact Information For media accreditation and more information, contact: Lisa Spodek, Director of Marketing 1-800-891-4859 ext. 225 lspodek@nationalevent.com The Customer Experience & Telco Sales Association (CETS), an international organization dedicated to bringing together professionals from the service provider and vendor communities within the Telecom industry, recently elected its Board of Directors for 2018-2019 at the CETS 2018 Annual Meeting held in Atlantic Beach, FL. The CETS Board of Directors for 2018-2019 includes: Co-chair: Paul Mann, Bell Co-chair: Justin Nucci, Tbaytel Secretary: Vivianne Williams, Frontier Director: Mike Hodges, NorthState Director: Erin Leach, Cincinnati Bell Director: Brandon McDonald, TDS Director: Rich Skowronski, PerfTech Executive Director: Ellis D. Hill, ResearchFirst, Inc. We derive a ton of value out of being able to share best practices with our industry peers. There is no monopoly on good ideas and learnings. CETS is an avenue for us to accelerate our efforts and learn from others, said Paul Mann, the newly re-elected Co-Chair of CETS and Director of National Field Sales for Bell. For us at Frontier Communications, CETS is a valuable partnership primarily in 3 ways: As a Telecom Think Tank, Focus Group, and Test Market. The ability to pick the brain of other telecom companies on areas that are new or challenging is invaluable. It is a wonderful forum for exchange of ideas, even across borders, that is innovative and creative. And, the ability to learn not just from other Telecoms successes but also their misses, are welcome key learningsand cost savings, added Vivianne Williams, Director of Marketing Strategy for Frontier Communications. CETS does an amazing job of facilitating helpful communication between the member companies. Between the regular meetings and the peer questions that get circulated periodically, it has been a very worthwhile partnership. The meetings have been extremely relevant and helpful. There has been very candid sharing of ideas and experiences which has helped us avoid costly mistakes and given us some key ideas to take our results to the next level, said Brandon McDonald, Regional Manager of Sales Channel Development for TDS. PerfTech is pleased to be a contributing member of the CETS organization. We enjoy the networking, the open exchange of discussions and best practices to be most timely to our various telecom companies and their management teams. We find that the research, the discussions of various topics that help our member companies become more efficient, thoughtful, and focused on best of breed tactics to improve their customers experience objectives helps position them and us for success in todays competitive telecom marketplace, added Rich Skowronski, Vice President of North American Sales for PerfTech, Inc. CETS member companies AT&T, Bell Canada, Cincinnati Bell, Focus Services, Frontier, NorthState, PerfTech, SalesForce, SaskTel, Tbaytel, TDS and Trajectory. For more information, visit http://www.cets.org or contact Ellis Hill, Executive Director at ellis(at)researchfirst.com. Dr. Constance Chen The combination of regular self-exams, check-ups, and screening mammograms provides the best opportunity for finding problems early and treating them successfully. Mammography is a specialized imaging system that uses low-dose x-rays to detect and diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages when it is most treatable. Before the discovery of x-ray technology, most breast tumors could be detected only when they were large enough to be felt. Plastic surgeon and breast reconstruction specialist Dr. Constance M. Chen says: Over many decades, advances in breast imaging have made it more effective and more efficient, reducing the radiation dose and providing greater contrast that makes it easier to 'see' through breast tissue and detect abnormalities. Regular, high-quality mammograms, along with clinical breast examination, remain the gold standard in screening for breast cancer. The groundwork for mammography was laid in 1913, just eighteen years after the discovery of x-rays, when Albert Salomon, a German surgeon, used simple radiography to examine 3,000 mastectomy specimens. He was able to show the spread of cancer cells to the axillary lymph nodes and distinguish between invasive and contained carcinoma. From the 1920s on, research in the United States and elsewhere continued to make the procedure more accurate, including the development of the technique of compressing the breast to improve image quality. In the 1950s, mammography began to be used as a screening tool for healthy women and by the 1960s the procedure had become widespread. The first large-scale study in the mid-1960s showed that mammography reduced deaths from breast cancer by one-third for women who underwent screening mammography. In the 1960s, mammography still used general purpose x-rays and captured images that were low in contrast, much like chest x-rays, says. Dr. Chen. Since then, we've seen significant advances, first with high-definition intensifying screens that produced sharper film images and, in 2000, the first FDA-approved digital mammography system, which eliminated film and enabled us to store images on a computer, magnify them, and correct them for over- or under-exposure. The future promises widespread use of three-dimensional imaging, also known as tomosynthesis, which was approved by the FDA in 2011 and allows us to examine the breast layer-by-layer instead of as a flat image. Screening and Diagnostic Mammograms Screening mammograms are used to check for cancer in women who have no symptoms. In addition to detecting tumors that are too small to be felt, they can detect tiny deposits of calcium that might indicate the presence of cancer. Diagnostic mammograms are used to evaluate women who have had symptoms such as a lump or nipple discharge. They involve more images from different angles and might also be used to obtain more information after an abnormal finding on a screening mammogram. Risks and Limitations of Mammograms There is little risk from radiation exposure. Modern x-ray machines use the lowest possible dose of radiation to produce the best possible image and are carefully regulated to ensure compliance. The primary risk of mammography is a false positive result which might require additional mammograms, ultrasound, or biopsy that will ultimately determine that no cancer is present. The primary limitation is a false negative, in which the mammogram is normal even though cancer is present. According to the National Cancer Institute, screening mammograms miss about 20% of cancers, often in women who have dense breast tissue, which makes tumors harder to detect. Breast implants can also make mammograms harder to read and tumors harder to detect. Who should have a mammogram? Many medical organizations have issued guidelines for screening mammograms and while there is some variation among them, the most consistent view is that from age 40 to 55, women should have a mammogram every year, after which they should have one every two years and continue as long as they are in good health and can be expected to live ten years or more. Guidelines pertain to healthy women with no symptoms who are not at high risk for breast cancer, says Dr. Chen. Those who have risk factors such as personal or family history or genetic mutation should be monitored more closely and talk with their doctors about additional testing as well as frequency of mammograms. And every woman should know how her own breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to her doctor. The combination of regular self-exams, check-ups, and screening mammograms provides the best opportunity for finding problems early and treating them successfully. Constance M. Chen, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon with special expertise in the use of innovative natural techniques to optimize medical and cosmetic outcomes for women undergoing breast reconstruction. She is Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery (Plastic Surgery) at Weill Cornell Medical College and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery (Plastic Surgery) at Tulane University School of Medicine. http://www.constancechenmd.com Reclaimed wood and recycled railroad ties give the interior of the office a very rustic look, while also offering the highest quality of function as well as fashion. Level 3 Construction has recently completed the renovation of an Identity Theft Restoration company, Identity IQ, on Business Park Drive in Temecula. Designed by San Diego Office Design, the project began in January of this year and looks to bring a new spin to the concept of a boutique, forward-thinking office space, that will inspire creativity and progressive ideas for years to come. Highlighted by the highly specialized interior finishes and furnishings within the office spaces, Identity IQ is sure to be the focal point of innovative resolutions. Nestled inside of the various businesses that make up Business Park Drive in Temecula, Identity IQ is a converted charter school from years past. Although the name and function of the property has changed throughout the years, the inspirational qualities of the area have not. Much like the vision for a charter school is to shape the minds of young people, the vision for Identity IQ is to inspire: inspire the other tenants located nearby and inspire the employees who work in the office space. A hidden gem inside of a mass of office buildings is sure to catch the eye of local business owners, and create a completely unique, and different workplace environment. Identity IQ is truly a twenty-first century office space outfitted with two separate spaces to allow the mind to flow freely. Scott Hermann, owner of the Identity IQ offices, wanted the office to be a creative haven for his employees. Along with the highly customized interior finishes and furnishings within the building, there is also an environmentally-friendly aspect to the project. Most material and objects inside are environmentally-conscious, down to the carpet glue. Reclaimed wood and recycled railroad ties give the interior of the office a very rustic look, while also offering the highest quality of function as well as fashion. When asked about the finished product, Mikol Sesker of Identity IQ said, Quite Frankly, I think Scott (Hermann) wanted to get his hands dirty after watching all of the great work done on this project overall. Sesker had high praise for the Level 3 team, exclaiming, Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone on the crew awesome job! About Level 3 Construction Founded in 2006 by President and CEO Ian Mahon, Level 3 Construction, located in Vista, California, is known for being a leader in hospitality renovation and construction with a growing presence in multifamily, restaurants, office and T.I.s. Our project experience ranges from small interior renovations and tenant improvements to multi-million dollar ground up hotel and restaurant construction and renovations. Level 3 collaborates with developers, owners, architects and property owners to implement the most efficient and cost-effective solutions that will reinvigorate a property. Level 3 Construction continues to grow its portfolio of work through quality performance and on-time completion of projects. To learn more about Level 3 Constructions services, contact John Gonzalez at 760-448-5456 or by email jgonzalez(at)level3construction(dot)com. Mercy Medical Center At Mercy, we strive to empower our employees, to offer them opportunities to grow and learn new skills. Engaged employees are best suited to provide exceptional care to patients..."-- Thomas R. Mullen, President & CEO, Mercy Health Services Mercy Medical Center has been ranked as one of the top 500 midsize employers (1,000-5,000 employees) in the United States for 2018 by Forbes magazine, a leading national business publication, the second consecutive year Mercy has been so honored. Mercy is the only health care organization in Maryland to make the midsize list this year, and only one of two Baltimore-area medical facilities named among both large (over 5,000 employees) and midsize employers. Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to identify the companies liked best by employees. Statista surveyed 30,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. All the surveys were anonymous, allowing participants to openly share their opinions. The respondents were asked to rate, on a scale of zero to 10, how likely theyd be to recommend their employer to others. Statista then asked respondents to nominate organizations in industries outside their own. The final list ranks the 500 large (over 5,000 employees) and 500 midsize employers that received the most recommendations. Mercy was ranked at #299 nationally among midsize employers. According to Thomas R. Mullen, President and CEO, Mercy Health Services, Mercy Medical Center, the Forbes ranking is the latest in a number of honors the 143-year-old Catholic hospital continues to receive, including U.S. News and World Reports Top Hospitals recognition, the Womens Choice Award as one of Americas 100 best hospitals for patient experience, and earlier this month, the 2018 AONE (American Organization of Nurse Executives) Prism Award for advancing diversity efforts within the nursing profession, community or organization. We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from nationally acclaimed Forbes magazine for the second straight year. Its especially gratifying as it reflects the input of our employees, people who embrace Mercys mission every day, Mr. Mullen said. At Mercy, we strive to empower our employees, to offer them opportunities to grow and learn new skills. Engaged employees are best suited to provide exceptional care to patients, in keeping with the values of the Sisters of Mercy. Founded in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a university-affiliated medical institution with a national reputation for womens health care. In addition to the Forbes announcement, Mercys has also been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Beckers Hospital Review in 2013 and by Baltimore Magazine in 2012. The Villarreal Law Firm We handle various types of personal injury cases, but car accidents are the most frequent in Brownsville, Harlingen, and San Benito. The Villarreal Law Firm, experienced attorneys serving Brownsville, Harlingen, and San Benito as personal injury attorneys, is proud to announce a new informational page on auto or car accidents. Locals searching for the best auto accident lawyers in the are can include the new page on their research. We handle various types of personal injury cases, but car accidents are the most frequent in Brownsville, Harlingen, and San Benito, explained attorney Javier Villarreal, managing partner at the law firm. "Thats why we decided to launch a new page specifically for auto accident lawyer information. There are a lot of different types of car accidents that can occur, so we wanted to cover them all in one place. To review the new page, please visit; https://www.jvlawfirm.net/practice-items/auto-accidents/. South Texas residents may desire to browse a web page for information before reaching out to a car accident attorney. Details concerning various auto accident topics can be found including; auto, motorcycle and trucking. The newly updated page has basic information and a big, blue 'let's get started' button for individuals ready to speak to an attorney. Consultations are at no charge it should be noted. BROWNSVILLE RESIDENTS FIND AN AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYER TO PUSH THE RIGHT BUTTONS Here is background on this release. Texas locals involved in an auto accident could find the insurance process frustrating. If an insurance adjuster represents a commercial vehicle, problems can be even worse. Contacting an auto insurance company to file a claim alone might not be a successful approach. The lack of attention to an injury could begin to push a Texas residents buttons. Instead of working through an insurance claim from a car wreck alone, it may be time to contact a Brownsville Auto Accident Lawyer. A blue button on a new personal injury page may be the answer, that is the first step towards an attorney consultation. For these reasons, Villarreal law firm has announced a new web page specific to car wrecks. A South Texas resident struggling to file a claim may need the help of a Brownsville auto accident lawyer. Receiving compensation for an accident involving a truck or commercial vehicle can be difficult to resolve alone. Adjustors for commercial vehicles have been known to stall payments and ignore claims. A top Brownsville auto accident lawyer may understand common tactics and fight for fair compensation. Instead of allowing an insurance adjuster to push personal buttons, a Brownsville local can press a blue button on the new web page and get results. ABOUT THE VILLARREAL LAW FIRM The law firm of Javier Villarreal offers a team of attorneys, considered among the best personal injury attorneys in Brownsville, Texas, and surrounding cities in Cameron County. Whether a person is looking for an auto or car accident attorney, a lawyer with deep experience in trucking accidents and litigation (including 18 wheelers), or a lawyer for injuries that resulted from motorcycles, boating, or other forms of accidents (including slip and fall), the Villarreal team of attorneys can help. The attorneys fight for client rights throughout Cameron County - and are known as the top personal injury lawyers in Brownsville and Harlingen, from Los Fresnos to San Benito, and in all of South Padre Island. Web. https://www.jvlawfirm.net/ Tel. 956-544-4444. Safe Harbor LLP We are known as one of the boutique San Francisco CPA firms that really gets into the nitty-gritty of tax. Safe Harbor LLP, considered one of the best corporate CPA firms in San Francisco, is proud to announce an easy-to-read commentary on the TCJA (Tax Cut and Jobs Act) of 2017 and its impact on corporations and businesses. The CPA firm has received a steady stream of inquiries from San Francisco Bay Area businesses that are both anxious and optimistic in light of the so-called Trump tax changes. Due to the confusion, the firm has written a short commentary to its blog focused on corporate and business tax issues. We are known as one of the boutique San Francisco CPA firms that really gets into the nitty-gritty of tax, explained Chun Wong, Managing Partner at Safe Harbor LLP. Any smart San Francisco business or corporation would do well to ignore the media hype surrounding the TCJA, and first read our post and then reach out to us or another tax advisor to really understand how the new tax law creates both threats and opportunities. To read the post on business tax issues, visit http://www.safeharborcpa.com/business-tax-changes-for-california-businesses-in-the-new-tax-law-a-san-francisco-perspective/. The post explains that the new tax law makes big changes in how businesses are taxed, and which forms of business organization are the most advantageous. Many San Francisco clients are not only high income but also often have diverse business interests, including overseas interests that expose them to international tax issues. Others, especially those who work in San Franciscos vibrant technology sector, have business interests in start ups (the firm is known as the best CPA firm for startups in San Francisco), or perhaps have stock options as part of their compensation. Still others have small or medium-sized businesses and want to know how to optimize their businesses here in the San Francisco Bay Area to minimize the tax bit. This post is a discussion, but if any business or corporation that need a consultations should reach out for a detailed consultation. After unifying the House and Senate tax reform provisions into one piece of legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, ("TCJA") was approved in the House and Senate and signed by President Trump on December 22, 2017. The bill represents the most significant revision of the US tax code in decades and will have many long-term effects. The post gives an overview of some of the significant provisions affecting business taxpayers are identified A CPA FIRM FOR BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO Here is background on this release. Businesses have always faced a difficult tax environment, especially in high tax California. First, they pay a complex myriad of city, state, and federal taxes. Second, they are under obligation for reporting and other requirements. Third, those that have international tax exposure face an entirely new dimension of taxes. And, fourth, with the new tax changes, they face an unstable, new tax environment. For these reasons, the firm has written this short post to its blog, but the firm cautions that it cannot be construed as tax advice. Interested parties are urged to first read the post, and then to reach out for a confidential consultation. They can also view the firm's informational page on its business and corporate tax services at http://www.safeharborcpa.com/business-tax/. ABOUT SAFE HARBOR LLP A PROFESSIONAL CPA FIRM IN SAN FRANCISCO Safe Harbor LLP is a CPA firm that specializes in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and greater California. Safe Harbor CPAs helps both individuals and businesses with tax preparation, IRS audit defense, and audited financial statements. The firm prides itself on friendly yet professional service and utilizes state-of-the-art Internet technology to provide quality customer service. Safe Harbor CPA http://www.safeharborcpa.com Tel. 415.742.4249 Diane Smethills, a Partner in the Sterling Ranch Development Company, is a native of Colorado who returned to her home state to help establish what will become the first gigabit internet, rain harvest Thanks to Diane's leadership in the project, the development's "designs have been strongly geared toward the day-to-day realities of family life, with a constant eye on environmental sustainability," said Mike Woodley, the town architect of Sterling Ranch. Diane Smethills, one of the leading partners in the development of the new Sterling Ranch community in southwest Denver, was honored today by the Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce at their "Women Who Soar" event. Smethills, one of three women honored at the event sponsored by the Northwest Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, received the recognition in front of Federal, State, and County officials. The selected women were recognized for their ability to "inspire us to be better leaders and are blazing the path for future generations. They have made a difference to us in our community and have positively impacted the lives of others," according to an announcement. Diane, along with her husband Harold, has been one of the driving forces of the Colorado-based Sterling Ranch Development Company. The vision for the 3,400-acre Sterling Ranch community took root in 2004 when the Smethills purchased the land from Joy Burns, making them just the third family to own the site since the Civil War. Once fully constructed, the community will include 2 million square feet of commercial space and 12,000 homes, totaling to an investment of $4.4 Billion. "Thanks to Diane's leadership in the project, the development's designs have been strongly geared toward the day-to-day realities of family life, with a constant eye on environmental sustainability. Her touch is what has made this project so appealing to home buyers, and this community will be a lasting legacy to her care and nurturing of human connections," said Mike Woodley, the town architect of Sterling Ranch. Mrs. Smethills brought 35+ years of marketing, real estate development, finance, and implementation experience to the development team. After working for several years in New York City, she returned to her native Colorado and formed her own real estate company. In addition, she was an appointee of President Reagan to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Topeka. Diane was instrumental in negotiating the purchase of the property underlying Sterling Ranch. Most recently, she has managed a private real estate portfolio of Colorado properties, along with the Sterling Ranch development. "Diane has earned a reputation around the region for her focus on community connectivity and partnership. Thanks to her thoughtful leadership, Sterling Ranch has built strong ties with the neighboring communities of Roxborough, Littleton, and Highlands Ranch, and our entire Denver community will, without a doubt, benefit from her careful approach to the development of this land," said Amy Sherman, the President & CEO of the Northwest Douglas County Economic Development Corporation. #### About Sterling Ranch Sterling Ranch is a new, master-planned community currently under construction in the Metro Denver area. Nine unique villages will ultimately radiate outward from a commercial town center. The pedestrian-friendly community will connect 30 miles of internal trails, 85 acres of open space, two adjacent state parks and three regional parks. The community features 1 gigabit Internet service to each home. For more information, visit http://www.sterlingranchcolorado.com. Matt Pyatt, CEO of Arrive Logistics To be recognized by EY alongside my business partner and close friend Eric for this prestigious honor is very humbling. EY today announced that CEO, Matt Pyatt, and President, Eric Dunigan, of Arrive Logistics are finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award in the Central Texas region. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Matt Pyatt and Eric Dunigan were selected as finalists by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 8th, 2018 at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas. Eric and I are excited and flattered to be named finalists for this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award," said Matt Pyatt, CEO of Arrive Logistics. It is a unique privilege for us to lead an organization made up of such outstanding, hard working people who are all dedicated to redefining the modern broker experience. To be recognized by EY alongside my business partner and close friend Eric for this prestigious honor is very humbling." Since 2014, Arrive has worked tirelessly to redefine what it means to be a freight broker; giving partners more by putting proprietary technology, unprecedented operations, and customer service at the forefront of everything they do. What was once a 10-person team based in Austin, Texas is now a team of more than 400 people spanning two major U.S. cities (Chicago and Austin). The business has skyrocketed from an already-impressive $30M in first-year truckload sales, to $145M in 2017, to an on-track projection of more than $330M by the end of 2018. Because of these business milestones, Arrive Logistics is proud to claim the title of fastest-growing freight broker in the United States. Now in its 32nd year, the 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 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, 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. More About Arrive Logistics The Arrive difference comes from how they train and foster their employees development, because that investment directly translates into how they care for their customers and carriers. Its a virtuous cycle that has validated their theory that shippers and carriers want more out of their supply chain partners. For more information, please visit http://www.arrivelogistics.com. 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 EYs Growth Markets Network EYs worldwide Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, weve helped many of the worlds 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. Three Musketeers of Silicon Valley Small Business Concierge Magazine The Small Business Concierge Digital Magazine is designed to give voice to the backbone of America, and that backbone is our small business owners..." Business On the Edge, Incorporated, announced the official launch of the Small Business Concierge Digital Magazine, at the 7th Annual Small Business Entrepreneur & Innovation Summit by Bay Areas AM 1220 KDOW #1 Small Business Radio Personality Margaret Jackson. She is disrupting Silicon Valleys Small Business Industry by leveling the mass-media playing field for the small business owner. Business On the Edge has played a significant role by introducing mass media pathways for small companies to compete on a much larger scale. Margaret Jackson The Small Business Concierge Digital Magazine is designed to give voice to the backbone of America, and that backbone is our small business owners. Small businesses have been the forgotten tribe, group, and hard workers that benefit our entire Nation, it is time to showcase their voice and expertise. The magazine is about real small business owners that are not journalists or writers sharing their know-how with a fresh and raw voice. It was an honor to be the kick-off speaker at the Small Business Summit today and champion the small businesses. We have launched the magazine on Issuu.com a Bay Area digital magazine platform with 15,000 uploads a day, and over 300 million unique visitors per month around the globe. It is our Fubu model and moment, if you will, by them, for them. The 7th Annual Small Business Entrepreneur & Innovation Summit sponsors are Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the County of Santa Clara, the City of San Jose, Business Owner Space, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley and the Industry Council for Small Business Development. SV SBDC, Executive Director Dennis King, invited Business On the Edge, Incorporated, CEO Margaret Jackson, radio personality, and the new magazine publisher, announcing the emergence of a small business digital magazine disrupter. More than 300 small businesses and professionals are expected to attend the annual Bay Area event. Business on the Edge, Incorporated is a San Jose / Silicon Valley leader in encouraging, motivating, and providing resources, tools, small business training, and development. It has a mass-media reach that supports small businesses and professional visibility through AM 1220 KDOW Business & Finance Radio and the new online publication Small Business Concierge Magazine. The company is a strong supporter of small business development and sustainability. For more information about Business on the Edge, Inc. visit our website or the Small Business Concierge website Primo Hoagies "As a brand, giving back to the community and our customers has always been one of our biggest priorities, said Nick Papanier Jr., COO of Primo Hoagies. Primo Hoagies is ready to celebrate its favorite day of the year, National Hoagie Day. On May 5, the Italian specialty sandwich shop is giving a tasty bite back to local fire and police stations, hospitals and animal shelters that are committed to the safety and health of the community. Primo Hoagies locations across the country will be preparing and delivering the brands Italian specialty sandwiches to local service members such as firefighters, nurses, doctors and veterinarians in honor of the big day. In the local communities that Primo Hoagies serves each of these individuals plays a fundamental role in keeping all residents safe, healthy and happy and the brand is ready to send a huge thank you in the tastiest way possible providing sandwiches for organizations on National Hoagie Day. We are constantly looking for new ways to share the heart in our hoagies with the community and National Hoagie Day is a special opportunity for us to show our gratitude to those that truly make a difference in the towns and cities that we serve, said Rocco Fiorentino, CEO of Primo Hoagies. The firefighters, police officers, medical professionals and veterinarians are such an incredibly special part of our community and we cant thank them enough for their service. We hope that our give back efforts will continue to show our support for the daily heroes in our lives. In addition to commemorating local service members, Primo Hoagies will celebrate National Hoagie Day with customers the store through promotions offered both in-store and via online ordering. Individuals that visit a Primo Hoagies shop on May 5 will receive an Italian, Turkey & Cheese or Ham & Cheese Primo Size Hoagie for a discounted price of $5.99 in honor of the holiday. As a brand, giving back to the community and our customers has always been one of our biggest priorities, said Nick Papanier Jr., COO of Primo Hoagies. National Hoagie Day is an especially unique opportunity we have to share in celebration with those communities that our Primo Hoagie locations serve on a daily basis. Since its start in 1992, Primo Hoagies has been known for its high quality hoagies. Each hoagie is assembled with the freshest ingredients available in order to produce classics such as the Sharp Italian or Soprano. The brand prides itself on offering award-winning sandwiches that combine quality, consistency and originality. For more information about Primo Hoagies and its many locations, visit: http://www.primohoagies.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit: https://www.primohoagies.com/franchise. About Primo Hoagies A South Philadelphia original, today Primo Hoagies has more than 90 locations across seven states. Longtime loyalists and new fans cherish the brand for its fresh, made to order Old Fashioned Italian Specialty Sandwiches created with true Italian-style authenticity and from the finest gourmet meats and cheeses. Since its beginnings more than 25 years ago, demand for the brands hoagies has resulted in long lines during lunch and dinner, and unrelenting requests for catering orders. This popularity continues today as Primo Hoagies grows around the country through franchising. With continued expansion, Primo Hoagies is continuing to become the industry standard for high-quality hoagies. Ethics & Integrity Remain A Business Model Cornerstone for 26 Years And Counting It truly is a pleasure to have the opportunity to recognize a business such as Market America|SHOP.COM that is consistently doing the right thing, even when no one is looking, said Lechelle Yates, Director of Communications & Investigations for BBB Serving Central North Carolina. The Better Business Bureau serving Central North Carolina has announced that Market America|SHOP.COM is the winner of the 2018 Torch Award for Ethics. This marks the second time that Market America|SHOP.COM received the Torch Award for Ethics; the first time was in 2013. The Torch Award for Ethics honors companies whose leadership demonstrate a high level of personal character and ensure that the organizations practices meet the highest standards of ethics, and consequently generate trust. It truly is a pleasure to have the opportunity to recognize a business such as Market America|SHOP.COM that is consistently doing the right thing, even when no one is looking, said Lechelle Yates, Director of Communications & Investigations for Better Business Bureau Serving Central North Carolina. Receiving this award in 2013 was such a great honor. Today, I am truly humbled to receive it again. I look at this recognition as validation that our business model has stood the test of time, recognized twice as being a trustworthy and ethical opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to build a successful business. What a great day, both personally and professionally and were just getting started, said Ridinger. President of the BBB Serving Central North Carolina, Kevin Hinterberger, is charged with providing verified and unbiased information to help consumers make decisions, based on facts, and by holding almost 400,000 accredited businesses accountable for meeting and committing to the BBBs high standards. Our organization is over 100 years old and our mission at the Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust, denouncing substandard behavior and exposing bad advertising. We are very fortunate to have a company like Market America in our community, said Hinterberger. ABOUT MARKET AMERICA, INC. & SHOP.COM Currently in its 26th year, Market America, Inc. is a global Product Brokerage and Internet Marketing company that specializes in One-to-One Marketing and is the creator of The Shopping Annuity. Its mission is to provide a robust business system for entrepreneurs, while providing consumers a better way to shop. Headquartered in Greensboro, NC, the company was founded in 1992 by Chairman and CEO JR Ridinger and has generated over $8 billion in accumulated sales. Market America employs nearly 1,000 people globally with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom and Malaysia. Through the companys shopping website, SHOP.COM, consumers have access to over 60 million products, including Market America exclusive brands and thousands of top retail brands. Market Americas revolutionary Shopping Annuity program, which helps smart shoppers convert spending into earning, is an extraordinary and financially meaningful benefit of the business. Internet Retailer has ranked SHOP.COM #65 in the 2018 Internet Retailer Top 1000, the #43 largest global online marketplace and the 18th fastest growing Internet Mobile Retailer. By combining Market Americas entrepreneurial business model with SHOP.COMs powerful comparative shopping engine, Cashback program, Hot Deals, SHOPBuddy, Express Pay check out, social shopping integration and countless other features, the company has become the ultimate online shopping destination. For more information, please visit http://www.marketamerica.com or http://www.SHOP.COM. Join us...to help kids the world differently When you love life the party...never ends. Join us to gift kids meaningful trips to change their life for good. Recruiting for Good a staffing company in Santa Monica, is collaboratively helping mentors, parents, and relatives fund gift kids meaningful trips. This is a personal and purposeful service for fun people who make a difference that love to change kids' lives for good. According to Recruiting for Good, Founder Carlos Cymerman, "Travel is an investment in life..we love to serve people who want to gift kids experiences to see the world differently." How to Participate in Service This service is for L.A. residents that volunteer in the community regularly (Big Brother/Big Sister, Boy/Girl Scouts, StepUp), parents, and relatives; that are collaborative, and fun too. Simply attend one of the community parties to meet founder, Carlos Cymerman in person. 1. Art & French Pastries (Adults and Kids) Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 2. Creative Writing+H20 Party (Adult Only Party, May 17th, 6pm), AIR-Food Santa Monica, 3. Fun Belgian Chocolates & Melting Chair Massages (Women Only Party on May 12, 1-3 pm) KC Chocolatier, Santa Monica. After meeting in person. Recruiting for Good invites people to participate in "See the World for Good," to help fund gift kids meaningful trips. Carlos Cymerman adds, "Making a difference is fun and rewarding, it brings balance and meaning to our lives, beyond the office; when we love life...the party never ends...let your actions inspire others to care and participate." About Recruiting for Good since 1998 has been connecting talented Accounting/Finance, Engineering, and IT professionals to great jobs. "We support Our Moms Work, a fun community service." And reward referrals with travel to celebrate life. Sussman is focused on increasing marketshare. NAN is a growing company thats driven by data and analytics, has strong management and great leadership. Nationwide Appraisal Network (NAN) announced today that it has named Steve Sussman Vice President of Sales. In that role, he will be responsible for increasing NANs market share as well as to ensure the needs of existing clients are met and their expectations are exceeded. Steve has proven he can develop long-term relationships with clients and will take the necessary time to understand their challenges and offer solutions that eliminate them, said Joni Pilgrim, Chief Business Development Officer at NAN. He is off to a very fast start and clients have already begun to benefit from working with him. NAN is an innovative, women-owned, industry-leading appraisal management company with true national coverage. NAN is a growing company thats driven by data and analytics, has strong management and great leadership, said Steve Sussman, Vice President of Sales. In addition, their innovative technology and dedication to customer service made this an outstanding opportunity. Prior to joining NAN, Sussman was a Director of Affiliate Sales for the Home Shopping Network, where he was responsible for 30 major accounts, including 13 of the 25 largest operators in the cable television industry. He also oversaw a team that managed 650 independent accounts. In addition, Sussman previously served as a member and past President of the Board of Directors for the Florida Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications, and on the Boards of the Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania and the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing of the Carolinas. About Nationwide Appraisal Network Nationwide Appraisal Network (NAN), a women-owned, award-winning appraisal management company, is an industry leader that provides superior customer service, sophisticated, innovative technology, and a talented, experienced professional staff. Clients have come to rely on NAN to produce creative solutions to nagging industry challengesoften building transformative, proprietary solutions. NAN is an early adapter and beta tester of AppraisalQPM (AQPM), a cloud-based machine learning reporting and analytics platform that provides quality and performance analytics for optimal AMC and appraiser selection. For more information, visit http://www.Nationwide-Appraisal.com. Motus was named a GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors during its 26th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony held Friday, April 20 in Orlando, Florida. GM recognized 132 of its best suppliers from 17 countries who have consistently exceeded GMs expectations, created outstanding value, or brought new innovations to the company. The announcement represented the most suppliers GM has recognized since debuting the Supplier of the Year event in 1992. This is the second time Motus has received the award. This is an opportunity for General Motors to honor those suppliers who are truly the best of the best, said Steve Kiefer, GM senior vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. The automotive industry is transforming at an incredible rate. The relationships we have with our supply base means everything when it comes to delivering a strong vehicle lineup today and the cutting-edge vehicles and mobility services of tomorrow. More than 45 percent this years Supplier of the Year awardees are repeat winners from 2016. GMs Supplier of the Year award is reserved for suppliers who distinguish themselves by meeting performance metrics for quality, execution, innovation, and total enterprise cost. Award winners represent companies who provide products and services to General Motors in the areas of vehicle components, supply chain and logistics, customer care and aftersales, and indirect services. Motus is honored to receive this prestigious award for the second year in a row, said Shannon White, President and CEO. We are incredibly proud of the work we do and appreciate being recognized by GM for our best-in-class quality, service and innovation. About Motus Integrated Technologies Motus Integrated Technologies is a privately held Tier 1 supplier of automotive interior products to the worlds automakers with its headquarters in Holland, Michigan. The companys nearly 4,000 employees produce high-performance headliners, visors, door and console armrests, and instrument panel trim components for the global automotive market from state-of-the art manufacturing facilities located in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.motusintegrated.com. General Motors Co. and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com. Luum Logo We are excited to have Luum join our conference because transportation is a very important component to being climate smart, a key element of sustainability moving forward, said Peter Diamond, director of CleanMed 2018 Communities across America are in the midst of historic economic and population growth. Unfortunately, this explosive growth exacerbates commute problems. Traffic congestion, air pollution, parking shortages, lost productivity, and community health all suffer, and employers feel the consequences, with health care being no exception. At CleanMed 2018, the premier national conference for leaders in health care sustainability, Luum will share its expertise in employer commute solutions for the industry. We are excited to have Luum join our conference because transportation is a very important component to being climate smart, a key element of sustainability moving forward, said Peter Diamond, director of CleanMed 2018. Luum brings a solution to a problem affecting not only the bottom line of health care organizations but the health and welfare of their employees and patients - not to mention the environment. With Luum, real change in commuting can and is happening. Commute challenges are especially pertinent for hospital centers. Hospitals are committed to providing uninterrupted, world-class quality care to patients. Yet interruption becomes a risk as demand for hospital services grow, and delivery becomes constrained by traffic congestion and limited parking. Hospitals are forced to make a choice between more patient services or more parking spaces. Luums presence at CleanMed feels like a no-brainer. We are seeing more and more hospitals lead the transportation agenda within their communities. CleanMeds mission to accelerate the health care sectors commitment to environmental sustainability and regenerative health to improve the health of people and the environment is completely in line with Luums goals and expertise, said Sohier Hall, CEO, and president of Luum. As the provider of the worlds most integrated enterprise-grade commute solution software platform, Luum helps the world's best organizations unleash the power of information to get control over their employees' commuting. Luum offers solutions for hospitals experiencing vibrant growth, competing to attract and retain talent, and struggling to meet parking demands. For hospitals aspiring to lead their community in wellness and sustainability, use data to drive decision making, and better utilize their real estate - Luum provides a service unparalleled in the industry. At the conference, Luum is presenting a session on How Hospitals Can Leverage Technology to Solve Employee Commute and Parking Challenges. In addition two of Luums customers Maria Berardo, HR Business partner, Kaiser Permanente of Washington (KPWA) and Karen Aliabadi, chief human resources strategist, Delta Dental of Washington (DDWA) will present their commute stories and results at CleanMed. According to Maria Berardo Before we reached out to Luum, our commute program was completely manual, with no way to collect data about behavior and to truly understand and connect with our employees about commuting. By working with Luum, KPWA is trying to: Attracting and retaining a strong workforce by offering attractive parking and commute benefits. Supporting compliance with Washington state law by encouraging and measuring the use of alternative commute benefits. Reducing long wait times in/out of garages and capturing parking data to better utilize facilities. Measuring commute behaviors to better design more effective incentive initiatives. Luum reduces the percentage of drive alone commute trips by understanding, managing, and influencing employee commute behavior. It shows whats possible to highly motivated stakeholders and is one part of the grand experiment on shifting mindsets, business models and experiences to bring about behavior change. Through Luums platform technology and data services, it gives customers the ability to understand their employee commute habits. With this knowledge, it combines a range of incentives and alternative ways to travel that changes behavior and gives a better experience for employees. To learn more take Luums Parking and Commute Program Assessment at for hospitals to better understand the path to a world-class commute program. Reach out to Luum directly at info(at)luum.com to set up a discussion about how Luum can turn commute from an obstacle to a benefit and CleanMed visit us at booth 611. ABOUT LUUM Luum is a SaaS-based transportation tech company that helps employers engage with employees to optimize their daily commute. Those working in and around large or growing cities understand well how traffic congestion, parking hassles, and gaps in intermodal solutions create costs and frustration for employers and employees alike. Through Luum, employers deliver a comprehensive and personalized commute benefit to employees, understand employee commute activity and preferences make a range of alternative commute modes available, and motivate behavior change. In addition, Luum reinforces a culture of wellness and community health via active transportation and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Luum was founded in Seattle and following its success with employers in the region, is moving to cities and businesses across the US. http://www.luum.com Windstar Cruises is known for bringing the world a little closer through the exceptional service and experiences offered on its intimate ships. Its no secret that Windstar Cruises is known for bringing the world a little closer through the exceptional service and experiences offered on its intimate ships large enough to pamper and entertain guests, yet small enough to tuck into delightful tiny harbors and hidden coves others cant reach. Now, the line is unveiling even more motivation to discover routes less traveled with incentives and itineraries on sale in 2018. In the spirit of connecting cruisers to the world in unexpected ways, weve gathered all the surprising added value Windstar is passing along to guests this spring season. Get Closer Making the world a smaller place, Windstars Get Closer event delivers savings on itineraries linking Americas western frontier to the Far East. From now until May 31, guests booking an Alaska cruise or Cruise Tour (including cruises to and from select ports in Japan) receive a tiered per person Shipboard Credit. Depending on the sailing and the cabin category booked, guests can save from $300 to $1,000 per stateroom. The offer is good for new bookings only. View details on how to experience Alaska, and select from ten Get Closer cruise options here. South Pacific Savings Dreaming of warm southern sea breezes? Guests booking a luxury Tahiti cruise with Windstar receive even more with their tranquil turquoise views. The packages include round trip airfare from Los Angeles (LAX), one-night pre-cruise accommodation at Le Meridien Hotel in Papeete, transfers from the airport to the hotel and ship, plus a day room at Le Meridien Hotel in Papeete post-cruise. Choose from available dates on one of two Tahitian itineraries here. President's Discount Membership definitely has its perks. Direct from the top, Windstar's President John Delaney has announced a special bonus for all Yacht Club members (Windstar's return guest program). Members booking one of Windstars 2018 Asia itineraries will receive a $500 per person discount on the cruise. Even more enticing, this discount can be combined with up to one other promotional offer. Offer good on new bookings only. Peruse the 25 cruise and Cruise Tours available to explore Asia here. For more information on all of Windstar's intimate cruises and specialty offerings, or to book a cruise, access http://www.windstarcruises.com. About Windstar Cruises Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of small sailing and all-suite ships visiting approximately 270 ports in 2018 sailing throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska, Canada and New England, and cruising year-round in Tahiti. Windstars fleet is the market leader in small ship cruising with a total of 1,242 passenger berths calling on off-the-beaten-path and popular ports in over 60 countries. The boutique cruise line carries fewer than 310 passengers on its small ships and takes travelers on cruises that are 180 degrees from ordinary. They are known for their immersive and authentic experiences, unique, port-intensive itineraries, exceptional award-winning service, and innovative culinary program as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation. Windstar Cruises is a part of Xanterra Travel Collection, an award-winning, globally diversified travel company offering once in a lifetime experiences in some of the most beautiful and iconic places on earth. "My relationship with uBiome now offers me a greater platform from which to educate others on the need to care for and properly test the specific gut and vaginal microbiomes." Dr. Felice Gersh uBiome, the leading company in microbial genomics, announces the addition of obstetrics and gynecology expert, Dr. Felice Gersh, to its prolific board of advisors. With extensive experience in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and internal medicine, Dr. Gersh brings to the board a unique perspective on women's healthcare. About joining uBiome's expert board, Dr. Gersh said: When I was approached with the invitation to join the Scientific Advisory Board for uBiome, I was thrilled! My relationship with uBiome now offers me a greater platform from which to educate others on the need to care for and properly test the specific gut and vaginal microbiomes. I look forward to growing my personal appreciation and knowledge of human and microbial life. I also anticipate expanding my knowledge on the best ways to optimize human health through the testing and nurturing of our microbiomes by harnessing this brand new understanding we have of what it means to be human. The Director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, Dr. Gersh holds a medical degree from the USC School of Medicine, where she was named the top female graduating physician and was in the top five percent of her class. A renowned specialist on the subject of womens health, Dr. Gersh has lectured at medical conferences around the world and is due to publish a book on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. She has received the Orange County Medical Association's Physician of the Year Award for the last 13 years, as well as Southern California's Super Doctor award. To date, her OB/GYN and Integrative Medicine practice is the most successful in the Irvine, California area. To read more about Dr. Gersh, or to follow her blog, visit http://www.felicelgershmd.com/ We are delighted to welcome Dr. Gersh to our Scientific Advisory Board, said Dr. Jessica Richman, PhD, co-founder and CEO of uBiome. Her knowledge in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, combined with her experience as a fellowship-trained integrative medicine expert, will greatly benefit uBiome's mission as we continue to develop the science of the vaginal microbiome in revolutionary products like our SmartJane test. SmartJane is the first sequencing-based, doctor-ordered, at-home womens health test to combine human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping, sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing, and microbial risk factors for HPV infection, as well as bacterial vaginosis, cervicitis, idiopathic infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, and aerobic vaginitis. The test is not intended to replace traditional Pap smears or well woman visits. Like all uBiome tests, SmartJane has an easy sample collection process that takes under two minutes to complete and is mailed directly to the laboratory, making it simple and convenient to use. Interested individuals can request a test through their healthcare provider or learn more by visiting https://ubiome.com/clinical/smartjane/ About uBiome: Founded in 2012, uBiome is the worlds leading microbial genomics company with a mission to transform the science of the microbiome into reliable, accurate products and services that improve peoples lives. uBiome is funded by Y Combinator, Andreessen Horowitz, and 8VC, as well as other leading investors. The company has received widespread recognition including CNN 10: Startups to Watch, the IVY Technology Award, CNN Future 30, and was named one of Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies in Healthcare in 2016 and in Data Science in 2018. http://www.ubiome.com Press Contact: Lelle Henrichsen lelle.henrichsen@ubiome.com OncoSynergy, an oncology therapeutics spinout from UCSF and current resident of the prestigious JLABS South San Francisco incubator, announced that it has closed a Series A equity round led by Connecticut Innovations (CI) with participation by the current shareholders, including NLabs, Inc., and Korea Information & Communication Co., Ltd. The venture financing will be used to accelerate their lead program, OS2966, to the clinic for the treatment of glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest primary brain tumor in adults. OncoSynergy has developed a new class of oncology therapeutics called Resistance Mechanism Inhibitors (RMIs). RMIs feature multiple simultaneous mechanisms of action, synergy in combination with other treatments, including immunotherapies in preclinical models, and can potentially be used to treat many types of solid and hematological cancers. The FDA has granted two Orphan Drug Designations for OS2966, the lead RMI program, including in the treatment of glioblastoma. The planned clinical trial is a strategic alliance with Infuseon Therapeutics, a medical device spinout of the Cleveland Clinic. We are very pleased to fund OncoSynergys highly innovative OS2966 program toward the clinic, commented Amanda Hayward, PhD, Managing Director of Venture Capital Investments at CI. Glioblastoma remains a major unmet need, and we believe RMIs have the potential to be a game-changer not only in brain cancer, but in oncology more broadly. Jean Pierre Bizzari, MD, former Global Head of Oncology at Celgene and member of the OncoSynergy Advisory Board, concurred, saying, I strongly believe OncoSynergys OS2966 RMI program represents a major advance toward providing durable outcomes for cancer patients. OncoSynergy will be relocating its headquarters to Connecticut and expanding its team in anticipation of its first clinical trial in 2019. We are grateful for the immense support of Amanda Hayward and the entire CI team and look forward to building OncoSynergy into a leading clinical stage biopharma company, said W. Shawn Carbonell, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO at OncoSynergy. As physicians, the founding team of OncoSynergy are absolutely thrilled to be able to bring OS2966 from the lab bench to patients for the first time. About OncoSynergy: Oncosynergy is a UCSF spinout with primary operations in JLABS @ SSF, California. The company was founded in 2011 to provide solutions for treatment-resistant cancer through the development of a new class of oncology therapeutics, called Resistance Mechanism Inhibitors (RMIs). RMIs are unique multi-action, tumor-agnostic drug platforms that have shown preclinical promise as monotherapy and in strategic combinations. The lead RMI drug candidate, OS2966, is on track for Phase I clinical trials. To learn more, please visit [http://www.OncoSynergy.com. About Connecticut Innovations: Connecticut Innovations (CI) is the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticut's innovative, growing companies. To maximize growth potential, CI provides venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies; financial support for innovation and collaboration; and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.ctinnovations.com. The Champion of the Field Award was instituted in 2018 by the ACM Board of Directors, as part of the organizations ongoing efforts to recognize excellence in the childrens museum field. Jeri Robinson, Vice President of Early Childhood Initiatives at Boston Childrens Museum, will receive the first-ever Champion of the Field Award from the Association of Childrens Museums (ACM). Throughout her career, Jeri been instrumental in recognizing the importance of early childhood development, creating policies and programs that have directly shaped the world of early childhood education, said ACM Executive Director Laura Huerta Migus. Were so incredibly proud to honor her as our first-ever Champion of the Field. Robinson will accept the award on May 15th at the Inaugural ACM Awards Dinner during ACMs annual conference, InterActivity, in Raleigh, NC. She and Jennifer Farrington, ACM Board President and President and CEO of Chicago Childrens Museum, will reflect on her forty years of service to the childrens museum field during a fireside chat. The Awards Dinner will also honor those receiving conference scholarships through the InterActivity Small Museums Financial Aid Program, sponsored by JRA, and the Diversity in Action Scholarship. For many years, Jeri has been a role model for me, and for the entire childrens museum field, said Jennifer Farrington. Her knowledge, ideals, and commitment to young children and families have moved the field forward in immeasurable ways. As ACM Board President, I am so proud to present her with this inaugural award, and to share and honor the work of her extraordinary career. Jeri Robinson joined Boston Childrens Museum (BCM) in 1973, and has more than forty-five years of experience teaching and consulting in the field of early childhood education. With the PlaySpace exhibit, she developed one of the earliest prototypes for early learning family spaces in museums. She also founded the Boston Cultural Collaborative for Early Learning, and co-founded the Families First Parenting and Count Down to Kindergarten programs. I can think of no better recipient of the Champion of the Field Award than Jeri Robinson, said Carole Charnow, President and CEO of Boston Childrens Museum. Jeris decades of commitment to addressing the needs and aspirations of children and families in a museum setting is unparalleled in our field. Her legendary exhibition, PlaySpace, has set the standard for exhibitions worldwide, and her tireless service to children in Boston and beyond has reverberated nationwide. We are so honored to have Jeri as our colleague and friend at Boston Childrens Museum and extend to her our most heartfelt thanks and congratulations. The Champion of the Field Award was instituted in 2018 by the ACM Board of Directors, as part of the organizations ongoing efforts to recognize excellence in the childrens museum field. ACMs long-standing scholarship programs, Diversity in Action and the Small Museums Financial Aid Program, represent the fields key value of accessibility and inclusion, making the conference available to all. Hosted by Marbles Kids Museum from May 15-18, InterActivity 2018s theme is Open Source Play, Sharing the Creative Code. The annual conference convenes hundreds of childrens museum leaders, staff, and stakeholders to share knowledge and advocate for the childrens museum field. More about ACM The Association of Childrens Museums (ACM) champions childrens museums worldwide. With more than 400 members in 48 states and 20 countries, ACM leverages the collective knowledge of childrens museums through convening, sharing and dissemination. Learn more at https://www.childrensmuseums.org. Aerospace depends on reliable testing of materials. The Aerospace industry requires the very highest standard of equipment and consumables, to ensure repeatability and reproducibility of results. Buehler has developed metallographic equipment for sample preparation specifically for high throughput quality conscious manufacturers. Buehler will demonstrate the user-friendly, yet robust EcoMet 30 grinder-polishers, which will be shown for the first time at AeroMat, the IsoMet High Speed Pro precision cutter, the SimpliMet 4000 compression mounting press with duplex capabilities and many new consumables. EcoMet 30 Grinder/Polisher Easy to Use Yet Solid Machine for Laboratories The EcoMet 30 family of grinder-polishers are extremely easy to handle and use. They are metal cast and are available in manual and semi-automated versions, equipped with either one or two platens. All four types offer reliability and time-saving features which significantly reduce staff workload, and enable a corresponding increase in sample throughput. This is true particularly for labs using a dedicated machine for each sample preparation stage. Advanced cleaning features provided by these robust models also contribute significantly towards speeding up grinding and polishing processes. Smart Cut System in IsoMet High Speed Assures Perfect Sample Buehlers IsoMet High Speed Pro system is a benchtop precision cutter featuring highly intuitive operation for efficient and accurate sectioning. Its advanced design and innovative sectioning vises simplify and accelerate sample setup. Precision laser, tool-less clamping mechanism and disc movement in three axes enable fast and accurate sample alignment. Sectioning with precision and abrasive sectioning cutters can now be performed even faster, without any loss in sectioning quality. The SimpliMet 4000 for Fast Compression Mounting One of the biggest benefits for the laboratory technician of the SimpliMet 4000 is throughput time is improved with the SimpliMets fast mounting cycles and specimen duplex capabilities. It accommodates seven mold assembly sizes from 50mm to 1. It is equipped with the SmartCool intelligent cooling system that optimizes laboratory process times and water usage by releasing specimen at optimum handling time. The intuitive interface sets and stores temperature, pressure and time, thus shortening set up. The single handed closure mechanism engages the user quickly, and makes moving to the next task a breeze. Metallurgical Testing with Wilson Micro Hardness Testers The Wilson VH1102/1202 series micro hardness testers from Buehler are designed for Knoop and Vickers hardness tests, and are versatile, cost-efficient, and reliable solutions for hardness measurement applications in quality control and metallurgical research. They are available in varying degrees of automation and allow operators to take measurements using the digital eyepiece in standalone mode, or by using an optional integrated high-resolution camera and the powerful DiaMet hardness testing software. See the video here. Consumables Designed for Improved Sample Preparation Buehlers consumables portfolio covers a variety of abrasive blades, epoxy and acrylic mounting compounds including the EpoKwick FC, a market leading fast-cure epoxy with maximum pore penetration and lower viscosity and excellent edge retention. Buehler will also be demonstrating the complete line of magnetic backed polishing cloths. They are available on the companys estore. For information on Buehler visit http://www.buehler.com . ABOUT Since 1936 Buehler has been a leading manufacturer of instruments, consumables and accessories for metallography and materials analysis and also supplies a comprehensive range of hardness testers and hardness testing systems. A tight network of branch offices and dealers means our customers can depend on professional assistance and service around the world. Buehler is part of the Test and Measurement Segment of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) a Fortune 200 company with 100 decentralized business units in 52 countries and around 51,000 employees. Total Server Solutions has been named a 2018 Pacesetter by Atlanta Business Chronicle. This exclusive annual list of Atlantas fastest-growing companies represents the most comprehensive look at private business growth within the Atlanta metro area. Qualifying companies are ranked by a weighted growth index formula, factoring both employee growth and revenue growth, to create a level playing field amongst businesses of various sizes. Founded in 2005, Total Server Solutions is an industry leading managed service provider with a vast spectrum of clients across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Using our proven technology stack, we provide customers with the finest hosted services and most robust infrastructure available anywhere across the globe. With 23 points of presence worldwide, our services include performance private cloud, managed infrastructure, systems management, CDN, e-commerce solutions, managed colocation, and big data solutions. The growth and success of our clients has made for a truly exciting time for all of us at TSS. We have a dedicated team here across the board that grinds daily to make realizing awards like these possible. said Gary Simat, CEO of Total Server Solutions. Total Server Solutions customers range from financial institutions to advertising platform operators, hosting providers, and telecom companies. Were also trusted by educational institutions and government agencies in keeping their data secure and available. Our dedicated team of engineers are always working to find the best, most effective ways to serve you and provide solutions to help you to meet whatever your challenges may be. Our mission is simple. We are wholly committed to the success of our customers, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure you have what you need when you need it. About 2018 Pacesetter Awards To qualify as a Pacesetter, the company must be privately held; based in the 20-county metro Atlanta area and not a subsidiary of another company; established first quarter 2015 or earlier (to judge a two-year growth); has experienced a two-year growth in sales of more than 50 percent; and 2017 revenues between $1 million and $300 million. We specifically designed the Sparklabs Energy program with PDO and Phaze Ventures to benefit from Omans drive to become a leading global technology hub for future energy needs and efficiencies," Eugene Kim, Partner at SparkLabs SparkLabs Group (http://www.sparklabsgroup.com), the global venture and accelerator group, has partnered with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the leading energy exploration and production company in the Sultanate of Oman, owned by the Government of Oman), the Shell Group, Total and Partex, and Phaze Ventures, a new technology group focused on innovation throughout the Middle East, to launch a major new accelerator focused on Energy Technology in the region, part of a new initiative to develop Oman as a global future energy technology hub. SparkLabs is the largest Pan-Asia accelerator group, with accelerators in Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia. SparkLabs is now expanding to the Middle East, with the Energy Accelerator in partnership with PDO and Phaze Ventures to identify and scale companies and solutions solving the future energy needs of the region and the world. This is part of the overall initiative to make Oman a global centre of excellence in future energy technologies and efficiencies, utilizing the unique merits of different countries in the region. The SparkLabs Energy Accelerator offers access to a global network of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors and executives, as well as the opportunity to test the viability of early solutions within the real-world setting of PDOs operations. PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: Renewable energy presents an enormous opportunity for Oman. PDO is committed to playing its full part in helping to position the Sultanate as a regional leader and to develop the nation as a renewable energy centre of excellence and technology hub. We are already incorporating solar renewable energy in our operations and working closely with both academia and industry to promote, identify, develop and proficiently deploy key innovations and enablers. This announcement focuses on energy technologies and efficiencies and is another important building block in our Companys strategy. PDO is keen to provide a platform that attracts entrepreneurs from Oman as well as internationally to support knowledge transfer between start-ups, corporate partners and government alike. It will keep PDO, and the wider Omani innovation ecosystem, close to emerging global trends, support local capacity building and establish a pipeline of high-potential investment opportunities in the energy field. We look forward to working closely with SparkLabs and Phaze Ventures to meet our shared ambitions for this country. SparkLabs Accelerator Partner, Eugene Kim said, We specifically designed the Sparklabs Energy program with PDO and Phaze Ventures to benefit from Omans drive to become a leading global technology hub for future energy needs and efficiencies. We are looking forward to develop Omans best energy startups, together with bringing some of the worlds most impactful early stage energy startups to the region, thereby generating a flow of information and innovation between startups, corporates and governments that will help transform the regions energy sector. The SparkLabs Energy program is based in Muscat, Oman, and the first class will start in October 2018, and applications will begin in May 2018, with selection finalized by July 2018. About Petroleum Development Oman PDO is the leading exploration and production company in the Sultanate of Oman. We deliver the majority of the country's crude oil production and natural gas supply, but above all we focus on delivering excellence, growth and sustainable value creation within and well beyond our industry. The Company is owned by the Government of Oman (which has a 60% interest), the Shell Group (which has a 34% interest), Total (which has a 4% interest) and Partex (which has a 2% interest). Gas fields and processing plants are operated by PDO exclusively on behalf of the Government. About SparkLabs Group SparkLabs Group (http://www.sparklabsgroup.com) is comprised of SparkLabs accelerator network, Asias premier startup accelerators; SparkLabs Global Ventures, a leading seed stage fund; SparkLabs Ventures, a localized early-stage fund (Series A & B) in South Korea; SparkChain, a global early-stage fund focused on blockchain innovations; SparkLabs Capital, a late stage investment vehicle. SparkLabs accelerator network consists of SparkLabs Korea (Seoul), SparkLabs China (Beijing and launching Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzen), SparkLabs IoT & Smart Cities (Songdo, South Korea), SparkLabs Taipei, SparkLabs Cultiv8 (Sydney) and Ping An FinTech Accelerator, Powered by SparkLabs (Shenzhen & Hong Kong). About Phaze Ventures Phaze Ventures is an investment and innovation platform founded to accelerate the transformation of the Gulf region to a post-oil economy. Through strategic investment and partnerships with forward-thinking corporates, governments, and international organizations, our goal is to create new opportunity in the region and unlock the full potential of our regions talent and youth. For further information, please contact: The PDO External Affairs Directorate Karima Farid Al Shahaibi, Media Relations Adviser, Tel: 2467-7756 E-mail: karima.kf.shahaibi(at)pdo.co(dot)om Abdullah Al Shaksy CEO & Co-Founder, Phaze Ventures E-mail: abdullah(at)phaze(dot)ventures Eugene Kim Managing Partner, SparkLabs Accelerator Group E-mail: eugene(at)sparklabs.co(dot)kr Drink One for Dane is our opportunity to make a difference, and end ALS for good. On Friday, May 11, Dutch Bros invites communities to join the annual Drink One for Dane fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Now in its 12th year, the biggest giveback on the Dutch Bros calendar involves each of its 300+ stores across seven states. All sales proceeds for the entire day are dedicated to the MDAs work in providing for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research and family support services. Committed to finding a cure for ALS (also known as Lou Gehrigs disease), Dutch Bros is eyeing the $1 million mark this year and is confident that loyal customers will deliver. We absolutely love our customers, and they have amazed us with their growing generosity each year for this campaign, said Travis Boersma, co-founder of Dutch Bros Coffee. Held in honor of my brother Dane, who co-founded Dutch Bros with me, this event encapsulates his spirit, which remains a guiding force for Dutch Bros. We are truly moved by how our communities continue to embrace his legacy and all those impacted by ALS. Drink One for Dane began in 2007, after Dane Boersma was diagnosed with ALS. The event was intended to increase awareness of the disease while raising support for those afflicted, not only through fundraising for research but also for support services to those living with the illness. In 2009, the Dutch Bros family lost Dane to the incurable disease, but carried on with the annual fundraising campaign as a testament to his indomitable spirit and inspiring positive attitude. Last year, Dutch Bros customers at all locations (numbering 283 last May) raised more than $970,000 for the MDA. The 2017 effort lifted Dutch Bros overall contributions to the MDA to $3.5 million. This year, with more locations and a growing loyal fan base, Dutch Bros hopes to break the $1 million barrier. In nearly 70 years, MDA has spent $350 million funding ALS research and care support services. With partners like Dutch Bros, the fruits of our labor are starting to pay off with two FDA-approved treatments for ALS and the development and testing of promising new therapies, said Lynn OConnor Vos, MDA president and CEO. We know there is still much work to be done in unlocking the secrets of this disease, but well continue to aim to stop ALS in its tracks. The MDA is the worlds leader in the fight against muscle-debilitating diseases, including ALS. ALS is an unforgiving disease that affects the parts of the nervous system that control muscle movement. Although victims maintain their awareness, they are increasingly unable to control speaking, breathing or moving. Research continues into understanding the root cause of the disease, which remains a mystery, and finding a cure. Time is of the essence, as those who are diagnosed typically succumb to the disease within three to five years. Through its Love Abounds Foundation, Dutch Bros donates more than $2 million every year to nonprofit organizations and causes to Make a difference, one cup at a time. The foundation actively engages Dutch Bros communities through giving and action, supporting programs and projects connected with four focus area: health, music, youth and origins. To participate in Drink One for Dane, find a nearby location at http://www.dutchbros.com/locations. About Dutch Bros Dutch Bros Coffee is the countrys largest privately held, drive-thru coffee company, with more than 300 locations and 9,000 employees in seven states. Headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, where it was founded in 1992 by Dane and Travis Boersma, brothers of Dutch descent. Dutch Bros serves specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas, a private-label Dutch Bros Blue Rebel energy drink and nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee. Its rich, proprietary coffee blend is handcrafted from start to finish: each ingredient is measured, every process timed and each cup perfected. With a mission to serve as a role model in the community and commitment to doing the right thing, Dutch Bros donates more than $2 million annually to nonprofit organizations and local causes selected by local owner-operators. To learn more about Dutch Bros, visit http://www.dutchbros.com, like Dutch Bros Coffee on Facebook or follow @DutchBros on Twitter. FOR MEDIA ONLY Contact: Angi Veek / 541.660.1521 / pr@dutchbros.com I am here as a concerned citizen, because what we are leaving our kids is not going to be pretty if we dont collaborate and act on this. The role of National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) members in the conversation about improving healthcare and addressing related societal challenges was on display during the 15th Annual World Health Care Congress, held Sunday through Wednesday this week in Washington, D.C. The World Health Care Congress convenes decision-makers from payer, provider, pharmaceutical, government and solutions organizations to inspire partnerships and defragment the current healthcare system. The event focuses on sharing strategic initiatives, results and steps to overcome access and affordability issues. NACDS Past Chairman Martin Otto, chief operating officer of H-E-B, served on the Monday keynote panel titled Call to Action: Collaborate and Mitigate Social Determinants of Health to Improve U.S. Health Care. Joining Otto on the panel were William Shrank, MD, chief medical officer, UPMC Health Plan; Harold L. Paz, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer, Aetna; Akram Boutros, MD, president and chief executive officer, MetroHealth; and moderator Ian Morrison, author, consultant and futurist. I am here in three capacities, Otto said. I am here representing an employer and payer, with frustration over a lack of progress on the topics that are the subject of this panel discussion. I am here representing pharmacy, which if further empowered can serve even more as part of the solution. And I am here as a concerned citizen, because what we are leaving our kids is not going to be pretty if we dont collaborate and act on this. Otto outlined his theory of the vicious socio-economic cycle that he first described during his term as NACDS chairman, and the status of healthcare as the linchpin to fixing it. The vicious cycle refers to overspending on healthcare which is not producing sufficient results and access, and which crowds out investments in social services. Otto laid out a case that poverty; poor education; and poor nutrition, health and wellness feed into further exacerbated healthcare costs perpetuating the cycle. In addition to engaging in the keynote panel, Otto and Brooke Brownlow, group vice president, Total Rewards, H-E-B, presented a session for employers titled Make Well-Being a Priority: An Employers Journey. NACDS engagement in the World Health Care Congress is consistent with the NACDS Access Agenda, a thought leadership platform maintaining that just as pharmacists provide trusted health and wellness solutions in neighborhoods across America, they also provide policy solutions on inter-related healthcare and societal issues. These activities support the broader NACDS Future Value Targeting initiative, which seeks shared value for NACDS members and for collaborators on anticipated future trends, and on immediate issues that are essential for sustained success. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Thanks for signing up for our daily insight on the African economy. We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market, leaders, careers and lifestyle. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature will not hold as expected by literary giants and the world at large. And the reason for the cancelling of the prestigious awards ceremony in 2018 is hinged on a sexual scandal involving the husband of a member of the Swedish Academy - The Academy is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prize in Literature with provision of prize money by the Nobel Foundation since 1901. Here are what we know The crisis revolves around the Swedish Academys handling of its connections to Jean-Claude Arnault, who is married to a Swedish Academy member, Katarina Frostenson was accused of sexually harassing women during the prestigious culture venue Forum in Stockholm between 1996 and 2017. Frostenson had since resigned from the Swedish Academy on April 14, 2018 after the scandal broke in the media. One of the women, who is also an author, Gabriella Hakansson had narrated how Arnault harassed her during the forum. He didnt say many words before he grabbed me between my legs, and did a pussy grab. It was like he was digging. Nothing motivated the incident, and there had been no flirtation or touch. I just found a hand up my crotch, Hakansson reportedly told Dagens Nyheter. In another development, Arnault was accused of allegedly leaking names of Nobel Prize Literature laureates before they were officially announced for many years. The scandal had thrown the Swedish Academy off its balance as many had blamed the leadership of Permanent Secretary Sara Danius for poorly handling the scandal. From Sara Danius to Katarina Frostenson, Peter Englund, Kjell Espmark, Sara Stridsberg and writer Klas Ostergren have all resigned from the Swedish Academy, hence leaving the academy to cancel the prestigious culture venue Forum in Stockholm in 2018. Swedish Academy announces postponement of Nobel Prize for Literature 2018 The Swedish Academy intends to decide on and announce the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2018 in parallel with the naming of the 2019 laureate. Seven times previously, the Swedish Academy has chosen to declare a reserved prize: in 1915, 1919, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1936 and 1949. On five of those occasions, the prize was delayed then awarded at the same time as the following years prize. The present decision was arrived at in view of the currently diminished Academy and the reduced public confidence in the Academy. Work on the selection of a laureate is at an advanced stage and will continue as usual in the months ahead but the Academy needs time to regain its full complement, engage a larger number of active members and regain confidence in its work, before the next Literature Prize winner is declared. The active members of the Swedish Academy are in agreement that, without compromising the Academys purpose and to retain respect for its unique historical legacy, the Academys operative practices need to be evolved. The Academy has therefore newly begun a comprehensive work of change. One of the purposes is to modernise the interpretation of the Academys statutes, principally the question of resignation of membership. In addition, routines will be tightened regarding conflict-of-interest issues and the management of information classified as secret. Further, internal work arrangements and external communication will be refreshed. ALSO READ: Kazuo Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize for Literature 2017 The active members of the Swedish Academy are of course fully aware that the present crisis of confidence places high demands on a long-term and robust work for change. We find it necessary to commit time to recovering public confidence in the Academy before the next laureate can be announced. This, out of respect for previous and future literature laureates, the Nobel Foundation, and the general public, says Anders Olsson, interim Permanent Secretary. Past African winners of Nobel Prize for Literature At least, four African writers have been honoured at the Nobel Prize for Literature since it began in 1901 and the literary ceremony has been cancelled seven times in the past. In 1935, the ceremony was cancelled because the Academy could not find a suitable candidate. The last time it was cancelled was in 1949. Here are the past African winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature: Wole Soyinka Nigerian playwright and political activist, Wole Soyinka was the first African to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. Soyinka was recognized for applying a wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones to fashions the drama of existence. Naguib Mahfouz In 1988, Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for works rich in nuance now clear-sightedly realistic, now evocatively ambiguous that have formed an Arabian narrative art that applies to all mankind. Mahfouz, who was regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, passed away in 2006. Nadine Gordimer Nadine Gordimer was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991 and became the third African to win the prize in recognition of her epic writing that has been tagged a great benefit to humanity. John Maxwell Coetzee A total of 12 galamseyers have been arrested across Ghana in recent operations carried out by the Operation Vanguard. The presidential task force, which has been saddled with the enforcement of the ban on illegal mining arrested nine galamseyers, eight of them being minors, at Mpohor in the Western Region. While another three with two being Chinese citizens and one Ghanaian were arrested in illegal mining at a site located at Jejeti, near Akyem-Anyinam in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region. Mphor raid The Mphor raid by the Operation Vanguard saw operatives busting illegal miners in an operation embarked upon by personnel of Operation Vanguard Western Forward Operating Base (FOB) at a galamsey site known as K9 on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. According to reports, the task force team seized mining equipment, including two excavators with chassis numbers, 5LROO587 and 5YOO732 and handed them over to the Mpohor District Assembly. The items seized by the Operation Vanguard team had been handed over to the Mpohor District police for further investigation and possible prosecution. The team further immobilized three excavators, three control boards and monitor, motorbikes, nine water pumping machines and about 45 change fans. Jejeti raid Similar to the Mphor raid on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, a joint task force team against illegal mining arrested two Chinese nationals and a Ghanaian for their involvement in illegal mining at a site located at Jejeti, near Akyem-Anyinam in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region. After the arrest of the galamseys, the task force reportedly seized two excavators, seven water pumping machines, a generator set, six immobilized washing plants and a Toyota Hilux vehicle. ALSO READ: This Lebanese galamseyer is confident of being above the law Operation Vanguard reacts In an interview with Daily Guide, the Public Relations Officer of the anti-illegal mining taskforce, Squadron Leader Robinson Omane Agyei, confirmed the separate arrests. Agyei noted that the minors arrested in the Mphor raid, aged between 15 and 17 years, and the ninth suspect, Seth Adjei Boahen, 29, were arrested during a dawn operation to clamp down on illegal mining in the community. He indicated that Seth Boahen was sent to the Mpohor police station to assist with investigation whilst the minors were sent to the Social Welfare Department in the district for further investigations. On the Jejeti raid, Agyei said the two Chinese suspects were revealed as Li Gui Yi and Zhou Zhi Mu while the Ghanaian suspect has been identified as Amoah Eric. Squadron Leader Omane Agyei further reiterated that the President Nana Akufor-Addo led government intends to regularise the activities of players in the mining sector, instituted the Operation Vanguard to address the menace in the country. The said 18-year-old girl reportedly sat for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams last year while pregnant, and according to Tuko.co.ke, she was expected to proceed to a local secondary school. However, the girl was recently rushed to the hospital when her delivery time was due and she gave birth to a baby girl. Little did anybody imagine that the babies could be two until when a week later the she was still in pain after her stomach remained bloated. READ MORE: Thief reports himself to police as stolen bag refused to come down from his head She was again rushed to the same hospital where doctors said she was due to give birth to another child, and she did to another baby girl. Both the girls family and the health workers were surprised by the incident. Her mother, Beatrice Magayi told Tuko.co.ke that: "As we speak now, my daughter is doing well with her twin children. They were born a week apart but you can't differentiate them. It is hard to identify the eldest and the youngest among them, all in all we thank God for the blessings." The man reportedly told police that he made every effort within his powers to get the load off his head, including lying on the ground, but to no avail. Fearing to be lynched if members of the public got to know about his ordeal, Frank Buhet thought it wise to hand himself over to the police who would be more professional in dealing with him. READ MORE: Maid arrested for breaking the head of her boss who tried to rape her Even at the police station where the thief was hoping to have some relief, the said mysterious bag still hanged on Frank Buhets head; the police could not help him. According to reports, the man walked from one road to another, spent a lot of time in town with the hope of getting help, but it all proved futile. He thought surrendering himself to the police could lead to identification of the said old woman so he could also have some respite. A video of the incident has gone viral online. Andrew Kufuor who is a Vodafone customer received a call from Eunice Ampomah-Manu last week during a routine customer check-up. Whilst they were talking Mr Kufuor suffered an attack. He could not breath properly and therefore told Eunice he was dying. Even though, Eunice was panicking she kept her composure and continued to keep Mr Kufuor on the line for about 10 minutes. During that time, she got Mr Kufuor to give her his wifes number. Eunice called Mr Kufuors wife, who rushed home and took him to a hospital nearby for medical attention. Eunice later called Mr Kufuor to check on him. READ ALSO: NLA to create 100k jobs To show appreciation for such a kind act, Mr Kufuor came personally to the Vodafone office to thank Eunice. I was helpless. Her call came in good time and I really want to thank her for what she did. She saved my life. Without that, I perhaps wouldnt be here today, he said. Yolanda Cuba, Chief Executive of Vodafone Ghana, said: Three of the suicide bombers detonated their IEDs killing themselves only, while the fourth person killed herself and three others, Okon said. He said seven other persons were injured during the attack and had been taken to the hospital. He said that security had been beefed up in the area and all other places around Maiduguri city to safeguard the public from Boko Haram attacks. Meanwhile, a suicide bomber was sighted on Thursday by security agents and was promptly neutralised in Bama Local Government Area, but no casualty was recorded. According to him, the retiring Apostle has very strong healing powers which the Vice President attested to having personally experienced when he fell sick earlier this year. In January, Dr. Bawumia took a 12-day medical leave to the United Kingdom after complaining of uneasiness. He described the Apostle as a powerful man of God in what was a glowing tribute to the outgoing Pentecost chair. He prayed for mehe prayed for me that evening and I felt that prayer. He prayed for me and I felt the prayer and he has continued to pray for me since then till date, Dr. Bawumia said while speaking at the 43 General Council Meeting of the Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre held at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region. He added: Time-to-time, he will come to my office at the Flag Staff House and pray for me and I thank him so much. It is just amazing he looks so young and he is retiring. I dont know how that happened. He is so young and he is supposed to retire. But you cannot retire from praying for me. You have to continue. Meanwhile, Apostle Professor Onyinah, is set to be replaced by Apostle Eric Nyamekye as National Chairman, having led the Church of Pentecost for the last 10 years. Sekyiwaa said she received a slap on her face from the 'fiery' NPP fanatic when she tried interviewing about the impending National Delegates Conference. Narrating the incident, Ama said the assault happened after Hajia Fati tried to deny the suspended Second Vice Chairman of the party, Sammy Crabbe to pick up a form to contest for the Chairmanship position. She said, "Hajia Fati came in after Sammy Crabbe had been asked to go and bring money. Actually, he came with a bankers draft from the Ghana commercial bank, and he was asked to go and bring cash because they were taking cash." I got closer to her. I wanted to interview her so I took my phone out. I wanted to take a picture and so as soon as she turned, she looked at my face and asked me why I was taking pictures of her. I didnt utter a word. She slapped me in the face, on my mouth and she almost took the phone from me", she narrated. Hajia Fati has been in the news on several occasions for her threats to journalists who report negatively about the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He said the recruits are expected to improve upon their skills in the three year period to embrace new challenges. In the course of the three year period that they are on the NABCO programme, our expectation is that they will develop their skills, improve their professional competences and at the end of the period, they would have acquired the skills, training and the kind of qualification upgrade that will be required to ease them into permanent jobs, he told Joy FM. The Nation Builders Corps is a flagship programme inaugurated by President Akufo-Addo this week to help curb the massive graduate unemployment in Ghana. However, critics of the policy say it will rather worsen the unemployment situation after it ends in 3 years. But Hamid said: "We hope that in the course of the three years, any of them will find permanent jobs and exit the programme. We are hoping that the one district one factory will also be an avenue in the course of the three year period to absorb these people into permanent jobs." He said the jobs the new initiative will create not permanent jobs therefore it's not what the NPP promised. NABCO is a 419 agenda. Its a scam because the NPP (New Patriotic Party) promised Ghanaians they were going to give them permanent jobs. This one is it permanent job? Is that not scam? Is that not deceit to Ghanaians?", he queried. READ ALSO: Rawlings weeps for NDC "You said in one year, Ghanaians would have good jobs, working in factories, working in companies, one million dollars would hit our constituencies and graduates would get jobs. That is what gave Ghanaians the confidence to vote the NPP in, said the Deputy National Organiser. The NPP have decided that they will take Ghanaians for fools. Go and ask Nana Akufo-Addo how much he is paid [and see] whether he would like to say it. Go and ask him how many allowances he takes [and see] whether he would like to say it. Graduates that you want to employ, youve already put their pay together and mentioned that they are collecting GHC700", he added. Akamba made this comments ahead of NDC's Unity Walk expected to take place in Bolgatanga during the weekend. "President Abu Mazen (Abbas) was nominated and unanimously approved as the president of the State of Palestine," senior Palestinian official Nabil Shaath told AFP. "An executive committee was chosen and an executive council was chosen." The PLO, an umbrella group which is dominated by Abbas's Fatah party and includes most Palestinian factions but not Hamas, represents the Palestinians internationally. The first regular PNC meeting in 22 years was seen as an opportunity for 82-year-old Abbas to try to increase his legitimacy. Although his term as president expired in 2009, infighting with Hamas has made elections impossible. But the event was overshadowed by comments made by Abbas during his opening speech in which he appeared to blame Jewish behaviour for their persecution in Europe. Israel, the European Union, United States and others lined up to criticise his words, which were labelled anti-Semitic. In closing remarks early Friday, Abbas did not respond to the criticism. He also did not directly address the upcoming US move of its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that prompted the Palestinians to boycott the Trump administration. The new executive committee, the most senior body of the PLO and effectively Abbas's cabinet, included nine new names out of 15. A number of potential rivals, including Yasser Abed Rabbo, were removed. The previously 18-member committee was kept to just 15 representatives to leave space for Hamas and two smaller parties that boycotted the event. Some opposed the event being held in the West Bank, where Israel controls movement, and others wanted the meeting to be postponed until a later date. Hamas, which controls Gaza, has dismissed the PNC meeting. It is the reason why more and more tourists flock the continent each year to witness some of the world's most endangered species as well as the astonishing patterns of migration. Business Insider SSA looks at some of the continent's top national parks and game reserves as listed by World Travel Awards. Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya It was voted Africa's leading national park at the recently held World Travel Awards 2017. The Mara has been described as the most prolific wildlife real-estate on earth and is perhaps Africa's greatest safari destination. It is best known for the "Great Migration" where an estimated 2.5 million animals make a round-trip journey of 2,000 kilometers across the Serengeti ecosystem between Tanzania and Kenya Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is mainly occupied by the San Bushmen who have lived there for approximately 30,000 years. It is best known for its limitless desert wilderness and the tough Kalahari lions. Etosha National Park, Namibia Etosha National Park is Namibia's premier wildlife venue and one of Africa's most hypnotic landscapes. Most popular for cheetah spotting and waterhole stakeouts. Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda The sprawling landscapes as well as sprawling savannah and soaring mountains is perhaps why Kidepo Valley National Park is regarded as the most picturesque park in Africa. It was once the playground of the late president Idi Amin and you can still visit the haunting ruins of a lodge that could just as easily have been designed as a massive bunker. Kruger National Park, South Africa Kruger National Park is South Africa's flagship park, famous for the great diversity of habitats that can be found in the 300 kilometers of wilderness that lie between the Limpopo and the Crocodile rivers. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania GTB's Agbaje was nominated alongside Mohamed El Kettani of Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco, James Mwangi of Equity Group Holdings Plc, Kenya and Joshua Oigara of KCB, Kenya. The Awards, hosted by African Banker magazine, will be held during the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) at the end of May in Busan, South Korea. Omar Ben Yedder, the Group Publisher and Managing Director of IC Publications Group and Chair of the Awards Committee, said that he was once again impressed by the quality and breadth of entries this year. We saw McKinsey earlier in the year releasing a very positive report analysing the banking landscape in Africa. The entries reaffirm their findings when they say Africas banking market is amongst the most exciting in the world. The categories that caught my eye were innovation in banking and this years entries reflect the transformative role of fintech and also blockchain technology as well as deal of the year, which is every year a very competitive category. Equity markets were a little slower in 2017, but we saw some interesting deals on the debt side and also transformative infrastructure financing structures. The quality of the entries, and sophistication of the solutions being presented reflect a buoyant sector in continuous evolution. The other shortlisted entries are: African Bank of the Year: Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco Equity Group Holdings, Kenya Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria The Mauritius Commercial Bank, Mauritius Standard Chartered Best Retail Bank in Africa: Barclays, Zambia Ecobank KCB, Kenya Millennium BIM, Mozambique SBM Holdings, Mauritius Investment Bank of the Year: Barclays Africa Group Exotix FBNQuest Merchant Bank, Nigeria Standard Bank Standard Chartered Award for Financial Inclusion: Fourth Generation Capital Limited, Kenya Groupe Credit Agricole du Maroc, Morocco Baobab Group, France Equity Group, Kenya JUMO World, South Africa Award for Innovation in Banking: Agricultural Finance Corporation, Kenya Ubuntu Coin Banque Nationale pour le Developpement Economique, Senegal Ecobank SBM Holdings, Mauritius Socially Responsible Bank of the Year: Barclays Bank, Zambia BMCE Bank of Africa, Morocco Equity Group, Kenya First Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria KCB Group, Kenya Standard Chartered Bank Kenya, Kenya Deal of the Year Equity: ADES IPO - EFG Hermes, Egypt First Rand Acquisition of Aldermore PLC - Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa GAPCO sale to Total - Standard Chartered, South Africa Long4Life IPO - Standard Bank, South Africa Steinhoff Africa Retail Listing - Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa Vodacom Tanzania IPO - National Bank of Commerce and Absa CIB, Tanzania Deal of the Year Debt: $300m Diaspora Bond - Standard Bank/FBNQuest Merchant Bank, Nigeria $540 First Rand Asia Focused syndication - Standard Chartered, UK Cape Town Green Bond RMB, South Africa Dufil Prima Foods - Standard Bank, South Africa Nokeng Fluorspar Fieldstone, South Africa Viathan Renaissance Capital, Nigeria Infrastructure Deal of the Year: Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund Chapel Hill Denham, Nigeria Nacala Railway and Port Corridor Standard Bank SA / RMB, South Africa FIRST Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa AEE Power Project RMB, Namibia African Banker awards 2018 are held under the high patronage of the African Development Bank and, are sponsored by The African Guarantee Fund, Banco Nacional de Investimento (BNI), Groupe Credit Agricole du Maroc and the Bank of Industry. The finalists, selected by an expert judging panel of bankers and business leaders will be announced at the African Banker Awards ceremony which will take place on Wednesday, May 22, 2018. Izam made this known on Friday, May 4, 2018, when a company, Brooks Consolidated Investment Limited (BCIL), some books worth N2.5 million to encourage teaching and learning. Daily Trust reports. The VC said that the university is looking forward to acquiring 10,000 books as the National Universities Commission would check if students and staff of the institution have access to quality instructional materials, especially books in the library. ALSO READ: Nigerian secondary school students win US science competition We are in the process of acquiring the 10,000 books and we have already received 6,000 of them. Part of what the NUC will be looking for during the accreditation is the extent to which our collections will satisfy the requirement for quality, in terms of what we teach. NUC will check whether our students and staff have access to quality instructional materials particularly books in the library that will be able to reinforce learning and teaching. For this company to have come in the month of our accreditation is something Plateau State University is very happy about, PLASU VC thanks BCIL company The VC, however, thanked BCIL for donating books that cover relevant disciplines. Izam added that the university was looking forward to more of such partnership with individuals and organisations, in order to promote excellence. Meanwhile, the Managing Director, BCIL, Mr Sunday Jesmiel, while presenting the books to the vice-chancellor, said that the gesture was part of the companys efforts to uplift the standard of education. The beautiful actress made this known via her Instagram page on Friday, May 4, 2018, were posted a photo of the things she would be giving out. She however wishes the lucky winner of the plot of land would be a church. "KING TONTO (I would really love to give the landed property to a bible believing church) #JUNE 9th #Small girl with a big GodKING TONTO (I would really love to give the landed property to a bible believing church) #JUNE 9th #Small girl with a big God," she captioned the photo. Tonto Dikeh gives out iPhone6 to mark 3 years of being born again When it comes to giving, nothing surprises us anymore as Tonto Dikeh has given out an iPhone6 to a lucky follower to mark her third year of being born again. The beautiful actress took to her Instagram page on Monday, April 9, 2018, where she posted the photo of the phone she was giving out and captioned it with a quote. "Feeling Xtra generous...As my Spirit leads I will choose a very loyal fan To win this new iPhone 6(Abeg make una manage economy d shake)...Write an Essay about me using a beautiful picture of me, Post it and tag me using the hashtag #KINGTONTO #MAMAKING #RADICAL4JESUS ..May the best win,'' she wrote. ALSO READ: Kiss Daniels gives back to the poor on Easter day Tonto Dikeh feeds disabled persons in Abuja Back in December 2017, the actress in conjunction with her NGO, Tonto Dikeh Foundation, paid a visit to the Persons living with disability in the Karanmajiji Disable Colony in Abuja to celebrate the United Nations International World Disability Day. The actor spoke about this to The Cable Lifestyle during the premiere of his latest film, "Crazy People." According to the actor, while the industry has grown, the stories being told are no longer as deep as they used to be. He also stated that some people are currently acting, not for the passion, but for the fame. Read excerpts below. On acting for passion or fame Back then I realise there was so much passion. Everyone was acting not for the money but for the love of it. But today I see so many people just wanting to jump in for fame. The social media platforms provide everybody that opportunity to want to be famous. So everyone is just looking for more of the fame than the art. When we started, when we did understudy, cinematography, filmmaking, acting, for us it was all about the passion. Like can you draw? Can you put a picture together? And if you can, you will realise that you werent doing it for money. Youd just have this joy from doing it. On the current state of the industry Technically weve gotten better. However, our stories are not as deep as they used to be. Because if you notice, everyone was acting out of serious passion but now everyone just wants to be like uptown boy, uptown girl. And thats just the sad part. The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), is the government agency empowered by law to oversee the affairs of COSON and other agencies under the parastatal. The commission has now suspended the operating license of COSON, stopping it from collecting royalties on-behalf of and for musicians and other performing artists in Nigeria. This comes after a petition written by artist, 2face Idibia to the commission to wade into the crisis at COSON that's lingered on for months between its chairman Tony Okoroji and Efe Omorogbe. Background Story It will be recalled that the chairmanship of COSON has stayed unresolved since last year as founding chairman Tony Okoroji and talent manger Efe Omorogbe have both laid claim to the position. In 2009, an agreement that had previously been proposed as far back as 2000 to collapse all existing collective right structures into one finally gave birth to the formation of The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). COSON was officially birthed on May 20, 2010 and in nearly eight years has been riddled with more controversies than achievements. After seven years as chairman of the body, Thursday, December 7 2017 supposedly witnessed a new dawn as the COSON announced a change in its leadership with the appointment of talent manager and Now Muzik boss, Efe Omorogbe as its new chairman. ALSO READ:Coson to go after tax defaulters The announcement was made by the likes of veteran artist and COSON director Dare Baba Dee Fasasi alongside Obi Asika, who is also a founding COSON director. Speaking after the election, Baba Dee stated that "The change is occasioned by the need to reposition COSON and lead it to its new era''. But in a swift turn of events on Tuesday, December 19 2017, the COSON general assembly under the chairmanship of Sir Victor Uwaifo condemned the election that led to the emergence of Efe Omorogbe and reinstalled Tony Okoroji and reconstituted his board which includes the likes of Azeezat Allen, Ras Kimono, Sir Shina Peters and Kenny Saint Best to continue running the affairs of the house till the next Annual General Meeting of the society in May 2018. I attended an emergency board meeting that called for a specific matter. Suddenly, I was told to step down, with no prior notice, no charges, no hearing, nothing. I understood immediately that a conspiracy had been hatched.'' ''It was a coup. I saw some of the people I used to eat and drink with, with bloodshot eyes, desperately trying to find something to hang on my neck! I knew instantly that the coup was sponsored by elements outside of COSON.'' Tony Okoroji said in an interview shortly after the announcement. This dragged on for a while as both parties laid claim to the position. Matters got to its height when Efe Omorogbe was recently arrested and detained by the Nigerian police, allegedly following orders from Tony Okoroji. ALSO READ:Efe Omorogbe speaks on arrest and controversy The employees Peter Ogunwehinmi, 24; Sherifat Yusuf, 23; Adebisi Amao, 23; and Dorcas Adeleke are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. Police Prosecutor Olalekan Adegbite told the court that the four accused allegedly conspired to steal some goods from the supermarket on May 1. The items stolen include a bottle of Chelsea dry gin valued at N1, 500, red wine valued at N1, 500, creams worth N4, 800 and baby milk valued at N8, 000. According to the prosecutor, the offences were committed at No. 23, Oyo Road in Ajibade Area of Mokola, Ibadan. The accused stole the products and sold them to customers without remitting the money to the company. They converted the money to personal use, Adegbite said. He said the case was reported at Sango Police Station, Ibadan, on May 2 by the complainant, Mr Samuel Adebisi, on behalf of the supermarket. The offences contravened Sections 390 (6) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. Japhet, who is 23 years old, reportedly stole the cereal from a woman on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Residents of the community where the incident occurred suspect African juju as a reason for the bizarre event, explains Pulse Kenya. On Twitter, a user named Dominic Chimhavi, confirmed that the Japhet returned to the woman in order to have the bag detached from his head. "The thief going to the farmer to have the bag removed from his head," Chimhavi wrote. This was after he had surrendered himself to the police who escorted him to the residence of the maize owner. Man who grew large breasts after sex with neighbour's wife recounts horrible life after The promiscuous lifestyle of a man, James Mutua, has brought to him severe consequences like large breasts following sex with neighbour's wife. As a result of the abnormal growth, more afflictions such as a lack of job became one of the challenges he dealt with. ALSO READ: Son kills mum who kept disappearance charm for herself Mutua, who is 39 years old, started experiencing the condition in the year 2015. He confirmed this to The Nairobian in a report. I have been living like this from 2015, and it all started after I slept with my neighbors wife back in the village where I was working, I felt a sensation around the chest and before long the breasts started developing and became big, forcing me to wear a bra and baggy jackets, revealed James Mutua who had failed to heed a warning issued by the neighbour. However, the striking thing about his outfit was his t-shirt which features the image of late Nigerian dictator Gen. Sani Abacha. The brazen display of dictatorship was followed with the caption T-Shirt week. Im wearing the Abacha T-shirt by @itsjustmode has a picture of a former Military head of state whom after his death became the countrys saving account in diaspora. There is a fine line between making a fashion statement and a fashion faux pas, then there's lending a dictator's image to pop culture iconography. Noble Igwe has done the latter. For context, the consensus is that General Sani Abacha was Nigeria's most brutal military dictator. Widespread allegations of corruption, assassinations and human rights were hallmarks of his regime. During his stay in power, journalists were locked up, political opponents were killed and statesmen were jailed. History will also not let us forget that Abacha ordered the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and his Ogoni comrades. A dark time in our history After half a decade of stifling dictatorship and a bevy of human rights abuses, General Abacha died on June 8, 1998. Ask anyone above a certain age to recount the events of that day and you are more likely than not to hear sigh of relief. As if to make a statement that Nigeria could never afford to experience such rule, his death led to the return of democracy nearly a year later. As part of his caption, Noble Igwe refers to the former head of state as one who "after his death became the country's saving account in diaspora". To narrow down Abachas regime to his stashed loot in Switzerland is not fair to the millions who lost their lives, livelihoods and access to basic necessities under his regime and years after. Rocking an Abacha T-shirt is ignorant, to put it mildly. While it may look harmless on the surface, wearing the image of Abacha threatens to trivialise the gory details of his time in power and the lack of freedom for which he is remembered by most Nigerians. In recent years, we've been lucky to see just how important pop culture can be and how it can determine influenece our perception of individuals, places and just about anything. Associating certain fashion trends and styles with an individual can change the way future generations percieve them and consequently, whitewash their image. Putting Abacha on a T-Shirt is tantamount to glorifying him and putting him on the kind of pedestal that only fashion can afford. It's really just another step on a very slippery slope. One minute, Nigeria' educational system is taking history out of schools , the next minute, young people are falling over themselves to cop the new Abacha shirt. It's a short distance between that and elevating a dictator to being a pop culture icon. Attempts at creativity do not excuse such insensitivity. Are we turning dictators into Pop Culture icons? As someone who has built a reputation as a fashion icon, and who lived through the Abacha years, one would expect that Noble Igwe would understand the implications of wearing a dictator's face in a nation where many still reel from the effect of his misrule. Imagine wearing this shirt in Ogoniland, where tears still fall at the mention of any reference to the Ogoni Nine. Imagine wearing this shirt with pride in front of the sons and daughters of M.K.O Abiola whose stolen mandate and subsequent death in detention still hurts the millions who believed they had put the right man in power. Just this week, Nigeria's President Buhari entered an agreement with the government of the United States for the return of millions of dollars in loot which Abacha had stashed in foreign countries. That is his legacy, not fresh boy fashion, not urban wear or a good look. Abacha's legacy is a stolen commonwealth, dictatorship and a mess that has taken us decades to clean up. It should be said that expression in all forms should be encouraged, but a better way to represent Abacha in fashion would be to add some context to his persona and make some reference to his legacy and what he is remembered for millions around the world. Even at that, it is still a sensitive topic and one wouldn't blame any designer who would rather stay away from the subject than be inspired by it. As obvious as this is, it would only be fair to consider opposing arguments. The case could be made that nearly everyone has worn a shirt that glorifies one revolutionary or criminal at some point or the other. Shirts that carry the image of Che Guevara and Pable Escobar, for instance, are popular items that the average person wears with a sense of risque and eclecticness. What makes it different is that they are not Nigerians; Escobar and Guevara left bloodied bodies in their wake but none of us felt the direct or indirect impact of their actions in the way that Abacha's misrule trickled down to Nigerians. For the severity of his faux pas, Noble Igwe has not done something new in any sense. As 2017 wound down, Derin Fabikun, a Nigerian fashionista was recently at the centre of the ethical crossroad. She recently shared a photo of herself rocking a white T-shirt with General Sani Abacha's face on it. Other urban wear brands such as Garbe Life and Wafflesncream have produced and marketed various shirts with Abacha's image on them. It speaks volumes that there is a larger problem to address, one that centres around how much knowledge we have of the past and to what lengths we will go to make weak attempts at eclectic fashion without understanding the context or implications of such choices. If you haven't got your hands on something Fenty Beauty then what exactly are you waiting for?! Rihanna, who is arguably one of the most beautiful woman in the world and now beauty industry mogul beats her already-stunning face with a variety of products from Fenty Beauty. The affordable and multi-functional products are front and centre as Rihanna shows us all the way we can use her products to create a natural, quick and long-lasting look. Check it out below! Rihanna's Epic 10-Minute Guide to Going Out Makeup | Vogue Read the full Vogue write-up below: Rihanna has always been beautys resident disrupter. But with the groundbreaking success of her Fenty makeup line, Vogue's June cover girl is shattering boundaries like never beforeand having more fun than anyone else while doing it. With a career thats expanding well beyond her Grammy-winning, critically acclaimed musicthink inclusive Internet-breaking beauty launches, a forthcoming body-positive Savage x Fenty lingerie line, and a role in Oceans 8 next monththe pop icon is finally pulling back the curtains on her Bad Gal glow. I want to give you guys a vibe, she says in her lilting Barbadian accent, clad in a Savage x Fenty pink silk robe and lace-trim bra while on vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico. And my vibe for summer is more is more. For Rihanna, unfiltered is a way of lifeand that carries over to her deft use of unexpected pigments or holographic highlighters. I learned how to contour when I gained weight, believe it or not, she proclaims as she buffs Fenty's Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation over her entire face and sculpts her cheeks, nose, and jawline with one of the Match Stix Matte Skinsticks in Mocha. Thats when it comes in reeeeal handy, believe it or not. Them fat days [when] cheeks looking like baby cheeks. She continues to dot on camouflage where necessary, warming up a fleshy shade on the back of her red-taloned hand before tapping it under the eyes. Everybody knows concealer is made for hiding bags, and dark circles, and hangovers, and bad decisions, she purrs. After a veil of matte setting powder (When you get greasy on the fly, honey, it is no joke!), she brushes bronzer across her face for a hint of warmth, then concentrates the earthy pigment along the eye sockets to enhance her gaze. I have been watching women do makeup since my mom and [then] I started working in an industry where [it] was going to be a part of my every day basically, so I picked up a lot of tips, she explains, adding that even when shes getting her makeup done, there are certain facial features shell always do herself. Im super, super caught up about my brows and my nose contour. On to bringing the full-blown eye drama, she swirls a deep pink shadow that covers all basesSummer, sunset, love, drama, bitches! she says with an infectious laughinto the lids. But things dont stop there. After quick dashes of gold glitter liner on the inner corners of the eyes for a little zest! she coats her lips in a luminous gloss. But no self-respecting Bad Gal stops at the neck. Growing up in the Caribbean, Id make body glitter makeup with oil, eyeshadows that I crushed up, and pigments, she says, pulling out the Fenty equivalenther Body Lava Luminizer, which she spreads, sensually, all over her decollete and shoulders using a kabuki brush, to light up her glossy limbs. Now that shes ready, one question remains: Where is she off to tonight? We going to the clurrrrrb! she says in full vacation mode. And with a twirl, a hair flip, and a kiss goodbye for good measure, the icon is outlooking savage. Ask anybody who Cee-C is and they would be able to tell you. The angry young lady who entered the Big Brother house in February fast-became a household name with her outbursts and multiple bust-ups in the house. Since leaving the house however, Cee-C has seemingly understood the error of her ways and has even agreed to partaking in anger management classes to curb her explosive attitude. More noticeable however is how Cee-C has blossomed into quite the beauty on her media tour post-BB Naija. Thanks to a group of stylist, MUA's and hairdressers, Cee-C's true beauty has been revealed and over the last couple of weeks we have seen a completely different side of her. Having worked with some of the most talented make-up artists in Nigeria including Bibyonce and Porzellan beauty, Cee-C's makeup has gone from brash to a subtle, illuminating glam which brings out her natural beauty. Her unruly mane was replaced with a sleek poker straight weave which is reminiscent of Kim K. The New and Improved Cee-C As you can see, Cee-C's style has become more refined as she rubs shoulders with celebrities and politicians on her post BB Naija media tour. The African continent, you would be surprised, has so much to offer. Each country has unmatched tourist experiences unlike anywhere else on the planet. Heres a list of 7 crazy things to do in Africa before you turn 30. 1. Take A Dip In Victoria Falls Take a swim in the Victoria Falls Devils pool. This has to be on top of your list before hitting the big 30. The natural pool is close to the edge but protected by a protruding rock which ensures visitors dont topple over the edge. Its one of the most amazing experiences youll ever have. 2. Go Sandboarding On Some Of The Worlds Tallest Dunes In Namibia Namibia has some of the tallest sand dunes on earth, and sandboarding is possibly the most fun you can have in a desert. First timers can also enjoy a thrilling experience and it is quite similar to snowboarding. 3. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Take a gruelling expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, one of the worlds greatest peaks. The trek to the summit is not for the faint of heart but anyone with a good level of fitness and a solid sense of adventure can go, with a guide of course. 4. Experience The Maasai Culture In Kenya ALSO READ: 5 happiest countries in the world to travel to The Maasai people are courageous warriors and nomadic cattle herders. Visitors to Kenya can go on a walking safari with a Maasai guide or book a cultural excursion where youll visit Maasai villages and homes. 5. Go Hot Air Ballooning In Serengeti This is unlike any other African experience. Have a thrilling ride on a hot air balloon over the vast plains of the Serengeti. Youre guaranteed to have the trip of a lifetime. After landing, guests are treated to a champagne breakfast to celebrate the morning. 6. Travel By Train In Madagascar The Manakara Express is a French-colonial railway from Manakara on the Madagascan coast to Fianarantsoa. This old rail line travels slowly and it can take 12 hours (or more) to complete but the experience is worth it. Its an unforgettable experience nonetheless and one of the best ways to see the beautiful vistas Madagascar has to offer. 7. Ride A Camel In Morocco Camels are a popular mode of transport for locals and tourists can hitch a ride across the desert on the back of a dromedary (Camel). To be God-fearing is an established, transgenerationally-relevant prerequisite to dating and marriage for young Nigerians. Over and over again it is said, emphasized and repeated by young people, especially ladies who are still waiting to meet the love of their lives, that a God-fearing partner is usually the best. Someone who fears God, the popular opinion goes, will not do any or more of the unsavoury relationship/marriage tragedies that young Nigerians have come to fear so much. Think domestic violence, unfaithfulness, side chicks, wanton disregard for marital responsibilities, etc. In love or just filled with sexual energy that needs expellation? [Credit: Portra/Getty] Portra/Getty Practice and experience has shown, however, that God-fearing isnt really what people want. As a matter of fact, the continuous demand for a God-fearing partner seems to border on hypocrisy. Ignorance, at best. It appears that what most people want is something else; some other idea that describes a partner that has a form of godliness but falls very short of the wholesome concept itself. Heres how. iStock It is not unusual to see someone who desires a God-fearing partner to not care how that person treats others, insofar as they are good to them and them only. Its also not uncommon to hear people express a desire for premarital sex with the same breath with which they express the need for a God-fearing partner. These are just few examples of how people contradict themselves in the ceaseless quest for God-fearing. Now this is not an article of condemnation. Surely this writer cant be castigating peoples lifestyle and/or relationship with the great guy up above the world so high. In essence, the idea here is to point out the disparity between what people often mean when they say they want God-fearing and what the concept of God-fearing truly means. Being that we all [Nigerians] belong to a deeply religious society majorly split in lines of Christianity, Islam and traditional religious beliefs, the correct idea of God-fearing cant possibly sound alien to anyone. Pulse Live Kenya Doctrines, teachings, morals and values enshrined in the holy books all often point in the same direction the standard of God [whichever version you believe in] stands sure. Unbendable. You either get it right, or not. God-fearing therefore is the one who follows it all proper treatment of others, sexual purity, love for humanity and God, the whole nine yards. But as the eighth paragraph above shows, not too many people who claim to seek God-fearing really care about this tall order. As a matter of fact, some people who claim to desire God-fearing partners always insist on dating only people who actively break the code of God especially on sexual matters. Babe: I want a tall, dark, pink-lipped, God fearing partner. Same babe: Ah, me I cannot marry someone that does not believe in premarital sex o. I have to test the goods before I buy them, please. As has been written above, it is either these people intentionally practice this hypocrisy or are just ignorant of the concept. Maybe don't just know what they want. Pulse Live Kenya In my opinion, people just want to be treated right; to have an assurance that they are not wasting their time and effort on their partner and their relationship, and that they are not going to be cheated on. ALSO READ: 5 ways to tell if you are addicted to your partner These people, often times with good intentions, just want to be treated in the best way they know, and regardless of how pseudo-Godly that way is, they just lump it under the umbrella of God-fearing. If everyone thinks really deep about it, well all see that way too many people who desire God-fearing do not even want that. All they really want is someone who respects their personal definition of the concept. After meeting with US president, Donald Trump, as well as with business executives on his visit to America, President Buhari had departed from Joint Base Andrews Airport and officially headed for Abuja on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. However, after it was discovered that the president's official Eagle One aircraft had landed in London on Tuesday without any official reason given to the public for two days, the presidency was forced to explain that the president was on a "technical stopover". The president's Senior Special Assistant 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. He later clarified, "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. "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, that's about 12 hours and the maximum the plane can fly is 12 hours, 40 minutes. But you don't 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." Buhari's medical trips Despite Shehu's claims about the "technical stopover", 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 a report by Reuters, the Canadian government has noticed a growing trend of asylum seekers illegally walking across the United States of America's border to file refugee claims in Canada. Many of the Nigerian asylum seekers are noted to have arrived bearing valid U.S. visas after having spent very little time in the United States. A Canadian immigration official told Reuters, "It is apparent that they obtained those visas with the express intent to actually go to Canada." To arrest the situation, Canadian officials are leaning on U.S. visa officials in Nigeria with the hope of limiting the number of visas issued to Nigerians to move to America before making refugee claims in Canada. "We've been sharing that information with the United States with the view of preventing the abuse of U.S. visas," the official added. A spokeswoman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told Reuters on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, that two Canadian officials were sent to Lagos to work directly with their counterparts in the U.S. visa office. She noted that the officials are "meeting regularly to exchange information on migration movements" hoping to lower the number of migrants who make asylum claims in Canada using a U.S. visa. Since June 2017, Canadian authorities have reportedly intercepted more than 7,600 Nigerian asylum seekers with 81% of them having valid U.S. non-immigrant visas in their possession. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has disclosed that it is reviewing Canada's proposal, saying, "consular officers in the field often coordinate with our close partners from other countries to discuss matters of shared concern." Canada's immigration dilemma According to estimates from Canada's federal immigration and refugee department, more than 26,000 people illegally crossed the Canada-U.S. border in the past 15 months to file refugee claims. In April 2018 alone, about 2,500 asylum seekers crossed into the country to file refugee claims, the highest in eight months. According to the group, the decision is in remembrance of its members who lost their lives during the Biafra struggle, Fulani herdsmen killings, Boko Haram violence and alleged Army invasion. IPOBs media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful said There will be no human, vehicular or animal movement across Biafraland on 30th May, 2018. Biafraland will be in total lock down. The people of Middle Belt and Yorubaland are advised to join this historic sit- at- home to honour the memory of all that died unjustly in Nigeria. Churches, mosques, synagogues and temples are encouraged to open their places of worship on the midnight of the 29th of May for special midnight prayers in remembrance of all that died as a result of violence. Special vigil will also be held at the homes of select Biafran heroes. We owe our heroes of the class of 67-70 an incalculable debt of gratitude and shall honor them annually until the end of time. We shall never forget them! In our usual tradition, all IPOB families in the Diaspora must organize rallies on the streets of their respective countries with written petitions ready to be submitted to the nearest United Nations offices and embassies of foreign missions in that country. ALSO READ:7 reasons why IPOB is a terrorist group As our freedom draws near this year, the 30th of May sit-at-home and total lock down of Biafraland will be remarkable. The whole world is looking up to IPOB, which through the grace of the God, will deliver Biafra and all other oppressed peoples of Northern and Western Nigeria from bondage into freedom, he added. IPOB recently commended the United States President, Donald Trump speaking to President Buhari about the Fulani herdsmen killings. The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah gave the interim order in his ruling on two motions filed by the prosecution and the defendant challenging the ruling on Friday in Lokoja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two separate motions urged the court to vary the May 3, Lokoja Senior Magistrate Courts ruling , which ordered the remand of the embattled senator in police custody. The prosecution, led by Theophilus Oteme Esq, the officer in charge of legal unit, Kogi police command, in its motion sought that the lower court ruling be varied and the defendant be remanded in prison custody as originally sought. The other motion filed by defence, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), applied for the granting of bail to the Senator and as well urged the court to order that he (Melaye) be remanded at the National Hospital, Abuja in view his health challenges. Arguing the motion Ozekhome prayed the court, to in the interest of justice, abridge the time both motions would be taken because of the critical health condition of the defendant applicant. He was taken to the lower court yesterday on a stretcher and as we speak, he is still on the stretcher, he said. Ozekhome said that the life of the applicant was in danger since the police in the state had no medical facility to take care of him while in their custody. The Chief Judge, in his ruling on the applications, said that while both parties were on the same page in their call for variation their destinations on the issue of bail were different. Ajanah said he was inclined to grant the prayers of the two parties in which they sought variation of the court order on the custody of the senator. He, however, conceded that it was only a fit person that could stand trial, saying, infact, that is why it is called, Standing Trial. In the circumstance therefore, I hereby vary the order of the remand of the third defendant as made by the lead counsel. I hereby order that the third defendant be kept at the National Hospital, Abuja under the custody and close watch and supervision of the complainant, the Inspector General of Police. The application for the bail in this case will be heard on Monday, the 7th of May, 2018, Ajanah declared. NAN recalls that Melaye was on Thursday remanded into police custody until June 11, by Mr Sulyman Abdullah of the Lokoja Senior Magistrate Court. The senator was arraigned along with Kabiru Seidu, aka Osama, and Nuhu Salihu, aka Small. The Chairman, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, has lauded media practitioners for promoting unity and socio-economic development of the country. Oladipo gave the commendation in a goodwill message concerning the 2018 World Press Freedom Day and a copy made available to newsmen in Omu-Aran on Friday.The council boss said that the role of the print, electronic and social media in educating and informing the larger public on governments developmental activities could not be over-emphasised.Oladipo, who described Nigerian media practitioners as versatile, dedicated and resourceful, said their roles remained critical toward ensuring the desired development at the grassroots.He said that media practitioners deserved recognition for their contributions to the nations growth, progress and development.According to him, in recognition of these laudable contributions, media practitioners should accordingly be insured, properly remunerated and their welfare improved to boost their morale.In spite of the hazard associated with their job, they have continued to brush aside many untold consequences in contributing their quota to the development of their father land, he said. The Senior Magistrate Court 2 in Lokoja ruled on Thursday that the Kogi West representative should be remanded in custody 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. According to his spokesperson, Gideon Ayodele, the lawmaker's legal team will do everything possible to get the court's ruling overturned so Melaye can get the best possible care. He told Concise News, "It is important that we approach the Federal High Court tomorrow morning." 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. The lawmaker was moved to the Police Medical Center after the Senior Magistrate Court 2 in Lokoja ruled on Thursday, May 4, that the Kogi West representative should be remanded in custody 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. However, in a petition filed before a Kogi State High Court, Melaye's legal team argued that the medical facility cannot meet the lawmaker's needs to recuperate from a spinal cord injury sustained when he previously escaped from police custody. His counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court that the lawmaker is a chronic asthmatic patient who had to be administered his special inhaler while he was being arraigned on Thursday in full glare of the court. Presiding judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, ruled that Melaye's critical health conditions cannot be adequately treated at the Police Medical Center and ordered that he should be moved to Abuja for proper medical attention. The lawmaker remains under police custody while the transfer happens. Justice Ajanah, who is Kogi's Chief Justice, also adjourned the hearing till Monday, May 7, to rule on an application filed by Melaye's legal counsel to grant him bail which was denied by the Magistrates' Court on Thursday. 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. Community sources in Kalaba and Ayambele in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa said that the victim was dropped off by his abductors on Friday near Igbogene area of Yenagoa. It was gathered that the abducted worker was part of a technical crew deployed to clamp a ruptured pipeline that caused an oil spill that affected Kalaba and neighbouring Ayambele settlements in Yenagao council area. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the JIV report had indicated that the pipeline was ruptured in five spots and concluded that the pipeline was breached by vandals. Mr Neville Aristotle Inogula, a resident who confirmed the release of the oil worker, alleged that the act was carried out by some identified persons from rival communities to paint the area black Inogula said that the entire people of Kalaba condemned the incident and vowed to comb the forests to free the abducted oil worker as kidnapping was alien to the people. We were disturbed and all resolved to clear the name of our community; we said no to kidnapping, it was a ploy by some other communities who are our rivals to make us look bad. The pressure mounted by fellow community youths (Akumoni community) and security agencies led to the release of the abducted Agip staff before day break; in the early hours of Friday, he said. Mr Godwin Nwachukwu, Bayelsa Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), told our Correspondent on telephone on Friday that the incident was being investigated. Nine police officers and dozens of others lost their lives when a group of at least 30 armed robbers attacked Union Bank, Eco Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank,as well as the Owode Police Station on April 5, 2018. In a statement released by Force Public Relations Officer, ACPJimoh Moshood, on Friday, May 4, 2018, he disclosed that a total of 20 suspects have been arrested in connection to the robbery incident. He said, "All the suspects are cooperating with the Police in the investigation into the incident. Currently, some of the other gang leaders and principal suspects at large are being identified and their pictures obtained for further investigation. "Other sister security and safety agencies are equally implored to arrest them and hand over to the nearest Police Station or Formation across the country or avail the Police with any information they may have or come across about these suspects." ACP Moshood further disclosed that four other suspects who were seen at the scene of the attack have been declared wanted by the police. He said the suspects have been placed on the watch list of the International Police and listed hotlines on which members of the public can contact with any information that could lead to their arrests. The lines are 08062080913, 08126285268, 08032365122, 07056792065, and 08088450152. The state government has promised a bounty of N5 million for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects who are on the run. ACP Moshood said, "Protection of the informant will be guaranteed by the police and handsome rewards in addition to the pledge of Five Million (N5,000,000) by the Kwara State Government await anyone whose information leads to the arrest of these wanted suspects." He also revealed that from the arrests already made by the police, Beretta Pistols, bullets, phones and SIM cards of some of the victims were recovered. Unverified CCTv footage of robbery attack Even though this is the first time the police is officially releasing any media material about the robbery, a video footage emerged online a week after the incident depicting how some of the attack took place. In the video posted on Facebook by News Bytes, the attack on a security post of one of the banks started around 4:41 pm when two robbers appeared at the entrance and shot at two security personnel who appeared to escape unhurt as they ran further into the bank's premises. Watch video below: While delivering a speech titled, "The role of media in the Nigerian electoral process" at the 69th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, the INEC boss said debates provide a necessary platform for candidates to articulate their positions. He said, "Such debates are necessary for deepening democracy by promoting civil discourse and providing a platform for candidates to articulate their positions on public policy issues. They also allow the public to judge aspiring candidates for political office under pressure and evaluate their arguments in competition with other candidates. "Debates also serve an important role of demonstrating to the aspiring candidates that democracy is about standing before the public and answering their questions." While reacting to the remarks by the INEC boss on Thursday, May 3, Atiku said debates will enrich Nigeria's democracy and governance. Taking to his official Twitter account (@atiku), he posted, "Kudos to @inecnigeria for recognising debates are a vital part of the democratic process. Our democracy and governance will be better enriched when voters have the opportunity to make the needed distinction in the offerings of those who apply to govern them." One minute, they are photographed sharing a laugh, the next, a bitter letter has gone out from one of the parties. One minute, Obasanjo is in Buharis office for a continental assignment, the next minute hes calling Buhari a failure. Not even Tom and Jerry had us this confounded. Actually, Obasanjo and Buhari used to be cool. Both men played huge roles in weaving Nigerias sorry history after independence. Buhari was military president in the 80s; just a few months after Obasanjo handed over the reins of power to an irredeemably flawed Shehu Shagari. As young army officers back in the day, they rolled in similar circles, dined in the same restaurants and probably eyed the same women. When Obasanjo returned as civilian president in 1999, one of his first tasks was to disband the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which Buhari had overseen from 1994 to 1999. Was this where trouble started for both men? Was this the point where it went downhill? No one is quite certain. Interestingly, Buhari sought Obasanjos blessings in the run up to the 2015 election after Obasanjo had fallen out with the Goodluck Jonathan he helped enthrone. Obasanjo was a regular guest at Aso Rock in the early days of the Buhari administration and everyone thought they were really chummy until the morning of January 23, 2018 when Obasanjo wrote this very long letter to Buhari, proclaiming the president a failure and a man who is so blinded by ethnic loyalties, Nigerias problems have grown worse on his watch. And then Baba Iyabo asked Buhari not to seek reelection in 2019 because he has nothing more to offer. Whatever may be the state of President Buharis health today, he should neither over-push his luck nor over-tax the patience and tolerance of Nigerians for him, no matter what his self-serving, so-called advisers, who would claim that they love him more than God loves him and that without him, there would be no Nigeria, say. President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country, Obasanjo wrote. After that public letter to Buhari which immediately went viral, both men met in Ethiopia, shared a laugh and posed for photographs in each other's arms and everyone thought they had buried the hatchet for good and were cool again. Not so fast. Obasanjo has pounced on every opportunity to have a go at Buhari since his January letter, you have a feeling he just can't wait for Buhari to make a mistake (and mistakes are a daily staple for the Buhari administration these days). The former president doesnt go a week without hurling stones at Buhari, you have to admit he considers it a pastime. After Buhari referred to Obasanjos January letter as abusive and insulting, Obasanjo came for him again, restating his position that the president is so clueless, US President Donald Trump now orders him around. The mediocre performance of Buhari cannot be described by anybody as superlative even by morons", Obasanjo said in a statement released by his spokesperson. Obasanjo wasnt impressed with Buharis performance in the U.S either: 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! Obasanjo fired, before adding that Buhari is painfully "incompetent". At this point, you have to agree that there's no way back for the friendship Obasanjo and Buhari once shared. They can't even fool us anymore. They don't love themselves. They are done with each other. Their friendship hasn't just hit the rocks, it has smashed the valley. As the 2019 election draws ever so close, expect Obasanjo to keep having a go at Buhari at every opportunity. And should Buhari nail re-election, Obasanjo will have an apoplexy and go after Buhari with renewed vengeance like his life depends on it. The struggle for access and control of lands over which roaming herdsmen graze their cattle has led to conflict with local farmers all over the country, resulting in the death of hundreds just this year alone with herders credited with a majority of unprovoked attacks. While speaking during a town hall meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa on Thursday, May 3, 2018, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria said it is time for the government to stop peddling excuses for why it cannot put an end to widespread attacks across the country. As a measure to stem the wave of insecurity, Moghalu said he'll employ the best in the security community and carry out sweeping plans to end the spate of killings. He said, "Under my presidency, I will end herdsmen attacks because my number one loyalty is for the masses. Herdsmen are running over the country as if we dont have security. "We need a leader that will protect the lives and property of the people. Boko Haram cannot kidnap girls and bring them back still you said you are a president. It is time for a new and radical leadership in Nigeria. "Every part of Nigeria will be represented in my security team base on the virtue of capability of such individual found in such a place. We will go to all parts of the country to find the best hands that will not be restricted to my tribe people." Moghalu urges Nigerians to take back the country In a recent speech he delivered on The Platform in Lagos, Moghalu said Nigerians have gotten too used to being cynical about the state of the country that politicians have manipulated it to misrule the country. He said, "Our choice as a people is stark today as it ever has been: we have a choice between dinosaurs and deliverance. If we continue to be led by these dinosaurs and the people they endorse, the sunlight of our hopes for Nigeria will continue to be blotted out by dark clouds of incompetence, corruption, economic illiteracy and primitive tribalism. "It is time for all of you who are tired, like I am tired. It is time to make things happen. Time to pump fresh ideas into solving our problems. It is time to drive the point home that Nigeria is nothing without the people - and the people need to come first from now on. "It is time to shake the table of Nigeria's current political class. It is time for us to get off the side lines and come together as one to change the course of this nation. There is no need staying in different camps if we can come together to shake up this system." Since April 21, hundreds of opposition supporters have occupied the May 13 Square in the heart of the capital Antananarivo, demanding the resignation of the president ahead of general elections seven months away. The opposition argued that the electoral laws were loaded in Rajaonarimampianina's favour and accused the government of trying to elbow them out of the race. The court ruling came a day after Madagascar's security establishment appealed to the warring political parties to reach an agreement. "It's enough bloodshed, loss of human life, do not make selfishness and greed reasons to sacrifice our compatriots," said the defence minister, General Beni Xavier Rasolofonirina, reading from a statement signed by military and police chiefs. At least two people were killed and 16 people wounded on the first day of demonstrations, with the police accused of firing live ammunition into the crowd. Protesters said five people were killed. The court annulled articles that shortened the second round of campaigning from two weeks to a week and provided an option to use single ballots for each candidate, rather than lists. Critics had argued that single ballots were more vulnerable to fraud than grouped lists of candidates, quite apart from the cost of preparing separate papers for the poll. A volatile history New conditions to stand for election as head of state were also annulled, after the opposition protested that they could bias the selection of potential front-runners. "It remains difficult to give my considered opinion before a detailed study of the ruling of the High Constitutional Court, but from what I've heard (the court) has all the same put matters to rights," opposition MP Brunelle Razafitsiandraofa told AFP. "We're heading towards the elections now," said the president of the RVM presidential party, Rivo Rakotovao. "No further examination of clauses is required, there are just reservations." Elected in 2013, Rajaonarimampianina has not yet announced whether he will stand for re-election in a country that has been politically volatile since the last years in office of former Marxist military ruler Didier Ratsiraka, voted out in 2001. Two ex-heads of state and onetime mayors of the capital have already said they will stand: Marc Ravalomanana, who was president from 2002 to 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, who removed Ravalomanana after mass public protests and an army mutiny. The Kremlin said the substance had been produced by the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Sweden when denying allegations by London and its allies that Moscow was behind the March 4 incident. "The Czech Republic produced and tested Novichok, though in a small amount, and then destroyed it," Zeman, a 73-year-old veteran leftwinger, said in a television interview on Thursday. Zeman cited a military intelligence report but acknowledged that the country's civilian intelligence and a military history institute denied that Novichok was produced on Czech soil. Zeman said "a paralytic poison marked A230 was tested" in the Czech Republic last November but for reasons that are unclear later cited the report as "explicitly labelling A340 as Novichok." The foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that Czech labs had tested substances similar to Novichok through micro-synthesis, a process which it insisted is not regarded as production under international agreements. "The paralytic poison used in the attack in Britain is marked A234 and so it's a different variety from that tested by the Czech Military Research Institute," it said, adding that the substance was immediately destroyed. The Kremlin hailed Zeman's comments. "The Czech Republic has acted honestly and courageously, officially recognising and revealing this information," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said Zeman's words highlighted the "inconsistency" of the British government's claims that Russia was behind the Skripal attack. "It's a new confirmation that the entire Skripal story is an absolute provocation," Peskov told reporters. Josef Mlejnek, a political analyst at Charles University in Prague, said Zeman's claim reflected his staunchly pro-Russian stance. "They (Russia) have already started using Zeman's claim in a media battle," he told AFP, going so far as to argue that "this confirms that he (Zeman) is working for the Kremlin". According to Frantisek Bublan, who heads the senate commission in charge of defence and security, Zeman's remarks were a "pro-Kremlin act, pure and simple". Senate president Milan Stech for his part called them "dangerous for our country". After the collision the merchantman fled back towards Turkish waters, the navy said. "Nobody was hurt and no serious damage was caused," it added. Turkey has for decades disputed Greek sovereignty over Aegean waters and airspace close to Turkish shores, which Athens says is based on postwar treaties. The two countries nearly went to war over a cluster of uninhabited islets in 1996, and mock dogfights between the two airforces are common. Last month, a Greek fighter pilot died when his plane crashed in the Aegean while returning from a mission to intercept Turkish jets. A few days earlier, Greek soldiers had fired warning shots at a Turkish helicopter after it approached the small island of Ro, which is on Greece's border in the Aegean's southeast. There is also tension over Greece's refusal to extradite eight Turkish soldiers who sought refuge in the country after the failed 2016 army coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Greek Supreme Court has ruled against extradition, arguing that they would not receive a fair trial in Turkey. It also scored highly in areas that voted in favour of Brexit in a 2016 referendum, while losing some ground in more pro-EU heartlands. The UK Independence Party (UKIP), which has seen its support collapse since the 2016 vote for Brexit, was all but wiped out, while the pro-European Liberal Democrat party made gains. Labour's leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn had sought to build on momentum from last year's general election, when an unexpected surge for his party deprived May of her majority. But Labour admitted "mixed" results despite a difficult week for May, who was plagued once again by cabinet divisions over Brexit as well as a row over immigration that toppled one of her top ministers. "We've done better than expected," Conservative party chairman Brandon Lewis told Sky News. "We have seen Labour -- who thought they would be sweeping the board in London -- thus far not gaining a single council in London." 'UKIP like Black Death' The Conservatives appeared to have benefited from the collapse of UKIP, which was instrumental in the Brexit vote but has since lost its way. UKIP general secretary Paul Oakley denied his party was all but over, bizarrely comparing it to the Black Death plague which wiped out as much as a third of Europe's population in the 14th century. "Think of the Black Death in the Middle Ages. It comes along and it causes disruption and then it goes dormant, and that's exactly what we are going to do," he told BBC radio. "Our time isn't finished because Brexit is being betrayed." On a victory tour in London, May said Labour "threw everything at it, but they failed", while adding: "We won't take anything for granted." Labour's goal to win Conservative strongholds in London like Wandsworth or Westminster was always going to be hard, and it did gain seats. Its failure to take Barnet, a northern suburb with a large Jewish population that was Labour's top target in the capital, is likely to be more heavily scrutinised in the context of an ongoing row over anti-Semitism in the party. "I think there are lots of voters, Jewish people in London, who don't feel comfortable voting Labour," London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC. Corbyn said he had secured a "solid set of results". "Labour has won even more council seats than at our high watermark of 2014 and we are on course to secure our best results in London since 1971," he said. Two Labour victories stood out: Labour lawmaker Dan Jarvis also won a mayoral election in Sheffield in northern England, while the party retained control of Birmingham council in central England. But Matt Singh of Number Cruncher Politics noted: "Opposition parties are supposed to do well in mid-term contests, and these aren't the results of one that's about to storm the next general election." Brexit vote The Conservatives held Kensington and Chelsea, where they had faced severe criticism over last year's devastating Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people, but with a smaller majority. However, they lost the southwestern city of Plymouth to Labour and lost control of Trafford, its flagship council in northern England. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson pointed to the party's success in Brexit-voting areas, remarking that Corbyn's promise to keep Britain in the EU customs union "means he is not trusted to deliver Brexit". The Conservatives also lost the strongly anti-Brexit London borough of Richmond upon Thames to the Liberal Democrats, which had courted EU citizens' votes. The Lib Dems also won nearby Kingston-upon-Thames from the Conservatives. "It had been purposely mounted inside a heating duct in the bathroom at a height and direction that captured recordings from people who arrived and used the toilet," he said in a written judgement released Friday. The hidden camera was discovered when it fell to the floor and a thick layer of dust on its mounting indicated it had been in place for many months. While Keating had diplomatic immunity in the United States, police in New Zealand executed a search warrant on his home seeking evidence in the case. No indecent images were discovered but police found Keating had installed driver software for the camera. They also matched his DNA to samples found on the memory card in the camera. Keating was charged with attempting to make an intimate visual recording in March and subsequently resigned from the military. The High Court rejected a name suppression bid by Keating which argued he and his family would face "extreme hardship" if his identity was revealed. Before the posting to Washington, where he was New Zealand's most senior military officer, Keating was assistant chief of navy in Wellington. 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. Speaking during the memorial service of the late John Macharia, DP Ruto narrated how he reprimanded his son, after he had an accident along the notorious South Bypass in Nairobi, at the time he was driving at night. The death of John Macharia has made me learn a big lesson, he started. ALSO READ: Murkomen sends out cryptic message after Ruto was denied access to Moi When my son had an accident at the same spot, I was very mad at him and questioned why he was driving during late hours, however, he narrowly escaped death but John did not, DP Ruto told mourners. He added: I urge the youth to drive carefully along that route. Cremated DP Ruto was accompanied by Opposition chief Raila Odinga in an invite-only burial event at SK Macharias rural home in Ndakaini village, Gatanga Constituency in Muranga County. John Macharia was on Tuesday cremated at Langata Crematorium. His cremation was a private affair with only his family and close friends in attendance. John died last week on Thursday at Karen Hospital, where he had been taken after a freak accident on the Southern Bypass. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. 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 Purdues 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 Childrens 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 womans 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 Foundations 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. 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. Purdue Research Foundation contact: Tom Coyne, 765-588-1044, tjcoyne@prf.org Sources: Craig Goergen, cgoergen@purdue.edu Dr. David Reuter, d avid.reuter@seattlechildrens.org 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! MALAYSIA: A rail link to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Kuala Lumpur was inaugurated on May 1. The Ministry of Transport funded the 521m ringgit project. Moscow court to start hearing case against ex-president of MAST-Bank on May 14 flickr.com/Chris Potter 13:00 04/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 4 (RAPSI) The Preobrazhensky District Court of Moscow will commence hearing of a criminal case against former president of now insolvent MAST-Bank Yury Pirogov and two other ex-managers of the bank charged with embezzlement of 5.6 billion rubles ($88.3 million) on May 14, the courts press service has told RAPSI. Investigators believe that in 2013-2015 the defendants embezzled funds by giving out non-performing credits to companies under their control and then transferred money further to other organizations. Earlier, the court sentenced former top manager of the bank Alexander Chemetov to 4.5 years in a penal colony. Chemetov admitted his guilt in full. #stocks Seoul stocks skid for 3rd day to this year's low South Korean stocks fell nearly 2 percent Wednesday, while the Korean won fell to a 14-month low against the U.S. dollar amid ongoing investor concerns over the debt crises of Chin... #Hyundai Doosan Infracore Hyundai Doosan Infracore sells large-scale excavators in Philippines South Korea's construction equipment maker Hyundai Doosan Infracore Co. said Wednesday it has signed deals to sell 44 excavators and 18 dump trucks in the Philippines. Under th... Russian court detains alleged organizer of Aum Shinrikyo cell RIA Novosti, Igor Zarembo 15:45 04/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 4 (RAPSI) The Basmanny District Court of Moscow has ruled to place Mikhail Ustyantsev, an alleged organizer of a Russian cell of Aum Shinrikyo organization prohibited in Russia, in detention, the Investigative Committees press service reports Friday. On May 1, Ustyantsev, 46, was arrested in Russias Volgograd during a meeting aimed to involve local citizens in illegal activities of the organization and receive money from them, the statement reads. According to investigators, the suspect was in contact with unknown Japanese leaders of Aum Shinrikyo quite a long time, prepared and held the organization members' meetings in Russia and coordinated fundraising and cash management. In 2016, the Russian Supreme Court declared Aum Shinrikyo a terrorist organization and banned its activity in the country. Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth) was set up in 1987 by Chizuo Matsumoto (aka Shoko Asahara). It combined Buddhist and Hindu meditation practices and apocalyptic teachings and was believed to have between 30,000 and 50,000 followers, with more than 10,000 members in Russia, where Aum was engaged in missionary activity and economic enterprise. The sect was banned worldwide in 1995, with Russia leading the crackdown. In 1994, Aum Shinrikyo members dispersed sarin gas in Matsumoto, Nagano, killing seven people. After the March '95 attack on Tokyo, police arrested about 30 of the sect leaders, some of whom, including Shoko Asahara, were sentenced to death. Now operating under the name of Aleph, the cult is still in business and is believed to have between 1,000 and 2,000 members in Japan. Russian banker appeals his arrest in absentia in $13 mln embezzlement case RIA Novosti, Sergey Kuznetsov 16:46 04/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 4 (RAPSI) The Asian-Pacific Banks co-owner Andrey Vdovin charged with embezzlement of about $13 million has appealed his arrest in absentia, the press service of Moscows Tverskoy District Court has told RAPSI. The appeal will be considered on May 21. Vdovin has been put on the federal and international wanted lists. According to investigators, the banker left Russia last year and did not return. Defense lawyer Stanislav Akimov asked the court to impose a noncustodial measure of restraint on Vdovin because he was charged with a business area crime. Akimov told RAPSI that a civil dispute arising from a credit contract arose between VMHY Holdings Ltd and Ashaya Investments Ltd. The case is connected with the companies business and bears no relation to Vdovin. Civil proceedings in relation to the case are currently held in courts of Cyprus, Latvia and Russia, the lawyer added. Ex-manager of Moscow theater gets 5 years in prison for $90k embezzlement RIA Novosti, Vitaly Belousov 17:09 04/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 4 (RAPSI) The Savelovsky District Court of Moscow has sentenced ex-manager of the Center of Drama and Direction Dmitry Palaguta to 5 years in prison for embezzlement of 5.5 million rubles (about $90,000), according to the statement released on the website of Russias Prosecutor Generals Office. Additionally, Palaguta has been fined 1 million rubles ($16,000), the statement reads. His former deputies Yelena Maksimova and Tatyana Andrianova were also convicted in the case. Maksimova was given 2.5 years in prison while Andrianova received a 1.5-year suspended sentence. The court found that Palaguta, Maksimova and Andrianova conspired to embezzle budget funds by deceiving the management of Moscows Department of Culture. The defendants provided employment assistance to people intending to work in the theater and after execution of labor agreements they demanded to give them salary bank cards and PIN numbers. Afterwards, the defendants told the people that they need not to come to work. From November 2013 to May 2016, they embezzled over 5.5 million rubles, according to the statement of the Prosecutor Generals Office. The Center of Drama and Direction was founded in Moscow in 1998. Several famous Russian directors including Kirill Serebrennikov, who is currently a defendant in a high-profile embezzlement case, debuted in this theater. 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 , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Ashley Graham says she has nothing to hide in her new, unretouched swimsuit campaign. ADVERTISEMENT The 30-year-old model and "America's Next Top Model" judge is using unedited paparazzi photos to promote her latest Swimsuits for All collection. "We decided to use unedited paparazzi shots as the campaign images. Reminder: being authentic is beautiful," she captioned an image Tuesday on Instagram from the campaign. Graham said in an interview with InStyle that she was shooting the campaign in Miami, Fla., when the paparazzi started following her and taking photos. "Looking at their photos sparked an idea, 'Why not use their photos as the campaign images? These raw and unedited images would remind women that they are 'flawless' in their own right and that they already have the perfect beach body!" the star explained. "Of course it's daunting knowing the paparazzi my have captured an unflattering photo, but I remind myself that being authentic is beautiful, and I have nothing to hide when it comes to my body because I know it's changing people's lives," she added. Swimsuits for All also shared images from the campaign on Instagram. "'I'm not ashamed of a few lumps, bumps or cellulite... and you shouldn't be either,'" the company quoted Graham in one caption. 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! Graham is known for her inclusive and body-positive message. She enlisted her mom, Linda Graham, for a Swimsuits for All campaign in February. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/04/2018 ADVERTISEMENT 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! Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Tarek El Moussa appears to be in a bad place after hurting his back again.The 36-year-old reality TV star revealed Thursday on Instagram he is currently suffering through another physical battle."Awful news... life has been going so well and I've been so happy and healthy! Unfortunately... I injured my back again. It's very scary," the real estate agent and house flipper captioned a photo of himself sitting on an MRI machine table."Last time I lost 50 pounds and was taking large amounts of pain meds to try and help the pain."Tarek continued to share in his post, "Truthfully those meds really affected my mental and physical state and changed who I was."The last time Tarek injured his back, it took him a year and a half to recover and feel like himself again."As of today I can barely walk... I honestly can't even believe this is happening, I feel like it's a bad dream that I will wake up from," Tarek explained.Tarek had multiple health scares in the past besides back-related issues, as he was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2013 and then found out weeks later he was suffering from testicular cancer."I will be truthful and say I'm very down because of this," Tarek admitted. "It is going to take a lot of positivity and strength to go through this a second time. I will stay positive and I will fight to get healthy again. I appreciate all the support. T."In December 2017, Tarek disclosed to Us Weekly that he thought he "was going to die" after learning he had two cancers.Although Tarek is going through a difficult time right now, his show with ex-wife Christina El Moussa is about to take off.HGTV announced earlier this week brand new Season 7 episodes of will premiere Thursday, May 31, at 9PM ET/PT.The series will continue to follow Christina and Tarek as they buy dilapidated houses in Southern California, transform them into beautifully renovated homes, and flip them for profit.The new episodes of , however, will chronicle challenges other than ones associated with home renovations, as Tarek and Christina also must maneuver through their new relationship status as exes who have remained business partners and are trying to amicably co-parent their children Brayden and Taylor.Christina and Tarek finalized their divorce back in January, one year after Tarek initially filed the paperwork in court and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their seven-year marriage ending.The HGTV reality stars publicly announced their split in December 2016 although they quietly separated in Spring 2016 after a blowout fight that resulted in police visiting their California home.Tarek appears to be single and casually dating, while Christina has moved on with British TV host Ant Anstead, whom she's been dating for about six months. Though Hero still leads by a wide margin in annual and monthly sales, for the first time, Honda has considerably bridged the sales gap with the Pawan Munjal-led firm in April lagging only by 12,134 units The slugfest for a pole position in the worlds largest two-wheeler market became more intense in April. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, the second-largest in the pecking order, closed in on Hero MotoCorp, the market leader. During the month, while the local arm of the Japanese two-wheeler maker sold 6,81,888 units (including exports), up 18 per cent over a year ago, Hero sold 6,94,022 units, up 16.5 per cent. Though Hero still leads by a wide margin in annual and monthly sales, for the first time, Honda has considerably bridged the sales gap with the Pawan Munjal-led firm in April lagging only by 12,134 units, monthly sales volumes released by the companies show. Auto firms in India count despatches to dealers as sales. While a months sales cannot give the complete picture, as volumes of a particular month are a function of combination of factors including seasonally, despatches to dealers done by the company, it is certainly an indicator of Hondas growing clout that Hero cannot ignore, said analysts. They added that it is only a matter of time when Honda will unseat Hero from the No.1 position. While it may not happen this fiscal given the optimism on sales in rural markets where Hero has an indomitable position, it wont be surprising if this plays out in fiscal 2019-20, said Nitesh Sharma, analyst at Phillip Capital. While Honda has been riding high on a robust year-on-year growth in scooter sales, rural markets, where it sells one in every two motorcycles, has been Heros stronghold and is helped by a robust presence in the entry-level bike segment. With Hero not being able to dent Hondas sales in scooters, a segment where it is a challenger brand, there are reasons for Honda to be worried, said Phillip Capitals Sharma. Honda sold 4,23,527 units in April, up 15 per cent over a year ago. Scooter sales have seen a compounded annual growth rate of 18 per cent since 2012-13. It ended 2017-18 with a growth of 20 per cent, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturer (Siam). An official at Hero said one months sales are hardly any indicator of the trend ahead, more so, because companies report wholesales and not retails. It is not the first time that Honda has reported strong April sales. For the last two to three years, it has deliberately curtailed despatches to dealers in March so that they can push more in April and start the new financial year with a bang, the official said, adding Hero has always managed to retain the wide lead in subsequent months. Hondas spokesperson declined to comment on companys strategy. In a conference call with the analysts on 2 May after its March quarter earnings, Heros management said that with several new launches planned over the next few months, particularly in the premium (200cc) motorcycle and scooter (125cc) segments, the company should be able to fill the gap in its product portfolio and garner market share in the premium as well as scooter segments. Mahantesh Sabarad, head-retail research, SBI Cap Securities, said, It (Honda overtaking Hero) can happen sooner than later. It may not be a worry from the profitability perspective, but in terms of volumes, he said. If Honda overtakes them in actual sales, it doesnt bode well for Hero as eventually the line between a scooter and motorcycle is blurred, he added. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Honda T C A Anant, former chief statistician to the government, will soon be heading a panel to decide whether the monthly payroll data released by EPFO, ESIC and PFRDA could replace the quarterly enterprises-based survey on job creation by the labour bureau, the prime ministers office decided last week. The payroll count provided by Employees State Insurance Corporation last week failed to show any conclusive trend on job creation in the formal sector. This is due to problems in the data. The stock of employees getting insurance under ESIC in India reduced from 29 million in September 2017 to 27 mn in February 2018. On average, 1.17 mn contributors joined and 1.5 mn ceased to be contributors to the ESIC every month. The reasons, experts said, cannot be conclusively ascertained. While the Employees Provident Fund Organisation was able to paint a clearer picture of the payroll stock, of 3.1 million new or formal jobs added in six months (Aadhaar being the unique identifier for most of its subscribers), the ESIC data carries with it a high probability of duplication. Employees here could have different registration numbers for multiple jobs. The ESIC payroll for a given month is provisional for at least six months because of delayed filing of contribution by employers. Also, there could be an employee who falls in the exiting cohort in September 2017 but be among the new joiners and contributors in October 2017, leading to high chances of double counting among new contributors. In the absence of Aadhaar linkage, one cannot draw any inference from existing data, especially when return filing by employers is still on and the data remains provisional, a senior ESIC official said, requesting anonymity. This remains the biggest inconsistency in the released data. For the first time ever, the ESIC, along with EPFO and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, released data on provisional estimates of payroll, based on its subscriptions last Wednesday. The ESI scheme applies to all factories and other establishments employing at least 10 workers. Those with a monthly salary up to Rs 21,000 are entitled to medical benefits under the scheme. Experts and sector observers say there could be multiple interpretations of the data, preventing the reaching of a conclusion. On a cumulative basis, while about seven million became new members of ESIC, nine mn exited from the scheme in six months. Exiting the ESIC payroll could be either due to crossing the salary ceiling of Rs 21,000 a month or owing to a change in or a loss of job. If the exit is due to salary increase, it could mean wages of existing employees grew faster than rate of addition of new or formal jobs. Among age brackets, the highest addition to the ESIC domain, as well as the highest exit, is seen in the age group of 22 to 25 years. This suggests that jobs are switched, new jobs are added or existing jobs are formalised to the greatest extent in this age group, while salary increases, as well as job losses to some extent, also appear in the same age bracket. Analysing and interpreting this data is fraught with challenges. It is difficult to understand what amount of change in the stock pertains to people crossing the Rs 21,000 monthly salary ceiling, making it difficult to get an estimate of the count of formal jobs, says Radhicka Kapoor, senior fellow, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations. ESIC issued month-wise data showing the number of employees who paid contributions, number of employees registered and employees who ceased to be a member during that month. While the EPFO data has been cleaned to a good extent, ESIC data has not. The reduction in stock of contributors could be due to de-duplication of previously contributing accounts which have become dormant now, T C A Anant, former chief statistician to the government, told Business Standard. Anant will soon be heading a panel to decide whether the monthly payroll data released by EPFO, ESIC and PFRDA could replace the quarterly enterprises-based survey on job creation by the labour bureau, the prime ministers office decided last week. Under ESIC, the employee contributes 1.75 per cent of his salary and the employer contributes 4.75 per cent. "Keeping a previous employee on the ESIC roll comes with a loss. Why would an employer keep it? said the personnel manager of a leading manufacturing company, suggesting a low probability that one person would be counted twice in a single month. However, as the data is provisional, a person who has become a non-contributor in a particular month might still be counted as a contributor. The ESIC data also mirrors the payroll growth shown in the other two sets of data, from EPFO and PFRDA. Since ESIC data is not Aadhaar-seeded, there is further scope of some modifications, Niti Aayog admitted in an official statement recently. About 900,000 employers are registered in ESIC, with 27 mn employees contributing and 124 mn ultimate social security beneficiaries (all household members). Photograph: Reuters. But Rohini Bhajibhakare won't waste a moment on this statistic, discovers A Ganesh Nadar. For she has more important things to do, like transforming Salem. IMAGE: Rohini Bhajibhakare at her desk; the painting in the backdrop is Tamil Nadu's largest dam, Mettur, which spans the Cauvery river. All photographs: Kind courtesy Rohini Bhajibhakare If you ever visit the district collector's bungalow at Salem, Tamil Nadu, the one thing that will catch your eye is the huge board displaying the name and tenure of every one of its occupants since 1790. It makes for interesting reading. One collector served Salem for nine years. One year saw nine collectors rotated through Salem. Salem had an Indian-born collector as early as 1896. And then, there is Rohini Bhajibhakare -- the 171st collector of Salem. What makes her unique is that the 170 officers before her were men. Rohini was born in a village called Uplai in Maharastra's Solapur district. The village, which is remotely located, has a population of less than 3,000 people, most of whom earn a living from the land. Family responsibilities forced her father to give up his studies after Class 11; as a result, he was determined to ensure that his five children were well educated. Rohini's sisters have post-graduate degrees. One of her brothers is a doctor and an IPS officer; another is an MBA an entrepreneur heading his own start-up. After completing Class 10 at the government school in her village, she moved to Solapur to complete her junior college. She then earned a bachelor of engineering degree in computer science from the Government Engineering College, Pune. Now, it was time to turn her childhood dream into reality. "I was sure I would clear the UPSC (Union Public Services Commission) exam as I had a very able elder brother to guide me. He had joined the IPS and was able to tell me what to study and what to concentrate on. The idea of attending a private class never occurred to me; besides, there were no such classes in my village." She cleared the exam in her first attempt. IMAGE: Rohini and her team use a kuchha path to reach Palay Malai, a remote village in Kolathur. "The training at (the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, where civil service probationers are trained) Mussoorie was very good; they groom you so well that you fit into any cadre of governance," she says. "They train you to forget state boundaries, linguistic boundaries, geographical boundaries. That is the foundation course." "This is followed by the professional course that grooms you to become an officer who delivers government services to the best of her or his ability. We then go for district training for a year. This gives us field experience," she adds. "When we go back to Mussoorie, we share our experiences with the teachers and train for two more months," says the 33-year-old IAS officer. The probationers are even taught how to tie government files up with thick threads. "Yes," she laughs. "They teach us how to maintain files, keep notes in a loose pile so that we can keep adding to it and what to look for when you get a file. Some of the instructions may seem funny, but they are important." She explains that IAS officers have to follow the rules laid down for their work. "You can interpret the rules and orders according to the local needs. At the same time, you need to ensure they don't violate any of the provisions." Mussoorie was not all work for Rohini. It was here that she first met her husband, Vijayendra Bidari, a 2005 batch IPS officer -- she is from the 2008 IAS batch -- who has completed stints in Tirunelveli and Madurai, both in Tamil Nadu. He is now posted in Delhi. After they were married, the two had to work together professionally when she was the sub-collector, at Chermadevi, Tirunelveli district, and he was the superintendent of police. "Tirunelveli is a huge district and a caste sensitive area. Law and order is a regular issue and when I had to go for talks, I always called to tell him I need a deputy superintendent of police to go there immediately. It was a sub-collector calling an SP and not a spouse-to-spouse interaction." An IAS officer's main challenge is learning the local language, but Rohini picked up Tamil quickly. She speaks Tamil with a Madurai accent, the city where she first learnt the language as a district rural development officer. Rohini says her gender has not been a barrier in her work. "In fact, I have received much more love and affection from the people I work for." Salem, where she is presently posted, is a highly industrialised and, consequently, a highly polluted district. "It is an issue in some pockets where there are dyeing units," she says. "We have a large contingent from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board here to keep an eye on them. They have the power to investigate, issue notices and even seal the units if the situation warrants it. Some of the units do not have effluent treatment plants, which is an issue." Her day at work begins at 9 am. On Monday mornings, they have a law and order meeting followed by Petitioner's Day. Earlier, one had to queue up to petition the collector. Now, people wait in the ground floor of the collectorate and the collector comes down to take the petition from each citizen. They also have an Alternate Petition Day where petitions are expedite in 10 minutes at the venue itself. This is followed by more meetings about agriculture and then a meeting reviewing Petition Day. They also have regular field inspections, which keeps her busy till about 9 pm. What about weekends? She points to a stack of files waiting for her on a bench nearby. "On Saturday, we went to Palay Malai, a remote village in Kolathur. It is not accessible by road, so we had to walk. We are now laying a road there," she says. She has launched the 'My District, My Pride' campaign in Salem and is planning a mega textile park. Salem -- it gets its name from the word, Sailem, which means mountain -- has also been listed as a defence production centre under the central government's 'Make in India' scheme. Five flyovers are coming up in the city to help reduce traffic jams. Plans are underway to further promote Salem's well known mango and sago industries. Salem has the highest percentage of tribals in Tamil Nadu and the government is planning several schemes to help them. Rohini's work has taken her to Indonesia and Singapore. "After visiting these two countries, I have learnt that we have so much to offer to tourism, but we are not doing it. Singapore has such little space, yet they market it so well." "We need to promote tourism to India in a big way. There is so much to see here that the world doesn't know about." IMAGE: Rohini's son recently turned 6; the parents celebrate :) Her advice to women wanting to join the IAS? "Don't expect any concession because of your gender. You have to give your 100 per cent. The more you step out of your comfort zone, the more the opportunities open up." "People will always try to restrict you and you have to get past that." "I was lucky; my father had no problems about me working anywhere in the country." Her dream for her family is that they can live together soon though her six-year-old son has adjusted to his father's physical absence. "Thanks to technology, they can see and talk to each other every day." As for herself, she has only one dream. "From the first day of my job to the last, I want to serve the people." The Bombay high court on Friday granted bail to senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal in a money laundering case. Justice P N Deshmukh, however, directed Bhujbal who was arrested in March 2016, to pay a personal bond of Rs five lakh to secure his bail. Justice Deshmukh also imposed certain conditions on Bhujbals release on bail, including that he will appear before the Enforcement Directorate, whenever summoned for questioning. Citing his ailing health, Bhujbal had approached the high court in January this year seeking bail on the ground that his custody was not required any more as the chargesheet has already been filed. In December 2017, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court had rejected his bail plea. The former state Public Works Department minister was arrested after an ED inquiry revealed that he and his associates allegedly misused their office and caused financial loss to the government. According to the ED, Bhujbal had awarded contracts related to construction and development works, including one for the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, to a particular firm, in return for kickbacks for himself and his family. Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal used to channel such money to illegal companies owned by them, the agency had alleged. Sameer was also arrested in the case and is in jail. He has also filed a bail plea in the high court, which has been posted for hearing in June. Interacting with Karnataka BJP Mahila Morcha workers through the 'NarendraModi App', Modi asked them to focus on winning at the polling booth level. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India was moving forward from womens development to women-led development, and "women first" is the mantra of his government and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Reaching out to women ahead of the May 12 assembly elections in Karnataka, Modi asked them to help the BJP win by focusing on polling booths. "Today, the country is moving forward from womens development to women-led development," Modi said, while interacting with Karnataka BJP Mahila Morcha workers through the 'NarendraModi App', his third such outreach aimed at galvanising the party machinery for D-day. He had earlier interacted with BJP office-bearers and candidates, and state farmers' wing leaders. "We have such a mantra for country's development, our party also believes in this mantra," he said. "Mahila shakti" (woman power), Modi said, was important in the BJP's scheme of things. "For us, whether it is the organisation or the government, or framing of programmes, it is women first," he added. Noting that capable women hold important portfolios in his cabinet, Modi pointed at two group photos of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were the only women. "Both of them have connection with Karnataka," he said. Sitaraman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, while Swaraj had contested the 1999 Lok Sabha polls from Ballari against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, which the latter won. Lauding the BJPs women workers, Modi asked them to focus on winning at the polling booth level. "We have to win the state election and we will win. We have to win assembly constituency, we will win. But as always I urge karyakartas (workers)...for me the most important thing is winning polling booths." Modi said if a party ensures it wins at the polling booth level, no power can defeat it. "Where is the victory? It is in polling booths, rest is all its effects. We have to win polling booths. When we have to win polling booths, we will have to go to homes, highlight the false promises and misdeeds of Karnataka's Congress government," he said. Modi asked the Mahila Morcha workers to appeal to everyone to join India's journey to progress. The prime minister said Mahila Morcha activists are the most effective in doing that as they do it by building trust. Responding to a question about the Congress spreading "falsehood" despite his government's work for empowering women, Modi said, "If they don't spread lies, how will their vehicle run? Spreading lies is the only thing left for them to do, and because of it they are losing trust...people are disappointed." He said though several schemes were launched for the welfare of women in the past they lacked direction and did not take into account their basic and small needs. The prime minister enlisted various initiatives of his government for womens empowerment, healthcare and maternity leave requirements. While responding to a question by a woman BJP activist about atrocities on women and ways to check them, he said a blend of family values, culture, functioning of police and authorities, and prompt justice can play an important role in checking such incidents. The prime minister also stressed the need for instilling the "fear of law". He said provisions of the IPC, CRPC and POCSO were made more stringent by his government to instill that fear. "Those committing rape of innocent children can be hanged. Necessary steps have been taken for time-bound investigation and fast track courts have been set up for such crimes," he added. Terming female infanticide as a "perversity of society", he spoke about the 'Beti Bachao, Bati Padhao' programme of his government and the positive developments it has brought about in areas with poor gender ratio. Modi said whether they are homemakers, job-seekers or job creators, his government stands by women. He said women should play an equal role in social, economic and other fields of life. The prime minister said whether it is the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, Indian women made the country proud. They are also excelling in the defence forces and becoming entrepreneurs. In a first, his government has decided that women will be in a combat role in the Army, he said, adding that a proposal for giving them 33 per cent reservation in police force in the Union territories is also under consideration. Modi said his government and the BJP are "completely and comprehensively" committed to "naari shakti" (woman power), a significant part of the New India vision. It seems that Britains Prince Harry pulled out all the stops to sweep Meghan Markle off her feet in the early days of their whirlwind romance. In fact, the royal seriously upped the stakes when it came to celebrating the former Suits stars birthday, whisking her away on a luxury safari break. IMAGE: The Botswana trip was Harry's gift to Meghan for her 36th birthday and came a year into their relationship. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince Harry whisked Meghan away to the luxurious Mapula Lodge near the Okavango Delta in Botswana to mark her 36th birthday in style. The trip last August came a year into their relationship and a few months before they got engaged. Heres a glimpse of the 854 (Rs 77,400)-a-night safari. Welcome to the Mapula Lodge -- which translates as mother of rain -- in Botswana. At the lodge, Harry and Meghan slept in a traditional thatched cabin with an outdoor shower, their carved wooden bed looking out over a pristine lagoon. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters The rooms boast unrivalled views of the breathtaking lagoon nearby where hippos and wildlife are known to congregate, not to mention the campsite also has a swimming pool and a 'chill pit', a lounge area that overlooks the lagoon. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters The lodge, located in the Okavango Delta, provides ample opportunity for a romantic dinner whether you're opting for in-room dining, or choosing one of the three-course feasts under the star-studded sky. The adventurers can even take hot air balloon and helicopter rides. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters Botswana is popular with the rich and famous because of the privacy and isolation its top end lodges offer. Other recent visitors include former United States President George W Bush, Saudi princes, Hollywood stars and millionaire footballers. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters In the most romantic offering at the camp, Harry and Meghan were driven out at twilight to a deserted area of the bush to the foot of an ancient baobab tree where they were served a three-course meal beside a glowing fire. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters A source at the lodge told Reuters: They are like regular guys. They were just relaxed. You could see they were very happy together. And with a view of a sunset like this, wouldn't you be too? Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters On an early morning game drive, the couple scoured the horizon for the wild animals that are the primary draw for wealthy clients visiting the Okavango, one of the largest inland deltas in the world. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters It isnt the first time that Harry has visited Botswana; he took his previous girlfriend Chelsy Davy to the country in 2007. They stayed at Meno a Kwena near the Boleti river, where Meghan also visited with him before they stayed at Macula Lodge. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters According to sources, when they departed, Harry dealt out generous tips and one staff member shed a tear while waving the couple off from the resorts private airstrip. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle on Thursday released a set of intimate photographs marking their engagement last month. The 33-year-old fifth in line to the British throne is seen hand-in-hand with the 36-year-old American actress on the grounds of Frogmore House in Windsor in photographs taken by fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski earlier this week. The series includes a black and white portrait of the couple embracing, with Meghan in a sweater by designer Victoria Beckham wrapped in Prince Harry's Burberry coat as she holds his face and they both smile. A colour photograph shows the prince and his bride-to-be, dressed in a flowing black dress with gold detailing, sitting on the steps at Frogmore House. The prince is dressed in a blue suit and the couple have their heads pressed together and are holding hands in a way that shows off Markle's engagement ring, which was designed by the prince. "Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle have chosen to release official photographs to mark their engagement. The photographs were taken by Alex Lubomirski earlier this week at Frogmore House, Windsor," Kensington Palace said in a statement. Lubomirski thanked the couple for allowing him to take the official engagement portraits. "Not only was it an incredible honour, but also an immense privilege to be invited to share and be a witness to this young couple's love for each other. I cannot help but smile when I look at the photos that we took," he said. New York-based Lubomirski is a former assistant to famous photographer Mario Testino, who created some of the most famous images of Prince Harry's mother Diana, Princess of Wales. A second black and white image, shared by the couple via social media site Instagram as a "candid" shot shows them walking in embrace along the grounds of Frogmore House near Windsore Castle, the venue of their wedding set for May 19 next year. "Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments following the release of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle's engagement photographs. The couple are so grateful for the warm and generous messages they have received during such a happy time in their lives," Kensington Palace said with the release on Instagram. "As a way to say thank you, they have decided to share this candid photograph from the day of their portrait sittings directly with all of you," it adds. The pictures follow Markle's official meet-up with Harry's extended family at the annual pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace hosted by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday. The British monarch traditionally hosts a festive lunch for her family in London before leaving for her private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where she spends the rest of the Christmas period. In a break from royal tradition, Markle has also been invited to join the festivities at Sandringham this year despite not being officially married to Harry as yet. Photographs: Kind courtesy @KensingtonRoyal/Twitter United States President Donald Trump on Friday said the date and venue for his landmark summit with North Koreas supreme leader Kim Jong-un have been decided and told reporters to stay tuned. Trump had agreed to meet Kim Jong-un by May, the White House had announced in March, setting the stage for an unprecedented summit between the two leaders following months of tension over Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programme. The White House had said Trump was ready to meet Kim by May at a time and location yet to be determined. We now have a date and we have a location, well be announcing it soon, Trump said during a brief interaction with reporters at White House before leaving on a trip to Texas. The United States is having substantive talks with the North Koreans, Trump said. Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with regard to the hostages. I think youre going to be seeing very good things, Trump said in response to a question. The announcement for the summit -- the first ever between leaders of the two countries -- was made after months of tension between the two nations. Trump himself had confirmed the meeting in a tweet, but said that the US sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until a denuclearisation deal was achieved. Last month Trump had said he hoped that we would be able to deal in a very open and honourable fashion with North Korea. I started a process, and when I did everybody thought I was doing it absolutely wrong, he had said. Beyond the barbed wire and watchtowers lies a story that casts more than a little doubt on whether this dream will ever be realised. Praveen Swami reports. IMAGE: Equipment and machines installed by Chinese excavators are seen near a copper mine in Mes Aynak, Logar province, of Afghanistan in this photograph dated February 14, 2015. The copper, lying beneath the ancient Buddhist ruins of Mes Aynak, is one of the world's largest untapped deposits. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters From a distance, it is possible to imagine the muffled explosions that sometimes echo across the brown hills of Mes Aynak are the sounds of Afghanistans future -- engineers blasting their way into the worlds second-largest copper ore reserves, holding an estimated 5.5 million metric tonnes. The mine, and other similar ones, are due to bring Afghanistan $1 billion a year in revenues, and create over 35,000 jobs. Like most dreams, this one is starting to give way to reality but of a different kind: the explosions are rockets, police guards stationed at the mine say, fired by villagers disgruntled by land acquisition, would-be extortionists, and Taliban units that have overrun the province of Logar, where Mes Aynak lies. Earlier this week, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to explore joint China-India work on a railway line in Afghanistan, with one spur carrying Mes Aynaks ore to Torkham, and over the Khyber Pass into Pakistan; the other in a great north-western arc, into Iran at Hairatan. Its the best news weve had in years, a senior Afghan diplomat told Business Standard. If our two great friends can cooperate to build this infrastructure, it will transform Afghanistan into a hub for commerce and trade across Central Asia. Beyond the barbed wire and watchtowers, though, lies a story that casts more than a little doubt on whether this dream will ever be realised. Ten years after the May 2008, $2.9 billion, 30-year lease awarded to two State-owned Chinese companies, China Metallurgical Group Corporation and the Jiangxi Copper Company Limited, the project has fallen apart. MCC-JCL Aynak Minerals, as the Chinese consortium is called, has sought renegotiation, but the issue has remained pending despite years of negotiation. Key to the 2008 contract was MJAMs promise to build the railway line President Xi and Prime Minister Modi are now discussing -- a project that involved traversing some of the most hostile terrain in the world. The contract states that MCC has made a commitment to the Government of Afghanistan to construct, at MCCs sole expense, a railway associated with the project. The line was to run from Hairatan to Torkhan, carrying out ore. In 2011, then minister of mines Wahidullah Shahrani said the line would run from Torkham to the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, passing through Kabul via Bamyan, near Mes Aynak. The line was key to Indias own still-nascent $10 billion project to mine and process iron ore at Hajigak, from where a spur will link to the rail line and enable access to Chabahar. Inside months of the contract being signed, though, global copper prices fell from $9.60 a kg to $6.60 -- and MCC began to edge back from its commitments. The Chinese consortium, Afghan government sources have told Business Standard, sought a waiver on $808 million due to Kabul, on top of the $133 million initial payment. It also wanted to cut the royalties, which were set at 19.5 per cent. Even more important, MCC argued that phosphate deposits and coal needed to smelt and process Mes Inks ore were not locally available -- a claim Afghanistans government disputes. Thus, MCC said it would not build the 400 MW power plant around which the entire project was to have been centred. Instead of shipping out processed copper by road, MCC said it would move ore back to China -- by truck, rendering the ambitious rail line project unnecessary. Experts are sceptical that the project, as planned, will ever move forward. China expert Andrew Small recently said Mes Aynak is no longer a priority for the Chinese government and does not play a significant role in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative that is anyway focused on infrastructure development, outsourcing capacity, and market-building, and not the extraction of natural resources. Afghanistan, however, hopes that China -- which has conducted at least one round of negotiations between the Taliban, Pakistan and Afghanistan -- will revive the project, in the hope it will help stabilise the country. The rail line, Afghan officials say, will give the countrys fruit, timber and gemstone exporters easy access to central Asian and Chinese markets. Heavily dependent on foreign aid, Afghanistan was forced to slash its development spending commitment for 2018 from over 150 billion Afghanis to 67 billion Afghanis because of a 25 per cent decline in receipts from foreign donors. Even though the Asian Development Bank is considering funding the northern spur of the line, from Hairatan to Mazar-e-Sharif, there is no word on who will pay for the other sectors to be built. Local security conditions have also been deteriorating, placing a question mark over the possibility of large-scale construction works in hard-to-protect rural areas. Last week, Logars deputy police chief, Colonel Khan Sadiq, said over 600 fresh Arab, Pakistani, Chechen and Uzbek jihadists have entered the province alone, making the countrys struggle to retake territory more difficult. The Long War Journal, which monitors the security situation in Afghanistan, estimates that government authority has either been evicted or is under challenge in 237 Afghan districts, compared to 150 firmly controlled by Kabul. Over the weekend and Labour Day, a change seemed to have come over the former secretary and her memory had all but deserted her. Not unexpectedly, Kajal Sharma had lost much of her exactness. Her vocabulary had shrivelled to four or five words. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel reports from the Sheena Bora murder trial. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com She came quietly into Courtroom 51 at the Mumbai city civil and sessions court, Kala Ghoda, where the Sheena Bora murder trial is taking place, on Wednesday May 2, trailed by a little boy, 3, and a girl, probably 10. Wearing a blue-and-white checked kurta, edged with colourful embroidery, and an orange churidar and chunni, she hovered near the entrance behind the prosecution lawyers and the CBI officers. She was carrying a purse and a Phoenix Mills mall Food Hall bag of refreshments. The judge spied her and the children immediately. "Who is this?" queried CBI Special Judge Jayendra Chandrasen Jagdale, in Marathi. Special Public Prosecutor Bharat Badami turned around to scrutinise her. CBI Investigating Officer K K Singh replied: "Shyamvar ke missus." Sharda Rai, wife of the Mukerjeas' former driver Shyamvar Pinturam Rai, came hesitantly forward and asked one word of the judge: "Bail?" Rai, Accused No 3 and the approver in the case, who is lodged in the Thane jail, filed a bail application on April 3, exactly a month ago, which is still pending before the court, awaiting the CBI's reply. He sought bail on humanitarian grounds because he said his family needed his financial support and he had finished testifying to the court. Mrs Rai, who said she hailed from near Nagpur, was asked to wait outside. She parked herself on a wooden bench. Her children, who seemed quite comfortable in the court environs, chattered away asking many questions of her. They wanted to know what was going on and wondered who the two or three journalists were. She told them patiently: "Paper mein aata hai. Information dete hai (It comes in the paper. They give information)." Both children had lively black eyes that snapped with excitement. The boy was wearing blue -- shorts and top. His T-shirt had PEACE written on it in capital letters and showed a vintage plane. He is Ashish. The girl, Shraddha wore, maybe especially for this outing, a silky turquoise dress with silver embroidery embellishing it, a white hair band and heeled chappals. She looked just like her father. Ashish, who couldn't sit still, jumped about making naughty noises. Sharda kept attempting to discipline him, "Shanti! (Quiet!)" and, amusingly, indicating the black-robed judge to him, visible through the door, said, "Shhh. Masti nahin Sir marega. Juice nahin milega. (No naughtiness. Sir will beat you. I won't give you juice)." Tight-lipped and tense, she wouldn't say much, a fierce expression was stamped on her face. A scowl furrowed her forehead. She said she had decided to come to the court on her own to find out about Rai's application: "Aise hi aayee (I came just like that)." K K Singh came out to meet her briefly and spoke to her in low tones. Then she went away, not unhappy, more resigned, holding her son's hand firmly as they shuffled off towards the staircase, and Kalina, north west Mumbai, and an uncertain future. That was Wednesday. It was the day the CBI had to reply to the defence on the report they requested for the laptop and pen drive deposited by Indrani Mukerjea's secretary Kajal Sharma with the Khar police station, north west Mumbai in August 2015, after Indrani's arrest for her daughter's alleged murder. It was also the day Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje aka Chhota Rajan received his sentence for the murder of journalist J Dey. By contrast, the corridors outside Courtroom 51 were funereal quiet. Badami commented wryly: "Nothing is going to happen here today. Everything going to happen up." Indeed all the excitement was unfolding two floors up in the high-security Courtroom 57 where only pencils and paper were allowed in. A poker-faced Rajan, who with his dyed bouffant of hair and flabby, floppy cheeks looked more like an aging Mumbai businessman than a gangster, had been beamed in from Tihar Jail, New Delhi, against a background of white bathroom tiles, to hear his sentence. Thursday, May 3, saw Sharma's cross-examination resume. The crisp, competent, Kajal Sharma, who left the witness stand on Thursday, April 26, and the Kajal Sharma, wearing a red kurta with gold embroidery and shiny leggings, who turned up at the witness stand on Thursday were two different people. Over the weekend and Labour Day, a change seemed to have come over the former secretary and her memory had all but deserted her. Not unexpectedly, Sharma had lost much of her exactness. Her vocabulary had shrivelled to four or five words -- "shayad (maybe), dhyan mein nahin aa raha hai (it is not coming to my mind)", mostly. Each of those words made Indrani's defence lawyer Sudeep Pasbola go up the wall. "Mostly?!!!" he would exclaim sharply, and in intense bafflement, when Sharma used it as an answer to even the simplest of questions. Her efficiency at answering on the stand had vanished. Every time the name Rai came up, Sharma would carefully ask which Rai, suggesting there were numerous Rais in focus. "Shyamvar Pinturam Rai?" she would enquire warily, perplexed, as if it was more likely that Pasbola was asking about film star Aishwarya Rai rather than Rai who once was the Mukerjeas' driver. The hearing got off to a troubled start with Pasbola and Special Public Prosecutor Kavita Patil quarrelling over the vouchers Pasbola had requested the prosecution produce. These were vouchers, Sharma had initially said existed of payments made by the Mukerjeas' company INX Media, especially to Rai, that were seized. But the prosecution produced on Thursday just a Reliance Internet bill and not anything else. Pasbola used the word "bewakoof banana (make fools of us)" and ranted on "Nahin hai to bolo nahin hai (If it is not there, say it is not there). You are present before the court. You know what the witness is deposing. It is not happening behind your back." Patil, wearing a black sari with gold edging, took umbrage to the word "bewakoof" and Pasbola's bellowing and huffily said it was not the way to talk, reprimanding him, "Decency should be maintained before the honourable court." Judge Jagdale cut in: "You are senior lawyers. You should not address each other this way. In what context she is asking? She is not aware." He suggested Pasbola write another application stating more exactly which vouchers he referred to. Pasbola climbed down, agreeing with the judge via several "Yes, my lords." To the prosecution, he said with an ironical smile, "I will have to learn decorum from the CBI (even though) Madam, I am on the verge of retirement." Thereafter began a long and trying exercise to have Sharma recollect that she had spoken about the possibility of there being vouchers for payments made to Shyamvar Rai, on Indrani's behalf, that she had handed over to the Khar police station's Inspector Dinesh Kadam in 2015. Though Sharma had indeed said it last Thursday and it was on the court records, she dutifully denied it on Thursday and wondered what vouchers Pasbola could at all be talking about. At the point K K Singh smiled pointedly at Pasbola. The lawyer attempted to ask the same question a few other ways, hoping for a better result. He said he was using logic. Judge Jagdale: "She is not supposed to answer logic." So Pasbola amended his question. The Mukherjeas' former personal assistant continued to dispute the existence of any other vouchers other than the Reliance one for which a panchnama (a statement created when documents or material is seized) had been done. Pasbola accused her of lying, "The CBI officer has told you to say this!" Sharma denied that too. Thereafter, every query Pasbola put to Sharma had a painful lag time, with Sharma greeting each question with an innocently puzzled where, which or when. She no longer owned any ready answers. She asked -- even questions that had already been explained -- to be repeated, signalling that whatever easy comprehension skills she earlier had no longer mysteriously existed. One blinked at her in wonderment, pondering the transformation. Wasn't the woman, who offered quick answers with conviction till last week, a much more significant witness? A long Q and A on travel bills was a non-starter. Every time Pasbola asked about a bill, Sharma would be right back at him, wondering which kind of bill he was he referring to and enumerating that there were so many kinds of bills. Was he asking about an e-mailed bill, a soft copy of a bill or a hard copy and she required five-six clarifications more. She was getting very good at it -- at killing time. Every question was greeted with another reasonable question back. Her questions back were always logical. So when Pasbola lost patience, fulminating and hollering at her to answer, the judge would intervene kindly saying she had a valid question. At one point when Sharma was analysing Pasbola's question to death, providing no immediate answer, the judge smiled broadly. So did Singh. So did her husband sitting in the front seat in office clothes -- a blue striped shirt and black trousers. Pasbola inquired if she had a record of Indrani's arrivals into India. "Madam bahar rahti thi. Kab kab aayi? Kahan kahan gayi? (Madam lived abroad. What about the dates she came and where she went?). You were her secretary. Did you keep a record?" Badami complained plaintively: "Multiple questions." Pasbola to Badami: "Relax, my friend." Judge Jagdale jokingly pointed out: "Jab! jab!" Sharma, in not a promising tone: "Khaas record nahin rakhte the (I didn't keep any special record)." "Khas!" groused Pasbola. Pasbola ploughed on asking her if she had any recollection of the visits Indrani and Peter made to India. He now referred to Peter as Peter Sahib and Indrani as Indrani Madam, as if Sharma was the house help and not a secretary. Sharma said she could not remember when they came and went or any dates of their trips. She backtracked and said she remembered that they came in April 2012. Sharma: "I said they had come in April." Pasbola offering mock relief that she remembered something after all: "Bas (fine) I am happy." Badami: "I am also happy." Pasbola: "I am very happy." Pasbola wanted to know the actual dates in April. Sharma: "Exact yaad nahin. Doh ya teen tareek (I don't remember exactly. It was the 2nd or the 3rd)." Pasbola mischievously: "Madam aise yaad karo thoda thoda! Kitne din tak thi? (Madam start remembering in this manner, little by little. How many days was she here for?)" Sharma: "Abhi is waqt dhyan mein nahin aa raha hai (At this moment, it is not coming to my mind). Sharma always had elaborate language in which to express her loss of memory. Not for her, the banal yaad nahins that the previous witnesses used. Pasbola wondered what waqt she was referring to and made a wisecrack, saying people's memory was always stronger at the CBI office. Judge Jagdale offered with a huge smile: "Memory is a weird thing." The hearing next headed to the main question of the day. Pasbola probed if Sharma remembered giving Rs 50,000 to Rai to take with him to Goa to give to Indrani in that week in April 2012. Sharma prevaricated, offering no substantial answer. Pasbola got more and more irritated, his volume shooting up. Pasbola acerbically: "Mein yaad dash fresh karu? (Shall I refresh your memory?) Sharma: "Exactly dhyan mein nahin aa raha hai. Shayad kiya (I cannot recall exactly. Maybe)." Pasbola angrily: "Exactly? Shayad kya hota hai?! (Exactly? Maybe? What does this mean?!)" Badami piped up with wise advice: "Dheere se puchenge toh jawab milega (If you ask nicely and quietly you will get an answer)." Pasbola then requested the court clerk to pull out some documents. Out came a hand-written note by Sharma saying she had had Rai cash a cheque of Rs 50,000 to take to Goa to give Indrani. Pasbola: "Yeh aapka astakshar hai? (Is this your handwriting?)" Sharma: "Astakshar kya hota hai? (What does astakshar mean?)" Sharma examined the document for a long time, which was apparently a handwritten note from her. She asked what she needed to do. Pasbola again questioned her on whether it was her handwriting and was she was saying it was NOT. She looked doubtful, unsure and said maybe it was. Sharma: "Mostly toh mera hai. Shayad (Mostly it could be mine. Maybe)." Pasbola squeaked in surprise: "Mostly?!" He requested her to look at the papers again and give a simple answer of yes or no Sharma, confusion on her face: "Dhyan nahi aa raha hai. Hoga (It is not coming to my mind. Could be)." Pasbola roared, "Dhyan nahin?!" Indrani, standing between Peter and Sanjeev in the rear accused enclosure, in a beige printed sleeveless kurta, matched with a light green silver speckled chunni and pale green salwar and a light green bindi, laughed loudly. She was all smiles. Sharma reiterated: "Shayad (Maybe). Mostly." Pasbola astonished: "Shayad mostly kya hota hai?! (What is this maybe, mostly?!) He laughed and repeated stupefied, "Mostly?!" He again asked her sarcastically about the cheque and the note she had written. "Madam yeh mostly aap ne likha tha? Mostly? Shayad se? (Did you mostly write this Madam? Mostly? Maybe?)" Sharma: "Diya hoga, shayad se (Maybe I gave it)." Pasbola: "Dhanyavad Madam (Thank you Madam)." So ended the hearing on Thursday. The cross examination will continue on Friday, May 4. Shangon Das Gupta, a tall woman with a warm smile, sat with Peter behind to give him his lunch. She shuttles between Bengaluru and Mumbai, trying to be in Mumbai every time Peter comes to court, living a life in limbo, like he is, generously sacrificing her time for her elder brother. Till Indrani doesn't exit the courtroom to go back to jail, no one does, hanging onto their chairs, just in case she files some surprise application, seconds before departing, like did she did last week, for a divorce, via her lawyer Edith Dey. As a colleague joked, this movie isn't finished till the credits ends, just in case something pops up. As an exhausted and perhaps fretful-looking Sharma exited the courtroom with her husband, a team of two entered. It turned out, they -- a CBI officer and a lawyer -- were there to quickly depose some papers towards businessman Vijay Mallya's court hearing in London. The lawyer would not offer any further details on who they were, saying their secrecy was "In the interest of the nation." Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. ABC News(DALLAS) -- For the second year in a row as president, Donald Trump addressed the National Rifle Association in Dallas, Texas at its annual convention, but this years remarks come in the wake of some of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, including at a high school in Parkland, Fla. "The people in this hall have never taken our freedom for granted, you've never stopped fighting for our beloved Constitution," Trump said. "Your Second Amendment rights are under siege, but they will never be under siege as long as I am your president" Trump said. After briefly hailing the Second Amendment, Trump pivoted to a campaign-rally style off-prompter speech in which he talked about Kanye West, North Korea, a CNN chyron about the Mueller investigation, immigration, judicial appointments and the midterm elections. Trump read from a Wall Street Journal article citing a federal judge questioning the motivations of special counsel Robert Muellers authority and motivations. Trump praised the judge as really something very special...he's a respected person." I tell you what folks, were all fighting battles but I love fighting battles, Trump said after throwing the WSJ printed article to the ground. He then turned to Kanye West and African American approval ratings. "By the way, Kanye West must have some power because you probably saw I doubled my African American poll numbers," Trump said in reference to a poll. Thank you, Kanye. Next, he talked about North Korea, saying things are doing really well. The last administration had a rule dont talk! Trump said flailing his arms as his criticized President Obama. Finally, he pivoted, Lets talk about guns, shall we? Trump said to cheers in the audience. He endorsed arming teachers in schools and red flag laws and spoke extensively about the 2015 terrorist attack at the Bataclan in Paris. They were killed by a small group of terrorists that had guns. They took their time, and gunned them down one by one. Boom, come over here, boom. Come over here, boom, Trump said dramatically. If one employee or patron had a gun or one person in this room had been there with a gun aimed at the opposite direction, the terrorist would have fled or been shot and it would have been a whole different story, right? Trump talked about the many red flags raised with the shooter in Parkland and wanting to harden schools with additional security. We strongly believe in highly trained teachers to be able to carry concealed weapons, and we want finely trained security guards, Trump said. Following the Parkland shooting, Trump strayed from the NRAs positions on gun control and even said he would be willing to stand up to the powerful gun lobby. But during an impromptu press gaggle aboard Air Force One on the way to the convention, President Trump called the NRA a truly great organization that loves this country. After Parkland, Trump seemed open to some gun control measures. Trump hosted the students who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, as well as parents of school shooting victims, at the White House in the weeks following the shooting. After the listening sessions, Trump advocated for arming teachers something supported by the NRA but also raising the age limit for purchasing long guns to 21, something the NRA has strongly opposed. But then, during a meeting with lawmakers at the White House, Trump accused some of the politicians of being afraid of the NRA gun lobby. Some of you people are petrified of the NRA. You can't be petrified. They want to do what's right, and they're going to do what's right, Trump said. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. ALROSA sells large diamonds for USD 14.8 million at the auction in Vladivostok 04 may 2018 News ALROSA has summed up the results of the international auction for the sale of special size large diamonds (weighing over 10.8 carats) held in Vladivostok from April 16 to April 27. The United Selling Organization (USO) of ALROSA sold 101 special size rough diamonds with the total weight of 1751.1 carats. Total sales revenue amounted to USD 14.8 million. We invited to our Vladivostok auction 86 companies from the main worlds diamond trading hubs, including Hong Kong, Belgium, Israel, India. 33 companies were recognized as winners in different auction positions. The auction has completed with a very good results, confirming high demand for this category of rough diamonds, told Evgeny Agureev, the Member of the Executive committee, Director of the USO ALROSA. The United Selling Organization of ALROSA and ALROSA branch in Vladivostok organized this auction. The United Selling Organization ALROSA is in charge of sorting, preliminary valuation, pre-sale preparation and sales of all ALROSAs rough diamonds. City of Ottawa Ottawa's Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is getting a CA$50 million ($US38.9 million) boost for its work that will extend the line. Bob Chiarelli, minister of Infrastructure, was in Ottawa May 3 to announce that the province of Ontario will provide up to $50 million to the construction of a 3.4 km (2 mile) extension of the Trillium line to a new terminus station in Ottawas Riverside South community. The funds are in addition to the more than $1 billion the province has previously invested in the Stage 2 LRT project, officials said. The Ottawa Stage 2 LRT project is jointly funded by Canada, Ontario and the city of Ottawa. It will add more than 40 kilometres (24.8 miles) of light-rail and 24 new stations to the line by extending the Confederation Line to the east and west and the Trillium Line to the south, including a spur to the Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Final Purchasing Managers' survey and retail sales figures from euro area are due on Friday, headlining a busy day for the European economic news. At 2.45 am ET, foreign trade data from France is due. The trade deficit is expected to narrow to EUR 5 billion in March from EUR 5.19 billion in February. At 3.00 am ET, retail sales data from Hungary is due. Sales are forecast to grow 6 percent on year in March, slower than the 6.6 percent increase in February. At 3.30 am ET, Statistics Sweden releases industrial orders and production figures. Production is expected to climb 5.1 percent on year in March, slower than February's 5.7 percent increase. Thereafter final PMI figures are due from France and Germany. At 4.00 am ET, IHS Markit is slated to publish final euro area PMI data. The composite index is expected to match the flash estimate of 55.2 in April. At 5.00 am ET, Eurostat is scheduled to issue euro area retail sales for March. Sales are forecast to grow 0.5 percent on month in March, faster than the 0.1 percent increase in February. 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. Luxury carmaker BMW AG(BMW.L, BAMXF.PK, BAMXY.PK) reported Friday that its first-quarter Group net profit increased 1.2 percent to 2.30 billion euros from last year's 2.27 billion euros. Group profit before tax amounted to 3.17 billion euros, down 0.5 percent from 3.18 billion euros a year ago, with rising costs and upfront expenditure for R&D activities. Profit before financial result or EBIT dropped 3.1 percent to 2.73 billion euros. The EBT margin for the Group came in at 13.9%, higher than 13.3%, and was the highest quarterly figure since 2011. Due to currency effects, Group revenues fell 5.1% to 22.69 billion euros from last year's 23.93 billion euros. Adjusted for currency effects, revenues were down 0.7%. First-quarter deliveries of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles rose 3% to 604,629 units from 587,237 units last year. All three major sales regions contributed to the increase. Further, BMW Group reaffirmed its outlook for full year 2018. Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said, "We are targeting new record figures in the Automotive segment for sales volume and revenues in 2018. Group profit before tax is expected to be at least at the previous financial year's level." Further, the BMW Group has announced that - if approved by the competition authorities in the current year - the foundation of the mobility services joint venture will have a one-off valuation and earnings effect and will result in an adjustment to the outlook. Under these circumstances, the Group profit before tax for 2018 would be slightly higher than one year earlier. The BMW Group continues to forecast an EBIT margin in the target range of 8 to 10% for the Automotive segment. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Varian Medical Systems (VAR), which is in deal to acquire Australian life sciences company Sirtex Medical Limited, Friday said it reiterates its belief that the Varian Scheme remains in the best interests of Sirtex and its stockholders. Varian, the radiation oncology treatments and software maker, was commenting on the press release of Sirtex Medical announcing that Sirtex had received an unsolicited non-binding, indicative and conditional acquisition proposal from CDH Investments, a China-based alternative asset manager. The CDH Proposal is subject to a number of conditions following completion of satisfactory confirmatory due diligence, notably the approval of CDH's Investment Committee and the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board. The Sirtex board of directors has determined to engage with CDH Investments to further understand the conditions associated with the CDH Proposal. In light of these developments, Sirtex intends to seek an adjournment of the meeting of Sirtex stockholders to approve the Scheme Implementation Deed between Sirtex and Varian , which was scheduled to occur on Monday, May 7, 2018 (Sydney time) to a time and date to be determined. Dow Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Varian, said, "The Varian Scheme has been unanimously approved by both boards of directors, has fully committed financing and has received all necessary regulatory approvals. We believe the Varian Scheme offers more value and carries far less risk for Sirtex stockholders. We stand ready to complete the acquisition following the receipt of Sirtex stockholders' approval and the satisfaction of other closing conditions." Varian also noted that the directors of Sirtex continue to believe that the Varian Scheme is in the best interests of Sirtex shareholders and continue to unanimously support and recommend the Varian Scheme. In Australia, Sirtex shares were gaining around 5.6 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Metallica's Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett performed a cover version of A-HA's "Take On Me" during their May 2 concert at Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway. Trujillo handed vocals on the cover tune, challenging the crowd to not only guess what they were performing but also sing along if they knew the words. Hammett put his signature stamp on their version with a short guitar solo near the end. The crowd loved it as they clapped and sang along the entire song. Metallica will launch the 2018-2019 North American leg of their "WorldWired" tour in support of their latest album Hardwired To Self-Destruct this fall. The 34-date trek kicks off September 2 in Madison, Wisconsin and runs through March 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each ticket purchase will be accompanied by a physical or digital copy of Hardwired To Self-Destruct. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Entertainment News Canadian stocks are poised for another lackluster session Friday despite hopes for a breakthrough on the Kinder Morgan pipeline fiasco. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said the government will intervene to end the squabble between British Columbia and its neighbors. "We are confident in Parliament's jurisdiction and will intervene on the question in order to defend our clear jurisdiction over interprovincial pipelines," she said in a statement. Meanwhile, a group of Greenpeace activists are refusing to leave Kinder Morgan's giant drill. The U.S. government has fined Enbridge (ENB.TO) $1.8 million for missing pipe inspection deadlines. WTI light sweet oil was up to $68.64 a barrel amid concerns that sanctions against Iran would further restrict OPEC supplies. In economic news, the U.S. jobless rate fell to the lowest level since December 2000, dropping to 3.9% from 4.1%. Still, the U.S. created just 164,000 new jobs in April, below forecast. The TSX Composite is set to follow the major indices on Wall Street slightly lower at the opening bell, barring a positive reaction to the U.S. jobs report. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis A bill that would allow residents in Arizona to pay their taxes in cryptocurrency was passed by the state's House of Representatives, but the amendments made by the House created uncertainty over its implementation. Senate Bill 1091, sponsored by Republican Senator Warren Petersen, passed the Upper chamber on February 8. And the Arizona House approved the Bill with amendments by a 43-14 vote on April 30, leading to the formation of a Committee consisting the two chambers to reconcile the differences. The Bill, titled "Income tax payments; bitcoin", originally proposed to empower the Arizona Department of Revenue to collect taxes in the form of cryptocurrency. But the House proposed a change requiring the Revenue Department to study the issue and that it "may develop, adopt and use a payment system that enables the immediate remittance and collection of tax in real time at the point of sale, including payments of additional amounts after audit." "The Department shall study whether a taxpayer may pay the taxpayer's income tax liability by using a payment gateway, such as bitcoin, litecoin or any other cryptocurrency that uses electronic peer-to-peer systems. The Department shall study the conversion of cryptocurrency payments to United States dollars at the prevailing rate after receipt and shall study the process of crediting the taxpayer's account with the converted dollar amount actually received less any fees or costs incurred by the Department for conversion." The bill does not make it clear when its provisions are implemented. No time frame is set to conduct the study and submit a report. Arizona is ahead of other US states in adopting blockchain for multiple uses in its financial sector. Data stored and shared on a blockchain was given legal validity in Arizona after Governor Doug Ducey signed a Bill to this effect last month. Georgia had considered a proposal to accept cryptocurrencies as a form of payment, but failed to pass through its Senate due to misunderstandings among lawmakers. New Hampshire was the pioneer in making a legislative move to allow its citizens to pay their taxes in crypto. But the state's House of Representatives shot it down in a January 2016 vote. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Technology News Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) reportedly plans to invest over $1 billion to upgrade its two assembly plants in Ontario, Canada to build the next generation of its RAV4 crossover vehicle. The news was initially reported by The Globe and Mail newspaper. According to the report, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will provide more than $100-million in financial support for Toyota. The plans for the assembly plants in Woodstock and Cambridge include a hybrid version of RAV4 and spending on research and development. Toyota has been assembling the RAV4 in Woodstock, Ontario, since 2008. The automaker has long planned to also build the popular vehicle at one of two plants in Cambridge, Ontario, once it moved production of the Corolla out of Canada. The announcement comes just days before the official beginning of an Ontario election campaign with polls showing Wynne trailing Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A lawsuit has been filed against Albertsons that alleges the grocery store chain violated rights of Hispanic employees by forbidding them to speak Spanish around non-Spanish speakers. The lawsuit claims that Albertsons violated federal law when a class of Hispanic employees in San Diego were subjected to harassment and a hostile work environment through the implementation of a no-Spanish policy. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. According to the EEOC's lawsuit, beginning in late 2012, the grocery retailer prohibited Hispanic employees from speaking Spanish around non-Spanish speakers, including when they spoke to Spanish-speaking customers and during breaks. The EEOC alleges the managers publicly reprimanded Hispanic employees caught speaking Spanish. The EEOC also contends that no corrective action was taken, despite numerous employee complaints, forcing employees to transfer. The EEOC's suit seeks monetary damages for the class of affected employees, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent and correct discrimination in the future. "Employers have to be aware of the consequences of certain language policies," said Anna Park, regional attorney for EEOC's Los Angeles District Office, which includes San Diego County in its jurisdiction. "Targeting a particular language for censorship is often synonymous with targeting a particular national origin, which is both illegal and highly destructive to workplace morale and productivity." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Canadian stocks rose Friday, following U.S. equities higher after a somewhat upbeat U.S. jobs report and higher oil prices. The TSX Composite Index rose 107 points to 15,729.40. The U.S. jobless rate fell to the lowest level since December 2000, dropping to 3.9% from 4.1%. Still, the U.S. created just 164,000 new jobs in April, below forecast. Hourly wages are up 2.6% year-over-year, but were up only 0.1% from the previous month. Gold prices rebounded from recent lows, helping gains in the gold sector. Crude oil futures jumped to their highest since November 2014, picking up 2.4% for the week. June WTI oil settled at $69.72/bbl, up $1.29, or 1.9%. Also, Canada's Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said the government will intervene to end the Trans Mountain pipeline squabble between British Columbia and its neighbors. "We are confident in Parliament's jurisdiction and will intervene on the question in order to defend our clear jurisdiction over interprovincial pipelines," she said in a statement. Kinder Morgan (KML.TO), the company set to build the pipeline, shares were fractionally lower. Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) plans to invest over $1 billion to upgrade its two assembly plants in Ontario, Canada to build the next generation of its RAV4 crossover vehicle, according to The Globe and Mail newspaper. Crescent Point Energy (CPG.TO) has staved off activist investors by electing all ten nominees proposed by the company. Aecon Group (ARE.TO) has withdrawn from a group bidding on a new bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Report: army, committees inflict Saudi army, its mercenaries heavy losses over 24 hours [04/May/2018] br> SANAA, May 4 (Saba) The Yemen army and popular committees have waged unique offensive operations on Saudi army and its mercenaries gatherings and sites, inflicting them heavy losses over the past 24 hours, according to military reports combined by Saba News Agency on Friday. In southern Saudi province of Najran, an attack operation was carried out on Saudi-paid mercenaries in Talaa site, killing and wounding dozens. Also in Najran, infiltration attempts of mercenaries were foiled toward Adhiaq area and in front of Boqea, inflicting the mercenaries heavy casualties and seized several weapons. In Saudi border province of Asir, the artillery force of the army and committees shelled Saudi army and mercenaries gatherings in Saudi border guards command of Dhahr, beyond Alab crossing and Sood hills. In Yemen province of Jawf, a mercenaries advance attempt was repelled toward the army and committees sites in Bir-Salam of Ajasher desert, destroying a military vehicle, killing and wounding dozens of the mercenaries. Also in Jawf, an offensive operation was waged on the mercenaries sites in Qania, killing and injuring dozens. In Marib province, the engineering unit of the army and committees destroyed a military vehicle carried a 12.7-caliber weapon and killed four mercenaries were on the vehicle board in Dhuhor area of the south-west Jadaan district. Furthermore, artillery shells were fired toward mercenaries sites in same area. In Taiz province, two of mercenaries leaders were killed by the fire of the army and committees in west coast front. In Lahj province, the artillery force of the army and popular committees targeted Saudi-paid mercenaries gathering in Shurijah area of Karsh district, causing direct casualties. Writing by Sameera al-Mahdi Saba Prime Minister Narendra Modi Interacting with Karnataka's BJP women cadres through his mobile app, Narendra Modi ' title=' Prime Minister Narendra Modi '>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked them to popularise his government's schemes ahead of the May 12 Assembly polls. "We need to expose the hollow promises made by the Congress and urge the people of Karnataka to join the journey of development," Modi told the Bharatiya Janata Party women workers through the Narendra Modi mobile app. Listing various women-oriented schemes promoted by the Centre, Modi asked them to connect with other women across each of the state's 224 constituencies. "We will win the election, but for us (BJP) it is important to win the polling booth," he said. The BJP-led Union government is keen on giving equal opportunities to women in the society and wants to support them at every stage, whether they want to be a homemaker, job seeker or job creator, added Modi in the 40-minute audio-video interaction. An estimated nine crore women across the country have benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) scheme, which provides loans for small and micro enterprises, he said. Nearly Rs 12 crore worth loans have been given out under the PMMY scheme, of which more than 70 per cent beneficiaries were women, the Prime Minister said. Programmes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provides LPG gas to women from below poverty line (BPL) households, have also benefitted several women, he added. Modi highlighted that the central government had increased the paid maternity leave from the earlier 12 weeks to 26 weeks for women in the organised sector. "When the contribution of women in the country increases, the development of the country is ensured," said Modi. BJP President Amit Shah BJP President Amit Shah on Friday declared that the Congress will not be able to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election. The contest in Madhya Pradesh is between corporate supporters and farmers, and so the Congress will not be able to defeat the BJP, Shah told a meeting of activists and party leaders. Without naming the newly-appointed state Congress President Kamal Nath, Shah said: "If the Congress is having a face of a corporate supporter, BJP has farmers on its side. The fight is between the two." Shah said that the Congress had reached such a point that even if its President Rahul Gandhi were to use binoculars, he would not be able to locate his party. "From 2014, when the BJP came to power in the Centre, the Congress has been losing all the elections. The same will happen in Karnataka." Four representatives from Samoa will attend the first session of the fishery training course for Pacific Islands in Guangzhou, China. The announcement was made yesterday by the Ambassador of China to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng. This three week training aims to promote cooperation and communication within the Pacific Island countries on the principle to achieving the shared growth through discussion and collaboration. The training starts on 7 May 2018 and will be hosted by the Ocean and Fisheries Department of Guangdong Province and undertaken by Guangdong Provincial Vocational School of Oceanographic Engineering. Speaking to the Samoa Observer was Joseph Adam, the Fisheries Assistant who will also be representing Samoa in China. The 23-year-old from the villages of Alafua and Lotopa says such an opportunity helps Samoa to develop skills and knowledge in the fisheries field. I am grateful to God for all that he has done for me and for giving me this opportunity to go to China. I also thank the Chinese Embassy and the Samoan Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This training will be really helpful to enhance our knowledge because we will be exposed to new techniques and new technology in China and the way that they practice can be implemented in Samoa. This is my second time going to China. The first training that I attended was in 2015, which was based on fish sea production. In the agriculture section, one of the major issues here in Samoa and around the Pacific Island nation is feed. Although there is formulated feed produced in various parts of the earth, it is really expensive. The experience and the knowledge from the previous training we have implemented inside our day to day work. It was an improvement for a system that was also introduced by the S.P.C., the incubation system. Although it is just a touch up, but it has brought in knowledge. Mr. Adam is excited for this upcoming training to gain as much experience for the benefit of Samoa. I think this is the first training for Pacific Islanders to be held in Guangzhou, China. Although there have been previous trips to undergo field trips in Guangdong, this is the first time I have heard that there is going to be a training in Guangzhou. For the first time, the Oceania region has secured a top award recognition from The Ramsar Convention Wetland Conservation. In particular, the Ramsar Convention Award for Young Wetlands Champions 2018 has been snatched by none other than the Youth Climate Action Network of Samoa (Y.C.A.N.) amongst the other two awards for Wetland Wise Use and Wetland Innovation. Y.C.A.N. Samoa is a non-governmental organisation which was established in 2015 to encourage community based youth led climate action initiatives that are practical and custom made to tackle climate change threats facing small islands development states (SIDS) in villages and districts of Samoa. The winners were selected by members of the 54th Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention who met in Gland from 23-27th April 2018 says the release from the Ramsar Secretariat. Among the winners were N.G.Os from Mexico and Spain now sharing the world stage of recognition alongside an N.G.O. from the island of Samoa representing the Pacific and Oceania region. The Award acknowledges a young person or a group of young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who have contributed to the wise use of wetlands. We are very excited that our team has snatched this award for us and our young people in our region as we are most impacted by climate change as small islands nations, says Samantha Kwan, President of Y.C.A.N. Incorporation. We have shown the world through our climate actions that we are fighting for the survival of our wetlands and environment in general in our respective communities in order to adapt to the changes of the climate, she added Youth Climate Action Network has been instrumental in leading wetland conservation efforts in communities including their support in mangroves and marine biodiversity audits and rehabilitation which the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme has been supporting since 2015, says Simona Marinescu, UNDP RR and UN RC for the Samoa Multi Country Office. It is a product of the South South Cooperation hosted by UNDP GEF/SGP in 2015 for the islands of Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau where youth representatives from Samoa decided to formulate their NGO to tackle climate related challenges head on by our communities. We are very proud of YCAN and hope that their climate stories will become models for other youth groups in the region. Samoa is spearheading youth and environment work and we look forward to seeing more of these initiatives as the GEF SGP Headquarters Central Programme Management Team recognizes the leadership role SGP Samoa is playing in the Pacific, says Yoko Watanabe, Global Manager of GEF SGP An Evian Special Prize of US$10,000 granted by the Danone Group, will be presented in Dubai during the 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands taking place 21-29 October 2018. The Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards were established in 1996 in order to recognize and honor the contributions of individuals, organizations, and governments around the world promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Ramsar is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements. The treaty was negotiated through the 1960s by countries and non - governmental organizations concerned about the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds. It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Describing palusami as delicious is an understatement. For Tony and Anna from Auckland, New Zealand, palusami is the reason they would return to Samoa. Palusami is now their favourite island dish, perhaps the only one they will ever like. It is their first time in Samoa and they love the island vibe, most especially the food. They leave today for their homeland, but they will be back and this time they will bring their kids. The Dear Tourist team found the couple enjoying their last day alongside the pool at the Taumeasina Island Resort, feeling relaxed and at peace with the cool sea breeze. We have loved it here, it has been so good. It is just so natural and beautiful. We have just been relaxing and it has been a wonderful time. I love the food and the people. There have been a lot of people in New Zealand who talk about Samoa. And we also have one person who has been here in Samoa and they really loved it. There is no special occasion and we just wanted a holiday. It is also a good time for a holiday especially in time for school holidays, said Tony. The couple has also come to learn the simplicity of life in the islands, away from the luxurious city life. We have been driving around and we have been to To Sua Ocean Trench, the south-east of the island. We have seen the beautiful beaches and around the rock fall. So we saw most of the sites. It was lovely. Then we also went to Savaii. It was a long ride. We had to catch the ferry. We also then went to see the turtles. It was a bit like swimming in a dirty pond. But the turtles were gorgeous. It took me a while to get into the pond. I know my kids would still get in there because they would love it. It has been lovely, said Anna. They also tried out Legends Cafe and Rokos Restaurant for more island taste. We have definitely enjoyed the food. The taro leaves with the coconut cream, the palusami. We just love that. Palusami is really good. It has been awesome in the past few days. The people here are just so friendly. They are genuinely friendly. They are already aware of what they will be doing next time when they come. I would definitely like to bring back the kids next time here for a holiday. I like to take the kids to the waterfall and the churches. Everywhere we have been has been really good. We have got no complaints. One of the other highlight for us would be taking a break from work and everything that was happening around us back home. Two sisters from New Zealand are having the time of their lives in Samoa. Kirby and Brittany took the trip to Samoa to take a break before reality kicks in. Their search for peace and great atmosphere was what Samoa provided for them. Speaking to the Dear Tourist team they said they have nothing to complain about because the trip has been great. We arrived on Sunday and this is my second time here, but it is the first time for Kirby. We both work back home and we just wanted to take a break which is why we are here, Brittany shared. Taking a break from our daily job is good and especially when it is a bit cold in New Zealand, so we are just relaxing and it has been good to be here. Exploring an island couldnt be any better when you have your sister as your travel buddy. We have actually just been relaxing, did not really do much. We have not been doing much and that is fine with us. We enjoy the sunshine and each others company. We are just going to be relaxing on our last day and then hop on the plane tomorrow (today), said Kirby. They have seen the Piula Cave Pools, but for them the highlight of their trip was the Ladies Night at the Taumeasina Island Resort. The people have been lovely and the services here at Taumeasina are really good. The Ladies Night was very entertaining and we enjoyed that. It was so fun. We went to Scalinis which was awesome, then we went out this one day and it has been great. We just feel so relaxed and it was just what we needed. Just sitting under the hot summer sun and I cant complain. We did take a walk around the flea market, it was busy and hot. The sisters agreed they would return for more. Developer Doug Manchesters long-stalled $1.5 billion plan to redevelop Navy property on San Diegos waterfront with hotels, offices and restaurants will break ground next month. Manchester Financial Group announced Thursday that it had secured the necessary financing to start construction of its Manchester Pacific Gateway development, regarded as the single largest and costliest project in downtown San Diego history. The 3-million-square-foot project, which occupies eight city blocks, calls for multiple office towers, including a 17-story, 372,000-square-foot Navy headquarters; an 1,100-room convention hotel; a retail-lined paseo; and a museum on more than 12 acres south of Broadway between Pacific Highway and Harbor Drive. Although Manchester, former publisher of the U-T, won a 99-year lease in 2006 to build out his project in return for building what will be a new $165 million Navy headquarters building, the mammoth development has been dogged by multiple lawsuits, which in turn made it almost impossible to obtain needed financing. Advertisement With the legal obstacles resolved, Manchester Financial has been working on securing financing over the past year. Rather than obtain a conventional loan, the developer is funding the entire $1.5 billion development with the help of outside equity partners, explained project manager Perry Dealy. Those equity contributions, Dealy said, are coming from domestic investment funds tied to some of the largest Fortune 500 companies, including pension funds, but he would not disclose who they are. Manchester Financial Group, which will be managing general partner on the project, will also have an equity stake but at the end of the three-year construction period, it will be less than 50 percent, said Dealy. The financing approach marks a departure from Manchesters plan as recently as last October to secure a construction loan to help finance the development. Berkadia Hotels and Hospitality announced last October that it had been hired by Manchester Financial to source a $650 million construction loan for the project by the end of 2017. Dealy said that the team ultimately decided the cost of a construction loan was too high and instead opted for an all-equity financing plan. The profitability to investors is substantially higher than if you went through a construction lender or a mezzanine lender, he said. It (equity financing) is unusual and it is a huge amount, which is why it took longer. In all, the project encompasses seven buildings, plus a 1.9-acre public park, replacing what is known as the Navy Broadway Complex, which the Navy has occupied since the early 1920s. Early last year, the developer began demolishing some of those older buildings. While work is starting on all parts of the project at the same time, completion of some of the office buildings, including the new Navy headquarters, is targeted for the end of 2020, with the remainder of the project expected to be done by mid-2021. Other elements of the development include: A 29-story, 524,000-square-foot office tower Eight-story, 178,000-square-foot office building Six-story, 153,000-square-foot office tower 290,000 square feet of retail A 260-room luxury boutique hotel With the financing now arranged, Dealy said that Manchester Financial Group can start finalizing future tenants, including the restaurants and occupants of the office buildings. Although the developer has attracted interest from major hospitality brands to manage the projects two hotels, it is considering operating both as Manchester hotels, Dealy said. Manchester, developer of some of San Diegos highest profile hotels, including the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, Fairmont Grand Del Mar and Manchester Grand Hyatt, has had to overcome multiple legal challenges since signing on to the waterfront project, first conceived more than 30 years ago. In the 12 years that we have fought for this development, our enthusiasm and commitment has never wavered, said Manchester, chairman emeritus of Manchester Financial Group, in a statement Thursday. We have worked through extensive review from six public agencies including the City of San Diego, San Diego County, United States Navy, San Diego Unified Port District, Civic San Diego, and California Coastal Commission ...The time has finally arrived for construction of a world-class venue for downtown San Diego. Over the years, waterfront activists and environmentalists have tried to kill the project, arguing that the land should have been returned to the city since its original use approved by voters in 1920 was for a supply center. Alternative uses have included suggestions for a park akin to Chicagos Millennium Park or a new location for City Hall. Critics also tried to make the case that a downtown location for the Navy building would represent a potential terrorist target and it should be built at a more-secure local military base. The last of the legal wrangling over the project occurred in late 2016 when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up an appeal by the Navy Broadway Complex Coalition. It was hoping to have the court overturn an earlier Ninth Circuit ruling and make the U.S. military weigh the risks of a terrorist attack before proceeding with the development. Rear Admiral Yancy B. Lindsey, Commander of Navy Region Southwest, called the planned transformation of its property a big win for both the Navy and the city of San Diego. The Navy and San Diego have had a strong, mutually beneficial relationship for over 100 years. This project is another important chapter in that history. The project originated in the 1980s, when the Navy desired a new regional headquarters but could not gain an appropriation from Congress. Legislators eventually gave their consent to the Navy redevelopment plan, and the California Coastal Commission approved the project in the early 1990s. It later reversed itself in 2013, saying conditions downtown had changed so much that the project no longer complied with the state coastal law. The commission sued the Navy and Manchester for reconsideration but later dropped the case after some changes in the plan were made. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg Sears, Roebuck and Co. was the anchor tenant at Parkway Plaza in El Cajon when it opened in 1969. Its presence there helped the shopping mall to become the citys largest retail center. But after a half-century at the corner of Fletcher Parkway and Johnson Avenue, Sears will be shutting its doors for good this summer. It is one of hundreds of Sears stores facing closure nationwide as the company struggles with declining revenues, unable to compete with online sales and a growing list of competitors. The 250,000-square-foot department store chain will shutter in July, putting 104 employees out of work. Some of them have asked to be transferred to other Sears stores; others are retiring. The automotive center closes this Saturday. Some locals are already rueing the day Sears shutters its doors. Advertisement Oh no! Alpine resident Kathy Downs wrote on Facebook when she heard the news. I also remember when it opened. Largest Sears store west of the Mississippi. I still have the sewing machine I bought there. And now where will we get our Diehard batteries? La Mesa resident Charlie Wells wrote on Facebook: I remember when it opened! The only building on that whole property, I think. A great store. Sears closures around the country show some of the changes in peoples shopping habits over the decades. San Diegan John Gastaldo said he went to Sears a few months ago for a part and found few folks inside. Can you say Ghost Town? he said. El Cajon resident Yvonne Hernandez said she has had work on her car done at the auto center, but never shopped inside the store. Lake Morena resident Bob Scheid said his grandfather worked for Sears Corp. in Illinois and his sister still has his toolbox with the Sears Roebuck & Co. logo stamped on it. So sad, he said. (Sears) was once a great American brand. Longtime Sears employee and store manager Gary Nordstrom, now retired, stands at one of the doors of the El Cajon Sears, which will close in July. (Karen Pearlman/San Diego Union-Tribune ) Closing day tugs at the heart of Gary Nordstrom, who worked at the Sears in El Cajon at two different points before he retired in 2002. Nordstrom also managed several other Sears stores during a 35-year career with the company. He said one of the things that stands out for him about the El Cajon store is that employees there were always encouraged to be part of the community. Several volunteered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County; others were part of the local Big Brothers program. He said one of his more memorable moments at the store happened on a busy Sunday afternoon in 1982. I was up on the sales floor when all of a sudden, the El Cajon Fire Department came rushing in all the doors in full regalia, Nordstrom said. It turned out that some young child had pulled the fire alarm. Every fire truck it seemed pulled up. All the customers bailed out they got so scared. And the rest of the day, we had no one in the store. I think they were all scared off. Nordstrom, who grew up in Mission Hills and still lives there, finished his career as a manager of the Chula Vista Sears. The Chula Vista store, along with the Sears stores in Carlsbad and Escondido, appear to be remaining open. Sears closed its doors last year at Westfield University Towne Centre. Before then, the last Sears to close in San Diego County was the Hillcrest store at Cleveland and University avenues in 1986. The El Cajon Sears opened as a free-standing store on the western side of the property along Fletcher Parkway. The rest of the shopping center opened in 1972 as the first enclosed and air-conditioned shopping complex in San Diego County. Parkway Plaza is the largest center for retail sales in El Cajon. The property Sears and its parking lot sit on and some points beyond once was home to a large vineyard belonging to Josephus Asher. According to El Cajon historian Eldonna Lay, Ashers raisins won first prize in Chicagos 1892 Worlds Columbian Exposition. Sears owns the building and parking lot in front of the store, and is a separate retail entity than Parkway Plaza. In 2013, Westfield Properties, Parkway Plazas longtime owners, sold it to Chicago-based Starwood Retail Partners. El Cajon City Manager Doug Williford said that most Sears stores, including the Parkway Plaza store, were acquired by Seritage, a property development corporation and real estate investment trust. The trust was started in 2015 by Sears CEO Eddie Lampert as a way to execute sale and lease-back agreements for Sears and Kmart stores nationwide. Kmart bought Sears in 2005. Gary Nordstrom recalls some stories about his co-workers when he worked at Sears in El Cajon. The store is closing in July. (Karen Pearlman/San Diego Union-Tribune ) Williford said the city has known for some time that Sears was planning to reduce the size of the store, and had been discussing new tenants moving in. A few months ago, Seritage gave the city a tentative proposal to change the Parkway Plaza specific plan, looking to add four retail/restaurant areas in the parking lots along North Johnson Avenue. The proposal did not include project elevations nor possible tenants. City staff said it appeared as though the plan was for drive-thru businesses at Fletcher Parkway and Johnson Avenue, the busiest intersection in El Cajon. City planners have not been on board with that Seritage idea. They have suggested an alternative design focusing on new retail space at the corner of Fletcher Parkway and Johnson Avenue with a connecting pathway to the building. El Cajon staff is working to see that whatever stores move in are integrated with the mall in style and architecture. Seritage is expected to submit an application for new retail buildings at the corner in the next few months. In the not-too-distant future, well be going to the City Council with a master plan for the work, Williford said. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com The joke used to be that there were so many Starbucks you could walk out of one and cross the street to another. In Escondido, that seems to be the case with car washes. To date, the city has 28 and counting, more than twice as many of the coffee shops. Thats too many for the citys taste and the City Council on Wednesday placed a temporary moratorium on all car wash applications and plans to enact tougher rules later this month. Escondido is the only North County city that allows car washes in commercial zones as a matter of course. You want to build one, and the zoning is right, it gets approved without complicated hoops to jump through. Advertisement That will change May 23 when the city is expected to approve regulations that will require applicants to go through the more laborious conditional use permit process which requires extra attention and time to address things such as water and air quality and traffic. We have a more permissive policy regarding car washes compared to other cities, Assistant City Manager Jay Petrek said. There are no special-use regulations established for car wash facilities. This could be a factor in the citys on-going success in attracting this particular land use. San Marcos, Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Poway all require planning commission or city council approval for carwash facilities through issuance of a conditional-use permit, Petrek said. Petrek showed the council maps identifying all the Starbucks coffee shops (13) and all the car washes in Escondido (28). There does not appear to be a dearth of opportunity for getting your car cleaned or detailed, he said. You can see, comparing the two, we definitely have more car washes than Starbucks facilities. A 29th car wash is being built at the intersection of busy Mission Avenue and Centre City Parkway. When counting car washes, all types are included -- full service, drive-thru and self service. The urgency ordinance, approved unanimously by the council, was deemed necessary because yet another large car wash was about to be approved next week. For a decade, the former Ups and Downs Skating Rink property on North Broadway, in the block between Lincoln Parkway and East Mission Avenue, has been vacant. For the past year, its owner has been working to get approval for a car wash. Petrek told the council the citys Planning Commission was to hear an appeal on May 8 having to do with a demolition permit for the roller rink building and once approved, construction of the car wash would have been green-lit unless the moratorium was enacted. Property owner Neil Capin told the council Wednesday evening he has been working with the city in good faith for the past year and has spent upward of $100,000 toward getting a permit. How can anyone make a decision to invest in Escondido if the rules change at the 11th hour? Capin asked. He said he thought his car wash should be approved and the new rules should only apply to future applications. The council made it clear they thought yet another car wash in the city, and especially in that location where two other car washes are located within a block, was not desirable. Car washes do not bring in higher-paying jobs or add to the economic vitality of the city, they said. Several of the council members said they were concerned the moratorium might be unfair to Capin. Nevertheless, they voted to hit the pause button on car washes, noting their action doesnt ban such businesses; it only changes the way they are approved. The roller rink property will still be able to apply under the new system. Whether the car wash will be approved under the new regulations is unknown. One thing that is for sure, anybody near the old roller rink neighborhood soon will be able to go to a new Starbucks drive-thru being built a half-block away at Lincoln and North Broadway. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones Election storm clouds will follow the California Republican Party to its convention in San Diego this weekend. But some members are starting to see a bit of sunshine ahead: A couple of rounds of polls suggest Republican John Cox of Rancho Santa Fe has become a legitimate gubernatorial contender for a spot on the November ballot. Some surveys also have Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach in the hunt. A likely measure in the fall election to repeal the state gas tax could bolster Republican turnout. Some GOP candidates believe theyve caught a bit of lightning in a bottle by capitalizing on the backlash against Californias immigrant sanctuary state laws. There is a growing belief among some analysts that the Democratic blue wave wont be all its cracked up to be. But then heres former California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring bringing a dose of grim reality to the welcoming party as the convention opens today at the Sheraton Hotel & Marina on Harbor Island. Coxs poll numbers are a plus, Nehring acknowledges. But he said the very real possibility of two Democrats facing off for governor in the fall Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa would be an unmitigated disaster for the state GOP, with consequences for years to come. Advertisement Its an existential threat to the party if we dont have a Republican at the top of the ballot, said Nehring, contending that would depress GOP turnout and cause big trouble for down-ticket races. Nehring and other Republicans essentially have given up on the U.S. Senate race. Thats despite a couple of quirky polls that cast doubt on the one seeming certainty this year another all-Democratic race in November, with incumbent Dianne Feinstein facing state Sen. Kevin de Leon. The polls were greeted with skepticism. Former-Democrat-turned-Republican James P. Bradley of Laguna Niguel has never run for office before and has no campaign funds. Yet he polled at 10 percent support, one point behind second-place de Leon, in a late-April UC Berkeley IGS Poll. Like most everybody else, Bradley said he was shocked by the results. Feinstein continued to easily lead the field of 32, as she has in all polls, with 28 percent. Things were even weirder in a SurveyUSA poll in mid-April. Feinstein received 39 percent, some guy named Patrick Little got 18 percent and de Leon had a measly 8 percent. Plenty of people were incredulous about that, and no doubt even Republicans activists are disturbed. Little spews strident anti-Jewish sentiments on social media and his website. Storm clouds, indeed. All this trouble is just for the June 5 primary. Nobody gives the Republicans any hope of actually winning the governor or Senate races in November, even if they have acceptable candidates. It would take a miracle for a Republican to be in the November (Senate) race, said Nehring, who also had served as a chairman for the Republican Party of San Diego County. Given Republicans were shut out of the Senate race in November 2016 when there was an open seat, a return performance would raise the legitimate question of whether the GOP could ever get a candidate on the fall ballot. Under the states top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes advance regardless of party affiliation. As it stands, no Republican holds statewide office in California a status that wasnt even the result of the primary system. But not having a Republican candidate for governor in November would be a first, and much worse than lacking a Senate nominee, according to Nehring and others. A fall candidate in theory would attract more money to the party, aimed at boosting turnout and the overall ticket, if not really seeking to win the executive office. Cox, a wealthy businessman who has spent $4 million on his campaign, will be vying with Allen this weekend for the party endorsement, which requires support from 60 percent of the delegates. But would either have the right stuff to make a difference? I dont see how a Republican gubernatorial candidate who cant bring tremendous fundraising, star power or excitement to the race has coattails, Thad Kousser, a political scientist at UC San Diego, told The Hill this week. We watched this movie in 2014, when Jerry Brown ran against an underfunded Neel Kashkari and saw the lowest turnout rate in state history. Theres no reason to think that the sequel will be any different. Republicans pushed to gather signatures for an initiative to repeal legislation that increased the gas tax by 12 cents a gallon and boosted the levy on diesel fuel and fees on automobiles Early polls showed majority support for the repeal and Republican leaders believe that popular support for the measure will help their candidates. Cox is chairman of the initiative drive to put the repeal on the November ballot. Nehring agrees the measure would help, but only so much. It is not a substitute, he said. It is not a substitute for a candidate at the top of the ticket. Nehring insists hes not trying to be a downer, but seeks to goad the party into acting differently. Its not pessimism, he said. I want our candidates and their operatives to be aware of the political climate they are running in. They need to run smarter and harder. He said Republicans need to tailor their campaigns to their specific races and be wary of broader national trends. Having said that, he said the sanctuary law backlash can work for Republicans if they talk about it in a certain way raising the prospect that it could help keep criminal immigrants from being deported. Moreover, while the top-two primary presents a nightmare scenario for the GOP in statewide races, it may work to their favor in some battleground congressional districts, such as the 49th, held by the retiring Darrell Issa, R-Vista. There and in some other districts, Democrats have been trying to thin their large fields of candidates, with mixed success, out of concern that two Republicans could advance to the fall. Dick Morris, the former consultant to President Bill Clinton, just recently argued that GOP fortunes nationally are more promising than whats being reported. Now a regular critic of the Democratic Party, Morris pointed out that Trumps national job-approval numbers have been on the rise and that improves Republican chances of holding the House and gaining in the Senate. Democrats are also losing ground among millennials, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll However, Trumps numbers have dropped in California, according to the UC Berkeley IGS poll. Republicans are trying to protect eight seats targeted by Democrats, a battle GOP state Chairman Jim Brulte has said is crucial to controlling Congress. Trump isnt helping. Maybe karma will. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi expressed such confidence in gaining the majority again that she recently introduced fellow Democrats as incoming committee chairs, according to Politico. If Republicans need some cheering up, they might recall that not long before the 2016 election, Hillary Clintons victory was considered such a sure thing that some Democrats believed they might take over the Senate. That worked out well. A federal judge dismissed Blackwater founder Erik Prince from a civil lawsuit alleging his former security firm cheated the government in bills it submitted for protecting government employees in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a ruling made public Friday. Former Blackwater employees Brad and Melan Davis sued Prince and his company in 2008, alleging the company overbilled the government for its work. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III said there is no evidence Prince participated or had direct knowledge of any of the allegedly false billing invoices. The case is still scheduled to go to trial next month, with the company itself remaining as a defendant. But the judge has tossed out some of the lawsuits claims, including a salacious allegation that Blackwater was billing the government for prostitutes under the category of morale, welfare and recreation. Advertisement After ruling in May that significant parts of the case should go to trial, Ellis in recent weeks has chipped away at some of the plaintiffs claims, tossing out specific allegations and most recently now by dismissing Prince as a defendant. Princes lawyer, Victoria Toensing, said Friday she was pleased with the courts ruling. The Davises lawyer, Susan Burke, declined comment. The exact amount of the alleged overbilling on the $1 billion security contract is not clear, but the Davises allege that Blackwater overbilled the State Department for security it provided in Iraq and Afghanistan. The contract allowed Blackwater to bill a specific amount for personnel in the country on any given day. Spreadsheets showing who was in the country do not match the bills submitted by Blackwater, and employees were ordered to alter paperwork to ensure that no money was left on the table, Burke said at a pretrial hearing. Prince, meanwhile, no longer is associated with Blackwater, which now operates under the name Xe. He no longer lives in the U.S. Earlier this year, Prince helped a contractor in the United Arab Emirates establish a permanent force of about 800 foreign fighters to supplement the Emirati military. A spokesman for Prince, Mark Corallo, said Prince is doing a variety of security consulting work, including natural resource and agriculture security. The Davises lawsuit is one of several legal battles that Blackwater has fought following its contract work in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company has been trying to rehabilitate its image since a 2007 shooting in Baghdad that killed 17 people, outraged the Iraqi government and led to federal charges against several Blackwater guards. Those accusations were thrown out after a judge found prosecutors mishandled evidence, but the case was resurrected by a federal appeals court. A program that employs 29 homeless and formerly homeless people to clean Pacific Beach was celebrated as a success Thursday when community leaders recognized the workers for collecting 256 tons of rubbish from trash cans and 12 tons of litter from the street this past year. The Clean and Safe program is working, and because of the positive impact, we want to continue this past the one-year pilot program, said Sara Berns, executive director of Discover Pacific Beach, as she announced a fundraiser outside Mavericks Beach Club on Garnet Avenue. Besides the cleaning component, the program also contracts with National Public Safety to provide security in the business district for 40 hours a week. That company contracts with the nonprofit Pacific Beach Street Guardians, which helps find employment for local homeless people. Berns said the idea for a program to make Pacific Beach cleaner and safer came at a town hall meeting. In what she called a divine coincidence, Berns said Discover Pacific Beach was approached by Pacific Beach Street Guardians around the same time. Advertisement We wanted to solve some of the homeless issues here, not just drive them away, she said. The group contacted San Diego City Councilwoman Lorie Zapfs office, and quickly found support. Zapf provided $20,000 to help launch the program in February 2017, and on Thursday she gave another $25,000 to help it in its second year. This is a large amount of the small council budget I have, but its well worth it, she said. Berns said the program costs $140,000 annually, and a street team could be financed for $250 a day. Besides the donation from Zapfs office, Mavericks Beach Club gave $6,000 to keep the program going in its second year and Campland By The Bay gave $5,000. The current and formerly homeless people and security workers in the program also perform outreach to people they meet on the street, giving them information about resources to get help. Tim Pruesener, owner of iCatch Marketing, said he appreciates the programs multi-pronged approach to help the beach community. As a business owner in Pacific Beach, I really appreciate the Clean and Safe program, he said. I know now theres a phone number I can call, and a very responsive safety ambassador is available who shows up in a timely manner. Since Jan. 1, team members have responded to 544 calls, including requests for security checks and traffic control and reports about illegal dumping, trespassing, assaults, indecent exposures, vandalism and other issues. Since this program has launched, I have seen, and my employees have seen, a significant increase in cleanliness and safety in Pacific Beach, Pruesener said, adding that he appreciates that the effort is helping find long-term help for people in need. According to information presented by Discover Pacific Beach , workers in the program also painted and maintained more than 30 bike racks, maintained the landscaping at the Pacific Beach entryway median and offered 20 homeless people outreach referral services. None of the homeless members of the team were at the Thursday news conference, but Zapf said she has heard from them. At our State of the District, there was a woman who came up to me in tears to say how much it meant for her to be employed, she said. To get that kind of feedback was really rewarding. The Alpha Project and Downtown San Diego Partnership also have trash-removal programs that employ homeless or formerly homeless people. For information on donating to the Pacific Beach program, visit https://www.pacificbeach.org. Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 The last group of asylum seekers from the Central American caravan crossed into the United States this morning. A little after 9 a.m. a group of about 70 walked into the U.S. Port of Entry as friends planning to stay in Mexico waved goodbye and some cheered as the others walked into the U.S. Since arriving in Tijuana Sunday, approximately 228 members of the caravan entered the U.S. to ask for asylum. Just because they entered the country doesnt mean they will stay. The asylum process takes month, if not years, to complete and applicants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have high denial rates, records show. Advertisement As the asylum seekers left their makeshift tent city a few feet from the border, those who chose to stay in Mexico packed up. Among them was Mario Mejia, 35 of El Salvador. Mejia joined the caravan from the beginning at the Guatemala-Mexico border. He hoped to cross into the U.S. with his wife but decided not to go after a lawyer told him he had a weak case. Mejia has five deportations on his record between 2010 and 2013 for trying to cross from Mexico into Arizona. The latest one resulted in an 18-month stint inside an immigration detention center in southern Nevada, he said. Should he be caught again he would face three years in detention. Im happy for the people who have the opportunity to go, he said. My wife has never been to the United States. She was very excited for the opportunity. The last thing he told his wife was, keep moving forward, he said. Mejia, who fled gang violence in El Salvador, wont be able to stay in Tijuana. The Mexican government denied his asylum claim a year ago. I dont know what Im going to do, he said. For the first time since arriving in Tijuana Sunday, more members of the Central American caravan are inside the United States than in Mexico. Isabel Rodriguez, one of the 70 or so caravan members left in Tijuana, remained hopeful Thursday morning. The 52-year-old from El Salvador successfully guided her two grandchildren through a month-long journey to the U.S.-Mexico border -- one that left her with a sprained ankle after she tried to hop off a train in Mexico. By mid-day Thursday, her sense of accomplishment vanished with a single phone call. Rodriguez got word that three daughters she had left behind decided to flee El Salvador. One of their husbands, a violent gang member, threatened to kill the women when he found out Rodriguez had trekked to the border with his son. Advertisement Moments before she got the call, Rodriguez had planned to finally enter the U.S. to claim asylum. Now she had to choose between crossing the border or waiting for her three daughters to arrive in Tijuana a journey that will take them at least a month. I feel desperate and sad, Rodriguez said, fighting back tears. Ive never felt so confused. She chose to wait. I feel so bad, but I have to smile so others dont feel like I do, she said. 1 / 21 A group of about 48 Central American refugees lined up to enter the US on Thursday morning, behind another group of 23 that had already presented themselves to immigration officials. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 21 Alex Mensing of Pueblo sin Frontiers, rear, worked his way down the line taking a head count of a group of about 48 Central American refugees lined up to enter the US on Thursday morning, behind another group of 23 that had already presented themselves to immigration officials. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 21 Alex Mensing of Pueblo sin Frontiers, rear, worked his way down the line taking a head count of a group of about 48 Central American refugees lined up to enter the US on Thursday morning, behind another group of 23 that had already presented themselves to immigration officials. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 21 Alex Mensing, left, looked over his shoulder as he led a group of about 48 Central American refugees to the port of entry to present themselves to officials and ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 21 Honduran Josue Ornelas waved back towards the makeshift camp at the El Chaparral port of entry as he and about 47 other Central American refugees made their way up the ramp towards the port of entry to ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 21 Honduran Josue Ornelas waved back towards the makeshift camp at the El Chaparral port of entry as he and about 47 other Central American refugees made their way up the ramp towards the port of entry to ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 21 Central American migrants made their way up the ramp to enter the US from Mexico early Thursday morning. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 21 23 year-old Ronal Bomer from El Salvador handed out small toys to refugee children as they all waited at a makeshift camp for their turn to enter in to the US. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 21 Hondurnl refugee Maria Gomez raised her hand and shouted in celebration after it was announced that 70 more migrants belonging to the Caravan had presented themselves at the Port of Entry in San Ysidro seeking asylum in the US and been taken in. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 21 Honduran refugee Jose Casare carried donated diapers to the makeshift camp where Central American refugees were waiting to be processed in to the US after asking for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 21 sabele Rodriguez and her grandson Anderson Estaley, seven years-old, from El Salvador, waited at the makeshift camp for their turn to present themselves to US Officials asking for asylum (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 21 Transgender teenager Melany Santiago, 19, kicked a soccer ball around with the makeshift camp with 11 year-old Cristofer Repreza while waiting for their turn to present themselves to US officials to ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 21 Transgender teenager Melany Santiago, 19, kicked a soccer ball around with the makeshift camp with 11 year-old Cristofer Repreza while waiting for their turn to present themselves to US officials to ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 21 Seventy more migrants belonging to the Caravan presented themselves at the Port of Entry in San Ysidro seeking asylum in the US from their countries of origin. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 21 So many donations of food and clothing were coming in to the makeshift migrant camp for Central Americans that much of it was being loaded up and being sent to other shelters around the city of Tijuana. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 21 Transgender teenager Melany Santiago, 19, kicked a soccer ball around with the makeshift camp with 11 year-old Cristofer Repreza while waiting for their turn to present themselves to US officials to ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 21 A group of twenty Central American migrants made their way up the ramps to present themselves to US officials on Thursday afternoon to ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 21 So many donations of food and clothing were coming in to the makeshift migrant camp for Central Americans that much of it was being loaded up and being sent to other shelters around the city of Tijuana. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 21 A group of twenty Central American migrants made their way up the ramps to present themselves to US officials on Thursday afternoon to ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 21 From an elevated position you can see the two camps set up for migrants hoping to get asylum in the United states. On the bottom are a group of Mexican nationals fleeing drug war ravaged areas of Mexico and on the top right are Central Americans fleeing violence there. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 21 Former El Salvadoran Army soldier Balmore Ramirez Cortez, 32, who is fleeing that country with two of his kids and a nephew whose father was killed by gang members listened to an organizer before getting ready to attempt to get to t=US immigration officials and ask for asylum. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) Even as more and more immigrants from the caravan are allowed into the U.S. 70 were admitted Thursday, bringing the total to 158 Central Americans who flee death threats and gang violence oftentimes dont escape what they evade. Many, like Rodriguez, left family behind and are worried the same threats they are running from will claim their loved ones back home. Balmore Ramirez Cortez, 32, from El Salvador, came to Tijuana with his two teenage sons but left behind his 5-year-old daughter fearing she was too young for the trip. Ramirez and his sons left their small town because members of MS-13 threatened to kill them. Gang members killed Ramirezs brothers by hacking them to pieces with machetes, one in 2016 and another in 2017, because they knew someone in a rival gang. Although the brothers werent gang members themselves, simply knowing a rival gang member was enough to get them killed. He described leaving his hometown as a cruel and difficult decision. Im not going to the United States because I want to, he said. Im going to the United States to keep my family safe. Nearly all of the members of the caravan said the most dangerous part of their journey through Mexico was hopping on and off freight trains collectively known as La Bestia. Immigrants say those who sleep in the box carts risk being robbed, assaulted or kidnapped by bandits. Those who sleep on the roof risk falling asleep and falling off. Perhaps the most traumatizing moment for Rodriguez came when she lost her grip as she was hopping off the train during a stop. She was unloading her belongings and grasping onto one of her grandchildren when she slipped and sprained her ankle. She had to walk almost two hours to the nearest medics. The injury almost caused her to give up, but her two grandsons encouraged her to continue. They have such strength and courage, she said. Weve exposed the children to a lot of dangers but with the hope that they have a better future. Ramirez says the trains left his sons traumatized. It was during that part of their journey that his youngest son, 14, developed a fever. Hed lay motionless all day only moving when it was necessary, like switching from one train to another. There were moments when, as a father, Ive felt guilty about bringing him on this trip, he said. In those moments I remind myself that Im doing this for them. Ill never be able to give them a large inheritance but I hope one day they appreciate what Ive tried to do. As Tijuanas caravan tent city continued to shrink Thursday, organizers announced that they no longer needed donations. People from the neighboring tent city, a larger one made up mostly of Mexican asylum-seekers, claimed some of the donations intended for the Central Americans. Of that group, 45 Mexicans were allowed into the U.S to claim asylum Thursday afternoon. Among them was the man responsible for controlling the waiting list and maintaining order among the crowd. Members of the group claimed they had been skipped in line while a new leader tried to re-establish order while adding more names to the wait list. With discontent rising among the group of Mexicans, other immigrants were trying to join the list of caravan members waiting to enter the U.S. Among them was Laura Macario Lopez, 26, from Guatemala. After the accidental death of her boyfriend, another man became interested in her. He stalked her and threatened to kill her unless she became his girlfriend, Lopez said. Lopez, who is an elementary school teacher and was about to complete a doctorate program before she left, said she wants a normal life. I just want stability, she said. I just want peace. I just want to keep studying and work hard in life. On Thursday, she lingered in the caravans tent city as she tried to get acquainted with other immigrants in hopes of being added to their list. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter Doctors at a Connecticut hospital say they removed a 132-pound tumor from a womans abdomen, and she is expected to recover fully. The ovarian tumor was diagnosed after the 38-year-old woman reported rapid weight gain of about 10 pounds per week over a two-month period. The doctors at Danbury Hospital announced Thursday that the five-hour surgery was completed successfully after extensive planning by a team of 25 clinical specialists. The tumor was benign, but because it was sitting on a major blood vessel doctors say they were concerned about the patients heart. The patient was also malnourished because the tumor was sitting on her digestive tract. Advertisement Pathologists have been conducting genetic tests on the tumor to learn why it grew so quickly. Diseases spread by ticks, mosquitoes and fleas more than tripled in the U.S. A scientist just turned 104. His birthday wish is to die. Mother, wife, million-dollar patient: Keeping her alive is a full-time job - and good business for drug companies The office may be nondescript, anonymous even, but the assessor-recorder-county clerk is a powerful post with responsibilities and influence that affect virtually every resident and patch of ground in the region. The combined duties, performed in San Diego County by Ernest J. Dronenburg Jr. since he was elected in 2010, include everything from issuing marriage licenses and birth and death records to recording real estate transactions and assessing property for tax purposes. Dronenburg, 74, a Republican from Fallbrook, is facing attorney Matthew Strabone, 35, a Democrat from New York City who now lives in North Park. The office is supposed to be non-partisan, but each of the local Republican and Democratic party committees has contributed thousands of dollars to their respective candidates. And more donations are expected before the first votes are cast. Advertisement Dronenburg, who was born in Washington D.C. and migrated to San Diego County as a toddler, previously served 20 years on the state Board of Equalization. He said the assessor-recorder-county clerk post is among the most rewarding he has undertaken. I like this job, Dronenburg said in an interview at his county office. Were all about great customer service. Thats what we do. Over his two terms, Dronenburg said he has turned around the office to make it more efficient and more responsive to the public. He incorporated new technologies into an aging business model and focused on reaching out to formerly overlooked parts of the community, he said. When I came in, this place was a real mess, Dronenburg said. Leadership was in real chaos. Strabone, who runs his own law firm specializing in nonprofit and ethics legal work, said he wants to make the county office more user-friendly. He wants to improve access to records by posting more documents online and reducing or eliminating the $2-per-page fee, among other things. The real purpose of the office is to support people at some very important moments of their lives, whether they are getting married, having children or buying a house, Strabone said in a telephone interview. The opportunity to help people in those respects is what drives me. Strabone does not hold a valid appraisers certificate as required under state law for every elected assessor. The same law permits candidates to run without the required certification as long as they apply for the credential within 30 days of taking office. The private-sector lawyer said his law practice regularly calls on him to evaluate property values for clients. A lot of my clients are charities and they receive charitable donations of property fairly regularly, he said. And its my job to review the the valuations and appraisals of donated property for tax reporting purposes. The incumbent was elected eight years ago by beating David Butler by just over 2 percentage points. Butler had been appointed the prior year when Greg Smith vacated the seat in mid-term. Dronenburg was re-elected by a 28-point spread four years ago. Dronenburg made national headlines in 2013 when he tried to stop counties from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He said the effort rejected by the state Supreme Court was aimed at protecting gay couples from being whipsawed should state and federal rulings on the matter conflict. I asked for a stay because I believe its cruel to set up people, he said at the time. My regret is I didnt communicate well, he said this week. The 2018 campaign has raised some other issues. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in February that Dronenburg took more than 100 trips between 2012 and 2017 at county expense, including stays at resort destinations such as Lake Tahoe, Bass Lake and the Sonoma County wine country. The conventions and trade-association meetings, which Dronenburg said are vital to his work serving the public, cost more than $90,000. He said the knowledge he gained at the various meetings saved the county millions of dollars over the years. Just last month, the Fair Political Practices Commission opened an investigation into the Dronenburg campaign for what appears to be a failure to disclose a $5,000 contribution from the Republican Party within 24 hours, as required under state law. Dronenburg said the late notice, which was filed publicly four days after the contribution was received by the campaign, was a simple oversight and accepted responsibility. According to the latest election disclosures, both Dronenburg and Strabone raised more than $100,000, although the challenger has so far outspent the incumbent. Dronenburg reported more than $110,000 in contributions, including $45,000 in loans to the campaign from his personal funds. He reported just over $86,000 in cash on hand. Strabone raised just over $115,000 between last year and last month. The challenger has been spending his campaign contributions more quickly. He reported just over $20,000 in cash on hand last month. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox of Rancho Santa Fe is taking issue with an April 23 story in The San Diego Union-Tribune, headlined, California governor candidate says pot addicts should be hospitalized, not incarcerated. Cox told KPBS on Thursday that he was talking about heroin and opioid addicts, not cannabis users. The Union-Tribune story was based on comments made by Cox at a March candidates forum hosted by 10News and the Union-Tribune. Video of the forum was posted with the story. At the candidates forum At the forum, Cox said, Id like to go to the Portugal system where they actually put people who use marijuana in hospitals and cure them of their substance abuse. Im not interested in jailing recreational marijuana users, and Im certainly for medical marijuana. Advertisement John Cox on marijuana at the 2018 Gubernatorial Forum At the newspaper Reporter Joshua Stewart followed up with a series of questions for Cox, at an editorial board meeting at the newspapers headquarters. The meeting was recorded, and this audio contains the relevant part: Here is a transcription of the questions and answers, from the audio: Q: You mentioned at the debate, I listened to the tape this morning that -- this is regarding cannabis in California -- Id like to go to the Portugal system where they actually put people who use marijuana in hospitals and cure them of their substance abuse. A: Yeah. Q: Why do you think that institutionalizing marijuana users would be in the states best interest? A: Im not suggesting thats institutionalization. But Im suggesting that people who are addicted to substances, substance abuse, should get treated. They shouldnt be incarcerated. That was the point. Q: In Portugal you know, the system that you mentioned, they legalized all recreational drugs. But if you are found with heroin you have mandatory treatment. I mean wouldnt that, is that something youre suggesting? Why? A: Yeah. I think thats a reasonable thing to look at. Q: Why expand it to cannabis where you know its largely been shown to be non-addictive and the people that are using cannabis arent a threat? A: If thats shown to be the case Im not necessarily demanding that it be done with regard to cannabis. But I think there are some statistics that show that people who are heavy users of cannabis can also then transition into other drugs as well. ButIm not an expert. Ill get experts involved to determine what the best policies are for that. Im looking for, the point of my making reference to Portugal is Im always looking for best practices. Thats what a business guy does. You look for best practices. I like to look at what works. And thats not ideological thats just practical. I want to see what works. And frankly I dont care if it comes to me from a Democrat. I dont care if it comes to me from Portugal. Im going to look at what works to solve problems. And thats what Im going to be interested in doing. Q: In Portugal they legalized all drugs. You know from cannabis to heroin. Do you think that would be appropriate or A: I wouldnt favor that. On the radio In the KPBS report about Cox that aired on Thursday, he was asked about the Union-Tribune story. Heres the exchange: Q: You were interviewed by the Union Tribune here in San Diego recently and you said that marijuana users should be put in mandatory treatment facilities. A: That is absolutely not true. Q: You did not say this? A: No, and I have it on tape. I have it on tape and we played the tape for the Union-Tribune and they still held to their position. I clearly did not say that recreational pot users should go to hospitals. I talked about heroin. I talked about abuse of drugs that are addicting like heroin and opioids. We should do what Portugal does -- not put those people in jail but put them in the hospitals and get them well. Thats the right solution. Marijuana, no. Q: Marijuana users, you said nothing about putting them in hospitals? A: Absolutely not, and I will be happy to play the tape for you. And this is one of the issues with the media these days. We purposely taped that meeting and we played it. And this got a lot of coverage on radio. Carl DeMaio here in San Diego covered this extensively, so did Mark Larson. They played the tape on the radio and it clearly said that I was talking about heroin and opioids and addictive drugs. Marijuana to my knowledge is not an addictive drug. The radio station concluded its report by playing audio from the March candidates forum where Cox said: Id like to go to the Portugal system where they actually put people who use marijuana in hospitals and cure them of their substance abuse. The Union-Tribune asked the campaign for an explanation of the differing statements and received no immediate response. Any explanation will be added here once received. Labor leader Mickey Kasparians union has given $150,000 to support former Assemblywoman Lori Saldanas bid for county supervisor a single contribution that is several times greater than what the candidate has raised herself throughout her campaign. Campaign finance records show that a pro-Saldana committee run by the San Diego Working Families Council a consortium of labor unions received the contribution from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135 on Wednesday. Both the council and the union are run by Kasparian. The pro-Saldana committee had previously received a $50,000 contribution from the Laborers International Union of North America Local 89, bringing the new total to $200,000 in donations. Saldana, who has languished as a fundraiser, had $725 in her committees account as of April 21, so the money from Kasparians union could jump-start her campaign. Advertisement In the latest campaign reporting period, one of her Democratic opponents, former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, had $256,896 in the bank, while Omar Passons a Democrat and a lawyer, had $13,268. Former San Diego Deputy Fire Chief Ken Malbrough had $15,421, and former District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a Republican, had $224,055 cash-on-hand. Kasparian and Saldanas campaign both did not return a request for comment. While the funds are significant, they were given to an independent campaign. Saldana and her team cannot control how they are used as she campaigns for a seat held by term-limited Supervisor Ron Roberts. In fact, her campaign cannot coordinate with the independent expenditure committee, as its known. Support and contributions from Kasparian-controlled groups has become controversial after the labor leader was sued four times since late 2016, including two lawsuits that accused him of sexual misconduct. One woman accused Kasparian of pressuring her into an unwanted sexual relationship while she worked under him at Local 135. Another woman said that Kasparian had groped her several times and at one point pinned her to a sofa inside his office. All of the cases have been privately settled, and Kasparian denies any and all wrongdoing. The San Diego Union-Tribune surveyed Democratic officeholders and candidates about their views on the allegations against Kasparian and any plans to accept an endorsement or money from one of his political organizations. Saldana said on Twitter at the time, I have no plans to accept a contribution, an endorsement or other types of campaign support from UFCW 135 or the Working Families Council while Mickey Kasparian is president. She later said she changed her mind as circumstances changed. I said, literally in a tweet, that I had no plans...I had no plans to ask for it because they had no plans to offer, she said in an interview in March. As the pro-Saldana committee received a major contribution, a group dubbed San Diegans Opposed to Hypocrisy & Lori Saldana for Supervisor 2018 has received a $35,000 contribution from the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, a coalition of unions that Kasparian ran until, under attack, he resigned in May 2017 and created a new group. The anti-Saldana group has raised $55,000, according to campaign finance records. Like the anti-Saldana group, candidates cannot determine how this money is used. Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 A man drove himself to a hospital with several puncture wounds after he was attacked by a group of men and stabbed outside a liquor store in the South Bay neighborhood of Palm City Thursday night, police said. The 51-year-old victim was expected to survive the stabbing, which happened about 10:40 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot of Palm City Liquor on Hollister Street, San Diego police Officer Robert Heims said. The victim was in the parking lot when he got into an argument for an unknown reason with a man standing outside a nearby vehicle. While they were arguing, several Hispanic male suspects got out of a black SUV from nearby and attacked the victim,' Heims said. During the assault, the victim was stabbed four times with an unknown object in the hip, stomach and thigh, Heims said. He took himself to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not expected to be life-threatening. Advertisement No description of the attackers was immediately available, Heims said. Detectives from the San Diego Police Departments southern division were investigating the assault. Firefighters rescued a trapped driver from a vehicle this morning after it crashed through a guardrail and ended up pinned on its side against several trees in Scripps Ranch, authorities said. Fire crews were dispatched at 2:53 a.m. to the crash site on Pomerado Road near Willow Creek Road, a little east of Interstate 15, according to a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department incident log. A firefighter at the scene told dispatchers it appeared the vehicle was speeding before it crashed and became pinned on its side against several eucalyptus trees. Crews had to stabilize the vehicle before rescuing the driver, which 10News reported involved cutting off several tree limbs. The driver was able to crawl out of the vehicle on his own after rescuers created an opening in the wreckage, 10News reported. Advertisement The driver was taken to a hospital, but the extent of his injuries was not immediately clear. San Diego police were on the scene investigating, but preliminary information about the cause of the crash was scarce, Sgt. Michael Tansey said. 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 hes not saying when and where. Trump also pushed back on a report that hes considering the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea. Earlier this week, Trump expressed a preference for holding the big event with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the demilitarized zone or DMZ between the two Koreas. 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. Well be announcing it soon, Trump told reporters Friday from the White House South Lawn before departing for Dallas. Hes previously said the summit was planned for May or early June. Advertisement A meeting with Kim Jong Un seemed an outlandish possibility just a few months ago when the two leaders were trading threats and insults over North Koreas 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 hed 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 wasnt 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, South Korean President Moon Jae-in 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 wasnt 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 was due to meet 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. Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages, and I think youre 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. Albertsons grocery stores violated the rights of Hispanic employees in San Diego with a policy forbidding workers to speak Spanish around non-Spanish speakers even when conversing with each other during breaks or helping Spanish-speaking customers, according to a new lawsuit. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Albertsons Companies, Inc., on Thursday in federal court. The lawsuit accuses the Idaho-based chain of discriminating against Hispanic employees at San Diego-area stores, harassing them and subjecting them to a hostile workplace because of their race or country of origin. Employers have to be aware of the consequences of certain language policies, Anna Park, an attorney for the commissions district office covering San Diego County, said in a statement on Thursday. Targeting a particular language for censorship is often synonymous with targeting a particular national origin, which is both illegal and highly destructive to workplace morale and productivity. According to the lawsuit, the national grocery retailer is one of the countrys largest, employing some 280,000 employees across 35 states. The companys stores serve about 2,300 communities and operate under 19 well-known banners, including Albertsons, Vons and Safeway. Advertisement While we cannot comment on this pending litigation specifically, Albertsons does not require that its employees speak English only, store spokeswoman Jenna Watkinson said in a statement. Albertsons serves a diverse customer population and encourages employees with foreign language abilities to use those skills to serve its customers. In or around 2012, Albertsons developed an unwritten English-only policy, which Albertsons implemented as essentially a no Spanish policy, the lawsuit alleges. In a training video, managers and employees were instructed that employees should not speak Spanish as long as there was a non-Spanish speaking person present. An upper-level manager at an Albertsons store on Lake Murray Boulevard in San Diego allegedly communicated to Hispanic employees, including Guadalupe Zamorano and Hermelinda Stevenson, that they could not speak Spanish anywhere on the premises regardless of whether they were on break, according to the lawsuit. They were also forbidden to speak Spanish to Spanish-speaking customers, the lawsuit says. David Loy, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union in San Diego, said he did not know enough about the facts of the lawsuit to comment on it specifically, but, typically, English-only policies must be justified by a business as a necessity, such as for safety reasons. Loy said it was not obvious to him what business necessity would require employees to speak only English even on their breaks or when serving Spanish-speaking customers, but the justification may be more clear once the parties have had time to present more information about the facts and circumstances surrounding the policy decision. The manager and others allegedly harassed Hispanic employees about speaking Spanish, threatened them with discipline and publicly reprimanded them for allegedly speaking the language because managers didnt like it, the lawsuit alleged. Non-Hispanic employees were not similarly harassed or subjected to the no Spanish policy, the lawsuit said. One on occasion, in October 2012, the manager scolded reprimanded both Zamorano, an employee since 2007, and Stevenson, an employee since 1989, in front of the store for speaking Spanish, the lawsuit alleged. When Zamorano called Albertsons hotline to complain, the union representative who investigated the complaint told her she needed to speak English because she was living in the United States, and took no further action, the lawsuit says. In December 2012, Zamorano was again reprimanded -- this time because she was speaking Spanish to a Spanish-speaking customer -- and told to speak only English at work, the lawsuit says. The following year, Zamorano and Stevenson both requested transfers to other stores, the lawsuit says. Stevenson asked for the transfer in June 2013 because harassment and other issues at work were making her physically sick with anxiety and stomach problems, the lawsuit says. In November 2013, Zamorano also asked for a transfer, citing harassment, the lawsuit said, and the manager allegedly refused to submit her request until she removed the statement about harassment. The lawsuit asked the court to order Albertsons to stop discriminating against employees based on their national origin, to compensate the aggrieved employees for monetary losses and emotional pain according to proof at trial, to award punitive damages and to pay the EEOCs legal costs. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com Patrick Walders, the director of choral studies at San Diego State University, has filed a lawsuit against two former music students who he claims defamed him in connection with an alleged affair with a student. Walders has worked for the university since 2011 and continues to hold his job there, though he has been suspended with pay for more than a year as officials investigate a complaint stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a female student. Cory Marshall, a spokesman for the university, provided a statement this week confirming that Walders remained in his job but was not teaching or conducting. Marshall declined further comment because it is a personnel matter. The lawsuit, filed April 2 in San Diego Superior Court, alleges defamation, public disclosure of private facts and other wrongdoing by former SDSU music students Michael Sakell and Jess Barrera. In the lawsuit, Walders claims the misinformation has harmed his reputation and cost him professional opportunities. Advertisement The allegations echo similar claims Walders made against Sakell, his former teaching assistant, last year. At that time, Walders unsuccessfully sought a court order to block Sakell from spreading allegedly false information about what Walders and a female student were doing when Sakell allegedly interrupted their private encounter during an SDSU-sponsored trip to Austria in February 2017. In the lawsuit Walders filed last month, Walders accuses Sakell and Barrera of spreading allegedly false information to professional colleagues and potential employers in San Diegos small choral community that were clearly intended to harm (Walders) and his reputation, standing in the community and his economic relationships with employers and others. Sakells attorney, Nicholas J. Moore, provided a statement responding to the lawsuit on his clients behalf. Truth is an absolute defense to a claim of defamation, the statement said. We are looking forward to Dr. Walders deposition where he will have to testify, under oath, about his relationships with students. We are confident that the evidence will show that any harm Dr. Walders has suffered is the direct result of his own inappropriate conduct. Barrera said by telephone on Thursday that some of the comments the lawsuit says he made about Walders were taken out of context and he is not to blame for the consequences of Walders choices. I think hes done it to himself, Barrera said. I dont think theres much of a case against me. The lawsuit includes examples of the alleged defamation, such as emails Walders believes Sakell sent to people including the executive director at La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, where Walders is the choral director, and a professional contact Walders had at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. The emails allegedly said Walders had been caught having sex with students, according to the lawsuit. Diane Salisbury, executive director for the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, told the Union-Tribune on Wednesday that Walders was on administrative leave from his position as choral director until further notice. Sakell also allegedly contacted students from James Madison University in Virginia, where Walders once taught, and falsely asserted in text messages that Walders drugged, raped and impregnated a student and forced her to have sex for her degree, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit alleges Sakell approached two local reporters in an attempt to reach a larger audience, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit did not name the reporters or their news organizations. The lawsuit was filed after a March 30 article in The San Diego Union-Tribune about Walders paid suspension from teaching duties at SDSU, pending the outcome of the universitys investigation into an alleged sexual relationship with a female student. Sakell declined the Union-Tribunes request for an interview for the March 30 article. He referred questions for this article to his lawyer, Nicholas J. Moore. Walders lawsuit seeks unspecified damages to be determined according to proof in court. Walders, 43, is paid $77,000 by the state university, according to a database kept by the group Transparent California. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com Stories about Californias housing crisis often focus on how the high cost of shelter hammers the poor, increases homelessness and makes home ownership seem a distant dream for young people. But a new article in Chief Executive magazine offers a housing perspective that should give elected officials even more of a sense of urgency about adding housing stock. It notes how housing costs are making it more difficult for companies in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area to attract and retain talented workers. This includes the tech firms that create so much wealth and cachet for the Golden State. This problem is no surprise. A Business Insider report in March noted that San Francisco saw the biggest population decline 15,489 residents of any U.S. city in the last quarter of 2017. This was foreshadowed by a 2015 Urban Land Institute survey that found 74 percent of millennials in the greater Bay Area were thinking about moving because of extreme housing costs. These findings need to be taken much more seriously by those who argue that Californias charms are so immense that a brain drain isnt a serious risk. Not only is it a serious risk; it may already be happening. If industries which offer starting pay north of $100,000 struggle with recruiting, that shows that the allure of a great climate, beautiful beaches and inspiring culture only goes so far. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Advertisement Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Could investigators be closer than ever to catching the infamous Zodiac Killer? The capture of the so-called Golden State Killer in April has police investigators and other people taking fresh looks unsolved, high-profile homicide investigations and hoping for similar success, and here in California, one of the first cases to come to mind is the so-called Zodiac Killer. The Zodiac Killer was back in the news this week thanks to a new strategy for tying DNA evidence to suspects that helped lead to the arrest of Joseph DeAngelo, the man police believe committed the crimes of the Golden State Killer. Who is the Zodiac Killer and how much closer is he to being caught? Heres what we know. What is the Zodiac Killer known for? In this photo from March 29, 1974, San Francisco homicide inspectors David Toschi, left, and William Armstrong go through a murder victim's clothes at the morgue in the Hall of Justice in San Francisco. AP Photo/The San Francisco Chronicle, Susan Ehmer The so-called Zodiac Killer has been tied to a number of targeted victims in the late 1960s. He is most well known for referring to himself in letters as the Zodiac and sending cryptic codes and messages to Bay Area news outlets and police. Hes known as Zodiac Killer because some cryptograms included in his messages used astrological symbols. His letters were sent to the San Francisco, the San Francisco Examiner and the Vallejo Times-Herald. What were his alleged crimes? Starting on Dec. 20, 1968, he is believed to have killed at least five people, though he has claimed responsibility for many other deaths in letters hes written. The Zodiac Killer fatally stabbed or shot his victims to death in 1968 and 1969. Where did the crimes occur? His suspected crimes all ocurred in Northern California in the cities of Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa and San Francisco. What will happen with the DNA? DeAngelo was arrested after investigators said they matched DNA found at a crime scene with the genetic material a relative had submitted to a genealogy website. The method has led to a discussion on privacy concerns, but is now in the sights of investigators of the Zodiac Killer. Authorities have evidence including a rope and letters the Zodiac Killer sent, but thus far, they havent been successfully used to put together a DNA profile of any suspect. Police in Vallejo have sent two letters from the alleged Zodiac Killer for advanced DNA analysis. But authorities are trying to downplay the hype surrounding the case, and Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan said the letters were submitted as a routine matter. Sampayan, a former homicide detective, said police submit samples every couple of years in hopes that advances in DNA testing will finally yield a profile detectives can use. However, he added that he believes there will come a time when we get a match. Vallejo Police are also trying to put a stop to speculation. Currently, we are not close to identifying a suspect, nor do we anticipate developing that information at any time in the near future, a statement from the Vallejo Police said on Thursday. We have no new information to provide at this time. None of this has stopped true-crime fans and other interested people from wildly speculating about the DNA factor. The Conversation The Conversation with Abby and Luis is live on Facebook every weekday at noon PDT. They discuss whats written on this blog and more with viewers and welcome questions and comments that they reply to in real time. Check out Abby and Luis talking about the Zodiac Killer below. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin 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. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- Cerebral malaria is counted under severe malaria which according to CDC has an estimated 6.7 million new cases and around 4000 deaths in Kenya and other malaria prone areas such as Coastal and Western region and Nyanza. During cerebral malaria there is a state of unarousable coma with malaria infected blood in the peripheral circulation. The condition of coma is due to some other type of infections or hypoglycemia. The presence of retinopathy has been an addition in the clinical diagnosis of both adult and children. The postmortem studies done for observing the pathophysiology of cerebral malaria has found that Plasmodium falciparum infections accounts for majority of the cerebral malaria cases showing a common feature of vascular sequestration in the brain of infected erythrocytes. There is a difference between cerebral malaria in adults and in children. They can be differentiated based on the infected erythrocytes sequestration pattern with variable vascular pathology. Request Report for Table of Contents @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/15220 Cerebral Malaria Therapeutics Market: Drivers and Restraints There has been a decline in the cases of malaria death and infections due to the research efforts. But at the same time, there has been an exponential rise in the drug resistance creating a need for new therapeutics. Moreover, the increase in the global temperature will expand the territory of mosquito-borne diseases driving a need to understand the molecular mechanism that underlines this parasitic infection. According to the National Institutes of Health, in 2015 there were 400,000 deaths from malaria mainly in children under years old. IN some cases, the parasite affects individual brain which kills 15% to 30% of the 200 million affected cases. Moreover, national government is granting universities research funds to investigate the treatment for cerebral malaria. In February 2017, NIH granted US$ 8.4 million to Michigan State University to investigate treatments for children with cerebral malaria. Cerebral Malaria Therapeutics Market: Segmentation Cerebral malaria therapeutics market is classified on the basis of drug class, distribution channel and region. Based on drug the cerebral malaria therapeutics market is segmented into the following: Quinine, Artemisinin derivatives Based on distribution channel the cerebral malaria therapeutics market is segmented into the following: Retail pharmacies, Online pharmacies, Hospital pharmacies, Drug store Cerebral Malaria Therapeutics Market: Overview Cerebral malaria as persists at least one hour after termination of a seizure in the presence of asexual P. falciparum parasitaemia and absence of other causes of encephalopathy. Any patient presenting with falciparum parasitaemia and impaired consciousness must be started on parenteral antimalarial drugs and shifted to an intensive care unit. Respiratory distress, severe malarial anemia, and hypoglycemia are the most common complications in pediatric cerebral malaria whereas acute renal failure, jaundice and hypoglycemia are the most frequent concurrent complications occurring in adult cerebral malaria cases. Cerebral Malaria Therapeutics Market: Region-wise Outlook Geographically, the cerebral malaria therapeutics market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East &Africa. North America dominated the cerebral malaria therapeutics market in terms of revenue followed by Europe. In North America, U.S. contributed to major share. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region owing to the high incidence of malaria, rising healthcare industries and increasing investments for improving the infra-structure. Request a Sample Brochure of the Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/15220 Cerebral Malaria Therapeutics Market: Key Market Participants Few of the manufacturers in the cerebral malaria therapeutics market are Novartis AG, Cipla, Inc., Zydus- Cadila, Ipca Laboratories Ltd., Sanofi and Eisai Co., Ltd Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- A new research study titled, "Fermented Soft Drinks - China - APRIL 2018" has been added to the comprehensive research repository of Market Research Hub (MRH). The research offers in-depth analysis and insights into the key factors that are likely to influence the China fermented soft drinks landscape. According to the research study, the pervasive health and wellness trend is sweeping the fermented soft drinks landscape in China, and this segment has the potential to become one of the most prominent channels in the soft drink category in the future. The research study offers quantitative data on the total market value of fermented soft drinks in China. The leading companies and brands operating in the fermented soft drinks landscape have been analyzed in detail in the report. Request For Sample Report : https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1723079 In addition to thorough analysis on the competitive landscape in this growing market, the research report also studies the key motivations and aspirations of the target audience. The consumer interest and motivations have been analyzed in detail so that manufacturers can develop effective strategies to appeal to the ever-evolving tastes. According to the study, lactobacillus drinks remain one of the most popular fermented soft drinks in China. Concentrated enzyme are the other leading fermented soft drink product in China. Highlighting the unmet needs of consumers, the report opines that Chinese consumers have high expectations from fermented soft drinks. As a significant majority of consumers in China look at fermented soft drinks as functional drinks, the pressure is on manufacturers to meet the expectations of the target audience. According to the study, demand for chilled lactobacillus drinks is likely to grow at a higher pace during the assessment period. The growing demand for fermented juice can lead to a revival of the category in the near future. In a bid to study the key developments that have shaped the market, the study offers complete information on the new launches in the juice category and subcategory for the period 2014-2017. Browse Full Report with TOC- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/fermented-soft-drinks-china-april-2018-report.html According to the report, a majority of consumers in China are consuming RTD drinks to boost their digestion process. A significant percentage of enzyme products are imported from Taiwan and Japan. Wei Chuan remains one of the notable players in the market, as it has got a 'blue hat' endorsement. A number of key players in the market are focusing on launching fermented drinks that are especially targeted towards females. Overall, the research study on fermented soft drinks in China offers in-depth analysis and insights on the key factors that are likely to shape the market in the near future. Readers can expect qualitative and quantitative insights from the research study that can be used to formulate business strategy. Enquire about this Report- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1723079 About Market Research Hub Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH's expansive collection of 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 Us 90 State Street, Albany, NY 12207, United States Toll Free : 800-998-4852 (US-Canada) Email : press@marketresearchhub.com Website : https://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2018 -- Copper foil is a sheet of copper that is usually only a few micrometer in thickness. Copper foils are commonly used as a conductor in printed circuit boards (PCBs) and flexible connectors. Copper has high electric conductivity and is also ductile and malleable. This makes it one of the widely used metals in the emerging electric & electronics industry. This, in turn, is expected to drive the copper foils market in the next few years with a lot of demand estimated from Asia Pacific. Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=17369 There are two widely available forms of copper foils: electrolytically deposited (ED) copper and rolled annealed (RA) copper. ED copper foils are produced by electroplating the copper from a solution, which develops a columnar-grain structure in the metal. In ED copper foils, grains grow perpendicular to the foil. RA copper films are formed through the mechanical operation of applying the rolling pressure on heated, pure-copper ingots. In RA copper foils, grains grow parallel to the foil, resembling a plate-like structure. The two forms of copper foils differ primarily in their mechanical properties, with RA copper foils exhibiting greater ductility and elongation properties but lower hardness and tensile strength. ED copper foils are available in annealed and non-annealed grades while a special, high-ductility grade of the foil is also obtainable. RA copper foils are available in rolled, annealed, and special, low-temperature annealed grade. A large portion of the total electrodeposited copper foil produced is used for printed-wiring boards. ED copper foils are also employed for high-energy, low-power applications such as Li-ion batteries for laptops, cell phones, and consumer electronics. In Li-ion batteries, copper foils are used as negative-electrode current collectors. RA copper foils are generally employed for high-energy, high-power applications such as drivetrain and power tools as well as applications such as printed circuits, electromagnetic shielding, and rechargeable batteries. Other applications of RA copper foils include arts & crafts, panels, and laminated boards. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/copper-foils-market.html Asia Pacific is a major producer of copper foils, catering to the high demand from the electric & electronics industry in the region. The production of copper in China has increased exponentially in the last two decades, providing ample raw material to manufacturers of copper films. China is also the leading consumer of copper foils in this region, followed by Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The U.S. is another important consumer of copper foils with a majority of the demand coming from high-tech electronics in military, aerospace, and defense sectors. In Europe, Germany accounts for a major share of the copper foils market, followed by the U.K. and France. Among applications, use of copper foils in Li-ion batteries is speedily growing. Growing importance of flexible electronics is projected to be a major driver for the copper foils market in the next decade. A prominent technological challenge in this market is development of ultra-thin copper foils while maintaining speedy production rates. The low-temperature, annealed grade of copper foils is touted to be a promising solution to this problem. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2018 -- Fatty Methyl Ester Sulfonate (FMES) is an anionic surfactant obtained from palm oil. It is derived by the esterification of fatty acid present in palm oil, followed by sulfonation. Methyl ester of palm oil fatty acid is sulfonated by sulfur trioxide to produce FMES. The number of carbon atoms present in the fatty acid varies from 12 to 18. The property of FMES to act as a potential surfactant depends on the carbon chain length. FMES with 16 carbon chain length shows the highest level of performance, followed by 18 and 12 carbon chain lengths. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fatty-methyl-ester-sulfonate-market.html FMES is used widely as detergent in industries, as it offers physiochemical properties that enable it to act as washing agent. It exhibits high detergency and calcium ion stability. FMES functions as an excellent emulsifier and softening agent. It is used in soap, household detergents, liquid detergents, slurry, etc. Usage of FMES modifies the viscosity of paste detergent and slurry washing powder. Furthermore, FMES is employed in industrial and institutional cleaners. Personal care and detergent industries are the major end-users of FMES. Additionally, FMES can be employed in oilfield chemicals. Sodium salt of FMES can also act as an emulsifying agent in the plastic industry. It is used as release agent in rubber and printing inks industries. FMES is environment friendly, as it is obtained from natural sources such as palm oil and coconut oil. The global FMES market is projected to expand significantly in the next few years. Asia Pacific has been dominating the market for FMES of late due to growth in the personal care industry in developing countries such as China, India, Thailand, and South Korea. The FMES market in the region is estimated to expand at a fast paced CAGR during the forecast period. Expansion of personal care and textiles segments is likely to play a key role in the growth of the FMES market in Asia Pacific in the near future. North America also held substantial share of the global FMES market in 2014. Strong market for personal care products in developed countries such as the U.S. and Canada boosted demand for FMES in 2014. The FMES market in North America is anticipated to experience steady growth during the forecast period. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to be the emerging markets for FMES in the near future. Developing countries such as Brazil and Saudi Arabia are anticipated to be the potential markets for FMES during the forecast period, owing to strong demand from the personal care industry. The FMES market in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is expected to register rapid CAGR during the forecast period. Rise in per capita income in developing countries such as India, China, and Brazil is likely to boost the market for FMES in the next few years. Increase in consumer awareness and rapid urbanization in these developing countries are projected to propel the market for personal care products and laundry products. This, in turn, is anticipated to drive the demand of FMES in these end-user industries. Furthermore, usage of FMES is increasing in several end-user industries owing to its environmental sustainability and biodegradability. Extraction of FMES from inexpensive and renewable sources enables it to be a potential alternative for linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, its counterpart. Rising awareness about the usage of environment-friendly products in developing regions coupled with cost effectiveness is the key driver of the global FMES market. However, usage of FMES in liquid detergent is limited. This is anticipated to hamper market growth during the forecast period. However, extensive research and development efforts are expected to offer new opportunities in the market. Request to view Sample Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=9497 Some of the key manufacturers of FMES include Chemithon Corporation, Lion Corporation (S) Pte Ltd, Wilmar International Ltd., P&G Chemicals, KLK OLEO, Krishi Oils Limited, Fenchem, and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2018 -- Fluroelastomers are special purpose synthetic rubbers based on fluorocarbons, with superior performance and strong chemical resistance, particularly in high temperature applications. These polymers are also known for their exceptional resistance to a broad spectrum of chemicals and fluids. Fluroelastomers also have strong mechanical and sealing properties. Working temperature range for fluroelastomers stands at -26 C to 230 C. However, they operate at even higher temperatures for short working timelines. Various types of fluroelastomers such as hoses, gaskets, and O-rings are used in key end-user industries such as aerospace and automotive. These polymers are primarily used in seals and barriers, which are subjected to severe environments not suitable for other elastomers. Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=14300 Three major types of fluroelastomers are used in the industry: fluorocarbon elastomers, fluorosilicone elastomers, and perfluroelastomers. Fluorocarbon elastomers are widely used in key applications where high temperature ranges and chemical attacks are encountered. High cost and relatively different technology of curing and compounding are some of the primary limitations of the usage of fluorocarbon elastomers, where the cured products usually possess low resilience and low temperature flexibility. Fluorosilicones are primarily consumed in aerospace fuel systems and automotive fuel emission control systems. These elastomers provide high resistance to solvents, and oils and fuels, and also offer high resilience. Perfluroelastomers are specialty high-performance elastomers with high-temperature stability as well as strong chemical resistance properties. Asia Pacific is witnessing rapid economic growth, primarily due to expansion in automotive and construction industries. Rising construction activities in the region has fueled demand for fluoroelastomer compounds. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for fluroelastomers. Additionally, increase in the number of automobile manufacturing companies in the region has boosted demand for fluroelastomers. Economies such as India, South Korea, Japan, and China are driving the demand for fluroelastomers in Asia Pacific due to the presence of large number of electronics and electrical manufacturing companies. The region is anticipated to account for two-fifth share of the global fluroelastomers market over the next few years. North America is the second-largest market for fluroelastomers. Large investments across industries such as aerospace, automotive, and consumer goods is the major factor driving demand for fluroelastomers in North America. The U.S. holds the largest share of the fluroelastomers market in North America in terms of revenue and volume. The global economic slowdown in 2009 affected the automotive industry in Europe. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fluroelastomers-market.html However, countries in Europe are recovering rapidly from the recession. This has propelled demand for fluroelastomers in the region. Europe is one of the largest markets for automobiles. This is likely to boost the demand for fluroelastomers. Improving lifestyle and increasing infrastructural development in developing countries in the Rest of the World are also fuelling the demand for fluroelastomers. The fluroelastomers market in countries in South America, such as Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, and Costa Rica, is expanding rapidly due to growth in the automobile manufacturing industry. Deerfield Beach, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2018 -- 2018-2022 Global Top Countries Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market Report The detailed and latest study report entitled "Global Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market 2018" presents a professional and up-to-date information on global Deployable Military Shelter Systems industry. This report covers Deployable Military Shelter Systems market outlook, forecast and analysis on the worldwide and regional level. Furthermore, The report also analyses Deployable Military Shelter Systems market based on its investment feasibility and attractiveness. It also provides a useful description of every phase and rising industry trends. This study report will permit the readers to focus on Deployable Military Shelter Systems market product description, current competitive players in Deployable Military Shelter Systems market and the market revenue with profitability. Global industry analyzes Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market with the guide of its Type such as (Small Shelter Systems , Large Shelter Systems ), Leading Players, Regions, and Applications/end users like (Command Posts, Medical Facilities Base, Aircraft and Vehicle Maintenance, Other) of Deployable Military Shelter Systems market, forecast up to 2022. To Get Sample Copy With PDF Of This Report, Visit Here: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/2018-2023-global-top-countries-deployable-military-shelter-239937#RequestSample The Scope Of The Report Is As Follows: This report analyses the scope of Deployable Military Shelter Systems market. This can be achieved by using Deployable Military Shelter Systems previous historical statistics, studying qualitative insights in detail, probably projections about worldwide Deployable Military Shelter Systems market size. The projections showed in this Deployable Military Shelter Systems report are taken from formerly proved research methodologies and hypothesis. By performing such projections, the Deployable Military Shelter Systems market studies document serves as a storehouse of evaluation, records, and data for every aspect of the Deployable Military Shelter Systems market. Considering the geographic regions, Deployable Military Shelter Systems market is split into various regions like North and South America, Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Asia-Pacific. To help key decision makers, the Deployable Military Shelter Systems report includes competitive depicting of the leading players in Global Deployable Military Shelter Systems market, tempting investment plans, market positioning of important manufacturers sections. The top Manufacturers/Prime Players covering Global Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market (2018-2022) are; Alaska Structure, Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, HDT Global, Roder HTS Hocker, Zeppelin, MMIC, Berg, Super Structures Worldwide, Gichner Shelter Systems, General Dynamics, AAR. Do Inquiry For Discount On This Report At http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/2018-2023-global-top-countries-deployable-military-shelter-239937#InquiryForBuying Regional Analysis of Global Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market (2018-2022): 1. Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy) 2. North America (The United States, Canada, Mexico) 3. Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, Korea and South-east Asia) 4. South America, Middle East, and Africa Global Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market report particularly covers 11 Chapters. They are as follows; Chapter 1 offers us Deployable Military Shelter Systems Introduction, market overview, product scope, market possibilities, market driving force and market chance; Chapter 2 presents Deployable Military Shelter Systems market forecast, by regions, application, and type, with revenue and sales of Deployable Military Shelter Systems market, from 2018 to 2022; Chapter 3 and 4, to describes the challenging condition of the top manufacturers, with income, deals, and market share of Deployable Military Shelter Systems market in 2016 and 2018; Chapter 5 suggests the top producers of Deployable Military Shelter Systems, with revenue, Deployable Military Shelter Systems price, and sales, from 2016 to 2018; Chapter 6 and 7 indicates the market with Deployable Military Shelter Systems market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2018; Chapter 8 covers the global Deployable Military Shelter Systems market by regions, with income, market share, and sales of Deployable Military Shelter Systems, for each region, from 2018 to 2022; Chapter 9 offers the global Deployable Military Shelter Systems market key areas, with sales, market share, and revenue by key countries in those regions, from 2012 to 2018; Chapter 10 and 11 provides details about Deployable Military Shelter Systems investors, distributors, sales channel, dealers, research discovery and conclusion, appendix and facts source; What Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market Research Report Offers:- 1) All-inclusive analysis of the worldwide Deployable Military Shelter Systems market. 2) Assessment of Deployable Military Shelter Systems market development. 3) Comprehensive innovation in Deployable Military Shelter Systems market. 4) Share investigation of Deployable Military Shelter Systems industry. 5) Deployable Military Shelter Systems market essential methodologies of predominant makers. 6) Entire information about Segmentation details of the Deployable Military Shelter Systems market. 7) Advancement of Deployable Military Shelter Systems industry segments and regional markets. 8) Endorsement to firms to set up/settle in their speciality inside the Deployable Military Shelter Systems market. At the end of Deployable Military Shelter Systems market report gives you perception regarding the global business research findings and conclusion that assist you to create valuable market strategies to accomplish competitive benefits. To Read Full Information With TOC Of This Report, Please Visit: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/2018-2023-global-top-countries-deployable-military-shelter-239937#tableOfContent Referral News Network: http://qynews.biz/ Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2018 -- A new research study, titled, "Gasoline Stations: Global Markets to 2022" has been added to the research repository of Market Research Hub (MRH). The research report is a holistic source of information and analysis on the global gasoline stations market. Readers can expect a wealth of qualitative and quantitative insights on the key factors that are influencing the global gasoline market around the globe. Request Free Sample Report: https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1734538 According to the research study, the global gasoline stations market continues to be in a period of massive transformation on account of volatility in oil and gas prices. Growing pervasiveness of electric and battery powered cars is also creating challenges for key players in this market. However, in spite of the challenges, demand for gasoline stations continues to be driven by macroeconomic factors, such as rapid urbanization, improvement in technology, rising disposable income, and improvements in technology. These factors are likely to boost the growth of the gasoline stations market during the assessment period. The research report also offers a detailed region-wise analysis, and offers in-depth forecast on the market performance in the key regions. According to the report, Asia Pacific is likely to remain one of the leading markets for gasoline stations around the globe. In addition to Asia Pacific, North America and Africa are the other key regions that are likely to witness steady growth during the forecast period. Stakeholders in the market can also expect a steady stream of opportunities to emerge in South America. In terms of value, the US will continue to be a lucrative market, with India and Brazil likely to witness fastest growth throughout the assessment period. These two countries are likely to witness robust growth during the forecast period. Although challenges associated with land constraints, government regulations, and pervasive shift to electric cars are prevalent in these markets as well, the robustness in the automotive industry is likely to witness growth. Browse Full Report with TOC- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/gasoline-stations-global-markets-to-2022-report.html The business intelligence study also discusses the key trends and strategies adopted by gasoline station owners. According to the report, the gasoline station owners are focusing on digitalized payments and adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) to streamline their operations. The report offers in-depth information on the use of technology and how it is likely to impact the global gasoline stations landscape. In addition to in-depth information and analysis on these factors, the research study also offers credible insights on the regulatory environment that is governing this landscape. Analysis on corporate tax structure, total tax levied, and major associations of companies is also discussed in detail in the report. Overall, the research study is a holistic source of information and analysis that offers credible insights on the key factors that are likely to drive the growth of this market. Enquire about this Report- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1734538 About Market Research Hub Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH's expansive collection of 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 Us 90 State Street, Albany, NY 12207, United States Toll Free : 800-998-4852 (US-Canada) Email : press@marketresearchhub.com Website : https://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- The global paper bags packaging market is growing at a rapid pace and is expected to gain significantly over the forecast period. The global paper bags packaging market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% during the estimated period (2017-2023). Innovation plays a vital role in the growth of the global paper bags packaging market. Therefore, advancement in the packaging technology has allowed companies to innovate products instead of sticking to traditional packaging methods. Furthermore, many companies are focusing on product designs to survive in the competitive market. Companies spend more on packaging innovation rather than on production cost to enhance the performance of the packaging technique. The global paper bags packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. Key Players The prominent players in the paper bags packaging market include National Paper Products Company (Saudi Arabia), Hotpack Packaging Industries LLC (Dubai), International Paper Company (U.S.), Smurfit Kappa Group PLC. (Ireland), B&H Bag Company (U.S.), Ronpak (U.S.), DS Smith Plc. (U.K.), WestRock Company (U.S.), OJI Holding Corporation (Japan), Georgia-Pacific LLC. (U.S.), Holmen Group (Sweden), United Bags, Inc. (U.S.), Novolex (U.S.), Paper Sacks Factory (UAE), and Hood Packaging Corporation (Canada) Get a Sample Copy of Global Report "Paper Bags Packaging Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023" @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2039 Industry News In March 2017, Hotpack Packaging Industries, has announced an investment of USD 61 million (GBP 50 million) to set up facility in Wales, U.K. This facility will be equipped with the latest in packaging and manufacturing technologies. Wales facility will be established as the UK & European head office and manufacturing facility and will create 250 jobs in the region. In April 2017, Oji invests USD 30 Million in New Zealand paper-bag converting facility. The new converting line can produce 48 million, 25kg dairy and food powder bags per year, bringing the plant's total annual production to 100 million bags. In June 2017, Imperial Bag & Paper Co., LLC one of the largest distributors of disposable food service and janitorial supplies in North America has has completed the acquisition of Dade Paper & Bag Co. The new firm will be known as Imperial Dade. This acquisition will bring the revenue of the combined business to over USD 1.0 billion and will expand its presence in key regions. Paper Bags Packaging Global Market - Competitive Analysis Global Paper Bags Packaging Market appears to be highly fragmented and competitive owning to the presence of numerous large and small players active in regional market. The key strategies traced from the analysis of recent developments of the key players include Product Launch, Agreement & Partnership, Acquisition and expansion. Strategic partnerships between Key players support the growth and expansion plans of the key players during the forecast period. On the product and sales side, companies are investing in innovation/R&D, brand building, and fostering strong relationships with customers to support their competitive position. Manufacturers operating in the market strive to deliver innovative solutions that improve the design and manufacturing processes of business around the world. Focusing upon the competitive edge, Paper Bags Packaging strive to develop products that can deliver optimal efficient, convenience and reliability. Utilizing their international and regional presence, these manufacturers assure their customers with the consistency in product & service quality. Manufacturers strive to develop their product portfolio with a wide range of Paper Bags Packaging for every application. The report for Global Paper Bags Packaging Market of Market Research Future comprises extensive primary research findings along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain deeper insight into the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of current market scenario, which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economic and governing factors in the market. The report provides detailed 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. Regional Analysis On the basis of the regions, the global paper bags packaging market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America dominates the global paper bags packaging market. Increasing demand for packaged food in this region is driving the growth of the market. The U.S. accounted for the largest market share of the North American region. Furthermore, growing preference for hygienic packaging and the high growth in the pharmaceutical industry in the North America region is fuelling the growth of the market. Europe is another major market in terms of demand for paper bags packaging and is expected to contribute significantly to market growth during the forecast period. Europe plays a key role in the innovation and development of the personal care, hygiene and beauty products. Growing focus on sustainability and increased demand for consumer-friendly products, which are lightweight and easily transportable are the major factors driving the growth of the paper bags packaging market. Asia Pacific region is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. High growth in the packaging industry in Asia Pacific region is the key factor driving the growth of the market. Growing industrial development as well as increasing urban population in the developing countries boost to the market growth further. China, Japan, India, Australia, and Indonesia are the major contributor to Asia Pacific market. China accounts for the largest share of the regional market due to rapid growth in the urbanization and industrial development. Get Attractive Discount on Global Report "Paper Bags Packaging Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023" @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2039 Segmentation Global paper bags packaging market has been segmented based on product, application, and region. On the basis of the product, the market has been segmented into the flat paper bag, multi-wall paper sacks, and others. Multi-wall paper sacks accounted for the largest market share in 2016. These paper bags are stronger and durable and often used for packing dry & powered form of materials such as dry chemicals, cement, and others. There are many types of multi-wall paper bag available in the market such as pasted valve bags, sewn open mouth bags, multi-wall paper over poly, and pinch bottom open mouth bags. On the basis of the application, the market has been segmented into food & beverage, pharmaceutical, retail, construction, chemicals, and others. Retail dominates the application segment of the market. The growing demand for consumer good and establishment of shopping complexes and consumer stores in the rural, and urban areas, ultimately increase the demand for paper bags. Construction is another major application segment of the market. Multi-wall Kraft paper sacks are used for cement packaging. Therefore, the demand for cement is increasing with the growing construction sector, which positively influences the growth of the market. Global paper bags packaging market appears to be highly diverse and competitive owing to the presence of a decent number of large and small players active in the market. The strategies traced from the analysis of recent developments of the major players include new product development, partnership & collaboration, merger & acquisition, and expansion. On the product and sales side, companies are investing in innovation/R&D, brand building, and fostering strong relationships with customers to aid their competitive position. For instance, In March 2017, Hotpack Packaging Industries, has announced an investment of USD 61 million to set up a facility in Wales, U.K. The facility will be equipped with the latest packaging and manufacturing technologies. This facility will also be operated as the U.K & European head office and facility and will create 250 jobs in the 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. Clifton, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2018 -- UMEX Moving & Storage out of Clifton, NJ, offers fully-insured and affordable packing, storage, and moving services to those making a move to New York City. Although moving can be a complicated and stressful process for anyone, moving to New York City can be a nightmare to coordinate between the limited parking and multiple flights of stairs many New Yorkers face. By using a professional moving company like UMEX Moving & Storage, residents heading to The Empire City can relieve some of the stress of moving. Specializing in professional packing, storing, and moving, UMEX Moving & Storage has been offering residents of New York, New Jersey, and the surrounding areas with affordable and reliable moving services. They are fully insured and offer contracts with "not-to-exceed" estimates, so customers are never blindsided with surprise fees. The company makes moving into a large city like New York as simple as possible. Their professional movers understand the coordination and focus it takes to move furniture in New York City high-rises and heavy street traffic. With experienced movers and available packing and storage options, UMEX Moving & Storage offers customers everything they need to ensure the moving process goes smoothly. UMEX Moving & Storage promises customers reasonable and accurate hourly rate quotes as well as honest and constant communication during the moving process. They also respond to requests promptly, including last-minute changes. Anyone interested in storage, packing, and moving services from a trusted New York City area professional moving and storage company should reach out to UMEX Moving & Storage today. Visit http://www.umexmoving.com/ or call 862-238-7707 for more information and to schedule moving services. About UMEX Moving & Storage UMEX Moving & Storage is a commercial and household moving company with over a decade of experience in the moving business. They have built their reputation on exceptional customer service and high referral rates, as well as a commitment to fairness and customer-centric business practices. They also specialize in working with Japanese clients, and offer Japanese-speaking specialists. By providing start-to-finish moving guidance and services, UMEX Moving & Storage guarantees a smooth and timely move. Their NJ moving company also owns and operates all the commercial moving equipment used in a project, and provides dedicated project managers to organize commercial moving operations. For more information about this company, visit their website at http://www.umexmoving.com. According to a study published in the journal PLoS ONE, a 35,000-year-old flint flake found at a Middle Paleolithic site in Crimea, Ukraine, was likely engraved symbolically by a skilled hand of a Neanderthal. Engraved objects are important clues to the history of human culture and cognition. Incisions on the cortex soft outer layer of stone tools are known from Middle and Lower Paleolithic sites across Europe and the Middle East. However, it can be difficult to determine the action that created an incision: was it an accidental scrape or purposeful engraving? To address this issue, Dr. Ana Majkic from the University of Bordeaux, France, and her colleagues from the University of Bergen, Norway, and the NASU Institute of Archaeology, Ukraine, created an interpretive framework that allows scientists to classify the structure and patterns of engraved cortexes and cross-check these attributes with a list of possible causal actions. The researchers tested their methodology with an engraved flint flake from Kiik-Koba, a key site of Mousterian culture in Crimea. Discovered in 1924 by Gleb Bonch-Osmolovsky, Kiik-Koba is a large cave site located 7 km south of the town Zuya, Belogorsk district, on the right bank of the Zuya river, at an altitude of 512 m above sea level and 90 m above the river bank, they said. Kiik-Koba is well known for being the first East European Mousterian site that has yielded Neanderthal remains. The object analyzed in the study has the following dimesions: length 35.86 mm, width 18.14 mm, thickness 5.75 mm, and is kept at the NASU Institute of Archaeology in Kiev, Ukraine. Following microscopic examination of the grooved lines on the Kiik-Koba flake, the team concluded that the incisions represent deliberate engravings that would have required fine motor skills and attention to detail. These engravings appear to have been made with symbolic or communicative intent, Dr. Majkic and co-authors said. If this interpretation is correct, this engraved flake would join a growing list of signs that Neanderthals engaged in symbolic activities. This has implications for the question of when and how many times this sort of cultural expression has evolved among hominin populations. We hope to hone our framework further for use with artifacts of varying ages and cultural contexts. _____ A. Majkic et al. 2018. Assessing the significance of Palaeolithic engraved cortexes. A case study from the Mousterian site of Kiik-Koba, Crimea. PLoS ONE 13 (5): e0195049; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195049 The operational opening of the terminal was attended by almost 300 guests and will enable the largest cruise ships to berth in Cyprus for the first time. The building features seven pods with a total floor area of 8,205sq mtr designed for both transit and turnaround calls. The East berth is 480mtr long with a depth of 11mtr. A new front door for tourists coming to Cyprus President Anastasiades, said: The Cyprus Government is particularly pleased for the highly experienced international and local partners, DP World who will ensure the success of Limassol Port in the coming decades. The Port of Limassol is one of the largest commercialisation projects in Cyprus to date. It serves as a model for the Republic of Cyprus and its ongoing efforts for a prosperous future as a modern centre for investment, trade and services. The DP World chairman, said: Today is a celebration of the teamwork and collaboration in creating a new front door for tourists coming to Cyprus. We are proud to be part of a strategic partnership with the Government and the city of Limassol to realise this national asset, one that will help develop the growing tourism sector still further. Our aim is to be the port of choice in the Eastern Mediterranean and we want to create infrastructure that enables sustainable growth of the local economy and for Cyprus. The warning by ReCAAP dated 1 May stated that members of Abu Sayaaf planned to abduct crew members for merchant vessels off Sabah in East Malaysia. Based on information from the Philippines authorities the warning said, The group will be using a blue 3-Engine Speedboat and expected to be underway to Sabah within the next 24 hours. All vessels transiting the area are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting in the waters in Lahad Datu and surrounding waters in Sabah. The warning marks the return of Islamic separatist group Abu Sayaaf in trying to kidnap seafarers for ransom in the waters around Southern Philippines and East Malaysia. Between March 2016 and April 2017 attacks on merchant ships to abduct crew for ransom in the southern Philippines, claimed largely by Abu Sayaaf, saw 59 seafarers kidnapped from 13 vessels in the region. Read more: 'Very serious concern' over kidnapping of seafarers in Southern Philippines: ReCAAP While there have been no attacks to kidnap seafarers in the area since April 2017 ReCAAP and other maritime security organisations have warned repeatedly that attacks might return. Read More: Concern remains over attacks on shipping to abduct seafarers in Southern Philippines: ReCAAP Security experts Solace Global said in an advisory that Abu Sayaafs return to maritime piracy had been long anticipated. Commenting on the likely profile of an attack Solace Global said: Their historical attacks, combined with the intelligence suggesting their use of a single high-powered boat, indicates that the kidnap group is unlikely to be a numerically strong force. Considering this, they are likely to target smaller vessels such as pleasure-craft, fishing boats, or service vessels which are unlikely to be able to out manoeuvre or overbear their vessel. Foreign nationals may not be targets of choice, although potentially able to command a higher ransom; media coverage and law-enforcement response is likely to be more vigorous compared to an attack on local nationals. In the last spate of attacks Abu Sayaaf initially targeted smaller vessels, but by late 2016 they had started to attack product tankers and bulkers transiting the region. To date there have been no reports of attacks off East Malaysia following the 1 May warning. Press Release May 3, 2018 De Lima pays tribute to media persons on World Press Freedom Day As the world commemorates the World Press Freedom Day today, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has paid tribute to the hardworking members of the press who have dedicated their lives to serve as the messengers of truth. De Lima, the staunch critic of the government's war on drugs, said the media practitioners, especially the Filipino journalists who made sacrifices in pursuit of truth, should always be remembered and serve as an inspiration to many. "Many Filipino journalists made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of truth and accountability of those in power and yet just a few years later, they have become nameless and nearly forgotten," she said in her Dispatch from Crame No. 297 Calling into mind several media persons killed for exposing wrongdoings like Dr. Gerry Ortega of Palawan and Marlene Esperat of Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao, De Lima said, "this sad reality contributes to impunity that further endangers the lives of truth seekers, especially under the current administration." The World Press Freedom Day, which is now on its 25th year, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993 "in recognition of the fundamental human right to free expression and press freedom." De Lima, a former justice secretary, lamented how attacks against media practitioners have worsened under the administration of President Duterte who is not open for legitimate criticisms from some quarters. "Sa katunayan, lalo pong tumindi ang pag-atake sa media nang maluklok si Duterte na allergic sa mga kritisismo na dapat sana'y normal lang sa isang demokrasya," "Tingnan na lang po natin ang ginawang panggigipit sa Rappler, ang pagbabawal kay Pia Ranada at Maria Ressa na makatuntong sa Malakanyang at makapag-cover sa mga aktibidad ng Pangulo," she added. By peddling lies and spreading false content on social media, De Lima said the President's troll army has managed to project him as a benevolent but disciplinarian leader, thereby concealing his real plan to be a "dictator for life." "Fake news undermines the integrity and tears the fibers of the journalism profession. In the process of peddling lies, purveyors of fake news have exerted efforts to discredit established media outfits and personalities so that their lies will prevail," she said. Ultimately, De Lima asked the public to join the fight against media repression and against the proliferation of fake news, saying "lies, manipulated harassments are the main weapons of fascists and dictators but in the long run, they are no match to truth and democracy." Sen. Bam to gov't: Protect Filipinos from killer combo of rising prices and unemployment Senator Bam Aquino called the increase in prices of goods and the rising unemployment a killer combo that needs to be addressed immediately. "Huwag natin i-knockout ang pamilyang Pilipino sa combo na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin at kawalan ng trabaho," said Sen. Bam, one of only four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act. A recent Pulse Asia survey indicated that 98 percent of respondents claimed the prices of basic goods they usually purchase have increased due to the tax reform law, and around 86 percent said they were strongly affected by the prices increases. In addition, a latest survey by SWS showed that the number of unemployment Filipinos rose to 10.9 million, the highest since 2016. "Hindi na biro ang epekto ng TRAIN sa mga Pilipino, kaya tayo tumutol dito. Ngayon na mas malala pa pala ang kinalabasan nito, dapat lang na pag-aralan at solusyunan ang matinding pagtaas ng presyo," said Sen. Bam. Sen. Bam said he will present stories of Filipinos affected by the TRAIN Act from the series of community dialogues that he conducted in different parts of the country when the Senate conducts a hearing on the tax reform program on May 9 (Wednesday). "Mahalagang mailabas natin ang bigat na ibinibigay ng TRAIN upang ito'y marepaso at nang maibsan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan," said Sen. Bam. Sen. Bam also urged Congress not to move forward with TRAIN 2, as it may exacerbate the problem of unemployment by removing incentives for certain businesses. Sen. Bam has filed Proposed Senate (PS) Resolution No. 704, calling for a review of the TRAIN Act, claiming it greatly contributes to the increase in prices of goods and services that burdens Filipinos, mostly the poor. "A whole town has been ordered to evacuate after the eruption of the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island... All 1,500 inhabitants of Pahoa were told to leave after steam and lava poured out of a crack in the nearby Leilani Estates." So scary. https://t.co/sY5GwNFWNH Judge repeatedly tried to get the special counsel lawyer to say that the real reason they were going after Manafort was to get leverage on Manafort to get info on Trump. "The vernacular is, "to sing'," judge quipped. Lawyer wouldn't bite. "I don't want to know what the law is. I want to know who the judge is." -- Trump's mentor, Roy Cohn https://t.co/9NC3IbOGeK Giuliani "told NBC News that he made the explosive announcement about the U.S. president's personal reimbursement to Michael Cohen in order to try to get ahead of Special Counsel Robert Mueller." So, exactly what I said yesterday, then. https://t.co/X82VA6o2TE To be clear: The perception of chaos is an organized (nonchaotic) strategy. The suggestion there is no strategy helps that strategy. The less people understand a strategy, the harder it is to counter. If we don't even know there *is* a strategy, so much the better (for them). "Some members of Congress, military officials and people who do similar security work say that Princes role as chairman of Frontier puts him in the unsettling position of advancing the strategic agenda of the United States largest rival." That's polite. https://t.co/rMl04JdP6Y Kevin Williamson said people who get abortions should be hanged. Now he wants to know "what should be done" with people who have abortions. And the Washington Post gave him a platform: https://t.co/uKlz03gH1G Rewire.News (@Rewire_News) May 3, 2018 Countless women have been *reflexively* kept out of media jobs just because we're women, or because we're feminist women. Just swept aside without another thought. Now look at this Very Civil and Lengthy Debate about employing a man who would hang women. https://t.co/zmBL1QCZ02 Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) May 4, 2018 Delegat Group, New Zealands largest listed winemaker, says it had a record harvest this year, driven by an increase in New Zealand grapes, while its Australian harvest fell. The Auckland-based company said the 2018 harvest rose to a record 40,059 tonnes, as grapes collected in New Zealand rose 10 percent to 38,012 tonnes. The Australia harvest for Barossa Valley Estate fell to 2,047 tonnes from 2,760 in 2017. "The 2018 vintage has delivered excellent quality in all regions," managing director Graeme Lord said in the statement. The winemaker, whose stable includes the Oyster Bay brand, reported in February a 9 percent gain in first-half operating profit to a record $26.9 million. At the time, chairman Jim Delegat said the group was on target to achieve global case sales for the full year of 2.78 million, up 5 percent on the prior year. It forecast a 2018 operating profit result of at least $40.7 million, up 6 percent on the year. Delegat's bought the assets of Australia's Barossa Valley Estate out of receivership for A$24.7 million in 2013, gaining a 5,000-tonne winery, a 41-hectare vineyard in the Barossa Valley, grape grower contracts and inventory and brands. The shares last traded at $7.62 and have gained 25 percent in the past 12 months.8.29 and have gained 32 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. 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: 7th October 2021 Morning Report Just Life Group Limited (NZX: JLG) Acquisition of Intenza New Zealand and Market Update 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 After a recent emergency visit to the hospital, my 90-year-old grandfather spent a few weeks in Williamsport Nursing Home regaining his muscle strength. And, for possibly the first time, he felt comfortable enough to start talking about his family history. Our family history. He and my grandmother moved to the Eastern Panhandle over 50 years ago, after growing up in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Binghamton, New York, respectively. I always assumed we were transplants to the area. But then he started talking about Shepherdstown, shocking me with the news that we had several family members buried in Elmwood Cemetery beneath the Crowe family gravestone, some of whom were actively involved in the community during their lifetimes. One of them was a reporter for the Shepherdstown Register. Knowing my family has already been part of creating and documenting Shepherdstowns history has given me an extra dose of excitement to become The Chronicles new editor. I hope it will also help me understand the importance of local people and organizations, like the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. and the Historic Shepherdstown Museum, both of which endeavor to preserve the towns history and landmarks. But since Im still learning and new to The Chronicle, I know I have a bit of a learning curve ahead of me. I look forward to meeting more of you, and covering the events and personal experiences that make the Shepherdstown community so complex and vibrant. Come by and visit me in The Chronicle office Id love to learn about you and any story ideas or new information you might have about people, organizations, events or businesses in Shepherdstown. Feel free to call me at 304-876-3380 or email me at edit@shepherdstownchronicle.com or tjohnston@shepherdstownchronicle.com. Im hopeful this experience will not only be enjoyable for me, but also for you, and that despite saying goodbye to the amazing Vanessa McGuigan, youll be excited to say hello to me. A few months back, Ajith visited Madras Institute of Technology to know about the technical aspects of quadcopter. The latest update is that the MIT has appointed him as its Helicopter Test Pilot and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles System Adviser. Thala Ajith will be assisting the institute in building advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Medical Express-2018 UAV Challenge, which will be held in Queensland, Australia in the month of September. Despite his busy shooting schedule, Ajith will be contributing to this competition. Launching the party's election manifesto, Yeddyurappa stressed on the party's commitment towards welfare of the farmers and announced various measures for them in the state. : Karnataka BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa on Friday promised to re-introduce the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012 if the party came to power in the assembly elections to be held next week. He said welfare of farmers has always been the party's priority. "We will allocate Rs 1,50,000 Cr for various irrigation projects in Karnataka and ensure water reaches every field in the state," he said. The manifesto promised 1000 farmers will be taken to Israel for an agricultural fellowship. The BJP has pledged to ensure that farmers receive 1.5 times the cost of production as Minimum Support Price (MSP) to fulfill PM Narendra Modi's "vision of doubling farmers' incomes", the party has said on its official Twitter account. The manifesto also announced Annapurna canteens, in the manner of Tamil Nadu's extremely popular Amma canteens, for subsidised food. Addressing the below poverty line section, the party said Rs 25,000 and a gold mangalsutra will be given to BPL women for their marriage. The party has also promised free smart phones for BPL women. The party suffered a setback this morning, after MLA B N Vijaykumar died of a massive heart attack at a hospital in Bengaluru early this morning. He was a candidate for the May 12 assembly elections. Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will be concluding the eighth leg of his campaign in the poll-bound state by addressing public and corner meetings in Kalburgi, Gadag and Haveri districts today. 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. -- The streets of Perth Amboy may once again be open to Staten Islanders returning from the Jersey Shore. After New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal advised various towns that their recent ordinances closing local roads to non-residential drivers were illegal, Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) has announced his plans to sue the town of Perth Amboy if the practice continues. Staten Islanders often face gridlock-level traffic during summer return trips over the Outerbridge Crossing, worsened last year by Perth Amboy's practice of stationing police officers at exit ramps to keep New York drivers on the highway. "Based on this new case-law, we will be eager to sue Perth Amboy should the practice continue in the same manner," said Borelli. Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz would not explicitly state whether or not the town will continue closing its roads to Staten Island drivers this summer. "The City of Perth Amboy has not passed an ordinance to ban traffic. However, we will continue to monitor and take action as needed, if and when our community's safety is compromised," said Diaz. She reiterated her previously stated reasoning for the practice, noting that extensive traffic on Perth Amboy roads limits the ability of emergency personnel to react quickly in the area, resulting in a public safety issue. "The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are well aware of the unsafe conditions and should be held accountable to address and make adjustments to alleviate the hardship placed on our community and commuters," said Diaz. First reported by NJ.com, Grewal told the State Assembly Budget Committee on Wednesday that he advised officials in Leonia and Weehawken that their recent ordinances to restrict traffic on local roads are illegal. In December, Leonia passed an ordinance restricting access to approximately 60 of the town's residential roads in an effort to curb the influx of traffic from motorists en route to the George Washington Bridge. Weehawken approved a similar measure in February to limit additional traffic from the Lincoln Tunnel. In a letter obtained by NJ.com from Grewal to an attorney for the town of Leonia, the attorney general states that the ordinances are "legally invalid" and that the town should "immediately refrain from enforcing them." According to the letter, all municipal ordinances or regulations concerning, regulating or governing traffic must be approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation, a step which Leonia had not taken. In addition, the letter cited Formal Opinion 5, issued in 1955 by the attorney general's office, stating that municipalities do not possess the power to restrict public use of their roads. The New Jersey attorney general's office could not be reached for comment at the time of publication of this report. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Assemblyman Michael Cusick unveiled a new brush fire truck for Oceanic Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 on Friday. Oceanic Hook and Ladder No. 1, located on Victory Boulevard in Travis, is the oldest volunteer fire company in the city of New York and has been in existence for 137 years. "When I spoke to the folks here at Oceanic a couple years back, they told me, 'Assemblyman, I want you to take a look at our brush truck,'" Cusick (D-Mid-Island) said. The former brush fire truck, which was put into use in 1959, still works and was operational up to the day the newer truck took its place, but lacked newer technology and capabilities. "We were able to secure state funding - $100,000 for the building of this custom-made brush truck and the addition to the fire house," he said. The newer truck, a 10-foot, 6-inch behemoth, equipped with a 300 gallon water tank and a 12 gallon foam-cell tank, also has the capabilities to drive through eight feet of water. "As it gets warmer, we are approaching brush fire season," Cusick said, "and it is important that the volunteers here at Oceanic are there to help and supplement the FDNY's efforts when it comes to fighting these brush fires." According to the FDNY, "In the past 15 years, there have been 7,400 brush fires on Staten Island," Cusick said, and the new truck has already been put to use, aiding in the response to a fire in Bloomfield on Thursday. Chief Robert Sawicki of Oceanic Hook and Ladder No. 1 said that the new addition "was very big for Oceanic." "This is really big - to have a $100,000 grant from Mr. Cusick...the biggest grant we've ever had in our 137 year history," he said. "It takes a special person to volunteer their time away from their family, away from work...to serve their community, and there's no better way to serve the community than being a firefighter," Cusick said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A brave nurse who was strangled and attacked by a mentally-ill patient last year called the incident the worst day of her life. Courtney Holder, 28, an emergency room nurse at Staten Island University Hospital in Prince's Bay, was five minutes into her evening shift on March 25, 2017 when her life changed. "He was falling out of the bed and there were wires around and he used them to strangle me," she said while surrounded by dozens of nurses who came to support her. "I was knocked to the ground and blacked out." The petite Rosebank woman told the court she became a nurse to help people, and the incident has affected the way she approaches her job. "I sacrifice time with my family and loved ones to help people during their time of need," she said in her victim impact statement. "But he turned that into the worst day of my life." Michael Schuhmann, 29, was sentenced two to four years in state Supreme Court, St. George Friday. Last month, the Eltingville man pleaded guilty to a felony count of attempted second-degree assault stemming from the incident. The episode occurred shortly after 7 p.m. during an emergency room visit. According to a criminal complaint, Schuhmann, told the nurse, "Watch, it's going to be a blood bath in here." He stood up, walked around her and began punching her in the head, said the complaint. Prosecutors said Schuhmann then took the plastic wire that was strapped to him and wrapped it around the nurse's neck. The victim suffered bruising, swelling and severe pain to the neck, head and face, said the complaint. "The defendant's actions were inexcusable and reprehensible," said Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis. Schuhmann's lawyer, Mark J. Fonte, said his client suffers from bi-polar disorder and was brought to the emergency room against his will the day of the incident. "He was off his meds," Fonte said. "If he was in his right frame of mind, he would've never assaulted anyone." Schuhmann, who previously served time for another felony attempted assault charge in 2006, did not address the court during the sentencing. But Judge Alexander Jeong had some words for the defendant. "I hope you understand that you made a deep impact on this woman," he said. Dozens of nurses and supporters decked out in white t-shirts packed the courtroom to support Holder. "No one has the right to assault a nurse," she said. "I'm glad he was given a felony. We have a lot of violence in the E.R." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Maintenance work on the Outerbridge Crossing will cause the closure of one lane of traffic heading toward New Jersey. The right lane will be blocked for about 10 minutes, the Port Authority announced on Twitter. CITY HALL -- Staten Island, one of two boroughs with the highest rate of fatal overdoses in New York City, will not be getting a safe injection site facility, for now. After months of delay, Mayor Bill de Blasio released the city's long awaited $100,000 study on the feasibility of opening safe injection sites unexpectedly late Thursday evening following intense pressure from advocates to release the report. The mayor expressed his support for the sites, arguing they could save lives and link drug addicts to treatment. "The opioid epidemic has killed more people in our city than car crashes and homicides combined. After a rigorous review of similar efforts across the world, and after careful consideration of public health and safety expert views, we believe overdose prevention centers will save lives and get more New Yorkers into the treatment they need to beat this deadly addiction," the mayor said in a prepared statement. In order for the sites to open, the city outlined a number of hurdles it would need to clear at the local, state, and most challenging -- the federal level. In the report, the city unveiled plans to launch 1-year research pilot programs known as "Overdose Prevention Centers" in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Midtown West and Washington Heights. The report said the sites could open after a 6-to-12 month community outreach period in the areas where they would be located. Injection sites are meant to provide a safe and hygienic space for people to inject pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of health workers. There are currently no such facilities in the U.S., but there are about 100 around the world in places like Canada and Europe. Cities like San Francisco, Philadelphia and Vermont are considering them too. Advocates of the facilities say the sites link drug users to treatment and provide a safe and sanitary place where overdoses can be prevented and people can be saved if they do. While opponents believe the sites promote drug use instead of linking people to treatment and worry that they attract crime and drug use. 1,441 ODs CITYWIDE IN 2017 -- DEADLIEST YEAR ON RECORD The city's recommendation comes as the New York City saw 1,441 overdose deaths in 2017, according to preliminary data in the report, making 2017 the deadliest year on record. The city said the injection facilities could prevent between 67 to 130 overdose deaths annually in the city, while opening them in neighborhoods with the highest rates of OD death citywide could prevent between 19 to 37 overdoses a year. "These lives saved would represent a substantial reduction in the overall impact on citywide overdose. Given that the estimates presented here are conservative, it is possible that reductions in overdose will exceed these estimates," the report said. 32 OD DEATHS ON STATEN ISLAND THIS YEAR In 2016, Staten Island saw 116 fatal overdoses making it along with the Bronx, the boroughs with the highest rate of fatal overdose in the city that year. The Island saw a drop in overdoses in 2017 as the number of saves rose sharply. At an event earlier this week, District Attorney Michael McMahon said the borough had already seen 32 overdose deaths since the start of the new year, and 82 saves as a result of the OD-reversal medication naloxone. ISLAND LEADERS OPPOSED, CITYWIDE ADVOCACY GROUPS APPLAUD DECISION As many city officials have been supportive of the sites, Staten Island advocates have remained split on the issue, and most of the borough's elected officials are opposed to the facilities. "While there may some interest in safe injection sites, I believe a lot of residents in our communities oppose them - as do I," Councilman Steve Matteo (R-Mid Island) said following the release of the study. "We need to continue to build on some of the progress we have made, utilizing innovative treatment and prevention programs, and to give the people struggling with addiction and their families the support and help they need to turn their lives around. I feel government sanctioning illegal drug use would send the wrong message and undermine these efforts," the councilman continued. Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) called the sites "the ultimate band-aid approach,'' arguing that cities that already operate the sites have seen a rise in overdoses. "Sydney has seen a steady rise in its overdose death rate over the past decade, and last year Vancouver had its highest number of overdose deaths ever," Borelli said. "Yet the advocates want us to believe that this is helping the drug problem in those cities." Meanwhile, citywide advocacy groups cheered the release of the study. "Finally the Mayor has come out in support of [safe consumption sites] to save lives. We have been fighting this fight for years," said Asia Betancourt, Community Leader from Staten Island at VOCAL-NY. "It may be too late for my brother, who died of overdose, but I know he is smiling down on New York City today. It won't be too late for the thousands of people who desperately need these services." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island correction officer is accused of repeatedly raping an inmate at an all-women's prison in Westchester last year, authorities said. Iran Colon, 31, is charged in a 19-count indictment with five counts of rape, four counts of criminal sexual act, as well as misconduct and promoting prison contraband, according to the Westchester County district attorney's office. Prosecutors said Colon was working at the Taconic Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills when he had intercourse with the female prisoner five times and performed oral sex on her on three occasions. The victim was incapable of consent, said the indictment. Under state law, prisoners cannot give consent to have sex with a correction officer. The alleged incidents occurred from May to September 2017. Investigators discovered the inappropriate relationship after the victim's cell phone was confiscated, officials said. New York State Police arrested Colon at his Staten Island home on Tuesday, and he was arraigned and released on bail. He has been suspended without pay, authorities said. "We have zero tolerance for any criminal activity within our facilities," said Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci. Two other state correction employees were arrested on similar charges. Garth Trail, a former head cook at the Taconic Correction Facility, allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a prisoner in the facility's kitchen area. He is facing one count of a criminal sexual act. Melissa Hill, a former corrections officer, allegedly had a intimate relationship with an inmate at Sing Sing Correctional Facility from Nov. 2017 to Jan. 2018. She has been charged with official misconduct. Trail and Hill both resigned, officials said. "All three took advantage of their position in relation to inmates," said District Attorney Anthony Scarpino Jr. during a press conference Thursday announcing the charges. "They compromised the safety and security of other corrections employees, the inmates in their care and all of us living in Westchester County." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Video obtained by the Advance shows police chasing an alleged gang member through West Brighton after a car stop in Sunnyside. Cops stopped a car near the intersection of Clove Road and Narrows Road North when they saw Shaheem McLean, 19, not wearing a seatbelt, according to a spokesman for the NYPD. He was driving without a license, and gave officers a false name before fleeing on foot down Little Clove Road, the spokesman said. Police chased McLean through neighborhood before catching up with him in the back of a home on Oneida Avenue, the spokesman said. Cops took him into custody, established his identity, and determined he had an active warrant for his arrest, police said. The NYPD spokesman could not say what the warrant was for, but cops charged McLean with obstruction of governmental administration, false impersonation, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Police identified McLean as a member of the WBz youth crew, and said he has a long list of prior arrests. The Advance previously reported he was arrested in 2016 on drug conspiracy and firearms charges. Page Content The International Police Organization (INTERPOL) recently carried out a successful law enforcement coordinated Operation Libertad project to combat human trafficking in the Caribbean. More than 500 police officers in 13 countries including from Aruba and Curacao, took part in the operation that led to the apprehension of 22 individuals. Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever said on Thursday that he commends the INTERPOL coordinated operation for its success and pointed out to the importance of cooperation and collaboration. INTERPOL reported that nearly 350 potential victims of sexual exploitation and forced labour were rescued in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Cooperation is essential among law enforcement partners within the Kingdom and within the Region. Law enforcement entities are doing invaluable work to bring human trafficking crimes to justice, and at the same time, standing up for the rights and interests of the victims who have been taken advantage of. As countries we must continue to take steps to forge and to strengthen partnerships across the Kingdom, within the Region and across international borders. Such partnership and cooperation can be seen in the success of Operation Libertad, Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever said on Thursday. In addition to coordinated police raids, searches were carried out against INTERPOLs criminal databases, generating 30 hits, including 25 for Stolen and Lost Travel Documents. Computer equipment, mobiles phones and cash were also seized. Both men and women, including minors, were discovered working in night clubs, farms, mines, factories and open-air markets. To ensure victims received the necessary care following their rescue, social services and NGOs were involved in conducting post-operation interviews and providing support services to victims. The operation was the culmination of the two-and-a-half year project funded by the Government of Canada, which provided specialized training to investigators and immigration officers in order to enhance operational expertise and regional coordination to combat human trafficking. Participating countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Curacao, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and Venezuela. The Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) in Barbados hosted the operational coordination centre, with specialist officers from INTERPOLs Trafficking in Human Beings unit deployed to the region. Support was provided by the INTERPOL Command and Coordination Centre at the General Secretariat in Lyon, France and at the INTERPOL Regional Bureau in Buenos Aires, Argentina. PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever 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 Flipkart board approves $15 bn deal with Walmart: report Mumbai, May 4 (AFP) May 04, 2018 Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has agreed to sell 75 percent of the company to US retail behemoth Walmart for about $15 billion, a report said Friday, in what would be a blow to rival Amazon. Bloomberg News said Flipkart's board had agreed the sale. Flipkart declined to comment when contacted by AFP. There has been months of speculation that Walmart was preparing to buy Flipkart to take on Amazon which is aggressively expanding in India, one of the world's key online markets. Flipkart is India's largest e-commerce group on the basis of sales but has been fighting off a huge challenge from Amazon since the US conglomerate entered the country in 2013. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has committed $5 billion to grabbing a big slice of India's e-commerce pie after failing to make inroads in China. India's e-commerce sales hit $21 billion last year according to market research company Forrester and are expected to soar as its population of 1.3 billion people make greater use of increased internet access. Bloomberg said that under the proposed deal Japan's Softbank Group would give up its 20 percent stake in Flipkart. The report said the deal could be announced soon, however it added that it was not yet certain. Indian media said this week that Walmart was moving closer to striking a deal with Flipkart even as Amazon was trying to negotiate its own deal. Reports quoting unnamed sources said Amazon was willing to value Flipkart higher, at around $22 billion, but that all of Flipkart's major investors were leaning towards Walmart. Flipkart, Amazon and Walmart have all repeatedly declined to comment on the talks. Flipkart was founded in 2007 by former Amazon employees Sachin and Binny Bansal. As well as Softbank it is also backed by New York-based fund Tiger Management. pdh-vm/tw/mtp WAL-MART STORES SOFTBANK GROUP Xerox CEO to stay as Icahn deal deadline expires New York, May 4 (AFP) May 04, 2018 Xerox's chief executive and several board members will keep their posts after an agreement with activist shareholders to replace them expired, the company said late Thursday. Xerox Chief Executive Jeff Jacobson and six board members were to resign in exchange for ending a lawsuit by activists Carl Icahn and David Deason. The powerful shareholders are contesting a merger with Fujifilm. Xerox said late Thursday that the agreement, which was announced Tuesday, was moot after a deadline for Icahn and Deason to abort the litigation had expired. "In the absence of such stipulations, the agreement expired at 8:00 pm ET on May 3, 2018," Xerox said. "As a result, the current board of directors and management team will remain in place." Icahn and Deason have vigorously opposed a proposed deal in which Xerox would be absorbed by an existing joint venture known as Fuji Xerox, falling under the control of Fujifilm. The conflict is the latest involving a big company and a high-profile shareholder activist, in this case Icahn, a battle-tested billionaire who has aggressively challenged companies since the 1980s. A US court last week ordered a temporary block of the takeover, saying it prioritized the interest of Xerox's CEO over its shareholders. Xerox filed papers to appeal against the injunction, saying the court had overstepped its authority. They defended the board's oversight and approval of "value-maximizing alternative for the company's shareholders." Icahn and Deason signaled Friday they planned to continue the fight, blasting the Xerox decision to reinstate Jacobson and the others as the latest sign of the "brazen self-interest" of the Xerox board. "This inexplicable turn of events occurred for one reason only: the Xerox Board recklessly refused to follow through with the leadership and governance changes we agreed to, demanding unprecedented additional approvals for their own personal self-interest," Icahn and Deason said. Why plants are so sensitive to gravity: The lowdown Paris, France (SPX) May 03, 2018 If you tilt a plant, it will alter its growth to bend back upwards. But how does it detect the inclination? With cellular clinometers: cells filled with microscopic grains of starch called statoliths. In each of these cells, the pile of statoliths settles to the bottom. This provides a point of reference to guide growth - by modifying the distribution of a growth hormone - so that the plant may return to an upright position. The mystery of plants is what makes them so extremely responsive to ... read more Afghan interpreters to remain in UK free of charge London, May 4 (AFP) May 04, 2018 Four hundred Afghan interpreters who served British armed forces in 13 years of combat operations will be allowed to remain in Britain free of charge, government ministers said on Friday. Home Secretary Sajid Javid made the announcement in one of his first moves in the post -- after a scandal over threatened deportations of Caribbean immigrants forced his predecessor Amber Rudd to step down. "The local Afghan interpreters worked in dangerous and challenging situations, regularly putting their lives at risk," he said in a statement. "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." After being appointed on Monday, Javid had promised a "fair and humane" immigration system. Previously Afghan interpreters -- who performed their services sometimes at risk to themselves and their families -- faced a fee of pound2,398 (2,715 euros, $3,248) to secure permanent settlement. More than 150 translators who served in Helmand province -- which saw some of the fiercest combat in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 -- wrote to ministers saying they had been "left in limbo" by the "shameful and indefensible policy", according to British media. In total, the interior ministry says 400 interpreters are in Britain after being made redundant when the "military drawdown" of combat forces in Afghanistan started at the end of 2012. They were offered relocation as they "faced particular danger in their role", the ministry said. Now those interpreters who have been in Britain for five years, as well as their families, will have the costs waived. "In addition, the Home Office has committed to looking again at what can be done to make the process easier for Afghan interpreters to bring family members still in Afghanistan over to the UK," the statement said. Legislation required to enact the changes will be introduced in July. "It clearly wasn't right that after putting their lives on the line for us that we then expected them to pay for the right to stay in this country," Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson wrote in an editorial for The Times on Friday. 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 Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. English03/05/2018 SRNA News Roundup /I/ - May 3, 2018 REPUBLIKA SRPSKA Mt JAHORINA - President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik on Thursday opened the two-day business event Jahorina Economic Forum, pointing out that Srpska must keep its young educated people in the country and announcing the formation of a ministry for new technologies. We must react to the challenges which are visible, and that is our labour force. We must create new policies in that respect. We must keep our young educated people here. We must resist the pattern of young people moving to other countries, a pattern planned by someone else, said the president. MRKONJIC GRAD - Chair of the Presidency of the Republika Srpska Veterans Association Dusko Miletic says no one has yet answered for the horrific crimes committed by the Croatian army against Serbs in Mrkonjic Grad in 1995, asserting that the fact that Damir Krsticevic, the commander of the 4th Guards Brigade which committed those crimes, has been appointed Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence sends a bad message. BANJALUKA - Annex VII of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which refers to the return of refugees and displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is implemented only in Republika Srpska, where the percentage of return is higher than 70 per cent, while in the Federation of BiH it stands between 3 and 5 per cent, said the Srpska Assistant Minister of Refugees and DPs Radovan Grajic. BANJALUKA - Journalists in Republika Srpska receive very low and irregularly paid salaries and many are illegally employed for years and stand slim chances of having their legal status resolved, which makes it absolutely clear that the financial and overall social standing of this category of the employed is very difficult, says the Entity Trade Union Federation. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ISTOCNO SARAJEVO - A memorial service in the Church of St George the Great Martyr in Miljevici in Istocno Sarajevo on Thursday marked the 26th anniversary of the suffering of members of the Yugoslav Peoples Army /JNA/ in the Sarajevo Dobrovoljacka Street in 1992 when 42 JNA soldiers were killed, 71 wounded and 207 taken prisoner and later tortured in prison camps. BELGRADE - Director of the Institute for Research on Suffering of the Serbs in XX century, Milivoje Ivanisevic, asserts that the talk of Sarajevo officials about the crime in the Dobrovoljacka Street is an attack on the truth. He does not expect anyone to ever answer for the crime, especially when one knows how Sarajevo officials interpret the events that happened there on May 2/3 in 1992. BELGRADE - The Coordination of Serb Associations of Families of the Missing, Killed and Fallen from the former Yugoslavia demands that the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as other judicial institutions finally punish the people responsible for the war crimes against JNA soldiers in the Dobrovoljacka Street in Sarajevo. BANJALUKA - Witnesses described in detail the killing of Serb civilians, burning of skeletons, arson and destruction of property, persecution of the Serb population, the crimes ordered by the commander of the 5th Corps of the so-called Army of BiH, Atif Dudakovic, reports the public broadcaster Radio and Television of Republika Srpska /RTRS/. BANJALUKA - More and more soldiers are leaving the BiH Armed Forces and according to unofficial reports, nearly 100 soldiers have decided to leave the military service over the past two or three months, reports the Banjaluka-based Nezavisne Novine daily. FEDERATION OF BiH MOSTAR - The Mostar board of the Serbian Cultural Society Prosvjeta has published a call for the Aleksa Santic Literary Award for the Santic Poetry Evenings 2018, 150 years after the birth of the famous poet and 50 years since the award was established. SERBIA BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic says that Belgrade will submit a list of names of 20,000 of children killed in Jasenovac and other Independent State of Croatia /NDH/ concentration camps to Zagreb soon in response to the recent attempts to relativise the Ustasha crimes and revise history. BELGRADE - Serbia will boost its diplomatic struggle for Kosovo and Metohija at the UN Security Council as well, where it will present the arguments which are expected to thwart the attempts by great powers to ensure more countries recognise the illegally declared independence of the southern Serbian province, reports the Vecernje Novosti daily. REGION PODGORICA - A total of 34,531 tourists were registered in collective accommodation in Montenegro in March, which is 26.5 per cent more than in the same month of 2017, reports the Montenegrin Statistical Office /Monstat/. /end/ds Phoma stem canker, is becoming less effective, which could lead to substantial losses to the oilseed rape breeding industry and to arable farmers in the UK. This is the first study showing that the host resistant gene Rlm7 has become less effective at controlling the phoma stem canker pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans in the UK and is of great importance to plant breeders and farmers. When host resistance is rendered ineffective by changes in the pathogen population there is an estimated cost of 5m per year to the breeding industry through the loss of commercially available cultivars. In the UK, oilseed rape is the third most important arable crop with a total of 2.2M tonnes harvested in 2017. It is the third largest source of vegetable oil worldwide and widely used as animal feed. However there are three main diseases, all with a worldwide distribution, which affect oilseed rape which cause around 15% crop yield losses worldwide each year. One of these, phoma stem canker, causes losses to UK farmers of more than 95m per year. Ogden's marathon is back live and in-person for the 2022 season OGDEN Marathoners can once again join Ogdens race day in-person on May 21, 2022. Registration is now open for the Ogden Marathon. The annual event, produced by the GOAL Foundation, was modified to a virtual run for the past two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local guidelines surrounding COVID-19 are being implemented to ensure the safety of all participants, volunteers, vendors and spectators. A refund option as well as a virtual run will be available should the race be canceled due to COVID-19. Any updates on the Ogden Marathon will be posted on social media at Ogden ... As if nature had been responsible for break through their own means, in a cave entrance stands the so-called Castle of Predjama. It is located in the South-West of Slovenia, only 9 kilometres northwest of the town of Postojna. 123 Meters high from the surface, on a cliff, it is one of the biggest attractions of Europe to castles regards. The cave in which stands is known with the name of Erazmova Jama. It has four levels and the deepest covered by river Lovka looks. The possibilities of access to the interior were complicated thus became a very safe place for those who inhabited it. Its architecture was notably adapted to the stone on which it was built. Story already round legend is known and transmitted by all these lands since it is part of the popular culture. The origin dates from the year 1,202. In these years, instead had another building which was replaced at the beginning of the 16th century by the castle which today we are talking about here. This time belongs the current appearance that was carried out by The baron Philipp von Cobenzl. He was also who incorporated the Renaissance style which can be seen on its limit in the rock. According to narrate legendary voices, a renowned thief with title of baron called Erazem Lueguer had a violent death on the premises of the Castle. They have to have lived an incredible siege by the same Emperor of Austria and that he could survive with food and other resources that achieved through other rocks. The baron had committed two severe attacks towards the Court. First, he killed a relative of the Emperor in a duel to the death; Secondly, it maintained relations with the Hungarian Emperor rivals. By way of retaliation, the army surrounded the premises of the castle with the purpose that the Knight and those who accompanied him died of hunger and thirst. . 6 . . , 2022 . ... 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. As we have since July 2006, each Friday well post our sampling of cigar news and other items of interest from the week. Below is our latest, which is the 577th in the series. 1) In celebration of Avos 30th anniversary, Davidoff this week announced the release of the sixth iteration of Avo Improvisation, a limited series inspired by unexpected combinations of music and cigars. Only 2,400 boxes of 25 cigars have been made in a single ultra-premium vitola (7.5 x 50). The recipe, which is inspired by the Avo Classic No. 3, includes an Ecuadorian wrapper, Dominican binder, and Dominican filler tobaccos. The per-cigar price is $16. Improvisation pays homage to Avo founder and Juilliard-trained jazz pianist Avo Uvezian, who passed away in March 2017 at the age of 91. 2) Drew Estate has announced the pre-release of the Liga Privada No. 9 Corona Viva, which is exclusive to the Cigars International Super-Store in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. The cigar features a Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Oscuro wrapper, a plantation-grown Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers, according to a press release. Similar in concept to the Undercrown Corona Viva, released in 2012, the No. 9 Corona Viva features the core blend with increased Ligero for a fuller and stronger taste profile. The Corona Viva was launched as a pre-release yesterday in limited quantities. Boxes of 24 ($290) will be available at Cigars Internationals CIGARfest in limited quantities. 3) As the official bourbon sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, Woodford Reserve has again released a special edition bottle for the 2018 Kentucky Derby (which takes place tomorrow). The commemorative bottling is filled with the standard-issue Woodford Reserve bourbon and sells for $44. It is also used in the $1,000 mint juleps sold at the derby in a special edition silver cup (and a $2,500 julep that comes in a gold-plated cup) with proceeds going to charity. 4) Inside the Industry: Gurkha Cigars announced its first Tobacconsits Association of America (TAA) exclusive cigar, which is an extension of the companys Heritage line. It is made with an Ecuador Habano wrapper and blinder around Peruvian and Nicaraguan filler. Only 1,000 of the Toro box-pressed cigars will be made, and they will retail for $100 per box. Look for them this summer. 5) From the Archives: Ever wonder how The Stogie Guys got started smoking cigars? You can read the full story here. 6) Deal of the Week: Fancy humidors can be great, but when it comes to functionality and value youd be hard-pressed to beat an acrylic jar like this one, which is currently on sale for $17 (with free Amazon Prime shipping). The Stogie Guys photo credit: Davidoff 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. 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. Syracuse, N.Y. -- A federal judge has ordered a former employee of scrap dealer Adam Weitsman to stop making false claims that Weitsman was involved in a murder and sells illegal drugs. U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino in Albany issued the order against Robert A. Levesque III on April 25 and granted a default judgment against Levesque for defamation. She scheduled a hearing for June 1 to determine what damages, if any, Levesque will have to pay Weitsman for the false claims. D'Agostino also ordered Levesque to, within 14 days, "remove from all websites, forums, blogs, lists, social media accounts, and any other forum of mass communication" all defamatory statements he has made about Weitsman or his company, Upstate Shredding. "The speech at issue is clearly defamatory and, therefore, unprotected," the judge said. Weitsman sued Levesque in June 2017 for defamation, libel and business disparagement, alleging that the former Upstate Shredding employee posted more than 60 false claims on the internet saying Weitsman helped millionaire Cal Harris dispose of his wife's body in 2001. Harris was charged with murdering his wife, Michele Harris, at the Southern Tier estate they shared with their four children. She disappeared Sept. 11, 2001, and her body has never been found. Cal Harris was acquitted of all charges in 2016 following his fourth trial. Levesque also claimed in internet posts, without offering any proof, that Weitsman was involved in the sale of illegal drugs. Weitsman said in a text message to syracuse.com Friday that he was "very thankful" for the judge's decision and will donate any damage award to charity. According to Weitsman's lawsuit, Levesque worked for Weitsman as a scrap metal inspector at Upstate Shredding's plant in Owego in Tioga County from 2011 to 2014. Weitsman fired him in March 2014 after Levesque started behaving bizarrely, the lawsuit said. Levesque wore a satanic mask to work and made "racially motivated and derogatory remarks" to and about the company's customers before he was fired, the suit said. Weitsman rehired Levesque in April 2014 after he asked for a second chance, the suit said. But the odd behavior continued and Weitsman wound up firing him again in December 2014, the suit said. Weitsman said he only sued Levesque after he posted pictures of his wife and young daughter and began posting accusations that Weitsman's friends might have been involved in crimes. The scrap dealer alleged in the lawsuit that Upstate Shredding has lost $200,000 in profits because of the damage Levesque's false statements have done to the company's reputation. He is seeking an additional $200,000 in general damages for the loss to his own reputation. D'Agostino said Levesque, who, according to a court record, is now living in Ramona, Calif., failed to answer Weitsman's complaint "even though he was on notice of the suit against him, as evidenced by his calls to this court, emails to opposing counsel, and various references to the lawsuit on his social media accounts." Upstate Shredding is the East Coast's largest privately held scrap metal processor. It operates 17 scrapyards in New York and Pennsylvania, including one in Geddes in Onondaga County. Contact Rick Moriarty anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 FULL RANKING: 18 towns, cities with the most murders in Upstate NY, according to FBI crime data New crime statistics from the FBI show murder counts for cities and towns across Upstate New York, and provide a glimpse into which cities suffer from higher rates than others. The 2016 data, which is the latest available, includes total number of murders and violent crimes per municipality and population. This list breaks down murder per 100,000 people, total number of murders and violent crimes per municipality and population. Syracuse, the third largest city in Upstate NY after Buffalo and Rochester, comes in at #4 on the list of towns and cities with the most murders in Upstate NY from NYup.com. The city of Ithaca also ranked in the top 18. Here's the breakdown: Family and friends of a homicide victim gather on Cortland Avenue. #4. Syracuse (Onondaga County) Murders per 100,000 people: 21 Number of murders: 30 Total number of violent crimes: 1,063 Population: 143,925 The Campus Quad and Dillingham Fountains at Ithaca College. #13. Ithaca (Tompkins County) Murders per 100,000 people: 6 Number of murders: 2 Total number of violent crimes: 72 Population: 30,937 WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney on Friday blasted Anthony Brindisi, saying her election challenger was "disingenuous" about his public split with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Brindisi, a Democratic New York Assembly member from Utica, told syracuse.com on Thursday that if elected he would not vote to keep Pelosi as Democratic leader because he think it's time for a change. Tenney, R-New Hartford, said Brindisi's actions tell a different story about his relationship with Pelosi, who donated to his campaign through her political action committee and Democratic super PACs that she helps control. "Brindisi's attempt to disavow his biggest donor, Nancy Pelosi, is nothing more than a desperate political ploy," Tenney said in a statement. "Only after Pelosi's checks have cleared and her super PACs have spent hundreds of thousands in false attacks, does Brindisi make the politically advantageous and disingenuous move to distance himself from her." Pelosi's congressional campaign and her leadership PAC, PAC to the Future, have donated a combined $14,000 directly to Brindisi's campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records. House Majority PAC, a super PAC aligned with Pelosi, has also spent more than $214,000 on television ads, digital advertising and direct mail attacking Tenney, the FEC records shows. The group last month began airing ads on TV in the Binghamton area that criticize Tenney's vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Tenney said Brindisi has a voting record in the state Assembly that is more in line with the policies supported by Pelosi, whom she said has a "radical, left-wing agenda." If she is re-elected, Tenney will have to vote for a new Republican leader to succeed House Speaker Paul Ryan, who plans to retire at the end of the year. Tenney has not disclosed who she will support to succeed Ryan. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 New York Assemblyman Bob Oaks said Friday he plans to retire at the end of the year, ending a 26-year run representing Wayne County and parts of Central New York in Albany. Oaks, R-Macedon, said he decided not to seek re-election in the 130th Assembly District after consulting with his wife, Judy, and realizing he had lost some of his enthusiasm for serving in the Assembly. "A couple of weeks ago when I headed back to Albany after the break from passing the state budget, if felt different," Oaks wrote in a statement posted on the website of the Times of Wayne County. "We had just spent time with both of our young grandchildren, and for the first time as I headed to Albany on Monday morning, I had less enthusiasm for my weekly trip down the Thruway," Oaks wrote. "That started a discussion with my wife and family that ultimately led to this decision." Oaks has been a Republican fixture in Wayne County, where he has also served as chairman of the Wayne County Republican Committee. For the past six years, he has served as ranking member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, the powerful tax-writing committee with influence over the state's $168 billion budget. Oaks, 66, said "it is time for someone younger to challenge the status quo and stand up for small businesses and small communities that are so important to the fabric of our area of Upstate New York." The 130th Assembly District includes all of Wayne County and parts of Cayuga and Oswego counties. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 If New York is going to cut back on the millions of dollars of property tax breaks given to condominiums Upstate, it will be up to the state lawmakers. They won't have go far to find experts. State Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-DeWitt, and other state legislators have been taking advantage of that very tax break on condos. For years, DeFrancisco, Sen. John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo have lived in condos in a building across from the Capitol that serve as their homes away from home while the legislature is in session. They bought them from other legislators who retired. They pay a fraction of the property taxes their neighbors pay. Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-DeWitt, speaks to members in the Senate Chamber gallery at the Capitol on the opening day of the legislative session on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, in Albany, N.Y. DeFrancisco bought a condo in Albany in 1994 for $80,000. Twenty-four years later, it is still assessed for $64,000, records show. A typical house worth $80,000 would be paying at least $3,000 a year in taxes to Albany city, county and schools. Instead, his most recent tax bill was $2,417, records show. Property taxes on most homes are levied on an amount based on the market value of the property. A little-known state law requires local officials to assess condos in a different way - based on an estimated rental value, which is lower. More than 100,000 property owners in New York are taking advantage of the condo tax break. Across Upstate New York, condo owners are shifting at least $330 million a year in property taxes onto their neighbors, according to a Syracuse.com analysis of thousands of property assessment and sale records. A senator and an assemblywoman struggle each year to get their colleagues to plug that condo loophole. They can't figure out why their bills go nowhere. The lawmakers' building at 52-54 S. Swan St. was converted to the Cathedral Square Condominiums in 1987, according to state attorney general's records. The application was submitted by developer Paul Hudson, records show. They are small one-bedroom units described on real estate websites as inexpensive and priceless in charm and walking distance from the Capitol. Zillow describes one as Historic 1830s detail with millennium style. Many legislators and some staffers have made the building their homes away from home over the years, records show. Lupardo, a Democrat from Broome County, owns a condo in the Swan Street building. NYS Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo Lupardo's unit is assessed for 57 percent of market value. She bought it from former Sen. Charles Fuschillo, a Republican from Nassau County, for $79,000. She paid $1,699 in property taxes. Another $80,000 property would pay $3,022 in property taxes. A spokesman for Lupardo said she was unfamiliar with efforts to change the law. He said she would call Assemblywoman Sandy Galef to research it. Galef and Sen. Betty Little, majority-party legislators in each house, have bills in the Senate and Assembly that would end the condominium tax break going forward on new construction. They have tried and given up over the last decade to end the tax break on current buildings. Bonacic, a Republican from Orange County, said through a spokesman that he would consider the bill if it ever made it out of committee. He announced his retirement last week. In the meantime, he is likely benefiting from a tax break on his Swan Street place. It is assessed for $36,000. He bought it in 2002 for $35,000 from the late Assemblyman Paul Harenberg, a Long Island Democrat. It isn't for sale, but the real estate website Zillow estimates it could fetch $110,000 on the market. NYS Sen. John Bonacic Bonacic's property tax bill is $1,360, according to city and school records. Another $110,000 home in Albany would pay $4,154. Several other legislators owned condos in the building during their terms in office. Former Sen. George Maziarz, a Republican from Western New York, owned one until 2014. He sold it for $85,000, but it had been assessed for only $52,750, records show. Maziarz left the Senate in scandal. He admitted guilt to a misdemeanor charge last month in a plea deal that started with five felony violations of election law. Maziarz bought his condo from DeFrancisco, according to news reports. DeFrancisco did not respond to interview requests. He recently abandoned his attempt to run for governor. Former Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer, a Democrat from Westchester County, boasted in a going-away speech in 2012 that DeFrancisco had helped them get a lower assessment, according to a quote in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. She did not return a phone call seeking more context. Acting Albany Assessor Trey Kingston said he could find no evidence of a grievance or a change in assessments at the Swan Street condos. He did acknowledge, however, that there is confusion over condo assessments in the city of Albany. Albany passed something called the "Homestead Option" in 1998. It creates separate tax rates for commercial and residential real estate. As a side benefit, Homestead cities can assess condos at market value and bring taxes up to par with other similar properties. That's supposed to kill the condo break. But Albany still assesses condos at a rate based on possible rental income, which is lower. Asked why the condo break continues, Kingston said he is reviewing the condo assessments and has asked the state real property tax office for guidance. The Swan Street condo building has been featured in Albany news reports in the past for another reason: Legislators buy them with tax dollars. Legislators are paid annual salaries of $79,500, plus extra pay for committee assignments. Legislators from outside the area are also paid $174 for food and lodging for each night they spend in Albany. Most legislators use their "per diem" check to cover hotel bills. But the Swan Street legislators put the money toward their condos. There is nothing in state law that prevents legislators from using the money to buy property. They can keep the money when they sell it. DeFrancisco was paid $63,000 in per diems for overnights over the last five years, according to records from the state comptroller's office. That's almost 80 percent of the cost of his condo. Read our full coverage of NYS's condo tax break Contact Michelle Breidenbach anytime: | | 315-470-3186. Cornell University announced plans to increase oversight and punishments for its fraternities and sororities on Friday following yet another hazing incident on its campus. Among the changes announced by the university are harsher punishments for hazing incidents, a ban on hard alcohol (over 30 percent) in fraternity and sorority houses and a mandated full-time live-in adviser in Greek houses. The school also announced that it will create an online scorecard, published annually, that will publicize each organization's judicial affairs history to the campus community and the parents of students. The school also mandated reviews of each chapter's events management guidelines and of the Chapter Review Board Process. In a letter from Cornell President Martha Pollack to the school, the school announced those measures and others, while banning the Sigma Nu fraternity from campus for three years due to hazing violations. The details of the hazing incident were not included. Hazing in Cornell's fraternities and sororities has been a persistent issue at the school, even involving the death of former student George Desdunes in 2011. According to Cornell's website, which makes hazing violations and their details public despite its status as a private school, seven different fraternities and sororities were found in violation of hazing rules last year. The Cornell website does not include any entries or details for hazing incidents from this year, though Pollack's letter noted other violations are pending. She said the hazing behavior was "extremely coercive, demeaning, sexually inappropriate and physically dangerous." Cornell's changes come at a time when scrutiny has increased on Greek life culture across the country on issues ranging from hazing to racial insensitivity to sexual assault. Like Cornell, Syracuse has had issues with its Greek life system and student behavior. Four fraternities have been suspended or removed from campus this year. The most recent incident came last month, when the engineering fraternity Theta Tau drew national attention for creating a video that used racist and anti-Semitic slurs, along with depicting scenes that were homophobic and mocked disabled individuals. The fraternity said the video was "a roast" of its senior members, defending the behavior as "offensive" but not a sign of prejudice. The Cornell announcement came on the same day that Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud informed the SU community that he plans to name someone by June 1 to oversee a review of Greek Life at Syracuse. Syverud said the school has consulted with eight other universities on the best ways to perform a review. Along with a review of Syracuse's Greek system, Syverud has also said that he will require fraternity and sorority members and advisers to participate in implicit bias and training in inclusiveness. At a variety of town hall meetings over the past two weeks, some Syracuse students have criticized the culture created by the fraternity and sorority system. Others have noted that issues of insensitivity and sexual misconduct are a campus-wide issue and not just a product of fraternities and sororities. In a sign of how difficult schools have found it to change the culture within fraternities and sororities, Cornell's announcement noted that it conducted a review of its Greek system in 2012 aimed at changing behaviors. The school said some of the recommended changes were never fully implemented. In Cornell's announcement, Pollack defended the school's tradition of fraternities and sororities having a positive impact. According to a release from Cornell, Pollack noted that "fraternities and sororities have a prominent history at Cornell and that members of these organizations have made great contributions to the university." The release quoted Pollack as saying the fraternities helped to 'foster a vibrant community spirit on our campus and in Ithaca through leadership, volunteer work and other forms of engagement.' Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639 Fort Collins, Colo. -- Two teenage Mohawk brothers visiting a college campus in Colorado were detained and questioned by police because they made another parent on the tour nervous. Thomas Kahneratokwas Gray and Lloyd Skanahwati Gray were visiting Colorado State University in Fort Collins on Monday. The brothers, ages 19 and 17, had saved money and made a seven-hour trip from their home in New Mexico to visit the school. The two were late arriving to campus, but caught up with the tour quickly, according to The Denver Post. Thomas Kanewakeron Gray (Gray Family via AP) A parent on the tour called campus police because she was nervous about the presence of two young men who joined the tour while it was in progress, according to the Post. "Apparently, a parent on the tour called police because they were too quiet, that made them suspicious," said Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray, the mother of the two boys. "They were trying to listen. Why should it be a crime to listen and not engage in a conversation?" Officers spoke to the brothers and released them after they showed a confirmation email, according to the Post. The tour group had already moved on because the guide did not know the teens had been detained. They returned to another campus building briefly, but left soon after. Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray wrote on Facebook that she felt her sons weren't safe at the school and had been victims of racism. She told them to leave immediately. "It is one of their first experiences out in the real world and they run into this cruel world," Gray said, according to the Post. "That's why we have to speak out." The tour guide left a message on Gray's Facebook page apologizing for what happened. The school also apologized. Lloyd Skanahwati Gray (Gray Family via AP) "This 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 school said in a letter to students, according to USA Today. Officials said Colorado State is investigating and reviewing how such an incident can be avoided or better handled, the Post said. Thomas is a student at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola and wanted to transfer to Colorado State. Lloyd is a high school senior at Santa Fe Indian School. The family is Mohawk and both brothers are musicians, according to The Associated Press. They study contemporary and traditional music. Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray's Facebook page says she is from Hogansburg. The town is in northern New York near the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. "I think it's pretty discriminatory," Thomas said of the experience on the tour, according to AP. "Me and my brother just stayed to ourselves the whole time. I guess that was scaring people; that we were just quiet." Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112 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 ... ASRY signs Bahri fleet agreement ASRY (Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard), the Bahrain-based maritime repair and fabrication facility, has signed a fleet agreement with Bahri. The Saudi Arabian shipowner has committed to a fleet repair framework agreement that sets favourable terms and conditions for their vessels to be repaired and drydocked at ASRY into 2019, the repairer said. To date Bahri owns 91 vessels. Established as the National Shipping Co of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA), it has played a leading role in the transformation and growth of the Arabian shipping industry. This agreement represents another strategic link with ASRY, which recently celebrated its 40th year of operation. Abdel Aziz Sabri, President of Mideast Shipmanagement, Bahris shipmanagement arm, said of the agreement, ASRY has been a long-term partner of Bahri, having repaired many of their vessels successfully. Were pleased to take this next step with them and we look forward to this agreement allowing our fleet to be repaired with even greater ease and in greater numbers in the future. ASRYs CEO, Andrew Shaw, said: Its very encouraging to enhance our relationship with such a prestigious owner as Bahri. This agreement allow us to offer the best value and flexibility for drydock availability, prices, and repairs, and continue to deliver high standards of safety, quality and schedule. We understand the downward pressure being faced by owners, and encourage these collaborative ways of supporting fleets both regionally and globally. Fiori remains optimistic for product tanker future dAmico International Shipping (DIS) has reported a first quarter net loss of $3.6 mill, compared with a profit of $1.8 mill in 1Q17. EBITDA was $10.1 mill (15.21% on TCE) in 1Q18 , compared to $16.1 mill in 1Q17 and $3.2 mill in 4Q17. TCE) earnings were $66.3 mill in 1Q18 ($66.6 mill in 1Q17 and $63.3 mill in 4Q17. Daily average Spot rates were $12,726 in 1Q18 ($13,363 in 1Q17 and $11,299 in 4Q17). Marco Fiori, DIS CEO, commented: dAmico International Shipping posted a loss of $3.6 mill in the first quarter of 2018, in a still relatively soft market. In particular, DIS daily spot average was of $12,726 in Q118 substantially in line with the same quarter of last year but considerably better than the average of the previous three quarters (Q2-Q417: average of $11,677/day). As usual, our long-term strategy of having a high level of timecharter coverage mitigated the subdued spot market. In fact, our coverage of $15,001/day on 31.7% of our total vessel days in Q118, led us to achieve a total blended daily TCE (spot and timecharter) of U$13,446, which is rather satisfactory level given the current market scenario. As I have been saying for several months, I do think all the macro variables are pointing towards a market rebound, and I think it is now only a matter of timing. Demand for seaborne transportation of refined products is expected to grow strongly in the next years, also on the back of the estimated increase in global economic activity. A significant share of the new world refining capacity is planned in the Middle East and away from some of the key areas of demand. This trend has been driving tonne/mile demand for product tankers and is expected to strengthen with the new export oriented refinery capacity coming on line. At the same time, the level of product inventories that have been putting pressure on freights since 2016, is now back in-line with the five year average. These positive factors on the demand side are coupled with a very limited supply growth, with amongst the lowest fleet expansions in 15 years expected in the near future (1.9% for 2018 and 1.7% for 2019). DIS prudent commercial strategy mitigated the negative effects of the challenging markets experienced in the last couple of years. Our long-term investment plan, as well as the initiatives to strengthen our balance sheet and liquidity position, will put our company in a favourable position to benefit from the market rebound that we are all expecting, he concluded. CFO Carlos Balestra di Mottola, CFO, said: In Q118 DIS confronted again a relatively soft market, which showed however some encouraging signs of improvement relative to the previous three quarters. In this context, DIS continued strengthening its liquidity position, to complete its long-term investment plan by January, 2019. In fact, in the first quarter of the year we finalised the sale and lease back of one vessel and the sale and timecharter back of a further ship, generating net cash proceeds of $20.3 mill. At the same time, we invested $33.1 mill in the period, mainly in connection with the instalments paid on the newbuilding vessels under construction at Hyundai Mipo shipyard, including one LR1 vessel delivered in January, 2018. As at 31st March , 2018, DIS had cash and cash equivalent of $32.7 mill and a net financial position of $(526.2) mill, a healthy level corresponding to 67.8% of its fleets market value, he explained. Navios Maritime Midstream Partners takes a hit on vessel sales Navios Maritime Midstream Partners announced a net loss of $29.6 mill for the first quarter of this year, compared with a net income of $4.5 mill in 1Q17. The tanker company also reported an adjusted net income of $2.9 mill for 1Q18, compared with $4.5 mill for 1Q17. EBITDA was minus $18.8 mill in 1Q18, compared with plus $14.7 mill for 1Q17, while the adjusted EBITDA was plus $13.7 mill in 1Q18 and $14.7 mill for 1Q17. Adjusted EBITDA and, adjusted net (loss)/income reported above excluded the loss of $32.4 mill on vessel sales. Revenue for the period was $19.8 mill, compared with $21 mill in 1Q17. Angeliki Frangou, chairman and CEO of Navios Midstream, said, We are pleased to report the results for the first quarter of 2018, in which we had $13.7 mill of adjusted EBITDA and reported $2.9 mill of adjusted net income. We also announced a distribution of $0.125 per unit, representing an annualised yield of about 11%. Our new distribution policy allows us to redeploy cash flow to renew our fleet at a time when assets are attractively priced, without having to rely on the equity capital markets and while also maintaining a healthy balance sheet. In the first quarter of 2018, we reduced the average age of our fleet by 11%, while maintaining conservative leverage, with debt to book capitalisation of 42.3% at the end of the quarter. We also have no significant debt maturities until 2020 or any committed growth capex, she concluded. During the period, Navios Midstream acquired the Nave Galactic a 2009-built VLCC, from Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp for $44.5 mill and sold the Shinyo Kannika to an unrelated party for $17 mill. Navios Midstream will continue to refresh its fleet, thereby seeking to revitalise its cash flow generating ability, the company said. Navios Acquisitions charter rate backstop has been extended to the Nave Galactic. This backstop was previously for the Shinyo Kannika and under the agreement, Navios Acquisition will pay Navios Midstream any shortfall between (a) $38,025 per day and (b) the average charter rate for each calendar year through February, 2019. Navios Midstream has entered into charter-out agreements for its vessels, with a remaining average term of 3.1 years, which are expected to provide a stable base of revenue and distributable cash flow. The company has currently contracted out 100% of its available days for 2018 and 40.8% for 2019 expecting to generate revenues, including the backstop commitment provided by Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp, of about $84.8 mill and $40.8 mill for 2018 and 2019, respectively. The average expected daily charter-out rate for the fleet is $39,443 and $45,613 for 2018 and 2019, respectively. Scorpio Tankers negotiates new loan facilities Scorpio Tankers (STI) said that following new financing initiatives, the company has received commitments from four leading European financial institutions for three separate loan facilities of up to $195.9 mill in total. This will raise $53.9 mill of new liquidity after the repayment of $142 mill of existing secured debt. The company said that it expected to make announcements of further individual transactions in the coming weeks. STI has received a commitment from ABN AMRO Bank and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken for a loan facility of up to $120.6 mill. This loan facility will be used to finance up to 65% of the fair market value of one Handymax, one MR and three LR2s. The facility has a final maturity of five years from the first drawdown date, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.6% per annum, and is subject to customary conditions precedent and the execution of definitive documentation. STI also received a commitment to increase its original $132.5 mill credit facility with ING Bank to $171.2 mill. The increased part of the loan facility will be used to finance up to 65% of the fair market value of one Handymax and one MR. This increased part of the loan facility has a final maturity during June, 2022, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.4% per annum, and is subject to customary conditions precedent and the execution of definitive documentation, STI said. Furthermore, STI said that it had also received a commitment from a leading European financial institution for a loan facility of up to $36.7 mill, which will be used to finance two MRs. This loan facility has a final maturity date of June, 2021, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.5% per annum, and is also subject to certain conditions precedent and the execution of definitive documentation. One person in California has died over an E.coli outbreak speculated to have been caused by romaine lettuce, food officials confirmed May 2. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three more states have been ravaged by this outbreak, bringing the total number to 25, with 121 people reported sick. The current romaine lettuce situation is being hailed as the worst E.coli outbreak since 2006 when illnesses linked to spinach took three lives and made over 270 people sick. With the numbers increasing every week, this outbreak is fast approaching the aforementioned 2006 fiasco. The CDC says more than half of those who have become ill have been hospitalized. The strain of E.coli linked to romaine lettuce produces a toxin called Shiga that induces diarrhea and other potentially severe symptoms, including kidney failure in some cases. The CDC confirms that so far, 14 people have this kidney damage called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which puts them at risk of death. Don't Eat Lettuce All the contaminated romaine lettuce has been traced to farms in Arizona. "Do not eat or buy romaine lettuce unless you can confirm it is not from the Yuma, Arizona growing region," the CDC cautions. "Restaurants and retailers should ask their suppliers about the source of their romaine lettuce." Health officials warn that washing lettuce doesn't cut it. This bacteria can actually get inside the lettuce leaf," says Ian Williams, the chief of CDC's Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch. "Washing it doesn't make it safe." E.Coli Romaine Lettuce Outbreak E.coli typically lives in animal intestines such as cows and pigs. In fact, in the 1990s, most E.coli illnesses were linked to contaminated hamburger products. Improvements in the livestock industry have lowered the number of meat-related E.coli outbreaks but conversely, E.coli contamination of leafy vegetables have been rising. On average, people get sick three to four days after first ingesting the bacteria, according to the CDC. Most people experience diarrhea often bloody ones, including vomiting, and severe stomach cramps. Most people recover within a week, while some cases last longer and can be more severe, requiring hospitalization. California is the state with the most hospitalizations at 24, followed by Pennsylvania with 20, then Idaho with 11. The most recent case was reported April 21. The person in California who died over the outbreak has not been identified. The California Department of Public Health has confirmed the death to CBS News but did not provide any more details, citing patient privacy laws. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Cambridge Analytica is officially done as if there were other conclusions for the embattled company than a total shutdown. The announcement comes amid allegations about its misuse of Facebook user data, and the fact that it worked for President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, not to mention the campaign tactics it pitched to its clients. Just this March, Cambridge Analytica suspended Alexander Nix, its chief executive. The company said it would carry out an investigation whether the company had, in fact, engaged in any wrongdoing with regard to information pulled from Facebook accounts. The company opted for a shutdown following waning confidence from its clients. It was also facing mounting legal fees in the wake of the Facebook investigation, according to people familiar with the matter, The Wall Stree Journal reports. Cambridge Analytica, together with SCL Elections, released a joint statement on May 2 confirming the closures. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations," the statement reads. "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 said statement further confirms that Bankruptcy proceedings will soon begin for Cambridge Analytica. The firm's Uk-based parent organization, SCL Group, will also be shuttered. What Happened Julian Wheatland, the recently appointed CEO of Cambridge Analytica, reportedly told staffers that it had evaluated all options and saw no way forward. As Wired reports, one source says the employees in the company's New York offices were told to pack up and leave immediately without being offered information on how they'll be compensated moving forward. The source says there was a feeling of "just shock" in the room. "There was indication the company was in trouble and change would be coming, but we didn't see this as the resolution," the source reveals. Cambridge Analytica Explained Cambridge Analytica gained enormous notoriety after it was revealed that it worked on data analytics for Trump's presidential campaign. Also, it was found that the firm had acquired data from millions upon millions of Facebook accounts via a seemingly harmless personality test app without getting consent. Aleksandr Kogan, a researcher hired by the firm, was the one who created the said test. It collected data from any user who took it, along with their friends. Kogan sold that data to the firm to develop "psychographic profiles" of American voters. The scandal became worse when it was reported that Facebook knew that this occurred but chose not to properly disclose it to its users. The scandal reached the point where Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had to testify before the U.S. Congress. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New data released on May 2 shows carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere going beyond a new threshold with a monthly average exceeding 410 parts per million. Specifically, the average concentration of carbon dioxide hits 410.31 parts per million for the month of April. This is according to the measurement series being conducted at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii using the Keeling Curve system under the Scripps CO2 program. Marks The First Time In History The Scripps CO2 program was started in 1956 by Charles David Keeling and has since been recording the behavior of the Earth's atmosphere as it endures the impact of climate change. The measurement using the Keeling Curve began in 1958. Specifically, the Keeling Curve notes the fluctuating trend of carbon dioxide in a given period. The new data gathered in the month of April is the first time when the Mauna Loa recorded a monthly average that soared past the threshold of 410 parts per million. Furthermore, it is also the first time that the Keeling Curve recorded a 30 percent increase in carbon dioxide concentration on a global scale. Rising carbon dioxide exceeded 400 parts per million for the first time in human history in 2013. Carbon dioxide has been rising and falling even before the Industrial Revolution. However, there had been no instance when it soared past 300 parts per million in the last 800,000 years. Burning Of Fossil Fuels Carbon dioxide is a form of greenhouse gas that can trap and restrain solar radiation in the atmosphere. Human activities contribute greatly to the production of carbon dioxide. In fact, the reason behind the rise of the greenhouse gas is extremely straightforward. "We keep burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide keeps building up in the air. It's essentially as simple as that," says Ralph Keeling, a geochemist and the current director of the Scripps CO program. This opinion was echoed by Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University. She explains that surpassing another threshold is not what concerned her. More troubling is the fact that carbon dioxide keeps on rising. It only means that human activities which are harmful to Earth's atmosphere are "continuing full speed ahead." Marshall Shepherd, a climate scientist, and director of the Atmospheric Sciences program at the University of Georgia highlights that fluctuating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a natural occurrence. It is in the nature of this gas to rise and fall but the rate at which it is rising is never seen before because humans "are the new kid on Earth's block." 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A University of Massachusetts-Amherst professor is giving the Milky Way galaxy a musical makeover by composing a piece for our universe. 'Milky Way Blues' Dr. Mark Heyer debuted the 2-minute, 29-second jazz piece on the Astronomy Sound of the Month website. The piece was created by using data from emission lines of four different gases that were picked up by radio telescopes across the galaxy. Atomic, ionized, and molecular gases were highlighted in this composition. An Instrumental Representation Heyer was able to transform 20 years of data into music by converting the data into notes from a pentatonic musical scale. He used four different musical instruments to showcase the Milky Way galaxy gases. Listeners hear a saxophone blow every time the ionized gas enters the track, while an acoustic bass represents the atomic gases. Both tapping woodblocks and piano notes characterize the molecular gases. Dr. Heyer Speaks Tech Times corresponded with Heyer about the track, and he stated that the idea of transforming astronomical data into music came 25 years ago when he and his University of Massachusetts-Amherst colleagues collected 3D data of intermolecular clouds. He decided to use the concept to showcase the Milky Way galaxy through music. He featured the rotations of both the gases and the stars by changing the musical pitches. Heyer stated that once he received the musical software, it took him several months to create "Milky Way Blues." "I am passionate about astronomy and music, and this merges both of those passions in a very fun way," said Heyer in a statement to Tech Times. The Original Composing Researcher Heyer stated that someone else who came up with the concept of combining astronomy and music. He pointed out that mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler introduced the idea in his book Harmonies of the World. Kepler focused on the planet's relationship with the sun by using music notes. Milky Way Update European Space Agency scientists will soon release a map of the Milky Way galaxy. They will be using data captured by the Gaia spacecraft observer that was launched in 2013. The map is expected to be a combination of 25 separate observations of their stars and movements. Meanwhile, Columbia University researchers published a study in Nature that revealed over a dozen black holes are surrounding Sagittarius A*, a black hole in the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The research team looked found the cosmic features by using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory located in space. They were able to use the satellite's X-ray emissions to see the black holes within 3 light years from Sagittarius A*. Australian astronomers were able to locate a mysterious gamma ray in the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The Australian National University research team discovered that the gamma ray came from 10 billion-year-old stars. The astronomers used the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope to obtain their findings. Tech Times reached out to the Astronomy Sound of the Month website for comments on this story. Watch the video below to hear Dr. Heyer's composition as the Milky Way Galaxy rotates: 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As scientists continue to search for the mysterious Planet Nine in space, two researchers from Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland are looking for clues in medieval tapestries. The Existence of Planet Nine In 2014, the scientific community began to debate the existence of Planet Nine. For years, most people believed that Pluto was the ninth planet in our solar system, but it was downgraded to a dwarf planet in 2006. Some scientists believe that Planet Nine's existence would explain the gravitational influence in the distribution of orbits in the Kuiper Belt, a disc in the outer solar system filled with icy remnants from billions of years ago. In 2016, scientists inferred the possible existence of Planet Nine based on modeling work. Despite the research, no one has been able to see Planet Nine in the skies. There are even some scientists who are skeptical about Planet's Nine existence. Researchers are still scanning the skies to find the planet. Why Use Medieval Tapestry? Queen's University Belfast's Marilina Cesario, a medievalist, and Pedro Lacerda, an astronomer, are teaming up to use tapestries and scrolls from the from the Middle Ages to try to prove the existence of Planet Nine. They believe that Anglo Saxons might have discovered the planet and recorded their findings in tapestries. "Taking a gander at records of comets in Old English, Latin, Old Irish and Russian writings we expect to demonstrate that the early medieval individuals really recorded real galactic perceptions, mirroring their enthusiasm for cosmology and comprehension of the sky," said Cesario. Historians know that people in the Middles Ages were fascinated by the heavens. The tapestries had dates and times, which can be very useful to scientists today. "We can take the orbits of comets currently known and use a computer to calculate the times when those comets would be visible in the skies during the Middle Ages," said Lacerda. "The precise times depend on whether our computer simulations include Planet Nine. So, in simple terms, we can use the medieval comet sightings to check which computer simulations work best: the ones that include Planet Nine or the ones that do not." Lacerda and Cesario just opened an exhibition at the Ulster Museum in Belfast entitled, "Marvelling at the skies: Comets Through the Eyes of the Anglo-Saxons." The exhibition combines modern images of comets from scientists with tapestries from the Middle Ages. "It is fantastic to be able to use data about 1,000 years old to investigate a current theory," Lacerda said. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Fall producer Artists Studio, run by Gub Neal, has joined forces with French production outfit Leonis (led by Jean-Benoit Gillig) and fellow executive producer Justin Thomson (DoveTale) to develop a new miniseries. The trio are developing a new 852 show, following on from their first collaboration, Insoupconnable, the French version of UK hit The Fall which premiered in Lille as part of Series Mania. Scripted by Virginie Brac and Oliver Butcher, Faceless is described as a smart, tense, disruptive thriller which dynamites Anglo French entente cordiale and blows open the cracks at the heart of the European project. The drama will take audiences on a wild ride through the corridors of power on both sides of the Channel, involving murder, betrayal, blackmail, high stakes diplomacy and state sponsored cyber-crime, heralding the start of a frightening new age of virtual warfare. Insoupconnable will launch on TF1 later this year and stars Emmanuelle Seigner, Melvil Poupaud, Jean-Hugues Anglade and Claire Keim, coming soon on TF1. Writer Virginie Brac scripted the whole of Season 2 of Spiral (Engrenages) for Canal+ and contributed to Season 4. She created Tonys Revenge (Les Beaux Mecs) for France 2 and Paris for Arte. She participated in the development of Cannabis, aired by Arte in late 2016, and is creating a new series, Le Clan Bonaparte, for France 2. She also wrote Beyond Suspicion (Insoupconnable), a 1052 series based on The Fall and produced for TF1 by Jean-Benoit Gillig (Leonis). Oliver Butcher started out in documentaries and commercials before scripting his first feature film in 1988 with George Harrisons production company, Handmade Films. He worked as a scriptwriter for American major studios and started writing comedies, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde (1995), before devoting himself to thrillers. Unknown, written in 2011 with Stephen Cornwell and featuring Liam Neeson, was his most recent studio production, followed by Message from the King, released in 2017. Share this story Kenya floods leave 112 dead in two months: Red Cross Nairobi, May 4 (AFP) May 04, 2018 Flooding across Kenya triggered by weeks of torrential rain has left 112 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands of others, the Red Cross said Friday. Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Abbas Gullet made an appeal for $5 million (four million euros) to help those affected in 32 counties. Since early March, "112 people have lost their lives countrywide," he told a press conference. "About 48,177 households have been displaced so far and this translates to 260,200 people that are displaced," he said. Gullet said over 21,000 acres (8,500 hectares) of crops had been destroyed and some 20,000 animals washed away, while more than a hundred schools had been affected, many of which remain closed. The disaster comes after three failed rainy seasons inflicted a crippling drought that sent food prices soaring and left more than three million people requiring food aid. 17 dead in Myanmar jade mine landslide Yangon, May 4 (AFP) May 04, 2018 A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has killed 17 people, local authorities said Friday, the latest disaster to hit the murky multi-billion dollar industry. Myanmar is the world's top producer of the near-translucent green gem in trade fueled by demand from neighbouring China. But the poorly regulated industry is notorious for its links to cronies from Myanmar's former junta and for the dangers it poses to those who scrabble across a moonscape of environmental destruction hoping to strike it rich. The accident early Friday occurred in a mining compound near Wak Khar village in Kachin State's Hpakant township, the epicentre of the perilous work. "A wall of rock fell after people tried to dig for jade under it," local administrative officer Nilar Myint told AFP. "We have now found 17 dead bodies and we have sent nine survivors to hospital," she added. A second source involved in the rescue and recovery process confirmed the death toll. A number of deadly landslides has struck the area around Hpakant in recent years, with one major incident in November 2015 leaving more than 100 dead. Several other smaller accidents have killed or injured scores more. The victims are often itinerant workers or impoverished local residents who see little profit from the industry and are left to scour the mining areas for pieces of jade left behind by giant industrial diggers. The NGO Global Witness said the industry was worth some $31 billion in 2014 alone, with much of the funds not reaching state coffers. Myanmar's northernmost state of Kachin is rich in resources but a source of long running conflict, which intensified in 2011 after a ceasefire between ethnic insurgents and the government broke down. Thousands of people have fled their home in recent weeks after a renewed bout of clashes, according to the United Nations. Trump denies changing story on porn star payoff Washington, May 4 (AFP) May 04, 2018 An angry Donald Trump dismissed a growing storm over a hush money payment to an adult movie star as "crap" Friday, as he denied changing his story on the scandal. After months of claiming he knew nothing of the $130,000 his personal lawyer paid the porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleges an affair with Trump, the president changed tack this week, admitting he reimbursed his attorney Michael Cohen for the payment. The president's admission followed the revelation by Rudy Giuliani -- the former New York mayor and new recruit to Trump's legal team -- that the president repaid the sum, intended to stop what Trump called "false and extortionist accusations" against him. But on Friday the president denied this amounted to a U-turn -- while saying Giuliani still needed to get "his facts straight." "I'm not changing any stories," he told reporters as he left Washington on a trip to Dallas. "All I'm telling is you that this country is right now running so smooth. And to be bringing up that kind of crap, and to be bringing up witch hunts all the time -- that's all you want to talk about," Trump said. "You take a look at what I said," he added. "You'll see what I said." Trump added that Giuliani was still getting up to speed. "When Rudy made the statement -- Rudy is great -- but Rudy had just started, and he wasn't totally familiar with every -- you know, with everything," Trump said. "And Rudy -- we love Rudy, he's a special guy. What he really understands is that this is a witch hunt." Speaking moments earlier Trump also sought to explain away his attorney's statement, saying: "He started yesterday. He'll get his facts straight. He's a great guy." Cohen made the payment to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, just before the 2016 election to prevent her from going public with claims she had an affair with Trump a decade earlier. There had been suggestions it could have fallen foul of campaign finance laws, as an undeclared contribution aimed at preventing negative press for the candidate. Giuliani has argued that the fact Trump reimbursed the sum should remove any suspicion of campaign finance violation. 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." A Baton Rouge police officer arrested in October for allegedly submitting a false police report was fired Friday after she spent more than seven months on paid administrative leave, officials said. An internal investigation in October found Michelle Patterson, 29, confiscated a marijuana cigarette from a civilian and issued a misdemeanor summons, but she later rewrote her report to remove any mention of the evidence she confiscated or the summons she issued, a Baton Rouge police spokesman said in October. She was terminated Friday morning, effective immediately, after meeting with Baton Rouge police officials, Sgt. Don Coppola Jr. said. Sgt. L'Jean McKneely, another department spokesman, said the disciplinary decision was delayed more than six months from her arrest because of the criminal investigation, which often halts internal investigations, but mostly because of the transition at the top of the agency. When Patterson was arrested, interim Police Chief Jonny Dunnam was leading the department. Chief Murphy Paul was sworn into the position in January. McKneely did not know the date the criminal investigation ended, and declined to comment about why Paul waited more than four months to issue the termination. Internal affairs investigations have 60 days to be completed with the opportunity for a 60-day extension. McKneely said the internal investigation had been completed well before Friday, awaiting the chief's disciplinary decision. Patterson has remained on paid administrative leave since late October, according to payroll records. The city-parish government paid her more than $18,200 since she was placed on leave and prohibited from working as an officer, payroll records show. Baton Rouge officer arrested after submitting false report in marijuana investigation A Baton Rouge police officer was arrested Thursday after submitting a false police report to her supervisor, BRPD spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola J After she was booked into Parish Prison in October on counts of injuring public records and malfeasance in office, Patterson posted $1,000 in bail and was released. 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 East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office reviewed the case, but did not file charges within the time period allotted by state law for bail to be required. Under Louisiana law, prosecutors have up to 150 days to file charges for felony arrests when a person has posted bail. Because no charges were filed, she was released from her bail obligation. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III said his office continues to consider the criminal case against Patterson. He cited the state's statute of limitations, which allows him to prosecute a felony case within four years of the initial arrest. Patterson is one of 32 current and former members of law enforcement included on a District Attorney's Office's internal list of officers who have been arrested or have a conviction that hasnt been expunged, who have been disciplined for questionable or unbecoming behavior often revealed through media reports, or those with a history of being untruthful, Moore said. Patterson was added to the list in October after her arrest. Prosecutors are required to keep defense attorneys informed about these officers if one is involved in one of their cases, he said. Moore said he has seven criminal cases where Patterson could be called as a potential witness, but he was unsure Friday exactly how the termination and her history could affect those cases. Patterson responded to a call in September about a woman possessing marijuana. According to her body camera footage, Patterson confiscated a marijuana cigarette from the woman and issued her a misdemeanor summons, Coppola said in October. The next day Patterson typed her report of the incident, documenting the events accurately, Coppola said. But later that same day, she deleted the initial report and wrote a new description of events, leaving out that she confiscated a marijuana cigarette and issued a misdemeanor summons. The original misdemeanor summons was later found in Patterson's police vehicle, Coppola said. Patterson has been a Baton Rouge police officer for more than two years, assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division. Attempts to contact Patterson were unsuccessful Friday. A 20 acre vacant lot near Azork Avenue, in Baton Rouge, La., photographed on Oct. 20, 2017. The East Baton Rouge Parish school system is debating plans to build a K-8 school on the property, a school that would not only replace nearby Jefferson Terrace Elementary but also expand it into middle school grades. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who is also president of the Sewerage and Water Board, center, listens to outgoing Director Cedric Grant, at right, and seen on screen second from right, during a Board of Directors Meeting of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans at 625 St. Joseph St. second floor board room in New Orleans, La., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017. The board discussed a series of challenges in dealing with failures of the water pumping system. Also seen on the video feed screen is Deputy General Superintendent Bruce Adams, on screen top left, and Deputy Director Robert Miller, on screen right. Helena Moreno, New Orleans Councilwoman-elect, speaks at a rally at Duncan Plaza during the 2018 New Orleans Women's March Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in New Orleans. The march, one of dozens across the country marking the one-year anniversary of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, began with a rally at Duncan Plaza before more than 10,000 protesters marched through the French Quarter and back. Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi... Do you ever wonder how they decide the different ways they'll kill off each character? like why George had to tragically get hit by a bus and Christina go the dream card and just moved to Switzerland? like why couldn't George have a happy long life? why did he have to die when he was the best? WHY SHONDA WHY... Well according to Ellen Pompeo, a.k.a Merideth Grey, it all comes down to the actor's off screen behaviour. While talking with ET, Ellen said: You only get killed off when your behavior is bad. If you're a nice actor, you die nice Ellen used Christina who left for Switzerland as an example. "[She] left in the most amazing way. She gave everybody so much notice." So if you've got a bad off screen attitude, then you'll have a tragic death on on the show? So going by that logic, let's just take a little trip down memory lane... You've got George who got hit by a bus (obviously), Lexi who died in the plane crash, and Mark Sloan that died from the same crash, and obviously we can't forget Denny Duquette. You're telling us that they were all a**holes off screen!? I mean, that doesn't surprise us with Derek but Lexi and George!? Fossil fuel industry misinformation campaigns are alive and well in Canada as is big oils influence on both Canadian media and politicians. Although we tend to think of the United States as the home of fossil fuel inspired fake news, Canada is also the target of front groups that undermine fact based journalism in support of the oil and gas industry. Just like the Heartland Institute in the US, Canada has its own front groups who willfully undermine the facts. Sophisticated campaigns to fund climate denial have been around for years. As reported by the Vancouver Observer, in 2011 it was revealed that political scientist Barry Cooper of the the University of Calgary had funneled oil industry money to a climate change denial front group called Friends of Science. The oil and gas industry works directly with media organizations to advance self serving narratives. According to the National Observer, Greenpeace leaked a Powerpoint presentation produced by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) for Postmedias board of directors in 2013. The Observer reports that the oil and gas industry uses its leverage to stymie publication of materials that are harmful to its interests. The article also details how Enbridge uses advertising pretending to be journalism. Statistics Canada says capital spending to extract oil and gas will fall for a fourth straight year in Canada in 2018. Part of this trend can be explained by the fact that investors are more interested in cleaner sources of crude than they are in Canadas carbon-intensive tar sands. The Conservative government of Stephen Harper which governed Canada for almost ten years was well known for its stridently pro-fossil fuel agenda. Independent of party affiliations successive federal governments feel compelled to at least appear to be supporting the fossil fuel industry. This includes the ruling Liberal party which continues to tout its climate leadership and support for indigenous communities. The Liberals are investing more than a quarter of a million dollars to study why investment in Canadas oil and gas industry is lagging behind the United States. Much of the Canadian public supports climate action and questions. As reported by Global News, a recent survey conducted for the Ecofiscal Commission Canadians indicates that only slightly more than 10 percent of Canadians disagreed with the statement that the Earth is warming while 61 percent said there is conclusive or solid evidence to prove this. A total of 70 percent of Canadians said climate change is caused by human and industrial activity. We know that the fossil fuel industry is the leading driver of climate change causing CO2 emissions. It all comes down to the fact that the oil industry has vast fortunes that it uses to secure support from political leaders and muddy the waters of science. The presidency of Donald Trump has lent credence to fake news and emboldened big oil. However, Canada is not immune to the kind of lies and obfuscation that now pollutes the White House. As reported by the National Post, Doug Ford is vying to be premiere of Ontario and he has set up his own fake news to counter fact based news. Related War on Science Makes Fossil Fuels a Climate Archvillain Proof of disinformation from Fossil Fuel Companies Exxons Crimes Against Humanity Exxon is not the Only Bad Apple: The Whole Fossil Fuel Industry is Rotten to the Core Fossil Fuel Lies and misinformation Welcome to followthemedia.com The article or material you have chosen... ...is available for restricted access. You may access this specific article or material for 4 If you are an ftm Member, please go to the home page HERE and log in ftm Members can access all site material at no additional charge. You can JOIN ftm here The ftm newsletter available at no charge to all with registration To register click here. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Evi Mariani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 09:59 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1f1fbe 1 Opinion Car-Free-Day,jakarta,#Jakarta,Indonesian-politics,democracy,#commentary Free Let us set the record straight: #2019ChangePresident supporters are not the first group to violate the no-politics rule on Car Free Day (CFD) in Jakarta and they will not likely be the last. A clash between supporters of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, sporting the#DiaSibukKerja (#HesBusyWorking) hashtag on their T-shirts, and an anti-Jokowi group, sporting the increasingly popular hashtag #2019GantiPresiden(#2019ChangePresident), took place on April 29 on a CFD Sunday. A video of the clash, showing some members of the anti-Jokowi group heckling Jokowi supporters, namely a woman and her son, went viral. CFD in Jakarta began as part of a global campaign against fossil fuel emissions from motorized vehicles. The very first Car Free Day campaign, according to carfreedayindonesia.org, was in 2001. Since 2007, the city administration has made it a regular event, holding it three times a year initially before it became a weekly event in 2012. Now, every Sunday on Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., thousands of people throng the streets. Having started as a campaign for clean air, it transformed into an event for exercising. Later, it became an event for a lot of things. People conduct public campaigns there, touting ideas and selling things. It has resembled a chaotic marketplace but at the same time, it is a free civic space fitting for a democratic nation like Indonesia. And perhaps to a fault. In the past three years, one of the CFD initiators, Ahmad Safrudin, has been busy reminding people not to use it for political activities. The first precedent was on March 8, 2015, when supporters of then-Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama clashed with supporters of Jakarta City Council members. The hot issue of that day was Ahoks accusation that city councillors were trying to rob the city of its budget funds. The pro-Ahok group, TemanAhok, made their first public appearance at a CFD event, setting up a photo spot for people to take selfies with a cutout figure of Ahok. After the event ended, supporters dispersed and some were embroiled in scuffles. TemanAhok denied the supporters were theirs. But the clash set a milestone for CFD. Safrudin held a press conference afterward and he got support from Ahok himself. In 2016, Ahok changed Gubernatorial Regulation No. 119/2012, which he said did not provide sufficient details on the regulation of political activities. Ahok said politically driven activities would be prohibited and requirements for receiving commercial activity permits would be tightened. In 2016, however, the organizer of a Kita Indonesia event broke the rule. Participants of the event carried Golkar and NasDem party flags. So Safrudin held another press conference, demanding that the organizer apologize to the public for violating the principles of CFD. CFD is an amicable public space for people to socialize in Jakarta, which has a dire shortage of public spaces, Safrudin argued. But what has been missing in the debates about CFD is the recognition that amid all the chaos and disorder of CFD, it has created a civic space a joyfully free one. I am all for rules concerning banning electoral political activities and tightening commercial permits, but the authority needs to tread carefully so as not to issue a draconian rule to put in place order. While banning any campaigns concerning electoral politics and political parties logos and paraphernalia is something we can all agree upon, banning all political activities is debatable. Is wearing a rainbow-colored T-shirt to support people of minority sexual orientations political? I think it is. Should the wearer of such a T-shirt be banned from CFD? I dont think so. Who knows in the future, campaigning against the use of plastic bags could become political too. Campaigning to save Jakarta Bay has indeed become political now. The list could go on and on, especially during this era of deepening political polarization. Wearing a T-shirt with our slogan Unity in Diversity or a pin with a symbol of the state ideology Pancasila on it is political too. Likewise, so is wearing something saying Free Palestine or even certain religious paraphernalia like a white cap. How would any authority regulating CFD, be it city administration officers or the police, monitor all this and decide which kinds of T-shirts are allowed? Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said Tuesday, in response to the heckling against Jokowi supporters, that it was not for the police to decide what is or is not political. As long as the people at CFD events do not disturb order, the police will not ban them from participating in them. And I agree with the police, this time. Unruly political activities are indeed part of CFDs problem. But it is not actually CFDs biggest problem. Its biggest problem is that, after all this time, as CFD allows for the only free civic space in Jakarta, it has become so crowded, too crowded in fact, that it doesnt feel comfortable anymore. People have complained about the impossibility of jogging, running or riding bicycles on CFD. Perhaps some kind of order is overdue, but it is better if the residents themselves initiate the movement. CFD has created, albeit inadvertently, Jakartas free civic space, thus, it is the residents civic duty to make the occasion comfortable and safe for all the citizens, whatever their political ideology. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 08:09 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1eb273 4 Editorial #Editorial,oil-price,oil-industry,#oil,oil-and-gas-industry,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,energy Free The surge in crude oil prices in recent months has contributed significantly to the rise in investment in oil and gas exploration in Indonesia after two years of slowdown in the industry. Brent crude oil futures averaged US$75 per barrel last week, soaring by about 170 percent from the lowest level in early 2016. Although the current price is still far from the historic high of $115 per barrel recorded in early 2014, many analysts predict the upward trend in crude oil prices will continue. On the back of the promising crude oil price outlook, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has set a target for investment in the oil and gas sector to reach $17.04 billion this year. Investment in oil and gas plunged to $17.38 billion in 2015 and to $12.74 billion in 2016 from $20.72 billion in 2014. The sector recorded its lowestever investment figure in 2017 at only $7.98 billion. The drop in investment has contributed to the sharp decline in the countrys oil production, which currently totals only around 800,000 barrels per day (bpd), less than half of the peak level of 1.7 million bpd recorded in 1974. The surge in crude prices provides an opportunity for the government to attract new investment into the oil and gas sector. However, it will be difficult to convince investors if no significant improvements are made to oil and gas policy. In fact, the ministry has revoked dozens of regulations, believed to have impeded exploration activities, in order to speed up business licensing processes. However, in addition to simplifying the business permit process, the government also needs to further improve its fiscal policy, either for existing oil and gas wells or for new exploration activities, to improve efficiency. More effort is needed to make the countrys oil and gas sector more competitive. These challenges and opportunities facing the countrys oil and gas sector are addressed in the agenda of the 42nd annual Convention and Exhibition of the Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) now underway at the Jakarta Convention Center. Themed Driving Indonesias Oil and Gas Competitiveness, the annual oil and gas event was opened by President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Tuesday. Set to conclude on Friday, the convention and exhibition provides a forum for the government to listen to and identify the problems investors face in the field. In his address, the President encouraged the oil and gas community to use the convention as a forum to share their experiences and the problems they faced in their respective businesses. The President may have offered assistance, but the question is whether the bureaucracy governing the oil and gas sector shares and can realize this commitment. Inconsistent regulations, compounded by low crude oil prices, has rendered the countrys oil and gas industry unattractive for investment. The strengthening crude price provides an opportunity for recovery that Indonesia cannot afford to miss. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Wahyu Wisnu Wardana (The Jakarta Post) Illinois Fri, May 4, 2018 15:17 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1fd6f7 3 Opinion migrant-workers,#MigrantWorkers,children-development,Mother,working-women Free These days social media debates are on the massive invasion of foreign workers. Yet we might miss talking about our fellow Indonesians who work abroad: migrant workers. They only show up in the news in the event of them being victims of violence, sexual harassment or being subject to the death penalty for their alleged crimes. Last year the United Nations ranked Indonesian migrant workers at the 13th position among the 20 top countries of origin of migrant workers. Government statistics showed over 260,000 new migrant workers last year, almost 12 percent higher to 2016. They included 70 percent women; among them 38 percent were elementary school graduates and 33 percent were senior high school graduates. Among them 42 percent were married. Compared to benefits of working abroad in wages and experience, how worthy is it for them to leave family and children? Though many seek to escape poverty, some studies reveal that the cost of being migrant workers is not just leaving their family and children, but also, they stake their childrens future. Research by Yao Lu in 2014 stated that children of migrant workers called left behind children experienced lower educational attainment than children who live with both parents. The children lack parental supervision and a less conducive home environment or other non-material parental resources. In addition, the left behind children are most likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems due to the absence of the role model in the family. Recent study by James Ng on labor migration in Indonesia suggests the absence of the mother affects childrens height. Thus while migrants seek to improve their lives, lack of education and health of their children decrease the childrens chance to secure good paying jobs. The studies indicate the expensive social cost that migrant workers face in particular for female migrant workers. Theoretically, the decision to be migrant workers should be taken if and only if the benefit of working abroad outperforms its social cost. The decision to work abroad is not merely the households decision itself; it is also affected by job availability for applicants of low educational background in the home countries. The upcoming simultaneous local elections should be used as chance to elect leaders with strong commitment to provide jobs in their regions, to reduce the number of migrant workers and increase women empowerment, given the high cost for female migrant workers in particular and their children, especially in regions where most migrant workers come from. *** The writer is a graduate student in policy economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States. Find him through email: wahyuwisnu.ekonom@gmail.com / wardana2@illinois.edu or social media: https://www.facebook.com/wahyoewisnoewardana Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. As an artist and curator, Bambang has displayed his multitasking skills in managing ARTJOG, the biggest contemporary art market in the country. Under the statue of RJ Katamsi in the yard of the Jogja National Museum (JNM), Bambang Toko Witjaksono, 43, met Setu Legi, one of the artists participating in the 11th ARTJOG, which will be held at the venue from May 4 to June 4. With a friendly gesture, Bambang reminded the artist of the display and space dedicated for the artwork, which will be showcased for the event. They had a good laugh before the artist said goodbye to pick up his children from school. Its just like that. I have to be able to communicate well with the artists, Bambang said, adding that such intensive communication was an important part of the success of ARTJOG, dubbed the countrys biggest contemporary art market so far. A graphic artist, Bambang has been ARTJOGs curator since 2012, replacing Aminudin TH Siregar. Unlike Aminudin, who lives in Bandung, West Java, Bambang lives in Yogyakarta, so he can meet and talk to the participating artists anytime as they mostly live in Yogyakarta. Bambang was also the cofounder of the Jogja Art Fair, considered the embryo of ARTJOG. As a curator, Bambang also helped decide this years Enlightenment: Toward Various Futures theme, which served as the spirit of the art event. The theme is also a continuation of last years Changing Perspective theme. After changing perspectives, one has to gain enlightenment so the person will know where to go, he said. The theme was chosen after considering todays situation in Indonesia, which will have simultaneous regional elections this year and the presidential election next year, as well as similar political conditions in other countries. It was chosen in the hopes that people will be able to self-reflect through the artwork exhibited, and that they will be able to think and not be easily provoked by hoaxes widely spread on social media or hate speech from political elites. The preparation for this years ARTJOG started as soon as last years event ended, Bambang said. It was a long process starting from deciding on the theme, promoting the theme, announcing the open application, inviting artists, selecting artworks and choosing the commissioned artist. This excludes dialogue with the artist in placing their artworks the proper way according to international standards. The most difficult part is communicating with the artists, but I can handle it because I, myself, am also an artist. I understand the way they work, the father of two said, adding that he also worked closely with the artists so that their works would best fit the exhibition room. Santi Ariestyowanti Indieguerillas, who once participated in ARTJOG, said there had been intense communication between the participating artists and the curator. She recounted a story about when she and her husband, Dyatmiko Miko Lancur Bawono, were commissioned as artists for ARTJOG. The ARTJOG team had its own display concept, so we talked until we reached an agreement, she said. Bambang had his debut with fellow artists such as Samuel Indratma, Popok Tri Wahyudi and Ari Dyanto. Together, they set up a group named Apotik Komik in 1997. Ive liked comic strips since I was a little boy. I once had a comic strip library, but I ran out of pieces because I didnt dare ask bigger friends to return the comic strips they had borrowed, said Bambang, the creator of comic strips Marsinah, Hemat BBM (Fuel Efficiency) and Pesan Terakhir Soeharto(Soehartos Last Message). Apotik Komik was better known as a group of artistic mural makers in Yogyakarta after they created attractive murals on the walls of the Lempuyangan overpass and a number of other spots in 2004, two years before the group dispersed. Their works actually marked the booming popularity of murals in the city. As an artist, Bambang is known for his comic style mostly of the pop art genre, a result of appropriating romantic and martial arts stories of the 1970s and 1980s. Bambang chooses comics to criticize the social condition of the country because he believes that a combination of visual and narrative works is a strong way to convey his messages. Bambang Toko has a more earthy sense of humor than [Andy] Warhol, writes curator Tony Godfrey in the catalog of Bambangs solo exhibition titled BATIKKOMIK in Singapore in 2014. In his studio, Bambang has two of his paintings for the exhibition. One depicts a man shooting, with the writing I shoot therefore I am. The other is a man who has been shot, with the writing I got shot, thats what I am. A person who likes to shoot actually is shooting at himself, he said. Bambang has been a lecturer at his alma mater campus, the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta, since 1995. He got his masters degree from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 2005. Initially, I was a curator for students wanting to have an exhibition. Later, more and more people started asking me to be their curator, he said, adding that he had learned about curating from senior curators and by reading the writings of noted author Jim Supangkat and Sindhunata. With regard to ARTJOG, Bambang said there was still one thing he wanted to realize, namely livening up the area around the JNM, where ARTJOG is held annually, by displaying artwork in the surrounding villages. There are many stories from the villages when the JNM was still the campus of ISI Yogyakarta, Bambang said. With its bright yellow portable wooden racks, community-based pop-up library #BarruMembaca (Barru Reads) stood out on the green lawn of Fort Rotterdam during the Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF) in Makassar, South Sulawesi. Young people, each holding at least one book, could been seen in front of it, lounging on the provided wooden foldable carpet and sitting cushions. Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Thursday, #BarruMembaca initiator Anhar Dana Dajju Putra said the movement started in January 2016 following growing concerns of the very poor reading habits of the people of Barru regency, located around 100 kilometers from Makassar. Were very concerned about research that found that teenagers in Barru only read one book per year. We created this movement as an effort to increase the number to more than just one by developing a reading culture in a fun way, said Dajju, who just started working as a lecturer in Makassar this year. Alongside his nine friends, all native to the province, Dajju initiated #BarruMembaca during his time as a master's student at the University of Indonesia by donating his own books to the movement and bringing them to the regions hot spots, such as the town square, Colliq Pujie Park or Sumpang Binangae Beach, on Saturdays and Sundays. Read also: Makassar writers festival to return to Fort Rotterdam Visitors of #BarruMembaca lounge near the mobile library. (JP/Keshie Hernitaningtyas) We started with around 100 books. Now, we have almost 700; most of them are donations from Barru residents who supported our cause, said Dajju, adding that only 15 percent of them were childrens books despite the fact that most #BarruMembaca visitors were kids. The regional administration has donated books to us, but they were textbooks; not suitable for a fun reading activity at public places. Following our movement, which includes book traveling as we visit remote villages in Barru to bring them the books and create fun activities, we discovered that the locals were not interested in reading due to a lack of access to books. They dont have any books to read. We dont have bookstores in Barru regency. We have a regional library but its not well maintained and only offers textbooks, Dajju added. Currently, #BarruMembaca, with the help of donations and funds raised from selling T-shirts, is hoping to introduce to the public its portable library, which debuted at the MIWF, in case someone wants to duplicate this practical concept since there are many mobile library communities here [in Barru]." "We would love to provide them with the blueprint," Dajju said. But the most important thing is, we strive to make reading a fun alternative activity for the people." Ferrari NVs profit exceeded expectations as the Italian supercar manufacturer sold out most of its models for 2018 and a part of next year. Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said the Italian companys production is almost at full capacity for this year and part of 2019. There is still availability just for the GTC4 Lusso family car, he said, speaking on a call Thursday with analysts. Everything else is pretty well gone, Marchionne said. Ferrari shares advanced as much as 6.6 percent to a record 112.25 euros Friday in Milan, giving the company a market value of 20.7 billion euros ($24.7 billion). They rose Thursday in the U.S. following the CEOs comments, which came after the close of European trading. The Maranello, Italy-based company, spun out of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, earlier on Thursday had reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization jumped 13 percent to 272 million euros ($326 million) in the first quarter. That beat the 262 million-euro average of eight analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Marchionne, whos also helmed Fiat for the past 14 years, is working on his final business plan for the race-car maker before he retires. The five-year strategy will be presented in September. Itll include details for the iconic Italian brands expansion into new segments, including sport utility vehicles and electric hybrid cars. Read also: Ferrari has plans to make an electric supercar Ferrari is testing a gasoline-electric hybrid car you could run silently," Marchionne said in an interview last month. While Ferrari has no plans to produce a fully-electric car before 2022, the company is developing vehicles that will show the full power of electrification, Marchionne told Bloomberg Television. The shift comes as the manufacturer is targeting annual sales exceeding a self-imposed 10,000-car limit that until now has enabled it to operate under less-stringent fuel-economy rules. Fueling growth, Ferrari has flagged profits will rise to at least 1.1 billion euros this year and to 2 billion euros by 2022. Marchionne said Ferrari is not considering buying another car brand and could in theory acquire non-auto brands in the luxury-goods sector. Still there is no plan at the moment, he said. Indonesia is hosting If/Then, a program supporting short documentary filmmakers in Southeast Asia. Initiated by United States-based non-profit the Tribeca Film Institute, the program has been introduced to the country by the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf), which has partnered with the institute, non-profit organization In-Docs and Al Jazeera. Southeast Asia is the one of only two international regions that were working on, another region is Eastern Europe, said Mridu Chandra, director of If/Then from Tribeca Film Institute, during the press conference on Thursday in Central Jakarta. The submission phase ran from December 2017 to February this year. As a short application, we asked for synopsis, description of the film and what theyre hoping for out of this project, Mridu said, adding that applicants were also given the option of submitting a three-minute video. Mridu further explained that they were looking for character-driven stories, original projects that could be finished within three to six months and the filmmakers connection to the story as they usually had special access to the community. Following the phase, 17 selected semifinalists, including nine films from Indonesia out of 110 participants are set to take part in the Story Development Lab from May 4 to 6 in Jakarta. They will be mentored by five people, such as Mridu herself, Al Jazeera senior editor Aloke Devichand, American documentary/POVs special projects producer John MacFarlane, South Korean producer Gary Kam and Germany-based filmmaker Sebastian Winkels. A press conference on the If/Then program is attended by (from left) moderator Amin Shabana, BEKRAF vice chairman Ricky Pesik, If/Then director Mridu Chandra, Al Jazeera senior producer Aloke Devichand and In-Docs program director Amelia Hapsari at the Ashley hotel in Central Jakarta on March 3. (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira) At the end of the phase, 10 chosen finalists will be able to develop their documentaries and receive Rp 7 million (about US$ 502) as development funding. They will also be invited to do a final pitch at the Docs by the Sea event in August in Bali, where many decisionmakers, funders and broadcasters will be present, said Amelia Hapsari, program director from In-Docs. After that, five winners will be announced at the event; four of them will receive Rp 100 million in funding each and another one will be produced as well as distributed by Al Jazeera. The rights are also non-exclusive, so its still possible to be selected by other international platforms, said Amelia. When all filmmaking is completed, Tribeca Film Institute will then help those five winners connect with international distributors worldwide. Tribeca Film Institute doesnt take any profit out of this process, all of the benefits will go to the filmmakers, Amelia said. For now, nine Indonesian films have been chosen as the semifinalists, namely Diary of Cattle by David Darmadi, Home by Arunaya Gondhowiardjo, How Far Ill Go by Ucu Agustin, If I Can Dream by Ratih Prebatasari, Pretty Alma by Bani Nasution, Sound of Soil by Ika Yuliana and Almanoka Alesandro, The Act of Forgiving by Kurnia Yudha Fitranto and Teguh Hari, The Ember by Arfan Sabran and The Other Half by Wahyu Utami Wati. One of the semifinalists, Ucu Agustin, expressed her hope for the program. "I hope our films can get wider audiences and funding - it's one of the main problems here in Indonesia because we're independent," Ucu said. "We have to be the scriptwriter, director, producer, distributor and it can be tiresome." (mut) A Dutch freelance journalist, Rohan (a pen name), had been interested in the political turmoil in Papua for years. In 2015, his application for a journalistic visa was denied. The 32-year-old then decided to embark on an undercover reporting assignment in the countrys easternmost province. For 153 days, he observed the way local people lived, met with leaders of the secessionist group Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the jungle, enjoyed the beauty of Papuas nature and met Aprila Russiana Amelia Wayar, or Emil, a local journalist who later became his girlfriend. It was Emil who wrote about Rohans adventures in Papua and their love story in the novel Sentuh Papua, 1500 Miles, 153 Hari, Satu Cinta (Touch Papua, 1500 Miles, 153 Days, One Love). In the novel, Rohans character said foreign media agencies in Jakarta refused to publish his report on Papua, worrying that the government would revoke the visas of their Jakarta correspondents. Emil recently launched her 374-page novel in a discussion forum organized by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Yogyakarta chapter and the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH). Emil has been in Yogyakarta since early this year to publish the book. She chose Yogyakarta because she had spent time there as a student at Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW). The 38-year-old said she initially intended to write a journalistic piece that was rich in data and interviews. She used the character of Rohan to describe the lack of press freedom in Papua, human rights violations in the province and challenges to OPMs quest for self-determination. I then chose [to write a] novel to make it easier for Papuans and Indonesians to understand the [provinces] issues, she said. Through the book, Emil, who used to work for independent media platform Tabloid Jubi, was determined to represent the other side of Papuas story vis-a-vis mainstream reporting on the province, which she deemed mostly biased. She said many journalists covering cases of human rights abuses in Papua only interviewed security personnel and neglected the victims. Journalists writing about Papua have to cover both sides, she said. However, she realized both the challenge and risks that come with reporting Papua as a journalist, as she herself often received threats and harassment while doing her job. In her book, the characters Rohan and Amelia, who is based on herself, are chased by a group of people armed with machetes. According to Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) latest world press freedom index, Indonesia ranks 124th out of 180 countries, the same position as last year. The Paris-based group highlighted the restriction of media access to Papua and West Papua as a factor that has kept Southeast Asias largest democracy at the bottom of the list. The condition prevails despite President Joko Jokowi Widodos campaign promises to open access to Papua for foreign journalists. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Press Council categorized Papua and West Papua as medium/relatively free in its 2017 press freedom index. Yogyakarta-based lawyer Emmanuel Gobay said Emils book, despite being published as fiction, was a good reference for those who want to understand Papua from both the local and professional perspective. This novel reflects the state of press freedom in Papua, he said. The novel, which Emil wrote in eight months, is her third after Mawar Hitam Tanpa Akar (Black Rose Without Its Stem) and Dua Perempuan (Two Women), both of which told stories about social issues in Papua. Emil was the first indigenous Papuan novelist invited to the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) in Bali in 2012. She plans to write a fourth book in the Netherlands, where she is currently undergoing medical treatment for a heart condition. As Indonesia celebrates its 20th year of reformation this year, literature plays a crucial role in reminding us of the importance of learning from history, says University of Indonesia cultural science professor Melani Budianta. The reformation may still feel new for some people, yet it has changed [many things] rapidly that we need to look back to process it. Learning from history is very important so that we dont forget what we are fighting for and make the same mistakes all over again. Why literature? Because it has the potential to open our imagination; allowing us to imagine something outside of what exists today, said Melani during a discussion themed 20 Years of Reform, among the events at the Makassar International Writers Festival that took place at Makassar Muhammadiyah University on Thursday. However reformation comes at a price, she added. [Tempo veteran journalist and author] Leila S. Chudori's Laut Bercerita [The Sea Speaks His Name] tells a fantastic story about the [New Order regime] and students lives at that time; how if you touched a [banned] book, or owned one, you could go to prison. Not only that, you could have been tortured or even killed and nobody would have known where you had gone. Something that we couldn't imagine [happening] today. In this Reform Era, you are not allowed to ban [someone] from reading a book, or from writing any book. Unfortunately, we didnt learn from the past. Hence despite the freedom [we now enjoy] everywhere, it also reaps violence. The one censoring the books are not the government; but the communities who burned the books they dont like. We used to fight Soeharto as a common enemy, but now who are we fighting? Our own brothers that we consider to be different; putting ourselves in boxes based on religion, tribe and race, said Melani. As we are currently being divided by fake news [spread] on social media and WhatsApp, reading literature works becomes important to allow you to discover what different people look like; realizing that they are also multidimensional human being that you cannot simply put into a box. Through literature we are able to enter other peoples perspective; feel their soul, get into their skin and body. Literature mostly voiced the opinions of the minority, said Melani, especially those who being oppressed or left behind; whose voice we rarely heard. Read also: Six UK publishers join 'Literature Visit' to Jakarta, Makassar Speaking in front of students and lecturers, she added that those who found themselves unable to share their thoughts through writing could try to be a listener instead. Youll find yourselves listening to inspiring stories from your grandmother, neighbors, newspapers or whatever is around you. We can listen and then we can channel the information into writing; in our own different way. Different stories offer different perspectives, which sometimes we dont know because were too caught up with our own community and people who are similar to us. Meanwhile, former journalist and writer Dewi Ria Utari shared at the discussion how fiction writers were enjoying more freedom when releasing their works amid the rise of persecution by local communities. Last week I watched the screening of short film Maha Guru Tan Malaka by Daniel Rudi Haryanto, which was banned in Padang, where the national hero actually hailed from. Its an irony since [I found the movie] to be moderate. Books on PKI [the Indonesian Communist Party] also received persecution threats from anti-communist alliances since 2001 until 2016, said Ria. I think non-fiction works indeed faced more threats from social groups, not only officials. Laut Bercerita, for instance, was released without any fuss. This means entering the 20th year of reformation, theres more freedom in writing fiction compared to non-fiction, as well as in films. We tend to get the chinese as a block because of our loose money laundering laws. But most of those people don't actually want to live here. They just want to hose out the vaults and move on to places that are more trendy. Also here we have Indians and NDNs, two different kinds of different kinds of peoples. A Thai district chief has clipped the wings of his town's pigeon population by paying residents to trap the birds and organising a cook-off to build support for the cull. The campaign to go after hundreds of thousands of pigeons started earlier this week in a district of Lop Buri province - a region better known for its monkey menace. "The number of pigeons increases four to five times each year, if we don't do anything the problem will get worse," said Plaek Thepparak, the highest government official in Mueang district, who came up with the idea. The birds were a nuisance and defecated on government offices, historical sites, temples and houses while ravaging local crops, he added. "Before people can drink rain water but now they have to buy drinking water because rain water is dirty from bird droppings," he said. Residents will get 10 baht (about $0.30) per trapped birds, which will be transferred to a quarantine centre in a nearby province. But cooking them up is also on the menu. "We also urged residents to eat the dead pigeons but only if they are hygienic and cook them well," Plaek said, adding the town hosted a "pigeon menu" cooking competition earlier this week with cash prizes. The dishes whipped up included a simple fried pigeon, knocked back with a side of Thailand's classic papaya salad. Read also: Chinese tourists just can't get enough of Thailand Two hours north of the capital Bangkok, Lop Buri is on Thailand's tourist circuit and is better known as a haven for monkeys, but even they are being outnumbered by the birds. "There are about 3,000 monkeys but there are hundreds of thousands of pigeon," Plaek said. Exactly 30 years ago, Siauw Tik Kwie, the creator of legendary comic strip Sie Djien Koei, passed away. His wife, Tan Poen Nio, better known as Kartini, passed away this year on April 16, the same day of the year as her husbands death. Comics lovers certainly remember Siauw Tik Kwie, a household name for Sie Djin Koei, the illustrated story appearing on Star Weekly, Indonesias family magazine of the 1950 and 1960s. Sie Jin Kui, as currently spelled, is the folkloric story during the Tang dynasty (618-906) of a general in the empire of Tang Toay Cung under Emperor Li Shi Bin (627-649). Starting as a manual worker, Sie Jin Kui displayed high spirits and was so powerful that he carried loads of five times more weight than his peers. His physical prowess was noticed by a wealthy royal, who then employed Sie Jin Kui in his mansion. Later, Sie Jin Kui and the noblemans daughter fell in love and eloped. He joined the military and his career progressed, finally reaching the rank of general. The Sie Jin Kui comic strip was created with the help of a martial arts writer known as OKT (Oei Kim Tia), who translated the account from its original manuscript. Siauw made the comic illustrations with his mastery of anatomical outlines and stunning chiaroscuro (light and shade treatment in drawing). Vintage collection: The comic strip Sie Djien Koei. (JP/Agus Dermawan T.) The comics are published in two parts, Sie Jin Kui Invades the East and Sie Jin Kui Invades the West, as a popular section of the Saturday periodical Star Weekly. Allotted one page per edition, Sie Jin Kui received a positive public response and prompted new readers to subscribe to the magazine. This success led to expectations that Siauw would write other comics, but he once said he just wanted to create this one and only story. Later on, however, it was revealed that he was interested in making a Sie Jin Kui sequel, and had even come up with a title, Hong Kiauw-Lie Tan, which would depict the crisis faced by Sie Jin Kuis grandchildren. Sadly, his wish did not come true as Star Weekly was banned in 1966 in the aftermath of the 1965 incident. According to Marcel Bonneff, a comics observer from France, Sie Jin Kui managed to overwhelm Western comics entering the Indonesian market. The popularity of Sie Jin Kui spread further, prompting the adoption of the story for a local radio program in 1960 by Tjokrodjijo, the leader of Ketoprak Mataram (a history-based Javanese play) of the state-run Radio Republik Indonesia. It was broadcast on Wednesdays from 8:30 p.m. until midnight and became popular with listeners. Star Weekly magazine (JP/Agus Dermawan T.) Tjokrodjijo was a fan of Siauws comics. In his radio version, Sie Jin Kui was renamed Sudiro, Sie Teng San (Jin Kuis son) Sutrisno and Hoan Le Hoa (Teng Sans opponent) Waryanti. Siauws works continue to shine in the 21st century. N. Riantiarno, a playwright and director of Teater Koma in Jakarta, staged Sie Jin Kui in the first decade of the millennium. The comics storyline is worth understanding while exploring its costumes, characters and movements, he said. Siauws comic strip debut was encouraged by Star Weekly editors Tan Hian Lay and Auwyong Peng Koen (PK Ojong), who later founded Kompas daily with Jakob Oetama. It was Pak Ojong who made me popular, Siauw was quoted as saying. Sie Jin Kuis pictorial rendition totaled 700 pages and was published from 1954 to 1961. The comics thus recorded the longest time for creation because of PK Ojongs working system, allowing Siauw to draw the strips by weekly installments. Drawn on broadsheet pages with India ink and a brush pencil, the comics kept flowing without a hitch. In real world: A view of Kweilin, now known as Guilin, a city located in Guangxi, China. (JP/Agus Dermawan T.) Uniquely, the settings in his comics were only based on his imagination as he had never visited mainland China to witness the interior and exterior of the Chinese kingdoms. Costumes and property were drawn out of his observations of wayang potehi (Chinese hand puppets) shown in Surakarta in Central Java and Jakarta temples. Forms of weapons were derived from martial arts clubs and Beijing opera photos. He eventually visited Kweilin, the beautiful location of Sie Jin Kui, only at the end of 1987, sponsored by Tjokroatmodjo, a collector of his paintings. Returning from Kweilin, his health deteriorated and he died on April 16, 1988. Before his death Siauw said his life was already complete and Kweilin was seen as his heaven. Siauw Tik Kwie disappeared for a while following the 1965 incident. A Chinese-Indonesian, he once hid under the Javanese pen name Ki Oto Suastika while translating the philosophical text of Ki Ageng Suryomentaram from Javanese to Indonesian. A third of Australia's threatened species are not being tracked, scientists said Friday, warning they could easily slide into extinction without anyone noticing. The first national assessment on the monitoring of threatened birds, mammals, frogs, freshwater fish, reptiles and ecological communities found 217 species were not being watched. Plants and insects were not included. Read also: New beetle discovered by eco-tourists named after Leonardo DiCaprio The government-funded Threatened Species Recovery Hub said the results were poor for most groups, although keeping tabs on birds was better due to a large and enthusiastic volunteer base. In contrast, half of all threatened fish receive no monitoring and tracking reptiles was little better. "Overall, over a third of Australia's threatened animals received no monitoring at all, and where monitoring does exist, it is often inadequate," said project leader Sarah Legge. "This puts these species at risk. By the time we realise we have a problem it may be too late to act. Many people do not appreciate how vital monitoring is for all aspects of managing threatened biodiversity." She said that without adequate monitoring, researchers had no idea if populations were going up or down, what was driving changes, or whether conservation efforts needed to be adapted. The warning came on the heels of another study by the same group last month that said Australia's extinction rate for mammals, already the highest in the world, could worsen unless more efforts are made to protect them. It found that the potential extinction of 10 Australian birds and seven mammals, including the orange-bellied parrot and the central rock-rat, could be prevented if governments and communities were made aware of the risks they faced. The most recent study coincided with broadcaster ABC reporting that the government was planning to slash up to a third of staff from the biodiversity and conservation division of its environment department. It cited scientists calling the move an "absolute calamity" for threatened species. Threatened Species Recovery Hub director Brendan Wintle called Friday for a national effort to improve monitoring. "Many species occur across multiple states and territories, and the monitoring data that exists are currently scattered across many different agencies and research groups," he said. "Australia needs investment and coordination to manage, store, analyse and report on monitoring data." The main causes of species decline that have been identified include habitat loss, such as through land clearing and other development, and feral cats and foxes. Uwalmassa, a project inspired by global artists that catapults their traditional cultures onto the world stage through modern electronic music, is a bold experiment in putting Indonesia on the international cultural map. A gong, multiple gendang and a bevy of electronic equipment were set on stage at the Goethe Institut theater. The sounds that perforated from the stage enveloped the audiences ears with familiar traditional sounds, coupled by tons of sonic and modern manipulation as if old traditions were experiencing a modern rebirth before their eyes. It was electronic music, but of a completely different realm. The sight of a world that was truthfully not far from wherever the audience was sitting was beamed by projectors. Hand-scanned images such as those of stone temple carvings, old parchment, masks and dances, transposed with dozens of rolling and tumbling texts in Sanskrit moved along the screen, displaying the best of Indonesian mysticism. Out of the amplifiers came intricately constructed sounds that were sourced from traditional instruments and digitally manipulated to sound very modern. Many of its sounds were given life through longer, painstaking processes, resulting in sounds that matched nothing else. The music and the sights sought to enter each individual in the audience, aiming at somewhat possessing them and succeeding. This was a recent performance by Uwalmassa, a project started by musicians Harsya Wahono, Randy M. Pradipta and Pujangga Rahseta, which desires to elevate and present Indonesian heritage in simultaneously familiar and foreign ways. Uwalmassas music itself harkens back to the bold experimental artists who aimed at integrating the sounds of their era into something familiarly Indonesian but at the same time foreign, pushing the classic idea of identity through diversity. Harry Roesli and his Philosophy Gang project of the late 1970s comes to mind, as well as the dynamic Yogyakarta-based experimental duo Senyawa. Its all about approaching the sounds of this era, the internet age, and how we connect the dots to our heritage, producer Harsya Wahono says. People in other countries have done it successfully and weve heard of them. The idea is, where are Indonesias artists? An amalgam of electronically manipulated sounds from various cultures is embodied in the trios music along with visual aspects. It only makes sense for Harsya to bring Indonesias uniqueness together into one form. Mixing it up: Uwalmassa combines traditional Indonesian instruments with modern ones to create a unique sound. (Davian Akbar/File) Harsyas own label Divisi 62, under which Uwalmassas material is released, was built on a concept that concerns Indonesias diverse traditions. Divisi 62 sees itself as a modern label where Indonesian heritage and history can propel the culture further into the future rather than being only of nostalgic use. The label is focused on emphasizing Indonesian heritage on a grand visual and sonic scale. It has done so much so that in the span of just two years, Uwalmassa managed to spread its ideas into foreign lands. Last year, Uwalmassa embarked on a tour of Europe to take its show to audiences who Harsya described as surprised that something as gripping and unique as this comes from Indonesia, a country that has not really registered in the minds of many Westerners. Part of the tour included the Europalia Festival in several cities in Belgium and the Netherlands, while also making time to perform several shows in Germany, one of which was held in the main room of famous Berlin club Berghain, organized by experimental artist and Morphine Records boss Rabih Beaini. They played at a series of shows in Berghain, called Raung Raya, orchestrated by Beaini that spanned several days, showcasing the best of Indonesias overlooked experimental and traditional artists. Aside from Uwalmassa, artists such as Indonesian electronic music pioneer Otto Siddharta, the jungga stringed music of Ata Ratu and Bandung-based collective Tarawangsawelas were among those who featured in the event series. Whats really amazing about the event wasnt the fact that we performed in Berghain. It was the fact that one person, outside of our culture, was willing to bring artists from Indonesia that he felt embodied the same spirit as the techno that lives inside the clubs walls, Harsya comments. However, the concert series came to an abrupt and unpleasant end, for reasons that were beyond Beainis control, thereby cancelling shows from Ata Ratu, Senyawa and Al Suwardi. While the reasons left a bitter taste in Harsyas mouth, the predicament has only driven him to aim higher. Another realm: A projector beams images of stone temple carvings, old parchment, masks and dances, transposed with dozens of rolling and tumbling texts in Sanskrit, displaying the best of Indonesian mysticism, during Uwalmassas performance at the Goethehaus. (Davian Akbar/File) With all of Uwalmassas achievements in successfully blending sonic Eastern traditions with the best of electronic music, Harsya feels that it is now the time to move forward and expand beyond Uwalmassa, as the cultural recognition behind Uwalmassa and Divisi 62 is something that must not be given up on. [Rabih Beaini], from Lebanon, singlehandedly invested in all of us to carry out the project and he gave us full confidence over what we were doing. If you think about it, is our government willing to invest in us, relatively unknowns, to help further our culture? he asks. Whatever the answer to that is, whats certain is that Rabihs dedication gave me the confidence to further the idea of making Indonesian heritage the foundation of Uwalmassa and Divisi 62, on my own strength. It can be done, surely. If you are one of the lucky few with a ticket to Windsor Castle for Britain's royal wedding on 19 May you might expect a feast fit for a king. But guests set to descend on the grounds of Windsor Castle for the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been warned to expect no such thing. Kensington Palace -- the official residence of Prince Harry -- told AFP Thursday that guests have been advised to bring their own picnics as only light refreshments and snacks will be served. Relaxing in the sun -- if it deigns to appear -- and enjoying drinks and a meal of your own making is intended to give the royal occasion a family feel, according to the same source. Read also: Intricate etiquette: A guide to the royal wedding Among the 2,640-strong guest list for the wedding party in West London are 1,200 "members of the public" from all walks of life, drawn from the four corners of the United Kingdom. One of those set to witness the arrival of the wedding party and the post-ceremony procession is Amelia Thompson, 12, a surviver of the Manchester Arena suicide bombing -- which claimed the lives of 22 concert-goers last May. Another guest on the list is Philip Gillespie, a 30-year-old veteran of the Armed Forces who lost his right leg in an explosion in Afghanistan. Saeed Atcha, 21, founder of a youth charity, told daily paper The Guardian that some disadvantaged people his organisation aids were bemused by the decision. "They were saying how come they (the royal family) have this money and you have to bring a picnic," he said. "I am of the same opinion. Its unfathomable." Besides the public, 200 members of charitable groups close to Prince Harry and Markle's hearts will be present. Some 610 members of the Windsor community, 530 employees of the royal household and pupils from nearby schools are also invited to join the celebrations in the castle park. The royal palace has announced that 600 guests are invited to attend the marriage ceremony itself in St George's Chapel, as well as the reception luncheon given by Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor Castle. A reception will also be given later to 200 guests in the evening by Prince Charles. It will take place at Frogmore House, about a kilometre from the wedding site. Meghan Markle's father Thomas will walk her down the aisle when she marries Britain's Prince Harry, a royal spokesman announced Friday, despite claims from her half-brother that she had snubbed her family. Thomas Markle and the bride-to-be's mother Doria Ragland, who are divorced, will arrive in Britain days before the May 19 wedding to "spend time" with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip. They will also meet heir-to-the throne Prince Charles, Harry's father, ahead of the ceremony at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. "Both of the bride's parents will have important roles in the wedding," said the royal statement. "On the morning of the wedding, Ms Ragland will travel with Ms Markle by car to Windsor Castle," it added. "Mr Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle." Thomas Markle Jr, half-brother of the US actress, on Thursday accused the couple of shunning her side of the family, writing in an open letter that it was not "too late" for Prince Harry to call off the wedding. "As more time passes to your royal wedding, it became very clear that this is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history," wrote the 51-year-old. But the royal family said Friday that they were "very much looking forward to welcoming Ms Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding". Around 2,000 members of the public have been invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle, and will arrive from 0900 GMT for the 1200 GMT service, the spokesman said. Read also: Meghan Markle ties the knot -- but not with Prince Harry Harry and his fiancee, who will spend the eve of the wedding apart, will come face-to-face with the crowds outside the grounds during a 25-minute carriage procession after the service. Preparations are already underway to deal with the hordes that are expected to descend on the town, west of London, in two weeks' time. Rail operators will put on extra trains and a 6,000 space car parking area has been created. Food stalls and giant screens will line the procession route, and the town centre will be decorated with bunting and ceremonial banners. Members of the royal family will arrive 40 minutes before the service, with Prince Harry and his brother Prince William -- his best man -- expected to arrive on foot. The couple will join other guests for a reception at the castle after the procession, departing later in the day for an evening reception at the nearby Frogmore House. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 08:35 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1ed62b 1 City grenade,Krukut-River,South-Jakarta Free Residents near the Krukut River in South Jakarta were left shocked after a grenade was found floating on the river on Thursday. South Jakarta Police chief Comr. Indra Jafar said on Thursday the residents thought the grenade was still live. This morning at 8:30 a.m. a citizen reported that he had seen a grenade-like object floating on the river, Indra said on Thursday as reported by kompas.com. Indra said a water treatment facility employee, Surata, spotted the grenade on the Krukut River and swam to it to retrieve it, later wrapping the grenade with a piece of cloth. He said Surata then gave the grenade to a security guard named Husni to later report it to the police. We have checked it and found that the grenade is inert. It had been used before, so it was just the shell of the grenade. It's very old as well, he said. Indra said the grenade was a smoke grenade usually used by the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and military personnel for riot control. We are still investigating the ownership of the grenade, where it came from what it was used for, Indra said. Indra urged citizens not to handle objects they suspect of being explosives. The next time citizens find a suspicious object like a grenade, dont take it. Just call the police, in case it is a dangerous object, Indra said. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 18:32 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e209d24 1 Business BI,agreement,Japan,swap-arrangement Free Bank Indonesia (BI) is planning to renew a bilateral swap arrangement (BSA) with Japans Finance Ministry in a move that could further bolster the countrys second line of defense for the rupiah. The initial agreement on the revision of the BSA with Japan was reached during a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of ASEAN Plus Three members, held in Manila on May 4. The three non-ASEAN countries in ASEAN Plus Three are China, Japan and South Korea. BI international department head Doddy Zulverdi said both Indonesia and Japan were having discussions on utilizing the Japanese yen in the BCS scheme. Essentially, the amendment will give added flexibility [to BI]. We can also withdraw [funds] in the form of yen, he told a press briefing in Jakarta on Friday. Under the prevailing BCS scheme, which was signed on Dec. 12, 2016, and would expire on Dec. 12, 2019, Indonesia could tap into US$22.76 billion in funds from Japan in the form of the US dollar to bolster its forex reserve. Doddy said the agreement would come into effect for three years since the amended version was signed between authorities of the two countries, adding that the amount of funds in the amended agreements would remain unchanged. He said the inclusion of the yen in the swap agreement between Indonesia and Japan was an effort from the two countries to broaden the use of local currencies as well as maintaining stability in the regions amid uncertainty over the global financial market. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 17:19 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e2030ad 4 Business Indonesia,Brunei,Pindad,weapon,purchase Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said that Brunei Darussalam agreed to purchasing Anoa armored personnel carrier (APC) and other military equipment from state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad. The agreement was made on Thursday during a meeting between Jokowi and visiting Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Bogor Palace in West Java. After their meeting, the two leaders headed to the Indonesian Military's (TNI) headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. Jokowi said that he also offered the Brunei Sultan aircraft from state-owned aircraft maker PT DI. But the deal that has been reached is that Brunei will buy weapons and Anoa from Pindad, the President said on Thursday as reportd by kontan.co.id He did not provide details on the weapons deal and how many Anoa vehicles the neighboring country would purchase. While at TNI headquarters, Jokowi and Bolkiah attended a weapons demonstration and visited an exhibition of the primary weapons defense system. During their meeting, the leaders discussed a variety of issues, including better protection for migrant workers. According to government data, 80,000 Indonesian migrant workers are in Brunei, which has 400,000 total citizens. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi announced on Thursday that the two leaders agreement would be drafted into a memorandum of understanding that would include regulations to ensure robust protection for the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Brunei. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Supunnabul Suwannakij (Bloomberg) Bangkok Fri, May 4, 2018 11:04 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1f5baf 2 Business Thailand,cash,wealth,assets Free Thailands PTT Exploration & Production Pcl is ready to shell out as much as $1 billion on an overseas petroleum asset this year, and possibly more, as it tries to prop up growth amid falling reserves. The upstream unit of state-controlled PTT Pcl is in talks to purchase a stake in oil, natural gas or liquefied natural gas assets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Chief Executive Officer Somporn Vongvuthipornchai said in an interview Thursday in Bangkok. One or more deals could be finalized this year, he said. PTT E&P, which has amassed $5 billion in cash and marketable securities, is on the hunt for deals after crudes slump shook up the industry. While the company weathered the downturn by cutting costs and investments, it hasnt revived reserves, which have dropped every year since a peak of about 1.1 billion barrels in 2009. Its 631 million barrels of proved reserves are enough to last five years at current production rates. We would finalize one or more deals this year with the size in a range of $300 million to $1 billion per deal, Somporn said. The company plans to boost its reserves to sustain seven years of output through mergers and acquisitions, he added. PTT E&P will favor projects in Southeast Asia, but is also looking in the Middle East where low production costs could help withstand price volatility, according to Somporn. Global benchmark Brent crude reached a nadir below $30 in 2016 and last month exceeded $75. Final Decisions The company will accelerate final investment decisions on key developments, including an LNG venture in Mozambique, and is seeking to reach an FID with its partners on a Vietnam gas project as soon as this year. Closer to home, it has teamed up with Total E&P Thailand to renew its concession for the Bongkot gas field, and is negotiating with Chevron about boosting its stake in the Erawan project. Weve been operating the Bongkot gas field for 20 years with a good track record and competitive costs, Somporn said. Were in a good position for the bidding. The company targets sales volume of about 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day this year, similar to the levels in 2017. It has set aside $15 billion for investments over the next five years, and is seeking opportunities in LNG plants, power generation, battery storage and decommissioning old wells. Weve been working on M&A activities over the past two years but its quite difficult to reach a deal, Somporn said. Sellers do not want to sell, while were selective. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hotli Simanjuntak and Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post) Banda Aceh/Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 10:04 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1f266f 4 National elephant,endangered-species,#environment,environment,animal-conservation,#Conservation,wildlife,#wildlife Free The Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Center of Elephant Training in Saree have teamed up with locals to save an elephant calf that was inadvertently trapped in an agricultural area at the edge of a forest in Geumpang district of Pidie regency. The calf, estimated to be around 3 months old, was suspected to have been passing the area with its herd when its front left leg was caught in a nylon trap that locals had set to catch wild hogs that often intruded into their agricultural area. The calf, a protected Sumatran elephant, could not extricate itself from the trap and severely injured its leg in the process of trying to break free. The injured calf was subsequently left behind by its herd. Dedi Irvansyah, an official with the BKSDA, said local residents found the unfortunate calf two days before it was freed on Wednesday, but they did not immediately help because they were afraid that its mother would come back to retrieve it. The BKSDA immediately deployed a team after receiving the information from the locals, but by the time they arrived at the location later on Wednesday, locals had already freed the elephant from the trap. It appeared that after we told them that most injured elephants are left behind by their herd, the locals freed the poor calf from the trap, Dedi said on Thursday. By the time the calf was freed, the wound in its leg had already turned necrotic and required intensive care due to the delay in providing aid. However, Dedi said besides the leg wound, the calf did not suffer any other severe injuries. The calf is just very stressed right now, he said. On early Thursday morning, the BKSDA took the calf to a training center in Saree, Aceh Besar regency, which is around 150 kilometers from the incident. The calf is now under the care of veterinarians from the agency as well as from Syiah Kuala University. Forest areas in Geumpang are home to a large population of Sumatran elephants, which are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a critically endangered species. But in Geumpang, conflicts between elephants and humans are also rampant. Dedi said conflicts between elephants and humans often occurred because human settlements were too close to the elephants routes. He also said deforestation due to illegal logging and plantations had ignited more conflict between humans and wild animals. The BKSDA recorded that 12 elephants died in Aceh last year. Eleven of those were wild elephants that had died in human-animal conflicts. The number includes a case of a female elephant that was found dead after being poisoned in East Aceh on Christmas Day last year, said BKSDA head Sapto Aji Prabowo. The governments effort to reduce the conflicts is still insufficient. The law enforcement process does not get the expected results, Khalisah Khalid of environmental group Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said. The law is weak, especially to companies that became perpetrators of the destruction of wildlife habitats and human living spaces. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 17:53 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e205142 4 Business Bank-Muamalat,right-issue,investors Free Sharia-based lender PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia president director Achmad K. Permana has met with five investors from Indonesia, Singapore and a Middle Eastern country to discuss the lenders plans for a rights issue. I just returned from Singapore, where I met five potential investors, Achmad said in Jakarta on Friday during the launch of DPLK Syaria, the banks subsidiary that will deal with pension funds. The arrival of new investors through the rights issue is expected to strengthen Bank Muamalats financial capability, he said as reported by kontan.co.id. He added that some investors were part of a consortium, including one from Singapore. Achmade declined to confirm that three state-owned lenders PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) and PT Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) were also interested in joining Bank Muamalat, saying only that any interested investors must follow the established procedures. Bank Muamalats management has set a target to complete the rights issue in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, executive head of the Financial Services Authoritys (OJK) banking supervision division, Heru Kristiyana, confirmed that many potential investors had approached Bank Muamalat. However, he declined to reveal the names of the potential investors. Bank Muamalats acquisition plan is a matter between Bank Muamalat and its potential investors, he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington Fri, May 4, 2018 09:12 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1ef022 2 Business Volkswagen,CEO,emission-standards,US,scandal,fraud-cases Free 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 10:45 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1f427d 4 Business oil,DMO-domestic-market-obligation,cancellation,subsidy Free The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has canceled its plan to introduce the domestic market obligation (DMO) policy on oil. The planned policy was intended to help state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina purchase oil for the domestic market according to the state budget's assumption on Indonesian Crude Oil prices (ICP). The ministry's oil and gas director general, Djoko Siswanto, said on Thursday that the government preferred to provide the largest subsidy for the Solar diesel fuel brand than to provide Pertamina with crude oil prices based on the ICP assumption, which was set to US$48 per barrel. Meanwhile, the average real price of crude oil was $67 per barrel in April. Both are similar. It is just a difference in mechanism one from upstream, the other from downstream, Djoko said in Jakarta on Thursday as quoted by kontan.co.id. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said during the meeting on Wednesday that additional subsidies would be drawn from the windfall of crude oil sales. Djoko said providing Pertamina with the ICP assumption was more complicated, because once crude oil was processed at the refinery, the product output would be subsidized Premium gasoline, subsidized Solar diesel fuel and aviation turbine fuel (avtur). The result is uncertain. How much Premium, Solar and avtur will we get from one barrel of crude oil? Providing subsidies will be more certain, he added. Djoko said the subsidy for 1 liter of Solar will be Rp 1,000 (7 cents US) to Rp 1,500 from the current subsidy of Rp 500 per liter. Meanwhile, the state budget has set the quota for Solar diesel fuel at 7.5 million kiloliters. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 09:52 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1f0878 2 World Islam,cooperation,Rohingya-Muslims,Myanmar Free 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 crisis so as not to anger Myanmar, opting instead to call it a humanitarian crisis affecting all people in Rakhine. On the margins of the event, Arrmanatha said participants are expected to visit the refugee camps located in Coxs Bazar, where hundreds of thousands from the minority group have temporarily settled. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4 2018 To commemorate National Education Day, which falls on 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 regencys 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 it is the latest document launched for Raja Ampats students, following the opening of two modules on the same topic for fourth- 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 ... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Taipei, Taiwan Fri, May 4, 2018 21:37 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e21497d 2 World Taiwan,politics,Star-Wars Free Darth Vader and a pose of gun-toting stormtroopers assailed Taiwan's presidential office Friday -- but the only shots fired were from a barrage of cameras, in a sci-fi makeover for Star Wars Day. The island's Vice President Chen Chien-jen and fans dressed as a motley crew of intergalactic characters chanted "May the force be with you" in homage to the George Lucas space drama as part of events held around the world on May the fourth. A smiling Chen was flanked by a menacing Vader and a somewhat dishevelled Chewbacca, toting a blue plastic gun and sporting a rictus grin and aviator goggles. The vice president thanked participants for travelling from a galaxy far, far away to attend the tongue-in-cheek event. He also used the occasion to poke fun at Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, who was compared to the diminutive jedi master Yoda on Taiwanese social media after a 2015 Time Magazine cover photograph. "If you all come in peace, I welcome you all as our guests. Today Master Yoda is absent, but I quote one phrase from Yoda -- 'size matters not'. Taiwan is bigger than you think," Chen said before posing with lightsabre-waving fans. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Gaza City, Palestinian Territories Fri, May 4, 2018 21:03 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e213086 2 World Palestine,Gaza,protests,Israel Free Hundreds of Palestinians began gathering on the Gaza border Friday for the sixth week of protests in which dozens have already been killed by Israeli fire. At a protest camp east of Gaza City, several hundred people prepared for demonstrations expected to gain momentum in the mid-afternoon following the main weekly Muslim prayers. Organizers said part of Friday's plans included attempting to fly dozens of kites, some carrying Molotov cocktails, over the border fence. A 32-year-old man wearing a camouflage hat with his face masked, a traditional keffiyeh scarf around his neck, said they hoped to fly around 50 kites. "We hope to return back to our land, which is occupied," said the man who declined to give his name. "I'm not afraid, only of Allah." Forty-nine Palestinians have been killed since protests and clashes began along the Gaza border on March 30 and hundreds of others have been wounded from gunfire. Israel says it only opens fire when necessary to stop infiltrations, damage to the fence and attacks. Molotov cocktails In central Gaza, dozens were gathering east of the Bureij refugee camp. Youths met behind a series of bunkers reinforced with sandbags in the area leading up to the border with Israel, while older demonstrators remained further back at protest tents. Piles of dozens of tires were also being prepared to burn later in the day. A group of Palestinian youths threw stones in the direction of Israeli soldiers, who had taken up position some 50 meters away on the other side of the fence. A Guy Fawkes mask strapped to his belt and a Palestinian flag around his neck, Abdullah Issa, 22, said they hoped to send dozens of kites with Molotov cocktails over the fence. "We will put Molotov cocktails on the Israeli farms," Issa said. "They have no solution for the kites." Israeli media have in recent days reported significant damage to farms due to kite-flown Molotov cocktails, though the devices face difficult odds in making it across the fence while still lit. Israel accuses Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs Gaza and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, of seeking to use the weekly protests as a cover to carry out violence. No Israelis have been hurt and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no danger to soldiers. The military has faced international criticism over its use of live fire, with the United Nations and European Union calling for an independent investigation rejected by Israel. Demonstrators are demanding the right to return to their homes seized by Israel in 1948, which Israel argues would effectively spell the end of their country. The protests are due to continue until mid-May and grow in the run-up to the planned move of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14. The move has deeply angered the Palestinians, who see the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of the city as the capital of their future state. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura Fri, May 4, 2018 16:50 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e200c56 1 National Papua,Papua-New-Guinea,rupiah Free Papua New Guineas currency, the kina, is the currency of choice at Skouw Market in Jayapura, located on the Papuan side of the Indonesian-Papua New Guinean border. The market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with transactions worth an average of Rp 2 billion (US$ 143,232) a day. Kina transactions might reach an equivalent of Rp 2 [billion] to 3 billion [...], Joko Supratikno, the head of Bank Indonesia's Papua chapter, said on Thursday. As a result of the trend, state-owned bank BRI's Papua chapter currently has PGK 110 billion in its foreign reserve. We hope that both countries central banks can work together [to make it easier] to exchange currencies. But at the moment, we still accept the kina, BRI Papua chapter head I Wayan Nasta said. BRI has a money changer at its Skouw Market branch. At the moment, one kina is equivalent to Rp 3,900 to Rp 4,000. The central bank signed a memorandum of understanding with local institutions to ensure that transactions on the Indonesian side of the border use the rupiah. It also just established a task force to monitor the change. The task force can take action if they find buyers or sellers who still use foreign currencies at Skouw Market, he said, adding that the central bank extended a probationary period to three months, while disseminating regulatory information on the use of the rupiah in all transactions. The regulation is expected to encourage foreigners to exchange their money to rupiah before conducting transactions at the market and in other parts of the city. To date, Papuan sellers expect to gain more profits from trade and currency exchanges by accepting the kina during transactions. (swd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 14:11 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1fa372 1 City monas-rush,police,OK-OCE,Perindo Free The National Police have handed over a case to the Jakarta Police pertaining to the death of two children during a social event at National Monument (Monas) Park, Central Jakarta, last Saturday, during which hundreds of people jostled to get their hands on free staple food packages. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said the police would summons witnesses in connection to the case. Let us work on this case, Argo said on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co. Mahesa Junaedi, 12, died of dehydration during the event organized by Forum Untukmu Indonesia. While M. Rizki Syahputra, a 10-year-old with special needs, was reportedly trampled to death as people tried to obtain the free items. Jakarta Police said earlier that both children fainted in Monas but that their conditions might have not been caused by the event. Meanwhile, Forum Untukmu Indonesia chairman Dave Santosa met with Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno at City Hall on Thursday. He was accompanied by United Indonesia Party (Perindo) Jakarta chapter chairman Surianta Tarigan. The party was established by businessman Hary Tanoesoedibyo, supporter of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. Sandiaga has denied reports that Dave is a volunteer for the administrations One District One Center of Entrepreneurship (OK OCE) program. I want to clarify that Dave is not an OK OCE volunteer. I just met him one time. I know OK OCE volunteers, I know their addresses and phone numbers. I often text them on WhatsApp. Dave is not one of the volunteers, he said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com Dave said he would be responsible for the damage sustained in Monas after the event. He added the event organizers had met with the families of the victims. We have apologized and met with the families of the victims. They said they wouldnt continue the legal process because this was an accident, Dave said according to tempo.co. Lawyer Muhammad Fayyadh claimed on Wednesday that the mother of Rizki had accepted Rp 5 million (US$ 358) in hush money from Relawan Merah Putih in exchange for her not speaking of the incident . Relawan Merah Putih is a campaign group that supported Joko Jokowi Widodo and Jusuf Kalla during the 2014 presidential election and Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Syaiful Hidayat during the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. (cal) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mariette Le Roux (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Fri, May 4, 2018 07:14 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1e9f62 2 World Yemen,cholera,war,health,disease Free War-torn Yemen, caught in what the UN terms the world's worst humanitarian crisis, risks a resurgence of cholera that could infect millions as the rainy season advances, researchers warned Friday. Health authorities should "immediately" boost measures to mitigate risk, an international team urged in The Lancet Global Health. These could include vaccination, distributing equipment for filtering and disinfecting water, and repairing crumbling sanitation infrastructure. Based on data from previous outbreaks, the team calculated that 54 percent of districts in Yemen could be affected by an epidemic flare-up in 2018, "totalling a population at risk of more than 13.8 million." "We thus make an urgent call for action on the part of local officials, donors, and international partners, to mitigate the risk of a new cholera epidemic wave in Yemen, which would certainly further weaken a highly vulnerable population." Some 10,000 people have been killed since March 2015 in the conflict between Saudi-backed pro-government forces and Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen. According to the United Nations, two in three Yemenis -- more than 17 million people -- do not know where their next meal will come from. Two million people are displaced, and fewer than half of health facilities are still functioning. For the study, researchers looked for evidence of a link between cholera and rainfall in research published between 1970 and 2018. They also examined the history of cholera outbreaks in Yemen from 1971. The data showed an association between higher rainfall and cholera prevalence, they said. - Killer bacteria - Yemen is in the grip of a cholera outbreak that started in 2016 after a five-year lull. Striking in two main waves -- in 2016 and in 2017 -- it has been the largest documented cholera epidemic of modern times, with over 1.1 million people infected and more than 2,300 deaths. This meant the return of the rainy season in 2018 could unleash a devastating third wave, said the researchers. Speculating on the reason for rainfall link, the team said conflict reduces access to safe water drawn from deep underground. When it rains, people will rely on surface waters, possibly contaminated by war-damaged wastewater systems. The data also showed an increase in cholera risk during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, said the researchers. This could be because people gather in large groups to share food, often obtained from street vendors. "These findings suggest that a large-scale campaign for hygiene education and public health information should be implemented during the 2018 Ramadan, possibly involving Imams to deliver these messages," said the team. According to the World Health Organization, cholera infects 1.3 million to four million people every year and kills an estimated 21,000-143,000 -- mainly in poor countries. Cholera, which causes potentially deadly diarrhoea, is contracted by ingesting food or water contaminated with a bacterium carried in human faeces and spread through poor sanitation and dirty drinking water. Left untreated, it can kill within hours. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Chicago Fri, May 4, 2018 06:59 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1e9459 2 World Fiat,US,theft,crime Free 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington Fri, May 4, 2018 06:30 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1e8742 2 World Pentagon,US,military Free 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gisela Swaragita and Arya Dwipa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 18:23 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e209b31 1 Politics Rizieq-Shihab,FPI,defamation,Pancasila,WestJava,Sukmawati-Soekarnoputri Free The West Java Police have dropped the investigation into a defamation case involving Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab, citing a lack of evidence. The [West Java Polices] general crime division unit closed the case as of last month, maybe even in late February, West Java Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Rizieq was accused of insulting the state ideology of Pancasila and the nations founding father, Sukarno, when a video of him comparing the early version of Pancasila drafted by Sukarno and the Jakarta Charters version went viral on social media. The original version of the Jakarta Charter's Pancasila, which was formulated by the nine founding fathers, including Sukarno, contains a clause obliging Muslims to abide by sharia. In the video, Rizieq says: In Sukarnos Pancasila, faith in God is placed in the butt, but in the Jakarta Charters Pancasila, faith in God is placed in the head. Which one is better? Sukarnos or the Jakarta Charters? The West Java Polices chief detective, Sr. Comr. Umar Surya Fana, said they had to drop the case because they only had a clip of the video. The judges want us to provide the video of the whole sermon, which we do not have, he said. We have asked the plaintiff to provide the full video, but they are unable to provide it. The report against Rizieq was made by Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, the third daughter of Sukarno. The firebrand cleric was charged under articles 154a and 320 of the Criminal Code on insulting the state ideology and defamation. Rizieqs supporters have accused the government of criminalizing their leader. In a meeting with President Joko Jokowi Widodo at the Bogor Palace last month, several Islamist groups, including the FPI, asked Jokowi to stop criminal probes into their leaders. The FPI leader reportedly fled to Saudi Arabia after a steamy conversation allegedly involving him and a woman was uploaded online. The police have charged him with spreading pornography and, as of now, have yet to drop the case. The State Palace has said President Jokowi will not interfere with the law. (ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 4, 2018 17:56 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e2054b6 1 Business workers,street,rally,salary,increase Free A trade unionist has said workers should voice demands beyond salary increases during street rallies, such as better training and skills formation that would improve their quality of life. Confederation of Indonesian Prosperity Trade Unions chairman Andy William Sinaga said on Friday that it might demand employers to assist workers in finding housing. He said workers could not force companies to give them higher salaries, as it could be detrimental to workers interests if companies had to lay off staff or close down their businesses because of high operational costs. "From my conversations with our members, some do not want to march for pay increases because they dont want to see the closure of their workplace," he said at a discussion in Jakarta. However, he said workers who held different views from the majority feared to voice their opinion because they could be labeled as traitors. He also highlighted other examples that workers should demand, such as housing that is closer to workplaces so that workers do not have to commute from far away. Andy also criticized trade union leaders that used members for their own political interests. "The workers' struggle is about making changes at the grassroots. So the struggle should take its form in the factories, not through street rallies or the distribution of T-shirts that support particular politicians, he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Malini Menon (Reuters) New Delhi, India Fri, May 4, 2018 20:46 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e20f9dd 2 World India,rape Free Protests erupted in southern India over the rape of a nine-year-old girl, as anger over the failure of police to stem a series of sex attacks on children boiled over. Reported rape cases in India have climbed steadily over recent years to around 40,000 in 2016, or about 100 a day, with many more believed to go unreported. Child rape accounts for about 40 percent of the reported cases. A mob blocked highways on Thursday and sat on railway tracks near Guntur, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, demanding public punishment for a rickshaw puller accused of the attack. The crowd attacked the accused's house and thrashed his son, media said. On Friday, the accused, said to be around 55, was found hanging in a wood and police said he had likely committed suicide. Several cases of sexual assault of children have come to light in recent weeks from different parts of the country, leading to an outpouring of anger. The government introduced the death penalty for the rape of girls younger than 12 last month after a particularly gruesome case of rape and murder of a Muslim girl in Jammu and Kashmir state. Police superintendent Venkata Appala Naidu said the girl who had been assaulted in Guntur was recovering in hospital. Registered cases of sexual violence have been rising despite the national outrage that followed the fatal gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, May 5 2018 A trade unionist has said workers should voice demands beyond salary increases during street rallies, such as better training and skills formation that would improve their quality of life. Confederation of Indonesian Prosperity Trade Unions chairman Andy William Sinaga said on Friday that it might demand employers to assist workers in finding housing. He said workers could not force companies to give them higher salaries, as it could be detrimental to workers interests if companies had to lay off staff or close down their businesses because of high operational costs. "From my conversations with our members, some do not want to march for pay increases because they dont want to see the closure of their workplace," he said at a discussion in Jakarta. However, he said workers who held different views from the majority feared to voice their opinion because... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ambassador Xiao Qian (The Jakarta Post) Sat, May 5 2018 President Xi Jinping (left) meets with President Joko Widodo (right). (AFP) At the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will pay an official visit to Indonesia from May 6 to 8. Indonesia will be the first stop of the first overseas trip by the Chinese premier since the new Chinese government was formed in March 2018. It fully demonstrates the great significance China places on its relationship with Indonesia. Both China and Indonesia are ancient civilizations with a splendid history. The history of friendly exchanges between the two peoples can be traced back to the Han dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. The great Chinese navigator Zheng He from the Ming Dynasty made seven voyages to the Western Seas, leaving behind countless legacies in Java and Sumatra. Indonesia was one of the first countries to establis... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rachmadea Aisyah and Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, May 5 2018 In agreement: State-owned gas distributor PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) president director Jobi Triananda Hasjim (left) shakes hands with publicly listed energy firm PT Medco E&P Indonesia president director and Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) president Ronald Gunawan after signing an agreement during the IPA convention and exhibition (Convex) in Jakarta on Friday. The association has, among others, urged the government to synchronize regulations issued by the central and regional governments as investors struggle with inconsistent rules. (Antara/Muhammad Iqbal) Business players in the oil and gas industry have again reminded the government to stop being complacent as there is still a lot of homework to do in order to enhance the domestic business climate. In the past few months, it has amended or scrapped 186 regulations that deter investment and hamper busi... Fans of Disney-Pixar's Toy Story can now fly with their favorite characters on China Eastern Airlines, which has partnered with the Shanghai Disney Resort to create a plane themed around the animated feature film. The Toy Story plane was launched at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Apr. 28, reported kompas.com. The plane's exterior features a large image of Buzz Lightyear in mid-flight. The cabin interior is filled with other Toy Story characters, the seats decorated with images of Woody and Lotso, as well as Mr and Mrs Potato. Details are also applied in unexpected areas, such as on the cabin ceiling, the inflight headphones, luggage compartments and seat trays. Travelers who want to ride the Toy Story plane must first fly to China, as the themed plan is used only for domestic flights. Earlier in 2016, China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Disney Resort collaborated to create a plane themed on Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Other airlines have also designed themed planes, such as EVA Airlines' themed plane featuring Hello Kitty. Read also: EVA Air launches new Sanrio-themed aircraft In the United States, American Airlines has just announced that it would create a plane themed after Marvel's superheroes. (liz/mut) Air France-KLM's inauguration Thursday of a flight to a little developed corner of Brazil highlights European airlines' attempt to bring the continents together, catching up with far more dominant routes between South and North America. Latin America is a fast-expanding destination, seeing 9.3 percent growth in air travel last year, its biggest increase since 2011, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said. That's ahead of the global increase last year of 7.6 percent, taking worldwide passenger numbers to four billion. ForwardKeys consultancy predicts another nine percent increase in international flights out of Latin America and the Caribbean in the first half of this year. Much of that will be thanks to Brazil, ForwardKeys says, which is predicted to see a 14.2 percent rise in international departures and 16.5 percent increase in international arrivals. Brazil is slowly emerging from a deep recession and will soon sign an "open skies" accord, which will facilitate growth in traffic with the United States. "The trend in flight bookings both to and from Latin America is incredibly healthy," said Olivier Jager, president of ForwardKeys. "Many airlines are increasing capacity." But Europe is still on the margins, with five times more traffic going from Latin America to North America than trans-Atlantic. Eighty one percent of international traffic in Latin America goes to North America. According to 2016 figures from the regional airlines group ALTA, there were 16.3 million passengers to North America and only 3.28 million to Europe. But that trend is shifting, with 14 percent growth in trans-Atlantic flights in 2016. And Air France-KLM's new flight between Paris and Brazil's north-eastern seaside city of Fortaleza hopes to catch the turning tide. Read also: Bespoke, unusual and luxury trips become flavor of the day Continental drift "Latin America is a very interesting market for European companies," said Carlos Osores, who heads the aviation consultancy ICF. Unlike the mature North American market, "there are opportunities for higher profits, as there are in Africa, because there isn't yet much competition in the low cost sector." A big target is Brazil, "which has huge potential but only saw six million international tourists in 2016, the same number as in the little Dominican Republic," Osores said. European companies TAP, with Azul, Iberia, Air France-KLM, Air Europa, Turkish Airlines and the low cost Norwegian and Level have all raised their capacities by 10 to 40 percent on the route over the last year. But if European carriers have opened three new routes in the last 12 months, including to Recife in northeast Brazil, there have been three times that many launched between Latin America and the United States, such as Fort Lauderdale and the Amazon city of Belem. The shorter distances to the United States mean smaller planes and lower risks. Osores said Europe is also held back by higher tariffs "due to a lack of competition. Often the big routes are operated by only one or two carriers." European companies are looking to develop by following the US lead on focusing on secondary routes. For example, Air France-KLM's new route isn't meant so much to bring tourists to Fortaleza as to link them to GOL's network throughout Brazil's north-east, an area full of tourist potential. It also avoids reliance on the already heavily burdened infrastructure at Sao Paulo's airport or similarly busy hubs in South America like Bogota, Lima or Santiago. "Fortaleza's geography is ideal. It's a much quicker entry point to Brazil and much closer to Europe," Air France commercial chief Patrick Alexandre told AFP. "From next winter we'll have 44 flights a week." With one in four students suffering from mental health issues, discussing the topic has never been more important. One factor which clearly affects students mental health is social media, as it affects how we perceive and present ourselves, as well as how others perceive us. The constant pressure to present your life as perfect, regardless of the truth, can create a situation in which few feel like they are as successful or happy as those around them. Such thoughts can exacerbate, or even cause, mental health issues. This has led to calls for authority figures in society, as well as society as a whole, to address the role and influence that social media has on peoples lives. However, the influence that social media has on people is not always negative. In fact, recent research by Greenlight Digital found that among millennials, almost half feel like social media enhances their self-esteem, whilst 42% feel that social media enhances their sense of self-worth. On behalf of Carphone Warehouse, Greenlight Digital spoke to three experts in psychology, sociology, and tech to find out how and why the internet makes us happy and why it doesnt. Find out what they said below: Anna Akbari, PhD Sociologist, entrepreneur, writer and former professor at NYU and Parsons School of Design On virtual profiles: Why are our profiles so important to us? I often say our 2D online selves outrank our 3D selves in the age of the internet. Likes, retweets, and swiping yes, make our brains pleasure centre light up in the same way a drug does. And so we keep coming back for more affirmation. Its very enticing, and the fact this validation is public makes it much more rewarding. Do we compare ourselves to others more online than in the real world? Comparisons happen everywhere humans exist. Online, were inclined to compare at a higher rate than in the real world due to having unfettered access to another person (via their profile), and were primarily left with our own judgement and willpower to guide us. Facebook facelifts are a real thing, and with the rise of Instagram, everyone feels pressure to look like a model all the time. But there is a positive side. Social media provides support in times of need and validation for our life choices too. How can we be happy online? Theres no regulatory body kicking you off Facebook or Instagram after a certain amount of time each day. Nor is someone stopping you from repeatedly virtually stalking your exs profiles, all of which can be self-destructive if left unchecked. Bottom line: you need to control your engagement with the platforms, and not fall victim to a constant state of virtual FOMO. Perhaps you limit yourself to only checking social media once or twice a day (as opposed to every hour), turn off all mobile notifications for likes and instead keep them on only for direct messages. Virtual profiles and the platforms that host them must be approached like a drug: seductive, fun, powerful, and dangerous. Use them responsibly. Dr. Pamela Rutledge Director at the Media Psychology Research Center, Faculty member at Fielding Graduate University, Media Psychology, Instructor and Advisory Board Member at UC Irvine Extension and blogger for Psychology Today On being happy online: Can the way we use the internet make us happier? The internet itself doesnt make you happy or sad. But its a very powerful tool that enables us to do activities that make us happy. For example, we can use it to expand our social circles and support network, and have our existence and ideas validated by others. The internet also enables greater access to information and people. This affects us psychologically by increasing our sense of competence and social connection, as it practically brings opportunities and resources within reach. This includes the ability to engage in formal and casual education, receive social validation, observe social and cultural norms and practice social behaviours, as well as participate in national discussions on social platforms. All of these things address the core drivers of human behaviour, agency, competence, and social connection, which are essential to our mental and physical wellbeing. Why does our online activity have such power to affect our moods? Because humans are social animals and rely on social connection for their mental and physical wellbeing, people are hypersensitive to things like social validation, affiliation, liking, disrespect and exclusions. We all react positively to being liked on social media. We have an instinctive need to be accepted into a group (social validation), and at a primal level, to the biological need for survival. Is there a best way to be online? The best approach for online use is to practice mindfulness and presence in your choices and actions. Be aware of when you go online so youre not doing it out of sheer habit. Being mindful allows you to think of your online activities in relation to what you want to accomplish, just like you would evaluate offline activities. How can we be happy online? Recognising that online behaviours can produce the same feelings these triggers engender offline allows us to take steps to avoid situations that spark our discomfort. For example, if following certain people on Facebook make you feel left out or not good enough, unfollow them. If watching silly cat videos on YouTube makes you laugh, then schedule in a cat video during your coffee break. Laughter literally changes your body chemistry. Donna Freitas, PhD University lecturer and author of The Happiness Effect: How Social Media is Driving a Generation to Appear Perfect at Any Cost On social media: Can social media make us happier? Yes, it can, sometimes, if we take the time to notice when its making us feel better and when it makes us feel worse. Ive found that people feel happier on social media when they were using it to connect directly to people in their lives. How would you sum up our relationship with social media? Love-hate, emotionally dependent, and obsessive. People talk about social media and their smartphones in the same way they might discuss a romanceprobably a rather unhealthy romance. What can we do to make it better? I think we each need to pay attention to the different kinds of experiences and feelings we have when were on social media and choose which activities to engage in, and which others to try and quit. I think this applies to different platforms as wellsome people love Snapchat, whereas Facebook really makes them feel terrible. How can we be happy online? Aminul Hoque, Goldsmiths, University of London When a young Bangladeshi man, Altab Ali, was found murdered on the streets of Whitechapel, London, on May 4, 1978, his murder awoke the local Bangladeshi community. Altab Ali: murdered on May 4, 1978. Swadhinata Trust Ten years after Enoch Powells infamous Rivers of Blood speech, Alis murder was symptomatic of the racial antagonism stirred up in the 1970s. Extreme white supremacist groups such as the National Front engaged in organised and systematic patterns of violence against the local Bangladeshis of east London, using slogans such as Blacks Out, White is Right and kill the black bastards To mark the 40th anniversary of Alis senseless murder, I spoke to people who knew him personally, as well as community leaders and local residents who experienced first-hand the culture of violence and hate that contributed to the racially motivated killing. Ali, a 25-year-old machinist, emigrated from Bangladesh to the UK in 1969. Arman Ali, a close relative, told me about Alis kind-hearted, respectful and polite nature. He had just recently married. He worked very hard and like most other British Bangladeshis, his ambition was to seek a prosperous future and support his family with his earnings. Ali was returning home from work in nearby Brick Lane when he was fatally stabbed in Adler Street, Whitechapel by three teenagers. In 1998, a park near where Ali died was subsequently renamed Altab Ali Park in his memory and continues to act as a symbol of community, hope and peace. Living in fear In contrast to the gentrified, trendy vibe of 2018, Brick Lane was a dangerous place to live and work in the 1970s where skinheads and elements of the extreme far right from all over east London came to indulge in routine acts of Paki bashing. Its important to emphasise that these racially motivated violent acts were mainly carried out by an extremist minority. Many Bangladeshis lived harmoniously with their white working-class neighbours. Most of the victims of violent hate crimes were newly arrived Bangladeshi men working in the rag trade which was primarily concentrated within the E1 postcode. When Altab Ali was murdered, recalled Arman, fear spread within the community. People were afraid of going to work, sending their kids to school, travelling on public transport. I spoke to community activist Abu Mumin who describes himself as a survivor of that era of hate and violence. He told me: I shouldnt be here right now talking to you. I should be either critically injured or dead. Like Arman, Mumin vividly recalls the culture of fear and intimidation that paralysed a whole community: Paki-bashing was a daily occurrence in schools, parks and the streets, and 100 metre after school dash to our homes to escape the skinheads was routine. I remember an incident in the late 1970s when a concrete boulder was thrown through our window, nearly killing my two younger baby brothers who were sleeping on the bed. We were all living in a state of fear. Pensioner Abdush Shahid also remembers the 1970s and 80s with immense distress. He told me: Local Bangladeshi businesses would always get vandalised, and bottles and stones would be thrown on us from the top of buildings as we walked home after work there were some no-go areas for Bangladeshis such as Cable Street, Roman Road and the Teviot Estate. I can also relate with such painful stories. Growing up in the 1980s in Bethnal Green, my memories of childhood also revolve around running home from school, being spat at, beaten up and being called a paki. It was a difficult and traumatic time to live in east London. Alis legacy Alis racially motivated murder was a watershed moment that marked a significant turning point for race relations in east London. Not only did it galvanise the local Bangladeshi community into political action, but it also heightened the call for social justice and equality among many other ethnic minority communities across the UK. His killing mobilised communities in Tower Hamlets to take a stand against hatred, discrimination and intolerance. Many invisible, marginalised and alienated Bangladeshis became embroiled in the politics of recognition demanding social and economic justice, power and representation. The Bangladeshi communitys response was strong and organised. Ten days after the murder, around 7,000 people marched behind Alis coffin to 10 Downing Street demanding better police protection and also highlighting wider issues of institutionalised racism. Bangladeshis teamed up with the Socialist Party and trades unions and engaged in mass demonstrations and strikes, which were successful in eventually forcing out the National Front from the area. Local resident, Goyas Miah, who was nine at the time of Alis murder, sums up the mood of revolt and discontent: After Altab Alis murder in 1978, we found that the only way we could be effective against violent racial attacks was to organise ourselves the atmosphere was like were safer in numbers Self-defence classes were common The fear and intimidation continued into the 1980s It was a juncture of realisation we are here to stay and therefore need to stamp our authority of British Bengaliness. So what of the younger generation of British-born Bangladeshis? I asked the grandson of Abdush Shahid, 19-year-old Rayhan Razzique, whether he knew who Altab Ali was. As a member of a Westernised, affluent, educated and socially mobile generation, Razziques response was not surprising: I dont know who he is but I know that there is a park named after him. At this point, his grandfather looked despondent and told Razzique, who was visibly shocked and upset, the stories of sacrifice, hardship and bloodshed in the 1970s and 80s. Tower Hamlets today The demographics of east London, in particular Tower Hamlets, have changed drastically over the past 40 years. According to the 2011 census , Tower Hamlets is ethnically diverse, with 55% of the population belonging to an ethnic group other than white. As an area, east London has always been a hub for immigrant communities, from the Irish and French Huguenot refugees to the influx of Eastern European Jews during the late 19th century. And it appears that the defiant message of we are here to stay has come to fruition for the Bangladeshi community. The 2011 census puts the the Bangladeshi resident population of Tower Hamlets at approximately 81,000 the largest concentration of Bangladeshis in Britain. Since the events of May 1978, Bangladeshis have continued to experience occasional hostility from extremist elements, such as the vicious attack by eight white youths on 17-year-old Bangladeshi student Quddus Ali in Stepney in 1993. However, Tower Hamlets remains, on the whole, a really good example of a multi-ethnic neighbourhood where diversity and difference has not resulted in far-reaching social unrest in recent history, despite a wider backdrop of social and material deprivation. This sense of community is perhaps one of Alis most significant legacies. My own research has looked at the generational turn towards a more religiously orientated Islamic identity for many younger British-born Bangladeshis. Sadly, this puts them at higher risk of experiencing Islamophobia Albeit in a different and subtle guise, the ugly face of racism and discrimination still persists, though this new racism of Islamophobia is not the same as the violent clashes of the late 20th century. Instead, as Arman poignantly reminded me: The focus of discrimination has shifted away from the colour of skin to differences in ideology, values, culture, language and religion. Chelsea: the place to be if youre young, (kind of) single and fabulously wealthy. Its a place many dream of living, but thanks to the genius producers over at Channel 4, its a reality we get to vicariously live through our televisions on Monday nights. Since the show first aired in 2011, the cast has grown and evolved in ways you couldnt even imagine. From the main cast's short flings to the childhood friends sent in to stir up trouble, heres a run down from worst to best of the most memorable cast members. 56. Harry Baron A post shared by Harry Baron (@harryukbaron) on Jan 29, 2018 at 12:04pm PST The Taylor Swift of MiC, hes as snakey as his lanky body looks. 0/10, avoid at all costs. 55. Neptune Its terrifying and I feel it could posses some Dorian Gray type magic to keep them all young. I also just wanted to really emphasise Harrys low ranking by placing an inanimate and frankly nightmarish portrait above him. 54. Josh Shepherd A post shared by Josh Shepherd (@joshshepherd88) on Aug 6, 2016 at 9:16am PDT His relationship with Steph was way too intense and Josh always came off looking like a creep. Way too controlling, it was probably because he knew he was punching. 53. Tiff Watson A post shared by Tiffany Watson. (@tiffanyc_watson) on Apr 19, 2018 at 11:56am PDT Considering her lengthy stint on the show, there should be more to say, but its better left at this: Sam Thompson deserved better. 52. Daisy Robins A post shared by DAISY DARCY ROBINS (@daisyrobins) on Feb 2, 2018 at 10:14am PST Once said she hoped a bus would hit and kill Olivia, then denied all knowledge of it and cried. 51. Frankie Gaff A post shared by Frankie Gaff (@frankiegaff) on Apr 22, 2018 at 11:00am PDT Coming into the series just as the Watson sisters were phasing out, Frankie saw her chance to be Queen mean and took it. Creating arguments for no reason, meddling in other peoples relationships and just out right not being very kind towards her fellow cast mates saw the demise of many on-screen friendships for her. 50. Victoria Baker-Harber Sharp tongued and never one to shy away from a controversial comment or two, Victoria splits opinion, however shes more of a pot stirrer than a main ingredient. Lets also not forget the time she managed to drop four f-bombs and call Cheska a fat turkey all in one sentence. Want to live like a PRO? Want to channel the Made in Chelsea lifestyle, on a student budget? To be in with a chance of winning the ultimate dining experience, all you have to do is answer this simple question: taking the recommended dosage of Pro Plus is the equivalent of how many cups of coffee? * a) One cup of coffee b) Two cups of coffee c) Three cups of coffee Clue youll find the answer somewhere within this article The Prize is a VIP evening out for you and friends that includes: - A private car from your halls/house to any restaurant listed on Restaurant Choice, AND - A delicious meal to the value of 300, complete with drinks, starters, mains and dessert 49. Sophie Hermann A post shared by SOPHIEHERMANN (@xxsophiehermannxx) on Apr 17, 2018 at 6:33am PDT The Gretchen Weiner of Chelsea, its better she leaves the mean girl thing to Victoria. 48. Hugo Taylor Departing the series after only three seasons, Hugo certainly left his mark. Torn between both Millie and Rosie, he did what a Chelsea boy naturally could only do and tried to have it on with the both of them. 47. Ryan Libbey A post shared by RYAN (@ryan.libbey) on Apr 21, 2018 at 2:28am PDT Louises latest love interest, personal trainer Ryan is a man child. In some respects, hes just what Louise needs, but could probably find a way to be jealous of a grape if Louise liked it enough - please see the above image for how I imagine Ryan would stare at the aforementioned grape. 46. Catherine 'Caggie' Dunlop Potentially the source of Spencers womanising ways, Caggies influence left an impact right up until Spencer left the series. After all, let's not forget that he ran to an airport for her THE Spencer Matthews. Madness. 45. Sophie 'Habbs' Habboo A post shared by Sophie Habboo (@habboosophie) on Mar 3, 2018 at 10:41am PST Habbs likes to meddle. She waits in the shadows for a little bit of gossip, before leaping into frame and spreading her shadowy gossip, only to then return to the shadows again. Shady. 44. Rosie Fortescue Still considered one of the greatest betrayals in Made in Chelseas history, Rosies hook up with Hugo in season two set the precedent for how not to be a good friend. Despite being an original cast member and starring in 126 episodes, Rosie failed to really make an impact beyond this. 43. Alik Alfus A post shared by Alik Alfus (@al_alfus) on Apr 10, 2018 at 11:46am PDT Hes got an accent that sticks out like sore pinky in Chelsea and is best known for his relationship with Louise and subsequent torment of her new boyfriend, Ryan. Naturally, after purchasing a 40,000 engagement ring and never getting to put it on Louises finger, hes a bit bitter. 42. Nicola Hughes A post shared by Nicola Hughes (@nicolamhughes) on Apr 14, 2018 at 1:49pm PDT Why you would choose to date Mytton following his infidelity issues is a little bit mind boggling, but Nicola changed him until he dumped her via text after *wait for it* cheating on her too. Seems like you cant teach an old dog new tricks. 41. James Dunmore A post shared by James Dunmore (@james_dunmore) on Apr 10, 2018 at 11:08am PDT Boyfriend of Lucy, thats all there really is to say about him. Perhaps hes the yin to her yang, or maybe opposites really do attract but had it not been for his ties to Lucy, he probably would have left the show after a season or two. 40. Jules Hamilton Jules threw a bit of a spanner in the works when dating both Lucy and Rosie, revealing that he was polyamorous and did in fact have a girlfriend who also shared his beliefs. Thered certainly be a lot less drama in SW3 if they all adopted that lifestyle. 39. Lauren Frazer-Hutton For a while there, we really thought she had changed Spencer for good until Spencer did, as Spencer does. She gave it a good shot, but didnt quite stick the landing. 38. Ella Willis A post shared by ELLA (@ellanicolawills) on Mar 18, 2018 at 3:00am PDT Generally fine, theres nothing too exciting to say on Ella, but who knows if thats a good or a bad thing in Chelsea? The Juliet to Julius Romeo, they managed to defy all odds (Liv) and actually stick it out. 37. Gabilicious Tristao Yes, that is her real name. You probably won't remember her, but she hosted a party celebrating her breast reduction, which is the level of extra we should all aspire to be. 36. Ashley James A former flame of Ollie Locke's, she's now better known for her CBB romance with Ginuwine. 35. Amber Atherton A post shared by amber atherton (@amberatherton) on Feb 9, 2018 at 2:05am PST Made in Chelseas opening scenes were at the party for Ambers jewellery line launch but despite a promising start, she quickly faded into the background before leaving the series. 34. The Forgotten Souls of Chelsea Every season has one or two floaters, who appear for short time without making waves and eventually drift along. Thats not to say they dont deserve an honourable mention in their own right, it just means theyve failed to leave a lasting legacy worthy of an opinion. From ill-fated romances to scene extras, you may remember the faces but you probably wont remember the names. Special shout-out to the French busker Caggie dated after the most unrealistic random meeting to date. 33. Julius Cowdrey A post shared by Julius Cowdrey (@jlcowdrey) on Apr 8, 2018 at 1:42pm PDT A bit of a wet lettuce, Julius can only seem to maintain one close relationship at a time. Hes your classic date over mates cliche, and cant even seem to fully commit to that. 32. Tina Stines Youre more likely to remember Tina from her stint on season two of Love Island, however she appeared on the show before and after her time in Spain. That being said, she made about as much impact on Chelsea as she did Love Island and subsequently made a quiet exit. 31. Gabriella Ellis The demise of her relationship with Ollie Locke saw Gabriella do the thing all girls do post break up - scout an Ollie lookalike for her next music video and tell everyone listening its not about him. Sure its not. 30. All of Spenny, Jamie & Myttons' flings They know what the boys did and they still went there regardless. It would come as no surprise that these girls often ended up with the same fate as their predecessors. Theres too many to list, but very few of them stuck around for long enough to be known as anything more than that. 29. Phoebe Lettice Thompson A post shared by Phoebe Lettice Thompson (@phoebelettice) on Apr 22, 2018 at 6:12pm PDT She did edgy things with her hair and kind of had a dead behind the eyes attitude, so fit right in. She set the standards for cool girls everywhere. 28. Mimi Bouchard A post shared by M I M I B O U C H A R D (@mimibouchard) on Apr 17, 2018 at 5:25am PDT Girls everywhere rallied behind Mimi after being called a dumpling by Tiff. Shes wound a lot of the Chelsea girls up the wrong way, but unlike most of them, Mimis intent never seems to be too malicious. 27. Digby Edgley A post shared by Digby Edgley (@digbyedgley) on Apr 1, 2018 at 11:38am PDT If Liv were a lion, Digby would be her tamer. She may have denied getting the 'ick,' but if the scene above is anything to go by, I wouldn't blame her. Dubbed a closet wanker by Frankie, there may be more to him than meets the eye, but for the most part, hes a relatively mediocre addition to the cast. 26. Richard Dinan The highlight of his time on the show is definitely his role in Ollie Lockes Diamond Geezer wrap party sketch. Other than that, hell just be remembered for palming Toff off via text. 25. Fredrik Ferrier A post shared by Fredrik Jonsson Ferrier (@fredrikferrier) on Apr 21, 2018 at 12:10pm PDT Away from the main storylines and drama, Fredrik is nice. Hes more of a thinker than a talker, but in a world so saturated with people talking for the sake of it, he's a nice change. 24. Jess Woodley A post shared by Jess (@jessicaannewoodley) on Jan 2, 2018 at 6:18am PST Jess was always cool. It was her breezy ways that made the viewers adore her but alienated her a little from her fellow cast mates. Not to be mistaken as fellow cool girl with a blonde bob and nose ring, Phoebe. 23. Olivia Bentley A post shared by Olivia Bentley (@oliviabentleyk) on Mar 12, 2018 at 1:30pm PDT In classic Made in Chelsea style, Olivia began her time on the show as a bulshy, opinionated woman with a my way or the high way attitude and was greeted with a frosty welcome. Since she met Digby, however, she's got a lot less time for drama and spends more time convincing everyone (including herself) that she doesn't have the 'ick'. 22. James Taylor Still finding his feet, James infatuation with Toff is adorable and makes for lovely, albeit cringe, watching. Perhaps hes the knight in a tweed jacket the girls of Chelsea were all waiting for? 21. Sam Prince A post shared by Sam Prince (@samprince_uk) on Apr 15, 2018 at 12:19pm PDT Prince by name, Prince by nature, sam is generally a nice guy. However his recent infidelity and questionable choices suggest he might fall victim to the nice boy curse and inevitabley turn into Spencer Junior. Hes also one of the few people to see straight through Harry Baron, so he must be a lot smarter than he lets on. 20. Stephanie Pratt A post shared by Stephanie Pratt (@officialstephpratt) on Apr 20, 2018 at 4:44am PDT The introduction of Stephanie Pratt was a controversial one to say the least. The scripted reality pro ruffled many feathers, but actually ended up being a much loved cast member. 19. Millie Mackintosh Now divorced from Pro Green (we were confused too), Millie is back with her former MiC fling Hugo. Millies time on the show was best known for how she dealt the womanisers of Chelsea. From the time she threw her drink over Hugo, to a scene with Spencer known simply as The Slap, she set the standards for no-nonsense women. 18. Lucy Watson A post shared by Lucy Watson (@lucywatson) on Apr 17, 2018 at 8:03am PDT Perhaps one of the biggest transformations, Lucy went from the ultimate mean girl to girl-next-door. Responsible for some of the greatest facial expressions and argument ending one liners, the Watson eye roll will go down in history. Though she did fade into the background ever so slightly by the time she departed the series, at least she stopped having to ask why everyone was getting up in her grill. 17. Clementine Cuthberson Despite the name, Clemmie is one of the most down to earth cast members to date. Relatively drama free, our only wish for Clemmie is to never fall victim to another Chelsea boy with bad intentions (were looking at you, Jamie). 16. Francesca 'Cheska' Hull A post shared by Francesca Hull (@cheskahull) on Apr 10, 2018 at 3:54am PDT Cheska started the series as a blog writing busy body but soon became a staple addition to SW3. Despite the distance that grew between her and Binky throughout the years, nothing made MiC fanatics happier than the revelation of their perfectly timed pregnancies. 15. Alex Mytton No one was as shocked as Mytton to find out hed been cheating on Binky. Slightly older than a lot of the younger cast members, hes almost become a mentor on what not to do when in a tricky situation. Will we ever forgive Mytton for what he did to poor Binky? No, probably not, but he does get bonus points for his fantastic black-out acting. That being said, he has redeemed himself in recent seasons and is a staple of the show. 14. Josh JP Patterson A post shared by Josh Patterson (@joshuapatterson_jp) on Jan 15, 2018 at 12:17pm PST JP broke Binkys heart and in turn, the whole of the nation's. His fear of commitment has somehow lead him to fathering a child with Binky, which wed say is pretty committed. 13. Jane Felstead A post shared by Jane Felstead (@mummyfelstead) on Apr 8, 2018 at 6:39am PDT Binkys mum and all round legend. The show would not have been the same without her and important afternoon tea crisis talks. She became the mother of the cast and in turn was highly respected by all. 12. Ollie Locke Ollie is an all-round nice guy and has always had the best intentions at heart. Despite his storylines drying up, his epic showdown with JP over his treatment of Binky is testament to his character. That said, he did own way too many items of Union Jack printed clothing, of which Im not sure he can ever be forgiven for. 11. Louise Thompson Her London Bridge showdown with Spencer will go down in history as one of the most brutal on-screen MiC confrontations. Since then, Louise has done her fair share in heart breaking (a moment of silence for Andy Jordan please). 10. Spencer Matthews His infamous self-congratulatory grin and habit of wining, dining and cheating on every woman he seemingly comes into contact with would place Spencer pretty low on anyones list. His one redeeming feature is the fact that he unapologetically knows what a shit hes been and we kind of love to hate him. Made in Chelsea hasnt been the same without him. 9. Georgia Toff Toffolo A post shared by Georgia Toffolo (@toffgeorgia) on Apr 18, 2018 at 9:28am PDT The sweetheart of Chelsea and Queen of the Jungle, its hard to find something bad to say about Toff (Jacob Rees-Mogg infatuation aside). 8. Stevie Johnson A teddy bear in a world full of grizzly bears. Why Steph ever chose Josh over him will always remain a mystery to MiC fans everywhere. 7. Sam Thompson A post shared by Sam Thompson (@samthompsonuk) on Apr 16, 2018 at 11:36am PDT His turbulent relationship with Tiff Watson and that hideous tattoo cast a shadow over much of Sams time on the show. A source of comic relief for the most part, Sams happy go lucky attitude is a welcome addition to the show. 6. Jamie Laing In recent seasons, Chelseas very own Peter Pan has turned from lovable rogue into love rat extraordinaire, however his cheeky chappy ways always seem to win audiences over. He also gets bonus points for the creation of Candy Kittens, A.K.A the most delicious things on this planet. 5. Oliver Proudlock One third of the lost bois and creator of THAT portrait, Proudlock was the epitome of effortless hipster cool back in the day. Older and more mature, hes returned to Chelsea as a fan favourite and is always on hand for a DMC. 4. Andy Jordan Oh Andy, you guitar-playing, Louise-loving sweetheart. One of the few genuinely nice guys to walk the streets of Chelsea, he is missed by all. Please come back. 3. Francis Boulle If you searched for wholesome in the dictionary, Im pretty sure a picture of Francis would show up. When hes not mining for diamonds in Ghana, hes always fondly welcomed back into the MiC scene. 2. Mark-Francis Vandelli A true connoisseur of all things Chelsea, Mark-Francis is the resident fairy God father of Chelsea. The show would be lost without him. 1. Alexandra 'Binky' Felstead A post shared by BINKY FELSTEAD (@binkyfelstead) on Apr 21, 2018 at 2:04am PDT Im yet to meet a single person who does not adore Binky. She is the textbook definition of a best friend and has been sorely missed since her departure from the show. She always deserved a happy ending and it seems like she may have finally got one. Want to live like a PRO? Want to channel the Made in Chelsea lifestyle, on a student budget? To be in with a chance of winning the ultimate dining experience, all you have to do is answer this simple question: taking the recommended dosage of Pro Plus is the equivalent of how many cups of coffee? * a) - One cup of coffee b) - Two cups of coffee c) - Three cups of coffee Clue youll find the answer somewhere within this article The Prize includes - - A VIP evening out for you and three friends - - A private car from your halls/house to any restaurant listed on Restaurant Choice - - A delicious meal to the value of 300, complete with drinks, starters, mains and dessert Pro Plus can help relieve temporary tiredness and can make you feel more awake. Contains caffeine, always read the label. www.proplus.co.uk Terms & conditions can be found here. Lead image:CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons Which moment from a comic this week caught your interest? Moment and Indie Moment of the Month for April have begun! Vote now or forever hold your peace!!! Your WINNER for MOMENT OF THE WEEK 4/25/18: Iris remembers Wally and Wally remembers ... everything! - The Flash #45 This thread will contain SPOILERS!!! And lots of them. If you haven't read this week's comics yet, go read them before continuing into this thread, or risk being spoiled! PLEASE NOTE!!!!!! ]Remember to include the title and issue number of the comic you are nominating. Otherwise I will be forced to disqualify your nomination, and nobody wants that! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Rules: 1. Each nomination must be a moment in a comic released the week of the thread. This does not include weekly previews, trade paperbacks, or back issue digests. For new comics check out Midtown Comics release dates. 2. Everyone can make ONE nomination. You can either nominate a moment yourself or second/third/fourth/fifth an already existing nomination. However, second/third/fourth/fifth will not count per nominating and thus earn entry above in Top Nominations. You want in that list you must nominate something. 3. It must be an actual moment involving the actions or statements of a comic character in an issue. No "This writer returns to the series", "this artist draws this character", "the book is better", etc. 4. If you want to change your nomination, there are a few factors involved: ---> A) No one can have seconded your nom. ---> B) If it is clear for you to change your nom, you must edit your original post or the new post will be disqualified as being a double nomination. ---> C) You can change your second, third, etc. by editing your original post before the nomination period ends. Moments on the poll do not have to be seconded. If there is room in the poll, moments that were nominated but not seconded will be added based on the order they were nominated. 6. Again, please be specific on the comic title, issue number and moment. Also be clear that you are actually nominating or seconding something ... statements such as "Yeah, that was a cool moment" aren't clear. You must nominate a single moment in the comic and can't nominate the whole issue. Once more, if you dont include the issue and number the moment will not be included. 7. The thread for nominations will go up on Wednesday (new comic day) at 11:00 PM (Central) or when Zechs arrives later that night and posts in the previous week thread announcing voting is closed. The nominations will go until 2:00 PM (Central Time) Sunday Afternoon, or whenever Zechs arrives and will post in the thread stating, Its over. and will start the poll. If a new comic day falls on a holiday week in American, then the thread will be made for that day (be it Tuesday or Thursday). Regardless, nominations will STILL conclude on Saturday deadline. 8. Please be civil when commenting on other people's nominations. But feel free to discuss them in this thread. 9. In case there is debate on WHEN exactly a title came out, http://www.midtowncomics.com or the official websites of said publishers (be it Marvel, DC, Darkhorse, etc.) will be the final word on the quarrel. 10. Any nominations not following the above rules will be disqualified. Unless of course if Zechs, who is feeling sad for the person who missed the rule and might give them time to provide the correction. Then he will pester bk into putting the nomination in the poll. Of course this wouldnt be a problem if Zechs wasnt granted the glorious powers of a moderator, which one day such power will be Zechs, oh yes they will his. 11. If at five nominations are not made, Zechs will choose some, but they will all count as one nomination, not multiple thus making sure balance is preserved. 12. AKA the Rulk rule. If several moments are tied past the deadline of 11:00 PM (Central Time) Wednesday (or holiday date when new comics arrive in the US) or when Zechs arrives that night, then voting will continue on in sudden death for eight more hours, until one is decided. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE. If one isnt still decided, then Zechs will provide the deciding vote, regardless if he has voted already. So if that isn't enough reason to get a ton of votes on that additional day than you're just dooming yourself to give Zechs another vote. 13. AKA the Hobgoblin rule. Roderick Kingsley Hobgoblin moments when winning for three days straight automatically win the poll. No last day or second voting changes it to troll the ruler of this thread. Only ONE can rule as the Moment of the Week! Top Ten Nominators of All Time... 1.) GLX- (455 Nominations) 2.) Zechs- (448 Nominations) 3.) e_galston- (202 Nominations) 4.) IvCNuB4 - (178 Nominations) 5.) Johnny Smith (174 Nominations) 6.) Kravis (145 Nominations) 7.) Stephen Day- (126 Nominations) 8.) blcdude (111 Nominations) 9.) rdrsfn82- (102 Nominations) 10.) fieldy RICHARDS- (93 Nominations) Honorable Mentions HNutz (84 Nominations) Porcelain38- (92 Nominations) Starlord- (81 Nominations) Nicola Marshall (66 Nominations) God-Man (63 Nominations) DudeistMonk (59 Nominations) BubbaKanoosh- (57 Nominations) Greg- (52 Nominations) Knuckles McSmasher- (44 Nominations) doombug - (43 Nominations) 48THRiLLS- (40 Nominations) Demarcoa (39 Nominations) SilverPhoenix (34 Nominations) guitarsmashley (34 Nominations) TimDrake'sDumbWings- (30 Nominations) Amoebas (30 Nominations) Chap22- (28 Nominations) Mr. Batman- (27 Nominations) Dragavon- (27 Nominations) jephd (27 Nominations) karmakaze (27 Nominations) locuas (26 Nominations) VinnyPic- (25 Nominations) Flynn the Pirate (21 Nominations) habitual- (19 Nominations) Grayson (19 Nominations) Agent Panic (18 Nominations) nietoperz (18 Nominations) PaulSebert (18 Nominations) Glacier16 (18 Nominations) Punchy- (16 Nominations) MrBlack (16 Nominations) OneWhoIsAll (15 Nominations) capjr (12 Nominations) ThatRomanGuy (12 Nominations) MistaT- (12 Nominations) ChurchHatesTucker (12 Nominations) Belle-Tain Summer (13 Nominations) senwolf (12 Nominations) PatricioUPMA (11 Nominations) GOFM - (10 Nominations) Duck Punch (10 Nominations) Peter Parker (10 Nominations) SuperSoldier Washout (9 Nominations) The Great Ghostman (9 Nominations) Octacon (8 Nominations) alaska1125 (8 Nominations) HED (8 Nominations) gavincantdraw (8 Nominations) MarcianTobay (8 Nominations) eypcrew2- (7 Nominations) CammyKnoxville (7 Nominations) Skyrider (7 Nominations) Eli Katz (7 Nominations) Flamebird (7 Nominations) pat (6 Nominations) TheSecondLex (6 Nominations) Juan Cena (6 Nominations) Kid Impulse- (5 Nominations) XtremeX- (5 Nominations) Mammon, Fool Breaker (5 Nominations) Stalzer2002 (5 Nominations) Sully85 (5 Nominations) C-Matty- (4 Nominations) Dum Dum Dugan- (4 Nominations) AMS (4 Nominations) Dalarsco- (4 Nominations) GHERU (4 Nominations) jethawk (4 Nominations) Chessack (4 Nominations) MarvelFan88 (4 Nominations) Earth-2 NoctourneM (4 Nominations) Ben- (3 Nominations) McKeagan- (3 Nominations) carl999- (3 Nominations) Alex Delarge- (3 Nominations) MrWadeWilsonHimself (3 Nominations) pat (3 Nominations) blastmaster (3 Nominations) thefourthman (3 Nominations) BlueKitKat (3 Nominations) americanslime (3 Nominations) SolRey34 (3 Nominations) GOSD- (3 Nominations) MysticKnightJoe (3 Nominations) GratefulFred- (2 Nominations) statnut- (2 Nominations) Dooz - (2 Nominations) Jack Burton- (2 Nominations) Zenguru- (2 Nominations) God Impulse2k1 (2 Nominations) skywatcher (2 Nominations) avengingtitan (2 Nominations) Rebis (2 Nominations) Justin M. Campbell (2 Nominations) PhoenixEquinox (2 Nominations) Timbales (2 Nominations) dairydead (2 Nominations) Lord Solaris (2 Nominations) Aeon Flux (2 Nominations) PinkDaddy (2 Nomination) Ntikrst (2 Nominations) Jude Terror (2 Nominations) Major Tool (2 Nominations) LoatheMe (2 Nominations) Richie Heap (2 Nominations) Chicanery (2 Nominations) syxxpakk (2 Nominations) batarang614 (2 Nominations) Arkanian (2 Nominations) Fifthletter (2 Nominations) ObsceneBinary (2 Nominations) Josh Hartung (2 Nominations) TurboSmurf (2 Nominations) Randy Robertson (2 Nominations) Peter-J-DeadPoole (2 Nominations) GiveWaraChance (2 Nominations) Guderian- (1 Nomination) Black Kryptonite- (1 Nomination) Colonel Angus- (1 Nomination) barrylincoln - (1 Nomination) Dooz Ex Machina- (1 Nomination) Thrillhouse- (1 Nomination) Chesscub- (1 Nomination) TheyShouldBeTheBats- (1 Nomination) The Bass (1 Nomination) GOD Impulse- (1 Nomination) Deadfett (1 Nomination) amalah6 (1 Nomination) Miracloman (1 Nomination) Alex Delarge (1 Nomination) blastmaster (1 Nomination) Jonathan (1 Nomination) NeverReady ( 1 Nomination) DOOP SPEAK (1 Nomination) BlueStreak (1 Nomination) mrorangesoda - (1 Nomination) BAMJoe (1 Nomination) False Prophet (1 Nomination) xaraan (1 Nomination) Holland Oats (1 Nomination) bkthomson (1 Nomination) hatmasta (1 Nomination) TheSecondLex (1 Nomination) Pink Daddy (1 Nomination) Sunless (1 Nomination) Jim Gramm (1 Nomination) tomc (1 Nomination) John Condor (1 Nomination) B1CaNobody (1 Nomination) Socky (1 Nomination) bluemanhattangroup (1 Nomination) TimH (1 Nomination) Bilal Khawaja (1 Nomination) Scintillant-H (1 Nomination) Arkanian (1 Nomination) the_isolator (1 Nomination) Arkanian (1 Nomination) Manuel Prez (1 Nomination) Ameht Dominguez (1 Nomination) James Burke (1 Nomination) Sporkbot (1 Nomination) agf029 (1 Nomination) jay042 (1 Nomination) Draco X (1 Nomination) RobThompson (1 Nomination) Hall of Shame sdsichero (-1 Nomination) John Lewis Hawk (-25 Nominations) Panel to vet allegations of nepotism levied against Gov. Noem The Attorney General's Office on Wednesday announced it was referring the complaint to the South Dakota Government Accountability. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Forest Products Inc. (TSX:WEF) (Western or the Company) announced today its voting results in respect of the election of all director nominees at its Annual and Special Meeting (the Meeting) held today as follows: Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld James Arthurs 260,221,126 89.77% 29,650,324 10.23% Jane Bird 278,125,292 95.95% 11,748,403 4.05% Suzanne Blanchet 280,355,392 96.72% 9,518,303 3.28% Don Demens 275,871,299 95.17% 14,000,151 4.83% Lee Doney 275,281,991 94.97% 14,591,704 5.03% Daniel Nocente 278,180,376 95.97% 11,693,319 4.03% Michael T. Waites 280,733,737 96.85% 9,139,958 3.15% The total number of shares represented by shareholders in person and by proxy at the Meeting was 291,466,946, representing 73.71% of the Companys outstanding shares. The Company has also filed a report of voting results on all resolutions voted on at the Meeting on www.sedar.com. About Western Forest Products Inc. Western is an integrated Canadian forest products company and the largest coastal British Columbia timberlands operator and lumber producer. The Company has an annual available harvest greater than 6 million cubic metres of timber, of which approximately 5.8 million cubic metres is from Crown lands. Western has a lumber capacity in excess of 1.1 billion board feet from seven sawmills. Principal activities of the Company include timber harvesting, sawmilling logs into specialty lumber, and value added remanufacturing. With operations and employees primarily on the coast of British Columbia and one location in Washington State, Western is a premier supplier of high-value, specialty forest products to markets worldwide. For further information, please contact: Stephen Williams, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (604) 648-4500 By Clara Larson larsoncl@grinnell.edu The Colleges enthusiasm for the fine arts can be traced at least as far back as President John Hanson, whose tenure as president of the college spanned from 1906 to 1931. Hanson stated in an interview during his time as president that art belongs to liberal education and that the ideal toward which Grinnell College is bending its efforts is to foster in every student a creative spirit of beauty as a part of daily life. At the time of Hansons presidency, Grinnell had no formal fine arts building, but his dream was realized in 1961 with the construction of Grinnell Colleges first Fine Arts Center, the predecessor to our current fine arts building, the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts. The $1,400,000 Fine Arts Center was comprised of two buildings, the Arts Building and the Roberts Theater. Although a desire to bolster the presence of the arts on campus may have partially motivated the project, the September 1962 issue of Progressive Architecture reported that the construction of the Fine Arts Center, alongside Burling Library, was part of a development plan drawn by SOM to increase the enrollment capacity of the college to 1100. SOM is the abbreviation for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the Chicago-based architectural firm that designed the Fine Arts Center. During the excavation for the Fine Arts Center, a peat deposit was discovered below the sites grounds. Grinnells Biology Department was awarded a National Science Foundation Grant to excavate the deposit, which culminated in a paper entitled A Post-Kansan Peat at Grinnell, Iowa: A Preliminary Report. The paper reported that the peat was a remnant of glacial deposits, and expressed the intent of the Biology Department to analyze pollen samples found in the peat for the purpose of studying interglacial ecology. The Fine Arts Center was in use for 30 years, until Grinnell outgrew its facilities. The current [fine arts] faculty has been pushed beyond its limits. [The Fine Arts Center] does not serve the interests and the demands of the students today, said Liz Ballentine, then-chairman of the Board of Trustees, during the 1996 groundbreaking ceremony for what would soon become Bucksbaum. Then, in 1999, three years and $22 million later, the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts opened to the public. The new arts building was designed by Cesar Pelli, a world-renowned architect known for designing not only the World Financial Center in New York City, but also Kuala Lumpurs Petronas Twin Towers, which at the time were the tallest buildings in the world. Paul Nelson, Grinnells music technical assistant both today and at the time of the construction, speculated that Pelli may only have agreed to do such a small project because he hadnt done anything like this before so he was breaking ground. Nelson represented the colleges music department during the buildings design process. He noted that none of the architects working on Pellis team had any significant experience in the arts, which really came back to bite us, in his opinion. He further speculated that function may not have been the highest consideration in choosing an architect for the building, and that the trustees wanted to get a big-name building, so they went with Pelli. Bucksbuam was designed to follow the curve of Sixth Avenue and, to do so, the architects chose to arrange the music wing as a series of pie-shaped rooms. Weve had a lot of problems here with this room, room 103, Nelson said. Acoustically, weve had problems with it because of this pie-shaped concept. He further conveyed that this flaw perhaps reflected the architects lack of knowledge of the arts. Did we get our bang for the buck? Nelson pondered. Im not sure we did. On the other hand, Grinnells then-president Russel Osgood praised the buildings design. As printed in the Des Moines Registers September 21, 1999 issue, Osgood stated, He [Pelli] was trying not to overwhelm the campus with a huge building. It looks like a cluster of small buildings instead of one large building. Its brilliant. Although Bucksbaums construction in the 90s greatly expanded Grinnells art facilities, Nelson reported that today we are out of room and added that the music department has an annex across the street now. Its tight, Nelson said. Some of it was the school saving money. Today, it seems that the Grinnell student bodys enthusiasm for the arts may be stretching the confines of the colleges art facilities once again. Gettysburg, PA, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new report from OPEN MINDS found that there are now 20 social impact bonds in progress in ten states. Total investment so far is $166 million and the maximum amount of payment that participants can earn is $238.6 million. These findings were released by OPEN MINDS in their recent market intelligence report, Social Impact Bonds: Over $166 Million In Funding & 20 Programs. Social impact bonds (also known as pay-for-success, or social improvement bonds) are a relatively new way of financing social services that focuses on payment for outcomes, rather than the volume of services delivered. Under the social impact bond model, private investors put up funding for a social services program, which the government pays back only if the agreed upon performance measures are met. While the pay-for-success model can be applied to many different health care and social service programs, OPEN MINDS has found that of the 20 existing social impact bonds, eight are for juvenile justice and criminal justice, five are for children and families, and four are for housing. Additionally, Santa Clara County has a pilot for high-utilizers of mental health services, and Massachusetts has a workforce program for immigrants. While the evaluation of social impact bonds is still in progress, I expect we will see more of these types of projects in the future. There continues to be less dollars available for social services even as the population needing these services continues to rise. Payers and stakeholders want to know that quality care is being provided and that dollars are being put to the best use, said OPEN MINDS Market Intelligence Director, Athena Mandros. Additionally, the social determinants of health are becoming a more prominent issue and how to blend funding for these services is still being determined; social impact bonds may be one creative way for health plans and other payers to finance these services. A free summary (registration required) of the report can be found at: Social Impact Bonds$100 Million More Available. The report, Social Impact Bonds: Over $166 Million In Funding & 20 Programs, is available at no charge to Premium and Elite members of The OPEN MINDS Circle and can be purchased in the OPEN MINDS shop for $495. The market intelligence report includes a state-by-state listing of social impact bonds, their initial investment, maximum payout, measures of success, and funding terms. Learn more about becoming an OPEN MINDS Circle member online at www.openminds.com/membership. For additional questions and inquiries, please contact Sarah C. Threnhauser, Executive Vice President, OPEN MINDS at 717-334-1329 or sthrenhauser@openminds.com. ABOUT OPEN MINDS OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence and strategic advisory firm focused on the sectors of the health and human service field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs. Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 175+ associates provide market insights and innovative management solutions designed to improve operational and strategic performance. Learn more at www.openminds.com. English French Regulated information Information on the total number of voting rights and shares Gosselies, Belgium, 4 May 2018, 7am CET - BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces an increase in the total number of voting rights and shares as a result of the issuance of new shares on 11 April 2018 following the conversion of convertible bonds issued on the private placement on 7 March 2017. The following information is published in accordance with Article 15 of the Belgian Law of 2 May 2007 on the publication of major shareholdings in issuers whose shares are admitted to trading on regulated market. Total amount of share capital on 7 March 2018 EUR 15,873,555 Total number of shares with voting rights on 7 March 2018 7,415,427 Total number of new shares issued on 11 April 2018 44,333 Total amount of share capital on 11 April 2018 EUR 15,968,428 Total number of shares with voting rights on 11 April 2018 (a) 7,459,760 Total number of voting rights (denominator) on 11 April 2018 7,459,760 Total number of attributed warrants (2) 167,300 Total number of convertible bonds outstanding 335 Total number of bond warrants outstanding 4,887 Total number of shares with voting rights that could be created following the exercise of the bond warrants, the conversion of the convertible bonds and the attributed warrants (1) (b) 1,632,080 Total number of diluted shares with voting rights (= (a) + (b)) 9,091,840 (1) Based on the conversion price of EUR 8.9126 (92% of the Volume-Weighted-Averaged-Price of Bone Therapeutics on 11 April 2018) (2) A net decrease of 16,500 attributed warrants as 32,500 warrants became void and 16,000 warrants were granted under the existing warrant plans. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading cell therapy company addressing high unmet needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases. Based in Gosselies, Belgium, the Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapy products in clinical development across a number of disease areas targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation. Bone Therapeutics' technology is based on a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells into "osteoblastic", or bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery. The Company's primary clinical focus is ALLOB, an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" cell therapy product derived from stem cells of healthy donors, which is in Phase II studies for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and spinal fusion. The Company also has an autologous bone cell therapy product, PREOB, obtained from patient's own bone marrow and currently in Phase III development for osteonecrosis of the hip. Bone Therapeutics' cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering nine patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com. Contacts Bone Therapeutics SA Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00 investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com For Belgium and International Media Enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Jessica Hodgson, Hendrik Thys and Lindsey Neville Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701 bonetherapeutics@consilium-comms.com For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Nicolas Merigeau Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 bone@newcap.eu For US Media and Investor Enquiries Westwicke Partners John Woolford Tel: + 1 443 213 0506 john.woolford@westwicke.com Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Head to the beach, and enjoy amazing views from both inside and out! This one bedroom, one bath 3rd floor corner unit condo has been completely renovated throughout! Enjoy sipping your favorite cocktail as you relax to the sound of the waves. Theres plenty of room to lounge on the expansive 48-foot deck with endless views of the Gulf of Mexico. Take a dip in the heated pool, overlooking the beach. Plenty of sun loungers for a nap, too. Feel free to cook (or not!) in the fully stocked, updated kitchen Located in sunny Indian Shores, Florida, on the gulf side halfway between famous St. Pete Beach and Clearwater. A quick 30 minute drive from Tampa International Airport. Amenities Include: Fully stocked kitchen (refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, tea kettle, pots, pans, dishes, glasses, etc.) Reserved parking spot right off the elevator Air conditioning King bed in bedroom, plus air mattress with additional bedding Shower with handrail Two TVs (Living room and bedroom), both with cable Free WIFI Free US phone calls Heated pool Washing machine and dryer on property 48 foot deck off living room Separate deck off bedroom Resource book filled with local information excellent restaurants, mini golf, and shopping nearby; Disney World 2 hours away (suitable for a day trip) Lots of extrasbeach chairs, beach towels, cooler, floats, and extensive kitchen supplies Sleeps 3 Call 1-800-487-8953 or CLICK HERE to book today! English French Regulated information / Press release Bone Therapeutics Business Update for First Quarter 2018 Patient recruitment completed for the Phase IIA lumbar spinal fusion study with ALLOB Board strengthened with appointments of Jean Stephenne as Chairman and Claudia D'Augusta as Non-Executive Director (post period) 19.45 million of committed capital raised via private placement of convertible bonds Gosselies, Belgium, 4 May 2018, 7am CEST - BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today provides a business update for the first quarter ended 31 March 2018. Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics, commented: "During the first quarter, we have seen continued progress of our ALLOB programme with the completion of recruitment into our Phase IIA lumbar spine fusion study. With the appointment of Jean Stephenne as new Chairman and Claudia D'Augusta as senior Non-Executive Director, we have also significantly expanded the expertise in cell therapy, capital markets and corporate development in our leadership team. Supported by a successful convertible bond placement, we are excited to be advancing our products through the clinic closer to patients while preparing our products for commercial use and look forward to further value catalysts as we move through the year." Business highlights In February 2018, the Company announced the completion of patient recruitment into the Phase IIA lumbar spinal fusion study. This twelve-month, open-label clinical study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the addition of ALLOB to the standard of care procedure, in which an interbody cage with bioceramic granules is implanted to promote fusion of the lumbar vertebrae. Promising interim results for the first 15 patients, reported in September 2017, showed radiological evidence of successful fusion in addition to substantial clinical improvement in function and a strong reduction in back and leg pain. Efficacy and safety data for the full set of 32 patients are expected in mid-2019, following a follow-up period of 12 months. Corporate highlights In February 2018, Jean Stephenne was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. Jean Stephenne, a highly-experienced life sciences executive, has served in senior leadership roles at numerous biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including as Chairman of TiGenix and Chief Executive of GSK Biologicals (now GSK Vaccines). Post period, Claudia D'Augusta, Chief Financial Officer of TiGenix, joined the board as a Non-Executive Director, adding more than 20 years' experience in corporate finance, capital markets and M&A in the biotechnology space. Financial highlights In March, Bone Therapeutics secured a total amount of 19.45 million in committed capital via a private placement of convertible bonds. Some of the investors decided to immediately exercise warrants resulting in immediate gross proceeds of 6.58 million with 565,773 new shares to be created, increasing the total outstanding shares from 6,849,654 to 7,415,427 ordinary shares. As a result, the Company ended the first quarter of 2018 with a cash balance of 10.42 million. The remaining warrants will be exercised over a maximum period of 19 months ending in October 2019, providing an additional proceed of 12.87 million. Outlook Bone Therapeutics plans to report final results from the ALLOB Phase I/IIA delayed-union study in mid-2018. A value inflection point is anticipated in the second half of 2018, as the Company expects to present the conclusions of the interim analysis after a one-year follow-up period of the first 44 patients in the Phase III study of PREOB in osteonecrosis of the hip. Additionally, the Company has started preparing for a multicentre, controlled Phase IIB study in delayed-union fractures with ALLOB . Cash burn for the full year of 2018 is expected to be in the range of 15-16 million. Based on its current priorities, the Company expects to have sufficient cash to carry out its objectives until end Q3 2019. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading cell therapy company addressing high unmet needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases. Based in Gosselies, Belgium, the Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapy products in clinical development across a number of disease areas targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation. Bone Therapeutics' technology is based on a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells into "osteoblastic", or bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery. The Company's primary clinical focus is ALLOB, an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" cell therapy product derived from stem cells of healthy donors, which is in Phase II studies for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and spinal fusion. The Company also has an autologous bone cell therapy product, PREOB, obtained from patient's own bone marrow and currently in Phase III development for osteonecrosis of the hip. Bone Therapeutics' cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering nine patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com. Contacts Bone Therapeutics SA Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00 investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com For Belgium and International Media Enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Jessica Hodgson, Hendrik Thys and Lindsey Neville Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701 bonetherapeutics@consilium-comms.com For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Nicolas Merigeau Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 bone@newcap.eu For US Media and Investor Enquiries Westwicke Partners John Woolford Tel: + 1 443 213 0506 john.woolford@westwicke.com Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Scotlands 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-Megrahis 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. (AP) President Donald Trump said Friday that the time and place have been set for his landmark meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un but kept the world guessing for now about the when and where. Trump also said that withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea was not on the table as he looks to get Kim to give up his nukes at what will be the first summit of between a U.S. and a North Korean leader. The New York Times reported that Trump has asked the Pentagon to prepare plans for scaling back the U.S. military presence in the allied Asian nation. Some 28,500 U.S. forces are based there, a military presence that has been preserved since the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty. North Korea has long sought the removal of those troops as one of its condition for denuclearization. It remains unclear if Kim has relaxed that demand as he turns to diplomacy with adversaries after a year of escalating tensions. Trump suggested Monday that he was looking for his historic meeting with the North Korean dictator to be held at the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. Thats where Kim met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in last Friday a summit that has paved the way for the U.S. presidents planned face-to-face with Kim. Trump also said then that the Southeast Asian city state of Singapore was also in the running to play host. We now have a date and we have a location. Well be announcing it soon, Trump told reporters Friday from the White House South Lawn before departing for Dallas. Hes previously said the summit was planned for May or early June. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence postponed a planned trip to Brazil at the end of May to free up resources for the summit. Trump on Friday also heavily hinted that the release of three Americans by North Korea was in the offing, but again was sparing on the details. Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages, and I think youre going to see very good things. As I said yesterday, stay tuned, Trump said, referring to an earlier tweet on the issue that has also weighed on U.S.-North Korean ties. Although Trump has placed considerable faith in South Korean leader Moons efforts to patch up relations with North Korea, the U.S. president has long complained that South Korea does not do enough to financially support the American military commitment. Still, it would be a quixotic move as he enters into negotiations with Kim. National security adviser John Bolton, who was due to meet his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong in Washington on Friday, called the Times report utter nonsense. The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea, Bolton said in a statement. (AP) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has hit a bit of a snag with the Bayit Hayehudi Party in his coalition. On Thursday he asked Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to postpone the committee discussion on the proposed override bill that would see the curbing of the power that the Supreme Court and the High Court of Justice hold that allows them to strike down laws voted on by the Knesset. Education Minister Naftali Bennett and leader of the Bayit Hayehudi later came out and said that the discussion will take place as scheduled on Sunday. Netanyahu asked for a week extension claiming that he wants to reach a compromise with Chief Justice Esther Hayut. Bennett refused, however, claiming that the bill is an essential piece required for proper governing. Bennett said: The paragraph of overcoming is required to govern the government and to maintain trust in the court. It is also an essential means of fighting terrorism and removing illegal infiltrators from Israel. Its time to decide. He continued: Therefore, on Sunday, we will bring up the Override Clause, and we expect the Prime Ministers support, as promised by his signature and as promised to the Israeli public. The proposal would add a clause to the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, that would explicitly empower the Knesset to overrule the Supreme Court allowing them to reenact laws that either the High Court of Justice or the Supreme Court struck down, thus shifting the balance in power back to the legislative branch. The bill would allow the Knesset to override the Supreme Court with a simple majority of 61 MKs. In order to enact laws only a majority of MKs in the Knesset at any given time is required. The Override Clause would require a majority of the full 120-member Knesset. Our demand to enact the clause with a majority of 61 Knesset members is no surprise. The Likud signed an explicit coalition agreement with us. Agreements must be fulfilled. I expect the full support of the Likud next Sunday. We will return the proper balance of powers to the branches [of government] said Bennett last week. We want the Supreme Court to be able to nullify laws only in extraordinary circumstances. The Knesset will be able to pass laws a second time [after their nullification by the court] in a protected manner, with a special majority of 61 Knesset members. Only this way can we remove the infiltrators from Israel, Bennett concluded. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Advertisement Classic Minis are hugely collectible - and this might be one of the least-used examples you'll ever be able to track down. It's a 1967 Mini 850 Deluxe that has had just a single owner on the logbook for the last 51 years, covered fewer than 705 miles a year on average, and barely turned a wheel for the best part of four decades. It will be sold at the H&H Classics Buxton sale, in Derbyshire, on 18 July, but experts reckon it could go for an absolute steal with modest estimates of 6,000 to 10,000 for the sales fee. While it could sell for much more than that, if it goes for those estimates this could end up being one of the bargain classic cars of the year. One owner in 51 years: This Mini was uncovered in storage having been kept in a Lancashire garage for 34 years without turning a wheel. It's hardly been driven since 1981 and has just one owner on the logbook The completely original Mini has covered just 36,000 miles in half a century, having barely been used for the last 36 years and then been carefully stored since 1983. For a vehicle of this era to have remained unmolested and not restored for so long is a rarity - and makes it incredibly collectible. The sale description says it has never undergone any welding repairs and the interior is like new. As the pictures show it's not in showroom condition anymore, but having been under cover in a garage in Lancashire since the mid '80s it's not surprising. Absolutely everything about the car is original - from the carpets to the door handles. It's even sold with the genuine receipt from 1967, a spare set of keys and the owner's handbook intact. Speaking to H&H Classic's car hunters who tracked the vehicle to the dusty unit it was kept in, the vendor's son explained why the car has been retained in this incredible time-warp condition. During the extended period of storage it was sheeted and raised off the floor and supported with wooden blocks under the sub frame to keep weight off the suspension and wheels It has done an average of just over 700 miles each year since it was first purchased and has just 36,000 miles on the clock The estimated selling fee is between 6,000 and 10,000, which seems very modest for a Mini as original and unused as this The car is sold with the original receipt, both sets of keys and the owner's manual intact. All the chassis and engine numbers match-up too 'My father purchased GBV121E brand new in 1967 for his early retirement,' he explained. 'The car was used mainly for holidays; my parents loved touring the Highlands of Scotland as well as North Yorkshire. 'My father was diagnosed with ME [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis] in the early 80s. The Mini was very little used and in 1983 it was taken off the road. 'When my father was told he would never drive again he gave the car to me. It was sheeted and raised off the floor supported with wooden blocks under the sub frame to keep the weight off the suspension and wheels and never moved again until this year. So the car only ever had one driver.' The vendor's son said the car was passed down to him when his father became ill and he chose not to drive it Inside, the car is almost like new with red leather chairs, door panels and dashboard Everything in the car is original, including the sliding windows, seatbelts in the front and floor carpets There's a spare in the boot as well as the jack. Collectors will struggle to find another Mini of this age in such an untouched condition Roger Nowell of the H&H Classics sales team said the car was an 'iconic symbol' of the nation's motoring past. 'The joy of this job is that now and then you stumble across a car that you just know is going to excite other car lovers as much as it excites you,' he said. 'This little car is such an iconic symbol of its time of Britain and our motoring history. 'It was utterly revolutionary in its day and had a massive influence on the automotive industry.' Even the higher estimate of 10,000 for the low-mileage Mini appears to be somewhat unambitious. Examples of a similar age in very good condition command fees of around 13,000 to 15,000, but few have covered such little mileage and been driven by just a single person. It's also just 9 per cent of the estimated sales figure for a similarly aged 1960s Citroen 2CV that's also available in the next few weeks... The 110,000 Citroen 2CV This is just one of around 30 Citroen 2CV Saharas believed to still be in running order to date - hence the staggering estimate The twin-engine 4x4 produced 24bhp and was designed to be used by the French colonies in Northern Africa While Britons had the Mini, the French had the 2CV - the car that brought affordable motoring to the masses on the other side of the Channel post war. Affordable this one isn't. In fact, the rare Sahara model is expected to sell for a six figure sum. It's one of just694 4x4 models made and among a handful of those still in survival, according to the Bonham's sales description ahead of the Monaco Auction on 11 May - and for that reason alone it is demanding a huge sum. Bonhams thinks it might sell for three figures when it goes under the hammer later this month. One sold last year for 68,000 The estimate range sits between 70,000 and 100,000 - a phenomenal figure in contrast to the small fee needed to buy one more than 50 years ago. The twin-engined Citroen (each one producing just 12bhp) was originally created for use by the French colonies in Northern Africa, and not many would have survived the extreme temperatures and road - and off-road - conditions. A similar example that has been restored and was in arguably better condition - having been driven from the UK to Africa and back again via the Sahara desert in the 1960s - sold for 68,000 just over a year ago. Will it reach the incredible estimate? We'll find out in a fortnight. The Government has pushed for Britain to become a big player in car manufacturing and to take a lead on the development of autonomous and future vehicles - but meanwhile it seems it has let our roads fall into a sorry state. According to a new study, the vast majority of motorists think our tarmac is in a worse condition now than it was in 2008. The AA's poll of 17,500 drivers found that 88 per cent believed are in a sorrier order than they were a decade ago, which will come as no surprise to those who regularly have to dodge the growing number of potholes on British roads. Road to ruin: A survey of 17,500 UK drivers found that 88% think roads are in a worse state now than they were a decade ago The motoring group's survey also found that two-thirds (67 per cent) of drivers say roads have 'considerably deteriorated' in the last 10 years. And it appears to be a problem that's growing increasingly worse by the day. Some 42 per cent of drivers rated residential streets as 'poor' last month, compared with 34 per cent when the AA asked the panel to rate roads in March 2017. This latest survey again highlights the appalling conditions motorists have to face day in day out, not to mention the headache of punctures, suspension and other vehicle damage that has to be paid for. While motorists who do suffer car issues caused by potholes can seek compensation from the council responsible for the road - or Highways England if it's a major route or motorway - the process can be time consuming. How to make a successful claim for car damage caused by potholes Who do I raise my complaint with? If your car is damaged by a pothole you should complain to the local authority responsible for the road with the pothole or the Highways Agency if the incident occurred on a motorway or A road. What evidence do I need to collect? Make a note of where and when the incident took place. You can also return to the scene and measure the depth and diameter of the crater. Potholes of at least 40mm deep are generally considered to pose a danger to vehicles. If possible, take photos of the pothole and its surroundings to support your written complaint and get your mechanic to provide a comment about the damage to your vehicle and an itemised bill for their work if they have made a repair. Do I need to report the pothole? Irrespective of your claim, notify the relevant authority about the pothole so that it goes onto their register. What are my rights? Follow the relevant authority's instructions to make your claim. They will either reject it or pay out. Your right to claim is covered by the Highways Act 1980: section 41 of the act requires authorities to maintain roads and allows damages to be paid if they fail to do so. However, Section 58 of the act gives them a some loopholes. This says that you should be entitled to recompense if the council was aware of the pothole that caused damage to your vehicle or, crucially, if it is reasonable to expect the council to have been aware of the hole. In short, if the authority can prove it had taken reasonable steps to maintain the stretch of road in question, following national guidelines they might nit have to pay out. The local authority won't pay out. What else can I do? Dealing with highway or local authorities can sometimes be frustrating, and there is a chance that authorities will try to deny your claim - less than a quarter of claims are successful, but that doesn't mean you should give up. The Section 58 defence (detailed above) is the most commonly used by council to reject claims. If that's the reason behind the refusal to compensate there are still some avenues you can take. One is to send a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request asking for evidence that the authority has taken the necessary steps to attempt to repair the pothole that caused the damage. They have to respond to your FOI within 20 working days. If they do provide evidence, compare it to the guidelines set out for councils by the UK Roads Liaison Group. If you think the authority has failed to follow these guidance then you may want to consider taking your claim further. But if they've followed it to the letter you may struggle to get any further. If you still think your case is strong, you can present your evidence to a small claims court. Can I claim on my motor insurance policy? If the authority refuses to compensate, you may be able to turn to your insurer, providing you have comprehensive cover. Insurance claims are an option, but you should take time to consider the ramifications of pursuing a claim, if the repair costs are especially high (for suspension damage, for instance). A recent survey by the Asphalt Industry Alliance found that local authorities in England and Wales needed 9.3 billion to bring our roads up to scratch. And the AA recently claimed that the harsh winter had led to a spike in pothole-related breakdowns, such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels. AA president Edmund King said: 'It is clear that despite all the talk from central and local government, not enough is being done to fix our increasingly dangerous streets. 'Our potholed roads are in a perilous state. 'AA breakdown operations are rescuing record numbers of drivers whose tyres or wheels are damaged by potholes. 'The current lack of proper investment on local roads means highway authorities are doing little more than papering over the cracks.' AA president Edmund King said central and local government are not doing enough to 'fix our increasingly dangerous streets' Where in the UK has the deepest pothole problem? 1. Scotland - 154,310 potholes measuring in at 6,364m (4.0 miles) 2. South West England - 138,672 potholes measuring in at 5,495m (3.4 miles) 3. South East England - 125,797 potholes measuring in at 5,199m (3.2 miles) 4. North West England - 120,748 potholes measuring in at 4,842m (3.0 miles) 5. Yorkshire & Humber - 92,894 potholes measuring in at 3,901m (2.4 miles) 6. North East England - 77,960 potholes measuring in at 3,118m (1.9 miles) 7. East of England - 62,027 potholes measuring in at 2,957m (1.8 miles) 8. West Midlands - 72,462 potholes measuring in at 2,806m (1.7 miles) 9. East Midlands - 42,549 potholes measuring in at 1,762m (1.1 miles) 10. Northern Ireland - 78,147 potholes measuring in at 1,563m (1.0 miles) 11. London - 42,738 potholes measuring in at 1,522m (0.9 miles) 12. Wales - 18,679 potholes measuring in at 733m (0.5 miles) Source: Confused.com October 2017 Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced in March that councils would be given a further 100 million to tackle potholes and repair storm damage in England. How average road maintenance budgets in the UK have shrunk Average road maintenance budgets for authorities in England (excluding London) 2014/15: 23.4 million 2016/17: 21.8 million Average road maintenance budgets for authorities in London 2014/15: 7.5 million 2016/17: 7.5 million Average road maintenance budgets for authorities in Wales 2014/15: 7 million 2016/17: 6.9 million Source: AA Tyres However, this is just a fraction of the government funding provided for motorway maintenance and a long way short of what the AIA says is required to bring roads back up to scratch. Martin Tett, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: 'It is wrong that funding for local roads is miles behind that of the strategic road network. 'Very few journeys begin and end on a motorway or trunk road yet government funding on the strategic road network is 52 times higher than for local roads.' A Department for Transport spokeswoman said the Government is investing 23 billion on roads. She said: 'We have listened to the concerns of road users and are already providing councils in England with over 6 billion to help improve the condition of our local highways. 'This funding includes a record 296 million through the Pothole Action Fund - enough to fix around six million potholes. 'While it is for councils to identify where repairs should be undertaken, we are also looking at how innovative technology can help them keep their roads in the best condition and save money.' A recent survey by the Asphalt Industry Alliance found that local authorities in England and Wales needed 9.3 billion to bring our roads up to scratch Norwegian English The Annual general meeting of shareholders was held on May 3, 2018 at the company's premises at Snaryveien 36, Fornebu, at 16.00 AM. All proposed resolutions on the agenda were approved, cf. the notice sent March 12, 2018. The minutes from the Annual General Meeting are attached. BP boss Bob Dudley is a man who bears all the scars of the ruthless oil business Oil, so the cliche goes, is the earths lifeblood. It is what powers our vehicles, lubricates our machines and helps drive a nations economy. Our hopeless addiction to the stuff means it has been responsible for more international fisticuffs than any other industry since time began. The excrement of the devil, was how Opec founder Juan Pablo Perez Alfonzos described it, and he wasnt wrong. This murkiest of businesses is not for the faint heart. Practitioners must do battle with, among others, ruthless speculators and tinpot regimes, all the while deflecting the constant brickbats of the shouty environmental lobby. And BPs Bob Dudley, 62, is a man who bears all the scars. His appointment as boss of BP in 2010 came amid the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest oil spill in history. As thousands of gallons of black ooze pumped into the Gulf of Mexico, the company share price plummeted almost as quickly as its reputation. Thanks to his predecessor Tony Haywards handling of events, the saga had already turned the British giant into the most hated organisation on the planet barring Al-Qaeda. But Dudley didnt dither. He plugged the well, ate humblest of pies up on Capitol Hill and despite 47billion in fines and compensation somehow kept BP bouyant. All during a period of record-low oil prices. If that wasnt tough enough, it was claimed this week that Dudley was once poisoned by Vladimir Putins goons during a particularly hairy period in Russia working for TNK-BP, a joint venture BP entered into with the Russian government. Like I said, this guy carries the wounds of battle. Not that youd necessarily know it to look at him. Modest and personable, he has none of the bluster of oil men like Exxons Rex Tillerson nor the haughty airs and graces of another predecessor at BP, Lord Browne. Born on a naval base in New York where his father was a US Navy physicist, Dudley was raised down on the Bayou after Dad took a job at the University of Mississippi. Long summers were spent swimming and fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, developing an affinity with the area which helped win, if not hearts, then at least a few minds, during the spill. Keen to see the world, he enrolled at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis until a series of shoulder operations forced him to leave. Crisis management: Dudley's appointment as boss of BP in 2010 came amid the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest oil spill in history The energy industry seemed the next best way to travel, so he undertook in a chemical engineering course in Chicago before joining mid-west oil giant Amoco. His talent didnt go unnoticed. When BP snapped Amoco up in 1998, Browne was handed a list of its most talented executives. Dudleys name was at the top. He moved to London to became one of Brownes assistants dubbed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles because, like the cartoon characters, they appeared on the scene whenever needed. In 2003 he was dispatched to oversee BPs operations in Russia. Hed enjoyed working for Amoco in 1994 during Boris Yeltsins privatisaion giveaways. Wife Mary, who he met at college and with whom he has two grown up sons, had become involved in charities helping disabled children while in Russia. But this stint for BP was far less pleasant. Within five years the TNK-BP arrangement had soured, and Dudley was convinced the Russians were bugging his office. After sustained harassment, he departed in haste in 2008 when his visa wasnt renewed. Dudley remained loyal to BP after Hayward took over from Browne. Three years later when the Deepwater blow-out struck, he was informed he would be Haywards replacement. His annual pay has become a bone of contention in recent years. His 14million award in 2015 triggered a shareholder revolt. This year it stands at 9.5million. A fortune, yes. But after BPs tumultuous decade, most rival executives still wouldnt trade places with him. Not for all the oil in the desert. WHAT IS IT? Strix is the worlds leading manufacturer of kettle safety controls. These controls shut the kettle off once the water has boiled, the water level is too low or when the kettle is lifted from its base. The company also has a line of water filtration products, called Aqua Optima, as well as a Turbo Toaster that toasts bread in under 60 seconds. The Isle of Man-based firm, which employs more than 800 staff, claims to have a 38 per cent share of the globalkettle control market and has sold more than 2bn units. WHATS THE LATEST? The business reported a 2.9 pert cent increase in revenue to 91.3million last year, while pre-tax profit grew a healthy 5.6 per cent to 28.3million. In March, the AIM-listed company signed a deal to stock five of its water filtration products in 1,000 Boots stores across the UK and Ireland. WHO BACKS IT? Neil Woodford, one of Britains best-known fund managers, is the firms largest shareholder, owning more than 9 per cent of its shares. Other big names include Schroder, Old Mutual Global Investors and Blackrock. WHY SHOULD YOU INVEST? Russ Mould, of broker AJ Bell, said: It has steady operating margins, good free cash flow and the float last year paid down a lot of its debt. We are not talking about a massive growth stock but it is a decent income play. Basically, it is a solid business based on intellectual property, in a regulated market that has lots of demand. ....AND WHY YOU SHOULDNT As with any smaller company, there are risks involved. You wont get the depth of reporting that you would with a large, FTSE 100-listed company. And the share prices of smaller companies tend to be more erratic. WHAT IS IT? Strix is the world's leading manufacturer of kettle safety controls. These controls shut the kettle off once the water has boiled, the water level is too low or when the kettle is lifted from its base. The company also has a line of water filtration products, called Aqua Optima, as well as a Turbo Toaster that toasts bread in under 60 seconds. The Isle of Man-based firm, which employs more than 800 staff, claims to have a 38pc share of the global kettle control market and has sold more than 2bn units. WHAT'S THE LATEST? The business reported a 2.9pc increase in revenue to 91.3m last year, while pre-tax profit grew a healthy 5.6pc to 28.3m. In March, the AIM-listed company signed a deal to stock five of its water filtration products in 1,000 Boots stores across the UK and Ireland. WHO BACKS IT? Neil Woodford, one of Britain's best-known fund managers, is the firm's largest shareholder, owning more than 9pc of its shares. Other big names include Schroder, Old Mutual Global Investors and Blackrock. WHY SHOULD YOU INVEST? Russ Mould, of broker AJ Bell, said: 'It has steady operating margins, good free cash flow and the float last year paid down a lot of its debt. We are not talking about a massive growth stock but it is a decent income play. Basically, it is a solid business based on intellectual property, in a regulated market that has lots of demand.' ...AND WHY YOU SHOULDN'T As with any smaller company, there are risks involved. You won't get the depth of reporting that you would with a large, FTSE 100-listed company. And the share prices of smaller companies tend to be more erratic. Ethiopia reforming itself, unfazed by H. Res. 128 Advertisements The US Congress had last March passed a resolution called ``House Resolution 128``, (boasted of kind of human rights-centered resolution) against Ethiopia. It autocratically calls for the respect of human rights and inclusive governance, among others. The Resolution was approved despite intense pushback led by one Senator Jim Inhofe a stalwart ally of Ethiopia, to persuade Congress to reject the resolution. Many unheeding congressmen and women took turns to give brief comments about the importance of the resolution with each commenting on the political crisis that has blighted Ethiopia. Others, oblivious of their brazen interference in the internal affair of the country, also allegedly pointed to the cost incurred in terms of human lives and loss of properties (they baselessly accuse the government for its `` highhandedness`` and merely referred `` an ever-shrinking democratic space``. In a wanton violation of the sovereignty of Ethiopia and orchestration that played Jekyll and Hyde H. Res. 128`` was forged to help recognize Ethiopias efforts to promote regional peace and security, and its partnership with the U.S. to combat terrorism, promote economic growth, and address health challenges. Unabashedly, the `` Resolution calls on the Government of Ethiopia to lift the state of emergency, end the use of excessive force, release wrongfully imprisoned protesters, and improve transparency``, while at the same time urging protesters and opposition groups to use peaceful discussion and avoid incitement; gross denial of the glaring fact that the state of emergency did not protect the country from clear and present danger that might have perished more innocent lives and devastate incalculable amount of property. Forgetful of Ethiopias partnership with US and its commitment to fight terrorism, at least, it also called on the U.S. government to base its future partnership with Ethiopia on the governments demonstrated commitment to democracy, rule of law and human rights. It seems all hell broke loose with the approval of the Resolution and even though there is no sufficient evidence to pass this kind of non-binding law against Ethiopia. It urged the U.S. State Department, in coordination with the Department of the Treasury, to apply appropriate sanctions on foreign persons or entities responsible for `` extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against any nationals in Ethiopia as provided for in the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Birds of a feather flock together. The New York-based organization Human Rights Watch had welcomed the approval of H. Res. 128 stating that the non-binding resolution, combined with recent statements from the U.S. Embassy in Addis, sends strong signal to Ethiopias new Prime Minister that the U.S. expects significant reforms ahead; unwilling to notice that reform is internal and Ethiopia is resolutely working to apply deep reforms along with the appointment and reshuffle of new cabinets. Despite the evil actors who succeeded to help pass the law, some U.S. lawmakers like Oklahoma Senator, Republican James Inhofe had expressed objection regarding the timing of the vote given that Ethiopia has just inaugurated a new Prime Minister who has made a commitment to the public to implement democratic reforms. In this regard, Inhofe had briefed the congress that Dr. Abiy Ahmed was sworn in as Ethiopias new prime minister on a mandate to improve the afore-mentioned issues and time should be given to scrutinize and take further measures. The Resolution is objectionable on the ground that the Congress should have given Prime Minister Abiy the opportunity to prove himself as a national leader before making him and Ethiopia suffer the full weight of the United States House of Representatives tossed against them; a heavy-handed, strongly-worded Resolution condemning Ethiopian; now Dr. Abiy is sworn in and striving full-fledged and the Resolution may severely curtail his ability to enact needed reforms. Advertisement Many suspect that the Resolution 128 was passed in large part because of the heinous effort of anti-Ethiopian individuals who want to curb the political and socio-economic progress of Ethiopia, tarnish the good image of the country and strain Ethio-American relations. These hell bent Faustian groups and anti-Ethiopian sects worked like hell to help pass the vote and damage the development of Ethiopia; the hell bent group co-sponsored this Resolution to the disadvantage of Ethiopian people and retardation of democracy and development. Following the news of the Resolution, many scholars and political scientists at home and abroad are expressing their concern that the Resolution is untimely and inappropriate. Seemingly, they are of the opinion that the Resolution is untimely because Ethiopia is for a while breezing with a new Prime Minister, who came to power just a month ago, following the resignation of his predecessor Hailemariam Dessalegn, opting for a solution for the protest and violence that plagued the country. Needless to say, this knee-jerk Resolution is counterproductive and is against the significant partnership between the U.S. and Ethiopia. Indeed, members of the Congress who co-sponsored the resolution had conspicuously failed to recognize the progressive reality on the ground. Unequivocally, these members of the House merely wanted to please their constituencies in the Ethiopian Diaspora and Europe, rather than aiming to build the friendly relation of Ethiopia and America on bed-rock foundation. Imposed reform cannot be successful on a country as sovereign and independent as Ethiopia. Currently, Ethiopia is on the cross roads. And at this historical juncture, when the government is working to implement bold reforms, the Resolution may serve the purpose of foiling the new political dynamism that calls for comprehensive political reforms; failed to recognize the far-reaching call being made by the new Prime Minister, at least. It should not be forgotten that Ethiopia is an important ally of the US government, while the US is also an important partner in Ethiopias development, health as well as economic sectors. But, the current imposition under the banner of enhancing democracy is unacceptable and illegal to Ethiopia that has lots of agenda to liberate its people from the merciless grip of poverty. So far, selfless Ethiopia has been working to advance the interest of regional partners and that of the United States including thoroughly contributions to the international peacekeeping, combating radical extremism and other forms of terrorism in east Africa, joining the UN and African Union operations. However, the Resolution has bulldozed all these noteworthy endeavors of Ethiopia to ensure international peace and security. But no matter how challenging, Ethiopia will continue its sedulous work to thrive democracy and human rights by its own effort. Undeniably, the current Resolution may impinge on some aspects of the country. Notwithstanding, Ethiopia will keep on its journey in Dunkirk spirit to turn out victorious and reform itself, unfazed by the Resolution. It believes the Resolution may remain fruitless so far as citizens are backing the effort of the country. Even though it is not binding law, the Resolution could not by any means be constructive as the two countries have enjoyed long-term and deep partnership. First and foremost, Ethiopia is striving to address human right related grievances and is exerting utmost effort to ensure human and democratic rights enshrined in the constitution (however, the Congress should have considered Ethiopias commitment to create better situations on the ground). Undeniably, Ethiopia has long engaged itself on promising ways to promote democratic values and greater inclusivity, without any nudge and enforcement from external forces. As a spring board, for example, workable objectives were reflected by the Prime Minister while making his acceptance speech. Advertisement Ethiopia believes democracy and human rights are tightly correlated. Interestingly, laws enshrined in the Constitution of Ethiopia and other subordinate laws have vested premium interest up on human rights and enrichment of democracy; directly referring to Article 1 of the UDHR, the Constitution states that individual human rights are respected fully and without any limitation what so ever. Similarly, Article 10 of the FDRE articulates Human rights and freedoms, emanating from the nature of mankind are inviolable and inalienable: Human and democratic rights of citizens shall be respected. Thus, one can readily observe that human and democratic rights are the main concerns of Ethiopia without any heavy-handed and high-handed intimidation from external forces. The principle of human rights is the bedrock and bulwark of the political, social, cultural, economic and environmental policy objectives of Ethiopia. Hence, unfazed by H. Res. 128, Ethiopia will resolutely continue enriching these assets in a tightly integrated manner. Ethiopia underscores the fact that democracy and human rights are interwoven to the level one becoming non-functional without the other. In the context of Ethiopia being the emerging power of east Africa, the issue of democracy and human rights is flourishing with time and it is solely an everlasting assignment of the country to be undertaken without any coercive Resolution from external forces. English Dutch Heijmans and housing association Woonbron have signed a purchase agreement for the development of new-build project Tromp Park. Heijmans will develop and construct 72 ground-floor single-family homes in Wielwijk, Dordrecht. The homes will not have connection to a gas supply. The contract is valued at approximately 20 million. This project fulfils the aim of the municipality of Dordrecht to contribute to the creation of a diverse housing supply in Wielwijk. The homes vary in architecture and will have an elevated position with the veranda or conservatory bordering on the planned Tromp Park. This strong connection with the park will encourage social interaction in the area. The new park will also form a green connection between the adjacent Wielwijk Park and the community centre. The homes will be connected to the district heating network and equipped with SlimWonen (Smart Living) home control system developed by Heijmans. The living spaces of the homes vary from 130 to 138 square metres. Woonbron has started dismantling the existing flats on the Maarten Harpertsz. Trompweg where the new homes will be constructed. Construction of the first phase of the project (32 homes) is expected to start mid-2019, with completion at the beginning of 2020. Construction of the second phase (40 homes) can then start in 2020. Heijmans is working on the project with architecture firm Wurck. About Heijmans Heijmans is a listed company that combines activities related to property development, residential building, non-residential building and infrastructure in the Living, Working and Connecting areas of endeavour. We create added value for our clients by focusing on quality improvement, innovation and an integrated approach. Heijmans realizes projects for home buyers, companies and government entities and, together with them, builds on the spatial contours of tomorrow. For more information, visit www.heijmans.nl. For additional information / not for publication: Press Mandy Snijders Communications +31 73 543 52 17 msnijders@heijmans.nl Analysts Guido Peters Investor Relations +31 73 543 52 17 gpeters@heijmans.nl You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code") 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Investec Wealth & Investment (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. N/A (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree James Halstead plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 3rd May 2018 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" No 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 5,057,127 2.43% (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 5,057,127 2.43% All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares Purchase Sale 5,120 5,120 386p 386p (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" N/A (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" N/A (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 4th May 2018 Contact name: Phil Beardwell Chartered FCSI Telephone number: 020 7597 1356 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. HOUSTON, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Buckeye Partners, L.P. (Buckeye) (NYSE:BPL) today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2018. Buckeye reported net income attributable to Buckeyes unitholders for the first quarter of 2018 of $112.4 million compared to net income attributable to Buckeyes unitholders for the first quarter of 2017 of $123.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) for the first quarter of 2018 was $261.7 million compared to $277.5 million for the first quarter of 2017. Net income attributable to Buckeyes unitholders was $0.74 per diluted unit for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $0.88 per diluted unit for the first quarter of 2017. The diluted weighted average number of units outstanding in the first quarter of 2018 was 149.5 million compared to 141.0 million in the first quarter of 2017. The increase in the weighted average number of units outstanding is attributable to the limited partner units (LP Units) and Class C Units issued to fund a portion of the buyout of the public unit holders of VTTI Energy Partners LP and growth capital expenditures, including pre-funding the equity portion of growth capital expenditures through 2019. Buckeyes diversified portfolio of global assets generated another quarter of stable financial results, despite challenging market conditions, said Clark C. Smith, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Our Domestic Pipelines & Terminals segment delivered improved results reflecting increased pipeline and terminal throughput volumes during the quarter, driven primarily by stronger demand in the markets served by our systems, as well as higher average pipeline tariffs. This segment also benefited from increases in petroleum product prices that drove higher settlement revenues, partially offset by the expiration of a crude-by-rail contract at our Chicago Complex. Our Global Marine Terminals segment benefited from increased contributions from our investment in VTTI and improved operating performance from our Buckeye Texas Partners joint venture, which was more than offset by the impact of lower capacity utilization and rates, driven by overall weaker storage market conditions. Our Buckeye Merchant Services business successfully drove utilization across our system, achieving a record quarterly contribution of revenues to our other segments, despite being impacted by weaker market conditions during the quarter. This quarter further demonstrates our commitment to capitalize on growth opportunities that enhance and strengthen our diversified portfolio of assets, continued Mr. Smith. We announced a joint venture project to further expand our U.S. Gulf Coast presence through the construction of a deep-water, open access marine terminal in Ingleside, Texas. The South Texas Gateway Terminal will offer 3.4 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity, positioning it to serve as a key outlet for crude oil and condensate volumes delivered into Corpus Christi from the Permian Basin. Buckeye will construct and operate the terminal and will own a 50% interest in the newly formed joint venture. We also launched a significant project to expand the Chicago Complex, our Midwestern hub, with additional storage, component blending, throughput capacity and service capabilities to support the growing needs of a key Midwestern refining customer. In addition, we successfully loaded the first shipment of crude oil by Suezmax tanker following the completion of modifications to our Buckeye Texas Hub, enhancing the facilitys premier marine terminalling capabilities. We believe that these strategic capital investment opportunities, along with our other smaller growth capital projects, will position Buckeye to deliver solid returns for our unitholders over time. Distributable cash flow (as defined below) for the first quarter of 2018 was $169.2 million compared to $190.7 million for the first quarter of 2017. Buckeye also reported distribution coverage of 0.91 times for the first quarter of 2018. Distribution. Buckeye also announced today that its general partner declared a cash distribution of $1.2625 per LP Unit for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. Buckeye has elected to issue additional Class C Units to its Class C Unitholders in lieu of a cash distribution. The distributions will be payable on May 21, 2018 to unitholders of record on May 14, 2018. Buckeye has paid distributions in each quarter since its formation in 1986. Conference Call. Buckeye will host a conference call with members of executive management today, May 4, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the live webcast of the call, go to https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/jqr36h5u ten minutes prior to its start. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 877-870-9226 and entering the conference ID 9272468. A replay will be archived and available at this link through June 3, 2018, and the replay also may be accessed by dialing 800-585-8367 and entering the conference ID 9272468. About Buckeye Partners, L.P. Buckeye Partners, L.P. (NYSE:BPL) is a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates, or owns a significant interest in, a diversified global network of integrated assets providing midstream logistic solutions, primarily consisting of the transportation, storage, processing and marketing of liquid petroleum products. Buckeye is one of the largest independent liquid petroleum products pipeline operators in the United States in terms of volumes delivered, with approximately 6,000 miles of pipeline. Buckeye also uses its service expertise to operate and/or maintain third-party pipelines and perform certain engineering and construction services for its customers. Buckeyes global terminal network, including through its interest in VTTI B.V. (VTTI), comprises more than 135 liquid petroleum products terminals with aggregate tank capacity of over 176 million barrels across our portfolio of pipelines, inland terminals and marine terminals located primarily in the East Coast, Midwest and Gulf Coast regions of the United States as well as in the Caribbean, Northwest Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Buckeyes global network of marine terminals enables it to facilitate global flows of crude oil and refined petroleum products, offering its customers connectivity between supply areas and market centers through some of the worlds most important bulk liquid storage and blending hubs. Buckeyes flagship marine terminal in The Bahamas, Buckeye Bahamas Hub, is one of the largest marine crude oil and refined petroleum products storage facilities in the world and provides an array of logistics and blending services for the global flow of petroleum products. Buckeyes Gulf Coast regional hub, Buckeye Texas Partners, offers world-class marine terminalling, storage and processing capabilities. Through its 50% equity interest in VTTI, Buckeyes global terminal network offers premier storage and marine terminalling services for petroleum product logistics in key international energy hubs. Buckeye is also a wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products in certain areas served by its pipelines and terminals. More information concerning Buckeye can be found at www.buckeye.com . Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are not measures defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude certain non-cash items, such as non-cash compensation expense; transaction, transition, and integration costs associated with acquisitions; certain unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions and foreign currency derivative financial instruments, as applicable; and certain other operating expense or income items, reflected in net income, that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance results and business outlook, such as hurricane-related costs, gains and losses on property damage recoveries, and gains and losses on asset sales. We define distributable cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA less cash interest expense, cash income tax expense, and maintenance capital expenditures incurred to maintain the operating, safety, and/or earnings capacity of our existing assets, plus or minus realized gains or losses on certain foreign currency derivative financial instruments, as applicable. These definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are also applied to our proportionate share in the Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow of significant equity method investments, such as that in VTTI, and are not applied to our less significant equity method investments. The calculation of our proportionate share of the reconciling items used to derive these VTTI performance metrics is based upon our 50% equity interest in VTTI, prior to adjustments related to noncontrolling interests in several of its subsidiaries and partnerships, which are immaterial. These adjustments include gains and losses on foreign currency derivative financial instruments used to hedge VTTIs United States dollar denominated distributions which are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and included in distributable cash flow when realized. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures that are used by our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer, to assess the operating performance of our business and optimize resource allocation. We use Adjusted EBITDA as a primary measure to: (i) evaluate our consolidated operating performance and the operating performance of our business segments; (ii) allocate resources and capital to business segments; (iii) evaluate the viability of proposed projects; and (iv) determine overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities. We use distributable cash flow as a performance metric to compare cash-generating performance of Buckeye from period to period and to compare the cash-generating performance for specific periods to the cash distributions (if any) that are expected to be paid to our unitholders. Distributable cash flow is not intended to be a liquidity measure. We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures used by management and that these measures are useful to investors because they aid in comparing our operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations. The Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow data presented by us may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies because these items may be defined differently by other companies. Please see the attached reconciliations of each of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to net income. This press release includes forward-looking statements that we believe to be reasonable as of todays date. Such statements are identified by use of the words anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, intends, plans, predicts, projects, should, and similar expressions. Actual results may differ significantly because of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that may be beyond our control. Among the forward-looking statements set forth in this press release are statements regarding our expectation of increasing quarterly distributions in the future. These statements are subject to, among other risks, (i) changes in federal, state, local, and foreign laws or regulations to which we are subject, including those governing pipeline tariff rates and those that permit the treatment of us as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, (ii) terrorism and other security risks, including cyber risk, adverse weather conditions, including hurricanes, environmental releases, and natural disasters, (iii) changes in the marketplace for our products or services, such as increased competition, changes in product flows, better energy efficiency, or general reductions in demand, (iv) adverse regional, national, or international economic conditions, adverse capital market conditions, and adverse political developments, (v) shutdowns or interruptions at our pipeline, terminalling, storage, and processing assets or at the source points for the products we transport, store, or sell, (vi) unanticipated capital expenditures in connection with the construction, repair, or replacement of our assets, (vii) volatility in the price of liquid petroleum products, (viii) nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers, (ix) our ability to integrate acquired assets with our existing assets and to realize anticipated cost savings and other efficiencies and benefits and (x) our ability to successfully complete our organic growth projects and to realize the anticipated financial benefits. You should read our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, for a more extensive list of factors that could affect results. We undertake no obligation to revise our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after todays date except as required by law. This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Buckeyes distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Buckeyes distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per unit amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenue: Product sales $ 792,187 $ 565,420 Transportation, storage and other services 390,918 403,853 Total revenue 1,183,105 969,273 Costs and expenses: Cost of product sales 785,327 548,050 Operating expenses (1) 154,868 161,422 Depreciation and amortization 64,138 65,488 General and administrative 23,289 21,737 Other, net (14,030 ) Total costs and expenses 1,013,592 796,697 Operating income 169,513 172,576 Other income (expense): Earnings from equity investments 7,489 10,358 Interest and debt expense (59,105 ) (55,885 ) Other expense (1) (315 ) (518 ) Total other expense, net (51,931 ) (46,045 ) Income before taxes 117,582 126,531 Income tax expense (490 ) (222 ) Net income 117,092 126,309 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (4,719 ) (2,733 ) Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P. $ 112,373 $ 123,576 Earnings per unit attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.: Basic $ 0.75 $ 0.88 Diluted $ 0.74 $ 0.88 Weighted average units outstanding: Basic 148,904 140,377 Diluted 149,532 140,998 _______________________________ Prior year amounts reflect the adoption of ASU 2017-07 resulting in the reclassification of $0.5 million from Operating expenses to Other expense related to certain components of pension expense. BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA (In thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenue: Domestic Pipelines & Terminals $ 255,435 $ 253,512 Global Marine Terminals 144,085 164,476 Merchant Services 798,428 571,126 Intersegment (14,843 ) (19,841 ) Total revenue $ 1,183,105 $ 969,273 Total costs and expenses: (1) Domestic Pipelines & Terminals $ 146,224 $ 144,236 Global Marine Terminals 85,383 106,577 Merchant Services 796,828 565,725 Intersegment (14,843 ) (19,841 ) Total costs and expenses $ 1,013,592 $ 796,697 Depreciation and amortization: Domestic Pipelines & Terminals $ 23,708 $ 23,386 Global Marine Terminals 39,208 40,806 Merchant Services 1,222 1,296 Total depreciation and amortization $ 64,138 $ 65,488 Operating income (loss): Domestic Pipelines & Terminals $ 109,211 $ 109,276 Global Marine Terminals 58,702 57,899 Merchant Services 1,600 5,401 Total operating income $ 169,513 $ 172,576 Adjusted EBITDA: Domestic Pipelines & Terminals $ 140,651 $ 139,443 Global Marine Terminals 117,418 130,631 Merchant Services 3,655 7,435 Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 261,724 $ 277,509 Capital expenditures: (2) Domestic Pipelines & Terminals $ 62,841 $ 58,435 Global Marine Terminals 54,057 39,817 Merchant Services 18 Total capital expenditures $ 116,916 $ 98,252 Summary of capital expenditures: (2) Maintenance capital expenditures $ 28,200 $ 32,586 Expansion and cost reduction 88,716 65,666 Total capital expenditures $ 116,916 $ 98,252 March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 Key Balance Sheet Information: Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,607 $ 2,180 Long-term debt, total 4,587,949 4,658,321 _______________________________ Includes depreciation and amortization. Prior year amounts reflect the adoption of ASU 2017-07 resulting in the reclassification of $0.5 million from Operating expenses to Other expense related to certain components of pension expense. Amounts exclude the impact of accruals. On an accrual basis, capital expenditure additions to property, plant and equipment were $118.9 million and $88.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA - Continued (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Domestic Pipelines & Terminals (average bpd in thousands): Pipelines: Gasoline 732.5 703.1 Jet fuel 353.2 355.0 Middle distillates (1) 357.2 329.4 Other products (2) 12.5 21.2 Total throughput 1,455.4 1,408.7 Terminals: Throughput (3) 1,315.1 1,183.8 Pipeline average tariff (cents/bbl) 91.1 90.0 Global Marine Terminals (percent of capacity): Average capacity utilization rate (4) 88 % 99 % Merchant Services (in millions of gallons): Sales volumes 396.0 349.1 _________________________ Includes diesel fuel and heating oil. Includes liquefied petroleum gas, intermediate petroleum products and crude oil. Includes throughput of two underground propane storage caverns. Represents the ratio of contracted capacity to capacity available to be contracted. Based on total capacity (i.e., including out of service capacity), average capacity utilization rates are approximately 83% and 96% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA Non-GAAP Reconciliations (In thousands, except coverage ratio) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Net income $ 117,092 $ 126,309 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (4,719 ) (2,733 ) Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P. 112,373 123,576 Add: Interest and debt expense 59,105 55,885 Income tax expense 490 222 Depreciation and amortization (1) 64,138 65,488 Non-cash unit-based compensation expense 8,690 8,678 Acquisition and transition expense (2) 282 1,029 Hurricane-related costs (3) 581 2,403 Proportionate share of Adjusted EBITDA for the equity method investment in VTTI (4) 34,540 28,617 Less: Gains on property damage recoveries (5) (14,085 ) Earnings from the equity method investment in VTTI (4) (4,390 ) (8,389 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 261,724 $ 277,509 Less: Interest and debt expense, excluding amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and other (55,205 ) (51,524 ) Income tax expense, excluding non-cash taxes (401 ) (222 ) Maintenance capital expenditures (28,200 ) (32,586 ) Proportionate share of VTTIs interest expense, current income tax expense, realized foreign currency derivative gains and losses, and maintenance capital expenditures (4) (10,836 ) (8,018 ) Add: Hurricane-related maintenance capital expenditures 2,098 5,550 Distributable cash flow $ 169,180 $ 190,709 Distributions for coverage ratio (6) $ 186,755 $ 176,708 Coverage ratio 0.91 1.08 _________________________ Includes 100% of the depreciation and amortization expense of $17.8 million and $17.5 million for Buckeye Texas Partners LLC for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Represents transaction, internal and third-party costs related to asset acquisition and integration. Represents costs incurred at our BBH facility in the Bahamas, Yabucoa Terminal in Puerto Rico, Corpus Christi facilities in Texas, and certain terminals in Florida, as a result of hurricanes which occurred in 2017 and 2016, consisting of operating expenses and write-offs of damaged long-lived assets, net of insurance recoveries. Due to the significance of our equity method investment in VTTI B.V. (VTTI), effective January 1, 2017, we applied the definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow, covered in our description of non-GAAP financial measures, with respect to our proportionate share of VTTIs Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow. The calculation of our proportionate share of the reconciling items used to derive these VTTI performance metrics is based upon our 50% equity interest in VTTI, prior to adjustments related to noncontrolling interests in several of its subsidiaries and partnerships, which are immaterial. Represents gains on recoveries, which settled property damages caused by a third party, primarily related to vessel allision with a jetty at our BBH facility in the Bahamas, which occurred in May 2012. Represents cash distributions declared for LP Units and for distribution equivalent rights with respect to certain unit-based compensation awards (DERs) outstanding as of each respective period. Amount for 2018 reflects estimated cash distributions for LP Units and DERs for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. Distributions with respect to the 6,220,658 Class C Units expected to be outstanding on the record date for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 will be paid in additional Class C Units rather than in cash. Contact: Kevin J. Goodwin Vice President & Treasurer irelations@buckeye.com (800) 422-2825 MIDLAND, VA. , May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smith-Midland Corporation (OTCQX: SMID). Our North Carolina precast concrete plant, Smith-Carolina, will expand in Rockingham County with a larger manufacturing facility on 46 acres in Reidsville. The Company plans to invest more than $3 million in a new 15,000 square-foot building including machinery and equipment, with additional space available for future expansions. Smith-Carolina also plans to create 10 new full-time jobs by the end of 2018. The new facility will be located on Carrot Road in Reidsville, NC. Smith-Carolina has been a good corporate citizen for almost 40 years in Rockingham County. We look forward to their expansion and the economic benefits it will bring in the future, said Mark Richardson, chairman of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners. There have been increasing demands from our customers. Our current facility is literately busting at the seams, said Rod Smith, General Manager. We are really looking forward to having the capacity to handle a burgeoning North Carolina market long into the future. Smith-Carolina originated in Reidsville in 1979 when the Smith-Midland Corporation expanded its operations to North Carolina. The Reidsville facility produces high-quality precast concrete products including J-J Hooks highway safety barrier, highway sound wall, Easi-Set precast concrete buildings, and many other custom precast products. Smith-Carolina currently has 25 full-time employees at its existing Rockingham County plant. Smith-Carolina is one of three precast manufacturing plants within the publically traded Smith-Midland Corporation (SMID), serving customers along the eastern seaboard from New York City to Georgia. We are excited that Smith-Carolina is expanding closer to Reidsville and taking advantage of the soon to be I-785 corridor. Loves Travel Center and now Smith-Carolinaa win-win for Reidsville and Rockingham County, said Jay Donecker, mayor of Reidsville. Rockingham County will provide a total post-performance incentive to Smith-Carolina of $29,232 to be paid out in annual installments of $7,308 over four years. For more information on Smith-Carolina, call (336) 349-2905 or visit: www.smithmidland.com/smith-carolina. About Smith-Midland Corporation - Smith-Midland Corporation is a publicly traded company (OTCQX: SMID). Smith-Midland develops, manufactures, and sells a broad array of precast concrete products for use primarily in the construction, transportation, and utilities industries. Smith-Midland Corporation has three manufacturing facilities located in Midland, Va., Reidsville, NC, and Columbia, SC. Easi-Set Worldwide, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Smith-Midland Corporation, licenses the production and sale of J-J Hooks and other Easi-Set precast products and provides diversification opportunities to the precast industry worldwide, (800) 547-4045, www.easiset.com. TOY TRAIN PROPONENTS HAVE DOWNPLAYED THE CURRENT KCMO HOMICIDE SPIKE AND RECENT VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT MIDTOWN IN A GREEDY QUEST FOR EXPANSION!!! Calling out the misstatements and paternalistic language of Westport leader Bill Nigro when he worries about "women walking at night" in the urban core is fun but it turns out he's 100% correct in his concern for public safety in Westport. By contrast, streetcar extension supporters have willfully ignored the spate of Midtown killing and historic uptick in Kansas City homicide in order to advance their agenda. THIS WEEK THE EGOTISTICAL STREETCAR EXTENSION SUPPORTERS HAVE PROVEN THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPATHY FOR THE CURRENT KANSAS CITY MURDER SPIKE AND NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN THEIR PRECIOUS TOY TRAIN CHOO-CHOO!!! What's worse is that the influence of these maniacal rail transit cheerleaders endangers so many others who might follow their lead and ignore the real life danger of urban core streets at night. Moreover, the casual and callous way they've overlooked so many recent murders near Westport along the proposed toy train line reveals that Kansas City streetcar support is nothing less than a tragic character flaw or, more likely, a brazen money grab that ignores the sanctity of human life. Once and for all the supporters of the Kansas City streetcar extension have lost any semblance of decency and given up the moral high ground in order to push their selfish agenda.It wasn't enough that the streetcar was founded on voter suppression in what the leader of the Kansas City Public Library called "the most corrupt election in Kansas City since the Pendergast era."The project continues to move forward with a questionable, gerrymandered, private, mail-in ballot despiteBut it's understandable that procedural voting concerns aren't at the forefront of the public discourse in much the same way thatHowever, the latest unforgivable tactic from streetcar supporters is nearly sociopath in its scope:As we noted previously,. It turns out that many snarky Twitter pundits are quick to tout their walking adventures in response to safety concerns but seem to have already forgottenOthers believe that the increased traffic of streetcar expansion might reduce violence.Closer to the heart of Westport the rhetoric of the transit, hipster, urban planner crowd becomes increasingly absurd.There's still grousing from activist consultants about street privatization like it's Prez Trump's Border Wall but these same critics didn't offer any viable solutions regarding public safety whenlast Summer and the danger of gun violence obviously threatened late-night party-goers in the immediate aftermath of aAccordingly . . .More to the point . . .Either way, what we know for sure is this -- Just like so many Downtown luxury living space developers and the current Mayoral administration -- Toy train proponents are more than willing to diminish, mock, troll anyone with public safety concerns rather than engage in an honest debate on a topic that should be at the forefront of Kansas City's agenda.You decide . . . A bill that ensures faith-based adoption agencies can turn away gay and lesbian couples based on religious beliefs will be signed into law by Gov. Jeff Colyer. Kansas lawmakers passed the legislation after an intense debate early Friday. One suggested the need for the legislation proves the existence of the "homosexual agenda" while another said the bill judges people. Kansas City police are investigating a street robbery early Friday where a gunman stole a pair of high-powered AR-15 assault-style pistols from two men outside of a BP gas station in Northeast Kansas City. The incident was reported just after 1 a.m. in the 6200 block St. John Avenue. Charges filed against man accused of ramming Lenexa police cars Charges have been filed against a man accused of ramming multiple police cars in Lenexa earlier this week. Taylor Greenhalgh, 20, has been charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony theft and eluding police. Posted to fact check so many of you d-bags complaining about worsening suburbs or even amid allegations that suburban po-po lacks restraint. . . Take a peek at this hayseed who is now confronting serious allegations of violence against authorities. Read more: The defendant recently offered a guilty plea for his crimes in a shooting wherein he reportedly yelled "get out of my country" before unleashing a hail of deadly gunfire. Witnesses said Adam Purinton, who is white, yelled racial slurs before he fatally shot Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounded Alok Madasani. A third man, Ian Grillot, was injured by gunfire when he tried to intervene. Kuchibhotla and Madasani were engineers at GPS-maker Garmin. Today marks the conclusion of a tragic suburban story that speaks to divisive American culture and rising gun violence.The perpetrator was seen drinking heavily, reportedly still distraught after the loss of his father to cancer in 2015 and incorrectly believed the victims were Iranian. More importantly, in the immediate aftermath of the hate crime there was aA look at the victims and the crime:Check the links:You decide . . . "Mike Shanin talks to Jackson County Legislator Crystal Williams about problems and possible solutions to concerns in Jackson County government. Jamekia Kendrix, Shawn Saving, Patrick Tuohey and Crosby Kemper III discuss ongoing problems in Jackson County, the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile and a recent Steve Rose column which suggests how a Democrat can defeat Kevin Yoder in the KS 3rd District." Call it thundering girl power discoursethe calm before the primary season storm. Here'saccording toof Kansas City discourse.Description of asto the dozen or so donors and patrons which keep this program afloat:You decide . . . Local Ladies Ride This Weekend International Female Ride Day picks up speed this weekend in KC Jonny Hackett The future is female? For the motorcycle industry, it would certainly appear that way. Twenty years ago, women accounted for 8 percent of bike sales. Today, that number is up around 14 percent - and growing. More Deets On The Local Skim Feds charge man in Kansas City ATM skimming operation KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 23-year-old man is facing charges of installing skimming devices at bank ATMs inside several metro QuikTrip stores. According to charging documents filed Tuesday in federal court, David Velcu is alleged to have put ATM skimmers - devices that read credit card information - on the card readers of UMB Bank ATMs inside QuikTrips located in Olathe, Kansas City, Kansas, and Riverside. KCK Runaround Aftermath One arrested following pursuit that crossed state lines A man has been arrested after a police pursuit wrapped up at 59th and Dickinson Road in Kansas City, KS. The pursuit initially included just the Kansas City Police Department's helicopter, which followed the suspect's vehicle in KCK. Once in KCK, members of the Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas City, KS Police Department joined the effort once the suspect exited the vehicle. Important Debriefing On Former Jackson County Sheriff's Sexy Adventures Documents reveal extensive travel on taxpayers' dime by former Jackson County Sheriff KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Five finalists for Jackson County's interim sheriff are set to be interviewed Friday. As we wait to see who's chosen as the next leader of the department, we're learning more about what led to former Sheriff Mike Sharp's resignation. Home Team Early Season Comeback Royals riding Soler's power surge against Tigers KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Detroit Tigers will have to deal with Soler power in this four-game series at Kansas City. Jorge Soler walked and homered in the Royals' 10-6 victory over the Tigers on Thursday in the opening game of the series. Golden Ghetto Hand Up Help for JoCo homeless: New case manager to hit streets - find, help hidden population Social service advocates in Johnson County have been pushing for months for more emergency shelter options for homeless adults. That's still a challenge, but now the county has agreed to fund a new full-time case manager position in the county's mental health center to provide homeless outreach services. The McTavish Weekend List 6 Yesteryear Things To Do In Kansas City This Weekend Where did the time go? Seriously, I'd like to know. Be a pal and get back to me on that. In the meantime, the weekend is offering up a host of entertaining activities recalling the past, from a send-up of a vintage hit TV sitcom to a cocktail party pegged to "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." Our favorite Abby moment was a promo photo shoot back when she launched her new lingerie line in a newsworthy set with all her pals. Since then, her biz has taken off. Examples:Closer to home, here's a quick collection of Kansas City Friday news links worth a peek:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Isodiol International Inc. (CSE:ISOL) (OTC:ISOL F ) (FSE:LB6A.F) (the Company or Isodiol), a global innovator specializing in the development of pharmaceutical and wellness products, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Zenabis Ltd. (Zenabis ), one of Canadas largest Licensed Producers, to import CBD isolate as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, into Canada from Isodiols GMP-certified production facility in the United Kingdom. Zenabis is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company positioned to become one of the largest cannabis producers in Canada, with facilities totalling more than 400,000 square feet of cannabis production space. Zenabis intends to import a minimum of 3,000 g of such CBD isolate per month for the purposes of R&D and new product formulation. Marcos Agramont, CEO of Isodiol, stated: Isodiol is pleased to announce another supply agreement for its highest quality, pharma grade CBD isolate. Zenabiss team is working on various R&D projects focused on developing new products and applications, and we are pleased to be a key partner in enabling this R&D process. We are excited to move forward with this partnership, explained Kevin Coft, CEO of Zenabis. To have a CBD isolate accompanied by an API status sets it apart from every other global source, and we look forward to be working with Isodiol in Canada on new drug development, approved pharmaceutical applications, research, clinical studies and trials. Having met all requirements, Isodiol recently announced that the Companys wholly owned subsidiary BSPG Laboratories LTD. has received government approval from United Kingdoms Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in accordance with The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916), for the manufacturing of the active substance Cannabidiol (CBD) under certificate number: UK API 48727. Active ingredients are the substances in drugs that are responsible for the beneficial health effects experienced by consumers. Regulating active ingredients helps to increase the quality and safety of drugs for consumers and Isodiol believes it is the first company in the industry to receive this approval for a CBD related product. To manufacture, import or distribute an active substance, organizations must comply with good manufacturing and distribution practice, where products must be of consistent high quality, appropriate to their intended use, and meet the requirements of the marketing authorisation (MA) or product specification. Upon successful initial import and product testing, Zenabis and Isodiol intend to execute a Definitive Supply Agreement, which expects to expand the scope of the collaboration, in addition to the supply of raw isolate. About Isodiol International Inc. Isodiol International Inc. is the market leader in pharmaceutical grade phytochemical compounds and the industry leader in the manufacturing and development of consumer products. Isodiol is the pioneer of many firsts for the cannabis industry including commercialization of 99%+ pure, pharmaceutical grade cannabinoids, micro-encapsulations, and nanotechnology for the highest quality consumable and topical skin care products and most recently received approval as having the first CBD designated as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient as was announced April 26, 2018. Isodiols growth strategy includes the development of over-the-counter and pharmaceutical drugs, expanding its phytoceutical portfolio and will aggressively continue international expansion into Latin America, Asia and Europe. Join Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isodiol/ Twitter: @isodiol ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Marcos Agramont, CEO & Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: Ir@isodiol.com www.isodiol.com About Zenabis Ltd. Zenabis is a privately-held, cannabis company with one of the largest, federally licensed indoor medical cultivation footprints in Canada. Zenabis currently operates two licensed production facilities with more than 400,000 square feet of fully certified growing space in British Columbia and New Brunswick. Zenabis s operations are strategically positioned on Canadas coasts facilitating national distribution and access to international markets. Zenabis is currently working towards globally recognized GMP certifications. Zenabis has one of the most experienced management teams in the industry, with an extensive background in retail consumer packaged goods, global pharmaceutical sales, and commercialized cultivation. Our growing team has more than two decades of experience in organic cultivation and distribution of herbs and nutraceutical products throughout the Americas, North Africa, and the Middle East. Our sales team has more than two decades in product development, commercialization, and retail and pharmaceutical sales including international distribution. For more information contact Gurdeep Bains at ir@zenabis.com Join Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenabismmj/ Twitter: @Zenabis Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business, products and future of the Companys business, its product offerings and plans for sales and marketing. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Company's products and plan will vary from those stated in this news release and the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and makes no reference to profitability based on sales reported. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release. KANSAS CITY INSIDERS QUESTION AN UPCOMING FAREWELL PARTY FOR THE OUTGOING AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM LEADER AMID ECONOMIC PERIL AND TEMPORARY SHUT DOWN TALK!!! "She runs an institution into the ground financially and two clueless individuals host a reception for her . . .??? The event is sponsored by long term Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center board members ... The community knows how pathetic THAT board is, therefore, it makes sense THEY would think she did a good job." An upcoming swan song celebration has evoked the ire of urban core leaders who demand accountability and have worked to keep the legacy of the 18th & Vine district intact.Here's another local sour note for 18th & Vine:Here's the word:You decide . . . The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) referred to a need to continue the momentum of structural reforms in Greece, while suggesting a series of recommendations for the tax, labor market and business climate sectors - a report that coincides with a visit to Athens the same day by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria and his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The OECD report is entitled "The Greek economy is recovering. Improving debt sustainability, tackling poverty and boosting investment are vital to sustaining the positive momentum," and notes: Following significant reforms, Greeces recovery from deep economic depression is finally gaining traction, according to the OECD. Economic growth is picking up led by exports. Labour market reforms have improved competitiveness and are helping to create long-awaited jobs. GDP growth is projected to strengthen, remaining above 2 percent in 2018 and 2019. In its latest Economic Survey of Greece, the OECD recognises the significant reform effort of the past two years. The study highlights that the credibility of public finances has markedly strengthened, after an unprecedented fiscal consolidation, boosting investors confidence in the countrys prospects. Despite these positive developments, unemployment, poverty and inequality remain high, wages are low, investment remains depressed and productivity keeps dropping. At the same time, the public administration is still facing important efficiency challenges, and while tax collection has improved, avoidance is widespread, resulting in high rates and narrow bases. Addressing these and other challenges will crucially depend on the continuation of the reform effort and strengthening reform ownership. Presenting the survey in Athens, with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurria stressed : The reforms undertaken by Greece have finally started to bear fruit. It is an impressive achievement. With strengthened public finances and a much improved macroeconomic framework, addressing poverty and raising living standards is a priority. To attain this, it will be essential to reduce vulnerabilities, the report says. High levels of public debt and bad loans in the banking system make Greeces economic outlook highly sensitive to shocks such as slower growth among trading partners or a rise in debt service costs after the Stability Support Programme ends in August 2018. Public debt restructuring Additional public debt restructuring, as needed, and continuing to reduce banks non-performing loans, would diminish such vulnerabilities and enhance confidence. It will also be crucial to boost job creation and thus reduce poverty. Although employment is recovering, a growing share of jobs has been temporary or part-time work, resulting in many workers earning less than the minimum wage. Improving workers skills and ensuring they match workplace needs while strengthening firms incentives to invest and innovate are vital to raising wages and reducing worker poverty. The OECD recommends introducing sectoral collective wage bargaining covering broad working conditions while maintaining the flexibility of the current wage-bargaining system so that agreements can adapt to different types and sizes of firms. Continuous vocational training is also essential to improve workers ability to find work and raise their income. The increase in poverty during the crisis has been particularly dramatic among the young. Social programmes apart from pensions are generally underfunded. The survey does, however, state that the 2017 and 2018 reforms to consolidate and strengthen family benefits are important progress to improve the targeting of programmes to those in need. The roll-out of the guaranteed minimum income and the provision of school meals are also important steps to better protect poor households. The survey also underlines the government needs to build on recent reforms to revive investment. It calls for further easing of product market rules while improving the quality and transparency of regulation. Continuing to fight corruption, enhance the public administration and tackling informality would improve the business environment, strengthen the rule of law and increase trust in government." Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Source: naftemporiki.gr Tourexpi, turizm haberleri, Reiseburos, tourism news, noticias de turismo, Tourismus Nachrichten, , travel tourism news, international tourism news, Urlaub, urlaub in der turkei, , holidays in Turkey, , global tourism news, dunya turizm, dunya turizm haberleri, Seyahat Acentas, This site is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+, at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Ebrahim K. Kanoo, a diversified business conglomerate based in Bahrain, has welcomed the first batch of its Graduate Recruitment and Development Programme which aims to provide unique job opportunities to young Bahrainis. The inaugural batch of graduates was successfully chosen based on their academic achievements followed by a rigorous assessment and interview process, said a statement from the company. The two-year programme, designed to provide both general professional skills and specialist technical development opportunities, will take the graduates through a job rotation schedule in order to understand every division of the company and where their individual strengths can be best utilised. Managing director Talal Kanoo affirmed the importance of such schemes that see exceptional Bahraini talent being invested in. "At Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo we strongly believe in recruiting talented, ambitious Bahraini nationals and nurturing their talents in order to develop their potential," he noted. "The Graduate Recruitment and Development Programme has been created to be an extension of the learning journey, with added professional corporate and technical aspects, led by some of the best people within our company," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Annette Raines, the countys former tax administrator, pleaded guilty today to embezzling up to $93,000 from the Transylvania County Rescue Squad between 2008 to 2016. Judge Mark Powell sentenced Raines to five to 15 months in the N.C. Department of Corrections, and she will be eligible for parole after five months. After parole, she will have to pay restitution in the amount of $13,218. Raines has already paid $5,500 directly to the rescue squad, and $75,000 had been recovered from Raines and insurance. Read more in Monday's paper. ... The Hofsas House Hotel, a 38-room boutique family-owned inn in the heart of Carmel, is pleased to announce the launch of its Tail Wagging Package. (TRAVPR.COM) USA - May 3rd, 2018 - Carmel, CA, May 03, 2018 - The Hofsas House Hotel, a 38-room boutique family-owned inn in the heart of Carmel, is pleased to announce the launch of its Tail Wagging Package. To book this package during your stay, call (831) 624-2745 or email info@hofsashouse.com. Hofsas House Tail Wagging Package Tail-Wagging Package Hofsas House is one of the most dog-friendly hotels in Carmel. Guests receive a complimentary Doggie Welcome Package upon arrival that includes: Hofsas House dog Frisbee Hofsas House collapsible dog bowl Special dog bed Letter from Tank, our onsite Pet Concierge Special dog amenities package Tips and recommendations for your four-legged friends stay Walking trail and hiking guide A package of treats Coastal Canine Magazine offering the best four-legged options for visiting Carmel This package requires a minimum two-night stay, $30 fee per night for one dog and $50 per night for two dogs. About Hofsas House The Hofsas House Hotel is a boutique family-owned inn with 38 uniquely decorated, spacious rooms, many with ocean views overlooking the pines in the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Dutch doors appoint each room allowing our guests to enjoy the fresh ocean air. Our guests watch glorious sunsets over the Pacific Ocean from the privacy of the inn's decks or rooms. Some rooms and most suites have fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars or kitchens. The Hofsas House is located three blocks north of Ocean Avenue, eight blocks from the picturesque white sand Carmel beach and one block from a child-friendly City park. There is plenty of off-street parking and guests delight in walking everywhere in Carmel from the inn. Enjoy a continental breakfast in the morning with French roast coffee, tea, fresh pastries delivered from a local bakery, juice, yogurt and fruit. Other amenities include a heated swimming pool, dry saunas, view deck areas and free wireless Internet access. Some rooms are dog friendly. Casual elegance, personal service and traditional family hospitality are the trademarks of Hofsas House Hotel. Hofsas House Hotel Between 3rd & 4th Ave on San Carlos Street. P.O. Box 1195 Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921 Phone: (831) 624-2745 info@hofsashouse.com HofsasHouse.com Contact: Marci Bracco Cain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 747-7455 http://www.HofsasHouse.com ### SEATTLE, Wash., May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CFN Media Group (CFN Media), the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the North American cannabis industry, announces publication of an article covering Lexaria Bioscience Corp.s (CSE:LXX) (LXX.CN) (CNSX:LXX) (OTCQX:LXRP) DehydraTECH platform which enables edibles manufacturers to increase bioavailability, improve flavor profiles, and expedite the onset of cannabinoid effects across a wide range of products. Investors may want to take note of the stock since the companys growing number of licensees represents an attractive way to build exposure to edibles through royalty-based licensing agreements. The cannabis industry is projected to reach $50 billion by 2026, according to Cowen & Co., driven by the legalization of adult-use cannabis across many states. With adult-use on the rise, consumer preferences are quickly shifting from smoking cannabis flower to consuming edible products that are better-tasting and faster-acting. Investors may want to consider building exposure to the edibles space to capitalize on these trends. Innovative DehydraTECH Platform Lexarias patented DehydraTECH technology is designed to increase the bioavailability, improve the flavors, and rapidity of onset of cannabinoids across a wide range of products, from capsules to edibles to beverages. Earlier this year, the company secured key patents on the technology covering these use cases, as well as other innovative areas of application, such as for the delivery of NSAIDS, nicotine, and vitamins. The company is monetizing the DehydraTECH platform through partnerships across many different vertical markets. In exchange for the right to use the technology, the company often receives a lump sum payment and royalties on revenue generated from products developed using the technology platform. These agreements provide shareholders with near-term lump sum revenue and predictable revenue streams over the long-term. Management has signed a number of licensing agreements since DehydraTECHs launch earlier this year. For example, the company has been working with Nuka Enterprises to develop chocolates and other edibles using the technology for the past two years, as well as GP Holdings LLC in developing cannabis-infused beverages. These represents multi-billion dollars markets that are rapidly growing throughout the world. New License Agreement Lexaria recently signed a new license agreement with Nuka Enterprises LLC, which makes 1906 brand cannabis chocolates and other edibles products. After utilizing the DehydraTECH platform for nearly two years, the company has risen to become one of Colorados top cannabis chocolate brands available in over 150 locations. The decision to renew its license to use DehydraTECH represents a strong vote of confidence in the technology. 1906 products are a unique combination of nature and science, bringing together natural plant medicines delivered in delicious form factors, such as chocolate, with advanced technologies that make them safe, predictable, fast-acting, and efficacious, said Nuke Enterprises CEO Peter Barsooom. Weve worked closely with Lexaria through 1906s development and launch phases to create the best possible products that taste great, reduce onset times, and deliver amazing experiences. Fast-acting edibles are the wave of the future - its what consumers want - and we are at the forefront of bringing innovations to address customer needs. Under the new ten year semi-exclusive agreement, Nuka Enterprises will leverage DehydraTECH in its U.S.-based products with a focus on recreational states like Colorado, Nevada, California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The company also has acquired an option to expand its products and brand to Canada, including through the use of Lexarias existing chocolate and confections contract manufacturer licensee, Cannfections Group Inc. Looking Ahead Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (OTCQX:LXRP) (CSE:LXX) represents a compelling investment opportunity in the burgeoning cannabis industry. With its DehydraTECH platform gaining traction, the company is quickly building a steady stream of recurring revenue that could unlock significant value for shareholders over time. Investors may want to take a look at the stock sooner rather than later to capitalize on these dynamics. For more information, visit the companys website or download their investor presentation. Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/lexaria-solidifies-presence-edibles-market-new-agreement/ About CFN Media CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the global cannabis industry, helps companies operating in the space attract investors, capital, and publicity. Since 2013, private and public cannabis companies in the US and Canada have relied on CFN Media to grow and succeed. Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/featuredcompany Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from the palm of your hand: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8 Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com Disclaimer CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on http://www.cannabisfn.com (the Site) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies. We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news. The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/ Contact: Frank Lane 206-369-7050 Flane@cannabisfn.com CLEVELAND, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovest Global, Inc. (OTC PINK:IVST) Call Center has won a significant bid for a contract with industry leader MRI Software, which has high compliance requirements - an Innovest Call Center expertise, since acquiring Crestwood Management in January. MRI Software serves Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in 44 states through its subsidiary Tenmast, including Guam and Saipan in the South Pacific and is focused on helping them manage compliance with HUD regulations. Innovests Call Center is PCI Compliant, SAS 70 Type II Certified, FDCPA Compliant, is an ACA International member; and has many internal controls, policies, and procedures that add to client confidence. Through this contract, we will be taking inbound calls for the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authoritys (CMHA), Housing Choice Voucher Program Waiting List Lottery. We have worked with Tenmast and CMHA on the past 3 programs, all of which have been very successful, said Sally Emch, President of Call Center Operations. Because of our high compliance standards and certifications, we frequently win bids in industries such as Utilities, Healthcare, Government, and Financial Services, and have an advantage to win less stringent client campaigns. The center typically staffs up to 50 associates for servicing client programs, and is capable of scaling immediately to several hundred, upon demand. Unique things about our Call Center: All employees must pass the HIPAA and PCI trainings and compliance every 6 months to continue employment (exceeds requirements). Provides true partnership to customers through planning, implementation, and ongoing budget management. Top Management is directly involved with every project and brings 60+ years of direct marketing experience and knowledge. We offer boutique service, so your project doesnt have to fit the mainstream concept. Your project will be created, trained and implemented as required by you. We dont force your square into our circle. Extensive knowledge of Medicare/Medicaid requirements and compliance. We strategized with our clients Team to develop systems to enhance account maintenance through prioritization and modeling, experienced agents for your business type, and state of the art technology Customer journey-focused interactions resulting in minimal customer complaints. Bilingual agents available. Client-specific Agents cross-trained so workforce adjustments possible according to demand. Ability to take on special projects quickly and maintain service levels and project goals. Trainings are developed with adult learning concepts so when classes move onto live calls each agent retains and utilizes knowledge, greatly reducing the turnover experienced at other call centers. Please call Sally Emch today at 216.815.1122 to learn more. It has been a busy month at Innovest, for both the Commercial & Industrial Division, and the forthcoming Biotechnology & Health Sciences Divison. Look for much more information to come soon. Innovest uses Twitter, which can be accessed both on Twitter @innovestglobal and on the front page of our website www.innovestglobal.com , for important company updates. This includes information that may be material, so please follow us and visit our website regularly! For more information on Innovest contact info@innovestglobal.com, or call Innovest investor Relations Matt Rego at 216.815.1122. http://www.innovestglobal.com Safe Harbor Statement: This news release contains "forward-looking statements", which are statements that are not purely historical and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with OTC Markets or the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information on Innovest Investor Relations, Spotlight Growth, please visit http://www.SpotlightGrowth.com and http://www.Corporate.SpotlightGrowth.com. You can also follow on social media: Innovest Twitter: https://twitter.com/InnovestGlobal Spotlight Growth Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpotlightGrowth Spotlight Growth Facebook: https://facebook.com/Spotlight-Growth-103630363712364/ Spotlight Growth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spotlight-growth-732ba1147 Spotlight Growth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spotlight_growth/ CHICAGO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enablon, a Wolters Kluwer business, today announced that its Compliance Assurance software was named a 2018 SIIA CODiE Awards finalist in the Best Compliance Solution category. Finalists represent the best products, technologies, and services in software, information and business technology. The Enablon Compliance Assurance software enables organizations to identify the regulatory drivers governing their operations, define and execute a compliance strategy, and evaluate performance. The Compliance Assurance software consists of the Regulatory Compliance solution that proactively identifies compliance issues and helps manage regulatory changes, and the Audit & Inspection solutions that enable the deployment of standardized protocols for audits, self-assessments and inspections across complex and global organizations. Enablons native mobile application streamlines compliance assurance efforts by making it possible for workers to enter data and submit completed audits and inspections in real time in the field. The solution also integrate best-in-class regulatory content from expert providers. We are very honored to be named a CODiE Award finalist and to be recognized as an innovator in the market, said Chris Joseph, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Enablon. Impactful innovation is at the core of our mission and is what drives our teams. We keep pushing the boundaries of what technology can offer to make organizations more efficient, resilient and sustainable, and by doing so help make the world a safer and better place for all. The SIIA CODiE Awards are the premier awards for the software and information industries and have been recognizing product excellence for over 30 years. The awards offer 91 categories that are organized by industry focus of education technology and business technology. Enablon was honored as one of 167 finalists across the 52 business technology categories. The 2018 CODiE Award finalists are some of the most innovative, high-impact products in the market. We are happy to recognize these products and the power they have to transform the future of how we do business. said Ken Wasch, President of SIIA. Four Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory solutions in legal, legal education and compliance have been honored as finalists in the 2018 CODiE awards. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX:WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs 19,000 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Enablon, a Wolters Kluwer business, is the worlds leading provider of EH&S, Operational Risk Management and Sustainability Software. More than 1,000 global companies and 1 million users rely on Enablon software solutions to manage their environmental and social performance, minimize risks and improve profitability. Enablon offers the most comprehensive platform in the industry, and is consistently recognized as a global leader and visionary. For more information about Enablon: www.enablon.com. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Mohali, May 4 A week after a 22-year-old girl, a BCom student of Government College in Phase VI here, went missing, her body was recovered from the Bhakra canal at Bheora village in Rupnagar on Thursday night. Manpreet Kaur, a resident of Bhagwantpura village in Rupnagar, had gone to her college in Phase VI, Mohali, on April 27 but did not return home, following which her father Kulwant Singh lodged a missing persons complaint at the Phase VI police post. Police sources said prima facie, it seemed to be a case of suicide. Divers fished out the body from the canal and informed the police around 9 pm on Thursday. A purse, her bus pass, a passport size photograph and a notebook were found near the spot. ASI Dilbag Singh, incharge, Phase VI police post, said the victims family had recovered a suicide note allegedly written by her. The note addressed to the family reads: Main apne shareer toh tang han. Iss layi mein jaa rhi haan (I am upset over my body. So, I am going). The police said in the alleged suicide note, the victim pleaded forgiveness for her act and did not hold anyone responsible. According to the police, the post-mortem examination of the body was conducted on Friday. A police official said no injury marks were found on the body. The police have initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). TCA Raghavan TCA Raghavan Former High Commissioner of India to Pakistan Disaggregating longer term trends from immediate developments is never easy in Pakistan as the drama of the moment often overrides everything else. Nevertheless, two contradictory processes are most evident amidst numerous others jostling to direct events: 1 Civil-military balance: The first is a steady accretion of influence around the army chief representing the continued tilting of the civil-military balance in the direction of the latter. This is a process that began in late 2014 and has gathered momentum since. On the way, it has crippled the PML(N) by deposing its charismatic head as Prime Minister. It is easy to overlook the substantive steps the Pakistan military had to take to achieve this outcome. The actions following the Peshawar school attack against Taliban-type fronts in the tribal areas was a source of public gratification and for most Pakistanis, the army had again proved that it was the country's final and also ultimate saviour. As public adulation for the army mounted, the civilian government and the PML(N), in particular, found itself between a rock and a hard place. By mid-2017 and with Nawaz Sharif's deposition as Prime Minister, the process had crystallised. The long cycle that began a decade earlier with Musharraf's exit, the growing unpopularity of the army as terrorist attacks spread across Pakistan, the OBL raid etc had ended and the circle was complete. 2 Nawaz Sharif's postures: The second process is equally striking and is personalised and animated by the defiance of the PML(N) and in particular of Nawaz Sharif. His postures against hidden forces at work have evoked a public response that is surprising in itself. His accusations of a "judicial martial law' have in turn spawned a new field of analysis for Pakistan that is being termed the 'judicialisation of politics'. His claims that he is a victim of a judiciary military concert have a wide credibility. His party seems to be holding behind him and in the forthcoming General Election, it will be in the curious but politically strong position of both being the incumbent government as also the party against the establishment. These two then are rival popularities and narratives bouncing off each other almost as if Pakistan wishes to embrace two contradictory ideas simultaneously and is unable or unwilling to choose one or the other. Is this muddle also part of Pakistan's 20-year coup cycle 1958, 1977, 1999.? It is tempting to think so, for who can deny such a possibility given Pakistan's history. Yet it is also a fact that in the past two decades, the Pakistan society has changed a great deal and the leap from precedent to the future is now more difficult and tenuous. Many of its institutions the judiciary, media, military have matured and changed and conflicting, working and allying with each other as they interface with parties seems to be the direction of change rather than an old-fashioned coup as was the pattern in the 1990s. This may be a reflection of the deepening of roots of democratisation, howsoever inconsistent and non-linier the process may be in the future. But for all this, large question marks about the immediate future remain. Will the General Election return results with a strong PML (N) showing as the present response Nawaz Sharif is getting suggests? Or will the PML (N) be cut to size and a combination of the other national parties rise to the top? A shaky coalition is what the military will be most comfortable with and which would be infinitely superior to a PML(N) thirsty for revenge and keen to rehabilitate Nawaz Sharif. There is going to be no clear answer to these questions for the future is untested terrain in Pakistan, as indeed elsewhere. Indo-Pak ties Where does this leave India-Pakistan relations, stuck as they are in the long impasse that developed in the first half of 2016? This was the result of the Pathankot air base terrorist attack, the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and the events that followed the detection and elimination of the Jihadi poster boy Burhan Wani in Kashmir Valley. But important as each of these were individually and collectively, it is perhaps also valid to speculate that the impasse continued longer than could have been anticipated on account of Nawaz Sharif being deposed in July, 2017.The impact of that on India-Pakistan relations should not be underestimated for his is the most powerful voice to have emerged in Pakistan in favour of reset of a fundamentally flawed and troubled relationship. How his party fares in the next election, what will be the architecture of the government and what happens in Pakistan in the interregnum are questions whose answers will impact on the country's relations with India. In May, 2014, when PM Nawaz Sharif attended the swearing-in of the new government in India, it did appear that the strength of the ruling parties in both countries had enabled the emergence of a viable negotiating space. What could not have been anticipated was that as during earlier governments, foreign policy had no real answer to dealing with internal civil-military turbulence in Pakistan. This issue will continue to bedevil India-Pakistan relations and the frustrations of policymaking with Pakistan will remain our inability to influence the one single factor that has such a major bearing on bilateral ties. Nevertheless, keeping engagement on hold, much like all other policies, has a shelf life. As Pakistan heads to elections, it is also time to keep an eye on other clocks and choose from a menu of options, none of which may be to our liking. CP Bhambhri CP Bhambhri Karl Marx has been immortalised in the history of ideas on the basis of his numerous philosophical and theoretical writings, especially the three volumes of Das Kapital, in which he offered a seminal critique of the political economy of capitalism by employing, for the first time, the method of materialistic interpretation of history. The enormous impact of Marxs original contributions was felt across the territorial and geographical boundaries of the countries of Europe, North America and Asia. Not many could have remained insulated and immune from the ideas contained in his writings. Marx had pointed out multiple contradictions in the functioning of capitalism. These, he said, were the logical products of the capitalist system of production for private accumulation of profit by ruthless exploitation of the working classes, the real producers of wealth. This logic of capitalist system of production led to great social inequalities, not only within the capitalist countries, but also the colonies which were the site of ruthless exploitation by the capitalist colonising countries of Europe. European capitalism developed while the whole of colonised Africa, Latin America and Asia, including India, became underdeveloped because the Western capitalist colonisers looted and robbed the colonies of their wealth. Marx alerted through his intellectual contributions to the fundamental structural cause of inequality within societies and between the developed capitalist countries which were colonisers and the colonies which were the object of ruthless exploitation by the European capitalist colonisers. This fact was mentioned by Marx in his writings on India which he had published in newspaper articles in the US. Marx referred to the bleeding process of India under British rule which left India extremely poor and backward. Marx also described British rule of India as beneficial because it shook the foundations of an unchanging India. Marx described the British rulers as unconscious tools of history and felt some of their policies proved beneficial to India. Indian historians have challenged Marxs understanding that India was stagnant in the middle of the 19th century. However, the relevant issue is Marx, by following the social dialectical approach, pointed out both the positive and the negative consequences of British rule. But Marx was not an armchair philosopher and social theoretician. He observed that philosophers have interpreted history, the time has come to change it. For achieving this goal, he organised and participated in working class struggles against capitalist social order based on exploitation in Germany, France, et al and for this he was exiled. The real message of Marx was that theory should be combined with praxis for social transformation. This is the reason that many communist parties across continents, including India, have been inspired by Marxs teachings and doctrines of social revolution. Socialist movements and struggles for social equality have been inspired by Marxs teachings and model of social struggles for changing the existing unequal social order based on exploitation. Marx arrived in India through Indians studying in England. Many tall leaders of the Indian national movement, on arrival from England, jumped into struggles for not only the independence of India, but also for equality, socialism and Communism. Moreover, it was not only Marxs philosophical and theoretical ideas which had inspired Indians studying in England. The Russian Communist Revolution of 1917 had also attracted the attention of sensitive Indians who were in England. A grand experiment of transformation was taking place in backward Russia and Indians, like other British and European intellectuals, were attracted towards the alternative of socialism offered by the Communist Party of Russia. Jawaharlal Nehru, who on his return from England had jumped into the struggle for the freedom of India, visited Russia and was highly impressed by the religion-less society which the communists had created. The Congress Socialist Party had some leaders who were pushing the agenda of radical socialism and the Communist Party of India was also formed in the mid-1920s, inspired by Marx and the Russian Revolution of 1917. The British rulers were ruthless in suppressing the CPI and the famous Meerut and Cownpore (Kanpur) conspiracy cases are important historical events when Indian communists faced the worst suppression by colonial rulers. Post-Independence India launched its democratic journey on the basis of universal adult franchise and elections after every five years. The CPI and socialists participated in these elections in a regular manner and both later formed governments in some states as well as organised working class trade unions and peasant organisations. Not only this, the ideas of Marx and socialism are a significant part of the intellectual life of India and its universities. Artists, poets and many other creative people are not only influenced, but also firmly believe that only the socialist-communist system can establish equality in an unequal society like that of India. The ideas of Marx, communism and socialism got a great setback after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989; the collapse of the communist system in Russia in 1991; and the abandonment of Maoism in favour of market socialism in China. The 21st century has been described as the age of the end of ideology. Equality has become a dirty word and even mild ideas of welfare state are under attack, and market capitalism has become the watchword of every capitalist country, whether developed or an emerging economy. A critical question is; has the god of communism/socialism really failed? The answer to this question is a big no. Human beings in history have always made struggles and sacrifices to achieve equality to social relations. Can humans willingly accept a social order based on inequality and exploitation? Marx remains relevant because capitalism is essentially based on the principle of inequality, and socialism is the only known system in history which can provide a social order based on equality. This is the reason that socialist/communist parties in Europe liquidated themselves after 1991. However in India, communist and socialist parties continue to pursue their goals. The greatest teaching of Marx is that humans make their own history through their own struggles, and in India, struggles for social equality are still on public agenda. This is the relevance of Marx. The writer is Professor Emeritus, Centre for Political Studies, JNU SN Sahu SN Sahu Former press secretary to the late KR Narayanan The Government of India has asked the Supreme Court Collegium to reconsider its recommendation for the appointment of Mr Justice Joseph, Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, as judge of the Supreme Court on three grounds. 1 One is that Justice Joseph is a Keralite and his appointment would not be consistent with the principles of regional diversity as there is already a judge in the SC hailing from the Kerala High Court. Such reasoning is negated by the fact that that there is more than one judge in the SC from the several high courts of states. 2 Second is that Mr Justice Joseph is not the seniormost judge among high court judges in the country. 3 Third is that there is deficit of representation of judges from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the SC and so he should not be elevated. All these criteria have never been cited in the past as factors for appointment of judges in the SC. When, in 1998, President KR Narayanan wrote in a file concerning the appointment of judges in the SC that representation of social diversity in higher judiciary should be ensured by appointing women candidates and those hailing from the minority communities and Scheduled Castes and Tribes as judges by taking into consideration their merit, he was criticised on the ground that the President was pushing the agenda of reservation in the judiciary. His vision was rejected as a regressive idea. Now, 20 years later, the NDA government is asking the SC Collegium to reconsider its recommendation to appoint Mr Justice Joseph as an SC judge on the ground that it is not consistent with fair representation of regional and social diversity. During all these four years of the NDA government never has the issue of appointing the judges of the higher courts based on diversity been invoked by the ruling leadership even as such ideas found place in several recommendations of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee. It is refreshing to note that the Constitution Committee of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament in its 25th report on judicial appointments submitted in 2012 observed: "A more diverse judiciary would not undermine the quality of our judges and would increase public trust and confidence in the judiciary. Many other committees of the UK Parliament have of late underlined the point that there must be representation of diversity in law courts and the idea of diversity has been understood by taking into account a number of elements, including disability, sexual orientation, legal profession and social background. In the context of the Indian judiciary, it is desirable to make it more diverse. But it is perverse to invoke the same to deny a judge his promotion to the apex judiciary even as he has been recommended by the SC Collegium by taking into account his merit, competence and integrity. The Collegium observes that "Mr Justice KM Joseph, who hails from Kerala High Court and is currently functioning as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court, is more deserving and suitable in all respects than other Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of High Courts for being appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court of India. While recommending the name of Mr Justice KM Joseph, the Collegium has taken into consideration combined seniority on all-India basis of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of High Courts, apart from their merit and integrity. " It is alarming that the government is deliberately targeting a highly competent judge in the name of social and regional diversity. Even the President of the Bar Council has come out against this strategy of the government. The revelations made by the four SC judges to the media that there is threat to democracy because of the state of affairs in the apex court assumes greater poignancy in the context of the attacks on judiciary. The President of the Bar Council of India has stated that non-clearance of the name of Mr Justice Joseph for appointment as SC judge is a threat to the independence of judiciary. It is unprecedented that the Bar and some judges have come out openly against measures to subvert the judiciary. Some eminent jurists have also voiced their concern on the matter and disapproved the grounds on which Justice Joseph's name has been sent back to the Collegium. Has the government done it because Mr Justice Joseph, as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand, pronounced a judgement that imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand by the NDA government was unconstitutional? It is a form of violence threatening the judiciary and the Republic. Reformation of judiciary is a necessity. Mahatma Gandhi said that reformation of judiciary for delivering quick and inexpensive justice to people is a form of non-violence. How to save the judiciary from the gathering crisis of violence is the biggest challenge before the Republic of India. editorial@tribune.com Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service Gurugram, May 4 The Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti stopped Muslims from offering namaz at 10 places here on Friday. Some of the places were Atul Kataria Chowk, Sikanderpur, Cyber Park Sector 40, Wazirabad, Mehrauli-Gurugram road and IFFCO Chowk. The city woke up to a tense Friday with all eyes on a vacant plot in Wazirabad village, from where the controversy had started. On April 20, hundreds of Muslims gathered to offer namaz were stopped by six local youths. A video of the incident went viral on social media. On its basis, the youths were arrested, but bailed out later. A week later, Muslims offered namaz at the Sector 53 ground with the police deployed nearby. Irked, residents of Wazirabad and Kanhai villages insisted that if namaz was offered today (May 4), they would organise a havan. As a precautionary measure, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has put up a board in Wazirabad village, announcing that the property belongs to them. It banned trespassing. As a result, the prayer meeting was called off. Muslims claimed they were scared of an attack by Hindu groups. We could not have taken risk as we knew that if we gathered today, they will attack us. So we cancelled the meeting, said one of the organisers of prayer meeting. Later, members of Hindu group visited other namaz spots in the city and asked Muslims to leave if they did not have permission. We had asked the administration to stop unauthorised gatherings and encroachment of land, but no step was taken. So we took things in our hands. We are not against any religion or the right to prayer, but one cannot disrupt public life or halt traffic or occupy open spaces. The administration should check whether Muslims gathered to offer namaz are residents of Gurugram or illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, said Vikram Singh, a member of the samiti. No major action has been taken on our memorandum submitted to the authorities recently, but the installation of the board in Wazirabad village is a victory for us, said Rajeev Mittal, coordinator, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Kranti Dal. He admitted that members of the Dal discouraged unauthorised meetings on Friday, but claimed everything was peaceful. Sources, however, said a minor instance of disruption was reported at Sikanderpur Metro station. Samiti members, in three to four vehicles, reached there and asked Muslims to leave. The police had to step in. But before they could help, Muslims were too terrified to continue the prayer. Administration silent The district administration continues to be silent on the matter, but the police said there was no disruption of law and order on Friday. Our duty is to maintain law and order and we did that perfectly. The right to grant permission for prayer meetings rests with the administration, said police spokesperson Ravinder Kumar. gspannu7@gmail.com Tribune News Service Faridabad, May 4 Three local web portal journalists were arrested on Friday and remanded to two-day police custody, in connection with a case registered against them under Section 499, 500 of the IPC and 67 of the IT Act. The case was registered after they had carried a story on their portals about an alleged affair, involving an MLA and a woman politician. The case was registered on a complaint lodged by the woman politician. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 4 Twenty per cent of all the government health facilities in the country certified for meeting quality parameters of the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are from Haryana. Dr JN Srivastava, Advisor, National Health System Resource Centre (NHSRC), revealed this at a function held here on Friday to felicitate government health facilities of the state for Quality Improvement in Healthcare Services. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was chief guest at the function organised by the State Health System Resource Centre (SHSRC), felicitated 18 health facilities nationally certified as per NQAS, four others for National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) certification and one hospital for National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) certification. Khattar awarded Civil Hospital, Panchkula, described by Srivastava as the best government hospital of the country, with a cash award of Rs 47.5 lakh for NQAS as well as NABH certification to its credit. Gurugram Civil Hospital got Rs 31.92 lakh, Faridabad Civil Hospital bagged Rs 28.14 lakh, Rohtak Civil Hospital got Rs 25.33 lakh while other 15 health facilities received cash award of Rs 2 lakh or more depending upon the quality improvement achieved. Urging doctors working in government health facilities to be sensitive to the woes of patients, Khattar said his governments aim was to provide better facilities in government hospitals. He said education and health were the two sectors important for human development and progress of a country. Health Minister Anil Vij said the state government had taken up 44 health facilities of the state for improving quality parameters and applying for NQAS certification. The minister said the government had set a target of making 84 health facilities NQAS or NABL certified by the year end. Earlier, Executive Director, SHSRC, Dr Sonia Trikha Khullar, outlined the parameters needed for certification under the NQAS. She said the SHSRC had selected 328 health facilities for training staff. RR Jowel, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), gave the credit for ensuring quality healthcare to the doctors and paramedics working in hospitals. editorial@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 4 After Congress president Rahul Gandhi winds up his election campaign in Karnataka, he would have to turn his attention to faction-ridden Haryana unit where leadership tussles have been brewing for a long time now. A change in the state organisation has been necessitated by the exit of Kamal Nath, former Congress general secretary in charge of Haryana, who has since been appointed Madhya Pradesh Congress president. Over the past few days, Haryana leaders and MLAs have been meeting Rahul to voice their opinion on the changing political scenario in the state. All eyes are now on the Congress president for the long anticipated overhauling of the state unit currently headed by Ashok Tanwar. Among those who met Rahul recently are MLAs Uday Bhan, Jaiveer Singh, Geeta Bhukkal and Shakuntla Khatak, all representing reserved segments in the Assembly. Former minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav also met Rahul so did Congress Legislature Party Leader Kiran Choudhry. The group of four senior Dalit lawmakers from Haryana are learnt to have impressed upon Rahul to make an early decision on the state leadership and enable the new organisation to deliver in the next state elections. It is learnt that these MLAs have batted for leadership change to be in accordance with the peoples aspirations. This camp of MLAs is loyal to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and has been insisting, along with a section of others, for Hooda to be made Haryana Congress chief. Ajay Yadav is reported to have urged Rahul to take serious note of the INLD-BSP pre-poll tie up announcement which could be detrimental to Congress prospects in the state. Yadav urged Rahul to factor in the Dalit and OBC leaders to counter the impact of the Chautala-Mayawati tango in Haryana. The state has around 18 per cent SCs. Kiran Choudhry, meanwhile, discussed Haryanas political situation with Rahul and also the fact that the recent Jan Aakrosh rally in Delhi was a huge success. Haryana Congress workers participated in large numbers in this rally and for the first time the Hooda and Tanwar camps lay low and desisted from personal political grandstanding. AICC sources privy to discussions on Haryana Congress affairs meanwhile say the first priority for Rahul is to appoint a state in charge. Organisational reshuffle will follow. Its equally important to see how Rahul balances the need to counter the BJPs growing non-Jat appeal in Haryana. The Congress has a strong Jat leadership in the state with Hooda and Congress national media in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, both seen as potential leaders in this segment. There is however a debate in the party on the urgency to balance the Jat and non-Jat factor. In the latter category, Kumari Selja and Kuldeep Bishnoi are strong leaders. Recent events, however, give the Hooda camp a lot of hope considering nine-time Lok Sabha MP Kamal Nath managed to become Madhya Pradesh Congress president despite a formidable younger competitor in Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is known for his closeness to Rahul. State presidency is a key post in Congress affairs as the party constitution mandates the state chief to sit in the meetings where Assembly tickets are decided and finalised. It is for this reason that the post of state campaign committee chief doesnt enthuse veteran leaders much. In Punjab, too, Capt Amarinder Singh had insisted the state reins to be handed over to him if he was expected to deliver. In Haryana, Hoodas situation is akin to Singhs. Congress MLA Uday Bhan on Friday told The Tribune that the Jan Kranti Yatra which had to be postponed due to ill health of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would now resume from Samalkha in Panipat district on June 3. Priority: To appoint state in charge gspannu7@gmail.com BOSTON: A 24-hour fast may reverse the age-related loss of stem cell function that regenerates new intestinal cells, according to a study. Researchers, including those from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, found 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. In the study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the researchers found that they could also boost regeneration with a molecule that activates the same metabolic switch. Such an intervention could potentially help older people recovering from gastrointestinal infections or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the researchers said. "This study provided evidence that fasting induces a metabolic switch in the intestinal stem cells, from utilizing carbohydrates to burning fat," said David Sabatini, a professor at MIT. "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," said Sabatini. 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. As people age, the regenerative abilities of these intestinal stem cells decline, so it takes longer for the intestine to recover. The researchers focused on understanding how a 24-hour fast enhances the function of young and old intestinal stem cells. After mice fasted for 24 hours, they 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. "It was very obvious that fasting had this really immense effect on the ability of intestinal crypts to form more organoids, which is stem-cell-driven," said Maria Mihaylova from Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in the US. "This was something that we saw in both the young mice and the aged mice, and we really wanted to understand the molecular mechanisms driving this," Mihaylova said. Further studies, including sequencing the messenger RNA of stem cells from the mice that fasted, revealed that fasting induces cells to switch from their usual metabolism, which burns carbohydrates such as sugars, to metabolising fatty acids. This switch occurs through the activation of transcription factors called PPARs, which turn on many genes that are involved in metabolising fatty acids. editorial@tribune.com Ambika Sharma Tribune News Service Solan, May 4 Accused hotelier Vijay Singh, who was produced in a Kasauli court by the Dharampur police on Friday, has been sent to five-day police remand. A police team led by officiating SP, Dr Shiv Kumar, later recovered the murder weapon at the instance of the accused from behind the guest house about 15 m away. No bullets were recovered either from the .32 bore revolver or from the spot. In a major embarrassment to the police posse guarding the Narayani Guest House after the gruesome murder of a lady official on May 1, the accused Vijay Singh had come back to the hotel and concealed the .32 bore revolver behind the guest house the same night between 1am and 2 am. The security personnel were not only caught napping but they failed to trace his whereabouts despite claiming to have cordoned off the area soon after the murder. As many as 14 police personnel, including two Quick Reaction Team sleuths, were present at the site when the firing took place. Singh had a valid arms license issued in 2011 by ADM Solan for self-protection. He has been using the revolver for test fire according to police officials. Vijay Kumar had initially climbed on the hill opposite the guest house soon after the shootout but had later managed to come down on the Dharampur-Kasauli road from where he had re-visited his guest house using the forest track below the road. Shiv Kumar, while addressing media persons, informed that they were verifying the claim made by the accused pertaining to his escape from the area. As per his statement he had fled from the NH-22 after scaling down the nullah located below his guest house and he managed to reach The Tribune chowk. From there he reached Delhi. He shaved his moustache and trimmed his hair after buying new clothes at Jahagirpuri area of Delhi. He then took a bus to reach Mathura on May 2. Being a devotee of Lord Krishna he had decided to flee to Mathura and was waiting to pay obeisance at the Bankebihari Vrindavan temple when he was nabbed by the police around 5 pm on Thursday. He was carrying about Rs 52,000 with him but was left with barely Rs 3,500 as the remaining money was pick-pocketed while he was travelling from Delhi to Mathura. No money was recovered from him when he was arrested. The police got the first clue about his whereabouts when he called his mother Narayani Devi at 2 pm on May 2, a day after he had fled from the area. He had also made a call to his cousin on his cell phone and this was communicated to the police the same day. The police was also keeping tabs on the cell phones and landline numbers of his relatives, family and friends. Despite carrying his cell phone he never used it to call anyone and had been borrowing cell phones of strangers to call his family and friends from Mathura. He had also tried to book a call from a post office at Mathura but had fled the place minutes before the police could trace him. Dismissing allegations of the accused having surrendered, Shiv Kumar said if he had intended to do so he could have visited a police station near the Bankebihari temple at Mathura before being nabbed by the police. Heera Thakur, his cousin, dismissed the polices arrest theory saying he had received an SMS from Vijay Singh at 4:55 pm on Thursday evening saying, I am coming to surrender. Thakur added that outsiders were being promoted and the locals were being harassed by the TCP department. The police was misled by the information of an individual having fired in the air at a nearby Kanda village on May 1 soon after the shootout and precious time was lost in inquiring into it. Team Tankers International Ltd. will host an call to announce its 1st quarter 2018 earnings results on 8 May 2018 at 16:00 CET (10:00am ET). Connection details are as follows: Web link: https://pgi.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1189288&tp_key=77d5c545a4 Dial-in details: Participant Passcode: 084682 Location Purpose Phone Type Phone Number Denmark Dial-in Tollfree/Freephone 80 88 73 76 Denmark, Copenhagen Dial-in Local +45 35 15 80 92 Norway Dial-in Tollfree/Freephone 800 17131 Norway, Oslo Dial-in Local +47 2350 0187 Singapore Dial-in Tollfree/Freephone 800 186 5105 Singapore, Singapore Dial-in Local +65 6320 9091 Spain Dial-in Tollfree/Freephone 800 600 851 Spain, Madrid Dial-in Local +34 91 419 2311 United Kingdom Dial-in Tollfree/Freephone 0800 279 4827 United Kingdom, Local Dial-in Local +44 (0)330 336 9401 United States, Brooklyn Dial-in Local +1 646-828-8199 United States/Canada Dial-in Tollfree/Freephone 800-581-5838 Questions should be directed to: Hans Feringa, President and CEO T: +1 203 341 3600 Kevin Kilcullen, CFO T: +1 203 341 3600 This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Dharamsala, May 4 US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster visited Dharamsala. He is here on a two-day official visit. Juster had an audience with the Dalai Lama and met CTA President Lobsang Sangay on Friday. The Cabinet of the Central Tibetan Administration also hosted an official dinner reception followed by cultural performances at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts for the visiting dignitary. Following the audience with the Dalai Lama, the Ambassador said he had discussions on a wide range of issues. He was inspired by the Dalai Lamas views on how inner peace of individuals could be spread to bring broader peace to mankind. The Ambassador had arrived on Thursday. He was accompanied by a four-member delegation from the US Embassy consisting of Anood Taqui, Special Assistant; Derek Westfall, Deputy Political Minister Counsellor, Thomas Kress, USAID, and Raj Marwaha, USAID. A former US government official, Kenneth Juster, was appointed as the US Ambassador to India in November 2017. rchopra@tribunemail.com Jammu, May 4 A 16-year-old pilgrim from Rajasthan died after apparently suffering a cardiac arrest while on his way to the shrine of Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said. Manoj Kumar of Dholpur district fell unconscious while on his way to the shrine. He was rushed to a dispensary by his friends where doctors declared him brought dead, they said. As per preliminary reports, he may have died due to a cardiac arrest, but it will be verified only after post-mortem. PTI editorial@tribune.com Samaan Lateef Tribune News Service Srinagar May 4 The Government Dental College authorities have come under sharp criticism from the state administration and doctors bodies for not allowing its protesting orthodontics students to appear in the final exams. Taking cognisance of The Tribunes report No exam for protesting dental college students, which appeared in the paper on Friday, Srinagar District Magistrate Syed Aabid Rashid, who was also the inquiry officer for the student protests, has written to the University of Kashmir to conduct the examinations of the students. It is requested that necessary action by way of conducting the examination of the scholars (students) may be taken at the earliest so that their future may not be jeopardised, Rashid wrote to the Dean, Academics, University of Kashmir. He has sought the personal intervention of the Dean, Academics, University of Kashmir, for redress of the issues pertaining to the postgraduate students in view of the urgency of the matter. The University of Kashmir (KU), which regulates Government Dental College (GDC), Srinagar, on Wednesday issued the datesheet for the final year examination of postgraduate students to be held between May 15 and 26. The varsity had issued the datesheet for all departments of the GDC except the orthodontics department. A university statement said the GDC Principal, Reyaz Farooq, had not sent the request to hold the examination for the orthodontics department for reasons best known to him. The students of orthodontics have alleged that Farooq wanted them to apologise to the accused Professor, Muhammad Mushtaq, before he would send a request to the university authorities for conducting their final examination. Mushtaq, who was the head of the orthodontics department, was suspended by the government on March 20 over allegations that he forced his students to do his personal work. As you are aware, the postgraduate students of the final year are slated to appear for the examination. However, because of the attachment of the Head of Department (HoD) of the Orthodontics by the government, the department doesn't have a HoD in place. In such a situation, the postgraduate scholars are apprehensive that they wont be able to sit in the examination which may jeopardise their career, The Srinagar District Magistrate wrote to the KU. Meanwhile, various bodies of doctors have condemned the GDC Principals action and requested the KU to hold the examination of the orthodontics students. The Principal is taking revenge from the students. He is doing it so that nobody in future would dare to raise their voice against the injustice which has become a norm in the GDC, Srinagar, said Suhail Naik, Doctors Association Kashmir president. Naik said Farooq, who has been holding the post of the Principal, GDC, since 2004, should be immediately removed. Sources in the KU said as the GDC Principal was not forthcoming in his response, Vice Chancellor Khursheed Andrabi had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and decided to issue the datesheet for the orthodontics students. The District Magistrate, Srinagar, has shot a formal communication, which is under consideration. Appropriate action shall follow in the interest of the students, said KU public relations officer Faheem Aslam. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Mona Some melancholy in the heart, a pang of parting from the family is how Major Gen Harwant Krishan(retd) describes retirement blues as. He hung his boots in 2007, after 42 years in uniform, following a rather regimented daily routine, starting before the break of dawn, every single day. Physical activity, mental alertness, healthy social life are the three things he stuck to when melancholy in the heart grew too much to handle! He set up Pine Hills Eco Camp, despite dissuasion from many, citing hurdles of a start-up. In my mind, challenges drive away misery, shares the man who established this nature retreat with three fold aim - provide an avenue for adventure, which is both learning and fun, empower local communities, and conserve and protect the environment. It gives enormous satisfaction, shares the jubilant man. Time at hand Thirty-four years in service, the morning after retirement, Arun Kumar got ready at dot 9 am out of habit...only there was nowhere go! Having put in 14 hours a day in Indian Revenue Services, suddenly he had a lot of time on hand and no idea what to do with it. While he doesnt shy away from admitting that there is nothing that can banish the blues, over the years he has worked out a schedule that has a fair smattering of individual time and plenty of movie dates with his wife! These days, he enjoys his post breakfast naps, because post lunch he has to play bridge! Travel along When time came to bid adieu to her academic career, Shashi Jain she did not want to give up on what she enjoyed the most - being a mentor to young minds. She continued doing so through supervising PhDs. What gave her even more satisfaction was delivering lectures to adolescents on drugs and other issues. Playing cards and embroidering have always been pet hobbies and post retirement, I merrily gave more time to it, says Jain, who is embellishing a willow pond these days. Travel is high on her agenda too. Last May, I visited the US and Canada; December was spent in exploring Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, Hyderabad it was in January and Kerala in February. I can travel as much as I want all through the year, something I could do only post retirement. Cop story I am in the same field even after retirement, jokes Rajbir Deswal. Just that earlier he would put people in jail, now he helps them get out of it! Retired as additional DG human rights and litigation, he has put on a black coat. However, it is not only the job of a lawyer he is focused on. In one year of his retired life, he has visited five countries, turned a motivational speaker, written more and even dabbled in photography. Well, when you leave ones official accommodation, one needs to be prepared to leave lots of the comforts that come with it. Your assistants, household staff, driver, car - suddenly you are on your own in the world outside. Having accepted it all, he loves new adventures; most of it spending more time with spouse, Kaumudi. But I do give her ample me time too, he says. Family man It was a tough call for Rajesh Chadha when he decided to ditch his marketing job at 43 years of age in order to spend more time with his children. I have stayed away from my family enough. The harsh reality he had to face was to be sitting at home, alone! Internet came in handy though. He started to learn and paint on computer, something that he enjoys immensely. He has also established an NGO for underprivileged children. Getting busy is the key, shares Chadha, who turned into an author too! mona@tribunemail.com. Be prepared One should start preparing much before the designated date, opines Shivani Singh, counsellor, on beating post-retirement blues. Cultivate a social circle and engage in pursuits beyond work. She insists on having a firm plan near about the day of superannuation. Be ready: if your heart lies with children, move closer to them. Whether you want to enrol in a course or take up a guest position at a professional concern, these decisions must be thoroughly thought about. Most importantly, one must have a set schedule. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Gurnaaz Kaur In 2005, without any connections in the industry, actor Ranjha Vikram entered Bollywood. With 16 years of experience in acting, we can take the liberty to call him a veteran now! He has seen many high and lows in his career, but he doesnt wish it to have been any different; instead, he believes in walking tall. This industry has undergone a complete overhaul since when I began. Things changed within a few years of my joining. Corporates were calling the shots and signing well-established names only. Other than that, you either had to have a Godfather or were a second-generation actor to get a good movie. I didnt have any of it and it did hit my scope, Ranjha Vikram opens. He continues, Right time, right opportunity really matters. Even after all the struggle, I didnt leave the ground. I didnt give up and that has brought me to the point where I am here. Good going Ranjha has done 15 films so far in five languages. He may have not tasted success in the initial years of his career, but things changed for him after Heropanti in 2014. His role as Rajjo Fauji in the film was well-received. He was also appreciated and awarded for Punjabi film 25 Kille. But this actor says the turning point was, I was shooting for a Telugu film when I got a call for the auditions of Heropanti. I was surprised to know that someone from the Telugu film industry referred me for the role of Rajjo Fauji. Word of praise Being grateful is one thing, but Ranjha Vikram is all praise for the industry. Be it technically, financially or professionally, Telugu cinema is way ahead of Bollywood. I looked at it as an option when things werent working out for me in Hindi films, but, today, I feel proud to have made that decision. It has given me a lot, he says. Talking about decisions, Ranjha had very early in life decided to get into business and with a production house life has come a full circle. I was 14 when I joined my dad in his business. I handled it till 2005. I learnt and earned a lot from it, both before age! That knowledge even helped me understand the film industry. Business runs in my blood and 25 Killes success reflects that, he says. Talking films With 25 Kille came a prefix to Vikrams name. What really is the story? Ranjha is my nickname. My family and friends call me Ranjha. I feel there is a lot in the name. Ever since Ive attached Ranjha to my name, Ive seen things changing for good, he smiles. His current real life engagements are equally interesting. In the pipeline are two films, one in Hindi and the other in Punjabi. I am currently working for my upcoming film Fauji Calling. Directed by Aryan Saxena, the film is about every soldier in the world and their struggle to balance life. It will also feature actor Sharman Joshi. I have a Punjabi film, Yaari Te Sardari, releasing later this year. gurnaaz@tribunemail.com rajivbhatia82@gmail.com Daana Paani Directed by Tarnvir Singh Jagpal, Daana Paani is a Punjabi period film that explores the early days of 1962 when Mehtaab Singh takes responsibility of personally informing the family of a martyred Lance Naik of his wartime demise. Along the way, he meets a troubled woman, Basant Kaur. The trials and tribulations of their unexpected attraction cause commotion. Their fate may have determined that they would enter each other's lives, but it seems the actions of those around them decide just how long they can stay together! I really like the film, especially the story of the film. Varun Sharma, student The films concept is nice. More movies like these should be made. Perhaps it was slightly emotional, but it was very enriching. Gurpreet Singh, student I really like the film. It talks shows the culture of Punjab and I really enjoyed watching it. Sandeep Sidhu, businessperson 102 Not Out 102 Not Out is a Hindi-language Indian comedy-drama film, directed by Umesh Shukla. It stars Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor in pivotal roles. 102 Not Out is based on the eponymous Gujarati play written by Saumya Joshi. Amitabh Bachchan plays the role of a 102-year-old man and Rishi Kapoor essays the role of his 75-year-old son. The plot revolves around the 102-year-old man trying to break the record for the oldest person in the world, held in the movie by a Chinese Man. This is a crazy film! I had so much fun watching it. I like Amitabh Bachchans role. Its very inspirational and motivational filma complete paisa vasool. Raman, Student Its fun to see Rishi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan acting even at this age. The message of the film is really nice. Tanmay, Student We like the film very much. It was very entertaining and we totally loved seeing Big B and Rishi Kapoor on screen. Komal and Priya, students (As told to Amarjot Kaur) rajivbhatia82@gmail.com Johnson Thomas The Italian word Omerta, used in connection with the mafia, refers to the attitude of ordinary people who look the other way when confronted by criminal acts. But Hansal Mehtas film is not about the people inadvertently supporting the acts of terrorism by their silence. Its about the terrorist himself, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh(Rajkumar Rao) who looks so ordinary that one would be forgiven for thinking him harmless. A biopic on the British terrorist of Pakistani descent who is claimed to have had a hand in several kidnappings, responsible for Wall street journal scribe Daniel Pearls murder and involved in financing the 9/11 operation among other acts of terrorism, this dramatization uses file pictures, some documentary footage and fastidious facts to put forward a picture of evil that is hard to overlook. Omar Saeed, a well educated young man belonging to a middle class family settled in London has this urgent need to avenge the indignities on his community committed during the Bosnian strife. As a first, he ineptly attempts to kidnap a few foreigners, gets caught and incarcerated and eventually comes out of prison in exchange for hostages of a sky-jacked Air India aircraft. He then goes to Afghanistan gets trained in a brutal terrorist boot camp and thereafter emerges as a respectable leader of sorts, settling down to a respectable married life in Karachi. After that comes Daniel Pearls beheading and 9/11. Hansal Mehtas take is devoid of emotional resonance. The plotting is scrupulously lean and the drama lies in the acts of criminality being exposed to the naked eye rather than the emotions raging behind it. He doesnt allow for any empathy or sympathy to creep into the viewers mind. By using a title that is critical of human weakness and portraying a cold-blooded heartless killer in the grip of an irascible spree of vengeance within the narrative spiel, Mehta is exhorting the viewer to be more aware and responsible. Theres obviously more to terrorism than one unhinged mind just as theres more to vengeance than the killing of innocents. Rajkumar Raos immersive performance as the cold-blooded brutal terrorist without heart is a fascinating study of a deranged mind that seems benign and harmless at first glance. The fluid pacing, the sharp editing, chilling background score, goose-flesh inducing cinematography and accurate detailing amounts to a concerted dehumanising that is tough on the senses. This is a stark portrait of a human being gone wrong and is likely to give you nightmares for a long time. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Lucknow, May 4 To check the spread of rumours, the Aligarh district administration has shut down Internet services in the city till Saturday midnight. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students continued with their indefinite dharna at the Bab-e-Syed gate on the campus. A large number of women students also joined the protest. AMU spokesperson said the students were protesting to press for immediate action against so-called Hindutva activists who barged into the AMU campus on May 2, a judicial inquiry into lathicharge besides other demands, as mentioned in their memorandum. He clarified that the students agitation was in no way related to the portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah hanging in the student union office. The ongoing annual and semester examination in the varsity have been put on hold and teaching suspended for five days. A section of AMU students on Friday even boycotted the media charging it of not showing their version of developments and projecting them as wrongdoers. Aligarh District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into Wednesdays clashes and asked the ADM (Finance) to complete a probe within a fortnight. Security has further been tightened at AMU after Hindu Jagran Manch activists Amit Goswami and Saurabh Chaudhary declared they would enter the AMU Students Union office to remove the portrait of Jinnah. Meanwhile, AMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor, along with his wife Dr Hameeda Tariq, visited the injured students admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) for the second time to enquire about their health. These students were injured in the police lathicharge while they were on their way to lodge an FIR at the Civil Lines police station against reported right wing outsiders who had allegedly barged into the campus. Students seek SSPs suspension gspannu7@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 4 Following the first informal summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Ambassador Lou Zhaouhui has underlined implementation, transmission and action as the way forward from Wuhan. In a seminar co-hosted with the Institute for Chinese Studies (ICS), Lou exchanged ideas with Indian and Chinese academicians, scholars and journalists on Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and Its Way Forward. The envoy underlined that broad domestic and foreign policy principles were shared between the two top leaders in their first of its kind strategic dialogue in a fruitful, constructive manner. The nuts and bolts would now need finalising even as PM Modi and President Xi will find at least three occasions to meet this year, he said. This includes the upcoming SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summit in Qingdao, BRICS summit in Johannesburg and G20 in Argentina. Incremental moves will help in resolving disputes. We are talking of decades of developments. Some problems come from reality and some come from history. Putting aside disputes doesnt mean neglecting them. Mutual accommodation will help, said Lou. While delegates expressed cautious optimism, there was also considerable scepticism about sincerity of the dialogue unless some real movement was visible on key contentious issues between the two sides. Stressing that disputes cannot be resolved overnight, Lou however, added that connectivity can build confidence. Interestingly without referring to OBOR (One Belt One Road) and Indias objections, the envoy said that China is using some new terms and names to replace old existing economic corridors like the maritime silk route. He claimed that even the US, UK, Japan along with India could benefit from economic integration and Chinas economic experience. Citing the proposed multi-modal BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar) corridor as an example, the ambassador called it in line with peace and a corridor to South East Asia. During the political preparations for the summit it was decided that the leaders could talk about anything and not just about disputes, said Lou, who spoke about the bonhomie between PM Modi and President Xi during their nearly ten hours of conversations in Wuhan. However, he added the Sino-India boundary dispute would eventually need to be resolved. editorial@tribune.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 4 Controversies surrounding BJPs Dalit outreach are increasing its dilemma, which it hoped to resolve with the exercise. While ideological fountainhead RSS has cautioned its political arm about perils of such tokenism, party Dalit MPs are also objecting to leaders having food at homes of Dalits. Udit Raj, the partys most vocal Dalit MP on Friday said such gestures were not enough to address aspirations of his community. Just having food with Dalits would not satisfy them, there was a need to address their aspirations that included respect, equality and rights, he said. Having food at Dalit households is similar to a doctor giving medicines to treat fever to a patient while he has a problem in the stomach, he added. Though the party denies it, the Sangh also believes that Dalit outreach should be part of daily life and not look staged as it would not help anyone, neither the party nor the community. Over the past few weeks, several BJP leaders have been visiting Dalit households to break bread with them as part of PM Narendra Modis Gram Swaraj Abhiyan mission. Ministers braving mosquito bites in villages The ministers are visiting villages to ensure the benefits of government schemes reached the needy. They have to face mosquito bites the whole night, still they visit the villages. Anupama Jaiswal, Uttar Pradesh minister Star Wars-themed television commercial highlights 2018 Nissan Rogue and its ProPILOT Assist feature that help guide pilots straight down the center Consumer sweepstakes offers opportunity to virtually customize Nissan vehicles and chance to win big prizes NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Every year on May 4th, Star Wars fans around the galaxy celebrate the film franchise, making it the perfect date for Nissan to pay tribute and begin its marketing campaign for Solo: A Star Wars Story, in theaters May 25. The campaign is now officially underway with many options for fans to immerse themselves into the upcoming movie with Nissans top-selling model, the Nissan Rogue. We are excited to continue our collaboration with Lucasfilm on the upcoming movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, celebrating both the film and our best-selling Nissan Rogue said Jeremy Tucker, Vice President of Marketing Communications and Media. Whether a long journey or a long day, the ProPILOT Assist function on the Rogue makes a great sidekick to help give you confidence on the highway. Straight Down the Center Television Commercial The television commercial starts out inside the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, the most capable ship in the galaxy, with L3-37 at the helm and Chewie as her co-pilot. While Chewie is hesitant of the dicey situation, L3-37 is confident in the ship and her abilities to navigate the path ahead. A similar scenario is carried over to a couple in their Nissan Rogue while on the highway. When the only way is forward, the driver has the confidence to navigate through the path ahead with ProPILOT Assist straight down the center. All while the sidekick, her dog in the back seat, expresses his concern. Best in the Galaxy Sweepstakes* Also live now is Nissans Best in the Galaxy sweepstakes, where fans can virtually customize a Nissan Rogue, Altima or TITAN with design elements from the upcoming movie. Upon completion, they can enter for their chance to win one of many amazing prizes. The grand prize is a custom Star Wars-inspired Nissan (Rogue, Altima or TITAN) and a Nissan-exclusive collectible replica Range Trooper helmet, produced by Gentle Giant Ltd. Additional prize winners will receive the collectible replica helmet. The sweepstakes is live now and runs through June 3. For rules and to enter, fans should visit NissanUSA.com/Solo. Show Vehicle Ahead, theres an additional surprise sure to excite Star Wars fans of all generations. A Millennium Falcon-themed Nissan Rogue show vehicle will debut closer to the theater release of Solo: A Star Wars Story. For more information on the Nissan vehicle lineup, visit nissannews.com. About Nissan North America In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and INFINITI vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com and www.infinitiusa.com, or visit the U.S. media sites nissannews.com and infinitinews.com. About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2016, the company sold 5.63 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.72 trillion yen. In fiscal 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30% increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has a global workforce of 247,500 and has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999. In 2016, Nissan acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is today the world's largest automotive partnership, with combined annual sales of more than 10.6 million vehicles in calendar year 2017. For more information our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit Nissan-Global.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, and see all our latest videos on YouTube. About Solo: A Star Wars Story Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars sagas most unlikely heroes. The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo and Paul Bettany. Ron Howard directs Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel are the producers. Lawrence Kasdan, Jason McGatlin, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller serve as executive producers. Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay. Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters on May 25, 2018. About Best in the Galaxy Sweepstakes *NO PURCHASE, NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the 50 United States and DC. Sweepstakes begins on 5/1/18 at 12:00:01 a.m. ET and ends on 6/3/18 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. To enter, and to view the Official Rules, odds disclosures, and prize details, visit https://www.nissanusa.com/star-wars-solo. Void outside the U.S. and where prohibited. Limit one entry per person per calendar day. Total prize value: $106,300. Sponsor: Nissan North America, Inc., One Nissan Way, Franklin, TN 37067-1634. Contact Wendy Orthman Nissan North America 313-971-4933 wendy.orthman@nissan-usa.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/743a4cc7-cf61-4805-bfad-3ad637229adf rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, May 4 A Delhi court on Friday sent journalist Upendra Rai, arrested for his alleged involvement in dubious financial transactions, to CBI custody for three days. Special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann remanded Rai to police custody after the agency said a large number incriminating material were recovered during the probe and he has not been cooperating in the investigation. CBI Public Prosecutor Manoj Shukla had sought seven-day custody of the accused. Rais counsel said he was neither hiding, nor running away and his custody was not required to complete the probe. He said he has not tampered with the evidence and there was no allegation that he has tried to influence any witness. SC refuses to interfere with arrest of Rai Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had refused to interfere with his arrest, saying it has not gone through the application filed by Rai seeking protection. The CBI had on Thursday arrested the Delhi-based scribe for allegedly indulging in dubious financial transactions and getting an airport access pass made by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) by furnishing false information. Rai has claimed he has been framed in the case as he has been writing against an ED officer who was part of the team probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam case. Rai was questioned at the agency headquarters along with two others for the entire day before being arrested yesterday, officials had said. Prasun Roy, chief security officer of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, was also booked by the CBI in the case, they had said. The probe agency had carried out searches at eight locations in Lucknow, Noida, Delhi and Mumbai. In its FIR, the agency has alleged that going by the value of the transactions of over Rs one lakh during 2017, Rais accounts received Rs 79 crore while Rs 78.51 crore was debited from it during the same period. PTI harinder@tribunemail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 4 Following the first informal summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, Chinese Ambassador Lou Zhaouhui has underlined implementation, transmission and action as the way forward from Wuhan. At a seminar co-hosted with the Institute for Chinese Studies (ICS), Lou exchanged ideas with Indian and Chinese academics, scholars and journalists on Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and Its Way Forward. The envoy underlined that broad domestic and foreign policy principles were shared between the two top leaders in their first-of-its-kind strategic dialogue in a fruitful, constructive manner. The nuts and bolts would now need finalising even as PM Modi and President Xi will find at least three occasions to meet this year. This includes the upcoming SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summit in Qingdao, BRICS summit in Johannesburg and G20 in Argentina. Incremental moves will help in resolving disputes. We are talking of decades of developments. Some problems come from reality and some come from history. Putting aside disputes doesnt mean neglecting them. Mutual accommodation will help, said Lou. While delegates expressed cautious optimism, there was also considerable scepticism about sincerity of the dialogue unless some real movement was visible on key contentious issues between the two sides. Stressing that disputes cannot be resolved overnight, Lou, however, added that connectivity can build confidence. Without referring to OBOR (One Belt, One Road) and Indias objections, the envoy said China is using some new terms and names to replace old existing economic corridors like the maritime silk route. During the preparations for the summit, it was decided that the leaders could talk about anything and not just about disputes, he said , adding the boundary dispute would eventually need to be resolved. harinder@tribunemail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 4 The tussle between the government and the judiciary over judicial appointments played out in the Supreme Court on Friday, with each accusing the other of not discharging its functions to fill a huge number of vacancies. As a Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur charged the government with sitting over recommendations for appointment of judges in high courts, Attorney General KK Venugopal countered it, accusing the collegium of recommending just a few names for high courts with a larger number of vacancies. The development came on a day when Justice RK Agrawal of the Supreme Court retired, taking the vacancies in the top court to seven. The sanctioned strength is 31. With five more judges due to retire this year, the vacancy situation was likely to deteriorate further. Interestingly, there was no recommendation for appointment in the Supreme Court pending with the government after it returned the name of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph for reconsideration. The collegium will have to see the broad picture and recommend more names Some HCs have 40 vacancies and recommendation of the collegium is only for three. And the government is being told that we are tardy in filling up the vacancy. If there is no collegium recommendation, nothing can be done, Venugopal told the Bench. Non-recommendation does not give you (government) liberty to sit over names sent to you long back, said the Bench, which also included Justice Deepak Gupta, reminding the government that it had to make the appointments. Tell us, how many names are pending with you? the Bench asked Venugopal, who said, I will have to find out. The judges took offence to it, saying, This is the problem with you (government). When it comes to attacking the judiciary, you have all the data. But when it comes to the government, you say you don't have the figures. The Bench was hearing a transfer petition from the Manipur High Court, where there were only two judges against the sanctioned strength of seven. Having lost his case before a Single Bench, the petitioner had moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of his case to the Gauhati High Court as it was not possible to form a Division Bench without including the Single Judge who had dismissed his case. The senior judge is also the Acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. As the Bench asked him about the pending recommendation regarding appointment of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar as the Chief Justice of the Manipur HC, the Attorney General said the appointment would be notified shortly. Shortly means three months? the Bench asked. Please call for the matter again after 10 days. It will be done, Venugopal replied. Maintaining that it did not want to go into the larger picture, the Bench asked the government to file an affidavit in 10 days regarding appointments in high courts in the North-East. People in the North-East are suffering what are they supposed to do? They come to Delhi before us, to say that please transfer our case to other high courts. They spend money for this, the Bench said. At one point during the hearing, Venugopal said the National Judicial Appointments Commission was a better option. rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, May 3 A Guwahati-bound IndiGo flight, carrying 177 people from here on Thursday 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 on Thursday 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. 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 to Guwahati, 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 becoming available, the airline underlined. It said that accommodations and ground transportation was provided at Guwahati to all the passengers. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, May 4 Almost seven decades after he died, Pakistans founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah continues to trigger controversiesbe it over praise by some BJP leaders or merely because of a portrait of him hanging on a university wall. The BJP is working overtime to put a lid on a row, which was ignited after its leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya called Jinnah a great man after some party leaders sought removal of his portrait from Aligarh Muslim Univeristy, but it is only a reminder of the bigger storms the Pakistan founder has caused in the saffron party. Jinnah, who became the Governor-General of Pakistan after partition, died in September 1948. His praise of Jinnah in 2005 had cost LK Advanithe longest serving BJP presidenthis job as the party chief eventually and, many believe, it caused a permanent strain in his relations with the RSS from which he could never recover. The BJP stalwarts tall stature within the party and impeccable Hindutva credentials as the leader behind the Ram temple movement helped him weather the storm and remain a formidable force for several years. There was no such comfort for party veteran Jaswant Singh, who was summarily expelled from the organisation in 2009 for his praise of Pakistans founder. On a sentimental trip to Pakistan in June 2005, Advani, who was born in Karachi in 1927, had showered praise on Jinnah, calling him a great man and suggesting that he was a secular leader. In a visit to the Pakistan founders mausoleum in Karachi, the then BJP president wrote, There are many people who leave an inerasable stamp on history. But there are very few who actually create history. Advani further wrote, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was one such rare individual. In his early years, Sarojini Naidu, a leading luminary of Indias freedom struggle, described Mr Jinnah as an Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity. Continuing with his encomium, he said, His address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, is a classic, a forceful espousal of a Secular State in which every citizen would be free to practise his own religion but the State shall make no distinction between one citizen and another on the grounds of faith. My respectful homage to this great man. Still reeling from its shock defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP was convulsed from its presidents praise of a man, who has been a hate figure for the Hindutva movement. The party tried to distance itself from his comments while its ideological mentor RSS publicly expressed its disagreement with Advanis statement. Taken aback, he declined to withdraw his statement but offered to resign immediately upon his return to India. He continued for some months before Rajnath Singh replaced him in December 2005. Many believed at that time that Advanis lavish praise of Jinnah was driven by his desire to shun his Hindutva hardline image and project a soft and moderate image of him as a leader of a party keen to mend relations with Pakistan. The ghost of Jinnah came back to haunt the BJP again when Jaswant Singh, a party veteran who held external affairs and finance portfolios in the Vajpayee government between 1998-2004, showed praise on the man blamed by most Indians for division of India in 1947. In his book Jinnah- India, Partition, Independence, Singh blamed the Congress and its stalwart Jawahar Lal Nehru for the partition and said Jinnah was demonised. Gujarat had also banned the book for its critical reference to Sardar Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was then the states chief minister. Singh, never a favourite of the party hardliners, was expelled from the party. Advani later played a key role in admitting him back into the party. BJP leaders believe that praise for Jinnah by leaders like Advani and Singh underlined their discomfort with the partys hardline image as they believed that it affected the partys adversely in elections. Under Modi and Amit Shah, the BJP is unambiguous and unapologetic about its stand on Jinnah, that he was the man responsible for Indias division. Asserting this line of thinking, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath yesterday said in a TV interview, in the midst of the AMU controversy, that Jinnah divided this country and how can we celebrate his achievements? PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 4 The tussle between the government and the judiciary over judicial appointments played out in the Supreme Court on Friday, with each accusing the other of not discharging their functions to fill a huge number of vacancies. As a Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur charged the government with sitting over recommendations for appointments of judges in various high courts, Attorney-General KK Venugopal countered it accusing the Collegium of recommending just few names for high courts with larger number of vacancies. The development came on a day when Justice RK Agrawal of the Supreme Court retired, taking the vacancy in the top court to seven against the sanctioned strength of 31. With five more judges due to retire this year, the vacancy situation in the Supreme Court was likely to deteriorate further. Interestingly, there was no recommendation for the appointment in the Supreme Court pending with the government after it returned the name of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph for reconsideration of the Collegium. The Collegium will have to see the broad picture and recommend more namesSome high courts have 40 vacancies and recommendation of the Collegium is only for three. And the government is being told that we are tardy in filing up the vacancy. If there is no Collegium recommendation, nothing can be done, Venugopal told the Bench. Non-recommendation does not give you (government) liberty to sit over names sent to you long back, said the Bench, which also included Justice Deepak Gupta, reminding the government that it had to make the appointments. Tell us, how many names are pending with you? the Bench asked Venugopal who said, I will have to find out. The judges took offence to it, saying, This is the problem with you (government). When it comes to attacking the judiciary, you have all the data. But when it comes to the government, you say you dont have the figures. The Bench was hearing a transfer petition from the Manipur High Court, where there were only two judges against the sanctioned strength of seven judges. Having lost his case before a Single Bench, the petitioner had moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of his case to the Gauhati High Court as it was not possible to form a Division Bench without including the Single Judge who had dismissed his case. The senior judge is also the Acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. As the Bench asked him about the pending recommendation regarding appointment of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, the Attorney-General said the appointment would be notified shortly. Shortly means three months? the Bench asked. Please call for the matter again after 10 days. It will be done, Venugopal replied. Maintaining that it did not want to go into the larger picture, the Bench asked the government to file an affidavit in 10 days regarding appointments in high courts in the northeast. People from the northeast are suffering what are they supposed to do? They come to Delhi before us, to say that please transfer our case to other high courts. They spend money for this, the Bench said. At one point during the hearing, Venugopal said the National Judicial Appointments Commission was a better option. gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, May 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, his third visit to the Himalayan state since he took over the reins of the government in 2014, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said. This is also the first high-level visit from India since the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Nepal, the MEA said in a statement. Modis visit to Nepal comes a little more than a month after Prime Minister Oli visited India. Oli had invited Modi to his country. During Olis visit, 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. Olis visit was seen as an attempt to repair Nepals ties with India. In 2016, Oli had publicly criticised India for allegedly interfering in Nepals 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. Yesterday, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Indian and Nepalese sides are working on various aspects of Modis visit. During the visit, besides holding talks with Oli, Modi will call on the President and the Vice President of Nepal, and interact with senior leaders of various political parties of Nepal. Modi will also be visiting the historic cities of Janakpur and Muktinath, apart from engagements in Kathmandu. The state visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal, and will enable leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and to strengthen cooperation in all areas of age-old, multi-faceted and expanding partnership between the two countries, the statement said. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 4 Convicts in the December 16, 2012, gang-rape case on Friday pleaded for mercy before the Supreme Court which reserved its verdict on the review petitions of two of the four convicts staring at the gallows. Requesting a three-judge Special Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra to spare them the gallows, their counsel AP Singh said, Death penalty is cold-blooded killing in the name of justice. Singh, who represented convicts Vinay Kumar and Pawan Kumar, pleaded that they were young men coming from poor families who should be given a chance to reform. Execution kills criminals and not the crime, he submitted. They are not habitual offenders and have no past criminal recordsThe court must allow them to be reformed, Singh told the Bench, which also included Justice R Banumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan. Singhs submission was countered by senior counsel and Special Prosecutor Siddharth Luthra who said it was the rarest of the rare case and the convicts should be sent to the gallows. The top court had on May 5, 2017, upheld a Delhi High Court verdict confirming the death penalty awarded by the trial court Mukesh Kumar (29), Pawan Kumar (22), Vinay Sharma (23) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31) for raping a 23-year-old para-medical student inside a moving bus in South Delhi on December 16, 2012. The girl was returning home along with her male friend after watching a movie. They had beaten up her friend before taking turns to rape her. She had later died in a hospital in Singapore due to injuries inflicted on her private parts by them. There were six accused in the case. Bus driver Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail, while the lone juvenile accused was tried before a juvenile court and sent to a reformatory for three years. He has since been released from the reform home. The rest four were convicted and sentenced to death. While the top court reserved verdict on review petitions of Vinay and Pawan on Friday, it has already reserved its verdict on review petition of convict Mukesh. Akshay hasnt filed any review petition. While reserving its verdict, the Bench asked Luthra and Singh to file their written submissions by Tuesday. As Singh said death penalty had been abolished in many countries. The CJI replied: Death penalty exists on the statute book. Timeline December 16, 2012: Six men, including a juvenile, gang-rape a 23-year-old para-medical student in a moving bus; insert rod in her private parts and throw her on road December 29, 2012: Victim succumbs to her injuries in a Singapore hospital, triggering nationwide protests March 11, 2013: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail August 31, 2013: Juvenile Justice Board finds lone juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder; sentences him to three-year stay in a reformatory. September 13, 2013: Four accused sentenced to death by a Delhi Sessions court March 13, 2014: A Division Bench of Delhi HC upholds trial court verdict awarding death penalty to convicts March 15, 2014: SC stays execution of convicts after they allege denial of fair trial May 05, 2017: SC upholds death penalty awarded to the four convicts by Delhi high court in 2014 May 4, 2018: SC reserves verdict on review petitions of three of them who sought leniency. harinder@tribunemail.com Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 4 In the last two years of its rule, the SAD-BJP government spent around Rs 100 crore to build a chain of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across the state, but there seemed to be no plan to bring in the patients. The result is that over the past one year of Congress rule, which in its manifesto promised an elaborate policy of rehabilitation, the centres have become ghost buildings with even fewer patients. On the other hand, private drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres are treating more patients than their bed strength. The Congress inherited 37 de-addiction centres built at a cost of Rs 27 crore, of which 32 are functional today. There were also 22 rehabilitation centres built at a cost of Rs 62 crore, of which 20 are functional. While de-addiction centres treat the patients medically, rehabilitation centres aim to engage them in social or productive activities. Over the past year, the 32 functional drug de-addiction centres have offered treatment to around 8,000 addicts; an average of 247 in a year per centre. The work done per centre has seen a drop of around 50 per cent since the time of the SAD-BJP government. According to experts, this number is far below expected in proportion to the drug addiction prevalence in the state. Govt vs private centres When it comes to intervention, for the past six months, the main emphasis of the Health Department has been on opening Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) Centres, which provide free-of-cost medicines, including buprenorphine, to addicts. After the opening of 26 OOAT centres in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Moga districts, the government also announced that all districts in the state will be covered. As per the Health Departments own data, in the four months till March, these centres had registered a little more than 3,000 new patients. Around 17 per cent of these patients got themselves registered but didnt complete the treatment. Compared to the prevalence rate of drug addiction in the state, the programme does not seem to have made much headway. A study released by the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, last year had revealed that there were around 3.15 lakh drug addicts (1.14% of the population). PGIMER experts have also disassociated themselves from the programme undertaken at OOAT centres. They have raised concerns over the location of these centres, lack of training of doctors, and have recommended that these centres should be established within the existing medical infrastructure (see box). However, Health Minister Brahm Mohindra has already stated that the OOAT programme will be extended to all districts. White elephants According to experts, the most common reason for the failure of government centres to attract patients despite the crackdown on drugs is their distance from hospitals. As a result, patients have to travel long distances to hospitals for psychiatric consultation and medical examinations. A senior functionary of the Health Department, who has remained associated with the drug de-addiction programme, says there is also a problem due to health officials not being interested in running the centres. This issue has even been raised at coordination meetings of the Home and Health Departments. On the other hand, torture, forced confinements, lack of amenities such as toilets, inhuman conditions, and patients commonly suffering from scabies, were the highlights of an internal report of the Health Department prepared last year on private drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres. Yet, 16 private drug de-addiction centres and 69 private rehabilitation centres continue to treat more patients than their bed strength. Certain centres even had patients three times the capacity. Human rights are being violated in these private centres, the report observed. Many of these centres have patients sent there forcibly by their families. Also, the medicines are administered at the centre itself without following the prescribed protocol. The previous government built beautiful buildings of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres, but did little to get patients into them. Now we have come up with a completely new approach like OOAT clinics, which has helped build faith in the de-addiction programme even in remote areas, said Brahm Mohindra. As far as private centres were concerned, he said they commonly indulged in unethical practices like prescribing the de-addiction drug even when not required. Between the governments policy experimentation and the private centres greed, getting the addicts off drugs remains a challenge, even as cutting down the demand has been identified by the police as key to ending the drug trade in the state. Drug prevalence As per a PGIMER study, among addicts in Punjab, the population dependent on banned opioids is around 2.7 lakh. Natural opioids, including opium and poppy husk, are most common. Injection-based opioid use is the second most common form of opioids one in four of all addicts. Heroin is the most common type. Of the total injection-opioid users (around 78,000), one-third abuse buprenorphine, a de-addiction medicine. The common source of drugs is drug peddlers, followed by pharmacies. Only 2.1% of opioid-dependent population reported criminal convictions. PGIMER concerns on OOATs TORONTO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GPM Metals Inc. (GPM or the Company) (TSXV:GPM) announces a corporate update. Daniel Noone has been appointed as Chairman of the Company. Mr. Noone has been a director of the Company since 2008. Mr. Noone holds a B.Sc. (Graduate) in Geology and a M.B.A., and is the Vice-President, Exploration of Guyana Goldfields Inc., as well as a director and interim CEO of Sandy Lake Gold Inc. Peter Mullens, the CEO and President of the Company, has been appointed as a director of the Company. The Hon. Doug Lewis has resigned as a director of the Company. The Company thanks Mr. Lewis for his service as a director of GPM since 2011 and wishes him well in his future endeavours. The Company is planning a small work program for the upcoming 2018 field season on the Walker Gossan Project in Australia, which will consist of soil sampling, prospecting and geological mapping. In addition, GPM technical personnel are reviewing previous work to investigate vectors to guide them towards potential future drilling. The Company advises that its Annual & Special Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 141 Adelaide Street West, Suite 1101, Toronto, Ontario at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). Shareholders are invited to attend the meeting to hear an update on the Companys exploration plans for the next twelve months. About GPM Metals Inc. GPM Metals is a zinc focused exploration company with offices in Toronto, Brisbane and Lima. The Companys current holdings include the district scale Walker Gossan Project, NT, Australia, a joint venture with Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited; and the Pasco Project, Department of Pasco, Peru. Both projects are advanced exploration properties with drill ready targets and have considerable potential to host significant zinc resource CONTACT INFORMATION For further information contact: GPM Metals Inc. Peter Mullens, CEO Suite 1101 141 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3L5 Telephone: (416) 628-5904 Telefax: (416) 628-6835 Email: info@gpmmetals.ca 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 Information set forth in this news release involves forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, financings and transactions being pursued, and all such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although the Company believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein. We Seek Safe Harbour rchopra@tribunemail.com Karam Prakash Tribune News Service Patiala, May 4 A three-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her landlord at Babu Singh Colony here on Thursday. The victim is undergoing treatment at Rajindra Hospital and is said to be stable. Police inspector Darshan Singh said the information was received on Thursday night and a case had been registered on the statement of the victims mother. The accused, identified as Surinder Singh, has been arrested. The victims parents are daily-wage workers and were out of their home when the misdeed was committed. The crime took place at about 1 pm when the accused sexually assaulted the minor in his room. There are two rooms on the premises and one is occupied by the accused, who happens to be the landlord, his wife and three kids. The victims family stayed in the second room. Shockingly, the accused carried out the heinous crime in front of his five-year-old son. In the evening, the son of the accused narrated the incident to the victims parents. The accused fled the spot on seeing his wife and neighbours gathering around the house. An embarrassed father of the victim decided to vacate the house in the morning. On the neighbours insistence the father of the victim filed a police complaint. The accused landlord and the victim were migrants from Uttar Pradesh, said the police. The father of the victim said Surinder was alcoholic and might be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime. harinder@tribunemail.com Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 4 Less than 24 hours after the Congress declared Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia as the party candidate for the Shahkot Assembly seat, he was booked by the Mehatpur police for alleged involvement in illegal mining after the Election Commission of India (ECI) received a complaint in this regard. Edit: The Shahkot case The Punjab Government and the state police were left red-faced. Senior officials were incommunicado for most part of the day. Upbeat, the Akalis organised protests, demanding that Laddi be arrested forthwith. The development is a big setback for Laddis mentor Rana Gurjit Singh, who had to resign from the Cabinet about three months ago amid reports of his alleged links with the mining mafia. Laddi, his cousin Ashwinder Singh of Malsian and contractor Surjeet Singh have been booked under Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and Section 379 (theft) of the IPC. A copy of the FIR (no. 52) went viral on the social media. Curiously, the SHO of the Mehatpur station, Inspector Parminder Singh Bajwa, who lodged the FIR at 4.26 am, left his phone in the office and went off. An hour later, a copy of his resignation, addressed to SSP Jalandhar (Rural), appeared on the social media. Then came his withdrawal letter, also on the social media, in which the SHO claimed he had quit because of domestic stress and had now changed his mind. Since the complaint came from the ECI and the election code was in place, it had to be processed within 24 hours, hence the FIR. No arrest will be made as of now as the complaint may be politically motivated. An inquiry will, however, be held, the SHOs letter read. Two days ago, the ECI had received a complaint from Mohan Singh, general secretary, Brick Kiln Labourers Union (CPI-M), Malri village, Nakodar, alleging: The contractor and Congress halqa in-charge Laddi have been excavating even the panchayat land in Kaimwala village for mining purposes. Illegal mining is being carried out by the two in Raipur Gujjran, Gauswal, Chholia, Baloki, Burhewal, Khurlapur, Chak Bahmanian, Pipli Mehni, Umarwal Bila and Gag Dhagara villages. Digging is being carried out in violation of labour laws. They are also working on an illegal quarry in Gatti Jatta village at Dharamkot, Moga. This complaint was sent to the Mehatpur police. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 4 An FIR was on Friday morning registered against Congress Shahkot candidate Hardev S Laddi Sherowalia and three others for their alleged involvement in illegal mining. The case has been registered at Mehatpur police station falling under Jalandhar rural police. The development has come as a major setback for the party that announced his candidature on Thursday overlooking several complaints of the sort against him. Laddi along with contractor Surjeet Singh, Ashwinder Singh of Malsian and mining authorities have been booked under the Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Section 379 of the IPC. FIR number 52 was registered against the four accused on the complaint of Mohan Singh, general secretary, Brick Kiln Labourers Union (CPIM), who hails from Malri village in Nakodar. Inspector Mehatpur Parminder Singh booked the four at 4.26 am after a complaint, which filed by Mohan reached him via-District Election Officer, Returning Officer, DIG (Jalandhar Range) and SSP (Jalandhar Rural). The SHO, who had got transferred here two days back on the orders of the Election Commission of India, has reportedly gone incommunicado. None of the Jalandhar rural police officers responded to the matter. SSP (Rural) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and DSP Shahkot Dilbagh Singh did not take calls. SHO Mehatpurs phone was picked by another cop who said, SHO has left phone in office and gone somewhere. We really do not know about the FIR. In the FIR, Parminder Singh mentioned that since election code was into effect, the complaints had to be processed within 24 hours. The complainant wrote, The contractor and halqa in-charge of Congress Laddi had been digging-up even the panchayat land in Kaimwala village for mining purposes on war footing. Illegal mining was also being carried out by the two in Raipur Gujjran, Gauswal, Chholia, Baloki, Burhewal, Khurlapur, Chak Bahmanian, Pipli Mehni, Umarwal Bila and Gag Dhagara villages. Digging was being carried out day and night in violation of labour rights. They were also working on an illegal quarry in Gatti Jatta village at Dharamkot, Moga. Speaking to The Tribune, Laddi said: "I got the news an hour back while I was returning from the Golden Temple. Iam consulting my lawyers on this. I don't even know who the complainant is. The fact that the FIR was lodged in the wee hours itself points to the fact that the new SHO who got posted here two days back is working at the behest of Akalis. I am told that he is not in the police station today." Meanwhile, the Akalis would gherao the SDM-cum-RO Shahkot's office in the afternoon demanding Laddi's arrest in the case. The Congress chose to refield its 2017 candidate Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia for the Shahkot Assembly byelection scheduled for May 28, despite allegations of illegal sand mining against him. Former minister Rana Gurjit Singh and MLAs Ramanjit Sikki and Pargat Singh (Laddis brother-in-law) are reported to have batted for his candidature. Laddi had lost to former Akali minister and five-time MLA Ajit Singh Kohar by 4,905 votes. Kohar died in February this year. Laddi will now contest against his son and SAD candidate Naib Singh Kohar. monicakchauhan@gmail.com San Francisco/New Delhi, May 4 It is time to change your Twitter password now as the micro-blogging platform has asked its 336 million users to do so across its services after it discovered a bug that stored passwords in plain text in an internal system. In a blog post , Twitter said it recently identified a bug that stored passwords unmasked in an internal log. "We have fixed the bug, and our investigation shows no indication of breach or misuse by anyone. "Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that you consider changing your password on all services where you've used this password," said Parag Agrawal, Chief Technology Officer at Twitter, adding that Twitter is sorry that this has happened. "We recognise and appreciate the trust you place in us, and are committed to earning that trust every day," he wrote. Twitter masks passwords through a process called hashing using a function known as bcrypt, which replaces the actual password with a random set of numbers and letters that are stored in Twitter's system. "This allows our systems to validate your account credentials without revealing your password. This is an industry standard," Agrawal noted. Due to a bug, passwords were written to an internal log before completing the hashing process. "We found this error ourselves, removed the passwords, and are implementing plans to prevent this bug from happening again," Twitter said. Agrawal advised people to change their passwords, enable two-factor authentication on their Twitter account and use a password manager to create strong, unique passwords on every service they use. After the massive Facebook data scandal, a report in The Sunday Telegraph recently claimed that Twitter had also sold users' data to a Cambridge Analytica (CA) researcher who collected the data of 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge -- a charge that Twitter has denied. According to the report, Twitter sold public data access "for one day" in 2015 to Aleksandr Kogan, then a psychology researcher with University of Cambridge, and his company Global Science Research (GSR). In a statement given to IANS, Twitter said that based on the recent reports, they conducted their own internal review and did not find any access to private data about people who use Twitter. Twitter reported a revenue of $665 million -- an increase of 21 per cent year-over-year (yoy) -- in the first quarter of 2018. IANS harinder@tribunemail.com His Honour summed up the present position admirably by saying that if anyone had asked him 6 months ago about a possible German invasion of India, he would have dismissed it as a bogey. To-day he would say it was a danger. His Honour rightly claimed he was no alarmist and confined himself to repeating the words of His Excellency. All the same, the danger that he spoke of is there, and it behoves not only the Punjab but the whole of India to strain every nerve to avert the danger. We have said that we are opposed to conscription. Our own impression is that the country as a whole, including the Punjab, is opposed to conscription. But precisely because we do not want conscription it behoves us to try and make voluntarism as great a success as it can and deserves to be made. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Dr Ashok Mahashur Asthma is a chronic, non-communicable disease with no cure. Common among children and elderly people, nearly 3, 83,000 people in 2015 died because of this problem. According to WHO estimates, India has one of the largest numbers of deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases in the world, coming second after China. Asthma is a major public health concern in India, which has nearly 15 to 20 million asthmatics. While it affects people all over the globe, it tends to claim more victims in the lower-income countries, mainly because lower-income countries do not have human resources, trained in coping mechanisms and prevention strategies required to effectively manage asthma attacks. Asthma, genetic or environmentally induced, has multiple causes, ranging from exercise-induced asthma, occupational asthma (workplace irritants such as chemical fumes and gases) and allergy-induced asthma (airborne substances like pollen, mould spores, cockroach waste and pet dander). Air pollution, especially particulate matter is the most common cause for asthma. It consists of solid and liquid particles suspended in air that penetrate into the gas exchange regions of the lung (alveolus). In addition to this, tiny particles may pass through the lungs to affect other organs. If any of these foreign particles are inhaled, the airways begin to constrict. This is the bodys natural response to the entry of any unwanted irritant or foreign body. This is done in an effort to prevent the foreign particles from gaining further entry into the respiratory system. However, the constriction of airways leads to the onset of an asthma attack. When an attack occurs, the lining of the bronchial tubes swells up. This causes the airways to narrow, which leads to a reduced flow of oxygen in and out of the lungs. This leads to a complete shutdown of oxygen circulation in the system. The person begins to gasp for air and his breathing becomes extremely heavy. Psychologically at this point, s/he begins to panic. This causes them to expend more energy in gulping for air as a result of which their system weakens and they may lose consciousness. The heart begins to beat faster; the muscles begin to tense up and one feels their chest tightening. A terrifying experience, an asthma attack can last for a few minutes to several hours. The only way to control such a situation is to ensure immediate medical intervention. Regular screening of the lungs can ensure that asthma is diagnosed at an early stage. However, it is important to keep monitoring oneself post the diagnosis. This is imperative for two reasons. The first is to ensure that there are no other infections affecting the lungs, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The second is to ensure that a persons lung capacity remains the same and doesnt worsen. Symptoms range from mildly intermittent to severely persistent. When symptoms occur multiple times in a short span of time, causing discomfort while doing simple activities like sleeping, walking or even sitting, it is time to visit the doctor. Asthma is a difficult condition to live with. While it can hamper ones quality of life and affect ones productivity, it is also one of the few conditions which can be managed effectively. Therefore, one should not lose hope. Rather be grateful that they can still lead a normal life. Their disease does not encompass them; it is just a smaller part of them that can be handled. The writer is senior chest consultant, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai Dealing with it There are a few coping mechanisms and strategies that can be adopted to check or handle asthma attack. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Aradhika Sharma Mandy: Has anyone brought any dessert today? Shobha: Yes, I have some kheer, and talking of desserts, thank goodness that Asaram Bapu finally got his just deserts. Der aaye, durust aaye! Me: Yes, but why should there be der? The problem is that we Indians are too easily pleased and placated. You have to realise that it has actually been five long years since the girl was raped by that horrid man. Thats too protracted because while revenge is a dish best served cold, justice should be swift and severe. Sabrina: True. Rape is horribly offensive and all the more heinous when children are involved. High time there was a mandated prescribed timeline for the final sentence. Punishment must be quick, visible and measurable to have any impact. Mandy: Lets hope they give POSCO some teeth and its not just a window dressing. Me: These are high profile cases, which is why we get to hear about them sometimes. My maid was telling me about a 17-year-old daughter of a rickshaw guy. She was forced into a vehicle by some hoodlums when she was returning from work. Its been seven days and there is still no sign of her. Shobha: Terrible! And if they do find her or catch the culprits, theyll try and prove that she was a consenting adult or that she was asking for it or just strong-arm the family into keeping quiet. Sabrina: The scene is too dismal yaar. I dont even want to start talking about the poor little girl in Kathua. Blood boils at the sheer depravity of it. Me: Seriously, in such situations, action has to be fast tracked before the boiling blood turns cold and apathy sets in. Wheres the fear? Wheres the terror of punishment thats supposed to act as a deterrent? How come any random man can pick up a girl and rape or molest her with impunity? Mandy: In England they name and shame paedophiles and convicted rapists, while our country is called the rape capital of the world. How shameful. Sabrina: I think I prefer what China does. They punish the rapist straight away with a death sentence and in some scenarios, mutilate their genitals. Shobha: And in Afghanistan, within just four days, they shoot the rapist in the head. And you know, in Iran, the rapist is hanged at public places. Me: Really? How do you girls know so much about international rape laws? Shobha: Which woman doesnt? As a gender and fraternity isnt everyone angry, afraid and concerned? Sabrina: Hmmm time for us to realise that we constitute 50 per cent of the world and that makes for a lot of people who can press for change. Mandy: Time for the powers-that-be to realise that were a pretty large vote bank. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Gaurav Kanthwal Lamborghinis, Porsches, Mustangs, Ferraris, Nissan GTRs all lined up for one-on-one racing duels at weekends. Often, Hollywood movies gave a peek into the world of drag racing, where maverick drivers in flashy cars gave cops a chase in the dead of night. The Fast and the Furious series brought with it the ultimate spectacle in the world of motorsport racing. Drag racing, often depicted as an illegal activity on the silver screen, has been picking up in India. And it is perfectly legal to burn some asphalt and get the adrenaline rushing. Though not as popular as in the US or Australia, the sport has been finding takers in big cities here. Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru have taken the lead. The sixth edition of the Valley Run Drag Race was held recently at the Aamby Valley airstrip on the outskirts of Lonavala. The event, with sanction from the FMSCI, the governing body of motorsport in India, saw 475 entries from Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Gujarat, Surat, Indore, Mumbai and Pune. According to Valley Run-promoter Rongom Tagore Mukerji, Some of the biggest brands came on board for the event. The race brought together the best of participants, manufacturers and sponsors. At the event, Mumbais Rishad Dadachanji pushed his Lamborghini Huracan to clock 10.849s and ran away with the Fastest Foreign Car title. Vizag-based Stephen Panchigalla clocked 13.366s in his Skoda Octavia to win the Fastest Indian Car title. Mumbais Jhanvi Bhavsar, in her BMW 525D, clocked 14.892s (K7 Class) to bag the Fastest Female Driver. This sport is all about passion and challenging your limits. Some may see it as a risky sport, but for me, it is about achieving harmony between man and the machine, said Jhanvi. In a 25 race-order day, the Mumbai drivers were unstoppable, winning in 18 categories. Mumbai riders again ruled the roost in the two-wheeler category, winning six of the nine titles. But it was Hyderabad-based biker Mohammed Ryaz (9.686s) who stole the thunder on the track with his Yamaha YZF-R1. Besides clocking bizarre race timings, grabbing eyeballs was the second topmost thing on the mind of drivers. The supercar owners, who have spent a fortune on their mean machines, did not let this opportunity go so easily. A supercar owners lounge was set up where all gorgeous four-wheeled beauties were parked for a visual delight for the onlookers. Not to be left behind, bikers also strutted their stuff, doing wheelies and donuts. This was the zone for Ducatis, KTMs, Yamahas and Kawasakis. Then there was something called spectacular fastest wheelie class racing where riders raced their super-fast motorbikes only on the rear wheel till the finish line. Chandigarh-based SPS Ghai, a motorsport enthusiast and the Clerk of Course of St Johns Old Boys Association (SJOBA) rally, said, It is a new sport in India and is yet come to the northern region. There are many off-road activities for motorsport in this region but hopefully someone will take up the lead in drag racing in the coming years. Motorsports fanatics in and around Ludhiana hold drag races, but they do it clandestinely, at deserted stretches and away from the eyes of cops. Driving force Drag racing is a simple sport. All you need to do is push your vehicle as fast as you can on a straight stretch of 400m. The fastest to cross the finish line in a one-on-one race is the winner. The key, however, lies in syncing your reaction time from a standing start to attaining top speed in the final stretch (60m). On the day of the race, the venue, invariably an airstrip, is crammed with supercars cars and superbikes. There are as many as 25 to 100 one-on-one race duels in different rounds, where some staggeringly fast race times are delivered in front of thousand of petrol junkies. The drag race officials, meanwhile, are tasked with ensuring the rules and regulations. Their most important responsibility is to make sure that the event passes off without any injury. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Kabul, May 4 A mother of two in Afghanistan sold her five-month-old daughter to raise money for medical treatment for a relative. The case sparked public outcry and officials as well as others raised money for both the treatment and to get back the child. The mom, Obaidah, lives in Mimanah, in Afghanistans Faryab province and has been married for five years. Her husbands 20-year-old brother Jalaluddin is suffering from blood cancer. To help pay for the treatment, baby Mehraban was sold to a childless couple, the Voice of America reported. I sold my daughter to treat my husbands young brother. I cried two nights and I did not sleep. I had to do that to save a persons life from death, Obaidah told the VOA. The story, first reported by the Pajhwok news agency, circulated widely on social media, attracting the attention of a local governor. A Pajhwok reporter says the Governor of Faryab paid $420 to get the baby back and returned to her mother. Najibullah, a man who runs a restaurant in city of Maimana, bought the baby girl because he and his wife have not been able to have children. Five other people donated money for Jalaluddins treatment. Mehrabans sale is the latest of several cases in which poverty, debt or social difficulties prompted parents to sell babies. IANS gspannu7@gmail.com Tijuana, Mexico, May 3 After Willians Bonilla fled threats from a street gang in Honduras two years ago to seek asylum in the United States, he spent seven months in detention only to be deported back to his native land in Central America to face his attackers anew. So Bonilla, a 26-year-old car painter, promptly headed back to the US border, now with his wife and 2-year-old son. They crossed Guatemala to southern Mexico and then, in a ragtag caravan relentlessly criticized by US President Donald Trump, trekked 2,000 miles north to Tijuana. Mostly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, caravan migrants like Bonilla face a predicament. Escaping gang violence, political turmoil and economic dysfunction, they seek a refuge in the United States, but with little certainty of a welcome, especially in the age of Trump. Chances of being granted asylum are slim. Many could face long detentions and separation from families while awaiting court hearings that could end with deportation orders. Bonilla had no desire now to fight for asylum, unwilling to again endure the hardships of US detention and the tortuous wait for a trial before an immigration judge, only to be rejected and flown back to the lethal quagmire he had fled twice. Instead, the family decided that his wife and child would apply for asylum, figuring they stood a better chance because of their vulnerability and the fact they have relatives already in the United States. Sharp and witty, with a dream of studying art that turned into a career of custom-painting cars, Bonilla said he struggled with his decision. She knows hardship, said Bonilla, almost proudly, of his wife, who had lived in a restive part of Honduras, but even that might not blunt the shock when his family arrived in America. They have no idea what theyre in for. Bonillas gaze darkened as recalled incarceration first in a Texas government-run facility, which he remembered as okay, and then in the private Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, which he called a cesspool. Hard-line stance Trump has made his hard-line stance on immigration an integral part of his presidency and has advocated a wall along the US-Mexican border to stem the flow of migrants. Nevertheless, about 5,000 Hondurans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans were given interviews each month in 2017, the first step in claiming asylum, according to the most recent US data. At least 140 migrants of the caravan plan to apply for asylum. US authorities have allowed in a few at a time since Monday, mostly women and children, through the San Ysidro port of entry into California, with much of the group camped near the crossing still waiting for entry. When Bonilla made his 2016 asylum attempt, American border officials asked him if he was frightened to return home, a mandatory question for undocumented arrivals at US ports of entry during the first few days of detention. He answered yes. That yes triggered the asylum process, which entails an interview to assess an applicants credible fear and a court date for a ruling on asylum or deportation weeks, months or even years later. Bonilla was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, first in Texas and then in the Georgia detention center owned by CoreCivic Inc. Ay! Ay! he said, as he recalled the Georgia facility. He called the food barely edible. The guards, he said, were racist and tore up letters that detainees wrote, including one he had hoped to send to a state official regarding his case. Responding to complaints at the facility, the Department of Homeland Security issued a report last year that backed up Bonillas account. It detailed questionable use of solitary confinement, delayed healthcare, broken and dirty bathrooms and moldy food. The issues identified by the December report were quickly and effectively remedied, said CoreCivic spokesman Steve Owen said, adding that much of the facilitys leadership team eats the same meals as the detainees and that he was unaware of complaints of racism or instances of staff not delivering mail. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is committed to ensuring that those in our custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments and under appropriate conditions of confinement, ICE spokeswoman Jennifer Elzea said. In the end, a judge rejected Bonillas asylum claim and he was sent home, where he said the gang closed in again, this time attacking his wife. Carrying photos to document the beatings she sustained, Bonillas wife and child may spend less time in custody thanks to rules limiting the duration that women and children can be held as well as a shortage of beds in detention centers. Cristobals journey Another member of the caravan, Bonillas fellow Honduran Jose Cristobal said he also chose to remain in Mexico while common law partner Yolanda Hieron Meras and his 15-year-old son seek asylum. Cristobal, a 48-year-old welder, said the family left home under the cover of darkness shortly after his son received two death threats from a gang, one in person, the second handwritten. They dont give you more than two chances, Cristobal said. He pinched his nose hard to hold back the tears as he watched his partner and son disappear through the San Ysidro gate on Tuesday to make an asylum claim. Cristobal said he would try to join them sometime later in the United States legally but acknowledged the chances were low. The journey from Honduras had been arduous. The family were robbed within minutes of arriving in Mexico through Guatemala, he said, losing their only valuable possessions: two telephones and all their cash. Unwilling to seek police help for fear of deportation, Cristobal found work as a handyman until he struck his thumb with a hammer and the injury became infected. The family stumbled upon the caravan in the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, Cristobal said. From there, on March 25, it began its month-long odyssey northward. They saw it as a way to reach the US border safely, with sporadic offerings of transportation, food and shelter. The caravan, which peaked at nearly 1,500 people in early April, had dwindled to a few hundred by the time it reached Tijuna, a vast logistical feat that had meant relying on loaned buses and walking for hours. For one long leg of the journey Cristobals family had to leap aboard a freight train, dubbed El Tren de La Muerte, the train of death, because of the injuries suffered as migrants race to catch it, climb to the roof, and grip on for dear life as it rolls and pitches. Making it to Tijuana seemed to them a near-miracle. Numerous reasons Dozens of caravan members described to Reuters fleeing appalling conditions that included sexual violence, political persecution, dysfunctional economies, and lethal threats to themselves or family members in neighborhoods with some of the worlds highest murder rates. Migrants who fled the brutal Barrio 18 or MS-13 Mara gangs after refusing to join them or pay protection money said they continued to receive threats in Mexico. At least two said they had received messages that family members back home would be killed if they failed to send payment. But once they reach the United States, they must run the gauntlet of an immigration system caught between assisting or criminalizing hundreds of thousands of Central Americans who have entered the United States in the past decade. Asylum seekers must demonstrate fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. Criminal threats or violence alone are generally not considered sufficient reason for asylum. The Trump administration has cited a more-than-tenfold rise in asylum claims compared to 2011, including growing numbers of families and children and a shift to more Central Americans as signs that people are fraudulently taking advantage of the system. Trump aims to change US law to make it harder to claim asylum. Some immigration lawyers said the unrelenting criminal violence in Central America should prompt the United States to reassess the asylum system. In a lot of ways, those countries look like war zones, said Bree Bernwanger, an asylum attorney who works on Central American cases. Jenna Gilbert, a lawyer at the Human Rights First advocacy group, said enduring the asylum process would be hard on anyone. Its a different name, but lets have no qualms about what it is, Gilbert said. It is jail. Reuters. English French Availability of the preparatory documents In connection with the forthcoming Combined General Meeting that will be held on 30 May 2018, at 3:00 pm (Paris Time), in the auditorium of Capital 8, located at 32 rue de Monceau, 75008, Paris, France, Albioma announces that the preparatory documents have been made available to its shareholders. These documents may be consulted on the Company's website, www.albioma.com. Furthermore, any shareholder may: obtain free copies of these documents, upon simple written request sent either to the Company (Tour Opus 12, La Defense 9, 77 esplanade du General de Gaulle, 92914 La Defense Cedex, France) or to the General Meeting coordinator (BNP Paribas Securities Services, CTS Assemblees Generales, Les Grands Moulins, 9 rue du Debarcadere, 93761 Pantin Cedex, France), until the fifth day preceding the General Meeting; in order to exercise such a right, any holder of bearer shares must provide a registration certificate; consult these documents at the Company's head office, during opening hours of the premises, for a period of fifteen days preceding the General Meeting. Albioma's shareholders will be able to vote via Internet at the General Meeting of Shareholders, using the Votacess platform. Detailed information on the Internet voting procedure is available on Albioma's website, www.albioma.com ("General Meetings of shareholders" tab). Next on the agenda: annual General Meeting of shareholders, on 30 May 2018, at 3 pm (CET). About Albioma An independent responsible energy producer, Albioma is committed to the energy transition thanks to biomass and photovoltaics. The Group, which is established in Overseas France, Mauritius and Brazil, has developed a unique partnership for 20 years with the sugar industry, to produce renewable energy from bagasse, a fibrous residue from sugar cane. Albioma is also the leading generator of photovoltaic power overseas where it constructs and operates innovative projects with integrated storage capabilities. For further information, please visit www.albioma.com Investor contact Julien Gauthier+33 (0)1 47 76 67 00 Media contact Charlotte Neuvy+33 (0)1 47 76 66 65presse@albioma.com Albioma shares are listed on Euronext Paris (sub B) and eligible for the deferred settlement service (SRD) and PEA-PME plans. ISIN FR0000060402 - Ticker: ABIO uttara@tribuneindia.com BAGHDAD, May 4 Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, suggested on Friday that he had not abandoned his opposition to former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is bidding to return to power in elections on May 12. Making a rare intervention in politics, Sistani in his weekly sermon that Iraqis should avoid falling into the trap of those ... who are corrupt and those who have failed, whether they have been tried or not. Sistani, whose opinion is sacrosanct for millions of members of Iraq's Shi'ite majority and beyond, said he was keeping an equal distance from all candidates and did not identify any of them by name in his sermon, which was read by one of his representatives, Sheikh Abdulmehdi al-Karbalai, and broadcast on television. But the reference to Maliki was clear from his mention of the collapse of security forces in the face of Islamic State militants in 2014, when Maliki was in power. Sistani successfully blocked Maliki from taking the premiership after winning the 2014 election, paving the way for the appointment of the current prime minister, Haider al-Abadi. Past electoral experiments were marked by failures, many of those who were elected or appointed to high positions in the government abused their power and took part in spreading corruption and squandering public money, Sistani also said. Abadi successfully led the campaign to defeat Islamic State, last year recapturing the city of Mosul, their main stronghold in northern Iraq, with the backing of a US-led coalition. The May 12 election is shaping up as a three-man contest between Abadi, Maliki and Shi'ite paramilitary leader Hadi al-Amiri. Reuters vinaymishra188@gmail.com Stockholm, May 4 For the first time in almost 70 years there will be no Nobel Literature Prize this year, as the Swedish Academy that selects the laureate finds itself in turmoil over links to a man accused of sex crimes amid the #MeToo campaign. We find it necessary to commit time to recovering public confidence in the Academy before the next laureate can be announced, the Academys interim permanent secretary Anders Olsson said in a statement Friday, adding two prizes would be announced in 2019. The body has been plunged in crisis since November, in the wake of the global #MeToo campaign, when Swedish newspaper of reference Dagens Nyheter published the testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by Jean-Claude Arnault, an influential figure on the Swedish culture scene. Arnault, the French husband of Academy member and poet Katarina Frostenson, has denied the allegations. The active members of the Swedish Academy are of course fully aware that the present crisis of confidence places high demands on a long-term and robust work for change, Olsson said. Seen as bearers of high culture, the Academy, founded in 1786, is traditionally known for its integrity and discretion, with its meetings and decisions shrouded in secrecy. But the row has turned into a titillating public spectacle, with Academy members dealing ugly blows to each other in the media. Literature experts in Sweden lamented the announcement, but agreed with the decision. I think its wise, this is the best decision they could make. Theyll have a chance to restore (the Academy) this year and fill the empty seats, and come back with a strong Academy that can award the prize, Dagens Nyheters literature critic Maria Schottenius told AFP. Technically, Academy members have been appointed for life and have not been able to resign, though they could leave their chairs empty by not participating in meetings and decisions. However, the Academy is currently down to 10 active members while its statutes stipulate that 12 are needed to elect new members. In order to ensure the venerable bodys survival, the Academys patron, Swedens King Carl XVI Gustaf, announced on Wednesday that he had changed the statutes, making it possible for members to resign and be replaced. After the women spoke out in the media, the Academy cut all ties with Arnaults cultural centre Forum in Stockholm, which it had subsidised for years and which was a key meeting point for the countrys cultural elite. The centre, owned by Arnault and Frostenson, showcased exhibitions, readings and performances by both the cultural elite and hopefuls, including Nobel literature laureates. It is now closed. AFP Not the first time The last time the institution delayed a prize announcement was in 1949. William Faulkner received the prize a year later, the same year Bertrand Russell was honoured It has also reserved the prize on six other occasions: in 1915, 1919, 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1936, and four of those times the prize was delayed then awarded at the same time as the following years prize, the Academy said Several Academy members had recently suggested the 2018 prize could be postponed because of the turmoil, which has dragged the Academys reputation-and that of the Nobel Literature Prize-through the mud Though the Academy has courted controversy in the past, for example by awarding the 2016 prize to American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, debate has usually focused on literary merit rather than the institution itself Academy in disarray The revelations have sowed deep discord among the Academys 18 members about how to handle the matter, and in recent weeks, six of them have chosen to resign, including permanent secretary Sara Danius. vinaymishra188@gmail.com San Francisco: Twitter has urged its more than 300 million users to change their passwords, saying they had been unintentionally unmasked inside the company by a software bug. The social media site said it found no sign that hackers accessed the exposed data, but advised users to change their passwords to be safe. AFP Oz court convicts woman for failing to stand Sydney: The wife of an Islamic State recruiter has become the first person convicted under a new state law criminalising the refusal to stand for a judge. Moutia Elzahed, 50, defiantly remained seated in a local court after magistrate Carolyn Huntsman delivered the decision. She was found guilty of nine charges of disrespectful behaviour during previous hearings. New South Wales introduced the law in 2016 after several Muslim defendants refused to stand for judges on religious grounds. AP Probe to detect Marsquakes set for launch Los Angeles: NASA is set for the weekend launch of its first robotic lander dedicated to studying Mars deep interior, with instruments to detect planetary seismic rumblings never measured anywhere but Earth. The Mars InSight probe is due for liftoff on Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base near central California coast. It will be carried aloft 19-story Atlas 5 rocket. The 360-kg spacecraft will reach its destination six months later and spend two years plumbing the depths of the planets interior. Reuters Its not like we didnt know that truck parking was going to be a problem with mandatory ELDs. Photo: Jim Park While it may be painful in many ways, the electronic logging device mandate does appear to be casting a much-needed spotlight on some long-standing problems, including the hours of service rules, excessive detention time, driver pay and truck parking. Its not like we didnt know that truck parking was going to be a problem with mandatory ELDs. In the most recent critical issues survey done by the American Transportation Research Institute, the lack of available truck parking was once again in fourth place overall but among drivers, it moved up to second place. One problem especially evident in the wake of mandatory ELDs: What do drivers do when theyve run out of hours while loading or unloading and are now stuck at the shipper or receiver? In the past, they likely would have fudged their paper logs and run over hours long enough to find a safe parking spot for the required off-duty and sleeper time. With that no longer an option, ideally they will be able to park at the shipper or receiver location. Social media and some trucker apps allow drivers to share information on shippers and receivers, including whether theyre likely to offer out-of-hours truckers a place to park or if they instead run them off. Facilities that want to be a shipper of choice for capacity-crunched fleets should pay attention as should fleets that want to attract and retain drivers. Another problem is that in many areas of the country, theres simply a shortage of truck parking. Travel plazas and rest areas fill up fast. A pilot project in eight Midwest states will soon be using technology to alert truckers along the road about parking available at rest areas. There already are a number of apps to help drivers find parking spaces. And then theres the option of reserving and paying for parking in advance via an app reservation system. The ELD mandate may have forced the adoption of more paid, reserved parking, but that doesnt mean drivers are happy about it. Deborah Lockridge A couple of savvy owner-operators recently shared opposing viewpoints on the topic of paid truck parking through Freightliners Team Run Smart blogs. Bob and Linda Caffee contend that truck parking should be considered a logical cost of doing business as a trucker. As time is moving on with the ELD mandate in place, it seems as if the travel plazas parking is more crowded. Many of the rest areas at night are full of parked trucks, often making it impossible to use their facilities so we are back to using the parking lot at the travel plazas to run in and use the restroom and not purchase anything. More wear and tear on a parking lot with no purchase. How much can a travel plaza give away and still be profitable? And the peace of mind of a reserved spot, they say, is worth paying in advance. Meanwhile, Jeff Clark takes the opposing view. It used to be that if we went to a truck stop, and there was no parking, we could just move on to the next one. The [ELD] mandate has made that harder, he notes. Truck stops have every right to charge to park. I have every right to not pay for it I have been a good customer. I will continue to be a good customer, but for the chains that charge to park, I feel as though I am no longer a valued customer. He says his first choice is to take his 10-hour break at the customer. His second choice is to find a mom-and-pop truck stop or a restaurant that offers truck parking. But those free spaces could get harder and harder to find. As one commenter on the Caffee blog said, I think one of these days, free parking will only be a space on the Monopoly game board. Earlier this year, Illinois-based Nussbaum Transportation announced it was adopting a policy of paying all reserved/paid parking, without question, to support drivers in finding safe and legal parking locations. Why arent more companies doing that? If an owner-operator can recognize it as a cost of doing business, fleets should, too. Milwaukee, WI, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In celebration of National Travel and Tourism week, VISIT Milwaukee, the destination marketing organization for Milwaukee, has redefined the citys image for visitors and captured the spirit of Milwaukees people, neighborhoods, events, and attractions through a new website. Our research reinforced that people are most interested in visiting cities that spark a passion for discovery and offer the chance to collect unique experiences, said Megan Suardini, vice president of marketing & communications for VISIT Milwaukee. From the Riverwest 24 to Kozs Mini Bowl, Milwaukee is overflowing with unexpected and charmingly quirky experiences that are unique to our city. We worked with our partner Hanson Dodge to ensure the new website captured this wonderfully random spirit. This spirit comes to life through a host of new features. A new slot machine style randomizer on the homepage provides an entertaining way to discover exciting things to do in the city. A new My Trip tool allows visitors to plan their trip to Milwaukee by curating a virtual shopping cart with the unique experiences they find while exploring the site. Additional features include an all-new neighborhood exploration section, interactive maps, 360-degree meeting venue tours and enhanced partner pages. We were thrilled when VISIT Milwaukee asked us to help them design a website to successfully position the organization for the future, said Tim Dodge, CEO of Hanson Dodge. Early in the process, we saw the opportunity to create not just a website, but a memorable digital experience that inspires visitors to come here and experience Milwaukee for themselves. The new website is a rebranding of how VISIT Milwaukee represents the region to meeting planners, corporations, recruiters, and visitors, with the goal being to drive additional tourism dollars and increase economic impact within the region. In 2017, tourism in Milwaukee continued to grow. The data reinforces that Milwaukee is the states largest tourism market, accounting for 20 percent of total tourism economic impact to the state. For the Greater Milwaukee area, it also shows: Direct visitor spending in 2017 totaled $3 billion Total business sales related to tourism were estimated at $5.4 billion Tourism supported 51,200 full-time jobs The numbers are estimates from The Economic Impact of Tourism in Wisconsin, an annual tourism impact study commissioned by the state and conducted by Tourism Economics. The data was released by Travel Wisconsin in early May to celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week (May 6-12). About VISIT Milwaukee VISIT Milwaukee is the Greater Milwaukee areas convention & visitors bureau, marketing the destination as a top choice for business, convention, and leisure travel to national and international visitors to increase the economic impact of tourism in the region. Each year, tourism supports over 50,000 full-time jobs and brings in over $5 billion to the community. VISIT Milwaukee has over 680 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services and area businesses. The City of Wauwatosa, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and the Wisconsin Center District are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs. For more information call 1-800-554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org. Attachment LOS ANGELES, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- City National Bank, Americas Premier Private and Business Bank, announced today that financial executive Bill Sappington has joined the bank as executive vice president in charge of both its private banking and wealth management businesses. In this newly created role, Sappington will be responsible for overseeing and growing all private banking and wealth management businesses at City National. The companys private banking division provides banking and wealth management services to individuals and families, professional services firms and select nonprofit organizations. City Nationals wealth management subsidiaries include City National Rochdale, which is headquartered in Los Angeles and New York, and manages more than $36 billion in client assets. It also includes City National Securities, which offers responsive broker-assisted trading capabilities. Sappington brings more than 30 years of expansive financial services experience to City National. He will report directly to Russell Goldsmith, chairman and chief executive officer of City National Bank and chairman of RBC Wealth Management-U.S. Sappington will also report to the banks president, Chris Warmuth, who oversees private banking. Sappington will join the executive committee of City National Bank and the senior management committee of RBC Wealth Management-U.S. We are delighted to welcome Bill to City National, Goldsmith said. He is a proven and strategic leader with an impressive track record of success in both wealth management and private banking. Were counting on Bill to add real value in both areas and to further strengthen City Nationals capabilities and client service. Both Garrett DAlessandro, chief executive officer at City National Rochdale, and Michael Pagano, executive vice president and head of Private Banking at City National Bank, will report to Sappington. Also reporting to him will be Gwen Miller, City Nationals executive vice president of RBC Banking Solutions; Michael Nunnelee, senior vice president and president of City National Securities; and Bill Freeman, City National senior vice president in charge of wealth management affiliates. Prior to joining City National, Sappington served as executive director of private banking for BNY Mellon in New York and was responsible for delivering and expanding all private banking capabilities. Before that, he was with Bear Stearns as the head of credit and lending for the Private Client Services Group. Previously, he was with Merrill Lynch as the head of global securities-based lending with the firms Global Banking Group. Sappington received his bachelors degree from the University of California, Berkeley and is a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvanias Executive Leadership Program. I am so pleased to be joining City National. They are known for a client-first culture and a track record of excellence and innovation, said Sappington, who will be based primarily in the banks Los Angeles office. In my new role overseeing both private banking and wealth management, I look forward to further integrating and expanding this very important component of City Nationals successful business model. For an image of Sappington, go to: https://www.cnb.com/PublishingImages/Bill-Sappington.jpg About City National Bank With $48.7 billion in assets, City National Bank provides banking, investment and trust services through 72 offices, including 19 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. In addition, the company and its investment affiliates manage or administer $64.9 billion in client investment assets. City National is a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), one of North Americas leading diversified financial services companies. RBC serves more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the United States and 34 other countries. For more information about City National, visit the companys website at cnb.com. Media Contact: Debora Vrana, City National Bank, 213-673-7631 Debora.Vrana@cnb.com The domain turkeytelegraph.com may be for sale. Please click here to inquire | By Laura Lee Entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and university leaders gathered to exchange ideas and share successes at the 2018 BioHealth Capital Region Forum held at the Medimmune office complex in Gaithersburg, Md., on April 23. (Left to right) Ron Dudek, MBA, co-founder, Living Pharma, Inc.; Eduardo Davila, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and co-founder, Living Pharma; Christy Wyskiel, MBA, senior advisor to the president, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures; and Andrew Ishizuka, PhD, chief scientific officer, Avidea Technologies. The forums goal is to make the Maryland/Virginia/D.C. metro region a top-three biopharma cluster by 2023 by creating new connections, leveraging strength, and sharing developments across the region. The region now holds a respectable No. 5 spot in the top 10 behind San Diego, New York, San Francisco, and Boston at No. 1. Area universities play a key role in the creation of talent and the momentum of innovation that benefit not just the region, but also the world. But universities cant do the work alone. The success of the innovation ecosystem relies on strong partnerships between the business and academic worlds, according to keynote speaker Brian K. Fitzgerald, EdD, CEO of the Business-Higher Education Forum. University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, was joined by Wallace D. Loh, PhD, JD, president, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), and Angel Cabrera, PhD, MS, president, George Mason University, in a panel discussion titled Strengthening the University-Corporate Connection Biotech and Beyond: A Conversation with University Presidents. Moderated by Fitzgerald, the panel discussed ways to improve university-corporate partnering in biotechnology while considering questions such as what has worked in the past, how to improve current practices, and what does the future hold for university-corporate collaboration in the region? (Panel video available here.) Addressing current and potential entrepreneurs in the room, Perman noted that UMB is listening to their needs and actively looking for ways to grow entrepreneurial relationships. What we generally heard was, Make it easier, he said. Research-intensive universities are famous for being very bureaucratic and slow, which is not the world of business, he added. One strategy UMB is employing to smooth the path to commercialization is to utilize master agreements that enable projects to begin within days instead of weeks or months. According to Perman, UMB has signed master agreements with more than 60 companies, including Medimmune, GlaxoSmithKline, Becton Dixon, United Therapeutics, and two dozen Maryland biotech companies. The culture of entrepreneurship is thriving at UMB within the University of Maryland BioPark, which stretches across 12 acres adjacent to campus and houses two dozen companies that employ 1,000 people. BioPark tenants include startups like Gliknik, which is teaming up with Pfizer to develop a drug targeting autoimmune diseases, as well as more established companies like Paragon Bioservices and Pharmaron, which together employ more than 300 people. The recently opened Graduate Research Innovation District (the Grid) in the renovated Lion Brothers Building is a space within the BioPark for entrepreneurial people inside and outside UMB to connect with one another and develop big ideas, Perman said. The modern co-working space is designed for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and entrepreneurs to work shoulder to shoulder on their ideas, so they can proceed on their professional journey and eventually take their seats in an auditorium like this, Perman said to the packed room. For a graduate campus, were starting younger than you might think, said Perman, referring to the UMB CURE Scholars Program, a pipeline for promising scholars in STEM. The biotech entrepreneurs of tomorrow are surely coming from the Grid, but they also are being developed in three West Baltimore Middle Schools with the CURE Scholars. The program, supported by National Cancer Institute funding, is designed to excite middle schoolers about careers in STEM and biomedicine. It is in its fourth year, and the first cohort of students is heading to high school. And while UMB is dedicated to creating a diverse pipeline of future STEM students through the CURE Scholars Program, its also intent on developing interested faculty into biotech entrepreneurs. Eduardo Davila, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and co-founder and chief science officer for immunotherapy startup Living Pharma, Inc., is one of those entrepreneurs. He spoke on a panel called Universities: From Research to Commercialization, and credited UM Ventures with setting the foundation for success that led the company to be acquired in just 18 months. UM Ventures is UMBs tech transfer partnership with UMCP designed to commercialize new technology The UMB and UM Ventures team was incredibly helpful in filling in needs that neither I as a scientist nor Ron Dudek (co-founder and president, Living Pharma) had at the time, Davila said. Lentigen Technology Inc. acquired Living Pharma in 2017, making Living Pharma the first UMB New Ventures Initiative startup to execute a successful exit. Davila, who is moving on to his next entrepreneurial endeavor, spoke frankly about what pushed him into the business arena. As junior faculty, I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur, he said. He discussed challenges trying to translate what he thought was incredibly successful immunotherapy in mice, and one way I thought I could expedite the clinical use and application was to form a biotech company around it, he said. That therapy is headed to Phase 1 clinical trials next year, Davila said. James L. Hughes, MBA, director of UM Ventures and UMB vice president and chief enterprise and economic development officer, emphasized the importance of biomedical innovation for the University and the region. It helps to take the discoveries that we make in our labs and in working with patients to the market so that new therapeutics, devices, and diagnostics can get into the marketplace and benefit many more people than those simply at the University of Maryland Medical Center, he said. Creating a fertile entrepreneurial environment at UMB is a winning proposition for all involved, he continued. It helps to create jobs. It also helps us to attract the best students because they want to be in innovative places and the best faculty because they want to be in entrepreneurial environments. | By Lou Cortina Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., JD, and Parris N. Glendening, PhD, MA, come from different sides of the political aisle and hold opposing views on many issues. But both share the title of former Maryland governor, and they agree on whats causing the breakdown in cooperation between federal and state governments: hyper-partisanship and a Congress that is broken. There has been a dramatic change in what is permissible and encouraged with partisan bitterness, said Glendening, who joined Ehrlich on May 1 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) in the sixth installment of the UMB Presidents Panel on Politics and Policy. See a video below and view a photo gallery on Facebook or the same photo gallery on Flickr. Left to right, President Jay A. Perman, MD; former Maryland governors Parris N. Glendening, PhD, MA, and Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., JD; and Maryland Matters senior reporter Bruce DePuyt, moderator. Glendening added, You combine that with no one consulting in the intergovernmental area, and Ill sum it up with a rather dark statement, which comes from a recent book about journalism: The absence of an intergovernmental system, which would facilitate consultation, coordination, and compromise, combined with the extraordinary negatives of current political debate, is bad public policy, bad for our politics, and bad for our country. Ehrlich agreed that the system is dysfunctional because of all the hostility between the political parties, but he added, This is not new. When people fight over power, this is a byproduct. Its just the vitriol has crossed a line lately. The two ex-governors Republican Ehrlich succeeded Democrat Glendening in 2003 after the latter had served two terms also talked about marijuana legalization, gerrymandering district boundaries, and federal-state cooperation in Maryland at the panel, which was moderated by veteran broadcast journalist Bruce DePuyt, senior reporter for the Maryland Matters website. The panel series was launched by UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, in January 2017 to examine issues important to the University community that are likely to be affected by the Trump administration and Congress. Perman introduced Ehrlich and Glendening to the crowd of nearly 200 UMB staff, faculty, and students at the SMC Campus Center, saying, There are no two better guests to discuss the role of federal actors in state policy than the two we have with us today. With that, the ex-governors talked about their relationship We can differ on policy and still be civil and still be friends, Glendening said before enlightening the crowd with their political and policy insights. Glendening, who is now the president of Smart Growth Americas Leadership Institute and the Governors Institute on Community Design, opened by saying the name of the event, The Intersection of Federal Policy and State Priorities, should be changed to The Decline of an Intergovernmental System and the Emergence of Extreme Personal Politics A Bad Mix. He traced the roots of federal and state governments working together to the 1930s, adding that by the 1970s most federal agencies and states had created offices to foster cooperation. Think about the last year, think about the changes in immigration laws and the new tax law, they were totally devoid of any intergovernmental discussions or any real bipartisan talks, he said. Theyre looking at a new infrastructure program, but there is no input from state and local government. And there is chaos in the enforcement of marijuana laws between states that allow medicinal or recreational use and federal law that forbids it. Glendening favors allowing marijuana use for either purpose, whereas Ehrlich is in favor of medicinal use only. None of us takes the issue of yet another way to get high lightly. If we do that, we do it to our own detriment, said Ehrlich, who is now senior counsel in the Government Advocacy and Public Policy practice group at King & Spalding LLP in Washington, D.C. With regard to end-of-life situations, with regard to terminal pain situations, Im for all of the above. Glendening compared the reform in marijuana laws, with 29 states having various degrees of legalization, to recent changes in gay rights, gay marriage, and immigration (states and cities creating so-called sanctuary cities), as being indicative of local governments serving as laboratories of democracy. I see it as good policy change coming from the states from the bottom up, he said. Ill make this guarantee: The federal government will move to the same broad interpretations on marijuana against illegal, organized distribution but permitting individual use under a regulatory system. Switching back to politics, the practice of gerrymandering manipulating the boundaries of voting districts to favor one party came in for particular scrutiny, because the redrawing of congressional lines has created safe seat districts where incumbents face no real challenge from the opposing party. This is why theres all this interest in primaries as opposed to general elections, said Ehrlich, who served four terms in Congress before becoming Marylands first Republican governor in 36 years. Because when you have a safe seat, your fight is generally going to be in a primary from further right or further left, not from the other party. And when you have lots of safe seats, which you have in the House of Representatives today, you generally have a lack of incentive to sit down and try to negotiate. Glendening, who served three terms as Prince Georges County executive and was a university professor at College Park for 27 years, agreed that redistricting has exacerbated partisanship, noting that Marylands delegation in the House has gone from a 4-4 split in the 1990s to 7-1 in favor of the Democrats. With computers and everything else, you are able to draw a line literally go down the street, turn on this corner, turn here, and you look at voting patterns and you can go out in two hours and draw a district that is to your liking, he said. So now you are in a district that is extreme. Theres no center to that district. And you can do and say anything you want, as long as you keep that base happy. And its the Democrats and the Republicans doing this. Democrat and Republican politicians in Maryland, however, have a great history of state-federal cooperation, both men said, suggesting that this should be a model for cooperation in Congress. Ehrlich pointed to two Maryland political legends Barbara Mikulski in the Senate and Helen Delich Bentley in the House as being particular supportive during his term. They both made it very clear that this is Team Maryland, and we need to work together, Ehrlich said. So egos, philosophical differences, and party were put aside. This is your uniform, and its yellow and black. Glendening said Marylands tradition of bipartisanship in this regard is because its a smaller state where many federal employees reside and relies on many aspects of federal expenditures. When I was governor, there were four Democrats and four Republicans in the House delegation, and you wouldnt have known that if you were sitting in those meetings, he said. And that preceded weeks of meetings with staff to start to work out the details. It was a good system, and it still functions. The problem is, Congress is not functioning as well. When asked by an audience member if there was any hope that the acrimony between the major political parties would ease, Ehrlich answered succinctly: No. But he expounded, saying, In D.C. today, both parties do not respect rules. Its dysfunctional. This is a structural problem, and its a serious problem. But Glendening, saying he was an eternal optimist, offered hope. Our country has faced challenges like this in the past. And just as we have prevailed and we have changed, I believe we can do so now, he said. Im reminded somewhat of the biblical observation: This too shall pass. And that gives me the strength to keep going. London, 4 May 2018 While real progress has been made on a number of serious health issues, half of the worlds citizens lack access to essential health services. Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a five year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help support countries to achieve the health-related targets across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the agendas commitment to leave no one behind. Universal health coverage is a powerful tool not only for better health, but for reducing poverty, creating jobs, fueling inclusive economic growth and promoting gender equality, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. But achieving a healthier world is not a job for the health sector alone. By working with partners like UNDP, we can better address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health and make progress towards a fairer, safer and more prosperous future for everyone. In line with WHOs leadership on universal health coverage, UNDP and WHO will support countries to strengthen the capacity of their health systems, including by addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. The partnership will also address emerging issues such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. It is estimated that the annual death toll due to AMR could climb to 10 million deaths and result in US$ 100 trillion in losses by 2050 if nothing is done. Other priority areas include acting decisively on health emergencies, ensuring delivery of essential health services in fragile, vulnerable and conflict-affected settings and addressing health challenges arising from climate change and environmental problems. Health plays a central role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and is both a precondition and an outcome of sustainable development, said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. In recognition of this critical role, the health and development agencies of the United Nations are taking this deliberate step to join forces and combine our expertise to address the social, environmental, and economic factors affecting the health of all. The 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reinforce the strong linkages between health and development. The partnership between WHO and UNDP illustrates how the core competencies of the UN health and development agencies can come together to support multi-sectoral responses for health and deliver shared gains across the 2030 Agenda. For media queries: UNDP - Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, New York. Email: sangita.khadka@undp.org, Tel.: +1 212 906 5043 WHO - Fadela Chaib, Coordinator a.i, Media, Social Media & Monitoring, WHO Department of Communications, Geneva. Email: chaibf@who.int, Tel.: + 41 22 791 3228 A view of Kiziba Refugee Camp in Rwanda. UNHCR/Frederic Noy UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is reiterating its call on the Rwandan authorities and Congolese refugees in Rwanda for restraint and calm, after recent clashes left one refugee dead and others injured at the Kiziba refugee camp in western Rwanda. The full circumstances surrounding this incident are still unclear, but we understand that the death of the refugee followed a stand-off between the Rwandan National Police and a crowd of refugee youths on Tuesday. The individual was injured. He was taken to a district hospital in Kibuye, but succumbed to his injuries late the same day. We deplore this tragedy and have shared our sympathies with the family. We urge police and refugees to avoid any further confrontation, and peacefully resolve issues. Over 17,000 Congolese refugees live in the camp. Many have been there for more than two decades, while a significant number were born there. Faced with dwindling assistance levels and food ration reductions as humanitarian funding levels have remained chronically low, residents began protests in February. A previous clash on February 22 led to over 10 refugee deaths, left many others injured including members of the police. The Rwandan National Police had beefed up their presence in Kiziba with more personnel arriving there on April 20. This weeks confrontation reportedly began on Monday (April 29) when police used tear gas after being blocked by refugee youths. A 12 year old refugee boy was injured and is currently recovering in hospital. Another 23 refugees are reported to have been arrested, apparently for provoking Rwandan Police patrols. With the situation still tense, some refugees have indicated that they want to return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) out of desperation. UNHCR is urging them to make a properly informed decision and not one based on misinformation or rumours. The continued confrontation has also hindered humanitarian access to Kiziba camp. UNHCR and its partners are struggling to provide support and assistance to the refugees. With our continued efforts to peacefully resolve the current situation, UNHCR is also advocating with donors to address the gaps in humanitarian funding and urgent needs of refugees. UNHCRs 2018 funding appeal for US$98.8 million to support refugees in Rwanda is only is 13 per cent funded. For more information on this topic, please contact: Online News Association receives $850,000 funding from Knight Foundation and Google News Initiative to build community and advance immersive journalism WASHINGTON, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Journalism 360, a joint initiative of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Google News Initiative and the Online News Association, is excited to announce the inaugural Journalism 360 Unconference and renewed three-year support for the initiative, including the 2018 Journalism 360 Challenge. The Journalism 360 Unconference July 24-25 in New York City will be a unique opportunity to connect creators, producers, newsroom leaders and technologists in the immersive storytelling space. Its the only gathering of its kind to focus on newsroom practices and innovations within virtual, augmented and mixed reality, as well as 360 video. Tuesday, July 24 will feature product demos by Journalism 360 Challenge winners that were funded in 2017, including the Pulitzer Prize winning virtual reality feature The Wall by The Arizona Republic and USA Today Network, the Washington Posts AR web app Facing Bias and MITs VR collaboration tool Voxhop. Wednesday, July 25, will offer a full day of programming, including breakout sessions, lightning talks and discussions with thought leaders from across the industry. In addition, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism will discuss their project focused on training community news organizations in 360 video creation. Registration is now open. Applications for the 2018 Journalism 360 Challenge will open later this spring. The grants support ideas that advance the use of immersive storytelling in news. Journalism 360 will award 10 grants of $20,000 each, and will announce the winners at the Online News Association Conference (ONA18), Sept. 13-15 in Austin, Texas. "The 2017 Journalism 360 Challenge winners are cracking the code on what's possible in the immersive space, said Journalism 360 Program Director Laura Hertzfeld. The unconference is an exciting opportunity to experience these projects and for journalists to learn from each other, and I can't wait to see the ideas we get during this years Challenge. To meet the information demands of the future, journalists need new opportunities to explore emerging technology, experiment and take risks. Journalism 360 is working to advance this goal, while driving the imperative for journalists to collaborate and share best practices on innovative forms of news delivery, said Jennifer Preston, Vice President for Journalism, Knight Foundation. Were proud to support Journalism 360, a community of storytellers who are exploring new frontiers in journalism. The work of the community provides points of reference and education for the rest of the industry. We're excited to see what they come up with next, said Erica Anderson, U.S. Partnership Lead, Google News Lab. Journalism 360 is a global network of storytellers accelerating the understanding and production of immersive journalism. Our mission is to help news organizations, journalists, technologists, content creators and journalism educators experiment with all forms of immersive storytelling, including but not limited to 360 video, augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality. In 2017, the program funded 11 projects to experiment with new technology to help journalists tell more and better immersive stories. About Knight Foundation Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit knightfoundation.org. About Google News Initiative The Google News Initiative is Google's effort to work with the news industry to help journalism thrive in the digital age. The GNI brings together everything Google does in collaboration with the industryacross products, partnerships, and programsto help build a stronger future for news. It is focused on three objectives: elevate and strengthen quality journalism, evolve business models to drive sustainable growth and empower news organizations through technological innovation. About Online News Association The Online News Association is the worlds largest association of online journalists. ONAs mission is to inspire innovation and excellence among journalists to better serve the public. Membership includes journalists, technologists, executives, academics and students who produce news for and support digital delivery systems. ONA also hosts the annual Online News Association Conference and administers the Online Journalism Awards. Work gets underway to make the Rohingya transit centre in Ukhia, south-east Bangladesh, safe against flooding in the rainy season. UNHCR/Caroline Gluck UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is rushing additional aid to Bangladesh where the first monsoon rains have been affecting Coxs Bazar district and the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees there. The first of three scheduled humanitarian airlifts carrying additional shelter materials arrived in Bangladesh on Tuesday (1 May). Its load, 1,400 tents, is the first batch of 10,000 tents that UNHCR will airlift by the end of May. The aim is for the tents to provide emergency shelter for an estimated 60,000 refugees currently residing in areas at high risk of landslides and flooding. Aid is also being moved by sea; this includes additional tents, 170,000 tarpaulins sheets, and other basic items. Humanitarian partners estimate that between 150,000 and 200,000 Rohingya refugees will be at risk this monsoon season. They are living on land prone to landslides and flooding and are in urgent need of relocation. Of this number, 24,000 people are at critical risk due to severe instability of the land on which their shelters have been constructed. Since August 2017 more than 670,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh, joining over 200,000 refugees already in the country. In a massive effort to shelter refugees and meet their basic needs, Bangladesh has generously allocated thousands of acres of land that has already been settled on by refugees. In addition, the Government has recently allocated new land for refugees to settle on. UNHCR, IOM and WFP engineers are working around the clock to flatten this land to accommodate those at greatest risk. Heavy machinery and thousands of labourers are working on this. Nonetheless this work is going more slowly than initially anticipated due to the hilliness and instability of the land. UNHCR hope to relocate some 5,000 people to the new land by the end of May. In the absence of more available and usable land, UNHCR has made temporary emergency relocation arrangements, which will be activated as needed. An estimated 35,000 refugees can be hosted by other refugees living in safer areas; 34,000 refugees can be hosted in communal structures in refugee settlements; and 66,000 refugees can be hosted in tents or other emergency shelters within or adjacent to the current settlements. These arrangements are not a sustainable solution, but they may be life-saving in the short-term. Meanwhile, in support of Bangladeshs intensive efforts to ready the refugee settlements for the monsoon rains, UNHCR is further strengthening its own emergency preparedness and response capacity in an effort to save lives, reduce health, landslide and flood risks and preserve access to settlements. By the end of May, UNHCR plans to equip all refugee families with shelter kits, which will include bamboo poles, ropes, shelter-grade tarpaulins, sandbags, and tools. In addition, UNHCR is distributing 80,000 pre-monsoon kits to help secure shelters in case of storms, and is stock-piling 160,000 post-disaster response kits to be distributed to refugees, as well as another 30,000 post-disaster response kits to be distributed to any families who might be affected among the host community. UNHCR has already positioned five hospital tents and emergency health kits in Coxs Bazar. More medicines and supplies are being ordered. Refugees themselves are working with us on the preparedness efforts. Refugee community health workers have completed first aid and cyclone preparedness training. Some of them have been trained to be in Search and Rescue Teams. UNHCR and partners are working closely with refugees to develop early warning systems and information campaigns for emergency situations. Six weeks ago (16 March) UNHCR and partners launched the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis seeking more than US$950 million in 2018 to meet the immediate needs of more than 880,000 Rohingya refugees and over 330,000 Bangladeshis in communities affected by the crisis. UNHCRs portion of this appeal amounts to more than US$196 million. As of May, only 16 per cent of needed funds have been received. While UNHCR is grateful for the generous and timely support already provided by donors, and particularly grateful to donors for unrestricted contributions which allowed us to continue our work without interruptions, it is vital that UNHCR and partners have more resources available to save lives and improve the living conditions for refuges during the monsoon season, as well as to continue providing timely assistance and protection. For more information on this topic, please contact: Esperanza is a refugee fashion designer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNHCR/Samuel Otieno Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya Esperanza Tabisha, a refugee fashion designer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is arranging her latest designs in her small shop made of corrugated iron in Kakuma refugee camp, north-western Kenya. Two customers arrive to take a look at what is on sale. One is a refugee, another works for a local non-governmental organization. Most of the merchandise is made of kitenge, a thick, shiny fabric, traditionally dyed in bright colours. The women look impressed. One settles on a dress for 1,800 Kenya shillings (US$18). Another orders a customized long skirt and top which will cost 2,000 Kenya shillings (US$20). Happy with their purchases, the women leave, and Esperanza continues organizing her stock. Theres no better feeling than having a happy client. The 27-year-old businesswoman is just one of thousands of refugee entrepreneurs and business owners living in Kakuma and its neighbouring town, which have a combined population of nearly 250,000, both refugees and local people. Esperanza started her small fashion label, Esperanza Fashion & Design, in 2011 with just 22,000 Kenya shillings (US$220), after fleeing violence in the DRCs North Kivu province and arriving in Kenya. Kakuma refugee camp is home to 180,000 people with big-city talent and sky-high ambition. (Stephan Bachenheimer, camera-editor) She wanted to continue in fashion design, despite finding herself a refugee in Kenya. Her unique designs soon found a niche in the thriving fashion industry in Kakuma camp, attracting customers not just from the refugee community, but among local people, too. She earns about 2,000 Kenyan shillings (US$20) per month selling her designs. I love my work, she says. Theres no better feeling than having a happy client. Using the income she has generated, Esperanza has invested in her business, buying a new sewing machine, a charcoal iron for pressing clothes and other tools to help develop the quality of her work. Despite running a successful business that supports her and her extended family, Esperanza says there are challenges I am really happy with what I am doing, she says. I love being a designer and making clothes. But the money I make is only enough to take care of most of my basic needs. For me to expand my business, I require financial assistance which I can repay over time. Esperanza supports an innovative study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, published on 4 May, which concludes that many refugees are not just passive recipients of aid, but are involved in economic activity. The report shows there are opportunities for private-sector organizations to do business in the camp and its neighboring town. The study looks at Kakuma from the perspective of setting up a private business. It finds that there are more than 2,000 businesses and smalls shops in Kakuma, and the areas economy is worth 6 billion shillings (US$56 million). According to the study, half of household incomes is spent on consumers products, a market worth more than US $26 million per year. Refugees learn tailoring skills in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Dominic Chavez/International Finance Corporation Mesfin Gitahon, a refugee and owner of a food store in Kakuma refugee camp. Dominic Chavez/International Finance Corporation Mesfin in the back of his store in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Dominic Chavez/International Finance Corporation Mama Safi Kisasa, a refugee and small business owner, makes fresh bread with family members. Dominic Chavez/International Finance Corporation Refugees take tailoring classes in the Kakuma camp. Dominic Chavez/International Finance Corporation The plumbing department at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Kakuma refugee camp. Dominic Chavez/International Finance Corporation There are over 2,100 small shops in Kakuma camp. Dominic Chavez/International Finance Corporation Data was collected on business ownership, consumption levels and access to finance, telecommunications, education and employment. The findings show Kakumas economy is thriving and there are opportunities for the private sector to invest in ventures in the refugee and host communities, which promote self-reliance, financial independence and the empowerment of refugees, reducing reliance on humanitarian aid and integrating refugees socially and economically. We need to change the mindset that refugees are sitting at the camp, doing nothing but receiving assistance, says Raouf Mazou, UNHCR representative for Kenya. Many of them are, in fact, running businesses and creating jobs for others, and doing other important thing to formalize their enterprises. We tend to see the private sector as something sophisticated, coming from outside, but most times, it is built on initiatives of individuals who want to make money using what they know best, like a refugee who bakes bread. I am really happy with what I am doing." Researchers found more than 2,100 small shops in Kakuma camp, serving a mixed population. Of the refugees surveyed, 12 per cent identified themselves as business owners. They conclude that its findings are positive considering that most refugees arrive in Kenya with little more than the clothes on their backs. There are also limited rights to move around the country, or own registered businesses or property. Good internet connectivity in most parts of Kakuma and good mobile phone penetration have opened up opportunities for potential private sector investors, the study says. Approximately 69 per cent of refugees and 85 per cent of the host community have access to mobile phones. Connectivity has helped Esperanza to expand her business. Customers choose a design from a range that she has posted online. The internet, social media, especially Facebook and Instagram, are playing a major role in attracting potential customers to my business, as I advertise there, she says. The study found that private sector investment in Kakuma not only allows refugee business owners to support themselves, but also benefits the host community. Refugees often hire local people to work with them and they buy livestock, wood, charcoal, and other commodities from the local community. Conflict, violence, and persecution are driving more people from their homes than at any time since World War Two, says IFC chief executive Philippe Le Houerou. Government aid to tackle the challenge is limited. Private sector investment could make an important difference, by creating jobs and opportunities for refugees. But investors often lack the critical information they need to venture into these markets. This study is a key first step to boost private investment into an untapped market. The IFC and UNHCR hope the study will raise awareness of Kakuma as a market opportunity in private sector areas such as telecommunications, health, education, housing and power. The joint report concludes that attracting the private sector and social enterprises to the Kakuma area and supporting local and refugee entrepreneurs has the potential to expand job opportunities, improve services, provide more choice, and reduce prices for all. In turn, this could enhance the self-reliance of both communities and their socioeconomic integration, while contributing to the development of the hosting region. This is in the spirit of the global agenda of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, the report states. It calls for three key objectives would need to be reached: Attract private businesses, including commercial firms and social enterprises, to enter the market and provide opportunities to scale up operations of enterprises already present in the area Develop refugee and host communities entrepreneurship potential, with a focus on young people and women, by supporting their businesses to grow and providing vocational skills training, business development services, and microfinance opportunities Support policy dialogue and advocacy efforts focused on creating a more conducive business environment and attracting private sector companies to the area. Somali refugees wait for their food rations in Ali Addeh camp, Djibouti. UNHCR/A. Abd El-Khalek AMMAN, Jordan - UNHCR's Special Envoy for the Somali Refugee Situation, Ambassador Mohamed Affey has expressed his appreciation to member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for their spirit of solidarity towards ensuring safety, assistance and asylum to those in need of international protection despite limited amount of resources. Last week, while attending a workshop on the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), organized by the OIC and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Ambassador Affey noted with concern the multiplication of crisis and their multi layered dimensions globally, that calls for an enhanced approach and collective efforts and solidarity to bring innovative and comprehensive response. He was speaking to delegates at the workshop held from 29 to 30 April, aimed at raising awareness on the CRRF and global compact on refugees among the OIC Member States and identifying possibilities for increased support to its implemetation, while capitalizing on the existing engagement by OIC in refugee situations. Ambassador Affey noted with concern that the Somali refugee situation has been going on for over two decades, affecting three generations. Many member states in the OIC region are living through dire crisis, generating large scale refugee flow. Despite some member states being host countries, other countries continue producing refugees, he said. The Special Envoy reiterated UNHCR's continued efforts on the implementation of a new approach - a whole of society approach - to provide immediate and long-term assistance in order to find lasting and sustainable solutions for all persons of concern to UNCHR and host communities. He further noted how the IGAD member states - Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda - have translated the commitments made in the New York Declaration and CRRF into action through the Special Summit on Somali Refugees held last year in March. All of us must put effort in helping implement the Nairobi Declaration as getting conditions inside Somalia for refugee return and reintegration and sustainable development is central to the Declaration, Ambassador Affey said. He further added that Nairobi Declaration and its plan of action is an important framework aimed at applying the New York declaration at the regional level and help focus on the refugee situation with the objective of enhanced protection, asylum space and self-reliance. He also noted that the regional application of the CRRF in IGAD states is being effectively implemented; efforts that continue to receive strong support from UNHCR, the European Union, United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. During the workshop, the Special Envoy expressed UNHCRs concern on the continued effects of the drought, conflict and lack of essential services, He reiterated UNHCR commitments towards finding durable solutions for the refugee situation. Although many refugees are now making decisions to return home voluntarily, specifically the Somali refugees, conditions in many parts are still not conducive for safe and sustainable return," he added. The Special Envoy emphasized the need for the international community to continue demonstrating solidarity and responsibility-sharing by availing resettlement opportunities to refugees in need of this solution, humanitarian admission programs, opportunities for skilled migrants, labour mobility and education as a tool of international protection He added that UNHCR will continue to seek ways of engaging other key stakeholders like local authorities, regional and international NGOs, development agencies, financial institutions, civil society, faith-based organizations, academia, the media and refugees themselves to promote sustainable reintegration. The Somali refugee situation is one of the world's most protracted. Unfortunately, the shift in global focus from the situation is hindering response and assistance to refugees and host countries, Amb Mohammed Affey said. For more information, please contact: Cynthia Nosim Lemayian, [email protected], tel: (+254) (20) 422 2215 Construction worker Najaf Ali Akhoondi feared the worst when his 16-year-old daughter Morsal was diagnosed with a serious kidney condition. The Afghan refugee family, who live in the Tehran suburbs, knew treatment would be expensive and his meagre earnings could not cover the costs. The doctor who examined Morsal said she had been born with only one kidney and it had stopped functioning because of a severe infection. She needed three sessions of dialysis a week and the family could only afford two. I was losing my young daughter, Najaf Ali said. She was suffering in front of my eyes. He contacted the Tehran field office of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to request assistance with his daughters medical expenses, and the family was enrolled in a groundbreaking medical insurance scheme launched by the Iranian government in 2015. She feels better, so we all feel better. Morsal was able to have dialysis three time a week in a medical facility close to her home. She feels better so we all feel better, says her father. The Universal Public Health Insurance (UPHI) programme enables Afghan and Iraqi refugees in Iran to benefit from health insurance similar to that enjoyed by Iranian nationals, including hospital treatment, out-patient care such as x-rays, and medication costs. Supported by UNHCR, the initiative is administered through an agreement between UNHCR, the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs of the interior ministry, the ministry of health and the Iran Health Insurance Organisation. The programme is the outcome of a long-standing partnership between UNHCR and the Iranian government to complement government efforts to provide refugees with affordable health care. An Iranian doctor visits Afghan refugees at a health centre in Savejbolagh in Alborz province northwest of Tehran. UNHCR/Morteza Nikoubazl An Afghan refugee family who benefits from the Universal Public Health Insurance scheme. UNHCR/Reza Sayah The Universal Public Health Insurance scheme for refugees covers hospital treatment as well as out-patient care and medication costs. UNHCR An Afghan refugee undergoes an eye examination at a health centre in Iran. UNHCR/Morteza Nikoubazl The scheme is funded by several donors including the European Unions Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, known by the acronym ECHO. All registered refugees in Iran can enrol in UPHI at local government offices known as Pishkhan Centres, where they will receive an insurance booklet which serves as a pass giving access to an extensive network of government hospitals and public clinics and permits them to receive medical care at an affordable cost. Support from UNHCR complements the governments contribution and in 2017 covered the cost of premiums for 110,000 of the most vulnerable refugees and members of their families, including those with serious ailments such as haemophilia and kidney disease. This initiative by the government of Iran is certainly exemplary. All other refugees may also enrol in the insurance scheme by paying the premiums themselves. UNHCRs officer-in-charge in Iran, Iryna Korenyak, applauded the Iranian government for assisting almost 1 million refugees living in Iran. This initiative by the government of Iran is certainly exemplary, particularly as it has resulted in the inclusion of the refugees in its national health system, she said. The Islamic Republic is one of the few countries in the world to provide such a service. UPHI was first applied to all Iranians in 2014, then a year later Iran set a global precedent by offering health insurance to all refugees, who have benefited continuously from the scheme for the past four years. This example of the inclusion of refugees in national health services, rather than keep treating them in a parallel service, is the kind of practice UNHCR wants to see applied in all refugee situations globally. Such an approach is an integral part of the new approach set out in the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants by the UN General Assembly, which will form the basis of a new global compact on refugees. The compact also aims to ensure that host countries with progressive policies like Iran are better supported by the international community. Danish English Announcement no. 01 2018/19 Allerd, 4 May 2018 Matas launches its 2022/23 strategy Matas is pleased to invite analysts and institutional investors to its Capital Markets Day, which will be held at the companys premises in Allerd on 30 May 2018 in connection with the presentation of Matas financial statements for financial year 2017/18. At the Capital Markets Day, Matas management team will present the Groups updated strategy covering the period to 2022/23. Agenda for the Capital Markets Day: 9.30 a.m. Registration 10.00 a.m. Welcome to Matas Capital Markets Day 2018 Presentation of Matas updated strategy Financial targets Concluding remarks and Q&A 1.30 p.m. Light lunch and dialogue 2.00 p.m. Conclusion Welcome! Gregers Wedell-Wedellsborg CEO Practical information The Annual Report for 2017/18 will be available on www.investor.en.matas.dk from approximately 8.00 a.m. The Capital Markets Day presentations will be made available when the event begins. The Capital Markets Day will be held at Matas A/Ss head office in Allerd, approximately a 30-minute drive from central Copenhagen and Copenhagen Airport. The venue is Matas A/S, Rrmosevej 1, DK 3450 Allerd, Denmark. To sign up for the event, send an e-mail stating your name, title and company to etk@matas.dk by Friday, 25 May 2018. Contacts Elisabeth Toftmann Klintholm Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs, tel. +45 48 16 55 48 First United Nations Conference on Space Law and Policy Co-organized by the Government of the Russian Federation Hosted by the State Space Corporation "Roscosmos" Moscow, the Russian Federation, 11 - 13 September 2018 Updates: Update 11 March: Report of the Conference (A/AC.105/1195) Update 5 September: Final programme Update 28 August: Latest draft programme Latest draft programme Update 20 August: Latest draft programme and Information Note Latest draft programme and Information Note Update 13 August: Information Note Information Note Update 8 August: Draft programme Draft programme Update 20 July: Draft programme Draft programme Update 10 July: Closed registration. Closed registration. Update 1 July: Online registration for self funded participants extended to 10 July 2018 Online registration for self funded participants extended to 10 July 2018 Update 20 June: Online registration system recovered! Online registration system recovered! Update 18 June: Online registration system is under scheduled maintenance and will be announced when reopened Online registration system is under scheduled maintenance and will be announced when reopened Update 25 May: Closed applications for funded participants Closed applications for funded participants Update 3 May: Registration open Registration open Update 30 April: Information Note Statements made at the Conference Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo, Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Mr. Sergey Saveliev, Deputy Director General for International Cooperation, Roscosmos Introduction The Office for Outer Space Affairs has been organizing a long-standing series of capacity-building workshops on space law and policy where 10 workshops have been successfully held since 2002 in cooperation with the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Brazil, Nigeria, Ukraine, Islamic Republic of Iran, Thailand, Argentina, China, and at the UN premises in Vienna. Building upon this series of workshops, the Office now moves on with a new phase in its capacity-building efforts, by a new series of dedicated United Nations Conferences on Space Law and Policy. The first Conference co-organized by the Government of the Russian Federation and hosted by the State Space Corporation "Roscosmos", as supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation will be held in Moscow, Russian Federation, on 11-13 September this year. Limited resources of outer space are used by an increasing number of States, international intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental entities. As more actors engage in space activities, whose actions might affect others, including users of space services on Earth, it is of utmost importance to ensure that all actors comply with requirements of international space law. International cooperation on the peaceful uses of outer space helps to bring the benefits of space technology applications to a wide circle of stake-holders, both governmental and non-governmental, and to intensify and diversify national space programmes. Policy and regulatory frameworks at the national, regional and global levels are of paramount importance to provide the necessary basis for space activities of States, particularly developing countries, to meet sustainable development goals . Each year, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolutions on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space(the latest resolution 72/77 was adopted in 2017) , reaffirms the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of international law, including relevant norms of international space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, especially for developing countries. The General Assembly also recognizes that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the prevention of an arms race in outer space with a view to promoting and strengthening international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The General Assembly, in its resolutions on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, further requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes, and agrees that the Committee should continue to consider the broader perspective of space security and associated matters that would be instrumental in ensuring the safe and responsible conduct of space activities, including ways to promote international, including regional and interregional cooperation to that end. The Assembly encourages the Office for Outer Space Affairs to conduct capacity-building and outreach activities associated with space security and transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities, as appropriate, and within the context of the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The General Assembly resolutions on transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities (starting from its resolution 68/50) encourage relevant entities and organizations of the United Nations system to coordinate, as appropriate, on matters related to the recommendations contained in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities (UN Document A/68/189 of 2013). This call is taken into account in meeting the objectives of the Conference. Conference Objectives The objectives of the Conference will be as follows: - To promote awareness and knowledge of the legal and policy aspects and implications, both current and anticipated, of activities in outer space thus serving the interests of space faring and developing nations; - To draw attention of the authorities and decision makers to topical issues of progressive development of international space law; - To increase public awareness of the existing and possible challenges and threats in the area of outer space activities; - To promote the implementation and coordination of international cooperation in space-related areas in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Programme Click to see the programme. The Conference will be structured by discussions in the following topics. In addition, renowned experts in the field will be invited as speakers. The participants will consider specific topics and discuss observations and recommendations for consideration by COPUOS. Appropriate time will be set aside for discussions and for short presentations by the speakers on their own relevant activities. The following topics will be considered in dedicated sessions: Promoting responsible, peaceful and safe use of outer space -Challenges and threats to the safety of space operations, security and the long-term sustainability of outer space activities -Ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes Exploring potential regulatory aspects of space debris mitigation and remediation Discussion g modalities for addressing space resources exploration, exploitation and utilization Conceptualizing possible approaches to, and models for, s pace traffic management Strengthening the capacity-building in space law Kindly note that the Conference organizers may modify the number and themes of sessions of the final programme. Technical Tour Technical Tour is scheduled to "Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center", which is the facility responsible for training cosmonauts for space missions. In order to enter the Center a scanned copy of a participant's passport shall be submitted, after receiving official invitation letter to the event. Social Events Conference opening day: evening reception on behalf of the Director General of the State Space Corporation "Roscosmos". Conference closing day: evening reception on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Location and Date Dates: The Conference will be held from 11 to 13 September 2018 in Moscow, Russian Federation. Invited participants will receive a formal invitation letter with further information on available accommodation, logistics and other local arrangements prior to the Symposium. Venue: Azimut Hotel Language of the Workshop The working language of the Conference will be English Simultaneous interpretation from English into Russian and vice versa will be provided. Participants The Conference is being planned for a total of 180 participants including decision- and policy-makers from national space agencies and governmental bodies, experts of the space community, business and academia researchers/students and specialists involved in space activities, representing developing and developed nations from all economic regions. The Office seeks to achieve the balanced participation of women and men to ensure gender parity. Support to Qualified Applicants Applicants and their nominating organizations are strongly encouraged to find their own sources of sponsorship to participate in the Symposium. However, within the limited financial resourcesavailable to the organizers, a number of qualified applicants from developing and emerging economies expressing the need for financial support will be offered financial support to attend the Conference. The support may include the provision of a round-trip air ticket between one of the Moscow airports and the applicant's international airport of departure and/or room and board for the duration of the Conference. En-route and other expenses or any changes made to an air ticket provided by the organizers must be borne by the participants. Selected applicants will be notified in June-July 2018. Life and Health Insurance Life and major health insurance is the responsibility of each selected participants or his/her institution or government . The organizers will not assume any responsibility for life and major health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidents. Medical facilities for first aid in emergencies will be provided at the Conference venues; for serious emergencies, immediate transportation and admission to a hospital shall be provided, with the understanding that all participants of the Conference possess valid individual insurances. Deadline for Submission of Applications Applications for participating in the Conference have to be submitted online through this webpage (see top of page). The completed application form together with the presentation abstract should be submitted on-line to the Office for Outer Space Affairs, no later than 25 May 2018 from applicants seeking funding support and no later than 1 July 2018 from self-funded applicants. Only complete applications received before these deadlines will be considered. *Please note that in order to visit Russia, foreigners, depending on their nationality, may have to obtain an entry visa. All visa applicants are required to possess a passport valid not less than 6 month after visa expiration. Contact For questions related to the Conference programme and participation opportunities, please contact us. For latest information and updates on the Conference, it is advised that you frequently visit this webpage. Useful Links SAN DIEGO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The primary purpose of a Couples Rehab is to help couples fighting drug dependency or alcohol dependency to find their way out of the nightmare. At a couples drug rehab center, we do not try to claim that addiction and recovery is an overnight process: We know it takes hard work, and we understand that for the program to work its best the patient must believe in the drug recovery program they are entering. It is for this reason that we help addicts to select from a wide range of alcohol and drug rehab program types. Choosing a Couples Drug Rehab Program The goal of a couples rehab is to make rehabilitation as natural and instinctive for addicts and their loved ones as they possibly can. This means that when an addict or an alcoholic tells us that they are not comfortable with discussing their problems in a group constantly, we respect and understand that. In a case like this, an option like one-on-one counseling may be a perfect choice. Alternatives Another example is a situation where an addicted couple feels strongly that 12-step based programs are not the solution for them. Several other program types have proven to be very successful for drug and alcohol addiction recovery Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for example. Some self-help programs also work very effectively for couples who dont feel the 12-step model works for them. Regardless of the couples belief system or recovery needs, CouplesRehabs.orgs Couples Rehab are here to assist couples with the solution. Please call us to discuss the program that could lead you to a drug-free future! Author: William Leonard Organization: CouplesRehabs.org Address: 402WestBroadway,#400,SanDiego,CA92101 Phone: 888-325-2454 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/97ef0426-da7c-406f-9008-8fcf7228c36a There was some error handling your request. Please refresh your browser and try again in a while. Published: May 03, 2018 Cybersecurity, Forest Service and Youth Development Just a Few Fields Welcoming UT Grads Forrest Harrisons interest in both psychology and cybersecurity has inspired his research on memes and mental health and has been the driving force behind his efforts in developing a mental health application for smart devices. Harrison 18, a psychology major with a minor in management information systems, wants a career blending these interests, which hell cement with a Master of Science in Cybersecurity, a UT program hell begin this fall. I would like to finish school and work in penetration testing/ethical hacking to combat social engineering, which is the use of deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that may be used for malicious purposes, said Harrison, of Bordentown, NJ. Then after a few years of working, continue my education to get a masters in mental health counseling, where I can fully integrate the two fields by developing a new therapeutic approach. Harrison will join the nearly 1,400 students at UTs 146th commencement on Saturday, May 5, during two separate ceremonies at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. UT gave me the resources and opportunities to develop into an interdisciplinary leader. I no longer felt impeded by my environment but was challenged and supported by my professors and mentors, Harrison said, citing assistant professor of psychology Erica Yuen in particular. She introduced me to research and made sure that I was an expert in her lab. Then she supported all my ideas to help me develop into a leader with a multitude of intangible skills. Dr. Yuen showed me that I was capable of doing more than I anticipated, which has inspired me to push myself to do amazing things now and in the future with confidence and a smile. Both Paige Randazzo 18 and Bruce Da Silva 18 are leaving in September for two-year posts with the U.S. Peace Corps. Randazzo, an advertising and public relations major with a creative concentration and a minor in graphic design from Mt. Dora, FL, heads to Peru to start her role as a youth development facilitator. Da Silva, an economics major from Rutherford, NJ, heads to Morocco to be a youth development specialist. Senior Jay Lawson, an environmental science major from Baltimore, MD, heads to Colorado to start a job as a forest inventory and analysis technician with the Colorado State Forest Service. In Colorado and many other states, the state or federal government does forest surveys on a yearly or 10-year basis, Lawson said. Plots on both public and private land have to be surveyed to determine long term temporal changes to the landscape and forest ecosystems. Data that I'll be collecting will include things like species composition, forest cover, forest density, tree health and other factors. Two cybersecurity graduates, Bethany Russell, of Plymouth, MA, and Patrick Walker, of Indian Rocks Beach, FL, have been offered full time positions in their fields. Walker, who has a minor in business analytics, has been hired as a security analyst with ReliaQuest. He will be analyzing and investigating security related data from a wide range of security devices and customer environments, researching trends and current countermeasures for cybersecurity vulnerabilities, exploits and other malicious activity, and providing analysis based on threat and vulnerability reports, among other things. UTs close connection to the businesses in the Tampa Bay area definitely helped me land this job, Walker said. Last year, the cybersecurity club had a tech event hosted at ReliaQuest, an IT security company located near downtown Tampa, which Walker said gave him insight into the company and was a connection he was able to bring up during the interview process. In addition, he said UT's focus on training him for the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) certification exam, which he'll take this summer, made him stand out as a candidate. Russell, also a business analytics minor, heads to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to be a research assistant to work on cyber incident response in the health care industry. She was found on LinkedIn by a research faculty member at MIT. Throughout my time at UT, I have learned to be independent. Since UT has so many students that are far away from home, there are extra resources and experiences here that have helped me grow to accomplish more on my own. I will miss the sense of community at UT, Russell said. Professionally, UT has given me the tools to succeed in the information and technology field. When I first came to UT, I had not considered a career in technology before, so when I switched my major to cybersecurity my sophomore year, I had a lot of catching up to do. UT's cybersecurity program helped me develop these skills and has now prepared me to enter the working world. Between the two commencement ceremonies, there are 1,214 bachelors degree candidates and 159 masters degree candidates 1,373 in all. For complete details, visit UTs commencement webpage. Live coverage of the events will also be provided. SAN DIEGO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CouplesRehabs.org partners with Rehab for Couples that offers drug rehabilitation programs for married couples that are suffering with substance abuse addiction. We understand that the road to drug-free is long and winding, with many experiences and aspects affecting eachs personal struggle with addiction. Addicted couples are not all the same, which is why CouplesRehabs.org helps you locate the best couples drug rehab center. If you are looking for detox treatment that will address your addiction problems, you have come to the right place. CouplesRehabs partners know that personalized treatment programs drastically increase a couples chances of achieving and maintaining a sober lifestyle. CouplesRehabs.org partner Rehab for Couples offers a variety of treatment options to patients, allowing every patient to create and design a drug recovery program that is perfect for their needs. Upon entering treatment, each patient is evaluated to determine which drug or drugs they abuse, any physical or mental medical conditions, and other varying factors that can affect addiction or the recovery process. Every aspect of treatment caters toward individual patients and their recovery. Everyone at Rehab for Couples, from the patients to the staff, is working toward a common goal. Sobriety is an achievable goal with the help of highly trained and qualified addiction and recovery experts like the ones at Rehab for Couples. Rehab for Couples, offers multiple cutting-edge, research-based programs designed to deal with drug and alcohol addiction in couples. If you or someone you love is currently struggling with a substance abuse problem, now is the time to get help before it is too late. For more information on the specialized treatment programs available at Rehab for Couples, please call (888) 325-2454, or visit us at www.CouplesRehabs.org Author: William Leonard Organization: CouplesRehabs.org Address: 402WestBroadway,#400,SanDiego,CA92101 Phone: 888-325-2454 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/1e906e77-1492-4c66-bcb3-8f284ab6c471 Published: May 04, 2018 University of Tampa Students Curate Exhibit at Plant Museum; Based on UT Professors Research A temporary exhibit about American Red Cross nurses and the Spanish-American War, based on a University of Tampa professors research and curated by UT students, has opened at the Henry B. Plant Museum. The exhibit, Red Cross Nursing and the War of 1898: The Tampa Connection, follows the women who traveled from New York to Tampa and then to Cuba to become the first nurses of the American Red Cross to serve in wartime. The exhibit is based on the research of Charles McGraw Groh, associate professor of history, and was curated by students in his class Museums, Historic Sites, and Archives. To prepare for this project, the students studied different aspects of public history curation at the Plant Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum and Perry Harvey Park, working with local museum professionals. Plant Museum curators Susan Carter and Heather Trubee Brown offered guidance at each stage of the exhibit project. The exhibit was developed as a companion to the Plant Museums permanent exhibit on the Spanish-American War. The Tampa Bay Hotel, now known as Plant Hall, received National Historic Landmark status for the hotels role in the 1898 military conflict, when it was used to house Col. Theodore Roosevelt, other military officers and Red Cross nurses. The exhibit will remain on display for the month of May. It will be back on view in July during Archives Awareness Week, an annual event organized by the City of Tampa Archives Advisory Committee. UT student Selena Martinez will conduct a guided tour at this event. For more information on the exhibit and Archives Awareness Week, contact Groh at cmcgraw@ut.edu. Listening Session for Enhancing Work with Native Americans May 16 at UW A University of Wyoming subcommittee will hold a listening session Wednesday, May 16, to help UW enhance its work with Native Americans in the region. The Native American Affairs Advisory subcommittee will meet from 3:30-5 p.m. in Room 506 of Coe Library. UW President Laurie Nichols has charged the subcommittee with generating a five-year strategic plan to boost the universitys work with Native Americans. The listening session is to gain input from faculty, staff, students and the community. Participants can come and go throughout the 90-minute session. The Native American Affairs Strategic Plan will augment and support Breaking Through 2017-2022: A Strategic Plan for the University of Wyoming. Some of the questions to be addressed at the session are: -- What are the most important priorities for UW to build partnerships with Native American communities and tribes? Does UW do enough to engage these groups? -- Does UW provide Native American students with an education that ultimately enables them to enrich the tribal communities of which they are a part? How might UW improve in this area? -- What are the most important things UW should prioritize for recruiting and retaining Native American students? -- How significant are financial constraints in preventing Native American students from attending UW? How might UW improve in this area? -- What do other higher education institutions do better than UW in (a) building partnerships with Native American communities and tribes, and (b) recruiting and retaining Native American students? -- What would it take for UW to become a national leader among higher education institutions in its relations with Native American communities and tribes? The Native American Affairs Advisory strategic planning subcommittee is chaired by UW College of Law Associate Professor Jason Robison. Members are former and current UW faculty and staff members Judy Antell, Barry Ballard, Debra Donahue, Ken Gerow, Bill Gribb, Angela Jaime, Debra Littlesun, Jeffrey Means, Tim Nichols, John Nutter, Tim Rush, Reinette Tendore and James Trosper; and UW students Colleen Friday, Taryn Jim and Christie Wildcat. Individuals wishing to offer comments or suggestions, but unable to attend the listening session, are encouraged to email any subcommittee member. All comments will be considered anonymous unless the respondent requests association with the comment. For more information, email Nutter, nutter@uwyo.edu. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX:NCU) ("Nevada Copper" or Company) is pleased to announce the results from its 2018 Annual and Special Meeting (the Meeting), held on Friday, May 4th in Vancouver, B.C. Shareholders holding a total of 350,494,527 common shares of the Company attended the meeting in person or were represented by proxy, representing 78.74% of the total 445,150,682 common shares of the Company outstanding as of the record date. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business before the Meeting. Matthew Gili, President and CEO, of Nevada Copper, commented, We are very pleased to have such a strong and experienced board of directors now in place as the company pushes towards initial production in 2019. Nevada Copper owns North Americas only fully-permitted, shovel-ready copper project of scale and, with supportive market fundamentals, including very few sources of new copper production, this is the right team to take this project forward and the right timing. 1. Election of Directors The following persons were elected as Directors of the Company until the next annual shareholder meeting of the Company, with the voting results shown below: Director Votes For % For Votes Against % Against Tom Albanese 346,682,111 99.98 72,701 0.02 Michael Brown 346,652,276 99.97 102,836 0.03 Justin Cochrane 346,682,098 99.98 72,714 0.02 Raffaele (Lucio) Genovese 346,676,498 99.98 78,614 0.02 Stephen Gill 346,636,776 99.97 118,336 0.03 Evgenij Iorich 346,631,503 99.96 123,609 0.04 Abraham (Braam) Jonker 346,648,016 99.97 107,096 0.03 G. Ernest (Ernie) Nutter 346,682,098 99.98 72,714 0.02 2. Appointment of Auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was appointed as the Company's auditor and the directors were authorized to fix the auditor's remuneration. 3. Determination of the Number of Directors The number of directors was determined at eight. 4. Amendment to the Companys Deferred Share Unit Plan An ordinary resolution to approve the amendments to the Companys Deferred Share Unit Plan passed. The ordinary resolution was approved by the shareholders of the Company with the following results: Votes For Votes Against Total Shares Voted Shares Voted 346,596,574 158,538 346,755,112 % 99.95 0.05 77.89 The newly-appointed directors are: Tom Albanese, Director Currently a director of Franco Nevada Previously CEO of Rio Tinto plc and Vedanta Resources Limited Previously served on the boards of Ivanhoe Mines Limited, Palabora Mining Company and Turquoise Hill Resources Limited Ernie Nutter, Director Previously 13 years as Mining Analyst at Capital Group Prior to which spent 13 years with Royal Bank of Canada, as MD of RBC Capital Markets and Chairman of RBC Dominion Securities Strategic Planning Committee Justin Cochrane, Director President and COO of Cobalt27 Over 16 years of royalty and stream financing, M&A and corporate finance Former Executive VP and Head of Corporate Development for Sandstorm Gold Ltd Nevada Copper wishes to thank Mr. Bonifacio, who did not stand for re-election at the Meeting, for his invaluable contributions to the Company since its inception in 2006. We wish Mr. Bonifacio all the best in his future endeavours. NEVADA COPPER CORP. Matthew Gili, President & CEO TORONTO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunwing is helping Canadians vacation in style on their next sunny getaway and save this summer with its Luxury for Less Sale. Those in search of a lavish beach vacation at a price thats certain not to blow their travel budget can enjoy a top-rated, luxury resort for a fraction of the price if they book by May 11th. Savings of up to $1500 per couple are available on vacation packages to select luxury resorts across Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, known for their world-class spas, superlative dining experiences and top-notch service and amenities. As the #1 for luxury vacations, Sunwing has plenty of resorts to choose from during this time-limited promotion including Royalton Negril Resort & Spa in Negril, Jamaica. This all inclusive, beachfront resort offers guests elegant rooms and suitesmany of which can accommodate families of five or moretogether with an attractive pool complex with infinity pool, reservation-free dining at numerous specialty restaurants and an elegant spa. Guests can also enjoy complimentary water sports, daily activities and kids programs. Couples keen on enjoying an adults only getaway in a luxury setting can take advantage of generous savings at adults only resorts such as Platinum Yucatan Princess All Suites Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Mexico. This stunning beachfront resort welcomes guests with luxurious Junior Suites, 13 sparkling pools including swim-out pools and exclusive inclusions ranging from spa discounts to unlimited a la carte dining and more. Travellers can also enjoy savings at Royalton Bavaro Resort and Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. New for 2018, this resort is located on the famously-beautiful Bavaro Beach. Vacationers can relax with a tropical drink in hand while floating down the resorts lazy river, or kick things up a notch with the first-ever FlowRiderthe ultimate surf machine. Younger guests will love the daily kids and teen clubs and on-site splash park. All vacation packages include return flights on Sunwing Airlines where passengers can look forward to starting their vacation off in style with award-winning inflight service that includes a welcome sparkling wine toast, buy on board Sunwing Cafe menu with selections inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford and backpacks for children filled with games and toys. To book your next all-inclusive vacation visit www.sunwing.ca or contact your travel agent. About Sunwing As the #1 to the sun and North Americas largest vertically integrated travel company, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 33 airports across Canada to over 50 popular sun destinations. This scale enables Sunwing to negotiate the best deals and exclusive offers at all of the top-rated resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Renowned for its award-winning service, Sunwing is consistently voted the #1 leisure airline by travel agents and is the perennial winner of the Consumer Choice Award. Customers can look forward to starting their vacation off in style with award-winning inflight service, which features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine*, tea and coffee and non-alcoholic beverage service; together with a buy on board menu of light meals and snacks (including kids choices) inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Sunwing customers also benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. * service may be unavailable on select flights For all media enquiries, please contact: Rachel Goldrick Senior Corporate Communications Manager Sunwing Vacations 1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca https://www.facebook.com/SunwingVacations https://twitter.com/SunwingVacay https://www.instagram.com/sunwingvacations https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzjZ-lcuaqBQH7Sq0u3ru7A A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/9e6aac30-7341-4034-95b0-d6cb824a6926 Start your day with Sunrise, a roundup of B.C. news and opinions delivered straight to your inbox Start your day with Sunrise, delivered straight to your inbox Sign up now> Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Vu Anh Quang The delegation of nearly 90 entrepreneurs from 65 Belgian enterprises, led by Minister-President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois, is scheduled to visit Vietnam as part of activities to celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of the two countries diplomatic ties. Addressing the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Vu Anh Quang praised the Flanders Minister-President for his efforts to develop the relations between Vietnam and the Flanders region in recent years. He hoped the upcoming visit will help Vietnamese and Belgian businesses to understand more about each others potential as well as trade and investment cooperation opportunities. The diplomat said the two nations are working to elevate the bilateral ties to strategic partnership in some specific fields. He added that the free trade agreement between EU and Vietnam, once signed and ratified, will open up numerous opportunities for Vietnamese and Belgian enterprises to strengthen connectivity and collaboration. This will also help increase Belgiums investment in Vietnam, particularly in the fields of shipbuilding, agriculture, high technology, and clean energy, contributing to promoting sustainable and green growth in Vietnam, the ambassador added. For his part, Bourgeois hailed Vietnams strong development over the past 30 years with annual remarkable gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6 - 7 percent. Vietnam holds a lot of potential for economic development, and in fact, the country has been successful not only in calling for foreign investment but also in reforming trade and administrative procedures, he said. The Flanders leader added he has high expectations for Belgium-Vietnam partnership, adding that he hoped the two countries will work to improve trade balance in the coming time, citing the fact that the Flanders region exported 4.92 million EUR (5.8 million USD) worth of goods to Vietnam but imported 2 billion EUR from the market. The reality shows that goods made in Belgium and Vietnam, especially farm produce, are not competitive but supplementary, enabling the two countries to boost cooperation in trade and investment, he added. On the occasion of five-day visit to Vietnam, businesses from the Flanders region will hold meetings, promotions and field trips to promote their products and study cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese partners. Vo Tuan Dung, deputy director of C50 The Criminal Police Department (C45) has blocked off Vo Tuan Dungs office at the ninth floor of the MPS building at 47 Pham Van Dong street, Bac Tu Liem district for investigation. The cause of Dungs death has yet to be announced. An insider told Vnexpress that while investigating the multi-million-dollar online gambling ring, Phu Thos public security agency has held working sessions with Vo Tuan Dung on several occasions to clarify his involvement and any wrongdoings. Before the prosecution of the Rikvip gambling ring, Dung and other suspects were asked to report to MPS. Doan Minh Huong, director of the Phu Tho provincial People's Procuracy, said that the provincial investigation agency and the procuracy have only arrived to Hanoi yesterday to work with Vo Tuan Dung. After nearly one year of investigating this online gambling ring, Phu Thos public security agency has prosecuted approximately 90 people, including two higher-ups of Dung named Phan Van Vinh, former director general of the General Department of Police, and Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former director of the High-Technology Department (C50). These two senior officials have been arrested and prosecuted on the charge of abusing positions and/or powers while performing official duties (Article 281 of the Penal Code 1999) and organising gambling or running gambling-dens (Article 322 of the Criminal Code 2015). This online gambling ring is the largest ever discovered in Vietnam with 43 million registered accounts, 14 million users, and over VND9.54 trillion ($420 million) in circulation. The case also involved telecommunications networks and game publishers in Vietnam. Under the DiscoverEU programme, 15,000 young EU citizens can apply in June for free train, bus, ferry and in some cases plane tickets to visit the 28-nation bloc. (AFP/LEON NEAL) Under the DiscoverEU programme, 15,000 young EU citizens can apply next month for free train, bus, ferry and in some cases plane tickets to visit the 28-nation bloc. It "is expected to give 15,000 young people the opportunity to travel around Europe this summer," said the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU. It will help them "discover the continent's rich cultural heritage, get in touch with other people, learn from other cultures and as such discover what unites Europe," it added. The project proposed by the European Parliament has a budget of 12 million (US$14 million). Those selected will be able to travel up to 30 days and visit between one and four foreign destinations within Europe. Applications will be received over a two-week period in June 2018 via the European Youth Portal. A jury will then select the first 15,000 recipients before a second round of applications is launched later in the year depending on how much money is left over and on participant feedback. Former Volkswagen CEO Winterkorn indicted in US over 'Dieselgate', photo AFP 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 US$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. Audiences of an art show as part of the 2018 Hue Festival As heard at a press conference held in the central province of Thua Thien Hue on May 3, the event attracted over 600 reporters from about 100 domestic news agencies and 12 foreign journalists, who produced more than 6,000 news items and articles on the festival. The Hue Festival 2018 featured enticing art shows depicting different cultures of Vietnam and other regions all over the world, said Nguyen Dung, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee and head of the festival organising board. The six-day event offered stages for close to 1,400 performers representing 25 countries and territories including Vietnam. Audiences were treated to 80 stage shows and nearly 50 community activities. Aiming to celebrate 712 years since the founding of Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan, which is Hue today, the festival was themed Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development: Hue - One Destination, Five World Heritages. Van hien kinh ky, a highlight of the festival, was an art show which combined a variety of elements: dance, chorus, animation, poem reciting and music. The 90-minute show featured all cultural values of Hue through heritage elements. Meanwhile, a show, titled Am vong Song Huong (Resonance of Perfume River), involved hundreds of professional and amateur actors and actresses, depicting the life cycle of people living on the rivers from their marriage, giving birth and raising children to passing down their occupation from generation to generation in a joint effort to preserve Hue cultural values. Hue city was the imperial capital of Vietnam for hundreds of years. It is home to five UNESCO-recognised heritages, namely the Hue ancient citadel relic complex a World Cultural Heritage site; Nha Nhac (Hue royal court music) - an intangible cultural heritage item; Nguyen Dynastys wood blocks a documentary heritage item; Nguyen Dynastys Chau ban (royal administrative documents) part of the Asia-Pacific Register of UNESCOs Memory of the World Programme; and literature on Hue royal architecture - a documentary heritage. A file picture of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow on Apr 28, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Alexander Nemenov) 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." 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. Kien Giangs islands charm tourists on holiday Kien Giang welcomed over 270,000 tourist arrivals during the four-day holiday, up nearly 40% from the same period last year. They included more than 5,400 foreigners, rising by some 34% year on year, according to the provincial Department of Tourism. Most of the vacationers chose such islands as Phu Quoc, Lai Son, An Son, Nam Du, Hon Nghe and Hai Tac as their destinations. Notably, Phu Quoc Island attracted nearly 100,000 visitors during the holiday, compared to the previously estimated 40,000. Vice Chairman of the Phu Quoc district Peoples Committee Huynh Quang Hung said despite a surge in the tourist number, local accommodation facilities were still able to provide the best services at stable prices. To serve the soaring travel demand, Phu Quoc International Airport increased domestic flights while Superdong Phu Quoc, a speedboat service provider, also offered more trips linking Rach Gia city and Ha Tien township in the mainland to this island during the holiday. As a result of its efforts, the province attracted more than 2.5 million tourists in the first four months of this year, up 18% from a year earlier. French English MONTREAL, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Look Vision Group Inc. (TSX:BCI) ("New Look") announced today that it will present its first quarter results for 2018 during a conference call on Thursday, May 10th, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EDT for the financial community. The financial results will be made public in a press release that will be issued on the newswire prior to the conference call. The Press Release and the Managements Discussion & Analysis will be posted SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and also on its own website (www.newlook.ca). Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend this conference call: CONFERENCE CALL Time and date: Thursday, May 10th, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EDT Dial-in number: 1-877-223-4471 (toll-free) 1-647-788-4922 (long-distance/international) Media and other interested individuals are invited to listen to the full replay: CONFERENCE RECORDING PLAYBACK Availability dates: May 10th, 2018 (4:00 p.m. EDT) to May 22nd, 2018 (11:59 p.m. EDT) Access telephone: 1-800-585-8367 or 416-621-4642 Reservation number: 2188509 As of April 30th, 2018, New Look had 15,941,520 Class A common shares issued and outstanding. New Look Vision is a leader in the eye care industry in Canada having a network of 376 stores mainly under the New Look Eyewear, Vogue Optical, Greiche & Scaff and Iris banners and laboratory facilities using state-of-the-art technologies. For additional information please see our website at www.newlook.ca. For enquiries, please contact Lise Melanson at (514) 877-4119. Ha Tinh province has taken a firm stance against mining at Thach Khe Calling a halt to Thach Khe mine? Following the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ha Tinh Peoples Committee expressed resolute opposition to mining operations at Thach Khe, Southeast Asias biggest iron ore mine, due to concerns over environmental pollution, high transportation costs, as well as uncertain iron ore sales. In a recent document submitted to the prime minister, the Ha Tinh Peoples Committee outlined the reasoning behind its stance. Notably, according to the province, transporting ores by road and seaport are both unfeasible. In case transportation was conducted by roadways, unfavourable terrain conditions in collaboration with the high frequency of trips would push up transportation costs. Besides, existing seaports are not safe enough to facilitate the transportation of ore, and the cost of constructing new seaports is estimated at billions of dollars. Regarding concerns about iron ores sales, according to the report of the project investorThach Khe Iron JSC (TIC)to date, a number of local firms signed purchase contracts to buy iron ores from the mine. The total contracted ores volume is 5.7 million tonnes per year. However, only Hoa Phat Group affirmed buying iron ores in the long run, signing up for the million tonnes per year in 2017-2021. However, the group did not make specific commitments for 2022-2027. Therefore, long-term outlook on iron ores sales is uncertain. Meanwhile, the plan to sell iron ores to the Formosa steel and port complex, also in Ha Tinh, is also not feasible because the Taiwanese group stated that the iron ores exploited from Thach Khe mine does not suit the technology used by the complex. The province is also concerned about environmental damage, primarily about the disposal of wastewater produced by the exploitation process. According to the province, the wastewater could include harmful content, such as sulfur and heavy metals. In case the wastewater is not treated thoroughly before being discharged into the rivers and lakes, it would cause serious environmental pollution. However, the construction of a complete wastewater treatment system would be extremely costly. Previously, decision makers were divided over Thach Khe mine. Notably, after the fact-finding mission of Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, he proposed the prime minister to stop mining operations at Thach Khe, due to concerns over environmental risks. According to MPI, the project investor (TIC) did not have the required finances despite adjusting investment capital twice in three years. In 2014 the approved investment was VND14.5 trillion ($637.9 million), which was reduced to VND13 trillion ($571.9 million) in 2016 and VND12.2 trillion ($536.7 million) in 2017. These approved figures still failed to take into account all costs. The lack of long-term outlets was also in question. In addition, there were concerns about adverse environmental impacts on the surroundings and local lives. The project had not even been approved by the provincial People's Council, the People's Committee, and the National Assembly deputies of Ha Tinh. MPIs proposal to stop the mine also received fierce opposition from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), and especially TIC. Kobe Steels plan falling through? On March 31, 2010, Kobe Steel received the investment certificate to develop a steel facility in the neighbouring central province of Nghe An, which would produce and market 2.4 million tonnes of iron nuggets per year. Kobe Steel also said production at this plant would use its self-developed next-generation ITmk3 process. One month later, Kobe Steel signed a $44-million contract to lease 40 hectares of land in Hoang Mai Industrial Park and planned to start construction in July 2010. At the time, Kobe Steel said it would use iron ores from the Thach Khe mine to manufacture steel despite the fact that the ores in the mine also contains a lot of zinc, which makes it difficult to use in blast furnaces. The firm believed that the ITmk3 process will enable Vietnam to make effective use of its mineral resources and the use of relatively inexpensive raw materials will help improve the profitability of the project. However, it is unfortunate for Kobe Steel that during the construction of the steel plant, Thach Khe mines operation was suspended due to a conflict over capital contribution between the investors. Due to concerns that the long delay in exploiting the mine would impact the construction of the steel plant, thus Kobe Steel proposed contributing capital to resume the operation of the mine, which was approved in 2013. However, to date, the capital contribution has yet to be implemented for undisclosed reasons. Thus, in case the mine is closed, Kobe Steels steel facility that may also go into limbo is questionable. Kobe Steel awaits clarity over Thach Khe iron mine Japanese-owned Kobe Steel, one of the worlds largest steel makers, has been left waiting for the details of Vinacomin-backed Thach Khe iron mining project to ... Japans Kobe Steel wins a stake in Thach Khe iron mine Japans Kobe Steel has received the official approval from the Vietnamese government to take a stake in Vietnams largest iron ore mine at Thach Khe, ... Kobe Steel hunting big incentives Central Nghe An Provincial Peoples Committee is going into bat for the worlds fourth largest steel maker Kobe Steel. Kobe Steel uses iron might in Thach Khe Kobe Steel, the worlds fourth largest steel-maker, is taking aim at Vietnams largest iron mining project. Kobe Steel mine needs to dig deeper The worlds fourth largest steel maker Kobe Steel is still waiting for acquiring a stake in Vietnams largest iron ore deposit before it can start ... An elevated section of Ho Chi Minh Citys Ben Thanh Suoi Tien metro line runs along Hanoi Highway. Photo: VNA At a recent meeting on the first metro line Ben Thanh Suoi Tien and second line Ben Thanh-Tham Luong, the Government Office said the new assessment must be based on the citys commitments and advice from concerned ministries. The Ministry of Transport has also been asked to establish a specialists group of concerned ministries and agencies to ensure strict compliance with current laws and policies. After agreement about capital sources from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Transport will report to the National Assembly on behalf of the government. Previously, the PM assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport to create a funding plan for the metro lines. The two projects have run behind schedule because of a capital shortage, according to the Ministry of Transport. The metro line No 1 from Ben Thanh in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9 was approved by the city in April 2007, with an initial investment of VND17.4 trillion ($766.4 million). That figure has increased to VND47 trillion ($2.07 billion) because of changes in design and the exchange rate. The developer has also been late in paying contractors, and may have to pay interest on late payments. To ensure the completion schedule, Ho Chi Minh City has offered the Ministry of Planning and Investment advance disbursement for metro line 1 while waiting for the NAs approval. More than half of the work on the project has been completed, and disbursement has topped 30 per cent. Meanwhile, investment capital for the second metro line Ben Thanh-Tham Luong also increased, from VND26 trillion ($1.14 billion) to VND48 trillion ($2.11 billion), after the completion deadline was extended from 2020 to 2026. Fifty-eight people were killed and some 500 wounded when a gunman opened fire from a nearby hotel on a crowd at an open air concert in Las Vegas in October 2017 AFP/David Becker The body-camera footage, which the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department publicly released Wednesday (May 2), shows police assembling outside the 32nd-floor Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino suite of Stephen Paddock, who turned his gun on himself after raining bullets over a country music festival, killing 58 people and wounding 851 more. The video recording offers a humanizing glimpse of police in the moments they responded to the bloody October massacre. "Breach, breach, breach," an officer says in hushed tones in the clip, before the door explodes open. After entering the room police find the gunman already dead, saying "we found him like this", and then securing the room, which is full of weapons, the blinds drawn shut. Police note an intricate system of wires linked to an elaborate camera system, which they say Paddock used to monitor the hallway for authorities. The footage's release came after a judge sided with media organisations including The New York Times and The Washington Post that lobbied in court that the evidence be made public. Paddock, a 64-year-old wealthy retired accountant, amassed an arsenal of weapons including assault rifles in his hotel room and unleashed fury on the evening of Oct 1, 2017, firing more than 1,100 rounds. Authorities have yet to pinpoint a motive for the attack, which galvanised oft-repeated appeals to tighten US gun laws. Since then advocates have intensified those calls in the wake of subsequent shootings, including at a Florida high school in February that saw 14 teens and three adult staff members shot dead by a troubled former classmate armed with an AR-15-style automatic weapon. Hanoi's 1/500-scale master plan for the area along Nhat Tan-Noi Bai route (Photo: VnExpress) A proposal to develop a smart city has just been submitted to the Hanoi Peoples Committee by a group of Vietnamese and Japanese investors. The developers include BRG Group, Phu Cuong RICO., LTD., VINAMCO, and Hanoi Real-Estate., JSC of Vietnam, as well as Sumitomo Corporation from Japan. The project would be based on 271.82 hectare in Hai Boi and Vinh Ngoc of Dong Anh district and needs an estimated investment of VND94.348 trillion ($4.14 billion). Sumitomo has contributed 50 per cent of the VND14.26 trillion ($625.4 million) initial capital, while the remainder was contributed by the Vietnamese developers. The project aims to develop a smart city with synchronised technological and social infrastructure, applying information technology in its operation and management. The developers proposed to establish five companies to carry out five component projects, which are expected to break ground within this year to be completed by 2030. The first component project (73ha) will be developed between 2018 and 2030 with the total investment of VND13 trillion ($573 million), which will be followed by the four remaining component projects. Earlier, the co-operation agreement between the Hanois Peoples Committee, BRG Group, and Japans Sumitomo Corporation to develop the smart city project was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his official visit to Japan in June 2017. According to the 1/500-scale master plan of the project, the Nhat Tan-Noi Bai route will be divided into three segments with the total length of 11km across nine wards in Dong Anh district and three wards of Soc Son district. The Phuong Trach trade and finance tower will be the centre of this area with the expected height of 108 stories. Slower foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from Japan in the first quarter do not worry Japanese banks who have invested into local banks to cater to Japanese investors and businesses in Vietnam. At Eximbank, which is backed by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, things are turning sunnier with great expectations on FDI inflows from Japan and plans coming together to pump up the banks performance. Mochizuki Masashi, senior director of Japanese customers When Tokyo-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) made its first investment in Eximbank in 2008, it aimed to extend support and financial services to Japanese customers in Vietnam. Is SMBC satisfied with its results so far? Since the beginning of the strategic partnership, the two banks have built a cooperation structure to support Japanese customers in Vietnam. In principle, Japanese customers are introduced by SMBC and we have enjoyed opportunities to conduct transactions with these customers. In return, we provide banking services which SMBC cannot provide in this market, such as retail services. Consequently, this synergistic collaboration can create added values for Japanese customers and helps attracting more Japanese customers to conduct transactions in Vietnam through SMBC. In the first quarter of this year, Japanese investment in Vietnam has reportedly fell behind South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. As a strategic partner of a local bank that provides corporate advisory and financial services to Japanese investors, do you worry about investment flows? What are the reasons behind this slowdown in FDI? In accordance with the statistics disclosed by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO), Japanese FDI flows were behind Korea and Singapore. FDI progress in 1Q 2018/Top 3 Number of projects Registered capital (USD million) Korea 220 493.0 Singapore 41 421.7 Japan 96 265.6 However, as shown below, Japanese FDI produced great results in 2017, and the first quarter only makes up a small portion of the total FDI capital. FDI achievement in 2017/Top 3 Number of projects Registered capital (USD million) Japan 367 7745.8 Korea 861 3973.3 Singapore 186 3771.8 Considering this, it is too early to pass judgement on the entirety of 2018 just yet, and we are not concerned about this downtrend of Japanese investment. In recent years, many Japanese companies have increased investments in agriculture, retail, and financial services in Vietnam in a marked turn away from manufacturing. What has Eximbank done to meet the demands of these companies? In addition to conventional banking services, we have launched a variety of services to meet our Japanese customers demands, and supply chain financing is one of our focus programmes which will support not only Japanese investors, but also local suppliers, distributors, and end-users across a variety of industries, including food, agriculture, and retail. Following the increasing trend of direct investment, we have started our support programme for Japanese Direct Investors, and this programme can streamline investment procedures and help achieve more investment in a variety of industries, including financial services. Yutaka Moriwaki, board member, senior director, and head of the Eximbank Restructuring Project As a strategic partner of Eximbank, what has SMBC done to provide technical support as well as to enable the bank to meet Japanese standards on corporate governance, quality, and risk management? Since the investment in 2008, we have a Strategic Alliance Agreement aimed at mutually complementing the know-how and experience of SMBC in wholesale and retail banking, corporate governance, and other banking business. Could you share more about SMBCs business strategy in Vietnam? I cannot speak for SMBC, but from Eximbanks perspective, we appreciate the personnal and expertise sent by SMBC to support our initiatives, including the current New Eximbank project. In 2017, we focused on fixing foundational problems at Eximbank, such as restructuring our human resources, building a mid-term strategy, and reorganising Head Office to enhance support to our sales network. In 2018, we will start implementing the mid-term strategy. Could you share more about Eximbanks mid-term strategy? Eximbank has recently set up a mid-term strategy. Among several initiatives, one example of SMBCs support is enhancing trade finance solutions for corporate clients by special product skills as well as SMBCs overseas network to regain the Export-Import Bank brand name. The board of directors (BOD) has approved the mid-term strategy earlier this year. Our goal is to regain the leadership position in certain segments to be a leading commercial bank in Vietnam. In business, along with the 20 per cent asset growth target, we plan to improve the Net Interest Margin and fee businesses, such as the bancassurance, credit card, and settlement business. SME/MME is the core customer base where we selected ten focus industries to provide more customer-oriented products and services, while we will also enhance business with large domestic and foreign corporations, leveraging our trade finance solutions. For internal control, we will upgrade our IT network to improve critical features such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Management Information System (MIS), as well as credit risk management. In order to improve the productivity of our operations, we will also centralise operations. CALGARY, Alberta and SAN DIEGO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX:ONC) (OTCQX:ONCYF), currently developing REOLYSIN (pelareorep), an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus turning cold tumors hot, today announced the voting results from its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on Thursday May 3rd, 2018. A total of 41.91% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation were represented either in person or by proxy at the meeting. On a vote by ballot, the following seven nominees proposed by the Corporation were elected as Directors of Oncolytics to serve until the Corporation's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed, with shares represented at the meeting voting in favour of individual nominees as follows: Director For % Withheld % Deborah Brown 13,040,116 82.67 % 2,732,896 17.33 % Matt Coffey 13,535,882 85.82 % 2,237,130 14.18 % Angela Holtham 12,783,058 81.04 % 2,989,954 18.96 % J. Mark Lievonen 12,861,059 81.54 % 2,911,953 18.46 % Wayne Pisano 12,738,759 80.76 % 3,034,253 19.24 % William G. Rice 12,745,509 80.81 % 3,027,503 19.19 % Bernd R. Seizinger 12,793,602 81.11 % 2,979,410 18.89 % In addition to the election of all nominees listed in the management information circular dated March 27, 2018 as directors, Oncolytics shareholders approved all other resolutions placed before the meeting (all voting conducted by ballot). These included fixing the number of directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year at seven and appointing auditors for the Corporation for the ensuing year. Please refer to the Corporation's management information circular available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for more details on the matters covered at the annual meeting. Final voting results on all matters voted on at the annual meeting will also be filed on SEDAR. About Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Oncolytics is a biotechnology company developing REOLYSIN, also known as pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype -- turning "cold" tumors "hot" -- through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers. Oncolytics' clinical development program emphasizes three pillars: chemotherapy combinations to trigger selective tumor lysis and immuno-therapy and immune modulator (IMiD) combinations to produce innate and adaptive immune responses. Oncolytics is currently planning its first registration study in metastatic breast cancer, as well as studies in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted and IMiD therapies in solid and hematological malignancies. For further information, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements, including the Company's belief as to the potential and mode of action of REOLYSIN, also known as pelareorep, as a cancer therapeutic; and other statements related to anticipated developments in the Company's business and technologies involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of pelareorep as a cancer treatment, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize pelareorep, uncertainties related to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes to the economic environment. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Company Contact Michael Moore Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications 858-886-7813 mmoore@oncolytics.ca Investor Relations Robert Uhl Westwicke Partners 858-356-5932 robert.uhl@westwicke.com Media Contact Jason Spark Canale Communications 619-849-6005 jason@canalecomm.com Several local leaders offered updates about their communities while reflecting on the past and looking to the future during this years elected officials breakfast in Richmond. Hosted by the Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce on April 20, the event continues to maintain strong support. This years event drew 160 people to Maniacis Banquet Center. It was a success, chamber Director Jill Albin said. It was such a nice at look the history, knowing how some of the cities got their names. It was kind of neat. The forum featured information on growth in both Macomb and St. Clair counties, much of it introduced by local attorney Ken Simmons and Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society President Christine Rowley. Simmons, a RAHGS board member, also served as emcee at the event. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel led the way at the podium, stepping up first to talk about the county. He said the county is feeling a great sense of pride in celebrating its 200th birthday this year, along with its continuous progress in growth and development. Giving a quick overview of the county since he took office in 2010, Hackel said the median household income levels have risen. So has the population, with more than 12 people per day making Macomb County their home since 2010. Over $10 billion have been invested in Macomb County since 2010; I dont know if theres a county in the entire country that can lay claim to that type of investment, Hackel said. Thats $10 billion with just the Big Three investing in Macomb County, if you start thinking about manufacturing, small business, add in defense industry and agriculture an incredible amount of economic activity happening in the county and the growth that goes along with it. Hackel also said the Detroit Zoo is expected to make a large investment in a waterway that runs through Lake St. Clair Metropark. The future outreach center will basically be an aquarium, but Im not allowed to call it that, he said, adding that he thinks it will be an incredible asset for the county. St. Clair County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jeff Bohm said a $35 million project is underway at the location of the old St. Clair Inn. He also said McLaren Port Huron recently invested $200 million in a new Karmanos Cancer Institute, and 20 acres of waterfront that runs along the site of the old power plant in Marysville is being redeveloped. My phone is ringing off the hook from the next people that want to invest in St. Clair, Bohm said. Simmons provided a running commentary in between speakers, sharing a brief history of each municipality before each elected official took the floor. All were asked to share information about the history of their municipalities, along with updates about current happenings. Casco Township Supervisor Bill Ruemenapp shared some history, telling the audience he can remember bomb drills and children getting polio during his time attending Richmond Community Schools. He also talked about the struggle of immigrants in the 1800s as they looked for work to feed their family. Casco Township was mostly woods at the time, and the land had to be cleared by hand and horse, without any machinery. As for the township today, Ruemenapp said things are going fine, but noted it is important to realize the need for instant gratification is becoming more prevalent in society. Columbus Township Supervisor Bruce Christy said the township was established in 1837 and included 37.2 square miles. The township was named for Christopher Columbus. Christy shared a handful of slang terms used at the time, including huckleberry, which was used to refer to a person who was known to get the job done. A daisy referred to a person known to be the best at something. Being the biggest toad in the pond meant the person was important. Gutter snipe was used to refer to a homeless child. A person who was in a pucker was angry. Lenox Township Supervisor Ron Trombly brought his sense of humor to the podium. He started out by saying he needed to clarify something publicly. I have not had relations with Stormy Daniels, he joked, to laughs from the crowd. She was an acquaintance. I knew her way back when speaking of history. We used to call her, Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Rain Daniels. Just wanted to clear that up. Trombly said Lenox Township is the best-kept secret in the county, being located within 30 minutes of both Detroit and Port Huron, and that now is the time for developers to get in on the ground floor. He said the township recently received nearly 100 percent community support to allow medical marijuana facilities within its borders. Keeping the facilities in rural areas, rather than residential, is the key, he said. We had 55 applications in two days, Trombly said. We took in almost a quarter-million in revenue in pre-application fees. Some of our property prices just one example we had a piece of property valued at $43,000 and we sold it for $430,00 because it was one of the areas we thought could possibly be for marijuana, he continued. Richmond Township Supervisor Cindi Greenia gave a brief history of her township and expressed her appreciation for the Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society and the work it continues to do to preserve the history of the area. She said the biggest new thing in the township this year was the opening of the Richmond-Lenox EMS/SMART headquarters building. Richmond City Manager Jon Moore spoke in place of Mayor Tim Rix. He expressed his appreciation for the mayor, as well as a stable and proactive city council. He said the city has enjoyed new residential development following a difficult economic downturn, as well as new commercial developments. The quality of life in the city continues to thrive with the schools, the parks and recreation department and the local library all partnering to support the community. Moore said this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Richmond Community Pool, and the city will host events throughout the summer to commemorate it. Barb Pert Templeton is a freelance reporter. She can be contacted at barbperttempleton.reporter@yahoo.com. KEMP, Texas, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Industrial lighting leader, Larson Electronics LLC, released a 3-stage fold over light mast that provides a safe and effective way to monitor secure locations from an elevated position. This two, 500-watt LED lamp light tower features a telescoping boom that extends up to 30 feet with 360 degrees of rotation, allowing operators to effectively cover large work areas. The LM-30-3S-2X500W-LED is a high intensity telescoping steel light mast with two 500-watt LED lamps that directly replace 2,000-watt metal halides. The lighting system produces 120,000 lumens in a flood beam configuration with increased durability, an 80,000-lamp life and low power consumption. The LED lamps are connected to power via a 4-switch control box and feature individual circuits allowing them to be powered on and off independently. Each light head is fastened to the telescoping mast with trunnion style stainless steel mounting brackets for 180-degree adjustment. Combined with 360-degree rotation, these light heads offer maximum flexibility for beam positioning. The 3-stage telescoping boom can be raised from 12 feet to 30 feet, via a 2,500-pound hand winch with 3/16 galvanized steel cable. This 600-pound tower easily lifts and supports 150 pounds of equipment and can be custom tailored with a larger mounting plate, or an electric winch for faster deployment. The mast can be rotated 360 degrees and features a proprietary mast guidance system for increased stability during high winds. The light mast is designed for surface mounted with a six-bolt hole bracket. The LM-30-3S-2X500W-LED is a high output LED mast for extreme area coverage, said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. A direct replacement for 2000-watt metal halides, this lighting system offers low costs and efficient, powerful illumination for locations where temporary power is needed. About Larson Electronics LLC: Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the companys hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments. For further information, please contact: Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO Toll-free: 1-800-369-6671 Phone: 214-616-6180 Fax: 903-498-3364 E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/21e25490-7bd3-4ef1-8daf-143c8fff297b http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/612968dc-b93d-4d02-aca3-e437ba480dbd http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/48fe36af-f5b2-47b0-8f80-ecc44948bc38 http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/1f4cca27-c58a-4b6c-b8f4-fa9e8bb4e379 NEW YORK, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. (NYSE:INF) and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE:RA) (each, a Fund, and collectively, the Funds) today announced that their Boards of Directors declared their monthly distributions for May and June 2018. Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. Month Record Date Ex Date Payable Date Amount per Share May 2018 May 16, 2018 May 15, 2018 May 24, 2018 $0.0817 June 2018 June 13, 2018 June 12, 2018 June 21, 2018 $0.0817 Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. Month Record Date Ex Date Payable Date Amount per Share May 2018 May 16, 2018 May 15, 2018 May 24, 2018 $0.1990 June 2018 June 13, 2018 June 12, 2018 June 21, 2018 $0.1990 Shares purchased on or after the ex-distribution date will not receive the distribution discussed above. Please contact your financial advisor with any questions. Distributions may include net investment income, capital gains and/or return of capital. The distribution rate referenced above is calculated as the annualized amount of the most recent monthly distribution declared divided by the stated stock price. Any portion of the Funds distributions that is a return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. The tax status of distributions will be determined at the end of the taxable year. Brookfield Investment Management Inc. (the Firm) is an SEC-registered investment adviser and represents the Public Securities platform of Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., providing global listed real assets strategies including real estate equities, infrastructure equities, multi-strategy real asset solutions and real asset debt. With more than $18 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2018, the Firm manages separate accounts, registered funds and opportunistic strategies for institutional and individual clients, including financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and high net worth investors. The Firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $285 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2017. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com. Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. are managed by Brookfield Investment Management Inc. The Funds use their website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Funds are routinely posted on and accessible at www.brookfield.com. COMPANY CONTACT Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. Brookfield Place 250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor New York, NY 10281-1023 (855) 777-8001 publicsecurities.enquiries@brookfield.com Amazon(DALLAS) -- An ammunition distributor with ties to a recently sanctioned Russian oligarch is listed among the expected exhibitors at the National Rifle Associations Annual Meetings opening in Dallas, Texas, on Friday. TulAmmo USA is a private company headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, but sells small-arms ammunition manufactured by the Tula Cartridge Works in Tula, Russia, about 120 miles outside of Moscow. The factory, one of Russias oldest and largest arms plants, is tied to a number of entities and individuals who have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, including Rostec, Russias state-owned defense conglomerate, and Igor Rotenberg, an oligarch who was recently targeted alongside several other allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This years convention, always a political spectacle, comes as the NRAs connections to Russia have become the focus of media attention amid a Senate inquiry into allegations that Russian agents may have tried to use the gun-rights group to gain access and influence in U.S. political circles, but TulAmmo USAs presence raises a somewhat different set of concerns. I suspect TulAmmo USA has stayed on the right side of U.S. sanctions laws, said Peter Harrell, a former senior State Department sanctions official who is now an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. But there is something deeply troubling about a Russian arms maker -- one that makes Russian military assault rifles and anti-tank missiles -- profiting by selling ammunition in the U.S. The fact that a portion of those profits flow to some of Putin's closest cronies makes the situation even more problematic. In an interview with ABC News, TulAmmo USA CEO Ed Grasso confirmed that the company is a distributor for the Tula Cartridge Works but described it as a completely separate entity with a legal business arrangement to buy ammunition exported by the Russian factory for sale to consumers. Tula Cartridge Works has been paid for the product they ship to the U.S. under licenses approved by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the State Department, Grasso said. There are no Russian citizens or people from Russia serving as company board members or officers, Grasso said. The NRA did not respond to a request for comment. Harrell told ABC News that just because TulAmmo USA has managed to remain just outside the penalty box doesnt mean their presence shouldnt cause concern. I also bet that the American sportsmen buying TulAmmo cartridges would be surprised to learn that they are supporting the same Russian military complex that supports Russian aggression in Syria, Ukraine and around the world, Harrell said. According to its website, TulAmmo USA represents the Tula Cartridge Works here in the U.S., which, unlike Russia, has a thriving consumer market for guns and ammunition. The Tula Cartridge Works, founded in 1880 by Emporer [sic] Alexander II, is one of the most significant producers of small-arms ammunition in the world today, the website reads. Leveraging the production experience of nearly 140 years, and applying ever-evolving technologies and research knowledge, we continue to push the envelope on behalf of the American shooter. Selling steel-cased ammunition from Russia is the majority of the companys business and, according to its CEO Grasso, that business has grown rapidly over the last decade, thanks in large part to a symbiotic relationship with the American gun industry. American shooters have become accustomed to the Russian ammunition, Grasso said in an interview with SHOT Show TV in January 2017. They find it working in their guns. Weve had good cooperation from the U.S. gun companies. Theyve realized that having inexpensive ammunition that works across their product line allows people to shoot more ammunition, and when they have an option to shoot more ammunition, they might buy more guns, so its a partnership thats worked so far. The extent of TulAmmo USAs relationship with the Tula Cartridge Works appears to be closer than the typical buyer-supplier relationship. TulAmmo USA and TulAmmo, its Russian counterpart, which lists the same address as Tula Cartridge Works, share a name, a logo and at least one former officer. Alexey Solovov, the factorys onetime chairman who was convicted two years ago on fraud charges and given a three-year suspended prison sentence, appears to have also registered five patents for ammunition boxes, packages and clips on TulAmmo USAs behalf between 2014 and 2016. Grasso told ABC News that Solovov is no longer involved with the company. Tula Cartridge Works is partially owned by a holding company called High Precision Systems that was established by the state military technology firm Rostec, which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2014 and cut off from U.S. debt financing amid continued Russian efforts to destabilize eastern Ukraine. Igor Rotenberg purchased 46.176 percent of the Tula Cartridge Works in February 2017. He refused to comment on the deal at the time, but Vedomosti, one of Russias leading business newspapers, suggested that he may have been buying in ahead of an expected rearmament by Russias military, which was known to be preparing to replenish its ammunition stocks. The Rotenberg familys ties to Putin stretch back decades. Igors father, Arkady, has been Putins close friend since childhood, when they were judo sparring partners, and Arkady has since amassed a multibillion-dollar fortune largely through state contracts, including the controversial effort to build a bridge between Russia and the recently annexed Ukrainian peninsula Crimea. Rotenberg acquired significant assets from his father and his uncle, Boris, after they were sanctioned themselves in 2014 for supporting Putins "pet projects by receiving and executing high-price contracts for the Sochi Olympic Games and state-controlled Gazprom. This week, after being hit with sanctions by the U.S. himself, Rotenberg reduced his share in the factory to 20.23 percent, a move a manager from the factory told Vedomosti was intended to allow the company to keep exporting ammunition. Grasso told ABC News that he was aware of the sanctions against Rostec and Rotenberg but insisted the company has done its due diligence. Ive never delved into it, but Rostsec owns a lot of companies in Russia, Grasso said. I have been assured that [Rotenbergs] ownership shares are no longer anything that we have to be concerned with. TulAmmo USA, meanwhile, is poised to occupy a booth in Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center this weekend alongside hundreds of other approved exhibitors even as questions have swirled about whether Russians have attempted to use the NRA as a vehicle to influence the 2016 election. Grasso said TulAmmo USA has not made any contributions of any kind -- political or otherwise -- to the NRA beyond paying for a booth at the annual convention since 2011. It appears to have shared the groups opposition to Hillary Clinton though. One of two News items listed on TulAmmo USAs website is a sharp criticism of Hillary Clintons position on gun control and the proudly anti-gun tenor of the Democratic National Convention that nominated her. In January 2017, Grasso noted some relationship between business and politics in his industry. I think there was [an increase in prices] at the retail level. I think you saw some buildup in pricing in anticipation of the election, Grasso told SHOT Show TV. I think theyll stabilize over the next six months and get back to normal. It looks like were going to have a fairly normal year. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. VALHALLA, N.Y., May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USI Insurance Services (USI), a world leader in insurance brokerage and risk management across property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk and retirement consulting, has been named to Forbes list of Americas Best Large Employers. The passion, dedication and commitment of our people are the heart of everything we do, said Kim Van Orman, USIs senior vice president and chief human resources officer. We are honored to see USI recognized as one of the Best Employers in America. We have worked hard to invest in our associates and to create one of the most dynamic personal and professional development cultures in the industry. Michael J. Sicard, chairman and CEO, USI said: We are thrilled to be recognized by Forbes as one of Americas Best Employers and top ranked as one of only two insurance brokerage and consulting firms on the list. USI has a passion to be different and better for our clients, communities, and team members, emerging as a new force in the insurance industry and as a leader across companies of every industry. Its how we connect together as ONE to create the USI ONE Advantage that makes USI such a special place to be. Forbes partnered with independent market research company Statista to survey 30,000 individuals about their employers. Participants were asked to anonymously rate their employers on work-related topics such as working conditions, salary, potential for development, company image and willingness to recommend their employers to friends and family. The final list ranks 500 large and 500 midsize employers that received the most recommendations. The full report is available on Forbes.com at https://www.forbes.com/best-employers/list/. About USI USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects together over 6,000 industry leading professionals across more than 150 offices to serve clients local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com. ### The Real US Trade War With China By Phillip Orchard During a meeting with farm-state lawmakers last week, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered his economic team to look into rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 12-nation trade pact on his first day in office, leaving it for dead as signatories wondered how to offset the loss of the ultimate trade carrot: unfettered access to the worlds largest economy. Improbably, the remaining 11 members found a way, signing a slightly slimmed down pact in March. And now Trump, just as improbably, is rethinking the value of the deal he repeatedly lambasted on the campaign trail. Lets be clear: For numerous political and technical reasons, the U.S. wont rejoin the TPP anytime soon. But even Trumps notional interest in the pact tells us two things about U.S. trade strategy. First, the political obstacles driving the U.S. away from its historical role as architect of the global trading system are by no means permanent. Second, the real trade war isnt about the deficit and this fight cant be won without friends. Politics by Other Means When forecasting a trade war, as with a shooting war, its not enough to look merely at who can inflict the most pain, but also differing thresholds of pain. Even though the Chinese economy is far more dependent on the U.S. than vice versa, variables like political will also matter. Though China is evolving into a dictatorship, it has a searing fear of unemployment sowing mass discontent. However, China has an immensely powerful president who doesnt have to ask his legislature for permission to pass social measures to ease the pain of a trade war (nor for forgiveness if he deems it necessary to crush any sign of backlash). He also has an immense propaganda arm. It wont be hard for Beijing to rally the nation around the flag and amplify the narrative that the government is merely doing what it must to stand up to the bullying Americans and take China to the promised land. The U.S., by comparison, has an embattled president grappling with a divided public, powerful lobbies and a slow-moving congress whose attention is fixed firmly on the upcoming midterm elections. Even in the best of circumstances, the fractiousness inherent to most democracies can make the politics of trade exceedingly tricky. This is why trade pacts require years of tortuous negotiations even when broader strategic concerns compel leaders to commit political capital to seeing them through. China is proving adept at the U.S. political game. According to Brookings, 82 percent of the counties expected to see job losses from Chinese retaliatory measures were won by Trump. Farmers, in particular, are squarely in Beijings crosshairs, with heavily exported U.S. crops like soybeans, wheat and corn facing 25 percent tariffs. This explains why farm-state leaders have been pushing Trump to reconsider TPP. The benefits of rejoining the pact likely wouldnt be felt for years, but it would likely pry open tightly protected markets such as Japans to U.S. agriculture over time. The difficulty of finding enough carrots to please an array of cantankerous constituencies in pursuit of the broader national interest is why much-maligned multilateral deals often end up making sense and why presidents often flip-flop on trade. Barack Obama campaigned on overhauling NAFTA before concluding that TPP which Canada and Mexico both signed, partly to offset U.S. demands on NAFTA was the best way to update it. Its why, at least in part, Trump is evidently warming to the trade pact. And its why the remaining 11 TPP members designed the revived pact to make a U.S. return as easy as possible. Whether or not the Trump administration moves in this direction, the world expects the U.S. to eventually re-embrace the notion that others have a role to play in making America great again. Its a Tech War, and the U.S. Needs Allies The trade deficit with China is a sideshow, and so too are measures ostensibly meant to decrease it. The U.S. isnt a major importer of Chinese steel and aluminum, for example, and the U.S. metals sectors which already enjoyed strong protections wont be restored to their past glory by the U.S. tariffs that kicked in on March 23. Meanwhile, as Chinese consumer power has grown, so too have U.S. exports to the Middle Kingdom by some 500 percent since 2001, with China accounting for 8 percent of all U.S. exports by 2016. General Motors sold nearly a million more cars in China last year than in the U.S. According to a study by Oxford Economics, the combination of U.S. exports of goods and services to China and bilateral foreign direct investment flows contributed to the creation of some 2.6 million jobs in the U.S. in 2015. The same study said cheap Chinese goods such as washing machines and solar panels (both of which were targeted with tariffs in January) have saved the average American household some $850 annually. All this speaks to the broader issue at hand. The United States comparative advantage over lower-cost manufacturers like China is in high-tech goods and services. And the real Chinese threat to U.S. economic and strategic interests is that China eats into this advantage and then uses its newfound economic heft to try to unravel the U.S.-led postwar order in the Indo-Pacific. As part of its attempt to address enormous socio-economic challenges today ones that may well make all this moot China is laying the groundwork for its much longer-term goals. Underpinning the countrys economic rise over the past half-century has been low-cost manufacturing. But this has made China intolerably vulnerable to rising competition from its lower-cost neighbors, productivity declines as its workforce ages, and downturns in Western economies. This was exposed in 2008-09, when Chinese exports contracted sharply. Thus, China needs to make a mad dash up the manufacturing value chain. Its blueprint is its Made in China 2025 initiative, which outlines steps to leapfrog the U.S. as a technological innovator in the industries that will matter most over the coming century (for both commercial and military applications), such as semiconductors, robotics, aerospace, artificial intelligence, green energy and biotech. The U.S. isnt opposing Chinas development goals reflexively after all, there is ample money to be made for Western firms but rather how Beijing is pursuing them. Chinas systematic use of four practices, in particular, were cited by the U.S. as rationale for the punitive tariffs announced on April 4: pressure on foreign firms in China to enter into joint ventures with their Chinese counterparts and, in many cases, hand over invaluable intellectual property; laws that require foreign firms to license technology to Chinese companies on unfavorable terms; state support for Chinese acquisitions of overseas competitors in high-tech sectors; and state-sanctioned commercial hacking. The U.S. is attempting to address the second issue unfair licensing practices through the World Trade Organization, and its increasingly using the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to block Chinese acquisitions in sensitive sectors. But deterring forced technology transfers is more complicated, since such preconditions are typically made informally (to avoid running afoul of WTO regulations), and private Western firms are free to strike whatever deals they think best suit their bottom lines anyway, with little regard for the national interest. Meanwhile, Beijing will never admit to supporting cyberespionage, and even if it did, such activities are exceedingly difficult to detect. Thus, the U.S. is stuck hoping that indirect measures, punitive tariffs in particular, will cause China to behave and discourage other states from adopting Chinas mercantilist tools. The problem is that punitive measures are a rather ham-fisted means of recourse. This is, in part, because the U.S. does not have a monopsony on Chinese exports, nor a monopoly on the technology and industrial inputs China craves most. Though a trade war would be disruptive in the short term, over time, market adjustments would offset some of the loss of the U.S. consumer base for some Chinese goods. Commodities are fungible, meaning China wont end up paying much more for inputs such as soybeans. And what China loses in access to technology from U.S. firms like Boeing, for example, it may still be able to get from Airbus. Finally, given the sprawling nature of supply chains today with China often contributing to only a small percentage of the value of a finished good made with components manufactured elsewhere tariffs are likely to end up hurting, perhaps as much as China, U.S. allies and partners that are central to broader U.S. strategic aims. Taiwans central bank, for example, estimated that a full-blown trade war between the U.S. and China would cut the self-ruled islands gross domestic product by 1.8 percent. To gain overwhelming leverage over China, the U.S. would need to limit Beijings ability to find substitute imports and markets, incentivize broader participation in the rules-based trading system, and shield U.S. consumers and allied economies from the fallout. In other words, the U.S. needs a multilateral framework that supports these aims like TPP. Trumps new chief economic adviser unwittingly made this case in February, when he called for a trade coalition of the willing to counter Chinese flaunting of international trade rules. Cobbling together another TPP-like coalition wouldnt solve these challenges overnight, particularly if it didnt attract more economic heavyweights. But it would deepen adoption of the sorts of intellectual property protections that are key to the knowledge-based industries of the future, while making it harder for China to distort markets and tilt the playing field in its favor through alternative, Beijing-led trade pacts. Ultimately, it would pull countries more firmly into the U.S. economic and security orbit and assuage their doubts about long-term U.S. commitments, while weakening their vulnerability to Chinese economic coercion. Hence why South China Sea littoral states like Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam were so eager to join TPP in the first place. China is playing a long game here and one that will demand more than tit-for-tat tariffs in response. Unless tariffs push China to the brink of mass economic and political instability or unless Chinas colossal financial risks do the trick on their own Beijing wont sacrifice its core national development goals for short-term relief. More likely, tariffs will merely reinforce Beijings view that dependence on foreign technology is a potentially crippling risk to national security. The White Houses nascent turn toward multilateralism, however half-hearted, is in recognition of this long-term strategic reality. Photo: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures As its title implies, Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat takes a circumscribed time frame: Basquiats emergence as a charismatic kid going to shows in the close-knit post-punk Lower East Side of the late 1970s, selling his first painting in the early 1980s, and launching himself into the stratosphere. Director Sara Driver was there at the time, and draws on her Rolodex of friends, scene survivors, and friends of Basquiat including her longtime romantic partner Jim Jarmusch, who, in his brief interview, retells a story they both presumably remember, of the time Basquiat interrupted them on a nice little romantic walk to give Driver a flower. Basquiat is presented as a world-historical genius who both passed through that time and place, and was a product of it an ambitious, curious creator and careerist who was inspired by the cross-currents of New Wave and hip-hop, street and Pop art, DIY filmmaking and squatting in New York during the years following Ford to City: Drop Dead. Driver re-creates the era with copious archival material: not just news clips and private snapshots, but art, and especially films made by her and Basquiats friends and fellow travelers during the era. Below, weve created a glossary elaborating on many of the sources and references within Drivers dual portrait of a quintessentially New York man and milieu. Sara Driver Boom for Real is Drivers first feature directorial credit in a quarter-century; her last, When Pigs Fly (1993), was a latter-day screwball comedy about ghosts and gentrification. During Boom for Reals discussion of heroin, Driver inserts a haunting image of corpses lined up from her short film You Are Not I (1983), a surrealistic Paul Bowles adaptation that was considered lost for many years. Drivers is one of the great semi-legendary filmographies; this month, Anthology Film Archives presents a program of films to supplement the release of Boom for Real, including her masterpiece Sleepwalk (1986), in which a single mother played by Nan Goldin associate and subject Suzanne Fletcher has a series of spooky encounters in a deserted, eerily quiet nocturnal Soho that seems to be governed by Symbolist dream logic. Jim Jarmusch Jim Jarmusch, like the canny self-promoter Basquiat, seems to have one already eye on posterity as he poses insouciantly in snapshots with his NYU film school classmate Driver they make a striking young couple. Boom for Real features clips from his inventive, French New Waveindebted first feature Permanent Vacation, and the soundtrack features the Del-Byzantines, the band Jarmusch was in alongside Sleepwalk composer Phil Kline, cultural historian Luc Sante, and filmmaker James Nares. Jarmuschs own assessment of Basquiats philosophy of art and influence might double as a mission statement for his own hipster filmography: Tak[e] things from everywhere and if they move you they become part of you and you can put them back out. He and Basquiat share a simultaneous swagger and self-awareness in the way they inserted themselves into art history. The Blank Generation Driver sets the scene with clips from this year-zero punk document from the microgeneration that immediately preceded and overlapped with hers and affirmed downtown New York as a place, as one of Drivers interviewees says, to reinvent yourself. Co-directed by key para-punk filmmaker Amos Poe and Patti Smith Group member Ivan Kral, The Blank Generation is a montage of songs, performances, and home movies from CBGBs acts like Blondie and the Ramones. As its title borrowed from the Richard Hell song, of course implies, its a work of outcast mythmaking. James Nares A painter and musician, Nares exemplifies the interdisciplinary crossovers within the close-knit downtown scene, and the diverse artistic energies that Basquiat would draw on for his intellectually voracious work. Driver inserts clips from several of Naress short films as stock footage of desolate NYC though perhaps the film of his most relevant to the milieu is the feature-length Super 8 film Rome 78, a sort of scenester toga party featuring a Whos Who of downtown artist types play-acting at legendary decadence in somebodys apartment. The films hey-kids-lets-put-on-a-show and quotation-marks irony reflect a fertile era brimming with creativity and prankish self-confidence, and its proud amateurism and bold personality parallel the unpredictable lines and inimitable flair of Basquiats paintings. Vivienne Dick Boom for Real offers us a mystical glimpse of Like Dawn to Dusk, an Ireland-shot avant-garde short from the feminist No Wave filmmaker. You can see Dicks best-known film, She Had Her Gun All Ready a feminist psychodrama starring No Wave musicians Lydia Lunch and Pat Place, and climaxing on the Coney Island Cyclone at Anthology, and, later in the month, at BAM. Jacob Burckhardt In the East Village of Basquiats era, white flight had left old tenement buildings abandoned or burned. It was a place where squatters and artists could live cheaply as Basquiat did in an apartment on East 12th Street with interviewee Alexis Adler, who put together a show last year of the very early, very experimental work he did with street junk and the walls of the apartment itself. Much of Boom for Reals footage of the bombed-out Lower East Side comes from the hard-to-see films of Jacob Burckhardt, including Martens Bar and the gentrification story Landlord Blues, which draws a line from his fathers Rudy Burckhardts Beat films to the era immediately preceding the Tompkins Square Park riots. Jorge Brandon The starving artists of the Lower East Side lived alongside the neighborhoods Puerto Rican community, and their art spaces emerged in parallel. In Boom for Real, we get a glimpse of Jorge Brandon, the spoken-word artist who recited on the streets of Loisaida, and whose legacy persists in the neighborhood thats still home to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Basquiat, whose Puerto Rican mother helped foster his early interest in art, would incorporate rogue poetic text into his own art practice, both his early street art and later paintings. Dream City As one of the two guys behind downtowns ubiquitous SAMO graffiti tag, and its accompanying cryptic slogans (Al Diaz was his partner), Basquiat became notorious for his spin on street art, at a time when writers were using subway cars and city walls as their canvas. Driver uses some footage of whole-car murals taken from photographer Steven Siegels 1986 city symphony film Dream City. Thats the Joint On the soundtrack of Boom for Real is this early hip-hop classic from the Bronxs Funky 4 + 1 Robert Christgaus favorite song of the 1980s. The Funky 4 + 1 were the first hip-hop group to perform on national television, on the Valentines Day, 1981 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Rapture emcee Deborah Harry. Mudd Club Tribecas cool-kid clubhouse, name-dropped by the Talking Heads in Life During Wartime, was co-founded by art curator Diego Cortez, interviewed in Boom for Real. The Mudd Club is represented in Boom for Real as ground zero for the mixing of uptown and downtown cultural scenes that Basquiat would also synthesize in his art. Particular attention is paid to the street-art show Beyond Words, co-curated by graffiti artist (and future Yo! MTV Raps host) Fab Five Freddy, on behalf of Keith Haring, who like Basquiat referenced graffiti in his more gallery-friendly canvases. Beyond Words also featured the first Lower Manhattan performance by hip-hop and dance music pioneer Afrika Bambaataa before his residency at Negril, included in Boom for Real via footage shot by interviewee Michael Holman. TV Party Boom for Real is dedicated to the dapper journalist-about-town Glenn OBrien, who died shortly after being interviewed by Driver. Among many, many other things, he was the co-host of the talk show TV Party, sort of a more anarchic Tonight Show for the downtown set, birthed in the early, wildly democratic days of NYC public-access cable. Basquiat was a regular guest, alongside Bowie and other scene elite. Extended clips of his episodes can be seen at the TV Party program screening at Anthology on May 5, including several newly restored episodes not seen publicly since their original broadcast. Wild Style Much of the graffiti footage in Boom for Real is harvested from Charlie Ahearns film of the early hip-hop movement, made in collaboration with Fab 5 Freddy, and starring the graffiti artist Lee Quinones. Another melting pot of New Yorks white and black cultural hierarchies, the film features hip-hoppers like Grandmaster Flash and members of the Funky 4 + 1 scratching, rapping, and breaking to beats taken from original music by Chris Stein and Vince Ferraro, from the TV Party house band. See it at Anthology on May 6, with Ahearn in person. Downtown 81 Glenn OBrien wrote the screenplay for this long-unseen film, which went unreleased until 2001. Downtown 81 provides Boom for Real with much of its footage of Basquiat, who stars as a struggling artist wandering the city; tagging walls with SAMO pieces, taking in shows at the Mudd Club and elsewhere by No Wave bands like DNA, Tuxedomoon, and James White and the Blacks; and having a series of picaresque encounters. Deborah Harrys opening voice-over proclaims that Fairytales can come true, sometime it might happen to you, especially when youre young in New York, but once upon a time this place was the wild frontier, and every youngster who was fast on the draw showed up on these streets to try his hand. The films loose, sociable structure documents a time when, as Boom for Reals interview subjects discuss, downtown felt like much more of a village, one offering the opportunity for chance street meetings, and familiarity with a community of potential collaborators. Produced by frequent No Wave film star and eventual Madonna accessory designer Maripol, Downtown 81 also features John Waters muse Cookie Mueller as a go-go dancer, and the experimental musician Walter Steding (seen in Boom for Real playing the violin on the Williamsburg Bridge in his trademark light-up goggles, in footage shot by David Schmidlapp, which you can also see at a Boom for Real show at the East Villages Howl! Happening). The soundtrack also includes John Luries Lounge Lizards, Cavern by Liquid Liquid, and the sample on Melle Mels White Lines. Drivers use of Suicides Dream Baby Dream at the end of Boom for Real may be a reference to Downtown 81s closing needle-drop of the similar-sounding Cheree. Its at Anthology on May 4. Gray Both Boom for Real and Downtown 81 feature music by Basquiats band, which, like other Mudd Club bands, mixed intellectually challenging free jazz with the DIY spirit of punk. Gray reflected both the black social consciousness threaded throughout Basquiats work, and the belief that you didnt have to be a great musician to be a rock star. Basquiats bandmates included Michael Holman, also a party promoter and filmmaker whose shorts are clipped in Boom for Real, and, briefly, Vincent Gallo. Club 57 Were told that the young Basquiat was notorious for creating havoc in the ladies bathroom at Club 57. The Polish church basement on St. Marks Place turned performance space hosted Boom for Real interviewees like street artist Kenny Scharf and activist Sur Rodney (Sur), Nan Goldins Ballad of Sexual Dependency slideshow, curator Ann Magnusons Flintstones dance parties, and Klaus Nomi. (Maybe you saw the recent MoMA retrospective?) The acid-washed theatrical spirit of Club 57 had an immediate heir at the Pyramid Club and its definitive film document, Liquid Sky. Greer Lankton Fittingly for an artist whose work is regularly reproduced on clothes and other consumer goods, Basquiat dabbled in fashion design with his Man Made clothes and early show at the boutique of future Sex and the City costumer Patricia Field. He was in storefronts before he was in galleries. In this, as Boom for Real points out, Basquiat follows in the footsteps of the late Greer Lankton, the trans artist known for her disturbing dolls and her window displays at Einsteins, the alt-couture store run by her husband Paul Monroe at 96 East 7th Street (where Trash and Vaudeville is now). Lankton was a friend of Nan Goldins and a regular photographic subject. Ann Messner Boom for Real devotes a great deal of time to Collaborative Projects CoLab, the artist collective founded by many of its interview subjects, who put on wide-ranging, democratic shows at which Basquiat was first a gallerygoer, then a star attraction. The spirit of CoLab comes through in the film through stills and accounts of its Real Estate Show a group show at the abandoned 123 Delancey Street and through clips from CoLab-affiliated works like Messners Subway Stories, in which the artist wanders through a crowded subway car in a wetsuit and goggles, to the bemusement of her fellow commuters. Sol LeWitt In contrast to CoLab, Boom for Real offers up the more established Soho gallery scene of the 1970s, with its emphasis on minimalist and conceptual work in the wake of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. In one montage, Driver includes a photo of Sol LeWitts Wall Drawing #260, On Black Walls, All Two-Part Combinations of White Arcs from Corners and Sides, and White Straight, Not-Straight, and Broken Lines, a spare, orderly work which stands in contrast to the vibrant wall murals of graffiti artists like Lee Quinones and Fab 5 Freddy, as well as Basquiat, with the proudly drippy spray paint of his SAMO piece. (In the film Manhattan, Woody Allen is aghast that Diane Keaton considers the in-vogue LeWitt to be overrated.) Times Square Show The biggest CoLab event, the Times Square Show was a massive group show which ran throughout June 1980 in a former massage parlor on 41st and 7th, and was a breakthrough moment for the downtown visual-arts scene. It featured works by Charlie Ahearn, Jenny Holzer, and Kiki Smith alongside graffiti artists. It also attracted rapturous writeups in the mainstream press, including a cover story in the Village Voice in which longtime staffer Richard Goldstein noted that Samo, the graffitist, seems perfectly at home amid the post structural scribbling on these walls. Jack Smith Driver includes a promo video for the Times Square Show, directed by the No Wave filmmakers Beth B and Scott B, and featuring the experimental filmmaker and performance artist Jack Smith, resplendent in cape and Mephistophelian goatee. Smiths legendary underground film Flaming Creatures, shot on a Lower East Side rooftop and frequently attacked for obscenity, would be an inspiration for subsequent generations of flamboyant, transgressive, anarchic, and unschooled artists. William Burroughs Jim Jarmusch was a sound recordist on the 1983 documentary Burroughs, clips of which are included in Boom for Real as the film makes connections between the Naked Lunch authors cut-and-paste prose and Basquiats own early stabs at writing. Basquiats later practice of sampling images, texts, and ideas in his paintings would be a more modern, fully realized version of the cut-up technique; a heroin habit would later be another, acute parallel between the two bohemian legends. Andy Warhol More than just an early supporter of Basquiats work during the tail end of Boom for Reals time frame, Warhol was a huge influence on his generation as a whole. As Fab 5 Freddy tells Driver, Warhol was an inspiration for his multidisciplinary practice: paintings, films, involvement in performances and music; his constant cool-hunting and collaborations; and his interest in attracting attention to art through commercial self-promotion. Warhols Factory, which manufactured superstars out of the misfits finding a home and discovering themselves in New York City, would be the template for a downtown art world that didnt wait for permission from the Establishment to treat Basquiat as a superstar of their own. Carrie Coon. Photo: Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic USA Networks The Sinner is an anthology series, which means that after putting in great work during the shows first season, Jessica Biel is moving off camera (she will still executive produce), and a new star with a new story line will take over. Fortunately for the world, that star is Carrie Coon. Bill Pullman will return as Detective Harry Ambrose, and this time hes going to his small New York hometown to investigate the death of two parents at the hands of their 11-year-old son. Coon will enter the picture as Vera, a commune leader who is committed to creating utopia in her community that everyone else obviously sees as a creepy cult. And, like probably all cult leaders, she struggles between doing whats right for the whole and what simply fulfills her own wishes. USA clearly understands that the cult of Carrie Coon is already strong, and ready to turn out for their leader on The Sinner. Are you relatively new to this bustling metropolis? Don't be shy about it, everyone was new to New York once upon a time, except, of course, those battle-hardened residents who've lived here their whole lives and Know It All. One of these lifers works among us at Gothamistpublisher Jake Dobkin grew up in Park Slope and still resides there. He is now fielding questionsask him anything by sending an email here, but be advised that Dobkin is "not sure you guys will be able to handle my realness." We can keep you anonymous if you prefer; just let us know what neighborhood you live in. This week's question comes from a New Yorker who can't stand her neighbor's doormat (pictured above). We received this query a couple of months after Gothamist was shut down in November. Dear Jake, I live in Harlem, a more slowly gentrifying part. A white twenty-something woman from Long Island recently moved in across the hall. This morning she put out a new doormat! I dont know what to do or where to turn. Hoping you can help. Sincerely, A fellow native NYer who misses Gothamist Dear fellow native, Thank you for the question, and please excuse the lateness of my reply: work has been crazy lately! Congratulations, by the wayyou have managed to find the worst example of gentrifiers acting badly that I have seen since the Summer Hill bullet-hole fiasco way back in the summer of 2017. That really feels like a long time ago now. Its funny how quickly time passes when every day is a non-stop news deluge of creeping fascism, perversion, and xenophobiaand thats just the stuff about the president. Whats been going on in local news, besides the continuing collapse of local news as a for-profit business model? Well, lets see; since the last time I wrote an Ask a Native New Yorker column in February 2017, the subway has continued to crumble, Bill de Blasio somehow coasted to another election, the city has seen its usual share of tragedies and mayhem, and yet it hasnt been all bad. Trump, as I predicted after the election, still hasnt started a nuclear war, and his regime has been met with powerful protest movements and a level of civic engagement in politics that New York hasnt seen in decades. Rents in some parts of the city have actually been falling for a few months. (Median rent in Brooklyn is still $2,629.) And the weather is finally getting warmerjust this week they turned on summer! But some things never change, like gentrifiers still acting like jackasses to their new neighbors. Take this doormat: your new neighbor from Long Island probably just thought it was a cute demonstration of her realnessafter all, Tupac did grow up in Harlem. She probably wasn't even alive when his Thug Life album came out in 1994; it likely just seeped into her consciousness as an Internet meme, or however young people get their culture these days. What she's failed to consider, obviously, is how other residents of the building might feel about them literally stomping on the legacy of one of the most mourned and respected rappers of all time, or the message it sends when white people appropriate the culture of black people for use as ironic home decor. This obviously demands a response. Your first instinct may be just to swipe this monstrosity and throw it down the garbage chute, but tasteless doormats like this cost only $16.99, and theyll probably just assume it was stolen and get a new one, or something even worse (such things exist). No, people this clueless are a danger to themselves and to the fabric of our communities, and as such, youre going to have to educate them face-to-face. You should march over there, knock on the door, and introduce yourself as their new floormate. After a normal exchange of pleasantries, politely but firmly explain why their doormat is racist and offensive, and why they dont want the kind of reputation theyre going to get if they continue to display it. My guess is itll be gone tomorrow. It is likely that your new neighbors are just ignorant, but not evil, and once they are educated by a wiser, long-term New York resident, they might be capable of contributing something to the neighborhood. As weve discussed many times before, gentrification is not all badthe presence of these newcomers creates problems, like forcing some longtime residents and businesses out through rising rents, but also opportunities: an influx of money into local stores, more attention from politicians, safer streets, and more diverse schools. With your help, your new neighbor might be able to make a positive addition to the community, or at least embarrass herself less. Helping new arrivals be less clueless is a mitzvah, and an easy way to make the city a better place. Consider it! But I didnt write today to just discuss rap music, doormats, and gentrification. What I really wanted to discuss is forgiveness. You see, in situations like these, where someone has made a boneheaded or inconsiderate move, youve got two choices. You could vow vendetta forevershun your new neighbors in the hallways, let the door slam in their facebut do you really want to let your life be poisoned by that kind of hatred? In the short term its probably satisfying, but in the long term, as you act this way over and over, this approach to life is going to lead to a lot of unnecessary conflict and regrets. The other path is more difficult; it requires you to put yourself in the other persons shoes, figure out why they made the choice they did, and whether, having learned they were wrong, whether theyd do it again. Most of us humans are complex. We bumble through life, doing the best we can, occasionally make a wrong turn, and then try to get back on the right path. When you see someone in that kind of situation, try to help them out, because one day you might find yourself in their place. Namaste, Jake N.B.: I understand you may have some questions or opinions about the events of the last 12 months. Feel free to share them in the comments. I may not be able to respond to each one, but I will try to answer what I can. And if you have any ideas or suggestions for future Ask a Native New Yorker columns, please send them to tips@gothamist.com. Id like to bring the column back as a regular feature on the new WNYC-owned Gothamist. Mike Pence. Photo: Woohae Cho/Getty Images While Michelle Wolfs jokes about Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the White House Correspondents Dinner were the first to inspire a cycle of outrage and think pieces, the comedians comments about Mike Pence or to use her words, a weird little guy have now entered the arena. In particular, her jab about the vice-presidents firm anti-abortion stance has come under fire, but it turns out, the joke brought the weird little guy some joy. If youve (luckily) missed the flurry of coverage around this dinner, heres the abortion joke, in full: Mike Pence is very anti-choice. He thinks abortion is murder, which, first of all, dont knock it til you try it. And when you do try it, really knock it. Youve got to get that baby out of there. Asked about the joke in an interview with Christian network CBN News, Pence responded, Im pro-life and I dont apologize for it. He also expressed how grateful he is to work alongside the most pro-life president in American history, just before he responded to Wolfs jokes with a Bible quote. As the Bible says, I count it all joy when I endure trials or criticisms, he said. Okay, but did that time that Trump gently touched his thigh an indisputable trial really bring him joy? John Amato in 2017. Photo: Amanda Edwards/WireImage At the end of March, Republic Records president Charlie Walk stepped down from his position (as well as from his hosting gig on the singing competition The Four) amid allegations of sexual misconduct. On Friday, the Daily Beast reported that Walk may have received editorial protection from the president of Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, John Amato. Amato runs the company overseeing publication of The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Spin, Stereogum, and Vibe. Based on conversations with a half-dozen high-level sources who spoke with the Daily Beast on condition of anonymity, the site reports that Amato, who is friends with Walk, shelved at least three stories about the former record executives conduct at the publications under his purview. The Walk story first broke when a former employee published an open letter online detailing accusations against him. Shortly after, Rolling Stone published an investigative report on a long pattern of harassment and misconduct by the former head of Republic. Since that time, Amato has allegedly made the rare move of intervening in the editorial process to stop multiple stories with new, original reporting on Walk from running at Spin and Billboard. This was apparently done against the objections of staffers, and despite the stories having been cleared by in-house legal teams. In one instance, an aggregated news post about Walk was also apparently removed from Billboards site, without explanation, several days after it was published. Amatos closeness with Walk has been well-known among staff for years, according to Daily Beast sources, but he never disclosed that relationship when reviewing articles about Walk. A spokesperson for the media group provided this statement to the Daily Beast when asked for comment: As a media publisher, we do not comment on the details of editorial decisions. We covered this story thoroughly, publishing 23 reports in less than two months across Billboard, Spin, and Hollywood Reporter. Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez in a scene from Overboard. Photo: Pantelion Films Ive long thought that, so long as Hollywood cant greenlight anything that isnt a known quantity, they should spend more time remaking the stuff that didnt become a classic the first time. Overboard, a 1987 Garry Marshall high-concept romantic comedy that I had honestly never heard of before yesterday, feels like a perfect candidate. Its class-war and amnesia-fueled plot could work in literally any era, from 30s screwball to Elizabethan. Its already been remade in India and South Korea, but its the kind of wackadoo premise that studios now assume American audiences are too jaded for. When people sigh that they just dont make rom-coms anymore, they really dont make rom-coms like this. (Though head trauma is certainly re-emerging as a go-to plot device.) For that reason, I couldnt help but be taken by the 2018 Overboard, the new remake starring Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez. In this version, the gender roles are reversed: Anna Faris plays the Kurt Russell part of a working-class single mom, and Eugenio Derbez plays Leonardo, the playboy billionaire heir whom she convinces is her husband of 15 years after a tumble from his yacht wipes his memory. Derbez (Instructions Not Included, How to Be a Latin Lover), who also produced the film, has become a figurehead for a kind of crossover bilingual studio comedy that has been quietly successful in the last few years while other, more conventional comedies have crashed and burned. Overboard, directed and co-written by sitcom veteran (and Frasier producer, I must add) Rob Greenberg, is at once defiantly old-fashioned and casually cross-cultural. Its also predictable as the day is long and lags considerably in the middle, but that might be more of a genre feature than a bug. Part of the weird trick that Overboard pulls is telling the story of a white woman who takes advantage of a Mexican man and more or less convinces him to be her live-in domestic, not to mention to also take up a job as a day laborer. This is such dicey territory, and that makes it hard to fully dive into the film until you feel you can trust the direction its going. It risks feeling like a weird 20th-century American fever dream, like so many other recent films and shows that make minority underdogs out of wage-slave Caucasians. (The film, mostly set in a small coastal Oregon town, is populated by Spanish speakers, French speakers, Norwegians, and Scots; Faris is a distinct outlier.) Their initial encounter has to be outlandishly cruel for the premise to even have a chance of working, and it is: When Fariss Kate comes aboard Leonardos yacht, he denies her pay, insults her looks, and eventually pushes her off the boat. Even then, her plot to bring him down to size at the suggestion of her fellow working-class best friend Eva Longoria, of course requires a lot of gymnastics that dont always land. Its more fun to watch the dichotomy between Leonardos pre- and post-amnesia selves. Its a dialogue almost never seen in mainstream English-language films where the Latin characters are the manual laborers far more often than they are the asshole billionaires, and the riches to rags narrative actually feels a little fresh in this updated, self-consciously silly context. While he is MIA, his scheming sister (Cecilia Suarez) plots to inherit the family business from their ailing father (Fernando Lujan); these scenes, telenovela-big and all in subtitled Spanish, are an unexpectedly appropriate counterpoint to the cutesy stuff at home with Derbez and Faris. Derbez gets better as the film goes along hes a little too spasmodically evil as the pre-enlightened playboy, but hilariously sweet and too-good-to-be-true as the ever-suffering husband who loves to cook for his family. Faris, skilled as ever at being a knowing, sympathetic, and still-funny anchor in this kind of film, is also charming (though, come on, lets hold off on giving her teenage daughters just yet). The film kicks into high comic gear for its final ten minutes or so, making one wonder where all that energy was for the laggier midsection. (Kate waffles for what feels like forever about admitting the truth to Leonardo, rendering the ruse more threadbare with every close call.) There are some genuinely funny and surprising beats leading up to the couples all-too-predictable reunion that I wont spoil here, but which bely a comedy that has been smarter than average all along. By shifting its perspective and updating its anxieties, Overboard is a decent-to-great model for a rom-com renaissance, the kind of film that sends one out on a high note great enough to blur many of the blemishes that have come before. Doug Mand, Rachel Bloom, Dan Gregor, and Adam Pally. Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Vulture Can there be any hope (or empathy) for the former high-school cool kid who returns home to discover that no one gives a shit about him anymore? Lionsgates just-released comedy Most Likely to Murder available for download now on iTunes seeks to answer this age-old question, and tosses in some murder-mystery intrigue to mix things up a bit. On April 30, Vulture held an exclusive screening and Q&A event for fans at Los Angeless London Hotel, featuring star Adam Pally, co-star and producer Rachel Bloom, co-writer and director Dan Gregor, and co-writer and co-star Doug Mand. The quartet had a lively (and often R-rated) chat about their New York comedy roots (and subsequent coupling, in the case of Bloom and Gregor); how they overcome the panic of casting a dramatic actor, Vincent Kartheiser, as their co-lead; what Pally would want from a Most Likely sequel; and what news Bloom can break about the forthcoming fourth and final season of her juggernaut hit series, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Youve known each other for a long time. How and when did you first meet? Adam Pally: Doug and I got hooked up because we were both transferring to New York colleges and had a mutual best friend who was like, Youre both needy Jews, you should be friends. We hung out no joke for ten minutes and were best friends. We knew everything about each other, listened to the same music, and dressed alike. So we moved in together in the East Village. God, this was when, 2000? 2002? Doug Mand: No, around 1973. [Laughs.] Pally: Then very soon after that, Doug and I moved in with each other, and he met Dan at Tisch. Dan Gregor: Doug and I were in a really terrible writing class at NYU where the teacher would only let us write as a group. The whole class had to write an episode of I Love Lucy, but guest starring Alicia Keys. [Laughs.] Think about that for a second. This was NYU. Paid a lot of money for that! Some advice: Go anywhere to college because it all means nothing. A little after that, I was starting this sketch-comedy group called Hammerkatz, and I ran into Doug and remembered he was the funniest guy in the class. I was like, You gotta get in this group. So Doug became sort of the first generation of Hammerkatz, and we became a sketch team. Mand: Then we graduated, and Dan, Adam, and I lived together. Dan moved onto our couch because he refused to go back home to Long Island. And then Dan met Rachel, and then Rachel moved in. Bloom: I auditioned for Hammerkatz. But Im quite a bit younger than they are. Much, much younger. Pally: You dont have to keep saying that. Bloom: Quite young. Mand: Were all so young. Bloom: Well, not as young as I am. And I later became director of the group, and Dan and I started dating around that time. Pally: Then Rachel moved onto our couch with Dan. Mand: Thats when it got really fun. [Laughs.] Without being too super cheesy, we all just liked each other early on, knew we were like-minded, and wanted to do the same kind of things because we couldnt do anything else. Pally: I remember when I took my first improv class, and had my first rudimentary idea of what a sketch could even be, the person I turned to is Dan. Mand: And he had a lot of notes. [Laughs.] Pally: But the biggest note he had was, Youre really funny. Dan kept me going for a while. Mand: I was like, Hes not that funny. Dan and Doug, since then, youve had an illustrious TV-writing career. I dont think thats too big of a word for it, do you? Mand: No, its perfect. What made you want to venture into feature writing, and what inspired Most Likely to Murder? It has shades of Rear Window. Its actually kind of an asshole-millennial Rear Window. Gregor: Okay, thats going on the poster! Pally: Thank you for calling it millennial! Mand: Were going take that and run with it. Thank you. Gregor: Doug and I were really obsessed with the weekend of Thanksgiving; that idea of coming home for the holidays, and movies about that. Like, Home for the Holidays. Beautiful Girls was also something I fucking loved. This isnt on TV, I can curse, right? Ive been cursing by accident in a lot of our interviews. I got bleeped on live TV. Mand: Youre a bad boy. Gregor: Ooh, danger zone. The first draft of the story was actually just about a guy looking for a VHS player. [Laughs.] It wasnt a great draft, and we quickly realized that was not a good story line. So, we started thinking about this idea of nostalgia that youre desperate to hold on to, but its gone and youll never get it back. Youll never be the person you used to be. How do we make that an active drive for a story? So we decided to do that through a murder mystery, which has more activity at the center of it. And did you work together to write what you lovingly call the Vomit Draft? Did you write side by side? Did each of you take a pass? Mand: We generally always outline pretty extensively. It takes a long time; its pretty meticulous. And once the outline is up on the board or on Google Docs, then we assign each other scenes and write separately. And the only rule for the Vomit Draft is to keep writing. You have to just finish. It doesnt have to be funny. It just has to be what we said in the outline. Gregor: A lot of the dialogue is often, I am going to walk to this set now. Mand: Im angry, and this is the part of the script where Im changing my view. Gregor: And thats okay. And what was the toughest part of transitioning from writing for a multi-cam TV comedy like How I Met Your Mother where the beats and jokes are different to a single-camera production? Gregor: I will politely reject that premise. [Laughs.] Obviously, there are differences between multi- and single-cam TV and film. But the bottom line is, you write a story. You are telling a beginning, middle, and end. The character needs a problem and to confront that problem and change over the course of the resolution. Thats fundamental. Pally: This is like the Q&A version of [the Saturday Night Live sketch] Schweddy Balls. Mand: Why, because its amazing and funny and highly informative, and people will go back to it for decades? Pally: Yeah. When I think Schweddy Balls, I think highly informative. Mand: Look no one came here to hear Adam Pally and Rachel Bloom talk. They want to talk to the two schlubby writers who no one knows. No one cares about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Happy Endings. Cmon. Bloom: I have a request. Could I have my coat? Im only wearing this like Mediterranean skank schmatta dress. Pally: You consider that Mediterranean? Bloom: Its Mediterranean. Im wearing silicone nipple covers so you guys dont see any party hats. Adam, in what ways do you relate to your character, Billy? Pally: I relate to him being frustrated, I think. When you know you have something to offer, but just cant like, get it in the right place. I also think Billy is a version of me that could have happened to me very easily. I look at a lot of my characters like that. Billy in particular feels like a couple degrees off from me, which is to say, I think that my personality probably would be a little harsher if I didnt have a great family and a good job. We definitely empathize with him. Pally: And that was the goal: to do a character that was not necessarily what you would assume the white man hero would be. Even in like the slightest dark caverns of the movie I think theres empathy. Bloom: I just want to apologize for slut-shaming myself earlier when I referred to my dress as skank dress. I was feeling very cold. And we all say things we dont mean when were cold. Every woman should have the right to show her body as much as she wants and not be labeled a skank, by themselves (Laughter and applause). I think I Times Upd up myself! So Rachel, this is your major feature film as an actor. Bloom: I was in a very mediocre film called Bob vs. Society, for which I was not paid, in 2006. Mand: So well call this this first one. How did it feel step away from Rebecca Bunch for a bit? Did it feel like you cheating on her? Bloom: No. It felt nice. Its funny because Im doing press for this movie, but I only did like six days total on it. I was mostly in New York as Dans wife to support him emotionally, and with our dog, who I brought. Gregor: The dog was the biggest part. Bloom: Really, I was kind of incidental. Oh, wheres the dog tonight? Shes at home. Sorry. Youre here to see the dog. Thats weird. [Laughs.] But the character of Kara her high-school experience is slightly close to mine, except I wasnt a rebel. I didnt drink or smoke. And Im not just saying that because my parents are here. But I really didnt. And I didnt have sex. And thats why youre a success today, by the way. Youre such a good model for young women. Bloom: Because I waited, kids! Pally: Id like to be the opposite of that test theory. I didnt wait. And Daddy turned out okay. Bloom: But no, it did not feel like cheating on Rebecca. It felt wonderful to access a part of myself that I dont get to normally access, which is mostly a very justifiable and grounded vengeance towards the men who have wronged me. Dan, this is also your first feature as a director. How scared were you on day one when you realized everyone was looking to you to tell them what to do? Gregor: Actually the first day that was stressful was when we were still in preproduction and still casting. There was just a long period where we thought it was going be just our friends in the movie; just a bunch of comedians, and that was not stressful. Then Doug and I had the realization that we really needed a dramatic actor to play Lowell, because [people] werent going to buy the stakes of the movie if you didnt have someone you could actually feel uncomfortable about or uncertain about. [Silicon Valley actor] Zach Woods was the first person we thought about. Hed have been great. But it would have been a very different movie. And so, we asked for and actually got Vincent Kartheiser. It was so shocking to us that he agreed. That caused a panic attack for sure, like, Hes a real dramatic actor. Right. He was on Mad Men. Mand: And we didnt know him. Rachel and Adam are brilliant actors, but we know them. Theres a shorthand. Vincent we did not know. Oh God, we should probably shower. Are we dressed properly to talk to him? I think Im an idiot. So, Im not going talk. Vincent scared us. Gregor: We are not from like, acting schools. Were comedians. Bloom: [In a low sultry voice.] Well, some of us are. Pally: Yes, speak for yourself, Daniel. Gregor: Ok fine, the writers from this movie were not from acting schools. And so, it was a very different vibe and a new pressure Id never felt before. But I just prepped the shit out of it. I got really intense about making sure I really knew exactly what I wanted. I probably fucked up the first half of the first day. The AD was like, You are three hours behind. Youre not going make your day. Then very quickly I revamped my thinking. I was like, Oh, Ive done this a billion times before. Music videos and short films and sketches. This is just a different format. Were there any scenes you changed during filming that maybe werent working? Bloom: The part about Lowell having a big dick was something we realized while shooting that we had to call back to. Gregor: I also remember the day we shot the parking-lot scene, Rachel, you said, I really think we need to know like what their sexual history is. Bloom: Yeah. Gregor: The ending was both written and improvised from Rachels notes. Wed left it too vague and then they were in the relationship. Therefore the line, Im gonna squirt in your face that was a Rachel line that day. [Laughs.] If you were to make a sequel to this movie, Adam, what would you want for Billys future? Pally: Oh, I would like him to get out of jail, go back to Vegas and to fall in love with a superstar doing a residency there, like Gwen Stefani. And then suddenly hes in Fatal Attraction. Thats what Id love to see. And finally, because we all have to get home and move on with our lives Pally: Unnecessary. Bloom: And were all eventually going die. And none of this will matter and this movie will probably be lost in the fire as the sun burns up the earth. True. Pally: Its not like were holding these people hostage like in The Room. Its not like there are 80 Brie Larsons here. I think that was just called Room, Adam. The Room is different movie entirely. Bloom: But Tommy Wiseau was definitely in both movies. True. Rachel, what can you tell us about the fourth and final season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? Bloom: Oh my God. Like literally nothing. Weve only done one day of writing. And the one day of writing consisted of us trying to figure out: What are the major giant plot points in this season and what is the series finale? And those are what exactly? Mand: Rebecca was dead all along! [Laughs.] Bloom: Well, I havent shared this yet, but Im pleased to announce that this year an episode will be directed by Mr. Dan Gregor. [Applause.] I did just break some news. Pally: Someone call Nikki Finke! Bloom: Doug and Dan have written on the show for the last three years, and have had cameos. Theyve done wonderful work. Seeing them in the context of a writers room theyre fucking amazing. And the fact that they arent writing every single major box-office movie just proves how broken the studio system is. [Laughs.] Finally, Dan, Doug, and Rachel: If you were to write a cameo for Adam for the final season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, who would you like him to play? Pally: Ooh, I like this. Also my FYI, episodic TV quote is sky-high now. Bloom: Well, I dont think theres a role in which you cant play a Jew. So, Ill say tentatively I feel like youd be a good son for Patti LuPone, the rabbi. Pally: I love Patti LuPone. Im in! Mand: You can sing, too. Pally: I got a decent baritone. Call me. Im in. You heard it here! Polanski. Photo: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images Roman Polanskis attorney plans to appeal the directors expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to Vanity Fair. Polanskis lawyer Harland Braun told the magazine that the Academy didnt follow its own rules in this weeks surprise expulsion of Polanski and Bill Cosby. Polanski fled the United States during an underage sex case in 1977, and has been accused of other sexual assaults. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 2003. Bill Cosby was found guilty of multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault last week. In its decision, the board of governors said the men were being dismissed in accordance with its new code of conduct, implemented after decades of sexual harassment and assault allegations came out against Harvey Weinstein. We want due process, Braun told VF. Thats not asking too much of the Academy, is it? Based on the Academy rules, Braun said, Polanski was supposed to have been given notice of the potential ruling, and have ten days to present his case in a hearing. (Per Variety, the code also includes a provision where the board can discipline members without following the new process.) It was a complete debacle in the sense that they didnt follow their own rules, he said. Samantha Geimer, the victim in the case, told Vanity Fair the Academys ruling was cruel. Update Tuesday May 8: Roman Polanskis lawyer Harland Braun says his client is willing to file a lawsuit over his Academy expulsion. According to Deadline, Braun sent a letter to AMPAS president John Bailey today detailing his clients grievances, and their legal grounds for a suit: I am writing this letter to you to avoid unnecessary litigation. Mr. Polanski has a right to go to court and require your organization to follow its own procedures, as well as California law. Braun maintains that the Academy violated its own Standards of Conduct and standards required by the California Corporations Code when the board of governors voted last week to expel Polanski and Cosby for misconduct. From Summer and Smoke, at Classic Stage. Photo: Carol Rosegg Im afraid we have a bad connection, says the doctors son to the preachers daughter. Theyre speaking over the telephone, but the interference theyre battling isnt really technological but spiritual. Tennessee Williamss Summer and Smoke now in a spare, intelligent, deeply affecting production by Transport Group at Classic Stage Company is a story of the most troubled connection in a modern America still in the grip of its puritanical roots: the uneasy link between body and soul. Being by Williams, the play is verbally lush and at times symbolic to the point of overripeness, but director Jack Cummings IIIs light, exacting touch both lifts and elucidates the text. Its tale of wrenching transformations over the course of one humid southern summer feels newly piercing, and the performance of its lead, the stellar Marin Ireland, is an exquisite study in awakening. In Irelands hands, Alma Winemiller the nervous, lace-clad young singing teacher living in Glorious Hill, Mississippi, in 1916 seems to leap forward in time. She becomes a devastating mirror for plenty of contemporary young women still struggling to exorcise shame, acknowledge desire, and find a place in the whole roiling mess of sex and love for that thing called the soul. My name is Alma and Alma is Spanish for soul, she says to the doctors son, whose name is John Buchanan, in the plays prologue. Its not exactly subtle, but then again, Alma and John are only 10 years old at this point. Theyre standing near the fountain in the center of Glorious Hill, a kneeling angel whose carved name, Eternity, has faded in the stone. You cant make it out with your eyes, Alma tells the skeptical John, You have to read it with your fingers. Its a beautiful paradox: Right away, though Williams links Alma with the spiritual world and John with the physical, he has her encourage a moment of touch, a sensual act meant to access something sacred. The line between soul and body, between divinity and desire, is blurrier than the world these children inhabit would like it to be. For all her delicacy, Alma already senses that blur, though shes not yet awake to it. Cummings stages Williamss prologue with Ireland and the excellent Nathan Darrow, as John Buchanan surly and searching playing their younger selves. The stage is empty save for a black-and-white framed photograph of a stone angel propped on a wooden easel. Williams devotes several pages of script to suggestions for the visual design of his play from projected clouds and constellations to floating ivy-covered window frames and its a relief upon entering the intimate three-sided space at CSC to see that Cummings and his scenic designer, Dane Laffrey, havent followed any of them. Laffrey gives us only a raised white rectangular floor and a low-hanging white rectangular ceiling: a wall-less box that evokes both spartan purity and, despite its open sides, claustrophobia. R. Lee Kennedys lights remain low, keeping Ireland and Darrow in shadow as they navigate this blank expanse. Physically, the actors do not perform the teasing meeting of two young children but instead pace slowly around the edges of the white floor, their gestures slow, their eyes downturned. Cummings is following Williamss own earlier directions from The Glass Menagerie on creating a memory play: It is dimly lighted, it is sentimental, it is not realistic. In this production the prologue is no twee epigraph but Almas memory. As she slips out of a kiss from the young John leaving him suspended for a moment and observing the murky tableau with quiet, fascinated distance the play is cemented even more firmly than usual as hers. Only Alma will brush up against the veil at the edges of her story, becoming more and more aware of it, more and more ready to slice through it and join us on the other side. Cummings knows how little fuss-and-stuff a richly layered piece of writing needs to work on stage. Last year, he and David Greenspan turned Eugene ONeills sprawling psychological melodrama Strange Interlude into a stunning solo show: six hours of text, a few simple changes of scene, one body, one voice. Summer and Smoke also profits from the directors penchant for stripping away theatrical excess. The play can be purple, so Cummings keeps the space empty and the performances sharp. He and his ensemble make Williamss sometimes cloying language feel pointed and necessary. The actors use no props, save for a few chairs, and yet Cummings doesnt push them to mime the objects they mention. Talking on a phone or wearing a hat dont require elaborate physical illustrations. The connections between performers and the struggles for connection between characters are what matter, and the plays elegant staging is a lesson in trimming the fat. Theres no hiding in such a space, and in the stark white box we can hear refrains of Williamss play ring clearly. Alma and John, soul and body, grow up next door to each other, and Summer and Smoke tracks the tumultuous course of a summer in their mid-20s when the disparate pair get so close [they] almost breathe together. Theyre a product of their fathers Almas a rigid minister she dutifully supports and Johns a stern doctor he tries to defy and, in a less obvious way, of their mothers too. Johns died when he was young: They made me go in the room where my mother was dying and she caught hold of my hand and wouldnt let go and so I screamed and hit her, he tells Alma in the prologue. For all his impetuous rakishness as an adult, John is full of fear. That early image of mortality of the ugliness and possible meaninglessness of the human machine haunts him as he pursues a life of mortal pleasures gambling, booze, and, of course, sex. Its yet to be proven that anyone on this earth is crowned with so much glory as the one that uses his senses to get all he can in the way of satisfaction, he says to Alma later. Alma, meanwhile, has grown up believing in the everlasting struggle and aspiration for something more than our human limits have placed in our reach and in this production at least, the courage she carries beneath her prim, nervous exterior might in fact stem from her mother. The riveting Barbara Walshs Mrs. Winemiller is one of this Summer and Smokes brilliant surprises. Williams describes her as a spoiled selfish girl who evaded the responsibilities of later life by slipping into a state of perverse childishness, and the character can easily be played as a mentally vacant overgrown kid with a mean streak, demanding ice cream, stealing from local stores, and mocking her daughters voice (I have sometimes been accused of having a put-on accent by people who approve of good diction! Alma sniffs to John, and Ireland nails her heightened idiom, which is somehow both affected and sincere). But Cummings and Walsh have discovered something different in Almas mother: Walsh in a black dress that smartly echoes the shape of Irelands softer, light gray one (the simple, clever costumes are by Kathryn Rohe) is sharp-eyed and watchful. Shes no village idiot, but a woman who woke up one day to the idiocy of her village and said, Screw this! Im out. Her seeming dementia is a kind of defiance. Twice during the play, the character cries out Fight, fight! in moments when Almas proper, forbearing surface gets ruffled. The words might be a taunt, like a child egging on playground violence, but coming from Walsh theyre a command. Shes suddenly brutally lucid, urging her daughter to do what she couldnt figure out how to in order to survive. Because Alma is headed toward a crisis. During the plays hot, heavy summer, she grows more and more enamored with John, defending him against the communitys judgment as his behavior gets more debauched. The pair are engaged in an ongoing argument, Alma in favor of reaching up like a Gothic cathedral for something beyond attainment and John in favor of reaching out, of collecting worldly experience and feeding temporal desires. At one point he forces her to look at a doctors chart of the human anatomy the stone angels symbolic counterpoint and the productions only other real object and roughly points out the locations of human hunger: the sex, the belly, and the brain. Ive fed all three, he growls bitterly, Youve fed none. Darrow is delivering a tough, vulnerable performance. We can see what Alma loves about him and what she despises, and we suffer with her as he flails about in selfishness and uncertainty. John spends his money and his nights at Moon Lake Casino, a gambling house where he meets the dancer Rosa Gonzalez, whose father runs the seedy establishment. In a red dress with a flower in her hair, Rosa mostly walks through the play as a symbol of everything Alma isnt on the outside. Though the striking Elena Hurst does admirable work filling out Rosas humanity, Williamss dependence on a pair of Mexican characters to represent all thats carnal, impulsive, and earthy can feel dated and stereotypical. Papa Gonzalez (the tipsy, swaggering Gerardo Rodriguez) especially is little more than an engine of plot, the straw that ultimately breaks the back of Johns bad behavior and sends both him and Alma into painful periods of metamorphosis. But then again, Williams was living with his muse and lover, the Mexican-born Pancho Rodriguez, while writing Summer and Smoke, and while we might wince today at what feels like the stereotype of tempestuous Latin passion, Williams was trying to make a complex argument for an embrace of life that held such passion as sacred as prayer. In the plays final third, we watch Alma fall into a kind of sickness: Irelands hair comes down and she curls up bare-shouldered and barefoot on the stage. Eventually, she covers up not in her gray dress, but in a wine-dark floor-length velvet coat originally worn onto the stage by her mother. Notably, Mrs. Winemiller doesnt abuse her daughter in her seeming illness, but only watches unblinking. Her father frets and criticizes: What am I going to tell people who ask about you? he grumbles. Tell them Ive changed, says Alma with ominous steadiness, and youre waiting to see in what way. Marin Ireland is utterly thrilling as the heart of Cummingss production. Shes both a masterful technician and an actor whose emotional presence feels so alive its almost dangerous. More still, shes stealthily hilarious. Summer and Smoke isnt usually billed as a comedy, but thanks to Irelands unerring comic touch and to the wonderful supporting work of Tina Johnson, Jonathan Spivey, Glenna Brucken, and Ryan Spahn as the eccentric members of Almas ill-fated little club of local intellectuals the play is filled with jolts of humor. Listen to Irelands distracted replies when a dopey would-be suitor (Spivey) shows her a scrapbook full of pictures of his mother, or to her bone-dry description of why things havent exactly worked out for her with boys in the past: With each one there was a desert between us, she tells John, and when he asks what she means by a desert, she cracks the audience up with what could be a soppy line. Oh wide, wide stretches of uninhabitable ground, she says, with no iota of wistfulness. Irelands Alma, even at her most scattered and vulnerable, is on some level always aware of her own doubleness, of the change thats coming, the Doppelganger to use Johns teasing phrase within her thats gradually coming to consciousness. And that consciousness is heartbreaking. After a tragedy, Alma and John are both altered permanently, but Almas transformation is a complex, ongoing awakening, while Johns is a kind of going back to sleep. Ive come around to your way of thinking, he tells Alma, trying to explain that he now believes in that immaterial something she tried to make a case for. But Johns newfound respect for the soul takes traditional form: Hell clean up his act and [settle] with life on fairly acceptable terms, while Alma will move past tradition, past propriety, primness, and respect. Its a wrenching case of ships passing in the night, and while it leaves John safely harbored in society, it strands Alma in open water, full of desires and revelations that the world will try to disgrace. Williams was fresh off A Streetcar Named Desire when he wrote Summer and Smoke in 1948, and in the suspended, opened-up Alma of the plays ending we can see a kind of after-the-fact spiritual prequel to Blanche. In Irelands gorgeous performance, we can also see a hungry modern woman grappling with a world that seems to reward men both for their prodigality and for their return to the flock. Meanwhile, a woman walks tentatively forward through the smoke, seeking a path free from shame, a path toward a more perfect union of body and soul. Summer and Smoke is at Classic Stage Company through May 20. A scene from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Photo: Netflix Drown your sorrows with some Peeno Noir. Deadline is reporting that Netflixs delightfully zany comedy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, will be ending with its upcoming fourth season. As a means of properly tying up loose ends, a movie will reportedly be written by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock that would effectively serve as the series finale. (Season four of the show will be split into two parts the first, consisting of six episodes, will premiere on May 30. The second part, of seven episodes, has yet to get an airdate on Netflix.) We will blame Pizza Rat for this misfortune! It's easily one of the biggest moments in someone's life - your wedding day. And one of the biggest parts of that day is your pictures. Some turn out well, some turn out not as well, and as newlyweds Shari and Brayden Dunaway found out, some don't turn out at all. They were married at the Utah State Capitol in July 2017. They say it was a perfect day and a perfect ceremony. Unfortunately, the photographer was a "no-show." His name is David Bowe Jacobs, the owner and operator of Bellissima Images Photography. He's got a great website, great photos, and some great reviews. Customers giving him five stars, gushing over the work he does and saying things like, "amazing job," "awesome photo," and "best photographer ever!" For Shari, those reviews played a role in hiring Jacobs to document, what she calls the most important day of her life. "He had great ratings online five stars," Shari said. "The pictures looked great on his website." Shari was sold. She booked him and paid the money. And on the eve of her wedding, a Friday, Shari says she had a conversation with David through text messages about specific photographs she wanted taken. She says nothing was out of the ordinary. KSL Investigator Mike Headrick asked, "He didn't make any mention he wasn't going to be there?" "No mention," Shari said. "So, as far as you knew, he was going to show up? Headrick asked. "Yup," Shari said. Hoping to get a little clarification on Shari's wedding, Jacobs graciously let us interrupt an engagement session, which KSL set-up and paid for, to answer a few questions. "Shari said she had a conversation with you the night before her wedding. Do you remember that?" Headrick asked. Jacobs responded, "I think she sent an email." "Did you know the next day you weren't going to show up to the wedding?" Headrick asked. Jacobs response, "Umm" While Jacobs thought about it, the KSL Investigators found a text message suggesting he wasn't going to be there. Texting another photographer, Kylee Hunter, three days before the wedding, saying, "Are you available to shoot a wedding up at the State Capitol this Saturday? I have another surgery this Friday." Saying he had surgery on Friday, the same Friday he was texting with Sheri, and didn't mention a thing. "And I just thought that was weird," Shari said. "Because I was just talking to him last night, and so I'm like, he didn't mention anything about his surgery. He didn't say he wasn't going to be here." Headrick again questioned Jacobs, "You never let her know you weren't going to show up?" "I told the other photographer to let her know," Jacobs said. "Whose job is that the other photographer or you?" Headrick asked The other photographer, Kylee Hunter, says she's seen this play out with Jacobs before. It was a different bride, but almost the same scenario. "All the little lies and excuses he told," Hunter said. "He told me he was getting surgery and what not, and so I went and did this wedding." The wedding she's talking about is the wedding of Adrienne Hess and the deal was just like Sheri's. Hunter photographs the wedding. Jacobs does the editing, and sends the finished photos to the bride. At least that's what everyone thought. Headrick asked Hess, "So, have you got the edited version of the pictures from him yet?" "From Dave nothing," Hess said. Headrick questioned, "Still no? How many months has it been?" Hess' replied, "Almost a year!" BBB: Buyer Beware list The KSL Investigators went seeking some answers from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Utah. The president of the Utah BBB, Jane Driggs said, "We get complaints about all aspects of the wedding industry." She says Jacobs is just one of thousands of Utahns in the state's multi-million dollar wedding industry. It's an industry where Jacobs has earned some of that money and dozens of complaints. Alleging poor communication, failing to give people their photos, and in some cases - not even showing up for the wedding. He's on the "Buyer Beware" list and has been fined thousands of dollars by the Utah Department of Consumer Protection. He was found guilty of two felonies, one for issuing a bad check and the other on forgery. And he has been denied BBB accreditation twice. "I do have some scruples since I'm the head of the Better Business Bureau," said Driggs, "And I won't do business with a company who has been denied accreditation." They're valuable pieces of information, Shari didn't know. It was five months after the "I dos" and she still had no photos. So, Shari's wedding planner reached out to Jacobs, where he responded in a text, "I mailed them out over 10 days ago. I will double check the address you gave me and check the tracking number for her photos." Here's the problem. There was never a tracking number, because the photos were never mailed. Again, Headrick questioned Jacobs, "Did you ever tell Shari that those photos were in the mail? Jacobs said, "Umm, yah. I told her they were on their way even though I was still working on them." "So, you lied to her?" asked Headrick. "In a way, I didn't mean to lie to her," Jacobs said. "You accidentally lied to her? asked Headrick. "Not accidentally, no" Jacobs responded Nine months later and nearly 1,700 miles away, Shari and Brayden have moved on. She's in med school at The Ohio State University. And while still waiting on the touched-up, edited photographs Jacobs promised, just days after the KSL Investigators got involved, she now has a full refund and all of the raw pictures of that unforgettable day. And just an hour before this story went on KSL-TV, Jacobs sent an electronic file, he says with the edited photos. Five-star reviews Remember all those five-star reviews Jacobs got? Well, when brides Shari and Adrienne gave him a half star review, he denied ever doing business with them. "Dave reported me as not being his customer, so they took down my review," Shari said. Headrick asked Jacobs, "Did you ever tell them they weren't your customer? Did you ever say that? "I can't remember if I did or not," Jacobs said. The KSL Investigators found the review site. He had said they were not his customers. We've had a handful of other brides contact KSL in the last couple of days, reciting very similar stories with Jacobs and Bellissima Images Photography. Consumer advice The reviews can be helpful, but don't trust them. Physically talk to people who have used the photographer in the past to help make your decision. Also, go to the Better Business Bureau's website and check out complaints and reviews. They only keep records dating back three years, so for someone like Jacobs, with complaints spanning more than a decade, you're not going to know his entire history. The BBB says they're looking to change that. Finally, you may want to check court records, where you can see if they've had any lawsuits against them or even a criminal past. The alarms are set, the school buses are ready to roll and lunches are packed. It's back to class for thousands of students across the state. The Arizona legislature early Thursday morning passed a budget bill giving educators a notable pay increase, and minutes later the governor signed it, ending a six-day walkout. Gov.Doug Ducey tweeted out messages of support to teachers, saying they deserve the raise and wanting to move forward. Teachers did just that Friday morning when they greeted their students as they headed back to campus after more than a week without class. After the bill was passed, one teacher spoke to a crowd gathered at the Arizona state capitol telling them the next steps. "Your job is to be out in front of your school, 30 minutes before you're due and you are to welcome every single one of those students that has been missing you for over a week," she said. Not all schools are back in session though. The Creighton School District decided to stay closed Friday, among others. Some districts have already made the call to extend the school year to make up for days missed during the #RedForEd movement. The Tempe Elementary School District and the Cartwright Elementary School District are adding days to the school calendar. Even the Dysart Unified District has announced they'll be extending the school year. It all comes down to a complex formula involving days of instruction and what are referred to as "seat minutes." Tolleson, Scottsdale and Tempe Union districts say their students won't need to push back the last day of school. A Huntsville woman is finally getting her college degree from the University of Alabama after nearly 70 years of waiting. 87-year-old Pat Cassity will be graduating with her Bachelors of Arts in Music this Friday. Cassity was one quarter away from graduating in 1950 when she left the university to work for the air force in Alaska. She says that she immediately regretted her decision not to finish her education. She hopes her story will inspire others to never give up on their dreams. After four professional drivers killed themselves in the span of five months, an increasingly vocal community of professional drivers are laying the blame at the feet of the City Council and the Mayor, who had the chance to save their livelihood three years ago, but chose not to. If theyd done something then, we wouldnt be going through this right now, says Beresford Simmons, a yellow cab driver since 1971. You have guys killing themselves now, guys losing their homes because they defrauded us. The opportunity came and went in July of 2015, at a time when the flood of Ubers into New Yorks streets had reached what then seemed like a breaking point. More than 2,000 new for-hire vehicles were arriving in the city each month, most of them into the gridlocked core of Manhattan. The number of new Uber licenses had just eclipsed the entire fleet of yellow taxis, and was on track to double within six months. Meanwhile, delinquencies on taxi medallion loans had started to skyrocket, and figures quietly released by the city projected a $500 million revenue hit over four years as a result of the medallions plummeting value. A month earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio had thrown his support behind a City Council bill to place a temporary cap on the e-hail companies. Uber was a corporate giant operat[ing] in New York City without basic rules in place to protect the public, the mayor declared, and freezing that incursion was the only way to protect cab drivers while fending off congestion. He seemed to really believe this, even as Uber mounted a ferocious, well-funded public campaign against him. Then, just days before an expected vote on the measure, the mayor changed his mind. His administration had struck a handshake deal with the company, a spokesperson said, and would be holding off on the legislation. The stunning reversal was widely attributed to Ubers public relations attack: The flat-out capitulation of the mayor, Politico noted at the time, came after an almost unprecedented display of political power by a corporation. Others blamed Governor Andrew Cuomo, whod reportedly lobbied then-City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito against restricting Uberone of these great inventions, startups, of this new economy, in his view. Whatever the reason, the proposed cap was shelved, along with the political will to bring real regulation to the swelling ride-share companies. There was enough information in 2015 to know there was going to be a serious crisis if City Hall didnt step in, recalls Bhairavi Desai, founder of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, an advocacy group representing 19,000 drivers. They knew that something had to be done. In the years since, suffocating congestion and a ballooning stock of for-hire vehiclesaround 100,000, at last counthas pushed driver incomes toward poverty levels. The worst of that suffering has fallen on those who purchased one of the 13,587 medallions sold by the city. Long considered one of the countrys best investments, the tin badges, which are required to operate a yellow cab in the city, have plummeted in value by 80 percent in the last five yearsthe predictable result of an unprecedented explosion of supply into a market built on the premise of exclusivity. The impact on drivers whod staked their homes, their retirements, and their futures on the medallions has been catastrophic. In 2013, the average price of a medallion was around $1 million; at a 2017 auction in Queens they sold for $186,000. In the past year, Simmons says more than 20 drivers he knows personally have fallen into bankruptcy over unpaid debt on their medallions. His days off are now spent at the airport, collecting donations from other drivers for his former partner, who was left homeless after the bank foreclosed on his house. Its worse than Ive ever seen it, and its not getting better, says Simmons. According to Simmons and other drivers, the suicides of four drivers in the last five months can be seen as the logical end point of this desperation. On February 6th, Douglas Schifter, a livery car driver, shot himself outside City Hall, leaving behind a lengthy Facebook post detailing the ways his livelihood had been ruined by stupid greedy uncaring politicians. In March, Nicanor Ochiser hanged himself in his garage in Maspeth; the 65-year-old Romanian immigrant had become depressed, family members said, as he watched the value of his yellow taxi medallion plummet, and struggled to keep up with payments on the cab he shared with his wife. Two other drivers who committed suicide, Danilo Corporan Castillo and Alfredo Perez, were also both known to be under financial pressure, according to the Taxi Workers Alliancethough what exactly motivated the men remains a matter of speculation. Taxi drivers rally in front of City Hall in late April (Jake Offenhartz / Gothamist) In response to the deathsand the familiar thread that runs through eachthe driver communitys simmering frustration with the citys politicians has reached something of a boiling point. On four separate occasions this year, hundreds of them have rallied outside City Hall, pleading with the mayor, the city council, and the Taxi and Limousine Commission to step in and, as one driver put it, stop killing us. Their grief and anger has also translated into political organizing. Last week, the Taxi Workers Alliance released a policy platform developed by drivers across all sectorsUber includedcalling for a cap on for-hire vehicles, and for the same labor standards to be applied to app-based services as yellow cabs. The proposal would also make the regulated taxi meter the minimum fare rate for app-drivers, and bring additional protections against wage theft and other hidden fees taken by the upstart companies. Were just asking for level playing field, explained Abraham Lobe during a rally last Wednesday. I know guys who sleep in their cars, while Uber is worth $70 billion. A longtime yellow cab driver, Lobe switched to Uber in 2014, but quit last year after the company imposed a series of fare cuts, and because he says they werent transparent about how he was being paid. For now, hes back to leasing a medallion to drive a yellow cabstill getting duped, but at least by a system that he understands, as he sees it. At the end of the day, you cant make a living anywhere right now, no matter how hard you work. The feeling is no doubt familiar to workers in any industry in which full time jobs have dissolved under the promise of tech-utopia. But the forces of disruption may be especially sinisterand potentially illegalin this case, according to former Department of Transportation Commissioner and MTA Board Member Lucius Riccio. As far as Im concerned, the medallion is a contract with the city, and the city reneged on that contract, Riccio tells Gothamist. The city took their money, continues taking their money in taxes every year, and then all of a sudden Uber comes in and gets those same rights for nothing. In Riccios view, the circumstances have begun to shift, so that inaction wont be an option for the city much longer. The faltering subway system and increase in traffic congestion have likely changed the political calculus, he says: The suicides are the final recognition that the people who warned us how bad this would be have been right all along. Some city lawmakers seemed to have recently arrived at this conclusion as well. On Monday, the newly formed City Council Committee on For-Hire Vehicles met to discuss seven bills aimed at curbing the ride-hail services, including a long-stalled proposal to place a one-year cap on for-hire vehicle licenses. A package of regulations proposed by Committee Chair Ruben Diaz Sr. would also create a new category within the TLC for app-based services, with restrictions on the companies bases, a prohibition on drivers working for more than one app-based service, and the creation of a $2,000 yearly license fee for all app-based vehicles. At Mondays hearing, TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi conceded that a growth limitation on for-hire vehicles may be necessary, but said the regulatory body would not support the yearly licensing fee and single-app restrictions. The Taxi Workers Alliance has similar concerns about those two provisions, and argued that the fees should be paid by the companies. In response to the proposed cap, Alix Fang, a spokesperson for Uber, told Gothamist, New vehicles keep up with the growing demand for rides outside of Manhattan. Capping the number of Ubers would only hurt the millions of outer borough riders who have long been ignored by yellow taxis and who don't have access to reliable public transit. One day after the hearing, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson came out in favor of regulating the for-hire industry, conceding that he'd made a mistake in not supporting the cap on Uber three years earlier. "In hindsight, given what weve seen and the explosive growth of this industry and how its affected the streets of New York City, I think we should have done more," Johnson told WNYC. For his part, de Blasio has also signaled an interest in giving regulation another shot, though hes been cagey on the details. Asked about the spate of suicides during a recent appearance on the Brian Lehrer Show, the mayor responded, I think the caps are the kind of thing we need to talk about again because this situation has gotten worse since then, both in terms of the pressure that has been put on the medallion owners and everyday taxi drivers. A spokesperson for the mayor did not respond to questions about whether the administration would support any of the current bills, or whether the mayor regrets his decision to back down from the cap in 2015. While the recent legislative developments have been welcomed by drivers, the memory of the citys aborted attempt at regulation still looms large. They can talk all the shit they want, but Im still waiting for them to actually do something about it, says Simmons. Weve been telling them this for years. Other drivers are more optimistic about the prospects of legislation. At a recent rally, Eugene Janoa close friend of Ochisor, the latest suicide victimsaid he was confident that they citys politicians were finally reckoning with their prior failures. They dont really have a choice now, says Jano. But its a shame: By the time they get around to fixing this, how many more lives will have been destroyed? If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional. TISHOMINGO COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Mississippi authorities are looking for a Tishomingo man as a person of interest in an officer-involved shooting Thursday night. The Tishomingo County Sheriff's Office said investigators are looking for Brian Turner, 45. Anyone who sees him is asked to contact 911 or their local law enforcement agency. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Thursday on County Road 35 in Belmont, just a few miles from the Mississippi-Alabama line. According to the sheriff's office, Belmont police officers pulled over a black Dodge single-cab pickup truck. The driver of the truck pointed an assault rifle at the officers and began firing. A Belmont Police Department vehicle was hit several times. The officers returned fire, hitting the suspect's vehicle, authorities said. The suspect left the scene. The officers were not injured. Sheriff John Daugherty identifies the suspect was driving a black Dodge single-cab pickup truck with damage to the passenger side and back of the vehicle. The Coast Guard responded to a capsized Coast Guard vessel in Mobile Bay near Gaillard Island, Alabama, Thursday. According to a Coast Guard spokesperson, a 26-foot Trailerable Aids to Navigation Boat (TANB) from Coast Guard Sector Mobile capsized with four crewmembers aboard while they were transiting in Mobile Bay to conduct aids to navigation operations at approximately 10:45 a.m. The crewmembers climbed aboard the vessels hull after it capsized. Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew and arrived on scene at 11:44 a.m. The boat crew recovered the four crewmembers and transferred them to EMS where they were then transferred to Coast Guard Sector Mobile. The spokesperson told WAAY 31 the crewmembers were not seriously injured, and all four were wearing their life jackets. The cause is under investigation. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Black smoke from burning tires mixed with streaks of tear gas fired by Israeli forces Friday as several thousand Palestinians staged a sixth weekly protest on the Gaza-Israel border. At least 70 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, the lowest casualty toll since the protests began. Hundreds of demonstrators broke into the Gaza side of a cargo crossing with Israel, damaging pipelines that carry fuel and gas into Gaza, the Israeli military said. Photos on social media showed large flames near the Kerem Shalom crossing, near where the borders of Gaza, Israel and Egypt converge. Palestinian officials said protesters smashed some equipment near the crossing but were unaware of any damage to pipelines. The Israeli military called the incident a cynical act of terror that harms Gaza civilians. Elsewhere, witnesses said small Israeli drones faced off against flaming kites that were flown by Palestinians over the border fence in recent weeks to set ablaze dry wheat fields on the Israeli side. The witnesses said two kites with burning rags were brought down by the drones, while two other drones crashed after being hit by stones. The protests are part of a weekly campaign organized by Gazas Hamas rulers. The marches each Friday are aimed, in part, at breaking a decade-old blockade of the territory that imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group took control there in 2007. The Islamic militant group Hamas has said the protests would culminate in a mass march on May 15, with some officials suggesting a possible border breach at the time and others saying the protests might continue beyond that date. Israel has warned that it will prevent such a breach at any cost. May 15 is the day Palestinians commemorate their mass uprooting in the 1948 war over Israels creation. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from homes in what is now Israel. Two-thirds of Gazas residents are descendants of refugees. Despite the risks faced by the protesters near the border, turnout has been sustained by the widespread desperation of blockade-linked hardships of life in Gaza. Virtually all of the territorys 2 million people are barred from travel, about two-thirds of young people are unemployed and power is on only a few hours a day. On Friday, 229 protesters were hospitalized, including 70 with bullet wounds, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Three of the wounded were in serious condition. Since late March, 40 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,700 wounded by Israeli army fire. Friday marked the first weekly protest in which no Palestinian were reported killed by sundown. Yehiyeh Amarin, 18, said he and his friends will keep going to the border until the blockade has been lifted. If no solution happens by May 15, we will continue the protests or we die, he said, as another protester behind him brandished a yellow wire cutter. We will cut through the fence. He said he and his friends call themselves the tires unit, spending their weekdays collecting tires for the weekly demonstrations. We want a dignified life and a return to our lands, said Amarin, as he and others rolled tires toward the fence to set them ablaze. The mounting casualty toll has led to growing criticism of Israel. Rights groups say Israeli open-fire regulations are unlawful because they permit troops to use potentially lethal force against unarmed protesters. Israels Supreme Court is currently weighing a petition by six rights groups to restrict or ban the use of live fire on the border. The European Union and the United Nations have also criticized the use of lethal force. Israel says it is defending its sovereign border, including nearby communities, and that soldiers only target instigators. It accuses Hamas, sworn to Israels destruction, of trying to carry out attacks under the guise of the mass protests. It has said that some of those protesting at the border in recent weeks tried to damage the border fence or plant explosives along it. Hamas says the protests are aimed at breaking the border blockade and pressing for the right of return of displaced Palestinians and their descendants. BC-US--Meek Mill Meek Mill, Gov. Wolf urge criminal justice reforms Eds: APNewsNow. Will be updated. With AP Photos. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill is calling on Pennsylvania lawmakers to reform the state's parole and probation systems. Mill appeared alongside Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and a half-dozen state lawmakers Thursday at the Constitution Center to advocate for criminal justice reforms. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered Mill's release from prison last week where he was serving a two- to four-year sentence on a probation violation related to a decade-old gun and drug conviction. Since his release, Mill has spoken out about the need for reform. Wolf added his voice Thursday by reciting his wish list of initiatives including state funding for the public defender program and stricter limits to the length of parole and probation terms. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association cautioned against rash reforms instead of thoughtful changes. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 5/3/2018 2:45:13 PM (GMT -5:00) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) The Rev. Gwendolyn Webb was just 14 when she led a group of classmates out of a window of a high school to join the civil rights marches in downtown Birmingham in 1963. The doors had been chained shut to keep students from leaving to join the demonstrations, but Webb and her classmates wouldnt be deterred. Shed attended training sessions with civil rights leader James Bevel and heard the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. preach from the pulpit of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on the necessity of non-violent resistance. She was ready. So she hopped out a window and walked the five miles or so from Western-Olin High School to downtown, gathering followers along the way. The more we walked, the more children that came along with us, Webb said. It was like formulating an army and by the time we got to Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Ive never seen so many children. Several thousand students participated in the famed Childrens Crusade, which began on May 2, 1963 and lasted almost a week. The marchers were intercepted by Birmingham police and fire crews, which jailed young people by the hundreds, then used fire hoses and police dogs to disperse the crowds. Webb was there, and she felt the needle stings of fire hoses on her skin during the march and had a paddy wagon door slam shut on her leg, leaving a mark that remains to this day. She calls it her battle scar. The paddy wagon took her to the state fairgrounds, which police converted to a makeshift jail to handle the thousands of people arrested during the demonstrations. Webb was held at the fairgrounds for seven days. This weekend, on the 55th anniversary of those marches, Webb and dozens of others who experienced those times firsthand, are joining hundreds of children from Birmingham and across the nation to commemorate the events of 1963. There are two separate events planned in and around Kelly Ingram Park and the 16th Street Baptist Church, one organized by the national group Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and one organized locally by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The original foot soldiers, participants of the original marches, will have prominent roles in both events. The Jack and Jill event is a three-day program called The Power of Children: Then and Now, which takes place at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex and 16th Street Baptist with a commemorative march at 2 p.m. on Saturday. When you think about the pivotal role that children played, not just in civil rights history but in U.S. history in Birmingham, and it is critically important that our young people know that, Jack and Jill President Joli Cooper-Nelson said. So this weekend is about educating, honoring, remembering, inspiring, and celebrating. Jack and Jill is expecting up to 2,000 of its members and their families to participate in the workshop, most of them traveling from outside Alabama. The fascinating part about that is so many have never been to the deep South before, said Cooper-Nelson, who grew up in Mobile. And so its going to be fascinating for them to see, touch and feel what another part of the country is like. Kings son, Martin Luther King III, is expected to participate, along with Yolanda Renee King, the civil rights leaders 9-year-old granddaughter. Anyone can participate in the march, Cooper-Nelson said, but the rest of the Jack and Jill events required pre-booking, including a session Friday night featuring first-hand accounts from original participants. Part of Saturdays program -- featuring a keynote address by Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Childrens Defense Fund -- will be streamed live on the groups Facebook page. Students participating in the re-enactment will be given marching instructions, just as the children were in 1963, stressing the importance of non-violent, civil resistance. Then at noon, the marchers will be sent in groups of 50 toward Kelly Ingram Park. The original marchers were sent in groups of 50 to hide the true size of the protest and to confuse police as to their intentions. Those events are free and open to the public, Taylor said, adding that the civil rights museum plans to make commemoration of the Childrens Crusade an annual event. We have determined based on the response were getting that this will be the first of many annual commemorations of the childrens march, Taylor said. Because I can assure you that five years from now, 10 years from now, 25 years from now, even half a century from now, there will be issues of concern in the moment that young people want to engage with and can be change agents about. Sheffield City officials told WAAY31 they are confident the $160 million develpment called Inspiration Landing will still happen. The plans were announced in 2015 by John Elkington, the man responsible for developing Beale Street in Memphis. The project will be on about 200 acres in the area of West 20th Avenue in Sheffield. "It will happen when it happens, but he [Elkington] is full steam ahead," said Sheffield Mayor, Ian Sanford. Sanford said Elkington is a huge real estate developer and he has secured letters o intent from hotel and restaurant chains to build at Inspiration Landing. "They are working that out and I think it will happen," said Sanford. The ambitious development will have an amphitheater, residential plots, hotels, retail stores, and a marina with 317 boat slips. Sanford said he believes the project has been slowed down because of all the federal approvals they must get to make this happen. For instance, part of the land for the project was once a landfill. The city received a $300,000 loan from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to clean up the site. Now they're turning their focus to securing a $200,000 loan for infrastructure. "The main roads will be public roads. So we've applied for a grant with the USDA for some infrastructure and roads," said Sanford. Many people who call Sheffield home tell us they hope the project will actually happen. "We certainly get anxious and want it to happen quick," said longtime Sheffield resident, David Johnson. "It's not as fast a process that we want it to be, but he [Elkington] obviously is determined for it to happen. He's going do it and he's a renowned developer." Sanford told WAAY31 Elkington told him he planned on breaking ground on the amphitheater sometime this year. The Tishomingo County Sheriff's Office is searching for 45-year-old Brian Turner. He's a person of interest in a shootout with Mississippi Authorities. Mississippi officials said they pulled over a suspect, believed to be Tuner, Thursday night around 9:30 p.m. in Belmont Mississippi on County Road 35. That's when the suspect fired an assault rifle at deputies and Belmont Police. They returned fire and the suspect took off. No police were injured. The town of Cherokee, located in Colbert County, is only a few miles from the Mississippi State Line and about a 25 minute drive to Tishomingo Mississippi. Cherokee police said a BOLO alert was sent to them by Mississippi law enforcement saying the possible suspect, Brian Turner, was last seen seen in Tishomingo 8 a.m. Friday Morning. The BOLO said he was in a blue ford explorer wearing a bullet proof vest and considered armed and dangerous. Cherokee Police Chief Jason Williamson said they are concerned because the location is close to Cherokee. Williamson said he used to work in Mississippi and has had run-ins with Turner before. Williamson believes the chances of Turner coming to the Shoals are unlikely but they're preparing just in case. "When these people are under pressure with their mindset you never know. With us this being so close to Mississippi where the altercation happened at were defiantly going to do what we can to protect our citizens," said Williamson. Williamson said he hopes this situation can be resolved peacefully. He's staying in contact with Mississippi officials on the status of this case so they will be prepared. If you see Brian Turner you are asked to contact your local law enforcement or the Tishomingo County Sheriff's office. A large police presence near Alabama A&M's campus had students on edge Thursday. Students told us the University didn't tell them much about what was happening along Meridian Street. Police told us one person went to the hospital after being assaulted in a fight, and during that altercation shot were fired. "We live next to school but I've never seen so many police just going and going and going and going," said Nakia James a student at the University. She didn't know what was happened around 11:15 a.m. Thursday. Another student told us she was in the school's gym when police responded nearby, and almost everyone in the gym was unaware of what was happening just down the road. "People were just acting as if they hadn't heard the news really. People were just standing around waiting in line," said Kaylyn Anderson another student. About 45 minutes later both students told us they were sent an email. It states there was no active shooter on campus, and that a victim in the incident was located. Anderson told me the University's delayed response allowed time for rumors to spread. "Well I see how rumors spread. Someone told me he got shot," she said. The students told me they were confused as to why no message was sent until the incident was over. "Before there was like no phone or no type of notifications through the apps or anything. It was kind of confusing and scary what was going on," said James. James told me the university's lack of explanation about what happened so close to campus is not typical. "They notify us about tornadoes and rainstorms and there is a power outage. So it would make sense if they let us know if something really physical was going on," she said. The University's spokesperson told WAAY 31 because the incident didn't happen on campus they didn't contact students as quickly as they would have if it was. However, students told us they hope the University changes their policy in the future. A man wanted for the January shooting death of a man at his Huntsville apartment has been arrested in Florida. Kason Christopher Grady, 28, was arrested at a hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Thursday, Huntsville police said. He was being held in the Pinellas County Jail until he can be extradited back to Huntsville. Grady faces a capital murder charge for the Jan. 28 shooting death of Raemon Ross. Ross told police two men knocked on his door and tried to rob him before shooting him. Ross died a short time later. Police already have two other men in custody for Ross's murder. Charles Anthony Mosby, 28, was arrested March 6 in New Orleans and brought back to Huntsville. Fotino Davis, 24, was arrested in Memphis in late April. Police have not released the identity of their fourth suspect. Justin Whitman now has felony warrants out for his arrest after he escaped from the Tuscumbia City Jail on Tuesday. Another inmate, Brandon Hale, escaped with Whitman but was arrested Tuesday night. Police believe the two split up after they broke out. Tuscumbia police said they have sent out a be on the look out alert to every police department across the United States with a description of Whitman. They don't believe he is armed and dangerous, but say in cases like this you never know what someone's mind set is. Officials said they are tracking down every lead they get on Whitman. Tuscumbia police said they know Florence Police chased a suspect into Tennessee last night and are working to see if it was Whitman. Officials can't give certain details of the case and exactly what they are doing because they don't want to tip Whitman off. Police tell us they believe Whitman and Hale took a hammer from a tool box and used it to make a hole in the roof to escape. Parts of the Tuscumbia Police Department are under construction and that's why the hammer was in the area. If you see Whitman call the Tuscumbia Police Department at 256-383-3121. After months of city-funded research and years of nudging from harm reduction advocates, the de Blasio administration announced on Thursday that it would create a pilot program for four facilities for New Yorkers to safely inject drugs. "The current status quo is unacceptable," Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Brian Lehrer Friday morning. "We lose people in their homes, in their basements, in the bathroom of a McDonalds or a Starbucks alone with no help. That cant go on. And overdose prevention centers give us a chance to actually change that." De Blasio said the centers will be located inside current needle exchange facilities in Washington Heights, Midtown West, Longwood, and Park Slope. The one-year pilot still needs the approval of Governor Andrew Cuomo's State Health Department, as well as the District Attorneys in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, the Councilmembers who represent the districts where the facilities are located, and a community advisory board that will be created to garner feedback. The planning process is expected to take 6 to 12 months, according to a letter sent by Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Herminia Palacio, to the head of the State Health Department. While the mayor called them Overdose Prevention Centers, Dr. Danielle Ompad, PhD, the deputy director of the NYU Meyers Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research, said they also exist to "reduce the risk of infections diseases, like HIV and Hepatitis B and C." "It provides a low threshold type of situation where people can come and not be judged for their drug use, and so it often opens opportunities to get people other resources they might need, from housing, to job training, to access to drug treatment," Dr. Ompad told Gothamist. Experience a brief moment in time at Vancouver BC safe injection site. Eye opening for me. Will Seattle's be the same? #heroin #komonews @ 6 pic.twitter.com/4zCGrpaTgY Matt Markovich (@mattmarkovich) February 8, 2017 Vancouver opened safe injection facilities in 2003, and public health officials there say they have lowered overdose deaths, if not drastically. Another study showed a reduction in HIV cases and ambulance calls, and no increase in arrests for drug trafficking, assault, or robberies. Seattle has also moved forward with creating a safe injection facility, but a lack of funding has stalled its opening. Dr. Ompad said she visited two of Vancouver's facilities this past summer, and said the experience was "amazing." "There were these carrels with a chair, a flat surface, a sharps container on the wall, and a mirror, and people got all the supplies they needed to use their drugs and then they moved out of the room and into a 'chill room' where people would relax," Dr. Ompad said. One Brian Lehrer caller and Park Slope resident expressed concern that the injection facility would negatively affect the "quality of life" in the neighborhood. "Theres a lot schools around the site they want to put near the Barclays Center and the concern is about the safety and the people who are going to frequent that place," the caller said. The mayor responded that the site was already a needle exchange. "The folks going in and outits no different than whats happening right now, this is currently a needle exchange program," de Blasio said. "And that has not had a negative impact on the quality of life in the community, and I know that because Ive been living in the community forsince 1992 and this center that were talking about there has been there for quite a while." De Blasio added that "we will be working with the NYPD from the very beginning to ensure there is a safe environment, an orderly environment around these overdose prevention centers. We will not tolerate anything less. Thats absolute." Dr. Ompad said that the facilities in Vancouver don't encourage anything but the safe and speedy use of drugs combined with an outreach for social services. "There's often a whole kind of process that people go through, this ritual when they use drugs. But [the facilities] set time limits: use your drugs, go to the chill room, then go about your day," Dr. Ompad said. "It can help stabilize people in many ways." The old site of the annual Morgan County Sheriffs Rodeo is just off Highway 31. "During one of the sheriffs, it had kind of gone by the wayside, Sheriff Ana Franklin told WAAY 31. Its humble rodeo roots are in Hartselle at the Sheriffs Posse Showgrounds. Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin Rick Sherman, former Morgan County deputy Rick Sherman, former Morgan County deputy Larry Berzett, Morgan County jail administrator Larry Berzett, Morgan County jail administrator Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin Then, it got rejuvenated again under Greg Bartlett, Franklin said. In the last couple years of his term, he re-founded the posse and he started a rodeo." In recent years, the posse moved the sheriffs rodeo to its present Priceville venue at Morgan Countys Celebration Arena. "So, when I became elected, we carried on the posse, the sheriff told us. We redid some things. Sheriff Franklin gave the rodeo a reboot. She was motivated by the success of neighboring Limestone County. Basically, I had worked for Mike Blakely for several years prior to coming over here. And we had seen the sheriff's rodeo across the state. Several sheriffs have that. Now, the rodeo is a destination on the Professional Cowboy Association circuit. It attracts competitors from across the country and beyond. And it seemed like a great way to interact with your community, to do a little bit of fundraising," Sheriff Franklin said. Part of getting ready for the rodeo is selling sponsorships and advertisements. Theres nothing wrong with that. For some folks, though, the problem comes in when its deputies doing the door-to-door selling while theyre on duty. "Were professional law enforcement officers, Rick Sherman told WAAY 31. We're out there to enforce the law. We're not door-to-door salesmen. Sherman says Sheriff Franklin forced him to resign from the Morgan County Sheriffs Office in 2016. Hes just filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Franklin. Sherman told us Morgan County deputies collecting cash comes across as heavy handed. As law enforcement officers -- in uniform, badge, gun, everything else -- asking people for money, that wasn't our jobs," Sherman told us. Besides toting guns and wearing badges, the sheriffs solicitors are also on duty as law officers. We asked, "You're confident they intended for you to sell while you were on duty?" "Correct, Sherman answered. It was told to us while we were out on patrol, stop in and go by these businesses and ask these -- basically solicit for these -- donations and selling these rodeo ads. Sherman complains deputies selling ads is a conflict of interest and an abuse of authority. As deputies, we were forced to sell these ads against our will, basically. We didn't feel good about it -- at least I didn't. And I know a lot of the deputies didn't feel good about it, he said. WAAY 31 went door-to-door to learn if businesses agree. Not one business in Decatur, Hartselle or Priceville wanted to talk on camera. Everyone said controversy is bad for business. Off camera, all but one agreed with Sherman. "Being in uniform and in a position of authority and asking people for money, ethically and morally, I just believe that that's wrong," Sherman explained. He told WAAY 31 the deputies have no choice. Sherman says he knew his job was on the line after he complained to Sheriff Franklins right-hand man, the Morgan County jail administrator. "Larry Berzett on one occasion did explain to me that it was absolutely the responsibility of the deputies to sell these rodeo ads, that we worked at the will of the sheriff and that one of our responsibilities as deputies was to fulfill the will of the sheriff which was for us to sell these rodeo ads, Sherman explained. "I think that that's overstated, Sheriff Franklin said. When WAAY 31 asked, the Sheriff was quick to say her deputies do sell advertising and collect ad money while on duty. But, she calls it an exaggeration to dub the deputies door to door salesmen. "I like the deputies to go out whether they're selling rodeo ads or not to talk with business people and let them know who they are," she said. Franklin called it a form of community policing and relationship-building. "So, a lot of the deputies will stop in the store, they'll pick up their ad layouts or they'll say, 'Thanks for being a sponsor again' or it's people they know that they have contact with that they run in. So, it's very few deputies that are on patrol and that kind of thing that are selling ads on duty," she said. Sheriff Franklin has told WAAY 31 no one in her office is able to comment on pending lawsuits. She also wouldn't comment directly about Rick Sherman since he's a former employee. We reached out to the Limestone County Sheriffs Office. They told us deputies first priority is enforcing the law and thats a full-time job. The Limestone Sheriffs Office also told WAAY 31 there are no hard feelings against their deputies who dont want to sell rodeo ads. WAAY 31 contacted the the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, too. They tell us theyve never issued an opinion on this type of complaint. Other former sheriff's deputies are also reaching out to WAAY 31 about the practice of selling ads while on duty. The National Transportation Safety Board issued an update about the fatal Southwest Airlines flight where a woman died after a piece of the plane shattered a window and sucked her partially out of the aircraft. The agency's examination of a "fan blade dovetail exhibited features consistent with metal fatigue." On April 17th, Southwest flight 1380, which departed LaGuardia Airport, experienced an engine failure on the left side. A passenger said, "Shrapnel hit the window causing a serious injury." It was a piece of the engine's blade, which flew into a window, shattering it. Sitting beside the window was Jennifer Riordan, 43, who was partly sucked out of the plane and suffered blunt impact trauma to the head. The NTSB's update reports, "Three flight attendants were assigned to the flight, and an additional SWA employee was in a jumpseat in the cabin. During interviews, the flight attendants and the employee reported that they heard a loud sound and experienced vibration. The oxygen masks automatically deployed in the cabin. The flight attendants retrieved portable oxygen bottles and began moving through the cabin to calm passengers and assist them with their masks. As they moved toward the mid-cabin, they found the passenger in row 14 partially out of the window and attempted to pull her into the cabin. Two male passengers helped and were able to bring the passenger in." Another passenger said, "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." After Riordan was pulled back in, others performed CPR, but she was pronounced dead after the plane landed in Philadelphia. The crew told the NTSB that the flight was normal as they were departing, but then, "They reported experiencing a sudden change in cabin pressure, aircraft yaw, cockpit alarms, and a 'gray puff of smoke.' They donned their oxygen masks, and the first officer began a descent." The fan blade had "accumulated more than 32,000 engine cycles since new," according to the NTSB, and had been last serviced at around the 21,000 cycle mark. Days after the incident, "On April 20, 2018, CFM International issued Service Bulletin 72-1033 applicable to CFM International CFM 56-7B-series engines recommending ultrasonic inspections of all fan blades on engines that have accumulated 20,000 engine cycles and subsequently at intervals not to exceed 3,000 engine cycles." The NTSB is continuing its investigation. A passenger who was on the flight, three seats behind Riordan, is now suing Southwest, claiming post traumatic stress disorder and depression. Her lawyer told NPR, "This accident has crippled her will, and she is in shock over this horrible, near-death experience." On Wednesday, Southwest Airlines from Chicago to Newark made an emergency landing after a cabin window cracked. In 1983 Richard Berkowitz and Michael Callen, two gay men in their twenties, published a manual called How to Have Sex in an Epidemic: One Approach, under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Sonnabend. At this early point in the AIDS epidemic, it was unclear exactly how the disease spreadwhether from a single agent or a [] 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. 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. Deputy Premier Roger Cooks former chief of staff says he has been cleared of bullying by an independent public sector investigation. Erik Locke was forced to resign as Mr Cooks key advisor in February after allegations of inappropriate behavior towards one of Mr Cooks staffers were revealed in the media. Erik Locke, who lost his job as Deputy Premier Roger Cook's chief of staff, is claiming vindication. But Mr Locke said he was relieved and unsurprised an inquiry conducted by independent human resources consultant Susan Kurtjak found he had not engaged in bullying. I have endured a spurious campaign over many months, relying on banter between colleagues as the basis of evidence, he wrote in a statement that appeared on Facebook last Friday. People across Perth woke to heavy smoke after prescribed burns on Thursday. Perth households and motorists have woken to a disgustingly smoky Friday morning after prescribed burns across Perth. The Department of Parks and Wildlife issued a smoke alert for the metropolitan area between Two Rocks, Rockingham and the Perth Hills on Thursday afternoon, as many people across Perth struggled with the subsequent hazy conditions on Friday. Guests at The Esplanade in Fremantle were evacuated after the heavy smoke outside the venue set off fire alarms inside the hotel, 6PR's Breakfast program was told. The smoke haze was expected to clear by Friday afternoon, with morning motorists urged to take extra care due to poor visibility. Some of the ingredients found in the pills in the ACT were disturbing and show how you really are rolling the dice when you dabble in illicit drugs, she said. Drug dealers are motivated by profits, so you can never be certain the drug is what it purports to be, or what deadly ingredients may be in the substance. The only safe thing to do is to not take drugs in the first place. But Dr Bright said this approach was completely unrealistic. How long have we been telling people not to take drugs and how effective has that been? he said. I think theres increasing public support, I think public perception is changing and is often the case - (like) with the legalisation of gay marriage - the politicians were way behind the public opinion. Pill testing is another example where there is good support within the community there are certainly people who are opposed to it, but those who are opposed often dont understand the evidence underpinning it." Dr Bright argued that rather than encouraging substance use, evidence showed pill-testing had the opposite effect. Not only are they providing a brief intervention to people when theyre getting analysed and thats been shown to have an effect we know that the people who are taking ecstasy know theyre taking a risk," he said. "Theyre not stupid. But when youre turning up to a festival and theres a drug testing facility that has signs up the front that say dont take this pill because it has a deadly chemical in it , if you take this pill it contains high level of MDMA, dont double drop it makes the risk real. In 2017, Dr Bright was involved in a covert trial at a Victorian music festival. I was volunteering as a harm reduction worker at a festival, he said. Our camp was being frequented by dealers and because we were all drug nerds and academics, we politely asked the person if we could test their drugs first using a test kit. This went on for nearly a day and then one of the drugs we tested came up positive for PMA, also known as Doctor Death - which gives you an idea of how toxic it is. We approached the emergency controller at the festival along with the co-ordinator of the harm reduction program for which I was volunteering. They said to us, look we dont want people to die at this festival, you dont want people to die at this festival. Start a reagent testing program, dont advertise it, dont communicate it but get word of mouth out'. Festival-goers were able to present the harm reduction team with substances, and volunteers were able to give them a limited analysis of what was in their drugs. "I trained some of the volunteers working for the harm reduction service so they were able to conduct reagent analysis using three or four different chemicals, and they understood they were breaking the law by doing that, but they all agreed that for the greater good it was worth doing," Dr Bright said. But he said his experience in Victoria and the Canberra Groovin the Moo festival results had now proven the system WA would need to adopt in order to conduct successful pill test trials. Other than preventing some potential deaths at the festival it also highlighted the limitations of reagent drug testing, he said. Reagent drug testing provides rudimentary analysis of substances, while the system used by the Canberra team was able to specifically break down chemicals and their concentration. WAtoday understands researchers have previously been in talks with the state government about the possibility of a pill test trial, but Health Minister Roger Cook said it was not something presently on the cards. The McGowan government has no plans to introduce pill testing in Western Australia, he said. However we will continue to monitor emerging pill testing research and related communications, including the outcomes of the Australian Capital Territory pill-testing trial. People who choose to take illicit drugs should understand that it's not safe and they are putting themselves and others at serious risk of harm. So we encourage people not to use. WAs electrifying lithium jobs boom received a power-up today with another producer announcing plans to set up shop in Kwinana. WA Lithium - a 50/50 joint venture between Kidman Resources and Chilean-based producer SQM - today entered into an option to lease with LandCorp for the 76-hectare Kwinana industrial area site. Premier Mark McGowan and Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston at the future site of the WA Lithium refinery. The refinery is expected to begin operations in 2021, creating 400 construction jobs and 150 ongoing full-time roles. It will create up to 44,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium, servicing exponential demand stemming from global growth in electric vehicles and building batteries. WAs proximity to global conflict hotspots should make it a larger hub for both public and private defence activities according to WA's new Agent General in Europe Mike Deeks. Mr Deeks is a retired Royal Australian Navy Commodore and the outgoing head of major WA defence contractor Forgacs, the shipbuilding arm of Henderson-based construction and engineering company Civmec. A Lurssen offshore patrol vessel that will be built in WA by Civmec and Forgacs thanks in-part to outgoing managing director Mike Deeks. Credit:Lurssen. He knows the ins and outs of the defence sector and was instrumental in securing a huge role for Civmec alongside German shipbuilder Luerssen in the federal governments $4 billion offshore patrol vessels shipbuilding program. He said there was state versus state rivalry when it came to securing defence dollars, and WAs argument should be centred on whats best for the nation given conflicts in the Middle East and Asia. Water Corporation will help pay and clear outstanding customer debt as part of a raft of new programs available to people struggling to pay their water bill from July 1. Three new programs will be available to customers experiencing hardship including the start-over program where the corporation will assist in matching payments over a two-year period and then clear any outstanding debt. Water Corporation will help struggling customers pay their bills and pay off any outstanding debt after two years. Credit:Wikimedia. The medical assist program is available for families who have members with kidney disease undertaking home dialysis that requires higher water use. The household could receive up to 180,000 litres of water free of charge annually. Beijing: China has deployed a defensive missile system on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, the Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed. The installation of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface to air missile systems on three islands west of the Philippines was first reported by American television network CNBC this week, quoting unnamed sources. Fiery Cross Reef in January 2018 - one of the locations of the missile deployments. Credit:CSIS/AMTI Digital Globe Media reports from the US prompted Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to warn any military build-up would run counter to China's commitments. "If the media reports are accurate, then the Australian government would be concerned because this would be contrary to China's stated aspiration that it would not militarise these features," Bishop said. Beijing: The 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx on Friday illustrated how times have changed in China, as a group of seven of Donald Trump's trade hawks spent the day in Beijing negotiating over the impending trade war. Participants stand as The Internationale is played in the Great Hall of the People to mark 200 years since the birth of Karl Marx. Credit:AP Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a major speech on how Marxism still drove China onwards, while across town, his top economic advisor, Vice Premier Liu He, upheld the principals of globalisation and free trade in talks with the American group. The Marx anniversary speech, which was televised nationally, highlights that Xi is pushing the ruling Communist Party and its philosophy into the centre of Chinese life on university campuses, in business and in government. That this could occur at the same time as economic reform and opening up was explained by Xi as Marxism adapting to the times. At the invitation of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the International Association of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), the WCO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Ricardo Trevino Chapa, attended the 2018 AEO International Conference and Assembly, held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 2 to 5 May 2018. The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Safar Mehdiyev, Chairman, State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Mr. Antonio Llobet de Pablo, President, International Association of AEO. The event was also attended by Mr. Enrique Canon, Director General of Customs, Uruguay, and current WCO Council Chairperson. In his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary General Trevino Chapa underscored the WCOs 2018 theme of A secure business environment for economic development and emphasized that this was the focus of the Conferences discussions. In order to obtain a secure business environment through a secure supply chain, while at the same time promoting economic growth, Customs procedures should be enabling, secure, fair and sustainable, he said. The WCO has developed a range of tools to assist its Members in achieving this objective, through schemes such as the AEO Programme and Mutual Recognition Arrangements/Agreements (MRAs) or the SAFE Framework of Standards, Single Window and Data Model, among others. The Organization is currently updating and creating new tools to support Members efforts to adapt to new trends and business models and, in this regard, the cross-border e-commerce framework of standards and ideas developed in the research paper on disruptive technologies, such as blockchains, could also form part of future solutions. Turning to the AEO Programme, it has been adopted by 77 countries and a further 16 are in the process of following suit. There are 61 MRAs already in place and over 40 are currently being negotiated. The Conference discussed the following themes during panel sessions: Building a secure supply chain, AEO: Global Competition and Cooperation and The Silk Road Economic Belt: Corporations, Logistics Services and Border Security. Mr. Ricardo Trevino participated in the session on Core elements of a Secure Business Environment. The need to put in place a suitable strategic plan, including high-level political commitment, was highlighted with the clear objective of promoting enabling Customs procedures, a robust legal framework to enhance security of any action taken, strong institutional and governance structures and a permanent capacity building plan that would enhance fair and sustainable procedures. The Deputy Secretary General added that finding creative solutions and minimizing vulnerabilities were two important factors for risk mitigation. While in Baku, Deputy Secretary General Trevino had a bilateral meeting with Mr. Mehdiyev, Chair of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, to discuss further cooperation between the WCO and that country on capacity building, information exchange and the WCOs priorities for inclusion in the 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Traffic stop leads to the arrest of three men One Arrested, Another Sought in Ellis St. Shooting Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 03, 2018 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 03, 2018 | 06:47 PM | PADUCAH, KY One man has been arrested and another is sought in connection with a shooting that occurred Monday evening on Ellis Street. According to Paducah Police, officers responded Monday to a report of shots fired in the area of North 11th and Ellis streets. They found that the victim had left the scene and gone to Baptist Health Paducah for treatment. The 26-year-old victim who resides in Clinton told police he was shot by a man he did not know. The investigation led to the arrest Thursday of 33-year-old Arthur Reed, of H.C. Mathis Drive. He was charged with 1st degree assault. Detectives also would like to speak with another man about the incident, 29-year-old Victor Moore, a black male, 5'10", 209 pounds. His last known address was in the 600 block of Wheeler Avenue. Anyone with information about Moores whereabouts is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550 or Crime Stoppers at 270-443-TELL. Tipsters also may access the online tip form through the City of Paducah website at http://paducahky.gov/west-ky-crime-stoppers. Information leading to an arrest or indictment may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 03, 2018 | 03:07 PM | NASHVILLE, TN One person died after a dispute led to a shooting Thursday afternoon at Opry Mills Mall.Multiple news agencies in Nashville reported that Metro Nashville Police a 22-year-old man died at Skyline Medical Center from his injuries.According to NewsChannel 5, the shooting happened in a hallway near Auntie Anne's Pretzels and Old Navy. The 22-year-old shooter reportedly ran outside to a ticketing booth, laid the gun on the counter and told them to call 911.The Associated Press reports he surrendered when a retired California police officer stepped in and ordered the man to the ground.Metro Nashville Police tweeted the incident was the result of an ongoing dispute between two people.The Tennessee Highway Patrol says several of its troopers happened to be in a parking lot at the mall performing motorcycle training. A tweet by the highway patrol says those troopers present immediately responded and helped Nashville police secure a perimeter around the mall. Nashville Fire Department also helped at the scene.Frightened workers ran for the exits after the gunshots, then huddled outside as emergency vehicles converged on the scene.Eighteen-year-old Jayla Chapple was in an employee meeting in the back of Moe's Southwest Grill when two people bolted into the back of the restaurant to report the shooting in the mall. Chapple, a shift leader at the restaurant, says employees ran outside through a rear exit.Says Chapple: "I really didn't have time to think that much, but get out of there." On the Net: By: Paige Cline The hills are still green for the most part, but a little[Read More] 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! Anush Kocharyan I first photographed 78-year-old Vranouhie Gevorgyan early on May 1, the day the Armenian National Assembly was to elect the countrys next prime minister. Gevorgyan, her friends call her granny Leila, had arrived at Yerevans Republic Square early that morning. Throughout the day, tens of thousands had arrived to watch Nikol Pashinyans confirmation hearing and the voting broadcast live from the parliament. Later that afternoon, as I may my way through the crowd, I again spotted granny Leila. She hadnt moved from her spot in the front row. She was closely following Pashinyans grilling by the other MPs. Leila became an overnight celebrity in Armenia and was nicknamed the revolutionary grandma on social websites. My colleagues in the press photographed Leila, her sunburnt cheeks and contagious smiles soon to be recognized by many. What many dont know is that granny Leila, born in Abkazia, was exiled to Siberia with her family. She was nine at the time. The woman witnessed the police and army attack protesters in Yerevan on March 1, 2008. Granny Leila says she was overcome with pride to see how courageous and organized the young people have been in RejectSerzh democratic movement of today. Ive travelled the world. Ive been to Russia, Germany and Poland. But Armenia is the best. Were heading to a better day. It will be difficult, but worth it, she says. The Mooi River truck protests rewired citizen revolt The Mooi River protests could serve as a reminder of South Africas vulnerability to arterial occupation protests generally. The revolt also comes at a time when a different political culture rules and in the context of unemployment and poverty, the boundaries of criminality can be vague. It is one of the expanding weapons of choice for angry South African citizens occupation of major arterial roads, such as the N3 at the Mooi River Plaza, in the name of visibility of grievances. Plus, it brings the bonus, for another protest constituency, of putting food and goods on the table. Havoc and destruction are par for the course. This is contemporary South Africa where protests are routine, and escalating repertoires of protest action are commonplace. In the process, long-unfulfilled demands for socio-economic rights are a security cover. In this current South Africa, those who live in poverty and hunger are often on the verge of giving up on the political establishment and representative democracys ability to help them have that famed hope for a better life (African National Congress in the 1994 elections). The Mooi River torching and looting of 23 trucks, plus damage and some looting to a further ten or so, earlier this week, were a virtual replay (albeit amplified), same location, of the events of Easter Monday. It was equally a repeat playout of an alliance of grievances and actions between poverty-stricken communities alongside the N3 and truck drivers who object against long-haul transport companies hiring foreigner drivers, allegedly at lower remuneration levels. Direct, and violent, action now substituted for passe advocacy and negotiation. Up for explanation are the exact sequences of how these protests unfolded. In the highway revolt of 2 April, the truck drivers seemingly were in the lead. Police Minister Bheki Cele at the time told South Africa how two lorries carrying truck drivers arrived from Estcourt around 3:30 that morning, and started to torch. The looting followed. In the variant of 29 April, the local community appears to have been in on the action right from the beginning. It is possible that the truck drivers were right there with the local community; equally feasible is that community actors know the repertoires and arguments by nowThere were unverified reports that the police had had information that a protest was planned for 1 May, but that the actions had been brought forward, fooling the police. The Mooi River type of protest is epitomised, hence, by the convergence of three protest strains. First, aggrieved truck drivers stood up for improved employment prospects and labour rights, even if their actions reeked of xenophobia. (Truck operators-owners explained that the non-English speaking origins of loads on their way to the Durban port often demand that the drivers be French or Portuguese speaking.) Second, there are the angry and hungry, or more generally poverty-stricken, communities that live alongside the N3 by Mooi River. Like comparable communities along a multitude of other arterial roads these citizens are like fish in the water of local communities; chances are their looting will remain undetected or without repercussions, even if they are arrested on the day. Third, looting flows into lawlessness. There are the factors of poverty, unemployment and hunger that render lawfulness and respect for the property of others to be as foreign as others may perceive the drivers of the trucks to be. Those with bulging pantries or groceries for the month are unlikely to partake in looting. The communities know by now, too, that prospects are good that they will face, at worst, minimal prospects of arrest and prosecution. A total of 54 Mooi River community members, we have been informed, have been arrested after house-to-house police searches to find looted goods. They are said to be scheduled for court appearances today (Wednesday). From the bulk of past experiences across South Africa, and possibly with good reason, little comes of arrests and court appearances when community protesters try to extract socio-economic rights like food-on-the-table and municipal or provincial service delivery from government. It is a guilt-ridden government; one that knows it shares responsibility for failing its people, and enters elections on the grace of forgiveness of continuously disadvantaged citizens. The couplet of Mooi River revolts also signified a new and more severe form of public protest in South Africa. It was more systematically planned and executed, and magnified in spectacle than the protests that have gone before. They moved beyond conventional service delivery protests and beyond arterial route occupations with more impact than, for example, taxi blockades of Gautengs N1 and the erstwhile poo protesters Cape Town blockages of the N2. In terms of execution, the Mooi River protests had covered, to some extent, the alternative Midlands routes of the R103 and R33 as well. In terms of spectacle, the massive damage to private property and public roads infrastructure exceeds the routine damage of tyre-burns and mutilated road signs, or a torched municipal building (excluding a few notable historical buildings). At the same time as the truck action, Mooi River police thwarted attempted looting at a local supermarket. The Mooi River protests could serve as a reminder of South Africas vulnerability to arterial occupation protests generally (some taxi occupations in the past had blocked railway lines along with major roads). Besides the road occupations already noted, there have been, for example and for diverse motivations, as early as 2007 anti-removal (from the Joe Slovo settlement) N2 occupation in Cape Town, repeated service delivery and local government leadership protests on the N2 by Grabouw, Gautengs Golden Highway as it meanders through a multitude of poverty-stricken settlements and their problems with housing and unemployment, the N12 in the North West where race protests have spilled onto the N12, all access routes into Mahikeng in earlier phases of the ongoing Supra revolt, and the N3 as far back as 2014 in the Mooi River area when it was closed for protesters demands for a mayor to change. The twin Mooi River revolts come at a time also when a different political culture rules one of a government that balances itself on the edge of continuous electoral majorities, one which cannot afford to be seen to be acting against the poor and in the context of unemployment and poverty the boundaries of criminality can be vague. The ANC is between a rock and a very hard place. This is evident from the hesitant tones in the statement by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda: People must understand that we are still a country with laws, so we cant break them and expect that nothing will be done. We are calling on the community to make sure that we calm the situation so that it can return to its normality. Susan Booysen, Professor in the Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand. This article was originally published on the Daily Maverick. BHRRC is recruiting The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre is looking for a new Researcher and Representative for Southern and Anglophone West Africa The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, an international non-profit organization tracking the human rights impacts of over 6500 companies worldwide, is seeking a highly-motivated person to be its Southern and Anglophone West Africa Researcher and Representative. The representative will lead our broad strategy for Southern Africa and for Anglophone West Africa, and will join our global team, which includes 18 regional researchers. Details: Location: South Africa Salary: Regionally competitive consultancy fee Contract Type: Part-time consultancy Closing Date: 25 May 2018 Applicants must have: 5+ years work in the field of human rights, labour rights or equitable development, including in Southern Africa and/or Anglophone West Africa Fluency in English; additional languages a plus Commitment to advancing human rights in the business sector Strong ability to work constructively with a range of stakeholders (from civil society, business, government) The right to work in South Africa How to apply: Please fill out the application form in English by 25 May 2018 to Administrative & Program Support Officer Nicole Brewer at brewer@business-humanrights.org, with a cc to Marti Flacks, Deputy Director, at flacks@business-humanrights.org. There is no need to submit a C.V. Please put Application: Southern and Anglophone West Africa Researcher and Representative in the subject line. Interviews will be held in Johannesburg the week of June 4. The Organization The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre works to put human rights at the core of companies business models; to empower communities and workers to secure their rights and gain accountability for abuse; and to encourage governments to create the right regulation and incentives to facilitate these outcomes. We are a global organization that is rooted in fifteen regions, and committed to cooperation with diverse actors in our movement. We have nearly 40 members of our Global Team based around the world who work with a rich network of human rights advocates in eight languages, including Arabic. Our work covers the full gamut of human rights in business, with three priority issues: labor rights; responsible resource use; and protection of civic freedoms and human rights defenders. Our three primary global approaches to delivering this vision are: Empower human rights advocates in civil society, business, and governments to stimulate bold leadership for human rights in business. Strengthen corporate accountability to strengthen due diligence, and effective remedy for abuse. Build transparency of the advances, challenges, and abuse of human rights in business. The Position The Researcher will work closely with organisations in Southern Africa and Anglophone West Africa to advance human rights in business and work towards eradicating abuse, with a particular emphasis on issues related to labour rights, natural resource extraction, and civic freedoms and human rights defenders when such issues touch on business activities. Our organisations plans for Southern and Anglophone West Africa are focused on, among other engagements: bringing transparency to the conduct of business in the region; building and expanding effective networks and interactions among groups that are confronting the human rights impacts of business; empowering local communities, NGOs, and human rights defenders (including labour leaders) to engage with companies to improve human rights protections; promoting improved labour conditions and living wages in at-risk sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing; and addressing the land, water, and livelihood impacts of natural resource extraction. The work will be aligned with the Resource Centres organizational aims of empowerment, accountability and transparency. Specific activities include: Working with the Africa team, participate in the development and implementation of the Resource Centres Africa strategy and priority areas for engagement. Represent the Resource Centre in Southern and Anglophone West Africa, meeting not only with civil society actors but also with relevant representatives from business, government, international financial institutions and international organizations Develop strong networks and communicate regularly with local civil society groups, and work with them to develop effective strategies for change in specific cases of abuse, including undertaking missions and visits to hear directly from local NGOs and affected communities. Conduct trainings and workshops on business and human rights for community and labour leaders alongside local partners, on topics such as documentation of abuse, international standards, and global supply chains. Implement projects in Southern Africa related to the impact of mining on local communities Research and share materials on business and human rights with actors in the region, in English and local languages via the Resource Centres website, social media channels, and e-newsletters, and in external publications. Invite companies to respond to specific allegations of misconduct raised by civil society (the Resource Centre to date has invited companies over 4,000 times to respond to concerns, with a global response rate of 70%). Work with the Development Team to develop and draft proposals for new work and report on outcomes of ongoing work. Participate in regularly schedule Global Team and Africa team calls and ad hoc calls and meetings as needed. Key Competencies Values: Strong, demonstrated commitment to human rights. Shares values and ethos of the Resource Centre. Human rights experience: 5+ years work in the field of human rights, labour rights, equitable development, law and policy, or advocacy including in Southern and/or Anglophone West Africa. Subject matter expertise: Advanced knowledge and understanding of the business and human rights field in general, including standards and developments, and of the relevant African context in particular. Representation skills: Able to foster productive, professional relationships with a broad range of contacts, including representatives of civil society, business and government. Existing networks: Established networks and contacts with relevant stakeholders in Southern and/or Anglophone West Africa. Research & analytical skills: Able to search and identify relevant information online and offline; persistent in seeking out difficult-to-find information; creative in identifying new sources of information. Communications: Strong writing skills, including succinct writing for the web, and strong public speaking skills. Strategic insight: Able to identify new opportunities to increase the Resource Centres impact and role in Sub-Saharan Africa. Teamwork: Able to operate effectively and constructively as part of a global team, and ensure smooth communication despite geographical distances between team members. Self-initiative and motivation: Able to use own initiative, and work independently within agreed framework; motivated by achieving results and completing tasks. Organization and prioritization: Strong organizational and prioritisation skills, enabling efficient and effective work. Terms and conditions Note that this is a part-time consultancy position. Payment will be made on the researchers presentation of invoices. The consultant will be responsible for paying from the fees his/her own taxes, health insurance, pension, etc., and those costs are taken into account in calculating the fees. The Resource Centre will reimburse necessary work-related expenses such as for travel. Hours: The person will be expected to work 3 days (21 hours) per week. The hours worked are flexible, provided that there is effective communication with team members in other regions, and that the hours are spread reasonably throughout a week. Reports to: Deputy Director, based in Washington, DC Fees: Regionally competitive consultancy fee The consultant will have the freedom to organize paid days off from doing consulting work for the Resource Centre, in an amount expected to be 10 days during the year (70 hours) i.e. equivalent to four weeks per year for full-time work. The consultant will not be expected to work on national holidays in the country where she/he is based. Workplace: From home, or if the consultant does not wish to work from home, from an agreed hosting institution. Duration: The consultancy contract will be a one-year contract, which can be extended by mutual agreement. Someday, Josh Tetrick hopes his sustainable food startup, JUST, will be known for more than vegan mayonnaise. Formerly named Hampton Creek, his seven year-old company sells a line of vegan products, including salad dressings, cookie dough and the aforementioned mayo, in stores across the US, Mexico and Hong Kong. But Tetrick wants to expand the offerings beyond that. The latest project? Animal meat made from lab-grown cells. JUST hopes to make its first sale of the "clean meat" by the end of the year. It's also rolling out a vegan egg product, called Just Scramble, this summer. Tetrick created JUST after traveling in Sub-Saharan Africa, where he witnessed a shortage of nutritious and sustainable food. Compared to products with animal-based ingredients, Tetrick says JUST's products require much less water to produce and emit far fewer greenhouse gases. But it hasn't been without its challenges. Just a few years ago, the company faced scrutiny from the US Food and Drug Administration and was sued by Unilever for using the word "mayo" to describe its egg-free mayonnaise called JUST Mayo (the suit was later dropped). "We learned that doing what you know is right sometimes creates challenges but in the long-term, those efforts pay off," says Tetrick. "Once we got in the same room with [the FDA] and talked about what really mattered -- helping people eat better -- we found a solution that worked for everyone." CNNMoney asked Tetrick about these and other challenges he's faced running his own company and the leaders he most admires. My inspiration for JUST ... Came from my best friend who thought that I could do something more with my life than pursuing a traditional career in investment banking or law -- and hopefully do a lot of good along the way. He, more than anyone or anything, motivated me to use business to figure out how to help people eat a little better. I think eating well should be a basic right, yet 1.1 billion people will go to bed hungry tonight, according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. Nearly 2.1 billion live their days deficient in the micronutrients that promote cognitive development and prevent disease, and 6.5 billion, including most of the folks reading this, eat food that weakens their bodies and degrades the planet. Many people don't want to eat this way, but due to food access issues, they don't have any other choice. The food system is unjust and it wasn't something I'd thought about until my friend opened my eyes to it. The scariest part of my job is ... Feeling anxious that we're not working fast enough. Food demand will grow 70% between now and 2050, according to the United Nations. The problems with the food system are getting worse, not better. Those include things like the negative environmental, health and animal welfare impacts of the food we eat. If we partner with others who share our perspective, we can figure out a way to change things fast. We just have to get it done. If I could tell my 18-year-old self one thing, it would be ... I had dreams of being a pro athlete, so I would tell my 18-year-old self: 'You're not going to be good enough to play in the NFL. Focus on understanding how to run a business.' The thing that brings me the most joy is ... Knowing that every day, we're feeding more people better food. That's the metric that matters more than any other. Doing that with people that I care about from all walks of life and from all over the world makes me feel very grateful and even more joyful. If I could have dinner with any influential figure from any time period, it would be with ... Leonardo da Vinci, because he had a curiosity about the world that I think was unparalleled. When you're doing something new, you must have a beginner's mind and approach the world with the curiosity of a child, which he did. Otherwise, you're going to miss a lot. I want to learn to be more curious like him. I'd like to be remembered for ... Helping people around the world -- whether it's a single mom shopping at a Beckley, West Virginia, Walmart; our neighbors in San Francisco, California; or a 12-year-old girl in Monrovia, Liberia -- eat better, and through that, bringing a team together to build a company we can be proud of. The thing you probably don't know about me is ... I have a pretty bad palette. Fortunately, I can rely on six Michelin-starred chefs and JUST's broader product, research and development team to make sure the food we create is unquestionably delicious and better for our bodies and the environment. If I weren't the founder and CEO of JUST I'd be ... Working for a nonprofit that serves children in Sub-Saharan Africa. After graduating college, I spent a lot of time there leading a U.N. business initiative in Kenya, working for former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and teaching school children in South Africa. The best piece of advice I've ever received is ... Find people you trust, ask them what you can do better and listen. I got that advice from Elon Musk and I apply it often. My advice to people searching for their inspiration is ... Figure out what your family needs, your community needs, and your country needs -- and what the world needs. Then figure out what you love to do -- whether it's music, art, design or engineering -- and turn that passion into a way to solve that urgent need. San Diego military veterans who served during World War II and the Korean War boarded a special flight at Lindbergh Field Friday morning. 10News reporter Amanda Brandeis is accompanying the group on its Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., and coverage of this trip continues through Sunday when they return to San Diego. While in the nation's capital, the veterans will take part in numerous events that honor them for their service, including a Veteran's Welcome dinner on Friday evening. Visits to the World War II Memorial, Marine Corps Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Women in Military Service for America Memorial, Tomb of the Unknowns and other notable landmarks and memorials are on the group's agenda for the weekend trip. The group consists of 80 veterans -- 54 from World War II and 28 who served in the Korean War. It is the first time Korean War veterans are taking part in the Honor Flight experience. Four female veterans are a part of the group, officials told 10News. The youngest veteran on the trip is 81 years of age, while the oldest is 99 years old. David Smith, founder of Honor Flight San Diego, said it's incredibly important to thank our veterans while there's still time. "I've actually had veterans come up to me and say, 'You know, in all these years, no one has ever said thank you to me -- this means so much,'" said Smith. The group relies on fundraising to make the Honor Flight a reality. It costs $240,000 for the entire weekend. Honor Flight San Diego welcomes the community to join the Sunday's homecoming at the San Diego International Airport. The event typically draws in 1,000 people! To take part in the celebration, arrive at Terminal 2 by 2 p.m. on Sunday. COLD BROOK -- A local boy was honored, Thursday, at the American Legion Post 1118 in Cold Brook. Mathew Anderson was recognized for rescuing his brother from a fire in Poland last year. The fire broke out at his grandparents house in the middle of the night. Anderson says thick smoke filled the house. Family members called for Andersons 10-year-old brother, but he didn't respond. Thats when Anderson made the brave decision to find him. Andersons father, Mathew Bienick, says he is honored that his son was recognized. "You know this is, like I said, a great honor and he's worthy of it but Im proud of him every day he's done things his whole life that give me plenty of reasons to be proud," Bienick said. Anderson says he doesn't feel like a hero, but that he did what he felt was necessary. By David Boyajian As we write this, massive peaceful civil actions against Armenias establishment have continued under the leadership of Nikol Pashinyan, a National Assembly (N.A.) member who is part of the opposition Yelk (Way Out) Alliance. Though widely unpopular Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan has been forced to resign, his Republican Party (RPA) still has a narrow majority (58 of 105) in the N.A. Most observers believe that the RPA members were elected through fraud, bribery, and intimidation. The RPAs politicians and oligarchs are also generally blamed for stealing billions of the countrys wealth; violating civil rights; debasing the judiciary and civil service; keeping the talented Armenian Diaspora at arms length; and failing to successfully address Armenias many problems: corruption, a less-than-robust economy, unemployment, outward migration, and more. A bright spot: Landlocked Christian Armenia and its brother Artsakh/Karabagh Republic survive, even though blockaded by genocidal Turkey and Turkic/Muslim Azerbaijan who outnumber Armenians by 90 million people. This miracle is due to the tenacity of Armenias people and armed forces. As Armenia is a long-time friend and admirer of our country, we Americans need to understand it. Why Armenia Matters The current revolution is home-grown and purely Armenian. Outside powers whether countries or organizations neither initiated nor control the revolution. Still, major nations definitely have strong opinions, usually unstated, about the present crisis. Russia loathes the revolution. Russia wants Armenia to continue to be highly dependent on it for natural gas, the nuclear power plant and energy grid, investments, sophisticated weapons, and the right to travel to Russia to work and sometimes deposit stolen money. Ongoing corruption in Armenia makes it easier for Russia to bribe, intimidate, and blackmail dishonest leaders and oligarchs, represented mainly by the RPA. A Russian base guards Armenias border with Turkey. Why is Russia so intent on controlling its small ally? Because without Armenia, Russia would lose its grip on the Caucasus, Caspian Sea, and probably Central Asia. The US/NATO/EU/Turkey (Western Bloc) would then move in. Thus perched along the Russian Bears soft underbelly, NATO would slice it open and have his insides for dinner. Thus, Russia needs Armenia far more than it cares to admit. Georgia was coopted by the Western Bloc years ago. It has invested billions in Georgia, which desires NATO membership as protection against Russia. Azerbaijan, corrupt and a virtual dictatorship, but flush with oil and gas income, has also expressed interest in joining NATO. Over 27 years, the Western Bloc has invested untold billions in Azerbaijan in such sectors as energy, banking, hotels, aviation, agriculture, and consulting. The Western Bloc has also constructed major oil and gas pipelines from Azerbaijans Caspian fields through Georgia and into Turkey and beyond. More such pipelines (to supply Europe) are planned. Interestingly, Israel receives around 40% of its oil from Azerbaijan and sells it billions in weapons. Major Jewish organizations such as the American Jewish Committee provide Azerbaijan political support while, sadly, a coterie of Jewish writers constantly and unfairly berate Armenia in the US and international media. The Pan-Turkic Path Turkeys long-standing dream is a pan-Turkic path from Turkey to Azerbaijan, then across the Caspian Sea to the four Central Asian Turkic countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Western Bloc has implicitly bought into pan-Turkism in order to exploit the regions energy deposits and, as explained, perch along Russias underbelly. Georgia predominantly non-Turkic and Christian serves as the Western Blocs door into the Caucasus. Of course, Georgia remains under Russian pressure. Witness not only Russias support for Georgias breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but also Georgias defeat in the 2008 Russian-Georgian war. All that pressure becomes meaningless, however, were Russia to lose Armenia to the Western Bloc. Russia would then have no military or operational base in the Caucasus. Moreover, if Armenia got off its dependence on Russian energy and military equipment, Russia would have little ability to pressure Armenia, especially as the two lack a common border. The Western Blocs path to the Caspian Sea (which a NATO fleet would dominate) and Central Asia would be wide open. NATO would probably eventually sit along Irans northern border. Russia could also lose its mainly Muslim North Caucasus regions (Chechnya, Daghestan, etc.) to the Western Bloc. As Armenia goes, so goes the Caucasus, Caspian, and Central Asia is a fair statement. For Russia, Armenia is vital perhaps a matter of life or death. Russia needs Armenia far more than it will admit. Unfortunately, many Armenians who see Russia as a Christian big brother dont realize that the Russian-Armenian relationship should be a two-way street. Would Armenia ever join the Western Bloc? Armenias Dilemma To dissuade it from explicitly joining the Western Bloc, Russia is flattering Azerbaijan as a strategic partner (which it really isnt) and sells it weapons that it will use against Armenia/Artsakh. Russia is also cozying up to Turkey to pull it away from the Western Bloc. It wont work. Turkey and Azerbaijan (One nation, two states) are historically and inherently hostile to Russia. But it makes Armenia nervous nevertheless. Armenias main concern is security. Armenians remember the Genocide of 1915-23 and numerous anti-Armenian massacres committed by Turks against Armenians in the last 150 years. Since 1991, Turkey has threatened several times to attack Armenia. In 1993, Turkey and the Muslim Chechen Speaker of the Russian Duma hatched a plan to invade Armenia while Russia stood aside. Turkey also arms and trains the Azerbaijani army. And Azeris have long committed massacres against Armenians as recently as the late 1980s, early 1990s, and currently against Armenians in Artsakh/Karabagh. Armenians know this history very well. Western Bloc attempts to reassure Armenia that Turkish intentions are benign are understandably treated with derision. With Turkeys return to its traditional authoritarianism and repression, and its ongoing alliance with jihadists in Syria, even the Western Bloc is reconsidering its long-standing sycophantic treatment of Turkey. However, Armenians know that Russia may go too far in accommodating Turkey and Azerbaijan and thereby betray Armenia. After WWI, Turkey used weapons supplied by Bolshevik Russia to exterminate the formers remaining Armenian citizens and invade the independent Republic of Armenia. Russia also gifted Armenian territory, including Artsakh and Nakhichevan, to Azerbaijan. Russia prevented Armenia from retaking Western Armenia (now eastern Turkey), which Armenia was entitled to according to the Treaty of Sevres (1920) signed by the European powers. Russia could sell out Armenia to Turks and Azeris in similar ways today. Its possible, therefore, that Armenia could turn to NATO as a protector. This is risky, however. NATO member Turkey far exceeds Armenia in military weight. Moreover, the West, though historically sympathetic to Christian Armenians for hundreds and even thousands of years, has generally helped Armenians only in humanitarian not military ways. Still, it is possible for Armenia to switch sides if Russia continues to treat Armenia as little more than a pawn. In fact, one pro-Russian writer just called Armenia a pawn. Indeed, Armenia has excellent relations with the Western Bloc (except for Turkey) and recently signed a partnership agreement with the EU. The Western Bloc, of course, silently hopes that the current revolution and possible internal liberalization in Armenia will someday turn it away from Russia. Shaping its Own Destiny The RPA, Russias favorite pin-up boys, is trying to depict Nikol Pashinyan as anti-Russian and thus a security risk. However, Pashinyan has firmly stated that Armenias alliance with Russia will not change, nor will Armenia drop out of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and CTSO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) if he becomes Prime Minister. The RPA claims that Pashinyan is anti-Russian because he once opposed his countrys entry into the EEU and preferred an association agreement with the European Union. The charge is absurd. Until Russia twisted his arm in 2013, even then-President Serzh Sargsyan was set to sign an agreement with the EU. Armenians appreciate Russias help. But they refuse to be taken for granted and betrayed yet again. Armenias populace simply wants Armenia to become stronger and more self-confident in every way for Armenians own sake and so that Russia treats it equitably. This is neither anti-Russian nor pro-Western Bloc. Its just the right thing to do. # # # The author is an Armenian American freelance journalist. Many of his articles are archived at www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/David_Boyajian. The detention hearing for a Guatemalan farm worker who is accused of being in the U.S. illegally was canceled on Thursday. Officials for the U.S. District Court in Syracuse say the hearing was canceled because Marcial DeLeon-Aguilar was indicted Wednesday on a charge of illegal re-entry into the U.S. An arraignment date has not yet been set. DeLeon-Aguilar was detained on April 18 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided John Collins farm in Rome, where DeLeon-Aguilar was working and living with his pregnant wife and four children. Officials say DeLeon-Aguilar has been deported three times since 1997: one time after an aggravated assault conviction, and two times after his illegal re-entry into the U.S. ______________________________ RELATED COVERAGE: Feds fire back at Gov. Cuomo for criticizing ICE after Rome farm raid Guatemalan man arrested in ICE raid in Rome will remain in detention ICE responds to detainment of Guatemalan man working on Rome farm Rome farmer says ICE agents stormed property, detained employee A Mohawk man is facing felony charges for alleged welfare fraud, according to the Herkimer County Sheriffs Office. Timothy Horner, 38, is charged with felony fourth-degree welfare fraud and felony fourth-degree grand larceny. Deputies say Horner allegedly received more than $1,400 in benefits that he wasnt eligible to receive. Horner was arraigned in the Village of Herkimer Court and then released. Hes scheduled to return to court at a later date. NEW YORK (AP) - Former "Smallville" actress Allison Mack is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Brooklyn along with Keith Raniere, the leader of the self-help group NXIVM. Both are charged with coercing women who joined the organization into becoming a part of a secret sub-group where they were expected to act as "slaves" and engage in sex acts. Some of the women were branded a symbol that prosecutors said contained Raniere's initials. Mack and Raniere are charged with sex trafficking. They have denied wrongdoing. The court appearance Friday is one of several the pair will have before trial. Raniere has been held without bail. Mack was freed after a court appearance last month. Arrangements are being made for her to be on house arrest in California. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) A new Zogby Analytics poll shows a shift in Oneida Countys Republican Congressional stronghold. The poll shows Democratic challenger Anthony Brindisi with a 7 percent lead over incumbent Republican Claudia Tenney for this Novembers election for the 22nd Congressional District seat. Zogby Analytics conducted a random telephone and online survey of 358 likely voters within the 22nd Congressional District, from April 23-27, which a margin of error of +/- 5.2 percentage points. According to the poll, 47 percent of voters said they would vote for Brindisi, while 40 percent said they would vote for Tenney. While 13 percent said they were undecided, when they were asked which candidate they were leaning toward, Brindisis lead jumped to double digits, according to the poll. I think polls are great, Brindisi said. It's nice to be leading and there's going to be lots of polls that are done throughout the course of this campaign to try and predict the outcome, but the poll that matters the most to me is the poll on Election Day. And I'm going to continue traveling around the district over the next few months listening to voters. Tenney's campaign responded to the poll with a statement that said, in part: "Our campaign isn't worried about a low-ranking, one-sided pollster with ties to the Brindisi family who has been deemed 'the worst pollster in the world.' Zogby's suspicious methods are well-documented and the high margin of error already renders this 'poll' highly questionable. According to the Federal Election Commission, John Zogby donated $500 to Brindisis Congressional campaign through his company, John Zogby Strategies. In that same poll, voters in Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties were asked whether they support the downtown hospital project. According to the results, 47 percent of voters opposed the idea of a hospital, while 44 percent supported the hospital plan. A third of voters say they strongly opposed the project, and 20 percent say they strongly supported it. The criminal case in which 19 individuals are charged with swindling AMD 907.281 million from various European Union grant programs over the years has finally gone to court in Armenia. Investigators in Armenia started looking into the case in early 2016, after having received a report from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) about some accounting irregularities connected to a 120,000 grant made to the Martuni Student Council NGO. It seems that representatives of the EU delegation in Armenia examined the books of the NGO and found that many of the expenditures noted werent justified. Armenias Investigative Committee launched a criminal case of swindling. Marineh Papyan, who managed the EUs grant programs in Armenia, was arrested on April 27, 2017. She's still being held in pre-trial detention. The accused are also charged with violating Article 325 of the Armenian Crimnal Code: Forgery, sale or use of forged documents, stamps, seals, letter-heads, vehicle license plates. Three of the nineteen accused are on the run. (At todays exchange rate AMD 907.281 million equals US$1.872 million) The following was released by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly COPENHAGEN, 4 May 2018 The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is closely following the situation in Armenia and welcomes the active dialogue among political forces, said PA President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) today. I hope for a swift political agreement to the current impasse so that the government can focus on the many challenges facing Armenia, the President said. I encourage political leaders to continue engaging in parliamentary dialogue, as well as working with civil society and the international community, in finding a satisfactory outcome, which should be seen within the broader process of developing the countrys political culture. Public reports indicate that Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinian was officially nominated for prime minister for a second time by his Yelk party and allied opposition parties in parliament on Thursday. In recent days, Pashinian has met with the ambassadors of the European Union, Russia, the United States, and Georgia, to discuss negotiations taking place to resolve the political crisis. President Tsereteli spoke by telephone on Thursday with the Speaker of Parliament, Ara Babloyan, to discuss the situation and offer the support of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the process of dialogue. He also spoke with Hermine Naghdalyan, Head of Armenias Delegation to the OSCE PA. My conversations with parliamentary colleagues in Armenia reinforced my confidence that leading political figures in Yerevan are committed to finding a constructive solution to the situation, President Tsereteli said. I stressed that all sides must exercise due restraint and continue on the path of productive dialogue. The current situation follows weeks of street protests in Yerevan and other cities. The President stressed that peaceful assembly is an important avenue for expressing opinions but said that he was encouraged that political dialogue is taking place within the parliamentary system. 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 Armenian President Armen Sarkissian today hosted the Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Lebanon to the Republic of Armenia, as well as Charges daffaires of Kuwait and Iraq. Issues pertinent to the agenda of the bilateral cooperation, particularly those related to the deepening of economic cooperation, were discussed, this according to a presidential press release. President Sarkissian expressed his gratitude to the diplomats for their warm attitude towards the Armenian communities in their respective countries which has allowed Armenians not only to preserve their national identity but also participate in the political, social, and economic life of these countries. The participants also discussed the current situation in Armenia. Can ewe believe it! Spring arrivals brings in expansion for Wrexham Sheep Trail This article is old - Published: Friday, May 4th, 2018 Can ewe believe it? Spring has sprung and Wrexhams famous sheep trail has had a seasonal expansion. Readers of Wrexham.com will be aware that the small flock, featuring Doris from Borras, Blessing and Wheely Good Sheep, Champion and Jack Mary Ann, were placed on St Giles in September 2015 to cheer on the cyclists as part of the Tour of Britain. However due to some mindless and baaarmy vandalism and thefts (and a trip up to Dinas Bran) the sheep were taken to a new pen before being unleashed to pastures new in locations across the county borough in 2016. Businesses from across the area have got on board with the venture and have partnered with the This is Wrexham Tourism Partnership and Wrexham Council to sponsor and design their own sheep. Local artist Ellie Ashby has been responsible for helping produce the finished sheep, with creative input from all businesses and organisations. With spring in the air a number of new sheep have joined the new flock, bringing the total up to 34. Their b-ewe-tiful names and locations listed below: Dr Mutton & Nurse Lamb: Spire Yale Hospital, Wrexham Technology Park Bedwr: North Wales Beds, Gwersyllt Baawyn: HMP Berwyn Lewiss Sheep: Lewiss Farm Shop, Eyton Blodwyn: Coleg Cambria, Yale Campus Sheepy McSheep Face: The Fat Boar, Wrecsam Leonard: Leonard Cheshire Can Do (located at Wrexham Library) Merlin: Rossett Hall Hotel, Rossett Marky & Arty: Ty Pawb/ South Arcade, Wrexham Visitors are encouraged to take photos of themselves with the sheep, and post them on social media using the hashtag #wrexhamsheep. You can even keep up to date with the sheep, who have managed to launch their own Twitter account @wrexhamsheep! Maps are available to download on the Tourism Partnerships website or can be collected from Wrexham Tourist Information Centre, or many of the locations on the trail. Dashcam footage appeal following serious collision near Posthouse Roundabout This article is old - Published: Friday, May 4th, 2018 A public appeal for dashcam footage has been launched following a collision which left a Wrexham man seriously injured. The incident took on the A483 northbound carriageway near to the Posthouse roundabout, at around 8:15am this morning (Friday 4th May). It involved a grey Hyundai and a black Triumph motorcycle. The rider of the motorbike, a 48-year-old man from Wrexham, was taken to Aintree University Hospital by air ambulance. He is believed to have sustained serious but not life threatening injuries. The driver of the Hyundai is not believed to have been injured. The collision resulted in the road being closed for nearly two hours, with the southbound carriageway temporarily closed to allow the air ambulance to land at the scene. Police are now calling on witnesses particularly anyone with dashcam footage to come forward to assist with the investigation. Police Constable Chris Jones said: Enquiries in relation to this incident are ongoing and I am keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision. I would also like to hear from anyone who believes they have dashcam footage of the collision itself or of the vehicles in the moments leading up to the incident. As part of the investigation officers are looking to identify a second motorcyclist who was riding in the area at the time. PC Jones added: Several witnesses have reported seeing a second motorcyclist and we believe they may have vital information in relation to this incident. The rider is described as wearing a high-visibility jacket which was marked Airline Services or Airport Services. I urge the rider, or anyone who thinks they may know who the rider is, to contact the team here at Cheshire Police. Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 53899. To submit dashcam footage to the force please visit the Cheshire Police website. *Picture Claire Jones On Tuesday, Amazon halted construction of a new 17-story office building in downtown Seattle, Washington to protest a proposed city council tax that would fund housing for the homeless. Amazon also threatened to sublease office space it is presently using in another downtown building. 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 [Rainier] Square building, Amazon vice president Drew Herdener said in a statement. Seattles Democratic Party-dominated local government immediately promised Amazon it would negotiate to lessen the impact of any proposed tax. Mayor Jenny Durkan proposed new negotiations between Amazon, big business, and the trade unions. During the 2017 mayoral elections, a committee supporting Durkan received a $350,000 donation from Amazon. Im deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have on a large range of jobsfrom our building trades, to restaurant workers, to nurses, manufacturing jobs and tech workers, Durkan said Wednesday. Amazons protest and the sycophantic response of the city officials show how massive corporations dictate the policies of the government and block even the mildest reforms. The city council proposal would tax large businesses in Seattle by a total of $0.26 per worker hour for those employed in Seattle (i.e. if an Amazon employee in Seattle makes $50/hour, Amazon will pay $50.26/hr, with $0.26 going to the city). This would generate $75 million a year to fund the construction of 1,780 affordable housing units within five years, as well as a modest expansion of social programs for the homeless. If enacted at a city council meeting on May 15, the tax would cost Amazon $20 million per yearroughly one sixth of what Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos makes each day. Seattle has the third largest homeless population in the United States, at 11,643 in a 2017 count, behind Los Angeles and New York. The city has done little to expand shelter capacity, and as a result the total of unsheltered homeless increased by 21 percent from 2016 to 2017. Over the same period, housing prices have risen 19 percent in downtown Seattle as workers are priced out of the area or made homeless. In April, Amazon announced that its profits, which come from the hyper-exploitation of its workforce, doubled in the first quarter of 2018 to $1.6 billion. According to a company disclosure statement released in April, the median annual salary of an Amazon employee is $28,446. Since this includes professional employees, the actual conditions for Amazons nearly 600,000 warehouse workers across the world are far worse. In India, Amazon workers told the International Amazon Workers Voice they make as little as $230 per month. In the United States, Amazon wages arent enough for some workers to feed themselves. Large minorities of Amazon workers rely on food stamps, including up to a third of total Amazon workers in Arizona. Meanwhile, Business Journals reported in 2017 that state and local governments have given Amazon $1.2 billion in tax cuts and subsidies in recent years. In the last year, dozens of cities have promised billions more in giveaways if Amazon locates its second headquarters in their city. The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health recently reported that Amazon was one of the most dangerous places to work in the US. Seven Amazon workers have been killed on the job since 2013 alone. Workers have been run over by trucks, crushed by forklifts, had heart attacks on the job, have been dragged apart by conveyer belts, and pinned under pallet loaders. Less than a year ago, the World Socialist Web Site launched the International Amazon Workers Voice to provide a platform for Amazon workers to learn the truth about the company and to organize themselves independently of the company and pro-corporate unions that only want workers dues money. The IAWV calls on Amazon to be placed under the democratic control of Amazon workers themselves. Amazons international logistics chains must be placed at the service of the working class to meet social need and not generate profit. The wealth of the company and its leadersgained through exploitationshould be expropriated and redistributed to meet human need. All over the world, workers are told that there is no money to meet the needs of the population. Amazons market capitalization is presently $757.9 billion. Here are some of the social problems that could be addressed with this money: Cost to provide housing for all 634,000 homeless people in the US: $20 billion Cost to provide food to 862 million malnourished people worldwide: $30 billion Cost to cut in half the total number of people without access to clean water: $11 billion Cost to provide an education to every child that doesnt receive one : $26 billion Cost to provide free maternal and prenatal care to every mother in the developing world: $13 billion Cost to prevent 4 million malaria deaths via treatment and vaccination: $6 billion Cost to replace the entire water infrastructure of Flint with a safe and clean system: $1.5 billion Cost to give immediate $20,000 bonuses to all 3.1 million teachers in the US: $62 billion Cost to provide $500 million in added education spending to each state in the US: $25 billion Cost to double annual food stamp benefits for all 44 million recipients: $71 billion Cost to dramatically reduce opioid deaths by providing rehabilitation and prevention programs: $45 billion Cost to reduce health care premiums by 10 percent for 250 million US adults: $167 billion Cost to reduce student loan payments by 10 percent for 44 million people in US: $148 billion Total cost: $625.5 billion. Freeing up the vast sums of wealth accumulated by the extremely wealthy through corporations like Amazon requires a socialist revolution. We urge all Amazon workers to contact the International Amazon Workers Voice today and take up the fight to build rank-and-file committees in your fulfillment center. Belgian premier Charles Michel calling British film director Ken Loach anti-Semitic is a vile slander. The pro-austerity premiers slur demonstrates how baseless charges of anti-Semitism are being used to attack any form of social protest or comment. Loach, one of the most celebrated directors in Europe, has been targeted as both an artist and a political figure. The controversy arose after the Free University of Brussels (ULB) decided to award 81-year old director Loach an honorary doctorate. At a meeting at Belgiums Grand Synagogue marking the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the State of Israel, Michel, who studied law at ULB, stated, Our firmness must be total. No accommodation with anti-Semitism can be tolerated, whatever the form. That goes also for my alma mater. That Michels remark referred to Loach was confirmed by a statement from his office after the event to the paper De Standaard: Michels statement may be read as a rejection of the honorary doctorate. The prime minister has studied the file and is of the opinion that the man has recently made controversial statements that justify the withdrawal of that honorary doctorate. The statement from Michels office sought to sidestep the evident act of censorship implied in the prime ministers comment: Obviously, the prime minister does not have to deal with academic freedom, the university does not need the permission of the prime minister in any way, but he does give his opinion. At the moment it does not seem appropriate to him to honour such a person. Loach, noting Michels law degree, urged the prime minister to assess the evidence and withdraw his statement. He asked whether Michel had considered the many examples of Israels failure to respect international law. ULB reported that it had investigated the complaints and stood by the award. ULB Chancellor Yvon Englert said, There is no anti-Semitism or revisionism for which to reproach Ken Loach. ULB restated that its award for the director reflected his militant films about social issues and the fight of workers and immigrants. Loach has twice won the Palme dOr at the Cannes film festival. The alleged anti-Semitism of Loachs controversial statements, although not spelled out by Michel or his office, refers to his criticisms of the Israeli government, his longstanding defence of the Palestinians, and his recent call to kick out Blairite MPs who had used a demonstration against alleged anti-Semitism within the Labour Party as an opportunity to attack its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and his supporters. The Jewish Socialists Group have written of the Labour Party that a very small number of cases seem to be real instances of antisemitism. But this unrepresentative phenomenon has been seized on as a pretext to attack the left. Loach stands as a prime example of someone who has never been associated with anti-Semitism in any form. That he is being targeted is a grotesque confirmation of the right-wing character of the campaign. Loach is 81 years old and has been a prominent artistic and political figure since the mid-1960s. He has never hidden his criticisms of Israel, or his defence of the Palestinians. It is this which has now been reframed in this disgusting slander. Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress, went further than Michels vague smear. He said ULBs doctorate can only be seen as an endorsement of someone who has played fast and loose with the historical record to the point of trivialising the Holocaust. Loachs offence was in fact to have appealed to historical record. In September a BBC reporter asked him about a Labour Party fringe meeting, which he had not attended, where the Holocaust was discussed. In his reply, Loach noted how the charges of anti-Semitism had escalated as a weapon against the Corbyn leadership, saying, History is for all of us to discuss. All history is our common heritage to discuss and analyse. The founding of the State of Israel, for example, based on ethnic cleansing, is there for us to discuss... So dont try to subvert that by false stories of anti-Semitism. The case against Loach has been constructed by manipulating quotations like this to suggest that he was approving of historical revisionism and Holocaust denial. Replying to a scurrilous attack by Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian, Loach wrote that his remarks had been twisted to suggest that I think it is acceptable to question the reality of the Holocaust. I do not. The Holocaust is as real a historical event as the World War itself and not to be challenged I know the history of Holocaust denial, its place in far-right politics To imply that I would have anything in common with them is contemptible. The consequences of such a smear are obvious to all: let the poison escape and it will be picked up on social media and reputations may be tarnished for ever. A brief phone call would have clarified my position. In an angry press release responding to Michel, Loach noted that the Guardians malicious and unprincipled decision not to publish his response in full had indeed allowed the poison to spread unchallenged. He reiterated his condemnation of any form of Holocaust denial, saying all my life, I have sided with those who are persecuted and marginalized and depicting me as anti-Semitic simply because I am adding my voice to those who denounce the plight of the Palestinians is grotesque. As he commented acerbically, Those who try to smear me in this way know that I have always fought all racism, including antisemitism. I doubt everyone can say the same. When a group of Blairite MPs used the Board of Deputies of British Jews Enough Is Enough protest against alleged anti-Semitism in Labour to attack Corbyns leadership, Loach called for them to be kicked out of the party. The Jewish Chronicle presented this as Loach demanding MPs be expelled for demonstrating against anti-Semitism. Loachs comments are rather different. Unless we get Labour MPs who believe in that manifesto last year, he told a rally, we [Labour] wont get in power. His appeal was for loyalty to Labour: If theyve been going to the demonstration against [Corbyn] outside Westminster those are the ones we need to kick out. Clarifying his statements about the deselection of Labour MPs, Loach was more conciliatory. He argued that reselection should not be based on individual incidents candidates should be selected for every election and that party members should be able to make a democratic choice. As we have noted recently, Corbyns supine response to the fraudulent anti-Semitism campaign is again facilitating an attack by the right wing. And their appetite for political bloodletting is only whetted by his prostration. The author also recommends: Tory-Blairite gangup in witch hunt over alleged UK Labour anti-Semitism [24 April 2018] Bogus Labour anti-Semitism campaign secures expulsion of leading activist Marc Wadsworth [30 April 2018] A Puerto Rico Air National Guard military cargo plane crashed near Savannah, Georgia shortly after takeoff Wednesday, killing all nine people on board. It is the latest in a series of fatal airborne military incidents in the United States over recent years, further underscoring the callous disregard for human life in the upper echelons of the worlds most lavishly-funded military. The Puerto Rico Air National Guard WC-130 was flying from Savannah, Georgia to Tucson, Arizona when the four-turboprop plane suddenly stalled in midair and banked sharply to the left before nosediving directly into Georgia state Highway 21. Five bodies have thus far been recovered from the wreckage and all nine people on boardfive crew and four other military personnelare presumed dead. Fortunately, no one driving on the stretch of highway at the time was injured. A spokesperson for the Georgia Air National Guard told reporters that the plane was manufactured in the 1970s, though it was later reported that the plane was at least sixty years old. Major Paul Dahlen, a spokesperson for the Puerto Rico National Guard (PRNG), said the plane had undergone what he called routine maintenance at a hangar in Savannah for a number of days before the incident but refused to specify what type of maintenance the plane had received. Subsequent reporting indicates that the aircraft had been at the facility for at least a month. Dahlen said that the cause of the crash is unknown and that the incident is being investigated by the National Guard Bureau and the US Air Force. The WC-130 was destined for the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMRG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. While the PRNG initially described the flight as a training exercise, it was later revealed that the C-130 was being flown to the airbase to be retired. Known as The Boneyard, the AMRG stockpiles old military aircraft and spacecraft nearing the end of their lifespan. The crash has been met with widespread anger in Puerto Rico, which remains in a state of utter devastation following the catastrophic damage inflicted by Hurricane Maria last year and official indifference on the part of the US government. Even before the hurricane, Puerto Rican workers faced a severe economic crisis, with high unemployment and low wages coupled with one of the highest costs of living in the United States. These economic conditions have been exacerbated by a public debt crisis and the Jones Act of 1898, which mandates that only US-flagged vessels may dock at overseas ports of the United States. Puerto Rico Governor Roberto Rossello announced nine days of mourning in response to the crash, during which flags will fly at half-mast outside government buildings across the US colony. Carlos Navaez, a close friend of the pilot, told Noticias NY1 that his friend had expressed concern over the safety of the aircraft he was working with, saying that the planes he flew are the oldest in the United States. The pilot told him that some of the planes have been rebuilt several times over the decades. Wednesdays crash represents just the latest in a series of fatal accidents involving military aircraft in the United States over recent years. In July, another C-130 crashed in rural Mississippi on a flight from North Carolina to California, killing 15 Marines and one Navy Corpsman. An investigation into that crash is still ongoing. In June 2016, a Blue Angels exhibition jet crashed during a Tennessee air show, killing the pilot. Luckily, nobody on the ground was injured. A U-2 spy plane crashed in California in September of the same year, killing one pilot and wounding the other. In April 2017, a single-engine jet crashed and killed three Air Force members. In March of this year, two pilots died following the crash of their US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet off the coast of Florida. A US Air Force Flight Demonstration F-16 crashed in Nevada last month, killing the pilot. According to the Military Times, such incidents have increased by 40 percent since 2013 despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on the US military budget every year. 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. Multiple media reports on Thursday revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation monitored and logged the phone calls of President Donald Trumps personal lawyer and confidante, Michael Cohen, in the period leading up to the FBI raid on Cohens office and residences in April. According to NBC News, at least one of the calls that were tracked was between Cohen and Trump. The extraordinary fact that the federal governments chief police agency, an integral part of the countrys intelligence network, is monitoring telephone communications between the president and his self-described fixer points to the explosive level of conflict within the American ruling class and its state. The revelation comes a month after the FBI, based on a referral from Robert Mueller, the special counsel who is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign, raided Cohens office and residences as part of a criminal probe into his business dealings. FBI agents seized Cohens financial records, computer hard drive, cell phones and taped recordings of conversations. Ostensibly, the main concern of federal prosecutors is Cohens involvement in hush-money payoffs to two women, a porn star and a former Playboy playmate, who claim to have had sexual relations with Trump. US prosecutors, according to news reports, have also been covertly reading Cohens emails. Spying on a lawyers phone calls and Internet communications is considered highly unusual, given the principle of lawyer-client privilege. However, the Daily Beast quoted Ken White, a former federal prosecutor, as saying, That sort of thing happens all the time if youre dealing with mob wiretaps. Indeed, Trumps enemies within the ruling elite and the state apparatus know with whom they are dealing. The billionaire president is a representative of the criminal American financial oligarchy, a product of the New York real estate, casino gambling and reality TV milieu. His election expressed the degradation of American bourgeois politics and the entire political system. There is little doubt that the FBI and Mueller have seized more than enough evidence of wrong-doing in Trumps business dealings to bring down an indictment, either to attempt a criminal prosecutionnever before carried out against a sitting presidentor force Trump to resign. Alternately, an indictment could become part of an impeachment effort should the Democrats win control of the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections. No one is more aware of the threat posed by these developments than Trump himself. That being said, the methods being employed by Trumps factional opponents within the ruling elite are profoundly anti-democratic. The Mueller investigation itself is based on concocted and unsubstantiated allegations of Russian meddling in the elections and collusion by the Trump campaign in Moscows supposed efforts to swing the election in his favor. This narrative, which has dominated US politics for nearly two years, has been used by the Democratic Party and most of the corporate media to attempt to whip up a war hysteria against Russia and force Trump to more rapidly escalate Washingtons wars in the Middle East. It is also the pretext for the expanding campaign to censor the Internet and criminalize political dissent in the name of combating foreign-inspired fake news. These are the methods of palace coup, without the slightest democratic or progressive content. Should Trump be removed as a result of such a campaign, the result would be to shift the political system even further to the right. The context for the latest revelations is a sharpening of the conflict between the Trump White House and Mueller. Over the past several weeks, Trump has reshuffled the legal team handling his dealings with the special counsel to pursue a more aggressive legal response to the investigation. Last month, Trump named former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to head the team, following the resignation of John Dowd in March. This week, the White House announced the resignation of Ty Cobb, who had counseled Trump to adopt a cooperative posture toward Mueller, advising that such a course would lead to a more rapid conclusion to the investigation. Not only has that not occurred, but Mueller has increased pressure on Trump to agree to an interview with his investigators. Also this week, it was reported that in discussions with Trumps lawyers in March, Mueller threatened to subpoena Trump to appear before a grand jury if he did not voluntarily agree to an interview. On Wednesday, it was announced that Emmet Flood, a Republican who served as one of Bill Clintons lawyers during the House of Representatives impeachment process in 1998, would replace Cobb. Flood has been described in the press as a wartime consigliere. His appointment is seen as increasing the possibility of a legal fight to block an interview with Mueller that could ultimately go to the US Supreme Court. In a Wednesday night television interview with Fox News Sean Hannity, Giuliani excoriated former FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump fired last May after Comey announced that the FBI was investigating possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia. Giuliani called him a disgraceful liar and said he should be indicted for leaking confidential FBI information. He called the Mueller probe a completely tainted investigation and denounced the FBI raid on Cohen as a storm trooper operation. He cited a list of 49 questions for Trump prepared by Trumps lawyers on the basis of an oral presentation by Muellers investigators and called the wide-ranging queries concerning links to Russians and potential obstruction of justice, including the firing of Comey, a perjury trap. The questions were leaked and published earlier this week by the New York Times. The Times, along with the Washington Post, have been in the forefront of the media witch hunt against Russia. On the question of Trump agreeing to be interviewed by Mueller, Giuliani said, Right now, the odds are against it. Most of the media commentary on the interview has focused on Giulianis statement that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 in hush money he paid to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. Cohen has said he paid the money from his own funds and without Trumps knowledge, and last month Trump told reporters that he had no knowledge of the payoff. It is striking that despite the media obsession with Trump and Russia, and the single-minded focus of the Democratic Party on this reactionary campaign, the public remains skeptical, if not hostile, to the entire matter. The Democrats have said virtually nothing about Trumps war on immigrants, including the barbaric treatment of the Central American caravan of refugees forced to camp out at the US border and the denial of their right to asylum. The Democratic Party has dropped its phony opposition to Trumps tax cut for corporations and the rich and barely noted the mounting assault on social programs, from Medicaid to food stamps to housing subsidies for the poor. This is reflected in recent polls, which show Trumps approval rating actually increasing and the Democrats edge in the coming midterm elections cut in half since the beginning of the year. There is mass opposition in the working class and among young people to Trump and his chauvinist, militarist and pro-corporate policies. It is reflected in the upsurge of teachers strikes and protests in defiance of the corporatist unions, which the unions and the Democrats are doing everything they can to isolate and suppress. This emerging movement of the working class in the US and internationally is intensifying the warfare within the American ruling class and state. The crisis is being fueled not only by sharp differences over foreign policyincluding tactical differences over Trumps threat to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and his trade war measuresbut also by a general loss of confidence in Trumps ability to manage either the global affairs of US imperialism or the tense internal social and political situation. The independent social and political struggle of the working class is the only basis for a progressive solution to the crisis of American capitalism. The opposition of workers to Trump can find no progressive outlet within the framework of the capitalist two-party system. Both factions in the current political wars, notwithstanding their bitter differences, agree on a strategy of expanding war abroad and austerity and repression at home. Food delivery company Deliveroo sees its future back in the kitchen. Launched in 2013, the online food delivery service has emerged as one of the most successful tech brands overseas. It's currently available in more than 200 cities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Unlike some online food companies, Deliveroo uses its own delivery people, often on bikes or mopeds, to get orders from local restaurants to customers -- similar to the model of rival UberEats, which operates in most of Deliveroo's markets and more. But Deliveroo offers a unique twist: In addition to working with local eateries, it provides aspiring chefs with kitchen space to get small businesses off the ground. It then offers the food they make on Deliveroo. While "unicorn" startups -- those valued at over $1 billion -- are more rare in Europe, Deliveroo's success has earned a $2 billion valuation in just five years. (In comparison, Uber was expected to make more than $3 billion from its Eats program last year, according to a Financial Times report). Like many startups, Deliveroo comes from humble beginnings -- and it's still trying to figure out how to turn a profit. "I was the first Deliveroo rider," co-founder Will Shu, 38, told CNNMoney. "I did that job for a whole year -- every single day." American-born Shu started the company in London when he couldn't find delivery options from high-quality restaurants. He ultimately quit his job as an investment banker and went to business school to learn more about starting a company. "I still do deliveries probably once every two weeks, so I have a pretty good sense of what riders want," he said. "Number one: They want flexibility." Deliveroo employs 35,000 delivery people -- many of which work about 12 non-consecutive hours a week. "They're actors in their spare time; they're students; they're taking care of the elderly; they're doing all kinds of different things," he said. However, Deliveroo isn't free from challenges. Its delivery workers repeatedly go on strike over wages and lack of benefits. (Pay varies by country and region). Other companies with part-time workers, including Uber, face similar complaints. Although not much change has occurred yet, Shu said it's working on a solution. Related: Why Uber Eats and GrubHub partnerships are risky for restaurants "There's been almost a black and white divide between flexibility and [job] security," Shu said. "We've been working with governments to try to end that because ... we want to offer riders benefits, but it has to be in the context of a flexible working model." Although revenue has soared in recent years -- for example, it jumped 611% from 2015 to 2016, losses have mounted, its most recent filing shows. This is largely due to its expansion plans into 12 countries. According to records at UK's Companies House, the company had a loss of $162 million in 2016. It hasn't yet reported 2017 revenue. Still, Shu said the company remains focused on growth, including the possibility of entering the US market, and building out its kitchen concept for aspiring chefs, called Editions. "We set up the physical infrastructure for these restaurants," Shu said. "They take up occupancy." The company takes a higher cut of each order than its traditional restaurant delivery service. "The specific commercial arrangement can vary restaurant by restaurant, but the idea is that we are bringing the best supply to customers as possible," he added. Although some reports indicate the company may go public as soon as 2019, Shu pushed back on rumors. "I think it's a few years out," he said. "It's not something I'm obsessing about today. We're trying to roll out Editions, improve the customer experience and do so many things. We're thinking about entering new markets, too. That's where I'm at." From the confines of his small, bleak room in Manchester, northern England, Abdul Bari spends much of his day gazing out the window worrying about his future. At night, when he manages to drift off to sleep, he suffers nightmares about being sent back to Afghanistan. "I'm so scared that if I'm deported the Taliban are going to kill me," says Bari, who worked as an interpreter for the British Armed Forces between 2008 and 2010 following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. "They are sending me to Afghanistan to get killed." The 27-year-old from Kunduz in northern Afghanistan says he received death threats from the Taliban and fled to Britain, where he claimed asylum in 2015. Now the cases of those, like Bari, who served alongside the British military fighting the Taliban have received new attention after more than 150 interpreters wrote a letter to British Home Secretary Sajid Javid saying they'd been told to pay thousands of pounds in visa application fees if they wished to stay. The government, which has been under fire recently for its treatment of the so-called Windrush generation from Commonwealth countries, responded on Thursday, saying Afghan interpreters who served in 2012 and joined a 2014 relocation program could stay. This offer, however, does not apply to Bari. "It doesn't give me any hope because this statement was for interpreters on the relocation scheme and I left in 2010 so I'm not eligible." Even though he risked his life for the British Army, Bari's asylum claim was rejected by the UK Home Office. Bari says despite the proof he gave, UK officials didn't believe there were Taliban threats against him. He now faces removal but is challenging the decision in the courts. As he awaits a final decision about being removed from the UK, Bari now spends his days in a refugee shelter, where he gets just -35 ($48) a week for food, hygiene products and clothes. Bari is welcoming as he offers cups of tea -- a kettle being the only electrical appliance in his room. Though he lives with refugees in the building, he longs for more interaction to relieve him of his isolation. "I need to study. I need to work. I need to improve my career. I can't do anything like that at the moment," he tells CNN. "I used to box professionally in Afghanistan. I can't even do that here because I don't have the right to work," he says. "I get so depressed." Helping the British Army Things used to be so different for Bari, whose life changed 10 years ago when he applied to become an interpreter for the British Armed Forces in Kabul. "I was really excited to help because the military wanted to bring peace and security to my country," he explains. "It was my duty to help as there was no peace." As part of his role, Bari helped to defuse tensions between British forces and locals in the areas around the Afghan capital. Bari recalls how he used to take precautions to prevent him from being identified, such as covering his face and wearing sunglasses. They were uncomfortable, though, so he sometimes risked leaving his face exposed. Eventually, Bari says, local sympathizers informed the Taliban militants he was working for the British, and his family started to receive threats for laboring alongside the "infidels." All the same, officials refused to believe him. According to a UK government policy guidance issued this past April, Afghanistan is now safe to return to -- despite the worsening security situation. On Monday, dozens were killed in a suicide attack in Kabul, the latest in a series of militant strikes that have taken place in the capital. ISIS claimed it carried out the attack. Campaigners say the Home Office's decision to send asylum seekers back to a country like Afghanistan is a violation of the UK's duty to protect citizens from countries where it is engaged. And it isn't just ex-British Armed Forces workers who have been affected. Between January and March in 2014 to 2016, the UK has forcibly removed 1,387 refugees back to Afghanistan, according to Home Office statistics. The UK signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which put protections in place to prevent refugees from being sent back if their lives were at risk. Anna Shea, an adviser on refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International, told CNN: "The UK are completely turning their back on international law and their commitments to it." Another refugee affected by the Home Office's decision to return asylum seekers to Afghanistan is Mohammed Saleem Iqbal, who says he was just 13 when his father was murdered by the Taliban in 2103 for refusing to join the group. He fled his hometown of Jalalabad on the advice of his uncle and traveled to the UK where he sought asylum the following year. His mother stayed in Kabul, but after the Taliban heard of Iqbal's flight from Afghanistan, militants sent her a letter threatening to find Iqbal as they have "hands" everywhere, according to his London-based lawyer. The Home Office told Iqbal, who's now 18, that he must return to Afghanistan after his asylum claim was rejected. The situation in Europe Although fighting in the country has intensified over the years, Afghanistan signed an arrangement in 2016 with other European countries to send Afghans back home. According to an Amnesty International report, Germany forcibly removed 3,440 Afghans in 2016, the highest number of any European nation. A document from the German Interior Ministry gives different figures, saying 3,300 Afghans "voluntarily" returned and only 67 were forcibly removed. And despite the dangerous climate in Kabul and other cities since then, there has been no let-up in the numbers being deported. Lisa Haeger, a spokeswoman for the German Interior Ministry, tells CNN that enforced removals will become necessary only if a failed asylum seeker does not voluntarily return. Germany is not the only European country to deport refugees back to Afghanistan. In the same Amnesty report, Norway had the highest number of forced returns back to Afghanistan in the first quarter of 2017. Sweden and Greece were also reported to be among European nations with the highest number of forced repatriations to Afghanistan. Liza Schuster, an Afghanistan researcher for City University in London, says the Kabul attacks prove that Afghanistan is not a suitable place to send deportees. "The insistence of the EU member states on returning people to the country, which is politically fragile and has a weakening economy, reveals much more about Europe than about Afghanistan. "Kabul is bursting at the seams and is still plagued by conflict." The Home Office said it would not comment on any individual cases, and a spokesperson said it expected individuals who have exhausted the appeals process to return voluntarily. If one refuses, "removal is only enforced when we and the courts conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return." Bari and the other refugees, though, insist there is no safe way to go back and the precariousness of living in the UK is taking its toll. "I will be at risk if I return," says Bari. "I need help and no one helps me." BARTOW, Fla. (AP) - The father of an 8-week-old baby who died of dehydration has pleaded no contest to charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect in Florida. The Ledger reports 25-year-old Mark Waters was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday after the 2015 death of Ashley Waters. Legally, a no-contest plea carries the same weight as a guilty plea. Waters agreed to testify against Ashley's mother, 28-year-old Megan Butkiewicus, who faces the same charges. The baby's grandmother, Joyce Ilsley, is charged with failure to report child abuse. It's unclear if they have lawyers. Deputies found Ashley and her parents had been living in squalor. When Ashley was found unresponsive, court documents show she weighed less than when she did when she was born. Another child's condition in their home resulted in the parent's child neglect charge. ___ Information from: The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.), http://www.theledger.com (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - More than 100 faith leaders and believers from across Florida gathered at the state capitol Thursday to take part in the 67th annual National Day of Prayer. The non-denominational gathering in Tallahassee was one of more than a dozen across the state, celebrating religious freedom in America. Church hymns were sung, bible verses were read, and prayers were said for those dealing with lifes struggles. Pam Olsen is a pastor at Hilltop House of Prayer in Tallahassee. She feels everyone needs divine guidance from above. The bible tells us to pray for those in authority, and thats from the governor all the way down to the janitor. Everybody in this building needs prayer. We pray for our leaders," said Olsen. "We pray for the staff, and we pray for their families because it matters. Similar ceremonies took place in state houses across the country. The National Day of Prayer was established by Congress in 1952, as a way for people of all faiths to show they are free to gather and pray in public places. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Florida is hiring five cybersecurity specialists in advance of the 2018 elections, though the Legislature didnt include the positions when setting the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Governor Rick Scott announced the move this week to hire consultants who will work with elections officials. According to the Department of State, the money will come from the agencys federal trust fund for the current and upcoming fiscal years. Former Leon County Supervisor of Elections, Ion Sancho, spent 28 years as the supervisor of elections in Leon County. He says the positions are a good start, and even more money is needed to assist local supervisors. This is an important first step. We have really just begun to awaken to the threat that foreign countries like Russia threaten our election system," said Sancho. In March, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio warned of a level of overconfidence about the security of the nations election system heading into the 2018 elections. Florida is one of several states where voter rolls were believed to have been targeted by Russian hackers before the 2016 presidential election. Florida officials have not disclosed what exactly transpired during the election. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee native and Florida State student has been named regional champion of LongHorn Steakhouse's Steak Master Series. Nicholas Burnette, a Grill Master at LongHorn Steakhouse on North Monroe Street, was named regional champion of the brands Steak Master Series, a culinary competition where the restaurants top-performing grilling experts compete for the title of national champion. Burnette is one of 57 team members across the country to achieve this recognition out of the more than 5,000 who were invited to participate in the competition. When he graduates with a hospitality degree from Florida State University, he hopes to move into management with LongHorn. Burnette, who has been cooking since he was 16 years old, says if he had a Grill Master nickname, it would be "Flick of the Wrist." Burnette will soon be competing in the semi-final rounds for the chance to become one of seven finalists that compete in the finals at LongHorns headquarters in Orlando in June. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - As students at Florida State clean out their dorms, they're finding things they don't want anymore, but one program on campus is saving those items from being tossed out. Chuck It for Charity is a partnership between University Housing and FSU Sustainable Campus for 10 years running. Students donate clothing, appliances, rugs, you name it. That's good news for groups like the Unconquered Scholars. That organization helps students who've experienced foster care or homelessness. Chuck It for Charity provides nonperishable food to help fill the group's pantry, and there's plenty of other things to pick out. "We feel like we try to mitigate as much cost as possible, because college is expensive," said Abdullah Derosier, student in Unconquered Scholars Program. "Within each student, they go through their own experiences, and we don't want cost to be one of those experiences that they have to go through or worry about, to actually just have a space that is functional for themselves." And over the past decade, Chuck It for Charity has collected 100 tons of unwanted items. Organizers say if it's not broken, don't throw it away. Find a way to reuse or donate it. Chuck It for Charity runs through Saturday. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TN. (WTXL) - A man was arrested in Tennessee after going more than 100 mph on the highway and abducting a woman from a Georgia store. Terry Lee, 50, of Quitman, Ga., was arrested by the Williamson County Sheriffs Office in Tennessee on Tuesday. According to WCSO, a deputy stopped Lee's car for speeding on Tuesday afternoon after he was clocked going more than 100 mph. Lee was initially arrested and taken into custody for driving on a revoked license. The victim was in the car with Lee and told deputies that Lee had kidnapped her from a market in Georgia on Monday. Deputies saw that she had injuries that were consistent with a struggle. Georgia authorities confirmed the woman was abducted and Lee was also charged with aggravated kidnapping. Lee and the woman had previously been in a romantic relationship, but they had not been dating for several months. Lee, a convicted sex offender, is currently in custody at the Williamson County Detention Center with a bond set at $268,000. He's scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Wednesday, May 9. He also faces charges of speeding and being a habitual motor vehicle offender. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Police Department is warning the community about reports of a recent scam alert involving a data breach at Jason Deli's. TPD has received numerous reports related to compromised debit/credit cards. TPD determined that the cards were part of a data breach involving Jasons Deli. According to TPD, the fraudsters have used a method called spoofing to call the victims from a number that appeared to be legitimate. During these phone calls, TPD states the scammers claim to be part of the banking institutions fraud section. TPD says the callers are very convincing, and are trying to get the security number off the back of the real debit/credit cards. TPD advises if you receive a similar call, do not give anyone your information over the phone. Discontinue the call, and then either call, or go to your banking institution. TPD informs if you have been contacted, your debit/credit card has been compromised and you need to request a new card from your banking institution. For more information about the data breach involving Jason Deli's click here. LONDON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Scholars and businesspeople debated the experience in Britain of China-based Mobike at a special event Wednesday to officially open the new Manchester China Institute at the University of Manchester. Set up with the support of Hong Kong businessman, philanthropist and honorary graduate of the University of Manchester, Dr Lee Kai Hung, the institute will work to improve understanding between Britain and China by promoting world-leading research, community outreach activities, and public lectures in Manchester and China. The institute was officially opened by Lee and University president and vice-chancellor, professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. Lee's gift will also create a new Lee Kai Hung Chinese culture gallery at the Manchester Museum, the largest university museum in Britain, displaying artifacts such as ancient bronze sculptures, carved jade, and textiles. Steve Pyer, Mobike's European development director told how the bike-sharing company had successfully expanded to become available in 200 cities around the world, including Manchester, which became the firm's first UK location in 2017. Pyer and other panelists debated opportunities for China to export technology to the West. Institute director professor Peter Gries said: "The Manchester China Institute is now able to bring together the large and extremely talented research community at the university with businesses, policy makers, and the public, both here in the UK and in China. Having Mobike as the subject for our first debate is symbolic, it shows how well Chinese and British people can work together to everyone's benefit." Attendees also viewed an exhibition of Chinese watercolor paintings by Nobel Laureate professor Sir Kostya Novoselov, and Wang Ying, the education counselor of the Consulate General of China. Lee said: "China may be the world's second largest economy, but the many stories that we read about China on a daily basis are often far from complimentary. The mission of Manchester China Institute is to generate understanding, trust, harmony and peace between the people of China and Great Britain." BERLIN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Linde Group, a leading industrial gas producer, on Thursday downplayed concerns over an announced merger with U.S. rival Praxair. Speaking at the Munich-based firm's Annual General Meeting, Linde CEO Aldo Belloni expressed confidence that international antitrust authorities would approve the merger with Praxair. "We are working together with Praxair and in constructive dialogue with competition authorities to complete the fusion by the second half of 2018," Belloni said. Progress, he said, was also being made on divesting from individual units of two competitors to relieve concerns that the Linde-Praxair merger would create an overwhelmingly dominant player in the global industrial gas industry. Linde and Praxair face a looming deadline for finalization of the merger on Oct. 24. But they have agreed to grant each other the right to cancel the deal, if antitrust authorities demand that they surrender business worth more than 3.7 billion euros (4.4 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue of 1.1 billion euros in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebidta) as a condition for approving the transaction. NEW DELHI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- India's Meteorological department Thursday warned of another dust storm in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours, where it has claimed at least 112 lives so far. According to officials over 200 people were injured in the two states due to overnight dust storm that left a trail of destruction in the affected districts. India's official broadcaster - All India Radio (AIR) said in Uttar Pradesh, the death toll due to the dust storm has risen to 74, while in Rajasthan it has killed 38 people. The storm Wednesday uprooted trees and electricity poles, and disrupted power supply, besides destroying houses. Officials said most of the deaths occurred due to collapsing of houses, falling of trees and after being struck by intense bursts of lightning. In Uttar Pradesh more than half of the deaths were reported from Agra district, while as in Rajasthan district Bharatpur is reported to be worst affected. Locals said they were scared due to the ferocity of the storm. "We were scared because the winds blew away roofs of houses and trees," Anil Srivastav, a local resident from Agra told Xinhua. "It was simply a nightmare as we haven't witnessed anything like this before." Disaster management officials too say they were shocked with the ferocity of storm. The local governments in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have announced that families which have lost a member in the storm will receive 5,993 U.S. dollars as compensation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to twitter to express his grief over the deaths caused due to dust storm. "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," Modi wrote on twitter. "Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected." KIEV, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine is fully prepared to host the UEFA Champions League finals here later this month, the Ukrainian presidential press service said in a statement on Thursday. "Ukraine has carried out careful preparations and has taken a number of steps to create favorable conditions for hosting these games," Igor Rainin, the head of the Ukrainian organizing committee, was quoted as saying in the statement. Apart from the technical preparations, the Ukrainian parliament has finalized the adoption of the needed legislation to exempt from taxes goods imported by the UEFA to Ukraine, Rainin said. On May 26, the Olympic stadium in Kiev will host the 2018 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. Besides, on May 24, the UEFA Women' s Champions League final between Germany's Wolfsburg and France's Lyon will take place at the Dynamo stadium in the Ukrainian capital. The Ukrainian authorities said earlier that more than 60,000 foreign fans will visit Kiev for the events. ARUSHA, Tanzania, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has lifted a ban on importation of sugar with a view to curbing scarcity, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced Thursday. The Tanzanian premier made the statement during the parliamentary session in the country's capital Dodoma when reacting to a question over the government's plans towards controlling the already increasing price of sugar in the country, ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan. The government, according to Majaliwa, would help lower prices of the commodity, which has been elusive in the East African nation. "The Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) is working on it and we have started importing sugar," Majaliwa said, assuring that there will be no scarcity of the sweetener. The Tanzanian leader also directed the relevant authorities to ensure no price hike on commodities, especially sugar, as the holy month of Ramadhan approaches. The PM maintained that there is a common trend by traders to increase prices of commodities during this time of the year but warned that whoever does that this year risks legal actions. It is estimated that Tanzania's annual domestic sugar consumption is about 420,000 tonnes while local production is 320,000 tonnes. This leaves a deficit of about 100,000 tonnes a year to be made up by imports. By Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The 43rd edition of the Kastoria International Fur Fair, the top annual event for the local fur fashion industry, kicked off in northern Greece on Thursday, as local furriers turn to new markets struggling to survive after the financial crisis. During the four-day event, 123 exhibitors from 13 countries will explore business opportunities with buyers from 43 countries. Kastoria, a city of some 35,000 residents, 350 kilometers northwest of Athens, has a long tradition in the art of processing of fur and trade for over 600 years. More than half of the locals still make a living through fur trade. In recent decades the city's signature goods have been exported across the world, but the downturn of Greek and international economy has taken a toll also on Kastoria's furriers. According to official figures of Kastoria's Fur Association, the main organizer of the fair, in 2017 turnover plunged to 20 million euros (24 million U.S. dollars). In 2014 it stood at 105 million euros, in 2013 in over 300 million euros and in 2007, before the start of the international financial crisis, it was estimated at 450 million euros. The majority of Kastorian fur products are exported. In 2012 revenues from exports totaled 240 million euros, while a year later had dropped to 150 million euros. For the past two decades two thirds of Kastoria's fur garments were exported to Russia, but demand has dropped due to economic woes. Greek furriers are seeking new opportunities in new markets, like China, South Korea, India and Iran, Yannis Korentsidis, President of Kastoria's Fur Association, told Greek national news agency AMNA. SAN FRANCISCO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. agricultural sector will suffer the heaviest blow from a simmering trade bickering between the United States and China as American farmers will lose 15 percent of their net farm income and about 181,000 jobs, a report said Thursday. If U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cannot rein in the escalating trade tension with China over a tit-for-tat tariff war, the United States will lose nearly 455,000 jobs and 49.2 billion U.S. dollars in the value of gross domestic product annually in the first couple of years, an agricultural newspaper in the U.S. western state of Washington said. A full-blown trade war would cost America nearly 134,000 jobs and a 2.9-billion-dollar reduction in U.S. output annually, the Oregon-based weekly Capital Press said Thursday, quoting a new research by Trade Partnerships Worldwide, LLC, an international trade and economic consulting firm. Nearly half of those job losses, 67,248, would be in agriculture, and net farm income would drop 6.7 percent annually, it said. "Agricultural jobs are going to get hit the hardest among all the sectors we looked at," Laura Baughman, president of Trade Partnership Worldwide, LLC, told Capital Press. Early last month, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to slap 25 percent tariffs on 150 billion dollars worth of Chinese exports to the United States over a so-called U.S. trade deficit against China. China responded with the same amount of tariffs on U.S. exports to China. Even with no retaliation from China and U.S. tariffs on only 50 billion dollars in imports, the United States would suffer more than 76,000 job losses and a 1.6-billion-dollar decline in its GDP, analysts said. This would mean the loss of more than 7,000 jobs and less than 1 percent in net farm income annually in the first couple of years, Capital Press said. "As administration officials prepare to head off to China for trade talks, the livelihoods of American workers hang in the balance," Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, said earlier. Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, said that rising costs on farmers, manufacturers and service providers show "protectionism will weaken America." A sample of clean, processed soybeans at Peterson Farms Seed facility in Fargo, North Dakota, U.S., December 6, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS/File Photo) SAN FRANCISCO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. agricultural sector will suffer the heaviest blow from a simmering trade bickering between the United States and China as American farmers will lose 15 percent of their net farm income and about 181,000 jobs, a report said Thursday. If U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cannot rein in the escalating trade tension with China over a tit-for-tat tariff war, the United States will lose nearly 455,000 jobs and 49.2 billion U.S. dollars in the value of gross domestic product annually in the first couple of years, an agricultural newspaper in the U.S. western state of Washington said. A full-blown trade war would cost America nearly 134,000 jobs and a 2.9-billion-dollar reduction in U.S. output annually, the Oregon-based weekly Capital Press said Thursday, quoting a new research by Trade Partnerships Worldwide, LLC, an international trade and economic consulting firm. Nearly half of those job losses, 67,248, would be in agriculture, and net farm income would drop 6.7 percent annually, it said. Almonds are seen in shipping containers in a warehouse at Capay Canyon Ranch in Esparto, California, U.S. April 2, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS) "Agricultural jobs are going to get hit the hardest among all the sectors we looked at," Laura Baughman, president of Trade Partnership Worldwide, LLC, told Capital Press. Early last month, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to slap 25 percent tariffs on 150 billion dollars worth of Chinese exports to the United States over a so-called U.S. trade deficit against China. China responded with the same amount of tariffs on U.S. exports to China. Even with no retaliation from China and U.S. tariffs on only 50 billion dollars in imports, the United States would suffer more than 76,000 job losses and a 1.6-billion-dollar decline in its GDP, analysts said. This would mean the loss of more than 7,000 jobs and less than 1 percent in net farm income annually in the first couple of years, Capital Press said. A farmer drives a combine as he harvests corn on his farm near Dixon, Nebraska, U.S., October 26, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS) "As administration officials prepare to head off to China for trade talks, the livelihoods of American workers hang in the balance," Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, said earlier. Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, said that rising costs on farmers, manufacturers and service providers show "protectionism will weaken America." by William M. Reilly UNITED NATIONS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Ambassador Joanna Wronecka of Poland, this month's UN Security Council president, said on Thursday that the United Nations has to act when Rohingya refugees are suffering. She made the remarks here after visiting Myanmar Rohingya in Bangladesh refugee camps earlier this week. "So, when you see the people suffering we have to act," she told reporters at the UN headquarters during a monthly briefing on the council's program of work. "The main question is how to help." "It is difficult to live in the camps," she said. "The conditions are extremely difficult because in Bangladesh due to the monsoon season there is always a risk for raining, so the conditions are simple." Monsoon rains already have started and have caused flooding in some areas, threatening the spread of disease and impeding the distribution of humanitarian aid. "I had the chance to speak especially to women because they are the most affect with the children -- to see their difficult situation," said Wronecka who was visibly moved. "But the refugees cannot stay for ever. It was obvious. So the question is how to help them return to their place of origin." The Warsaw envoy said members of the panel of 15 then met with Myanmar State Councilor Aung Sang Su Kyi. Wronecka recalled Bangladesh and Myanmar had signed an agreement on the return of refugees. However, the United Nations has been saying refugees should only return voluntarily when they are ready to go where they want to go in a dignified manner. "Now, the main question is how we can help especially in the monsoon period," said Wronecka. "We see a possibility more for the role of different UN agencies to help." She particularly singled out the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). While Wronecka said council members had "a very frank" discussion with Myanmar authorities she did not go into any detail. More than 670,000 ethnic Muslim Rohingya have fled northern Rakhine State since Aug. 25, 2017. On that date Rohingya activists are alleged to have carried out a deadly attack on security posts, prompting alleged retribution by Myanmar forces and vigilante groups. The latest refugees joined hundreds of thousands of mainly Rohingya refugees who previously fled Myanmar across the border into neighboring Bangladesh. Wronecka said when the Security Council meets on May 14 for a formal briefing on the situation, she said it was possible the panel "may adopt a PRST" since "we are united, definitely committed to doing something because the people on the ground (the refugees) deserve it and the people suffer a lot." A PRST is a step below a resolution which carries the weight of international law. A PRST is read out by the president in a formal Security Council meeting and becomes an official document of the world organization. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 07:51:45|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close HOUSTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) concluded in the U.S. city of Houston Thursday, with energy industry experts and leaders world wide exchanging views on future energy development and cutting-edge technologies. The four-day conference gathered professionals to make critical decisions, share ideas and develop business partnerships to meet global energy demands. 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 over 100 countries and regions came to at the annual conference while the exhibition covered more than 585,000 square feet, including outdoor exhibits. "We are very pleased with this year's attendance," said Wafik Beydoun, 2018 OTC board of directors chairman. "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." 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. "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," Beydoun said. "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," he added. This year, OTC's annual Spotlight on New Technology Awards recognized 17 technologies from exhibiting companies for their new and innovative products and services, including two companies that won the Small Business Award. Privately-owned Chinese company Luoyang Wire Rope Inspection Technology Co., Ltd. was one of them. Besides recognized by OTC with its "Small Business Award", the company's innovation of "automatic real time online wire rope inspection system" also received the "New Technology Award" at OTC. During the event, OTC also 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 OTC topical breakfasts and luncheons featured top executives from international and national oil companies on a wide range of management, research and technology-related issues. 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 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. A separate group of 60 local high school students also participated in the OTC Energy Challenge, which asked them to resolve real-world energy challenges. Founded in 1969, OTC, the largest event in the world for the oil and gas industry, is where energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters. This year's event features technical sessions, topical breakfasts and luncheons, along with several in-depth panel discussions. The annual event attracted 2,300 companies from 35 countries and regions. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 09:31:55|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close DHAKA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese consortium's bid to acquire 25 percent stake in Bangladesh's biggest stock exchange and become its strategic partner has been approved by the country's securities regulator. BSEC (Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commissions) in a meeting on Thursday approved the proposal of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) to sell its 25 percent stake to the Chinese consortium, comprising the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The BSEC approved the Dhaka Stock Exchange's strategic partnership, fixing each of 450,944,125 shares at a price of 21 taka (0.25 U.S. dollars), including a premium of 11 taka for a 10-taka share, the regulator said on its website Thursday. According to the securities regulator, an agreement in this connection must be signed in line with Bangladesh's laws and implemented in one year from the signing of the deal. DSE's hunt for a strategic partner came as it turned into a demutualized stock exchange on Nov. 21, 2013. The DSE in June last year floated tender and received proposals including those two Chinese and Indian consortiums. A DSE official had earlier told Xinhua that in consideration of all the aspects the proposal of the Chinese consortium was the best offer in terms of value and technical support. SEOUL, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chung Eui-yong, top national security advisor for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, is currently staying in the United States ahead of the summit between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), local media reported Friday citing the Blue House of South Korea. An unidentified Blue House official told local reporters that Chung made a closed-door visit to the United States at the request of the National Security Council of the White House to discuss the DPRK-U.S. summit. The visit was not made open beforehand to the media at the request of the U.S. side, according to the Blue House official. The official estimated that Chung would discuss with his U.S. counterpart a "big deal" about the DPRK-U.S. summit to resolve the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue as well as the location of the summit, which he said is a small deal. Chung's visit came a week after Moon and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un held the third-ever inter-Korean summit at the border village of Panmunjom. Days before the Moon-Kim summit, Chung visited Washington. Kim is forecast to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in May or early June, but the location and the exact date for the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit had yet to be determined. Panmunjom recently emerged as one of candidate venues for the Kim-Trump summit. Moon and Kim agreed to complete denuclearization and the turn of the current armistice agreement into a peace treaty by the end of this year. The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with armistice. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 10:12:06|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close A conference to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx is held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Two centuries on, despite huge and profound changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a grand gathering to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth. Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, pathfinder for international communism and the greatest thinker of modern times." "Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, to remember his great character and historic deeds and to review his noble spirit and brilliant thoughts," Xi said at the event. TRIPOLI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Four soldiers of Libya's eastern-based army were killed and six others injured Thursday in a fighting against extremist groups in the eastern city of Darna, a military source said. "Our forces launched a large-scale attack on southern Darna using heavy and medium weapons. Significant progress was made and the terrorists suffered great casualties," an officer of the army's Darna operations chamber told Xinhua. "We lost four of our soldiers and six others were wounded. Most of the casualties were caused by landmines placed by terrorist groups as our forces advanced," the officer added. Army commander General Khalifa Haftar in late April oversaw the final arrangements for taking over Darna from extremist groups, a few days after he returned from medical treatment in France. Since 2015, Darna has been besieged by Haftar's army, which demands that the Shura Council of the Mujahideen in Darna, a coalition of Islamist militias seeking to implement Sharia law in the city, leave. The army accuses the armed group of being loyal to al-Qaida. Earlier in April, Haftar announced that his forces would take over Darna "as demanded by the people." Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 10:57:12|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close TRIPOLI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The British Embassy in Libya announced Thursday that the United Kingdom has provided the country with 1.5 million pounds (2 million U.S. dollars) to support its private sector. "The UK government is committed to supporting entrepreneurship and private sector development in Libya by establishing a 1.5 million Pounds micro-finance scheme in partnership with Expertise France," the Embassy said in a statement. The project supports Libya's private sector and entrepreneurship initiatives, and aims to provide employment for young people and women, the statement said. Expertise France, a French public international cooperation agency, designs and implements projects that aim to contribute to the balanced development of partner countries. The private sector could help the Libyan economy, but it has not been given its rights, officials of the northern African country have noted. The private sector can play an important role in economic reforms, Libya's UN-backed Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed M'etig said at an industry union workshop held at the end of last year. The public sector sees an overcrowding of employees, which causes economic problems, he said. Libya has been plagued by economic woes due to escalating violence and political division following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. YANGON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Yangon is planning to host international expos in 2019, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Friday. The Yangon region government eyes an 3.24-hectare old jute factory in Bayintnaung area to be converted to an exhibition hall, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein told a meeting of the Gems Entrepreneurs Association Thursday. If exhibitions such as furniture expo and car expo are held once a month besides the gems expo, Yangon's economy is likely to improve through such events which will also boost tourism, he said, welcoming international-level event organizers to take part in the plan. The chief minister stressed making efforts in the enhancement of the gems sector, voicing readiness to help with government procedures, including getting easier access to visas, ensuring smooth flow of trade and opening of branch offices. In January this year, Myanmar sponsored an international gems and jewelry fair-2018 in Yangon, which was aimed at bringing about the emergence of a successful international market of the country's finished gems and jewelry. That fair attracted over 11,000 gems merchants including foreign buyers from 37 countries and regions. In December last year, Myanmar also held a 10-day regular Mid-Year Jade and Gems Emporium-2017 in Nay Pyi Taw. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 11:27:16|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close KHARTOUM, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Marxism remains an inspiring model in Sudan and the bicentennial birth anniversary of Karl Marx injects more enthusiasm to the principles of the Marxist theory, Sudanese expert and official have said. Marxism originated from the works of 1800s German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. May 5, 2018 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Marx. "Marxism has proved its ability to be an inspiring model as it is the case in China," said Fath Al-Alaim Saleh, a researcher in the socialist experiences in Sudan. "The ruling party in China has managed to integrate the basic principles of Marxism into the contemporary reality of China and made use of the experiences of other civilizations to develop Marxism," he noted. The Chinese model undoubtedly proves that Marxism stands on a solid scientific and practical base and is able to survive with all its powers despite all changes and developments, he added. Kamal Karrar, a leading figure in the Sudanese Communist Party, told Xinhua recently that "this anniversary gives more enthusiasm to inspire the principles of the Marxist theory." Marx, born in Trier on May 5, 1818, was a German philosopher, economist, historian, political theorist, sociologist, journalist and revolutionary socialist. He died on March 14, 1883 in London. Karrar said Marxism is a guide to rid the world of unipolarity, and "there is still hope that the Marxist theory will rid the world of war, famine, tyranny of regimes and violation of the rights of the poor." He said that this anniversary comes at a time when the world is more in need to implement the principles of the Marxist theory, adding Marxism embodies the antidote for many of the world's ailments, such as wealth concentration in a small category of society. The Sudanese society needs the ideas and principles of the Marxist theory to achieve equal distribution of wealth and power and restore the rights of workers and working classes. "Many of the Marxist theory's ideas have found their way to the Sudanese people due to the efforts by the leaders of the Sudanese Communist Party, some intellectuals, activists and revolutionaries," he said. "The Sudanese society is suffering from social injustice, and I believe the solution is to recall and apply the principles of the Marxist theory for a more prosperous life for the Sudanese people," he added. SEOUL, May 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's travel account deficit fell to the lowest in 11 months on the rising number of Chinese tourists, central bank data showed Friday. The travel account deficit was 1.31 billion U.S. dollars in March, marking the lowest since April last year, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). It came as Chinese travelers visiting South Korea turned upward in 13 months. The number of Chinese tourists was 403,000 in March, up 11.8 percent from a year earlier. Helped by the growing Chinese travelers, the number of foreigners visiting South Korea advanced 10.7 percent over the year to 1,366,000 in March. Services account deficit was 2.25 billion dollars in March, the lowest since May last year thanks to the falling travel account deficit. Current account balance, the broadest measure of cross-border capital flow, logged a surplus of 5.18 billion dollars in March, staying in the black for 73 months in a row. It was attributed to the continued trade surplus for goods, which reached 9.88 billion dollars in March. Exports, which account for about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 52.78 billion dollars, keeping an upward trend for 17 straight months. The continued growth came amid strong demand for locally-made chips and the recovering manufacturing industry in the global market. Imports stood at 42.9 billion dollars, rising for the 17th consecutive month. KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysian High Court dashed the hope of an opposition figure on Friday after it dismissed a suit by Chua Tian Chang, vice president of the People's Justice Party, to challenge the disqualification decision of the Election Commission (EC). The ruling of the high court will deal a heavy blow to Chua, a former parliament member who is attempting to hold his position in the upcoming election, which falls on May 9. It also bodes ill for the opposition alliance, which is pinning its hope on every possible seat taken to win the election. Chua failed to secure a nomination last week, after returning officer from the EC Anwar Mohd Zain rejected him based on a fine of 2,000 ringgit (508.2 U.S. dollars), issued by a court last year for insulting a police officer. Anwar said the clause in the constitution, that any parliament member given a fine of "no less than 2,000 ringgit" shall lose his seat or disqualified to contest, means that Chua would only be qualified to contest should the fine be 1,999.99 ringgit or less. But Chua argued that in the previous election in 2013, he was allowed to contest though he was also given a fine of 2,000 ringgit by the court then. He asked the High Court in his suit to overthrow the EC's decision. The incident marked the escalation of more finger-pointing and chaos in the run-up to the polling day, as both the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and the opposition alliance accused each other of conspiracy and undermining each other. Last Friday, Mahathir Mohamad, a high-flying former prime minister now leading the opposition, accused the government of sabotaging a plane he chartered to fly to his nomination place in the northern island of Langkawi, where he will be contesting a parliament seat. Mahathir said he finally managed to borrow a friend's plane to fly to Langkawi, after several requests were turned down, indicating the government pressured people not to lend their planes to him. Malaysia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement afterwards saying there was no sign of sabotage. Then, the police said they were investigating Mahathir for spreading fake news to make political gains. CANBERRA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has labelled a data breach which saw the nation's biggest bank lose details of 20 million accounts as "very disappointing." The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the country's third largest company, on Wednesday confirmed that it lost the backup tapes containing details of 20 million accounts dating back 15 years. Although the incident occurred in 2016, before laws requiring mandatory reporting of serious breaches, Attorney-General Christian Porter said that customers of the bank had a right to know at the time. He said the breach was "very, very disappointing" and "very serious (and) of great concern to me, the government and my office." Revelations of the breach came one day after a report by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) accused CBA of lacking accountability and harboring a complacent culture. Porter said the breach was an "obvious case in point" of the organization failing to recognize its non-financial requirements as described by the APRA report. "Notification should flow up to government and down to customers as quickly as possible," he told Sky News Australia on Thursday night. "The obvious question arises: why couldn't they have notified their customers of that back in 2016?" He said it was "unquestionable" that the bank's reputation has been tarnished in the wake of the breach and revelations in the banking royal commission, including that it charged fees for advice to customers who had been dead for more than a decade. "As the royal commission has gathered pace it seems that sharp practices and, frankly, unethical practices, and in some cases quite despicable practices, seem to have permeated a variety of different business models inside the banks including the provision of financial advice," Porter said. Porter said his office would "looking at any avenues" to pursue legal action against the bank for the breach. CANBERRA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A lightning strike in rural Australia has been blamed for cutting a cable that caused a major emergency services number outage in every state. The cable between Orange and Bowral in rural New South Wales (NSW) was cut in the early hours of Friday morning, causing intermittent interruptions to emergency calls for customers of Telstra, the nation's largest telecommunications company, in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Telstra posted a photo of the cable pit on social media on Friday, saying it had "significant fire damage consistent with lightning strike." Disruptions to 000, the national phone number for emergency services, were first reported in South Australia before surfacing in the other five states. "People were taking to a 000 operator and when the calls were being transferred to the communications center, that's when it disconnected," Norm Buckley, Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent, told reporters on Friday. "We were aware that a call was coming through but it wasn't being transferred through." Mark Walton, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner, said that there were procedures in place to deal with such outages. "Under our emergency management here, if we have disasters or other emergencies, we're well-practised, we plan, prepare, and are able to respond. This is a contingency where we've had difficulty with our communications," he said at a press conference. "We've moved to other arrangements - the Police Assistance Line picking up the 000 calls that can't get through. The police have been able to rapidly ensure we have enough staff to handle those calls, and divert and dispatch calls for assistance to all the agencies." Telstra has apologized for the outage, saying they are "working closely with emergency services" to resolve any further problems. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 13:12:34|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close CANBERRA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The key to reducing the number of children suffering from intestinal worms could be treating adults as well as children, an Australian study has found. Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) including hookworm, roundworm and whipworm infect 1.5 billion people around the world, primarily children in countries in Africa, the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Researchers from the School of Population Health at Australian National University (ANU) conducted a study in Timor-Leste to test if a community-wide control program was more effective in reducing STH infections than a school-focused program. The team, led by Suzana Vaz Nery, ran programs in six communities in Timor-Leste. Three of the communities received only school-based deworming and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs while the other three received community-based de-worming and WASH programs in addition those held in schools. Results were measured in school-aged children at baseline then again six months after the programs took place. "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," Naomi Clarke, a member of the research team, said in a media release on Friday. Clarke said it was the first evidence from a field trial that community-wide control programs are more effective than school-based programs. Vaz Nery said that current guidelines for STH control prescribed deworming drugs to children through school-based 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," she said. "These worms infect some people in remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia, but these infections are not common across Australia." Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 13:12:34|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close by Xu Haijing, Zhao Bo CANBERRA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The achievement made by China since it adopted the reform and opening-up policy in 1978 has been an economic miracle, said Andrew Robb, former Australian federal minister for trade and investment, in an interview with Xinhua. Robb said hundreds of millions of people in China were lifted out of poverty, which is a remarkable achievement. "I think it's been an inspiration to many other countries especially in the region to open their doors, open their economies because China has demonstrated in the last 40 years that if you engage with the rest of the world in a constructive manner you can see remarkable economic results," Robb said. Robb said that improving the lives and the quality of life of individuals in any community is the responsibility of their government. In this sense, the Chinese government should feel very proud of what they have achieved to date. He said that China is now the biggest trading partner for more than 100 economies in the world, so China's success has had an enormous impact on so much of the world. "In Australia's case, it's no different," he said. Many of the things that Australia produces and has are very complementary to what China needs. During the 40 years of China's infrastructure development in particular, the resources and energy products from Australia, which are still going to China in big quantities, was fundamental to China's development, Robb said. Australia has had 26 years of uninterrupted economic growth. A lot of China's growth has contributed to that success in Australia and that's not dissimilar in other countries, he said. Currently, trade between Australia and China is moving into areas such as health, education and many other services sectors that Australia has got world-class strength. Robb said that there's still room for opening up in China. Robb said the International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November this year will be a great initiative for China's further opening up. China is such a huge market in such a developing market, everyone around the world in the trading sense is looking to play a part, said Robb. "It will further turbocharged a lot of growth opportunities in both ways, not only for China but also for the rest of us." Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 13:27:38|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close HAVANA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- An interactive online travel map was launched Thursday at a tourism fair in Cuba to promote tourism. The website CubaMaps, with updated data and references on the main scenic spots in Cuba, was presented at the 38th International Tourism Fair held in the northern province of Villa Clara, about 400 km east of Havana. The information on the map was provided by official Cuban institutions, said Oscar Gonzalez, director of the National Tourist Information Office (INFOTUR), who has led a team to develop the digital map over the past two years. Gonzalez, who has devoted himself to the development of Cuba's tourism industry for years, added that the map offers accurate information about hotels, restaurants, rent-car centers and currency exchange offices. The app for CubaMaps could also be accessed through cellphone devices with the Android operating system, which allows the calculation of both the distance and the time it takes to travel from a certain point to another through different means of transport. The website and the app have Spanish, English, French and German versions. Cuba's tourist boom continued last year with 4.7 million foreign tourist arrivals, generating half a million jobs. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 13:57:42|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's exports in March rose 2.2 percent year-on-year on higher manufactured goods shipment, an improvement from the 2 percent contraction in the previous month. According to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia data, exports growth was supported by higher shipments of manufactured goods, which was up 3.7 percent. Electrical and electronics products remained the major driver, rising 8.7 percent. Exports of mining goods expanded 1.5 percent, supported by higher exports of crude petroleum. Shipments of agriculture goods, however, slumped 11.2 percent, dragged by lower exports of palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products as well as natural rubber. Regionally, the exports growth was supported mainly by higher exports to Hong Kong, the European Union (EU), India, South Korea, Taiwan and South Africa, said the ministry. Meanwhile, imports in March fell 9.6 percent annually. Total trade for the month also dropped 3.5 percent year-on-year to 154.25 billion ringgit. As for the first quarter, total trade grew 2.5 percent to 430.5 billion ringgit. Exports increased by 5.8 percent year-on-year, while imports fell 0.8 percent. A trade surplus of 33.37 billion ringgit was recorded for the period. While March exports growth was in line with Affin Investment Bank's chief economist Alan Tan expectation, he said the sharp drop in imports was disappointing as exporters seem to have turned cautious on future demand amid the potential trade war. However, he remains positive on Malaysia's trade outlook. Tan maintains his exports growth forecast this year at 7 percent, and domestic product growth forecast at 5.3 percent. "We are still projecting a positive single digit growth for the world economy, based on the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank," he told Xinhua over the phone. Although the March exports growth was below expectation, RHB Research Institute's senior economist Vincent Loo makes no change on his full-year exports growth forecast of 6.5 percent, as his forecast is already conservative when compared with peers. "We expect a slowdown in trade following the normalization in global trade," he told Xinhua. As for the imports contraction, he believed the strengthening ringgit this year may also be a key factor. However, he foresees the currency factor to fade away in the following months. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 13:57:42|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer announced Thursday that it has signed a firm order for 15 jets with U.S. airline American Airlines. According to Embraer, the order for 15 E175 jets, at a cost of 705 million U.S. dollars, will be included in the aircraft manufacturer's backlog for the second quarter of 2018. Deliveries are expected to take place between March and November 2019. Combined with the airline's three previous orders for the E175, this new contract results in a total of 89 E175 jets for American Airlines. The 15 jets, which will be configured with a total of 76 seats, with 12 in the first class and 64 in the main cabin, will be operated by American Airlines' subsidiary Envoy. The E175 jet is one of Embraer's most successful models. The company has sold over 400 units of E175 jet since 2013. NEW DELHI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- India's Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor has posthumously won this year's best national actress award for her role in her last movie Mom, a revenge thriller. India's coveted National Film Awards were given by President Ram Nath Kovind in the national capital Thursday evening. Her film producer husband Boney Kapoor and her two daughters received the award on behalf of Sridevi who died at a hotel in Dubai in February this year, aged 54. "Sridevi would have been very happy today. We miss her, it's a very proud moment at the same time," her widower Boney told the media after the ceremony. In Mom movie, Sridevi was cast as a school teacher and a mother bent on avenging the rape of her teenage step daughter by some men, including one of her mates. Her sudden death at the luxury hotel in Dubai where she went to attend a family wedding shocked the country's film industry. Though initial reports claimed she had died of a heart attack, Dubai police later clarified that her death was "due to accidental drowning after loss of consciousness." Sridevi made her debut as child artiste with the 1967 Tamil film Kandan Karunai at the age of four. In her 50-year career, she starred in south Indian movies, apart from Bollywood. Sridevi was ranked among the highest-paid actors in the 1980s and 1990s and is considered as the Indian cinema's first female superstar. DES MOINES, the United States, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Frank Cownie, mayor of Des Moines, the largest city in the U.S. mid-western state of Iowa, on Thursday expressed confidence that sub-national cooperation between the United States and China will further expand. Since the establishment of sister-city relationship between Des Moines and Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, in 1985, the two sides have maintained active exchanges in various fields, Cownie told Xinhua prior to addressing the Iowa-China Business Forum in the agricultural state's capital. "I think we have great possibilities to work together and have business together and trade to expand the relationship we've had for so many years," said Cownie. Iowa and Des Moines are in a more privileged position than other U.S. states and municipalities in improving trade relations with their Chinese partners as Iowa's former governor Terry Branstad is now the top U.S. diplomat in China, he added. The city government of Des Moines welcomes more Chinese enterprises to come and invest and looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation in environmental protection, culture, education and other areas with China, he said. Many Des Moines companies also see China as an important market, Cownie said. Greater Des Moines serves as a government, commercial, cultural and recreational hub for Iowa and the region has one of the best business climates in the United States, he said. For example, the area is nationally recognized for having a cost of doing business 15 percent below the national average, a low cost of living and an exceptional quality of life -- Des Moines was named among the top 10 best cities to live in America by U.S. News & World Report this month, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 14:57:54|Editor: pengying Video Player Close Photo taken on May 4, 2018 shows the street after a protest of the transport entrepreneurs in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. Transport entrepreneurs in Nepal have halted the operation of their vehicles across the country from Friday, affecting the movement of commuters. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma) KATHMANDU, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Transport entrepreneurs in Nepal have halted the operation of their vehicles across the country from Friday, affecting the movement of commuters. The protest has been led by Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association, an umbrella organization of transport entrepreneurs, a month after the government put a ban on the monopoly in transportation sector, known as syndicate system. Nepal government recently amended the Transport Management Directive of 2004 to break organized syndicate of transport entrepreneurs and to encourage the private companies for open and fair competition. It is adopting "zero tolerance" policy against public transport syndicate. Thus, transport entrepreneurs are in phase-wise protest in all 77 districts from Friday to pressurize the government to step back with its latest decision. Bharat Nepal, a protesting transport entrepreneur, told Xinhua, "We are not against open competition. But the government should consult the transport associations and committees before making any such decision. Our protest will continue until the government steps back." The shut down in the vehicular movement has affected the lives of general people, compelling many to walk on streets to reach their destinations. However, vehicles belonging to transport companies, which are not under the federation, have continued their service in regular routes. According to Department of Transport Management, it will scrap the registration of those transportation associations and committees that promote the organized syndicate system. Around 400,000 public vehicles across the country are associated with Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 15:27:59|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close JAKARTA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming official visit to Indonesia, the first stop of the first overseas tour since the new cabinet took office, shows the great importance China attaches to bilateral relations with Indonesia, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian said in a signed article. Li's visit shows that China has been concretely implementing its neighborhood diplomatic philosophy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefits and inclusiveness, and its neighborhood diplomatic principles of good-neighborly relations with countries in the region, Xiao said. Li's visit is also an important diplomatic action to promote the building of a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at its core and a community with a shared future for mankind, the ambassador said. The Chinese and Indonesian peoples have started friendly exchanges more than 2000 years ago, and Indonesia was one of the first countries that established a diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of China, he said. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the core has paid great attention to developing China-Indonesia relations and made the country a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, the ambassador said. Xi paid two separate visits to the Southeast Asian country, where he put forward the initiative of jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in 2013, and proposed to establish a new type of international relations in 2015, Xiao wrote. Over the past few years, the two neighbors took strategic docking as a guideline to promote all-round pragmatic cooperation, and their bilateral ties have entered the fast track, he said. He listed achievements yielded over the recent years, including frequent high-level exchanges and the continuous deepening of mutual political trust, the strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation and closer economic ties, vigorous people-to-people exchanges, further understanding between the peoples and smooth coordination and cooperation in international and regional issues. During Li's visit, the premier is expected to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and other leaders on deepening strategic docking and expanding practical cooperation, Xiao said. The leaders will witness the signing of multiple cooperation agreements concerning strategic docking, e-commerce and agricultural cooperation among others, injecting fresh momentum into bilateral friendly cooperation between the two countries, he added. Li will pay an official visit to Indonesia on May 6-8 at the invitation of the Indonesian president, and then fly to Japan and attend the 7th China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting in Japan until May 11, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday. CAIRO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian security forces shot dead three wanted militants in an exchange of fire in Qalyubia province north of the capital Cairo, the Interior Ministry said in a statement late Thursday night. "When they felt the approach of the forces, they started to open fire at them. The forces shot back and the three were killed as a result," the statement said. Police said the militants shot dead a policeman a few days ago in a similar police raid on their hideouts. Two of the three fugitives who were wanted for smuggling drugs and arms escaped from jails taking advantage of the security situation in Egypt. The police said they found weapons and ammunition in their possession after the shootout. A number of criminals escaped from Egyptian prisons nationwide as the security situation deteriorated in 2011 when former President Hosni Mubarak was toppled by mass protests. The Egyptian government has taken measures to restore security in the country since then. WAUSAU, the United States, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Luck has not been on the side of American farmers in the midwest this year. Having endured a record blizzard that swept through the region in mid-April, they now face another potentially more damaging threat -- the China-U.S. trade disputes triggered by the Trump administration that, among other things, put soybean farmers' income in jeopardy. In early April, President Donald Trump proposed to slap tariffs on 50 billion U.S. dollars worth of Chinese imports. China countered it by planning to levy duties on U.S. exports to China, including soybeans, the main moneymaker for farms in Wisconsin. "I'm already looking at a loss this year," Brad Kremer, a farmer in Pittville, told Xinhua in a recent interview. Farmers in the region grow a mix of crops, including corn, soybean and wheat. Dairy products are also a source of income, but with milk prices tanking in recent years and corn barely breaking even, farmers rely solely on soybeans for profit, thanks to strong demands from China. According to Don Lutz, a former statistician from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who has been running a farm in Scandinavia, Wisconsin, since retirement, the United States exports some 60 percent of its soybean products. Kremer said he didn't grow soybean when he started farming two decades ago. Later on, when he saw the American soybean, known for its high oil yield, gradually gain popularity in China, he included the legume on his farmland. According to USDA data, soybean plantation in the United States has witnessed a significant uptick since the mid 1990s, when it entered the Chinese market. Over the next two decades, the total acreage ballooned from about 62 million acres (over 25 million hectares) to more than 90 million acres (over 36 million hectares). Kremer said farmers are hoping that soybean will trade above 10 dollars per bushel so that they can earn 50 to 100 dollars from each acre. Soybean futures for September, the usual harvest season, is 10.12 dollars, meaning farmers would have expanded their soybean acreage, had it not been for the potential tariff from China following the U.S. government's threat of punitive measures. "Farming is a volatile business," Kremer said. "To make things worse, most farms are heavily in debt." With about three million dollars worth of idle equipment, Kremer said he has already lost track of how much he owed the bank. The prospect of agriculture subsidy promised by Trump is unappealing to farmers, who worry that any relief from the federal government will be unsustainable. Lutz said any agriculture subsidy will have to pass tough legislative hurdles as conservative lawmakers would dig in their heels to oppose any legislation that will increase federal deficits. The farmers interviewed by Xinhua said when they voiced their concerns to lawmakers, the latter told them it's up to the executive branch to handle the trade deals. LOS ANGELES, May 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Governor of California Jerry Brown called for more cooperation with China on Thursday, saying that the two countries have great potential as trade partners. Brown made the remarks during the 2018 California-China Business Summit, an annual conference attracting hundreds of government and industry representatives from both China and the United States. The 2018 California-China Business Summit, the third of its kind, aims to promote California's trade and investment cooperation with Chinese provinces under the framework of a MOU signed by Brown and his Chinese counterparts during his trade mission to Beijing in 2013. "We all learn from each other and globalization is here. We are not going to get rid of it," said Brown at the business summit held at the Beverly Hilton hotel. The governor said that China and the United States should work together to promote the global economy despite rising tensions due to the trade dispute between the two countries recently. "A trade war is stupid," he added. Brown himself had participated in the previous two summits. "Last year, trade between California and China reached 175.6 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of almost 20 percent over the figure of 146.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, ranking California first among the 50 states of the United States," said Zhang Ping, Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, noting that the last five years have seen fruitful results in trade and investment cooperation between California and Chinese provinces. "In promoting China-U.S. trade relations, cooperation between provinces and states plays an indispensable role," said Zhu Hong, minister for commercial affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Washington. "California has become the pioneer in cooperation between states and provinces," he added. China is now California's largest trade partner, the largest source of imports and the third-largest export market. The 2018 California-China Business Summit is co-organized by the Milken Institute, CHINAWEEK which is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing understanding of and access to China, and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products. SEOUL, May 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korean police on Friday sought a warrant to arrest the daughter of Korean Air Lines' chairman over allegedly assaulting and insulting an advertising company executive at a business meeting in March, according to local media. The Seoul Gangseo Police Station was quoted as saying that it requested a warrant to detain Cho Hyun-min, a daughter of Korean Air Lines Chairman Cho Yang-ho, on charges of assault and obstruction of business. The younger Cho, who oversaw marketing at the airline, was suspected of yelling at an advertising executive during a business meeting in March as he failed to answer her questions properly. She was even charged with hurling a glass cup at him and throwing a paper cup of beverage at other participants. Accusations included her abusive language and assault that obstructed business by stopping the business meeting. She denied the allegations, saying she hurled the glass cup at where nobody stands and just pushed the paper cup to the side, not throwing beverage at people. She also claimed she had the right to stop the business meeting. The police grilled her Tuesday over the allegations, after raiding the offices of the Korean Air Lines last month. It said she may try to destroy evidence, referring to the need for her detention. The founding family of the Korean Air Lines has been recently under criticism from the public for the abuse of underlings and subcontractors. She is a younger sister of Cho Hyun-ah, a former Korean Air Lines vice president who was jailed for violating airline safety laws. In 2014, Cho Hyun-ah yelled and used abusive language at flight attendants because she was served macadamia nuts in an unopened package, not on a plate. She even ordered the plane back to its gate while it was taxiing at New York's Kennedy International Airport. Cho was sentenced to one year in prison, but she was released by an appeals court later. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 17:03:19|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China will tighten regulation of the growing private lending market. Without official approval, no entities or individuals can set up institutions or platforms with lending as the primary business, according to a notice released Friday by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. The rapid growth of private lending has given rise to illegal financial activities including private lending based on illegal fund-raising, violent collection of overdue loans and offering usurious loans to students. People working in the banking sector are banned from engaging in organized private lending as key participants or the actual controller, the notice added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 17:03:19|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close HANGZHOU,May 4 (Xinhua) -- In 1920, 29-year-old Chen Wangdao completed the first Chinese version of "The Communist Manifesto" in his hometown of Yiwu in east China's Zhejiang Province. Chen's translation was published in 1920, one year before the Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded. Zhang Jianpeng, former head of the CPC history research center in Yiwu, said in 1920, only 1,000 copies of Chen's translation of "The Communist Manifesto" were printed. In the following six years, it was reprinted 17 times. As Marxism has spread across in China, Yiwu has transformed from a small county best known for producing street peddlers to become the world's largest marketplace for small consumer goods. The city, home to more than two million, has over 10,000 foreigners living here. Marx predicted that a Chinese form of socialism would appear, which would be different from European socialism. Yiwu was Marxism's the first stop in China, and has become a test bed for socialism with Chinese characteristics. In 2017, a railway link between Yiwu and Madrid has carried Chinese exports to 35 countries. A total of 168 round train trips were recorded on the railway last year, handling 15,000 TEUs of containers. Aziz Ullah, Afghanistani businessman, first came to Yiwu 16 years ago. Since then, the small commodity trade has helped him open 8 shops in Asia and Europe. He now relies on the Yiwu-Madrid railway to send goods to his shop in London. Besides trading small commodities, Ullah has started to sell solar panels and has read English editions of Chinese leaders' books to understand Chinese Communist thought. "When I first came here, I just placed orders and returned to my home in Afghan. But in a few years, I made Yiwu my home," said Ullah, who is now among 10 foreign mediators helping the city government in business disputes involving foreigners. Mohamed Ammar, an Egyptian living in Yiwu for over ten years, said the city is safe and international. "I have made it my home because I've got used to the life of online shopping and traveling by high-speed train," said Mohamed, whose company is shifting from traditional cross-border trade to e-commerce. In 2017, Yiwu's e-commerce transactions hit 222 billion yuan (35 billion U.S. dollars), up 25.3 percent. Of that, cross-border e-commerce amounted to 22.1 billion yuan, up 38.2 percent. HANOI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese government has decided to extend visa exemption for citizens of Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain till 2020. In the past, people from the five Western European countries were exempted from visas for only one year, and then they had to ask for another one-year extension, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism on Friday. Vietnam's visa exemption for citizens of the five countries was first piloted from 2015 to 2016. Vietnam received 720,000 Western European visitors in 2015, some 855,000 in 2016, and 1.5 million in 2017. In the first four months of this year, Vietnam hosted more than 5.5 million international arrivals, up 29.5 percent year-on-year, with the highest growth of 67.3 percent in the number of visitors from South Korea, followed by Finland, up 42.2 percent, and China, up 39.7 percent. Vietnam plans to receive 16-17 million foreign visitors and 78 million domestic ones, and gain tourism revenues of 27.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, said the administration. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 18:08:31|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is preparing for the sixth Friday protests close to its eastern border with Israel, as part of what they call "the Great March of Return" rally. Starting on March 30, the mass rally is expected to culminate on May 15, the day after the 70th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence but marked by the Palestinians as the Nakba Day, or "the Day of Catastrophe." Ashraf al-Qedra, health ministry spokesman in Gaza, said in an e-mailed press statement that the Israeli army has shot and killed 50 Palestinians since March 30, with five bodies still held by Israel. Meanwhile, about 7,000 others injured in the clashes, including 701 children under 18 years old and 225 women, with 160 seriously injured, 1,944 moderately injured and 1,899 lightly injured, he said. Among the injured, 1,935 were shot with live gunshots, and 401 with rubber-coated metal bullets, while 820 suffered gas suffocation, the spokesman added. Every Friday since March 30, the Palestinian Coordination Committee for the March of Return chooses a name for the day of protests. This Friday is called the Friday of Palestinian Labors. Eyewitnesses said young men are seen preparing fire bombs, burning dozens of tires, and trampling on Israeli flags. Palestinian activists said fire bombs will be carried by 300 kites to drop into Israeli agricultural fields. Mahmoud al-Zahhar, a senior Hamas leader from Gaza, warned Israel not to target the demonstrators at the border. "Keeping this going on would make everyone surprised at our response," he said in a press statement. Al-Zahhar was responding to Israeli threats to strike Gaza in case demonstrators try to infiltrate into the Jewish country through the border. "If a war is imposed on us, we will join it and show them our power," the senior Hamas leader said. MANDERA, Kenya, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Three miners were killed and one injured by al-Shabab militants at a quarry in Mandera county in northeast Kenya on Thursday, an official confirmed on Friday. Northeastern regional coordinator Mohamud Saleh said the militants stormed the Shimbir Fatuma Quarry, about 65 kilometres from the Kenya-Somalia border, where the miners were living, on Thursday evening. "Reports from the scene of incident is that three were confirmed dead and one injured person is currently at Shimpir Fatuma health center while some are yet to be established where they are," Saleh said. He said two of the workers escaped with gunshot wounds. The quarry workers seemed to have defied government orders to vacate the area following increased cases of al-Shabab attacks in the restive region that borders Somalia Two miners were killed by the militia in a similar incident a year go after they apparently sneaked back to the quarry in Mandera sub-county following a security operation. The authorities in 2015 ordered all quarries in Mandera County near the Somali border be closed and all workers to vacate the places due to terror threats. The directive came after the murder of 14 quarry workers. The workers however faulted the government's move saying that they were not given reasons for the closure of the mines but only told to vacate their working places. They argued that the quarries near the Kenya-Somalia border were secure. According to Kenyan authorities, more than 500 workers mine in the same quarry, something they said terrorists will capitalize on as they gain fame in killing a large number of innocent Kenyans. CANBERRA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- In his latest diplomatic foray, French President Emmanuel Macron has concluded his visit to Australia on Wednesday, during which he called for the creation of a new strategic alliance with India and Australia. The French leader has played an active role on the global stage since taking office, but his various foreign visits and proposals regarding major global issues may not be enough to propel Paris to the forefront of global affairs, analysts said. "This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region," Macron said in a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the second day of his trip. Macron and Turnbull announced that France and Australia will form a defence symposium to increase cooperation in the area, and will deepen cooperation in trade, cyber security and other areas. The Australia-France defence relationship was taken to a new level in April 2016 when the Australian government awarded a 50 billion Australian dollar (37.5 billion U.S. dollar) contract to build a new fleet of submarines to French shipbuilder DCNS which has since been re-named Naval Group. Besides Australia, India is another big buyer of French munitions. In his first visit to India as head of the state from March 9 to March 12, both countries signed 14 agreements in areas like defence, nuclear power, renewable energy, railways, education, environment, urban development and maritime security. The defence pact would facilitate logistics support, supplies and services between the armed forces of the two countries during authorized port visits, joint exercises, joint training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. Macron wishes to restore France's influential role worldwide through his active diplomacy, said Cui Hongjian, director of the Department for European Studies of the China Institute of International Studies. France's moves echo those of the U.S. in the regions of the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean, Cui added. Macron's diplomatic strategies are pro-globalization, said analysts, adding that Macron seeks cooperation with foreign countries to highlight his diplomatic priorities against the backdrop of rising anti-globalization among many Western nations after Donald Trump was elected U.S. president and Britain decided to leave the European Union. However, the globalization proposed by Macron must contend with the United States and other major countries for global influence on the premise that the interests of France and the Europe will not be damaged. In April, Macron visited the United States, urging it not to walk away from the Iran nuclear agreement and advocating multilateralism and globalization. After assuming office as president last year, Macron has adopted an active foreign policy. Other than Europe and Asia, interactions with major powers like the United States and Russia have also become a key part of France's foreign strategy. Macron will visit Russia this month. BERLIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- German justice minister Katarina Barley (SPD) has demanded further improvements to Facebook's management of private user data, German media reported on Friday. Several publications participating in the "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland" (RND) editorial network cited a new letter sent by Barley to Facebook founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg. In the document, the justice minister welcomed announcements from the U.S. social media company to change its available privacy settings for users. However, Barley also warned that additional steps would still have to be taken in response to revelations surrounding the misuse of data by the London-based election strategy campaign company Cambridge Analytica. Barley demanded more transparency and better control for users over the use of their data, adding that corresponding changes would have to be "implemented rapidly". Additionally, Barley called for the creation of new internal supervisory mechanisms to ensure that formal guidelines were actually being upheld in Facebook's dealings with third party advertising clients. Barley wrote that Facebook had so far failed to assume responsibility for its inappropriate corporate behaviour and criticized plans to transfer the storage of user data from the European Union (EU) to the U.S. European users of the service currently benefited from enhanced online privacy protection enshrined in EU law. The minister argued that the commercial sale of user data by Facebook directly affected key rights enjoyed by citizens. She described the use of such sensitive data to politically influence or manipulate voters as "inacceptable" in states where the rule of law applied. Facebook has admitted that the data of up to 87 million users was passed on illegally to Cambridge Analytica. The information was used in an attempt to support the election campaign of U.S. president Donald Trump. Up to 310,000 Germans were affected by the scandal as well. DHAKA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen attacked mourners Friday at a funeral in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong Hill tracts, combining three hilly districts of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari, killing five people and injuring six others. The victims were attending the funeral for a slain local chairman when gunshots rang out at around 12:20 p.m. local time on Friday. Alamgir Kabir, superintendent of police in Rangamati where the incident happened, told local media that unknown attackers opened fire on the mourners, leaving four dead on the spot. Another person who was seriously injured in the attack died later at a hospital, he said. No one, nor any group, has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. A tourist sits inside the Holy Trinity Church in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Jan. 27, 2009. (Xinhua/Yu Yang) ADDIS ABABA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia recorded 169.6 million U.S. dollars in revenue from 45,307 Chinese tourists that visited the country in 2017, an Ethiopian official said recently. Chinese tourists are the largest group of tourists to Ethiopia. The 2017 Chinese tourists figures have shown a steady increase from 2016 numbers, which stood at 41,659. Speaking to Xinhua, Gezahegn Abate, Public and International Relations Director at Ethiopia Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT), said despite a steady increase in Chinese tourist numbers over the last several years, insufficient food and accommodation facilities are hampering further growth. "MoCT is encouraging Chinese investment in Ethiopia's hospitality sector with a view to dramatically increasing the number of Chinese tourists," Abate said. With a view to making tourism a major hard currency earner, Ethiopia is implementing incentives for entrepreneurs involved in the tourism and hospitality industry, including duty free arrangements for construction materials. The national flag carrier Ethiopian airlines already flies to five destinations in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu and Guangzhou and plans to start flights to Shenzhen in June. MoCT hopes the increasing flight connection between Ethiopia and Chinese destinations will help sustain the steady increase of Chinese tourists to Ethiopia. MANILA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Philippine government troops have killed at least nine Abu Sayyaf militants in an airstrike in Sumisip town in the southern Philippine Basilan island province, the military reported on Friday. The military said the firefight broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday in a village in Sumisip town, sparking a 30-minute fighting between the troops and some 40 Abu Sayyaf extremists that resulted in the killing of the nine militants. The military said a certain Furuji Indana led the Abu Sayyaf militants. Indama reportedly replaced slain leader Isnilon Hapilon, the alleged Islamic emir for Southeast Asia who was killed at the height of the Marawi siege last year. "It was not immediately confirmed if Indama was among the casualties in the airstrike. However, we have confirmed reports on the ground 9 of the Abu Sayyaf were killed in our operation," Basilan Island military commander Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy said. Uy said ground troops recovered one dead body of the Abu Sayyaf and three assault rifles from the clash site. He said the government did not incur any casualty. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 19:23:54|Editor: pengying Video Player Close ANKARA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Friday designated Muharrem Ince as its presidential candidate for the June 24 early elections. Speaking in a rally in the capital Ankara, Ince, a veteran CHP lawmaker, vowed to be a president for all people in Turkey. On the same day, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its election ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) jointly announced the nomination of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the presidential candidate. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and the MHP leader Devlet Bahceli went to the Supreme Election Board on Friday to register Erdogan as their joint candidate. The two parties established People's Alliance in February to run together for presidential and parliamentary elections. Good (IYI) Party leader Meral Aksener and Felicity Party (SP) chair Temel Karamollaoglu submitted their applications on Wednesday to run for presidency. Last month, the parliament ratified a bill calling for early presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24. In a referendum in April 2017, Turkish voters approved the switch from a parliamentary system to a presidential one. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 19:54:01|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of National Defense Friday refuted the allegations that its base in Djibouti had pointed lasers at U.S. military aircraft there, saying it was in "complete contradiction to the facts." "We have refuted the false accusations through official channels. The Chinese side has consistently abided by international law and the laws of the local country strictly, and is committed to safeguarding regional security and stability," said the ministry in a statement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 20:04:04|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Photo taken on May 3, 2018 shows luxury fast motor yachts during the 17th East Med Yacht Show in Piraeus, 12 km southwest from Athens, Greece. The 4-day event aims to boost competitiveness, upgrade services offered by leisure boats and improve Greece's position on the global tourism market. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The 17th East Med Yacht Show kicked off on Thursday, presenting a fleet of professional yachts at Zea Marina, near the city port of Piraeus, aiming to promote Greek sea tourism. "With the East Med Show, we show that shipping and tourism are two key pillars for the Greek economy and the future is bright for sea tourism," Antonis Stelliatos, president of the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association, told Xinhua. Visitors can explore a wide variety of professional Greek boats, including 20-meter high-speed boats, catamarans, sailing yachts, traditional boats and mega yachts of 50-60 meters. The 4-day event aims to boost competitiveness, upgrade services offered by leisure boats and improve Greece's position on the global tourism market. Cruising along the Greek islands on a yacht is an experience. With endless kilometers of charming coastline and thousands of Greek islands, sailing aboard a yacht has become a very popular activity among visitors in Greece. The yachting season in Greece runs between April and late October to early November. "Families or even large group of friends choose to spend their holidays on a boat. The most popular destinations are Mykonos and Santorini, but if the passengers want we can arrange special tours to visit," captain of the cruise yacht Astarte Christoforos Kantaridis said. The mild climate, the high percentage of sunshine and the varying landscape make Greece the ideal destination for the development of sea tourism activities. Aiming to attract more visitors, Greece responds to the challenge of yachting tourism with the construction of new marinas, including in its development projects the construction of new ports with services for yachts and cruise boats, officials explained. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 20:09:06|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close HARBIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A new international port linking northeast China and Russia was opened Friday, according to the maritime safety administration of the northeast Heilongjiang Province. The port is located in Fuyuan City in Heilongjiang Province. It will be mainly used to export China's vegetable, fruits, agricultural products and engineering machinery to Russia, and import Russia's wood, soybeans and flour to China. A water route between Fuyuan and Khabarovsk in Russia was launched on the same day, the administration said. The route will operate for 180 days and run 20 times per day, transporting about 1,000 tourists daily . The new port and the water route are expected to further promote the cultural and economic exchanges between the two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 20:09:08|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone talk Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Xi said China pays great attention to China-South Korea relations and is willing to enhance communication with South Korea, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and promote cultural exchanges so as to steadily move bilateral relations forward in the common interest of both sides. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 20:19:11|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close CHONGQING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Police in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality seized 94 suspects involved in an online gambling case, the local public security bureau announced Friday. Police said that more than 350 million yuan (55 million U.S. dollars) was involved in the case. Altogether 13 online gambling websites, with more than 100,000 registered users, were closed. An Internet technology company co-run by two suspects surnamed Feng and Yu caught the attention of police in February. An investigation showed that the company had been providing rental servers and technology support for online gambling websites. The entire gang was busted April 8. The case is under further investigation. Chongqing police have seized 453 suspects involved in online gambling since February. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 20:39:19|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Namibian President Hage Geingob (R) confers the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis to Angolan President Joao Lourenco (L) at the commemoration of Cassinga Day in Namibia's capital Windhoek on May 4, 2018. Cassinga Day, which falls on May 4, is a national public holiday in Namibia marking the Cassinga Massacre which took place 40 years ago when the South African Defence Force attacked a base of then Nambian pro-independence movement SWAPO (South West African People's Organization) near the village of Cassinga in southern Angola. (XINHUA/NAMPA) WINDHOEK, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Two historical monuments that pay homage to fallen heroes and heroines massacred by the South African apartheid defence force in 1978 will be built in Angola, Namibian President Hage Geingob said on Thursday. "The construction of historical monuments at Cassinga and Xetequela, to honor and preserve the memory of the heroes and heroines massacred by the South African Apartheid Defence Force in May 1978 will proceed," Geingob said during a banquet welcoming visiting Angolan President Joao Lourenco on the eve of the Cassinga Day commemorations. "Namibia fully appreciates the act of solidarity extended by the people of Angola with the Namibian people by approving construction of two Memorial Sites. Your financial commitment towards the project further demonstrates the level of cohesion with the Namibian nation," the Namibian president said. Cassinga Day, which falls on May 4, is a national public holiday in Namibia marking the Cassinga Massacre which took place 40 years ago when the South African Defence Force attacked a base of then Nambian pro-independence movement SWAPO (South West African People's Organization) near the village of Cassinga in southern Angola. On May 4, 1978, the South African Defence Force launched an air strike on the base near the village of Cassinga in Angola, followed by a deployment of paratroopers, killing hundreds of men, women and children there, who were sympathizers or the family of SWAPO members. SWAPO has been the ruling party of Namibia since the country gained independence in 1990. Lourenco arrived in Namibia on Thursday for a three-day visit. It was his first official trip to Namibia following his inauguration in September 2017. He will attend, as the guest of honor, the Cassinga Day commemorations Friday in Namibia's capital Windhoek. PARIS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Some 57 percent of those surveyed have a negative view of Emmanuel Macron's first year at the Elysee Palace, a BVA poll showed Friday. Macron's popularity hit a setback a year into his five-year mandate as controversy over reforms and a tense social climate are taking a toll, according to the poll, conducted on April 18-19 among 1,011 people. Some 43 surveyed in April were satisfied with Macron's work, down by 19 percentage points compared to the start of his term in May 2017, according to the pollster's data. The BVA also found that although people mostly approve of the details of Macron's reform measures, eight out of 10 respondents see his economic actions as having no positive impact on their lives. Meanwhile, a majority supported a reform of the education system and some 78 percent agree with the president's proposal to streamline the parliament and various government institutions. STOCKHOLM, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Sweden's Social Democrat party has vowed to push for stricter migration rules in Sweden until the European Union (EU) introduces a common, EU-wide asylum policy, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and migration minister Helene Fritzon said at a joint press conference on Friday. Presenting his party's migration-policy platform ahead of Sweden's general election in September, Lofven said the share of asylum seekers taken in by Sweden must be proportional to the size of the country's population. "It became particularly clear during the Fall of 2015 that the Swedish migration policy was not sustainable," Lofven told reporters. "The fact that just a few EU countries took their share of responsibility during the refugee crisis was a major blowback and it showed, clearly, the importance of having a common system with functioning rules," he said. At the press conference, Lofven and Fritzon said they plan to maintain the tightened asylum policy already in place in Sweden. It involves stricter rules for gaining permanent residency in Sweden. Also, under the new proposals, undocumented migrant children will no longer have the right to attend school and rejected asylum seekers will lose the right to state benefits. "Those who come here and get a positive response must integrate quickly into society and those who are rejected must leave the country," Lofven said. Since the fall of 2015, the Social Democrat-Green Party coalition government has introduced a number of reforms to Sweden's migration policy. The number of asylum seekers has since dropped from 160,000 in the record year of 2015 to around 27,000 last year. The prognosis for next year is 23,000. That is a move in the right direction, according to the Social Democrats, who now want to see an overall decrease in the number of people seeking asylum in Sweden. ABUJA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Four bombers blew up themselves in suicide attacks targeting a village near Nigeria's Maiduguri city late Thursday, a rescue official said on Friday. No other casualties were recorded, except the suicide bombers who targeted the village in the northern state of Borno, according to Bashir Garga, a zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency in Nigeria's northeast. The suicide bombers struck at a time when most of the residents were indoors, Garga said. The official said there were fears that terror group Boko Haram fighters had infiltrated Maiduguri city and are going into some villages on the outskirts of the city. Last month, nine civilians and two police officers were killed when Boko Haram fighters attacked Jiddari Polo, an area in Maiduguri. BERLIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- German chemical producer BASF has experienced an increase in its operative profits in spite of currency headwinds during the first quarter (Q1) of 2018, the company revealed at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mannheim on Friday. According to figures published by BASF, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) at the Dax-listed company rose by two percent to 2.5 billion euros (3 billion U.S. dollars) in Q1 compared to the same period last year. At the same time, however, gross quarterly revenue fell by one percent to 16.6 billion euros as a consequence of the recent appreciation of the Euro versus other major currencies. Although higher product prices and rising sales were overshadowed in the earnings figures by adverse currency effects, the departing chief executive officer (CEO) Kurt Bock described the performance of BASF during Q1 as "satisfactory." Business in the company's basic chemicals, oil- and gas divisions in particular had grown faster than expected. As a consequence, Bock reaffirmed earlier "challenging" earnings target set of achieving slightly higher annual revenue and profits in 2018 compared to the past year. Bock is scheduled to officially hand over the role of CEO to his successor Martin Brudermueller in the course of the ongoing AGM Friday. Brudermueller recently expressed confidence that BASF would be able to finalize its "very smart deal" to acquire the crop science unit from German rival Bayer shortly after his inauguration, and further identified electric mobility as a key source of new growth for the German chemicals producer. BASF is the world's largest chemicals manufacturer by revenue, recording global sales worth 64.5 billion euros in 2017. The Ludwigshafen-based firm employs a total of 115,000 staff across the world. BERLIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- German Allianz AG will no longer offer its insurance services to, or invest its capital in, the coal industry, the Dax-listed company told press on Friday. Chief executive officer (CEO) Oliver Baete explained the move by the Munich-based insurance and asset management company as a response to the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. The treaty calls for a transition away from energy generation technologies which produce high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions like coal to limit the effects of man-made climate change to a two-degree Celsius increase in average global temperatures. "We have now decided to take the next step," Baete said. Allianz had already ceased investing funds in companies which generated more than 30 percent of total revenue through coal mining or operation of coal-powered power plants back in 2015. The CEO estimated that refusing to offer new insurance contracts in the coal industry with immediate effect would cost Allianz a "high two-digit" figure in the millions of euros. The company plans to complete its exit from coal entirely by 2040 and will hold consultations with affected customers towards that end. Although the wealth management division is not bound by the strict 2040 deadline for the coal industry, Allianz will no longer invest any of its own funds in companies which do not adopt their strategy in response to the global warming target set out by the Paris Accord. Energy companies which currently engage in both conventional and renewable production can keep their respective insurance policies for the time being. "We want to be a responsible partner which supports the restructuring of the economy," a statement by Baete read. This meant that Allianz would have to eliminate all of its "coal risk by 2040", as well as becoming a carbon neutral company itself. Several environmental initiatives have been pressuring insurance companies to divest from coal. Allianz is one of the world's largest insurance and asset management firms, recording global revenue of 126 billion euros (150.7 billion U.S. dollars) and 1.96 trillion euros of assets under management in 2017. MOSCOW, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter and MiG-31K jet equipped with the newest Kinzhal missile system flew over Moscow Friday as part of the Victory Day parade rehearsal, the Zvezda TV channel reported. The Kinzhal hypersonic missile system is designed to hit land and sea targets at a range of more than 2,000 km without entering the enemy's air defense zone, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. For the first time, MiG-29SMT fighters, which are a modification of MiG-29 fighter jets, took part in the rehearsal as well as Su-35, MiG-31BM and Su-34 aircraft. A total of 75 crews of military transport and army aviation will take part in the Victory Day military parade scheduled for May 9, the report said. Victory Day in Russia commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union in World War II. BERLIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The luxury carmaker BMW AG has witnessed a slight decline in its revenue and profits as a consequence of appreciation in the value of the euro, quarterly earnings figures published on Friday by the company show. While the number of global sales grew in the first quarter (Q1) of 2018, adverse currency effects still caused gross revenue to fall by 5 percent to 22.7 billion euros (27.2 billion U.S. dollars) compared to the same period last year. At the same time, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) declined by 0.5 percent to 3.2 billion euros. Nevertheless, BMW chief executive officer (CEO) Harald Krueger reaffirmed an earlier earnings target of maintaining EBIT levels "at least of the level of the past year" throughout 2018. The Munich-based company posted its best-ever earnings figures in 2017, achieving gross revenue 86 billion euros and selling 2.46 million cars. Krueger predicted that EBIT could even rise above the level of the record year if antitrust authorities approved the recently announced merger of BMW's and Daimler's carsharing platforms "DriveNow" and "Car2Go". The CEO further emphasized on Friday that BMW's net profits rose by 1 percent to 2.3 billion euros in Q1 in spite of currency headwinds. The EBIT profit margin hereby rose from 9.4 percent to 9.7 percent for its core business with passenger vehicles, placing the company ahead of German rivals Mercedes-Benz (9 percent) and Audi (8.5 percent). "We want to achieve slight gains to reach new record levels for 2018 sales and revenue in the automobile segment," a statement by Krueger read. He reiterated an earlier forecast for 2018 of achieving an average EBIT margin between 8 and 10 percent in the division. The CEO argued that BMW was in a good position to react to wider changes in the global automotive industry thanks to its performance in 2017. "We recorded record levels for revenue and profits at the start of the year and implemented important strategic decisions," Krueger said. Amongst others, BMW had recently taken first steps towards the establishment of a new joint-venture with Chinese manufacturer Great Wall for the local production of all-electric MINI (a brand owned by BMW). The move reflected a clear commitment to the electrified future of the MINI brand and underscored the growing importance of the Chinese market for BMW. BMW also highlighted that it had opened a brand-new campus for autonomous driving near Munich in April. The state-of-the-art site will be used in collaboration with partners to develop technologies for highly and fully-automated driving. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 21:29:32|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Delegates pose for group photos after the 21st ASEAN+3 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting in Manila, the Philippines, May 4, 2018. The finance ministers and central bank governors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN+3) on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to resisting "all forms of protectionism" as well as commitment to "an open and rules-based framework for multilateral trade." (Xinhua/Roulle Umali) MANILA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The finance ministers and central bank governors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN+3) on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to resisting "all forms of protectionism" as well as commitment to "an open and rules-based framework for multilateral trade." "We also recognize the importance of resisting all forms of protectionism, enhancing integration through deepening intra-regional trade, investment linkages, and improving connectivity," they said in a joint statement at the end of the 21st ASEAN+3 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting. At the same time, they will maintain their strong trade and investment linkages with the rest of the world, they added. The officials said they remain vigilant against downside risks that may threaten the recovery in the global economy. "We discussed the risks posed by rising trade protectionism and faster-than-expected tightening in global financial conditions, and uncertainty of geopolitical tension," according to the statement. The officials said the risks, individually or collectively, threaten the recovery in the regional and global economy. They pledged to strengthen cooperation to secure regional economic and financial stability. To build resilience against external shocks, they vowed to continue to maintain adequate buffers, underpinned by the continued enhancement of the regional safety net. The officials also welcomed the Panmunjom Declaration agreed between the leaders of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on April 27, adding that they look forward to further progress in easing geopolitical tension in the region. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. TOKYO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of children in Japan dropped by 170,000 from a year earlier to 15.53 million as of April 1, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said in a report Friday. According to the statistics bureau's data, the number of children aged 14 or under dropped for the 37th successive year, marking a new record low since record keeping began in 1950 and casting a shadow over Shinzo Abe administration's efforts to reverse the nation's lengthy low birthrate. Abe has set about trying to combat the nation's dwindling birthrate by trying to facilitate child-rearing through upping the number of daycare facilities and through state-backed initiatives to support families with low incomes. But the results have yet to make a quantifiable difference, as evidenced by the ratio of children to the population dropping to a new record low of 12.3 percent and marking the 44th consecutive year of decline, according to the bureau. The ratio of children to the overall population in Japan is the lowest among countries in the world with a population of 40 million or more, with the ministry's data showing that by age the number of newborn babies to two-year-old children stood at just 2.93 million in the recording period. Children aged 12 to 14 made up the largest group, the ministry said, at 3.26 million, with an overall gender integer of 7.95 million boys and 7.58 million girls. Compared to Japan's current number of children standing at 15.53 million in the recording period, there were 29.89 million children at Japan's baby-boom peak in 1954. According to leading demographers, by 2050 Japan will have 23 percent fewer citizens, with current demographic trends likely to continue to the end of the century. In 2017, Japan's population fell for a seventh straight year to 126.70 million, with people aged over 64 comprising 27.7 percent of the total, according to the government's data. Some economists have described the implications of Japan's demographic crisis as a ticking "time-bomb" as a rapidly aging and simultaneously shrinking society is diminishing the nation's workforce. "This is the biggest crisis facing the nation, with only half-baked Abe-led reforms being introduced to cope with a future 'hollowed out' workforce, plummeting birthrate and rocketing social security costs that threaten to irrevocably reshape Japan's economic landscape," Hisao Katayama, a senior equity analyst at Nomura Securities Co. told Xinhua. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 21:59:38|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close A Syrian soldier flashes the victory sign near buses transporting rebels and their families on the outskirts of the Beit Sahm town, south of the capital Damascus, on May 4, 2018. Rebels and their families kept pouring out of three towns south of Damascus, under a new Russian-mediated deal that will see them depart to rebel-held areas in northern Syria, according to Xinhua reporters. (Xinhua/Hummam Sheikh Ali) DAMASCUS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Rebels and their families kept pouring out of three towns south of Damascus, under a new Russian-mediated deal that will see them depart to rebel-held areas in northern Syria, according to Xinhua reporters. Buses were on standby Friday on the outskirts of the town of Beit Sahm after collecting hundreds of rebels and their families leaving Beit Sahm, Yalda and Babila south of Damascus. Friday marked the second batch of rebels and families who rejected to reconcile with the government and agreed to leave to the northwestern province of Idlib. The government has for long offered amnesty to those who lay down their weapons and embark on the reconciliation process, but others who reject the offer are provided a ride to rebel-held areas in Idlib. In a trip for Xinhua and other media outlets, the reporters saw Men, women, and children were sitting inside the buses and on the sidewalk just outside Beit Sahm on Friday, as the town is the gathering point for evacuees leaving the nearby Yalda and Babila. The reporters also saw Russian Military Police at the entrance of the town, observing the evacuation process, and their vehicles moved out as the buses were about to leave to Idlib. The entire evacuation process from these towns is expected to finish by Saturday or late time Friday. Afterward, the Syrian army will enter the towns and the rehabilitation process will begin for the government establishments to return operative inside. It's worth mentioning that three towns, in particular, have for long been out of the conflict zone, as the Syrian army concluded a truce with various rebel groups in these towns in 2014, and since then the Syrian government has been trying to turn the deal from a truce to reconciliation, which will allow the government to enter those areas and take control. The three towns are close to the areas of Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk Camp, both largely controlled by the Islamic State (IS), and the Syrian army has been making progress since launching an offensive against IS in those areas. A day earlier, the Syrian army said it had cut in half the Hajar al-Aswad area amid progress against IS in those areas south of Damascus. The military moving to clear the southern rim of Damascus was initiated last month, after the rebels in the Eastern Ghouta had been evacuated to Idlib under a similar deal that also saw many of them reconciling with the government and remaining in their areas. Russia has mediated almost all of the evacuation processes that have taken place in southern and eastern Damascus recently, making a big effort to reach a formula to end the presence of the ultra-radical groups from areas near Damascus without extra battles. NAIROBI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Kenya Red Cross on Friday appealed for 5 million U.S. dollars to provide emergency assistance to some 150,000 Kenyans displaced by floods. Abbas Gullet, Secretary General of Kenya Red Cross, told reporters in Nairobi that the funds will cater for food, shelter and healthcare to populations affected by flooding that has intensified against a backdrop of torrential rainfall. "We are launching an appeal for 5 million dollars to reach 150,000 out of 260,000 people displaced by floods countrywide. The rains are higher than we had anticipated and 32 out of 47 counties are already affected by flooding," said Gullet. He warned that communicable diseases like cholera and typhoid could erupt in low-lying counties affected by flooding due to widespread contamination of water sources. "Our immediate areas of intervention include supply of water treatment chemicals to prevent a cholera epidemic in flooded regions," Gullet said. He added that nutritional supplements were required to cushion flood victims from acute hunger and malnutrition Statistics from Kenya Red Cross indicate that 112 people have so far died since mid-March when torrential rains started pounding the East African nation. Gullet said that infrastructure worth millions of dollars has been destroyed by floods while crops and livestock have been wiped out in the semi-arid counties hence worsening food insecurity. "We are conducting regular assessment and have discovered that supply of essential goods and services in floods affected counties has been disrupted. The displaced can hardly access health facilities while schools are a no go zone since they are submerged," Gullet told reporters. He revealed that Kenya Red Cross has partnered with the central and county governments to scale up emergency interventions for the population affected by floods. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 22:12:33|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli soldiers during clashes after a protest against the expanding of Jewish settlements in Kufr Qadoom village near the West Bank city of Nablus, on May 4, 2018. Clashes broke out Friday between dozens of Palestinian protestors and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel during the sixth Friday of rallies and protests called "the Great March of Return." (Xinhua/Ayman Nobani) TUNIS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A terrorist was shot dead and several others wounded in an operation carried out by special units of National Guard on Birinou Mountain in Kasserine province in central-western Tunisia, announced the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior on Friday. The operation was launched in the heights of Kasserine, in the hunt for other members of an armed terrorist group. Since 2011, the province of Kasserine, located near the border with Algeria, is known to be the main stronghold of extremist armed elements. In early April, another terrorist was shot dead by the Special Forces of the National Guard, and a second one was captured alive after an exchange of gunfire in Kasserine. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 22:29:50|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks during a conference to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Two centuries on, despite huge and profound changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a grand gathering to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth. The gathering, Xi said, is a tribute to the "greatest thinker" of history and shows "our firm belief" in the scientific truth of Marxism. Inside the Great Hall of the People, a giant portrait of Marx was hung, flanked by two rows of red flags, facing about 3,000 participants. On the opposite side, a banner reads "Rally closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, uphold and develop Marxism and strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era!" Senior leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Wang Qishan were present. Wang Huning presided over the gathering. It capped a series of celebrations, held in recent weeks by both the government and the public, young and old, online and offline, to commemorate Marx. Two days ago, Xi visited Peking University where the story of Marxism in China began. The People's Daily hailed Marxism's crucial role in China's modernization in an editorial. "While the world has come to a 'crossroad', China is unfazed... Marxism is key to China's stability and development," it said. "In the new era, Chinese Communists still need to learn from Marx," Xi told Friday's gathering. "Let the wonderful pictures of human society envisioned by Marx and Friedrich Engels keep rolling out in the land of China." GREATEST THINKER Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, a pathfinder for international communism and the greatest thinker of modern times." "Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, to remember his great character and historic deeds and to review his noble spirit and brilliant thoughts," Xi said. With noble ideals and no fear of difficulty or adversity, throughout his life, Marx devoted himself to perseveringly striving for the liberation of humanity, scaling the peak of thought in his pursuit of truth, and the unremitting fight to overturn the old world and establish a new one, according to Xi. Marx is not only a great figure who bore the weight of the world, but also an ordinary person with passion for life, who was sincere and true to friendship. Xi said the most valuable and influential spiritual asset that Marx left us is the scientific theory named after him -- Marxism. Like a spectacular sunrise, the theory illuminated the path of humanity's exploration of the rule of history, and humanity's search for their own liberation. "The thought and theory of Marx are of his times and go beyond his times," Xi said. "They are the essence of the spirit of that times and the essence of the spirit of all humanity." Xi said Marxism is a scientific theory that reveals the rule of human society development in a creative manner. Having developed the materialist conception of history and surplus value theory, Marx showed how humanity would leap from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom and the road for the people to realize freedom and liberation, Xi said. Marxism, the first ideology for the liberation of the people themselves, is a theory of the people. "Marxism, for the first time, explored the path for humanity's freedom and liberation from the stance of the people, and pointed out the direction, with scientific theory, toward an ideal society with no oppression or exploitation, where every person would enjoy equality and freedom," Xi said. Stressing that practicality is a prominent characteristic of Marxism that makes it different from other theories, Xi said Marxism is a theory of practices that directs the people to change the world. It is an open theory that is constantly developing and always stands at the frontier of the times, Xi said. "That is why it is always able to keep young, explore the new issues in the development of times and respond to the new challenges for human society." The general secretary said that over the 170 years since the publication of The Communist Manifesto, Marxism had been spread around the world, unrivaled in the history of human ideology in terms of the breadth and depth of its influence. After the end of World War II, a large number of socialist countries were established, Xi said, stressing that the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially, has greatly increased the socialist strength in the world. "There might be setbacks in the development of socialism in the world, but the overall trend for human society development has never changed, and it will never change," Xi said. PERFECTLY RIGHT "Marxism has not only profoundly changed the world, but also China," Xi said. The reverberations of the October Revolution in Russia brought Marxism-Leninism to China, pointing out the direction forward, offering a brand new choice for the Chinese people in their struggle to survive, and setting the scene for the birth of the CPC. Since the CPC's birth, it has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of Chinese revolution and construction, transforming the Chinese nation from "the sick man of East Asia" to one who has stood up, by uniting and leading the people through long-term struggle. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism can we save China," Xi said. Since reform and opening up, the CPC has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China's reform and opening up, and the nation who stood up has grown rich. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism with Chinese characteristics can we develop China," Xi said. In the new era, the CPC again combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China, uniting and leading the people in "undertaking the great struggle, building the great project, advancing the great cause and realizing the great dream." The Chinese nation has come to embrace a tremendous transformation, as the one who has grown rich now is becoming strong. "This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics can we realize national rejuvenation," Xi said. "It is perfectly right for history and the people to choose Marxism, as well as for the CPC to write Marxism on its own flag, to adhere to the principle of combining the fundamental principles of Marxism with China's reality, and continuously adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the times." STUDY MARXISM IN NEW ERA In the new era, Chinese Communists still need to learn from Marx, study and practice Marxism to keep the great ship of national rejuvenation sailing in the right direction, Xi said. "Learning from Marx, we must study and practice his thoughts on the rules of societal evolution," he said, adding that Marx revealed the inevitability of Communism. "We must grasp the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism," Xi said, calling for lifelong hard work for Communism. Xi said that standing with the people was fundamental. "We must make it our fundamental mission to strive for people's wellbeing and our fundamental purpose to serve the people with all our heart," he said. Freeing and developing the productive forces is essential to socialism, and an issue Chinese Communists have been exploring and addressing generation by generation. "We must be brave enough to deepen reform in all areas and do more to boost the vitality of productive forces by adjusting the relations of production," Xi said. He said that the thought on the people's democracy in Marxism must be studied and put to practice. State organs must transform themselves from the society's masters to public servants and be supervised by the people, he said. "We must unwaveringly keep to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics," Xi said. China will advance socialist democracy under the organic unity of Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance, and continue to strengthen the institutional guarantee to ensure the people run the country and the people's democracy be more effectively practiced, he said. "We must base our work in China, embrace modernization, the world, and the future, consolidate Marxism as our guiding ideology, develop advanced socialist culture and improve socialist ethical standards," Xi said. "We must imbue core socialist values in all areas of social development and promote the creative evolution and development of fine traditional Chinese culture." He stressed that development should be people-centered, focus on the most pressing, most immediate issues that concern the people the most, and continue to ensure and improve the people's wellbeing, promote social fairness and justice, and ensure people's access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing, and social assistance at a higher level, so as to constantly promote well-rounded human development. "We must learn and practice Marxist thought on the relationship between humanity and nature," said Xi. Stressing that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, Xi urged mobilization of all social forces to advance an ecological civilization and jointly build the Beautiful China. Xi called for learning and practicing the thought on world history in Marxism. He spoke of the need for peaceful development, for remaining firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, and pursuing a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, constantly expand cooperation with other countries, vigorously participate in global governance, and realize win-win cooperation and common development in more fields and at a higher level. China neither depends on others, nor does it pillage, said Xi, vowing to work together with other countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity and a better world. He spoke of the need to study and practice Marxist party building. "We should take full charge of our great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream. We should strengthen our consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment. We should work ceaselessly to ensure full and strict governance over the Party," he said. Xi pledged to build the Party into a vibrant Marxist governing party that is always at the forefront of the times, enjoys the wholehearted support of the people, has the courage to reform itself, and is able to withstand any test. Today, the tasks of reform, development and stability are unprecedentedly arduous. Contradictions, risks and challenges are as multifarious as never before, and the test of governance is greater than ever, Xi said. "We must keep increasing our ability to use Marxism to analyze and solve practical problems, and use scientific theories to guide our work to tackle major challenges, risks, obstructions, contradictions and problems. We must think about and handle major development problems with broader vision and greater far-sightedness," he said. Society has seen radical changes in the 170 years since the publication of the Communist Manifesto. However, general principles expounded by Marxism, on the whole, remain totally correct, Xi said. Xi urged all Party members, especially officials at all levels, to study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, in a more purposeful and painstaking manner. "There is no sole, unchangeable pattern for socialism," Xi said, adding that to turn the blueprint into reality, it is necessary to integrate the basic principles of scientific socialism with the country's reality, history and culture, as well as the call of the day. It is the sacred duty of Chinese Communists to constantly develop Marxism, Xi said. "We should open new horizons for Marxism in contemporary China and in the 21st century," Xi said. The gathering ended with rhythms of "L'Internationale". Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 22:29:51|Editor: pengying Video Player Close BEIRUT, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's President Michel Aoun assured Friday that his country will find a solution for the Syrian refugee crisis "regardless of the EU and UN's opinions." Aoun's remarks came during a meeting with a EU ministerial delegation and head of the European Union Election Observation Mission, said the presidential media office. Aoun stressed that the Syrian refugee crisis "is an existential threat related to Lebanon's stability, independence and sovereignty." "We expect the European Union to help us return the Syrian refugees, monitor this return and make sure it is safe and stable, especially that the Syrian government does not refuse their return to safe towns and villages," added the president. Aoun rejected last month a UN-EU joint statement issued during the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, noting that it contained a call for a "veiled naturalization" of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The UN, the EU and major world powers have recently warned that "present conditions" in Syria are "not conducive for voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity." According to the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, Lebanon hosts more than 1 million Syrians who fled their war-torn country since the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in 2011, though many expect the real number much higher. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 22:34:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in talked about bilateral ties and peace development on the Korean Peninsula during a phone talk on Friday. Xi said China pays great attention to bilateral relations and is willing to enhance communication with South Korea, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and promote cultural exchanges so as to steadily move bilateral relations forward in the common interest of both sides. Xi pointed out that the relations between the two countries maintain a good momentum of development, and consensuses of the two leaders have been gradually implemented. Moon said he is delighted at the implementation of those consensuses and South Korea is committed to pushing forward continuous development of bilateral strategic cooperative partnership. South Korea hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China on the situation of the Korean Peninsula as well as other major international issues, said Moon. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 22:49:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GENEVA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Over four years of conflict in eastern Ukraine has devastated the education system, destroying or damaging hundreds of schools and forcing 200,000 girls and boys to learn in militarized environments, the UN children's fund (UNICEF) said Friday. "Children are learning in schools with bullet holes in the walls and sandbags in the windows, bomb shelters in the basements, and shrapnel in schoolyards," UNICEF Ukraine representative Giovanna Barberis said at a UN briefing here. "The education system in eastern Ukraine has been in the crossfire for more than four years. All sides of the conflict must respect international humanitarian law and ensure that schools are safe places for children to learn." Their education takes place amid volatile fighting and they face dangers due to unexploded weapons of war, and the proximity of military sites, such as bases, storage facilities and security checkpoints, said Barberis. UNICEF said with its partners it has monitored at least eight instances where military and armed groups' sites are within 500 meters from a kindergarten or school, and two separate locations where schools and these sites are only a few meters apart. Since the beginning of the current school year, UNICEF has monitored six former school buildings that have been occupied or used by military or armed groups. At least 45 schools have been damaged or destroyed over the last 16 months. This is in addition to more than 700 schools damaged since the conflict began. Principal Elena Mihatskaya's Secondary School Number 2, in the town of Krasnohorivka, has been shut down since last May after it was hit by a shell that caused massive damage to the roof and multiple classrooms. "The children are extremely nervous of shelling and teachers try to calm them down, but it's hard for them," UNICEF quoted her saying in a statement. This year, UNICEF said it has appealed for 23.6 million U.S. dollars to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to children and families affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine. To date, less than 15 percent of this appeal has been met. LUSAKA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and Angola have agreed to explore cooperation in oil and gas, according to a final joint communique issued on Friday following a two-day state visit by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. The communique said the leaders of the two countries agreed to cooperate in the oil and gas sectors given the resource endowment and expertise that Angola possesses and the readily available market in Zambia. The two leaders further agreed to expedite plans for the construction of an oil pipeline from Angola to Zambia as well as renewed commitments to the development of transport infrastructure linking the two neighboring countries. The communique said the two leaders also underscored the need to increase the levels of bilateral trade. The Angolan president arrived in Zambia on Wednesday and held talks with his Zambian counterpart President Edgar Lungu. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of five agreements that included on the exemption of visas, security and public order, cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters and a protocol on agricultural cooperation. SOFIA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgaria-United States joint exercise Thracian Eagle 2018, involving a dozen of F-15 jets from the Oregon Air National Guard, kicked off at Graf Ignatievo Air Base on Friday, officials said. During the five-week drill, the U.S. tactical fighters, together with Bulgarian MiG-29 and L-39 jets and anti-aircraft missile units, would carry out "full range of tasks", Bulgarian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The main goals of the drill were to achieve greater interoperability of the Bulgarian Air Force for participation in operations under the auspices of NATO, enhance training of the personnel, as well as improve the procedures for logistics and maintenance of visiting formations, the statement said. U.S. F-16 jets from the Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany would relocate to Graf Ignatievo for three days in the middle of May to join the drill, the statement said. Joint tasks would also be carried out with British Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and crews of the Romanian Air Force, which would operate from the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania, it added. The United States and Bulgaria, a NATO member since 2004, signed an agreement in 2006, allowing U.S. troops to be deployed in Bulgaria. Since then, every year the U.S. and Bulgarian soldiers have worked and trained together at the joint training facilities of Graf Ignatievo, Bezmer and Novo Selo. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 23:15:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISTANBUL, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are historically important as the choice to be made by the nation will determine whether a powerful presidential system will be put into effect or the parliamentary system will be re-embraced. Many fear Turkey would end up in a one-man rule in case the presidential system is adopted. The elections will decide "whether democracy or autocracy prevails," Sami Selcuk, who teaches at the Faculty of Law in Bilkent University, told Xinhua. A victory by an alliance of parties led by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the polls will mean the adoption of an executive presidency. The opposition parties have vowed, however, to switch back to the parliamentary system if an opposition candidate is elected president. Turkey will have snap presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24. In a controversial referendum in April 2017, Turks voted in favor of a switch from the parliamentary system to an executive presidency. The new system will fully go into effect following the upcoming elections. The presidential system introduced by the ruling party has been much criticized for bestowing sweeping powers to the president while restraining those of the parliament and placing the judiciary under the executive's sway. "Even people with the best of intentions would end up as dictators in such a system," said Selcuk, who is also the honorary president of Turkey's Court of Cassation. The Islamist AKP defends the presidential system on the grounds that it is not only needed for the country to be able to tackle some major problems, but also to achieve better economic progress. The executive presidency, which bolsters quick decision-making, is needed to increase efficiency in government, argued President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will run for president again as the AKP leader. Many feel that Turkey's regime can no longer be called democratic in case an executive presidency goes into effect. As opposed to past elections, it is Turkey's political regime that will in a sense change this time, Ertugrul Gunay, who formerly served as an AKP cabinet minister, told Xinhua. "Because these elections are critically important, a tense race has been going on between advocates of pluralist democracy and one-man rule," said Gunay, who cut off ties with his party in 2013. Remarks made by the ruling party's deputies and sympathizers in the past have raised concerns that the AKP may attempt to settle accounts with the secular Turkish Republic and restructure the state along Islamist lines should Erdogan win the presidential race. Ahead of the critically important elections, Turkey's political parties have come together in two rival alliances. The AKP-led alliance, which includes two nationalist parties -- the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Grand Unity Party (BBP) -- is cooperating in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. Other than his own party, Erdogan is being backed by the MHP and the BBP in the presidential race. Having failed to agree on a joint presidential candidate, the opposition parties nominated their own candidates for the presidential race. No candidate is expected to get more than half of the votes in the first round of the presidential election expected to be a neck-and-neck race. In the runoff, the opposition parties are expected to support the candidate who would get the most votes among the contenders of the opposition. Some of the opposition candidates who lack the support of 20 deputies for candidacy need to collect 100,000 signatures by the end of May 9 to be able to run for the presidency. The elections will be held under a state of emergency put in place in the wake of a failed coup in July 2016. The opposition's alliance is composed of the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Good Party, the Felicity Party and the Democrat Party. As the main opposition in Turkey, the CHP on Friday announced Muharrem Ince, a veteran lawmaker from the party, as its presidential candidate. The Good Party's candidate is its leader Meral Aksener, while Temel Karamollaoglu, head of the Felicity Party, will need to collect 100,000 signatures for his candidacy. The opposition is reportedly concerned about possible fraud in the polls, as there were widespread claims of cheating in the referendum last year which passed by a very slim majority, raising a big controversy about the result. ATHENS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Greek foreign minister Nikos Kotzias and his Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) counterpart Nikola Dimitrov reiterated on Friday the two countries' willingness to resolve the long-standing name dispute. Ministers of foreign affairs, the interior, and transport from Greece, FYROM, Albania and Bulgaria held a two-day meeting at Thessaloniki city, northern Greece, seeking closer cooperation between the neighboring countries in many sectors. One of the main goals of the 3rd ministerial meeting is for Albania and FYROM join the European Union (EU) and prepare for their cooperation within the EU, Kotzias said addressing the event, according Greek national news agency AMNA. One of the key obstacles in FYROM's accession to the EU is the name row which started with Greece when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and chose the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province. Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. In recent months, UN-mediated talks to resolve the issue have intensified. "It would be a pity should we do not see the efforts we have made bear fruit," Kotzias said during a press briefing at the end of the meeting. On May 12, UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz, the mediator in the name dispute, will be back in Athens to participate in talks with Kotzias and Dimitrov, the Greek minister added. "There is willingness to resolve the issue," Dimitrov said on his part. LUSAKA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Zambia on Friday revoked a license of one television station and suspended licenses for 13 radio stations for failure to pay statutory fees in line with the law. The affected broadcasting stations have since been given 14 days to settle the fees or face punitive action. Justin Mutale, the Chairperson of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the regulator of the broadcasting industry, said the affected broadcasting stations have failed to pay the statutory fees despite repeated reminders and that some have been operating without paying the fees since 2015. "The public may wish to know that the stations had been written to concerning their non-compliance, particularly failure to pay license fees," he told reporters during a press briefing. He said the television station, Copperbelt Television, has not been broadcasting in line with the law hence the decision to revoke its license. The regulator has also warned other broadcasting stations that have not paid their statutory fees for 2018 to pay the fees within seven days, failure to which action will be taken against them. The broadcasting stations are supposed to pay statutory fees in January of each year. The regulator expressed disappointment that broadcasting stations were finding it difficult to pay statutory fees when the fees were the lowest compared to what was happening in other countries in the region. Zambia has seen the mushrooming of radio and television stations since the liberalization of the broadcasting industry. Currently, authorities in Zambia have issued 115 radio licenses and 45 television licenses. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 23:35:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature will conduct a round of inspections on the implementation of the law on the prevention and control of infectious diseases, in eight provincial-level regions. The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee announced the inspections, which will run until mid-June, at a meeting in Beijing on Thursday. The law was enacted in 1989 and revised in 2004 and 2013. Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC, stressed the importance of carrying out the Healthy China initiative, noting that the inspection tour aimed to strengthen law enforcement and safeguard people's health and security. A total of 19,796 people died from infectious diseases on the Chinese mainland in 2017, according to the former National Health and Family Planning Commission. BERLIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Germany may follow the recent example of Scotland by altering its own regulations for minimum alcohol pricing, the federal government announced here Friday. "If we want less people in Germany to become addicted to alcohol and less youths to drink themselves unconscious, policymakers and society will have to work together," Marlene Mortler, the government's official drugs commissioner, told Funke media group. "We cannot just sit back and wait, but must instead continue to explore appropriate possible solutions for Germany," she said. The drugs expert complained alcohol was "far too omnipresent" in German everyday life, arguing that "low cost alcohol" at "discounter prices" only allowed consumers to become intoxicated quickly and could hence not be justified on the grounds of responsible consumption. As of May 1, the Scottish government has enacted a law which will set a minimum price for all alcoholic products in an attempt to reduce cases of alcohol-related disease and mortality. Raphael Gassmann, president of the German Center for the Control of Drug Abuse, said in an interview with Funke Friday that minimum pricing was the first step to lowering overall alcohol consumption and was therefore needed in Germany as well. "Whoever wants to reduce alcohol consumption must ensure that excessively low prices for alcoholic beverages are raised in Germany," Gassmann argued. The expert pointed to studies which had demonstrated empirically that there was a strong inverse correlation between the popular levels of alcohol consumption and the costs thereof. Similarly, Kai Kolpatzik, an addiction expert at the Federal Association of AOK health insurance funds, urged Berlin to adopt a regime similar to the one established in Scotland. "Germany is one of the countries with the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world. As a consequence, I would recommend devoting more thought to higher alcohol pricing here as well," Kolpatzik said. People read a book at Kocaeli book fair, Turkey, on May 4, 2018. A total of 20,000 books appeared on trees across Turkey's northwestern city of Kocaeli on Friday as part of a book fair there. (Xinhua/Kocaeli Municipality) ISTANBUL, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20,000 books appeared on trees across Turkey's northwestern city of Kocaeli on Friday as part of a book fair there. "Our trees blossomed into books this spring," Kocaeli Mayor Ibrahim Karaosmanoglu said at a ceremony. "The important thing here is to attract the attention of citizens and increase their interest in books." A girl (top) holds a book at Kocaeli book fair, Turkey, on May 4, 2018. A total of 20,000 books appeared on trees across Turkey's northwestern city of Kocaeli on Friday as part of a book fair there. (Xinhua/Kocaeli Municipality) The books put on trees are mostly world classics and novels for children, and they were collected in a very short time period, the municipal government said in a press release. Some of the citizens climbed up the trees for books by ladders, while others by the back of their friends. "This event is very much needed among young people, not only in Kocaeli but in the entire country," a female university student said in video clip released by the city. "I hope the authorities will distribute more books for free." Photo taken on May 4, 2018 shows books hung on trees at Kocaeli book fair, Turkey. A total of 20,000 books appeared on trees across Turkey's northwestern city of Kocaeli on Friday as part of a book fair there. (Xinhua/Kocaeli Municipality) A primary school student got up early in the morning for the books, but he is not tall enough to reach them, so he asked his father for help. "I came here at 7 o'clock in the morning to be able to get the books that my son was looking for, before anyone else," the father said on top of a tree. The 10th Kocaeli book fair focuses on children literature and draws 470 publishers, the press release said, noting it lasts until May 13. PARIS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- French workers who opposed President Emmanuel Macron's reform of rail sector stormed offices of the ruling party "Republic on the Move" (LREM) on Friday in a further move to force the government to reconsider the reform, Le Parisien newspaper reported. Chanting "it's going to explode" or "rail workers angry, we're not going to let ourselves go," about 100 workers entered the headquarters of Macron's party in Paris earlier on Friday "in a purely symbolic action to challenge LREM officials on rail reform," one of the protesters told the newspaper. "We decided to show our dissatisfaction to the representatives of the president's majority who do not absolutely listen to rail workers," Patrick Belhadj, Secretary General of the CGT-Cheminots in East-Paris was quoted as saying. Protesters, mostly from the CGT and SUD-rail unions later left the site in calm, and some of them had been briefly detained by police, the report added. The country's labor unions started on April 3 a series of month-rolling nationwide rail strikes with a wave of two successive days out of every five days. They planned 36 days of action for April-June period, a move that may paralyze the eurozone's second power and one of the world's top tourism destinations. They seek to make French president reconsider his reform of the railway sector that targets to liberalize rail passenger services and impose new rules of recruitment for "a more efficient and unified" rail operator. Besides, it proposed to scrap preferential terms of rail workers, including retirement on full pension at 52 years old, a decade earlier than other French employees. Despite the public discontent, lawmakers, on April 17, approved the reform. WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has not asked the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of U.S. troops in South Korea, U.S. National Security adviser John Bolton said on Friday. Bolton's repudiation came a day after a New York Times article reported that Trump was looking for options to scale back the number of U.S. troops in South Korea. "The New York Times story is utter nonsense," Bolton said. "The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea." U.S. troops have been stationed in South Korea since the signing of the Korean War armistice agreement in 1953. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula eased significantly following a summit last week between the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Kim is to meet with Trump in May or early June. The location and date for the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit has yet to be announced. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 00:05:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in talked about bilateral ties and peace development on the Korean Peninsula during a phone talk on Friday. Xi said China pays great attention to bilateral relations and is willing to enhance communication with South Korea, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and promote cultural exchanges so as to steadily move bilateral relations forward in the common interest of both sides. Xi pointed out that the relations between the two countries maintain a good momentum of development, and consensuses of the two leaders have been gradually implemented. Moon said he is delighted at the implementation of those consensuses and South Korea is committed to pushing forward continuous development of bilateral strategic cooperative partnership. South Korea hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China on the situation of the Korean Peninsula as well as other major international issues, said Moon. Moon briefed to Xi achievements of the recent inter-Korean summit. Moon said that the successful summit has reached broad consensuses on improving the inter-Korean relations, promoting the denuclearization of the Peninsula and establishing a peace mechanism, during which the two sides jointly published the Panmunjom Declaration. According to Moon, South Korea appreciated China's important role in promoting positive changes of the situation of the Korean Peninsula, thanked China for its firmly support for dialogues between the south and north sides as well as its contribution to pushing settlement of issues through dialogues and negotiations. Xi pointed out that the recent historic meeting between President Moon and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has achieved important results in improving the relationship between the two sides, defusing tensions and buliding durable peace in the Korean Peninsula, and that China thinks highly of the great efforts by South Korea and the DPRK. MOSCOW, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Security Service (FSB) killed two suspected terrorists during an operation in Nevinnomyssk city in North Caucasus, on Friday, the Russian agency said. "Two leaders of a religious extremist cell who had plotted terrorist attacks resisted during the detention and were killed," the FSB said in a statement. An improvised explosive device, firearms, ammunition and grenades were discovered at the scene of the incident, the statement said. In a separate statement, the FSB said it detained five suspected members of the Islamic State. Also, during an operation in Yaroslavl, a city 250 km northeast of Moscow, the FSB said it discovered an arsenal of improvised explosive devices, explosives, firearms and ammunition. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 00:10:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ANKARA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish cargo vessel slightly collided with a Greek warship in the Aegean Sea early Friday, with no injuries and casualties reported, Turkey's Transportation, Maritime and Communication Ministry said in a statement. A Turkish-flagged 73-meter-long cargo vessel carrying more than 2,000 tons of cement from Turkey's Aegean Izmir province to northwestern Tekirdag, collided with a Greek warship off the Greek island of Lesbos at 4 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT). According to the statement, neither ship was at risk of sinking, and no casualties or injuries were reported. Greek media said, "Armatolos," the Greek navy gunboat, was on patrol during the NATO operation "Aegean Activity" to combat migration flows in the Aegean when the incident occurred. Search and rescue centers between Turkey and Greece intensified coordination after the incident. The investigation is underway. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 00:15:23|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr wave flags as they take part in a campaign rally ahead of the parliamentary election on Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, on May 4, 2018. The vote of parliamentary election will be held on May 12, as around 7,000 candidates will compete for the 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Friday warned Iraqis of voting in the upcoming parliamentary elections for corrupt politicians who proved that they had failed in leading the country. Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalai, Sistani's representative relayed the comments of the most revered Shiite cleric during the weekly Friday prayer, which was aired live by Iraqi local TV channels from the holy Shiite city of Karbala, some 110 km south of Baghdad. Sistani said that Iraqis should "avoid falling into the traps of those who had failed (in leading the country) and corrupted people, whether they have been already experienced or not." According to Karbalai, the religious Shiite leadership, or "Marji'yah," insisted that it stands at "equal distance" from all candidates of all electoral lists, asserting that it is for the voter to decide for whom they would vote. Sistani also called on Iraqis to scrutinize the biographies of the candidates and the leaders of their lists, and insisted that the "Marji'yah" would not allow any individual or party to use its name for electoral gains. He confirmed that people should vote for those who are known of their "efficiency, integrity, respect of the rule of law, willingness to sacrifice for the sake of saving the homeland and serving citizens." The vote of parliamentary election will be held on May 12, as around 7,000 candidates will compete for the 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament. This will be the first general election since Iraq's historical victory over the militant Islamic State group in December last year. Iraq's previous general election was held on April 30, 2014, when the Iraqis elected 328 lawmakers for the parliament. MANILA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Vice Finance Minister Yu Weiping on Friday called for firm support for multilateralism and upholding the multilateral trading system to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. Yu made the call at a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN+3), which was held here in Manila. Yu said the current world economy is maintaining the momentum of recovery; however, such risks as rising trade protectionism and trade frictions as well as medium- and long-term structural challenges should not be ignored. Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, Yu highlighted that four decades of reform and opening-up has been transforming China profoundly and making a big impact on the world. China will unswervingly push forward reform and opening-up so as to achieve high-quality development, he said, adding that sustained and sound growth of Chinese economy will make positive contributions to the development and prosperity of the region. The finance ministers and central bank governors reaffirmed in the meeting their commitment to resisting "all forms of protectionism" as well as to "an open and rules-based framework for multilateral trade and investment to support global economic growth and development." "We also recognize the importance of resisting all forms of protectionism, enhancing integration through deepening intra-regional trade, investment linkages, and improving connectivity, while at the same time maintaining our strong trade and investment linkages with the rest of the world," they said in a joint statement at the end of the meeting. MANGOCHI, Malawi, May 4 (Xinhua) -- World Vision, an international charity organization operating in Malawi, has announced its plans to embark on a campaign of mass distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets in the country's 28 districts to fight malaria. World Vision Malaria Coordinator in Malawi, Cornelius Kunkeyani, briefed authorities and the local media on Friday in the lake shore district of Mangochi, saying the campaign is in line with the Global Fund financing arrangement for the 2018-2020 grants for National Malaria Control Program which World Vision Malawi will coordinate. According to Kunkeyani, Malawi is expected to have 17.9 million people in 2018 and using the WHO recommended quantification of population, the country will need nearly 10 million mosquito nets. "But due to the longtime that has passed since the last census was conducted in June 2008, a 10 percent buffer stock has been added to the total needed, making it about 11 million nets for the campaign," said Kunkeyani. He added: "Out of this amount, the Global Fund will finance procurement of 6.7 million nets while Malaria Foundation will finance the procurement of the remaining 4.3 million nets," The first shipment of the nets is expected to arrive in Malawi in July 2018 and distribution will start in the southern region in September and distribution in the central and northern regions will be in October and November respectively. World Vision will use local structures to make sure that they achieve 100 percent coverage across the country, according to the coordinator. Ministry of Health spokesperson, Joshua Malango, told the media recently during the Malaria Commemoration Day 2018 that the government was worried as sleeping under mosquito nets remained a challenge in Malawi. "It is worrisome that some people use the nets for fishing, while other men believe that sleeping under mosquito nets can turn them impotent," said Malango. In his State of the Nation Address on Friday to mark the official opening of Budget Session of Parliament for 2018/2019 financial year, Malawi President Peter Mutharika disclosed that currently malaria contributes to 30 percent of all patients admitted to Malawi health facilities and 40 percent of those treated were out-patients. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 00:15:25|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers discovered that a widely-used osteoporosis drug might prevent the spread of a particular aggressive form of breast cancer that typically affects younger, premenopausal women. A study published on Friday in the Journal of Experimental Medicine revealed that the zoledronic acid could inhibit UGT8 or UDP Glycosyltransferase 8, an enzyme that drives the progression of basal-like breast cancer. The Basal-like breast cancer is largely untreatable because the tumor cells are usually lacking the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 protein that are the main therapeutic targets for other forms of breast cancer. The researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine examined over 5,000 breast cancer patient samples and found that levels of the metabolic enzyme UGT8 were dramatically elevated in patients with basal-like breast cancer. Higher UGT8 levels correlated with increased tumor size, higher tumor grade, and shorter patient survival times, according to the study. UGT8 catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of sulfatide, a type of lipid that is found on the surface of cells and has been implicated in cancer progression. Dong Chenfang, an oncologist professor with Zhejiang University, and his colleagues found that breast cancer cells expressing high levels of UGT8 produced large amounts of sulfatide, which in turn activated signaling pathways crucial for the survival and metastasis of basal-like breast cancer. The researchers also found that depleting UGT8 from these cells lowered sulfatide levels and reduced the cells' ability to form tumors when injected into mice. They confirmed that zoledronic acid is a direct inhibitor of UGT8 that reduces the levels of sulfatide in basal-like breast cancer cells. Zoledronic acid is a drug that is approved to treat a variety of bone diseases, including osteoporosis. Treatment with the drug impaired the cells' ability to invade their surroundings and, accordingly, prevented them from metastasizing to the lungs after they were injected into the mice. "Pharmacological inhibition of UGT8 by zoledronic acid offers a promising opportunity for the clinical treatment of this challenging disease," Dong said. LUSAKA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Africa must urgently upgrade its maritime and logistic infrastructure in order to successfully promote the continent's trade, especially intra-Africa trade, the African Export-Import Bank said on Friday. In an emailed statement, Kanayo Awani, the bank's managing director in charge of intra-African trade initiative, said the weak maritime and logistic infrastructure was harmful to African trade, adding that the continent currently had the world's highest transportation and transaction costs. In remarks delivered at the Africa Ship-owners Summit in Seychelles, the official said only a few of the African countries with access to the sea had established the right infrastructure for maritime transport even though maritime transport accounted for 92 percent of Africa's trade. Africa, she said, currently handled only six percent of global seaborne traffic, out of which 50 percent of the volume was handled by Egypt and South Africa. According to her, there should be incentives to encourage African businesses to support the development of local shipping lines. Opportunities also existed in inland waterways, cruise ship services, trans-shipment, container manufacturing and repairs, dry docking and other value addition services, she added. Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines, delivers a speech during an Iowa-China Business Forum in Des Moines, the United States, May 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) DES MOINES, the United States, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Frank Cownie, mayor of Des Moines, the largest city in the U.S. mid-western state of Iowa, on Thursday expressed confidence that sub-national cooperation between the United States and China will further expand. Since the establishment of sister-city relationship between Des Moines and Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, in 1985, the two sides have maintained active exchanges in various fields, Cownie told Xinhua prior to addressing the Iowa-China Business Forum in the agricultural state's capital. "I think we have great possibilities to work together and have business together and trade to expand the relationship we've had for so many years," said Cownie. Iowa and Des Moines are in a more privileged position than other U.S. states and municipalities in improving trade relations with their Chinese partners as Iowa's former governor Terry Branstad is now the top U.S. diplomat in China, he added. The city government of Des Moines welcomes more Chinese enterprises to come and invest and looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation in environmental protection, culture, education and other areas with China, he said. Many Des Moines companies also see China as an important market, Cownie said. Greater Des Moines serves as a government, commercial, cultural and recreational hub for Iowa and the region has one of the best business climates in the United States, he said. For example, the area is nationally recognized for having a cost of doing business 15 percent below the national average, a low cost of living and an exceptional quality of life -- Des Moines was named among the top 10 best cities to live in America by U.S. News & World Report this month, he said. ADDIS ABABA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has strongly condemned the terrorist attack against the Libya National Election Commission. Conveying his condolences to the bereaved families and the people and government of Libya, Mahamat said the Pan-African bloc would continue to support the government of Libya to ensure that the northern African nation continues on the path of peace, security and development, according to an AU statement on Friday. The death toll in an attack by Islamic State (IS) suicide bombers on the headquarters of the election commission in Tripoli on Wednesday has risen to 15 while 21 others were injured, according to a local medical source. Libya has been suffering insecurity and political division since the 2011 uprising that toppled the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime. During its recent meeting, the AU high-level committee on Libya, expressed deep concern over the security situation in Libya and condemned the additional inflow of arms into the country. Expressing deep concern over the proliferation of armed groups and criminal activities in the South of Libya, in particular, the AU high-level committee underlined the need for a tailored engagement strategy, including through convening of a meeting with key stakeholders in that region. A tripartite task force of the AU, the European Union (EU), and the United Nations (UN) has also been endeavoring to support stranded African migrants in Libya, while consolidating efforts to dismantle organized networks of human traffickers and migrant smugglers. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 01:05:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in talked about bilateral ties and peace development on the Korean Peninsula during a phone talk on Friday. Xi said China pays great attention to bilateral relations and is willing to enhance communication with South Korea, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and promote cultural exchanges so as to steadily move bilateral relations forward in the common interest of both sides. Xi pointed out that the relations between the two countries maintain a good momentum of development, and consensuses of the two leaders have been gradually implemented. Moon said he is delighted at the implementation of those consensuses and South Korea is committed to pushing forward continuous development of bilateral strategic cooperative partnership. South Korea hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China on the situation of the Korean Peninsula as well as other major international issues, said Moon. Moon briefed to Xi achievements of the recent inter-Korean summit. Moon said that the successful summit has reached broad consensuses on improving the inter-Korean relations, promoting the denuclearization of the Peninsula and establishing a peace mechanism, during which the two sides jointly published the Panmunjom Declaration. According to Moon, South Korea appreciated China's important role in promoting positive changes of the situation of the Korean Peninsula, thanked China for its firmly support for dialogues between the south and north sides as well as its contribution to pushing settlement of issues through dialogues and negotiations. Xi pointed out that the recent historic meeting between President Moon and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has achieved important results in improving the relationship between the two sides, defusing tensions and building durable peace in the Korean Peninsula, and that China thinks highly of the great efforts by South Korea and the DPRK. Xi said that all parties concerned and the international community should show active support and encouragement to the efforts. Moon added that South Korea is willing to enhance coordination with China, stay committed to solving Korean Peninsula issues through dialogues and negotiations, and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and in the world at large. Xi said the regional situation is at a crucial juncture, which now has an historic opportunity for peace of the Korean Peninsula. China backs the south and north sides of the Peninsula to continue interactions, improving ties, and implement agreements. Xi also said that China is ready to work with the international community as well as all parties concerned, including South Korea and the DPRK, to comprehensively promote the political solution of the Korean Peninsula issue and play a positive role in the final realization of lasting peace in the region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 01:15:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Some 170 Palestinian protesters were injured on Friday in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, the Palestinian side said. Ashraf al Qedra, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson, told reporters that 170 demonstrators were injured, sustaining gunshots, rubber bullet injuries and gas suffocation. Eyewitnesses said after Friday prayers, hundreds headed to five different locations along the border. Israeli soldiers using loudspeakers warned the demonstrators, asking them to "Go home for your safety." The protestors rolled burning tires to within 500 meters of the fence. The Israeli military said some 7,000 Palestinians were protesting along the border. When "violent riots" erupted in five locations, it said troops responded with "riot dispersal means" and live fire. Sallah Abdul Aati, one of the organizers of the rallies, told Xinhua the protests will continue. "The march of the millions is coming and is expected on May 15. This will be the climax of the Great March of Return," he said. The protests have been held for six consecutive weeks. As Israel celebrates its 70th independence anniversary, the Palestinians are demanding that the Palestinian refugees forced to leave their homes during the Arab-Israeli War in 1948 be allowed to return. Photo taken on April 27, 2018 shows artillery and bullets holes left on the wall of the parliamentary building during the 1994's genocide, in Kigali, capital of Rwanda. Twenty-four years after the Rwandan genocide that killed over 1 million people, Rwanda has risen from a devastated nation to what is seen as a "model and miracle" of development. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) by Lyu Tianran, James Gashumba and Mohammed M.Mupenda KIGALI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-four years after the Rwandan genocide that killed over 1 million people, Rwanda has risen from a devastated nation to what is seen as a "model and miracle" of development. The hilly country's economy was almost at a "zero stage" after the genocide, but now the country has recovered from the genocide and is moving ahead, experts have said. The World Bank said the small country has achieved "impressive development gains" since the 1994 genocide and civil war. So what makes Rwanda achieve its gains after the genocide? Political Stability Political stability helps the country to attract investors, which also boosts the country's economic stability, said Ismael Buchanan, Dean of the School of Economics and Governance at the University of Rwanda. In the last 10 years, registered investments in Rwanda have jumped from 800 million dollars in 2007 to 1.675 billion dollars in 2017, which is an increase of more than 100 percent in only a decade, according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Political stability is almost certainly one of major pressing factors that every investor must consider before deciding to risk their hard-earned cash, Buchanan told Xinhua. Unstable and unpredictable political environments hinder investment returns and do not allow for long-term planning, he added. "The country was a deeply divided nation in desperate need of economic and political reconstruction in 1994. Since then, Kagame has established firm personal control over Rwandan politics, generating the political stability needed for economic renewal," said Buchanan. The tourism sector in Rwanda has seen the highest peak in the last two years because of Rwanda's stability and people enjoy staying in Rwanda, said Teddy Kaberuka, a Rwanda-based economic analyst. People come to Rwanda not only for investment but also for meetings and seminars and for holidays with its uniqueness of endangered mountain gorillas, said Kaberuka. Gorilla tourism remains the backbone of Rwanda's tourism and conservation industry. In the last nine years, gorilla tourism has generated 107 million U.S. dollars to Rwanda, said RDB in January. From 2006 to 2017, over 298,000 tourists have visited the Volcanoes National Park, said RDB. Good Governance Good governance contributes to Rwanda's economic performance, Kaberuka said, adding that the political system of Rwanda is very clear for what it wants to achieve in the future. The Rwandan government put a lot of efforts in reconstruction of the country after the genocide, putting all the economic policies which can boost the economy, growing the size of exports and increasing the production on the agriculture sector, he told Xinhua. In Buchanan's opinion, Rwanda has shown its competent efforts to continuously improve the rule of law, democracy, effectiveness of government intervention, fight against corruption, transparency initiatives, unity, to name but a few. Recommendable efforts of the current president Paul Kagame and the Rwandan government contribute to the country's impressive progress made in most of sectors, said Buchanan. Reconciliation When the Tutsi-led rebel force Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) defeated genocidal regime and took power in 1994, it didn't implement revenge policy but see all Rwandan people as one nation, said Albert Rudatsimburwa, a political analyst who owns a private TV and radio station in Rwanda. The 1994's Rwanda genocide claimed over 1 million lives, mostly ethnic Tutsis. After ending the genocide, RPF formed a coalition government, which brought parties that did not participate in the genocide together, and started the journey of reconstruction and reconciliation. Rwanda's reconciliation status is at 92.5 percent, up from 82.3 percent of five years before, according to Rwanda Reconciliation Barometer released in 2016 by Rwanda's National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. According to Buchanan, Rwanda has made enormous strides towards reconciliation, which is a very big step for the country, because it brought unity and it really cleaned out the differences of tribal instincts in the Rwandan people. The government have initiated programs like "Kwibuka", an annual commemoration of the 1994's genocide. It has also adopted a policy of single national identity. Citizens are registered simply as Rwandans, with no ethnic or tribal references any more on their identification papers. Education also plays a role in reconciliation. Rwandan schools discourage children from identifying themselves under ethnicity and instead ask them to focus on building the future of a common Rwanda, said Buchanan. However, Buchanan said that "the road is still long" because Rwanda still faces its own challenges despite the gains over the years. Development challenges still exist, said Teddy Kaberuka. There are many things that need to be done in order to raise the economy, create more employment for the youth, increase productivity of the farmers to meet their daily needs, he said. There is a lot needed in infrastructure development including constructing more roads and health facilities, said Kaberuka. KIEV, May 4 (Xinhua) -- About 200,000 school children in eastern Ukraine are forced to live and learn in the militarized environment due to the armed conflict that has been underway in the region since April 2014, the UN children's fund (UNICEF) said on Friday. Children residing in the conflict-affected area face dangers due to unexploded ordnance and the proximity of military sites, such as bases, storage facilities and security checkpoints, the UNICEF said in a statement. "For many children, frontlines are just meters from their homes, combat soldiers are seen throughout their towns, and armed guards are in their schools," the statement said. More than four-year-old conflict has taken a devastating toll on the education system of the region, damaging or destroying more than 700 schools, it said. The UNICEF has called on the conflicting parties to respect the international humanitarian law and ensure that schools are safe places for children to learn. The conflict in eastern Ukraine started when the Ukrainian government launched a military operation against armed groups, who seized cities and towns in eastern Donbas region and declared independence from Kiev. According to the Ukrainian authorities, the confrontation has claimed the lives of about 10,000 people, including 138 children. ADDIS ABABA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister's recent rounds of talks with various groups of the Ethiopian society have brought effective mutual understanding and unity among Ethiopians, according to the Ethiopian Minister of Government Communications Affairs Office, Ahmed Shide. Shide, speaking about Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's first 30 days in office, said Friday that Ahmed's discussions with Ethiopian communities have assured citizens regarding his new administration's plan towards the country's unity and development. According to Shide, the premier over the past one month has listened to the preoccupations and demands of the public, which in turn created mutual understanding between the government and the public regarding what actions to be done in the near future so as to sustain peace, security and unity in the country. Prime Minister Ahmed, who was appointed by the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives, Ethiopian parliament's lower house, has been touring the East African country, urging the various groups of the society for patience to bring about the desired changes. Ahmed in his first trip outside the capital Addis Ababa went to the conflict-hit Somali regional state, followed by a meeting with residents of Ambo town in Ethiopia's largest Oromia regional state, a town that has been a hotbed of protests for the past few years. He had also hosted a dinner reception for the country's opposition leaders, in which he promised to widen the democratic space as well as to work with opposition figures so as to bring better socioeconomic conditions for Ethiopia - a country that was rocked by incessant unrests and mass anti-government demonstrations since the second half of 2016. Ahmed had also met with some 25,000 representatives of the Ethiopian community and the diplomatic community in the capital. THE HAGUE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Jean-Marc Janaillac, CEO of Franco-Dutch airline Air France-KLM, announced his resignation after a majority of the Air France staff voted "no" in a consultation vote on a salary offer. The CEO sought an agreement with the staff outside the opposing French trade unions amid a rising deadlock situation following 13 days of strike. Earlier on Friday Air France-KLM announced an operating loss of 118 million euros, including around 75 million euros due to the strike impact at Air France. On April 16 Janaillac offered a multi-year pay agreement proposal to the staff ensuring a 7 percent wage increase over four years, including a 2 percent increase in 2018. Janaillac had laid his personal future in the hands of his staff, that was allowed to vote on the salary offer. If the proposal was rejected by the employees, he would resign. Between April 26 and May 4, 2018, 46,771 staff members at Air France were able to express their opinion in an electronic voting process. With a participation rate of 80.33 percent in this consultation, 55.44 percent of employees have voted "no", the airline announced in a press release. MADRID, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A record number of 13.7 million foreign tourists was registered in Spain in the first quarter of 2018, 7.7 percent more than the same quarter of last year, data released by the Spanish government agencies Frontur and Egatur showed on Friday. March was the most popular month for foreign visitors, partly due to the early Easter holidays, with 5.4 million foreigners (9.6 percent more than in 2017) spending 5.72 billion euros (12.1 percent more than in 2017) in Spain. by countries, Britain was the most important source market, with 2.9 million British visiting Spain (0.4 percent higher than in 2017). Germany and France followed Britain with 1.9 million Germans (1.9 percent up) and 1.7 million French (0.7 percent higher) visiting the country. The Canary Islands of Spain were the most popular destination thanks to their winter sun. They received 3.7 million visitors (1.7 percent more than 2017), who spent a total of 4.48 billion euros. The Catalan region, which was hit by both a political crisis due to an independent attempt and terrorist attacks last August, seems unaffected by the adverse situations, as it saw a 3.4 percent increase in the number of people visiting the region with 3.1 million visitors spending nearly 3.1 billion euros. During the same period, Andalusia had 1.9 million visitors, who spent a total of 2.17 billion euros, 9.8 percent more than the same period of 2017. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (C), Romanian President Klaus Iohannis (L) and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen attend a joint press conference in Ruse, Bulgaria, May 4, 2018. Rumen Radev called for boosting the development of Danube region on Friday, after a meeting with his Austrian and Romanian counterparts Alexander Van der Bellen and Klaus Iohannis. (Xinhua/Zhan Xiaoyi) SOFIA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev called for boosting the development of Danube region on Friday, after a meeting with his Austrian and Romanian counterparts Alexander Van der Bellen and Klaus Iohannis. The dynamic development of the Danube region is a very important factor for the entire European Union (EU), Radev said at a joint press conference after the informal meeting of the three leaders in the town of Ruse. For centuries, the Danube has been connecting the countries along its upper, middle and lower valleys. Along the Danube are located some of the most developed but also the least developed areas of the EU, Radev said. These imbalances should be addressed by effective coordination and efforts at European level, Radev said. Iohannis recalled that the European Council endorsed an EU strategy for the Danube region in 2011. It started with great optimism, and some of its goals were fulfilled, but others remained only intentions, Iohannis said, adding that that the potential of the region should be utilized. Van der Bellen said in turn that his country, Bulgaria and Romania share similar goals and face a number of common challenges. He also said that during the period from 2020 to 2025, practical steps towards the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries could be made. Danube, the second longest river in Europe, passes through 10 countries including Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. KIGALI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The refugee ministry of Rwanda on Friday said Rwandan authorities do not need to carry the burden of refugees who espouse lawlessness, after the death of a refugee following a clash with the police in western Rwanda. A refugee from Kiziba Refugee Camp hosting refugees of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) on Wednesday succumbed to injuries he got when, together with other refugees, he was trying to interfere with police patrols on Tuesday. Troublesome elements in the Kiziba Refugee Camp have been stirring trouble, including attacking law enforcement officers, in the hope of being resettled in Western countries of their choice, said Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs in a statement. "Rwandan authorities cannot decide for other asylum countries, nor do we need to carry the burden of refugees who espouse lawlessness. For those refugees who wish to return to their country of origin, they are free to do so," said the statement. The statement said the government of Rwanda in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant agencies, remains willing to host peaceful refugees and provide them the usual support and benefits on condition that they respect the rule of law. The government of Rwanda in the statement also said it deplores the death of the refugee. BUJUMBURA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian National Media Council (CNC) Friday said it has suspended the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Voice of America (VOA) radio stations from broadcasting on the Burundian territory. "Programs of the BBC and the VOA radio stations have been suspended on the whole Burundian territory for a period of six months. The decision will take effect as of May 7," said Ramadhan Karenga, chairman of CNC, in a statement. According to him, the BBC is accused of violating principles of "balance of information" and "rigorous verification" of sources. "Despite a warning given to the BBC following a report on Burundi aired on March 12, the BBC has again violated the principles of information balance and rigorous verification of sources provided in the Burundian press law," said Karenga. He said the VOA has been suspended for continuing to disseminate programs on a local radio station that was suspended in 2015. Besides, the VOA has hired a Burundian journalist who is facing an international arrest warrant, he added. Radio France International (RFI) and two local radio stations received a warning from the CNC for also violating the Burundian press law, according to the statement. SARAJEVO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China's agreement on a mutual visa-free regime with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will take effect on May 29, 2018, Chinese Embassy in BiH told Xinhua on Friday. At a meeting in BiH's capital on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to BiH Chen Bo handed the third note to BiH Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak, confirming that both China and BiH have completed internal procedures. According to the agreement, holders of valid ordinary passports of both countries' citizens shall be exempted from visa requirement for entry into, exit from, stay in or transit through the territory of the other country during the period of stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The agreement was signed in November of 2017 during the sixth meeting of heads of government of China and 16 Central and Eastern European Countries in Budapest, Hungary. Armenian opposition supporters attend a rally in Yerevan on May 2, 2018, as popular anger exploded over the ruling party's rejection of opposition leader's premiership bid. (AFP PHOTO) MOSCOW, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Russia Friday said Armenia should resolve its domestic problems legally on the basis of its constitution and through consultations among its political forces. "We are in favor of resolving domestic problems existing in fraternal Armenia on the basis of the country's constitution, in the legal field, and through constructive dialogue between various political forces of the republic," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing. Armenia, once part of the former Soviet Union, experienced weeks of protests and civil disobedience over the deteriorating economy, which forced Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan to resign on April 23. The protests were led by opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who is eyeing the prime minister's post. He was the only candidate to run for prime minister Tuesday but his bid failed as parliament gave him only 45 votes, short of the 53 needed. A new election is scheduled for May 8 and Pashinyan will contest again. Armenia is a close ally of Russia in the South Caucasus, where Moscow has a military base. Chinese and Russian policemen attend a joint anti-terror drill in Manzhouli City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) MOSCOW, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Security Service (FSB) killed two suspected terrorists during an operation in Nevinnomyssk city in North Caucasus, on Friday, the Russian agency said. "Two leaders of a religious extremist cell who had plotted terrorist attacks resisted during the detention and were killed," the FSB said in a statement. An improvised explosive device, firearms, ammunition and grenades were discovered at the scene of the incident, the statement said. In a separate statement, the FSB said it detained five suspected members of the Islamic State. Also, during an operation in Yaroslavl, a city 250 km northeast of Moscow, the FSB said it discovered an arsenal of improvised explosive devices, explosives, firearms and ammunition. by Maria Spiliopoulou, Liu Yongqiu ATHENS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- During the eight-year debt crisis, Greece has seen an exodus of its young talents, who had to seek opportunities out of their home country. But some chose to stay to build a better future at home. George Papachristos is one of them. Papachristos now is the CEO of Toorbee, a pioneering B2B travel platform that connects small and medium-sized destination service providers from Europe with major online travel agents in China. He started Toorbee with his brother Nikos in the second half of 2016. But in no more than two years, the brothers' venture has become outstanding thanks to its impressive growth among the over 1,000 start-ups established in Greece during the crisis years. With 200 suppliers from nine European countries already on board, over 3,000 products on the platform and cooperating with 80-85 percent of the Chinese online travel market, Toorbee aspires to build a bridge to cater to the demands of the dynamic Chinese tourism market. Toorbee's success is inspiring against the backdrop of the talents exodus during the Greek debt crisis. According to the data from the central Bank of Greece, some 427,000 Greeks have left the country in the past decade. Half of them were highly educated and qualified youth. They left for job opportunities. Official data showed that in the peak of the crisis, Greeks aged under 25 faced unemployment rates of 60 percent. Now the figure dropped to about 44 percent. Brain drain has weighed heavily on the ailing economy. Since 2008, these talented Greeks who sought opportunities abroad have contributed more than 50 billion euros (60 billion U.S. dollars) to the countries where they now live and work, non-profit organization Endeavor Greece estimates. "Greece has invested in creating this educated and skilled workforce which now produces value to other economies and societies," Papachristos said when speaking to Xinhua this week. In his opinion, it will take two generations and titanic efforts to convince these talents to return to Greece and reverse the trend. Papachristos comes from a family with a strong entrepreneurial background, with studies in business, international relations, political science and international political economy in Greece and the United States. He first worked in the family business -- wholesale men's fashion production. After selling the family business, the two brothers were in different businesses from trade to renewable energy and real estate. But after an extensive travel to China, they decided to invest in tourism platform to provide tailor-made itineraries for independent travelers from China. Toorbee was created to offer the tools to small European operators selling tourism services that don't have the resources to produce video and audio content in Chinese for their products in order to gain access to the Chinese market. Doing business in Greece is not an easy task after eight years of recession. "Doing business in Greece was always a complicated procedure. We try to focus and depend on market forces and not on government forces to grow our business. The crisis gave an opportunity for people who could connect with foreign capital and foreign demand...The crisis has pushed people to take risks and I think it is healthy," Papachristos explained. "Before, Greeks were working as a one-man show. Synergies and team working were not very common. Slowly this is changing," he added. But he was impressed by China, from the rapid change, growth, innovation to the business culture. "The synergy of government, private sector and innovation is something you cannot find in any other country," he said. After winning an award for the most promising project among 700 companies in a competition in December 2015 in China, Papachristos is considering registering Toorbee in Hangzhou to gain access to local government incentives to further grow the venture. He will continue living and working in Greece, but is looking beyond borders for opportunities. (1 euro = 1.20 U.S. dollars) JUBA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudanese government on Friday honored the fifth batch of Chinese doctors for their contributions to the health sector of the east African nation. All 15 members of the China medical team in South Sudan were presented certificates of honor during an occasion officiated by senior South Sudanese government officials and Chinese embassy officials. Martin Lumoro, Acting Foreign Minister, said the departing Chinese doctors have contributed greatly to South Sudan's health sector in the past one year, adding that their services will be greatly missed by the people of South Sudan. Lumoro also hailed Beijing's continued political and humanitarian support to the world's youngest nation. "We benefit a lot from China in many fields, but in this particular field of health sector, China is the only country helping us. Others (countries) are running away from South Sudan, but China is coming to help. We cannot forget this kind of assistance to the people of South Sudan," Lumoro said. Health Minister Riek Gai Kok said the medical team improved delivery of medical services across South Sudan amid harsh working conditions such as lack of medical equipment, poor roads and insecurity. He said the Chinese doctors performed several surgeries in at least five towns across South Sudan and that has rescued the people from seeking medical care in foreign countries. "We are very happy for the excellent work that you have done across South Sudan. With this cooperation, we can consolidate the true friendship between the people and governments of South Sudan and China," Kok said. Liu Xiaodong, the Charge d' Affaires at the Chinese Embassy, said that since 2013, China has been sending medical teams to South Sudan and they have defied the harsh working conditions to deliver health services to remote parts of the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 04:16:27|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close A Palestinian woman uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli troops during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip, on May 4, 2018. More than 1,000 Palestinians were injured Friday in daylong fierce clashes between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers stationed on the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said. (Xinhua/Yasser Qudih) GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 Palestinians were injured Friday in daylong fierce clashes between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers stationed on the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said. Ashraf al Qedra, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman, told reporters that demonstrators were injured by live gunshots, rubber-coated metal bullets, gunshots shrapnel, and tear gas suffocation. The clashes broke out earlier on Friday afternoon, right at the end of Friday prayers. The sixth Friday anti-Israel rally is part of what is called by Palestinians the "Great March of Return" that started on March 30 and will culminate on May 15, the day after the 70th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence but marked by the Palestinians as the Nakba Day, or "the Day of Catastrophe." Eyewitnesses said that right after Friday prayers, hundreds headed to five different locations along with the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel; they burned tires and clashed with the Israeli soldiers stationed at the border. The eyewitnesses said the Israeli soldiers stationed at the borderline area between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel are warning young demonstrators to go home and stop rallying, using loud speakers to speak to demonstrators in Arabic. The witnesses said the soldiers shouted at the demonstrators in Arabic "go home for your safety, go home now, and if you don't, we will shoot you, look here were fired tear gas at you, we are not kidding, go home." Israeli soldiers fired dozens of tear gas canisters and live gunshots at the demonstrators to prevent them from reaching the fence of the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel. Sallah Abdul Aati, a rights activist and one of the "Great March of Return" organizers told Xinhua that they "kept the popular participation in a low profile" because it is final exam day of schoolchildren and universities students. He noted that "the million-participant marches are coming and are expected on May 15," adding "this will be the climax of the Great March of Return." Later on early evening, dozens of Palestinians stormed the main commercial crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip in what could be an indication of a threatened breach of the border fence later this month. Palestinian activists joining the rallies announced that they prepared 300 kites carrying fire bombs in tails to be flown into Israeli agricultural fields. Mahmoud al-Zahhar, a senior Hamas movement leader from Gaza said in a press statement that Hamas warns Israel of targeting the demonstrators at the border, adding "keeping this going on would make everyone get surprised for our response." Al-Zahar responded to Israeli threats to strike on the Gaza Strip in case demonstrators try to infiltrate through the border into Israel. He said "if a war is imposed on us, we will join it and we will show them our power." MEXICO CITY, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The next round of talks to modernize NAFTA could last for 15 days and an agreement will be reached or not depends on the flexibility of the U.S. delegation, said a Mexican business leader on Friday. The president of Mexico's business coordination council (CCE), Juan Pablo Castanon, told journalists that a "closing scenario" exists for NAFTA ahead of the next round of talks beginning in Washington D.C. on May 7, but added this required "flexibility in the U.S. positions." "These are 15 very important days of negotiations which will start next Monday," added the entrepreneur. On April 27, the chief negotiators of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to restart the talks on May 7, after three weeks of technical meetings took place to try and speed up an agreement. Castanon said that, in order to reach a final resolution, Mexico needs to see conditions which will boost employment and increase its competitiveness. "If we do not see the conditions of competitiveness which allow Mexicans to keep growing with our trading partners, there will not be the conditions to close (an agreement)," he said. While the talks have seen several chapters finalized, major differences still remained, such as automotive rules of origin. The president of the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA), Eduardo Solis, said on Monday that the Mexican government and the country's automotive industry are designing a proposal for regional rules of origin which will be tabled at the next meeting. Mexico's chief negotiator, Kenneth Smith, said on Twitter on Friday that he has been holding numerous meetings with the automotive industry ahead of the talks in Washington. Mexico, Canada and the United States have been renegotiating NAFTA since August 2017, at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump, who feels the free-trade pact has been bad for the American economy. After seven rounds of talks, only six chapters out of around 30 have been agreed upon. LONDON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Britain's local elections were declared a draw Friday night after results came in from towns and cities across England. With just one of the 150 results awaited, Labor had gained an extra 59 councilors, taking their total in England to 2310. The Conservatives lost 31 council seats in the elections, taking their total to 1330. The big winners of the night were the minority Liberal Democrats who appeared to be finally forgiven for their spell as coalition partners with the Conservatives in David Cameron's government. They gained 75 seats, taking their total to 536 council seats across England. Some media commentators said the two big parties, Conservative and Labor, were deadlocked, but both prime minister Theresa May and main opposition Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn hailed the results for their respective parties. Pollsters worked out that if the results of the local elections were applied to a national general election each of the two main parties would gain a 35 percent share of the vote. Despite Labor predicted to do well against a government party torn by differences over the European Union and Brexit, the major gains talked about did not materialize. Reacting to the results Corbyn said: "Labor achieved a solid set of results. We have consolidated and built on the advances we made at last year's General Election, when we won the largest increase in Labor's share of the vote since 1945. "In these elections we have won seats across England in places we have never held before. We won Plymouth from the Conservatives, who lost control of Trafford, their flagship northern council. And Labor has won even more council seats than at our high watermark of 2014." Corbyn said Labor had come within a whisker of winning the London borough of Wandsworth for the first time in over 40 years. "The Labor Party is now well placed to fight and win the next General Election, and form a government that will work for the many, not the few," said Corbyn. Labor MP Chuka Umunna called for an internal inquiry into his party's local election campaign, saying the results do not give confidence for the next national poll. Umunna said the gains an opposition party can expect to make at this stage in the electoral cycle under a "divided and incompetent" government had not happened. "We haven't gone forwards and if we are looking to form an election-winning majority, we cannot be confident of that happening based on the results yesterday." He said in a radio that the whole Labor leadership had to address the failure to capitalize on government divisions, flawed Brexit negotiations and voter concern over the economy and public services. Umunna, a long standing critic of the current Labor leadership, added: "From a Labor point of view there needs to be a proper post-mortem - I think the National Executive Committee should appoint somebody to do that -- on this result." In Wandsworth, where the Conservatives hung on to control, May was in a more buoyant mood. She told party workers: "Labor thought they could take control, this was one of their top targets and they threw everything at it, but they failed." She laughed off a suggestion that she should call a snap general election. She did that last year, and lost her overall majority in the House of Commons. Former Conservative leader Lord Michael Howard said the results show May needs to do the right thing for the country, adding: "and I believe the right thing is a clean Brexit. For me that means coming out of the customs union and the single market." The leader of the minority Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable said he was delighted with the gains his party made in Thursday's election. The party has been virtually left on the fringes of national politics, seen as a punishment for its five years as a partner in a coalition government with the Conservatives. Cable said: "It's certainly the beginning of the comeback of the Liberal Democrats. Morale is now very high. We have demonstrated that we can win when we are focused and we can only build on that." The biggest losers were UKIP, independent party set up to campaign for Britain to quit the EU. They lost over 120 of their seats in council chambers, and were left with just a small handful, 3 at the last count. HELSINKI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish parliament on Friday unanimously rejected a civic initiative that would have legalized euthanasia as an action by the medical personnel, upon the request of a terminally ill person. After a vote, the parliament assigned the cabinet to set up an expert task force to "review the care given at the end of life" and to include euthanasia in the review. The civic initiative was launched by nationally known former parliamentarians. The parliament must process all civic initiatives that get over 50,000 signatories, but can dismiss them. Active euthanasia is legal in Europe only in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. Assisted suicide is allowed in some EU countries and a larger number, including Finland, allow passive euthanasia in the form of ceasing treatments that do not help and offering palliative care only. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 05:11:39|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BRUSSELS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and the United States will continue negotiations over U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum after Washington recently announced that it will extend the deadline until June 1 for talks with trading partners. Observers said the EU does not agree with an alternative measures to avoid the metal tariffs. At the same time, the bloc is unhappy about the threat posed by the U.S. over negotiations. The negotiations have reached an impasse, and uncertainty will continue. DISAGREE WITH VERS Daniel Gros, director of the Brussels-based think tank, the Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS), told Xinhua that the U.S. has proposed that the EU accepted the "voluntary export restraints" (VERs) for steel and aluminum as a condition for permanent exemption on the metal tariffs. "But this type of agreement is no longer allowed under the WTO. How can the EU agree to something which is illegal?" said Gros. Such measures are voluntary in form, but they are essentially mandatory. In the 1980s, Washington used this mechanism to restrict steel and automobile exports to the United States. If exporters do not agree to "automatically" reduce exports to the U.S., Washington will then introduce high and daunting tariffs. In later World Trade Organization (WTO) talks during the Uruguay Round, all members agreed to phase out voluntary export restraints, and eventually repeal them completely. It has been reported that EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom has made it clear to the U.S. that the EU will not agree to use VERs in exchange for tariff exemptions on aluminum and steel. The EU said that it expected a permanent waiver, and claimed that the tariff measures had extended market uncertainty, affecting global trade flows. UNHAPPY ABOUT THREAT The EU has expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. making use of threats to promote negotiations. The EU issued a statement following the latest U.S. announcement, saying that the EU is willing to discuss market access issues that are of interest to both parties, but it will not negotiate under threats. "Any future transatlantic work plan has to be balanced and mutually beneficial," it said. Media reports claimed that the U.S. is eagerly to reaching a trade agreement with the EU on auto tariffs. Lawrence Kudlow, Director of the U.S. National Economic Council, said that President Donald Trump hopes the EU will make concessions on the issue of auto tariffs. There are also reports that Trump wants the EU to raise quotas for U.S. beef imports. Observers said that despite the EU's open attitude toward negotiations on transatlantic market access, the EU is fully aware of U.S. leverage on aluminum and steel tariffs. In such a situation, any negotiations on transatlantic market access could not be equal and reciprocal. Leaders in France and Belgium have stated that the EU will not negotiate trade deals with a gun to the head. EU Trade Commissioner Malmstrom also reiterated it to the U.S. side and argued that the EU must ensure an unconditional permanent exemption from U.S. aluminum and steel tariffs before talks on market access. Trump, in March, decided to impose a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and 10-percent on aluminum due to "national security" issue. Fredrik Erixon, director of Brussels-based think tank, the European Center for International Political Economy, said that, in fact, some economies such as the U.S. and the EU have no trade inequality issues for aluminum and steel, and they will not cause national security problems. The U.S. government's use of tariffs as a bargaining chip to seek benefits from other countries is seen as bullying behavior by trade partners. According to EU estimates, the proposed tariffs on aluminum and steel would involve exports of 5.3 billion euros (6.3 billion U.S. dollars) in the European steel industry, and 1.11 billion Euros in the European aluminum industry. Previous media reports have also stated that the European Commission has drawn up a retaliatory taxation list that could impose a 25 percent tariff on goods such as Harley Davidson motorcycles, bourbon and blue jeans. TRIPOLI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Libyan navy announced on Friday that 80 illegal immigrants on a rickety boat were rescued off the coast of the city of Zuwara, some 120 km east of the capital Tripoli. "The rescue operation took place 25 miles off the coast of the town of Mellita in Zuwara," Libyan navy spokesman, Ayob Qassem, told Xinhua. He also said the rescued migrants were taken to Tripoli navy base and handed over to the anti-illegal immigration department of Tripoli. On the other hand, the anti-illegal immigration department said that the 56 migrants from Nigeria, including three children, were voluntarily deported to their country, as part of the voluntary repatriation program carried out by the department in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). According to a statement issued by the department, the deportation was carried out on Thursday through a flight from Tripoli's M'etiga international airport to Nigeria. Due to the state of insecurity and chaos, Libya is a major departure point for thousands of illegal immigrants wanting to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores. The voluntary repatriation program has been implemented by IOM in Libya since 2006 to arrange for the return of stranded illegal migrants from Libya to their countries of origin. IOM has deported 20,000 illegal immigrants from Libya to their countries of origin in 2017. SAN FRANCISCO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. top aerospace leader Boeing Co. will host a televised downlink with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) next week to allow them to talk with students about living and working in space. Boeing said Friday that the dialogue will take place on May 10 between the ISS astronauts and students from middle and high schools in Houston, Texas, who are participating in a research contest, th Genes in Space STEM. The astronauts aboard the ISS, Drew Feustel and Scott Tingle, will take questions from the two Genes In Space students whose experiments recently were conducted aboard the station, plus other contestants and from the audience. About 200 students from Houston-area middle and high schools will attend the event, which will be aired live on Facebook and the NASA TV, Boeing said. The Facebook live show will feature research specialists including the chief scientist for the ISS, a biologist, a leader of Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, and an engineer of Boeing's Starliner virtual reality training system. Founded by Boeing and miniPCR, the Genes In Space competition offers students in grades 7 through 12 the opportunity to develop DNA-based experiments that could be performed on orbit by astronauts aboard the ISS. The miniPCR, created by two graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in 2013, is a handy, portable and personal DNA lab that anyone can use as an analysis tool to explore the mysteries of the wonderful DNA world. The Genes in Space student competition program was established by Boeing and its partner to instill the love of science and engineering in the next generation. by Marcela Ganea BUCHAREST, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Teatrelli Hall in downtown Bucharest on Friday hosted the opening of the third Zhejiang Movie Week of China with Mr. Six, the opening film. The Romanians had a chance to watch a complex plot focused around the idea of honor, manifested in different ways by the characters, according to their educational and social background, in the film directed by Guan Hu and starring Feng Xiaogang, Zhang Hanyu, Xu Qing, Li Yifeng. "Films give the opportunity to peoples to learn more about each other in a direct way," said Tian Yuyuan, chief of the delegation representing the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Film Artists Association of Zhejiang Province. In April 2013, the first Zhejiang Movie Week was organized in Bucharest, and in June 2014, the second edition. For this third edition, Tian has brought five films produced in Eastern China's Zhejiang Province. Bobby Paunescu, Romanian film director and producer, expressed his regret that "the good film industry relations that Romanian created with China in the 1970s and 1980s lagged behind for a while instead of being reinforced". "This event is part of the effort to revamp the good relations so that both parties could benefit. China is currently the second biggest cinema market of the world," Paunescu said. RABAT, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Greek Secretary of State for European Affairs, Georgios Katrougalos vowed here on Friday to bolster bilateral ties. Katrougalos told the press after talks with Bourita that the two sides expressed their willingness to strengthen ties between the two countries, adding that the meeting was an opportunity to explore means to promote bilateral cooperation in several areas. Katrougalos also voiced hope to give "new impetus" to the "historical" and "excellent" relations between Morocco and Greece, commending the level of cooperation between the two countries. He added that his visit to Morocco aims to enhance the political coordination as well as economic cooperation between the two countries. RABAT, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Romania inked Friday in Rabat a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cement diplomatic cooperation and a bilateral agreement in the area of training. Under the MoU, signed by the Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Romanian counterpart Teodor Melescanu, the two parties agreed to hold regular consultations to review their bilateral relations. In accordance with the MoU, the parties will exchange views on international and regional issues of common interest, including international political developments and international and regional conflicts or disputes, with a view to enhancing the positive role of the United Nations and other organizations in alleviating conflicts and problems facing the international community. As for the cooperation agreement, it was signed between the Moroccan Academy of Diplomatic Studies (AMED) and the Romanian Diplomatic Institute with the aim of establishing and consolidating mutual cooperation in the training of young diplomats, as well as the exchange of experiences, information and documentation. "The stances of the two countries are virtually identical regarding the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in multilateral bodies, notably the European Union and the United Nations," Melescanu stressed at a press briefing after his talks with Bourita. Melescanu praised the Moroccan-Romanian ties, based on "mutual respect" and the willingness of both countries to develop their bilateral relations in trade, noting that Morocco remains Romania's most important trading partner in Africa and the Middle East. For his part, Bourita expressed his country's willingness to deepen bilateral cooperation with Romania as well as triangular cooperation in favor of the African continent. He also commended the "positive and constructive action" of Romania regarding the issues of the partnership between Morocco and the EU. The Moroccan foreign minister said that the meeting was also an opportunity to identify other areas of cooperation to reach agreements on them during the upcoming joint Moroccan-Romanian commission expected later on this year in Bucharest. HOUSTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his strong support for gun rights and commitment for mid-term elections during a speech in the Texas city of Dallas. "Your Second Amendment rights are under siege but they will never ever be under siege as long as I am your president. We cannot get complacent. We have to win the mid-terms," Trump said at the National Rifles Association (NRA) annual meeting in the convention center in Dallas. During his speech, Trump didn't mention the Florida school rampage a few months ago that killed 17 people, but focusing on the common ground he shares with gun owners who helped deliver the election to him, and whose support Republicans need in November's mid-term elections. Trump pushed the point by citing a hospital in London, where firearms are illegal but violence still erupts as criminals turn to knives. "There's blood all over the floors of this hospital," he said. "Knives, knives, knives." Before Trump, Vice President Mike Pence also reassure NRA members of gun rights. "You have two friends in the White House. President Donald Trump and I both stand without apology for the Second Amendment and in this administration the right of the people to keep and bear arms will not be infringed," Pence told the crowd. Meanwhile, gun control advocates accused Trump of bending his knee to the NRA instead of working to curb gun violence. "It's the job of the president to ensure our public safety, but Trump takes his marching orders from the NRA," Gabby Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman who was badly wounded in a shooting, said in a statement. "Trump has ignored the pleas of young people demanding safer gun laws." DUBLIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A two-day international seminar to mark the 200th birthday Karl Marx opened at Maynooth University in Ireland's eastern city of Maynooth on Friday. Nearly 200 people including researchers and scholars from about 15 countries including the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain attended the opening session of the seminar. Some local parliamentarians and social activists also participated in the seminar apart from experts and professors from all over Ireland. Addressing the opening session of the seminar, President of Maynooth University, Philip Nolan, extended a warm welcome to the participants and wished a success of the seminar, which is claimed to be the largest of its kind ever held in the university with a history of over 200 years. During the two-day seminar, participants will explore Marx's far-reaching contributions to analysis, political practice, the ways in which his life and work helped shape history and culture around the world, said organizers. They will also discuss how people can understand the legacy and ongoing relevance of Marx today, in a world which has changed so much and how Marxism can continue to contribute intellectually and practically to critique, understanding and transformation, in Ireland and globally, they said. The seminar was held in the forms of plenary sessions, parallel sessions and roundtable discussions on a rotating basis. Keynote speakers for the first day of the seminar included Toni Negri, a well-known Italian activist and theorist, who delivered a speech entitled Beginning again from Marx. Jodi Dean, a professor from William Smith Colleges of the United States, will be among one of the keynote speakers on the second day of the event, who will deliver a speech titled Theory of the Comrade. The seminar will also organize a Freddy Engels Memorial Buffet to commemorate the historical contributions made by Friedrich Engels, the close friend of Marx and co-author of The Communist Manifesto. Karl Marx was born in the German city of Trier on May 5, 1818. CHICAGO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Law enforcement agencies in Chicago have launched a manhunt for the suspect who shot a federal agent early Friday morning. The undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was working on a joint mission with other agencies to crack down on gun violence in Chicago when he was apparently ambushed and shot in the face. The seriously wounded ATF agent was rushed to hospital and reportedly in stable condition. Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson pledged at an afternoon news conference that they will make an all-out effort to bring the suspect to justice. "We will find you," he vowed. Various authorities have offered a total of more than 60,000 U.S. dollars in reward for any information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect. In the past two years, gun-violence-plagued Chicago has stepped up efforts to fight increasing crimes, by recruiting more policemen and using new technologies. SAN FRANCISCO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Wells Fargo & Company, the third largest U.S. bank by total assets, said Friday that it has agreed to pay 480 million U.S. dollars to settle a securities fraud lawsuit over a sales scandal that has plagued the company since 2016. The San Francisco-based Wells Fargo said in a statement that it has "reached an agreement in principle to resolve the consolidated securities fraud class action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California." "We are pleased to reach this agreement in principle and believe that moving to put this case behind us is in the best interest of our team members, customers, investors and other stakeholders," said Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan. The bank was accused of making certain misstatements and omissions in disclosures related to its sales practices and of opening millions of accounts illegally. Wells Fargo denied the claims and allegations and said "it entered into an agreement to avoid the cost and disruption of further litigation." The U.S. Federal Reserve banned in February Wells Fargo from growing its business due to its widespread consumer abuses and other compliance breakdowns. In only a couple of months, the Ministry of National Development signs the agreement about the improvement of the airport in Sarmellek, according to Turizmus.com. The airport requires a large scale extension to operate profitably in the long run, so both the technical capacity and the flight schedule are planned to be extended. Mayor Gabor Papp announced at a press conference that the 20 million euros fund would be spent on technological and infrastructural development at Heviz-Balaton Airport. Among others, the currently 2.5-kilometer-long runway will be prolonged by additional 500 meters, the terminal building will be extended, and the surrounding territories - including the former Soviet barracks - will be renovated. The airport in Heviz is a quite successful and busy one: about 23,000 passengers used its services last year, especially the charter flights between Sarmellek and Germany. The airport handled several smaller planes as well with only a couple of passengers. Mr Papp mentioned that the airport would need 150,000-200,000 customers a year in order to function profitably, which requires the increasing of scheduled flights the last improvement in this field was relaunching flights to the Czech Republic. The airport is supported with 160,000 euros every year by the town of Heviz, as well as with 382,000 by the ministry. It is among the plans to connect Sarmellek with Frankfurt and London, but there are discussions about flights to Tel-Aviv, St Petersburg and Norway. Moreover, investors are highly interested in constructing a logistics centre and an industrial park on the territory of the former Soviet barracks. The improvements at the airport are enhanced by the construction of the special test track in Zalaegerszeg - which is for testing cars with the new self-driving technology - and motorway M76, which is meant to connect the city with motorway M7. This new highway will also go to Heviz-Sarmellek Airport. Photo: hevizairport.com Source: Daily News Hungary, turizmus.com Now on until 1 June. When you live on an island, the horizon always holds the promise of new and exciting connections to be made, while the shore draws you back home to a wealth of detail thats just waiting to be explored. Malta and Gozo can be likened to tiny but vibrant stages packed with drama, excess and exuberance constantly playing out in close quarters, amid tight-knit communities; all the while, these small island scenarios have co-existed with the comings and goings afforded by our harbours, and today they walk alongside ever-growing international connections. The strategic geography of the Maltese Islands which places them right between Europe and Africa thus puts our communities in a unique position to host such a diverse cultural celebration as the European Capital of Culture. And our Mediterranean style is another valuable feature of the islands identity, capable of reaching out to the varied and valuable perspectives that surround it. Whats island life really like, anyway? We may be able to drive across the whole of Malta or Gozo in a single morning, but it doesnt mean weve seen it all. Indeed, a closer look at island life soon reveals that theres more than one narrative at play. The Valletta 2018 Cultural Program kicks off on the 20th of January 2018: a collection of over 140 projects and 400 events taking place throughout the European Capital of Culture year. Valletta 2018 has invested strongly in a program that sees the involvement of around 1000 local and international artists, curators, artist collectives, performers, workshop leaders, writers, designers, choirs and film-makers. While a number of international artists are collaborating with locals throughout the 2018 program, Maltese artists are travelling to our twin European Capital of Culture Leeuwarden in the Netherlands as well as other cities in Cyprus, Japan, Poland and Greece. The 2018 program is based on a direct investment of 10 million in the cultural sector. At the centre of the 2018 program are several infrastructure projects designed to evolve and expand well beyond 2018. Among these are MUZA, the Valletta Design Cluster, Is-Suq tal-Belt and Strait Street. Gregory Iron Photographer The artist, living in Budapest, is also home to the Mediterranean. Despite being specialized on wedding photography, he is well-listed in other genres, such as portrait, nature and landscape photography. Gregory is very familiar with Malta for over 10 years, returning to the islands regularly. From the beginning, he visited and pictured cities, people of the country and the beauty of the islands nature. Thanks to his passion he became a wedding photographer in Malta, too. Since the beginning of his photographer carrier, Malta has always been present, already on his first ever photo exhibition, influencing his art to this day. Besides, his publications are available in different online and printed magazines. His pictures were published in scientific (National Geography), wedding, lifestyle and glossy magazines. From 2017, he has been actively helping the promotional activity of the Malta Tourism Authority in Hungary. Date: 7 May - 1 June Venue: Europa Pont - Millenaris Park Address: 1024 Budapest, Lovohaz u. 35. Ruling Fidesz lawmakers have elected Mate Kocsis leader of their parliamentary group in a unanimous vote, Gergely Gulyas, the outgoing group leader and incoming government office chief, said. Kocsis told a news conference that Fidesz planned to amend the constitution with a view to outlawing the relocation of migrants to Hungary. He added that the proposal to make the relevant change to the fundamental law had failed in 2016 due to [radical nationalist] Jobbiks turncoat policy, and it should be resubmitted to parliament. Kocsis said that parliamentary discussions on the Stop Soros package of laws on penalising NGOs that aid migration would carry on. Meanwhile, he said the governments goals remained unchanged: to preserve Christian culture, protect the external borders, achieve full employment and continue the governments family support policies. Gulyas said that the group has nominated Laszlo Kover for another term as Speaker of Parliament. Fidesz has nominated Sandor Lezsak and Istvan Jakab as deputy speakers, and co-ruling KDNPs nominee is Janos Latorcai, he said. Csaba Hende is to head the legislative committee which is tied to the post of deputy House Speaker. Referring to a Jobbik plan to dismantle a cordon to be erected around the square in front of Parliament on the day of the houses inaugural meeting, Gulyas said that by now Jobbik should have come to terms with its election defeat and act accordingly. Asked about Fideszs action in 2007 to tear down the fence in Kossuth Square, he said the square at that point had been cordoned off for months. Now it is a matter of no one disturbing the inaugural session, he said. Gulyas also said the goal was to pass next years budget before parliament went to its summer break, which he said could be at the end of July. MTI Photo: Mathe Zoltan For the time being, European Union funding as an issue tied to the rule of law should be seen as fiction, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, told journalists in Budapest, adding that the introduction of subjective criteria would run contrary to the EUs laws. The laws and treaties in force clearly state the rights and obligations of member states, he said, adding they applied uniformly. Hungary rejects any kind of proposal that would allow the use of EU payments as a tool for blackmail, he said. In western Europe, attempts have been made to use EU funds as some kind of goodwill gesture to central Europeans, as if they were humanitarian donations, Szijjarto said. This is not so ... central Europe opened up its markets to western companies that have made massive profits. This is not a one-way street; everyone has to fulfill their obligations. The allocation of resources is fixed by law, the minister said. If anybody wants to change them, they must make a proposal and follow the requisite legal procedures. Szijjarto said that serious debates were expected in the next few months concerning the multilateral financial framework, including regarding farm subsidies. Hungary, he said, sides with France in opposing any attempt to curb farm funding. There are also serious disputes regarding cohesion funding, he added. Szijjarto said the EU faced new challenges in terms of its financial framework. The previous cycle had not faced funding issues connected with migration, terrorist threats or security challenges, but now the bloc faces all of these, he said. We need to consider the new situation. Calls for common border defence have been proved legitimate, he added. Asked about the possible repercussions of Hungary not joining EU leaders in a statement against Chinese influence, Szijjarto said he did not expect any short-term consequences. He noted that the volume of trade of the 17 countries of central Europe and China was dwarfed by Germanys trade with China as well as Frances and Italys. Its just nonsense to force central Europeans to curb their own economic interests, for some reason, by criticising China, he said. Szijjarto said the prime ministers of a number of countries had attended the One Belt summit yet they had not voiced this position at the time. And now, when the Chinese are absent, they quickly come up with an opinion paper, he said. MTI Photo: KKM Ruling Fidesz lawmakers have elected Mate Kocsis leader of their parliamentary group in a unanimous vote, Gergely Gulyas, the outgoing group leader and incoming government office chief, said in Budapest on Thursday. Kocsis told a news conference that Fidesz planned to amend the constitution with a view to outlawing the relocation of migrants to Hungary. The constitutional amendment was submitted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban to parliament in 2016, but it failed to muster the required two-thirds majority after opposition party Jobbik blocked its passage, Reuters reminds. But in an April 8 election Orbans Fidesz party won a third straight term with more than two thirds of seats, giving it the power to pass constitutional amendments. Kocsis said that parliamentary discussions on the Stop Soros package of laws on penalising NGOs that aid migration would carry on. Meanwhile, he said the governments goals remained unchanged: preserve Christian culture, protect the external borders, achieve full employment and continue the governments family support policies. Gulyas also said the goal was to pass next years budget before parliament went to its summer break, which he said could be at the end of July. MTI photo: Mathe Zoltan Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday he was ready to discuss the new EU funding mechanism outlined in the European Commissions recent budget proposal for 2021-2027. Arriving at the founding meeting of his ruling Fidesz partys parliamentary group after winning the April 8 general election, Orban was asked to comment on a new mechanism unveiled by EC President Jean-Claude Juncker as part of the budget proposal in Brussels on Wednesday. Under the new mechanism the bloc could penalise member states that it finds to be violating the rule of law. We stand ready to discuss that, Orban told journalists in Budapest. Asked whether Hungary will join the European Prosecutors Office, Orban said that under the Hungarian constitution prosecution is a matter of sovereignty. Orban was also asked whether the issue of his Fidesz partys exclusion from the European Peoples Party (EPP) came up during his talks with EPP leaders in Brussels on Wednesday. He said the discussion was exactly about the opposite, namely in what ways could Fidesz participate in the EPPs campaign for next years European parliamentary elections and help EPPs win. I have offered our help, he said. Asked if the Central European Universitys continued operation in Budapest might be a condition for smooth cooperation with the EPP, the prime minister said that no one can set conditions for Hungary in any affair. MTI Photo: Szecsodi Balazs Ichabod explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, with an emphasis on UOJ, Church Growth, and Emergent Church heresies. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the mainline denominations. An excavator moves rip-rap on the banks of Parker Creek at Saxon Harbor Thursday as part of an effort to return the creek to the way it was prior to a July 2016 storm. The work is just one of several projects happening at the harbor in the coming months, which is why Iron County officials are asking residents to stay away from the harbor while work is ongoing. By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] SAXON, Wis. - While boaters still have a week or two before Saxon Harbor's boat launch closes May 14, the public is being asked to stay away from the harbor during construction this summer. "The biggest thing is that the facility is closed - and I mean the whole thing is closed for construction - for the safety not only of the people trying to work, but the people that are coming to look, too. Harbor Lights is going to be open, that's a good location to see things," said Iron County Forestry and Parks Administrator Eric Peterson. "The whole fac... 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... Djibouti: In what is likely to escalate tensions between the United States and China, the former on Friday accused the latter of targeting its pilots with high-grade lasers in Djibouti. According to the WSJ, the US today lodged a formal complaint with China, alleging that the Chinese military injured two American airmen by directing high-grade lasers at their aircraft in Djibouti. Chinese military personnel are targeting American flight crews in the skies over the east African nation of Djibouti using a high-powered laser https://t.co/Iqw2GGZNrr The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 4, 2018 Addressing a press briefing, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana W White told reporters that Washington had requested Beijing to investigate incidents in the past few weeks in which US aircraft in Djibouti had been affected by the unauthorised Chinese laser activity. The Pentagon spokeswoman further alleged that people at the east African base had been shining military-grade lasers at the US pilots coming to land. According to reports, at least two US pilots on a cargo plane suffered minor eye injuries due to their targeting by locals using high-grade laser beams. "This activity poses a big threat to our airmen," White said, adding that "the incidents had grown increasingly serious". China has, however, categorically rejected the allegation made by the US. Reacting to the US charge, China`s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua dismissed the allegations and said, "After careful verification, we have told the US explicitly that the accusation is totally inconsistent with fact," she said. The incidents with the lasers, which can temporarily blind pilots, come as one of the first major dust-ups since China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017. The facilitys opening raised concerns among American military officials about the proximity of the Chinese military installation to American forces. The Chinese have characterised the base as a logistics hub for peacekeeping and anti-piracy operations. American authorities recently issued a notice, warning pilots to "use extreme caution when transiting near the area". Military-grade laser beams, occasionally known as "dazzlers", emit a powerful beam of light that can travel great distances and be used to illuminate aircraft cockpits, temporarily blinding pilots. The US and China both have bases in Djibouti, an East African nation on the Gulf of Aden with fewer than one million people. Djibouti has become a hub of foreign military activity in recent years, hosting bases from an array of countries including France, Italy and Japan. Saudi Arabia is planning to build a base there as well. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: The District Magistrate of Motihari on Friday said that all passengers on board the ill-fated bus which met with an accident a day earlier, were safe and that initial reports of 27 deaths were due to rumour mongering. Raman Kumar told Zee Bihar that there were 13 passengers on board the Delhi-bound bus at the time when it met with an accident. He said all of them were safe and are receiving treatment at a local hospital. He further said that a team of NDRF and FSL have been investigating the site of the accident and have not found any dead body. "In the initial hurry and confusion, locals believed rumours that were doing the rounds," he said. Rumours though may not be blamed solely. Bihar Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav himself had initially confirmed 27 deaths in the accident. He had also elaborated on a provision to give compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each victim. He then retracted from his statement later in the day. "Yes, I said 27 people have died, it was based on info from local sources, but I also said that only final report will be considered," he had said. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too had expressed anguish and had promised help to families of those who had died. The bus was bound for Delhi from 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. Some of the confusion related to the 'deaths' could also have come from the fact that while 32 people had booked tickets, only 13 had boarded and others scheduled to be picked from subsequent stops. Mumbai: "Raazi" director Meghna Gulzar says actress Alia Bhatt was the only choice for her to play the protagonist in the movie, and without her perhaps she wouldn't have made the film. The film is based on Harinder Sikka's novel "Calling Sehmat" and is a cross-border spy drama. Asked what made her cast Alia as Kashmiri girl Sehmat, Meghna told IANS: "From the time I learnt that I have to helm the film, Alia's face popped up in my mind and that never changed. I am really thankful to Alia for agreeing to do the film. Otherwise I couldn't have made the film. "I don't think anybody else could fit in, with all due respect to the other actresses." Meghna was clear from the start that she didn't want Alia's character to be like Lara Croft. "Sehmat is an ordinary, simple 20-year-old girl with an innate strength which we all have in us, and we do things if circumstance demands... that we possibly won't do otherwise. So, the character needed to remain vulnerable, feminine and fragile; no matter what else was going on around her," she added. The film "Raazi", releasing on May 11, also features Vicky Kaushal, Soni Razdan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Rajit Kapoor. Vicky is all praise for Alia. "I think she is one of the versatile, spontaneous and organic actresses we have in the country. Look at the kind of roles she has taken up. She really feels what she performs and that translates on-screen," the "Masaan" actor told IANS. He added: "As a human being, she is so easy going, she is a very genuine person, and we bonded really well during the shoot. She is always her real self." In the movie, Vicky plays a Pakistani Army officer. SPRINGFIELD - In deep blue states like Illinois, the Republican Party leadership does everything it can to distance itself from President Trump and his supporters. That strategy leaves Republican members of Congress high and dry - and on their own to win any districts that may swing between Republican and Democrat majorities. Rumors are swirling among D.C. operatives that Illinois could lose Republican seats in November in tight races such as Peter Roskam's 6th CD, Rodney Davis' 13th CD and some worry about Mike Bost's 12th CD. Democrats are pressing to win those districts in order to build up a Democrat majority that could impeach the president. Despite all those concerns, a new Rasmussen poll shows that identifying with President Trump may not be a bad thing - and that more are expecting the president to win re-election in 2020. RAIPUR: The Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh has decided to recruit transgenders in the state police force a move that is aimed at promoting gender equality. According to news agency ANI, the state police has started conducting workshops to facilitate applications from the interested transgender candidates. By allowing transgenders to join the state police force, Chhattisgarh has become the first Indian state to do so. The Chhattisgarh government's decision to allow transgenders to join the state police force has been widely welcomed and the applicants have begun preparations at the police parade ground here. According to reports, the recruitment of transgenders in the state police force would be done under similar guidelines for other two genders. A state police spokesperson was quoted as saying that they had been conducting workshops to facilitate applications from transgenders. These applicants would be recruited only after they pass the written exam and physical test, he added. Ever since the announcement was made, some 40 transgenders have already applied for the post of constable. This recruitment will give hope to the transgender community and they will no longer hide their identity and come forward. "Just like other genders, we too wish to serve for the betterment of our country. We are happy with the decision of the state government and will leave no stone unturned to clear tests," Divya, who is training with other transgender in the state capital to enter the police force, told ANI. "Earlier we were afraid of the transgender community. We were told to stay away from them. However, now when we got to know them closely, we have realised that they are similar to us," said another aspirant Sakshi. According to estimates, there are more than 3,000 transgenders in Chhattisgarh and come under the other backward class (OBC) category. In 2014, the Supreme Court had declared transgender people as the third gender and ruled that they have equal privilege over the fundamental rights. While Chhattisgarh government has opened the doors for transgenders to be part of its police force, there are isolated cases like Prithika Yashini a transgender from Tamil Nadu who is already serving as a Sub-inspector in Tamil Nadu Police after a long legal battle to get her recruitment cleared. Similarly, another transgender community member Ganga Kumari too won a legal battle to become a constable in Rajasthan Police. Ganga had cleared the police recruitment test in 2013 but was denied the post because of her gender identity, which was revealed by a medical test. Calling it a case of 'gender bias', the Jodhpur High Court ruled on November 13, 2017, that she should be appointed within six weeks. (With ANI inputs) Guruprasad Mohapatra, Airport Authority of India (AAI) chairman, in an exclusive interview with Zee Business's Sameer Dixit, said UDAN scheme envisages connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. It aims at connecting these airports with airports in big cities. He also added the DigiYatra initiative aims to bring together entire industry to develop a digital ecosystem that will deliver Indian customers a seamless, consistent and paperless service experience at every touch point of their journey. Q: Sir my first question is related to Regional Connectivity Scheme, UDAN. What is the status of the scheme and how many airports developed under it is functional at present? A: UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) is a very important programme of the government as well as for the Airport Authority of India (AAI). The scheme UDAN envisages providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. It aims at connecting these airports with airports in big cities. Till date, two auctions have been undertaken under UDAN scheme. 25 airports, which were developed under the first auction are functional today. Adampur airport in Jalandhar, Punjab, is the 25th airport that became operational in this week. In addition, work on 50 airports auctioned under UDAN-2 has been completed. I feel, by end of the year (2018), about 60-70 more airports will become functional under the scheme. Q: Undoubtedly, UDAN seeks to connect nook and corner of the country via airways. How soon are we going to see the services in Sikkim, a state that has been in talks for quite some time? Can you also say about few important airports that will become functional under the second round of the scheme? A: Unfortunately, Sikkim is the only state that doesn't have a single airport, yet. The airport is an essential need of the state for its own requirements as well as for tourism. But the good news is that work on a new airport in the state has completed. Currently, the process of licencing is going on and will be completed soon. Spicejet, which got the bid for Sikkim under UDAN-II, will start functioning in the state as soon. We hope, soon other potential airlines will also come forward for services in the state. Q: Apart from UDAN, I would also like to know about the present capacity of Indian Aviation sector and its growth in coming 5 years or 10 years? At least, when the Indian Aviation sector is showing a continuous two-digit growth. A: India's growth rate is the highest, at present. Yes, it sounds good to hear but its also a challenging task and the biggest challenge before the government is how to fulfil the demand. Therefore, we have worked on a perspective planning for 5, 10, 15 years. You can look at yesterday's announcement by the civil aviation ministry under which Rs 1 lakh crore will be invested in next five years to develop the airport infrastructure sector in the country. The investment will be made to develop both public and private airports. On the front of public airports, the AAI will be spending about Rs 21000 crore for development of infrastructure in 22 airports in the next five years. Interestingly, the cabinet also granted its approval for expansion of integrated terminals at Chennai, Guwahati and Lucknow airports at a cost of over Rs 5,000 crore for developing greenfield airports. These airports are expanded to handle the pressure of 900 new aircraft that will be joining the existing fleet soon. Under the development plan, aircraft parking bays will be created along with the expansion of the terminals, runway as well as aprons. Q: This plan to develop infrastructure will also call for private investment. Can you let us know about the ways that will be adopted for fundraising for the projects? Is it going to be market-borrowings or some new mechanism will be adopted for the purpose? A: Airport Authority of India never went for market borrowings but this time as we are planning a very ambitious investment plan. Thus, we have decided to go for 60% debt and 40% equity component in raising money. Earlier, we borrowed Rs 1500 crore in under round 1 and now again will have to borrow for these three projects, Chennai, Guwahati and Lucknow, and will be done in the same ratio of 60:40. Q: How is it going to happen? Is it going to be phase wise? A: Our proposal on the tentative amount that will be needed per year has been approved by the board. We took the approval for the Rs 1,500 crore that we took in the last financial year. In addition to bank borrowings, we will also opt for other ways to borrow like Masala bonds and dollar innovated bonds. Currently, we are practising on all ways to borrow and will go ahead with the one that suits us the best. Q: Sir, you have invited private players in case of Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports. Interestingly, you also twisted the bidding conditions. What is the status of the same, at least when dominant players like JVK have shown their interest in the project? A: Currently, AAI handles 129 airports in India and several small airports are being developed under the UDAN scheme. The major concern of AAI and the government is why all these airports should be handled by it. So, we worked on a plan to partially privatising Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports. The bidding received for these airports are being scrutinised. Soon, a decision will be made. Q: Sir, now I would like to talk about the DigiYatra platform. Can you please explain the meaning of DigiYatra and where are we standing in launching the platform? A: DigiYatra initiative aims at providing a digital ecosystem to Indian customers under which he/she will get a seamless, consistent and paperless service experience at every touch point of their journey. This means, during the process, a passenger will be digitally snapped at the gate of the airport and acting as a digital identity, the snap will help him without being frisked at every point. Under the existing process, the traveller is supposed to prove his identity at the entry gate of the airport to the CISF personnel, later he is frisked and is supposed to prove his identity at many points. But the DigiYatra will facilitate him/her to be free from all these hassles. For the purpose, we invited experts of all shareholders including airlines and airport operators among other to devise a mechanism for it. At present, the mechanism is under consideration of the ministry. Once approved, it will be launched at 5 private airports and three airports, namely Varanasi, Kolkata and Vijayawada, that is controlled by the AAI. Q: How soon, we will be able to see its implementation? A: We are waiting for the approval from the government. I feel it will be implemented within a year from the date of its approval. Q: Can you tell us about the amount of time that a passenger will be able to save after the initiative is launched? A: I can't provide any exact time for the same but can cite an example of my journey from Singapore's Changi airport back to India. I was able to reach the boarding gate within 1 to 1.30 minutes from the gate. (Transcribed by Jitesh Kumar Jha ) Flipkarts co-founder and chairman Sachin Bansal may quit the company board as Walmart is inching close to sealing the deal with the e-commerce company, as per a report in the Times of India. The TOI report said that Walmart will retaining only one of the two founders, the other being Binny Bansal. Quoting sources, TOI said that Walmart in all probability will pick up all the shares of Sachin Bansal. Walmart will also retain Kalyan Krishnamurthy, who took over as the CEO of Flipkart in January last year. US-based retail behemoth Walmart, is eyeing a majority or controlling equity stake in it to foray into the multi-billion dollar Indian retail space. Walmart wants to buy a majority stake in Flipkart for as much as USD 12 billion, even though rival Amazon is still jostling to turn the deal in its favour. Amazon is believed to have offered Flipkart a higher valuation of about USD 22 billion, along with a break up fee of USD 2 billion, compared to Walmart's USD 18-20 billion valuation of the Bengaluru-based company. Flipkart on Thursday 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. Flipkart Ltd purchased shares for $350.5 million from some of its investors including Shekhar Kirani of Accel, SoftBank executive Deep Nishar`s family trust, IDG Ventures and a host of pension funds, according to May 3 regulatory filings from Singapore`s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, sourced by business intelligence platform paper.vc. It also began the process of converting Flipkart to a private limited company, changing its name to Flipkart Pte Ltd, the filings showed. With Reuters Inputs HYDERABAD: A 23-year-old madrassa teacher Rehan was on Thursday arrested on charges of sexually assaulting six minor boys of the institute. Police said the boys, aged between 10 and 12, were allegedly abused over the past few months. Rehan was arrested after a complaint was filed against him on April 29 by the parents of some of the victims who had informed them about the assault. Rehan taught Arabic at the madrassa. A case under IPC section 377 (unnatural offences) and other provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against him. The teacher has been remanded to judicial custody by a court. Meanwhile, police are conducting further investigation into the matter. The arrest comes on a day when the Juvenile Justice Board 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. The board also said that the bone ossification test report indicated he was not a juvenile. The accused was initially suspected to be a 17-year-old. The girl's father said that their daughter was scared and traumatised. "She told us that she was taken to the madrassa where she was offered water. She lost consciousness after having water and when she woke up, her clothes were wet. She is quite scared and is unable to talk much," he said. She had said the accused had taken her to the madrassa to meet his friends. The police were informed on April 21 by the girl's father that she had gone missing from Ghazipur in east Delhi after she went to the market. Subsequently, the girl was rescued from the madrassa on April 22 by a Delhi Police team and the "juvenile" apprehended. NEW DELHI: In a twist to BJP's 'Dalit outreach programme (Samrasta Bhoj), its MP Udit Raj on Friday said that eating food with the 'downtrodden and the untouchables' is not enough and efforts should be made to meet their expectations too. Udit Raj, who is BJP's Dalit face, today disapproved of his party leaders having food at homes of Dalits as part of an outreach campaign, saying such gestures are not enough to address the aspirations of the community. The BJP MP even cited how Congress suffered an electoral drubbing despite its leader Rahul Gandhi having a meal in Dalit households. "Having night stay and food at houses of Dalits neither empowers the Dalit families nor benefits the politicians. Rahul Gandhi is an example of it," Raj said. Issuing a warning to those doing politics in the name of reaching out to Dalits, Udit Raj said that those who do not understand the aspirations of the community will face "consequences". The BJP lawmaker also wondered why politicians, academicians and intellectuals were not able to grasp the issues concerning the Dalit community. Raj observed that just having meals with Dalits will not "satisfy" them and stressed that there is a need to address their aspirations which include respect, equality and rights. Udit Raj, who is a BJP MP representing North-West Delhi in Lok Sabha, said that having food at a Dalit household is similar to a doctor giving medicines to treat fever to a patient who has a problem in his stomach. Citing Rahul Gandhi's example, Udit Raj said that a "lesson needs to be learnt from the past incidents and Dalit protests". Raj, however, clarified that he fully supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of taking everyone together and backed the 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' as a leader of the BJP. The MP had earlier opposed his party's outreach programme 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan', saying it would not bring any electoral gains to the party and instead it makes Dalits feel "inferior". The BJP leader said that on April 2, Dalits had agitated on a large scale in the country, seeking their rights. "They (Dalits) did not protest for why politicians are not coming to have food at their households, but protested to press their demands including their rights, equality, jobs and among others," he told reporters. Remarks from Udit Raj came in the light of several controversies involving BJP leaders and their reported goof-ups during the Dalit outreach campaign. On Thursday, BJP MP Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phoole had said that 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. Also, at the event held at Dadri village near Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh three days back, 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. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said that the issue of rising fuel prices has been brought up with the GST Council and that he has made an appeal for petrol and diesel prices to be brought under one-tax system. Rising prices of fuel in recent days has put an enormous burden on the common man across the country. And while there has been no change in the daily revision of prices in the last few days, consumers continue to pay record prices. "The rise in petrol prices is not restricted to one state. The issue has been sent to GST Council which will take the decision eventually. I appeal to the council to bring this matter under it," Pradhan told members of the press at an event in Madhya Pradesh. The rise in petrol prices is not restricted to one state. The issue has been sent to GST Council which will take the decision eventually. I appeal to the council to bring this matter under it: Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on hike in petrol prices in #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/46r9G0Uuzt ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2018 Pradhan had previously said that the government is well aware of the pinch being felt by consumers due to high fuel prices but added that a balance needs to be struck with fiscal needs. News agency PTI in the last week of April had quoted Pradhan as saying that protecting consumer interest and managing fiscal balance were two main priorities. The government has maintained that the rise in prices of petrol and diesel has been due to an increase in crude oil prices. While Pradhan has even previously said that he wants petroleum products to be brought under GST, it has not happened. According to reports, petrol prices could come down to as low as Rs 38 per litre from the current prices in excess of Rs 73 per litre if only it is brought under GST. States however are unlikely to agree because it would also mean a loss of revenue for them. The Centre too has received brickbats - regardless of the state governments and their views - because the NDA government has hiked excise duty on petrol and disel several times to garner additional revenues. And critics suspect that the current state of no-change is only due to the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections and may rise once again after May 12. NEW DELHI: The banned terror outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) has recently threatened a high-ranking rail official and demanded Rs 5 lakh for social welfare works. The matter came to light after an IPS officer from Chhattisgarh Cadre, who is currently posted with the Home Ministry, shared a letter sent by ULFA-I to the Northern Railways (NR) official. In a letter dated April 20, 2018, the banned terror outfit threatened NR official Anuj Kumar to arrange Rs 5 lakh, within 15 days, that would be used for 'social welfare' of the local people. Though the letter, which was undersigned by Bibesawr Kalita, PRO, ULFA 131, Battilion, the outfit also accused the officer of ignoring the local vendors and suppliers and awarding tenders to others forms from other states. It also charged the officer of taking a huge bribe in lieu of awarding the tenders to them. The outfit warned that it was totally unacceptable to it and cautioned the officer to keep in his mind that he was in Asom which is not his homeland. The banned outfit further stated that the locals were entirely dependent on work orders for their livelihood and the officer was creating a nuisance by misbehaving with them and ignoring them in while awarding the tenders. This was making their lives miserable, the letter claimed. In the latter part of the letter, the organisation said that it was giving yet another chance to the officer to mend his ways and start cooperating with the local vendors and regular suppliers. It, however, warned the officer of dire consequences if its demands are not met. It said that the amount Rs 5 lakh- will be collected from the officer's home within 15 days and that the notes should be of Rs 2000 each. This is not the first instance when the banned terror outfit has demanded from rich businessmen and high-ranking government officials. Last year, it demanded Rs 1 crore as extortion from a tea estate in Tinisukia. On November 23, ULFA-I sent an extortion demand note to the manager of the Samdang Tea Estate after which the people associated with the tea estate along with the locals around were terrorised. The demand note said, Please accept our revolutionary. You/Your company is courteously requested to contribute INR 10000000.00 (Rs One crore only) to our organizational fund. Your co-operation in making this payment promptly would be greatly appreciated. CBSE Results 2018: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is likely to announce CBSE Class 12th exam results on May 28. The board is also likely to release CBSE Class 10 results results days after releasing Class 12 results. The results will be announced on cbse.nic.in, cbseresults.nic.in. Earlier, there were reports that results of both CBSE Class 10 and CBSE class 12 is likely to be delayed due to the paper leak scandal and subsequent Economics paper re-test on April 25. However, the board has refuted these allegations. Also Read: Changes that CBSE made in its examination bylaws for 2018 exams The CBSE Class 10 exams were held between March 5 2018 and April 4, 2018 while that of CBSE Class 12 examinations were held from March 5 to April 13. How to check CBSE Class 10th Results 2018/ CBSE Class 12th Results 2018: 1. Visit official results website - cbse.nic.in, cbseresults.nic.in 2. Click on the link - Senior School Certificate Examinations (Class 12) Results 2018 (All Regions) / 3. Enter your roll number and date of birth 4. Take a printout of the result for future reference. The reports of leak of the CBSE papers had caused disappointment among students across the country last month. In Delhi, students held protests accusing the CBSE of negligence and demanded immediate action against the guilty. According to Delhi Police, the class 12 economics paper was leaked on 23 March - three days before the scheduled date of the examination. Investigators made arrests in several parts of the country in connection with the case, including in Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh. They claimed to have arrested the main conspirators behind the leak from Una in Himachal Pradesh. The three people were staffers of a school in the town. The leak was exposed after an envelop containing four images of the hand-written economics paper was delivered to the CBSE headquarters in Delhi on the evening of the scheduled day of the examination -- 26 March. Following reports of the leak, on April 2 CBSE tried a "leak-proof" system of "encrypted" question papers, which delayed the exam as a few centres in Delhi were unable to follow the printing of encrypted papers, e-mailed to them, at the school itself. The HRD ministry then set up a committee to examine the process by which the CBSE conducts examinations. The seven-member panel, headed by former HRD secretary Vinay Sheel Oberoi, will suggest measures to make the process "secure and fool-proof" using technology. The committee has to submit its report by May 31 to the Human Resource Development Ministry. New Delhi: China on Friday said it was "quite normal" for it to push ahead with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a sticking point in Beijing's ties with India, but maintained that the two "major powers" could find a way to cooperate, especially after the Wuhan summit. Addressing a seminar on 'Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and its Way Forward', China's ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said the BRI would benefit all countries, including India, in the age of globalisation. The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013, has become a major irritant in bilateral ties. The BRI also includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which India opposes as it goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India had also boycotted last year's Belt and Road Forum organised by China in Beijing. "We seek common development through connectivity," Luo said as some Indian lawmakers, scholars and journalists raised the issue of the BRI during the seminar addressed by China's envoy on the outcomes of the April 27-28 informal summit between Chinese President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said it was "quite normal" for China to push for the BRI among countries in the region, while describing India as a "major power" as well as an emerging market. Luo also said that China wanted to share the fruits of its economic development with other countries and those like the US and the UK have benefitted from China's growth. Soon after the Wuhan summit ended, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou had said there was no fundamental difference with India on the issue of "inter-connectivity" and Beijing will "not be too hard" with New Delhi on the issue of the BRI. "We feel that there is no fundamental difference between China and India on the issue of supporting inter-connectivity," Kong had told the Chinese media. "The Indian side does not exclude this cooperation. It is also continuing to advance on interconnection. "As for whether India accepts the expression Belt and Road, I think it is not important and China will not be too hard on it," he had said. He had also referred to India's participation in the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor which is also part of the BRI. Another highlight of the informal summit, a "very special event" in Chinese diplomacy, Lu said, was the decision of President Xi and Prime Minister Modi to undertake a joint economic project in war-torn Afghanistan. Referring to the unresolved boundary issue, the Chinese ambassador said it was a matter leftover from history and it cannot be resolved overnight. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). While China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covered Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during the 1962 war. During the Wuhan summit, Luo said, both sides have agreed to properly manage and control their differences. Both sides have the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each other's concerns and aspirations. Further, the two leaders have agreed to use the Special Representatives' Meeting on the boundary issue to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquillity. Luo said China and India would also address the issue of trade imbalance and Beijing would open up its market for more Indian products. He cited Beijing's announcement yesterday to exempt import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1. This, the envoy said, was good news for India's pharmaceutical industry and medicine exports to China. "I believe this will help reduce trade imbalance between China and India in the future," he said. While the bilateral trade reached USD 84.44 billion last year, a new landmark, the trade deficit too continued to remain high at USD 51.75 billion - registering a growth of 8.55 per cent year-on-year in 2017. President Xi and Prime Minister Modi also discussed the Korean peninsula and relations with the US as well as Russia, Luo said. He said both sides have agreed to promote more active regional and international cooperation. During the wide-ranging informal talks, the two leaders have agreed to cooperate in offering innovative and sustainable solutions to global challenges such as epidemics, natural disasters, climate change and terrorism, he said. As the two major countries in Asia, China and India will use their political influence and economic power to reinvigorate regional economic development. The two countries will work together to make international relations more democratic and increase the representation and say of developing countries and emerging markets. Both leaders also agreed to support the multilateral trading regime, oppose protectionism and work for an open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalisation that benefits all. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed on Friday that the Congress party won't be able to replace BJP in the state for the next 50 years. Speaking to party workers here, Chouhan said his government has carried out development works which have helped people in the state prosper. These, he said, will ensure that people continue to shun the party. "Congress was very delighted when I cracked a joke about the chair reserved for me at a program. Now I would like to say, that this BJP govt can't be removed by Congress even in the next 50 years," Chouhan said. Chouhan had become the CM of the state for the third time in 2013 and is now looking to win his fourth time in the MP Assembly elections scheduled for later this year. The task ahead may not be a walk in the park as Chouhan has faced severe criticism on a number of issues in the recent past. The latest of these was when he gave Mos status to Computer Baba and four other religious leaders. Most of these religious leaders had threatened to carry out protest marches against Chouhan government's 'Save Narmada' policies citing corruption. Once given political roles, they promptly dropped their plans of protest. The state government has now got an HC notice on the appointments made. These and allegations of supporting mining mafia have led to some embarrassment for Chouhan who is now seeking to highlight development-related work undertaken by his government. The Huizenga family immigrated from the Netherlands in the 1800s. Two generations later, Peter Huizenga, his cousin Wayne and his brother-in-law co-founded Waste Management, Inc in 1968. At the company's height, it was a $10 billion business that employed 75,000 worldwide. Later, Mr. Huizenga turned to capital management, growing the family's wealth and impact. Huizenga's generosity to conservative causes stemmed from his deep religious faith and was made possible by his successful businesses ranging from waste collection to capital management. OAK BROOK - Illinois conservative activists and political candidates mourn the death of generous financial donor Peter Huizenga, who died Wednesday at age 79 after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Huizenga's faith was the basis for his contributions to Christian education, notably to Timothy Christian School in Wheaton and Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. Last year, Timothy Christian recognized Mr. Huizenga's contribution of raising over $4.5 million to provide scholarships for students to attend the private school Huizenga himself attended, beginning in kindergarten. Mr. Huizenga's reasoning for supporting Christian education was deep, Timothy Christian School superintendent Matt Davidson said in 2017. If you have skills and gifts you owe it to Godnot the schoolbut to God, Mr. Huizenga would say, Davidson reported. If God blesses you, and you have the ability, thats when things start to get really interesting. Peter Huizenga reportedly had been fighting cancer for over a decade, but continued to support conservative Republicans through the recent IL GOP primary. Although generously donating to Governor Bruce Rauner in 2014, Huizenga switched allegiances to Rauner primary challenger Jeanne Ives earlier this year, contributing nearly $40,000 to the Ives for Governor campaign. "I am so sad to hear about Peter Huizenga's death," Ives wrote on her Facebook page Thursday. "Peter was a principled man who lived out his faith joyfully." Besides contributing to Republican candidates and political groups, Illinois State Board of Elections' records Huizenga also donated faithfully to Paul Caprio's Family PAC, a socially-conservative political action group. While donations to charitable organizations are not made public, Mr. Huizenga financially supported numerous causes that conveyed what he considered to be a Biblical worldview. Mr. Huizenga's deeply-held beliefs was reflected in what he had to say about Timothy Christian School. The Timothy experience is a great education competitive with public schools in the area, Huizenga would say. But weve got something that public schools dont have teaching of values and virtues within a Biblical worldview. Timothy educates the mind, enriches the soul and provides physical training to the body. It doesnt get any better than that. Mr. Huizenga leaves behind his wife Heidi of 50 years, as well as a legacy of children and grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Christ Church of Oak Brook on Monday, May 8th and the funeral will be Wednesday, May 9th. New Delhi: Questioned by several top judges of the Supreme Court for reportedly assigning cases arbitrarily and with opposition parties - led by Congress - calling for his removal, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Friday highlighted the need for having unity in the apex court of the country. Misra has been facing heat ever since a group of four top Supreme Court lawyers levelled several charges against him on January 12 - primarily accusing him of breaking rules when assigning high-profile cases. In April, several opposition parties led by Congress presented a signed motion for the CJI's removal to Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu. It was rejected. Misra has maintained silence on the matter but on Friday, he insisted the need to put up a united front. "The Supreme Court is one and the Bar nurtures us. It is the duty of the judges to respect the members of the Bar irrespective of their age and status. I personally feel so and do so," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "You are welcome to contradict me." The Supreme Court is one & the Bar nurtures us. It is the duty of the judges to respect the members of the Bar irrespective of their age & status. I personally feel so & do so. You are welcome to contradict me: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in Delhi pic.twitter.com/ggQZOO9AV7 ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2018 The entire controversy surrounding Misra is unprecedented in the history of Indian judiciary and has now become a political battle between BJP and Congress. The BJP has defended Misra and called charges against him shocking even as Congress has claimed that democracy is under threat and highlighted that charges leveled by top Supreme Court judges cannot be looked away from. NEW DELHI: In yet another showdown between the judiciary and the executive, the Centre and the Supreme Court on Friday crossed swords over the issue of appointment of judges in the higher judiciary. According to PTI, The Centre today slammed the apex court Collegium for recommending fewer names to fill up huge vacancies in the various high courts of the country. The apex court too also hit out at the Centre for keeping the names recommended by the Collegium pending. "Tell us, how many names (recommended by the Collegium) are pending with you," a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal. When the AG replied by saying, "I will have to find out", the apex court bench retorted "when it comes to the government, you say 'we will find out'". The bench made the strong remarks following a submission by Venugopal that though the court was dealing with a matter relating to the vacancy of judges in the high courts of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura, the fact was that the Collegium has been recommending only three names for high courts where the vacancy was for 40 judges. "The Collegium will have to see the broad picture and recommend more names," the AG said, adding, "some high courts have 40 vacancies and recommendation of the Collegium is only for three. And the government is being told that we are tardy in filing up the vacancy". "If there is no Collegium recommendation, nothing can be done," Venugopal told the bench. The bench then reminded the government that they have to make the appointments. The matter refers to the April 19 recommendation to the Centre by Collegium regarding the appointment of Justice M Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar as the chief justices of the Meghalaya High Court and Manipur High Court respectively, which has not been cleared by the government yet. Responding to it, Venugopal said the issues related to Justice Sudhakar and Justice Yaqoob Mir would be dealt with and orders would be issued "shortly". "What shortly? 'Shortly' could be three months," the bench reacted. On April 17, while hearing a petition filed by a man seeking transfer of his case from Manipur High Court to Gauhati High Court, the apex court had noted that the situation in the high courts in North-East states like Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura was "critical" due to the vacancy of judges there. It had noted that Manipur High Court had only two judges against a sanctioned strength of seven, Meghalaya High Court had one judge against the sanctioned strength of four, while Tripura High Court had two judges against the sanctioned strength of four. The top court's remarks assume significance as the Centre, after almost three months of Collegium's recommendation, returned for reconsideration the file of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph for elevation as an apex court judge. The AG during his arguments also referred to the Collegium resolution of March 6 relating to the appointment of Justice Songkhupchung Serto, an additional judge of Manipur High Court who was functioning on transfer in the Gauhati High Court, as a permanent judge. In this resolution, the Collegium had recommended that Justice Serto be appointed as a permanent judge of the Manipur High Court and would continue to function in Gauhati High Court. Venugopal referred to the resolution and said it was "very strange" that Justice Serto should continue to function from the Gauhati High Court. "That time, only two judges were there in Manipur High Court. It should not have been said that he (Justice Serto) would continue in Gauhati High Court. It was necessary to bring him back to Manipur High Court," he said. To this, the bench observed, "may be the Collegium does not want to get him back to Manipur. We do not know". The court then told the AG that it was not only a problem in the Manipur High Court as the situation was similar in the high courts of Meghalaya and Tripura. Venugopal said he had inquired about Manipur High Court and once Justice Sudhakar goes there, the high court would have three judges and problem will be solved. The bench concluded by asking the Attorney General to file an affidavit within 10 days regarding the vacancies in high courts of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura. (With PTI inputs) CHENNAI: In a big jolt to National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirants from Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a Madras High Court direction that asked CBSE to set up more centres in the state for the upcoming medical test on Sunday, May 6. As a result, hundreds of TN students will now have to travel to Kerala to appear for the NEET UG exam. The top court accepted CBSEs plea that new exam centres cannot be established at such short notice. According to reports, 1000 to 1500 students will have to travel to Ernakulum and other centres in Kerala. Stressed-out, parents complain that travelling to the exam centres by bus or train will be a nightmare due to ongoing summer vacations, because of which no tickets are available. In another case, 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 Education (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 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 news 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. JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will released the results of RBSE Class 12 Board Result 2018 for Arts, Science and Commerce streams in the second week of May on the official Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan (BSER) website rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. Results will also be announced on examresults.net/rajasthan, indiaresults.in. While there's no official confirmation on the date of results, reports suggest that the Rajasthan Board Class 12 results 2018 will first be announced for Arts stream, followed by Science and Commerce streams. Over 8 lakh candidates appeared for Rajasthan class 12 board this year, out of which 5,27,259 students were from the Humanities or Arts stream. The exams were held from March 8 to April 2, 2018. Steps to check the RBSE Rajasthan Board Class 12 result 2018: 1: Click on the official website rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in, examresults.net/rajasthan, indiaresults.in. 2: Click on link that says Rajasthan Board Class 12 results 2018 or RBSE Rajasthan Board Class 12 result 2018 3: Enter the required details such as roll number, date of birth 4: The results of BSER Rajasthan Board Class 12 result 2018 will be displayed on screen Students also can check their Rajasthan Board Class 12 results 2018 via SMS. GET YOUR RAJASTHAN BOARD CLASS 12 ARTS RESULT 2018 ON SMS SMS - RESULTRAJ12AROLL NUMBER - Send it to 56263 GET YOUR RAJASTHAN BOARD CLASS 12 SCIENCE RESULT 2018 ON SMS SMS - RESULTRAJ12SROLL NUMBER - Send it to 56263 GET YOUR RAJASTHAN CLASS 12 COMMERCE RESULT 2018 ON SMS SMS - RESULTRAJ12CROLL NUMBER - Send it to 56263 The Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan organizes and manages the entire school level education, i.e. Class 1st to 12th in both Hindi and English. The students can check their result on the official website (rajeduboard.nic.in / rajresults.nic.in) of BSER. New Delhi: The Muslim Mahasangh in Rampur on Friday announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for burning the photo of Muhammad Ali Jinnah which has created a massive uproar at the Aligarh Muslim University. Blaming Jinnah for having broken the country at the time of partition, Farhat - the national head of All-India Muslim Mahasangh - announced that the reward would be given to anyone who burns Jinnah's photo which created ruckus at AMU earlier this week. The controversy erupted when reports emerged that a portrait of Jinnah had been displayed on the walls of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student union office. Aligarh MP and BJP leader Satish Gautam last Monday wrote to Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor objecting to Pakistan founder's picture on the walls of the AMUSU office. Defending the portrait, apparently hanging there for decades, AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai had, a day later, said that Jinnah was a founder member of the University Court and granted life membership of the student union. The entire matter has snowballed into a BJP vs Congress fight with Congress leaders saying that calls to have the portait removed was 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' Karan Dalal had said. Meanwhile, tensions are high inside the AMU campus and elsewhere. Protest held outside #UttarPradesh Bhavan in #Delhi against clashes at Aligarh Muslim University over Md. Ali Jinnah's portrait in the University campus pic.twitter.com/e3eUoMpeOG ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2018 News agency PTI reported that the District Magistrate on Friday ordered the suspension of internet services in AMU till Sunday in order to prevent rumour mongering and flaring up of communal tensions. New Delhi: Mounting yet another attack on Nitish Kumar, RJD scion Tejashwi Yadav on Friday posted a video on his official Twitter account showing a mob assaulting a man. He claimed the victim was an Army soldier and that the incident happened in Bihar - questioning the CM on the prevailing law and order situation. In the video posted by Tejashwi - which Zee News has not been able to verify, a man is seen being assaulted by a large mob. The former deputy CM of the state has claimed that the incident occurred just a short distance away from a police station. He then writes that the said man is battling for life now, before questioning Nitish on just why a mob was reportedly allowed to take law into their hands. This is not the first time that Tejashwi has slammed Nitish since the alliance between RJD and JDU fell apart. It has been a bitter war of words between the former allies with both sides indulging in verbal assaults. While Nitish has been called an opportunist, has been questioned on his apparent silence on a number of key issues and even been blamed for RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav being jailed in the Fodder Scam case, JDU too has hit back with jibes galore. The stormy relations reached a new low when Rabri Devi's security cover was removed. Rabri - mother of Tejaswhi and wife of Lalu - had at the time claimed that Nitish Kumar was conspiring to kill her and her family members. The security was restored eventually. Long-lost bonhomie was not. (Note: The video posted by Tejashwi has not been uploaded because of its graphic nature) Washington: If the United States wants to improve its ties with India, it can no longer ignore or sideline Uttar Pradesh, a visiting delegation from the most populous Indian state has said. Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidhartha Nath Singh is leading the high-powered delegation of top state officials to the US. "It is important for the Government of the United States to understand that for any relationship with India to go up, obviously other states are important, but Uttar Pradesh remains the most important," Singh said. "Even if you want to improve the health index of India, for example, India can come up only if UP scores well in this area," Singh said. Having concluded their trip to the Silicon Valley in California, the delegation was in Washington DC yesterday, holding meetings with US Government officials. They met with officials from the State Department, the Department of Commerce and USAID and had round tables with the industry representatives, sending them the common message that they can "no longer" afford to ignore or skip Uttar Pradesh if they want to invest in or improve ties with India. Singh said the BJP government had initiated a series of administrative reforms in sectors like health, agriculture, industry and education so as to make Uttar Pradesh a business-friendly destination. "In addition, UP offers a huge market for companies," Singh and his delegation said during their powerpoint presentation before representatives of US companies. He said the American corporate sector had shown interest to invest in defence manufacturing, IT and health sectors in Uttar Pradesh, while some of the top educational institutions wanted collaborative research and problem-solving projects. During the Investors Summit-2018 in February in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a defence industrial corridor in the Bundelkhand region, saying it would bring an investment of Rs 20,000 crore and generate employment avenues for 2.5 lakh people. "After recent announcement of defence corridor, a number of US defence companies have shown serious interest in investing in this sector in the state," said Singh. He held meetings with representatives of the Lockheed Martin here while a meeting with Boeing is also on the cards. "US companies have shown big interest in UP's health sector, for which the BJP government has announced ambitious expansion plans, and the fast-developing IT sector in Noida, adjoining the national capital," said Singh. He also suggested that the state could collaborate with some American universities for fellowship programmes, exchange programmes or research programmes. "That could be a big, big takeaway for us," Singh said, as he referred to a meeting that the delegation has had with the Stanford University in Silicon Valley this week. Companies like Pepsico and Cargill have shown interest in investing in the state's agriculture sector. Both the companies have signed memorandums of understanding with UP. Singh said his delegation has received an invitation from the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to visit the United States later this summer. "We hope the chief minister visits the US soon," Singh said. "The US trip is basically to get UP to be known in a new way and also to get investment from US into Uttar Pradesh," Singh said. The delegation would next travel to New York before leaving for India. BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released its manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka. The BJP has termed its manifesto #BJPVachana4Karnataka. In the manifesto, the BJP has said that they are committed to reducing the burden of debt on our Annadaatas. "We will announce a crop loan waiver upto Rs1 Lakh, including all loans from Nationalised Banks and Co-operatives, in our first Cabinet Meeting for the benefit of our Annadaatas," the party said in its manifesto. BJP's chief ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa said: "Welfare of farmers has always been our priority. We will allocate Rs 1,50,000 crore for various irrigation projects in Karnataka and ensure water reaches to every field in the state." The BJP has promised Rs 3,000 Crore Kamadhenu Fund for development of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure and Rs 1,000 Crore fund for expanding veterinary services. It also said that the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012 will be reintroduced. The manifesto, unveiled by Yeddyurappa also said that if voted to power, the BJP would bring out a 'white paper' on the financial health of the state under the Congress rule. BJP MP and state leader Shobha Karandlaje said the manifesto was a "vision document" which reflected people's aspirations and expectations. Over three lakh people as also experts had been consulted in preparing the manifesto, she said. A scheme to provide Rs 25,000 and three grams of gold for brides coming under the BPL category during the marriage and opening of "Annapoorna Canteens" has also been promised among the various other schemes for women. The manifesto was released after paying homage to party sitting MLA and its candidate for Jayanagar constituency BN Vijaykumar, who died of a massive heart attack at a hospital during campaigning. Polls for the 224-member assembly will be held on May 12 and counting of votes will be taken up on May 15. Bengaluru: In a development which is likely to further escalate the war of words between ruling Congress and the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka, the Government of Pakistan on Friday hailed Tipu Sultan - the erstwhile ruler of Mysore - and called him a ferocious warrior. Describing Tipu Sultan as the 'Tiger of Mysore', the Pakistan Government said in a tweet that he was an important and influential historical figure, who was trained in the art of warfare right from his early years and had a fascination for learning. The Pakistan government said this in a tweet on the 218th death anniversary of the Muslim Mysore ruler, Badshah Nasibuddaulah Sultan Fateh Ali Bahadur Sahab Tipu aliasTipu Sultan. Revisiting an important & influential historical figure, Tiger of Mysore - Tipu Sultan on his death anniversary. Right from his early years, he was trained in the art of warfare & had a fascination for learning. #TipuSultan pic.twitter.com/Izts0HKdgD Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) May 4, 2018 BJP has, however, grabbed the opportunity to hit back at Pakistan and accused it of indirectly helping the Congress party. Tipu Sultan is known to have challenged the mighty British Empire, which gave him the due honour for his contribution in the freedom struggle. However, many disagree with it. He was an able administrator and a great warrior, according to historians. Born on November 20th, 1750, Tipu embraced martyrdom on May 4, 1799, at the age of 48 years while fighting the British forces. He was laid to rest in the state of Karnataka. Although Tipu Sultan has no direct connection with Pakistan, latter's sudden praise for the former Mysore ruler, who is seen a religious 'bigot' who had massacred many people and forced them to embrace Islam by the right-wing groups, is likely to add more fuel to the already charged electioneering in the poll-bound southern state. BJP and the Congress, which is in power in the state, have already crossed swords over the Karnataka government's decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on November 10 every year. Through an official notification, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had in 2015 announced to celebrate Tipu Sultans birthday on November 10 every year under the aegis of Department of Kannada and Culture a move which was vehemently opposed by the BJP and several right-wing groups. BJP had termed the Congress government's move of observing Tipu Sultan Jayanti as an act of Muslim appeasement. It had even asked its leaders not to celebrate or attend Tipu Sultan birth anniversary celebrations. The BJP claims that Tipu was a 'terrorist' who persecuted the Kodavas and Catholics in Mangaluru. The BJP even pitted Tipu against Onake Obavva, a legendary Dalit woman who died fighting his father, Hyder Ali, when he invaded the Chitradurga Fort. BJP president Amit Shah too attacked the Siddaramaiah government for minority appeasement and underlined BJP's opposition to the annual celebration when he launched the campaign for the April-May 2018 elections in the state. However, President Ram Nath Kovind delivered a solid blow to the anti-Tipu stance of the saffron party when, in October last year, he reignited the controversy around Tipu by deviating from the BJP's stance and said, "Tipu Sultan died a historic death fighting the British. He also pioneered the use of Mysore rockets in warfare." Kovind said this while addressing the Karnataka Assembly. Congress members thumped their desks in appreciation as the President mentioned Tipu's name, much to the embarrassment of the BJP members present in the Assembly. Bhopal: BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress of defaming the 'sanatan dharma' and the Hindus and sought an apology from the party for coining the term 'Hindu terror'. Addressing a huge gathering of party workers at the BHEL Dussehra Maidan in Madhya Pradesh, Shah said that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi should apologise for projecting the concept of "Hindu terror" and dishonouring the country. The BJP chief also cited the recent acquittal of all five people accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, including Swami Aseemanand, by a Hyderabad court in attacking the Congress party. "The Congress and its president tirelessly talked about the 'Hindu terror' in the 2014 elections and defamed Hindu culture and dishonoured India. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Hindu community for this," he said. He said that the Hyderabad court had stated that the case against the activists was made due to political reasons. "He (Rahul Gandhi) will not do that (apologise). So we have to take this issue to the masses that the Congress is fuelling lies to divide the society," he said. Shah also accused the Congress of practicing "politics of division" and dividing the people on the basis of caste. "After becoming the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi brought a bill for the backward classes of this country, under which the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was to get constitutional status. This bill was passed in the Lok Sabha but in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress, including one member of a royal family from MP, created hindrances," he alleged. He said that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who is Rajya Sabha member, raised an objection and demanded that minorities should also be included in this bill. He urged party workers to expose such moves before the public. (With PTI inputs) MUMBAI: Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal in connection with a money laundering case against him. The veteran Maharashtra politician has already spent two years in jail in connection with the money laundering case. He was lodged in the high-security Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai after his conviction in the alleged money laundering case. Bhujbal, who is at present associated with Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March 2016. Bhujbal, his son and NCP legislator Pankaj and his nephew Sameer are also co-accused in the money laundering case. The probe agency has charged the Bhujbal family members of allegedly hatching a conspiracy along with others to divert kickbacks received by the influential politician when he was state Public Works Department Minister. The money laundering charges against Bhujbal and his family members relate to the contract for construction of the state guest house- 'Maharashtra Sadan' - in Delhi and the Kalina land-grabbing case in Mumbai. Chhagan Bhujbal was lodged in one of the cells of Barrack No 12 whose construction was approved by him in 2008 when he was the Public Works Department (PWD) minister. He was lodged alongside former media baron Peter Mukerjea, one of the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, in the Arthur Road jail. The former Maharashtra Deputy CM shared the barrack with NCP leader Ramesh Kadam, an accused in a multi-crore corporation scam, and Peter Mukerjea. After 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab's hanging in November 2012, the barrack was divided into various cells. In an irony of fate, Bhujbal occupied one of the cells of the barrack, which is considered as the most secure zone, since he was remanded on March 17 in the alleged PMLA case. New Delhi: Sebi has kept HDFC Asset Management Company's proposed IPO in abeyance "for examination of past violations," the latest update with the markets regulator showed. However, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) did not clarify further. The fund house had filed preliminary papers with Sebi in March, seeking approval to float an initial public offering. HDFC AMC operates as a joint venture between Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) and Standard Life Investments. Going by the draft papers, the proposed IPO offers up to 2.54 crore equity shares of the fund house through an offer for sale of 85.92 lakh shares by HDFC and up to 1.68 crore shares by Standard Life Investments. The offer comprises a net offer to public of up to 2.21 crore equity shares, a reservation of up to 3.20 lakh shares for purchase by eligible HDFC AMC employees. Besides, 24 lakh shares have been reserved for eligible HDFC shareholders. Without disclosing the nature of violations, Sebi said it has kept the IPO papers "in abeyance for examination of past violations," according to the latest update as on April 27. Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India), Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Capital, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup Global Markets India, CLSA India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Securities, IIFL Holdings, JM Financial, JP Morgan India, Morgan Stanley India have been appointed to manage the company's public issue. New Delhi: Markets ended in the negative zone on Friday on weak global cues as investors eyed the outcome of US-China trade talks, ahead of the US jobs report. The benchmark BSE Sensex fell 187.76 points or 0.5 percent to 34,915.38 while the NSE Nifty dropped 61.40 points or 0.57 percent to 10,618.25. Sensex touched a high of 35206.55 and a low of 34847.61 in intra-day trading. Top laggards were RIL, HDFC, Asian Paints, M&M, NTPC, Airtel, Coal India, Axis Bank, ITC, Bajaj Auto, Yes Bank and Sun Pharma falling up to 2.95 percent. With Agency Inputs New Delhi: With only two days left for Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding festivities to begin in Mumbai, the soon-to-be-bride was on Friday spotted at a clinic in Bandra. And Sonam wasn't alone. She was accompanied by her husband-to-be who arrived in Mumbai today. And the duo was totally unfazed by all the attention as they did not mind at all getting constantly clicked. Also, this was the first time the soon-to-wed couple made a public appearance together after their wedding was announced. They were photographed outside a clinic in Bandra. Check out their photos: Sonam donned a printed black and grey saree and teamed it with a bright pink blouse. She accessorised the look with silver danglers and brown chappals. Anand, was, on the other hand, was dressed in casuals. Following weeks of speculations, the families of Sonam and Anand confirmed the wedding in an official statement. The statement read as, "The Kapoor & Ahuja families, take great joy and pride, in announcing the marriage of Sonam and 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." 'Saawariya' girl Sonam and Anand, who is the founder of popular clothing brand 'Bhane' will enter the wedlock on May 8. In the meantime, we hear that designer Raghavendra Rathore is set to add elegance to Sonam's wedding. The ace designer has been roped in to make the trousseau of the groom and the male members of the family for the D-day. New Delhi: Late Bollywood actress Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor, who received the National award on her behalf says he doesn't understand what the fuss was all about and added that he would have been equally happy had the National Film Award been presented by Smriti Irani in place of President of India Ram Nath Kovind. "I would have been equally happy if the Minister of Information and Broadcasting had given me the award. It is ultimately the recognition of your work. I don't understand what the fuss is about. There is no harm in receiving the award by the concerned ministry, " Boney told ANI. The National Film Awards ceremony found itself in the middle of a controversy when more than 68 recipients of the National Film Awards decided to skip the ceremony after it was announced that President Ram Nath Kovind would be felicitating only 11 winners out of the total 137 winners and Smriti Irani will felicitate the remaining recipients. Boney Kapoor who went to collect Sridevi's National Award with daughters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor felt extremely proud of his wife but at the same time expressed his sadness over her absence. "I am extremely happy and proud. This is what she's got after working for 50 years in the industry; she would have cherished this award all her life. This is the highest honour. We miss her and today we miss her even more. I would have preferred, she going and accepting the award and me and my children sitting down and clapping for her," Kapoor told ANI. Janhvi Kapoor wore Sridevi's saree for the special occasion. Sridevi passed away at the age of 54 earlier this year in Dubai, where she had gone to attend her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding. (With inputs from ANI) LUCKNOW: Ministers in Uttar Pradesh are working day and night for the implementation of the government schemes, even if they are bitten by mosquitoes, UP Minister Anupma Jaiswal said while patting the back of the state government. "Schemes are made to benefit all sections and to ensure the youth does not deviate from the righteous path. Considering all these things, schemes are being made and to make sure that they are being implemented, ministers are paying several visits, even if mosquitoes bite them all night," UP Minister Anupma Jaiswal said. However, she added that none of these ministers are complaining about the work and instead are doing it with enthusiasm. "If someone gets to hold two chaupals, they volunteer to do 4 instead. The satisfaction that we get out of working in this matter is a huge strength for us," she said. #WATCH: Uttar Pradesh Minister Anupma Jaiswal says, 'Schemes are being made for benefit all sections & to ensure proper implementation Ministers are paying several visits, even if mosquitoes bite them all night.' pic.twitter.com/EYefMdK9sm ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 4, 2018 She gave the argument when she was asked about the controversy on UP Minister Suresh Rana's visit to a Dalit household. Rana was caught on camera eating food cooked by a halwai (caterer), instead of sharing a homemade meal at the house of a Dalit family in Uttar Pradesh. The incident had taken place in Lohagadh in Aligarh when the minister landed on the doorsteps of a Dalit family to pay a 'surprise visit'. The visit was in line with the party's Dalit outreach programme initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The footage that had gone viral shows him eating food pre-cooked by a halwai and not by the Dalit family. I didn't even know they are coming for dinner. They came suddenly. All food, water and cutlery they had arranged from outside, said Rajnish Kumar, Dalit man at whose house the UP Minister had dinner. Many other BJP leaders were also filmed eating the restaurant food. The elaborate meal spread consisted of paneer items, dal makhni, pulao, tandoori roti and gulab jamun. Mineral water bottles and water pouches were also seen on tables. Another BJP minister Uma Bharti also stirred a row after she skipped a community meal event which was a part of the Dalit outreach programme. She had said she never participates in such meals as she does not consider herself as Lord Rama who could visit someone's home and purify it. "In fact I will feel blessed if Dalits come to my home and I serve them food cooked by my nephew's wife," she had said. Washington: 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 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 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. Washington: President Donald Trump on Friday said the date and location have been set for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, building suspense for the unprecedented talks and hinting at progress in freeing three Americans held in North Korea. The White House has said the first meeting between sitting US and North Korean leaders could take place in the coming weeks. Trump is expected to push for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, between North and South Korea and Singapore are among the top choices being considered for the summit. Trump this week expressed a preference for the DMZ but also said Singapore was possible. The Peace House at the DMZ was the venue for a meeting last month between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Trump`s national security adviser, John Bolton, was to discuss the summit with his South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong, at the White House on Friday, officials said. Trump, a former reality TV star who likes to build suspense about upcoming presidential news, did not give a date or location for the talks and White House officials did not immediately provide further clarity. The US government is looking into reports that three Americans arrested in recent years in North Korea had recently been relocated from a labor camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, as expectations grow that they will be released before the summit. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that if North Korea were to free the three Americans, "We certainly would see this as a sign of good will" ahead of the Trump-Kim summit. Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, suggested activity was under way involving the captives. "We`re having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the (U.S.) hostages. I think you`re going to see very good things," Trump told reporters. Trump also told reporters on Friday that he was not considering reducing the US military`s presence in South Korea as part of the negotiations. "Troops are not on the table," he said before a flight to Dallas, Texas, where he will address the National Rifle Association. But he also said he would eventually like to bring them home. STOCKHOLM: The Swedish Academy will announce on Friday whether or not it will postpone awarding the Nobel Prize for Literature this year following a controversy over alleged sexual misconduct that has seen a string of board members leave the institution. It is very rare for the award of Nobel prizes to be cancelled or postponed. The last time the literature prize was not awarded was in 1943, at the height of World War Two. "The members who are at the meeting this evening will decide," Swedish Academy official Louise Hedberg told Reuters. "We will make a decision which will be published in a press release tomorrow around 0900 (CET)." The date for this year`s award has not yet been announced, though it always occurs in the first half of October in conjunction with the presentation of winners in other fields. The Swedish Academy, a council of prestigious authors and linguists tasked with furthering the Swedish language, has been dealing with the fallout of allegations of sexual misconduct by the husband of one of its members and leaks of names of some prize-winners ahead of the formal announcements. Its members, elected for life, award the Nobel Prize for Literature each year. Past winners include Bob Dylan (2016), Doris Lessing (2007) and Samuel Beckett (1969). The controversy have prompted calls for the secretive institution to become more transparent. Photographer and cultural figure Jean-Claude Arnault, who is married to Academy member and author Katarina Frostenson, has denied all allegations, both of sexual misconduct and of leaking the names of the laureates. Six of the Academy`s 18 members have stepped down following the controversy that surfaced late last year while two other members were already not participating in the Academy`s work for other reasons. The Swedish Academy said in a statement last month that it was suffering a serious crisis and acknowledged that trust in the institution, established by King Gustav III in 1786 and still under royal patronage, had been undermined.institutions award the Nobel prizes for science. The peace prize winners are chosen by a Norwegian committee. April 13, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko voiced the date of the beginning of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas Read the original text at 112.ua. April 13, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko voiced the date of the beginning of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas. When asked about when the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) will be reformatted into the Joint Forces Operation, Poroshenko replied: "I think that not in a month, but it should change - I will reveal the secret - April 30". Thus, from April 30, Joint Forces Operation comes into force. A new format is designed to replace the anti-terrorist operation that has lasted four years. What is the difference between the ATO and the Joint Forces Operation? The main difference is in the management scheme. General management of the ATO has been carried out by the Security Service (SBU) Anti-Terrorist Center, now the operation is directly transferred to the military. BUT. The change of ATO on the Joint Forces Operation does not imply the termination of anti-terrorist operations. SBU (if necessary) will continue to conduct them within the framework of the Joint Forces Operation. What will change with the beginning of the Joint Forces Operation? - The operation of the united forces will be headed by the military leadership. In the conflict area, the Joint Operational Headquarters of Ukraines Armed Forces will now be the main body. - The headquarters will manage the forces and means of the Armed Forces, other military formations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police, which are involved in "deterring and repelling Russian aggression in Donetsk and Luhansk regions." - The chief of staff will be subordinated to the law enforcement officers, servicemen, and all who are involved in the confrontation with the aggressor. - Also, the chief of the Operational Headquarters (in agreement with the SBU) controls the order of entry/exit of persons through the contact line, the movement of goods to the occupied territories of Donbas. - The head of the Joint Operational Headquarters decides and approves key personnel decisions in civil-military administrations when it comes to the work of servicemen and law enforcement officials in the military administration. - The chief of the Joint Forces Operation reports to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Who will lead the Operation of the United Forces? President Petro Poroshenko has appointed Serhiy Nayev Commander of Joint Forces Operation. Nayev is lieutenant-general.In 2015-2017, he commanded the Vostok operational command.He passed the way from the platoon commander to the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The younger brother of Serhiy Nayev lives in Crimea occupied by Russia. However, the commander ruled out the possibility of pressure and blackmail on himself because of relatives. "I'm confident that this is not just a change in format. These are new opportunities for protecting Ukrainian territory, Ukrainian citizens. We will do everything possible to return the land of the occupied Donbas to the sovereignty of Ukraine as soon as possible. We will also create conditions for hundreds of thousands, millions of IDPs who were forced to leave Donetsk and Luhansk lands, so that they can return and restore normal life in the Donbas as soon as possible," Petro Poroshenko emphasized. Chief of the General Staff of the Supreme Armed Forces Viktor Muzhenko noted: "The ATO will be completed and we will proceed to the Joint Forces Operation, which presupposes a clear structure of the management system, the subordination of certain forces and resources to military leadership, the creation of a joint operational headquarters as the main controlling body of this operation in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions." Commander of the Joint Forces, General Serhiy Nayev said: "The main difference is the subordination. if earlier the Antiterrorist operation was conducted under the overall direction of the SBU Anti-Terrorist Center, now Joint Forces Operation is under the strategic leadership of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine". National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Secretary Olexander Turchynov: "After the Joint Forces Operation begins to work, there will be a military operation instead of ATO, and we will say that the ATO has fulfilled its tasks. Although I do not exclude that anti-terrorist operations will be carried out point-by-point - that is, as they should be conducted in accordance with the law and logic." At the end of her long mission, the EP-3 Aries naval surveillance aircraft slowly entered a southbound turn to return home. Suddenly the operator chatter in the cabin increased noticeably and the flight deck was informed of a fast moving contact approaching them from the northeast. An imperceptible groan went around: another routine Russian interception was bound to delay their return. Sure enough, the tiny speck speeding in from the north soon took on the familiar shape of a Sukhoi SU-27SM interceptor, probably from Belbek air base near Sevastopol. As the light blue Sukhoi curved gracefully in an arc over the EP-3 to gain a position astern, the Aries captain wondered how aggressive its pilot would be. Things had become increasingly tense since a number of near misses had made national news back home. As he ordered the inevitable checks to be made on the planes navigational systems, he didnt have long to wait to find out. With a burst of afterburner the Sukhoi came up the port side of the larger Aries and quickly flipped across the nose before leveling out and speeding off ahead. The intense turbulence caused by the jets shook the older propliner, causing dust to fall from the air conditioner vents and overheads. Damn fool, the captain grunted as he grabbed the yoke firmly, gunned the throttles, and cranked the Aries into a forty-five degree bank. The sound of cheers and laughing reached him from the operators cabin behind. Easy for them, he thought. Their necks arent on the line! Not to be cheated, however, the nimble Sukhoi was soon astern again, intent on repeating the warning maneuver. Whether he simply misjudged his approach or else was intentionally trying to get even closer, it was obvious to both pilots in a flash that the Russian was going to be perilously close. With a staccato series of impacts, the Russian fighters belly scraped the tips of the inboard prop before, with a sickening thud, the long tailcone hit the roof of the cockpit. Instantaneously the flight deck was filled with condensation and the howl of escaping air caused by the rapid decompression. Alarms sounded everywhere and the pervading smell of shorting electrics filled the cabin. Both Aries pilots were temporarily blinded, but they swiftly leveled the falling plane as instinct took over. With their blades out of balance, the port engines were vibrating wildly and the flight engineer had no choice but to shut them down. As the old airliner spiraled downwards, it was clear that they were in a mess. Beyond the failing engines, the pressure cabin was clearly compromised in various places, the windscreens were glazed over, smoke had begun to fill the flight deck and the onboard power systems were failing. Absent a miracle, the best they could hope for was enough control to execute a controlled ditching. Firing out a series of warnings to the crew, the flight deck struggled to level the craft just in time to flop into the cold Black Sea waters, which had rushed up hungrily to meet them. The plight of the Aries had not escaped attention from below. The watchkeepers on the bridge of the DDG USS Carney, could scarcely believe their eyes as the four-engined aircraft emerged from the low cloud base trailing smoke and promptly pancaked into the rough seasnot even five miles away. Unfortunately, the Grisha III Corvette from the 181st anti-submarine ship division they were shadowing, was even closer. Both vessels responded immediately, increasing speed and turning towards the aircraft. Beyond the immediate lifesaving issues, the Captain of the DDG was under no illusions as to the value of the wreck and the tenuous and difficult situation that they faced. It was clear that the Russians would arrive first, but where exactly was the position of the ditched plane? They were close to the territorial limit, he knew that, but how close? As he unlocked and pressed the klaxon for General Quarters, all sorts of questions swirled in his mind as to how far he could go and what to tell his crew. Sounds far fetched? Something from a novel? Maybebut with an increasingly bullish Russian response to the presence of western navies in the Black Sea in recent months, incidents and accidents like these cannot be ruled out. They also illustrate a simple fact: that sometimes a country is prepared to use risky tactics and even deadly force, thereby risking a potentially unlimited and uncontrollable escalation of violence in defense or pursuit of its national interests. So, just what are those interests in the case of Russia and the Black Sea? Having already considered Russian interests at the strategic level, this article takes that question a step further; looking at an important region where our interests may clash, to try to anticipate the likely behavior in each case. The Black Sea region is vitally important to Russia, sitting as it does at a nexus between her geopolitical, economic and cultural interests. From a geopolitical standpoint, the sea itself sits right in the middle of what Russia currently sees as a necessary security or buffer zone that stretches from Azerbaijan in the East, across the Caucasus and Georgia, over the waters of the Black Sea, and into Ukraine and Moldova to the West. In an ideal world, this security zone would be filled with countries that are broadly sympathetic to Moscows world view. In some cases, Moscow has so much influence over the policies of certain countries that they are essentially client states, just as they were in the old Soviet days. Armenia would perhaps be the closest example. The Maritime Doctrine of the Russian Federation makes it clear that an accelerated modernization (of the Black Sea Fleet) and comprehensive reinforcement of the strategic positions (security belt) of the Russian Federation remain the goals in this region. Of course the concern with these client states is that, since they cannot exist independent of their stronger patron, should they ever decide to part, they effectively have to become a part of another strong competitors satellites. This is one of the reasons why Moscow fears NATOs encroachment into its near abroad, and why, after the loss of Romania and Bulgaria in 2004, it took such a strong stance against the announcement at the Bucharest Summit in 2008 that both Georgia and Ukraine will at some point become members of NATO. To combat these break-aways, Russia has developed a combination of military pressure and aggressive political interference on the ground, using all means, including cyber, to destabilize any political entity within these states that Russia deems to be a threat to its erstwhile control. Its ongoing actions in Transnistria region of Moldova and the Donbas region of Ukraine are typical in this regard. Head of the Criminal Investigation Department Serhiy Tykhonov on how the structure of crimes is changing in Ukraine, how dangerous is the criminal migration from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and how the criminal investigation is combating such crimes Read the original text at 112.ua. Head of the Criminal Investigation Department Serhiy Tykhonov on how the structure of crimes is changing in Ukraine, how dangerous is the criminal migration from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and how the criminal investigation is combating such crimes. Tell us about the latest practical steps of the reform. About the detectives, in particular. Who are they and what will they do? Detective units already work in every field and apparatus of the National Police. In early January, with the participation of international partners, a competitive selection of the heads of such units took place. And now in every territorial unit, the state of detectives is practically staffed. Despite the fact that this is an experiment, we already see some positive results, which confirm its effectiveness. The essence of the experiment is to unite the operative investigator and investigator in the post of detective. Based on the results of the first half of the year, we will analyze the work of investigators charged with the powers of investigators. There is a certainty that they will cope with the investigative work because the competition went through the best. Today there are a number of serious developments in the detective unit of the central police apparatus. Now, these criminal proceedings are being prepared for submission to the court. This is the creation of a criminal organization, and the legalization of money obtained illegally. At the moment, there is no definition of the term "detective" in the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. But the head of the National Police Serhiy Knyazev plans to present this pilot project in the profile committee of the Verkhovna Rada to determine their status in the legislation. According to the latest published data, the detection of crimes, including murders, is almost 90%. This is a very large number. How is it possible? 90% is about the disclosure of murders, not all crimes. Their disclosure by the end of 2017 really amounted to 89.9%. This is the proportion of disclosure of all crimes, some of which are domestic. If we are talking about contract killings, murders using firearms, the percentage will be lower. For comparison, the proportion of homicide disclosure in many countries in Europe and North America is much lower. Does the structure of crime in Ukraine change? It is changing. Of all the crimes committed, I would separately identify those that are committed with the use of weapons. This is one of the main factors that affects the criminal situation in the country today. That is why we so often conduct operational preventive measures to remove weapons from illegal circulation. Unfortunately, now in Ukraine, it is really numerous, and it is connected with the military actions. We often encounter grenade explosions. They are used in domestic conflicts, as well as in organized criminal groups. One of our main tasks is to correct the situation, not to allow weapons to spread it. During the operation, absolutely all units of criminal and preventive police, investigation, explosives are involved... For three months of this year, about 1800 offenses related to the illegal circulation of weapons have been documented, more than 500 firearms have been seized. In addition, 14 grenade launchers, 200 grenades, and more than 32 thousand cartridges were seized. Is there a chance that these people will be united in gangs? Like in the 90s I would not become the current situation in Ukraine somehow associated with the 90s. Then the situation in the country was influenced by very different factors. Now is a war. One of the factors is the migration of criminals from Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the capital and major regional centers. There is their inevitable collision with local "authorities". The so-called "code-bound criminals" also became active. Among this contingent, there are a lot of immigrants from Georgia, who are also divided into clans. I should also mention about the activity of Azerbaijani organized crime. The leader of this criminal ethnic community has good organizational skills. Being in the territory of another state, he was able to organize the commission of a number of particularly serious crimes in the Azerbaijani diaspora. His sphere of interest extends not only to Ukraine, but also the Caucasus region, and many European countries. Therefore, in the fight against such criminal structures, we closely cooperate with the European partners, including Europol. Tell us more about the redistribution of spheres of influence of organized crime. Actually, such processes occur always, and they can negatively affect the general criminal situation. For ordinary people, it does not matter which criminal group won in the redivision of spheres of influence. For them, security is important so that they are not attacked on the street or robbed. All these criminal schemes bring a considerable profit, which means that they are the object of interest of the leaders of the underworld. To achieve their goals, they use criminal capital: to influence the authorities and legalize money in business. Our main task is to counteract organized crime by all the legal means. Specificity of documenting the criminal activities of such individuals is consistency and continuity. Criminal police officers dealing with these issues should not switch to other tasks. Otherwise, such work will be ineffective. The fight against organized crime requires a long and narrowly focused work. First of all, this is the development of leaders of the criminal world groups, criminal analysis of the information received, etc. Do we need to change the Criminal Procedure Code? There are norms in it, which greatly complicate the work of law enforcement agencies. For example, a robbery was committed, a mobile phone was stolen. The victim is interested in his prompt return, but without a court decision, we cannot conduct any actions using technical means to locate the phone. You need to spend at least a few days to get the permission of the court. How will the victims relate to this? Surely they will say that the police are idle ... We repeatedly submitted our proposals on introducing amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code both before and after the creation of the National Police. Unfortunately, we are not always heard. Therefore, we work within the framework established by law. How does the estimation of the criminal investigation officer work? Managers of all levels conduct monitoring and evaluation of the work of criminal investigation officers. For example, the head of the department conducts such a work in the district office. He assesses the effectiveness of the work and the actual burden on the operative: how many materials are under consideration, how to deal with citizens, whether there are complaints against them, how effectively are the tasks of operative-search activity solved, how many persons who committed the crime, category of these crimes. This also matters. The end result is the number of criminal proceedings in the court on targeted materials. This is the basic requirement. Criminal proceedings might be sent to court in large numbers, but convictions are rarely pronounced, which might indicate poor performance. That is why the final assessment of our work is the verdict of the court. Does criminal investigation suffer from a large shortage? The number of all units of the criminal investigation department for today is 10.7 thousand employees. The shortage is 11%. Criminal investigation department suffers from a constant change of personnel. As for the material component. The average salary of an officer in the regional divisions is about $380, in the central office, it is about $460. In addition, our employees receive free medical care and have paid leave. The working day is not standardized. Is the criminogenic situation in Ukraine is influenced by criminals from the other countries? Criminal migration has always existed. We detain "code-bound criminals" who come to our country, including from the Russian Federation. Often they illegally, omitting the checkpoints, cross the border. Many people from the near abroad, specializing in qualified burglaries, robberies and other types of crimes. There is a special procedure according to which foreigners are prohibited from entering the territory of Ukraine in the manner prescribed by law if they pose a threat to the national interests of the country. We actively use this norm to protect the legitimate interests of our citizens. Information on such persons is sent to the migration service or the Security Service for the decision on the legality of their stay on the territory of Ukraine. Open source Russias most falsified Ukrainian show trial has taken on yet another cynical twist with Mykola Karpyuk and Stanislav Klykh each ordered to pay 500 thousand roubles compensation for a death that neither man had anything to do with in a country that neither had set foot in. This new court ruling is fairly theoretical since the two Ukrainians have been illegally held prisoner in Russia since 2014 and could not possibly pay the money. A human rights lawyer has warned, however, that it could block any agreement for their release. There have actually been three such court hearings, in connection with civil suits officially lodged by Zinaida Nikolayeva, whose conscript son was killed in Chechnya during the storming of Grozny on 31 December 1994. One claim was against a third Ukrainian - Oleksandr Malofeyev - serving a long sentence on unrelated criminal charges, and then the initial claim against Klykh and Karpyuk in September 2017, which awarded much lower figures. Nikolayeva appealed against the September ruling, demanding 5 million roubles in compensation. The panel of judges at the Sverdlovsk Regional Court, under presiding judge Angela Karpinskaya, awarded one million, with each man supposed to pay half. Russian human rights activist Gleb Ehdelev was present at the court hearing on 20 April. Judging by the file material, he says, the young conscript was killed three times: first by Oleksandr Malofeyev, then by Klykh and finally by Karpyuk. It is not only this that expresses the cynicism of the civil suits and the case as a whole, since the prosecution has always claimed that Karpyuk and Klykh used automatic rifles and sniper guns, whereas Nikolayev died from mortar shelling. Nadiya Volkova, a lawyer for the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union believes that this supposed debt could in principle prevent Karpyuk and Klykhs release. While this is true, the chances of the two men being released under the bilateral agreement on returning prisoners to serve sentences in their own country seem remote. Yes, such a release would be possible only if Ukraines government agreed to pay the million roubles since the families of the two men could not. This, however, would not be the only problem, since the agreement requires that the men serve out their sentences, which would be totally inappropriate in this grossly flawed trial of two men who have been recognized by international structures and human rights NGOs as political prisoners. Klykh, a historian from Kyiv, was seized by the FSB in August 2014, after trying to visit a woman hed met the previous year. He vanished, as had Mykola Karpyuk, a Ukrainian nationalist politician who disappeared after entering Russia in March 2014. If Karpyuks involvement in two nationalist organizations made him an obvious target for Russias undeclared war against Ukraine, Klykhs link to any nationalist group was fleeting and far in the past. Karpyuk and Klykh were accused of having fought against the Russian federal forces 20 years earlier in Chechnya. Neither man had ever been to Chechnya and the entire story was fictitious,. It was also immensely hypocritical coming, as it did, at a time when Russia was manning, arming and funding military conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Russia claimed that Klykh (b. 1974) and Karpyuk (b. 1964) had, together with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk and other prominent Ukrainian politicians, taken part in battles in Chechnya in Dec 1994 and Jan 1995, carried out all kinds of atrocities and killed 30 Russian soldiers. Karpyuk, who was the deputy head of Right Sector and member of the older Ukrainian National Assembly Ukrainian Peoples Self Defence (UNA UNSO) was accused of creating and leading a band called Viking. Klykh, who had once briefly been a member of UNA-UNSO while at university, was supposed to have taken part in it. The case was entirely based on their confessions extracted during the huge periods that the men were held totally incommunicado and without proper lawyers (18 months in Karpyuks case, 10 months in Klykhs). The lurid and wildly implausible confessions; they signed to stop the torture were backed by provably wrong testimony provided by Malofeyev. As mentioned, he is already serving a 23-year sentence in Russia and is a drug addict with diseases which would be life-threatening without appropriate medication. Both Klykh and Karpyuk retracted their testimony after being allowed to see real lawyers and their shocking accounts of the torture used to obtain the confessions are part of applications to the European Court of Human Rights. There are medical records which substantiate Klykhs consistent allegations that during this period he was subjected to terrible torture and that he was plied with psychotropic drugs. Klykh showed signs of serious mental disturbance from soon after the trial began, and there were pleas, including from a psychiatric association in the United Kingdom, for him to receive a proper psychiatric assessment . This was refused, and instead the court in Chechnya charged and convicted Klykh of having insulted a prosecutor during a court hearing, where he was in a very disturbed state. It is not easy to say what exactly somebody was doing in a certain month, after twenty years. There was, however, documented evidence that Klykh had been taking exams, and plenty of witnesses to confirm that Karpyuk was caring for his dying mother. There were also the historical facts, and these were entirely ignored. The authoritative Memorial Human Rights Centre has followed both Russias wars in Chechnya and was therefore well-placed to assess the prosecutions case. In a four-part analysis*, it demolished the entire indictment and left no doubt about the methods that had been used to extract insane confessions to heinous crimes supposedly committed together with Yatsenyuk & Co. The methods included threats to apply the same torture to Karpyuks wife and small child. In its analysis, Memorial HRC demonstrated that the indictment contained fictitious crimes, and of the 30 Russian soldiers who really had died, 18 were killed in another place altogether, and a further eleven including Nikolayev - were not killed by gunfire, as the prosecution claimed. Memorial HRC also pointed to the fact that the men had confessed to absolutely horrific atrocities. These had not been included in the charges, yet were read out in court, clearly to influence both the judge and jury against the men. It was on the basis of this devastating assessment of the charges that in February 2016 Memorial declared both men political prisoners. It called the trial part of the unrelenting anti-Ukrainian campaign in the Russian state media and pronouncements from high-ranking Russian officials, including Alexander Bastrykin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin (see: The Chilling side to Russias claims about Yatsenyuk as Chechnya fighter) The trial took place in Grozny, and there is evidence of witnesses being threatened and harassed by thugs, working for the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, and it is likely that the jury members were also put under pressure. It is difficult to understand otherwise how they could have found men guilty of killings that either never happened, or that happened in different places and could not have been carried out by the two men, even if the latter had not had alibis. On May 26, 2016, Judge Vakhit Ismailov at the court in Grozny sentenced Karpyuk to 22.5 years, Klykh to 20 years, with this later upheld by the Supreme Court, as have been all such politically-motivated trials against Ukrainians. Zoya Svetova, a prominent Russian rights activist has called the case one of the most insane and monstrously falsified prosecutions initiated against Ukrainian nationals since the annexation of Crimea. The falsification is, unfortunately, ongoing with Ukraines former Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk very briefly detained in December 2017 at Geneva Airport because of Russia putting him on the wanted list. PLEASE WRITE TO MYKOLA KARPYUK AND STANISLAV KLYKH! Even a single sentence or two will send an important message both to them, and to the Russian authorities, that they are not forgotten. Mykola Karpyuk (please use the Russian version Nikolai, it has much more chance of passing the censor, the year of birth is needed) Russian Federation 600020, Vladimir, No. 67 Bolshaya Nizhegorodskaya St., Prison No. 2 Vladimirsky Tsentral Nikolai Andronovych Karpyuk, b. 1964 [In Russian: 600020 . , , . 67, -2 , , , .. 1964] Stanislav Klykh Russia has provided no clear information of any change in Klykhs status, and for the moment we must assume that the following address is still current. Russian Federation 457670, Chelyabinsk oblast, Verkhneuralsk, 1 Severnaya St, Prison for the Chelyabinsk oblast Stanislav Romanovych Klykh, b. 1974 [In Russian: 457670, ., , . 1, . , , .. 1974] If you are unable to write in Russian, the following would be quite sufficient (maybe with a picture or postcard) , , . . (we wish you good health, courage and patience and hope that you will soon be released. You are not forgotten.) Read the original text at Human Rights in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop at nothing in his hunt for dissidents abroad. In his determination, he has found some powerful allies within Western democraciesa practice that should alarm those who prize justice and the rule of law. In recent weeks, Ive been collecting stories of Russian dissidents who say they fell victim to exchanges of confidential information between European officials and Russian authorities. The leak of one Cyprus prosecutors emails in November has exposed a growing trend: in its hunt to track critics, the Kremlin is recruiting allies within Western states law enforcement agencies. The communication leak on the part of Cyprus deputy attorney general exposes a much wider exchange of confidential EU information, some of it classified, with Russian authorities. Take the detention of Nikita Kulachenkov, a prominent young Russian dissident, by Cyprus authorities in 2016 which made worldwide headlines. But what we didnt know back then is the disturbing chain of email exchanges between Cyprus and Russian officials that led to his persecution and was exposed in November. Kulachenkov, a forensic activist with a Russian anti-corruption fund led by Alexey NavalnyPutins biggest challengerwas forced to flee Russia in 2014 and received political asylum in Lithuania, an EU state. Russian authorities charged him in absentia and asked Interpol to issue an arrest demand, known as diffusion order. It was later invalidated as having been politically motivated. For Kulachenkov, traveling to another EU country wasnt an obvious concern after having received asylum protection under EU and international law. He was proved wrong minutes after landing in Cyprus to see his family. Immediately handcuffed, Kulachenkov spent the next three weeks behind bars in this small EU state, which is known as an offshore money laundering haven for Eastern European and Russian oligarchs. Leonid Nevzlin is another Russian dissident whose name was featured in the leak. He narrowly avoided Kulachenkovs fateand only because he followed the advice of his cautious lawyers. Nevzlin was a co-owner of Yukos, a Russian energy conglomerate that fell victim to a hostile state takeover in the early 2000s. His partner Mikhail Khodorkovsky was imprisoned for ten years on politically motivated charges. Nevzlin managed to escape Russia and obtained Israeli citizenship amid charges of tax evasion, theft, murder, and attempted murder. Moscow pushed for an Interpol warrant, but it was eventually canceled by the organization as being politically motivated. Since then, before entering any new country, Nevzlins lawyers vet it by contacting local law enforcement to avoid extradition to Russia. They did the same with Cyprus in 2017, providing the authorities with a brief on Nevzlins politically motivated charges in Russia and the long list of countries that acknowledge the nature of those charges and grant Nevzlin safe passage. But the leaked emails of Cyprus high-profile prosecutor, Loizidou, show that the confidential information shared by his lawyers was immediately forwarded to the Russian authorities. Unsurprisingly, Nevzlin canceled his Cyprus trip. He told me that the situation for Russian dissidents like him is getting worse as the Kremlin expands its influence over foreign law enforcement. Additionally, the Russian government makes use of an army of foreign law firms to help disguise its politically-motivated hunt for dissidents under the legal framework of fighting international crime and terrorism. I definitely wont risk going to countries perceived as friendly to Russia. There are so many of them now, even among developed democracies. Places like Switzerland, for example, Nevzlin says, mentioning his long and ultimately successful court battle with Swiss authorities who froze his bank accounts following a request from the Kremlin. Read the original text at Atlantic Council. The gap between U.S. and EU views on Ukraine is hindering an effective Western strategy to end the war in the countrys eastern region Open source On April 30, Ukraines antiterrorist operation in the eastern region of Donbas officially ended. In its place, President Petro Poroshenko launched a joint forces operation, which was proposed by the National Security and Defence Council and mandated by a law passed earlier this year to reintegrate the Donbas. The label antiterrorist operation (ATO), which was announced in April 2014, was a misnomer from the start, reflecting a global trend of extending the use of the term terrorism instead of the realities on the ground. The ATO was established under Poroshenkos predecessor, Oleksandr Turchynov, in response to the growing unrest and the seizure of government buildings in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv that preceded Russian military support for separatists in parts of the Donbas. It was originally conceived as a short-term measure. By comparison, the joint forces operation (JFO) has a longer-term perspective; that is, until the Donbas and Crimea are fully reintegrated into the Ukrainian state. The main practical difference between the two operations is that the control over the implementation of Ukrainian policy in the war zone switched from the security service (SBU) to Ukraines armed forces. As president, Poroshenko is the commander in chief of the Ukrainian army. Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev has been tasked with overseeing the joint forces operation (JFO), which combines all units of the Ukrainian army, the police, the security service (SBU), the National Guard, and the Border Guard Service deployed in the war zone. This reorganization of responsibilities underlines the prominent role that the army has come to play in Ukraine. In a televised address marking the launch of the JFO, Poroshenko spoke of the beginning of a military operation to ensure the protection of the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of our state. His wording suggests an upgrading of the war effort and a commitment to bringing the Donbas back under Kievs control. It also signals the presidents resolve and personal involvement in ensuring Ukraines security, an issue that is bound to play an important role during campaigning ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in 2019. Poroshenko is hoping to regain ground; he is currently trailing in fourth place in the polls, with Yulia Tymoshenko being his main rival. The restructuring of operations in the war zone in Donbas also coincided with the arrival of U.S. Javelin anti-tank missiles (defined as lethal but defensive) to Ukraine. This is not military aid in the direct sense of the wordUkraine is meant to purchase the Javelin missiles and Javelin Command Launch Units, following the approval of the foreign military sale (for an estimated $47 million) by the U.S. State Department in March 2018. The official Ukrainian and U.S. positions are that the systems strengthen Ukraines long-term defensive capacity. In European political and military circles the delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine is seen more critically, and fears of an unnecessary escalation of the conflict prevail. The arrival of the Javelin systems can be expected to boost the morale of the armed forces engaged in the war zone, the current political leadership, and parts of the population across the country. Although the systems are likely to be positioned behind the frontline, it is possible that Ukraine will want to demonstrate their effectiveness. The Russian reaction to even a small attack is hard to predict, and a temporary escalation cannot be ruled out. If Russian soldiers were to lose their lives in an attack that used Javelin missiles, the response would be stronger. The Russian media have been decrying U.S. military assistance to Ukraine as part of a buildup that confirms Ukraines intentions to launch a military campaign against Russia. Recent developments are therefore helping the Kremlin to shore up support for its position on Ukraine. Despite verbal assurances that political dialogue remains the key mechanism to end the war, Kievs current emphasis on military command and capabilities and the supply of U.S. anti-tank missile systems will do little in the short term to bring Russia to the negotiation table and end the war in Donbas. This is bound to make the negotiations in the Normandy formatwith Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russiaand in the Minsk Working Groups even more protracted. The scope to seriously discuss the mandate and conditions of a UN peace mission in the Donbas has also, at least temporarily, been reduced. Moreover, the delivery of lethal weapons from the United States highlights the discrepancy between the U.S. and EU views on Ukrainewhich ultimately hinders an effective Western strategy in the region. Read the original text at Carnegie Europe This option would be the response to Russian hacker activity in the U.S. political environment, Senator believes It is a good time for the United States to go into the offensive in the ongoing information war against Russia. John McCain, the U.S. Senator from the Republicans, wrote this in his autobiographic book, which is due to be released in May 22 - as quoted by DefenceNews. Im 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, reads the excerpt from the book. McCain added that Washington possesses huge cyber arsenal, which 'should be used to expose the epic scale of his regimes corruption or to embarrass [Putin] in other ways'. As is known, the investigation found out that Russian hackers interfered in the course of the presidential race in 2016. The picture shows the monument of Prince Volodymyr the Wise on the bank of Dnieper river Ukrainian reporter Roman Sushchenko who currently remains in custody at Lefortovo detention centre in Russia, passed his family another painting that he created while staying behind the bars. His daughter Yulia published the picture on Facebook. The picture shows the monument of Prince Volodymyr the Wise on the bank of Dnieper river - apparently, in winter. Sushchenko used paper, a ball pen, a pencil, some water, beetroot juice, tea and washing powder. In his previous pictures, the detained Ukrainian reporter also used pens, pencils, tea and the scale of onions. The journalist of Ukrinform news agency, Roman Sushchenko was detained in Russia in late September 2016. He was accused of espionage. The lawyer stated that Sushchenko was threatened with a 20-year prison sentence if he did not admit his guilt. Ukraine repeatedly appealed to the Russian Federation, demanding to immediately release the journalist. Related: Ukrainian political prisoner Sushchenko passes pictures from remand center Related: Sushchenko did not plead guilty in espionage; court suspends session until March 28 At the same time, some hospitals reported that Abdullaev was not taken to them Open source Illegally detained in annexed Crimea Uzeir Abdullaev was hospitalized in the critical condition. His mother claimed this as Crimean.Solidarity reported on Facebook. Mother of political prisoner Uzeir Abdullaev has just left the remand center. He was taken to the Semashko hospital in Simferopol in a critical condition. The remand center has continued to keep Uzeir Abdullaev at the territory of the remand center until today, despite all medical reasons for the urgent hospitalization, ignoring the letters of the advocates, relatives, society, the message said. At the same time, it is noted that the mentioned hospital did not confirm the information that the political prisoner was taken there. He also was not taken to other hospitals. Earlier the human right activists claimed that Uzeir Abdullaev needs the urgent hospitalization. Preliminary, he has blood poisoning. Mariana Betsa, the spokeswoman of Ukraines Foreign Ministry demanded the access of the Ukrainian doctors to the patient. In April 2018, the lay observers reported that his health state improved. Uzeir reported about his state of health at the video-recording and wrote the application that he is satisfied with the medical treatment quality and conditions in the remand center. His advocate reported on April 28 that the tests were taken and the treatment of Uzeir Abdullaev will be corrected due to their results. As it was reported earlier on October 12, 2016, the searches took place at the residences of five Muslim families. Five Crimean Tatars accused of the participation in Hizb-Ut Tahrir organization: Rustem Ismailov, Uzeir Abdullaev, Teimur Abdullaev, Emil Dzhemadenov and Aider Saledinov were detained. Kremlin is sure that Londons allies will refuse from the support of the accusations later Kremlin is sure that the statement of Czech President Milos Zeman about the testing of the Novichok nerve agent at the territory of the Czech Republic is the evidence of the insolvency of the U.K. accusations of Russia in the case of Skripals poisoning. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson of Russias president claimed this as Vedomosti reported. It is an extra eloquent illustration on the insolvency of the position demonstrated by the U.K. authorities and government. It is one more confirmation of the absolute provocative and adventurous nature of the Skripals case, Peskov explained the position of Kremlin. He also suggested that it will become another step that more countries will feel themselves as involved in the adventure. As we reported Milos Zeman, the President of the Czech Republic claimed that the Novichok nerve agent was produced and tested in his country. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed Britains conclusions that ex-GRU officer Sergei Skripal was poisoned with the nerve agent. Ex-colonel of Russias GRU, Chief Intelligence Department, Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia, poisoned in the center of Salisbury town in the evening of March 4, are still struggling for life in the intensive care unit of the local hospital. The British special services suppose that Skripals were poisoned by his ex-colleague Andrey Lugovoy, who acted on orders from Moscow. As we reported on April 14, Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister claimed a chemical substance BZ, which was in service in the United States and Britain was used to poison Yulia and Sergey Skripals. Later Switzerland belied the statement of Lavrov. The British intelligence assumed that Novichok, the nerve agent used in the attack on the Skripals, was produced at a Russian military research base in Shikhany town, Saratov Oblast. The MI reported that over the last decade, the Russian military has been testing the gas to find out whether it is suitable for covert murders abroad. However, Russia belied all accusations. The Shevchenkivsky Court of Kyiv has extended the arrest of Volodymyr Ruban, the Head of Officer Corps suspected in the preparation of the terrorist acts and coup detat in Ukraine up to July 2. The bail is not provided as a correspondent of 112 Ukraine reported. The court session lasted about two hours; the prosecutor explained the appeal on the arrest by the possible escape and hindrance of the investigation by Ruban. An advocate insisted on the opposite decision and asked the court to change the restrictive measure. Ruban was detained on March 8 at the Ukrainian checkpoint at the demarcation line of Donbas Conflict zone. It is stated that Ruban is suspected in the illegal handling of arms, preparation of a crime and terrorist action. Later the Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv arrested Volodymyr Ruban, the Leader of Center of POW Release 'Officer Corps' for 60 days without a right to the bail. On March 20, Kyiv Court of Appeal refused to change the measure of restraint for the head of the "Officer Corps" Center for the Release of Prisoners Volodymyr Ruban, thus leaving him in custody. The fire at the territory of the military base in Balakliya, Kharkiv region is localized, the explosions ceased as the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported. The smoldering of two separate hotbeds is observed. The restriction for the movement of the vehicles around Balakliya is lifted. The evacuated population returned to homes. The temporary ban for the use of the airspace in 30 kilometers radius and 6,000 meters height acts. 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 the 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 at 19:30 on May 3, the firemen succeeded to localize the fire. The police investigates the incident due to the negligence to the military service. 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. The personnel consisting of five Ukrainians was taken to Crimea Open source Ukrainian fishing vessel YMK-0041 (home port Ochakov) was detained on May 4 in the waters of the Black Sea for the illegal catch of the flounder. The personnel consisting of five Ukrainians was taken to Crimea. Russias FSB Border Guard Service claimed this as Interfax reported. On May 4, the Ukrainian fishing vessel that held the illegal catch of flounder by gears in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation was detained by frigate Ametist not far from Tarkhankut Peninsula, the FSB note. Five citizens of Ukraine, a ship and a few kilometers of the nets were taken to the territory of Crimea for the holding of the legal proceedings. Earlier Russias FSB has begun the active inspection of the vessels that aim to Ukraine. As 112 International reported, nine members of the crew of the Nord fishing vessel, detained in the Sea of Azov by Ukrainian border guards, tried to travel to the territory of the Russian Federation with the help of representatives of the Consulate General of Russia. Ukrainian border guards detained fishing ship-violator under the Russian flag in the Sea of Azov on March 25. The Nord ship was stopped in 15 miles from the Obytichna sandspit. The inspection defined that the ship was registered in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Besides, the members of the crew violated the order of the exit from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. All of them had the so-called Russian passports, issued in Kerch. Later, the court arrested the detained ship. Ukrainian border guards detained Volodymyr Gorbenko on April 4. As we reported earlier, the ports, located on the territory of Crimea (Yevpatoria, Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosia, Yalta) were shut down by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers on Ukraine (Some question on the functioning of marine and river transport) and according to the order of the Ministry of Infrastructure (on shut down of sea ports). As we reported earlier, Horbenko was arrested until May 31, 2018. At the same time, the court provided a possibility to bail him out for $1, 354, and his lawyers used this opportunity. On April 12, Russia threatened to 'respond' to the arrest of the Nord vessel in Ukraine. Nauert refused to comment the article of The New York Times that the Ukrainian side refused to cooperate in the investigation of the special prosecutor Muller for the supplies Open source The supplies of the modern Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine took place a few weeks ago. Heather Nauert, the spokesperson of U.S. Department of State claimed this as Ukrinform reported. I know that many of you were highly interested in the sale of the Javelin missiles to Ukraine. I can tell that it was one of the issues lying at the desk for a long time until we announce in 2017 that the president decided to provide Javelin complexes to Ukraine. They were supplied a few weeks ago, she noted. Nauert also emphasized that this issue was deliberately not disclosed and people who kept it in secret did a good job. At the same time, Nauert refused to comment the article of The New York Times that the Ukrainian side refused to cooperate in the investigation of the special prosecutor Muller for the supplies. I cannot comment anything toward this investigation, she explained. As it was reported earlier, the U.S. State Department announced the Javelin anti-tank missile system delivery to Ukraine. Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's military aggression in the spring of 2014 was negotiating with the United States on the supply of lethal weapons. Previously, Washington supplied Kiev with only non-lethal assistance (including armored Humvee cars, RQ-11B Raven drones and counterbattery radars) and helped in the training of Ukrainian servicemen. The US defense budget for 2018 presupposes the allocation of $ 350 million to Ukraine for enhancing security and defense, including the use of lethal weapons. The U.S. State Department made a decision on the sale of anti-tank missile system Javelin to Ukraine on March 1. The relatives of the Ukrainian prisoners in Kremlin spoke out at the European Parliament. Ihor Gryb, the father of illegally detained in Russia Pavlo Gryb as RBK-Ukraine reported. We were accompanied by Yan Peklo, the Polish Ambassador to Ukraine, Ihor Gryb reported. He recently returned from Brussels where the conference The human cost of Russian aggression in Ukraine took place. According to him, the health state of Pavlo has deteriorated significantly during his illegal detention in Russia as he is not provided with the proper medical service. Also, Ihor Gryb noted that absence of the proper nutrition also harms the health of Pavlo during his arrest extended up to July 4. Their stories are touching and it is important that they speak them out at the European Parliament and NATO headquarters where they were invited. It is the things Europe should know about and we cannot forget this because if we do, the fate that Poland suffered in 1939 can befall us, Peklo noted before the conference. On April 28, the closed session of Krasnodar court took place. The arrest of Pavlo Gryb was extended for two months. He was taken to SBU to be questioned SBU officer came out to the nationalists who brought Brazilian Rafael Lusvarghi, a former DNR (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and LNR (Luhansk Peoples Republic), to the building of the institution and promised to check what Lusvarghi is doing in Kyiv and question him. Radio Svoboda broadcasted it. At your request, we will check his stay in KyivI am taking him to identify and conduct the investigation concerning this person, SBU representative said. Besides, SBU representative promised to question Lusvarghi on his activity as a militant. SBU is taking Lusvarghi and promises to conduct the investigation and find out what was he doing in Kyiv, Marian Kushnir, Radio Svoboda reporter, wrote on Twitter. At the same time, SBU officer informed that they continue conducting the judicial proceedings and investigation. Olena Hitlyanska, SBU Spokesperson, stated that it remains unknown whether Lusvarghi will be detained, as Hromadske reported. Lusvarghi will be kept in the investigators office, where they will hold a preventive discussion with the detained. I cannot predict his future and whether he will be detained, Hitlyanska said, Being asked is there any legal basis for the detention and if there is an opened criminal proceeding on the case, Hitlyanska answered: I am not aware of that. There was a sentence, but for now, I cannot claim there are reasons to detain him. Our experts are to question him, and then the procedural decision will be made. I am not authorized to give out any details. The journalists along with the nationalists stay near the SBU building. Earlier, the journalists noticed Lusvarghi in St Pokrovsky Holosiivskyi Monastery in Kyiv. SBU officers detained Lusvarghi in October 2016 when he was crossing Ukraines border in D terminal of the Boryspil airport. A couple of months later, in January of 2017, Kyiv Pechersky District Court found the Brazilian guilty of the formation of a terrorist organization, of the creations of illegal armed formations and sentenced him to 13 years of imprisonment with a confiscation of property. He became the first non-Russia foreigner sentenced by Kyiv for the participation in Donbas war. Kyiv Court of Appeal canceled the sentence on August 2017 and returned the Lusvarghi case for a retrial. Later, the pre-trial restriction for Lusvarghi was changed. The militant will be released on personal commitment, according to which he cannot leave Kyiv and has to inform the court about the change of residence and appear in court on the first request. Igor Volk, the prosecutor on the case, initiated the change of the preventive measure. He applied to the court with this request on December 15. In around two weeks before the hostage exchange, when Ukraine passed 233 people, 73 prisoners came back to the territory controlled by the Government. The nationalist caught Lusvarghi and brought him to SBU building on May 4. " " People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protesters hold pictures of Cecil the Lion, who was killed by an American outside of a national park in Zimbabwe earlier that year, to protest against importing wild game killed as trophies. Mark Wilson/Getty Images Those who oppose trophy hunting usually make a three-fold argument, one part ethical, one practical and one scientific. The ethical position argues variously that it's unjust to kill animals for sport. In other words, if you're not hungry or defending yourself, you shouldn't feel justified in taking an animal's life, especially if you're just after it to collect some of its body parts as a keepsake, trophy or to complete a collection. Advertisement Claudio Sillero, an associate professor of conservation biology at Oxford University and head of conservation for the Born Free Foundation, puts a finer point on this argument. [To] kill a sentient being for the sake of killing, and stuff its carcass or hang its head on the wall is sickening," Sillero says via email. "Under the veneer of helping the poor in biodiversity-rich, cash-poor nations, these people get away with a wicked abuse simply because they can." The second part of the anti-trophy hunting argument is that the benefits of these hunts for conservation have been overstated and downsides minimized. First, say opponents, revenue from trophy hunting isn't as much as proponents claim, and second, there's often a great deal of corruption in handling the money raised. They also note that the alleged rise in poaching in places where hunting is banned, is not inevitable. "Although the dollar figures associated with killing a large, often endangered or vanishingly rare, animal can be mouth-watering for those managing wildlife resources in faraway countries, these figures often do not stack up when scrutinized," Sillero says. "Booking agencies, outfitters, professional hunters, air charters, caterers, camp managers and the occasional backhanders, take the lion's share of the fees paid by the clients. Speaking from experience in Africa, most of that money does not even reach the country where the killings takes place." Furthermore, Sillero says, even though governments do command hunting fees, the money rarely goes to their treasuries, the people that live next to wildlife or the game rangers charged with protecting these wild spaces. Another common argument made by the trophy hunting industry is that hunting occurs in communal areas outside national parks or reserves, and that those areas would not be able to keep their wildlife without the help of hunters. But Sillero disagrees. He says many of the popular hunting blocks are actually adjacent to national parks, and that hunting trophy animals creates a vacuum an ecological trap where new animals move in searching for food or mating opportunities. Those new animals may end up hunted and shot as well, producing a conveyor belt that affects a protected population deep into the park. He says this was clearly the case for Zimbabwe lions in Hwange National Park. When the wildlife in these hunting blocks are depleted, hunters seek out permission to go elsewhere, and typically blame the reduction of animal populations on poaching. And it's not just elephants, lions or buffalo that get killed. "In order to keep the hunters engaged and entertained during a 21-day safari [necessary to justify the large fees hunting outfits command] clients are encouraged to kill dozens of other animals while they wait for their 'big one,'" Sillero says. When arguing against the idea that hunting bans are necessarily deleterious, advocates for bans sometimes point to polar bears. In 1994, U.S. Congress made it legal for American trophy hunters to import polar bear trophies from Canada. Almost immediately, the average number of Canadian polar bears killed for trophies climbed from an average of four per year to an annual average of 361 between 2004 and 2008. But when, in 2008, the law was once again changed, this time to ban the imports, the numbers dropped significantly to an average of 210 polar bears killed for trophies between 2009 and 2012 [source: IFAW]. And there's even more science that backs up the anti-trophy hunting ideology, including concerns that hunting animals for specific traits like dark-manes on lions or large tusks on elephants fundamentally alters different species. A 30-year study of bighorn rams, for instance, found that trophy hunting resulted, over time, in an overall reduction in size of the species. That's because the biggest rams with the biggest horns were removed from the gene pool before they got a chance to pass on their genetic material in any significant numbers. Canned Hunting Proponents and opponents of trophy hunting can agree on at least one thing: Canned hunting is terrible. Canned hunting is a colloquial term for a phenomenon in which private property owners raise prize animals, like lions, in semi-captivity. Trophy hunters can then pay the property owner to show up and shoot the animal. This practice is condemned by conservationists on both sides of the trophy hunting debate, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Boone and Crocket Club [source: Boone and Crocket Club]. *Updated 5/8/2018 14:22 EST to include response from Farmers Edge. A two-year-long lawsuit filed against US ag data startup Farmobile by Canadian precision agtech company Farmers Edge has ended in victory for Farmobile after the US District Court for the District of Nebraska found no proof the former had stolen trade secrets from Farmers Edge. Farmers Edge had alleged that Farmobile co-founders Jason Tatge, Heath Gerlock and Randy Nuss, former employees of Crop Ventures that was acquired by Farmers Edge in 2014, had misappropriated purportedly proprietary information in the development of farm data-collection and standardization technologies. Judge Joseph Batallion found the plaintiffs have failed to identify any use or disclosure of the alleged trade secrets. The court also noted there was no proof that Farmobile co-founders were hired to invent a specific device, system, or method which eventually became the Farmobile 767 patent application, as suggested by Farmers Edge. Farmobile has developed a small in-cab unit for farm equipment called a PUC that wirelessly shares machine and agronomic data gathered in the field in real-time and allows the farmer to share it with advisors and employees such as agronomists or insurance agents. The company sells the PUC along with various sensors and a complimentary software service that produces Automatic Electronic Field Records (EFRs) for customers. Farmers Edge is arguably one of the more established companies in the farm management software, sensing, and IoT field after first launching in Canada in 2005. It also collects machine data through its connected sensor dubbed the CanPlug, as well as installing weather stations for every 2,500 acres it monitors and integrating satellite imagery. We welcome the courts decision. Truth won out and justice was served, said Jason Tatge, CEO of Farmobile. Farmobile takes great pride in the development of its technology and respects the intellectual property rights of others The US District Court of Nebraska could find no facts to back the claims made by Farmers Edge. Farmobile filed counterclaims against Farmers Edge in March 2017 to enforce its Canadian patent. According to the Statement of Claim filed in Court, Farmobile alleges that a device and system used, operated and sold by Farmers Edge infringes Farmobiles Canadian patent. The case is pending trial. Farmers Edge released a statement in the wake of the judgment saying it believes there are grounds for appeal. [We] will proceed with further action once the counterclaims have been dispensed with. It was made clear during the proceedings that Farmobile chose to abandon their US patent application due to prior art, which puts into question the validity of any Farmobile patent related to this matter, reads the statement. This is about much more than patents or money, this is about values, said Wade Barnes, president and CEO of Farmers Edge. My vision has always been to build an innovative company that develops tools to let growers experience the value of their farm data. We pour our hearts into every innovation we bring to market and we plan to continue to defend our rights regarding intellectual property to protect what weve built. When Farmers Edge first sued Farmobile, Tatge hinted that timing played a role in the action in a statement. What is most notable about this lawsuit is its timing, he wrote. On April 8, 2016, we made a game-changing advancement. We announced our new Data Store Tatge also pointed to Farmobiles strategy of enabling farmers to make money from their data as a sore point for many in the agtech industry. We are directly challenging the foundational ideas around ownership of data, and have been exceptionally vocal about farmers rights every step of the way. A few dont like what were doing; however, many more are excited for the opportunity to acquire quality, ground-truthed data sets at scale and provide their farmer customers with enhanced services. Farmers, too, are excited about finally getting paid directly for the data they generate. 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!) Okay, despite my German-Irish/Mexican-American heritage, Ill admit that Ive never celebrated Cinco De Mayo. Ill also be one of the first ones to disclose to anyone who listens that although I shamelessly refer to the holiday as Cinco de Drink-o, I have a high amount of reverence for Los Mexicanosand Irishmen and Germanswho stood up to the French Army of Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla. That said, just because I am not inclined towards celebration, but rather contemplation of such events, doesnt mean you have to be like me. What do I know, Im an old dude. Anyway, you can always party in my stead, headbangers and shoe-gazing celebrants of other dark musical arts! And the concert held on Saturday, May 5 at Launchpad (618 Central Ave. SW) certainly qualifies as a method of gaining license to do just that. In a show thats been publicized as a barn burner, one can indulge such musical fantasies as those which recall battle and triumphper the musical admonitions, exhortations and lamentations of Burque musical notables Moonshine Blind, Gunsafe and The Imperial Rooster. Whats not to like, carnales? Do your duty and go to this one, if not for la cultura Mexicana, then because you dig the local scene, sabes? 9pm $5 21+. The Rise and Fall of the Brown Buffalo: Film Screening... 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!) YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. The second session of the 4-day sitting of the Armenian parliament kicked off with 78 lawmakers in attendance. Members of Parliament are set to vote for previously debated issues. At 10:30, the voting for electing a member of the Constitutional Court will begin. The President of Armenia has nominated Emil Babayan for the position. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Many years have already passed since independence and its time to make fundamental changes in the science sector, acclaimed physicist Felix Aharonian told ARMENPRESS. Aharonian, a renowned astrophysicist, is a laureate of the V. Ambartsumian International Science Prize and the Bruno Rossi Prize. Aharonian is a Professor of Astrophysics, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), Dublin, Ireland and Head of High Energy Astrophysics Theory Group, Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK), Heidelberg, Germany. He is a recognized authority on the origin of cosmic rays, and has written books and research papers on astroparticle physics, and cosmology. In an interview to ARMENPRESS, Aharonian mentioned that numerous changes happened in the science sector in the past 20-30 years in the world. According to the physicist, it is necessary to understand modern trends in international scientific centers and to design plans for forming primary scientific directions in Armenia. As a scientist I was formed in the Soviet Union, I speak about both good and bad sides of that period of time. But I find it wrong to after so many years to sit and say that everything was good in the Soviet times while today the funding for science is little and that is why we have such a situation. The role of the Soviet times is being exaggerated a bit. Ways for elevating the science sector to a new level must be sought instead of saying there is no money, Felix Aharonian said. To what extent is it accurate to keep 5-6 institutes of the same direction, for example physics, argues Aharonian. He says it is a luxury even for countries with much greater budgets. If you separate 3-4 scientists from each institute, then overall youll have 20 high class professionals. They in turn will gather around themselves young people and this will be completely enough for Armenia in case of several directions of physics. It will be correct to select several modern directions and develop them, there is no need to keep institutes in all directions whatsoever. Whoever would become an academician in the Soviet times would open a separate institute, and this became a legacy. There are many institutes today in Armenia, which were in demand 40-50 years ago, he said. Regarding physics and astrophysics, Aharonian argues that all active physics institutes and scientific research centers should be merged where several efficient departments will operate. Aharonian pointed out the Weizmann Institute of Science of Israel as an example. The physicist says he is sure that a similar center can be founded in Armenia, which will also be appealing for foreign experts. Indeed, a scientist must be ensured and not think about household issues, but rather focus on work, but at the same time saying all the time that there is no money and doing nothing is inappropriate. It is even possible to do something with the current funding, the way can be found in the current conditions. In the first 10 or 20 years of independence it was understandable that reforms were being done, but now it is time, he said. With regret he mentioned that he doesnt yet see the desire and positive steps in Armenia for drastic improvement of the sector. One must be a professional in any work, regardless if you are a scientist, a barista or a tailor. This requires daily hard work, self-confidence on abilities, but at the same time modesty, desire to walk in line with time and ability, he said. The full interview is available in Armenian. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. On May 4, at 01:10, the body of soldier Artur Gasparyan, born in 1998, was found in the military position of one of the military units located in Armenias north-eastern direction, with a fatal gunshot wound in his head, Armenias defense ministry told Armenpress. Investigation is underway to clarify the details of the incident. The defense ministry extends condolences to the family, relatives and co-servicemen of the soldier. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Gazprom Armenia has denied media reports claiming that the company is forcing its own staff to sign unknown documents in Lori province. The media reports alleged that employees of the Lori gas supply branch of Gazprom Armenia are being forced to sign certain papers with unknown content. Moreover, this all is being attempted to be presented under a political context through absolutely groundless ways. Gazprom Armenia is officially announcing that this information and comments about it are false, Gazprom Armenia said in a statement. The company clarified that the document signing concerns a standard procedure of familiarizing staff with personal data protection provisions. Employees engaged in personal data of Gazprom Armenia are being briefed on data protection rules and other legal acts and provisions regarding protection of personal data. The process had begun as early as October, 2017. The procedure involves staff being familiarized with the documents, followed by employees signing the notice on being informed about the provisions. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. The special investigative service of Armenia has launched criminal proceedings based on the report of Tirayr Muradyan, a reporter of the Union of Informed Citizens NGO. Muradyan claimed that on-duty police officers were attempting to remove protesters who were trying to shut down traffic at the Yerevan-Abovyan highway during the latest demonstrations. The reporter said that officers used force to obstruct his coverage of the demonstration and he was removed from site. A criminal case has been launched and an investigation is underway. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian received Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Lebanon to Armenia and charge d'affaires of Kuwait and Iraq on May 4, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. Issues relating to the bilateral cooperation agenda, in particular, the expansion of economic cooperation were discussed during the meeting. The Armenian President expressed his gratitude to the diplomats for their countries warm attitude towards the Armenian communities which enabled them not only to preserve the national identity, but to develop and actively participate in political, socio-economic life of these countries. During the meeting the officials also exchanged views on the current situation in Armenia. The diplomats expressed hope that everything will be settled within the Constitution and legality and attached importance to the Presidents efforts in this process. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. A heated protest involving school children, parents, and staff is underway in Yerevans Monte Melkonyan school. The protesters are demanding the resignation of the principal Ruzanna Azizyan. School children are chanting Azizyan Go Away outside the school. Teachers are also involved, claiming to have been treated unfairly because of their participation in the latest demonstrations. Teachers claim the principal had even locked the exits of the school in order not to allow the teachers to join the protests. Members of the opposition Yelk faction of Yerevan City Council are also present. They said they will insist Mayor Taron Margaryan to fire the principal. The principal denies the accusations. I have never seen my students this way. This is organized, she said. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Acting minister of foreign affairs Edward Nalbandian delivered a lecture on May 4 for the International Relations and Diplomacy 2017-2018 students of the ministrys Diplomatic School, as well as participants of the 2018 training program for diplomats and international relations staff of other state agencies. Nalbandian comprehensively presented the priorities and main directions of Armenias foreign policy, the countrys approach regarding settlement of regional and international issues, and informed about the preparation for the upcoming La Francophonie summit in Yerevan and relating documents. The lecture was concluded with a Q&A. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Soon civilian helicopter aviation services will enter the Armenian market. Armenian Helicopters, the service operator, has already filed for aviation permit to the general department of civil aviation. The government granted the company customs privileges for importing equipment with the purpose of encouraging the business, the general department of civil aviation told ARMENPRESS. The services will be delivered with the US-made Robinson R66 and the European AIRBUS EC130T2 choppers. Armenian Helicopters is planning to make over 10 million dollars worth investments in the upcoming three years. Armenian Helicopters will offer charter flights in Armenia and certain neighboring countries. Commercial air transport services will also include sightseeing tours and VIP transportations, according to the companys website. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Several dozens of businessmen representing different Iranian companies are getting acquainted with the features of Armenias investment environment, tax and customs legislation in Yerevan, Hmayak Avetisyan adviser at the commercial department of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia, told Armenpress. He informed that in line with the expo of Iranian products, a forum is also being held in Yerevan, and in May meetings with Armenian businessmen will be held. The forum aims at introducing the Iranian businessmen on Armenias economic situation, tax and customs legislation, as well as the opportunities to register companies here, the official said. Hmayak Avetisyan said in recent years the Iranian companies are mainly interested in issues on carrying out an activity in Armenia, they also apply for working in the Meghri Free Economic Zone. There is a very great interest by Iranians over the past two years, they gradually start registering or establishing more joint companies especially in the spheres of agriculture, livestock breeding and processing, he said. He noted that Armenia is attractive for Iranian businessmen especially in terms of the opportunity to enter the market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). According to him, the EAEU-Iran agreement will further contribute to strengthening the bilateral ties, taking into account the fact that new privileges are being created. Hmayak Avetisyan added that the recent events in Armenias domestic political life can contribute to deepening the bilateral economic cooperation since in such circumstances the stability of the Armenian dram inspires trust to investors. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Russia aims at strengthening of allied partnership and further integration cooperation with Armenia, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a Thursday press briefing, TASS reports. Weve said numerously that we are in favor of solving the problems which exist in brotherly Armenia based on the countrys Constitution, within the legal framework and through constructive dialogue between political forces. We are set in an unchanged way for continuing the work aimed at developing and strengthening of joint allied partnership and integration cooperation, she said. The second round of the vote for electing a Prime Minister will take place May 8 in the Armenian parliament after lawmakers failed to make the election on May 1. Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, head of the Yelk (Exit) faction, was the sole candidate in the election. Pashinyan, the MP who spearheaded massive demonstrations throughout the country for about two weeks, failed to be elected by a 56-45 vote. He needed at least 53 votes to be named Prime Minister. The opposition leader has already been officially nominated as a candidate for the second round. Pashinyan is endorsed by the Tsarukyan and ARF factions. 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, if a Prime Minister isnt elected in the second round also, the parliament is dissolved by virtue of law. The ruling party said it will not nominate their own candidate for the second round, just like in the first round. However, the HHK said it will not block the election. ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian on May 4 signed a decree on appointing Tevan Poghosyan adviser to the President on voluntary basis, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. Tevan Poghosyan was born on December 2, 1972 in Yerevan. 1996 - Graduated from the faculty of Computer Technologies from the Armenian State Engineering University. Engineer system technician. Master of Engineering. 1996 - Graduated from the faculty of Political Science and International Relations of the American University of Armenia. Master of Arts. 1996 - 1997 - Expert at Central Bank Department of the Republic of Armenia. 1997 - Head of the Division of Balance Analysis and Methodology of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia. 1997 - 1999 - NKR MFA Director of the Office of Public Affairs of NKR in the United States (Washington.) 1999 - 2000 - Head of the Division of Marketing and Trade Ltd Hovnanian International. 2000 - 2012. - Executive Director of the International Center for Human Development. 2001 - 2012 - Executive Director for the Armenian Atlantic Association. Since 2002 - Lecturer at the Russian - Armenian (Slavonic) University. October 5, 2012 - Elected Deputy of the National Assembly by the proportional electoral system from the Heritage party. 2012 - Awarded the Jubilee Medal of The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, 20 years by order of the Minister of Defense. Author of a number of scientific articles. Married, with 5 children. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is closely following the situation in Armenia and welcomes the active dialogue among political forces, PA President George Tsereteli said, the OSCE Office told Armenporess. I hope for a swift political agreement to the current impasse so that the government can focus on the many challenges facing Armenia, the President said. I encourage political leaders to continue engaging in parliamentary dialogue, as well as working with civil society and the international community, in finding a satisfactory outcome, which should be seen within the broader process of developing the countrys political culture. The OSCE statement says Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was officially nominated for prime minister for a second time by his Yelk party and allied opposition parties in parliament on Thursday. In recent days, Pashinyan has met with the ambassadors of the European Union, Russia, the United States, and Georgia, to discuss negotiations taking place to resolve the political crisis. George Tsereteli on May 3 held a telephone conversation with Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia Ara Babloyan discussing the situation and offering the support of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the process of dialogue. He also spoke with Hermine Naghdalyan, Head of Armenias Delegation to the OSCE PA. My conversations with parliamentary colleagues in Armenia reinforced my confidence that leading political figures in Yerevan are committed to finding a constructive solution to the situation, President Tsereteli said. I stressed that all sides must exercise due restraint and continue on the path of productive dialogue. The OSCE PA President stressed that peaceful assembly is an important avenue for expressing opinions but said that he was encouraged that political dialogue is taking place within the parliamentary system. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, 4 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 4 May, USD exchange rate is up by 0.04 drams to 484.75 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 1.36 drams to 579.81 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.65 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 2.22 drams to 657.08 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price is up by 170.78 drams to 20495.15 drams. Silver price is up by 1.82 drams to 256.61 drams. Platinum price is up by 79.08 drams to 14057.74 drams. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin is planning to perform in Argentina as he takes the Global Citizen campaign against extreme poverty to another continent, sources close to the organizers said. The advocacy movement, which rallies support for development assistance through music and other events, holds festivals in New York's Central Park each year when world leaders are gathering for the UN General Assembly and has previously expanded to Canada, Germany and India. Sources close to the organizers told AFP that Martin, who holds the title of festival curator, is planning a concert later this year in Buenos Aires as part of Global Citizen. Details are being worked out but the sources said that Global Citizen's CEO, Hugh Evans, met Thursday with President Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires. Macri and Argentine first lady Juliana Awada took to the stage last year at the Global Citizen festival in Hamburg to join Colombian superstar Shakira. Macri, who will host a summit in November of the Group of 20 major economies, said at the time that the festival sent a strong message of support for fighting poverty including by investing in education and women's empowerment. Global Citizen does not sell tickets for its festivals but instead admits fans who commit to taking actions such as writing to their governments to support development aid as part of the UN-backed goal of eradicating the planet's most extreme poverty by 2030. Reports earlier indicated that Global Citizen is also planning a large event in South Africa in December to mark this year's centennial of the birth of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela. Coldplay both launched and ended its last world tour in Argentina. The English rockers' tour became the third highest grossing in music history. Chris Martin (L), shown performing in 2012 with Coldplay bandmate Guy Berryman, is planning a Buenos Aires concert as part of efforts to reduce poverty Mozambique's president said the country's fragile peace process must not collapse after veteran rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, who had opened talks with the government, died unexpectedly aged 65. President Filipe Nyusi hailed Dhlakama as "a citizen who always worked for Mozambique" and said he was distraught at the news of his death. "I hope that we as Mozambicans can continue to do everything so things do not go down," Nyusi said in a telephone call to state television TVM late on Thursday. "He did everything so that there would be peace. The last time he spoke to me, he said he was not going to miss out anything in peace negotiations." Sources in Dhlakama's opposition Renamo party said he died on Thursday after a heart attack, while local media said he suffered sever diabetes. For 39 years, Dhlakama led Renamo, the rebel group which fought a 16-year civil war against the ruling Frelimo party until 1992 and then emerged as an opposition party that still retained its armed fighters. He had been in hiding for much of time since 2013 in the remote Gorongosa mountains after sporadic conflict again erupted in the country. But Dhlakama had recently held meetings with Nyusi and he was seen as playing a key role in advancing the country's nascent peace process. - 'Critical questions' - "His death and the unknown succession plan within Renamo will bring uncertainty," Zenaida Machado, Mozambique specialist at Human Rights Watch, told AFP. "It raises critical questions about the next Renamo leader's ability to control hundreds of armed men in the bush and negotiate a long-lasting peace deal with the government." She said Dhlakama would be remembered for challenging the abuses of the ruling Frelimo party, but also for allowing his own forces to commit serious human rights violations with impunity. In December 2016, Dhlakama announced a surprise truce with the government in the major first step towards a formal peace deal. Nyusi and Dhlakama last met in February in Gorongosa to discuss disarmament and reintegration, and they appeared to have agreed on constitutional reforms that would decentralise power. The reforms, currently under debate in parliament, would allow voters to directly elect provincial governors, who at present are appointed by the president. But Renamo's demands for better integration of its supporters into the police and military remained a sticking point in discussions. "I expected a deal within the next eight weeks, but no longer as power in Renamo was centralised around Dhlakama and all key decisions needed to be agreed by him," Alex Vines, the head of the Africa programme at the Chatham House think tank, told AFP. "This will impact the peace negotiations and will also impact Renamo's electoral prospects in next year's elections." Dhlakama repeatedly stood as an unsuccessful presidential candidate in elections, despite alleging electoral fraud. Mozambique will hold elections in October 2019, with observers saying Renamo had recently increased its public support. Frelimo has ruled the country since independence from Portugal in 1975. - Restive legacy of civil war - Nyusi reportedly sent a helicopter to the Gorongosa mountains to fly Dhlakama abroad for emergency medical treatment after hearing he was ill just one day before he died. "The weight for me is worse than for everyone," Nyusi said. "I tried to transfer him but I could not because he was in a place where I could not help." "We have lost our father, our teacher, the person who is the light of the majority of Mozambicans," Renamo secretary-general Manuel Bissopo told TVM. Local media said Dhlakama's body arrived early on Friday in the central city of Beira, though no funeral details have yet been announced. Between 2013 and 2016, Renamo -- which also holds seats in parliament -- attacked government and civilian vehicles, while soldiers were accused of ruthlessly targeting suspected rebels. The United States issued a statement expressing condolences and calling for all sides to work towards a peace deal after Dhlakama's death. Mozambique veteran rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama led Renamo for 39 years, the rebel group which fought a 16-year war against the ruling Frelimo party until 1992 and then emerged as an opposition party The city of Paris is scaling back its once-vaunted Velib bike-hire service after a chaotic change of operator that has infuriated cyclists, many of whom had hoped to be back in the saddle for the start of the summer. Smovengo, which took over the system late last year, unveiled Thursday an "emergency plan" demanded by the city to end the crisis that began after it won the contract to run one of the world's biggest bike-share systems. It has abandoned for now its target of opening 1,400 stations to replace those run by the previous operator, and pledged to fix the technology bugs blocking hundreds of bikes. So far Smovengo has built only 670 stations, about 400 of which are powered by batteries -- a stop-gap solution while Smovengo tries to get them hooked up to the electrical grid but which has been fraught with problems. It will also pull from service all electric bikes -- promoted as a key feature of the new system -- while replacing within a week some 3,000 of the 9,000 mechanical bikes rolled out so far. The 9,000 bikes are still a far cry from the 20,000 bikes that were supposed to be up and running by end-March, a delay that has cost Smovengo millions of euros in fines. Further slowing the rollout is an ongoing strike by Smovengo employees demanding the return of a 45 percent bonus for night shifts and double pay on weekends -- terms they enjoyed under the system's previous operator. "The situation is bad and unacceptable," said Jorge Azevedo, the head of Smovengo, an upstart firm whose previous bike-sharing programmes were limited to much smaller schemes in cities like Vancouver or Moscow. Cyclists are clearly fed up, with subscribers falling to some 220,000 as of end-April down from 290,000 for the former service. And tourists to the City of Light are in for a shock as well, as Smovengo has upped the price of day passes to five euros ($6) from just 1.70 euros before. The fiasco has become a public-relations disaster for Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo, whose administration is accused by critics of severely underestimating the difficulty in tearing up and replacing thousands of docking stations. City lawmakers aligned with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Republic on the Move party on Thursday renewed their demand for the Smovengo contract to be cancelled. "The design, the rollout, the management, it's all pathetic. Smovengo has to go," said Jerome Dubus, a spokesman for the group. Paris has demanded an "emergency plan" to get the Velib bike-sharing service up and running after months of delays ETA ends its days-long dissolution process Friday at a peace conference in the French Basque Country, putting paid 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 was blamed for hundreds of killings and kidnappings in its fight for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. The conference in the small southwestern French town of Cambo-les-Bains will be attended by international personalities such as Northern Ireland's Gerry Adams. - Gerry Adams, Powell - ETA had already announced it would be fully disbanding in a letter leaked Wednesday in Spanish media, addressed to various groups and figures involved in recent peace efforts. On Thursday, it released a "final declaration" recorded by Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea, better known as "Josu Ternera", a historic high-ranking ETA figure who has been on the run since 2002. In the recording, he announced that the separatist group had "completely dismantled all its structures" and "put an end to all its political activity". Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders and a major drop in support among Basques, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. At the peace conference, Northern Ireland's Gerry Adams, the former head of Sinn Fein -- once considered the political wing of the Irish Republican Army -- will be among several attendees. Adams was active in the Northern Ireland peace process which culminated with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern will also be present, as will Jonathan Powell, who once served as chief of staff for British leader Tony Blair. On the Spanish side, representatives of Basque nationalist party PNV, in power in the Spanish region, and far-left Podemos will also attend according to media reports. - 'No impunity' - Since its ceasefire in 2011, ETA has wanted to follow the United Nations' peace steps of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration into society, just like the FARC rebels in Colombia. But Madrid has refused to make any gesture of appeasement, under pressure from ETA victim associations. Spain's conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday dismissed the announcement of ETA's disbanding as "noise and propaganda" and vowed there would be "no impunity" for the group's crimes. ETA's announcement has also been rejected by victims' groups, who argue it should first and foremost condemn its history of violence and Basque separatists must stop paying public homage to militants as they are released from prison. They have also asked that light be shed on at least 358 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 stem the criticism. "The victims are watching with pain and stupor how ETA is being allowed to direct this farce," the Victims of Terrorism Association (AVT) said in a statement. So to seal the last chapter of its history on Friday, ETA chose the French Basque Country, which it once used as a safe haven. Neither the Spanish Basque Country's regional government, nor that of neighbouring Navarra, which is considered part of the wider Basque territories, have accepted invitations to attend. Going forward, the sensitive issue of ETA's 270 militants imprisoned across Spain and France will also need to be addressed. Separatist coalition EH Bildu, the second largest grouping in the Basque regional parliament, wants the prisoners to be transferred to jails that are closer to home and their families. Paris has started to make moves in that direction, but for now, Madrid will not hear of it. ETA was blamed for hundreds of killings and kidnappings in its fight for an independent Basque homeland Northern Ireland's Gerry Adams, the former head of Sinn Fein, will be among several attendees at the peace conference ETA's announcement has been rejected by victims' groups Spain's conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has vowed there will be 'no impunity' for the group's crimes Peruvian prosecutors probing the lynching of a Canadian man in a remote area in the Amazon jungle said on Thursday they had concluded he was responsible for the fatal shooting of a female shaman. "The perpetrator of the death of the Shipibo leader was the Canadian citizen," a spokesman for the prosecutors' office in the Amazon town of Pucallpa told AFP. The body of the Canadian, Sebastian Paul Woodroffe, 42, was discovered April 21 in the Ucayali region of northeastern Peru bordering Brazil, not far from where the 81-year-old indigenous shaman, Olivia Arevalo, had been killed two days earlier outside her home. Grisly footage of Woodroffe's death at the hands of a mob circulated on social media. In the video, a man is seen trying to put a black rope around the neck of another man slumped in a puddle with blood on his face who tries -- unsuccessfully -- to fight him off. "Please, no!" he mumbles in Spanish, as someone can be heard saying: "You asked for it." Prosecutors had said the cause of Woodroffe's death was strangulation, noting there was also evidence of multiple other injuries. Woodroffe had been living in the area for about two years and had acquired 20 hectares (50 acres) of land there, Peruvian media said. Inca said gunpowder found on the Canadian's clothes was "the main proof" that he shot Arevalo. "The motives of the murder cannot be known. He is already dead. The only thing that has been determined is who killed the lady," the spokesman said. The prosecutors' office said two men suspected of being involved in Woodroffe's lynching -- both members of Arevalo's community -- were being sought, with rewards of $6,200 for each of them. Within her Shipibo-Konibo community, Arevalo was a healer widely revered for her knowledge of traditional medicine who was believed to have special powers. Foto sin fecha divulgada el 24 de abril de 2018 por Zona Pucallpa Noticias muestra a la chamana Olivia Arvalo, miembro respetado de la tribu amaznica Shipibo-Konibo, asesinada el 19 de abril de 2018 por un ciudadano canadiense posteriormente linchado. A man has been charged with 97 online child sex offences after allegedly being found with exploitative material on his devices. The 31-year-old from Wandoan in Queenslands south-west will face more than 70 charges of grooming and 20 relating to soliciting and possessing child pornography after a two-month investigation by police. The man also allegedly used the internet to procure children under 16. The man is due to face court next month. Source: Getty/File Police searched his house in March, seizing a number of devices, and say the investigation uncovered information around online sex offenders in the United States. The man is due to face Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 20. Police are urging parents to remain vigilant and educate their children about exercising personal safety online. WARNING GRAPHIC DETAILS A man who bashed his wife to death with a rock on a Tasmanian mountainside had posed for a selfie with her just moments before ending her life, a coronial inquest has heard. Coroner Simon Cooper found that Kerry Lyn Michael, 44, died of blunt force trauma to the head as a result of being bludgeoned with a rock at the hands of her husband, Robin Michael, 63. The couple, from South Australia, had travelled to Tasmania for a caravanning holiday and on 11 February 2015, arrived at Mount Roland in the states northwest. Dr and Mrs Michael had eaten lunch at the summit and were making their way back down the mountain when they stopped to take a selfie. The cameras digital timestamp revealed the photo was taken at 1.01pm, according to the coroners report. Shortly after, Dr Michael attacked his wife from behind with a rock. He struck her to the rear of the head with it. The couple fought and wrestled and he struck her on a number of occasions to the head, the report read. Robin Michael bashed his wife in the head with a rock while the couple were holidaying in Tasmania. Source: Facebook State Forensic Pathologist Dr Christopher Hamilton Lawrence said Mrs Michael was struck with a minimum of three blows and possibly as many as eight in the violent attack. At least one of those blows (a blow to the back of her head which shattered the base of her skull and caused massive injury to her brain stem and cerebellum) was landed when Mrs Michael was lying face down on the ground, the coroners report stated. Dr Lawrence ruled her injuries were unsurvivable. After killing his wife, Dr Michael a prominent doctor in South Australia posted a chilling letter on Facebook confessing to a pure act of evil. I have committed an act which should attract no pity, no sympathy, not even any understanding. I cant understand it, he wrote. That it was an effect, rather than a cause, bears no consequence. It was not appropriate, necessary, nor anything really other than pure evil. Dr Michael described his wife as one the most beautiful people in the world but said he felt betrayed by her, convinced she was having an affair with his friend. Story continues To say I cracked and lost it when our quiet mountain descent got real would not do justice to the situation, he wrote in the letter. Dr Michael had suspected his wife was having an affair, a claim that police found was without foundation. Source: Facebook The English language cannot describe my anger and rage. I cannot contemplate it. You may think you know what it feels like to take a knife in the stomach, but trust me, the physical equivalent well understates what it felt like in my insides when it hit home. Pain is one thing, but not enough if you had known and loved, and been loved by Kerry, and she betrayed you. According to the coroners report, Dr Michael confronted his wife and his friend over the affair he believed they were having. Both parties had denied the allegations. Tasmania Police investigated the notion of an affair, but no evidence was uncovered. I am affirmatively satisfied that Mr Michaels belief was utterly without foundation, Mr Cooper wrote in his report. Mr Cooper added Dr Michael had previously accused a former partner of also cheating on him with the same friend. After posting his confession on Facebook, Dr Michael attempted to take his own life. He was charged with murder and kept in hospital under guard before being transferred to Hobarts Risdon Prison to await trial. He was found dead in his cell after taking his own life in June 2015. Readers seeking support in matters relating to domestic violence can phone 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. 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. - 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. Nicaraguan demonstrators sit in front of riot police agents blocking their march to demand justice for 43 people killed in recent protests; the Central American country has been hit by protests demanding President Daniel Ortega's ouster since April 18 Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas apologised Friday over alleged anti-Semitic comments that drew global condemnation. "If people were offended by my statement at the Palestinian National Council, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to them," he said in a statement, days after appearing to suggest Jewish behaviour, including money lending, led to their persecution in Europe. The English-language statement added he wanted "to reiterate our long held condemnation of the Holocaust, as the most heinous crime in history". "We condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms, and confirm our commitment to the two-state solution, and to (living) side by side in peace and security." It did not specifically apologise for his claim about Jewish persecution. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman immediately rejected the statement on Twitter. Abbas "is a pathetic Holocaust denier who wrote a doctorate about Holocaust denial and then a book about Holocaust denial," he said, citing past works that had already led to accusations of anti-Semitism. "His apology is not accepted." Monday's comments sparked global anger, with the United States, United Nations, European Union and others criticising them, as well as Israeli leaders. In a rambling speech to hundreds of Palestinian officials, the 82-year-old said for centuries Jews in Europe were "subjected to a massacre every 10 to 15 years. But why did this happen? They say 'it is because we are Jews'." He then cited "three books" written by Jews as evidence that "hostility against Jews is not because of their religion, but rather their social function," adding he meant "their social function related to banks and interest". He also reiterated claims that Israel was a colonial project encouraged by European leaders who wanted to be rid of their Jewish populations. - International criticism - Abbas has made similar comments before but his speech at the Palestinian National Council sparked global condemnation. "Apparently the Holocaust denier is still a Holocaust denier," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday on Twitter. David Friedman, US ambassador to Israel, said Abbas had reached a "new low", while President Donald Trump's envoy Jason Greenblatt said "peace cannot be built on this kind of foundation". Foreign officials also said Abbas's words undermined his call for an independent Palestinian state. United Nations envoy Nickolay Mladenov said on Twitter Abbas had expressed "contemptuous anti-Semitic slurs". "Denying the Jewish connection to the land & its holy sites stands in contrast to reality." Netanyahu regularly argues that the reason there is not peace between Israel and the Palestinians is the lack of a real partner for them to negotiate with. He has called on Abbas to recognise Israel as a Jewish state. The Palestinians point out Israel continues to expand settlements throughout the West Bank, while maintaining a crippling blockade of Gaza. The controversy comes as the ageing Abbas sought to use the Palestinian National Council to reassert his dominance of secular Palestinian politics. Unlike his Islamist rivals Hamas, who control Gaza and with whom Israel has fought three wars since 2008, Abbas's political grouping has recognised Israel. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas gestures as he chairs a Palestinian National Council meeting in Ramallah on April 30, 2018. Spain vowed to bring to justice all those who committed crimes in the name of former Basque separatist group ETA even as its formal dissolution was sealed on Friday with calls for reconciliation. By disbanding, the group put a definitive end to western Europe's last armed insurgency following more than four decades of killings and kidnappings. But the Spanish government reiterated its vow to pursue any outstanding cases against members of the group, which is blamed for more than 800 killings. "ETA's crimes will continue to be investigated, its offences will continue to be tried in the courts, convictions will continue to be issued accordingly and the sentences will continue to be served," conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in an address. "There has not been and will not be any impunity. We owe them nothing and have nothing to thank them for." Rajoy paid tribute to people the group is accused of killing and the victims' families. He said the group is now accused of killing 853 people. "They were all murdered unjustly and cruelly," he said. "We owe a homage to all of them -- to them, their families and the hundreds of Spaniards who survived the terrorist violence but who still suffer the consequences of that cruelty." - Calls for dialogue - Mediators gathered in the French Basque country on Friday for a peace conference to mark ETA's dissolution. In a closing statement, they said the move must lead to "reconciliation". ETA's decision marks "a commitment to take part in the democratic process" within Spain's institutions, "which will require reconciliation," South African lawyer Brian Currin said at the conference in Cambo-les-Bains, southwestern France. In the small village of Oiartzun in the Spanish Basque country, graffiti reading "Thanks ETA" appeared in several locations overnight, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. The Spanish government has refused to negotiate with ETA, which is classed as a terrorist organisation by the European Union. ETA "will not get anything in return for announcing its dissolution," Rajoy said. His allies in Brussels formally welcomed ETA's move. "There is no place in the European Union for terrorism, arms and guns," said European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas. "The European Union is based on the rule of law." - Engage for peace - Northern Ireland's Gerry Adams, the former head of Sinn Fein -- once considered the political wing of the Irish Republican Army -- called on the Madrid government to turn the page. "In my own view, there is a particular onus on governments, which are the more powerful actors in any conflict, to proactively engage and sustain the conditions for a peace process," he said in a speech at the conference. He urged the Spanish government to move imprisoned ETA members closer to their families -- a long-standing demand by the separatists and their relatives. "It would not be a sign of weakness," he said. But Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said "the government will not alter its penitentiary policy." Spain's former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose socialist government carried out secret talks with ETA, also defended dialogue. "The great thing of democracy is to integrate those who have been its worst enemies, it is its moral superiority," he said during a television interview. - Victims first - On April 20, ETA asked forgiveness from its victims for the first time for the "pain" caused by its decades-long campaign of violence. Victims' campaigners complained that the call for forgiveness did not extend to those the group considered legitimate targets, such as police officers and politicians. "ETA was not able to express a word of contrition for all the victims, but Basque society and institutions can do it," said the head of the Basque regional government, Inigo Urkullu, of the nationalist PNV party. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed no let-up for convicted former members of Basque separatist movement ETA after its dissolution ETA is blamed for the killings of hundreds of people The Spanish government has refused to negotiate with ETA, which is classed by the EU as a terrorist group Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams of Northern Ireland said there was an "onus" on the Spanish government to "sustain the conditions for a peace process" Relatives of people killed by ETA said its apology did not go far enough Bill Cosbys wife has called 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. Ms 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. In this April 24, 2018, file photo, Bill Cosby, left, arrives with his wife, Camille, for his sexual assault trial, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. Source: AP Ms Cosby, 74, 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 contended Ms 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 behaviour Cosby has admitted to, such as philandering and contention that he was having a consensual affair with Ms Constand. Ms Constands lawyer bristled at the statement and asked: Why would any reputable outlet publish that? Story continues 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. The jury said in a statement on Monday she was credible and compelling. Actor and comedian Bill Cosby exits the Montgomery County Courthouse after a jury convicted him in a sexual assault retrial in Norristown, Pa., April 26, 2018. (Photo: Brendan McDermid/Reuters) 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 were 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. Ms Cosby stayed away from both of her husbands trials, except for the defences 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 Cosbys lawyers, she went to the defence 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 prosecutions turn to argue, she left the courtroom, and Ms Constand entered. Ms 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 on Monday was instrumental in his conviction. Ms Cosby compared the dozens of other women who had accused her husband to a lynch mob spurred on by the medias frenzied, relentless demonisation of the man who earned a reputation as Americas Dad playing Dr Cliff Huxtable on the top-rated family sitcom The Cosby Show. Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing. His lawyers have vowed to appeal. Source: AP She compared his treatment to Mr 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. Ms Constand is white. Someday the truth will prevail, it always does, Ms Cosby said. She 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. She said Mr 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 Cosbys life. If they can do this to Mr. Cosby, they can do so to anyone, Ms Cosby said. Mr Steeles 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 Ms Constand has done. US President Donald Trump rallied gun owners in Texas Friday, summarily rejecting calls for stricter laws despite a high school massacre in Florida that fuelled public demands for change. Making a pilgrimage to the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Dallas, Trump tackled head-on the controversy over his visit, which comes three months after a classroom bloodbath that shocked the world. Political advisors, he said, had told him not to go, to which he responded "bye, bye, got to get on a plane," prompting extended cheers. "We have to do the right thing," he said. It is the second year running that Trump has addressed the gun-toting, hat-waving jamboree, but the first time since the school massacre in Parkland, Florida. Trump made only brief allusion to the February 14 high school rampage in Parkland, signaling a return to politics as normal, as his Republicans head into sharply contested mid-term elections. "Our hearts break for every American who has suffered," Trump said, while dismissing calls for curbs on civilians' ability to buy semi-automatic weapons. "It's not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference," he said. "In America we trust the people to be wise and to be good." Trump's warm up act, Vice President Mike Pence, went as far as to say there was too much coverage of the sorrow of mass shootings and not enough of "good guys" with guns. The White House duo instead doled out red meat to their political base, trashing the "fake news" media and the "witch hunt" Russia investigation, endorsing Republican election wannabees and praising the "great American flag." Public demands for stricter gun control measures soared after 17 people were shot dead in Parkland, with students mobilizing hundreds of thousands of people in Washington March 24 for a mass display of outrage. But the Republican-controlled Congress has taken little action and polls indicate public sentiment in favor of stricter gun laws is cooling, as it has after previous mass shootings. Aides promised a stemwinder of a speech -- with one eye on the electoral calendar -- and Trump delivered. Just a 10 minute walk from the plaza where his predecessor John F. Kennedy was shot dead, the 45th president vowed that the right to bear arms would "never ever be under siege as long as I am president." He slammed countries like France and Britain, which have tough gun laws, claiming attacks and stabbings could have been prevented if only citizens were armed -- at one point mimicking the assailants in the Paris Bataclan attack of November 2015 picking out their victims: "Boom! Come over here. Boom! Come over here." Trump had flirted with tougher gun laws in the wake of the Parkland attack, but under pressure from donors and facing a Democratic landslide in Congressional elections this November, he quickly backtracked. - A political force - The four-day NRA gathering in Dallas brings together hundreds of exhibitors as well as special events for members like the "Leadership Forum" where Trump gave his address. With more than five million members, the NRA is long established as a powerful political force in the United States and fierce defender of the constitutional right to bear arms. Since the massacre in Parkland, Trump has made clear he would not back a ban on assault rifles, a key demand of the student protesters. Instead he has proposed a ban on "bump stocks," devices used to convert semi-automatic weapons into automatic-like weapons by accelerating their rate of fire. Bump stocks were used by the gunman who mowed down 58 people at a country music concert in Las Vegas in October, the deadliest such attack in modern US history. The president has also voiced support for student protesters calling for the minimum age for gun purchases to rise from 18 to 21, a position the NRA opposes. Controversially, though, Trump also advocates arming teachers as a first line of defense against school shooters, echoing the NRA's claim that "the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is good guy with a gun." The organization exerts outsized influence in Congress and state legislatures by financing the campaigns of supporters and targeting opponents. After the Parkland massacre, the outpouring of emotion indicated that the political environment might be changing, putting the NRA on the defensive. A Gallup poll in early March found that some 67 percent of Americans believed gun laws should be stricter, a 15-year high in the firm's surveys. But by mid-April a Marist poll found that the percentage of people for whom gun policy will heavily influence their vote in November had fallen to 46 percent from 59 percent in February. US President Donald Trump addressed the National Rifle Association annual meeting in Dallas three months after a classroom bloodbath that shocked the world With more than five million members, the NRA is long established as a powerful political force in the United States and fierce defender of the constitutional right to bear arms The four-day NRA gathering in Dallas brings together hundreds of exhibitors as well as special events for members like the "Leadership Forum" where Trump gave his address A man in the US state of Kansas who shot dead an Indian immigrant while shouting "get out of my country," was sentenced Friday to life in prison. Adam Purinton had previously pleaded guilty to the racial slur-filled, drunken attack in February last year at a suburban bar and restaurant in the Midwestern state. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed in the assault in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe. His friend Alok Madasani, also Indian, was injured along with a bystander, Ian Grillot, who tried to intervene. The 52-year-old Purinton received the maximum punishment for the murder, and two sentences of 165 months each for the attempted murders, the prosecutor's office said. While Purinton would be eligible for parole in 50 years, he was likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. He is also facing federal hate crime and firearms charges, which could result in the death penalty. Purinton has pleaded not guilty in the federal case. - International outrage - Witnesses told US media that Purinton screamed racial slurs and shouted "get out of my country!" at the two victims, before opening fire inside Austin's Bar and Grill. Kuchibhotla and Madasani were aviation systems engineers for GPS manufacturer Garmin. Madasani later said the two close friends met regularly at the bar. Purinton was captured later in the day at a restaurant, where he had allegedly boasted of killing Middle Easterners, according to the Kansas City Star newspaper. He was charged with three counts -- one charge of premeditated first-degree murder and two charges of attempted premeditated fist-degree murder -- and pleaded guilty in March after reaching a deal with prosecutors. The shooting came a month after President Donald Trump was sworn into office -- and ignited international outrage amid concerns of rising racial prejudice following the Republican's divisive election campaign. With thousands of Indians visiting the United States every year for work or study -- especially high-skilled tech workers via H-1B visas -- the attack triggered shockwaves overseas. In the weeks after the attack, Indians were concerned that animus against immigrants was on the rise in the US. Hundreds of mourners had marched through the Kansas City suburb in memory of the victim and also honored Grillot. They held a vigil with Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh prayers. Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla -- whose widow Sunayana Dumala is pictured at his funeral in February 2017 -- was shot dead in Kansas in a crime that caused shockwaves around his home country LYONS COUNTY, Nev.There's only one state in the Land of the Free that allows legal prostitution: Nevada. And even in Nevada, four countiesClark (Las Vegas), Washoe (Reno), Douglas (Carson City) and Lincoln (Mormon Peak)ban it, though it's legal in the rest. Those counties where it's legal have a total of 21 brothels, even though some have said that 66 percent more money is spent on illegal prostitution in Reno and Vegas than in the legal brothels in any given year. The adult industry is well familiar with at least one legal brothel: the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, owned by Dennis Hof, who's currently running for state assembly in Nye County. Hof's been a sometime exhibitor at AEE, and several adult actresses have spent some time at the Bunny Ranch, including most notably Sunset Thomas (who was also married to Hof for a time) and Sunny Lane, but in all, there have been dozens. Most sex worker advocates don't consider brothels to be the ideal way to offer paid sex to the masses, but they're far better than the current de facto situation everywhere else in the U.S.: illegal and among the most targeted professions by law enforcement. Prostitution has also been the target of the recently passed Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017, otherwise known as SESTA/FOSTA, which brought about the elimination of dozens of websites offering "personal services" ads, including Craigslist and Backpage.com. And now, Reno-based attorney Jason Guinasso and activist Kimberly Mull are working with petition gatherers in Nye and Lyons counties to put a measure on the November ballot that would again criminalize legal prostitution in both counties, allegedly to prevent the brothels from trafficking womenwhich, of course, they don't do. "[T]he Nevada model for licensed and regulated prostitution has proven to be a time-tested and remarkably successful social experiment, where, under an umbrella of strict legislation, sex workers operating out of rurally-located brothels thrive harmoniously with their Lyon County neighbors," writes Christina Parreira on her Bunny Ranch blog. "Now, after all these years, a small group of Lyon County residents have decided that they have a beef with the bordellos." The group she's talking about is Guinasso's/Mull's. It's called "No Little Girl" which is short for "No Little Girl grows up wanting to be a prostitute"and that's just the first of the incredibly ignorant statements to be found on the group's website. "The group calling itself 'No Little Girl' is petitioning to close the legal brothels in Lyon County, and remove the livelihood of hundreds of women who have made an informed choice to work in these establishments," Parreira states. "On the 'Issues' page of this groups website, they make claims that the legality of brothels does nothing to make women any safer, and that prostitution is inherently violence against women. However, the page cites data that either has been debunked or has nothing to do with legal prostitution." For example, No Little Girl states, as to Lyons County, "The economic boom in Northern Nevada has left its mark across several communities with rising real estate values, new business opportunities, and new jobs. Lyon County must capitalize on this momentum and ensure our community is properly poised to attract new businesses and relocating families into our communities. Legalized prostitution is inherently a Nevada phenomenon which doesn't appeal to those who can bring in these opportunities." Or maybe it does. "The group suggests that large tech companies wont move to the county and boost the local economy because of the existence of legal brothels, but they neglect to mention that Lance Gilman, owner of the Mustang Ranch brothel, helped bring Tesla to Nevada," Parreira notes. "The massive Tesla Gigafactory is located seven miles from the Mustang Ranch, proving that tax incentives and smart dealmaking are what bring big name tech companies into an area. Brothels are clearly not a factor in the decision making." And then there's No Little Girl's claims about women's safety: "The latest FBIs Uniformed Crime Report (UCR), which houses the Nevada State crime reports from 2012-2016, shows on average, a person in Lyon County is 57.1% more likely to be a rape victim than a person in Douglas County; and 1,660% more likely to be a rape victim than a person in Carson City, even though the populations are almost identical." Despite the fact that one should always be cautious when someone argues statistics rather than raw data numbers, over the course of 2012-2016, the time period No Little Girl refers to, there were a total of 81 rapes in Lyons County over that five-year period. Compare that with 119 rapes over that same period in Washoe County, where prostitution is illegaland let's remember that these rapes did not take place in brothels. "On the [No Little Girl] FAQ page, it states that women are often raped in the legal brothels," Parreira writes. "This is grossly inaccurate. In my own doctoral research of 53 women working in 5 Nevada brothels, I did not encounter a single woman who had reported being raped by a client in the brothel, and I was certainly never raped during my years working in the brothels." And speaking of the FAQs, check this one out: "#10: If we close down the brothels, will we see an increase of street prostitution and sex crimes? "Quite the opposite. Research and data shows that legalizing brothels increases crime and violence against women. Closing the brothel will aid in reducing the market for prostitution." Okay, you can stop laughing now. Trouble is, Lyons and Nye Counties aren't heavily populated, so in order to get its petitions on the counties' November ballots, gatherers only need 3,355 signatures from Lyons County residents, and just 1,963 from Nyenot a lot, all things considered, and we're guessing the "faith-based" No Little Girl can probably get a few in the pews on Sundays. Still, a majority in each county would have to vote in favor of the petition, and we're guessing that there might be a bit of pushback if the petitions are validated. MELBOURNE, AustraliaPipedream Products won big at the AdultEx Awards in Australia last night, taking home two of the nights biggest awards. The team was honored with the Company of the Year award, as well as the Customers Choice Award, which was chosen by retailers based on product range, customer service, marketing, sales team, and best all-around service to their retailers. It is always an honor to be recognized, but to win the Customers Choice Award for the second consecutive year is really special, said Briana Honz, senior sales executive at Pipedream Products. We always aim to provide the best service to our customers and this award shows that our efforts are paying off. Pipedreams signature stand was on full display at the show, showcasing their brand new Ultimate Fantasy Dolls, Fantasy for Her collection, and Anal Fantasy Elite line, plus new additions to the best-selling King Cock collection. Day one also marked the debut of the Pipedream Extreme Dirty Talk series, along with new innovations from the PDX Elite line. After a successful day writing orders at the show, capping the night off with two prestigious awards was icing on the cake. I am very proud of our team and the work they have done to build such strong relationships with our Australian customers, said Pipedream Chairman and CEO Nick Orlandino. We aim to build the best products at a fair price and offer the best possible service to our customers. These awards are an honor and we want to thank Calvista and their customers for all the support. For more, visit PipedreamProducts.com. Private equity firm IK Investment Partners, which has interests in a host of food businesses across Europe, is aiming to acquire Mademoiselle Desserts. The French frozen desserts and pastry business has manufacturing sites in France and The Netherlands and, in January 2017, acquired UK baked goods supplier Ministry of Cake. It operates nine production sites and employs around 1,300 staff. IK Investment Partners (IK) announced today (4 May) that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Equistone Partners Europe, Cerea Partenaire, Azulis Capital and the management team to acquire a majority stake in Mademoiselle Desserts. The management team will reinvest alongside the IK fund. IK has previously invested in European businesses including Linxis Group, Salad Signature, Cerelia Group, Lgismose Meyers and Solina Group. IKs unrivalled experience in investing in European food businesses makes them an ideal partner," said Didier Boudy, CEO of Mademoiselle Desserts, which was established in 1984. With their support, Mademoiselle Desserts will be well positioned to capture market share and continue its active build-up strategy, for which we were actively backed by Equistone over these last years. IK Investment partner Remi Buttiaux said the deal would fit IKs investment strategy. We are impressed by the groups development in the UK, France and the Netherlands. Together with the management team, we will strive to broaden the product portfolio via targeted acquisition opportunities. 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. If North Carolina Democrats hoped - and North Carolina Republicans feared - that a Roy Cooper administration would represent a clean break from the administration of former Gov. Pat McCrory, both sides have good reason to revise their expectations.During his first 15 months in office, Gov. Cooper has sparred repeatedly with the Republican-controlled General Assembly and picked some imprudent fights on contentious social issues. At the same time, however, there has been significant policy continuity between the two gubernatorial administrations. I'll give you four substantive examples.To begin with, remember the years of controversy about whether North Carolina should introduce broader managed care and competitive contracting into the administration of its Medicaid program? Remember the relentless attacks, sometime nasty, against McCrory's first secretary of health and human services, Dr. Aldona Wos?The McCrory administration and legislature persevered. They began the Medicaid reform process . To its credit, the Cooper administration hasn't tried to slow-walk or reverse it. In fact, the implementation hasn't proved to be a grudging one. Dave Richard, who directs Medicaid for Cooper, told Triangle Business Journal that when it comes to the quality of care delivered to Medicaid patients, there aresuch asAlso contrary to some predictions, the state's preexisting network of Medicaid providers, Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC), wasn't muscled aside. Instead, it is striking deals with private firms that will bid for Medicaid business. CCNC vice president Stan Taylor said that portendsAnother example concerns transportation funding. After decades of excessive pork-barrel influence on what should be a data-driven process, the McCrory administration and General Assembly devised a new set of formulas that placed a high priority on projected public benefits in such areas as alleviating traffic congestion and promoting safety.Cooper and his team could have tried to wriggle out from under these formulas and return to the approach of previous administrations. They might even have gotten some disenchanted lawmakers from both parties to join them. But it didn't happen.Still another McCrory reform was to contract out business-recruitment efforts once performed by Department of Commerce employees to a quasi-private entity, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Cooper could have tried to undo or go around the contract. He didn't. He told his staff to work together with the partnership.Finally, and perhaps most dismaying to state progressives, the governor hasn't proposed to roll back the multi-billion-dollar set of tax reforms and tax cuts that McCrory and the General Assembly began in 2013. Cooper could have, in the initial budget plan he submitted a year ago.Obviously, Republican lawmakers wouldn't have gone along with any plan to raise tax rates on personal income, corporate income, or retail sales. Still, Democrats claim that the tax reductions were not only unwise but have constrained state spending in a way that most North Carolinians don't like.So, why not propose a much-larger budget for education and other services, paid for by higher taxes? If Democratic progressives are right, voters would have rallied to Cooper's banner, allowing him either to overcome GOP intransigence or at least to frame the issue well for the 2018 midterm elections. Cooper and his team saw such a strategy as a dangerous trap, all right - but for them, not for the Republicans.On taxes and some of these other issues, there's no doubt that Roy Cooper and Pat McCrory have different principles and priorities. But Cooper isn't a neophyte. He knows that winning one of the closest gubernatorial election in American history, by two-tenths of a percentage point, wasn't exactly a compelling mandate for full-throated progressivism.He also knows, I suspect, that North Carolina's Medicaid program and transportation-funding policies were outmoded. The continuity I describe is likely a combination of political calculation and policy convergence. It's also good for our state. Contact: White House White House Press Office Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure that the faith-based and community organizations that form the bedrock of our society have strong advocates in the White House and throughout the Federal Government. President Trump has signed an Executive Order entitled "Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative" in order to: provide recommendations on the Administration's policy agenda affecting faith-based and community programs; provide recommendations on programs and policies where faith-based and community organizations may partner and/or deliver more effective solutions to poverty; apprise the Administration of any failures of the executive branch to comply with religious liberty protections under law; and reduce the burdens on the exercise of free religion. The Executive Order creates the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative within the Executive Office of the President. The Initiative will be led by the newly created position of Advisor to the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative (Initiative) and be supported by experts and various community and faith leaders from outside of the Federal Government. All executive departments and agencies that do not have Centers for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives will designate a liaison to the Initiative.President Trump has made it clear that religious freedom is a priority throughout his Administration. In October 2017, the Department of Justice issued twenty principles of religious liberty to guide the Administration's litigation strategy and protect religious freedom. In January 2018, the Justice Department announced a religious liberty update to the U.S. Attorneys' Manual, raising the profile of religious liberty cases and directing the designation of a Religious Liberty Point of Contact for all U.S. Attorney's offices. In January 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced major policy changes protecting freedom of religion inside and outside of the government: forming a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, providing HHS with the focus it needs to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom; and proposing to more vigorously enforce twenty-five existing statutory conscience protections for Americans involved in HHS programs, in order to protect Americans who have religious or moral convictions related to certain health care services.President Trump has publicly stood with people of faith and with those who advocate for the sanctity of life. This is the President's third public event marking the importance of prayer, including attending the National Prayer Breakfast just two weeks after his inauguration. President Trump has declared several days of prayer, including a National Day of Prayer for the Victims of Hurricane Harvey and for America's National Response and Recovery Efforts. On October 13, 2017, President Trump spoke at the Value Voters Summit. On January 19, 2018, President Trump became the first President to address the March for Life rally live via satellite. Vice President Mike Pence addressed the March for Life in 2017, becoming the first sitting Vice President to do so in person.Throughout his tenure as President, Donald Trump has been a champion for religious liberty in the United States, restoring the ideals that have undergirded our Nation's freedom and prosperity since its founding. On May 4, 2017, the President signed an Executive Order to greatly enhance religious freedom and freedom of speech: taking action to ensure that religious institutions may freely exercise their First Amendment right to support and advocate for candidates and causes in line with their values; and ensuring that religious Americans and their organizations, such as the Little Sisters of the Poor, are not be forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs by complying with Obamacare's contraceptive mandate or shutting their doors. The President has announced a reversal of the Obama administration's policy and is allowing houses of worship to receive crucial disaster aid in times of crisis. The Trump Administration has taken a stand on behalf of religious liberty in the courts: it supported baker Jack Phillips's right to operate his bakery in accordance with his religious beliefs.The President has been one of the foremost defenders of the sanctity of life in the history of the White House. President Trump quickly reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy, which prevents $9 billion in foreign aid from being used to fund the global abortion industry and its advocates. President Trump signed H.J. Res 43 into law, which overturned the Obama administration's midnight regulation prohibiting States from defunding certain abortion facilities as part of their family planning programs. President Trump's Administration issued guidance to enforce the requirement that taxpayer dollars not support abortion coverage in Obamacare exchange plans. The Humane State program has trained 10,083 law enforcement officers and shelter/rescue professionals in the United States on how to handle the animals they encounter in their day to day work, and to improve collaboration between shelters, rescues and law enforcement officers. Photo by iStockphoto 436 shares In 2016, a sheriffs deputy in Tulsa placed a call to the Humane Society of Tulsa he needed help with 28 neglected dogs who were emaciated and in need of rescue. In the past, the officer said, he would have likely walked away from the scene, not knowing what to do, but this time was different: he had recently undergone law enforcement training conducted by the Humane Society of the United States where he had learned how to tell when a dog was abused or starving. He also knew that the local shelter could be used as a resource in cases like this. There was a happy ending for this story, with all the dogs rescued from their terrible situation. It is exactly this kind of outcome that our Humane State program seeks. The first such program began stateside in Oklahoma in 2016, and has so far trained 2,882 Oklahoma law enforcement officers and shelter and rescue workers, teaching them how to handle the animals they encounter in their day to day work, and to improve collaboration between shelters, rescues and law enforcement officers. The Sooner State is one of five states in the country with the greatest numbers of puppy mills and it is also home to one of the largest equine populations in the United States. On any given day, law enforcement officers are called in to investigate incidents that involve equines or companion animals, and sometimes they are thrust into situations where they must make a critical decision involving an animal. When an officer is not trained to handle animals, the outcome for the animal can be fatal, as in a case last year where a police officer shot a family dog dead at a childs birthday party. In March, we staged a round of trainings on equine cruelty cases for 250 law enforcement officers and animal welfare professionals in Oklahoma. And last week we partnered with the ASPCA to help 300 Oklahoma shelter and rescue group workers improve their animal behavior and handling skills through advanced training. We have similar programs in Puerto Rico, Kansas and Ohio, and each program runs for three years during which we focus on three areas: training for law enforcement and animal welfare workers; capacity-building for rescue groups and shelters; and public outreach based on the specific needs of each community. Altogether our Humane State program has trained 10,083 law enforcement officers and shelter/rescue professionals in the United States, including Puerto Rico. The WaterShed Animal Fund, a program of the Arnall Family Foundation, has made it possible for us to conduct our Oklahoma training programs with three years of funding for the effort. Our other partners in this program include the FBI, National Sheriffs Association, Oklahoma Sheriffs Association, Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, the Oklahoma Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, the Humane Society of Tulsa, Oklahoma Animal Alliance, Blazes Tribute Equine Rescue, Heart of Oklahoma, OK ACT, Wild Heart Ranch, Kirkpatrick Foundation, Wildcare Foundation, Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, and Oklahoma Large Animal First Responders. Participating officers now often call our experts for on-the-scene advice regarding cases, use the resources we have made available, and coordinate with local shelter/rescue organizations in Oklahoma on many aspects of their own animal welfare work. Along with our other work there, its an important part of making Oklahoma, and the rest of the nation, better for animals and for people. G-Eazy Arrested in Sweden for Cocaine Possession, Assault American rapper and producer G-Eazy (nee Gerald Earl Gillum) was arrested this week in Stockholm, Sweden on drug possession and assault charges after a scuffle in a nightclub. According to TMZ, the artist was partying at Solidaritet after a show, then became belligerent when a fan attempted to photograph him in the VIP area of the club. Details are few, but it appears G-Eazy won't be facing any jail time following his arrest. When It's Dark Out The Blast is reporting that a security guard at the club noticed 4-5 people involved in a scuffle in the VIP room. When he attempted to intervene, G-Eazy allegedly struck the guard in the head 3-4 times, causing "swelling and pain," according to the guard's statement in a police report. The security guard was able to wrestle the rapper to the ground and subdue him. The report also states G-Eazy was showing visible signs of drug use, including "tense, convulsive jaw muscles" and an "insane, crazy and rabid" demeanor. Security searched him and found two bags containing approximately 1.5 grams of cocaine and a rolled up $100 bill in his pocket with apparent cocaine residue on it, and policed noticed "white powder on the nose." G-Eazy was originally charged with violence against an official, resisting with violence, and drug possession. The artist allegedly admitted to striking the security guard and trying to escape once he was detained, telling cops, "I remember fighting with someone. I remember someone holding me down. I remember that when I tried to break free from the hold." G-Eazy also confessed to purchasing and possessing the cocaine and using it earlier in the night -- "I had drugs in my pocket and I had taken drugs earlier that night" -- but refused to identify from whom he bought the drugs. These Things Happen G-Eazy's Swedish lawyer, Mikael Westerlund, says that although the rapper was "convicted" of assault and drug possession, he'll face no jail time in Sweden. Instead, he received two years of probation, was fined $9,000, must pay $740 in restitution to the security guard, and may need to participate in community service. Related Resources: Yahoo! JAPAN Yahoo! JAPAN Miami Police officer Mario Figueroa looks like he enjoyed kicking a defenseless, handcuffed man in the head. Unfortunately for Officer Figueroa, his violent assault was caught on camera. A non-officer would have been immediately arrested for attacking someone this way, but since Figueroa is a police officer, he gets a paid vacation pending the results of an internal investigation. From Miami New Times: The victim reportedly identified as 31-year-old David V. Suazo of the officer's kick is clearly not resisting during the video clip. It shows cops placing handcuffs on his limp arms as he lies face-down in a field of grass. Then, out of nowhere, a Miami cop sprints and kicks the man squarely in the head. MPD released a police report to the media late Thursday afternoon police say they tried to apprehend Suazo after he was allegedly caught driving a blue Jeep Cherokee that had been stolen in Broward County. The cops say Suazo fled, crashed into a wall, and then fled on foot and tried to resist arrest before being tased, but the clip shows Suazo clearly complying with officers' demands. County records show that Suazo was booked into the Turner Guilford-Knight Correctional Center on charges of grand theft, fleeing a police officer, resisting an officer without violence, and driving with a suspended license, but the police account reportedly makes zero mention of the fact that officers kicked Suazo right in the head on camera. In the wake of the Toronto van attack (image above), media attention is turning to the next strand of online white-guy aggrievement that the mainstream hasn't yet discovered the self-described "incel" movement. There'll be endless pieces attempting to interrogate the specific claims made by incel guys online, too many of which will somehow ignore their phosphorescent misogyny, and the many open calls to violence against women you see in these forums. Ella Dawson synthesized this nicely Hey media! Incels are the new Gamergate. Are you going to mess this up again? Are you going to laugh them off as a weird curiosity with valid ideas to explore, or are you going to recognize them as a hate movement that has *already* inspired multiple murders? ella dawson (@brosandprose) May 2, 2018 Bingo. Mainstream reporters tend to treat each of these different little online cliques of angry, wildly entitled guys as being motivated by some specific, unique, granular problem: They're angry about gamer culture! Or dating and sex! Or immigration and the loss of some nebulously-defined national "culture"! But they're not terribly different at all. Their beliefs all pivot around the same poles: A matter-of-fact contempt for women and minorities, and a radioactively bitter sense that white guys ought to be easily and widely recognized as inherently superior to every other group. This commonality between their worldviews shouldn't be surprising, because as David Perry notes in Pacific Standard these supposedly "lone wolf" mostly-white-guy killers in recent years are, in fact, all in loose communication with each other online. "They're reading the same websites, talking to each other, and killing the same targets. The lone wolves are actually a pack," as the headline reads, and as Perry goes on to write News / National by Mhlongo The desperate Chris Mutsvangwa is turning tables upside down in the ZanuPF party claiming that his resounding defeat in the Norton parliamentary primary elections was staged by the police officers in charge of the polls.Defending his claims, the apoplectic Mutsvangwa highlighted that he did not partook on the race because they full of inconsistencies."This letter is further to my cellphone call on May 2 to you Engelbert Rugeje-NPC [national political commissar] advising you that I was withdrawing from the polls. I unreservedly reject the results of the just held Zanu PF party polling in Norton. I also refuse to accept your announcement of Langton Mutendereki as the winner," Mutsvangwa said."Of particular note is the fact that the cell register used for polling was illicitly compiled by Constance Shamu to solely further the illegal win of Langton Mutendereki. It is inconceivable that a politically active constituency such as Norton can only render less than 4 000 votes. I am busy collating evidence to back up the charges I have submitted," Mutsvangwa said in the letter, which has gone viral on social media platforms.The unfolding situation comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa denounced police interference in the party's primaries.Rugeje was unreachable for a comment on the issue News / Press Release by Simingenkosi Nkala We caught up with the group Bambanani Association which is based in the UK, in Hastings and they had an interesting development to share with us. They are organising a Matabeleland Culture Day in the United Kingdom and they are inviting all Matabele nations to this inaugural event. They encouraged all different ethnic groups from Matabeleland to come I number to showcase their cultural wares, but also to display their other services which they offer to their various communities in the UK, it could be business, performing arts, etc.Present in the studio for the interview was Dr Ralph Mguni who manages the education portfolio for Bambanani, Nick Sibanda who is the Chairperson of Bambanani; Christopher Maphosa the very person which the theatre play called The Rain that Washes is based, Dave Carrey is the author of The Rain That Washes and Ashley Driver is actor of the play.After the introductions Dr Mguni then introduces us to an interesting development that they are working on. They are seeking to introduce a day called The Matebeleland Culture Day which will be hosted in Hastings East Sussex on the 2nd of June 2018.The aim of this day being the revival of the strands of culture of the Matebele which in his words the people are losing.UK hosts quiet a sizeable community of the Matebeles from Zimbabwe therefore became a befitting location to use for this culture event.On the day a play called The Rain That Washes is set to be the highlight of the event. Written by Dave Carrey who however basically gives all the credit to Christopher Maphosa whom he says is the heart of the tales that led to the penning of the play. He says the tales, conversations and experiences of Christopher are what prompted him to take an account of such events and create a play. It is a collection of the experiences of this man growing up in Zimbabwe or rather before and after Zimbabwe was born, his experiences as a part of Dr Joshua Nkomo's movement and the transition of Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. Dave terms himself an interpreter rather than an author of the story.Dr Mguni encourages people to just come in and experience for themselves especially the play which is an amazing show performed by Ashley Driver who apparently does justice to the tale. He assures that it is certainly something to look forward to as he has seen it before, actually many times before.Christopher Maphosa also had a few things to share with us. He feels that it is important to indicate that the play is a tale of the history of torrid times in Zimbabwe.The quest for the liberation and the time immediately after independence of the country was a difficult time which should always serve as a mirror or a reflection point for current and future leadership that if they are still subjecting people to the same hardships then they must know they are committing a crime, he said.The actor himself who was present at the time of the interview feels that its a great honour to be playing this role as he says it is bigger than himself as an actor and a person. Not being of a Zimbabwean descent being a big learning curve for him but he enjoys the representation and portrayal of this character.Dr Mguni who assured of regular updates on the build up to this event also added that looking at this narrative of the history of the people it is important for people to always look into that mirror Maphosa was stressing on and ask themselves is this what we fought for?In conclusion he said part of the difficulties experienced in and by the current generation is lack of touch with their culture. He said the present generation has nothing to look up to, hold onto or to be proud of as a people. Quoting Bob Marley he says...you got to know where you are coming from to know where you are going..."Our culture has undergone an unprecedented attack alongside the deliberate deprivation and persecution of our Region; Signs of revival are evident everywhere, what with the efforts to bring back our monarchy and make the people know who they really are; Our revival poses no threat to anyone; instead; a people at peace with their culture" said Dr Mguni. Opinion / Columnist ZANU PF MUST MAKE it clear to COMRADE MUTSVANGWA and the rank and file in the PARTY that ZANU PF would not tolerate indiscipline, Mutsvangwa should change and that change should be recognised by the people. The party cadres and the frontal organisations must bring good name to the party and not bad reputation. In recent times, there have been reports of the Presidential advisor Cde Mutsvangwa acting in an overbearing manner. Comrade Mutsvangwa must remember that he is not above the party, eloquence does not mean wisdom. Big English words do not mean owning the party.The lower order for strengthening the party is for the party activists to work as publicists for the party programmes. "There is a positive opinion among the people about the party and we should make good use of it. You all should strive to make every village a bastion of the party. The behaviour of comrade Mutsvangwa is that of a jilted spouse. Mutsvangwa took a personal matter and blew it out of proportion; this was a party matter which needed to be dealt with within the inner circles of the party. Mutsvangwa lacked the charisma to have a following apart from boasting about his accomplishment. In that scenario he should not be expecting to win. How can he be an advisor to the president when he is a prophet of doom? an advisor advising the nation to take up arms against the government.Cde Mutsvangwa instead of consolidating his loss he decided to throw away the baby and the water. Him comrade Mutsvangwa of all the people must know the need of a better cohesion and coordination in the party at all levels.His duty was to be listing out various development activities being taken up by the State government and the party in villages like basic infrastructure, it is time to introspect, analyse and draw up plans for what more need to be done in the villages and constituencies.He is empowered to make the party strong in the respective districts from the grassroots level and should ensure that there are no differences among the leaders and see that all the district party functionaries' work as a single cohesive unit. Drawing up a proper action plan and executing the same is important and having an efficient leadership at all level is equally important. Casting a dark cloud on the party because you have lost your popularity does not make you a good leader. With the latest economic survey in Zimbabwe the double-digit growth rate of the economy shows how the new dispensation has worked hard in putting the country back on track.Instead of attacking his regular sparring partner Mutsvangwa let the Opposition Leader walk away unscathed and he attached his own party and its leadership. This is an egregious error which must be corrected.Well, it was worse than that, really. In the eyes of his colleagues Mutsvangwa actually provided the opposition with moral cover. That was despite the Opposition Leader misleading the public over the bullet trains Mutsvangwa lashed out at the National Political Commisair Comrade Engelbert Rugeje whom he described as a Political Novice. He went further to give unsubstantiated comments which were meant to cause despondency within the party by saying ED may lose this year's elections. In his unguarded comments Mutsvangwa said many ZANU PF members have been disenfranchised in the party's internal polls which have been described as chaotic, he further said war veterans were not happy with the outcome of the primary elections. In his own words Mutsvangwa said"IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL WIN GIVEN THAT THE PARTY'SMEMBERS HAVE BEEN LARGELY DISENFRANCHISED"Mutsvangwa accused the NPC for seeking advice from an EX-Gamatox commissar in the form of Webster Shamu to turn police into returning officers. This verbal misfiring is not new to Mutsvangwa but this time he spoke with emotions of losing to a little known person in Norton. Mutsvangwa suffers from a serious problem where he thinks that ZANU PF is about big names. The new dispensation has brought in a democratic way of primaries.It should be understood that the way the primaries were held this year was the first of its kind. In that scenario some mistakes were expected. But to castigate the NPC and call him a Novice is over the fence.Cde Mutsvangwa has forgotten that he did not help the party from losing election in 2008. It was the now NPC who steered the party from the jaws of defeat to a great win and on that work done by Rugeje ZANU PF had resoundingly won elections in 2013 and will win again in July.The utterances of Mutsvangwa are meant to cause anarchy and despondency among the electorate. It arms the opposition into having a false hope of success. The effects of such utterances are that if ED wins the opposition will quote Mutsvangwa and claim massive rigging.Zimbabwe is already a very fragile state which grapples with legitimacy, the new dispensation is all out to restore that legitimacy and Mutsvangwa pours water into those efforts.Mutsvangwa attacked Rugeje and said that he lacks the party's institutional memory. This is not a constructive criticism but a personal attack. The problems which lay on the feet of the NPC are logistical problems which did not make people vote against Mutsvangwa. Mutsvangwa was hoping that his big name and his big words will give him a ticket to the parliament. This was not to be. He then hoped that the NPC will rig the elections for him but the NPC showed true democratic astute and showed everybody that there are no sacred cows in ZANU PF. The issue Mutsvangwa should know is that ZANU PF is the people and the people of the party spoke in Norton.Comrade Mutsvangwa was not the only bigwig who bit the dust. The only difference was Mutsvangewa bit the dust with his big mouth wide open. In that process he got a lot of dust and it explains his anger and his utterances.Mutsvangwa raised the spectre of the war veterans turning against the ZANU PF's new administration; this was meant to incite rebellion and must not be left like this. Comrade Mutsvangwa had the first opportunity anyone from the party had to straighten things up after the primaries. All over the country ZANU PF members tuned in, waiting for Comrade Mutsvangwa to carry the fight to his opponent but alas he chose to fight his own party.They're still waiting. When ED appointed Mutsvangwa as Information Minister, he famously described him as a "fierce speaker who will match Jonathan Moyo (his friend) it was time for comrade Chris to go grizzly. Unfortunately for the party and the Government generally, he went cuddly. Inside the Party, right across the country, phones have been running red hot ever since.With the opposition on hot pursuit really Mutsvangwa's utterances was a chance to put a much needed dent in Chamisa's goody-two-shoes image. In the eyes of his own party, Mutsvangwa abjectly failed.Mutsvangwa has become a commentator rather than a participant."He is no longer doing a job for the government. He thinks he's just doing enough to turn up and cast dark aspersions on the party to the media. To think that he almost became the minister of information makes one sick."He completely undermined the Party's message. And it's not the first time either. Now he's done it again."It goes to the fact that when politicians become media commentators, they become completely ineffective.The internal bitterness over Mutsvangwa's performance emphasises other colleagues' doubts about him: whether he has what it takes to convince the electorate the party is a new outfit which is dedicated to change and prosperity. The NPC is an independent department which is not moved by public insults.The attacks on the NPC are only but a line in the sand, the fire powered by papers it will die out soon. The new dispensation will weed out those who think they are household names in the party. The party will have new blood and the big mouthed good for nothing insulting cadres will understand that it is the voice of the people which counts. To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The Party is not for turning. "It goes to our fundamental economic credentials. If we did that the electorate would flick us as quick as look at us. And right now the economy is the only thing we've got going for us. The economy is improving and ZANU PF has done it in few months of the new dispensation. The party must hold up where it counts because we are doing it for the economy.Instead of casting aspersions on the party Mutsvangwa is supposed to call a press conference to make one specific point: ZIMBABWE is open for business. "And while it would have been too early to make any definitive claims about the impact of the new dispensation, and most particularly the abolition of the unfair industrial laws, on unemployment and economy in this country, I do believe new jobs have been created - it is reasonable to assert that one of the contributions made to this spectacular growth in employment has been the removal of laws and policies which discouraged investments and foreign investors from coming into the country.Having, on his own admission, now definitively married his bitterness to ignoring economic prosperity for the first time, Mutsvangwa is no longer in a position to walk away from the core components of his creation. It's like the old adage about feeding the crocodile an arm in the hope of saving the rest of you.There are a lot of issues Mutsvangwa touched in his utterances, he has portrayed the party as den of problems, and he described the work done by the NPC so far as dog's breakfast. The party must not be held at ransom by Mutsvangwa in the name of the War Veterans. If there was any problem Mutsvangwa should have used his eloquence in the Politburo where he is a member and shout all he need.He is on record castigating the former first lady for washing dirty linen in public but he does the same with impunity.He puts doubt on the party's democratic manoeuvres and portrays the party as undemocratic one.The party leadership must embark on a prompt and thorough remedial action against comrade Mutsvangwa. The party must not allow such indiscipline to continue.Comrade Mutsvangwa made very irresponsible and false statements that Comrade Rugeje had deployed the Police as polling officers, this is not true. The police had a duty to maintain law and order at any gathering even if it was for the MDC. ZANU PF being the largest party it was obvious that it will attract a large crowd at its polls and indeed emotions were bound to boil. But it was sad for Comrade Mutsvangwa to stoop so low in his career and vomit such lies to the amusement of the opposition and the opposition media.Comrade Mutsvangwa must learn to accept defeat, what is he teaching the youth if he cannot accept defeat with honour? He wants to go down with the whole party that if he cannot be no one must. This is immaturity and must never be accepted.ZANU PF has shown its greatest democratic ways in these primary elections. Credit must be given to RUGEJE. He made candidates to campaign together and avoid hate speech. That shows the electorate that we are one unit. All ZANU PF needs now is those who preach unity and peace. We must face the opposition as one not as a fragmented party. Comrade Mutsvangwa must take his complaints to the party not to the press. ZANU PF is people not an individual.vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! Frontera Energy Corp. (TSX:FEC) formerly known as Pacific Exploration and Production Corp., was one of the highest-profile Canadian victims of the protracted slump in crude. At the height of the oil boom, the company overleveraged its balance sheet, as it loaded up on debt to acquire assets of questionable quality. By the end of 2015, debt had ballooned to an unmanageable US$5 billion and Pacific Exploration found itself unable to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its financial obligations. There were also rumours of excessive spending by former executives, and an inability to adapt the difficult operating environment that had arisen. The company filed for bankruptcy protection and completed a debt restructuring, which, while reducing debt by an impressive amount, all but wiped out existing shareholders. It was from that process that Frontera emerged, while there is every sign that it is in good shape, those events left a bitter taste for many investors, with markets questioning if the company can be trusted. Now what? Frontera is one of the largest privately owned oil producers in the Latin American nation of Colombia, producing an average of 70,082 barrels daily for 2017, or a stunning 32% lower than a year earlier. That can be attributed to Fronteras loss of the Rubiales-Piriri field in Colombia, the contract for which expired in June 2016. Frontera also experienced problems with other properties, notably in Peru, where an indigenous community claim put up a blockade, forcing Frontera to shut down operations at that location for two months. Operating costs for 2017 also rose sharply, increasing by 17% year over year. Nonetheless, Fronteras netback for 2017 improved to US$22.07 per barrel, which was US$4.18 greater than 2016, reflecting the higher average price of the international oil benchmark Brent over the course of the year. Fronteras 2018 guidance also does not paint a particularly rosy outlook for the company at this time. Production is forecast to remain flat at 65,000-70,000 barrels daily, as are costs. Story continues The glimmer of hope for Frontera and its investors is that not only did the restructuring reduce debt to US$250 million from US$5 billion, but international ratings agencies recently upgraded their credit ratings. In early November 2017, Fitch Ratings Inc. upgraded its corporate credit rating from B to B+ while Standard & Poors Financial Services did the same later that month, upgrading its rating from B+ to BB-. That indicates that Frontera is viewed as lower risk by ratings agencies and that its financial health has improved significantly; this should help to ensure that any future debt is cheaper to obtain. Another positive aspect is that in the wake of the restructuring existing senior management, those whod presided over the disaster were replaced to boost investor confidence in Frontera. Even after the loss of its interest in the Rubiales-Piriri field, Frontera still has credible net oil reserves totaling 154 million barrels as of the end of 2017, although a large proportion is undeveloped. Those reserves have been calculated to have a net present value of US$1.9 billion after tax, which comes to $49 per share at the current exchange rate, which is 30% higher than Fronteras market price. So what? While Frontera appears attractively valued, especially in an operating environment where oil is rising, it is a tough company to like. The long history of previous management misleading shareholders and the companys eventual bankruptcy have caused a considerable stigma to surround the company. However, Frontera is attractively valued when the quality of its Colombian oil assets and the value of its reserves are considered. Higher oil will cause earnings as well as Fronteras bottom line to grow, which should cause its shares to appreciate. In addition, a stronger balance sheet and new management create a sense of greater confidence. More reading Fool contributor Matt Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. Cambridge Analytica's closure may be a sign of what's to come after Facebook data scandal Alex Sass is in the happiness business his app, PostMood, uses Facebook data to give people a picture of how they are feeling. But at his own office, where the team is still trying to sort out Facebook's tighter rules around how developers use data, it doesn't take an app to see the mood has shifted. "Ours has certainly been depleting somewhat recently," he said of workplace happiness, laughing ruefully. Sass was in the room Tuesday when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told the crowd at the San Jose Convention Centre that he knows "it hasn't been easy being a developer these last couple of months." The 33-year-old tech billionaire was speaking at a two-day conference meant to focus on the future of Facebook, with topics ranging from mobile gaming to app-based ads. But this time, there were also questions around a growing data-use scandal that had some third-party developers whose businesses rely on Facebook wondering if they even have a future. The furor around data use and privacy blew up in recent weeks with allegations of improper data use by Cambridge Analytica. The U.K.-based data analysis firm has been scrutinized in the media and by lawmakers worldwide, and recently announced its shutdown and bankruptcy even as a probe into its conduct continues. Hoping for a 'survivable storm' One of the responses from Facebook in the wake of the scandal has been to limit the amount of personal data third-party developers can collect. Sass's company, and many others, will struggle without access to some of that data. After the most recent changes, production at Sass's company has "come somewhat to a standstill." So he flew all the way from London to Facebook's annual convention in California, determined to get answers. What he really wanted to know was is the data analysis his company relies on to serve users still OK? "We're a tiny company and we have to pay our staff and know when to draw our investments down." Story continues Sass, whose company is still on Facebook, said he hopes the recent tempest will be a "survivable storm." But some other companies are already facing more substantial struggles after being barred from the online platform, which says it had more than 1.4 billion daily active users on average last March. Market research firm Cubeyou is one of the firms that was removed from Facebook after it faced allegations of misusing data it collected. According to Cubeyou's CEO Federico Treu, his company anonymizes the personal data it collects and "never sold data to anybody." Treu called Facebook's decision to boot them off the platform heavy-handed. "Facebook just didn't even much look into this specific situation ... just threw us under the bus in order to focus the attention from politics and public attention to something else," Treu said. "So we're kind of caught in the middle." Facebook declined a request to comment from CBC News. Treu said he believes Facebook is an "amazing tool." But he thinks the recent crackdown is overly broad and hypocritical. "Facebook's business model is about monitoring-slash-stalking two billion people every single day and collecting all the information on these people," Treu said from the conference this week. "Not that different from the practice that has been condemned by public opinion recently." Is Facebook too big? The tech company's response to the scandal has highlighted the perils of an entire economic ecosystem dependent on one massive host. It reminds Canadian academic Mike Ananny, who studies online communication at the University of Southern California, of the concern around Microsoft that emerged in the 1990s, when the federal government launched an antitrust case seeking to split up the company. That case dragged on for years before ending with a settlement. What the Microsoft case didn't end with was any clear sense of how internet giants like Facebook and Google might be regulated. Ananny, from Belleville, Ont., said right now it's an open question as to "whether or not these companies should exist at this scale at all." "Facebook and Google are both starting to appear more powerful than I think people have understood them to be," he said. "And I think that's what we'll see in the next months, or maybe a year or so, is regulators saying there's a broader problem here it's not just a Facebook problem, it's a broader problem with how social media work." Buying an airplane ticket used to be simple: economy or first class. Now, there are many more options and considerations. As the industry becomes more competitive, Canadian airlines are trying to keep up. On June 1, Air Canada will launch Signature Service in North America, a service offered since April 17 for international customers providing a seamless airport experience with dedicated check-in counters, expedited security clearance, lounge access, exclusive boarding lanes, priority baggage handling and more. Luxury options include lie-flat seating and BMW valet service "Later this year, Air Canada Signature Class customers will be offered Air Canada Valet Service, powered by BMW across the tarmac when connecting from a domestic to an international flight at Toronto Pearson," reads the description on the Air Canada website. "We're proud to be the first airline in North America to guarantee this service to customers travelling in a premium cabin, and we plan to extend it to other customers in the future." That means no walking through the terminal and waiting at the gate. And if you want a lie-flat suite for sleeping, Air Canada will soon offer them on North American non-stop overnight flights to Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Not to be outdone, WestJet will unveil Boeing Dreamliners next year, larger, fancier planes for new international flights. "We will have a lie-flat business class section for those who are planning to make their trip, either in the luxury category as a leisure traveler or for people who have to get off the plane and go to work," said Gregg Saretsky, former president and CEO of WestJet. No frills ticket options available for budget-conscious passengers Airlines aren't just increasing the more expensive options; they're also offering cheaper options too. Air Canada provides "economy basic" fares, which restrict any changes to the ticket (even for a fee) and don't provide Aeroplan miles on bookings. Meanwhile, WestJet offers "econo" fares, which can save passengers approximately $25 each way, depending on the route. Story continues Economist says too many options "confusing" for customers Fred Lazar, an economist at York University's Schulich School of Business, has tracked airline industry trends for decades. He believes there are too many options for customers, and that airlines won't make much money on these new initiatives. "You can always add more fare classes, but at some point, it does become very confusing," said Lazar. "The more of these fare classes you throw in, the more complex that system becomes, the more costly it becomes to operate and the less efficient it becomes. I would argue they're probably now at too many." Passengers booking with Air Canada, for example, can choose from seven different types of fares. Lazar says Canadian airline companies are attempting to emulate what American companies, like United, American, and Delta, have already done by introducing basic economy fares. "[They're] positioning themselves with a new fare category where they can compete against an ultra-low-cost carrier or maybe even Swoop, if necessary." Swoop is WestJet's new ultra low cost airline scheduled to begin service in June and is meant to compete with Flair Airlines, another Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier. All these options may sound confusing, but Lazar says this is not unique to the airline industry and customers should take the extra time to review all the fine print before booking. "Think of your wireless service. It's not a case of 'gee, I want to renew my subscription, and okay, here's your service.' You have many different options, and most people don't go through all the possibilities," said Lazar. "Complexity does cause confusion, but it's not specific to this industry." CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova has handed prison sentences to eight citizens for fighting on the side of pro-Russian rebels in the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, General Prosecutor Eduard Harunjen said on Thursday. The small ex-Soviet republic is politically and culturally divided between supporters of closer ties with Moscow and those who want Moldova eventually to follow neighboring Romania, with which it shares a language, into the European Union and NATO. Speaking in parliament, Harunjen said 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. Those convicted face varying jail terms. A further 25 Moldovans are on international wanted lists in connection with the conflict in eastern Ukraine, 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. The conflict in Ukraine erupted after the ouster of a Russia-backed president in Kiev and Moscow's subsequent annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. Moscow politically backs the insurgents while denying Western accusations that it is also arming them and sending fighters to aid them. (Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Matthias Williams and Peter Graff) Flood peepers put themselves and others at risk, minister says As water levels along the St. John River continue to climb in southern New Brunswick, Transportation Minister Bill Fraser is warning drivers to respect barricades and road closures. Eighty roads were impassable on Wednesday night, and the list is expected to grow until water levels peak Sunday, Fraser said. "The greater Fredericton region and the Saint John areas are the greatest hit we have two bridges that are closed and we have 49 roads with water over them, and four of our ferries are out of service," Fraser told Information Morning Moncton. A full and updated list of road closures and detours across New Brunswick can be found online or by calling 511. Avoid flooded areas Fraser is asking people to avoid flooded areas of the province. "If there's no need to travel into these areas, we would recommend that please, please change your schedule if at all possible," he said. "Unless it's absolutely necessary we would ask that people please alter their schedules and stay away from these areas." Fraser said people with cottages or camps are also being asked to resist the urge to check on them if they are in flood-affected areas. "It would not be wise to do that. You need to stay clear of those areas for your own safety and for the safety of others in the area and for the safety of our first responders." With flood levels expected to reach unprecedented heights, more closures and detours in the south are expected, according to Emergency Measures Organization spokesperson Geoffrey Downey. "The tricky part is we don't know how many more at this point we can't just base it on a previous year where, OK, if it hits here these roads will be closed," Downey said. "If you hit new highs, it's hard to say what roads or maybe bridges or other infrastructure will be affected by the river." Beware of wildlife ... and barricades Fraser also urged caution because moose and other wildlife forced to seek higher ground during the flood. Story continues On Tuesday, Sam G. Cormier said he saw 10 moose near Jemseg. "Because of the rising waters and the flooding they're having no place to go," Fraser said. "They're going out onto the roadways, so people have to drive with extreme caution and to really pay attention." Drivers are also being asked to respect signs and barricades for their own safety. "Please do not go around the signage we've had some reports of people who have been doing that and it's not safe. It's not safe for you or for first responders, who may have to go in and rescue you." Fraser said a highway isn't necessarily safe just because it has no water over it. "It could have been a road that was covered in water and the road could be compromised. Before we open those roads we have to make sure that they are safe for the public." "And again, the rising waters are rising extremely quickly, and conditions can change very quickly, so these detours and these road closures they're there for a reason." Fraser said the extent of the damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure won't be known until the flood waters recede and everything can be inspected, but it is "significant." He said his government will look to Ottawa for help with the repair bills. "I know that there's been many, many conversations with the federal government and they've offered whatever help they can provide." Fraser said for now, safety remains the priority for residents of New Brunswick and anyone who may be travelling through the province. "It's so important to follow the directions of EMO, follow the signage of where these road closures are, and stay clear of the areas if at all possible." A Montreal couple acquitted on most of the terrorism-related charges against them have agreed to the conditions set out in a peace bond requested by the Crown. Sabrine Djermane and El Mahdi Jamali appeared briefly at the Montreal courthouse Friday, agreeing to the conditions for a period of one year. Conditions in place Under the conditions set out by the Crown, Djermane and Jamali have agreed: - Not to read or possess any material that promotes terrorism or extremist religious ideals. - Not to visit the Centre communautaire islamique de l'est de Montreal, run by controversial Quebec imam Adil Charkaoui. - Not to use social media. - To inform the RCMP of their address and any changes if they move. - Not to leave Canada. - Not to own a weapon unless one is necessary for their job. Djermane and Jamali had faced three charges: attempting to leave Canada to commit a terror act abroad; possession of an explosive substance; and committing an act under the direction or for the profit of a terrorist organization. A jury acquitted Djermane of all of the charges, while Jamali was found guilty of the explosives-related charge. The Crown is asking the Quebec Court of Appeal to overturn the acquittal on the explosives charge for Djermane and order a new trial. Halifax is working with local restaurants to reduce the use of plastic in the industry, including plastic straws. Coun. Tony Mancini raised the issue at the city's environment and sustainability committee Thursday and councillors voted to consult with food establishments. Meanwhile, some in the restaurant industry say they're already moving forward to reduce plastic use on their own. Recent measures at the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse saw a reduction of not only straws, but several other types of plastic as well. Owner Cheryl Doherty explained the restaurant decided to take the steps after realizing its kitchen was producing a lot of unnecessary plastic waste. "Straws were obviously the easiest one to do, but we use a lot of the little plastic portion cups for all our sauces and dips," she said. In the last three weeks, the kitchen has also moved to paper takeout bags instead of plastic bags, metal cups for sauces and small metal jugs for milk and cream rather than disposable plastic containers. The restaurant launched the program on Earth Day and so far, the response has been good. "It's amazing. Not one guest has complained about not getting straws," she said. "Those who have made a comment have been, 'That's great, well done.' So the feedback has been very positive." Doherty said the upfront cost for the reusable metal containers was fairly high, coming in at more than $1,000. However, that's offset by the ongoing cost of approximately $25-30 per week for plastic straws and $125 per week for plastic dipping cups. Staff will keep some special paper straws on hand for children and customers who request one. "There is a bit of a cost investment, but I think there's also a customer experience benefit with that," she said. "You have nice presentations, you try to enhance the guest experience at the same time. Hopefully, one kind of trades off the other." Story continues At Wild Leek, a vegan restaurant in Halifax, staff do not regularly serve straws with drinks, although they are available upon request. The restaurant has made efforts to reduce all kinds of plastic waste by moving to biodegradable, compostable or recyclable containers for food. It also uses recycled paper napkins and recycled paper wrappers for pastries and tries to reduce food waste overall. Server Rachael Delano estimates the shop uses between 15 and 20 straws each day for its takeout smoothie orders. "Straws are a tricky one. We have, in the past, used compostable straws and other times, we haven't. It's hard in the service industry because we also have takeout smoothies. We're trying to navigate what to use instead of that," she said. The restaurant's goal is to find a replacement for plastic straws this summer. "It's one of the things we are trying to work towards. There's lots of strides we have already made in terms of our produce and our takeout containers and our materials that we use in the shop all the time." Delano said staff at Wild Leek hope to reduce plastic use of all types. Luc Erjavec, the vice-president of the Atlantic division of Restaurants Canada, said he has been working with Mancini on the plastic straw motion. He said for the most part, the response from his members has been "very, very positive" about reducing straws, and that the issue will be on the agenda at his organization's national board meeting in June. However, he has hesitations about a total ban on straws. "I think the first step is awareness education and working from there," he said. "Our customers want those products: a slushie, a smoothie. It's hard just to say ban. We have to get what works for the customer and what works for the industry." Doherty said she feels the issue should not be overlegislated and said consulting with restaurants is important. "With what we're doing here, we're trying to think it out well and make sure that it benefits us, it benefits guests, it benefits the environment," she said. Nova Scotia is once again expressing concerns over the impact of federally mandated marine protected areas. This time, it is Premier Stephen McNeil just back from a big oil and gas conference in Houston who says offshore oil and gas exploration should be allowed to take place in areas with environmental restrictions. "Many international companies believe we have resources off our coast that we have not tapped into and we want the ability to do so," McNeil told reporters Thursday after a cabinet meeting. This week, uncertainty over extraction restrictions prompted Nova Scotia to postpone issuing a call for offshore exploration bids. McNeil says the province and oil companies need clarity from Ottawa over what will and will not be allowed. "We want to make sure we work with the national government to achieve their objective of looking for marine protected areas, but it has to be done with a thought that Nova Scotians deserve to maximize the value of the resources off their coast," he said. That's a message McNeil will deliver Friday afternoon in Moncton when he appears before a federal panel that will recommend standards for activities inside marine protected areas. It is the panel's lone stop in the region. The premier says the offshore parcels up for bid touched on areas with at least some form of marine protection. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has already imposed restrictions on marine refuges that do not have protected area status. McNeil repeated his government's call to include areas with existing restrictions on fishing activities in Ottawa's international commitment to protect 10 per of Canada's oceans and coastal waters by 2020. He says drilling should be allowed in those areas. "We believe it can happen. There's international case that in these fish protected areas that we do allow exploration," he said. At the end of 2017 the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced it has protected 7.75 percent of Canada's ocean and coastal waters. Story continues DFO includes marine refuges in its protected area total. In December it created seven new marine refuges some 145,598 square kilometres off Nunavat and Newfoundland and Labrador. So far in 2018, it has rolled out three more candidates off Nova Scotia, including the 2,000-square-kilometre Eastern Shore Islands, the first inshore coastal marine protected area on the province's Atlantic coast. Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Keith Colwell has repeatedly warned marine protected areas could harm commercial fishing. Correction : An earlier version of this story said four per cent of oceans and coastal areas had been protected by the Canadian government. In fact, the number is 7.75 per cent.(May 04, 2018 10:14 AM) By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Russia will stand by the Iran nuclear deal and develop closer ties with Iran if U.S. President Donald Trump withdraws from the agreement on May 12, a senior Russian official said on Friday. Vladimir Yermakov, Director General of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control at Russia's Foreign Ministry, told reporters that a U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 accord known as the JCPOA did not necessarily mean the end of the deal. "It might even be easier for us on the economic front, because we wont have any limits on economic cooperation with Iran. We would develop bilateral relations in all areas energy, transport, high tech, medicine," he said. Trump, a long-time critic of the deal struck by major world powers, has threatened to pull out unless a follow-on agreement is reached to fix what he calls its "flaws." "If the United States breaks an international agreement backed by U.N. Security Council resolutions, it will be the United States that should suffer the consequences. Neither Iran nor China nor Russia nor the European states should lose out," Yermakov said. Russia would continue to uphold its obligations under the deal, if it was able to and if continuing adherence to the JCPOA was in Russia's interests. Keeping the deal alive was in the best interests of international security, he said. Likewise, there was no reason for Iran to pull out of the deal, and it was in a strong position because it was fully meeting its obligations, said Yermakov, who was attending a nuclear non-proliferation conference in Geneva. "Its not in anybodys interest that Iran goes back to the kind of development of its nuclear program that all states would be concerned about. But Iran is fully entitled to develop peaceful nuclear energy," he said. If the United States pulled out, there was no question of discussing new U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran, he added. In fact, the United States should theoretically be sanctioned for breaking an international agreement, but that would not happen because it had a veto at the United Nations. Yermakov said nobody could foresee what calculations Trump might make about withdrawing from the JCPOA, but the vast majority of U.N. states at the Geneva conference had supported a joint Russian-Chinese declaration supporting the JCPOA. Practically all states had backed the declaration, but the United States had put pressure on its European NATO allies to persuade them not to give it their backing, Yermakov said. "That was a great surprise for us, because what we put in our joint statement completely accorded with their national positions. There wasnt a single word that in any way contradicted their national positions," he said. "We explained this to our European partners and it was very difficult for them. They were under colossal pressure." (Reporting by Tom Miles, Editing by William Maclean) By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin LONDON (Reuters) - Fifteen year-old Ma'edeh Shabaninejad was arrested two months ago at her aunt's house in the southern city of Ahvaz, where she was hiding after security forces raided her own home and confiscated her poems, her father said. Sahid Shabaninejad said his daughter had told her mother in weekly calls she is allowed from jail that she had been accused of inciting violence through her poetry about Iran's Arab minority. "Resist, my homeland, there is not much left of you," one of her verses said. "Soon you will hear in your sky the sound of smiles and liberation's call." Arabs have long said they face discrimination in Iran, but two human rights groups say that hundreds of people have been arrested around Ahvaz in the last few weeks alone amid protests against water and power cuts, poverty and alienation. The community is also caught in a struggle between Iran's Shi'ite rulers and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia that has fueled civil wars in Syria and Yemen and spread fear of wider instability. "I am amazed the Iranian government is afraid of a 15-year-old girl," Shabaninejad said by telephone. "A young girl is in constant fear in prison and cannot sleep at night." Another relative said Ma'edeh's aunt was detained the same night and some cousins were arrested the following day. Reuters was unable to confirm their accounts with the authorities, who do not usually release the names of detainees. Government officials, who keep tight controls over civil movements of all kinds, were not immediately available to comment when Reuters contacted them to ask about the spate of arrests reported by the local Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation and the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran. Officials have stressed the importance of addressing minority grievances and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned against discrimination. "Islamic values and the countrys constitution oblige all bodies of the Islamic Republic to prevent any discrimination and inequality toward Iranians of any ethnicity, race or religion," he said in a statement on his website last July. SPATE OF ARRESTS Ahvaz is the regional capital of the ethnically diverse southwestern Khuzestan province, home to most of Iran's Arabs. When protests erupted nationwide in January against high prices and alleged corruption, clashes broke out between police and demonstrators in the southwest. Sporadic demonstrations continued there after they died away elsewhere, with local Arabs voicing anger against what they say are barriers to fair employment and political rights in a region which accounts for 85 percent of Iran's oil wealth. Another major cause of unrest has been drought, which locals say has been exacerbated by the diversion of water supplies to ethnically Persian provinces such as Isfahan. The Iranian government says it recognizes drought is a major problem and is doing what it can. In 2016, it acknowledged discrimination in employment in Khuzestan, saying it resulted from the province's internal affairs, not government policy. Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation says that of the hundreds arrested in recent weeks it has identified 70 by name. Five individual activists told Reuters the detainees are being held on security charges including separatism, Islamist militancy or being agents of Saudi Arabia. The activists say dozens of others have also been summoned, interrogated and released. Several released prisoners and detainees' relatives told Reuters they had come under pressure from security forces, especially the Revolutionary Guards, not to publicize their detention. Three released detainees told Reuters they had undergone routine beatings, threats and torture with electric shocks, including in one case, to the genitals. One former detainee said he had wires attached to his head while making a phone call to relatives from jail and told he would get an electric shock if he said anything out of line. The office of the Khuzestan governor, the Iranian Prisons Organisation, the judiciary and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported numbers of arrests or conditions in jail. REGIONAL WOES Arab demonstrators say Iran should not be spending money in Syria, Iraq and Yemen while people at home are struggling. At a demonstration in Ahvaz in February, participants drew parallels between water and electricity shortages in the town and in Syria's Aleppo, where Iran is building power plants after helping the government to oust rebels at the end of 2016. "Ahvaz is like Aleppo, it has no electricity, no water," video footage on social media showed Iranian Arab protesters chanting at the rally, before police broke it up. Official figures show joblessness in Khuzestan fell in recent years, but at 14.5 percent it is above Iran's 11.8 percent. Ahvazi activists said they had found few Arab managers in government and local industries in a recent survey and accuse the authorities of trying to change the area's demography. Iranian officials have confirmed that migration from other provinces has affected the region's demography, but say that is not the result of government policy. NO DOLL FOR ARABS In March, thousands of Arabs in Ahvaz and other cities in Khuzestan took to the streets for several days to protest against a children's television show about ethnic diversity. The program on state television featured dolls in various traditional dress without one to represent the Arab minority. Some local officials and the producer of the show have publicly apologized. Khadijeh, 36, was arrested with her niece Ayasheh, 19 in a taxi they took after attending a protest outside the state broadcaster's building in Ahvaz, family members said. "Khadijeh is not a political activist, she is a mother of three children. She attended the protests only to defend their basic rights," her sister Haifa Sadam said in an interview with Reuters from Copenhagen. Three activists said some of the arrests were linked to growing numbers of Iranian Arabs switching from Shi'ite Islam, Iran's official religion, to Sunni Islam, practiced in Saudi Arabia and the majority creed in the Arab world. Abdullah, 25, was arrested in February and questioned about why he had switched to Sunni Islam and helped families of prisoners, his sister said on condition of anonymity. He had since been released on bail, with signs of torture on one ear. Another brother, aged 21, who she did not wish to be named for fear the family would be identified, has been arrested four times since 2012 for political activities including writing slogans on walls and sending photos of protests to media abroad. He was released from jail in May 2017, but disappeared a few days later after leaving his house to meet some friends in Ahvaz. His sister said security forces have told the family they are not responsible for his disappearance. Iran says reports of mistreatment of Arabs are propaganda fanned by Gulf countries to stir unrest. In March, Tehran said police had seized what it described as a Saudi and Western-backed "terrorist cell" in Khuzestan with grenades and anti-tank weapons. A member of the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body that appoints Iran's supreme leader, last month acknowledged environmental problems, unemployment and poverty in Khuzestan while urging Arabs to express grievances through legal channels. "The enemies of the unity of the Iranian nation and their domestic agents are trying to fish in troubled waters, and to derail the legitimate demands of Khuzestan's people by provoking ethnic and tribal sentiments and prejudice," Mohammad Hossein Ahmadi-Shahroudi said in a statement on ISNA news agency. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; editing by Philippa Fletcher) Immunization and prevention of infectious disease are well outside the scope of practice for chiropractors. (Getty Images) The vice-chair of B.C.'s chiropractic college should be disciplined for posting a video that suggests fruit juices are more effective than vaccines at preventing the flu, according to the province's top physician. The video, created in November by Vancouver's Avtar Jassal, apparently violated the B.C. College of Chiropractors' policy against providing advice on vaccination. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told CBC that the college "should sanction him for making anti-vaccine comments and should remind him that it is not within his scope of practice to be doing that." She added, "I understand that a complaint has been made, and I expect and I'll watch to make sure the college does take appropriate action." Anti-vaccine posts wiped from social media Jassal's video was removed from Facebook after CBC pointed it out to the Ministry of Health. A member of the public had complained to the government about the video in November, but a government spokesperson said it was "missed" during a review of Jassal's Facebook page. Filming inside a grocery store, Jassal told viewers: "As you're talking about the best way to protect yourself from the flu, it's not the flu shot, in our opinion, but boosting your immune system. One of the ways to do that is fresh smoothies and fresh juices." Jassal has not responded to requests for comment. The video was one of several anti-vaccine posts from B.C. chiropractors that have been removed from Facebook in the last week after CBC notified the province and the college about their existence. Other posts from Back in Line Chiropractic & Massage in Victoria suggested that "vaccinated children have more health problems than unvaccinated children" and asked: "Can vaccine ingredients cause cancer?" Henry described this kind of rhetoric from chiropractors as an ongoing problem. "It does concern me quite a bit. This is something that's been going on for many years," she said. Story continues Immunization and prevention of infectious disease are well outside the scope of practice for chiropractors, she added, and the statements by Jassal are "clearly not scientifically based." "Certainly, eating healthy is really an important way to make sure your immune system is able to fight off infection, but really, the best and only way to protect yourself from some of these really serious vaccine-preventable diseases is immunization," Henry said. 'A set of magical beliefs' UBC nursing professor Bernie Garrett had a much more blunt appraisal of some of the material in the chiropractors' Facebook posts. "The statements made by the chiropractors are basically pure, grade-A bunk, but, sadly, this is becoming more commonly seen with anti-vaccination rhetoric," said Garrett, who studies deceptive health-care practices. "I think it's dangerous and irresponsible and represents a set of magical beliefs rather than science-based ones." He believes the posts point to a larger problem in the regulation of health-care professions in this province namely, that "alternative" health professions like naturopathy and chiropractic are self-regulated under the Health Professions Act, in the same way as mainstream medical jobs. "It makes sense to regulate them in a different category because otherwise people get confused, and they think a doctor is a doctor. They don't realize a physician is quite a different level of skill, training and educational preparation, compared to someone else who's called a doctor who's really a naturopath or a chiropractor," Garrett said. He added that B.C. needs a strong watchdog to oversee all the province's health profession regulators. "It's pretty much the Wild West. Regulation is very ineffective," he alleged. But a Health Ministry spokesperson told CBC in an email that the province "is confident that the [chiropractors'] college is acting in the interests of the public and continues to work to ensure that all registrants are aware of their responsibilities under the Health Professions Act." The college has not responded to multiple phone calls and emails requesting comment about any disciplinary actions taken against members who have violated the policy on vaccination. Correction : A previous version of this story referred to a Vancouver Sun article that suggested Health Minister Adrian Dix was questioning self-regulation in the health-care professions. That suggestion was incorrect.(May 04, 2018 2:25 PM) Green Leader Peter Bevan-Baker raised questions in the legislature Thursday about an international campus of the University of Prince Edward Island that's planned to open this fall in New Cairo, Egypt. Shortly after the MLA brought up his concerns, UPEI sent out a release that the school will offer a number of bachelor degrees at the new Egypt campus starting in September. UPEI says it will have jurisdiction to ensure its admission and degree requirements are met at the campus. The University of Canada, Egypt is a private institution in Egypt that was founded in 2004 and hosts Canadian universities on its campuses, to deliver the Canadian schools' programs. Human-rights violations However, Bevan-Baker questioned P.E.I.'s involvement, citing a number of human-rights violations raised by Human Rights Watch. "The Egyptian state ... has a long list of human-rights violations including suppression of free speech, violence and torture against dissidents, oppression of women's rights, outlawing and persecuting homosexuality, and being the third worst country in the world for imprisoning journalists," said Bevan-Baker. "Is government concerned that our province's public money and our province's identity and brand will contribute to legitimizing such an undemocratic regime?" said the Green Leader. A government spokesperson says there is no public provincial money in the Egypt initiative. Bevan-Baker also asked if faculty will be protected by Canadian human-rights law if they go to Egypt. Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant said it wasn't clear if faculty would be located there. Other universities partnering with University of Canada, Egypt Several other Canadian universities have also begun to develop campuses as part of the University of Canada, Egypt (UCE) consortium including Cape Breton University and Memorial University of Newfoundland. The UPEI initiative is being funded entirely by UCE, said UPEI's release. Story continues "Our university does a wonderful job and the faculty out there and the president do a wonderful job of trying to garnish international students here and promote the university at large," said Gallant. The university said it is excited about the prospect of granting UPEI degrees outside North America. "UPEI began discussions for an offshore academic program offering in Egypt a year ago after a Canadian parliamentary delegation visited the North African country to explore establishing a university complex in New Cairo," said UPEI's release. Bachelor degrees offered outside North America Officials with the University of Canada, Egypt recently visited P.E.I. to develop a framework to offer UPEI degrees at its new international UPEI campus. UPEI will offer its bachelor of science in sustainable design engineering, three B.Sc. degrees in mathematical and computational sciences (financial mathematics, actuarial sciences, and data analytics), a bachelor of science in environmental studies and climate change and adaptation and a bachelor of business administration. Last week the Canadian University Dubai in the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement with UPEI to offer a joint degree in environmental studies and climate change and adaptation. More P.E.I. news 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. . ..JNS.org..03 May '18..Criticizing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass vile words in his address to the Palestinian National Council, editorial brigade seemed (finally) to have grasped Palestinian reality. Citing Abbas reprehensible anti-Semitic myths and conspiracy theories, it concluded what Israelis long ago learned: Abbas has shed all credibility as a trustworthy partner in peace negotiations.For a newspaper long opposed to the very idea of a Jewish state, buried the Holocaust in its inside pages, and has incessantly blamed Israel for failed peace negotiations with Palestinians, it was a welcome change. It finally recognized that Abbass antisemitic tendencies are not new, even citing his doctoral dissertation that seemed to question (i.e. denied) the Nazi extermination of six million Jews.That said, however, the editorial glided into conventionalmode. First there was a reference to Israels hard-line government, which has expanded settlement building a familiar Times lament. Then it cited pressures on Abbas, some of his own making and many others caused by Israel, that presumably make governing difficult for the Palestinian president, now in the 13th year of his four-year term. But at least it reached the appropriate conclusion: It is time for him to leave office.If the (belated)editorial criticism of Abbas surely is deserved, its coverage of the Hamas-inspired weekly violence on Israels border with Gaza has been woefully myopic. Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: High Insurance Deductibles Lead Breast Cancer Patients to Delay Care: Study High health insurance deductibles cause some American women with breast cancer to delay care, according to a new study. Researchers found that women who were newly-diagnosed with breast cancer were more likely to put off getting diagnostic imaging and biopsies if they had had insurance plans with deductibles of at least $1,000, The New York Times reported. These women delayed starting chemotherapy by an average of seven months, according to Dr. J. Frank Wharam, a Harvard researcher and one of the study authors. "Slight delays added up to long delays," he said, The Times reported. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The researchers did not examine the women's outcomes after treatment, but experts say that even a short delay between diagnosis and treatment can be significant. Survival rates are higher for patients with some cancers if they receive early treatment, The Times reported. Dr. Ethan Basch, the director of cancer outcomes research at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said finances often influence patients' decisions. He was not involved in the study. If patients face high out-of-pocket costs, "they're of a mind-set to avoid visits, expensive treatments," he told The Times. "They have a fear." More than half of the questions to the helpline at the Susan G. Komen breast cancer charity are about financial assistance, according to Susan Brown, senior director of education and patient support. "They have people all the time talking about stopping their treatment or delaying treatment," even when a patient has had an abnormal screening and requires a work-up for a final diagnosis, Brown told The Times. ----- Utz Recalls Tortilla Chips Some brands of tortilla chips are being recalled by Utz Quality Foods because they may contain undeclared milk ingredients and could trigger serious or life-threatening reactions in people with dairy allergies. The recall includes Golden Flake, Good Health, Utz and Weis brand tortilla chip products, which were shipped to 31 states and the District of Columbia, the Associated Press reported. The voluntary recall was announced Thursday by the Pennsylvania-based company. Consumers can return the tortilla chips for a refund or exchange. ----- Doctors Remove 132-Pound Tumor From Woman A 132-pound tumor was removed from a woman's abdomen and she is expected to make a full recovery, doctors at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut say. The five-hour surgery to remove the 38-year-old woman's ovarian tumor took five hours and was conducted after planning by a team of 25 specialists, the Associated Press reported. The woman's tumor was diagnosed after she experienced rapid weight gain of about 10 pounds a week over two months. The tumor was benign, but was situated on a major blood vessel and posed a potential risk to the woman's heart. She was also malnourished because the tumor was sitting on her digestive tract, the AP reported. Genetic tests are being performed on the tumor in an attempt to learn why it grew so fast. JavaScript is disabled on your browser. CORDIS website requires JavaScript enabled in order to work properly. Please enable JavaScript. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warning of another dust storm and thunderstorm in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The satellite images have shown wind pressure developing in two states leading to thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rain. It also has forecasted thunderstorm accompanied with squall is also likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal and Odisha. The fresh warning comes after two north Indian states were earlier hit severe dust storm, which took lives of over 100 people and left trail of destruction. Reasons for formation of rainstorms and duststorms Rainstorms (thunderstroms) and duststorms arise from similar meteorological conditions. They are almost always preceded and caused by spell of intense heat. Thunderstorms occur when atmosphere has moisture and duststorms take place when moisture is not present. Such events take place due to local instability arising out of deviation from normal temperature difference between upper and lower atmosphere. Thus, these events themselves are very localised both in time and space. In recent rainstorms and duststorms cases in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, moist easterly winds from Bay of Bengal reached up to Himachal Pradesh colluded with dry winds from north-westerly direction. The two systems destabilised equilibrium temperature difference between upper and lower layers of atmosphere, leading to conducive conditions for thunderstorm and duststroms. The final trigger, however, is development of largescale air-circulation system. Many parts of India witness build-up of surface heat during this time of year. The places that were hit by recent storms had seen heat-wave like conditions. Eighteen hours after stopping the scheduled execution of Robert Earl Butts Jr. , the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles on Thursday lifted its own stay. He is now set to die by lethal injection at 7 p.m. Friday, state Department of Corrections officials said. In an unusual move, the parole board issued a 90-day stay Wednesday evening, saying it needed time to consider new information presented in a meeting with Butts lawyers. Butts, 40, had been set to die at 7 p.m. Thursday. Donovan Corey Parks, a correctional officer in Georgia, was murdered on March 28, 1996, while off duty. He was 25. His killers, Robert Earl Butts Jr.and Marion "Murdock" Wilson, are on death row. 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, said spokesman Steve Hayes. Completing that process, the Board voted to deny clemency. Butts was convicted of murdering Donovan Corey Parks, an off-duty corrections officer, in 1996. Butts, then 18, and Marion Murdock Wilson were sentenced to died in Baldwin County for shooting Parks in the back of the head with a sawed-off shotgun and then taking his 1992 Acura with hopes of selling it for parts. | 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 Here it comes again bay bay!! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me again ...oh never mind. The last street hustle Janesville residents fell for, the $3M w... 3 weeks ago 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 full findings can be found in the journal Science. 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 - 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. Source: John Innes Centre Ukraine's largest tire plant catches fire after shareholders decide to shut it down (Photos) The cause of the fire has not been established yet. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter "The threat from Russia is real," State Department spokesperson stressed. The U.S. State Department will double the cyber defense aid it pledged to Ukraine last year to $10 million in an effort to bolster the security of an ally in the crosshairs of alleged Russian hackers, according to department spokesperson. Wess Mitchell, the assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, made the announcement earlier this week after meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, according to CyberScoop. The threat from Russia is real, Nauert tweeted. Our commitment to Ukraine is unbending. A different department spokesperson declined to comment when CyberScoop asked how the new money will be used. The two countries held their first bilateral cybersecurity dialogue in Kyiv in September, at which the United States announced $5 million in new cybersecurity assistance to strengthen Ukraines ability to prevent, mitigate, and respond to cyberattacks. The Ukrainian power grid has been a ripe target for hackers, who carried out advanced attacks there in 2015 and 2016. The first attack cut power for 225,000 people, while the second used malware to de-energize a Ukrainian substation. Ukrainian officials blamed Russian hackers for both attacks. After the 2015 cyberattack, an interagency group of U.S. officials traveled to Ukraine to study the attacks forensics with their Ukrainian counterparts. Against the backdrop of those seismic cyberattacks, U.S. Congress is trying to help secure Ukrainian critical infrastructure. In February, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill tasking the State Department with providing any support needed to secure Ukrainian government computers, particularly such networks that defend the critical infrastructure of Ukraine. Separately, the U.S. Armys Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is trying to make Ukrainian military networks more resilient by setting up a sophisticated cyber operations center in Ukraines defense ministry. In December, Pennsylvania-based IT provider Black Box Corp., announced it had won an additional $10.4 million to provide hardware and software under the program. Ukraine's solvent banks see US$331 mln in profit in 1Q NBU At the same time, 14 banks over the period under review posted losses. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter According to the newspapers, the companies thought they could circumvent the European Union sanctions by only working on the Russian side of the border. The Public Prosecutor is investigating the involvement of seven Dutch companies in the construction of a bridge from Russia to Crimea. Due to EU sanctions against Russia, Dutch companies were not allowed to help build that bridge, NU.nl reports. The Prosecutor refused to say which seven companies are being investigated. According to newspaper AD, a company from Milsbeek and a company from Dodewaard are among them. The company from Dodewaard supplied a pile driver that was used to construct the bridge, and the company from Milsbeek supplied important components for it, the newspaper writes. De Gelderlander reports that employees of the Milsbeek company were actually in Russia during the construction of the bridge, according to NLTimes. According to the newspapers, the companies thought they could circumvent the European Union sanctions by only working on the Russian side of the border. Read alsoSiemens continues litigation to stop launch of turbines illegally delivered to occupied Crimea KlimkinThe Crimea used to be part of Ukraine, but was annexed by Russia in March 2014. The annexation of the peninsula was strongly condemned by the West and led to sanctions against Russia. The EU sanctions state that European companies are not allowed to import goods from the Crimea and may not invest there, among other things. Under the sanction, involvement in the construction of the bridge is also not permitted. The 19 kilometers long bridge was built because there was no direct connection from Russia to Crimea. The bridge will open next weekend. Repaying debts: Ukraine transfers US$451 mln to IMF since early May A new IMF disbursement worth US$2 billion is expected to arrive in Ukraine at the beginning of the third quarter of 2018. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Twenty-nine people were killed and dozens more were injured in two bombings in Afghanistans capital Kabul, April 30th. Nine journalists and photographers were among those who died. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty lost two journalists, Abadullah Hananzai and Sabawoon Kakar. Maharram Durrani, who was set to begin working for RFE/RL in May, was also killed. The first explosion was reportedly carried out by an attacker on a motorbike. A second followed about 15 minutes later after a crowd, including several reporters, had gathered at the scene. The Islamic State [ISIS] terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States strongly condemns the senseless and barbaric attack in Kabul that killed 29 people and wounded dozens more, including several brave journalists and media professionals. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who were injured and killed, and we mourn all those who lost their lives. Secretary Pompeo praised the courage and dedication of the journalists who were killed and injured and their colleagues who take great risks to carry out the mission of a free and independent press. The independent media is a cornerstone of democracy, said Secretary Pompeo. Despite horrific attacks, he said, the vibrant media landscape that has developed in Afghanistan will endure, in large part due to those journalists and media professionals who tragically died... but whose courageous and steadfast work helped lay the foundation for Afghanistans thriving and resilient independent media. The Secretary of State said, The international communitys commitment to the Afghan people and a lasting peace in Afghanistan will not be shaken by such attacks. The United States, along with our Afghan and international partners, is committed to defeating ISIS in Afghanistan, which has claimed responsibility for this attack. We stand with the people, the independent media, and government of Afghanistan and remain committed to supporting the Afghan peoples efforts to achieve peace, security, and democracy for their country. The Sikorsky Kyiv international airport intends to expand Terminal A for servicing growing passenger flow, Board Chairman Denys Kostrzhevsky has said. "In the coming years we predict growth of passenger flow and the new large-scale reconstruction being conducted by Master-Avia [the company that manages the airport] is linked to this. In 2019, the airports arrival and departure capacities would be doubled," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. He said that at present, the international flight arrival zone has been re-equipped and expanded, and in the middle of May 2018 the large-scale reconstruction of Terminal A will start at the airport. "Previously, the airport used Terminal D only for servicing domestic flights. Unfortunately, the domestic passenger traffic decreased significantly. IT practically came to nil. It was decided to re-equip a part of the facilities for servicing the arriving passengers from international flights. I cannot name the exact cost of reconstruction, as we are in the process. This is about UAH 20 million," Kostrzhevsky said. He added that two galleries have already been built that joined Terminals D and A. The number of passport control posts doubled, the area for staying passengers has been expanded significantly. The number of luggage delivery belts was doubled. "It is planned to add more areas, about 9,000 square meters, to Terminal A, which will double the number of check-in counters, to 40. Also, the number of passport control desks, security checkpoints will be doubled, and, as a result, the number of passengers served simultaneously will grow 2.5-fold. Now it is about 700 passengers per hour, and there are plans to bring it up to 1,500," Kostrzhevsky said. Main sources of fire at former arsenal in Balakliya contained Firefighting teams of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the State Emergency Service have managed to contain the main sources of the fire in Balakliya in Kharkiv region. "As of 19:30 [...] the main sources of fire have been contained. In some parts, the firefighting effort continues," the Defense Ministry said in a statement on its website on Thursday, May 3. There has been a marked decrease in the area covered by smoke and flames, it said. No one was hurt, a regional police spokesperson said. "There have been no injuries as a result of the incident. No damage to local infrastructure has been recorded," the spokesperson said. Dry grass caught fire at the former artillery depot operated by military unit A1352 while servicemen were scrapping dud shells, the press service of the Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement on Facebook. "At 13:35 today, on May 3, dry grass caught fire on the former premises of the 65th depot in Balakliya in Kharkiv region, which was being cleaned up and cleared of dud munitions that did not explode during last year's emergency," the statement said. Nadiia Savchenko's sister says she was questioned as part of case opened in 2015 Vira Savchenko, the sister of Ukrainian parliamentarian Nadiia Savchenko, who is suspected of plotting a coup in Ukraine, has said that Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officers questioned her on Thursday as part of a criminal investigation which was opened in 2015 and mentions Nadiia. "I and Nadiia Savchenko's aide Tetiana Protorchenko were summoned as witnesses. The questions... that were asked are not new. All of the questions that came from the prosecutor general are linked with the case that was opened in 2015. This case existed in Ukraine when Nadiia was in captivity," Vira Savchenko told the ZIK TV channel on Thursday. When asked what the mentioned criminal case centers on, Vira said that "the preamble to Nadiia's indictment says that she is accused of feeling discontent about the socioeconomic situation... and is accused of preparing a coup and an assassination attempt on the president." "It is not totally clear to me what [Nadiia is suspected of] exactly and why this case was opened in 2015. It is a mystery on which I hope the lawyers will shed light. But the lawyers do not have all of the case materials. That is why we are waiting now," she said. It was reported that on March 22, the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada granted the prosecutor general's recommendation and gave its consent to prosecute, detain, and arrest Savchenko. Savchenko is suspected of preparations to violently change or dismantle the constitutional system or for the seizure of power, preparations for assassinating a statesperson or a public figure, preparations for a terrorist attack, the establishment of a terrorist group or a terrorist organization, and the illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives. Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky District Court ruled on March 23 to place Savchenko under arrest pending trial for 59 days, until May 20. Savchenko announced a hunger strike on the same day. On March 29, the Kyiv Appeals Court turned down an appeal lodged by Savchenko's defense team contesting the Shevchenkivsky District Court's ruling on taking her into pretrial custody. Savchenko underwent a forensic psychological evaluation and a lie detector test on April 17. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has said that Hungary continues to block the holding of a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the level of heads of state and government. "The decision on holding a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the level of heads of state and government has not been adopted yet. Unfortunately, the Hungarians are blocking [the meeting]," she told the 112 Ukraine TV channel on Thursday, May 3. At the same time, Klympush-Tsintsadze said that Ukraine would continue constructive dialogue and expressed hope that Hungary would change its decision. She noted that the Ukrainian side was also communicating with other NATO partners regarding Hungary's position. The blocking of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic initiatives by Budapest began in late 2017 as a response to the adoption of the law on education, which contains, in particular, a "language article." The Ukrainian law on education came into force on September 28, 2017. Among other things, the law stipulates that the state language is a language of learning at educational institutions, but one or several subjects in two or more languages, namely, the state language, English and other European Union official languages can be taught in compliance with the educational program. People who belong to ethnic minorities are guaranteed the right for learning in the native language along with the Ukrainian language in separate groups of municipal pre-school and primary school institutions. On September 26, Hungary's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced it would block Ukraine's rapprochement with the European Union because of the law on education. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry sent the law to the Venice Commission for vetting. On December 8, the Ukrainian Education and Science Ministry reported that the Venice Commission had not supported Hungary's accusation of narrowing the rights of national minorities in the article on the language of instruction in Ukraine's law on education. Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science declared its readiness to implement the recommendations of the commission and developed three models for the implementation of the language article in the law "On General Secondary Education." A meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission, which was to be held on February 14 or 15 as part of a meeting of defense ministers of all member countries of the alliance, was blocked by Hungary, which applied the right of veto. In April, Hungary blocked a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO commission at the level of foreign ministers. The meetings of subgroups of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbass are being held in Minsk on Friday, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry has reported. "A meeting of the working subgroups of the Trilateral Contact Group on the settlement of the situation in the east of Ukraine is taking place in Minsk," the ministry said on its official Twitter page on Friday. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has said termination of Ukraine's participation in the coordination bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a purely political issue. "I think this is a purely political issue, it's a question of not being an organization that is actually guided by the aggressor," she said on the 112 Ukraine TV channel when asked what would entail the termination of Ukraine's participation in the coordination bodies of the CIS. According to her, since the beginning of the Russian aggression Ukraine has not paid contributions to the organs of the CIS. As reported, on May 2, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) supported the proposal to end participation of Ukrainian representatives in the activities of CIS bodies. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in mid-March that the Foreign Ministry had prepared proposals to withdraw from the CIS. On April 12, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed to prepare proposals jointly with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the official cessation of the participation of the Ukrainian state in the CIS. He also said that he considers it necessary to carry out an inventory of the entire regulatory and legal framework drawn up by Ukraine within the framework of the CIS, for compliance with the national interests of the state. In addition, Poroshenko called on foreign partners to review contractual obligations with Russia for "sensitive areas of cooperation." Ukraine was one of the three signatory countries of the agreement on the creation of the CIS on December 8, 1991 along with the Russian Federation and Belarus. However, in January 1993, Ukraine did not sign the CIS Charter at the summit of the CIS, where the Charter of the Commonwealth was adopted. Since the spring of 2014, Kyiv's participation in the CIS events has been reduced to a minimum. Brazilian citizen Lusvarghi who fought for 'DPR' detained in Kyiv Representatives of the National Corps party, nationalist organizations "National Guards" and C14 have detained Brazil citizen Rafael Marques Lusvarghi, who fought for the DPR, in Kyiv and brought him to the building of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). Lusvarghi was detained near the Brazilian embassy, the National Corps wrote on Facebook on Friday. Radio Liberty also representatives of nationalist forces have already led the detainee to the building of the Security Service. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) considers it possible to introduce an exit capital tax in Ukraine if mechanisms to cover possible budget losses are available, the member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy, People's Deputy Tetiana Ostrikova (Samopomich), has said after a meeting with IMF representatives in the United States. "The first news is that the IMF does not oppose this tax and considers such a model of profit taxation possible taking into account certain factors. The second news is that the IMF does not directly support the bill on the exit capital tax, which the Ukrainian government uses, covering its inactivity in the tax sphere," the press service of the Samopomich party said. The party notes that the issue of the introduction by the president of Ukraine of a draft law on the exit capital tax, prepared by a working group under the Ministry of Finance, to the parliament, was postponed indefinitely, referring to correspondence with the IMF. At the same time, the political force explained that the issue of the exit capital tax was not included in the memorandum between the IMF and Ukraine, therefore it is not a top priority for the fund. At the same time, the IMF is concerned about a lack of tangible tax reforms. The Jerusalem Post (JP) reports that satellite images taken last Sunday shows resumption of some activity at Irans Fordow uranium enrichment site. JP says that in photos provided by ImageSat International it appears that the facility is reopened and activity is taking place. The images show that some new buildings have been added to the complex and vehicles are parked on the compound. Fordow became a highly sensitive issue in 2012, when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovered that uranium was enriched to 20 percent at the site. In addition to that, Fordow was used as a research and development center for enrichment. According to the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as JCPOA, Iran is supposed to refrain from any uranium enrichment and uranium enrichment R&D and from keeping any nuclear material." But the agreement did not ban all activities at Fordow. Non-nuclear and non-radioactive research and scientific work could continue under the inspection regime of IAEA. Based on this, it is not clear what the satellite images actually show. Is the observed activity part of legitimate work permitted at Fordow or is it of an unusual and unknown nature. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Fordow in his April 30 televised address in which he called Iran a liar and called for the revision of the 2015 nuclear deal known as the JCPOA. Netanyahu said that excavations are continuing at the mountainside facility. Meanwhile, the Israeli parliament has approved a law allowing the prime minister and the defense minister to declare war without the approval of the full cabinet in extreme circumstances. Recently, strikes against military targets in Syria have increased, in what is suspected to be an Israeli effort to warn Iran, Russia and Syria about red lines when it comes to its security. The new war declaration law was adopted hours after Netanyahus speech, which gives it a particular importance in relation with Israels tough position on Iran. In an interview with Russian newspaper Komersant, Israels defense minister Avigdor Lieberman called on Russia to take Israels interests into account in Syria and not side with Iran. We have no intention of meddling in Syrias internal affairs. What we will not tolerate is Iran turning Syria into a vanguard against Israel, Lieberman told Kommersant. Referring to the Iranian leaderships calls for Israels 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. The shopkeepers strike in the northwestern majority Kurdish city of Baneh entered its 19th consecutive day May 3, with business owners keeping their shops closed in protest of the governments decision to ban the import of foreign goods at nearby border crossings. Rouhanis government is expected to respond to protesters demands on Sunday. Therefore, the strike will go on until next Sunday, Erbil-based activist Mohammad Mahmoudi told Radio Farda. Mahmoudi says the demonstrations in Baneh have so far been peaceful, but Kurdish media are reporting that a number of protestors have been arrested. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has identified the three people who have been arrested as Rzgar Rafahi, Riza Asadi, and Muhsin Alizada. The France-based human rights monitor said authorities have also carried out house raids in Baneh, during which people were harshly beaten. Irans Kurdish merchants have long relied on koolbars, porters who carry huge packs of goods on their backs across the Iraq-Iran border on foot illegally, supplying Iranian-Kurdish businesses with products not widely available in Iran, like alcohol, foreign clothing, and other consumer commodities. Iran has quite strict and complicated import laws, one factor that fuels smuggling of this kind, which some businesses have come to depend on. In mid-2016 Iranian authorities announced they would issue special licenses to allow the koolbars to cross the border on foot legally, but in October 2017 Iran instead closed the border entirely, reportedly at the request of Baghdad. Kurdish rights groups say the border was closed in order to isolate and weaken Iraqi Kurds. On December 16, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli announced a blanket ban on koolbars, saying fifteen border markets would be opened to serve the local merchants instead. However, Fazli admitted at the time that the proposed solution has social and security consequences. Cut off from a key source of products to stock their shelves, shopkeepers began protesting earlier this year. There have been no goods for sale in the bazaars in the northwestern Iranian cities of Baneh, Javanrood, Marivan, and Saqqez since April 17. Merchants instead have laid empty tablecloths on the ground to symbolize their starvation as a result of the border closing, Radio Farda reported. Banehs Deputy Governor for Political Affairs Nejad Shahidi blames foreign elements for stoking unrest among Irans Kurdish minority and inciting them to protest. In a video shared online by human rights activists, a man affected by the border closure appears saying, "We are not in a fight against the state. We want bread for our families. Meanwhile, the dean of the Imam Bokhari School of Religious Sciences [a Sunni seminary] in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, Hassan Amini, has supported the protesters in a statement, deploring security forces for detaining an unknown number of strikers and threatening others. Local news website BanehNews reported May 1 that the Internet has been down all over the city of Baneh. Kurdish website Hangau reported May 2 that more than twenty vehicles belonging to special forces have entered Baneh from other cities, and checkpoints have been erected across town with security forces stopping everyone who enters or leaves the city. Tehran has sent several delegations to the majority Kurdish provinces to listen to protesters complaints, but no agreements have been reached yet. A number of Kurdish MPs have joined the chorus of protests over the border closure and the ban on koolbars. Rasoul Khezri, MP from Piranshahr, says the move has cost thousands of jobs. The governments decision to close down the borders and ban koolbars has left more than 70,000 to 80,000 jobless in mainly Kurdish populated regions in northwestern Iran, Khezri said. Moscow, Russia, May 4 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Russia will continue to contribute to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said answering Trend correspondents question at a press conference May 4. "For my part, I would like to say that we are demonstrating a very consistent position on this issue, she said. In general, we do not abandon it, so we will continue to assist the sides. But we must wait until the political situation in Armenia stabilizes, Zakharova added. Armenia is now experiencing a difficult political period. I think we need to wait until the political situation finally stabilizes, when people, political forces and political movements make a decision on the composition of the governing bodies and we hope this will be within the constitution. Afterwards, there will be all the opportunities for solving foreign policy problems, including the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, she said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: William Peduto, the mayor of Pittsburgh, the most historical and famous city in the US, made an official statement in connection with the 100th anniversary of establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the US announced. The statement notes that on May 28, 1918 Azerbaijan declared its independence establishing the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which became the first secular parliamentary democracy in the the Muslim world and was recognized by other democratic nations, including the United States of America. The document states that during the short period of independence, Azerbaijan granted all people the right to vote regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or religion, becoming the first Muslim nation to grant women equal political rights with men, an accomplishment preceding the United States. At the same time, the document emphasizes that Azerbaijans independence was interrupted in 1920, when it was invaded by Bolshevists, then forcefully incorporated into the USSR in 1922; Azerbaijan was able to restore its independence in 1991. It is noted that over the last quarter century, the Republic of Azerbaijan has consolidated its sovereignty and independence, and has become a staunch ally and strategic partner of the United States of America in the critically important Caspian region. The statement says that this year is the centennial of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic; millions of Azerbaijanis around the globe, including tens of thousands in the United States observe May 28 as the National Day, and remember the contribution of their forefathers to the spread of democracy in the regions of Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. In conclusion, the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh William Peduto in the statement signed by him declares May 28, 2018 Azerbaijan National Day and calls on all residents of Pittsburgh to celebrate the great contribution of the Azerbaijani people to history. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has departed to Dhaka, Bangladesh to attend the 45th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to be held on May 5-6, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a message. According to the message, Mammadyarov will deliver a speech and have a number of bilateral meetings at the 45th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the Khachmaz branch of Azerkhalcha Open Joint Stock Company. Chairman of the Board of Azharkhalcha OJSC Vidadi Muradov informed President Aliyev about the enterprise. President Aliyev then met with the staff of the enterprise and posed for photographs together with them. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended a ceremony to launch drinking water supply and sewage systems in the city of Khacmaz and opening of a new administrative building of the Khacmaz branch of Azersu Open Joint Stock Company. Chairman of Azersu Open Joint Stock Company Gorkhmaz Huseynov informed the president about the work carried out under the project on reconstruction of drinking water supply and sewage systems of the city of Khacmaz. President Aliyev then pressed a button to launch the drinking water supply system of Khachmaz. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: The first trilateral political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Ukraine were held in Baku on May 4, 2018. Political consultations were co-chaired by Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Khalaf Khalafov of Azerbaijan, Umit Yardm of Turkey and Vasyl Bodnar of Ukraine. At the meeting, the parties highly appreciated current level of relations between the three countries and expressed confidence that political consultations on tripartite format would create new opportunities for cooperation and contribute to strengthen the traditional ties of friendship and partnership between the countries. The parties expressed support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of these countries within the internationally recognized borders. The parties also exchanged views on international and regional issues, cooperation within international organizations and discussed perspectives of cooperation in transport, energy, economic, trade, education, tourism and other spheres including fight against terrorism. An agreement has been reached to hold tripartite political consultation on a regular basis and continue the cooperation in this format at higher levels. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended a ceremony marking the completion of the project on the reconstruction of drinking water supply systems and establishment of sewage network in the city of Khizi and Altiaghaj settlement. Chairman of Azersu Open Joint Stock Company Gorkhmaz Huseynov informed the head of state of the work carried out within the project. President Ilham Aliyev then pressed a button to launch the drinking water supply system of the city of Khizi and Altiaghaj settlement. Under the project a state-of-the-art administrative building was also built for the Khizi Water Canal Department. A bust to national leader Heydar Aliyev was installed in the foyer of the building. A customer service and production department will be operating here. President Ilham Aliyev met with representatives of the general public and posed for photographs together with them. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the newly renovated 5-km road linking the Gilazi-Khizi highway with the Findighan village. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the head of state of the technical indicators of the newly reconstructed road. The construction of the road was carried out in accordance with the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev in February 2018. Large-scale landscaping work was carried out during the reconstruction of the road. The opening of this road will provide access for Findighan village residents to the Gilazi-Khizi highway and to the Baku-Guba-Russian border highway. President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo has congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. On behalf of the government and people of Indonesia and on my own behalf, I sincerely congratulate you on re-election as president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and extend my warm greetings, President Widodo said. Mr President, the vast majority of the Azerbaijani people renewed their trust in you, which is a clear manifestation of confidence in your leadership and recognition of the tremendous job that you have done to ensure prosperity of your citizens, he added. Taking this opportunity, let me express my sincere hope that during your new presidential term close relations between Azerbaijan and Indonesia will continue to strengthen, contributing to the development and prosperity of our countries, the Indonesian president said. Your Excellency, I wish you success in high state office and ask you to accept the assurances of my highest consideration, President Widodo said. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: Brazilian President Michel Temer has congratulated President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev over the victory in the presidential election. "I congratulate you in connection with the re-election as the President of Azerbaijan. I believe that friendly relations between Brazil and Azerbaijan will be further strengthened in the interests of our peoples and international community, he said. Temer voiced confidence that the bilateral cooperation in various fields will expand even more despite the large geographical distance that separates Azerbaijan and Brazil. Mr. President, I emphasize once again my interest in supporting such a noble cause. I wish you good health, happiness and success in the new period of the presidency, " reads the congratulatory message. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Ali Mustafayev - Trend: The Global Baku Forum has become a place where representatives of many countries were able to convey to each other their ideas of peace, prosperity and solutions to current problems, said Ismail Serageldin, founding director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), the new Library of Alexandria, co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. Serageldin made the remarks at a press conference, dedicated to results of the 6th Global Baku Forum on May 4. "I am thankful to the Azerbaijani government and colleagues from the Nizami Ganjavi International Center for their participation and contribution to the Baku Forum. I believe in the strength of ideas, the ideas that have great power in resolving global issues," he said. "The Baku Forum created for us all opportunity to share ideas, which, undoubtedly, are a great contribution to future of the world, " he said. He also thanked and presented the certificate of merit to the ambassadors of Jordan, Great Britain, Italy and Turkey in Azerbaijan for participation in the Forum. -- Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Details added (first version posted on 18:56) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: Azerbaijan has become an exemplary country on a global scale in terms of development, stability, unity of power and people, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said May 4. He was speaking at a meeting with representatives of the public of the Khizi district while attending a ceremony marking the completion of the project on the reconstruction of drinking water supply systems and establishment of sewage network in the city of Khizi and Altiaghaj settlement. The head of state noted that today is a very significant day in the Khizi district. We celebrate the supply of drinking water to Khizi city, President Ilham Aliyev said. I cordially congratulate you on this wonderful event. At the same time, the water supply issue in the Altiaghaj settlement has been also solved. These projects show once again that our social policy gives excellent results, and socially directed steps will continue to be taken in the future. The head of state said that people always worried about the drinking water supply issue in Khizi city. But now this issue has been resolved, Ilham Aliyev noted. It is safe to say that with the completion of the drinking water supply project in Khizi we solve the problem of drinking water in all cities of the northern zone. Earlier, we celebrated the launch of the drinking water supply project in the cities of Gusar, Guba, Shabran, Siyazan. Today we are celebrating the launch of a drinking water supply project in Khachmaz city. This means that the problems with drinking water in the cities of the northern zone have been resolved. Id like to congratulate you once again on this wonderful event, Ilham Aliyev added. Id like to say that in general, social projects are successfully implemented in our country. There are no delays regarding any social project. Even during previous crisis years, social projects were fully implemented, including in Khizi. During my last visit, the central district hospital, which is an excellent building, was opened here. About 10 schools were built in the district, other infrastructure projects are being implemented, and the level of gas supply in Khizi has reached more than 90 percent, the Azerbaijani president said. One can say that all the settlements are supplied with gas. I am sure that in the future, the level of gas supply in Khizi will reach 100 percent. There are no problems with electricity supply. On the contrary, now the Khizi district will provide our common energy system with electricity in a large amount. The Yeni Yashma wind power plant has already started its work. Rural roads are being laid. Today we will mark the opening of one of the roads. As I was informed, 50 percent of rural roads have been reconstructed or overhauled. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Ali Mustafayev - Trend: The Global Baku Forum provided an opportunity for many countries from all over the world to establish contacts to resolve urgent problems, Ukraine's former president Viktor Yushchenko said at a press conference, dedicated to results of the 6th Global Baku Forum on May 4. "In today's world full of the conflicts and contradictions, it's very difficult to act alone, and it is necessary to establish contacts under such circumstances. The Baku Forum gave us this opportunity, and I want to thank the organizers - the Azerbaijani government and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center - for the opportunity," Yushchenko said. He further said that every year the forum is organized at an increasingly higher level, which is evidenced by the increasing number of politicians and diplomats participating in the forum. The 6th Global Baku Forum under the slogan "Elimination of Differences for the Establishment of an Inclusive Society" was held in Baku on March 15 -17. About 500 representatives from 50 countries, including former heads of state and government, members of Nizami Ganjavi International Center, heads of international organizations, prominent public figures and scientists participated in this prestigious event. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: A display demonstrating the power and beauty of Azerbaijans native Karabakh horse will be one of the big attractions at next weeks Royal Windsor Horse Show, writes Royal Borough Observer newspaper. The Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan will be returning to Windsor for the first time since performing at the Queens 90th birthday celebrations in 2016 with their new performance Land of Fire, Azerbaijan. Ten horse and rider combinations will be seen combining fast paced movements with tight turns and perfectly timed executions. They will be accompanied by the Sarhadchi dance ensemble who will be performing traditional dances alongside two fire-jugglers performing a spectacular fire show. The newspaper notes that the performance has been choreographed specifically for Royal Windsor Horse Show. The 75th Royal Windsor Show will run from Wednesday, May 9 to Sunday, May 13. Within its framework there will be horse exhibitions, demonstrations, theatrical performances and competitions. The show takes place in the Royal Park of Windsor castle, and members of the Royal family are sure to come to see this great event. Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on May 4. The new edition includes articles Azerbaijan, Israel highlight significant success in bilateral cooperation, IMF forecasts growth of national GDP, Corneal transplant surgeries available in country, Baku hosts Italian Opera Days etc. AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkey may use the national currencies in trade with China, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Turkish media reported May 4. Erdogan noted that Turkey and China are currently holding negotiations aimed at transition to the national currencies in mutual settlements. "The transition to the national currencies in mutual trade with China is to the benefit of Ankara and Beijing," Erdogan said. According to the Institute of Statistics of Turkey (TUIK), in March 2018, the total value of Turkish exports amounted to $15.587 billion, an increase of 7.7 percent compared to March 2017. In March this year, imports to Turkey reached $21.442 billion, an increase of 12.7 percent compared to March last year. In March 2018, Turkey's imports from China amounted to $2.1 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Anvar Mammadov Trend: The introduction of compulsory insurance of doctors' professional responsibility in Azerbaijan is primarily aimed at protecting interests of the population, insurance expert Khayal Mammadkhanli told Trend. He believes that the introduction of this type of insurance will also positively impact the insurance market. "The introduction of compulsory insurance of doctors' professional responsibility will certainly have a positive impact on Azerbaijan's insurance market. Maybe, it will not give such a boost to the market as the compulsory insurance of vehicle owners' liability (OSAGO), but will surely give impetus for its development. Firstly, it will be aimed at protecting interests of the population and improvement of medical services in the country, "Mammadkhanli said. The expert noted that this issue has been on the agenda for a long period, however several obstacles exists for its realization in Azerbaijan. "This has been proposed long before, and I personally stood for compulsory insurance of doctors' professional responsibility. There are hundreds of victims of a medical mistakes in Azerbaijan, and unfortunately they can not protect their rights until today. The main problem is that Azerbaijan does not have specific procedures and rules for check-up and treatment. Theretofore, during the court trial it is impossible to find out whether there was made a medical mistake during the treatment. In general, it would be great if professional liability insurance as a whole would be mandatory, but I agree that doctors need to be involved in this first of all," he said. Mammadkhanli stressed that first of all, it is necessary to develop procedures and rules for check-up and treatment, after which it is possible to talk about the introduction of compulsory insurance of doctors' professional responsibility. "The Health Ministry should take this step. Following this, it would be possible to talk about the introduction of this type of insurance. As for the control, most likely this will be responsibility of the Compulsory Insurance Bureau of Azerbaijan. However, but I do not think that it will require a special base, as in case of OSAGO. It would be enough to integrate the Health Ministry's existing base of medical personnel into the Bureau, "Mammadkhanli said. The issue of compulsory insurance of doctors' professional responsibility was discussed at a meeting of the relevant working group of the Azerbaijani Insurer's Association. Presently, insurance of professional responsibility in Azerbaijan is carried out on a voluntary basis. According to the data of Azerbaijans Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FIMSA), fees for this type of insurance amounted to 847,600 manats in the first quarter of 2018. No payment for this type of insurance was carried out in the first quarter of 2018. ($1 = 1.7 AZN on April 20). Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will continue to contribute to the sustainable development of the economy of Azerbaijan, President of the Bank Takehiko Nakao said at a meeting with Finance Minister of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov. As previously reported, Sharifov is participating in the 51st annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors in Manila, Philippines. The ADB president expressed satisfaction with the rapid development of cooperation with Azerbaijan. During the meeting, Nakao asked the minister to convey greetings and congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on his confident victory in the presidential election. In turn, Sharifov thanked ADB for its contribution to the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan under the leadership of the head of state, especially for contribution to the Southern Gas Corridor project. In Manila, the minister also attended a seminar on the prospects for cooperation between CAREC and the One Belt - One Road initiative. At the seminar, Sharifov noted that Azerbaijan supports both projects aimed at regional development and expansion of transit transport corridors. The minister informed the participants about the role of Azerbaijan in the implementation of these projects. Sharifov met with the Regional Vice-President of the ADB Wencai Zhang, Minister for International Development of Australia Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, as well as the senior officials from Development Agency of France. ADB was established in 1966 and it includes 67 states. The Bank is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. Azerbaijan was admitted to ADB on December 22, 1999, and the share of the country in the capital of the Bank is 0.5%. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to the Republic of Korea Kylychbek Sultan met with Chairman of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) Chairman Shin Myoung-jin, the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported. During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of current trade, economic and investment cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Korea. In particular, Ambassador Sultan expressed the intention of the Kyrgyz side to increase the volume of trade with Korea. He noted that Kyrgyzstan is interested in expanding bilateral cooperation by establishing supplies of environmentally friendly agricultural products to Korea. In addition, he called on Korean companies to participate in setting up joint ventures for the export of Kyrgyz agricultural products to European countries within the framework of the General System of Preferences for the GSP +. From his part, Chairman of the KOIMA Shin Myoung-jin informed that KOIMA in its activity is focused on import of foreign goods and products to Korea, therefore, it closely cooperates with foreign companies and assists in expanding ties with potential Korean enterprises. At the same time, he expressed his consent to the proposal of Ambassador Sultan on sending the KOIMA expert group to study the marketing market in order to identify potential products and goods with subsequent export to Korea. At the same time, Shin Myoung-jin expressed readiness to publish reference information about potential products and goods of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyz companies with contacts, as well as material on economic and investment opportunities in Kyrgyzstan in the authoritative Korean magazine "IMPORT" for free of charge. In addition, the Head of KOIMA highlighted the importance of participation of Kyrgyz companies in the forthcoming international exhibition Import Goods Fair on June 21 - 23 in Seoul, where there is a convenient opportunity to promote national products and tourism of Kyrgyzstan not only among Korean structures, but also international companies and enterprises. Following the meeting, the sides reached agreements on concluding partnership cooperation with the Kyrgyz side by signing relevant Memoranda of Understanding between the Investment Promotion and Protection Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic during the visit of the KOIMA delegation in Bishkek. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 Trend: Georgia and Azerbaijan plan to build the first joint border crossing point within the framework of the "One Belt - One Road" initiative, Georgian Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said at the 51st annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank on May 3-6, Novosti-Georgia reported. "Georgia fully supports the concept of the Asian Development Bank on the trade without barriers. From this point of view, we together with Azerbaijan are considering possibility of building the first joint border point," Bakhtadze said. However, the minister did not disclose any details of the new project. According to Bakhtadze, Georgia needs even more mobilization of the financial resources to participate in the New Silk Road project. "If we look at strategies of the countries involved in the Silk Road Initiative, we can see that all countries are heavily investing in the infrastructure. Georgia is one of the most active countries from this point of view, however, we need even more mobilization of the financial resources and greater expansion of the economic ties," Bakhtadze said. The minister noted that the Georgian authorities efforts within the framework of the initiative contribute to further integration of the entire region into the world economy. "Today, Georgia is the only country in the region that has free trade regimes both with the European Union and China," the minister said. China announced a new strategy for economic development the "One Belt - One Road" initiative aimed at creating infrastructure and establishing links among the Eurasian countries back in 2013. The strategy includes two key areas of development: the economic belt of the Silk Road and maritime Silk Road. The matter is about creating a trade corridor for direct deliveries of the goods from the East to the West on preferential terms. President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov kicked off the implementation of the Reconstruction of the Irrigation System of the Kyrgyz Republic project as part of his working trip to Issyk-Kul oblast, the Kyrgyz President's press service reported. The "Reconstruction of the Irrigation System of the Kyrgyz Republic" project will require $32 million, allocated as a grant by the People's Republic of China for the construction of 6 water facilities. The project provides for the reconstruction and construction of water management facilities in Issyk-Kul, Batken, Talas and Chui oblasts. After their commissioning, 5,410 hectares of new irrigated lands will be put into operation, water supply in the area of 22,100 hectares will be increased. In general, the implementation of the project will create jobs for 40,000 rural residents throughout the country. The object for reconstruction of the Ak-Olon channel in Ton district of the Issyk-Kul oblast was included in the list of water management facilities included in the state program of irrigation development of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2017-2026. The head of state got acquainted with the reconstruction project of the Ak-Olon channel of Ton region, which envisages the construction of a head water intake facility. After completion of the construction of the facility "Reconstruction of the head water intake and the main Ak-Olon canal of Ton region of Issyk-Kul oblast" 516 hectares of new land will be put into operation, and water availability in the area of 3,565 hectares will also be increased. The project, which costs about 500 million soms, is planned to be completed by 2021. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Anvar Mammadov Trend: The chief of the Balakan Customs Administration, Colonel of the Customs Service Vugar Gismatov, was dismissed from his post in connection with the implementation of the staff reforms in accordance with the corresponding order of the chairman of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, Committee head Safar Mehdiyev told reporters in Baku May 4. Isa Guliyev was appointed the head of the Balakan Customs Administration under another order. Guliyev previously also worked in the State Customs Committee. Previously, in accordance with the corresponding order of the chairman of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the head of the Main Customs Directorate for Air Transport Sadig Abduyev and the head of the Medical Service Department Fikrat Gadimaliyev were also dismissed from their respective posts in connection with the implementation of the staff reforms. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov Details added (the first version was posted on 13:59) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Personnel reforms at the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan will continue until full transparency in the work is achieved, Committee head Safar Mehdiyev told reporters on May 4. He noted that the staff reshuffle at the Committee does not mean that serious violations were revealed in activities of the employees. "I have already noted that serious reforms will be carried out at the SCC. Two new orders were signed yesterday, according to which several high-ranking officials of the Committee were taken off their posts. This is all part of the reforms. We previously changed the heads of the three departments. Today, the head of the Balakan Customs Administration was dismissed from his position. A new, proactive specialist, who is good in the customs system, was appointed to this post. Reforms do not mean that there were serious shortcomings in someone's work, he said. He noted that the law should be followed by both the customs authorities and entrepreneurs. "Those entrepreneurs, who are doing business honestly, will always be among partners of the customs service. However, serious measures will be taken against those who provide incorrect data to evade payments of duties. As for the customs officers, I can say that the personnel reforms will continue until full transparency is achieved. If there are shortcomings in activity of the new personnel, they will also be dismissed from their positions," Mehdiyev said. The chief of the Balakan Customs Administration, Colonel of the Customs Service Vugar Gismatov, was dismissed from his post in connection with the implementation of the staff reforms in accordance with the corresponding order of the chairman of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee. Isa Guliyev was appointed the head of the Balakan Customs Administration under another order. Previously, in accordance with the corresponding order of the chairman of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the head of the Main Customs Directorate for Air Transport Sadig Abduyev and the head of the Medical Service Department Fikrat Gadimaliyev were also dismissed from their respective posts in connection with the implementation of the staff reforms. Earlier, the head of the Tovuz Customs Administration, Mehman Sadigov, was dismissed from his post, and he was appointed the head of the Shirvan Customs Administration. Kanan Mammadov was appointed the head of the Tovuz Customs Administration. And the former chief of the Shirvan Customs Administration, Parviz Ragimov was appointed the head of the Khachmaz Customs Administration. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbekistan and Turkey will create TEXTILKENT wholesale and semi-wholesale textile trade center, the press service of the Uztekstilprom association stated on May 4. Within the framework of the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Uzbekistan, a joint Uzbek-Turkish business forum with participation of Uzbek and Turkish companies was held in Uzexpocenter on April 30, 2018. During the forum, the participants were informed about the achievements of Uzbekistan in the textile industry in recent years, as well as about the current state and prospects for development of international cooperation in production and export of textile goods. The Uzbek side provided detailed information on the textile industry of the country. Favorable conditions have been created by the government of Uzbekistan for foreign investors. Major projects involving foreign investments have been successfully implemented. The country has introduced numerous benefits and preferences for textile enterprises. Turkish companies especially noted the economic achievements of Uzbekistan and possibility for attracting large Turkish companies to implement joint investment projects on production of finished textile, hosiery, sewing and knitwear products, as well as curtains and accessories. During the meeting with the head of Demez Oglu company, the manufacturer and supplier of famous brands such as Moschino, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Aeronautica, establishment of TEXTILKENT center for wholesale and semi-wholesale trade of textile, sewing and knitting products in Uzbekistan was discussed. Preliminary agreements on implementation of the project have been achieved as a result of the negotiations. Within the framework of the forum, Uzbek side held a meeting with President of the Council for Foreign Economic Relations of Turkey "DEIK" Nail Olpak and discussed lowering the excise tax on import of Uzbek textile products. Negotiations also underscored the increasing trade turnover and of variety of goods traded. Turkey is one of the most important trade partners of Uzbekistan. In 2017, the trade turnover between the two countries increased by 30 percent and amounted to $1.5 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 4 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: A delegation of Turkmenistan, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Chary Gylydjov, held talks in the Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy of Germany, says a message of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. The eighth meeting of the joint working group for trade and economic cooperation was held in Berlin. The sides discussed expanding ties in such areas as energy, finance, health, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism. The report says that the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan also organized a round table with participation of representatives of Germany and Turkmenistan in the Sofitel Berlin Kurfurstendamm hotel. The sides discussed boosting trade and economic cooperation. German companies make a significant contribution to implementation of long-term projects in Turkmenistan. Among them are such companies as Siemens, Daimler, Claas, Rohde & Schwarz, and Dresser-Rand. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: The Azerbaijani Taxes Ministry will create a Cooperation Council, which will become a platform for communicating with entrepreneurs, the Azerbaijani National Confederation of Entrepreneurs said in a message on May 4. The Confederation together with the ministry held a meeting with entrepreneurs on May 3. Azerbaijani Taxes Minister Mikail Jabbarov, Chairman of the Confederation Mammad Musayev, representatives of companies and associations that are members of the confederation, and various businessmen attended the event. Jabbarov spoke about the basic principles of the amendments made to the tax system and provision of transparency in relations with taxpayers. The minister discussed the problems entrepreneurs face, as well as expectations of the private sector. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Huseyn Veliyev, Trend: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue cooperation with CJSC "Center for nuclear research" on the project of construction of a research reactor in Azerbaijan during 2019-2021, Chairman of CJSC Adil Garibov told Trend. Garibov said, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano made such a statement the meeting organized in the company. "Cooperation with the IAEA on the construction of a research reactor includes the preparation of technical documents and the enhancement of human capacity in this area. Amano got acquainted with the current situation and the work carried out by the company. All the documents, strategic plan and part of the terms of reference for the construction of the research reactor have already been prepared. The head of the IAEA noted that the development of documents, as well as the work carried out in this area, should meet the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Agency", said Garibov. According to Garibov, Amano noted that during his visit to Azerbaijan, the project for the construction of a research reactor was discussed at a high level. Due to the fact that this issue is included in the list of priority areas of activity for the future, the IAEA intends to continue cooperation with Azerbaijan on this project during 2019-2021. "This is a very good position, as we do not imagine our activities in this field without the IAEA. Amano also got acquainted with the personnel potential and the level of training of our specialists. Thus, 16 of our employees have passed long-term training through the IAEA, and three are fully ready for work. In addition, three high-level specialists are currently working at the research center in Dubna [Russia] and they are fully ready to lead the work at our center, after the construction of a research reactor in Azerbaijan," Garibov said. As previously reported, Azerbaijan may need about 500 million manats for the construction of a research reactor and, taking into account the capital intensity of the project, work in this direction may be delayed. Proposals for the project will be submitted to the government for consideration, which will form a special commission to study and prepare specific proposals for the project. The contractor who will construct the research reactor will be selected on a tender basis. A land plot of 15 hectares in Gobu settlement of Absheron district (20 km from Baku) was allocated for the construction of the reactor. Administrative buildings and other necessary infrastructure for carrying out scientific researches will be located on the specified site. Tehran, Iran, May 4 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend: The managing director of Irans Bandar Abbas Refinery said the factory is in talks with Japan's Chiyoda Corp. to enhance the quality of its fuel oil. The gasoline-processing unit of Irans Bandar Abbas Refinery also plans to improve the quality of its gasoline and diesel fuel output in a bid to produce Euro-4 quality gasoline, Hashem Namvar told ISNA on Friday. Currently, we are implementing two projects at the Bandar Abbas Refinery. The two ongoing plans are for boosting the quality of gasoline and diesel fuel, he said. He added that Iranian engineers are working on the two projects and that they will become operational to produce Euro-4 quality gasoline by late September. Gasoline production turned into Irans strategic vulnerability after the West started imposing sanctions on the country in 2012. The countrys total production of gasoline, as announced by the NIORDC (the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company), stood at 74.4 ml/d on average, around 8 percent higher, compared to the same period of 2016. Production of normal gasoline also saw a rise of 4 percent, reaching as high as 48.7 ml/d. The bulk of Irans gasoline production came from Shazand refinery with 15 m/d. Other top producers were Abadan and Isfahan refineries with a similar production capacity of 11 ml/d. The NIORDC further in its statement said the production of gasoline from the newly inaugurated Persian Gulf Star Refinery stood at 3.5 ml/d, adding that this could rise to as high as 12 ml/d within the next few weeks. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: The Central Bank of Azerbaijan announced a tender of four lots on security and other related services. Lot 1 - purchase of expert services in information security; Lot 2 - installation of new generation information security equipment, and its integration with existing systems; Lot 3 - updating of video surveillance and access control systems; Lot 4 prolongation of information security software licenses and purchase of services on identification of the targeted attacks. The cost of participation in each lot is 100 Azerbaijani manats. Those willing to participate in the tender should submit their applications and other documents until 18:00 (GMT +4) May 23, 2018, and tender proposals - until 18:00 June 4, 2018. The envelopes with tender bids will be opened at 15:00 June 5, 2018 at the Central Banks administrative building at the following address: Rashid Behbudov Street, 90, Baku (AZ1014). For more information, please call: (+99412) 493 11 22 (ext. 308). Fax: (+994 12) 493-55-41 Email: [email protected] Contact person: Elvin Shahverdiyev. (1.7 manats = 1 USD on May 4) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: In March 2018, 161,068 citizens of the Central Asian countries, namely, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, visited Turkey, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry told Trend. The figure is 58,402 people more, compared to March 2017. In March 2018, 51,025 Turkmen citizens visited Turkey, which is 7,832 people more compared to March 2017. During the reporting period, 0.99 percent accounted for the share of Turkmen citizens in a total number of the foreigners, who visited Turkey, the ministry said. In March 2018, 56,052 Uzbek citizens visited Turkey, which is 22,712 people more compared to March 2017. During the reporting period, 1.9 percent accounted for the share of Uzbek citizens in a total number of the foreigners, who visited Turkey, the ministry said. According to the ministry, in March 2018, 24,992 Kyrgyz citizens visited Turkey, which is 4,789 people more compared to March 2017. In March 2018, 0.53 percent accounted for the share of Kyrgyz citizens in a total number of foreign citizens who visited Turkey. "In March 2018, 9,150 Tajik citizens visited Turkey, which is 3,155 people more compared to March 2017," the ministry said. "In March 2018, 0.18 percent accounted for the share of Tajik citizens in a total number of the foreigners, who visited Turkey." According to the ministry, 39,849 Kazakh citizens visited Turkey in March 2018, which is 9,908 people more compared to March 2017. During the reported period, 0.78 percent accounted for the share of Kazakh citizens in a total number of the foreigners, who visited Turkey. In March 2018, more than 2.879 million foreign tourists visited the country. In the first quarter of 2018, 7.263 million tourists visited Turkey. Turkey's tourism income grew 31.3 percent in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period last year. The country's tourism income totaled $4.425 billion during the period. During the period, 76.1 percent of the total income accounted for foreign citizens and 23.9 percent accounted for the Turkish citizens living abroad. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev had a telephone conversation with his Uzbek Counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kazinform cites Akorda. During the conversation, the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, including the progress in the implementation of the agreements reached. In this regard, the sides underlined the 31-percent increase in the bilateral trade achieved in 2017 and an upward trend in the first quarter of this year. The leaders of the two countries also discussed the schedule of the forthcoming meetings. Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN Mirgul Moldoisayeva met with High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Nasir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic said in a message. During the meeting the issues of cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the UN Alliance of Civilizations were discussed. Moldoisayeva stressed the importance of promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue. It was noted that the Kyrgyz side actively participates in the events held under the aegis of the Alliance of Civilizations. In this regard, Moldoisayeva informed about the holding of the Third World Nomad Games in the Kyrgyz Republic in September 2018, as well as the holding of various events in honor of the 90th anniversary of the People's writer of Kyrgyzstan Chyngyz Aitmatov, and invited the High Representative of Nasir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser to take part in these events. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 4 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The ninth meeting of the ministers of transport of the member-states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has been held in Turkmenistans Avaza National Tourism Zone at the Caspian shore, a source involved in the event said. The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental economic organization, created in 1985 by Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. Since 1992, the activity of the organization has intensified with joining of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. At this stage, there are prospects for optimization of the transport network along the North-South and East-West transport corridors with the use of road, rail and sea transport. These projects can connect vast areas from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea and Black Sea, from the Northern Europe to the Indian Ocean. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 4 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: President of Turkmenistan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov conducted a sudden inspection of the combat capability of the National Army, writes the "Neutral Turkmenistan" newspaper May 4. In order to improve the combat training of the personnel of all branches of the Armed Forces, the head of state gave an order to Defense Minister Yaylim Berdiyev to promptly bring the military units of the Armed Forces into a state of combat readiness in the prescribed manner. The information says that the modern military aircraft and special equipment were presented at the training range. "The president has tested in practice one of the all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the power of its engine and maneuverability when loaded into a military transport aircraft," the message says. The Neutral Turkmenistan writes that the aviation of the Air Forces and teams of Air Defense Forces of the country are technically equipped with the most modern weaponry, enemy contact and fire control systems, and modern navigation equipment. From a command post, the president of Turkmenistan watched the exercises of military units on a large monitor. In the current exercises, the air forces and air defense teams, military formations of land forces, as well as special purpose groups demonstrated their skills in neutralization and destruction of the forces of the conditional enemy, including sabotage groups. According to the military doctrine adopted by Turkmenistan, the country follows the status of positive neutrality. Turkmenistan borders with Kazakhstan, Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan on land, and with Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran on the Caspian Sea. Tehran, Iran, May 4 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 4 By Umid Niayesh - Trend: Irans official trade statistics indicate that the country is increasing its non-oil exports to Southeast Asian countries. Three countries from the region, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have taken place among the Islamic Republics main destinations of non-oil exports in the last fiscal year, which ended March 2018. According to the latest data released by Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Thailand was ninth destination of Irans non-oil commodities ($731 million worth of goods), followed by Indonesia ($645 million). Irans non-oil exports to Thailand increased by 90 percent year-on-year in terms of value, meanwhile Indonesias imports from the Islamic Republic registered a significant rise by 273 percent. According to Mojtaba Mousavian, an official with the TPOI, Irans certain exports to Thailand such as iron and steel, as well as fisheries have witnessed a significant increase in the period. Musavian said that Irans fishery exports to the Southeast Asian country increased by 345 percent year on year. The official believes that Iran has the capacity to take more share from the countrys market in particular in food, agriculture, gold and jewellery as well as auto part sectors. Vietnam was 17th destination of Irans non-oil exports in the one-year period, however the value of the exports witnessed a fall by 10 percent to $364 million. According to the data released by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Irans exports to Malaysia, Philippine and Myanmar also witnessed increase in the last fiscal year. Iran exported $205 million worth of non-oils to Malaysia, 136 percent more year-on-year. The Islamic Republics exports to Philippine and Myanmar also registered value growth by 118.6 and 28.11 percent, respectively, year-on-year. Irans non oil exports to Philippine and Myanmar accounted to $61.2 million and $60.1 million in the fiscal year to March 2018. The Islamic Republic further exported $42.7 million worth of goods to Singapore and $17,200 to Cambodia in the 12-month period. Compared to the preceding year, Irans non- oil exports to Singapore decreased by 86 percent. Cambodias imports from the Islamic Republic also registered a huge fall by 97 percent. Irans overall non-oil exports including condensates stood at $46.9 billion in last fiscal year, 6.6 percent more year-on-year. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @UmidNiayesh Tehran, Iran, May 4 By Fikret Dolukhanov, Javad Arabshirazi Trend: Foreign oil companies have put together a contingency plan if their contracts with Iran fall through in case of Washingtons withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), former Professor of Economics at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, Hamid Zangeneh told Trend on May 4. Each (oil) contractor has demanded and secured some clause that would enumerate contingencies and a way out of their contract if the JCPOA partially or totally collapses, Zangeneh said. He added that in the absence of such explicit provisions, each contractor must comply with the terms of the contract. Commenting on the possibility of Russian companies to replace foreign companies, Zangeneh also noted that he is not sure if Russia or China has the know-how similar to Total to undertake what Iran needs. But this is the story of Iran in the past 40 years. Iran, rather than resolving its issues with the US has tried every way to bypass the US by using and appealing to players such as Russia, China, EU, India etc. who do not have Irans interest at heart, Zangeneh said. He concluded saying that Iranians need to understand that the US can live harmlessly and comfortable without Iran forever, while Iran has to pay a very large price its abstinence, and unless and until Iranians come to terms and understand this, they will be on the starting page one. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov The export of Georgian agricultural products to the EU countries is on the rise, says the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, Agenda reports. Georgias leading exports - wine and spirits, hazelnuts, wine and mineral waters added value back into the countrys economy. In the first quarter of 2018, Georgia exported agricultural goods worth $37.8 million which is a 22.1 percent increase compared to the same quarter of 2017. Specifically, the following products saw a significant increase in export capacity: Alcoholic drinks 112 percent increase y/y (worth $6.3 million) Wine 62 percent increase (worth $1.9 million) Mineral water 21 percent increase (worth $0.7 million) Processed hazelnuts 37 percent increase (worth $0.6 million) The export of Georgian agricultural products was mainly increased to the following EU countries: France $6.9 million Lithuania $5.5 million Spain $3.7 million The Netherlands $3.3 million The US Department of State Spokesperson has briefed public about the US Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Aaron Wess Mitchells recent visit to Georgia and Ukraine, Agenda reports. The Department of State reported at a news briefing yesterday that Wess Mitchell reiterated the US support to Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity and held meetings with the countrys top officials. The Department of State also said that Wess Mitchell revealed the position of US President Donald Trump to the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit, referring to Georgias eventual membership of NATO. The US Department of State spokesperson stated that at the end of his visit Wess Mitchell visited the occupation line between Georgia and its occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, which is now under the Russian control. Inspectors of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons [OPCW] plan exhuming the bodies of victims of the presumed chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma, the OPCW Director General Ahmet Uzumcu said in an interview published on Thursday by The Financial Times, TASS reported. "From the bodies already buried we are looking for ways to exhume if possible and take some biological samples," he said, adding that it could be a month until the OPCW's fact-finding mission published its report on Douma. Uzumcu described the whole operation as a sensitive process. "That's why we are very cautious," he said. "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." Reports on the alleged use of a chemical warfare agent in Douma on April 7 were circulated by a number of nongovernmental organizations, including the White Helmets. Officials from the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria said on April 9 they had not found any traces of chemical weapons during an inspection in Douma. A day later, the OPCW took a decision to send experts to Syria for verifying the reports from the NGOs. The mission arrived in Damascus on April 14. Several hours prior to their arrival, the US, the UK and France delivered amassed missile strikes on Syria, using the reports on the incident as an apparent pretext. On April 26, Russia and Syria held a news briefing at the OPCW where they had brought seventeen eyewitnesses from Douma who confirmed there was no attack there and the White Helmets had actually forged the video footage. No areas will be off limits in talks next week when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Japan, but North Korea is not going to be a focus, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Friday, Reuters reports. China and Japan, Asias two largest economies, have been trying to reset ties after years of increasingly bitter dispute over a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea and the legacy of Japans invasion of China before and during World War Two. Japan will host a summit with Li and South Koreas President Moon Jae-in in Tokyo on May 9 to discuss regional issues, where North Korea had been expected to be high on the agenda. The meeting, which has been hosted in turn by each of the three nations since the first held in Japan in 2008, aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said Lis trip to Japan, the first by a Chinese premier in eight years, represented a rare development opportunity, though he admitted challenges remain. There will be no off-limits areas, Kong told reporters, referring to the talks between Li and Abe. As long as there are subjects both are interested in, they can be put on the table for candid discussion. (We) hope to increase understanding through discussion, which is helpful to narrowing differences on certain problems. While North Korea and other regional issues would come up and would be discussed with both Japan and South Korea so that the three sides could better coordinate policy, the isolated country was not a focus. I personally think this China-Japan-South Korea meeting is not to mostly discuss the situation on the Korean peninsula. Its mainly to discuss regional cooperation between the three, said Kong, who is also Chinas special envoy for the North Korean nuclear issue. So I think it will be hard for the three of them to have sufficient time to have deep talks on this issue. Bracketing the summit, Li will make a state visit to Japan from May 8 to 11, when he will meet Emperor Akihito, Japan has said. At Moons summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, both sides agreed to work toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Kim is also due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in coming weeks. Li will travel to Indonesia before going to Japan. Indonesia is seeking ways to speed up a $5-billion high-speed rail project being built by a consortium of local and Chinese state firms which faces obstacles over land ownership issues. China has banned companies and individuals from setting up private lending businesses without regulatory approval, the banking and insurance regulator said on Friday, Reuters reports. China will crack down on several illegal financial practices including illegal fund raising related to private lending, according to a document on the regulators website. Top officials from China and the United States reached a consensus on some aspects of the countries trade row, but disagreements over other issues remain relatively big, according to Chinas Xinhua news agency on Friday, Reuters reports. The two sides, though, committed to resolving their trade disputes through dialogue, state-run Xinhua reported. And the U.S. negotiators agreed to bring up with U.S. President Donald Trump the question of a ban on U.S. companies selling goods and software to Chinese telecommunication equipment maker ZTE Corp after representations from the Chinese side, the report said. ZTE faced the seven-year ban after the U.S. said it failed to keep to an agreement it made after breaching U.S. sanctions. The talks over the past two days have involved a high-level U.S. trade delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and top Chinese officials, including Vice Premier Liu He, following months of threats and counter threats from both sides in a series of disputes over trade practices. The trade discussions have been candid, efficient and constructive, Xinhua said, but gave almost no details on what the officials had agreed. The officials exchanged opinions on resolving tariffs and non-tariffs measures, on expanding two-way investment and the protection of intellectual property, and on expanding U.S. exports to China and bilateral services trade, Xinhua reported. It gave no indication of what actions might be taken based on those exchanges. The U.S. delegation has yet to give its account of the talks. The United States has proposed tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods under its so-called Section 301 intellectual property probe. Those could go into effect in June following the completion of a 60-day consultation period, but activation plans have been kept vague. China has said its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including soybeans and aircraft, will go into effect if the U.S. duties are imposed. The U.S. tariffs focus heavily on technology products benefiting from the Made in China 2025 program, which promotes the development of 10 sectors including aerospace, robotics and clean-energy cars. A breakthrough deal to fundamentally change Chinas economic policies was viewed as highly unlikely during the two-day visit, though any signs of meaningful progress in the dispute could delay any punitive action from the U.S. We are having very good conversations, Mnuchin told reporters earlier on Friday as he left his hotel. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday praised his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as the U.S delegation began their talks, which were held at a state guest house in the western part of the Chinese capital. Trump has targeted Chinas massive trade surplus with the United States, in recent months demanding a $100 billion annual reduction in the $375 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China. According to two sources with knowledge of the matter, the U.S. delegation submitted a document to the Chinese before the talks asking China to cut its trade surplus with the United States by $200 billion by 2020 and lower tariffs on all products to levels no higher than those imposed by the United States. The delegation also asked China to halt subsidies for advanced technology, the sources said. Chinese officials believed the proposal was unfair, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people with knowledge of the negotiations. The United States formally complained to China after Chinese nationals pointed lasers at U.S. military aircraft near Djibouti in recent weeks, the Pentagon said on Thursday, an account strongly disputed by China, Reuters reports. Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, 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. The U.S. military has been grappling with lasers being pointed at aircraft for decades. However, the Pentagon accusations highlight the concern the United States has about a Chinese military base just miles from a critical U.S. base in Djibouti. They are very serious incidents ... We have formally demarched the Chinese government and weve requested the Chinese investigate these incidents, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters. White said the Pentagon was confident 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. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that in one incident last month, two pilots in a C-130 suffered minor eye injuries. The official said in a few instances, military grade lasers from the Chinese base had been pointed at aircraft. In a brief statement, Chinas Defense Ministry said the U.S. accusations were false. We have already refuted the untrue criticisms via official channels. The Chinese side consistently strictly abides by international law and laws of the local country, and is committed to protecting regional security and stability. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the government had conducted serious checks and told the U.S. side 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, she told a daily briefing in Beijing. Djibouti is strategically located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on the route to the Suez Canal. This year, the U.S. military put countering China, along with Russia, at the center of a new national defense strategy. EU member states should engage in intensive talks to reach a common position on how to respond to U.S. tariffs on metal imports should efforts to secure a long-term exemption fail, a German government spokeswoman said on Friday, Reuters reports. I cant speak of timetables as this must be done at the European level, the spokeswoman said. It is clear that it is important that speedy talks are held in order to reach a common European position. Electronic retail giant Amazon today published a want ad for an English-Hebrew translator for the company's localization team. The job will be in Amazon's Luxembourg branch, Globes reports. The ad may indicate that Amazon intends to launch a Hebrew-language ecommerce website. The ad said that the purpose of the job is to "help expand the supply of the company's products for its international platforms." The ad also states that in addition to ordinary translation, the job also includes upgrading automatic translation and supervision and training of a team of freelance translators. Representatives of the US online and technology giant have visited Israel in recent months and have contacted large Israeli suppliers, including the major food companies, in search of information about market conditions in Israel. The representatives made it clear that the food sector was not their highest priority and would probably not be included in the first wave of Amazon's local activity. As far as is known, the market conditions that Amazon wants to map concern trade and competition in the local market for the purpose of promoting the operation of its logistics center and separate activity for selling the products of these Israeli companies through its online services. It is believed that at this stage, Amazon is examining an entry into non-food business in Israel, i.e. fashion and textiles, and books, media, and electronics products. These products have a long shelf life and have no sell-by dates. Tel Aviv doesn't want any conflict or tensions with Russia, the country's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant, adding that the two countries have had good partnership relations, Sputnik reports. "In recent years, we have developed, I would say, a very clear and frank, transparent dialogue with Russia, both when we have similar opinions and even when we have not," Avigdor Liebermann said. The official also stressed that Israel has always taken into account Russian interests in Syria and, therefore, hopes that Russia "will take into account Israel's interests related to our security as well." At the same time, Lieberman noted that Israel is "not going to interfere in the internal Syrian affairs." "What we won't allow are Iran's attempts to turn Syria into an advanced bridgehead against us," he said. "Any attempt by Iran to gain a military foothold in Syria will be prevented," he added, warning that if Syrian President Bashar Assad would interfere, Israeli forces "would respond to an attack." 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, ABC News reported. 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. At least a dozen fishermen from Guyana are missing, feared dead, after a pirate attack off the coast of neighboring Suriname last week that Guyanas president called a massacre on Thursday, Reuters reported. The bodies of three fishermen have been found, while four escaped and swam to shore, according to Suriname authorities. Authorities from both countries are continuing to search for the missing men. Media reports, citing survivors, said that the fishermen were forced to jump in the sea, some with weights tied to their legs. Piracy has long been rife in the waters off the tiny nations of Suriname and Guyana, as well as neighboring Venezuela. We have been very successful over the last three years in curbing piracy. This has come as a setback, Guyana President David Granger said. His counterpart in Suriname, President Desi Bouterse, has yet to speak publicly on the subject, spurring criticisms of a lack of response from the government. Jerry Slijngard, who coordinates Surinames disaster management center, said that victims families would be supported by the government. The exchange of information, patrols by maritime police and the deployment of technology ... will contribute to reducing this form of crime, he said in a statement. Another boat was attacked off Suriname on Wednesday, according to a fishermens association, who said the captain was shot dead but the rest of the crew survived. South Koreas national security adviser is in Washington to meet his U.S. counterpart, John Bolton, ahead of an expected summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, officials in Washington and Seoul said, Reuters reports. The U.S. National Security Council asked Chung Eui-yong to fly to the United States to discuss matters related to the summit, a South Korean presidential official told reporters on Friday. The United States had asked that the visit be kept quiet due to the issues to be addressed at meetings there, said the official, who declined to be identified. A senior administration official in Washington confirmed Chungs visit and his meeting with Bolton. South Korea has been working closely with old ally the United States on efforts to rein in North Koreas nuclear and missile programs, with an easing of tensions in recent months after threats of war from North Korea and Trump. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim pledged to work for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula at a summit on their heavily fortified border on April 27. Moon also spoke by telephone with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to South Koreas presidential office. Moon stressed that Chinas support was crucial for denuclearisation and to establish permanent peace, the office said. China is North Koreas lone major ally. Moon and Xi agreed to cooperate in the process of signing a peace treaty to end hostilities on the peninsula, it added. China is ready to join with the international community, including North and South Korea, to play its due, active role in pushing forward the process for a political solution to the peninsula issue to finally achieve lasting peace in the region, Chinese state media cited Xi as saying. Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a mere truce, not a treaty. North Korea says it is ready to discuss denuclearisation and give up its nuclear program as long as the security of Kims regime is guaranteed. Among issues to be decided before Trump can meet Kim are where and when they will hold their summit. Trump has suggested holding the meeting, which is expected in late May or early June, at the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, where Moon and Kim met. This would require close coordination with Seoul, although officials in the South Korean presidents office have said there has been no official requests to prepare the venue. Chung may address the issue of a venue in Washington but he was more likely to discuss a bigger deal with U.S. officials pertaining to North Korea, the South Korean official said. Chung was last in Washington shortly before the Moon-Kim summit. Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of U.S. troops in South Korea, the New York Times reported, citing several people briefed on the deliberations. The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the Korean War. A trade war between the United States and China opens the way for reaching higher levels of economic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, first of all, in the agricultural sector, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said, TASS reports. "On the whole, we are opposing any sort of a trade war and are against swinging a bat of sanctions, however, we will be not missing the opportunities, which are opening ahead of us," Morgulov said in an interview with Russian daily Izvestia. The Russian diplomat outlined the possible perspectives of the Russian agricultural products export to the Chinese market. "The tendency for the mutual trade growth in this sphere shaped up before the aggravation of the Chinese-American contradictions," Morgulov said. "We see now that conditions develop for the benefit of cooperation in this sphere at a much higher level." The United States announced on April 3 its intention to introduce a 25-percent duty on a range of 1,300 products imported from China worth the total sum of about $50 billion. Beijing responded to Washingtons move by introducing 25-percent duties on imported US cars as well as soybeans and other agricultural products. Russia hopes to sign with Argentina by the end of this year a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on the fight against terrorism, a senior Russian diplomat said, TASS reports. "We are planning to discuss with the Argentinian side a draft intergovernmental document on the fight against terrorism," Deputy Director for New Threats and Challenges Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Dmitry Feoktistov, said. The Russian diplomat is attending this week in the US capital of Washington a session of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE). "By the way, this will be a breakthrough (agreement)," he said. "Argentinians used to evade this sort of work saying that they never had a practice of concluding bilateral deals on the fight against terrorism since they had been always focused on the work based on multilateral platforms and abiding by the international conventions." The Russian diplomat said "there is a general understanding that this type of the bilateral intergovernmental agreement on the fight against terrorism will be drafted (between Argentina and Russia)." "We (Russia) plan to draft this document soon and then turn it to Argentina," Feoktistov added. Forms and mechanisms of the Russian-Chinese cooperation in the Arctic region would be on agenda of a special working groups meeting due in Yakutsk on May 30-31, head of the regions foreign relations department, Vladimir Vasilyev, told TASS on Friday. "We know that China has adopted the Arctic strategy recently - the countries want to discuss how their Arctic policies will develop," he said, adding the region is prepared to host about 40 Russian and Chinese officials. According to him, the parties will touch upon potential projects in the Arctic. "This working group will have its first meeting, and we are happy Yakutsk will host it," he told TASS. "The Chinese side is very interested in the Northern Sea Route, in issues related to renewable energy sources, and to the Arctic ecology.". The Kremlin said on Friday it was still waiting for substantive talks with the United States to set up a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Reuters reports. Trump said in March that the two leaders would meet soon, but since then already poor ties between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated further over the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call on Friday that there was still no clarity on a possible meeting between the two leaders and that no further steps had been taken by Washington to arrange it. We are waiting, Peskov said. Moscow expects the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to issue an impartial report on the chemical weapons attack that allegedly happened in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Friday, TASS reports. "We continue facilitating the investigation that OPCW experts are carrying out in the town of Douma, first and foremost, by ensuring security," she said. "As far as we understand, the work is going on according to plan. They have already collected samples at two facilities mentioned in regard with the alleged chemical weapons attack - a laboratory and a depot. We expect that the OPCW technical mission will be completed, resulting in an impartial and professional report," Zakharova added. The Russian diplomat also pointed to a briefing held at the OPCW headquarters several days ago, which involved Doumas residents. Zakharova expressed regret over the fact that Western countries had boycotted the event, while Western media had launched a propaganda campaign "aimed at intimidating the people who wanted to tell what had actually happened." Russian and Egyptian foreign and defense ministers will hold talks in Moscow on May 14, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday, TASS reports. "A round of negotiations between the Russian and Egyptian foreign and defense ministers is scheduled to be held in Moscow on May 14. Separate meetings as well as two-plus-two meetings are expected to be held," the diplomat said. "During the upcoming contacts, it is planned to exchange views in detail on regional and international issues with an emphasis on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. Particular attention will be paid to the tasks of strengthening cooperation between Moscow and Cairo in order to resolve the crises on the basis of compliance with international law, respect for the sovereignty of the states in the region and non-interference in internal affairs," Zakharova stressed. "It is also planned to discuss further coordinated steps to counter global terrorist and extremist threats." According to Zakharova, the ministers will discuss the current state of affairs in the key areas of Russian-Egyptian cooperation. The mechanism of such consultations was established in November 2013. Russias Foreign Ministry has no information about preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday, TASS reports. "I dont have information on this account," she said in response to a question, adding that the ministry was ready to act upon instructions to prepare such a meeting should they be given. On March 20, Putin and Trump held a telephone conversation, after which Trump told reporters that he had called Putin to congratulate him on winning the presidential election. According to the US president, he expected to meet with the Russian leader "in the not too distant future to discuss the arms race, which is getting out of control." Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later that the two presidents in their March 20 telephone call had agreed to hand down instructions to the foreign minister and the secretary of state to make contact in order to discuss the date and location of a possible summit. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that inspectors for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had completed their work at the site of a suspected gas attack in the Syrian town of Douma, Reuters with reference to the RIA news agency reported. The OPCW is investigating the deaths of dozens of people in Douma, an enclave on the outskirts of Damascus, on April 7 to determine if they were killed by banned munitions. Russian news agencies on Friday quoted Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying the inspectors had completed their trip to sites in Douma. Earlier on Friday, a diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity that a team of experts from the OPCW had returned to the Netherlands from their mission on Thursday night after going to Damascus on April 14. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkish Armed Forces have not yet completed the military operation in Syria's Afrin, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Turkish media reported May 4. Erdogan noted that at present the main work of the Turkish Armed Forces is to clean up settlements from anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. The head of state noted that further steps to clean up the northern areas of Syria from terrorists and, in particular, the expected military operation in Manbij will be discussed in the US between the Turkish Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State. On January 20, the Turkish Armed Forces launched a joint military operation, titled Operation Olive Branch, together with the Free Syrian Army in the Syrian region of Afrin. Units of the Turkish Armed Forces on August 24, 2016 began operation titled Shield of the Euphrates against the militants of the "Islamic State", and with the support of the Syrian opposition took the border town of Jarabulus in northern Syria, as well as the city of Al-Bab. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey intends to strengthen ties with Iraq, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted, commenting on his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari. Cavusoglu noted that Turkeys participation in restoring Iraqs infrastructure was also discussed as part of the meeting. Turkey once again expresses its intention to allocate $5 billion to Iraq, and is also ready to open new checkpoints at the countrys border, Cavusoglu added. On Feb. 14, Cavusoglu said that Ankara will allocate $5 billion to restore Iraq. There are 27 checkpoints in Turkey, and four of them are on the border with Iraq. Seven of 27 checkpoints in Turkey dont operate, and one of the closed checkpoints is located on the border with Armenia. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Former President Abdullah Gul on May 4 confirmed that Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar had visited him previously, while refuting claims that the top soldier visited him to threaten him to not run for president Hurriyetdailynews reported It was a visit paid during the day and in front of everyone. So it wasnt a secret, Gul told reporters after Friday prayers. There were no threats, impositions or disrespect during the visit, he added. Main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu had claimed that Turkeys top soldier and chief presidential advisor threatened Gul not to run for presidency and called on them to make a clear statement about the meeting ahead of the key parliamentary and presidential elections. It is an attempt at military tutelage, Kilicdaroglu said in a parliamentary group meeting on May 3. Kilicdaroglu referred to the visit by Akar and President Recep Tayyip Erdogans chief advisor Ibrahim Kalin to Gul on April 24. The visit wasnt denied by any of the three figures and no explanation had been made either following the allegations. On April 28 Gul ended weeks of speculations that he would stand against Erdogan in the presidential election and announced he would not run for president. There is no longer any question of my candidacy, Gul told reporters, citing a lack of broad consensus between opposition parties for his nomination. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of U.S. troops in South Korea, Reuters reported citing the New York Times. Reduced U.S. troop levels are not intended to be a bargaining chip in Trumps planned summit in late May or early June with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program, the Times said. The officials said, however, that a peace treaty between the two Koreas could diminish the need for the 23,500 U.S. soldiers currently stationed on the peninsula, the newspaper said. A full withdrawal of U.S. troops was unlikely, the officials said, according to the paper. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has said the United States should consider reducing the number of troops in South Korea unless Seoul shoulders more of the cost. Then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo, before taking office as U.S. secretary of state, met with Kim last month and reported the North Korean leader was not demanding the withdrawal of all U.S. forces as a precondition for a summit with Trump. South Korea said on Wednesday the issue of U.S. troops stationed in the South was unrelated to any future peace treaty with North Korea and that American forces should stay even if such an agreement is signed. U.S. President Donald Trump has not asked the Pentagon for options to reduce U.S. forces based in South Korea, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a statement on Friday, Reuters reports. His comment comes after the New York Times, citing several people briefed on the deliberations, reported on Thursday that the president was seeking options to curb the number of American troops stationed in South Korea. The New York Times story is utter nonsense. The President has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea, Bolton said. Trumps potential moves on the Korean peninsula come as the U.S. president is poised to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program. The Trump administration is also engaged in efforts to secure the release of three Americans imprisoned in North Korea. The Harry Truman aircraft carrier strike group (HSTCSG) began air operations this week from the Eastern Mediterranean against the Daesh terrorist group in Syria, the US Navy announced in a press release, according Sputnik. "Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1's strike fighter squadrons conducted sorties over Syria, demonstrating HSTCSG's ability to support two different geographic combatant commanders simultaneously," the release stated. The Truman strike group is attached to the US 6th fleet, which along with the Persian Gulf-based 5th fleet is participating in operations against terrorist targets in Syria and Iraq. The carriers air wing operations include three strike fighter squadrons, an electronic attack squadron, an early warning squadron, helicopter maritime strike squadron and other assets, the release explained. In addition to the Truman, the strike group includes four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and a guided missile cruiser, the release noted. KYODO NEWS - May 4, 2018 - 22:30 | All, World Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Friday to closely cooperate in resolving the North Korean nuclear and missile issues, while confirming the importance of U.N. sanctions against the North to achieve that goal. In the first telephone talks between a Japanese prime minister and Chinese president, which signals improving relations between Asia's two biggest powers, Abe and Xi welcomed the commitment recently expressed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean Moon Jae In toward a "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Abe and Xi also agreed to cooperate toward an early resolution of the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, a senior Japanese government official said. The promise by Xi to cooperate on the long-stalled abduction issue comes as positive news for Abe amid concerns Japan has been left behind by recent diplomatic moves related to North Korea. Abe has said the abduction issue is one of his government's top priorities. The telephone talks were held at Japan's request, with Tokyo eager to win Xi's cooperation in addressing the North Korea issues. China is a major ally of North Korea and Xi met with Kim on March 26 ahead of the historic inter-Korean summit on April 27. Chinese broadcaster CCTV said Xi told Abe he hopes Japan will play constructive roles, saying he wants to resolve the North Korean issues through dialogue and in a balanced manner by taking into account the interests of related countries. To ensure the enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea, Abe and Xi confirmed they will address Pyongyang's attempts to evade the sanctions through means such as ship-to-ship transfer of goods at sea, the official said. Japan has noted and reported to the United Nations multiple cases of the suspected ship-to-ship goods transfers between North Korean and foreign-registered tankers in the East China Sea since January. The 40-minute phone talks came before a summit between Japan, China and South Korea on Wednesday in Tokyo, and before U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Kim in the coming weeks for the first U.S.-North Korea summit. Abe has expressed his desire to visit China and realize a reciprocal trip to Japan by Xi. They agreed Friday to further deepen bilateral relations, which in recent years have been strained by territorial and historical issues. "We agreed to heighten Japan-China relations...to the next stage by significantly expanding public exchanges in various areas" with this year marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of a friendship treaty between the two countries, Abe told reporters. The prime minister underscored the significance of the telephone talks, telling the Chinese president, "It's productive that I can directly exchange views with (you) at a time when the situation over North Korea is evolving greatly," according to the Japanese official. Xi also told Abe the telephone talks are a demonstration of the recent forward-looking change in the bilateral relationship, the official said. The upcoming trilateral summit is to be attended by Abe, Moon and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Abe is expected to hold bilateral talks with Li and Moon on the sidelines. Also Friday, Xi and Moon agreed by telephone to cooperate to replace the Korean War armistice with a peace treaty and to communicate closely toward the success of the North Korea-U.S. summit, the office of the South Korean president said. Xi told Moon that formally declaring an end to the 1950-1953 Korean War will end hostilities on the divided peninsula, the office said. By Miya Tanaka, KYODO NEWS - May 4, 2018 - 17:25 | World, All At an outdoor movie set resembling Panmunjeom village at the border of the two Koreas, Jeon Young Pyo, 57, was having his photo taken as he re-enacted with his wife the historic moment of the South and North Korean leaders shaking hands when they met for their summit on April 27. The former school teacher is among the many South Koreans and foreign tourists showing up at the Korean Film Council's Namyangju Studios east of Seoul, still excited by the inter-Korean summit talks that took place for the first time on the southern side of the border of the two countries after the 1950-1953 Korean War. "I felt tempted to come here because the summit was held in Panmunjeom," Jeon, who lives in Pyeongtaek, a city south of Seoul, said Thursday, adding that he could not think of any alternative to feel the summit venue close to him, given that South Koreans are not easily allowed access to the actual Panmunjeom. The Panmunjeom movie set was created for the shooting of one of South Korea's blockbuster movies "JSA: Joint Security Area" released in 2000, which depicted the secret friendship between soldiers of the two Koreas. Similar to the real JSA, which is the official name of Panmunjeom, blue buildings are located on a concrete slab that mimics the Military Demarcation Line separating the two countries. On the "northern" side of the line stands a replica of the North Korean building Panmungak. But the site is also very different in that there are no security guards and no tension there. Students were seen taking selfies and children easily crossed to the "North" side apparently unaware of the tragic reality of the world's most heavily militarized border. Still for Jeon and others, a visit to "Panmunjeom," albeit a movie set, appears to be a meaningful way to celebrate what appears to be progress toward reconciliation between the two countries, and to reaffirm their hope for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Calling the talks between South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "very nice," Jeon said, "Both South and North Koreans are wishing for peace. The demarcation line is something that has just been drawn by politicians." In the Korean War, North Korea sought by force to reunite the Korean nation, divided at the 38th parallel into a Soviet-occupied north and a U.S.-occupied south at the conclusion of World War II. The war ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Along that parallel, the peninsula remains split by the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, a 4-kilometer wide, 250-km-long stretch of land. "I've gone to a lot of countries around the world, but not North Korea. I hope to visit North Korea in the near future," Jeon said. (Korea Summit Press Pool) Roh Ki Hong, a 61-year-old former journalist, enthusiastically spoke of how his impression of the North Korean leader changed through the summit, in which TV footage showed Kim together with Moon stepping over the demarcation line hand in hand. Kim was also shown hugging Moon with a broad smile, telling jokes, and listening intently during their talks. "I had thought that Mr. Kim was a brutal person, but I changed my mind. He appears to be reasonable," Roh said and added, "I hope the JSA will become a symbol of a peaceful Korea, or a symbol of a united Korea, not a symbol of division." In a joint declaration signed between Moon and Kim following their talks, the two agreed to pursue "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to strive to declare a formal end to the Korean War this year. They also agreed to transform the DMZ into a "peace zone," having already started off by removing propaganda loudspeakers both countries have placed at the border. But it remains to be seen whether Panmunjeom can truly be transformed into a symbol of peace and become an area just like the movie set where visitors can cross the border laughing, smiling and relaxed. (Korea Summit Press Pool) A South Korean said he had mixed feelings when he watched a scene which some media called a "dance" between the two leaders as they stepped back and forth over the border before returning to the South Korean side hand in hand in a show of unity ahead of the start of their talks. "I had a chance to go to Panmunjeom when I was young and I was really shocked (to witness the tense border). But the two leaders looked as if they were having fun as they crossed the border," he said. "Is the demarcation line something that can easily be crossed over like that? When I think the many lives that have been changed and even sometimes lost because of that line, I don't think so." KYODO NEWS - May 4, 2018 - 11:19 | All, World Japan on Thursday exhorted North Korea to take "concrete action" toward resolving the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s along with its denuclearization. Katsunobu Kato, minister in charge of the abduction issue, made the pitch in remarks at a symposium on the human rights situation in North Korea at the U.N. headquarters in New York. (Sakie Yokota stands in front of a photo of her abducted daughter Megumi) Referring to the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit, he said, "it is important that the United States raise the issue of abduction and entice action from North Korea." "We must maintain maximum pressure against North Korea" until Pyongyang takes such action "toward denuclearization and resolution of human rights issues, including abduction," he said. "The families of the abductees consider this a once in a lifetime opportunity." Japan officially lists 17 citizens as abduction victims and suspects North Korea's involvement in many more disappearances. While five of the 17 were repatriated in 2002, Pyongyang maintains that eight -- including Megumi Yokota -- have died and the other four never entered the country. U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to take up the abduction issue during his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be held by early June. Among the participants in Thursday's symposium were the parents of Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student who died last year soon after he was released from the North in a coma following more than 17 months' imprisonment. "The only thing we can do is rub their noses in this. It embarrasses them," his mother Cindy said, in reference to the North Korean leadership. "We need to stand up for Otto...I can't let Otto die in vain." Other participants included two family members of Japanese abductees -- Takuya Yokota and Koichiro Iizuka. Yokota's older sister Megumi was taken from Niigata Prefecture while on her way home from school in 1977. She was 13 at the time. Iizuka is a son of Yaeko Taguchi who was kidnapped in 1978 at age 22 from an unknown location. The Congress leaders drove to the Chaukhada farm residence of deceased Lovepreet Singh and spoke to the bereaved family members. Comment GDPR and the compliance conundrum Like a train speeding down the track, enforcement of the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) begins in mere weeks, on May 25. Not only does all personally identifiable customer data need to be accounted for an extremely challenging task for many organizations and their complex IT environments -- but internal processes also have to be updated and employees need to be educated to ensure companies dont run afoul of the regulation. GDPR applies not only to organizations within the EU, but to any, regardless of location, that processes personal data of EU citizens. This makes GDPR a major concern for any organization in the U.S. that handles Europeans personal data. An unexpected consequence of GDPR, however, is that it has many businesses second-guessing cloud computing. Concerns primarily stem from a misconception that cloud platforms, with data held by third parties on shared systems, will be a more difficult undertaking than traditional in-house systems and potentially less secure. But the truth is very different. Public cloud services can be extremely secure and often can be a safer option than in-house systems. So, what exactly is behind this misconception and why should businesses be trusting public cloud services with their compliance needs? Privacy please On the face of things, its easy to see why many people would assume on-premise infrastructure is more secure and easy to manage. In theory, businesses know exactly where their data is being stored and who has access to it, both of which provide comfort for organizations. They can also design the architecture to suit their own specific needs and preferences, as well as reduce the risk of data loss if a public cloud provider goes out of business. One could argue that such a setup would be particularly appealing to businesses operating in highly regulated industries, such as healthcare and financial services, which need to have greater visibility and control over how their data is managed. However, firms would be wise to remember that operating their own private cloud places the responsibility of security and compliance squarely on their shoulders. Theyre at the mercy of the whims of nature and the resilience of their local power grid, potentially leaving them helpless if something goes wrong. It also leaves those organizations vulnerable to disgruntled employees and internal data theft. Employees may have easy access to confidential data, sometimes with very little to stop them from stealing corporate information simply by pulling a disk from a server and leaving the building with it. Often employees can also connect USB drives, which have been used in home systems and may contain malware or viruses. Huge faith is placed in the firewall as an effective means of keeping intruders out, yet backdoors may well exist in the form of legacy and unsecured modem connections, as well as poor access control processes that leave user credentials in place long after the relevant employee has left the company. So just because infrastructure is in your data center doesnt mean it is inherently more secure, resilient or suitable to meet the needs of regulatory compliance than public cloud. Going public While some businesses may feel more comfortable knowing their data is being stored within their own walls, data location is only one small aspect of security and compliance. Along with the provision of innovative new services to enable business growth, it is the job of public cloud providers to protect their customers data. A central component of their value proposition, therefore, is the delivery of systems, tools and continuity plans that make their cloud infrastructure safe and secure. This applies to both virtual and physical means of protection. Corporate data will be stored in a secure facility with multiple layers of physical security that are often not present if businesses opt to run their cloud infrastructure in-house. Public cloud providers are also likely to carry out software patching on a more regular basis, which is essential to managing the data protection elements of GDPR. Businesses running their own private clouds generally are slower to patch security gaps, leaving themselves exposed to potential data breaches and compliance holes. The recent Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities are a great example of this, with Google, Microsoft and Amazon all patching their system quickly after the problems became public. Meanwhile, many businesses will still be trying to determine what local systems they need to patch and how they go about doing it. Furthermore, public cloud providers tend to have highly skilled and experienced IT teams, which isnt something that can be said for all businesses. The skills gap issue is extremely prevalent in the cloud world and businesses are finding it harder than ever to attract talented developers. This is causing problems when it comes to addressing the more technical compliance challenges, which could be solved using third-party infrastructure. Add in the fact that businesses will not be alone when defending against attacks and the skills argument provides compelling support for the merits of using third-party providers to ensure legislative compliance. The combination of these factors means that in many cases, public cloud can actually be a better option than a private cloud for systems with high security and compliance requirements . It can certainly be a less complicated option for businesses and help to give them peace of mind amidst shifting regulatory landscapes. GDPR is indisputably a landmark law, requiring a massive overhaul in how organizations approach data privacy. But rather than shying away from public infrastructure, organizations should be embracing it as part of a hybrid cloud offering on their journey to compliance. Ive been investing in natural food related business for a while. I do this partly because Im interested in what we eat, but mostly because I cant make angel investments in tech companies anymore because of my Foundry Group fund agreements. And I enjoy making angel investments Boulder is the starting point for the natural foods industry, dating back to the founding of Celestial Seasonings in 1969. A year ago, the New York Times had a long article titled Foodies Know: Boulder Has Become a Hub for New Producers that explains why Boulder is so popular among natural foods companies. The number of food meetups and events in Boulder (including Startup Weekend Boulder Food + Tech) as well as events and initiatives all around the state of Colorado has reached a critical mass. Our friend, Kimbal Musk, who according the the New York Times Wants to Feed America, Silicon Valley-Style is based in Boulder (and, ahem, not Silicon Valley.) Im also excited about the startup activity outside of Boulder/Denver. My partner Seth and I have been actively involved in the creation of The Greater Colorado Venture Fund that launched earlier this year to support entrepreneurs in smaller communities in Colorado. Ive been involved in Startup Colorado for almost a decade now and am proud of their emphasis on supporting entrepreneurship in all shapes and forms outside the Front Range. An event in June brings these two dynamics together. If you are an entrepreneur or investor in a food related startup, ENGAGE Delta, Naturally Boulder, and Startup Colorado are bringing the foremost experts in the food industry from across the state to help go from recipes to products and products to profits. The event is 6/21-22 in Hotchkiss. I know Hotchkiss well as Amy has family there and Ive spent many long weekends there. Its a beautiful spot for an event like this. You can RSVP to the event here and make sure to enjoy some good food for me. Amazon 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 numbers169 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, Microsoft and Boeing, opposes the measure because it is not confident the Council would use new revenue wisely. 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. Story continues 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 jobsfrom 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. Credit: David Foster Jalisco, Mexico I like funkiness in my tequila, said Jose Pepe Hermosillo, the founder and maestro tequilero (master distiller) of Casa Noble, a renowned boutique organic distillery cradled in the birthplace of the mythical elixir derived from blue agave. Inside Hermosillos open-air tasting room, hes pouring tastings of his two most prized collectors editions of aged extra anejos. Much as he prefers fuller red wines, Hermosillo likes his tequilas to have similar funkiness, mushroominess, earthiness. Guests at the tasting room are instructed on how to approach the 2016 vintage. Kiss the tequila, said David Yan, global brand ambassador for the distillery. Wet your lips Breathe deeply. You may as well go ahead and French kiss this tequila, the Coleccion del Fundador Volume I from 2016, listed for $1,200 a bottle, and make love to the other the Fundador Volume II released last year which costs $1,499 a bottle. (Only 300 bottles of the Fundador Volume II were produced after the tequila was aged in French white oak barrels for eight years; made with the first agave ever planted for Casa Noble in 1997.) The sky-high prices underscore Americans newfound love affair with top-tier, luxury tequila, all the while with President Donald Trump hurling personal insults at Mexicans and threatening to build a border wall and blow up trade. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., super premium category tequila volumes in the U.S. rose 71% in 2017 over the past five years and exploded 805% over the past 15 years. Overall, tequila volumes in the U.S. (from value to super premium category ) grew 140%, an average annual rate of 6%, since 2002, and in 2017 17.2 million 9-liter cases were sold. U.S. supplier revenue for tequila (all categories from value to super premium) rose 45%, from $1.9 billion to $2.7 billion, between 2012 and 2017, while total spirits grew just over 4% during the same time period. Story continues Tequila may be the bridge over troubled water between the United States and Mexico. The U.S. government formally recognizes tequila as a denomination of origin, therefore it is protected. The U.S. is not allowed to permit the sale of tequila unless it is produced in certified regions of Mexico. Hermosillos labor of love has been a successful seduction for him personally, as it has for other big-name brands. Seventeen years after he started his tequila business at age 29, with just $3,000, Hermosillo sold the Casa Noble brand in 2014with the help of his celebrity rock star fan Carlos Santana who became a part ownerto the Fortune 500 alcoholic beverage company Constellation for a reported figure shy of $30 million. Star-studded billion-dollar tequila deals The sale was a precursor to much bigger deals, glamorized by Hollywood, to come. In June 2017, George Clooney proved that celebrity status has cache when he sold his five-year-old tequila, Casamigos, to global spirits conglomerate Diageo for $1 billion. (The brand hadnt even been around long enough to see an agave plant fully mature.) And just this week Bacardi, the worlds largest private sprits company, finalized its acquisition of Patron in a deal valuing the tequila brand at $5.1 billion. These deals come on the heels of short supply and high demand from gringos who have evolved from salt-and-lime shots. Amid a worrisome shortage of blue agave, the particular plant species required for making pure tequila, distilleries are honing their efforts where the real growth isin top-tier, handcrafted brands such as Hermosillos, which clearly people are willing to pay top dollar for. Jimadors harvesting agave at La Altena distillery in Jalisco. Jimadors uses a coa, a round blade attached to 5-foot long handle, to shear the plants sword-like leaves to reveal large pinas, or cores, which are then split and cooked in ovens for up to 72 hours. [Photo: May Ann Akers] While Cinco de Mayo revelers need not fear (margaritas for casual enthusiasts arent going anywhere), connoisseurs may see the price of their favorite extra anejos, cristalinos and jovens go up; and they certainly will for limited editions and collectors bottles, which, if you can find them, go for anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. (Theres even one bottle, made by Clase Azul, that costs $30,000.) Tequila producers are taking first-class routes to quench Americans taste for sipping tequilas. With more competition concentrated in the highest echelons, tequila makers seem eager to promote a special product or collaboration that distinguishes them in the super-premium category. Fancy tequila tastings Industry leaders are looking to bring more top-flight customers into the fold by further educating them and turning them on to the really good, high-end stuff. Theyre extending invitations to loyal customers to visit Jalisco and tour their distilleries to see firsthand the painstaking process involved in turning agave into tequila from harvesting the beastly spiked agave plants, shearing their sword-like shoots, baking the agave pinas, or cores, then crushing, juicing, fermenting and distilling, sometimes three times. This summer, Patron plans a very limited re-release of the Patron x Guillermo del Toro collectors bottles$399 eachproduced last year with the academy award-winning director who grew up in Jalisco. This historic distillery produced Herradura tequila from 1870 to 1963, when the facilitys modern operation was built next door. The words En Dios Confiamos emblazoned on the wall where workers once toiled to ferment and distill tequila mean In God We Trust. [Photo: Mary Ann Akers] Herradura, which was the first 100% agave tequila sold in the United States, partially perhaps thanks to Bing Crosby and fellow entertainer Phil Harris, has a buy-the-barrel program. Former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith kicked off the Brown-Forman-owned distillerys program in 2010. Herradura offers its fans the chance to buy a personalized barrel of either reposado or anejo for $11,000 to $14,000. One barrel holds enough to fill 240 bottles, from $46 to $58 each. Plus, the tequila maker will treat you to a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the historic hacienda in the town of Amatitan in the outskirts of Guadalajarathe only remaining tequila hacienda in Mexico, or the world for that matter. Ruben Aceves Vidrio, global brand ambassador for Herradura, said customers who buy a barrel spend time in Casa Herraduras barrel room tasting samples of three beautiful but different barrels of the same expression of reposado or anejo because barrels of the same expression can have subtle differences. Choose the one you like best and the barrel is all yours, he said. As luxury begets luxury, the lure of producing fine tequila in the volcanic rich terroir of Jalisco drew Moet Hennessy to open a distillery here last year, launching Volcan De Mi Tierra tequila. And there are throwbacks, like Carlos Camarena, a respected, third-generation owner of his familys La Altena distillery. His vision for success is to protect the agave fields he owns and not harvest any of it before its mature enough to make good tequila, which takes an average of eight to 12 years. I dont have to be the richest guy at the cemetery, said Camarena. Mary Ann Akers is a freelance writer living in Washington, DC. YEREVAN, May 2 (Reuters) - Nikol Pashinyan, leader of an Armenian protest movement locked in a standoff with the ruling elite, told Reuters on Wednesday he and his supporters would not give up, and would continue their campaign of civil disobedience. "My only power is my people. We are not going to give up," Pashinyan, dressed in his trademark camouflage T-shirt and cap, said at a protest in the Armenian capital. "We will continue our strike and disobedience." Asked if he would re-submit his candidacy for the prime minister's job to parliament, after lawmakers rejected it on Tuesday, Pashinyan told Reuters: "We will think and negotiate." If parliament fails for a second time to choose a prime minister, it will be dissolved and early elections called. Pashinyan said if that happened, one option for his movement would be to boycott the election. "I can't tell you now, it will depend on the specific situation," he said. (Reporting by Margarita Antidze Writing by Christian Lowe Editing by Catherine Evans) LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - The chief executive of British Airways-owner IAG declined to answer questions about takeover target Norwegian on the group's quarterly earnings call on Friday. "I am not saying anything about Norwegian," CEO Willie Walsh told reporters, when asked about a possible deal. Asked about how IAG was being impacted by problems with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines on Boeing Dreamliner 787s, Walsh said that the group anticipated that it would have more aircraft unavailable to it in the second quarter. "We have had some discussions about accessing wet lease capacity to cover the anticipated shortfall in the British Airways fleet and those discussions are ongoing," Walsh said. IAG could also lease planes from its biggest shareholder Qatar Airways. "We have a very strong, very productive relationship with Qatar and they've been happy to assist us in the past and I've no doubt that they would be happy to assist us again," he said. (Reporting by Sarah Young Editing by Victoria Bryan) Investing.com - Crude oil prices settled at three-and-a-half-year highs as traders increased their bets the U.S. would pull out the Iran nuclear deal next week, raising the potential for tighter global crude stockpiles. On the New York Mercantile Exchange crude futures for June delivery rose $1.29, or 1.89%, to settle at $69.72 a barrel, while on London's Intercontinental Exchange, Brent rose 1.75% to trade at $74.91 a barrel. Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to stick or twist with the Iran nuclear deal, traders appeared to bet that Trump would likely choose the latter, leading to the re-imposition of secondary sanctions on Iran, pressuring countries to cut their purchases of Iranian crude. New sanctions against Iran the third-largest OPEC producer would likely slash global supplies at a time when the countrys exports rose to a post-deal high, according to Bloomberg. Iran crude shipments climbed to 2.48 million barrels a day last month from 2.06 million a day in March, Bloomberg said Tuesday, citing ship-tracking data. Focus on the prospect of lower global supplies has dominated flows in oil prices, overshadowing data from energy services firm Baker Hughes showing the number of oil rigs operating in the US rose by 9 to 834, that was the fifth-straight weekly increase. The relentless pace of US oil expansion has continued unabated rising to 10.6 million barrels per day last week, the Energy Information Administration said Wednesday. Offsetting that, however, was continued output cuts from OPEC and its allies. Total OPEC production fell to the lowest since March 2017, according to a monthly report from OPEC last month, following persistently strong compliance by major oil producers with the deal to curb output. Related Articles Gold Prices Steady But Set to Post Third-Weekly Drop France against trade negotiations over U.S. tariffs: minister to Les Echos Crude Rises Close to $69 as Iran Deal `Jitters' Infect Market European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivering a on Karl Marx in Germany today (Reuters) The founding father of communism and the conservative former leader of a tax haven could barely be further apart politically. Which is why there has been so much surprise and indeed controversy over the decision of Jean-Claude Juncker, the ex-Prime Minister of Luxembourg and current European Commission President, to speak at an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. Members of the US Congress and MEPs from formerly communist-ruled eastern Europe appealed for Mr Juncker to pull out of the commemoration in Trier, the German town where Marx was born on May 5, 1818. But their protests didnt persuade Mr Juncker, who today went ahead with his speech at the opening ceremony of a new exhibition on the personal life and political works of Marx. Mr Juncker described Marx as a philosopher who thought into the future had creative aspirations and addressed criticism of his legacy. Today he stands for things, which is he not responsible for and which he didnt cause, because many of the things he wrote down were redrafted into the opposite, he told an audience of a few hundred people in a local church. One has to understand Karl Marx from the context of his time and not have prejudices based on the review. Turning to Marxs influence on modern politics, Mr Juncker said it was the task of our time to improve social rights. The European Union is not a flawed, but an unstable construction, he said. Unstable also because Europes social dimension until today remains the poor relation of the European integration. We have to change this. Mr Juncker was also keen to stress that Marx was lucky in life as he was born in Trier. Marxs birthplace is situated on the border with Luxembourg and Mr Juncker was made an honorary citizen of the town during his 18 years in charge of the Grand Duchy. An 18 foot tall statue of Karl Marx gifted to the town of Trier by China (Getty) That was the reason behind his invitation by Malu Dreyer, the social democrat leader of the Rhineland-Palatinate region, according to a spokesperson for the Commission president. Story continues The geographic rather than political reasoning for his participation in a programme of events which also includes the unveiling of an 18-foot-tall statue of Marx (a gift from China) didnt placate critics of the decision. Three US Congress members wrote Mr Juncker this week, imploring him to pull out of the event. Violence and Marxism go hand in hand, they said in a letter send on behalf of the Victims of Communism foundation. Marxs defenders often say he cannot be held accountable for what communist regimes did long after his life and death; but Marxist dictators who massacred their own people were applying communist ideology to political practice, There have also been protests from EU member states formerly ruled by communists. MEPs from Hungarys ruling Fidesz party, which remains part of the same centre-right political group as Mr Juncker despite an increasingly strained relationship, protested against his decision yesterday. Marxist ideology led to the death of tens of millions and ruined the lives of hundreds of millions, they wrote. The celebration of its founder is a mockery of their memory. A European Commission spokesperson made a statement in anticipation of such criticism when Mr Junckers attendance was confirmed last week. After decades of experience in politics at a national and European level, president Juncker is very well aware of the historical facts and sensitivities, she said. Whatever peoples views on Karl Marx are, I think that nobody can deny that Karl Marx is a figure who shaped history in one way or the other. Not speaking about his would come close to denying history. MORE: Ex-EU chief Barroso says Brexit proves bloc is not like the Soviet Union 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. Trump's 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 topics--and 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 seeyou 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: Story continues 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. 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 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! 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. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com Southwest flight 1380 NTSB report NTSB Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 suffered a catastrophic engine failure and cabin depressurization on April 17. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on Thursday that the cabin depressurization was caused by pieces of the engine cowling and inlet puncturing a window when the engine exploded. The exploding engine also caused damage to the Boeing 737-700's left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on Thursday what caused the window blowout onboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 last month. According to investigators, the window in row 14 was punctured by pieces of the engine inlet and cowling that exploded after a fan blade in the left engine snapped off. The punctured window caused the cabin of the Boeing 737-700 to depressurize, nearly sucking passenger Jennifer Riordan out of the aircraft. Riordan, 43, was pulled back into the plane by fellow passengers, but would later die from her injuries. The exploding engine also caused heavy damage to the plane's left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. southwest airlines emergency landing Mark Makela / ReutersOn April 17, Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 was en route from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Dallas Love Field when it suffered the engine failure over Eastern Pennsylvania. The flight diverted to Philadelphia International Airport. The NTSB announced hours after the incident that a preliminary examination of the failed engine showed signs of metal fatigue at the point where the blade broke off. Thursday's update confirms the initial diagnosis that blade number 13 of 24 failed due to metal fatigue. No cracks were found in any of the engine's other fan blades. The engine in question, the CFM56-7B turbofan, is the product of a 40-year-old joint venture between GE Aviation and France's Safran Aircraft Engines, called CFM International. Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 NTSB report NTSBThe CFM56 is arguably the most popular jet engine in the world with more than 30,000 units produced since 1980, and it's used on both civilian and military aircraft. The CFM56-7B debuted in 1997 and currently powers more than 6,700 planes in the world. CFM International is the exclusive engine supplier for the Boeing 737. Story continues After the fatal flight, Southwest Airlines announced it is inspecting its entire fleet of more than 700 CFM-powered 737s for metal fatigue using ultrasonic sensors. In addition, the engine's manufacturer and the Federal Aviation Administration have both issued alerts that called for older CFM56-7B engines to be immediately inspected. Read more about the Southwest incident: NOW WATCH: A Wall Street chief economist explains what could be the saving grace for mega-cap tech companies See Also: SEE ALSO: JetBlue may be giving up one of its biggest advantages FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content! The unidentified male cleaner found the thrown away gold bars at Incheon International Airport on Thursday, according to local media reports. The owner of the bullion is a Korean man, according to Yonhap News Agency, and two other men ditched the bars out of fear of being searched at customs. A janitor in 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 million). 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. More From CNBC Natural gas prices edge lower on Friday in North American trade, as supply rose in the latest week and demand declined. The weaker than expected U.S. payroll report showed that the U.S. economy could be slowing, which would weigh on industrial demand. Natural gas prices edge lower and remain in a sideways trend that is edging higher. Support is seen near an upward sloping trend line that comes in near 2.72. Resistance is seen near the April highs at 2.84. Momentum is neutral as the MACD (moving average convergence divergence) histogram prints near the zero-index level with a flat trajectory which points to consolidation. Supply rises According to data from the EIA, the average total supply of natural gas rose by 1% compared with the previous report week. Dry natural gas production grew by 1% compared with the previous report week, and average net imports from Canada increased by 2%. Demand falls Total U.S. consumption of natural gas fell by 9% compared with the previous report week, according to data from the EAI. In the residential and commercial sectors, consumption declined by 26% as temperatures warmed in the Northeast and Midwest. Natural gas consumption in both the industrial and power sectors decreased by 2% week over week. Natural gas exports to Mexico increased 2%. Payrolls Were Weaker than Expected U.S. April payroll gain after 30k in upward revisions left a second consecutive jobs report with a payroll undershoot, with similar weakness in the hourly-earnings data that showed a lean 0.1% April rise with a 2.6% year over year increase after a downward March revision to 0.2% from 0.3%. There was a weak household survey as well, with a tiny 3k rise for civilian employment and 236k labor force drop that left a jobless rate decline to a 3.93% cycle-low, and a drop in the participation rate to 62.8%. Yet, hours-worked tracked assumptions with a 0.1% gain after a March boost to 0.2% from 0.1%, and the goods data revealed a solid 49k payroll rise with a 0.7% hours-worked increase, with component job gains of 24k for factories, 17k for construction, and 8k for mining, and hours-worked gains of 0.7% for goods overall, 0.7% for both factories and construction, and 0.8% for mining. Story continues This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: Oil pumps are seen at sunset outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France April 23, 2018. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose about 2 percent on Friday, with U.S. crude hitting its highest in more than three years, as global supplies remained tight and the market awaited news from Washington on possible new U.S. sanctions against Iran. Bob Yawger, director at Mizuho, noted the looming May 12 deadline that U.S. President Donald Trump had set for Europeans to "fix" the deal with Iran over its nuclear program or he would refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief for the oil-producing Islamic Republic. "You have the May 12 Iran and Trump headlines that support the market," he said. U.S. light crude (CLc1) settled up $1.29 at $69.72 a barrel. It touched a session peak of $69.97 for the first time since November 2014. It was on track to gain just over 2.3 percent on the week. Brent crude oil (LCOc1) settled up $1.25 at $74.87 a barrel. The global benchmark was set to end the week up 0.3 percent. Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday that U.S. demands to change its 2015 agreement with world powers were unacceptable. Trump has said European allies must rectify "terrible flaws" in the international accord by May 12. European powers want to hand Trump a plan to save the Iran nuclear deal next week. But they have also started work on protecting EU-Iranian business ties if Trump makes good on his threat to withdraw. Iran resumed its role as a major oil exporter in January 2016 when international sanctions were lifted in return for curbs on Tehran's nuclear program. ANZ analysts Daniel Hynes and Soni Kumari said Brent could reach $80 a barrel by the end of this year, attributing recent strength to rising geopolitical risks and tighter global supply. "We expect the market to tighten even further in second half 2018," they wrote in a note to clients. Still, growing U.S. crude supplies have been capping price gains. Surging production in the Permian shale basin is outpacing pipeline capacity, while local refining issues have exacerbated oversupply. Story continues The United States now produces more crude oil than top exporter Saudi Arabia, and two weeks of U.S. inventory builds have limited the oil market's upside. U.S. energy companies added oil rigs for a fifth straight week, with higher crude prices boosting profits and pushing nationwide production to record highs. [RIG/U] Drillers added nine oil rigs in the week to May 4, bringing the total to 834, the highest since March 2015, General Electric Co's (GE.N) Baker Hughes energy services firm said. (RIG-OL-USA-BHI) Hedge funds and other money managers cut their net long U.S. crude futures and options positions in the week to May 1, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. (Additional reporting by Meng Meng in BEIJING and Henning Gloystein in SINGAPORE and Christopher Johnson in LONDON; Editing by Marguerita Choy, David Gregorio and Richard Chang) School Zero Tolerance Goes Beyond Extreme Crimesearch.org. April 26th, 2018 In Florida and New Jersey students have been punished for going to a gun range outside of school hours. In New Jersey this week, a school suspended two students who posted pictures of them going to gun range last weekend. A New Jersey school district that allegedly suspended two high school students this week over a gun photo taken during a family visit to a private shooting range is facing community backlash and the threat of a lawsuit over district policies. The photo of four rifles, magazines and a gun duffel bag was shared by one of the students on the social media app Snapchat with the caption "fun day at the range," according to Lacey Township resident Amanda Buron, a family friend of one of the students . . . . The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs letter cited the rule stating students could be suspended for up to a year if they are "reported to be in possession of a weapon of any type for any reason or purpose on or off school grounds.". . . . Meanwhile in Florida at the Stoneman Douglas High School, Kyle Kashuv, who has been outspoken in support of people's right to self-defense, went shooting at a gun range with his father. See picture above ....... These reactions are almost laughable - except, bearing in mind the very unfunny trend displayed they are actually both threatening as well as very concerning. Recent weeks have seen not only serious threats to our rights as gun owners but also seemingly a further ratcheting up of school's zero tolerance policies. At the very least it should no business whatsoever what students choose to legally do outside of school, and that includes a simple visit to a range. Unfortunately the term 'school tyranny' comes to mind. "You don't have to be Jewish to fight by our side." You just have to love freedom. 2018 JPFO All rights reserved. jpfo@jpfo.org 1-800-869-1884 Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership 12500 NE 10th Pl. Bellevue, WA 98005 USA "America's most aggressive defender of civil rights" We make the NRA look like moderates Join JPFO Back to Top Snapchats redesign isnt working. In November, parent company Snap Inc. embarked on a dramatic reorganization of its mobile photo-sharing app to combat sluggish growth. But once the update reached all of Snapchats users in the first quarter, user additions and sales slowed even further amid a public revolt over the new design. Revenue gains in the current quarter will be even smaller, the company said Tuesday, sending shares plunging as much as 20 percent in New York Wednesday, the biggest intraday drop in almost a year. Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel made the case that while the change is disruptive in the short-term, its necessary to fuel Snaps business into the future. But two quarters in, hes having a hard time making that argument work. Spiegels pitch for the new way of using Snapchat was rooted in his strong belief that messages and posts from friends should be separate from content from strangers and companies, and that mixing the two makes real relationships less intimate. Celebrities arent your friends, Spiegel said at the time. Still, the only business model thats really worked so far for social media in general has involved using posts from friends to draw users to content from brands and advertisers. Snap is no exception. While he admitted that the new design created some headwinds in our revenue this quarter by disrupting user behavior and creating some apprehension among our advertising partners, Spiegel told investors on a call that the redesign brings us closer to accomplishing our mission, and were continuing to iterate very quickly on the things that we dont like. In one concession to the apps critics, Snap is making a further tweak to Snapchats design to put some updates from friends back into the part of the application with news and celebrities, Spiegel said on Tuesday. The friend content will be on the top of a scrolling feed. The decision could provide some relief to users or it could further confuse the public about Spiegels vision. Story continues In its earnings report, the company said daily active users on Snapchat, which lets people share pictures and videos that disappear, reached 191 million in the first quarter missing the 194.3 million average analyst estimate, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue was $230.7 million, well below predictions for $244.9 million. Los Angeles-based Snap has had trouble sustaining momentum as a public company, providing lots of change and uncertainty for investors who hoped to see consistent growth. In recent months, the company lost several top executives and cut 7 percent of its staff in a reorganization. Revenue gains in the current period will decelerate substantially from the first quarter, Snap said, when sales climbed 54 percent. That indicates growth will be far less than the 62 percent analysts expected on average. Snap is going through a painful maturation phase, said Daniel Ives, an analyst at GBH Insights. Wall Street was looking for further red flags around the companys much-discussed app redesign, he said. Snap shares tumbled as low as $11.50 in extended trading. They had earlier declined 1.4 percent to $14.13 at the close in New York. The stock is trading about 17 percent below its March 2017 IPO price of $17. The companys net loss in the recent period narrowed to $385.8 million, or 30 cents a share, according to a statement on Tuesday. Snap failed to add as many users as projected even as its larger social-media competitor, Facebook Inc., endured public controversies over data collection and its products. In the month of March which marked the start of the privacy crisis for Facebook Snaps daily average user count actually dropped below the average for the quarter, Spiegel said. On Tuesday, Facebook announced plans to invest more deeply in the stories function that allows posting of videos and photos that disappear in 24 hours, which it copied from Snapchat. On WhatsApp, Facebooks global chat app, a similar feature is used 450 million times a day, the company said. Snap has aimed to set itself up to brands and advertisers as an alternative to Alphabet Inc.s Google and Facebook, which generate the majority of growth in digital marketing. Advertisers are hungry for another option, but some of them are still experimenting. Snap had its work cut out in terms of convincing marketers to engage more substantively with its platform, Mark Mahaney, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, said in a note to investors. His firms survey found that 73 percent of marketers dont spend on Snap. By Ron Bousso and Nerijus Adomaitis LONDON/OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's Statoil (STL.OL) said it aims to cut its carbon footprint more aggressively as measures to reduce global warming could reduce the value of its assets, leaving some of its reserves stranded underground. The possibility that large quantities of the world's oil will never be developed due to the increase of renewable energy and the electrification of transport has been a growing worry for investors in the oil sector. Statoil, Norway's largest company, started stress testing its portfolio of oil and gas assets against global energy scenarios set out by the International Energy Agency (IEA) at shareholders' request in 2015. The IEA's Sustainable Development Scenario analyses the likely impact of energy policies by 2040. "The net present value (NPV) (of Statoil's portfolio) will be reduced by 13 percent ... under the IEA (Sustainable Development) Scenario," Statoil's Chief Executive Eldar Saetre told Reuters. However, he said that would still leave Statoil's portfolio with a "massive" NPV. The IEA says its scenario is aligned with the Paris Agreement goals to keep global warming from exceeding 2 degrees Celsius. Saetre was speaking on the sidelines of a Statoil presentation to investors in London, where the company announced plans to reduce emissions from some of its new fields to 3 kg of CO2 per barrel of oil equivalents (boe), less than a fifth of the global average. Its carbon intensity at its offshore fields stood at 9 kg per boe in 2017, compared to a global average of 17 kg per boe. Statoil said optimisation and efficiency improvements have substantially strengthened its portfolio, which includes the giant Johan Sverdrup oilfield off Norway. The field will be powered from shore instead of generating electricity by offshore gas turbines, the main source of emissions on the Norwegian continental shelf. Statoil reduced its emissions from 11 kg of CO2 per boe in 2014, partly by divesting its carbon-intensive oil sand operations in Canada in 2016. Story continues Last year, it said it would no longer explore for heavy oil, which requires more energy and produces more emissions to lift barrels from the ground. However, the company still operates two heavy oilfields in Brazil and Britain, and is working with Rosneft (ROSN.MM) to develop a high-viscous field in Russia. "Despite the negative impact on NPV in the 'sustainable development scenario', we see very limited stranding of assets," Statoil said in its latest sustainability report. Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said last month that it saw little risk of having "stranded assets" in its portfolio because four-fifths of the oil major's current oil and gas reserves would be extracted before 2030 anyway. (Editing by Susan Fenton) 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. Ukraines government stopped cooperating with special counsel Robert Muellers investigation after it secured deadly weapons from the Trump administration, according to reports. President Donald Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort has been ensnared in the ongoing investigation into whether the Trump campaign collaborated with Russians to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Manafort has been accused of money laundering and failing to accurately register as a foreign agent, among other charges. At the heart of the matter is Manaforts work with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. In addition to the Mueller probe, anti-corruption investigators in Kiev had been looking into suspicious payments Ukraines former President Viktor Yanukovycha pro-Russian figure who was driven out of the country by pro-Western protesters in 2014had made to Manafort and a U.S. law firm. Several anti-corruption activists and journalists in Ukraine said they suspected Yanukovych had used stolen taxpayer money to pay Manafort. Trending: Will Merula Snyde Ever Be A Friend Option? 'Hogwarts Mystery' Devs Talk Pets, Romance and More Upcoming Features But Ukraines chief prosecutor has now halted the investigation, ostensibly to remain on Trumps good side. The president has frequently called the Mueller investigation a witch hunt and has expressed his extreme displeasure with the special counsel's team, and Ukraines government is trying to appease Trump in order to secure much needed financial and military aid from Washington, according to a report from The New York Times published Wednesday. The order to freeze cooperation was given shortly after the Trump administration announced that it planned to provide Ukraines government with anti-tank missiles known as Javelins. Ukraines government has long sought deadly weapons from the United States to fight Russia-backed separatists in the part of the country known as the Donbas. The Obama administration had resisted these requests, opting instead to provide Ukraines military with protective gear and other supplies. Story continues Don't miss: Melania Trump's Parents Visit U.S. Citizenship Office Amid President's Attacks on 'Chain Migration' But Trump, despite trumpeting his desire to foster friendlier relations with Russia, has taken a different approach. [Former President Barack] Obama and [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel thought that if we sent lethal aid it would only make the situation worse. So for three-and-a-half years we did nothing, but the Russians sent thousands of heavy weapons plus re-established the 1st Guards Tank Army aimed at the West, the 8th Guards Army near Rostov, and moved the 20th Guards Army 700 kilometers closer to Ukraines eastern border, Phillip Karber, president of the Potomac Foundation, wrote in a statement for the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Atlantic Council. Trump finally broke that embargo by agreeing to provide thirty-five Javelin anti-tank launchersfewer than the number in one US infantry battalion, he said. Most popular: Rare Wild Denmark Wolf Illegally Poached on Camera 591939974 Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images On April 30, the State Department confirmed that Washington had delivered the Javelins to Ukraine. Ukraines current President Petro Poroshenko expressed his personal gratitude to Trump for having delivered the weapons. "I am sincerely grateful for the fair decision of Donald Trump in support of Ukraine, in defense of freedom and democracy," Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page last week. "Washington not only fulfilled our joint agreement, it demonstrated leadership and an important example." The money-laundering cases in Ukraine have not been closed, but Ukraines prosecutor said that no subpoenas will be issued or further witnesses interviewed. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek 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. Killed Defending Freedom 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 English Lithuanian The April 27, 2018 general meeting of shareholders of Rokiskio suris, AB (company code 173057512, address: Pramones str. 3, Rokiskis, Lithuania) resolved to allocate the Companys profit of the year 2017 and allocate dividends amounting to EUR 0.10 per share. Dividends will be paid to the shareholders who are shareholders of Rokiskio suris, AB at the end of the tenth business day after approval of the resolution by general meeting of shareholders, i.e. May 14, 2018. Dividends will be paid starting from May 23, 2018. Dividends will be paid in the following procedure: Dividends to the shareholders whose securities accounting is performed by public exchange brokers or credit institutions providing services of securities accounting, in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania will be paid out by the representative financial or credit institutions having deducted the income tax (profit tax) to the account indicated by shareholder. Dividends to other shareholders will be paid by the companys cashier (Rokiskio suris, AB resided in Pramones str. 3, Rokiskis), or upon a written request they will be transferred to the personal account. Requests may be supplied in written and sent to the companys address (Rokiskio suris AB, Pramones str. 3, Rokiskis LT- 42150) or e-mail address grazina.jankauskiene@rokiskio.com The dividends are subject to taxes as follows: Dividends paid to physical bodies resided in the Republic of Lithuania as well as to physical bodies residents of foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of residential income tax. Dividends paid to juridical bodies of the Republic of Lithuania as well as juridical bodies residents of foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of profit tax unless it is provided differently by law. Authorized persons of the company capable to provide additional information: Grazina Jankauskiene, ph. +370 458 55243. Dalius Trumpa Chief Executive Officer +370 458 55200 Taipei, Taiwan, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan conducted an orientation at Taiwan Innovation Agricultural Machinery Pavilion with the spirit of the New Southbound Policy on April 27. Ambassadors and representatives from 14 countries have visited the pavilion in person. Minister Tsung-Hsien Lin from Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan explained that Taiwan produces high quality agriculture machinery; grain dryers famous worldwide; low-temperature silos and greenhouse environment control facilities unmatched anywhere! Minister Tsung-Hsien Lin spoke of enhancing cooperation with the countries around the world, especially those in the New Southbound Policy. Through the Taiwan Innovation Agricultural Machinery Pavilion Minister Tsung-Hsien Lin described Taiwans plans to widen the export market and make Taiwan an even stronger partner to the agricultural development of countries around the world. Ambassadors are amazed at the ingenious and practical nature of the agricultural machinery produced in Taiwan. The Council of Agriculture held an orientation in order to promote Taiwans high quality agricultural machinery and to realize the New Southbound Policy. The orientation attracted ambassadors and representatives from 14 countries including Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, St. Lucia, Thailand, Turkey and Tuvalu to come and visit in person. At the same time, members of the Overseas Youth Vocational Training Workshop from Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia arrived to study and take a hands-on view of the latest in Taiwans advanced agriculture machinery. Everyone remarked with admiration at the advanced and efficient features of Taiwans agricultural machinery and many expressed interest in importing both machinery and the latest techniques back to their countries. The Taiwan Innovation Agricultural Machinery Pavilion- promoting diplomatic relations through agriculture machinery and helping to form win-win agriculture cooperation between Taiwan and countries worldwide. According to the Council of Agriculture more than 200,000 people have visited the Taiwan Innovation Agricultural Machinery Pavilion since it was opened on April 4 with a total order amount of over 20 million NT dollars so far! The orientation held on April 27 was not only for promoting diplomatic relationships through agriculture machinery but also serves as a means to publicize Taiwans strength in agricultural machinery and to widen exports. Through the participation of ambassadors and the Overseas Youth Vocational Training Workshop we hope to see widened opportunities for agents to represent Taiwans agricultural machinery abroad; to strengthen our communication with key agricultural sectors worldwide and to see exports of agricultural machinery to every country in the world increase, where win-win relationships of long-standing are established on the shared goal of increased agricultural output. The Taiwan Innovation Agricultural Machinery Pavilion ends May 13th. Everyone is welcome to visit! The Council of Agriculture reported that the sale of agricultural machinery in Taiwan reaches as high as 10 billion NT dollars and export sales as high as 6 billion NT dollars. One goal for the future: expanding exporting market size. Youll find so much at this years Taiwan Innovation Agricultural Machinery Pavilion: 62 different types of highly specialized agricultural machinery; 9 advanced agricultural research units; 28 cooperating manufacturers and a range of amazing products made by 25 members of Taiwans Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association. The exhibition is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm every day until 5/13. The wide range of exhibits and demonstrations on hand will be meaningful and rewarding for anyone with an interest in agricultural production, international exports and economics. There is something for everyone! We welcome you to visit! Canadas national nuclear laboratory continues to strengthen ties with global leaders in an effort to advance sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions CHALK RIVER, Ontario, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canadas premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a cooperation agreement with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) for nuclear energy science and technology to support the transition to a greener, low-carbon economy. CNL President & CEO Mark Lesinski joined CNNC President Yu Jianfeng in Beijing on May 4, 2018 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. Both Canada and China have affirmed that action on climate change, including decisive steps towards low-carbon, sustainable development is crucial. The Joint Statement on Climate Change and Clean Growth released by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Government of Canada in December specifically highlights the need for a collaborative and cooperative response by governments and businesses to build the momentum necessary to make real progress in the push for a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. This agreement between CNNC and Canadas national nuclear laboratory will help strengthen and grow our cooperation with China, commented Jim Carr, Canadas Minister of Natural Resources. The Government of Canada is committed to promoting clean growth as part of the transition to a competitive, low-carbon economy. Nuclear energy has an important role to play in future clean energy systems. CNNC is a leader in the Chinese nuclear industry, and the only Chinese organization whose portfolio includes the complete system of nuclear technology from geological exploration to nuclear power research, design, construction and operation. CNL is Canadas national nuclear laboratory and operates the countrys largest science and technology complex. The two organizations benefit from the many unique capabilities and complementary strengths of the other. The agreement supports sustaining and improving the performance of current nuclear technologies, while collaborating to develop and demonstrate new nuclear technologies. Canada and China have a long history of working together to advance nuclear science and technology, explains Mark Lesinski, President & CEO. The need for truly viable, cost-effective and sustainable clean energy solutions is a global challenge; international partnerships and cooperation, such as todays agreement with CNNC, lay the groundwork for us to face this challenge together. This agreement enables cooperative research on issues such as economics and safety, noted Yu Jianfeng, CNNC President. Continued progress and innovation in these areas is vital to the future of clean nuclear energy. As outlined in its Long-Term Strategy, CNL is actively applying its strengths in nuclear science to advance clean energy initiatives. This includes projects to demonstrate large-scale clean hydrogen production with the goal of helping to decarbonize the transport sector. CNL also made a recent announcement for the siting of a small modular reactor at a CNL-managed site. For more information on CNL, including details on the organizations Long-Term Strategy, visit www.cnl.ca. About CNL Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a world leader in nuclear science and technology offering unique capabilities and solutions across a wide range of industries. Actively involved with industry-driven research and development in nuclear, transportation, clean technology, energy, defence, security and life sciences, we provide solutions to keep these sectors competitive internationally. With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is well positioned for the future. A new performance standard reinforced with a strong safety culture underscores every activity. For more information on the complete range of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories services, please visit www.cnl.ca or contact communications@cnl.ca. Contact: Patrick Quinn Director, Corporate Communications CNL, 1-866-886-2325 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/1fed945c-c645-4df2-8e4b-88e3cb67a51b HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. (TSX:TNP) (NYSE American:TAT) (the Company or TransAtlantic) today announced that it expects to issue its earnings release for the first quarter of 2018 after the market closes on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Conference Call On January 16, 2018, the Company announced the formation of a strategic committee of the board of directors and the engagement of a financial advisor to market the Company and explore strategic alternatives to increase shareholder value. The marketing process is ongoing, and the Company expects to receive indications of interest during the second quarter of 2018. Therefore, the Company has decided not to hold an earnings call to discuss its results for the first quarter of 2018. About TransAtlantic The Company is an international oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. The Company holds interests in developed and undeveloped properties in Turkey and Bulgaria. (NO STOCK EXCHANGE, SECURITIES COMMISSION, OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.) Forward-Looking Statements This news release and the earnings release referred to herein contain statements concerning the issuance of an operations update, the marketing of the Company, the Companys planned future operations and future use of capital, the Companys access to capital and capital resources, the Companys reserves, and the Companys production and sale of oil and natural gas as well as other expectations, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, and information about future events, conditions, results of operations, and performance that may constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, access to sufficient capital; market prices for natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil products; estimates of reserves and economic assumptions; the ability to produce and transport natural gas, natural gas liquids, and oil products; the results of exploration and development drilling and related activities; economic conditions in the countries and provinces in which the Company carries on business, especially economic slowdowns; actions by governmental authorities; receipt of required approvals; increases in taxes; legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to fracture stimulation activities; changes in environmental and other regulations; renegotiations of contracts; political uncertainty, including actions by insurgent groups or other conflict; outcomes of litigation; the negotiation and closing of material contracts; and other risks described in the Companys filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Contacts: Chad D. Burkhardt Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary (214) 265-4705 TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. 16803 Dallas Parkway Addison, Texas 75001 http://www.transatlanticpetroleum.com New York State Department of Health Warns of Potential Measles Exposures in Dutchess, Orange and Putnam Counties Two Cases Resulting from Exposure to European Tourists with Measles ALBANY, N.Y. (May 4, 2018) The New York State Department of Health today announced that two people in Putnam County have developed measles resulting from exposure to two European tourists with measles who visited the area last month. These new cases potentially put others at risk of developing measles, though this risk is low for people who have been vaccinated or are immune. Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed: Watchtower Educational Center, 100 Watchtower Drive, Patterson, NY between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on April 26, 2018 in the dining hall; between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on April 27, 2018 in the main lobby area; and between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on April 27, 2018 in the dining hall. Museum at the Watchtower World Headquarters, 1 Kings Drive, Tuxedo Park, NY between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on April 27, 2018. Red Line Diner, 588 Route 9, Fishkill, NY between 10:30 p.m. on April 27, 2018 and 1:30 a.m. on April 28, 2018. Subway Restaurant in Patterson Commons, 3104 Route 22, Patterson, NY between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on April 29, 2018. DeCicco and Sons (food market), 50 Independent Way, Brewster, NY between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on May 1, 2018. These times reflect the period that the infected individuals were in these areas and a two-hour period after the individuals left the area, as the virus remains alive in air and on surfaces for up to two hours. A third case of measles resulting from the original exposure has also been confirmed in a resident of Connecticut. There have been no exposures in New York State as a result of this case. The Department previously announced that due to the original exposure by the European tourists, anyone who visited the following locations may also have been exposed: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 873 New Jersey Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 15, 2018. Watchtower World Headquarters, 1 Kings Drive, Tuxedo Park, NY, between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on April 16, 2018. Watchtower Educational Center, 100 Watchtower Drive, Patterson, NY, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 17, 2018. Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, have had measles disease, or have a lab test confirming immunity. Individuals who are not immune to measles and were exposed are at risk for developing measles.All individuals who were exposed to measles, particularly those without immunity or who are not sure if they have been vaccinated, should contact their health care provider if they develop measles symptoms. Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose. Symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure but may appear as early as 7 days and as late as 21 days after exposure. To prevent the spread of illness, the Department is advising individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic, or a local emergency department before going for care. This will help to prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. People first develop a fever, then may have a cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by appearance of a rash.People are considered infectious from four days before to four days after the appearance of the rash. The single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated. Individuals should receive two doses of MMR vaccine to be fully protected. If a person is unsure if they are immune they should contact their healthcare provider. Typically, the first dose of MMR vaccine should be given at 12-15 months of age and the second dose should be given at four to six years of age (age of school entry), although individuals may also be vaccinated later in life. In New York State, measles immunization is required of children enrolled in schools, daycare, and pre-kindergarten. Since August 1990, college students have also been required to demonstrate immunity against measles. The state Department of Health will issue a health advisory to health care providers to notify them of the potential exposure. Health care providers should report all suspected cases of measles to their local health department. More information about measles can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2170.pdf. Is North Korea opening the door for Christian missionaries and aid groups? No official announcement about this has been made despite what a false headline from a site known for mixing real news with made up headlines containing unsupported claims is trying to get you to believe. The claim appeared in an article published on May 3, 2018 on YourNewsWire titled "North Korea Agrees To Open Its Doors To Christianity" (archived here) which opened: How times can change. A few months ago, North Korea's dictator, Kim Jong-un, was firing missiles over Japan and threatening to send nuclear bombs in our direction. Now North Korea has agreed to open its doors to food, medicine and the message of Christ. But last week, the young North Korea leader dropped a different kind of surprise on the world: He met with South Korean president Moon Jae-in on April 27 and announced that the 67-year-old Korean conflict is over. "I came here to put an end to the history of confrontation," Kim Jung-un told Moon in a meeting on the border town of Panmunjom. "There will be no more war on the Korean peninsula, and a new age of peace has begun," the two leaders said in a joint statement. That article, in turn, was mostly based on this story from Charisma Magazine, copying entire sections of it: North Korea Will Open Its Doors to Christianity A few months ago, North Korea's dictator, Kim Jong-un, was firing missiles over Japan and threatening to send nuclear bombs in our direction. But last week, the young leader dropped a different kind of surprise on the world: He met with South Korean president Moon Jae-in on April 27 and announced that the 67-year-old Korean conflict is over. That article was labeled as a blog post from Christian minister J. Lee Grady, not a news story. And it ended in a vision of hope: God has worked this miracle. It is not the work of any politician. He has heard the prayers of his people on both sides of this conflict--and the prayers of the faithful around the world who felt North Korea's pain. He will engineer a lasting peace in this part of the world, and open the doors wide for the gospel to flourish in a thirsty land. Before long, the churches of South Korea will freely send teams into the North with food, medicine and the message of Christ. Like a patient who has been in a coma, North Korea will awaken. The world will watch a national transformation. We are witnessing the greatest display of God's sovereign power over nations since the Berlin Wall fell. But it is not a report about an actual signed agreement from North Korea about letting Christianity into the country. We were unable to find any reports about that happening so for now we are going to have to label YourNewsWire's headline as fake news. YourNewsWire has published several hoaxes and fake news articles in the past so anything they write or publish should be taken with a large grain of salt. Their Facebook page "The People's Voice" recently lost its verification checkmark according to a report from MMFA. The Terms of Use of the site also make it clear they don't really stand behind the accuracy of any of their reporting: THE PEOPLE'S VOICE, INC. AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, TIMELINESS, AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED ON THE SITE FOR ANY PURPOSE. The site was profiled in the Hollywood reporter where it was described as: Your News Wire, a 3-year-old website of murky facts and slippery spin, is published by Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway -- a Bernie Sanders supporter in 2016 -- out of an apartment in L.A.'s historic El Royale. RationalWiki described it as: YourNewsWire (styled as YourNewsWire.com[1]) is an Los Angeles-based clickbait fake news website known for disseminating conspiracy theories and misleading information, contrary to its claimed motto ("News. Truth. Unfiltered").[1] A while ago we also reported that YourNewsWire had rebranded itself as NewsPunch by changing its domain name in an apparent effort to evade filtering/blocking. It appears the site has changed back to it's old name in the mean time but you can still see the NewsPunch name in the contact email address in the footer. We wrote about yournewswire.com before, here are our most recent articles that mention the site: 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 {ROUF DAR} Srinagar, May 03: A new report that details the extent of violence against children in Jammu and Kashmir suggests that Indian armed forces have directly targeted children. In the wombs and outside of them, inside homes and on the streets, in the lush green fields of a valley dubbed as paradise on earth, no facet of Kashmiri life has been left untouched from the brutal war that India has imposed on it. Children in the Kashmir conflict are the subject of a new report released by the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society under the title Terrorised: Impact of Violence on the Children of Jammu and Kashmir. The report details the various ways in which children (defined as ages 1-17) have been victimised over the last 15 years killings by armed forces, sexual violence, illegal detentions, occupation of schools and violence against students. From 1989 when the first armed insurgency against Indian rule broke out to 2003, the report mentions that among the total 5106 people killed and forcibly disappeared, 392 were children. During this phase of the armed conflict, the scale of the violence made documentation difficult. Also the penetration of media and social networking was not as incisive as it is now. However the violence can be gauged by the 2012 Save The Children survey which put the number of orphans in J&K at 215,000. Most of this violence came as an inevitable outcome of the Indian states offensive against militancy. Now, from just 2003 to 2017, at least 318 children were killed, among them 72 girls. The report is clear on the identification of the perpetrators: 144 children were killed by Indian armed forces and state police which is nearly half, 44 percent, of the total number of children killed. Pertinently, a peace process which began in 2003, failed to make any impact and the report rightfully terms it as a meaningless exercise. Instead the years of the peace process between 2003-2008 saw the killing of 184 children. This resulted in a strategic shift in dissent. This triggered mass uprisings against Indian rule in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016. The uprisings were characterised by unarmed people protesting on streets but the state response to these protests was as violent as ever. It was during this phase of mass uprisings that newer methods of crowd control came to be introduced by Indian forces. Teargas shells and pellet shotguns resulted in the killed at least16 children 8 children were killed due to pellet shotguns, and 7 were killed due to injuries by teargas shelling. During the 2016 uprising alone, more than 10,000 civilians were hit by pellets. The youngest victims were five year old Bareena and eight year old Zafeer who had accompanied their father to buy petrol. The global face of this brutalisation, Insha Mushtaq, a 17 year old girl, continues to live with a disfigured face and is blinded for life. The 2016 vioence was aptly called the worlds first mass blinding by Kashmiri novelist Mirza Waheed. Children have mostly been direct targets of state-sponsored violence rather than being caught in confrontation between two belligerents. In 2010, nine year old Sameer Ahmed Rah strolled out to play carrom (a South Asian tabletop game) at his friends home. On the way, paramilitary forces stopped him and beat him to death with bamboo sticks. In another incident police fired pellets at Nasir Shafi, an eleven year old, in 2016 while chasing a group of boys. The next day his body was found hidden in the bushes. His father claimed that Nasirs body was riddled with 400 pellets, torture marks, and some of his hair had been pulled out. These are just two incidents of many and they illustrate that children have been treated no different from militants, stonepelters or unarmed protestors. Minors have also been detained under the Public Safety Act, termed as the lawless law by Amnesty International, which allows a detention of up to two years without trial. The report says that the age of detainee, in case of minors, is almost always deliberately kept above 18 years on the dossier prepared by police. This ensures that in the government records, the age of the detainee is always above 18 years of age. The report further mentions sexual violence against children, both male and female. The Support Group for Justice for Kunan Poshpora Survivors and JKCCS in 2018 compiled cases of 143 cases of sexual violence, mostly by armed forces, among whom 17 are minors. Recently a minor Muslim girl was raped by Hindu police personnel in Kathua. The systematic use of rape as a weapon of war in Jammu and Kashmir has become a potent weapon deployed to crush resistance to the state. Schools continue to be used as military bases, interrogation centers, and military posts, and at least 35 schools were gutted during the 2016 uprising and the the blame was put on unidentified persons. In the last year, 38 incidents of violence against students have been recorded. The report ends with several recommendations including UN supervised impartial investigations into incidents of violence against children, demilitarisation of schools, preventing detention of minors, setting up Juvenile Justice Boards and the adoption of a policy in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. As highlighted in the beginning of the report, one of the major challenges during the last three decades of armed conflict is that India still does not recognise the framework of international or non-international armed conflict laws. This kind of brutal state violence perpetuates the cycle of violence in J&K and can inspire family members of victims to respond with violence. Young children who find their loved ones killed, disappeared, or raped are socialised with a vengeance for their personal loss. For every Kashmiri killed, young ones are born with a strong desire to see the end to this violence meaning freedom from Indian rule. It is India and the global communitys responsibility to protect the innocent children of Kashmir so they can live a dignified and peaceful childhood. Pinjoora (Shopian): Shopian boy was shot a kilometre away from gunfight site: FamilyMir Wasim/GK Refuting the police claim that a 14-year old orphan boy died in cross firing between militants and government forces in Shopian on Wednesday, the victims family said he was shot from point-blank range and the spot was one kilometer away from the encounter site. Muhammad Umar Kumar, a student of 9th standard at government high school Pinjoora, was moving towards Turkiwangam village in Zainapora area 12 kilometers from his native village when he was targeted at Darazpora village. He left home along with his friends in the evening after news spread that some militants have achieved martyrdom in Turkiwangam, said Muhamad Ashraf Kumar, the elder brother of Umar. He said that as the boys reached Darazpora village some 1 kilometer away from Turkiwangam the government forces hiding in the orchards opened fire on them without any provocation. While Umars friends ducked to save themselves, Umar could not as bullets hit his chest and throat and he fell down in a pool of blood, said Ashraf while quoting boys accompanying the slain boy. He said the government forces kept on firing continuously making it impossible for his friends to take him to hospital for treatment immediately. They somehow mustered courage and took him to Shopian hospital, but by then it was too late, Ashraf said with choked voice. Coming from a humble background, Umars father Abdul Ahad Kumar died in November 2016 after protracted illness leaving behind a widow and nine children. Umar was the youngest among his siblings with three brothers and five sisters two among them yet to be married. Police on Wednesday claimed that Umar died in cross firing at the encounter site. SSP Shopian Shailendra Mishra said that they were trying to ascertain the facts. At times the adjoining areas are also put under cordon. So if people pelt stones on forces it also amounts to disrupting of operation. Army has no law and order component and sometimes they are forced to open fire in these situations, the SSP tried to explain. He said that police would ensure that no such casualty takes place in future. MINUSCA Photo New York, May 4 (IBNS): Voicing concern over inflammatory rhetoric in the wake of widespread violence in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all actors to remain calm and to work together to bring peace to the country. There is no justification for incitement to violence or hate speech, said the Secretary-General in a statement attributable to his spokesperson. At least 22 people have been killed and over 100 injured in clashes, which erupted following the arrest of a member of a criminal group by CARs security forces. In the ensuing violence, a church was attacked and a pastor killed. Two members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country, known by its French acronym MINUSCA, were also wounded one seriously when they were pelted with stones by a crowd. In the statement, the UN chief also called on the national authorities to investigate the attacks and promptly bring those responsible to justice. He reaffirmed his support to the country and to MINUSCAs role to protect civilians and stabilize the country. The CAR has been plagued by decades of instability and fighting Clashes between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, which are mostly Christian, plunged the country into civil conflict in 2012. A peace agreement was reached in January 2013, but rebels seized the capital, Bangui, in March of that year, forcing President Francois Bozize to flee. Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis in the CAR and its regional implications, the Security Council authorized the deployment of MINUSCA in 2014 with the protection of civilians as its utmost priority. A transitional government has since been established and entrusted with restoring peace. The conflict, however, has taken on increasingly sectarian overtones as the anti-Balaka movement has taken up arms and inter-communal clashes have erupted sporadically in and around Bangui and elsewhere in the country. Ottawa, May 4 (IBNS): A new bilateral Youth Mobility Arrangement (YMA) between Canada and Portugal was signed May 3 by Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Jose Luis Carneiro, Secretary of State of Portuguese Communities Abroad, media reports said. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, who is currently touring several Canadian cities. YMA would further open avenues of exchange between Canadian and Portuguese young people by allowing Canadian and Portuguese youth aged 18 to 35 to work and travel through the Working Holiday, International Co-op, and the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program and gain international experience. More than 45 years since Working Holiday initiative originated in 1951, between Canada and Germany following the Second World War in 1967, Canada is still very committed to fostering cultural exchanges between young people. I am pleased that we are able to reach this arrangement with Portugal and further strengthen the great relationship between our two countries...allows youth to immerse themselves in a different culture and develop life skills, all while improving their employability back at home...will give Canadian and Portuguese youth the opportunity to broaden their perspective of the world and gain a better understanding of each others cultures, languages and societies while traveling and working abroad, said Hussen. Canada is home to a vibrant Portuguese-Canadian community with more than 480,000 Canadians of Portuguese origin. I am very happy that we have signed today our Youth Mobility Arrangement which I am confident will give great impetus to people-to-people contacts, thus enabling Canadian and Portuguese youth to gain a better understanding of each others culture, language and society...will ultimately contribute to bringing us closer together, while improving mutual knowledge of the existing opportunities in both our countries...embarking on a journey that will enable them to discover different ways and traditions, increasing at the same time their personal and professional wealth, Carneiro said. Portugal would reportedly be added as destination to the 33 partner countries and territories already available to young Canadians looking for an international experience. This new arrangement will enable up to 2,000 Portuguese youth to travel and work in Canada, while 2,000 young Canadians may travel and work in Portugal per year. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), warned almost a decade ago, the regimes regional mischief is more perilous than its nuclear program because the theocracys fundamental pillar is based on exporting terrorism. Her prediction was frighteningly on point. Still, many experts and Western officials express concerns over direct military confrontation between Arab countries or Israel and the regimes terrorist force IRGC. Hamid Bahrami, former Iranian political prisoner and human rights and political activist who works as a freelance journalist contributing to The Hill, Al Arabiya and the Daily Caller, writes in his article for Al-Arabiya, The regime in Tehran practically holds hostage, and hence controls, governments of four Arab countries including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen through its puppets or paramilitary proxies. He adds, Countries trying to tackle Iran may not have these kinds of leverage to balance the power. Thus, when necessary, they have to defend themselves by direct confrontation. Israel has reportedly already done this several times it has attacked IRGCs military bases near its borders. General Hossein Salami, the IRGCs Deputy, has threatened Israel, Wherever you are in the occupied land, youll be under fire from us, from east and west. You became arrogant. If theres a war, the result will be your complete elimination. But, Israels defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman said, Israel doesnt want war but if Iran attacks Tel Aviv, we will hit Tehran. Inside Iran, Bahrami writes, is where the solution to defeat and eventually expel the IRGC from the region can be found. Even the Iranian regime admits that the recent popular dissent is the greatest danger to its survival. Cutting off Irans income could limit capabilities of IRGCs proxies abroad, according to some experts, but action toward this end will have to include punitive measures. Bahrami worries that this would not be enough to counter the regime in Tehran. However, he believes that the Iranian people are determined to overthrow the regime. He highlights the thousands of demonstrators who chanted, beware of the day we get armed, during an April 20th anti-regime protest in Fars province. When the Iranian people are ready to challenge the regime, despite the heavy price and personal sacrifices, they are worthy of and deserve a helping hand from Western democracies, writes Bahrami. If the IRGC is forced to defend the regimes survival inside Iran, then cutting off the Tehran-Mediterranean corridor without vast military operations is possible. The IRGC may face a certain defeat because Iranians have been chanting during protests, tanks, machine guns, will no longer intimidate us. Djalali was a resident of Sweden at the time of his arrest in April 2016, after he was invited back to his native Iran to speak at Tehran University about his experience as an expert in disaster medicine. As such, the newfound information is relevant to two familiar issues in Irans human rights record: the persecution of foreign and dual nationals, and the denial of access to medical care for prisoners, especially political prisoners. In the previous two weeks, information has emerged about the arrests of three other dual nationals, all of them citizens or permanent residents of the United Nations. In March, Kingston University art student Arab Amiri was arrested and subjected to the vague charge of collusion against national security, although her case was only publicly acknowledged on Wednesday because her family had been threatened against speaking to the media. Then, in April, Abbas Edalat and Mahan Abedin were each arrested an accused of being members of a British infiltration network, despite the fact that Abedin is widely considered to espouse views favorable to the Iranian regime. These incidents arguably represent the latest escalation in what a UN panel described in September as an emerging pattern involving the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of dual nationals. More than 30 such individuals have been detained just since the conclusion of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations in 2015. The hardships suffered by many of those individuals, including Djalali, hint at what might lay in store for Amiri, Edalat, Abedin, and any other recent arrestees. In February, Djalali carried out a three-week hunger strike to protest the lack of due process in his case and his mistreatment at the hands of interrogators and the Revolutionary Court judge, who threatened him with the death penalty even before he went to trial. Since that time, Djalali has been refused transfer to a hospital or access to other specialized medical care despite reports of worsening health problems. This practice is frequently used by Iranian authorities to exert additional pressure on political prisoners, sometimes leading to forced confessions, though in this case it appears to simply be a form of arbitrary, extrajudicial punishment. Other methods were reportedly used in Djalalis case to compel him to read a pre-written confession that was later broadcast via state media. These included threats against the lives of his family. This too is a familiar practice in the Iranian judicial system, as evidenced by a report from Iran Human Rights Monitor which highlights the case of Maedeh Shabani-Nejad, a 15-year-old girl who has been detained and repeatedly interrogated since January of last year, when she was arrested at her uncles house by IRGC intelligence agents. The report identifies her as a poet and blogger and says that at least four of her relatives were arrested alongside her, for helping and collaborating with her. The notion that Shabani-Nejad was arrested for her poetry is bolstered by a CHRI report that indicates the two-year prison sentence was recently upheld for Ali Mohammad Mohammadi, a former campaign manager for President Hassan Rouhani, on the basis of his having read a religious-themed satirical poem at a rally in April 2017. Furthermore, while the tactics used by regime authorities against Djalali and Shabani-Nejad underscore the direct harm that those authorities might cause to prisoners loved ones, other stories highlight the collateral damage that might be incurred from mistreatment of the prisoner alone. Iran Human Rights Monitor reported on Thursday that 25-year-old Nishtman Hossein Panahi committed suicide two days earlier after she was informed that her uncle Ramin Hossein Panahi had been taken to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution. That execution was scheduled to take place on Thursday at dawn, though it was not immediately clear whether it had been carried out. Panahis case had been the subject of multiple statements by United Nations experts, on account of credible reports that he had been denied due process and had been tortured and forced to confess membership in an armed Kurdish separatist group. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce called these abuses the M.O. of the regime, noting that the mullahs have repressed the Iranian people and their desire for regime change with violence, imprisonment, amputations, floggings, blindings, and even executions. He said: For years, the regime in Tehran has systematically beat down all opposition in Iran. It regularly uses brutal tactics at home, including torture and mass executions, as it seeks to export violence and radical ideology abroad. Ever since its 1979 revolution, Iran has been a rogue state. Royce reported that the Iranian Regime was even using technology to spy on the Iranian people and their activities, a reference to the mullahs banning of the Telegram messaging app late last month. The mullahs encouraged the Iranian people to use home-grown apps instead, most of which were created by the Regime and allow them to spy on the conversations. He said: [The Regime] flagrantly disregards commitments its made to respect the fundamental rights of the Iranian people. Of course, the most brutal of all of the Regimes crimes against its own people is the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, including children and the elderly. Many of those executed had already completed prison sentences for peaceful political activism (i.e. leaflet drops). No one was ever brought to justice for this crime and many of the criminals are still in power today, despite constant calls by the families for the international community to step in. The bill, titled H.R. 4744, was a joint push by Royce, Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Engel, whom Royce praised for their efforts. Royce said: It is critical that the United States and our allies continue to press Iran for its dangerous and threatening acts that fall outside of the JCPOA. This is an area where officials from both the Trump and Obama administrations agree, and for good reason. The bill includes additional sanctions against various Iranian officials and outlines steps for the US to address the hostage-taking that is so routine from the Iranian Regime. It also calls on the US to work with its allies to apply sanctions against Iran when it takes citizens of those nations hostage, particularly the politically motivated arrests. The bill also calls on the international community and the US to stand up for the Iranian people who have been subjected to decades of abuse by the Regime. 33 kg gold smuggling case: police record statements from five suspects The Morang District Court on Friday recorded the statements from five suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Sanam Shakya, an alleged carrier of the 33 kg smuggled gold. Breaking News: Local Prominent Leaders Announce Support of Villaraigosa for Governor On Thursday, May 3, 2018 a press conference was held at the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper announcing the support of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor. Villaraigosa was surrounded by faith and community leaders, and local prominent political leaders from the City of Carson, Inglewood, and Compton. Over the 25 years I have been in public office, I received a lot of endorsements. Some of them I knew very well, some of them not so well but they took a chance on me. But what I am so proud of today, is the fact that these are the people that I have worked with, not for one or two or three years. Some of them are not here today, said Villaraigosa. Many of the people here I have worked with for three and four decades. Not just when I was in office but in 1980 when Mark Ridley-Thomas, we started the Latino-Black round-table. Villaraigosa goes on to say that without ongoing support from the city and local leaders, he would not have been mayor. My entire life, I have understood to whom much is given, much is expected. I have always acknowledged, whether I am in the African American community, at the Democratic Convention, in mostly Angelo communities, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Im here today because there was a Civil Rights Act. Im here today because there was a Voting Rights Act. Im here today because people fought for my right to be able to run, and I know that and this community opened up a door for me. I never would have been Mayor of Los Angeles. This story is under development, more details to come. The United States has raised concerns with China about its latest missile deployment in the South China Sea. On Wednesday, the U.S. news network CNBC reported China had installed missile systems on three man-made islands in the South China Sea. The report did not name the source but said the information came from U.S. intelligence. When asked about the report, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said, Were well aware of Chinas militarization of the South China Sea. Weve raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this and there will be near-term and long-term consequences. Sanders did not say what the consequences might be. CNBC reported the missiles were moved to the Spratlys within the past 30 days to Fiery Cross, Subi, and Mischief Reefs. The area is about 216 kilometers from the Philippines, well within Manilas Exclusive Economic Zone. The network said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles permitted 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. They would be the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratlys, where Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims. Last month, U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson said China could use its forward operating bases in the South China Sea to challenge the U.S. regional presence and would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea claimants. Chinas defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Its foreign ministry said China has sovereignty over the Spratlys and the deployments were for national security needs and not aimed at any country. Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying added, Those who do not intend to be aggressive have no need to be worried or scared. On Friday, a spokesman for the Philippines said, With our recently developed close relationship and friendship with China, we are confident that those missiles are not directed at us. He added that the country would explore all diplomatic means to address this issue. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the report, if accurate, would be a concern. And the actions would go against Chinas stated desire not to militarize areas under its control. Eric Sayers is an expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He called the missile deployment a major escalation. He said the U.S. response could be to cancel the invitation for China to join the multi-national naval exercises in Hawaii in July. Sayers said, China sees its participation in the exercise as a sign of its acceptance among the worlds maritime powers. I'm Jonathan Evans. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Reuters news report. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story consequence - n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions exclusive - adj. not shared : available to only one person or group vessel - n. a ship or large boat nautical - adj. relating to ships and sailing sovereignty - n. a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself intend - v. to plan or want to do escalation - n. increase maritime - adj. of or relating to the sea Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. provides technical, professional, and construction services. The company's Aerospace, Technology, Environmental and Nuclear segment offers scientific, engineering, construction, nuclear, environmental, and technical support services to the aerospace, defense, technical, and automotive industries. Its Buildings, Infrastructure and Advanced Facilities segment develops/rehabilitates plans for highways, bridges, transit, tunnels, airports, railroads, intermodal facilities, and maritime or port projects; develops or rehabilitates critical water resource systems, water/wastewater conveyance systems, and flood defense projects; and provides engineering design, construction management, design build, and operations and maintenance. 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This segment also provides services, such as manufacturing complex, expansions, modifications, and management of plant relocations; construction management and field construction services; and services to operate and maintain facilities. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Read More 11 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 Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi may have gotten its start by offering cheap, Android-powered iPhone (and iOS) knockoffs, but over the past half decade the company has earned a reputation for offering high-quality hardware at low prices and sometimes introducing truly innovative products. Xiaomi sells its phones in a number of markets including China, India, Brazil, and some European countries. Soon youll be able to add the UK, Ireland, and several other markets to that list. Xiaomi has signed a deal with UK-based Three to sell its phones in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Hong Kong. While the companys phones are already available from other sellers in some of those areas, this marks the first time youll be able to buy the phones in the UK without having them shipped from an international retailer. While Xiaomi signaled its intentions to become a global player in the smartphone space as early as 2013, its unlikely well see the company enter the US market anytime soon. Previously you could chalk that up to the complications of entering a market where customers are used to buying phones from carriers rather than buying unlocked phones that can be used on any carrier. But with US regulators giving other Chinese phone makers including Huawei and ZTE a hard time these days, it seems like there may be less incentive than ever for Xiaomi to risk trying to sell its phones in the US at least during the current presidential administration. via The Guardian, Reuters, and TechRadar Share this article: Share this: Facebook Twitter Reddit Pocket Tumblr Pinterest LinkedIn Email Broke, drunk and itching to get high, Andrew Valdez, Anthony Montes and two buddies crept toward the Western Farm & Home Supply in Utah's Uinta Basin, an area dotted with oil fields near a Ute Indian reservation. Late at night, with no one around, Montes threw a rock through the glass door. Western Farm was a catchall where locals could get their lawn mowers fixed or rent DVDs, but this crew was after only the firearms. Shattering display cases, the four made off with 15 handguns, each with a price tag attached by a string. They took only the weapons off the top shelves, ignoring the ones in other cases and the dozens of rifles leaning against the wall. Why the hasty retreat? Most likely, they thought they had tripped an alarm. They hadn't. By walking through the busted glass door, they avoided the motion detector attached to the frame. Even if it had gone off, it would have made an annoying noise audible only to the burglars in this sparsely developed commercial area. The alarm didn't call police. And the store's security camera wasn't working. The assistant manager arrived to open the store at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 11, 2001. He saw the shattered glass, footprints in the snow and, most important, a smattering of blood drops near the gun cases. One of the culprits must have gotten hurt, but it wasn't clear how. IN THIS GALLERY: Andrew Valdez, Anthony Montes and two others broke into Western Farm in 2001. See the crime scene photos. Andrew Valdez Anthony Montes By the time the assistant manager called police, the burglars were back in Salt Lake City, after driving 2 hours in a red Geo Metro with the guns wrapped in towels and hidden in the trunk. Valdez, 24, was a member of Surenos Chiques, one of the state's larger Latino gangs. Montes was 38, a three-time felon. Both had criminal pasts involving burglaries and drugs. They checked into a Super 8 motel at 5 a.m. and used the room phone to call friends and fellow gang members, trying to find someone to take the whole haul for $3,500. The burglars' plan was to split the cash and use it to buy drugs and maybe a few Christmas presents. They had mostly Smith & Wesson .40 calibers and Ruger 9 mms, though they also had two revolvers and a Hi-Point C9. That last gun, molded in an Ohio plant nine months earlier, was selling for $79.26, by far the cheapest of the lot. Carlos Psycho Trujillo One of the potential buyers they called was Carlos Moses Trujillo, who went by the street name "Psycho." He is Valdez's younger half brother, and he also was a member of Surenos Chiques, though he had connections to other gangs. Psycho reached out to "Droopy," a guy saddled with his street name because of his sad, downturned eyes and a perpetual frown reminiscent of the cartoon dog. Droopy was a member of the King Mafia Disciples and, at 27, had worked his way up to being a "minister," essentially a shot caller. Unbeknownst to Psycho, Droopy also was a confidential informant for the FBI and the Metro Gang Unit. Four months earlier, another KMD member went to the wrong house party, got in a fight with rival gang members and stabbed a 24-year-old man to death. Seeking help that night, he called Droopy, who picked him up and hid him. The FBI found out about Droopy's involvement and gave him an ultimatum: He could reveal the killer's whereabouts and become an informant, or he could face charges as an accomplice to murder. The feds caught Droopy at a vulnerable time. He had young children, and he'd been trying and failing to distance himself from the KMD. "At that point, it was a means to an end," Droopy said. In FBI jargon, he became a "cooperating witness." The feds, along with the gang unit, saw the KMD as a potential test case in Utah, where they'd try to dismantle the whole gang using racketeering charges. Agents Scott Suitts and Juan Becerra gave Droopy a small rectangular recording device that he could slip into his pocket, no wires needed. He turned out to be a well-placed informant, even on a few things that had little to do with the KMD. After getting the call from Psycho, Droopy contacted his FBI handlers and told them about the cache of stolen guns. He offered to set up the buy if the agents could get the cash. He didn't hear back for a full day, and in that time, the burglars moved to a Ramada across the street. They had already sold 11 of the guns. Droopy told Psycho he'd take the rest. "When you are dealing with stuff like that, there's a window of opportunity," Droopy said. "You either get it or you don't." When you are dealing with stuff like that, there's a window of opportunity. You either get it or you don't." "Droopy," an FBI informant He picked up Psycho and drove to a Salt Lake City motel, knocking on Room 162. A shirtless man with "Mendez" tattooed across his lower back answered the door. When Droopy flashed the cash, Mendez pulled out three of the four remaining guns. Droopy said he wanted the fourth as well, but Mendez said that one wasn't for sale. FBI agents watched as Psycho and Droopy left the motel. They didn't attempt to arrest anyone, wanting to protect Droopy's cover. Instead, they wrote a report on the gun buy and shelved it. About six months later, the FBI brought racketeering charges against 10 KMD members, securing lengthy prison sentences for many of the gang's leaders. Droopy has since moved on from gang life and keeps a low profile. He says just about every one of the guys he knew in the gang is either in prison or dead. Michael Minichino, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made it to Western Farm the day after the heist. Minichino had been an ATF agent for a year when he was assigned this case, but it felt as if he'd been in the bureau his whole life. His father, John, had joined when the ATF was still a division of the IRS. Minichino's family moved all over the country, including two stints in Utah, where his father eventually became the resident agent in charge of the Salt Lake City office before retiring in 1997. Tall and broad-shouldered with dark black hair, Minichino has a ready smile and arched eyebrows, which give him a mischievous appearance. The Western Farm burglary was his first serious gun case and he didn't have much to work with. He started by searching for a disgruntled employee but found none. No witnesses came forward. The blood didn't match anyone in the system. The best news Minichino received came from Salt Lake City police. Officers there got one of the Western Farm guns from a mother who found a pair of firearms in her teenager's room. A third gun surfaced during an investigation of a drive-by shooting in which no one was hurt. ATF Special Agent Michael Minichino while qualifying at a gun range east of Salt Lake City. Photo by Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Suitts and a buddy on the gang unit gave Minichino tidbits about Droopy's gun buys, but, worried about jeopardizing the racketeering case, they wouldn't let him see their reports or talk to their confidential witness for months. All they gave him was a rough description of the men in the hotel room and the first name of the go-between, Carlos. "By the summer of 2002, there wasn't much for me to do," Minichino recalled. "I was waiting for a good lead." He got one that August, when someone arrested for a minor crime offered information to avoid prosecution. In a matter of days, Minichino sat across from the confidential source at the ATF's Salt Lake City office. As he listened and later checked out the story, he saw three options: The informant watched the crime go down, participated in it or got the rundown directly from one of the burglars. The information was that good. The source said Anthony Montes smashed the door and was the first to enter Western Farm, followed by Andrew Valdez. They were joined by Lino Montes Anthony's brother and a friend named Steve Mendez. The Montes brothers supposedly started tossing the handguns to the other two, who would load them into a truck. Valdez missed one, and it hit him in the face, splitting his lip, which explained the blood drops found in the store. The informant picked all four out of photo lineups and reported seeing the guns at the home of a guy named Carlos and at a Ramada Inn. Finding a "Carlos" with ties to Valdez, Minichino put together one last photo lineup. The source pointed to Carlos Moses Trujillo, aka "Psycho." An assistant U.S. attorney considered the source's statements solid enough to get a search warrant for Valdez's blood. What better way to nail this case than to match it to the DNA found at the crime scene? Now Minichino just had to find Valdez. As Minichino searched for the Western Farm burglars, he got a call from West Jordan Detective Brent Jex about three teens Tyler Atwood, Justin Van Roekel and Sean Tims who were caught in September 2002, casing a neighborhood with guns, masks and a night vision scope. At Jex's request, Minichino tracked the seized guns. They didn't come from Western Farm. One was tied to a dealer who didn't keep the appropriate records, and the other was sold at a Texas gun show. Minichino couldn't prove that either had been stolen, which would have gotten the teens locked up. Two months later, the Hi-Point stolen from Western Farm was in the hands of Tyler and Justin, who used it in a few armed robberies. Then, on Nov. 18, 2002, Justin pulled the trigger four times, ending two lives Officer Ron Wood's and his own. Minichino's investigation into the Western Farm burglary immediately morphed into something far more personal: tracking a gun used to kill a fellow cop. He gained a partner in Jex, a detective driven by the anguish of losing a friend and by a hidden need for redemption. IN THIS VIDEO: Detective Brent Jex explains what the gun investigation meant to him, as he holds a tape of the 911 calls from the day Officer Ron Wood was killed. Prosecutors succeeded in moving Tyler's robbery case to adult court, though he was still a minor. That's the outcome Jex wanted, but it came with a downside. Tyler's defense attorneys refused to let Jex and Minichino talk to their client about the Hi-Point 9 mm. Without Tyler talking, Jex wondered whether this gun investigation would go anywhere. "I thought that no one who was involved in selling a firearm that was used to kill a cop would be willing to cooperate," he said. Also, Minichino had been taught that stolen guns rarely stayed in the same hands for long. After the Western Farm burglary, the Hi-Point had been on the streets for 11 months, and there was no telling which path it had taken on its way to Tyler and then Justin. With Tyler off limits and Andrew Valdez and Anthony Montes still at large, the investigators were struggling for a starting point then, a high school teacher called police. Ten days after his friend killed a cop and then died by suicide, Sean Tims was struggling. Terry Jensen, a teacher at Valley High in South Jordan, could see it, so he approached Sean in the parking lot. Sean said he expected to be arrested because of his ties to Justin and Tyler. Jensen joked that Sean must have been involved in an armed robbery. Taking the question seriously, Sean said he didn't do the crime, but he said he had some of the stolen cigarettes stashed under his bed. The police raided his house that morning, Sean said, and he woke up to an officer pointing an AK-47 at his face. Jex later said that never happened. Sean was exaggerating. Jensen said he suspected as much at the time. They talked again after class, and Sean remained agitated. Jensen told him that if he did nothing wrong, he had nothing to worry about. Sean blurted out that he'd sold Justin and Tyler the guns that police seized during their September arrest, and that he had been the getaway driver for at least one robbery. But, he said, Tyler was the only person who could implicate him and he was sure Tyler "would rather kill himself" than rat him out. He left Jensen's classroom. The teacher realized his student had just confessed to a crime. Jensen called Sandy police, who, in turn, contacted Jex. Sean, who erroneously believed there was such a thing as "teacher-student confidentiality," refused to say anything to Jex, but his mother let police search his room, where officers found cigarettes and a throwing knife. Resigned to the idea that Sean wasn't deeply involved, Jex sent the teenager to juvenile detention, using his September arrest to file a charge of carrying a loaded firearm in a car. Sean's case seemed like nothing more than a distraction until, in mid-January, his attorney wanted to cut a deal. Minichino, Jex and another West Jordan detective went to the detention center, where Sean told them about the McDonald's and Food 4 Less robberies. He said he saw Tyler and Justin with the "Scream" masks and heard them brag about other crimes. He also said a "Mr. C" sold the Hi-Point to Tyler. A search of the gang-unit database brought up Michael Sathaphan, a member of the Original Laotian Gangsters who went by Mr. C. He was 17, with a juvenile rap sheet that included stealing cars and evading arrest. Jex used car-registration records to find Sathaphan's address. Michael Mr. C. Sathaphan In the early hours of Jan. 29, 2003, Jex stood by as the heavily armed West Valley City SWAT team stormed the two-story duplex and handcuffed Mr. C and three relatives. Jex and Minichino found 71 grams of meth on the floor of the big bedroom Sathaphan admitted was his. They found a Browning handgun in Sathaphan's closet and pulled two more firearms from under the bed. Inside a black day planner was $2,795 in cash, along with a list of what appeared to be people who owed money. As the search continued, Jex sat next to the handcuffed Sathaphan and said the raid stemmed from the murder of Officer Ron Wood. Jex said he was pretty sure Sathaphan sold the Hi-Point to Justin or Tyler. Sathaphan, who stood 5-foot-11 and was a muscular 180 pounds, seemed genuinely pained and was willing to talk, in part because he hoped his cooperation could get him a lighter sentence. During an interview, Sathaphan said he met Tyler a little more than six months earlier and bought cocaine from him. But soon, Tyler was coming to him to get high, buying coke at least 30 times, Sathaphan said. On one of those occasions, Sathaphan said, he sold Tyler the Hi-Point for $100. Sathaphan said he got the gun, and plenty of drugs, from a Surenos gang member who went by "Shorty." All he knew was that Shorty hung out with a guy who went by "Wicked." It was thin, but enough. Sathaphan's reward was a sentence of five years and three months. Busting Shorty didn't take any early-morning SWAT raid. Instead, it required a deep dive into old police files. The investigators discovered that Shorty was the street name for Francisco Marcos Echeverria, a 28-year-old Guatemalan national who had been granted asylum. The databases didn't show much in the way of a record, though Echeverria's wife, Kara, had been arrested more than once for dealing drugs. Jex got creative. He searched dispatch logs, not arrest records, for Shorty and got a hit. It involved a case the district attorney decided not to pursue. Jex and Minichino pulled the file. Francisco Shorty Echeverria A little less than a month before Wood was killed, Salt Lake County sheriff's Detective Rudy Chacon had busted Kara Echeverria for having drugs and a gun in her car. Kara, who was on parole, admitted that the stuff was hers and then volunteered that her husband also carried guns and, likely, dope in his car. She even told police Francisco's silver Honda Civic was parked in the backyard of a nearby house. Chacon found the car and spotted the tip of a handgun peeking out from under a jacket. The detective decided he had probable cause to search the unlocked car, finding a Glock, $6,888 in cash, 2 ounces of meth and nearly 4 ounces of cocaine. Chacon left a receipt in the car, letting the owner know deputies had been there and had taken the items. The district attorney thought the case was weak, with no direct tie between Francisco and the contraband, and declined to prosecute. Minichino thought he could take the case federal. He got a search warrant for the Echeverrias' house and, on March 3, 2004, the gang unit sent a team. The officers knocked, and, to their surprise, Francisco answered. He showed none of the remorse exhibited by Mr. C. He denied knowing Sathaphan or Tyler, and he said he certainly didn't sell anyone a Hi-Point. He ended up pleading guilty to drug dealing and took a five-year prison sentence. Where did Francisco get the Hi-Point? His refusal to talk left Jex and Minichino stuck. But they did have some success in tracking the Western Farm burglars during the previous months. The gang unit had named Valdez and Montes joint public enemies No. 1, a move that led to plenty of media coverage and a stream of new tips. One informant told detectives that Valdez was hiding in a beige duplex in Ogden. Late on April 25, 2003, an FBI agent said he spotted Valdez through a window. Ogden's SWAT team surrounded the house, backed up by six Metro Gang Unit detectives. IN THIS VIDEO: ATF Agent Michael Minichino explains how the gun investigation affected him. Minichino hesitated when he received the call and decided to pull "a reverse Murphy," he said. Based on Murphy's law, the adage that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, he believed the chances of bringing in Valdez and Anthony Montes were better if he stayed away. Jex, who thought Minichino's reasoning was hilarious, had no intention of missing the arrest. He sat on the perimeter. A woman and her son, arms up, were the first to exit the house, then came another woman. After detectives called for everyone to leave, out walked Valdez, followed by Montes. His "reverse Murphy" having worked, Minichino rushed to get the first crack at interviewing the men he'd hunted for eight months. But when he got to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, where the suspects were waiting in separate interview rooms, an FBI agent warned him that Valdez was already asking for a lawyer. "When they invoke counsel, then they're off limits unless they initiate contact, so I just said, My feelings aren't hurt. That's your stance right now, and the ATF office number is 524-7000.' I probably said it, like, three times," Minichino recalled. "I didn't think either one of them was paying attention." Three days later, he received a call. A woman said she was reaching out on behalf of Montes. That led to a recorded confession that began: "I, Anthony Montes, was home on a snowy night." Montes threw the rock through the door, he said, and Valdez was the one who cut himself. "We loaded up on guns," he said. Minichino had Montes' taped confession, and he got a blood sample from Valdez, which matched the DNA found at Western Farm. Shortly before this raid, investigators found Carlos "Psycho" Trujillo at his mother's house. He admitted to brokering the gun sale, and each man would plead guilty. Prosecutor Leisha Lee-Dixon, a favorite among the gang detectives, made sure no amount of cooperation would result in a lesser sentence for Valdez or Montes. In making her case, she pointed to Ron Wood's killing, arguing that the pair should shoulder some responsibility. "Can we say, first of all, that Officer Wood would not have been killed?" she said in January 2004 at Valdez's sentencing hearing. "I think the fact that this defendant stole that particular firearm, put it in the stream of commerce, which eventually led to this individual who shot Officer Wood, certainly gives him some culpability." Valdez's attorney argued that the burglary was a spur-of-the-moment decision with the goal of scoring money to buy drugs. Valdez told the judge: "I know I made a mistake, but I had no intention of nobody getting hurt. It was a one-time thing. ... It breaks my heart every time I think about the stuff that happened." U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball gave Valdez a stiffer penalty than the law required eight years and four months in federal prison. Later that year, he gave a similar "upward departure" to Montes, sentencing him to 13 years. Psycho, who had no priors, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm. He was sentenced to serve 18 months. By the time they were done, Jex and Minichino had recovered 11 of the 15 stolen guns. They tracked the Hi-Point's path from Valdez and Montes to a man named Teddy Barrera, who knew Droopy, the FBI informant. The investigators also were sure that Tyler bought the Hi-Point from Sathaphan, who got it from Francisco Echeverria. But it appears that at least one suspect got away: as Minichino could find no connection between Barrera and Echeverria. Isidore Theodore Teddy Barrera Tyler Atwood In the following years, the prosecution of the other three men Barrera, Mendez and Lino Montes unraveled, when prosecutors wouldn't divulge the identity of the first confidential source. But Jex didn't track any of that. For him, the Hi-Point investigation ended in April 2004, during a lunchtime ceremony at the office of the U.S. attorney for Utah, where Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and U.S. Deputy Attorney General James Comey, who would later become the FBI director, presented Minichino and Jex with a plaque and a certificate honoring their investigation. It should have been a proud moment, but Jex wished he could have avoided the recognition. He couldn't stop thinking of Ron Wood and the opportunity he had to arrest Justin days before the shooting. "Internally, I'm thinking, So what?' I light a house on fire and then help put it out and everybody's like, Oh, thanks for helping us put it out.'" As the years passed, his guilt eased. He thrived within the Fraternal Order of Police, becoming president of the state lodge in 2012. The post gave him a new vantage point from which to view his profession and an avenue to get involved politically. Generally, he felt fulfilled and invested. But then another friend in blue died. And six months later, another. Elaine Wynn has filed a lawsuit against Wynn Resorts Ltd. demanding that the company provide her with a list of its shareholders, which she plans to contact in her fight against John Jay Hagenbuchs re-election to the companys board. Elaine Wynn is protesting Hagenbuchs re- election on the basis that the private equity investor is too close to former chairman Steve Wynn, who stepped down in February amid sexual harassment allegations. Though Hagenbuch is a member of the boards special committee investigating allegations of sexual harassment against Steve Wynn, Elaine Wynn says his friendship with her former husband is impairing his impartiality. She argues that the re- election, if successful, will undermine the companys efforts to distance itself from the Steve Wynn scandal. The lawsuit comes in response to Wynn Resorts call for shareholders to re-elect Hagenbuch, as the company resists Elaine Wynns efforts to oust him. Both Wynn Resorts and Elaine Wynn plan to directly contact shareholders to influence the outcome of the election. Having requested the list of shareholders earlier this week, Elaine Wynn suspects the company is not acting in good faith and delaying the release. Wynn Resorts has now agreed to provide Elaine Wynn with a list of the companys shareholders, asking in return for her to withdraw the lawsuit. It is not clear whether the lawsuit has already been withdrawn. Given Jays 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 Wednesday filing. The progress the company is referring to includes the expansion of the board from 10 to 11 members and the hiring of three female directors in the past month. The election will be held on May 16 during the companys annual shareholders meeting. Australian goats cross bred successfully in Nepal Five Australian Boer goats that were brought to the district two years ago have successfully increased their numbers via cross breeding. The annual cash handout from the government, included in the Wealth Partaking Scheme for 2018, will benefit a total of 710,000 eligible residents costing the government some MOP6.2 billion, the Executive Council (ExCo) spokesperson, Leong Heng Teng, said yesterday at a press conference. The briefing was held by ExCo at the governments headquarters to report the conclusion of an analysis by the executive of three administrative regulations and one law review. The figure raised doubt among the media at the press conference, who questioned the spokesperson as to how such a high number of Macau residents were found to be eligible. Attempting to clarify the figure of the number of beneficiaries, which has been showing numbers over the 650,000 mark since 2015, Leong said, in this figure are not only the Macau residents living in Macau but also some that are living abroad and that are also eligible [to receive a share on the wealth partaking scheme]. Leong then elaborated further, adding that according to the figures he had to hand, in the previous year the government issued approximately 64,000 cash handouts to Macau residents living abroad. But to the media, the figure still seemed to be far higher than the official figures that record an approximate number of local residents living in the region of 537,000 as of 2016. Leong noted that these are the figure[s] we have from the Statistics [and Census Bureau], adding that the real number of the beneficiaries will only be known after this years program distribution finishes, a time when the government would have the final figures as to the number of people that actually received and cashed their cheques. Nevertheless, and according to the official government figures on the scheme, every year the rate of completion of the process, with the transference of the money into the residents accounts, is in between 98.5 and 99 percent. At the press conference, Leong mentioned that this year, and after the evaluation conducted by the government on its financial status, it was decided and previously announced by the Chief Executive, Chui Sai On that the wealth partaking scheme would continue in the same way as in 2017, granting to all holders of a Macau ID card until December 31, 2017 the amounts of MOP9,000 or MOP5,400, respectively to the permanent and non-permanent titles. Remaining unchanged are also the rules of attribution, the scheduling and the means of receiving the handouts that will begin to be distributed on July 3 to all beneficiaries of the elderly subsidy by automatic transfer, a process that follows the usual timeline. That is, usually pension receivers are considered first, then civil servants and older age residents and for 10 consecutive weeks until September 14, by which time cheques should have been issued for residents born between 2012 and 2017. Another of the topics under analysis by the ExCo is the one related to another of the measures started by the government to subsidize some residents with lower income. The Temporary Measures for the Income Subsidy scheme that will also continue into 2018, is now proposed by the government to be introduced as part of what concerns the application of such a subsidy. Previously, these regulations stated that in order to apply, applicants needed to be registered by the Social Security Fund as hired laborers or employees until the end of the previous year. Now the government plans to change that requirement to require instead this status to last until the last quarter in which they are filing the application. With this change, the government is said to benefit people with handicaps who are concluding professional training courses, as well as other hired workers with low income. As for the amount of the subsidy, it remains unchanged, allowing for a full complement in line with the salary ceiling of MOP5,000 per month. It is proposed that the administrative regulation would enter into force on the next day after its publication, with retroactive effects dating back to January, 1 2018. On the topic, the ExCo spokesperson noted also that the government registered a [drastic] reduction in the number of applicants to this subsidy in the last three years; in 2015 there were 1,197 applicants per quarter, but in 2016 there were 341 applicants per quarter. This discrepancy is related to the commencement of the application of the minimum wage for cleaning and security staff. Leong also added that it is the intention of the government to transform these temporary measures into permanent mechanisms, noting that the timing for such a transformation has to be coordinated with long-term measures. Questioned also by the media as to whether, during the analysis of this administrative regulation, the extension of the minimum wage to all other professions was discussed, Leong said, The Secretary [for Economy and Finance] has already addressed that matter. When the time to discuss that arrives we will inform [the public]. I can say that is a topic that is already in study within the Secretariat of Economy and Finance. Also related to social welfare, it was announced that the government plans to cancel the current Temporary Disability Subsidy, turning it into a permanent measure in which the beneficiaries start receiving the Disability Pension from the Social Securitys normal regime. Such a change will come under a change to the law of the Social Security Regime, which also eliminates the requirement to possess certification of the disability only after the granting of the requirements to be a beneficiary. In this way, the government eases the process, providing all people with a proven incapacity with a means of receiving the disability pension. Lawmaker Au Kam San has expressed his hope that Macau society will be more alert to the threats that, in his perception, are posed by authoritarian politics and threaten to trickle down into Macau. Au Kam San, together with lawmaker Ng Kuok Cheong, will take part in a forum tonight at 8.30 p.m. to debate the topic of China and Macau under authoritarian rule. Yesterday, during a phone interview with the Times, Au said that authoritarian politics, under the command of Xi Jinping, increase[s] the difficulties for Chinas and Macaus future in terms of [the development of] democratic politics or protection of freedom and human rights. There is no need to discuss mainland China, [which] has always been under a [authoritarian system]. [The room] for Macau to fight for democracy or freedom might have been weakened, said Au, adding that it is already far away from reaching universal suffrage for both the Chief Executive and the Legislative Assembly elections. Even committee members from municipal organizations [which will be established by the government] will be appointed by the government itself. The recent talks about the state interest and security, and the move to put the constitution law above the Basic Law, [indicates] a narrower room for [democratic] politics, said Au. Recently, [China] started saying that the Basic Law is produced based on the Constitution law, whereby the latter stands higher than the former. The [rights that are protected by the Basic Law] might be narrowed down gradually as well. [] The Secretaries [visited Beijing] to get training in matters of state security. Later, it will be department directors going there, and then it will be the division heads of public departments. When discussing these matters, Au mentioned that the mutual recognition of driving licenses between mainland China and Macau is one of the steps exhibiting this narrowing down of Macaus rights. Another example mentioned by Au was the transferring of the authorization of the demonstration from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau to the Public Security Police Force. Au believes that this action will deteriorate the publics rights. However, in Aus opinion, the local government does not have the capability to become an authoritarian government on its own. I believe that, in Macau, [the government] is not executing works based on a planned [schedule]. It is mainly about the mindset. When [the governments] mindset is narrowed down, the whole societys and peoples mindsets [gradually get constrained] when things happen, said Au, adding that currently, [] Macau has not enough [powers] to implement authoritarian politics, [but] Macau belongs to China, and Chinas authoritarian politics will eventually involve the SARs and their principal officials. Under tough working methods, Macau will naturally interpret all matters in a tough way as well. Au explained that when the government chooses to appoint the members of the citys future municipal organizations (instead of allowing part of the committee members to be voted by the public) that is an expression of working under a constrained mode rather than an authoritarian policy. When talking to the Times, Au said that his office held a forum on May Fourth in past years, in memory of Chinas May Fourth Movement, but this year marks the first time the forum features a new and specially selected topic. Through this forum, [we] dont seek fierce reactions [from the public]. But [I] hope that, through this forum, more people will pay further attention to this matter [authoritarian politics]. Even though [people] do not have the ability to confront, hopefully they can improve their awareness about all things. National security education is a hot topic National security promotion is a hot topic in Macau today, with legislators and community leaders on all sides keen to be seen abiding by Xi Jinping Thought, the latest political theory advanced by the Chinese Communist Party. President Xi Jinping is urging the whole country to conduct what the Party calls national security education and enhance community awareness on the topic. National security is of paramount importance for the people to live and work in peace and for realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, he outlined on the countrys first National Security Education Day in April 2016, according to state media. National security promotion involves co-opting the civilian population to fulfill their patriotic duty and be on the lookout for anything that could undermine the countrys stability. Among its themes are an obligation to love the Peoples Republic of China and the Communist Party; a rejection of separatism; and counsel against the unwanted, degenerative influence of foreign culture. A Macau exhibition last month, jointly organized by the local government and the Liaison Office, aimed to educate Macau residents in such matters. It drew praise from lawmaker Mak Soi Kun this week, who naturally called for the local government to include the content in Macaus school textbooks. Even fellow lawmaker Pereira Coutinho fell in line, saying that local residents needed to learn more about Chinas state security and their obligation to safeguard it. But the line between national security education and government propaganda is blurred. Since the establishment of National Security Education Day, government-sponsored pamphlets and animated shorts have raised eyebrows inside and out of China for their anti-foreigner prejudice. In 2016, a comic titled Dangerous Love was distributed on the mainland telling a fictional story of a Chinese civil servant who agrees to provide confidential information to her handsome, romantic, cultured foreign boyfriend who turns out to be a spy intent on stealing state secrets. Last month, several animated shorts were released with the same warning against foreign infiltration and propagation within China of Western notions of trade unions and human rights. Daniel Beitler Dear Editor, I write in response to the Macau Matters; Consulate Woes opinion piece that appeared in the Macau Daily Times on 25 April. Contrary to the authors perception, the Australian Consulate-General is working hard to serve Australias interests in Hong Kong and Macau. One of our roles is to provide a full range of consular services. For example, our Consulate is the Australian Governments second-largest passport-issuing post (behind only London), with around 10,000 passports issued each year. To save Australians in Macau having to travel to the Consulate in Hong Kong, we conduct passport interviews there once a month. We provide consular assistance to Australians in need as well as a range of other consular services and advice. We perform close to 8,000 notarial acts for Australians and others each year (our website lists the types of documents we can and cannot legally witness). In addition, we are the second largest polling booth for Australians voting overseas in elections. Our Home Affairs team issues visas for thousands of visitors, students, business and family migrants each year as well as approving Australian citizenship for our newest Australians. We have law enforcement, immigration, customs and other responsibilities that extend across Hong Kong and Macau but also more broadly in the region. Australian Consulate officials regularly visit Macau and work to strengthen bilateral cooperation on a range of strategic and economic issues. For example, Austrade advises Australian businesses in Hong Kong and Macau and promotes two way trade and investment. We engage with the Australian business community and we greatly appreciate the advice and insights we receive from Australians in Hong Kong and Macau to help inform our work and priorities. We note that the day the authors comments were published, an Australian consular official was participating in an Anzac Day dawn service in Macau. Yours faithfully, Michaela Browning Australian Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau Germany said yesterday 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 cant leave, Ill 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 earlier this week. Xiaobo is gone, and theres nothing in the world for me now, Liu said tearfully. Its 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. Germanys Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press that the German government has been discussing Lius 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 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. But hopes for a quiet departure have not borne fruit. Hu Jia, a dissident and longtime friend of the Lius, described Liaos essay as a counterattack against Chinese authorities prompted by an awakening after hearing for months that Liu would soon be released. Corroborating Liaos 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, Lius 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 Lius case. AP A high-powered U.S. delegation arrived in Beijing yesterday for talks with Chinese officials on defusing tensions that are propelling the worlds two largest economies toward a trade war. 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 Jinpings top economic adviser, was heading the Chinese side in the talks, which analysts say appear unlikely to yield a breakthrough given the two sides intensifying rivalry in strategic technologies. President Donald Trump said he expected relations with Beijing to stay on an even keel. Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade! he said on Twitter. I look forward to being with President Xi in the not too distant future. We will always have a good (great) relationship! Trump is seeking to cut the chronic U.S. trade deficit by USD100 billion and gain concessions over policies that foreign companies say force them to share technology with Chinese partners in order to gain market access. His administration has threatened to impose new tariffs on roughly $150 billion in Chinese goods prompting China to announce its own tariffs on U.S. goods. The dispute has deepened as China 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 does require foreign companies to provide key details about their technologies to Chinese partners. Beijing looks unlikely to cede any ground on that strategic blueprint. 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. Striking an adamant tone, the state-run Global Times newspaper said yesterday 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. Both sides have shown a diversity of opinions, with China recently moving to loosen a restriction on foreign ownership of automakers to minority stakes. But the rival views in Washington, reflected in the makeup of the U.S. team, could undermine the U.S. negotiating stance, the consulting firm Eurasia Group said in a research note. The U.S. delegation headed to Beijing is too large and unwieldly 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. Washingtons 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 countrys chip demand. The Trump administrations efforts may actually spur China to ramp up efforts to develop its domestic industry as it strives to fulfill Xis vision, said Jian- Hong Lin, an analyst at research firm TrendForce. China now consumes nearly 60 percent of the worlds 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 countrys 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 their increasingly tiny nodes, measured in nanometers, 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 Chinas equivalent of MIT has emerged as a national champion. Its 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. Its unclear how successful those efforts will be as foreign regulators push back against Beijings 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 Chinas industrial policies. Market leaders like Samsung, Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing are investing aggressively as they fight for market share. Even though theyve [the Chinese] committed a lot of money to the investment fund, the reality has sunk in that its 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 cant 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. Thats one reason Beijings 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 Chinas efforts to result in any meaningful shift. Youve got to solve all the complexity to catch up. You cant just solve one thing. Gillian Wong & Kelvin Chan, Beijing, AP A group of House 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 theyve ultimately failed. Recent comments from the leaders of the two Koreas have raised hopes. Trumps supporters on Capitol Hill are pushing the idea that he deserves a Nobel, and Trump clearly enjoyed it 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 yesterday [Macau time] sent to members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. It was signed by 18 Republicans. The letter said that North Korea has long ignored international demands to cease its aggressions but that Trumps 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 Republican- leaning or strongly GOP states. Among them: Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for a Senate seat in Tennessee; Rep. Kevin Cramer, who is running for the Senate in North Dakota; Rep. Evan Jenkins, who is running for the Senate in West Virginia; and Jim Renacci, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio. Rep. Diane Black, another signatory to the letter, is running for governor in Tennessee. Kevin Freking, Washington, AP Bibeksheel urges larger alliance Bibeksheel Sajha Party (BSP) on Thursday called for a larger alliance of alternative political parties to transform the country. Also known as the Occupational Board Reform Act, LB299 requires legislative committees to review 20 percent of licenses under their purview a year, in a continuous five-year cycle. This process creates a framework for identifying less restrictive regulations than licensing, including private certification, registration, insurance or bonding requirements, inspections, open market competition, or a combination of these approaches. Workers with conviction histories could also receive an advisory opinion from state licensing boards about their eligibility to work in a licensed profession prior to beginning a training program. While piecemeal occupational licensing changes have passed in the Nebraska Legislature before, reforms of more burdensome licenses have had trouble advancing from committee. That motivated the Platte Institute to educate lawmakers about the need for a more comprehensive approach. Cancer immunotherapy aims to help the body's T-cells attack cancer cells (pictured), but it can end up causing the T-cells to attack healthy cells instead of cancer cells. New research from UAlberta may explain why that happens, and could even shed light on how autoimmune diseases develop in general. Credit: University of Alberta Research by University of Alberta scientists into PD-1, a cell surface receptor that naturally plays a major role in de-escalating the body's immune system, may explain why it can go haywire and cause autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes. "PD-1 has caused a lot of excitement in recent years as a target for new cancer immunotherapiesthe theory being that by turning it off, the immune system is free to attack cancer cellsbut there isn't any scientific understanding of how it works," said Colin Anderson, University of Alberta researcher and surgeon with the Alberta Diabetes and Transplant institutes. His research team's first study showed that PD-1's ability to regulate the immune system, or T-cells, is set early on, in the fetal or neonatal period. "In our study, we showed that it's also pivotal when T-cells go through two phases of learning not to attack the body's own healthy cells," he added. The first phase occurs when T-cells are created in the thymus; the second phase happens when they migrate to the body and go through a second mechanism called peripheral tolerance, explained Anderson. The team's most recent study showed that once T-cells are released from the thymus, but before they have completed the second learning mechanism, they are prone to causing autoimmune diseaseand this is especially true if PD-1 is missing. "We all harbour these newly made T-cells circulating around our body that have this increased ability to cause autoimmune disease, and this autoimmune potential is then turned off by PD-1 in healthy immune systems," said Anderson. Another recent study from his group asked a critical additional question: what exactly is PD-1 controlling in these new T-cells? "Our data suggest that PD-1 is involved in setting the threshold level of signals needed to activate the T-cells, such that in the absence of PD-1 signals, the threshold level of signals needed for activation is lower, promoting widespread autoimmune attack," said Anderson. He said their findings not only open the door for investigating ways to intervene in PD-1 development early in life, but also between its two phases of learning to prevent autoimmune disease from developing. "Our findings could also explain why there is an attack on many different organs rather than strictly just cancer cells seen in cancer patients treated with the new breakthrough cancer therapies that block the PD-1 receptor." "PD-1 Controls Tonic Signaling and Lymphopenia-Induced Proliferation of T Lymphocytes" was published in Frontiers in Immunology last October. The newer study, "Prior to Peripheral Tolerance, Newly Generated CD4 T Cells Maintain Dangerous Autoimmune Potential: Fas- and Perforin-Independent Autoimmunity Controlled by Programmed Death-1," was published this past January, also in Frontiers in Immunology. Explore further Tolerating yourself: A novel pathway to regulate B cell activity and prevent autoimmunity More information: Kristofor K. Ellestad et al. PD-1 Controls Tonic Signaling and Lymphopenia-Induced Proliferation of T Lymphocytes, Frontiers in Immunology (2017). Kristofor K. Ellestad et al. PD-1 Controls Tonic Signaling and Lymphopenia-Induced Proliferation of T Lymphocytes,(2017). DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01289 Kristofor K. Ellestad et al. Prior to Peripheral Tolerance, Newly Generated CD4 T Cells Maintain Dangerous Autoimmune Potential: Fas- and Perforin-Independent Autoimmunity Controlled by Programmed Death-1, Frontiers in Immunology (2018). DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00012 Credit: CC0 Public Domain People showing virtually no symptoms are likely the primary source of dengue fever, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens. Nearly 400 million people each year are infected with dengue virus, which is transmitted through mosquitoes. The study estimates that more than 80 percent of dengue virus infections are attributable to individuals with mild to no symptoms who do not seek treatment from a physician. The study also indicates that nearly a quarter of dengue virus transmission is the result of mosquitoes biting those already infected before the onset of symptoms. By the time those symptoms appear, the opportunity to prevent the virus from spreading has passed. "Until a few years ago, it was assumed that individuals with mild to no symptoms contributed relatively little to dengue virus transmission," said Alex Perkins, Eck Family Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and senior author on the study. "Our research reveals that people showing no symptoms of dengue virus infection are contributing much more than was previously recognized, so that we now have a better idea of the large extent to which they contribute to the spread of this disease." Researchers at the University of Notre Dame used mathematical modeling to quantify what fraction of dengue virus infections might be caused by people whose illnesses were undetected by public health surveillance systems. Their work involved integrating data sets on the amount of virus in the blood during various stages of infection, the severity of symptoms in relation to previous infections and the proportion of infections resulting in clinical consultation. The World Health Organization currently focuses disease surveillance efforts on detecting outbreaks, monitoring trends in the number of cases and assessing the possibility of outbreaks. This surveillance encompasses the monitoring of suspected and confirmed dengue cases. "Unfortunately, based on our study, those who need to be targeted with interventions are either being identified after they have already contributed to transmission or are not being identified at all," said Perkins. "Our results indicate that it might be necessary to shift emphasis toward more proactive disease prevention strategies that do not rely as strongly on responding to detected cases." The lead author on the study is Quirine ten Bosch, a former biological sciences doctoral student and graduate fellow of the Eck Institute for Global Health at Notre Dame. She is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Institut Pasteur in Paris. Perkins and ten Bosch are affiliated members of the Eck Institute for Global Health. Explore further 8 in 10 Indonesian children has been infected with dengue More information: Quirine A. ten Bosch et al. Contributions from the silent majority dominate dengue virus transmission, PLOS Pathogens (2018). Journal information: PLoS Pathogens Quirine A. ten Bosch et al. Contributions from the silent majority dominate dengue virus transmission,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006965 Credit: Cancer Research UK Mobile phones hit headlines this morning because a press release linked an increase in brain tumour cases in England with the devices. But this bold claim isn't backed up by the results of the study the press release was promoting to journalists, published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health. What did the study do? Researchers looked at the number of people with brain tumours in England, and calculated how this figure changed over time. They used figures from the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) from 1995 to 2015. Using this database, they looked for changes in the diagnosis of specific types of brain tumours, and where these tumours grow in the brain. What did the study show? They found that cases of an aggressive type of brain tumour called glioblastoma multiforme, found in the forehead and side regions of the brain, had risen sharply in recent years in England. Cases of other types of brain tumour had remained consistent or fallen since 1995. What do the results mean? The researchers showed that there has been a rise in people diagnosed with this specific type of brain tumour in England. What they didn't find is a cause for this increase. They couldn't, because the study wasn't set up to answer this question. There are lots of factors that could explain the increase in this type of brain tumour, including improvements in diagnosis and changes in the way brain tumours are classified. But it's impossible to know for sure without more information and studies designed to find these answers. Until then, all we have are (hopefully) educated guesses. That's where mobile phones came in. Mobile use was discussed in the paper as one of the factors that could explain the increase. But the press release took it a step further, singling out excessive mobile phone use as a 'likely cause'. As scientists speaking to Science Media Centre explain, this is not backed up by the study itself. "This paper does not attempt to link the rise in mobile phone use with a rise in brain tumour incidence directly," says Dr. Lion Shahab, a senior lecturer in epidemiology and public health at University College London. And Professor Malcolm Sperrin, director of the Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, warned people to "not stretch the data too far" as there are other factors that could explain the results. The big picture As it stands, there isn't any conclusive evidence that links mobile phone use to brain tumours. But there also isn't enough evidence to say that absolutely no risk exists. We've summed up the most important findings before, and the take-home message is that while using a mobile phone is unlikely to cause cancer, scientists need more long-term data to be sure. But one thing is clear: despite the headlines, the latest study doesn't add all that much to the mobile phone debate. Explore further A better understanding of brain tumour biology will bring new treatments More information: Brain tumours: rise in Glioblastoma Multiforme incidence in England 19952015 suggests an adverse environmental or lifestyle factor. Journal of Environmental and Public Health www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/aip/7910754/ Brain tumours: rise in Glioblastoma Multiforme incidence in England 19952015 suggests an adverse environmental or lifestyle factor. A new online toolkit to help employers and staff in the United Kingdom talk about mental health has been developed by a team of researchers from Kingston University in London, Loughborough University and Affinity Health at Work. The Return to Work website gives British bosses and employees advice and information to help them navigate the return to work process following absences due to stress, anxiety or depression. The site features templates for absence letters, facts about mental health, check lists for each stage of sick leave and a comprehensive guide for returning to work, including exercises such as identifying work priorities. With mental ill health affecting one in six people at work, lead researcher from Kingston University Dr. Jo Yarker, associate professor in occupational and business psychology, said managing absence was a challenge for many businesses. "Recovery works best when employees and employers talk early on, and continue talking," Dr. Yarker said. "Knowing what to say, and what to do, can be difficult, so we have developed the toolkit using the most up-to-date evidence about what works." Produced with workplace health and wellbeing advocates Affinity Health at Work, the website guides employers and employees through six simple steps to help make returning to work easier: 1) dealing with the initial absence; 2) developing knowledge and skills; 3) maintaining communication; 4) preparing for return to work; 5) return to work conversation; 6) keeping healthy and productive at work. The tools go beyond supporting with the initial return to work, with materials included to continue supporting employees going forward, Dr. Yarker explained. "The toolkit brings together leading resources in mental health, absence management and return to work in one place, helping users to navigate existing information more easily," she said. "It's aimed primarily at smaller business without internal human resource specialists." The guidance on the website covers each stage of the employee's absence and return. Tips include maintaining good contact throughout sickness absence to support a sense of belonging, and considering a gradual return to allow the employee to rebuild their confidence in the role. Dr. Yarker said initial feedback about the toolkit had been very positive. "We've had plenty of interest from organisations, big and small, as well as lots of human resources and occupational health professionals who are keen to know more," Dr. Yarker said. Loughborough University's Dr. Fehmidah Munir, who helped develop the toolkit, said many people will have experienced working alongside someone with mental health issues. "The likelihood is that if you work in a large office, a number of your colleagues have been through or are going through mental ill-health. "There are very few resources out there for employers and employees to help with taking the initial steps to discussing mental health, absences or returning back after leave. The toolkit we have developed is free and has been created in a way that it allows staff and employers to communicate about successfully progressing back to work." All of the advice and guidance pulled together as part of the collaboration between Kingston University, Loughborough University and Affinity Health at Work, has been gathered from evidenced-based research, from employers and employees who have experienced mental ill-health as well as existing guidance from organisations such as mental health charity Mind, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and ACAS. Dr. Yarker is keen for organisations to try out the toolkit and feed back on what works and where there might be gaps. "We are looking for employees, employers and small businesses to trial the toolkit so we can see how well it is working and refine it if necessary. We want to make it as useful and as user-friendly as possible," she said. Explore further Guidance offered for improving mental health in workplace New York's mayor is pushing for a plan to bring safe injection sites for illegal drug users to the US metropolis in a bid to reduce ever-rising overdose numbers. The United Statesplagued by an epidemic of fatal overdoses related to opioid usedoes not yet have any such sites, which have seen success in Canada and Europe. "After a rigorous review of similar efforts across the world, and after careful consideration of public health and safety expert views, we believe overdose prevention centers will save lives and get more New Yorkers into the treatment they need to beat this deadly addiction," Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote on Twitter Thursday. The mayor's missive came after the publication of a detailed report on the issue from the city's Department of Health. Though crime in New York has fallen to a historic low for modern times, it recorded 1,441 overdose deaths in 2017a record since the city began taking such statistics. The opioid epidemic has hit particularly hard in parts of the Staten Island and Bronx boroughs, according to the report. The city projects establishing four supervised injection sites could prevent between 67 and 130 deaths per year. Costs associated with the launch and operation of the centers would be fully offset, according to the report's authors, by lowering health costs linked to those potential deaths. The plan calls for support from district attorneys as well as New York state's Department of Health, which answers to Governor Andrew Cuomo. The city has sent a letter to the state concerning its plans, according to The New York Times. Switzerland established the first supervised injection sites in 1986. Today there are some 100 locations worldwide, the report says, spread across 10 countries and 67 cities. Several other cities in the USwhere 42,249 deaths were linked to opioid use in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhave voiced interest in setting up supervised injection sites, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver and Seattle. Some local officials fear potential intervention from federal authorities, who could consider the centers as contravening national narcotics legislation. But the report's assessment of federal, state, and municipal laws supported the "feasibility" of establishing the sites. Explore further Philadelphia wants safe injection sites to help opioid fight 2018 AFP Immune cells (green) malfunctioning and attacking kidney cells. Credit: Imperial College London A type of cell that protects the body from viruses and cancer may make lupus worse, and trigger flare ups of the condition. These are the findings of a study led by Imperial College London, published in the journal Science. The researchers say the findings provide insight into why viral infections can worsen the condition or trigger a resurgence of symptoms known as a "flare". Lupus affects around one in 1000 people approximately 30,000 in the UK. The condition is an autoimmune disease which triggers the immune system to malfunction and start attacking the body. This can lead to joint and skin problems, and in severe cases can cause damage to the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys. The initial causes are unknown, but genes are thought to play a role. The condition is nine times more common in women than in men, and usually strikes between the ages of 20 and 49. In the new study, researchers investigated a particular component of the immune system called C1q. This molecule is part of a system called the complement system. This system helps raise the alarm when the body is attacked by an invader, such as a bacteria or virus, and helps coordinate a defence. A small number of individuals are unable to make the molecule C1q, and as a result of this they develop Lupus. When our protection malfunctions Using a combination of mouse models and human cell samples, the team found C1q is important for regulating how the virus-killing immune cells consume their energya process called metabolism. Specifically, C1q controls the survival and functions of a type of cell called cytotoxic T-cells, or CD8 T cells. These are like the bodyguards of the immune system, and destroy threats to the body such as viruses, or cells that have turned cancerous. The team found that when number of these cytotoxic T-cells became too high, the immune system starts malfunctioning and attacking the body and lupus symptoms become worse. This may be why lupus patients may suffer a flare in symptoms when they contract a virus. Viral trigger Professor Marina Botto, lead author of the study from the Department of Medicine at Imperial, said: "I've been working with lupus for many years, and we've only recently realised these cytotoxic cells which have such a crucial role in protecting the body against viruses, may also play a key role in the disease." Professor Botto explained that although the initial trigger for lupus remains unknown, the condition could be sustained by viral infections that trigger an expansion of the cytotoxic T-cells. Professor Botto adds that other studies have suggested that patients with higher levels of these cytotoxic T-cells tend to have more severe forms of autoimmune diseases. The team are now conducting further studies with lupus patients, to gain more insight into how these cells may be controlled. Explore further Study points to potential personalized approach to treating lupus More information: "C1q restrains autoimmunity and viral infection by regulating CD8+ T cell metabolism" Science (2018). Journal information: Science "C1q restrains autoimmunity and viral infection by regulating CD8+ T cell metabolism"(2018). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.aao4555 The embattled political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica announced on Wednesday that it would cease most operations and file for bankruptcy amid growing legal and political scrutiny of its business practices and work for Donald J. Trumps presidential campaign. The decision was made less than two months after Cambridge Analytica and Facebook became embroiled in a data-harvesting scandal that compromised the personal information of up to 87 million people. Revelations about the misuse of data, published in March by The New York Times and The Observer of London, plunged Facebook into crisis and prompted regulators and lawmakers to open investigations into Cambridge Analytica. In a statement posted to its website, Cambridge Analytica said the controversy had driven away virtually all of the companys customers, forcing it to file for bankruptcy in both the United States and Britain. The elections division of Cambridges British affiliate, SCL Group, will also shut down, the company said. But the companys announcement left several questions unanswered, including who would retain the companys intellectual property the so-called psychographic voter profiles built in part with data from Facebook and whether Cambridge Analyticas data-mining business would return under new auspices. (Want to get this briefing by email? Heres the sign-up.) Good morning. Heres what you need to know: Trumps attack dog may have bitten him Rudolph Giuliani, who recently joined President Trumps legal team, may have made things worse for his client by revealing the existence of payments to Michael Cohen, the presidents personal lawyer. The transfers were used, in part, to reimburse Mr. Cohen for the $130,000 he had paid to the porn star known as Stormy Daniels. Mr. Trump had previously denied knowing about the transactions but confirmed their existence on Thursday. Catching other White House aides off guard, Mr. Giuliani said his comments were meant to show that no campaign finance laws had been broken. We explain how the disclosures could open Mr. Trump to other legal trouble. ARCHIVED - 9.6 per cent more foreign tourists in Spain during March, spending up by 12 per cent The sector continues to grow although the March figures were boosted by an early Easter As was to be expected the figures regarding international tourism in Spain during March, which were published by the governments central statistics unit on Friday morning, show that there were more visitors to this country than in the same month last year, one of the main contributing factors being that Easter fell earlier this year than in 2017. This is doubtless one of the reasons behind a 9.6 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of tourists arriving in Spain in March, propelling the total to 5.38 million, and once again the largest single contribution to that total was made by visitors from the UK. British visitors numbered 1.19 million, a rise of 5.6 per cent, and accounted for 22 per cent of the total, while the next highest figures in the breakdown by nationality were those for Germany (820,000), France (650,000) and the Scandinavian nations (504,000). It is also interesting to note that the nationalities with the most significant year-on-year increases were Portugal (29.7 per cent higher at 151,000) and Ireland (up by 22.2 per cent at 119,000), and the Easter factor led to the year-on-year increase in March being the most significant since September 2017. In terms of the destinations chosen by those visiting Spain from abroad, perhaps the aspect which stands out most is that the figure in the Balearics was 23.3 per cent higher than in March 2017. However, the islands attracted only 401,000 tourists, and with significant increases in all of the other major tourist regions the lions share was taken by the Canaries (1.35 million) and Catalunya (1.2 million), between then accounting for almost half of all foreign tourism in Spain. All of which is very positive news for the sector, but even more important in economic terms is the amount of money these foreign tourists spend while in Spain. In this context the really good news is that international tourist spending is calculated to have been 12.1 per cent higher than in March 2017 at 5,727 million euros equivalent to 7.7 million euros per hour! While the increase is of course largely due to there having been more visitors, it is also accounted for by each individual spending an average of 2.3 per cent more while in Spain, and in addition there were significant increases in the numbers of traditionally bigger-spending visitors from the USA and Scandinavia. In fact, while the UK again contributed the largest proportion of the total almost exactly 19 per cent, at 1,088 million euros and Germany accounted for another 14.9 per cent, Scandinavian visitors spent a lot more than their more numerous French counterparts (633 million euros as opposed to 391 million). After three months of 2018 the cumulative totals now show a 6 per cent increase in the number of visitors Spain has welcomed from abroad, the total having reached 13.72 million, and a 7.7 per cent rise in the amount of money they are calculated to have spent while in this country. However, due to a range of factors which are thought to include Brexit and the increasing attractiveness of other popular destinations such as northern Africa, where the political instability of a couple of years ago appears to have died down, the rate of growth is generally slowing down, and due once again to the Easter factor it is reasonable to anticipate less positive figures for the month of April. Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and information in the Region of Murcia and the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/ --> Dhading Yatayat Sangh Chairman arrested Dhading Yatayat Sangh Chairman Binod Shrestha has been arrested for supporting syndicate against the governments policy on Friday. He was arrested from a shop in the bazaar area of Dhading district. Apple Inc. shares hit a record after Warren Buffett told CNBC he bought an additional 75 million shares of the iPhone maker in the first quarter. The Apple purchase, costing between $11 billion and $14 billion, adds to the almost 170 million shares that Buffett-run Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owned at the end of 2017, when it was already his biggest shareholding. Just days before Buffett disclosed the larger stake, Apple reported quarterly results that topped analysts estimates on surging services revenue and stable iPhone performance. The numbers helped end a recent swoon in Apple stock on concern its flagship iPhone X model wasnt selling as well as Wall Street originally hoped. It is an unbelievable company, Buffett said in the CNBC interview. Berkshire Hathaway is holding its annual meeting this weekend in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett said the companys exact holdings will be disclosed in a quarterly regulatory filing Saturday. Apple shares rose as much as 4 percent to a record $183.87 on Friday. That valued the Cupertino, California-based company at more than $900 billion. The stock is up about 8 percent so far this year and is having its best week since 2011. Buffett is relatively new to technology investing, having avoided the sector for most of his long career. However, as the industry has grown into a more important part of the economy, the Berkshire chairman has built a limited number of positions, with mixed results so far. Buffett plowed more than $10 billion into International Business Machines Corp. in 2011. Shares of the corporate software giant have gone nowhere since the beginning of that year. He recently sold the position and said his thesis on IBM was flawed. His Apple investment has performed better, but Buffett has also said he missed out on investing in Google and Amazon.com Inc. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook told CNBC he was thrilled to have Buffett and Berkshire as a major investor. Ive always greatly admired Warren and have always been grateful for his insight and advice, Cook added. While Apple still gets more than 60 percent of its revenue from iPhones, services are playing an increasingly important role as growth in the overall smartphone market slows. Cook sells a growing array of services through a base of more than 1.3 billion Apple devices, including music, cloud storage, movies and apps. Revenue from services surged 31 percent to a record $9.2 billion in the most recent quarter. An Apple Music subscription costs $10 per month (unless its on a family plan), and the number of paying users recently hit 40 million. The company now has 270 million paid subscribers across applications and its own services, up by 100 million from the same period a year ago. Just over 60 percent of Apple analysts rate the stock a buy and the rest have hold recommendations. The average analyst price target from the past three months is $194.77, suggesting a 6 percent potential return in the next year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Buffet ditches IBM Berkshire Hathaway Inc. bought an additional 75 million shares of Apple Inc. in the first quarter, while dumping its remaining stake in International Business Machines Corp., Chairman Warren Buffett said in a CNBC interview. The Apple purchase, which would have cost between $11 billion and $14 billion, adds to the almost 170 million shares that Berkshire Hathaway owned at the end of 2017, when it was already Buffetts biggest shareholding. The added stake would see Berkshire overtake State Street Corp. to become Apples third-largest investor, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The move is paying off so far, with Apple shares climbing to a record. The stock was up 3.3 percent as of 11:19 a.m. in New York. Buffetts announcement comes just days after Apple reported quarterly sales and profit that topped analysts estimates on surging services as revenue rose at the fastest pace in more than two years. The results helped end a recent swoon in Apple shares amid concern its flagship iPhone X model was struggling to win consumers. It is an unbelievable company, Buffett said in the interview. The idea of spending loads of time trying to guess how many iPhone Xs or whatever it may be are going to be sold in a given three-month period of time, to me it totally misses the point. Buffett said he was almost certain that Berkshire owns zero shares in IBM after sales in the first quarter. The company held about 2 million shares of the technology firm at the end of 2017. Buffett has sold down his stake over the past year after saying his thesis was flawed when he plowed more than $10 billion into IBM in 2011. Berkshire Hathaway is holding its annual meeting this weekend in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett said the companys exact holdings will be disclosed in a quarterly regulatory filing Saturday. While Cupertino, California-based Apple still gets more than 60 percent of its revenue from iPhones, services are playing an increasingly important role as growth in the overall smartphone market slows. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook sells a growing array of services through a base of more than 1.3 billion Apple devices, including music, cloud storage, movies and apps. Revenue from services surged 31 percent to a record $9.2 billion in the most recent quarter. An Apple Music subscription costs $10 per month (unless its on a family plan), and the number of paying users recently hit 40 million. The middle tier for iCloud storage costs $2.99 a month. The company now has 270 million paid subscribers across applications and its own services, up by 100 million from the same period a year ago. Their photos were hanging on Carry The Loads bus when Justin Salsano, 34, a firefighter/paramedic walking across the western U.S. with the group got on last week. Salsano worked with Garner back in Wisconsin. They were at different stations, but worked the same shift. The recent loss has given his trip greater meaning. Its not just military, he said. We carry a lot of firefighters that died. Garner was young and, although they werent necessarily friends, they saw one another a lot, Salsano said. (He wasnt) someone I would call to go get beers with, but if I ran into him at the bar, Id buy him a beer, he said. Salsano didnt know what caused Garners death, but knew it was considered to be while he was on duty because he had just gotten home from a 48-hour shift. It was Easter morning. The repercussions of his loss are still unfolding back home, he said. Walking six or more hours a day and living with seven other people on a bus isnt the easiest thing, but Salsano doesnt see it as a challenge. It is unfortunate that unscrupulous people go to disaster areas to try and take advantage of people when they are vulnerable, said CSLB Registrar David R. Fogt. This is why it is so important for homeowners to take their time finding the right contractor and check the license first. Five additional suspects may face a misdemeanor charges for other illegal contracting violations. The five people who placed bids over the legal limit on repairs that were unrelated to fire damage received a citation for alleged unlicensed contracting. First-conviction penalties for contracting without a license include up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines. A second conviction can carry a mandatory sentence of up to 90 days in jail. Penalties are more severe with each successive violation. During the citation process, Napa County officers searched all suspects and conducted a standard background check and discovered that two men who received notice to appear were currently on probation for previous crimes. One had a domestic violence charge, and the other was on probation for driving under the influence. Down with the death penalty Reintroduction of the death penalty would be a regressive step for the criminal justice system of Nepal Hubbard did not say why he substituted the false samples. But Rolfe said in his March 14, 2017, plea agreement that "my motivation came from pressure applied by the Tetra Tech supervisors." Rolfe said in the agreement, "One told me on multiple occasions to 'get the hell out of that area,' in reference to a particular survey unit that was not testing clean. "Another told me on more than one occasion that we were 'not remediating the whole goddam site.'" Rolfe said an assistant project manager "told me on numerous occasions to 'get clean dirt.'" "I understood these statement as a direction to go outside the appropriate survey unit and get dirt from other areas that was known to be clean, that is not containing excessive levels of radiation," Rolfe said in the agreement. Rolfe also agreed in the plea bargain to cooperate with federal prosecutors and testify truthfully in any grand jury, court or other proceeding as requested by the prosecutors. Acting U.S. Attorney Alex Tse said in a statement, "This sentence reflects our commitment to ensure that bogus reports intended to deceive the protectors of our environment will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." 3. Congress probes EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's flouting of ethics rules. From over-spending on first class travel, boutique hotels and excessive security to his questionable condo rental deal with a lobbyist, Pruitt may be the worst of several top officials ignoring ethical rules. Trump says Pruitt has done "a fantastic job" at the Environmental Protection Agency, ignoring his ethical problems because Trump likes the policies he is implementing. It's unsurprising that Trump is protecting multiple officials with ethical issues in his administration, since he set the example by benefiting personally from his own travel and the many Republican meetings at Trump properties. 4. HUD Secretary Ben Carson proposes new rules raising rents for public housing. The administration contends it is implementing renewed welfare reforms by increasing work requirements for recipients of various programs, including those in federal housing projects. But Carson's announcement at the Department of Housing and Urban Development was, in fact, the latest move to weaken the social safety net maintained by administrations of both parties. Undercutting programs ranging from housing subsidies to the Affordable Care Act that provide benefits for many poor and middle-class Americans contrasts with championing a tax cut law that even some Republicans acknowledge primarily benefits the wealthy. It is, quite simply, not within Californias power to rid its own food and fields let alone all of Americas fields of a pesticide derived from chemicals developed as a nerve gas by Nazi Germans who used them to fatally gas Jews, gypsies and others they crammed into airtight mobile vans before and during World War II. Thats why it was important for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to intervene in a federal lawsuit aiming to force the federal Environmental Protection Agency to make a required safety finding (more likely, a finding that the chemical is unsafe) in a case that has dragged on more than half a decade. As Barack Obama left office, the EPA appeared about to issue such a ruling on chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate used on crops as diverse as nuts, apples, broccoli, melons, citrus, corn and soybeans. After almost 10 years of delay, the EPA in late 2015 proposed a rule banning even slight residues of chlorpyrifos on food because of safety concerns. Less than 18 months later, after President Trump had been in office only about two months, his EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, abruptly reversed course, ended the rulemaking process and issued an order in effect leaving alone the existing standard for acceptable levels of the pesticide in food. Neither he nor anyone else has gone so far as to find the substance safe. By the time he finished reading the screenplay, he was on board with the film project. Polanski wanted Tuesday Weld, a popular 1960s television and movie actress, for the part of Rosemary Woodhouse. He saw her as the all-American girl. She was, after all, Thalia Menninger on the 1959-1963 sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. However, the head of Paramount Studio convinced him to use Mia Farrow, who was on the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place and Frank Sinatras newlywed wife. She had the something special they were looking for. Robert Redford was considered for the part of Guy Woodhouse. He was fighting with Paramount for more money, and the part went to John Cassavetes. During the filming of Rosemarys Baby, Farrow had problems in her marriage to Sinatra. He wanted a wife who would go with him places. At first, she complied with her husbands demands. When she saw the rushes for the film, she was told by the studio head that she could possibly win the Oscar for her role. She chose to remain behind with the film, then accompany Sinatra as his wife to social functions and events. Their divorce was finalized in August of 1968. There are counterarguments to my view a couple made by Bauer himself. One goes like this: Why should the staff of an excellent restaurant be penalized by the actions of a single individual? I can tell you for certain that the loneliness and isolation of the abused are not fixed by silence, but only enhanced. The other argument is based on the view that critics are not evaluating what happens behind the kitchen door. On the one hand, I am sympathetic to this point of view. But if the behavior behind closed doors is harmful to the powerless, then what? Do we turn our collective heads and exclaim, Hey dudes, you got yourself into this mess and now you are on your own? Three qualities that I find most inspiring in leaders are courage, creativity and a healthy dose of humility. That said, I cant claim that I have never been charmed or otherwise misled by those who Ive reviewed or interviewed. On the contrary, I often hear after the fact that someone or a business that Ive written about glowingly might have done things in the past that were less than inspiring or even hurtful. I have tried to learn from my mistakes and make fewer of them in the future. I can also assure you that I have no fear when it comes to telling as much of the story as necessary so that readers might make an informed choice. At the end of his article, Bauer makes two comments one I agree with whole heartily, but the other I disagree with vehemently. The first is, In the end, diners will make the ultimate decision, which seems reasonable. The second part, to me, is more insidious and is an abdication of responsibility as well as a misrepresentation of the true influence of power. He ends the sentence with, as they always have. 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. Armenia health minister: Out of 2,446 hospital beds for coronavirus patients, 2,300 are occupied UEFA Nations League: Spain defeating Italy after first half (2-0) (PHOTOS) China-Taiwan military escalation reaches peak in past four decades Armenia President: We welcome pro-Artsakh documents adopted by nearly 50 regional and city councils of Italy Armen Sarkissian meets with President of Italian Senate Nikol Pashinyan: Armenia to build new nuclear power plant, negotiations have been launched Italy's Quirinal Palace hosts exhibition featuring works of Aivazovsky, Saryan and other Armenian painters Armen Sarkissian meets with President of Italy's Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico Catholicos of All Armenians meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican Armenia ex-Ambassador to The Netherlands Vigen Chitechyan dies Armenia PM again says he is guilty for all the failures of the Armenian side during last year's war FM: Discussion on occupied territories of former NKAO will create new threats to Armenia Karabakh emergency situations service: Rescue squad finds remains of another Armenian soldier in Jrakan Roma to offer team's defender a new contract Mattarella: Armenia and Italy can boast about their friendly relations Nikol Pashinyan: Armenia agreed to stop the hostilities on October 7, 2020 3 healthiest juices 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 Juventus want to lease Eden Hazard Armenia government programs under EU assistance package are discussed Azerbaijan lodges complaint with ECHR for review of case of assassination attempt against Lapshin What product can prolong life? 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 Liverpool intend to buy newcomer to German squad 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 2022 World Cup qualifiers: Armenia hold second training in Germany 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 List of products high in vitamin E Newspaper: Armenia employees to pay considerably for tests if not vaccinated against coronavirus Newspaper: Court denies Armenia parliament speakers petition for opposition MP Real offer Mbappe 40m annual salary Hundreds of kilograms of cocaine found in Scotland historic castle ruins Nadal: A great legend of our sport retires! Lewis Hamilton meets with Neymar, Mbappe Mohamed Salah demands salary increase from Liverpool Iran FM to discuss developments in Caucasus with his Russian counterpart What are consequences of high blood pressure? 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 Lothar Matthaus, 60, divorces fifth wife 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 Scientists develop implant that treats severe depression 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 Armenian Premier League names best coach and best footballer of the month (PHOTO) 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 Dr KC tells Parliament to pass health law soon Senior orthopaedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC has demanded that the Health Profession Education (HPE) Act be endorsed immediately asper the ordinance tabled at the Federal Parliament. YEREVAN. We have not had such a discussion. Edmon Marukyan, a member of the opposition Way Out (Yelk) Faction at the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, on Friday told the above-said to reporters in parliament. He said this when asked where they see their future activities to be in a possible new government to be formed in the country. To the remark that after May 8when Yelk faction head Nikol Pashinyan is expected to be elected PMthere will be a paradox in parliament because it will no longer have an opposition factionwhich is a requirement of the law on parliamentary procedure, Marukyan responded that they are not discussing anything right now. He noted that, in actual fact, it will be a force-majeure situation, and it will not be clear as to who is the stable majority in parliament. But there is the following example in international practice that he [Pashinyan] will be the [parliamentary] minority PM, Marukyan stressed, in particular. A government is formed which is called a minority government, which will be of temporary nature. The MP expressed confidence, however, that this interim government will be able to resolve matters. I believe amendments to constitutional laws also can be achieved; otherwise, the crisis will continue, he added. Pashinyans government can do many things, make changes in our daily lives, without coming to parliament [to get parliamentary approval]. Edmon Marukyan informed that there have been no discussions yet as to the time frames for a snap parliamentary election in Armenia. In my conviction, all conditions of justice should be ensured, and then there should be elections, he noted. Govt plans tender call to blacktop Mailung road The Roads Department is mulling to call global tenders to blacktop the Mailung-Syabrubesi road, an 18-km section of the Rasuwagadhi Highway that leads to the Chinese border north of Kathmandu. Armenia health minister: Out of 2,446 hospital beds for coronavirus patients, 2,300 are occupied China-Taiwan military escalation reaches peak in past four decades Armenia President: We welcome pro-Artsakh documents adopted by nearly 50 regional and city councils of Italy Armen Sarkissian meets with President of Italian Senate Nikol Pashinyan: Armenia to build new nuclear power plant, negotiations have been launched Italy's Quirinal Palace hosts exhibition featuring works of Aivazovsky, Saryan and other Armenian painters Armen Sarkissian meets with President of Italy's Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico Catholicos of All Armenians meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican Armenia ex-Ambassador to The Netherlands Vigen Chitechyan dies Armenia PM again says he is guilty for all the failures of the Armenian side during last year's war FM: Discussion on occupied territories of former NKAO will create new threats to Armenia Karabakh emergency situations service: Rescue squad finds remains of another Armenian soldier in Jrakan Mattarella: Armenia and Italy can boast about their friendly relations Nikol Pashinyan: Armenia agreed to stop the hostilities on October 7, 2020 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 Journalist continue to perform with courage despite targeted violence: Report Journalists have shown tremendous courage for reporting despite of a targeted violence, killings and suppression in many countries, according to the South Asia Press Freedom Report 2017-2018. Rowanne Ali is aware of her strengths and weaknesses. One of my biggest strengths is my determination. Once I know that I want to do something, even if it starts with a very small idea, I will make it happen, said Ali, a 20-year-old Egyptian-American who was born in Maryland and raised in South Florida. At the same time, Ive learned the importance of knowing when to say no sometimes. I am always eager to take on new projects, endeavors, partnerships and ideas, but Ive learned to slow down and balance ambition with vision. Everything has its time. Ali, who is a recipient of the Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship (one of UMs most selective and prestigious academic scholarship awards for high school students), a da Vinci Scholar, and a Foote Fellow, majored in Neuroscience with two minors in Chemistry and Philosophy. It was my mom who insisted I apply to the University of Miami, even when I thought Id be leaving South Florida for college. Im so glad she insisted, said Ali. While she missed her family in Davie, Fla., Ali lived on the Coral Gables campus for three years where she focused on her extracurricular activities, which included being an active member of the Muslim Students of UMs executive board; participating in the Clinton Global Initiative University conference; co-founding W.I.N.G.S. (Women in Next-Generation Sciences), an organization that exposes disadvantaged, middle-school-aged girls to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); and most recently, creating her own fashion and personal development Instagram page. When I was a junior, my mother and three of my siblings lived in Egypt for a year, so not seeing them for so long was hard for me. Living on campus also made it difficult to see my dad and younger sister who were still at home in Davie. One of the biggest reasons I moved back home during my senior year was that I really wanted to be closer to my family and spend more time with them. Its the best decision I made, said Ali. As a member of Muslim student organization, Ali never felt apprehensive about talking to fellow students about her faith. I love it when people ask me about my faith. It shows me that they are interested and want to learn, she said. But it wasnt always easy. Last year, we had an issue during Islam Awareness Week, said Ali. We experienced negative comments from a fellow student on social media who held a counter-event to MSUMs to make false claims about our faith. I didnt let it get to me, and I found that the experience was actually a great way to educate those who were genuinely curious. Ali plans to attend the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., in the fall and she thanks her parents for their continuous support. My parents are the most hard-working people I know, she said. They are both engineers, very smart and educated, and they have always been there for me, encouraging me to never give up, to be strong, and to reach for my highest potential. Im so grateful for their love and support. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the most discussed topic in the technology world right now and foreseeing the danger it can possess to humans, some are still in the shadows of fear and agony. Like every other innovation of the world, AI can indeed be a friend if in right hands. The other instance would really prove it as a foe without any doubt. Here we are listing out the top AI-risks we could face and the ways we could deal with them. 1. Threat to Human Existence A super intelligent AI showing human emotions are centuries away, but there is no assurance of AI to act benevolent when arrived. At accomplishing goals, theyll be so good but we must make sure that the goals given to them are set by us or else well have to suffer the after-effects. Many big names including Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Bill Gates fear that the potential for AIs development can be the cause of humanitys demise. They believe that one day AI will be super intelligent and theyll replace humans altogether. They even called for an outright ban on the development of AI agents for military purposes. The fact is that everyone knows that if given the fullest power, the super-AI will overcome the human intelligence and soon the planet will be controlled by them, which dangers the humans existence in this planet. But still a huge number of the experts think that these warnings are just fear mongering and they suggest that people should worry more about the existing problems like climate change, nuclear weapons, and neo-fascist political movements and not to worry about artificial intelligence enslaving us. 2. Unemployment Back in time, before wheel was invented, 1000s of men were needed to haul things, but when wheel was invented it brought in more ideas which needed more men and look how the auto industry is developed now and see the employment technology has created globally. Fear of job loss is understandable, but people must keep in mind that many of them are currently doing jobs that werent available two three years back. The people who adapt to the AI will continue while others will end up losing their jobs. AI as a tool does have many useful applications which wont endanger the job market like Jarvis from the movie Iron Man. The personalized AI can be very handy at home. AI will benefit with reduction in paid, full-time work, thus the part-time work or job sharing will lead to increased leisure time and a happier world. 3. Lack of proper knowledge about AI-technology According to a recent EY online survey conducted among technology professionals, 56 percent of respondents claim that a lack of AI talent is their biggest hurdle. Whats interesting is that the number rose from 36 percent when same survey was conducted four months back to a different group of technology professionals. If proper supervised training is given depending on the design of the AI, a productive team can be made and they can lead the innovations in organizations. Small firms nowadays use AI technology initially and this can lead to Dunning-Kruger effect (where they believe that they know more than what they actually do). However, within a decade or so, lot of education and analysis is necessary because government is already clueless and they might not act quick even when theyre informed earlier. Several programmes have been initiated, like Amazons Career Choice programme, which encourages employees to learn the required skills for future employment. Proper training can reduce the risk factor in organizations. Speaking about the risks involved in bringing AI into industries, Subrat Parida, CEO, racetrack, says, The future of job markets are going to increase a lot, the slow transition period of 5-10 years will give sufficient time for industries to adopt the technology. Depending upon the design of the AI, proper controls should be given and this AI powered decisions will shape up the industry in a better way. How to be prepared for the AI-world Often when something is introduced into our daily life, society is quick to point out the flaws it can bring. We have a choice whether to embrace it or fear it. The thing is that people who embrace it from the start will end up at top while others who ignore it will have to catch up. We must be aware of all the AI-risks when we bring them into the organizational innovations and other developments and these AI risks are not something to be taken lightly, because if the control is not in the right hands, it can be the very reason for self-destruction. The changes you make now will be crucial for preparing for the next era. Be more human and see the AI machines not as competitors but as companions. Who is AI to us? Evolution of technology is a natural phenomenon and it is the human who makes it a friend or foe. For instance, lets take the case of Newtons third law of motion; it was not made for developing weapons. Same goes with the AI, people can use it for good deeds like developing medical equipments or killing machines. Similarly, centuries ago almost 90 percent of population was involved in agriculture and now only two percent is involved in the same but we developed instruments and machines which paved job opportunities for many. Depending on who uses it, AI can be judged whether its a friend or foe. Just like every other developments, once advancements reaches a certain stage, they can be split into two, one that makes advancements and one that dodge these advancements. There is a lot of noise created about AI nowadays and just like every other technology, impact is often overestimated in the short term and underestimated in the long term. Soon world will realize the importance of AI and despise the life before. Read more news: Dell unveils AI-enabled servers, storage solutions Leaders to resolve draft row today Top leaders of political parties will meet here on Friday to resolve the impasse over the draft regulation for the House of Representatives that has simmered for long without any solution. Home | News | General | Completed Azura-Edo power plantll add 450MW to national grid Fashola By Chris Ochayi ABUJAThe Federal Government, yesterday, announced that the construction of the Azura-Edo 450 megawatts independent power plant in Edo State has been completed. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this at the inauguration of the newly appointed Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Professor James Momoh, in Abuja, said Azura has notified him on the completion of its plant and its readiness to commence operation. He said with this positive development, 450 megawatts of electricity is expected to be transmitted to the national grid any moment from now. The Azura-Edo IPP is a 450MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine power station being constructed near Benin City in Edo State. It is Phase 1 of a 1,500MW IPP facility located on a 100 hectare site, large enough to accommodate future expansion of the power plant. Speaking further, the minister said power supply is being tremendously improved since the inception of the administration. He said: We have increased generation to 7,000mw, increasing the transmission to over 7,000mw, and increasing the distribution from 2,690 to average of 4,900 or 5,000. The minister added that the electricity market has a capacity of 2,000mw that has been stranded, which the ministry is working to distribute before the end of this year. He said that the sector is expecting another 240MW from Afam and another 215MW from Kaduna. Besides, he noted that the market is also expecting power from Kashimbilla, but the distribution end is where our challenge lies. The minister revealed that the mini-grid regulation has started yielding results, and the ministry is already seeing the impact in the market. He said that this year, markets like Suru in Lagos, Sabon Gari in Kano, Ariaria in Aba, and some other markets are going to be energized. In his remarks, Chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Prof. Momoh, promised to review lingering tariff issue that has held the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry down since 2015. Speaking with reporters shortly after his inauguration by the Minister, Prof, Momoh said the commission has no choice but to look into the computation of tariff. He said: The tariff is not a challenge we cannot solve. You dont have to relearn the same lesson today. There is what we call Data Science in the new thinking of the world, where we collate data, you learn from the information and you predict the future. So if we dont do that we are wasting our time. Because you know it is going to rain tomorrow so you get your umbrella. You dont wait until it rains before you go by umbrella. On whether his response suggests if there is going to be some progress in the clearance of the tariff issue that has lingered over the years, the new NERC boss said that We have no choice we have to look at what computes a tariff. Tariff is not guesswork. There is a calculation you do to get there. Momoh, who described himself as a team player, promised to bring into bear the experience that he has garnered over the years in the commission. He said he believes in rendering quality service and nothing short of this criteria would be deployed in addressing the power situation in the country. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Seek knowledge to stop poverty Sheikh Jamiu As LEMU holds conference for Imams The Chief Imam, Lekki Central Mosque, Sheikh Ridwan Jamiu has said mediocrity and ignorance are reasons for the widespread poverty in the country adding that seeking knowledge remains one of the sure ways of eradicating poverty.He stated this during a conference for Imams themed Imam as a custodian of the Quran held on Tuesday at the multi-purpose hall of Lekki Central Mosque Complex, Lagos. One of the reasons theres widespread poverty among us is because of mediocrity and ignorance. Ignorance in the sense that many people are not employable, because of their level of education and mediocrity in the sense that most of us are backward in what we do. We have to see excellence in everything we do. The prophet (S.A.W) used to say Allah loves to see something in you and that is excellence in everything we do, he said.According to him, Lekki Muslim Ummah is promoting knowledge through several educative programmes as well as fighting poverty through the use of Zakat. We encourage most especially the scholars to apply for Zakat to further their Islamic education. Successful applicants are given Zakat proceeds to further their education. Reacting to the incessant killings in some parts of the country, Sheikh Jamiu said: Its a very big crime in Islam and Nigerians should know that whatever happens to one happens to all. We have to be our brothers keepers; we should not narrow it to ethnicity or religion. We have to see ourselves as one. Patriotism requires us to be sympathetic to the victims and when we want to defend the right of anyone we should not base it on ethnicity or religion. He urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) not to introduce sentiment into their protest. Their protest should not be based on the fact that those who are killed belong to a particular sect or religion. No, that should not arise.We have to help the government to curb this menace; protest should be based on calling the attention of the government to the security situation of the country.He urged Muslim leaders and Christian leaders to conduct themselves in polite and democratic manner and not to incite people into violence. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | How Oshiomhole made Oyegun APC National Chair Idahosa By Simon Ebegbulem BENINA chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Chief Charles Idahosa, yesterday, disclosed how the immediate past governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, jettisoned the aspiration of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, to ensure the emergence of Chief John Odigie Oyegun as National Chairman of APC. Idahosa, who was reacting to comments by some persons who had raised ethnic sentiments with regards to the issue of the national chairmanship of the party, said those accusing Oshiomhole who also hails from the state with Oyegun of alleged attempt to take over the job from Oyegun, a Benin man, are very unfair to Oshiomhole. Charles Idahosa According to him, I read people say Oshiomhole wants to forcefully take the job of a Benin man. Those people are ignorant, because they dont even know how Oyegun became chairman. What has ethnicity got to do with the national chairmanship of the APC. Oshiomhole is an Edo man just like Oyegun. Long before now, I was one of the party leaders who opposed Odigie-Oyegun, but I am a Benin man like Oyegun because the party was not growing well under him. I felt Oyegun did not do what he was supposed to do to keep the party together. So this has nothing to do with tribe. If it is ethnicity, I will be the first to support Oyegun. In 2014, Oshiomhole and I played a key role in the emergence of Oyegun, but many people do not know that. Chief Tom Ikimi was already coasting to victory as the unopposed candidate from Edo State. But I made the State Working Committee to reopen the agenda when we all agreed on Tom Ikimi and it was Oshiomhole that called me to say please move the motion at the state Working Committee level, we want Oyegun. I moved the motion which changed the states earlier support for Chief Ikimi in favour of Oyegun. Oshiomhole is from Edo North but why did he not say because Oyegun is from Benin so he will not support him? When he got there as National Chairman, he was not putting the party together the way I expected and because I dont hide my feelings, I started attacking him. It does not mean I dont respect him but he has tried his best but we need a change. When I lost my mum, he called me to commiserate me. But I felt he was not doing what he is supposed to do as a national chairman of a ruling party and that is why we have too much crisis in the party today. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Let it shine Development of solar power is a positive step towards producing clean energy Home | News | General | Insecurity, restructuring: Senatell revisit devolution of powers Saraki By Henry Umoru Southern, M-Belt leaders at National Assembly; say Nigeria tottering on edge Add Nigerian system dysfunctioning, call for National Emergency Restate call for true federalism, implementation of 2014 CONFAB Report ABUJASenate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, assured leaders and elders from four of the six geo-political zones of the country, under the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, that the upper chamber will revisit the rejected devolution of power items in its constitution amendment exercise. Onnoghen Saraki and Buhari He also noted that the National Assembly was ready to play its role to ensure that the country continues on the path of democracy and growth, adding that to strengthen the countrys democracy, the number one institution Nigerians must defend is the parliament. The Senate President added that the 8th National Assembly has been working hard to create an enabling environment that will attract investors and that the federal legislature will continue along that line. On the call to revisit clauses that were rejected during the ongoing constitution review process, Saraki said the National Assembly was ready to reconsider the clauses and will do so after the passage of the 2018 budget. The demands Earlier, Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, who stormed the National Assembly, said Nigeria as a country was at the moment on the edge of the precipice, if serious steps were not taken. The leaders condemned in very strong terms, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive for its flagrant disregard for the legislative arm of government. The leaders, led by South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, also expressed worry over the state of affairs in the country, especially the wanton killings and destruction of property across the country, noting that Nigeria is in a state of despondency. They added that there is the need for a national emergency if the myriad of crises and problems facing the country are to be resolved. The Forum comprising South-South, South-East, South-West and the Middle-Belt also pleaded with the National Assembly to work towards providing for Nigeria, a constitution that will not make Nigerians feel that they are outside the country, but one that will be all-encompassing in nature. From left: Chief John Nwodo, Leader of the delegation; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Elder Statesman; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President; Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Chief Edwin Clark, Ijaw leader and Dr Bukola Saraki, Senate President, during a visit by the Southern and Middle Belt leaders to the leadership of the Senate at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. According to them: The time has come for the country to put in place true federalism, where the essence of living together and why we must co-habit must be discussed, just as they called for the implementation of the report of the 2014 Constitutional Conference if Nigeria must get it right. The positions of the leaders of the zones were presented by President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, just as they stressed that the multi-faceted problems confronting the country must be collectively addressed as the onus of saving the country was on the National Assembly as the true symbol of democracy and microcosm of the people. The leaders noted that a restructured Nigeria anchored on devolution of powers and functional fiscal federalism was the only way out of the crises bedeviling the nation. Invasion of Senate by thugs The leaders also condemned in very strong terms, the assault on the Senate on April 18, 2018 when some thugs forced their way to the Chamber of the Senate and made away with the Mace, the symbol of legislative authority, saying that it was shocking that five thugs made their way into the Chambers of the Senate while in Session and made away with the Mace, without the security being able to apprehend any of them, only to tell the nation that they found the Mace somewhere near at the Abuja City Gate. According to them, its bad that such a disgraceful thing would happen in the National Assembly as it has portrayed Nigeria to the whole world in bad light. They also frowned at the refusal of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to honour the summons of the Senate which they said, were clear examples of the Executives disregard for the institution of the National Assembly. The leaders also told the Senate leadership that the continuous spate of killing of innocent citizens of Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt, is totally unacceptable and more disturbing was the ever-increasing evidence that the military and police forces were compromised in the manner they had conducted themselves by aiding and abetting the herdsmen. The Statement Nwodo said: We have come to you at a very difficult time in the history of our country. We are visiting the National Assembly because of its unique position in our constitution. The democratic system we run in our country rests on the three organs of government. For these three arms, the other two function in accordance with laws made by this arm. This arm characterises democracy because in a military government, you will have both the judiciary and the executive. But it is only in a democratic government that you have the parliament. The parliament is a microcosm of the people because every section of the country has by adult suffrage delegated its voice to this parliament. So we believe that by visiting you today, we are coming to speak to the conscience of the country. We ask that these discussions today be as frank as possible because in situations like this, unless the National Assembly rises like a man with a conscience, commitment and patriotism, to unveil the facade of partisan politics, partisan advantages and face the real issues, we stand on the edge of a precipice. We have watched the helplessness of the National Assembly where members of the executive even refuse your invitations to come and make explanations contrary to provisions of the constitution. We have found the helplessness of the Senate when you can be invaded despite the security adornment in this place controlled by the executive and the seat of the Senate President is almost invaded but for the personal security of the aides of its leadership. This is because our system makes the tail wag the dog rather than the dog wag the tail. This cannot be in a fountain of legislative authority for executive implementation, and yet they toy with the system. On devolution of powers We have come to tell you that it is in our view that it is because we have this over-concentration of powers in the Federal Government contrary to the agreement that our forefathers entered into for the nation called Nigeria. That governance has failed in our country. Economic development has failed. We believe that many of the problems that we have in our country emanate from the constitution of our country. We know that the National Assembly has had debate on devolution of powers and we know, Mr. President, that you did promise the nation that you will have a revisit to this issue. We have come to ask you to bring up the revisit. We consider it urgent and inevitable because we believe that all problems we have today in Nigeria emanate from the fact that our constitution is not right for a country constituted by people of diverse culture, diverse religion, diverse political persuasions as our country. Our problems emanate from the constitution being presently run in the country as against the ones operated between 1954 and 1966 which gave room for decentralized federation with attendant development-driven or healthy rivalries among the federating units. We have been kept down by the kinds of constitution we run which to a large extent, provides for over-centralised federation by way of concentrating powers and resources for running the country at the centre alone to the detriment of the federating units, that is, the 36 states. Restructuring In a nutshell, our system makes the tail wag the dog rather than the dog wagging the tail. Escalation of disunity and wanton killings in the land not in any way matched with required equal reaction by security forces, have only one destination, which can only be salvaged by restructuring the country so as not to end up singing the nunc dimitis for the Nation. Nwodos submissions were corroborated by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who spoke on behalf of South-West; Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd) on behalf of the Middle-Belt and Chief Clark on behalf of South-South geo political zone. Adebanjo in particular said a word from one is a statement from all, adding that the National Assembly should use the report of the 2014 National Conference in effecting the required change. Also in the delegation were Chief Olu Falae, Air Vice Marshal Idongesit Nkanga (etd), Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Obong Victor Attah, Prof. Banjo Akintoye, Senator Stella Omu, Yinka Odumakin, Senator Bassey Henshaw, Dr. Alfred Mulade, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, Lady Maryam Yunusa, Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike and His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe, among others. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Oil theft: See photo of vessels seized by Nigerian Army, handed over to EFCC in Delta state - A tugboat and a barge have been seized by the Nigerian Army in Abadiama community of Burutu local government area of Delta state - The EFCC, to which the tugboat and the barge were handed over, said the vessels were being used for oil bunkering when they were seized - The commission said that investigations on the development are underway The Nigerian Army on Thursday, May 3 handed over a tugboat and a barge, allegedly seized from oil thieves, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Delta state. Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja. He did not, however, say whether the suspects were arrested, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: Come together to defeat this monster - JNI begs Nigerians after twin blasts killed 85 in Adamawa Uwujaren stated that the tugboat (MV Omar Success) and the barge (EBIs 1) were allegedly being used for illegal oil bunkering when they were seized. According to him, the Sector 1, Operation Delta Safe of the Army intercepted the vessels at a creek in Abadiama community of Burutu local government area of the state following a tip off. The tugboat and the barge seized by the Nigerian Army (Photo credit: NAN) Speaking at the event, Major Y. J. Yunusa, who represented the commander, said the tugboat and barge were intercepted in February, 2018 while transloading suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Richard Ogberagha, an EFCC operative, who received the exhibits on behalf of the Benin zonal head of the commission, Milafia Yakubu, said the EFCC would do a painstaking investigation and ensure that those involved were brought to book. An official of the force handing over a document covering the vessels to the EFCC (Photo credit: NAN) NAN said that came barely three weeks after the Army reportedly handed over three suspected oil thieves to the EFCC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! The unidentified suspects were said to have been nabbed with a Dangote truck conveying illegally refined petroleum products. Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that the chairman of Capital Oil Ifeanyi Ubah had accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of owing his company N16 billion. Ubah while explaining the role of his company in an alleged disappearance of 82 million metric litres of Petrol belonging to NNPC at the Lower House said the corporation owed Capital Oil N16 billion. Price of petrol crashes in Nigeria - On NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Just in: 1 teenage bomber arrested in Adamawa, others flee (photos) Troops of the Nigerian military have arrested a teenage bomber in Adamawa, one of the worst hit states by the Boko Haram terrorist group in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, just as two others were said to have escaped from being caught. Though details of the arrest were still sketchy at the time of this report, it happened just days after some bombers detonated improvised explosive devices they were laced with in a mosque while worshippers prayed. "Locals said the arrested terrorist was in company of two others who fled towards the major market road in the town," TVC's Sumner Sambo said. NAIJ.com earlier reported that many people were on Tuesday, May 1, feared dead following bomb blasts in Mubi town, Adamawa state, north east Nigeria, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. A vest belonging to one of the bombers. Credit: Sumner Sambo READ ALSO: Gowon warns NASS not to impeach Buhari Confirming the incident, the chairman of Mubi north local government, Alhaji Musa Bello, said the blasts occurred around 1.30 pm. He said: All I can tell you for now is that I am on my way to the scene to help in evacuation of casualties. Nobody can tell you the number of dead and injured for now. NAIJ.com also reported that the Nigerian presidency reacted to the bomb blast that rocked Mubi town in Adamawa state on Workers Day. A vest laced with IEDs and worn by bombers. Credit: Sumner Sambo The presidency tweeted its condolences to the government and people of Adamawa state while calling the acts tragic and despicable. "Todays bomb attacks in Mubi, Adamawa state, targeting a Mosque and market, are tragic and despicable. Our sympathies go to the victims, their families, the Govt & people of Adamawa. Our special gratitude to all the rescue workers & medical personnel who attended to victims," the tweet read. The teenage boy arrested by troops. Credit: Sumner Sambo Another report by NAIJ.com stated that the Adamawa commissioner of police, Abdullahi Yerim, confirmed that two male bombers were involved the twin bomb attacks in Mubi town. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Yerima, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the first blast was in a mosque around the second hand clothes market during afternoon prayer, while the second was outside the mosque. Exclusive: Freed Dapchi Girl Recounts Her Ordeal with Boko Haram (Nigeria Breaking News) Naij.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Mustang gears up for Modis Muktinath visit Preparations are underway at war footing for the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Muktinath, a famous Hindu pilgrimage site in Mustang. Home | News | General | Despite court judgement stopping it, Oyo state governor declares that LG election will hold in all wards - Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has insisted that there will be local government election in the state - The governor said this after a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on Wednesday, May 2 stopped the election - Some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state instituted a case over the creation of wards Despite a Federal High Court ruling stopping the forthcoming local government election in Oyo state, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has on Friday, May 4, vowed that election will hold in all 33 local government areas, 35 local council development areas and over 600 wards in the state. Tribune reports that while addressing a congregation of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state at party secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Ajimobi said he was leaning on constitutional provisions that the courts had no power over the election. READ ALSO: Gunmen reportedly attack APC aspirants aides in Ekiti, cart away delegates money There is this speculation across the state that the council poll will not hold as a result of the court judgment. "The court has not stopped us from conducting the election, except in some newly created wards. We are telling the court that it is in the constitution that no court has power over the election. We are telling you that in the wards mentioned and those that were not mentioned, we are going to conduct election there. We are in touch with the aggrieved members of the party that had gone to court. I want to assure you that the election will hold across the state, even in the disputed wards, the governor was quoted to have said,. Going further, the governor was said to have appealed to party members to ensure the success of the ward congress. In any local government that has executive, if the executive wants to continue, and you agree, let them continue. If you dont agree, go to the field. It is not automatic to be a member of the executive, he added. Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the planned Oyo state local government election which was scheduled to be held on May 12 has been stopped by a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on Wednesday, May 2. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The court stopped the poll after it delivered its ruling in a case instituted by some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state over the creation of wards. 2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on NAIJ.com TV: [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Nigeria police clear air on April salary short payment, blame system error - The Nigeria Police said the April short salary to some personnel was due to system error - The force spokesperson said efforts are already being made to rectify the error The Nigeria Police said that the salary short payment for some personnel, for April was due to system error. The Force spokesman, ACP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, May 4, said that the force in conjunction with Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation,(OAGF) would resolve the problem. READ ALSO: Gunmen reportedly attack APC aspirants aides in Ekiti, cart away delegates money The statement read: "Salary short payment for Police Personnel for the month of April, 2018 is being resolved by the Force with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation "The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has assured the Nigeria Police Force that Salary short payment for Police Personnel for the month of April, 2018 was due to system error and is being promptly resolved. All other issues relating to payment of salary to Police personnel are being addressed. The affected personnel will according to OAGF get the salary differential paid on or before Monday, May 7th, 2018. "Commissioners of Police and their supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of State and Zonal Commands, and Heads of other formations and detachment in the Force have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to lecture and educate their personnel who have any complaint from payment of February, March and April 2018 Salary that their complaints are being rectified. "Affected Police Personnel are enjoined not to panic as the Force is doing everything in conjunction with Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure that all the identified problems in the payment of salary of Police personnel across the country are permanently resolved." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Nigeria police has announced plans to commence the recruitment of 6,000 policemen into the force as it has shortlisted 133,324 for the said recruitment scheduled to begin on Monday, May 7. In a press release signed by the head, press and public relations, Police Service Commission, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said that the recruitment would be done in the state police commands in all 36 states of the federation as well as in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Are Nigerian Policemen the worst in the world? - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | World | Africa | 'Mnangagwa must apologise for Gukurahundi genocide' - Tshinga Dube THE Zimbabwe Independent this week engaged former minister, senior Zanu-PF official and liberation struggle fighter retired Colonel Tshinga Dube who usually speaks out his mind, including during ex-president Robert Mugabe's feared rule, to tackle critical issues past and present. Reporter Nkululeko Sibanda (NS) spoke to Dube, one of Matabeleland region's most senior political figures, about his political career, Zanu-PF primaries, his time at the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI) and the controversial drama about Malabo-bound mercenaries arrested in Harare in 2004 on their way to topple Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Find below excerpts of the interview: NS: First of all, congratulations for winning the Zanu-PF primary election in Makokoba (Bulawayo) to represent your party in the upcoming general elections. How do you feel? TD: I was looking forward to standing in the party primaries and winning the ticket to stand in the general elections. Personally, I feel good about it. The challenge, however, is that I am yet to deal with the bigger hurdle; that of contesting the general elections against other parties. I am sure I will also win. However, I am more curious about the coming elections because it is a very big event where we have to ensure as a party that our leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, wins. NS: If you win the elections, what issues in your constituency will you address? TD: In fact, it's not a question of what I want to do, but a question of what I have been doing. For a long time, I have been engaged in a lot of projects and these include education, health, sports, and social welfare issues. I have been doing that and would like to continue with that. NS: You are still active in politics at your age (77). Most of your contemporaries have exited politics or died. How far are you willing to go? TD: It is very true that I am no longer as young as most of today's political players are. I am getting old. If I have to stand and win as an MP, this will be my last term. I will finally go to rest at my farm if God allows me to do so. I'm beyond my peak as a politician. I am only doing it so that we assist the younger people. Those who want to learn from my contribution to Zimbabwe and experience should feel free to come through; I'm available for engagement. NS: You hinted that you would publish memoirs upon your retirement. Where are you with regard to that? TD: In fact, I have finished the memoirs. I am just waiting for the launch. They are all about my biography; the experience in the war of liberation, as a civil servant, in the army, and in business, as well as my time in the Zimbabwe Defence Industries and political life. NS: We will come to the issue of the ZDI later. Let us shift our focus on to the Matabeleland region where you are one of the senior politicians around. What is your view on the debate that this region is marginalised and underdeveloped? TD: I cannot disagree with that. I always feel there is an element of marginalisation. I look at it this way: We have very few cabinet ministers and other top government representatives. But those few are not in critical portfolios such as economic ministries. They are peripheral. If I were to be made minister of roads, for instance, I would deal with relevant issues nationally, but also not forget the region. If one is a minister of water, they would address water problems everywhere, including where they come from. Unfortunately, we are not given such ministries. NS: You say Matabeleland has very few cabinet ministers; is it because there are no MPs and candidates with the required credentials or what? TD: We must encourage our politicians in the region to up their game in terms of credentials and capacity to enable the appointing authority to consider them for such positions. If you look at the entire region, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, we have very few cabinet ministers. You only have the likes of (Sithembiso) Nyoni, (Obert) Mpofu, (Simon) Khaya Moyo etc, but a few, and of course Vice-President (Kembo) Mohadi. We need more representation in government to push the region's development agenda as others are doing in other regions. I don't think there is a deliberate marginalisation policy, but it's there because of certain circumstances. NS: Let's talk about Gukurahundi as one of those emotive and critical issues in Matabeleland and the country today. What can be done to resolve the issue? TD: I think the issue was not properly handled in the first place. If you look carefully, it was actually swept under the carpet. When (Joshua) Nkomo, the late vice-president, was still alive this issue could have been addressed entirely. The mistake was that when the Unity Accord was signed in 1987, we all assumed the issue had been addressed. We did not realise at the time we had not addressed critical post-conflict and reconciliation issues. The victims are still there, but they have not been rehabilitated, there hasn't been truth and reconciliation, let alone justice and reparations. We cannot change the past, but post-conflict societies need rehabilitation of victims and rebuilding. For instance, if you lost your uncle during Gukurahundi and then someone just pitches up saying that period is over, let's have closure, it won't work. Things don't work like that. It will be over to him or her, but not to you. For you it will not be over because you will still be bitter and you can be bitter until you die. All the parties involved did not look at that issue the way I think they should have. NS: Now, how do we get closure on Gukurahundi? TD: I have always said there is need for what we refer to in Ndebele culture and IsiNdebele as ukukhumisana umlotha; traditional ritual of coming together to bury the hatchet after proper apologies have been made following a hurtful conflict or such a problem. Once that is done, we then agree as a people or nation that it's done; the chapter is closed. We have seen that happening in other countries. But we have not had that in Zimbabwe. What we have had here are people who would not say sorry. Their excuse is that it was during a war. I dare ask: what war are you talking about when unarmed and defenceless people were being killed? We talk about war when two or more armed groups or people are fighting. When you just kill people because you have a gun and they don't have one, that's not a war. NS: What would be the best way to resolve the issue and ensure reparations? TD: First of all, some people talk about compensation. Who do you compensate when some victims are no longer alive? We are talking about something that happened about 30 to 40 years ago. It's very complicated. If one shows remorse and comes forward to assist victims or their families through certain programmes, for example paying for their education or some such other serious plan, people will see that leaders are indeed sorry about what happened. NS: Who should shoulder the blame for Gukurahundi and issue an apology to victims given that former president Robert Mugabe is largely denying responsibility and scapegoating others? TD: If he is refusing to accept responsibility, who does he think should shoulder the blame? It is public knowledge that he (Mugabe) was the president, chief executive of the country, and commander-in-chief when those disturbances happened. Whether he likes it or not, Mugabe is the one who should shoulder the blame; all these other people involved were working under him. Nonetheless, the people in the command element and government were also there. Even the current president (Mnangagwa) was also there, although I cannot say he was fully responsible. These are the people who should apologise to the victims on behalf of the government so that this chapter can be closed. NS: Earlier in this interview, you made reference to ZDI. Can you shed light on its operations, functions and responsibilities? TD: ZDI was quite a successful company which was very useful in a big way. You will recall that when we attained our independence in 1980, we realised we were supposed to spend a lot of money on small arms as we wanted to import weapons. We decided that we would have to cut costs of buying ammunition by manufacturing that on our own. It was not only ammunition but we spent heavily on communication radio systems and signals. So we said the best way would be to manufacture our own and that is how we came up with ZDI. We even exported some ammunition and equipment to the United States and many other countries such as Angola, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and others. But as you are aware, as things collapsed here in Zimbabwe the ZDI was also affected and its capacity went down. It is still there, but not as efficient as it was. NS: In your dealings, you were involved with well-known mercenary Simon Mann and his accomplices who reportedly bought arms from the ZDI to stage a military coup in Equatorial Guinea. In 2016, Mann instructed his lawyers in Zimbabwe to recover US$380 000 from the Zimbabwean government as he said there was a breach of agreement when you failed to supply them with arms but instead got them arrested and extradited to Equatorial Guinea to face coup charges. How would you respond to this? TD: That is madness because first of all, he agrees that he was a mercenary. We do not entertain mercenaries here. He is lucky that we extradited him to Equatorial Guinea. In other countries they would have killed him. He does not appreciate that the money he is talking about was not given to the government, but to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. It was not given to ZDI. In fact, he had very low opinion of our intelligence system. He thought he would use us to carry out his coup in Equatorial Guinea. We are equally trained and we understand these things. So we would not let him do that. You cannot use another country to stage a coup on another and expect that we pay you for it. That will not happen. NS: Did Equatorial Guinea pay you to say thank-you for averting the coup? TD: I don't know. That one was an issue between the two presidents at the time (Mugabe and Nguema). I would only hear that the president has gone there (Equatorial Guinea) or there are people from Nguema's government meeting the president. I personally never got any thank-you from anyone. That is the truth. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Nepal moves to ratify Montreal Convention Nepal has moved to ratify the Montreal Convention (MC99) which stipulates higher compensation for accidents involving international flights than that prescribed by the Warsaw Convention. Included in the exhibition will be Schoellers portraits of six Porsche LMP1 drivers, taken during the 2016 edition of the 6 Hours of Nurburgring race and for which he has won multiple awards. The collaboration with Martin Schoeller as part of the Big Heads exhibition signifies the beginning of a long-term partnership between Porsche and the famous photographer. Further exhibitions are planned during the course of the year and the intention is also to conduct more photoshoots. Schoeller is one of the most important contemporary portrait photographers. Born in Munich in 1968, he began his career in New York with Annie Leibovitz. His portraits of Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie, Jack Nicholson, Angela Merkel and George Clooney have already achieved cult status. Schoellers trademark is the extreme close-up. In these shots, the faces are lit with a soft neon light and always taken from the same perspective: from the front and slightly from below. Martin Schoeller photographs Porsche LMP1 driver Brendon Hartley In addition to Schoellers best works taken over a period of more than 20 years, visitors to the Big Heads exhibition in Rotterdam will get to see the result of an extraordinary photo project realised in 2016. During the 6 Hours of Nurburgring race, the photographer took the portraits of all six Porsche LMP1 drivers. For the series of photos, Mark Webber, Neel Jani, Brendon Hartley, Marc Lieb, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas went straight from the cockpit of the Porsche 919 hybrid racing car to Schoellers mobile photo studio, which was set up right next to the Porsche garage. Still wearing a helmet and balaclava, the drivers took a seat on the stool behind the black curtain of the mini studio. Only then did they remove their helmet and look directly at the camera. The portraits show every trace that the exertion of the race The aim of the photo series was to capture those candid seconds: Schoellers portraits instantly show every trace that the exertion of the race, the extreme concentration and the adrenalin has left on the faces of the drivers. This project was a first for Schoeller as well: For the first time, he photographed sportsmen during a competition, when emotions such as tension or relief, joy or frustration can be read directly from their faces. Describing his first experience of working at a race track, Schoeller said: I wanted to feel, understand and experience what happens there. How exhausted the drivers are after their stint. How disappointed if they lose. And how euphoric if they win. The Porsche magazine Christophorus showed all six portraits in issue 378 and paid further tribute to Martin Schoellers artwork by releasing the magazine with six different covers for the first time in its 65-year-plus history. This won the Christophorus issue multiple awards. In 2017, it won silver in the cover of the year 2016 category of the BCM award, the biggest European competition for corporate publishing. It was also chosen as the Best of Best winner of the Corporate Publishing category in the Automotive Brand Contest 2017. In addition, the German Design Council awarded issue 378 of Christophorus the German Design Award 2018. Blockchain Takes the Stage at Flagship Cryptography Conference in Israel For the second year in a row, a flagship cryptography conference in Europe has devoted an entire session to blockchain technology. It was a sign that cryptographers, who once struggled to take the cryptocurrency space seriously due to its hacks, frauds and often reckless approach to developing secure protocols, are now investing their time into the space. The 37th annual Eurocrypt conference was held this year on April 30 to May 3, 2018, in Tel Aviv, Israel, at the Dan Panorama Hotel, steps from the Mediterranean ocean. Hosted by the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR), the conference was attended by 370 people. Five blockchain papers were presented on the second day of the conference, and one of those even received a best paper award. On the third day of the conference, Matthew Green, a cryptographer and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute, had the honor of presenting an invited talk on the 30-year history of cryptocurrencies. The Papers Getting a paper accepted at Eurocrypt is no mean feat. Only one in five papers that are submitted get accepted after going through a months-long, peer-review process, where experts in the field scrutinize the work to determine its suitability for the conference. Four blockchain papers were presented at this years blockchain session. Cornell Techs Rafael Pass presented Thunderella, a blockchain protocol focused on fast transactions. Following that, Vassilis Zikas, a senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and IOHK research fellow, looked at the core cryptographic assumptions underlying Bitcoin. Shedding light on why the second paper was important, because Bitcoin did not come through traditional academic channels, cryptographers had no formal model of how the protocol worked, which they needed to build alternative consensus algorithms with comparable security properties. The work of Zikas and others is changing that. Later, Peter Gazi, a researcher at blockchain development and research company IOHK, presented Ouroboros Praos, the next-generation, proof-of-stake algorithm for the Cardano blockchain. Finally, Joel Alwen, a researcher at the Institute of Science and Technology in Austria, presented an examination of ASIC-resistant, proof-of-work hashing algorithms. Story continues Outside of the blockchain session, a fifth blockchain paper, Simple Proofs of Sequential Work won an award for best paper. The paper was presented by cryptographer Krzysztof Pietrzak. Bram Cohen, CEO of energy-saving cryptocurrency Chia, was a coauthor. Peer Review The IACR has an interesting history. The nonprofit was initiated in 1982 by David Chaum, who later founded DigiCash, a company that specialized in digital money and payment systems. Cryptographers at the time wanted to form their own organization for meetings and research outside of established ones for mathematics and computer science. Today, the IACR is responsible for eight conferences, including three flagship cryptography conferences: Eurocrypt in Europe, Crypto in the U.S. and Asiacrypt in Asia. Peer review is a big part of these conferences. Papers are submitted in a double-blind process where the authors names are removed from the paper, and the reviewers do not reveal their identities to the authors. The point of peer review is to ensure only the best papers get into a conference. Beyond that, peer review also strengthens the security of a protocol because the more eyes that examine a protocol, the more likely it is that flaws will be found and fixed before a protocol is made widely available. Blockchain technology has deep roots in cryptography. Bitcoin, for instance, is founded on the early discoveries of pioneering cryptographers like Chaum (DigiCash), Ralph Merkle (hash trees), Wei Dai (b-money scheme) and others. Despite that, somewhere along the line, blockchain parted ways with its academic roots. As a result, few papers in the blockchain space today have gone through any formal peer review process. But that may be changing. More blockchain and cryptocurrency papers appearing at flagship IACR conferences is an indication that blockchain technology is returning home to its academic roots and future blockchain protocols will be more robust and secure. This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. South Korea ICO A group of lawmakers led by a politician from Koreas ruling political party is drafting a bill to legalize the launch of new cryptocurrencies and ICOs in the country. According to a report by The Korea Times, Rep. Hong Eui-rak of the Democratic Party of Korea, the political camp in power, is leading the charge through the parliament to challenge the governments ban on initial coin offerings (ICOs) in September 2017. Hong has the support of 10 other lawmakers in the Korean parliament and aims to have a final draft of the bill for submission before the end of the year. Speaking at a forum focusing on cryptocurrencies and blockchain tech at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday, Hong revealed a joint study between the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), a non-profit Koreas largest trade body, and his own office was the basis behind the bill. Hong insists that the proposed legislation to legalize new ICOs will be under the governments direct scrutiny. The lawmaker said: The bill is aimed at legalizing ICOs under the governments supervision[] The primary goal (of the legislation is helping remove uncertainties facing blockchain-related businesses. Further, the report suggests that the bill favors ICOs stemming from public organizations and research centers that are committed to promoting and developing blockchain technology. Government agencies including the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Koreas financial regulator, and the Ministry of Science and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will wield powers to supervise these ICOs, the bill reportedly conveys. Taking a cue from Chinas own blanket ban on all ICOs, South Koreas Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the countrys financial watchdog under the FSC, enforced its ban in late September claiming it was doing so protect domestic investors from fraud. We are worried about adverse effects such as increased risk of fraud, FSS vice chairman Kim Yong-bum said at the time. The ICO will be prohibited in all forms. Story continues Nonetheless, regulators have since considered reversing the ban in a change of tact from such restrictive curbs. Korea is among the worlds most active crypto trading markets and has seen cryptocurrencies firmly permeating into Korean society among everyday adopters and retail investors. Indeed, the rising prominence of cryptocurrencies was addressed during yesterdays National Assembly by Speaker Chung Sye-kyun. Calling on lawmakers to remove political barriers and curbs crippling their advent, Chung said: Blockchain and cryptos can be used in various public sectors for good causes. Given their potential, we need to work to help reduce political uncertainties they face. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post South Korea Bill Pushes Legalization of New ICOs after 2017 Ban appeared first on CCN. Amish Raj Mulmi is a columnist for the Post, and the author of All Roads Lead North: Nepals Turn to China. The Swedish Academy was founded in 1786 and is one of Sweden's most important institutions. It has awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1901. It consists of eighteen members who are elected for life, unless kicked out.In 2017 eighteen women accused Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of Katarina Frostenson, a member of the Academy, of rape, sexual harassment, and other kinds of abuse. Arnault and Frostenson own an establishment in Stockholm with a lot of influence in the Swedish literature scene.After the abuse allegations, it was revealed that the club owned by the couple had received money from the Academy's grants.In April, the Academy declined to exclude Frostenson. Peter Englund, Klas Ostergren and Kjell Espmark resigned in protest over the Academy's handling of the scandal.Later, Katarina Frostenson and the Academy's constant secretary Sara Danius both resigned.People were pissed that two women were taking the fall in a scandal over a man's treatment of women. The picture is of a protest held in support of Danius.Then, Horace Engdahl,remaining member and friend of Jean-Claude Arnault, gave an interview where he attacked Sara Danius, who had led the attempts to critically examine the Academy's role in corruption and sexual abuse. Sara Stridsberg resigned.Since people can't leave the Academy, only stop participating, there are now only 10 active members.No prize will be awarded this year, for the first time since 1949.Instead, two prizes will be awarded next year.This is a result of the fact that no one likes or trusts the Academy anymore. What you should know: This is a remake of the 1957 film Nine Lives. It's slim pickings for big studio releases this week. If you've already seen, or you have no interest in, or vice versa, fear not - there are several indies in both wide and limited release that may pique your interest.Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you:, andCharlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, Ron LivingstonJason Reitman: Comedy, Drama: A mother of three hires a night nanny to help with her newborn.This film reunites Charlize Theron, Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody, all of whom previously worked together on: Johnny Galecki, Anna Friel, Kyle Gallner: Bobby Miller: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy: A heartbroken man attends a spiritual retreat to cleanse himself and fix his broken life. There he meets a fellow lost soul, and together they discover that "the cleanse" releases more than everyday toxins...a lot more.Steve Blum, the voice of Spike Spiegel and countless other anime characters, does a voice in this film.: Paulina Garcia, Claudio Rissi: Cecilia Atan and Valerie Pivato: Animation, Adventure, Drama: Teresa is a 54-year-old woman who works as a domestic employee in a family home in Buenos Aires. For decades she has taken refuge in the routine of her tasks, but now that the family has decided to sell the house, her life begins to totter.: It's an Argentinian film, so there are subtitles.: Matthias Schoenaerts, Adele Exarchopoulos: Michael P. RoskamCrime, DramaSet against the background of a brutal crime gang in Brussels, a tragic love story between Gigi, a high-flying gangster, and Bibi, a young racing driver with very upper-class roots.: This film was Belgiums submission to the Best Foreign Film Category at the 90th Academy Awards. Again, subtitles.: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, Nina TotenbergJulie Cohen and Betsy WestDocumentary: At the age of 84, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But without a definitive Ginsburg biography, the unique personal journey of this diminutive, quiet warrior's rise to the nation's highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans - until now.: RBG was only the second female justice to be appointed to the Supreme Court.: David Tennant, Kerry Condon, Robert Sheehan, Jacqueline Byers: Dean Devlin: Horror, Thriller: A pair of burglars stumble upon a woman being held captive in a home they intended to rob.: This film is from the director of, take from that what you will.Thomas Gullestad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Marie Blokhus: Harald Zwart: Drama, History, Thriller: They were 12 saboteurs. The Nazis killed 11 of them. This is the true story of the one who got away...: Karen Gillan, Jennifer Morrison, Patrick Fugit, Eddie Kaye Thomas: Harris Goldberg: Comedy, Romance: Alex's beautiful girlfriend gives him a list of changes to make before he can win her hand in marriage. He must now figure out how to complete the list, fend off a suave competitor and secure her love.: An LA Times reviewer called this film short on both the rom and the com, and I love Karen Gillan, but that made me laugh.: Vicky Chen, Meijun Zhou, Ke Shi, Le Geng: Vivian Qu: Drama: In a small seaside town, two schoolgirls are sexually assaulted by a middle-aged man in a motel. Mia, a teenager who was working on reception that night, is the only witness. For fear of losing her job, she chooses to keep silence.: Its been nominated for awards at film festivals worldwide.: Nathalie Bay, Laura Smet, Iris Bry, Cyril Descours: Xavier BeauvoisDrama: Women are left behind to work a family farm during the Great War.: The lead actresses are a real life mother-daughter pair.: Keith Carradine, Sondra Locke, Keith David, Samantha Mathis: Alan Rudolph: Drama, Fantasy, RomanceIn bizarre, unrelated turns of events, Ray and Helen each happen upon large sums of money which give them the chance to re-invent themselves.: The last feature Alan Rudolph directed was a 2002 film called: Tristan Cook: Documentary: Cellist Dane Johansen and fellow travelers set out on a 30-day hike on the ancient paths of the Camino de Santiago in northwestern Spain.It has a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.Source 1 Reuters Videos Here in the dusty Casablanca region of Chilean wine country lies what could be the key natural resource behind a new COVID-19 vaccine for low- and middle-income countries: The bark of quillay trees. Long used by the indigenous Mapuche people to make soap and medicine, the trees also been used to make a highly successful vaccine against shingles and the worlds first malaria vaccine. Now, two molecules made from the bark of branches pruned from older trees in Chiles forests are being used for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Maryland-based Novavax. The chemicals are used to make a substance that boosts the immune system. Over the next two years, Novavax plans to produce billions of doses of the vaccine, mostly for low- and middle-income countries, which would make it one of the largest COVID-19 vaccine suppliers in the world. With no reliable data on how many healthy quillay trees are left in Chile, experts and industry officials are divided on how quickly the supply of older trees will be depleted by rising demand. But nearly everyone agrees that industries relying on quillay extracts will at some point need to switch to plantation-grown trees or a lab-grown alternative. My estimate four years ago was that we were heading towards the sustainability limit. Ricardo San Martin, who developed the pruning and extraction process that created the modern quillay industry, said producers must immediately work toward making quillay products from younger, plantation-grown trees. Quillay producers and their customers say the harvest can continue for now without decimating the supply of older trees. Andres Gonzalez, the manager of Desert King International, Novavaxs sole supplier of quillay extracts, told Reuters it is set to produce enough quillay extract from older trees to make up to 4.4 billion vaccine doses in 2022. We feel the responsibility and we believe that we are up to it but today we are quite confident that we are capable of producing it. A relatively small volume of quillay extract is required to make vaccines - just under one milligram per dose - but the supply is stretched by the demand from other industries. While some have expressed confidence in producers ability to manage supply and demand, there are concerns about other threats - like drought and fire. Pact resumes Tatopani port work Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB) on Thursday signed an agreement to resume construction of the dry port in Tatopani. MANILA, Philippines Re-bidding for the countrys importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice ended early on Friday. The bid prices of Thailand and Vietnam were lower than the reference price of the NFA so both were accepted. But it should be noted that the reference prices of the National Food Authority (NFA) have increased by more than $45 per metric tons. The Philippine government will be spending P6.7 billion for the 5 million sacks of rice. Initial delivery is expected at the end of May. However, according to the president of the Central Luzon Farmers Cooperative, Simeon Sioson, the bid prices are too high and importation should have been done last year. Kapag alam ng supplier na kailangang-kailangan natin meron silang karapatan at prerogative nila na itaas yung presyo ng gusto nila, Sioson said. NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said, the agency had wanted to import rice in the last quarter of 2017 but the NFA council did not approve it. He added that the government could have saved billions of pesos because the price then was much lower. Yun yung sinasabi natin yung complexity of NFA operation. Decision should always be on time, Estoperez said. The NFA expressed intention to open the government to government mode of procurement to other countries like India, Pakistan and Myanmar so they can have more choices and healthier competition among bidders. But this request for them to be able to participate is still pending with office of our department of foreign affairs, NFA Deputy Administrator Judy Carol Dansal. The agency is set to import another 5 million sacks of rice for their 15-day buffer stock. But President Rodrigo Duterte wants to increase the stock to last 60 days. Rey Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue The post Philippines to import P6.7-B worth of rice from Thailand and Vietnam appeared first on UNTV News. Operatives of the QCPD Special Operation Unit (DSOU) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) MANILA, Philippines Operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Special Operation Unit (DSOU) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) disarmed and ordered policemen assigned in QCPD Station 11 to lie down on the floor. The DSOU and SWAT conducted the operation after receiving complaints that the QCPD Station 11 cops were extorting money from arrested drug suspects. Based on the complaint filed by the relatives of the nabbed drug suspects, the cops were demanding 200,000 pesos in exchange for not filing charges against them. They offered to lower the charges and for me to add 100,000 pesos in exchange for dropping the charges, arrested businessman Flexis Soriano said. They demanded 200,000 pesos. They told my mother about it. They said the money would ensure we will not get hurt, arrested businessman Celso Luna III said. QCPD Station 11 PSupt. Igmedio Bernaldez vows to investigate the complaint. However, he insisted that illegal drugs were found in the possession of the drug suspects. Immediately I will relieve all those SDEU personnel how are allegedly involved in the incident, QCPD station commander PSupt. Igmedio Bernaldez said. Bernaldez also refused to name the cops involved in the alleged extortion. He also did not present to the media the allegedly confiscated illegal drugs from the complaining drug suspects. However, PNP Chief Police Director General Oscar Albayalde ordered to relieve all personnel of the drug enforcement unit of QCPD Station 11 while the incident is being investigated. Bernaldez was also relieved from his post due to command responsibility. Lea Ylagan | UNTV News & Rescue The post Several QCPD Station 11 cops relieved over extortion claims appeared first on UNTV News. Hunting of wild gazelles in the Sahara. Credit: UGR 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 percent 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 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. 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, says, "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. More information: Jose Carlos Brito et al, Armed conflicts and wildlife decline: Challenges and recommendations for effective conservation policy in the Sahara-Sahel, Conservation Letters (2018). Journal information: Conservation Letters Jose Carlos Brito et al, Armed conflicts and wildlife decline: Challenges and recommendations for effective conservation policy in the Sahara-Sahel,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/conl.12446 A yakka skink is pictured in the Australian bush. The first national assessment on the monitoring of threatened birds, mammals, frogs, freshwater fish, reptiles and ecological communities found 217 species were not being watched A third of Australia's threatened species are not being tracked, scientists said Friday, warning they could easily slide into extinction without anyone noticing. The first national assessment on the monitoring of threatened birds, mammals, frogs, freshwater fish, reptiles and ecological communities found 217 species were not being watched. Plants and insects were not included. The government-funded Threatened Species Recovery Hub said the results were poor for most groups, although keeping tabs on birds was better due to a large and enthusiastic volunteer base. In contrast, half of all threatened fish receive no monitoring and tracking reptiles was little better. "Overall, over a third of Australia's threatened animals received no monitoring at all, and where monitoring does exist, it is often inadequate," said project leader Sarah Legge. "This puts these species at risk. By the time we realise we have a problem it may be too late to act. Many people do not appreciate how vital monitoring is for all aspects of managing threatened biodiversity." She said that without adequate monitoring, researchers had no idea if populations were going up or down, what was driving changes, or whether conservation efforts needed to be adapted. A southern corroboree frog is seen in the Australian bush. Half of all threatened fish receive no monitoring and tracking reptiles was little better The warning came on the heels of another study by the same group last month that said Australia's extinction rate for mammals, already the highest in the world, could worsen unless more efforts are made to protect them. It found that the potential extinction of 10 Australian birds and seven mammals, including the orange-bellied parrot and the central rock-rat, could be prevented if governments and communities were made aware of the risks they faced. The most recent study coincided with broadcaster ABC reporting that the government was planning to slash up to a third of staff from the biodiversity and conservation division of its environment department. It cited scientists calling the move an "absolute calamity" for threatened species. A kangaroo island dunnart at an undisclosed location in the Australian bush. The main causes of species decline that have been identified include habitat loss, such as through land clearing and other development, and feral cats and foxes Threatened Species Recovery Hub director Brendan Wintle called Friday for a national effort to improve monitoring. "Many species occur across multiple states and territories, and the monitoring data that exists are currently scattered across many different agencies and research groups," he said. "Australia needs investment and coordination to manage, store, analyse and report on monitoring data." The main causes of species decline that have been identified include habitat loss, such as through land clearing and other development, and feral cats and foxes. Conservationists have called for a national effort to improve monitoring 2018 AFP Detail from William Harvey's De motu cordis (experiment confirming direction of blood flow). Credit: Reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library (Keynes.D.2.7) A collection of essays explores understandings of a vital bodily fluid in the period 1400-1700. Its contributors offer insight into both theory and practice during a period that saw the start of empiricism and an overturning of the folklore that governed early medicine. What is blood? Today we understand this precious fluid as essential to life. In medieval and early modern Europe, definitions of blood were almost too numerous to locate. Blood was simultaneously the red fluid in human veins, a humour governing temperament, a waste product, a cause of corruption, a source of life and a medical cure. In 1628, William Harvey, physician to James I and alumnus of Gonville & Caius College, made a discovery that changed the course of medicine and science. As the result of careful observation, he deduced that blood circulated around the body. Harvey's discovery not only changed the way blood was thought to relate to the heart but revolutionised early science by demanding that human physiology be examined through empirical observation rather than philosophical discourse. This turning point, and its profound repercussions for ideas about blood, is one of many strands explored in Blood Matters: Studies of European Literature and Thought,. A collection of essays, edited by Bonnie Lander Johnson (English Faculty, Cambridge University) and Eleanor Decamp, it examines blood from a variety of literary, historical and philosophical perspectives. "The strength of the collection is that, in a series of themed headings, it brings together scholarship on blood to bridge the conventional boundaries between disciplines," says Lander Johnson. "The volume includes historical perspectives on practical uses of blood such as phlebotomy, butchery, alchemy and birth. Through literary approaches, it also examines metaphoric understandings of blood as wine, social class, sexual identity, family, and the self." Contributors include several Cambridge academics. Hester Lees-Jeffries (English Faculty) writes about bloodstains in Shakespeare (most notable, of course, in Macbeth) and early modern textile culture. Heather Webb (Modern and Medieval Languages) looks at medieval understandings of blood as a spirit that existed outside the body, binding people and communities together. Joe Moshenska (English Faculty) examines the classical literary trope of trees that bleed when their branches are broken. "The idea for the book came from my previous work on chastity. I was struck that early modern writing about the body is all about fluids, especially blood. Blood was perceived as the vehicle for humours, the essence of being and the spirit and something that could flow between people," says Lander Johnson. "I became fascinated by the fact that we use this word all the time but we have no real sense of what we mean. Our predecessors used it even more frequently and yet there was no scholarship that could help me to begin to understand how many things blood meant for them. A conference at Oxford in 2014 brought together a group of people working in related fields. The book reflects the excitement of those three days." Definitions of blood in Western European medical writing during the period covered by the book are changeable and conflicting. "The period's many figurative uses of 'blood' are even more difficult to pin down. The term appeared in almost every sphere of life and thought and ran through discourses as significant as divine right theory, doctrinal and liturgical controversy, political reform, and family and institutional organisation," says Lander Johnson. "Blood, of course, was at the centre of the religious schism that split 16th-century society. The doctrinal dispute over transubstantiation caused ongoing disagreements over the degree to which the bread and wine taken during Mass were materially altered into the body and blood of Christ or merely symbolic." The role of blood in sex and reproduction meant that it was routinely described as a force capable of both generation and corruption. Menstrual blood is a case in point. Menstruation was seen as a vital and purifying process, part of a natural cycle essential to human life. But menstrual blood and menstruating women were also thought to be corrupting. In Shakespeare's plays, blood makes many appearances, both spoken and staged, from bleeding wounds to the rebellious 'high' blood of youth. Lander Johnson examines Romeo and Juliet's love affair in the light of early modern beliefs about weaning and sexual appetites. "Writing about birth and infancy reveals that early moderns were as anxious about their children's health as we are but for them the pressing questions were: should I breastfeed my baby myself or give it to a wet nurse? How and when should I wean it to food? What sort of food?" she says. "The wrong decision at this early stage of life could have a fatal outcome and was thought to not only form the child's blood in either a healthy or corrupted state but also to shape the child's moral appetites for the rest of their lives." Blood is synonymous with family and, in elite circles, with dynasty. Contributor Katharine Craik (Oxford Brookes University) explores character and social class through references to blood in Shakespeare's Henry IV and Henry V. In these plays about warfare and the relationships between royalty and common men, blood is often a substance that eliminates the differences between soldiers who die together in arms, their blood mingling in the dirt of the battlefield. "Frequently these same descriptions turn into assertions of an essential difference between aristocratic and vulgar bloods," says Lander Johnson. "Shakespeare is particularly inventive at building character through distinctions of this kind." In contrast, Ben Parsons (Leicester University) looks at blood and adolescence in the context of the medieval classroom where 'too much blood' was understood to cause wild and unruly behaviour. Medieval pedagogues were concerned about how the 'full blood' of students ought to be managed through the kind of material they were asked to read and when, the sort of food they ate while learning, and the style of punishment administered to those who were inattentive. Blood Matters makes a valuable contribution to the history of the body and its place in literature and popular thought. It draws together scholarship that offers insight into both theory and practice during a period that saw the beginnings of empiricism and an overturning of the folklore that governed early medicine. Today's scientists understand blood as a liquid comprising components essential to good health. But English remains a language peppered with references to blood that hint at our conflicted relationship with a liquid vital to human life. Explore further New insights into why patients have a higher risk of heart attack in the morning BMW expects to book new records this year for sales and revenue German high-end carmaker BMW said Friday it booked a strong first three months with record first-quarter shipments and profits, confirming its targets for the full year. Net profit at the Munich-based group added 1.2 percent year-on-year to reach 2.3 billion euros ($2.8 billion). But operating, or underlying profits fell 3.1 percent to 2.8 billion euros, on the back of revenues down 5.1 percent at 22.7 billion. BMW said its turnover and operating profit were both braked by currency effects, arguing sales would otherwise have remained around the same level as last year. Away from the figures, chief executive Harald Krueger highlighted "crucial strategic decisions" the firm had taken in the first quarter to lay the foundations for more connected, electric-powered future cars. It has agreed with Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler, its historic rival, to merge the two firms' apps for car-sharing, ride-hailing and locating parking spaces and electric car charging points, and opened an autonomous driving research centre outside Munich. Meanwhile BMW struck a deal with local firm Great Wall to build all-electric Mini cars in China and previewed a battery-powered version of its X3 SUV. Unit sales added 3.0 percent worldwide, at 604,629 vehicles between flagship BMW, compact Mini and luxury Rolls-Royce. The figures offered little sign that revelations early in the year that the group had cooperated with Daimler and Volkswagen to fund tests of diesel exhaust gases on live monkeys put off buyers, with sales adding 1.0 percent in Europe, 4.0 percent in the Americas and 6.3 percent in China. Looking ahead to the full year, BMW expects to book new records for unit sales and revenue, with pre-tax profits of "at least the previous financial year's level" of 10.7 billion euros. Explore further SAP more ambitious after soaring Q1 profits 2018 AFP How Snowball Earth might have looked. Credit: NASA The movie The Day After Tomorrow depicts a catastrophic climate shift to global cooling, which is referred to as the new ice age. In the movie, melting of polar ice caused by global warming disrupts the North Atlantic current, rapidly dropping the ocean temperature, ultimately leading to the freezing of the ocean on a global scale. Although this over-the-top effect portrayed by this fictional film contains little scientific truth, many scientists are studying a global ice age during the Cryogenian, a geologic period that lasted from 720 to 635 million years ago. Recent research on glacial refugia has been heating up the debate about this ice age, brewing a contention over the extent to which the glaciation covered the Earth. Two main hypotheses are on the table: "Snowball Earth" theory, which argues that ice covered the entire Earth, and "Slushball Earth" hypothesis, where the band of the sea near the equator stayed open, allowing the hydrologic cyclethe evaporation and precipitation of water to persist. The term Snowball Earth was first coined by Joe Kirschvink, a geobiologist at CalTech in the late 1980s. The theory was based on the early observation that glacial deposits from this time were widely distributed on nearly every continent, with some geologic evidence even suggesting glaciation at tropical latitudes. The abrupt change in the climate is rooted in the positive feedback loop, commonly referred to as the albedo ("whiteness" in Latin) effect. Simply put, as Earth cools and ice forms from the pole down to lower latitudes, the albedo, or the whiteness of the Earth increases, reflecting more solar radiationjust like how a black t-shirt absorbs more heat, while a white t-shirt reflects all wavelengths of light. Along with the albedo effect, the long-term carbon cycle kicked into high gear, making a double positive feedback. As the ancient supercontinent Rodinia broke apart, the newly created coastline in the low latitude intensified the weathering of the rock. Silicate rock, which constitutes the majority of the Earth's crust, goes through a chemical weathering reaction that removes CO2 from the atmosphere. As the atmospheric CO2 was reduced, Earth became colder, as CO2, along with other greenhouse gases, blocks heat from escaping the Earth. Moreover, because the broken up continents were in the low latitudes, they could not have prevented the advance of ice that formed in the poles, the coldest region on Earth, which would have created a completely frozen planet. Model for Slushball Earth theory. The color gradient indicates the percentage of the ice coverage. It shows a band of the opened sea along the equator. Credit: NASA-GISS/Columbia-CCSR The critics of the Snowball Earth theoryincluding professor Richard Peltier and his fellow colleagues at the University of Toronto and Texas A&Mpublished a paper refuting the hypothesis, in which they run a series of simulations that resulted in an equatorial belt of open water that may explain the survival of the organisms during the ice age, as well as the subsequent revival of numerous species. Their argument stems from the fact that the process of glaciation not only entailed positive feedback, but also one important negative feedback. As the climate got colder, the atmospheric oxygen would have sunk deeper into the ocean. As atmospheric oxygen spread deep into the sea, it bonded with the layer of old organic matter, forming CO2. Carbon dioxide, released back into the atmosphere, would have warmed the Earth by the greenhouse effect, which would have defrosted Earth, stopping the ice sheets and glaciers from further advancing. Therefore, such negative feedback could have prevented ice from completely covering the Earth surface. Peltier provides another key piece of evidence against Snowball Earth theory: a geographic region that allowed the survival of fauna and flora, referred to as the "glacial refugia." Had the Earth completely frosted itself, its harsh climate would have killed off many organisms. Moreover, complete reflection of solar radiation would have decimated photosynthetic organisms. Yet, there is no such geological indication that a mass extinction event occurred. The debate of hard versus slushy Snowball Earth becomes more enigmatic at the end of the Cryogenic period and start of Cambrian, when the so-called "Cambrian explosion" of animal life occurs. The Cambrian explosion refers to a short interval during which many multicellular animals in diverse forms appeared on the surface of the Earth. Critics of Snowball Earth argue that such a dramatic increase in biodiversity within a short period of time would not have been able to happen in a hard Snowball Earth scenario, as many organisms prior to the explosion would have gone extinct. The supporters of Snowball Earth, on the other hand, argue that the biodiversity is simply the result of the robust micro-organisms that survived the Snowball Earth, evolving in size as well as anatomical complexity through time. Neither of these hypotheses is set in stone, but rather are part of an ongoing debate that requires much clarification. To better understand what happened during the Cryogenian period, developing different climate models with many parameters is necessary, giving flexibility to the ever-unknown complexity of past climate conditions. Moreover, careful study of the organisms that survived Snowball Earth could further assist our understanding of this enigmatic period. Provided by Earth Institute, Columbia University This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. Brazil is slowly emerging from a deep recession and will soon sign an "open skies" accord that will facilitate growth in air traffic with the United States, but Europe is still on the margins Air France-KLM's inauguration Thursday of a flight to a little developed corner of Brazil highlights European airlines' attempt to bring the continents together, catching up with far more dominant routes between South and North America. Latin America is a fast-expanding destination, seeing 9.3 percent growth in air travel last year, its biggest increase since 2011, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said. That's ahead of the global increase last year of 7.6 percent, taking worldwide passenger numbers to four billion. ForwardKeys consultancy predicts another nine percent increase in international flights out of Latin America and the Caribbean in the first half of this year. Much of that will be thanks to Brazil, ForwardKeys says, which is predicted to see a 14.2 percent rise in international departures and 16.5 percent increase in international arrivals. Brazil is slowly emerging from a deep recession and will soon sign an "open skies" accord, which will facilitate growth in traffic with the United States. "The trend in flight bookings both to and from Latin America is incredibly healthy," said Olivier Jager, president of ForwardKeys. "Many airlines are increasing capacity." But Europe is still on the margins, with five times more traffic going from Latin America to North America than trans-Atlantic. Eighty one percent of international traffic in Latin America goes to North America. According to 2016 figures from the regional airlines group ALTA, there were 16.3 million passengers to North America and only 3.28 million to Europe. But that trend is shifting, with 14 percent growth in trans-Atlantic flights in 2016. And Air France-KLM's new flight between Paris and Brazil's north-eastern seaside city of Fortaleza hopes to catch the turning tide. Continental drift "Latin America is a very interesting market for European companies," said Carlos Osores, who heads the aviation consultancy ICF. Unlike the mature North American market, "there are opportunities for higher profits, as there are in Africa, because there isn't yet much competition in the low cost sector." A big target is Brazil, "which has huge potential but only saw six million international tourists in 2016, the same number as in the little Dominican Republic," Osores said. European companies TAP, with Azul, Iberia, Air France-KLM, Air Europa, Turkish Airlines and the low cost Norwegian and Level have all raised their capacities by 10 to 40 percent on the route over the last year. But if European carriers have opened three new routes in the last 12 months, including to Recife in northeast Brazil, there have been three times that many launched between Latin America and the United States, such as Fort Lauderdale and the Amazon city of Belem. The shorter distances to the United States mean smaller planes and lower risks. Osores said Europe is also held back by higher tariffs "due to a lack of competition. Often the big routes are operated by only one or two carriers." European companies are looking to develop by following the US lead on focusing on secondary routes. For example, Air France-KLM's new route isn't meant so much to bring tourists to Fortaleza as to link them to GOL's network throughout Brazil's north-east, an area full of tourist potential. It also avoids reliance on the already heavily burdened infrastructure at Sao Paulo's airport or similarly busy hubs in South America like Bogota, Lima or Santiago. "Fortaleza's geography is ideal. It's a much quicker entry point to Brazil and much closer to Europe," Air France commercial chief Patrick Alexandre told AFP. "From next winter we'll have 44 flights a week." Explore further American Airlines 1Q profits hit by higher fuel costs 2018 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain As far as Google is concerned, there's no place like home. Ahead of its I/O Developer conference next week, Google announced that its artificial-intelligence-fused Google Assistant is now connected to more than 5,000 devices in the home, up from 1,500 in January. The idea is that you'll be able to summon the Google Assistant and issue voice commands, to preheat the oven, see who is at your front door, or dim the lights. The list of cloud-connected smart home products where the Google Assistant has an increased presence includes cameras, thermostats, security systems, vacuums, washers, and air conditioners. Of course, with the smart home rapidly emerging as one of the next key battlegrounds for tech, this very same vision is being laid out by Amazon with Alexa, Apple through HomeKit and Siri, Microsoft with Cortana, and Samsung via SmartThings and Bixby. All these companies still must persuade consumers that they need to buy a connected washer, AC or even smart bulbs, not the easiest task. Setting up myriad smart home devices is still more complicated than it needs to be. And the public may also understandably be reluctant to have the biggest tech companies compile yet more information on their daily life. Google's vice president for product and design for the Google Assistant, Nick Fox, says that Google doesn't share Google Assistant data with partners or advertisers. But Google Assistant queries are treated like search queries, so they may be used to influence the ads you see. Google announced that the Google Assistant will turn up on Dish Hopper set-top boxes later this month, and listed numerous other partners that will add or expand the Assistant, a roster that includes Logitech Harmony remote controls, smart lights from ADT, Xiaomi, and IKEA, window treatments from Hunter Douglas, air conditioners and humidifiers from Hisense, televisions and other appliances from LG, and security cameras, alarms and door locks, from Arlo, ADT, First Alert, Vivint, August, Schlage, and Panasonic. It is very likely Google will make other announcements around its AI-assistant during the I/O conference next week. Explore further Smart home unit Nest is spun back into Google 2018 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Future Mars rovers could carry onboard water to perform subcritical water extraction in order to detect amino acids despite the presence of perchlorate in the Martian regolith. Credit: NASA/JPLCaltech A new experiment designed to detect amino acids on Mars, in spite of the reactive perchlorate in the Martian soil that typically breaks organic compounds down, could fly on a future mission to Mars to help in the search for life there. Where there are amino acids, there may be or once was life. So naturally, when NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander collected samples of the red planet's soil (a.k.a. regolith), scientists looked for these organic compounds. Yet when they tested the regolith for them, they were nowhere to be found. There had to be some organic compounds though, even if they just came from meteorites that landed on Mars. When a wet chemical analysis was done the problem became obvious. The alkaline soil samples contained almost one percent perchlorate (ClO4), which is a highly reactive chemical. So when the scientists had originally tested for organics using pyrolysis (i.e. using high temperatures to break compounds down), the perchlorate, which is used on Earth as an explosive and fuel propellant, destroyed the very molecules they were looking for. Perchlorate specializes in combusting organics when heated no wonder there were none in any of the samples. To get around the problem, a new tool was needed, and not only did it need to deal with the perchlorate issue, it also had to be simple enough to safely make it to Mars on the next lander. A recent paper by Dr. Aaron Noell at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) looked at using subcritical water extraction (SCWE pronounced 'squee') as a solution to the pyrolysis/perchlorate problem. "SCWE sounds more complicated than it is," Noell tells Astrobiology Magazine. "We jokingly refer to it as making Martian espresso, because basically, you put high-pressure hot water into the soil sample. Pyrolysis is a very good technique for many compounds, but amino acids are preferably soluble in water." In his study, Noell used three different soil analogs (a JSC Mars1A simulant, an Atacama desert soil, and an AntarcticaDry Valleys soil) from Earth, as well as a control, to test the SCWE technique. He and his team tested SCWE at temperatures of 185, 200, and 215 degrees Celsius and for various times ranging from ten minutes to two hours. They found "high yields of native amino acids with minimal disruption of the distribution of those amino acids, even in the presence of a perchlorate salt," according to the paper's abstract. Samuel Kounaves, Professor of Chemistry at Tufts University and Lead Scientist for the Wet Chemistry Lab on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, and who was not involved in the research for this paper, thinks SCWE could be a good way to analyze Martiansoils on future missions. The view of the north polar region of Mars from the Phoenix lander, which discovered perchlorate in the Martian regolith. Credit: NASA/JPLCaltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University "With some improvements, SCWE would deliver a lot of advantages to a space mission," he says, adding that he would like to see future tests try even higher temperatures than 215 degrees, which would make more large organic molecules soluble, and would also help researchers understand the full impact of the perchlorate on the SCWE testing method. He'd also like to see testing on Mars simulant soils that are closer to what's found on Mars than some of those used in the most recent research. However, Kounaves liked the simplicity of using water as a solvent. "Transporting water [on a Mars lander] is relatively simple since it is easy to store and non corrosive," he says. "Other things that are more complex aren't as easily stored. And once you extract things with water, they are easier to work with." Noell calls SCWE a "tantalizing technique" because the properties of the water change as the temperature is raised, so scientists can use it to target other compounds when testing soils. "Amino acids have long been high-priority targets of the astrobiology community," he says. "We want to move on and start targeting long-chain fatty acids and potentially even some of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; these are large molecules made from hydrogen and carbon atoms), which are not typically soluble in water, but at the high temperatures of SCWE, they start to be." This means that if SCWE was part of a future mission's wet lab, one extraction solvent would work for a wide range of different types of compounds. Testing soils with SCWE has a third advantage: at higher temperatures the process helps break apart polypeptides (short chains of amino acids linked together) into individual amino acids. This allows researchers to determine where the amino acids came from, which in turn provides clues as to the existence of life versus the building blocks for life. More elaborate chemistry often indicates life, says Noell: "When molecules of greater complexity are more easily found, then scientists can start determining whether past life, present life, or some abiotic Martian process is the most likely culprit," Then scientists can start asking the next set of questions about life on Mars. Are the polypeptides similar to those found on earth? If so, in what type of organism are they found? Speaking of which, the perchlorate in the Martian regolith isn't all bad news. While it did get in the way of finding the signs of life scientists are looking for, its presence is actually a good sign for the possible habitability of Mars. Yes, perchlorate is combustible, but as an anti-freezing agent it also facilitates liquid water on Mars, which would otherwise be impossible at an atmospheric pressure that's about 0.6 percent that of Earth. And since perchlorate can be broken down to release oxygen, it means there's an on-planet source of what we need to breathe. As for life on Mars, there may be little evidence to be found on the surface, no matter what the chemistry or techniques used to detail it. "At this point, all the evidence that I have seen points to the surface of Mars being bad for life but we may find [life] underground," saysKounaves. "There could be some chemotropic bacteria that uses perchlorate as an energy source there could be a whole ecosystem that even had liquid water available to it ." So to find life on Mars, Kounaves says, "We are going to need to drill." Explore further Mimetic Martian water is under pressure More information: Aaron C. Noell et al. Subcritical water extraction of amino acids from Mars analog soils, ELECTROPHORESIS (2018). Aaron C. Noell et al. Subcritical water extraction of amino acids from Mars analog soils,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/elps.201700459 This story is republished courtesy of NASA's Astrobiology Magazine. Explore the Earth and beyond at www.astrobio.net . Parties unification moving positively The unification bid of the two left parties moved in a positive direction after two rounds of talks between Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN-UML KP Oli and Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the Capital on Thursday. Geologist and astronaut Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 lunar module pilot, is pictured here using an adjustable sampling scoop to retrieve lunar samples during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. Lunar dust can be seen clinging to Schmitts space suit. New research finds breathing lunar dust could cause health problems for astronauts spending long periods of time on the moon. Credit: NASA. Future astronauts spending long periods of time on the moon could suffer bronchitis and other health problems by inhaling tiny particles of dust from its surface, according to new research. A new study finds simulated lunar soil is toxic to human lung and mouse brain cells. Up to 90 percent of human lung cells and mouse neurons died when exposed to dust particles that mimic soils found on the moon's surface. The results show breathing toxic dust, even in minute quantities, could pose a health hazard to future astronauts traveling to the moon, Mars or other airless planetary bodies. Space agencies know exposure to the space environment and zero gravity can be harmful to human health, but planetary dust poses an additional risk that has been mostly overlooked, according to the researchers. "There are risks to extraterrestrial exploration, both lunar and beyond, more than just the immediate risks of space itself," said Rachel Caston, a geneticist at Stony Brook University School of Medicine in Stony Brook, New York and lead author of the new study published in GeoHealth, a journal of the American Geophysical Union. Lunar dust caused reactions similar to hay fever in astronauts who visited the moon during the Apollo missions. Their experience coupled with the new study's results suggest prolonged exposure to lunar dust could impair airway and lung function, according to Bruce Demple, a biochemist at Stony Brook University School of Medicine and senior author of the new study. If the dust induces inflammation in the lungs, it could increase the risk of more serious diseases like cancer, he said. "If there are trips back to the moon that involve stays of weeks, months or even longer, it probably won't be possible to eliminate that risk completely," Demple said. Early warnings of toxicity The moon has no atmosphere, so its soil is constantly bombarded by charged particles from the upper layers of the Sun that stream through space. These charged particles cause lunar soil to become electrostatically charged, like static cling on clothing. This flow chart shows the possible health effects of breathing lunar dust, in both the short and long term. Credit: Rachel Caston When U.S. astronauts visited the moon during the Apollo missions, they brought lunar soil into the command module when it clung to their spacesuits. After inhaling the fine dust, Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt described having a reaction he called "lunar hay fever" sneezing, watery eyes and a sore throat. The Apollo astronauts' symptoms were short lived, but researchers wanted to know how lunar dust could affect astronauts' health long term and if it could cause problems similar to those caused by toxic dust on Earth. Previous research has shown breathing toxic dust from volcanic eruptions, dust storms and coal mines can cause bronchitis, wheezing, eye irritation and scarring of lung tissue. Dust particles can accumulate in a person's airways and the smallest particles can infiltrate alveoli, the tiny sacs where carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in the lungs. Dust can also damage cells' DNA, which can cause mutations and lead to cancer, according to previous research. Exposing cells to dust particles In the new study, Caston and her colleagues exposed human lung cells and mouse brain cells to several types of lunar soil simulants. Samples of lunar soil are too scarce and valuable to use in everyday experiments, so the researchers used dust samples from Earth that resemble soil found in lunar highlands and the moon's volcanic plains. Caston grew the cells under controlled conditions and exposed them to the various types of dust. She counted how many cells were left and measured whether the simulants caused DNA damage. She found all the simulant types killed or damaged the cells' DNA to some degree. Simulants ground to a powder fine enough to be inhaled killed up to 90 percent of both cell types. The simulants killed the human lung cells so effectively the researchers couldn't measure the DNA damage. The simulants also caused significant DNA damage in mouse neurons. The results indicate lunar soil could cause health problems for humans spending long periods of time on the moon or other airless bodies, according to the researchers. When inhaled, the dust could irritate the throat, lungs and eyes of future astronauts. Over a long period of time, the continuing damage, irritation and inflammation would increase the risk of more serious disease, including cancer, Demple said. The researchers are unsure how the simulants kill cells, but they suspect they could be initiating an inflammatory response within the cell or generating free radicals, which strip electrons from molecules and prevent them from functioning properly. Explore further Dust dilemma settles on upcoming moon missions More information: Rachel Caston et al. Assessing Toxicity and Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Damage Caused by Exposure of Mammalian Cells to Lunar Regolith Simulants, GeoHealth (2018). DOI: 10.1002/2017GH000125 , Rachel Caston et al. Assessing Toxicity and Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Damage Caused by Exposure of Mammalian Cells to Lunar Regolith Simulants,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/2017GH000125 , agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.co 10.1002/2017GH000125 This story is republished courtesy of AGU Blogs (http://blogs.agu.org), a community of Earth and space science blogs, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here. Around a million fewer people moved house in the 2000s than in the 1970s and it is mostly due to an ageing population, changes in the housing market and altered attitudes, a Queen's University Belfast researcher has found. Dr Ian Shuttleworth, a leading researcher from the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen's, discovered that the decrease predates the Great Recession and is not just explained by economic issues. The international project lasted three years and the Queen's researcher worked in collaboration with Professor Tony Champion of the University of Newcastle and Professor Thomas Cooke of the University of Connecticut. The research, which has today been published in the journal Population, Space and Place, found that about a third of the fall of internal migration in England and Wales was due to population changes such as ageing but the remainder is down to a change in behaviour. It also found that it is not just a British phenomenon, there has been a decrease in people moving house in countries across the globe such as Australia, Japan, the USA, Germany and Italy, with just one of the seven countries in the study - Sweden - seeing a rise. Dr Shuttleworth commented: "There has been a decade-on-decade decrease in people moving home. Using statistics from the census we measured the proportion of people changing addresses and found that this fell from 55% between 1971 and 1981 and to 45% between 2001 and 2011. "The fall in migration has been most significant for moves of under 10km and it has been experienced by nearly all types of people. It is not just the elderly who are not moving as much as they did in the 1970s but all age groups, it is not only owner occupiers but also those in social-rented housing and falls are not just concentrated amongst the unemployed but have also been experienced by those in work." Explaining the reasons for the decrease, Dr Shuttleworth said: "One cause of the decline in migration rates in England and Wales is the changing makeup of the population. Some people are more mobile than others, for example, older people tend to change address less than younger people, whereas those with more education tend to move more than those who lack it. "Our analysis shows that the population changes between the 1970s and the 2000s explains about one third of the decrease. Most of this decline is due to the continuing process of population ageing and the decline in private renting that took place in the last century, which have outweighed the upward push of increasing education levels and participation in higher education." However, changing attitudes also have a part to play. Dr Shuttleworth said: "The remaining two-thirds of the migration fall is attributed to changed behaviour; people now just move less than they did in the 1970s. The short-distance moving that has declined the most is usually for housing reasons and, in the UK, there is evidence of a shortage of housing stock and price pressures that have encouraged spatial immobility. "The long duration of the fall in migration since the 1970s and the similar experience of some other countries round the world also suggest other more general factors. Our analysis also points to extended lives and a delay in people moving from their parent's house to their own home. Workers also are commuting longer distances on a daily or weekly basis instead of moving home, and improved transport and communication technologies mean that there is less need to move." Explaining that this could have an impact on the economy globally, Dr Shuttleworth said: "The slowdown in migration will have implications for social and labour market mobility. In the USA and Australia, the decline in longer-distance moves could have implications for economic productivity and the ability of regional labour markets to adjust to shocks. This is less likely to be the case in England and Wales as inter-regional moves have not dropped as much but the big decline in shorter-distance moves here may have implications for neighbourhood cohesion and social mobility." Explore further Study shows drop in long-distance moves not due to economic slumps More information: Ian Shuttleworth et al, Why did fewer people change address in England and Wales in the 2000s than in the 1970s? Evidence from an analysis of the ONS Longitudinal Study, Population, Space and Place (2018). Ian Shuttleworth et al, Why did fewer people change address in England and Wales in the 2000s than in the 1970s? Evidence from an analysis of the ONS Longitudinal Study,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/psp.2167 Artist's impression of photons entering beamsplitter, as per the technique. Credit: University of Warwick The precision of measuring nanoscopic structures could be substantially improved, thanks to research involving the University of Warwick and QuantIC researchers at the University of Glasgow and Heriot Watt University into optical sensing. QuantIC is the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Enhanced Imaging and part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. Using pairs of photons, fundamental components of energy that make up light, the researchers have devised a way to measure the thickness of objects that are less than a 100,000th of the width of a human hair. The new technique involves firing two near identical photons onto a component known as a beamsplitter, and monitoring their subsequent behaviour - with some 30,000 photons detected per second, and 500bn in use throughout a full experiment. Because of the tendency of identical photons to 'buddy up' and continue travelling on togetherthe result of a delicate quantum interference effect - the researchers' newly developed setup offers the same precision and stability as existing one-photon techniques that, due to the equipment required, are more costly. Offering a range of potential uses, including research to better understand cell membranes and DNA, as well as quality control for nanoscopic 2D materials of a single atom's thickness, such as graphene, the new research is also a marked improvement on current two-photon techniques with up to 100x better resolution. To measure the thickness of a transparent object (any object through which a photon is able to pass), each of a pair of identical photons are fired along separate paths: Photon A then continues into a beamsplitter, whilst Photon B is slowed down by a transparent object before entering the same beamsplitter. The likelihood that the photons exit the beamsplitter together is then recorded allowing researchers to measure the thickness of the transparent object Photon B passed through. As the thickness of the sample is increased, the photons are more likely to exit the beamsplitter separately. Diagram showing the technique for measuring nanoscopic structures. Credit: University of Warwick Dr George Knee of the University of Warwick's Department of Physics, who developed the theory behind the new method, said: "What's really exciting about these results is that we can now investigate objects down at the nanoscale with an optical sensor operating on a fundamentally different physical effect. "Until now, so-called two-photon interference has not been able to achieve such great resolution, meaning that we are stuck with some of the downsides of the established methods based on single-photon interference - which requires more expensive technology than our new two-photon technique. "We have managed to get a big improvement by tuning the interferometer into a more sensitive operation mode and removing slow drift by repeatedly switching the sample in and out. "The advantages of being impervious to phase fluctuations and having large dynamic range mean that sensors such as ours could have a big impact on biological imaging and the associated research that it feeds into." QuantIC co-investigator and lead researcher on the project, Professor Daniele Faccio, whose two photon sensing technology was used to generate the data said: "The results of our collaboration with the University of Warwick offer a range of potential uses, including research to better understand cell membranes and DNA as well as a quality control for nanoscopic 2D materials of a single atom's thickness, such as graphene. We are excited to be advancing quantum imaging and helping to maintain the UK's position in the development of new quantum technologies." The research, Attosecond-Resolution Hong-Ou-Mandel Interferometry, is published by Science Advances. AutoBarSizer calculated cutting plan with leftovers. Green: reusable remainder (type 2), yellow: reusable remainder (type 1), red: scrap. Credit: Fraunhofer SCAI Companies that process steel usually require customized cutting of steel bars for their products. As a result, steel traders are faced with the challenge of meeting customer-specific requirements while producing as little scrap as possible. That means they have to divide the inventory as efficiently as possible in terms of material. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI have developed software that addresses this problem and minimizes the amount of generated scrap, therefore optimizing material utilization. Steel is a most versatile material and is used to make countless products from kitchen knives and reinforced concrete to aircraft turbines and ocean liners. Year after year, well over a billion tons of the metallic material are produced and processed. From production to finished product, however, it is a long journey that produces several hundred million tons of scrap per year. For example, steel traders cut their standardized steel bars to exactly the lengths required by the customer a process that results in a lot of scrap. The challenge is therefore to make the cuts so that as many usable rods as possible can be cut from the stock. Earlier solutions to this challenge have often been unsatisfactory. However, experts from the Fraunhofer SCAI in Sankt Augustin, Germany have come up with self-developed software, the AutoBarSizer, which significantly reduces the amount of scrap produced and provides very good material utilization, thereby significantly reducing the costs for steel traders. Notable increase in efficiency "Our software calculates cutting plans that are based on the bars in the dealer's warehouse and include both new standard-length bars as well as remainders of different lengths," explains Thomas Weyd of the Fraunhofer SCAI. "In a pilot project, we were able to increase material utilization by seven percentage points and reduce the remaining stock by 25 percent." For the large volumes of steel that are processed, this increase in efficiency pays off quickly. With a steel price of 500 euro per ton and a processing volume of 50 tons a day, for example, an improvement of just one percentage point can save the steel trader as much as 5,000 euro a month. The software can be adapted precisely to the respective circumstances. The settings include not only parameters such as machine properties, but also the point at which remainders from cutting should be reused or scrapped. In addition, in calculating the optimal cutting plan, the AutoBarSizer also has access to the inventory and remaining stock data. Based on these factors, the responsible person can use the program to create different cutting plans with different emphases. For example, a cutting plan that results in as little scrap as possible and one in which as many remnants as possible are used up. The dealer can therefore either save on materials, optimize the remaining stock or choose a combination of the different variants. Algorithmically optimized cutting plan Based on the material inventory, the algorithm of the Fraunhofer SCAI calculates results which are very good and often verifiably optimal. "The basic mathematical problem has already been well researched," says Weyd of the Fraunhofer SCAI. "The challenge we have solved with the AutoBarSizer has to do with the everyday constraints. Miter cuts are particularly a real challenge: with a straight cut, the whole thing is primarily a matter of arrangement. For miter cuts, some additional parameters have to be taken into account." For example, distances of incompatible miter angles have to be considered. In addition, there is the possibility of rotating the bar or changing or mirroring the angles. The software of the Fraunhofer SCAI not only mathematically depicts these factors but also suggests efficient solutions that save material, costs and time. With the AutoBarSizer, the experts at the Fraunhofer SCAI have solved various issues that arise during planning for rolling mills and steel traders, in the woodworking industry as well as for manufacturers and processors of all types of bars. Explore further From the quantum level to the car battery Provided by Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing Today's combat veterans are less likely to pursue a college degree than comparable soldiers not assigned to combat. Credit: San Diego State University A new study analyzing administrative U.S. Army data not available to the public discovered that post-9/11 military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have generated "substantial economic costs" for combat veterans. San Diego State University economics professor Joseph J. Sabia and U.S. Military Academy economics professor William Skimmyhorn found that today's combat veterans rely more heavily on disability compensation and are far less likely to pursue a college degree than comparable soldiers not assigned to combat. Sabia and Skimmyhorn's findings, detailed in "War! What Is It Good For? The Effects of Combat Service on Economic Transitions of Veterans," will be published in the forthcoming issue of the Economic Self-Sufficiency Policy Research Institute Working Paper Series. This new work is the first known study to use U.S. Army administrative data to examine the economic impacts of combat exposure in the Global War on Terrorism. The researchers sought to fill a gap in the existing literature about how post-9/11 warfare is impacting the economic transitions of new veterans. Sabia and Skimmyhorn researched how unit-level combat exposure affected the ease with which veterans could reconnect with civilian life through participation in the workforce and pursuit of college and university degrees. Focusing on a dataset consisting of veterans who separated from the U.S. Army between 2001 and 2016, Sabia and Skimmyhorn analyzed the socioeconomic well-being of roughly one million soldiers, including their use of veteran disability compensation benefits, unemployment insurance, educational benefits under the post-9/11 GI Bill and educational attainment. "Uncovering the labor market effects of Global War On Terrorism-era combat service is critical, not only to better assess the full social cost of recent conflicts, but also to inform policymakers as they design effective transition assistance programs for separating service members," Sabia said. Sabia and Skimmyhorn found that combat service generates adverse socioeconomic consequences for veterans, such as increased reliance on unemployment insurance and disability compensation, which often generate disincentives for economically self-sufficient transition. Moreover, the adverse physical and psychological effects of combat may also impede successful transitions, they explained. Combat deployments substantially increase veterans' reliance on disability compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). These impacts are exacerbated by soldiers' exposure to injuries and deaths among members of their units, the researchers explained. "The magnitudes of these effects are large and, coupled with the lifetime cost of treating PTSD and TBI, create substantial additional medical costs for taxpayers. Back-of-the-envelope estimates suggest the additional costs of PTSD and TBI to be almost $40 billion and $20 billion, respectively," Sabia said. In addition, combat deployments result in important adverse schooling effects. Those assigned to combat for 18 months or longer are 20-35 percent less likely to pursue a post-secondary degree during their enlistment and 4-10 percent less likely to obtain a four-year college degree following separation, the researchers found. Sabia and Skimmyhorn noted that the unemployment and disability rates of veterans of recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, who are entering the civilian labor force at a steady rate, exceed those for veterans of all wars. Sabia explained that the first year after discharge, separation, or retirement from the military is especially crucial to help remedy some of the challenges service members face. "Identifying at-risk veterans is critical for the successful implementation of Executive Order 13822," Sabia said, referencing the mandate issued by U.S. President Donald Trump designed to improve mental health services provided to new veterans. "The results of our study suggest that it may be important to enable specialized training for those exposed to combat and better tailor services offered to those in warrior transition units," Sabia said. Examples include providing specialized and tailored psychological support services, interview preparation and career-building support. "Finally, our findings could suggest additional services and remediation efforts while individuals are still in service. They also may provide a rationale for additional compensation for combat veterans," Sabia said. Explore further Mind-body therapy effective for military veterans with PTSD Researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture estimate billions would be lost in export dollars should China impose a tariff on US soybeans.? Credit: T. Johnson, courtesy UTIA. 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 China's 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. Brazil's 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 China's 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. 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, 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. Average annual farm-gate prices for soybeans have ranged from a high of $13 per bushel in 2013 to a low of $8.95 per bushel in 2015. 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. However, 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. Explore further German carmakers worst hit by China tariffs: study More information: Read the full report: Read the full report: UT Extension publication W 532 , Evaluating the Impact of Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Soybeans in China, Muhammad and Smith, April 2018. Provided by University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture A 2013 CNES/Airbus satellite image of a new site that could be identified because looting pits over the site are visible on high-resolution satellite imagery. Credit: Map data 2018 Google. New Oxford University research has called for an 'open-skies policy' around the availability of high resolution satellite imagery of Israel and Palestine. Since 1997, the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment (KBA) to the 1997 U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, has limited the availability of high-resolution satellite imagery of these countries. Although this law only applies to the United States of America, as a global super power, with dominance over the commercial satellite imagery market, its international impact has been significant. However, new Oxford University research has called for these restrictions to be lifted immediately and set in line with the international standard. Satellite imagery has transformed the way that scientists can investigate, map and monitor the changing human and physical landscape of the earth. The current KBA Amendment limits the resolution of U.S - produced imagery for Israel to c.2m, which is relatively blurry and means that features smaller than this are not detectable from aerial footage. As a result, the satellite images available on platforms such as Google Earth, of both Israel and Palestine, are of poor quality, significantly restricting the scientific research opportunities in these areas. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, researchers from the Endangered Archaeology Project at the Oxford School of Archaeology, which relies on satellite imagery to identify and monitor heritage sites across the Middle East and North Africa, investigated the justification for the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment, and reviewed how the regulations works in practice. Published in Space Policy, the research conducted by Dr Andrea Zerbini and Dr Michael Fradley of Oxford's School of Archaeology, finds that while this regulation was broadly assumed to be a static censorship, the limitations were intended to mirror the standard of satellite imagery available outside the United States. However, much stronger high-resolution images have in fact been available from companies such as Airbus in France from as long ago as 2012. The paper also reveals that there has been some quiet resistance to the US regulation, particularly from Google Earth, where high-resolution images covering areas of the West Bank, Golan Heights and the border areas of Israel, provided by Airbus, are already available on the platform. The findings demonstrate that these regulations need urgent review, and recommends that US imagery should meet what has become the international standard of 0.5m. Dr Michael Fradley said: 'Our research demonstrates not only how the current restrictions have hampered scientific research in this area, but also importantly highlights a clear rationale for moving on from the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment. The reduction or removal of these restrictions would open up access to modern satellite imagery, as well as historical images captured by spy satellite that remain classified due to the legal reach of the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment, which could allow researchers to record longer-term landscape change.' The minutes of the latest meetings of the U.S. regulatory body for commercial satellite imagery suggest that restrictions may indeed be lifted, potentially ushering in a new phase of remote-sensing research by archaeologists, geographers and earth scientists across this area of the Levant. Staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who regulate the implementation of the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment, have acknowledged the important role of this new research by the EAMENA team in their ongoing evaluation of regulations. The Endangered Archaeology project has already begun to identify new archaeological sites using higher-resolution satellite in the region, and its work has set a precedent for future scientific research in this area. Commenting on the potential impact of lifting these sanctions, Dr. Brian Boyd, Program Director, Center for Archaeology, Columbia University, said: 'Zerbini and Fradley's call for an "open-skies policy" with regard to the availability of high resolution satellite imagery of archaeological sites and landscapes in Israel/Palestine has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the human occupation of this region from the earliest prehistoric times to the present day. Their research will also be invaluable in highlighting contemporary endeavors to record and hopefully preserve sites, monuments and landscapes that are under threat from political and military actions not only in Israel/Palestine but in the wider Middle East'. According to UCI engineers, the difference between aging and non-aging concrete lies in the amount of nano-confined water in its molecular building block. Credit: University of California, Irvine The nation's aging infrastructure requires massive investment. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates the U.S. needs to spend some $4.5 trillion by 2025 to fix the country's roads, bridges, dams and other infrastructure. Imagine if engineers could build structures with materials that do not degrade over time. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have proposed a new simulation technique that could help engineers do just that. Mohammad Javad Abdolhosseini Qomi, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and engineering graduate student Ali Morshedifard have developed a numerical method to simulate the molecular aging process in amorphous materials, such as concrete and glass. This technique could help researchers not only better understand how materials weaken with age, but also develop materials that maintain their strength indefinitely. Their work appears this week in Nature Communications. According to the researchers, aging originates at the atomic and molecular levels. Because of this miniscule scale, it's nearly impossible to track microscopic changes over long periods. "In computer simulation of materials, you would have to simulate a quadrillion time steps to capture only one second of behavior. That would not even get us close to the time scales relevant for aging phenomena, which are in the order of years and decades," explained Qomi. In their incremental stress-marching technique, Qomi and his graduate student subject the material's molecular structure to cyclic stress fluctuations, and then follow the material's response to such perturbations. "Hydrated cement is composed of disk-like globules at the nanoscale. We serendipitously found that these globules gradually deform under sustained load, but the deformation comes to a stop after a certain period. We also found that the collective behavior of globules gives rise to a non-asymptotic deformation, which we believe to be at the origins of creep in cementitious materials. It was fascinating to see atomic origins of viscoelastic and logarithmic deformation under constant stress," said Morshedifard, the paper's lead author. Qomi and his research team plan to apply this new technique to explore the relationship between the composition and texture of structural materials and their time-dependent behavior. "The Federal Highway Administration spends more than $80 billion a year to fix bridges that degrade as a result of aging phenomena," Qomi continued. "Understanding how structural materials age is the very first step toward designing reduced-aging materials that can potentially save taxpayers money." Explore further New research modernizes rammed earth construction More information: A. Morshedifard et al, Nanoscale origins of creep in calcium silicate hydrates, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications A. Morshedifard et al, Nanoscale origins of creep in calcium silicate hydrates,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04174-z New technologies are being developed to protect beehives from theft, parasites and illnesses without the use of chemicals. Credit: Pexels, licensed under CC0 Since the mid-1980s, the number of bees in Europe has been in decline. Threatened by pesticides, insecticides and climate change, they are also being struck by infestations of mites and a crippling virus that deforms their wings. But new technology aims to take the sting out of the situation. The number of Varroa mites, a bee parasite, has been steadily increasing due to warming weather conditions throughout Europe. The mites are a double threat to beehives because, in addition to feeding on baby bees, they also carry diseases, like the deformed wing virus. Beekeepers first noticed this virus about thirty years ago in Japan. Researchers observed that bees were being born without wings, and subsequently kicked out of the hive, where they starved to death. Up until now, the only way to combat the virus has been to keep Varroa mite levels low, and many beekeepers use chemical solutions for this. These chemicals can only be applied after the honey harvest, however, which poses a problem. Each year, the bee breeding season is starting earlier and earlier due to climate change, which gives the mites more time to reproduce. Beekeepers can be left with a dilemma if they need to put chemicals into the hive to exterminate the mites but still haven't harvested the honey. According to Professor Wolfgang Wimmer of Austrian company ECODESIGN, chemicals like this can also affect the quality of wax and the taste of honey. However, he says there is an alternative. 'One can do a chemical-free treatment early in the year, leaving the mites and the virus with no chance of survival.' Prof. Wimmer has been working on such a chemical-free solution that uses heat to rid the hives of Varroa mites. To develop his idea, he studied the work of other experts, which showed that when bees were in a state of metamorphosis called the pupal stage transforming from larvae into fully grown bees they could survive very high temperatures. His question was, could the parasites also handle the heat? Metamorphosis Bees go through a metamorphosis process not unlike that of the caterpillar and butterfly. Baby bees, called larvae, live in special cells of the beehive after birth, and are fed by the other bees. When they get fat enough, the older bees seal the cell, trapping the larvae inside where they spin a cocoon and begin to transform into adults. However, the Varroa mites also get trapped in these sealed cells. Prof. Wimmer found that if the sealed cells were exposed to high temperatures, the Varroamites died off while the larval bees survived unscathed. He has used this finding to develop a machine, the Varroa Controller, which can apply heat treatment to 20 hive frames of sealed cells at a time, and kill the mites in two hours. 'We are now in the market eight years with our product. We know beekeepers who started their hive seven years ago, and they have never lost a single hive due to Varroa. From day one they started with our technology,' said Prof. Wimmer. The company is now scaling up the business to help reach new markets. Beehives have to be continuously monitored to ensure that Varroa mite levels are not critical. The maximum threshold for the number of Varroa mites within a healthy hive is 1,000. Any more, and the hive is under threat of collapse. However, mites are not the only threat to a hive's health weather, chemicals and human activities are all potential threats. Countries in the EU are losing up to a third of their bee populations every year, and beekeepers need to be increasingly vigilant to ensure the bees will survive. To tackle this, French start-up company Bee Angels has designed a new remote monitoring system which sends real-time alerts to beekeepers via a smartphone app if anything is amiss in the hive, allowing them to react instantly to problems. Parasite presence is just one of the factors that the device monitors. It also has environmental sensors to provide beekeepers with constant, up-to-date information about the weather, atmospheric pressure and light intensity. Temperature and moisture measurements of a hive determine the bees' level of fatigue, while a video monitor highlights the presence of parasites. Bee Angels is now working on validating new sensors, implementing solar panels to power the system, and developing a market study confirming Bee Label's positioning. According to the start-up, beekeepers who are already using the first-generation device say it can reduce overall bee mortality by 40%, and save up to 1,500 per year. Theft An alarm will also notify the beekeeper if the hive is on the move. According to Bertrand Laurentin, founder of Bee Angels, beehive theft is a growing issue. Earlier this year, forty beehives containing up to a million bees were stolen in one heist in the UK. As beekeeping has become more popular, and bee colonies are suffering from decline, the value of good quality beehives has increased significantly, with queen bees alone selling for as much as 200. 'It's a very big problem, everywhere in Europe,' Laurentin said. 'But if the hive moves, you know where and what time. You have all the information.' Explore further New insights on how bees battle deadly varroa mite by grooming African-Americans are among the top owners of mobile devices, but aren't being considered when it's time for social media and technology companies to hire. The National Urban League is highlighting this new technology gap in its 2018 State of Black America report released Thursday, and pushing social media and technology companies to put in place safeguards and corporation solutions to make sure minorities don't get left behind in the digital revolution. "C-suite executives of tech firms publicly espouse the gospel of racial and gender diversity and inclusion, but these spaces do not reflect our nation's demographic diversity," said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. "Only increased representation from top to bottom will drive corporate change that prioritizes equity." Morial said that the latest Equal Employment Opportunity reports filed by Google, Facebook and Twitter showed that only 758, or 1.8 percent, of their combined workforce of 41,000 employees, were black. And their own research showed that in the majority of tech companies, fewer than five percent of the workforce is black, while at least half of the workforce is white. The organization introduced a "digital inclusion" index that is supposed to answer the question: "Are the new job, business and educational opportunities created by increased digitization of our world being equally shared?" With 100 percent being full equality with whites in digital skills and occupations, digital access and digital policy, Morial said African Americans are at 74.1 percent. "Historically, while great industrial breakthroughs have profited our nation, African Americans have often been exploited, rather than elevated by these advancements," he said. "Fortunately, the digital revolution is still in its youth and ripe with potential for black Americans." The National Urban League also released its "equality index," which like the digital inclusion index, is based on nationally collected data from federal agencies including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has been tracking these numbers annually since 2005, and for Hispanics since 2010. With full equality with whites in economics, health, education, social justice and civic engagement set at 100 percent, the National Urban League said this year's equality index for blacks stands unchanged at 72.5 percent. Things improved for Hispanics, with the index reaching 79.3 percent from last year's 78.5 percent. Explore further Facebook makes diversity gains but still struggles in key area 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Vice-Chairman of Paschim Nepal Bus Byawasayi Sangh arrested Police on Friday arrested the Butwal Vice Chairman of Paschim Nepal Bus Byawasayi Sangh Jiwan Kumar Banjade. Walter Cooper with his therapy horse, Titan. Credit: Kyle Hartmann Animal therapy helps people to relax, but how do the animals feel about it? A Rutgers University-New Brunswick study finds that horses don't mind working as part of therapy for traumatized veterans. The small pilot study by Rutgers' Equine Science Center, which appeared in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, included nine horses and seven military veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For five days, while the veterans interacted with the horses, researchers monitored the animals' heart rates and took blood samples. They examined the samples for specific markers, particularly oxytocin, which is known as the "happiness hormone," and cortisol, a hormone related to stress. "To our knowledge, this is the first report of the measurement of oxytocin in horses used in equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT)," said Karyn Malinowski, the center's director. "If the concentration of this hormone increased during the trial, we would be able to suggest a positive correlation between EAAT and the overall 'happiness' of the horses." The study showed a reduction in heart rate in the horses and no changes in the levels of cortisol or oxytocin, suggesting the animals suffered no stress from the therapeutic interactions with the veterans. The veterans who interacted with the horses also reported a significant decrease in anxiety and depression along with other symptoms of psychological distress and PTSD. That was the case for Walter Cooper, a Vietnam veteran, who worked with a therapy horse named Titan. "Any time I spent with Titan during the project was my favorite moment because he seems to understand the issues I have," says Cooper. Malinowski recommended further research with a larger number of horses, and a potentially longer time frame, to study the long-term impact of EAAT on horses. She wants to add heart rate measurements and blood sampling to the human side to better evaluate the interactions between horses and humans. Explore further Can aromatherapy calm competition horses? More information: Karyn Malinowski et al. The Effects of Equine Assisted Therapy on Plasma Cortisol and Oxytocin Concentrations and Heart Rate Variability in Horses and Measures of Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans, Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2018). Karyn Malinowski et al. The Effects of Equine Assisted Therapy on Plasma Cortisol and Oxytocin Concentrations and Heart Rate Variability in Horses and Measures of Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.01.011 Chemical Science (2018). DOI: 10.1039/C8SC01260A A small team of researchers from the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and LPCNO, Universite de Toulouse, has developed a way to synthesize a thorium-aluminum complex with an actinide element to donate electrons when bonding with a metal. In their paper published in the journal Chemical Science, the group explains how they achieved the first-of-its-kind feat. Thorium (Th) is a silver-colored radioactive metallic element. Like other metals, it is relatively hard, but bendable. It also has a high melting point and is very reactivewhen exposed to air, it reacts and turns black. It is also considered to be unstable. It is currently used in certain welding applications and is being considered as a replacement material for uranium in some nuclear reactors. As the researchers note, thorium's position on the periodic table is unique because of the reluctance of its 5f orbitals to engage in bonding, as occurs with other actinides. But it is also different chemically from other Lewis acidic transitions metals. In this new effort, the team set out to better understand the electronic structure of thorium by looking specifically at bimetallic complexes with metal-to-metal bonds. As part of that effort, they developed a way to synthesize ThAl bimetallics using reactions between different materials. The resulting complexes are unique because the thorium atoms wound up in a +3 oxidation state. Notably, just 10 Th(III) complexes have ever been synthesized. To synthesize the new Th(III) the researchers induced reactions between di-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl, supported by a Th(IV) dihalide, with an anionic aluminum hydride salt. The resultant material was then reduced, producing the new Th (III). To stabilize the new material, the researchers mated it with an alanate ligand. To prove that that new material was in fact a Th(III), the researchers studied it using EPR spectroscopy, which revealed the shared electrons between the two atoms. They also conducted DFT calculations to show that the thorium had truly donated an election to the aluminum. The team suggests that their work may be of use to other chemists looking to use actinides as donors. They note also that the their experimental results could prove useful in the future as a way to make other actinides such as plutonium, reducing the need for other stabilizers. Explore further The element of surprise More information: Alison B. Altman et al. Chemical structure and bonding in a thorium(iii)aluminum heterobimetallic complex, Chemical Science (2018). Alison B. Altman et al. Chemical structure and bonding in a thorium(iii)aluminum heterobimetallic complex,(2018). DOI: 10.1039/C8SC01260A Abstract Thorium sits at a unique position on the periodic table. On one hand, there is little evidence that its 5f orbitals engage in bonding as they do in other early actinides; on the other hand, its chemistry is distinct from Lewis acidic transition metals. To gain insight into the underlying electronic structure of Th and develop trends across the actinide series, it is useful to study Th(III) and Th(II) systems with valence electrons that may engage in non-electrostatic metalligand interactions, although only a handful of such systems are known. To expand the range of low-valent compounds and gain deeper insight into Th electronic structure, we targeted actinide bimetallic complexes containing metalmetal bonds. Herein, we report the syntheses of ThAl bimetallics from reactions between a di-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl supported Th(IV) dihalide (Cp2ThCl2) and an anionic aluminum hydride salt [K(H3AlC(SiMe3)3) (1)]. Reduction of the [Th(IV)](Cl)[Al] product resulted in a [Th(III)][Al] complex [Cp2Th(-H3)AlC(SiMe3)3 (4)]. The U(III) analogue [Cp2U(-H3)AlC(SiMe3)3 (5)] could be synthesized directly from a U(III) halide starting material. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies on 4 demonstrate hyperfine interactions between the unpaired electron and the Al atom indicative of spin density delocalization from the Th metal center to the Al. Density functional theory and atom in molecules calculations confirmed the presence of AnAl interactions in 4 and 5, which represents the first examples of AnM interactions where the actinide behaves as an electron donor. Journal information: Chemical Science 2018 Phys.org Spar, a bald eagle, is released back to the wild after successful treatment for lead poisoning at Kansas State University's Veterinary Health Center and a rehabilitation stay at the Milford Nature Center. Credit: Kansas State University Thanks to diligent action by concerned landowners, local law enforcement, staff of the Milford Nature Center and veterinary intervention at Kansas State University, a bald eagle suffering from lead contamination is flying again over the Tuttle Creek River Pond near Manhattan. "The eagle was brought to us on Jan. 11," said James Carpenter, professor of wildlife and zoological medicine at the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University. "It was depressed, emaciated, not eating and unable to fly. The prognosis for regaining its health appeared poor." After the bird was admitted to the Veterinary Health Center, a physical examination and testing found it was suffering from lead poisoning. It was also determined that the eagle was a male around 4 1/2 years old. Birds acquire lead poisoning most commonly by consuming dead animals that were shot by lead bullets or from other sources of lead contamination, according to Carpenter. He also said that lead toxicity is a common ailment in eagles, noting that one raptor center in Minnesota reported 25 percent of the eagles submitted there had toxic levels of lead in their blood. Carpenter has many years of experience working with bald eagles. Before joining Kansas State University in 1989, he headed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Propagation Program at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland for 15 years. During this time, this program reintroduced 83 captive-produced eagles into the wild in 13 states. "While I was at Patuxent, a severely debilitated eagle was brought to us and we diagnosed lead poisoning," Carpenter said. "That was the index casethe first case ever reported of lead poisoning in a bald eagle. So now, over 35 years later, we're still working on the same issue." At the Veterinary Health Center, the eagle received the standard treatment protocols for lead toxicity: medicationa chelating agentto reduce its lead levels and lots of intensive support care. The eagle's treatment also was an educational opportunity for the university's veterinary students. Carpenter was assisted on the case by Rob Browning, an exotic animal intern, along with three fourth-year veterinary students and a veterinary technician. The students named the bald eagle Spar. After five days of treatment, Spar's condition improved and he was sent to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism's Milford Nature Center, northwest of Junction City, for rehabilitation. Lead poisoning is an increasing problem for wildlife and especially for bald eagles. When consumed, it can operate as a neurotoxin causing damage to the nervous system and blood disorders. In January, the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine received a sick bald eagle named Spar. See his road to recovery. Credit: Kansas State University Vanessa Avara, assistant director at the Milford Nature Center, said birds rehabilitating at the center first receive intensive care inside the building and then are taken outside to one of the center's specialized bird enclosures to get them used to the weather. The enclosures include a large flight pen. The birds are kept for several weeks while they build up muscle and strength so they can be released back into the wild, as Spar was. Avara said most eagles brought to the center suffering from lead poisoning got it by eating fish that had ingested lead sinkers or eating deer that were shot with lead ammunition. "A lot of people don't realize how much lead ammunition fragments when it hits a target," Avara said. "Fragments can go 17 inches from the entry point, and some of that is microscopic. It doesn't take much to poison a bird like an eaglemaybe two or three pieces the size of a BB can cause serious problems with one of those birds." When the lead gets into the gastrointestinal tract of an eagle, it breaks down and is absorbed, Carpenter said. "Once in the bloodstream, lead can affect numerous organs, resulting in clinical signs of disease, including neurologic signs," Carpenter said. "Most eagles with lead toxicity will die or, even if rescued, may be euthanized if they are profoundly ill." Browning and his students visited Spar at the Milford Nature Center a few times and monitored the lead levels in his blood. Finally, at the end March, Spar was taken to Tuttle Creek where he was released. "With every animal that we have come through rehab, release is our goal," Avara said. "It isn't always the outcome. To get that eagle out there is awesome because I have had two eagles die in my hands from lead poisoning in the last three months." Carpenter agrees that Spar's recovery and release to the wild were important. "I think it had a great impact on our students and others who viewed the release," Carpenter said. "We're really appreciative of the wildlife fund that we have at the Veterinary Health Center, which is a fund made possible by the financial contributions of private individuals who share our passion for wildlife. This fund paid for all the diagnostics and medications provided to this eagle. I'm just appreciative that my students and I could be involved and see the whole treatment and release process." Explore further Has the bald eagle population along the James River peaked? Electron microscopy image of a bacterial cell infected by several phages. Credit: Utrecht University Faculty of Science The manner in which some viruses inject their DNA into bacteria or other types of cells appears to be much simpler than scientists had previously thought. Rather than using molecular engines or complicated mechanisms, viruses let simple physics do the work for them. This is a recent finding by Prof Willem Kegel from Utrecht University and colleagues from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The results of their research were published in the scientific journal Physical Review X. The driving force behind the initial and fast step, is the high pressure inside the virus. The second step, which takes much longer to complete, appears to be diffusion; a direct result of the random movement of atoms and molecules. The researchers expect that this diffusion mechanism may also be responsible for other transport processes inside the cell and between cells. Viruses have several strategies for inserting their DNA into the cell of their host, which is a necessary step in their reproduction process. This study examined phages, viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses infect their hosts in a manner comparable to that of other viruses, such as herpes viruses, which cause unpleasant symptoms in humans. "We expect that the mechanism we have discovered plays an important role in infections by this type of virus," said research leader Prof. Willem Kegel from Utrecht University. "We also think that the diffusion mechanism we found may also be responsible for other transport processes inside the cell, such as the transfer of genes between bacteria, protein transport inside cells, and the transport of messenger RNA through the pores in the cell nucleus." Once the tail of the phage penetrates the cell, the valve opens and the DNA is injected into the cell at high speed. Credit: Utrecht University Faculty of Science A phage consists of a head and a tail. The tail acts as an injection needle that can penetrate the cell membrane. The DNA is stored in the head of the phage, and exerts a pressure of around 60 bar. That is equivalent to 20 times the pressure in a fully inflated car tyre, or the pressure at 600 meters under water. Once the tail of the phage penetrates the cell, the 'valve' opens and the DNA is injected into the cell at high speed. This quickly releases the pressure of the DNA inside the phage. An outstanding question facing the researchers was therefore: what forces the last portion of DNA to enter the cell once the pressure has been released? In an experiment, the researchers determined the speed of the DNA transport from phage to cell in phages in which only the initial pressure was different. In both cases, the researchers observed two distinct steps. Calculations confirmed their suspicion that the driving force in the first step is indeed the pressure, and nothing but the pressure. Electron microscopy image of a phage (middle) with released DNA content. Credit: Utrecht University Faculty of Science However, in both phages, the DNA transport in the second stage occurred at equal (slow) rates. Moreover, the injection speed appeared to depend only on the amount of DNA that had already been injected into the cell. This suggested that the only factor that could play a role in the injection speed, aside from the DNA itself, was the characteristics of the cytoplasm of the cell. Cytoplasm is in fact a colloidal solution: proteins and other large molecules inside a cell have colloidal dimensions, and move more or less freely in an aqueous substance. Kegel has considerable research experience with colloidal systems, which made it possible to translate the experimental data into a theoretical model. Schematic (top) and experimental (bottom) transfer of fluorescent DNA from the phage head to a bacterium during the infection process. Credit: Utrecht University Faculty of Science This enabled the researchers to prove that the observed injection speeds could be explained by the simplest scenario imaginable: diffusion, or the random movement of the injected DNA through the cytoplasm. "The speed at which the phage's DNA moves in the host's cytoplasm can in a straightforward way be determined using the physics of colloidal systems," said Kegel. Explore further Scientists uncover details of viral infections that drive environmental, human health More information: Two-stage dynamics of in vivo bacteriophage genome ejection, Yi-Ju Chen, David Wu, William Gelbart, Charles M. Knobler, Rob Phillips and Willem K. Kegel, Physical Review X, 1 May 2018, Journal information: Physical Review X Two-stage dynamics of in vivo bacteriophage genome ejection, Yi-Ju Chen, David Wu, William Gelbart, Charles M. Knobler, Rob Phillips and Willem K. Kegel,, 1 May 2018, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevX.8.021029 River sand pilferage thrives as authority fails to act The district authorities here have been reluctant to control the extraction of river products from Indrawati River. Rampant extraction of sand, pebbles and stones has diverted the water flow in the river. Upcoming budget to safeguard domestic production The government is planning to introduce import restriction mechanism through the upcoming annual budget 2018-19, in order to safeguard domestic productions. China Hydroelectric Corporation is a developer, owner and operator of small hydroelectric power projects in China. The projects are located in Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan. As of December 31, 2012, wholly owns 22 operating hydroelectric power projects and have controlling interests in three operating hydroelectric power projects. In March 2012, the Company sold 100% of the Yuanping hydroelectric power project. In April 2013, the Company sold the Yuheng hydroelectric power project, a 30 megawatt (MW) project located in Fujian province. In July 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the merger with CPT Wyndham Sub Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPT Wyndham Holdings Ltd. Read More 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 IOHK Partners With Ethiopia to Explore Blockchain Applications Blockchain technology holds great promise in Ethiopia, the largest coffee producer in Africa, but getting a foothold in the country is a challenge due its constraining bureaucracy. One blockchain company is finding inroads by directly collaborating with the government. IOHK, the company behind the Cardano blockchain, has announced a partnership with the government of Ethiopia to explore how blockchain technology could benefit the country. As part of that, IOHK is offering to train up to 100 Ethiopian software developers in the Haskell programming language. On Thursday, May 3, 2018, Charles Hoskinson, CEO at IOHK, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Minister Getahun Mekuria Kuma, representing an official partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Technology. The signing took place during a blockchain forum held at the ministry. Today is a great day in Ethiopia, the minister said in speaking to forum attendees. He hinted that the greatest use case for blockchain technology would be tracking the countrys main export. In Ethiopia, we have been working on the possibility of adopting blockchain for marketing of agricultural products, especially for coffee, he said. Government buy-in is crucial to establishing any large scale business or technology in Ethiopia. If you dont have it, it is not really going to happen, John OConnor, director of African operations at IOHK, told Bitcoin Magazine. The Ministry and Dr. Getahan have been integral in the work we have done so far. While IOHK will provide free Haskell training, the ministry will help IOHK recruit students for the course and aid IOHK in navigating the business environment in the country. Haskell Training Cardano, which launched in October 2017, is written in Haskell, a functional programming language. Although Haskell is more challenging to learn than more popular languages, like Java or C++, it is a good match for formal verification, which is a method for ensuring that mission critical code behaves the way it is intended. Story continues Last time IOHK taught a Haskell course, all of the students were male. This time, the tables will turn. The minister wants the first batch of students from Ethiopia to be women to promote and highlight the importance and participation of women in coding. The ideal applicant will be a recent graduate from an Ethiopian university with a computer science or related degree, he said. Hoskinson told Bitcoin Magazine, that the next Haskell course could start as soon as July 2018 and would likely be in IOHKs Blockchain Research Lab in Edinburgh, Scotland. IOHK, which has previously held Haskell courses in Athens and Barbados, says it plans to hire promising graduates of the course as full-time developers to work with IOHK. Coffee Connection Coffee is a crucial export for Ethiopia, home to 100 million people. In fact, coffee is thought to have been first discovered in Ethiopia in the 15th century, later spreading far and wide through the Ottoman empire. Unlike in Brazil and other areas of the world, coffee grows freely in the plateaus of Ethiopia. This is the only place in the world where coffee just grows, said O'Connor, a 27-year-old, who is half Ethiopian and half Irish. You dont need to do anything. It is just there. You can literally just forage around and pick it off the ground. Because of that, little investment has been made in improving production efficiency of coffee, he said. Ninety-five percent of the coffee grown in Ethiopia comes from small holdings and rural farms, and there are a number of things that can be done to increase coffee yield and improve marketing. One of the biggest challenges, for instance, is proving the origins of coffee. That is where the blockchain steps in. The idea is that blockchain technology (specifically, a private or permissioned version of the technology, such as Cardano Enterprise) would allow all participants in the supply chain to trace and track coffee as it makes its way from rural farms to wholesale buyers. Once data is stored on the blockchain, purchasers will know with certainty if the coffee is pure and where it came from, and regulators will be able to gain information about any pesticides used in production, for example. Blockchain applications also have the potential to make payments and extend loans to farmers. Coffee drives the economy here and there is so much potential to improve it; hopefully with blockchain products, OConnor said. IOHK is not the first company to contemplate tracing coffee on the blockchain. Starbucks is working on a blockchain-based project to trace coffee with producers in Costa Rica, Colombia and Rwanda, while Colorado-based startup bext360 is using blockchain technology to trace coffee coming from Uganda. This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. China on Friday hit back at French President Emmanuel Macron's warnings against allowing a single nation to dominate the Indo-Pacific region, where many countries fear Beijing's growing might. During his visit to Sydney on Wednesday, Macron said that France, India and Australia shared a responsibility to protect the region from "hegemony" -- in a remark widely interpreted as a stab at China. "What's important is to preserve rules-based development in the region... and to preserve necessary balances in the region," Macron said then. "It's important with this new context not to have any hegemony," Macron added through an interpreter. But Beijing shot back on Friday, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying saying that while she had not seen Macron's comments, any fears about Chinese hegemony amounted to "groundless accusations". "In the eyes of the world, which country could be said actually to be exercising hegemony in the world nowadays? Who has also long exercised military or economic hegemony of every kind in the region?" Hua said to reporters during a regular press briefing, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States. "Before making such comments or groundless accusations, you should clarify these facts," Hua added. China's nationalist tabloid Global Times also criticised the French leader, accusing him of staging an "opportunistic show in (the) Indo-Pacific". "As France is in decline, opportunism is rising within its diplomacy," the newspaper said. France has a number of island territories in the Pacific Ocean. Australia has become increasingly alarmed at China's push into the Pacific, while neighbouring New Zealand has also voiced concerns about "strategic anxiety" -- diplomatic code for Beijing's influence among the region's island nations. Reports last month -- which were denied -- said Beijing wanted to establish a permanent military base in Vanuatu. Macron signed several agreements while in Australia, including on defence and cybersecurity. Australia's Lowy Institute estimates China provided US$1.78 billion in aid, including concessional loans, to Pacific nations between 2006-16. BreezyScroll Drone light show fails in the middle of a performance in China. Drones dropped out of the sky during a failed light show, causing terror among the audience. Over the last several years, China has become engulfed in a drone light display frenzy. Expensive drone performances frequently commission as part of promotional campaigns by government [] This article Viral video: People run for cover as drones start falling from the sky during a failed light show in China appeared first on BreezyScroll. R Chinese debtors shamed with broadcast of names and faces on giant screens on May 1 holiday Local courts in eastern Chinas Anhui province took advantage of heavy traffic during the May 1 holiday to shame debtors by displaying their faces and personal information on billboards and televisions in public areas. The Shushan District Court in Hefei broadcast the photograph, name, identity number, amount owed and other information for each culprit on giant screens for 11 hours a day at public squares during peak travel times, Hefei Evening News reported on Wednesday. Public shaming is an increasingly common punishment for those who refuse to pay debts, and courts have used a range of methods, from blacklisting to public exposure, to act as a warning to citizens. China to create national name-and-shame system for deadbeat borrowers They owed amounts ranging from as little as several thousand yuan, or a few hundred US dollars, to over 15 million yuan (US$2.36 million). Hefeis Yaohai District Court broadcast the information of 110 people on advertisement screens at more than 300 bus stops around the city of Hefei. The Hefei Railway Transport Court, responsible for handling transport-related legal disputes, went a step further on the May 1 holiday, with broadcasts at 15 railway stations provincewide of debtors names and information the first such use of screens at stations across an entire province. Shanghai adopts facial recognition system to name, shame jaywalkers The actions are an extension of a national campaign launched last year to step up punishment of laolai, or deadbeat borrowers. Authorities vowed to collect the personal information of debtors and publish it in public places such as newspapers, train stations and other high-visibility platforms. The Supreme Peoples Court reported in January that by the end of 2017 it had publicly listed the names of nearly 10 million people. They had been blacklisted from various activities, with 9.36 million of them prohibited from buying plane tickets and 3.67 million from buying high-speed rail tickets. This article Chinese debtors shamed with broadcast of names and faces on giant screens on May 1 holiday first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Mozambique's president said the country's fragile peace process must not collapse after veteran rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, who had opened talks with the government, died unexpectedly aged 65. President Filipe Nyusi hailed Dhlakama as "a citizen who always worked for Mozambique" and said he was distraught at the news of his death. "I hope that we as Mozambicans can continue to do everything so things do not go down," Nyusi said in a telephone call to state television TVM late on Thursday. "He did everything so that there would be peace. The last time he spoke to me, he said he was not going to miss out anything in peace negotiations." Sources in Dhlakama's opposition Renamo party said he died on Thursday after a heart attack, while local media said he suffered sever diabetes. For 39 years, Dhlakama led Renamo, the rebel group which fought a 16-year civil war against the ruling Frelimo party until 1992 and then emerged as an opposition party that still retained its armed fighters. He had been in hiding for much of time since 2013 in the remote Gorongosa mountains after sporadic conflict again erupted in the country. But Dhlakama had recently held meetings with Nyusi and he was seen as playing a key role in advancing the country's nascent peace process. - 'Critical questions' - "His death and the unknown succession plan within Renamo will bring uncertainty," Zenaida Machado, Mozambique specialist at Human Rights Watch, told AFP. "It raises critical questions about the next Renamo leader's ability to control hundreds of armed men in the bush and negotiate a long-lasting peace deal with the government." She said Dhlakama would be remembered for challenging the abuses of the ruling Frelimo party, but also for allowing his own forces to commit serious human rights violations with impunity. In December 2016, Dhlakama announced a surprise truce with the government in the major first step towards a formal peace deal. Nyusi and Dhlakama last met in February in Gorongosa to discuss disarmament and reintegration, and they appeared to have agreed on constitutional reforms that would decentralise power. The reforms, currently under debate in parliament, would allow voters to directly elect provincial governors, who at present are appointed by the president. But Renamo's demands for better integration of its supporters into the police and military remained a sticking point in discussions. "I expected a deal within the next eight weeks, but no longer as power in Renamo was centralised around Dhlakama and all key decisions needed to be agreed by him," Alex Vines, the head of the Africa programme at the Chatham House think tank, told AFP. "This will impact the peace negotiations and will also impact Renamo's electoral prospects in next year's elections." Dhlakama repeatedly stood as an unsuccessful presidential candidate in elections, despite alleging electoral fraud. Mozambique will hold elections in October 2019, with observers saying Renamo had recently increased its public support. Frelimo has ruled the country since independence from Portugal in 1975. - Restive legacy of civil war - Nyusi reportedly sent a helicopter to the Gorongosa mountains to fly Dhlakama abroad for emergency medical treatment after hearing he was ill just one day before he died. "The weight for me is worse than for everyone," Nyusi said. "I tried to transfer him but I could not because he was in a place where I could not help." "We have lost our father, our teacher, the person who is the light of the majority of Mozambicans," Renamo secretary-general Manuel Bissopo told TVM. Local media said Dhlakama's body arrived early on Friday in the central city of Beira, though no funeral details have yet been announced. Between 2013 and 2016, Renamo -- which also holds seats in parliament -- attacked government and civilian vehicles, while soldiers were accused of ruthlessly targeting suspected rebels. The United States issued a statement expressing condolences and calling for all sides to work towards a peace deal after Dhlakama's death. Singapores State Courts. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) A dentist pleaded guilty on Friday (4 May) to receiving over $400,000 in Medisave disbursements to his company by submitting false claims on behalf of patients under the Central Provident Fund scheme. Ang Kiam Hau Steven, 43, was convicted in the State Courts of 30 charges of cheating and dishonestly inducing a delivery of property in 2011 and 2013. A total of 253 other charges committed between 2011 and 2013 will be taken into consideration for sentencing. The court heard that Ang joined The Smile Division Dental Group (TSD) as a dentist in 2007 and he later set up a company in 2011. At the time of the offences, Ang received about 56 per cent of the net fees from surgeries carried out by him at TSDs Lucky Plaza clinic and this was paid to his company. Sometime in 2009, Ang came up with a scheme to make false Medisave claims by targeting underprivileged patients who could not afford dental surgeries they needed. Angs staff would ask patients to show them their Medisave account balance by logging onto the Central Provident Fund Boards (CPFB) website. If the patients could not pay for the procedure in cash, they would be offered a package where TSD would treat them at a rate lower than the market rate and help them in claiming the cost of the treatment from their Medisave savings. Essentially, Ang would certify that day surgeries had been performed on patients on multiple dates, when they were actually done on a single day or over two days, in order to dishonestly induce the CPFB to disburse multiple claim amounts to the Lucky Plaza clinic. He did so in order to circumvent the daily withdrawal limits for day surgeries imposed by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The false claims came up to a total of $434,241. In some instances, treatments were purportedly carried out on patients over a number of dates in 2013 but a check of immigration records revealed that the patients or the dentists on duty were not in Singapore on those dates. Story continues Sometime in 2011, the scheme was implemented in other TSD clinics and was not restricted to only underprivileged patients. On 14 July 2014, MOH made a police report stating that there were inappropriate Medisave claims made by various dental clinics. MOH discovered that the total amounts claimed from Medisave by certain clinics within TSD were higher than the total amounts claimed by other clinics that had handled more cases in 2013. Ang has since paid $535,571.12 the principal amounts claimed plus interest to the CPFB, which then credited into the respective Medisave accounts from which the amounts were disbursed. Angs lawyer Navin Shanmugaraj Thevar told the court he needed more time to prepare mitigation and sentencing submissions. District Judge Kan Shuk Weng will hear sentencing positions from the prosecution and the defence on 26 June. If convicted, Ang faces a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine. More Singapore stories Man who demanded cash or body from woman in exchange for her nude photos jailed Man who gave deceased colleagues details to police to cover up traffic offences jailed An aerial view of a camp where a caravan of migrants from Central America are expected to apply for asylum, in Tijuana, Mexico May 2, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido By Delphine Schrank TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - After Willians Bonilla fled threats from a street gang in Honduras two years ago to seek asylum in the United States, he spent seven months in detention only to be deported back to his native land in Central America to face his attackers anew. So Bonilla, a 26-year-old car painter, promptly headed back to the U.S. border, now with his wife and 2-year-old son. They crossed Guatemala to southern Mexico and then, in a ragtag caravan relentlessly criticized by U.S. President Donald Trump, trekked 2,000 miles north to Tijuana. Mostly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, caravan migrants like Bonilla face a predicament. Escaping gang violence, political turmoil and economic dysfunction, they seek a refuge in the United States, but with little certainty of a welcome, especially in the age of Trump. Chances of being granted asylum are slim. Many could face long detentions and separation from families while awaiting court hearings that could end with deportation orders. Bonilla had no desire now to fight for asylum, unwilling to again endure the hardships of U.S. detention and the tortuous wait for a trial before an immigration judge, only to be rejected and flown back to the lethal quagmire he had fled twice. Instead, the family decided that his wife and child would apply for asylum, figuring they stood a better chance because of their vulnerability and the fact they have relatives already in the United States. Sharp and witty, with a dream of studying art that turned into a career of custom-painting cars, Bonilla said he struggled with his decision. "She knows hardship," said Bonilla, almost proudly, of his wife, who had lived in a restive part of Honduras, but even that might not blunt the shock when his family arrived in America. "They have no idea what they're in for." Bonilla's gaze darkened as recalled incarceration first in a Texas government-run facility, which he remembered as "okay," and then in the private Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, which he called "a cesspool." Story continues HARD-LINE STANCE Trump has made his hard-line stance on immigration an integral part of his presidency and has advocated a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border to stem the flow of migrants. Nevertheless, about 5,000 Hondurans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans were given interviews each month in 2017, the first step in claiming asylum, according to the most recent U.S. data. At least 140 migrants of the caravan plan to apply for asylum. U.S. authorities have allowed in a few at a time since Monday, mostly women and children, through the San Ysidro port of entry into California, with much of the group camped near the crossing still waiting for entry. When Bonilla made his 2016 asylum attempt, American border officials asked him if he was frightened to return home, a mandatory question for undocumented arrivals at U.S. ports of entry during the first few days of detention. He answered "yes." That "yes" triggered the asylum process, which entails an interview to assess an applicant's "credible fear" and a court date for a ruling on asylum or deportation weeks, months or even years later. Bonilla was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, first in Texas and then in the Georgia detention center owned by CoreCivic Inc. "Ay! Ay!" he said, as he recalled the Georgia facility. He called the food barely edible. The guards, he said, were racist and tore up letters that detainees wrote, including one he had hoped to send to a state official regarding his case. Responding to complaints at the facility, the Department of Homeland Security issued a report last year that backed up Bonilla's account. It detailed questionable use of solitary confinement, delayed healthcare, broken and dirty bathrooms and moldy food. "The issues identified by the December report were quickly and effectively remedied," said CoreCivic spokesman Steve Owen said, adding that much of the facility's leadership team eats the same meals as the detainees and that he was unaware of complaints of racism or instances of staff not delivering mail. "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is committed to ensuring that those in our custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments and under appropriate conditions of confinement," ICE spokeswoman Jennifer Elzea said. In the end, a judge rejected Bonilla's asylum claim and he was sent home, where he said the gang closed in again, this time attacking his wife. Carrying photos to document the beatings she sustained, Bonilla's wife and child may spend less time in custody thanks to rules limiting the duration that women and children can be held as well as a shortage of beds in detention centers. CRISTOBAL'S JOURNEY Another member of the caravan, Bonilla's fellow Honduran Jose Cristobal said he also chose to remain in Mexico while common law partner Yolanda Hieron Meras and his 15-year-old son seek asylum. Cristobal, a 48-year-old welder, said the family left home under the cover of darkness shortly after his son received two death threats from a gang, one in person, the second handwritten. "They don't give you more than two chances," Cristobal said. He pinched his nose hard to hold back the tears as he watched his partner and son disappear through the San Ysidro gate on Tuesday to make an asylum claim. Cristobal said he would try to join them sometime later in the United States legally but acknowledged the chances were low. The journey from Honduras had been arduous. The family were robbed within minutes of arriving in Mexico through Guatemala, he said, losing their only valuable possessions: two telephones and all their cash. Unwilling to seek police help for fear of deportation, Cristobal found work as a handyman until he struck his thumb with a hammer and the injury became infected. The family stumbled upon the caravan in the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, Cristobal said. From there, on March 25, it began its month-long odyssey northward. They saw it as a way to reach the U.S. border safely, with sporadic offerings of transportation, food and shelter. The caravan, which peaked at nearly 1,500 people in early April, had dwindled to a few hundred by the time it reached Tijuna, a vast logistical feat that had meant relying on loaned buses and walking for hours. For one long leg of the journey Cristobal's family had to leap aboard a freight train, dubbed "El Tren de La Muerte", the train of death, because of the injuries suffered as migrants race to catch it, climb to the roof, and grip on for dear life as it rolls and pitches. Making it to Tijuana seemed to them a near-miracle. NUMEROUS REASONS Dozens of caravan members described to Reuters fleeing appalling conditions that included sexual violence, political persecution, dysfunctional economies, and lethal threats to themselves or family members in neighborhoods with some of the world's highest murder rates. Migrants who fled the brutal Barrio 18 or MS-13 Mara gangs after refusing to join them or pay protection money said they continued to receive threats in Mexico. At least two said they had received messages that family members back home would be killed if they failed to send payment. But once they reach the United States, they must run the gauntlet of an immigration system caught between assisting or criminalizing hundreds of thousands of Central Americans who have entered the United States in the past decade. Asylum seekers must demonstrate fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. Criminal threats or violence alone are generally not considered sufficient reason for asylum. The Trump administration has cited a more-than-tenfold rise in asylum claims compared to 2011, including growing numbers of families and children and a shift to more Central Americans as signs that people are fraudulently taking advantage of the system. Trump aims to change U.S. law to make it harder to claim asylum. Some immigration lawyers said the unrelenting criminal violence in Central America should prompt the United States to reassess the asylum system. "In a lot of ways, those countries look like war zones," said Bree Bernwanger, an asylum attorney who works on Central American cases. Jenna Gilbert, a lawyer at the Human Rights First advocacy group, said enduring the asylum process would be hard on anyone. "It's a different name, but let's have no qualms about what it is," Gilbert said. "It is jail." (Reporting by Delphine Schrank; Additional reporting by Frank Jack Daniel in Mexico City; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Will Dunham) Hundreds of residents sought shelter on Friday after red-hot lava seeped from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano and plumes of ash and dangerous gases spewed into the air. Drone footage of the volcanic eruption on Hawaii's Big Island showed orange magma gushing up from cracks in the ground in a wooded area. Authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation of Lanipuna Gardens and the Leilani Estates neighborhood, home to about 1,700 people and 770 structures. No injuries have been reported. Governor David Ige said residents were being housed in community centers until the danger from Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanos, has passed. Ige signed an emergency proclamation releasing disaster funds to Big Island. "Hawaii Fire Department reports extremely high levels of dangerous Sulfur Dioxide gas detected in the evacuation area," the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said. It said there had been "active volcanic fountaining" in the Leilani Estates area, located several miles from the summit of the Kilauea volcano. Aerial footage showed orange lava bubbling up from a fissure around 500 feet (150 meters) long and spouting into the air like a fountain. The eruption began around 4:45 pm local time Thursday 0245 GMT Friday) and stopped at around 6:30 pm local time, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS warned, however, that "the opening phases of fissure eruptions are dynamic and uncertain. "Additional erupting fissures and new lava outbreaks may occur," it said. - 'Fire curtain' - The eruption came after hundreds of small earthquakes in recent days that followed the collapse of a crater floor on the Puu Oo volcanic cone. A 5.0-magnitude earthquake on Thursday morning south of the cone triggered rockfalls and potential additional collapse of the crater, USGS said. It sent a short-lived but massive pink plume of ash wafting into the air. Big Island resident Janice Wei, who moved to Hawaii from California -- known for its high earthquake risk -- said the eruption was almost a "relief." "We've been waiting for big movement from the crater, after so many small earthquakes," she told AFP. "Hawaiians and local people have lived here forever," she said. "You know what's going on; we have warning systems." "Everybody should be prepared." The broader district potentially impacted by the threat is home to some 10,000 people. Using his drone, area resident Jeremiah Osuna captured video footage of the lava flow, which he described as a "fire curtain" that left him feeling "shock and awe." "It was like if you put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turned it on -- a lot of earth and pressure and fire just moving around," Osuna told AFP. Governor Ige activated the state's National Guard troops, and told residents to pay heed to official warnings. In his emergency declaration, the governor noted the current flow was similar to a 1960 eruption in the Kapoho area that "caused significant damage." - FEMA mobilizing - Geologist Janet Babb of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory told AFP that scientists had been following an "intrusion of magma" down the rift zone since Monday afternoon in anticipation of a possible eruption. Though the cracks from which lava was emitting had gone dormant, she emphasized that "the overall concern and the overall event has not ended." US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was mobilizing resources, as well as monitoring for forest fires, power outages and water supply issues. Hawaii Island, or the Big Island, is the largest of the eight main islands that comprise the Pacific US state, an archipelago that includes hundreds of smaller volcanic islands. The controversial anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia MANILA, Philippines Health Secretary Francisco Duque is facing new criminal raps over the Dengvaxia controversy. Duque, along with former Secretary Janette Garin, and over 30 health officials and officers of Sanofi Pasteur and Zuellig Pharma, are being charged for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violation of the anti-torture act. The case stemmed from the death of thirteen-year-old Jansyn Art Bataan of Brgy. 177, Camarin, Caloocan City, who died last January, two months after receiving a Dengvaxia shot. The victims father narrated that his son was inoculated on November 29 without their consent. I scolded my son. I asked him, Why did you agree to have the shot? You didnt even ask me about it. Why didnt the school ask for our consent? the father of the victim, Darwin Bataan said. The boy fell ill several days later and died within 24 hours after being admitted to the hospital. The forensic team of the Public Attorneys Office is convinced that Dengvaxia led to his death. PAO chief, Atty. Persida Acosta, said Duque is liable because the inoculation happened under his watch. He was injected November 29. Sec. Duque assumed [office] on November 6. He continued the vaccination program, Atty. Acosta added. This is the sixth criminal case filed by the Public Attorneys Office in relation to the Dengvaxia mess. Act now, President Duterte. I am calling on you. Listen to our pleas, Merlyn Bataan, mother of a victim said. The parents of Dengvaxia victims demanded anew the secretarys resignation. Roderic Mendoza | UNTV News & Rescue The post PAO files 6th Dengvaxia-related criminal case with DOJ appeared first on UNTV News. Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih speaks with the media during the International Energy Forum (IEF) in New Delhi, India, April 11, 2018. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain/Files SEOUL (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Friday he was "optimistic" about South Korea being shortlisted to build nuclear power plants for the Middle Eastern kingdom. Falih told reporters on the sidelines of an industry event in Seoul that South Korea could expect a "good result" when asked about outcome of bidding on the project, without going into details. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil producer, plans to build two nuclear plants to diversify its energy supply and has been in talks with companies from South Korea, the United States, Russia and China for the tender. Should South Korea win the bid, it would be the country's second nuclear exports deal. In 2009, a consortium led by state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) clinched its first nuclear exports deal with the United Arab Emirates. Falih met South Korean President Moon Jae-in and South Korean Energy Minister Paik Un-gyu to expand bilateral cooperation in energy and other sectors. (Reporting By Jane Chung; Editing by Tom Hogue/David Evans) Singapore State Courts (AFP Photo/Mohd Fyrol) Three Filipina domestic workers took unused items ranging from apparel, baby diapers to tissue paper packets in their employers bungalow and were trying to ship them in boxes to the Philippines when they were caught by their employer. One of the boxes containing the stolen loot was en route to Philippines but authorities managed to intercept and recover it. Filipina nationals Panganiban Marisol Franada 32, Sumague Mery Grace Anday, 29, and Lasam Princess Joy Cariaga, 30, had been working at their employer Yang Yuen Lings bungalow for between 11 months and five years when they committed the offence. The trio were sentenced to 14 weeks jail each on Friday (4 May) after each pleaded guilty to one count of stealing 283 items from Yangs Queen Astrid Park home. The items, which also included at least 100 pieces of childrens clothing, milk bottles, keychains, cleansing wipes, and books, were worth a total $5416.95. On 10 October last year, the three maids were cleaning the kids bedroom when Sumague suggested to the other two to take the clothing items as their employers children could no longer wear them. She suggested that they take the used clothes, unused kitchenware and unused shoes stored in the basement of the house. The other two agreed and helped each other pack the items to send them back to their respective families in the Philippines within a week. Sumague arranged with an airfreight company to have three empty parcel boxes delivered to the house. Between 12 and 14 October, the trio discreetly pocketed and packed the items in their own bedrooms. Sumague completed packing her parcel on 13 October and engaged an airfreight company to collect and send her parcel to the Philippines. Her parcel was subsequently recovered by the authorities before it reached the Philippines. Yang and her husband returned to the house around 10pm on 14 October when they noticed that Panganiban was in the house without the other two maids. Yang checked the maids bedroom and found two large parcels, prompting her to call the police. The maids were arrested a while later. Story continues Panganiban was found in possession of 137 items amounting to $2,509.34, while Lasams parcel contained 114 stolen items worth $2,148.81. Sumague was found to have pocketed 32 items worth $758.80. State Prosecuting Officer Lam Peng Choy said that it is in the publics interest that employees such as domestic helpers who have ready, easy and constant access to their employers properties be deterred from stealing from them. He noted that Sumague, as the mastermind, had suggested the act of stealing but should have comparable sentences with the other two as the value of her loot was lower. All three maids, who had no legal representation, said through an interpreter that they had families to support in the Philippines and were remorseful for their actions. They pleaded for leniency. District Judge Diana Haven Ho said that there was a need for deterrence given the maids easy access to the items. For committing theft while employed as a servant, each of the maids could have been jailed up to seven years and fined. Other Singapore stories: Man who demanded cash or body from woman over her nude photos jailed Man who gave deceased colleagues details to police to cover up traffic offences jailed Man, 53, arrested for vandalism along Saint Andrews Road WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has not asked the Pentagon for options to reduce U.S. forces based in South Korea, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a statement on Friday. His comment comes after the New York Times, citing several people briefed on the deliberations, reported on Thursday that the president was seeking options to curb the number of American troops stationed in South Korea. "The New York Times story is utter nonsense. The President has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea," Bolton said. Trump's potential moves on the Korean peninsula come as the U.S. president is poised to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. The Trump administration is also engaged in efforts to secure the release of three Americans imprisoned in North Korea. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Bernadette Baum) The US ambassador to Mexico stepped down Friday after announcing her resignation in March, setting up a delicate transition period at a time of sharp tension between the two neighbors. Ambassador Roberta Jacobson was to celebrate a final farewell with embassy staff on Friday afternoon, then fly out on Saturday, the embassy said. President Donald Trump has not yet named a replacement for the ambassador, a respected Western-hemisphere expert appointed by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Her deputy, William Duncan, will head the embassy in the interim. The transition comes at a rough moment in US-Mexican relations, as Jacobson herself acknowledged. "There are differences, there are tensions, we can't deny it," she said Thursday in an interview with Mexican TV network Televisa. "But that doesn't mean there isn't progress we have to continue in other areas, and also on security and migration." Mexico seethed last month when Trump ordered thousands of National Guard troops to the two countries' border following media reports on a caravan of Central American migrants crossing Mexico toward the United States. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto responded by ordering a sweeping review of Mexico's cooperation with the US, including in the vital areas of security and trade. Tension has also soared over Trump's vows to build a wall on the border, his disparaging remarks on Mexican immigrants and his threats to axe the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Pena Nieto has twice cancelled plans to visit Washington after heated phone calls in which Trump refused to back off his vows to make Mexico pay for his border wall. Known as one of the best-liked US ambassadors to Mexico in recent memory, Jacobson sent a series of nostalgic tweets in her final week on her love of Mexico's people, food and natural beauty, and the simple pleasure of walking her dog Taco in the park. She is one of dozens of senior State Department staff to leave under Trump, who has been slow to fill top diplomatic posts. Newly sworn in Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Wednesday to work to get the State Department's "swagger back" after the troubled tenure of his predecessor, Rex Tillerson. A top US defence department official has accused Beijing of predatory economic activities in the Indian Ocean and raised concerns about reports it has moved missiles to man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea. Joe Felter, deputy assistant defence secretary for South and Southeast Asia, said the United States should be concerned about US intelligence assessments reported on Wednesday that show China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems to three outposts in the Spratly Islands. This absolutely looks like an effort to militarise these disputed features [in the South China Sea] and we dont support that, Felter said on Friday. We want a peaceful resolution of these [territorial] disputes. If confirmed, they would be the first missile deployments by China in the Spratlys, an island chain that is also claimed by the Philippines. The development comes after the Chinese navy held an unprecedented week-long series of live-fire drills in the South China Sea last month. The White House on Thursday warned that the Chinese missile deployments would have near-term and long-term consequences. Although the US does not have territorial claims over the South China Sea, its warships and aircraft carry out freedom of navigation operations in the area. China accused America of serious military provocation in March after a US Navy destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, where China has built an artificial island. The US will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere that allows us so ... we encourage other states to exercise the same rights under international law, Felter said. Washingtons embrace of an Indo-Pacific strategy under President Donald Trump, with an emphasis on it being free and open, is seen as a counterbalance to Chinas growing influence through infrastructure-building and its military presence in the region. Felter said some of Beijings activities in the South Pacific had not been consistent with what that strategy promoted. Story continues He also named developments in Djibouti where China opened its first overseas military base last year and at the ports of Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan, as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as predatory economic activities. Into the South Pacific, we heard some other disturbing news on Chinas predatory economic activities they are also trying to gain a foothold in ways we dont think are consistent with the interests of those individual states and countries, Felter said. Pentagon lodges complaint after pilots injured by Chinese military lasers in Djibouti Washington has repeatedly expressed concerns over Beijings efforts to expand its geopolitical and military power and win influence through such projects, which also add to the debt burdens of the countries involved. What China is doing ... we dont think its out of interest of the rule-based order we are promoting with our strategy, Felter said. This article US defence official accuses China of predatory economic activities in Indian Ocean first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. The United States failed Friday to win United Nations Security Council backing for a statement rejecting as "unacceptable" remarks by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas about Jews that included "vile anti-Semitic slurs." Kuwait, a non-permanent council member that represents the Arab Group of countries, objected to the draft statement, arguing that Abbas had already apologized and that it was one-sided, diplomats said. The proposed statement expressed the council's "serious concern" about Abbas's remarks, which "included vile anti-Semitic slurs and baseless conspiracy theories, and do not serve the interests of the Palestinian people or peace in the Middle East." It called on him to "refrain from anti-Semitic comments." Security Council statements are adopted by consensus of all 15 members. The Palestinian leader triggered global outrage after he suggested that hostility toward Jews in Europe was not linked to religious intolerance, but stemmed from their "social function related to banks and interests." Abbas made the remarks at a meeting of the Palestinian National Council on Monday, but on Friday he offered an apology and said he condemned the Holocaust "as the most heinous crime in history." Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman immediately rejected the apology and said Abbas was a "pathetic Holocaust denier." US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the council's failure to agree on the statement "only further undermines the UN's credibility in addressing" the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Disgusting anti-Semitic statements from the Palestinian leadership obviously undermine the prospects for Middle East peace," she said. The United States has twice blocked draft statements at the council expressing concern about the violence in Gaza, in which nearly 50 people have been killed by Israeli forces. The United States is pushing ahead with plans to open its embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, a move that could further stoke violence. BOB CHRISTIE | MELISSA DANIELS Arizona, US | May 3 Arizona lawmakers pulled an all-nighter Thursday to enact a budget that provides big raises for many of the states striking teachers, potentially ending the five-day walkout that kept more than a million public school students out of the classroom. The pay increases will cost about $300 million for the coming year alone. The Senate passed the pay raises just before dawn, and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey immediately signed off on the plan to give teachers a 9 percent raise in the fall and 5 percent in each of the next two years. A 1 percent raise had already been approved, so the package ensures a 20 percent overall increase over four years. 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. The striking teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the country, kept watch at the state Capitol all night, packing the House and Senate galleries during the debate and holding a candlelight vigil in a courtyard. Some returned to the Capitol on Thursday as lawmakers continued debating the rest of the states $10.4 billion budget plan. Organizers of the strike had called for classes to resume Thursday if the budget passed. But many large districts canceled school for a sixth straight day while lawmakers worked through the night. Errin Haines Whack PHILADELPHIA.- Two black men arrested for sitting at a Philadelphia Starbucks without ordering anything settled with the worlds biggest coffee-shop chain Wednesday for an undisclosed sum and an offer of a free college education. Separately, they reached a deal with the city for a symbolic $1 each and a promise from officials to set up a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs. Tambien te puede interesar: The men portrayed the twin settlements as an effort to make sure something positive came out of the April 12 incident, which touched off a furor around the U.S. over racial profiling. 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, said Donte Robinson, one of those arrested. Its not a right-now thing thats good for right now, but I feel like we will see the true change over time. Trevor Marshallsea Sydney, Australia.- Was it a Freudian slip by French President Emmanuel Macron? A joke linked to French gastronomy? Or even, a week after his visit to Washington, a parody of President Donald Trumps infamous comments about Macrons wife? Whatever the case, Macron raised eyebrows in Sydney on Wednesday by calling Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls wife delicious. Wrapping up a joint news conference during his brief Australian visit, Macron moved to thank the Turnbulls for their hospitality. I want to thank you for your welcome, thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome, he said. The comment quickly sparked some lighthearted reaction on social media and in the Australian press amid lively conjecture about the French leaders intent. "Thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome". Macron just said he wanted to thank Malcolm Turnbull and his delicious wife. You can take the man out of France but ..., tweeted Alice Workman, a journalist. Australian ABC News tweeted, Lost in translation: Emmanuel Macron thanks the PMs delicious wife. Despite Macrons deadpan delivery, some observers felt he may have been making a joke. Turnbull had just mentioned Macrons imminent lunch with members of Sydneys French community, and had followed with comments about French gastronomy and wine. Pardoning generalizations about the French obsession with food, Macron minutes earlier had also been talking about shrimp, picking up on Turnbulls comment relating to Chinas growing influence in the South Pacific, when the Australian leader said that big fish cannot eat little fish, and little fish cannot eat shrimp. 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 Macrons comment to possibly be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Trumps visit to Paris last year, when he was caught telling Macrons wife, Brigitte, that she was in such great shape, before looking to her husband and saying, Beautiful. ABDI GULED Mogadishu, Somalia | May 3 As night fell, gunmen sneaked into the International Committee of the Red Cross compound in Somalias capital through a back door and seized a German nurse and a local colleague before forcing them outside and into a waiting car. The daring attack, carried out despite the presence of nearly 10 security guards, struck fear once again into the aid community in Somalia, one of the worlds most dangerous countries for humanitarians. The ICRC said it was evacuating 10 non-Somali staffers to Kenya and winding down activities in parts of Somalia outside the capital. She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalias most vulnerable people Wednesday nights abduction of the nurse, identified by a colleague as Sonja Nientiet, came a day after a Somali staffer with the World Health Organization was shot dead at close range in a market elsewhere in Mogadishu. And in March, a local Red Cross staffer died of his injuries after a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded near the aid groups office. Hundreds of soldiers were deployed across Mogadishu on Thursday as security officials said they believed the kidnappers had remained in the capital after abandoning their car not far away. The nurses Somali colleague told security officers he managed to escape after one of the cars tires blew out. We shall never give up to rescue the hostage, police Capt. Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press. The deputy head of the Red Cross delegation in Somalia, Daniel OMalley, said in a statement that the ICRC was deeply concerned and called for the womans immediate release. She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalias most vulnerable people, he said. While security officials said the ICRC compounds security guards had been detained, suspicion fell on what the spokesman for Somalias internal security ministry, Abdulaziz Hildhiban, called a disgruntled former employee. He said the suspect is known and the government is chasing their whereabouts. The area where the abduction occurred is home to several aid agencies and is considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Mogadishu. Safety, however, is relative in a city that is often targeted by the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group, which in October killed more than 500 people with a truck bombing on a busy street. Elliot Spagat TIJUANA.- The caravan of Central Americans seeking asylum in the United States captured the worlds attention as scores of migrants traveled through Mexico on a journey to escape their violent homelands. Now that the group has arrived at the border, the next steps in the migrants journey will unfold mostly out of public view. Tambien te puede interesar: Scientists hope bug experiment fattens Colorado River fish The caravan first drew attention in the U.S. when President Donald Trump promised that his administration would seek to turn the families away. The rest of the asylum-seeking process will happen slowly and secretively in immigration courts. Dan Kowalski, editor of Benders Immigration Bulletin, said the public will probably see very little (of the caravan cases) unless the applicant is represented and the attorney makes an effort to bring the client into the limelight. Twenty eight caravan members were accepted for processing Monday and Tuesday by U.S. border inspectors at San Diegos San Ysidro crossing, an official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. The crossing, the nations busiest, processed about 50 asylum seekers a day from October through February, suggesting the wait will be short. Under U.S. asylum practices, people spend up to three days at the border inspection facility before being transferred to a long-term detention center. Asylum officers interview them for an initial screening, usually within a week or so, to determine if their cases should advance to immigration court, which can take several years. Paul Wiseman 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. Seattle is the countrys 18th-largest city, but only New York and Los Angeles have a larger homeless population. In April, the Seattle City Council proposed a head tax on employees at big businesses to fund low-income housing and homeless shelters. While there are hundreds of qualifying companies with gross annual revenues of more than $20 million, one is quite a bit larger than the rest. On Wednesday, Amazon responded. Pending the May 14 council vote, a spokesman said, the company would put on hold the construction of one new downtown office tower, and threatened to merely sublet, rather than lease, in another. The ultimatum comes as some Seattleites fret about their biggest companys wandering eye: Amazon has recently announced major expansions in Vancouver and Boston, and is on the hunt for a second-city headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clash is a long time coming. In cities like Seattle, corporate wealth has come roaring back, alongside social crises. Seattle has responded with a pioneeringand controversialminimum wage ordinance. Now the city is upping the ante, asking local employers to pay for an affordable housing crisis that many locals believe is their fault. Amazon is a particularly interesting target. Its unparalleled size has given it the solid appearance of a local anchor institution. The company occupies more than 20 percent of Seattles Class A office space, and has more than twice the footprint of the next-biggest U.S. corporation in any city (Citis 3.7 million square feet in New York). Seattle councilmember Mike OBrien, one of the bills sponsors, estimated that Amazon might pay $20 million a year under the resolution, which is projected to raise $75 million next year. In other words, its kind of an Amazon Tax. Advertisement The company is not exactly hard-up: Last week Amazon reported a quarterly profit of $1.6 billion, and in an interview about his space tourism venture, founder and CEO Jeff Bezos effectively said that only extraterrestrial travel was a big enough dream to match his fortune. But the retailers response seems designed to send a message: Dont take us for granted. Advertisement Amazons prickliness is ironic. The company has dangled the prospect of its HQ2 in a grotesque contest to see which city will do the most for the e-commerce giant, maintaining (at least publicly) that it could plant itself in any one of 20 North American cities. And right as Amazon is asking American cities for more, more, more to secure an influx of 50,000 Amazonians, Seattle has asked the company to take greater responsibility for the citys social ills. The companys unparalleled groundedness should give Seattle pols the confidence to go on the offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Thats a big shift. A core tenet of urban policy in the United States since the 1975 New York City fiscal crisis has been that a municipalitys job is to drive corporate growth. Prior to the 70s, New York had built a pretty impressive five-borough welfare state, complete with free higher education, free admission to the countrys largest museum, and a host of free public health services. The citys brush with bankruptcytogether with the (related) exodus of corporate HQs to the suburbs and the Southdiscredited that model. The investment banker Felix Rohatyn, who supervised the citys debt restructuring, wrote that going forward, cities would understand that business has to be supported and not just tolerated. More recently, Detroit, whose budget was only released from state oversight last week, has served as the poster child for urban liberalism run amok, and the citys job loss and bankruptcy have served as a warning to other mayors eyeing social welfare policies. Advertisement Advertisement But in a good number of cities, the bad old days of abandonment are out of sight, while homelessness, hunger, and poverty remain. If the citys chief mission is to create a business-friendly environment, it seems that in many places, the mission has been accomplished. Instead, many on the urban leftepitomized by mayors like New Yorks Bill de Blasio or Jackson, Mississippis Chokwe Lumumbaincreasingly see the city as the vanguard of the welfare state. Local initiatives like the minimum wage and sick leave are popular examples of this trend. But the road ahead is tough: States bar meaningful local action. CEOs continue to make threats. Fragmented metro areas have given companies leverage, even just to move next door. And most corporations have polycentric structures that make them both more flighty than their predecessors and also less appealing as a target for redistribution. Advertisement Advertisement In a way, Amazons predicament in Seattlefor now the only place it really calls homeis a callback to the realization that major U.S. manufacturers had after the World War II: Size is an advantage, but concentration is a vulnerability. When automakers downsized and relocated south and west in the 50s and 60s, they were largely responding to costs imposed by labor, not local governments. But the money-saving benefits of decentralization were the same then as they are now, while the drawbackschallenges in communication and transportationhave largely evaporated. Advertisement Even inequality-minded mayors have been wary to challenge the ancient wisdom that corporations (and wealthy residents) jump ship at the mention of new taxes. 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, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said about Amazons announcement. Other Democratic mayors have been similarly unwilling to challenge the status quo. But the council members who sit below them are in almost all cases more radical. Local redistribution policies are on the rise. In most places, mayors are too nervous to put pressure on employers who push back. Seattle is one place where the biggest corporate target also seemseven as it plots its expansion elsewheretoo big to move. This article contains spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War. With Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther crushing box-office records, and a Han Solo movie opening in just a few weeks, Disney is once again asserting its big-studio dominance through two seemingly unstoppable franchises: the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. Marvel appears to have the upper hand in the office competition for now, both in revenue and presumed fan satisfactionwhich is to say that the Russo brothers Infinity War doesnt appear to be dividing its fan base like Rian Johnsons Star Wars: The Last Jedi did at the end of 2017, despite a similarly risky undermining of the series status quo. Advertisement Both movies take their cues from the gold standard of surprise bummers, The Empire Strikes Back. The Last Jedi, like its cinematic cousin, is a trilogys middle chapter that ends with its heroes outnumbered, outgunned, and less certain of their victory than they were at the end of the previous installment. Infinity War, if anything, goes darker; not only does the movie end on a cliffhanger that leaves its villain, Thanos, ahead of its army of superheroes, many of the superheroes disintegrate into dust at the snap of the big purple guys newly empowered fingers. The movie ends with its villain basking in the glow of a job well-done, and its heroes counting their dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite reports of younger viewers bursting into tears, this twist (expected by some comics devotees, but not general audiences) leaves most Avengers fans breathless with a combination of exhilaration, surprise, and anticipation. (Reviews have been generally positive too.) The Last Jedi, meanwhile, divided fans with its depiction of a surly, disillusioned Luke Skywalker and its pointedly anticlimactic answer to the question of its heroines parentage. The Last Jedi is, however, a much better film and an object lesson in how a talented filmmaker can work around, or simply push past, the inherent limitations of a single entry in a modern forever franchise. Advertisement Infinity Wars ending has been lauded for its daring, but its ultimate goal is to keep audiences on the hook for more Avengers adventures. As big a swing as it is for Infinity War to apparently kill off major characters, Marvels upcoming release schedule guarantees that some of those deaths wont be permanent. This is just the act break before next years follow-up. In both Infinity War and The Last Jedi, the heroes fail, but only one of the movies gives that failure a chance to sink in. The Last Jedis younger heroes, full of can-do spirit in The Force Awakens, get a chance to save the day in their follow-up adventure, and they blow it: Poe Dameron leads a mutiny that turns out to be unnecessary, and Finn and Roses side quest is a bust, at least in terms of hacking into an enemy ships tracking software. Even Luke Skywalker re-enters the story not as a hero full of wisdom to be passed on to the next generation, but as a man haunted by his past mistakes. We learn that in a moment of fear and despair, he came close to killing his dark-leaning nephew Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), inadvertently sending him further down a Vader-emulating path. The Last Jedis characters, both heroes and villains, struggle with whether the past can or should define them, and that past includes failures, not just chosen-one victories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Infinity War, failure is merely a plot device. Few of the movies characters go through any meaningful changeand that includes most of the characters who wind up dead. They start the movie wanting to stop Thanos, they try to stop Thanos, and they fail to stop Thanos (at least until next May). Their final failure isnt something the characters grapple with for more than a few moments, and while the lack of falling action increases the shock value, it also blunts the movies emotional charge; little about it lingers. Despite all of Infinity Wars elaborate visual effects and coherently staged battles, theres not a single image as striking as the shots of Luke in a cave on his remote island, receding into the shadows, or Rey gasping for breath after approaching the darkness within hermaybe because theres little of thematic interest to inspire any. Only Thanos gets a moment to reflect on the death of half the universe, and even then only briefly, because to really dig into the specifics of this massive change would make the ending of Infinity War less of a mic-drop cliffhanger. This ending has been lauded for its daring, but its ultimate goal is to keep audiences on the hook for more Avengers adventures. Advertisement Advertisement Even taking Infinity Wars ending on its own terms does the movie no favors. Confronting the audience with the deaths of beloved characters isnt especially impressive when those characters are beloved mainly because of previous, better movies. Serving up their demises to invested fanboys amounts to a perverse sort of audience flattery: Congratulations, youve collected enough feelings about Black Panther or Spider-Man to access this special prize! The movie might as well be taking place inside of a vast cereal box. Advertisement Granted, at this point its hard to draw a distinction between fans of these all-consuming franchises and general audiences: Is anyone not a Star Wars fan? Is anyone whos not an MCU fan still paying attention? And its hard to blame those audiences for enjoying a funny and fast-paced superhero blowout like Infinity War. Even to a skeptic, Infinity War offers a pleasurable buzz of anticipation about what might happen next and whether it can possibly be equal to its cataclysmic setup. But The Last Jedi requires no such waiting period; its not up to Episode IX to make Johnsons movie worthwhile, any more than it was Johnsons responsibility to pay off every plot thread from The Force Awakens. Jedi ends, in fact, in a way that could easily serve as the capstone for the Star Wars series, even though it has no pretensions of finality. Disgruntled fans threw this achievement back as an insult: After Last Jedi, they were done with Star Wars! What could be worse, after all, than a movie series thats not trying to immediately lure you back? When thinking of Avengers 4 and which character deaths it may undo (no less than some and, hell, possibly as many as all), its hard not to recall internet commenters wishfully theorizing how Episode IX might write Johnsons developments out of existence altogether. (Actually, Rey, I was wrong about your parents being nobodies. Psych!) Infinity War practically invites that fannish tinkering: Its final twist inspires not thoughts of how its heroes will mourn the death of half the universe but how they will undo it. Advertisement Advertisement But as frustrating as Infinity War is, it does have the advantage of bringing the successes of The Last Jedi into even stronger focus, offering reassurance that a talented filmmaker really can make distinctive art out of a franchise crowd pleaser (and The Last Jedi is no more an experimental anti-film than Infinity War is; this is a movie that generously provides the sight of BB-8 driving an AT-ST). Perhaps in its way, The Last Jedi is setting up Avengers 4 too by keeping hope alive that Marvel can pull back from the brink and let its filmmakers experiment, not just with superficial shifts in the status quo but with movies that express a particular point of vieweven if that means risking genuine failure. It looks like the long-snubbed Jake Gyllenhaal is really gunning for his Best Actor Oscar, because he just signed onto The American, a Leonard Bernstein biopic directed by Cary Fukunaga. Fukunaga, known for helming such films as Jane Eyre (2011) and Beasts of No Nation, is set to adapt Humphrey Burtons biography Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein led a complicated personal and professional life, in part due to his closeted sexuality. The film will follow the legendary composer starting in his mid-twenties. Like many people, Leonard Bernstein found his way into my life and heart through West Side Story when I was a kid, Gyllenhaal told Variety. But as I got older and started to learn about the scope of his work, I began to understand the extent of his unparalleled contribution and the debt of gratitude modern American culture owes him. As a man, Bernstein was a fascinating figurefull of genius and contradictionand it will be an incredible honor to tell his story with a talent and friend like Cary. Gyllenhaal will also produce the film. Limping into next weeks West Virginia primary, Republican Senate hopeful and ex-con Don Blankenship is turning to an old political standby: blatant xenophobia. In a new campaign ad that is as grammatically challenged as it is offensive, Blankenship launches an ethno-nationalistic broadside against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, was born in Taiwan before coming to the United States as a child. Swamp captain Mitch McConnell has created millions of jobs for China people, Blankenship says at the outset of the 30-second ad, which was posted online Thursday afternoon and is reportedly set to begin airing on television in the state this Friday. While doing so, Mitch has gotten rich. In fact, his China family has given him tens of millions of dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blankenships obsession with Chao and her father, both of whom are U.S. citizens, is not new. And neither is his word choice. Advertisement In multiple interviews last week, Blankenship referred to Chaos fatherwho was born in Shanghai and is the chairman of a global shipping companyas a wealthy China-person, and suggested that Chao and McConnell cant be trusted to put U.S. interests first because of their connections in China. He then tried to shrug off the ensuing criticism. I mean, Im an American person, he said at a Fox News debate. I dont see this insinuation by the press that theres something racist about saying a China person. Some people are Korean persons and some of em are African persons. Its not any slander there. Advertisement McConnell made it clear that he doesnt want Blankenship to win the Republican nomination even before the coal baron began attacking his family and suggesting the GOP leader is some sort of drug kingpin. McConnell and the rest of the party establishment believe, not irrationally, that the year Blankenship recently spent in prison for his role in a historically devastating explosion at one of his mines makes him unelectable in the state. They fear if he becomes their nominee, he will spoil their chances of defeating Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin this fall in a state Trump won by more than 40 percentage points in 2016. The party had hoped they could ignore Blankenship, but after he emerged as a serious contender this spring, GOP allies launched a well-funded covert attack against him last month. Those efforts appear to paying off, and a low-budget attack on the heritage of McConnells wife is unlikely to reverse the damage. This week cranked up the pressure on Donald Trump on multiple fronts. On Tuesday, the New York Times published a summary of questions Robert Muellers team had previewed to the presidents lawyers, revealing the breadth and depth of the investigation, which had multiple questions about some of Trumps inner circle. During a flurry of interviews on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Rudy Giuliani gave prosecutors several gifts in the areas of potential campaign finance violations and obstruction of justice. And lost in this storm, former Trump aide Michael Caputo, after being interviewed by prosecutors on Wednesday, told the media: Its clear they are still really focused on Russia collusion. They know more about the Trump campaign than anyone who worked there. Advertisement Two things seem increasingly apparent: Muellers team has collected significant evidence, and is getting closer and closer to Trump. Meanwhile, the Southern District of New York will soon be sifting through a mountain of evidence collected from the Michael Cohen raid that seems likely to incriminate the president on other fronts. But as Mueller and SDNY prosecutors get closer to Trump, the pressure will ratchet up on the president in a way that might make him more likely to try to sabotage the investigation with a series of firings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive heard many people ask, What happens to all the evidencethe documents, the interviewsif Trump fires Mueller, et al.? The key to this story might not actually be inside the DOJ. It could be the extent to which the DOJ has been coordinating and sharing information with state prosecutors. Advertisement Trump would have to fire many people to keep this evidence from the light of day. Hed have to start with firing some combination of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and maybe more. Whoever replaced them would in turn have to shut down the SDNY probe and the Mueller investigation. This would likely mean more firings. Keep in mind that Sessions has reportedly declined to recuse himself from the Michael Cohen investigation, and refused in testimony last month to state his recusal status. I have written that the decision by Rosenstein and Mueller to refer the case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York was a calculated risk, indicating that they wanted to spread the investigation to other prosecutors as a hedge in case Trump fired Mueller. In doing so, they appeared to be optimistic that Sessions wouldnt impede this investigation once it was back under his ambit at main DOJ. Advertisement If Sessions wont do this work, then Trump might find someone who will, just as Richard Nixon found Robert Bork to do the work of firing special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Trump has reportedly ordered Muellers firing once or twice already. This process would be messy, but conceivably, Trump would cite the rejected and wrong unitary executive theory as constitutional grounds to demand evidence be buried. Frankly, this case has become an organized crime case. As Ive written before, the way out of this DOJ mess would be state prosecutors. Not only is it permissible for federal prosecutors to share evidence with state prosecutors; it is standard, especially in multi-jurisdiction organized crime cases. And frankly, this case has become an organized crime case. Keep in mind that Mueller was reportedly in close contact with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman last August, around the time there was speculation Trump was planning to fire Mueller. And keep in mind that Schneiderman has filed more than 100 lawsuits against the Trump Organization and so has open investigations into Trumps various alleged frauds. And Schneiderman was already contemplating state prosecutions when he called for an important change in New York criminal procedural law around the issue of double jeopardy to make sure Trumps pardons wouldnt allow him to obstruct justice here, as I encouraged the state of New York to do in a Slate piece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line is that there is ample reason to think Mueller has already shared key evidence with New York prosecutors. The DOJ has a guidance memo authorizing the coordination of prosecution with state officials sharing evidence, including a consideration of the extent to which state and federal governments are part of a team, are participating in a joint investigation, or are sharing resources. The DOJ has other policies for coordinating prosecutions with state officials, known as the Petite Policy, to hand cases to state prosecutors to promote efficient utilization of Department resources, and to promote coordination and cooperation between federal and state prosecutors. The DOJ also has the power to appoint state prosecutors as special assistant U.S. attorneys, who may prosecute cases in federal court. The Intergovernmental Personnel Act authorizes the head of a federal agency to assign federal personnel to states or localities for work that [he or she determines] would be of mutual concern to [both parties]. The DOJ also allows agreements, called memoranda of understanding, or MOUs, between law enforcement agencies, sometimes including state agencies, to cooperate and share information. Advertisement In 2010, federal prosecutors and Rhode Island state officials collaborated on drug crimes under such an arrangement. As the Heritage Foundation has noted, federal, state, and local law enforcement have cooperated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. Considering how Mueller and Rosenstein have known for a long time that they could be fired at any time, they have surely contemplated such a backup plan. One has to imagine that they have created an MOU with state prosecutors and a highly secure document sharing system. The documents in those shared files may hold the fate of this administration. Just how lucky can an endangered incumbent get? Six years after Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskills Republican opponent opined on legitimate rape, her current challenger, state attorney general Josh Hawley, is being forced to contend with a troubling sex scandal involving the states Republican governor. That scandal is threatening to divide the GOP in a state that represents one of the partys best pick-up opportunities this fall. As former Missouri Republican Party chairman John Hancock put it recently to Politico: Im going to start having Claire McCaskill buy my lottery tickets. Or as Ed Martin, who preceded Hancock as leader of the state GOP, told the New York Times: Right now, [Gov. Eric] Greitens is a slow-moving disaster, and one of the people who can pay a priceis it 4 percent? Two percent? I dont knowis Josh Hawley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And that was before the GOP-led legislature on Thursday called a special legislative sessionthe first in the states historyto further investigate possible impeachment charges against Greitens, who has been accused of coercing his hair dresser into preforming oral sex on him in 2015 and then threatening to release a naked photo of her if she told anyone. Greitens, a married father of two, admitted to having an affair with the woman but denies the nonconsensual allegations and is refusing to step down. His accuser has detailed a troubling encounter in which she says Greitens touched her without her consent and coerced her into performing oral sex, allegations a special investigatory committee deemed credible last month. Greitens was also indicted in February on a felony charge of invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a naked picture of the woman without her permission. Advertisement So how does Hawley fit into all this? Democrats claim Hawley was all too happy to ignore reports of Greitens possible campaign violations when they were first reported, and that it was not until public opinion turned against the governor that Hawley announced he would take action. Hawley has joined other top Republicans in calling on Greitens to resign over the allegations of sexual misconduct, but Democrats are still spending big to link the two men in the minds of voters. Meanwhile, Greitens, who has lost the support of most of his party but still has some allies in the state, is seeking a restraining order against Hawley, claiming that he cannot conduct an impartial investigation after calling on him to resign. Advertisement Advertisement If the scandal and ensuing fallout continues through the summer, it could prove to be the difference in a close Senate race. Missouri went for Donald Trump by 19 points two years ago, and the states Republican bent has long made McCaskill one of the Senates most endangered members. Advertisement Nonpartisan handicappers currently see the Missouri race as a toss-up, and a new Morning Consult survey found McCaskill has the worst job-approval ratings (38 percent approve, 45 percent disapprove) of any of the 10 Senate Democrats up for re-election in a state Trump won in 2016. In the same poll, 53 percent of Missourians said it is time for a new person in her seat, compared to just 29 percent who think she deserves a third-term. Advertisement Republicans are hoping that Hawley can do what Rep. Todd Akin couldnt in 2012, when he lost to McCaskill by 16 points after he said that victims of legitimate rape rarely become pregnant. While a sluggish start by Hawley resulted in some GOP jitters earlier this year, Hawley is still seen as a solid candidate, one who has drawn praise from both the Breitbart crowd and Never-Trump types. But McCaskill isnt just lucky in politics, shes also good at them. Facing long odds six years ago, her campaign went up with an ad during the GOP primary calling Akin too conservative, ostensibly an attack on the gaffe-prone candidate but one that was designed to help him win the nomination. The bet paid off: Akin won the primary in early August and made his now infamous remarks before the month was out. McCaskill then coasted to a second term. Did President Donald Trump know in October 2016 about a $130,000 payment to silence a story that threatened his election? Did he deliberately conceal that payment from the Federal Elections Commission? Has Trump now approved a legal strategy to acknowledge the payment in order to buy the silence of his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, in the Russia investigation? These were largely mysteries until Wednesday night, when former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who has joined Trumps legal team, began a crusade to shield Trump from campaign finance charges. In interviews with Sean Hannity, Fox & Friends, the Washington Post, and others, Giuliani claims that Trump didnt know until recently about the payment made to Stephanie Clifford, alias Stormy Daniels, to hush up her allegations of an affair with Trump a decade earlier. Giuliani and Trump also argue that the payment didnt need to be reported to the FEC because it wasnt related to the campaign. Both claims are preposterous. Here are the facts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1. Circumstantial evidence indicates the payment was timed to influence the election. According to documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Cohen created a limited liability company on Oct. 17, 2016, three weeks before the election. Ten days later, on Oct. 27, Cohen used that company to transfer the $130,000 to Clifford. The Journal reports that, according to a person familiar with the matter, with Ms. Cliffords representatives threatening to walk away from the deal, Mr. Cohen said he stopped trying to track down Mr. Trump and used his own funds to wire the payment. Cohen says he took out a home equity line to get the money. That suggests a sense of urgency, if not desperation. What could account for that urgency, other than the election? Advertisement 2. Giuliani confirms that the payment was timed to influence the election. Imagine if that [Cliffords story] came out on Oct. 15, 2016, in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton, Giuliani explained Thursday morning on Fox & Friends. Cohen didnt even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job. 3. The payment was designed in a way that hid its source and purpose. The money paid to Clifford far exceeds what the FEC would allow Cohen to contribute to Trumps re-election. And if its purpose was related to the election, it would have to be reported on FEC forms, even if it came from Trump. It wasnt. Furthermore, Cohen set up the LLC in Delaware, where its easier to conceal the names of people associated with a company. This masked his connection to the transaction. Cohen had to deal with Cliffords lawyer, but the lawyer says Cohen represented that [Cohens] funds were the source of the money. This veiled Trumps role. And in an interview Wednesday night with Sean Hannity, Giuliani said the money was funneled through a law firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4. Giuliani has dropped hints that Trump knew of the payment and its purpose. In a Wednesday night interview with the Washington Post, Giuliani dismissed the transaction as a nuisance payoff, which is the way they always thought of this. They never thought of it as true [N]either one of them saw it as a campaign thing; they thought of it as a personal thing. Who is they? It sounds like Cohen and Trump. Giuliani asked the Post, Was the president really wise to take [the money] out of personal funds rather than from campaign funds? Thank God he did, [or else] hed get a campaign finance violation theyd try to drum up into a felony or something. If the payment were strictly personal, using personal funds would be obvious. By calling it wise, Giuliani signaled that using personal funds was a calculation. Advertisement 5. Cohen tried to contact Trump about the payment. The Journal, citing a person familiar with the matter, previously reported that in October 2016, Cohen said he missed two deadlines earlier that month to make the $130,000 payment to Ms. Clifford because he couldnt reach Mr. Trump in the hectic final days of the presidential campaign. This implies that Cohen knew he needed Trumps approval. (Indeed, the New York bar requires client consent.) Its absurd to suppose that after fronting the money, Cohen would have stopped trying to contact Trump about it. Advertisement 6. Cohens retainer was a sham to launder the payment. Giuliani claims that Cohen used a $35,000 monthly retainer from Trump to cover the payment and that Trump didnt know where the retainer went. On Thursday morning, Trump cited this arrangement to distance himself from the transaction. Cohen 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, the president tweeted. Advertisement Advertisement Trump didnt acknowledge that he knew about the payment to Clifford. But he must have. The retainer fees didnt begin until 2017, says Giuliani. Why would Trump start paying Cohen that money without being given a reason? Giuliani told the Post that Trumps payments to Cohen came from his accountant. Did the accountant not account for where the money went? Giuliani also told Hannity, When I heard of Cohens retainer for $130,000, he was doing no work for the president. I said, Well, thats how hes repaying it. If Giuliani knew that Cohen was doing no work for Trump and that the only remaining explanation for the retainer was to cover the payment to Clifford, its hard to believe Trump didnt know these things too. Advertisement Advertisement 7. Cohen made noise after the election about getting reimbursed. According to the Journal, After Mr. Trumps victory, Mr. Cohen complained to friends that he had yet to be reimbursed for the payment to Ms. Clifford. You dont complain that somebody hasnt yet paid you unless you think he knows that he owes you. 8. The cost to Trump was more than he would have ignored. Giuliani told Hannity that Trump wouldnt bother to ask where his retainer fees to Cohen went, because to Trump, $130,000 is peanuts. But after the show, Giuliani upped his estimate to $250,000 and then $460,000. Its hard to believe that a guy who once cashed a 13-cent check would pay 1 million times that amount without scrutiny. Advertisement 9. Cohen has arranged similar payments before, and in those cases, the clients knew where their money went. Cohen was involved in an August 2016 payment to Karen McDougal, another woman who claimed an affair with Trump. That payment came from the pro-Trump publisher of the National Enquirer, which buried the womans story. Cohen also negotiated a payment from an RNC official as part of a nondisclosure agreement with the officials mistress. These clients understood what they were paying for. Would Cohen not afford the same courtesy to the president of the United States? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10. Trump has changed his story since last months raid on Cohens office. On April 5, a reporter asked Trump: Did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels? No, Trump replied. Another reporter followed up: Do you know where [Cohen] got the money to make that payment? No, I dont know, said Trump. Four days later, the FBI raided Cohens office and seized his records, ostensibly as part of a bank-fraud case. When Giuliani was asked on Wednesday whether the raid made Trump believe that the Clifford story would all come out because the information on the payments was in the files, he didnt directly answer. But Giuliani did say that he and other attorneys for Trump talk to Cohens lawyers. The New York Times reports that Trumps attorneys clarified his reimbursement of Cohen in recent weeks after examining banking records. Advertisement 11. Trump and Giuliani see Cohens legal exposure as a problem in the Russia investigation. Trump decried the April 9 raid on Cohen as part of the Russia witch hunt and suggested he might fire special counsel Robert Mueller. That was odd, since the raid had been authorized by the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, not by Mueller. Cohens only known connection to Mueller was his role as a middleman in Trumps business transactions, and potentially pre-election collusion, with Russians. So the only reason why Trump might worry about Mueller, in the context of the Cohen raid, is that evidence unearthed in the raid might be used to flip Cohen in the Russia investigation. That problem, according to Giuliani, has now been dispatched. If Cohen had paid Clifford himself, Giuliani told the Post, that could get Cohen in trouble for violating campaign finance laws. Thanks to Trumps decision to confirm his reimbursement of the payment, Giuliani explained, Cohens legal jeopardy has been totally negated. The message to Cohen is: Were protecting you. Now protect us. This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy. On Wednesday, the Trump administration transferred longtime detainee Ahmed al-Darbi out of Guantanamo Bay. Although al-Darbi isnt going free, this first transfer of a Guantanamo prisoner under the Trump administration is still a big deal. Detained at Guantanamo since 2002, al-Darbi pleaded guilty in 2014 to military commission charges relating to a 2002 attack on a French oil tanker. In exchange for his promise to provide testimony against other detainees, the government agreed to transfer him to Saudi Arabia by 2018 to finish out his sentence. In 2017, he was sentenced to 13 years of confinement dating back to 2014on top of the 12 years hed already been detained. Advertisement The Trump administrations willingness to follow through on the commitment prosecutors made with al-Darbi signals that it does not want to flagrantly disregard the military commissions own prior agreements. This is consistent with President Trumps January executive order on Guantanamo, which stated: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing in this order shall prevent the Secretary of Defense from transferring any individual away from the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay when appropriate. Al Darbis transfer underscores that the administration is not categorically opposed to transferring detainees out of Guantanamo. There are five detainees still at Guantanamo who were cleared for transfer out of the prison by all relevant U.S. security and intelligence agencies years ago. Toffiq al-Bihani, for example, was cleared to leave in 2010eight years agobut he remains at Guantanamo. Like Darbi, he too wanted to go to Saudi Arabia, where he has family. Unlike Darbi, he wasnt convicted of any crimeand like the vast majority of Guantanamo detainees, has never even been charged with one. Still, hes been imprisoned, cut off from family and friends, and with only intermittent access to lawyers for more than a decade. He was transferred there after being tortured at a CIA black site and has been in U.S. custody without charge or trial for more than 15 years. Advertisement The Trump administration has essentially just conceded that transferring select detainees out of Guantanamo need not endanger U.S. national security. President Trump in January ordered Defense Secretary James Mattis to make recommendations about the disposition of current detainees, or the transfer of new ones to Guantanamo, by April 30. We dont know what Mattis recommended because the administration hasnt made those recommendations public. But Mattis and the administration can at least follow through on the transfers of five men whove never been charged and have been cleared for transfer by the intensive multiagency Guantanamo review process itself. That would be completely consistent with presidents executive order. It would also provide some assurance to U.S. allies that have long criticized Guantanamo that this administration is making an effort to follow through on the United States previous commitments and seeking an end, at least in some cases, to an astonishing 15 years of unlawful indefinite detention. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III made a number of comments in a Friday hearing suggesting that hes sympathetic to Paul Manaforts attorneys argument that bank and tax fraud charges against him fall outside the scope of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia. Ellis, a Ronald Reagan appointee who sits in the Eastern District of Virginia, told prosecutors: You dont really care about Mr. Manaforts bank fraud. You really care about getting information Mr. Manafort can give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution or impeachment.* Ellis further cautioned the special counsels office against seeking unfettered power and said its statements that it is investigating allegations related to the 2016 election amount to lying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis comments, however, do not portend failure for Muellers prosecution of Manafort. For one, Muellers team has also brought money laundering and illegal-lobbying charges against Manafort in a D.C. federal court; while Manafort made similar arguments there about Muellers ostensible lack of authority, the D.C. judge seemed much more skeptical of his reasoning than Ellis did. Moreover, Ellis noted that his remarks did not indicate that the charges against Manafort were illegitimate, suggesting that perhaps they could be handled more appropriately by the local U.S. attorneys office. Yet Ellis apparent objections to the special counsels prosecution are profoundly flawed and unlikely to be upheld on appeal should he rule in Manaforts favor. When Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller to investigate potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, he licensed Mueller to look into any matters that arose or may arise directly from that investigation. Mueller was also licensed to investigate any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump. Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, was clearly an individual associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump and this case obviously delves into links between him and the Russian government. Since that initial appointment order, Rosenstein has also expressly authorized Mueller to investigate any crimes Manafort may have committed arising out of payments he received from the Ukrainian government. One of those alleged crimes was bank fraud, which was necessary to launder moneythe charges at the heart of Muellers prosecution of Manafort in Virginia federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Ellis has now directed Mueller to give him an unredacted copy of the second Rosenstein memothe redacted portions of which presumably wouldnt pertain to the Manafort casetheoretically to confirm that the special counsel is still acting within the scope of his authority in this current case. But the redacted version itself spells out that Mueller is, indeed, following his mandate in this specific case. So why would the judge need the unredacted letter, unless he had other concerns or motivations? His comments accusing Muellers team of lying and openly questioning their intentions indicate a broader displeasure with the special counsel. This behavior is puzzling; there is no rule prohibiting prosecutors from bringing charges against one individual in order to flip another. And there is certainly no bar on prosecutors bringing valid charges against an associate of the president with the ultimate goal of his prosecution or impeachment. Advertisement Advertisement The most likely explanation for Ellis conduct, then, is that he is applying stare Scalia. The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia famously believed that a president had complete control over investigation and prosecution of violations of the law, leading him to condemn special investigations that excluded the chief executive. Yet Scalia expressed this view in dissent, and it is still not the law today. Further, the law governing the special counsel does not place it outside the command of the Justice Department, which is an executive branch agency ultimately controlled by the presidentso any concerns about the special counsels excessive independence are unfounded. Ellis dismay at the Manafort prosecution seems to arise more from a theoretical, Scalia-esque objection to the special counsels wide-ranging investigation than a genuine qualm about its legality. Should he dismiss all or some of the charges, Muellers team will directly appeal his ruling to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where they will very likely win. But Ellis decision could still do political damage, giving Trump a talking point in his ongoing rants against the special counsels witch hunt. It appears that Answers.com is done taking answers. The sites vice president of business operations, Chris Hawkins, sent an email to super-users on Thursday advising them that their logins and user profiles are being deleted and that the website will no longer allow any more edits or user contributions. The site, which hosted user-submitted queries like Is the Earth flat? and How do geckos breed? so that others could respond, will live on as an archive, but question time is over. Advertisement The email attributed the abrupt change to various factors including data privacy, costs of keeping the user profile system functional, efforts required to continuously patrol user-generated content. All the content on Answers.com will still be accessible, according to the notice sent to the sites contributors. As of Thursday night, there did not appear to be an announcement of change anywhere on the site. The company that owns Answers.com, Answers Corp., filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in March and planned to hand ownership over to its creditors, who are owed about $540 million, according to Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the users of Answers.com are no doubt disappointed, this may come as good news for Quora, a similar site that also allows users to ask and answer questions. Like Quora, Answers.com would label users who were more active in answering questions and list their expertise; it did not, as Quora does, require users to sign in to see the answers. Advertisement I contacted Answers.com to ask for more details; Ill update if I hear back. Read the full text of the email to Answers.com contributors: Underdressed or overdressed? Expectations might differ from country to country: here is what to wear for different social occasions in Slovakia. Have you moved to Slovakia and are unsure about dress codes and what to wear for a more or less formal event? The dress code might vary from country to country. Here are some stylists bits of advice on how to navigate the styling conventions in Slovakia. Theatre When heading to the theatre, firstly think if a performance is a premiere, gala night or just ordinary performance. In general, when going to the national theatre pick a more formal outfit; a less formal would be enough in smaller theatres, stylist Adriana Cizikova advises. For opera or ballet in the Slovak National Theatre, the best option for men would be a dark suit and white shirt with either a tie or bow tie. Women have more options again: a cocktail dress, long dress or elegant evening suit, Cizikova said. For other theatres the dress code is less strict. Men wear pants and a shirt; a blazer is optional and a tie is not necessary. Women dress up in elegant pants and a blouse, wear heels or closed toe sandals, Cizikova noted. Men definitely shouldnt wear shorts, sneakers or anything sporty, and women a short dress or skirt, beach dress and shoes, said Cizikova, adding that denim is not appropriate either. 4. May 2018 at 6:30 | Nina Hrabovska Francelova , Erik Redli Slovakia second best European country to raise a family Switzerland came in last place. Slovakia ranks second among European countries as the best to raise a family in, according to the We Are Family Index conducted by Wren Kitchens. The index reveals the best and worst places to raise a family in Europe. Greece tops the table, closely followed by Slovakia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Spain, Hungary, Finland, Germany and Austria. Wren Kitchens conducted research on 25 European countries to discover the best and worst places to raise a family. The We Are Family Index takes into account maternity/paternity leave, cost of living, property prices and cost of childcare. Each of these factors were then analysed and combined to result in an overall ranking. Figures show that Greece, Slovakia and Czech Republic top the chart with affordable property prices, cost of living and childcare fees. Switzerland come in last place overall, with research showing it came out at the bottom of the pile in terms of paternity leave, childcare fees and cost of living. 4. May 2018 at 7:50 | Compiled by Spectator staff 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. Centrica plc operates as an integrated energy company in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, North America, and internationally. The company operates through British Gas, Energy Marketing & Trading, Centrica Business Solutions, Bord GAis Energy, and Upstream segments. It supplies gas and electricity to residential customers, as well as offers energy-related services; and generates power from combined cycle gas turbines and nuclear assets. The company also provides installation, repair, and maintenance services for domestic central heating, plumbing and drains, home electrical, and gas and kitchen appliances; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, as well as offers breakdown services. In addition, it is involved in the procurement, trading, and optimization of energy; procurement and sale of LNG; and supplies energy efficiency solutions and technologies to residential customers. Further, the company produces and processes gas and oil; develops new fields to maintain reserves; constructs, owns, and exploits infrastructure; and engages in the social enterprise investment fund activities. Additionally, it provides vehicle leasing, commercial, and insurance services, as well as energy management products and services; and operates a gas storage and franchise network. The company was formerly known as Yieldtop plc and changed its name to Centrica plc in December 1996. Centrica plc was incorporated in 1995 and is based in Windsor, the United Kingdom. Read More Vedanta Ltd. is a natural resource company, which engages in the exploration, extraction, and processing of minerals, oil, and gas properties. It operates through the following segments: Copper, Aluminum, Iron Ore, Power, and Oil & Gas. The Copper segment focuses in custom smelting and also include a copper smelter, a refinery, a phosphoric acid plant, a sulphuric acid plant, a copper rod plant, and three captive power plants. The Aluminum segment comprises refinery and a captive power plant at Lanjigarh and a smelter, a thermal coal based captive power facility at Jharsuguda both situated in the State of Odisha in India. The Iron Ore segment explores, mines, and processes iron ore, pig iron, and metallurgical coke. The Power segment consists 600 MW thermal coal-based commercial power facility at Jharsuguda in the State of Odisha in Eastern India. The Oil and Gas segment involves in the exploration and development and production of oil and gas. The company was founded by Dwarka Prasad Agarwal on June 25, 1965 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India. Read More A four-day meeting for fablabs, or fabrication laboratories, from multiple Asian countries and territories kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, providing opportunities for the participants to share their knowledge and cooperate to solve problems in the local context. The fourth annual conference, centering on the theme Co-create A Better World, is being attended by nearly 100 people who are amateur inventors, engineers and education experts from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and Jordan. The event, running between May 2 and 5, is intended for fabrication laboratories, which are small-scale workshops for designing products deploying machining, 3D printing and computers. The conferences first main part involved discussions with speakers on invention and creative education, a form of teaching where students are encouraged to solve challenges. In the other section, the participants worked together to design products tailored to local needs. On the first day of discussion, an Indian doctor presented ways to bring fundamental technologies to 100 schools across four states in his homeland, and build laboratories which enable rural Indian students to launch start-ups with technology. The Japanese fablab showed its creative education model, which suggests competitions in creating products of specific requirements between college-student-guided young learners. During the course of the conference, domestic and international inventors are teaming up to handle several everyday problems in Vietnam with solutions that facilitate sustainable growth. The ideas will be presented to a group of start-ups on the last day of the event. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Though only four months into 2018, Vietnams civil aviation sector is already struggling to recover from a nosedive following a series of scandals which included an aircraft landing on an unfinished runway and a mental patient managing to board an aircraft without a ticket. From January to April, domestic airlines hijacked the medias attention with incidents both on the ground and in the air, forcing travelers to rethink flying due to serious safety and security concerns. Domestic airlines first hit a rough patch in January when a female passenger on the no-fly list successfully boarded a plane to Russia, bypassing a stringent five-stage security protocol for international flights at airports in both countries. The following month, on February 20, a foreigner with a ticket to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Myanmar wound up boarding a Singapore-bound aircraft. Fortunately, he managed to find the correct plane before departure. Capping off April was an incident involving a Vietnam Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang landing on an unfinished runway. The foreign man who boarded the incorrect flight to Singapore instead of Myanmar answers questions before leaving the aircraft. Photo: Tuoi Tre More serious incidents March was a particularly turbulent month for the industry, with three separate security breaches at the country's airports and associated offices. The first incident occurred on March 3 at Vinh Airport in north-central Vietnam when a mental patient managed to climb the airports perimeter fence in just 11 seconds, making his way through security, and boarding a Vietnam Airlines flight. A few days later, at Dien Bien Phu Airport in the northern province of Dien Bien, authorities apprehended two trespassers, one of whom was under the influence of illegal drugs, who had snuck onto the airports grounds. On March 20, a Swedish man ran into the office of the Southern Air Traffic Management Company in Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Binh District at around 2:00 am, causing a disturbance and shocking staff. Authorities eventually removed the man from the scene. In early April, a dog was able to freely make its way to a drainage ditch near a runway at Cat Bi International Airport in the northern city of Hai Phong. Though an unusual situation, airport staff were able to remove the dog and reported no harm or threat to flight safety. A security booth was added to Vinh International Airport after a trespasser snuck onto the grounds. Photo: Tuoi Tre On April 11, a Saigon-bound Vietjet aircraft from Da Nang had its both engines fail shortly after departure at a height of approximately 1,200 meters. The captain was able to return the plane to Da Nang International airport, landing safely just 39 minutes after takeoff with no harm to the 213 passengers on board. The most recent scandal to rock the industry involved Vietnam Airlines flight VN-7344 from Ho Chi Minh City to Cam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa Province. At 2:00 pm on April 29, the pilot attempted to land the plane on an under-construction runway. The airline promptly issued an apology to the passengers and assured them that the flight's captain and first officer would be held accountable. Both of Aprils incidents are still under investigation by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines flight VN-7344 lands on the unfinished runway. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade has shown support for a proposal by a local fuel wholesaler to replace the consumer favorite A95 gasoline with the ethanol-mixed E5RON95, in a bid to boost consumption for the unwelcome biofuel. The Vietnamese government mandated the sale of the ethanol-based E5 fuel in lieu of A92 petrol, the countrys most popular fuel, from the beginning of this year, but the biofuel has been received with little more than a halfhearted embrace by local consumers and retailers. For A92 and A95 petrol, the numbers represent the octane rating, which indicates the antiknock properties of a fuel. E5RON92 and E5RON95 are blended from five percent of ethanol and 95 percent of A92 or A95 gasoline, respectively. As of Friday, A95 petrol sells at VND20,700 (US$0.91) a liter, and E5, VND18,930 ($0.83) a liter. In Ho Chi Minh City, most filling stations dedicate a majority of their pumps to selling A95, despite the price disparity. A consumer refills her scooter at a gas station in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre The sale of E5 has not reached the expected level due to the mixed reception of local consumers, Tran Ngoc Nam, deputy director of Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), was quoted by the Ministry of Industry and Trades portal as saying. With most consumers willing to pay higher to refill their vehicles with A95 petrol, Tran Minh Ha, deputy general director of local fuel wholesaler Saigon Petro, has proposed ceasing the sale of this popular product, leaving only two choices for customers, E5RON92 or E5RON95. Speaking at a meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ha also suggested making E5 price much cheaper than A95 to attract consumers, particularly taxi drivers. The idea was supported by the ministry and many other businesses attending the meeting, according to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai. Hai underlined that the proposal was merely a suggestion by a fuel firm, and no official plan or roadmap has been developed yet to realize it. Agreement and opposition Supporters of E5 petrol say that only biofuel should be allowed for sale and consumption in Vietnam to protect the environment. Phan Thi Viet Thu, deputy chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Consumer Protection, said that the government has the rights to do anything to protect the environment without affecting the interests of local citizens. Thu showed her support for the idea of making biofuel the only available petrol in Vietnam, adding that this does not necessarily mean people will be stripped of the right to choose what fuel to use. One should not be supported if their choice of fuel can affect the environment, the community, and the society, she explained. An E5RON92 gasoline pump is seen at a gas station in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre Echoing Thus view, Duong Van Phi, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City branch of Petrolimex, said that many countries in the world have even circulated E10RON95 gasoline, or RON95 petrol blended with ten percent of ethanol, so it is normal for Vietnam to encourage the use of E5RON95. However, many consumers interviewed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said they do not want to stop using A95 petrol. Nguyen Tien Thoa, former director of the price management department under the Ministry of Finance, also believed that it is impossible to completely kill off A95 gasoline in Vietnam. Thoa explained that Vietnam may fail to ensure supply for E5 gasoline if it becomes the solely available petrol, considering that there is currently only one domestic supplier of ethanol. The government also needs to spend more efforts to improve consumers reception over biofuel, as well as making its price more attractive, he added. A high school student in the north-central province of Nghe An may not be able to attend an international science competition in the United States, though selected by the Vietnamese education ministry, after having his visa application rejected twice. Mai Nhat Anh, a 12th-grade student at Phan Boi Chau High School, was chosen by the Ministry of Education and Training to participate in the 2018 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in Pennsylvania, U.S. from May 13 to 19. Anh and his classmate, Phung Van Long, were supposed to attend the event together to present their project which won first prize in a national contest in late March. Their invention is among Vietnams eight entries to the competition. So far, however, only Long has been granted approval for a visa while Anhs application has been rejected twice, on April 16 and May 2, by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam. The interviews lasted only about two minutes. I answered all the questions very clearly. It was quite shocking that my application got rejected, Anh recalled. According to Mai Van Quyen, Anh and Longs teacher, the two students have been making careful preparations for their participation in the Intel ISEF. The education ministry has already signed up the project and the two young inventors for the event. Mai Nhat Anh (R) and Phung Van Long (L) discuss their project with their teacher, Mai Van Quyen. Photo: Tuoi Tre If only one of them makes it to the competition, the project could be disqualified, Quyen elaborated. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, an official from the Ministry of Education and Training, stated that the agency had sent a document to the U.S. Embassy to ask for their support in the visa issuance for the Vietnamese participants in the global contest. Regarding Anhs case, the ministry will help him reapply for the visa so that he might still have the opportunity to participate in the event, Thanh stated. Turning salt water into fresh water Anh and Long invented a machine that can convert seawater into fresh water via distillation. It took them about seven months to complete the project. The machine weighs about 70 kilograms and is able to produce a considerable amount of fresh water. It can be used on long-haul fishing boats or at houses in coastal localities. In good weather conditions, the device can run entirely on solar power and is able to supply seven liters of fresh water a day. It works best in hot and sunny weather, Anh explained. Seawater is an unlimited resource, while solar power is clean energy, thus our machine is completely eco-friendly, Long said. Anh (R) and Long test their machine at a local beach. Photo: Mai Nhat Anh Anh and Long expect that their machine could be valued at VND10 million (US$440) if put into mass production. The Intel ISEF, a program sponsored by the Society for Science & the Public, is the worlds largest pre-college science competition. Each year, approximately 1,800 high school students from more than 75 countries, regions, and territories are awarded the opportunity to showcase their independent research and compete for on average $4 million in prizes. This is not the first time that a Vietnamese student has his visa application rejected despite being selected by the education ministry to attend the Intel ISEF. In 2017, Pham Huy, an eleventh-grader in the central province of Quang Tri, was also rejected twice by the U.S. Embassy. After an article about Huys case was published in Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the boy received a phone call from the U.S. Embassy offering him a third interview to reconsider his visa application. Huy was granted the document just in time for his flight booked for the same day. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today, May 4 Politics -- Vietnam needs to boost reforming policies and regulations to keep up with the development pace of the global economy, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a governments monthly meeting on Thursday. -- Seasoned diplomat Vo Van Sung, first Vietnamese ambassador to France in 1976 , passed away at the age of 90 on Thursday. Society -- Around 1,800 trees and 500 bags of soil have been transferred to Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea, as part of the annual Green Truong Sa tree-planting program. -- More than 440 people died in 442 labor accidents in Ho Chi Minh City in the past five years, the citys labor union announced on Thursday. -- Pressure from work and traffic are two of the reasons that have made urban citizens more stressful than ever, putting them at risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, Dang Van Phuoc, vice chairman of Vietnam Heart Association, said at a Thursday event. -- Numerous women have called on the others not to use pangolin scales for treatment when they have their milk clogged while breastfeeding, after rumors about the animals effect have spread over the Internet. Business -- Vietjet's revenue in the first quarter of this year stood at VND12,560 billion ($552 million), an increase of 146 percent year on year, according to the low-cost carrier's consolidated financial statement released on Thursday. -- Vietnams rice exports in the first four months of 2018 were forecast to have risen by 22.3 percent from a year earlier to 2.17 million metric tons, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing the governments General Statistics Office. -- Starting from mid-June, the southern city of Can Tho will organize a weekly green market on Saturday to sell food hygiene-ensured agricultural products, making it a local tourist attraction and a clean agricultural supply chain for the city. Lifestyle -- An art space simulated the model of a European village is opening today and will last for three days at Ly Thai To statue Square Hoan Kiem Lake area within the framework of the 2018 European Days in Hanoi. HANOI - A senior official at a Vietnamese police department in charge of high-tech crimes was found dead in his office on Friday, state media reported. Police are investigating the death of colonel Vo Tuan Dung, deputy director of the department. Dung was the deputy head of the department, whose former head, Nguyen Thanh Hoa, was arrested in March on suspicion of involvement in an illegal online gambling ring. Authorities in April also arrested Lieutenant General Phan Van Vinh, the former chief of the General Department of Police, whom police said was suspected of involvement in the ring. The two former officers have yet to face trial. They have made no public statements. Officials and state media in the Southeast Asian country often denounce gambling as a social evil but it is widespread. Police shut down dozens of gambling rings annually. Last year, Vietnam said it would allow some citizens to gamble at selected casinos, in a move aimed at boosting domestic tourism and raising state revenue. Vietnamese citizens aged 21 years and over with a regular monthly income of at least 10 million dong ($440) will be allowed to enter casinos for a trial period of three years, according to a government decree. The arrests of the police officials come amid a corruption crackdown in Vietnam that has seen several senior government officials and executives of state-owned enterprises arrested and jailed. Officers in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong haveinitiated legal proceedings against five members of a large-scale illegal logging operation, who were arrested and detained last week. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Pham Thanh Binh, chief of staff of the provincial Department of Police, confirmed on Thursday that the agency had initiated legal proceedings against the five apprehended suspects, including 50-year-old Phan Huu Phuong, a.k.a Mustache Phuong, the rings top-dog. The other four accomplices included Nguyen Hoang Trang, 36, Ho Trong Dung, 53, Tran Luu Lan, 48, and Duong Quoc Bao, 28. According to Sen. Lt. Col. Binh, the suspects were charged with violating regulations on the exploitation, protection, and management of forest products under Article 232 of the Penal Code. The investigation was approved by the provincial Peoples Procuracy, the police official added. According to the case file, police and border guard officers in Dak Nong caught Lan and Dung red-handed as they were transporting 40.2 cubic meters of wood on two trucks at around 3:40 am on April 27. Illegally harvested timber stored by the illegal logging ring. Photo: Tuoi Tre The two failed to present legitimate documents specifying the origin of the timber and later admitted they had taken the wood from the Yok Don National Park on the border of Dak Nong and Dak Lak Provinces. The wood was being taken to a workshop operated by Long Vu Company in Cu Jut District, Dak Nong, which specializes in the production of wooden products. Mustache Phuong is the owner of the business. Investigators searched five locations where the illicit ring stored their timber, confiscating a total of nearly 210 cubic meters of wood, multiple trucks, cars, tractors, and chainsaws. An investigation is ongoing. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Producers have welcomed an announcement by the government today designed to lure more Film & TV projects to Australia. The $140 million Location Incentive will be delivered over four years from 2019-20 and will create more than 3000 jobs, bringing in over $260 million in new foreign investment. It will effectively provide an increase to the Location Offset rate from 16.5 per cent to 30 per cent for eligible large budget international productions that film in Australia from July. Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner said, I welcome todays announcement. SPA has long argued that greater certainty and support should be afforded to international production in Australia. These international productions offer great opportunities for enhancing the industrys reputation and capability. At least 10 per cent of our workforce is employed on these productions and rely on a robust, solid and successful local industry that has been built up over decades. I now look forward to working with the Government to further its reforms to grow local industry capacity, capability and trade opportunities so we can employ more Australians and make great Australian stories for Australian and international audiences. This represents a positive policy change ensuring that Australia continues to attract high quality, large budget feature films which will grow our talent and creative industries. It will also promote Australia as a dynamic, innovative economy and tourist destination, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said. This funding is all about supporting local jobs. It will ensure our film industry remains vibrant and competitive, and gives us the opportunity to showcase our talent both on screen and behind the scenes to the rest of the world, Communications & Arts Minister Mitch Fifield said. This new funding means more international films will be made here in Australia, and particularly in Queensland, which means more local jobs, Minister Ciobo said. The major studios have told us they want to make movies here. This funding makes Australia more competitive and will help secure more major productions that will create and support local jobs. On 60 Minutes this weekend the rise in alcohol consumption amongst women in Australia, plus the search to solve a 1975 cold case. Driven to Drink In November last year Susan Lung was found by police passed out in her parked car on a busy Sydney street. It was just after midday and the 42-year-old mother of two was breathalysed. She was so drunk she could have died. But whats remarkable is that her story isnt rare. Research shows the consumption of alcohol by women is increasing to dangerous levels, with almost a quarter of Australian women aged between 35 and 59 drinking excessively. As Allison Langdon reports, its a national health crisis that has police particularly worried. However, in Susan Lungs case theres an added complication. Despite being a staggering nine times over the legal alcohol limit, she didnt lose her licence because police couldnt prove she had driven her car while she was drunk. Perhaps the most pressing question is what drives women like Susan to drink so much in the first place? Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: Stefanie Sgroi, Alice Dalley Digging for Answers Youre unlikely to meet anyone as single-mindedly determined as Daryl Floyd. But its a resolve that comes from heartbreak. He needs to know what happened to his big brother Terry. In 1975, the cheeky 12-year-old boy was abducted in country Victoria. Detectives are convinced he was murdered, but his body has never been found and the case remains unsolved. Daryl believes his brother was dumped in a disused mine shaft, so he spends almost every weekend underground digging for clues. But he also thinks he knows who is responsible for killing Terry, and he has decided the time has come to confront the man. Reporter: Tom Steinfort Producers: Grace Tobin, Sean Power 8:40pm Sunday on Nine. SBS VICELAND screens a 2017 documentary Rupert Everett: 50 Shades of Gay in which the actor and writer meets LGBT Brits who have lived through an era of remarkable change. This has been available On Demand since September but is a broadcast premiere. 2017 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the legalisation of homosexuality in the UK (the 1967 Sexual Offences Act was given royal assent on 27th July of that year) a great leap forward for tolerance and equality. But while the country basks in self-congratulation, one gay man Rupert Everett wants to ask some uncomfortable questions about what was lost, as well as gained, when gay men and women could finally step out from the closet. In this documentary, Rupert is going to meet a cast of LGBT men and women to chart some of the changes that have taken place in gay life and gay culture over the last fifty years. From the men in their eighties who frequented the underground gay clubs of Soho and cottaged with palace guards, to young transgender people coming out as the only trans in the village in rural Britain, the cast will exemplify something about the gay experience in the different eras of LGBT visibility, from gay bashing to the AIDS crisis to the first gaybies. Tuesday, 8 May at 10.20pm on SBS VICELAND Former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Adam Giles is getting his own Sunday night discussion program, The Adam Giles Show, on SKY News. Giles was Chief Minister in NT from March 2013 to August 2016 and is a former leader of the Country Liberal Party. Broadcasting Live from the SKY News Melbourne studio each week, he will be joined by regional community leaders and politicians. I am really excited to be joining the SKY News team. The new program is a great opportunity to give community leaders across different regions of Australia the chance to share their view on issues affecting them and their communities. Joining me for the premiere of The Adam Giles Show this week is Matt Cunningham, Northern Australia Correspondent and Darwin Bureau Chief at SKY News, Perth journalist, Jane Marwick and Federal MP for Wright, Scott Buchholz, all bringing a fresh perspective and commentary on the headlines that matter most. Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO Australian News Channel said: Its a great pleasure to welcome Adam Giles to SKY News and to our outstanding new Sunday night line-up, to bring viewers a robust discussion and focus on the news and events taking place across regional Australia. 6pm Sundays at 6:00pm AEST from May 6. CBS Corporation chief executive Leslie Moonves has told investors in New York the company will launch its All Access streaming service in Australia by the end of the year. CBS is seeking 8 million subscribers globally to its platforms, including Showtime, by 2020. By years end, we plan to bring All Access to Australia using our acquisition of Network TEN as a gateway to launch in that market, he said. After that, well add more and more markets every year, leading to tremendous upside to our overall direct-to-consumer strategy. And importantly, these international subs are incremental to our 2020 target that I just mentioned. Its not yet clear what titles would be immediately available on All Access in Australia Showtime content, owned by CBS, is currently tied up in a long-term deal with Stan (although some may become available after an exclusivity period expires). Titles commissioned specifically for CBS All Access are also tied up elsewhere including Star Trek: Discovery (Netflix) and The Good Fight (SBS) and unlikely to move. Upcoming titles Strange Angel, Tell Me a Story and The Twilight Zone however may be available. Source: Australian Financial Review Former PM Kevin Rudd has reportedly dropped legal action against the ABC after managing director Michelle Guthrie wrote a grovelling apology amid a growing number of editorial mistakes. Fairfax reports Guthrie unreservedly apologised to Rudd over a 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, but Rudd was cleared by a Royal Commission. ABCs story implied the former PM ignored critical safety concerns when a source document actually referred to financial risks associated with the scheme. It quickly rewrote the story saying 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. The newspaper reveals Guthrie wrote to Rudd in late April asking that he accept her apology, conceding published stories hadnt received the editorial scrutiny they needed. This week the Australian Communications and Media Authority this week ruled that a report on former PM Tony Abbott breached the ABCs code for impartiality. Well, this might sound like a broken record, but after nine years, Drake and Rihanna are still in the news. The year was 2009 when the Carribean Queen and 6th God first met. As reported, their meeting was unexpected. Nobody thought at that time that they will have an instant connection, but it did end up in fireworks. Both were scrutinised by the media when multiple photos of them doing couples things crowded the internet. RiRi was interviewed first about the real score between her and the Canadian Rapper. However, she diffused those rumours and stated numerous times that they are just friends. On the other hand, Drake was more vocal about their status. During an interview with XXL radio, he answered 20 questions and all of his answers are somehow linked to RiRi. Drake's love is beyond the lyrics In 2010, Drake dropped one of his top-selling albums Thank Me Later which includes the song Fireworks. The lyrics are all about their first meeting in a Lucky Strike bowling alley. At that time, he was confused on whether or not he will go all in with Riri. After a few months, she also released a new song titled Whats My Name in which Drake was featured. The Music video has some scenes that normal friends dont do in real life which again raises the question about their relationship. After a couple of years, they are still going at it with no label on their rumoured relationship. Theyve already collaborated in countless songs and performances and still no validation about their personal brand. Then suddenly, their relationship turned dark when Drake released No Lies which is a direct link to Rihanna. It is still unclear why Drake did it, but according to some insiders, he knew something about her that didnt live up to his expectation. Breezy vs 6th God Who could forget that splat he had with RiRis ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. He stated that the brawl happened because of her. Multiple arrests and damages were reported. Chris Brown shared a picture on his social media about the result of the bar fight. Drake answered with a track which is directly attributed to Brown. Although he didnt admit it the first time, he finally did when the issue went from bad to worse. Fast forward to 2014 at OVO festivals in Toronto, the 6th God performed with the Riris picture as the devil with a flaming 6-6-6 symbol. Two years later, they were spotted in Los Angeles shooting a new music video. The song was called Work. The lyrics were explicit and when they performed it live during the BRITs, it was labelled racy. This was the same year when Drake opened up about his feelings for Rihanna in the MTV VMAs night. No love After a few months, the couple split and Drake were seen with another Rnb Superstar in the name of Jennifer Lopez. Their relationship didnt last long and Drake penned another song serenading the Carribean Queen. Today, Rihanna made it clear that she is neither friend nor enemy with Drake. "We don't have a friendship now, but we're not enemies either... It is what it is," she says in an interview for Vogues June issue which was published online yesterday. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister of Iran, has posted a new video on YouTube in which he says that US President Donald Trumps recent threats to pull America out of a wide-ranging nuclear arms deal that has been signed across the world just to spite Iran is akin to bullying. He also said that the nation would not even consider renegotiat[ing] or [add]ing onto the deal as it currently stands if America does withdraw. The foreign minister essentially outlined that if Trump does decide to cut America out of the nuclear deal, even despite the UN begging him not to, then Iran will also leave no ifs, ands, or buts. They will refuse to return to the deal at all, no matter how much they change it and no matter how much officials from France, Italy, Germany, and the UK are currently desperately trying to get them to change their minds. Zarif claims that Trump is wrong about Iran Trump has been claiming that Iran has been flaking on the deal ever since it was signed, but Zarif who got his education in America begs to differ. He says that on eleven different times since the deal was put into motion, the UN came snooping around to make sure everything was up to snuff, and every time, they decided that Iran has implemented all of its obligations under the rule of the nuclear deal. The UN Security Council are going into a tizzy as US President Donald Trump is threatening to lose the nuclear arms deal between the United States and Iran that was signed by his predecessor Barack Obama. The current President has frequently criticised this deal, calling it, at different times, a horrible deal, a deal that should have never been negotiated, and the worst deal that has ever been made in the history of deals. So, it comes as no surprise that hes considering scrapping the deal as a crucial deadline approaches. A lot of officials within the UN specifically Secretary General Antonio Guterres are unhappy with this. Guterres believes that without this deal, Iran and the whole region surrounding it could suddenly become a lot more hostile and dangerous, and in an organisation thats dedicated to keeping the world and its countries as peaceful as possible and preventing it from descending into total chaos, nobody wants that to happen. Guterres would only be happy with Trump ditching the deal if he had something even better in mind to replace it with in the immediate aftermath and lo and behold, he does not. The Iran deal was a landmark event for international peace The initial deal that Obama struck with Iran that all of this fuss is about was actually seen as a monumental moment in the relations between America and Iran. The two nations shook hands and moved closer towards peace. This deal was a small, yet vital move in the efforts towards defusing all of the tension and conflict in the Middle East. Guterres called it an important diplomatic victory, and said that keeping it in place would set the stage for meaningful dialogue with Iran. In fact, it seems that a lot of people were happy with the deal. One of its few critics was Donald Trump, and luckily enough, he was the next guy to take up the Oval Office after Obama left. There are a bunch of nations involved in these accords. Its not just between America and Iran. So, even if they both cut and run, the EU are going to try and stick in the deal, as are others like Russia and China (two countries that have notoriously enjoyed to play by their own rules throughout history). In a desperate attempt to get Iran to consider staying in the deal even if Trump decides against it, France and Germany and the UK and Italy have all sent officials to meet with their Iranian friends, but the Iranians werent having any of it. Trumps comments seem to have really screwed this up. Iran are just focusing on him and what he says, and hes driven them away. If America leaves, Iran leaves Essentially, if America cuts out this deal, then Iran will cut it out, too. Its all on Trump to make this decision, so how worried you should be really all rests on how much you trust his judgement. A senior assistant to the Iranian leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said that the countrys leadership has decided that if Trump does put the kibosh on the nuclear deal, then Iran will not stay in the deal. As soon as America is gone from this deal, Iran is gone from the deal, too. And they wont be accepting any pleas or bargains or apologies. If thats it, thats it, theyre saying. Plus, Iran has promised that if Americas out, theyre out for good. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister (so, like, their Boris Johnson), has threatened that if the deal gets scrapped by Trump and then Iran follows suit in scrapping it as a kind of payback response, then there will be no chance of renegotiating the deal. Once its kaput, its kaput for good. If Americas done with it, then Iran is done with it. That will be that. He also pledged that they will not outsource [their] security, so theres that to look forward to. By Susan Taylor TORONTO, May 4 (Reuters) - Aluminum producer Alcoa Corp said on Friday that management at its Quebec smelter have notified the provincial labor ministry they are ready to resume mediated contract talks with the United Steelworkers union. The smelter, which produces some 430,000 metric tonnes of aluminum annually, has been operating at reduced capacity by non-union workers since Jan. 11, when 1,030 unionized workers were locked out after their contract expired. Aluminum markets, roiled for weeks by U.S. sanctions on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and the massive Rusal (HKSE: 0486-OL.HK - news) aluminum producer he controls, calmed with the extension of a sanctions deadline to Oct (Shenzhen: 000069.SZ - news) . 23. Prices, which hit a seven-year high of $2,718 per tonne on April 19, were down at $2,350 a tonne Friday. The United Steelworkers welcome a return to contract talks, a spokeswoman said. Union workers rejected the company's final contract offer because it included a new, member-funded pension plan for all workers and concessions on seniority rights, the Steelworkers said. Quebec appointed lawyer and former politician Lucien Bouchard as special mediator to the talks on April 23, saying it was very concerned about the dispute's economic impact. Bouchard and another mediator, appointed in November, will set dates for future negotiations. Alcoa (TLO: AA.TI - news) , which holds its annual meeting May 9, owns 74.95 percent of the Becancour, Quebec smelter and Rio Tinto (Hanover: CRA1.HA - news) holds the remainder. (Reporting by Susan Taylor Editing by Susan Thomas) Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel speaking in the European Parliament today (Reuters) The Prime Minister of Belgium has said he hopes the UK government will water down its Brexit red lines to safeguard trade and solve the Irish border issue. Charles Michel made the call after delivering a speech to the European Parliament in which he predicted his country would be one of the hardest hit by Brexit. The liberal politician told MEPs that leaving the EU would bring consequences and difficulties for the UK but expressed his desire to keep close ties over trade and security. Asked afterwards by Yahoo UK what kind of post-Brexit relationship he wanted to see, Mr Michel warned the UKs red lines in negotiations would place difficulties in the way of trade. There are many people in the UK who are concerned about these red lines because if they were to be applied in the negotiations that would mean the only option would be a standard free trade agreement such as the one we have with Canada and other countries in the world. Theres another point beyond that and thats the relationship with Ireland and the Irish border. And, referring specifically to the customs union, he added: Weve followed with interest and with concern the development of the UK position on this. I think that Brexit wasnt to the advantage of either the UK or the European Union and I hope the negotiations will be based on a little bit more on common sense and that the [position on the] customs union, which is a British red line at the moment, might be watered down. His comments come as Theresa May faces competing demands over post-Brexit trade. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel delivering a speech to MEPs today (Reuters) Both MPs and peers voted last week to keep the UK in a customs union. But the Prime Minister yesterday came under pressure from pro-Brexit backbenchers in her own party to abandon her plans for a customs partnership with the EU, which would see the UK collect customs duties on behalf of the EU. That is one of two plans Mrs May has put to the EU in a bid to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland while allowing the UK to remain outside the customs union and strike its own free trade deals. Story continues The other, which has been described as a cyber border, depends on technology and a trusted trader scheme allowing companies to pay duties monthly rather than each time their goods cross the border. Both plans have also been rejected as unworkable by EU negotiators. Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan said last week the UK has been sent back to the drawing board. But the Prime Ministers spokesman insisted today that: Both of the options that we have put forward are serious propositions we are taking time to get them right. He added: We are absolutely confident we can agree a solution that works for all the parties involved. The EU wants to agree a solution on the Irish border issue by June but accepts talks may continue until the European Council summit in October the deadline for the whole Brexit deal to be signed off. EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said there is still a real risk talks could collapse and trigger a cliff edge Brexit. MORE: May urged to rethink red lines to save Brexit deal FILE PHOTO: CEO of National Bank of Greece Leonidas Fragiadakis poses for a picture in his office before an interview with Reuters at the bank's headquarters in Athens, Greece July 3, 2017. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo ATHENS (Reuters) - The chief executive of Greece's National Bank (NBG) Leonidas Fragiadakis resigned on Friday after completing his three-year term in the post, the bank said. Greece's second-largest lender by assets said in a filing to the Athens bourse that the end of Fragiadakis' term coincided with the completion of the main part of the restructuring plan he has overseen. With the bank now planning to redesign its business strategy, Fragiadakis decided to step down, it said, adding it would now start looking for a successor. NBG said deputy Chief Executive Paul Mylonas would act as CEO until a shareholders meeting approved a new board. It did not say when that meeting would take place. NBG said last week it would press on with plans to sell its wholly-owned insurance subsidiary Ethniki Insurance, after a deal to sell 75 percent of the business turned sour earlier this year. NBG put the insurance unit up for sale as part of a restructuring plan approved by the European Union to exit non-banking operations. The European Central Bank is due to issue the results of stress tests - a financial check up - of Greece's four systemic banks on Saturday, which includes NBG. (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos and Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Jane Merriman and Mark Potter) Rescued endangered radiated tortoise are seen feeding in Ifaty, Madagascar April 27, 2018. Susie Bartlett/The Wildlife Conservation Society/Handout via Reuters Thomson Reuters By Lovasoa Rabary ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Nearly 11,000 endangered tortoises, found dehydrated and hungry in a house in Madagascar, are being coaxed back to health by a team of U.S. veterinarians. The radiated tortoises - prized by dealers for their beautiful shells - were so dry that some of them had to be soaked in water for weeks, said Susie Bartlett, from the Wildlife Conservation Society, based in New York's Bronx Zoo. Others had to be injected with rehydration fluids and in some cases antibiotics and painkillers, she added. Police found them in a house on the island last month, arrested three people and called in the experts. Bartlett and colleagues spent days working in 100 Fahrenheit heat at a care facility in one of the tortoises natural habitats - the spiny forests on the island's southwestern coast. "We got poked and scratched by spiny branches when crawling through to access the animals," said Bartlett. Some have died but thousands of others are getting better. It is unlikely they will be released back into the wild anytime soon because they could be recaptured by poachers. They are prized as delicacies in some parts of Asia, and as pets in other areas, Bartlett added. (Writing by Maggie Fick; Edited by Andrew Heavens) See Also: Professor David Goodall left Australia on Wednesday to travel to Switzerland, where he wishes to end his life. Goodall turned 104 in April but, even as he blew the candles off the cakecheesecake, his favoritehe was in no mood for celebration. "I really regret having reached that age" Goodall told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). "I'm not happy. I want to die." Goodall is now been granted his wish thanks to the fundraising efforts of Exit International, an international nonprofit organization advocating for the legalization of euthanasia, of which the scientist has been a long-term member. The Australian state of Victoria voted last year to legalize voluntary assisted death from 2019, but the practice remains illegal in Goodall's home state of Western Australia. Trending: Judge Will Allow Photos of Golden State Killer Suspect's Genitals As Part of Investigation Exit International's founder Dr. Philip Nitschkewho recently made headlines presenting a 3-D-printed euthanasia device at a funeral fair in the Netherlandsset up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help Goodall travel to Switzerland, where he has an appointment with the Life Circle association, in the company of another euthanasia advocate, his longtime friend Carol O'Neill. The crowdfunder exceeded its target, with more than 20,000 Australian dollars ($15,000) pledged by 364 people in the past 11 days. "Goodall is a life-long economy-class flier. To do otherwise offends his egalitarian sensibility," Nitschke wrote in the crowdfunding page, adding he convinced Goodall to upgrade because he "doesn't want the stress of the flight to kill him." Don't miss: Overwatch May 3 Patch Notes: Rialto, Hanzo Rework and More Goodall was born in the U.K. in 1914, and he moved to Australia in 1948 to teach at the University of Melbourne after achieving his Ph.D. His academic career spanned three continents before he retired in 1979, although he continued working, editing a 30-volume series of "Ecosystems of the World" and traveling by gyrocopter to the visit an eco-sustained cattle station as recently as last year. Story continues Goodall, who received an Order of Australia in January 2016 for his scientific contributions in the field of plant ecology and natural resources management, fought passionately for his autonomy and right to keep working in the country where he's known as the oldest working scientist. When, in 2016, Edith Cowan Universitywhere he worked as an honorary research associate for the past 20 yearstook away his office citing concerns about the professor's safety and his 90-minute commute, Goodall brought his story to the Australia media attention and persuaded the university to provide him with an office in a campus closer to his home. Most popular: Giuliani on Hannity Contradicted Trump and Cohen, the Former Mayor Has a History of Shocking Statements 05_David_Goodall Australian Broadcasting Corporation/via Reuters Goodall's situation changed drastically when he suffered a fall in his apartment earlier this year and was found on the floor by his cleaner two days later. After he was taken to the hospital, the doctors treating him said he wasn't allowed to take public transportation. "It upset me greatly being restricted in that way, being constrained," he complained in his interview to ABC, complaining about his reduced mobility and autonomy. "There's certainly a lack of respect, there's no respect at all," he added. His daughter, clinical psychologist Karen Goodall-Smith, said she understood how her father's situation impacted on his dignity and respected her father's choice. Goodall's family accompanied him to Perth Airport ahead of his final journey. He is expected to travel to France to visit other relatives before heading to Switzerland, where he plans to end his life on May 10, according to The Local. While euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Colombia, the term is avoided in Germany and Switzerland due to its relation to Nazi-era eugenist policies. Swiss law prohibits doctors from administering the lethal drugs, but allows people to take such medications for "non-selfish" reasons and hosts centers dedicated to assisting foreigners with ending their lives. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Armenian opposition supporters shout slogans after protest movement leader Nikol Pashinyan announced a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience, at Republic Square in Yerevan Armenian opposition supporters shout slogans after protest movement leader Nikol Pashinyan announced a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience, at Republic Square in Yerevan, May 2, 2018. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich YEREVAN (Reuters) - The head of Armenia's ruling party in parliament said on Thursday that the country would get a new prime minister on May 8 because his party was ready to support whoever enjoyed the backing of one third of lawmakers in a vote on that date. Vahram Baghdasaryan, the head of the Republican Party in parliament, was speaking after holding talks with lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan who has led weeks of protests against the country's ruling elite and wants to become prime minister. Baghdasaryan told Reuters that his party would support anyone on May 8, including Pashinyan, if they enjoyed the backing of one third of lawmakers. (Reporting by Hasmik Mkrtchyan; Writing by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Andrew Osborn) COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Denmark's Financial Supervisory Authority says there "have been serious shortcomings" in controlling Danske Bank' activities within its Estonian branch. The authority's head, Jesper Berg, says Danske Bank "responded too late to information" about lacking money laundering measures "and suspicions of customer crime." In February, Denmark's Berlingske daily said a leaked internal Danske Bank report indicated that the management knew "of far more serious conditions than previously stated," and that family members of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's spy agency were using its Estonian branch for money laundering. Danske Bank's chief executive, Thomas F. Borgen, said Thursday "we should have reacted faster and more forcefully." Last week, Danske Bank said it would scale down its business in the Baltic countries, shortly after Estonia's Financial Services Authorities voiced similar criticism. See Also: BBC Every year as May 3 approaches, newspaper headlines remind us of World Press Freedom Day with accompanying stories justifying the newsworthiness of the occasion. They are often extracted from reports published annually by Reporters Without Borders, which compiles and updates the World Press Freedom Index a comprehensive list of leaders and laggards in media freedoms. Many media outlets make sure they do not miss this opportunity to remind the public about the importance of freedom of expression and the role of the press in a healthy democracy. To avoid simply producing unpalatable lists based on technical criteria, editors either pick the worst offenders, such as Uzbekistan, or focus on spectacular falls of previous leaders. Britain as the bad guy This year, the UK has become an offender for the Independent newspaper, which alerted its readers to the approaching World Press Freedom Day with the headline that the UK was among the worst in Western Europe for freedom of the press. The view was partly echoed by The Guardian which made a point about the UK lagging behind countries like Burkina Faso and Chile. The UK held the same position last year at number 40, while European countries such as Slovakia and Malta have since slid by double digits but are not even mentioned in the article. In 2014, the same Independent dramatically described the worsening of the UKs position by five places as tumbling down the world rankings, even though some countries fared much worse. What such relative rankings do not describe well enough is the specific context in which the freedom of the press is exercised in each of the measured countries. It is likely that Burkina Faso would love to curb the extent of encryption on WhatsApp as championed by the former home secretary, Amber Rudd, but lacks the resources to do so. Or that Trinidad & Tobago (also a notch higher than the UK in the rankings) would gladly criminalise the repeated viewing of extremist content but lacks the legal tools to proceed. Story continues The bad guy that everybody loves The content produced by the British media undergoes intense international scrutiny and domestic self-examination. The BBC is the envy of the world, and formats developed by the UK media are licensed in many countries, while British journalistic standards and editorial guidelines are often emulated elsewhere. It is hard to guess from the World Press Freedom Index rankings that British journalism is held in such high esteem, or that some British newspapers online enjoy a hefty global audience. Is this due to the quality of journalism in the UK or the regulatory environment in which it operates? Whatever the answer, the fact is that aberrations and abuses do get found out and reported in the UK even if with significant delays like the phone hacking scandal while they may never see daylight in other higher-ranking countries. This may explain why the BBCs political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, was assigned a bodyguard in 2016 after receiving threats before anything untoward could happen to her. Her late colleague from Malta, Daphne Caruana Galizia, was not so fortunate when she was blown up by a bomb while investigating high-level corruption on the island. And yet we continually read that journalism in the UK and elsewhere is in crisis. Both academic and trade publications repeat this assertion. The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism opened its 2010 study on The Changing Business of Journalism and its Implications for Democracy with the statement: The business of journalism is widely held to be in serious crisis today, in particular because of the rise of the internet. The study does not seem to find that journalism itself is at fault here, but the environment it operates in is the model in which fewer and fewer journalists get involved in producing content and deciding what gets published and how. Problems in the process In the past, most journalists in the UK learned their profession on the job with little prior training. It took the Andrew Gilligan scandal over the Iraq dossier in 2003, and the subsequent resignation of the BBC Director-General Greg Dyke, for the BBC to transform its relatively modest training and development arm into the College of Journalism (CoJo) and later into the BBC Academy. Today, dozens of universities in the UK provide courses producing thousands of arguably well-qualified journalists at entry level. Many such courses are endorsed by the media industry and accredited by professional journalistic organisations such as the NCTJ. More importantly, a lot of them are staffed by ex-newspaper editors and former high-profile journalists some of whom lost their jobs in the digital revolution. And this is where the system has gone wrong. Contrary to the popular diagnosis, there is nothing wrong with journalism in the UK. But there is a lot amiss when it comes to the editorial process the most expensive and politically inconvenient aspect of journalistic process. Editorial structures have got flattened by the new internet-driven business models, and the editing process increasingly relies on non-journalistic procedures and practices. We hear incessant cries for quality journalism whatever that fuzzy term means from inside the media industry, the government and the public. The Guardian calls for financial contributions from the public all in the name of protecting quality journalism. International organisations and private donors chip in to fund journalistic investigations cast aside by many media outlets as too costly or not worth the risk. To add insult to injury, the traditional and widely accepted regulatory division in the UK media that of unregulated or self-regulating printed press versus a regulated broadcast industry has been turned upside down by media convergence triggered by the digital onslaught. There is growing concern that the British regulatory system embodied by the Communications Act 2003 is becoming obsolete in the new reality. Recent short-term interventions from the UK government to correct what are clearly editorial and regulatory failures only earn the UK penalty points from press freedom watchers. There are good reasons why hundreds of international cable and satellite channels, including Russia Today, have chosen to be licensed and regulated by Ofcom, and this trend should carry on. The UK now needs a new regulatory philosophy and a new system capable of tackling the converged media environment to continue as a leader and innovator. It will be the best protection for quality journalism and freedom of the press. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The Conversation Marek Bekerman 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: Guinea's President and President of the African Union Alpha Conde gestures as he speaks during a news conference at the closing session of the 5th African Union - European Union (AU-EU) summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Luc Gnago By Saliou Samb CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guinean President Alpha Conde told Reuters on Friday that he would file a complaint in Paris over "slanderous denunciation" in a probe by French authorities into tycoon Vincent Bollore's Africa operations. Bollore is under formal investigation over allegations that his company Groupe Bollore undercharged for work on behalf of presidential candidates in Guinea and Togo in return for port contracts. Bollore's lawyer, Olivier Baratelli, has denied any wrongdoing by Bollore. "I am going to file a complaint for slanderous denunciation, and we have all the evidence proving that I did nothing except defend the interests of Guinea," Conde said in a brief telephone interview. It was not clear who the complaint would be filed against. Groupe Bollore, which also denies wrongdoing, 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. A corruption probe involving a French billionaire is a headache for Conde ahead of presidential elections expected in 2020. Guinea has historically been the most fiercely independent of France's former colonies in Africa -- its independence leader Sekou Toure bucked a trend in the region by rejecting membership of the CFA franc currency zone. Conde welcomed opposition calls for a parliamentary inquiry into how Bollore obtained the concession to run the main port in Conakry. Opposition lawmakers proposed setting up a commission of inquiry on Wednesday. "This parliamentary inquiry, if it happens, is going to clarify things," Conde told Reuters. France's Getma International won the contract in a 2008 tender, beating rivals including Bollore. Conde took power in 2010 and then cancelled the agreement with Getma in March of the following year. In the same month, Bollore took over the concession. Story continues "Getma had not respected any of its contractual obligations," Conde said. Guinea's former transport minister Alpha Ibrahima Keira has said that it is standard procedure that if a contract is cancelled, it then goes automatically to the next best bidder, and so this had nothing to do with Havas' communications consultancy work for Conde. (Reporting by Saliou Samb; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Toby Chopra) Shi'ite Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Imam Hussein shrine in the holy city of Kerbala, Iraq Shi'ite Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Imam Hussein shrine in the holy city of Kerbala, Iraq May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Abdullah Dhiaa Al-Deen By Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's powerful top Shi'ite cleric suggested on Friday that he had not abandoned his opposition to ex-prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is bidding to return to power in elections on May 12. Making a rare intervention in politics, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani used his weekly sermon to tell Iraqis they should "avoid falling into the trap of those ... who are corrupt and those who have failed, whether they have been tried or not". Sistani, whose opinion is sacrosanct for millions in Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim majority and beyond, said he was keeping an "equal distance" from all candidates and did not identify any of them by name in his sermon, read by one of his envoys, Sheikh Abdulmehdi al-Karbalai, and broadcast on television. But the reference to Maliki was clear from his mention of the collapse of security forces in the face of Islamic State militants in 2014, when Maliki was in power. Sistani successfully blocked Maliki from taking the premiership after winning the 2014 election, paving the way for the appointment of the current prime minister, Haider al-Abadi. "Past electoral experiments were marked by failures, many of those who were elected or appointed to high positions in the government abused their power and took part in spreading corruption and squandering public money," Sistani also said. Abadi successfully led the campaign to defeat Islamic State, last year recapturing the city of Mosul, their main stronghold in northern Iraq, with the backing of a U.S.-led coalition. THREE-WAY FIGHT The May 12 election is shaping up as a three-way contest between Abadi, Maliki and Hadi al-Amiri, a former transportation minister who bolstered his clout during the war on Islamic State as the commander of Shi'ite paramilitary forces aligned with Abadi's government. Abadi, a Shi'ite, was quick to welcome Sistani's sermon, tweeting his "total support for the instructions given by the Supreme Religious Reference at Friday prayers." Story continues In a veiled reference to Maliki, Abadi added: "We note in particular (Sistani's) call for the widest participation in the election and making the correct choice after reviewing the past record of candidates, mainly those who held official positions." Maliki's group in parliament, State of Law, also welcomed Sistani's sermon as if it were not directed against him. "State of Law welcomes Sayyid Sistani's speech which contains precious instructions and advice to all the children of the Iraqi people," it said in a statement. The election victor will face daunting tasks of rebuilding the war-shattered country and a battle against entrenched corruption that is eating away at its oil revenue. Baghdad says at least $100 billion will be needed to reconstructing houses, businesses and infrastructure destroyed in the war. Maliki, who holds the ceremonial position of vice-president, remains one of the most influential Shi'ite politicians in his capacity as leader of the Dawa party. Though Abadi is a Dawa member, Maliki declined to endorse him, and the competition between the two means they would need to seek the support of other Shi'ite parties, as well as Sunni and Kurdish groups, to form governing coalitions. The prime minister heads Iraq's executive, a post reserved for Shi'ites under a power-sharing understanding put in place after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim. The unwritten accord gives Kurds the mainly ceremonial position of president of the Republic, while Sunnis fill the position of parliament speaker. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Mark Heinrich) FILE PHOTO: Ivory Coast's soldiers participate in a military parade to commemorate the country's 55th Independence Day in Abidjan, August 7, 2015. REUTERS/Luc Gnago/File Photo ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast has reduced the size of its army by more than 2,000 soldiers as part of a plan to cut costs and bring under control a force that last year launched two mutinies. Government spokesman Bruno Kone said after a cabinet meeting on Thursday that 2,168 soldiers had accepted voluntary retirement in an initiative to conform to "accepted standards", partly by reducing the ratio of non-commissioned officers to lower ranks. The army's size is confidential but security sources estimate there are more than 25,000 troops in a country with a population of about 24 million. Francophone West Africa's biggest economy suffered successive waves of army mutinies last year that damaged its reputation among investors and forced the government to agree to costly pay rises. Late last year Ivory Coast cut its armed forces by about 1,000 troops. The latest group includes three officers, 1,460 non-commissioned officers and 705 regular foot soldiers, Kone told reporters. (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Editing by Edward McAllister and Matthew Mpoke Bigg) The Jehovah's Witnesses religious group lost control over a $31.8 million real estate complex in St. Petersburg, Russia on Thursday after the citys court upheld a lower courts decision that the property should be seized by the government. The ruling that will allow the Russian government to appropriate the religious groups property was made exactly one year after the Russian government branded the Jehovahs Witnesses an extremist organization and launched an ongoing crackdown against its members. The Jehovahs Witnesses had appealed the lower courts decision to confiscate the sprawling administrative complex, arguing that one of the groups U.S. corporations is the legal owner. The original ruling by the Sestroretskiy District Court in December 2017 ignored evidence that the Witnesses office is owned by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (WTPA), a nonprofit corporation based in the United States, the organization said in a statement. Trending: Free Comic Book Day 2018: Store Locator and Every Comic Available Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia transferred the property to WTPA in 2000, and WTPA has since paid some $3 million in property taxes to the Russian Federation, the statement continued. This argument did not sway the St. Petersburg Court, however. Russian judges have repeatedly upheld rulings that argue the Jehovahs Witnesses, a Christian denomination with more than 8 million members worldwide, is an extremist sect. It was so widely assumed that the St. Petersburg court would uphold the lower courts ruling that Russian media reported that the Almazova medical research center had requested permission to take over the center from the Russian government a week before the final decision on the appeal was made. Don't miss: LGBT Couples Could Be Denied Adoption on Religious Grounds in Kansas and Oklahoma This represents an unlawful influence by a third-party on a court that has yet to render its decision, Jarrod Lopes, a U.S. representative of the Jehovahs Witnesses, told Newsweek. Story continues Meanwhile, people attending the court hearing said the judge took just a few minutes to make a decision. "The atmosphere in the court wasn't bad, but when you are there you have the feeling that it's a theater. It looks like the decision was already made, like it's not a real court," Yaroslav Sivulsky, a Jehovahs Witness from Russia, told Newsweek. Most popular: Will Jeffrey Tambor Be in 'Arrested Development' Season 5 Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations? "We tried to fight for our interests and our lawyers were brilliant, but the prosecutor's side did nothing. She only said she supported a written statement she already made, and then the court deliberated for five minutes before they made their decision," Sivulsky described. Advocates for the Jehovahs Witnesses said they have reached out to foreign embassies in Russia in an attempt to garner support for their cause. Nevertheless, hundreds of Jehovahs Witnesses centers have been shuttered around Russia and the roughly 150,000 Jehovahs Witnesses in the country have gone into hiding. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Neil Marks and Ank Kuipers GEORGETOWN/PARAMARIBO (Reuters) - At least a dozen fishermen from Guyana are missing, feared dead, after a pirate attack off the coast of neighbouring Suriname last week that Guyana's president called a "massacre" on Thursday. The bodies of three fishermen have been found, while four escaped and swam to shore, according to Suriname authorities. Authorities from both countries are continuing to search for the missing men. Media reports, citing survivors, said that the fishermen were forced to jump in the sea, some with weights tied to their legs. Piracy has long been rife in the waters off the tiny nations of Suriname and Guyana, as well as neighbouring Venezuela. "We have been very successful over the last three years in curbing piracy. This has come as a setback," Guyana President David Granger said. His counterpart in Suriname, President Desi Bouterse, has yet to speak publicly on the subject, spurring criticisms of a lack of response from the government. Jerry Slijngard, who coordinates Suriname's disaster management centre, said that victims' families would be supported by the government. "The exchange of information, patrols by maritime police and the deployment of technology ... will contribute to reducing this form of crime," he said in a statement. Another boat was attacked off Suriname on Wednesday, according to a fishermen's association, who said the captain was shot dead but the rest of the crew survived. (Reporting by Ank Kuipers in Paramaribo and Neil Marks in Georgetown; writing by Girish Gupta, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) 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) NAIROBI (Reuters) - Three rhinos were found dead with their horns missing in Kenya's Rhino Sanctuary in Meru National Park on Wednesday in what the country's Ministry of Tourism is calling an act of poaching. The incident happened at around 6.30pm, where security at the sanctuary heard gunshots and rushed toward the direction of the sounds but failed to see the suspected poachers. "A thorough search, both aerial and ground was conducted on first light where carcasses of two adult rhinos and a calf were found with the horns missing," the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife said in a statement. "No sign of the gang was reported, but our teams, both covert and overt, are in hot pursuit with good leads." Poaching is a big problem in the East African nation but government efforts have reduced rhino poaching by 85 percent and elephant poaching by 78 percent from its peak in 2013 and 2012, the ministry said. In 2017 Kenya lost sixty nine elephants and nine rhinos. Separately on Thursday, six rhinos were to be flown from South Africa to the central African nation of Chad to reintroduce them to a country where they had been locally extinct for decades. (Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Omar Mohammed) See Also: Venice is not simply sinkingit's flooded with tourists and the city's mayor is willing to do whatever it takes to regulate the wave of visitors, including closing down certain streets and bridges. The Easter weekend, at the beginning of April, saw thousands of tourists crowding Venetian streets and traditional canal ferries known as vaporetti, with local media reporting "a river of people" of an "unprecedented" proportion creating delays and long lines. Mass tourism is not a new phenomenon for Italy, but the number of visitors to the "Bel Paese" is increasing to a point where several cities are wondering whether the inconvenience created to local residents is worth putting up with. Trending: Rodent Droppings Found on Domino's Pizza Dough in Tennessee Venice Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has been campaigning for more regulation since he was elected three years ago. In 2016, he won the government's support to install turnstiles at strategic locations in the city to regulate the influx of visitors. 05_03_Venice Manuel Silvestri/Reuters But increased numbers of tourists during the holiday weekends and summer holidays are still proving difficult to manage. To avoid the Easter weekend crowding, Brugnaro limited access to certain areas of the city, and he relocated arrivals by ferry to areas farther from the city center. The city launched the #EnjoyRespectVenezia campaign to increase public awareness of the crowding situation, including an infographic that shows the expected level of visitors for any day of the year. "We don't want to block access to the city, but we need to regulate the influx during particularly busy days," the mayor said in a video shared on his Twitter page. Earlier in April, he compared his efforts to President Donald Trump's "America First" campaign. "It's what I'm trying to do in Venice, too," the mayor said at an event in April. "He puts American interests first, I do the same for those Venetians who care about their city." Story continues Don't miss: Atletico Madrid Vs. Arsenal: What We Learned From Arsene Wenger's Last Stand 05_03_Venice_Tourism Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Images Capri Venice's problems echoed in Capri, a small island in the Gulf of Naples often listed among the world's most beautiful places. Its reputation brings as many as 4 million visitors to the island of 12,000 residents every year. Capri mayor Giovanni de Martino has long been flagging the unregulated influx of ferries from the mainland as an issue for the township and expressed frustration at the lack of support the island has received so far. 05_03_Capri_harbor Daniel Slip/AFP/Getty Images "Unfortunately, our appeal has not been given the right consideration because we think the solution could be fairly easy," de Martino told Newsweek. Rather than turnstiles, for which there is hardly any space, de Martino is advocating for reducing the frequency of the ferries bringing hundreds of visitors from the mainland, which only have the small Marina Grande harbor as a docking area and point of connection to the rest of the island, creating lines and traffic congestions. "When [the ferries] arrive almost all at the same time, there is no possibility to let them disembark in a timely manner, so you have long queues, chaos, and, naturally, protests and frustration from those who have to wait," De Martino explained. A project to increase the harbor area is in the planning phase, according to the mayor, but that wouldn't solve the issue because of the limited size of the island. Most popular: Man Killed As He Takes Selfie With Injured Bear For de Martino, one solution is simply to change the arrivals' timetable, but that is something that Capri authorities cannot control as it is a prerogative of the regional government and the Coast Guards. 05_03_Capri_view Daniel Slip/AFP/Getty Images One of the other thorns in the mayor's side are those visitors who only come to the island for a few hours, especially cruise ship travelers. "Ideally, stay the night," the mayor advised. "There's a saying that goes 'One should see the sunset in Capri.' There [are] so many attractions that they should be staying for longer to fully appreciate their beauty." Florence and Rome While cities like Florence and Rome aren't limited by the territorial constraints afflicting Venice and Capri, those cities too have been struggling with containing disruptive behavior. Last year, Florence Mayor Dario Nardella instructed the city's cleaners to hose down church steps at lunchtime to prevent people from sitting down to consume their meala plan that did not fully account for the warm midday sunshine that quickly dried the pavement, but managed to attract international attention. Florence cathedral Tony Gentile/Reuters In Rome, Mayor Virginia Raggi faced an even bigger hurdle to her goal of regulating visitors' behavior in some of the city's hotspots, such as introducing a ban on stops at the Trevi Fountain to admire its baroque stylea total failure of enforcement, as some Italian media reported. Elsewhere in Europe Florence and Rome are also struggling to face the increase of unregulated tourism rentals via services like Airbnb, as Business Insider Italia noted, that not only deprive the city of taxes otherwise imposed on hotels and other regulated forms of tourist accommodation, but also reduce the supply of housing available to locals, pushing up costs. The issue is felt across tourism hotspots in Southern Europe, from Croatia to Spain, as The Guardian reported in August. Palma, the largest city on the Spanish island of Mallorca, banned homeowners from renting their apartments to tourists last year after anti-tourism protests affected the island, as well as neighboring Ibiza and the city of Barcelona across the Balearic Sea. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The Navy has expressed interest in fitting its latest warship with a new weapon capable that would make it a formidable foe for top U.S. rivals. The Naval Strike Missile, manufactured by Norway's Kongsberg Defence Systems in partnership with top U.S. defense contractor Raytheon, is one of the leading candidates for the new weapons system on the Navy's littoral combat ship (LCS), a small surface vessel that operates in coastal waters to fight mines or quiet diesel submarines. Raytheon CEO Thomas Kennedy said last week that the futuristic missile had a good chance of securing the Navy's pick at a time when Russia and China were bolstering their own maritime might. "This is a program where, Raytheon and Kongsberg, as a team, we submitted a proposal for something we called The Naval Strike Missile, which is the Navys over-the-horizon weapon system that they need to put on the LCS. But turns out theyre also going to put them on all the future frigates," Kennedy said in an earnings call, as quoted by Defense News. Trending: Right Man for the Knicks? Five Things David Fizdale Must Address in NYC "We think were in a very good position there," he added. "We have a system that requires minimum development. Some small changes well make, but we can go into production very quickly, which is something the United States Navy needs. We are anticipating an award here in Q2 with significantly more funds placed against it in the fiscal year 2019 budget to move forward with that program." NavalStrikeMissile Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary D. Bell/U.S. Navy The fifth-generation, over-the-horizon Naval Strike Missile "will immediately advance the U.S. Navys vision of distributed lethality, ensuring sea control and freedom of the seas," according to its listing on Raytheon's official website. The long-range, precision strike weapon can reportedly hit targets up to 100 nautical milesover 115 milesaway. Story continues Don't miss: Girl Finds 475-million-year-old Trilobite Fossil on a Walk The missile is capable of avoiding detection by flying low enough to skim the ocean and can adapt to changing terrain. It uses state-of-the-art targeting software to locate and strike enemy ships. The Navy tested its warfighting ability during a September 2014 test off the coast of Southern California, during which the Naval Strike Missile was fired from littoral combat ship USS Coronado and successfully destroy a simulated foe at sea. Related: Russia and China Will Hold War Games in Asia, Checking U.S. Military Power in Pacific The littoral combat ship has limited capabilities in the open seas. Its vulnerabilities were highlighted earlier this year when the USS Little Rock ended up stuck trapped in the icy waters of Canada for about three months. Most popular: Star Wars Battlefront 2 Gets Double XP, May the 4th Challenge for Star Wars Day ChinaMilitaryParade3 81.cn This addition of the Naval Strike Missile to the littoral combat ship comes as the new vessels also face criticism for not being able to stand up to advances by U.S. near-peer competitors Russia and China. The two nations have been consolidating their military ties, pledging support for one another and are due to hold this year's annual joint exercise in the Pacific. "America's Navy still holds the title of best in the world, but our recent years of combat and physical uncertainty have eroded our warfighting advantage," Admiral John Michael Richardson, chief of Naval operations, told the House Appropriations Committee on Defense in March. "As our national defense strategy makes clear, we are now in an era of great power competition. With the rising [of] China and a resurgent Russia, America no longer enjoys a monopoly in sea power or sea control." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By David Lawder and Sue-Lin Wong WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The Trump administration has drawn hard line in trade talks with China, demanding a $200 billion (147.6 billion) cut in the Chinese trade surplus with the United States, sharply lower tariffs and advanced technology subsidies, people familiar with the talks said on Friday. The lengthy list of demands was presented to Beijing before the start of talks Thursday and Friday between top-level Trump administration officials and their Chinese counterparts to try to avert a damaging trade war between the world's two largest economies. A White House statement did not mention specific demands, but said the U.S. delegation "held frank discussions with Chinese officials on rebalancing the United StatesChina bilateral economic relationship, improving Chinas protection of intellectual property, and identifying policies that unfairly enforce technology transfers." The statement gave no indication that U.S. President Donald Trump would back off on his threat to impose tariffs on up to $150 billion in Chinese goods over allegations of intellectual property theft. The delegation was returning to Washington to brief Trump and "seek his decision on next steps," the White House said, adding that the administration had "consensus" for "immediate attention" to change the U.S-China trade and investment relationship. China's state-run Xinhua news agency described the talks as "constructive, candid and efficient" but with disagreements that remain "relatively big." Tariff threats have roiled stock markets in recent weeks, but the inconclusive outcome of the Beijing talks did little to stop a rally in U.S. shares prompted by jobs data that eased fears of faster Federal Reserve rate hikes. Stocks in Shanghai <.SSEC> ended 0.5 percent lower while they fell 1.3 percent in Hong Kong. <.HSI> Trump told reporters in Washington that he was determined to bring fairness to U.S.-China trade. Story continues "We will be doing something one way or the other with respect to what's happening in China," Trump said. He added that he had "great respect" for China's President Xi Jinping. "That's why were being so nice, because we have a great relationship." China during the meetings asked that the United States ease crushing sanctions on Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp <000063.SZ> <0763.HK>, people with knowledge of the matter said. Washington's demand for a $200 billion cut from China's U.S. goods trade surplus doubles Trump's previous request for a $100 billion cut. China had a record U.S. goods trade surplus of $375 billion in 2017. Trump has also demanded "reciprocity" between U.S. and Chinese tariffs, frequently complaining about China's 25 percent car tariff while the U.S. equivalent is 2.5 percent. The U.S. team, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, demanded that China lower tariffs to levels no higher than those imposed by the United States, two people familiar with the demands said. The delegation also asked China to halt subsidies for advanced technology linked to its "Made in China 2025," the sources said. At the heart of the dispute are U.S. allegations that Chinese joint venture requirements and other policies force American companies to turn over their intellectual property, costing them billions of dollars annually and giving China's state enterprises an edge in the race to develop new industries crucial to future growth. China denies such coercion. Its 2025 industrial plan seeks to upgrade China's manufacturing sector to more advanced products, including information technology, semiconductors and aircraft. "I think the U.S. is asking for the impossible. Reducing the deficit by $200 billion by 2020 is quite an unrealistic demand, but it may also be a negotiation tactic to start high first," said Tommy Xie, economist at OCBC Bank in Singapore. BEIJING OFFERS China offered to increase U.S. imports and lower tariffs on some goods, including cars, according to the sources. But Beijing asked the United States to treat Chinese investment equally under national security reviews, refrain from new restrictions on investments and halt a proposal to impose 25 percent tariffs under its "Section 301" intellectual property probe. China also offered to reconsider anti-dumping duties on U.S. sorghum, according to a proposal it submitted. Xinhua said there had been exchanges of opinion on intellectual property protections, expanding U.S. exports and bilateral services trade. It gave no indication of what actions might be taken but said the two sides committed to resolve their trade disputes through dialogue. U.S. negotiators agreed to bring up the ZTE sanctions with Trump after new representations from the Chinese side, Xinhua said. ZTE was hit last month with a seven-year ban on American companies selling components and software to it after the U.S. Commerce Department found ZTE failed to comply with an agreement to settle breached U.S. sanctions on Iran. "My impression was that (the talks) didn't go well given the rhetoric," said Kevin Lai, senior economist at Daiwa Capital markets in Hong Kong. "I think the divide is still very big." In an editorial on its website, widely read Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times cited people close to the talks as saying the Chinese "hit back hard" at U.S. criticism, letting them know that China would not give in. The United States has proposed tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods under its "Section 301" probe. Those could go into effect in June following the completion of a 60-day consultation period, but activation plans have been kept vague. China has said its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including soybeans and aircraft, will go into effect if the U.S. duties are imposed. (Reporting by Sue-Lin Wong and David Lawder; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Grant McCool) A Virginia newspaper issued an apology for publishing an entire front-page photo of a Ku Klux Klan propaganda flyer that was being distributed in the community. Westmoreland News, a small paper serving a community of 17,000 people in Westmoreland County, Virginia and Colonial Beach, ran an April 25 article about the Loyal White Knights of the KKK dropping recruitment flyers at area homes. The article itself quotes the police chief speaking out against the KKK organization but residents were angered by the pages design, which looked like a large Klan advertisement. Screen Shot 2018-05-03 at 1 Screenshot: Westmoreland News Trending: Former Reddit CEO Ellen Pao Challenges Tech Executives To Remove 'Incels' From Silicon Valley The flyer featured several statistics about black males in prison and violent crimes perpetrated by African-Americans against white people. In addition to several slogans such as Wake Up White America, the printed flyer also shows the hotline number to call in order to join. The newspapers editor attempted to distance the publication from the hate group by running a disclaimer above the article that read, Westmoreland News in no way condones or supports the content or message of this flyer, nor does it condone or support any branch of the Loyal White Knights, or the KKK. However, the poor aesthetics prompted so many complaints and national scrutiny that the paper issued an official apology in Wednesdays edition of the weekly printed paper. Don't miss: U.S. Soldiers Secretly Fighting Saudi Arabia's War in Yemen, Report Says The April 25th edition of the Westmoreland News featured an article about propaganda being distributed in our area. In an effort to provide coverage of the literature and communicate to residents its contents, we included an image of the flyer that was distributed. Our intention was to alert neighbors of the threatening nature of the materials being dropped at nearby homes. We sincerely apologize for making the mistake of printing the flyer in its entirety and in no way support its message, read the papers printed statement. Story continues Police Chief Danny Plott, who is quoted in the article, said he was shocked when he saw the layout and said he sent the flyer to Westmoreland News simply to inform the community that the hateful propaganda was being distributed to dozens of residents. Hundreds of comments vowing to cancel subscriptions and pull advertising littered the Westmoreland News Facebook page. Most popular: Republican With White Nationalist Ties Nabs Almost 40 Percent of the Vote, Despite Defeat in Local Tennessee Election Plott told WHNT-TV that the papers editor responded to his strongly worded email demanding an explanation. She explained that she wanted to put it in to show people that those of us in Colonial Beach who may think theres not racism, there is, and I think she didnt expect for this to blow up the way it did and with this outcome. Plott said several area residents actually called the police after the paper was delivered saying things such as, Could you come and get this crap? Lakeway Publishers, Inc., a Morristown, Tennessee-based company that owns several small papers in the region including the Westmoreland News, did not immediately respond to Newsweek's requests for comment. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek On Tuesday afternoon, a shooting took place at the YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California. Once the identity of the suspect was revealed, Donald Trump's son quickly voiced his thoughts on social media. You think theres any chance whatsoever that a mass shooters hateful Instagram and YouTube channels would be pulled immediately if they were NRA members as opposed to liberal Vegan PETA activists? Asking for a few million friends in the @NRA Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 4, 2018 Don Jr. on YouTube shooting In yet another example of a shooting in the United States, 39-year-old Nasim Najafi Aghdam of San Diego, California walked into the headquarters of YouTube and opened fire. Several employees were shot before frantic calls were made to 911. As the police arrived, Aghdam killed herself by a self-inflicted gun shot wound. According to local authorities, Aghdam had been angry with the social media platform for demonetizing her videos, alleging prejudice and bias against them. Reports also note that Aghdam's father had warned the police about his daughter, who then spoke to her prior to the shooting. San Bruno police identified the suspect in Tuesday's shooting at YouTube's HQ as Nasim Najafi Aghdam https://t.co/qxPncFOXCf pic.twitter.com/C8bFMCzHlQ CBS News (@CBSNews) April 4, 2018 Since then, both the political left and right have reported on the YouTube shooting, but have done so in a different way to fit their particular narrative. Conservatives were quick to point out that the shooter was both a female and a Muslim, using that to push back against the usual narrative of shooters being profiled as white men. In response, Donald Trump Jr. doubled down during an April 4 tweet. "You think theres any chance whatsoever that a mass shooters hateful Instagram and YouTube channels would be pulled immediately if they were NRA members" Donald Jr. wondered, before mocking the shooter for allegedly being "liberal" and a member of "PETA." Twitter backlash After Donald Trump Jr's tweet about the YouTube shooting, critics of the Trump family and administration made sure to hit back. "Then why did the NRA delete their tweet? Do you think your wife would take you back if she realized you only cheated once and not several times like your father?" one tweet asked. More importantly, is being a bastard child emotionally distressing or does hunting endangered species fill the void of a parental figure? Alt_Dept. of Labor (@alt_labor) April 4, 2018 And PETA?!!!! I guess he is trying to take this tragic opportunity to promote his trophy hunting??! Wtf is he talking about? Imagine (@nadianboone) April 4, 2018 This celebration you are having over a shooting is in rather poor taste Donny. Bob Elbow (@BobElbow) April 4, 2018 "This celebration you are having over a shooting is in rather poor taste Donny," a Twitter user wrote. "Three people were just shot and the President's son is railing against Vegans on Twitter," another tweet added. "Aren't you single now? What are you doing on Twitter not having s*x with overpriced escorts like dear old daddy?" a tweet wondered. Oh shut up, you idiot. This is your fourth or fifth tweet TONIGHT saying the exact same nonsense. Just remember this the next time you open your damn yap about LIBERALS politicizing shootings. Daniel Fienberg (@d_fienberg) April 4, 2018 Idiot Jr. and a cheater to boot. Chip off the old block. ACE (@ACENanna1) April 4, 2018 Aren't you single now? What are you doing on Twitter not having sex with overpriced escorts like dear old daddy? Gary Vegas (@TheDonkeyDrip) April 4, 2018 "Idiot Jr. and a cheater to boot. Chip off the old block," a social media user wrote. "Oh shut up, you idiot. This is your fourth or fifth tweet TONIGHT saying the exact same nonsense. Just remember this the next time you open your damn yap about LIBERALS politicizing shootings," an additional tweet noted. With NASA starting to get serious about sending astronauts into deep space, beyond low Earth orbit, with bases on the moon and eventually expeditions to Mars, the space agency is developing a technology called kilopower to give them enough power to operate. Kilopower is a small-scale Nuclear Reactor capable of delivering one to ten kilowatts of energy. As a means of comparison, the typical American private home uses five kilowatts of power. What is kilopower? Hitherto, American space satellites or crewed spacecraft have either used fuel cells, solar power or a version of nuclear power called an RTG or Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator that uses the decay of plutonium-238 to generate electricity. However, planned space missions are going to need far more power than these technologies can create. Kilopower is a small-scale nuclear reactor that uses uranium-235 as fuel. Sodium heat pipes transfer heat from the fuel core, the size of a roll of paper towels, to Stirling engines to convert into electricity. A kilopower unit would be able to operate without a great deal of attention or maintenance for Ten Years. NASA and the Energy Department recently conducted a 28-hour experiment with a kilopower unit that involved startup, a ramp up to full power, a period of steady operation, and then reactor shutdown. The trial included a number of failure modes to determine how the unit would behave during accidents and other equipment malfunctions. The next step will be to conduct a flight demonstration mission as early as 2020. What about earthly applications? Naturally, the question occurs, are there earthly applications for the Kilowatt unit, or as NASA calls it KRUSTY or Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology? A spokesman for the Los Alamos National Laboratory suggested that the military might use the technology for remote bases that are off the grid. Civilian uses include things such as remote mining operations. Unfortunately, hooking up arrays of KRUSTY units putting power out on the grid, not to mention having one as a home unit are not in the cards, at least for a long time. The idea of a backyard nuclear reactor that not only provides enough power to run a house and puts out excess electricity to the grid is a beguiling one. Such an arrangement would secure a home or a small business against a great many disasters such as hurricanes that take down the grid for extended periods. However, safety and regulatory concerns are likely to foreclose such an application ever becoming a reality. The word nuclear elicits scary scenarios that include Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, Mackenzie Standifer is reportedly having trouble acknowledging her husband Ryan Edwards' addiction to drugs. According to a new report, the "Teen Mom OG" star, who is currently pregnant with Edwards' second child, is in "denial" about his ongoing issues and how serious they actually are. Mackenzie only wants to focus on having [Ryan's] baby and seems to be hoping that this will help [Ryan] to be inspired to live a clean and sober life, a source told Us Weekly magazine on April 3. Meanwhile, Edwards is allegedly denying that his Drug Addiction is a big deal, as anyone addicted to drugs would do. "[She] chooses to believe him, the insider added. Ryan Edwards' drug addiction was confirmed in 2017 after fans watched in horror as he nearly nodded off while driving himself and Mackenzie Standifer to their first wedding that May. The incident was shocking and followed a number of incidents involving questionable behavior from Edwards. Another Us Weekly insider spoke out about the upcoming "Teen Mom OG" reunion special, which was recently filmed in New York City. As the source explained, Edwards and his drug use will be a hot topic during the upcoming episodes later this month and some believe the reality star didn't stay in rehab long enough. Ryan Edwards went to rehab after marrying Mackenzie Shortly after their May 2017 wedding, it was confirmed that Edwards had entered into a weeks-long treatment program. However, just months later, as he and Standifer got married for a second time, he was seen drinking. Edwards was also seen drinking at a bachelor event leading up to his ceremony and rumors regarding a drug relapse have been swirling ever since. Ryan Edwards was arrested earlier this month Just one day after his wife, Mackenzie Standifer, confirmed she was expecting their child on an episode of "Teen Mom OG," it was reported that Edwards had been taken into custody in Tennessee after breaking his probation with a heroin arrest several months prior. Although Edwards has since been released from custody, his legal drama is far from over and recently, he was hit with a number of temporary orders of protection from Maci Bookout and her family, including her husband Taylor McKinney. The orders require Edwards to stay away from Bookout, McKinney, and her three kids. To see more of Ryan Edwards, Mackenzie Standifer, their family, and their co-stars, don't miss new episodes of the seventh season of "Teen Mom OG" on Monday nights at 9 p.m. on MTV. Captivated audiences worldwide are all a buzz for the next spectacular offering from the record-breaking Marvel Cinematic Universe. The following MCU blockbuster lands in theaters July 6 with "Ant-Man and the Wasp," [VIDEO] the sequel to 2015s "Ant-Man." Paul Rudd returns as our titular hero, Scott Lang, and Evangeline Lilly steps into the suit of The Wasp, Hope Van Dyne, the other half of the Lilliputian crime-fighting superhero team. Director Peyton Reed returns for this sequel, as well as Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym, Hopes father, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne, Hopes mother. Next, we take a look at the upcoming Marvel offering and some new characters that could mix things up for our heroes. A report by IMDB provided a number of the details used in this post. Ant-Man's hiatus from the Marvel Universe After Ant-Mans participation in "Captain America: Civil War," Scott Lang takes a break for some soul searching to balance the unbelievable superhero life with the grounded family life. It is at this reasonable point for Lang when Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne come to Scott with a new mission, one sure to entertain and uncover secrets of their pasts. Ant-Man must also learn to work as a team with the Wasp, added to a healthy amount of witty dialogue between the two, and there are plenty of action-packed laughs to go around. New movie, villains, and characters To counter the crime-fighting duo, Marvel will introduce a brand new villain to the MCU, Ghost -- played by Hannah John Kamen. The Ghost initially appears in the Iron Man comics but pops up in "Ant-Man and the Wasp" as a teched out villain to add an element of danger to our diminutive protagonists and their crime-fighting mission. Walton Goggins plays Sonny Burch, a weasely character also first seen in Iron Man comics, will Sonny be able to throw a wrench in the plans of our heroes? Laurence Fishburne plays Dr. Bill Foster, a star lab assistant that work on the Goliath program with Dr. Hank Pym. We will have to wait and see if Dr. Foster will be able to alter his size as Ant-Man does. Audiences cannot wait for the next Marvel offering Now that the tranquil lives of Ant-Man and the Wasp have been interrupted by our new villain and some other possibly dastardly character additions what secrets will they uncover about themselves, Dr. Pym, and Pym Technologies? Will Scott Lang be able to find the elusive balance between the exciting, action-packed superhero life, and the stable family life to be a better father to his daughter? We will certainly find out when "Ant-Man and the Wasp" hits theaters on July 6. Take the successful recipe of a sassy sidekick, biting sarcastic wit of the protagonist, and dry humor of Dr. Pym and the Marvel Cinematic Universe has another summer blockbuster ready to go with "Ant-Man and the Wasp." Baby boomers everywhere remember the late David Cassidy and the "Partridge Family" as one of the first "groovy" shows with "groovy" people to grace TV sets in the 1970s. The teenage girls swooned over him and the teenage boys fashioned themselves after him, David Cassidy was the 70's "It" teen. That was a long time ago and as Keith Partridge faded away and David Cassidy became David Cassidy again, his life had some dark times. Cassidy's daughter Katie recently shared some very personal things about her late dad during an interview, starting with the fact that she didn't even know the man until she was in fourth grade. FOX NEWS: David Cassidys daughter Katie says her dad had some demons https://t.co/nZtDA6nDBx pic.twitter.com/FLj1FPoy6E Prince Mina (@UKPrinceMina) May 2, 2018 The fact that David and his daughter didn't have a relationship during her early childhood years was not something Katie previously shared. The former teen idol's 31-year-old daughter recently opened up about life with her late dad and the ups and downs that it presented. Teen heartthrob Cassidy was also known as Keith Partridge during his teen idol reign and he had a prestigious spot on bedroom walls across the nation on posters that watched over teens as they slept. TV became a destination for preteens, teens, and young adults during that half hour each week that the "Partridge Family" aired. If you were old enough to watch the "idiot box," as TVs were fondly deemed by parents during that era, you knew the name of David Cassidy. Cassidy's daughter Katie Katie is the daughter of Cassidy and model Sherry Williams. It is true that Katie didn't know her dad until she was in the fourth grade, but they did get to a time in their lives where they became really close. A while before her father died the two were somewhat estranged, but they did manage to patch that up before he died. It was Cassidy's struggles with alcohol that kept him away for periods of time. He did three separate stints in rehab for his alcoholism and finally admitted to being an alcoholic back in 2014. David Cassidy's Death Brought His Family 'Back Together,' Says Daughter Katie https://t.co/6PKc4nls2k People (@people) April 28, 2018 Dies at 67 Cassidy was 67 when he died of organ failure last November. During Katie's life with her dad, she said there was one point when he became her close friend as well as her dad. She describes her dad as being a "wonderful, wonderful person" who "struggled with some demons," according to Fox News. Back in February of 2017, David Cassidy admitted that while being Katie's biological father, he wasn't really a father to her. He didn't raise her and he wasn't there for her when she was a kid. He said in a People Magazine interview that his daughter "had a completely different life" from his. Sabrina Burkholder of "Breaking Amish" has been through a lot over the years. She has been arrested more than once and has lost her kids. Now, In Touch Weekly shared the details about how all Sabrina says that the producers are helping her to stay sober so she can see her kids. This is exactly what she wants to happen. Sabrina shares the details Sabrina is speaking out now and sharing what is going on. Both of her children have been adopted by their father's sister and so Sabrina doesn't have custody of the girls. She has made it obvious she wants them in her life, but she doesn't stay clean. Sabrina shared the details on Facebook about what is going on now. It sounds like she is ready to get her act together. It turns out that she saw her Parole Officer recently and is working with them. She actually signed papers that allows TLC know everything that is going on with her and they are really trying hard to help her out with staying sober. If she doesn't pass a pee test, then they will find out. She said, "That way I am held accountable and have to do well, otherwise, I will lose my job. I decided that I need that kind of structure in my life." The show is returning Another thing that Sabrina dropped in her comments on Facebook was that she could end up losing her job if she is found doing drugs again. This means that they are filming more of "Return To Amish" and Sabrina wants to make sure that she has her job and paycheck coming in. This is the only job she has it sounds like so she can't lose that one or she will be in a worse spot that she is now. It turns out that at first, her parole officer didn't have to tell TLC anything except for if she was ok or in jail. Now that she has signed these papers they can tell TLC anything they want about how she is doing and her progress. As long as Sabrina stays clean, then she should be able to see her daughters, but since they have been adopted that means that she will never have custody of them again. They are now in a stable environment. Sabrina Burkholder went on to explain that she wants her kids to have someone to look up to in her and that she has to get her at together for that to happen. It sounds like the fans may get to see some of this and how she is doing when the show "Return to Amish" returns to TLC, but there is no word yet when it will be back again. Do you think that Sabrina Burkholder can get her act together now? Do you feel like she will be able to see her daughters? Sound off in the comments section below on your thoughts. Scheana Marie once again appeared way more into Rob Valletta than he was into her on the latest episode of "Vanderpump Rules." As the cast celebrated the progress party of Tom Tom restaurant in West Hollywood, California, Scheana attempted to get Rob's attention by putting on a hard hat and teasing him by saying she would keep it for later on. Unfortunately, Rob didn't seem to care at all and proceeded to talk about the drink he was enjoying. As Rob continued to ignore his then-girlfriend, Scheana appeared to be completely unaware of his lack of enthusiasm about her late-night plan and proceeded to take a series of selfies. Meanwhile, Rob went on to chat with a male member of the cast about how he was hoping to make it clear to Scheana that they were not yet ready for marriage. He even suggested she "pump the breaks." Fans watched in horror as Rob Valletta made a fool out of Scheana Marie "That was horrible to watch you get ignored last night!! Wadad**k!" a "Vanderpump Rules" viewer wrote to Scheana Marie as she watched the episode play out. "I just cant believe I didnt notice it AT THE TIME!!!" she replied. Scheana went on to say that while some have blamed certain scenes on editing, she takes full responsibility for her naivety. She also explained that she acted as she did because Rob was "her life" in 2017. After a number of fans tweeted to her about Rob's shocking antics during the "Vanderpump Rules" season six finale, Scheana posted a message in which she encouraged her female fans to be with the guy who treats them like a princess. She then said that 2018 has been the fresh start she needed and told fans she is now a completely different person than she was last year. Scheana Marie and Rob Valletta ended their romance in August of last year While Scheana was head over heels in love and convinced she would one day walk down the aisle with the actor, they actually didn't date all that long. As fans will recall, Scheana struck up a romance with Rob in early 2017 after splitting from ex-husband Mike Shay weeks prior. Then, about six months into their relationship, Rob chose to end the relationship. To see more of Scheana Marie and her co-stars, including Lisa Vanderpump, Jax Taylor, Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney, Ariana Madix, Lala Kent, Tom Sandoval, and James Kennedy, don't miss the first installment of the three-part "Vanderpump Rules" reunion special, which begins airing on Monday, May 7 at 9 PM on Bravo TV. As with any other brilliant show, ''This Is Us'' has its own recipe in terms of characters' complexity and its built-up method. Launched by NBC in 2016, this TV drama series quickly gained traction. By the end of the first season, a strong fan base had been cemented and the mainstream success was a simple matter of time. When referring to this show, one particular character would pope up from the back of the mind. It's Jack Pearson who stands as the central pillar and the core around which the whole narrative has to revolve. And it's a perfect choice given the stunning manner Milo Ventimiglia embodies this persona. The story will dig deeper into Jack Pearson's past with Kevin in the front line Throughout the second season, precious pieces of information were given to us, especially those unveiling how Jack Pearson died. But, his story is far from being over as the connection between him and his family has survived the test of time. The Season 2 finale opened up a new door, especially for Kate and Kevin. Finding a sense of closure on her relationship with her father, Kate decided to move. She got married to Toby, a guy who seems the perfect match for her. For Kevin, his sister's wedding provided an opportunity to jump into another relationship. Kevin and Sophie ended their second time together in a rather strange way. Now, the manny has Beth's cousin Zoe alongside him in what seems to be the beginning of an interesting trip to Vietnam. That scene with the plane preparing to land in Vietnam offers a short glimpse into a possible future scenario. Knowing the bond between Kevin and Jack, it would be interesting to follow the magnitude of this mission to uncover Jack's traces from forty years ago. What do we know about Jack Pearson going to war in Vietnam? There is one more mystery yet to be uncovered about Jack Pearson's life and that mostly revolves around his relationship with his brother Nicky. What we know for sure is that the whole Vietnam War experience left some horrible scars for Jack. Most certainly, his brother Nicky died during their time spent in the Vietnamese jungle. Moreover, that's what pushed Jack into that drinking problem, an issue that will persist for years. Although Jack Pearson has been the focusing point for two seasons, we still know too little about this matter. Nicky may have played a special role in Jack's later development as a person and that's why we need to learn more about the topic. Season 2 saw Kevin Pearson suffering a complete meltdown while the memory of his lost father was still an open wound. Now, it would be interesting to see how he'll handle this journey back in time. If he will pick the right thread, he will have to accommodate a significant sheer of emotions, all related to Jack and his time spent in Vietnam. The emotional toll could be too much and Kevin could cave in once more. Three brave victims who were abused by a Catholic priest in Chile, met in a private meeting with Pope Francis in Rome. Juan Carlos, James Hamilton Sanchez, and Jose Andres Murillo, spoke for five days with the Holy Father at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City. The three men strongly urged Pope Francis to take action against the networks of abuse that takes place in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis appeared most remorseful as he asked for the mens forgiveness stating that, I was part of the problem. I caused this and I apologize. The Holy Father admits to have defended Bishop Juan Barros Madrid, who victims have accused him for covering up and being an eyewitness to the abuse by pedophile priest, Rev. Fernando Karadima. Rev. Fernando was found guilty in 2011 of child sex abuse. With such critical accusations against Bishop Juan Barros Madrid, the Holy Father still appointed him bishop of Osorno in southern Chile in 2015. Pope Francis had clear knowledge of the bishop ties to Chiles most notorious pedophile priest, but despite the protest among the faithful, Pope Francis still appointed Barros Madrid. Pope Francis previously stated that the lack of evidence against the bishop was reason to not hold him accountable. The Holy Father stated, I am also convinced he [Barros Madrid] is innocent. (New York Times) Before Wednesdays meeting, Cruz hoped that the encounter with the pope would result in immediate actions to alter pedophila within the Catholic church. Pope Francis asks for forgiveness No pope that came before has ever acknowledged their faults and taking ownership over sexual abuse claims, besides Pope Francis. Admitting that he was apart of the problem by appointing a bishop who had knowledge of the pedophilia scandal. Cruz stated, I believe he was sincere, (Guardian) after his meeting with the pope. Cruz firmly believes that the pope was misinformed about the case involving Bishop Juan Barros. In January, Francis still defended the bishop in his trip to Chile, calling the accusations a calumny. Pope Francis also stated that he has never heard of any ill mentions of Barros, despite receiving a letter from Cruz in 2015, detailing the sins of the bishop. Cruz does not know when the pope came to acknowledge the truth, but all that matters to him is getting the justice he and the two other brave men deserve. Cruz also warned the pope to beware of those who surround him during the conference. Cruz stated that the pope had been duped by those in the church. Hamilton Sanchez stated that the pope is now very well informed. Hamilton furthered his statement saying that the reason behind the popes invitation, is because he wanted to know the truth. Everyone deserves a second chance, said Hamilton about the pope. (CNN) Where does the Catholic Church go from here? After admitting his wrongdoings, Pope Francis has promised the men to settle the matter. Whether or not that ends in terminating Bishop Barros position, the pope did not elaborate on details explaining what he will do next. Though, the men stated that this meeting will not end in vain. A civilian was injured in Pakistani shelling overnight on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district. Police said the Pakistani Army resorted to shelling and firing on the LoC in Tangdhar sector at 11 p.m. on Thursday. Indian positions retaliated effectively. Intermittent shelling and firing exchanges continued till 4.30 a.m. on Friday. A woman identified as Noor Jahan was injured when a splinter fired from across the LoC hit her home. She was shifted to a hospital, a police officer said. As is the case for many Hokies, Taylor Swan has gained a better sense of self and articulated a new vision for her future as a result of her Virginia Tech experience. Over the past four years, she has developed a passion for service and discovered her leadership style through involvement in Student Affairs departments and programs. Her introduction to Student Affairs came as a first-year orientation leader for New Student Programs in 2016, an experience she says pushed her out of her comfort zone. Her goal that summer was to make students feel comfortable when they came to Virginia Tech and to let them know they had a friend in her. I learned so much about the university that I didnt know before, Swan said. I didnt realize how much it impacted me until I reflected back on it. Since summer 2017, Swan has served as the student event coordinator for Family and Alumni Relations under the supervision of Bobbie Webster, associate director of family and alumni relations, who Swan describes as an incredible mentor and great friend. I have learned more from her and all of the people in family and alumni relations about my chosen career path than anywhere else in college, Swan said. She has pushed me when I most needed it, letting me make decisions and take lead on certain projects, but she has also always been right behind me whether I had questions or needed help. Come August, Swan will enroll at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, as one of 15 members of the first-ever cohort to earn a master of arts in higher education. While pursuing her degree, shell complete an assistantship in academic advising. Although her work with family and alumni relations and her service as an orientation leader gave her insight into the purpose and impact of student affairs in the context of a university, it was Vice President for Student Affairs Patty Perillo who inspired her career trajectory. I was sitting in a training for Hokie Camp, and Dr. Perillo came in and was talking about what she does, Swan said. I remember thinking, How did she get there? She gets to know so many people on a personal level and make so many peoples days better just because of what she does. I started to research that career path. Another passion of Swans is language. She believes the ability to communicate with someone in their native tongue affords a deeper understanding of who they are and allows for more personal connections to be made. Learning Italian and American Sign Language are next on her list. In addition to her work in Student Affairs, Swan is the service officer for Chi Delta Alpha Service Sorority. She feels excited and prepared for whats to come after graduation, but she admits shell miss the genuine friendships shes made and the sense of community shes experienced at Virginia Tech. Swan hails from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and is graduating with a double major in psychology and Spanish from the College of Science and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, respectively. Photo by Jud Froelich Written by Tiffany Woodall Fitbit, Inc., a technology company, provides health solutions in the United States and internationally. The company offers a line of devices, including Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire, Fitbit Inspire HR, and Fitbit Ace 2 activity trackers; Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa family of smartwatches, as well as Fitbit Flyer wireless headphones and the Fitbit Aria family of connected scales; and accessories, such as bands and frames for its devices. It also offers Fitbit online dashboard and mobile apps that sync automatically with and display real-time data from its wearable devices; and Fitbit Care, a connected health platform for health plans, employers, and health systems. In addition, the company provides Fitbit Premium, a paid subscription service that uses the data of users to deliver actionable guidance and coaching to help users achieve their health and fitness goals, as well as includes Fitbit Coach that offers exercise programs through personal trainer and yoga apps. It sells its products through consumer electronics and specialty, e-commerce, mass merchant, department store, club, and sporting goods and outdoors retailers; wireless carriers; distributors; and Fitbit.com, an online store, as well as directly to consumers. Fitbit, Inc. has a collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute and Stanford Medicine to study the role of wearables to detect, track, and contain infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.; and partnership with Solera Health to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes. The company was formerly known as Healthy Metrics Research, Inc. and changed its name to Fitbit, Inc. in October 2007. Fitbit, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Read More NAME: Susan Herrera POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic OCCUPATION: Retired CITY OF RESIDENCE: Embudo RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: CEO, LANL Foundation; Director, US Congressional Hispanic Caucus EDUCATION: BUS UNM. CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: susanherrera.com QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: A. Revamp the state tax structure including personal, corporate and gross receipts taxes. B. Work with local governments to train personnel on creating workforce development programs combining local, state and federal funding streams. C. Enhance the Small Business Development Centers at community colleges to provide more services to small business and the non-profit sector. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate? Work to increase wages and training for all law enforcement. Encourage the development of neighborhood watch groups to assist local law enforcement. Expand the concept of community policing. How would you address the states high DWI rate? Create a committee composed of municipal, magistrate and district judges to help train and set guidelines for all judges in the sentencing of DWI cases. We also need to provide more detox and alcohol recovery programs so that judges can refer people to recovery programs instead of jail. New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services? I have long been an advocate of increasing the annual draw to 6 percent from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales? I support legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party? I oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7.50 per hour? If so, by how much? Minimum wages for Colorado and Arizona are $10.20 and $10.50 respectively. I support raising New Mexicos minimum wage to $10 per hour on an incremental basis. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores? Explain. I oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores for the following reasons. Student test scores are closely aligned with poverty rates nationally. Any teacher working in a school serving a poor population is a hero facing daunting challenges. We need to support these teachers and schools. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses? No, I think we should stick to a fair and equitable pay system based on years of service and education. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient? No. I think investing in education is the best thing we can do in our state. Community colleges and rural universities serve as the community brain trust in rural parts of our state and provide an educated workforce that serves not only the college, but the community in general. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future? I think we should base the lottery scholarship program on need. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment? I believe the term right to work state is deliberately misleading. As for the payment of union fees as a condition of employment, it is only fair when a union has won a contract with management for collective bargaining. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state? Yes. If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public? Immediately. Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public? Yes. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner? Yes, if federal funds are garnered for safety upgrades. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales? Yes. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why? I think we need an equitable gross receipts system that taxes businesses fairly and there should be no exemptions. Gross receipts tax rates should be tied to annual business income and not the county of origin. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support? I would encourage every school district to apply for a Student Resource Officer funded the US Department of Justice. I would support common sense gun legislation, including universal background checks, banning assault weapons, and temporarily banning weapons for individuals with restraining orders. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens? No. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? No. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. No. NAME: Antoinette Sedillo Lopez Antoinette Sedillo Lopez POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic Democratic OCCUPATION: Law Professor (emeritus) Law Professor (emeritus) CITY OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque Albuquerque RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Member of Bernalillo County/ City of Albuquerque Air Quality Control Board, 27 year Law Professor, Associate Dean of UNM School of Law; Executive Director of Enlace Comunitario. President and/or Board member of Southwest Womens Law Center, Valley Improvement Association, NM Hispanic Bar Association, MALDEF Member of Bernalillo County/ City of Albuquerque Air Quality Control Board, 27 year Law Professor, Associate Dean of UNM School of Law; Executive Director of Enlace Comunitario. President and/or Board member of Southwest Womens Law Center, Valley Improvement Association, NM Hispanic Bar Association, MALDEF EDUCATION: Bachelors, University of New Mexico, JD UCLA School of Law Bachelors, University of New Mexico, JD UCLA School of Law CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: AntoinetteforCongress.com IMMIGRATION 1. Please give your position on DACA. I support the DREAM Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for all 800,000 young people who know no other country as their home. These young people are contributing members of our communities, have no criminal history, and have been promised by our federal government a place in this country. We should honor that commitment by providing a legislative fix to a problem weve only managed to address through the executive branch. 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? I support humane immigration reform that provides legalization and a path to citizenship to the 11 million undocumented immigrants that are currently contributing to our economy and the social fabric of our country. Our federal immigration policies should strive to bring the undocumented community out of the shadows, reunite families, and provide protections to exploited immigrant workers. On the question of who should be deported, it would need to be based on a strict definition of what constitutes a criminal alien. 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? I do believe the border is secure. Over the course of the last 25 years, border security spending has increased more than 14 times and now tops $4 Billion annually. Weve increased the number of border patrol agents by over 500% in that same time period. Since 2000, weve built over 700 miles of steel wall barricades and double-sided fencing. The border has been sufficiently secured. I unequivocally do not support Trumps proposal to build a border wall if for no other reason than it is entirely unnecessary. 4. Whats your position on skills-based immigration vs. family-based? I do not believe that the two are mutually exclusive. Honoring the values of keeping families together to allow communities to thrive is a truly American endeavor. Moreover, nearly half of the immigrants who come to the United States through the family and diversity visa programs hold college or graduate degrees, making them better educated than the average U.S. born citizen. I believe we can prioritize highly skilled immigration while also honoring our long-standing commitment to the family-based immigration system weve had in place. This is a false dichotomy. 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? Yes, I unequivocally support a federal ban on the sale of assault-style weapons. I would support a robust federal gun buyback program to get these weapons off of our streets, and I would include a phase out period that is accommodating. 2. What other, if any, gun law changes would you support? I believe that we need to close the gun show loophole, place further restrictions to keep domestic abusers from purchasing a gun, pass legislation requiring a universal background check for all gun purchases, and stop any conceal carry reciprocity among states which would mean that states would not have any power to legislate their own standards about permitting individuals to carry concealed weapons. 3. Would you favor a repeal of the 2nd amendment? No, as a law professor, I know that it isnt necessary to repeal the 2nd amendment to enact common sense gun safety laws. 4. While much of the discussion on school safety centers on gun control, what other measures would you support to make schools safer? As the former director of an anti-domestic violence agency, I believe that we need to get at root causes to try to solve the problem of gun violence and improve safety in our communities. With that said, I believe in more robust federal funding for mental health services, expanding funding for early childhood education and after school programs. We need to expand on violence prevention programs. I believe that if we offer services that improve the overall health and wellbeing of communities, the root causes that lead to violence will be greatly diminished. FOREIGN POLICY 1. What do you propose the U.S. do with regards to Syria? Our main concern ought to be addressing the refugee crisis that has been the result of this conflict. Our government has a responsibility (under the Refugee Act) to conduct federal refugee resettlements, and we have been negligent in that responsibility as it relates to the Syrian people. Yet, resolving the conflict and building a sustainable peace in Syria requires continued diplomacy fostered by coalition-led discussions. I believe that a resolution must include two primary elements: a negotiated removal of President Assad, resulting in transparent, free and fair elections thereafter, and the creation of conditions for the return of displaced persons and refugees. 2. In Afghanistan? It is absolutely true that a resolution to the problem in Afghanistan are more complex than past political rhetoric surrounding this area of foreign policy. Though, I believe that President Trumps decision to increase our military presence there last year was not the correct action. The primary obstacles standing in the way of building an enduring peace in that country are driven primarily by the issues stemming from the broken negotiations between the Afghan government (largely supported by the west) and the Taliban (supported in no small part by the Pakistani government). And so we are left with a stalemate that I believe can only be overcome through continued and effective diplomacy. 3. In Mexico? The relationship that we have with Mexico is a special one based on history, shared culture, and economic collaboration. The extensive trade and investment relationship between our two countries is important, but certainly worth scrutinizing for its impact on our own labor force as well as that of the Mexican people. As our third largest trading partner, it is incumbent on us to consider the implications that this relationship, particularly in the NAFTA context, has had on our manufacturing base and ultimately the health and well-being of our overall labor force. 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? No, I do not support the sale of weapons, but I am in support of the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Though I understand that the weapons sold to the Ukrainian government addresses specific military and national security vulnerabilities that the Ukrainians are dealing with in combating Russian-backed separatists, I do not see escalation in military conflict as productive. The scale of Russian intervention in other sovereign territories is alarming, and their support for figures like Assad are deeply harmful for the prospects of peace. Our posture should be one of deterrence. Yet, I do not believe escalating into a military conflict, either through proxies in the middle east or in eastern Europe, are a reasonable path forward. 5. If talks fail, would you support a pre-emptive strike on North Korea to degrade its nuclear capabilities and missile delivery systems? No, the costs and loss of life are simply too great to warrant a pre-emptive strike. The events following a pre-emptive strike are unpredictable, and would likely result in a response that would risk hundreds of thousands of American and South Korean lives. ECONOMY 1. How would you make New Mexico less dependent on federal spending? I believe that we need to diversify our states economy in order to become less dependent on federal spending. Part of that means ensuring that our government is providing the types of services and programs that are conducive to building up human capital that allows for a thriving economy. That includes providing good public schools, making higher education and vocational training accessible to all, and building an infrastructure that allows our small businesses to grow. Sometimes, its important to spend money to make money, and investing in human capital will allow for a more successful and vibrant state economy that is less dependent on the federal government over the long term. 2. Do you support or oppose President Trumps imposition of higher tariffs on China? Why or why not? I do support some targeted tariffs on steel and other products that China has at times egregiously dumped into our markets to hurt American manufacturing. That would include effective anti-dumping regulation, agreements and enforcement. I also believe we need to rethink our trade policy, in particular as it relates to China. Our trade policy towards China has not benefited the American worker, and has instead benefitted large, multinational corporations. Targeted tariffs can help put our manufacturing base on an even playing field. OTHER 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? Speaking as a woman, a mother, a survivor, and a law professor, I unequivocally support a womans right to have access to a safe and legal abortion. It should not matter whether it occurs after the first trimester, because sometimes a late term abortion is a necessity because of the health and condition of the mother and/or the fetus. This decision should be between a woman and her doctor. Yes, I also believe that the federal government must ensure coverage for abortion care in public health insurance programs including Medicaid, Medicare, and the Childrens Health Insurance Program. 2. What should be done at the federal level to address the crisis of opioid addiction? We should restrict access to opioid painkillers, while also investing federal resources in opioid addiction treatment. There are legislative proposals that impose three day limits on initial opioid prescriptions, and I would be supportive of ideas like this. We can increase civil and criminal penalties for opioid manufacturers who fail to report suspicious ordering or trends by prescribers. 3. Do you favor or oppose a national single payer health system? Explain. I do support single payer healthcare, and I believe that healthcare is a human right. The current healthcare system still leaves nearly 30 million individuals uninsured, and continues to leave families nearing bankruptcy with overwhelming medical costs. Employment based provision of healthcare also places a burden on businesses that is not borne by Mexican, Canadian or European business competitors and limits small business growth. Its time we join other Western and industrialized nations and provide single payer healthcare. 4. What would you do to rein in health care costs? I would support single payer health care as a means of cost containment. As studies have shown it is cheaper than our current system. 5. If elected, are there any issues you could work with President Trump on, and would you be willing to do so? Yes, I would work with him on trade issues, and try to work with him towards leveling the playing field for American manufacturing and the American worker. 6. If you had to decide today, would you vote to impeach President Trump? Yes, I would vote to impeach President Trump. As a law professor, I take very seriously his attempts to obstruct justice in the Russia investigation as well as his attempts to cover up his behavior with women. I also believe that he is violating our constitution by ignoring the foreign emoluments clause. The constitution allows for impeachment proceedings in the event of Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors. I believe that we are aware of evidence that this Presidents behavior in ignoring the rule of law and our Constitution raises serious questions that justify impeachment proceedings.. 7. Should the federal government play a role in setting education policy for the nations public schools? Explain your answer. Yes, the federal government has a role in helping to set education policy for the nations public schools. The U.S. Department of Education is charged with enforcing federal education laws that protect the privacy and the civil rights of students, teachers and administrators. While our education is deliberately and appropriately decentralized, there is a role for the Department of Education in public education in ensuring that our important national values of equal education opportunity, such as those embodied in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are enforced. 8. Why do you want to be a member of Congress? I want to be a member of Congress because in my 30 years as a law professor and social justice advocate, Ive seen us make progress in some areas and not nearly enough in others. Ive seen working people barely make ends meet in an economy that is by some measures booming, but not working for the people that need it most. Ive seen income inequality continue to grow and our schools continue to get defunded. I want to go to Congress to work for positive change in the lives of everyday New Mexicans and to give the people of this state a fighting chance. I want to help build a government that is worthy of the sacrifices made by the people of this state. I want to go to Congress to help build a government that puts human needs above all other interests; a government that says to our kids that their healthcare, their schools, their safety and their future are our main priorities. 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 any other state? If so, explain. No. NAME: Damon Martinez Damon Martinez POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic Democratic OCCUPATION: Attorney Attorney CITY OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque Albuquerque RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico from 2014-2017 after 13 years as Assistant U.S. Attorney. 15 year member of the U.S. Armed Forces, currently Lt. Colonel in U.S. Army Reserve. Legislative Assistant to Senator Jeff Bingaman, Legislative Director to (then) Representative Tom Udall, where I worked on federal legislation such as environmental protection, small businesses, gun safety, and foreign affairs. U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico from 2014-2017 after 13 years as Assistant U.S. Attorney. 15 year member of the U.S. Armed Forces, currently Lt. Colonel in U.S. Army Reserve. Legislative Assistant to Senator Jeff Bingaman, Legislative Director to (then) Representative Tom Udall, where I worked on federal legislation such as environmental protection, small businesses, gun safety, and foreign affairs. EDUCATION: Graduate of St. Pius X High School, BA in Political Science and Economics from University of New Mexico in 1989, M.B.A. from the UNM Anderson School of Management in 1993 and Juris Doctor from UNM School of Law in 1992. Graduate of St. Pius X High School, BA in Political Science and Economics from University of New Mexico in 1989, M.B.A. from the UNM Anderson School of Management in 1993 and Juris Doctor from UNM School of Law in 1992. CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: damonmartinezforcongress.com IMMIGRATION 1. Please give your position on DACA. I support DACA and believe that Congress should pass clean legislation giving people who were brought here as children, who have committed no felonies or serious misdemeanors, a path to citizenship. Many of these young people are teachers, police officers, EMTs, members of the military, or students in our universities. They enrich our communities and are part of a proud legacy of immigrants who have built our nation. 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? For those who do not qualify for DACA, I support a combination of a path to citizenship and worker permits for most undocumented people currently living in the United States. Undocumented immigrants who have not committed any felonies or serious/violent misdemeanors should be provided with the option of a path to citizenship, which would include paying any back taxes and modest immigration fees based on income. 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? Border security is a complex issue requiring a comprehensive solution. I oppose the border wall and find the recent proposal to use military funds to pay for it offensive. The best way to increase border security is with increased technology (including more infrared cameras and drones), a drug policy focused on treatment, prevention, and education, and a foreign policy in Mexico and Latin America that strengthens and supports their economies. 4. Whats your position on skills-based immigration vs. family-based? Families are the cornerstones of any society and the building blocks of our communities. Family-based versus skills-based immigration should not be framed as a zero sum game, as both enrich our country and our economy. Both those who bring needed skills to this country, and those who have strong family ties here, including to grandparents, should be given priority in our immigration system. 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? As a member of the armed forces, I have trained with and carried assault-style weapons and know that they do not belong in civilian hands. I support a ban on the sale of assault-style weapons as well as on large capacity magazines. For those guns already in the community, I support a volunteer buyback program and a system to register these assault weapons. 2. What other, if any, gun law changes would you support? Removing liability protections for gun manufacturers and sellers; investment in CDC research on gun violence; a ban on bumpstocks; ensuring silencers cannot be purchased; universal background checks; red flag systems for domestic violence convictions, temporary restraining orders, and certain mental illnesses; raising the age for long-gun purchases; improvements to the federal database and better use of technology to flag problematic purchasers; and federal licensing standards to include gun safety courses. 3. Would you favor a repeal of the 2nd amendment? No, I do not believe it is necessary to change the Constitution to effect gun safety. All of the changes I have proposed, including a ban on assault weapons, have been found to not conflict with even the strict interpretations of the 2nd Amendment, which was written to ensure a well-regulated militia could use firearms. 4. While much of the discussion on school safety centers on gun control, what other measures would you support to make schools safer? Fully funding the APS Crossroads Counselors program, which at one time had eight counselors serving an entire district of hundreds of thousands of students. I support funding of counseling and intervention programs for kids struggling with mental health or other issues, as well as funding every school district to allow them to hire trained law enforcement officers as school security and to distribute them throughout the schools as needed. FOREIGN POLICY 1. What do you propose the U.S. do with regards to Syria? Chemical attacks on civilians are a serious violation of international law, human rights, and common decency. Moreso however, there are negotiations taking place on post civil war Syria, and we need a seat at that table, which we dont currently have. The only actors engaging there are Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and Turkey, and our absence is leaving us vulnerable to the dangerous results of instability in the region. 2. In Afghanistan? We need to make the difficult decision as to whether we are going to invest in a long-term strategy to rebulid Afghanistan, such as we did in post World War II Germany, instead of trying to engage there in a piecemeal fashion. Our qualified support is allowing the Taliban and Russian surrogates to re-emerge as players, while Pakistan gives safe harbor to the Taliban in their efforts. 3. In Mexico? We start by according Mexico the respect it deserves as our neighbor and largest trading partner. We need to develop a trade zone here in Albuquerque that allows us to add value to the interstate commerce traveling through New Mexico either via the Mexican-American border or ports of California. We need to engage productively with our neighbor and work on strengthening, not eroding, our relationship with Mexico. 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? Russias efforts to wage cyber warfare on our elections, undermine our democratic process, and commit political assassinations globally cannot be tolerated. I support the expulsion of the diplomats, but we need to do more, including putting in place aggressive sanctions, increasing support for our NATO allies, monitoring developments in former Soviet satellite states, and treating the Russian government as a totalitarian regime requiring isolation and sanctions from the global community. 5. If talks fail, would you support a pre-emptive strike on North Korea to degrade its nuclear capabilities and missile delivery systems? No. Many military experts have indicated it is impossible to know exactly where to strike to truly degrade the nuclear capabilities, and that we would launch into a war that could ultimately include Russia and China and would surely lead to huge numbers of casualties, civilian and military. Such action would be both dangerous and reckless. ECONOMY 1. How would you make New Mexico less dependent on federal spending? I would focus on building local businesses, particularly in the technology sector. We need to make it easier for technology transfer from the labs to make it into the community. As U.S. Attorney, I worked with the laboratories and the university to try and build a closer relationship between the students and work opportunities. We need to leverage whatever resources we have locally to grow our economy and businesses. I would also advocate for an investment of federal funds into our educational system, from pre-k thru college, to build the type of workforce that larger companies are looking for as they expand and grow. 2. Do you support or oppose President Trumps imposition of higher tariffs on China? Why or why not? Oppose. Trade wars rarely benefit American workers and families. If President Trump wants to grow the middle class and truly support American working families, he should instead work to pass better labor protections, raise the minimum wage, enact paid leave, and improve working conditions. OTHER 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? I do not support limits on when a woman should be permitted to make the best decision possible for herself and her family. Late-term abortion is often emotionally heartbreaking and medically complicated, and it is best left to a woman, her physician, and any family or faith support system she chooses to include. The State Supreme Court has upheld the practice of using Medicaid to pay for abortions to ensure lower-income women have a meaningful right to control their own bodies, and I agree with this stance. 2. What should be done at the federal level to address the crisis of opioid addiction? We cannot prosecute our way out of the heroin opioid epidemic. The HOPE Initiative, which I started in partnership with UNM Health Sciences focusing on treatment, prevent, and education, is a model program that should be adopted nationally. As someone whose family has been personally affected by this epidemic, I am committed to fully funding such programs. We also need to hold the pharmaceutical companies, who created this epidemic, accountable. 3. Do you favor or oppose a national single day payer health system? Explain. Yes. Lack of access to health care only exacerbates the behavioral health and substance abuse crisis our state is facing, which is fueling our crime problems, increasing child abuse and domestic violence, and straining our education system. These chronic health problems would be greatly alleviated by a single payer system as they can often only be treated through long-term comprehensive treatment programs, which requires expanded health insurance and funding. 4. What would you do to rein in health care costs? We must first address how big pharmaceutical companies current patent system protects them from competition and makes it difficult to purchase pharmaceuticals at a cheaper price. I would also incentivize state and health systems to invest heavily in primary care and behavioral health to forestall issues that become more costly as diseases progress. I also support the shift to value-based health care, which will rein in costs long-term. 5. If elected, are there any issues you could work with President Trump on, and would you be willing to do so? President Trump would first need to earn our trust and convince policymakers that he comes to the table in a good faith effort to improve the lives of everyday Americans. Having been fired by President Trump, and having found out about it from the Washington Post, I find it unlikely that he is interested in making good policy. If he were though, we would start by addressing the opioid crisis. 6. If you had to decide today, would you vote to impeach President Trump? Its critical we do nothing to compromise Robert Muellers investigation. That said, I see evidence of obstruction of justice in President Trumps firing of James Comey, threats to the Department of Justice, and ongoing efforts to undermine the rule of law. I would support the House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings, and, as a former prosecutor of organized crime, I would look forward to taking an active role in these proceedings. 7. Should the federal government play a role in setting education policy for the nations public schools? Explain your answer. Yes. Education is the bedrock of our democracy. When voters are not critical thinkers, when they do not know what questions to ask, understand science, or respect history, they cannot make good electoral choices. The federal government must play a role in this core piece of our democracy, and as such, should set appropriate national standards and provide the funding necessary for students to achieve success. 8. Why do you want to be a member of Congress? When President Trump fired me as U.S. Attorney, our office was in the midst of critical work improving our communities and holding bad actors accountable. Now, this President is not just rolling back our progress, he is attacking our bedrock institutions and eroding trust in our democracy. In Congress, Ill bring serious, experienced leadership to the ongoing fight to end gun violence, defend our environment, and protect our civil rights. 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 any other state? If so, explain. No. An Albuquerque woman was sentenced Thursday to 21 months in the January 2016 crash that fatally injured a prominent local doctor while she was waiting at a traffic light. Sara Casados was acquitted of vehicular homicide in a February trial but was convicted of careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. State District Judge Cristina Jaramillo imposed the maximum sentence for those two convictions, and Casados must serve that time in the Department of Corrections. She was taken into custody after Thursdays hearing. Casados was driving more than 70 mph on a city street early on a Saturday morning when her truck plowed into Dr. Teodora Konstantinovas car near Louisiana and Constitution. Casados attorney, Ousama Rasheed, has said that his client was suffering a medical episode and had unsuccessfully sought treatment in the weeks leading up to the wreck. Konstantinovas son dismissed that explanation as insulting lies. Dont come and insult our intelligence with your lies, said Nikifor Konstantinov. My mother, my father, most of our friends here in court today and myself are physicians. You convinced a jury of your peers with a tragic and simply untrue defense of your medical condition, but just dont try and explain what happened that day with that defense. Friends who spoke in court described Konstantinova as a caring and attentive doctor with an enormous heart and a wonderful sense of humor. Prosecutor Guinevere Ice asked for the maximum sentence and said that Casados had never shown remorse or taken responsibility for her actions. As she spoke in court, Casados said that court orders stopped her from contacting Konstantinovas family to apologize. After years of guilt I feel relieved I can tell you how I feel, she said through tears. Words will never be enough but I want you to know that Im so sorry. And no matter what my sentencing is, I will always beat myself up over the loss of Dr. Konstantinova. Rasheed asked for probation, which he said would let his hardworking, family-oriented client continue on the positive path that she had been on. Money doesnt bring her back. Jail for Ms. Casados doesnt bring her back. Prison for Ms. Casados doesnt bring her back, Rasheed said. Nothing brings her back. Nothing you do or I do or Ms. Casados does or anyone else does will remove the fact or relieve the pain that Dr. Konstantinova is not with this family any more. The people of the south-central African nation of Zambia and the pueblo people of New Mexico have much in common. Both had thriving tribal cultures that were oppressed during a period of colonization. Both resisted and fought against that colonization. Now they must figure out how to deal with many social and economic issues while rebuilding, redefining and preserving their cultures. His Majesty Chitimukulu Sosala Kanyanta Manga II, king to 6 million Bemba-speaking people of Zambia, and a delegation of eight other Bemba officials, are in Albuquerque this week for a cultural summit with the leaders of New Mexicos 19 pueblos. The Thursday summit was held at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The Pueblo and Zambian leaders discussed some of the issues common on pueblos and in Zambian villages, including poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse, child abuse, unemployment, domestic violence and violence against women. But they also noted the richness of both cultures, and had discussions on tribal governance and laws, education, self-determination and the preservation of language, culture and traditions. There are 73 ethnic groups in Zambia, of which the Bemba ethnic group represents 21 percent of the national population. The Bemba ethnic group is the majority population in five of 10 provinces in Zambia. The Bemba kingdom is divided into 18 semiautonomous kingdoms, with Manga II being the paramount king. The visit by Manga II and his delegation is being sponsored by Women To Be, a New Mexico nonprofit that fabricates and distributes reusable sanitary pads and womens underwear, and provides sex education to girls around the world, said Christine Glidden, president of Women To Be. In the United States, girls and women have easy access to sanitary napkins, so its hard to imagine that in countries like Zambia the lack of this basic feminine hygiene product can cascade into numerous social and economic problems. In Zambia, we cannot publicly discuss that kind of thing, Manga II said. Females do talk about it to other females, but it is not a conversation for the majority. When girls have their menstrual cycles, they stay home and miss school. Then they fall behind on their schoolwork and cant catch up, so they drop out of school. As a result, these children remain uneducated and poor, and often find themselves in child marriages as a way to alleviate economic pressure. Further, these marriages often erupt in domestic violence and being forced to have more children than desired. Glidden said the Women To Be project will for the first time this summer be going to Zambia, where girls and women rely on leaves, old newspapers or rags when having their periods. Studies, she said, including one done in Zambia, show that when girls have appropriate female hygiene products during their monthly cycles, they stay in school, learn a skill, delay marriage, have fewer children and are independent for the rest of their lives. A simple sanitary napkin also allows them to experience a sense of dignity, so they participate in and contribute to their families and their villages, Glidden said. Our end goal is to establish a sewing center in Zambia to train women to sew, and then employ them to sew our product, she said. NAME: Clayburn Griffin Clayburn Griffin POLITICAL PARTY: Republican Republican OCCUPATION: Digital Marketing Digital Marketing CITY OF RESIDENCE: Lovington, NM Lovington, NM RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Founded a Teenage Republican Club in high school. Worked on campaigns for Steve Pearce and Gary Johnson. Founded a Teenage Republican Club in high school. Worked on campaigns for Steve Pearce and Gary Johnson. EDUCATION: NMJC, College of Santa Fe, NYU NMJC, College of Santa Fe, NYU CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: clayburnforcongress.com Questions for Congressional Candidates On the topic of Immigration: 1. Please give your position on DACA. I fully support DACA. 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? Welcoming good and productive immigrants to our country is a core American value. This issue is too complex to be thoughtfully discussed within the Albuquerque Journals 50-word limit. 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? This issue is too complex to be thoughtfully discussed within the Albuquerque Journals 50-word limit. 4. Whats your position on skills-based immigration vs. family-based? Both are important. Im disappointed in the recent rhetoric attacking family-based immigration. Its simply cruel to keep families apart. We cant become so cold as a nation that we would put particular professions above the importance of a family support system. 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? This issue is too complex to be thoughtfully discussed within the Albuquerque Journals 50-word limit. 2. What other, if any, gun law changes would you support? I would allow and fund the CDC to research gun violence so that we can make more informed decisions about our gun policies. We also need to expand background checks and close loopholes that would allow someone to forgo a background check when purchasing a gun. 3. Would you favor a repeal of the 2nd amendment? I would not support repealing the 2nd amendment. 4. While much of the discussion on school safety centers on gun control, what other measures would you support to make schools safer? I would like to see stronger and more effective anti-bullying campaigns in public schools. On the topic of foreign policy: 1. What do you propose the U.S. do with regards to Syria? I do not think the US should get drawn into another prolonged occupation in the Middle East. Our interventionist policies are responsible for creating the terrorists we face a generation later. This is a cycle that needs to end. 2. In Afghanistan? We should invest what we can to give the democratic Afghanistan government its best chance at building a strong, independent country and protecting itself from insurgents. Then, we have to leave and let self-governance run its course. 3. In Mexico? Mexico is one of our closest and most important allies. We need to strengthen our relationship with Mexico and help them in their struggles with the drug cartels that are ravishing their country. By legalizing and decriminalizing drugs in America, we would greatly weaken the cartels. 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? We need to be a lot tougher on Russia. They are operating all around the world with impunity. Our responses to Russia need to target their oligarchs specifically. We should direct our intelligence agencies to track down every Russian cent in the West and work closely with allies to seize it all. 5. If talks fail, would you support a pre-emptive strike on North Korea to degrade its nuclear capabilities and missile delivery systems? I would not support a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. On the economy: 1. How would you make New Mexico less dependent on federal spending? This issue is too complex to be thoughtfully discussed within the Albuquerque Journals 50-word limit. Please see my website for more information. 2. Do you support or oppose President Trumps imposition of higher tariffs on China? Why or why not? I do not support Trumps higher tariffs. A trade war will only harm American workers and consumers. We need free and open trade across the globe to spur economic growth. Other: 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? This issue is too complex to be thoughtfully discussed within the Albuquerque Journals 50-word limit. 2. What should be done at the federal level to address the crisis of opioid addiction? We need a comprehensive investigation of the pharmaceutical industry to determine steps for reforming how pain-killers are prescribed. In addition, we should decriminalize drugs so that addicts can seek the help they need. 3. Do you favor or oppose a national single day payer health system? Explain. I do favor universal health care and lean toward a single-payer system as a solution. Were the only highly developed country without universal health care. No American should have to wonder how theyre going to pay for health care. 4. What would you do to rein in health care costs? Universal health care would lower our overall health care costs. Currently many people cant seek preventative care because they cant afford it. Avoiding the doctor because you dont want to spend the money only ends up costing more in the long run as serious issues go unnoticed and untreated until its too late. 5. If elected, are there any issues you could work with President Trump on, and would you be willing to do so? Yes. 6. If you had to decide today, would you vote to impeach President Trump? Yes, on the basis of obstruction of justice and witness tampering for his actions regarding the firing and public attacks of James Comey, and because of Trumps failure to take appropriate measures to defend us from Russian cyber-attacks. 7. Should the federal government play a role in setting education policy for the nations public schools? Explain your answer. The federal government does have an important role in setting education policy in order to ensure certain quality standards. Without federal oversight, children may become victims of their community by being denied a proper education because of local cultural beliefs. 8. Why do you want to be a member of Congress? Regular people are largely ignored as politicians focus on writing policy for their donors. I want to focus on bringing our economy into the modern world. I want to build a new American Dream that brings real opportunities to working people in this country. 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 any other state? If so, explain. No. NAME: Jeff Apodaca Jeff Apodaca POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic Democratic OCCUPATION: Business Consultant: Media Industries, Local New Mexico Industries, Business Incubation and Start-Ups. Business Consultant: Media Industries, Local New Mexico Industries, Business Incubation and Start-Ups. CITY OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque Albuquerque RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Executive level management of national and regional multi-billion dollar media companies. Executive level management of national and regional multi-billion dollar media companies. EDUCATION: B.A. in Broadcast Management University of New Mexico (1986) B.A. in Broadcast Management University of New Mexico (1986) CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: Apo18.com 1. What are the top two things you would do to improve the economy in New Mexico? Invest 5% from our $23 billion Permanent Funds back into New Mexico, creating 225,000 new jobs by providing loans for start-ups and small business expansion. Work with Federal Delegation to invest $1 billion in infrastructure development. Honor and expand requirements for government contract awards to Veterans and in-state businesses. 2. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate? We must be tough on violent criminals, yet one-third of criminal justice resources are allocated to non-violent cannabis-related and repeat offenders. First: decriminalizing certain non-violent offenses, and second: promoting rehab and job training programs for drug offenders, would free up $220 million to enable law enforcement to combat violent crime. 3. How would you address the states high DWI rate? We dont have a DWI problem by itself, we have an alcohol abuse problem. We must fully fund alcohol treatment and DWI prevention programs. We must impose tough penalties on multiple DWI offenders. Anyone who takes a life while under the influence will serve a very lengthy prison sentence. 4 . New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services? I support spending 1% of Permanent Funds to expand early childhood programs. Early family intervention and in-home programs are especially effective. Until the legislature takes action, I will immediately reallocate dollars from programs with unsubstantiated benefit to our children, and will collaborate with non-profits to implement research-based, proven-outcome programs. 5. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales? I support legalizing adult recreational cannabis use, and immediate expansion of medical use and hemp production. We will create 32,000 new jobs, generate $200 million in new tax revenue, and lower prescription opioid deaths by 25%. My opponents do not fully support legalization, instead requiring lengthy studies that delay implementation. 6. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party? More than a fifth of New Mexico voters are not registered as Republican or Democrat. We are not a democracy if we keep that many people out of the electoral process. I support open primaries and same-day voter registration, allowing even more citizen participation in the right of voting. 7. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7.50 per hour? If so, by how much? I support a living wage of $15/hour, with regional adjustments in rural areas. The wage increases must complement economic growth and be phased in at a rate to not hurt small businesses 50 cents every 6 months. A living wage will result in doubling consumer spending in New Mexico businesses. 8. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores? Explain. No. Test scores vary from year to year based upon factors beyond teachers control. Student scores are biased due to schools geographic, racial, and income disparities. Poorer, rural schools have already been hit hard by funding cuts. Tying school funding to test scores and teacher evaluations will widen existing gaps. 9. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses? Teacher base pay needs to be raised across the board to $43,000 $47,000 and $55,000 because New Mexicos teachers deserve to be compensated at a professional rate of pay. Rather than bonuses, pay increases should be tied to educational achievement, length of service, quality of classroom observations, and additional training. 10. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient? Yes. We can save an estimated $250 million per year by consolidating programs within New Mexicos research universities. Our community colleges, universities, film, and trade schools all play a vital role in providing multiple paths for student success beyond high school. 11. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future? I stand firm that 30% of lottery sales will go to scholarships. Our investment in job creation will boost state revenues; well be able to afford returning to full college scholarships. Other politicians talk about their commitment to education but sat idle as cuts were made to lottery scholarship funding. 12. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment? I oppose right-to-work laws. I have seen no data demonstrating that right-to-work states have better economies. In fact, 8 of the top 10 states with booming economies are non-right-to-work states. 13. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state? No. As Governor, I must think of all New Mexicans. We cannot risk the loss of federal funding. However, I will not deny city and counties their right to determine sanctuary status. I do not support building a border wall; I support building more trade agreements with our southern neighbors. 14. If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public? Complaints should be public upon filing unless this is within 21 days of an election involving the accused. As New Mexico Ethics Watch advocates, the Commission should be transparent in its operations. If the Commission takes timely action, there will be sufficient time to clear a persons name. 15. Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public? Yes. Unless disclosure reveals confidential sources, methods, or information that would seriously interfere with the effectiveness of an investigation, or if publicity could reasonably create further harm for victims of a crime, the public has the right to know about crime and police activities. 16. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner? I support continued operation of the Rail Runner. We need to pay off the debt and move on from carrying that financial drain. Rail expansion will be an integral part of trade growth with Mexico and neighboring states. We need to look forward rather kicking debt down the road. 17. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales? Yes. We need to level the playing field for New Mexico businesses. New Mexico businesses are already subject to 5 or 5.125% internet GRT. We must update our tax laws to accept out of state internet sales taxes. We estimate New Mexico will receive well over $120 million per year. 18. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why? Yes. Right now we have a tax rate structure that favors certain industries. This is part of the reason why many small businesses and start-ups dont prosper. We need a fair tax rate for all, instead of carve-outs costing New Mexico up to $1 Billion a year. 19. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support? I will fund programs requested by local communities. Suggestions Ive heard include: radios in all classrooms; mandatory bullying, aggression, and see & tell programs; expand school behavior and mental health counseling services; restorative justice programs. I support: banning military grade weapons; more extensive background checks on gun purchases. 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 any other state? If so, explain. No. NM gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca Faculty and student leaders from the University of New Mexico will host a Democratic gubernatorial forum at 5 p.m. Friday, May 4, at UNMs Woodward Hall. Candidates Jeff Apodaca and Joseph Cervantes are slated to take part, but Michelle Lujan Grisham is unable to attend. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions and meet the candidates. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. The organizers plan to host a similar event this fall featuring the eventual winner of the Democratic primary, the Republican nominee and any other candidate polling above 10 percent. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Special agents with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General arrested an Albuquerque man who they say was prostituting his 7-year-old female relative in exchange for weed and pipes and other stuff. James Stewart, 37, is charged with human trafficking, abuse of a child, promoting prostitution and other crimes believed to have been committed over the past three years. He was found at Motel 76 on Candelaria NE early Thursday morning and booked into the county jail. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, the girl told investigators that Stewart would make her touch his friends (both male and female) genitalia in exchange for drugs. She said she does not enjoy performing these sexual acts and is scared someone will touch her private parts. The girl also said she would go to secret parties later determined to be strip clubs where Stewarts wife performed and she was left alone while the wife got very intoxicated. Both the girl and her brother told agents they were encouraged to steal and pickpocket and to panhandle on street corners by themselves. Agents are still gathering evidence and investigating to see whether anyone else will be charged, said James Hallinan, a spokesman for the attorney general. The AGs Office said it first became aware of the case when a nurse at an Albuquerque Public Schools elementary school called to say she believed she had encountered a victim of human trafficking and sexual assault. The schools principal and a teacher told agents the girl would make comments about hustling and had once been dropped off at school wearing high heels, press-on nails, makeup and with her hair done. They said the family is homeless and the girl and her brother are frequently absent from school, fall asleep in class and are often unkempt. Monica Armenta, an APS spokeswoman, said she cannot discuss the case or the role of the school employees. We are extremely concerned with the well-being of the child and dont want to risk divulging any information that could identify the child, she said. The children and an older brother are now in the custody of the state Children, Youth and Families Department, said spokesman Henry Varela. According to the AGs complaint, when the siblings were taken into CYFD custody, they told investigators they had not eaten for about 24 hours. By the time the Attorney Generals Office began investigating the case, the Albuquerque Police Department had already encountered the family multiple times since 2012, including two more recent incidents involving suspicions of sexual abuse, according to the complaint. Gilbert Gallegos, an APD spokesman, did not answer several detailed questions about previous interactions, but he wrote in an email, We are going through the complaint, tracking down reports and assessing how the department responded to past allegations of abuse. According to the AGs complaint, in October 2016, APD investigated after the children reported they had been left alone with a random neighbor who said it was OK for children to touch him and fondled them over their clothing. Agents said there is no record of either child undergoing a forensic interview a specialized interview designed to bring out information about mistreatment or abuse and the status of the case is unknown. The school employees said that last November they called APD and CYFD to report that the girl showed up particularly unkempt and smelling of urine. They said that when they helped her change into clean clothes, they noticed she had bloodstains on her underwear. According to the complaint, an officer came to the school and took a report, but agents could not find any records about it. But the agents did find a report from the following day that shows Albuquerque police and CYFD investigators visited Stewart and his wife at a hotel off Interstate 25 in reference to the schools report to CYFD. Police performed a welfare check on the children and determined there was nothing that would cause concern of (the children) being abused in any way, according to the complaint. Officers noted school employees had reported finding bloodstains in the girls underwear, but they did not say if they found an explanation. According to the complaint, the girl did not receive a forensic interview or a sexual assault examination at that time. While neither of those cases resulted in a forensic interview, the girl had been through one in May 2017 after she had told teachers she feels uncomfortable when sleeping with (Stewart) because of the way he holds me. According to the complaint, the girl and her brother did not disclose sexual abuse but did show signs of physical and emotional abuse. The agent said he could not find a police report related to that interview. He said agents were told that the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office also had been involved, but the sheriffs office didnt have an open case on the incident either. CYFD is looking into anything it could have missed in previous interactions with the family, spokesman Varela said. As of now, the secretary has ordered an in-depth audit and review of case files so we can see if policies and procedures were or werent followed, he said. From there we will be able to make a determination if there are any next steps we need to move forward with. Debbie A. Rodella POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Retired CITY OF RESIDENCE: Espanola (La Mesilla) RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: State Representative 1993 to present EDUCATION: Bachelors degree, Business Administration, College of Santa Fe; Associate degrees in Accounting & Business, Northern New Mexico Community College CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: www.debbierodella.com (under construction) ISSUE QUESTIONS 1. What are the top two things you would do to improve the economy in New Mexico? Education and workforce development; support for apprenticeship and internship programs. Improve infrastructure; I was co-sponsor of HB 38 Wireless Consumer Advanced Infrastructure. 2. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate? I voted FOR the 8.5% raise for State Police and for the 17.6% increase for the district attorney to establish a crime strategies unit, reduce case backlog and prosecute violent crimes against children. Drug addiction leads to crime. We need to invest more in education, prevention, intervention, rehabilitation and treatment. 3. How would you address the states high DWI rate? Throughout the years, we have passed legislation, which I supported to reduce DWIs. We have come a long way. This past session I so-sponsored HB 35 Liquor Excise Tax Distributions which will provide funding for education and prevention programs. 4. New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services? I support early childhood education and have voted FOR the constitutional amendment every time. 5. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales? Im undecided. I have engaged voters on both sides of this issue. Supporters think we should follow Colorado with legalization and taxing sales. Opponents bring up our drug epidemic and believe we are sending the wrong message to children and that its still against federal law. I support medicinal marijuana and de-criminalization. 6. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party? I am not convinced that we should open up primaries at this time. My district has one of the highest election voter turnouts in the State. 7. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7.50 per hour? If so, by how much? I support raising the minimum wage. I was primary sponsor of 2017s HB 442, which passed and was pocket-vetoed by the governor. HB 442 was resulted from much negotiation and resulted in compromise/consensus to raise the minimum wage to $9.25. The bill wouldnt have affected municipalities with a higher minimum wage. 8. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores? Explain. I oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores. I dont believe test scores should be used as an evaluation tool to measure performance. What would we be asking teachers to do, teach our children how to take a test? 9. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses? I support increased pay for all our teachers and I voted FOR the 2.5% raise for teachers this past session. I would support merit raises for those teachers that excel; however, I dont believe the current evaluation system is fair. 10. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient? No, I dont believe that 32 state institutions of higher education are too many. Higher education should be available to as many New Mexicans as possible, especially in rural areas. I dont think we can compromise the value of education by using an efficiency standard. 11. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future? I support the Legislative Lottery Scholarship and the opportunities it affords our students. Increased sales of lottery tickets would certainly help with solvency. As much as I dislike the idea of changing eligibility requirements, it may be our only alternative to maintain solvency. 12. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment? I oppose making New Mexico a right-to-work state and have always voted AGAINST right-to-work bills. The issue regarding nonunion employees not having to pay union fees as a condition of employment is currently pending before the United States Supreme Court. 13. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state? I believe New Mexico is already a sanctuary state. 14. If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public? Ethics reform is important. It is equally important to have a process in place where complaints can be screened and vetted as to their validity prior to becoming public. Otherwise, making public a frivolous, unsubstantiated complaint can ruin a persons life. 15. Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public? I believe in transparency and accountability; however, making initial reports and videos public could interfere with completion of law enforcement investigations and hamper the prosecution or defense of a case. I strongly believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty and cases should not be tried in the media. 16. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner? I support public transportation and I support seeking federal funding for the necessary safety upgrades. 17. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales? I voted FOR imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales to help our local and small businesses compete with online sales. 18. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why? Yes. Ive voted for legislation to eliminate exemptions and deductions that are in the books and are not being utilized. I would be willing to consider eliminating some deductions and exemptions to lower the base rate. However, when considering tax reform, I DO NOT support re-imposition of the food tax. 19. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support? Student safety should be the top priority. I voted FOR SB 239 to provide funding to make schools safer. I am pro-Second Amendment and a hunter. I would consider supporting improved state-federal information sharing to keep guns from persons posing a danger to themselves/others. I support keeping guns from those with domestic violence convictions. 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 any other state? If so, explain. No. WASHINGTON Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed a treasure trove of secrets Monday about Irans hidden nuclear activities. But it would be a waste of this extraordinary intelligence to use it as a pretext for American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Much better to use it to squeeze Tehran. The Israeli intelligence coup should open the way for a much smarter U.S. campaign to isolate Iran and tighten the deal and bring Europe, Russia and China along in a common push for a better agreement. This approach would keep the international community together and avoid handing Iran the propaganda victory that unilateral American withdrawal would provide. The bold Mossad operation to grab the files in Tehran in January has caught the Iranians red-handed. Now let them squirm awhile, as the international community sifts the evidence of Iranian deception. Acting through the International Atomic Energy Agency, the world should demand answers about the issues framed by the harvest of secrets: Why did Iran repeatedly lie about its past nuclear activities? How did it shape its program of deception? What stronger provisions are needed to make the 2015 agreement real and binding? Skeptics have argued that the captured Iranian documents only confirm what the U.S. concluded in a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate that Iran had an aggressive bomb-making program that it halted in 2003. I didnt see anything (in the new documents) not covered in the unclassified KJs (Key Judgments) from the 2007 NIE, argued Tom Fingar, who as chairman of the National Intelligence Council oversaw the estimate. The skeptics are right that, despite Netanyahus theatrical presentation, the documents arent a smoking gun that shows Iranian violation of the nuclear agreement. But they do provide a ton of new information about Iranian lying, cheating and deception. Above all, they shatter Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis claim that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons. Sorry, Mr. Leader, but documents show otherwise. Rarely have a leaders lies to his people and the world been clearer. The Israelis made off with a veritable encyclopedia of secrets that the Iranians had stashed in big, refrigerator-like safes in a warehouse in the Shorabad district of Tehran in 2017. Netanyahu said the haul includes 50,000 pages in notebooks and folders, and 50,000 more files contained on 183 CDs. The sample he showed Monday night included blueprints, charts, spreadsheets and simulation results. U.S. and Israeli officials familiar with the documents say theres far more that Netanyahu didnt disclose revealing Iranian research sites, key scientific and technical personnel, and other information that should allow better insight into the Iranian nuclear effort and make it easier to strengthen and enforce the 2015 agreement. The hottest items Netanyahu revealed were the 2003 quotes from top Iranian officials about how they intended to continue secret work after the official program, called Project Amad, was stopped. Work would be split into two parts: covert and overt (dual use), said a document citing orders from Ali Shamkhani, who was then minister of defense. The general aim is to announce the closure of Project Amad. Special activities will be carried out under the title of scientific know-how developments, said Mohsen Fakrizadeh, a physicist who ran the Amad effort and heads the defense ministrys Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research. Fakrizadeh is a key figure in any Iranian bomb-making effort, past or future, because he appears to have led Irans research on a so-called neutron initiator to trigger the nuclear explosion. President Trumps challenge is to use Irans new vulnerability, now that its secrets have been exposed, to get the tougher deal he wants. The problem with Trumps strategy has been that its not clear what he intends to do, after withdrawing from the 2015 deal, to get a better one assuming he doesnt plan to go to war against Iran. Now, Trump has a plausible rationale for working through the IAEA to hold Iran accountable, while gaining global support for curbing Irans missile programs and regional meddling. Trumps choice on May 12 is clearer now: If he scuttles the deal, he risks isolating the U.S., rather than Iran. If he instead uses Israels intelligence windfall to fuel a global pressure campaign, he may actually have a pathway for getting a better, longer-lasting and more enforceable agreement. Thanks to Israeli intelligence, Trump just got lucky on Iran. But will he be smart? Before meeting with North Koreas very honorable Trumps words dictator, Kim Jong Un, the president should bone up on the history of that countrys duplicity and deception, including ways it has used the wishful thinking of some past U.S. presidents to achieve its objectives. A good place to start is an essay by Joshua Muravchik of the American Enterprise Institute for the March 2003 issue of Commentary. As Muravchik notes, North Koreas nuclear program isnt a recent development. It began in 1979 and since then, its leaders have played the West, and especially the U.S., like a Stradivarius. In 1989, Pyongyang claimed it would agree the entire Korean Peninsula become a nuclear-free zone sound familiar? After raising hopes in the George H.W. Bush administration, it required conditions and incredibly won concession after concession, sending a message the U.S. could be had. In January 1992, North and South Korea reached an agreement to prohibit nuclear weapons from the peninsula, but North Korea refused to sign a safeguards agreement and then said it would have to submit the deal to its legislature, a process that would take months. More agreements, re-designations of nuclear plants into something they were not and deception followed. During the Clinton administration, Muravchik writes, inspections were placed on the back burner, prompting a State Department official to tell The Washington Post the administrations strategy was to walk softly and carry a big carrot. Even Clintons defense secretary, William Perry, had qualms about the credibility of North Korean promises. Perry told The New York Times, Id rather (face the risk of war) than face the risk of even greater catastrophe two or three years from now. When Secretary of State Warren Christopher said the U.S. was willing to negotiate with Pyongyang, that comment seemed null and void. Enter Jimmy Carter, who flew to Pyongyang in 1994 for a face-to-face with Kim Il-sung, the current dictators grandfather. Carter saw a capital that reminded him of the Wal-Mart in Americus, Georgia. The neon lights looked like Times Square. Kim was revered and treated as a combination of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abe Lincoln. No wonder North Korea has believed the U.S. to be a patsy ever since. Fifteen years ago, Muravchik said the U.S. had no choice but to think about war against the North. He said better to do it now than later when the costs would be even higher. It is now later. It may also be too late should Kim Jong Un have nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of hitting U.S. targets. Given North Koreas trail of broken promises, it is highly unlikely any new pledge will be honored. Muravchik says: In short, our experience with North Korea confirms anew the folly of appeasement (and) the error of lowering our guard. President Trump may be used to doing deals with New York developers and politicians, but compared with what he faces should he meet with Kim, hes seen nothing yet. It is like a novice poker player taking on Las Vegas high-rollers. The professionals see the amateur walk in and they think to themselves, We can easily roll this guy. Watch how you play your cards, Mr. President. In case you havent noticed, the other side cheats. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA CRUZ Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray was nervous about her two teenage sons taking the familys only functioning car to drive seven hours north by themselves. Brothers Thomas Gray, 19, and Lloyd Gray, 17, were traveling from the family home in Santa Cruz in the Espanola Valley to Fort Collins, Colo., a city they had never visited before. But the brothers had saved their money to visit Colorado State University. It was the dream school for Thomas, a guitarist and music theory student at Northern New Mexico College. He wanted to be closer to Denvers music scene. According to their mother, Thomas and Lloyd, a graduating senior at Santa Fe Indian School, were talking about possibly attending Colorado State together. I felt so relieved when they texted me and said, Were here, said the mother of six, whose sons traveled there Monday. I was like, good, now theyre safe. Less than half an hour later, she said she received a second, frantic call from her eldest son. Someone who was touring the campus in the same group had called the campus police to report her sons, claiming the teenagers were making them nervous because they were too quiet. Responding officers took the two brothers aside and detained them. By the time they were released, the tour had moved on and they never caught up Lorraine believes the caller who reported her sons the mother of another prospective student in the tour group felt threatened by her sons because of their race. The family is Mohawk and moved to Santa Cruz from New York in 2009. What else could it have been? she asked reporters at her home Thursday. Thomas told her he believed all of the others on the campus tour were Anglo. The incident has received national attention and extensive news coverage in the Denver area since Lorraine posted about the incident on Facebook earlier this week. Im so furious now I could explode! she posted. She wrote that she told her sons to leave immediately and that she felt they had been victims of racism and werent safe. CSUs administration sent out a campuswide email Wednesday about the incident. It said that its Admissions Office, the Vice President for Diversitys Office, the Native American Cultural Center and campus police will review how to avoid or better handle similar incidents in the future. 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 message said. Thomas Gray said at the family home Thursday that he and his brother registered and checked in for their CSU tour before joining the group. Thomas said he personally introduced himself and his brother to the tour guide. About 10 minutes later, Thomas said, two police officers approached the brothers, patted them down, told them about the parents complaint and questioned them for 10 to 15 minutes. They were kind of, like fast, like fast-paced, he said. Asking us to answer questions real quick. Lorraine questioned why the police didnt approach the tour guide instead to see if there was a problem and wondered how the officers knew whom to take aside. The Wednesday email from the CSU administration said the campus officers verified that the brothers were supposed to be on the tour and then released them to rejoin the group. Thomas said that after the brothers couldnt catch up with the tour, they returned home. According to the email issued by CSU officials, the tour guide wasnt aware that police had been called or that they had approached the Gray brothers during the tour. Lorraine Gray says she doesnt buy that. She said she was heartbroken for her sons. I was so worried about them having an accident or getting lost in the city, she said, holding back tears. But to get the call from the place I thought they were going to be safe, I just wanted to jump into a time machine and get over there. I couldnt do anything to help them besides to tell them to get in the car and come home. Lorraine said she did speak with one of the responding officers Monday after her sons call. He said, Maybe it will be a lesson for your kids that when theyre in a public situation to speak up. And I wasnt happy about that, she said. She noted that she has always taught her sons to be cautious of police because of tension between officers and people of color that she said has escalated since she was a kid 40 years ago. She added that she has received messages from CSU officials, as well as a Facebook message from the tour guide, apologizing for the incident. The tour guides long message said that she didnt feel her sons had acted suspiciously. Im so sorry that I could not have stopped this from happening, the guide wrote. Lorraine said she co-directs the Four Bridges Traveling Permaculture Institute, which she described as an educational farm. A CSU spokesman declined to comment beyond the statement issued Wednesday. Thomas said he will continue working on his music, but now hes not sure how he feels about Colorado State. The third applicant was no gentleman, the U.S. Forest Service ranger wrote to his boss, but would still make a first-class fire lookout on the remote Klamath National Forest. He thought little of the first applicants abilities and the second had poor eyesight, though that didnt prevent him from frequently violating the local game laws. Yet the third candidate was so unusual, ranger M.H. McCarthy cautioned, I hope your heart is strong enough to stand the shock. For the shocking third applicant was a woman, Hallie Morse Daggett, though McCarthy added that she is absolutely devoid of the timidity which is ordinarily associated with her sex. McCarthy told his supervisor not to worry about being overrun by female applicants in the future since we can hardly expect these positions to ever become very popular with the Fair Sex. What is telling in light of recent news about the systemic problem of discrimination throughout the Forest Service is that this was written 105 years ago. Women and minorities, too have long struggled to be accepted as equals in the Forest Service, an agency traditionally led by white males at all management levels. Thirteen years ago, I wrote The Greatest Good and The Forest Service: A Centennial History, which included a chapter about what women working in the Forest Service had achieved and what obstacles they continued to face in the agency. If I were writing that chapter today, what I then called New Faces, Changing Values would now be titled New Faces, Same Old Values. It seems that all that has changed is the names of those involved in incidents, and not the misogynistic behavior. There have always been notable exceptions, of course; women who made their way with the help of their male colleagues, as in the cases of the first female smokejumper, Deanne Shulman, and of Geraldine Bergen Larson, the first female forest supervisor. Too often, though, its been like what their contemporary Gene Bernardi, a research sociologist in the California region, encountered in 1973. When a hiring manager preferred to wait for a male applicant to be available rather than hire her, she complained, garnering compensation, but not the job. Fed up, she and other women then filed a class-action lawsuit in California over sexual discrimination. In the end, after years of litigation and negotiation, the Forest Service consented to hire more women and minorities in the region. Fifty years before that agreement in California, a group of Forest Service female employees met with agency leaders, including Chief William Greeley, to discuss how the agency could make working conditions pleasant for women. In 1924, they told leaders how to do so in no uncertain terms. According to the meeting minutes, a Miss Peyton observed: The first summer after I came to the Service a group of freshly-graduated students arrived from one of the forest schools, painfully young, immature looking, and inexperienced, to such an extent indeed, as to cause quite a number of facetious remarks at their expense, one young forester going so far as to remark that they looked too young to be out without their mothers. Thats the way their fellow workers viewed them and gibed them. Then suddenly something else caught and held my attention. The heads of the Service evidently saw those boys from some different angle. The Service didnt see mere boys. It saw potentialities. It was not looking at the present. It visioned the future. In other words, dont denigrate new employees for their lack of experience. Let them work to gain experience and judge them on ability. Asking that women be afforded the same treatment, she went on: Their history might in fact be written to a large extent in four words: No responsibilities, no experience. And the result? What has happened to them might easily be indicated in three fateful words: Unused faculties atrophy. Think of it (theyre) retrograding instead of developing! Now, reverse the picture, and thereby get a glimpse of these same women as an army of well-developed trained workers. How great the gain! Ten years after Gene Bernardi filed suit, a Forest Service employee noted, Given the Forest Services traditional values, its a big step to open up the organization to women and minorities. Itll take time, but were getting there. Today, 35 years later, after Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke resigned amid charges of sexual misconduct, and with the agencys employment practices once again deservedly under scrutiny, the agency appears far from there. Its time to heed the advice offered nearly a century ago by Miss Peyton: Look at people for their potentialities, not their gender or skin color. Vision this future. James G. Lewis is a contributor to Writers on the Range, the opinion service of High Country News (hcn.org). He is staff historian at the Forest History Society (foresthistory.org), in Durham, N.C. Thomas Ferguson, seen here at a recent court hearing on charges stemming from the death of 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia, committed suicide There is so much tragedy in the death of 13-year-old Jeremiah. When he was killed, apparently in late November at a Nambe house where he was part of a household with his mother, his sister, his mothers boyfriend and the boyfriends young-adult son he had fallen off societys radar. He wasnt attending school and no one not school officials or child services authorities was looking for him. There was no one to raise the alarm about a missing boy after Jeremiahs body was stuffed into a storage container and buried in a rural area for nearly two months before his mother, a frequent flier at the county jail, was overheard talking about his death while she was incarcerated. Her boyfriend, Thomas Ferguson, subsequently charged with Jeremiahs murder, shouldnt have been free and available to beat up or kill anyone. As has been well documented by the Journal, Ferguson should have been thrown in prison for a probation violation long before Jeremiah died. Ferguson had pleaded guilty to a new domestic violence count in Rio Rancho even as he was free, but on probation for a prior conviction in a case where hed been accused of beating and raping a woman in Santa Fe. But a cascade of errors, miscommunication and non-action by people in New Mexicos criminal justice system left Ferguson out in the world, free to head the dysfunctional household where Jeremiah was allegedly tortured and made to stay in a dog kennel before he was killed. None of the prosecutors or probation officers whose mistakes or oversights kept Ferguson free will face any kind of official action, or even questioning, at least as far as the public knows theres no system of accountability on that side of the law, apparently. Now Ferguson has committed suicide in the county jail. Thats another tragedy, for a lot of reasons. Theres the loss of a mans life, of course. But Fergusons death also means justice in Jeremiahs death will be harder to obtain. So far, most of the evidence in the form of statements by the remaining members of the Nambe family group points to Ferguson as the killer and also as a maniacal torturer who used things like a heavy hammer to beat and torture Jeremiah to the point that he had to use a cane to walk before he was beaten to death. But there is also evidence in the form of Facebook messages posted before Jeremiahs death was discovered that Fergusons son, 20-year-old Jordan Nunez, may have played a role beyond witnessing what happened and helping to bury the body. With Ferguson gone, it will be more difficult to get a full picture of what really took place in that Nambe house. There are now also new questions about how the criminal justice system worked (or didnt work) in this sad case. Should precautions at the jail have been taken to make sure Ferguson couldnt hang himself with a sheet? Should jail personnel have known that Ferguson is said to have tried to kill himself to avoid arrest in the 2014 beating and rape case, and taken more anti-suicide precautions with him this time around? Why does it take more than two weeks to file an order for a prisoner to be transferred from the county jail to the state Corrections Department? In this case, that was too little, too late. Fergusons long-delayed imprisonment for a probation violation had finally been decreed, but he killed himself before he could be transferred. Santa Fe County officials say they are looking into what happened at the jail. Maybe the real question is: What else can go wrong in the tragic case of Jeremiah Valencia, even after the end of his short life? Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Central New Mexico Community College has trained 120 Spanish-speaking immigrants as home health aides since 2016, but many potential new students may be priced out of the program next semester because of their immigration status. Last summer, the college eliminated an in-state-tuition eligibility waiver that allowed people residing here to automatically qualify for in-state tuition if they take fewer than six credit hours per semester. The waiver meant immigrant home health aide trainees paid just $161 per student for the program. Now, with the waiver eliminated, CNM is charging out-of-state tuition amounting to $636 per student, unless an applicant can prove legal residency. Thats a requirement under state rules outlined by the Department of Higher Education. But program supporters say that undermines the states ability to offer critical training to workers who are already providing home health and personal care to New Mexicos elderly and disabled population. It hurts vulnerable individuals and their families, while stunting upward mobility for low-income workers who could qualify for better wages and working conditions through official certification, said state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Rep. Javier Martinez, both Albuquerque Democrats who support the program. They expect to seek changes in Higher Education Department regulations in next years legislative session. Were talking about the states future workforce getting adequate education, Ortiz y Pino said. This program is a valuable, creative way to prepare for the onslaught of elderly people who need quality care. Martinez called the program a common-sense approach to economic development that can improve living standards for low-income families, both for the workers who provide care and for the people who struggle to afford it. Its hard to understand why an immigrant who has lived here for maybe 20 or 30 years and wants to pursue an education must pay out-of-state prices, Martinez said. Were trying to diversify our economy, and this completely shuts out a sector of our workforce based on a technicality. For budget reasons, CNM decided last year to recruit more foreign students to raise revenue through out-of-state tuition, said Chief Advancement and Community Engagement Officer Samantha Sengel. To avoid new foreign recruits taking advantage of CNMs six-credit-hour eligibility for in-state tuition, the college eliminated its waiver, forcing all students to now meet Higher Education Department eligibility requirements. Maintaining the waiver for immigrants who reside here could be seen as subverting state residency rules, Sengel said. The college did provide scholarships for program participants in the fall and spring, but that will end next semester. As a college, weve never thought about immigration, Sengel said. We try to assure everyone has access. Its a conundrum were in as a state and country. Higher Education Department representatives were not available for comment. CNM created the program in partnership with Encuentro, an education and advocacy group for Latino immigrants, to address a lack of Spanish-language training for home health aides. The 90-hour curriculum exceeds state requirements to certify trainees as aides and personal care assistants. Thats one of the fastest-growing workforce sectors in the nation, said Encuentro Executive Director Andrea Plaza. Todays silver tsunami is changing our economy, and we need to train a huge support base to provide services, Plaza said. About 85 percent of all home health aides nationally are women, about 65 percent of them women of color, and 22 percent of them immigrants, said Alvin Warren, program officer with the Kellogg Foundation. Kellogg is one of a half-dozen charitable foundations and private sector organizations that have contributed funds for the program. Encuentro used the money to pay for students tuition and related costs. It also provided 30 hours of additional training assistance to help participants succeed each semester, and it built a new online platform, EnCasa Care Connections, to link people seeking care with program graduates. Many of the trainees are women with limited education who already provide health and personal care services. Many are working with elders and disabled people without any formal training in their own language, Plaza said. They often prepare meals for diabetics or manage oxygen tanks, and they need training for that. To date, five classes of 24 students have graduated. As of December, about 200 people were on the program waiting list. The latest graduating class celebrated its accomplishment Wednesday evening at CNM. One graduate, Mexican immigrant Zoila Gutierrez, said shes provided health assistance and personal care for 10 adults since 2016. This program has taught me to provide much more professional care, Gutierrez said. Im a lot more confident now in what Im doing, and Im able to provide more compassionate care to patients. Maria Gonzalez de Vega, an immigrant from Juarez, said she joined the program to improve the care she provides her 16-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy. It included CPR training. Where we live, it takes 20 or 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive in an emergency, Gonzalez said. Im going to continue studying now at CNM to become a nursing assistant. I want to help more parents with special-needs children like me to provide quality care. CNM originally developed the program curriculum under a U.S. Department of Labor grant to align workforce training with the needs of an aging population. It then built the Spanish-language course with Encuentro. Its a true partnership to make sure students are successful, said Tamra Mason, dean of the School of Health, Wellness and Public Safety. The program elevates students knowledge about best practices to care for people. Unless Encuentro finds another teaching partner, or more funding for scholarships, the Spanish-language program could end, Plaza said. JERUSALEM For Israeli author Mishka Ben-David, the deadly scenes that have been playing out every Friday for weeks along Gazas border, with thousands of Palestinian protesters marching and threatening to storm the security fence and Israeli troops opening fire, are eerily familiar. They have already taken place on the pages of his best-selling thriller last year, The Shark. The novel begins with a cross-border tunnel attack by Hamas militants, followed by a mass march by thousands of Gaza Palestinians into southern Israel. As the story unfolds, Israels adversaries Iran, the militant Lebanese Hezbollah group and Syria enter the fray, backed by Russia. Events escalate into a region-wide war, with mayhem and death at every turn. Hamas missiles topple one of Tel Avivs Azrieli towers and in the books climax, (SPOILER ALERT) an Israeli submarine fires off nuclear missiles in a desperate attempt to save the country. The books title, The Shark, is the name of the submarine at the center of the action. While such a scenario may seem far-fetched, the novel contains more than a few elements that mirror reality as Israel braces for a volatile May, with tensions rising on its northern and southern fronts. Unfortunately, quite a few things seem realistic now, more than they seemed before, Ben-David told The Associated Press. The ongoing weekly border protests in Gaza present the most immediate challenge. The Hamas-led demonstrations, in which nearly 40 protesters have been killed by Israeli live fire, are meant to draw attention to a crippling decade-long blockade imposed by Israel after the Islamic militant group seized power in the coastal strip. But Hamas, which is sworn to Israels destruction, has also said the protests are aimed at promoting the right of return of refugees to properties inside what is now Israel. Some two-thirds of Gazas 2 million people are descendants of Palestinian refugees who either fled or were expelled during the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948. The protests have grown increasingly intense. Last Friday, hundreds broke away from a crowd and attacked the border fence, trying to rip away barbed wire and setting sections of it on fire with burning tires. Organizers have signaled they may call for a mass border breach on May 15, the anniversary of Israels creation similar to the scenario in Ben-Davids novel. Israel accuses Hamas of exploiting civilians and has vowed to defend its border, raising the likelihood of further bloodshed, particularly if Hamas follows through on threats to send large crowds into Israel. Ben-David, a retired former agent in the Mossad spy service who turned to fiction writing, said envisioning such a scene did not require much imagination. For years, Hamas has been digging attack tunnels along the border, managing to capture an Israeli soldier in 2006 and briefly infiltrating Israel during a 2014 war. Adding an above-ground component of unarmed civilians, as Hamas has done, was a logical extension, Ben-David said. Its the only scenario that we dont have a military response to, he said. Israel is not equipped morally or internationally to deal with such a situation. Israel has already come under heavy criticism from the European Union, United Nations and human rights groups for shooting at the protesters. A heavy civilian death toll, even in the case of a border breach, would risk triggering further international condemnations and scrutiny in the International Criminal Court. The Trump administrations decision to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, scheduled for May 14 and bitterly opposed by the Palestinians, has added an extra element of volatility to the mix. In Ben-Davids book, Israels harsh response to the Gaza crossing sparks unrest with the Palestinians and Israels own Arab minority. Neighboring Egypt comes to the Palestinians defense, while Hezbollah takes advantage and carries out missile attacks and an infiltration across Israels northern border. It doesnt take long before other regional players get involved. Even if the real-life situation is nowhere close to that, Israel is nervously bracing for the possibility of violence in the north. Israels arch-enemy Iran has sent forces to assist Syrian President Bashar Assad in his countrys civil war. Israel, which has repeatedly warned it will not allow the Iranians to establish a permanent military presence at its doorstep, is suspected in a pair of deadly airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria in recent weeks, and Iran is vowing revenge. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus presentation this week of what he said were tens of thousands of illicitly obtained Iranian nuclear documents has only added to the tensions. An Israeli confrontation with Iran in Syria could easily drag in the Iranian proxy Hezbollah and other Shiite militias active there, and even risk clashes with Russia, which has forces also backing Assad. Ben-David is a prolific author, with 15 books to his name, including works such as Duet in Beirut and Final Stop, Algiers that have been translated into English. The Shark, after months as a local best-seller, is now in its fifth printing, he said, and the latest Gaza unrest has also attracted interest from Hollywood producers. Ben-David spent 12 years in the Mossad, playing a role in the failed assassination attempt of Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Jordan in 1997. Ben-David said he was not involved in the operation itself, but was responsible for delivering the antidote used to save Mashaals life after agents poisoned him in Amman. While real-life Mideast dramas may be good for fiction-writing, Ben-David is pessimistic about the region, fearing an inevitable Israel-Iran conflict and confrontation between Israel and Russia in Syria, despite their back-channel communications. And if Iran develops an atomic bomb in the coming years, even nuclear war is not far-fetched at all, he said. Ironically, the spark that sets in motion the tragic sequence in The Shark is a peace initiative Hamas sets out on its fateful mission to derail the signing of a historic agreement. In real life, Ben-David believes peace is badly needed. Without an overall peace initiative, he said, we are not far from the situation I described. NEW YORK Rudy Giuliani, once known as Americas Mayor and hailed for helping unite a wounded city after Sept. 11, has become the aggressive face of President Donald Trumps forceful new legal team. Giuliani, who is bonded with the president by a particular brand of New York bravado, has escalated Trumps attacks on the Department of Justice, pushed for strict limits on special counsel Robert Muellers 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. Giulianis 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. 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 didnt happen. That means the whole investigation was totally unnecessary. Giuliani has quickly become the dominant figure on the presidents 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 Trumps anger with Muellers probe, according to two people familiar with their conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent 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 presidents 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 Cohens 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. Giulianis remarks that Trump knew about the payment and had repaid Cohen for it seemed to contradict Trumps 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 Giulianis 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 wouldnt publicly clear the president of wrongdoing in the Russia probe, a different explanation than the White House offered. He said he would defend the presidents daughter Ivanka Trump but suggested that her husband, Jared Kushner, was disposable. And he derided the agents who raided Cohens office as stormtroopers, a charge that attracted particular attention because it appeared to evoke Nazi soldiers in the context of the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office, which had approved the raids and which Giuliani had once led. Its a different Rudy. Hes 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 Giulianis 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 citys sky-high crime rate. That year, 1,946 people were killed in the city. By 2001, Giulianis 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 mayors 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 nations grief. His leadership both inspiring and compassionate over the following weeks earned him the nickname of Americas 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 Trumps 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-mayors take on developments in the special counsels 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 couldnt 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 Americas Fing Mayor. ___ Follow Lemire at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire DALLAS More than 70,000 members of the National Rifle Association are expected in Dallas for the groups annual meeting, which featured an appearance Friday by President Donald Trump who lauded NRA members for fighting for our beloved Constitution. The meeting is also drawing protests, including by those who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Those attending the meeting of the nations most powerful gun lobby are listening to political speeches, checking out the latest firearms, attending gun training courses and socializing. The meeting runs through Sunday. BIG NAME SPEAKERS Trump headlined the groups leadership forum on Friday, making his fourth consecutive visit to the NRA meeting. He was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. You give your time, your energy, your vote and your voice to stand strong for those sacred rights given to us by God, including the right to self-defense, Trump said in his speech. And now, thanks to your activism and dedication, you have an administration fighting to protect your Second Amendment. Trump linked the sanctity of the Constitutions Second Amendment to his partys prospects in the 2018 midterm elections, telling NRA members that weve got to get Republicans elected. The speech came as the issue of gun violence has taken on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Student survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead, are now leading a massive national gun control movement. They too are looking to the midterm elections for action. Pence pointed to the Trump administrations work to address school security and support for changes to the background check system, as well as arming teachers. The vice president said, The quickest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent about $30 million in support of his presidential campaign. SUTHERLAND SPRINGS HERO The Texas man who grabbed his rifle and ran barefoot across the street to open fire on a gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people in a church in the small town of Sutherland Springs was honored by NRA officials. Stephen Willefords actions that day in November were also hailed by government officials who spoke during the leadership forum. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said because (Willeford) had a gun, he saved lives. Willeford was at his home when his daughter alerted him that shed heard gunfire at the First Baptist Church nearby. Willeford has said he immediately retrieved his rifle from his weapon safe. Running across the street to the church, he saw 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley and exchanged gunfire. As Kelley sped away, Willeford ran to a driver in a pickup truck stopped in an intersection, jumped in and the two called 911 and pursued Kelley. Kelley died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Willeford, an NRA member who has served as an instructor, told those gathered for the NRAs leadership forum, I took care of my community on that day and Id do it again. NRA SUPPORTERS Those attending the NRA meeting say its a chance for them to talk to like-minded people. Lyndie Goggans, 71, of Paris, Tennessee, said she and her husband have been coming to the annual meetings for about 15 years. Goggans says she attends the meetings to see what new guns are available and visit with friends who also attend. Tara Dixon Engel has made her first trip to a National Rifle Association annual meeting, traveling to Dallas from Florida. The 56-year-old from Merritt Island, Florida, is author of a handgun guide for women and director of strategic development for the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, Florida. She says the NRA is necessary to protect the Second Amendment. She says if gun rights go away, so does freedom of the press, so does freedom of assembly, so does freedom of religion. PROTESTS Several groups planned to protest during the weekend. The protesters will include parents who lost children in the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and during other shootings. Teenagers from the Florida high school began pushing for gun restrictions almost immediately after a former student killed 17 people at the school in February. The survivors have led a series of rallies and marches, most notably an event in Washington in March that was the anchor for a national day of protest. The students have pressed to raise the legal age to purchase a rifle, curb access to AR-style firearms and adopt other gun restrictions. While theres been no movement at the federal level, several states have enacted tougher gun laws. Alamogordo Police Department detectives arrested a 12-year-old boy after he made threatening phone calls to four separate schools within Alamogordo Public Schools District Thursday morning, an APD spokesman said. Capt. Roger Schoolcraft said the boy is charged with 17 counts of petty misdemeanor interference with staff, public officials or the general public because about 17 schools were locked down due to the threats. Schoolcraft said the boy called the four different schools making threats that he was going to shoot up the schools. According to an APS press release, Chaparral and Mountain View middle schools, and Heights and Yucca elementary schools recieved the threatening phone calls. The boy is being detained pending his appearance in 12th Judicial District Childrens Court. Schoolcraft said Alamogordo Public Schools contacted APD regarding threatening telephone calls made to the four separate APS schools between 9 a.m. and 9:23 a.m. The shelter in place was lifted around 10:45 a.m. APS officials placed all the public schools in a shelter in place capacity while APS notified numerous private schools of the threatening telephone calls, Schoolcraft said. He said the private schools as well as Cloudcroft and Tularosa schools were all placed in a shelter in place capacity after being notified of the threatening phone calls. Schoolcraft said APD detectives learned from Chaparral Middle School administrators that two male students who may have left the campus may be involved in the threatening telephone calls. APD detectives learned through investigation that the boys were at a residence in the 1200 block of Hawaii Avenue, he said. Schoolcraft said detectives learned through investigation that a 12-year-old was responsible for making the threatening calls to the schools the arrested the boy. He said APD as well as all law enforcement agencies take these types of incidents very seriously. These days its serious, Schoolcraft said. We will file all appropriate charges against anyone responsible for this type of threat to the public-school system. We had to exhaust a lot of resources on it. We had assistance from the Otero County Sheriffs Office, New Mexico State Police and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. He said all the law enforcement agencies were conducting security patrols at numerous schools within the district and county. They not only assisted with patrolling the schools but assisted with shelter in place, Schoolcraft said. We setup an incident command at the Alamogordo Public Schools offices while we coordinated shelter in place while making sure to safe guard all of our children. We also put out notifications to all the parents. According to an APS press release, school officials take the safety of their students very seriously. At no time were students in any danger, the release states. 2018 the Alamogordo Daily News (Alamogordo, N.M.) Visit the Alamogordo Daily News (Alamogordo, N.M.) at www.alamogordonews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. 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 its 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 familys 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 werent safe there, she said in a post this week on Facebook. She later told the AP, I dont 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. SAN FRANCISCO Northern California detectives still trying to identify the infamous Zodiac Killer who targeted victims in the late 1960s and taunted investigators with letters say they hope to try the same DNA tracing technology recently used to arrest a suspect in another string of cold-case serial slayings those blamed on the Golden State Killer. But first they have to get a better DNA profile. Several months ago, the Vallejo Police Department sent two letters written by the Zodiac Killer to a private lab in hopes of finding his DNA on the back of the stamps or envelope flaps he may have licked. They are expecting results soon. They were confident they would be able to get something off it, Vallejo police Detective Terry Poyser told the Sacramento Bee. Poyser said he hopes a full DNA profile will be found that will let detectives try the same DNA sleuthing techniques that investigators used to arrest Joseph DeAngelo on April 25. Authorities suspect he committed at least a 12 murders and 50 rapes in California between 1976 and 1986. Investigators uploaded DNA collected at one of the crime scenes to an open-source genealogical website and found a partial match to a distant relative of DeAngelos. From there, they painstakingly constructed a family tree dating back several generations before they zeroed in on DeAngelo. Some privacy advocates say they are concerned with the process and worry about future abuses, but detectives investigating the Zodiac Killer say they hope the technique will help solve one of the most vexing cold cases in the country. Thats a great idea, said Gary Harmor, founder and director of the Serological Research Institute, a private DNA lab. I think well see more investigations use this technique. Detectives in Southern California are testing DNA collected from a double murder and rape to see if they can be tied to DeAngelo. Another man, Craig Coley, was recently cleared of those crimes after spending 38 years in prison in the murder of a 24-year-old college student and her 4-year-old son in 1978. The Zodiac Killer fatally stabbed or shot to death five people in Northern California in 1968 and 1969, and their killer sent taunting letters and cryptograms to the police and newspapers. The Vallejo police became the lead investigators because the first two victims were killed there. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal In the years leading up to the arrest of a couple accused of prostituting a 7-year-old female relative, the Children, Youth and Families Department received 25 calls alleging emotional, physical and medical abuse and neglect of the girl and her two older brothers, according to documents filed by the New Mexico Office for the Attorney General. Two of the referrals mentioned possible sexual abuse. But, prosecutors say, the departments workers only confirmed one allegation, and the children remained with the couple until last week. Both the number of allegations and the lack of action now has CYFD Secretary Monique Jacobson saying she is concerned about how her department handled the childrens well being. My concerns are that I dont believe that we did enough to protect this little girl, Jacobson said. The three children are now in CYFD custody. On Thursday, special agents with the AGs Office arrested Teri Sanchez and James Stewart, both 37, and booked them into the Metropolitan Detention Center. Sanchez is charged with abuse of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a child, and Stewart is charged with human trafficking, promoting prostitution and other charges. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, the girl told special agents that Stewart had forced her to perform sex acts on his friends in exchange for weed and pipes and stuff. The complaint said both the girl and her 8-year-old brother told agents Stewart and Sanchez would encourage them to panhandle and pickpocket, often by themselves. And according to court documents filed in the case on Friday, agents recently investigated Stewart for running a sex-trafficking operation out of two motel rooms, bringing the 7-year-old girl to visit known human traffickers and forcing Sanchez into prostitution as well. Prosecutors with the Attorney Generals Office have asked the 2nd Judicial District Court to keep both Stewart and Sanchez behind bars until their trials, citing the severity of the offenses and a guilty plea in a prior misdemeanor child abuse case for Stewart. Sanchez does not have a criminal history, but prosecutors say she should be kept in jail due to the severity of the offenses she is charged with and the allegations against her called in to CYFD. They wrote that Sanchez exposed the girl to the sex industry, alcohol and drugs, adding the conduct and abuse of (the girl) is so pervasive and spans such a period that it could not have happened without the knowledge and conduct of both Stewart and Sanchez. A judge will conduct a hearing about the matter likely next week. Referrals date back to 2004 In the motions for pre-trial detention, the Attorney Generals Office laid out a total of 25 referrals to CYFD that had been made on behalf of the children. The referrals date back to 2004 for Sanchez and 2006 for Stewart, and some involve allegations of sexual molestation and physical abuse as well as neglect. However, in Stewarts case prosecutors say CYFD only substantiated one referral, concerning welts and bruises on one of the boys, on June 15, 2007. No proceedings to remove the children from the defendants care were initiated until April 24. They said none of the referrals had been substantiated in Sanchezs case. For a referral to be substantiated, a CYFD investigator must show proof of abuse or neglect. In an interview Friday, Jacobson said the department is conducting an internal review about the prior calls, but from the cases shes seen she already has concerns about CYFD workers lack of action. There have been many prior cases where I have felt CYFD did the best job possible under incredibly difficult circumstances, Jacobson said. In this case, thats not how I feel. I have many concerns, both with the number of referrals and the action, or lack of action, based on the information in those referrals. After the high-profile child abuse death of 9-year-old Omaree Varela in late 2013, Gov. Susana Martinez issued an executive order mandating that if a family is referred to CYFD three times, regardless of whether those referrals are substantiated, a higher-level staffer has to get involved in the investigation. Jacobson said they are looking into whether that was done in this case. Based on those numbers it would have to happen multiple times, Jacobson said. Thats all part of our investigation to see what part of those policies and procedures were followed appropriately and which were not. The Albuquerque Police Department is also investigating its officers interactions with the family and the children. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court by the AGs Office, law enforcement had encountered the family multiple times dating back to 2012. Two of those cases involved suspicions of sexual abuse, but the children did not undergo a forensic interview a specialized interview designed to bring out information about mistreatment or abuse. APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said the department has since found that two of the cases were actually investigated by the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and the corrected information is being passed along to the Attorney Generals Office. Mayor (Tim) Keller and Chief (Michael) Geier have ordered a review of APDs interactions with the family and children, including whether detectives received any reports of potential criminal activity by the (adults), Gallegos wrote in an email. In addition, APD has reached out to the Attorney Generals Office and offered to share all information about APDs interactions in this case. School nurse spurred action Special agents first began investigating the case on April 19 after an elementary school nurse, who had received training from the AGs Office on recognizing signs of trafficking, reported that the girl may be a victim, according to AGs Office spokesman James Hallinan. The girl and her brother hadnt attended school since March 20. Agents responded to the school the next day and were told the girls family was homeless and that she and her brother were frequently unkempt, absent from school and fell asleep in class. School officials said the little girl was once dropped off at her elementary school possibly by a stranger wearing high heels, a dress, press-on nails and makeup, according to the complaint. And, they said, the girl had made comments about Sanchez making her hustle and that the woman would take her to strip clubs and leave her alone while she got drunk. Sanchez, who agents say appeared to suffer from diminished mental capacity, used to work at the Knockouts strip club, but the manager told agents she was fired a year ago for excessive narcotic abuse, specifically methamphetamine. When interviewed, Sanchezs mother told agents Stewart had also forced Sanchez into prostitution, according to court documents. And Sanchez told them Stewart kept her money and stole her disability checks. As part of the investigation, agents surveilled the Motel 76, on Candelaria and Interstate 25, where Stewart, Sanchez and all three children were living in late April. According to court documents, Stewart rented two rooms one over the other using one to traffic women and the other to house his wife and the kids. During a two-day stakeout, agents saw Stewart move abruptly from room to room, one of which was solely occupied by two unidentified women. Agents say nine to 11 men were seen coming and going from the womens room, while the women would leave only briefly to smoke cigarettes on the balcony. It is probable (Stewart) is facilitating a human trafficking operation, agents wrote in the documents. When agents searched the upstairs room they found an address book with over 20 names, aliases and phone numbers drugs, pipes and acrylic nails. But they said the lower room, where Stewart presumably stayed with his wife and the children, had been cleaned out. Agents also say Stewart admitted to a personal association with human traffickers who have been federally indicted. And they say Stewart would bring the girl with him to the traffickers home and come back with money and new clothes on her. While a spokesman for the Attorney Generals Office would not confirm the identity of those traffickers, accused sex traffickers Cornelius and Danielle Galloway are listed as two of Stewarts nine Facebook friends. The Galloways were federally indicted last summer on charges that they ran a sex-trafficking ring that included a juvenile. NAME: Gregg Schmedes Gregg Schmedes POLITICAL PARTY: Republican Republican OCCUPATION: Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of New Mexico Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of New Mexico CITY OF RESIDENCE: Tijeras Tijeras RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Dr. Schmedes serves as New Mexicos Director for the American Academy of Medical Ethics. He served with Samaritans Purse for two years in Cameroon, Africa providing surgical care to the poor. Dr Schmedes has been a voting delegate for the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association and was President of his medical school class. Dr. Schmedes serves as New Mexicos Director for the American Academy of Medical Ethics. He served with Samaritans Purse for two years in Cameroon, Africa providing surgical care to the poor. Dr Schmedes has been a voting delegate for the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association and was President of his medical school class. EDUCATION: Medical Doctorate, Texas Tech University (2009). Medical Doctorate, Texas Tech University (2009). Bachelor of Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering (2004); University of Texas-Austin; International Baccalaureate, Westwood H.S. Austin, Texas. CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: gregg4nm.com What are the top two things you would do to improve the economy in New Mexico ? New Mexico should adopt right-to-work, so we dont continue losing jobs to right-to-work states, like Arizona and Texas. Most new jobs are created in right-to-work states. We should reform our outdated tax code which will create more jobs locally and support small businesses. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate ? I support community-oriented police involvement. This encourages trust and partnership with our police force. We must rid our communities of drugs, as most crime is drug-related. How would you address the states high DWI rate ? We should modernize New Mexicos health care system, achieving greater health care access to address addictions. We should continue to support our ignition interlock system. Repeat DWI offenders should face greater penalties. New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services ? Oppose. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales ? As a doctor, I oppose legalizing drugs for recreation while we have ongoing rampant drug-related crime in our communities. Our legislative session time is limited, so must focus on the major issues. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party ? I support New Mexicos current primary election policy. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7. 50 per hour? If so, by how much ? I oppose raising our minimum wage because job-creation is what New Mexican families need. Id rather help people achieve greater skills, leading to higher wages. Our economy best thrives in a free market, without the government tampering with wages and hurting small businesses. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores ? Explain. Oppose. This would only increase our focus on government-issued tests. We should trust our teachers to evaluate their own students instead of government-imposed pressure to teach to the test. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses ? I support modest merit-based bonuses. Unions should not restrain high-achieving teachers; instead we should celebrate teachers success. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient ? I support our higher ed institutions. New Mexico should eliminate redundant programs, allowing our institutions to grow degree programs that have proven to be successful. This approach is more efficient and allows greater opportunity for our students. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future ? Lottery expenditures should focus on our childrens education first and foremost, before reckless government spending. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment ? I support right-to-work because New Mexico is losing jobs to right-to-work states. New Mexican workers should have the freedom to choose union membership or not. Right-to-work strengthens unions by encouraging them to compete for voluntary membership. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state ? I oppose sanctuary states because such policies cannot provide a truly caring or welcoming environment for our immigrants. Instead, I favor expanding legal immigration to enable us to truly welcome people to our state. If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public ? Due process must be upheld to ensure individual liberty. Ethics complaints should follow rule of law within our judicial system. Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public ? I want to instill more public trust for our first responders. Our police force should be trusted to make these decisions for themselves. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner ? Unfortunately, the Rail Runner is not economically sustainable. To be fair to our taxpayers, we must invest in sustainable projects in order to provide a better future to our children and grandchildren. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales ? No. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why ? I support eliminating exemptions/deductions except those that support our active duty military, veterans and Native American populations. An appropriate gross receipts tax is low-rate, broad-based, and equitable. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support ? The root cause of violence in our society is our loss of value for human life, lack of respect for authority, and broken families. We must address these problems, as well as mental health issues. I oppose any additional restrictions on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens ? No. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding ? No. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state ? If so, explain. No. NAME: Christine Chandler Christine Chandler POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic Party Democratic Party OCCUPATION: Attorney Attorney CITY OF RESIDENCE: Los Alamos Los Alamos RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair and two term Councilor; Legislative Analyst for the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee (four sessions); Former Los Alamos National Laboratory Attorney; Former Probate Judge; Licensed New Mexico Attorney. Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair and two term Councilor; Legislative Analyst for the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee (four sessions); Former Los Alamos National Laboratory Attorney; Former Probate Judge; Licensed New Mexico Attorney. EDUCATION: Smith College, A.B. Economics; Boston College Law School, J.D.; Georgetown University Law Center, L.L.M., International & Comparative Law Smith College, A.B. Economics; Boston College Law School, J.D.; Georgetown University Law Center, L.L.M., International & Comparative Law CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: christine4statehouse.com What are the top two things you would do to improve the economy in New Mexico ? Businesses look to the quality of the workforce and infrastructure when considering locating in a state. We need a coordinated framework that supports occupational/trade training, certification and four and two year colleges. We must invest in infrastructure such as roads, utilities and broadband in order to recruit and retain businesses. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate ? The certainty of being caught deters crime, but increasing the level of penalties does not. We must improve the effectiveness of the police and courts. Encourage triage: imprison serious and violent offenders; divert low level offenders to treatment and education, and provide effective rehabilitation for the incarcerated. How would you address the states high DWI rate ? New Mexico has some of strictest DWI laws in the country. A high percentage of DWI arrests do not lead to a conviction. We need to increase street level enforcement and provide the necessary resources to law enforcement and the courts to ensure prompt conviction of those who are guilty. New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services ? Despite New Mexicos current level of funding, early childhood programs remain underfunded. Because investment in these programs have been shown to reap long-term educational and behavioral benefits, I support a constitutional amendment that would allow an additional, reasonable increase to support these important programs. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales ? I support the de-criminalization of the possession of small qualities of marijuana for personal use. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party ? Yes, I support opening primaries to allow Independents to participate. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7. 50 per hour? If so, by how much ? Yes, ultimately to $12. 00/hour, phased in over a reasonable period of time. Workers must be able to earn a living wage to support themselves and their families. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores ? Explain. Many factors affect a students performance on standardized tests. There is little, if any, reliable correlation between student test scores and teacher performance. Therefore, student test scores are not a valid or fair evaluation criteria. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses ? Compensation, including the process and standards for awarding teacher bonuses, is best developed through the collective bargaining process. Local school boards, working with teacher union representatives, are the best means to address this issue. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient ? The state must provide ready access to colleges and trade schools. Many students are of limited means and many live in rural areas. Institutions placed throughout the state allows access for those desiring an education who might not otherwise be able to avail themselves of the opportunity. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future ? The intent of the lottery program was and should be to encourage New Mexico residents to attend an institution of higher education. Any changes to the program should be directed toward an equitable distribution of the funds that meets the underlying goals of the program. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment ? Unions negotiate the wages, benefits and terms and conditions for employees whether or not those employees are union members. Employees benefiting from the unions negotiations should pay a fee to help cover the cost of those negotiations; however, non-union workers cannot and should not be compelled to pay dues. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state ? The term sanctuary state means different things to different people depending on perspective. State officials must and should follow applicable federal law; however, it has been held by the federal courts that the federal government cannot require state officials to enforce federal laws. If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public ? Complaints should be made available to the public after an initial prima facie review has been done and the complaint found likely to have a reasonable factual basis. A balance is needed to ensure that unfounded complaints cannot be leveraged to gain a political advantage. Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public ? Incident reports, body camera videos and crime scene photos are public records. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner ? Yes. We should look to ways to increase ridership and seek alternate funding sources, such as federal funds to address identified upgrade needs. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales ? Yes. Such a tax would not only provide an additional, relatively stable tax revenue source, it levels the playing field for our brick and mortar stores. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why ? Our tax code includes many poorly conceived provisions that evolved incrementally. A comprehensive review of the tax code is needed to evaluate the code as a whole including the myriad of deductions and exemptions with the aim of establishing fair and equitable tax policy and stable revenue sources. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support ? Many schools require improved perimeter and access controls as well as enhanced training for staff, students and parents. We also need greater availability of behavioral health resources in the schools and elsewhere. Requiring universal background checks is an important first step to changing our gun laws. Personal background Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens ? No. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding ? No. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state ? If so, explain. No. NAME: Carl Trujillo Carl Trujillo POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic Democratic OCCUPATION: Owner of a successful homebuilding business; Los Alamos National Laboratory Senior Material Science Researcher. Owner of a successful homebuilding business; Los Alamos National Laboratory Senior Material Science Researcher. CITY OF RESIDENCE: Nambe (born and raised). Nambe (born and raised). RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Three terms as a citizen legislator, vice chair of Taxation & Revenue Committee. Three terms as a citizen legislator, vice chair of Taxation & Revenue Committee. EDUCATION: Pojoaque Valley High School; 3 years, UNM (mechanical engineering). Pojoaque Valley High School; 3 years, UNM (mechanical engineering). CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: CarlTrujillo.com What are the top two things you would do to improve the economy in New Mexico ? One way is to create a viable infrastructure, including high speed broadband access. New Mexico consistently ranks about 48th in internet access, which is why I do a lot of work on broadband issues. The second is education to create a skilled workforce, which requires more emphasis on vocational education. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate ? Drug habits drive a lot of the crime rate. This session, I was able to help establish sustainable funding for drug court, which has been very successful at helping people get off drugs. We need to address underlying causes the hopelessness that comes from lack of educational and career opportunities. How would you address the states high DWI rate ? Ive been a leader in bringing more money to the LDWI (Local Driving While Intoxicated) program. Most recently, I sponsored HB35, which uses 45% (almost $20 million) of the liquor excise tax for prevention, education to change generational thinking and sobriety checkpoints & detox centers throughout the state. New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services ? Ive supported this concept every single time its come up because its a worthy goal. That said, its important that the money goes to programs that work. More money is part of the solution, but its not going to solve the problem by itself. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales ? I support both of these things. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party ? Im undecided. There are merits to opening up the primary system to encourage candidates more representative of the majority, rather than the two extremes that primaries often favor. But I see lots of opportunity for political shenanigans members of opposing parties voting for weaker candidates on the other side. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7. 50 per hour? If so, by how much ? Ive co-sponsored multiple bills raising the statewide rate to $9. 25 (the governor wasnt going to go higher). This wouldnt undo the higher levels that many communities have, and in communities where the rate is below $9.25, most working people would prefer a smaller raise to nothing at all. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores ? Explain. Most professions evaluate and reward people based on performance, theres no reason for teachers to be an exception. The problem is, teaching to the test is bad for everyone and I dont think anyone has come up with how to fairly evaluate teaching performance. So the answer is yes, but no. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses ? If I thought there was a fair evaluation system, yes, although of course a raise is more empowering than a bonus. Either way, teachers are leaders in our community and a hard working and effective teacher should be rewarded just like in other professions. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient ? I dont believe efficient is the right standard. People in more remote and rural areas need access to higher education. Online education is a great way to do that, but we need to be careful not to underestimate the unique value of in-person education that brick-and-mortar colleges allow. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future ? I sponsored a bill to put more money from the liquor tax into the fund, but its a hard sell at the Legislature. The other options are: 1. to sell more lottery tickets (which so far isnt working), and 2. to raise eligibility requirements, either income or academic. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment ? I have consistently voted against past right to work bills. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state ? Of course, I support the idea of sheltering families from a cruel federal immigration policy. My concern is, New Mexico is the most reliant on federal funds in the country. Money shouldnt come before doing whats right, but what will we do if the federal government pulls their funding ? If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public ? Ethics reform has always been a top priority for me. To keep a Commission from becoming a political weapon, ethics complaints should become public when the person filing is recognized (meaning not anonymous) and after a preliminary hearing to ensure that the complaint has validity. Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public ? For transparency and accountability, its important to make as much public as possible. But I have a concern with violating the sacred principle of innocent until proven guilty by broadcasting the identity of someone who is arrested but not charged. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner ? Were living with the fallout from the Gov. Richardson days of sweetheart deals and cronyism at our expense. That said, public transportation is public transportation by definition, its subsidized. I think we need to dig in and find a way to make it work, whether we like it or not. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales ? I not only support it, Ive put the bill through the legislature two times (its been vetoed both times). An online gross receipts tax creates fairness for local businesses and helps us to stop sending so much of our money out of state to huge online retailers. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why ? Yes. Accountability is what I strive for and exemptions are largely sweetheart deals left over from past administrations. I would favor eliminating some of them to lower the base rate. Whats worse, exemptions arent reported, so we have no idea how much money were losing. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support ? I think our kids deserve better than to have schools turned into prisons. The answer is reasonable, common sense limits on firearms, just like we have reasonable, common sense limits on every other amendment in the Bill of Rights. Banning assault weapon sales and stronger background checks for a start. Personal background Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens ? No. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding ? No. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state ? If so, explain. No. NAME: Andrea D. Romero Andrea D. Romero POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic Democratic OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur Entrepreneur CITY OF RESIDENCE: Santa Fe Santa Fe RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Consultant, Director, CEO/founder. Consultant, Director, CEO/founder. EDUCATION: Stanford University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 2009; Santa Fe High School graduate, 20 05. Stanford University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 2009; Santa Fe High School graduate, 20 CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: andrearomero.com What are the top two things you would do to improve the economy in New Mexico ? First, expand opportunities for Northern New Mexico that build on our strengths: food production, science and technology, arts and cultural works, hunting and fishing, outdoor recreation, tourism, and entrepreneurialism. Second, increase solar and wind production in Northern New Mexico, providing better paying jobs in tech, construction, transmission, and energy storage. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate ? We must focus on early childhood education programs, which are proven to increase graduation rates and salary earnings later in life, and second, provide more drug and alcohol treatment programs, which are often the root cause of much of the crime wave we see today. How would you address the states high DWI rate ? The majority of New Mexicos DWI fatalities are the result of repeat offenders those with second or third offenses. They should be the focus of enforcement of DWI laws. The adoption of ignition interlocks has helped reduce DWI rates, but NM still has some of the highest fatality rates in the country. New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services ? Support. Pre-K and other early childhood programs are essential so children entering kindergarten are ready to learn. It is has a $5 return on every $1 invested. Pre-K programs have been proven to create longer term benefits reduced incidents of special education, higher graduation rates, and higher earnings as an adult. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales ? I support. With the right policy, legalizing recreational marijuana will allow police to focus on violent criminals, reduce overcrowding in prisons, make an easily accessible drug safer, and will add hundreds of millions of dollars to the state budget. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party ? Support. Open primaries have been proven to increase voter participation, which is always a good thing. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7. 50 per hour? If so, by how much ? Women and minorities make up a disproportionate number of minimum wage workers so raising the minimum wages helps address unfair wage gaps. Its been almost 10 years since the legislature raised the minimum wage, yet costs continue to rise. I support phasing in a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores ? Explain. Oppose. There are so many factors that go into students test scores. Basing teacher performance evaluation on a test score ignores these factors and creates a one-size-fits-all system that doesnt account for the unique conditions of New Mexicos neighborhood demographics. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses ? Oppose. So-called merit pay creates an unfair environment and could devolve into favoritism and patronage. Determining factors for raises should be based upon additional training, length of service, and performance of job responsibilities. I believe unions deserve a seat at the table. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient ? We should focus on the quality of education, not the number of institutions we have. We can make sound decisions on how to make higher education more efficient through annual assessments that analyze number of New Mexicans served, enrollment and population trends, and other available funding. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future ? Tuition has increased, due to state budget cuts Governor Martinez even vetoed funding for higher education last year. We need to restore funding for higher education which will lower the need for the scholarship, and then prioritize scholarships for qualified students who would not otherwise be able to afford college. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment ? Strongly oppose. When employees bargain collectively, they see higher wages, better benefits, and more safety regulations, which translate into a stronger middle class for New Mexico. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state ? Support. I will defend immigrant communities from the home-wrecking methods used by federal ICE programs. I will stand against all efforts that tear families apart and attempt to deport productive, law-abiding, tax-paying members of NM communities. If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public ? Ethics complaints should be made public when there is enough evidence to warrant an investigation, similar to a grand jury proceeding. Due process of the law must be trusted, and we should have a system that respects that process. Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public ? Yes. My brother is a State Police officer in Northern New Mexico and I believe video technology and transparency in reporting are essential for the safety of all police officers, and for accountability to the community. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner ? Support. The Rail Runner should be seen as part of a larger effort to promote mass transit options for New Mexicans. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales ? Support. Many states currently have a tax on internet sales and New Mexico should collect gross receipts tax as well. An internet gross receipts tax will also help homegrown small businesses to compete, which is essential to our economic well-being. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why ? New Mexico needs tax reform, including the GRT system, to make the tax structure fairer. The best way to do this reform is to institute a tax expenditure budget that analyzes all loopholes and carve-outs, so our state ends playing favorites to industries and their well connected lobbyists. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support ? I support strong, common sense gun laws, which is why Im a Moms Demand Action Candidate. To protect New Mexicos kids in school, I support gun violence restraining order legislation so a family member or law enforcement official can petition the court to temporarily restrict a dangerous persons access to guns. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens ? No. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding ? No. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state ? If so, explain. No. NAME: Jaime Gonzalez Castillo Jaime Gonzalez Castillo POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic Democratic OCCUPATION: 6th Grade Education Teacher 6th Grade Education Teacher CITY OF RESIDENCE: Anthony Anthony RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: 10th year of teaching for GISD. 10th year of teaching for GISD. EDUCATION: Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degrees from NMSU. Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degrees from NMSU. CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: None. What are the top two things you would do to improve the economy in New Mexico ? Long term goals: 1) education for better paying jobs. 2) renewable sources of energy. What are the top two things you would propose to address the states high crime rate ? 1) Invest in more man power to patrol our communities and cities across the state. 2) Place harsh penalties for criminals and put them behind bars. How would you address the states high DWI rate ? 1) Educate our communities through educational programs about alcohol and its consequences. 2) Penalize this group of individuals. New Mexico now spends about $270 million a year for early childhood programs, such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten and child care assistance. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services ? Yes, as an educator I will support this measure, but I also expect positive outcomes from such programs Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales ? I believe in finding other alternatives for state funding and leaving this option as a last resort. Do you support or oppose opening the states primary elections to voters who arent affiliated with either major political party ? I do, if they have the right to vote, why make them wait until the primary or general election ? Do you support or oppose raising New Mexicos minimum wage, currently $7. 50 per hour? If so, by how much ? I do. I do not see how a family can survive on $7. 50 an hour. It seems to me the cost of living goes up every year except salaries and if salaries do go up is by very little. The hourly rate is something that should be addressed. Do you support or oppose basing any percentage of a teachers performance evaluation on student test scores ? Explain. No. Teacher performance should not be tie to students test scores. There are many external factors affecting student performance and it would not be fair for the teacher. Furthermore, there are other measures the state assessments do not take into account. Do you support merit bonuses for teachers who do well on their evaluations? Do you believe unions should have the authority to block such bonuses ? No, because there are many biases involved in the process. I think unions should try to block such bonuses. Do you think having 32 state institutions of higher education is too many? What would you propose to make higher education more efficient ? I believe if the state needs 32 institutions, we should have 32, if we need less than we should have less and if we need more we should have more. It should be based on the needs of the community, cities and/or state. We must give the institutions the resources necessary to make them successful and at the same time make them accountable. How should the states lottery scholarship program be kept solvent into the future ? We must find ways to permanently fund the lottery scholarship program and only provided to students who earned it. Do you support or oppose making New Mexico a so-called right-to-work state, by changing state labor laws so that nonunion employees would not have to pay union fees as a condition of employment ? I oppose to make New Mexico a right-to-work state. Why change the laws if people have the right to choose whether they want to join a union or not to join the union. No union fees should be imposed on an employee for not joining the union. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state ? Yes, unfortunately we have other forms of government trying to punish states for this same reason. If an Ethics Commission is approved by voters, at what point do you think ethics complaints should become public ? I think there should be more transparency between governmental agencies and the public. If there is nothing to hide from the public, why not make it public ? Do you believe the initial police incident reports and videos of arrests and crime scenes should be public ? Once more, if the governmental agency has nothing to hide, make it public, be transparent with the public. The state faces balloon payments on its Rail Runner debt in 2025 and 2026, a federal requirement for tens of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the train, and declining ridership. On the other hand, the train is popular with the commuters who rely on it, and the Rail Runner may seek federal funding for the safety changes. Do you support continuing operation of the Rail Runner ? I would suggest conducting a study of how much revenue is coming in, make publicity to increase ridership, and if need be seek federal funding. Do you favor imposing a gross receipts tax on all internet sales ? Yes, I would. New Mexico has more than 100 exemptions and deductions in its gross receipts tax system. Would you favor eliminating some or all of them as part of an attempt to lower the base rate? If so, which ones? If not, why ? I do. It would be based on what the committee determines to eliminate or keep. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexicos gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support ? Must have an effective security system in place, a better relationship between the school leadership and the police department, change whatever gun laws need changed. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens ? No. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding ? No. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state ? If so, explain. No. ALEXANDRIA, Va. A federal judge on Friday asked pointed questions about special counsel Robert Muellers authority to bring charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and suggested that prosecutors true motive is getting Manafort to sing against the president. Manaforts lawyers argued at a hearing in Alexandria that the tax and bank fraud charges are far afield from Muellers mandate to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether any coordination with Trump associates occurred. I dont see what relationship this indictment has with what the special counsel is investigating, U.S. Senior Judge T.S. Ellis III, a Reagan appointee, told government lawyers at Fridays hearing. The Virginia indictment alleges Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars he earned advising pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine from the Internal Revenue Service, money earned from 2006 through 2015. The indictment accuses Manafort of fraudulently obtaining millions in loans from financial institutions later, after his Ukrainian work dwindled. Prosecutors say that part of the conspiracy stretched from 2015 through January 2017, including the months while he was working on the Trump campaign. Under questioning from Ellis, government lawyers admitted that Manafort had been under investigation for years in the Eastern District of Virginia before Mueller was ever appointed special counsel. And Ellis said it was implausible to think that the charges against Manafort, which primarily concern his business dealings and tax returns from about 2005 through 2015, could have a real connection to Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Ellis suggested the real reason Mueller is pursuing Manafort is to pressure him to sing against Trump, though he also noted that such a strategy is a time-honored practice for prosecutors and not necessarily illegal. Ellis went on to say that defense lawyers are naturally concerned that defendants in that situation will not only sing but compose meaning that theyll make up facts. You really care about wanting information you could get from Mr. Manafort that would relate to Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution, or impeachment, or whatever, Ellis said. Later Friday, President Trump praised Ellis during a speech to the National Rifle Association and called him a highly respected judge. Trump read news articles highlighting Ellis quotes about the case and his suggestion that the special counsels goal is to squeeze Manfort. Ive been saying that for a long time, Trump said. At the hearing, government lawyer Michael Dreeben responded to Ellis that the special counsels mandate is broad, and that Manafort fits within that jurisdiction because of his connections to both the Trump campaign and to Ukrainian and Russian officials. We needed to understand and explore those relationships and follow the money where it led, Dreeben said. Dreeben also argued that the Justice Department has broad discretion to set its own rules for what should be designated to the special counsels jurisdiction, and that a judge has no role trying to regulate it. We are the Justice Department, Dreeben said of the special counsels office. We are not separate from the Justice Department. That argument provoked Ellis ire to an extent and prompted him to question the wisdom of granting unfettered power to a special counsel with a $10 million budget. Im sure youre sensitive to the fact that the American people feel pretty strongly about no one having unfettered power, Ellis said. He asked Dreeben whether the special counsel had already blown through its $10 million budget; Dreeben declined to answer. Manaforts lawyer, Kevin Downing, has argued that a special counsel should be tightly constrained in how it operates. He noted that the law authorizing the special counsel was passed to replace the old independent counsel law, which was derided for allowing overbroad, yearslong investigations during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Downing has argued that the charges should be dismissed if Mueller lacked authority to bring them. Ellis, though, suggested another remedy would be to simply hand the case back to regular federal prosecutors. Ellis withheld ruling on the motion and will issue a written ruling at a later date. Manafort is also facing a separate indictment in the District of Columbia, where the special counsel has brought the bulk of charges. Prosecutors also wanted to bring the Virginia charges in the District of Columbia, arguing it would be more efficient. But Manafort had the right to have the case heard in Virginia, because that is where the alleged misconduct in the Virginia indictment occurred. Manafort declined to waive his right to have the charges adjudicated in Virginia. Manaforts lawyers made similar arguments seeking dismissal to the judge overseeing the District case. She has also not yet ruled on the motion. ___ Associated Press writer Anne Flaherty contributed to this report from Washington. NAME : Manuel Gonzales III : Manuel Gonzales III POLITICAL PARTY : Democrat : Democrat OCCUPATION : Sheriff : Sheriff CITY OF RESIDENCE : Albuquerque : Albuquerque RELEVANT EXPERIENCE : 25 years in law enforcement; four years in the Marine Corps, honorable discharge : 25 years in law enforcement; four years in the Marine Corps, honorable discharge EDUCATION : Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, bachelor of science in occupational education, major in management, minor in occupational education with minor specialization in law enforcement, 2009; Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute, associate of applied science degree in criminal justice, 1993 : Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, bachelor of science in occupational education, major in management, minor in occupational education with minor specialization in law enforcement, 2009; Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute, associate of applied science degree in criminal justice, 1993 CAMPAIGN WEBSITE : manuelgonzalesiiiforsheriff.com 1. What would be your approach to making Bernalillo County a safer place? I am committed to consolidating law enforcement services to minimize duplication of resources. Share and collaborate with local, state and federal stakeholders to enhance public safety. I will also place more deputies in the community, schools and businesses to protect our children, families and citizens. 2. What differentiates you from your opponents? I possess 25 years of diversified law enforcement experience and have developed an accomplished network of contacts. I have established successful relationships with key decision makers throughout the community, which has enabled me to keep our community safe and obtain much needed equipment and training for our deputies. 3. What was your most important action during your law-enforcement career? As sheriff, I am providing high level transparency and accountability to the Sheriffs Office. Emboldening our citizens to collaborate with our deputies. Empowering deputies has enhanced our community outreach and improved communication with citizens. Citizens call the Sheriffs Office and we respond! This is what people want and it works! 4. What changes would you make to the Sheriffs Office? With the publics support, during my next term as sheriff, I will continue on a reasonable path of major improvements to include putting more deputies in the community, increasing collaboration with stakeholders, investing in technology, developing community-based policing efforts, and expanding infrastructure. 5. Do you think the Sheriffs Office deputies should use on-body cameras or dashboard cameras? Why or why not? Yes, I support the implementation of dashboard cameras but not the implementation of body-worn cameras (BWC). The future of BWC technology appears to be ambiguous and costly. I would prefer funding to honor our citizens requests of placing more deputies in our community to fight our escalating crime problem. 6. How would you ensure the Sheriffs Office policies align with best practices? Continue our ongoing review of best practices for the Sheriffs Office. Continue to compare our policies to recognized organizations, such as the National Sheriffs Association, International Association Chiefs of Police, the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement, New Mexico Department of Public Safety, etc. 7. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state? No. 8. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been subject of any state or federal tax liens? No. 9. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? No. NAME: Chris Mathys Chris Mathys POLITICAL PARTY: Conservative Republican Conservative Republican OCCUPATION: Las Cruces Businessman working in New Mexico, California, and Colorado. Qualified Real Estate Broker Commercial Lender Las Cruces Businessman working in New Mexico, California, and Colorado. Qualified Real Estate Broker Commercial Lender CITY OF RESIDENCE: Las Cruces, New Mexico Las Cruces, New Mexico RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: United States Army, Conservative Republican member of the Fresno City Council, National Rifle Association, New Mexico Right to Life Committee, Knights of Columbus United States Army, Conservative Republican member of the Fresno City Council, National Rifle Association, New Mexico Right to Life Committee, Knights of Columbus EDUCATION: MBA, University of the Southwest, Hobbs, New Mexico Bachelors Degree in Political Science, Fresno State MBA, University of the Southwest, Hobbs, New Mexico Bachelors Degree in Political Science, Fresno State CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: mathysprc.com Issue Questions 1. Should the PRC be encouraging a transition away from coal-fired generation to natural gas and renewable sources of energy? Coal is an important of part of our current energy needs. Closing the San Juan plant early will cost New Mexico workers more than $100 million in lost wages. New Mexico small businesses could lose $31 million in related opportunities. With American innovation, renewable energy can be become affordable in the future. 2. How would you rate the following issues in rate cases when trying to balance consumer and utility interests: consumer protection, utility return on equity, environment impacts, and system reliability? What other issues do you consider critical? Consumer protection and customer service will be my highest priority. The investor-owned utilities are represented by lawyers and lobbyists. I will fight to insure consumers and small business owners are treated fairly and receive the customer service they deserve. 3. What would be your top priorities as a PRC commissioner? As a businessman, I understand the need for excellent customer service. I realize that the money government spends comes from hard-working taxpayers. I will bring strong, Conservative leadership as your Commissioner. I will fight the environmentalists, progressives and RINOs from leading us to more expensive and unreliable sources of power. 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 any other state? NO Justice Judith Nakamura has been re-elected as Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. Nakamura, who was appointed to the seat in 2015 and then won election to keep it in 2016, was selected by her colleagues as Chief Justice in 2017 to fill out the term of Justice Charles Daniels. According to the Administrative Office of the Court, the Chief Justice presides over Supreme Court hearings and conferences, and is the administrative authority over personnel, budgetary matters and general operations of all state courts. The Chief Justice also acts as an advocate for the Judiciary on legislation, funding for the courts and other issues. In an era of increasingly sophisticated camera phones, Canon has been able to hold its own as a leading imaging technology brand. Innovation and Customer Delight have been the two pillars of Canons outreach in India. The companys future growth plans include retail expansion and deeper regional penetration into Tier 2, 3 and 4 cities. In keeping with Canon Indias transition from an experiential model to an experiential imaging destination, the company launched the Gen-Z version of its retail outlet Canon Image Square 3.0 in India in January this year. Moving beyond just being a product store, CIS 3.0 would be an imaging store, that would allow consumers to make memories and be allured by the magic of photography. As per Cohn & Wolfes report on Authentic Brands Study for India, Canon was placed 52nd amongst the Top 100 Brands in India in 2017. Canon recently expanded its product offering in India with the launch of Canon EOS 1500D and EOS 3000D from its EOS DSLR series. The brand has rolled out an integrated campaign Make every trip an EOS trip to support this launch. Through this campaign, Canon intends to reiterate the camera prowess of its EOS series, through travel, storytelling and social media. For the first time ever, countrywide marketers will witness a campaign that engages social media, travel influencers as its campaign ambassadors. Adding elements of newer concepts, the campaign will also involve contextual promotion on YouTube. Canon India is taking the campaign to Tier 2 and 3 markets. It is targeted at an audience for whom travel forms an integral part of their lives, be it planned or unplanned. And so the campaign emphasises on different kinds of travel genre that aims to encourage people to capture and cherish lifes special travel memories. As a part of this campaign, the brand has engaged with three influencers, who, being travel photographers themselves have featured as the main cast in the TV commercial. The influencers @bruisedpassports, @sadak_chap, and @dharnidh have been assigned a theme each: togetherness; around the town; and day & night, respectively. Besides the TV shoot, the influencers will capture their travel experiences along individual themes over a span of 6 weeks starting April 12, 2018, and will share their updates on their respective social media handles with #EOSTrip. The content will also be officially published on a microsite edge.canon.co.in/EOS_Trip. In conversation with Adgully, Eddie Udagawa, Vice President, Consumer Imaging and Information Centre, Canon India, speaks at length about the brands growth trajectory in India, steps taken to promote the culture of photography in the country, competition from camera phones and more. Excerpts: What is the objective behind the latest campaign for Canon? The latest range of 1500D and 3000D are the entry level camera models and new products. Taking this opportunity, we have launched this 360 degree campaign and we are focussing on travel this time and we call this Make every trip, an EOS trip. The TG is, hence, the Millennials as these days a lot of young people want to travel, so we want them to take their camera and capture great moments. Our aim through this initiative is to promote photography in India. From this stand point, we want more people to use our entry level cameras. We want to spread pan India. Therefore, this time we have also used three digital media influencers. The idea was that they also use our cameras and talk about EOS. This time, media wise, we have used Print, TV and Digital. Canons tagline is Make every trip an EOS trip. How do you plan to transcend this into activity? Any activities being carried out during the summer vacation time? Utilising the vacation time to reach to our TG is a great thought and we will fully utilise this message in our promotions. We will maximise our effects at the right time. This time, in addition we have also created a microsite where people can see the promo and video as well. Primarily, we want the millennials to use EOS for their trips and enjoy clicking photos, no matter how short their trip is. What was the brief given to the agency? The creatives have been done by Hakuhodo India, which has been Canons choice for communication from time-to-time. The idea behind the TVC was a simple one, which is to encourage people to not just take good pictures on their planned and unplanned travels and holidays, but also engage with the real world and take a step back from their virtual presence, share their real tweets, real life and real memories. This is the first time when we have roped in travel influencers to be a part of our campaign and feature in it. We did our research on these influencers reach and followers from across the metros to Tier 2 and 3 cities. With the youth TG increasingly going in for smartphones with sophisticated cameras and editing facilities, how do you see Canon making inroads in this market? The younger consumers want to upload their pictures as soon as they click and want to get more likes, shares and attention from their viewers. Phone comes in handy for this purpose, but since so many pictures are uploaded every day, there should be something different from the others; a DSLR is the best option. It gives a higher quality image and sometimes capturing a moment is only possible with a DSLR, which is far better than mobile cameras. So, this is what I want to convey to the users as I too use both camera phone and a DSLR. The final quality, angles, technicalities that can be captured with a DSLR, cant be captured by a camera phone. That is where Digital SLR is a recommended option over camera phones. I personally use an EOS 70D, one generation before camera but still very good! Canon provides a big range of lenses that even a novice can use and the variety is a strong point for the Canon users. We cannot just compare a smartphone with a DSLR camera, because a smartphone can be used to make phone calls, which a DSLR camera cant. But looking at our camera functions alone, the 3000D is priced at Rs 31,995 and compared to a high-end camera phones, this is affordable. I hope the millennials will find good value in this product and can enjoy photography better. What are the growth opportunities are you eyeing in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets in India? India is a big market and people across metros and Tier 1 cities know about Canon as a brand and our products. Today, Canon is the leader in the Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera market, but we are seeing more potential in Tier 2 and 3 cities. More young people are interested in gadgets; it can be understood from the sale of mobile phones. We want these mobile phone camera users to use our cameras to take much better photos. Also, today the spending power of the people has gone up, so we want to encourage them to invest their money in a DSLR camera. What are the unprecedented differentiators that you are providing to the users who are new to this range of 15500D and 3000D Canon cameras? That is a bit tough question for us as well. We are providing some choices to the customers who want to have bigger LCD screens. But a person who just wants to look at the price, 3000D is a good option. Our idea is to provide good options to our customers in entry level photography. Being an integrated campaign, what other media platforms will be a part of this? Initially, we will use the TVC and Digital media platform, but we are also focusing more in Tier 2 and 3 cities. However, since it is a pan Indian campaign there will be a print campaign as well, we have selected the publications in such a way that it reaches more readers, including regional readers. Apart from that, we have certain brands and other material that our regional offices will be using across media, whenever required. In the regional space, we are using digital also to our advantage, YouTube and selecting regional GEC channels that cater to most parts of India. We also have our POS material that regional teams will be promoting through workshops. Apart from the mid-range cameras, you also have high end cameras that people are increasingly investing in. How are you straddling across the various price points? Currently, Canon is offering the EOS 3000D and 1500D in the market at affordable prices. But for customers looking for higher specifications, mirrorless cameras, or higher technology cameras, we have just launched another range keeping that in mind. So, price points are different depending on the technology, purposes, specifications and it even depends on the kind of consumers we cater to. Of course, from a manufacturers side, for this purpose and application what product and price point is valid; we keep doing this kind of consultation sale. With major competition from Nikon, Leica, Hasselblad, etc., how do you see Canon faring in the race? It is not just the camera brands, you are also competing with camera phone brands. Whats the gratification for the customers there? Last year, we were No.1 in terms of market share. Looking at promoting photography culture, it is good to have competition. If there is only one company, it is difficult to grow the market and meet all the consumer demands. With competition in the market, we will try to create better products, which mean more consumers will be interested in our product range. Actually all the competitors do aggressive advertisement and promotion, so we too come up with something new and different so that more Indians will develop a stronger interest in photography. What is your future strategy for the Indian market? Where do you see the maximum growth for Canon as a company? We are trying to meet the new Indians demands. Currently, the demand for mirrorless cameras is slow in India, while there is a high demand for DSLRs. In many other countries, mirroless cameras are in high demand. So, in line with our corporate tagline Delighting you always we want to delight the Indian customers always and if they seek DSLR, we give them DSLR. That is our strategy in India growing with the demands of our market. Our business has been growing in double digits year on year. The biggest demand is coming for entry level cameras even in the mobile camera phone age. The demand of high end cameras is also there, but we are happy to cater to the demand at the entry level. OYE Fintech, which operates a consumer-focused lending platform called OYE! Loans, (www.oyeloans.com) has raised $2.25 million (about 15 crore) from GAIN Credit, Inc. OYE! Loans currently serves new-to-credit and new-to-workforce consumers with simple, timely and affordable One Year EMI loans (hence the brand OYE!), with ticket-sizes ranging between 10K and 1L INR. The company leverages alternative data to assess risk on customers who have thin or non-existent footprints on the credit bureau. The loan application to disbursal process is largely online, enabling for quick turn-around times of less than 2 business days an attribute that has strengthened its growing reputation as a lender-of-choice within its target markets. With the support of Northern Arc Capital (formerly known as IFMR Capital), its lending partner, OYE Fintech will leverage the new funds to strengthen its underwriting models aimed at new-to-credit consumers, scale-up operations, and enhance its footprint to cover multiple cities (currently OYE! Loans is only operating in Chennai). In the process, the company will stay focused on leveraging the digital ecosystem to evolve towards a completely paperless process with virtually no human intervention a business model that its parent company GAIN Credit has perfected from years of operation in the UK. This funding marks a reiteration of GAIN Credits long-term vision of becoming a global fintech leader, driven by the mission of empowering the lives of the underserved and underbanked by providing responsible access to credit. In addition to the capital provided, OYE! is built on the back of our strong digital lending technology and talent footprint in India, said Mukund Venkatesh, Managing Director India - Global Analytics India (a subsidiary of GAIN Credit, Inc.). Congratulating OYE! on the development, Kshama Fernandez, CEO - Northern Arc Capital (formerly IFMR Capital), said, As OYE!s principal debt partner, we are pleased with the strong growth and expansion plans of the company. We look forward to continuing our support to the company in its journey, as it resonates with our aim of empowering financially-excluded households and sectors with access to credit solutions. Echoing the positive sentiment, Pradeep Rathnam, President - OYE Fintech, observed, GAIN Credits investment in OYE! enables us to accelerate our plans to build scalable India-specific credit products with a focus on robust alternate credit scoring and fraud detection machine-learning models. As a result, we will be much better placed in identifying the right customers, setting the optimum loan amounts, and delivering compelling value propositions in a seamless, frictionless manner. Buoyed by the Indian governments laser-focus on digital transformation and measures aimed at fostering a cashless economy, the countrys fintech sector is forecasted to be worth $2.4 Bn by 2020 (KPMG report in 2016) presenting a significant opportunity for startups like us which are singularly focused on providing responsible credit solutions to those lacking access to mainstream financial services. Click here to read more Related News. Customer Logins Obtain the data you need to make the most informed decisions by accessing our extensive portfolio of information, analytics, and expertise. Sign in to the product or service center of your choice. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. As parts of Syria remain besieged and others are inaccessible, students unable to make it to colleges are finding virtual universities a practical alternative. Syria and the lives of its people have changed drastically during the nation's seven-year civil war. After the revolution began in 2011, the Syrian regime launched military operations across the country, blocking roads and the entrances to some cities such as Hama, Daraa and Homs. The regime was able to recapture some cities from the opposition, but in others, opposition forces stood their ground. As it became clear that the crisis was nowhere near ending, Syrias youth started looking into alternatives to the universities they were unable to attend. Some studied in their homes; others joined educational centers within their besieged areas. Online universities became the most convenient solution. The University of the People (UoPeople), an American school based out of Pasadena, California, has been the choice of 600 students throughout Syria, a good number of whom live in besieged Ghouta. Obada Shalhoub, a university student in Ghouta, had stopped attending classes for three years before he joined UoPeople. Honestly, when our areas came out from under the Syrian regime on Oct. 1, 2012, they were lacking all aspects of educational services, particularly since the regime had targeted schools. Back then I was a high school senior, just about to start university, when my educational path was put on hold for three years. I only graduated high school, he told Al-Monitor. He said, I then started looking for universities, but we had none in Ghouta. After several university centers opened, I enrolled in one for two years, but no one would recognize these centers certificates at the time. I later found UoPeople online and was encouraged to enroll because it required no registration fees. UoPeople is 100% [tuition-]free and its certificate is recognized worldwide, so this is how I ended up in an online university." (The school does charge "assessment fees" of $100 per undergraduate course and $200 each for its Master of Business Administration program.) Not all students meet online university requirements, which can include speaking English and having electricity and internet service available at all times. Most of Syrias besieged areas have electricity and fuel services that are unreliable at best. Massar Academy is a post-graduate institution operating in different parts of Syria, with a branch in eastern Ghouta. Bashar Anjileh, head of Massar's information technology department, told Al-Monitor, We have selected our courses from approved curricula in several international universities, with some modifications introduced by our specialists. We didn't rely on the curricula adopted by Syrian public universities because they aren't up-to-date with recent developments. Anjileh added, We opened the academy in Ghouta to accommodate students who were forced to cut their education short in light of the war and the siege imposed on eastern Ghouta. Our intensive efforts allowed us to obtain recognition from the [opposition's] Syrian Interim Government, and we now seek to develop our work globally. Majed Daas, a resident of Ghouta studying computer science at UoPeople, told Al-Monitor, I dropped out of school for three years when the siege was first imposed. After a while, educational centers started providing education services for high school graduates, but the level was substandard and the certificates were not recognized. I then learned about UoPeople through my friends, so I looked it up and enrolled. Daas added, Although we don't have internet and electricity at all times, we need to hold on to learning so we can rebuild our country in the future. Yet many students who were displaced or are now living in tents can't continue their education. Some were even forced to drop out so they can work and provide food for their families. Online universities, unlike standard brick-and-mortar schools, don't offer the famous/infamous college experience. Daas noted, The difference between studying under siege and having a normal university experience is huge. I can go on and on about how ordinary universities offer a great social experience, allow students to make new friends and acquaintances. Online universities and living in Ghouta offers education and nothing more. Sarah Vanunu, UoPeople public relations director, said the school pays special attention to Syrian students who pursue their studies despite all the difficulties of war in their country. She noted the university has about 600 students from Syria, 10 of whom are trapped in the Damascus suburb of Douma, where a chemical attack allegedly launched by the regime took place April 7. Despite their suffering, Syrian students were doing their best not to drop out, she told Al-Monitor. Internet service is crucial for attending an online university. Some Syrian students with no regular access to the internet requested a freeze of their studies, with the intention of resuming their education once things settle down. Of the more than 600 Syrian students enrolled, about half are actually in Syria and the other half are spread around 40 countries in the Middle East, Europe, the United States and other places, Vanunu said. In our very first graduating cohort of nine students, one of them was indeed Syrian, so we can say we have had Syrian students since day one, she noted. Speaking about how she feels when hearing news from Syria, Vanunu said, We at UoPeople care about our students situation. In fact, a personal adviser is appointed for each student, to follow up on the program and make sure it is on the right track. The adviser also provides support for students throughout their educational journey. The school always checks in with students when natural disasters or terrorist attacks occur in their areas, she said. "In recent days, we kept a close eye on the events in Ghouta, since we have a good number of students living there. I personally contacted some in Douma before the recent attack. Vanunu added, I know they appreciate our concern and support, but I don't think they are aware of how inspiring we find them. It's truly amazing how they can keep going with the same strength and persistence after everything they have been and are still going through. Other institutions have also tried to provide educational services in the besieged areas, such as Free Aleppo University, which has branches in many opposition areas and provides post-secondary educational services. Mohamed Nour al-Tinawy, a third-year medical student there, told Al-Monitor, We insist on getting an education because we realize that it is the future, no matter what. Our areas have a shortage of educated medical staff in general, since most fled during the first couple of years of the revolution. This is why we figured medical education could help fill the gap and treat the sick and wounded. He added, I have worked in the citys field hospital as a medical student in first aid and intensive care. The university adopts the Damascus University curriculum, in addition to some courses taken from the internet, in cooperation with Yale University and the University at Albany. A number of students myself included got a certificate in intermediate and advanced English from the University at Albany. TUNIS, Tunisia Teachers in Tunisia moved out of their classrooms and into the streets recently, hoping yet another strike would teach a lesson to those who control public education's purse strings. The April 17-24 strike was the latest move in a long-standing feud that threatens to throw the school calendar so far off that administrators are threatening to declare what they're calling a "gap year." If that happens, elementary and secondary students would neither pass nor fail, nor would they receive any credit for their work this year. Though teachers resumed classes April 25, they continue to withhold exam results from the first semester as leverage in negotiations and are threatening to withhold the second semester's results as well. Tunisian teachers staged massive protests late last year and again in February and March, voicing years of frustration and raising an ongoing call for improved wages and increased human and material resources. They are also seeking implementation of a 2011 agreement acknowledging teaching as the second most demanding profession after mining. That classification calls for higher wages and pensions. Teachers are also seeking to lower their retirement age from 60 to 55 after 30 years of service. The Ministry of Education rejects the teachers' demands as unreasonable in the face of the state's poor financial situation. Many critics say cutbacks in education have been made in response to International Monetary Fund requirements. The teachers union, the General Syndicate of Secondary Education, is affiliated with the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT). In an April 23 statement, the latter's national administrative body condemned the government's disregard for the crisis that has been plaguing the education sector for some time now, given the delayed educational reform and the deteriorating conditions [for] teachers. The government has "sought to demonize teachers, their general syndicate and the UGTT," the statement read, citing "impossible negotiating conditions." It also "used the crisis to cover up its failure to deal with many issues" and "incited public opinion against" the teachers. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed has threatened to dock six days worth of pay from the teachers salaries for the time they didn't work. He said the government will deposit the money into the Educational Institutes Maintenance Fund to improve conditions for students. The teachers union decided to continue withholding exam results after government spokesman Iyad Dahmani rejected the syndicates April 22 proposal. In the proposal, teachers said they were willing to engage in serious, responsible and unconditional negotiations with the Ministry of Education to salvage the school year. But Dahmani said the initiative would be impossible to implement because the Ministry of Finance can't afford teachers demands for increased spending totaling about $200 million a year. He warned that a missed school year has become a real threat and called on teachers to place the interests of students above all other considerations. About 77,260 teachers work in public elementary and secondary schools in Tunisia, instructing some 950,000 students. Ahmed al-Muhawk, the assistant general secretary of the teachers union, told Al-Monitor, The escalatory steps taken by Education Minister Hatem Ben Salem and the government in relation to the education crisis are an attempt to deal a blow to the education sector and thus push for a gap school year to prevent students from passing exams. But Shaker al-Ayadi, a leader of the secularist political party Nidaa Tunis, told Al-Monitor the teachers union is making "impossible demands," adding, The country is on its way into an abyss and cannot tolerate more crises." He called on syndicate members to "return to their senses and take into account the interest of the country and the students. Meanwhile, Zuhair Hamdi, the leader of the leftist Popular Front coalition, blamed the Education Ministry for "exacerbating" the crisis "because it deliberately set impossible conditions to disrupt negotiations" with the teachers union. I think that the crisis resulted from the governments intention to abandon the public educational institutions in favor of the private sector, he added. On April 21, parents protested in the capital to decry the teachers decision to suspend classes and stop submitting exam results. "The government should respond to the demands of the union, but in any case, [we don't] accept the threat to the future of our children," said Bashir al-Jawadi, the spokesman for the vigil. The teachers union and the UGTT are both calling for a government reshuffle and for Ben Salem's dismissal, but the prime minister refuses to respond to such calls. In an April 21 speech at a labor gathering in Gafsa, UGTT Secretary-General Noureddine al-Taboubi called on the Tunisian president in his capacity as the guarantor of security and peace to urgently intervene to resolve the crisis. It may not be possible for the Education Ministry and the teachers union to reach an agreement, and the conflict could lead the UGTT to withdraw from the Carthage Declaration, which was signed in support of the government. The April 30 address by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Palestinian National Council's (PNC) opening session caught many off guard. In his two-hour discourse, Abbas was keen to reiterate what he already said in previous speeches, defend his policies and justify his actions. The 83-year-old Palestinian leader seemed relaxed and happy to have succeeded in accomplishing what many thought was almost impossible. Abbas address followed the counting of present members to ensure that there is a quorum of two-thirds in the PNC session, which was broadcast live on Palestine TV. In fact, 605 out of the 741 members attended the meeting. The Palestinian leader felt vindicated to say that it is a unique event that 83% of the PNC members are present. He said that had the case been different or had the quorum been absent, the legitimacy of the PLO would have been questioned. The long, rambling speech, laced with colloquial phrases and attempts to contradict historical narratives, might be old-school Palestinian. This, however, has become Abbas signature in his speeches, which is perhaps an indication that he is thinking of his own legacy. During the PLO Central Councils meeting Jan. 15, Abbas lashed out at US President Donald Trump for his Jerusalem decision and his attempts to financially punish Palestinians by forcing them to negotiate with Israel. Abbas used the colloquial Palestinian phrase "Yekhrib Beitak" which is literally translated as "May your house be destroyed," the equivalent of "Damn you" in English to condemn the US policies and claims that Palestinians oppose negotiations. Since when have we refused to negotiate? I went to Washington four times to negotiate, and I am willing to negotiate even this so-called ultimate deal. It is a shame, he told the Central Councils delegates. Abbas also used colloquial language in his address before Palestinian leaders in Ramallah following the failed assassination attempt against Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah March 13. He called US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman "ibn kalb" (son of a dog) while speaking of Friedman's support for Israeli settlement activities: This son of a dog says that Israelis are building on their own land. Friedman, who was known before his appointment for financially supporting the Beit El settlement, replied that Abbas crossed the line. During an anti-Semitic conference in Jerusalem on March 22, Friedman asked in reference to Abbas' remarks Anti-Semitism or political discourse? I leave this up to you." While Abbas earlier remarks were upsetting for US and Israeli officials, the historical perspectives mentioned by the Palestinian president in his April 30 speech produced even more angry reactions. Abbas, whose studies in Moscow focused on the situation of Jews in Europe, delved into the Israeli and Jewish narratives and argued that these narratives eventually affected Palestinian aspirations for freedom on their land. In a blistering diatribe, Abbas reached back into history in an attempt to convince his audience that the search for a Jewish homeland was not necessarily part of the longing for Zion, but rather was encouraged by colonial powers in Europe. Abbas based his remarks on Jewish historians, like Arthur Koestler and Karl Marx, who had in fact written extensively in this area. Abbas concluded, "They [these historians] argue that hatred for the Jews had nothing to do with religion, but rather with the Jews social standing. This hatred, which was widespread in Europe, had nothing to do with religion, but rather was because of their Riba, banking [activities] and money-lending. So this is a totally different story. The best proof is that Jews were present in the Arab countries, and there has not been a single case against Jews. I assure you that no incident was recorded against Jews in the past 1,400 years just because of their religion in any Arab country. Koestlers work is controversial, however, and while Marx was ethnically Jewish, he was not religious. The Israeli attacks against Abbas remarks for being anti-Semitic were quickly followed by similar accusations coming from the United States, Europe and the United Nations. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, chairman of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs in Jerusalem, defended Abbas and said that he resorted to Jewish thinkers to back his statement. Speaking to Radio Monte Carlo May 3, Abdul Hadi said Israel is trying to escape its own policies and crimes in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and even in the diaspora. He perceived the Western attacks on Abbas to be part of a double standard, saying, Abbas used Jewish sources in reading the historical narrative. The sources are neither Arab nor Palestinian; he used Jewish sources regarding the state of Jews in Europe. Why has the world not paid attention to what Israel does and focused on Abbas words? Although the delegates and Palestinian public in general welcomed the tone and content of Abbas speech, criticism was leveled in public forums. Mohammed Daraghmeh, a veteran Palestinian journalist and media professor at Birzeit University, wrote a Facebook post May 3 criticizing the absence of advisers to Abbas who should have warned him. Even if the president is convinced of it, why would he say it? The focus in the international and Israeli media was shifted from Jerusalem and the Palestinian state to anti-Semitism. Friendly parties in the United States and Europe issued statements criticizing Abbas. Daraghmeh argued that Abbas is not a media expert, and his advisers should have brought to his attention that such statements would grab the headlines at the expense of the Palestinian core messages. Daraghmeh added that Abbas talk regarding Jews in Europe represents old-school Palestinian ideology. It is possible that this was his way of making a farewell speech, he said. On May 4, Abbas issued an apology to the Jewish people and denounced the Holocaust as the most heinous crime in history. Since he is no longer willing to run for office and has succeeded in convening the PLOs highest body, Abbas spoke with no political restrictions. The backlash was to be expected, but he felt that he wanted to have his thoughts on the record before exiting the political scene for good. While his reading of the Jewish history will be seen as controversial, Abbas was careful to end his historical narrative with the fact that today Palestinians are willing to live with Israelis no matter what the history. Repeating that Palestinians are not responsible for what happened to the Jews in Europe, Abbas concluded his historic reading by categorically saying that Palestinians are not calling to "uproot" Israelis today. He said, We are in favor of living with them on the basis of the two-state solution and based on that, we accept the situation. In Iran, the robing ceremony of Ahmad Khomeini, the great-grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has stirred some debate about the Shiite clergy. The traditional ceremony where he was given his turban comes against the backdrop of a process in which clerical titles in the country have increasingly come to be driven by political rather than scholarly considerations, with virtually all factions, parties and groups using ranks in the Shiite theological hierarchy for their own political purposes. But has it always been like this in Iran? Before engaging in the debate on the politicization of clerical titles, it is perhaps best to explain their origins. In broad terms, Shiite clerics fall under five categories: Seqat al-Islam, Hujjat al-Islam, Hujjat-al-Islam wal-Muslemin, Ayatollah and Ayatollah al-Uzma. Before the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979), titles like Ayatollah or Seqat-al-Islam were used chiefly as honorifics, albeit rarely and only with reference to a limited number of prominent Islamic scholars. For instance, Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni (864-941) was a well-known Shiite scholar and hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) collector. His important hadith collection Kitab al-Kafi, which is respected by both Sunnis and Shiites, earned him the honorific Seqat al-Islam, which means Trusted by Islam. Indeed, to this day, Islamic scholars commonly refer to Kulayni when mentioning the term Seqat al-Islam. There is also the example of Iranian-born Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali, one of the most prominent philosophers, jurists and mystics of Sunni Islam. He was often referred to as Hujjat al-Islam, which means Proof of Islam. From the Qajar era (1794-1925) until the early Pahlavi period, many great scholars and high-ranking clerics in Iran were still referred to with simple titles, including the honorific Sheikh, which is used to refer to clerics who are not descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. In 1921, Sheikh Abdolkarim Haeri Yazdi, a high-ranking teacher in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala who had established a successful seminary in the central Iranian city of Arak, established the Qom Seminary. Known as the Founder Ayatollah, he organized seminary affairs, including standardizing courses and ranks. Clerical titles have since gradually been employed to designate scholarly achievements. Of note, the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, was one of Haeri Yazdis students. Today, theological students at Irans seminaries have to pass various courses to obtain respective titles. For instance, beginners and those who are studying what is referred to as initial courses are bestowed with the honorific Seqat al-Islam, albeit it is rarely used in contemporary Iran. Hujjat al-Islam is used to refer to clerics who have passed the grade known as Sath and enter Khawrej, in which studies of advanced jurisprudence (ijtihad) are initiated. The clerical rank Ayatollah, which means Sign of God, is bestowed on those who have passed the Khawrej, namely Islamic jurists (mujtahid). Lastly, there is the highest rank of Ayatollah al-Uzma (Grand Ayatollah), who can issue fatwas (religious edicts) to execute Islamic law. In the decades since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, both Reformists and conservatives in Iran have each sought to take advantage of these titles to belittle or promote their respective leaders status in society. For instance, hard-liners often referred to former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as Hujjat al-Islam before his death in early 2017, while the Reformists, moderates and pragmatic conservatives referred to him as an Ayatollah. Rafsanjani, a two-time president, was the figurehead of the moderate camp in Iran and respected by Reformists, especially in later years. Even now, Grand Ayatollah Yousef Sanei, who has come under attack since questioning the results of the disputed 2009 presidential election, is now referred to as a Sheikh by hard-liners, a method used simply to humiliate him. However, the Reformists use the same playbook and especially in retaliation. Senior titles such as Ayatollah are on occasion given to clerics who are either appointed to top religious positions or set to run for office. This trend has mostly been seen among hard-line and conservative figures. For instance, prior to the 2017 presidential election, conservative candidate Ebrahim Raisi was initially referred to as Hujjat al-Islam, but gradually, hard-line media such as Tasnim News Agency and Fars News Agency started referring to him as Ayatollah. The process of this apparent promotion in his rank, beyond his candidacy for office, was initiated with his appointment in March 2016 as the custodian of the holy shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern city of Mashhad. This office entails control of Astan-e Quds Razavi, one of the wealthiest foundations in Iran. As the consensus conservative candidate in the 2017 elections, Raisi garnered more than 16 million votes but was defeated by incumbent Hassan Rouhani, who obtained more than 23 million votes. The politicization of clerical titles, including their use to either humiliate foes or launch careers, has not taken place without controversy. Indeed, these practices have been objected to by grand ayatollahs such as Vahid Khorasani and the late Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili. To symbolically combat this trend and competition among clerics, a number of grand ayatollahs, including Ali al-Sistani, have ordered their offices to remove the words Grand Ayatollah from their names on their Persian websites. While these measures have been lauded, they have clearly failed to stop the tendency to play with clerical titles. Indeed, to end the politicization of scholarly ranks, there will need to be a decisive and firm decision by the Qom Seminary and a collective position of grand ayatollahs against their misuse. Despite the negative implications of these practices, they do appear to benefit one group in particular: journalists and political analysts. To understand which particular cleric a faction or political camp seeks to nominate for an election whether it be for the presidency or the Assembly of Experts, or even internal party polls one merely needs to review the speed of progression in clerical ranks of an individual and the manner in which those ranks are achieved. Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid decided April 30 to withdraw the "no confidence" motion he had filed against the government, even though it was intended to be his opposition opening salvo in the Knessets summer session. He recognized that the Knesset was overwhelmed by a sense of emergency, stemming from the attack on Iranian facilities in Syria the night before. With the Cabinet holding an urgent meeting and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu absent from the opening session, the predominant feeling in the Knesset was that Israel was on the brink of war. So Lapid together with the Zionist Camp acted in a stately manner and withdrew their "no confidence" motions. Then, just a few hours later, they watched Netanyahu seize the agenda in Israel and internationally. Netanyahu gave what can best be described as a prime-time TV performance to present Irans nuclear archive to the world, after it had been obtained by the Mossad in a James Bond-like operation. The presentation concluded one of the most difficult days the opposition has faced in a very long time. Opposition leaders planning to wage a battle against the prime minister, who is entangled in all sorts of criminal investigations, but instead found themselves praising what can only be described as a remarkable intelligence coup. By the next day, however, it looked as if Lapid had already recovered. This started with his partys latest acquisition, Ram Ben-Barak, former deputy head of the Mossad, giving interviews accusing Netanyahu of acting irresponsibly. It was a very sophisticated move on Lapids part. While he is no authority on security matters, Ben-Barak was a candidate to head the Mossad. In other words, he is drawn from the very flesh and blood of that fabled intelligence agency. And yet, Ben-Barak was expressing his dismay at what the prime minister just did. He told the press that he was convinced that most of the Mossad opposed disclosing the operation to the public and then went on to wonder: Why would we give Iran the slightest hint to help them investigate how the documents were stolen, and then start arresting people? Ben-Barak was the canary who announced Lapids integrated attack on Netanyahu across a number of platforms, including a speech to the Knesset plenum. He arrived prepared with a list of main messages, which he later repeated in every interview. It was all part of an effort to position himself as a major player in the diplomatic and security arena, facing off against "Mr. Security" himself. Lapid made it understood that he has internal information claiming that the intelligence community has been in a state of shock ever since the evening of April 30. He followed this by expressing his concerns for Israels safety and security after Netanyahus reckless act. Lapid was quite blunt about it in an interview with Army Radio on May 3. Never in the history of Israel, he began, and to the best of my knowledge, anywhere else in the world, has there been a situation in which intelligence reports of this kind have been made public in this manner. Make no mistake about it. For the past 48 hours, the intelligence community has been in a state of utter shock. When interviewers Yaron Dekel and Amit Segal asked whom he spoke with apart from Ben-Barak, Lapid managed to avoid giving them a clear-cut answer. Throughout his interviews, Lapid tried to get the message across that Netanyahu made a serious error of judgment, and that he is worried about the prime ministers behavior. Lapid also made it clear that he would have acted differently by presenting the intelligence materials discreetly to European leaders in an effort to win their support for a joint response with US President Donald Trump. By taking this approach, Lapid was able to make himself relevant, at least to the media. It was a well-planned response to Netanyahu, after he reshuffled the deck and left the opposition paralyzed. After all, how could they attack such a successful operation on behalf of Israels security? Time will tell if Lapid was successful, but what he was actually trying to do was separate Netanyahu from the Mossads remarkable achievement. Furthermore, the subtext was that Netanyahu is unfit to make security decisions because his discretion has been compromised. In the ensuing circumstances in which Netanyahu is not only ignoring police investigations into his affairs while positioning himself in the center of international affairs, this was a very appropriate way for the chairman of Yesh Atid to regain his stature. As would be expected, the Likud tried to downplay Lapids response by attacking his soft underbelly, pointing out that Lapid didnt serve in the military in any meaningful capacity. Likud leaders wanted to remind everyone that Lapid's stint in the army consisted of him being a journalist for the Israel Defense Forces Bamahane magazine. In its response May 2, the Likud also claimed that in contrast to his [Lapids] delusional comments, the decision to release Irans nuclear archive was made in concert with all of the relevant defense and security organizations. Despite the barrage of insults, Lapid refused to fold. He continued to relay the same messages in his ensuing interviews while adding that Netanyahu himself appointed him to be a member of the Security Cabinet in the previous government. There is no doubt that facing off against Netanyahu in the diplomatic and security arena can be a challenge, particularly when Netanyahu is at one of the high points of his career. Netanyahu is engaged in remarkable coordination with the US administration; he is leading an aggressive policy against Iran in Syria; and he will soon be inaugurating the new US Embassy in Jerusalem (perhaps with Trump in attendance), the feasibility of which was once questioned by everybody. All of these accomplishments have succeeded in removing the criminal investigations from the agenda. Until recently, Lapid was thought to pose a real threat to Netanyahu. He has, however, gotten weaker over the past few weeks. A poll conducted by the News Company April 23, gave Lapid just 20 Knesset seats, his lowest number in the past year, if an election were held today. Meanwhile, Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis, the rising star in the political arena, is eating away at Lapids electoral base, while the same poll showed that even Avi Gabbay of the Zionist Camp was showing signs of recovery, apparently at Lapids expense. In his interviews this week, Lapid claimed that his attack on Netanyahu had nothing to do with his declining poll numbers, and that the only thing that matters to him is Israels security. On the other hand, even if Lapid is genuinely shocked by what the prime minister did, it is still impossible to ignore his intriguing political countermove. Politically, Lapid has announced that he refuses to raise a white flag and surrender to Netanyahus domination of the countrys security agenda. In doing so, he was able to disturb Netanyahus euphoria if only in some small way. He challenged the legitimacy of the prime ministers actions, hoping that his criticism would catch on among the public. Even if he fails at this, Lapid will still try to convince the public that while he may lack any real experience in matters of security, he is not afraid to confront Netanyahu on those very issues, and that he knows what needs to be done. Six Alabama companies have been named to Forbes' 500 of America's best midsize employers. Forbes defined midsize companies as having 1,000 to 5,000 employees. To compile the list, Forbes worked with market research company Statista to pinpoint the companies liked best by employees. Statista surveyed 30,000 people working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. All surveys were anonymous, allowing participants to openly share their opinions. According to the magazine, respondents were asked to rate, on a scale of zero to 10, how likely they would be to recommend their employer to others. Statista then asked respondents to nominate organizations in industries outside their own. At the top spot was publishing's Penguin Random House of New York City. Alabama companies making the list were: Aerospace and defense company Austal USA, of Mobile, was the highest ranked at 120. Transportation and logistics firm AAA Cooper Transportation, of Dothan, at 189. Insurance company Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama, of Birmingham, at 232. Business services and supply company Altec of Birmingham at 345. At 431, American Cast Iron Pipe of Birmingham. And Adtran of Huntsville, manufacturing semiconductors, hardware and equipment, at 471. Frontier Airlines is ceasing direct flights from Birmingham to Philadelphia three months after launching the service. The final flight will be on July 4, said Toni Herrera-Bast, marketing manager for Birmingham Airport Authority. "Frontier's service to Orlando and Denver will continue and we are working with them as well as our other airline partners to pursue other route opportunities to meet the need of our traveling community," she said. Herrera-Bast said American Airlines will continue service to Philadelphia. Frontier Airlines announced in February that it would start offering direct service from Birmingham in April. Daily service isn't offered. Flights to and from Denver are offered on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Flights to and from Orlando will be offered on Monday and Friday. When emailed for comment, Frontier Airlines didn't explain why the service was being canceled. Headquartered in Denver, Frontier Airlines offers ultra low-cost fares starting as low as $39 one way. It's motto is 'Low Fares Done Right.' There are fees, however, for both carry-on and checked bags. At a February press conference, William Evans, senior manager of sales and distribution for Frontier Airlines, said the airline was starting with service to Orlando and Philadelphia because those are Frontier's fastest growing cities and Denver is Frontier's hub. Updated at 11:03 a.m. to correct the date of the last Frontier Airlines flight from Birmingham to Philadelphia. The wrong date was initially provided by the Birmingham Airport Authority. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall brought his Faith Forum series to Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham on Thursday, calling on churches to help fight crime. Opal Oaks, who turns 80 next week, had a message for the attorney general. She remembers when she used to recite the Lord's Prayer every day in public school. Maplesville Elementary School in west Chilton County in the 1940s had the Ten Commandments hanging in every classroom and if you broke a commandment, you had to write the Ten Commandments 100 times, she said. "The Ten Commandments was up there and every morning we had Bible reading and the Ten Commandments and we said the Lord's Prayer," Oaks said. "Why did we, as people of God, allow one wicked woman to have that removed?" That was a reference to atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who successfully argued all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1963 that school-sponsored prayer was unconstitutional. Oaks had some pointed questions for the attorney general. "The Ten Commandments have been removed," Oaks said. "How can we get them back into our schools in Alabama, Mr. Attorney General?" For Marshall, that's a soft serve that he had no problem volleying. "I get asked all the time about the separation of church and state," Marshall said. "There's a great deal of confusion about what that means and what it's about. I get asked about these Faith Forums, 'Aren't you intruding into the role of the church?'" Among those attending the Faith Forum was church-state attorney Eric Johnston, who sympathizes with Oaks, a fellow member of Briarwood, but said times have changed. "She can't turn back the clock," Johnston said, asked about Oaks' reminiscence of school-led prayer. "The law is set," he said. "You can't put the Ten Commandments up in school. You can't proselytize." From Montgomery to Mobile and Birmingham to Huntsville, Marshall has been preaching about the prophet Nehemiah and the need for the people of God to step up and help fight crime. "Absolutely I'm talking about the role of the church, because it's not dissimilar at all to what I'm required to do," Marshall said. Marshall has used his church visits and Faith Forums to call on greater church activism. "Sometimes churches say we don't have the resources, we don't have the ability," Marshall said. "Well, golly, can't we join with somebody else?" Churches promote the kind of community that helps prevent crime, he said. "Sometimes, If we're just gut-level honest, our churches become silos," Marshall said. "If we have somehow or another segregated ourselves from one another in a way that we have lost sight of what ultimately the Great Commission is." Marshall, who is currently campaigning for re-election, drew an audience of several dozen people. "I don't think that whether or not I share my faith with a particular person who ultimately understands the gospel, versus somebody else, if that matters, as long as I've done it," Marshall said. "When we're able to share this message of grace, when we're able to share this idea in a God who loves us infinitely, then we have the ability to make a difference in others who otherwise didn't have that hope." Marshall kicked off his Faith Forums on April 26 in Montgomery and he'll have one more on May 15 in Huntsville. "We're not arming our churches with badges and guns," Marshall said. "That's not what we expect." He said he wants churches to see what they can do. "Churches themselves don't solve these issues, but goodness gracious, in this state we're never going to make a difference if we don't become engaged." Oaks agrees on that. "It does start in the church," she said. "It starts with God's people." The Rev. Gwendolyn Webb was just 14 years old when she led a group of classmates out of a window at Western-Olin High School in Ensley (now Jackson-Olin) to join the civil rights marches in downtown Birmingham in 1963. The doors had been chained shut to keep students from leaving to join the demonstrations, but Webb and her classmates wouldn't be deterred. She'd attended training sessions with civil rights leader James Bevel and heard the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. preach from the pulpit of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on the necessity of non-violent resistance. She was ready. So she hopped out a window and walked the five miles or so from Western-Olin to downtown, gathering followers along the way. "The more we walked, the more children that came along with us," Webb said. "It was like formulating an army and by the time we got to Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, I've never seen so many children." Several thousand students participated in the famed Children's Crusade, which began on May 2, 1963 and lasted almost a week. The marchers were intercepted by Birmingham police and fire crews, which jailed underaged marchers by the hundreds, then used fire hoses and police dogs to disperse the crowds. Webb was there, and she felt the needle stings of fire hoses on her skin during the march and had a paddy wagon door slam shut on her leg, leaving a mark that remains to this day. She calls it her battle scar. The paddy wagon took her to the state fairgrounds, which police converted to a makeshift jail to handle the thousands of people arrested during the demonstrations. Webb was held at the fairgrounds for seven days. This weekend, on the 55th anniversary of those marches, Webb and dozens of others who experienced those times firsthand, are joining hundreds of children from Birmingham and across the nation to commemorate the events of 1963. There are two separate events planned this weekend in and around Kelly Ingram Park and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, one organized by the national group Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and one organized locally by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The original "foot soldiers," participants of the original marches, will have prominent roles in both events. The Rev. Gwendolyn C Webb discusses her experiences in the 1963 children's marches in Birmingham, Ala. The Jack and Jill event is a three-day program called "The Power of Children: Then and Now," which takes place at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church with a commemorative march at 2 p.m. on Saturday from Kelly Ingram Park to Railroad Park. "When you think about the pivotal role that children played, not just in civil rights history but in U.S. history in Birmingham, and it is critically important that our young people know that," Jack and Jill President Joli Cooper-Nelson said. "So this weekend is about educating, honoring, remembering, inspiring, and celebrating." Jack and Jill is expecting up to 2,000 of its members and their families to participate in the workshop, most of them traveling from outside Alabama. "The fascinating part about that is so many have never been to the deep South before," said Cooper-Nelson, who grew up in Mobile. "And so it's going to be fascinating for them to see, touch and feel what another part of the country is like. "We're excited to share Birmingham with them." King's son, Martin Luther King III, is expected to participate, along with Yolanda Renee King, the famous civil rights leader's 9-year-old granddaughter. Anyone can participate in the march, Cooper-Nelson said, but the rest of the Jack and Jill events required pre-booking, including a session Friday night featuring first-hand accounts from original participants. Part of Saturday's program -- featuring a keynote address by Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund -- will be streamed live on the group's Facebook page from 11:30 a.m. until around 1 p.m. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute event features a recreation of the original marches, which began on May 2, 1963. That event will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul United Methodist Church on 6th Ave North, one of two churches used for the 1963 protests to gather the young marchers and give them instructions before heading into Kelly Ingram Park, toward the downtown business district. At St. Paul, BCRI President and CEO Andrea Taylor will begin with opening remarks and read passages from King's letter from a Birmingham jail. The Parker High School choir will sing, and several of the original marchers, including Webb, are scheduled to speak to the audience about their experiences in 1963. The students will be given marching instructions, just as the children were in 1963, stressing the importance of non-violent, civil resistance. Then at noon, the marchers will be sent in groups of 50 toward Kelly Ingram Park. The original marchers were sent in groups of 50 to hide the true size of the protest and to confuse police as to their intentions. Those events are free and open to the public, Taylor said, adding that the BCRI plans to make commemoration of the Children's Crusade an annual event. "We have determined based on the response we're getting that this will be the first of many annual commemorations of the children's march," Taylor said. "Because I can assure you that five years from now, 10 years from now, 25 years from now, even half a century from now, there will be issues of concern in the moment that young people want to engage with and can be change agents about." The 'Children's Crusade' was successful The reason the Crusade is still celebrated so many years later is that it worked. It is considered one of the turning points of the Civil Rights movement, focusing national attention to the plight of African Americans in Birmingham and elsewhere in the South. The protests led directly to concessions from the Birmingham city government, and photographs and film footage of children being sprayed with fire hoses and attacked by police dogs were circulated around the nation and the world. Barry McNealy, educational programming consultant at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute said King and his organizers came to Birmingham off a discouraging effort in Albany, Ga., which failed to rally public opinion to his cause. Birmingham, then widely regarded as the most segregated city in America with the notorious Eugene "Bull" Connor in charge of the city police and fire departments, proved to be different. "Andrew Young famously referred to Birmingham as the Johannesburg of America," McNealy said. "So when [King] comes here and the movement earns a success, that momentum is regained." McNealy said that momentum generated in Birmingham led the black community to rally behind King and generated widespread sympathy for the movement. That led to the March on Washington in August of 1963, then the Civil Rights Act of 1964, followed by the Selma to Montgomery marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. All of that might have gone differently, if not for a few thousand brave children in Birmingham. "Birmingham is going to be that springboard that's going to lead to the major pieces of legislation that are going to basically give us the country that we live in today," McNealy said. Etowah County prosecutors say an attorney for Acton Bowen, a youth evangelist facing child sex abuse charges, violated state rules for professional conduct and acted inappropriately by engaging in public Facebook conversations about the case. District Attorney Jody Willoughby and Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith filed a motion for a protective order, saying Bowen attorney John Floyd has engaged in conversations with the public via Facebook, and claim such conversations have the potential to reach, and possibly impact, even more potential jurors than traditional media outlets. Prosecutors asked the judge to require all involved to refrain from making public statements while the Bowen cases are pending. Etowah District Judge David Kimberley, in court records made public Friday, said he has not made a finding in the state's claims, but did grant the protective order. Bowen's defense team declined to comment on the matter. Bowen, 37, has been held in the Etowah County Detention Center since his April 17 arrest on seven charges: second-degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes and second-degree sex abuse. He was arrested the week before in Hoover on charges of second-degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes and second-degree sex abuse. At his bond reduction hearing in Etowah County, authorities said he is also under investigation by the FBI and in Orange Beach, as well as in Florida and Colorado. Bowen has previously denied any wrongdoing. On April 25, Kimberley reduced Bowen's $500,000 cash bond to a $445,000 property bond. Two days later, Etowah County sheriff's officials filed two new charges of second-degree sodomy against Bowen. The alleged wrongdoing happened about 10 years ago. His bonds now total $855,000. Shortly after the judge reduced Bowen's bond, according to prosecutors, Floyd responded to a Facebook post criticizing the judge for setting any bond at all. According to a state's exhibit, this is what Floyd posted: "I guess I need to make a short statement. I agree with you all that people who abuse children have a special place in hell. However, I will go to my grave every day defending the concept that EVERYONE charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty regardless of the rumors in Facebook or from the DA. I could tell from the judge during the hearing that he personally did not want to do what he did with the bond. However, he followed the law. He has a man that is presumed innocent and under the laws passed by the legislature is required to have a bond he can make. So everyone can attack the judge but his hands were tied when it came to following the law. If each of you does not feel that you should be released on bond when 'charged' with a sex crime, take it up with your lawmakers but don't blame the judge for following the law." The tread continued for quite a while. Prosecutors pointed out that Bowen's cases have received a substantial amount of media attention because of his occupation and his success as an author and public knowledge of his youth ministry. The Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, they stated in their motion, says "a lawyer shall not make an extrajudicial statement that a reasonable person would expect to be disseminated by means of public communication if the lawyer knows or reasonable should know that it will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding." Continued 'discussions of this type' by defense attorneys, they argued, could impact the ability of both the Bowen and the state to obtain a fair and impartial jury. Kimberley agreed. "No part or counsel should be arguing, discussing or engaging in any type of discourse regarding the various issues presented in these cases in any social media format, and thus hereby restrains and enjoins all parties and counsel on both sides from doing so." Bowen is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on the Hoover charges on May 15. The next court date in Etowah County has not been set, but Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Lyn Stuart this week appointed Cullman County District Judge Wells Turner to preside over Bowen's Etowah County cases following the recusal of the Etowah County judges. Bowen's estranged wife's father is one of the Etowah County Judges. A 14-month-old Lee County girl died Friday after her parents say she was found unresponsive at the bottom of their backyard pool. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris identified the victim as Keira Lynn Bragg. She died at 2:41 p.m. Friday from a probably anoxic brain injury due to drowning. Lee County sheriff's Capt. Van Jackson said deputies responded about 11:15 a.m. Thursday to a 911 emergency line hang up call from a home in the 300 block of Lee Road 379 in the Smiths Station community. Dispatchers reported hearing the voices of a male and female screaming during the 911 call prior to the phones line being disconnected. Deputies arrived at the home minutes later and found the front door unlocked, the furniture in disarray, and no one home. Deputies attempted to identify the homeowners but were unable to do so at that time. This incident was documented and flagged for follow-up investigation, Jackson said. Hours later - about 3:45 p.m. - sheriff's officials received a call from Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in Phenix City. The medical staff told lawmen that a 14-month-old girl had been brought to the emergency room by her parents just before 11:30 a.m. The parents said they had discovered their child in a backyard pool at their home. She was resuscitated by hospital staff and airlifted to Children's of Alabama in Birmingham. Harris said no foul play is suspected and is being treated as an accident death. "Please keep this family in your prayers as they suffer through this tragedy,'' Harris said. A Lowndes County sheriff's deputy who died in the line of duty last year will be honored Friday on the south lawn at the State Capitol in Montgomery. Deputy Levi Pettway, 61, was killed April 10, 2017 in a single-vehicle crash near Hayneville. Authorities said the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria Pettway was driving left Alabama 21 and struck several trees at 11:53 a.m. He was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Pettway had served the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department for 12 years. He was a school resource officer and was assigned to the Calhoun High School. He also served as an associate pastor at the Beulah Primitive Baptist Church in Hope Hull. Pettway will be remembered at the Alabama State Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service, which is held each year to honor fallen officers from the previous year. State FOP President Everette Johnson, a Tallassee Police Department officer, said Pettway was the only lawman killed in the state in 2017. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Speakers include Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. "It's a solemn ceremony to remember him,'' Johnson said. "These officers have given the ultimate sacrifice to keep the community and neighborhoods safe. That sacrifice should really be remembered daily." "It's a moment we set aside to honor these people for their sacrifice,'' he said, "and honor their families for their willingness to share their family member with the community. We want to let them know their loved one was appreciated." Authorities have released the name of a man killed in a fall while jogging at Ruffner Mountain on Thursday. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Kevin Mason. He was 33, and lived in east Birmingham. Mason was last heard from at 7:15 a.m. Thursday when he spoke with his wife by phone, authorities said. When she didn't hear from him hours later, she and friends became concerned. A friend went to the park's nature center and spotted Mason's car. When Mason wasn't immediately located, police and fire rescue workers were notified. A Birmingham police officer searching for the man spotted his body in the quarry. That's when Birmingham and Irondale firefighters responded to the scene and began the lengthy process of the recovery operation, which took hours because of the challenging terrain. Birmingham firefighters were initially dispatched at 12:45 p.m. Irondale was called to assist at 12:57 p.m. Authorities said Mason fell 60 to 80 feet. Ruffner Park and Nature Center said on Facebook Thursday night that all trails and the park will remain closed Friday. "This afternoon a hiker fell from a cliff at the Quarry. It saddens us immensely to say that the fall was fatal. In light of this, and out of respect for the hiker's family, the Nature Center will be closed tomorrow. We'd like to thank the Birmingham Police Department, Birmingham Fire and Rescue, the Irondale Fire Department, and the paramedics who responded to this horrible accident. Your help is invaluable. Also, thank you to our visitors and members for your patience. The Nature Center will reopen Saturday morning. Our thoughts are with the hiker's family and friends during this difficult time." The Alabama Department of Transportation announced on Thursday two different closures of the ramp to I-59/20 southbound, weather permitting. Two left lanes of the I-59/20 SB ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday The ramp to I-59/20 SB will be closed from 11 p.m. until 5 p.m. Friday, Tuesday. The ramp will also be closed from 11 p.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday, May 10 and Saturday, May 12. Traffic on I-65 NB will be detoured to the 16th Street exit. From there they can turn left on 16th Street, get on I-65 SB, and exit onto I-59/20 NB. Message boards will be up along the path for the detour. The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph throughout the work zone. Motorists should consider alternate routes, adjust arrival and departure times and use extreme caution in this area. Additional updates can be found online at 5920bridge.com or on Facebook and Twitter. A candidate for Jefferson County District Attorney who wants his name on a county-wide ballot has appealed to the state's highest court. The case started when Bill Veitch, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the Birmingham division District Attorney race, sued Chief Election Official and Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King for not putting the primary races for the Birmingham division on ballots being distributed in the Bessemer cutoff. King recused himself from the case because he is also involved in a re-election primary race, so former Circuit Judge Scott Vowell was substituted as the defendant in the lawsuit. According to a press release from Veitch, the candidate filed an appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court on Friday. Last month, the day before the deadline for primary ballot printing, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Jim Hughey III dissolved the temporary restraining order in place that prevented ballots being printed and dismissed Bill Veitch's case with prejudice-- meaning it cannot be brought back before the courts. A candidate for the county circuit clerk brought a similar lawsuit, which was consolidated with Veitch's. A third case, presented by a voter in the Bessemer division of the county, was also dismissed. The lawsuit only addresses this year's Republican and Democratic parties' primaries, which are scheduled for June 5. Veitch said in the release, "If the race for Jefferson County District Attorney is left off the ballot, voters from Hoover to Brighton will be denied their right to vote on June 5... Nothing is more fundamental in a democratic society than allowing its citizens the right to vote, and any unjustified discrimination in determining who may participate in political affairs or in the selection of public officials undermines the legitimacy of representative government." Jefferson County is made up of two divisions--the Birmingham division and the Bessemer division. In general elections, voters throughout the county can vote on Birmingham division district attorney candidates. There are DA slots for each division, and Veitch was appointed to the Bessemer division DA slot in January 2016. He ran to keep the spot later that year, but lost to Lynneice Washington. "Right now you don't get a vote on who represents you when a crime happens in your neighborhood," Veitch said. "Essentially the cutoff residents are expected to trust Birmingham voters to pick the best candidate for them and to be silent." His attorney Ken Moore argued at the hearing last month that in 2016, Bessemer division voters participated in the democratic primary. He said the DA in Bessemer is actually an assistant position, and the Birmingham DA presides over the entire county. Because the cutoff is actually controlled by the Birmingham DA, the attorney said, the primaries should be on county-wide ballots. Lawyers for Vowell, along with Assistant Attorney Generals, argued the election process should proceed as smoothly as possible and changing the ballots now would cause confusion and be unfair to those who have already voted on the ballots they received. They said primary elections have always been voted on only in the appropriate division, while general elections are county-wide. Bill Veitch, Alabama Supreme Court by Ivana Hrynkiw on Scribd Authorities and family members are searching for a woman who has been missing for more than a week. Jessica Rose Collins, a 31-year-old mother of three, seemingly vanished from her sister's home in the middle of the night on April 23. Relatives have not heard from her since then. "I've been worried sick,'' said her sister Stephanie Nolen, a Birmingham area nurse, who along with other family members have been posting to Facebook daily on Collins' disappearance. According to Nolen, Collins was with a man who badly beat her earlier this month. Collins was released from the hospital on April 20 and was recuperating at her sister's home. When Nolen awoke on Monday, April 23, Collins was gone from her home. "I don't know if she left willingly but the door was unlocked so I believe she was planning to come back,'' Nolen said. Collins has disappeared before for days, her sister said, but has never gone this long without calling to at least ask for money. "I'm almost positive something has happened,'' Nolen said. Collins was last known to be wearing capris leggings that were gray with a wide pink stripe down the side. She had on black flip flops and an orange tank top with writing on it. "She has no other clothes with her,'' Nolen said. Leeds police on Thursday asked that public be on the lookout for Collins. They described her as a white female, 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighing 215 pounds. Authorities said she could be with a man named Lee Banks and/or Al Green. Her sister said she could be in the East Lake or Ensley areas. The family is pleading for information on her whereabouts. "Anyone who knows anything needs to come forward,'' Nolen said. "People are worried sick, and she has children. She may not have made the best life choices, but she's still a human." Anyone with information is asked to call Leeds police at 205-699-2581. A third suspect has been captured in connection with the Huntsville slaying of 34-year-old Raemon Ross. Kason Christopher Grady, 28, is charged with capital murder, Huntsville police Lt. Michael Johnson announced in a news release today. U.S. Marshals captured Grady yesterday at a hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. St. Petersburg, near Tampa, is more than 600 miles from Huntsville. Grady is held in the Pinellas County jail pending his return to Alabama. Along with at least two other suspects, Grady is charged in the Jan. 28 robbery and fatal shooting of Ross. The killing happened at Spring Branch Apartments on Binford Drive. Police have described the incident as a home invasion. Also charged are Charles Mosby, a 28-year-old who was captured in New Orleans, and Fotino Davis, a 24-year-old who was captured in Memphis. Police say they are looking for a fourth suspect, though further information about that person hasn't been released. Ross was one of five people killed by gunfire in Huntsville during the first month of 2018. The Alabama Supreme Court has overturned an order blocking the sale of a Montgomery County public school by interim state Superintendent Ed Richardson. The sale was ordered as part of the state's intervention effort into the district. The court's order affirmed the authority Richardson has under the Education Accountability and Intervention Act of 2013. In a statement to AL.com, Richardson said, "Obviously, I am very pleased that the Alabama Supreme Court confirmed the law awarding me this authority with a school system under intervention." The sale of the school would have generated nearly $10 million, but the city of Pike Road is no longer interested in purchasing the property. Richardson is overseeing an intervention of Montgomery Public Schools by the state for financial and academic reasons. The intervention began in January 2017 under former state superintendent Michael Sentance, who resigned in September under pressure from the Alabama Board of Education. The Alabama Education Association filed the original lawsuit against Richardson, Pike Road Mayor Gordon Stone and others. The suit claimed Richardson acted outside his authority and not in the best interest of Montgomery Public Schools when he announced the sale of Georgia Washington to Pike Road. The AEA issued a statement today saying it was disappointed in the ruling but will respect the decision. The Montgomery County Board of Education appointed Ann Roy Moore as superintendent on Thursday. Moore had been serving as interim. Eric Mackey will take over as Alabama's state superintendent on May 14. In his interview with the Alabama Board of Education in April, Mackey said he plans to continue the intervention but did not have enough information to say exactly what actions he would pursue. In its statement, the AEA said, "We are hopeful that the appointment of Dr. Ann Roy Moore as superintendent of Montgomery County and Dr. Eric Mackey as State Superintendent of Education will allow the intervention to soon return to its origin, which was a collaborative effort to improve the quality of education for students in the Montgomery Public Schools." The Montgomery board had voted to sell Georgia Washington to Pike Road for $11.25 million last year, but later reversed that decision after an impact study. The board opposed the sale of Georgia Washington, an historic school named after an African-American educator. In February, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin blocked Richardson from selling Georgia Washington and any other Montgomery Public Schools properties as part of the intervention. Richardson said the sale would have helped Montgomery Public Schools meet a minimum financial target and avoid teacher layoffs. Last month, Richardson said that without the proceeds from the sale of the school, the district will have to eliminate about 200 teacher positions and outsource about 400 support jobs to stabilize finances. In a statement to AL.com, Richardson said he still hopes to minimize the number of layoffs of Montgomery Public Schools employees. Richardson said last month it has been several years since Montgomery schools maintained a required minimum fund balance of one month's expenses, about $18 million. Eleven Montgomery schools were on the statewide list of 75 failing schools released in January, including all five of the county's non-magnet high schools. Richardson's plans include closing three other Montgomery schools: Floyd Elementary, Dozier Elementary, Chisholm Elementary. Montgomery Public Schools are awaiting a determination of whether the school district is ready to begin a re-accreditation process through AdvancEd, the accrediting body for schools and districts worldwide. Richardson has previously said the lack of a final plan for academic improvement and financial solvency puts the district's accreditation at risk. The average price of a regular gallon of gas now tops $2.50 in every state. Gas tracking site GasBuddy.com shows the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. is $2.817 a gallon, led by California with an average of $3.618. The lowest average price was in Oklahoma ($2.50) followed by Louisiana ($2.507); Arkansas ($2.516); Mississippi ($2.530) and Alabama ($2.557) Prices are up 1.3 cents per gallon over last week's average and almost 16 cents in the last month. The recent upswing has prices at their highest levels since November 2014. The pain at the pump is being blamed on crude oil prices, concerns over unrest in Syria and trade issues with China. There is good news for motorists, however, according to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "We're nearing a turning point in the U.S.- gas prices are perhaps just a dime away from hitting a peak for the short-term, pending OPEC's meeting in June," DeHaan said. "With refineries well positioned for the summer months, we're looking for some relief by mid-June, but expect this summer to remain one of the priciest in the last few years as average prices climb close to the psychological $3 per gallon barrier." In Alabama, gas prices are up almost half a cent over last week's average of $2.551. Monthly prices are up 12.3 cents; year-over-year prices are up 40.8 cents per gallon. The highest prices in the state are in St. Clair, Lawrence and Colbert counties at $2.55 per gallon. Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday questioned why one of her opponents in next month's Republican gubernatorial primary would release his health records without answering if she would follow suit. Ivey wondered why state Sen. Bill Hightower and his wife, Susan, have both run for public office without bringing up the issue of health records. Beyond commenting on Hightower, Ivey did not answer a question about whether she would release her health records. Another primary opponent, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, said in a press release Wednesday that he would release a letter from his physician attesting to his fitness for office. "I find it interesting that candidate Hightower has run for Senate twice, he's run for this - this is the third time (he's run a campaign for public office)," Ivey said. "His wife has run for a term. And he also sought the nomination for U.S. Senate. And this is the first time he's ever mentioned healthcare records." Ivey then ended the interview by walking away with members of her staff. Hightower last week released health records and a letter from his physician stating that the 58-year-old businessman is in "excellent physical health." He urged his fellow gubernatorial candidates to share their person health history as well. "When you have a CEO of a state and they're going to be a champion for the state, each of the candidates should be open about their health situation," Hightower told AL.com, "and if they're not, we should ask: 'Why not?'" Ivey was in Hamilton on Thursday, attending an announcement of a $3 million federal grant to Tombigbee Communications to extend the company's high-speed fiber optic service in rural northwest Alabama. Ivey joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, in making the announcement. At age 73, Ivey is the oldest candidate in the governor's race in either party. A story last year in the Alabama Political Reporter said that in 2015, Ivey was admitted to a Colorado hospital due to stroke-like symptoms. Ivey was attending the Aerospace State Association annual meeting in Colorado Springs. In an interview last year with AL.com, Ivey confirmed she was hospitalized during the Colorado trip but said doctors determined the cause of her lightheadedness was due to the altitude. Ivey said she never had a stroke or a mini-stroke. The Republican primary is June 5. A poll released earlier this week said Ivey had 47 percent support among those participating in the poll with a margin of error of 4 percent. The daughter of missing Alabama woman Jennifer Marshell White said her family is devastated by what she described as an "unprofessional" post on the Moulton Police Department Facebook page today. A post appeared on the police department's Facebook page earlier today, discussing White's health and alleging her marital problems were caused by her children or grandchildren. The post was deleted within a couple of hours. Eventually, the police department's page was taken down all together. Police Chief Lyndon McWhorter didn't immediately respond to AL.com's request for comment. "We're completely devastated by this," said White's daughter Allison Hutto Cross. "That the lead department investigating my mother's case would do something that is so disheartening and so unprofessional and release information about an ongoing case and make accusation and assumptions and violate HIPPA is so disturbing." White's case has garnered national attention in recent days. She's been missing from her home in the small north Alabama city of Moulton since April 8. She is the wife of Moulton City Councilman Brent White. "This Facebook post itself should be enough to prove a conflict of interest," Cross told AL.com. "It just proves my point that this police department is not professional. The facts they're suggesting here are all one-sided." Moulton Mayor Roger Weatherwax said there was a mutual decision between his office and the police department to remove the post. The mayor said he doesn't know who authored or posted the statement and he's unsure whether that person is facing disciplinary action. Weatherwax declined further comment. Earlier this week in an interview with AL.com, the chief expressed frustration with social media chatter about the case. In the interview, he said his officers have done everything in their power to find Jennifer White. Cross and a private investigator who is working the case pro-bono have questioned whether the police department is doing enough. "I have done everything in my power to find my mother and keep her name out there," Cross said. "We are just fighting for a fair investigation. That's all we want. All this (drama) is the one thing we do not want. It takes the public eye off my mother. All we want is to find my mother." Cross has reiterated the fact she and her family aren't accusing anyone of killing or harming her mother. "I have not suggested anybody did anything," she told AL.com. It's not my fault if people make assumptions. My family and my mother are being attacked by this post. My mother is not even here to defend herself and she's the victim. "Shame on the Moulton Police Department." A group of Alabama high school students were left shaken and upset but safe after a mall shooting happened while they were on a field trip at Nashville's Opry Mills. More than 40 culinary students from Albertville High School were at the mall when police say a fight between men ended in fatal gunfire. Six Albertville students witnessed the Thursday afternoon shooting that happened in a busy hallway at the mall. A 22-year-old Nashville man, Demarco Churchwell, was killed. Police have arrested Justin Golson, a 22-year-old from Antioch, Tennessee. "We are SAFE and ALL of our students are accounted for," said culinary teacher Lauren Bolding in a social media statement shared Thursday evening by the school administration. "Please pray for our students. (T)hey are extremely shaken and upset understandably. Lord thank you for watching over them and keeping them all safe." Albertville Principal Deidra Robinson told AL.com the six students who witnessed the fatal shooting were detained by police for questioning and counseling. The group of 43 students and two teachers returned home around 9:15 p.m. It took hours for the mall to be evacuated. Robinson said the group was in Nashville to visit food trucks for lunch before they were to dine at an upscale restaurant that evening. They visited the mall during a break, and that's when the shooting happened. "As principal I am so proud of the teachers who were there," Robinson said. "The teachers contacted me within three minutes of the police being dispatched. They had informed me that all of our students were safe within 17 minutes -- even though the teachers were locked in a closet with other shoppers in the back of a store. "I'm above and beyond appreciative of how they handled yesterday," the principal added. The students and teachers were excused from school today. Counselors were on campus last night, and Robinson said they will be available when the students return next week. Albertville is a small city in north Alabama's Marshall County. The city -- home to about 21,000 people -- is a three-hour drive from Opry Mills, Tennessee's largest shopping outlet. Three out of four respondents to a survey on the Republican primary for Alabama Supreme Court chief justice say they are undecided on the June 5 election. Alabama Daily News and Leverage Public Strategies released the poll this morning. Fifteen percent went with Associate Justice Tom Parker, while 11 percent chose Chief Justice Lyn Stuart. They are the only two candidates in the Republican primary. Seventy-four percent of voters were undecided. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Bob Vance is unopposed in the Democratic primary for chief justice. The Alabama Daily News/Leverage Public Strategies poll showed an even higher number of undecided votes in the two contested Republican races for associate justice positions on the Supreme Court. Earlier this week, Alabama Daily News released the results of surveys on the Republican races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. The surveys were taken from 600 likely Republican voters April 23-30. The surveys were taken by live phone call and automated phone call with dial pad responses. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.94 percent. Responding to a call from one Republican gubernatorial rival and perhaps an effort to pressure another, Tommy Battle released a statement from his longtime physician Friday pronouncing him in "very good" health. The Huntsville mayor is fit enough to serve as Alabama's governor, the letter said. The statements of health from Battle and state Sen. Bill Hightower - who initiated the issue by releasing his medical records last week - are moves to force Gov. Kay Ivey to provide a pubic statement of her health. Evangelist Scott Dawson said Friday he plans to release his medical records as soon as they are available. Once Dawson releases his records, Ivey will be the only Republican candidate who has not yet have given a statement on her health. Ivey's health has been a quiet source of speculation during the campaign, though there have been no publicly confirmed causes for concern. Ivey, 73, is the oldest candidate in the field and in 2015 became ill and required hospitalization during a trip to Colorado when serving as lieutenant governor. Ivey said last year after the illness was revealed that she was diagnosed with altitude sickness. On Thursday, while attending an event in Hamilton, Ivey was asked by AL.com if she intended to provide a statement regarding her health. "I find it interesting that candidate Hightower has run for Senate twice, he's run for this - this is the third time (he's run a campaign for public office)," Ivey said. "His wife has run for a term. And he also sought the nomination for U.S. Senate. And this is the first time he's ever mentioned healthcare records." The governor then walked away as a follow-up question was asked. Battle's letter came from Dr. Jeffrey G. Garber in Huntsville. He said he has treated Battle since 1999 and that his most recent exam was in September 2017. The only medications Battle takes are for seasonal allergies and that there are no signs of underlying medical illness. Hightower released results from an array of recent tests, including a colonoscopy and blood panel. A letter from his doctor said he was in "excellent physical health." The GOP primary is June 5. Judith Ann Neelley The Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL) is asking the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to move forward with the parole hearing for convicted child killer Judith Ann Neelley, who asked to waive earlier this week. The hearing was set for May 23 in Montgomery. "After the U.S. Federal Court mandated the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles set a hearing date, she is still traumatizing the victim's family with her dog and pony show of waving her parole hearing 'to avoid further traumatizing Lisa Ann Millican's family,'" said VOCAL State Director Janette Grantham. "She has traumatized this family for over three decades. Enough is enough. The Millican family is prepared to fight for justice for Lisa Ann by speaking out and protesting at Neelley's parole hearing on May 23. VOCAL requests the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to move forward with Neelley's parole hearing. Let the voices of the victims be heard. " Neelley, 53, was convicted in 1982 for the rape and murder of 13-year-old Lisa Ann Millican. She was set for a parole hearing on May 23, but according to her appellate lawyer Barry Ragsdale, she has waived the hearing. "After much prayer and discussions with my children, I have asked the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole to cancel my parole hearing currently set for May 23," she wrote in a letter, obtained exclusively by AL.com. "Although I am grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate how much God has changed my heart and life over the past 36 years, I know that now is not the right time. In order to spare the Millican family the pain and trauma of having to attend the hearing, I have agreed to waive my right to be considered for parole at this time. I will continue to pray daily for God's forgiveness and for peace for the Millican family." Originally sentenced to death, Neelley had her sentence commuted to life in prison by former Alabama Gov. Fob James before he left office in 1999. His order did not specify whether Neelley would be eligible for parole. The legislature changed state law in 2003 specifically to block Neelley from the possibility of parole, but earlier this year a federal judge ruled that law unconstitutional. James, however, told The Post, a Cherokee county newspaper that when he commuted the sentence he believed that there would be no possibility of parole for Neelley. After 19 years of legal battles, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles set Neelley for her first parole hearing. The Millican family protested, and asked people to write letters to the board asking that Neelley not be granted parole. However, even if Neelley attends the hearing and is granted parole, she still may not be a free woman. Georgia has a detainer warrant pending for Neelley for a consecutive life sentence in a 1999 kidnapping case. If released from Tutwiler prison, authorities in Georgia could arrest Neelley and take her to a Georgia state prison. Neelley was aware of the detainer warrant in Georgia, her lawyer said, but her primary motivation for canceling the hearing was to spare the victim's family from traveling to Montgomery and attending the hearing, where they would again listen to the details of Lisa's murder. In late September 1982, Neelley kidnapped Lisa from the Riverbend Mall in Rome, Georgia, and took her to a motel room for her husband Alvin to rape. Over the next several days, Alvin raped Lisa four times, with Neelley assisting as needed by beating her and handcuffing her to the bed to prevent an escape. When the couple was done, Neelley took Lisa to Little River Canyon outside Fort Payne where Neelley injected Lisa six times with liquid drain cleaner in a botched attempt to kill her. After that didn't work, Neelley led Lisa to the rim of the gorge. Over Lisa's pleas to go home, Neelley shot Lisa in the back and then shoved her into the canyon. A jury recommended Judith Neelley serve a sentence of life imprisonment without parole but the judge instead imposed a death sentence. VOCAL is asking all the citizens of Alabama to send a letter to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles protesting Neelley's release. Send letters to: Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles Attn: Rhonda Carter 301 South Ripley St., Building D P.O. Box 302405 Montgomery, AL 36130 A self-described nonpartisan watchdog group on Thursday urged the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate possible connections between donations from the payday lending industry to Sen. Richard Shelby's campaign account and congressional votes that benefitted the industry. "It's no coincidence that Sen. Shelby fought for the payday lending industry's priorities while raising money from the industry at the same time," said Campaign for Accountability Executive Director Daniel E. Stevens in a statement. "This appears to be a textbook example of pay-to-play behavior." Shelby's office dismissed the complaint from the Campaign for Accountability, whose actions have largely targeted Republicans, GOP donors and Trump administration officials, accusing the group of cherry picking facts and distorting the record. The senator's office said his 2015 vote to give the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau less power over rulemaking regarding payday loans was made according his view on the CFPB's structure, not how the vote would have affected payday lenders. The vote also went along party lines, and only one other Republican senator received money from the payday loan industry. Since the creation of the CFPB in 2011, Shelby has called for the bureau to have a board of directors, saying that such a structure would give the CFPB more accountability than a director with sole authority. The bureau oversees consumer financial products and makes sure that the public understands the fine print on such products. "Sen. Shelby has long-standing concerns with the structure of the CFPB and has openly stated that he believes the agency has functioned in an irresponsible and unaccountable manner," a Shelby spokeswoman said in a statement. "The senator's vote against providing more autonomy to the CFPB stemmed from his public belief that the agency needs more accountability on all rulemaking." But in a complaint filed with the Senate Ethics Committee, Campaign for Accountability argued that the timing was "suspicious" between Shelby receiving more than $46,000 in campaign donations and the 2015 vote, which occurred within a month of each other. The donations were by far the largest among the more than a dozen lawmakers cited in a report titled "Payday Puppets" and released last week by Allied Progress, which Campaign for Accountability is using as the basis for its complaint. Pat Toomey, a Republican senator from Pennsylvania whom Allie Progress said received $15,000 from the payday loan industry, was the only other senator mentioned in the report. "Well there's a larger question about why he has been so vehemently opposed to the CFPB. Is it because he received the contributions from the payday lending industry? "Also, I don't buy the argument that he only acted on this issue out of ideological motivation. The payday lending industry didn't give this money to him for charitable purposes. The payday lending industry contributed to Sen. Shelby's campaign because they wanted him to support their issues. In this case, it appears to have worked." In Mobile on Tuesday, Shelby said the amount mentioned in Allied Progress' report was a drop in the bucket compared to the $20 million in his campaign account. He also accused the group's claim of being politically motivated. "I saw that. Out of $20 million, that has nothing to do with anything. I don't even know who gives me money, as a matter of fact I've quit raising money, 'cause I don't need any," the senator said. "And secondly, out of $20 million ... that group that wrote that report liked the Democratic liberal position of the consumer agency, which I have fought from the beginning." Lawrence Specker contributed reporting Jim Carnes By Jim Carnes, policy director of Alabama Arise, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of congregations, organizations and individuals promoting public policies to improve the lives of low-income Alabamians. Email: jim@alarise.org. We can't create a healthier Alabama by taking away people's health insurance. That's why Gov. Kay Ivey should withdraw a plan that would punish families by stripping Medicaid coverage from thousands of parents who live in deep poverty. Alabama is seeking federal permission to require extremely low-income parents with Medicaid coverage to have jobs outside the home. This plan would take coverage away from around 17,000 people who would have nowhere else to turn, and it would be a radical departure from traditional Medicaid rules. As Medicaid officials put the finishing touches on their plan, we all should look beneath the shiny packaging of this so-called "workforce initiative" and ask ourselves whether it meets the basic test of humane public policy. The vast majority of Alabamians with Medicaid coverage are low-income children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. Alabama adults under age 65 without a disability can't qualify for Medicaid unless they care for a dependent child and make less than 18 percent of the poverty level (or $312 a month for a family of three). Let that sink in: Alabama parents can't get Medicaid coverage if they work even 10 hours a week at minimum wage. Yet Ivey's proposal would require people to work 35 hours a week (or 20 if they're caring for a child under age 6). If these parents could find work - which isn't guaranteed - they would earn too much for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance. Because Alabama has refused to expand Medicaid, there would be no affordable coverage available for people who fulfill the work requirement. That's a catch-22: making people work to keep health coverage, only to take it away anyway once they get a job. About 75,000 Alabamians qualify for Medicaid in the targeted category of Parents and Other Caretaker Relatives. Nearly 90 percent are women. After exemptions for disability, pregnancy, age and other factors, about 17,000 people would be subject to the requirement - and almost certain to lose Medicaid. When parents lack health coverage, families are at higher risk of medical bankruptcy, and children are less likely to have regular doctor visits and more likely to become uninsured themselves. Alabama has a proud history of supporting children's health: Thanks in part to strong investment in ALL Kids, our rate of uninsured children has fallen from 20 percent to just 2.4 percent in the last two decades. But with this proposal, Alabama would turn its back on that progress. Vulnerable families aren't the only ones who would be harmed. The work requirement also would hurt the state budget, which affects everyone. Keeping track of who's working, who's looking for work, who's not working and who's exempt would be complicated and expensive. Alabama Medicaid has long kept its overhead among the lowest in the country, but that would be difficult - if not impossible - under this plan. The new costs could threaten funding for other services like mental health care and child protection. Expanding subsidized child care to meet the needs of newly working parents would be another added expense. Despite these complexities, the proposal does not estimate total state costs. Alabamians deserve to know how much the state would spend on a policy that would take away health coverage from thousands of people. Of all the questions the proposal raises, one looms largest: Why hasn't Alabama expanded Medicaid to cover low-income workers who don't get employer coverage and can't afford private plans? That single step would save hundreds of lives, create thousands of jobs and pump hundreds of millions of dollars a year into the state's economy. The dignity of work is a central value in Alabama Arise's advocacy. We see employment as a critical contributor to health, along with access to supports like health care, education, nutritious food, affordable housing and transportation. State policy works best when it promotes individual employability and workforce development as important elements of a broad strategy to reduce poverty, improve health and strengthen the economy. Such policies require a hopeful vision. But Alabama's punitive approach of threatening to take away health coverage from parents in poverty gives the familiar biblical injunction a fresh sting: Without a vision, the people will perish. Children never got enough credit. They never do. But they change the world all the time. The thing that happened in Birmingham 55 years ago this week, the thing that showed the world what injustice looked like in 1960s America, would not be remembered if not for children. Not in the same way. Not because they followed rules and conventions, but because they didn't. Some disobeyed their parents and many disobeyed teachers and were expelled from school because of it. They risked their lives and their futures because they believed the future - without action - was an even bigger risk. And it was. Many were jailed. Some were knocked to the ground and injured by grown men with badges. Or by the powerful force of firehoses. And they changed the course of the Civil Rights Movement. "If it had not been for the kids we would not have had a Movement," said Jeff Drew, a child of the '60s who, as a 12-year-old, watched violence unfold in Birmingham's Kelly Ingram Park that "looked like a precursor to mass murder." "We wouldn't have had the numbers." Of all the things that happened in Birmingham in 1963 -- Martin Luther King Jr.'s arrest, and his magnificent letter from jail, the dogs and even the bombings - it is the Children's Crusade that's most remarkable. King had been arrested, remember. On April 16 he went to jail, along with hundreds who wanted to use Birmingham to show the world what inequality looked like. A judge ordered an end to all protests, giving police carte blanche to arrest anybody who dared question the order of the day. So it was up to the children. They were picked because they were young, and it was thought their risks would be smaller. But what began on May 2 --- 55 years ago this week - was bigger than anyone dreamed. Thousands of children - having been taught King's strategies of non-violence -- took to the streets to confront Birmingham leaders. Day after day. Some jumped fences to leave school "because of a collective desire to join the demonstration" Drew said. "We would not have thought of something different." They filled the jails, but they accomplished what they set out to do. Not everything. Not right away. Four little girls were killed at 16th Street in September of that year, but the world saw the ugliness of segregation, and white supremacy, and the status quo. From 1963 Birmingham to 2018 students from Parkland, Fla., children speak with power. (file, AP) King's words were the soundtrack to that Movement. But that month children led us. It's impossible to look back on the Children's Crusade without looking forward. Students still dare to step forward - locally and across the state and from the surviving students of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. So much has changed, and so much hasn't. They still face fire hoses of criticism, threats and barbs and snarls from those who say they should know their place. They should follow the rules, the trolls say. They should stick to what they know. They should keep their mouths shut and let adults - who ostensibly know what they are doing - solve these adult problems. Jeff Drew, who grew up with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Birmingham Movement. (special) That would be the safe thing to do. Keep your head down. Keep your mouth shut. Let somebody else take the fall. Thank God young people - now and forever -- know what their parents forget. Safe won't change the world. Birmingham taught us that. Safe won't make the world safe. But sometimes, courage will. John Archibald's column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com. Welcome to the Troy story toon show. With Troy King running for attorney general again, we figured it was a good time to freshen our memories about how much fun he was the last time he held office (2004-2010.) Once upon a time, before there was a fuddy duddy Luv Guv and a mistress, there was an awkwardly uptight Troy King and an inflatable pig. In his first stint as attorney general, King was obsessed with enforcing Alabama's ridiculous law against sex toys. King was hell-bent on ridding the state of all dildos, vibrators and other weapons of mass perversion. Enter Loretta Nall, a Libertarian candidate for governor in 2006 and an advocate for legalizing marijuana. In 2007, Nall organized a "Sex Toys for Troy King" drive urging folks to mail sex toys to the attorney general's office. Nall kicked off the event by sending a sexy time inflatable pig to King. Brilliant. (Nall has some sexy pig stories.) I drew a cartoon and wrote about it on AL.com: "The beauty of this gesture has my heart squealing with joy. If there's anything more enjoyable than drawing uptight, arrogant authority figures in perverted attire, it's drawing pigs. Any time I can shovel all my favorites into one cartoon and still eke out an editorial point, I celebrate with Birthday Cake Ice Cream. Since the attorney general has been accused of targeting only Democrats in his investigations, an abused inflatable donkey was added for seasoning." Aaaaand we were off. Troy King's first run as Alabama's attorney general was fraught with tension, drama and plenty of awkward moments - many involving Gov. Bob Riley. He's a politically ambitious, perversion-obsessed, thin-skinned guy with zero sense of humor. But he does have kind of an overly serious Agent Cooper from Twin Peaks quality about him. What's not to love? I'm not sure why he's running again, but I'm tickled that he's in the race. Enjoy the gallery of Troy toons. It's easy to miss the nondescript entrance to Uniti Fiber's network operations center (NOC) in Mobile, AL. As I walked through the exterior door, I faced a far more imposing one. The $45,000 everything-proof behemoth gave the distinct impression that whatever was behind it was quite important. As I toured part of Alabama's digital domain with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, I began to understand the necessity of our technology infrastructure to our future prosperity. Most of us use the Internet, but we don't really know how it works. With the rapid expansion of wireless services, we almost never see wires or hardware either. We simply want it to work, be lightning fast, and as cheap as possible. Behind our Internet experience, expansive hardware investments and talented people ensure that our online experience meets our expectations. The bunkered control room at the NOC looks and feels like a situation room. One bank of monitors constantly lights ups connections for staff to triage. On another wall, Uniti Fiber personnel monitor the NOC's massive cooling apparatus and weather patterns. A back room contains racks of servers, batteries and more wiring than I've ever seen in one place. In a humorous moment, Chairman Pai asked about an official-looking projection of weather patterns. "Is that from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?" he queried. "No, actually that's an app pulled from an Amazon Fire stick," staff responded. It struck me as a perfect example of how advanced technology--historically reserved for governments and corporations--is now accessible to average Americans. Pai continued with questions about the infrastructure, its resilience and how the network had changed over time. Uniti Fiber staff noted that Internet traffic to customers has more than doubled--from 20 to 50 gigabits per second--since December of last year. Our guide pointed to an unassuming red box in one of the racks--the Netflix cache. The small box locally holds large portions of the Netflix catalogue to improve rapid access for users. The physical footprint of hardware may be shrinking, but the capability is expanding by orders of magnitude. Pai believes that businesses like Uniti are key to addressing our nation's digital infrastructure needs. "The FCC has some funding that's available," said Pai, "but ultimately the only way we can close the digital divide is by encouraging the private sector to take the initiative to build the infrastructure." After touring the NOC, we visited a microcell tower adjacent to the Bankhead Tunnel. "Tower" is probably the wrong word to describe what we saw. It's a shorter metal light pole with some boxes attached about half way up. It was only one of many configurations deployed. With new microcell technology, even the Bankhead tunnel has service. I asked Uniti Fiber President Andy Newton about the challenges facing fifth generation wireless technology (5G). "Our goal is 5G for all, but unfortunately some cities will get left behind during deployment because their regulatory barriers are such that it's simply impossible to operate," he said. "Other cities, like Madison and Mobile, have implemented reasonable standards and work with us to make sure they get the best technology available." The patchwork of municipalities that view new 5G infrastructure as a revenue opportunity may be the greatest hurdle to its timely deployment. The politics of permitting and navigating through multiple layers of government are every bit as complicated as the underlying technology. "The Internet is inherently an interstate service," Pai noted. "For every locality in the United States, every state government, to have a bite at the regulatory apple ultimately will slow down deployment." Pai sees the solution somewhere between the FCC and Congress. "The FCC has the primary jurisdiction over deciding what the rules of the road should be," he said. Even so, Congress must determine the degree to which it's willing to preempt layers of additional regulation in an effort to provide regulatory certainty. There's a lot more to the Internet than what most of us see. Taking a couple of hours to learn more about that was well worth my time. Our technology infrastructure shoulders an exponentially increasing demand for the services and products we use in our daily lives. One way or another, consumers will foot the bill for the next generation of technology infrastructure. As for me, I'd prefer my dollars paying for the network of the digital future rather than a patchwork of government bureaucracies. Cameron Smith is a regular columnist for AL.com and vice president for the R Street Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. There are roughly two months to go until Zimbabwe holds general and presidential elections, and for the first time, without the participation of former President Robert Mugabe, the longtime leader who resigned in dramatic circumstances on November 21. Very little has changed under the new administration on the economic, social and political fronts. The principal beneficiary of the post-November order seems to be the increasingly influential military complex, led by former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander-in-chief, and now powerful vice president and retired general, Constantino Chiwenga. Millions of Zimbabweans celebrated the departure of Mugabe from the political scene after an often despotic and barely lawful 37-year rule that ended with economic and social malaise and reportedly three million people living in exile, mainly in South Africa and the UK. But Zimbabwes new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, formerly an ally of the strongman, has struggled to move beyond the much publicised rhetoric proclaiming Zimbabwe is open for business and implement substantial political reforms that may serve to attract much-needed financial investment from abroad, instil consumer confidence throughout the economy and move the US to remove targeted economic and political sanctions that were renewed on March 2. The current political environment in Zimbabwe is not as toxic as it was last year, under a 93-year-old leader who employed an aggressive approach to divergent views and labelled opponents to his rule foreign agents and economic saboteurs bent on causing mayhem. But the military complex, which comprises the army, ex-army officers and veterans from the 1970s war of independence, has begun to consolidate its power over civilian affairs by occupying positions across all branches of government and refusing to reform the executive infrastructure Mugabe abused for political ends ever since Zimbabwe was plunged into an economic quandary on November 14, 1997, a day known as Black Friday. {articleGUID} Now, Chiwenga not only controls the Defence Ministry, but his erstwhile subordinates hold influential and strategic positions in the government and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri heads the Lands, Agriculture and Rural Settlement Ministry, retired Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo is foreign affairs and international trade minister; retired Brigadier-General George Mutandwa Chiweshe is the High Court judge president; and retired Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje was appointed the ruling partys political commissariat in December 2017. So where Mugabe ruled together with close and loyal party cadres and technocrats such as Sidney Sekeramayi, professor Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Ignatius Chombo, the Mnangagwa administration is embedded with soldiers and war veterans loyal to Chiwenga and, it increasingly appears, wholly dependent on the ideological ways of the past. Despite the overseas charm offensive and friendlier approach to opposition politics at home Mnangagwa paid a glowing tribute to Morgan Tsvangirai, the godfather of the modern opposition movement, when the latter lost a bruising battle to colon cancer on February 14 nothing much has changed on the ground. Mnangagwa has absolute control over the police and secret service and the authority to appoint the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, all ambassadors and diplomatic officers, the registrar-general, attorney general, prosecutor-general, security chiefs, cabinet ministers and permanent secretaries. This affords him sufficient resources to utilise politics of patronage much to the detriment of the national economy and democracy reform. Also, he can draw political mileage from the electoral architecture that accommodated Mugabe extremely well for 37 years. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and Zimpapers, two large state-run media organisations that serve practically as trustworthy and effectual publicity machines for Zanu-PF electoral campaigns, are currently churning out pro-government and pro-ruling party reports, totally bereft of the slightest criticism, to a nationwide audience, on radio, TV and a broad range of provincial and national newspapers, such as the Herald, Chronicle and Manica Post, as well as through online platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube, while shunning any substantial news on the opposition MDC-T, save for unsavoury content about opposition splits, alleged dictatorial tendenciesand sheer incompetence. {articleGUID} Worryingly, the distinction between government and party business is often deliberately obfuscated for political profit, with government events functioning as party gatherings and campaign rallies. This highlights a profound sense of entitlement and coldness towards the separation of state and party that is reminiscent of the old order. And, worse still, even though the fact that agriculture minister Shiri called for a halt to illegal land invasions, in a long-awaited sign the government intends to maximise agricultural production and minimise unwelcome, unproductive disturbances in the most crucial economic sector, Chiwengas wife, Mary, reportedly grabbed a 300-hectare government-run farm in Domboshava, a farming area located about 27km north of Harare. Additionally, according to Nehanda Radio, a UK-based news outlet, the flamboyant second lady was awarded a multimillion-dollar travel services contract by the government that never went to tender. This questionable, but unsurprising, acquisition and dubious award, plus reports from international NGO Global Witness alleging that the military, under Chiwenga, was involved in the plunder of diamonds in the Chiadzwa mining area in Manicaland, together with the obviously profound reluctance to enact media, electoral and security sector reforms before the elections in July, suggests that the military complex only seeks to create an internationally acceptable impression of change for investment reasons, while concurrently creating a tightly controlled, watered-down version of democracy. No doubt international investors, who wish to move beyond the Mugabe years quickly, would like to see strong and stable leadership and sound economic policies in place before they invest in the southern African nation; and the Mnangagwa-Chiwenga combo, laden with substantial experience in governance affairs, a deliberately capitalist outlook and brute military clout, amply provides that quintessential political illusion. Should Zanu-PF win the harmonised elections, Chiwenga will be perfectly positioned to succeed Mnangagwa in 2023, and complete a pseudo-democratic power transfer to the benefit of the armed forces. Before the coup, Chiwenga made it clear that Zanu-PF, the state, and the army remain inseparable, when he said, When it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in. When Chiwenga made this now famous statement of extrajudicial intent, which allegedly justified the need for armed intervention, and inadvertently surmised how conservative and unstable Zimbabwes democracy really is, about 90 high-ranking ZDF officers backed their chief. So the self-styled protectors of the revolution Chiwenga referred to could always resurface, if a political party like the MDC-T, led by 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa, wins the presidential elections later this year. The army made similar threats in 2002, before a hotly contested presidential election, as well as in the run-up to the disputed and violent 2008 elections, which were held amid shocking economic conditions. Which is why, until comprehensive electoral, media and security sector reforms are enacted and followed to the letter of the law by state actors, and voters can enjoy the benefits of an unhindered democracy and partake in truthfully free and fair elections, Zimbabwe will continue to face the risk of becoming the Southern African version of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis Egypt: a modern dictatorship wrought with repressed freedoms, political instability and never-ending destitution. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Last month, reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-un continued his diplomatic charm offensive when he stepped over the demilitarised zone border which has divided the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice and held summit discussions with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The meeting, which was the third occasion for an inter-Korea summit, has received mixed reviews from analysts and foreign stakeholders in the region. During the summit, Kim and Moon released the Panmunjom Declaration where both sides made pledges to enhance high-level dialogue, reduce tensions on the peninsula and a host of other confidence-building measures. It was historic in many regards, and we should applaud the Moon administration, in part, for its ambitious approach to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. However, on the critical issue of North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, there was no concrete path forward on denuclearisation which is a key condition for the US, South Korea, Japan and others in the region. During the meeting, Seoul and Pyongyang confirmed the common goal of realising, through complete denuclearisation, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, but there was no tangible path forward to verify this process. This was in stark contrast to previous commitments, all of which were subsequently broken by Pyongyang, made by North Korea over its nuclear programme. For example, during the Six-Party Talks in 2005, North Korea agreed to verifiably denuclearise its programme through the allowance of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and an eventual return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). {articleGUID} Of course, much has changed since 2005, especially the dramatic enhancement of Pyongyangs weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile capabilities. However, the comparison remains an instructive point and the critical issue of verification must be addressed sufficiently, if there is to be any deal coming out of a looming summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in the coming weeks. Indeed, the outcome of that meeting will serve as a key catalyst for the future trajectory of inter-Korea ties. How are things likely to pan out for inter-Korea relations in the coming months? On the positive side, the Moon administration can point to tangible, and rapid, improvements in the inter-Korea relationship over the past year. Some examples of this, in addition to the recent summitry, include the resumption of military hotlines, more frequent political dialogue, people-to-people exchange, and pledges to avert conflict around the historically tense Northern Limit Line in the West Sea. Indeed, the Moon administration is pulling out all the stops on its neo-Sunshine policy aimed at bringing North Korea in from the cold. Of course, much of this is also wrapped up into Moons sense of pan-Korean identity, in which he shares a fraternal tendency to reunite the Koreas, despite their stark divergence over the past seven decades. Bolstering his engagement platform are sky-high approval ratings, closing in on 80 percent. However, despite these significant developments over the past few months, it is important to remain cautious about the limits of any inter-Korean rapprochement. In sum: we have been here before. There have been two prior summits between the leaders of South and North Korea, both in 2000 (between Kim Dae Jung and Kim Jong-Il) and 2007 (between Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong-Il). During the second summit, Moon was chief of staff to President Roh and helped orchestrate the meeting with North Korea. The Kim-Kim Sunshine Policy, based on cultivating economic and cultural ties as a tool towards a peaceful reunification, also remains a key element of thought for many Korean politicians including Moon despite the failure of the outreach to Pyongyang. The key difference now is new leadership. Kim Jong-un is now officially on his public diplomacy tour with successful summits in China and South Korea, in advance his important upcoming meeting with Trump. Kim has also outlined the importance of economic growth for North Korea, as outlined in his Byungjin policy line, which prioritises a parallel track of nuclear weapons development alongside economic development. Meanwhile, Moon has re-energised pro-engagement policies after years of conservative rule in South Korea that favoured a tougher approach to North Korea. The future of the Korean Peninsula, however, remains opaquer than the ebullience displayed at last months Panmunjom summit. Will these great aspirations turn into reality, or is it merely an intermission from the long-standing security tensions on the Korean Peninsula? The answer to this largely rests on the intentions of the Kim regime towards denuclearisation. Perhaps, Kim has had a revelatory moment and miraculously come to terms with the idea of trading in his nuclear programme for sanctions reduction and security guarantees from the US and South Korea. However, it remains more likely that he continues to be allergic to the idea of giving up his WMD programme and views the possession of nuclear weapons as the ultimate insurance card against a US-South Korean attack. In the regimes mind, it would be suicidal to relinquish that trump card after working so diligently towards those capabilities. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. From Pakistan to the US, it is still very difficult for military women to speak of sexual assault and seek justice. In 2003, I was a young Flying Officer in the Pakistan Air Force, training under a supervisor who was notorious for making advances on women. He lived up to his reputation. During my one year at the airbase, he inappropriately touched and made indecent comments and sexually explicit jokes to me and my female colleagues. Although I was not physically assaulted, the psychological trauma from these experiences was unbearable. It is never easy to speak of sexual abuse, and I never reported him. Instead, I tried to erase this traumatic episode of my life from my memory until recently. Last year, the revelations of pervasive sexual harassment and assault in the US film industry, and the consequent rise of the #MeToo movement, brought back these painful memories. Like other women across different industries and countries, I found the courage to speak out. Because armies are male-dominated across the world men account for more than 90 percent of military staff and are intrinsically associated with certain notions of masculinity and aggression, they are difficult workplaces for women to navigate. Furthermore, for centuries, armies have used rape as a weapon of war and some continue to do so. In recent years, there has also been growing evidence of the pervasiveness of sexual violence perpetrated by peacekeeping forces and of sexual assault committed within the military ranks across the world. Despite increasing media attention on sexual crimes perpetrated by troops, information and statistics on sexual crimes within the military are still difficult to come by. Few countries around the world publish official data on the subject, and what is publicly available often underrepresents the true extent of the problem. Israel, which mandates military service for both men and women, had 893 cases of sexual assault reported in the last year. The Pentagon estimates that 15,000 members of the US military have been sexually assaulted. In the British military, four in 10 military women are victims of sexual violence. A 2016 survey estimated that 27 percent of women in the Canadian armed forces face sexual abuse during their career. Official reports on sexual violence in the military are even harder to find in developing countries. In my country, Pakistan, there have not been any reports released by the military on sexual crimes committed within its ranks. In countries like India, Peru, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria, there have been only occasional media reports on sexual assault committed by troops or anecdotal evidence published in human rights reports. {articleGUID} Across the world, sexual violence is very difficult for women in the military to address. Victims are often blamed for provoking the sexual abuse with their behaviour or dress. Reporting sexual harassment and assault can mean that the victim is labelled as a person of loose morals or as a liar. In more conservative settings, virginity and notions of honour make reporting sexual violence even more difficult, as women fear bringing shame to their families and losing their chances of marriage. At times, military women also trivialise sexual harassment to fit into the masculine setting. They may also discourage other women from reporting their experiences. One of the biggest challenges in addressing sexual violence in the army is that military laws and procedures are different from civilian ones. Speaking to the media is prohibited and military institutions can hide behind legal loopholes or national security legislation to dodge accountability for crimes. Sexual violence cases are heard in male-dominated military courts that operate under military law, which makes it difficult for militaries to try abusive people in top leadership positions. Often perpetrators sit in the same chain of command that is supposed to act on the complaint, leaving survivors of sexual violence fearing retaliation if they report. There is a gap in evidence-based studies on the issue, but data from the US military suggest that more than 48 percent of survivors refuse to proceed with trial after reporting sexual violence. Solutions to the problem of sexual violence vary. Countries like Pakistan follow a strict policy of gender segregation to minimise interaction between men and women in the military. This is effective to an extent, given the conservative culture in the country. {articleGUID} Norway has taken the exact opposite route of putting men and women together in dorms and this strategy also seems to be working in reducing sexual assault rate. Countries like the US, France, UK, Israel and Canada have made some efforts to reform reporting and response mechanisms for sexual violence crimes to ensure protection for the victims and a higher likelihood for the perpetrators to be held accountable. None of these efforts has been enough, however. To truly address sexual violence within the military, comprehensive changes must be implemented. These include: adapting practices to combat sexual harassment while keeping victims safe; developing action plans to prevent sexual harassment; training troops to report sexual harassment both as victims and as witnesses; creating safe and private channels of reporting sex crimes without fear of retaliation; amending military laws in countries that dont already classify sexual harassment as a specific crime to make it one; publicising the sexual harassment data and actions taken on them; and making provisions for victims to take sexual harassment cases to civil courts. These steps are essential if we want to create a safe environment for the women and men who serve. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Qatar-based network calls on Egypt to release its journalist, who has spent 500 days in jail without charge. Friday marks 500 days since Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein was arrested by Egyptian authorities after returning to his home country for a holiday. Hussein, an Egyptian national who was based in Qatar, was stopped, questioned and detained by authorities on December 20, 2016, after travelling to Cairo on annual leave. Five days after his initial arrest, Egypts interior ministry accused him of disseminating false news and receiving monetary funds from foreign authorities in order to defame the states reputation. Since then, he has been put in solitary confinement and denied his legal rights. He has yet to be formally charged. According to Egyptian law, the maximum time a person can be held for interrogation is two years. If Hussein remains imprisoned, he will reach that in December 2018. His family says the journalist is in poor physical and psychological condition, and is being denied adequate treatment for ailments. In a statement published on Friday, Al Jazeera renewed its condemnation of Husseins arrest and called on all international human rights groups and media freedom organisations to continue in their support of Mahmouds release. The Qatar-based network also urged all those concerned with media freedom to take an active part in denouncing his continued detention and to put pressure on the Egyptian authorities to release Hussein. At the time of his arrest, Sherif Mansour, of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said: Egyptian authorities are waging a systematic campaign against Al Jazeera, consisting of arbitrary arrest, censorship, and systematic harassment. Human rights and press freedom groups have also condemned his ongoing detention. Mostefa Souag, the acting director general of the Al Jazeera network, said there was overwhelming support for Al Jazeera in the face of the false charges levied against Hussein. Al Jazeera has been working tirelessly to keep this issue in the minds of people, Souag said at a conference in the Ghanaian capital Accra marking World Press Freedom Day. Everybody condemns the Egyptian authorities for denying media freedoms, abusing the military and polices powers by silencing those who might say anything against the government. Freedom of the media is completely curtailed in Egypt and what were witnessing might be the worst its ever been in its history. This kind of behaviour could have serious implications for the state of journalism in the Arab worlds largest country. Targeting of journalists Husseins detention is the latest in a string of arrests by Egyptian authorities targeting the networks staff in the country. In May 2016, Ibrahim Helal, the former editor-in-chief of Al Jazeera Arabic, was sentenced to death in absentia for purportedly endangering national security. Egypt also imprisoned Al Jazeeras Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste on charges of spreading false news in a case that was widely condemned by international media outlets and politicians alike. Mohamed and Fahmy spent 437 days in jail before being released, while Greste spent more than a year in prison. The judge who sentenced the journalists said they were brought together by the devil to destabilise the country. Basque separatists ETA to cease all political activity The Basque separatist group ETA has issued a final communique saying its journey has ended and it will cease all political activity. For decades it used violence to push for an independent Basque state in northern Spain and southwest France. More weather disturbance predicted in the coming days as northern states report more deaths after Wednesdays storm. The death toll in the dust storm and heavy rainfall that swept through northern India has climbed up to at least 127, as the countrys weather agency warns of more weather disturbance in the coming days. Officials told Al Jazeera that at least 73 people have been killed and 91 others injured in the state of Uttar Pradesh. In neighbouring Rajasthan state, at least 36 people were killed and over a hundred were injured, while four others were reported killed and eight injured in Uttarakhand. Some of those who were seriously injured from the collapse of buildings and homes on Wednesday evening died in hospital, according to reports. Meanwhile, in the state of Andra Pradesh, at least 14 people were reported killed by lightning strikes. Indias National Weather Forecasting Centre said that thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakand, Jammu and Kashmir and other neighbouring states on Friday and Saturday. A heat wave condition is also expected on Saturday in some parts of Rajasthan. On Sunday, thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail is predicted at Himachal Pradesh, while heavy rain is very likely in Assam and Meghalaya. Another dust storm or thunderstorm could also hit isolated areas over at the western part of Rajasthan. On Sunday, thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail are predicted at Himachal Pradesh [AFP] On Thursday, it was reported that winds as strong as 126 kilometres per hour accompanied the dust storm. According to Al Jazeeras senior weather presenter, Richard Angwin, dust storms are common in Rajasthan during the period before the monsoon rains. A large part of the Thar desert lies within the state of Rajasthan, and dry, sandy soils are prone to wind erosion and transportation, he said. The Hindu newspaper also reported that a cyclonic circulation in the state of Haryana also contributed to the deadly dust storm. In the northern city of Agra, where at least 36 people reportedly died, the Times of India reported that the dust storm suddenly swept through the area as residents were getting ready to sleep on Wednesday night. One family lost their children aged six to 10 and an infant nephew, as the wall of their house collapsed while the children were in bed. I wish I had died in place of them. They were so cheerful on Wednesday night that they didnt want to go to sleep. If only I would have let them play a little longer, maybe they would have alive today, Rajbir, the father from Agra told the Times of India. Plans for summit follow months of angry exchanges over testing of North Korean atomic weapons and long-range missiles. Donald Trump says the time and place for his much-anticipated meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been decided, and will shortly be made public. Earlier this week, the US president suggested that the demilitarised zone, or DMZ, between North and South Korea would be an excellent venue for the planned summit, but that Singapore was also a possible site. We now have a date and we have a location. Well be announcing it soon, Trump said as he left the White House on a trip to Texas on Friday. Plans for a meeting between Trump and Kim follow months of angry exchanges between the two over Pyongyangs testing of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, including some theoretically capable of reaching the US mainland. But a surprising about-turn by Kim in recent months has raised hopes of a turning point in the region. Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950s but South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim agreed at a landmark summit last week to work towards a permanent treaty to replace a 65-year-old armistice. Gathering momentum Preparations for the Trump-Kim meeting have gathered further momentum since the Korean summit. Trump is expected to push for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons at the meeting. He also hinted on Friday at progress in winning the release of three Americans held in North Korea. Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages. I think youre going to see very good things, Trump said. The US has been demanding the North free Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul and reports say the two sides were close to reaching a deal on their release. Trump also said that he was not considering reducing the US militarys presence in South Korea as part of the negotiations. Troops are not on the table, he said. But he also said he would eventually like to bring them home. France anniversary exhibitions mark 1968 uprising Although the 1968 uprising failed to bring down the de Gaulle government, it had a lasting effect on French culture and on artistic expression. Critics say African American activist Christopher Daniels has been held since December because FBI policed his views. A US judge has ordered that Christopher Daniels, considered by many to be the first person arrested under the FBIs Black Identity Extremist (BIE) designation, be released from pre-trial detention and dismissed the indictment against him. Daniels, a cofounder of the Huey P Newton Gun Club and Guerilla Mainframe (GMF), two armed organisations based in Dallas who regularly protest against alleged police brutality, is entitled to be released from pre-trial detention based on the dismissal of the indictment, Judge Sidney Fitzwater wrote in the order issued on May 1. Daniels was arrested in December by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for possessing rifles after being convicted of misdemeanour domestic assault in Tennessee in 2007. Misdemeanour and felony domestic assault convictions bar US citizens from legally owning firearms under federal law. The GMF, as well as activists and civil rights advocates, have called him the first prosecution under the BIE designation. Danielss lawyers argued that differences between Tennessees state laws regarding misdemeanour domestic assault and the federal governments definition of the same crime meant the Tennessee conviction does not qualify, according to court documents. Under Tennessee law, causing another person to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury can be considered a misdemeanour domestic assault, which does not necessarily include the use of force, the court document states. Fitzwater gave the government until mid-day on May 3 to provide further reason to continue detaining Daniels. It does not appear the government filed a further motion. GMF had not responded to Al Jazeeras request for comment on Daniels release at the time of publication. Controversy over BIE An FBI intelligence assessment (PDF), dated August 2017, defined BIEs as African Americans inclined to commit acts of violence against police officers, which they perceived as representative of the institutionalized oppression of African Americans. The document appears to have been drafted in response to a July 2016 shooting in Dallas that left five police officers dead, as well as others in Louisiana, Indiana and Missouri. The designation has caused controversy with activists, civil rights organisers and US politicians. The intelligence assessment was sent to thousands of police departments across the US. Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent who specialised in counterterrorism, told Al Jazeera that the FBI already considered groups comprising eco-terrorists, white supremacists, anarchists, anti-abortion rights activists and black nationalists as possible domestic terror threats. But while a designation like white supremacist applies to certain groups, BIE is applied more broadly. Southers was concerned that African Americans protesting against police violence could be labelled as threats under the designation. After receiving the intelligence assessment, law-enforcement officers could consider the BIE designation as actionable information, the former FBI agent said. This means that the BIE designation could be used to acquire search warrants or engage in surveillance, Southers said. Although Daniels was arrested for illegally possessing firearms, the reasoning given by federal prosecutors for his continued detention focused on social media posts in which Daniels criticised police officers. Transcripts from a court hearing in December show that Daniels was under FBI surveillance for two years before his arrest due to online videos posted on far-right news outlets that showed the activist at rallies while armed. Michael German, another former FBI special agent who focused on domestic terrorism and fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice, told Al Jazeera he never understood how the government was successful in having him held in pre-trial detention in the first place. German previously told Al Jazeera that the governments use of Danielss social media rhetoric as a reason to keep him detained highlighted why the BIE framing that the FBI has developed is problematic. It was a very counterproductive use of the FBIs counterterrorism powers, German said on Friday. Officer deaths in 2018 German, like Southers, found the BIE designation problematic. Neither of the former FBI agents has found a reason for the designation. The Congressional Black Caucus, a group of African American legislators, revealed during a briefing on the BIE designation in March that high-level FBI officials were unable to explain how it came to be. Southers told Al Jazeera the FBIs intelligence assessment featured a number of alleged BIEs, but he found the reasoning behind classifying them as such lacking. Furthermore, at least 25 police officers have been killed by gunfire in the line of duty in 2018, an increase from 2017, which saw 16 officers killed in the same period, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks police deaths. However, there is no evidence to suggest that any of the 25 police officers killed were killed by suspects related to alleged BIE organisations or groups. I do not recall any incidents from this year that would qualify as involving BIEs, Southers concluded. Heavy downpours in recent weeks have killed scores of people and raised the threat of cholera. Heavy seasonal rain in central and southern Kenya has killed more than 100 people since April, while the resultant flooding has displaced over 200,000 more. Authorities in the country and humanitarian groups have been airlifting stranded residents and providing aid to villages cut off by the floods. Kenyas Red Cross has called the flooding a humanitarian crisis that requires emergency funding. The flooding has also resulted in cholera outbreaks, with 15 of the countrys 47 counties being affected. Kenyas Meteorological Department had predicted above-average rain in the western and central parts of the country, with remaining areas expected to be average. The East African country receives most of its rain between March and May/June. A second rainy season, known as the little rains occurs in November, but rainfall then is much lighter. Flooding problems have also been reported in Uganda and Somalia. The United Nations estimates that half a million people have been affected in Somalia, with close to 175,000 being displaced. Palestinian president says he did not intend to offend Jews after remarks draw condemnation by international bodies. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he fully respects the Jewish faith as he issued a statement apologising for remarks earlier this week. During the opening session of the Palestine National Congress (PNC) on Monday, Abbas had said that hatred of Jews in Europe before the Holocaust was related to their social behaviour, including money-lending, rather than religion. In a statement on Friday, Abbas said it was not his intention to offend Jews and condemned anti-Semitism in all its forms. If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to them. I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths, Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted him as saying. I would also like to reiterate our long-held condemnation of the Holocaust, as the most heinous crime in history, and express our sympathy with its victims, added Abbas. Al Jazeeras Harry Fawcett, reporting from the Gaza-Israel border, where protests continue for the sixth Friday in a row, said that Abbas opening PNC speech was interpreted by many people around the world that its just another encapsulation of anti-Semitic prejudice and that by talking about their social behaviour he was giving some kind of legitimacy to anti-Jewish persecution, even the Holocaust. Fawcett said Abbas statement on Friday seemed to be the result of the condemnation he got from the EU and the UN the very sort of institutions and bodies that he wants to see as alternative partners in a peace process going forward, having rejected the role of the United States in the wake of President Donald Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israel capital. Senior Palestinian leader Saeb Erekat on Thursday issued statement defending Abbas, saying he was disturbed by the accusation that suggested the PA president was an anti-Semite or opposed to peace negotiations. Erekat said Abbas has repeatedly referred to the Holocaust as the most heinous crime in history. President Abbas is a man of peace who has dedicated his entire political career to finding a just and lasting peace based on International law, freedom, justice, equality and coexistence between Israel and Palestine. Our problem is not with Judaism but with the systematic denial of our rights committed by Israel, added Erekat. Commenting on the accusations that Abbas is an anti-Semite or a Holocaust denier, Palestinian leader Mustafa Barghouti told Al Jazeera that Abbas words were taken out of context. These accusations against Abbas were untrue, he said. Barghouti said that those who accused Abbas of being an anti-Semite did so in order to distract the world from the real issue, which is the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and lethal repression of peaceful Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza. The head of former rebel Mozambique National Resistance movement passed away in central town of Gorongosa. Afonso Dhlakama, Mozambiques long-time opposition leader and former rebel chief, has died aged 65, according to media in the country. Dhlakama, who headed the former rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) movement, passed away in the central town of Gorongosa, state broadcaster TVM said on Thursday. It gave no details of how he died. Dhlakama was ill prior to his death, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported, citing an unnamed official in RENAMO. Local media reported that he had suffered a heart attack. President Filipe Nyusi, whose ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) movement fought a long and bitter civil war against RENAMO, said Dhlakamas death marked a bad time for Mozambique. To me, is even worse because I was in a full alignment with him to solve the problems of this country, he said on TVM. Members of Dhlakamas party have clashed with government forces since he lost a disputed election four years ago. But he was set to run again against Nyusi in next years elections. {articleGUID} Dhlakamas forces and FRELIMO fought a long bush war in which around one million people are believed to have died. It was ended in 1992 under a peace accord that gave fighters a blanket amnesty and allowed RENAMO to regroup as an opposition party, paving the way for landmark elections two years later. Dhlakama lost every major election he contested against FRELIMO, though he topped the vote count in several central and two northern provinces in 2014. Succession plan Mozambique will hold presidential, legislative and provincial elections in October 2019, with observers saying Renamo has recently increased its public support. FRELIMO has ruled the country since independence from Portugal in 1975. All eyes will be on Renamo following Dhlakamas death to see if the party can manage a peaceful leadership battle and transition as failure to do so could have major repercussions for Mozambique. Brendan von Essen (@BrendanvonEssen) May 3, 2018 Low-level violence erupted between government troops and RENAMO from 2013 to 2016, with the discovery of mass graves of recent victims raising fears that the country was heading back to war. The fighting often centred on the countrys main roads, with RENAMO, which also holds seats in parliament, attacking government convoys and civilian vehicles, and soldiers accused of ruthlessly targeting suspected rebels. The violence forced thousands of people to flee to government-run camps, relatives homes or across the border to Malawi and Zimbabwe. RENAMO alleges that the FRELIMO elite has enriched itself at the expense of the country, with the once-booming economy badly hit in recent years but a massive hidden debt scandal. Zenaida Machado, Mozambique specialist at Human Watch, said Dhlakamas death and the unknown succession plan within RENAMO will bring uncertainty. It raises critical questions about the next RENAMO leaders ability to control hundreds of armed men in the bush and negotiate a long-lasting peace deal with the government, she told AFP news agency. Award postponed after new details emerge on Swedish Academys handling of a sexual and financial misconduct scandals. The Swedish Academy has announced that no Nobel Prize for literature will be awarded this year, in the wake of a financial and sexual scandal that has engulfed the body responsible for selecting the winner. The Academy said on Friday that it aimed to award two prizes, including for this year, in 2019. The controversy comes from Jean-Claude Arnault, a prominent figure in Swedish cultural institutions. Arnault has been accused of multiple acts of sexual assault and harassment, including one incident in which he allegedly touched Swedens Crown Princess Victoria inappropriately. Six members of the group have resigned in recent weeks, including Katarina Frostenson, Arnaults wife. The Academy cut ties with Arnault in 2017, shortly after the allegations became public. Bjorn Hurtig, the lawyer representing Arnault, has said his client denies the allegations. The decision to postpone naming a Nobel laureate was taken at a meeting by the committees 10 remaining members on Thursday. The crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel Prize. Their decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard the long-term reputation of the Nobel Prize, the foundation said in a statement released Friday. The foundation has faced further criticism for providing funding to a cultural centre headed by Arnault and Frostenson in an apparent breach of conflict of interest regulations. An independent investigation commissioned by the Swedish Academy found evidence of financial misconduct and unacceptable behaviour by Arnault in the form of unwanted intimacy, but the knowledge was not widely spread in the Academy. However, the investigation found a letter dating back to 1996 which alleged sexual misconduct on Arnaults part, suggesting a long history of impropriety. The Swedish Academy said in an April statement that it deeply regrets that the letter was shelved and no measures taken to investigate the charges. The delay for the 2018 prize in literature will not affect other awards, the Nobel Foundation statement said. Manila to seek diplomatic means to address issue as Beijing declares indisputable sovereignty over disputed islands. The Philippines is confident that the missiles China recently deployed in the South China Sea, including in one reef declared by a tribunal in The Hague as part of Filipino territory, are not directed at Manila, a spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte has said. With our recently developed close relationship and friendship with China, we are confident that those missiles are not directed at us, Harry Roque said on Friday, in a statement described by critics as the weakest possible response. But Roque added that the Philippines remains concerned about the deployments, in what he referred to as contested areas in the South China Sea, also referred to in the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea. The Mischief Reef, one of the areas where the missiles were deployed, was declared in 2016 as being part of the Philippine territory by the United Nations-backed international tribunal at The Hague. This reef is one of the seven areas in the South China Sea that was reclaimed by China. In February, it was reported that China has transformed those reefs into artificial island fortresses with multiple naval and air facilities, including runways and helipads. In an exclusive report on Thursday, CNBC television channel said Beijing had deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles in three of those reefs, namely Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef. Citing US intelligence reports, CNBC said the missile installations marked the first Chinese missile deployments in those reefs. The reefs are part of the Spratlys group of islands. At least six countries, including China and the Philippines, have competing claims over Spratlys. Chinas indisputable sovereignty On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying declared that China has indisputable sovereignty over Spratlys, also known in China as Nansha Islands. The relevant deployment targets no one. Anyone with no invasive intention will find no reason to worry about this. We hope that the relevant party could view this matter in an objective and calm way. We will continue to work with all countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, she added. On Friday, Dutertes spokesman Roque said Manila would explore all diplomatic means to address this issue. Since becoming president of the Philippines in June 2016, Duterte has been eager to repair relations with Beijing. During his visit to China in October 2016, Duterte declared he had realigned himself with Chinas ideological flow. In exchange, China promised Duterte there would be no further expansion in other reefs, and committed to pouring billions of dollars in loans and investments into the Philippines. Duterte also said that China had already started building its installations in the Spratlys during the time of his predecessor, and that the Philippines closest ally, the United States, did nothing to stop it. Filipino critics of Duterte, however, said that he has abdicated his responsibility to defend the sovereignty of the country by not acting on Chinese incursions. Florin Hilbay, the former government lawyer who argued the case against China at The Hague, said that the governments response to the recent missile deployments is the weakest possible statement. None of our allies and neighbours will respect us for this, he wrote on Facebook. In a statement, Gary Alejano, an opposition member of Congress, said the actions of China are obviously threats to our national security. Let us not let Chinas sweet talks of investments and loans lull us into a false sense of security. Their actions clearly belie their pronouncements. Sung Kim, the US ambassador to the Philippines, also told reporters in Manila that Chinas latest moves suggest that they are moving toward militarisation, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. We are concerned anytime a claimant, including China, takes an aggressive unilateral action toward militarisation, he said. Foreign ministry rules out possibility of deal with US after speculation following Shakil Afridis prison transfer. Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistans foreign ministry has ruled out the possibility of a prisoner swap with the United States for Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA track down al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to a compound in the north of the country. The denial came in response to Pakistani media reports that Afridi was either being prepared for a prisoner exchange or was facing security risks, following his recent transfer to a different prison. I am not aware of any deal regarding Dr Shakil Afridi, said Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Muhammad Faisal at a press briefing on Thursday. On behalf of [the foreign ministry], I can assure you that he is not being handed over to US. Afridi has been in Pakistani custody since 2011, and was convicted the following year by a tribunal to 33 years in prison for aiding the Lashkar-e-Islam armed group, his lawyer, Qamar Nadeem, told Al Jazeera. Afridi has denied the charges and is in the process of appealing the verdict. His sentence was reduced to 23 years in 2014, his lawyer said. No charges have been brought against him regarding his aiding the CIA in administering fake vaccinations to members of bin Ladens family in the northern city of Abbottabad in order to confirm their identities. US officials have since confirmed Afridis role in the operation, with US President Donald Trump vowing during his election campaign to pressure Pakistan to release him. US special forces launched a covert raid into Pakistani territory in May 2011 to capture or kill bin Laden. The al-Qaeda chief and 9/11 mastermind and several associates were killed in the operation. Possible prison transfer On April 27, Afridi was moved from a prison in Peshawar, where he has been held since 2012, although no official reason was given for the step to be taken, his lawyer said. Last Friday, he was shifted, but we were not officially told where he was moved, said Nadeem. Neither his family nor his lawyers know where he is right now. The interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The move prompted sections of Pakistans press to speculate that Afridi was either being prepared for a prisoner swap with the US, or was facing security risks. We are aware of reports that Dr Afridi has been transferred to another prison, a US Embassy spokesperson told Al Jazeera. We expect the government of Pakistan to take all necessary measures to ensure Dr Afridis safety, the spokesperson said. The next hearing in Afridis appeal is due on May 31, but the case has faced consistent delays, with government prosecutors often not appearing or requesting additional time from the tribunal. Afridi was sentenced by a four-member tribunal of civil administrators under the Frontier Crimes Regulation, a colonial-era law that rights activists have long argued violates citizens fundamental rights. His appeal has been ongoing before a separate tribunal. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim Egyptian media say the kingdom has signed an agreement with the Vatican to construct churches for Christian citizens. Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with the Vatican to build churches for Christian citizens, according to Egyptian news media reports. Online newspaper Egypt Independent on Wednesday said the agreement was signed during a visit by Jean-Louis Tauran, the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue at the Vatican, during his visit to the kingdom in April. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the contents of the purported agreement. In an interview with Vatican News, Tauran confirmed a declaration had been signed which paved the way for further dialogue, but did not mention building future churches in Saudi Arabia. Tauran met high-level officials including King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on his visit. During my meetings, I insisted very much on this point, that Christians and non-Muslims are spoken of well in schools and that they are never considered second-class citizens, Tauran told Vatican Radio after his return. Saudi Arabia currently bans the practice of faiths other than Islam. South Sudan: SPLM convention in Juba aims to reunify party The Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement, which fractured at the beginning of the civil war, is holding a reunification convention, but with leading figures absent, it remains to be seen what can be achieved. The US deployed a team of special forces soldiers to Saudi Arabias border with Yemen to help locate and destroy caches of ballistic missiles used by Houthi rebels to attack the Saudi capital, Riyadh, according to a New York Times report. The newspaper, citing unnamed US officials and European diplomats, said on Thursday that a team of about a dozen Green Berets were sent to the Saudi-Yemen border in December last year. They arrived weeks after a ballistic missile from Yemen came close to Riyadh, according to the report. As well as working with American intelligence analysts to help locate Houthi missile sites inside Yemen, the US special forces are training Saudi troops to secure their border, the Times reported. It claimed the American soldiers are also working with surveillance aircraft to track Houthi weapons and their launch sites. The New York Times called the troop deployment a continuing escalation of Americas secret wars, adding that the move contradicted US militarys claim that its assistance to the Saudi Arabian-led coalition forces in Yemen is limited to non-combat support. Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat senator, believed the mission was a purposeful blurring of lines between train and equip missions and combat. The Saudi-led coalition is battling Iran-backed Houthi rebels to restore the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The war in Yemen has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than two million people. Humanitarian crisis The three-year civil war has contributed to a humanitarian catastrophe: about seven million people are on the brink of famine, while one million people are suspected to be infected with cholera. President Donald Trumps administration has come under fire for its continued support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The Senate in March debated a resolution seeking an end to US support for the Saudi-led coalition. The resolution did not pass. The US state department has, meanwhile, approved a possible arms sale to Saudi Arabia worth more than $1bn. Search-and-rescue group White Helments says work will not be halted amid US administration review of its funding. The Syrian Civil Defence or White Helmets says its work in rebel-held parts of Syria has not been disrupted after reports emerged the US had frozen support for the search-and-rescue group and placed it under active review. The head of the humanitarian groups volunteers said it did not receive any direct funding from the US or any other country. The White Helmets receives funding from organisations and associations, Raed Saleh told Al Jazeera. Our work has not been disrupted and all the projects we are working on will not be halted. Our volunteers are still operating on the ground. On Thursday, CBS reported that the US Department of State, which is said to provide about a third of White Helmets funding, had placed it under active review. An internal state department document reportedly said that the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, which has played an important role in US foreign policy in Iraq, Libya and Yemen, required confirmation from the Trump administration by April 15 to green light funding for the White Helmets or it would initiate shut-down procedures. {articleGUID} Last month, the White House instructed the Department of State to freeze over $200m in funds earmarked for recovery efforts, a day after President Donald Trump declared that the US would be quitting Syria very soon. Saleh told Al Jazeera that while the US had decided to freeze so-called stabilisation projects in Syria, the Syrian Civil Defence had not been informed that it would no longer receive funds. According to their website, the White Helmets have been directly funded by Mayday Rescue, a UK-based company, and Chemonics, a US government contractor that also works in Rwanda, Honduras and the Maldives and specialises in international development and management. The Syrian Civil Defence recently signed contracts with Turkish and Qatari organisations to carry out new projects, Saleh added. They have still to be announced. We will continue Speaking to Al Jazeera on Friday, a White Helmets member in Aleppo said a funding squeeze could affect the groups humanitarian work. This could become a big problem for us, our operations in rescuing people and [maintaining] our vehicles, equipment, said Ismael al-Abdullah, a rescue worker based in the Aleppo countryside. But all our volunteers and centres will continue working and saving people across all of Syria. The White Helmets came to prominence in 2012 for their work rescuing those trapped in rubble after air raids by Syrian government and Russian warplanes. Criticism follows Gulf countrys occupation of airports and sea ports after deploying craft and soldiers on island. United Arab Emirates (UAE) forces have occupied sea and airports on Yemens remote island of Socotra, a day after deploying four military craft and more than 100 troops there, according to a Yemeni government official. Condemning the move as an act of aggression, the official said UAE soldiers also blocked Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr, Yemens prime minister, and 10 ministers from leaving Socotra on Friday. The UAE has occupied the airport and seaport of Socotra island, despite the Yemeni governments presence there. What the UAE is doing in Socotra is an act of aggression, the official told Al Jazeera. Saudi Arabia has pledged to send investigators to Socotra, according to the official. Socotra, a UNESCO heritage site home to some 60,000 people, has a 3,000-metre-long runway, ideal for fighter jets and large military aircraft. The UAE recently leased the island for 99 years and has confirmed carrying out military operations there. Residents of the island said the flag of the UAE and images of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, often known as MBZ, now adorn official buildings. The deployment of Emirati troops on Thursday coincided with a rare visit to the strategically important island by Daghr. Hundreds of islanders gathered to welcome him on Thursday. They denounced UAE presence on the island and chanted slogans in support of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and a unified Yemen. Hadis government and the UAE are formally allies in a war against Yemens Houthi rebels. A coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been battling the Iran-aligned armed group for three years to restore Hadi to power in the Arabian Peninsula country. Relations between Hadi and the UAE has soured due to the latters expanding influence in southern Yemen. Hadi has previously accused the UAE of behaving like an occupier, according to the Middle East Eye website. The UAEs move to exert control over Socotra is seen by many as the latest move by the Gulf state to spread its influence well beyond its borders. The island is situated off the coast of Somaliland, where UAE has invested heavily in the commercial port of Berbera. Introducing drum roll, please the leader of the West, the leader of the free world, the one, the only, French president Emmanuel Macron. I kid you not. This past April, Monsieur Macron gave a speech before the European Parliament at Strasbourg, which was a full-throated defense of what he called "liberal democracy." He raved against "narrow nationalism" and the surge of "illiberal authoritarianism," terms to be addressed later. This prompted Will Marshall, president of the Progressive Policy Institute, to anoint the French president the leader of the free world. Then there was President Macron's speech before the U.S. Congress last week. In an example of poor manners coupled with Gallic arrogance, Mr. Macron sternly lectured on why President Trump's take on multilateralism, free trade, nationalism, Iran, and global warming was all wrong. The unspoken message of the words that came out from behind the boyish face was that if President Trump did not fall in line with the globalist agenda, he was obviously a dangerous authoritarian if not a closet fascist. You could just sense that Macron's speech left the Democrats in the audience wishing the youthful Frenchman were a U.S. citizen so they could run him against The Donald in 2020. This congressional speech got Richard Haass, head of the Council of Foreign Relations, to tweet afterward: "French Pres@EmmanuelMacron solidified his standing as leader of the West." Emmanuel Macron has been president of France for less than a year. He has no real accomplishments in France as of yet, he's got popularity problems at home, and already he's risen to be the poster boy of the global elite. This is reminiscent of Barack Hussein Obama being given the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. And like Obama, Macron is not embarrassed at such a premature accolade. In fact, he relishes it. As the New York Times editorial board put it: Mr. Macron's goal from the outset of his presidency has been to assert France as the leader on global issues like climate change [notice they didn't say "global warming"], European unity and resistance to right-wing nationalism and authoritarianism[.] To move the needle to the internationalist side of the dial, Macron practices the propaganda of speech. Language is a powerful tool in the moving of public opinion. And it's not just the ideas expressed in speeches, articles, and opinion pieces that matter. Mere words and phrases are themselves meaningful in a subtle way, as they affect how people think. With this in mind, let's look at how the likes of President Macron have latched on to seemingly straightforward words and phrases like "democracy," "illiberal democracy," and "authoritarian populism" to distort reality. Mr. Macron has a special loathing for Poland and Hungary. They want to preserve their culture by refusing to bow to the dictates of Brussels by accepting their "fair share" of Muslim immigrants. Hence, these countries are illiberal, and they don't respect the rights of minorities. To make matters worse in Macron's eyes, Hungary is struggling to reform its judiciary. This, too, is illiberal. The globalists want the courts to be divorced from the will of the people and instead do the bidding of the liberal consensus. With an "independent" judiciary, Hungary's courts can easily decree that it accept as many Muslim immigrants as deemed appropriate by Brussels. According to Macron's words, Hungary and Poland are examples of populism run amok, and these nations have installed authoritative and illiberal governments. It doesn't trouble Macron that these countries' governments are not the result of riots in the street or a military coup. They come about by way of the ballot box. Some of us "deplorables" might mistake this for democracy. If the United States ever elected a solid conservative Congress and president, and then initiated a serious effort to bring the courts back to constitutional limits (i.e., merely interpreting the law), this so-dubbed "leader of the free world" would undoubtedly label America illiberal and authoritarian, too. But would his words make it so? The monsieur has a problem. The political ground is shifting from under his feet as he blathers on. In a direct repudiation of the European Union elite, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently won a huge re-election victory. Italy's March 4 election was another severe rebuke to the E.U. The biggest winners there were the non-establishment parties the Five Star Movement and the League, a party that made immigration and economic anxiety its main concerns. Last fall, conservative Sebastian Kurz handily won the Austrian election, and Kurz formed a coalition government with the so-called "right-wing" Freedom Party this past December. And then there's Germany itself, where heretofore minor parties have forced Chancellor Angela Merkel to form a fragile coalition government. None of this bodes well for President Macron's vision of how Europe should work. Of course, the biggest setback for the globalist world order has been the election of Donald Trump. The Frenchman's groupies can spin all the fairy tales they want, but the unvarnished fact is that the U.S. is the leader of the free world, with President Trump on top. One has to marvel at the audacity of the likes of Mr. Macron to wrap themselves in the mantle of democracy when in fact the European Union and the ideas he promotes are themselves anti-democratic. His term "liberal democracy" is code for rule of the elite. Bureaucrats in Brussels demand that countries from Greece in the south to Poland and Hungary dance to their tune. Soon they'll be putting Italy and Austria on their mandated dance card. Brussels has no direct power over America, so instead, it relies on Macron to scold Trump through a speech to Congress. France's nationalist party of Marine Le Pen has it right. She warned Trump that Macron is not a new political cycle. He's the end of the old one. My college roommate was blind from birth. Despite that profound handicap, he was a brilliant student of physics. As a physics major myself, I understood what his blindness meant. For physics is a visual subject. The best physicists have a great ability to visualize objects in motion, fields weaving through space and time, the subtle, complex correlations of quantum mechanics. Most of all, one must deal with the intricate notations of mathematics, the language of physics. My roommate could do none of that in the normal way. Somehow, he was able to build non-visual models in his imagination. Somehow, he could hear from his reader long strings of mathematical symbols, ponder them, then dictate back new strings of symbols. How he did this is a mystery. Sometimes severe handicaps can differ from physical. In the aftermath of the fall of Saigon, I knew a refugee family from Vietnam. They spoke no English. Sponsored by a colleague of mine, herself a refugee from communist Yugoslavia, they were temporarily sheltered in her home. Despite their profound handicaps of language and sudden immersion in an alien culture, within a year, they had learned English and earned enough money for the down payment on a house of their own. Their handicaps were perhaps even more disabling than physical. What is important is not the handicap. What is important is the human spirit that propels someone above his handicap. There is a man who suffers from a major handicap. His name is Donald Trump. Perhaps Trump is handicapped because he became conservative. And he is eccentric. He breaks long established rules. He appalls professional politicians and journalists he tweets what he is really thinking! Trump is not a professional politician. He is something very different. Consider his accomplishments: he turned a modest loan from his father into a multi-billion-dollar fortune. He took great business risks, starting in his twenties. He built skyscrapers around the world. He started hundreds of successful businesses and has had only a handful of business failures a remarkable record, as any entrepreneur will tell you. He created, produced, and starred in one of the most popular shows in television's history. Trump is indeed a showman. He romances massive crowds with wit and laughter. Without previous experience, he is now the most successful politician in living memory. And he seems to be doing remarkably well as president despite every possible impediment. Even with his great success, Donald Trump suffers from a crippling handicap. Like the Vietnamese family, Trump's handicap is not physical. It is cultural. Donald Trump suffers from the Handicap of Hate! The language of his adversaries is savage, venomous, and wrong. He has been called many things: narcissist. Paranoid. Stupid. Crazy. Dictator. Fascist. Racist. Bigot. Bully. Coward. Liar. Duplicitous. Despot. Tyrant. Treacherous. Treasonous. Vain. And, worst of all, humorless. With obvious malice, the Media Merchants of Hate have, through nonstop repetition and lies, turned these epithets into a kind of mendacious "truth." This avalanche of hatred started at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner. Despite opposition from its staff, Donald Trump was the guest of the Washington Post. Was this a setup? President Obama came on stage to give the expected self-deprecating roasting of himself. Except he didn't. Instead, he launched into a vicious personal attack on Donald Trump, seated at his feet. It seems there was this matter of a birth certificate. One was needed to assure the legitimacy of Obama's presidency except that there was no birth certificate. For years, there was no birth certificate. Suddenly, just before this gala evening, there was, as if by magic, a birth certificate. Hillary Clinton had first raised the issue of Obama's birth certificate, and Donald Trump, then a darling of the liberal community, talked openly about the issue. It is obvious that Obama was exceedingly insecure about the subject. Did he know something that his childhood guardians had told him? Whatever the reason, President Obama violated all protocols of the evening, and of political discourse, when he launched that humiliating personal attack on Donald Trump regarding the birth certificate. His attack was obviously coordinated with a subsequent and even more vicious attack that evening by comedian Seth Meyers. The message had now been delivered not just to Trump, but to the media. Trump was persona non grata in the liberal community. Right on cue, the next day, the liberal news media were full of scornful op-ed pieces lambasting the former liberal darling, Donald Trump. This continued until, years later, Trump announced that he was running to become president. Then, quite suddenly, something odd happened. The liberal media became unexpectedly friendly. The media wanted Trump to win the nomination. The liberal political establishment thought Donald Trump would be the easiest candidate to beat. Showing unexpected political skill, Trump won the nomination. In a flash, the liberal media turned against Trump with greater viciousness than before. They were joined by old-guard Republicans intent on politically assassinating this upstart usurper. The newly revealed Comey memos tell us what apparently happened shortly after Trump's nomination. The simplest interpretation of the Comey memos suggests a deliberate, and quite illegal, high-level spoiling attack on Trump's campaign and early presidency. It seems evident that, starting during the campaign, CIA director John Brennan, DNI James Clapper, and the FBI's Jim Comey were key figures in this spoiling operation. In coordination with the Clinton campaign, this illegal political weaponization of our intelligence apparatus apparently had the blessing of the Department of Justice and, likely, Obama's White House. The only hold-out from this cabal, the only man of integrity, was Admiral Rogers, heading up the NSA. After Trump's election, this clandestine campaign against the president continued as long as the principals held their office well into the Trump administration. As long as Mueller's investigation continues, so will the mischief. As long as Trump is president, the liberal media will continue their campaign of hate and lies. Despite his enormous handicap, Donald Trump is succeeding far beyond the expectations of most people. How did he overcome his handicap? He tapped into something powerful. Barack Obama promised to fundamentally change America. You do not fundamentally change something you love. You fundamentally change what you hate. With malice, Barack Obama injected potent poisons into our culture. But America is a resilient organism. As such, it has a strong self-preserving immune system ourselves, our Constitution, and our history. Donald Trump, whether consciously or not, became an agent of that immune system. He has tapped into the Spirit of America. He has done this through his great love of this great nation. Did Donald Trump anticipate the venomous, nonstop, ferocious opposition that he would face in announcing his candidacy? Probably not. If he could have foreseen what was going to happen, would he have made a different decision? Probably not. It is likely he would have relished the combat. Donald Trump is a man of iron will. There is steel in that man. Missing from the leaked list of questions Special Counsel Robert Mueller is said to want to ask President Trump is the classic one: when did you stop beating your wife? This is how farcical Mueller's witch hunt has become a list of questions that could have been written by a failing first-year law student amounting to the same perjury trap that got Martha Stewart, Scooter Libby, and Michael Flynn. Again, what's the crime? Collusion is not a crime, and the only proven collusion is among the Clinton campaign, the DNC, and a British spy working with Russian sources. Yet President Trump's legal team has been threatened with a grand jury subpoena. The office and residences of his lawyer, Michael Cohen, have been raided. While Mueller and Team Trump negotiate the terms of entrapment, Team Trump should consider demanding from Mueller the same deal Hillary Clinton got, including the writing of an exoneration memo before the interview. The interview should be on the Friday of a holiday weekend Hillary's was on July 2. There should be no notes taken and no recordings or transcripts made. The interview should not be under oath, and Mueller should not attend, as Comey did not attend Hillary's. Trump should insist on an interview limited to just two hours and at which staff members past and current can be present, like Mike Flynn, Carter Page, and Paul Manafort. They should be given immunity deals, as were the likes of Cheryl Mills at Hillary's interview. His interviewer should be as pro-Trump as Peter Strzok, who conducted Hillary's interview, was pro-Clinton. He should be allowed to say, "I don't recall" or its equivalent 39 times, as Hillary did. Prior to the interview, Mueller should have a press conference listing the charges against Trump and then exonerate him, explaining why no reasonable prosecutor, which Mueller is not, would take the case. At least this time, this would be a true statement Mueller pursues Trump without a crime, in violation of the special counsel statute. Comey acted as a Hillary staffer, ignoring the most obvious and real crimes, such a mishandling classified information and destroying evidence under subpoena. Wasn't having a private server that contained classified information, having multiple devices that were later physically smashed, and using BleachBit to destroy 33,000 emails that were under subpoena sufficient evidence of intent? Only a corrupt and complicit FBI director, acting as Hillary Clinton's surrogate campaign manager, who months earlier had decided he would exonerate her, could ignore the damning evidence: As FBI director last year, James Comey began writing drafts of a statement exonerating Hillary Clinton, even before all witnesses in the investigation including Clinton herself had been interviewed. The Senate Judiciary Committee obtained the Comey memos as part of its investigation into his firing by President Trump, which occurred on May 9. The revelation that Comey had begun drafting memos of his exoneration statement comes from transcripts of interviews given last fall by two FBI officials. James Rybicki, Comey's chief of staff, and Trisha Anderson, the principal deputy general counsel of national security and cyberlaw at the FBI, gave the interviews as part of an investigation conducted by the Office of Special Counsel into the FBI's handling of the Clinton email investigation. In a July 5, 2016, press conference, Comey said that he would not be recommending charges against Clinton for mishandling classified information despite her use of a private email server as secretary of state. While the transcripts of those interviews are heavily redacted, they indicate that Comey started working on an announcement clearing Clinton in April or May of last year, before the FBI interviewed 17 witnesses in the case, including Clinton and some of her top aides. Having already decided that he would exonerate her regardless of the evidence explains why he did not attended the July 2, 2016 interview of Hillary Clinton, did not put her under oath, and did not ever impanel a grand jury in the there's that word again "matter." The fix was in. Unlike Hillary Clinton, who put our national security at risk in order to hide pay-for-play collusion with Clinton Foundation donors, and who allowed the sale of 20% of our uranium to Russian interests, Trump has done everything to hurt Russian interests, from arming Ukraine, imposing stiff sanctions, striking Syria, and boosting American energy to rebuilding the American military. Yet Hillary was given a free ride, unlike Kristian Saucier, who was imprisoned for taking six photos of his submarine for his personal memory book. He was not a spy for a foreign power; he had no intent, to coin a phrase, to do anything with these photos except keep them as personal memories of his proud and honorable service. It's time for these double standards to end. Trump's interview should be conducted under the same terms and conditions as Hillary's, or it should not take place at all until Mueller finds an actual crime to investigate. He can find that just by looking in the mirror. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. How many children's songs are there that taught kids how to tell time? Must be hundreds, maybe thousands. But that was before the digital revolution made analog clocks a quaint holdover from the past. In fact, in Great Britain, analog clocks in schools have become useless because kids are unable to read them. AJC: "The current generation aren't as good at reading the traditional clock face as older generations," Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary at the Association of School and College Leaders in England, told the publication. "Nearly everything they've got is digital so youngsters are just exposed to time being given digitally everywhere." According to a report from the Times Educational Supplement, a weekly newspaper for teachers in the U.K. one educator said during a conference in London that many high schoolers were only able to tell the time on digital devices. "It is amazing the number of students I am coming across in year 10, 11 and in sixth form who do not know how to tell the time," she began. "We live in a world where everything is digital. We are moving towards a digital age and they do not necessarily have analogue watches anymore and they have mobile phones with the time on." As editor Lifson pointed out to me on I.M., analog clocks are superior to digital clocks because they give more data. They show the relationship to other times. Can kids today figure out that if it's 3:30 P.M., it is two hours until 5:30 P.M.? You see that "holistically" with an analog clock, says Tom. Teachers in the U.K. wrote about the situation on social media, with a "Mrs Keenan" tweeting that digital clocks had been installed in an exam hall. Another, Nicola Towle, wrote in a tweet, according to the BBC: "Our school has replaced the analogue clock with a digital one in the hall for exams because pupils couldn't use it to tell the time." The situation isn't only present in the U.K., though. A 2017 survey in Oklahoma City found that only 1-in-10 children in the city between the ages of 6-12 owned a watch. Of that number, only 1-in-5 knew how to read the analog watches, according to KFOR. "I think the exposure to technology, everyone's so used to seeing digital," Caitlin Carnes, of the Boys & Girls Club at Santa Fe South Elementary, told the site. "They all have cell phones and tablets so they don't have to look at a clock very often that's analog." Sad. We have to ask ourselves, is this really "progress"? Just because something becomes obsolete doesn't mean there isn't value still attached to it. Digital clocks can tell you the time down to the tenth or hundredth of a second. In that way, this time-telling method is superior to analog, which may not even feature a second hand. But not to teach kids how to tell time which used to be the job of parents who taught their toddlers perhaps we lose an awareness of some of the essence of time itself. Eric Bolling is making a comeback. He had enjoyed an increasingly prominent role at Fox News for ten years, including six as a co-host of The Five, until he left the channel under a cloud last September. On May 3, CRTV an online streaming subscription TV channel announced that Bolling will host a daily program titled America starting this summer. Bolling will join CRTV's "ad-free, censor-free" conservative lineup that includes programs hosted by channel founder Mark Levin, Michelle Malkin, and Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson. CRTV website promotion for Eric Bolling's America. At Fox News, Bolling, 56, a former commodities trader and financial consultant, was the reliably conservative glue that held the program The Five together from its premiere in July 2011 until he was re-assigned to a new show, The Fox News Specialists, that premiered on May 1, 2017. In the wake of Bill O'Reilly's ouster the month before, The Five had been relocated from 5 P.M. E.T. to prime time, and The Specialists, a new talk show co-hosted by Bolling and newcomers Kat Timpf and Eboni Williams, was moved into The Five's former late afternoon time slot. Over the summer, The Five flopped in prime time, and The Specialists was widely panned. On August 4, Bolling was the subject of a 900-word anonymously sourced article in The Huffington Post that alleged that he had texted a lewd photo to several female colleagues several years earlier. On August 5, Fox News suspended Bolling from his on-air duties. After an "investigation" by Fox, Bolling and the channel agreed to part ways one month later. Bolling has always maintained his innocence of any allegations of impropriety while at Fox, and on August 9, it was announced that he was suing the author of the Huffington Post article for $50 million. Incredibly, on September 8, the day after the news broke that Bolling was leaving Fox News, Eric Chase Bolling, Jr., 19, the only child of Eric Sr. and his wife Adrienne, was found dead a week after returning to college in Boulder, Colorado for his sophomore year. An autopsy confirmed that he had died of a drug overdose. After his son's death, which was the result of an accidental opioid overdose according to the Boulder County Coroner's Office, Bolling immersed himself in the subject of the growing opioid crisis and became an activist on the issue. He kept in contact with his friend, President Donald Trump, and for a time it was thought that he might take a job with the administration. On March 25, 2018, in his first major interview since the events of the previous summer, Bolling was a guest on CNN's Reliable Sources and was questioned by host Brian Stelter. ERIC BOLLING: Donald Trump is my friend as celebrity Trump, as candidate Trump, and as President Trump. And I do have a lot of conversations with him, one-on-one sometimes, sometimes Oval Office with other people. And it really has surrounded the opioid crisis recently. We my wife and I lost our 19-year-old son. You know, the day after he passed, we were having a very hard time, and the phone rang, the cell phone rang, it was President Trump who said, I can't imagine what you're going through. Just understand I'm with you. I'm here to help. He also called on Thanksgiving Day. We were about to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, phone rings again, as we're sitting down. It was Donald Trump again. So, he we talked about the opioids, what took our son. It was an accidental overdose, and I realized at the moment he cared about this crisis. It was something that he was you could feel he had empathy and compassion for, and it's something you don't see him showing on TV quite a bit. So, I said, would you mind if the next time I'm in D.C., if I could sit down and we talk? And sure, I've had three or four one-on-one conversations with him, a couple of phone calls. And it's always been around the opioid crisis, some policy stuff, too. I have some great ideas for infrastructure. Bolling's live discussion with Stelter on CNN on March 25 was the most extensive interview he had given since leaving Fox News and the death of his son. The whole segment, which runs about 13 minutes, begins at 11:27 A.M. E.T., or 27 minutes into the hour-long program. It includes a revealing Q and A about Bolling's experiences at Fox News, and the transcript is well worth a read. The segment concludes with this exchange: BRIAN STELTER, HOST CNN Reliable Sources: A year from now, you think you'll be in the government or you'll be on television? BOLLING: All I know is, at this moment, my goal in life is to save families from the opioid scourge that we have been honestly, horrendously dealing with for the past seven months. STELTER: Yes. BOLLING: Losing a child is nowhere anyone should be, and hopefully, what I'm doing with the opioid push with the White House, with the help of the White House, will save some lives. And that's really my I'll let God light the next path for me. Right now, that's my only path. Bolling has reportedly been in talks with several other major and potential future media outlets about hosting a show. His new gig with CRTV online will not necessarily preclude a simultaneous job with a cable outlet. Possibilities that have been mentioned include something with a new conservative cable network that may emerge from the proposed acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Bolling said he will be relocating from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. soon so he can host his new CRTV program from the nation's capital. 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. Another day in the life of the poster city for one-party Democrat rule, where pensions eat up taxes and incompetence is rewarded. And Chicago's reputation as the crime capital of America and home to the catch and release policy of dealing with criminals remains secure. A man who threatened another Pulse nightclub massacre was released in a monumental cock-up by the Cook County Sheriff's Department. CWB Chicago reports: Two major developments unfolded Wednesday evening in the case of Shane Sleeper, a 31-year-old man who was accused in February of threatening to bring a Pulse Nightclub-like mass murder to Chicago's Boystown. First, CWBChicago reported that a grand jury on Tuesday had returned true bills charging Sleeper with 26 counts including terrorism and hate crimes. A judge ordered him held without bail Less than an hour later, Chicago police confirmed that Sleeper had been erroneously released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday and that authorities were actively searching for him. How does an obvious danger to the public slip through the grasp of the county mounties? There are indications that prosecutors' decision to drop the two misdemeanor cases that Sleeper had been jailed on and then replace them with ten new cases created a gap that Sleeper managed to walk right through. "If we had been notified of the indictments he would not have been released," Smith said. Fortunately, Sleeper was apprehended later in the day, before he could massacre any innocents: Shane Sleeper, jailed for allegedly threatening a mass shooting in a Boystown bar and then mistakenly released from jail on Tuesday, is back in custody. Cook County Sheriff's Office Chief Policy Officer Cara Smith said Sleeper was apprehended around 12:30 p.m. "on the North Side without incident by our fugitive apprehension team." They had some help: Sheriff's officers today were joined by the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Chicago Police Fugitive Unit in the search for Sleeper, according to police. Meanwhile, powerful Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle is blaming the repeal of the soda tax (that drove business for grocery stores to the suburbs) for plans to close two branch courthouses. Maybe pick the one that screwed up the court records and allowed Sleeper back in the streets? Hat tip: Peter von Buol I can't say it's much of a surprise that U.S. special forces operators are assisting the Saudis in their war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Our special forces carry out missions in many places that the public is kept in the dark about. But the significance is, when viewed in the context of what else is happening in the Middle East, that Iran is being checked on several fronts by a coalition of U.S., Saudi, and Israeli military forces. AFP: 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 Iranians deny they're assisting the rebels, but arms shipments from Iran have been detected via Oman, and someone is training the Houthis to use the sophisticated missiles they are using against the Saudis. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards are thought to be heavily involved in the Yemen civil war, and their support for the Houthis has been significant. Does U.S. assistance to the Saudis risk involving Americans in another useless Middle East war? The Saudis have some of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced weapons in the Arab world thanks to U.S. arms sales. But like most Arab armies, they lack training. The Saudis are helping contain Iranian ambitions by denying the Houthis a victory in Yemen. In the context of the broader Middle East, with Israel attacking Iranian targets in Syria and Hezb'allah targets on the border with Lebanon, an anti-Iranian military coalition is emerging. This will prove useful if, as expected, Donald Trump pulls out of the Iran nuclear deal and the Iranians ramp up their nuclear program. At that point, all options for action against Iran would be on the table, and Tehran would be facing a most formidable military coalition. My dad, Rev. Dr. Lloyd E. Marcus, Jr., is a black pioneer of civil rights. In 1952, when the door opened for blacks to take the test to become Baltimore City firefighters, Dad ran through it. Stationed at Engine 6, Dad's working conditions were humiliatingly racist. He was not allowed to pour himself a cup of coffee from the same coffeepot as the white firefighters. Nor was Dad allowed to use the same eating utensils as the whites. Still, with a wife and five kids to feed, Dad relished the opportunity. Dad was the assistant pastor of a Baltimore storefront church. Rejected by his fellow firefighters, Dad often retreated to the fire house's storage room to read his Bible and pray. Taunting Dad, firefighters named the storage room Marcus's chapel. After two years, a new firefighter was assigned to Engine 6. The white firefighter came upstairs and asked Dad to join the crew in a cup of coffee. Dad eventually defeated racism via trusting God and striving for excellence. Dad won "Firefighter of the Year" two times. Dad's career included becoming Baltimore's first black paramedic. After retiring from active duty, Dad became Baltimore City Fire Department's first black chaplain. My brother, who is an award-winning Maryland police officer, recently purchased a home. His new neighbor is a white retired Baltimore City firefighter. Recognizing the name Marcus, the elderly gentleman told my brother, "I remember your dad at Engine 6, a great man!" Raised by Aunt Nee, Dad always sought opportunities to better himself and earn his own way. As a little boy, Dad earned as much as $5 over a good weekend shining shoes at the Greyhound Bus Station in Baltimore. Dad smiles reminiscing about how he put on a show for his customers to encourage tips, tossing his shoeshine brushes high into the air and catching them, making rhythmic popping sounds with his shoeshine rag. He paid Aunt Nee 25 cents for his room and board. He purchased a t-shirt for $1 and bragged to his buddy that he was a man because he was buying his own clothes. I am still discovering additions to Dad's long list of jobs, entrepreneurial endeavors, and "firsts" for a black person. In his late teens, Dad joined the Merchant Marines. He was the first black sailor to land in St. Petersburg, Florida. It almost cost Dad his life. Local whites chased Dad, wanting to hang him for simply getting off the ship. Fellow white sailors saved Dad's life. My 90-year-old dad is still showing me what it means to be a man. Dad was married to my mom Rodelle for 45 years until she died. His second wife of over 20 years recently passed away. Dad is lonely, riddled with arthritis pain and diagnosed with serious health issues. Dad was in the hospital for four days due to fluid buildup in his feet. Wanting to exercise his legs, Dad asked a hospital staffer to help him walk the halls. Dad is extremely weak and can walk only with baby steps. He saw an extremely weak elderly gentleman who also walked in baby steps. Dad said the man looked exceedingly sad and depressed. Dad asked the man, "Want to race?" The man chuckled. The next day, Dad saw the man walking the halls. The man's spirits seemed lifted. With a smile on his face, the man asked Dad, "Want to race?" Both men enjoyed a laugh. When I arrived to take Dad home, Dad expressed how pleased he was that God used him to help brighten that man's day. Dad instructed me to always be willing and ready for God to use me. That's my Dad, the greatest man I have ever known. Dad is in hospice. Here is a song I wrote and recorded to Dad 30 years ago. Enjoy. The people who have always been against Trump's large tax cuts are doing everything they can to imply that they aren't working to invigorate the overall economy. Apple just fueled everyone's biggest fear about how companies are going to use their extra tax reform cash When President Donald Trump's massive tax plan was announced, experts immediately feared the worst about how companies would spend the additional cash they'd soon have for deployment. They figured corporations would choose to enrich shareholders through buybacks and dividends rather than reinvest in their own businesses or create jobs. Heaven forbid that companies use cash they earn for things they want to spend the money on, including shareholders, who take all the risk. It would be so much better for the government to confiscate a bigger share for themselves to spend on things they want, especially to make more people dependent on government. Federal, state, and local politicians along with other Democrats, including the media, should be cheering the fact that corporations are upping dividends and doing other things like stock buybacks that are intended to push up the price of their stocks. These people are all for higher taxes, so why are they claiming they fear this use of lower taxes when it could substantially increase tax revenue? Under the previous law, federal corporate income taxes could be as high as 35%. Under the new law, the tax rate is 21%. If the tax savings are used for dividends, and since dividends are non-deductible, the federal government can collect up to another 23.8% or a total of 44.8%. If the stock price goes up because of stock buybacks, the federal government can collect up to another 23.8% there also. If the money goes to taxable retirement accounts, the government can collect up to 37% ordinary income taxes. States that have income taxes can also collect additional money from dividends and capital gains if less goes to the federal government. Local governments will do well also because more money is being left in the local economy to trickle around, providing more sales. Federal, state, and local pension funds along with mutual funds, 401(k)s, and IRAs will be in better shape if stock prices and dividends go up, so why is anyone fearful? My guess is that politicians and bureaucrats are fearful that if the economy does better, some of their power disappears. Many of the wealthiest counties are around D.C., and their greed is endless. If anyone wants to see where the mentality of people being against lower tax rates even if it raises more revenue for the government they need to look no farther than an exchange between Charles Gibson and President Obama in 2008. Obama essentially didn't care if revenues went down when rates went up on capital gains and went up after rates went down because Obama didn't think that was "fair." It was dangerous to have a president who believed that. Obama would rather have a slower economy and less revenue for the government, and the results of his eight years showed very slow growth. GIBSON: And in each instance, when the rate dropped, revenues from the tax increased; the government took in more money. And in the 1980s, when the tax was increased to 28 percent, the revenues went down. So why raise it at all, especially given the fact that 100 million people in this country own stock and would be affected? OBAMA: Well, Charlie, what I've said is that I would look at raising the capital gains tax for purposes of fairness. I get frustrated when I hear almost all Democrats, including most of the media, say the richest 1%, 5%, and 10% are getting richer while the rest of us are not because it is absolutely not true. The richest people today are mostly not the same people as the richest people five, ten, and especially twenty years ago. In capitalism, people move up the economic ladder. People who were poor or in the middle class moved up, and some of the rich moved down. For example, Bezos, Zuckerburg, and the Clintons would not have been anywhere on the richest list twenty years ago, but they are extremely rich today. I do not begrudge people who get rich or stay rich as long as they do it honestly. I can't stand people like the Clintons, who got rich selling their power for favors because that is dangerous to society. A true statement would be that the richest 1% of people today are much richer than the richest 1% of people were twenty years ago. Or we could say truthfully that the United States as a whole today is richer than it was five, ten, and twenty years ago. Thank goodness for capitalism that allows for economic mobility. Most of us move up the ladder during our lifetime of work. What is dangerous and should make people fearful is when government, with the support of a complicit media, believes that it is entitled to so much of the money even though the people in the private sector took the risk. I have no special personal animus against British politicians in general or toward Tony Blair in particular. In fact, I applaud any politician or public figure of any nation who rises to the level of statesmanship and truly dedicates himself to serve the people. Just to put in writing my impartiality, I wish to name two outstanding British statesmen. Winston Churchill worked with great courage and championed the war that defeated Nazi Germany. Also, I honor the memory of the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, for her exemplary stewardship of Britain that rescued that nation from the throes of economic and social collapse. Now I wish, ever so briefly, to juxtapose the views and stance of Winston Churchill with those of Tony Blair in regard to Islam. Churchill fought in places such as Tunisia and had much firsthand contact with Islam and Muslims before eventually assuming the post of Britain's prime minister. His views on Islam were based on facts and observations. He was not hired by any special interests. Here is what Churchill had to say about Islam: How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries, improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement, the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. I know Mr. Blair's stance on Islam. My question is whether he believes that Churchill was wrong and that he is right about Islam. Or is it that Islam has changed significantly from the time of Mr. Churchill? I may agree with that, except that my view, based on facts, is that if it has changed, it has been for the worse. Not that Islam was anything remotely worthy of praise in the first place. Even now, that Tony Blair contends that Islam has changed for the better. He should take a little time from his lucrative business dealings with Islamic employers and illuminate us with facts, not with rhetorical pabulum and obfuscation. While he was prime minister, Tony Blair's government opened up the U.K. to increased Muslim immigration. Mr. Blair did that in part to further the myopic and misguided policy of promoting multiculturalism and currying favor with the politically correct European Union. Mr. Blair's administrative policy extended a comprehensive and welcoming package to hundreds of thousands of Muslim arrivals who were for the most part unskilled or semi-skilled, with little to contribute to the common good of the United Kingdom. The British people went along with his scheme, footing the immense bills they had to honor. What did Britons get in return from these misguided policies? They got terrorism, hatred of Britain and the British way of life, and the growth of a huge homegrown Islamic boil that is bound to burst with dire consequences for the country. It is no wonder that many British citizens have left. Many more wish they could leave the country Mr. Blair and his colleagues have handed to millions of Islamists. Mr. Blair has repeatedly stated that this applies to only a single strain of Islam, but not to Islam itself. This is outright dissimulation. Islam is and has been the problem from the day of its birth over 1,400 years ago. I hope Tony Blair experiences pangs of conscience when he sees just how complicit he has been in the ongoing crimes of Islam. The Syrian humanitarian group known as the "white helmets" has done extraordinary work in saving lives during the seven-year-old civil war. When you see a picture of a building that's been bombed, you are likely to see the ubiquitous white-helmeted aid workers sifting through the rubble for survivors. There's no doubt the group performs courageously under hazardous conditions. So why is the U.S. cutting off aid to the white helmets? State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert has previously called the White Helmets "selfless men" and asked journalists to watch a documentary about their work. But the State Department did not respond to a CBS News inquiry earlier this week about which programs are still receiving funding, and the date for when certain programs will lose their funding. President Trump put a freeze on the $200 million in U.S. funding for recovery efforts in Syria in late March. This freeze means that U.S. support for the White Helmets is not the only project in jeopardy. There are also many other stabilization efforts that are backed by the U.S. including the clearing of explosive devices, bringing back electricity, rebuilding schools, and getting water running that may end soon. ... "The amount of U.S. support is very limited but it is better than nothing, so if that will stop, that will be a disaster. After ISIS they started to open the schools and if money stops, that will be done," said a senior member of the Deir ez-Zor city council. "Without education the people only have ISIS ideas." Trump wants to pressure other countries to increase their humanitarian contributions to Syria. The so-called "donor conference" in Brussels resulted in a lot of grandiose pledges, but, as usual, the results were meager. Some countries count normal trade with Syria as part of their "contribution," so what ends up in the pockets of aid organizations is almost always less than promised. That leaves the United States to pick up the slack. Note the city council member warning against creating terrorists if they don't get U.S. money. That sort of blackmail should be resisted and aid disbursed based on need, not political maneuvering. Since 2011, the U.S. has poured $7.7 billion into Syrian humanitarian relief. That's twice what anyone else has contributed. It's about time the rest of the world stop talking and start paying to save lives in the worst humanitarian disaster of the 21st century. China appealed the Commerce Departments recent ban on ZTE that saw Washington prevent the company from purchasing or licensing any kind of American technologies, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the development. Chinas officials met with a number of U.S. envoys in Beijing earlier this week to discuss the rising trade-related tensions between the two countries, which is when they asked Washington to amend what they perceive is an unfair sanction that threatens the very existence of ZTE. While publicly traded, ZTE is majorly owned by the Peoples Republic of China. ZTE itself already implied its planning legal action against the move thats preventing it from purchasing Qualcomms chips and licensing Googles Android operating system, both crucial components of its smartphone formula. While not a major mobile player globally, ZTE was the fourth-largest handset vendor in the United States last year, with nearly every tenth device sold in the country being made by the firm, according to numerous industry trackers. Chinese officials reportedly pleaded with their U.S. colleagues on behalf of ZTE even as Washington remains adamant the sanction isnt a result of the recent tensions between the two countries. Last year, ZTE pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to violate U.S. trade sanctions imposed on Iran, having agreed to an $892 million fine and other concessions, including firing four senior executives and disciplining 35 others by withholding their bonuses or issuing them with reprimands. Several weeks back, the Commerce Department learned that the 35 people in question havent faced any consequences for their involvement in the Iran ordeal, having consequently opted to ban ZTE from purchasing American goods it heavily relies on. The Chinese firm argued the reason for the sanction was discovered internally and self-reported to Washington for the purpose of maintaining transparency, having also noted that its now committing millions of dollars to educating its employees about import policies and making sure such transgressions never happen again, thus deeming the latest sanction unfair. The newly-announced Google Maps Platform is bringing new industry solutions to the business side of Google Maps. The platform was officially announced on May 2 with Google highlighting that the platform builds on the Google Maps API features for games that were announced in March, by introducing solutions that are tailored to ride-sharing businesses and asset tracking businesses. Both new industry solutions will likely enhance the experience for end users by way of the inclusion of Googles new solutions by the developers of apps that fit into these categories. For ride-sharing apps and services one notable benefit is the ability to embed the nav experience from Maps right into the app UI. Google states that this will help optimize things for both the drivers and the rider. One example of this could be improved navigation for the driver when following directions to a pickup, while the rider could see improved tracking of the vehicle as its on route. For asset tracking companies the new solutions can help enhance the capability to track vehicles and assets in real-time. Google says more industry solutions are on the way as it seeks out industries where it has the experience to deliver insight, but it does not mention any industries specifically. Other improvements that Google has introduced as part of the Google Maps Platform include a new pricing plan tier which allows developers access to the first $200 of monthly usage of these new solutions and services at no cost, as well as a scalable setup that is able to grow along with the business to fit the needs of each business individually and make the experience more personable and unique to each business. All of these new solutions should already be available for businesses in these industries and, it; worth noting that Google is going to require a valid API key and Google Cloud Platform billing account by June 11 to utilize the core products, which include the solutions mentioned above. The upcoming OnePlus 6 has just surfaced on TENAA, which means it has been certified in China, as TENAA is Chinas equivalent to the FCC. Now, this listing does not reveal the design of the phone, but its spec info has been revealed by TENAA, well, some of its spec info, that is. According to the provided info, the phone will sport a 6.28-inch fullHD+ (2280 x 1080) AMOLED display, which means it will arrive with the same display size and ratio as the OPPO R15, as expected. TENAA claims that the OnePlus 6 will include a 3,300mAh battery, which will almost certainly be non-removable, while the phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 845 64-bit octa-core processor which will be clocked at 2.45GHz. This variant of the phone comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, though OnePlus did confirm that an 8GB RAM variant will also be available, with 256GB of storage. It is possible, and even probably, that OnePlus plans to release a 6GB RAM model with 128GB of storage as well. TENAA also reveals that the phone will include 16 and 20-megapixel rear-facing cameras, while a 16-megapixel front-facing camera will also be a part of the package. Android 8.1 Oreo will come pre-installed on the OnePlus 6, with OnePlus OxygenOS on top of it. TENAA also confirms that the phone will measure 155.7 x 75.35 x 7.75mm, while it will weigh 177 grams. That is pretty much all the info that was shared by TENAA, and its also worth mentioning that OnePlus Dash Charge fast charging will also be a part of the package. The phone will include a display notch, and it will be made out of metal and glass, that much had been confirmed by the company. The OnePlus 6 will sport really thin bezels, though it will arrive with a chin below its display. Its dual camera setup on the back will be vertically-aligned, and a fingerprint scanner will sit below those two cameras. The device will be announced on May 16 in London, while it will arrive on May 17 in India, along with with a special edition Avengers edition of the phone. Meizu unveiled its latest smartphone, the Meizu 15, in Wuzhen just last week. It was to mark the companys 15th anniversary, and the company threw together a pretty big event in a location that it doesnt usually use to announce new smartphones. Typically, Meizu will announce new products in Beijing, the capital city of China, instead of Wuzhen, which is a smaller city further south in the country. But the Meizu 15 showed the world that Meizu, despite expanding to new countries in recent years, is still too focused on China. And that is likely what is keeping Meizu from being a global player in other markets, like India, where many other Chinese smartphone makers are thriving right now. The Meizu 15 isnt a bad phone, to be honest, especially for something that will be under $400 USD. But it shows that Meizu is really only focusing on the Chinese market with this phone. For one, the Meizu 15 only supports Asian bands. That means if you are in Europe or North America, the Meizu 15 is essentially a WiFi-connected paperweight, as it will only work with 2G/EDGE networks, if you are lucky. That is typically always the case with Meizu and other Chinese smartphones, but theres really no reason why Meizu couldnt create a smartphone that supported more bands, if not bands for North America, at least for Europe where Meizu actually sells smartphones. Thats not the only issue for Meizu, thats keeping it from being a global player though. The company also seems to be lacking innovation right now. Its pretty clear with the Meizu 15 and 15 Plus it just announced. Its sporting a 16:9 aspect ratio display, in a time where just about every smartphone is moving towards a taller display, going with either 18:9 or 19:9 with a notch. Meizu believes that 16:9 is the better choice right now, but it leads many to think that Meizu just cant keep up with the industry right now. The company also seems to be lacking a premium design with its smartphones. Design isnt a new issue for the company either. If you go back to 2016, just about every smartphone that the company announced had the same exact design. It was an aluminum unibody with a white front. It wasnt necessarily a bad design, but it was definitely played out, and when your entry-level, mid-range and high-end products all sport the same design, something needs to change. Advertisement Even with the Meizu 15, its clear that premium design is still an issue for the company. The Meizu 15 looks like a pretty decent smartphone, but when you hold it in your hand, it just doesnt scream premium here. This is also something that LG is struggling with right now, so Meizu isnt alone here. While the back of the Meizu 15 looks really clean, with a brushed aluminum look, its not aluminum. Its not even glass, it feels more like plastic, which is the main reason why it doesnt scream premium when you pick it up. The Meizu 15 is a pretty compact device here, with a 5.46-inch display, in a body that is similar to a 5.2-inch smartphone with the same 16:9 aspect ratio, and thats because the side bezels are almost non-existent and the top and bottom bezels are very compact. But overall, the phone looks somewhat boring, and thats not new with the Meizu 15 either, as all of its devices in 2016 and part of 2017 were all sporting the same design as we mentioned already. Then theres the software. Flyme isnt a bad operating system, but its not something that appeals to those in the West, where Meizu wants to expand at some point. It has its issues, like every operating system does, but Meizu needs to do a better job of accommodating users in the West as well as those in China and other parts of Asia. Thats something that Xiaomi has done very well over the past few years as it has grown to become one of the bigger players in the world. Xiaomi entered India just a few years ago, and is now the top smartphone maker in the country, surpassing Samsung not too long ago. And thats because Xiaomi has adapted to what those in the country want. Thats where Meizu is lacking right now. Meizu needs to adapt its software, but also its selling strategy, to other regions, which will help the company appeal in those new regions and also result in more market share. Advertisement Meizu has plans to be one of the larger smartphone makers out there, and wants to expand to more countries in Europe and eventually make it to North America. But right now, it simply isnt ready. Meizu isnt planning to head to the US anytime soon partly due to the political issues pushing Huawei and ZTE out of the country so there is time for Meizu to change things up and get ready to enter the third largest market. And it may be doing that with the Android Go smartphone is launching later this year. While Meizu didnt mention how exactly that device would be marketed, it will likely be heading towards Western markets like Europe and possibly India, when it does launch later this year. Hopefully by then, Meizu is able to put out a smartphone with a really premium design, and changes up Flyme a bit to be more streamlined and a bit closer to AOSP for example, some notifications were unreadable on earlier versions of Flyme, but that appears to be fixed now. Theres just no reason to replace Google apps with Meizus own apps, for smartphones being sold outside of China. Inside of China, thats fine because Google is blocked there, so Google isnt an option for its users. Meizu has the resources to do this, the big question is whether they will do it though. Samsung is planning to launch the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus in January, South Korean outlet The Bell reports, citing sources close to the companys supply chain. The Seoul-based tech giant is said to have already started asking its suppliers to prepare apt component volumes that would allow it to start mass-producing its upcoming Android flagship lineup circa late 2018 and release it on a global level by the end of February, a month following its official announcement. While rumors of Samsungs new Galaxy S-series smartphones launching in January are circulating the industry on an annual basis and are almost always wrong, the latest report on the matter provides more reasoning about the alleged development than such claims usually do. Samsungs first foldable smartphone is also expected to be announced in early 2019 and will most likely be debuting at Mobile World Congress in late February before hitting the market a month later, with the company being unwilling to launch it simultaneously with the Galaxy S10 lineup as its concerned doing so would weaken the individual impact of both offerings, as per the new report. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus should hence already be available for purchase by the time the foldable handset rumored to be called the Galaxy X is unveiled, whereas the latter is hence likely to be released by early April. Samsung started publicly acknowledging its foldable smartphone ambitions earlier this year, suggesting its close to commercializing such offerings. The Galaxy S10 lineup is expected to come in the form of the companys first 5G-enabled smartphones and could be a refinement of the Galaxy S9, i.e. Galaxy S8 formula, contrary to previous expectations which pegged Samsung to attempt another radical redesign of its main high-end mobile series. Besides 5G capabilities, the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus may also feature a 3D camera akin to that found on Apples iPhone X, but without a notch. Samsungs next Android flagship release is widely expected to be coming in the form of the Galaxy Note 9 in late August, with the handset being likely to debut at Berlin-based IFA trade show. Following the OnePlus 6s TENAA certification, the Xiaomi Redmi S2 has also surfaced on the site, though unlike the OnePlus 6, Redmi S2s listing comes with images as well, much like an earlier listing weve talked about last month. Two versions of the phone surfaced on TENAA, the Xiaomi M1803E6C and M1803E6T, both sport the same specs, though. As you can see, the Redmi S2 will be made out of metal, while it will sport a fingerprint scanner on the back. A vertically aligned dual camera setup will be included on the back of the device, while the companys branding will sit on the back as well. The phones physical keys are located on the right, while the Redmi S2s SIM card tray is accessible from the left. This design does not come as a surprise, exactly, as the phone has surfaced a number of times thus far, including real-life images of the device which popped up at one of Xiaomis Mi Stores, the one in Prague. The Xiaomi Redmi S2 will sport a 5.99-inch HD+ (1440 x 720) display, while it will sport 2GB, 3GB, and 4GB of RAM and 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB of storage, respectively. The device will be fueled by a 64-bit octa-core SoC which will be clocked at 2.0GHz, and were quite probably looking at the Snapdragon 625 here. The phone will include a 3,000mAh battery, which will not be removable, while 12 and 5-megapixel cameras will be included on the back of the Redmi S2. A 16-megapixel camera will be included on the phones front side, while Android 8.1 Oreo will come pre-installed on the phone, along with Xiaomis MIUI 9 skin. The phone will arrive in Black, Rose Gold, Gold, White, Blue, Red, Pink, Gray, and Silver color variants, according to TENAA. The phone will measure 160.73 x 77.26 x 8.1mm, while it will weigh 170 grams. The Xiaomi Redmi S2 will be announced on May 10, according to Xiaomis teaser that was published yesterday. The company did not exactly confirm that the Redmi S2 is coming, but an S-branded device is on the way, and its either this or the Surge S2 processor, well just have to wait until May 10 in order to find out. BrusselsMarin Mrcela, President of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), the Council of Europe's anti-corruption body, warned Spain that if states fail to comply with the standards set by his organisation, judicial independence is "at risk". Since 2013, Spain has not fully implemented any of the eleven recommendations issued by GRECO to prevent and combat corruption involving MPs, judges and prosecutors. In statements to the Catalan News Agency, Mrcela declared that "What we want is to eliminate the possibility of politics influencing the judicial system". According to the anti-corruption groups annual report, made public this Thursday, Spain remains among those countries which fail to comply with anticorruption procedures, and whose level of compliance remains "globally unsatisfactory". In fact, Spain is one of only two states, together with Belgium, that has not fully implemented any of the recommendations made in the last five years. Mrcela stated that "The most important element in the fight against corruption is political will". Following GRECOs warnings in recent years, ARA revealed that The Associacio Atenes de Juristes pels Drets Civils (Athens Association of Jurists for Civil Rights), a newly-formed group of lawyers, has filed a lawsuit against the President of Spains General Council of Judicial Power (GCJP), Carlos Lesmes, and 19 other members of the Spanish judiciary for an alleged lack of impartiality. The association considers that the GCJP is part of a conspiracy to ensure judges sympathetic to the PP are assigned the corruption cases that threaten Mariano Rajoys party. The prevention of corruption While commenting on the legislative framework governing the General Council of the Judiciary, Mrcela indicated that the goal is "to see that the majority of judges are chosen by judges." According to the president of GRECO, judges must not be chosen by politicians or "people appointed by Parliament or the executive". He went on to say that "We are aware that there are many highly professional judges in Spain, we have no doubt, but we are talking about standards and prevention". Regarding the recommendations for parliamentarians, Mrcela explained that they involve adopting a code of conduct for MPs and "aspects related to the prevention of corruption", such as conflicts of interest, the receipt of gifts and declaring their financial interests. Of the eleven recommendations GRECO made to Spain, four have not even begun to be implemented which places Spain among the ten states with the highest level of non-compliance, while seven have only been partially implemented. Eight more countries appear beside Spain, in the "globally unsatisfactory" implementation of the recommendations category: Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Turkey. The GRECO report analyses how levels of corruption throughout Europe and the United States, highlighting trends and examples as well as individual country data. During the presentation of the report, the group's president declared that 2017 was a "dark" year. The Council of Europe is an international organisation made up of 47 states, with its headquarters in Strasbourg. Its main objective is to defend and protect democracy, the rule of law and human rights, civil and political in particular. This is the birthday of two men who had significant effects on jazz and popular music. Bing Crosby was born on May 3, 1903 in Spokane, Washington, John Lewis seventeen years later in LaGrange, Illinois shortly before his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he grew up. Crosby became the worlds best-selling recording artist, a title he holds 40 years after his death. According to his Wikipedia biography, Crosby has sold around the world more than one billion records, tapes, CDs and digital downloads. More important, his relaxed musicianship and charmand his movie stardommade him him one of the most influential performers during the period when jazz and American popular music were developing more or less in tandem. Pianist Lewis came under the influence of an aunt who exposed him to her collection of jazz recordings. He went on to major in music and anthropology at the University of New Mexico. During Army service in World War Two, drummer Kenny Clarke, a fellow soldier, convinced Lewis to move to New York when the war ended. Both men joined Dizzy Gillespies big band in 1945, and Lewis later recorded with vibraharpist Milt Jackson, Clarke and bassist Ray Brown when Jackson formed his own quartet. After Percy Heath replaced Brown on bass, the group changed its name to the Modern Jazz Quartet. Crosby and Lewis no doubt recorded many of the same songs in various contexts. Happily for our little birthday observance, the pieces include one of the Gershwin brothers most charming, durable and adaptable creations. The Crosby recording is available as part of that classic Decca Gershwin Songbook album. The Modern Jazz Quartets version of But Not For Me is on their 1953/54 Django album remastered in 2006 by the late Rudy Van Gelder. 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 Johnnie Walker Teams Up With HBO For A 'Game Of Thrones' Scotch Trending News: Scotch Is Coming - Johnnie Walker Launches 'Game Of Thrones' Whisky Long Story Short What better way to wait for the next season? Long Story I dunno about you, but it feels to me like the last time I watched Game of Thrones was ages ago. Worse, we'll have to wait until 2019 for the next season. But at least there's something to help bide the time before the final season. Johnnie Walker just announced that it's partnering with HBO to release a Game of Thrones scotch. Related: A Guide To Whiskies From Around The World Scotch is coming to the realm this Fall - White Walker by Johnnie Walker. @GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/x4Gg3P6d7f Johnnie Walker (@JohnnieWalkerUS) May 3, 2018 Considering how much boozing goes on in the show Cersei and Tyrion Lannister being the biggest culprits GoT-themed booze makes a lot of sense. It might not surprise you to know there's already a GoT-themed wine made by Vintage Wine Estates and an ale made by Brewery Ommegang, according to Winter is Coming. Mysteriously, we don't know what will make this whisky different from other Johnnie Walker products. Will it just be cool packaging? Or will it be a new rare scotch to rival the $399 Blue Label Ghost and Rare? Perhaps it's something to honor the White Walkers. Perhaps this Canadian bar that serves frostbitten human toes as garnish was consulted. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Why make this product so late in the show's timeline? Drop This Fact Game of Thrones ruined dating for Emilia Clarke. A Game of Thrones whisky will ruin it for you and me. Breathnach is joined by three partners but its expected that the team will grow to ten partners and 40 others in the next three years. We are very excited about the prospects for the Dublin office. Ireland is a key strategic domicile for investment funds and is a committed member of the EU, providing full access to that market. We look forward to growing our business here significantly over the coming years, Breathnach commented. The expansion for Linklaters, with a new office in Hamburg, represents the citys growth as a business centre and the firm seeing an increase in the number of clients based in the city. Tech M&A looking good says MoFo survey The outlook for M&A in the tech sector is looking positive according to a survey by Morrison Foerster. The firms poll offers the most positive outlook for tech M&A in four years and reflects optimism for the rest of 2018 after a slow start. Two thirds of respondents expect deal volume to increase. Changes to tax laws in the US are driving sentiment in the sector. Ince & Co has promoted nine lawyers and recruited one to its global partnership. Among the new partners are three lawyers in Asia, who are based in three different offices across the region. The appointments augment the firms contentious practice and continues to build its transactional capabilities in its sectors and regions of focus, Ince & Co said. The newly promoted partners in Asia are Maureen Poh in Singapore, and Eileen Tang in Shanghai. New recruit Janice Lee is now a partner based in Hong Kong. Hamish is a market-leading disputes lawyer who has helped his clients address conflicts that may emerge throughout a projects life cycle, said Glenn Kurtz, who heads White & Cases global commercial litigation practice. As a result, he will enhance our practices capabilities to handle complex litigation that commonly arises out of the development of infrastructure, resources and energy projects. Eric Berg, the firms chief in the Asia-Pacific region, said that Macpherson has successfully acted for clients on numerous landmark cases in Australian courts. Hamish will draw on these experiences to advise our clients in high-stakes commercial disagreements that take place on the ground in Australia, Berg said. Hamish Macpherson Sparta It all started back in April 2013, with a Lamborghini Aventador . This was the obvious choice if you were in the market for a maximum wow factor "mainstream" supercar back then, so it came natural.Subsequently, the officials announced that they would also add a Ferrari and it wasn't long until we got to see that they went for something a bit more practical than the Aventador, going for the four-seat, and just as four-wheel driven, Ferrari FF . To make things even more exotic, it was announced that the FF would only be manhandled by... women.After seeing an Aventador and an FF dress up in the Dubai Police uniform, the news that they were also getting a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and a Bentley Continental GT didn't shock anybody. Most of those who reported it didn't even bother to mention it was the W12 model, not the V8. This isDubai, so it was all understood.Nevertheless, it was at this point that it became obvious an army was being gathered. Since the soldiers were already there, they needed a commander, a car that would cost more than the aforementioned four together.The choice was rather unexpected, with the Dubai Police welcoming one of the seventy seven units of the Aston Martin One-77 . This was described by its creators as a form of art, so we guess fitting it with a light bar was a metaphor.The Chevrolet Camaro SS that followed afterwards may have seemed like a joke coming after all those big names, but it's still cooler than most police cars on Planet Earth.Just when we were starting to think that the Camaro was hired as a personal assistant for the Aston, we were hit by the news that the Dubai Police would put its name on a Bugatti Veyron . Things were done in a bit of a rush, with Dubai Police Chief Dhahi Khalfan Tamim tweeting the adjacent image of a Veyron in Police livery, which turned out to be a rendering. Even though this was just an image manipulation, the aforementied announcement assured us that they would actually get a Bugatti.We don't even know if the Dubai Police are satisfied with the supercar fleet yet. Who knows, maybe someone in their offices has a passion for Koenigseggs.... Sixty Seven Auto Services got its hands on the job of wrapping the supercars. The foil comes from the US and while most of the cars only needed the green bits, the Aston Martin One-77 was truly special. The car left the factory dressed in silver, so they needed to make it white before moving on to the usual process.First of all, this question is incorrect. The right form is "why not?". Since they've described themselves as " The City of One Thousand and One Arabian Lights", why not add a few red and blue light bars... attached to some of the most exotic cars in the world. This would be a display of financial force, just like Burj Kalifa or Palm Jumeirah.In fact, the authorities themselves pointed out that these supercars wouldn't be used for hot pursuits, but rather for patrolling touristic areas around the city. The aforementioned Burj Kalifa, together with the Dubai Mall, Jumeirah Beach Residence, as well as the Burj Al Arab, they're all enjoying the charms of these hypermachines.When Dubai runs out of petrol, all its eggs will be in the touristic basket and this fleet is simply another attraction, a mobile one. These days, you need more than just sand to create a mirage in the desert. However, it seems that the supercars are having a mesmerizing effect on the tourists, as you can see in the videos below.The addition of such vehicles to the Dubai Police fleet is also part of a bigger plan. Dubai has set itself the goal to host theand the new toys are a valuable asset. The authorities have even taken them off the streets for a while, displaying them at the mall where everybody can see them.If we take away the PR aura and see these supercars as pure instruments of law enforcement, it's hard to tell if they still make sense.is a major issue in Dubai, with the authorities recently announcing that drivers exceeding 125 mph (200 km/h) face criminal charges. However, the strict law enforcement in Dubai also means that there aren't too many drivers who would ever consider running away from the police.Chase or no chase, it is extremely interesting to see police equipment inside the red leather interior of such a machine. Most of these vehicles can't accomodate arrested persons anyway, so their cabins will certainly stay in a tip top shape.While there have also been negative reactions, with fingers pointed at the opulence, the Dubai Police definitely gained international popularity thanks to its multimillion acquisitions., we really can't tell if this is bright or not. You see, Dubai also has a dark side, which includes booming projects whose enthusiasts was cut out completely by the global recession and/or lack of demand. Some of these frighteningly-big investments are now deserted, having been put on hold indefinitely.Sure, you can always sell the cars, so the story here is different, but that would still mean disassembling the fleet.Until we find out more about the future of these Arabian Knights, here are two clips that shows them in action. Notice how one of the drivers comes to admire the Camaro after being handed a fine... Being bigger, stronger and at times smarter than your average humans, most of Spielbergs on-screen creations were from another league entirely, capable of eating people for breakfast, or trample them to the size of a button, or just kill them for the sake of it.What Spielbergs dinos werent capable of doing was trapping a bunch of humans and hanging them upside down, 100 feet in the air (30 meters). But what Spielberg cant do, Universal Studios can.In Japan, at the Universal Studios theme park in Osaka, a bunch of pterodactyls form what is known there as the Flying Dinosaur ride. It is one of the world's longest flying roller coasters. And this week it acted up.As per an Asahi Shimbun report, 64 people were trapped, some of them dangling head down, for two hours after the machine stalled and wouldnt budge.According to park officials, involved in the incident were two carriages, each carrying 32 passengers, which got stuck. At fault for this seems to be a problem with the motors powering the carriages that once detected made the automated safety system stop the ride.The passengers in one of them had to spend a good portion of their day facing down, 100 feet in the air, while the others were a bit luckier, their carriage stopping closer to the arrival platform.Fortunately for those involved, the entire adventure ended with nobody getting injured.Japans Kyodo new agency, cited by HuffPost, said that this is not the first time such an incident occurs. The same ride was allegedly involved in two similar incidents in 2017. Apart from selling vehicles, Isuzu Motor Ltd. also gives back to the community. Through its local distributor Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), and in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and World Vision Philippines, the Japanese automaker recently presented its latest batch of 18 service technician graduates who completed their National Competency Certificate program. The fresh graduates completed NC1 to NC4 training, NC4 being the highest level of certification in the country. The four-level technical training course is a two year program supported by the Isuzu-TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Center. After completing the course, each scholar will receive a National Certificate (NC) allowing them to be more competitive as in the auto mechanic industry. We are beyond words of what we are now seeing to all the deserving new batch of scholars of Isuzu-TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Centers in Tacloban. As we all know that Tacloban has been devastated by the Typhoon Yolanda in Central Philippine island in 2013. This is the best time to tell the public that there is indeed a new hope, especially for the underprivileged yet deserving students, said Yoshinori Ida, Senior Counselor of Isuzu Motors Ltd. Present during the 13th graduation ceremony of Isuzu-TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Centers were family and friends of students, IPC Excutives, and Yoshinori Ida. Non-graduating students also showed off their skills during the day of recognition. Out of the all the graduates, The outstanding top trainees were Jhon Kim Bobares, who was cited with honorable mention. Named as batch salutatorian was Deolito Galono; Joeminel Cutcharo was the batch valedictorian. A grand alumni home coming will also be held from August 18 to 20 by IPC to commemorate the hard work by all the graduates students from past to present. Aside from the reunion party, the first day of the program will be a community outreach. Volunteer organization Wright B Flyer has sent its Wright Model B aircraft replica to Texas to take part in San Antonios tricentennial celebration. The full-scale replica, called the Valentine Flyer, will be displayed at the Fort Sam Houston parade field on May 5 and 6. The aircraft also visited San Antonio in 2010 for the 100th anniversary of the first solo military flight. The Valentine Flyer was built in the 1970s for the 1978 TV movie The Winds of Kitty Hawk. According to the organization, it flew somewhere near 50 times and saw about 2.5 hours in the air before being damaged in the final flight for the movie. The plane spent some time at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles before Wright B Flyer purchased it in 2001. Though it no longer flies, it is capable of taxiing under its own power. The Wright Brothers began building the original Model B in 1910. Around 100 of them were built in all, making it one of the first aircraft to be produced in quantity. The Valentine Flyer differs slightly from the original design in that is uses a Ford Model A auto engine instead of an original Wright engine. It is also slightly shorter in height and several feet longer. Wright B Flyer is based at the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (MGY) in Ohio. In addition to the Valentine Flyer, the group owns a second completed Model B replica and is working on building a third. Trump said he is not considering a U.S. troop reduction in South Korea Friday following the NYT report that he ordered the Pentagon to consider a drawdown. Trumps National Security Advisor John Bolton denied it in a statement on Friday as well. Why it matters: As Trump's planned talks with North Koreas Kim Jong-un edges closer, concerns remain over what the U.S. will concede in negotiations to get North Korea to fully, verifiably, and permanently denuclearize. If troop reductions are on the table, U.S. relations with South Korea and Japan could strain, and the move could threaten their safety if North Korea isnt truly on the path to peace and denuclearization. Kansas lawmakers passed a bill Thursday allowing adoption agencies to turn away LGBT couples based on religious beliefs, reports the Kansas Wichitia Eagle. Why it matters: Kansas is among several states passing similar legislation, and has opened up a larger debate over whether these efforts are discriminatory. While several critics say the bill is based on bias, supporters, like Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, argue it will help create more opportunities for children to find a home. President Trump told reporters Friday that the White House has picked a date and location for planned talks with North Korea's Kim Jong-un, and said they'll be issuing a statement shortly. Why it matters: Now that the details of the upcoming summit with North Korea are coming together, it's even more likely that the meeting will take place. Trump also sounded hopeful about the negotiations to free three Americans held in North Korea, saying "we're doing very well with the hostages." Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with regard to the hostages. I think youre going to be seeing very good things, Trump said. A high-level delegation of U.S. officials, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, is in Beijing for trade talks with the Chinese. And, per a document reviewed by multiple news outlets, Washington has laid out its demands. One big ask: Cut the trade deficit by $200 billion by 2020. Last year, the deficit reached an all-time high of $375 billion. The backdrop, via Axios' Jonathan Swan: The relentless focus on the trade deficit comes straight from President Trump. He wants what he wants; and what he wants is far closer to hard-liner Peter Navarro's version of the world than that of free-traders Mnuchin and Larry Kudlow. The real question is how far Trump is willing to bend. The other demands, per the Wall Street Journal's Lingling Wei: Cut Chinese tariffs on American imports to match American tariffs on Chinese goods. on American imports to match American tariffs on Chinese goods. Context: President Trump called out China for high tariffs on U.S. autos. President Trump called out China for high tariffs on U.S. autos. Cut government subsidies for high-tech industries under the "Made in China 2025" program. for high-tech industries under the "Made in China 2025" program. Context: The program is a push to upgrade Chinese manufacturing so Beijing can compete in advanced industries including artificial intelligence. The program is a push to upgrade Chinese manufacturing so Beijing can compete in advanced industries including artificial intelligence. Do not target American farmers and agricultural products. American farmers and agricultural products. Context: Tariffs against soybeans included in China's retaliatory package hit the heart of Trump country. Tariffs against soybeans included in China's retaliatory package hit the heart of Trump country. Do not oppose U.S. restriction on Chinese investment in American companies. U.S. restriction on Chinese investment in American companies. Context: Congress is working on a national security bill to expand its review of foreign investment, and it has both Chinese and American companies concerned. Congress is working on a national security bill to expand its review of foreign investment, and it has both Chinese and American companies concerned. Open borders to foreign investment from U.S. and other countries. to foreign investment from U.S. and other countries. Context: China approves foreign investments after reviewing applications. "The U.S. wants investments to be generally open aside from certain restricted sectors such as defense," Wei writes. The bottom line: There's no indication yet from Beijing that it'll agree to some or all of these demands. China's official news agency, Xinhua, put out a statement following talks saying, "Both sides realized that there are some relatively big differences on some issues. And more work needs to be done to achieve more progress." What China wants, per the Financial Times: Stop opposing China's push for market economy status in the World Trade Organization. for market economy status in the World Trade Organization. Context: The U.S. argues that the Chinese state's role in its economy means that domestic prices are not determined by the market. If China is recognized as a market economy, it will face lower anti-dumping duties. The U.S. argues that the Chinese state's role in its economy means that domestic prices are not determined by the market. If China is recognized as a market economy, it will face lower anti-dumping duties. Let American companies sell parts to Chinese telecom company ZTE. sell parts to Chinese telecom company ZTE. Context: The U.S. government has banned sales to ZTE for seven years. The U.S. government has banned sales to ZTE for seven years. Ease scrutiny of Chinese investment in American firms. of Chinese investment in American firms. Context: Congress is only ramping up its efforts to contain Chinese investment. Be smart: China believes it is now big enough to take on the U.S. in a trade fight. Nagorno-Karabakhs political leadership expressed hope on Friday that the political crisis in Armenia will be resolved soon in a peaceful and legal way. Bako Sahakian, the Karabakh president, discussed the recent dramatic developments in Yerevan with visiting representatives of the four political groups represented in Armenias parliament. According to his press office, Sahakian told them that internal political stability in Armenia is also vital for Karabakhs security. The Armenian parliamentary delegation visiting Stepanakert included Ararat Mirzoyan, a close associate of opposition leader Nikol Pashinian, who looks set to become Armenias new leader after three weeks of massive protests that have forced Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian to resign. Sahakian travelled to Armenia nearly two weeks ago to try to help defuse mounting political tensions there. He held a series of political consultations with Pashinian, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and former Presidents Robert Kocharian and Levon Ter-Petrosian last week. Karabakhs Armenian-backed military said, meanwhile, that Azerbaijan could exploit the political turmoil in Yerevan and launch offensive military operations along the line of contact around Karabakh. Baku denied massing troops and military hardware there, however. Incidentally, the commander of Karabakhs Defense Army, Lieutenant General Levon Mnatsakanian, was also preset at Sahakians meeting with the Armenian parliamentarians. A top aide to Sahakian, Davit Babayan, said earlier in the day that he hopes the crisis will be resolved as soon as possible. He also indicated that the Karabakh leadership is prepared for a leadership change in Armenia. If the people of Armenia and all political forces represented in Armenias parliament make a choice congruent with the constitution and laws and help to stabilize the internal political situation, what can Artsakh (Karabakh) say? Artsakh is ready to work with leaders elected by the will of Armenias people and political forces, Babayan told RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). While in Stepanakert, the Armenian lawmakers were also due to meet with their Karabakh colleagues. I think its important for us to understand how the parties represented in [Armenias] National Assembly have responded to these events and what lessons they have learned, said Hayk Khanumian, an opposition member of Karabakhs parliament. After all, something amazing has happened: the Armenian society has become more mature than Armenias political elite. 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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham Azerbaijan) hosted the delegation of high-level U.S. Congress officials at its monthly members luncheon. In addition, the Luncheon highlighted the presentation of the Special Edition for "Doing Business" Reforms (Azerbaijan Economic Reforms Review) by Dr. Vusal Gasimli, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. Around 200 participants attended the event, including representatives of diplomatic corps. In the opening remarks, Mrs. Natavan Mammadova, Executive Director of AmCham Azerbaijan, expressed the pleasure to welcome the high-esteemed guests in Baku. She emphasized that such kind of visits reflect the decent level of the dialogue between Azerbaijan and the United States of America at the highest level. The event proceeded with the member presentations by Deloitte Azerbaijan and Princeps Legem. Afterwards, Mr. Nuran Kerimov, President of AmCham Azerbaijan, invited Dr. Vusal Gasimli to address the members of the Chamber. Dr. Gasimli underlined that the implementation of reforms in Azerbaijan is being performed under the ongoing support of the government at the highest level, first of all, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev. He highlighted that Azerbaijan has increased its ranking by 8 positions reaching 57th place out of 190 countries participating in the Doing Business 2018 report prepared by the World Bank, based on 10 reform directions criteria. He expressed his confidence that the progress of the reforms being implemented in the country will keep on growing. Further, Mr. Kerimov introduced Mr. Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, as well as Mr. Henry Cuellar, U.S Representative for Texas's 28th congressional district, to the audience. They briefly spoke about their impressions and experiences from the visit to Azerbaijan. In addition, both expressed the hope that Azerbaijan and the United States will keep on cooperating effectively on the many areas of mutual interest for American and Azerbaijani people. Mr. Goodlatte and Mr. Cuellar stressed upon the great potential of such cooperation in fighting against terrorism, creating jobs, and improving Europes energy security. Finally, they wished the Luncheon participants and all the people of Azerbaijan prosperity and much success. AmCham Azerbaijan Members Luncheons are organized monthly by the Chamber and feature participation of high ranked government officials, members of Parliament and representatives of diplomatic corps. The American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan is a leading private, non-profit business association supporting and promoting the interests of foreign and local businesses in Azerbaijan. Established in 1996, AmCham is composed of over 280 Member-Companies and Associates active in every sector of the Azerbaijani economy. AmCham Azerbaijan represents nearly 80 percent of all foreign investment, as well as a significant portion of local investment in Azerbaijan.Top of FormBottom of Form - Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova Azerbaijans energy giant SOCAR plans to use the Baku-Tbilisi Kars (BTK) railway for carbamide (urea) supplies to Georgia and Turkey. Director of the carbamide plant Khayal Jafarov said that 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 carbamide 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 mentioned the recently launched BTK railway, stressing that it will make it possible to quickly deliver goods from Azerbaijan to Georgia and Turkey. The production capacity of the plant will be about 650,000-660,000 tons per year. About 150,000-200,000 tons of carbamide is planned to be supplied to the domestic market . The remaining volumes will be exported, in particular to Turkey, Georgia and the markets of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea countries. South Koreas Samsung Engineering won the tender for the construction of the carbamide plant. Samsung Engineering acts as a general contractor of the plants construction, but it has no license for production of carbamide and ammonia, which will be by-product in the carbamide 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 carbamide. Production at the plant will be environmentally friendly. The entire control system will be fully automated and will meet the highest requirements, including in terms of safety. The carbamide plant will need 1.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to full capacity. The commissioning of the plant will cease dependence of Azerbaijan on the import of nitrogen fertilizers, and it can be confidently asserted that in 2018 carbamide will become one of the weighty items of Azerbaijan's non-oil export. The carbamide plant will strengthen the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, and due to the localization of production will allow to spend the saved currency for other needs. It is extremely important that significant volumes of carbamide production contribute to the increase of the export potential of the country, which will bring additional revenues to the budget and give impetus to the development of the non-oil sector. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova Over the past 10-15 years, modern grapes processing enterprises have been built in Azerbaijan, the technical equipment of which allows them to compete even with the leading European manufactures, since this sphere was given special attention by the government, and a lot of investments were attracted. The government plans to increase the wine exports fivefold by 2025, according to the State Program for the Development of Winemaking in Azerbaijan in 2018-2025, approved by President Ilham Aliyev on May 3. Last year, over one million decaliters of winemaking products were produced in Azerbaijan, of which 375,000 decaliters were exported. The main export directions of the Azerbaijani wine were Russia (338,000 decaliters) and China (27,000 decaliters). Moreover, Azerbaijani wine producers will take part in the SIAL China 2018, Asia's Biggest Food Innovation Exhibition, to be held in Shanghai on May 16-18. Chairman of the Azerbaijan Wine Producers and Exporters Association Elchin Madatov said that he entrepreneurs will take part in the exhibition through Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO). 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. Viticulture in Azerbaijan has an ancient history. The proof of this is that during the archaeological excavations conducted in Aghstafa region of Azerbaijan in 1962, grape seeds were found. Archaeological finds in Uzerliktepe, Kultepe and Gazakh evidence to the ancient culture of winemaking, which is going back to the end of the III millennium BC. In the 1980s the State Committee for Viticulture of Azerbaijan occupied the first place in the USSR, outstripping the oil industry. Winemaking is one of the profitable and historical spheres of the agro-industry. About 210 wineries operated in Azerbaijan in the 1980s, while over 151,000 workers and specialists worked in the winemaking system. On the territory of Azerbaijan, both white and red wines are produced. In particular, most wines are produced at the Khachmaz factory. Hence the best white, red and pink wines are exported to Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States, Poland, France, Spain, Turkey and China. Among the most famous varieties used in wine production are Kishmish, Bendi, Gamashara, Gizili, Marandi, White Shani, Aligote, Sauvignon, Muscat, Pinot, Riesling and others. In total, the state grows more than 450 varieties of grapevine. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov Russia will continue to contribute to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said at a press conference on May 4. Of course, we have a very consistent position on this issue and, in general, we do not depart from it, so we will continue to assist the parties, she noted. She added that it is necessary to wait until the political situation in Armenia stabilizes. Armenia is now going through difficult political times, and I think we need to wait until the situation in the political sphere finally stabilizes, when the people, political forces and political movements decide on the composition of the governing bodies, Zakharova said. The spokeswoman emphasized that after this, there will be every opportunity to resolve foreign policy problems, including the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia, along with the U.S. and France, is a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker peace to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The conflict 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 regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijans territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov Success in the cooperation between the U.S. and Azerbaijan promises new prospects, Head of the Delegation of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress Robert Goodlatte said on May 3. He made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku. The congressman said that the U.S. attaches great importance to relations with Azerbaijan. The sides expressed satisfaction with the current level of relations between the two countries and exchanged views on further intensification of cooperation on the bilateral platform. Mammadyarov briefed the guest on Azerbaijans foreign policy priorities, 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 mentioned that attempts to change internationally recognized borders are unacceptable. The minister stressed the need for immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and noted that the conflict must be resolved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The sides also exchanged views on various issues of international and regional agenda. Azerbaijan and the U.S. established diplomatic relations in 1992. Today, the two countries work to promote European energy security, expand trade and investment, and combat terrorism and transnational threats. The U.S. is committed to strengthening democracy and promoting economic diversification in Azerbaijan. Currently, the U.S. companies are actively involved in the development of Caspian hydrocarbons in offshore Azerbaijani oilfields, and the U.S. government actively supported the BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline as the primary route of transportation for Caspian oil. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov William Peduto, the mayor of Pittsburgh, the most historical and famous city in the U.S., made an official statement in connection with the 100th anniversary of establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), Azerbaijani Embassy in the U.S. informed on May 3. The statement notes the creation of the ADR, the first secular parliamentary democracy in the Muslim world, on May 28, 1918, as well as its recognition by other democratic states, including the U.S. The document states that during the short period of independence, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic granted all people the right to vote regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or religion, becoming the first Muslim nation to grant women equal political rights with men, an accomplishment preceding the U.S. Moreover, the document emphasizes that Azerbaijans independence was interrupted in 1920, when it was invaded by Bolshevists and then forcefully incorporated into the USSR in 1922, but Azerbaijan was able to restore its independence in 1991. The document notes that over the last quarter century, Azerbaijan has consolidated its sovereignty and independence, and has become a staunch ally and strategic partner of the U.S. in the critically important Caspian region. The statement says that millions of Azerbaijanis around the globe, including tens of thousands in the U.S., will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28 this year, remembering the contribution of their forefathers to the spread of democracy in the regions of Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. In conclusion, Peduto in the statement declared May 28, 2018 as Azerbaijan National Day and called on all residents of Pittsburgh to celebrate the great contribution of the Azerbaijani people to history. The establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic went down in the chronicles of the Azerbaijani nation as a great and historic event. The ADR, which set the goal of building an independent, free, and democratic republic, managed to return national consciousness to the Azerbaijani people and demonstrated that it was able to determine its destiny itself. Though it existed only for 23 months, the ADR's government reached major progress in foreign policy and introduced Azerbaijan to the international community. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic marked the beginning of a large stage in the glorious history of the modern Azerbaijan. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the 24-km section of the Khachmaz-Khudat highway after major overhaul. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the president of the technical indicators of the newly-reconstructed road. President Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the highway. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova The Karabakh horse still remains the pride of the Caucasus. Currently, there are 20 enterprises for breeding in Azerbaijan, where about 200 clean-bred horses are kept. This beautiful breed, included on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, will soon join the UKs largest outdoor horse show. A display demonstrating the power and beauty of Azerbaijans native Karabakh horse will be one of the big attractions at next weeks Royal Windsor Horse Show. Royal Borough Observer newspaper says that the performance has been choreographed specifically for Royal Windsor Horse Show. The Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan will be returning to Windsor for the first time since performing at the Queens 90th birthday celebrations in 2016 with their new performance Land of Fire, Azerbaijan. Ten horse and rider combinations will be seen combining fast paced movements with tight turns and perfectly timed executions. They will be accompanied by the Sarhadchi dance ensemble. The 75th Royal Windsor Show will run from May 9 to May 13. Within its framework there will be horse exhibitions, demonstrations, theatrical performances and competitions. The show takes place in the Royal Park of Windsor castle, and members of the Royal family are sure to come to see this great event. At all times the Karabakh breed of horses was widely known. Specialists say that the Karabakh horse is one of the ancient breeds in Asia. And all the subsequent history of horse breeders worked on improving the horse, which here called keg. The greatest success they achieved in the 18th century. Already at that time in Karabakh was a stud farm belonging to the Shah of Iran. After the assassination of Nadir Shah in 1747, this plant became the property of the founder and first ruler of the Karabakh khanate of Panah Ali Khan. Historians say that this ruler really appreciated the Karabakh breed. Half a century later, in 1797, after the murder of another Iranian shah - Agha Muhammad Khan in Shusha - the best producers from his herd remained at the Karabakh stud farm. The war in Nagorno-Karabakh at the end of the 20th century threatened these horses at risk of extinction. The militants, who captured a beautiful city Agdam with a rich industry, actually destroyed it, and at the same time prosperous stud farm. At the site of the plant is now ashes, and on the site of the city - the ruins. Last year, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev issued an order on additional support for the development of the Karabakh breed of horses. The Ministry of Agriculture allocated 2 million manats ($1.18 million) from the reserve fund of the President. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) exported 20,015 million tons of oil in January-April 2018, which is 12.96 percent more than in the same period of 2017, the CPC press service said in a message. In April 2018, the volume of oil exports of CPC amounted to 5,068 million tons against 4,705 million tons in the corresponding month of the previous year. In 2018, the consortium plans to pump 67 million tons through its pipeline system. It is estimated that about 60 million of them will be produced in Kazakhstan, and about 7 million is expected to be received from Russian producers. An almost two-fold increase in oil consumption from Kashagan to 13 million tons is planned. Caspian Pipeline Consortium was established to build a pipeline and export Kazakh oil through Russian territory. CPC exported 55,107 million tons of oil in January- December 2017, showing a 24.4 percent increase compared to 2016. CPC owns 1,511 km long pipeline system that connects the oil fields in Western Kazakhstan with the Marine Terminal near Russian Novorossiysk. In 2017 the Caspian Pipeline Consortium will complete the Expansion Project and which will increase its capacity to 67 million tons of oil per annum. Kazakh producer will account for 56 million tons of that volume and Russian producers - for 11 million tons. CPC Shareholders: Russia (represented by Transneft 24 percent and CPC Company 7 percent) 31 percent; Kazakhstan (represented by KazMunaiGaz 19 percent and Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC 1.75 percent) 20.75 percent; Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company 15 percent, LUKARCO B.V. 12.5 percent, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company 7.5 percent, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited 7.5 percent, BG Overseas Holding Limited 2 percent, Eni International N.A. N.V. 2 percent Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC 1.75 percent. The volume of CPC shipment of oil for export in 2017 was 55,107 million tons, which is 24.4 percent more than in 2016. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Irans official trade statistics indicate that the country is increasing its non-oil exports to Southeast Asian countries. Three countries from the region, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have taken place among the Islamic Republics main destinations of non-oil exports in the last fiscal year, which ended March 2018. According to the latest data released by Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Thailand was ninth destination of Irans non-oil commodities ($731 million worth of goods), followed by Indonesia ($645 million). Irans non-oil exports to Thailand increased by 90 percent year-on-year in terms of value, meanwhile Indonesias imports from the Islamic Republic registered a significant rise by 273 percent. According to Mojtaba Mousavian, an official with the TPOI, Irans certain exports to Thailand such as iron and steel, as well as fisheries have witnessed a significant increase in the period. Musavian said that Irans fishery exports to the Southeast Asian country increased by 345 percent year on year. The official believes that Iran has the capacity to take more share from the countrys market in particular in food, agriculture, gold and jewellery as well as auto part sectors. Vietnam was 17th destination of Irans non-oil exports in the one-year period, however the value of the exports witnessed a fall by 10 percent to $364 million. According to the data released by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Irans exports to Malaysia, Philippine and Myanmar also witnessed increase in the last fiscal year. Iran exported $205 million worth of non-oils to Malaysia, 136 percent more year-on-year. The Islamic Republics exports to Philippine and Myanmar also registered value growth by 118.6 and 28.11 percent, respectively, year-on-year. Irans non oil exports to Philippine and Myanmar accounted to $61.2 million and $60.1 million in the fiscal year to March 2018. The Islamic Republic further exported $42.7 million worth of goods to Singapore and $17,200 to Cambodia in the 12-month period. Compared to the preceding year, Irans non- oil exports to Singapore decreased by 86 percent. Cambodias imports from the Islamic Republic also registered a huge fall by 97 percent. Irans overall non-oil exports including condensates stood at $46.9 billion in last fiscal year, 6.6 percent more year-on-year. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev held a meeting with head of the European Union delegation to Kazakhstan Traian Christie. They discussed issues of implementing the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the EU, expanding trade and economic cooperation and attracting foreign investment. The Agreement, signed in 2015, has so far been ratified by majority of the EU Member States and received consent from the European Parliament. The EPCA is a next-generation document that covers 29 fields of cooperation. New collaborative structures have already been created the cooperation committee in the trade configuration, a subcommittee on customs issues, and a subcommittee on energy, transport, environment and climate change. The implementation of the new Agreement will let increase trade volume significantly firstly by high-tech products, and generate new opportunities for economic growth and job creation. The European Union is Kazakhstan's largest trade and investment partner, accounting for about half of the country's foreign trade and direct investments. Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover with the EU countries in January-March 2018 amounted to $9 billion (January-March 2017 - $6.8 billion). The volume of trade between Kazakhstan in 2017 amounted to about $30 billion. For 2017, gross inflow of foreign direct investments from the European Union has reached $9.8 billion from $20.7 billion of all involved. The main investing countries are the Netherlands ($ 4.4 billion), Belgium ($ 960.6 million), France ($ 595.3 million), Great Britain ($ 418.8 million), Germany ($ 280.8 million) and Luxembourg ($ 276.8 million). --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 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 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. 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. A Hardin County man accused of lying about installing an illegal tracking device in his estranged wife's car will go to trial a second time after a jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict last month. David Bellow was indicted in June 2016 on a charge of aggravated perjury for allegedly lying during divorce proceedings. Nine members of the 12-person jury found him guilty earlier this month. In a motion filed April 30, Bellow asked for a new court-appointed attorney for a new trial and said he is indigent and unable to pay for his own legal representation. Attorney Rife Kimler, who previously represented Bellow, withdrew from the case after the mistrial. Bellow also filed a motion alleging that the District Attorney's office lost, destroyed or did not properly preserve evidence, including police dash camera video, a port connected to the GPS device and a recorded interview. He asked the court to sanction the DA's office and dismiss the charges and indictment. Throughout the case, Bellow has accused prosecutors of misconduct. He asked for a special prosecutor to replace District Attorney Bob Wortham and said the involvement of investigator Marcelo Molfino constitutes a conflict of interest. Molfino was hired to testify during Bellow's divorce as the owner of a private business called Cell Forensics. Kimler said he originally took the case because he was concerned about "why they (the DA's office) would create an appearance of impropriety" with Molfino's involvement. "I thought it was important" to address the issue of hiring a private investigator in a civil case who later was involved in a related criminal case, Kimler said. Judge John Stevens determined in March that Molfino's involvement did not change the facts of his alleged crime. Bellow, who previously ran for office in Hardin County, filed in January to run for Jefferson County District Attorney, saying he wanted to expose "corruption and illegal activity" in Wortham's office. The Jefferson County Republican Party determined he was ineligible because he is not a licensed attorney, and the Supreme Court of Texas denied his request to be reinstated on the ballot in January. LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.comTwitter.com/LizTeitz The American College of Physicians is urging hospitals, clinics and other physician employers to commit to closing the gender pay gap and to avoid giving financial penalties for physicians working less than full time, according to a paper published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ACP argued men and women should have the same access to a minimum of six weeks of family and medical leave, including medical students and physicians in training. "For many reasons, including the pay gap and gender bias and discrimination, women physicians face a higher rate of burnout than men some studies show that rate to be as high as 71 percent for women physicians," Susan Thompson Hingle, MD, chair of the ACP Board of Regents, told Reuters. "Burnout is not only due to the pay gap, but it certainly contributes," Dr. Hingle said. "Burned out physicians not only leave medicine early, thus worsening the physician shortage, but they also provide lower quality care . . . , have higher rates of medical errors and lower patient satisfaction." Parental leave should be mandated for physicians and medical students, with flexibility in board certification processes that let trainees who go on parental leave to still sit for their boards, Dr. Hingle added. The ACP also urged hospitals and other employers to work on increasing the number of women in leadership positions and to investigate the best practices to eliminate gender compensation inequity and barriers to career advancement. "Promotion and academic rank are contributors to salary and to respect," Dr. Hingle said. "Because of many factors, including societal expectations, women progress more slowly through the academic ranks, thus contributing to the gender disparities in salary and in leadership." Moreover, hospitals and employers should hold programs in leadership development, negotiation and career development for medical students and junior physicians. Nearly 1.13 million patient records were breached in the first three months of 2018, and with 110 reported breaches, healthcare was struck at least once per day, according to a Protenus report. The report, part of the "Protenus Breach Barometer" quarterly series, analyzed healthcare breaches reported to HHS or disclosed to the media from January to March 2018. Here are eight things to know. 1. Protenus found 3.38 privacy violations per 1,000 employees, and about 1 in 300 healthcare workers violated patient privacy. 2. Insider error accounted for 37.28 percent of all breaches, followed by hacking (27.27 percent), and loss or theft (20 percent). 3. The most common insider-related breach involved family snooping (77.1 percent). 4. The single largest breach in the first quarter of 2018 was a hacking incident at an Oklahoma-based healthcare organization that affected 279,856 patient records. 5. If an employee breaches patient privacy once, there is a greater than 20 percent chance they will do so again within three months and a greater than 54 percent chance they will do so again within a year. 6. Twenty-three breaches involved paper records, affecting at least 158,711 patient records. 7. Healthcare providers were responsible for 84 disclosed breaches, followed by health plans (12 incidents), business associate or third-party vendors (six incidents) and other organizations (eight incidents). 8. It took an average of 244 days for an organization to detect a data breach, with the shortest discovery time being one day and the longest being 1,150 days or 4.14 years. Click here to download the complete report. More articles on cybersecurity: Malware attack at Florida Hospital may have compromised patient data UK NHS to implement Microsoft's Windows 10 under systemwide cybersecurity deal Ransomware targets healthcare industry the most: 4 things to know As hospitals and health systems shift toward value-based reimbursement and look to remain profitable while adapting to what healthcare consumers want, direct-to-employer models are on the rise. This article is sponsored by Global Healthcare Alliance. Employers are increasingly frustrated with a lack of transparency into health plans' premium rates and coverage policies. Furthermore, employees are becoming less satisfied with how services are offered through their health benefit plans. To improve care quality and reduce administrative costs, some employers are fostering direct relationships with medical providers. Through direct-to-employer contracting strategies, hospitals and health systems can secure direct reimbursements through gain sharing and give medical providers a stronger voice in developing protocols for managing patient cases and care regimens, all while helping employers cut healthcare costs. However, as medical providers navigate the best ways to put these strategies into action, they face a number of challenges, particularly when exploring price transparency, developing payment models that serve diverse patient populations and jumping over various administrative hurdles. Twenty-three hospital and health system leaders from across the U.S. shared four insights on what healthcare organizations should consider when implementing direct-to-employer models during an executive roundtable discussion April 11at the Becker's Hospital Review 9th Annual Meeting in Chicago. 1. Establishing what employers want from relationships with medical providers. As health systems look to partner with employers across markets, executives must ask what employers value within these relationships. If a partnership is established, leaders must also conquer administrative challenges, such as deciding whether to enlist third-party administrators and how to best to monitor and engage with these patient populations. "We used to approach the employers or brokers with a 'one-size-fits-all' mindset, but wanted to change that dialogue," said the senior vice president and CMO for population health at a Southeastern health system with 45-plus hospital campuses. "Now, what we've done to approach employers is to examine the whole value chain," he added. "We start by looking for navigators for these programs, which can be as simple as getting patients next-day appointments after they receive a cancer diagnosis. It's crucial to reach the patient and go beyond just telling the employer what services you can offer you really have to take a look at all the people who are in the value chain of this program." The president and CEO of a five-hospital system in the Midwest noted various disruptors entering the healthcare landscape are complicating how providers approach employers for contract negotiations. "What frustrates us is the broker community is speaking into the ears of EHR vendors. When looking at these programs, we need to protect our value proposition while we launch these relationships. We know our costs, but we have to determine how to make these transactions." 2. Exploring price transparency in the era of patient consumerism. Several executives offered perspectives on how price transparency affects their health system's goal of lowering healthcare costs. "People aren't used to shopping for a price for healthcare and assume services cost the same across facilities," said the president of a four-hospital system in the Northeast. "As they start to look more, I think price transparency will become more important." The executive provided an example of how his employees frequently seek care outside of their facilities, spending up to three times more on medical services. "One of our nurses paid close to $3,000 for a CT scan at one of our local hospital systems when they could've gotten the same service for $500 [at our facility]," he said. "When I asked why they did that, the nurse said they weren't aware they could receive the service at a lower cost. We struggle even in our own system at getting employees to realize they can actually save money [as they begin shopping for healthcare]." The executive vice president for health professional solutions at an academic medical center in the South discussed Healthcare Bluebook, which offers online tools for consumers to compare the costs of healthcare services. "It's just a matter of time before we see more of these services pop up because they give patients who want to shop for services the opportunity to be treated as a consumer," the executive said. 3. Developing techniques for pricing bundles and attracting patients. The CMO for population health at a Southeastern health system described the appeal of prospective bundles when contracting directly with employers. Bundled payments lump reimbursement together for an episode of care, serving to bring people into a hospital system. "There's an upside to these bundles because you price everything together and get one payment from the [employer]," he said. "The argument you take is you're going to reduce the whole cost of care for that patient the patient will be healthier and return to work quicker." When deciding how to price bundles, executives noted the final rate must be fair to both the provider and employer. "I think the key point is if you're going to do a bundle and put forth time and effort, at some point you have to reduce your rates and design of the benefits has to be key," added the CMO for population health at a Southeastern health system. "For example, in 2017, Walmart made no deductible for their employees to use the Centers of Excellence program, so in this way, whenever you approach that employer, there has to be a significant benefit differential for using their service as opposed to another service." Walmart's Centers of Excellence program gives employees access to care for certain surgeries, including spine procedures and hip replacements. Most procedures offered through the program are covered by Walmart in full without requiring a patient to meet the deductible. Numerous leading health systems participate in the program, including Cleveland Clinic and Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic. The president of the four-hospital system in the Northeast noted that while pricing can help providers "get in the door" with employers, most companies are more concerned with patient satisfaction and care quality than about absolute savings. "What will really kill your program is if people don't have a good experience at your facility," he said. "We look at our model as a sort of concierge practice we make patients feel special and that really goes a long way, especially when people have traveled to receive care from us." 4. Asessing disruptor deals as healthcare moves toward alternative payment models. In the wake of recent disruptors entering the healthcare market from Amazon, JPMorgan and Berkshire Hathaway's venutre into a healthcare company to Walmart's talks to purchase Humana several executives discussed concerns over how those deals may affect payment and care models. "I worry about the discontinuity of care with the increase of pop-up immediate care centers," said the vice president of care coordination and clinical resource management at a six-hospital system in the Northeast. "Patients are going to these facilities and are only paying for their sore throat or whatever issue they have at the moment, which I think is distracting from what we are trying to put in place for the total cost of care and situations where we look at a patient's total journey." However, the chief digital officer of a 937-bed hospital in the Northeast noted the positive effect disruptors often have on an industry, forcing leaders to think more creatively. For healthcare, these disruptors will allow leaders to innovate around and potentially work to lower the high costs of care for patients. "What disruptors like Amazon and Apple are attacking is that the healthcare industry does create a lot of wealth in certain pockets," the chief digital officer said. "We can't just go around thinking that's not happening." The CMO for population health at the Southeastern health system also expressed concern over retail giants like Amazon entering healthcare, but highlighted the potential value in allowing healthcare leaders to continue exploring alternative payment models. "I think the payers and brokers are going to be more scared of these deals. Amazon can get to the supply chain and pharmacy side, but that's OK because those are the costs we struggle with, and we stand to benefit from these disruptors," he added. "I think working on these direct-to-employer programs is our opportunity to be successful. We can change our dynamics with payers, but working with the employers will be our lifeline going forward. If we can figure out bundles and migrate down the value chain, we can see success." Here are seven recent news updates on health IT companies. 1. More than half of healthcare stakeholders cited Amazon as the technology company most likely to impact the industry in 2018, according to a Venrock survey. 2. American Well entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Avizia in a transaction officials expect to close during the second quarter of 2018. 3. Athenahealth released earnings results for its first quarter of 2018 on April 27, reporting $329.4 million in revenue. 4. Cerner released its earnings results for its first quarter of 2018 on May 2, posting a less than expected $1.3 billion in revenue. 5. Fitbit and Google are putting their heads together to develop new consumer and enterprise digital health solutions, the wearables brand announced April 30. 6. Nokia is in early negotiations with Withings co-founder Eric Carreel to sell back the digital health business it bought from the French company for $191 million in 2016. 7. Amsterdam-based Royal Philips added telehealth services to its parenting app Philips Avent uGrow through a partnership with American Well, Philips confirmed April 25. Little Rock-based University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences suspended its cardiac surgery program as it works to replace retired lead surgeon Gareth Tobler, MD, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The temporary shutdown began April 30, just days after Dr. Tobler retired. Christopher Westfall, MD, interim dean of the UAMS College of Medicine, and Richard Turnage, MD, vice chancellor for clinical programs and CEO of Little Rock-based UAMS Medical Center, told medical staff via email May 2 the decision to suspend the program was "made in the interest of safety for our patients, even though there have been no safety events or concerns," according to the report. They said it was "due to inadequate surgery coverage" following Dr. Tobler's retirement. The email to medical staff stated UAMS officials are working to replace Dr. Tobler and "reopen the surgical program with coverage from local cardiac surgeons" amid those efforts, reports the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. There is one cardiac surgeon who works part time at UAMS, in addition to working at John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock, according to the report. However, UAMS spokesperson Leslie Taylor told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the program was suspended because "UAMS didn't think it was feasible for this surgeon to work part time at UAMS and at the VA and also be on call 24 hours a day to provide coverage for cardiac surgery." She told the publication some cardiac surgery patients will be diverted to other Little Rock hospitals. She noted UAMS can still perform other procedures such as cardiac Cath and stents, and that UAMS College of Medicine's teaching program is not affected by the temporary cardiac surgery program shutdown. More articles on physician integration issues: Why a Google engineer left Silicon Valley to attend USC Keck medical school 4 Harvard Medical School physicians elected to National Academy of Sciences NYU surgeon resigns following investigation into alleged inappropriate relationships with patients Family Physician Danielle Roberts, DO, who is accused of branding women in a New York-based "sex cult," previously worked at Milwaukee-based Columbia St. Mary's Hospital and two of its affiliates as recently as last summer, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Dr. Roberts allegedly took part in the controversial self-help group Nxivm, in which some female members were brainwashed by founder Keith Raniere, branded with his initials and forced to have sex with him. A criminal complaint against Mr. Raniere alleges he created a system for women to advance in the group by serving as "slaves" to male "masters." Members of the group identified Dr. Roberts as the physician who branded them in the pubic area with a cauterizing iron as part of a ritualistic induction to the highest level of the group. Four people held each woman down during the procedure and no anesthesia was used. Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, which is owned by Ascension Wisconsin, never employed Dr. Roberts instead, she worked for a staffing agency that provided the hospital with temporary workers. "As soon as we learned of her alleged behavior in New York, we immediately notified the placement agency and revoked approval of Danielle Roberts for any future assignments at any of our sites of care," Caryn Kaufman, a spokeswoman for Ascension Wisconsin, told the Journal Sentinel. That agency, CHG Healthcare, said it wasn't aware of the allegations facing Dr. Roberts. It placed her at three separate facilities St. Mary's, Columbia St. Mary's Ozaukee in Mequon (Wis.) and Milwaukee-based Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Hospital. CHG Healthcare's Senior Public Relations Manager Spencer Sutherland said Dr. Roberts worked in the Wisconsin hospitals from October 2012 to November 2013 and from March 2016 to July 2017. During one of those stints, she treated a 57-year-old patient named Damon Dorsey. Mr. Dorsey said during his stay, Dr. Roberts told him about an "amazing guy" leading seminars in New York, and Dr. Roberts gave him her business card. Thrown back by her "disheveled appearance" and "hazy" way of operating, Mr. Dorsey searched Dr. Roberts on Google and found her tied to Mr. Raniere and the cult, as well as the brandings. He filed a complaint with the hospital but hasn't heard anything since. According to the Journal Sentinel, it does not appear St. Mary's forwarded the complaint to state regulators. "The department has not received a complaint against Ms. Danielle D. Roberts, nor is there an active investigation with the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board," Kirsten Reader, assistant deputy secretary a the Department of Safety and Professional Services in Wisconsin, told the publication. While Dr. Roberts' Wisconsin medical license expired in February, she is still credentialed in New York, where state officials are expected to recommend changes to the state's process of reviewing complaints against physicians. More articles on hospital-physician relationships: New Jersey court rules physician board, hospital can be sued separately: 4 notes NYU medical school student dies by suicide weeks before obtaining MD degree Nemours launches pediatric residency program From a physician charged with involuntary manslaughter to a former hospital CEO indicted in a $1M fraud scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines. 1. Physician charged in accidental shooting death of orthopedic sales representative Adam Lazzarini, MD, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of a CrossLink Orthopaedics sales representative Oct. 9, 2017. 2. 4 found guilty in insider trading case linked to CMS Two former CMS officials and two partners at a New York City-based hedge fund were found guilty of insider trading charges May 3. 3. Former finance director gets prison time for stealing $3.9M from UNC hospital The former finance director for High Point (N.C.) Regional Hospital, part of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health Care, was sentenced May 3 to 8.5 years in prison for embezzling $3.9 million from the hospital. 4. Ex-Florida hospital CEO indicted in $1M scheme A 28-count indictment unsealed May 2 charges the former CEO of Blountstown, Fla.-based Calhoun Liberty Hospital with defrauding the hospital of more than $1 million over a five-year period. 5. Court decides Envision, UnitedHealthcare must arbitrate: 4 things to know A district court tossed Nashville, Tenn.-based Envision Healthcare's lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare, effectively compelling the parties to resolve their dispute through arbitration. 6. Healthcare activists sue Maine's HHS over idled Medicaid expansion Maine advocacy groups, including the Maine Primary Care Association and Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care, filed a lawsuit against Republican Gov. Paul LePage's administration, alleging the state's executive branch disregarded voter-approved Medicaid expansion. 7. Northwell Health nurse arrested for allegedly stealing $34k worth of medical devices from ICU A nurse who worked for Manhasset, N.Y.-based North Shore University Hospital, part of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, was arrested for allegedly stealing $34,000 worth of medical devices from a surgical intensive care unit. 8. Chicagoland physician misuses patient information, indicted for insurance fraud Pranav Patel, MD, owner of Palos Medical Care in Palos Heights, Ill., was charged April 27 with insurance fraud after billing Medicare and a private insurer $1 million for nonexistent treatments. 9. Former Sparrow Carson executive claims she was fired for reporting substandard medical care Carson City, Mich.-based Sparrow Carson Hospital officials announced the departure of the hospital's Chief Nursing Officer and COO Barb McQuillan, BSN, RN, in March, but declined to say why. In a whistle-blower lawsuit filed April 25, Ms. McQuillan claims she was fired for reporting quality of care issues at the hospital. 10. Florida surgery center director accused of stealing hospital supplies, selling on eBay The director of administration for Melbourne (Fla.) Same Day Surgery Center was arrested for allegedly stealing and selling thousands of dollars worth of hospital equipment. 11. Former St. Dominic Hospital employee charged with stealing patient information, faces up to 10 years in prison A former Jackson, Miss.-based St. Dominic Hospital employee was arrested April 25 for allegedly stealing a patient's money and banking information. 12. Supreme court ruling aids uninsured Texans in disputing high hospital bills Uninsured patients in Texas could have an easier time challenging excessive hospital bills in light of an April 27 ruling from the Texas Supreme Court. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Veteran claims he was denied service at Texas hospital because of service dog 3 former nurses at New York jail file lawsuit alleging they were forced to falsify medical records Proposed bill may prevent Sutter Health from terminating services at California hospital Two former CMS officials and two partners at a New York City-based hedge fund were found guilty of insider trading charges May 3, according to Reuters. In May 2017, prosecutors charged the four men with partaking in an insider trading scheme based on leaks from CMS between 2009 and 2014. On May 3, 2018, former CMS official Christopher Worrall was convicted of wire fraud and conversion of government property for allegedly leaking tips to David Blaszczak, another former CMS official and the founder of political consulting firm Precipio Health Strategies. Mr. Worrall's tips included information about upcoming reimbursement changes under federal insurance programs, including cuts to radiation cancer and dialysis treatment payments, Reuters reports. According to prosecutors' indictment, Mr. Blaszczak then passed the information on to Deerfield Management partners Rob Olan and Ted Huber, who used the intel to make profitable trades on companies affected by the changes. The scheme concerned companies like Accuray, Varian Medical Systems, DaVita Healthcare Partners, NxStage Medical and Fresenius Medical Care. In addition to Mr. Worrall's guilty verdict, a jury in Manhattan federal court convicted Mr. Olan, Mr. Huber and Mr. Blaszczak of counts including wire fraud, securities fraud and conversion of government property, Reuters reports. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Court decides Envision, UnitedHealthcare must arbitrate: 4 things to know Florida surgery center director accused of stealing hospital supplies, selling on eBay Former Dartmouth-Hitchcock chaplain sues hospital, alleging discrimination A 28-count indictment unsealed May 2 charges the former CEO of Blountstown, Fla.-based Calhoun Liberty Hospital with defrauding the hospital of more than $1 million over a five-year period, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Phillip E. Hill Jr. resigned as Calhoun Liberty's CEO in 2015 due to "management differences." About a month after he resigned, the new administration of the hospital allegedly found bookkeeping irregularities. They accused Mr. Hill of creating fake invoices for payments to Southeastern Medical Supply, a Tallahassee, Fla.-based shell company Mr. Hill allegedly created to embezzle funds from the hospital between 2010 and 2015. Those same allegations appear in the indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Panama City. The indictment also alleges Mr. Hill created fake invoices charging the hospital prices exceeding what was actually paid for medical supplies ordered from vendors, according to the report. "Southeastern was a sham business that provided no medical supplies and existed only as a name associated with a bank account, a UPS mailbox and invoices [Mr. Hill] submitted to the hospital," U.S. attorneys wrote in the indictment. Mr. Hill is charged with 24 counts of wire fraud and four counts of filing false income taxes. His trial is scheduled for July 2. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Court decides Envision, UnitedHealthcare must arbitrate: 4 things to know 5 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements 3 former nurses at New York jail file lawsuit alleging they were forced to falsify medical records The former finance director for High Point (N.C.) Regional Hospital, part of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health Care, was sentenced May 3 to 8.5 years in prison for embezzling $3.9 million from the hospital, according to the Department of Justice. Kimberly Hobson worked in the accounting and finance department at High Point Regional Hospital for more than 20 years, most recently as finance director. She was fired after the hospital discovered her embezzlement in July 2017, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. Ms. Hobson was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. She pleaded guilty in February. Over a 10-year period, Ms. Hobson wrote checks to herself and her family members, which were deposited in her personal bank account. She also sent payments from hospital accounts to her personal loans and credit cards, used a hospital-issued credit card for personal expenses, and substituted her bank account for the direct deposit accounts of nine other employees, according to the DOJ. "Today's stiff sentence serves notice that white collar criminals will be brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin of the Middle District of North Carolina. "Thank you to the law enforcement officers with the Department of Treasury, U.S. Secret Service, Guilford County Sheriff's Department, and High Point Police Department who have worked diligently to uncover Ms. Hobson's fraud and seek restitution for the hospital." More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Court decides Envision, UnitedHealthcare must arbitrate: 4 things to know 5 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements 3 former nurses at New York jail file lawsuit alleging they were forced to falsify medical records In first-of-their-kind lawsuits filed across five states, prescription opioid makers and distributors are being targeted for an increase in health insurance premiums, Bloomberg reports. Here are six things to know. 1. The suits seek unspecified damages for people who purchased health insurance policies in those five states going back to 1996. The suits open another front in litigation against several large drugmakers, including Purdue Pharma and the Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit of Johnson & Johnson and distributors such as McKesson Corp. and Cardinal Health. 2. "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 alleged in a May 2 complaint filed in Boston. 3. The plaintiffs' lawyer Travis Lenkner Similar said similar cases have popped up in New Jersey, New York, Illinois and California, and a group of firms he works with considers these suits to be the first over insurance premiums. 4. The companies are accused of conspiring, racketeering and creating a public nuisance. Since 1999, opioid abuse has killed over 350,000 people, costing private businesses and governmental bodies roughly $500 billion each year, Bloomberg noted. 5. Additionally, the Boston suit named opioid manufacturers as defendants, including Teva Pharmaceuticals and AmerisourceBergen. The drug manufacturers said they are attempting to address the opioid crisis. 6. "Our actions in the marketing and promotion of these medicines were appropriate and responsible," Janssen Pharmaceuticals said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. "The allegations made against our company are baseless and unsubstantiated." Purdue Pharma and McKesson Corp. officials expressed concern over opioid abuse and noted their individual efforts to help solve the issue, according to Bloomberg. St. David's South Austin (Texas) Medical Center cancelled and rescheduled all nonemergency surgeries May 3 due to a power outage, reports the American-Statesman. The loss of power occurred around 9 a.m. when an electrical panel board malfunctioned. Electricians were called to the scene to restore power. The hospital promptly engaged backup generators to ensure staff could continue to provide quality care. However, out of an abundance of caution, nonemergent surgeries were rescheduled. "The hospital has generators to provide an alternative source of power, and the safety of our patients was not compromised at any time," the medical center's CEO Todd Steward said in a statement to the American-Statesman. Coalinga (Calif.) Regional Medical Center permanently closed its emergency department May 3 as a result of staffing shortages, reports the Fresno Bee. While the ED closed over staffing concerns, the hospital's 99-bed skilled nursing facility and rural health clinic are still open, Terry Murphy, RN, Coalinga's director of patient services, told the Fresno Bee. The ED closure comes days after the hospital board of directors voted to close the entire hospital, including the skilled nursing facility and rural health clinic, by June 15 because of significant financial losses. Coalinga CEO Wayne Allen said in a statement regarding the hospital closure, "some healthcare services may close earlier than the pending closure date because employee/physician staffing and vendor support may not be available." The ED closure is part of this. The nearest ED to the Coalinga hospital is Adventist Health in Hanford, Calif., which is 40 miles away. The FDA confirmed raw oysters harvested in British Columbia, Canada, and transported to parts of Canada as well as the U.S. are linked to an outbreak of the norovirus infection. The potentially contaminated raw oysters were distributed to Alaska, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Washington. The California Department of Public Health also issued a warning noting as of April 27 around 100 people reported illness after consuming raw oysters exported from Canada. Laboratory testing confirmed several people have contracted the norovirus infection in both Canada and California. The norovirus infection typically causes diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. Symptoms can begin 12 to 48 hours after the infection is contracted. The FDA warned restaurants and retailers against selling the potentially affected raw oysters. It also suggested people avoid eating any raw oysters. When nurses' workload exceed "optimal" levels, the chances of a patient safety incident increased by up to roughly 30 percent and the chances of patient mortality spiked by around 40 percent, according to a study published in BMJ Open. The research marks the first study to analyze the relationship between nurse workload and patient outcomes on a daily basis. The researchers gathered data from 36 units in four Finnish hospitals with information on nursing workload, staffing, patient safety incidents and mortality rates. The data was collected daily over one year. Depending on the type of patient safety incident, when nursing workload exceeded the "optimal" level, the risk of incident increased by 8 percent to 32 percent; the risk of patient mortality increased by 43 percent if workload exceeded this level. The study revealed when workload dropped below that level, leaving nurses with more time to care for patients, the risks of a safety incident was approximately 25 percent lower. Although numerous studies demonstrate the potentially harmful effect that insufficient nurse staffing has on patient care, the study authors argued some results are "inconsistent" and the connection between how staffing affects mortality and patient safety is not always easy to determine. However, through the analysis of daily information on nurse staffing and safety, the researchers said it would be possible to determine any connections with more certainty. "We found evidence that a staffing measure based on daily measurements of individual patient care needs and the recommended nursing workload is slightly better in predicting incidents and mortality rates, as compared to the standard patient-to-nurse ratio," the study authors wrote. Still, the authors emphasized how it remained unclear which method was able to best avoid patient safety incidents and deaths. To determine this, the authors said larger studies over a longer period of time are necessary. A Maine bill that aims to increase drug pricing transparency became law on April 30, according to a STAT report. Here are four things to know about the bill. 1. The bill, LD 1406, is sponsored by Maine Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic. 2. It calls for greater transparency with respect to prescription drug development expenses, according to a Maine Senate news release. It is also meant to be an information source for lawmakers. 3. LD 1406, as amended, directs the Maine Health Data Organization "to collect and report on the top 25 prescription drugs that are the most frequently prescribed in the state, the most costly, and have the highest year-over-year increase in total spending," the release states. The MDHO subsequently must establish a plan for data collection from manufacturers, and provide Maine lawmakers with an annual report on prescription drug prices. Submission of the first report is expected in April 2019. 4. Maine's drug pricing transparency law will take affect in approximately three months after the legislative session ends. More articles on supply chain: McKesson adds Medtronic exec as independent director: 4 takeaways FDA approves first drug for rare form of rickets: 3 things to know Ascension forms global supply chain company with Australian hospital operator: 8 things to know A new resource provides consumers with a myriad of information on West Virginia hospitals, including events and job openings, according to NCWV Media. Here are four things to know about the resource. 1. The resource is a website called HospitalSmart. 2. A West Virginia Hospital Association initiative, HospitalSmart is designed to be a "one-stop shop for healthcare consumers," WVHA President and CEO Joseph M. Letnaunchyn said, according to the report. 3. Through the website, consumers may view information about an individual facility, including quality data from CMS, as well as a general pricing description, available jobs at individual facilities, and upcoming community healthcare events at hospitals statewide. It also features a healthcare careers quiz to help people determine the occupation they may best be suited for. 4. Seventy facilities participate in the website, and job postings and events are removed as they expire, according to the report. Explore the website here. More articles on workforce: Nursing schools reject thousands of applicants amid shortage Mercy Health to host job fair for RNs and other healthcare workers Poll: 81% of medical practices do a formal employee performance evaluation for all positions Referral patterns of musculoskeletal extremity imaging examinations to radiologists vary by specialty. Orthopedic surgeons are leading the pack, according to a study in the American Journal of Roentgenology. Here are three things to know. 1. The researchers used the 2014 Medicare Referring Provider Utilization for Procedures public-use file to obtain data on provider referrals for imaging. 2. In total, providers ordered 4,275,671 MSK extremity imaging examinations. Here are the specialties who most commonly ordered the imaging. Orthopedic surgery: 37.6 percent Internal medicine: 20.2 percent Family practice: 14.8 percent Emergency medicine: 7.9 percent Rheumatology: 5.7 percent 3. Orthopedic surgeons also more frequently ordered other imaging, including: MSK extremity CT: 33,465 examinations compared to 2,000 examinations for all other specialties combined MRI: 325,485 examinations compared to 20,000 examinations for all other specialties combined Radiography: 1,249,748 examinations compared to 850,000 examinations for all other specialties combined More articles on imaging: 1st Orange County hospital performs total knee replacement with Mako System: 4 things to know Mobius Imaging's Airo Mobile CT Imaging System receives FDA clearance: 3 highlights Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center adopts Modus V for neurosurgical imaging: 4 insights Globus Medical reported an 11.9 percent increase in worldwide sales for the first quarter of 2018. Here are five things to know. 1. Worldwide sales increased 11.9 percent to $174.4 million for the quarter. The company also reported $12.8 million in revenue from emerging technologies, partially due to demand for the Company's ExcelsiusGPS robotics navigation system. 2. First quarter U.S. sales were up 12.3 percent while international sales soared 10.1 percent. 3. Globus Medical generated net cash provided by operating activities of $52.3 million for the quarter; cash, cash equivalents and market securities hit $473.6 million, while the company is debt free. 4. U.S. spine business grew 4 percent in the first quarter over the same period last year on a day-adjusted basis. 5. The company plans to invest heavily in imaging, navigations, robotics and trauma in the future. Globus increased full year sales guidance from $690 million to $695 million. "We are pleased with our first quarter performance, not only the continued excitement among surgeons and hospitals about ExcelsiusGPS but also the above market growth we achieved in the U.S. with our core spine business and the solid operational improvements we saw in several important international markets," said CEO Dave Demski. Within the past week, Savannah, Ga.-based Memorial University Medical Center laid off 85 employees, WTVM reports. Here are three takeaways. 1. Along with the 85-person layoff, the hospital is shifting other team members into new roles focused on direct care delivery. 2. A spokesperson with the hospital's parent, Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America, said Memorial Health is looking to hire 200 employees for patient care roles. 3. The hospital is currently making a push to focus on its centers of excellence for children, cancer, heart, joint, spine, minimally invasive surgery and emergency care. Here are eight orthopedic surgeons who recently joined new practices or took on new positions in April. Brian Seng, DO, joined Arthritis & Total Joint Specialists at its Woodstock, Ga., location. The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation tapped Michael Parks, MD, to serve as president. Foot & Ankle Specialists of West Michigan hired Katherine Sage, DO. Orthopedic surgeon and State Rep. Knute Buehler, MD, R-Ore., beat Greg Wooldridge by one vote in a gubernatorial straw poll held by the Washington County Republican Party. Orthopedic surgeon Firas Kawtharani, MD, joined Liberal, Kan.-based Southwest Medical Center. Jamestown, N.Y.-based Great Lakes Physician Practice welcomed orthopedic surgeons James Fitzgerald, MD, and Brian Mata, MD. Huntington, W.Va.-based Marshall University named Chad Lavender, MD, as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Bombardier in Belfast makes the centre fuselage for the CRJ900 jets Aerospace giant Bombardier has won a contract with American Airlines worth a potential 1bn for 30 regional jets which are part-made in Belfast. The $1.4bn deal is the latest good news for the Canadian firm's Northern Ireland workforce of around 4,500 after it won a US legal challenge by rival Boeing over a separate order for its C Series jets. The complete centre fuselage for the CRJ900 is manufactured in Belfast. American Airlines has placed a firm order for 15 of the planes with the option to buy 15 more. Bombardier said the firm deal was worth $719m (528.9m). East Belfast DUP MP Gavin Robinson said the order was a huge boost for the company and its Belfast plant. "Whilst the focus has been mainly on the more recent C-Series planes it is important to recognise the other aircraft which are still being manufactured and sold," he said. "These all contribute to the success of the company. "There have been a number of recent orders secured by Bombardier and I hope this is a sign of things to come." The deal was announced as Bombardier revealed a 12% increase in revenues for the start of 2018 to $4bn. Fred Cromer, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said: "We are pleased with American's continued confidence in Bombardier and the CRJ900 aircraft. "This order is a testament to the tremendous value that the CRJ Series provides to airlines in the North American regional market." Bombardier's first quarter results also revealed that a tie-in with rival Airbus is expected to be signed before the end of June, ahead of schedule. The companies announced a deal last year for a joint venture for the production of the C Series, a narrow-bodied passenger jet. Its wings are made in Belfast - and under the proposed deal, the complete jet will be assembled at a new Airbus plant in Alabama in the US. Alain Bellemare, president and chief executive of Bombardier, said: "We continue to deliver on our financial commitments and make solid progress executing our growth programmes and strategic initiatives." The CRJ900 deal was welcomed by Sinn Fein councillor Mairead O'Donnell, chair of Belfast City Council's growth and regeneration committee. She said: "Bombardier is a huge employer here and is a massive part of our economy, so today's news that they have secured a $719m deal to sell up to 30 of its CRJ900 jets to American Airlines will be welcomed by many in Belfast and across the north." Last year Boeing had complained about Bombardier selling its C Series jets to Delta Airlines below cost price. The US Department of Commerce recommended a near 300% punitive duty on sales of the jets for five years, putting around 1,000 jobs in Belfast at risk. But the International Trade Commission (ITC) in the US ruled against Boeing and in favour of Bombardier in January. A father has said he was heartbroken to learn his son was effectively barred from applying for a Border Force job in Northern Ireland that he could apply for anywhere else in the UK. Anyone from England, Scotland or Wales who doesn't have the necessary two A-levels or Border Force experience can still apply for the jobs in Northern Ireland if they have served in the police or armed forces. That criteria, however, has not been included for Northern Ireland applicants. The Home Office dropped the criteria here after advice from the Equality Commission. It advised the Home Office that a potential candidate from the Catholic community without a military or law enforcement background could argue the criteria was not justified as their community's experience in those areas was "considerably smaller than the proportion of the Protestant community". But the father of a Northern Ireland man who served in the Navy for 10 years said he was shocked at learning his son was barred from applying for the job. "Whether he got the job or not is a different matter," said the man who asked not to be named over security concerns. "The simple fact is if he lived in Plymouth, Glasgow or Cardiff he could apply but not if he lived in Belfast. "They are good well-paid jobs with good terms and conditions and pensions which are hard to come by. "My son doesn't want to leave Northern Ireland. It is his home and he has family here. He was based all over the world with the Navy and is now settled - but why should he leave? "It's just heartbreaking and unfair but farcical. The deadline is May 7, so he has probably lost out." Last month the Home Office was forced into a climbdown over a requirement for Border Force applicants to hold a British passport. Following criticism that it excluded Irish passport holders in Northern Ireland, it said the inclusion of the requirement was an error. The positions were re-advertised, with only a valid passport needed. TUV leader Jim Allister accused the Home Office of replacing one form of discrimination with another. "It's totally unacceptable," he said. "It's scandalous that this even needs to be raised with HM Government, particularly given the remarkable work the security forces did in this part of the UK in dealing with 30 years of terrorism. "It is a gross insult to all who served in HM's forces. An Equality Commission spokeswoman said: "We stressed the importance of ensuring employers in Northern Ireland comply with the requirements placed on them by equality legislation. We referred to the commission's guidance and particularly to fair employment requirements. "We advised Border Force of our concerns in relation to the relevance of the experience criteria, given that it is not essential for applicants to have this experience and that training is provided for all appointees. In addition, we discussed the need for objective justification of all criterion. "The commission also advised of the potential for individuals to take complaints under the various equality statutes should they feel that any aspects of the recruitment process may discriminate against them, either directly or indirectly." From left: Ciaran and John OHagan from the firm with Bill Montgomery of Invest NI Northern Ireland's Specialist Joinery Group is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a 5m factory extension and the creation of 52 jobs. This is the second major investment in the past five years by the family business, which carries out work for high-end clients including hotels. As part of a major 1m contract, it manufactured a replica staircase from the Titanic for a themed hotel in Liverpool. It also worked on the Lough Eske resort in Donegal. Now it is adding features like a gym and 'breakout' areas to its factory. Founder and chairman John Bosco O'Hagan said: "The business has grown rapidly since our last major investment in 2013, resulting in the need for more capacity to meet our customers' needs. "We remain intensely export-focused as well as maintaining our position as a market leader on the island of Ireland." Mr O'Hagan said the company, which has around 120 staff, had worked for law firms, pharma companies and hospitals, and for famous companies such as Estee Lauder, Google, Rolls-Royce, AECOM and Amazon. "We view this latest extension as a critical investment in the group's growth and development. We have built our brand reputation purely on people and the quality and service they deliver," he said. "This project is foremost an investment in our people and their ability to provide world class joinery and the ultimate client experience. "As our team grows, we will work hard to maintain this family culture. New additions of a staff gym, extensive breakout areas and 150-seater staff restaurant to Specialist HQ will further enhance our capability to recruit and retain the best talent in the industry." In its latest accounts Specialist Joinery Fittings Ltd reported pre-tax profits of 0.9m on sales of 16.7m. Invest NI is providing funding of 470,000 towards the investment, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Bill Montgomery, Invest NI's director of advanced manufacturing and engineering, said: "Specialist Joinery Group is an established and growing manufacturing business which has positioned itself as the preferred supplier for large scale projects across a range of sectors. "We are delighted to have been working alongside the business for a number of years. This investment and expansion of the company headquarters will help ensure it can continue to successfully compete for larger scale projects with shorter timescales. "The creation of new manufacturing jobs is always positive news. We would like to congratulate Specialist Joinery Group on its 30th anniversary in business and wish the company continued success." The firm's operation was described by Invest NI as a "highly advanced and efficient manufacturing facility". The Ulster Youth Orchestra is among a series of groups to be awarded grants by a charity set up by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. A total of 22 grants have been awarded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation to support emerging artists and the provision of music education and performing arts training. The grants, totalling 630,060, have been given to projects across the UK and beyond. They include the Ulster Youth Orchestra in Northern Ireland. It has been awarded 45,000 over three years, and will enhance the provision at their annual summer residency for 86 talented musicians aged 14 to 23. Other recipients include the National Theatre Wales, The Prince's Foundation and Royal Court Theatre. Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "This latest round of grants reflects my passion for the importance of arts education, increasing diversity on and off stage and ensuring that the next generation is equipped to champion and preserve our heritage. "Many of the projects require matched funding and I urge other philanthropists, foundations and government to recognise the benefits and step up to support the life-enhancing effects of the arts and heritage." Capybara babies explore the surroundings at Belfast Zoo with their parents Belfast Zoo needs your help to name its new arrivals. The zoo recently announced the birth of two capybaras on April 2 and wants the public to help choose their names. Keepers are allowing the two newborns and their mother time to bond and therefore don't yet know the gender of the young animals. Belfast Zoo has asked for the names to be gender neutral. Capybaras are the largest rodent in the world and look remarkably like giant guinea pigs. The scientific name for this species (hydrochaeris) is Greek for 'water hog'. The capybara is a semi-aquatic mammal and is found on Central and South American riverbanks, beside ponds and in marshes. You can submit your suggestions for names giving the reason for your choice at www.belfastzoo.co.uk. Nicole Kidman in How to Talk to Girls at Parties Director John Cameron Mitchell reunites with his Rabbit Hole star Nicole Kidman for quirky drama How To Talk To Girls At Parties. He tells Laura Harding about dressing up the actress in a huge black and white wig, running lines during the interval of her West End play and why we need punk in modern times more than ever. Croydon in 1977 is probably the last place you would expect to find Nicole Kidman. And yet there she is, unexpectedly wearing a huge ragged black and white wig, dressed in a ragged tuxedo, with a silver key dangling from her neck, black eyeliner slashed across her face. The actress plays the imperiously named punk matriarch Queen Boadicea in How To Talk To Girls At Parties, the new film from Hedwig And The Angry Inch creator John Cameron Mitchell. "I don't think she saw the wig until the day," he says. "It was very last minute. She had just won the Evening Standard theatre award on the West End for Photograph 51." The film is a reunion for Kidman and Mitchell after he directed her in the 2010 drama Rabbit Hole. The Australian star was so keen to do the part, she rehearsed with her old pal during the intervals of the play. "It was hard for her to schedule it, but it was just a six-day thing and she was very game," says Mitchell. "She just said, 'Do it like you would, do the character out loud, and I will just copy you', so that was how she learned it. "I was being my version of Malcolm McLaren meets Vivienne Westwood with some sort of indeterminate east London/Australian accent, and that is what it was. "This role runs the gamut of what she has. I've never seen her do a role like this where she's nasty and dirty and her fingers are never clean!" That Mitchell would think of her for such an unusual role came as something as a surprise for Kidman. "John is one of my dearest friends and I adore him," she says. "I was in London in a play and he said, 'I've got this cameo role for you', and I said, 'Yes of course, I'll do anything for you, my John.' "I love that he's bold and he just tries things." "I play the punk mother figure and represent the anarchy of the era. "I love that John thought of me, because I would have cast someone different. "As soon as I met with costume designer Sandy Powell and she showed me this look she had for me and I put on the clothes, I thought it was fantastic." Based on the short story by Good Omens author Neil Gaiman, the film focuses on a shy teenage punk rocker who sneaks into a party, meets a group of girls who come from outer space and falls in love with one of them, played by Elle Fanning. "It's a real romance between a punk and alien," Mitchell says. "It's a mixture of cultures and subcultures. Both the aliens and punks are tribes on the fringe in the normal grey 70s world of Croydon. "Neil Gaiman was almost signed to a punk band in 1977 and always wondered what might have happened. In a way this was re-claiming the punk youth I never had and the punk stardom that Neil almost had." The film continues a renegade aesthetic that appears in much of Mitchell's work, from his films Hedwig to Shortbus and even his acting appearances in Girls and The Good Fight. "In everything I do I try to keep in the spirit of do-it-yourself, don't fit in too hard, but also bring in the audience," he says. "I always want my films to be entertaining with other stuff underneath, other themes that you might not expect in a romance like this. "This is by no means a reconstruction of any punk history. This is a punk fairy tale, a teenage romance with an unexpected Brexit theme." Mitchell is convinced that punk could play a role in healing social divides in the modern world. "I usually like to originate material myself, but there was something about this," he says. "It draws on Neil Gaiman's youth as a punk in Croydon and in some ways we need a punk spirit more now than perhaps we did in the '70s because of a feeling of darkness, harshness and doom that's suffusing everyone now. "In the film there is an unexpected discussion of what punk could be in a healthy way for society now which is very much scared of the outsider and frightened about the future. "That was certainly happening in the '70s here and in the US, which is where punk came from, and I think there does need to be a new kind of punk to answer it, which is different from people screaming on social media. "That's not punk, that is actually just screaming, and anger is not necessarily productive if it's just trying to tear down or trying to make you not pure enough. "The danger that punk had was it became conformist very quickly - if you're not this, you're not punk. "That kind of reminds me of the PC police now. You can't use certain words, otherwise you're anathema or insensitive, so you end up with allies tearing each other apart which happened a bit during the late '70s too." How To Talk To Girls At Parties is released in UK cinemas on May 11 Special clinics have been set up to deal with the thousands affected. A barrister has described how he raised serious concerns about neurologist Dr Michael Watt to the General Medical Council (GMC) as far back as 2011. The former patient of Dr Watt, who does not want to be named, brought his complaints to the attention of the medical watchdog after claims the senior neurologist said his "exercise-induced migraine" could be managed with "cold showers after exercise". Read More The private patient claimed Dr Watt misdiagnosed him and he questioned Dr Watt's "fitness to practice medicine" with the GMC. The Belfast Health Trust has claimed that a probe into Dr Watt's work came after concerns were raised by doctors, including a GP, in December 2016. Several patients, however, have come forward to reveal that they made complaints about the consultant some five years prior to that. Thousands of Dr Watt's patients have been recalled over concerns about the diagnosis and treatment provided by the senior consultant. Neurology patients with complex, debilitating and life-altering conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's to motor neurone disease are at the centre of the case review. Dr Watt (56) is still an employee of the trust, but has not seen patients since June last year. The barrister, who lives near Londonderry, was referred to Dr Watt in October 2011 after MRI scans revealed white matter lesions on his brain. "These were very significant changes and I was concerned to find out what was causing them," the patient said. "I was referred to Dr Watt privately in the Hillsborough clinic and my GP letter explained to him that I was there for a consultation because of all these white lesions on my brain. "Dr Watt conducted a short consultation for about 25 minutes with us. "He very quickly started telling me I had exercise-induced migraine and that it would be best managed with cold showers after exercise. "He presented me with a diagnosis without doing a single thing. He was talking about exercise-induced migraine within five or six minutes of the consultation. "He didn't discuss previous investigations or future investigations - it was really bizarre." A few days after the consultation the patient wrote to Dr Watt to raise concerns about the medical advice he was provided with. "I checked the exercise-induced migraine and his diagnosis had no basis whatsoever and the idea that cold water could be used to cure a degenerative brain condition was fantastical," he added. The Derry man also complained to the GMC and gave a description of his consultation with Dr Watt, including the diagnosis and advice. The GMC began a preliminary process and following a number of enquiries it found that Dr Watt's consultation was "less than desirable" but said that "a warning would be disproportionate". "I had to move on and I needed properly investigated," he added. "I sent my MRI scans to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and I was told there were 64 white matter lesions and they recommended I travel there and be checked by the head of stroke services. "I flew to the United States and within two days they identified a half inch hole in my heart and that was repaired in March 2012." He was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect (ASD) - a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of the heart. After spending almost 50,000 on medical costs, the patient contacted the GMC to make it aware of his diagnosis. The GMC said: "We are aware of the concerns and will be working closely with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust as reviews take place. "It would be inappropriate to comment further while a patient recall is under way." Pamela Wilson, who was a patient of Dr Michael Watts, with the letters she received from him for NHS and private treatment A woman has said she contacted Belfast Health Trust to complain about Dr Michael Watt four years ago - despite its medical director's assertion that there was "no red flag" over the neurologist's work in the last seven years. Pamela Wilson (60) wrote a letter to medical director Dr Cathy Jack in May 2014 about an abnormal brain scan result while in the care of consultant neurologist Dr Watt, who is currently at the centre of Northern Ireland's biggest patient recall. Read More So concerned was the mother-of-three by the frightening Alzheimer's/dementia diagnosis of November 2013 that she raised her concerns by letter again in September 2014. Mrs Wilson was being treated by Mr Watt at the Royal Victoria Hospital and as a private patient at the Ulster Independent Clinic. She has now been told she must wait for the results of an "independent review" in respect of her complaint before she'll get any answers - or a proper written medical diagnosis of her debilitating illness. On Wednesday, Dr Jack told the BBC: "We've reviewed our complaints over the last seven years and there is no red flag in relation to the complaints and in particular none around his diagnosis and treatments." But last night the Belfast Trust said that no complaints made by patients regarding Dr Watt were seen as "red flag" issues. "Most doctors receive complaints from time to time, some of which may be about diagnosis and treatment pathways," it said in a statement. "We take every complaint very seriously and they are thoroughly and fully investigated through a robust complaints procedure. "Dr Cathy Jack was completely accurate in her explanation. "Any complaints received regarding Dr Watt (of which there were few) were fully investigated and did not raise any areas of concern." Speaking at her south Belfast home, Mrs Wilson said her life has been on hold for almost a decade after "a completely life-changing seizure and stroke that have never been addressed. I'm in horrendous pain all the time. Without a proper diagnosis I've been battling for the last nine years to survive," she said. "I'm just stuck. My condition has deteriorated and I haven't been able to take any medication since I had the stroke and seizure in 2009." Mrs Wilson said the 2013 scan result she complained about suggested damage throughout her brain which was likened to dementia and Alzheimer's, but did not rule out Lewy body dementia. "That's a heck of a diagnosis to be just left with," she said. "You can see by my letter that I wrote directly to Dr Cathy Jack about Dr Watt." Mrs Wilson said that her ongoing health problems began after she was prescribed benzodiazepine medication following an accident in 1981. She subsequently spent thousands of pounds on private appointments with Dr Watt, during which time she also endured painful medical procedures. After receiving the worrying brain scan results in November 2013, Mrs Wilson said she has been afraid to leave the house staying at home, at times disabled for months at a time. "It's terrifying; I have to carry a folder when I go out in case I collapse again and end up in hospital, because when I go in and they look at my notes there's nothing constructive there," she said. Meanwhile, this newspaper has also seen a letter sent by Dr Watt from the Ulster Independent Clinic to Mrs Wilson's doctor in which he offers a different explanation for her ill-health. He states: "On reviewing her story from the start, I feel that she may well have had spontaneous intracranial hypotension all along and that she might well benefit from a lumbar epidural blood patch." Mrs Wilson said that this particular procedure - which she had in September 2016 - was the worst experience of her life. "It was brutal... it was absolutely horrendous," she said. "The pressure was so bad in my spinal cord and my brain I could taste and spit the blood and it was coming down my nose... and I have been absolutely tortured since. "You're supposed to lie down for a while after the operation and then go home but I was in for eight days. There are times I can't talk, I can't swallow, my vision is dreadfully affected. "My movement is the worst thing; all my muscles are dreadfully affected." She added: "I've been in a neurology ward between eight and 16 days on eight occasions - and still no-one can tell me what is wrong with me." A spokesperson for the Ulster Independent Clinic said that it didn't comment on individual cases. Locals from the Markets area of Belfast outside court yesterday Approving a new 55m office development beside inner city homes in Belfast unlawfully breached residents' rights to privacy, the High Court has heard. Lawyers representing the Markets community claimed buildings up to 14 storeys high would be invasive and overshadow homes in the area. They also contended that those who gave the green light to the construction were misinformed and failed to properly assess the impact on the area. Liam McCollum QC contended: "We say the decision clearly falls to be quashed." Proceedings were issued against Belfast City Council after it accepted a planning application for the development at Stewart Street and East Bridge Street, near Central Station. The 26,000 square metre office block is expected to create 350 construction jobs and generate permanent employment for 2,500 people. But more than 200 households in the adjoining neighbourhood have objected to it being given the go-ahead. They insist it will seriously impact on their right to privacy and quality of life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. One resident, Elizabeth Conlon, has brought the challenge on behalf of a wider group within the Markets community. An office tower on such a scale is in stark contrast to the traditional two-storey social housing in the area and inconsistent with its sense of community spirit, according to their case. Mr McCollum alleged the decision was ill-informed, misinformed and inconsistent with planning history on the site. Further points centred on the impact and legal status following a separate case connected to the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP). Those proceedings resulted in BMAP being left in draft form. The hearing continues. Stuart Hill (left) and his brother Jason died in a helicopter crash A fatal helicopter crash left two brothers so badly burned that investigators mistakenly identified their remains, an autopsy report has revealed. Stuart and Jason Hill, aged 30 and 32, suffered burns to 100% of their bodies after the Airbus EC130 B4 plummeted into a ball of fire at the Grand Canyon on February 10. The pair had been sitting together in the aircraft before the crash which killed five Britons in the Arizona tourist attraction. "After the remains were returned to England, DNA testing established the identity of these remains as being those of Stuart Andrew Hill", an autopsy from Mohave County medical examiner's office said. Both reports described the brothers' remains as being so badly burned that neither man was "identifiable by physical features". The men's parents described them as "inseparable" and said they will be "deeply missed by so many, many people". The brothers, from Worthing, West Sussex, were on holiday in the US to celebrate Stuart Hill's 30th birthday with a trip to Las Vegas, and died alongside his 27-year-old girlfriend Becky Dobson. Their friends, honeymooning newlyweds Ellie Milward, from West Sussex, and Jonathan Udall, originally from Southampton, also died in the accident. The parents of Mr Udall are suing the tour operator in a wrongful death lawsuit. According to the lawsuit the couple could have survived if Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and manufacturer Airbus Helicopters had not negligently failed to install a crash-resistant fuel tank. They are also suing pilot Scott Booth, who was left in a critical condition, accusing him of negligence for crashing. Airbus Helicopters has insisted that it is increasing the number of aircraft being built with crash-resistant fuel systems after it was sued. The Catholic Church has rejected plans to build a memorial to victims of the IRAs Poppy Day bombing in Northern Ireland on its land. The sheer size and scale of the proposed construction poses insurmountable problems for access at the proposed site, a diocesan trust in Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh said. A bomb exploded at the towns war memorial in November 1987 and killed 11 people. An alternative monument is due to be completed in a year, but victims said they had been left distraught by the churchs decision. @BBCgmu As a Enniskillen Parishioner I am ashamed of St Michaels Trust. I can confirm that they did not correspond with us during the last 7 months. Sharon Gault (@harringtongault) May 4, 2018 Steven Gault, whose father Samuel died, said: Hurt does not scrape the surface of how we are feeling. He asked: Why cant we have a simple, innocent memorial to remember our loved ones murdered by terrorists 30 years ago? The republican device exploded during a Remembrance Sunday ceremony, which was being held to commemorate British military war dead. Eleven people, many of them old-age pensioners, were killed and 63 were injured. A 12th victim, Ronnie Hill, died after spending 13 years in a coma. Expand Close PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The development was proposed for land owned by St Michaels Diocesan Trust beside the Clinton Centre in Enniskillen. The Trust said: The Trust is not in a position to sanction the siting of this memorial as proposed. We are happy that the re-developed Clinton Centre will include a memorial to the victims of the Enniskillen bombing and the Trust hopes that a suitable location for the Ely Centre memorial will be found. It said it was sensitive to legacy issues surrounding the bomb and had given careful consideration to key questions like public access, obligations to its tenants (the Fermanagh University Partnership Board), the ongoing upkeep, security and sustainability of the memorial and potential future public works in the area. These considerations have made it manifestly clear that the sheer size and scale of the proposed memorial pose insurmountable problems in terms of access at the proposed site. The University of Ulster, Dublin City University and the University of Massachusetts have recently announced plans for regeneration of the Clinton Centre, named after US President Bill Clinton and designed to promote peace building. That work will integrate a memorial to the victims of the horrific attack, the Trust said. Not only does it not make sense to move to place a very large memorial in the proposed location, given the potential refurbishment of the entrance to the Clinton Centre, but we believe that visual and aesthetic considerations arising from the size and scale of the memorial mitigate against positioning it at this location. Mr Gault said he had not been consulted on the Trusts decision but the church said it had not been given details before the memorial was commissioned, resulting in it being unsuited to the site. Mr Gaults wife Sharon tweeted: As a Enniskillen parishioner I am ashamed of St Michaels Trust. I can confirm that they did not correspond with us during the last seven months. The memorial for the victims of the 1987 Enniskillen Poppy Day bomb / Credit: PressEye The Catholic church at the centre of a controversy surrounding where a monument to the victims of the Enniskillen Poppy Day bomb should go has cited a list of reasons for its opposition, with health and safety concerns among them. Relatives of those killed and survivors have asked a memorial be placed as close to the site where the bomb went off in November 1987. Read More In November 2017 a monument to the 12 people killed in the IRA attack was removed from this position hours after its unveiling. The site is owned by the St Michael's Diocesan Trust, which faced criticism following the removal - with speculation the action had been politically motivated. A statement posted to the website of St Michael's Diocesan Trust said it was "mindful of the horror and outrage experienced across the community" caused by the attack, and its objection was based on considerations around public access, maintenance of the monument, and ongoing public works in the centre of Enniskillen. It also noted plans for a monument to victims was included in proposals for the regeneration of the Clinton centre. The Trust said it had been notified by the Ely Centre, a charity focused on helping the victims of the Troubles in Fermanagh and Tyrone, of its intention to place the memorial on the site, but not by the council that planning permission had been granted. Speaking following the removal, survivor Stephen Gault - who lost his father in the attack - claimed the action had taken place due to the presence of a single poppy on the memorial. In its statement, St Michael's Diocesan Trust said it was "very clear" it had "no objection to a permanent memorial being erected to the victims of the Enniskillen bombing" but that "a number of issues would have to be considered and that this would require time". On public access, it says the size of the memorial and footfall from the public makes the location "unsuitable from the point of view of the health and safety of the public". On the upkeep on the monument, the Trust states it can not be assumed the Ely Centre will not "continue to exist in perpetuity to take full responsibility for the ongoing upkeep, security and sustainability of the memorial", and that having the monument in place could prevent any future redevelopment of the site. It also says the monument could interfere with a plans for the redevelopment of Enniskillen town centre, with questions about how this would impact "traffic flows and pedestrian footprint trajectories, together with the location of nearby businesses, schools, public buildings and homes, future streetscape works". Responding to the announcement, Jim Allister said: "I am disappointed by the decision of St Michael's Diocesan Trust to reject the memorial to the Poppy Day Massacre. Having written to Monsignor O'Reilly back In November and having not yet received a reply I am not terribly surprised. It is telling that in the new Belfast Agreement Northern Ireland we have a play park named after a man arrested in possession of a gun used in the Kingsmill Massacre and countless memorials to IRA terrorists, none of which seek planning permission and are allowed to remain unmolested by land owners or the authorities yet we have a church refusing permission for this memorial. It seems the true spirit of Enniskillen is that the victims of the Remembrance Day Massacre cannot be remembered in the open nor can the IRA be named as their murderers. 10 people were gunned down in Ballymurphy in 1971. Credit: PA Images The UVF have claimed Tommy West may have been involved in the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971. The identity of a loyalist paramilitary sniper allegedly responsible for shooting some of 10 people killed in a west Belfast neighbourhood nearly 50 years ago has been passed to the Coroners Service. Documents name Thomas Johnston West as being the gunman former Ulster Volunteer Force associates claim opened fire at Ballymurphy in August 1971. West, from the Shankill area of the city, is understood to have died of natural causes in 1980. The information handed in today by lawyers acting for an interlocutor also identifies a second UVF member who allegedly acted as a "spotter" for the sniper. Solicitor John Greer said: "This is significant and sensitive material being given to the coroner in relation to the Ballymurphy shootings." A fresh inquest into one of the most chaotic and notorious killing sprees of the Troubles is due to begin in September. Members of the Parachute Regiment have always been held responsible for the civilians' deaths during three days of gunfire involving soldiers. The shootings occurred amid disturbances sparked by the introduction of internment without trial in Northern Ireland. Ten people were shot dead, including a priest trying to aid one of the wounded and a mother-of-eight. Another man later died of heart failure. Bereaved families have come to refer to the killings as the Ballymurphy massacre. Expand Close Relatives of those killed in Ballymurphy in 1971, including John Teggart (front centre), whose father Danny was shot dead by soldiers, have campaigned for years for inquests to be held (PA). / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Relatives of those killed in Ballymurphy in 1971, including John Teggart (front centre), whose father Danny was shot dead by soldiers, have campaigned for years for inquests to be held (PA). Earlier this week it emerged that UVF "veterans" claim to have identified a sniper within their organisation who carried out a number of the shootings. He opened fire from a location in the nearby loyalist Springmartin estate as gun battles broke out, they allege. Those paramilitary veterans approached an interlocutor, who in turn contacted a Belfast law firm. Information was also provided on the rife allegedly used, along with its subsequent seizure by the authorities. Mr Greer, of Reavey & Company Solicitors, handed in the dossier in at the Coroners Office in Belfast. He revealed that his client believes the UVF will provide more details on the shootings. "In particular, the interlocutor has been informed by the veterans that they are checking and finalising specific details concerning the weapon used by the sniper," he said. "Based on initial indications given to the interlocutor, they are adamant that the weapon used by the sniper can be ballistically linked to the shootings." The solicitor would neither confirm nor deny the name provided to his client was that of Tommy West. But he claimed another media report about the sniper's identity had been confused with separate shootings in the city in May 1972 which became known as the Battle of Springmartin. Referring to the information provided through the interlocutor, Mr Greer added: "We are in uncharted territory here. "The strict laws of evidence do not apply and the Coroner has the power to admit material that would not be admissible in other court proceedings. "It will be a matter for the Coroner in her judgment what weight to attach to the evidence." A spokesperson for the Office of the Lord Chief Justice confirmed: "Information in relation to the Ballymurphy inquest has been received by the Coroner's Office today." Lady Sylvia Hermon says Brexit has made her believe she will now see a border poll in her lifetime. Speaking to the BBC, the independent unionist MP for North Down also said the DUP leader Arlene Foster needed to stop "shilly-shallying" and take more action to restore the Stormont Executive. As the only unionist MP in Northern Ireland to oppose Brexit, she said she "worried about the consequences" when asked if it threatened the union with Great Britain. She also brushed off concerns the DUP would finally take her North Down seat and criticism from their MP Nigel Dodds who accused her of siding with Dublin on Brexit. Recently she also warned a hard Irish border after leaving the EU could result in a return to violence. "I am worried about the long term consequences of Brexit. In my lifetime I never thought that I would see a border poll and I am now convinced that I probably will see a border poll," she told the BBC. Unlike Arlene Foster, she maintained she would not be leaving in the event of a united Ireland. "I'll be staying, I've always loved this country. Jack's buried here (her late husband Sir Jack Hermon), my sister's buried here, my father's buried here and I'll be buried here. I will be buried in the land that I love, I will not leave it....even if it was ruled by Dublin." Regarding the DUP leader, she commended her for coming through "appalling criticism" on social media, but urged her to take more action to restore Stormont. "I've been in this job for 17 years. We used to have things called letters; now we have e-mails and we have social media," she said. "For Arlene to have taken the personal criticism that was directed to her and to keep going and keep going I have to say hats off to her for doing that. "Now I do know that Arlene needs to do more. And I would like to think that in Arlene's heart of hearts she knows she needs to do more. "We need the assembly up and running this side of the summer. No more shilly-shallying, no more excuses. Let's get the assembly up and running and serve the people of Northern Ireland." She cited Lord Kilclooney's latest controversial tweet about the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as a prime example of the perils of social media. "Social media for anyone in politics nowadays makes it even more difficult, which is probably why I stay off Twitter and Facebook and I think there are some other politicians, perhaps one or two inside the House of Lords, who should stay off Twitter too. "His (Lord Kilclooney's) remarks recently were embarrassing, inappropriate and I'm speaking as someone who likes John Taylor, so I just wish he would retract the remark and apologise and we could move on." Referring to Nigel Dodd's accusations during a commons debate of siding with the Dublin government she said: "I could hear this little voice in my head which I often hear and that is Jack, which he has said to me on other occasions: 'Keep above the battle, keep above the battle'. "So even though I was really taken aback by what Nigel had accused me of I kept above the battle and continued in the same vein as I had begun. "I do not like personal attacks. I try to avoid personal attacks on other people. Brexit is very divisive." Once commanding a lead of thousands in the polls, her majority in North Down slipped to 1,200 in the recent Westminster poll. She said she did not fear the DUP's longstanding threat to claim her seat. "How long have they been saying that?" she said. "They've always wanted to win North Down. Of course, they've always wanted to win North Down, but they haven't won it yet. "Of course it's not inevitable that the DUP will take it, absolutely not. Brexit has and will change everything." Police were forced to implement a public safety operation in Londonderry after receiving a bomb call from dissident republicans. A caller, using a code word attributable to violent dissident republicans, told police that devices had been left at a garage on Strand Road and at a hotel on the Culmore Road. After police searched the area, it has been determined it was a hoax. Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said: Both areas have been checked and no devices have been located. These reckless actions were clearly intended to cause significant disruption on a particularly busy Friday night, as the city continues to host the annual City of Derry Jazz festival. Both roads have now reopened. I understand the frustration felt and the disruption caused - and I would like to thank the local community for their patience this evening as we worked to keep people safe. The security alerts caused significant traffic disruption in the city during rush hour. . @SDLPlive leader @columeastwood at the scene of this evenings bomb alert in #Derry. Cordons around Centra are being removed after searches found nothing. The alert at Da Vincis Hotel continues. Culmore Road between Pennyburn Roundabout and Belmont Park remains sealed off pic.twitter.com/TFeKyiK6xt Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) May 4, 2018 SDLP Mayor-elect John Boyle said he condemned the alerts in the strongest terms possible ahead of the Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival taking place this weekend. Cllr Boyle said that the PSNI had received phone warnings about the devices but had been provided with "very little information". "Here we have a weekend that this city has been looking forward to for a long time, the sun is out and there are thousands of visitors in the city," councillor Boyle said. "There are those in our community who see fit to wreck all before them, the good work of the council and local people and threaten the employment prospects of local people by this sort of action. Expand Close Derry's Strand Road has been closed to traffic. Photo credit: John Boyle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Derry's Strand Road has been closed to traffic. Photo credit: John Boyle "They have inconvenienced thousands of travellers in rush hour in the city, people are struggling to get home, collect children and I cannot condemn it strongly enough. "It is a downright disgrace and I hope those involved are proud of themselves." Security alert on Strand Road from Rock Rd to Culmore Rd. Please avoid area if possible. Businesses and homes being evacuated. pic.twitter.com/arfGKfsbFx Mark H Durkan (@MarkHDurkan) May 4, 2018 SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said: "This is simply disgraceful and those responsible need to know that they do not represent anyone in this City. This is the fourth security alert in the City in the space of a few days - this must stop. The ongoing alert has caused widespread disruption as people make their way back from work and children en route home from school. This is a big weekend in the City with the jazz festival on and instead of showcasing how great Derry is to visitors - those responsible do this. Ill continue to work with police to ensure that the public are safe. Going forward the entire community must be united to say this is not in our name and those behind these reckless acts should just go away and get off our backs. A Co Down woman who acted as a drugs mule has walked free from court in Dublin after a judge said she had been "unlucky" in life A Co Down woman who acted as a drugs mule has walked free from court in Dublin after a judge said she had been "unlucky" in life. Josephine Hoey (38), from Banbridge, was given a four-year suspended sentence after she was found in possession of heroin worth 37,000 (32,600). She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply at Clonshaugh Woods apartment complex last September 19. Passing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said Hoey had been transporting drugs from Dublin to Northern Ireland in a bid to pay off a debt. 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 the 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 for the defence. Mr Le Vert said that given the "almost unfathomable" struggles she had gone through from an early age, it was not surprising that she had serious problems which led her into addiction. The court heard that two cars were stopped on the night in question after Garda officers noticed they were parked in a suspicious manner. Hoey was the passenger in one of the vehicles and officers found tinfoil on the floor of the car which they thought was going to be used for smoking heroin. She handed police a package from her handbag containing over 260g of heroin, valued at 140 (123) 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. Hoey told police that her role was as "drugs mule" to bring drugs back over the border 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. 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 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. Dr Michael Watt kept his own records in private practice, his former clinic said (Anthony Devlin/PA) A consultant neurologist whose work prompted the recall of thousands of patients kept his own records in private practice, his former clinic has said. The Ulster Independent Clinic has sought advice on urgently obtaining access to the information required from files held by Dr Michael Watt to accurately identify any patients who may need to be contacted. Its statement said: We are acutely aware of the seriousness of this situation and the anxiety it is causing many patients and their families. As we focus on identifying those private patients who may need to be contacted in light of the concerns raised by the Royal College of Physicians report, we would like to reassure any of Dr Watts patients, potentially impacted by this issue, that we are moving as quickly as possible to alleviate their concerns. Belfast Trust has today recalled 2500 patients following an independent review of patient notes relating to the work of a single Consultant Neurologist Dr Michael Watt. Read the full statement https://t.co/eezfcLtaFE pic.twitter.com/PoBqimvA3z Belfast Trust (@BelfastTrust) May 1, 2018 The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has said it is truly sorry for having to recall 2,500 patients after a probe into the work of Dr Watt and a review of patient notes by the trust and the Royal College of Physicians. The consultant is currently not treating patients but is still an employee, the trust said. The Independent Clinic added: Since this issue came to our attention, we have been liaising with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust team to devise the best course of action to identify those patients impacted so as to avoid duplication or additional concern. Our early discussions with the trust have highlighted the complex and time-consuming nature of this process and we are currently examining the best way to expedite matters to enable us to communicate with the relevant patients in an appropriate manner and as quickly as possible. As an independent clinical practitioner who used the facilities at the Ulster Independent Clinic, Dr Watt retains his own patient records. A Papal visit to Northern Ireland could help promote peace and reconciliation, Protestant church leaders have said. In a letter to Pope Francis the church leaders said that the Pope would be welcomed if he chooses to come north during his planned visit to the Republic in August. Read More The contents of the letter were revealed in the latest edition of The Irish Catholic newspaper. It was sent last December by Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Richard Clarke, Presbyterian Moderator Dr Noble McNeely, Methodist President Dr Laurence Graham, and the President of the Irish Council of Churches Bishop John McDowell. "The potential that a visit to Northern Ireland could have in promoting peace and reconciliation throughout the island cannot be underestimated," it read. Pope Francis is visiting Ireland in August for the World Meeting of Families in Dublin. It takes place from August 22 to 26. It will be the first Papal visit to Ireland since Pope John Paul visited in 1979. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme Dr Laurence Graham said the visit could help "build bridges" in Northern Ireland. "There are two key things in the letter, his attendance would enhance and affirm family at the of heart of society, and secondly we felt that the visit had the potential to help promote peace and reconciliation throughout the island, which can not be underestimated and could help build bridges in Northern Ireland," he said. Expand Close Methodist President, Dr Laurence Graham / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Methodist President, Dr Laurence Graham Though Dr Graham stressed the letter was not an invitation he said Pope Francis would be very welcome should he choose to visit. "The letter says we understand you may well be coming to the Republic, it was a letter of welcome, to say we would be very glad if you came. "We wanted to celebrate it as it would be an affirmation for our Roman Catholic friends and neighbours. "We wrote because we thought it was a good idea." Ex-priest and former policing board member Denis Bradley said he did not think the visit would be a game-changer, but acknowledged it was an impactful gesture from the Protestant church leaders "I think it wouldn't have happened 20 years ago, that's the real game changer," he said. "A Pope is an important person but he's not Jesus Christ and he's not God, he'll live and die." "It doesn't change our reality, we as people have to face into the future and decide what our future will be together." Former political adviser and DUP founding member Wallace Thompson said he did not see how the visit could be welcomed. "His claims would cause me very significant concern," Mr Thompson said. "I'm opposed to any visit over the border on spiritual and doctrinal grounds because of those claims, you can overegg the idea that it might take us forward politically. "I'm at a loss as to how anyone committed to the Protestant reformed cause could say they would like the leader of the Roman Catholic Church to come visit us." Dr Graham said that a welcome was not an endorsement of the Pope's views. "I disagree with many of the Pope's doctrinal claims," he said. "I'm an evangelical, but I fail to see what that has to do with saying to somebody 'you are welcome to come to Northern Ireland'. "It's not about agreement or saying we're all the same, it's about saying 'you are welcome here'." The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-05-2018: The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period 4-6 May. SNMG1 is one of NATOs two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS ST JOHNS which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS ALVARO DE BAZAN, a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Sren Thinggaard Larsen is a Commodore from the Royal Danish Navy and the Commander of SNMG1 Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland. Three of the large NATO warships visit Belfast in the period May 4-6. SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces. SNMG1 is at all times ready to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. In order to have this range of capability, SNGM1 consists of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. The three additional ships currently in SNMG1 are HDMS NIELS JUEL a very modern air defence frigate, the Turkish TCG GEDIZ a thoroughly modernized G-class frigate and the agile and modern FGS ERFURT, a German corvette. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) has recently completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland / Credit: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker. Three NATO warships have docked in Belfast after completing a training exercise off the coast of Scotland. The vessels are part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and have just completed the Joint Warrior Exercise in Scotland, training with 11,600 colleagues from 17 nations. Visiting Belfast is the flagship Danish air defence frigate HDMS NIELS JUEL, the 'thoroughly modernized' Turkish G-class frigate TCG GEDIZ and the "agile and modern" German Corvette FGS ERFURT. Soren Thinggard Larsen is a Commodore from the Royal Danish Navy and the commander of SNMG1. "SNMG1 continually trains to maintain a high readiness, so we have done that since we started out in Bergen in January," he said. "We also utilize all opportunities to participate in exercises and train with other navies in the areas where we are operating. "We have just completed the joint warrior exercise in Scotland, which provides ample opportunity to train the whole spectrum of warfares at the highest levels of complexity." SNMG1 is one of NATO's two deployable frigate forces and is ready at all times to perform tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. Other ships in the fleet consist of warships like the Canadian HMCS St John's which is a submarine hunter and like the Spanish ESPS Alvaro De Bazan a high end multipurpose frigate optimised for anti-air warfare. Vet Andrew Grove with some of the rescued puppies The USPCA played a key role in an overnight seizure of 27 illegal puppies at a port in Scotland yesterday. The dogs, mostly collies and spaniels, are believed to have been bred in Galway, and shipped to Scotland via Northern Ireland. Police Scotland swooped in Cairnryan and the pups were seized by the Scottish SPCA as they were about to be taken from the ferry in a van. USPCA staff brought the young dogs - none of whom had been vaccinated or microchipped - back to Northern Ireland. The puppies, which are around 12 weeks old, have an estimated black market value of 15,000. It's understood no arrests were made. Each year, many hundreds of vulnerable animals bred in Republic of Ireland puppy farms are smuggled into the UK market illegally using Northern Ireland ferry routes. It's just a short drive from Cairnryan to Scotland's major cities, and to the north of England, where the pups are sold on the black market. USPCA spokesman David Wilson said that the puppies had been given a check-up by USPCA staff at Newry before being returned to the Republic, where they would be cared for by the ISPCA until they were eventually rehomed. The co-ordinated swoop and rescue action is the latest in the ongoing work of Operation Delphin, a multi-agency animal welfare link-up bringing together police and animal welfare organisations from the UK and Ireland. The USPCA was founded in 1836 - and is the second oldest animal welfare charity in the world. It is committed to the prevention of cruelty to animals, the relief of suffering and the advancement of animal welfare. USPCA chief executive Brendan Mullan said last night: "The USPCA investigates a number of serious animal welfare abuses across Northern Ireland and works closely with our partners involved with Operation Delphin to disrupt and deter the highly lucrative criminal trade in puppies. "USPCA cooperation and intelligence are key to the many successes of Operation Delphin to date. "This charity's role in the disruption of this cruel trade in vulnerable animals is a drain on both its physical and financial resources. "However, the successful recovery of these 27 pups provides the reassurance needed to continue the fight," Mr Mullan said. A young man has died after an incident at a farm in Co Down. The man, said to be in his 20s, is understood to have sustained crush-type injuries at a farm near the Kinallen Road area of Katesbridge at around 10.30am on Friday. It is believed he was helping build a shed. A PSNI spokesperson said: Police attended a sudden death at a farm in the Katesbridge area on Friday 4th May. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed. A spokesperson for Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: "Nothern Ireland Ambulance received a 999 call at 10.07am on Friday, May 5 to report of an unconscious male following an incident in the Kinallen Road area. "NIAS despatched two A&E crews to the scene and the Charity Air Ambulance was also tasked to attend. "No one was taken from the scene." SDLP councillor for Banbridge Seamus Doyle, who lives close to where the incident occurred, told the Belfast Telegraph he heard the deceased was a 22-year-old man from the Bessbrook area in south Armagh, and that he had died while doing building work. He said: It is very sad that such a young person, with a family as well, has died. I offer my condolences to his family. Police were in attendance at a polling station in Greencastle, County Tyrone after reports that a gunman was present. Photo Credit: Alan Lewis A man accused of producing a gun at a polling station and threating to "sort" the DUP has refused to tell police where the firearm is, a judge has said. The district judge rejected Michael O'Hagan's bail application and remanded him in custody, expressing concern that the accused's "unexplained motives and mental state" rendered him a "real and imminent risk". Judge John Meehan was earlier told that O'Hagan, 59, denies the charges facing him and has no recollection of even being inside the voting centre in the village of Greencastle, Co Tyrone during Thursday's parliamentary by-election for the vacant West Tyrone seat. Read More He is accused of carrying a firearm with criminal intent and possession of a firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances. A police officer told Dungannon magistrates' court that O'Hagan was arrested at his home a short time after officials at the polling station reported that a man with a "bushy beard, bright yellow jacket and smelling of alcohol" entered the building and pulled out a gun. Heavily bearded O'Hagan, wearing a grey jumper and green t-shirt, sat impassively in the dock as the detective constable recounted the eyewitness reports. The accused, from Leaghan Road, between Greencastle and Omagh, only spoke at the outset of the remand hearing to confirm his name. The police officer said that witnesses inside the polling station at Our Lady Of Lourdes primary school on the Crockanboy Road claim the man with the gun threatened to take action against unionists. She said he allegedly stated: "Where is the DUP, is there unionists here, there will be no DUP here. "There better be no DUP in here or I will sort them." The officer said the man in the polling station had not disclosed his name before leaving, but she said local people in the building at the time identified him as O'Hagan. She said when detained by officers at his house, O'Hagan told police he had "no memory of being at the polling station", explaining that he had been "drinking heavily for the previous three days". The detective constable, who said she could connect O'Hagan to the charges, told the court that no gun had been located. "Searches are ongoing for the firearm," she said. Objecting to bail, the officer claimed: "He's the only person who knows where the firearm is, so if he's not remanded he may go and get the firearm." Judge Meehan questioned an assertion from O'Hagan's defence solicitor that he co-operated during police custody interviews, pointing out that when asked by detectives where the gun was he said: "I'm not telling you". Mr Meehan described the alleged offence as "very serious". The accused's lawyer said his client had an "alcohol problem", insisting: "there is nothing in his background to suggest he has a predilection for this type of behaviour". He asked the detective constable to confirm that there was no evidence that he was involved in dissident republican activity. She said there was no evidence of any links to a dissident organisation. But she added: "No dissident activity, but he is alleged to have made his political views quite clear during the incident." Judge Meehan remanded O'Hagan in custody to appear, via videolink, at Omagh magistrates' court on May 29. Perhaps it was the almost certainty of the result, perhaps it was election weariness, but voters in West Tyrone yesterday appeared distinctly unenthusiastic at being called to the polls for the fifth time in three years. For a constituency that is usually among those with the highest voter turnout - topping 68% last year - more voted with their feet this year by going somewhere else. Read More West Tyrone dominated the headlines in January when Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff sparked outrage by posting a bizarre video on his Twitter feed on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre. It the footage, he larked about with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head. Initially trying to defuse the row with an apology to the families of the 10 Protestant workmen killed by the IRA at Kingsmill, Mr McElduff eventually bowed to public pressure and resigned. A by-election was then called to replace him. With Sinn Fein enjoying a firm hold on West Tyrone since Pat Doherty took it from Ulster Unionist William Thompson in 2001, even an agreed unionist candidate seemed unlikely to upset the applecart in the constituency. And with the SDLP's Daniel McCrossan trailing in third last year, Sinn Fein appeared unassailable. An early proposal to agree a victims' candidate to contest the by-election did not get off the ground. Just last year Mr McElduff retained the seat, increasing Sinn Fein's already commanding 16,807 vote total that Mr Doherty had won in 2015 up to 22,060. Sinn Fein's choice of a bright, young female solicitor with party pedigree seemed to guarantee it would manage another hold. Instead, the speculation around polling stations yesterday was over how much of its majority Sinn Fein would retain, whether a lower turnout and a row over its stance on abortion would have much of an impact. But Orfhlaith Begley appeared determined yesterday, steadily working her way around polling stations both rural and urban, greeting voters as well as remaining active on social media, posting videos urging voters to make their mark for her. However, election day opened to a tetchy start after the SDLP reported a Sinn Fein canvasser for having an electronic device inside a polling station in Strabane. It turned out to be a Kindle tablet. But the day then took a sinister turn when a man reportedly produced a gun at a polling station in Greencastle. A man was being questioned last night as the votes were being counted. Meanwhile, in Omagh, voters appeared exasperated as they left polling stations. At Gibson Primary School, which usually returns a mixed vote, local woman Patricia McCrory stated her annoyance at being asked to vote again - particularly in a Westminster election while Stormont remained in suspension. "It's galling when they (MLAs) can't get together in Belfast, that's what everyone wants, for them to get back together and get at it," she said. Pius and Michelle Fox were equally irritated but said they were determined to vote nonetheless out of a sense of duty. "I always have to come out and vote," added Michelle. Others at the polling station were sceptical about why they were there at all. One man who did not wish to be named quipped: "We're all here because some guy put a loaf of bread on his head." A woman summed up her feelings on the matter, simply commenting: "It's senseless." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close New MP Orfhlaith Begley, Sinn Fein, centre, pictured with party leaders Michelle O'Neill, left, and Mary-Lou McDonald at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E New MP Orfhlaith Begley, Sinn Fein pictured at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre with party colleagues, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E New MP Orfhlaith Begley, Sinn Fein pictured at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Tom Buchanan, Democratic Unionist Party at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Daniel McCrossan, Social Democratic and Labour Party at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Stephen Donnelly, Alliance Party at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Orfhlaith Begley, Sinn Fein, centre, arrives with party leaders Mary-Lou McDonald, left, and Michelle ONeill, right, at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Orfhlaith Begley, Sinn Fein, left, arrives with party leaders Mary-Lou McDonald, centre, and Michelle ONeill, right, at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Election staff count ballot papers at Omagh Leisure Complex for the West Tyrone Westminster by-election, triggered when the last MP quit amid claims he mocked victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 3rd May 2018 - West Tyrone By-Election 2018 in Northern Ireland Electoral Commission staff start counting votes at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 3rd May 2018 - West Tyrone By-Election 2018 in Northern Ireland Electoral Commission staff start counting votes at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E St Mary's Primary School in Strabane where voters have turned out to vote for their MP in the West Tyrone by-election after the seat was vacated by Sinn Fein Barry McElduff Photo: Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye DUP handout photo of DUP leader Arlene Foster with Thomas Buchanan outside Omagh County primary school during voting in the West Tyrone parliamentary by-election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 3, 2018. Voting is under way in the Westminster by-election triggered when the last MP quit amid claims he mocked victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles. See PA story POLITICS Election WestTyrone. Photo credit should read: DUP/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Daniel McCrossan outside Strabane County primary school after casting his vote in West Tyrone parliamentary by-election, with SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and deputy leader Nichola Mallon. Pic: SDLP/PA Wire PA Sinn Fein Candidate Orfhlaith Begley pictured as she arrives to vote at Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore. Photo Credit: Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Sinn Fein candidate Orfhlaith Begley arriving at a polling station in the Co Tyrone village of Carrickmore. PA 3rd May 2018 General views of Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore where voters have turned out to vote for their MP in the West Tyrone By Election after the seat was vacated by Sinn Fein Barry McElduff Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye 3rd May 2018 General views of St Mary Primary school in Strabane where voters have turned out to vote for their MP in the West Tyrone By Election after the seat was vacated by Sinn Fein Barry McElduff Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye 3rd May 2018 General views of St Mary Primary school in Strabane where voters have turned out to vote for their MP in the West Tyrone By Election after the seat was vacated by Sinn Fein Barry McElduff Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye 3rd May 2018 Sinn Fein Candidate Orfhlaith Begley pictured as she arrives to vote at Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore where she is hoping to replace MP Barry McElduff who stepped down as MP for West Tyrone. Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye 3rd May 2018 Sinn Fein Candidate Orfhlaith Begley pictured with mum Deirdre as she arrives to vote at Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore where she is hoping to replace MP Barry McElduff who stepped down as MP for West Tyrone. Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye 3rd May 2018 Sinn Fein Candidate Orfhlaith Begley pictured as she arrives to vote at Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore where she is hoping to replace MP Barry McElduff who stepped down as MP for West Tyrone. Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp New MP Orfhlaith Begley, Sinn Fein, centre, pictured with party leaders Michelle O'Neill, left, and Mary-Lou McDonald at the count centre in Omagh Leisure Centre, Co Tyrone. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye A short distance away at Omagh County Primary School, which returns a higher unionist vote, the DUP said the abortion issue had come up more on the doorsteps than the victims' issue had. Candidate Thomas Buchanan told the Belfast Telegraph that many Catholic voters had promised him their vote because the DUP was pro-life. Last month Ms Begley was the target of pro-life graffiti plastered over a church in Carrickmore, condemning Sinn Fein's stance on abortion. Mr Buchanan said the abortion issue had come up regularly on the doorsteps during his canvassing. His party strongly opposes relaxing the strict laws on abortion in Northern Ireland, at a time when Sinn Fein is officially backing changes to the Irish constitution in the Republic that could end the country's ban on terminations. "From the thousands of doors we knocked, in both Protestant and Roman Catholic areas, we were very happy with the response we were getting," Mr Buchanan said. "There were people from the nationalist community pledging their vote to us. Obviously you get that on the doorstep, and we will have to wait and see if that materialises. "But abortion was the main issue brought up on the doorsteps. A number of Roman Catholic people now feel that they cannot fit into the policy of other parties (over abortion), and the DUP is becoming an outlet for them as the only pro-life party." Mr Buchanan said he also heard anger from voters across the community over Mr McElduff. "They felt insulted over his behaviour but also felt it was disgraceful that Sinn Fein did not act more over the matter - he resigned of his own accord, rather than be forced," he said. Meanwhile, across the town at the Station Centre, within sight of the filling station where Mr McElduff filmed his now infamous video, turnout was also low. But here, at a polling station that returns more of a republican vote, fewer people were willing to comment, saying only they were happy enough to come out to vote again. The station was one of Alliance candidate Stephen Donnelly's last calls of the evening, accompanied by former party leader David Ford. He also reported a lower turnout than usual across the constituency, but was undaunted, saying that it would be normal for a by-election. He said he was hoping to improve on his performance last year when he got 1,000 votes. "Hopefully there will be a good response to ourselves, but it's early yet," he said. "The lower turnout seems to be consistent across the constituency. We are hoping for a good vote in Omagh, where we have done well in some areas in the past." Daryll Rowe intentionally had unprotected sex with partners while knowing he had HIV (Gareth Fuller/PA) A devious predator who attempted to deliberately infect four men with HIV has been jailed for eight years in Scotland. Hairdresser Daryll Rowe, 27, intentionally had unprotected sex with partners, fully in the knowledge that he had the virus and was exposing them to the risk of infection. One of the men went on to contract HIV as a result of the utter callousness of Rowes actions. Expand Close Daryll Rowe court case Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Daryll Rowe court case A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Rowe who is already serving a life sentence for similar offences in England he had grossly breached the trust of the men involved. On Friday, Rowe, of Musselburgh, East Lothian, admitted culpably and recklessly exposing the four men to the risk of contracting HIV between June and September 2015 at an address in Edinburgh, officials confirmed. Police said the hairdresser, who was diagnosed with the lifelong condition in April 2015, would meet men using online dating apps and enter into sexual relationships without disclosing his illness. He would either refrain from wearing a condom during sex, or tamper with the protection, as he sought to deliberately infect others. Judge Lady Scott told Rowe he had shown a total disregard for the consequences of his actions. In a sentencing statement released following the hearing, she said: On one occasion you were asked to wear a condom and you falsely assured your victim you would, but did not do so. On another occasion you specifically requested unprotected sex and falsely reassured your victim you were not HIV positive. You grossly breached the trust of the men involved and caused them considerable fear and anxiety. Edinburgh High Court: Darryl Rowe sentenced to 8 years imprisonment having pleaded guilty to infecting another man with HIV and exposing three other men to the risk of contracting the virus after culpably and recklessly having unprotected sex with them https://t.co/sna5r8stdT Judges Scotland (@JudgesScotland) May 4, 2018 She said it had been a traumatic experience for the man who did contract the virus. This has had a profound effect upon his life, the judge said. The nature of this conduct and the utter callousness shown by you, make these offences very serious. Lady Scott handed Rowe an eight-year prison term, which can only be served concurrently with life sentence imposed in England, and she placed him on the sex offenders register for life. Rowe was snared following significant enquiries carried out by officers in Scotland and England. Last month, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years at Brighton Crown Court for trying to infect 10 men with HIV. Daryll Rowe was today jailed for eight years for exposing sexual partners to HIV risk https://t.co/oXAvsfOeAe COPFS (@COPFS) May 4, 2018 Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean, of Police Scotland, said: Daryll Rowe is a devious and deceptive predator who has shown absolutely no remorse for the extensive suffering and distress he has caused his victims. Since April 2015 he was fully aware of his illness yet refused treatment that would ensure his own health and safeguard his sexual partners from the risk of infection. To make matters worse, he would then knowingly engage in sexual activity with individuals he met without divulging his condition. Rowe would then go to great lengths to ensure he put partners at risk of contracting HIV, demonstrating the callous and reckless nature of his character. Kenny Donnelly, Procurator Fiscal for sexual offences, said: There is no doubt that Daryll Rowe knew what he was doing and that had no regard for the safety of his victims or the consequences of his actions. The fact that his victims had the courage to come forward to report what had happened to them has allowed us to bring him to justice. With a few days left before the May 9 general election, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak underscored his confidence that he could weather another challenge to his staying power, as he mocked the oppositions allegations against him as a slander tsunami. Najib has deftly endured multiple controversies during his nine years as Malaysias leader. But analysts and pollsters predict his ruling bloc will face a tough test in next weeks vote, as he attempts to survive a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal that has engulfed 1MDB, a state investment fund that he founded to spur economic development in his country. I recently mentioned that we are facing a slander tsunami during this general election the opposition does not have anything solid to speak about and instead choose to spread hatred and lies, the New Straits Times quoted Najib saying as he campaigned Thursday in his home state of Pahang. Najib, 64, apparently was taking a jab at the oppositions much-hyped claim that they expected a Malay tsunami, a reference to voters from the ethnic Malay majority swinging away from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957. The main opposition Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) bloc is led by Mahathir Mohamad, a 92-year-old former longtime prime minister and former mentor of Najibs who has been his most virulent critic over the 1MDB scandal. Najib, eldest son of a former prime minister and nephew of another, has consolidated his political grip based largely on his adroit financial skills as a British-trained economist. He effectively deployed allocations for his electoral constituents, spread largesse among Malay landless families and pumped up voter support though an annual cash-handouts program. This political strategy, analysts said, allowed Najib to build a deeply embedded support at the grassroots level, giving the ruling party a powerful voter base among teachers, military personnel and rural settlers. On his personal website, najibrazak.com, which features glossy pictures and catchy headlines, the prime minister boasts that we delivered on the economy, education, public security and health care, referring to some of his governments promises from the previous electoral campaign. Among its many successes, his government created 2.26 million jobs, Najibs website claimed. We must be a government that places a priority on performance, because the people must come first, according to a quote by Najib posted prominently in bold letters on his site. Yet his government wound up losing the popular vote in the last election in 2013, and could again lose more votes to the opposition in the May 9 election, according to recent polls, although Barisan is expected to retain a parliamentary majority. Apart from allegations of corruption tied to the 1MDB affair, the prime minister has been severely criticized in recent years for his governments policy of instituting a 6-percent sales tax (GST) aimed at increasing fiscal revenue. On Thursday, Najib defended the controversial policy while campaigning in Pahang. The higher income group pays more if they spend more. When they pay more tax, we can distribute (the money) to those who need aid from government, he told a campaign rally, according to Channel News Asia. Thats why we can raise the salary of civil servants this year. Political scion The eldest son of Malaysias second premier, Abdul Razak Hussein, Najib was born on July 23, 1953, in Kuala Lipis, in the east coast state of Pahang. He is the nephew of Hussein Onn, the third prime minister. Najib holds a bachelors degree in industrial economics from Nottingham University in England, where he transferred after his secondary education at Malvern Boys College in Worcestershire. He was a teenager when his father served as PM. Upon returning to Malaysia in the early 1970s, Najib worked as a public relations manager at the state oil firm Petronas. In 1976, at age 22, he became the countrys youngest electoral candidate, when he ran for a parliamentary seat in Pahang, which was left vacant when his father died. From 1986 until 1999, Najib held various cabinet posts, including as defense and education minister, before his appointment as deputy prime minister and finance minister in 2004, during which he oversaw the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), an agricultural land scheme for the poor. It was while he was overseeing FELDA that Najib introduced infrastructure projects and benefits for more than 110,000 Malay landless families who also received incentives and bonus payments. Extending his grip In an April 24 interview with Bloomberg News his first one with foreign media outlet in years Najib predicted he would prolong his rule, as he discussed the 1MDB embezzlement scandal that spawned a probe in at least six countries, including Switzerland, United States and Singapore. You cannot just accuse somebody of being a thief unless there is evidence, he said. I stand by it: Theres no wrongdoing. The Saudi government has come out with a statement admitting its an official donation. The facts speak for themselves, but its been turned into a political issue. In August 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was pursuing criminal action against those involved in the misappropriations and fraudulent diversion of funds from 1MDB, an entity wholly-owned by the Malaysian government. DOJ is trying to recover more than $1.7 billion in real-estate and other assets allegedly siphoned off through a labyrinth of complex transactions from 1MDB, which Najib formed in 2009 ostensibly to pursue projects that would benefit Malaysian citizens through development projects. Leaked court documents showed that about U.S. $700 million of those stolen funds may have been diverted through companies and government agencies linked to 1MDB before landing into the personal bank accounts of Najib, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Najib said that a deposit of about U.S. $681 million into his personal bank accounts, which was made ahead of the 2013 general election, was a political donation from a member of the Saudi royal family. Give me a chance In 2009, Najibs United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party was experiencing one of its most difficult times in its unbroken reign of government when he replaced Abdullah Badawi, who was hastened into retirement after the partys electoral failure. BN, anchored by UMNO, lost its super majority in 2008 and saw parliamentary seats under its control further trimmed in 2013. Newspapers, quoting opinion polls, reported in 2009 that Najib was more unpopular than the man he was replacing. There were allegations by the opposition of corruption and bribery back then, including when Najib was still defense minister. But despite the allegations against its leader, Malaysia, a multi-ethnic nation of more than 30 million people, grew under Najib, enhancing its standing as one of Southeast Asias most vibrant economies, with a growth rate of between 5.2 and 5.7 percent last year, rebounding from 4.2 percent in 2016. Higher oil prices also spurred economic growth and revenue last year, allowing Najib to propose hefty spending, including millions of dollars in pay hikes for government employees and pensioners, according to economists. Meanwhile, Najib, the political blue-blood, persevered and pledged sweeping reforms. Give me a chance, judge me by my actions. Dont judge me on rumors and baseless allegations, he said during a party convention in 2013 where he was elected unopposed as a leader. I will reform and I will make changes. We know Hannah for her sorrow. She longed for a son, but couldnt have children. We know her for her faithfulness. Hannah never gave up hope that God would hear her prayer. We also know her for her sacrifice. She dedicated her baby Samuel to the Lord and left him at the temple to serve God all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:11 NIV). Hannah is one of the most recognizable women in Scripture for all these reasons. Many of us remember her story for her deep anguish over not being a mother. We all most likely recall her time at the temple, taking her request to God in powerful prayer. And what mom wouldnt be impacted by Hannahs bold move leaving her little blessing at the temple to be raised by Eli the priest? Hannahs life had significant moments that stand out, but there are other facts about her we often overlook. Are you wondering if theres more to Hannahs story than you thought? Here are 5 things you may not know about Hannah in the Bible. 1. Hannah knew how to respond with grace, or not respond at all. Hannah showed unmatched restraint with her words. She not only knew the right things to say, but also when to say nothing. For years Peninnah, Elkanahs other wife, ridiculed Hannah for her infertility. Yet instead of responding to her tormentor, she kept her mouth shut. During one of the familys annual trips to the tabernacle, Hannah had enough of the ridicule. She didnt lash out at Peninnah, but she knew it was time to do something. She left the dinner table and went straight to God with her plea. Her character was tested when Eli accused her of being drunk. And once again Hannah demonstrated grace and humility through her words. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation (1 Samuel 1:16 ESV). By describing herself as Elis servant, she acknowledged his position of authority. When she could have easily mouthed back at him, she chose to display proper respect. 2. Eli the priest asked God to bless Hannah with a child more than once. Once Hannah explained herself to Eli, his heart softened. He then reassured her of Gods intention to answer her prayer for a son. But that was just the first time Eli went to God on Hannahs behalf. Eli was right. God answered her prayer. But the story didnt end when Hannah gave birth to Samuel. It didnt end when she took him to the temple either. Each year Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah again, asking God to give them more children because of her sacrifice. Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord (1 Samuel 2:20 NLT). 3. Hannah had 5 more children after Samuel. God didnt just honor Elis blessing the first time. God continued to answer the prayers for Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters while Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord (>1 Samuel 2:21b NLT). Hannah prayed fervently for her children, before and after God granted her the blessing of having them. Need to pray for the children in your life? Download our FREE prayer guide for blessings for your children. 4. Hannah was the fourth woman in biblical history to suffer through infertility. Before Hannah, three other women endured the despair of not being able to conceive. Sarah was the first, followed by Rebekah and then Rachel. However, Hannah accepted Gods promise with unwavering faith. The other three did not. Sarah laughed at the angels proclamation that God would give her a child. (Genesis 18:12 NIV) Rebekah questioned, If all is well, why am I like this? as her twins struggled in the womb. (Genesis 25:22 NKJV) Rachel gave the responsibility to her husband. (Genesis 30:1 NIV) But Hannah trusted God without doubt or concern. Her reverent fear of the Lord was just one more quality of her godly character. 5. Hannahs famous prayer may have prophesied the coming Messiah. As Hannah dedicated Samuel back to the Lord, she fulfilled her commitment. How hard this must have been for her as a mom! I wonder whether I would have been able to go through with it, but Hannah praised God for her blessing. She thanked Him for His sovereignty. And at the end of her prayer, we find evidence of Gods plan for the salvation of all mankind. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one (>1 Samuel 2:10b NLT). Some scholars believe this verse refers to King David, who Samuel would one day anoint as king over Israel. Yet, according to Matthew Henry Commentary, many theologians claim this verse goes beyond King David to the birth of Jesus. The commentary states, We have reason to think that this prophecy looks further, to the kingdom of Christ, and the administration of that kingdom of grace The ancient expositors, both Jewish and Christian, make it to look beyond David to the Son of David. These 5 details of Hannahs life tell us a lot about her as a person real, humble, passionate. By looking at these details, we can understand her trials and rejoice in her triumphs. And just maybe, we can learn a little something about our own lives as well. Kristine Brown is a writer, dramatist, and former English teacher. She desires to support women in their spiritual lives with practical teaching for real-life struggles. Kristine devotes her time to freelance writing and her non-profit ministry, More Than Yourself, Inc. You can read more from Kristine at www.morethanyourself.com. photo credit: sparrowstock - To continue importing motorcycles as CBUs - Scout Bobber shoots past Scout as the highest-selling model - Projects 70 to 80 per cent growth next year Polaris has ruled out the possibility of setting up local assembly for the Indian motorcycle range. The recent drop in duties on completely built units (CBUs) has been beneficial for the company, and it doesnt make sense to invest in setting up CKD operations, said Mr Pankaj Dubey, country head and MD, Polaris India. While the sales of Indian motorcycles dropped by 20 per cent last year, the company is bullish about achieving 70 to 80 per cent growth this year. With the drop in duties, Indian reduced the prices of its motorcycles by up to Rs 3 lakhs. This has already helped boost its sales numbers. As of now, the Scout Bobber has shot past the Scout as the companys highest selling motorcycle. The company recently launched the Roadmaster Elite in India, a limited edition touring motorcycle limited to just 300 units globally. Only two of these have been allocated for India, both of which have been sold. The company will next introduce the Chieftain Elite, another limited edition bike. Polaris will also be setting up three new Indian dealerships in Dehradun, Kochin and Jaipur to improve its footprint in the country. This will take the dealership count to 11. Thanks to the limited appeal of its motorcycles, Indian relies heavily on word-of-mouth publicity, and this has been working well for the company. The company conducts several activities for the Indian Motorcycle Riding Group (IMRG), which boost the ownership experience of the motorcycle. China has exempted import tariffs (duties) for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1st China 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. 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, 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. Chinese Ambassador,Luo Zhaohui said, China would further improve business environment by halving time required to open a business. Chinas door to the outside world will open wider. 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. 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. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently called upon Member States and partners to accelerate efforts to end rabies which causes 59 000 agonizing and painful deaths globally every year, 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. Human rabies is caused mostly by dogs and can be eliminated by increasing awareness about the disease, vaccinating dogs and most importantly 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, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, told the global meeting Driving progress towards rabies elimination here. At the meeting, the global rabies partners comprising of WHO, OIE, 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, who have assessed access, delivery and distribution of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, shared outcomes of their studies. These studies were conducted with WHO support to enable GAVI 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. 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 WHO South-East Asia Region are now using intradermal route for anti-rabies vaccines. At the meeting, Member countries shared initiatives being rolled out as part of the new Zero by 30: The Strategic Plan, to be launched by WHO and partners to end dog transmitted rabies. The plan centers 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 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. Investing in rabies control and elimination improves equity and access to healthcare and contributes to sustainable development. The Town of Virden hopes a list of 30 recommendations to boost their communitys fortunes will point them and their visitors in the right direction. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SUBMITTED A conceptual design on how the wayfinding signage in Virden might one day look. The Town of Virden hopes a list of 30 recommendations to boost their communitys fortunes will point them and their visitors in the right direction. Liza Park, Virdens new economic development manager, said the town would benefit from providing directional assistance to travellers. "Theres another part of the town off that Number 1 highway," Park said. "You can promote Virden all you want to come here, but once you get here and you dont know where to go, its frustrating for a visitor." The Trans-Canada Highway is devoid of signage guiding residents off the well-trodden thoroughfare to such amenities as the historic downtown, Aud Theatre and the former railway station. Addressing the signage deficiency is one of the key recommendations put forth by the National Trust for Canada, which outlined 30 priorities for the town of 3,100 people visualizing its future. The report was presented at a community meeting last month. In it, wayfinding banners and signage are encouraged to promote the downtown a "hidden asset," where residents and visitors can find celebrated heritage buildings, "dynamic events" enticing people to the towns core and efforts to retain, recruit and expand businesses. The report also recommends installing a temporary "pop-up park" where a fire ravaged three downtown storefronts last September. Virden Mayor Jeff McConnell said the "Virden Boost" strategy was initiated before the blaze gutted century-old buildings downtown, but became more urgent afterward. "It really did help us develop a method to move past the fire." The report separates advice into four approaches: organization, design/physical improvements, marketing the downtown and economic development. On matters of the downtown, the town might want to embrace heritage building renewal and compile an inventory of downtown buildings to take stock of their condition. SUBMITTED The Canadian Pacific Railway station in Virden is one of the tourist attractions the community intends to highlight as the town plans for its future. The report adds that the town should explore heritage designation for several buildings. Public art and window exhibits inspired by the towns history should be adopted, the report believes. There is much heritage to draw upon, from the onset of railroad development to the growth of the petroleum industry and an Indigenous heritage spanning thousands of years. Events like self-guided tours, art walks and youth-oriented farm days would bring people downtown, the report finds. And in the digital space, a mobile app aggregating Virden information and an online portal for people interested in volunteering should be developed. In place of the buildings decimated by last years fire, the town would benefit from designing a pop-up park, complete with landscaping and greenery efforts, before any rebuild happens. The report concedes this initiative isnt possible without the co-operation of private landowners. McConnell is heartened by the report, but more importantly its implementation. A steering committee, comprised predominantly of local citizens, was established to carry out the reports findings. They will liaise with existing organizations and lobby council, businesses and committees for support, both in-kind and financial. McConnell said the committee would determine the reports legacy. "If you dont give people a way to get the ideas into action, theyre never going to happen," he said. "We now have something weve been seeking for awhile and weve given it teeth." Tiffany Cameron, who took over ownership of Ice Cream Island in Virden last year, is a member of the steering committee. Shes most excited about the groundwork the report provides. "I think its just getting our act together with how we promote ourselves." Small, independent business like her ice cream parlour would appreciate the advertising muscle of a larger business community. "Im excited to see new and exciting businesses being attracted here," she said. "Its going to help all of us." ifroese@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ianfroese Padraig Hoare There is little risk to major Irish banks from personal contract plans sold by car dealers to car buyers and the stability of the secondhand car market is not threatened, says Central Bank governor Philip Lane. There is little risk to major Irish banks from personal contract plans sold by car dealers to car buyers and the stability of the secondhand car market is not threatened, says Central Bank governor Philip Lane. Speaking following a visit to Scoil Mhuire in Cork, Mr Lane told the Irish Examiner the regulator was studying the market carefully but there was no immediate cause for concern. The potential exposure for Irish banks in the 1.5bn personal contract plans car market, as well as consumers and car dealers, was highlighted recently by the Central Banks economists who said negative equity may be of particular concern in the market. The car market has been in turmoil following the 15% drop in the value of sterling against the euro following the UK vote in the summer of 2016 to exit the EU. Thats because a flood of secondhand car imports will potentially hit future second-hand car prices and therefore push existing contracts into the red. However, Mr Lane said that the fears may be overdone. Secondhand prices of cars have always been volatile. They have gone up and they have gone down. Consumers and the financial system have to be robust against those fluctuations in value. Our assessment is that personal contract plans have some risk factors so it is important that consumers are well educated in taking out these contracts, he said. Of course the customer may find this gap in the resale value. But that element, the fluctuation in retail values, is nothing new. Were looking at this market carefully, but let me emphasise a lot of banks involved in personal contract plans are not the main retail banks. The risk factor is not concentrated in the main Irish retail banks, he said. Car manufacturers such as Volkswagen offer personal contract plans through their own banks. Bank of Ireland, which is a major car finance lender, including to sellers of Ford, Toyota, Opel, Hyundai, and Kia, has said it has continuously extremely low arrears. Mr Lane said the major banks had to invest in IT systems. While not commenting specifically on Ulster Bank, which has had major IT glitches in recent weeks, Mr Lane said: We at the Central Bank, across Europe and indeed globally, identify now that banking is very much an IT-driven business, so a top priority for us is to make sure IT systems are appropriate, up to date, and do not suffer these flaws. Many banks have legacy systems that require updating. During the crisis when profits were low, there was maybe under-investment in IT. A major priority for us is to get these IT systems to where they should be and to really hold failures to account, he said. Mr Lane also said that he was confident that the vast majority of accounts caught up in the tracker mortgage scandal had now been identified, but said there will be more. Some 37,100 have so far been identified by the watchdog as part of its review into the scandal. We think there will be more because what we are doing now is quality assurance, checking that each [lender] included all the cases that they should have. We are near the end, but the vast majority have now been included, but we are still working to make sure every last case that should be included is, he said. Philip Blenkinsop Chinese electric bicycles will have to be registered in the EU in a move by the bloc to curb cheap imports which European manufacturers say are flooding the market. The European Commission had sufficient evidence to show Chinese manufacturers were dumping e-bikes in Europe and were receiving subsidies, the EUs official journal said. In the latest in a series of EU studies into and measures against Chinese exports ranging from solar panels to steel, the Commission launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into e-bikes. Taiwans Giant, one of the worlds largest bicycle makers with factories in China as well as the Netherlands, had denied imports rose substantially, the EU journal said. The registration system for e-bikes would allow eventual duties to be backdated to early in May, it added. The European Bicycle Manufacturers Association, (EBMA), whose complaints prompted the investigations, says Chinese companies are selling pedal-assist e-bikes in the EU at prices which are sometimes below the cost of production, aided by subsidies. EBMA had called for registration, arguing that a surge of low-priced imports could result in a stockpile ahead of the main 2018 selling season. The EC has until July 20 to determine whether to impose provisional anti-dumping duties. Exports from Chinese producers, including Battle-Fushida, Aima, and Tianjin Golden Wheel, rose by 82% from November 2017 to February 2018, compared with a year earlier. Prices were 8% lower. Reuters A radio station in Cork has gone the extra mile to make Ed Sheeran feel at home in the Real Capital. Corks RedFM has dropped the R and renamed 'edFM'. Following the recent controversy online that shook that blogging community, Gardai traffic Twitter account has posted this warning ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend. If youre not in the know, an Instagram account has been sharing videos and photos taken by Irish bloggers and influencers which show them using their phones to record video and take pictures while they are driving. Gardai say they have foiled 52 gangland murders since the Regency Hotel shooting. Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll claims they have also seized dozens of guns, thousands of bullets and millions in drugs and cash since setting up the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in the mid-90s. It has been over two years since David Byrne was shot dead at the Regency Hotel. John O'Driscoll says they are making progress in their crackdown on gangland crime. He said: "What we're talking about here is in the gangland scenario, 52 threats to life. In some cases we have actually arrested people as they were fully armed, wearing balaclavas in close proximity to where they intended to commit murder. "This is what we will allege in a number of the cases where people are before the courts at the moment." The Minister of State for the Diaspora, Ciaran Cannon, is writing to all motor insurance companies looking for their policies on returning emigrants. In a recent study, 78% of citizens moving home said they had problems in getting suitable and affordable motor insurance. [Update 3.50pm: The Taoiseach says he deeply regrets that Sean Canney is leaving the Independent Alliance. Mr Canney decided to leave the group after a row over a Junior Ministry. He was due to swap the role with Kevin Boxer Moran, but the Alliance has decided Boxer should remain as Minister for the OPW until the end of the lifetime of the government. "Obviously I deeply regret the fact that he had decided to leave the Independent Alliance," said Leo Varadkar. "But that is a decision for him and I welcome the fact that he wants to continue to support the Government, continue to focus on the implementation of the Program for Government which he helped to write. And continue to represent his constituents from within Government" "So next week I will be meeting with him and meeting with the Independent Alliance to work out the terms of that how we can move forward." Earlier: Sean Canney quits Independent Alliance Sean Canney is leaving the Independent Alliance. It follows a recent row which had left his future in the group unclear. He was unhappy at not getting back his job as a Junior Minister after swapping roles with Kevin Boxer Moran. They were due to switch back this year as part of a deal made when the government was formed, but the Alliance has decided to leave Boxer in the role. The Galway East TD has released a statement confirming the move this morning and said he will "continue to support the Government on issues of confidence and budgetary matters". He has spent a week considering his position and has decided to leave the Independent Alliance. It is unclear at the moment if he will keep the position of Assistant Government Whip, which sees him get a 15,000 top-up to his salary. His statement said in full: "I have today informed my Independent Alliance colleagues that I am leaving the group. I wish the Independent Alliance all the best in the future. "I confirm that I will continue to support the Government on issues of confidence and budgetary matters. "I have taken time to consider all my options and I thank you all for your patience. I was elected by the people of Galway East as an Independent to represent their interests. Since my election I have done that to the best of my ability. I will continue to put the people first, they are my priority. "National issues such as Brexit are a threat to our country. I believe that we will need to work collectively to protect Irelands interests. [quote]Other areas of concern are housing, health services and flooding and the increasing challenges faced by small family farmers and rural dwellers.[/quote] "The Atlantic Economic Corridor is the vehicle by which we will deliver balanced regional development. "The Programme for Government was developed to ensure that we deliver a better, fairer society for all our citizens. As an Independent TD serving Galway East, I look forward to the task of delivering this programme for the benefit of Galway East and the region. "I want to thank all who have contacted me over the last number of weeks offering their support. I want again to emphasise that it is business as usual for me as I continue to serve the constituents of Galway East as an Independent TD." In a statement, the Independent Alliance wished Canney well in the future. By Tom Tuite An apprentice carpenter will stand trial accused of manslaughter in connection with a fatal one-punch assault on a student in Tallaght in Dublin. Jack Hall Ellis drank 20 measures of Captain Morgan rum before allegedly attacking 20-year-old Luke OReilly in the early hours of November 1 last, Dublin District Court has heard. Mr OReilly, from Kiltipper, Dublin 24, who had gone out socialising on Halloween, was discovered on the Old Blessington Rd, Tallaght at about 3am on Nov. 1 with serious head injuries. He was rushed to Tallaght Hospital and then moved to Beaumont Hospital but died there on Nov. 13 last. Jack Hall Ellis, 20, from Old Court Mill, Tallaght, was charged two days later with assault causing harm to Mr OReilly. He faced his fourth hearing on Friday at Dublin District Court when an additional, more serious charge, was brought against him, for the unlawful killing of Mr OReilly. State solicitor Michelle Sheeran told Judge Bryan Smyth the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that Mr Hall Ellis is to face trial on indictment. Garda David Morris told Judge Smyth that Mr Hall Ellis made no reply when the new charge was put to him on Friday morning. The garda asked for the case to be adjourned for a book of evidence to be completed. There was no indication of how the accused will plead. Judge Smyth acceded to gardas request to extend the existing bail terms to the new one charge. Solicitor Padraig ODonovan told the court his client understood. Mr ODonovan said the garda could confirm his clients financial circumstances had not changed. Legal aid was granted. Mr Hall Ellis, dressed in a blue T-shirt, a black bodywarmer, blue jeans and black runners, did not address the court during the hearing. He was ordered to appear again on June 27 next when it is expected he will be served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial to the circuit court. At a bail hearing in November, Garda Morris had said it was alleged Luke OReilly had just left the Metro pub after he had been socialising with friends for Halloween night. He was walking along Old Blessington Road with friends when a male approached him from behind, Garda Morris alleged. Garda Morris had said the man proceeded to punch him to the side of the head, unawares to him, he did not know what was coming. He alleged that Luke OReilly fell to the concrete footpath and hit his head off the ground. He was attended to by his friends immediately. He was taken to Tallaght hospital but his condition became more serious and he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Beaumont Hospital and passed away there on Nov. 13 last. The Garda had agreed with the defence that Jack Hall Ellis had indicated he had 10 double shots of Captain Morgan on the date of the incident. As part of his bail he must reside with a relative in Ratoath, Co. Meath and sign on twice weekly at Ashbourne Garda station and stay out of Tallaght except for meetings with his solicitor or family occasions once he gives notice to gardai. He has also been directed to be of sober habits, to abide by a 12pm to 7am curfew and be available when gardai call to his current address. He has also been warned that he must not contact witnesses directly or indirectly. By Aoife Nic Ardghail and Sonya McLean A Dublin family have said they will never forgive the visually-impaired man who was convicted of dangerous driving causing their 70-year-old mother's death. John Dunne, son of Patricia Dunne, described how postman David Byrne (42) put them through two weeks of hell in court by not pleading guilty to the dangerous driving causing death charge. Reading from his victim impact statement, he said the family believed his mother's death was a factor in his father's death. He stated that Byrne should not have been driving,and that there was no remorse and no apology for the death of his mother, who he described as kind, compassionate, loving and very popular. During the trial, the court heard Byrne has Type 2 Usher Syndrome which is a degenerative eye disorder resulting in peripheral vision loss. Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, asked the court to take into account that his client's offer to plead guilty to careless driving causing death was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Byrne (42) of Sunnyhill, Castlemartin Lodge, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Mrs Dunne at Collins Avenue East, Killester in Dublin on October 16, 2015. The father-of-two had also pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) to issue him with a driving licence on September 30, 2014. He had further denied making a false or misleading statement while taking out insurance on September 16, 2015. He was found guilty by a jury of all three charges following a trial. He has no previous convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan said she was going to consider the evidence and a psychological report and remanded Byrne on continuing bail until his sentence finalisation next Friday. Mr Dunne, in his victim impact statement, described how his mother had been in good form after returning from a holiday in Spain the day before she was killed. He said that the family never recovered from the shocking way that they lost her and that his father, Mrs Dunne's husband of 52 years, never talked about it and died a broken man. We will never forgive (Byrne) for killing our mum, he said. Mr O'Higgins said his client wished to extend his apologies to the Dunne family.He said this might appear to be coming at the eleventh hour, but due to the nature of the case it would have been very difficult to extend an apology until the criminal litigation had done its course. At the trial, the court heard that Mrs Dunne had been walking home pulling a shopping trolley around midday when she began to cross the road. A van slowed to allow her to cross, but Byrne's car then hit her and she was flung up in the air before the vehicle came to a stop. Today Garda Pamela Dunne told Fionnuala O'Sullivan BL, prosecuting, that the victim died from lack of oxygen to her brain due to chest injuries. She said Byrne went to the garda station the following day and gave consent to access his medical records. He told gardai he couldn't recall being advised not to drive in 1997. Gda Dunne said Byrne had claimed he had no condition affecting his peripheral vision or his ability to drive when applying for his driving licence and insurance. Mr O'Higgins told Judge Ryan that the prosecution did not bring evidence in the subsequent trial to show what progression Usher Syndrome had on his client's eyes since diagnosis in 1997. Counsel submitted that this was the only accident in 20 years of Byrne driving with the disease. He told Judge Ryan that his client was overcome and crushed with remorse for his actions on the day of the accident. He said Byrne has been described as psychologically fragile and suffered taunting at school from wearing hearing aids. Mr O'Higgins asked Judge Ryan for maximum leniency, submitting that his client has already been rehabilitated and will not come to garda attention in the future. The line-up for this Saturday's Ray D'Arcy Show has been revealed, with Una Healy and David McWilliams among the guests. Una Healy will be dropping into the studio for a tune and a chat with Ray. As the countdown begins to next week's Eurovision, Ray will be linking up live to Lisbon to catch up with Ryan O'Shaughnessy as he prepares to represent Ireland in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 8. Also this Saturday, Dublin GAA player Nicole Owns will talk to Ray about joining hundreds of thousands of people all over the country to walk from darkness into light for Pieta House's annual event. Nicole will talk about winning the All Ireland final at Croke Park after years of struggling with mental health problems. As rising rent prices are making headlines once again, David McWilliams will be talking about the inflated property market, going back to the boom times and whether or not he thinks we'll go bust. And Keith Broni, the world's first emoji consultant, will be appearing to talk about helping companies navigate their way through a growing emoji minefield. The Ray DArcy Show airs this Saturday, May 5 on RTE One at 9:40pm. Mike Wilkins was appointed to chair AMP on Monday, and on Friday David Murray was announced as his replacement. It took less than four days. But AMP doesn't have time on its side. A lynch mob of its large investors is looking for three director scalps at its May 10 shareholder meeting. Whether the outspoken Murray, an enforcer who in corporate circles takes no prisoners, is enough to save three incumbent directors is not a given. He is a divisive businessman - highly respected by some and highly criticised by others. David Murray knows his mind, he knows the industry and most importantly he is not a member of the 'directors club'. Credit:Andrew Taylor But he knows his mind, he knows the industry and most importantly he is not a member of the "directors club". Enlisting the support of shareholders of the reputationally tattered AMP will be challenging. He already has a preferred list of potential new directors that he is looking to appoint over the next year to 18 months. Shares in H&M have lost about 43 per cent since the beginning of last year, and fell as much as 5.6 per cent on Thursday. In April and early May alone, the billionaire acquired about 22.2 million shares in Stockholm-based H&M for 3.06 billion kronor ($482 million), bringing the value of purchases since the beginning of last year to 14 billion kronor. Hennes & Mauritz chairman Stefan Persson is drawing investor attention as he buys up huge amounts of stock in the company amid a share slump. The question analysts and investors are asking is whether the chairman's purchases are the only piece of good news out there for H&M stock. Meanwhile, short interest is now at 10.2 per cent, according to data compiled by IHS Markit. That's up from 8.8 per cent at the end of January or 5.2 per cent one year ago. Shorts are bets that share prices will fall. The latest transactions mean that Persson and his family now hold 43.1 per cent of H&M, according to Bloomberg calculations based on regulatory filings. "We have had a lot of incoming calls from investors wanting to understand why H&M shares have risen so sharply over the last few weeks and whether this has any implications for our fundamental views on the stock," Morgan Stanley analysts Geoff Ruddell and Amy Curry said in a note to clients on April 29. "It does not." 'As bearish as ever' Recent gains in H&M's share price are primarily driven by the chairman's purchases, and the analysts remain "as bearish as ever" on the stock, they said. An indigenous group has launched a carbon fund that will support social and cultural causes, calling it a "boutique restaurant" alternative to the governments cheaper "McDonalds" offsets. The Reducing Carbon Building Communities fund (RCBC), backed by the Aboriginal Carbon Fund, has been established to build connections between groups looking to become carbon neutral or offset their carbon output while also providing broader social benefits. Companies buy carbon credits to act as offsets to reduce their comparative carbon emissions levels. Aboriginal Carbon Fund general manager Rowan Foley said the creation of the private carbon credit trading fund gave the market an option other than standard offsets. It would allow companies buying Australian carbon credit units to make an impact beyond simply cutting their carbon emission levels. "Its as though the government is McDonald's, theyve got a lot of burgers for cheap, whereas were like a boutique restaurant where it may cost more but youre getting better quality," Mr Foley said. Hollywood blockbusters looking to shoot in Australia will have access to a new $140 million pot of taxpayer funds over four years from July 1. The boost to the location offset for foreign film production was announced by federal government ministers Julie Bishop (foreign affairs), Mitch Fifield (arts) and Steven Ciobo (trade, tourism and investment) at the Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast on Friday morning. The studio which is the largest in Australia, with nine sound stages and an enormous backlot stands to be the largest beneficiary of the funding boost. "This funding will ensure our film industry remains vibrant and competitive, and gives us the opportunity to showcase our talent both on screen and behind the scenes to the rest of the world," said Senator Fifield in a statement. A mother who disappeared from Townsville along with her twin daughters four years ago has turned up, with the girls, in northern NSW. Catherine "Cassie" Watter, 45, and her daughters Isabelle and Bronte, 10, were located safe and well in Taree on Friday morning after four years in hiding. The children's grandmother, Heather Doubleday, said she was relieved to hear from her daughter after four years of silence. Hollywood filmmakers are being offered bigger tax breaks to lure blockbuster productions to Australia. The $140 million federal budget sweetener will effectively double the existing rebate offered for films to 30 per cent. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (right) poses for a photograph with Justice League super hero character Wonder Woman. Credit:AAP/Darren England Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the tax break was a game-changer for the state, paving the way for a pipeline of movies and a permanent screen industry. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said producers wanted to make films in Australia because they love our talent and our people. The man who murdered teenager Daniel Morcombe has been stabbed in the ear and neck with an "improvised implement" at a Wacol prison. According to a statement from Queensland Corrective Services, Brett Peter Cowan was attacked on Friday in the Wolston Correctional Centre's common area and suffered "superficial wounds". QCS said a knife was not used in the attack, but "an improvised implement". The service said prison officers "quickly brought the situation under control", with no guards injured. A New Zealander acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of Queensland's new one-punch offence is appealing his sentence. Tamate Heke was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' jail in February for the unlawful striking causing death of Shane Merrigan in 2015. Tamate Heke was convicted of the unlawful striking after being cleared of manslaughter. Credit:AAP Image The 38-year-old punched Mr Merrigan in the head during a roadside altercation on the Gateway Motorway on December 1, causing him to fall into the path of a 13.7-tonne rubbish truck. It was a landmark case in that there was no precedent for someone convicted of the one-punch offence after being cleared of manslaughter. 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. A New Zealand-based man who murdered Brisbane socialite Maureen Boyce is appealing his conviction. Thomas Chris Lang, a United States citizen, was in December found guilty of stabbing the 68-year-old in a jealous rage in 2015. Ms Boyce was found in the bed of her Kangaroo Point sub-penthouse on the morning of October 22 with a cooking knife so deeply embedded in her abdomen part of the handle was inside her body. The Queensland Court of Appeal on Friday heard Lang was appealing his conviction. Defence lawyer Terry O'Gorman said he had been trying for months to organise money to fund the case, but needed more time. A Queensland man has been charged with 97 child sex offences after devices alleged to contain child exploitation material were found at his Western Downs home. More than 70 of the charges related to grooming a child younger than 16. Police executed a search warrant at a 31-year-old mans Wandoan home on March 8, where they seized several devices containing child-exploitation material. Police seized several devices containing child exploitation material from a man's home in Wandoan. Forensic analysis has been done on the devices and several alleged online offences were identified. Sacked Logan City Council chief executive Sharon Kelsey will be reinstated to her former role following a decision by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission on Friday. Ms Kelsey was stood down on February 7 after councillors voted in favour of her removal. Sharon Kelsey will return to her position at Logan City Council a week on Monday. Credit:Damian White According to the QRIC decision document, the council argued it would be "inconceivable" that Ms Kelsey could return to her workplace after recent events. "It is inconceivable that the applicant could return to a workplace which she has levelled serious allegations against a majority of councillors who are responsible for her work and in circumstances where they had made a number of serious allegations about her competency to perform the work which she now seeks to be reinstated," the document said. 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. The sacked mayor of a regional Queensland council insists "the truth will prevail" despite having his application for a judicial review of his dismissal denied. Former Fraser Coast mayor Chris Loft's axing was recommended in February by Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, who said Mr Loft was unfit for office after flagrant misconduct allegations were levelled against him. Chris Loft has lost his appeal against his dismissal as Fraser Coast mayor. Credit:Glenn Hunt/AAP Mr Loft applied for a Supreme Court judicial review in response, but the Queensland Court of Appeal on Friday rejected his application. Speaking outside court in Brisbane, Mr Loft indicated he would not stop fighting the charges while thanking his legal team for their efforts "so far". Experts say theres been a lack of scrutiny of local government by law enforcement agencies and the media in Queensland going back decades. In the meantime, the seeds of corruption have been nurtured in the states south-east corner - where many of the problems have emerged - by a fast-growing population and the pressures and profits of development. Launching its landmark Belcarra report into local government corruption last year, the head of the Crime and Corruption Commission, Alan MacSporran, said the public was right on the money in believing local government was a hotbed of corruption. Corruption watchdog 'too Brisbane-centric' But Timothy Prenzler, a criminologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast, believes the CCC has to take some of the blame, having belatedly realised its significance and only then in response to a welter of complaints following the 2016 local elections. Historically it hasnt investigated complaints about local government in any depth, he said. Its tended to either dismiss the complaints or send them back to local councils to investigate themselves. Crime and Corruption Commission chair Alan MacSporran says the CCC might consider a wider public inquiry into Queensland local government. Credit:AAP Professor Prenzler said that as soon as Queenslands first anti-corruption agency was set up in the late 1980s following the Fitzgerald Inquiry, which looked at police corruption but also identified problems at a state level, it received large numbers of complaints about local government. But, he said, it never really put in the processes to deal with those problems effectively. Professor Prenzler called for the crime and corruption functions of the CCC to be split into separate agencies so local government wrongdoing could get the attention it deserved. Its really very easy for an anti-corruption agency to get distracted by the more exciting and glamorous issues of serious and organised crime, he said. He added that the CCC should set up regional offices as its focus was too Brisbane-centric. For others, the size and role of councils and the influence of political parties - or lack thereof - are key factors in determining how councillors and council staff behave. Queensland council boundaries have waxed and waned, first with amalgamations in the 1990s and 2000s, and more recently a handful of de-amalgamations such as in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast and Tablelands in far north Queensland. One retired long-serving south-east Queensland councillor told Fairfax Media his experience of amalgamation was that bigger is not necessarily better. He also decried other changes that had made it the norm for bigger councils - although rare in Australia - to have salaried councillors, a move intended to professionalise their activities. Why would you want to do that? the former councillor asked. The greedy ones - theyll always want more. Party lines 'insulate' against rogue councillors A constant has been the massive size of Brisbane City Council, one of the biggest local authorities in the southern hemisphere. And also one that has largely avoided scandal. University of Queensland political scientist Graeme Orr said the capital city councils physical size, wide-ranging responsibilities, financial heft and the amount of media attention it garnered helped explain this, while smaller but fast-growing councils on the city fringe, such as Logan and Ipswich, suffered. Graeme Orr. I think its not such a bad thing that we have such a big council in Brisbane, he said. If there are bigger resources, more planning decisions in the one council then, yes, whatever rotten eggs there are, theyll make a bigger stench. Professor Orr said that unless council areas could sustain their own media market that provoked genuine scrutiny and ratepayer interest, councils could go unchecked. If people are not interested in local government then youve got problems with traditional media-based political accountability," he said. While there are good people reporting in the local press, is there genuine attention going on with the average person? Professor Orr pointed to the United Kingdom, where councils had an institutionalised broader role and were involved in providing education and health as well as conventional services. It attracts a lot more attention and then you can attract a better calibre, a broader calibre of people, he said. More controversially, Professor Orr argued that the organisation of city politics along party lines - Brisbane is the only local authority in Queensland where this is the case - helped shore up the integrity of councillors. I know people think parties are on the nose but parties actually provide some insulation against the risks of rogue politicians, of donations," he said. The parties have an ongoing issue in policing problems - bad eggs - because parties are like an ongoing institution, they are interested in their future reputation, not just in the individual whos more interested in their own advancement. Compare that to the US where its easy to buy access to a single politician and they have weak parties. The CCC has flagged further charges against officials at Ipswich: its widening investigations of Logan and Gold Coast councils continue and local government corruption continues to dominate the news. On Friday Mr MacSporran said the CCC might consider a public inquiry into local government across the state. The Local Government Association of Queensland strongly rejects such an idea. 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, Mr Hallam said this week. 'When they complained they lost their jobs' But for some, the revelations of wrongdoing in Queensland councils have so far only scratched the surface. North Queensland grazier Jason Ward worked closely with former state member for Cairns Rob Pyne in gathering evidence on allegations of corruption at councils across Queensland. He has spent about $750,000 of his own money on travel and research over the past four years, setting up a confidential support network to council staff and others who have attempted to blow the whistle. Former MP Rob Pyne (left) with Jason Ward at a protest outside the Queensland Parliament last July, calling for an ICAC for the state. Credit:Felicity Caldwell Im doing this because its the humane thing and the right thing to do, he said. Mr Ward said many of the people he had helped had been trying to expose creative accounting at councils involving millions of dollars of ratepayers money, something that none of the current investigations were looking at, to his knowledge. Many of these people had already paid with their jobs and some had contemplated suicide, he said. 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. London: Both of Meghan Markles parents will have a formal role in her wedding to Prince Harry in two weeks time, Kensington Palace has revealed. And Harrys mother, Princess Diana, will be represented by all her three siblings including Lady Jane Fellowes who will give the reading at the wedding ceremony. Lady Jane read a poem at her younger sisters funeral, and is godmother to Princess Charlotte. "Prince Harry and Ms Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day," the palaces communications secretary Jason Knauf said. Harry was keen to involve his mothers family in the wedding, he said. Scientists said areas downslope of the erupting vent were at risk of being covered by lava. Leilani Estates appeared to be at greatest risk, but scientists said new vents and outbreaks could occur and it's not possible to say where. The eruption comes after days of earthquakes rattled the area's Puna district. A nearby school was closed due to the ongoing seismic activity and several roadways cracked under the strain of the constant tremors. A line of spattering along a lava lake margin of the Halemaumau Crater floor, Kilauea Volcano last month. Credit:USGS/AP The Puu Oo crater floor began to collapse on Monday, triggering a series of earthquakes and pushing the lava into new underground chambers. The collapse caused magma to push more than 16 kilometres downslope toward the populated southeast coastline of the island. Latest News REA Group links up with Frollo for Financial Passport Brokers and customers given chance to view real-time purchasing power via new linkup 86 400 added to Finsure panel 2,000 extra brokers to get access to digital lender after major addition AMP has strenuously denied Rowena Orr's findings that the group should face criminal action. The group lodged a submission addressing evidence received in the Royal Commission on its fees for no service. AMP was accused of charging customers fees for a service it was not providing. The group has reaffirmed its apology in relation to this and has refunded 15,712 customers, a total of $4.7 million. It has also made several other changes to its practices. As well as the fees for no service, the group was also accused of changing reports from independent law firm Clayton Utz a number of times, before handing them back to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) as part of its own investigation into the matter. In its latest statement to the Royal Commission, AMP has asserted that the extent of interaction between AMP and Clayton Utz has been overstated. It also included the following: there is no evidence to suggest that the Board, including the former Chairman and former CEO, acted inappropriately in relation to the preparation of the report; the Board were not aware of the nature and extent of the interaction during the preparation of the report; there is also no evidence that Clayton Utz made any changes to the report that they did not agree with or that they do not stand behind the report. The statement reads, In our submissions to the Royal Commission, we openly acknowledged that our advice business communications with the regulator on this issue had been misleading. AMP accepts that any misrepresentation, even if inadvertent, to ASIC is unacceptable and must be corrected as soon as it becomes apparent. However, the number of separate misrepresentations referred to in the Royal Commission has been overstated. There were seven misrepresentations (in 12 communications). These were not new news. We had reported them in detail to ASIC in October 2017 and then to the Royal Commission in evidence provided in March 2018. In the statements final response to the Counsel Assistings open findings, AMP said, AMP takes responsibility for its past failings and has taken steps to ensure that these failings do not recur. However, AMP does not accept all of Counsel Assistings open findings. AMP strenuously denies the allegation by Counsel Assisting that it is open to find that AMP has committed a criminal offence in providing the Clayton Utz report to ASIC. The issues raised in the fee for no service case study concerned matters that are almost entirely the subject of an ongoing ASIC investigation. The investigation commenced in 2015 and has involved compulsory examination of numerous AMP current and former employees and the production of hundreds of thousands of documents to ASIC. As AMP understands, ASIC was nearing completion of that investigation at the time the Royal Commission hearings commenced. AMP fully expects ASIC will deal with the serious matters being investigated in an appropriate manner consistent with ASICs enforcement priorities and under a proper process with any affected parties having had the opportunity to be heard. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Hes one step closer to trading Borough Hall for City Hall. Borough President Adams recently launched a website, Eric Adams 2021, which not so subtly hints at his next steps toward a higher office as the mayor of New York City. Eric is ready to service this city that he loves in a major way, declares Adamss site, which is paid for by his campaign committee, Eric Adams 21, which currently shows a balance of $0. He just needs your support! Together, we can continue building a better New York. And Brooklyns Commander-in-Chief, who moved into his office in Americas Downtown in 2014 after serving in the state Senate and as one of New Yorks Finest, is not shy about his aspiration to succeed Mayor DeBlasio. From my first days as a police officer, Ive been clear about my commitment to protect and serve the city I love. New Yorkers have entrusted me with that honor for more than three decades, and I will continue to reaffirm that trust as leader of our largest borough, the potentially future Hizzoner said in a statement. Throughout the years I have continuously stated that Id be privileged to bring that service to City Hall as mayor. While some may have played coy about their ambitions, Ive been up front for a long time. I believe thats what New Yorkers respect and deserve. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Everyone has a seat at this table. The co-owner of a Williamsburg restaurant where foodies can wait weeks to snag a reservation teamed up with a do-good group to open a different kind of kitchen that cooks up hot meals for some of Brooklyns most vulnerable. They asked me to purchase the equipment and set up the food purveyors, like setting up a small restaurant and kitchen, said restaurateur Josh Cohen, a proprietor of Lilia at 567 Union Ave. I do most of the cooking, and we have a bunch of volunteers. Cohen whose eaterys Italian cuisine earned its chef back-to-back nominations for prestigious James Beard Awards this and last year worked with members of the North Brooklyn Angels to build the kitchen inside N. Eighth Streets Our Lady of Mount Carmel church. The space is a new home base for the good Samaritans to prepare the food they dole out to those in need via their mobile food truck the Angelmobile, which started cruising local streets on weekdays back in 2017, according to Angels co-founder Neil Sheehan, who said the group sourced its meals from a Bedford-Stuyvesant soup kitchen before it built its own cooking space. And the free cuisine the Angels serve is far from your run-of-the-mill bagged lunch volunteers whip up flavorful plates such as chicken curry over rice and lentils that all come with a side of leafy greens, Cohen said. But the community-oriented chefs also plan their menus based on customer feedback, according to the restaurateur, who also owns a stake in another North Brooklyn eatery, Greenpoints Anella and Chez Ma Tante on Calyer Street. We try different dishes each week to see what the guests are responding to, he said. Cohen joined Our Lady of Mount Carmel clergy and do-gooders from the Angels to debut the kitchen at an April 29 ribbon-cutting ceremony, where church leader Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello blessed the space with holy water before its volunteer cooks hit the stoves, according to Sheehan, who said the facility furthers his groups mission to lend a hand to those in need. Our focus is on involving neighbors in volunteer work that helps those who are struggling in our own communities, Sheehan said. There needs to be a bridge between new folks moving into the community and folks who have been around a long time and are economically challenged. Engineers upgrade ancient, sun-powered tech to purify water with near-perfect efficiency The new water purification technique involves draping a sheet of carbon-dipped paper in an upside-down V. The papers bottom edges soak up water, while the carbon coating absorbs solar energy and transforms it into heat for evaporation. Credit: Huaxiu Chen Low-cost device shaped like a birdhouse could help provide drinking water to people affected by natural disasters Left to right: Researchers Qiaoqiang Gan, Zongmin Bei and Haomin Song were among the authors of the new study in Advanced Science. The three engineers and their colleagues are working to bring the solar still to people who need it through their startup company, Sunny Clean Water. Credit: Douglas Levere / University at Buffalo A central component of the new technology is a sheet of carbon-dipped paper folded into an upside-down V. The papers sloped geometry keeps it cool by weakening the intensity of light illuminating it. (A flat surface would be hit directly by the sun.) This novel, slanted architecture helped to speed vapor and water generation in experiments. Credit: Youhai Liu 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 studys 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. Tata Motors today said that it will sell its non-core defence business to an entity promoted by the parent Tata Sons for over Rs 725 crore. The asset sale to Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) was approved by the board and includes getting Rs 100 crore for capital expenditure and Rs 625 crore for transfer of share in wholly-owned subsidiary TAL Manufacturing Solutions, an official statement said. The move comes a month after Tata Power also announced a similar move to sell off assets to TASL, which will be housing all of the diversified group's defence assets. Sale of non-core assets also help reduce debt of companies and reduce cross holdings. Tata Motors' deal also includes a deferred consideration of 3 per cent of the revenue generated from identified specialised defence projects for up to 15 years from fiscal year 2020 subject to a maximum of Rs 1,750 crore, the company said. Tata Motors managing director and chief executive Guenter Butschek said it will continue supplying civilian logistics vehicles to the defence customers. "On our transition to a full range combat vehicle player, we realised that our current portfolio is small and we need scale to unlock its true potential. We believe TASL will be better equipped to execute larger and more complex projects," he said. After months of negotiations, the US global retail giant Walmart Inc has been able to strike a deal with Flipkart, India's most valuable startup. According to a Bloomberg report, "Walmart could buy controlling stake in Flipkart as early as next week: sources" 'Flipkart Online Services Pvt' has approved 75 per cent stake sale to Walmart for $15 billion. Tech giant Google's parent company Alphabet Inc would also tag along with Walmart for an investment in Flipkart. As per the deal, SoftBank Group Corp, which is one of the biggest investors in Flipkart, through its Vision Fund, would sell its 20-plus per cent stake in the company for around $20 billion valuation. The report claims the deal can't be called certain, and that terms could change in the next 10 days. The US retail giant was in talks with Flipkart for around a year to acquire a controlling stake in the firm as it looks to take on rival Amazon.com Inc head-on in India, a market where e-commerce is tipped to grow to $200 billion in a decade. Experts say the Amercian company could bag four of the 10 seats on Flipkart's board. Some of Flipkart's main investors - US hedge fund Tiger Global Management, South African tech investor Naspers and venture capital firm Accel - are likely to retain small stakes, the report said. Currently, SoftBank and Tiger Global own little more than 20 per cent each of Flipkart, Naspers holds nearly 13 per cent stake, Accel 6.4 per cent, while the Bansals own just over 5 per cent each of the company. On May 3, world's biggest e-commerce player Amazon, which is Flipkart's main competitor in India, had made a counter offer to Flipkart to buy a 60 per cent stake in the company. The deal offered by the Jeff Bezos-run company proposed to merge Flipkart entirely with its Indian arm and sought a non-compete agreement with Flipkart's founders for 1-2 years. However, the Flipkart board's decision to take the Walmart offer will make it easy to get the regulatory approval. Any Flipkart-Amazon deal would have come under the scanner of the competition watchdog given their dominant market share - around 70 per cent collectively - in the Indian e-commerce market. Once the acquisition process is complete, Flipkart's Executive Chairman Sachin Bansal may hang up his boots after taking company to new heights in the past 10 years, reports suggest. Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui's recent tweet on his country's decision to remove import duties on 28 medicines, including all cancer drugs, has created flutters in India. The fact that it came within a week of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two day informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in their country on April 27-28 made it look sweeter. "China has exempted import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1. 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," is what Luo Zhaohui said in a tweet. The tweet itself signified its importance. India's trade deficit with its biggest bilateral trade partner and biggest source of import had touched $ 51 billion in 2016-17. One of the consistent demands from India in recent years has been to fix this growing imbalance by increasing its share of exports to China. Being a global player in generic pharmaceutical manufacturing, India had reasons to believe that it has the ability to export low cost, high quality medicines to China. Luo Zhaohui seemed to suggest that one of the major hurdles before India to increase its share of medicine exports to China - high tariffs - is gone now. It is far from true. First of all, it is not an India-specific exemption. Any company, from any country, can avail this concession. The tariff exemption has more to do with China's increasing demand for such medicines than any sop to any country. Secondly, tariff barrier was hardly the major problem that so far prevented Indian companies from making their presence in the world's second biggest pharmaceutical market after the United States. CHINESE MEDICINE MARKET According to the International Trade Administration (ITA) of the US Department of Commerce, Chinese pharmaceutical market is forecasted to grow from $108 billion in 2015 to $167 billion by 2020. Total public and private healthcare expenditure reached $640 billion in 2015 and is expected to almost double to $1.1 trillion by 2020. It also points out that pharmaceutical sales amount to 17 percent of total health expenditure with generic or off-patent medicines enjoying 64 percent share. The Chinese government's decision to remove import duties on key medicines is an attempt to bring down this healthcare cost. Chinese newspaper People's Daily makes it very clear. It states that the exemptions given to import tariffs will bring down drug prices on cancer drugs, cancer alkaloid-based drugs etc by at least 20 percent. It says that the market for antineoplastic drugs, used to fight tumors, in China is about $ 19.1 billion. "Since 2016, the government has reached agreements with pharmaceutical companies on the prices of 39 drugs -- including 17 cancer medicines -- on the medical insurance list", the daily quoted a Chinese official, adding that 3.5 million new cancer patients are diagnosed in China annually. Where does India stand in terms of its medicine exports to China? Commerce Ministry data shows that India exported $ 37.44 million worth of pharmaceutical products to China during the April 2017-February 2018 period. It was better than the previous year ($ 27.11 million in 2016-17), but was nothing when compared to the size of China's medicine imports. Even among the list of products that were exported to China in 2016-17, pharmaceutical products came at the 30th position. For the record, India exported $ 10.17 billion worth of goods to China, 3.69 percent of India's total exports and imported $ 61.28 billion worth of goods, 15.97 percent of India's total imports in 2016-17. Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) says that 90 per cent of its $ 16.84 billion worth of exports in 2016-17 were to North America, Africa, European Union (three accounting for 68.55 percent), ASEAN nations, Latin America, Middle East and CIS countries (another 21.05 percent). In terms of value, India's pharmaceutical exports to Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh was more than what it exported to China during the year. ENTRY BARRIER Tariffs can be a barrier, but removal of tariff alone cannot ensure smooth market entry to China. The market analysis report of ITA of 2016 says that domestic manufacturers of China can sell directly to consumers, while those exporting medicines to China face a daunting, complex and highly fragmented distribution system made up of thousands of local distributers and wholesalers. "Transportation quality and regulations vary by locality, and markups at various stages push up a product's final cost", the 2016 ITA Pharmaceuticals Top Markets Report notes. It does mention about high import duties, along with regulatory delays, and a host of other problems some of the most commonly cited barriers to better penetration of the Chinese market by foreign producers. "Product approvals, timelines, fees, penalties, analytical procedures are all posing problems for Indian drug companies that are keen to penetrate Chinese market", says an industry expert. According to him, China's priority is not to encourage import of generic medicines. The idea is to attract MNCs to import and also manufacture innovative products in China. Tariff reduction may not provide a clue to its intentions, but another decision, taken last month does. In March, Pharmexcil informed its member companies that it has received a communication from the Embassy of India, Beijing stating that the General Office of the State Council, China has released a set of guidelines meant to encourage innovation in drugs and medical equipment in that country. According to the new guidelines, China will now accept data collected from clinical trials conducted outside the mainland for applications to register drugs and medical equipment. The review and approval for urgently needed drugs and medical equipment will become faster, including those that can be used to treat severe life-threatening diseases lacking effective treatment or are urgently needed for public health. Measures were also announced to promote drug innovation, including setting up of a catalog of marketed drugs, building a system linking the review and approval of drugs with their patents, and improving the protection of drug trial data. The guideline also supported the clinical use of new types of drugs and asked local medical authorities to include new medicines in the coverage of basic medical insurance and the scope of centralized procurement by public hospitals. If these guidelines are of any interest to Indian drug manufacturers, we could see an improvement in Indian pharmaceutical exports to China in the coming years. Tariff exemption alone, won't. In the wake of the Jinnah portrait controversy, Internet services have been suspended in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). This decision by the district magistrate was taken as students decided to go on a protest for five days against the police inaction. As mentioned in ANI, at least 40 people, including police personnel were injured during clashes on Thursday. Cops also used teargas shells. AMU students were protesting police inaction after members of Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) barged into the university the day before protesting the presence of a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the university. This was in turn triggered by a letter BJP MP from Aligarh, Satish Gautam, had written to AMU's Vice Chancellor questioning the rationale behind installing Jinnah's portrait. The HYV student barged in moments before former Vice President Hamid Ansari was to participate in an event in the varsity. Students have also expressed their displeasure at the lack of security ahead of Ansari's visit on Wednesday. AMU students have also said that they are not in favour of removing Jinnah's portrait, whether they like him or not because it is part of India's history. Moreover, he was given a life membership in the university's student union. They also said that students union and university officials can talk it out amongst themselves and that outsiders should not be intimidating them. Speaking about the clashes, the Islamic Organisation of India (IOI) said that the HYV wanted to attack Ansari and that it was a serious security lapse. They have also demanded an inquiry into the case. "What kind of justice is this where students were not allowed to register FIR and forced to leave the police station?" IOI said. "AMU has been a harmonious campus where Hindu and Muslim students have studied peacefully for years. But now they are trying to change the varsity's environment," it further said. "Our protest will continue indefinitely till the police take action against those who were actually targeting the former vice-president who had come to AMU where he was to be granted a life membership of the students union," the students union said. The students have also started an indefinite hunger strike. To prevent any law and order situation five companies of Rapid Action Force have been deployed outside the university. (With agency inputs) IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation), the Railways' subsidiary that handles the catering, tourism, and online ticketing operations, has announced that IRCTC e-wallet users can now book e-tickets, including Tatkal tickets through IRCTC Rail Connect, an android mobile app of the Railways to book tickets. Passengers will be able to book tickets after logging in. The android application allows search options and cancellation facility too. The app retains recently-added details, besides giving new users the option to register from the app directly. The app also alerts passengers on upcoming journeys. Now #IRCTC e-wallet users can book #rail e-tickets including of #Tatkal quota through IRCTC Rail Connect Android App. Download now! Just log on to https://t.co/s3mX8VqAiN pic.twitter.com/3h4F3Id7WX - IRCTC (@IRCTCofficial) May 1, 2018 The IRCTC, through its official Twitter handle, said: "Now IRCTC e-wallet users can book rail e-tickets, including of Tatkal quota, through IRCTC Rail Connect Android App." The app also provides cab booking facility which can be done through the Rail Connect app even before you reach the destination. In an attempt to ease commuting for railways travellers, the IRCTC has tied up with Ola, which gives railway travellers access to Ola booking services through the IRCTC Rail Connect App and its website. In another announcement, IRCTC said users can now go through a wide variety of food being offered by the Railways. Passengers can order food by installing IRCTC Food on Track app. "Now your favourite food is just a click away even during Train Journey! IRCTC brings to you delicious meals from restaurant of your choice," tweeted IRCTC. To book food through the Android app, users need to put in their PNR number details. They can view booked orders, and can also cancel their order. The app also provides a facility to auto cancel meal in case PNR is cancelled. If you don't wish to pay online or through credit card, you can avail the cash on delivery option. In addition to this, Indian Railways has adopted a policy of giving the food for free if the provider does not produce a bill. Also, the Railways has introduced IRCTC Air, a mobile app for Android as well as iOS users, which enables air-ticket booking for travel within India and abroad at "comparatively cheaper prices". Apart from providing facility to book LTC flight tickets for your holidays, one can also store previous flight searches in this app. The IRCTC recently announced that it charges a nominal fee - called Bank Transaction Charge - for most payments made on credit or debit cards, or through net banking. The amount can vary from Rs 10 per transaction to 4% of the transaction amount, depending on the bank or card provider. The IRCTC says payments through net banking are free only for the six banks, including IDBI Bank, Bank of Maharashatra, South Indian Bank, City Union Bank, IndusInd Bank and Karur Vysya Bank. Meanwhile, the IRCTC website and its e-ticketing app went to down for around two hours on Friday due to some technical snag, reported DNA. The snag went on for over an hour between 11am and 12.45pm. After starting on a positive note, the benchmark BSE Sensex closed lower today on weak global cues as investors eyed the outcome of US-China trade talks, ahead of the US jobs report. While the Sensex fell 187 points or 0.53% at 34,915 level, the Nifty closed 61 points or 0.57% lower at 10,618. Sun Pharma (2.95%), YES Bank (2.43%) and Bajaj Auto (2.42%) were the top losers on Sensex. Of 30 Sensex stocks, 20 ended in the red. Adani Ports (2.87%), HUL (0.90%) and HDFC Bank (0.80%) were the top Sensex gainers. Brokers said, a weak trend in other Asian bourses as investors watched the outcome of trade talks between the US and China, ahead of the April employment data, to be released later in the day, influenced sentiments here. PC Jeweller was the top gainer on BSE rising 43.72% or 53 points to 174.55 level. The stock is up nearly 54% during the last two trading sessions. Market breadth was negative with 1116 stocks closing higher against 1578 ending lower on BSE. 131 stocks were unchanged. Market participants booked profits at higher levels in opening trade, brokers added. Meanwhile, on a net basis, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 148.42 crore and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth Rs 578.92 crore in yesterday's trade, provisional data showed. Global markets Shares were mostly lower in Europe and Asia on Friday as investors watched the outcome of trade talks between the United States and China. European stocks opened mixed. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.5 percent to 7,541.61 while France's CAC 40 slipped 0.3 percent to 5,487.95. Germany's DAX added 0.2 percent to 12,714.72. Futures augured a lackluster start on Wall Street with Dow futures down 0.2 percent and S&P futures dipping 0.1 percent. Asian markets finished lower. South Korea's Kospi sank 1 percent to 2,461.38 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 1.3 percent to 29,926.50. The Shanghai Composite Index retreated 0.3 percent to 3,091.03 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.6 percent to 6,062.90. Japan was closed for a public holiday. Stocks rose in Taiwan but fell in Singapore and Indonesia. Qatar eyes 15% rise in Indian tourists in 18 post visa waiver Mumbai, May 3 (PTI) 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. PTI SM DSK DSK WhatsApp founder Jan Koum has announced that he will step down as the chief executive of the company. There have been reports of differences between him and WhatsApp's parent company Facebook over data privacy, encryption and other issues, which led to this decision. As WhatsApp looks for a new CEO, cetain reports doing the rounds suggest that WhatsApp's Indian-origin business officer Neeraj Arora could be the named the new CEO of the company. As per his LinkedIn profile, Arora has been associated with WhatsApp almost for six and a half years since November 2011, well before Facebook acquired the messaging applications. The 39-year old is regarded as a merger and acquisitions expert and is credited with rapid growth of WhatsApp. Before coming to WhatsApp, he was also a member on the board of directors of digital wallet Paytm for a period of two years and nine months. He has worked at Google too, first as Corporate Development Manager and then as Principle, Corporate Development. Early in his career, Arora worked with Times Internet Limited and Accellion as Chief Manager and Program Manager, respectively. He completed his B.Tech in mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in the year 2000 before heading to Accellion. After finishing his stint there, he went to Indian School of Business to pursue MBA in Finance and Strategy. While Arora has what it needs when it comes to qualifications, his experience of working with leading tech companies is likely to present Arora as a suitable candidate for the post of new WhatsApp CEO. Qatar is taking a nearly 19 percent stake in Rosneft, rescuing the Russian oil major from its stalled deal to sell a major stake to China's CEFC. Glencore, a Swiss mining giant, said it has sent a notice to CEFC to terminate plans to sell a $9.1 billion stake in Rosneft, according to a statement on Friday. Qatar's sovereign investment fund QIA initially bought 19.5 percent in Rosneft together with Glencore for 10.2 billion euros ($12.2 billion) during the Russian firm's partial privatization in 2016. But last year the consortium agreed to sell a 14.16 stake in Rosneft to CEFC China Energy in a $9.1 billion deal that was seen as key to helping expand relations between Russia and China, the world's top energy exporter and top consumer. That deal ran into trouble after CEFC Founder and Chairman Ye Jianming was put under investigation by Chinese authorities over suspected economic crimes earlier this year. Glencore said on Friday that the consortium that had been selling the Rosneft stake had been dissolved, and said Qatar and Glencore would now own stakes directly. QIA would control an equity stake of 18.93 percent and Glencore would hold some 0.57 percent. CEFC has not commented publicly since the termination of the deal was announced. The company did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Calls to its Shanghai headquarters were not answered on Saturday. The once high-flying conglomerate is now conducting fire sales of its assets following the investigation into its chief and offering staff severance packages after failing to pay them for two months, as creditors scramble to collect debts amid growing regulatory scrutiny of the firm. "CEFC China's purchase of a stake in Rosneft has ended in a debacle. Russia's pivot to the East now feels more like a pivot to the Middle East, with Qatar coming to the rescue," said Christian Boermel, senior research analyst, Russia Upstream, at energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Profitable investment Rosneft was hit hard by U.S. sanctions on Russia over what was described as Moscow's annexation of Crimea and incursion in east Ukraine. But sources close to QIA have said Rosneft could prove a profitable long-term investment given the giant firm is worth only $65 billion despite producing more crude than U.S. ExxonMobil, which is worth $324 billion. The fate of the CEFC deal, one of the largest investments by China in Russia, was seen as a litmus test of how far the Chinese government was prepared to go with a crackdown on financially risky activities among big-spending conglomerates. Rosneft has, however, said it continues to consider China as a strategic market and that it will supply its term contracts based on the agreed timing and volumes to CEFC. The Russian oil major in 2017 signed a five-year contract to supply 12 million tonnes of oil per year to the Chinese firm. Glencore will also keep its long-term crude offtake agreement with the Russian producer under the new arrangement, a source told Reuters. Reuters Caixin news, crime The Canberra owners of a thoroughbred filly shot dead at Burra are still trying to work out how they will tell their young children about what has happened to their beloved horse. Daniel Riley and Alex Creighton, business partners in Canberra building companies Eye Candy Kitchen Joinery and Eye Candy Building Innovations, were owners of the seven-month-old horse called Lolly. "She was called that because she was such a sweet girl,'' Mr Riley said. The horse was discovered shot on their NSW property at Burra, just south of Canberra, on Sunday afternoon. "One of the neighbours was walking the dog and saw the horse lying down and the mother quite distraught standing over her,'' Mr Riley said. Detective Ned Doubleday, a Monaro Police District rural crime investigator, said the filly was shot at close-range with what appeared to be a high-powered rifle. Police believe the shooting was no accident. "It's a horrible crime,'' Detective Doubleday said. "We're unsure of a motive but it was definitely a deliberate act.'' Mr Riley said the filly had a strong bloodline. Its mother was Salagod and its father was Toorak Toff. The intention was always to race her and the financial loss, on top of the emotional distress, could be considerable. A sibling has recently sold for $50,000. "It's anywhere from $30,000 to $120,000, it's untold,'' Mr Riley said. "She was perfect.'' The children of both men had also become enamoured of the horse. "It's a shock,'' Mr Riley said. "We've both got young kids and somehow we've got to explain she's no longer here.'' Mr Riley was still astounded by the cruelty of the act. "This is a broad daylight thing. To me, it's a heinous crime,'' he said. "It's just disgusting a person it out there with a bloody gun shooting people's animals.'' Police are particularly keen to know if anyone saw any suspicious vehicles in the Burra area on Sunday. If you have any information, contact Rural Crime Investigators detectives Archie French or Ned Doubleday at Cooma Police Station on 64520099 or drop in and see them. You can also call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/457560f2-3087-4002-9bce-4979b929e9d4/r0_282_360_485_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Comedian Tom Gleeson said Canberrans had nothing to worry about with his latest show. He had already taken Sure Thing to many venues, including the Adelaide Fringe, the Perth Fringe and the Melbourne and Brisbane Comedy Festivals, and knew exactly what worked. "I've been all around Australia - this show is really huge," he said. "It's a quality item - it's all sure-thing comedy." Gleeson said he would be dealing with some topical material at the top of the show, including a perennial favourite target, the Catholic Church. He said Canberra would be luckier than Merimbula, where he had to omit some of his best church-related material to save his mother, who lives there, from embarrassment. "My mother goes to Mass every Sunday." Gleeson said he would also be discussing the phenomenon of "unsmacked adults" - grown-up spoilt brats, of whom he cited former National Party leader Barnaby Joyce as a prime example, blaming everyone but himself for what happened to him. At 43, Gleeson was of a generation where parents still smacked their children but - perhaps paradoxically - he doesn't use that form of discipline himself. He said he wanted a method that would instil the good behaviour without the trauma. Other subjects on the Gleeson radar will be equal pay and the "emphatic" vote in favour of marriage equality - he noted that most of the people who predicted the silent majority would vote "no" have gone very quiet. Gleeson has had a high media profile in the last year or so, with a game show, Hard Quiz and his Hard Chat segment on The Weekly With Charlie Pickering making more people aware of him and his comedy. "I absolutely love it," Gleeson said of the TV work, especially the squirm-inducing Hard Chat interviews where he puts everyone from former politican Wyatt Roy to celebrity Sophie Monk on the spot (the video of the latter, he said, "has gone viral, as they say"). Now, he said, "people are lining up to go on it". But a major reason for all the media work, he said, was to promote his stand-up comedy appearances, talking about the sorts of issues that came up in dinner-party conversations. "I talk about stuff I care about, stuff I can engage people with ... I put a point of view, a position." Sure Thing is on at the Canberra Theatre on Saturday, May 5 at 7.30pm. canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 62752700. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/a007af9e-13dc-4961-82d7-cb656b427a12/r0_110_2000_1240_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris has denied there are ongoing tensions between midwives and management at Centenary Hospital for Women and Children after the hospital's boss wrote an open letter calling some of their concerns "misleading". The letter was written in response to serious allegations made by senior midwives and nurses which were revealed by the Canberra Times last week. The staff claimed patients' lives were being put at risk by chronic understaffing, delaying of procedures, and under-resourcing. Since then mothers have told of their horror birth stories often stemming from long delays in treatment. Executive director of women, youth and children at Canberra Hospital Elizabeth Chatham said in the letter she wanted to assure the community the hospital was a safe and modern facility that provides quality care to patients. She denied or downplayed some of the midwives' claims and accused some of them of being "misleading". "It is unfortunate that some claims regarding care at the Centenary Hospital have been misleading and its important that we set the record straight to the Canberra community," Ms Chatham said. She denied allegations the hospital tried to mislead inspectors at the recent accreditation, including by over-rostering and removing old or faulty equipment. Ms Chatham also denied any patients were sent home before clinically appropriate. "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," she said. "Canberra is a growing city, with more and more babies born every year. We know Centenary is incredibly popular with increasing numbers of families choosing to birth here. "Centenary consumer feedback is very positive, with the patient experience discharge survey from the past year showing that 93% of our mothers were satisfied with the service they received. "Although we acknowledge recruitment of midwives is an ongoing challenge, it is not true that we over rostered to create the illusion of appropriate staffing levels during our recent accreditation process. "Rostering at Centenary has improved with the recruitment of 15 new staff as part of our graduate midwifery program, a 50 per cent increase from last years intake. In terms of medical staff, Centenary has been able to attract high quality senior and junior doctors from all over Australia and overseas over the last 3 years." Opposition leader Alistair Coe said denials of systemic issues gave him no confidence any of the problems would be fixed. He said too much money was being spent on bureaucracy and executives which should be redirected to clinical staffing. "It's got to be a pretty tough place to work when you're in the business of caring for people but you don't have the resources or the backing of management or government to actually do what you do best," Mr Coe said. Ms Fitzharris denied there was tension between clinical staff and management, saying their had been open and honest dialogue between them. "There are on any given day unexpected events in a hospital and when those occur they will always be based on clinically safe decisions," she said. She conceded there was an increased demand on the Centenary hospital, while Calvary was being underused for births. Ms Chatham said the hospital was working with staff to "take on board" their concerns. "We also want to be clear that women and babies are not sent home until they are well. After being discharged, women receive midwifery support through the Midcall Domiciliary Midwifery Program and our Maternal and Child Health services to ensure newborns are developing as expected," she said. "Finally, as with all of our staff at Centenary, we know that the people who wrote a letter of concern about the hospital, are also equally caring and want the best for the Canberra community. We are working with all of our staff to ensure that the concerns raised are taken on board." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/8cd2d736-4260-48bb-bbd9-411160998d6a/r0_271_5338_3287_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Imagine having a cap on the amount of hours you spend in meetings at work. Or a clause in your contract guranteeing you don't have to answer emails out of hours. These are some of the conditions set out in a new pay deal likely to be voted through by Catholic teachers across NSW and the ACT in the next fortnight, ending a 18-month-long stoush. The breakthrough came after thousands of teachers turned out for strike actions last year, and then voted down a proposed deal in December. The new agreement, which runs 270 pages long, limits meetings for classroom teachers to about 10 hours a term, mandates time be set aside for early career mentoring and explictly does away with any expectation that teachers answer emails out-of-hours. In the territory, the Catholic school year will also be shaved down to match public schools. While pay rises had been agreed upon, the previous deal did not allow for employment disputes to be settled by the Fair Work Commission, exposing a "major flaw" in the Fair Work Act according to the Independent Education Union. This week, the union told its members celebrations over the new deal were "imminent", pending a final review of the fine print and then a vote by teachers in about two weeks. Assistant Secretary of the union Mark Northam said teachers were "astounded" that the right to arbitration was not included in their original enterprise agreement, leading to the "arduous" campaign. The employer representative body had argued the umpire should only get involved when both parties agreed to the intervention, while the union wanted the option guranteed for members in the enterprise agreement. "For our members, the biggest drivers were workload, and that notion of going to the umpire to settle a dispute," Mr Northam said. "It's difficult to believe that in 2018 a right to arbitration clause would not be a national employment standard." Last week, Sally McManus of the Australian Council of Trade Unions called for the Fair Work Commission to be given greater powers to "umpire" workplace disputes. Teacher workloads were also thrust into the spotlight this month following the release of the Gonski 2.0 report. Suggestions by Coalition MP Andrew Laming that teachers could work a regularised 38-hour week with less overtime if they gave up their holidays, were widely criticised by the sector. For almost 17,000 Catholic teachers working in 11 dioceses across NSW and the ACT, Mr Northam said the new deal would put up "fences" around workloads. "That regularly came up as a concern for members, they saw that as critical" he said. "They understand you have to have effective communication but there has to be a boundary around that as well...This is saying it's reasonable for all workers, not just teachers, to have a point in the day where they can choose not to answer emails." Another critical component of the deal was new conditions for mentoring, Mr Northam said. "Teacher attrition rates are extraordinarily high, so a way of keeping early career teachers is to ensure they do have that induction and that mentoring not on top of their work but as part of their role." Under the new deal, NSW teachers will recieve a 2.5 per cent wage increase, backpaid from January, while those in the ACT, who follow government rates, will get a 1.5 per cent pay rise, back paid from April 1 2018. If teachers vote through the deal this month, it will come into effect seven days after approval from the Fair Work Commission. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/963b601c-44c0-42f3-9b69-4e8ca9012395/r0_71_1795_1085_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, crime Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward after an alleged aggravated robbery in a central Canberra park last Saturday. ACT Policing said four men, believed to be about 18-20 years old, assaulted and robbed a man in Glebe Park about 2pm on April 28. Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help police was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can also be provided anonymously, quoting reference number 6260411. Police said two women approached a police officer near the Bunda Street entrance to the Canberra Centre and pointed out a suspicious man about 2.25pm on Saturday. They were also urged to contact police. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/58ce00c6-4dca-4fae-9449-de2146b59db3/r0_78_1200_756_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news More than 30 Queenslanders have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars after falling victim to a "Facebook Lottery" scam, prompting police to issue a warning. One victim in Mackay lost in excess of $100,000 in the scam and police are concerned there could be more victims. Police said victims are contacted through their Facebook accounts, told they have won $7.5 million in the "Facebook Lottery" and need to pay a legal, late or admin fee to release the money. The fee could be hundreds or thousands of dollars or they are asked to pay instalments. Some victims have also been sent a sophisticated Facebook-branded credit card and promised it will be activated once an additional $7500 has been paid, according to police. Detective Acting Superintendent Melissa Anderson from the Financial and Cyber Crime Group urged Queenslanders to be wary of these "once in a lifetime" offers. This is just a rehash of a number of long-running phishing-based lottery scams, just reinvented with a social media angle," she said. There is no Facebook lottery and certainly no Facebook credit card. "Victims lose the $7500 and every other instalment or fee they have paid. This is just another example of criminals targeting vulnerable members of the community. If someone contacts you out of the blue to present you with winnings, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or a chance to gain hundreds, thousands or millions of dollars, you must ignore it or seek independent advice to verify the claims. Make sure you are in control of your personal details and be wary of anyone seeking your information online or over the phone. You cant win lotteries unless you buy a ticket. "We urge the community to maintain control of their details and be mindful of what information you are giving out online. Is this too good to be true? I can say with almost 100 per cent confidence that it will be." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/2949a5a4-0e0a-4557-bdba-420a83e3bf74/r0_34_329_220_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news In Australia, the law protects sexual abusers and sexual harassers. In Australia, those perpetrators can't be held to account. In Australia, there are men getting away with rape right now. And how does the law protect them? Australia's defamation laws get in the way of the truth. And if you don't believe a journalist, then believe News Corp Australia's national editorial counsel and former Press Freedom medal winner Michael Cameron, who yesterday described them as the worst in the English-speaking world. Cameron was speaking at a breakfast in Sydney's Twitter offices about press freedom on a panel with freed former Al Jazeera journalist and now professor at the University of Queensland Peter Greste and Fairfax investigative journalist Kate McClymont and what he said was frightening. "If it wasn't for journalists," he said, "Harvey Weinstein would still be producing films "[But] if the Weinstein story had come out in Australia he would be suing you and probably have a good chance of winning." The freedoms available to journalists in the US are not available here in Australia. We don't have a public figure test. We don't have a First Amendment. We don't have a charter of freedoms. So the #metoo cases in Australia are at a standstill. That lack of protection of journalists is affecting the most vulnerable, the victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment in Australia. As Kate McClymont said: "I think it is having an impact on our coverage of the #metoo movement." She revealed the story of a woman who had approached her with an allegation of rape against quite a well known television figure. She said she had no reason at all to disbelieve the woman who came to her. "But in the end, if it came to court, it would be her word against his word and with the onus on the media to prove what we know is true - it could prove devastatingly costly for us in any future defamation case." Her word against his word. We've seen that play out in a thousand courtrooms across the country where women are shamefully treated in cases involving sexual harassment, abuse and assault. How much worse would it be if a junior employee had to stand up to an executive from her own workplace? Women can't afford to take these cases to court and the one group journalists - who can interrogate the issues, who can hold the powerful to account, are frozen by these defamation laws. As McClymont says: "The current law suits involving the #metoo movement has had a chilling effect on more women coming forward." So what to do? The shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus was a defamation lawyer for 20 years, often representing media organisations. The comments about #metoo by Cameron and McClymont concern him deeply. He says it is troubling if defamation laws are preventing women from coming forward with complaints of abuse and suggests that perhaps we should broaden the kind of public interest which currently covers politicians. To explain simply, when journalists report on political or government matters, it is covered by qualified privilege under common law and there is an implied freedom under the constitution to report on those. Of course, it's in the public interest that we are all are informed of what our politicians are doing. Decades ago, we might not have known about Barnaby Joyce and his various goings-on. And now we do. And that's better for all of us. But what is happening now with #metoo is that we are losing sight of the public policy problem. As we see and hear all the witnesses in all the cases, as we are moved by one person's predicament and then another, we forget that at the heart of this is that those who violate women cannot be held to account. This bit of improving public policy, this way of ensuring we speak truth to power, is lost behind the headlines. #metoo is a very important movement, a crucial movement; and we've seen its positive effects in the US, where companies and their executives must account for what they've done and make sure it doesn't happen again. But here in Australia where, if the lawyers and journalists who deal with these cases are right, women's voices are being stifled and victims are afraid to come out and be exposed to public scrutiny. Just because your boss has sexually assaulted should not mean that your pain and privacy are exposed for all to see. Is that the kind of country we want our young people to grow up in? Or do we want a country where power can be held to account? The defamation laws in Australia must be changed, otherwise the wealthy and the powerful will get away with murder. Jenna Price is an academic at the University of Technology Sydney and a Fairfax columnist /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/128246d1-eed6-45f8-8636-79c9181361cf/r0_49_2000_1179_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news For the imam of Canberras newest mosque, Fridays inclement weather was an auspicious sign. As hundreds of people gathered for the day-long official opening of the Ahmad Al Sabah Masjid and Islamic Education Centre in Monash, Adama Konda said the day was the culmination of years of dreaming and hoping. To me, someone who is very thirsty and waiting for the rain - the rain came, he said. It's a good day today, when you see your hope has been fulfilled and your dreams have come true. When Canberras first mosque was built in Yarralumla in 1962, it catered to just 300 worshippers. But as the Muslim community has grown with the Canberra population, the need for a larger mosque for the citys southern suburbs became clear. The construction of what is now Canberras largest mosque has been a decades-long process, one that had many twists and turns along the way, said leading member of the Canberra Islamic Centre committee Azra Khan. The site originally held a small community centre, which served as a social hub and place for prayer, and was increasingly inadequate for the growing southside Muslim community. From planning issues, to funding setbacks, the project would have looked like many a building saga, but for the targeted attacks that saw the centre vandalised in 2014. But Mrs Khan said the incident had a galvanising effect on the project. It was due to negativity by a minority, not anyone other than that, she said. That was a psychological [setback], but out of adversity comes some benefit, and it meant we got such support, such a show of solidarity that it really gave us that momentum again to keep going and doing what we planned to do. By 2015, the project had significant community support and fundraising was gathering steam, but it was securing major funding - around $2 million - from the Kuwaiti government that meant the mosque could be finished. I guess the timing was right and we caught the interest of the new Kuwaiti ambassador, Mrs Khan said. When he came onboard, it was really then very focused within a time frame. She said Friday was emotional day for her. It's unbelievable, as a Muslim, as a Canberran, as a woman - I can't explain the feeling, she said. There's a lot of emotion and a sense that we're finally here and we've finally got something that we can be very, very proud of, and it's been such a community effort. Current centre president and founding member Zafar Ahmad said he remembered worshipping in Yarralumla 30 years ago because there was nothing else. And he emphasised that the centre and mosque would be open to all Canberrans, and would not be dominated by any one group. We are very open to accommodate everyone, he said. Kuwaiti Ambassador Najeed Al-Bader said he was proud to be able to help the Muslim community in Canberra. Carrying the name of Kuwait means it is double the responsibility at least to give the right image of Islam, and that's why we are very proud, he said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/20df1a6a-7f3c-4340-9aa4-a58f6cfdf6a6/r0_214_4256_2619_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Leave your driver's licence at home - there is a new way to get into Canberra's clubs. From Tuesday, people can use an app created by Australia Post as proof of age at four Civic venues. The app - called Digital iD - is a digitised version of Australia Post's Keypass card, a proof-of-age card used across Australia for the last 25 years. Staff at a venue match the customer's face to their photo on their Digital iD profile, the same as they would if they produced a physical licence, or scan a QR code to verify the customer's identity. Four venues - Shortys, Mr Wolf Nightclub, Kokomos and Akiba Restaurant and Bar - are taking part in the three-month trial, which has the backing of the ACT government. Digital iD's general manager Cameron Gough said increasingly people were using their smartphones to pay for items and this app was an extension of that. Were seeing people increasingly want to leave their wallets at home as loyalty cards, payments and more shift across to the convenience of a smartphone. Mobile payments has accelerated this shift in the past 12 months but ID documents remain a challenge," Mr Gough said. Mr Gough said Australia Post had been involved in identity verification for many years, providing the service to "about a quarter of the population every year" through passports, driver licence renewals in some states, and working with children checks. He said the data was encrypted, so no Australia Post employee could access a user's personal information. The app also used a separate pin, face ID or touch ID so the identity documents could not be accessed if the phone was stolen. A screenshot of someone else's app won't fool bar staff either. If the phone is shaken while the app is open it displays an animation, proving the ID is genuine. Licenced venues in Victoria have previously trialled the app with success. Kokomo's and Akiba co-owner Mike Harrington said these venues opted into the trial because they wanted to be at the forefront of the industry. While less than 1 per cent of his customers pay with their smartphones right now, he believed more people would do so as more banks came on board. "It's the way of the future, we're moving to digital everything," he said. "If people want to use it, we want to accept it. If it makes their lives easier, we're willing to facilitate it." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/02fe4849-a9fa-4759-96b9-eb9e083d0f5f/r0_244_4500_2786_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news 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. A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said more "work points" were occupied compared to 2014, and their number had decreased overall during the same period. "It is inevitable that staff reductions or movements to other portfolio entities will result in a higher level of unoccupied work points due to the lead times involved in downsizing leased area commitments to align with the workforce," she said. The Coalition has pushed ahead with lavish new government buildings despite the remaining vacant spaces, announcing in March new Armidale offices would host the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority forced controversially to move north from Canberra amid accusations of pork barrelling. A new Australian Taxation Office building opened in Gosford last month, and the Finance Department policing other agencies' real estate expenditure moved into a new state-of-the-art building in Canberra's inner south in 2016, in a deal set to cost $376 million over 20 years. The former Immigration Department last year came under fire for its approach to the fit-out bill, believed to be the largest in Commonwealth history, for its new building in Canberra. Senator Cormann's spokeswoman said its property management framework included a requirement that agencies fill surplus space before entering new leases. "This has been a fundamental shift in the way Commonwealth property is managed," she said. New figures show agencies continue offloading floorspace, bumping to 25 per cent the number of tenancies the government considers full enough, from 22 per cent in 2016, and nearly double the 13 per cent rate in the previous two years. The government has reduced its floorspace by nearly 70,000 m through its program to cut its unused real estate, called "Operation Tetris", which the Coalition says is on track to create $300 million in savings over 10 years. Seventy per cent of the government's building leases are due to expire in the four years from July 2017, and the Coalition expects to further cut its floorspace and fill remaining offices with more public servants. Among major agencies with too much space are the Australian Federal Police with 22.7 m per person, the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (20.7 m), Health (18.8 m), Defence (17.5 m) and Immigration (17 m). The ACT had nearly half of the public service's office floorspace. Public servants in Canberra had the most room to stretch out in Old Parliament House (141.7 m per worker), the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court (50.2 m) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (39.1 m). Staff were squeezed most in ACT offices at the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (9.6 m), the Royal Australian Mint (10.8 m) and the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman (14 m). 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. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rennie Sloan, 404-420-5129, rennie.sloan@cartercenter.org New CDC Research Provides Analysis of Georgias Mental Health Landscape ATLANTANew CDC research into childrens mental health services and policies will be unveiled during the 23rd annual Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum on May 11, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Carter Center. This event is open to the public, but registration is required. (More details below.) The Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum, established in 1995, is held each May to address timely mental health policy issues facing the state. Service providers, policymakers, advocates, media, and consumers of mental health services in Georgia are invited to participate in discussions on diverse topics. This year, the forum will include a special award presentation to former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a mental health advocate for more than 45 years. Dr. Antonio Puente, president of the American Psychological Association, will present Mrs. Carter with a Presidential Citation, an annual tradition that recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of psychology. For the past six years, the Georgia Forum also has provided an opportunity to update local stakeholders on the 2010 settlement agreement and the 2015 settlement agreement extension between the U.S. Department of Justice and the State of Georgia. While the state has made much progress in meeting the obligations in the settlement agreement extension, they are still short of full compliance. Both the accomplishments and the areas that still need work will be discussed in a panel that includes the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Judy Fitzgerald. In addition, the forum will host a panel focused on a Children in Need of Services (CHINS) pilot program. Since 2015, in collaboration with Casey Family Programs, the Centers Mental Health Program developed a pilot program to improve the functioning and evaluate the effectiveness of four Children in Need of Services (CHINS) courts in their efforts to divert children and adolescents away from the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Judge John Sumner, Presiding Judge for the juvenile court in Cherokee County, will present a practice guide that he has developed that could be used by other juvenile court judges to institute CHINS programs. Editors Note: Media wishing to attend the Georgia Forum must RSVP by May 10 at 5 p.m. to Rennie Sloan (404-420-5129, rennie.sloan@cartercenter.org). The public is encouraged to register to attend the event, which will take place in the Ivan Allen Pavilion of The Carter Center at 453 Freedom Parkway; additional details are available here. Learn more about the Carter Center's Georgia mental health activities: -Helping Georgia Build a Healthier Mental Health Care System -Carter Center Commends Eight Recommendations to Improve Mental Health Services for Children in Georgia The opening remarks, award presentation, and first panel will be broadcast live on the Centers Twitter account: @CarterCenter. During the forum, you can follow the conversation on Twitter using #GaMentalHealth18. ### Agenda (Download PDF) May 11, 2018 8:30 9:00 a.m. Registration/Breakfast 9:00 9:10 a.m. Opening Remarks: Eve Byrd, D.N.P., M.P.H., Director, The Carter Center Mental Health Program 9:10 9:15 a.m. Welcome: Rosalynn Carter, Chair, The Carter Center Mental Health Task Force 9:15 9:45 a.m. American Psychological Association Presentation of Presidential Citation to Mrs. Carter: Antonio Puente, Ph.D., President, American Psychological Association, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Wilmington 9:45 10:10 a.m. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Presentation of the Latest Research on ADHD, resulting from the National Survey of Childrens Health Report Coleen Boyle, Ph.D., M.S. Hyg., Director, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Q & A 10:10 10:25 a.m. BREAK 10:25 a.m. - Noon Panel I: Applying Science and Policy to Help Georgia Families with Young Children Thrive: Moderator Jennifer Kaminski, Ph.D., Team Lead, Child Development Studies Team, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Discussion: Russell F. McCord, J.D., Public Health Law Fellow, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Joseph Holbrook, Ph.D., Epidemiologist, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Melissa Danielson, M.S.P.H., Statistician, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Marvin So, M.P.H., Evaluation Fellow, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Noon 12:45 p.m. Lunch 12:45 1:45 p.m. Panel II: Update on the U.S. Department of Justice Settlement Agreement with Georgia Moderator: Eve Byrd, D.N.P., Director, The Carter Center Mental Health Program What happens on June 30? Susan Goico, J.D., Staff Attorney, Disability Integration Project, Atlanta Legal Aid Society What Successes Have We Seen? Cynthia Wainscott, Member, DBHDD Region1 Regional Advisory Council Where do We Still Need to Improve? Jewell Gooding, M.B.A., Executive Director, Mental Health America of Georgia What is the Plan to Make Those Improvements? Judy Fitzgerald, M.S.W., Commissioner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Q & A 1:45 - 2:00 p.m. BREAK 2:00 2:40 p.m. Panel III: Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Moderator: Lei Ellingson, M.P.P., M.S.S.E., Senior Associate Director, The Carter Center Mental Health Program John Bartlett, M.D., Senior Project Advisor, The Carter Center Mental Health Program Kate Dowd, M.S., Program Associate, The Carter Center Mental Health Program Honorable John Sumner, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court, Cherokee County 2:40 2:55 p.m. BREAK 2:55 4:00 p.m. Panel IV: School-Based Behavioral Health in Georgia: Moderator Eve Byrd, D.N.P., Director, The Carter Center Mental Health Program Dante McKay, J.D., M.P.A., Director, Office of Children, Young Adults and Families, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Susan McLaren, M.P.H., Research Associate, Center of Excellence for Childrens Behavioral Health, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University Rebecca Blanton, M.Ed., Georgia Project AWARE Director, Georgia Department of Education Q & A 4:00 p.m. Adjourn Photo: Contributed The body of a man who went missing in Whistler last year has been found in Banff National Park. RCMP confirm the body of William Lynskey, 22, was found in late April by a hiker near Lake Minnewanka. Dental records were used to verify Lynskey's identity. A cause of death has not been confirmed, but police believe it is not suspicious. Surveillance cameras captured Lynskey boarding a Greyhound bus in Vancouver in April 2017. He checked into an Edmonton hotel the following day, and his cellphone pinged near Calgary days after that. Alberta's medical examiner is investigating the discovery. with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: CTV A dog approaches the moulting juvenile seal on Victoria's Gonzales Beach. A Victoria-based seal is having a tough time finding some peace and quiet while it sheds its fur. The juvenile female elephant seal arrived at Gonzales Beach two weeks ago to begin its month-long moulting process, but Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials say she's had to deal with "an unacceptable level of harassment. DFO has placed caution tape and signs around the seal, but it appears its not keeping everyone away. "Unfortunately, this is a really busy beach and we've had people getting too close and disturbing the marine mammal," said the DFO's Mandy Ledlow. Ledlow says they know of one case where children got too close to the seal and began flapping their arms at it and barking. When someone told them to stop, the parents of the children got aggressive. This animal is not feeding at all for 30 days or longer," said Ledlow. "That animal is having no caloric intake, and any extra caloric expenditure puts this animal's life at risk, so if you're bothering it, it's expending energy and that energy is needed to stay alive." with files from CTV Vancouver Island Photo: Thompson-Nicola Regional District The area under a state of local emergency in yellow. A 19th state of emergency has been declared in British Columbia Thursday evening due to potential flooding, this time in Electoral Area J, just west of Kamloops. The state of emergency allows local authorities in the area, also known as Copper Desert Country, to exercise emergency powers like entering public property during threats to lives, property or the environment. Currently, one property is under an evacuation in the area, although the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has not disclosed where this property is located. Photo: CTV U.S. employers stepped up hiring in April as the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 per cent, evidence of the economy's resilience amid the recent stock market chaos and anxieties about a possible trade war. The Labor Department says employers added a decent 164,000 jobs last month, up from an upwardly revised 135,000 in March. The unemployment rate fell after having held at 4.1 per cent for the prior six months largely because fewer people were searching for jobs. The unemployment rate is the lowest since December 2000. The black unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent is the lowest on record since 1972. Many employers say it's difficult to find qualified workers. But they have yet to significantly bump up pay in most industries. Average hourly earnings rose 2.6 per cent from a year ago. Photo: RCMP Surrey RCMP are trying to identify a man who allegedly exposed himself. Surrey RCMP are investigating an alleged indecent act which took place in the Guildford area. At approximately 6:41 p.m., on April 28, an adult male was witnessed walking with his genitals exposed and appeared to masturbate in Guildford Heights Park, 155 Street and 101A Avenue. Photos were obtained by a witness who contacted the police. The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his mid 30s, approximately 6 tall, weighing approximately 174 pounds. At the time of the incident the suspect was wearing a black leather jacket, grey hoodie, white T-shirt and jeans. Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca. Transcript for Vital Signs Teleconference: Vector Borne Diseases Press Briefing Transcript Tuesday, May 1, 2018 Audio Recording media icon [MP3 4 MB] Please Note: This transcript is not edited and may contain errors. MICHELLE BONDS: Were joined today by the CDC Director Robert Redfield, as well as, Dr. Lyle Peterson, Director of CDCs Division of Vector-Borne Diseases. After his remarks, Dr. Redfield has to leave, however, we will be joined by Dr. Peterson, who will be available to answer questions during the Q&A portion of the briefing. Id like to turn the call over to Dr. Redfield. ROBERT REDFIELD: Thank you very much. Thank you all for joining us today. CDC works 24/7 to protect Americans against health threats. In each months CDC Vital Signs reports, we focus on one of the threats and what we can do what can be done about it. Today the report contains new information about our nations growing burden of disease from mosquitos, ticks, and flea bites and the important role that the state and local departments and vector control organizations have in controlling them. As well as the important role that public at risk also plays. Were specifically talking about vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, West Nile, chikungunya, Lyme disease and plague. These are serious diseases that result when people are bitten by an infected mosquito, tick or flee. These vectors cause disease and sickness worldwide. Cases of these diseases have tripled in the United States with 640,000 cases reported between 2004 and 2016. There are several reasons why were seeing this increase. Mosquitos and ticks and infections are moving into new areas nationwide. Overseas travel and commerce are more common than ever before. A traveler can get infected from a mosquito borne disease like Zika in one country and then return home now infected, which then puts other people at risk. Finally, a number of new germs spread through mosquito and tick bites have been discovered or introduced here. In fact, nine new germs, seven of them spread by ticks, have been newly introduced or discovered in the United States since 2004. We know that mosquitos, ticks, and fleas are widespread and can be difficult to control. This growing burden has put increased demands on state and local health departments and vector control organizations. We must continue to provide the support to enhance their ability to combat these vector-borne diseases. Since Zika emerged in 2016, the resources that were provided for national response have helped strengthen the state of prevention and control capacity. Our nation is better prepared today than we were a year ago. So what more can be done to protect the public health of our nation? It will take all of us working together to prevent and control diseases from mosquitos, ticks, and fleas. And there is a role for everyone. For example, state and local health departments can strengthen their capacity to test and track diseases and control mosquito, tick and fleas that spread them. Health departments, universities and schools can educate people on how to protect themselves and their families and emphasize the critical role of vector control and preventing and stopping these diseases in their communities. Companies and researchers can develop new or better methods and products to kill mosquitos, ticks, fleas at every stage of life. Everyone can and should take steps to protect themselves from mosquito, ticks and fleas using an EPA registered insect repellant, and taking steps to prevent ticks and fleas on animal pets. We can also eliminate mosquito-breeding sites by emptying containers around the house, which hold small amounts of water, which can be a place for mosquitos to lay eggs. The bottom line is this: Illnesses from mosquitos, ticks, and flea bites continue to impact our nation. The threat of disease spread by mosquitos, ticks, and fleas are increasing. With the warm weather and summer travel rapidly approaching, we know that we are vulnerable to these diseases from both ticks and mosquitos. Protecting ourselves from this threat is possible. It will require improvements in vector control, public education on the best practices for prevention of insect bites, as well as supporting improved surveillance and reporting, better diagnostics and research for both better methods of vector control, as well as better methods of treating and preventing human infection when vector exposure occurs. It sounds ambitious, but I would encourage everyone to never underestimate the possible. It can be done if we work together and its time to do that. Im now going to turn over todays Vital Signs discussion to Dr. Lyle Peterson who will share the findings in the report. LYLE PETERSON: Thank you, Dr. Redfield. In this Vital Signs, CDC collectively examined trends in data from 2004 to 2016 for all vector-borne diseases that are reported nationwide. Heres what we learned. As Dr. Redfield pointed out, the number of reported vector-borne disease cases have tripled over the last 13 years. This includes a doubling of reported cases of tick of diseases from ticks over this time period, which accounted for more than 60 percent of all reported vector-borne diseases. Keep in mind that many infections are not reported or recognized so its difficult to truly estimate the overall cost and burden. For example, we know that the number of Lyme disease cases that actually occur each year are approximately 300,000 or 10 times higher than what is nationally reported. Although Lyme disease accounts for 82 percent of all tick-borne cases, other diseases from ticks have also increased. Areas where we find these diseases now are expanding. Mosquito borne diseases are reported by all states and territories. West Nile Virus is the most common germ spread by mosquitos in the continental United States and epidemics strike every summer. Periodically, as in 2012 with West Nile Virus, large epidemics also occur. U.S. territories report the most cases and epidemics of mosquito-borne diseases like Zika and dengue. State and local health departments and vector control organizations are the nations main defense for preventing and controlling these diseases. Nationally, we have more than 1900 vector-control organizations. Each operates independently and sets its own standards for conducting vector control. Funding either comes from local taxes or government and most commonly from the local health department. In 2017, a survey conducted by CDC and the National Association of City and County Health Officials showed that 84 percent of vector control organizations report needing improvement in one of in one or more of four core competencies such as monitoring and tracking mosquitos and ticks locally or conducting resistance testing. CDC is using two strategies to better prepare state and local health departments and vector control organizations to prevent and control these threats. First, were working to expand the number of effective and publicly accepted mosquito and tick prevention and control options to protect all of us. Second, CDC is working with state and local health departments to build or rebuild comprehensive vector programs that have eroded over time. By taking these steps and sustaining these efforts, we as a nation will become more resilient in the fight against these diseases. There is a role here for everyone to play from CDC to state, local, and vector control organizations. Now Ill turn it back to the moderator. MICHELLE BONDS: Thank you, Dr. Peterson. Brandon, were ready for questions. OPERATOR: Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. If youd like to ask a question, please press star 1. Youll be prompted to record your name. To withdraw your question, you may press star 2. Once again at this time if you would like to ask a question, please press star 1. One moment, please, for our first question. Our first question is from Mike Stobbe with the Associated Press. Your line is open. MIKE STOBBE: Hi. Thank you for taking my call. Dr. Redfield said is Dr. Redfield still on the phone? LYLE PETERSON: No, hes not. MIKE STOBBE: He said something about were better prepared today than we were a year ago. Dr. Peterson, you were talking about the CDC NACCHO survey, which seems to suggest that were not very well prepared. I was wondering what Dr. Redfield was referring to. Could you let us know where did Dr. Redfield have to go? Thank you. LYLE PETERSON: Dr. Redfield had another appointment. I cant speak to where he is at this exact moment. But to answer your question over preparedness, over the last couple years certainly with the Zika epidemic, the funds that congress made available for to respond to the Zika epidemic actually helped provide more resources to state and local health departments, as well as vector control organizations to help boost capacity. However, its important to note that improving the situation for vector-borne diseases is a long term effort that it needs to be a sustainable effort. It just cant the whole system, were dealing with 1900 vector control organizations cant all be improved in a one or two-year period. So I think with the Zika funding that enabled a good start to help us prepare for these kinds of diseases. But a long term effort is necessary. MICHELLE BONDS: Next question please. OPERATOR: Our next question is from Dennis Thompson with Health Day. Your line is open. DENNIS THOMPSON: Thank you for taking my question. I have two questions. Number one, do you expect the tick and mosquito season ahead to be a bad one as it was in the most recent year noted here? And also, do we have any reasons why mosquito and tick areas are expanding? Does it have to do with global warming or other factors? Thanks. LYLE PETERSON: Yeah. So to answer the first question about what might happen this summer, I certainly dont have a crystal ball. I cant predict with any accuracy what is going to happen this summer. These diseases are very complicated diseases in nature which and many, many different factors promote epidemics or disease incidents. Making it very hard to make predictions. For example, these diseases are very weather dependent. I cant predict what the weather is going to be line in July or August. So the main point is because these diseases are so unpredictable, we know that I mean we just need to be prepared for whatever might occur. So preparedness is very important. MODERATOR: Next question. LYLE PETERSON: We have another question. The second part of the question was why mosquitos and ticks why these diseases are increasing? As I mentioned, these are very complicated diseases in nature. And there are many, many different factors which effect where these diseases occur and how frequent they are. And so for the mosquito-borne diseases, in particular, theyre very sensitive to patterns of travel and trade and how we live. So, for example, the fact that Zika virus or Chikungunya viruses or the fact that West Nile Virus came to our shores in 1999, these are diseases that are spread by the movement of people, for example. Or the movements of animals or occasionally the movements of the vectors and the way we transport them. So right now were in a situation with the expanding global travel and trade that all these diseases are basically a plane flight away. And so because travel and trade has been increasing, the number of diseases coming into our shores has increased as well. At least the mosquito-borne diseases. For example, in West Nile Virus, it came in 1999. Another one came in 2014. Zika virus came in 2015. So there appears to be an accelerating trend. For the tick-borne diseases, they are many factors involved with those as well. Including the way we live. So, for example, there is many more deer in the area areas where people live and with more deer you have more deer ticks and with more deer ticks you have more Lyme disease or a number of other diseases that spread. In addition, we know that temperature is very important. And so if you increase temperatures in general, what will happen is that the tick populations could move further north, expanding their range. As well as increasing the length of tick season which puts more people at risk for a longer period of time. MICHELLE BONDS: next question. OPERATOR: our next question is from Allison Aubrey with NPR. Your line is open. ALLISON AUBREY: What I hear you saying, Dr. Peterson is climate change does play a role here with the tick-borne disease? LYLE PETERSON: What I can say is that any of these diseases are very sensitive to temperatures. And so when there is increasing temperatures, it promotes several things. One is the mosquito-borne diseases tend to get worse during heat waves. West Nile Virus major outbreaks have happened in the United States have all happened during heat waves. So temperatures tend to make mosquitos more infectious and infectious faster thus promoting outbreaks. For the tick-borne diseases as I previously mentioned, increasing temperatures will tend to expand the range of the ticks further north as well as increasing the length of tick season. ALLISON AUBREY: I just have a follow up question to that. Separately. You mentioned that the number of Lyme disease cases might be closer to 300,000. Im wondering, given the need for better reporting and surveillance, Im wondering what it would take to get, say, what youve done with the flu, we dont really know how many people get the flu. But we do know how many children, the cases that the child had deaths and pediatric cases reported, there is more requirements for reporting. What would it take to get better reporting requirements for something like Lyme disease for every time a hospital or doctor gets a positive test to report it to somebody? LYLE PETERSON: Yeah. Thats important to know that the reporting to CDC is a function of the states. And the states control their own surveillance systems. We support those surveillance systems. But this is a state specific matter because public health is a matter of the states that we support. So one of the factors is we certainly need better surveillance. And we need better ways of simply monitoring the shear large number of cases that are occurring. So certain states like New York State, for example, has they dont try and count every case. But they use methods of estimating the number of cases that they have based on a sampling technique. So new methods are clearly needed to try and deal with the very heavy burden of cases in certain areas. MICHELLE BONDS: Okay, go ahead. Go ahead. ALLISON AUBREY: Well, if New York State is an example of somebody doing it right, can you give us an example of where the reporting is just a mess or all over the map? LYLE PETERSON: No, but, you know, I certainly think all the states are doing a good job. But I think what is necessary is that, you know, we need to make sure that states are adequately supported so that they can conduct surveillance as well as help people prevent tick bites from occurring. MICHELLE BONDS: Next, question, please. OPERATOR: Our next question is from Gina Cherelus with Reuters News. Your line is open. GINA CHERELUS: Hi, Dr. Peterson. So my question involves the sharp surges that we see in the years like 2005, 2007, 12 and 16. And I see that in 2015 it had eased off a bit. At 55 over 55,000 and it jumped to 96,000. Can we expect a drop in 2017 from 2016? And can you also explain what caused that drop between those two years? Im getting at any efforts that were being made in research at the centers and so on. LYLE PETERSON: Right. Its important to note that overall figures are really two distinct trends. One is the tick-borne disease thats are steadily going up every year, year by year. And so thats almost a monotonic increase in cases every year as the tick-borne diseases expand to new areas around the country and as the number of cases in areas where the tick has been established has gone up as well. For the mosquito-borne diseases, they tend to be more episodic. For example in, 2012, there was a large increase in West Nile cases because there was a large epidemic. In 2016, we had the Zika epidemic. Many cases associated with that. So the mosquito-borne diseases tend to be more episodic causing these numbers to fluctuate up and down whereas the tick-borne diseases are generally increasing year by year over time. MICHELLE BONDS: Next question. OPERATOR: Our next question is from Julia Edgar with WebMD. JULIA EDGAR: Hi Dr. Petersen. Thank you for taking my call. You talked about the resources the federal government made available in the wake of Zika. You have said that the CDC is interested in supporting local efforts to combat tick-borne diseases in particular. What specifically does the government plan to do to help local public health departments to improve surveillance techniques, reporting and so forth? What are you talking about money? Please be specific. LYLE PETERSON: Right. Certainly with regard to funding and support to state and local health departments, we understand that Congress and the administration have many difficult choices to make. We are grateful for the $12.255 million increase in our budget in FY-18. This money is able to fund up to nine states to enhance their vector-borne disease capacity. MICHELLE BONDS: Next question. OPERATOR: Our next question is from Suzanne Capatulo with WABE Radio Atlanta. Your line is open. SUZANNE CAPATULO: Hello. Thank you so much for taking my call. I want to know do you have any state-by-state numbers somewhere we can access. And my other question is back to the temperatures. Are you saying that the high temperatures is due to, you know, high temperatures are due to climate change is causing more tick-borne diseases? Or are we taking those temperatures just as heat waves? LYLE PETERSON: Yes, we to answer the first question. We do have state-by-state figures. Some of them are in the MMWR. We have a fact sheet. We have state profiles that are available on the web. So the number of sources where you can get state-by-state data. As far as the increasing temperatures, as I mentioned previously, first of all, I cant comment on why there is increasing temperatures. Thats the job of meteorologists. What I can tell you is that increasing temperatures have a number of effects on all of these vector-borne diseases. One effect as I mentioned previously is that from the tick-borne diseases, it enables the tick to expand to new areas. And where there are ticks, there comes the disease. It also increases the range of the length of tick season causing people to be at risk for longer periods of time potentially. For the mosquito-borne diseases, theyre very temperature sensitive. And so temperatures during the summer that are warmer tend to promote outbreaks because the mosquitos tend to become infectious a little bit faster after theyve become infected. And the virus levels in the mosquitos tend to be higher causing them to become more infectious. So outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases often like West Nile, for example, may occur when the temperatures are higher than normal. MICHELLE BONDS: Final question, please. OPERATOR: Our last question is from Jullia Belluz with VOX. Your line is open. JULLIA BELLUZ Hi. Thanks so much for taking my question. I was just wondering about the undercount you mentioned that, again, the number of Lyme disease cases may actually look more like 300,000. I was wondering if you could flesh that out a little bit more, like, why is there this undercounting in addition to the difficulties of detection? If you could just break that down. LYLE PETERSON: Right. So one of the reasons that Lyme disease is undercounted is the fact that many Lyme disease cases are treated as outpatient. So people go to the local doctor to get treated. Diseases that are treated by local doctors, you know, particularly when the doctor sees many, many, many cases in a day, they all may not be reported. So as an outpatient disease like this, theyre typically underreported to a certain extent. But its important to note the other reason is that there are so many reports coming in to certain state health departments where its endemic that the state health department has a difficult time keeping up with the sheer number of case reports. But its also important to note that its not necessarily important its not necessary that every single case is counted. For many of these diseases. You know, for example, you know, if youre in rain storm, you dont have to count every drop to know to determine how much rain there actually is. What is important here is the actual trends. And the transfer of the tick-borne diseases are all going up over time. And so even though we dont count every single case, we flow that the trend is towards a worsening in the United States where more tick-borne diseases are found in an increasingly wide area. MICHELLE BONDS: Thank you, Dr. Redfield and Dr. Peterson for joining us today as well as all of the reporters. For more information about the vital signs, visit www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns. For follow up questions, call the press office at 404-639-3286 or send an e-mail to media@cdc.gov. Thank you for joining us to day. This concludes our call. OPERATOR: Thank you for participating in todays conference. All lines may disconnect at this time. ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon Saudi company to invest in Egyptian production lines 04 May 2018 A Saudi Arabian company is expected to invest EGP500m (US$28.37m) in three Egyptian production lines, according to Ahmed Abdel Razek, head of the General Authority for Industrial Development. Mr Razek stated that the company has requested 200,000m in the industrial zone of Alexandria's Borg-El-Arab, and the first line will commence in 18 months once the land is allocated. A joint cooperation protocol is expected to be signed between the two parties to exchange expertise and information on industrial activities. Published under President Donald Trump has a reputation for sparking division, both within his own party and across the aisle. His off-the-cuff tweets often cause controversy, as do policies that seem to come from left field. Most recently, even his own legal team has broken with his stances. You wont believe the way Rudy Giuliani threw him under the bus (Page 10). 10. Trump put his foot in his mouth and got a strong response After a cold reception during his first State of the Union, Trump called Democrats un-American, and treasonous. That comment subsequently prompted a strong response from many on the hill. Sen. Tammy Duckworth hit back at the statement. 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, she tweeted. Next: The following policy really got legislators backs up. 9. When Trump suggested a trade war, some GOPers lost it After Trump said his administration will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, GOP senators spoke out. They said they fear retaliation from other countries and disagree with the lack of communication from the White House. Sen. Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, said that,Trade wars are never won. Trade wars are lost by both sides. Make no mistake: If the president goes through with this, it will kill American jobs thats what every trade war ultimately does. So much losing. Next: Gun control also divided the party. 8. On gun control, the presidents own party balked When addressing gun control during the first week of May, Trump received many shocked reactions. He said that, in some cases, law enforcement should confiscate weapons from disturbed individuals. Take the gun first, go through due process second, Trump said. Sasse subsequently blasted the presidents statement.Were not ditching any constitutional protections simply because the last person the president talked to today doesnt like them, he said. Next: The following offensive comment also received some blowback. 7. Many lawmakers quickly hit back at this statement After Trump referred to African nations as s***hole countries and disparaged Haitians during an immigration meeting, the remarks received a swift response. Lawmakers from both parties denounced the statement. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska found it offensive, and said it doesnt reflect who we are, as a country. I am disappointed and suggest we move quickly to resolve the status of the Dreamers in a way that truly reflects our values, she added. Next: Other controversial statements have also garnered similar responses. 6. This senator opposed Trumps stance on a political movement After a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia turned deadly, Trump denounced violence on both sides. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a vocal critic of the presidents, stood against his remarks. Through his statements yesterday, President Trump took a step backward by again suggesting there is moral equivalency between the white supremacist neo-Nazis and KKK members who attended the Charlottesville rally. I, along with many others, do not endorse this moral equivalency, Graham said. Next: Even his own cabinet doesnt always agree with the president. 5. The attorney general and Trump also do not see eye-to-eye Jeff Sessions and Trump have routinely clashed, throughout his presidency. When it comes to the investigation into Russian 2016 election collusion, they especially butt heads. Trump tweeted criticism of Sessions decision to ask Michael Horowitz, the Justice Departments inspector general, to investigate the FBI and Justice Departments actions. We have initiated the appropriate process that will ensure complaints against this department will be fully and fairly acted upon if necessary, Sessions responded. As long as I am the attorney general, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution. Next: Trump and the following cabinet member have also clashed. 4. His former secretary of state insulted a friend of Trumps Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took a hard line on Russia, even before his confirmation. That stance may even have played a role in costing him his job. He condemned an alleged nerve gas attack on British soil, breaking with Trump. From Ukraine to Syria and now the UK Russia continues to be an irresponsible force of instability in the world, acting with open disregard for the sovereignty of other states and the life of their citizens, he said. Trump, on the other hand, consistently takes a much softer approach to Russia. Next: Tillersons replacement also did not toe the line any better. 3. Trumps secretary of state said he would not carry out this order Secretary of State Mike Pompeo affirmed his opposition to torture during his confirmation hearing. He also pledged to refuse any Trump order to torture. Trump, on the other hand, suggested bringing back waterboarding while on the campaign trail. When ISIS is doing things that no one has ever heard of, since medieval times, would I feel strongly about waterboarding? Trump told ABC News. As far as Im concerned, we have to fight fire with fire. Next: His own lawyers also did not agree with a crucial position. 2. Trumps own lawyer even disagreed about another scandal Giuliani also contradicted Trumps rationale for firing James Comey as the FBI director. The lawyer said Trump dismissed Comey because he refused to publicly say that Trump had no involvement in the Russia investigation. 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. Next: This also does not represent the first time the former mayor has contradicted his boss. 1. Giuliani changed the story about the Daniels payment Trump reimbursed Michael Cohen, his personal lawyer, for a $130,000 payment that Cohen said he made to keep Stormy Daniels from talking about their affair before the 2016 election, according to Rudy Giuliani, one of Trumps newest lawyers. That statement, which Giuliani made on Fox News, contradicted the president. He had previously said he had no knowledge of the payment. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Even the most important man in America needs a dose of Disney magic from time to time. These are the presidents who visited Disneyland and whether Donald Trump makes the list (page 9). 1. Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States. He and his wife visited Disneyland back in 1957, after Truman was done serving. They enjoyed several of the parks attractions, but made a point to not ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant because Truman didnt want to be photographed with the symbol of the Republican Party, according to Dad Logic. Talk about party loyalty. Next: This president was named an honorary member of the Disneyland fire department. 2. Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Disneyland with his wife in 1961. On their visit, they were named honorary members of the Disneyland fire department, and even got to wear firemen hats as they were given a tour of the park, according to Dad Logic. Next: John F. Kennedy visited Disneyland on business. 3. John F. Kennedy Going to Disneyland isnt all fun and games for every president. John F. Kennedy visited in 1959 prior to being elected president he was a senator at the time to meet President of Guinea Sekou Toure. The two met at Disneyland City Hall. Next: The biggest presidential Disneyland fan. 4. Richard Nixon Former president Richard Nixon was a big Disney fan. In fact, he traveled to Disneyland Resort more times than any other US president. First visiting as vice president and then while campaigning he visited in the years 1955, 1959, 1961, and 1968. Next: This president ran his way through Disneyland. 5. Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter visited Disneyland in 1982. Being a fitness enthusiast, he took on the park via a running tour. To this day, hes the only U.S. president to have a running tour of Disneyland. Carter took the early morning jog while in the area to attend a convention at the Disneyland Hotel, reports Dad Logic. Next: This president was invited to the parks opening ceremonies. 6. Ronald Reagan Being an actor first, its no surprise that Ronald Reagan made time for Disneyland both before and after his presidency. In 1955 he was asked to be a part of the parks opening day ceremonies. And then in 1990, he returned in celebration of Disneylands 35th anniversary. Next: This president visited the park for an olympics salute event. 7. George H.W. Bush George H.W. Bush visited Disneyland in 1988. He was vice president at the time and he and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and California Gov. George Deukmejian made appearances at an Olympics salute event. Next: Obamas no stranger to Disneyland. 8. Barack Obama In 2012, Barack Obama visited Walt Disney World in Florida on presidential business. He made the trip to the Magic Kingdom to discuss U.S. tourism and his plans to grow the American economy. During his talks, we learned he visited Disneyland as a child. Next: Donald Trump may be staying away from Disney after this 9. Donald Trump Theres not much evidence out there as to whether Donald Trump is a Disneyland patron or not. But we can guess hes not going to be visiting anytime soon thanks to the uproar his addition to the hall of presidents caused. The animatronic Trump has been called hilariously terrifying, and Seth Meyers says the robot looks like Trump were he ever to be poisoned. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! It has been a romance that has rivaled that of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco. American actress, Meghan Markle, a philanthropist and woman of color from California has fallen in love with Prince Harry, the Prince of Wales, and the world couldnt be more ecstatic. After a year-and-a-half romance, the pair wed on May 19, 2018, at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. It was one of the biggest events of the year. From their initial photos together at the Invictus Games in the fall of 2017 to their stunning engagement photos and adorable interview, the couple seems perfect for one another. However, their romance almost never happened. The former Suits actress initially thought things with her prince were moving way too fast. A surprising blind date We all know that blind dates can go left fast, which is why Markle thought nothing of it when her friend Violet Von Westenholz asked to set her up with a mysterious friend. That friend happened to be our favorite red-headed prince. According to Andrew Mortons book, Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Markle and Prince Harry met at one of Londons Soho House branches. Apparently, the date was so delightful, that Prince Harry immediately asked to see Markle again the next day and she readily accepted. Next: Looking for different things Coming from different places When Markle and Prince Harry met, the former actress was visiting London to do press for Suits, and according to Morton, she had just recently broken things off with Canadian chef and restauranteur Cory Vitiello, whom she also lived with. Prince Harry, on the other hand, had long ago let go of his playboy past. After seeing how happy and content, his brother, Prince William, is with his wife, Duchess Kate Middleton, and their kids, he was focusing more on settling down. Next: Nothing serious at first Just a fun night When Markle agreed to the date, she had no idea who she was meeting or what she was signing up for. In fact, the fun-loving beauty was merely looking forward to a fun night out on the town. According to Morton, Markle had lunch with her friend Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne the day of the date and confided in her about how she was feeling. Nelthorpe-Cowne told The Daily Mail, I jokingly asked if she knew what she was letting herself in for and she said: Well, its going to be an experience and at least it will be a fun night. Next: Questioning herself Saying yes to soon Soon after leaving that initial date, Markle was already apprehensive that things were moving faster then she wanted them too. Morton explained, Meghan wondered if she had been too eager to accept his invitation to meet again the following day. However, we suppose since she was visiting and was also balancing work obligations, she decided to show up anyways. Next: A magical trip after two dates A massive leap of faith After just two dates in London, Markle agreed to take a massive leap of faith and meet Prince Harry halfway around the world in Botswana, a country she had never visited before. Morton wrote in US Today, She had to pinch herself. Here she was about to travel halfway around the world to spend five days in a tented camp in the middle of nowhere with a man she had met twice. Though the trip was obviously a massive risk, in the end, its what sealed the couples bond. Next: Botswana forever On cloud nine It was that magical trip to Botswana that squashed any of Markles doubt about the prince or that their relationship might be moving too fast. Nelthorpe-Cowne told Daily Mail, Im sure that the Botswana trip is what clinched the deal. When they were back, she showed me the most wonderful photographs of the two of them on her phone. They were so clearly already in love. She told me it was serious and they had started discussing the future. She said theyd said to each other: Were going to change the world. Next: All of the sacrifices Becoming royal Still, despite finding the love of her life, Markle has certainly had a ton to deal with when it comes to the glaring spotlight and all of the rules and regulations that come with being a royal. Luckily, in the midst of the whirlwind and leading up to their big day, both Markle and her prince are enjoying some much earned time off. According to People, [The couple] do not have any public duties or outings scheduled on their royal calendar until the big day. They will continue to have briefings, visits, and meetings but they will all be private. We hope they enjoy a nice long honeymoon as well. Next: The perfect timing Worth the wait Less than two years after they first met, Markle and Prince Harry are walking down the aisle. It will be the second marriage for Markle was married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013. However, it seems that the stunning pair waited for the perfect time in their lives to find one another. Morton describes it as a sliding doors moment, because Harry, 10 years ago, he was falling out of bars drunk, picking fights with paparazzi. The queen would have looked at Meghan and thought, American divorcee?! Lets think again, Harry.' We just cant wait to see what this new royal era will bring. Follow Aramide on Twitter @midnightrami. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! . Rating: 3/5 Movie Name Naa Peru Surya Naa Illu India Movie Rating 3/5 Movie Cast Allu Arjun, Anu Emmanuel Director Vakkantham Vamsi Music Director Vishal Sekhar Production Company Ramalakshmi Creations Release Date May 4, 2018 Na Peru Surya Na Illu India is an upcoming Telugu language action film which is also having patriotic elements is written and directed by Vakkantham Vamsi. The film marks the directional debut of Vakkantham Vamsi in Telugu film industry. Produced by Sridhar and Sirisha Lagadapati under Rama Lakshmi cine creations banner, the film stars Allu Arjun and Anu Emanuel in the lead roles. The film also has Arjun, Rao Ramesh and others playing the principal characters. The film is releasing in the Tamil titled En Peru Surya En Veedu India, and it is also releasing in Malayalam with the same title. There are a lot of expectations for this project, and in between all the hopes, the film released today. Check out the review of the film here. Story: Surya (Allu Arjun) is a soldier who can not control his anger. In the process, he kills a Terrorist who is in the custody of the military. As a result, the commanding officer (Boman Irani) dismisses him from the army on one condition. What is the condition? What did Surya do now? Forms the story of the movie. Performances: The film has some solid performances from the actors like Allu Arjun and others. Allu Arjun carried the movie on his shoulders and delivered an excellent performance that he has never done in his career in the past. On the other side, Anu Emanuel is also outstanding and perfect in the role she was given. The chemistry between the lead actors worked well, and the love track between them is also impressive. The actors like Arjun and Rao Ramesh have given their best in the movie and made their presence felt. Boman Irani, Vennela Kishore, Nadiya, Charu Hassan, Sharath Kumar and Pradeep Rawat were also excellent and impressive in their limited roles. All the other cast have made their presence felt in their limited duration roles. Writing department: The film has written by Vakkantham Vamsi. The famous writer had turned director for the first time in his career but has appropriately focused on writing too. Vakkantham Vamsi came up with an engaging story and has cooked up an entertaining screenplay to it. The dialogues of the film are excellent and are perfect for the situations in the movie. Technical Aspects: The music by Vishal Shekar duo has come up well in the film. The cinematography by Rajeev Ravi and Susheel Chowdary is good. Editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao is excellent. The production values maintained by Rama Lakshmi cine creations are grand. On the whole, the technical team did their best. Verdict: Na Peru Surya, Na Illu India is a film which is indeed not to be missed because of the action elements and the patriotic factor. The film has a solid performance from Allu Arjun who carried the movie on his shoulders. The films first half introduces the character of Allu Arjun and also presents the conflict. The interval block sets the stand correctly for the second half to unfold in its way. As the film progresses, the screenplay becomes weak, and the audiences will feel bored, but the director cleverly wrote the conversations in a way that the viewers do not deviate.On the whole, the film has everything that the audiences would love about the movie, but still, it could have been a much better one considering the scope to elevate. This Tuesday, the Iowa legislature passed a bill that would, if signed into law, ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected. As of Thursday evening, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has not shared whether or not she intends to sign the bill. However, Governor Reynolds has a history of expressing pro-life views and is expected to follow suit on this piece of legislation. Pro-abortion groups see this legislation as a major setback for the state of Iowa. Todays actions to ban abortion are an embarrassment to Iowa and they will remain a blemish on our state for the foreseeable future, said the group known as the Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa in a statement cited this week at The Washington Post. Pro-life groups, however, see the bill as a major step for the cause of life. Since a heartbeat is generally detected around the sixth week of pregnancy, this legislation will significantly reduce the number of abortions in the state. The only exemptions included are for cases of rape and incest. The bills influence may just spread beyond the borders of Iowa, however. As The Washington Post reports, Iowa Republicans anticipate the bill to face legal challenges that will send it to the Supreme Court. If the bill makes it to D.C., they hope it will overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that prevented states from banning abortions outright. Republicans are hopeful in light of anticipated changes to the Supreme Court. Some speculate that President Trump will soon get a chance to nominate a conservative judge to the Supreme Court as a replacement for Justice Kennedy, who may be considering retirement. Leah Hickman is a 2017 graduate of Hillsdale Colleges English program. She freelances for BreakPoint.org and has written pieces for multiple Hillsdale College campus publications as well as for ChristianAnswers.net/Spotlight and the Discover Laura Blog. Read more by Leah at aworldofgrasspeople.blogspot.com. Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com Publication date: May 4, 2018 You have seen my picture a thousand times. Its a picture that made the world gaspa picture that defined my life. I am nine years old, running along a puddled roadway in front of an expressionless soldier, arms outstretched, naked, shrieking in pain and fear, the dark contour of a napalm cloud billowing in the distance. My own people, the South Vietnamese, had been bombing trade routes used by the Viet Cong rebels. I had not been targeted, of course. I had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those bombs have brought me immeasurable pain. Even now, some 40 years later, I am still receiving treatment for burns that cover my arms, back, and neck. The emotional and spiritual pain was even harder to endure. And yet, looking back at the past five decades, I realize that those same bombs that brought so much suffering also brought great healing. Those bombs led me to Christ. Mountain of Rage As a child, I was raised in the religion of Cao Dai (pronounced cow-die). My grandparents were important leaders within the religion, and they enjoyed respect from our entire community. Following in their footsteps, my parents, who had grown up knowing no religion except Cao Dai, also devoted themselves to its beliefs, as did all of my siblings. Cao Dai is universalist in nature. According to a description on CaoDai.org, it recognizes all religions as having one same divine origin, which is God, or Allah, or the Tao, or the Nothingness, or pretty much any other deity you could imagine. You are god, and god is youwe had this mantra ingrained in us. We were equal-opportunity worshipers, giving every god a shot. Looking back, I see my familys religion as something of a charm bracelet slung around my wrist, each dangling bauble representing yet another possibility of divine assistance. When troubles came alongand every day, it seemed, they didI was encouraged to rub those charms in hopes that help would arrive. For years, I prayed to the gods of Cao Dai for healing and peace. But as one prayer after another went unanswered, it became clear that either they were nonexistent or they did not care to lend a hand. Image: Nick Ut / AP Images And so I continued to bear the crippling weight of anger, bitterness, and resentment toward those who caused my sufferingthe searing fire that penetrated my body; the ensuing burn baths; the dry and itchy skin; the inability to sweat, which turned my flesh into an oven in Vietnams sweltering heat. I craved relief that never would come. And yet, despite every last external circumstance that threatened to overtake memind, body, and soulthe most agonizing pain I suffered during that season of life dwelled in my heart. I was as alone as a person can be. I could not turn to a friend, for nobody wished to befriend me. I was toxic, and everyone knew it. To be near me was to be near hardship. Wise people stayed far away. I was alone, atop a mountain of rage. Why was I made to wear these awful scars? I grew up hearing the proverb A tree wants to be alone, but the wind always whips it here and there. That was me: a wind-whipped tree. And I feared I would never stand upright again. In 1982, I found myself crouched inside Saigons central library, pulling Vietnamese books of religion off the shelves one by one. The stack in front of me included books on Bahai, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Cao Dai. It also contained a copy of the New Testament. I thumbed through several books before pulling the New Testament into my lap. An hour later, I had picked my way through the Gospels, and at least two themes had become abundantly clear. First, despite all that I had learned through Cao Daithat there were many gods, that there were many paths to holiness, that the burden of success in religion rested atop my own weary, slumped shouldersJesus presented himself as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). His entire ministry, it seemed, pointed to one straightforward claim: I am the way you get to God; there is no other way but me. Second, this Jesus had suffered in defense of his claim. He had been mocked, tortured, and killed. Why would he endure these things, I wondered, if he were not, in fact, God? I had never been exposed to this side of Jesusthe wounded one, the one who bore scars. I turned over this new information in my mind as a gem in my hand, relishing the light that was cast from all sides. The more I read, the more I came to believe that he really was who he said he was, that he really had done what he said he had done, and thatmost important to mehe really would do all that he had promised in his Word. Perhaps he could help me make sense of my pain and at last come to terms with my scars. Finally at Peace My salvation experience happened, fittingly enough, on Christmas Eve. It was 1982, and I was attending a special worship service at a small church in Saigon. The pastor spoke about how Christmas is not about the gifts we give to each other, so much as it is about one gift in particular: the gift of Jesus Christ. As I listened to this message, I knew that something was shifting inside me. How desperately I needed peace. How ready I was for love and joy. I had so much hatred in my heartso much bitterness. I wanted to let go of all my pain. I wanted to pursue life instead of holding fast to fantasies of death. I wanted this Jesus. So when the pastor finished speaking, I stood up, stepped out into the aisle, and made my way to the front of the sanctuary to say yes to Jesus Christ. And there, in a small church in Vietnam, mere miles from the street where my journey had begun amid the chaos of waron the night before the world would celebrate the birth of the MessiahI invited Jesus into my heart. When I woke up that Christmas morning, I experienced the kind of healing that can only come from God. I was finally at peace. Nearly half a century has passed since I found myself runningfrightened, naked, and in paindown that road in Vietnam. I will never forget the horrors of that daythe bombs, the fire, the shrieks, the fear. Nor will I forget the years of trial and torment that followed. But when I think about how far I have comethe freedom and peace that comes from faith in JesusI realize there is nothing greater or more powerful than the love of our blessed Savior. My faith in Jesus has enabled me to forgive those who have hurt and scarred me. It has enabled me to pray for my enemies rather than curse them. And it has enabled me not just to tolerate them but truly to love them. I will forever bear the scars of that day, and that picture will always serve as a reminder of the unspeakable evil of which humanity is capable. That picture defined my life. In the end, it gave me a mission, a ministry, a cause. Today, I thank God for that picture. Today, I thank God for everythingeven for that road. Especially for that road. Kim Phuc Phan Thi is the author of Fire Road: The Napalm Girls Journey through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness, and Peace (Tyndale). She is the founder of the Kim Foundation International in Ontario, Canada, and a UNESCO Goodwill ambassador. Did this testimony resonate with you? Let us know here. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new. At least 24 people are feared killed and more than 100 injured following a fresh outbreak of violence in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). Until recent weeks, the capital had been considered a safe haven in the war-torn country: the only place the government is in control, with three-quarters of the landlocked nation occupied by armed groups. But Tuesdays attack, in which a Catholic priest was among 16 killed at one church, has shattered this sense of tranquillity. It brought back memories of the earliest days of the conflict, when Seleka rebels entered the capital in March 2013, and the failed attempt by self-defense militias (known as Anti-Balaka) to oust the rebels from the capital in December 2013. In fact, the same Catholic church suffered a similar attack in May 2014, when a priest was among 18 killed. The CAR currently ranks No. 35 on Open Doorss list of the 50 countries where its hardest to be a Christian. On Tuesday, as President Faustin-Archange Touadera and his government were attending the official May 1 ceremony marking International Workers Day on the capitals Avenue of Martyrs, thousands of people from the Diocese of Bangui gathered for a Mass at Notre Dame de Fatima (Our Lady of Fatima) Church, for oath-taking on the occasion of the anniversary of St. Joseph. Some officials, including Tina Touadera, the First Lady, and Francis Bozize, the son of ex-president Francois Bozize (ousted by Seleka in March 2013), were among the attendees. A number of priests from other parishes also attended, including Albert Toungoumale-Baba, vicar of St. Mathias and chaplain of the Fraternite St. Joseph movement. He was the leading priest of the celebration. It was about 10 a.m., just after the homily, when the first gunshots and grenades erupted in the compound of the parish, creating panic among the worshipers. Some of them managed to flee, but others were hit by bullets and grenades. Image: Aid to the Church in Need Toungoumale-Baba, the lead priest, was fatally wounded along with 15 worshipers, while 100 more sustained various levels of injuries and were later admitted into hospitals across the capital. Father Baba, 71, was known for his commitment to peace in the CAR. He had been deeply involved in resolving past crises, including mutinies in 1995 and 1996. At that time, he was secretary of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Bangui. He was later appointed vicar of St. Mathias parish, in the heart of the PK5, the capitals predominantly Muslim district which is also its commercial hub. Padre Moses, a parish priest at Notre Dame de Fatima, told World Watch Monitor (WWM) that he is grateful to God that he survived the shooting. He recalled the dramatic moment which turned the Tuesday Mass into the scene of a massacre. He said the Mass had started at about 9 a.m. and that, an hour later, the first gunshots could be heard in the distance. As the assailants moved closer, security agents around the compound tried to repel them but they were outnumbered. The assailants started shooting at people who were outside the church because the building was too small and could not contain all the attendees. They also threw hand grenades. We are all shocked, everybody is shocked, said Moses. We dont understand why. Why to kill people who are prayingjust innocent people who are praying? The assailants are said to be members of a militia group which has been sowing fear and sorrow in the PK5 neighborhood. Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga, archbishop of Bangui, condemned energetically and bluntly the attack on the Fatima church, as he returning from a trip abroad this week. Image: World Watch Monitor I appeal to everyone so that we can have restraint, so that we can also have the self-control to avoid anger, to avoid hatred, revenge, reprisals, said Nzapalainga in a May 2 statement. We have counted our dead, and we continue to count them. We have our injured, our disabled, and we continue to count them, he said. Lets stand up and block the road to the will of self-destruction. The cardinal also denounced the spate of violence in Bangui: Behind these events, I ask myself questions: What is happening? Have there been manipulations, exploitation? Is there a willingness to divide the country? Is there a hidden agenda? Let us look for answers to these questions together. He recalled the legacy of Barthelemy Boganda, a Catholic priest and leading politician of the country. He said the CAR is the country of Boganda, the man who gathered all the peoples, all the tributes, all the regions, and who wanted the nation to be a model. For decades, what have we done with this country? Coups, mutinies, repeated rebellions, he said. The result is before us: We have deaths, looting, and destruction, and the latest dramatic events remind us that violence does not solve our problems. Nzapalainga also called on the government and MINUSCA (the UN Mission in CAR) to shed light on the attack, so that we can know the truth and that justice is also done to the Central African population. The Tuesday attack was said to be triggered by an incident involving security forces and a militia leader known as Moussa Empereur, who was injured when security forces tried to stop his vehicle. In a reprisal, his men attacked the security forces and went on a rampage. An angry mob tried to transport the body of the killed priest to the nations president, but were dispersed by police. The procession passed through the Lakouanga neighbourhood, where a mosque was destroyed and two men were burned alive. A local church leader told WWM that one of his church members was shot dead in front of his house. Earlier in the morning on May 2, another dead body was found around Notre Dame de Fatima parish. The death toll has continued to rise as more deaths have been reported across the capital. According to the latest figures, 24 people have been killed and 170 injured. In the wake of the church massacre, other religious and political leaders have called for calm and condemned the killings. President Faustin-Archange Touadera paid a visit to Nzapalainga at the Archdiocese of Bangui to offer his condolences. The president condemned the violence and warned against attempts to portray it as an inter-religious clash. The people must not be manipulated. There are people against peace. They will not pass, he said. We will hunt down the perpetrators of this act. A nationwide mourning of three days, beginning May 3, was decreed. Image: World Watch Monitor Imam Omar Kobine Layama, president of the Central African Islamic Council and member of the interfaith platform, condemned the act as one committed by men without faith and urged the authorities to stop those criminals who think they are above the law. Almost exactly four years ago, in May 2014, the parish of Notre Dame de Fatima suffered a bloody assault as Seleka rebel fighters assaulted the church with grenades and gunfire, killing at least 18 people including a 76-year-old priest, Paul-Emile Nzale, as WWM reported. Many others were wounded or kidnapped; more than 30 were later found dead. At the time of the attack, Notre Dame de Fatima was hosting 9,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), including more than 2,000 who had moved there only a week earlier to escape from a recent rise in insecurity in nearby neighborhoods. Others had been staying there since December 2013. WWM learned that the latest Tuesday attack could have been prevented. A day before, there were rumours of an impending attack, to the point where some organizers suggested the ceremony should be relocated elsewhere. But it was decided to keep the celebration at Notre Dame de Fatima, arguing that nothing would happen because it was just a religious ceremony and that security would be assured because several important figures were expected. Jean, 20, was shot in the stomach. It was around 10 a.m., just after the homily, when the faithful began running all around, shouting, The Seleka are here to kill us, he said. In the panic, I was hit by a bullet, and I collapsed. I do not remember what happened next. I later found myself here in the hospital. Joseph, 28, was shot in the left arm. After the homily, we heard a young man who was selling water shouting, The Seleka are there; they have weapons, he said. Security forces who were on the scene also warned them to take cover. Some of the Seleka climbed into the trees and started shooting. They said, We are going to kill you all. I was trying to escape when I was hit by a bullet. I fell down, and I played dead while the shooting continued, in all directions. It was the MINUSCA who drove me here to the hospital. I thank God for keeping my life safe. Bienvenue, 40, was in charge of a group 50 young men from his parish of St. Antoine de Padoue. He said that when the police gave the alert, they could not go out through the main entrance, which was already occupied by Seleka, and that some of them were shooting from the trees. We had to break the wall on the south side of the compound to escape, he said. Thats how I was hurt by the wire. There were many deaths and injured. I do not know what happened to the young men I took there. CT previously reported how the surge in Christian-Muslim strife in the CAR was stirring fears of genocide after a successful Islamist coup that saw churches ransacked in 2013. Evangelical leaders later pledged action in March 2014 against Christians who didnt pursue peace. Pope Francis visited Banguis evangelical seminary in December 2015 to discuss the ecumenism of blood. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment If you are actually reading this yet another article about evangelism you must at least have a divinely inspired interest in spreading the gospel. Some of you in your capacity as a church leader also feel an obligation as part of your calling to be obedient to the call to evangelize. When we say "the biggest myth" we are referring to a phenomenon that has only presented itself to the church of Jesus Christ in the last three or four generations in the latter half of the 20th century. For almost 2000 years of Christianity from the time of Jesus to the mid-20th century this myth did not exist. This newly emerged myth is peculiar to the West North America, Mid & South America, and the European nations. If you are an active Christian or church leader in the West I am almost positive you have bought into this myth. But this myth really doesn't exist among Christians in the rest of the world. This myth has effectively crippled much evangelism in the West in our time because we actually believe it and operate as if it were true. And it is not. Anyone in church leadership in the West knows that to a great extent, the growth of active Christians in a Christian community (of whatever sort- big church, little church, home church, store front church, etc) has diminished and flattened out. The reason is that we in the Western body of Christ have passed a tipping point: There are now more dropout (or disconnected) believers in society than active Christians! A dropout believer is one who has willfully disconnected him/herself from any meaningful relationship with the church the body of Christ. The milestone 2016 study by the Barna Group in North America has revealed that of all adults over 21, only three in ten are in a church community. Of the other seven not in church, four used to be in church! The last revealing number in the study is that only three in ten profess no faith or other beliefs (nones). So, let's first clarify the current state of Western society based on these stark revelations. There are more dropout Christians today (4 of 7) than there are active Christians (3 of 7)! This means that over 57% of those who profess Christianity are dropouts! The rest whom we traditionally refer to as "lost" represent about 30% of the population (3 of ten - the nones). Ok so yeah that's unfortunate so let's go evangelize! :) We embark on our favorite "evangelistic thing": Let's invite to church. Or how about a concert. Or walking the streets. Pass out tracts. Pay it forward at Starbucks. Thank visitors who came thru our church. Tent meetings. And on and on. Hey, there is nothing wrong with the above all good stuff if you want to sincerely do something; oh, and feel pretty good about it too.. But much of the above is nonproductive in the West because of the big myth. Now you are ready for the exposure of the big myth. The myth is that evangelism is simply about the "lost." Now, up until mid-20th century in America this was true. That's because the vast majority of Christians were active to a degree in a church body. And the ones outside fell into the "lost" group. But now, the biggest part of the church body is made up of dropout believers! And now, the "lost" are only the remaining 30% in Barna's study who are indeed without faith in Jesus Christ. What is the significance of this societal spiritual shift to our evangelism efforts? Well, if you have ever tried to evangelize (via the methods above especially church invitations) you have experienced the following responses: I believe in Jesus just not church. There are too many hypocrites. They hurt me never again. It's just me and Jesus. Nature is my church. Its not a priority. [fill in the blank] The people whom you are approaching (57% of the time on average) are not "lost." They are dropout believers. Dropout believers generally do not respond to evangelism approaches that are divinely effective on unbelievers: a focus on hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, dropout believers have literally "been there done that" and are generally not open to such invitations and methods. "I know the gospel, I know Jesus, I just don't need or want the church." Whatever the excuse is, it is the result of a stronghold that the enemy has planted in their minds which they believe and operate by. These strongholds keep the dropout believer disconnected from the body of Christ. And these strongholds must be demolished spiritually before a dropout will want to return to the church community. The evangelism outreach methods to the lost generally will not work with dropouts. Herein lies the myth we are operating under to this day: we assume all outside are lost and evangelize accordingly. We gather and preach the gospel which impacts only 3 of those seven out of ten not in church today. If we also desire to pursue the remaining 4 of seven dropout believers we need to understand the Lord has a divine strategy that is powerful and effective in restoring those to the church. And it's not preaching the gospel to them. Anyone seriously pursuing evangelism in the 21st century in the Western church should recognize and adopt the biblical strategy that is divinely ordained to restore dropout believers to the church the body of Christ; as well as pursuing the lost. You see, in these latter days, just as God desires the unsaved to turn to the kingdom, He desires the dropout believer to return to the kingdom. Fishers fish for the lost. Hunters hunt for the dropout believer. And, Love Never Fails. Anti-conversion law in another Indian state could be used against churches, campaigners say A seventh Indian state has enacted a law aimed at restricting people's freedom to convert from one religion to another. The anti-conversion law passed in Uttarakhand state will punish 'forced' conversions by a jail term of between one and five years, according to International Christian Concern. If the 'victim' is a minor, a woman or belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe designations for Dalits and tribal people outside the Hindu caste system the minimum sentence is two years. People wishing to convert have to obtain permission from the state government and clergy have to give a month's notice before performing a conversion ceremony. Christians in Uttarakhand fear that Hindu radicals will abuse this new law to harass their community. 'Almost on a daily basis, we hear about Christians being threatened and abused by Hindu radicals,' Bishop Vinod Tyagi from Roorkie told ICC. 'Having the anti-conversion bill passed will be much worse for Christians. I have been threatened a number of times and told to close down my church. They even told me they will kill me if I continue my ministry.' He continued: 'We did protest against the law, saying it directly targeted the rights of minority communities and organised a rally in the state capital Dehradun. Over 500 Christians came, but we doubt such a micro-minority voice can be heard by the government.' Campaigners say the passing of the law reflects the influence of Hindu nationalism under the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). William Stark, ICC's regional manager, said: 'These laws are widely abused by Hindu radicals due to the legal ambiguity within the laws themselves. Often, these laws provide an easy justification for radicals to attack Christian leaders with impunity. One simply needs to claim that a pastor was forcefully converting people following an assault. As a result, instead of the pastor's assailants being arrested, it's the assailed pastor who is arrested by police following an attack. 'With attacks on Christians skyrocketing, the adoption of a law that would only incite more violence seems to be another step away from religious freedom for all in India.' Dr John Dayal, spokesman for the United Christian Forum and the All India Catholic Union, told Morning Star News that enacting the anti-conversion law was driven by the ruling group's communal agenda. 'There is no forcible or fraudulent conversion in the state to the Christian or Muslim or Sikh faiths shown either by the Census data or by the police statistics,' he said. 'In the absence of such reality, the only explanation can be that it is to threaten the minority communities or to curb the freedom of religion of the Dalit and backward communities whose rights are being crushed by the upper castes which exercise political power in the state.' Other states with anti-conversion laws are Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand. CAR in national mourning as Christian-Muslim violence sees 24 killed, 170 injured Three days of national mourning have been announced by the president of the Central African Republic (CAR) after an attack on a church in Bangui that killed 16 Christian worshippers, and subsequent violence that has seen eight more killed and 170 injured. The Archbishop of Bangui condemned and lamented the ongoing sectarian violence in the country. Sixteen were killed and many injured after gunmen attacked Notre Dame de Fatima church on Tuesday, in CAR's capital Bangui. The attackers launched grenades and gunfire on the congregation during its morning mass, killing sixteen congregants including a priest, Fr Albert Toungoumale-Baba. '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. Trapped congregants were forced to escape the area through a hole made in the church wall by police. Subsequent violence against both Christians and Muslims following that attack has brought this week's death toll to 24, with 170 injured, according to World Watch Monitor. On Thursday CAR's President Faustin-Archange Touadera decreed three days of nationwide mourning, condemning the church attack but urging people not to see it as an inter-religious clash. 'The people must not be manipulated. There are people against peace. They will not pass,' he said. 'We will hunt down the perpetrators of this act.' In a statement on Wednesday Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga, archbishop of Bangui, lamented the violence and division. 'I appeal to everyone so that we can have restraint, so that we can also have the self-control, to avoid anger, to avoid hatred, revenge, reprisals,' he said. 'We have counted our dead, and we continue to count them. We have our injured, our disabled and we continue to count them. Let's stand up and block the road to the will of self-destruction.' Sectarian conflict originally erupted in CAR in December 2012, when several rebel groups, mainly Muslim militants, formed a coalition known as Seleka and in 2013 overthrew CAR's then-president Francois Bozize. In retaliation, several 'anti-balaka' (meaning 'anti-machete') groups formed to combat the rebels. Some of these militias predominantly comprising Christians began attacking Muslims in revenge. Thousands have since been killed or displaced in the ensuing violence. Nzapalainga added: 'For decades, what have we done with this country? Coups, mutinies, repeated rebellions. The result is before us: we have deaths, looting and destruction and the latest dramatic events remind us that violence does not solve our problems,' he said. Tuesday's attack took place on the edge of Bangui's majority Muslim PK 5 neighbourhood, where 21 were killed last month during clashes between security forces and criminal gangs. Notre Dame de Fatima church was previously attacked by gunmen in 2014, when worshippers and a priest were again the victims. Japan's 'hidden Christian' persecution sites recommended for World Heritage status Twelve sites connected to the persecution of Japanese 'Hidden Christians' have been recommended for World Heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Two UNESCO advisory panels informed the Japanese government of its recommendations putting the 'Hidden Christian sites in Nagasaki and Amakusa region' on the World Heritage List on May 3, according to The Asahi Shimbun. The sites show how Japanese Christians endured despite heavy persecution against their faith under the oppressive Tokugawa Shogunate from the 17th to 19th centuries. Mostly located in the Nagasaki region with another in Amakusa, in the Kumamoto region, they include sites of clandestine worship, survival and protest. They also include Nagasaki's Oura church, Japan's oldest standing church site, where many secret believers sustained their faith before the ban on Christianity was lifted in 1873. The Oura church, recently renovated, this year opened an exhibition telling the story of Christianity in the country, from the introduction of Catholicism to its violent suppression in the early 17th century and the two centuries for which it was illegal, where many believers were tortured and killed if they did not recant their faith. In 2017, Japan's era of 'hidden' Christianity and subsequent martyrdom was dramatised in the film Silence, which was nominated for several Academy Awards in the US. In 2015, Christian Today reported on how the country's 'Hidden Christians' were recognised in a separate exhibition showcased by the Vatican Library and Secret Archives contain testimonies of Christians who between the 16th and 19th centuries lived under violence and humiliation. Up to 6,000 martyrs may have died between 1614 and 1640 alone, and for many years the church was presumed extinct. However, in 1865, after Japan had been forced to open its borders to foreign trade and foreign residents, villagers from a village near Nagasaki visited a new Catholic church built by the Paris Foreign Missions Society. They told the priest that they and their families had maintained Christian worship in secret for 250 years. Their prayers contained smatterings of old Portuguese and Latin and they had preserved old rosaries that belonged to their martyred ancestors. It was later found that tens of thousands of believers survived. Pope Pius IX called it a miracle. A final decision on the 'Hidden Christian' sites will be made in Bahrain at a World Heritage Committee gathering beginning on June 24. Otto Warmbier's mother Cindy speaks out on North Korea: 'You can't negotiate, you just have to shame them' The parents of Otto Warmbier, the student who died following his imprisonment in North Korea, have spoken out against negotiations with the regime of Kim Jong Un. Otto Warmbier was on an organised tour of the country as a 21-year-old student when he was arrested, accused of attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel room. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour but sent home in a coma from which he did not recover. He died in June 2017. His parents Fred and Cindy Warmbier are adamant he was murdered by the regime and have sued North Korea, saying their son was 'brutally tortured and murdered'. North Korea has denied this, saying he died of botulism, and a US coroner found no signs of torture on his body. Speaking yesterday at the UN's New York headquarters, his father told a human rights symposium: 'Ten months ago we buried our son. We had no idea we'd be speaking at the UN and these countless other things. But we woke up and we realised North Korea wants us to lock ourselves in a room and do nothing, and we think that's a bad idea. 'With the lawsuit that we're filing against North Korea which is the narrative, the events that occurred while they had Otto hostage and they were using him as a pawn, we are trying to build a pathway that leads directly to Kim and his regime, to force them to be answerable for their actions.' His mother Cindy said of North Korea: 'You can't negotiate, you just have to shame them. We need to stand up for Otto, we need to stand up for all these families. We have to do it, we owe it to the world. I can't let Otto die in vain.' She continued: 'We're not special, but we're Americans and we know what freedom's like, and we have to stand up for this. We have to.' Their intervention comes at a sensitive time for international relations as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made peace overtures to the South and US president Donald Trump is set to meet him shortly. Trump took a personal interest in the case and tweeted that 'Otto was tortured beyond belief by North Korea'. He described Fred and Cindy Warmbier as 'powerful witnesses to a menace that threatens our world'. Paul Ryan backs down in spat with Catholic House chaplain Patrick Conroy US House speaker Paul Ryan has found himself in a battle with the House chaplain, Patrick Conroy, after it emerged Ryan forced him to resign. Conroy has now retracted his initial resignation and Ryan has allowed him to stay on. '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 in a letter first reported by The Washington Post. 'It is my desire to continue to serve as House Chaplain...to the end of my current two-year term, and beyond, unless my services are officially terminated (however that is properly done) or I am not re-elected to the position by the membership of the House,' Conroy wrote. Conroy is a Jesuit Catholic priest and said he was pushed into resigning by Ryan's chief of staff, Jonathan Burks. 'I inquired as to whether or not it was "for cause," and Mr Burks mentioned dismissively something like "maybe it's time that we had a Chaplain that wasn't Catholic,"' Conroy wrote. The controversy sparked a backlash from Catholics in both parties as Ryan initially defended the decision to ask Conroy to quit, citing concerns from some about his 'pastoral needs'. But Conroy denied any criticism over his counselling had ever been raised and instead suggested he had irritated Ryan with prayer on the House floor that was perceived as critical of the GOP tax bill. Sources initially told The Hill that he was being forced out 'because Republicans thought he was aligned with Democrats'. In a statement on Thursday afternoon Ryan backed down and said he had 'accepted Father Conroy's letter and decided that he will remain in his position,' promising to meet with him next week. 'My original decision was made in what I believed to be the best interest of this institution,' Ryan said. 'To be clear, that decision was based on my duty to ensure that the House has the kind of pastoral services that it deserves. 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.' Antenna: Nancy Cunard, the rebel heiress In her regular column, Meredith Etherington-Smith looks at the remarkable life of the poet and political activist who believed deeply in the sacred mission of art to change history, and who was immortalised in bronze by Brancusi In 1925, Man Ray took a now-famous photograph of poet, heiress and political activist Nancy Cunard. In the image, her eyes are heavily kohld; her hair is cropped and her arms are piled with her signature wood, gold and ivory bangles. Journalists and critics lambasted her appearance, wrote Shola von Reynolds in AnOther magazine, but she simultaneously served as beacon to a large cast of photographers, painters and sculptors, all drawn in by the irresistible pull of something unknown. Born in 1896, Nancy was the only child of Sir Bache Cunard, heir to the Cunard shipping line fortune, and Maude Burke, a San Francisco heiress who had tired with the sporting life, moved to London and changed her name to Emerald. Nancys mother would later become the close companion of the writer George Moore, and subsequently the lover and patron of conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. She befriended and financed Wallis Simpson the American socialite and lover of Edward, Prince of Wales in the hopes that if Simpson eventually became Queen, Cunard would be appointed one of her ladies-in-waiting. After her parents divorce in 1911, Nancy lived with her mother; later, during World War I, she married and quickly divorced an army officer. During this period she became closely involved with the literary revolution taking place in England, led by T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound and Wyndham Lewis (all of whom eventually became her lovers as did Aldous Huxley, Tristan Tzara, Ernest Hemingway and Louis Aragon). In 1920, she moved to Paris permanently, where she immersed herself in the citys intellectual life, becoming deeply involved with the Surrealist, Dada and literary Modernist movements. Man Ray, Nancy Cunard, 1935. Photo: Telimage. Man Ray Trust/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2018 In 1924, Man Ray took her portrait with Tzara as the pair were en route to a society fancy dress ball; Nancy wore a gold brocade trouser suit, gold mask and her fathers top hat. It was probably Tzara who introduced Cunard to Constantin Brancusi, who began his African-influenced sculpture Nancy Cunard, also called The Sophisticated Young Lady, in 1925. It was a work that took two years to complete. Cunard believed deeply in the sacred mission of art to change history. It was this philosophy that led her, in 1928, to take over the Three Mountains Press, which had previously published work by Hemingway, Pound and William Carlos Williams, renaming it the Hours Press. Hours would continue to publish avant-garde writing throughout the 1920s, including the poems of Samuel Beckett, Pounds A Draft of XXX Cantos, and two books by Laura Riding. It was also in 1928 that Cunard began an affair with Henry Crowder, a black American jazz musician. The relationship caused a major scandal, both in the newspapers and with her mother. In 1931, the backlash from her family and the press prompted Cunard to write and publish Black Man and White Ladyship, an essay in which she hit out at the racism of her mother and the wider world. She also edited the massive Negro Anthology, published in 1933, which included poetry, fiction and non-fiction by African-American authors including Louis Armstrong, W. E. B. DuBois, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. The anthology featured her own detailed account of the 1931 Scottsboro Boys case, in which nine African American teens were falsely accused and wrongly convicted for the rapes of two white women in Alabama. A staunch defender of the Scottsboro Boys, Cunard founded the British Scottsboro Defense Fund in 1933 whose members included Andre Gide, Rebecca West, Virginia Woolf and Aldous Huxley, among others and organised demonstrations and a meeting at Londons Shoreditch Town Hall. Nancy functioned best in a state of fury in which, in order to defend, she attacked every windmill in a landscape of windmills writer Solita Solano 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. DANIEL ROLAND/Stringer Deutsche Bank AG is closing its office in Houston and exiting oil and gas advisory as part of a strategy to pare its U.S. operations, according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg. The shuttering is the result of Deutsche Bank's decision to reduce its investment banking coverage in the U.S. to seven sectors from eight previously, Mark Fedorcik, co-head of the U.S. investment bank, said in the memo to staff. The bank remains committed to coverage of financial services, technology, healthcare, industrials, consumer goods, gaming and financial sponsors, Fedorcik added in the memo. The Funeral by Matt James Photo: Groundwood / Groundwood Choosing childrens books can be overwhelming for parents trying to find something new and different for kids who always want more of the same. But we can help. Heres a selection of childrens and young-adult books that should satisfy the kids, and you. In The Funeral (Groundwood, ages 5-8), 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 Franks 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 childs understanding. This uncomplicated story will also charm adults who recognize that being remembered is a gift. Kathie Meizner Two richly illustrated new books look back at some turbulent events of the last century from an American perspective. In More Deadly Than War (Henry Holt, ages 10-14), Kenneth C. Davis explores the Spanish flu, which killed 50 million people worldwide in 1918 and 1919. Davis draws on recent research to explain how the pandemic was boosted by World War I, spreading from person to person via training camps, transport ships, battle trenches and even patriotic parades on the home front. Davis account untangles the scientific advances, international conflicts and cultural currents that shaped this catastrophic event, ending with a call for robust public-health systems to combat future epidemics. Marc Favreaus Crash (Little, Brown, ages 10 and older) looks at another difficult historical moment: the Great Depression. Using photographs and firsthand accounts, Favreau shows how the economic downturn affected a wide variety of people. The book also explains the New Deal in an accessible way, focusing on the national recovery efforts by such figures as President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and NAACP leader Walter White. Both books help young readers understand calamities in our past, offering valuable lessons on how they inform our present and future. Abby McGanney Nolan Monique Heart brought sass, humor and, yes, heart to "RuPaul's Drag Race." Her parting line as she sashayed away -- "The heart may leave right now, but it's not gone. It's still beating and full of love" -- were a much-needed moment of grace and light after so much drama. Monique struggled for weeks to get the judges to notice her. But when they finally did, it was for the wrong reasons. They vetoed her impersonation of Congresswoman Maxine Waters during Snatch Game, which landed her in the bottom two alongside The Vixen. SNATCH GAME: Melania Trump, Maya Angelou and Honey Boo Boo are standouts A lip sync to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Cut to the Feeling" sealed the deal. The Vixen knew her words. Monique did not. But she lives on -- and is ready for her daytime closeup. You grew increasingly frustrating with the judges not recognizing your work. What was the disconnect? I don't have an answer for you. I really don't. Clearly, it's something I can't put my finger on. I filmed the competition, came back baffled and confused -- and then watched it when everyone else was watching it, and I'm still just as confused. Clearly, I should have been in the top. I should have won some challenges. That's what the world tells me. I felt the same way. I don't have an answer for you, boo-boo. Now, at this point, especially after yesterday -- what is that movie, "Waiting to Exhale." You just exhale and just let it go. All right, boo. Y'all didn't want it? That's fine. Thank you so much for the platform. The world knows my name. Now let's get on daytime television and get another check. OK? Let's get you read for "All Stars 4." I mean, if "Good Morning America" calls me first, honey, I've won. I don't need to go back. Would you go back for an "All Stars" season? I don't know. If they wait for "All Stars," like they did for All Stars 2." Because my personal opinion, "All Stars 2" was the best "All Stars." They waited, and it was good and they had a good group of people. Yeah, I would do it. Especially if I had the time and the money to make sure that I can get my looks right and I feel very, very confident. I could go back to my room and just learn my lyrics or sleep and actually get some rest and not stay up all night trying to work on costumes and learn your song and you're staying up until the wee hours of the morning and then still having to get up super-early in the morning to start filming. But if "Good Morning America" or "The View" or "The Real" or one of them other shows calls me, honey -- goodbye. THE TEA: Why hasn't 'RuPaul's Drag Race' cast a Houston queen? Talk me through your decision to go with Congresswoman Maxine Waters for Snatch Game. I just thought, "Maxine Waters is hot. Millennials are really into her, especially with this whole, 'Reclaiming my time.' I thought I was gonna win. I sat (in the upper left corner) on purpose because Bianca Del Rio said that she sat there. I said, "I'm not afraid. I'm ready. I want to be right next to RuPaul and make him laugh." I made him chuckle. But it for sure was not the best. At the time, I didn't get it. You have to stay in character the whole time. I was not that the whole time. Were you expecting to land in the bottom? I felt like if I was bottom three, fine. But I should have not been bottom two. I knew that my Snatch Game wasn't the best. But at the same time, Miz Cracker's wasn't that funny. Kameron (Michaels') really wasn't that funny. What was your proudest moment on the show? I really don't have a most proud moment that was actually seen. I didn't win anything. Clearly, the world saw that I was robbed week to week. I just got to love on my sisters. I would write little notes for the girls and whatnot. I was just proud to be there. A man was struck and killed by a tow-truck driver Thursday evening after walking in the roadway in northwest Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. The tow-truck driver was traveling northbound when he hit the man around 9 p.m. on North Houston Rosslyn Road near West Gulf Bank, according to Lieutenant V. Harisis with Houston Police Department. Almost a dozen members of a human smuggling organization were sentenced Thursday in a Laredo federal court. Visiting Judge Keith P. Ellison presided over the sentencing hearings of Sandra Gongora, Abraham Alfonso Garza, Carlos Enrique Reyna-Garcia, Maria de Lourdes Gongora, Jose Gongora Sr., Juan Antonio Luna, Joseph Graves Jr., Guillermo Valdovinos-Rios, Mario Adalberto Ramirez-Guerrero, Jose Francisco Morales Jr. and Luis Rodriguez Jr. The organization was a family business, with parents, uncles and in-laws taking part in the illicit activities. The defendants' plea agreements document several instances in which the defendants had encounters with law enforcement and were found to have participated in human smuggling. READ ALSO: Photos: National Guard troops arrive in Laredo to aid Border Patrol Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa described the human smuggling ring as a long-standing organization that operated for a significant period of time. "This was not a one-time deal," the prosecutor said. "This was a thorn on the side of Border Patrol and South Texas law enforcement." The multi-person indictment states that the defendants conspired and agreed to move or attempt to transport and move undocumented immigrants within the United States between Sept. 1, 2015 and June 23, 2017. Multiple material witnesses admitted to paying between $5,000 and $10,000 to be transported to various locations in the country, according to court documents. RELATED: Trucker involved in deadly smuggling of dozens of immigrants sentenced to life in prison Sandra Gongora and Garza received the longest prison sentences, 36 months and 30 months, respectively. De La Rosa said the investigation showed that Gongora was the second in command. She helped transport undocumented immigrants from several locations and load them into trailers and other vehicles. Court documents state that Garza confessed that he had moved undocumented immigrants to a tractor-trailer for a friend he owed money to. He admitted to picking up the immigrants from another vehicle and taking them to the trailer after. Reyna-Garcia was ordered to serve 24 months in prison. His plea agreement states that he transported undocumented immigrants and allowed the organization to use his rented home in south Laredo as a stash house. Maria Gongora, Jose Gongora Sr., Luna, Graves and Valdovino-Rios were all sentenced to 12 months and one day. The Gongoras, Luna and Valdovino-Rios used their personal vehicles to transport undocumented immigrants from one place to another and into trailers as well as to scout specific areas and checkpoints, court documents state. RELATED: Nuevo Laredo man gets 10 years in prison for human smuggling Graves, a truck driver who lives in Iowa, was found to be a single-time participant. On June 23, 2017, LPD found 21 undocumented immigrants in the sleeper compartment of the truck he was driving, according to court documents. Graves said he was surprised by the number of people other co-conspirators were putting in his tractor-trailer because he was recruited to move only 10 undocumented immigrants through the Laredo Border Patrol checkpoint for $5,000, records state. Ellison determined that Ramirez-Guerrero, Morales and Rodriguez all played a minor role in the conspiracy and sentenced them to time served. The investigation showed that they mostly participated by driving scout vehicles to alert other co-conspirators, court documents state. Jose Andres Gongora Jr., the group's leader, has also pleaded guilty to being involved in the conspiracy and is pending sentencing, court records show. Catherine OBrien, associate vice chancellor of college readiness with Houston Community College, has been awarded the 2018-2019 Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. The Aspen fellowship program is aimed at preparing the next generation of community college presidents. OBrien is one of 40 college administrators across the nation to be named a 2018 fellow by the Aspen Institute, which advances higher education practices, policies and leadership that significantly improve student outcomes. Microsoft will provide STEM education at schools, teach computer literacy skills to adults and transform Houston into a "Smart City" as part of a new partnership announced Friday. "These sort of efforts become infectious and contagious," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "Because of their presence, and the strength of their presence ... I would venture to say that others will be motivated to do the same." Microsoft's educational efforts will help boost the existing workforce while fostering the next generation of technology innovators. The Smart Cities element will look at improving city functions by adding sensors, collecting data and finding more efficient solutions. Sensors, for instance, could be used to track buses and find more optimal routes that would have less congestion while being convenient for more people. It could also be used to determine if a bus is being driven too aggressively and consuming more gasoline than it otherwise would, said Cameron Carr, director of Internet of Things and Solutions for Microsoft. After events like Hurricane Harvey, drones could be used to find people needing assistance or to determine areas that are flooded and impassible. "We are right on the edge of creating this bold new world," Carr said. The Microsoft announcement is the latest in a string of technology developments as Houston seeks to become a hub for high-tech startups and venture capital. This announcement comes as Houston gains momentum in its efforts to become a destination for high-tech startups and venture capital. Last month, Rice University announced that it will transform the former Sears property in Midtown into an innovation center for technology companies. MORE: Rice, partners envision innovative future for retired Sears building in Midtown Houston Exponential recently named serial entrepreneur Russ Capper as its executive director. This nonprofit was announced in October and combined the Houston Technology Center with the Mayor's Technology and Innovation Task Force and the Greater Houston Partnership's Innovation Roundtable. And leaders of the Texas Medical Center recently unveiled TMC, a medical research campus across 30 acres that they said would unite four powerhouse research institutions and make Houston an international hub for biomedical innovations and commercialization. "I set a goal for Houston to become the next hotbed in our nation for innovation and technology and the digital universe," Turner said. "Well, I would advise anyone to not blink unless they want to miss what's going on in the city of Houston." The Woodrow Wilson Middle School Sixth Grade and Treble Choirs recently attended the Blinn College Choir Festival in Brenham, Texas, on Friday, April 6, and competed against other choirs from around the state. The Sixth Grade Choir, composed of 34 young men and women, earned an overall rating of Superior, receiving straight first division ratings from all three judges. It has been a busy spring for Coldspring-Oakhurst High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets. On April 14, 24 cadets and six of their family members collectively completed over 300 community service hours as volunteers at the Savage Race Houston event held in Cat Springs, Texas. As volunteers, they helped oversee a 7-mile, 31-obstacle course that included wooded terrain, water features, and rolling hills. More than 2,000 participants from across the nation participated in the race, along with four courageous COHS AFJROTC cadets. It was a challenging and rewarding day. Matt Winkelmeyer/Contour by Getty Images for SXSW Jmblya, the hip-hop festival returning to Houston after several years, has another last-minute switch. T.I. is replacing rapper Kevin Gates at all three dates, including Sunday at Sam Houston Race Park. It was announced Thursday afternoon. Jenny Page, who is currently the city secretary of Frisco, was announced as the lone finalist for the position of Humble city secretary during the Humble BizCom meeting on Thursday, May 3. Council will be approving her next Thursday, said Jason Stuebe, Humble city manager. Page will fill Stuebes former position, which he vacated after a promotion to city manager in 2017 after previous city manager, Darrell Boeske announced his retirement. Humble City Council officially named Stuebe as city manager on Jan. 15. Sherry Mashburn has been serving as interim city secretary. Page is expected to begin her new position as Humbles permanent city secretary in June. Additionally, the city of Humble is going through the interview process to hire a permanent fire chief. Fire Marshal James Nykaza, Assistant Fire Chief Al Taska, and Assistant Fire Chief Mike Legoudes have been taking on the responsibilities of the fire chief position since former Humble Fire Chief Gary Outlaw retired at the beginning of the year. We should be getting down to a couple of finalists within the next week or so, Stuebe said. Stuebe also announced that the last of Humbles Harvey-damaged businesses that have decided to come back are scheduled to reopen soon, including Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, Country Inn and Suites, and Bed Bath and Beyond. Were down to our last half-dozen-or-so businesses and they should all be open here within about the next month and a half, two months at most, Stuebe said. So thats a good thing. Humble city officials are also interacting with different governmental entities to have a presence in emergency-related processes. Mayor Merle Aaron and Stuebe have been attending Texas Department of Emergency Management workshops for the past couple of months. TDEM has taken a great leadership role in bringing together state and federal agencies and departments together with County Judges, Commissioners, Mayors, Emergency Managers and First Responders to do a post-mortem on Harvey, gather feedback based on what happened in the real-world with the ultimate goal being a fine-tuning of the state and local emergency management annexes and protocols, Stuebe said. The Mayor is very sensitive to not only sharing our story but doing so in a way so as to mitigate the impacts of future disasters and improve our collective response, not only just here locally but throughout the state as well. City officials also recently attended a tabletop exercise at the San Jacinto River Authority, which Stuebe said was an enlightening opportunity to participate in the emergency planning process. These types of exercises are intended to gather feedback from area wide first responders and emergency management personnel on how to best respond to certain emergencies in this case flooding to wit, protocols, communications, and operations are discussed to assist in getting everyone on the same page so that in the event of an emergency the response is coordinated and executed as best as possible, Stuebe said. mfeuk@hcnonline.com A Houston woman who allegedly went on several shopping sprees on other people's dimes was taken to Florida to face similar charges, authorities said. Jessica Wakefield, 25, allegedly stole an elderly Katy woman's credit card in February and spent more than $8,500 in one day on expensive purses, makeup and gift cards, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office detectives said. Wakefield was arrested April 26 in west Harris County, but detectives learned soon after that she was wanted in Tampa, Florida, for a similar crime spree with her sister during spring break. INDICTED: Gun range employee indicted for allegedly shooting customer in head In the Tampa case, Wakefield and her sister, Jennifer Gamble, 22, allegedly stole several purses and wallets from various office buildings and spent thousands of dollars on themselves and 13 other family members to go on vacation. The trip included luxurious shopping sprees, a trip to SeaWorld and several other purchases, authorities allege. While Wakefield and Gamble were developed as suspects, neither was arrested. Wakefield was taken into custody by Harris County deputy constables, who also assisted Tampa police officers with apprehending Gamble, authorities said. Wakefield is facing several felony charges in Florida, and Gamble is facing four felonies and a misdemeanor. In Houston, Wakefield is facing several third-degree felony charges of credit card abuse and fraud against an elderly individual, detectives said. Her Texas case will be handled after the Florida charges are dealt with. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. As a former federal prosecutor and current chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) has battled drug cartels and terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Queda. Now McCaul, who represents Katy in Washington, D.C., said human traffickers are next. These human sex traffickers are really the worst of the worst. They deserve the worst punishment, McCaul said after hosting a human trafficking awareness roundtable at the Katy Independent School Districts Legacy Stadium. Representatives from federal, state and local agencies were on hand at the May 2 event to share their ideas about how to grapple with what officials said was a growing problem impacting communities throughout the state and nation. Experts define human trafficking as controlling a person through force, fraud or coercion to exploit the victim. More than 300,000 victims are in Texas alone. While anyone can be a victim, the average age is 13 and more than half of the victims are women and girls, according to Houston Crime Stoppers. This is a dark stain on humanity. Its modern day slavery in our lifetime and we need to do something about it, McCaul said. Represented at the human trafficking roundtable were agencies like Homeland Security and the Houston Police Department to non-government organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It can happen here in Katy, Texas, McCaul said. Its not just urban America, its suburban America. Mark Dawson, special agent in charge of Houstons Homeland Security Investigations office, said combatting human trafficking is one of their top priorities every year. But no one agency can take on the challenge of something as large as this, he said. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, agreed with Dawson. It has to be a multi-disciplinary approach, he said. Capt. Derek Prestridge with DPS said their patrol troopers are being trained to look for the signs of a possible human trafficking case during routine traffic stops on the freeways. Weve come in contact with those children on a daily basis. We have to start accounting for, them, Prestridge said. We have to stop waiting for children to tell us theyre victims. It is a case of asking the right questions. McCaul said the proactive DPS approach could be a model for other states to follow. Its being the eyes and the ears - how to identify the warning signs of sex trafficking and sex exploitation and bring those criminals to justice, he said. Scott Santoro with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center warned the panelists about inconsistency in training standards for dealing with sex trafficking. We cant just hope that a victim is in a jurisdiction that has great training, Santoro said. McCaul pointed out some legislative success at a national level with dealing with human trafficking, including the passage of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017 - later signed into law by President Trump - which prioritizes combatting sex trafficking as one of the departments primary missions. He also credited passage of a bill that makes it easier to take down internet sites that exploit children for sex trafficking. But, McCaul said Texas needs to toughen up some of its own human trafficking laws. He cited a case where a convicted sex trafficker exploited a girl for more than a week but was released after receiving deferred adjudication in the case. That is not acceptable. It should not be acceptable in our criminal justice system, McCaul said. Kathryn Griffins perspective on the days topic was different than the other panelists at the roundtable. Although now with the Harris County Precinct One Constables Office its human trafficking director, Griffin is a convicted former prostitute with a $30,000 a month crack cocaine habit whose life began spiraling out of control after she was sexually abused as a child. She said the trauma of being abused as a child broke her down. I wanted to die with a crack pipe in my hand, Griffin said, recalling her lowest moment in the life of a sex trafficking victim. She warned the panelists not to underestimate the street smarts of the sex traffickers. She said they will change their recruiting and operating strategies as the situation dictates. The real pimps never get caught. They sit back and collect all the money, Griffin said. They think our sentencing is a joke. In the end, law enforcement agencies can only do so much and whats needed is greater public awareness about sex trafficking, McCaul said. A lot of people dont want to recognize that this is in their back yard. Some school districts dont want to acknowledge that (it) could exist in their neighborhoods, McCaul said. The fact is, its there. Its kind of like peeling the layers of an onion. It gets worse the more you look into this. mike.glenn@chron.com It all started along the river. The fertile land along its banks and the abundant wildlife and fish had supported Yanaguana natives and their ancestors for nearly 10,000 years. Throughout the 17th century, the rivers prime location along the trade route to French Louisiana and other missions in East Texas brought many visitors, some of whom would eventually settle the land to form the City of San Antonio. The river had been fondly known to local natives as the Yanaguana until a Spanish expedition led by Father Damian Massanet renamed it Rio San Antonio de Padua in 1691. Father Massanet picked the name in celebration of the day he arrived at the riverside sanctuary: the Feast Day of St. Anthony of Padua. Years later, the lush land alongside the Rio San Antonio peaked Spanish interests once again. On May 1, 1718, Franciscan missionary Father Antonio Olivares established the mission of San Antonio de Valero near the first spring, half a league from a high ground adjoining a small thicket of live oaks, according to one priests account. This spring had been named Agua de San Pedro; today we call it San Pedro Creek. Four days later, a military post, Presidio San Antonio de Bexar, and a civil settlement, Villa de Bexar, followed. Soon after they built aqueducts to water crops and feed the growing village. All the while, the San Pedro Creek became the beating heart of the city, its banks the hub of civic and commercial activity. From this riverside settlement, the City of San Antonio was born. In the 300 years since the establishment of that first mission, the City of San Antonio has grown into an epicenter of storied Texas history, national interest, and international culture. It was where Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas, arrived in the summer of 1821 to pursue his fathers permit for the settlement of the Old 300 American families into the Mexican territory. It was the site of the unforgettable Battle of the Alamo, where hundreds of valiant Texians paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of the unyielding commitment to freedom that still characterizes our state today. It was host to more than six million global guests from 30 different nations during the HemisFair 1968 in celebration of its sestercentennial anniversary, when the citys skyline staple Tower of the Americas debuted. It was the recipient of the first and only papal visit to Texas with the arrival of Pope John Paul II, who celebrated mass with 350,000 San Antonians in 1987. It was host to the original North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) signing ceremony with U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gotari, and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in 1992 that shaped our relationship with partners Mexico and Canada. It is home to Texas only United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site - the five Spanish Colonial Missions - which includes the original San Antonio de Valero mission from 1718. Today, we know that mission as the Alamo. Throughout its 300 years, it has had a consistent military presence, including one of oldest U.S. Army posts, named after the first President of the Republic of Texas: Fort Sam Houston. Today the city is known as the Gateway to the Air Force due to the nearly 40,000 airmen graduating from Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base each year. Our critical hub for national defense has earned San Antonio the proud trademark Military City, USA. It is also blessed with a large veteran community, including the Oldest Post in Texas, the 111 year old Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 76. It has thrived under five nations flags: Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. Three hundred years later, as evidenced by the persistent crowds strolling along the River Walk, the San Antonio River is still the epicenter of our great city. As San Antonio celebrates its tricentennial anniversary this month, the city is putting on quite a show in honor of its longstanding history. I encourage you to take advantage of the occasions exhibits, events, and fiestas- and I encourage you to visit some of the historical sites my hometown has to offer. Of course, it all comes back to the river. As a part of the long-awaited tricentennial, San Antonio and Bexar County will invest in the San Pedro Creek Improvements Project to beautify and rehabilitate the river. For generations to come, San Antonians will continue to enjoy the river where it all began. An employee at a Cypress-area shooting range has been indicted on a manslaughter charge in the shooting death of a customer in December, the Harris County District Attorney's Office said Friday. A Harris County grand jury indicted Tyler Sutton, 21, in the Dec. 12 shooting at Hot Wells Shooting Range. As part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library in Crosby will host a stop by the Kaminari Taiko Thunderstudies at 12:15 on May 19. Taiko, a Japanese word for drum, has important significance in the Japanese culture. According to the Kaminari Taiko website, Japanese mythology begins with the legend of Amaterasu Omikami, a Sun Goddess who, overwhelmed by her curiosity about an unusual dance to the beat of taiko, emerged form a cave to illuminate the world. Samurai warriors also used taiko on the battlefield to signal commands and frighten their enemies. Townspeople warned of danger by beating on taiko, and priests used taiko at religious ceremonies to communicate with the gods. Temples and shrines throughout Japan display taiko as a symbol of purification and to dispel evil spirits. Until recently, only priests and males of high stature were allowed to strike the sacred taiko. The Houston based taiko group has performed in events such as the Houston Japan Festival, New Orleans Japan Fest and the Nashville Cherry Blosson Festival. After the performance, there will be a Q&A segment with the performance and audience will get to play the taikos themselves. For more information, call the Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library at (281)328-3535. kaila.contreras@chron.com Staff report The Community Resources Division of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce held its 21st Annual Investment in Youth Luncheon on Wednesday, April 18, at Safari Texas Ranch, 11627 FM 1464 in Richmond. The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and The George Foundation held a special recognition of students from Calvary Episcopal Preparatory, Fort Bend ISD, Home Schools, Lamar Consolidated ISD, Logos Preparatory, Needville ISD and Stafford MSD who participated in the 21st annual Youth in Philanthropy program. 3 1 of 3 Courtesy photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 George Ranch High School freshman Favour Umeakuana and Foster High School junior Sonali Puri both earned a Gold Seal at the 2018 State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) contest held April 27-28 in San Marcos. A VASE Gold Seal is the highest honor a Texas high school art student can earn. Out of 35,000 VASE entries from across the state, only 150 Gold Seals are awarded. Jerry Brown is running out of time. The four-term California governor spent decades building up an environmental legacy that, he hoped, would keep the state's air clean and help save the world from a catastrophic rise in temperatures long after he'd left office. Instead, in his final months in office, Brown's found himself fighting the Trump administration tooth and nail to keep it all from unraveling. On Tuesday he led California, 16 other states and the District of Columbia into court to battle the Trump administration over the most aggressive fuel efficiency standards the federal government had ever imposed. California and the Obama administration worked hand in hand for years to craft the regulations only to have Trump's Environmental Protection Agency chief, Scott Pruitt, threaten to dismantle them. "Trump is going after the core of California's identity," said Cara Horowitz, a law professor at the University of California at Los Angeles. "California sees itself correctly as having done some of the best work in the world in reducing air pollution. What's at stake is our continued ability to be a leader in this field." Indeed, to Brown -- nicknamed "Governor Moonbeam" in the 1970s for his progressive and idealistic policies -- this isn't just about his environmental legacy. Or California's green agenda. Or even the Golden State being a leader in the fight against climate change. Before his time's up in January, Brown's dead-set on winning a battle over the fate of America. "It's a battle not only for the soul of America but the future of America," he said at a Sacramento press conference announcing the multi-state lawsuit Tuesday. He was flanked by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols as he defined the tailpipe fight as one front in a broader battle against Trump. "The conflict is sharpening," said Brown, 80, a Democrat. Trump "wants to do things that we think are profoundly dangerous and not in the interest of California, the American people. So we're doing what we can in a free society to stop a juggernaut." When Brown first served as governor in the 1970s, pollution in California was so bad that millions of Californians couldn't see the mountain tops just a few miles from their homes and Los Angeles was choking on smog. Three decades later, there's less pollution in the state; the smog has lessened; and the state's established both the most aggressive fuel standard and the only economy-wide program to curb greenhouse-gas emissions in the nation. On seemingly every front, the Trump administration's agenda has undermined California's efforts. It's weakening the state's bid for more renewable energy by imposing import tariffs on solar equipment made abroad. It's vowed to do away with another Obama-era policy that called for drastic cuts to carbon emissions from electricity generation. Environmental policies aside, Trump used his first trip to the state as president in March to rail against California's resistance to his immigration crackdown. And to add insult to injury in the latest -- and perhaps most heated -- fight of them all, the Trump administration is considering whether to get rid of California's unique authority to set its own vehicle efficiency standards. A final decision on that has not yet been made, according to people familiar with the matter, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Rolling back federal policy is one thing. Trying to revoke California's authority to regulate emissions within its own borders would turn the clash between Trump and the nation's most populous state into a full-out political and legal war. Using references from the Bible, Brown fired a warning shot on Tuesday, saying he's still got fight left in him. "Remember that saying in the gospels? The evil of the day is sufficient thereof," he told reporters Tuesday. "We have an evil here. We're fighting it. Will there be more evils? Most certainly. And we'll attack them as they show their ugly head." Some conservatives see this fight with California as helping Trump in the November elections. "Just think what Midwestern Senate Democrats will do when Trump starts tweeting, 'Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer want to tell you what cars to drive,' " said Lou Pugliaresi, president of the nonprofit Energy Policy Research Foundation in Washington. Brown has been just as aggressive as Trump, saying the administration is "full of liars." And he has plenty of support at home. In a poll last year conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, almost three-quarters of California adults said they favor the state's legislative mandate to cut carbon-dioxide emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. California has already sued the EPA 10 times in the 15 months since Trump's inauguration, over disputes ranging from hazardous air pollutants to oil exploration and fracking. In all, the state has sued the administration 32 times in that period. The latest suit against the EPA was prompted by Pruitt signaling the Trump administration's intent to unravel a fuel standard that'd have new cars averaging more than 50 miles a gallon by 2025. His announcement triggered both political and environmental concerns in the deeply blue, deeply regulated western state. The EPA declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday, saying it doesn't discuss pending litigation. "California is playing defense," said Severin Borenstein, a business professor at the University of California at Berkeley. It's "trying to slow down the process with the hope that the 2018 elections will take away some of Trump's power." Horowitz, at the University of California at Los Angeles, said she worries that Trump could cut staffing at the EPA while attacking states' ability to pick up the slack. And Dan Sperling, a transportation professor at the University of California at Davis, warned that Trump's tailpipe rollback could put U.S. automakers at a disadvantage to overseas competitors. "You're going to back off from investing in the most advanced technologies just at the time the European and Chinese companies have their pedal to the floor," said Sperling, a member of the state's Air Resources Board. "The U.S. is on the verge of ceding its leadership in the global auto industry." - With assistance from Bloomberg's Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Ryan Beene . The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that it is ending the Temporary Protected Status program that has allowed about 57,000 Hondurans to work here legally for two decades. Houston is home to nearly 6,100 Hondurans with the status, the most in the country after New York and Miami, according to the National Immigration Forum, an advocacy group in Washington D.C. The decision by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was not unexpected as the department has also terminated the protection for more than 262,000 people from El Salvador, Haiti, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. It considered ending the program for Honduras last year, but then-Secretary Elaine Duke postponed the decision, saying she did not yet have enough information on whether to do it. Congress first created the program in 1990 to protect Salvadorans fleeing the country's brutal civil war. It is intended as a temporary form of humanitarian relief for those escaping war or natural disasters. The status is not a pathway to citizenship, and immigrants must renew it each six or 18 months, but it does grant them the right to work and provisionally defers deportation orders. Critics have long argued Congress meant for the program to be temporary, when in reality at least five of the 10 countries designated for TPS have had it continuously extended since the 1990s. Lawmakers first included Hondurans in the program after Hurricane Mitch devastated the country in 1998, causing catastrophic flooding that killed more than 7,000 people. In her statement Friday, Nielsen said that damage from the hurricane has receded in the past decade and that Honduras has made "substantial progress in post-hurricane recovery," Advocates said the decision was alarming given that Honduras is now one of the most violent countries in the world and has suffered widespread political instability after what many saw as a fraudulent presidential election late last year. "This decision is another in a series of TPS terminations that puts some 300,000 legal immigrants with deep American roots on a path to deportation," said Frank Sharry, executive director at America's Voice Education Fund, a national advocacy group. "The Administration's decision to end TPS for Honduras is heartless and malicious." Honduran with TPS contribute more than $1 billion to the national GDP each year, and 85 percent are in the labor force, according to the National Immigration Forum. Many of them have American citizen children and spouses. "The cruel irony of ending legal status for nearly 50,000 taxpayers to send them to one of the most dangerous countries in the world a country people are literally fleeing is beyond the pale," said Ali Noorani, the forum's executive director. Nielsen gave Hondurans with the status 18 months before their permits will expire in January 2020, making them eligible for deportation. Residents will have the opportunity to leave their mark at The Woodlands Childrens Museum (TWCM), which will be adding a new exhibit, Be a Part of Our Heart. The museum is hosting a Be a Part of Our Heart fundraiser to benefit Outreach programs, which bring hands on art projects to hospitals and undeserved schools. Attendees will create mosaic heart tiles that will be transformed into a permanent fixture at the museum. Jennifer Kraus, sponsor coordinator for TWCM, said the money raised from the workshops will provide art supplies for the Outreach programs and help cover the cost of exhibit maintenance. Our goal is to sell 200 hearts as part of a fundraiser for the museum. The funds that we raise will go toward our Outreach programs and toward exhibit improvements, Kraus said. We have over 125,000 visitors every year come through here so its lots of little hands touching on everything and loving everything and playing with everything. Our exhibit coordinator does a good job maintaining all of those and keeping everything safe, clean and fun for the kids, but it does get expensive. Museum staff members regularly visit children in area hospitals to give them some of the same opportunities to create art as other children. We have several different Outreach programs here at the museum. One that we do every month is to visit Texas Childrens Hospital, Kraus said. We go to the campus downtown and the campus here in The Woodlands and we provide art projects for the cancer patients and their families. The Outreach also provides free or subsidized field trips to the museum for Title I schools and the Art Around the World program takes projects to the schools that cannot make a trip to the museum. Angela Colton, executive director of TWCM, said the programs allow the museum to get outside their home facility and spread art projects to those who may not be able to visit the museum. More Information Mosaic Heart Tile Workshops Children can create and personalize a mosaic heart tile that will be featured in a permanent display at The Woodlands Children's Museum during select workshops. Dates: May 11 and 12, June 8 and 9, July 20 and 21 Times: Workshops are 45 minutes and start at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon Cost: $45 per heart, price includes admission to the museum See More Collapse Outreach programs are one of the most excellent tools to take what we have at the museum and share it with others that cannot get to the museum, Colton said. Art Around the World is our themed outreach program curriculum and supports our mission to teach culture through art and its processes. The museum purchased 200 pounds of clay for the fundraiser. Six-inch hearts were cut, painted and glazed in preparation for the workshops. Attendees will use grout to adhere mosaic tiles to the hearts and create their own masterpiece to be displayed at the museum. The heart feature location inside the museum has yet to be determined, Kraus said, but it may possibly be placed on the wall or hung from the ceiling and is expected to be completed by the end of the summer. Participants also will make an air dry clay heart to take home, Kraus added, noting that the fundraiser is open to all ages. We think its also a great activity for scout troops or team building for different businesses in the area, so were excited about that aspect of it, too, Kraus said. We hope to bring in ages and groups that dont find themselves in the museum otherwise. We primarily focus on kids age 7 and younger, but making a mosaic heart tile even adults and older kids like to do that. The first workshops, scheduled for May 11 and 12, are already filling up. Each workshop will last 45 minutes and start at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. For more information, visit woodlandschildrensmuseum.org and click the Events tab. Pre-registration and the $45 payment are required. Reserve a spot by calling 281-465-0955. The Montgomery County Literary Arts Council Writers in Performance kicked offed its 27th annual Walt Whitman birthday celebration Thursday afternoon with scholar Dr. Kenneth Prices Whitman Scholar Presentation at Lone Star College-Montgomery. Every year, the group celebrates Emily Dickinson in the fall and Walt Whitman in the spring, along with a short series of published writers during the school year National Scholar Dr. Kenneth Price, who is the co-director of the Walt Whitman Archive and Co-Director of the Center for Digital Research in Humanities at the University of Nebraska, gave a presentation on The Whitman archive, an electronic network and teaching tool that makes Whitmans work accessible to everyone. It cost a lot of money to build but its free for everyone to use, Price said. Whitman is most famous for his masterpiece of literature, the poetry collection, Leaves of Grass. Dr. Cliff Hudder, a board member of the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council and a professor of English at LSC-Montgomery, said Whitman is chosen as an annual centerpiece to the event each year due to his influence. Hes an important central figure in American and world letters and extremely influentiala lot of poets have been influenced by him, Hudder said. Both Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, we figure, as being central to letters and to poetry, so we celebrate the pair, the mother and father of American literature and what strange children theyve had. In addition to celebrating the birth of Whitman, an American author and poet, the event served as a fundraiser to complete the project to have a bust of Annette Gordon-Reed placed in Founder's Plaza in downtown Conroe. In 1963, before Conroe schools integrated, Gordon-Reed was the first black student to attend a Conroe ISD school at Anderson Elementary. "I was very conscious of the fact that this was a big deal," Gordon-Reed said in a 2009 Houston Chronicle article. "It made me think very early on about race in ways that I might not have if I'd been in an all-black environment." Gordon-Reed graduated from Conroe High School in 1977. She won the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2009 for "The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family." She also is the author of several other books and is a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient. Gordon-Reed is currently an American historian and law professor at Harvard University. In April of last year, Gordon-Reed was added to the Conroe Legends Mural Wall, located at North Main Street and Metcalf Street. Dave Parsons, a Conroe resident and 2011 State Poet Laureate, wanted to do more than what the mural wall offers for the Conroe graduate, which led to the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council commissioning a bronze bust of Gordon-Reed by sculptor Craig Campobella. When finished, the bust will be installed in Founder's Plaza. Parsons cited a desire to recognize Gordon-Reed with something more than the mural wall, which is not permanent. Parsons also said he felt a unique responsibility to start and carry out the campaign for the bust because he himself had been honored with a bust for his state poet recognition. For someone of her accomplishment with an even more historical link to the citythe first (black) to attend and graduate (Conroe High School)to not be honored in at least the same manner, was frankly a major issue to me, Parsons said. Parsons said Gordon-Reed, through her private secretary, has committed to be at the statues unveiling and to speak at Lone Star College-Montgomery, an event which will be held in late August or early September. To raise funds for the pedestal for the bust to sit on, a silent auction was held at the Annual Gathering of Poets, which was held in downtown Conroe at Martins Hall. The auction featured art, autographed books and wine and gift baskets. The celebration was capped off by readings by more than 20 poets, featuring 2018 Louisiana Poet Laureate Jack Bedell, Houston Poet Laureate Robin Davidson and Texas Poets Laureate Karla Morton, Alan Birklebach, Jan Seale, Carmen Tafolla and Carol Coffee Reposa. The Montgomery County Literacy Council serves to expand the arts in Conroe, The Woodlands and Greater Montgomery County. For more information about the Montgomery County Literacy Council, visit www.literaryartscouncil.org. Cinco de Mayo is a day of celebration in the United States, but in Houston, the date has bittersweet connotations. Thats because it also marks one of what advocates call the most shameful acts of police brutality in the citys history, prompting a riot and the emergence of a civil right movement. It's known by historians as the Joe Campos Torres case, a brutal, racially charged beating and murder of a Vietnam veteran committed by what was dubbed by the media as a gang of six Houston Police Department officers. HOUSTON IN 1978: Riots, The Boss and Big Earl The Annual Joe Campos Torres Solidarity Walk for Past and Future Generations started at 10 a.m. at the interception of 4800 Canal Street and 100 Burr Street, and followed the trail of events associated with the Campos Torres case. It was Cinco de Mayo in 1977 when shortly before midnight, Houston Police Officer M. G. Oropeza was dispatched to check on a disturbance at a cantina located in the heavily Hispanic populated East End neighborhood. After arriving, he called for a backup unit. Just after 11:35 p.m., as recounted by Mitchel P. Roth and Tom Kennedy in their book Houston Blue: The Story of the Houston Police Department, and other publications, Oropeza walked into the bar together with officers Stephen Orlando and Charles Elliot to subdue and arrest a 23-year-old man who the manager said was inebriated and quarreling with two other customers. The man, a Vietnam veteran named Joe Campos Torres, was handcuffed and taken into a patrol car. By then, three police vehicles and six policemen were at the scene. One of the officers said that the young Hispanic man had put up a fight while being taken into custody. Family photo That was enough for them to turn on Torres and begin a frenzy of brutal attacks. They had to quiet the guy, according to what officer Joseph Janish would say in subsequent criminal investigations. The six officers drove their cars in caravan to take Campos Torres to The Hole, a hidden spot down below street level at the south bank of the Buffalo Bayou, near the Court House complex. Five of the policemen took turns beating Campos Torres, who was still handcuffed and unable to protect himself. Campos Torres was then taken to the city jail, but he was so severely injured that the sergeant on duty ordered the officers to take him to the emergency room at Ben Taub Hospital. He refused to book Torres into the jail until he received medical treatment. That was too much of a trouble for the gang; too much time to be wasted at the hospital for this Hispanic guy. They instead went back to The Hole for the ultimate act of brutality. Officer Terry Denson came up with the idea: Lets see if the wetback can swim, he said. One of them removed the handcuffs. And those who chronicled the attack said the executioner was Denson, who thrust Campos Torres into the Buffalo Bayou where he drowned. *** When you have law enforcement officers acting like that and calling somebody a wetback just because they dont like him, it becomes a very racially hostile situation, said Lupe Salinas, who at the time was a Harris County Assistant District Attorney and attended the trial against the officers as an observer in Huntsville, Texas. The additional devastation for that family is that it was on Mothers Day when they found Torres body floating in the Bayou, said Lupe Salinas, who later became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Southern District of Texas, and is now a law professor at the Texas Southern University. Protests raged around the city. The HPD fired all but one of the officers and immediately created an Internal Affairs Unit for the first time in its history, an attempt to remedy the badly-damaged image of the police department. But it didnt appease Hispanics and other minority communities, who were outraged not only by the death of Torres but other cases of brutality and corruption. Tensions escalated after only two of the six officers, Denson and Orlando, were prosecuted but found guilty of only a misdemeanor - negligent homicide - and received lenient punishments of a year of probation and a $1 fine. Many of us protested and marched to push for the officers to be indicted and punished, said Jonny Mata, a young Hispanic activist back them, now with the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice. Unfortunately, the trial didnt produce a satisfactory result and the policemen walked away from the court and just went on with their lives. Under pressure by the community, the Justice Department took three of the policemen to Federal Court on charges of violating Campos Torres civil rights, for which they served nine months in prison. A year after the murder, at a park in the Northside Houston neighborhood, a party to celebrate Cinco de Mayo quickly morphed into a bloody riot to commemorate the Torres murder. It became what is known as the 1978 Moody Park Riot, where violence erupted as approximately 1,500 participants chanted Justice for Joe Torres, according to police reports at the time. One police officer was run over by a car, two journalists were stabbed and real estate properties and cars were set on fire. Houston Chronicle It was a critical moment in Houstons history, and a cause that motivated the Hispanic community to organize and fight for their civil rights, Mata recalled. One of the positive outcomes was that Houston police officials established a Hispanic liaison within the department so the community could bring their concerns. And historically, the Torres case was the first time in Houston that police officers involved in brutality cases were taken to trial. *** Margaret Campos Torres, the mother of Joe, is still grieving his death 41 years later, said Richard Molina, one of her grandchildren and nephew of Joe. My grandmother hasnt been able to talk that much about Joe in many years, it overwhelmed the family and she just wanted my uncles soul to rest, Molina said. He was born a few years after his uncle died but is now an activist for criminal justice and one of the organizers of the Joe Campos Torres walk today. The walk is important because it recognizes the pain and grief that family members of those killed by police experience," said Mario Salinas, a Hispanic activist in Houston and one of the coordinators of the walk. Its often overlooked, even though it is a pain that has been experienced for as long as law enforcement has been focusing on certain communities. He said that the problem of police brutality is still frequent in Texas and the nation. My observation is that police brutality is still too much an issue in the American society today, said lawyer Lupe Salinas, who in the same year of 1977 prosecuted one of the most infamous cases of police misconduct in the history of the city. The case inspired the movie "The Killing of Randy Webster." Lupe Salinas added that police brutality creates a cycle of violence in the society, in which officers disregarding the law and getting away without accountability generate an anger that sometimes turns into violence against the law enforcement. We need chiefs of police departments, district attorneys and other public officials that will not tolerate lawless police officers, said Lupe Salinas. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter: @oliviaptallet A Galveston County conman who skipped sentencing for a 2003 fraud conviction and fled to Cancun was sentenced to prison Friday in a new fraud scheme, after admitting he sold millions of dollars in worthless stock for a fake Mexican resort to hundreds of American and Canadian investors. U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein in Houston imposed the maximum sentence of 40 years and ordered him to pay $37,544,944 in restitution, calling the defendant despicable for perpetuating what he considered the worst fraud case he had seen in his decades on the bench. Harris Dempsey Ballow, 75, formerly of Tiki Island, who used the nicknames Butch and Bubba, has been in federal custody since 2010 on the earlier fraud conviction. He pleaded guilty Feb. 2 to the more recent charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In exchange for his plea, federal prosecutors agreed to drop charges against his wife and the remaining counts against him. Attorney Richard Kuniansky asked the judge to sentence him below federal guidelines, which would make him 93 before he was eligible for release. Prosecutors asked for the maximum, saying Ballow was a "financial predator" who had defrauded numerous people of their life savings. The judge said Ballow had demonstrated remorse for getting his "criminal gang" of co-defendants involved, but showed no such compassion for more than 500 victims, one of whom told the court he had been swindled out of $5 million. Ballow pretended he was a missionary to forward his scheme, the victim said. Kuniansky called it a difficult sentencing with a preordained poor outcome in which it was unlikely Mr. Ballow would outlive his sentence. He described his client as a very likeable, affable elderly gentleman, which may explain why he was able to get so many people to part with their money. Ballow has a long history of deception, dating back a conviction in the early 1980s for financial crime against a San Diego jewelry store and a 2003 conviction or fraud and money laundering. He had been expected in a Houston federal court on Dec. 16, 2004, for sentencing on the 2003 charges, but instead he fled with his wife to Mexico, where he assumed a series of fake names and began new fraudulent business ventures, according to court documents. He remained a fugitive for more than five years. Under the alias John Gel, Ballow took control of E-SOL International Corp., a Nevada company that traded shares in the over-the-counter securities market under the symbol ESIT. Ballow began selling stock in and interests in a nonexistent Mexican vacation resort supposedly developed by E-SOL to unsuspecting investors. Evidence at the trial of his former lawyer Patrick Lanier, of Austin, revealed that Ballow used the pseudonyms John Gel, Tom Brown, and Marty Twinley and obtained a British passport under the name Melvyn John Gelsthorpe to sell stock for publicly traded corporations, including E-SOL International Corp., Medra Corp., Deep Earth Resources Inc. and Aztec Technology Partners Inc. He also assigned fictitious people named Robert Remington and Marilyn Desimone as officers for his business, according to court documents. He made sales for these companies without revealing his true identity and fugitive status or informing investors of his previous convictions for fraud and money laundering. Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com. gallery Omar Torres was already behind bars when he ordered the hit, police say. The suspected MS-13 gang member was arrested in June 2016 after the brutal slaying of Noe Mendez four months earlier. He could have been facing life in prison but only if the teen slated to testify against him lived to tell the tale. He didnt. Now Torres is facing the possibility of even harsher punishment. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is seeking a death sentence in the case, believed to be the first initiated by her office since she took over in January 2017. READ ALSO: Jail commission approves variance for 192 temporary beds in overcrowded Harris County jail The MS-13 case joins four older cases most with multiple victims in which Ogg is pursuing the ultimate punishment, according to documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle through an open records request. Still, the numbers are down from this point in the last administration, when prosecutors were handling more than a dozen pending death cases at once. I dont think that being the death penalty capital of America is a selling point for Harris County, Ogg told the Chronicle previously. The shift comes amid a long-term decline in capital punishment, even in Harris County; last year was the first year in three decades the county doled out no new death sentences and saw none of its killers executed in Huntsville. A really bad act The decision to seek a death sentence in the Torres case seemed obvious to prosecutors. Less than a week after Torres arrest, investigators found the bloody body of the witness against him 16-year-old Estuar Quinonez in a Fort Bend County park, surrounded by 25 shell casings. He was already in jail for murdering a guy; it was an MS-13 gang shooting, said Assistant District Attorney Colleen Barnett. He arranged to have that witness killed and we believe that was just a really bad act that he committed. The 26-year-old Houston man was charged in the second slaying in July 2016 and prosecutors made the decision to seek death late last year. His lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. The other four cases in which Oggs office is still seeking death are grisly holdovers from previous administrations. One of the oldest is Lucky Ward, who is charged with strangling a homeless woman with a bra and choking to death a transgender woman known as Gypsy. Shortly after his arrest, police called the frequently homeless man a serial killer and said theyd linked him to at least three other bodies. Then-DA Pat Lykos originally sought death in his case back in 2012, and Ogg decided in February 2017 to continue on that path. A week later, Oggs office opted to keep aiming for a death sentence for David Ray Conley, a Houston man who allegedly shot his estranged ex-girlfriend Valerie Jackson, her husband and six children, including his own son. He later told the Chronicle in a jailhouse interview that he didnt approve of how Jackson was raising the children. The Bible says, Thou shall respect your mother and father or your days shall be short, he said. Im not God, but you know, then, Im the man of the house. In July, prosecutors decided to keep seeking death in the case of Steven Alexander Hobbs, a Crosby security guard accused of raping or killing six prostitutes since 2002. Finally, in November, Ogg decided to continue going after the harshest punishment in the case of Ronald Haskell, a Utah man accused of disguising himself as a FedEx worker and breaking into a Spring home to shoot a family of six execution-style in 2014. In at least one case, Oggs office reversed course and decided not to seek a death sentence. Under a prior administration, prosecutors had planned to pursue the ultimate punishment against Maytham Alsaedy, a Harris County man accused of stabbing 22-year-old Kella Bracken to death and leaving her body in the car at a pizzeria parking lot. Initially, Oggs office elected to seek a death sentence against the mentally ill 26-year-old after reviewing the case in April. But after the victims mother requested a life sentence for her daughters killer, prosecutors reevaluated the case in November and decided against death. The following month, Alsaedy hanged himself in the Harris County jail, a week before he was set to accept a plea to life without parole. Mirroring national trends The relatively low number of cases headed toward a death sentence comes as prosecutors have tweaked their process for deciding whether to seek the states harshest punishment. Under past administrations, prosecutors would send recommendations for death or life up the chain of command, Barnett said. Ultimately, their input would be taken into consideration but the final decision rested with the district attorney. You can tell when theres a case that we need to seek death on, Barnett said. Its never, Well were not sure. Were always sure. When Ogg took over the office, she shifted to a more democratic process, where top prosecutors meet a few times a month, review the cases, consider mitigating evidence from the defense, and vote on whether to seek death. "We are gatekeepers for the use of the death penalty, which is the most serious action a government can take against an individual," Ogg said Friday. "That is why we bring our most experienced legal minds to the table to make these decisions." But in recent years, souring public opinion and the availability of life without parole as a sentencing option have led to fewer death sentences, even in a state with more executions than any other. If you take a look at the national trends, Harris County is mirroring the national trend, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. Everywhere we are seeing a reduction in the use of the death penalty and that would be the case even if we had the same prosecutorial culture in place. But when the prosecutorial culture changes, you tend to see even more dramatic changes in the way the death penalty is pursued. Although Ogg has not opposed the use of capital punishment, she expressed caution about its frequent use even before taking office. While her opponent aired radio and TV ads touting herself as a tough prosecutor and promising the death penalty and long sentences, Ogg was more circumspect. Under an Ogg administration, you will see very few death penalty prosecutions, she told Reuters before the 2016 election, calling the death penalty a terrible image for our city and our country. Just a little over three years ago, the district attorneys office, under then-DA Devon Anderson, was seeking death in 16 cases, including 13 new ones and three retrials. Two of those Hobbs and Ward are still on the list of death-noticed cases under Ogg, their trials delayed by DNA testing and Hurricane Harvey, among other things. Theyre scheduled to go to trial within the next year. keri.blakinger@chron.com twitter.com/keribla Houston ISD Trustee Elizabeth Santos on Thursday called for school board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones, to immediately step down from her position in light of last weeks heated board meeting, which resulted in two arrests and dozens of community members temporarily booted from the district administration building. In a message shared on Facebook, Santos said Skillern-Joness wholly unjustified actions at last weeks board meeting have eroded public trust, prompting her call for Skillern-Jones to relinquish her post as board president. Santos did not demand Skillern-Jones resign her position as a trustee. She is the only member of the nine-person board who publicly has called for Skillern-Jones to give up her post, though other trustees have criticized Skillern-Joness handling of last weeks meeting. Right now, the shame of our actions and inactions at the April 24 board meeting looms over our board, Santos wrote. It clouds our decisions and intentions from proper public scrutiny and erodes the trust our community places in us. In a brief phone interview with the Houston Chronicle on Thursday, Santos confirmed she authored the message, but declined to comment further. Santos remarks came nine days after a contentious board meeting that centered on an HISD proposal to surrender control of 10 long-struggling schools to a local charter school operator in exchange for a reprieve from state sanctions. About 100 members of the public attended the meeting, with nearly all of them opposing the plan. During the public comment section of the meeting, many crowd members continued to make noise following speakers comments, despite repeated demands by Skillern-Jones to remain quiet. When one female speaker refused to immediately leave a podium following her allotted one minute of time, Skillern-Jones ordered police to remove the woman. As crowd members jeered, Skillern-Jones ordered police to clear the room for a recess. Several scuffles with officers ensued as frustrated crowd members refused to immediately disperse. Officers arrested two women who physically resisted demands; they were released the next morning and no charges were filed. Members of the public were allowed to return after a two-hour break and watch proceedings from a separate room, but opponents of the HISD proposal opted not to come back, saying they did not want to legitimize the meeting. Trustees decided not to vote on the proposal, which was shelved the next day. As a result, the Texas Education Agency likely will be forced to decide this summer whether to close some of the 10 schools, replace the districts locally elected school board or unilaterally issue a reprieve from sanctions. Skillern-Jones said Thursday that she is not making comments at this time. In a Facebook post the day after last weeks meeting, Skillern-Jones wrote, in part: I hoped we could calm the tension and return for an orderly meeting. Unfortunately, the situation escalated and subsequently caused many unintended consequences. Im saddened at this outcome as it was not at all what I wanted. I take responsibility for calling this recess and am regretful it only created more discord. Many crowd members who were ordered to leave last weeks meeting have called on Skillern-Jones to step down as board president. Reached by phone Thursday, HISD trustees Wanda Adams, Jolanda Jones and Sue Deigaard did not echo those calls. Many may not support her actions and the way it was done, but this doesnt warrant stepping down as board president, Adams said. She added that she believes it was not proper for Santos to publicly call on Skillern-Jones to step down without talking to the entire board of trustees. Deigaard said she is listening to many different stakeholders including parents who have not been vocal at community and board meetings as she contemplates whether to support Skillern-Jones continued leadership of trustees. She called last weeks meeting a powder keg that could have been better diffused on all sides. Im a very pensive person. Im not a reactive person, Deigaard said. Im looking at, long-term, what is the healthiest thing for the governance of our district so that we can focus on kids. Messages left with other HISD trustees were not immediately returned. jacob.carpenter@chron.com twitter.com/ChronJacob Of all the interesting things to do in Houston, a tour of the Bayou Citys cemeteries is something that we cant recommend enough. A handful of cemeteries in the Houston-area, including Glenwood Cemetery and Forest Park Cemetery, are the final resting places of some of the people that helped shape the city. HOUSTON'S PAST: Vintage pictures show Houston as it was in 1977 At Glenwood, just outside of downtown, you can visit the Hughes family plot, where Howard Hughes rests with the rest of his clan. Also at Glenwood you will find the graves of Astrodome mastermind Judge Roy Hofheinz, Dr. Denton Cooley, actress Gene Tierney, and oilman Glenn McCarthy, who built the Shamrock Hotel and inspired James Deans character in Giant. Elsewhere in Glenwood you will find the Hobbys, William and Oveta, plus Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas. Hes been buried there since 1858, one of the first major interments. Also in Glenwood you will see surnames on headstones like Shepherd, Bagby, Binz, Elgin, and Gray all of who have busy streets named after them nearby. Their legacies shine on every time we are stuck in Houston traffic. EXPLAINED, FINALLY: Why does University of Houston-Downtown have an alligator as a mascot and not a cougar? Forest Park Cemetery, in southeast Houston at 6900 Lawndale, eternally hosts a who's who of Houston history like Jesse H. Jones, Lloyd Bentsen, Houston Chronicle founder Marcellus E. Foster, and Mama Ninfa Laurenzo. Eric Kayne/Freelance Influential Houston bluesman Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins is also buried with the rest of those swells, interred in Section 23 in Jan. 1982. He has simpleton stone with an acoustic guitar carved into it. WILD HISTORY: The true story of when Dennis Hopper came to Houston and nearly killed himself We looked for where Houston's Dr. James "Red" Duke is buried only to find that he's at Austin's Texas State Cemetery, where Stephen F. Austin, Barbara Jordan, and Chris Kyle were laid to rest. Sam Houston is at Huntsville's Oakwood Cemetery, if you feel like going by to say hello to our city's namesake on the way to Dallas. Joe Holley / Houston Chronicle Other major cemeteries in Houston like Founders Memorial Park (1217 West Dallas) and Hollywood Cemetery (3506 North Main) are both worth spending an afternoon exploring in. You will likely find some of the names that adorn some of Houstons most-popular streets and institutions. Over at Hollywood Cemetery you will find the final resting places of Lawrence Shipley Sr. and his wife Lillie Shipley, a couple that helped changed the way we all eat donuts in Houston. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth. President Donald Trump is set to meet with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, according to a speech he made Friday during the the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. Trump discussed how the U.S. was "doing really well with North Korea" during the 147th annual meeting of the NRA, CNN reported. 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. DALLAS A defiant President Donald Trump, invoking Texas' revolutionary battle cry "Come and Take It" to roaring applause, pledged Friday to never back down on his support for Second Amendment gun rights even as opponents are pushing for stringent new controls. Appearing with Vice President Mike Pence at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, Trump warned that Americans' constitutional right to bear arms is under siege and repeatedly exhorted the cheering crowd to turn out and vote for Republicans in November. That's the best way to keep those rights intact, Trump said. "Thanks to your activism and dedication, you have an administration fighting to protect your Second Amendment," the president said. Trump's speech was partly a call to arms against gun control after recent mass shootings, and partly a pep rally for the achievements he says his administration is racking up, from record low unemployment to $2 billion in new funding to bolster school safety. DOUBLING DOWN: Some in NRA want to buck protests, push for more access to guns Following the Parkland, Fla., school shooting that left 17 dead and 14 wounded, Trump raised concerns among gun rights advocates because he sounded like he might moderate his views on universal background checks and possibly raise the age to purchase firearms to 21 from 18. But in his speech Friday, he offered no sense that he would soften. In recent months, since the November church massacre in Sutherland Springs and the Parkland shootings, the NRA has come under fire from Democrats and gun-control advocates who are pushing for new restrictions from a ban on assault weapons to background checks on gun-show purchases to additional gun-free zones. The NRA conventioneers were repeatedly called upon by Trump and other speakers to defend the Second Amendment from their political foes. A video clip of Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy calling the NRA a "terrorist organization" became a rallying point in the convention hall throughout the day. As the speeches were underway, a 15-acre array of weaponry was on display in an exhibits hall next door featuring rifles, pistols, military-grade weapons and even helicopter gunship gear. Large-scale protests that had been anticipated outside the convention hall failed to materialize Friday due to heavy rains and thunderstorms. Larger numbers of protestors are expected to turn out on Saturday. But on Friday, Trump had the spotlight to himself in a supportive state before a friendly crowd, and he made the most of it. WINDING PATH: Trump's NRA address comes after zigzag on gun-control policy "The one thing that has always stood between the American people and their Second Amendment rights is people fighting to keep them," Trump said, recalling the group of outnumbered Texans who in 1835 refused to surrender their cannon to the advancing Mexican Army in the tiny town of Gonzales. "They were not about to give up their rights," he said, drawing loud cheers when he called out the four famous words on their flag. The president said Second Amendment supporters should take note of that history in defending it from the current all-out assault. "We will live free and we will die free," Trump said. 'We have to win' Railing against leftists, Democrats, liberals and the media elite, Trump repeatedly blasted away at critics and urged the more than 80,000 conventioneers to turn out in November and vote for Republicans. "We cannot get complacent. We have to win the mid-terms," he said, referring to the upcoming elections where Democrats are hoping a "blue wave" of turnout much of it driven by an anti-Trump backlash will help then retake control of Congress. "We got to do great in '18." In his speech, he endorsed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for reelection "our great Abbott," he called him as well as Attorney General Ken Paxton, his wife Angela, who is running for the Texas Senate, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a former presidential race rival who he once called "the single biggest liar." Trump headlined an afternoon of speeches that featured seasoned politicians like Abbott, along with Stephen Willeford, a plumber credited with stopping the Sutherland Springs church massacre last November. Also there were Diamond and Silk, the rhythmical pro-Trump social media personalities Lynnnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, whose sharp criticism of Democrats drew raucous laughter and applause. Trump's speech veered between topics ranging from North Korea ("We're really doing well in North Korea") and sanctuary cities ("Our cities should be safe haven for Americans, not sanctuaries for violent criminals") to the border wall ("After years of defending the borders of other countries, we're going to start defending our borders") and immigration reform ("Based on merit, not based on picking someone out of a bin"). The president even credited recording artist and media personality Kanye West, a self-professed fan of Trump, for helping boost his popularity with black voters. "Kanye West must have some power because you probably saw I doubled my African-American poll numbers," Trump said. We went from 11 to 22 in one week," Trump said. "Thank you, Kanye ... When I saw the number, I said that must be a mistake, how can that happen? Even the pollsters thought there must be a mistake. No, we've come a long way." But defense of the Second Amendment was the touchstone of the day. "The quickest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," Pence told the conventioneers. "Firearms in the hands of makes our communities more safe, not less safe." Sutherland Springs Cornyn echoed that sentiment, citing Sutherland Springs as an example where a citizen with a gun stopped a greater tragedy. "There are people today who are trying to shut us up and shut us down," he said, insisting that neither tack will be successful as long as Second Amendment advocates continue standing up for their rights. "You can't ignore the Second Amendment anymore than you can the rest of the amendments ... It's future in our hands." Citing the example of Willeford, a hero in the Sutherland Springs mass shooting, Cornyn advocated "responsible gun ownership" rather than new limitations on firearms for personal safety as much as "Guns can save lives, plain and simple." Cruz, insisting that "the right to bear arms is fundamental," said responsible gun owners are a key to preventing future mass-shooting tragedies. "The legacy of Sutherland Springs is not the evil of that madman, the legacy is of bravery and courage and sacrifice for your fellow man," he said. In his speech, Abbott also touted the role religion can play in helping curtail violence. "The problem is not guns," the governor said. "It's hearts without God." Jeremy Wallace and John Gravois contributed to this report. Mike Ward covers Texas politics, including the governor and Executive Branch, criminal justice, ethics and investigations, as the Austin Bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle. Send him story tips at mike.ward@chron.com and follow him on Twitter @ChronicleMike. On July 31, the Houston Chronicle published a front-page story with a provocative headline. "'We've moved on': Political anger after Harvey has eased," it declared, adding: "Experts believe disaster response is unlikely to be a factor in November." It was a significant story by veteran reporter and Austin bureau chief Mike Ward. It asserted that Houston residents initially fed up with the uneven government response to Hurricane Harvey actually weren't going to blame politicians after all. The story began with West Houston resident Betsy Scheer, whose anger had faded. She was going to vote Republican. "My friends are mostly the same way now," she was quoted as telling Ward. But in the weeks after the story ran, questions were raised about the sourcing in Ward's story. No one could find Betsy Scheer. And no one could find three others quoted in the story Tran Ng, Martina Racelli and Jack Nito. EDITOR'S NOTE: An update from the editor of the Houston Chronicle The Chronicle spot-checked several other stories written by Ward. A pattern began to emerge: Alongside quotes from easy-to-find political figures, his stories were spiced with sparkling quotes from ordinary Texans, including a software engineer from Dallas, a businesswoman from Williamson County, a tea party activist. Many of them could not be found, despite extensive searches in multiple databases by a newsroom researcher and more work by a private investigator. Ward was confronted by Chronicle Executive Editor Nancy Barnes. Ward insisted that every person in his stories did exist and that they eventually would be found; he spent a week looking for them, but turned up nothing. Asked for notes used for his stories, Ward said he had destroyed them. Barnes accepted Ward's offer to resign. Shortly after, Barnes asked me to examine all of Ward's stories and to make every effort to find and verify the people named in them. What follows is what I found: The review included 744 stories, from early August 2018 back to January 2014, when he was hired after a long career at the Austin American-Statesman. A team of three pulled out the names of 275 individuals who were presented as ordinary Texans and made every effort to find them. Of the 275 people quoted, 122, or 44 percent, could not be found. Those 122 people appeared in 72 stories. It's impossible to prove that these people do not exist, only that with extensive research and digging, the team could not find them. And in this age of online records, including property ownership and court filings, almost everyone can be found quickly. For comparison, the team checked the work of another reporter at a major out-of-state newspaper. Of eight people named in her stories, all eight were found easily. The Chronicle also spot-checked nine recent stories from three of its reporters. Of 48 people named in those stories, 39 (81 percent) were found easily using one database, LexisNexis; eight names were so common further search would be required; one was not found due to a possible misspelling of the name. Ward could not be reached to discuss the findings. He did not respond to numerous phone messages, emails or attempts to reach him through former colleagues. Barnes, the Chronicle's executive editor, had informed readers in September of concerns about sourcing in some of Ward's stories and had promised further investigation. Unfortunately, she said, the further work was done without Ward's cooperation and could not confirm the existence of more than 100 sources, despite extensive efforts to do so. "The relationship between a newspaper and its readers is one of trust," she said. "This investigation points to an egregious breach of that trust that is an offense to readers and journalists alike. We apologize to our readers, and to the Houston community. "We will be correcting or retracting all of the affected stories in order to set the record straight to the best of our ability, as I promised when this was first brought to my attention." John Bridges, managing editor for the Austin American-Statesman, said the paper had taken a limited look at Ward's work there, but would now go deeper. "After the initial allegations, we conducted a preliminary review of Ward's final years of work for the Statesman and did not find conclusive evidence of the kind of pattern uncovered by the Chronicle's investigation," he said. "But given the Chronicle's new findings and the seriousness of these allegations, we are enlisting outside journalists to conduct further investigation into work that appeared in the Statesman." A thorough review The Chronicle team ran each name in Ward's stories through a variety of search engines that comb through records of property ownership, voter registration, hunting and fishing licenses, phone numbers and criminal records. They queried Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, along with Google and several other commercial search engines. The research included calls to local police departments, chambers of commerce and local Democratic and Republican officials. At a karate studio in the town of a woman quoted as a karate enthusiast, no one knew her. The search included a woman said to be an Austin resident and mother of three; she didn't turn up on lists of registered voters and her name did not appear in any other database. At the bakery where she was quoted as being a customer, no one knew her. Sometimes, hard-to-find sources did turn up. In one case, an individual was not listed on various databases, had no known phone number and did not own property. Eventually, the team found someone who knew him. In all, the review found and verified 103 of the 275 names, just more than a third. For another 50 people named, Ward's stories provided insufficient information to conduct searches. And 122 could not be found. Some of the stories the Chronicle published under Ward's byline rested in large part on the quotes from people whose existence could not be verified, throwing the veracity of entire stories into question. For instance, the story the Chronicle published on July 31 depended heavily on the views of four people who weren't found. Did Houston Republicans who suffered in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey forgive GOP political leaders for lapses in government assistance? Others in the piece, particularly university political scientists, could easily be found. They were cited for their professional opinions, not personal experiences. It was not the only such story. A story published June 15 by Ward ("Outside Texas GOP convention, political parties are becoming less important") detailed changing GOP attitudes toward President Donald Trump, from negative to positive. The story featured quotes from two people that set the tone for the story. Neither person could be located. The previous day, June 14, the Chronicle ran a Ward story based on alleged interviews with three GOP and tea party activists; the team could find only one of them. On the 13th, the Chronicle featured a story by Ward that began and ended with meaningful quotes from two voters on the fate of the two parties in this fall's elections. Neither of the voters could be located. On May 4, the Chronicle ran a story by Ward about the upcoming convention of the National Rifle Association. The story was based on quotes from six people, none of whom could be found. In March, Ward turned in a story he had been working on for some time, seeking to demonstrate that changing demographics in West Houston meant the 7th Congressional District, long a Republican stronghold, was now "up for grabs." The story, published March 11, quoted 10 people; of those, six could not be verified. The Chronicle will retract eight stories that depended heavily on characters who can't be found and quotes that cannot be verified. It will correct other stories that included sources that can't be verified but whose premise was not reliant on those sources. Surprise in the newsroom Chronicle editors who had worked most directly with Ward expressed shock and disbelief that he or any reporter would fabricate people and quotes. "That's not the Mike Ward I knew," said John Gravois, a former editor in Austin for the Chronicle. "That Mike Ward was very meticulous, very careful, very old-school." Matt Schwartz, an assistant Metro editor, said that nothing in Ward's stories "ever gave me pause, and I'm still stunned. I have a hard time believing that this happened." Vernon Loeb, who was managing editor of the Chronicle from 2014 until early this summer and who worked closely with Ward, also expressed shock. "I don't believe Mike Ward was the kind of journalist who would make people up," he said. "I want to believe his assurances that he never made anybody up and that he, given time, can find these people." More safeguards? It's a lesson stressed to new journalism students at the University of Texas at Austin. In one of their first classes, they are told to verify and retain the name, phone number and email address of every person they interview for a story. "That's what we expect of a beginning reporter," said Kathleen McElroy, director of the UT School of Journalism. At the Chronicle and other newspapers, editors do not generally ask to see the phone numbers and email addresses of people quoted in a story. Trust between reporter and editor goes bone-deep, but it is earned, not assumed. Editors keep a skeptical eye on younger reporters, and over time reporters either prove themselves trustworthy or they lose their job. "I have to trust the reporter," Schwartz said. Bill Adair, Duke University journalism professor and director of the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy, said editors should not be expected to verify that a reporter's named sources are real. "Every editor has done what I have done, which is to Google someone quoted to make sure the name is spelled correctly," said Adair, who worked for 24 years as a reporter and editor and created the Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-check website PolitiFact. "But I don't think the responsibility for that basic thing rests with the editor; it is a basic responsibility of a reporter." Kelly McBride is senior vice president and ethicist at the Poynter Institute, a national media instructional and resource center. She said mid-level newspaper editors ought to know how reporters are getting their work done. It's less a matter of trust and more a matter of involvement in the process. "Where did you find this guy? Do you have any other quotes from him? Where do you go to get man-on-the-street quotes? Are you using social media? This is the editor's responsibility," McBride said. "Because when something's going great you can reinforce that good work that's how you can help reporters grow. And when something's going badly you can step in." *** About the reporter: David Wood, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with four decades of experience, was hired by the Chronicle to conduct this investigation. He has spent most of his career covering war and the U.S. military, reporting from abroad and from the Pentagon, State Department and the White House. He does not know Mike Ward and has not worked as a journalist in Texas. He now lives in San Antonio. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Do Not Sell My Personal Information When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). 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They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools. If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page. A month after taking a bold stand against The Denver Posts owner, the papers editorial page editor resigned. Chuck Plunkett, the editor behind a stirring call to action targeted at freeing the paper from the grip of its New York hedge fund owners, turned in his resignation on Thursday after a follow-up editorial was rejected. The package of editorials Plunkett put together in early April drew national attention to the actions of Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund that has squeezed every cent of profit it can from a string of newspapers including the Post, the San Jose Mercury News, the Orange County Register, and dozens of other titles. The lead editorial pleaded with Alden to change its business practices, and stated, If Alden isnt willing to do good journalism here, it should sell the Post to owners who will. ICYMI: Headlines editors probably wish they could take back Plunkett knew he was risking his job, telling The New York Times, I had to do it because it was the right thing to do. If that means that I lose my job trying to stand up for my readers, then that means Im not working for the right people anyway. Yesterday, he turned in another editorial critical of Alden for continuing to cut jobs even as it made a healthy profit of its news business. He told the Times that the piece was rejected by Guy Gilmore, the chief operating officer of Digital First Media, Aldens newspaper-owning subsidiary. I say this only semi-jokingly: Read this story while it's still up there. https://t.co/ijV11fpi5P Jon Murray (@JonMurray) May 4, 2018 Sign up for CJR 's daily email Plunketts resignation comes a week after the editorial page editor at another Alden-owner paper in Colorado was dismissed for criticizing ownership. The Boulder Daily Cameras Dave Krieger was fired after self-publishing a piece sharply critical of Aldens approach. Alden has faced a rising tide of public opposition, from journalists around the industry and at its own papers, as well as from civic leaders , but the company shows no signs that it is interested in selling its media assets. NiemanLabs Ken Doctor recently crunched the numbers, showing why Alden would be hesitant to sell. Digital First Media had a 17 percent operating margin along with profits of $160 million last year , according to Doctor. The business of wrecking local journalism is apparently good business, so why would Alden want to stop? Below, more on Plunketts resignation and the situation at Alden-owned properties. Home coverage: The Denver Posts Larry Ryckman wrote the papers own story on Plunketts resignation. I hope all the journalists who have worked for The Denver Post and continue to toil in this difficult environment can continue to do good work, Plunkett told him. Dont lose heart at whats going on in our company. The Denver Posts Larry Ryckman wrote the papers own story on Plunketts resignation. I hope all the journalists who have worked for The Denver Post and continue to toil in this difficult environment can continue to do good work, Plunkett told him. Dont lose heart at whats going on in our company. Forced to act: Plunkett told the APs Nicholas Riccardi that he couldnt remain silent after Kriegers firing and Doctors report on Aldens profits. I was boxed into a corner and given an ethical quandary I couldnt resolve, he said. Plunkett told the APs Nicholas Riccardi that he couldnt remain silent after Kriegers firing and Doctors report on Aldens profits. I was boxed into a corner and given an ethical quandary I couldnt resolve, he said. A network problem: After the Posts editorial package in April, CJRs Corey Hutchins surveyed the reaction at other Alden-owned papers and found a mixed response. After the Posts editorial package in April, CJRs Corey Hutchins surveyed the reaction at other Alden-owned papers and found a mixed response. An overview: Last week, CNNs Jill Disis looked at the situation in Denver and at other Digital First papers, providing some background on Aldens approach and attempting to answer the question of what comes next once a paper declares open rebellion against its owners. Other notable stories ICYMI: One Alabama newspapers business model features a chair and cigar box 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. As if we needed another lesson in the downsides of the media shackling their business models to third-party platforms, Snap Inc.the company behind the popular Snapchat messaging appis reportedly changing the terms of how it compensates publishers who use its Discover feature, a kind of newsstand where partner media companies can post short videos. According to Digiday, those who use the feature will no longer get an up-front licensing fee for their videos, but instead will get a share of advertising revenue: There were a lot of people who didnt take the licensing deals, and I think some people who didnt were bummed because the audience and ad revenue growth slowed down, said a Snapchat Discover publishing exec. If you were able get a high enough of a license fee based on Snaps belief that the platform would keep growing, you were able to shield yourself. This feels like a Facebook-style bait and switch, where publishers get hooked on a source of revenue only to have the rug pulled out from under them (as Facebook has done multiple times now, especially with video). But its a little more complicated. This is actually the second switch that Snap has made on publisher compensationand it amounts to a 180-degree pivot back to the way things were originally. When Discover launched in 2015, the ability to share in advertising revenue was one of the main incentives for publishers to take part, and it was a significant draw in part because Snapchat was experiencing rocket-fueled growth. Then in 2016, the company told media partners that it was changing tactics, and it would no longer be sharing ad revenueinstead, it would pay up front licensing fees and keep all the ad revenue. So what are we to learn from this reversal? If the licensing fee model didnt really serve the companys needs, that could say something about Snaps current financial situation. The share price has come under pressure of late because of slower-than-expected growth in the apps user base. That is, its possible that paying out a share of future revenue looks more financially appealing to Snap than paying an up-front fee that may or may not be recouped. Thats particularly the case if, as some publishers have said, the performance of Discover has not been stellar. Unfortunately, the new/old model leaves publishers to bear more of the potential burden than they would have under the licensing model (although Snap did say it is testing e-commerce features, which could soften the blow). Perhaps the only lesson to be learned is that gambling on third-party platforms for revenue can be a tricky business, especially when that platform is as young and untested as Snap. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. On a recent Sunday morning, 20 minutes before his show goes live, Brian Stelter is multitasking. The script for Reliable Sources, CNNs weekly look at the media landscape, still needs work, but his eleven-month-old daughter is demanding his attention. Stelter toggles between windows on his laptop, making changes to chyrons and tweaking language attacking Donald Trumps spelling errors, all while waving at his daughter Sunny, who watches him work via FaceTime. Its a juggling act that has become a professional signature for Stelter, host of Reliable Sources, CNN senior media correspondent, frequent commentator on other CNN shows, and author of a daily newsletter that counts many of the industrys biggest names among its readers. Then there is his still-new parenthood, which he indulges in on Twitter and elsewhere with new-dad gusto. Though Stelter lives within a few blocks of the CNN studio, he keeps a pillow under his desk for occasional naps on the floor. I should probably get a couch, he says. From archives: Thirteen seconds. Dozens of bullets. One explosive photo By the time he goes to sleep this evening, sometime after midnight, Stelter will have hosted Reliable, appeared twice on other CNN shows, sent out his newsletter, and fired off more than 70 tweets and retweets to his 580,000 followers. I dont want to waste the moment, Stelter says sitting in his office a couple of days later. I dont want to waste a show, I dont want to waste a newsletter edition, I dont want to waste a day. Stelters sense of urgency stems from his belief that the nations media-bashing president is only one part of a bigger problem: The world of journalism he loves is in peril. The coordinated campaign against journalismwhat I would call anti-journalismis a theme that Ive been trying to track and cover and write about, he says. It obviously didnt start with President Trump; it dates back decades. He just poured a huge amount of gasoline on the already burning fire. I dont want to waste the moment. I dont want to waste a show, I dont want to waste a newsletter edition, I dont want to waste a day. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Stelter sees Reliable Sources, which airs every Sunday at 11am, as his pulpit. His job has changed in the Trump era, Stelters wife Jamie, a traffic reporter for local station NY1 (they met on Twitter), says. For so many years, it was: I report the facts; you decide. Now that there are attacks on the free press and attacks on the truth, hes had to come around to the idea of taking a stand for something and giving his reported analysis when the time calls for it. [Thats] something he just wasnt comfortable with when all of this started. Keeping all of his plates spinning means that Stelter rarely, if ever, stops. Plenty of journalists are asleep before the Reliable Sources newsletter hits their inbox between 11pm and midnight, and still in bed as Stelter makes an appearance on CNNs New Day during the 6am hour. On a day-to-day basis he is rolling from the minute his eyes open to the minute his eyes close, Jamie says. On a typical Sunday last month, he walks to the Time Warner building from his apartment, picking up a venti cold brew at Starbucks on the way (They say they open at 6, but sometimes the doors are still locked when I get there), and is in the studio by 6:30. After discussing an airport thriller authors far-fetched plan to challenge Trump in the 2020 primary on New Day, Stelter begins prepping for his show. A new Apple Watch on his wrist alerts him to the latest Trump tweets as he huddles with his small Reliable Sources team on a sixth-floor balcony overlooking the newsroom. Though final touches are ongoing as he walks downstairs to the set a few minutes before 11, the entire endeavour feels routine. After the show and a quick debrief, Stelter leaves the office to pick up the tuxedo hes rented for the Time 100 Gala later in the week. He spends the afternoon at home with Jamie and Sunny, heading back into the office around 9pm, after they go to sleep. There, he begins working on the nights newsletter, continues tweeting, and makes a final television appearance (and his third and final trip of the day to makeup), before heading home to finish the newsletter, which he files at 11:38pm. BY THE TIME STELTER got to CNN in December of 2013, he had already been a player in media circles for nearly a decade. As an undergrad at Towson University, he started the blog CableNewser, renamed TVNewser after he sold to MediaBistro in 2004, which brought him to the attention of television executives and earned him a profile in The New York Times. After college, he went straight to working for the Times as a media reporter, where he apprenticed under media critic David Carr, and starred in a supporting role in the 2011 documentary, Page One. Carr, who collapsed and died in the Times newsroom in 2015, left behind a legacy that looms large in Stelters mind. David mentored and nurtured countless journalists, and I was so lucky to be one of them, Stelter told CNN after Carrs death. I loved him like a father and he treated me like a son. In one memorable line from Page One, Carr describes Stelter as a robot assembled in the basement of The New York Times to come and destroy me. ICYMI: Newspaper editor behind rebellious series loses his job Stelters own father died in 2001, when Stelter was 15. I see a straight line from Dad to getting all these jobs, he says. I was already a total dork about this stuff. I would wait for him to come homehe was an appliance repairman in DC. I would wait for him by the door and tell him what happened in the news that day. He already knew because he listened to the radio, but he would pretend. Everything since goes back to that. After his fathers death, adults at Stelters high school took a special interest in him. He got involved with the school newspaper and student government, pursuits that helped get him into Towson, the only school to which he was accepted. Towson was perfect because it was big, but not too big, Stelter says. I could take over the school paper. I could launch my blog. I could do that all from school, which got me to The New York Times. Carrs death left a void in the media reporting landscape, one that, in his own way, Stelter is serving to fill. Alex Koppelman, CNNs senior editor for media and tech, tells a story about one of his first interactions with Stelter that touches on Carrs influence. Before taking the job at CNN in the summer of 2016, Koppelman and Stelter had lunch to discuss the media section and Stelters role in it. I was talking to him about how his voice was there in some columns he was writing, and how I thought he was ready for a next step, Koppelman remembers. I said how there was no voice like David Carr anymore, and how it felt like he could be that. Stelter agreed, expressing his belief that Carr had died before the next generation of media reporters was ready to fill his shoes. I dont think Brian would ever suggest to anybody that he is Carr, or has replaced him, or anything like that, Koppelman says. But he was saying that to me in May of 2016, and within six or eight months, he took that next step from being just a reporter who knew a lot about the media and had a show about it to being the guy with the authoritative voice who really could break it down for everyone. It was a big step. I wouldnt call it sudden, but he just grew into it pretty quickly. Koppelman says Trumps nascent general election campaign was part of what pushed Stelter to take on an expanded role. It was his recognition that it was important for him to speak plainly about what was going on in terms of the threat to journalism. I think that may have pushed him in that it helped him realize he was capable of what he is doing now. WHAT HE DOES NOW, at least on television, is stake out a position: The media is under threat by forces who want to destroy it. This means hes on the receiving end of a disproportionate amount of vitriol, most of it from critics on the right. Any tour through Stelters Twitter mentions will reveal the reason some journalists use the platforms quality filter. Sean Hannity has lobbed personal insults along with professional attacks and Alex Jones unleashed a truly deranged tirade accusing Stelter of being literal demon spawn. Stelter reads the online criticism, but says he doesnt believe it represents the opinions of a broad population. As for his critics in the pro-Trump media, Stelter is happy to have them as opponents. If I have to be defined by my enemies, Alex Jones is a good enemy to have, he says. If he was saying I was a great guy then I would be worried. Stelter says he has always had a cordial personal relationship with Hannity, so hes not sure how much of the Fox hosts attacks are schtick. I dont know whether to believe him when he calls me names, Stelter says. He says journalism is dead, which is insulting to his own colleagues. Aside from the bad faith attacks, Stelter knows there are valid criticisms of his television work. Earnest wonkiness doesnt always play well in a field dominated by smooth-talking anchors. There were probably weeks early on when I tried to play a TV anchor, and those were terrible weeks, he says. I was never going to get very far trying to play someone else. Its much better to be a media reporter who loves writing, who loves reporting, who cares too much about the impact of media on society, and just do that. That works. While Michael Wolffs on-air critique of Stelters impassioned essays as pious sermons in February of 2017 may have been a bit of theater meant to ingratiate the author with the Trump camp, Stelter admits that he worries about the way he comes across. Television is about tone, he says. Im always trying to get my tone right. I appreciate peoples feedback about my essays. Im constantly thinking about what my tone is especially when talking about the president. You dont want to turn people off. As to whether hes too alarmist about Trumps threat to journalism, Stelter believes hell be able to look back in 20 years and feel good about his coverage. He doubts some of his critics will feel the same. If I have to be defined by my enemies, Alex Jones is a good enemy to have Stelters beat is thankless, says Reason Editor in Chief Katherine Mangu-Ward, who has served as a panelist on Reliable Sources. But hes doing it as well as anyone could given the highly polarized, endlessly omphaloskeptic media hellscape we all inhabit. Finding a mainstream critic to diss Stelters work is difficult. The best Jack Shafer, Politicos resident curmudgeon, can come up with is that too much of Reliable Sources repeats the talking head opinionating that we get every weeknight already on CNN. (Reliable Sources has steadily increased its ratings and finished first in its time slot among adults 2554 for the past two months. Howard Kurtzs Media Buzz on Fox News remains the hours most-watched cable news show overall). But Shafer also credits Stelter for being hard working, accurate, and very ambitious. Hes also a mensch, willing to acknowledge error with a sheepish grin, and thats not automatically true of all of us, Shafer says. David Carr was very high on Stelter from the first moment he arrived at the Times, and I think his judgment has been borne out. GROWING UP IN DAMASCUS, MARYLAND, Stelter never expected his obsession with television news to land him in front of the camera. Already balding in college, he figured he didnt have the hair for it. Look at Berman, he exclaims in his office, referencing the well-coiffed CNN morning anchor, John Berman. Great hair. Hes serious about the hurdle posed by being follically challenged, but its also a cover for deeper obstacles that he thought stood in his way. Look, he says sitting back in his chair, I went to a state school. I grew up in a small town being encroached by the city; there was literally a kid who rode a tractor to school. I grew up in a lower middle-class family that I thought was middle-class. I think there is a cliche television news anchor that is voice of God, Ivy League, Upper East Side penthouses. Theres that thing that is still a perception of a television star that Im far from and will always be far from. The success wrought by Stelters prolific output ensures that his daughter wont grow up with the same financial challenges. But his obsession with the news does mean that Stelter is rarely off his phone, even when he is out of the office with his family. Jamie says that their daughter, influenced by two journalist parents who share a fondness for social media, often has an iphone in her diminutive hands. Thats her favorite toy, but why wouldnt it be? Jamie asks. Its a shiny thing that makes noises and she sees her mom and dad playing with it. Even family vacations arent immune from the demands of the news cycle. Last summer, a trip to Arizona coincided with the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci as White House Communications Director. Plans to air a taped version of Reliable Sources went out the window, and CNN sent a satellite truck to the dude ranch outside of Tucson where the Stelters were staying. Perched in a chair in the ranchs parking lot, he wore a suit jacket and tie with shorts and flip-flops while interviewing Kellyanne Conway about the administrations crisis of credibility. A post shared by Jamie Stelter (@jamiestelter) on Jul 23, 2017 at 9:10am PDT The rise of Trump has driven his coverage towards the intersection of politics and media, an approach that some have criticized as an obsession with the president. Trump is the biggest story in the world, and Im never going to apologize for covering the biggest story in the world, Stelter says. All roads lead back to Trump. He sees Trumps bashing of the press as a chance to draw attention to how journalism actually works, whether that means explaining how editorial decisions are made, or what an anonymous source actually means. Every time the president attacks a journalist or a news organization its an educational opportunity, its a chance to explain why we do what we do. Its a chance to take a negative and turn it into a positive. Beyond Trumps attacks, Stelter cites the growing influence of social networks and the ability of anyone with a smartphone to be both consumer and producer of content with helping to drive attention to the media beat. Theres a lot more interest in our beat and curiosity about what we do, he says. Theres something bigger than Trump that is about our place in the world. Media plus technology, I dont know where they end. Stelter has been a presence in the media world for so long that its occasionally jarring to remember that hes just 32 years old. His meteoric rise from college blogger to Times reporter to CNN news host makes it natural to question whats next for someone whos fascinated by all aspects of cable news. Hes clearly satisfied in his job, but during two days of conversation at CNNs New York headquarters, he mentions how he loves being in the control room and shares thoughts on the future of the industry. Asked if he could see himself running a network one day, Stelter pauses, wrestling with the question in silence for a full eight seconds. Finally, he asks, Can you just put me down for smiling at your question? 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 Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon. They make for compelling viewing: interviews with members of ISIS about why they joined, what they did and saw, what they confront after defeat and capture. These pieces seem to give us insight into what motivates ISIS. But as a general rule, news organizations should not interview captured or suspected ISIS members who are in no position to consent freely. Many broadcasters have aired ISIS interviews, including CBS, Fox, and Sky, often presenting them as a rare chance to learn about the secretive group, without taking any steps to obscure the captives identities, and sometimes with guards present. Suspects may face legal and physical risks, including torture, by cooperating with journalistsno matter how enticing the story. News organizations should not put people they are interviewing at greater risk; they should instead do whatever they can to protect them from abuse and from making what are effectively forced confessionseven if they are ISIS suspects. In a segment shown on Vice News Tonight last October, for example, a correspondent interviews an ISIS suspect in the presence of a soldier from Iraqs Kurdistan Regional Government, stating that the suspect has admitted to beheading five Peshmerga (Kurdish government) soldiers. Through translation, the detainee says he was trained on how to behead someone and describes the process. Despite the guard, the correspondent says that the suspect insists he was talking to us out of his own free will. At the same detention facility, the correspondent goes on to interview a 15-year-old ISIS suspectwho is named in the piece, despite apparently being a child soldierabout the training he received from ISIS. While we dont know what happened to these prisoners afterwards, Vices story is just one example of a reputable international news organization that may be putting its sources at risk. In response to these concerns, a Vice News spokesperson said there is a journalistic duty to show conditions on the ground, including ISIS recruitment of young people. All our editorial decisions are made with careful regard to legal and ethical considerations. Arguments about whether a particular interview in a specific situation is justifiable can often be made both ways, as they frequently are in our newsroom and many others. RELATED: Yazidi women speak about unethical practices by journalists Sign up for CJR 's daily email Journalists able to access ISIS members are under enormous pressure from editors at home to bring back stories on recent horrors: rape and enslavement of Yazidi women, mass executions, the brutal code of conduct forced onto civilians living under ISIS rule. But it should be unacceptable for editors to encourage this work without sufficiently considering the risks. Its a problem I have confronted over the last two years covering Iraq for Human Rights Watch, where the authorities will hand down a life sentence or a death penalty based on an accusation of ISIS membership, often after security forces extract a confession, sometimes using torture. News organizations should not be complicit in this process, either by taking part in an inherently coercive interview or broadcasting accounts by identifiable people who could not freely consent. A BBC Three video posted in February shows a Yazidi woman who was held as an ISIS sex slave interviewing a named ISIS suspect, again in the presence of KRG forces. He tells her in Arabic that he raped and killed hundreds of women and girls, describing some acts in excruciating detail. Again, the guards presence is a risk. The outlet asked the detainee to confess on camera, before he has even been convicted. What steps did they take to ensure that he would not be threatened or beaten because of what he said to them? He did not have a choice in being filmed; now his face and name are associated with ISIS. The BBC said that it takes great care when interviewing prisoners. Our editorial guidelines are very clear that BBC content must respect human dignity, a spokesperson said in response to our concerns. We would not accept invitations to interview prisoners unless we were confident that they had not been coerced. But consent, from a human rights perspective, is a difficult thing to be sure of, and something that newsrooms should be more transparent about. How did the editors assess that his agreeing to the interview counted as free and informed consent? Why did they decide not to obscure his identity? And was there consideration of the possible trauma that the woman might suffer, having been a victim? In a CBC video about the reporting process behind ISIS interviews that aired in December, an Iraqi army major tells the crew to stop recording. He then, the CBC correspondent says in the segment, kicks and slaps a blindfolded ISIS detainee for refusing to admit on camera to acts of violence; the major says he will kill the prisoner if he doesnt tell the truth, while the detainee maintains he was just a cook for ISIS. In the segment, the correspondent explains this abusive treatment by saying that, in his experience, policing in the Middle East differs from policing in Canada. The interview appeared to precipitate this attack on the detainee, so what steps did the crew take to protect him from any further abuse after what he said on camera? Nothing in this video suggests that the detainee had a choice about consenting to the interview. A spokesperson for CBC says both men specifically agreed to be identified and noted that the digital story included links to a Human Rights Watch report on abuse of detainees. The practice is not limited to Iraq. In Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces allied to US-led, anti-ISIS forces have also given journalists access to certain ISIS detainees, including two very high-profile ISIS suspects. These stories were of wide interest: the men, El Shafee el-Sheikh and Alexanda Kotey, are accused of holding and helping to execute Western hostages, including journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. The men, neither of whom have lawyers, were asked about the horrendous crimes they are accused of committing. In what is reported to be el-Sheikhs first TV interview, for al-Aan channel, he seemed aware of the possibility that he might later be prosecuted based on these recordings; when asked about his personal involvement in various crimes, including torture and mock executions, el-Sheikh responded: Theres an ongoing legal process and when they decide to get along with it then we can talk about any accusations made against me. Few detainees exhibit such awareness. My colleagues at Human Rights Watch and I have extensively documented the lack of adequate legal representation for ISIS suspectsas have many reporters. There have been trials where defendants said they were tortured to confess involvement with ISIS. Even if detainees branded as ISIS members are later released without charge, they may face retaliation from local communities. In October 2014, CBS broadcast a clip of interviews it conducted in northern Syria with three detainees, one aged 15, in the presence of their guards. They are blindfolded but the journalist identifies them by name. One detainee is visibly shaking and raises his hands to protect his face, telling her he thought he was being taken for beating when he was brought in for the interview. A CBS spokesperson told Human Rights Watch that the reporter made clear the circumstances in which the reporter was conducting the interview, adding that CBS does not discuss its editorial process. In June 2016, Vice published a video of Iraqi troops and related militias carrying out operations to retake Fallujah from ISIS, showing multiple scenes of Iraqi forces capturing and interrogating alleged ISIS members without obscuring the captives identities. In one scene, a commander gathers the men of the village, lists the names of suspected ISIS members, and detains some when crowd members affirm their guilt. These were men merely accused of ISIS membership, but even if a judge later clears them and orders their release, they have been publicly labelled as ISIS and they (and their families) could suffer serious, even fatal, consequences. In footage taken near Mosul that year, a Vice video shows KRG forces capturing and interrogating a man they believe to be ISIS, forcing him to say his name on camera. He did not have a choice in being filmed; now his face and name are associated with ISIS. The risks dont only affect ISIS suspects. One study found that some journalists pressured Yazidi women and girls who survived rape and kidnappings by ISIS to grant interviews. Journalists should be aware of re-traumatizationthe psychological and physical toll on survivors from repeatedly telling their stories. Some women have said journalists promised them money or aid, or didnt make clear that they would reveal their identities and show their faces, putting the women and their relatives at risk of stigma and further harm. The international community writ large portrays ISIS as the most evil group, often using dehumanizing language about ISIS suspects. I have listened to military commanders and civil servants from countries in the anti-ISIS coalition use this to explain away horrific war crimes committed by Iraqi forces against ISIS suspects. This status shouldnt influence how journalists cover ISIS prisoners. Instead, reporters need to be vigilant in protecting their subjects. Dont interview with guards present. Get free and informed consent. Dont show suspects faces. Dont name suspects. At Human Rights Watch we face similar concerns. We dont want to contribute to violations of the Geneva Conventions, which obligate national armies and armed groups to treat everyone in custody humanely, including by not exposing prisoners to public curiosity, as in a television interview, and affording special protections to detained children. We minimize the risks as best we can to those we interviewand we dont interview them at all if circumstances dont safely permit it. Getting this wrong can put lives at risk. Editors note: Due to the concerns over safety, CJR has chosen not to link to the segments mentioned above. See also a related story, on interviewing Yazidi women, in CJR. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Belkis Wille is the senior Iraq researcher at Human Rights Watch. One of the most horrific stories to emerge from the Islamic States reign of terror in Iraq is the systematic rape and enslavement of Yazidi women. Labeled a genocide by the United Nations, the Islamic State targeted the minority group, which has been persecuted for centuries, due in part to its esoteric religion. But the the methods used to report the stories of those abuses have sometimes been problematic, a new study in Womens Studies International Forum finds. I had picked up a paper while in line for coffee and I saw a headline that really disturbed me, says co-author Johanna Foster, head sociologist at Monmouth University. She had barely read past the headlinewhich contained the term sex slavesbefore she felt so disturbed that it was just going to fit into what is, sadly, a long history of media reporting on sexual violence in pretty voyeuristic ways, and not really looking at the context of the violence, she adds. Foster and her co-author, Sherizaan Minwalla, a human rights lawyer in residence at American University, conducted 90 interviews with Yazidi women about their interactions with the international media. Their findings were staggering85 percent of the women reported that journalists engaged in unethical practices while reporting on victims of ISIS, often pressuring women to speak, or failing to adequately protect their privacy. Each time we tell them our stories, we go back to them, like a flashback, says one of the women interviewed for the report. It is difficult, too much. They remind us of what happened to us again. And I tell them, please enough, please enough. I cannot talk about that. Please dont remind me. Its not easy. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Even when their intentions are good, journalists reporting on traumatic and sensitive topics need to take extra steps to ensure that getting a story doesnt come at the expense of the person sharing it. Narrative storytelling has a power to get peoples attention, Minwalla tells CJR. I think its really a question of how you identify who those people are, and if theyre ready to tell their story. If we can spark a conversation about how to tell that story while respecting the safety and dignity of the source, well be doing a better job. CJR spoke with Foster and Minwalla for insights on ethically interviewing survivors of sexual violence. Eight key takeaways emerged from those conversations. 1. Put the subject first Journalists know that every interview should begin with setting clear ground rules. Its especially important when interviewing survivors of trauma. Academics are bound by standards set by ethics review boards. While the same isnt true for journalists, a core principle of the trade is to do no harm. When I interview someone whos suffered trauma, Minwalla says, I make sure they know that if theres something they dont want to talk about, they dont have to. Informed consent is crucial. Be sure an interview subject understands why they are being asked to share their story, what it will be used for, and that their choice is made freely with an understanding of the risks. There can be confusion about who is interviewing them, Minwalla says. NGOs do a lot of interviews, but also legal investigators, and local activists. Women [in our study] were sometimes confused about who was interviewing them, and for what purpose. 2. Be honest By the same token, interview subjects do not always have the same media savvy as journalists, or their readers. Still, its a journalists responsibility to explain what their job is, and what it isnt. A key finding in Minwalla and Fosters report was a common perception among Yazidi women that speaking to the media would result in positive change for their community, as well as the distress caused when that change didnt materialize. They take our stories and they dont do anything for us. They come here and they take videos, take pictures, ask questions, and then they go, one Yazidi women is quoted as saying in the report. We dont know where theyre going and what they do with our storiesthey ask, What happened to you? How did you escape? What did they do with you? What did ISIS do with you? And we tell them everything and we dont know why they come here even and tell nobody to help usI just want to ask them why you are taking our voice? Why are you taking our stories and you dont do anything for us? Journalists should make it clear that the only power they have is to tell the story, and hope that others make change. They should not make promisesespecially to vulnerable peoplethat telling those stories will indirectly benefit the lives of their sources. Contextualizing the crime of rape in the conflict needs to be central. Otherwise its selling a narrative of a womans violation for the sake of titillating readers. Rape is a tool of war, and a war crimeit should be framed that way. 3. Dont re-traumatize Foster and Minwalla agree that its both unnecessary and harmful to ask survivors to recount gritty details of a trauma, which could cause a person emotional distress. You dont have to tell the story of the rape or the assault in order to tell the story of the crisis, Foster says. Thats just number one. Notably, in all of the interviews Foster and Minwalla conducted for their report, they never once asked a woman if she was raped. Pausing and checking with the person youre interviewing are good ways to make sure youre not overstepping boundaries, says Minwalla. Ask, Are you comfortable?Do you want to take a break?to just reinforce that people have choices. 4. Protecting your sources privacy is your responsibility Journalists need to be especially cautious when publishing names, photos, or any other information that identify the survivors they spoke with, since doing so could expose them or their loved ones to stigma or even retaliation. Iraqi authorities estimate that of the approximately 7,000 Yazidi women and girls who were captured by ISIS, more than 1,600 remain in Islamic State captivity to this day, even after the militants were ousted from their major territorial holdings. If any of their loved ones are still in ISIS captivity, theres a good chance that they could be abused more, says Minwalla. Even if someone agrees to a photo, journalists should be aware of potential repercussions.Even with my face covered, I did not feel safe, one woman says in the report. They know everything about me. They can know me from my eyes. Even I know them when they are covered and just by their eyes. 5. Do your research The Society for Professional Journalists, Columbia Universitys Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, and the UNs Global Protection Cluster all publish guidelines for reporting on sexual violence. NGOs and experts who work in affected communities should be a first point of reference for journalists looking to cover crisesbut the person being interviewed should always have the final say. People often feel obligated or indebted [to NGOs], and that might skew their ability to really say nowhen theyre getting food and clothing and medical support from these organizations, says Minwalla. Yazidi community leaders were pressuring some of these women to give interviews because they thought if they tell the world about what happened, someone will help them, she adds. Being aware of those dynamics is important. 6. Set up interviews with subjects in mind Choose your crew carefully. It should be obvious that female survivors of sexual violence could feel uncomfortable or even retraumatized in a roomful of men they dont know. But understanding the culture of the community where youre reporting is just as important. Choose the location where the interviewee will feel safe, and not attract any unnecessary attention or stigma. Many Yazidis hadnt yet gotten to a place where they felt safe in Kurdistan, even though they were supposedly safe and away from ISIS, says Minwalla, but there are problems with the Kurds. So if you bring a Kurdish Muslim man from Erbil to interview a Yazidi woman, thats just so wrong. 7. Give context Contextualizing the crime of rape in the conflict needs to be central. Otherwise its selling a narrative of a womans violation for the sake of titillating readers, Foster says. Rape is a tool of war, and a war crimeit should be framed that way. Ask: What is the political context of this violence? What is the impact on survivors? What do the women who survive want us to know about their experience? 8. Be prepared for extra work It takes times to gain the trust needed for a survivor of trauma to feel comfortable in an interview, especially when it comes to such an intimate violation as gender-based violence. What we heard from women was that there was too often a lack of basic regard for their dignity, Foster says.The story they wanted told was not just about sexual violencethey wanted the story of the genocide to be told. They wanted the world to know this was not the first time that Yazidi people were targeted for annihilation, so it really felt like the focus just on rape and sexual assault didnt do justice to the Yazidi people. If a journalist cant be confident an interviewee hasnt been coerced to speak, Foster and Minwalla say they might just have to keep on digging. The public has a right to know, but that doesnt come above the individuals right to be safe and have choices about what they talk about, or whether they even give interviews, says Minwalla. Sometimes its just going to take some more work on the part of the journalist to get the story right. RELATED: How journalists may be putting ISIS suspects at risk of abuse Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Shawn Carrie is a freelance reporter based in Istanbul covering conflict, migration, and culture in the Middle East. His work has been published in Newsweek, VICE, and Public Radio International. Follow him on Twitter @shawncarrie . Jeng Yang Chia wants to help you get into Harvard. He's one of the successes of the prestigious business school's rigorous admissions process, so he figures he's pretty well placed. But he's not trying to make himself a quick buck. In fact, he's offering the advice for free. All he asks is that you make a donation to charity. Chia said it's his way of putting his experience to use while giving something back to society. "I am not in any way financially compensated for my time, though we both get to sleep with a warm fuzzy feeling tonight," Chia writes in his newly launched GIVE.asia fundraising page. The 25-year-old's 30-minute Skype sessions promise to dispel some of the illusions about the process, while helping prospective students frame their personal stories. However, Chia said he won't assist with writing or editing applications, nor will he sugar-coat his guidance. "You may receive feedback that you may not expect or appreciate," his fundraising page reads. "This is part of the process." Bruno De Hogues | Photolibrary | Getty Images When a Google executive found a high-end Bluetooth headset selling at a steep discount on the company's shopping site earlier this year, he didn't consider that the deal may have been too good to be true. He ordered the product and waited. And waited. The expected delivery date passed. He tried calling the website's customer service number. It was disconnected. The headset never arrived. The money was lost. In reality, the merchant wasn't based in the U.S., as its website indicated. Google Shopping had sent the buyer about 8,000 miles away, to a bogus seller in Vietnam who took the Google employee's credit card information with no intention of ever sending out a headset. The prospective buyer kicked the case over to his co-workers to start an investigation. But instead of simply banning the bad actor from listing new products, Google Shopping's trust and safety team initiated a global probe that ultimately tracked down 5,000 merchant accounts wrapped up in a sophisticated scheme to defraud users. "I think we caught them right at the tip of when they were trying to scale up," Saikat Mitra, Google Shopping's director of trust and safety, told CNBC. The story, which Mitra is sharing publicly for the first time, reflects Google's never-ending battle against scams, a fight that requires engineers and their increasingly sophisticated machine learning tools. It also illustrates the risks that consumers face as Google aggressively tries to win back product searches from Amazon and stay relevant in the future of e-commerce. Although Google Shopping may look like a marketplace, it really isn't. Amazon and eBay operate shopping platforms that connect sellers with buyers and offer protections like money-back guarantees. Google, by contrast, sends shoppers off its site after they click on an item, and thus has no visibility into what happens after the transaction. Nor does Google take responsibility for scams. If you order something from a sketchy website you found through Google Shopping and don't pay through a service like PayPal, which has its own robust fraud checks, you're likely out of luck. Like Google's dominant search engine, Google Shopping is an advertising site. If you want a new camera, a pair of Comme des Garcons sneakers or a sequin backpack, and you start your search on Google, you'll be greeted with a big, scrollable list of ads. If you then click on Google's "Shopping" tab, you'll be directed to a more robust page where you can search products by price, color, or size. If you didn't notice the little "Sponsored" messages tag in the corner, you might not recognize all these listings as advertisements. That model keeps Google in the high-margin business of online ads and away from the costly operations of holding inventory and managing a massive logistics and shipping network. (Google also has a separate shopping product, called Express, that only partners with specific retailers and does guarantee purchases.) E-commerce is a market Google can't afford to lose. Digital agency Merkel said its clients increased spending on Google Shopping by 40 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, and ad impressions on the shopping site surged 47 percent. Shopping is becoming even more important as the battle for users turns to voice-controlled speakers in the home, a market where the Amazon Echo has an early lead over Google Home. Without owning and operating the platform, Google has less control over who sets up shop. For a business to create a Google Shopping ad, it has to follow a variety of policies meant to keep consumers safe. But, as the Bluetooth headset example illustrates, there's still room for fraudsters to game the system. What Google's doing to keep its platform safe That's where Mitra has work to do. Once his team was made aware of the Google employee's experience, it got to work using advanced data algorithms and looking for subtle connections between merchant accounts, Mitra said. Through machine learning, Google discovered a cluster of merchants with similar data and online habits. More than 5,000 well-designed websites that looked like they belonged to U.S. based companies were actually being run by a ring of scammers in Vietnam. Google booted those merchants from its ads product and was able to recognize when members of the same group tried to rejoin the platform. Mitra's team determined that the merchants had likely been preparing sleeper accounts for at least six months to make them look legitimate. When one shop got rejected, there were many more that would be on standby to fill the ranks. "The coordination among them, and their persistence and desperation to get back on the system was stark," Mitra says. "That was really unique." Scamming is nothing new to the internet, particularly when it comes to commerce. Counterfeit goods are a common problem across all platforms and something that Amazon has struggled with for years. In the past it was common for people to order goods through Google Shopping only to receive shoddily made products that looked nothing like the pictures. Those practices were hard to police, Mitra says, but Google addressed the issue by integrating seller reviews and requiring that all merchants meet a minimum review score. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin waves to the media as he and the U.S. delegation for trade talks with China, leave a hotel in Beijing, China May 3, 2018. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Friday a trade delegation he is leading in China has been having very good conversations. He made the comments to reporters as he left his Beijing hotel for the second and likely final day of trade talks in China. A breakthrough deal to fundamentally change China's economic policies is viewed as highly unlikely during the two days of talks, though a package of short-term Chinese measures could delay Washington's decision to impose tariffs on about $50 billion worth of Chinese exports. The discussions, led by Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, are expected to cover a wide range of U.S. complaints about China's trade practices, from accusations of forced technology transfers to state subsidies for technology development. "Thrilled to be here. Thank you," Mnuchin told Reuters at his hotel when asked if he expected progress. As Mnuchin arrived, President Donald Trump tweeted: "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!" It was not clear when Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping might meet again next, though both will likely attend some of the same multilateral summits this year, including those of the G-20 and APEC. Throughout his 2016 election campaign, Trump routinely threatened to impose a 45 percent across-the-board tariff on Chinese goods as a way to level the playing field for American workers. At the time, he was also accusing China of manipulating its currency to gain an export advantage, a claim that his administration has since dropped. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said the U.S. delegation planned to meet Chinese officials on both days, in addition to U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad, before leaving on Friday evening. The delegation returned to their hotel late on Thursday evening without taking questions from reporters, though, when asked how the talks were going, one unidentified U.S. official said "Well." In Washington, the U.S.-China Business Council, which represents American companies doing business in China, said it was pleased the two governments were talking and urged a deal to end forced technology transfers and improve China's intellectual property protections. "USCBC believes it is unlikely that the issues will be fully resolved in this meeting, but we hope the two sides will be able to lay out a path for continued negotiations that will lead to a solution and avoid tariffs and other commerce-slowing sanctions," the group said in a statement. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a briefing in Beijing: "The outcome should be mutually beneficial and win-win." In a commentary widely cited in Chinese media on Thursday, the official Xinhua news agency said if things went poorly and a trade war did break out, China would never yield and would hit back strongly. "China will inevitably suffer losses, but China has the political advantage of a centralised and unified leadership and support of a massive domestic market," it said. The official China Daily said in an editorial that China would "stand up to the U.S.' bullying as necessary." "The U.S. wants greater access to China's market, but it should not use trade actions as a battering ram to force China to open its doors. It is already in the process of opening them wider," the English-language newspaper said. In doing so, China expected Washington to reciprocate and open its market to Chinese investment and competition, it said. CNBC contributed to this report. U.S. NTSB investigators are on scene examining damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane in this image released from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 17, 2018. A piece of engine covering that broke lose during a mid-air engine failure on a Southwest Airlines flight last month may have contributed to the damage, federal investigators said Thursday. One of the fan blades on the Boeing 737-700's engines broke off shortly into Flight 1380, when the plane was above 30,000 feet. Debris flew, puncturing the fuselage and blowing out a window. A passenger was partly sucked through the opening and died, marking Southwest's first accident-related passenger fatality in 47 years of flying and the first such fatality on a U.S. commercial airline since 2009. The captain made a safe emergency landing in Philadelphia after the cabin depressurized when the window broke. The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday reiterated that it appeared metal fatigue in the fan blade was to blame for it breaking off. But the fan blade did not appear to be responsible for busting the window. "A large gouge impact mark, consistent in shape to a recovered portion of fan cowl and latching mechanism, was adjacent to the row 14 window," it said in a report. "No window, airplane structure, or engine material was found inside the cabin." Photo: NTSB Southwest COO Mike Van de Ven last week said on an earnings call that the blade alone likely did not cause the damage. Federal regulators have mandated more stringent testing of the fan blades, which can crack after extensive use. Southwest expects to complete this task by the middle of May. But Van de Ven said the company is also interested in the role of the engine cowling. "What we are talking about is whether or not there are opportunities in the inlet cowling to improve durability so that it can minimize the kind of energy that comes out with this fan blade release," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he departs from the White House on July 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump has asked the Pentagon to look into reducing the presence of American troops in South Korea, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing "several people briefed on the deliberations." The sources didn't disclose whether Trump asked for full or partial withdrawal of U.S. forces, according to the report. But they said the president didn't put out the directive as a bargaining chip in his upcoming meeting with North Korea. John Bolton, U.S. national security adviser, called the Times report "utter nonsense." "The New York Times story is utter nonsense," he told CNBC. "The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea." Trump is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in coming weeks to push for the hermit nation's nuclear weapons disarmament. Kim had earlier met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and the two were said to agree to work toward a peace treaty which would officially end the Korean War. U.S. troops have been stationed in South Korea since the conflict's armistice in 1953. A peace treaty between the two Koreas could reduce the need for the more than 20,000 American soldiers still stationed there, according to the report. Trump has long wanted to withdraw American troops from South Korea, claiming that the U.S. hasn't been properly compensated for its military presence, the Times noted. South Korea, however, has said it wants U.S. troops to stay even if a peace treaty is signed with North Korea. For the full report, see the article in The New York Times. The path of the next three Federal Reserve rate hikes is clear but after that the central bank has to be more cautious about how it proceeds, Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan told CNBC on Friday. The Fed funds rate is currently at a target of 1.5 to 1.75 percent. On Wednesday, the Fed opted to hold rates steady, but it is widely expected to announce a hike in June. "Once we get in the mid 2s, I think the going gets a lot tougher. We have to be very, very careful," Kaplan told Steve Liesman on "Closing Bell." That's because he thinks economic growth can start to look sluggish in the future thanks to "demographics, sluggish productivity [and] high levels of debt-to-GDP." He's also keeping his eye on the bond market. The yield curve, which tracks the difference between longer- and shorter-term bond yields, is flattening, meaning they are getting closer together. Investors are concerned it may invert, which means long-term Treasury yields would be lower than short-term yields. Historically, when that happens, an economic recession has usually followed. Kaplan said it would give him "great pause" if he was faced with a decision of raising rates and causing the yield curve to invert. "I'm not going to predict what I will or won't do," he said. "Right now as I sit here, I don't want to knowingly invert the yield curve." He believes the flatness in yields "says we're late cycle." He said 2018 will be a good year, with a lot of stimulus. However, the economy will then start to grow a bit more slowly, he said. Soybeans are harvested in Princeton, Illinois. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images Farm country is worried about reports that China has curbed buying U.S. soybeans due to the ongoing trade spat. Farmers in the nation's heartland are beginning the new planting season facing uncertainty given Beijing's threat to impose a new tariff on soybean imports. The planting season comes as a delegation from the Trump administration is in Beijing for talks to resolve major differences. "My concerns are any time trade issues develop that's not good for agriculture," said soybean farmer Chris Hausman, a former Illinois Farm Bureau director. "We export a large percentage of our soybeans that we raise and corn for that matter." In early April, Beijing warned it might impose a 25 percent tariff on soybeans as well as duties on other major U.S. agricultural products, including corn, wheat, cotton and beef. It followed the Trump administration's threaten to slap tariffs on Chinese products including consumer electronics and robotics. 'Worrisome' retaliation "Using soybeans as a retaliation for other trade disputes is really worrisome for farmers," said Gregg Fujan, a soybean grower in Nebraska. "Those international markets are critical to our profitability. So hopefully the people doing those negotiations can come to an agreement and we can get this worked out." Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement Thursday that soybean prices remain low and growers "are barely making ends meet." He called on the Trump administration to take short-term steps "to help farmers if they are harmed" by the retaliation. Longer term, though, he said there's a need for the administration to help the industry "find alternative foreign markets." "While American farmers are willing to do their part to strengthen the economy, at this point in time we're at five-year lows for farm income and our system can simply not handle any added stress," said Tom Slunecka, CEO of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. China buys roughly half of the U.S. soybean exports, and about 1 in 3 rows of soybeans grown on the nation's farms goes to the world's second-largest economy, according to the American Soybean Association. China canceling orders But U.S. government data show China has been canceling U.S. soybean orders for three-straight weeks. In the three weeks ending April 26, China canceled just over 196,000 metric tons (or about 7.2 million bushels) of U.S. beans for the current marketing year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. That's roughly equivalent to filling up the cargo holds of four mid-sized bulk ships. Brazil, though, enjoyed record volumes of soybean exports last month, according to Anec, the country's grain exporter group. Anec put exports at just over 11.6 million tons in April, or about 1 million above the March tally. Soren Schroder, CEO of agricultural commodities dealer Bunge, said during a Bloomberg interview on Wednesday that U.S. soybean sales to China have essentially stopped. "All the business that's being conducted with China now is being conducted from non-U.S. origins," he said. Argentina steps up buying "We've been tracking a reduction in Chinese imports [of U.S. soybeans] for really about a month, or ever since the news first started [about the potential tariff]," said Slunecka. "Most of that market has been sucked up by other countries that we typically don't sell soybeans to, like Argentina." Argentina's 2017-18 soybean production is expected to fall to a nine-year low due to drought conditions. As a result, Argentine crushers producers of soy meal and soy oil have a big appetite these days for U.S. soy. Still, farmers are quick to point out that this time of year U.S. soybean shipments to China typically decline anyway as Brazil harvests its crop and ramps up its own exports to global markets. Brazil is expected to continue exporting through the summer months. "This is kind of a normal time of year to have a little bit of a slowdown," said John Heisdorffer, an Iowa soybean producer and president of the American Soy Association. "The South American crop is all coming in hot and heavy, and there are a lot of beans moving into ports down there." China's 'emergency' steps At the same time, there are reports that China is taking "emergency" steps to boost its domestic soybean output this year to make up for any future shortfalls in American supplies. China wants to boost soybean acreage but its domestic soy production supplies less than 15 percent of its total needs. Hausman, the Illinois soybean farmer, said he's "not too concerned" about China taking steps to increase its own soy production. "If it costs more in China to raise a bushel of soybeans than we can, then the Chinese people are going to pay the increase," he said. China acquires about two-thirds of the world's soybean trade, using most of it for soy protein to feed roughly 700 million pigs in the country or to make cooking oil. China's total bean imports are projected to increase sharply over the next decade, although without resolution of the trade friction between Beijing and Washington the big winner is likely to be South America. Together, the U.S. and Brazil represent about 80 percent of the global exports of soybeans. U.S. exporter risks Meantime, some experts suggest U.S. exporters may have second thoughts selling to China these days given the current uncertainties. "People say the Chinese have quit buying," said John Baize, an international agricultural trade and policy consultant based in Virginia. Yet he said it's more like "U.S. exporters have quit selling" because they run the risk of suffering a financial setback. Cargo ship at the Long Beach Container Terminal at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California. Tim Rue | Bloomberg | Getty Images According to Baize, the risk for U.S. exporters is they could have the soybeans on cargo ships bound for Chinese ports and Beijing could then announce the tariffs are going into effect. Eat additional costs The Chinese importer usually has to pay duties but the risk is they could refuse to do it when the ship is halfway across the ocean. If that were to happen, the U.S. exporter would have to scramble for a new buyer, reroute the vessel and potentially eat additional costs associated with the diverted cargo. "Nobody is willing to take that risk of maybe a $100 a ton tariff that might be imposed," said Baize. "Either you're going to have to pay that tariff [as an exporter] or the [Chinese] customer will have to pay it, which they won't and the sale will get canceled." Ag trader's $30 million hit "Internship and apprenticeshiptype programs can strengthen and bolster soft skills, in addition to the perhaps more obvious technical skills." Moreover, the concern extends beyond the corner office: CareerBuilder found that 77 percent of surveyed employers (hiring managers and HR) rated soft skills as being of equal importance to cognitive skills such as math and science. When individuals lack soft skills, companies run the risk of suffering from high turnover, terminations, and ultimately, lost productivity. While addressing this gap may seem hard for employers, it would benefit their businesses if they became involved. The need for companies to engage on this front could not come at a more urgent time, given the reality of ongoing labor shortages caused by the mass retirement of baby boomers, many of whom work in the services sector. Employers must become adaptable at the community level in order to create a sustainable talent pipeline. On the upside, the research found business leaders agree that exposure to the workplace is helpful as one strategy for developing soft skills the creation of a worker who has a positive attitude, is resilient, motivated, and a problem solver. Internship and apprenticeshiptype programs can strengthen and bolster soft skills, in addition to the perhaps more obvious technical skills. And it should be noted that soft skills and technical skills can be developed simultaneously they need not be isolated. As just one example, CVS Health has a program that exposes and trains high school students for careers in the science-heavy pharmaceutical industry. These and other workplace learning experiences boost the development of communication, conflict management, and time management skills. Students in a workplace are exposed to ethical situations. They gain appreciation for what it means to act ethically. They also increase their understanding of what it means to treat others with respect, and have others extend that same treatment back. These are all characteristics that just about every parent hopes to see in their adult children, and that employers hope to find in new employees. Any human capital challenge must begin and end with humans themselves. In this case, the people of the business world must be willing to cross over into the education community to work with teachers, administrators, and parents. The need for communication among stakeholders means that many communities could even benefit from an intermediary to serve as a conduit for gathering and sharing information. The April jobs report shows vast opportunity for those high school seniors who will soon graduate and then jump into the world of work. But opportunity by no means ensures success. Putting greater priority on developing soft skills will play no small part in realizing these students' workplace success both now and throughout their careers. Commentary by Steve Odland, CEO of the Committee for Economic Development (CED) and former CEO of Office Depot and AutoZone; and Cindy Cisneros, vice president of education programs at CED. Read the organization's new report on workforce readiness here. Follow Steve Odland on Twitter @CEDUpdate and @SteveOdland. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion onTwitter. Axon Enterprise may be the smallest competitor in its space developing evidence-capture technology for law enforcement but based on its deal flow, it might be the most refined. The company recently won contracts with the New York Police Department, the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Phoenix Police Department via its acquisition of privately held software play Vievu. Rick Smith, Axon's co-founder and CEO, told CNBC on Friday that Axon fought hard for the Vievu deal and other acquisitions it's made in recent months. "We're up against little companies like Motorola and Panasonic and L3, so there's still a lot of competition, but the fact is we've been winning the vast majority of the deals because our system performs really well," Smith told "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer. System performance is where Axon thrives relative to its competitors, Smith said. After Axon announced in 2017 that it would give free body cameras to every U.S. police officer, enforcement agencies signed up for field trials to test its equipment. Following the trials, Axon won nearly every major deal that was proposed, Smith told Cramer. "When it comes to cameras, it's really the software ecosystem," the CEO said. "We're running the geekiest office in Seattle. We're up there playing with the big guys. We're bringing in talent. Our head of AI came from Uber. Our head of software engineering came from Microsoft and from Amazon. So we're bringing a lot of talent and that's building a great system." Smith also nodded to a 2016 Cambridge University study that showed the efficacy of body cameras in law enforcement. The survey of seven U.S.- and U.K.-based police departments revealed that complaints dropped 93 percent when police wore cameras. "Much like I'm probably not going to do anything too bad in front of a million people here on camera, you put a camera on and police behave more professionally and the people that they deal with also behave better," the CEO said. "Police sitting and typing up reports all day doesn't make sense when you can record this stuff and actually know what happened," Smith continued. "This is a phenomenon that we believe is going to go global." Bill Gates speaks at a panel discussion on Building Human Capital during the IMF/World Bank spring meeting in Washington, U.S., April 21, 2018. When Bill Gates spoke with college students recently about America's financial aid system, it sounded like they were describing a horror film. The students used words like "scary," "nerve-wracking" and "miserable." Writing about the experience in a recent blog post, Gates argues that there are several things that could make applying for financial aid less terrifying, but there is one that stands out fixing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA. "Each year, the U.S. government offers more than $120 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds to help students pay for college," he writes. "But the overly complex and confusing financial aid system is failing the students most in need of assistance, preventing them from pursuing their dreams of attending college." In order to earn their share of these funds, students must complete the FAFSA, which has over 180 questions and is more than three times longer than the standard federal income tax form. There was hardly a cloud in the sky over Indianapolis on Wednesday morning when it started raining money. In a moment that instantly tested the core of human morality, the definition of right and wrong, and the limits of acceptable risk, the back door of a Brink's armored truck swung open during rush hour on Interstate 70, blowing bags of cash onto the highway. There was money $600,000, troopers estimated everywhere. Some bags tumbled onto the road and stayed intact thousands of dollars, sorted and organized, just sitting there for the taking. Others ripped open, showering cash over four lanes of the interstate. On the shoulder, $20 bills gathered like leaves and formed piles in the grass off the highway. More from New York Times: Man Collects $763,000 He Thought Was a Scam Privately Owned Armored Trucks Raise Eyebrows After Attack on Dallas Police The Problem With Prosecuting 'Spoofing' Suddenly, the timeless hypothetical question became reality: What would you do? A school bus driver knew what he would do, the police said. He pulled over on the highway, jumped out from the driver's seat and grabbed some cash before driving away. So did four men in a white pickup truck who snatched an entire bag and then sped off. Jazmyne Danae stopped her car and started streaming live video on Facebook. "One of those little bank trucks just dropped all this money and people just came out here," Ms. Danae said as she walked along the highway shoulder, which was covered in $20 bills. At some point during the mayhem, word must have spread to people living in the residential area off the interstate in West Indianapolis. They started jumping fences and frantically stuffing their pockets with cash. The object detection and tracking technology developed by SenseTime is displayed on a screen at the Artificial Intelligence Exhibition & Conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Bloomberg | Getty Images As U.S. and Chinese officials engage in highly anticipated trade talks, officials from China have asserted that it will not discuss two of the biggest trade demands from the United States. One is about the U.S. trade deficit; the other is an issue that could become the greatest technology war in history: China's push into artificial intelligence. The United States has good reason to be concerned about China's hard stance. While the ongoing trade war is grabbing all the headlines, it's the tussle for dominance in the A.I. space that could shape the economic fortunes of the two world powers. Overshadowed by the dazzling A.I. advances made by the United States so far, China has been silently but resolutely building an ecosystem that is feeding and fueling its ambition to become a world leader in A.I. by 2030. Home to tech behemoths like Google, Microsoft, IBM and Apple, the United States is where the bulk of A.I. innovation has taken place. However, there are growing indications that China, with its own army of tech heavy hitters such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu, is moving rapidly to close the gap. For one, the Asian economic giant has all the ingredients it needs to upstage Silicon Valley: generous government coffers, large population, a thriving research community and a society eager for technological change. Its investment in A.I., chips and electrics cars combined has been estimated at $300 billion. In line with its 2030 vision, the government of Tianjin, a city a couple of hours from Beijing, plans to build a $5 billion fund to support the A.I. development. Money being no object, China is also building a giant $2.1 billion technology park to facilitate A.I. innovation. In a red-hot market for tech, China's A.I. start-ups can raise funds with relative ease. Investors poured $4.5 billion into more than 200 Chinese A.I. companies between 2012 and 2017, according to a white paper produced by Kai-Fu Lee, a former Google and Microsoft executive who now leads a venture-capital firm, Sinovation Ventures. China's goal is to foster a $1 trillion A.I. industry by 2030. Last month Chinese A.I. start-up SenseTime raised $600 million in a deal led by Alibaba, reported as the largest-ever in the A.I. space. The deal gave SenseTime an implied valuation in some reports of more than $3 billion, or even as high as $4.5 billion. "SenseTime is the perfect case study in the difference between Chinese and Western technological development," wrote Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek Research, in a recent report. "Artificial intelligence, and especially the A.I. that powers visual analytics, is a critical technology for a raft of new products. The Western companies have their own advantages, to be sure. But the Chinese model of government sponsorship and private capital is coming on very strong. SenseTime may be the hit investment of the moment coming out of this approach, but it certainly won't be the last." US research sector could struggle By contrast, the U.S. research sector could be struggling for funding and policy support under the Trump administration. The American Association for the Advancement of Science said the White House planned to slash science and technology research funding by 15 percent in 2018. Worse, with the recent immigration clampdown, the United States may soon be struggling to attract and retain highly skilled tech experts from around the world that it needs to keep Silicon Valley at the cutting edge of A.I. research and innovation. There are indications America's grasp of A.I. primacy may already be slipping. According to the White House's National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan in A.I. research, China had already surpassed the United States, at least in terms of journal articles that mention "deep learning" or "deep neural network," as far back as 2016. "Sadly, when it comes to science and innovation, the U.S. is moving in reverse by cutting funding for research, denying climate change and cutting investments in education," said Vivek Wadhwa, a distinguished fellow and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering and author of The Driver in the Driverless Car: How Our Technology Choices Will Create the Future. U.S. leaders do not appear to be aware of A.I. developments, said Joshua Gans, business professor at the University of Toronto and co-author of Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence. "President Obama discussed it [AI] on numerous occasions," he said. "[Research funding cuts] is obviously bad news in terms of its ability to nurture scientific leadership. It is shortsighted and will harm the U.S. in the medium-long term." China's timeline for global A.I. supremacy by 2030 may appear a tad overambitious, but opinions are divided as to whether it's achievable. Wadhwa, for one, feels China has many obstacles. "Governments can't make innovation by throwing money at it this only leads to more corruption and bureaucracy," he said. "Innovation comes from people who have diverse ideas, take risks and challenge authority." Wadhwa's reservation contrasts with the conviction of William Weightman, a Fulbright Fellow researching intellectual property law in China. "While 12 years seems like a short amount of time to achieve such an ambitious target, it's not outside China's scope," said Weightman. "The world should not underestimate China's ability to mobilize a vast amount of resources to accomplish its goals." He used the example of the first high-speed rail line connecting Beijing and Tianjin, which was completed just in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "Between the vast amount of state resources and the determination of the central leadership, China has a solid foundation on which to build an innovative A.I. sector," Weightman said. China's potential advantages are many China's demographics give it an unmatched advantage. The Asian giant has large consumer data (which fuels A.I.), scant regulation restricting the use of it, a supportive government both in terms of policy and funding, a population not overly concerned about privacy and a vigorous tech start-up culture that now boasts one-third of the world's unicorns start-ups valued at $1 billion or more. Wadhwa conceded China clearly had an advantage in data, the key to training today's A.I., but said its importance may be overstated. "There will be a new generation of technologies that don't require as much data," he said. "New A.I. techniques which [will] work much differently than today's." It may also turn out that other things are more important than data, like a culture of innovation and scientific research. And while there is uncertainty around government support for scientific research, "the U.S. still has the most vibrant innovative economy," Gans said. "It also has leadership in science on this front, and if it can nurture that, it can compete." China still trails the United States in areas such as A.I. research talent and algorithm development, according to Weightman. China's tech giants do not operate independently of government, and there is much uncertainty there. Their U.S. counterparts are freer on many important dimensions. Joshua Gans business professor at the University of Toronto and co-author of Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence. Despite government apathy, tech innovation and research projects are taking place all over America, unlike only at a "few big companies and government labs as in China," Wadhwa said. "In risk-taking and technology development, China is only a child, where America is the leader." Gans said the freer hand of U.S. companies may also be an advantage. "China's tech giants do not operate independently of government, and there is much uncertainty there," he said. "Their U.S. counterparts are freer on many important dimensions." There is, however, little disagreement over the potentially damaging long-term impact of the U.S. immigration policies, an area where America's loss could be China's gain. "America's immigration policies are clearly slowing down progress by sending great people home and preventing the world's best and brightest from coming here," Wadhwa said. "This is real stupidity. The closest thing America has had to a free lunch is immigration." Conversely, China is going all out to actively woo A.I. talent from across the globe. The country has been recruiting highly skilled engineers of Chinese descent currently working in Silicon Valley to return to China. China stealing more than US talent China's blatant disregard for IP rules and trade-secret thefts have long angered the United States. As a stiff penalty for stealing, U.S. President Donald Trump recently proposed the imposition of hefty tariffs on Chinese imports. "China steals like no other country," Wadhwa said. Gans takes the U.S. gripe with China about tech IP theft with a pinch of salt. "The damage is overstated," he said. "In effect, to do business with the West, Chinese companies must comply with IP laws, so while there may be a lax environment initially, when the companies succeed, they end up complying." There is evidence that Chinese nationals have hacked foreign companies to steal IP. Claims of the Chinese government's complicity have led to real business consequences in 2018, from the massive Qualcomm-NXP deal being stopped by the U.S. government due to national security threats, to the Pentagon banning the Chinese telecom companies ZTE and Huawei from selling to members of the military, and the government still considering a wider ban against them. IP expert Weightman said U.S. firms weren't without blame. "My research has found little evidence that the Chinese government forces foreign companies to transfer technology in exchange for market access on the scale that many would lead us to believe," he said. "Although many firms enter into joint venture agreements with Chinese partners, their loss of IP is usually a result of foreign companies not doing their due diligence or feeling compelled for financial reasons to take the risk of entering the agreement without proper IP protection." A ready example of that would be U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, which gets a fifth of its business from China, and routinely trains Chinese scientists and gives away samples of their A.I. technology as part of business deals, according to a South China Morning Post report. Visitors crowd around the Nvidia booth at the 2016 China Digital Entertainment Expo, known as ChinaJoy, in Shanghai. STR | AFP | Getty Images People wave flags as they take part in a rally welcoming China's president Xi Jinping during the nuclear security summit in Washington, DC on April 1, 2016. The United States formally complained to China after Chinese nationals pointed lasers at U.S. military aircraft near Djibouti in recent weeks, the Pentagon said on Thursday, an account strongly disputed by China. Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, 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. The U.S. military has been grappling with lasers being pointed at aircraft for decades. However, the Pentagon accusations highlight the concern the United States has about a Chinese military base just miles from a critical U.S. base in Djibouti. "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 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. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that in one incident last month, two pilots in a C-130 suffered minor eye injuries. The official said in a few instances, military grade lasers from the Chinese base had been pointed at aircraft. In a brief statement, China's Defense Ministry said the U.S. accusations were false. "We have already refuted the untrue criticisms via official channels. The Chinese side consistently strictly abides by international law and laws of the local country, and is committed to protecting regional security and stability." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the government had conducted "serious checks" and told the U.S. side 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," she told a daily briefing in Beijing. Djibouti is strategically located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on the route to the Suez Canal. This year, the U.S. military put countering China, along with Russia, at the center of a new national defense strategy. President Xi Jinping inspects the Chinese PLA Garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on June 30, 2017 in Hong Kong, China. Chinese officials tasked with the delicate issue of managing relations with Hong Kong are combining symbolic openness with a hard line as they make sure residents and local officials understand the central government's will. Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous region of China since former colonial ruler Britain handed it back nearly 21 years ago, has recently seen both sides of Beijing's approach. In a bid to show a softer side, China's representative office in Hong Kong last weekend opened its doors to the public for the first time. The function of the office known officially in English as the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been seen as a "little mysterious," said Wang Zhimin, the Chinese official who heads it. "It's not mysterious at all," Wang said, according to an account of his remarks at the event posted on the office's website. A harder side was also on view last month when a visiting former Chinese legislative official said that advocating independence for Hong Kong did not fall within the territory's free speech guarantees as it goes against the broader national constitution. National sovereignty is an issue on which Beijing has long shown consistency, said Tim Summers, a lecturer in Chinese studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. But it is one on which officials have felt challenged in recent years by some in Hong Kong, which helps explain why they are choosing to stress "this red line of sovereignty," Summers told CNBC. A customer looks at a bottle of wine at a supermarket in Beijing, China. Getty Images No secret technology to steal China is currently the sixth-largest wine producer, bottling 11.4 million hectoliters in 2016, just behind Australia's 13 million. China is fifth in terms of consumption. China ranks high China is both a top producer and consumer of wine. The table shows the world's biggest countries in terms of wine consumption and production in 2016 (in millions of hectoliters). If a row is empty, it means the country didn't rank among the top 10 in that category. COUNTRY PRODUCTION CONSUMPTION Italy 50.9 22.5 France 43.5 27.0 Spain 39.3 9.9 U.S. 23.9 31.8 Australia 13.0 5.4 China 11.4 17.3 South Africa 10.5 Chile 10.1 Argentina 9.4 9.4 Germany 9.0 19.5 Russia 9.3 U.K. 12.9 A few years ago, as we explained in The Conversation, China's wine industry was focused on overcoming the rising cost of labor, dealing with difficult climates and improving grape quality. Now, the biggest obstacles Chinese vintners have to overcome are the country's image problem and growing competition from foreign wine. And that's where the foreign ventures have proven so valuable. China has long had a reputation for counterfeiting and food safety scandals. At the same time, the wine industry has become less protected from foreign competition after bilateral trade deals with countries such as Chile and Australia eliminated some tariffs. And although there are still such barriers in place with Europe (as well as the U.S.), Chinese wine lovers still drink a ton of French wine, despite the higher prices. That has meant Chinese makers of premium wines have had to raise their game to compete with skilled foreign competitors. And perhaps ironically, some of those foreign rivals have been only too happy to share knowledge and skills. Unlike for cars, making good wine doesn't require proprietary technology. Any serious student can learn the techniques, whether they are traditional or cutting edge, by reading, going to school or finding a mentor. Becoming a good winemaker requires experimenting with a range of tried and true methods, both in the vineyard and the cellar. There is no secret recipe, only hard work and problem solving. Such collaborative partnerships have been essential to helping China wine producers overcome the image problem and better compete. Enter the French It might surprise readers that French Cognac producer Remy Martin was one of the first Western companies to form a joint venture in China, in this case with the city of Tianjin in 1980 to set up a winery. The French brought winemaking skills and, in exchange, got a foot in the door into a promising market for imported Cognac. The result, Dynasty Winery, is now one of the largest Chinese wine producers. Remy and other Western companies brought not only skills but also their brand name. Chinese wine enthusiasts vulnerable to the same stereotypes Westerners have might question how good a wine from an unknown domestic company might be. But if is made by a famous French wine group, whose wines they enjoy, they might give it a chance. While Dynasty is a mass market brand, other more recent French-Chinese partnerships have focused on developing premium wines. One involved LVMH and a state-owned enterprise in Ningxia, a poor province often hailed as China's most promising wine region. In 2013, the French luxury conglomerate launched Chandon China, the latest offspring in the global Chandon family of sparkling wine. Unlike in other sectors, such as clothing or electronics, Western winemakers are not in China to take advantage of low costs. Chinese wine is expensive to make, due to the rising cost of labor, and, in some regions, the need to bury the vines to protect them from cold winters and dig them out every spring. Moreover, you can't outsource the production of wine to another country. Champagne can only be made in the Champagne region of France. Napa Valley wine can only be made in the Napa Valley. If a wine is made in China, it becomes Chinese wine. Soaring wine quality The result, for Chinese winemakers, has been soaring quality. Not long ago, really good Chinese wines were very hard to find. Mass market wine brands, like Changyu, Great Wall or Dynasty, were ubiquitous in supermarkets and convenience stores around the country. But most award-winning boutique wineries you read about in the media were too small or lacked marketing skills and deals with distributors that could put their wines in front of consumers. Today the best boutique Chinese wines are far more available in major cities because the major distributors have begun to include more Chinese producers in their porfolios of primarily imported wines. This has made the best Chinese wines available in local shops frequented by wine enthusiasts, like Pudao Wines in Beijing and Shanghai, and on a few restaurant wine lists. At a hotel restaurant in Guangzhou's main airport in 2016, for example, we were able to order an glass of Pretty Pony, an award winning Ningxia red by Kanaan winery something we couldn't have done just a year earlier. Next stop: exports The leading U.S. marketplace for cryptocurrencies has been quietly preparing for a monster increase in trading volume. In a response to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's ongoing inquiry into exchanges, the private company disclosed some key company data. Coinbase said it has doubled the size of its full-time engineering staff and has overhauled much of the the platform's code. "These efforts and others have resulted in a 1000% increase in our surge, transaction capacity relative to Q3 of 2017," Coinbase said in a public version of the letter published this week. "We expect to again double this capacity in coming months, all while maintaining the highest standard of security expected by our customers." The company's COO, Asiff Hirji, said serious demand for cryptocurrency and its core technology blockchain made that effort necessary. "More people are starting to realize that this is foundational and you have the best and brightest in crypto running to build applications," Hirji told CNBC. "If you believe that, It's not surprising to see ever increasing volumes and record transactions." Coinbase is also gearing up for more institutional money to enter the market, Hirji said, pointing to a New York Times report Thursday that Goldman Sachs is looking to start a bitcoin trading desk. In the letter, Coinbase said it has traded $150 billion in assets on the platform and it has received more than $225 million in funding. Personnel numbers were also disclosed, and the company has hired more than 300 full-time employees. When contractors are factored in, the company has 1,000 people working for Coinbase. Nearly 20 percent work in compliance, the company said. The company scaled quickly to keep up with demand last year as cryptocurrency trading skyrocketed. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, rose 1,300 percent last year, nearing a high of $20,000 in December. As the company grew, some customers took to sites like Redddit to complain about site outages and customer support. Coinbase improved the amount of time the platform is fully functional, and operating smoothly known as "uptime." "We are proud to have delivered 99.97% uptime to users of the platform in the period January 1 to present, and 99.99% uptime in the month of April," Coinbase said. Coinbase reportedly valued itself at about $8 billion when it made an offer in a recent acquisition for Earn.com. The internal estimate is much higher than its last preferred valuation of $1.6 billion, Recode reported. Coinbase declined to comment on its valuation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), officers arrest an undocumented Mexican immigrant during a raid in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn on April 11, 2018 in New York City. Under the President Donald Trump, some crimes, such as domestic violence, have become tougher to prosecute because of increased fears on the part of immigrants, according to a new report from the American Civil Liberties Union. The report said immigrants are fearful of "immigration consequences," including the possibility of deportation, so they are not helping police. Also, some immigrants who are crime victims are staying away from courthouses where they could testify because they fear arrest by immigration authorities. The findings are based on survey responses from 232 law enforcement officers in 24 states as well as hundreds of others across all 50 states, including judges, prosecutors, survivor advocates and legal service providers. "Prosecutors surveyed stated that in prior years, as cooperation between prosecutors and immigrant communities increased, survivors of crime were increasingly willing to come forward and assist law enforcement in prosecuting cases," the ACLU report said. "However, over the past year, many categories of crimes have become more difficult to prosecute as a result of an increase in fear of immigration consequences." The ACLU study found that 82 percent of prosecutors reported that since President Donald Trump got into the White House, "domestic violence is now underreported and harder to investigate and/or prosecute." Similarly, 70 percent of prosecutors reported the same was true for sexual assault, and 55 percent indicated "the same difficulties for human trafficking and 48 percent for child abuse." The U.S. Department of Justice declined comment for this story. The report "Freezing Out Justice: How Immigration Arrests at Courthouses Are Undermining the Justice System" found 67 percent of police officers surveyed reported that immigrants' fear affected their ability to protect survivors of crime. Sixty-four percent indicated there was "an adverse impact on officer safety." Late-night pit stops for food are no longer just for college kids and young adults looking to sop up a few beers with a burger and fries. The rise of the "gig economy," more freelancing and less traditional nine-to-five office hours, has altered eating patterns and led to an increase of people looking for meals at odd hours. Nurses working the graveyard shift, Uber drivers looking for a quick, on-the-go meal before heading to pick someone up at the airport or factory workers getting off the third shift, all need a place to eat. And Del Taco is pitching itself as the place to go. The fast food Mexican chain makes 25 percent of its sales from orders placed between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., Barry Westrum, chief marketing officer at Del Taco, told CNBC. And each year that percentage is growing. To bolster these overnight sales further, Del Taco, which has more than 560 locations predominantly on the West Coast, is adding a few new items to its late-night menu at the end of this month, catering to this crowd. "We've been in the late-night business for some time now, but what we have noticed is that some of our competitors have actually started to back off late-night hours and late-night promotions," Westrum said. "So we really see this as an opportunity to steal some market share." Growing same-store sales at restaurants has been a challenge, especially as customers have more options of where to eat out and more companies are offering discounted food. This has many restaurants expanding outside of their traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings. "Unsurprisingly, a lot of this demand comes from students and so outlets near college campuses often see a good spike in sales," Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData, told CNBC via email. "However, there are also other pockets of demand from workers with unsociable hours, people who are travelling and those who may have been out and about and too busy to get dinner." Westrum said that late night tends to get a reputation for just being for the "after-party crowd," but that Del Taco sees more people coming into their restaurants who are working nontraditional hours and either looking for either a late dinner or an early breakfast. "Competitors have a tendency to focus on that party crowd and we see this day part as much more than that," he said. Jeffrey Kaplow working behind the counter of the Subway store he owns in Lower Manhattan. Finding employees has been a challenge for him, as it has been for many small-business owners. Yet there he was during a recent lunchtime rush, ringing up veggie footlongs and fountain drinks. He feared that if the line grew too long, people might get frustrated and not come back. Mr. Kaplow has tried everything he can think of to find workers, placing Craigslist ads, asking other franchisees for referrals, seeking to hire people from Subways that have closed. This is why Jeffrey Kaplow, for example, spends a lot of time working behind the counter in his Subway restaurant in Lower Manhattan. It's not what he pictured himself doing, but he simply doesn't have enough employees. But in an industry where cheap labor is an essential component in providing inexpensive food, a shortage of workers is changing the equation upon which fast-food places have long relied. This can be seen in rising wages, in a growth of incentives, and in the sometimes odd situations that business owners find themselves in. Today, there are fewer than half as many, which is a reflection both of teenagers' decreasing work force participation and of the explosive growth in restaurants. A quarter-century ago, there were 56 teenagers in the labor force for every "limited service" restaurant that is, the kind where you order at the counter. "Every time there's a huge line, the next day the store is nowhere near as busy," he explained later as he straightened tables and swept up crumbs. Across the country, Keith Miller, another franchisee, is dealing with the same problem. "What employees? We don't have them anymore," joked Mr. Miller, who can't find enough workers for the three Subways he owns in Northern California. Since 2010, fast-food jobs have grown nearly twice as fast as employment over all, contributing to the economic recovery. But rapid growth has created new problems. Some say restaurants have grown faster than demand, causing a glut of competition that is another source of pressure on business owners. 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 it's 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 don't 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 that's 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 don't 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. That's good news for workers like Juan Morales, who has assembled sandwiches at a Subway on Staten Island for more than 15 years. "It's much better than before," said Mr. Morales, who earns a little more than $15 an hour. "But for my boss, I see that it's harder." Restaurants are notorious for churning through employees. But people are coming and going faster than they have in recent memory, according to data from TDn2K, a restaurant research firm. Last year, the turnover rate reached 133 percent, meaning that positions often had to be filled more than once. That has forced business owners to adjust. Tamra Kennedy, who owns nine Taco John's franchises in the Midwest, started offering $100 as a bonus to new employees who reached 100 hours. She has started offering merit increases twice a year, and she pays all employees more than the minimum wage. "Hiring has been more challenging in the last two years than probably the previous 10," Ms. Kennedy said. About half of her stores are understaffed. So she has devised workarounds: Digital probes, not people, now record food temperatures. She has also invested in expensive new registers that can produce reports that employees used to do by hand. "I've never seen the industry in this kind of situation," said Robert S. Goldin, a partner at the food consulting firm Pentallect. "It's never been like this." Labor costs are rising, according to an estimate from Dean Haskell, a partner at National Retail Concept Partners, a restaurant and retail consulting firm in Denver. Mr. Haskell analyzed public financial filings from 15 major chains and determined that those companies spent about $73 million more on labor last year than the year before. McDonald's has announced that it will expand its tuition-reimbursement program, committing $150 million over five years to tuition reimbursement for employees who work at its stores for at least 90 days. Before, the requirement was nine months. That $150 million might seem like a lot. But replacing workers is also expensive: It costs about $2,000 to replace the average hourly restaurant worker, according to data from TDn2K. "Thirty years ago, I would not put up with the stuff I put up with today," said John Motta, a longtime Dunkin' Donuts franchisee in Nashua, N.H. When an employee recently missed a shift, one of his stores could serve only drive-through customers for about an hour. "You try not to be too harsh on them," he said, "because you're afraid tomorrow they're not going to show up." Italy's biggest insurer Assicurazioni Generali said on Friday its profit in the first three months rose 8.6 percent to top forecasts, driven by a strong performance in non-life business. The company said net profits in the period came in at 581 million euros ($696 million), above an analyst consensus provided by the company of 575 million euros. "The results of the first quarter allow us to look at the rest of the year with optimism as we successfully complete our strategic plan," said Chief Financial Officer Luigi Lubelli. In this photo released by U.S. Geological Survey, a plume of ash rises from the Puu Oo crater on Hawaii's Kilaueaa Volcano, Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. U.S. Geological Survey via AP Lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, erupting since 1983, flowed toward a subdivision, forcing residents of Puna's Lailani Estates to flee. The evacuations were ordered Thursday and remained in effect Friday morning for the entire Big Island community of about 1,700 people, NBC affiliate KNHL reported. Here's everything you need to know about the situation: The eruption A plume of ash rises from the Puu Oo vent on Hawaii's Kilaueaa Volcano after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake, Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. U.S. Geological Survey via AP Hours after a magnitude 5 earthquake struck the island of Hawaii, a new eruption on Thursday afternoon opened a fissure on the volcano, spewing lava 125 feet into the air, NBC News reported. The island had been experiencing smaller tremors since last week. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said lava did not flow more than 33 feet from the fissure and the fissure was no longer actively spewing lava Friday. However, a second vent opened early Friday and lava flowed further into central Leilani Estates, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency told CNBC. Leilani Estates is about 30 miles south of Hilo, a popular Hawaiian vacation destination. The evacuation In this photo released by U.S. Geological Survey, lava is shown burning in Leilani Estates subdivision near the town of Pahoa on Hawaii's Big Island Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. U.S. Geological Survey via AP The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency issued a mandatory evacuation for Leilani Estates residents on Thursday afternoon after lava and smoke were seen pouring out from the fissure. Officers went door to door to make sure that people knew to leave their homes. Fire officials detected dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide in the air and that those who hadn't evacuated were told to do so, KNHL said. Two shelters were opened for evacuees. 'My family is safe. That's the main thing.' In this photo released by U.S. Geological Survey, lava is shown burning in Leilani Estates subdivision near the town of Pahoa on Hawaii's Big Island Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. U.S. Geological Survey via AP One resident said he had been living in the community for 14 years and that he "knew this day might eventually come," but that he had no idea the reality of it. "My family and my pets are safe," the unidentified man told KNHL. "That's what I really care about. I mean, the rest is just stuff. We can make more money and get more stuff. My family is safe. That's the main thing." Residents had little time to grab their belongings one told KNHL he grabbed his father's ashes as he ran out the door. A history of volcanic activity In this photo released by U.S. Geological Survey, ash plume rises above the Puu Oo crater, on Hawaii's Kilaueaa Volcano Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. U.S. Geological Survey via AP IRAs may offer more fund choices, but higher costs. Retirement plans may give you lower cost investments and fiduciary protection, but less choice. Retirement plan service providers have the ability to nudge you toward one decision or the other. Retirees and job-switchers hit a crossroad: Keep that 401(k) plan at your old employer or roll it over to an IRA. WHL | Getty Images Here's a question for anyone who's about to leave an employer: Are you keeping your money in the retirement plan, or are you taking your savings with you? For companies that provide workplace retirement plans, that's a $9.2 trillion question that's the number of assets held in individual retirement plans as of the end of 2017, according to the Investment Company Institute. These 401(k) record-keepers have a bird's eye view of employees' savings and they are in a prime position to contact plan participants about rolling over their balance into an IRA with them which may not always work out in favor of departing workers. "They will try to take you out of your 401(k) and put you into a suboptimal IRA rollover," said Anthony Isola, a financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management in New York. "You can go from a 401(k) plan with an expense ratio under 1 percent to a rollover with costs of 2 to 3 percent, which is very substantial," he said. "If I were to ask you, 'Do you value low-cost investments with fiduciary oversight?' You'd say, 'Yes, of course,' and you'd keep your assets in the plan." James Veneruso senior vice president, Callan Wells Fargo made headlines in late April, following a report from The Wall Street Journal that the Labor Department was investigating its 401(k) practices and examining whether the bank is pushing 401(k) plan customers into more costly IRAs. Wells Fargo spokeswoman Leslie Ingberg referred back to a March 1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, wherein the bank's board disclosed that it was reviewing activities in its wealth and investment management unit "in response to inquiries from federal government agencies." Wells Fargo's board is "assessing whether there have been inappropriate referrals or recommendations, including with respect to rollovers for 401(k) plan participants, certain alternative investments, or referrals of brokerage customers to the Company's investment and fiduciary services business," the bank said in its SEC filing. The Labor Department would neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation. Here's what you should know when your 401(k) plan record-keeper contacts you to talk about an IRA rollover. Changing practices The Labor Department's investor protection rule, which would have required financial advisors working with your retirement savings to act in your best interests, shined a spotlight on 401(k) record-keepers and the rollover conversations they would have with departing employees. More from Investor Toolkit: Medicare doesn't cover everything. How to avoid surprises Here's how much an estate plan should actually cost to prepare Do you really want your ex-spouse to get your inheritance? It's time to update beneficiaries "There is more of an awareness around the conversations taking place between service providers and participants around that decision and the extent to which they were steering people into proprietary IRA products," said James Veneruso, senior vice president at Callan, an investment consulting firm. Employers who hold onto departed employees' 401(k) assets have better bargaining power to negotiate lower investment fees for the plan. However, companies that keep these assets continue to act as fiduciaries and may face litigation risk from those ex-employees. As of late, more companies would prefer that workers who are on their way out leave their savings in the 401(k) plan. See below. A change in demographics the large number of workers retiring and the big slice of assets they command is a possible reason why plan sponsors are changing their approach, Veneruso said. A costly decision The way a representative from a 401(k) plan record-keeper presents the question of "stay or go?" can nudge the employee into a course of action. "If I were to ask you, 'Do you value low-cost investments with fiduciary oversight?' You'd say, 'Yes, of course,' and you'd keep your assets in the plan," said Veneruso. "If I lead with 'Do you value choice, rather than choosing from the limited number of funds in your lineup,' you'd prefer choice and you would go with the IRA," he said. Indeed, 401(k) plan costs have been declining over time. The larger the plan, the lower the expense. See below. At the same time, switching to an IRA can come with higher costs, such as the 1 percent asset under management fee a financial advisor may charge. However, if you're paying for comprehensive advice, you're getting individualized guidance that you might not be able to find in your 401(k) plan. "Advisors can demonstrate value it's tied to planning," said Douglas Boneparth, president of Bone Fide Wealth in New York. Ask questions Mary Higgins Clark is known as the "queen of suspense." At 90, she's written 37 best-selling suspense novels and sold over 100 million copies of her books in the U.S. alone. Her latest work, "I've Got My Eyes on You," was released at the end of April and is already on The New York Times Bestsellers list. In her more than 40 years of publishing books, Clark has earned paychecks that most writers can only dream of. After releasing her first suspense novel, "Where are the Children?" in 1975, she was granted a $3,000 advance by her publishing company Simon and Schuster. As she continued to release two new books each year, her advances grew significantly. In 2000 she was reportedly given an advance of $64 million for five books, making her, at the time, the highest-paid female author in the world. But she still remembers how she spent her first big paycheck. Author Mary Higgins Clark Photo courtesy of Mary Higgins Clark "That was when I decided I could afford to go to school," she tells CNBC Make It, "and I started at Fordham University at Lincoln Center. I graduated at age 50." The author graduated summa cum laude from Fordham in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in philosophy, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the school in 1998. And though her first major expenditure may have been highly practical, she says she also splurges on a gift to herself every year. "When I started to make really big money, I treated myself to a piece of jewelry every Christmas," she says. "I would write, 'From Mary, to Mary, with love and admiration.'" With three daughters and two granddaughters, she knew that any jewelry she purchased would never go to waste. Clark didn't start her career as a book author until she was in her 40s. Before then, she wrote short stories and sold them to magazines. But when magazines stopped accepting fiction pieces, the mother of five says her agent suggested that she write a book. "I liked writing short stories, but I was still a little terrified to try a book," she says. "But I figured, 'Look, this the only way I will be published now.'" Author Mary Higgins Clark Photo courtesy of Mary Higgins Clark With the school year winding down and warmer weather taking hold, it's that time of year when many people get serious about planning summer escapes. If you count yourself among those would-be vacationers and haven't set money aside for your getaway, there's a good chance you'll be trading those days of freedom for future pain. Even if you've set money aside, it can be easy to overspend on vacation if you don't do some advance legwork. "If you plan to travel, you should have a plan to travel. It's that simple," said Alexander Joyce, CEO and president of ReJoyce Financial in Carmel, Indiana. "Take your time and really give thought to what you can afford. If you look at it emotionally, it will become a need instead of a want." Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images In addition to booking your trip early to avoid potentially higher prices for flights and hotels, there are three big ways to make sure a vacation won't derail your overall financial picture. Leave that retirement account alone Joyce said he has seen people in their 30s or 40s who withdraw money from their 401(k) account or IRA to pay for a vacation. What they often don't realize is that not only will they pay taxes on that withdrawal, they also are subject to a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. "Sometimes even if they know it, they ignore it because they want the money for vacation," Joyce said. On top of the tax implications, taking money early from a retirement account essentially is robbing from your future. Say you withdraw $5,000. If you had left it in your account, and the money was invested in stocks and growing 8 percent annually, that $5,000 would become more than $50,000 in 30 years. So what you actually robbed from your retirement is that larger number. Budget honestly Joyce has a client who is taking her son to Europe due to a promise made when he was younger. As a single, working mom who lives paycheck to paycheck, she's putting the entire trip on a credit card. Average credit card rates today hover around 17 percent. Say the trip is costing $5,000. If she could find $150 a month to pay toward that balance, it would take more than 15 years to pay off, and she'd end up paying more than $4,200 in interest. That would mean her trip is costing $9,200 instead of the $5,000 initially charged on her credit card. "Ask yourself what you can truly afford. You have to be disciplined," Joyce said. "If you can't afford to go to a certain place, don't go now. You can plan for it to happen later." Average annual transportation costs for vacationing families Airline fares $3,304 Buses between cities $252 Trains between cities $521 Local transportation on out-of-town trips $202 Taxis/car service on out-of-town trips $119 Ships $2,456 Gas for out-of-town trips $669 Parking for out-of-town trips $172 Tolls for out-of-town trips $71 Joyce encourages clients to set aside a money each month for travel. When you know how much money you have to work with, planning a trip becomes easier. Also look at the real costs you'll encounter where you go. For instance, if you think you'll want to go on excursions or take Scuba diving lessons, look into the cost in advance and budget for it. Also be realistic about how much you'll spend on food and incidentals. Leave the credit card behind Doctors perform a face-lift in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Paulo Fridman | Bloomberg | Getty Images Brazil's 'pope of plastic surgery' Today, Brazil considers health to be a basic human right and provides free health care to all its citizens a hard-won victory of social activists after Brazil's dictatorship fell and a new democratic constitution was written into law in 1988. However, public hospitals remain severely underfunded, and most middle-class and upper-class Brazilians prefer to use private medical services. In effect, Brazil has a two-tiered system. There is a private health care system that is cutting-edge and luxurious and a public one that is strapped for cash but provides essential services to the working class. Plastic surgery is considered an essential service largely due to the efforts of a surgeon named Ivo Pitanguy. In the late 1950s, Pitanguy now known as the "pope of plastic surgery" convinced President Juscelino Kubitschek that the "right to beauty" was as basic as any other health need. Pitanguy made the case that ugliness caused so much psychological suffering in Brazil that the medical class could not turn its back on this humanitarian issue. In 1960, he opened the first institute that offered plastic surgery to the poor, one that doubled as a medical school to train new surgeons. It was so successful that it became the educational model followed by most other plastic surgery residencies around the country. In return for free or low-cost surgeries, working-class patients would help surgeons learn and practice their trade. Brazil was the perfect testing ground for this idea. In the early 1920s, Brazilian eugenic scientists suggested that beauty was a measure of the nation's racial progress. Beauty started to assume more cultural clout, and plastic surgeons inherited these ideals, seeing their trade as "fixing" the errors of too much racial mixture in Brazil, particularly among the lower classes. Beauty's hidden costs A federal judge Friday accused special counsel Robert Mueller's team of using criminal charges to squeeze former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort to get his help in possibly either prosecuting or impeaching President Donald Trump, multiple reports said. The judge also strongly suggested that Mueller exceeded the scope of his special counsel office's authorization by charging Manafort with crimes that have nothing to do with Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election or possible Trump campaign collusion with Russians. "You don't really care about Mr. Manafort's bank fraud," U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III said at a hearing on Manafort's case in Virginia federal court, where the trial in the case is set to begin July 10. "You really care about what information he might give you about Mr. Trump and what might lead to his impeachment or prosecution," Ellis said. "That's what you're really interested in," the judge added, saying Mueller's prosecutors are trying to get Manafort to "sing." Lawyers for Manafort, who served as Trump's campaign manager for several months in 2016, were asking Ellis to dismiss bank fraud charges brought by Mueller, saying the special counsel does not have the authority to bring such charges in this case. The indictment stems from Manafort's work consulting for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine. Mueller also has a separate indictment pending against Manafort in federal court in Washington. Ellis questioned why the United States attorney's office in Alexandria, Virginia, was not handling the case in federal court there, as opposed to the special counsel's office. "I don't see how this indictment has to do with anything the special prosecutor is authorized to investigate," Ellis said. He also told a prosecutor in Mueller's office at the hearing that he wants to see an uncensored copy of a memo that outlines the scope of the special counsel's investigation. Special counsel attorney Michael Dreeben told Ellis that the August 2017 memo, which was written by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, authorized Mueller's team to probe the alleged crimes by Manafort. But Ellis said, "We don't want anyone in this country with unfettered power." Surfers have long dreamed of technology that could create perfect barreling waves. Now one of the greatest surfers of all time believes he has cracked the code. Kelly Slater, an 11-time world champion, teamed up with engineers and scientists to create a specially-designed, 100-ton hydrofoil. It's pulled along the length of a 700-yard track, resulting in six-foot waves that last about one minute. The wave system, which is located in Lemoore, California, can produce more than 50 types of waves at the push of a button. "Our goal was to go and create a wave that was like an ocean swell," Slater told CNBC. "It's not like a sort of novelty or a low-energy wave. It's a strong wave. You wipe out and feel it. A friend of mine broke four surfboards in here yesterday. We had a couple little minor injuries, nothing bad. But the wave pushes you around and that's the difference." Joseph Eid | AFP | Getty Images Voters will head to the polls across Lebanon Sunday to choose their parliament for the first time in nine years, after prolonged political gridlock and three vote postponements. But they're not particularly optimistic about it. Since its last election, Lebanon has been engulfed by a refugee crisis which has seen more that 1 million displaced Syrians stream over its borders, overwhelming the country of just 4 million. It suffered an ongoing waste management crisis during which trash piled up in city streets, went two years without an effective government, experienced a sharp rise in public debt, witnessed multiple terrorist attacks, and had its prime minister temporarily resign in what many described as a kidnapping. But what's stayed consistent, many Lebanese say, is entrenched corruption, cronyism and political deadlock that's prevented the government from fixing its most pressing problems. And the new elections so far don't appear promising. 'You scratch my back, I scratch yours' "Lebanese politicians messed up," Carmen Geha, an assistant professor of public administration at the American University of Beirut (AUB), told CNBC via phone. Much of the frustration stems from a new and complicated voter law. It basically requires voters to cast two votes: one for a whole list, or alliance, of particular candidates, and then one for a preferred individual candidate out of that list, and seats are then allocated proportionally. Parties have therefore sought strategic and often superficial alliances based on local dynamics in order to maximize votes. Voters say the system ensures whoever is most powerful among each list will simply hold onto power. "People are likely to vote for the big guys it discourages small, independent groups and women and favors existing male leadership," said Geha. She and other voters lament the lack of emphasis on national policy issues in this contest, saying it instead is focused on localized interests and clientelism. "It's a 'you scratch my back, I scratch yours' kind of election," Geha said. Nonetheless, she still believes people will come out and vote, thanks to a new surge in independent and civil society-linked candidates. Lebanese politics: A quick run-down Thanks to its incredibly diverse demography of more than 18 religious communities, Lebanon employs a system of consensus government, where political power is divided between its main Sunni, Shiite and Christian groups. Unsurprisingly, this often makes it hard to get things done. Lebanon's legislature is equally divided among Christians and Muslims, but contains more than 20 different political parties that generally identify themselves along sectarian lines. Its biggest party is currently the Future Movement, led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Sunni Muslim. The next biggest parties are the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party; the Amal party, which is Shia Muslim; and Shia militant-political group Hezbollah. No single party has ever won more than 12.5 percent of seats. Seventy-seven lists across 15 districts have been registered for the election this year, and the parliament will go on to choose the country's prime minister and governing coalitions in a complex process that can take up to a year or more. Newcomers: Women and youth running in record numbers Lebanon has seen a massive increase in civil society participation and youth voters 800,000 young people will be casting ballots for the first time on Sunday. There is also a record number of women running, representing 111 out of the 976 candidates registered. "People will go out and vote because there's higher competition than before," said Geha. "(The election) may be disappointing people, but I think they will come out and vote." An alliance of 11 civil society groups across different ages and religious sects which is called the National Coalition aims to disrupt the traditional balance of power and "create a new political class" that shares the grievances of the average Lebanese citizen, the group's leadership has said. What's most likely to happen? But despite the entrance of new players in the elections, their chances of defeating well-entrenched political factions are slim, said Keren Uziyel, a Lebanon analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Incumbent Saad Hariri is expected to lead the next government. And voters believe it will continue existing as a "finely balanced coalition taking in different sectarian groups" rather than significantly changing, according to Uziyel. Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri (L) greets his supporters upon his arrival at his home in Beirut on November 22, 2017. Hariri, back in Beirut after a mysterious odyssey that saw him announce his resignation in Saudi Arabia, told cheering supporters that he was staying. STR | AFP | Getty Images Many Lebanese are resigned to the idea that patronage networks and unchecked nepotism will remain the norm. In 2017, Transparency International ranked Lebanon 143 out of 180 countries on its Corruption Perception Index, with a higher number reflecting a more corrupt country. "We see the same people coming back, and if it's not them it's their children or family members," said Fouad Zmokhol, president of the World Association of Lebanese Business People, speaking to CNBC from Beirut. "We have major issues. Our debt ratio is increasing, our growth is still very low, we have very high unemployment," Zmokhol described, adding that he hoped for economic reforms from the government. At 156.1 percent, Lebanon's debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio is the third-highest in the world. "On the ground there are many financial and liquidity challenges, but this would be worse if we didn't have elections," he said. "We have to build our strategy on some hopes, but at the same time we have to be cautious. So it's a cautious optimism." What is at stake? The aftermath of the vote particularly negotiations over the government's formation will be crucial. This could take several months to a year or more, analysts say, and that instability could lead to the kind of crisis that saw Hariri temporarily resign in November. Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah party parade to mark the last day of Ashura ceremony in Beirut. Aziz Taher Don Blankenship, right, who is running for the Republican nomination for Senate in West Virginia, talks with James Pendry after a town hall meeting at Macado's restaurant in Bluefield, W.Va., on May 3, 2018. Sen. Mitch McConnell's allies started more openly punching back at a brash West Virginia Senate candidate following the release of a racially charged ad targeting the Senate GOP leader's family. Republican Don Blankenship running in Tuesday's West Virginia U.S. Senate primary has escalated attacks on the Kentucky Republican in the final days of the primary as part of a strategy to run against so-called establishment Republicans. In an ad unveiled Thursday, the coal baron alleges "swamp captain" McConnell has "created millions of jobs for China people" and gotten rich from his "China family." The racially charged attack alludes to McConnell's wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who was born in Taiwan. Her family owns a U.S.-based shipping company. Earlier in the week, Blankenship pledged to "ditch Cocaine Mitch," an apparent reference to a 2014 report about drugs being found aboard one of the company's vessels. Even before the bizarre, factually murky attacks this week, Republican leaders hoped Blankenship's primary bid would fall short. He served prison time for his role in a 2010 Massey Energy mine explosion that left 29 people dead. Republicans worry a Blankenship win would ruin their chance to compete in November against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, one of the Senate's most vulnerable incumbents. They feared a similar outcome to what happened in deep-red Alabama in December, when Democratic Sen. Doug Jones beat ex-judge Roy Moore, who faced allegations of sexually abusing teenagers decades ago. McConnell's allies had not criticized Blankenship as openly as they did Moore when he ran in Alabama's GOP primary as an anti-McConnell candidate. That started to change following the latest racially charged ad. The McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC released a statement highlighting a New York Times report that says Blankenship has shown interest in obtaining Chinese citizenship. "There is only one candidate in this race maybe in the history of candidates running for U.S. Senate, who has ever entertained the idea becoming Chinese. His name is ex-convict Don Blankenship," group spokesman Chris Pack said in a statement. In a tweet Thursday, former McConnell chief of staff Josh Holmes dubbed Blankenship "West Virginia Roy Moore." He said "this clown is a walking, talking case study for the limitation of a prison's ability to rehabilitate." Holmes tweet A GOP-aligned super PAC, Mountain Families PAC, previously shelled out more than $1 million in negative ads against Blankenship. President Donald Trump, who broke with McConnell to support Moore in Alabama, has not openly attacked Blankenship. However, he more subtly rebuked the candidate last month, when he invited GOP Senate candidates Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey to sit on either side of him at an event promoting the GOP tax plan. Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., chimed in on the race on Thursday. He tweeted that "there are two qualified conservative and ELECTABLE candidates" and "one train wreck who would guarantee another term for Joe Manchin." Trump Jr. tweet Blankenship dubbed Trump's criticism as an attack by "establishment" Republicans. The president's son responded by saying he was "realistic," arguing Manchin will run ads about the mine disaster. Republicans see West Virginia as a key opportunity to pick up a Senate seat as the party tries to keep or expand its 51-49 seat majority in the chamber. Trump won the state by about 40 points in 2016. As the U.S. and China sit down for a round of talks to discuss recent trade disputes between the two countries, Indonesia is continuing to champion open trade between nations. Speaking with CNBC's Oriel Morrison, Bambang Brodjonegoro, Indonesia's minister of national development planning, said openness in global trade is "very critical to the global growth as well as the national economic growth (of Indonesia)." "Any effort to disrupt or to reduce the openness of trade, I think, will have negative impact," he said. "We have very high concern and we still keep promoting, you know, more openness in our economy." Brodjonegoro said Indonesia is "trying to open" relations through trade agreements with its neighbors in Asia as well as Europe, with a focus on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (also known as RCEP) and the European Union. The minister also weighed in on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade agreement from which the United States withdrew. He said the appeal of potentially joining the deal for his country was in large part due to American involvement. "The benefit of the TPP is the access to the U.S. market," he said. "If the U.S. is not there, then the relationship with the other members of TPP can be facilitated through RCEP." Nevertheless, the remaining members of the TPP were able to come to an agreement for a new version: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership But, for Indonesia, RCEP remains a focus, Brodjonegoro added. "With the latest situation on the trade war, I believe the urgency to finish the agreement on RCEP will be very critical for everybody and I think everybody (is) trying to speed up the negotiation," he said. Shares of Pandora Media rose 25 percent on Friday, after the media streaming company reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss the previous day. The increase added about $370 million to its market capitalization, bringing the stock to about $7.24 per share. Despite intensifying competition from larger rivals, Pandora benefited from higher subscription revenue and smaller declines in its advertising business than feared. The company said total subscription and other revenue surged 61.3 percent to $104.7 million, slightly above analysts' estimate of $104.6 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Pandora's advertising revenue fell 3.9 percent to $214.6 million, but topped analysts' estimate of $198.7 million. The company faces stiff competition from deep-pocketed music streaming rivals such as Apple's Apple Music and Sweden's Spotify Technology, whose results on Wednesday failed to enthuse investors. Those newer services have plucked away many former Pandora listeners, but the Oakland company has started courting them to come back with new offerings such as its "Premium Access" feature, which lets users try out its ad-free, on-demand service after watching a video ad. Refugees cross a flooded bridge in the Balukhali Rohingya refugee camp on September 19, 2017 in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Rohingya refugees in makeshift camps along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border could soon face a new threat to their living conditions the monsoon season. The majority of the approximately 700,000 refugees from Rohingya to have crossed the border since fleeing violence in Myanmar have mostly ended up in Cox's Bazar, a region notorious for flash floods that have the capacity to destroy simultaneously villages and harvest crops. Aid and humanitarian agencies warned Friday that they now face huge challenges in ensuring refugees aren't exposed to disease and loss of life in the thin slice of land on Bangladesh's south-easterly tip. Walter Jeanty, deputy head of delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Bangladesh told CNBC that potential landslides could be a major risk to refugees packed inside a densely populated area. "The risk of flooding is real and it affects a lot of people. Cox's Bazar doesn't have much excess land, and with the potential for landslides, extra land for refugees has been added and tents have been strengthened," he said. With tents mainly made of bamboo and tarpaulin, Jeanty warned that "living conditions must be looked at in the camps." Humans Rights Watch (HRW) also warned that "rickety structures won't be able to withstand the storms and heavy rains of the imminent monsoon season." Video footage uploaded online Monday showed a severe storm ripping through one Bangladeshi refugee camp. Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at HRW, said that the storm tore into 900 tents, blowing some away. The head of the ICRC's delegation in neighboring Myanmar posted footage on Twitter and expressed his concern. video on Twitter "A reminder about the potential impact of the upcoming monsoon," Fabrizio Carboni tweeted. Refugees also face the risk of contracting cholera from contaminated waters during the monsoon season, an issue Jeanty said was "on the radar." The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) used computer modeling to predict that over 100,000 refugees are at risk from landslides and floods across the monsoon season, which typically peaks in July. India's largest lender posted its first quarterly loss in 17 years for the three months ended in December, but its chairman told CNBC that the rest of the year looks much better. The State Bank of India reported a net loss of 24.16 billion rupees ($361.8 million) for the December quarter, compared with a profit of 18.20 billion rupees ($272.5 million) a year earlier. The bank blamed lower trading income from higher bond yields, higher loan loss provisions and significant investment depreciation for the loss. "Two factors are impacting our profit. Loan loss provision takes the large chunk," Rajnish Kumar, chairman of SBI, told CNBC's Oriel Morrison in Manila, the Philippines, on Friday. "Dictated costs are very, very elevated and not affordable." Loan loss provisions are counted as expenses that are set aside as allowance for uncollected loans and loan payments. SBI said its gross non-performing assets increased from 1.86 trillion rupees ($27.8 billion) in September to a staggering 1.99 trillion rupees ($29.8 billion) as of December. "Last year, in terms of profits, in terms of asset quality, it was a big challenge," Kumar said. "But this year onward, we are expecting that we will be in a much better position and this year looks much, much better." SBI will release its full fiscal 2018 earnings on May 22, according to Kumar. In India, the financial year usually starts on Apr 1. The U.S. stands ready to impose further trade tariffs on China if Beijing walks away from agreed-upon commitments, according to the Wall Street Journal. The journal said the U.S. asked China to reduce its trade surplus by $200 billion by year-end 2020. * Cramer on trade: China could wait out Trump's presidency to make a trade dealthat's bad for stocks (CNBC) CNBC has learned that 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. Iran's foreign minister said the Trump administration's demands to change its nuclear agreement with world powers were unacceptable. Trump must decide to withdraw from the accord by the end of next week. (Reuters) The president has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for drawing down U.S. troops in South Korea, The New York Times reported. The reduction in troops is not intended to be a bargaining chip in a meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un. Trump will address the National Rifle Association, for the fourth year in a row, after he temporarily strayed from the group's strong opposition to tougher gun controls following the school shooting in Florida that left 17 people dead. (AP) Residents in two subdivisions of Hawaii were forced to evacuate after the eruption of lava from the Kilauea volcano. There have been no deaths or injuries reported. The area had several small earthquakes in recent days. (NY Times) The 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature will be awarded in 2019 instead of this year. The move came after the academy that selects the winner was engulfed in a sex abuse scandal. Six academy members have stepped down over the crisis. (USA Today) The Department of Agriculture recalled more than 35,000 pounds of raw ground beef from Kroger stores. The recall came after a reported complaint from a consumer of hard plastic pieces found in one of the products. (Axios) Twitter (TWTR) has urged its users to change their passwords, after a glitch in its internal computer system caused some passwords to be readable. The social media company also said it saw no evidence of a breach or misuse. (CNBC) As Asian governments invest in automation, many are concerned about a spillover effect on jobs and education. It's imperative for the region to protect workers, instruct societies about disruptive technologies and harness private sector funds in the process, experts said at a CNBC-hosted debate during the Asian Development Bank's annual gathering in Manila on Friday. Home to many developing countries that are skipping traditional stages of digital development to embrace advanced solutions such as big data, Asia is increasingly creating smart cities reliant on the Internet of Things. But that could hit blue-collar workers, with situations such as truck drivers losing their jobs to driverless vehicles, Sri Lankan Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera warned. As an emerging economy, "we need to explore more serious options to mitigate those challenges ... How are we going to absorb thousands of people who may lose their jobs to automation?" he said. "The choice is whether we enter into what I call an Athenian age of innovation or enter another period of high unemployment and anarchy," he continued. The Asian Development Bank, an institution that provides funds and technical assistance to members for economic development, has a more optimistic view on the situation. New technologies can generate new occupations, said Takehiko Nakao, the bank's president: "If there is more AI usage, there will be more work created." Robotics and artificial intelligence are bound to displace certain jobs, but they will also "unleash countervailing forces that generate more jobs," the ADB said in an April report. Task automation will restructure jobs in a way so that machines handle only the routine tasks, freeing up workers to focus on complex procedures that can result in improved productivity, it continued. "The next technological change is going to come from a scientist, not a robot," said Nandita Parshad, managing director for energy and natural resources at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: "Right now, we need all the human brains behind technology." But governments can't implement disruptive systems without providing proper training on best practices, Friday's panelists said. "It isn't a matter of simply installing devices to educate people on technology," said Minette Navarrete, president of Kickstart Ventures, the corporate venture capital subsidiary of Philippine telecommunications firm Globe Telecom. Her company had donated computers to a public school, and, a year later, they were still in their boxes because the school lacked technicians, electrification and training for teachers on how to use the equipment, she recounted. Investment isn't only required in hardware, but also in people, she said. Sri Lanka, for example, is currently in the midst of providing free tablets to rural school children and installing internet connectivity in villages, said Samaraweera. "It's easy to find money to provide free tablets but those who use it should be capable of using it for good, this is the challenge of our times," he said. On the topic of financing, panelists said it's unrealistic to assume Asia's public sector can foot the bill for digitalization. Governments "have to make it interesting for the private sector to come in," said Parshad: "Public and private need to work together to reach as much scale as possible." "The hope is to find socially responsible investors," echoed Navarrete, who recommended private players take long-term time frames, such as 10 years, when considering the potential returns on investment as well as impact on society. Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings on Friday said President Donald Trump may have broken the law by not disclosing a debt to his personal lawyer for paying porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair with the president. Cummings, in a letter, said Trump failed to note his reimbursement to his attorney Michael Cohen when he filed his annual government financial disclosure last June. Cummings noted that under federal law "it is a crime to knowingly and willfully make a false and fraudulent representation to a federal office or entity." That suggestion that Trump broke the law, which Cummings now wants the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to investigate, was triggered by Trump's belated admission Thursday that he had reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 payment to Daniels. Cummings, of Maryland, asked the committee's chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., to join him in asking Trump and his presidential campaign for documents related to the payment. The White House had no immediate comment on Cummings' letter. Cohen is already under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors in New York City, where FBI agents last month seized records from the lawyer related to the payoff to Daniels. The adult film actress, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had sex with Trump in 2006. She also says that Cohen agreed to pay her $130,000 right before the 2016 presidential election to not talk about that tryst. You know the famous scene in "Dead Poets Society" where the students stand up one by one on their desk and say "O Captain, my Captain!" in salute of Robin Williams, while the headmaster struggles to maintain order? That's a lot like what's going on with the U.S. media and telecommunications industry right now. One by one, major companies are standing up and declaring their wish to consolidate in a frantic attempt to prepare for the next decade. The most recent example was this week's announcement that number-three wireless carrier T-Mobile and number-four Sprint would merge. T-Mobile CEO John Legere (L) speaks as Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure looks on at the New York Stock Exchange, April 30, 2018. Brendan McDermid | Reuters But we don't know if Donald Trump's regulators will have more luck in controlling the rebellion than the movie's headmaster. "The DOJ and the FCC are analyzing each deal on its own merits, but they can't do that without looking at the other deals and wondering what the combined effect will be of the deal they're looking at plus the other proposed deals that are out there," said Scott Wagner, a partner at Bilzin Sumberg and chair of the Federal Bar Association's Antitrust and Trade Regulation Sector. Sprint and T-Mobile announced their deal at the same time that AT&T is trying to buy Time Warner, Disney is attempting to acquire $52 billion of Fox assets, and Comcast has overbid Fox to buy U.K.-pay TV provider Sky for about $31 billion. CBS and Viacom are also in the midst of merger discussions which may result in a deal. That's well over $200 billion of M&A in the same industry. There are several reasons these moves are all happening at once. For one, deals take a while to get approved. AT&T announced it was acquiring Time Warner for $85 billion back in 2016, and it still doesn't know if it will be able to close the deal. The government sued to block the transaction, and AT&T challenged the decision in court. That trial ended this week, and a verdict is coming June 12. Similarly, Sprint and T-Mobile have considered merging for at least five years, with several stops and starts. Second, each deal begets the next. So, if number-two wireless carrier AT&T can buy Time Warner, that puts more pressure Sprint and T-Mobile to come together size is crucial in the capital expenditure-heavy wireless business, especially as companies spend tens of billions on wireless spectrum through government auctions and corporate acquisitions. Third, millions of consumers are cutting their pay-TV bundles, choosing to buy cheaper online options from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and others. This has caused a panic in the media industry, pushing Rupert Murdoch to sell the bulk of Fox to Disney and Shari Redstone to put together CBS and Viacom. BTIG media analyst Rich Greenfield likens it to the penguins huddling up in a ball to stave off winter in "March of the Penguins." Regulators' last stand Many suspected Trump would usher in an era of large-scale consolidation. But the DOJ's decision to block AT&T's Time Warner acquisition didn't jibe with that narrative. Those two companies don't directly compete, but the DOJ sued because it felt AT&T's control of Time Warner would lead to higher prices for bundles of TV channels. Randall Stephenson, chairman and chief executive officer of AT&T Inc., left, speaks while Jeffrey 'Jeff' Bewkes, chairman and chief executive officer of Time Warner Inc., listens during the WSJDLive Global Technology Conference in Laguna Beach, California. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images A dramatic uptick in oil prices in recent weeks has partly been driven by mounting expectations that Donald Trump will soon pull out of the 2015 accord. Donald Trump, president and chief executive officer of Trump Organization Inc. and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, speaks during a Tea Party Patriots rally against the Iran nuclear deal on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. Pete Marovich | Bloomberg via Getty Images The Iran nuclear deal is on the brink of collapse, yet oil traders continue to underestimate the impact of a fast-approaching supply shock. A dramatic uptick in oil prices in recent weeks has partly been driven by mounting expectations that Donald Trump will soon pull out of the 2015 accord. The U.S. president must decide by May 12 whether to restore penalties on one of the world's biggest oil producers. "President Trump's will-he-or-won't-he antics over Iran have been dominating the oil headlines of late (But) any lingering hopes that the agreement will be amended to suit Trump's demands have now evaporated," Stephen Brennock, oil analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said in a research note. "A knee-jerk reaction can be expected whenever a formal announcement is made. After all, market participants will not want to miss the boat for a new era of Iranian sanctions," he added. Bringing back sanctions on Iran could wipe out up to 1 million barrels per day of Iranian crude supply, which Brennock said could be enough to "propel oil prices towards $80 a barrel." 'Insane' pact Trump, a fervent critic of the seven-party agreement, has long threatened to walk away from the landmark deal unless its European signatories and Congress reconcile his concerns. The former New York businessman is thought to be unhappy about key aspects of the "insane" pact. He has complained the deal does not restrict Iran's nuclear activities for long enough and fails to stop the country's development of ballistic missiles. A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf. Raheb Homavandi | Reuters In response, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Trump has "no right" to renegotiate the deal and accused him of "maliciously violating" its conditions. On Thursday, Iran's foreign minister also warned the Trump administration that it would not seek to renegotiate a 2015 nuclear deal with world leaders. In a message posted on YouTube, Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran would also be prepared to reject any ratification of the deal. What next for oil prices? Brent crude, the global benchmark, briefly surged beyond $75 a barrel at the start of the month its highest level in more than three years. "I think for the rest of the year we are going to see $70 a barrel. But, honestly speaking, given the fundamentals I think that there is more of an upside in the oil price than a downside right now," Rainer Steele, chief executive at OMV, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday. When asked how he felt about the Trump administration's upcoming Iran deadline, Rainer replied: "I'm like all the others just sit and wait for what is coming. But, honestly speaking, it is not turning to the better." Trump reserved particular ire for Tester, who had a role in publicizing workplace misconduct allegations against Ronny Jackson, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. The president told supporters not to get "complacent" and elect more Republicans in November's midterm elections. President Donald Trump targets Sens. Jon Tester, Bill Nelson and Bob Casey by name as he speaks to gun rights supporters. President Donald Trump gestures before he speaks at a National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Dallas, Texas, U.S. May 4, 2018. Lucas Jackson | Reuters President Donald Trump took swipes at three Democratic senators by name Friday, as he urged gun rights supporters to elect more Republicans in November in order to boost his agenda. The president lamented that the 51 seats Republicans currently hold in the Senate are "not really a majority." Trump contended the Senate needs more GOP members after November's midterm elections to pass tougher immigration laws, confirm conservative judges and push back against new gun restrictions. "We need Republicans to do it right, to get the kind of things we want. We've got to get Republicans elected. We've got to do great in 2018," the president told the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Dallas. Trump warned his supporters not to get "complacent" in a midterm election year. He noted that the president's party often gets clobbered in off-year elections and said, "We can't let that happen." Democrats aim to pick up seats, and potentially a majority, in the House in November amid party enthusiasm and poor approval ratings for Trump and major Republican policies. They face a tougher task in the Senate, where Democrats and independents who caucus with them have to defend 26 seats, including 10 in states Trump won. The GOP sees the potential to even gain Senate seats in November. On Friday, Trump went after some of those Democrats defending their Senate seats. He slammed Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who will run this year in a state Trump won by about 20 points. Tester, as the ranking member on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, had a role in going public with workplace misconduct allegations against the president's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, White House physician Ronny Jackson. Though he denied the accusations, Jackson, a Navy rear admiral, eventually dropped out of consideration for the job. While several bipartisan senators shared concerns about the allegations against Jackson, Trump has publicly lambasted Tester over the events. "Senate Democrats like Jon Tester. You saw what happened there. What he did to one of the finest people in our country. What he did to the admiral what he did is a disgrace," the president said Friday. Trump also targeted Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., on Friday. Trump criticized the senators, who both face re-election fights this year, for voting against his immigration priorities. The president won both of their home states in 2016, albeit by much narrower margins than he carried Montana. Nelson will likely face a well-funded and broadly popular Trump ally in Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Early polling shows a tight race. Casey is expected to go on to face Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa. Early polls indicate a comfortable lead for the Pennsylvania Democrat. Representatives for Tester, Nelson and Casey did not immediately respond to requests to comment. The president will likely take more swipes at an endangered Senate Democrat next week. He will head to Indiana for a campaign-style rally on Thursday, two days after the GOP will select a challenger who will face Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., in November. Trump won Indiana by about 20 points in 2016 and Mike Pence was governor of the state before he became vice president. WATCH: Trump said a gun would have made a difference in Paris shooting A U.S. delegation to China negotiating the yawning trade gap between the world's two largest economies is just beginning a long and protracted process with any concrete outcomes unlikely from this first round, experts said on Friday. "This 48-hours negotiation is unlikely to result in any concrete outcomes, and certainly not resolve anything," said Deborah Elms, executive director at the Singapore-based Asian Trade Centre. The talks, led by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, began on Thursday. The U.S. team contains key members of President Donald Trump's administration including the National Economic Council's Larry Kudlow and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Trump's team was set to depart Friday. So far, few details from the meeting have emerged, but Mnuchin told reporters on Friday morning that the delegation has been "having very good conversations," Reuters reported. The current "getting-to-know-you phase" will give Chinese officials the opportunity to assess the delegation, Elms said. It also comes with risks from looming tariffs between the two giants, she added. "We're in the process of negotiations, which suggests that things are moving along quite well. But, because it's all taking place with the possibility of tariffs that could be triggered at any moment, that's a lot of pressure and things could go quickly awry without a lot of additional pressure," said Elms. One major issue under scrutiny is if the U.S. will be able to talk China into rolling back Xi Jinping's Made in China 2025 drive a core government program to upgrade the country's manufacturing base by way of more advanced products. Nearly three-quarters of global chief financial officers (CFOs) believe the U.S. economy will remain strong over the next three years, according to a report. Of the 497 CFOs across 30 countries surveyed by Zurich Insurance Group, EY and the Atlantic Council, 71 percent expected continued improvement in the U.S. business environment over the next three years, while 61 percent "felt confident or extremely confident about investing in the U.S." This is despite rising calls for protectionism and the renegotiation of long-established trade arrangements by President Donald Trump's administration. A decade after the financial crisis, corporate players cited global economic recovery, domestic tax reform and deregulation as core factors contributing to the strong sentiment gauged in the report, entitled "Borders vs Barriers: Navigating uncertainty in the U.S. business environment." The respondents came from all industry sectors in foreign and domestic companies, and roughly half had investments in the U.S. "A majority 68 percent of CFOs say U.S. tax reform will have a positive impact on their bottom line," the report said. About half of companies benefiting from tax savings said they would use them to re-invest in plants and equipment, while almost two-thirds of those with U.S. employees said they planned to increase their headcount over the next six months. The data showed average hourly earnings also rose 2.6 percent from a year ago, a touch softer than the prior month's pace. Overall, payrolls increased by 164,000 last month, missing the expectation of 192,000. But the unemployment rate fell to an 18-year low of 3.9 percent. The rate-sensitive traded near 2.5 percent Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET. The yield fell to 2.46 percent, its lowest since April 23, following the morning release of the nonfarm payrolls numbers. "The moderate number keeps the Fed on a moderate path, which is growth positive," said Robert Tipp, chief investment strategist at PGIM Fixed Income. U.S. Treasury yields rose Friday after a weaker-than-expected April employment report eased concerns the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates too quickly. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield also traded higher near 2.95 percent as of 4:30 p.m. ET, after earlier falling to a low of 2.912 percent, its lowest since April 20. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond traded near 3.12 percent after briefly declining to 3.089 percent, its lowest since April 19. Bond yields move inversely to prices. "Stocks are up and the jobs report isn't weak enough to change the Fed's path for rate hikes," said Bryce Doty, senior portfolio manager of fixed income at Sit Investment Associates. Also on Friday, San Francisco Fed President John Williams, who is is set to become the head of the New York Fed in June, told CNBC's Steve Liesman that he expects inflation could modestly overshoot the central bank's 2 percent target. "I see the unemployment rate getting down to 3.5 percent," Williams said. "I see us maybe modestly overshooting our 2 percent inflation target, so there may be a time over the next few years where the federal funds rate is slightly above its long-run neutral rate." The U.S. trade delegation's visit to Beijing ended Friday with little apparent progress in resolving a trade dispute between the two countries. CNBC's Patti Domm and Tom Franck contributed to this report. An employee, left, shows simulation system to an attendee at the Rockwell Collins booth during the Aero India air show at Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru, India. A $23 billion bid from United Technologies Corp (UTC) to buy aircraft electronic equipment maker Rockwell Collins was approved by the European Union (EU) on Friday. The deal between the two U.S. firms is the biggest merger in aerospace history, according to reports. It was given the go-ahead by Europe's competition watchdog on the condition that UTC first sells businesses making actuators, pilot controls, ice protection and oxygen systems. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of EU competition policy, said UTC had satisfied concerns. "We can allow this merger to go ahead because in all the markets where we raised concerns, UTC has committed to divest activities covering the entire overlap between the two companies," she said. UTC, which makes Pratt & Whitney engines and other plane parts, sells its products to large aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. Boeing had expressed concerns over the merger, but gave its approval on March 19. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up while holding an umbrella in the rain as he arrives at Dallas Love Field aboard Air Force One to address the National Rifle Association Convention in Dallas, Texas U.S., May 4, 2018. For ordinary Americans, observed Republican pollster Whit Ayres, "We've learned nothing new in the last 24 hours." Surveys taken before Rudy Giuliani disclosed that Trump paid the hush money which he and attorney Michael Cohen previously denied back up that assessment. Yet pollsters in both parties say the rank-and-file voters who will decide this year's midterm elections are more apt to yawn. By now it takes blockbuster information to shift their assessments of Trump, and details about porn-star hush money, as titillating as they sound, do not qualify. The president's legal jeopardy seized this week's headlines. Exposure of specific falsehoods concerning the Daniels case scandalized even Trump-friendly quarters of the political world, drawing condemnations from Fox News and The Wall Street Journal editorial page. Most Americans have considered Trump dishonest throughout his time in office. They judge his character indecent. But that no longer drives change in their judgments of his presidency. If you're waiting for news that President Donald Trump lied about Stormy Daniels to alter his election-year standing, stop. In a Quinnipiac University poll last month, six in 10 Americans said they believed Trump had an affair with Daniels and knew about the hush money. But seven in 10 said it wasn't important. Quinnipiac has measured views of Trump's honesty since his term began. The proportion of Americans who consider him dishonest has never fallen below 54 percent. Of two big targets he frequently accuses of lying, ex-FBI Director James Comey and the news media, Quinnipiac found that majorities trust them more than the president. Fully 55 percent overall 16 percent of Republicans, 53 percent of independents, and 92 percent of Democrats said Trump lacks "a sense of decency." Those assessments have damaged the president and fellow Republicans. Fewer Americans approve his job performance than that of any recent predecessor at the same point, even with the economy humming and international affairs comparatively calm. But views of Trump's character have largely lost their ability to change his current standing. As unflattering information keeps accumulating, the share of Americans approving of him has ticked up from slightly below, to slightly above, 40 percent. After 16 months, Americans have grown accustomed to Trump in the White House. The longer he serves without economic downturn or war, the more inured they become to his behavior. "People have concluded that he's a liar," explained Mark Mellman, a leading Democratic pollster. "He lies every day. People know it." At the same time, "The world hasn't come to an end," Mellman added. "The world's looking a little better. There's some good news out there." The Labor Department announced today that the unemployment rate has fallen below 4 percent for the first time since the end of the 1990s boom. Peace talks have broken out on the Korean peninsula. Trump plans a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. History shows that any president's standing represents a crucial determinant of his party's fate in midterm elections. Trump's weak ratings mirror the significant Republican deficit in polls measuring preferences for control of Congress this fall, giving Democrats a chance to recapture the House and Senate. As it stands now, said Democratic pollster Margie Omero, deepening Trump scandals harden existing opposition to the president and "make it incredibly hard for Republicans to turn their fortunes around." A major new shift in Democrats' favor would require a profound jolt from concrete developments such as an indictment by special counsel Robert Mueller alleging that the Trump campaign had conspired with Russia on the 2016 election. Views on the economy pose a larger and more immediate variable. Passage of tax cuts last December showed a GOP-controlled Washington could get something done. But relatively few voters tell pollsters they believe they'll benefit. So far, the tax cuts have produced little political or economic dividend. Potential fallout from the trade wars Trump keeps threatening has alarmed Republican lawmakers from agriculture and auto-producing states. More critically for Republicans, the small minority of voters most susceptible to changing their minds still haven't arrived at a verdict about Trump's effect on their lives. One in five of his 2016 voters viewed him unfavorably even as they elected him. "They knew the foibles," said David Winston, a pollster for GOP leaders in Congress. "What they were trying to do was shake up the system. They have yet to reach a conclusion on: is it working, or not?" Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said long-term investors of Apple's stock shouldn't obsess with near-term iPhone sales. "The idea that you're going to spend loads of time trying to guess how many iPhone X ... are going to be sold in a three-month period totally misses the point," the Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO said in a "Squawk Box" interview that aired Friday. "It's like worrying about the number of BlackBerrys 10 years ago." Buffett revealed that Berkshire bought an astounding 75 million shares of Apple during the first quarter. That adds to the 165.3 million shares Berkshire already owned at the end of 2017. As of Thursday's closing price of $176.89 per share, Berkshire's Apple stake was worth about $42.5 billion. Berkshire is now the third largest Apple shareholder, behind Vanguard and BlackRock. Apple has "a wide, wide gap. I mean it's an amazing business," Buffett told CNBC's Becky Quick. "You can put all of their products on a dining room table." "Nobody buys a farm based on whether they think it's going to rain next year," he added. "They buy it because they think it's a good investment over 10 or 20 years." Berkshire first made an investment in Apple in 2016 after a person at the firm bought about 10 million shares. Buffett then looked at the stock and purchased considerably more, the billionaire recalled in August to CNBC. Apple reported quarterly earnings this week that beat expectations but sold fewer iPhones than expected. Still, the number of iPhones sold appeared to calm investors about a potential slowdown in sales and speculation that Apple might be looking to wind down the iPhone X. The tech giant late Tuesday also increased its quarterly dividend by 16 percent and announced a $100 billion buyback program. In his CNBC interview, Buffett also said he believes the economy is growing faster than 2 percent. "The last seven or eight years have averaged 2 percent roughly," he pointed out. "It's stronger than that right now." Buffett spoke to CNBC on Thursday evening from Omaha, Nebraska, where tens of thousands of Berkshire shareholders were gathering for Saturday's annual meeting. Tweet Dray also noted Buffett's Berkshire invested in GE's preferred shares during the financial crisis in October 2008. "Berkshire Hathaway has a history of investing in storied businesses struggling at steep valuation dislocations," analyst Deane Dray wrote in a note to clients at the time. "In many ways, GE's current situation fits the profile of an ideal Warren Buffett investment." Unsubstantiated reports in March that some big investors were beginning to analyze buying all or part of GE sent the company's shares higher. Some speculated that Buffett was looking to invest, with RBC Capital Markets theorizing that GE's downtrodden state makes it ripe for him to invest. "That's not the case. If that was the case, I wouldn't be talking about it anyway," Buffett told CNBC's Becky Quick in an interview that aired Friday on " Squawk Box ." Warren Buffett told CNBC he is not looking to buy all or part of General Electric . While Buffett denied the rumors, he did say he wants "the company to do well" and complimented GE's chief executive. "I admire John Flannery and what he's doing. He's got a very tough job and he's doing it very logically," Buffett said. "It's a terrific American company from way, way, way back." Shares of GE were 0.25 percent higher in trading Friday. The stock has fallen more than 52 percent over the last 12 months, to $13.93 as of Friday's open. GE reported upbeat earnings in its first-quarter report last month and reaffirmed its financial outlook for the year. The company's GE Capital and power businesses continue to drag on its performance but overall the report offered relief for GE after a tumultuous 12 months. Investors have been selling GE stock amid questions about the company's ability to grow in the future. Flannery is in the midst of an extensive restructuring of the business, which could result in the sale or spinoff of parts of its portfolio. At the same time, the company has set aside reserves for potential liabilities at its GE Capital unit, which is the subject of an investigation by the Department of Justice. Buffett was speaking to CNBC on Thursday night ahead of Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting this weekend. @CNBC: All things Buffett The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Local elections 1) Good night for the Tories as they defy expectations The Tories won Barnet Council today to cap a local election performance that defied expectations and stunted Labours hopes of a surge. The Conservative gain in North London will fuel new questions about Jeremy Corbyns response to anti-Semitism in Labour. Labour needed just one seat to win Barnet which had been under no overall control for the first time ever but fell well short of the winning post The Tories made a series of gains around the country and won enough seats to deprive Labour of majorities in others. Mrs May did suffer losses in Trafford meaning there is now no Tory controlled council in Greater Manchester and Plymouth. Daily Mail Mercer blames Conservative defence record for loss of Plymouth Daily Mail Perry clashes with McDonnell and accuses him of sexism The Sun Comment: Gut feeling, not income, drives voters now Philip Collins, The Times Tories defenceless against Corbyns army of anti-Conservative groups Fraser Nelson, Daily Telegraph Conservatives pay for forgetting Macmillans pragmatism Martin Wolf, FT >Today: ToryDiary: These Brexit-shaped elections >Yesterday: Local elections 2) Thwarted Labour councillors blame anti-Semitism scandal A local Labour leader has said the anti-Semitism row that has roiled the party in recent months had made a difference in the local elections. Barnet was under the spotlight on Friday morning as Labour looked set to fail in its bid to capture a London borough that it had never won since its creation in 1974. With the highest proportion of Jewish residents in England, at 15.5 percent, the result was being seen as an indication of the extent to which a row between Labour and the Jewish community over the handling of anti-Semitism in the party has affected the public mood. Barry Rawlings, Labour group leader, said he expected to see the anti-Semitism allegations make an impact on some of the wards with particularly large Jewish populations, such as Childs Hill and Hale, although Labour only held one of six seats across the two wards going into the election. Daily Telegraph McDonnell accused of revealing Labours council tax hike Daily Express Comment: Antisemitism isnt just a vote-loser for Labour Angela Epstein, Daily Telegraph >Today: MPs Etc.: The results, council by council Local elections 3) Liberal Democrats biggest winners after Richmond rebound With results declared at 90 of 150 councils, the Liberal Democrats were the biggest winners with 40 seats gained, having swept the Tories aside to win back Richmond, a Remain-voting borough in southwest London. They were followed by Labour with 21 and the Conservatives with nine. was hopeful of emerging as the biggest winner when the last of the 4,300 contested seats are declared Conservative support outside London rose most in areas which voted to leave the European Union in 2016 as Ukip voters abandoned the party. Liam Fox, the trade secretary, said that early results were at the higher end of expectations for the Tories, but he rejected suggestions that the Ukip collapse was driven by Brexit. The Times Labour >Yesterday: Kevin Davis in Local Government: Why local manifestos matter Local elections 4) UKIP evaporate across the country except in Derby Ukip has suffered a catastrophic collapsed in the local elections overnight facing the loss of almost every council seat it won four years ago. With the results still coming in, the Brexit cheerleaders have already lost 86 of the 166 seats they won last time. The party is currently on just two seats one of which is a gain in Derby in defiance of the nationwide performance. The dire results come in the wake of almost two years of total chaos inside Ukip the EU referendum. It has burned through five leaders in just 18 months since Nigel Farage quit in November 2016, as the Brexit victory destroyed at a stroke the partys purpose and unity. Ukip former deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans admitted it had not been a good night for the party but pointed to its victories in Derby. Daily Mail >Today: Video: WATCH: Curtice A lesson from this poll. The Conservatives must deliver on Brexit in a way that will satisfy the aspirations of Leave voters Williamson and Javid support Afghan interpreters Home Office accused of racism by its own staff The Times 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 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. Daily Mail Comment: Honouring interpreters extraordinary commitment and bravery Sajid Javid, Daily Mail They put their lives on the line for us Gavin Williamson, Times Red Box Javid may be change, but he isnt progress Gary Younge, The Guardian Editorial: Britain owes a debt to Afghan interpreters Daily Telegraph Hinds launches plan to give teachers sabbaticals Teachers will get sabbaticals as part of a raft of new measures aimed at making the profession more attractive, the Education Secretary will announce today. Damian Hinds will earmark 5million to pay for experienced teachers to take a year off school to work in industry or on academic research. The fund will pay their wages. As part of his offering, he will also announce proposals to drop an accountability measure that names and shames coasting schools. It has been hated by teachers since it was introduced three years ago as the Government had originally said those identified would be forced to become academies. The new sabbaticals for teachers will act as a reward for those with ten or more years of experience and will enable them to work on projects that complement their work in the classroom. Participants will be expected to show how their work will benefit their pupils when they return to school. Daily Mail Ministers told UK may not leave Customs Union until 2023 B May holds back key bills to avoid defeat The Sun Davis vows to deal with the Lords Daily Express SNP using row to push for independence, warns Mundell The Scotsman ritain will be unable to leave the customs union before 2023, ministers have been told, leading to fears that the delay will be exploited by Remainers to thwart Brexit. In a briefing to the Cabinets Brexit sub-committee earlier this week, senior civil servants said highly complex new technology that will be needed to operate Britains borders after Brexit might not be ready for another five years. Theresa May has asked officials to carry out more work on the two options currently being considered by the Government to replace the customs union a customs partnership and a so-called maximum facilitation plan. But the expected delays mean that whatever option the Cabinet decides on, the country will have to stay in a form of customs union for four years after leaving the bloc in March 2019. Daily Telegraph More: Influential committee slams Whitehall over unpreparedness for Brexit Daily Express Osborne stands by warnings over Brexit impact FT Thatcher would not have backed Brexit, claims aide Daily Telegraph EU backs Irish right to veto trade deal The Times Juncker wants Brits working for the EU given Belgian citizenship Daily Mail Editorial: Brexit means leaving the Customs Union Daily Telegraph >Today: Charlie Elphicke in Comment: The customs debate is pointless if we arent ready with a new system. Which we arent yet but must be. >Yesterday: Daniel Stafford in Comment: The GDPR chaos is a reminder of how taking back control will allow us to make better laws May urged to come clean over meeting with Hibachi Theresa May was urged to come clean yesterday after secret talks about a 2 billion taxpayer bailout for a new nuclear power project. The boss of Japanese giant Hitachi Hiroaki Nakanishi met the PM in Downing Street days after calling for the UK government to take a 2 billion stake in the plant in Anglesey, north Wales. The group is reported to have claimed the 20 billion project due to start generating in the mid-2020s is unaffordable without state support. Its the latest blow to the Governments energy policy after huge delays to the construction of the Hinkley Point nuke plant in Somerset. The PMs official spokesman would only say Mrs May was taking part in private meetings at Downing Street yesterday afternoon. The Sun Davidson defies morning sickness to give battle to Sturgeon at FMQs First Minister admits there are no British safety standards for baby boxes Daily Telegraph 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 Ministers 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 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. Daily Mail Comment: No deal for Sturgeon until after SNP conference Alan Cochrane, Daily Telegraph Wollaston speaks out as cancer screening helpline overwhelmed A helpline set up for women worried about breast cancer screening errors was overwhelmed as thousands demanded to know whether they had been affected and what their options were. More than 8,000 calls were taken yesterday, but other women were angry that they could not get through. All 309,000 living women who missed out on scans will be contacted by letter and have been promised checks if they want them, although some will have to wait until October to avoid disrupting routine screening for patients aged 50 to 70 Sarah Wollaston, chairwoman of the health select committee, said it was vital that women who missed out on checks were given balanced information when they called a helpline. The Times Scandal shows the cradle-to-grave NHS is over Judith Woods, Daily Telegraph Peers urge Lord Speaker to defy Bercows ban on Trump as the Speaker digs in over bullying allegations 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 Speakers 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 presidents 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. Daily Mail A defiant John Bercow has vowed to keep buggering on as Commons Speaker after he was accused of bullying by the second former senior Westminster official in less than a week. David Leakey, who was Black Rod until last year, said that Mr Bercow displayed intolerable rudeness and explosive behaviour that terrified his subordinates. The claim follows allegations by Angus Sinclair, the Speakers former chief of staff, that he was physically intimidated, demeaned and mimicked before he took compulsory early retirement Mr Bercow, 55, has made clear that he has no intention of resigning, leaving MPs on the House of Commons commission, which is responsible for parliaments administration, in no doubt that he would have to be forced from office. The Times Candidates circle Bercows seat amidst expectations that hell quit The Sun Comment: Speaker and MPs need a better watchdog Hannah White, The Times Sinn Fein hold West Tyrone in by-election News in Brief: Varadkar and Barniers disgraceful provocations on Brexit could seriously damage Ireland Owen Polley, Reaction Conservatives win the expectation management game Katy Balls, The Spectator As far as the local elections go, what matters is location, location, location Stephen Bush, New Statesman Can the Tories win back the web? James Ball, UnHerd Britains railways need free market reform, not nationalisation Matt Kilcoyne, CapX Sinn Feins Orfhlaith Begley is the new West Tyrone MP following a parliamentary by-election triggered when Barry McElduff quit amid claims he mocked victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Mr McElduff resigned as West Tyrone MP in January, 10 days after controversy flared when he posted a video of himself with a Kingsmill-branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the notorious Kingsmill massacre inn Feins Orfhlaith Begley, a 26-year-old solicitor, was defending a 10,000-plus majority. She topped the poll with 16,346 votes. Abstentionist MP Ms Begley noted that her victory came in the centenary year of the first woman MP elected to Westminster, the Irish nationalist Countess Markievicz. Belfast Telegraph Charlie Elphicke: The customs debate is pointless if we arent ready with a new system. Government is failing and must succeed. Charlie Elphicke is MP for Dover and Deal. The people of Britain voted in huge numbers to leave the European Union with the highest poll turnout for decades. In Dover, 62 per cent wanted out. So its no surprise that so often people ask me: Why havent we left yet? And theyre absolutely right. We need to get on with it. Its vital that we deliver on the instruction of the British people and take back control of our borders, our laws, our money and our trade policy. Theres no point doing this half-heartedly. Well just end up being run by remote control by Brussels bureaucrats. I have long argued that Brexit preparations particularly at the border should be treated as a national priority. The truth is that after the EU referendum we should have started major investment at the border the very next day. Yet it seems too many Government officials just could not bring themselves to accept the Brexit vote. Just this week, Whitehall officials have reportedly been warning Ministers that the so-called max-fac customs arrangement would take three years while the new customs partnership would take five. HMRC officials say they wont be ready until 2022. These defeatists who dont believe in an independent future for our island nation tell us we must keep some form of quasi-EU relationship. This is nonsense. There are many practical steps we should be taking now to solve the Brexit border challenge. Ive been making this case every chance I get. And the Government has recently committed some cash. The 260 million allocated to HM Revenue and Customs and 395 million to the Home Office for Brexit preparations is a start but only that. More is needed, and quickly. This is the view of industry leaders. When I recently asked freight experts at a Treasury Select Committee hearing if we still had enough time, they said: You would have to get a hell of a wiggle on. So what practical steps can we take? At our ports, it makes sense to use the cameras and video technology we already have, so we can track vehicles through Automatic Number Plate Recognition. This could link up to HMRCs new Customs Declaration System which the Government must ensure is ready on time. We should get more firms signed up as trusted traders so trucks can just as easily cross the border without needless delays. Meanwhile, major infrastructure projects like the new Lower Thames Crossing must be taken forward at speed. We also need more lorry parking facilities built along our motorways. The Government must not underestimate just how vital it is to invest in modern border systems and keep trade flowing. More than 10,000 trucks pass through Dover every day. The port hands up to 122 billion (17 per cent) of the UKs trade in goods every year. And this is set to grow by 40 per cent over the next 10 years. So this isnt speculative spending. This funding was needed anyway. Yet it is more important now than ever. The EU think they have us over a barrel because hardly anything has been done to date. So whatever happens, we need get on with it. Iain Dale is Presenter of LBC Drive, Managing Director of Biteback Publishing, a columnist and broadcaster, and a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate. Wednesdays meeting of the Cabinets Brexit strategy and negotiations subcommittee could have gone very wrong indeed. If the Prime Minister had tried to force through her unworkable Customs Partnership proposal, there could have been very serious consequences. If any or all of the four Brexiteers had resigned, then Theresa Mays position would yet again have been under threat. And this time, understandably so. The committee turned out to be 6-5 against the Prime Minister, with both Sajid Javid and Gavin Williamson backing the four Brexiteers. History wont record how it might have been different had Amber Rudd been there rather than the shiny new Home Secretary. On such vagaries do prime ministerial careers hang. Every Prime Minister needs a Willie, said Margaret Thatcher. And she was right to acknowledge Willie Whitelaws role in giving her wise, and sometimes uncomfortable advice. She also some very trusted political friends who were always there for her in troubled times. She had people she culd turn to, who she could trust and had her back. Theresa May now has none of these people. Since her trusted lieutenants Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy departed, she has only her husband to turn to. She doesnt have the same kind of political friends that other politicians have. Even those who work closest to her and spend most time with her, Gavin Barwell and Robbie Gibb, arent what you would call personally close to her in the way that Hill and Timothy were. When they left Downing Street, she lost two limbs. People who had her back. People who knew which dark arts to deploy to protect the mothership. She must miss them terribly. Being prime minister is a lonely job at the best of times. Taking decisions of the type she has had to take recently must be incredibly difficult and solitary. In interviews shes very matter of fact about it all, and repeats the mantra of just getting on with the job. Perhaps we will never know the full role that Philip May plays in being the Prime Ministers Willie, but I suspect its a job far more burdensome than Willie Whitelaw ever had. At 7.30am on Tuesday morning, I was just about to get on the train to Charing Cross from Tonbridge when my phone started ringing. It was the Evening Standards comment desk asking if I could quickly write 1400 words on the relationship and future rivalry between Sadiq Khan and Sajid Javid. To be honest, I doubted whether I was the right person to write this piece, but I agreed anyway. My partner constantly nags me to learn the art of saying no, but one of my new years resolutions is to write more, and it seemed rude not to take it the offer. So I started tapping away on the train, and by the time I got to Charing Cross I had most of it done. Dont ask me how. Some people spend hours and hours writing a single column. When I had a fortnightly column on the Daily Telegraph, the best column I ever wrote was one that I dashed off in 20 minutes. However, given the very tight deadline, almost as soon as I got into my office at Biteback I pressed send, and off it went to the Standard. To be honest I wasnt very happy with it. However, I often find that what Im not happy with on a screen reads much better when you read it in the paper. I concluded: Javid and Khan have the potential to be the new Ted Heath and Harold Wilson of British politics, but with a difference. Javid and Khan dont just respect each other; they actually like each other. What I meant by that, is that Heath and Wilson dominated British politics for ten years. These two, if the political stars align, have the potential to do the same. I am a poetic philistine. I know nothing about poetry, I dont want to know about poetry and it is a literary genre I couldnt care less about. However, I have heard of the poet Benjamin Zephaniah. I first came across him when he used to be on Question Time with Robin Day in the 1980s. I always knew he was an out and out Lefty, but he always seemed to have a good sense of humour, and had a twinkle in his eye. This week he admitted to beating up his female partner, and called black Tories animals. Suddenly that twinkle has turned into something else. Why is it that people on the Left cant get their heads around any member of an ethnic minority voting Tory? Its something which is so patronising and condescending as if individuals arent allowed to have minds of their own. Its the Animal Farm mindset the ruling classes thinking they know better than everyone else. And it stinks. By midnight tonight (Thursday) I will have been on air on radio or TV for 13 of the previous 20 hours. Even I will have grown very tired of hearing my own voice. Im looking forward to a media free weekend breathing the fresh Norfolk air. And sleeping. 18.00 We dont know exactly whats happened in Birmingham City Council yet, but we do have confirmation that Labour have retained it as everybody assumed they would before the local party starting sending out worried noises this morning. With no other big results due in, the state of the parties is below. Thats it from us here at ConservativeHome, at the end of what has been, relative to predictions, a remarkably kind night to the Tories. Councils summary so far Conservative gains Barnet (from NOC) Basildon (from NOC) Peterborough (from NOC) Southend-on-Sea (from NOC) Redditch (from Labour) Pendle (from NOC) Conservative losses: Plymouth (to Labour) Richmond-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Trafford (to NOC) Mile Valley (to NOC) South Cambridgeshire (to Liberal Democrats) Kingston-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Labour gains: Plymouth (from Conservatives) Trafford (from NOC) Kirklees (from NOC) Labour losses: Derby (to NOC) Nuneaton & Bedworth (to NOC) Redditch (to Conservatives) Liberal Democrat gains: Richmond-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Three Rivers (from NOC) South Cambridgeshire (from Conservatives) Kingston-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Seat totals & gains and losses summary Labour 2267 +58 Conservatives 1320 -30 Liberal Democrats: 531 +76 Green: 39 +8 UKIP: 3 -123 What weve seen overnight is that having 500k+ members doesnt make LAB into a electoral force Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 4, 2018 17.30 Were coming close to the end of our live blog, holding out only in the increasingly forlorn hope that Birmingham will declare before six oclock. Counting the morning after really ought to be banned. Mike Smithson of political betting raises an interesting point: do tonights results illustrate the limits of even the most formidable ground game? Labour have been very publicly mobilising huge numbers of activists to hit target councils such as Wandsworth and Westminster in a strategy very much like the Tories Road Trip teams in 2015 but in most instances the Conservatives have held on. If thats the case, and the upset in 2017 really did hinge preponderantly if not entirely on the dementia tax and other air war failings, then the electoral potency of Momentum might be being badly oversold. However, there is another possibility that Labours glut of foot soldiers was misdeployed by so-called pied pipers (read: Owen Jones). 17.00 The yellow wave really is coming in in south-west London, as the Lib Dems take overall control of Kingston from the Tories. More councillors means a bigger ground operation in the Westminster constituencies, suggesting the Conservatives will really have their work cut out to recapture some of their 2015 prizes such as Twickenham and Kingston and Surbiton. However, whilst the Lib Dems may have achieved some very strong success in a very particular part of the country, overall the Tories have still put in a result which should worry the Opposition heres a handy thread highlighting some of the key areas where Labour fell short. Latest from Kingston Kingston: With counting in progress, so far the LDs have won 12 seats against the Tories 3. Theyve got 51% of the vote so far to the Tories 29%. Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 4, 2018 16.30 More good news for the Lib Dems. Not only do they seem to be making great progress in Kingston as set out above, but they have also picked up a second seat in Manchester. That means the city will have an opposition group for the first time since before the 2014 elections. In other unsurprising Labour news, Dan Jarvis has won the Sheffield mayoralty. First clutch of results from four wards in Kingston show some Lib Dem gains from the Tories, maybe not as big a swing as in next-door Richmond, but momentum is with the Lib Dems Jonathan Isaby (@isaby) May 4, 2018 16.00 Are the Lib Dems on track for their fourth gain? South Cambridgeshire was unexpected but apparently compensated for falling unexpectedly short in Windsor, so a win in Kingston would put them back on track. In other news which will surprise nobody, Labour have held Manchester. Prior to the election they had every seat save one which was held by John Leech, the citys former Lib Dem MP. Whether or not the opposition parties can increase their showing, or will get completely wiped out again, remains to be seen. Hardly needs saying, but in a GE: EU citizens unable to vote (except RoI, Malta and Cyprus) Turnout 2-3x higher Voter concerns different (Brexit not bins) leadership/central party messaging Converting local election results into GE forecast is for the birds. https://t.co/u2XShfSfk6 Harry Yorke (@HarryYorke1) May 4, 2018 15.30 Were at the Labour hold Islington stage of the afternoon, when righteous resentment of those returning officers who elected to count the morning after reaches its peak as we wait to find out what exactly any of the results from Birmingham actually mean. In the interim, commentators are continuing to play haruspex and project what these results might mean for an election but as the above-quoted tweet suggests, they probably contain little really valuable information on that score. Liberal Democrats take control of South Cambridgeshire council gain from Tories. Britain Elects (@britainelects) May 4, 2018 15.00 Thats another Lib Dem council win from the Conservatives it looks as if the #LibDemFightback is finally here, at least in very pro-Remain pockets of the country. As Birmingham is voting on entirely new boundaries, its hard to tell whats going on and the fact that every result is being flagged as a technical gain doesnt make things any clearer. It still looks as if the early chatter about Labour actually losing control may have been overblown, but local journalists are still reporting that the partys majority may be slashed. In other urban news, the Tories picked up three new seats on Leeds City Council. Finally, Matt Singh has an interesting take on the implications for a general election question, and its not good for Labour. Councils summary so far Conservative gains Barnet (from NOC) Basildon (from NOC) Peterborough (from NOC) Southend-on-Sea (from NOC) Redditch (from Labour) Pendle (from NOC) Conservative losses: Plymouth (to Labour) Richmond-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Trafford (to NOC) Mile Valley (to NOC) South Cambridgeshire (to Liberal Democrats) Labour gains: Plymouth (from Conservatives) Trafford (from NOC) Kirklees (from NOC) Labour losses: Derby (to NOC) Nuneaton & Bedworth (to NOC) Redditch (to Conservatives) Liberal Democrat gains: Richmond-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Three Rivers (from NOC) South Cambridgeshire (from Conservatives) Seat totals & gains and losses summary Labour 1800 +58 Conservatives 1219 -4 Liberal Democrats: 436 +46 Green: 34 +5 UKIP: 3 -121 Labour basically need another 64 seats to win a majority How many of those are in London? = 7 How many of those are in non-London England? = 42 Matthew Goodwin (@GoodwinMJ) May 4, 2018 14.30 What do these results imply for the next general election? Thats the question which seems to be preying on Twitters mind at the minute. John Rentoul highlights Michael Thrashers projection and suggests that the tied share of the vote in these elections compares unfavourably to the 2.4 point Tory lead in last years general election although you might query whether that is the most pertinent comparison. On the other hand Matthew Goodwin picks up a different thread, namely that the spread of the Labour vote is decidedly unhelpful to Corbyns designs on Downing Street. Even spectacular results in London can only yield marginal gains for a Party already so dominant in the capital, and if the Conservative firewall of English towns holds up it leaves the Opposition with no route to power that doesnt involve a coalition, most likely with the Scottish Nationalists. Writing on LabourList, Conor Pope argues that major breakthroughs in places such as Wandsworth are necessary to justify a strategy that tacitly concedes areas such as Nuneaton to the Tories. But this once again runs up against the problem we highlighted earlier: how many places like Wandsworth are there, really? Hearing the LibDems could be in for a really good result in Kingston, which theyve been targeting heavily. Rumours the Tories could even go down to single figures. Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) May 4, 2018 14.00 The Tories advance in Sutton muddied the trend of solid defeats to the Liberal Democrats in Europhile south-west London, but if the above rumour is true it looks as though Sutton has bucked a broader area trend. This is one possibly the only one part of the country where the Lib Dems showed any signs of recovery in 2017, and these results suggests they are successfully bedding themselves back in. They also recaptured Three Rivers by taking a seat which had been held by a defector to the Conservatives. As an interesting aside, apparently the initial results from those areas which have been experimenting with voter ID have reported increased turnout. Councils summary so far Conservative gains Barnet (from NOC) Basildon (from NOC) Peterborough (from NOC) Southend-on-Sea (from NOC) Redditch (from Labour) Pendle (from NOC) Conservative losses: Plymouth (to Labour) Richmond-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Trafford (to NOC) Mile Valley (to NOC) Labour gains: Plymouth (from Conservatives) Trafford (from NOC) Kirklees (from NOC) Labour losses: Derby (to NOC) Nuneaton & Bedworth (to NOC) Redditch (to Conservative) Liberal Democrat gains: Richmond-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Three Rivers (from NOC) Seat totals & gains and losses summary Labour 1672 +57 Conservatives 1136 +2 Liberal Democrats: 412 +43 Green: 32 +4 UKIP: 3 -118 Tories gain Redditch from Labour. Classic bell weather seat. Theyre enjoying an excellent night in the West Midlands- and looks like there are quite a few surprises in wards in Birmingham where Labour had expected to romp home. Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) May 4, 2018 13.30 Theres been a something of a lull in results for the past half-hour, but Redditch seems to be fitting a broader trend of the Conservatives strengthening their grip on the West Midlands. Were still waiting for the results which will show if this effect really has bled over into Birmingham proper the local Tories have been losing ground in the city since 2010, so it would be a real turnaround. Current information appears to be that Labour will still be in charge, but the Tories are picking up seats. 13.00 Starting this update on a high note with news that the Tories have taken control of Redditch council from Labour, continuing the general trend of forward movement for the Party outside London although Labour did buck this slightly by capturing Kirklees from NOC. The Conservatives have also apparently taken Pendle. Not much news from that suddenly-very-interesting Birmingham count yet, but have seen suggestions that the citys absolute horror show over bin strikes might explain an unexpectedly strong Conservative performance in the city. Harry Phibbs previously wrote for this site about how Birmingham was possibly the biggest test for the Tories in these elections, and whilst its early days yet it looks as if he may be right. Councils summary so far Conservative gains Barnet (from NOC) Basildon (from NOC) Peterborough (from NOC) Southend-on-Sea (from NOC) Redditch (from Labour) Pendle (from NOC) Conservative losses: Plymouth (to Labour) Richmond-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Trafford (to NOC) Mile Valley (to NOC) Labour gains: Plymouth (from Conservatives) Trafford (from NOC) Kirklees (from NOC) Labour losses: Derby (to NOC) Nuneaton & Bedworth (to NOC) Redditch (to Conservative) Liberal Democrat gains: Richmond-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Seat totals & gains and losses summary Labour 1599 +49 Conservatives 1021 +12 Liberal Democrats: 366 +35 Green: 31 +4 UKIP: 3 -111 This would be HUGE. Labour won 80/101 seats in 2014. Turnout reportedly very very low. https://t.co/8IqysJipLm Matt Singh (@MattSingh_) May 4, 2018 12.30 Some extraordinary noises coming out of Birmingham, where sources had suggested to me during the campaign that the Tories might be on track for a hideous result. Rumour now is that Labour might actually lose control of the council. There remains a high chance that this is just extreme expectation management. The picture so far is mixed: the Tories have gained a ward, but also lost one which does fit the reported pattern of the Party doing badly in its own areas and well in Labours. As I said in yesterdays results to watch post, a dramatic result is possible in Birmingham because the entire council is up for election at once following a boundary review. All of which complicates the question I posed yesterday: what do the results mean for urban Toryism? The Party has gone backwards in Wandsworth, but largely held the line in Westminster and gained Barnet. It lost Trafford, but made gains in Bury. Took a hammering in Richmond-upon-Thames, but made strong advances against the Lib Dems in nearby Sutton. A significant result in Birmingham, in either direction, will do a lot to shape the perception of how the Conservatives are performing in cities. I can hardly believe this, it looks like Ken Livingstone went onto @SkyNews to talk about the local elections but decided to talk about Hitler and Jews. And he still hasnt been expelled from the Labour Party. pic.twitter.com/lPnBfbt8Re James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) May 4, 2018 12.00 Labours failure to crack down on antisemitism is being widely credited with their deeply disappointing result in Barnet, where what looked like an easy scalp became an unexpected Conservative gain. Ken Livingstone has chosen to compound this by coming onto the morning TV coverage to talk about Hitler. The fact that he still hasnt been expelled from the party is extraordinary, and its surely impossible to argue that Labour dont deserve the kicking they have received from Jewish voters. The Tories have their own problems, having seriously under-performed in ethnically diverse seats, and should not allow the generally upbeat feel of the results so far to let them lose sight of how much work they need to do just to regain the ground with minority voters that David Cameron gained in 2010 and 2015. CCHQ can no more neglect this growing share of the electorate than Labour can ignore their traditional, working-class base. Councils summary so far Conservative gains Barnet (from NOC) Basildon (from NOC) Peterborough (from NOC) Southend-on-Sea (from NOC) Conservative losses: Plymouth (to Labour) Richmond-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Trafford (to NOC) Labour gains: Plymouth (from Conservatives) Trafford (from NOC) Labour losses: Derby (from NOC) Nuneaton & Bedworth Liberal Democrat gains: Richmond-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Seat totals & gains and losses summary Labour 1536 +45 Conservatives 916 +2 Liberal Democrats: 335 +40 Green: 25 +4 UKIP: 2 -103 I think we (should) wave goodbye to any notion that Labour can choose the future by going after younger liberals. There isnt a path if youre giving up seats in places like Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Bolton, Dudley, Wakefield, and Hull. Election Data (@election_data) May 4, 2018 11.30 One thread coming out of these results is how the Tories strength in Leave-leaning towns has given them a firewall which is a serious impediment to a plausible Labour route to Downing Street. Similarly to the Democrats in the United States, the impression is that some parts of Labour have been lured by demography-is-destiny thinking into alienating sections of the electorate which are still crucial to a Labour victory. Marcus Roberts suggests that we might see in these results the Tories moving towards what they tried (and failed) to do in 2017: secure their southern base whilst penetrating Labour heartlands in the Midlands and North. The revival of the Liberal Democrats, he suggests, may actually help by splitting the progressive vote and giving protest voters defecting from UKIP an alternative to Labour. Annual reminder that all results should be counted overnight, and Returning Officers who delay counts to the Friday are spoiling democracy. Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) May 4, 2018 11.00 Only a bare trickle of new results in so far as Mark Wallace points out, its the usual reminder of how fantastically irritating Friday counts are. Perhaps we need to revive the Save General Election night! campaign and extend it to the locals? Councils summary so far Conservative gains Barnet (from NOC) Basildon (from NOC) Peterborough (from NOC) Southend-on-Sea (from NOC) Conservative losses: Plymouth (to Labour) Richmond-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Trafford (to NOC) Labour gains: Plymouth (from Conservatives) Trafford (from NOC) Labour losses: Derby (from NOC) Nuneaton & Bedworth Liberal Democrat gains: Richmond-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Seat totals & gains and losses summary Labour 1474 + 37 Conservatives 887 -1 Liberal Democrats: 326 + 40 Green: 22 + 6 UKIP: 2 95. Lib Dems GAIN #Richmond from Con in what I think is fair to term a landslide victory. Greens also gain 4 seats in a local Green-Lib Dem pact that together reduced the Tories from 39 cllrs to 11. pic.twitter.com/ib8zsarsNG Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) May 4, 2018 10.30 am: Not a lot of movement at the minute as the Friday counts havent started coming in, but Election Maps have whipped up a visual representation of the absolute hammering the Lib Dems gave the Tories in Richmond-upon-Thames. Conversely, Matthew Goodwin has highlighted how the areas where the Tories did well were strongly pro-Leave. Whilst the Richmond result probably does show how Richmond can hurt the Tories, the problem for those in the Party pushing for a change of course is that as Stephen Bush has pointed out there are a lot more Nuneatons than Richmonds out there. Meanwhile, the Tories are pointing out this morning that Labour have lost not eight but 11 seats in Nuneaton & Bedworth under Corbyn, including the three in 2016. This contrasts with a net gain of 12 seats under Ed Miliband in 2012 and 2014. Not just a bad night, then, but a trend. 9.30 am Councils summary so far Conservative gains Barnet (from NOC) Basildon (from NOC) Peterborough (from NOC) Southend-on-Sea (from NOC) Conservative losses: Plymouth (to Labour) Richmond-upon-Thames (to Liberal Democrats) Trafford (to NOC) Labour gains: Plymouth (from Conservatives) Trafford (from NOC) Labour losses: Derby (from NOC) Nuneaton & Bedworth Liberal Democrat gains: Richmond-upon-Thames (from Conservatives) Seat totals & gains and losses summary Labour 1467 + 37 Conservatives 884 + 2 Liberal Democrats: 326 + 40 Green: 22 + 6 UKIP: 2 92. This site is not available in your country SOUTH GLENGARRY, Ontario On April 16th, 2018, members of the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) were conducting a Border Integrity operation targeting smuggling activity in, and around the St. Lawrence River corridor. In the early morning hours of April 17th, officers located a trio of vehicles travelling in a convoy leaving Hamilton Island, all vehicles were heavily loaded with bags containing unstamped, fine cut raw tobacco. Further investigation led officers to believe that the contraband had been unloaded from a vessel onto a property on the island. In total, six people four males and two females all from Cornwall, were arrested without incident for Possession of Unstamped Tobacco. The following individuals were released and will appear in Cornwall Court on May 29th, 2018 to answer to charges of Possession of Unstamped Tobacco, contrary to the Excise Act (2001). Denis Bedard (32), Madison Bennett (25), Alex Daniel (63), Angel Lowe-Sweet (24) Warren Skye (23) Jordan MacDonald (27) facing the same charge, was held for a bail hearing set for April 26, 2018. All three vehicles and 894.10 kilograms of tobacco were seized. On April 18, 2018, CRTF Members on patrol in the east end of Cornwall, observed suspicious activities on the property of the Co-op Marina. Further investigation led the officers to discover that a vehicle, which had departed from the Marina, was loaded with unstamped fine cut tobacco. Ernest Corbiere (42) of Snye, Quebec, was arrested without incident, and a Chevrolet Tahoe 2004 was seized along with 20 bags of unstamped fine cut tobacco weighing 357.44kg. Corbiere was also found in possession of 10 pills, believed to be Oxycodone. He has been charged with: Possession of Unstamped Tobacco, contrary to the Excise Act (2001) Possession of a Schedule I drug, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act. Ernest Corbiere is to appear in court on May 29, 2018. Border integrity is important for Canadians. Shore line residents can be the first to witness any suspicious activity along the St Lawrence River where Organized Crime Groups are trying to find weak spots to exploit. Its in everyones best interest to report suspicious activities, stated Insp. Sue Black, Officer in charge of the RCMP Cornwall Detachment. If you have any information regarding criminal activity in your area, please contact the CRTF at 1-613-937-2800 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. The CRTF is a joint forces partnership that includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Ontario Ministry of Finance. CORNWALL, Ontario The Cornwall Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) announced on Friday, May 4, 2018, a plan to help entrepreneurs incorporate dynamic businesses and secure a home in the heart of our city. The campaign is called WIN THIS SPACE and is a popular contest that has been successful in other places in Southern Ontario. WIN THIS SPACE is meant to encourage entrepreneurs to choose a location within the Cornwall DBIA and present a business plan to local judges where one lucky entrepreneur will be awarded with $1,000 a month for an entire year to help with rent or lease expenses. The DBIA has chosen to start this campaign to help possible entrepreneurs turn great ideas into reality and to help Cornwall kickstart new exciting businesses. All applicants will be accepted until Aug. 3, 2018, after which 20 to 25 candidates will be selected and given six weeks of free training. The training will help them build a business plan which will be provided by the DBIA, with help from the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre. In the fall, only five of the 25 candidates will be selected who will then present their business ideas to judges representing the DBIA. These judges will choose a winner in a Dragon`s Den style event that will be broadcasted by Cogeco`s Your TV. The finalists must submit their business plans and supporting documents to the Cornwall DBIA on Oct. 19, 2018. The five finalists will be asked to present their final business idea and answer any questions from the panel of judges. Any further questions concerning the WIN THIS SPACE campaign should be directed to Todd Lihou, Centretown Coordinator with Heart of the City at 613-933-4004, ext. 224 or todd@cornwallheartofthecity.com. MARTINTOWN, Ontario MPP Jim McDonell announced on Friday, May 4 at the Martintown Community Centre that the Township of South Glengarry had received $8,000 from the Ministry of Senior Affairs Seniors Community Grant to help expand their Balance for Life program. Its great that the Province has recognized the needs of our Senior community, stated Mayor Ian McLeod, On behalf of Council, thank you for supporting the Township of South Glengarry. Balance for Life is a 55+ Certified Senior Fitness Instructor Volunteer Training Project, and the funds will be used to train new volunteer instructors and provide them with equipment and some gas money to help bring their program to other community centres throughout the Township. Some senior residents expressed an interest in seeing the program expanded to three days a week instead of the current two, and the Township of South Glengarrys General Manager of Community Services Joanne Haley did not completely rule-out this possibility. The program is a part of the Townships Age-Friendly Community Action Plan, which was adopted by the Township in 2016. The Township of South Glengarry is thrilled to receive this funding, which will assist us as we continue to implement our Age-Friendly Community Plan, said Haley, We anticipate that the classes will benefit at least 100 seniors in our community, helping to increase both their physical and mental well-being. The Balance for Life program has already been running for more than a year. Our seniors built the Ontario we know today and it is up to us to treat them with the respect they deserve by enhancing their quality of life, said MPP Jim McDonell. This initiative from the Township of South Glengarry will accomplish this by offering opportunities for seniors to stay active, independent and maintain a healthy lifestyle The turmoil at Xerox continues with the previously ousted CEO Jeff Jacobson and board of directors announcing last night that they are staying put. "The settlement agreement it had reached with Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason on May 1, 2018 has expired in accordance with its terms," the company said in a statement. " As previously stated, the agreement would have become effective upon execution of stipulations discontinuing the Deason litigation with respect to the Xerox defendants. In the absence of such stipulations, the agreement expired at 8:00 p.m." That up-ends a succession plan activist shareholder Icahn had laid out that replaced six of members of the board with new blood, and fired current CEO Jacobson in order to move in Icahn stalwart John Visentin. [Related: Xerox Partners Lament Ouster Of CEO Jeff Jacobson, Work To Soothe Jittery Customers] Icahn blasted the board as being "reckless" in its pursuit of its "brazen self interest' in a statement issued to shareholders. "This inexplicable turn of events occurred for one reason only: the Xerox Board recklessly refused to follow through with the leadership and governance changes we agreed to, demanding unprecedented additional approvals for their own personal self-interest," Icahn said. "An expansive release from us and the Company was not enough. Fully insured, robust indemnification rights were not enough. The Xerox Board declined to take the actions they unanimously approved as in the best interest of Xerox shareholders unless they obtained additional unprecedented protections from the court, which all parties (and the judge!) agree are not required under applicable law. The brazen self-interest of the Xerox Board defies description." Josh Justice, president of Just-Tech, a La Plata Md Xerox partner, said Friday morning he was "surprised" yet again at the most recent turn of events in the Xerox Icahn battle. "We will send our team an update so all stay informed and are able to discuss with clients as it may come up," said Justice. "I am also letting them know that we could always see additional announcements and to expect it in this interesting time. With both options we have seen, Xerox partners are a key part of delivering products and solutions for Xerox. Jeff Jacobson has been a strong leader and partner for us. As of now, we continue to be in good hands! Many of Icahns proposals make a lot of sense and hopefully the leadership, board members and large share holders of Xerox can find ways to successfully work together for benefit of Xerox, their partners and their customers." Xerox agreed in late January to cede a 50.1 percent ownership stake in the company to Fujifilm in exchange for a $2.5 billion special cash dividend to Xerox shareholders and a 49.9 percent in the combined company. But a New York judge Friday granted an injunction against the merger, ruling that Xerox and Fuji had not disclosed some important parts of their decades-old joint venture to the public. Specifically, the judge said a "lock-up" provision wasn't disclosed that "restricted Xerox from selling more than 30 percent of its equity to a competitor of Fuji without suffering significant economic dislocations." Earlier this week, the deal was met with some relief by channel partners as many were grateful that the turmoil among the company's shareholders appeared to be over. At the same time, there was apprehension among partners with regard to whether Icahn would be the strong channel advocate that Jacobson had been. One Xerox partner went as far as to issue talking points to his sales reps in the wake of the earlier upheaval to assure jittery Xerox customers that the worst was behind them. Some feared the highly public fight among activist shareholders would cause customers to abandon the company's products for its rivals. In a statement issued late last night the board recognized that this latest move would only add to the turmoil. "Xerox and its Board of Directors recognize the uncertainty caused by the developments of the past several days among the companys investors and other stakeholders," the company said. "The Xerox Board and management team remain focused on driving continued improvement in financial and operational performance, and will consider all options to create value for the company and its shareholders." Infoblox has hired Lori Cornmesser to be the company's new channel chief, where she hopes to customize messaging for different types of partners and improve Infoblox's product interoperability through alliances with other security vendors. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based network identity appliance provider already has a robust partner program, with between 90 percent and 95 percent of Infoblox's business going through the channel, Cornmesser said. Cornmesser started April 30 as Infoblox's vice president of worldwide global partners and replaces Chris Jones, who left in March to take a global sales leadership position at business intelligence software provider Qlik. Cornmesser comes to Infoblox after more than four years leading global channel sales for network validation and visibility provider Ixia. Although Infoblox partners tend to be a little more focused on either cloud or security, Cornmesser said a fair amount of overlap exists between the two channels. [RELATED: Ixia Global Channel Chief Lori Cornmesser To Depart Amid Sales Reorganization Effort] "I'm seeing a lot of familiar names and faces, which is very nice," Cornmesser told CRN exclusively. Cornmesser plans to begin developing more individual profiles of Infoblox's 1,000 global partners so the company can bring more personalized messages to them based on whether they're more focused on security or more focused on the cloud. Increased customization based on the business the partner is in should result in a more consistent and aligned message they can take to customers, Cornmesser said. From a partner enablement standpoint, Cornmesser wants to support partners from a business standpoint and drive skills that help solution providers market and sell better. Cornmesser said that tools, money, and lead generation campaigns are all being considered, though she's still figuring out which pieces belong where. "It's a big task, and they can't do it on their own," Cornmesser said. She also hopes to capitalize on Infoblox's push for interoperability to help partners create a more well-rounded and interconnected security story. Historically, Cornmesser said an inability to share threat intelligence across offerings from different vendors has impeded the ability of customers to respond effectively to cyberattacks. Infoblox is therefore partnering with security vendors like McAfee, Splunk, and Carbon Black to boost response times to potential cyber threats and get more sophisticated around threat intelligence through better sharing of information, according to Cornmesser. Given that many solution providers are already selling McAfee, Splunk or Carbon Black, Cornmesser said that cementing partnerships with those vendors will result in Infoblox becoming a more complementary product. Half of Infoblox's partners are based in North America, 30 percent are situated in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, 10 percent are headquartered in Asia-Pacific and Japan, and the remaining 10 percent are based in other world locations. Cornmesser spent her first week on the job attending Infoblox's EMEA Partner Executive Summit in Mallorca, Spain, and also plans to visit partners throughout the Americas and Asia. The typical Infoblox partner has both a strong networking and security background, Cornmesser said, with both established, highly-skilled partners as well as smaller resellers generating sales activity and leads. From a metrics standpoint, Cornmesser wants to go beyond just hitting revenue targets and focus on driving incremental revenue, deal registration, and net-new opportunities. She also wants to examine how effectively Infoblox and its partners are driving sales pipeline through lead generation and activities around enablement. Empowered Networks has been a leading global partner for Infoblox's NetMRI network change and configuration product for the past eight years, according to Brian Hepburn, CEO of the Pickering, Ontario-based systems integrator. Infoblox has been the only vendor to continually invest in network automation over the past several years, Hepburn said, with the company adding new features, device certifications, and new versions of the vendor's NetMRI software three times per year. Other vendors haven't put as much work into continuous development of their network automation products, according to Hepburn. "They've been a real key partner for us," Hepburn said. Hepburn worked closely with Cornmesser during her time at Ixia, and praised her for minimizing channel conflicts that inevitably creep up. Specifically, Hepburn said Cornmesser excels at putting the channel on the radar of C-suite executives at her own company, ensuring that not only sales, but also departments like marketing and finance understand the vital role that solution providers can play. "She commands a seat at the table of the executive team and more thoughtful discussion on how to leverage and support the partner community," Hepburn said. "This is going to be really positive." At Infoblox, Hepburn would like to see Cornmesser help move existing partner relationships beyond fulfillment by boosting skill levels and technical enablement and getting more mind share from partners. Although Empowered Networks has deep services capabilities around Infoblox and NetMRI, Hepburn said his company is unique among Infoblox's channel community in terms of the added value it provides. "I'm a big fan of Lori's," Hepburn said. "She's going to be a great addition to the team." Trimline announced it had completed a six-day dry dock refit in Genoa on Seabourn Quest. The interior refurbishment specialist sent a team of 200 to carry out the refit, which included flooring, joinery, decoration, upholstery, plumbing, tiling, electrical and fine finishing works to upgrade all public areas, passenger suites and crew areas onboard. Some key highlights were upgrading the elevators to give a more luxurious feel and creating new partitioned treatment areas within the spa, the company said. Holland America Groups Sr. Interior Operations Specialist, Linh Nguyen said" Ive always appreciated the working relationship that we have with Trimline. This time on Quest, projects were completed in a timely manner. Trimlines Key Account Manager, Simon Dawkins commented This Seabourn Quest refit is the largest refit that Trimline has carried out for Seabourn and we are delighted with the level of finish delivered by our experienced team. Having carried out several refits for Seabourn now, we are familiar with the ultra-luxury standards of the fleet and are able to overcome any challenges quickly onboard. ANSONIA Its been a busy week for Paul Giansanti. Early in the week he spent a day at the high school, meeting with staff and students. On Thursday night, he took part in his first Meet the Principal session. All this while still serving as Hamden High Schools assistant principal. Come July 1, Giansanti who lives in Oxford, grew up in Stratford and taught in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Hamden will be Ansonia High Schools fourth principal in four years. Joseph Dobbins was the high school principal in 2015-16. He was succeeded by Terri Goldson for the 2016-17 school year. Goldson was placed on leave in December, 2017 and retired earlier this year after information was disclosed that his Twitter account liked a pornographic video. Sara Crooks was made the interim principal. Rose Leggo and Michele Lumley, whose daughters will be seniors in September, are hoping for more stability. All those principal changes have got to be hard for the teachers and the students, Lumley said. They have to learn the quirks and idiosyncrasies of each one. Her daughter must leave early from Monday to Thursday because she also attends the Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull. She said that created an issue with Goldson. Melanie Santiago said she and her daughter, Miliana Herrera, also had differences with Goldson. I can definitely say that when Sara (Crooks) stepped in she didnt miss a beat, Herrera said. She was the unsung hero. After meeting with Giansanti, Lumley, Herrera and Leggo said they had high hopes for the schools future. Im really excited, Lumley said. He seems positive and ready to take on the challenges. Giansanti was chosen last month from among 34 candidates. He said he plans to be spending a lot of after school time attending the prom, the senior class dinner and the June 16 freshman orientation. Id like to be here as often as I can, he said. I told the staff if they need me to call me. He said hes got some ideas on new programs, but wants to discuss them with the administration. And Giansanti promised there would be another Meet the Principal event, this time on a Saturday. DALLAS - For Michele Rivera, attending the National Rifle Association's annual meeting this year has additional significance: It is a way to loudly and proudly affirm that she is pro-gun at a time when she feels as though her views are under attack. "I will be here at the NRA meetings, and I will show my support in that way," said Rivera, who traveled here from New Jersey. "I feel like we, right now, are the minority. I'm feeling as though everyone hates us gun owners and people like me, but they don't really know people like me." The NRA is holding its 147th annual meeting here, making Dallas - which just buried a police officer who was shot and killed last month - the epicenter of the nation's roiling debate on guns. The meeting comes in the wake of a spate of mass shootings, including the one at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 people were killed and that set off a wave of anti-gun activism led by students who are directly challenging the NRA. Aggressively pushing back against gun-control advocates and stoking controversy is part and parcel of the NRA as an organization. But this year some members said they feel more under attack than ever by gun-control advocates, politicians and the news media, and they are more galvanized to support the NRA and protect their Second Amendment rights. "They've made this all about demonizing the NRA and our members, and our members have never really been more energized than they are now," said Jennifer Baker, the director of public affairs for the NRA-Institute for Legislative Action. "We're not going to back down." The group went on the offensive after the shooting in Parkland, calling for armed security in schools and assailing liberal politicians and the news media. At the same time, the NRA has faced unprecedented pressure from corporations, with Delta Air Lines, Best Western and MetLife doing away with discounts and perks for its members after the Parkland shooting. It also has faced rare pushback in the Republican political arena, where the NRA holds enormous sway through its lobbying and campaign support efforts: The NRA spent more than $30 million supporting President Donald Trump's election campaign alone. Two Republican governors endorsed by the NRA, Rick Scott of Florida and Phil Scott of Vermont, signed bipartisan gun-control legislation this year. At one point, even Trump flirted with the idea of some type of gun control, but he backed off after pressure from the NRA and lawmakers. The president is scheduled to deliver a speech at the NRA convention Friday. It will be the fourth year that Trump, who once praised calls for gun control, addresses the organization. Members and others expect the organization to redouble its efforts, particularly in the political arena ahead of November's midterm elections. The NRA's political victory fund broke a 15-year fundraising record in March, gathering nearly $2.4 million. Richard Feldman, a former NRA lobbyist who is president of the Independent Firearm Owners Association, a rival gun-rights group, says guns were not a burning political issue before the Parkland shooting, and many didn't expect them to be since Republicans are in full control of the government in Washington. After years of spikes in gun sales during the Obama presidency, there was a glut of firearms, with sales and the number of federal background checks performed dropping after Trump's election. But now that there is talk of banning the sales of certain types of guns, like the AR-15 rifle, gun-rights advocates are concerned that there could be a slippery slope and multiple types of weapons could be banned, Feldman said. The NRA will remind members of this, he said, and will work to get them to the polls in November. "They are going to put on a political effort this year second to none," Feldman said. "The guns-rights community for years has been so successful because gun owners care about their guns." That community includes people like Rivera, who joined the NRA about seven years ago. She said she gets angry when people connect the NRA and its members to acts of violence. She is appalled by school shootings and concerned about school safety, believing that there should be more security in place. But she said that the killers have nothing to do with the NRA and the blame shouldn't be placed on the organization. Rivera said she spent hours on social media in the wake of Parkland debating with others, which left her so angry that she could not sleep. She stopped going on to the Internet and decided to show her support by coming here. "Not everybody agrees with us," she said. "It's nice to be with a group of people who really get all of us." Those who don't agree with Rivera and the attendees will be outside the convention center protesting. Dallas police said "numerous" protests, both for gun control and gun rights, are expected in public areas around the convention center, and a large permitted rally is scheduled for Saturday morning at Dallas City Hall. The Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund is launching ads that it says highlight alleged ties between the NRA and Russia. The ads include digital billboards visible from the highway that leads to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and truck ads that will circle the convention center. Alice Tripp, legislative director of the Texas State Rifle Association, has attended NRA meetings for more than 20 years. She said that protests and rallies are nothing new. In 1999, the association held its annual meeting in Denver weeks after 15 people were killed in a shooting at Columbine High School in suburban Littleton, Colorado; thousands protested. Tripp said it is understandable that students are upset about Parkland. "God bless them," she said. "It's their First Amendment right. You've got to have an opinion. I was a hippie; I know." But, she said she believes that there are enough gun laws on the books, and they need to be enforced. "Laws must be prosecuted. People must be convicted. There's got to be an accountability," she said. "And to be mad at NRA or mad at NRA members or mad at Republicans instead of being mad at criminals is ridiculous." With 80,000 people attending, Tripp said members are in no way a monolith that agrees on everything, be it how best to protect schools or what they plan to do at the meeting. Some attend for the trade show, while others come to hear lectures about Second Amendment law or firearms safety. Some come to be overtly political. Ted Tarver, a Navy veteran who teaches concealed-carry safety classes and courses to train armed employees of schools, said he is interested in seeing what products are on the market concerning school safety. "Keeping the schools safe is going to be a big topic this year," he said. "I think most everybody wants to keep our children safe. It's the how to and what's the most effective means of doing it." The meeting is being held in Texas, which has some of the nation's most permissive gun laws. Conventioneers will be able to carry concealed and open weapons. But no firearms will be allowed in the room where Trump and Vice President Pence will be speaking, per Secret Service rules. Both students from Parkland and NRA supporters have voiced opposition to the prohibition, but for differing reasons: The Parkland students are calling it hypocrisy. The Lone Star State has also recently seen a mass shooting. In November, a gunman walked into a church in Sutherland Springs, a South Texas community of 600, and killed 26 people. Devin Kelley was chased down by Stephen Willeford, who used his AR-15 to confront Kelley, wounding him twice before Kelley shot himself in the head. In an opinion piece in the Dallas Morning News, Willeford said he is a proud NRA member and is "saddened" to see politicians and others "demonize" the NRA and its members. "We are good people, and we know that it's our responsibility to keep our community safe and to look out for each other," he wrote. "We are the National Rifle Association. We are not the bad guys." Dallas is, in many ways, a natural fit for the convention: NRA TV is based here. But it is also a city that is mourning the death of a police officer and still bearing the scars of a shooting that killed five other officers in July 2016. Officer Rogelio Santander, a three-year police veteran, died last Wednesday, a day after he and his partner were shot at a Home Depot. "Our wounds have been reopened, so anything about guns is something that we're sensitive about," Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, D, said in an interview. Rawlings said he believes some gun reform laws should be passed, but that he has met with NRA members and students who will be protesting and welcomes them both to Dallas. Rawlings said he is frustrated that both sides seem to have dug in their heels. "I don't mind being an epicenter for debate, but the problem is it's not a healthy debate," he said. "All we're going to have are people protesting and people inside making speeches." NORWALK Although the attorney for a Bridgeport man being held on more than $1 million bond for narcotics sales in Norwalk argued vigorously for a reduction in bond Thursday, a judge at Norwalk Superior Court was unswayed. Sergio Candelario, 27, has been held on $1,025,000 bond since his April 11 arrest charging him with five counts of selling fentanyl-laced heroin. Candelario, shackled and clad in an orange prison jumpsuit, stood next to his attorney, Daniel Baker of Bridgeport, made the argument that a bond reduction to the range of $250,000 to $500,000 would be appropriate. Baker made the case that a man recently arrested in Norwalk on an attempted murder charge had a bond set at $500,000. Judge Alex Hernandez said that he gave very serious consideration to the request for bond reduction, but cited a number of factors he takes into consideration to determine whether or not a bond is excessive. Hernandez said he looks at a defendants criminal history, the nature and seriousness of the charges, the weight of the evidence and the danger that may be posed to the community. Candelario has an extensive criminal history. He was convicted in 2008 of narcotics sales. He was sentenced to four years in jail, suspended after one year, to be followed by three years of probation. He was convicted of violating that probation. In 2011, he was convicted of possession of a firearm without a permit and altering a firearm, and was sentenced to two years in prison. Courts have found that drug traffickers pose a particularly serious risk to the community, Hernandez said. Mr. Candelario is accused of selling poison. Candelario had been the subject of an investigation into drug sales by Norwalk police Special Services officers. Police said that earlier this year, four separate controlled purchases of fentanyl-laced heroin were made from Candelario, and he was in possession of 30 bags of the drug when taken into custody. Based on my training and experience, even if the cooperating witness was not available to testify, he (Candelario) would likely be convicted, Hernandez said. Hernandez noted that each of Candelarios current charges could carry a minimum prison sentence of five years if convicted. Bond reduction is denied, Hernandez said. Candelario, of Fairfield Avenue, was charged with five counts each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school, and possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that can cause cessation of breathing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and many times that of heroin. Dealers commonly add fentanyl to their heroin to increase potency. Fentanyl was implicated in a rash of overdoses in Norwalk in a 24-hour period from July 22 to 23, 2017, in which two people died and five others were hospitalized. 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 2013, Google ran a promotional campaign in India using a clever ad. In this commercial, Google tells the story of two friends whove been separated as a result of the India-Pakistan partition and then brought back together after six decades, thanks to Google Search. The beautiful and emotional story being told in this video will easily bring tears to your eyes, even if you dont understand Hindi. And anyone who has seen it would remember it for the rest of their lives. Related: How to Tell Stories the Media Won't Ignore Google isn't the only brand that made people cry using emotional ads. This is actually a psychological hack many brands use to evoke emotions in the audience through the power of storytelling. Which allows brands to be more memorable and build more meaningful connections with the audience. Here are a few ways you can use this same hack and incorporate storytelling into your own marketing strategy to boost brand awareness and grow your business. Tell your own brand story. Every business website has an "About" page. Most businesses fill this page with boring stats and statements when they should be using it to tell their story. Warby Parker does this well. Instead of taking the common approach, the brand tells the story of how it was founded, why theyre different and describes its mission to make designer eyewear more affordable for everyone. The brand even taps into the audiences emotions by explaining how it donates a pair of glasses for every pair sold. This is a brilliant brand story you can learn a lot from. A brand story is not always about showcasing history or timeline of your company. It can be both a mission statement and an engaging story at the same time. Make an emotional connection. According to a case study by HBR, making an emotional connection with your audience is much more important than customer satisfaction. In fact, a retailer managed to increase its number of active customers by 15 percent and boost same-store-sales growth by 50 percent by using a customer experience strategy based on emotional connection. Isnt that amazing? Customers care more about how emotionally connected you are with them than their own satisfaction. How do you make an emotional connection with your audience online to increase brand awareness? Well, the best approach to take is to humanize your brand and company. For example, you can let your team publish blog posts in their own perspective while allowing them to share their own personal stories. You can also show the faces of your team members in live chat systems and show their name so that your customers know there are real human beings behind the brand. Related: How Compelling Storytelling Can Help You Build a Heritage Brand Step into your customers' shoes. A great way to tell a genuine brand story is to first step into your customers shoes and understand their daily struggles and the pain points of their lives. Then you can incorporate those pain points into your brand story to show why youre different and to connect with your audience on a much deeper level. Your brand story doesnt always have to be serious or too emotional. You can always take a different approach and add a little humor to your brand story or take a more personal approach, especially if your business involves a personal brand. Share customer stories. Getting your customers to share their own stories, also known as brand-driven storytelling, is a powerful approach that can increase your authority and brand awareness at the same time. A brand story always sounds better when it comes from the customer. This is why people read reviews before buying products or services. Its the same reason why brand-driven storytelling has been so effective for many companies and businesses. It gives you a unique chance to build awareness by telling stories from the customers point of view. More importantly, it also adds an emotional touch and more authenticity to your story. Take your audience behind-the-scenes. Many people think of big brands and businesses as big corporations run by robots and drones. As a small business, you can use this to your advantage. Take your audience behind-the-scenes of your company. Use your blog posts and social media to give tours of your headquarters and share employee success stories. Brands like Zappos use this strategy well to capture its audience by telling powerful stories about its employees while also empowering them to share their own experiences with the world. Related: How to Become a Content Strategist and Master Storyteller In conclusion. Much like how parents use bedtime stories to connect with their children, you can also use storytelling to connect with your audience and customers, build authority, and get ahead of your competition. Start by creating a better storytelling strategy. Decide on which approach youre going to take to make your stories more authentic and which medium youre going to use. Above all, always be truthful and be human. Related: My Company Realized We Had No Idea How to Explain Our Product. So We Learned to Tell a Story. Why the Best Storytellers Achieve the Most Brand Awareness How This Entrepreneur Built a Fortune From Life's Tragedies Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved My high school years were spent surfing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Not exactly Hawaiis North Shore, but those east coast beaches inspired me nonetheless. Since then, when time and budget allowed, I headed down to Central America for surf camp (check out Witchs Rock in Tamarindo, Costa Rica). Alas, my prospects for a professional career in the oceanic arts never materialized. These days, reading about surfing is as close as I get to chasing waves. A great read is Pulitzer Prize winner Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, by William Finnegan. This autobiography takes you on a joy ride around the world as the author compulsively searches for perfection. Captivating, even for land lovers. One of my all-time favorites is Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, by Yvon Chouinard. This memoir is by the founder of Patagonia, the iconic outdoor gear and lifestyle company. Ive probably read this book a dozen times, but only recently did I derive new meaning in it. Chouinard describes the circumstances that led Patagonia to develop near gender equality among its employees. By design, many of its CEOs have been women. Its revenue of $600 million per year doesnt place it on the Fortune 500, but it does sit on Fortunes list of the 50 Best Workplaces for Parents. Which led me to ask, what is the gender gap within large corporations and can we make any comparisons to our unique credit union industry? 5.2% of the S&P 500 CEOs are women 4.8% of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women Despite few female head honchos, U.S. women are poised to lead. In the Harvard Business Review article, Study: Firms with More Women in the C-Suite Are More Profitable, U.S. women make up nearly 40% of MBA graduates and 40% of managers. The article features a Peterson Institute for International Economics survey of more than 22,000 firms around the world. The results show that going from 0% to 30% women in leadership roles creates a 15% increase in profitability. The researchers suggest that having more women leaders means more skill diversity and less gender discrimination within top management. Gender discrimination reflects a workplace that does not assign responsibilities commensurate with talent. Which, we can all likely agree, does not lead to retaining or motivating key leadership. Another study found that women and other minority groups are more likely to be promoted to leadership positions under different circumstances than men specifically in times of crisis a phenomenon first coined in 2003 as the glass cliff. Again, interesting and what comparisons or not, can we make within our industry that is committed to people helping people? Im sure youre wondering by now, what is the state of women in leadership among credit unions? To benchmark the number of female CEOs, look no further than the NAFCUBFB Gallagher Executive Compensation and Benefits Survey. Across all credit unions, the gender split between men and women chief executives is close to being equal with 48% women vs 52% men. However as asset size grows, so does the gender gap. Among the largest credit unions ($1 billion or greater), chief executives are 19% women vs 81% men. A new joint research project by NAFCU, DDJ Myers, and BFB Gallagher aims to do a deep dive into leadership trends. In a first for the credit union industry, the NAFCU Leadership Study focuses on women in leadership, Chair and CEO succession planning, and Board compensation. To start, senior leadership and Board members were asked to share their insights in a short, online survey. Later this year, regional roundtables and focus groups will be held around the country. Survey results will be shared this summer at the NAFCU Annual Conference in Seattle. The online survey is open until May 10, 2018 and can be accessed here The study is broad for sure, and will require multiple years of asking questions, listening, and probing further. The online survey asked, among other things, how respondents felt about their opportunities for advancement at their credit union. Seems like this question alone could be the bellwether of the industrys long-term success and sustainability, but I invite your thoughts on this. More information about the NAFCU Leadership Study is available here This summer Im headed to Ecuador for some surf and sand time. A different type of board meeting (cue the groans) and hopefully just as invigorating! I hope our paths cross again, Liz. AG takes up simple assault case against Somerset DA's wife It is the second case this month that Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro's office has taken up in relation to the couple. Even the biggest sceptics of India's post-1991 growth story cannot deny the triumphant telecom revolution. With over 1.21 billion Indians owning a mobile phone, more than the population of the US and Indonesia put together, nothing can come closer to the transformation mobiles have ignited among Indians. A humble effort that started to augment the paltry tele-density in the late 1990s has turned languid India into a digitally charged democracy where internet users are expected to reach 500 million by June 2018. Nevertheless, while nearly 900 million Indians are still offline (70 per cent of 1.3 billion people) and one billion are yet to own a smartphone, Indias unprecedented communication revolution is now coughing up scary headlines. Representational Image | Reuters file Telecom bellwether Bharti Airtel's India operations posted first ever loss in 15 years in the March quarter. Idea Cellular, on its way to merger with Vodafone India, reported a three-fold rise in consolidated net loss at Rs 962.20 crore in Q4 FY18. Even the aggressive newbie Reliance Jio, which dragged other telcos to losses through its cut-throat pricing failed to sustain revenue growth during the same period. Jio's revenue growth slowed to 3.6 per cent in Q4, much lower than the 11.9 per cent growth it reported in Q3 FY18. Meanwhile, the worst piece of news is that the telecom sector is expected to see at least 90,000 job cuts this year. Since 2017, it has already lost 40,000 jobs. It goes without saying that India's world-acclaimed telecom revolution had generated immense job opportunities in the country. Losses, job cuts and closures had never been a part of India's telecom renaissance. So, what has happened to this splendid growth story? Why is Indias burgeoning mobile services business bleeding in an unseen fashion despite untapped potential of business expansion, no shortage of spectrum (rather oversupply), limited competition and also aggressive pricing? The crisis in telecom sector is a result of recent policy miscarriages and disconnected government interventions. The recent crisis started in March 2015 with the so-called biggest spectrum auction fetching Rs 1.10 lakh crore. Before the government could actually reap the revenue windfall, the mega-auction left telcos with broken finances. The second spectrum auction in 2016 failed to generate enthusiasm among industry leaders and ended up with a paltry sale of Rs 65,000 crore against the target of Rs 5.6 lakh crore. After buying spectrum at exorbitant prices, telcos unleashed a borrowing spree and piled up debt of Rs 7.7 lakh crore in their books. In March 2018, after hectic lobbying, telecom companies secured a Rs 55,000 crore bailout. The cabinet allowed telecom companies to pay spectrum fees in 16 years, instead of 10 years. They were allowed to keep additional spectrum beyond their need. In 2014-15, the telecom sector was struggling with slowdown, closures and jobs cut triggered by the 2G scam. The expensive spectrum shopping proved lethal for incumbent telcos amid aggressive entry by Reliance Jio. However, after showcasing initial success, Jio is staring at revenue slowdown while capital expenditure is on the rise. The crisis of telecom sector is now far deeper than expected. The consumer-level wireless spends in India hit a new low in the December 2017 quarter both in absolute terms and as percentage of nominal GDP according to quarterly performance indicators report (PIR) of TRAI. Consumer-level spends are down nearly 30 per cent versus pre-Jio-launch levels with similar levels of decline in both prepaid and postpaid segments. The mobile subscriber base also declined to 115.19 crore by the end of January 2018 from 1,16.74 crore in December-end in 2017 with smaller operators losing bulk of their customers. These trends are adequately manifested in the fresh numbers of telecom companies. While the sector is in the news for all the wrong reasons, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the draft of the National Telecom Policy (NTP), 2018 (National Digital Communications Policy, 2018) for public consultations. Even as telecom operators are struggling to deal with declining revenues and rising debt, the new telecom policy envisages an investment of $100 billion by 2022 in the communications industry. The policy aims to provide universal broadband coverage with 50Mbps speed to every citizen. After a stellar growth of over two decades, the telecom sector is spoiled by policy dilemmas. The competition in telecom space is the biggest causality of 2G scam. As consolidation has left only four national players in the market, the fresh wave of competition in the industry is necessary to bring in the new investment. Secondly, the government needs to ease its pricing policy of natural resources. Spectrum sale on expensive prices has triggered losses and debt in telecom sector and squeezed competition. Telecom operators pay nearly 30 per cent of their annual income to the government in the form of taxes, spectrum usage charge and licence fees. The new telecom policy seeks to reduce the overall levies imposed on telecom operators, but the finance ministry disagrees as it will impact revenue generation. While the data spin doctors in the government are inventing job explosion out of thin air, thanks to policy quandary, India's most fabulous success story has now turned into a sorry tale of limited competition, bleeding balance sheets, broken networks and massive job destruction. Milton Freidman was right in saying that "the governments solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem is and very often makes the problem even worse". Also read: J Dey murder: Who will return 7 precious years of Jigna Vora's career and life? In a landmark Marathi film, Samna, made by renowned filmmaker Jabbar Patel in 1974, a question is often asked in a hushed tone: "What happened to Maruti Kamble?". The film revolves around the clout of a sugar baron in a village of Maharashtra, who falsely implicated a former military man, Kamble, killed him because he could challenge his economic progress, and passed it off as suicide. Fishiness of the developments, and the fear of the sugar baron, ensures people only ask this question in a hushed voice. Today, time has come to ask a similar question: What happened to Pooja Sakat? She was an important witness in the Bhima Koregaon violence. She, along with her brother, had helplessly watched her house in the village of Wada being burnt down by a mob of 150, following which she had received death threats. Her brother even filed a complaint in February, but police typically ignored it. On April 22, Poojas body was found in a well near her home. She had gone missing before that, and the police hadnt even realised it is a witness whose life is at stake. The police woke up after recovering her body. Her chappals had been found outside the well, and the police concluded its a suicide, without even looking for a note. Initially, they wanted to conduct the post-mortem in a local hospital, but after her family protested, the police charged Rs 2,000 from them and transferred the body to Pune. #BhimaKoregaon accused Sambhaji Bhide's name once proposed for Padma Shri.Milind Ekbote out on bail.But 19yr old Dalit woman who was key witness to violence lies dead!Pehle Loya, ab Pooja..aur kitni laashein chahiye?Friends please trend #PoojaSakathttps://t.co/rakCmRjTkG Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) April 24, 2018 Poojas family consistently maintained its a murder. Even Prakash Ambedkar speculated along similar lines. After which, the police investigated seriously and arrested nine under IPC Section 306 (abetment to suicide), and Section 34 of the Scheduled Castes And Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. It includes the ones who set her home ablaze, and threatened her family members. But it would be difficult to say whether it is a suicide or murder until the results of post-mortem are out, say police. Image: Twitter/@Rohit26_ Because the police investigation has been lackadaisical, the ones initiating the Bhima Koregaon Yatra founded a fact finding committee, which reveals that police never examined the spot where Poojas body was found. Further, Poojas body hadnt been bloated, indicating it wasnt in water for a very long time. The wounds on the body were fresh and the nose was bleeding. It begs the question whether the police were trying save anyone. One does not have to be a Sherlock Holmes to know the people burning her home and threatening her. They had been summoned to the police station a few times. Yet, when Poojas brother complained, why was it ignored? Who benefits from losing a key witness in the Bhima Koregaon violence? Poojas father Suresh has been an old foe of the radical Hindutvawadis in their village. On January 1, they had called for a bandh in the vicinity of Bhima Koregaon, and Suresh had bravely defied it. With his colleague Ashok Athavle, Suresh initiated the prabodhan rally, organised blood donation camps and so on. And as revenge, his home was reduced to ashes the following day. But the police did not extend any protection to the family. Even when the family determinedly began reconstructing the house, and received further threats. Since January 1, the area has been polarised with vicious atmosphere. After Poojas death, it has intensified. And within a fortnight of her death, the village has planned to drive out the Sakat family, for Suresh, who hails from the Matang community, is apparently defaming the village by filing false cases. The gram panchayat here is acting like khap panchayat. The government should, in fact, prosecute it. This is a story of a Dalit household in a supposedly progressive state. It is a tragic reminder of the kind of life Ambedkars followers are meted out.The ones who organised the riots at Bhima Koregaon are roaming free. Milind Ekbote was arrested after a long time and received bail in a short time. But Manohar Bhide is still untouched. We must also remember that Pooja's mysterious death transpired after Ekbotes release. In the meantime, however, Ambedkarites are being labelled Naxals. The horrified image of Poojas bloodstained body continues to haunt me. News stories about her mystifying death did appear in the media, but hardly has anyone followed it up with vigour. Nobody took to the streets for her, nobody ran hashtags. In all likelihood, we will forget about her after a while. And maybe occasionally ask in a hushed tone: What happened to Pooja Sakat? Also read: How Bhima Koregaon violence poses a major risk to BJP's Dalit politics While the history of military cantonments is readily available on the internet, a few relevant issues seem to be missing. The British established cantonments to keep the Army ensconced but away from the public, providing it areas for habitation, training and recreation. However, since these were orderly locations and the hub of all activity in the region, the future city grew around the cantonments and spread. Business establishments were first established in areas surrounding cantonments. Therefore, cantonments initially away from the city, became the centre of growth of the town. Presently, most cantonments possess prime lands in almost all major cities and are surrounded by the best of localities. Bangalore, Secunderabad, Lucknow, Allahabad and even Kolkata are some of the examples. The Bangalore, Secunderabad parade grounds and the Kolkata Maidan have always been viewed by state governments and builders due to their prime locations. Representational Image It has been on the insistence of the Army, backed by the government, that the lands were protected from becoming concrete jungles. Dhaula Kuan in Delhi was an isolated location in the 1970s, but at present controls access to many parts of a growing city, including to the airport. Most Army cantonments are grounds where the local public come for their daily walk and fresh air. Cantonments possess greenery and open spaces which result in a difference in temperatures and low levels of pollution, and thus must be so maintained and prevented from being concrete jungles. Expanding cities began to surround cantonments and colonies mushroomed outside cantonment limits, with its residents freely using cantonment roads for commuting. Issues started arising once Army authorities began placing restrictions on movement on roads within the cantonment for security purposes, especially in the wake of terrorism and terror strikes within the country. Land in military stations come under two different entities. Some roads and land are under cantonment boards, which are developed and maintained by them, while other roads and land belong to the Army and are termed as A1 and B defence lands, meant solely for Army use. Some land is occupied by the Army, while others earmarked for its future use while the balance is with cantonment board for maintenance and security including local markets and civilian-populated colonies. Among the cities where use of Army land has become a bone of contention is Secunderabad, where multiple mushrooming colonies surrounding the cantonment are impacted with closure of roads. The battle for opening of roads in this city has been raging for a few years, as increased colonies mushroom in areas around cantonments. For the residents, movement through cantonments save them time and distance, which has financial implications. Mohan Guruswamy, a noted policy analyst, even published a scathing article on the issue of closure of roads in the Deccan Chronicle titled, "This is not Pakistan, General Saab" a few days ago. He claimed that arbitrary closure has impacted the movement of civilians and the Army is unwilling to hand over land for construction of roads and flyovers claiming market cost. He went on to accuse the Army of being in business, taking arbitrary decisions and refusing to heed to public demand. There are some issues, which need to be elaborated for explaining to those unaware of government rules. Transferring land from the Army to civil authorities is not under any Army officer, unless the land is A1 or B defence land. It remains under the purview of the cantonment board. However, Army views are taken. Rules were tightened by the government of India, post the illegal transfer of defence land in Pune by a defence minister, who had personal interest. All transfer of lands, irrespective of classification, needs the approval of the MoD, the local authorities can only recommend. Land has been given where essential, Kolkata and Bangalore for Metro and Lucknow for flyover and rail over bridges being recent examples. In the case of Kolkata, the land handed over was A1 defence land, on which a part of the army hospital existed. Thus, it is incumbent on the state government to process the case with the ministry. Blaming the Army is meaningless and it is the easiest target, especially for a renowned individual, as it would not respond to criticism, as is its norm. Security of cantonments is a primary responsibility of the local military commander. It is a bigger headache when the cantonment is open and surrounded by colonies in every direction. There are regular intelligence inputs of militant threats to Army cantonments. Inside cantonments, there are small colonies of family accommodation which are vulnerable spots, many of which house families of soldiers deployed in insurgency operations or along troublesome borders. Their concern for security of their families, while they battle militancy or a hostile enemy, is paramount. Incidents of militant attacks on family quarters in recent times in Jammu are examples of anti-national elements seeking to target army morale, by hitting at weak spots. The May 14, 2002 Kaluchak massacre where militants attacked the family accommodation and killed 23, including women and children still haunts the army. The latest in February this year in Sanjuwan also involved living accommodation. Attacks have also taken place in Nagrota and Pathankot. Hence, the Army would need to ensure security of its own areas. An attack in the interior of the country would be more demeaning. If the Army imposes caution by deploying soldiers in uniform along major roads, then the public feels it is overbearing and approaches the courts, Allahabad being an example. Hence, it has to adopt deterrent measures. An attack on a military cantonment is an embarrassment to the nation and severely impacts military morale, especially if families are targeted. The recent attack on an Army school in Pakistan resulted in the army launching a major counter-militant operation, mainly because it hurt the soldiers morale and dented the image of their army. No army in the world has that luxury of soldiers that it can deploy them all over the cantonments to ensure security, as demanded by Guruswamy. It, therefore, adopts a methodology of employing quick reaction teams moving through the cantonment in vehicles at random while guarding major installations and monitoring traffic by restricting movement through certain roads. The national public should understand that the Army, which has stood by the nation in every aspect and would do so all through history, but has to act to ensure its own security. It must ensure security of cantonments to prevent embarrassment to the nation and itself. It may at times behave in a manner to cause inconvenience to the local public, which can always be resolved by a civil-military liaison conference. This is a regular conference attended by senior civil and military members of the city to discuss problems and arrive at solutions. Surplus Army lands can only be granted by the government, the local Army authorities have no right. This could easily be resolved through the same channel, which has failed in the state of Telangana for unknown reasons. If the state authorities do not adopt this approach, then they must be blamed for their own highhandedness and lack of interest in helping the public. Blaming the Army may be easy, but understanding its constraints is difficult. Channels of resolution always exist, employing them is more important rather than throwing the blame on an institution which maintains a studied silence because of its ethos. Also read: The 'demise' of Kashmiri With barely a week left for the Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP came out with its poll document on May 4. The party, which has been under attack over its handling of the Kathua and Unnao rape cases and owing to the statements of some of its leaders, has focused on womens issues in a big way in its manifesto. The BJP came out with its poll document on May 4. Photo: PTI In line with the BJPs penchant for fancy promises and impressive rhetoric, the women of Karnataka have been offered free smartphones, free mangalsutras, employing 1,000 policewomen to probe gender crimes and an ambitious Kittur Rani Chennamma Flying Squads scheme, named after the much-loved Lingayat queen. The promises seem novel on paper. However, they betray the BJPs time-tested policy of tackling problems with grand announcements that convey a lot of intent, but prove difficult to implement and whose effectiveness is debatable. Womens safety In the run-up to the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP had announced anti-Romeo squads to prevent harassment of women. The scheme turned into an instrument of moral policing, before petering out. In the wake of the recent outrage over the Kathua and Unnao rapes, the party responded with a new law stipulating death penalty for those raping children younger than 12. Experts have pointed out that harsher punishment is not going to make children safer, and might actually prove counter-productive. Rs 2,500 Cr Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Fund to clean and revive the lakes and rivers of Bengaluru and free Bengalureans from the water tanker mafiaForm Kittur Rani Chennamma Flying Squads to attend to distress calls of women in Bengaluru quickly.#BJPVachana4Karnataka pic.twitter.com/qhA4d4cRGs BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 4, 2018 The party's Karnataka polls manifesto has seen the same trend of impressive schemes over concentrating on strengthening existing systems. The Kittur Rani Chennamma Flying Squads are meant to quickly respond to distress calls of women in Bangalore. As part of the squads, the Special Investigation Cell under a woman police officer aided by the strength of 1,000 policewomen will investigate all pending crimes against women. But both measures are the existing police forces responsibility. Ensuring effective action and accountability from already present systems requires behind-the-scenes, consistent action. That does not seem to be the BJPs forte, as the sky-high figures of crimes against women in party-ruled states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh suggest. The party instead chooses to focus on the impressive optics of new cells and squads. Promises to keep The other benefits announced for women in the manifesto are free sanitary napkins for the underprivileged, one rupee-napkins for other women, free smartphones and 3-gm gold thalis (mangalsutras) for those from BPL families, increasing the amount payable at maturity under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme to Rs 2 lakh, a Rs 10,000-crore Stree Unnati Fund to set up women-run co-operatives that will sell their products at Stree Unnati stores, and loans up to Rs 2 lakh for womens self-help groups at one per cent yearly interest. This seeming bounty from the BJP reflects the party's inconsistencies in policymaking. The Centre has steadfastly refused to bring down the 12 per cent GST on sanitary napkins, despite repeated demands. Establish a Rs 10,000 Crore Stree Unnati Fund to set up one of the largest women run co-operatives and establish Stree Unnati Stores to market its productsLoans upto Rs 2 Lakhs shall be given to women only SHGs at 1% p.a. interest#BJPVachana4karnataka pic.twitter.com/rh7VZNQQqw BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 4, 2018 Form a Special Investigation Cell, under a woman Police Officer and employing 1,000 police women to investigate all pending crimes against women.Increase the amount payable at maturity under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme to Rs 2 Lakh. #BJPvachana4Karnataka pic.twitter.com/mF5ZmzThYA BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 4, 2018 Multiple central government initiatives, such as the MUDRA scheme and Mahila E-Haat, Bharatiya Mahila Bank, Udyogini Scheme, are supposed to provide the benefits that the Stree Unnati Fund promises. Why is the BJP duplicating its own schemes, which can confuse beneficiaries and make it difficult for authorities to track their implementation? Also, the BJP, at one point, had been a fierce critic of the politics of freebies practised in the southern states. Yet, its manifesto is remarkably promising. The free smartphones scheme is very similar to the free laptop with 1 GB data scheme the party promised in Uttar Pradesh. So far, there has been no allocation for the laptops in the states budget. Women make up about 49 per cent of voters in Karnataka. Understandably, the BJPs manifesto has made a strong pitch for them. Not only this, the poll document is high on other emotive promises farm loan waiver, bringing back the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Bill, ensuring only Hindus are employed in Hindu temples, etc. It remains to be seen if voters will lap up the BJPs standard mix of saffron-flavoured grand schemes and development dreams. (Read this story in Bangla) Also read: Why it's important to celebrate Tipu Sultan's heroism today, more than ever Emperor Meiji is credited with making Japan a modern nation and putting it on the track to become a world power. A century before that the king who could have been the Indian Meiji and kept India relevant as a world power died on the battlefield. Today is his 219 death anniversary. On May 4, 1799, the final battle of a series of four wars was concluded and we lost that chance with the death of Tipu Sultan of Mysore at the hands of the British, assisted by the Marathas, Nizam of Hyderabad, and Travancore. We should celebrate Tipu's courage as he famously rejected the advice to flee or surrender as his ally Napoleon did twice, and instead chose to die protecting his kingdom and his people. He famously proclaimed that it was better to live as a tiger for a day than to live as a jackal for a century. Sadly, there are only a few among his admirers who focus on Tipu, the visionary. He was a brilliant general, a radical economic and social reformer, and a great geostrategist. Portrait of Tipu Sultan once owned by Richard Colley Wellsley, now in the care of the British Library. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons) He knew that to defeat the English and to throw them out of India he needed to have a blue water navy, foreign ports, and international allies. He offered the Ottoman Caliph one of his Indian ports in exchange for Basra in Iraq so that he could wage a naval war against the British on the high seas. He made an alliance with the French and corresponded with their rising general, Napoleon. He supported the American war of independence both morally and financially. He was the first Asian ruler to recognise the newly independent United States. Interestingly, another Sultan, the Sultan of Morocco, was the first African ruler to recognise the newly independent country. Yes, President Trump: while your ancestors in Germany fought with the British against General Washington, these Sultans supported the United States from its very birth. No wonder General Harris, the commander of the English army, declared today India is ours when he heard of Tipus death. Tipu was the most-feared eastern king. The English demonised him as "the tyrant". When he died, there were jubilant celebrations in Britain, with authors, playwrights, and painters creating works to celebrate his death. The siege and looting of Tipus capital at Srirangapattana is the opening scene of Wilkie Collinss famous novel The Moonstone. Sadly, some Indians have unthinkingly accepted that false British historiography. America has other connections with Tipu. General Cornwallis, who had to surrender to Washington at Yorktown in 1781, was able to redeem himself by defeating Tipu. Washington was saved by his French allies, but by the third Mysore war, France was in revolutionary upheaval. Tipu marched from the West Coast of India to the French fort at Pondicherry on the East to urge them to join him but they would not do so. The English Congreve rockets that the US national anthem refers to as they rained down on Fort McHenry in the Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812 were based on the invention of Tipus war engineers. Tipu was the original technological innovator of India, the technology buff who modernised warfare. He built what were technology parks all across his kingdom. He introduced groundbreaking innovations in the economy and is perhaps the founder of the cashless economy as early as the 18th century. He was a progressive and enlightened ruler who rebuilt Hindu temples that were destroyed and looted by the Hindu Maratha army in his kingdom, including the famous holy temple Sringeri Math. He instructed that his non-Muslim officers be guaranteed that the food provided to them would meet their religious requirements and that they be allowed to take their oaths of office according to their own religious beliefs. Tipu was not a pluralist liberal democrat as he was not born in the 20th century nor was he a saint. But he was no fanatic or tyrant. He was fascinated by the philosophies and idea that had led to the French revolution and even declared himself Citoyen Tipu. His tolerance is reflected in his annual grants to no less than 156 temples, which included land deeds and jewellery. His army was largely composed of "Shudras". The high esteem in which Tipu held the Hindu holy men of his kingdom is clear proof that he was a tolerant ruler. If his fellow rulers of the Indian subcontinent and their nominal Mughal emperor in Delhi had been half as enlightened, nationalistic and visionary as him, not only would the English have been thrown out, but India would have gone through the Meiji Restorationperiod that Japan had a 100 years later in the 1870s. India, thus, could have maintained its place as a first-class economy in the world. A musical toy found in Tipu Sultan's palace depicts a tiger mauling a British soldier. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons) Alas, that was not to be the case, and on fourth day of the fifth month of the last year of the 18th century, the Tiger of Mysore fell fighting the English. The traitors in his court, both Hindus and Muslims (Mir Sadiq and Purniyah), had sold him out to the British. It was the cannons of the Nizams army, the ruler of neighbouring Hyderabad, that caused the breach in the wall of Tipu's fort. Tipu was hoping to hold out for another month until the monsoons arrived and forced the English to lift the siege, but the traitors in his court had informed the English about the weaker sections of the walls of the fort. Tipu was made aware of the breach on the third. He expected the attack to happen at night on the fourth as the English knew that he had posted his best soldiers there and would not dare to cross the river Cauvery under their fire during daytime. The traitors pulled the defenders away, asking them to go and collect their salary. When the news reached Tipu, who had just sat down to eat his lunch that the English had broken through, instead of fleeing as his friend Napoleon had done, he left his lunch and rode into the thick of the battle and died like a cornered tiger fighting to his last breath. The sun set on the western horizon, and sent India into a long, dark night that lasted a century and a half. The heavens opened up and the unexpected storm was considered a sign of divine lament. The looting of Srirangapatna that began that night at the hands of the foreigners ended on August 15, 1947, and by then India, which was the second-largest economy in the world under the Mughals in 1700, had become the 141st. It is said that a nation that does not study its history will not learn from its mistakes and so cannot become great. I wish Indian children to learn about their great and complex hero. I hope India will once again become one of the worlds great economies. I pray it stays united and is a tolerant democracy, by the 300th anniversary of Tipus valiant death. And that is just 80 years away. Also read: 5 reasons why Tipu Jayanti controversy is absurd and dangerous Travis Perkins plc distributes building materials to the building, construction, and home improvement markets in the United Kingdom. It operates through four segments: Merchanting, Retail, Toolstation, and Plumbing & Heating. The Merchanting segment distributes interior building products, which include drywalls, ceilings, external envelopes, fire protection products, flooring and partitioning products, and tools and accessories to professionals within the construction industry; civil, drainage, and heavy building materials to specialist contractors and trade professionals; and pipeline and heating solutions. This segment also distributes building materials, plumbing and heating products, landscaping materials, timber and sheet materials, painting and decorating products, dry lining and insulation products, doors and joinery, and hand and power tools to trade professionals and self-builders. The Retail segment operates as a home improvement retailer, which sells kitchen, bathroom, paint, and timber products. The Toolstation segment supplies products to the trade, home improvers, and self-builders industry through approximately 350 branches, as well as online, call center, and a mobile website. The Plumbing & Heating segment supplies its products to the trade, home improvement, and DIY markets. The company also offers kitchens and joinery products to specialist joiners, kitchen fitters, house builders, local authorities, and national house builders; and operates as a tile retailer. The company was formerly known as Sandell Perkins Public Limited Company and changed its name to Travis Perkins plc in October 1988. Travis Perkins plc was founded in 1797 and is headquartered in Northampton, the United Kingdom. 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. 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 Core MSCI 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 Core MSCI 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. Associated British Foods plc operates as a diversified food, ingredients, and retail company worldwide. It operates through five segments: Grocery, Sugar, Agriculture, Ingredients, and Retail. The Grocery segment manufactures and sells grocery products, including hot beverages, sugar and sweeteners, vegetable oils, balsamic vinegars, bread and baked goods, cereals, ethnic foods, and meat products to retail, wholesale, and foodservice businesses. The Sugar segment is involved in growing, processing, and sale of sugar beet and sugar cane to industrial users. The Agriculture segment manufactures and sells animal feeds; and provides other products and services for the agriculture sector. The Ingredients segment manufactures bakers' yeast, bakery ingredients, enzymes, lipids, yeast extracts, and cereal specialties. The Retail segment is involved in buying and merchandising clothing and accessories through the Primark and Penneys retail chains, which offer womenswear, menswear, children's wear, footwear, accessories, homeware, and skincare products. The company was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Associated British Foods plc is a subsidiary of Wittington Investments Limited. Read More Wall Street analysts have given iShares Global Consumer Staples 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 Global Consumer Staples 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 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 Humana: 154th Street Medical Plaza, 516-526 West Main Street Condominium Council of Co-Owners, 54th Street Medical Plaza, American Eldercare, American Eldercare of North Florida, Anvita Health, Arcadian Health Plan, Arcadian Management Services, Atlantis Physician Group, CAC Medical Center Holdings, CAC-Florida Medical Centers, CDO 1, CDO 2, CHA HMO, CHA Service Company, Care Partners Home Care, CareNetwork, CarePlus Health, CarePlus Health Plans, Cariten Health Plan Inc., Certify Data Systems, CompBenefits, CompBenefits Company, CompBenefits Corporation, CompBenefits Dental, CompBenefits Direct, CompBenefits Insurance Company, Complex Clinical Management, Concentra Managed Care, Continucare Corporation, Continucare MDHC, Continucare MSO, Continucare Medical Management, Dental Care Plus Management, DentiCare, Emphesys, Emphesys Insurance Company, Enclara Healthcare, FPG, FPG Acquisition Corp., FPG Acquisition Holdings Corp., FPG Senior Services, Family Physicians of Winter Park, Go365, HUM Provider Holdings, HUM-e-FL, Harris Rothenberg International, Health Value Management, Humana Active Outlook, Humana At Home (Dallas), Humana At Home (Houston), Humana At Home (San Antonio), Humana At Home (TLC), Humana At Home 1, Humana Behavioral Health, Humana Benefit Plan of Illinois, Humana Dental Company, Humana Digital Health and Analytics Platform Services, Humana EAP and Work-Life Services of California, Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Humana Government Business, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Humana Health Company of New York, Humana Health Insurance Company of Florida, Humana Health Plan, Humana Health Plan of California, Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Humana Health Plan of Texas, Humana Health Plans of Puerto Rico, Humana Healthcare Research, Humana Inc., Humana Innovation Enterprises, Humana Insurance Company, Humana Insurance Company of Kentucky, Humana Insurance Company of New York, Humana Insurance of Puerto Rico, Humana Management Services of Puerto Rico, Humana MarketPOINT, Humana MarketPOINT of Puerto Rico, Humana Medical Plan, Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Humana Medical Plan of Pennsylvania, Humana Medical Plan of Utah, Humana Pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Humana Regional Health Plan, Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, Humana WellWorks LLC, Humana Wisconsin Health Organization Insurance Corporation, Humana at Home, HumanaDental, HumanaDental Insurance Company, Humco, Hummingbird Coaching Systems LLC, Independent Care Health Plan, KMG America, Kindred Healthcare, MCCI Group Holdings, MCCI Holdings, MCCI Medical Group, MCCI Specialty, MCCI/Lifetime of Aventura, MD Care, METCARE of Florida, Managed Care Indemnity, Medical Care Consortium Incorporated of Texas, MetCare, Metropolitan Health Networks, Naples Health Care Specialists, North Region Providers, Nursing Solutions, OSF HealthCare, PHP Companies, Partners in Integrated Care, Preferred Health Partnership, Preservation on Main, Primary Care Holdings, Primary Care Holdings II, Primary Care Specialists of the Palm Beaches, RMA Medical Centers of Florida, RMA Medical Group of Florida, ROHC, SeniorBridge, SeniorBridge Family Companies (CT), SeniorBridge Family Companies (FL), SeniorBridge Family Companies (IN), SeniorBridge Family Companies (MO), SeniorBridge Family Companies (NY), SeniorBridge-Florida, Texas Dental Plans, The Dental Concern, Transcend Population Health Management, and Transcend Population Health Management II. Capita plc provides consulting, digital, and software products and services to clients in the private and public sectors. It operates through six divisions: Software, People Solutions, Customer Management, Government Services, Technology Solutions, and Specialist Services. The company offers application software and other solutions, such as automation, critical communication system, finance and payment, management information system, workforce management, and education software products and services; and people solutions, including human resources advisory and digitally enabled services comprising learning, resourcing, pensions, and HR outsourcing services. It also provides customer management services, such as customer engagement, remediation, complaints management, collections, and regulated services; and services related to central and local governments. In addition, the company offers technology solutions, including digital IT and connectivity, network, Trustmarque, intelligent communications, cloud, cyber security, robotic process automation, and workplace IT services; and specialist services, such as travel and event, enforcement, insurance, Evolvi, real estate and infrastructure, GL hearn, Page One, Tascor, Optima, and translation and interpreting services. Further, it provides business operations, customer experience, industry-specific, and education services, as well as various digital solutions. The company offers its services to financial services, pensions, retail, telecoms and media, transport, energy and utilities, central and local government, education, defense and security, health and welfare, and justice and emergency services sectors. It operates in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, the United States, India, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The company was formerly known as The Capita Group plc and changed its name to Capita plc in January 2012. Capita plc was founded in 1984 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Parkland Corporation operates as a marketer, distributor, and refiner of fuel and petroleum products in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canada, International, USA, Supply, and Corporate segments. The Canada segment supplies and supports a coast-to-coast network of 1,860 retail gas stations under the Ultramar, Esso, Fas Gas Plus, Chevron, Pioneer, and Race Trac as well as operates convenience stores under the On the Run/MarchA Express brand. Additionally it offers bulk fuel, bulk and cylinder exchange propane, heating oil, lubricants, and other related products and services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers in various industries, such as oil and gas, construction, mining, forestry, fishing, and transportation under the Ultramar, Bluewave Energy, Pipeline Commercial, Chevron, Columbia Fuels, and Sparlings Propane brands. The International segment operates retail service stations under the Esso, Shell, and Sol brands; and delivers and supplies gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, propane, and lubricants to customers in various sectors, including power, oil and gas, and mining. The USA segment operates a network of gas stations; and delivers bulk fuel, lubricants, and other related products and services under the Farstad Oil, Rhinehart Oil, Tropic Oil, Superpumper, Harts, and On the Run brands. The Supply segment manufactures transportation fuels; transports, stores, and markets fuels, crude oil, and liquid petroleum gases; and manufactures and sells aviation fuel to airlines. This segment also engages in the wholesale, supply, and distribution business. The company was formerly known as Parkland Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Parkland Corporation in May 2020. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More 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 What first looks like a smudge of light in a grainy telescopic image of space is actually an astronomic discovery like no other yet. An international team of researchers led by Dalhousies Scott Chapman and former masters student Tim Miller looked back in time to the edge of our observable universe and found the first evidence of 14 large, dense galaxies 12.4 billion light years away from Earthsome of the first ever formed after the Big Bang. Located in a small area of space relative to their sizes, and the rate at which they're churning out new stars, these galaxies are merging into a protocluster a grouping of galaxies in close proximity to one another. But this protocluster, by todays calculations, is to be one of the largest galactic structures in the known universe. Alas, scientists in our lifetime will never actually see the outcome of this merger through a telescope since it takes billions of years for this protoclusters light to reach Earth. Zooming in to the galaxies discovered by ALMA that are evolving into a galaxy cluster. The outer field is from data taken by the Hershel Space Observatory. The middle image -- a portion of a much-wider survey by NSF's South Pole Telescope -- uncovered the distant galactic source that was studied by ALMA to reveal the 14 galaxies. (NRAO photo) The study, published in the journal Nature, sent shockwaves through the astrophysics community. But it wasnt necessarily because of the discovery that 14 galaxies are occupying a space thats only three times larger than our own Milky Way, or that the galaxies are growing faster than anything in this galaxy. No, its because the image that led to this discovery is technically 12.4 billions of years old. That means this mass of galaxies grew to its astonishing size only 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang. A growth spurt like that doesnt align with current scientific understanding. Shifting the science Having caught a massive galaxy cluster in throes of formation is spectacular in and of itself, Dr. Chapman, a professor of physics, told the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). But, the fact that this is happening so early in the history of the universe poses a formidable challenge to our present-day understanding of the way structures form in the universe. Current theory and computer models suggest that protoclusters as massive as the one observed by NRAOs ALMA the complex Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observatory in Chile should have taken much longer to evolve. How this assembly of galaxies got so big so fast is a bit of a mystery, it wasnt built up gradually over billions of years, as astronomers might expect, says Tim Miller (MSc17), a coauthor who worked on the study while attending Dalhousie. Miller is now a PhD candidate at Yale University. This discovery provides an incredible opportunity to study how galaxy clusters and their massive galaxies came together in these extreme environments. A mass of galaxies This clusters extreme distance and clearly defined components offer astronomers an unprecedented opportunity to study some of the first steps of cluster formation less than 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang. By using NRAOs ALMA data as the starting conditions for sophisticated computer simulations, the researchers were able to demonstrate how this current collection of galaxies will likely grow and evolve over billions of years. Scott Chapman. (Nick Pearce photo) ALMA gave us, for the first time, a clear starting point to predict the evolution of a galaxy cluster. Over time, the 14 galaxies we observed will stop forming stars and will collide and coalesce into a single gigantic galaxy, says Dr. Chapman. Other study partners include the National Research Council of Canada, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the University of Victoria (UVic), the University of Illinois and the Flatiron Institute. I thought about this idea of protection and empowerment as I continue to pray about those being impacted by Covid-19. What came to mind first was the song No Weapon by Fred Hammond. Its always been one of my favorite worship songs because it reminds... Mumbai: South superstar Prabhas has started shooting for his upcoming multi-lingual action thriller 'Saaho', which is rumoured to be made on a budget of Rs. 300 crore. After blockbuster success of SS Rajamouli's 'Baahubali', audiences are super excited to see Prabhas in his next film. The team is currently shooting in Dubai, UAE and a major action sequence is being worked upon under the skilful supervision of international stunt choreographer Kenny Bates. According to a statement, a whopping Rs. 90 crore is being spent on the action sequence alone. Speaking on the shooting in Dubai and Abu Dhabi later, Prabhas said in the statement, We are all excited to be shooting in Abu Dhabi - friends in the industry have told me that its an incredible filming destination boasting awe-inspiring landscapes, and it is certainly living up to that reputation. Ive been impressed at the level of support weve 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. Being helmed by Sujeeth, 'Saaho' boasts of whopping Rs 300 crore budget. The film also stars Shraddha Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Mandira Bedi in important roles. The film is expected to release later this year. Mumbai: Rajkummar Rao says he loves roles that test his limits as there is no fun in doing something that comes "easily and naturally" to him. The actor is known for critically-acclaimed and scene-stealing outings in films such "Shahid", "Queen", "Aligarh", "Trapped", "Bareilly Ki Barfi" and "Newton". "...I do not like something that comes easily and naturally to me. I like pushing myself as an actor. I like to play roles that challenge me and I can do something different. There has to be an extra edge to it. I enjoy that," Rao told PTI. Playing dreaded terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in frequent collaborator Hansal Mehta's "Omerta" was one such role that challenged him the most. "All the characters that I have played, I could somewhere connect with them, either I know that person or make it my own and do it. "But I don't know this world at all, I don't know anybody like him. So everything had to come from within. I know there is a lot of hatred and anger inside Omar and that was challenging to do. It was a tough and disturbing process to live with that kind of hatred," he told PTI. It is a role reversal of sorts for the actor, who first collaborated with Mehta to play slain human rights activist Shahid Azmi. "You are vulnerable and leaders brainwash you and take you on a wrong path. Shahid was very vulnerable, he was very angry, impulsive, but he came back and realised that it is not the right path and he chose to be a human rights lawyer. But there are boys like Omar who never came back," Rao said. Both Rao and Mehta visited some of the places frequented by Omar in London during his transformation from a LSE graduation student to this terrorist. "I was trying to get the accent right and understand the culture and the background." The 33-year-old actor said there are two types of people in the world - Shahid and Omar. "Both felt like victims, shared the same history but chose different paths." The film releases today. The latest bilingual biopic in the making at the moment is the one on Bal Thackeray, titled simply Thackeray. The latest bilingual biopic in the making at the moment is the one on Bal Thackeray, titled simply Thackeray. Being made in Hindi and Marathi the films landing cost is expected to be Rs 35 crore, which easily makes it an expensive proposition. The film is being made in two languages so there will be two negatives (films in two languages) and will be sold separately as different products. The Marathi version of the film is expected to cost around Rs 15 crore, which will make it the most expensive Marathi film ever made, informs a source about the film which sees Nawazuddin Siddiqui play the role of the late leader. Nawaz has also brushed up his Marathi skills for the film and is being tutored constantly even on the sets. Written and produced by Sanjay Raut, a senior Shiv Sena leader and the editor of the Sena mouthpiece Saamna, the film directed by Abhijit Panse, director of the acclaimed Marathi film Rege, Thackeray is being shot at various locations in Mumbai. Rating: Director: Umesh Shukla Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Jimit Trivedi Director Umesh Shukla, who marked his not so entertaining directorial debut with Dhoondte Reh Jaoge, roars with full power with OMG! (Oh My God) which garnered him the top notch status but who knew it was temporary. He did enough damage with All Is Well which didnt do well for the critics and audiences too. Umesh is back with 102 Not Out, yet another adaptation of a Gujarati play under the same title. Written by Saumya Joshi, the film is delightful but staged in bits and pieces. Dattatarya Vakharia (Amitabh Bachchan), an 102-year-old wanting to break the living record of a Chinese man. He insists his 75-year-old grumpy son Babulal Vakharia (Rishi Kapoor) to shift to an old age home. In order to stay back, Babulal had to agree few terms and conditions set by his father and one of them is to boycott his own son Amol (Mukesh Hariawala), who is based in USA. Dhiru (Jimit Trivedi), a helper at a chemist is a constant witness of the love-hate relationship of father and son. Will Babulal agree to Dattas never ending conditions or move to old age home? The driving force of the film is the camaraderie of Mr. Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor. Extremely high on emotions, 102 Not Out has a universal appeal. It has humour and emotions in the correct proportion. Umesh succeeds in telling this moving tale with ease. However, the film looks pushy at certain places but a great message and strong performances of both the veterans overwhelmingly saves you from the boredom. The film cleverly holds you for 102 minutes despite of its slow pace in the first half. Second half draws attention, though predictable yet with the realistic climax. The film is a heart warming experience of celebrating life as it comes. Umesh might get the status of a good filmmaker with this one which he lost during All Is Well. Story and dialogues by Saumya Joshi are good but have uncanny resemblance from Amitabh-Hema starrer Baghban. Humor scattered all over is like a fresh air of breathe. Rishi Kapoor stands out as a grumpy old man. He makes you laugh and cry adequately. Amitabh Bachchan is hilarious and jovial barring his partial Piku strings attached to this role. Jimit Trivedi and Mukesh Hariawala are good enough as a supporting cast. 102 Not Out is a light hearted family drama for a perfect weekend. Go, spot this one and celebrate life! Watch '102 Not Out' trailer here: If Kiara Advani, who waded through a period of uncertainty in Bollywood, has found success in Telugu cinema, it is because of Namrata Shirodkar, the wife of her first Telugu starrer Bharat Ane Nenus lead, Mahesh Babu. Sources close to the film reveal that it was Namrata who strongly recommended Kiara for the film. They were thinking of several big names from AP, but Namrata saw pictures of Kiara and was immediately convinced that the actress had it in her. Namrata recommended her to the director and producer and even contacted Kiara on their behalf, says the source. Kiara was reluctant to go South. She thought once she moves out of Bollywood, shed be branded as a regional actress. Namrata convinced her that such demarcation between Bollywood and non-Bollywood cinema was rapidly disintegrating. She also made sure Kiara was paid handsomely, says the source. Even before Bharat Ane Nenu released, Kiara had signed her second Telugu film, this time with superstar Ram Charan Tej once again courtesy Namrata. Apparently, Namrata introduced Kiara to Ram Charan and his team. Now that Kiaras career has taken off, she is being considered for several other major Telugu films. Kiara says, Namrata has been too kind. She and Mahesh Babu have been like family. This feeling is inexplicable. Im extremely overwhelmed and thankful to the Telugu audience for giving me such a warm welcome. A big thank you to my director Siva sir, and Mahesh sir, for reposing so much faith in me. The response has motivated me to work harder, so I can continue to do better. I have already shot for a day for my next film with Boyapati sir, and Ramcharan and the energy on the sets is infectious. I cant wait to get back! He said that he hoped the Nobel Prize would be a force for good. (Photo: AFP) Japan-born British author Kazuo Ishiguro who today won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature, initially thought it was a "hoax". The 62-year-old writer said that the award was a magnificent honour, but admitted that he had not been contacted by the Nobel committee. "So, wasn't sure whether it was a hoax", he was quoted as saying by the BBC. Ishiguro said that the award was "flabbergastingly flattering, a magnificent honour, mainly because it means that I am in the footsteps of the greatest authors that have lived, so that was a terrific commendation." The London-based author won the Nobel prize for his novel 'The Remains of the Day', for which he had bagged the Booker Prize for literature in 1989. He is best known for his novels Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day, both of which were also turned into successful films. Ishiguro is the 114th winner of one of the most coveted awards in the field of literature, following in the footsteps of the likes of Toni Morrison and Pablo Neruda. He said that he hoped the Nobel Prize would be a force for good. "The world is in a very uncertain moment and I would hope all the Nobel Prizes would be a force for something positive in the world as it is at the moment," he said. The novelist also said that he will be deeply moved if he could in some way be part of some sort of climate this year in contributing to some sort of positive atmosphere at a very uncertain time. The Nobel Prize, announced by the Nobel Academy in accordance with the wishes of Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel, is worth around 832,000 million pounds and is awarded to the "person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction". Congratulating Ishiguro on his win, Indian origin author Salman Rushdie said "Many congratulations to my old friend Ish, whose work I have loved and admired ever since I first read A Pale View of Hills. And he plays the guitar and writes songs too! Roll over Bob Dylan". More than four years after the aircraft vanished on March 8, 2014, investigators have had little luck in finding the wreckage of the plane that vanished with 227 passengers on-board. (Photo: AP) Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was a scheduled international passenger flight that disappeared on March 8, 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to its destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China. The aircraft has not been recovered, and the cause of the disappearance remains unknown. Discovery of two huge structures on the bottom of the Indian Ocean this week had some hoping Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 had finally been found. But more than four years after the aircraft vanished on March 8, 2014, investigators have had little luck in finding the wreckage of the plane that vanished with 227 passengers on-board. The wrecks were eventually identified as two 19th century merchant vessels. From a mid-air emergency to terrorists stealing the plane, here are the complete list of conspiracy theories surrounding Malaysia Airlines flight MH370's mysterious disappearance: Found it on Google Earth: Australian engineer Peter McMahon claimed in mid-March he'd found what appeared to be a plane wreckage on Google Earth, in the MH370 search area. After spending years combing an online map of the Indian Ocean, the amateur crash investigator claimed to have found a plan wreckage 'riddled with bullet holes'. Sitting just off the coast of Round Island, north of Mauritius, in an area of ocean that has not been previously searched, McMahon claimed investigators were refusing to dive in the area because they want to 'hide' crucial information. MH370 stolen: Prior to the plane's disappearance, Captain Zaharie Shah had listed the small island of Diego Garcia - 4700km northwest of Australia - on his flight simulator. Theorists suggested that Capt Shah may have been practicing landing the plane on the island's airstrip, which is controlled by Britain but is home to a US naval base. Suggestions have also been made that the plane may have been stolen by terrorists and hidden in North Pakistan, or even by North Korean dictator Kim Jong un. Cyber hackers takeover: In the wake of September 11, new technology was designed allowing planes to be controlled remotely in the event of a hijacking. British author Norman Davies claims Boeing's 'Honeywell Un-interruptible Autopilot on board computer' - which was featured on MH370 - could have been hacked and the plane flown to a secret location. 'There are reports that the cargo detailed in the manifest didn't add up,' he told The Sunday Times. In his book Beneath Another Sky: A Global Journey into History, Davis suggested one hacker could have 'kidnapped' the plane before another controlled it remotely. Pilot suicide: Some have claimed that one of the pilots may have deliberately crashed the aircraft in a well-planned suicide. According to this theory, captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah deliberately chose to plunge the plane into an area of the ocean up to 25,000 feet deep, where it would be almost impossible to find. Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott is among those to support this theory, saying in the lead up to the third anniversary of the plane's disappearance he found it 'plausible'. Already found: Earlier in 2018, a search vessel involved in searching for MH370 disappeared for just under three days after turning off its tracking system, sparking conspiracy theories. After more than 80 hours undetected, the vessel suddenly reappeared on the radar. Keen followers of the mystery have suggested that during this time the search boats may have been involved in a cover up, after coming across the wreckage. Mid air emergency: According to pilot Chris Goodfellow, a serious possibility is that an emergency - such as a fire - left the pilots unable to land the plane. Writing on his Google Plus account, Goodfellow claimed that in the event of a fire or other incident, pilots would have attempted to make it to their closest runway - a 13,000-foot strip on the Malaysian island of Pulau Langkawi - but never made it. Mystery passenger hijacked it: The official manifest of MH370 listed 239 people as missing. But amateur investigator Andre Milne says the flight actually had 226 passengers (of which four did not board) and 12 crew - totaling 238 people. He suggests that an unidentified passenger may have gained control of the plane and flown it to a secret location. A Malaysia Airlines spokesman said a discrepancy on the 'load sheet' hours prior to the plan taking off had occurred, with the actual number onboard 227 people - a dozen less than initially listed. Ocean Infinity, an American technology company, are the current search crew who have explored 1,300 square kilometres per day since January, hoping to find the plane. The Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments called off the search in January 2017, almost three-years after MH370 disappeared. A slice from Charles and Dianas wedding, presented in a white box with CD Buckingham Palace 29th July 1981 in silver printing and wrapped in a paper doily, is estimated to fetch $800-$1,200, the auction house said. (Photo: Pixabay) Los Angeles: As Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle inches closer, public hunger for all things royal will get its dessert as decades-old slices of cake from British royal weddings - including those of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Prince William and Kate Middleton - go up for auction. The five cake slices from royal weddings are expected to fetch hundreds and perhaps thousands of dollars each next month as memorabilia at the sale in Las Vegas, Juliens Auctions said. But for those looking to play royal taster, there is a word of caution. Theyre not edible, Darren Julien, the Los Angeles-based auction houses chief executive, said ahead of the June 23 sale. A slice from Charles and Dianas wedding, presented in a white box with CD Buckingham Palace 29th July 1981 in silver printing and wrapped in a paper doily, is estimated to fetch $800-$1,200, the auction house said. These come from people who attended the wedding and kept them in the freezer the entire time, Julien said of all the cake slices, adding they have not been preserved by other means. More than 600 guests have been invited to Harry and Meghans May 19 wedding, which will take place at Windsor Castles St. Georges Chapel, with a further 200 being invited for the reception. The fruit cake made for Prince William and Kate Middletons 2011 wedding comes in a tin presented to guests with an enclosure card saluting attendees that said: With best wishes from TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in celebration of the wedding of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It is pegged to sell for $600-$800. Juliens sold a slice of William and Kates cake for $7,500 in 2014. Other cake slices include Charles 2005 wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Andrew and Sarah Fergusons 1986 nuptials, which each are estimated to fetch $600-$800. The piece of royal cake from Princess Annes 1973 marriage to her first husband, Captain Mark Philips, is expected to sell for $300-$500. Its kind of hard to throw something out that has been given to you by the royals, Julien said. Prince Harry has made sure that his late mother's family will play a significant part in proceedings as a way of 'celebrating the memory' of Diana, Princess of Wales. (Photo: AFP) Meghan Markle will have both her parents at her wedding to Prince Harry. According to reports, the divorced couple will meet the Queen days before the ceremony as well. Yoga teacher Doria Ragland and reclusive former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle will travel to the UK from the US in the week before the May 19 ceremony at Windsor Castle. The divorced couple will be introduced to all senior members of the Royal Family including the monarch, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in advance of the big day. It was also confirmed today that Prince Harry still hasn't met his fiancee's father - and won't until he flies over for the wedding. In addition, it emerged that 96-year-old Prince Philip could miss the wedding as he continues to recover from his hip operation on April 4, with an aide simply saying they 'very much hope' he will attend. On the day of her wedding, Meghan, 36, has also insisted that both her parents have roles. In a major departure from tradition, Doria will accompany her daughter by car to St George's Chapel, where Thomas Markle will meet his daughter to walk her down the aisle. The page boys and flower girls at the ceremony are thought to include Prince William and Kate's children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. In a statement today, a Kensington Palace spokesman said, The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding. The statement further read, Mr Thomas Markle and Ms Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harry's family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day. Similarly, Prince Harry has made sure that his late mother's family will play a significant part in proceedings as a way of 'celebrating the memory' of Diana, Princess of Wales. Thiruvananthapuram: With the arrest of two accused in the rape and murder of Latvian lady and the cremation of the victim on Thursday, the dreadful 47-day ordeal has ended for the family at least for the moment. Since the victim went missing from Kovalam on March 14, the people of the state, particularly the capital city residents, had been praying for her safe return. But the wait came to a tragic end on April 20 which incidentally was also the birthday of younger sister Ilze Skromane, when the body of the victim was spotted near Kovalam. Throughout this period Ilze was active on social media seeking help from people to trace her sister, sharing her pictures and memories and making heartfelt appeals to the citizens. All through this trial and tribulation, the family could not even find time to grieve for their loved one. Thousands of people expressed their solidarity, empathy and shared her posts. Even in the midst of this traumatic experience and struggle for justice ILze never forgot to acknowledge their support. Dear Friends and Supporters! Heartfelt thank you for caring so much about my sister and showing your love through active involvement and countless messages, she noted in one of her Facebook posts. Umesh arrested for the murder. Thank you all dear sisters and brothers for all the love and support you have given us through this journey, said another. The family still believes that had the police taken the situation seriously soon after FIR was filed, things could have been different. Everybody kept assuring, in 24 hours she will turn up, in 48 hours she will turn up. I was crying and crying and begging that my sister had severe depression, she is vulnerable and someone could take advantage of it, Ilzes emotional outburst will continue to prick states conscience. Udayan It goes without saying that Ilzes relentless fight forced the police to shed its initial indifference and the government too understood the gravity of the issue and empathised with her. But the fight is not over yet, it has to continue till the accused are convicted and handed out exemplary punishment. Ilze penned a poem on her Facebook page on Thursday. And these verses sum up her emotions;"I will miss you immensely but with time I will let sorrow go, For I know that you would want for happiness and love to regain its flow, We can never be apart, Because you live on in my heart." A fight broke out between two friends which ended in the murder. (Representational Image) Bengaluru: In a gory incident, a 34-year-old man was killed by his friends and his severed head was dumped near a school, located nearly half a kilometre away in Gangammanagudi police station limits on Thursday night. The incident took place on the Ramachandrapuram Main Road and the police have arrested one person in this connection. The deceased has been identified as David, a resident of Doddabommasandra in Vidyaranyapura. He was working as an ambulance driver, but quit his job three months ago and recently began working as a driver on a temporary basis. The police said the accused, Prasad, a resident of Vidyaranyapura, was Davids friend. The incident came to light on 10.30 pm on Thursday when the police found a decapitated body on Ramachandrapura Main Road. After a night long search the police found the head behind a government school, nearly half a kilometer away from where the body was found. According to the police, Prasad had developed close relationship with Davids girlfriend and this had angered the latter. They even had a fight over the issue a few days ago. On Thursday night the two along with other friends were partying in an open field in Ramachandrapura. A fight broke out between them which ended in the murder. The police said though nearby residents had witnessed the fight, they could not see anything clearly as it was raining heavily. A manhunt has been launched to nab others. The arrested were identified as Amar Hasan, 26, a B.Pharm student of Holy Mary College, and Mohd Fageer, 25, a B. Tech of St. Mary's College. Hyderabad: Two Sudan nationals studying in city were arrested by Osmania University police for raping a 21-year-old Ugandan resident of Pune on Thursday night, allegedly in an inebriated condition. The victim, who works for a private firm in Pune, met the two men in Goa last year and has previously met them in the city, police said. The arrested were identified as Amar Hasan, 26, a B.Pharm student of Holy Mary College, and Mohd Fageer, 25, a B. Tech of St. Mary's College. According to police, the victim, a native of Kampala in Uganda and a resident of Pune, met the men through her brother. "She had been texting Hasan regularly and visited him in March, staying at his residence in Seethaphalmandi," said Kachiguda ACP J. Narsaiah. Hasan persuaded her to meet him again, following which she came to see him on April 29 and again stayed at Hasan's place. After some sightseeing on Thursday night, the duo partied at Hasan's residence, after which he raped her. The victim then approached Osmania University police station and lodged a complaint on Friday, said Osmania University police inspector G. Jagan. Based on the complaint, a case was booked under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and the Sudanese nationals were arrested from Sitaphalmandi railway station on Friday. The victim was referred to Bharosa Centre for counselling after a medical examination. Thiruvananthapuram: The police on Friday received in custody Umesh and Udayan who were arrested and remanded for allegedly raping and murdering a Latvian woman. They will remain in police custody until May 17 for gathering more evidence. The police also suspects the involvement of more people in the incident. High drama prevailed at Neyyatinkara court on Friday after the relatives of the accused claimed that they were illegally kept in custody for a week. They were ousted based on the directions of a judge after the family tried to take the protest into the courtroom. Later, the accused also stated before the court that they were physically abused by policemen during the interrogation. Many in the area, including the duo, were summoned and released several times by police for interrogation. Obviously, they were summoned too frequently and were with policemen for longer. This does not mean that we had their custody continuously, a senior police official said. Meanwhile, the lawyers of Neyyatinkara court barred media persons' entry on court premises and insisted that videography should be restricted outside the gate. According to the police, the accused took the Latvian tourist to a vacant plot near Thiruvallam and sexually abused her before strangulating her to death. BJPs chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa released the partys manifesto along with other senior party leaders. (Photo: Twitter/ANI) Bengaluru: The BJP on Friday released manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls and promised allocation of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for irrigation projects and waiver of farm loan up to Rs one lakh borrowed from nationalised and cooperative banks. The manifesto, unveiled by BJP state unit president and the party's chief ministerial candidate, BS Yeddyurappa also said if voted to power, the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012 will be reintroduced. Rs 3,000 Crore Kamadhenu Fund for development of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure and Rs 1,000 Crore fund for expanding veterinary services have also been announced in the manifesto. The party also said that it would bring out a 'white paper' on the financial health of the state under the Congress rule. A scheme to provide Rs 25,000 and three grams of gold for brides coming under the BPL category during the marriage and opening of "Annapoorna Canteens" has also been promised. The party also pledged Rs 1.5 lakh crore for Sujalam Suphalam Karnataka Yojane, which aims to complete all irrigation projects in the state by 2023. Reaching out to women, the manifesto also promised a Rs 10,000 Crore Stree Unnati Fund to set up one of the largest women run co-operatives and establish Stree Unnati Stores to market its products. To ensure women safety, the party promised to form a Special Investigation Cell, under a woman police officer and employing 1,000 police women to investigate all pending crimes against women. It also said free sanitary napkins to BPL women and girl students and at Rs 1 for other women will be provided under the new Stree Suvidha Scheme. BJP MP and state leader Shobha Karandlaje said the manifesto was a "vision document" which reflected people's aspirations and expectations. Over three lakh people as also experts had been consulted in preparing the manifesto, she said. The manifesto was released after paying homage to party sitting MLA and its candidate for Jayanagar constituency BN Vijaykumar, who died of a massive heart attack at a hospital here today. Polls for the 224-member assembly will be held on May 12. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 15. (With PTI inputs) Chhagan Bhujbal sought bail after the Supreme Court in December 2017 scrapped a provision in a special law that had made seeking bail difficult. (Photo: File | PTI) Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal after spending two years in jail in connection with a money laundering case. Bhujbal, 71, who is from the NCP, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2016. Bhujbal's son and NCP legislator Pankaj and his nephew Sameer are also accused in the case. According to the probe agency, the Bhujbal family allegedly had conspired along with several others to divert or 'launder' kickbacks received by Chhagan Bhujbal, when he was Public Works Department minister of Maharashtra. The money laundering charges against them relate to the contract for construction of the state guest house- 'Maharashtra Sadan' - in Delhi and the Kalina land-grabbing case in Mumbai. Bhujbal sought bail after the Supreme Court in December 2017 scrapped a provision in a special law that had made seeking bail difficult. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday 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 Mehul 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. Mehul 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. 29-year-old Jaipur man was kidnapped, strangled before being chopped into pieces. (Representational Image) Jaipur: A 29-year-old man in Jaipur was kidnapped and strangled before being chopped into pieces after he refused to pay a ransom of Rs 10 lakh, the police have said. The chilling crime took place in Rajasthan's capital city but the chopped pieces of the man's body were found packed in a suitcase in New Delhi. The victim, Dushyant Sharma, was held captive on Wednesday by a woman who he had befriended on a social networking app. The woman, who was accompanied by two of her male friends, demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh from the victim. She threatened to file a rape case against him when he refused to do so, according to news agency PTI. The kidnappers held the victim in their rented flat in Jaipur's Bajaj Nagar area, ACP (Jhotwara) Aas Mohammad said. The woman and her friends took away the victim's ATM card and also called up Dushyant Sharmas father demanding ransom from him. The victim's father deposited Rs 3 lakh into his son's bank account. A transaction of Rs 20,000 was made from the victim's account after which the accused allegedly strangled him and chopped him into pieces, according to the ACP. The motive behind carrying out the murder was not clear, especially as the victim's father, complying with the kidnappers, had deposited a portion of the ransom into his son's account. It was also unclear how Dushyant Sharma's body reached New Delhi, about 270 km away, in a suitcase. The accused, identified as Priya Seth, 27, and her friends Dikshant Kamra, 25 and Lakshya Walia, 26, were arrested by the Jaipur police on Friday in connection with the crime. According to police officials, the accused were involved in other criminal cases as well. (With inputs from PTI) The Centre was rapped by the apex court for failing to finalise the draft Cauvery management scheme. (Photo: File/PTI) 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 a shortage," Water Resources Minister MB Patil said. In a video message shared with reporters he said, "In this circumstance we cannot obey today's Supreme Court's order, as we don't have water. We will inform the Supreme Court about the availability of water currently and our needs." "Even if we want to release we don't have water. We have a shortage," he added. During the hearing, the court first asked Karnataka to release 4 tmc ft water by May 8, then asked it to release 2 tmc ft water and at the end, ordered it to appraise the bench as to how much water can be released. Read: Release 4 tmc Cauvery water to TN or face consequences: SC to Karnataka The Centre was rapped by the apex court for failing to finalise the draft Cauvery management scheme. Also Read: PM Modi busy with Karnataka polls, says Centre after SC's Cauvery order 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. Uttar Pradesh education minister Anupma Jaiswal said that the ministers felt 'satisfaction' after visiting Dalits in villages and staying at their homes despite the inconveniences. (Photo: ANI screengrab) Lucknow: Though the BJP, with its Dinner-with-Dalits programme, is trying hard to reach out to the community, its ministers are embarrassing the party, one after another. On Friday, one more minister has sparked a controversy while talking about visiting Dalit homes and braving mosquito bites to ensure the people receive government benefits. When Uttar Pradesh education minister Anupma Jaiswal was asked about the controversy on minister Suresh Rana's visit to a Dalit household she said, Schemes are made for benefit all sections and to ensure proper implementation. Ministers are paying several visits, even if mosquitoes bite them all night. She further said that the ministers felt satisfaction after visiting Dalits in villages and staying at their homes despite the inconveniences. Most importantly they feel good by the experience. If someone has been assigned two places, he says no, I want to go to four. Thus when there is satisfaction in work, it empowers us. Even I am doing more houses than allotted to me," Jaiswal added. Recently, two more BJP ministers have caused embarrassment to the party amid BJPs Dalit outreach programme. Suresh Rana, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet triggered a controversy after he reportedly brought with him his own food and water at a dinner hosted at a Dalit household at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. Also Read: UP BJP MLA goes to Dalit home for dinner but carries own food, mineral water Another minister, Rajendra Pratap Singh, reportedly compared BJP leaders to Lord Ram. He said the way Lord Ram blessed Shabari (a Dalit) by eating his berries, BJP leaders were also blessing Dalits by going to their homes. The man survived miraculously due to the barricades put up on the occasion of Shab-E-Barat at Marine Lines. (Representational Image) Mumbai: A 22-year-old man tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge in south Mumbai on May 1, Tuesday, for not being allowed to pet a cat by his mother. According to a report in The Times of India, Maulvik Saundalkar, who works in the Merchant Navy, was excited when he purchased a cat for Rs 6,000 and brought home on Tuesday. However, his excitement was short lived as his mother immediately refused to have a pet in the house and this led to an argument. In a fit of rage, Saundalkar left home and headed towards Marine Lines station on his bike where he jumped off the Meghdoot bridge. The man was later rushed to the hospital where he is being treated for multiple fractures and head injury. A police officer was quoted by The Indian Express as saying, "His mother, who earns Rs 10,000 per month, said with their income, it would be difficult to look after the cat. She apparently told him to first start earning before keeping a cat. Upset, he left the house on Wednesday and jumped off the bridge. The envoy said the idea of holding an informal summit was first mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he met President Xi on the side-lines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have the opportunity to meet at least three times this year to take forward their friendship forged during their unprecedented informal summit in Wuhan, China's ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui told on Friday. Addressing a seminar in New Delhi on the 'Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and its Way Forward', Luo said the two leaders reached broad consensus on the overarching, long-term and strategic issues of global and bilateral importance during their two-day summit in the central Chinese city last week. The summit in Wuhan was seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff in 2017. Giving a first-hand briefing to scholars and journalists on the informal summit, which he dubbed as a "very special event" in Chinese diplomacy, Luo noted that President Xi has never hosted a foreign leader twice outside the Chinese capital Beijing. President Xi had hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the central Chinese city of X'ian in 2015 and last week the two leaders met in Wuhan. "This shows that China attaches high importance to its relations with India," he said. The envoy said the idea of holding an informal summit was first mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he met President Xi on the side-lines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017. After that, the two sides worked very hard to make it happen, he said. Luo said President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have three more opportunities this year to carry forward their fruitful and wide-ranging conversations in Wuhan. The ambassador said the two leaders could meet at the next Shanaghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in June in Qingdao, China, the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa and the next G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He said the officials concerned of the two countries were closely working to facilitate these meetings and implement the consensus reached between the two leaders in Wuhan. The ambassador said the two leaders had in-depth discussions and reached consensus on their respective visions for national development as well as domestic and foreign policies. China and India, the two biggest developing countries and emerging economies, each with a population of over one billion, are important countries with strategic autonomy. "A peaceful, stable and balanced relationship between China and India is an important positive factor for the stability of the world," he said. On the differences between China and India, including the vexed boundary issue, the envoy said the two leaders have given strategic guidance to the officials on both sides to properly manage and control their differences. He underlined that both countries have the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each other's concerns and aspirations. Both leaders have agreed to use the Special Representatives' Meeting on the boundary issue to seek a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement". The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures (CBMs) and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquility. As the two major countries in Asia, China and India will work together to make international relations more democratic, increase the representation and say of developing countries and emerging markets, support the multilateral trading regime, oppose protectionism and work for an open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalisation that benefits all, he said. Luo also said that both sides have agreed to instruct officials to work out specific plans and measures to implement the consensus reached between President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and further build on the informal summit in Wuhan and work towards opening new vistas in China-India relations. Shail Bala was part of a team of civic officers which was tasked by a court with razing illegal structures in 13 hotels and resorts in the town, 60 km from capital Shimla. (Photo: File/ANI) Shimla: Accused Vijay Singh, who was absconding after he killed a government official Shail Bala during a demolition drive on Tuesday, was arrested on Thursday evening. The accused has reportedly told the police that he shot the assistant town and country planner because she refused to accept bribe. According to a report in NDTV, Vijay Singh told that he requested Shail Bala to spare his building but she refused to settle the matter and was behaving like an ideal officer, sources said. He further said that even his mother touched the officers feet and begged, but Shail Bala didn't budge saying she had orders from the Supreme Court. The hotel owner had been missing since Tuesday when he opened fire outside his property killing assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma and injuring one more person. There was a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information on him. Solan Superintendent of Police informed that the accused was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Vrindavan-Mathura area Thursday evening. Read: Kasauli hotel owner who shot at woman officer arrested in Uttar Pradesh Shail Bala was part of a team of civic officers which was tasked by a court with razing illegal structures in 13 hotels and resorts in the town, 60 km from capital Shimla. The administration had found the structures unsafe for tourists. Also Read: Woman officer heading demolition drive shot dead by Himachal hotelier While the officers were approaching the gate of Narayani Guest House at Solan's Dharampur, owner Vijay Singh allegedly fired shots in the air to scare off the labourers. A bullet hit Shail Bala Sharma, killing her on the spot, a police officer said. A labourer was also hit in the abdomen. A bullet whizzed past another officer of the electricity department. The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the authorities and the police for failing to ensure safety of the public servants who were doing their job. Also Read: Woman officers death in Kasauli result of non-implementation of laws: SC In a statement, Union MInister Uma 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. (Photo: File/AP) Chhattarpur (Madhya Pradesh): Union Minister Uma Bharti skipped a meal with Dalits during an event organised near Chhattarpur, 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," Ms 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 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. Lucknow: Internet services in Aligarh have been shut down till Saturday midnight even as students of the Aligarh Muslim University continued to stage a dharna at the Baba Syed gate. Teaching in AMU has been suspended for five days following escalation of tension on the campus on the issue of Jinnah's portrait in AMU Students' Union office. Media persons were also attacked by a section of AMU students on Friday. The students blamed the media for not showing their side of the story and projecting them as wrong doers. The AMU students are demanding action against right-wing activists who clashed with AMU students on Tuesday, seeking removal of the portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah from the office of the AMU Students Union. The agitating students are also demanding a case of sedition against BJP MP Satish Gautam who had written to the AMU vice-chancellor, seeking removal of the Jinnah portrait. AMU officials clarified that the protest by students was against the attack by right wing activists and was not related to the Jinnah portrait. Meanwhile, Aligarh district magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into Tuesday's clashes. Hours after the stinging barb from Siddaramaiah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had tweeted that officials had been ordered to compile an estimate of the damage by Friday evening. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Lucknow: UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath has cut short his Karnataka tour to return to Agra that is among the worst hit districts in Wednesday nights thunderstorm. According to the chief ministers office, Yogi Adityanath will reach Agra late on Friday night and will visit the affected areas on Saturday morning. Agra bore the maximum brunt of the dust-storm that was accompanied by heavy rain, killing at least 43 people. He will review the relief and restoration work and then leave for Kanpur to monitor the restoration work there. The CM was earlier scheduled to continue campaigning in Karnataka till Saturday noon and leave after addressing two more election meetings. Yogi decision to campaign in Karnataka after the thunderstorm in parts of Uttar Pradesh that claimed over 70 lives had faced sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah had expressed his condolences on the deaths. New Delhi: Sparks flew in the Supreme Court on Friday as the blame game between the judiciary and the executive over delay in sending recommendations and appointing judges to high courts came out in the open. Justice Lokur said non-recommendation did not give the Centre the liberty to sit over names that have been sent to it long back. We want to know as to how many collegium proposals are pending with the government. The top courts remarks assume significance as the Centre, after almost three months of Collegiums recommendation, returned for reconsideration the file of Uttarakhand HC Chief Justice K.M. Joseph for elevation as an apex court judge. The exchange of words between the bench and governments top law officer took place when the court took up a transfer petition filed by a resident of Manipur. The petitioner who lost a case before a single judge bench in Manipur has approached the top court to allow him to challenge the order against him before the Guwahati HC. The petitioner said he could not file an appeal in Manipur HC because there are only two judges there, one of whom had delivered the judgment against him. There is no full time chief justice in Manipur too when he filed the petition. New Delhi: Two of the four Nirbhaya killers facing death sentence in the December 2012 gang rape incident pleaded for mercy and urged the Supreme Court to commute their capital punishment into one of life imprisonment. A Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ms. R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan reserved verdict on the review pleas filed by three of the four convictsMukesh, Vinay Kumar and Pawan Kumar. The fourth convict Akshay is yet to file any review of the May 2017 judgment confirming death sentence to the accused. The court had concluded arguments advanced on behalf of Mukesh in December 2017. The court had earlier stayed their execution pending disposal of review petitions. On Friday counsel A.P. Singh, appearing for Vinay Kumar and Pawan Kumar submitted that the two petitioners are very young and hail from poor families and the capital punishment confirmed by the apex court must be reviewed. Counsel argued that death penalty had been abolished in most of the countries and death penalty is a cold-blooded killing in the name of justice. Seeking mercy, counsel argued that execution kills criminals and not the crime. He also brought to the notice of the court that the two accused were juveniles when they were arrested. The CJI told the counsel Death penalty exists in India in the statute book. Counsel argued that the convicts are not habitual offenders and have no criminal records and court must allow them to be reformed. He also told court that lot of discrepancies was found in the three dying declarations and Nirbhaya didnt name the accused at all. When counsel sought four weeks time to file review in respect of fourth accused Akshay, the court said already sufficient time had been granted and no further time be allowed. The Qutb Shahi-era mosque at Shaikpet has been closed for several decades as the TS Wakf Board has failed to get it reopened for prayers. ( Image: DC) Hyderabad: The Telangana State Wakf Board is under fire for its failure to renovate about 100 mosques located in and around the city and start prayers there. The mosques have been entrusted with the board for decades and date back to the Qutb Shahi and Asaf jahi era. The mosques are in a dilapidated condition, with portions having collapsed, dissuading people from offering prayers. Ironically, the board has no idea of where exactly the mosques are located though there is a mention of them in its records. Mohammed Akram, an activist, who has taken up the task of reopening the Ghair-abad masjids, (where namaz is not performed) said that there were a total of 135 mosques in and around the city. About 27 were renovated and prayers started after the intervention of the local youth groups and religious organisations. The TS Wakf Board is helpless as the mosques are under court cases or it simply has no judicial powers to clear the encroachers, he pointed out. He added that the mosques were located in Shaikpet, Lal Darwaza, Chatrinaka, Aliabad, Balapur, Karwan, Vikarabad, Shamshabad, Golconda and other areas. Ilyas Shamshi, a social activist, points out that though the TS Wakf Board has some inspectors to keep track of its properties, it failed in the upkeep of the mosques. In most of the properties where the old mosque exists, there is a clash over the ownership of land with the revenue authorities staking their claim, he said. He added that the TS Wakf Board had never discussed the renovation of the old mosques in the city and opening them for public. In most of cases, the TS Wakf Board came into the picture only when the public took the onus of opening the mosque after renovations and starting prayers. In the Masjid e-Ghairabad at Alijahpur in Golconda, the board announced a grant of `5 lakh after the dispute became a public issue, said Osman Al Hajri, president, Deccan Wakf Protection Society. However, TS Wakf Board Chairman, Mohammed Saleem said that the board, along with the revenue officials, had taken up a survey in the state to ascertain its properties. Based on the survey report we will identify the mosques where prayers are not being performed as they are in a dilapidated state. All mosques will be identified after the survey and cleaned up or renovated, he said. Mr Saleem gave assurance of providing funds for the mosques. He added that a few mosques were under the control of the archeological department and they were taking up the issue with them. It may be recalled that there was tension in Alijahpur area of Golconda a few days back, pertaining to the mosque. However, it was resolved by Thursday after authorities demarcated and handed it over to the mosque. HYDERABAD: Hyderabad High Court has granted a status quo on attachment of properties of Janani Infra Ltd., Jagathi Publication, Caramel Asia Ltd., Indira Television Ltd. and also the properties of Penna Group of Companies, Hetero Pharma Ltd. and Aurbindo Pharma, by the Enforcement Directorate in an illegal investments case allegedly involving Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. A division bench comprising Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice J. Uma Devi was dealing with appeals moved by Janani Infra Ltd., Jagathi Publication, Caramel Asia Ltd. and Indira Television Ltd. and it directed the ED to maintain status quo till further orders. The appellant companies challenged the order of the Appellate Tribunal of the Enforcement Directorate in refusing to direct the ED authorities to release their attached properties. The ED had attached Rs 51 crore worth of properties belonging to Janani Infra Ltd., Jagathi Publication, Caramel Asia Ltd., Indira Television Ltd., Hetero Pharma Ltd. and Aurbindo Pharma in 2012 and also Rs 47 crores of properties of Penna Group of Companies. K Manmadha Rao, counsel for the ED, contended that the appellate companies cannot move an appeal before the High Court against the Appellate Tribunals order. The bench granted the status quo and adjourned the case to a period after summer vacation. New Delhi: Former Karnataka minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy in the illegal mining case suffered a setback on Friday with the Supreme Court refusing him permission to visit Bellary for electioneering for his brother Somasekar Reddy who is contesting the Assembly polls in Karnataka. Mr Reddy who was granted bail by the apex court in January 2015 was asked not to visit his hometown Bellary without permission of the court. He was released after remaining in jail since March 2011 in the illegal mining case. Counsel for Reddy pleaded before a bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan that as he had complied with the condition for over three years, it might be relaxed to enable him to visit and stay in Bellary. It was submitted that he has to visit his hometown to vote and be permitted to stay there till the polls to campaign for his brother. ASG Maninder Singh, who appeared for the the CBI, however, brought to the notice of the court that one of the conditions for bail was that he should stay outside Bellary and this condition should not be relaxed. Taking note of the submissions of CBI, the bench dismissed the petition observing that there was no need for him to campaign in poll. CPI (M) state secretary K.Balakrishnan and party members protest before CBSE regional office in Anna Nagar, condemning the allocation of exam centres to NEET applicants in other states, on Friday. (Photo:DC) Tiruchy: A large number of candidates taking the NEET exam for medical/dental colleges admission from the central districts of Tiruchy, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Pudukkottai, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts, are thoroughly disappointed over the allocation of exam centers at faraway places like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Ernakulum in neighbouring Kerala. Only a few of the medical aspirants have been allotted centers closer to their towns like Namakkal and Tiruchy, while many others have to travel far for their respective exam centre including Kochi, said several aspirants. Nidhish, son of an auto-rickshaw driver of Tiruchy expressed displeasure at his NEET exam centre being at Ernakulam, a long distance to travel from here. He has secured 480 out of 500 marks in his 10th examination, and hopes to do well in Plus-2 exam also this year. He is hopeful of cracking NEET too, but for the bothersome travel ahead of him to take the exam. From a family of slim means, Nidhish's father is confused whether he should accompany his son for the NEET exam at Ernakulam. Moreover, due to the summer travel rush, train ticket reservation eludes the poor boy. Can't even buy under Tatkal, says Nidhish, adding, the Rs 1,000 travel. Meanwhile, the city-based Aim to High Trust has come forward and announced through Facebook and WhatsApp social network that it will meet the entire travel expenses of poor and downtrodden students who would have to travel to faraway centers to take their NEET exam, said the trust's founder, R. Mohan. He told DC that so far more than ten candidates have approached them from different parts of Tamil Nadu including Tiruchy and they assured them that the trust will bear the two-way travel cost for both the candidate and his/her parent. He said this apart, the trust members are spread across the country including a few Northern states like Rajasthan, Kerala, etc., adding, the trust members from those places have expressed their willingness to help NEET candidates travelling out of Tamil Nadu for the exam this year. On May 6, Mr. Mohan said the trust members will be present at a NEET examination centre at Kendriya Vidyalaya school near the Ordnance factory premises here, and arrange breakfast and refreshments to both the candidates and parents who accompany their wards. Kerala to set up help desks to assist TN students To help the Tamil Nadu students who will appear for NEET in Ernakulam and other centres, the state government will set up help centres at railway stations and bus stands, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. The state government officials also will arrange boarding and transport facilities for the students to help them reach the exam centres, he announced. Meanwhile, Tirunelveli district collect Sandeep Nanduri said the district administration will arrange special buses for Tamil Nadu students who are allotted centres at the neighbouring state. A batch of students has left for Kerala on Friday evening from Tirunelveli. CBSE is totally insensitive, says Educationist Prince Gajendrababu From day one what the CBSE did on this issue is totally insensitive towards the students and unjustifiable. How can the CBSE decide there would be only 10% increase in the NEET applications from the state, that too even before calling for applications? The Supreme Court was informed last year that nearly 3 lakhs students are studying biology in the state. How come the board did not expect the maximum number of applications for NEET from Tamil Nadu? It has not shared any details regarding the NEET exam with the state government. It could have immediately announced that it would appeal against the HC order to avoid confusion among the students. A division bench of High Court has given the clear direction and the students believed in that they could write exam within the state. But after waiting for nearly a week, the CBSE went to the Supreme Court. The SC should have asked CBSE about the difficulty in accommodating 1,500 students additionally within the state. Is it difficult for the board to accommodate one additional centre within the state? CM announces financial assistance for students The state government has announced financial assistance for the students who are set to write NEET exam from outside the state. The state government will give travel allowance for the students who will write NEET exam outside the state and also for one person who accompanies them. They will get the fare of the second class train ticket and for other expenses, the government will provide Rs 1000, Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palanisami said in a statement on Friday. They can get the amount from CEO by showing the copy of the NEET admit card or the copy of their school ID card. They can take the amount as advance or after writing the exam they also can get reimbursed, he said. The Chief Minister also advised the students to contact helpline 14417 for any assistance. ALAPPUZHA: Giving and taking of dowry is prohibited in the state, but the practice continues to flourish as the law brought out in 1969 has not been implemented effectively. Women also face dowry harassment and many end their lives unable to withstand the torture from the husband and in-laws. As per the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) records, at least six women have lost their lives due to dowry harassment till March this year, while the number last year was 13. The number of dowry death cases registered under section 304(B) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been rising over the years. As many as 221 women in the state either committed suicide or were killed in the name of dowry in the last ten years. This means that on an average two young women lose their lives every month. Married women face mental and physical torture in their in-laws' homes under the outdated custom of dowry. The conviction rate in dowry death cases is low. For instance, a 26-year-old woman in Valiyamaram ward of Alappuzha municipality set herself on fire on May 12, 2012 after she was tortured by her in-laws and husband for dowry for six years. Though the south police here registered a case, the accused were not punished. The perpetrators do not worry about conviction because of the delayed justice delivery system. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 87 per cent of dowry deaths in the country are pending in courts. Over 83 per cent of cases registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act are pending trial. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, assures special protection for the victims, but even this has not been of much help. Women rights activists say that the parents of victims also do not come to their aid. Effective implementation of the dowry prohibition Act can save several women on the verge of suicide, they say. The Kerala Women's Commission, in June 2015, had submitted a proposal to the then UDF government to impose regulations like limiting the quantity of gold given to a bride to 120 grams. But it was not implemented. Hyderabad: The state government has issued charge memos to six executive officers who have served at the Basara Saraswathi temple during the past three years, for resorting to irregularities and misuse of funds. Endowments minister A. Indrakaran Reddy on Friday said that the government would protect the sanctity of temples and would not spare corrupt officials. He directed officials to conduct inquiries on allegations of misuse of funds in other temples also and submit reports within two months. He instructed officials to initiate stringent action against those who were found to be guilty. It's unfortunate that reports of misuse of funds and other irregularities are coming to light against officials and staff working in major temples. The government will not tolerate this. Strict instructions have been issued to higher officials to initiate action against those who are found guilty in the enquiry. The amount siphoned off should be recovered from the guilty, Mr Reddy added. The minister held a review meeting of the Endowments Department at the Secretariat to discuss introducing online services in temples, common good funds, providing more funds to temples under Dhoopa, Dheepa, Nyvedhyam scheme etc. Mr Reddy instructed officials to introduce online services in all major temples, including GHMC limits, at the earliest. The online services being introduced on a pilot basis in the Secunderabad Ganesh temple should be extended to all major temples by May end, he said, adding that this facility would be convenient for pilgrims visiting temples. Seeking to draw a comparison between Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said no jihadi element can raise his ugly head in his state.(Photo: File/KPN) Sirsi (Karnataka): Hitting the campaign trail in poll-bound Karnataka to mobilise support for the BJP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asked the people to reject what he called the "divisive" politics and "jihadi mindset" of the Congress. At a rally in Sirsi, 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 Uttar Pradesh 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. Hyderabad: AP Chief Minister and the Telugu Desam national president N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed displeasure over the functioning of the Telangana TD leaders, particularly the Telangana TD president L. Ramana. In the Telangana TD general body meeting held on Friday at NTR Bhavan, in which Naidu was the chief guest, he advised Mr Ramana to act aggressively for the party to survive. He asked him to take along all party leaders and act impartially. Mr Naidu also told the Telangana TD leaders not to think about an alliance with any party but rather strengthen the party to fight alone. He said that if the party became strong, then, in a triangular contest it would have an advantage and many parties would come forward for an alliance. He advised the party leaders to go the masses to solve their problems and thus help strengthen the party. He also said that their enthusiasm should be seen not only at NTR Bhavan but also at the ground level. He asked them to grow independently and not depend on him. Mr Naidu added that the party would announce candidates for the forthcoming elections in Telangana in advance and asked the leaders to concentrate on their respective constituencies. He said the BJP had tried to target the TD in AP but it had become the target instead while in Telan-gana it distanced itself from the TD on its own. Naidu also said that Nara Brahmini was not interested in coming into politics though Telangana leaders were very often requesting that Brahmini lead the TD in Telangana. A decision was taken at the meeting to conduct theTelangana TD Mahanadu on 24th May at the Exhibition Grounds and to hold the main Mahanadu of the party from 27th to 29th May at Vijayawada. Naidu asked the Telangana TDP leaders to attend the Mahanadu at Vijayawada. COIMBATORE: The DMK working president, Mr. M.K. Stalin said here on Friday that the CBI probe into the gutka scam would prove to be very difficult for the State Health minister, Vijaybhaskar and some top police officials allegedly involved in illegally permitting sale of gutka products. Mr. Stalin was leading a protest by thousands of DMK cadres here near the south taluk office to protest the arrest of seven DMK members recently arrested in Coimbatore for their protest in front of a gutka manufacturing unit in Sulur-Kannampalayam, demanding a fair probe after a police raid on the factory. Former DMK ministers A. Raja, Subulaxmi Jagadesan, Pongalur N.Palanisamy, Vellakoil Saminathan and Ezhithurai Ramachandran took part in the protests along with Stalin. Speaking at the protest rally, the DMK leader charged a top police official in Coimbatore with having links to the Tamil Nadu Health minister. To safeguard the minister, police have lodged false complaints against DMK cadres and our MLA, N Karthick, asserted Mr. Stalin. Referring to the gutka scam that originated in Chennai, he said in July 2016, Income Tax officials raided a gutka godown near Mathavaram and unearthed a `220 crore scam. Officials also recovered a diary in which a list of VIPs names was mentioned for allegedly receiving Rs 40 crore as bribes, alleged Mr. Stalin. Recalling that Mr. O. Panneerselvam was the Chief Minister when the I-T department raided the gutka godown near Chennai, Mr. Stalin said the former had then said he had not received any letter from the I-T department seeking action against the corrupt officials. Dwelling on how the state had sought to block the inquiry into the gutka scam, the DMK leader said honest officials like DGP Ashok Kumar and vigilance officer, Jayakodi were later removed from the probe. The DMK leader was also confident that his party would win the next Assembly elections, after which police officers responsible for booking false cases against DMK cadres would have to face the consequences. Meanwhile, a court here adjourned the anticipatory bail petition filed by DMK MLA N Karthik to May 10. 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. The indictments alleged that the doctors, working as contractors at various locations, created and distributed unlawful prescriptions for buprenorphine, known as Subutex and Suboxone, a drug that should be used to treat individuals with addiction. (Photo: Representational) Washington: Three Indian-American physicians from Pennsylvania have been charged with health care fraud and illegal distribution of buprenorphine -- medication for opioid addiction treatment. The physicians -- Dr Krishan Kumar Aggarwal, 73, Dr Madhu Aggarwal, 68, and Dr Parth Bharill, 69 -- are part of the Redirections Treatment Advocates, an opioid addiction treatment practice with offices in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The indictments alleged that the doctors, working as contractors at various locations, created and distributed unlawful prescriptions for buprenorphine, known as Subutex and Suboxone, a drug that should be used to treat individuals with addiction. They were also charged with conspiracy to unlawfully distribute buprenorphine. The three have also been charged with health care fraud for allegedly causing fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare or Medicaid for payments to cover the costs of the unlawfully prescribed buprenorphine. Dr Cherian John, 65, and Dr Michael Bummer -- both contractors were indicted for similar charges. All of them face maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of USD 250,000 for each of the counts charging unlawfully dispensing Schedule III controlled substances. The indictments came as part of the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit created by Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year. The unit uses data to target opioid-related health care fraud. "Today, we are facing the worst drug crisis in American history, with one American dying of a drug overdose every nine minutes," Sessions said. "It's incredible but true that some of our trusted medical professionals have chosen to violate their oaths and exploit this crisis for profit," he said. Last summer, Sessions said he sent a dozen of the top federal prosecutors to focus solely on the problem of opioid-related health care fraud in places where the epidemic was at its worst-including Western Pennsylvania. "These cases cut off the supply of drugs and stop fraudsters from exploiting vulnerable people. Our prosecutors began issuing indictments back in October, and today we bring even more charges against those who allegedly defrauded the taxpayer while diverting potentially addictive drugs," Sessions said. There was no immediate word on a motive for the attack or whether the gunman knew the victims. (Photo: Representational/File) Mill Valley: An 80-year-old man shot two people, killing one, at a Northern California apartment complex and later turned the gun on himself, authorities said Thursday. A woman died and a man remained hospitalised in intensive care after the shooting in Mill Valley, about 23 kilometres north of San Francisco, Marin County sheriffs Sgt Brenton Schneider said. Deputies found the wounded victims after responding to a report of shots being fired at the apartment complex on east Blithedale Avenue shortly before 3:30pm, authorities said. The woman later was pronounced dead. The suspected gunman was spotted fleeing into an apartment at the complex and deputies evacuated nearby units, surrounded the area and urged other residents to shelter in place. Video from the scene showed a deputy with his gun drawn shielding two people as they ran from an apartment. Deputies finally entered the apartment about two hours after the shooting and found the gunman dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, Schneider said. The identities of the victims and the gunman werent immediately released. There was no immediate word on a motive for the attack or whether the gunman knew the victims. US president Donald 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.' (Photo: File) Washington: President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday 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. Also Read: Trump repaid his lawyer for Stormy Daniels hush money: Rudy Giuliani 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 News on Wednesday, 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 the 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 the 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. Keating, who has returned to New Zealand, has been charged with attempting to make an intimate visual recording. (Photo: Representational) Wellington: A high-ranking New Zealand military officer has been accused of hiding a camera in a bathroom at the nations embassy in Washington in a case that has raised unusual jurisdictional questions. Alfred Keating was a Navy commodore and the embassys senior defence attache at the time of the incident last July. He would have been eligible to claim diplomatic immunity from being prosecuted by US authorities. But the case was handled by New Zealand police, who travelled to Washington to investigate. A New Zealand judge on Friday dismissed an appeal by Keating to have his name and other personal details suppressed. Keating, who has returned to New Zealand, has been charged with attempting to make an intimate visual recording. If convicted, he faces a maximum 18 months in prison. China today dismissed US' charge that its personnel at Djibouti logistics military base in the Horn of Africa used military-grade lasers to target American aircraft injuring the pilots, saying that Pentagon's accusation is "groundless". The US has formally complained to China, alleging that the Chinese military injured two US airmen by directing high-grade lasers at American aircraft in Djibouti, The Washington Post reported. The incidents with the lasers, which can temporarily blind pilots, come as one of the first major dust-ups since China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017, the report said. The Chinese Defence Ministry in a statement dismissed the accusations from US officials as ungrounded. China always firmly honours international laws and the laws of Djibouti, and is dedicated to safeguarding regional security and peace, it said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also refuted the allegations. "After careful verification, we have told the US explicitly that accusation is inconsistent with the facts," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while replying to a question. When pressed for details, she shot back, saying "you can remind certain people in the US that they should pay attention to the facts and do not make groundless accusations". The Post report quoted Pentagon spokeswoman Dana W White as saying that the US has requested China to investigate incidents in recent weeks in which American aircraft in Djibouti have been affected by unauthorised Chinese laser activity. White said two American airmen had suffered minor injuries but didn't provide details. According to CNN, two members of a C-130 aircrew suffered minor eye injuries because of exposure to military-grade lasers. White said the Pentagon was confident that Chinese nationals were responsible. There had been more than two but fewer than 10 such incidents, she said, adding that frequency has been increased in recent weeks. "It's a serious matter. And we're taking it very seriously," White was quoted as saying by the Post report. While both the US and China have bases in Djibouti in the Indian Ocean, China denies it is a military base. Beijing claims it is a logistics base to provide resting facilities for the crew taking part in the naval expeditions to the Indian Ocean to fight the pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Djibouti has become a hub of foreign military activities in recent years, hosting bases from an array of countries including France, Italy and Japan. Saudi Arabia is planning to build a base there as well, the Post said. Camp Lemonnier, a US naval expeditionary base in Djibouti that is home to about 4,000 American service members, serves as a hub for American counterterrorism activities in nearby countries such as Somalia and Yemen. The US also has been running drone operations out of Djibouti. The facility's opening raised concerns among American military officials about the proximity of the Chinese military installation to American forces, it said. American authorities recently issued a notice warning pilots that there had been incidents involving "a high-power laser" near the Chinese base in Djibouti. The notice urged pilots to "use extreme caution when transiting near the area," it said. A mandatory evacuation order remained in effect in part of Hawaii on Friday after the Kilauea volcano erupted, spitting red-hot lava out of ground fissures and releasing dangerous gases into residential areas. The eruption began around 4:45 pm local time Thursday (0245 GMT Friday) and caused hours of "lava spatter and gas bursts" to erupt in the Leilani Estates subdivision of the US state's Big Island, prompting the mandatory evacuation of some 1,700 people. "White, hot vapour and blue fume emanated from an area of cracking in the eastern part of the subdivision," the US Geological Survey said. The area has about 770 structures. The fissures stopped erupting at around 6:30 pm local time, according to the US Geological Survey, which warned: "additional erupting fissures and new lava outbreaks may occur." The Civil Defense Agency urged those under mandatory evacuation orders to steer clear, as fire authorities were detecting "extremely high levels of dangerous sulfur dioxide gas" in the zone. The eruption came after hundreds of small earthquakes in recent days that followed the collapse of a crater floor on the Puu Oo volcanic cone. A 5.0-magnitude earthquake on Thursday morning south of the cone triggered rockfalls and the potential additional collapse of the crater, USGS said and sent a short-lived but massive pink plume of ash wafting into the air. The Pacific island state's governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation releasing disaster funds to the Big Island in the eruption's wake, as local news footage showed streams of lava snaking through forested areas near Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Local community centres in the broader district, home to some 10,000 people, were open to residents impacted by the threat, Hawaii's emergency management agency said. Using his drone, area resident Jeremiah Osuna captured video footage of the red-hot lava flow in the region, which he described as the opening of a "fire curtain" that left him feeling "shock and awe." "It was like if you put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turned it on -- a lot of earth and pressure and fire just moving around," he told AFP. Governor Ige activated the archipelago state's National Guard troops and told residents to pay heed to official warnings. In his emergency declaration, the governor noted the current flow was showing similar characteristics to a 1960 eruption in the Kapoho area that "caused significant damage to public and private property in the lower Puna region" of the county. Geologist Janet Babb of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory told AFP that scientists had been following an "intrusion of magma" down the rift zone since Monday afternoon in anticipation of a possible eruption. Though the cracks from which lava was emitting had gone dormant, she emphasized that "the overall concern and the overall event has not ended." Yvonne Baur, a lava tour guide, was visiting a friend in a neighbourhood of houses scattered across a barren lava flow field when the 5.0 tremor struck -- and called the pinkish-grey plume that followed "exciting." But Baur lives in a less hazardous zone of the region and -- despite her enthusiasm for eruptions -- told AFP she "would never build or buy a house" in such high-risk areas. "I want to be close, but not too close." US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was mobilizing resources, as well as monitoring for forest fires, power outages and water supply issues. Hawaii Island, or the Big Island, is the largest of the eight main islands that comprise the Pacific US state, an archipelago that includes hundreds of smaller volcanic islands. The affected area is part of the Big Island's East Rift Zone. Big Island resident Janice Wei, who moved to Hawaii from California -- known for its high earthquake risk -- said the eruption was almost a "relief". "We've been waiting for big movement from the crater, after so many small earthquakes," she told AFP. "Hawaiians and local people have lived here forever," she said. "You know what's going on; we have warning systems." "Everybody should be prepared." Until the summer of 1961, absolutely no archaeological evidence existed that would demonstrate that Pontius Pilate, a pivotal figure in the New Testament gospels, ever really existed. Some literary sources mention him including a few brief allusions in Jewish material (e.g., Josephus) and in late Roman chronicles (e.g., Tacitus) but no administrative records survive from him and no genuine letters of his have been preserved. Plenty of Roman ruins exist in Israel, but none bears his name, and a historical Pilate isnt required to account for them. He has loomed large in subsequent Christian thought and legend. One thinks, for example, of the memorable opening line of Sir Francis Bacons early 17th-century essay Of truth: What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer. But did he really even exist? Critics eager to dismiss the New Testament Gospels as imaginative fiction (along with their accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) were only too happy to point to the lack of evidence for Pilate as support for their broader dismissal. In June 1961, however, while working in the Mediterranean seaside ruins of Caesarea Maritima, a team led by the Italian archaeologist Antonio Frova found a sizable piece of limestone slightly more than 0.8 meters wide and somewhat less than 0.7 meters high that bears the name of Pontius Pilatus. The Latin inscription read as follows: To the Divine Augusti (this) Tiberieum ... Pontius Pilate ... prefect of Judea ... has dedicated (this) Pontius Pilate most likely made his headquarters at Caesarea Maritima, travelling up to Jerusalem only when he had to do so. (From a cynical Roman leaders point of view, Jerusalem was a virtually ungovernable den of incomprehensible religious fanatics, while Caesarea possessed and still retains the charm that could easily have made it the site of a beautiful coastal resort.) The inscription says that Pilate had built a Tiberieum evidently a temple in or near Caesarea dedicated to the then-reigning Roman emperor, Tiberius, who ruled from A.D. 14 to A.D. 37. Plainly, as others also did, Pilate was seeking to flatter the emperor. (Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, had founded the important city of Tiberias, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, in Tiberius honor sometime around A.D. 20.) This fact perhaps explains the power over Pilate of the implicit threat from Jesus Jewish accusers, as recorded in John 19:12: When Pilate wanted to release Jesus, the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesars friend. The so-called Pilate Stone is historically significant because it dates to Pilates own lifetime. It is contemporary evidence. Yet powerfully illustrating the distinctly random nature of archaeological discovery the excavators could easily have missed it, simply discarding it as rubble. By the fourth century, it had been incorporated into a set of stairs in Caesareas Herodian theater. There, the inscription faced downward fortunately, because that position preserved it from being worn away. The divine Augusti to whom the dedication refers are the late (deified) Augustus Caesar (reigned 27 B.C. to A.D. 14) and his wife Livia, who were, respectively, the stepfather and the mother of Tiberius. The inscription identifies Pontius Pilate as the prefect of Judea, a title that seems to connote not only a governmental or administrative role but a military one which seems to fit the brief literary references to his career. A replica of the Pilate Stone stands directly to the east of Caesareas Palace of the Procurators a place of enormous New Testament interest in its own right, where the apostle Paul was imprisoned for over two years under the Roman governors Felix and Festus (Acts 23:31-35; 24:27) and where he made his famous speech before Festus and Agrippa (as recorded in Acts 26) while the original stone itself is located at Jerusalems Israel Museum, where it is protected from erosion and other damage. It is, quite simply, no longer tenable to argue that Pontius Pilate never existed. And, while Pilates demonstrable reality certainly doesnt prove that Jesus rose from the dead or atoned for our sins, or that he merits our devotion as our divine Lord, it constitutes an important part of a cumulative case for the reliability of the gospel accounts which do, in fact, assert all of those things. In answer to Pilates question What is truth? (John 18:38), the New Testament declares that Jesus himself is (John 14:6). SALT LAKE CITY Law enforcers from across the state gathered on the grounds of the state Capitol Thursday to remember their fallen brothers and sisters. But while the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service was a somber occasion, Kaysville Police Chief Sol Oberg told the crowd there was a bright spot this year. "Although this is a solemn occasion, today we can rejoice in the fact that this year in Utah, we're not adding any new fallen officer names to our officer wall," he said to applause from the crowd. Over the past couple of years, the names of Utah Highway Patrol trooper Eric Ellsworth, West Valley police officer Cody Brotherson, Unified police officer Doug Barney and Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Cory Wride have been added to the wall. While no plaques were added to the wall, several speakers noted that the reason the memorial service is held each year is so those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and their families that have both lost so much and given so much, are not forgotten. "Our fallen will never be forgotten," said Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera. Earlier this week, Rivera and one of her chief deputies presented the Michael Welcker scholarship to several high school students. Welcker was shot and killed in the line of duty in 1994. But while telling them about the namesake of the award, the chief deputy became emotional, Rivera said, as her own voice cracked while speaking on Thursday. "Mike has been gone 20 years. And the impact on losing him is still evident," she said. Robert Kirby, a former police officer and longtime member of the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial Committee who has spent decades researching law enforcement history to make sure no fallen officer is forgotten, reiterated that the memorial service is a gathering for those who have lost so much. "I don't believe we should just mourn their deaths, but also give thanks that such people lived. They gave us what we have today," he said. Kirby read a journal entry he wrote in 1995. At the time, he said he was still enraged about just finding out about officers in his area that were killed in the line of duty that he had never heard about. When he came across one of those headstones, it started his quest to find every officer, "and honor them in a manner they deserve." "We are very much aware that this is an open-ended casualty list, and the next to fall could very well be standing in this audience today. Please be careful. I don't want to have to write about you," he told the crowd. Kirby also asked for public support of the memorial. As he did so, he referenced "the buildings on the other side of this memorial," including the state Capitol, and how those structures would not be possible with you," he said pointing to the crowd, and "them," as his hand touched the memorial wall. Rivera added that while no officer was killed this past year, there were close calls. Oberg made reference to his officers who were burned recently while trying to help a suicidal man who set himself on fire in a gas station. Officers are reminded of the dangers they face daily, Rivera said. "We're seeing an unprecedented time in which our brave men and women in uniform are not respected as they have been in years past," she said. The sheriff then encouraged members of the public to get involved themselves. "I say join us. Put the uniform on. Serve your community, your family, and your God with honor and valor," she said. On Wednesday, West Valley police announced that Braydon Brotherson, younger brother of Cody Brotherson, had just graduated from the police academy and will be working as a Utah Department of Corrections officer. "Congratulations, Braydon! As you follow in your brothers footsteps, we pray those footsteps always lead to your safety," West Valley police posted on Facebook. "We need to stand together across the boundaries of every agency. Support each other, call each other in a call of need. And even more important, stand ready when that next officer is lost in this never-ending battle. Let us hold the line together, shoulder to shoulder, to be there for our brothers and sisters," Rivera said. "Although our badges and patches are different between each agency, they are a family crest. And in this family, no one walks alone." SALT LAKE CITY "Off and on" for three years, Aaron Christopher Hornok lived on the streets of Salt Lake City. At times he lived out of his car. Other times he stayed with friends, at a shelter or he camped near streams so he could fish for food. He watched fellow homeless veterans die on the streets "and I was the only one with them." "The streets alone can kill you. Its a never-ending pit," Hornok recently wrote in an essay. Not only was he watching lives literally disappear before his eyes, the limited savings he had stashed away while serving in the Utah Air National Guard was dwindling. His mother reached out to him and told him he could come home for a month until he could find a job. Once employed, he'd have another month to save for housing. While job hunting through the Department of Workforce Services, the department "hooked me up with an education person." A short time later, he was enrolled in Salt Lake Community College. Two and a half years later, he has earned an associate degree in applied sciences along with two skill certificates. On Friday, Hornok will be one of seven SLCC graduates honored during commencement exercises at the Maverik Center as a "graduate of excellence." "A lot of things have changed," Hornok, 39, said. "I'm looking forward to my future." He will be among a graduating class of more than 3,600 students, nearly half of them first-generation students. The youngest graduate is 16 and the oldest 69. About 55 percent of the graduates are female. Hornok is among 144 SLCC graduates who are veterans. He joined the military after the 9/11 attacks on America and served more than six years in the Utah Air National Guard and two years in the inactive reserve. "I love my country and I'll always stand up for it no matter what, whether I'm wearing a uniform or not. I love freedom," he said. During his military service, Hornok got to know military aircraft inside and out. When he entered SLCC, he considered becoming an aircraft mechanic. "I know the plane very well. I could take off if I wanted to," he said. But as his studies progressed, he became increasingly interested in nondestructive testing, which uses multiple methods to detect defects in components of airplanes, machinery used in other industries or infrastructure such as bridges or pipelines. For example, nondestructive testing has been employed to detect fatigue cracks on fans that push air into 737 engines after a fan blade broke on a Southwest Airlines aircraft engine last month. A passenger later identified as an Albuquerque woman who was a bank executive and married mother of two suffered fatal injuries when she was partially sucked through a plane window that had been broken by pieces of the disintegrating engine, according to media reports. This is the second time Hornok attended SLCC. After high school, he took classes there and then transferred to the University of Utah, where he eventually earned two bachelor's degrees. While at the U., Hornok made the dean's list and volunteered with then-Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert's poverty conference. Over the years, he has also volunteered at libraries, the Boys & Girls Club, Sundance Film Festival and other community events and organizations. But "life happened," and he struggled to put either degree to work during the economic downturn. His time in the military was well spent, however, Hornok said. He worked in avionics and rose to the exacting standards that helped ensure the safety of fellow service members. "I started at the bottom, but rose to the top," he wrote. Although he served stateside, he knew airmen who died serving their country in the Middle East, which exacted an emotional toll. "I had to fight as hard as I could to get back on my feet. Now I have accomplished this, beaten most of the odds of life, learned and lived more than most people ever will, and Im winning," Hornok wrote in his essay. Hornak will graduate with a high grade-point average and he hopes to put his degree to work immediately. One of his long-range goals is to save enough money that he can purchase some land and raise horses. In the meantime, he'll continue to serve the community and strive to be a good role model to his nephews, ages 2, 5, and 7. "They are an absolute joy. I want to be a great example to them and show them if you really want things, go after those things and you can have those things," he said. It's been a long journey out of homelessness to being honored at graduation but Hornok said even in the worst of times, he was buoyed by his faith. "God never left me," he said. Hornok is a preacher's kid, as was his father. His father is a minister, as are his uncles and his paternal grandfather, leaders in Bible churches. "I come from a great family who raised me right. Im thankful for them, their wisdom and love," he wrote. But when Hornok was living on streets, which he attributes to bad luck and some bad choices, he said there were times his family struggled to understand how someone with a solid upbringing and two bachelor's degrees could end in such a place. He admits it's difficult to understand and perhaps harder to explain. He says simply: "Life happened." Hornok and his father had a heart-to-heart conversation during which his dad told him he did not fully understand until recently all that Hornok had been through. He acknowledged, "You've had a lot of bad things come your way." "My dad is a great man. He's a pastor of a church that's taught me so much. I said, 'Thank you for noticing what I'm doing.' "They're very proud of me, very excited for me and hopeful for my future, as am I." WASHINGTON The prospect of winning the Nobel Peace Prize is understandably tantalizing for President Trump. After all the contempt he has faced from the political establishment, watching liberal heads explode at the suggestion by South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he deserves the award must be gratifying. It would be even more gratifying to watch the collective meltdown as he delivered his Nobel acceptance speech. Moon understands this, which precisely is why he dangled the prospect of a Nobel Prize in front of Trump. He is flattering Trump in the hopes that this will make him more flexible in his negotiations with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Trump should refuse to take the bait. To his credit, Trump seems to not be taking the Nobel talk too seriously. At a rally in Michigan, Trump smiled while the crowd chanted "No-bel! No-bel! No-bel!" and said "That's very nice, thank you" before adding "I just want to get the job done." Getting the job done could very well mean walking away from the negotiating table, just as Ronald Reagan walked away at his 1986 Reykjavik summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev a move that was derided by foreign policy elites but proved pivotal to the collapse of the Soviet Union five short years later. Trump has made clear that he, like Reagan, is willing to walk away. "If we don't think it's going to be successful, we won't have it," the president said of a summit with Kim. "If the meeting when I'm there isn't fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting." This is exactly the right approach. Trump needs to go into his summit not with visions of Nobel Prizes, but with eyes wide open. As Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats pointed out last May, "Pyongyang's enshrinement of the possession of nuclear weapons in its constitution, while repeatedly stating that nuclear weapons are the basis for its survival, suggests that Kim does not intend to negotiate them away at any price." Just last year, an American college student, Otto Warmbier, died after being detained by North Korea, and Kim was promising to fire missiles at Guam. Now he is on a charm offensive designed to buy him breathing room, lift sanctions, extort money from the West and "decouple" the United States from its ally South Korea. To get these things, Kim will lie to Trump just as his father lied in 1994 when he promised the Clinton administration that he would abandon his nuclear program in exchange for light-water reactors and fuel oil. If Trump wants to succeed, he must want a deal less than Kim does. He must be willing to walk away and to make Kim understand that he is serious about a military option if negotiations fail. He can't do so if he is even remotely thinking about a Nobel. Winning a Nobel Prize is irrelevant. Reagan never got a Nobel, but he is remembered as the president who brought about the peaceful collapse of the Soviet Union and won the Cold War. Barack Obama, by contrast, won a Nobel Prize just nine months after taking office for doing nothing (except not being George W. Bush). Simply by forcing North Korea to the negotiating table, Trump has already done more to deserve the prize than Obama did. History will judge Trump not by whether he won a Nobel, but by whether he was able to stop North Korea from deploying the capability to destroy an American city with a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile. If he fails, no prize will make up for the fact that millions of Americans will now be hostages to one of the world's cruelest tyrants. If he succeeds, he will be remembered as one of the greatest foreign policy presidents in American history. And then, the accolades will take care of themselves. Ranked: Bollywood Films And The Number Of Screens They Were Released In China Bollywood is slowly dominating the global box-office as every year Bollywood films open in new markets and are generally well received. Since the 60s and the 70s, countries such as Russia, Central-Asian Countries, European countries and South-East Asian and Middle-East countries have become huge fans of Bollywood and its films perform commercially well in these areas. The Bollywood stars have a huge following in these countries and their massive popularity often helps in popularizing the industry and more films from India. Bollywood also enjoys more popularity that Hollywood in some of the countries thanks to the song & dance sequences which are the USPs of Hindi movies. China has emerged as a new market for Bollywood films where these films have performed extraordinarily and the theatre owners in China give more preference to Bollywood films. China has more than 44000 theatre screens and here are the Bollywood films with the most number of screen count in China: PK: The Aamir Khan-Anushka Sharma starrer was released across 4000 screens in China and was the first Bollywood film to release in such a large number of screens. Baahubali: The beginning: The SS Rajamouli directorial was released across 6000 screens in China. Baahubali: The Conclusion: The conclusion to SS Rajamouli's epic saga released in over 7000 screens in China. Bajrangi Bhaijaan: The Salman Khan starrer directed by Kabir Khan released in over 8000 Screens. Dangal: The Aamir Khan starrer became the highest grossing Bollywood film ever in China and was released on 9000 screens. Secret Superstar: The Zaria Wasim starrer also had Aamir Khan in a supporting role and was released on 11000 plus screens in China. Hindi Medium: The Irrfan Khan-Saba Qamar starrer broke many records in China and received a screen count of 18000. Reliance Jio Infocomm on Thursday announced the launch of JioInteract, a unique Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based brand engagement platform. "The first of many services to be launched on this platform is the Live Video Call that features India's favourite celebrities. To kick-start, Jio has on-boarded none other than Bollywood's biggest star, Amitabh Bachchan, who will promote his upcoming comedy-drama film '102 Not Out' in the most innovative way," a company statement said here. With Jio's over 186 million subscriber base and another 150 million smartphone users, the sattement said: "JioInteract is poised to become the 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 to the forefront redefining customer experience." Such use of artificial intelligence is a first across the world and will reposition the way brands and customers think of engagement, the company claimed. JioInteract's first service "Live Video Call" will allow all Jio and other smartphone subscribers to make a video call with superstar, Amitabh Bachchan anytime during the day, starting on May 4, 2018. Users can ask questions related to his upcoming comedy drama film, 102 Not Out and even book their movie tickets in real-time through the ticketing-partner BookMyShow. "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," the statement said. It also said: "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." Treating Neuropathic Pain - A New Approach Published: 2018-05-04 Author: University of Turku | Contact: utu.fi/en Synopsis: Reseach results suggest that protein NOS1AP might be a valuable novel target in the development of more effective medicines to treat neuropathic pain. Main Digest Neuropathic pain is the chronic, pathological pain that continues even when the cause of pain is removed. Causes include damage to nerve cells and medicines used to treat cancer. A collaboration between research groups from Indiana University in Bloomington, USA and Turku Centre for Biotechnology in Finland has discovered a novel therapeutic that appears to interrupt the signaling cascades in the body required for multiple forms of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is extremely common, affecting up to 5-10% of the population globally, and no cures or effective treatments are currently available. Moreover, chemotherapy-induced pain can be so extreme that it causes some patients with cancer to discontinue treatment and greatly impairs quality of life in survivors. Fig 1. The Adaptor Protein NOS1AP in a Microscopic Image - The study aimed to block signals caused by the binding of nNOS to the protein NOS1AP (model on the left) during neurotransmission, as a new approach for treating chronic pain. NOS1AP is present in fine structures of living neurons (image on the right), including the thin filopodial structures visible here that may be synaptic spines - Image Credit: The University of Turku. Prior to this study, researchers were aware that pathological pain is triggered by a biological pathway that is activated by binding of the excitatory transmitter glutamate to receptors called NMDARs. This process then triggers activation of an enzyme neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) that generates nitric oxide gas that plays a role in aberrant pain sensation. However, experimental drugs designed to block either the NMDAR receptor or the nNOS enzyme can cause intolerable side effects, such as memory impairment and motor dysfunction. Now, researchers from Indiana University in Bloomington, USA and the Turku Centre for Biotechnology in Finland have demonstrated that an experimental molecule reduces neuropathic pain in rodents resulting from either nerve damage or a common chemotherapy drug. The team in the University of Turku in Finland was able to design the molecule after discovering that a protein, NOS1AP, that is downstream of nNOS, triggers several biological pathways that are associated with abnormal glutamate signaling, including neuropathic pain. The Indiana University group demonstrated that an experimental molecule designed by the Turku group to prevent nNOS signalling to NOS1AP reduced two forms of neuropathic pain in rodents. These forms of pain develop as result of either chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel or nerve damage. The treatment also disrupted markers of nociceptive signaling in the spinal cord when the test drug was injected at that site into mice. Importantly, the NOS1AP inhibitor did not cause typical motor side effects observed with previous experimental molecules that directly target NMDARs. - Importantly, the chemical that prevents this signalling did not cause the negative side effects observed in previous experiments. Our studies suggest that the nNOS-NOS1AP interaction site is a previously unrecognized target for pain therapies", says Professor Andrea Hohmann from the Indiana University in Bloomington. The results suggest that the protein NOS1AP might be a valuable novel target in the development of more effective medicines to treat neuropathic pain. - NOS1AP should be studied in more detail to find the best way to prevent this protein from contributing to chronic pain, said Senior Researcher Michael Courtney from the University of Turku. This research is funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-CA200417) held jointly by Andrea Hohmann at Indiana University and Michael Courtney in Turku. Lee WH, Li LL, Chawla A, Hudmon A, Lai YY, Courtney MJ, Hohmann AG. Disruption of nNOS-NOS1AP protein-protein interactions suppresses neuropathic pain in mice Primary Information Source(s): Treating Neuropathic Pain - A New Approach | University of Turku (utu.fi/en). Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Content may have been edited for style, clarity or length. You're reading Disabled World. See our homepage for informative disability news, reviews, sports, stories and how-tos. You can also connect with us on social media such as Twitter and Facebook or learn more about Disabled World on our about us page. Disclaimer: Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are in no way meant to be a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified practitioner, nor should they be construed as such. Any 3rd party offering or advertising on disabled-world.com does not constitute endorsement by Disabled World. Cite This Page (APA): University of Turku. (2018, May 4). Treating Neuropathic Pain - A New Approach. Disabled World. Retrieved October 6, 2021 from www.disabled-world.com/health/pain/nos1ap.php Dieselgate: US files criminal charges against former VW chief Winterkorn The US Justice Department on Thursday unsealed criminal charges against former Volkswagen AG chief executive Martin Winterkorn, accusing him of conspiring to cover up the German automaker's diesel emissions cheating. Former Volkswagen AG chief executive Martin Winterkorn An indictment filed in secret in March was unsealed in US District Court on Thursday, the same day as Volkswagens annual meeting in Germany. Winterkorn, now 70, had resigned days after news of the scandal broke in September 2015. The Justice Department has charged him with four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud and violating the Clean Air Act. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Environmental Protection Administration chief Scott Pruitt and other senior Trump administration official issued statements criticising VW over the indictment, which marks a rare instance of a CEO being subjected to criminal prosecution for corporate behaviour. In contrast with Volkswagen, no individuals were charged at Toyota Motor Corp in connection with its sudden unintended acceleration scandal or at General Motors Co for the cover-up of a deadly ignition switch defect, Reuters points out. "If you try to deceive the United States, then you will pay a heavy price," Sessions said. The federal government's decisions not to prosecute senior financial industry executives in connection with the 2007-2009 financial crisis also has drawn fire from advocates of tougher measures to deter corporate wrongdoing. The US indictment of Winterkorn is likely to be largely symbolic. As a German citizen, he is almost certain not to come to the United States and to seek protection under German extradition law. But he is also under investigation by German authorities. Volkswagen settled criminal charges with the US Justice Department in 2017 and agreed to a $4.3 billion payment. In total, VW has agreed to spend more than $25 billion in the United States to address claims from owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers. The company also has offered to buy back about 500,000 polluting US vehicles. Many are now stored in parking lots around the United States. Volkswagen has been desperate to move on from the emissions scandal, vowing to spend billions on a number of new electric vehicles as it has seen US sales rebound, but the indictment reopens the question of whether other senior executives knew about the scandal, threatening to prolong the crisis. A lawyer for Winterkorn in Germany did not immediately comment. Winterkorn in January 2017 told German lawmakers he had not been informed of the cheating early and would have halted it had he been aware, but he did not say when he first became aware of the issue. A Volkswagen spokesman in Germany said the company "continues to cooperate with investigations" of individuals but would not comment on Thursday's charges. Sessions said in a statement that the charges against Winterkorn showed that "Volkswagen's scheme to cheat its legal requirements went all the way to the top of the company." The September 2015 disclosure that VW had for at least six years intentionally cheated on emissions tests did massive damage to the company's reputation around the world and prompted massive compensation and vehicle refit costs. VW halted the sale of new diesels in the United States after the scandal. GST Council decides to take over GST Network The GST Council at its meeting today decided to acquire the entire 51 per cent of equity held by the non-government entities in GSTN amounting to Rs5.1 crore, to be shared equally by the centre and the state governments. The GSTN Board will soon initiate the process for acquisition of equity held by the private Companies, a finance ministry release stated. The GSTN Board will soon initiate the process for acquisition of equity held by the private Companies, a finance ministry release stated. At present, the central and state governments hold 24.5 per cent stake each in GSTN. The balance 51 per cent equity is with non-government financial institutions like HDFC Bank, HDFC Ltd, ICICI Bank, NSE Strategic Investment Corp (10 per cent each) and LIC Housing Finance Ltd (11 per cent). Majority of the GST processes, including registration, filing of returns, payment of taxes, processing of refunds are IT-driven and GSTN handles large-scale invoice level data of millions of business entities, including data related to exports and imports. Considering the nature of state function performed by GSTN, the Council felt that GSTN be converted into be a fully owned government company. The decision has also been prompted by a letter BJP leader Subramanian Swami wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 June 2017, in which he had demanded that the government nationalise GSTN and sack the GSTN chairman for what he termed as a monumental fiasco of being unable to activate GST by 1 July 2017. Earlier, in a letter to the prime minister in September 2016, Swamy had requested a stay on operations of GSTN due to 'foreign control' in its shareholding. "...the GSTN, which is a data processing and tax revenue collection private limited company, which was never security cleared by the home ministry, whose clearance is mandatorily required. I strongly urge you to therefore to direct the complete stay of all operations of the presently constituted GSTN and that it remains nonoperational till it is reconstructed according to our national interest and after security certification by the home ministry," Swamy had stated in his letter. The existing staff and their terms and conditions of employment will, however, continue for a period up to five years. However, the GST Board will have the flexibility of hiring people through contract on the terms and conditions similar to those used by GSTN till now while hiring regular employees. The centre and states will continue to share the capital and O&M cost of the GSTN systems as per the existing financial commitments. The Goods and Services Tax Network- Special Purpose Vehicle (GSTN-SPV) was created as a private limited, not-for-profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013) on 28 March 2013 with an objective to provide shared IT infrastructure and services to central and state governments, taxpayers and other stakeholders for implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the country. UP, Rajasthan on 48-hour alert as dust storm leaves 127 dead A second round is expected to hit Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan by Saturday, after dust storms, followed by thunder showers, led to the death of at least 127 people and injured over 100 people in many parts of northern India in the last 24 hours. A few states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which are still reeling under the effects of the deadly dust storms, have been asked to brace up for another storm that is expected to hit parts of northern India by Saturday. A few states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which are still reeling under the effects of the deadly dust storms, have been asked to brace up for another storm that is expected to hit parts of northern India by Saturday. The warning was issued by the meteorological department on Thursday. The severe thunderstorms that lashed many parts of the country on Wednesday night killed at least 127 people and left a trail of destruction, with houses flattened trees uprooted and twisted electricity poles. The storm also led to several road accidents in Rajasthan and in other parts of Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and west Uttar Pradesh. The maximum devastation occurred in Uttar Pradesh where the storms claimed 73 lives, with 46 deaths reported from Agra district alone. As many as 39 people died in Rajasthan, followed by seven in Telangana, four in Uttarakhand and two each in Jharkhand and Punjab. With the fury of the storms and rains continuing for several hours in many places, the full extent of the damage was known only on Thursday. Concrete houses came down like pack of cards one after the other. Trees, streetlights and whatever stood taller than a few feet were flattened by the winds. We took out victims from debris of houses and ferried them to hospitals on motorcycles, The Times of India quoted Narendra Sharma, the SHO of Kheragarh police station in Agra district, as saying after a night of rescue operations. These dust storms were caused by climate change, mainly because of the moisture, warm temperatures and a disturbed atmosphere, which in turn pushes the warm moist air upwards. While in Rajasthan unusually high temperatures caused the air close to the ground to heat up and move upwards, in Haryana and the adjoining areas, cyclonic circulation pushed the warm air upwards, following which storm clouds were formed, say experts. In the eastern parts of the country, the high moisture levels were caused by winds blowing in from Bay of Bengal, especially in the eastern parts of UP and Bihar, while in the west, a system of low pressure brought moisture from Eurasian water bodies. The dust storm was caused by the air carrying sand along with it as it moves upward. The thunderstorm was caused by the incursion of moisture because of the western disturbance. The storms also witnessed updraught, which is the upward movement of warm air and downdraught, the downward current of air along with rain. The report by the Hindustan times said the updraught and downdraught was happening simultaneously in different areas due to the wind shear, which is the rapid variation in wind velocity and direction. This means that the downward draught itself whipped up another updraught that led to another thunderstorm creating a chain of thunderstorms. India to benefit as China lifts import duties on 28 drugs: Chinese envoy China on Thursday announced the lifting of import duties on as many as 28 medicines, including all cancer drugs, from 1 May, and further open up business - a move that would also help India to export these pharmaceuticals to the neighbouring country. During an informal summit between Chinese President Xi Jingping and Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi last month, China had pledged to look into the sticky issue of greater market access to Indian farm products and to resolve any issue that hurts the prospect of Indian pharmaceutical exports to that country. "China has exempted import tariffs (duties) for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from 1 May. 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," Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said in a tweet. The Chinese move is seen as part of an attempt to ward off a trade war with the US and pharmaceutical industry executives are sceptical about any meaningful gains to India. They say the choice of mainly cancer products for the exemption suggests the decision is aimed primarily to placate the US. More than tariffs, non-tariff barriers are the real issue for Indian pharma companies seeking to export to China, they say. Indias exports of pharma products to China were negligible - $37.44 million in the first 11 months of 2017-18. China has built a massive trade surplus with both the United States as well as India and it is unlikely to forgo that advantage any time in the near future. Ahead of the US-China trade talks, an executive meeting of the State Council chaired by Chinese Prime Minister Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday decided to further improve business environment by halving time required to open a business. Chinas door to the outside world will open wider. Indian businesses are welcome!, Lao tweeted. The US administration under President Donald Trump has already announced its intention to target China through a raft of measures, including plans to impose tariffs on goods worth $50 billion, over and above duties on steel and aluminium supplies. Bill Gates, World Bank embrace Aadhaar technology amidst doubts in India The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding a World Bank project to adopt Indias Aadhaar technology in other countries as it is worth emulating, a PTI report quoting Microsoft founder Bill Gates said on Thursday. The 62-year-old multi-billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist said the Aadhaar technology does not pose any privacy issue and that its main architect Nandan Nilekani is also consulting and helping the World Bank on the project. While more than a billion people in India have enrolled in Aadhaar, the world's largest biometric ID system, Gates said the technology is worth emulating by other countries as the benefits are huge. "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, adding 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, is reported to have 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. Aadhaar, he pointed out, was started before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into office, adding 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. UIDAI chief Ajay Bhushan Pandey, in a recent Supreme Court hearing also defended the technology saying, It would take more than the age of the universe to break one encryption. But there have been flaws in the method of data collection and the employment of private agencies by UIDAI. Reports, meanwhile, cited a recent report by digital security company Gemalto, which predicts that 3.6 billion people around the world will carry some form of national electronic ID card by 2021. In January this year, 20 countries, including Russia, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia indicated their initial interests in adopting Aadhaar technology in their own territories. The Indian government is also reported to be promoting the UID model overseas with the facilitation support of the World Bank. The Chinese government is planning to introduce Social Credit System, which will rate the trustworthiness of its 1.3 billion citizens on the basis of daily online activities, social media posts, and tax payments. While everything else seems to be at the place, it is still difficult to explain the recent data breaches and the privacy concerns associated with the technology. Hiroshima victim's jawbone reveals new levels of nuclear radiation 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. The new study performed by Brazilian researchers at the University of Sao Paulo is the first to measure direct blast radiation exposure, effectively using a victims jawbone as a dosimeter - a device used to measure an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation. 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. 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. During the final stage of World War II, the United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August 1945, respectively. The A-bomb nicknamed Little Boy that blew over Hiroshima instantly killed 45,000 people and would go on to claim the lives of thousands more as a result of nuclear fallout. In a novel research, scientists have now measured how much radiation was absorbed by the bones of one of the casualties, who was less than a mile away from where the bomb was set off. In 1972 Mascarenhas 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. He 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 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 US, 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. 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. Little Boy held about 140 pounds of uranium, which underwent nuclear fission when it exploded as planned nearly 2,000 feet above the Japanese city. The blast released 16 kilotons of explosive force, causing unspeakable damage in the area. According to one estimate, at least 50,000 people were killed and an equal number were injured that day. Nearly 70 per cent of the citys buildings were destroyed, leaving many homeless. Do you have a personal definition for Belgian design? Im always worried about giving a definition to encompass what design might mean, or look like, in any given country, especially my own. I love its history. I love its variety. Our challenge is precisely to try and show our public, national and international design as well as all the different things that Belgian design was and is today. Like any designer in the world, our creators have always been inspired by major innovative trends, then have twisted and enriched them through their personal creativity: Belgian designers have been important and constructive voices in Art Nouveau, Art Deco, modernism, functionalism, etc. Recently, we tried to encapsulate this great diversity in a retrospective exhibition called Panorama, a History of Modern Design in Belgium and the result was fantastic. Today, the sector is very dynamic and active again, and Brussels is playing an important part in the emulation. For more than 10 years, Belgian design has found its place in Europe and internationally every year, the Salone in Milan is the perfect place to witness it. ADAM tries to play its part in promoting this exciting creativity, and just after Soviet Designwell hold our Biennale, Intersections, on contemporary Belgian design. Curated by Giovanna Massoni, this edition will be called Design Generations and will showcase 10 Belgian designers thinking about their work and their connection with our permanent collection. 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. The ACCC has put car companies on notice for failing to give customers a fair go with regard to servicing and repairs. Speaking at the Australian Automobile Aftermarket Associations Autocare conference, ACCC chair Rod Sims said the government group will push to ensure the automotive industry remains competitive and fair to consumers and businesses alike. Sims said the Turnbull government is considering legislation forcing car companies to work with independent third-party repairers, giving them access to complex software required to work on modern vehicles. Michael Sukkar, Assistant Minister to Treasurer Scott Morrison, has indicated support for reforms forcing carmakers to cooperate with independent workshops. Honoured to attend the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association Autocare conference, and to outline the Governments commitment to consumers and the fair access to repair information and parts. #auspol pic.twitter.com/mB0N4q8IXy Michael Sukkar (@MichaelSukkarMP) May 4, 2018 For his part, Sims said there is a strong case for change and particularly as it relates to car servicing. To fix todays cars, repairers need access to volumes of complex technical information held digitally by car manufacturers, Sims said. This, however, allows car manufacturers to control who has access to the technical information needed to fix cars, often favouring their own dealer and preferred repairer networks over independent repairers. The FCAI, peak body for the automotive industry, has expressed reluctance to allow independent repairers access to manufacturer data. In a letter sent to the ACCC in 2017, the FCAI said motor vehicles contain more than 60,000 parts and more lines of computer code than a commercial jet aircraft. To have a regulatory regime that treats motor vehicles in the same way as a toaster is problematic. In the FCAIs view, mandating the sharing of technical information, will not lead to better outcomes for consumers, it said. Successful repair and servicing of new vehicles can only be achieved when highly specialised technical information is used by fully trained personnel using recommended diagnostic equipment and stipulated specialised tools. Manufacturers have expressed environmental, safety and security concerns surrounding widespread access to vehicle software. But Sims pointed to Fords handling of customer complaints surrounding faulty transmissions and subsequent $10 million fine as well as the Takata airbag scandal and Holden and Hyundai customer service issues as evidence car companies were not doing the right thing by consumers. Australia might not manufacture cars anymore, but we can still apply the Australian fair-go mindset to how we do business, he said. This fair go mindset has been noticeably missing recently. It must be restored. Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has been charged with conspiracy and wire fraud by the US Government as the emissions scandal continues to unravel. Winterkorn, 70, was indicted in March but the records were only unsealed this week, revealing he has been charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act. The indictment unsealed today alleges that Volkswagens 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 stepped down as CEO in September 2015, in the immediate aftermath of the revelation that Volkswagen had manipulated some of its models to cheat the emissions testing regulations. If found guilty of the charges against him, Winterkorn faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charges and five years and a $US250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge. However, it is unclear if he will ever go to trial as the US does not have an extradition agreement with Germany. The US has charged nine former VW executives with crimes in the wake of the emissions scandal, however only two have plead guilty and are currently serving time in prison. The other six remain in Germany and havent faced trial. A 24-year-old local woman who Dundalk District Court was told had been raised in a home where criminality was the norm, was last week sentenced to 11 months for stealing a mobile phone. Nora McDonagh with an address at Clann Chulainn Park, Farndreg was before the court in relation to a total of 20 offences. These included public order offences and driving without insurance. The defendant offered guilty pleas in relation to all of the offences before the court. However, Garda Inspector Martin Beggy said a decision was still awaited in relation to a burglary charge. He asked for that charge to be adjourned. The Defence solicitor told the court his client has spent the four weeks in prison in respect of that charge and had spent her 24th birthday late last month in jail. The solicitor said she left school at 13 and can't read or write. He claimed she was born into a family where criminality was the norm. The solicitor added Nora McDonagh had told him all she learnt from her family is robbing. He also outlined how from a very early age she had taken on a maternal role for her siblings. Judge John Coughlan replied, In my view society must be protected. The judge imposed an 11 month sentence for the theft of an i-Phone 5c from Victorys Centra on Main Street, Dunleer on July 10th last year. Judge Coughlan marked the other offences taken into consideration apart from the burglary charge, That charge was adjourned to the 16th of May sitting of Dundalk District Court. Universal access to water by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water is very clear. However, the task is huge. Water has been acknowledged as a human right and this concept of universality and non-discrimination leaves us no room to leave anybody behind, said Sara Ahrari of aid-organisation Simavi, speaking at a meeting on the topic in The Hague, the Netherlands on 18 April. The meeting 'Leaving no one behind' was organised by IRC Wash to explore the framework that has to come in place to achieve this ambitious goal. Sara Ahrari of Simavi shared her experiences in Ghana on being inclusive in the WASH sector. Making history For a person who is working in the WASH sector, said Ahrari, it is a blessing that we are working in a period that we are making history. As a Senior Programme Officer for Simavi in Ghana, Ahari shared her experiences working with the Wamahinso community in the Ghana district of Asutifi North. District, providers, supporting NGOs and the communities are partnering to implement a WASH masterplan, she highlighted. The plan maps the districts unserved and identifies the dilemmas that need to be overcome to ensure that no one is left behind. Invisible groups Ahrari specially mentioned the importance of including 'invisible' groups, such as the disabled. She noted that the taboo surrounding disability, led to under-reporting on the exclusion of the disabled. On the invisible group of the poor, she noted Their reliance on daily wages, can prevent ultra poors participation in decision making when it comes to attending public meetings. Different interpretations Commenting on the existing legal framework of the United Nations for human right on water and sanitation, Ahrari explained that human rights can be interpreted differently. As an example, she mentioned the Netherlands that acknowledges these rights, while in Belgium, India, Kenya, South Africa and Uruguay people can go to court to enforce them because they are included in their constitutions. Economic or civil right IRC Chair Robert Bos added some countries are reluctant to include the rights to water and sanitation in their constitution. According to Bos these countries are unaware that the rights are part of the economic, social and cultural rights framework and not of the more contentious civil and political human rights framework. This news item is based on a report on the meeting as published on the website of IRC Wash. (on top hoto: The Wamahinso community ispressing for water after the taps went off while they were collecting. Peter McIntyre/IRC) Read also on this website IRC Wash receives Osprey grant for collective action towards universal WASH access, 6 April 2018 Stockholm world water week 2017: Ghana presents ambitious WASH-goals for 2025, 30 August 2017 Stockholm world water week 2015: Lets accelerate WASH, lets do it differently, 27 August 2015 Expertise: Water for all More information IRC Wash The Hague, the Netherlands +31 70 304 4000 www.ircwash.org Simavi Amsterdam, the Netherlands +31 88 313 15 00 www.simavi.nl Some highlights of the IRC Wash debate Leaving no one behind that took place in The Hague on 18 April. By Tim Radford If average global temperatures rise by just 3C, then Europe's drought risk could increase to double the area faced with drying out. Right now, just 13 percent of the continent can be counted as a drought-prone region. As the thermometer soars, this proportion could rise to 26 percent. And 400 million people could feel the heat as the water content in the European soils begins to evaporate. The worst droughts will last three to four times longer than they did in the last decades of the last century. The number of months of drought in southern Europe could increase significantly. In this zone drought is already measured more than 28 percent of the land area: this could, in the most extreme scenario, expand to 49 percent. Iberian Extreme "In the event of a three-degree warming, we assume there will be 5.6 drought months per year; up to now, the number has been 2.1 months. For some parts of the Iberian peninsula, we project that the drought could even last more than seven months," said Luis Samaniego, of the UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Germany. His co-author Stephan Thober added: "A three-degree temperature rise also means that the water content in the soil would decline by 35 millimetres up to a depth of two metres. In other words, 35,000 cubic metres of water will no longer be available per square kilometre of land." The two scientists, with colleagues from the UK, the U.S., the Netherlands and Czechoslovakia, report in Nature Climate Change that they used mathematical models to simulate the effect of temperature rise as a response to ever-greater global emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, from the combustion of fossil fuels. The 35mm loss of water was roughly what parts of Europe experienced during the unprecedented drought of 2003. If planetary temperatures do rise by 3C, then such episodes could become the normal state in many parts of Europe, and far worse could be on the way. Once again, none of this will come as a shock to other climate scientists, who have repeatedly warned that the cost of not confronting the menace of climate change could be huge in terms of lives lost, forests burned and harvests ruined. Europe's cities could become uncomfortably and even potentially lethally hot, and the southern nations of the Mediterranean could face devastating heat and drought. But such droughts are not inevitable, nor likely across the whole of Europe. The Baltic states and Scandinavia could experience higher rainfall in a warmer world. The same simulations found thatwere the world to achieve the 1.5C global warming limit which 195 nations agreed upon at the Paris climate summit in 2015then the Mediterranean region would experience only 3.2 months of drought. And water loss in the top two meters would be only about 8 millimeters. Reposted with permission from our media associate Climate News Network. By Cedric Taylor On April 6, with little warning, the state of Michigan closed water point of distribution (POD) centers that have provided residents in Flint for the past three years with bottled water to drink, cook and bathe. This move was based on analysis showing that the city's water quality had tested below action levels defined in federal drinking water regulations for nearly two years. The state's decision to close the PODs signals that with respect to water quality, Flint's water crisis is over. But for thousands of Flint residents, the trauma it inflicted persists. The actions that led up to the Flint water crisis did not occur in a vacuum. As a sociologist based in Michigan, whose research focuses on social inequality, racism and racial health disparities, I was driven to explore the context behind one of the most significant public health crises in modern history. Because film can be a powerful medium for conveying inequalities, I chose to direct and produce a documentary on the crisis. My documentary, "Nor Any Drop to Drink: The Flint Water Crisis," is scheduled for streaming and video-on-demand release in August 2018. From meeting Flint residents and talking to them about their water problems, I can see that more than pipes have been corroded. State and federal mishandling of the city's water crisis has all but destroyed trust in government agencies among Flint's residents. 'We Are an Invisible People' Flint's water crisis is a story of bad decisions by government officials. In 2014, under a state-appointed emergency manager, Flint's drinking water source was switched from the Detroit water system to the Flint River, even though this move relied on a hastily refurbished and understaffed treatment plant. The state carried out inadequate and improper sampling of the water distribution system, in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Michigan officials disregarded and attempted to cover up compelling evidence of water quality problems and associated health effects. A spokesman for the Department of Environmental Quality stated in 2015 that Flint residents "can relax," despite their expressed concerns. These repeated assurances exposed thousands to contaminated water. In the documentary, Nakiyah Wakes, a Flint mother who blames her miscarriages and adverse behavioral changes in her children on the water, exclaims: "I do not trust the water and I probably will never trust the water again. I've lost all trust in our governmentfederal, state, I have lost trust in everyone!" Lendra Brown, a senior citizen living in Northwest Flint who also accepted the state's assurances, lost two feet of her hair and still has rashes along her neck, jawline and legs. In one of the most poignant moments in the documentary, Brown states: "They are killing us they killed us. We are an invisible people and we don't matter." Test Results Aren't Enough Michigan officials ended the bottled water program after testing mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule showed that 90 percent of water samples collected in Flint this year contained an average of four parts per billion of leadwell below the 15 parts per billion federal threshold. According to the state, "Flint's water is testing the same or better than similar cities across the state and country." However, this provides little reassurance to the community given the state's record, as well as concerns about the pace of pipe replacement and the scope of water testing to date. Flint's FAST Start program, funded by state and federal agencies, has set a goal of replacing lead service lines that connect water mains to homes across the city by 2020. As of December 2017, more than 6,000 pipes had been replaced, but approximately 12,000 lead service lines were still in place. Residents who were filmed, and who I still speak with regularly, worry that replacing lines may disrupt and release lead flakes into the water system. Further, pipes and fixtures inside many homes and businesses are old and corroded and could still leach lead. Lead Is Not the Only Issue The state's rationale for ending the bottled water program is based on testing for lead, but for residents this has never been the only concern. In late 2014, there were reports of elevated levels of total trihalomethanes (TTHM), a group of water disinfection byproducts, some of which are classified as possible or probable carcinogens. And between June 2014 and November 2015, 87 cases of Legionnaires' disease, a waterborne illness, were reported in surrounding Genesee County, resulting in 12 deaths. In February 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced evidence of a connection between city water and patients diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. Governor Rick Snyder's office has said that water filters and replacement cartridges will remain available for people who are concerned about the process of service line replacements, or who "would feel more comfortable using a filter until their confidence in the water quality can be reestablished." This approach puts much responsibility on residents, who risk further problems from contaminated water if they do not properly install or maintain the filters. Further, according to the Genesee County Medical Society, the filters reduce but do not eliminate lead and other contaminants, such as bacteria. Buying bottled water is not an option for many of the 45 percent of Flint residents who live below the poverty line. Therefore, families who have children or members with compromised immune systemstwo groups who are especially vulnerable to water contaminationnow may have no choice but to take a chance on the city's water. Who Matters? "Nor Any Drop to Drink" is ultimately a story about power, and about who really matters. Michigan has had to commit more than $350 million to Flint to fund water quality improvements, pipe replacements, health care and educational resources. The free bottled water program was costing the state an estimated $653,075 per month on average. Participants in the documentary say they believe their government's decisions have prioritized controlling costs, not their health and well-being. Ending the bottled water program is consistent with that philosophy. From the start of this crisis, state officials have controlled much of the narrative about drinking water safety. What residents knew didn't matter for many months, and they suffered as a result. From the community's standpoint, stopping the bottled water program looks like an effort to close the book on this issue. Flint residents fear that Michigan may shirk its responsibility to make long-term, expensive fixes, and that the world now has permission to stop paying attention to their ongoing water problems. Cedric Taylor is an assistant professor of sociology at Central Michigan University. Reposted with permission from our media associate The Conversation. Less than a year ago, scientists announced an exciting discoverya new species of orangutan, called the Tapanuli orangutan, living in Batang Toru in Sumatra, Indonesia, The Conversation reported. But an article published in Current Biology Thursday has some sobering news for the newly discovered ape: The "critically-endangered species" is at serious risk for extinction. "This is just the seventh species of Great Ape ever discovered, and it could go extinct right before our eyes," study co-author and University of Indonesia Prof. Jatna Supriatna said in a James Cook University press release about the new study. There are fewer than 800 of the rare apes squeezed into a habitat less than a tenth the size of Sydney, the release noted. "In forty years of research, I don't think I've ever seen anything this dramatic," James Cook University professor and research team leader William Laurance said in the press release. The Tapanuli orangutan is under threat for many reasons, including deforestation, poaching and road-building, but researchers said the most immediate threat is a large dam being built by China called the Batang Toru project, which will flood large parts of their habitat and disrupt others with roads and powerlines. "This is a critical test for China and Indonesia. They say they want sustainable developmentbut words are cheap," Laurance said in the press release. "Without urgent action, this could be ecological Armageddon for one of our closest living relatives," he continued. In another article for The Conversation, Laurance explained the dam was part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that seeks to build roads, ports, railways and energy projects in 70 countries. Laurance said that, while the BRI projects were reviewed by China's National Development and Reform Commission until 2015, that body really only had direct control over projects funded by the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China. But most projects will have multiple, international funding sources. "It will bring sizeable economic gains for some, but in nearly 40 years of working internationally, I have never seen a program that raises more red flags," Laurance wrote. He mentioned working with Chinese colleagues who had withdrawn their authorship of scientific papers that criticized the BRI. There is currently a debate in Beijing about environmental standards for the BRI, with larger corporations that face more liability demanding tougher standards and smaller companies lobbying for looser ones. The Tapanuli orangutans threatened by the project are one of three orangutan species. Compared to the Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, they have larger canines and smaller skulls, scientists reported in the 2017 Conversation article. (Photo: REUTERS / Olivia Harris)Czech priest Tomas Halik (L) acknowledges Jack Templeton, son of John Templeton, the founder of the Templeton Prize, during the 2014 Templeton Prize award in London March 13, 2014. Halik, a Catholic priest whose theology of paradox invites believers and atheists to dialogue won the 2014 Templeton Prize, worth .83 million, for his work affirming the spiritual dimension of life. In the past, U.S. presidential elections how religion affects the voting has often been a news headline grabber and signs remain that belief differs in the two main political parties the Republicans and the Democrats. The United States was often taken to be a contrary case to the general decline of religion in the West. But this week Newsweek carried a story titled, "Are Americans becoming as godless as Europeans?" It said that religious affiliation, church attendance and belief in God have all fallen in the United States. The story was based on one on the London School of Economics U.S. Centre site in which David Voas and Mark Chaves find that religiosity is decreasing in the United States, and for the same reason that it has been falling elsewhere. They comment that Americans are not becoming less religious over their lives; rather, the more religious generations born in the early 20th century are dying off and being replaced by newer generations that are less likely to be religious. Their findings are similar to those reflected in recent research carried out on U.S. voters' attitudes by the Pew Research Center. Voas is Professor and Head of the Department of Social Science at UCL Institute of Education, University College London. Chaves is Professor of Sociology, Religious Studies and Divinity at Duke University. Their article is based on the paper, 'Is the United States a counterexmaple to the secularization thesis?' in the American Journal of Sociology Taking religious belief as an example, they say only 45 percent of young adults aged 18-30 have no doubt about God's existence, compared with 68 percent of people aged 65 and over. The overall level of belief under erosion as people born early in the 20th century are replaced by those from subsequent generations with weaker religious convictions. The authors says that declines in traditional religiosity aren't offset by increasing vitality elsewhere. "It's true that the 'spiritual but not religious' phenomenon has expanded in recent years. This diffuse spirituality may provide a growing market for certain kinds of religious products, such as self-help books with spiritual themes, but it isn't offsetting religious decline, re-energizing existing religious institutions, or providing a foundation for new forms of religious collective action." RELIGIOUS DECLINES IN US SIMILAR TO EUROPE They noted that it is not just religious decline that makes the United States similar to Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or most of Europe. "It's also the way that secularization has occurred mainly, and in some cases entirely, because each successive generation is slightly less religious than the one before." Still they say the religiosity of the United States has impressed observers since the early 19th century, and American levels of religious involvement remain strikingly high compared to those in virtually all highly developed countries. Pew's research also notes that the U.S. religious landscape also has been shifting over the past few decades. One of the most fundamental changes has been the increase in the share of voters who do not affiliate with a religion (from 8 percent in 1996 to 21 percent in 2016). The increase in the share of voters who do not identify with a religious group is occurring faster within the Democratic than Republican Party, moving the religious profiles of the two coalitions further apart from one another. In 2016, nearly three-in-ten (29 percent) Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters are religiously unaffiliated describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or "nothing in particular." That is up from just 10 percent in 1996. Overall, 11 percent of Democratic voters are white mainline Protestants, 10 percent are white Catholics and 8 percent are white evangelical Protestants. All three of these groups make up much smaller shares of all Democratic voters than they did in 1996. Black Protestants make up 15 percent of all Democratic voters and Hispanic Catholics account for 6 percent; there has been no decline in the shares of these two groups. Shifts in the composition of the Republican Party have been more modest and GOP voters are now even more likely than Democratic voters to affiliate with a religion than they were 20 years ago. About a third (35 percent) of Republican voters are white evangelical Protestants, 18 percent are white Catholics, 17 percent are white mainline Protestants and 12 percent are religiously unaffiliated. The share of GOP voters that is unaffiliated has risen six points since 1996. There has been little change in the share of all GOP voters who are white evangelical Protestants or white Catholics over the past two decades, but the share who are white mainline Protestants has declined 12 points. (Photo: REUTERS / Kim Kyung-Hoon)Children attend a Christmas mass at a Catholic church in Beijing December 24, 2014. Christmas is not a traditional festival in China but is growing in popularity, especially in more metropolitan areas where young people go out to celebrate, give gifts and decorate their homes. Christians have prayed in Hong Kong for China to stop repressing religious freedom. The prayer's theme on May 3 was "Safeguard religious freedom for believers of the mainland today and of Hong Kong tomorrow," Ucanews reports. It was jointly organized by Hong Kong's Justice and Peace Commission, Christians for Hong Kong Society, Hong Kong Christian Fellowship of City Concern and Hong Kong Christian Institute. The 40 participants met outside the liaison office of the Central People's Government to sing hymns, read a joint statement, post crosses on a map of China and march around the building. Commission project officer Or Yan-yan told ucanews.com that Catholics were very upset as they kept hearing news about the closure of mainland churches and restrictions on religion. "Hong Kong, as the place closest to China, should speak out for those who are isolated and helpless to fight suppression," she said. She hoped believers in mainland China would see support from their brothers and sisters in Hong Kong and let Chinese authorities know that "even though our strength is so small to make any changes, we still want them not to infringe human rights arbitrarily." Rev. Lau Chi Hung of Christian City Mission Church told ucanews.com that the prayer represents persistence. "As long as the problem exists, we still need to speak out," he said. The four groups that initiated the prayer and two other groups Christians To The World and Yellow Umbrella Christian Base Community issued a joint statement. It called on the Chinese government to stop suppressing religious freedom, particularly in Henan province where the situation is severe. It stated that officials had ordered believers not to gather, drove away unregistered underground priests, confiscated sacred objects and books, and threatened believers by deducting subsidies from the elderly and preventing their children from attending school. These were violations of China's constitution, it said, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on Children's Rights, the statement said. China's government was called on to immediately stop the seizure of house and underground churches, the suppression of religious personnel who have not registered with the government. It also called for halting the removal of crosses from churches, and the installation of video surveillance cameras in religious places. It also was urged to guarantee minors' religious freedom and to release all clerics and believers who have been arrested arbitrarily. This includes the apprehension of Bishop Su Zhimin and Father Liu Hong-geng of Baoding Diocese of Hebei province, Protestant ministers and house church leaders. The English version of the statement was to be sent to all consulates in Hong Kong and international human rights organizations in an effort to create international concern. (Image by Ulca08 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8126519)The Tetragrammaton YHWH, the name of God written in Hebrew, old church of Ragunda, Sweden Two-thirds of U.S. adults with a high school education or less say they believe in God as described in the Bible, but far fewer (53 percent) adults who have obtained some college education say they have the same belief, a new Pew Research Center survey shows. And among college graduates, fewer than half (45 percent) say they believe in the biblical God. The data also show that, compared with those with lower levels of educational attainment, college graduates are less likely to believe that God (or another higher power in the universe) is active and involved in the world and in their personal lives. For instance, while roughly half of college graduates (54 percent) say they have been rewarded by God, two-thirds of those with some college education (68 percent) and three-quarters of those with a high school education or less (75 percent) say this. And just one-third of college graduates say God determines all or most of what happens in their lives, far below the share who say this among those with less education. The Pew survey of more than 4,700 U.S. adults finds that one-third of Americans say they do not believe in the God of the Bible, but that they do believe there is some other higher power or spiritual force in the universe. A slim majority of Americans (56 percent) say they believe in God "as described in the Bible." And one-in-ten do not believe in any higher power or spiritual force. Virtually all U.S. Christians say they believe in God or a higher power of some kind. FAITH IN GOD Among evangelical Protestants, 91 percent put their faith in God "as described in the Bible," as do 92 percent of those in the historically black Protestant tradition. Most Catholics and mainline Protestants also believe in the God of the Bible, though sizable minorities within these groups say they believe in some other higher power or spiritual force. Like Christians, most Jews believe in a deity. But compared with Christians, Jews are much more likely to say they believe in a higher power other than the biblical God (56 percent), and much less likely to say they believe in God as described in the Bible (33 percent). And one-in-ten Jews say they do not believe in God or a higher power of any kind. The survey shows that a complete lack of belief is relatively uncommon even among religious "nones." Seven-in-ten religious "nones" say they believe in God or a higher power of some kind, including 17 percent who believe in the biblical God and 53 percent who believe in a different higher power or spiritual force. Self-described atheists are the only group surveyed in which a majority (81 percent) rejects belief in a higher power altogether, and even among atheists, roughly one-in-five (18 percent) say they believe in some spiritual force. Belief in God as described in the Bible is more common among women than men (61 percent vs. 50 percent), among older people than among younger adults, and among Republicans and those who lean toward the GOP than among Democrats (70 percent vs. 45 percent). 2018-05-04 Maeci I had a very constructive and fruitful talk with my fellow colleague, Vargas Maldonado, during his visit to Rome at the Italian-Latin America Institute for the high-level meeting on education at the Forum Italy-SICA, the Central American Integration System, currently chaired by the Dominican Republic. Relations between Italy and the Dominican Republic are historical and strong and founded on fruitful political dialogue. It is with much conviction that I decided to reopen the Italian Embassy in Santo Domingo in February 2017. In this connection, we are very interested in promoting stronger cooperation in the economic field especially in the energy and water sectors and in security and the fight against organised crime, said Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, after meeting today the Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Octavio Vargas Maldonado. 2018-05-04 Maeci The proposals the Commission put forward yesterday provide an excellent starting point for the discussions we will hold in the next few months with other EU member states and institutions. Our goal will be to approve a multi-annual financial framework as a strategic tool to address the priorities of the European Union. The EU Commission proposed a budget that goes beyond the psychological threshold of 1% of EU GDP, while considering the union must successfully tackle pressing challenges such as the migration crisis, security issues, common defence, innovation, and without ignoring important objectives such as social and territorial cohesion and support for quality agriculture. These are all common priorities the European Union must pursue by pooling its resources and energies, to address EU citizens concerns and regain their trust. The EU budget has a section dedicated to migration, which acknowledges the structural character of this phenomenon, thus supporting Italys demands for the EU to have a genuine common migration policy. It is also very positive that greater importance is attached to security and defence issues, and the unions external actions. However, there are continuing concerns about the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and its decreased potential: currently, the international framework is fragile, and we must not weaken cooperation with southern and eastern Mediterranean countries. There will need to be negotiations to restore specific ENP financial tools, apart from the funds dedicated to development aid. NEW YORK...May 3, 2018 - Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beer-Sheva, Israel have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of a robotic system that plays Tic Tac Toe with rehabilitation patients to improve real-life task performance. The interdisciplinary research team designed a game with a robotic arm to simulate "3D Functional Activities of Daily Living"--actions people undertake daily, like drinking from a cup, that are often a focus of rehabilitation. Click here to watch the video. Designing a social robot to help rehabilitate a patient is a new field which requires much research and experimentation in order to determine the optimal conditions. The research was published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. "Playing Tic Tac Toe with a set of cups (instead of X's and O's) is one example of a game that can help rehabilitate an upper limb," says Dr. Shelly Levy-Tzedek of BGU's Department of Physical Therapy, and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience. "A person can pick up and place many cups while enjoying a game and improving their performance of a daily task." Researchers compared study participants' motivation to play with a robot vs. a set of computer-controlled LED lights to determine the importance of interacting with an actual physical robot. They tested the system on 62 healthy right-handed people from two age groups: 40 young adults around 25 years old (23 women and 17 men) and 22 older adults around 75 years old (10 women and 12 men). Both groups preferred the robotic system over the LED lights system. The older adults said it was more human-like, while the young adults reported the robot "was more interesting, fun and appealing." When asked which partner they would prefer to play two additional games with, both groups selected the robotic system over the lights. However, when asked to play an additional 10 games, the older adults still preferred the robot, but the young group preferred to play against the LED lights system. "Some of the young adults complained that the robot moved too slowly; therefore, they preferred the quicker system when asked to play many more games," says Dr. Levy-Tzedek. "That indicates a need to personalize the speed of the robot to each participant." An unexpected finding was that the robot's movement influenced human movement. Both young and older adults moved significantly slower when they played with the slower robot compared to the faster lighting system. These results indicate that people are willing to continue to interact with a robotic device in a social-like setting, and that embodiment plays an important role, which is a positive sign for the future of such systems. Now that they have established feasibility, the researchers recommend testing their system on rehabilitating stroke victims. ### The research was led by Dr. Danny Eizicovits, a BGU postdoctoral fellow co-advised by Dr. Shelly Levy-Tzedek of the BGU Department of Physical Therapy and the Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Prof. Yael Edan of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, and Prof. Iris Tabak of the Department of Education. The research was partially supported by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, BGU's Agricultural, Biological and Cognitive Robotics Initiative and the Marcus Endowment Fund, as well as the Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut Chair in Manufacturing Engineering. Additional funding was provided by the Brandeis Leir Foundation, the Brandeis Bronfman Foundation, the Promobilia Foundation, the Borten Family Foundation, the Planning and Budgeting Committee I-CORE Program, and The Israel Science Foundation (ISF) (1716/12) through the Learning in a Networked Society (LINKS) center and grants number 535/16 and 2166/16. About American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion's vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University's expertise locally and around the globe. As Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) looks ahead to turning 50 in 2020, AABGU imagines a future that goes beyond the walls of academia. It is a future where BGU invents a new world and inspires a vision for a stronger Israel and its next generation of leaders. Together with supporters, AABGU will help the University foster excellence in teaching, research and outreach to the communities of the Negev for the next 50 years and beyond. Visit vision.aabgu.org to learn more. AABGU, which is headquartered in Manhattan, has nine regional offices throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.aabgu.org. Samuel Bader, a longtime materials scientist at the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, is one of three researchers to earn the 2018 prestigious Magnetism Award and Neel Medal of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. The award and medal are presented every three years to scientists who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of magnetism. The IUPAP Magnetism Award is recognition of the high ranking of Argonnes magnetism effort in the international community. Samuel Bader, longtime materials scientist at Argonne Bader, emeritus chief scientist for the Center for Nanoscale Materials at Argonne, will receive the honors with Ramamoorthy Ramesh of the University of California, Berkeley and Kang Wang of the University of California, Los Angeles. The 2018 Magnetism Award and Neel Medal will be presented at the International Conference of Magnetism in July in San Francisco. The medal comes with a prize of $6,000. I am honored and humbled, Bader said. The IUPAP Magnetism Award is recognition of the high ranking of Argonnes magnetism effort in the international community. The award and medal represent the highest honors given in the field of magnetism to scientists whose work has had a broad influence on the magnetism research community, according to Axel Hoffmann, Argonne senior materials scientist and senior group leader of the magnetic films group in Argonnes Materials Science division. Previous recipients include distinguished scientists, such as Nobel Laureates Albert Fert and Peter Grunberg. Sam Bader influenced the community in many ways, but most notably by developing magneto-optic Kerr effects as a powerful characterization tool for thin-film magnetism, Hoffmann said. This approach is now ubiquitous and is commonly used for standard magnetic characterization of a wide variety of magnetic systems. At Argonne, Bader served as magnetic films group leader for more than 25 years and as associate director of the Materials Science division for more than a decade. His recent research interests included creating and exploring novel spintronic systems. Baders honors include a DOE Basic Energy Sciences Award for Outstanding Achievement in Solid State Physics, the American Vacuum Society Thornton Memorial Award/Lecture and the American Physical Society David Adler Lectureship Award in the Field of Materials Physics. He served as chair of the American Physical Society Division of Condensed Matter Physics in 20112012 and chair of its Division of Materials Physics in 20042005. Currently, he is a councilor of the American Physical Society. Bader chaired the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratorys Advanced Light Source and served on the 2010 decadal study committee in condensed matter and materials physics for the National Research Council. ### Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website. It was a short-lived, somewhat chaotic scene in Geneva Thursday that marked the end point of nearly six decades of armed struggle by Basque separatist group ETA. Following a week of rumours and speculation that the group was preparing to formally declare its dissolution, the announcement was made at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) in Geneva. The centre, which for the past 15 years has been involved in mediating the Basque conflict, had attempted to keep the whole event under wraps. It had refused to respond to media enquiries or to confirm any kind of ceremony would take place. But after a leaked letter appeared to confirm the rumours Wednesday and media began camping out in front of the small centre, set in an idyllic park on the shores of Lake Geneva, its plans seemed to unravel. The centre had invited only the BBC, Swiss broadcaster RTS and a Basque television station to witness the ceremony, but under pressure agreed to allow in other journalists, who at the last minute tumbled into a room full of dignitaries. I can say that as of 1400 hours today, the 3rd of May, ETA has ceased to exist, David Harland, the executive director of the HD centre, told the crowd, before reading an official statement from ETA. No members of the group were present, although they simultaneously published an audio recording of the statement read in several languages by veteran, high-level ETA member Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea better known as Josu Ternera and who remains wanted by police and jailed ETA militant Marixol Iparraguirre. 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. ETA wishes to end a cycle of the conflict between the Basque Country and the Spanish and French states, it said. As he wrapped up his short speech, Harland reflected on how suddenly ETA, which has been blamed for the deaths of at least 829 people during its armed campaign, had ceased to exist. Thats it. It took us 15 years to get here, but its over in 15 minutes, he said. He asked the guests to gather for a drink in the adjourning room, and waved out the media. Okay, he said. Thank you very much for coming. That is the end of ETA. Switzerlands supreme court will help French authorities over a case of suspected tax evasion involving Monica Bellucci, who acted in the last James Bond film, media reports say. The Swiss Federal Court has agreed to a request for assistance by the French tax authorities for bank account information on financial assets held by Bellucci in Switzerland. The courts judgement, revealed by the site Gotham City on Thursday and reported in several media outlets, reveals that the 54-year-old Italian actress is suspected of tax evasion in France between 2011-2013. Bellucci had declared her fiscal residence to be London but the French authorities disagreed, as she was still with her now ex-husband Vincent Cassel at that point. It was also suspected that she had a secret account in Switzerland. A Swiss fiscal investigation found a safe and several accounts in a Swiss bank, of which a part was said to be linked to a shell company in the British Virgin Islands, the Tages-Anzeiger reported. Bellucci has been in the tax crosshairs since 2014. In 2016 she applied successfully to the Federal Administrative Court to stop the transfer of her Swiss banking information to France. The Swiss tax authorities appealed this judgement. Bellucci then took the case to the Federal Court. Belluccis French lawyer Marc Vaslin said that the French authorities never should have been allowed to start the proceedings. It does not concern a person resident in France who is hiding money in Switzerland, he was quoted in the Tages-Anzeiger as saying. Bellucci was not resident in France, he said. Tages-Anzeiger/Swiss media/ilj 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 ICRCs own security guards in Mogadishu, the kidnappers 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 OMalley, ICRCs deputy Somalia head. She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalias most vulnerable people. Nientiets 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. Bombings, assassinations, abductions Unlike many other international aid agencies working in Somalia, the ICRC does not base itself within the well-defended perimeter of Mogadishus airport, which is protected by African Union soldiers. The airport acts as the citys Green Zone housing foreign embassies and the United Nations which coordinates the humanitarian and political responses to Somalias crises. Germanys 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 worlds 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. str-tmc-fb/ach One of Britain's most-wanted fugitives was arrested by armed officers in Barcelona on Friday, the UK's National Crime Agency said. Jamie Acourt, 41, from south London, is wanted for alleged involvement in the large-scale supply of drugs, the NCA said. Acourt is a former suspect in the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry a killing that triggered far-reaching changes to British attitudes and policing. Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle attended a memorial on Monday marking the 25th anniversary of the racist murder of the black teenager, who was stabbed to death at a south London bus stop in 1993. Jamie Acourt was never tried in the Lawrence case and has always maintained his innocence. He was detained on a European Arrest Warrant as he left a Barcelona gym. Acourt is due to appear in court in Madrid early next week for an extradition hearing. Acourt thought he could evade capture but as a result of an intelligence-led operation his days on the run have ended, said Ian Cruxton, the NCAs international operations chief. We were able to direct the Spanish authorities to his location in Barcelona. Our ability to share information and work at speed with our international partners ensures there is no safe haven for fugitives. We will never stop pursuing these individuals. The NCA said he was the was the 81st fugitive to be located out of 96 publicised through Operation Captura, which targets Britains most wanted in Spain. Londons Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the arrest related to a 2016 investigation. Basque separatist group ETA sealed its formal dissolution Friday after a decades-long campaign of violence which left more than 800 people dead. But there are still outstanding issues to be resolved, among them a series of unsolved killings and the question of what, if anything, will be done about ETA prisoners and the dozens of group members still on the run. ETA fugitives There could be up to a 100 ETA members wanted by the authorities, according to Forum Social, a group close to the families of ETA prisoners. Among them are Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea Bengoetxea, also known as Josu Ternera, one of the groups top leaders and who read out its dissolution announcement. A former Basque region lawmaker, the Spanish authorities have been trying to track Josu Ternera down since 2002, linking him to an attack on a police barracks in the northern city of Zaragoza in 1987 which left 11 people dead, including children. Unsolved crimes According to the victims association Covite, there are 358 unsolved crime cases. Several such groups and the Spanish government want ETA to help settle them. Amnesty International also backs that call and on Thursday it said ETAs decision to disband in no way reduced its responsibility to close the book on the killings. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was uncompromising on Friday. ETAs crimes will continue to be investigated, its offences will continue to be tried in the courts, convictions will continue to be issued accordingly and the sentences will continue to be served, he said. The government previously put the death toll at 829 but now cites the figure of 853. The Basque Country University estimates that ETA was responsible for some 845 dead, while losing 62 of its own to far-right and paramilitary groups. Victims demand full ETA apology Victims groups have sharply criticised ETA for how it announced its dissolution, saying its apology for the violence did not go far enough to include all those who had died police and security forces as well as members of the public. Last month, ETA notably sought forgiveness but only from those victims who had had no responsibility for the conflict. In its dissolution statement, ETA made no mention of an apology, criticised both Spain and France, and reaffirmed its commitment to seeking independence for the Basque country this time via political means. We cannot accept that there are distinctions made between the victims, whoever they may be, said Jonan Fernandez of the Basque regional government. Prisoners As of April, some 279 ETA prisoners were held in Spain, France and Portugal, according to Etxerat, the association grouping prisoner families. The families have been demanding that they be held closer to the Basque Country so they could see them more easily, especially now that the separatist campaign is over. Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said Friday the authorities had no intention of changing its policy. In Spain, only four ETA members are held in the Basque Country, with the remaining 224 spread all over the country, some as far away as Andalusia, 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) to the south. France holds 50 in 16 different prisons and Portugal one. Of the total, 45 have been in jail for more than 20 years. ETA ends its days-long dissolution process Friday at a peace conference in the French Basque Country, putting paid to western Europe's last armed insurgency after more than four decades of violence. 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. The conference in the small southwestern French town of Cambo-les-Bains will be attended by international personalities such as Northern Irelands Gerry Adams. Gerry Adams, Powell ETA had already announced it would be fully disbanding in a letter leaked Wednesday in Spanish media, addressed to various groups and figures involved in recent peace efforts. On Thursday, it released a final declaration recorded by Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea, better known as Josu Ternera, a historic high-ranking ETA figure who has been on the run since 2002. In the recording, he announced that the separatist group had completely dismantled all its structures and put an end to all its political activity. Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders and a major drop in support among Basques, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. At the peace conference, Northern Irelands Gerry Adams, the former head of Sinn Fein once considered the political wing of the Irish Republican Army will be among several attendees. Adams was active in the Northern Ireland peace process which culminated with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern will also be present, as will Jonathan Powell, who once served as chief of staff for British leader Tony Blair. On the Spanish side, representatives of Basque nationalist party PNV, in power in the Spanish region, and far-left Podemos will also attend according to media reports. No impunity Since its ceasefire in 2011, ETA has wanted to follow the United Nations peace steps of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration into society, just like the FARC rebels in Colombia. But Madrid has refused to make any gesture of appeasement, under pressure from ETA victim associations. Spains conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday dismissed the announcement of ETAs disbanding as noise and propaganda and vowed there would be no impunity for the groups crimes. ETAs announcement has also been rejected by victims groups, who argue it should first and foremost condemn its history of violence and Basque separatists must stop paying public homage to militants as they are released from prison. They have also asked that light be shed on at least 358 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 stem the criticism. The victims are watching with pain and stupor how ETA is being allowed to direct this farce, the Victims of Terrorism Association (AVT) said in a statement. So to seal the last chapter of its history on Friday, ETA chose the French Basque Country, which it once used as a safe haven. Neither the Spanish Basque Countrys regional government, nor that of neighbouring Navarra, which is considered part of the wider Basque territories, have accepted invitations to attend. Going forward, the sensitive issue of ETAs 270 militants imprisoned across Spain and France will also need to be addressed. Separatist coalition EH Bildu, the second largest grouping in the Basque regional parliament, wants the prisoners to be transferred to jails that are closer to home and their families. Paris has started to make moves in that direction, but for now, Madrid will not hear of it. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy paid tribute on Friday to victims of the Basque separatist group ETA as it sealed its final dissolution. Rajoy spoke as ETA was ending its days-long dissolution process at a peace conference in the French Basque Country. Now that ETA has at last announced its disappearance, our first thought must be for the victims, for all of them without exception, without distinctions, Rajoy said in an address. On April 20 ETA asked forgiveness from its victims for the first time for the pain caused by its decades-long campaign of violence. Victims campaigners complained that the call for forgiveness did not extend to those the group considered legitimate targets, such as police officers and politicians. ETAs dissolution puts an end to western Europes last armed insurgency after more than four decades of violence. Created in 1959 at the height of Francisco Francos dictatorship, ETA was blamed for more than 800 hundreds of killings and numerous kidnappings. It waged an armed campaign for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. Rajoy warned that ETAs dissolution did not mean its fugitive members were off the hook. Convictions will continue to be executed, he said. There will be no impunity for crimes by former ETA members. Four hundred Afghan interpreters who served British armed forces in 13 years of combat operations will be allowed to remain in Britain free of charge, government ministers said on Friday. Home Secretary Sajid Javid made the announcement in one of his first moves in the post after a scandal over threatened deportations of Caribbean immigrants forced his predecessor Amber Rudd to step down. The local Afghan interpreters worked in dangerous and challenging situations, regularly putting their lives at risk, he said in a statement. 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. After being appointed on Monday, Javid had promised a fair and humane immigration system. Previously Afghan interpreters who performed their services sometimes at risk to themselves and their families faced a fee of 2,398 (2,715 euros, $3,248) to secure permanent settlement. More than 150 translators who served in Helmand province which saw some of the fiercest combat in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 wrote to ministers saying they had been left in limbo by the shameful and indefensible policy, according to British media. In total, the interior ministry says 400 interpreters are in Britain after being made redundant when the military drawdown of combat forces in Afghanistan started at the end of 2012. They were offered relocation as they faced particular danger in their role, the ministry said. Now those interpreters who have been in Britain for five years, as well as their families, will have the costs waived. In addition, the Home Office has committed to looking again at what can be done to make the process easier for Afghan interpreters to bring family members still in Afghanistan over to the UK, the statement said. Legislation required to enact the changes will be introduced in July. It clearly wasnt right that after putting their lives on the line for us that we then expected them to pay for the right to stay in this country, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson wrote in an editorial for The Times on Friday. British clothing retailer Calvetron has collapsed into administration, the group said Friday, placing more than 1,400 jobs in peril amid tough times on the UK high street. The group, whose history dates back to 1972 when it was founded by two east London tailors, currently has 997 staff in Britain plus 256 in Canada and 155 in Ireland. Calvetron which owns clothing brands Jacques Vert, Precis, Eastex and Dash and has 300 stores said in statement that it has appointed administrators Duff & Phelps. Calvetron chief executive Peter Ridler added that it suffered from a backdrop of extremely difficult trading conditions on the high street, rising costs and low customer confidence. Administration is the process whereby a troubled company calls upon independent expert financial help in an attempt to remain operational. 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 Britains 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 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 Britains 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 Thursdays 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. Trumps 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 presidents 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. Hong Kong's military-style youth groups rejected Chinese foot drills at an annual flag raising ceremony Friday despite pressure to change their marching traditions inherited from the British colonial era. The groups had received requests from Chinas liaison office in Hong Kong in recent weeks to change their foot drills to follow those used by the Peoples Liberation Army, which has a garrison in the semi-autonomous city. It comes as Hong Kongs freedoms are under increasing pressure from an assertive Beijing with authorities accused of trying to rewrite history. As 14 groups dressed in their different uniforms gathered Friday morning on the harbourfront in Hong Kong, only one used the PLA style. Weve been using British foot drills all this time. We dont have any plan to change them for the time being, said Colonel Matthew Wong of the Hong Kong Adventure Corps (HKAC), adding that they reflect the groups traditions and cultural background. HKAC was set up by some former staff of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment who had remained after Britain handed the city back to China in 1997. Senior Boys Brigade drill instructor Alex Fong said members had shown their concerns over the requests. Its foot drills originated in Scotland and have been used for almost six decades. The May 4 event marks student-led anti-imperialist protests in China in 1919 which reflected a surge in Chinese nationalism. Youth groups told AFP they had been invited to the liaison office and to a meeting at a restaurant with the event organiser to discuss changing their drill style for the ceremony. They were offered help with retraining. Last month, several youth groups were also invited to a four-day PLA foot drill training session at one of its barracks. Although HKAC keeps an open mind on learning new skills, Wong said the response had not be enthusiastic, with only 14 of HKACs 5000 members taking up the offer. Youth members who attended the ceremony said its not up to them to decide whether or not to change the foot drills in the future. We need to listen our Madame and Sirs decision, said Ms Ng, a Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps youth member, who had never learnt PLA foot drill. The one group that stuck with the PLA foot drill Friday was the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association (HKACA), set up in 2015, a year after massive student-led pro-democracy rallies in Hong Kong and seen by some observers as a tool to get Beijings message across to young people. But instead of using the PLAs ceremonial goose-step marching which the legs are lifted to knee-height off the ground with the knees bent, they used PLA quick march which looks more natural and relaxed. As a Chinese, attending a flag-raising ceremony of the Chinese and the HKSAR flags, I feel proud, said Ms Suen, who had joined HKACA two years ago. Hong Kongs government, loyal to Beijing, was this week reported to have erased all mention of a handover of sovereignty in reference to the end of British rule in 1997 from the website of its protocol division by the South China Morning Post. One senior Beijing official has also publicly called for the city to change its colonial era street names. Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said Friday it had turned the cold shoulder to two separate takeover bids by British Airways owner IAG, which recently acquired a 4.61 percent stake in the company. The board of Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) confirms that it has received two separate conditional proposals from IAG Group in relation to an acquisition of 100 percent of the share capital of NAS, it said in a statement. These proposals were reviewed in conjunction with NAS financial and legal advisers, and were unanimously rejected on the basis that they undervalued NAS and its prospects. In a presentation to investors on Friday, IAG said it has had contact with the Norwegian board regarding a possible offer, without reaching an agreement. The British company, which also owns Spanish airlines Iberia and Vueling, is now considering its options, it said Friday as it reported a first quarter net profit of 794 million euros ($950 million), up from 57 million euros a year earlier. The price of the Norwegian Air Shuttle share plunged by 9.9 percent on the Oslo stock exchange on Fridays news, though the price was still up more than 59 percent compared to a month ago. Long-haul and low-cost Speculation rose about a possible takeover of Norwegian, Europes third-biggest low-cost company behind Ryanair and EasyJet, after IAG announced on April 12 that it had acquired the 4.61 percent stake. On April 26, Norwegian said it had received several inquiries on the heels of IAGs flirt, but refused to disclose the courters identities. Norwegian is one of the few low-cost airlines to have ventured into long-haul flights, which has long been the preserve of major carriers, and has been rapidly adding routes. But it is also heavily indebted and recently ran into financial turbulence in its bid to rapidly expand. In March, it raised 1.3 billion Norwegian kroner (135 million euros, $161.3 million) in a private placement of shares in order to ease financial pressure. Norwegian has ordered dozens of the latest fuel-efficient aircraft from Airbus and Boeing as part of its plans to expand in coming years and gain a cost edge against rivals. It is planning to divest up to 140 aircraft by putting the newest ones into a leasing structure, which would free up cash, and sell some older ones once it receives newer models. In the first quarter, Norwegian significantly cut its net loss to 46 million kroner against nearly 1.5 billion a year before, thanks to an exceptional capital gain. The operating loss, however, rose to 2.2 billion against 1.7 billion in the first three months of 2017, while revenue climbed 33 percent to nearly 7 billion kroner. phy/po/ser 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. As the U.S. armed services prepare to celebrate this weekend at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, they probably have never been more important to the Alamo City. Which is saying something. A military presence started at the beginning 300 years ago, when Spanish expeditions explored the area and helped establish San Antonio. There would be many more garrisons, with armies and uniforms changing over time. In the modern era, World War II and the Cold War spurred the U.S. militarys explosive growth, so much so that San Antonio got a nickname, and it stuck. Military City, U.S.A. The military is a defining part of San Antonios identity, said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Our communitys commitment to serving our nation is one of the most important and proudest parts of our 300 years as a city. Fort Sam, which saw a huge influx in construction and new missions with the 2005 base closure round, will host Military Appreciation Weekend events from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday at the posts sprawling MacArthur Parade Field. Its open to everyone, and will feature performances by the Black Daggers Parachute Demonstration Team, a 1st Cavalry Division re-enactment group and hourly historic tours of the post. It closes with a fireworks display Sunday night. More Information Military Appreciation Weekend Festivities are planned Saturday and Sunday at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Day 1 - May 5, Founders Day 11 a.m. Festival opens on Parade Field No. 2 Noon-4 p.m. Hourly historic tours Noon-1 p.m. Navy Band "Destroyers" 3:59 p.m. Black Daggers Parachute Team 4 p.m. Navy Working Dog and medical corpsman demonstration 4:30 p.m. Army Fife and Drum Corps 4:45 p.m. 1st Cavalry Division re-enactment 5 p.m. U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill 5:45 p.m. Air Force flyover Day 2 - May 6, Military Appreciation Day 1 p.m. Festival opens on Parade Field No. 2 1 p.m. Navy Band "Destroyers" 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Hourly historic tours 2 p.m. Polo match at Parade Field No. 3 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Joint Forces Retreat ceremony at Parade Field No. 1 6:29 p.m. Black Daggers Parachute Demonstration Team 6:30 p.m. Aaron Watson concert 8:55 p.m. Remarks from Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan. See More Collapse The military competes with tourism and medicine as the region's No. 1 economic driver. Joint Base San Antonio's two Air Force bases, Randolph and Lackland, along with Fort Sam, generate $28 billion a year. Randolph is an instructor flying training hub, Lackland is the center of Air Force basic training and Fort Sam now is home to joint medic instruction for the armed services. The closure commission, or BRAC, created Joint Base San Antonio, a single logistical command that oversees 80,000 workers. Many of the new missions were in medicine, but the Army's Installation Management Command also came to Fort Sam. Brooke Army Medical Center, with the only burn facility in the Department of Defense, saw a 760,000-square-foot, $700 million expansion part of a $3 billion BRAC-fueled construction boom that helped San Antonio weather the worst of the Great Recession. Yet Fort Sam had been in danger of closing, its many medical missions at risk of moving to installations around the country. Its rescue illustrated the oldest of local traditions civic leadership that values the military. Previous closure rounds had seared the psyche of city leaders. Kelly AFB, home for decades to a largely Hispanic, blue-collar civil service workforce, was closed in 2001. It had employed 25,000 people at its peak, maintaining planes that ranged from the B-29 Superfortress, a World War II-era bomber, to the C-5A Galaxy, a giant cargo jet. Some buildings at Fort Sam were a century old and hundreds of them were dilapidated a problem underscored one day in a dining hall, when a possum fell through the ceiling, landing on a combat medic trainees lunch tray. We werent even serving possum that day, Dave Davis, at the time the chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, recalled a lieutenant colonel telling him. The post-Cold War peace dividend brought congressional budget caps in the late 1990s that had the armed services yearning to jettison aging or underutilized bases. Local leaders worried that meant Fort Sam and Brooks AFB, a research facility that played a central role in supporting NASA early in its manned space program. They had help from Hutchison, who became a close collaborator with Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, San Antonios mayors and others. Hearing about the possum incident, she funneled $2 million in military construction funding for a new dining hall. The Army renovated the existing facility instead. The problem was bigger than one building. An estimated 900 structures on the post required extensive repairs. The original BAMC building, built during the Depression and replaced in 1996, sat vacant. Brig. Gen. James Peake, who would rise to three-star general before heading the Veterans Administration under President George W. Bush, told Davis that the new BAMC was deliberately built off Interstate 35 near Salado Creek so the Army could close Fort Sam without affecting the hospital. That was telling, Davis said. It got my attention. Even before the 2005 BRAC, Peake and local leaders developed a plan to use private contractors to renovate buildings and lease them to the Army, a strategy that helped San Antonio convince the Army to relocate U.S. Army South from Puerto Rico to Fort Sam in 2003. A variation of that deal created Brooks City-Base, where the city took responsibility for maintaining buildings on the old South Side research installation and leased them back to the Air Force. It was meant to save the base from closure, but the Air Force left Brooks six years after the 2005 BRAC realigned its science mission. Still, the city gained time to help redevelop Brooks into a thriving business park. It wasnt the first time a collaborative relationship led the U.S. militarys growth here. The two companies of U.S. Army dragoons that arrived eight months before Texas joined the union in 1846 followed Republic of Texas volunteers, the Mexican army and Spaniards who established the city in 1718. Ahead of them was war with Mexico, then the Civil War. Only three years after that bitter conflict ended, city leaders were alarmed to hear the Army was thinking of shutting down its Texas headquarters. The departure of the Army from San Antonio, a Fort Sam history stated, was seen as an economic disaster for the city. A council-appointed committee worked out a deal. The city donated 92 acres and in 1876 the Army began building a new quartermaster supply depot now known as the Quadrangle at Fort Sam. Other deals helped secure the original Kelly Field. Randolph, the West Point of the Air, came to life after the city and San Antonio Chamber of Commerce arranged local bank loans to raise about $550,000. The first enlisted barracks were up by 1930. San Antonio can never afford to take our military ties for granted, said Nirenberg, who will speak Sunday at Fort Sam. The military is in the fabric of the city. sigc@express-news.net The conical, 11-foot-tall space capsule housed in a vast warehouse at NASAs Johnson Space Center lacks seats, oxygen systems and parachutes, making it unable to support human life while shooting through the atmosphere at thousands of miles per hour. But it doesnt need to. A year from now, NASA officials based here will see whether this simplified version of the Orion, the spacecraft meant to take humans to Mars, will separate from a booster rocket in half a second at 31,000 feet. If it can, Orions eventual crew of four astronauts could escape if the rocket explodes. This is a really exciting time to be on the NASA team, astronaut Nicole Mann said. Im sure you can sense the excitement; we are sending humans further into deep space than we have ever done before this is a really exciting idea for America and all of the world. Work on Orions launch abort system is just one of numerous ways the Houston center is helping America in its quest for deep space exploration. And that work is ramping up as NASA, with the support of President Donald Trump, pushes toward its goal of sending astronauts around the moon by 2023 and in the vicinity of Mars by the 2030s. Space travel is risky, but we want to make it as safe as we can, Jon Olansen, ascent abort-2 crew module project manager, said in an interview. Were doing the best we can to demonstrate that we have a system that will protect the crew in case of emergency. The Orion capsule was part of NASAs Constellation Program, a brainchild of the George W. Bush administration to send astronauts back to the moon as a stepping stone for Mars. But in 2010, President Barack Obama ended the program, saying it was too costly and inefficient. But Orion ultimately was spared as a next-generation capsule for Mars missions. The Obama administration then added the Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built, to send Orion to space. Obama aimed to get astronauts to an asteroid by 2025 and then near Mars by the 2030s. But since Trump took office, theres been a shift back toward Bushs initial vision of going to the moon then Mars. His $19.9 billion proposed budget for the next fiscal year tasks NASA with launching an uncrewed Orion flight by 2021, followed by a launch of Americans around the moon in 2023. We believe theres a lot we need to test and learn from the moon before we move on to Mars, said Ellen Ochoa, the Johnson Space Centers director. NASA officials hope to launch the uncrewed flight in December 2019, but that will likely slip to June 2020 in part because of construction delays with the SLS rocket. There also are issues with the platform that will launch the SLS into orbit. The tower, called the Mobile Launcher, is now leaning to one side, although NASA has said it is structurally sound and does not need emergency corrective action. But first the emergency systems will be tested. And thats where Johnson comes in. The April 2019 test of Orions launch abort system will last just three minutes, but officials say it will be among the most important three minutes in the buildup to human launch in the 2020s. The half-second separation of capsule from rocket at 31,000 feet is important in case the rocket explodes and the crew needs to escape to safety, Olansen added. This test is of one of Orions prime safety features, said Annette Hasbrook, assistant manager for the Orion spacecraft. It will take place after launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Johnson personnel will spend the next year outfitting the capsule with the minimum systems needed for a successful test, such as flight computers and communication systems. It also will include about 800 data sensors. Because the capsule will lack many systems and objects the real Orion will have when it launches humans, Johnson personnel must make sure the capsule has the same mass distribution as the real Orion. When completed, Orion will weigh about 22,000 pounds. About 220 personnel are working on this simplified capsule. Additional capsules for the unmanned and crewed missions are under construction. The SLS rocket, as well as the ground systems for launch, are being developed simultaneously. The U.S. Government Accountability Office in October raised concerns over this simultaneous approach because it means the people responsible for monitoring safety concerns also are responsible for keeping the projects on schedule and budget. They could be less likely to flag risks that cost time and/or money because theyre grading their own homework an approach that was part of the broken safety culture that investigators found contributed to the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster that killed all seven crew members, the report continued. The GAO report quotes NASA officials as saying their work keeping Orion on budget while developing its safety systems was working well because they had the right people capable of considering different safety options. Meanwhile, Johnson personnel also are designing Orions cockpit and flight software, spacesuits and parachutes. Johnson is home to the nations astronaut corps, where human space flight research and training take place. It is also home to the international space station mission operations and the Orion program. Here at JSC, were really in the thick of things, Ochoa said. Johnson received the simplified capsule last month from NASAs Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where personnel built, weighed and balanced it. NASA will not reuse this crew module once the test is complete, letting it fall back to Earth and sink to the bottom of the ocean where it will likely become a reef, Olansen said. That, or Jeff Bezos or someone like him will pull it out of the ocean. Bezos, Amazons chief executive, mounted an expedition in 2013 in which he fished major components of Apollo 11s F-1 rocket engine off the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, according to a new book by Christian Davenport, The Space Barons: Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos. The number of homeless people living on the streets of San Antonio has dramatically increased since last year, according to an annual tally done on a single night in January. The Point-in-Time Count, which determines how much federal money the city and Bexar County receive to battle homelessness, found that the number of street homeless zoomed from 441 in 2017 to 705 on Jan. 25, 2018, when teams spread out to survey those living in outdoor encampments, cars, bus stations, abandoned buildings and other unsheltered places. The count doesnt include those receiving services on that single night at the Haven for Hope courtyard, an outdoor area attached to the citys homeless center that offers food, showers and safe sleeping but is considered unsheltered by the federal government. The number of people at the courtyard declined from last year 661 to 648 although it remained at capacity, officials said. But overall, the number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people increased from last year, growing from 2,743 to 3,066. A homeless person is considered sheltered if they live an emergency shelter, transitional living center or other type of housing paid for by a public or private agency. Bill Hubbard, executive director of the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, which oversees the count, said officials dont know why the number of street homeless increased so much or why the overall number saw an uptick. We dont go that deep asking specific questions (on the counts survey form) about why the person is homeless or how they got there, he said. We dont have enough data. But in the months ahead, were going to be working with our stakeholders to address the increase and see how we can fill the gaps in services. The count is a single nights snapshot of homelessness, Hubbard said at a Thursday news conference announcing the numbers, and isnt necessarily predictive of major trends. Still, this years tally revealed some troubling developments, he said. Specifically, the number of unsheltered youths ages 18 to 24 grew 59 percent, from 64 to 102. Research shows that homeless youths tend to be runaways, youths fleeing foster care or kids asked to leave home by their parents for whatever reason, Hubbard said. Studies show that many homeless youths are lesbian, gay or transgender and have been kicked out because of their sexual or gender orientation. The community has an obligation to provide housing and services to our homeless youth, who are prone to substance abuse and criminality, Hubbard said. They cost our community a lot. One bright spot in the statistics was a 27 percent decline in the number of chronic homeless, from 652 to 479, he said. A person is considered chronically homeless if theyve been homeless repeatedly or for at least one year and if they struggle with mental illness, substance abuse or a disability. The coordinated efforts of community partners helped bring the chronic number down, Hubbard said, just as it helped reduce the number of homeless veterans in San Antonio, whose number hovered around 230 in 2018, just as it did in 2017. Before than, more than 300 vets struggled with long-term homelessness, a 2016 count showed. The survey also showed that only 14 percent of those living on the streets said they were from other cities. Of those, only 7 people said their homelessness resulted from a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Harvey. Our homeless are our families, our neighbors, Hubbard said. The count results will be used in continuing efforts by the city, county and various community agencies and faith-based groups to better address homelessness and increase outreach efforts. Plans include applying for federal funding that would target homeless youths, as well as joining in city efforts to bring more affordable housing to San Antonio. Right now, there is one outreach worker for every 150 homeless people, and you just cant (be effective) with those kinds of ratios, Hubbard said. CORRECTION: This report was corrected to show that only seven people attributed their homelessness to a natural disaster. Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | mstoeltje@express-news.net | @mstoeltje The importance of San Antonios Spanish heritage will take center stage Saturday when the 1718 San Antonio Founding Families and Descendants celebrate at the Spanish Governors Palace, 105 Plaza de Armas, from 10 a.m. to noon. The free event, known as La Entrada, is dedicated to raising awareness of the history behind the original naming of the place that became San Antonio, with the founding of a Spanish mission and presidio in 1718, as well as the story of the Alamo (originally Mission San Antonio de Valero) and the governors palace. In English, entrada means an expedition or journey into unexplored territory. The 1718 San Antonio Founding Families and Descendants, a nonprofit heritage organization made up primarily of the descendants of early Spanish explorers, is dedicated to ensuring that the role that early Spanish expeditions played in the formation of the city is not lost to history. Our goal is to create community awareness that San Antonio would not exist as we have it today if were not for the Spanish, said Jo Anne Gonzalez Murphy, president of the group. The event will feature the reading of the names of Spanish soldiers and their families that helped establish a military settlement in San Antonio, along with a historical re-enactor dressed as the Spanish governor, Martin de Alarcon, reading excerpts from the diary of Friar Francisco Celiz. Dancing, music and descendants dressed in historical garb will round out the festivities. Spanish roots in Texas are rich, Murphy noted, from the early accounts of explorers Cabeza de Vaca in 1528 and Alonso De Leon in 1689 to the presidio soldiers and Franciscan friars who named San Antonio. People are finding out our city had a long history before the Canary Islanders arrived, she said, referring to the 16 families from a set of islands off the northwestern coast of Africa that are recognized as founders of the first civil government in Texas, that being San Antonio, in 1731. The first European Spaniards were responsible for introducing a host of things to the Americas, the SAFFDs website notes: the first longhorn cattle, horses, saddles, vaquero (cowboy) hats, boots, spurs, lariats, rodeos, ranching and livestock methods, and cattle drives. Murphy said her group respectfully acknowledges the role indigenous peoples played in this area prior to the arrival of the Spanish, peoples with whom the Spanish would later marry, their bloodlines intertwining. The (Spanish) way of life, ideals, government and self-confidence continue on through this day and is seen through (the citys) people, food, music, lifestyle, culture, architecture, government and the concept of what Texas stands for, the organizations website says. Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | mstoeltje@express-news.net | @mstoeltje 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. 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. 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 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 would be expected to raise about $70 million, including about $6 million from public coffers. We discussed the economic impacts and the overall impacts of a political convention in San Antonio, Nirenberg said after emerging from the executive session. I will tell you that as a whole, the City Council did not believe that moving forward with the bid was worth it. He said there was no discussion about politics, and the discussion centered on economic issues. Objectively speaking, while the economic impacts proposed are eye-opening, there is a reason why the city of San Antonio has not bid on a political convention of this nature for 20 years and why so few cities in this country see that this season is even worth it. The only city to come forward publicly so far with hopes of landing the 2020 RNC is Charlotte, North Carolina. Among the topics discussed during the closed-door meeting were the impacts that the convention would have on traffic and neighborhoods, commuters and residents, the mayor said. Nirenberg said the council did not discuss a bid for the 2020 Democratic National Convention, but that his position would be the same. 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. Brockhouse, a consistent castigator of Nirenberg, was as critical of the mayor as hes ever been. I think its another stunning lack of leadership for Mayor Nirenberg. We have great opportunities that come our way because were a fantastic city, he said. We cannot continue to miss big opportunities like this. Brockhouse acknowledged there was no discussion of political issues, but that several of his colleagues had said publicly that they were concerned the GOPs politics might cause strife and even violence. If youre a Republican, or youve voted Republican in the city of San Antonio, youre not welcome here, according to this City Council. Several members have made points, including the mayor, that they dont want that type of disruption not a traffic disruption theyre specifically referring to a political disruption and a political agenda, he said. It is drastically clear that Republicans are not welcome in the city of San Antonio. Next month, the Texas GOP will hold its political convention in San Antonio. Councilman Rey Saldana rejected Brockhouses statement that Republicans are unwelcome here. Were going to be welcoming the Texas State Republican Convention, and even though I have ideological and policy differences with somebody like the governor of the state, the councilman said, he hasnt gone out of his way to disrespect disabled people, he hasnt gone out of his way to disrespect transsexual people, he hasnt gone out of his way to disrespect women or disrespect immigrants the way that the president has. The RNC issue has come to the forefront because party leaders asked for a bid from San Antonio, and the GOP representative in charge of site selection visited the city in March to personally ask leaders here to consider submitting a bid. At a late-March lunch, when Ron Kaufman, 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 apparently was 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 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 there appeared to be renewed interest in San Antonio and convened Thursdays executive session. Meanwhile, local business leaders have circulated a couple of letters, insisting theres a strong desire to bring the convention to San Antonio and solicit the requisite funds for hosting the event. One letter claims the RNC has relieved the city of a requirement to put up public dollars toward the cost of the convention. Historically the city and county would each allocate $2 (million) 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. Aldrete disputes City Halls version of what has happened since the RNC first made contact about the convention late last year. The RNC overnighted a letter to the mayor, he said. And site-selection committee members made two trips here. The mayor declined an invitation to the first, Aldrete said in the letter, and attended the luncheon on March 23 with Kaufman and others. Aldrete, who attended the lunch, said Nirenberg made it very clear that he was not interested in this, that he had strong concerns over cost and security issues. The business leaders, who would become the core of the host committee if San Antonio submitted a bid, tried to allay his concerns, in part by saying Congress typically allocates about $50 million in funding to cover security costs and that the host committee was committed to raising 100 percent of the roughly $70 million needed. Aldrete acknowledged the $6 million or so that usually comes from local tax dollars is seen as skin in the game, but that the RNC is more concerned about full funding than whether its split between the public and private sectors. And the RNC never lost interest in San Antonio, he said the city lost interest in the RNC. A frustrated Aldrete said the decision signals how the council feels about the business community. I can tell you this I think what this council has shown is that it is showing more and more that theyre an anti-business council, he said in an interview. Meanwhile, Parscale was tweeting something similar. Reacting to a breaking-news message on Twitter from a local TV reporter, Parscale re-tweeted the post and topped it with his own remarks: Weak-kneed Ron. A city council of left-wing activists destroying the economy of #SanAntonio. @Ron_Nirenberg and city council just made the business community their enemy. Have fun with that. Indeed, a majority of the council apparently had no interest in the deal Thursday. Saldana, the longest-serving member of the council, said he was cognizant, too, of the impact the convention would have on his constituents. Its hard for me to disrespect the people I represent, especially those who have been most marginalized and vilified by the person at the top of this ticket. To say to them: Well, you know what, all of those things I know you feel disrespected and emotional about this, but in two years, were going to get an economic boost for a week, he said. That, for me, is not cutting it for people who feel completely disrespected by the top of the administration in this case, the president. AUSTIN - Plans for the Democratic gubernatorial debate hit a snag Thursday, but organizers say the show will go on. Former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez and Houston businessman Andrew White are scheduled to debate on May 11. Organizers had projected the event would take place at the University of Texas at Austin. But university spokesman Gary Susswein said Thursday that the debate, which is hosted by a coalition of political groups, cant take place on campus. UT rules do not permit external groups to host debates, speakers or other events on campus and do not allow student organizations to serve as a conduit for outside groups that organize such events, Susswein said in a statement. Outside groups could host a debate in a university-owned space that is available to rent, he added. James Lee, point person for the debate, said it still will occur on May 11. The campaigns have committed to continue with a debate in Austin, no matter the eventual location. Since news broke about the debate we have received an overwhelming number of additional offers across the city, Lee said. Valdez and White are competing in the May 22 runoff for the Democratic nomination to face Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in November. Peggy Fikac is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | pfikac@express-news.net | @pfikac Mary Wilson, the minister and mathematician running for Congress in District 21, approaches the issue of gun reform as a concerned mother. Bronze Star recipient turned entrepreneur Joseph Kopser, Wilsons Democratic primary runoff opponent, views politics as an extension of his military career and has used his service as a backdrop to conversations about guns. Those backgrounds converged when Wilson and Kopser were asked at an April KTSA forum about the issue, one on which they largely agree. Kopser began: Its more than just what I would support and push for, but its the position that I come from. He believes combat veterans are best suited to call out Congress members hiding behind the talking points of the NRA leadership, he later said in an interview. Wilson disagreed with Kopsers premise. Its not just someone who has military experience that has a position in which to speak on that I dont want my daughter to be on a list of victims like weve seen from Columbine to Parkland to any other place, Wilson said at the forum. Related: Lamar Smith puts weight behind Chip Roy on the campaign trail The exchange illustrated a dynamic thats played out in the eight weeks since Wilson and Kopser finished first and second, respectively, in the March 6 primary: Though they line up on most issues, the two candidates have vastly different biographies, which in turn shape their approach to voters including moderate conservatives in the general election. The distinction matters because, most agree, the eventual nominee will need to scoop up some of the Republicans who voted for retiring incumbent Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, but are now disillusioned with President Donald Trump and the direction of the party. Smith rarely faced serious Democratic opposition in the district, which runs from San Antonio to Austin and into the Hill Country. But after announcing he wont seek another term, Smith will be replaced on the ballot by either Matt McCall or Chip Roy, two Republicans in the May 22 runoff opposite Wilson and Kopser. Background aside, Wilson and Kopser differ in several ways. Kopser has outraised Wilson about 16-to-1 this campaign. Kopser supports fracking as a realistic bridge to clean energy, an idea Wilson rejects. She supports re-electing Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic leader, while Kopser wants to see other options. Wilson, the only woman among the remaining candidates, believes many of her realistic Republican targets would be female voters put off by Trumps various statements about women. Lets not forget that Donald Trump still has a very high approval rating within the Republican Party, Wilson said in an interview. So, were not going to get this massive Republican vote. But I do think we will get some. And I think that where it will come from are from the female voters around the country who are looking at alternatives to what they are seeing. And for them, some of it is behavior they dont like coming from the president that continues to be disturbing to them, maybe even more than policy. Read more: Kopser dilemma plays out in Dist. 21 debate On the campaign trail, Kopser has commonly said he can point out and highlight those things we share in common rather than those things that divide us, as he claimed during a forum on WOAI. At the end of the day, what independents and moderate Republicans are looking for is less chaos, less unpredictability and more understanding from their government about what their daily lives are like with jobs, education and our kids future, Kopser said. He has not shied away from telling Democratic primary voters he was a Republican in high school, yet on his website says he supports the Houses single-payer health care bill and has taken other positions atypical of centrist candidates. Wilson said she had never heard Kopser actually discuss Medicare for All, and given the issues he had with people writing policy for him on his website I dont know his website is consistent with what Ive heard him say. But on TPR Thursday, Kopser advocated for a greater emphasis on preventative care, saying were already paying for universal health care ... in the least efficient way possible. Meanwhile, Kopser believes he can connect with crossover voters by way of his entrepreneurship background. Thats part of his pitch ahead of the May 22 election. The question remaining to the (primary) voters is, who do they think has built those bridges to the communities in Texas 21 that we need to win? Kopser said. And I say, that with my experience in business building a company from scratch, creating jobs, struggling through the early days of being able to pay the rent, pay employees, and to pay your taxes, that that's something that a majority of the voters can identify with. Highlighting her background as a minister, Wilson said she eschews the transactional approach to politicking that some candidates largely Republicans, she argued fall into. I think what will resonate is that when I get up and talk about how I want our kids to have good education, I do it from the perspective of, Thats your child, thats my child, thats my grandchild, Wilson said. I do it from the relational point of view as opposed to a transactional point of view. And so I think when you look at potential independents and disenfranchised Republicans who would be crossing over or interested in voting Democrat, my perspective, I firmly believe, is the one that they will find most appealing. Perhaps unsurprisingly, neither Kopser nor Wilson believes the other could win in November. Winning the seat is considered an uphill battle for any Democrat because the district was drawn to favor Republicans, and has not elected a Democrat since the 1970s. Kopser said winning the seat will require a perfect alignment of message, machinery and resources. To that point, hes raised more than $1.1 million during the campaign, more than the other three runoff candidates combined and far more than Wilsons $71,000 haul. This is serious business. We have to get a message out to voters who have been disenchanted, voters who feel like the system is leaving them behind, voters who are busy in their daily lives with multiple jobs, multiple kids who aren't paying attention. If not, they're not going to know that there is an option, he said, stressing the typically low-budget nature of midterm elections. But Wilson beat Kopser on March 6 with a small fraction of his funds, and she believes her background as an educator and now minister careers built on bringing people together to care about one another, she said will have broad appeal because those ideals arent necessarily partisan. Related: Democrats hoping to knock off GOP incumbents with veterans Wilson further said she sees parallels between the candidates backgrounds and the way they approach campaigning and, specifically, fundraising. I think my mantra of people before profits is indicative of the difference between us. What Joseph is good at is making money, and thats not a judgment statement one way or the other. But that is not what motivates me. What motivates me is caring about the people involved, she said. Kopser said he didnt think any of the other Democrats previously in the race, including third- and fourth-place finishers Derrick Crowe and Elliott McFadden, could beat the Republican nominee. So, this has nothing to do with Mary. This has everything to do with the fact that this is about trying to find the right candidate to fit this district, Kopser said. On the topic of who can drum up more enthusiasm among liberals, including those who dont typically vote in midterm elections, Wilson believes she has the advantage. Im actually bringing the Democratic Party together. I do have the support of the left of the party, and they will come out and vote for me in November, she said. And quite frankly, theyre not going to do that in large numbers or with any enthusiasm for the challenger in this race. Kopser disagrees, and he laid out his message in simple terms one he thinks can touch both the progressive and moderate conservative cohorts likely needed to win. Our message is something that people want to get behind. It's about common-sense reform, it's about making progress on the issues important to us and not going backward one inch on the issues we've gone forward on in the past, he said. It's about bringing people together to find solutions, and it is about reminding folks that we have more in common than what separates us. Jasper Scherer is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | jscherer@express-news.net | @jaspscherer 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 Retiring U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith has begun to hit the campaign trail for Chip Roy, a Republican seeking Smiths District 21 seat, and plans to do everything (Roy) feels will be helpful between now and November to help him win, the longtime congressman said in an interview. Roy first has to make it past his May 22 primary runoff against Matt McCall, a Boerne resident who ran unsuccessfully against Smith in the 2014 and 2016 primaries. Roy has served under several well-known Texas Republicans, including as Sen. Ted Cruzs chief of staff. Im going to do everything I can to help him win the runoff, said Smith, R-San Antonio. He speaks well and listens well and will be the stronger candidate in November. Smith hosted a San Antonio fundraiser lunch for Roy on April 23, and he cited tentative plans to host another event in Austin within the next couple of weeks. Smith has also endorsed Roy, attended meetings at Republican clubs with him and sent out fundraising appeals to constituents on Roys behalf. McCall said he thought Smith was being vindictive in backing Roy, and argued that Smiths support is less a statement on Roy than retaliation for the primary challenges, because Smith didnt like being held accountable. As evidence, he said Smith didnt weigh in on the primary during the first round, when McCalls path to victory was murkier. Related: Distinct backgrounds shape Democratic runoff between Kopser, Wilson for District 21 I ran against Lamar, and Im not running against Lamar now. And I appreciate his service. But it was never personal. I simply talked about his voting record and the results. He, however, seems to have taken it very personally, McCall said. Smith insisted thats not the case, saying his backing of Roy really isnt personal, but he added, I just think we need someone whos been active in the Republican party and not in it for himself. The outgoing congressmans support holds weight because of his historically broad support in the conservative-learning district. It covers parts of the North Side all the way past downtown Austin, and extends west into the Hill Country. Roy finished with 27 percent of the vote to McCalls 17 percent in the 18-candidate March 6 primary. Smith has served continuously here 1987, often winning primary and general elections by overwhelming margins. He announced in November he would not seek re-election, basing his decision largely on the GOPs self-imposed committee chairmanship term limits that would have forced him out of the Science Committee chair. Roy cited Smiths work in that role, particularly his positions on the hysteria around climate change, as a key area where the two Republicans agree. He also recalled favorably Smiths efforts to refocus our conversation on an immigration system thats America First and built on the back of strong border security. He's been extraordinarily gracious in his time and willingness to lend a hand to my campaign, go out on the trail, as well as help with fundraising both making calls and doing events, Roy said. He's been a champion of a lot of the issues I care about. Smith and Roy overlapped when Roy served as counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee during Smiths tenure atop that committee on the House side. Roy said he worked closely with Smith and his staff on matters of immigration and constitutional issues, including federalism and the balance of power, for which Roy is a staunch advocate. Smith said Roys views on those issues resonated with him, particularly on the matter of states rights. I couldnt agree with him more, Smith said. Just because youre part of the federal government doesnt mean you dont respect states rights, or respect federalism, or individuals rights, all of which I do and he does. Read more: Kopser dilemma plays out in Dist. 21 debate Roy also interacted with Smith while working as Cruzs chief of staff. The Texas Senator stumped for Roy Tuesday at Krauses Cafe in New Braunfels, and mentioned Roys involvement, along with Smith, in opposing the controversial Gang of Eight bipartisan immigration bill. McCall further noted that Smith, aside from not showing up to candidate debates during their campaigns, had not given him a fair shot to make his case, unlike others who have endorsed him like San Antonio billionaire B.J. Red McCombs. Hes never said, Matt, lets talk, McCall said of Smith. A guy thats never spent an hour interviewing me somehow knows that Chips a better candidate. During the runoff, McCall has been largely critical of Roy for living outside the district, working in the Washington swamp and overplaying his role in accomplishments by Cruz and other bosses. He criticized Smith for backing a candidate who would move the seat to another congressional district, referring to Roys residency. McCall has also pledged to limit himself to three terms in the House, a contrast to Smiths long tenure. I dont think you send someone from the swamp, that has all of the D.C. endorsements, to go fix it, McCall said. And the fact that Lamar Smith has been there for 32 years, and he's picking a guy that wants to go for 20 years, should tell people something. The Republican nominee will face either Mary Wilson, a minister and former math professor, or Joseph Kopser, an Army veteran and entrepreneur. Democrats are eyeing the seat with renewed vigor absent Smiths powerful incumbency advantage and amid hopes of high Democratic turnout spurred by opposition to President Donald Trump. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report reclassified the district as likely Republican from solidly Republican earlier this year. Related: City rejection of RNC complicates relationship with business community Smith downplayed the idea that his early support for Roy is an indication hes being careful about December. I think this is a district that is going to elect a credible Republican. I think (Roy) will win in November, but you dont take anything for granted, Smith said. Depending on who the Democrats nominate, he continued, then paused and chose his words carefully. Well wait and see. I just dont think the district is going to elect a liberal Democrat. Jasper Scherer is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | jscherer@express-news.net | @jaspscherer Five years ago, CJ Grisham was hiking in Bell County with an assault rifle slung across his torso when a Temple police officer pulled up behind him. Video of the incident shows the officer grabbing Grishams firearm, causing the Army veteran to grip the stock a movement that prompted his arrest. Grisham lost that battle; he was convicted of interfering with a police officer, a misdemeanor. But lately, the combative gun-rights activist has been winning a lot of skirmishes in San Antonio. And his war on his enemies here is far from over. On Tuesday, the Bexar County district attorneys office dropped all charges filed against Grisham by the Olmos Park Police Department following a violent confrontation there between officers and the activist, a former first sergeant in the U.S. Army who served in Afghanistan. On Thursday, after spewing insults and threatening legal action in a video posted online, Grisham traveled to a candidates forum here to witness a retraction from Texas House District 121 candidate Steve Allison, who had inaccurately called Grisham a convicted felon at an earlier debate. Fresh from these victories, Grisham on Friday posted previously unreleased videos of his confrontation with police that he said shows Olmos Park Police Chief Rene Valenciano using excessive force against him and another activist, who was openly and legally carrying an assault rifle. That police chief is a psychopath, said Grisham, president and co-founder of Open Carry Texas. In March, Grisham and other activists were demonstrating against an Olmos Park ordinance that prohibited anyone other than a police officer from carrying a loaded rifle on public streets. (A violation of state law, the ordinance was repealed shortly after Grishams arrest.) The newly posted videos show Grisham, openly and legally carrying a handgun, backing away from an officer whos trying to arrest him. As Grisham backs away, Valenciano tases him in the back, causing Grisham to fall backward and strike his head on the pavement. The incident and its aftermath opened an unexpected rift between Allison and Matt Beebe, who are vying in the May 22 GOP runoff for a seat held by retiring Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio. A friend of Straus, Allison has said he believes police have a right to stop anyone who is openly carrying a gun in public and order them to produce a license for the firearm. Beebe, a hard-line conservative who twice opposed Straus in the primary, considers that a violation of the Constitution. (Both candidates boast A-ratings from the National Rifle Association.) At a debate last week, Grisham was drawn into the rift. I think we need to look at the facts of what happened in Olmos Park, Allison said. My understanding is what escalated into the tasing was conduct by this man, Mr. CJ Grisham, a convicted felon, that caused the tasing. Beebe immediately stood up and chastised Allison for the inaccuracy. This is just slanderous, Beebe said. You owe CJ Grisham an apology. You owe this audience an apology for misleading them. Shame on you. Soon after, Grisham posted a video online, in which he angrily demanded a retraction and an apology. Steve Allison is not only a despicable candidate and a despicable conservative, hes also a coward, Grisham said in the video. Steve Allison doesnt realize we live in the state of Texas. This is a free state. At a forum on Thursday, Allison walked back his statement. I made a comment that was a misstatement based on misinformation that I had, Allison said. I alluded or stated that Mr. Grisham had a felony conviction. In fact, that conviction by a jury and affirmed on appeal was for a misdemeanor offense of interference with a police officer. That conviction was the spark for Grishams ongoing activism. Ive always been a kind of conservative advocate, Grisham said. But that event turned me into a gun rights activist. Now, that activism has Allison in its sights. His solution is to decimate the Constitution, Grisham said. Allison is trying to protect the real criminals, which is the Olmos Park police force. bchasnoff@express-news.net Its complicated. Thats a euphemistic way of casting the relationship that exists between the San Antonio business community and the most politically progressive City Council this city ever has seen. Things got more complicated Thursday when the council hid behind closed doors and rejected an offer from the Republican National Committee to bid on the partys 2020 national convention. On the one hand, local chamber groups will carry the ball for this council over the next few months in a campaign to defeat three charter amendment proposals from the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association. The firefighters want to make it easier to repeal council ordinances and put pay and term-limit restrictions on future city managers. On the other hand, there is growing unease among some of those same chamber groups when it comes to the council. Thursdays decision to bow out of a process that carried the promise of a $200 million stimulus for the local economy put the punctuation mark on that sentiment. Read more: City Council decides against bidding for GOP national convention in 2020 Three months ago, business leaders pushed back when the council inserted a labor peace agreement requirement into a request for proposal on an airport concessions contract. The city backed down on that issue. Business leaders came away from that skirmish worried that this council would follow the lead of Austin and move toward mandatory paid sick leave or a fair-chance hiring ordinance. Over the past week, council members received three letters from local business leaders, each of them imploring the city to submit a bid on the Republican convention. You wont find any bomb-throwing rhetoric in those letters comparable to the tweets that started this commotion, from Donald Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, who blasted Mayor Ron Nirenberg as weak-kneed Ron. But you sense similar frustration. A May 1 letter from B.J. Red McCombs, Dennis Nixon, John Montford and Eddie Aldrete directly challenged Nirenbergs account of the discussions between the RNC and local leaders. Nirenberg initially responded to Parscale with a memo saying he had intended to inform the council about the RNC in late March, but refrained from doing so because, after a meeting between local leaders and Ron Kaufman, the visiting GOP Site Selection Committee chairman, he was informed that the GOP opted not to pursue a bid from San Antonio. Back story: City Council decides against bidding for GOP national convention in 2020 That contention has not held up to scrutiny. The Republican National Committee initiated the courting process five months ago by sending a letter to the city of San Antonio, local business leaders said. Kaufman actually visited San Antonio twice in a span of 16 days during March, a pretty clear sign of his interest in the city. For the first visit, on March 7, Kaufman attempted to set up a lunch with Nirenberg, but the mayor declined. (According to the mayors office, Nirenberg bowed out because he had an International Womens Day luncheon that day.) The letter states that business leaders came away from that lunch enthusiastically impressed with the (convention) opportunity. Nirenberg consistently walks a fine line between pacifying the business community and satisfying the progressives who propelled him to an upset victory last year over developer-friendly incumbent Ivy Taylor. In the case of the RNC, however, there was no way to turn without angering a big chunk of the San Antonio electorate. Bid on the convention, and you infuriate those who see the Trump-led Republican Party as a hate-mongering, Latino-demonizing monster. Pass on the convention, and you risk the wrath of business leaders who dont want this city to start policing its own tourism. Its hard to escape the feeling that Nirenberg wanted this issue to slip away before it reached the public consciousness. Instead, it has become a local manifestation of an absurdly divided country where every topical joke, every flippant tweet from Kanye West results in a national crisis. Another May 1 letter to the council carried the signatures of 15 business titans, including Ed Whitacre and Ernesto Ancira Jr., and asserted that the estimated $68 million to $70 million required for a convention could primarily be funded with private fundraising and a likely boost from the State of Texas Major Events Trust Fund. Garcia: What S.A. needs to consider on the RNC bid Restaurant owner Louis Barrios lent his name to that letter. You never know when your next piece of business is going to come, Barrios said Thursday. When CEOs come here, all of a sudden they say, We may set up our company here, we may set up our national sales meeting here. For now, those CEOs can ponder why S.A. is welcoming the Texas Republican Convention next month, but when it comes to the 2020 RNC, this city is closed for business. Gilbert Garcia is a San Antonio Express-News columnist. Read more of his stories here. | ggarcia@express-news.net | @gilgamesh470 Zachry Construction Corp., a division of the company that plans to build a $200 million mixed-use development at Hemisfair, has been hit with a third lawsuit claiming that it systematically avoided paying workers overtime on a massive highway project in the Houston area. Six workers filed a class action lawsuit on April 13 against locally-based Zachry and Odebrecht Construction, the Brazilian conglomerate it is partnering with to build segments of the 184-mile Grand Parkway outerbelt around Houston. The Texas Department of Transportation awarded Zachry and Odebrecht a $1.04 billion contract for the project in 2012. The workers claim that Zachry and Odebrecht violated federal labor laws by requiring them to record that they worked eight hours a day when they were really working more than 12 hours a day. The companies did not pay them the time-and-a-half they were entitled to when they worked more than 40 hours a week, they said. I think its a shame, quite frankly, and especially when public funds are being utilized on these projects, that the ones out there breaking their backs and doing the work are being taken advantage of, said Alfonso Kennard, a founding member of Houston law firm Kennard Richard P.C., which filed the suit. Kennard accuses Zachry and Odebrecht of classifying construction workers as independent contractors, rather than as employees of their companies, in order to avoid paying taxes and overtime for them. Tara Snowden, a spokeswoman for Zachry, declined to comment, saying the company doesnt make public statements about ongoing litigation. The lawsuit is the third that has been filed against Zachry and Odebrecht. More than 80 workers made similar allegations in another class action lawsuit filed by Kennard Richard P.C. in 2015, court records show. The records indicate that the case was settled; Kennard said he is barred from disclosing any details. Another worker filed a lawsuit in 2016 claiming that Zachry and Odebrecht failed to pay him overtime. The case was resolved in arbitration, records show. These companies are constantly coming up with new pay schemes, with their high-powered lawyers, to get around what the law was intended to do, which is to protect the rights of employees to a fair days pay, Kennard said. Zachry Construction is a division of locally-based Zachry Corp., headed by CEO David Zachry, which also includes Zachry Hospitality, the company that is building the $200 million development at Hemisfair. City Council voted unanimously in early 2017 to lease 5.5 acres of highly-coveted land at Hemisfairs northwest corner to Zachry Hospitality for up to 97 years after the company prevailed over 10 other bidders. Zachry Corp. also led the $325 million renovation of the Convention Center. Hemisfair spokesman Drew Hicks said that all development leases at Hemisfair contain provisions requiring compliance with all applicable laws at the property. Zachry Corp. is separate from Zachry Group, a local company headed by David Zachrys brother John Zachry that focuses on the power, energy, chemical and manufacturing industries. In March, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Zachry Group subsidiary Zachry Industrial for allegedly discriminating against disabled workers at a refinery in Mississippi. Richard Webner is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | rwebner@express-news.net | @RWebner The leaders of the Government Hill Alliance Neighborhood Association have withstood an attempted takeover so far by residents who say the neighborhood isnt doing enough to control the new development sweeping through San Antonios urban core. The city continues to recognize the existing board, led by president Rose Hill, said Veronica Soto, director of the citys Neighborhood and Housing Services Department. The city recognizes whomever is listed as the associations leadership in official documents, and state nonprofit records show that Hill is still president, she said. District 2 City Councilman William Cruz Shaw is following the citys lead, said Celeste Brown, his director of communications. County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, whose precinct includes Government Hill, said he is doing the same. Read more: Some VIA routes to see more frequent buses Last week, nearly 50 local residents gathered at St. Patricks Catholic Church and voted to replace the neighborhood associations board, accusing the current leaders of being too friendly with developers and failing to notify residents of construction projects that have been proposed in the fast-growing, 130-year-old neighborhood, sandwiched between downtown, the Pearl and Fort Sam Houston. The current leaders arent communicating well with residents, opponents say, pointing out that the associations website hasnt been updated for months. The opponents, who include former neighborhood association president Joe Ashcraft, said Texas state law for nonprofits authorized them to elect a new board last week. But Rose Hill, the current president, says last weeks meeting was illegal because it didnt follow the associations bylaws. The breakaway Government Hill residents arent giving up, said Denise Gutierrez Homer, one of the leading opponents. The board that was elected last week has appointed her as the associations president, she said. Im meeting with government agencies right now because I am the president, despite what the city is trying to say, she said. The longer they take to make up their minds and follow the law, theyre going to have issues because our attorneys will be dealing with the city now. The opponents plan to call for another vote to oust the current board at the neighborhood associations next scheduled meeting later this month, Homer said. Hill disputed criticism that she hasnt been transparent during her time as the associations president. While the website hasnt been updated in a while, she has been diligent about spreading word of meetings and neighborhood news through fliers and phone calls, she said. The divisions between Government Hill residents go back decades, she said. In 2005, the neighborhood association sued a dozen Government Hill residents, court records show; Hill said one of the neighborhoods leaders was voted out by the associations members but wouldnt relinquish control over the post office box that the association used. Records indicate that the case was closed in 2007 after the two parties went through mediation. Hill said she hopes to bring the neighborhoods residents back together. We are supposed to be united, not divided, Hill said. We have to work together to find solutions sit down at the coffee table and say, You know what? We have our differences of opinion, but we need to put them aside, because its making Government Hill look bad. Related: S.A. loses another local company with Andeavor's $23 billion sale Much of the furor against the neighborhood associations leaders derives from a developers plan to build three townhomes with ground-level parking garages on a vacant lot near the crossing of Carson Street and Pierce Avenue. Opponents of the project say it would bring too much density to Government Hills historic core. They say they collected 250 signatures against it but that the associations board supported it anyway. On Tuesday, the citys Zoning Commission voted 5-4 to allow the project. But six votes are required for the commission to approve a project, so the commissions official recommendation is to deny it, city spokeswoman Ximena Copa-Wiggins said. City Council will have to consider the project at a future meeting, but the date hasnt been determined, she said. One major sticking point for opponents of the current board is that Hill is not a property owner in Government Hill, which they say disqualifies her from being president under the associations bylaws. Hill, who lives in a rental property in the neighborhood, said she is exempt from that requirement because she has achieved lifetime member status in the association. Theyre trying to say anything they can to get me out thats what the bottom line is, she said. Its gotten to be personal. The recent surge of development in San Antonios urban core has divided many neighborhood associations earlier this month, the new president of the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association purged all six members of its Architectural Review Committee, which is in charge of meeting with developers to go over construction plans. The committee had played a big role in the struggle over a controversial five-story apartment complex proposed next to the Hays Street Bridge. WESTPORT A body was found washed ashore at Saugatuck Shores on Friday morning. Westport Police Lt. Jillian Cabana said foul play is not suspected, and that the Office of Chief Medical Examiner had taken custody of the body. At approximately 8:40 am this morning, a resident contacted police headquarters to report a body which had washed up on the shore of Harbor Road, Cabana said. Police responded to the area and located a deceased male at the water line. A neighbor who lives across from the scene said that a jogger came upon the mans body. A kid, maybe in his 20s, was jogging and found the man, said the neighbor, who declined to give his name. He told me that it appeared to be an elderly man and he was face down in the mud. A man who lives on Bermuda Road said he saw about six police cars into the area after 8:30 a.m., some heading to Harbor Road and others all the way out to Saugatuck Island. The shore off Harbor Road where the body was found is boggy. The Saugatuck Harbor Yatch Club is a few hundred feet to the northwest. Longshore Park lies across Saugatuck Harbor. The deceased remains unidentified and detectives continue to investigate, Cabana said. Foul play is not suspected. A portion of Harbor Road was closed for about three hours. Investigators began taking down police tape and clearing the scene about 11:20 a.m. Thane Grauel contributed to this report. FAIRFIELD For more than a decade, Burr Elementary School third-grade teacher Mei-Ling Uliasz has brought her former work with the Jane Goodall Institute back to Fairfield. In her capacity as an elementary school teacher, Uliasz has introduced her students to Goodalls work with chimpanzees and the environment through the youth service initiative, Roots and Shoots, which encourages children to make a positive impact on their community and environment, and help animals. The celebration of Fairfields Roots and Shoots program usually came at the towns annual Earth Day celebration. But when the town discontinued its Earth Day festivities, Uliasz was undeterred. We decided we dont want to stop this; we want to keep it going, so we decided to have it here, said Uliasz after the annual Trashion Show on April 27, for which students in grades two through five repurposed recycled items to create outfits modeled for their classmates, this year hosted at Burr for the first time. According to Uliasz, trashion is a portmanteau of the words trash and fashion. Its a movement to show people that they can creatively re-use items, whether theyre saving things from the trash or repurposing things, to make fashion, Uliasz said. In class, students were given a bag of materials and tape, and had to complete a Project Runway-style challenge and create an outfit in 10 minutes. After the initial trial, students were allowed to take their outfits home. I gave them planning packets and said they were going to design with hopes in mind. It could be hopes for the environment, hope for what you want to be when youre older, hope for animals, Uliasz said. For the first time this year, proceeds from the event and subsequent fundraising efforts will go to New Canaan-based nonprofit Halles Hope, begun by a former Burr teacher, Marilee Root. Mrs. Root, Halles mom, created Halles Hope to spread hope and kindness and create possibilities for children all over the United States, and theyve done amazing projects that inspire and help children and families in need, said Burr first-grade teacher Julie Sherwood. The Trashion Show was the first of several fundraising efforts to aid Halles Hope. The Burr community also participated in Hats for Hope, in which they were encouraged to wear silly hats and donate $1. Students will also raise money ahead of Jump Rope for Hope, a June 1 event from which proceeds will go to Halles Hope. Were very interested in Halles Hope and want it to continue to thrive like it has, Uliasz said. We hope that it grows bigger and bigger and bigger. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586 NORWALK Six stores in southwestern Connecticut are signed up for Free Comic Book Day, sponsored annually the first Saturday in May by Diamond Comic Distributors and allowing enthusiasts to go home with a free comic book from among 50 titles. Local participants this year include Alternate Universe in Milford; Cave Comics in Newtown; the Comic Mint in Stamford; Gamers Gambit in Danbury; Heroes Comics & Cards in Norwalk and Heroes 4 Sale in Southbury. This years titles include comics featuring The Avengers, Doctor Who, Pokemon, Disney and Star Wars, to name a few. For a full catalog of available titles, participating stores and other information, visit Freecomicbookday.com. Gamers Gambit is among the stores offering other events in connection with Free Comic Book Day, in its case a costume contest for kids and adults. Pitney Bowes records revenues increase, profits STAMFORD Technology firm Pitney Bowes saw its quarterly revenues grow and notched a profit as it benefited from a recent acquisition, according to its latest earnings report released Wednesday. First-quarter revenues for the Stamford-based company hit about $983 million, an 18 percent increase from the same period in 2017. Its profits reached about $54 million, compared with a profit of $65 million a year ago. The growing returns showed the impact of Pitneys $475 million acquisition last October of Austin, Texas-based Newgistics, which specializes in parcel logistics. The headline for the quarter is our company continues to move to growth, and our strategy is delivering results, Pitney CEO and President Marc Lautenbach said in an earnings call Wednesday. Despite the growth, Pitney shares closed at Wednesday at about $9, down 10 percent from their Tuesday closing total. Among other indicators, commerce solutions revenues jumped 73 percent from a year ago, to $381 million, powered by the addition of Newgistics. Small- and medium-sized business solutions revenues dropped 8 percent to about $423 million, as returns from both North American and international mailing declined. Software solutions revenues grew 4 percent, to about $82 million. The returns would have declined without the implementation of a new revenue-reporting standard. Our SMB business got off to a slow start, performing below expectations our software business had no large deals in the quarter, Lautenbach said. That said, both businesses are off to solid starts, and we expect these businesses to improve in the second quarter. Pitney announced Monday it had agreed to sell its Document Messaging Technologies production-mail business and supporting software for $361 million to investment firm Platinum Equity. Production mail saw quarterly revenues rise 9 percent, to $97 million. Subway CEO to retire after 3 years MILFORD 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 cofounder Fred DeLuca stepped aside. Subway named as interim CEO Trevor Haynes, who joined Subway in 2006 and is chief business development officer. 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 DeLuca fought cancer. He died on Sept. 14, 2015. DeLuca created the company in Bridgeport in 1965 with backing from his co-founder, Danbury resident Peter Buck, who continues to hold an ownership stake with the widowed Elisabeth DeLuca. Subway has been part of my life since I was 7 years old, Greco is quoted as saying in a news 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. The company franchises more than 44,000 locations globally, but fell precipitously last year on Entrepreneur magazines annual Franchise 500 list of the top franchise opportunities. Under Greco, Subway has responded by updating the look of its restaurants, adopting digital ordering technologies and adding new condiments and menu items, as is the case with McDonalds and other rivals. Last year, Subway announced it would add 200 jobs in Milford focused on digital marketing and other technology forays. The town of Milford listed Subways headquarters employment at about 980 people as of 2017. 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. Her activities include boating, traveling and shepherding her daughter to equestrian events. Eversource Energy is investing $80 million this year in tree trimming and hazardous tree removal to enhance reliability for customers throughout Connecticut. The drought plaguing the region over the last several years may have ended, but the effects are long-lasting and took a toll on trees around the state, said Eversource Vegetation Management Manager Sean Redding. Consecutive infestations by the gypsy moth and now by the emerald ash borer are adding to the problem. Thats why identifying and removing hazardous trees is vital. Were always working to serve our customers better, and our comprehensive tree trimming program is part of an overall strategy to ensure year-round reliability. This year, Eversource will be trimming trees along more than 4,000 miles of overhead lines around the state. Among the 121 communities where tree trimming will be performed this year, some of the most extensive work will be done in Woodstock along 153 miles of electric lines. Trees will also be trimmed along 114 miles in Haddam, 110 miles in Danbury and 100 miles in Greenwich. In addition, pruning will be completed in Cheshire, Killingly, Sharon and Stamford. Eversource notifies customers in advance if trimming is necessary on their property. In addition to all the work Eversource crews do to minimize the effects of trees on electric service reliability, the company reminds customers that homeowners are responsible for tree maintenance on their own property. That includes keeping branches away from the lower-voltage service wires connecting their homes and businesses to the main utility lines on the street. Eversource strongly recommends contacting a professional tree service to perform this work. For details on the companys comprehensive vegetation management program, visit Eversource.com. The Privateers of Black Rock Harbor The Fairfield Museum is hosting its monthly History Bites Lunchtime Chat on May 30. This months topic is The Privateers of Black Rock Harbor with Jackson Kuhl, the author of Samuel Smedley, Connecticut privateer. The event takes place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and is free for museum members. A $5 suggested donation is asked of nonmembers. Bring a bagged lunch, and the museum will provide beverages and dessert. For information, visit fairfieldhistory.org/events/hb-black-rock-harbor The Fairfield Museum is at 370 Beach Road. Fairfieldhistory.org, 203-259-1598. Fairfield students named to deans list Christina Pane, Jhani Perez and Danielle Veith, all of Fairfield, were named to the deans lsit for the fall 2017 semester at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. With approximately 3,700 graduate and undergraduate students from 38 states and 53 countries, Bryant University is recognized as a leader in international education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, and Barrons. Visit www.Bryant.edu Milicia inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Kelly Milicia, of Fairfield, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nations oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Milicia was initiated at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Milicia is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction. Student art exhibition winners announced The Westport Arts Center announced the high school student artists selected for the Tracy Sugarman Award and the Peoples Choice Award in its fourth annual High School Student Art Exhibition, on view through June 2. Staples High School senior Lilianna Giaume, of Westport, was chosen as the recipient of the Tracy Sugarman Award for her oil painting, The Caw of Mutiny, an interpretation of Edgar Allan Poes poem The Raven. Staples High School sophomore Maise Prince, of Westport, won the Peoples Choice award for her charcoal on paper work, Fro, featuring a student in her art class. The public was invited to vote for their favorite work between March 23 and April 19. A third award, the Sontag Advisory Best In Show Award, will be announced in a separate ceremony. Elizabeth Gorayeb, executive director of the Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc., a nonprofit art historical research foundation based in New York, served as the juror for the high school exhibition. For nearly two decades, Gorayeb has specialized in art historical research on the provenance and attribution of works of art. She is also the curator for the Handmade: Women Reshaping Contemporary Art exhibition, also on view at the Arts Center through June 2. Of the student exhibition, Gorayeb said, Overall, the works submitted for consideration evidence a sensitivity and patience that is not always attributed to this fast-paced generation. The fact that these students chose to represent the world around them, in some cases with painstaking detail and careful observation, speaks to the craving that we all have during the digital age to connect. Others featured in the exhibit include Fairfield students Hesper Du, Sophie Lewis and Vicki Stuart. WESTPORT Before Fairfield resident Christy Ottaviano was a childrens book editor and publisher with her own brand, she taught English while young in Boston. Creative writing was Ottavianos favorite class to teach because it allowed her to engage, encourage, and direct students on issues of plot and voice in their stories. A lifelong lover of literature, Ottaviano, a Stamford native, began teaching fresh off a masters program in English and American Literature from Boston College and, before that, an undergraduate degree in English from St. Michaels College in Vermont. Ottaviano only taught for a year because while she wanted to try teaching to ensure it wasnt the path for her, it was evident in her graduate school days her heart was in the world of book publishing. Ottavianos graduate program mandated she take some courses at another college in Boston and so she signed up for two classes in the childrens literature masters program at Simmons College. One day, a childrens book editor spoke to the students in Ottavianos Simmons class and she knew immediately the mix of reading, writing, and editing in childrens book publishing would be a great match for her skill set. Thus, in the summer after teaching, Ottaviano enrolled in the Radcliffe Publishing Course. Still, following completion of the Radcliffe course, Ottaviano faced a crossroads. Minted with a graduate English degree, Ottaviano thought she should go into editing adult fiction, but was compelled by her love of childrens literature and the books of her youth- by Ruth Chew, Beverly Cleary, and Judy Blume, to enter childrens literature. Ottaviano saw the majority of her peers from the publishing course were jockeying for jobs in adult fiction publishing and so she chose instead to follow her passion for childrens literature, which, at the time, was less competitive than adult fiction, a decision which Ottaviano said has made all the difference in her careers success. As a young editorial assistant in Henry Holts childrens book division, Ottaviano had to chase talent because, at the time, Holt was a small publishing house and didnt receive the same top submissions as the larger childrens publishing companies. Later on, once Holt merged with Macmillan Publishers, earned a spot among the top publishers. Over the years, Ottaviano climbed the many rungs of the editorial ladder due to her shrewd ability to identify and develop talent. Once, she saw a Hallmark greeting card with an innovative caption and artwork and called up the woman who designed the card to see if she was interested in doing a childrens book. The cards creator, Laurie Keller, said she was indeed interested in writing a childrens. The picture book Keller wrote and Ottaviano edited, The Scrambled States of America, has since become one of Holts bestselling backlist titles. The author who put Ottaviano on the map as an editor was Kimberly Willis Holt, whos 1998 middle-grade fiction book, My Louisiana Sky, Ottaviano edited. Ottaviano said she develops deep relationships with her authors always looks to ensure they are inspired and thinking of the next great book. A year after My Louisiana Sky, Ottaviano edited Willis Holts next book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, to perfection. The book, about a 13-year-old obese boy and the friendships he forms, won the 1999 National Book Award for Young Peoples Literature and was later made into a movie. Ten years ago, Ottaviano was named the Publisher of her own imprint, aka mini-company, within Macmillan Childrens Publishing Group and oversees the imprints entire operation from identifying talent to editing to marketing the books with the help of her staff. Ottavianos imprint specializes in subjects shes passionate about, namely biographical picture books and middle-grade fiction. I have a real penchant for strong women, hidden figures, behind the scenes people who have helped create great moments in history as well as important people that we all know, Ottaviano said. She especially enjoys portraying successful people who were misfits, and struggled, such as Ansel Adams who failed out of school because of his disabilities but went on to become a renowned photographer and environmentalist. Im interested in those early years of subjects. I think it really helps inspire kids to think that even if youre having trouble, you can do great things, Ottaviano said. Ottaviano and her husband, also in book publishing, moved into their Fairfield home in 2000 when their oldest son was born. They later had a girl and then another boy. Fairfield has been the perfect setting to raise her children, now all teenagers, Ottaviano said, and credits the art and outdoor opportunities in town for allowing her kids to write the story of their own young adulthood. FAIRFIELD Ethan Klein has always liked to build things. When he was young, he built forts out of cardboard and an abundance of tape. But the amount of tape necessary to construct his small dwellings seemed inefficient. He thought, isnt there a better way? It was out of this childhood idea an unlikely business venture grew. Klein, now 15 and a Fairfield Warde High School freshman, and his 18-year-old sister Ayana, a Warde senior, last year launched 3Duxdesign, creating and selling a product that would answer Ethans early query. Theyre 3D printed connectors that are made to fit on any one-ply cardboard. We have six different shapes that help kids learn about basic geometry, Ethan said. On their site, the Kleins offer three separate sets of connectors, a cardboard set and architectural sets that allow users to create different models, such as The Rocketship, The Sailboat or the Modhaus Architectural Set. The siblings view them as tools to be used primarily in a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) educational context. The products recently won the Kleins the CTNext Entrepreneur Innovation Award, a $10,000 grant given to the states most promising startups. The pair sent a written application to CTNext, and were picked to compete against eight other finalists in April at Westports Maker Faire. The Kleins made a pitch in front of a six-member panel. We had five minutes to describe our product, and then they had three minutes to ask us questions. So its sort of like Shark Tank, like a mini version of that, Ayana said. Of the eight finalists, 3Duxdesign was one of four to be awarded a grant, which the siblings will use toward upgrading equipment and purchasing other materials. Building a business More Information To check out the Kleins' products, visit https://www.3duxdesign.com/ See More Collapse Before opening the business, the Kleins had access to a 3D printer, thanks to their parents, local doctors who own a furniture store. Their parents work gave Ayana and Ethan an early view into the business world. Both of my parents are doctors, so we had no business in our background. But then when they opened up the furniture company, we watched them go through the process and helped them face all their setbacks and how they worked through them, Ayana said. Ayana had considerable experience in engineering. Early in her high school career, Ayana was enrolled in an architecture program at Columbia University, where she said she learned about the design process. She shadowed at an industrial design and engineering firm last summer, as well. Those experiences have helped the Kleins fledgling business thrive. In a little over six months, their products are in 28 schools mostly in the Hartford area eight local stores and have sold more than 1,700 units. The products are packaged and distributed by the Kleins and their parents in the factory space they purchased on Barnum Avenue in Bridgeport, where they spend several hours a week, often after school, working. They hope to expand production by outsourcing the creation of the connectors, rather than the current method of running 3D printers in their home almost 24/7 to keep up with orders. They recently upgraded their cardboard cutter to a faster model. Instead of taking about a half hour to cut three kits worth of cardboard, it takes about 30 seconds, Ethan said. The Kleins have hopes of adding sales staff to their operation and getting their products into more wholesale stores. Wed like to get into more schools. Twenty-eight is a pretty good start for only being open six months. Were trying to branch out to different states, Ethan said. Were going to try to expand our boundaries more. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. From winning a brownie competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show during his eighth-grade year to securing first place in the nation for developing a new product with a team of Penn State food scientists, Michael Zaffuto is diving headfirst into the field of food science. Zaffuto, a food science major, attributes his many accomplishments to Penn States College of Agricultural Sciences, his family and his hometown of Sykesville, Pennsylvania, a close-knit community with plenty of corn and wheat fields. He developed his love for food from his parents, who taught him the importance of making food that not only tastes good but also looks presentable. From preschool until 12th grade, Zaffuto attended DuBois Central Catholic School, which nurtured his love of science. In seventh grade, Zaffuto made the connection between his two passions and decided that he would pursue food science in college. You can imagine my excitement when I made the connection of how cooking and science are so related, he said. From that point on, I started reading articles about food science and started doing a little experimenting of my own. It is still a mystery to me how I actually discovered the field existed, but I wrote it down in my seventh-grade yearbook and had my mind set ever since. Zaffuto is involved in his hometowns local fair, the Sykesville Ag and Youth Fair, which has been a very special part of his time growing up. That involvement has left a lasting impact and an appreciation for agriculture, which has enhanced his college experiences. Having food science as a passion growing up helped me to engage with professionals in the agricultural industry, he said. Food science and agriculture go hand-in-hand. In the fall of 2016, Zaffuto became a freshman at the University Park campus, where he took advantage of every opportunity presented. From the Food Science Club to becoming an Ag Advocate, he wanted to absorb as much knowledge about the industry as possible. I couldnt believe the opportunities that were available to me, he said. Hearing about the experiences of the Ag Advocate who gave me a campus tour confirmed that food science was exactly what I wanted to do and that Penn State was the place for me to achieve my goals. Joining clubs helped Zaffuto quickly adjust to the Penn State environment and enabled him to make connections within his field. He adjusted so well, in fact, that he earned the Presidents Freshman Award for his first semester at Penn State. The colleges faculty, staff and students also helped ease his transition to Penn State, and events such as the Ag Sciences Career Day have provided him with networking and professional development opportunities to better his future. In addition, Zaffuto said hands-on learning projects have enabled him to experience many different aspects of the agricultural sciences. Reading about something in a textbook is one thing, but once you experience through real engagement, it sticks with you the rest of your life, said Zaffuto. One of the most fulfilling and beneficial programs for him has been participating on a product-development team. Zaffuto, along with food science peers and graduate students, developed a product called FuZen, a dairy-based beverage. After testing the product, they entered it into the 2017 National Dairy Council Competition, where it earned first-place honors. This was one of the best experiences I have had because I learned so much and gained skills that I will need once I graduate, said Zaffuto. I am thankful that the grad students were receptive to our ideas and took the time to teach us everything they knew about developing a product. Zaffuto joined two other product-development teams in the Food Science Department, where he currently is helping to come up with new products for consumers. It has been a goal of mine to develop a product and see it on the grocery store shelf one day, he said. Though that is still one of my biggest goals, I learned that there are so many other avenues of food science that I am very excited to explore before my time at Penn State is done. While he is eager to bring out his creative side when developing new and exciting food products, he also is determined to make sure that the food people consume is safe. It is important for me to educate the public on where their food comes from and correct misconceptions about agriculture, especially in the food industry, he said. It gives me a sense of pride to be an integral part of such a positive field. Latest shelf watch figures have highlighted the "vast difference" in Sainsbury's and Asda's approach to sourcing British pork. It follows news of a potential merger between the two supermarkets to create the country'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%, if their merger goes through. Amid merger confirmation, the pig industry says it hopes Sainsbury's will bring Asda closer to its sourcing standards due to concerns surrounding Asda's pork sourcing policy. According to the National Pig Association (NPA), Sainsburys has been a good supporter of British pig farmers and has tried to make this part of its marketing pitch to customers. However, it says Asda has an "appalling" record on sourcing British pork. 'Vast difference' The latest figures from AHDBs latest bi-monthly Porkwatch survey highlight these differences. It shows that Sainsburys is the best retailer for sourcing British pork out of the 'big 4', with Morrisons not far behind. In contrast, Asda was rock bottom among the 10 retailers surveyed. NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said the latest Porkwatch survey highlights the "vast difference" in the approach of the two retailers to sourcing pigmeat. Sainsburys has, among the big 4, generally been a strong supporter of the British pig industry, whereas Asda has not. These latest Porkwatch figures only reinforce that, Ms Davies said. Our hope, if this deal goes through, is that Sainsburys brings Asda closer to its sourcing standards, rather than Asda dragging Sainsburys down, although comments on savings across the board dont exactly fill us with confidence. Ms Davies added: We will keep a close eye on how this consolidation in the supply chain will affect competitiveness among buyers and prices for primary producers. GCA remit The shelf watch survey follows news of the government being asked to rethink its refusal to extend the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) in light of the proposed merger. Unfair practices within the retail supply chain led the Government to establish the 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, who say suppliers will be expected to shoulder the cost of the proposed 10% price slash promised by Sainsbury's if the merger is given the green light. The Northern Irish government has announced progress in its work to help farmers better protect the environment from the impact of ammonia. The move is in response to the Making Ammonia Visible report produced by the Expert Working Group on Sustainable Agricultural Land Management for Northern Ireland, which made a series of recommendations on the issue. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the challenge facing both farmers and the Department on ammonia highlighted the importance of a balanced approach which supports a prosperous agri-food industry whilst protecting the environment. Ammonia is a pungent gas produced in relatively large quantities from animal waste, concentrations of which are greatest in areas with the most livestock farming. According to DAERA, when released into the atmosphere, it increases the levels of air pollutants that are harmful to human health. Agriculture is the dominant source of ammonia emissions, making up 93% of Northern Irelands current emission levels, according to the department. 'Win-win' David Small, DAERAs Director of Environment Group, said the industry must start reducing ammonia levels to meet national and international statutory obligations. Our farmers are the custodians of the land and, as such, we want to work in partnership with them to deliver a win-win for farmers and the environment with improved biodiversity, air and water quality and profitable farm businesses, Mr Small said. Working together to tackle pollution is nothing new. There is a history of the Department and farmers working in collaboration to address key environmental challenges. Farmers have made good progress on water quality through the Nitrates Action Programme, and also on the carbon intensity of food production. DAERA said early progress has been made on addressing a key theme of Making Ammonia Visible; strengthening the scientific evidence base around ammonia emissions. The Department has commissioned a scientific research programme on ammonia which will provide critical information on how best to address ammonia emissions, including through 20-30 new air quality monitoring sites. As part of the Action Plan, the Department has also commenced work on a review of its operational planning and permitting policy. Planning woes The announced progress follows news of discontent in the agricultural industry regarding the controversial subject. The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) recently said the delay farmers face in planning applications as a result of ammonia regulations is "farcical". In response, DAERA said it "fully appreciates the frustration". In considering the applications, the Department said it is obliged to take account of evolving case law, existing environmental conditions and the nature of planning consultations received. DAERA said it is now in a position to start issuing responses to the planning authorities on these applications. This process should be completed next month, it says. Applicants will either know if their application has been recommended for approval or refusal, or if further information is required before a decision can be reached. The EU's Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has agreed a derogation for arable farmers in the UK from the three-crop rule requirements. Whilst formal approval from the European Commission for the derogation is now awaited, Commissioner Hogans announcement on Friday (4 May) will help to allay some of the concerns expressed by UK arable farmers. Mr Hogan has proposed full derogation from the requirements of the three-crop rule for arable farmers in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and an easing of the rules for arable farmers in parts of England and Wales. The Commissioner said farmers in England and Wales were not quite as badly affected by the recent severe weather compared to farmers in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Last month, the UK government requested a country-wide exemption from the three crop rule for 2018 to support arable farmers affected by unusually heavy rain and snow experienced in recent weeks. Farming Minister George Eustice wrote to the European Commission to request the exemption. Severe weather The three crop rule is an EU requirement for farmers with more than thirty hectares to grow at least here different crops every year. The severe weather the UK experienced this winter has impacted farmers in several ways, including their ability to meet this element of the Common Agricultural Policys crop diversification requirements, given that much of the main sowing period was characterised by heavy rain and snow. Through no fault of their own, farmers in many areas have been unable to sow the crops they had intended to grow. Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) president Ivor Ferguson welcomed the news. He said: "Arable and horticulture growers have been facing huge challenges following a prolonged spell of relentless wet weather while trying to meet the 'three-crop rule'. "Many farmers were unable to plant winter crops due to poor field conditions and the delayed planting of spring crops has left them with very few options." Mr Ferguson continued: "This is welcome news for farmers who can be reassured that their greening payments will not be impacted on now the derogation has been agreed. Growers will be able to make crop choices that best suits their current situation." Legislation requiring CCTV in all abattoirs in England has come into force today, the government has announced. Official Veterinarians will have unrestricted access to footage to ensure high welfare standards are being effectively enforced. All slaughterhouses will be required to comply in full by 5 November, following an adjustment period of 6 months to enable businesses to install a suitable CCTV system. The move is seen as one of many recent government pledges to ensure higher animal welfare in the UK. Other government pledges include launching a call for evidence on the live export of animals and publishing updated animal welfare codes. Animal Welfare Minister Lord Gardiner said: "The government shares the publics high regard for animal welfare and we are proud to have some of the highest standards in the world. Today we welcome the new law which requires mandatory CCTV in all abattoirs in England. "We are a nation that cares about animals and these strong measures will ensure all animals are treated with the utmost respect at all stages of life allows us to continue to lead the way to raise the bar in high welfare standards." Staff difficulties British Veterinary Association (BVA) have been one vocal group campaigning for both mandatory CCTV and "full and unrestricted" 24/7 access to footage as part of their welfare at slaughter campaign. However, a leading meat body has warned that mandatory CCTV may lead to difficulties employing staff in the future. The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) said it supports the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses, however, it said "the devil will be in the detail". Head of policy Norman Bagley at AIMS explained said: We believe a practical solution would be to provide FSA [Food Standards Agency] vets unrestricted access to real time footage. To permit FSA to review months of recordings of staff who have not consented to being filmed and initiate retrospective prosecutions is unprecedented. Similar controls over staff in hospitals and care homes would never be contemplated so there is no justification for discrimination of abattoir workers. The presence of CCTV will potentially make it more difficult to retain staff, and we anticipate it may be more difficult to recruit new staff to work in these areas. The government has been urged to modernise animal health and disease monitoring in the UK to make it fit for the future. After a year of evidence gathering and analysis, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has set out its vision for animal health and disease monitoring. The group is calling on government to modernise and enhance the current surveillance networks. The BVA surveillance working group has collected evidence from animal health and disease monitoring experts across different areas, including livestock, and surveyed 655 vets to explore how the profession values and engages with surveillance. In recent years, the BVA has repeatedly voiced members opposition to any further reduction in the surveillance network in the UK. The new position expands on this by suggesting new opportunities to modernise and optimise the existing surveillance network. This can be achieved by adopting new approaches to data collection and feedback, and rethinking traditional approaches to funding and coordination, the group says. 'New approaches' John Fishwick, President of the British Veterinary Association, said it is not just about protecting the resources currently spent on the existing system, but thinking with innovation about new approaches to disease surveillance. This means ensuring we are using all the available data and evidence to protect both large and small animals in the UK from new, emerging and endemic disease, he said. Chair of the BVA surveillance working group, Kate Sharpe, added: The professions commitment to the role of the veterinary surgeon as a public guardian across all species enables the continual monitoring for endemic disease and by recognising the unusual, helps to identify new and emerging threats that need further investigation. But the success of our surveillance networks relies on people and relationships within them, as well as a sound knowledge of when, what, how and who to report to. Ms Sharpe said: With this in mind, the BVA position paper aims to identify areas in current Government surveillance networks that could be improved, and how vets can derive increased value by contributing to animal health and disease monitoring activities and using the reports generated. A Highland MSP has said it is "staggering" and "nothing short of disgraceful" that there are almost daily occurrences of dogs attacking sheep across the UK. The UK has seen an increasing amount of livestock worrying incidents recently. Earlier this week, a Highland farmer had a dozen rare breed sheep thought to be worth more than a combined 12,000 savaged by an out-of-control dog. It has triggered Kate Forbes MSP to denounce such incidents, labelling them "wretched". She has called for the introduction of mandatory leads on dogs around livestock. Ms Forbes said: I find it staggering that we are still talking about dog worrying and dog attacks on livestock. Owners should know that dogs must be on the lead if passing near sheep. Every year, there are additional warnings issued by the usual bodies and yet we see story after story about sheep being killed and maimed by dogs. The results are truly gruesome, particularly when sheep are pregnant or there are lambs. 'Wretched images' The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said dog attacks can cause sheep to abort lambs or be separated from lambs. Apart from the wretched images of maimed sheep, with half their faces missing, a dog can also cause severe damage by just being in a field with sheep, she added. There is really no excuse and it is nothing short of disgraceful that these warnings still need to be issued every year. Of course, these attacks affect farmers financially and emotionally when farming is tough enough. It is thoughtless, selfish and foolish not to put a lead on a dog when near livestock. Livestock worrying is a criminal offence, which is estimated to cost the farming community around 1.3m per year nationally. A five-week global search for agritech solutions has completed, with the first cohort of companies set to join an innovative technology programme. Cranfield University and Johnson Matthey have announced the first set of companies to join the Johnson Matthey Agritech Partnership Programme (JMAPP). Johnson Matthey is a global leader in science, that has over 200-years of commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs. The companies will be given an opportunity to develop their product or idea within an intense programme of scientific support. In an innovative new partnership programme, more than 35 businesses entered a competitive pitch process to receive a package of advice, support and funding within a new three-month programme. The overall support for the companies will be worth in excess of 50,000 each. Emerging agritech Three emerging companies were chosen by the agritech experts. The first set of companies in the pilot programme includes Azotic Technologies, whose R&D Laboratories based in Nottingham is developing a unique natural nitrogen-fixing technology that could allow any crop variety to fix nitrogen directly from the air. Bionema, a company based out of Swansea Universitys Institute of Life Science, is working on chemical-free pest management solutions and has devised a non-toxic bio-based microencapsulation technology. Water&Soil, based in Budapest, Hungary, has developed an organic soil enhancement product, which aims to improve water efficiency, whether saving on irrigation costs or enabling cropping in areas of marginal cultivation where water is scarce. This cohort will have use of the research facilities located at Cranfield, including those of the UK Governments Agritech Centres. Along with access to Cranfield, Johnson Mattheys scientists and business experts will work with the companies to develop their ideas within a Proof of Concept framework. Professor Leon A. Terry, Director of Environment and Agrifood at Cranfield University, added: This is an exciting time for innovation in agritech, as demonstrated by the volume, global breadth and strength of the applicants to the programme. One of the greatest challenges for the sector is creating an environment where ideas and innovations can become reality. By combining the scientific and business expertise of Cranfield and Johnson Matthey, we are giving our first cohort the best possible chance to succeed by bringing forward their innovations to market. Dairy farmers missing out on '55m a year' in lost revenue Summary Company Announcement Date: April 30, 2018 FDA Publish Date: March 31, 2020 Product Type: Food & Beverages Foodborne Illness Reason for Announcement: Recall Reason Description Salmonella Company Name: Maya Distribution, LLC Brand Name: Brand Name(s) Dragon Kratom Product Description: Product Description Dietary Supplements Company Announcement Maya Distribution, LLC of South Salt Lake City, Utah is voluntarily recalling Dragon Kratom labeled bottles and sealed packages of encapsulated and raw powder product because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis. The possibly affected products are as follows: Name Packaging Contents UPC Dragon Ultra Enhanced Indo Extract Sealed pouch 4 500 mg capsules 66001000010 Dragon Malaysian Sealed Bottle 150 gram powder 660010010057 Dragon Malaysian Sealed Pouch 20 500 mg capsules 660010010033 Dragon Malaysian Sealed Bottle 200 500 mg capsules 660010010040 Dragon Malaysian Sealed Bottle 80 500 mg capsules 060010000019 Dragon Malaysian Sealed Bottle 40 500 mg capsules 060010000018 Dragon Malaysian Sealed Bottle 40 500 mg capsules 660010010026 Dragon Malaysian Sealed Pouch 20 500 mg capsules 660010010033 Dragon Maeng Da Sealed Bottle 150 gram powder 550010010051 Dragon Maeng Da Sealed Bottle 60 gram powder 550010000021 Dragon Maeng Da Sealed Bottle 200 500 mg capsules 550010010044 Dragon Maeng Da Sealed Bottle 80 500 mg capsules 550010010013 Dragon Maeng Da Sealed Bottle 40 500 mg capsules 550010010020 Dragon Maeng Da Sealed Bottle 80 500 mg capsules 440010010037 Dragon Bali Sealed Bottle 150 gram powder 440010010055 Dragon Bali Sealed Bottle 60 gram powder 440010000025 Dragon Bali Sealed Bottle 200 500 mg capsules 440010010048 Dragon Bali Sealed Bottle 80 500 mg capsules 440010010017 Dragon Bali Sealed Bottle 40 500 mg capsules 440010010024 Dragon Bali Sealed Pouch 20 500 mg capsules 440010010031 These bottles were sold directly to 28 retailers in Utah, 26 in Arizona, and 1 in each of Nevada, Wyoming, Kansas, Illinois, Idaho, Iowa, and Michigan. One illness has been reported to date to the Food and Drug Administration. The recall was initiated after Maya Distribution was notified of positive Salmonella test results by the Food and Drug Administration. Maya Distribution has identified the supplier and source of contaminated product and has ceased the production and distribution of the product. Consumers who may be in possession of potentially contaminated products are advised not to consume products labeled Dragon, Dragon Kratom, Dragon Malaysian, Dragon Ultra Ehanced Indo Extract, Dragon Bali, or Dragon Maeng Da. All products associated with this recall should be returned to Maya Distribution for a full refund. Customers can return product to the place of purchase for a full refund and retail stores will receive a full refund from Maya Distribution if reported within 14 business days of this release. Maya Distribution is working in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration and will destroy all recalled product upon return. Customers with questions about this issue should contact Maya Distribution anytime by e-mail at mayavapes@yahoo.com or via phone at (801) 410-4309 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST. Company Contact Information Consumers: Maya Distribution (801) 410-4309 mayavapes@yahoo.com @AnushkaSharma .. Anushka .. this is Amitabh Bachchan @Srbachchan .. wished you on May 1st via sms .. no response .. checked they said you changed number .. sent greetings again .. love and wishes .. you looked radiant at the IPL game last night AAAAAAAAA Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) May 2, 2018 Thank you so much Sir, for remembering my birthday and sending your kind wishes! (Responding to your sms as I tweet this) AAAAAA https://t.co/dr01PUswIf Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) May 2, 2018 Anushka spent her birthday with husband Virat Kohli. She went to watch latest Hollywood release Avengers: Infinity Wars with Virat and then she was seen in the stadium cheering for hubby Virat and his team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the IPL match against Mumbai Indians. Hubby Virat wrote a sweet birthday message for Anushka, Happy birthday, my love. The most positive and honest person I know. Love you. Best birthday with the bestest, kindest, bravest man in the world . Love you for making it so special my love aA ! A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) on May 1, 2018 at 12:09pm PDT Currently, Anushkas is busy shooting for Aanand L Rais Zero with Shah Rukh Khan and Sharat Katariyas Sui Dhaga with Varun Dhawan. Anushka spent her birthday with husband Virat Kohli. She went to watch latest Hollywood release Avengers: Infinity Wars with Virat and then she was seen in the stadium cheering for hubby Virat and his team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the IPL match against Mumbai Indians. Hubby Virat wrote a sweet birthday message for Anushka, Happy birthday, my love. The most positive and honest person I know. Love you.Currently, Anushkas is busy shooting for Aanand L Rais Zero with Shah Rukh Khan and Sharat Katariyas Sui Dhaga with Varun Dhawan. Amitabh Bachchan is very particular and disciplined, be it being on a movie set or wishing near and dear ones on their birthdays and anniversaries. Yesterday was Anushka Sharmas birthday and Big B send birthday wishes through SMS. But he didnt get a reply for her. Then he took his Twitter handle to wish the birthday girl. In the same tweet he complained and praised also. Big B wrote, @AnushkaSharma.. Anushka.. this is Amitabh Bachchan @Srbachchan.. wished you on May 1st via SMS. no response.. checked they said you changed number. sent greetings again.. love and wishes. you looked radiant at the IPL game last night.Anushka replied to him within twenty four hours. She thanked him saying, Thank you so much Sir, for remembering my birthday and sending your kind wishes! (Responding to your sms as I tweet this). Get Ready For Ram-Lakhan Reunion Jackie was quoted as saying by Bollywoodlife, "You are talking about Lakhan's daughter's wedding! Right? If Ram won't go then who would?" He said this in reference to the 1989 blockbuster film Ram Lakhan', in which he shared screen space with Anil Kapoor who played the role of Lakhan. Jackie Says Bride-To-Be Sonam Is Like His Niece He further added, "She is like my niece. It is my brother's daughter's wedding, I will definitely go." When Jackie Commented That He's A Better Dad Than Anil During 'Brother' promotions when asked who is a better dad, he or Anil, Jackie said, "I am a better dad - personally, in reality and otherwise. His wife has said so. There was a time when my kids were young, I used to come down from Delhi to meet Tiger. I remember once I was shooting with Anil in Chennai, I would come back to meet Tiger, he wouldn't. His wife would tell him, Why can't you be like Jackie?' So, tell me who is better? I didn't say it I am just saying what his wife said." They Have Starred Together In Several Films Jackie and Anil have shared screen space in Ram-Lakhan, Parinda, Karma, Yudh, Andar-Bahar among many others. Meanwhile, Their another co-star from 'Ram Lakhan' sent a surprise gift at bride-to-be Sonam's doorstep. We are talking about Anupam Kher who sent her a congratulatory hamper and shared a video captioned, "Bride to be. My dearest darling @sonamkapoor. Choti si bachchi dekhte dekhte badi ho gayi." Check it out here- WASHINGTON COUNTY (dpa-AFX) - Nike Inc.'s (NKE) Chief Executive Officer Mark Parker apologized to employees for allowing a corporate culture that excluded some staff and failed to take seriously complaints about workplace issues, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. The rare all-staff meeting by the CEO at the sneaker giant's headquarters follows weeks of turmoil, including the departures of several senior executives and internal complaints of inappropriate behavior. The Wall Street Journal in March was first to report that Nike was investigating allegations of inappropriate behavior after a group of women at the company had circulated a survey that reached Parker. Last month, the Journal reported on flaws in Nike's human-resources department and employees' complaints of a boys' club culture at the company. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 3, 2018 / The project consists of a 5-story building with a maximum height of 60 feet, consisting of 13,800 SF of ground floor commercial space, 100 residential units with 88,700 square feet of residential area, and a floor area ratio of 2.73. The three-level subterranean parking garage consists of 232 parking spaces, and the ground floor commercial space would include pedestrian-oriented, neighborhood-serving commercial retail and restaurant uses. Project Design + Site Planning The proposed building design is modern/contemporary. The ground floor consists of commercial space and is setback from the property line creating widened pedestrian zones on Lincoln Boulevard and Colorado Avenue and opportunities for outdoor dining under cantilevered portions of the upper residential floors. The building elevations along Lincoln Boulevard and Colorado Avenue consist of bold integrated box-frame projections and recessed balconies with expansive glazing within the frames. Floors 2- 5 consist of residential units and common open space provided on the podium-level courtyard and roof deck. Above the podium level, the building is divided into three building sections connected by pedestrian bridges. The spacing of the building sections provides breaks in the building elevations, creating the appearance of at least two separate building forms per elevation as viewed from the streets. Breaks in the building lengths allow for adequate light, air, and ventilation throughout the internal portion of building, particularly for internal facing units. Open bridge connectors between the different building sections allow for single-loaded corridors on each floor above the ground floor along the west side of the internal courtyard. Residential units facing the interior courtyard accessed by these single-loaded corridors would have operable windows that would allow for cross ventilation through the units. The ground floor building design incorporates a variety of glazing surfaces with varying setbacks throughout street elevations, providing outdoor seating opportunities, adequate sidewalk space for pedestrian circulation, short-term bike parking, and gathering spaces adjacent to the public sidewalk. The building is setback to provide additional open space on the ground floor, resulting in a minimum sidewalk width of 20 feet (curb to building) along both streets. The ground floor would include approximately 2,680 SF of outdoor dining area to support restaurant and food serving uses, and open space for pedestrians. A 40' wide paseo accessed from Lincoln Boulevard provides a physical and visual connection between Lincoln Boulevard and the 7th Court Alley. The ground floor consists of 5,000 sf of publicly accessible open space primarily adjacent to the public sidewalk and outdoor dining areas in addition to a 5,500 sf paseo that would be open to the public but be secured in the evening for security. The ground floor at the entry of the paseo consists of commercial spaces and seating area for restaurant uses. The residential lobby, ground floor studio loft units, and community room are also accessed from the paseo, providing a mix of commercial and residential activity. Along the 7th Court Alley, a passenger loading space for project residents is provided, and the ground floor is setback 5 feet from the alley to provide space for pedestrian access between the paseo and Colorado Avenue. Resident common open space is provided on the second-floor courtyard at the podium level consisting of 3,000 SF, on the fifth-floor outdoor terrace consisting of 1,500 SF, and on the roof deck that includes 8,000 SF. The roof decks located at the northwest corner of the building consist of amphitheater seating and steps connecting the 5th floor terrace to the roof deck that includes a pool and spa. The roof deck includes trellis projections with solar canopies that would provide approximately 1,600 SF of shaded footprint for residents. The size of the pool and spa would be limited to 12,000 total gallons, with the pool heated with 100% renewable energy. WS COMMUNITIES WS Communities is a real estate development firm that specializes in the acquisition, entitlement, and development of multifamily and mixed-use properties in Southern California. WS Communities' projects include luxury and affordable residential units with ground floor retail and office spaces located in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, California. SCOTT WALTER - CEO & PRESIDENT Scott Walter is an 18-year real estate development and investment veteran and was previously responsible for acquisitions and development at NMS Properties, Inc, as their Executive Vice President. Prior to joining NMS, Mr. Walter spent 11 years with Legacy Partners Residential, Inc. as Vice President of Development & Acquisitions, where he led the acquisition and development of all communities in the Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona markets, and was responsible for all facets of residential operations, acquisitions, development, construction and property management. Before his tenure at Legacy Partners Residential, Inc., Mr. Walter was an Associate with Curtis-Rosenthal, Inc., a real estate consulting and appraisal firm. Mr. Walter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in Real Estate and Finance from Loyola Marymount University and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC). EXPERTISE ACQUISITION PLANNING ENTITLEMENT RESIDENTIAL + COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT News at WS Communities SOURCE: WS COMMUNITIES NORWALK (dpa-AFX) - Xerox (XRX) said Thursday that the settlement agreement it had reached with Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason on May 1, 2018 has expired in accordance with its terms. As previously indicated, the agreement would have become effective upon execution of stipulations discontinuing the Deason litigation with respect to the Xerox defendants. In the absence of such stipulations, the agreement expired at 8:00 p.m. ET on May 3, 2018. As a result, the current Board of Directors and management team will remain in place. Xerox and its Board of Directors recognize the uncertainty caused by the developments of the past several days among the company's investors and other stakeholders. Xerox said its Board and management team remain focused on driving continued improvement in financial and operational performance, and will consider all options to create value for the company and its shareholders. On Tuesday, Xerox said that it reached an agreement with Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason that will resolve the pending proxy contest in connection with the company's 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, as well as the ongoing litigation against Xerox and its directors related to the company's proposed combination with Fuji Xerox. Jeff Jacobson would resign as Chief Executive Officer of Xerox and as a member of its Board of Directors. Keith Cozza, the Chief Executive Officer of Icahn Enterprises L.P., was expected to be elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Xerox and John Visentin was expected to be appointed as the new Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xerox. Xerox noted that the agreement would become effective upon execution by the court of stipulations discontinuing the Deason litigations as to the Xerox defendants. The agreement would automatically terminate if the court does not act before 8:00 p.m. ET on May 3, 2018. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Today's Daily Dose brings you news about FDA panel shooting down Mallinckrodt's pharmacologic treatment for neonatal jaundice; Sarepta's partnership with Myonexus for developing gene therapies for Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophies; FDA approval of Portola's antidote, and Dermira's upcoming milestones. Read on. The FDA decision on Akcea Therapeutics Inc.'s (AKCA) drug candidate Inotersen, with the proposed brand name TEGSEDI, has been pushed to October 6, 2018 from July 6, 2018. TEGSEDI is an investigational drug for the treatment of patients with hereditary TTR amyloidosis (hATTR). Meanwhile, the Company has an important catalyst to watch out for next week. The New Drug Application for Volanesorsen is scheduled to be reviewed by an FDA panel on May 10, 2018. Volanesorsen, co-developed by Ionis and Akcea, with the proposed brand name WAYLIVRA, is an investigational therapy for the treatment of a rare lipid disorder called familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). The FDA is expected to render its final decision on Volanesorsen on August 30, 2018. If approved, Volanesorsen would be the first therapy indicated for FCS patients. AKCA closed Thursday's trading at $23.97, down 4.50%. In after-hours, the stock fell another 9.05% to $21.80. Dermira Inc. (DERM) awaits a big event next month. The FDA decision on the company's Glycopyrronium tosylate, proposed for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis is expected by June 30, 2018. A Phase 2b dose-ranging study evaluating Lebrikizumab in adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis is underway, with data expected in first half of 2019. DERM closed Thursday's trading at $9.15, down 2.45%. It was a disappointment for Mallinckrodt plc (MNK) as the FDA's Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee and Pediatric Advisory Committee on Thursday voted 21 to 3 against approval of Stannsoporfin for the treatment of newborns at risk of developing severe jaundice. Jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition seen both in term and pre-term newborns. In the U.S., the total number of term births is estimated at 3.97 million per year, and, of those, approximately 750,000 infants are treated for jaundice, according to reports. Stannsoporfin injection was developed by InfaCare Pharmaceutical Corp. Mallinckrodt acquired InfaCare Pharmaceutical last August. The FDA's final decision on Stannsoporfin injection is expected on August 22, 2018. MNK closed Thursday's trading at $12.07, down 7.15%. The FDA has approved Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (PTLA) Andexxa, which is specifically designed to reverse the anticoagulant activity of Factor Xa inhibitors. Factor Xa inhibitors are anticoagulants used to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery. Some of the approved oral anticoagulant drugs are Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis, and Lixiana/Savaysa. One of the major complications of treatment with these drugs is bleeding. Andexxa becomes the first and only antidote indicated for patients treated with Eliquis and Xarelto. Portola has licensed the development and commercial rights to Andexanet alfa in Japan to Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) and Pfizer Inc. (PFE) while retaining full commercial rights to the antidote outside of Japan. Analysts expect the drug to become a blockbuster. PTLA closed Thursday's trading at $33.78, down 2.37%. In after-hours, the stock was up 3.35% to $34.91. Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (SRPT) has teamed up with Myonexus Therapeutics Inc. for the advancement of multiple gene therapy programs aimed at treating distinct forms of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophies. Myonexus has five LGMD gene therapy candidates - three clinical and two pre-clinical stage programs. The most advanced of Myonexus' programs is MYO-101, being developed for the treatment of LGMD2E, also known as beta-sarcoglycanopathy, a severe and debilitating form of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. A Phase 1/2a study of MYO-101 is scheduled to begin in mid-2018, and the companies plan to report on 60-day biopsy data in late-2018 or early 2019. Sarepta will make an upfront payment of $60 million and additional development-related milestone payments to purchase an exclusive option to acquire Myonexus at a pre-negotiated, fixed price with sales-related contingent payments. If all development-related milestone payments are met, Sarepta will make payments of up to $45 million over an approximately two-year evaluation period. Sarepta has the option to purchase Myonexus at any time, including upon review of proof-of-concept data. SRPT closed Thursday's trading at $78.17, down 0.31%. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar slipped against its major counterparts in late Asian deals on Friday. The kiwi declined to 1.0756 against the aussie, its lowest since March 22. The kiwi dropped to 0.7022 against the greenback and 1.7069 against the euro, from its early 4-day high of 0.7053 and a 2-week high of 1.7002, respectively. Reversing from an early high of 76.96 against the yen, the kiwi edged down to 76.59. The next possible support for the kiwi is seen around 1.09 against the aussie, 0.69 against the greenback, 1.72 against the euro and 75.00 against the yen. 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. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - National Grid plc (NG.L, NGG) anounced that Andrew Bonfield, Group CFO, has informed the Board that he will be leaving the company to take on a role in a US public company. He will step down from his position and from the Board following the AGM on 30 July 2018. Andy Agg, currently Group Tax and Treasury Director, will become Interim CFO pending the appointment of a permanent Group CFO. The Board will now initiate a thorough process which will include both internal and external candidates to identify a permanent successor for Andrew. 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. Celebrating Open Access academic research of women scientists IntechOpen, the first native scientific publisher of Open Access books, announced today the selected books for the "IntechOpen Women in Sciences 2018" Book Collection. As part of its support of women scientists worldwide, the company created this annual program and is now reporting the results. "Women scientists embraced the idea to publish their research and get international exposure in this inaugural Book Collection program and we received almost 300 submissions," said Alex Lazinica, CEO/Co-founder and scientist himself of IntechOpen. "I would like to applaud all women who submitted ideas on being proactive in their quest to publish. Our team is in touch with all who submitted ideas. It is my privilege to be able to congratulate academic editors of the selected books your book topics represent a wide range of sciences and your submission was chosen with the criteria confirmed by our Scientific Advisors. We look forward to seeing your Open Access books published by the 2019th International Women in Sciences Day." The Books Selected by IntechOpen's Scientific Advisors This inaugural program was announced on February 9, 2018 to mark the UNESCO's official celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The submissions have been evaluated and the selection of books made by The Women in Sciences Book Collections Committee, led by Viktorija Zgela, M.A., Academic and Institutional Liaison at IntechOpen, and the company's Scientific Advisors, including Dr. Izabela Naydenova, Dublin Institute of Technology; Dr. Dennis Wat, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Dr. Krasimir Metodiev, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria and Dr. Bernardo Llamas Moya, Politechnical University of Madrid, Spain. The evaluation was based on the following criteria: quality and originality of the proposal, fit with the trends in the corresponding scientific field, significance of the topic for the scientific community, the biographical/scientific background of editors and their affiliated institutions, with a notion to represent candidates from all continents. The selected book topics and (co)editors to be included in the IntechOpen "Women in Science 2018" Book Collection are as follows (in alphabetical order): Alyssa Brewer, University of California, Irvine, CA, US Cognitive Sciences Chiara Dall'Asta, University of Parma, Italy, Food Science and Technology Bahareh Golfar, Iogen Corporation and Shirin Golchi, Simon Fraser University, Canada, Data Science Tetyana Morozyuk, Technical University Berlin, Germany, Energy Engineering/Physics Nilce Ortiz, Institute for Nuclear and Energy Research IPEN, Brazil, Environmental Engineering Marquidia Pacheco, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Mexico, Renewable Energy Catrin Sian Rutland, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, Veterinary Medicine and Science Eva Segelov, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, Oncology Monika Singh, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India, Physics Rebecca Tadokera, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Pulmonology/Epidemiology All selected academic editors are provided a free introductory chapter plus one more complimentary chapter, as well as discounts in publishing fees for all chapters in the books, several printed copies of books, and assistance with the research dissemination. IntechOpen is also providing assistance to editors of all submitted book topics to help them round out their book ideas and potentially publish, if they meet the IntechOpen's quality standards. About IntechOpen Founded in 2004, IntechOpen, the first native scientific publisher of Open Access books, provides a collaborative environment for peer-reviewed scholarly content and book publishing of academic research, giving scientific thinking its home. The scientific community of editors, authors, funders and librarians worldwide benefit from open access research dissemination, ensuring faster spreading and advancement of scientific knowledge. The company's global headquarter is in London, UK. www.intechopen.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005204/en/ Contacts: IntechOpen Natalia Reinic Babic +385 91 5638 157 reinic@intechopen.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar drifted lower against its major counterparts in the Asian session on Friday, as investors look forward to the release of U.S. jobs report due later in the day for directional cues. The U.S. economy is expected to have added 192,000 jobs last month, after rising by 103,000 jobs in March. The unemployment rate is expected to dip to 4.0 percent from 4.1 percent. Investors keenly watch developments from China-U.S. trade talks in Beijing. The talks, led by Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, are aimed to reach a breakthrough on the tariff standoff between the world's two biggest economies. The kiwi showed mixed trading against its major counterparts on Thursday. While it held steady against the yen and the aussie, it rose against the greenback and the euro. The kiwi declined to 1.0756 against the aussie, its lowest since March 22. The kiwi is poised to challenge support around the 1.09 mark. The kiwi dropped to 0.7022 against the greenback and 1.7069 against the euro, from its early 4-day high of 0.7053 and a 2-week high of 1.7002, respectively. The next possible support for the kiwi is seen around 0.69 against the greenback and 1.72 against the euro. Reversing from an early high of 76.96 against the yen, the kiwi edged down to 76.59. Next key support for the kiwi is likely seen around the 75.00 level. Looking ahead, PMI reports from major European economies and Eurozone retail sales for March are due in the European session. In the New York session, U.S. jobs data and Canada Ivey PMI for April are scheduled for release. At 12:00 pm ET, New York Fed President William Dudley will discuss financial turmoil and the challenges ahead in an interview conducted by Matthew Winkler with Bloomberg News. San Francisco Fed President John Williams will give remarks at the Hoover Institute's Monetary Policy Conference, hosted by Stanford University at 3:00 pm ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Shares of BMW AG(BMW.L, BAMXF.PK, BAMXY.PK) were losing around 2 percent in the early morning trading in Germany after the luxury carmaker reported Friday that its first-quarter pre-tax profit edged down on weak revenues due to currency effects, while net profit increased from last year. Deliveries, however, increased with good growth in all segments and regions. Further, BMW Group reaffirmed its outlook for full year 2018. Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said, 'We are targeting new record figures in the Automotive segment for sales volume and revenues in 2018. Group profit before tax is expected to be at least at the previous financial year's level.' The profit before tax for 2018 would be slightly higher than one year earlier, reflecting adjustment related to mobility services joint venture. The BMW Group continues to forecast an EBIT margin in the target range of 8 to 10% for the Automotive segment. Kruger added, 'The BMW Group was the world's most profitable car company in 2017 and is stepping up the pace again in 2018.' For the first quarter, Group net profit increased 1.2 percent to 2.30 billion euros from last year's 2.27 billion euros. Group profit before tax amounted to 3.17 billion euros, down 0.5 percent from 3.18 billion euros a year ago, with rising costs and upfront expenditure for R&D activities. Profit before financial result or EBIT dropped 3.1 percent to 2.73 billion euros. The EBT margin was 13.9%, higher than 13.3%, and was the highest quarterly figure since 2011. Due to currency effects, Group revenues fell 5.1% to 22.69 billion euros from last year's 23.93 billion euros. Adjusted for currency effects, revenues were down 0.7%. First-quarter deliveries of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles rose 3% to 604,629 units from 587,237 units last year. All three major sales regions contributed to the increase, driven in particular by strong performances on the Chinese mainland and in the USA. Sales for Europe edged up 1% to 270,725 units, in Asia grew 6.3% to 212,693 units, and Americas region volume growth was 4%. Automotive segment revenues dropped 3.4 percent to 19.33 billion euros with currency effects. EBIT edged up 0.2 percent and EBIT margin improved to 9.7% from 9.4% last year. BMW brand volume grew 2.8 percent to 517,447 units. The MINI brand volume increased 4 percent to 86,375 units. Sales of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars rose 10.1% year-on-year to 807 units. BMW Group vehicles with electrified drivetrains were particularly popular, with sales of the BMW i3 and i8 models, together with BMW iPerformance and MINI Electric plug-in hybrids, up by 38% to just under 27,000 units. Electrified vehicles accounted for more than 4 percent of total BMW Group vehicle deliveries to customers in the first quarter, compared to 3.3% last year. With its three automotive premium brands, BMW Group said it is confident to remain the world's leading manufacturer of premium vehicles in 2018. BMW Motorrad sales volume was flat, and revenues fell 15.5%. In Germany, BMW shares were trading at 90.28 euros, up 2.04 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de RIGA, LATVIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 4, 2018 / Rumors have been popping up all over the web, but now it's official, Popular question-and-answer platform ASKfm is kicking off their private token sale event, in anticipation of the new blockchain powered ASKfm 2.0 platform scheduled to launch later this year. In their constant efforts to create a fun, informative experience for over 215 million users across the globe, the team at Ask.fm has identified blockchain as its most viable path towards its newest ambitions. Funds raised by investors in the private sale, pre-sale and upcoming public token sale will be used to develop and nurture the new platform. ASKfm 2.0 represents a unique opportunity for potential investors, who are rarely given a chance to invest in concepts that are already this robust and mature. At the time of the sale, ASKfm will be 8 years old, boasting users in 168 different countries, with over 600 million questions asked every month. These users come to ASKfm to express their identity in a conversational way, either resolving their own personal queries or by adding their expertise to discussions where it's in demand. This proven formula has made ASKfm the largest Q&A social network in the world, but it has recently identified a method to improve its value proposition and invest further in the experience of its users. One of the most pertinent reasons to integrate blockchain is to rebuild the company's revenue model and take it from its largely advertising-based origins. The blockchain model in development by ASKfm will allow the company to create a more vibrant community with higher quality answers and increased transparency. The company is planning to leverage their new model, which rewards notable responses and interaction, to bring other supplementary benefits to its users, such as social development and educational enhancement. ASKfm's Q&A platform has already proven effective at breaking down communication barriers among young people and improving the knowledge of its many users. The next phase in the company's ASKfm 2.0 initiative will be to move into the realms of an online marketplace. This will include enabling members to ask questions or present surveys to their peers and rewarding them for answers, as well as creating other unique opportunities, including the ability for parents to present educational challenges directly through the platform with rewards for completion. Essentially, ASKfm seeks to develop a social growth network that gives users a place to engage within a safe environment, practice interaction, develop their communication skills and earn rewards for taking part of a thriving community, thanks to a full-scale internal economy. There are fewer things more valuable than the right information delivered to the right person at the right time. Blockchain's digital ledger will demonstrate this concept in ASKfm 2.0, which can help users in need of an answer find the people most qualified to help. It also directs experts towards discussions where their knowledge is in more demand. The platform's token provides an incentive to experts, professionals, opinion leaders and others from around the world, who will surely jump at the chance to monetize themselves and therefore be the catalyst for an exploding population of users. In turn, those who use the token and earn it become stakeholders in ASKfm 2.0's success. Maxim Tsaryk, CEO of ASKfm, stated: "ASKfm is building a decentralized economy around the value inherent in social interactions, and tokens are the lifeblood of the new system. To make our blockchain Q&A platform a reality, we've introduced cryptocurrency not on a whim, but out of conceptual necessity. This project has been in the works for years, and its eventual transfer of 215 million people into blockchain represents the single biggest mass introduction to the future, ever. Blockchain opens a path to democratic environments and self-sustaining economic models governed by market laws and mechanisms like supply and demand. Knowledge evaluation is possible within conventional systems, but for it to be fair and independent, we built it on the blockchain." Investors in the yet-unannounced pre-and-public sales can be encouraged by the viable model being built, but also by the degree to which ASKfm has gone to ensure compliance. The company currently owns two registered entities in Ireland and Latvia, as well as trademarks and other intellectual property, and is working tirelessly to remain in good standing with all relevant regulatory bodies. ASKfm's 2.0 plans has already sparked a wide range of interest, with blockchain enthusiasts across the globe eagerly anticipating further announcements on the public sale. Private sale investors have until June to decide how ASKfm fits into their portfolio, at which point they'll likely need to get in line with everyone else to capitalize on this new model of knowledge provision. Press: David GastonDavid@mediaplacing.com+972-545-464-238ASKfm BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The euro weakened against its major counterparts in early European deals on Friday, as Eurozone economic activity expanded in April at the slowest pace since January 2017. Final data from IHS Markit showed that the composite output index fell slightly to 55.1 in April from 55.2 in March. According to flash estimate, the index remained unchanged at 55.2 in April. The services Purchasing Managers' Index dropped to 54.7 in April from 54.9 a month ago. The flash reading was 55.0. Similarly, Germany's composite PMI came in at 54.6 in April, down from March's 55.1 and below the flash estimate of 55.3. The weaker expansion in services business activity in April offset a slight pick-up in the rate of manufacturing output growth. Germany's services PMI slid to 53.0 from 53.9 in the previous month. This was the lowest since September 2016. The flash reading was 54.1. Investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the release of U.S. jobs report due later in the day. The U.S. economy is expected to have added 192,000 jobs last month, after rising by 103,000 jobs in March. The unemployment rate is expected to dip to 4.0 percent from 4.1 percent. The euro traded mixed against its major counterparts in the Asian session. While the euro fell against the yen and the greenback, it held steady against the pound and the franc. The euro dropped to 1.1956 against the greenback, from a high of 1.1996 hit at 11:30 pm ET. The next possible support for the euro is seen around the 1.17 area. The euro reversed from an early high of 0.8836 against the pound, falling to 0.8818. The euro is poised to challenge support around the 0.87 mark. The 19-nation currency edged down to 130.39 against the yen, after rising to 130.93 at 5:00 pm ET. The euro is likely to find support around the 128.00 area. The single currency weakened to 1.1937 against the Swiss franc, reversing from a high of 1.1965 seen at 3:15 am ET. Next key support for the euro is likely seen around the 1.18 level. Looking ahead, U.S. jobs data and Canada Ivey PMI for April are scheduled for release in the New York session. At 12:00 pm ET, New York Fed President William Dudley will discuss financial turmoil and the challenges ahead in an interview conducted by Matthew Winkler with Bloomberg News. San Francisco Fed President John Williams will give remarks at the Hoover Institute's Monetary Policy Conference, hosted by Stanford University at 3:00 pm ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Newell Brands (NWL) announced the expansion of its Accelerated Transformation Plan, adding Jostens and Pure Fishing to the list of potential divestitures previously announced. The Accelerated Transformation Plan include: restructuring Newell Brands to a more than $9 billion global consumer products company with leading brands in seven core consumer divisions; divesting non-core businesses representing approximately 35 percent of the company's net sales; and applying approximately $10 billion in after-tax proceeds from divestitures in combination with free cash flow from operations after dividends to debt repayment and significant accretive share repurchase. The execution of the Accelerated Transformation Plan will result in a dramatic simplification of the company's operations: 66% reduction in the number of manufacturing facilities; 55% reduction in distribution centers; 58% simplification of the company's retailer and distributor interfaces; 45% reduction in brands; 39% reduction in number of employees; effective elimination of its unbranded businesses; and reduction of more than 30 ERP systems to two by the end of 2019. The company said the divestiture process is well underway and expects to complete all transactions by the end of 2019. In 2020, the company expects net sales of approximately $9.5 billion and normalized operating margin greater than 15 percent. The company also announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell The Waddington Group to Novolex Holdings LLC for approximately $2.3 billion. The company expects the transaction to be completed within approximately 60 days and result in after-tax proceeds of approximately $2.2 billion. Proceeds will be applied to deleveraging and share repurchase. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LJUBLJANA (dpa-AFX) - Slovakia's retail sales growth held steady in March after easing in the previous month, figures from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic showed Friday. Retail sales, excluding automobile trade, advanced 5.0 percent year-over-year in March, the same rate of increase as in February. Sales have been rising since August 2016. Sales of food, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores grew 7.8 percent annually in March and those of automotive fuel rose by 6.7 percent. On a monthly basis, retail sales went up 0.9 percent at the end of the first quarter. 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. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 4, 2018 / International Seaways, Inc. (NYSE: INSW) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q1 Earnings Call to be held on May 4, 2018 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. To listen to the event live or access a replay of the call - visit https://www.investornetwork.com/company/96836 To receive updates for this company you can register by emailing info@investornetwork.com or by clicking get investment info from the company's profile. About Investor Network Investor Network (IN) is a financial content community, serving millions of unique investors market information, earnings, commentary and news on the what's trending. Dedicated to both the professional and the average traders, IN offers timely, trusted and relevant financial information for virtually every investor. IN is an Issuer Direct brand, to learn more or for the latest financial news and market information, visit www.investornetwork.com. Follow us on Twitter @investornetwork. SOURCE: Investor Network NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 4, 2018 / Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q1 Earnings Call to be held on May 4, 2018 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. To listen to the event live or access a replay of the call - visit https://www.investornetwork.com/company/1109 To receive updates for this company you can register by emailing info@investornetwork.com or by clicking get investment info from the company's profile. About Investor Network Investor Network (IN) is a financial content community, serving millions of unique investors market information, earnings, commentary and news on the what's trending. Dedicated to both the professional and the average traders, IN offers timely, trusted and relevant financial information for virtually every investor. IN is an Issuer Direct brand, to learn more or for the latest financial news and market information, visit www.investornetwork.com. Follow us on Twitter @investornetwork. SOURCE: Investor Network BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) Friday reported a profit for the fourth-quarter ended March 31, 2018 that declined 29 percent from the prior year, due to a one-time gain in the previous year. But, quarterly revenue increased 61 percent, driven by the stronger revenue growth of China commerce retail business. The company expects overall revenue growth above 60 percent for fiscal 2019. Both adjusted earnings per share and revenue beat analysts' estimates. In the Friday pre-market trade, BABA is trading at $185.2, up $2.80 or 1.54 percent. 'Alibaba Group had an excellent quarter and fiscal year, driven by robust growth in our core commerce business and investments we have made over the past several years in longer-term growth initiatives,' said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. Looking ahead to fiscal 2019, the company expects overall revenue growth above 60%, reflecting its confidence in its core business as well as positive momentum in new businesses. It expects its new growth initiatives will drive long-term, sustainable value for our customers and partners and increase our total addressable market. Alibaba reported that net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for the fourth-quarter ended March 31, 2018 declined 29 percent to RMB 7.56 billion or US$1.21 billion, from the previous year's RMB 10.65 billion, with earnings per share decreasing 30 percent to RMB 2.88 or US$0.46 from RMB4.12 in the previous year. Non-GAAP net income was RMB 14.10 billion or US$2.25 billion, an increase of 35% year-over-year. Non-GAAP earnings per share in the quarter were RMB5.73 or US$0.91, an increase of 32% from RMB4.35 in the prior year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.86 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. Other income, net in the quarter ended was RMB 884 million or US$141 million, compared to RMB 440 million in the same quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily due to an increase in exchange gain, offset by the net loss sustained by Ant Financial during the quarter as a result of its aggressive marketing and promotion activities which increased expenses. The spending had brought substantial additions in new users of Alipay Wallet. Ant Financial's net loss in the quarter, in turn, resulted in reversal of income recognized in respect of royalty fees and software technology services fees from Ant Financial under profit sharing arrangement. The reversal of income amounted to a charge of RMB713 million or US$114 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared to income of RMB789 million recognized in the same quarter ended March 31, 2017. Alibaba's revenue for the fourth-quarter was RMB 61.93 billion or US$9.87 billion, an increase of 61% from last year's RMB 38.58 billion, mainly driven by the robust revenue growth of China commerce retail business, Alibaba Cloud and international commerce retail business, as well as the consolidation of Cainiao Network and Intime. Wall Street expected revenues of $9.27 billion for the quarter. Revenue from China commerce retail business in the quarter was RMB 40.19 billion or US$6.41 billion, an increase of 56% from the prior year. Revenue from China commerce wholesale business in the quarter was RMB 1.88 billion or US$300 million, an increase of 28% from the prior year. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the average revenue from paying members on 1688.com platform. Revenue from international commerce retail business in the quarter was RMB 3.97 billion or US$632 million, an increase of 63% from the previous year, due to the growth in revenue generated from Lazada and AliExpress, driven by strong GMV growth on these two marketplaces. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Market research firm Technavio has announced the release of their latest report on the global osteoarthritis pain drugs market. This new report will provide expert market insights for the forecast period 2018-2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005389/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the global osteoarthritis pain drugs market from 2018-2022. (Graphic: Business Wire) The report will follow up on Technavio's previous report on osteoarthritis pain drugs research, offering an up-to-date analysis of the market, concerning the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall global environment. The upgraded research report on the osteoarthritis pain drugs market is an integral part of Technavio's cardiovascular and metabolic disorders portfolio. Technavio covers an extensive range of market research reports on the cardiovascular and metabolic disorders market, covering different regions and top industry segments. Some of the topics include diabetic retinopathy, biologic therapeutics, peptide therapeutics, inflammatory bowel disease, liver cirrhosis therapeutics, and type 1 diabetes drugs. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Save more with Technavio. Buy2 reports and get the third for FREEView all Technavio's current offers Opportunities for growth Technavio's previous report on the global osteoarthritis pain drugs market projected that APAC will be the highest revenue contributing region by 2020. In APAC, countries such as China, India, and Japan are contributing towards the growth of this market due to its fast-growing populations. Factors such as the growing need for better health management, better economic conditions, and awareness about the disease are contributing towards its demand. Moreover, the rise in aging population and approval of drugs like MONOVISC and Vivlodex will drive the market in this region. In the previous report, a senior research analyst at Technavio stated, "The chronic nature of osteoarthritis and the absence of effective curative therapies has led to a significant amount of the unmet medical needs. The treatment options available in the market fail to provide suitable pain relief in the late stages of osteoarthritis. This led to a larger number of people opting for natural treatments such as yoga, chiropractic, homeopathy, and naturopathy, to treat osteoarthritis. Many pharmaceutical companies are making investments to develop new drugs with better MOA and minimal adverse effects, which will propel the market's growth." Technavio's new on the report on the global osteoarthritis pain drugs market will evaluate the key geographical regions and their behavior over the past four years, introducing new data and observations and providing new predictions. Looking for the latest information on the global osteoarthritis pain drugs market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Detailed analysis at your fingertips Some of the topics that will be revisited in the new report include: Market size and growth rate through 2022 Top factors driving the market growth Competitive landscape and market share analysis of the key players Market opportunities and factors impeding growth The report on the global osteoarthritis pain drugs market for the period 2018-2022 is available to order now and will be delivered within one week of purchase. Personalize this report according to your needs: Request a customization Technavio's analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements. We offer USD 1,000 worth of FREE customization at the time of purchase. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005389/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 4, 2018 / Global Cannabis Applications Corp. ("GCAC" or the "Company") (CSE: APP, FSE: 2FA, OTCQB: FUAPF), a leading developer of innovative data technologies for the cannabis industry, is pleased to announce it will be participating in a Lithuanian trade mission to China later this month. GCAC will accompany members of the Lithuanian Finance Ministry on the trade mission with two main events: the China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services and the 2018 China E-Commerce Convention taking place in Beijing. "I am extremely honoured to join Mr. Vilnius Sapoka, the Minister of Finance of Lithuania, on this very important trade mission to China," said Brad Moore, CEO of GCAC. "This is a significant opportunity to promote and showcase the strengths and capabilities of the Citizen Green platform on an international stage. I look forward to participating in this trade mission and establishing relationships with local government, academia, and business leaders for potential expansion to the Chinese market place. Our Citizen Green platform is fully scalable and offers significant medical value to the most-populous country in the world with growing medical needs." The 2018 China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will be held in the China National Convention Center from May 28 to June 1, 2018, and will focus on development and innovation in China's service industry, including science, technology, finance, healthcare and other key service areas. Co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and the Beijing government, it is supported by the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. CIFTIS is one of the world's largest service trade fairs that covers all major service areas. Cannabis in China has a long history with ancient texts referring to its medicinal qualities. While medical cannabis is still prohibited in China, local governments are taking steps to liberalize its use. Furthermore, China is the world's second-largest producer of industrial hemp, the low-THC strain of Cannabis sativa. Its stems are used to make high-quality fabric, leaves are used to make pharmaceutical compounds, and seeds are used for food products and drinks. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, Chinese businesses have filed over half of more than 600 worldwide patents related to medical cannabis. As China moves toward a more liberalized market for medical cannabis, it represents a significant opportunity to GCAC. China is the world's most-populous country, and like most large and developing countries it is struggling to control the cost of healthcare due to an aging population. Medical cannabis represents a real alternative to expensive pharmaceuticals used for a long list of ailments. GCAC's Citizen Green platform can help make medical cannabis safer and more accessible in China. About Global Cannabis Applications Corp. Global Cannabis Applications Corp. is a global leader in designing, developing, marketing and acquiring innovative data technologies for the cannabis industry. The Citizen Green platform is the world's first end-to-end - from patient to regulator - medical cannabis data solution. It uses six core technologies: mobile applications, artificial intelligence, regtech, smart databases, blockchain and digital reward tokens, to qualify candidates for clinical studies. These technologies facilitate the proliferation of digital conversations by like-minded people in the medical cannabis community. Managed by digital and cannabis industry experts, GCAC is focused on viral global expansion by providing the best digital experience in the cannabis market. For more information about the Company, please visit online at www.cannappscorp.com, or review its profiles www.sedar.com and on the Canadian Securities Exchange's website (www.thecse.com ) . To schedule an interview, please contact: Bradley Moore Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 514-5619091 Email: bmoore@cannappscorp.com For more information, please contact: Corporate Communications Canada & Europe Telephone: 1.855.269.9554 Email: info@cannappscorp.com www.cannappscorp.com Corporate Communications United States Hayden IR Telephone: 1.917.658.7878 Email: hart@haydenir.com Forward-Looking Information This news release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of GCAC. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of GCAC. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because GCAC can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. GCAC disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of this information. SOURCE: Global Cannabis Applications Corp. Shareholders in Microsaic Systems were told of "encouraging progress" with the company's commercial development on Friday, as they gathered for its annual general meeting. The AIM-traded firm's collaboration with "one of the foremost players" in the scientific instrumentation market was said to be progressing in line with the board's expectations, in the technical integration phase of a bioprocessing application. "As previously announced, two new OEM agreements have been signed in the company's ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar bounced off from its recent losses against its major opponents in the European session on Friday, as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to an 18-year low in April, indicating that the Fed would continue with gradual rate hikes during the year. Data from the Labor Department showed that U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent in April after holding at 4.1 percent for six straight months. The unemployment rate had been expected to edge down to 4.0 percent. With the bigger than expected decrease, the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level since a matching rate in December of 2000. Meanwhile, the non-farm payroll employment climbed by 164,000 jobs in April after rising by an upwardly revised 135,000 jobs in March. Economists had expected employment to increase by 192,000 jobs compared to the addition of 103,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month. The mixed jobs data is unlikely to dissuade the Fed from holding off its rate hike in June. The Sino-U.S. trade talks ended in Beijing, with both two sides exchanging views on expanding US exports to China, trade in services, bilateral investment, protection of intellectual property rights, resolution of tariffs and non-tariff measures. Both sides recognized that large differences still remain on some issues and they would continue to resolve relevant economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultation. The greenback rose against its major counterparts in the Asian session, with the exception of the yen. Following a 10-day decline to 108.65 against the yen in the immediate aftermath of the data, the greenback bounced off to 109.19 in a short while. The pair ended Thursday's deals at 109.18. Continuation of the greenback's uptrend may see it challenging resistance around the 110.00 level. The greenback quickly erased its data-induced losses against the franc and spiked up to near a 6-month peak of 1.0009. If the greenback continues its rise, 1.01 is possibly seen as its next resistance level. The greenback climbed to near a 4-month high of 1.1927 against the euro, from a low of 1.1996 hit at 11:30 pm ET. Next key resistance for the greenback is likely seen around the 1.17 level. Final data from IHS Markit showed that Eurozone economic activity expanded strongly in April but the pace of expansion slowed marginally since March. The composite output index fell slightly to 55.1 in April from 55.2 in March. According to flash estimate, the index remained unchanged at 55.2 in April. The greenback strengthened to 1.3524 against the pound, its highest since January 11. This follows a low of 1.3586 seen at 10:30 pm ET. The greenback is likely to find resistance around the 1.34 area. The greenback advanced to more than a 4-week high of 1.2917 against the loonie, after having fallen to 1.2836 at 9:45 pm ET. The next possible resistance for the greenback is seen around the 1.31 area. The greenback strengthened to 0.7492 against the aussie and 0.6994 against the kiwi, from its early 4-day lows of 0.7560 and 0.7053, respectively. The greenback is poised to challenge resistance around 0.73 against the aussie and 0.68 against the kiwi. Looking ahead, Canada Ivey PMI for April is scheduled for release shortly. At 12:00 pm ET, New York Fed President William Dudley will discuss financial turmoil and the challenges ahead in an interview conducted by Matthew Winkler with Bloomberg News. San Francisco Fed President John Williams will give remarks at the Hoover Institute's Monetary Policy Conference, hosted by Stanford University at 3:00 pm ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Today Nina Jensen, CEO of X Four-10/REV signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UN Environment Program. The purpose of the MoU is to provide a framework for further cooperation and collaboration between the two parties. The UN Environment Programme is a strong voice within the UN system and serves as a leading authority for the global environment efforts. Today, we are proud to announce that we have signed a MoU to solidify our partnership. We share many of the same goals, and a strategic partnership will enhance our ability to make a difference when it comes to ocean-related issues. We wish to create an international platform for leading ocean knowledge, innovation and research communities, both on land and at sea. Therefore, we are excited to have UN as a partner, says CEO of X Four-10/REV, Nina Jensen. X Four-10/REV is currently building the world's largest and most advanced research expedition vessel, which will be launched in 2020. The company also aims to build the World Ocean Headquarter at Fornebu, bringing together researchers, voluntary organizations, businesses and various marine environments. These two initiatives will facilitate scientific groups and other stakeholders working together innovatively to find solutions to save the oceans. Our strategic partnership involve cooperating in creating platforms for multi-stakeholder engagement on ocean-related topics, raising awareness and implementing the Sustainable Development Goal agenda with a focus on ocean-related issues. We see this to be in line with the government's increased focus on Norway affirming its role as a leading sustainable maritime nation, says Nina Jensen. We need a platform where science can translate into practical knowledge and form the basis for policy commitments. The cooperation between UN Environment and X Four-10 is a unique effort in strengthening global cooperation on sustainable ocean. We have strong hopes of achieving big things together, says Lisa Emelia Svensson, UN Environment Ocean Ambassador. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005534/en/ Contacts: X Four-10/REV Tone Nymoen Senior Advisor Communication Marketing, Cell: +47 913 84 404 Regulatory News: Mainstay Medical International plc (Mainstay or the Company, Euronext Paris: MSTY.PA and Euronext Dublin: MSTY.IE), a medical device company focused on bringing to market ReActiv8, an implantable restorative neurostimulation system to treat disabling Chronic Low Back Pain, announces the publication of a prospectus (Prospectus) in connection with the admission of 2,151,332 new ordinary shares (New Shares) to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris. The New Shares will also be admitted to trading on the ESM of Euronext Dublin. The New Shares were issued pursuant to a 30.1 million equity fundraising announced on 15 February 2018. Application has been made to Euronext Paris and to Euronext Dublin for the New Shares to be admitted to listing and trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris and to trading on the ESM of Euronext Dublin, respectively (Admission). It is expected that Admission of the New Shares will become effective, and that dealings in the New Shares will commence, at 8.00 a.m. Irish Standard Time 9.00 a.m. CET on 9 May 2018. The Prospectus has been approved by the Central Bank of Ireland and is publicly available on the Company's website at www.mainstay-medical.com/investors. The Company has requested that the Central Bank of Ireland provide a certificate of approval and a copy of the Prospectus, together with a translation of the summary of the Prospectus into the French language, to the French Autorite des Marches Financiers. A translation of the summary of the Prospectus into the French language will be shortly available on the websites of the Company and the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (www.amf-france.org). End About Mainstay Mainstay is a medical device company focused on bringing to market an innovative implantable restorative neurostimulation system, ReActiv8, for people with disabling Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP). The Company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It has subsidiaries operating in Ireland, the United States, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, and is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (MSTY.PA) and the ESM of Euronext Dublin (MSTY.IE). About Chronic Low Back Pain One of the recognized root causes of CLBP is impaired control by the nervous system of the muscles that dynamically stabilize the spine in the low back, and an unstable spine can lead to back pain. ReActiv8 is designed to electrically stimulate the nerves responsible for contracting these muscles and thereby help to restore muscle control and improve dynamic spine stability, allowing the body to recover from CLBP. People with CLBP usually have a greatly reduced quality of life and score significantly higher on scales for pain, disability, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Their pain and disability can persist despite the best available medical treatments, and only a small percentage of cases result from an identified pathological condition or anatomical defect that may be correctable with spine surgery. Their ability to work or be productive is seriously affected by the condition and the resulting days lost from work, disability benefits and health resource utilization put a significant burden on individuals, families, communities, industry and governments. Further information can be found at www.mainstay-medical.com CAUTION in the United States, ReActiv8 is limited by federal law to investigational use only. Forward looking statements This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "intends", "may", "plans", "projects", "should", "will", or "explore" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear throughout this announcement and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Company's results of operations, financial position, prospects, financing strategies, expectations for product design and development, regulatory applications and approvals, reimbursement arrangements, costs of sales and market penetration. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the actual results of the Company's operations, and the development of its main product, the markets and the industry in which the Company operates, may differ materially from those described in, or suggested by, the forward looking statements contained in this announcement. In addition, even if the Company's results of operations, financial position and growth, and the development of its main product and the markets and the industry in which the Company operates, are consistent with the forward looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. A number of factors could cause results and developments of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements including, without limitation, the successful launch and commercialization of ReActiv8, the progress and success of the ReActiv8-B Clinical Trial,general economic and business conditions, the global medical device market conditions, industry trends, competition, changes in law or regulation, changes in taxation regimes, the availability and cost of capital, the time required to commence and complete clinical trials, the time and process required to obtain regulatory approvals, currency fluctuations, changes in its business strategy, political and economic uncertainty. The forward-looking statements herein speak only at the date of this announcement. Disclaimers This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in any jurisdiction. This announcement is not a prospectus (or prospectus equivalent document) or an advertisement. Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any shares in the Company based on this announcement or the prospectus. Neither this announcement nor any part of it shall form the basis of or be relied on in connection with or act as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment whatsoever. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. The material set forth herein is for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer of securities for sale in any jurisdiction. No action has been taken by the Company to permit a public offer of New Ordinary Shares under the applicable securities laws of any jurisdiction. Other than in Ireland and France, no action has been taken or will be taken to permit the possession or distribution of the Prospectus (or any other offering or publicity materials relating to the New Ordinary Shares, including this announcement) in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose may be required or where doing so is restricted by law. Accordingly, neither this announcement nor the Prospectus may be distributed or published in any other jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations. This announcement and the information it contains does not constitute and shall not be considered as constituting a public offer, an offer to subscribe or an intention to solicit the interest of the public for a public offering of Mainstay's securities in Ireland, France, the United Kingdom, the United States or any other jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this document comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. J&E Davy ("Davy") is acting as Financial Adviser to the Company in connection with Admission. Davy, which is regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland, is acting for the Company and for no one else in connection with Admission and will not be responsible to any person other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Davy, nor for providing advice in relation to Admission, the content of this announcement or any matter referred to in this announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Davy by the Central Bank of Ireland, or the regulatory regime in Ireland, neither Davy nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Davy in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise, nor makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, in relation to, the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement purported to be made by Davy, or on behalf of Davy in connection with the Company or Admission. Davy accordingly disclaims to the fullest extent permitted by law all and any responsibility or liability to any person who is not a client of Davy, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any such statement. This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for, nor does it constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy Ordinary Shares in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to its registration or qualification under the laws of such jurisdiction. The New Shares mentioned herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). The New Shares may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement under, or an exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities Act. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. Information to distributors Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) MiFID II; (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the New Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such New Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the New Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the New Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the New Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the offer of the New Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the New Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the New Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. This distribution of this announcement may be subject to legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Any person who comes into possession of this announcement must inform him or herself of and comply with any such restrictions View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005547/en/ Contacts: PR and IR Enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications (international strategic communications business and trade media) Chris Gardner, Jessica Hodgson, Nicholas Brown Tel: +44 203 709 5700 +44 7921 697 654 Email: mainstaymedical@consilium-comms.com or FTI Consulting (for Ireland): Jonathan Neilan Tel: +353 1 765 0886 Email: jonathan.neilan@fticonsulting.com or NewCap (for France) Julie Coulot Tel: +33 1 44 71 20 40 Email:jcoulot@newcap.fr or Investor Relations: LifeSci Advisors, LLC Brian Ritchie Tel: + 1 (212) 915-2578 Email: britchie@lifesciadvisors.com or ESM Advisers: Davy Fergal Meegan or Barry Murphy Tel: +353 1 679 6363 Email: fergal.meegan@davy.ie or barry.murphy2@davy.ie NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 4, 2018 / Pawar Law Group announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of shareholders who purchased shares of LendingClub Corporation (NYSE: LC) from February 28, 2015 through April 25, 2018, both dates inclusive ("Class Period"). The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for LendingClub investors under the federal securities laws. To join the LendingClub class action, go to http://pawarlawgroup.com/cases/lendingclub-corporation/ or call Vik Pawar, Esq. toll-free at 888-589-9804 or email vik@pawarlawgroup.com for information on the class action. NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE. YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER AND DO NOTHING AT THIS POINT. YOU MAY RETAIN COUNSEL OF YOUR CHOICE According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) LendingClub falsely promised consumers they would receive a loan with "no hidden fees"; (2) LendingClub's privacy policy did not comply with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act; (3) consequently, the foregoing conduct would subject LendingClub's business practices to heightened regulatory scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission; and (4) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 2, 2018. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. If you wish to join the litigation, go to http://pawarlawgroup.com/cases/lendingclub-corporation/ to join the class action. You may also contact Vik Pawar of Pawar Law Group toll free at 888-589-9804 or via email at vik@pawarlawgroup.com. Pawar Law Group represents investors from around the world. Vik Pawar, Esq. Pawar Law Group P.C 20 Vesey Street Suite 1210 New York, NY 10007 Tel: (917) 261-2277 Toll Free: 888-589-9804 Fax: (212) -571-0938 vik@pawarlawgroup.com www.pawarlawgroup.com SOURCE: Pawar Law Group VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Boreal Metals Corp. ("Boreal" or the "Company") (TSXV: BMX) is pleased to announce additional drill results from a recently completed 2,545 meter, 12 diamond drill hole program at Gumsberg ("Gumsberg" or the "Project"), southern Sweden. Drill results from the first five holes (1,146.7 meters) were released on February 28, 2018 (Boreal News Release "BOREAL INTERCEPTS HIGH GRADE SILVER ZINC LEAD AT GUMSBERG PROJECT IN SWEDEN") and established the presence of continuous high-grade zinc-silver-lead mineralization with significant associated copper and gold mineralization at Gumsberg. Mineralization is now reported for the remaining seven drill holes, including significant results in holes BM-17-006, BM-17-008, BM-17-011 and BM-17-012 as detailed below. "The results of the 2017-2018 drill program at Gumsberg have exceeded our expectations, with significant mineralization in 9 out of 12 holes," stated Karl Antonius, President and CEO. "The best intercepts are in excess of one kilogram per tonne silver with over 45% combined zinc and lead and are testament to the metal endowment of the Gumsberg Project and significantly increases our confidence in its economic potential." SELECTED DRILL INTERCEPTS: DRILL HOLES Hole From To Length Zn Ag Pb Cu Au Prospect ID Meters Meters Meters % g/t % % g/t Name BM-17-001X 99.30 106.00 6.70 5.19 16.39 1.08 0.300 0.080 Vallberget Incl. 101.30 104.40 3.10 10.97 32.34 2.25 0.390 0.160 BM-17-002 X 88.10 88.62 0.52 5.65 1.63 0.06 0.190 0.050 Vallberget BM-17-002 X 92.30 94.20 1.90 13.55 51.75 5.23 0.270 0.340 Vallberget Incl. 92.63 93.57 0.94 26.70 99.60 10.45 0.130 0.540 BM-17-003 X 101.35 102.55 1.20 6.73 25.00 2.10 0.350 0.120 Vallberget BM-17-004 X 105.77 106.37 0.60 4.81 24.94 1.96 0.010 0.020 Vallberget BM-17-005 Y 122.30 133.24 10.94 16.97 656.70 8.52 0.030 0.760 Ostersilvberg Incl. 122.30 127.45 5.15 30.59 1172.00 14.87 0.050 1.070 And 128.92 129.76 0.84 33.09 1113.00 17.20 0.040 1.320 And 132.90 133.24 0.34 0.06 487.00 5.44 0.060 4.000 BM-17-005 Y 155.43 165.00 9.57 5.87 183.90 2.33 0.040 0.520 Incl. 155.43 161.00 5.57 9.04 288.65 3.59 0.040 0.870 And 163.71 165.00 1.29 4.44 113.00 1.75 0.040 0.090 BM-17-005Y 178.16 179.00 0.84 11.56 218.02 5.77 0.040 0.300 BM-17-006 X 14.88 19.95 5.07 3.00 9.25 0.96 0.064 0.023 Vallberget Incl. 14.88 15.93 1.05 9.29 11.16 0.88 0.127 0.083 Incl. 18.80 19.95 1.15 4.38 9.35 3.38 0.130 0.022 And 97.15 100.85 3.70 19.27 17.66 0.25 0.644 0.025 BM-17-007 No Significant Results Vallberget BM-17-008 X 13.25 13.60 0.35 3.20 6.85 0.03 0.053 0.023 Vallberget BM-17-008 X 86.35 87.15 0.80 1.16 0.85 0.05 0.016 0.002 BM-17-009 No Significant Results Vallberget BM-17-010 No Significant Results Gumsgruvan BM-17-011 X 53.50 56.65 3.15 3.03 11.69 0.62 0.438 0.188 Vallberget Incl. 54.73 55.20 0.47 17.80 43.00 4.02 0.037 0.584 BM-17-011 X 130.50 137.20 6.70 7.01 11.14 0.44 0.100 0.002 BM-17-012 W 321.00 322.00 1.00 1.22 6.20 0.60 0.005 0.101 Ostersilvberg BM-17-012 W 325.00 329.00 4.00 1.01 4.25 0.42 0.006 0.187 BM-17-012 W 332.00 339.00 7.00 1.56 12.20 0.85 0.016 0.177 W True width unknown. X Apparent widths reported - true widths are estimated between 80-100% of reported intervals. Y Apparent widths reported - true widths are estimated at 20-50% of reported interval. Table 1. Significant Drill Intercepts from Boreal's Gumsberg 2017-18 Diamond Drill Program. Drill intercepts include VMS-typical exhalative massive sulfide horizons, primary replacement styles and related high-grade lenses and shoots. Similar styles of mineralization occur throughout the Bergslagen district in southern Sweden, which is host to multiple world-renowned base metal sulphide deposits. Overview of Gumsberg Target Areas Ostersilvberg The objective of drilling at Ostersilvberg is to test the down-plunge extension of mineralization below the historic mine workings, which extend to a depth of 250 meters. Ostersilvberg is an attractive exploration target due to the presence of high grade zinc-silver-lead sulphides in historical mining dumps. In addition, miners in the fourteenth and fifthteenth centuries focused on silver-rich mineralization, which suggests they may not have exploited the zinc rich parts of the system. Historical data as well as new surface data suggest that there are stacked lenses of mineralization at Ostersilvberg. Ongoing exploration drilling will test for these additional zones of mineralization in addition to testing below the historical workings to see if they are open along strike and down plunge. Vallberget-Loberget The objective of drilling at Vallberget-Loberget was to text for extensions of high grade zinc mineralization along strike and down dip from the historic mine workings. This resulted in several new and significant drill intercepts, including 3.7 meters averaging 19.27% zinc with 17.25 g/t silver with minor lead and copper in drill hole BM-17-006, and 6.7 meters averaging 7.01% zinc, 0.44% lead and 17.66 g/t silver in hole BM-17-011. The Vallberget-Loberget Trend is an impressive two-kilometer-long zone of northeast trending, moderately to steeply southeast dipping precious and base metal-rich VMS style mineralization. The mineralization across these prospects includes high grade bodies of remobilized massive sulphides, replacement style mineralization, vein style mineralization and important exhalative sulphide mineralization. Historical mining efforts suggest the mineralization is laterally continuous and forms pipe-like, moderate to steeply southeast plunging ore shoots. Ongoing exploration drilling by Boreal is targeting each of these styles and geometries of mineralization. Gumsgruvan The Gumsgruvan area rocks are pervasively chlorite-anthophyllite-cordierite-garnet altered and contain significant gold and copper mineralization consistent with VMS "feeder zones". These represent potential conduits which may have transported metal bearing hydrothermal fluids to the paleosurface. This area is considered highly prospective for VMS copper and gold mineralization and is the least mature trend in the 2017-2018 exploration program. The strategically situated Gumsberg project includes six exploration licenses located in the Bergslagen Mining District of southern Sweden totaling over 18,300 hectares, where multiple zones of VMS style mineralization have been identified. Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Core Handling Protocols Drill core is logged and prepped for sampling before submittal to ALS in Mala, Sweden where it is cut, bagged and prepped for analysis. Accredited control samples (blanks and accredited standards) are inserted into the sample intervals regularly. Samples are dried (if necessary), weighed, crushed (70% < 2mm), and riffle split into two fractions. One is retained (coarse reject) and the other is pulverized to 85% < 75m. The pulps are analyzed by ultra-trace ICP-MS (ME-MS41) and ICP-AES Au-Pt-Pd (PGM-ICP23). Over detection limit samples are reanalyzed using ore grade ICP-AES by aqua regia (ME-OG46) or by AAS in the case of high grade zinc (Zn-AAORE). About Boreal Metals Corp. Boreal is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of Zinc, Copper, Silver, Gold, Cobalt and Nickel deposits in exceptional, historical mining project areas spanning Sweden and Norway. The Company aims to discover new economic mineral deposits in known mining districts that have seen little or no modern exploration techniques. The Company is led by an experienced management team and technical team, with successful track records in mineral discovery, mining development and financing. Qualified Person Daniel MacNeil, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has read and approved all technical and scientific information related to the Gumsberg project contained in this news release. Mr. MacNeil is Vice President Exploration for Boreal Metals Corp. On behalf of Boreal Metals Corporation Karl Antonius, President 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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "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 Boreal Metals Corp. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Boreal Metals Corp.'s ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property option agreements, to maintain its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop its projects, to repay its debt and for general working capital purposes; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the ability of Boreal Metals Corp. to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to Boreal Metals Corp.'s plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of Boreal Metals Corp. to drill test its projects and find mineral resources; if any mineral resources are discovered or acquired, the Company's ability to monetize any such mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of Boreal Metals Corp.'s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Boreal Metals Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. For more information on Boreal, please visit the Company website at http://www.borealmetals.com or contact Alexandra Woodyer Sherron at +1-604-922-8810 or info@borealmetals.com . SHANGHAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Arctech Solar recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with Europower, one of the biggest Turkey PV manufacturers, for the production, solution design, operation and maintenance of solar tracking systems in Turkey. Under the agreement signed between the two parties, Arctech Solar and Europower will launch the cobranding product "EuroSuntracker Powered by Arctech Solar" - which is to say, Arctech together with Europower will bring the innovative, reliable solar tracking system to investors in the Turkey PV market, which comes under Domestic Content Requirement (DCR), a part of the mandate that solar equipment be sourced locally. "We are now working with Arctech Solar as our exclusive partner because of their innovative technology, excellent quality and rich project experience in PV solar industry," said Behic Harmanli, President of Europower. "We are confident that this cooperation will bring both of us opportunities and favorable conditions in Turkey PV market." The president of Arctech Solar's international business, Guy Rong commented, "Turkey is a very important market for us, the cooperation with Europower marked the successful entry of Arctech Solar into Turkey PV market. We will bring state-of-art tracker products to the market and work closely with Europower to deliver more values to the local solar projects." About Arctech Solar Arctech Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers and solution providers of solar tracking and racking systems. In the past 9 years, Arctech Solar has successfully set up overseas subsidiaries/service centers in North America, India, Japan, Spain and Mexico. As of the end of 2017, Arctech Solar has cumulatively installed 13.5GW capacity and completed 800 projects in 15 countries. With a production capacity of 6GW and 3GW in fixed mounting structure and tracker field respectively (a total annual capacity of 9GW), Arctech Solar is now a reliable partner in the global PV Tracking and Racking industry. For more information please visit: www.arctechsolar.com For product sales and other enquiries: sales@arctechsolar.com Press Contact: Sabrina Lyu Telephone: +86-15000853002 Email Address: sabrina.lu@arctechsolar.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686901/Arctech_Solar_Europower.jpg PUNE, India, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Military 3D Printing Market by Offering (Printer, Material, Software, Service), Application (Functional Part Manufacturing, Tooling, Prototyping), Platform (Airborne, Land, Naval, Space), Process, Technology, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to be USD 799.8 Million in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 4,594.4 Million by 2025, at a CAGR of 28.37% from 2018 to 2025. The increasing use of 3D printing to manufacture lightweight defense-related components is one of the most significant factors projected to drive the growth of the military 3D printing market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 82 market data Tables and 37 Figures spread through 153 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Military 3D Printing Market - Global Forecast to 2025" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/military-3d-printing-market-69098303.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The service offering segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Based on offering, the service segment of the military 3D printing market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2025. The increasing demand for 3D printed parts from original equipment manufacturers is expected to fuel the growth of the military 3D printing services market. OEMs are adopting 3D printing technology, owing to its ability to print lightweight components and complex parts. The direct energy deposition process segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Based on process, the direct energy deposition segment of the military 3D printing market is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Direct energy deposition process is used to manufacture on-demand metal parts and components for the defense industry. The growth of the direct energy deposition segment can be attributed to the need for high-volume production of complex parts. Ask for PDF Brochure :https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=69098303 North America is projected to be the fastest-growing market for military 3D printing during the forecast period. The military 3D printing market in North America is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the military 3D printing market in North America can be attributed to factors, such as increased government investments in 3D printing projects and demand for lightweight and durable parts. In addition, the adoption of 3D printing technology by various OEMs is also expected to drive the growth of the military 3D printing market in North America. Major players operating in the military 3D printing market include Stratasys (US), 3D Systems (US), ExOne (France), EOS (Germany), Arcam (Sweden), and Norsk Titanium (Germany). Know more about the Military 3D Printing Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/military-3d-printing-market-69098303.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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Blog: http://mnmblog.org/market-research/aerospace-defence Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss stock market rose sharply in early trade Friday, but began to pare its gains after about the first 90 minutes of the session. The market climbed again late in the afternoon, but finished off its intraday high. The late bounce was due in large part to the recovery on Wall Street after a weak open. The Swiss Market Index increased by 0.70 percent Friday and finished at 8,903.83. The Swiss Leader Index climbed 0.67 percent and the Swiss Performance Index added 0.65 percent. Lonza jumped 5.2 percent after it said it had a positive start to 2018. The company also affirmed its previously communicated full-year guidance. Lafargeholcim gained 1 percent after it entered into a liquidity enhancement agreement with Exane S.A. on its Euronext Paris listing. Swiss Re fell 0.5 percent after it reported first quarter results. The company did not provide an update on its talks with SoftBank. UBS climbed 1.4 percent and Julius Baer added 0.8 percent. Meanwhile, Credit Suisse surrendered 0.3 percent. The index heavyweights all finished in the green. Novartis increased by nearly 1 percent, Nestle climbed 0.7 percent and Roche added 0.4 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. On the second day of CE China 2018, a focus was put on connecting China's consumer electronics and home appliances businesses with the rest of the world by successful online distribution strategies. From 9.30 am to 4.30 pm over one thousand visitors of the E-Commerce Export Forum gained first-hand insights from manufacturers, brands and online retailers in 18 consecutive sessions. Exhibitors of CE China widely benefited from the additional attendees the Forum attracted to the third edition of CE China. Among the global as well as Chinese companies presenting at the Forum, hosted by Shenzhen E-Commerce Service Center, were major market actors such as Amazon, eBay and Guangdong Pisen Electronics. In total, specialists from 16 companies shared their knowledge with the audience on how to grow cross-border business with e-commerce. They explained how to create a brand and achieve exposure for brands as well as brand products in foreign markets. The experts also provided hands-on information on different continental sales regions including Africa, Middle East, West Asia and South America. Further companies presenting were: Amanbo, DHgate, E-services Group, Globalegrow Electronic Commerce, Guangdong BESTEK E-Commerce, Hofan Group, JollyChic, Jumia&Linio&Daraz, Kilimall ,Lightinthebox, Shenzhen Thousandshores Technology, Sunvalley Group and Valuelink E-Commerce. http://www.cechina-ifa.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005677/en/ Contacts: Messe Berlin Nicole von der Ropp IFA PR Manager Tel.: +49 (0)30 3038-2217 vonderropp@messe-berlin.de LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 4, 2018 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of LendingClub Corporation ("LendingClub" or the "Company") (NYSE: LC) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. LendingClub shares have dropped The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. On April 25, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged LendingClub with violating the FTC Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The FTC announcement alleges that LendingClub "falsely promising consumers they would receive a loan with 'no hidden fees,' when, in actuality, the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in hidden up-front fees from the loans." Shares in LendingClub have dropped significantly in intraday trading based on this news. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall, or Sherin Mahdavian, of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 424-303-1964, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com. The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. Sherin Mahdavian, Esq. Schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 4, 2018) - Lupaka Gold Corp. (TSXV: LPK) (FSE: LQP)("Lupaka Gold" or the "Company") reports that, as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC"), it is issuing this news release to clarify certain technical disclosure. The Company's news release dated March 1, 2018 outlining the results of its recent Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") did not adequately clarify that the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment is preliminary in nature, that it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Furthermore, readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company would also like to clarify the Invicta Project only has Indicated Mineral Resources and Inferred Mineral Resources, as shown in Table 1 below. Table 1: Mineral Resource Statement*, Invicta Project, Huaura Province, Peru, SRK Consulting (Peru) S.A., March 1, 2018 Zone Category Metal Grade Contained Metal (000's) Tonnes (000's) AuEq (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn ( %) AuEq (oz) Au (oz) Ag (oz) Cu (lb) Pb (lb) Zn (lb) Atenea All Zones Indicated 2,516 6.03 4.19 26.68 0.64 0.39 0.47 488 339 2,158 35,513 21,429 25,988 Inferred 535 5.40 5.09 4.77 0.06 0.11 0.16 93 88 82 673 1,315 1,878 Dany Indicated 55 4.03 1.36 31.57 1.39 0.05 0.06 7 2 56 1,683 59 77 Inferred 4 4.50 1.48 38.57 1.56 0.03 0.06 1 0 5 132 3 5 Pucamina Indicated 229 4.63 4.02 10.27 0.09 0.31 0.30 34 30 76 443 1,582 1,495 Inferred 21 3.76 3.37 5.32 0.16 0.04 0.08 3 2 4 75 18 35 Ydalias All Zones (12) Indicated 9 7.60 4.38 39.21 1.50 0.37 0.23 2 1 11 294 71 45 Inferred 0 8.00 3.91 51.60 2.00 0.27 0.18 0 0 0 13 2 1 Zone 4 Indicated 190 4.38 3.38 14.93 0.43 0.13 0.09 27 21 91 1,805 536 371 Inferred 16 3.92 1.72 20.79 1.17 0.08 0.05 2 1 11 417 28 20 Total All Zones Indicated 2,999 5.78 4.07 24.81 0.60 0.36 0.42 558 392 2,392 39,739 23,678 27,977 Inferred 577 5.29 4.91 5.49 0.10 0.11 0.15 98 91 102 1,311 1,365 1,939 * Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. All composites have been capped where appropriate. ** Underground mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 3.0 g/tonnes of gold-equivalent. Cut-off grades are based on a price of US$1,250 per ounce of gold, US$17.00 per ounce of silver, US$3.00 per pound of copper, US$1.05 per pound of lead and US$1.20 per pound of zinc. The gold-equivalent calculation assumes 85 percent recovery for gold, 80 percent recovery for silver, 82 percent recovery for copper and lead and 77 percent recovery for zinc. For additional supporting information please refer to the PEA dated April 13, 2018, available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com as well as on the corporate website. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this news release. About Lupaka Gold Lupaka is an active Canadian-based company focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of its assets in some of the most prolific mining regions of Peru. Invicta Gold Development Project - 100% owned, the Company's flagship project is an advanced stage gold-copper polymetallic underground deposit located approximately 120 kilometres north of Lima. Over $12 million of capital has been spent by previous owners on development and infrastructure at Invicta, and management expects to commence potential production in the second half of 2018 by using third-party mining contractors and utilizing the existing adit and workings. The Invicta project is fully permitted and community agreements are in place. The potential underground operation will be focused on the extraction of Indicated Mineral Resources and Inferred Mineral Resources from the Atenea vein within close proximity to the existing 3400 Level adit (up to 130 metres above the 3400 Level). Invicta's approved EIA allows for mine production of up to 1,000 tpd, although the current mining plan is targeting 350 tpd. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Will Ansley, President & C.E.O. wansley@lupakagold.com Tel: (416) 862-5257 or visit the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or its website at www.lupakagold.com Qualified Person The technical information in this document has been reviewed and approved by Julio Castaneda Mondragon, MAIG, the President of Lupaka Gold Peru S.A.C., a Peruvian subsidiary of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to improvements in the road to the Invicta Project and its anticipated benefits and the timing of completion of the improvements, the timing of the commencement of potential production from the Invicta Project and the generation of cash therefrom, the anticipated methods of production, the receipt of and anticipated use of proceeds of the PLI Financing, the Company's plans and intentions for Invicta, mineral resource estimates, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made that the Company believes are reasonable, including: that the repayment of the PLI Financing is consummated on the anticipated terms, that the supplies, equipment, personnel, permits, and local community approvals required to conduct the Company's planned pre-production and development activities will be available on reasonable terms, that the Company will be able to comply with the delivery and other obligations in the PLI Financing Agreement, that results of exploration activities will be consistent with management's expectations and that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute, or failure of equipment and with respect to the planned mining operations at Invicta; that pre-production mine development can be completed in the time and for the cost projected; that the Company will be able to obtain funding for planned production expenses; that mineralization at Invicta will be of the grades and in the locations expected; that the Company will be able to extract and transport mineralized rock efficiently and sell the mineralized rock at the prices and in the manner and quantities expected; that permits will be received on the terms and timeline expected and that other regulatory or permitting issues will not arise; that mining methods can be employed in the manner and at the costs expected and that such methods yield the results the Company expects them to. However, forward-looking information involves 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 the forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: all of the risks described in this news release; failure of the PLI Financing to complete on the proposed terms or at all, including due to the Company's inability to complete the conditions precedent, the risk that actual results of exploration and development activities will be different than anticipated; that the Company will not be able to comply with the delivery or other obligations in the PLI Financing Agreement and the risk that PLI will enforce its security over the Company's assets, including its mineral properties; that cost of labour, equipment or materials will increase more than expected; that the future price of gold will decline; that the Canadian dollar will strengthen against the U.S. dollar; that mineral resources are not as estimated; unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates; risks related to shipping mineralized rock; the risk that local mills cannot or will not buy or process mineralized rock from the planned production for the prices expected or at all; risk of accidents, labour disputes and other risks generally associated with mineral exploration; unanticipated delays in obtaining or failure to obtain community, governmental or regulatory approvals or financing; and all of the risks generally associated with the development of mining facilities and the operation of a producing mine, as well as the risks described in the Company's annual information form, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 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 information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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 statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Lupaka Gold does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. By Ssebuliba Samuel. Members of parliament have tasked the ministry of Energy to explain why UMEME has been unable to allow loading YAKA since last weekend. This comes at the time when several Ugandan are darkness due to technical itches in YAKA loading system. This issue has been raised by the Kalangu West Member of Parliament Joseph Sewungu saying that this a sign of incompetence from UMEME as a company which must be sorted as early as possible However the minister for energy Eng. Iren Muloni said that UMEME have realized this issue and a tall free line has been set aside to resolve these incident and Engineers work tirelessly to resolve this issue. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2018 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation ("Macquarie" or the "Company") (NYSE: MIC) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 18-cv-03744, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Macquarie's securities between February 22, 2016, and February 21, 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 Macquarie's securities between February 22, 2016, and February 21, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until June 25, 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] Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation owns, operates, and invests in a portfolio of infrastructure businesses. The Company's businesses consist of bulk liquid terminals, airport services, gas processing and distribution, and a portfolio of contracted power and energy investments. Macquarie's International-Matex Tank Terminals ("IMTT") business provides bulk liquid storage and handling services at 12 marine terminals in the United States and Canada, is Macquarie's most important business segment. 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) IMTT's performance and utilization were at risk of significant decline due to ongoing industrywide changes in the market for heavy residual oils, and in particular, declining demand and pricing for No. 6 fuel oil; (ii) IMTT relied significantly on demand for storage of heavy residual fuel oils, including No. 6 fuel oil; (iii) Macquarie needed to undertake significant capital expenditures to repurpose IMTT storage tanks to accommodate alternative products; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Macquarie's shares traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period, and class members suffered significant losses and damages. On February 21, 2018, after the market closed, Macquarie surprised the market by announcing disappointing fourth-quarter earnings of $0.43 per share, well short of analysts' estimate of $0.51 per share, and that the Company would be slashing its dividend by 31%. Macquarie blamed its poor performance on the declining use of heavy residual oil products, declining demand and prices for No. 6 fuel oil. On this news, Macquarie's share price fell $26.21, or 41.19%, to close at $37.41 on February 22, 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 Post-Nirav Modi scam, DRT is flooded with cases for adjudication and recovery by banks but a senior officer said on the condition of anonymity that the majority of big cases involving huge sums of money are being settled as per the whims and fancies of bank officials and big borrowers. New Delhi: Nirmala Prakash, a widow and resident of Delhi, doesnt know of India's infamous loot-and-scoot fraudsters like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya, Sabhya Seth, Chetan Sandesara, Jatin Mehta. Neither can she link their 'contribution' to the humongous amount of non performing assets (NPAs) in the country's banking sector that has cheated the economy. The widow of former government employee Dharam Prakash was surviving on a family pension and taking care of four children when the IDBI bank decided to forcibly take possession of her house - the only property she owns in Delhi. The bank decided to take action after declaring the Rs 15 lakh house loan as an NPA. On 29 May, the bank will put Prakash's house for auction and with it will go all her hopes from the Debt Recovery Tribunal. The quasi-judicial body set up under the provisions of the Recovery of Debts to Banks and Financial Institutions Act of 1993 with the specific objective of providing expeditious adjudication, is not willing to offer a window to vulnerable cases like Nirmala's or muscle out serious offenders. The DRT cannot help common people like Nirmala who have already paid more than the principal amount to the bank as interest. On the other hand, there are number of cases in the DRT where big loan sharks get away by paying just 10-15 percent of the loans in connivance with bank officials. The idea of equality is absolutely illogical, at least in the current system where we are used to parasites sucking our blood, said Vivek Kumar Singh, President of DRT Bar Association. The IDBI was recently fined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for under-reporting big NPAs and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently filed a case against top IDBI officials and former promoter of Aircel in the Rs 600 crore loan fraud case. Unlike economic fugitives, Nirmala is carrying a demand draft of Rs 5 lakh in favour of IDBI that was issued by the State Bank of India on 5 April, 2018. Prakash has been requesting bank officers to accept the money and is willing to pay the rest of the amount in monthly instalments. I am on the street. This is the only house I have but they are taking it away from me and my children. I have two minor children to look after. I was shocked when bank officers informed me that I need to pay Rs 23 lakh. This is injustice, Prakash told Firstpost. Despite repeated attempts, IDBI Managing Director Mahesh Kumar Jain could not be reached for comment. Post-Nirav Modi scam, the DRT is flooded with cases for adjudication and recovery by banks but a senior officer said on the condition of anonymity that the majority of big cases involving huge sums of money are being settled as per the whims and fancies of bank officials and big borrowers. A top officer on the condition of anonymity said, in April 2018 he had resolved more than 200 cases with over Rs 16 crore in dues. In March, the number was even higher with over 225 cases, but said he felt helpless in cases like the one Prakash is battling against the state-owned bank. We need massive reforms and must be given power to pass strictures in cases like Nirmalas. We have no power to punish bank officials who are hand in glove with big borrowers and make the whole recovery process a charade. At the same time, we cannot help people like her who are not fleeing the country and genuinely want to pay back money and are seeking some relaxations. Sometimes, I really feel helpless, he said. Another officer requesting anonymity said he has stopped issuing warrants against poor borrowers in several cases because he found banks were not keen on taking strict action against big defaulters. Although we are not an investigative agency and neither have the power to order a probe, we have witnessed bank officials making a complete U-turn in several big cases by just informing us that they have decided to settle the case. We then became just mute spectators in these cases. "A recovery officer needs to have deterrent measures with power to send big defaulters to jail. DRT officers also need power to do forensic audit of the defaulter company in suspicious cases where we are fully aware that the loan amount was diverted by floating shell companies. Loan sharks have erected a cocoon of glass and the DRT can see them enjoying the loot but cannot do much in the existing set-up, the officer told Firstpost. An officer posted with DRT Delhi argued in favour of rules that could differentiate between a Nirav Modi and a Nirmala Prakash. The Nirav Modi case did not come to the DRT but Nirmala can vaguely recall television debates on some of the recent banking heists in the country. When asked to comment on the Nirav Modi case, Nirmala said justice is meant only for the rich. An officer also cautioned against the nexus of bank officials and big borrowers saying interference from top echelons is an usual affair. We need more judicial officers in DRT and fill the existing vacancies of recovery officers to ensure that regular work does not suffer. In Delhi we did not have a presiding officer for at least one and half years. There are also deliberations that DRT should be moved out of the supervision of the Finance Ministry and be placed under the Law Ministry, he said. Singh, of the DRT Bar Association, said he has been fighting for DRT reforms for the last several years because he has seen so many Nirmala Prakashs suffering due to lack to power given to the quasi-judicial body. I feel scared and have no courage to look into the eyes of poor borrowers seeking justice. I dont know how to console them, ensure that justice is done to them. I have seen many cases involving thousands of crores getting settled for merely a few crore of rupees. On the other hand, we have people who are honest but are denied justice, Singh said. In another case pending with the DRT, the bank is forcing a government-aided school in South Delhi to shut down so that it can sell the land on which the school stands. The school authorities have requested the bank to take over the management and continue to operate it for the welfare of kids but the offer has been rejected. An officer with DRT Delhi said banks are not keen to invoke the rules that allow taking over of management of a running institution which it could provide and add more value to the economy and even help employees working in that particular institution. As per Section 13 (4B) of Securitisation & Reconstruction of Financial Asset and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, in case the borrower fails to discharge his liability in full within the specified period, the secured creditor may take over the management of the business of the borrower including the right to transfer by way of lease, assignment or sale for realising the secured asset provided that the right to transfer by way of lease, assignment or sale shall be exercised only where the substantial part of the business of the borrower is held as security for debt. A DRT officer said, "DRT is also scared of issuing stay orders in many cases fearing the defaulter may flee the country. In one such case, a house was sealed by the bank for defaulting just a couple of EMIs. The defaulter cannot appeal against the DRT order simply because he/she needs to deposit half the amount due to the bank with the Appellate Tribunal in advance." Recently, the Supreme Court had also observed that the structure of DRT could be revisited while hearing a Special Leave Petition. The bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Navin Sinha observed that structure of the tribunals may need a revisit taking into account the suggestion for permanent cadre, autonomous selection procedure, autonomous accountability and disciplinary mechanism, finality subject only to jurisdiction of Constitutional Courts, to uphold the rule of law. The observation was made following submission of senior counsel Arvind P Datar, who was appointed amicus curiae. Datar had given a concept note dealing with the issue of appointment process, qualifications for members, removal procedure, efficiency, timely filling up of vacancies and uniformity of service conditions. Apart from the concept note, he had also put forward certain suggestions. Datars main suggestion was that instead of having short-term appointments of retired persons, there should be a regular cadre to man the tribunals. Even serving judicial officers could be appointed to the tribunals by making appropriate temporary or permanent increase to the cadre of district judiciary. Selection should be done through a national competition, which may be conducted by an autonomous body, consistent with the requirements of independence of the judiciary. Cadre control, including disciplinary mechanism, should be either with the High Courts or with an autonomous body which again should be as per the concept of independence of judiciary. It was also suggested that orders of the tribunal/appellate tribunal should be final, subject only to constitutional remedies. No statutory appeal should be provided against the orders of the tribunals to avoid multiple layers of litigation which delay finalisation of proceedings. The GST Council on Friday decided to refer to a five-member committee of state finance ministers the proposal of levying a cess on sugar New Delhi: The GST Council, on Friday, decided to refer to a five-member committee of state finance ministers the proposal of levying a cess on sugar as the Centre seeks to raise additional resources for providing production subsidies worth Rs 1,540 crore to cane farmers. The sugar surcharge proposal comes in the wake of huge losses suffered by mills as ex-factory prices have fallen to Rs 26-28 per kg as against the production cost of Rs 35 per kg plus. Once the decision is taken by the GST Council, the government would come out with an ordinance to impose the cess on sugar, Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia told reporters after the 27th meeting of the all-powerful Council held via video-conferencing. Briefing about the meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the state finance ministers committee would be announced over the next two days. "Considering that the cost of sugar has risen beyond Rs 35 per kg and the market price is between Rs 26 and 28 per kg, the sugarcane farmers are in deep distress and therefore can we impose some kind of cess? "Now since this is after GST has been implemented, this is the first suggestion that has come up. How are such contingencies to be addressed in the GST regime, are they to be addressed by imposition of cess or are they to be addressed by temporarily increasing the tax or by some alternative method of revenue raising," the Union Finance Minister said. These view points, he said were extensively discussed and debated in the Council. "It was agreed that a group of five ministers within the next two weeks, because of the urgency of this matter, would make a recommendation to the council as to what are the avenues of raising revenue to meet contingencies of this kind where the cost of commodity is much higher than its selling price..." he said. "If the GST Council approves the levy of cess on sugar, it will be through the ordinance route," Adhia said. The Secretary further said that a sugar development ordinance may come up following approval from the GST Council, which will be later ratified by Parliament. Industry officials said the surcharge, if approved by the Council, will be levied at the mill-gate when a wholesaler, or bulk buyers like beverage and confectionary makers, purchase the sweetner. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are the major sugar growing states in the country. There are about five crore cane growers in the country and over 400 sugar mills. Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet had approved a subsidy of Rs 5.5 per quintal of cane to address the distress situation. The subsidy would be directly transferred to cane farmers. Gems and jewellery industry is presenting a white paper on 11 May on challenges of financing to the diamond industry New Delhi: 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 11 May 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 (RBI) 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. Over 75,000MW of power generating assets are currently stressed. Power sector lenders led by State Bank of India (SBI) have reportedly decided to float a fund to take over 14 stressed power plants, of firms like KSK Energy, IndiaBulls and RKM Powergen, a media report said. The SBI, in a meeting on Wednesday in Mumbai, said that it will invest Rs 10 crore in every project while co-lenders will bring in equity on a pro-rata basis, or to the extent of their exposure to the project, The Economic Times reported. The decision to float a fund is aimed at preventing power generation projects from going into liquidation. The move will also improve projects' valuations, the newspaper added. The lenders are trying to restructure the debt of 34 thermal power projects under stress -- saddled with debt worth Rs 1.77 lakh crore. Over 75,000MW of power generating assets are currently stressed. The SBI proposal involves getting a power plant's debt rated by credit rating agencies, followed by a valuation of power plants, some of which are under construction. The plants will then be offered to the National Investment Fund (NIF), which will then invite bidders, said the newspaper. SBI wrote-off bad loans worth Rs 20,339 crore in fiscal 2016-17, the highest among all the public sector banks, which had a collective write-off of Rs 81,683 crore for the fiscal. With inputs from PTI The Assam Board of Secondary Education (SEBA) released the Assam HSLC Class 10th Board examination results today. The Assam Board of Secondary Education (SEBA) released its Class 10th examination results today, according to a media report. Students can check their results at the board's official website: sebaonline.org from 9 am. Students can collect their mark sheets from their respective schools from 11 am. According to The Times of India, Raktim Bhuyan topped the exam (in English medium) by securing 593 out of 600 during the exam. This year, 54.44 percent (95,813 of the 1,75,976) students cleared the SEBA Board Class 10th HSLC/AHM examination 2018. Though low, the pass percentage was better than 2017 when the overall pass percentage stood at 47.49 percent. According to the report, 31,562 students achieved first division, 41,195 students passed in second divison whereas 22,956 students passed in third division in the examination. Here's how you can check your grades: - Log on to the official website of SEBA sebaonline.org. - Click on HSLC results 2017. - Fill in the required details. - Download the result and take a print for future reference. Last year, the results were declared on 31 May 2017. Over three lakh students had appeared for the SEBA HSLC Class 10 exam 2017. Of the 3,80,733 students who appeared for the exam, 54,955 students passed in first division, 80,197 students passed in second division, and 43,522 in third division. Parthapratim Bhuyan of Jatiya Vidyalaya topped the examination, scoring 589 of 600 marks, MoneyControl reported. The Bar Association of India (BAI), a lawyers' body in India, will hold a press conference at 3.30 pm on Thursday to discuss their take on the 'crisis being faced by Indian Judiciary.' Auto refresh feeds The Bar Association of India will address a press conference on the crisis in judiciary at 3.30 pm. The lawyers' body is expected to adopt a resolution on the issues related to the apex court judges appointment. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra spoke on a public platform for the first time after a controversy surrounded the Supreme Court of India. He was addressing the Supreme Court's Bar Association on the occassion of Justice RK Agrawal's farewell. CJI Dipak Misra, speaking on the farewell of Supreme Court judge Justice RK Agrawal praised him and said that few things in life were inevitable. He, however, added, that this need not be a farewell as Justice (retd) Agrawal will be in Delhi if the Bar wishes him to be. Justice RK Agrawal will stay in Delhi if the Bar wants him to: CJI Dipak Misra The Supreme Court currently has 25 judges as oppesed to the sanctioned full strength of 31. This includes newly-sworn-in Justice Indu Malhotra. However, with Justice Agrawal retiring, this number will fall back to 24, taking the number of vacancies to 7. The Bar Association of India will address a press conference on the crisis in judiciary at 3.30 pm. The lawyers' body is expected to adopt a resolution on the issues related to the apex court judges appointment. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra spoke on a public platform for the first time after a controversy surrounded the Supreme Court of India. He was addressing the Supreme Court's Bar Association on the occassion of Justice RK Agrawal's farewell. CJI Dipak Misra, speaking on the farewell of Supreme Court judge Justice RK Agrawal praised him and said that few things in life were inevitable. He, however, added, that this need not be a farewell as Justice (retd) Agrawal will be in Delhi if the Bar wishes him to be. Justice RK Agrawal will stay in Delhi if the Bar wants him to: CJI Dipak Misra The Supreme Court currently has 25 judges as oppesed to the sanctioned full strength of 31. This includes newly-sworn-in Justice Indu Malhotra. However, with Justice Agrawal retiring, this number will fall back to 24, taking the number of vacancies to 7. The Bar Association of India (BAI), a lawyers' body in India, will hold a press conference at 3.30 pm on Thursday to discuss their take on the "crisis being faced by Indian Judiciary." The lawyers' body is expected to release a resolution on the issues regarding the judiciary that have come to light in the recent past. The Supreme Court of India has been divided in opinion over a number of issues including the assigning of cases to benches, the powers of the Chief Justice of India, and appointment of judges. The fact that the 'house was not in order' at India's premiere judicial institution came out in public when four out of five members of the collegium had to hold a press conference to express their anguish on the allocation of cases. More recently, an impeachment notice against Chief Justice Dipak Misra was moved by several Opposition parties, but Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu decided to quash the notice of impeachment motion. Moreover, the Centre has been accused of delaying the appointment of Supreme Court judges and undermining the judiciary's independence. The BJP-led central government 'selectively' accepted senior lawyer Indu Malhotra's appointment, but rejected Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph's elevation to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Bar Association had criticised the government's move of 'cherry-picking' names recommendeded for appointment as apex court judges. The council also agreed to a resolution seeking urgent convening of Supreme Court Bar Association meeting to discuss the issues arising from the controversy over judge appointments. The BJP is in a right royal fix over Dalits. The portends are deeply worrying for the party in an election season. The BJP is in a right royal fix over Dalits. The portends are deeply worrying for the party in an election season. BJP's caste-agnostic approach under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah seeks to consolidate Hindu votes under the saffron banner but the political manoeuvre has struggled to surmount the insurmountable social fault lines. The attempted grand coalition of Hindu votes isn't working (refer to bypoll losses in Uttar Pradesh, especially Phulpur), it is being accused of letting the SC/ST Act be "diluted" under its watch, its Dalit outreach program is in a shambles and the party is facing stinging criticism even from leaders within its own fold. Under pressure from the top leadership, BJP ministers and MPs are rushing to spend nights with Dalits, share their food and grievances but instead of "restoring faith", a series of sorry gaffes has reduced the effort to a farce, prompting even the RSS to sound a warning. It is a huge crisis for a party that is desperate to transcend its "upper-caste" image and expand appeal among Dalits and OBCs. BJP wouldn't have forgotten the lessons of 1993 when its Hindutva project was derailed due to a subaltern consolidation against it. As Rajan Pandey writes in The Wire, the SP-BSP alliance in 1993 "marked the coming together of Dalits and OBCs (along with Muslims) or the Bahujans on one electoral front. The alliance succeeded in halting the BJP from achieving a majority mark even at the peak of the mandir agitation after the Babri mosque demolition in 1993 and also succeeded in forming the government with the SP winning 109 seats and BSP 67." The Modi government has sought to address the crisis of faith by taking on the Supreme Court. It believes that by opposing the apex court's landmark ruling (which has been perceived in political circles as a "dilution" of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989) and filing review petitions and maybe even bringing an ordinance to overturn the verdict, it would be able to convey a message that the party is serious about Dalit welfare. Except that it is not so simple. Instead of reinforcing a 'Dalit-friendly' image, BJP's obduracy on the SC/ST Act reveals its lack of options and a desperation. The Supreme Court, in preventing mandatory arrests on complaints filed under the stringent legislature, has taken an enlightened stand through its 20 March order. Refusing to buckle under BJP's pressure, the apex court has moved to prevent an innocent from being harassed and thereby uphold the principles of natural justice. While answering Attorney General KK Venugopal's charge that the Supreme Court judgment interferes with the Constitutional separation of powers and intrudes into the legislative sphere to dilute a law that acted as a safeguard against atrocities on Dalits, an apex court bench of Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit on Thursday said the judgement intended to "protect the innocent from harassment through a frivolous complaint. Can the Supreme Court not protect the liberty and right to life of an innocent by safeguarding his/her arrest by laying down guidelines?" The bench also said, "What does the legislature seek to achieve? Does it want to instill the fear of arrest or something else? Arrest should not be so easy. That is why we put a filter of preliminary enquiry, that let there be some application of mind before arresting a person under the SC/ST Act." The apex court refused to impose a stay on its original order, turned down the attorney general's prayer for a larger bench and fixed 16 May as the date of the next hearing. To understand why the BJP is trying to repeatedly challenge a morally, ethically and legally sound piece of judgment, we need only consider a particular exchange between the bench and AG Venugopal on Thursday. As the attorney general cited recent incidents of atrocities against Dalits to argue that stringent provisions are needed to protect a historically oppressed community, the bench pointed out: "For that you need to deliver immediate punishment Why cant you punish in a month or so?" Justice Goel asked, according to a report in The Indian Express. "Venugopal replied that this was difficult given the size of the countrys population. 'There lies the problem,' Justice Goel said, adding 'perhaps social action is also required at the level of society (to stop caste discrimination). People have to learn to respect each other'," said the report. This exchange goes to the nub of the debate and exemplifies the BJP's difficulties. The party's position on the SC/ST Act, where it appears as entirely unreasonable, arises from a political compulsion. Even if it manages to bring an ordinance to overturn the verdict that will amount to a political quick fix to remedy a deeply internalised social problem. And as the BJP is finding out to its peril, such an approach is doomed to fail. Modi and Shah may encourage and even put pressure on BJP ministers to reach out to the Dalits but the strategy, in absence of a bona fide devolution of power, is likely to become counterproductive. Ingrained social divisions manifest in myriad ways. At times, these may surface despite the best of intentions. A few examples are worth looking at. BJP minister from Uttar Pradesh Suresh Rana responded to the prime minister's Gram Swaraj Abhiyan by sharing food with Rajnish Kumar, a Dalit resident of Lohgarh in Aligarh district, but the elaborate meal was apparently ordered from outside. "We were not informed about the minister's visit to my house. He came along with other BJP leaders and took meal ordered from outside. The food was prepared at a nearby government medical centre," said Kumar. Anupama Jaiswal, minister for education in Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government, has waxed lyrical on how BJP ministers are "braving mosquito bites" to implement Dalit outreach programs. "So that the benefits are received, ministers are going to these people's houses and are being bitten by mosquitoes all night. Most importantly, they feel good by the experience. If someone has been assigned two places, he says no, I want to go to four. Thus, when there is satisfaction in work, it empowers us. Even I am doing more houses than allotted to me," said a beaming Jaiswal, completely oblivious of the irony. Last month, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad courted controversy by allegedly having lunch at a five-star hotel in Patna with people from the Dalit community. The pictures were widely shared on social media. Another minister from Uttar Pradesh, Rajendra Pratap Singh, has compared BJP leaders to "Lord Ram" for uplifting Dalits by eating with them, leading BJP MP Udit Raj to stress that such "outreaches" appear as insults to the community. "The new Dalit of today feels that this shows them down. I am not speaking as a BJP spokesperson but as a Dalit. I don't support it. That a savarna goes to Dalit home to speak - it shows they are lower, and other is higher," he said. These repeated missteps arise not out of contempt for Dalits (by all accounts, the ministers mean well) but are a manifestation of deep social divisions that cannot be cured by inter-dining alone. It requires simultaneous addressing of several issues such as devolution of power, financial and social inclusion, education, employment and removal of social taboos to uplift the community and enhance social bonding. As Abhinav Prakash, Delhi University professor, writes in Swarajya, "by creating a united vote bloc incorporating all Hindu castes, BJP has also internalised all the contradictions and clash of interests within its ambit. It was always going to be challenging to run this political coalition without any corresponding effort to create a social coalition, which would necessitate backing anti-caste socio-religious reforms." The RSS has rightly flagged it as a grave danger for BJP. Patriarch Mohan Bhagwat has advised BJP leaders not to restrict their outreach to community lunches alone. Merely visiting their houses is not going to be enough. It has to be a two-way process. We have to welcome members of dalit community into our houses, the way they welcome us," he was quoted as saying during an internal meeting of the RSS. Commensality is a practice laden with symbolism. Eating together is a useful tool for social inclusion but tokenism beats the purpose. Ambedkar scholar Valerian Rodrigues was quoted, as saying in The Indian Express, "While an upper caste leader eating in Dalit homes might symbolically express that he is prepared to be included in their community bond, the instrumental use of such gestures is very obvious to everyone, including to Dalits." BJP seeks to become a tent for a rainbow Hindu coalition but it is not investing enough in ensuring that actual power transfer takes place at the ground level so that the oppressed class doesn't feel shortchanged. Short of that effort, anything else will be perceived as optical illusion. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Friday. Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Friday. The NCP legislator from Yeola in Nashik has been in jail for nearly two years and two months since his arrest on 14 March 2016 in certain cases pertaining to corruption and money laundering. After his bail pleas were rejected on at least five previous occasions, Bhujbal, 71, got bail on Friday on various grounds including his frail health, advanced age and the fact that the trial has not yet started, his lawyer Sujay Kantawala told mediapersons. NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, MP Supriya Sule-Pawar and state spokesperson Nawab Malik hailed the ruling as thousands of Bhujbal supporters erupted in celebrations with fireworks and distribution of sweets in both Mumbai and Nashik. However, former AAP leader and anti-graft activist Anjali Damania pointed out that the court has only granted him bail, "he has not been exonerated or acquitted in the corruption cases and he will again go to jail". The founder-president of the influential Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, Bhujbal's role during his tenure as Public Works Department Minister had been under a scanner after allegations of a scam in the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, money laundering and other charges. Suffering from ill health, he has been in and out of hospital several times in the past over two years, and it is not immediately known when he will return to active politics. Starting his career with the Shiv Sena, the senior OBC leader who is an aggressive force in state politics is expected to walk out of custody later this evening after completing the bail formalities, including furnishing a bail bond amount of Rs 5 lakh, said his lawyer. His nephew and former NCP MP from Nashik, Sameer Bhujbal, who was also arrested in February 2016 on various charges of corruption, is currently in judicial custody. The arrest of Bastar-based journalist Kamal Shukla is the most recent addition to a list of journalists arrested in Chhattisgarh on sedition charges. In Chhattisgarh, the arrest of Bastar-based journalist Kamal Shukla is the most recent addition to a long list of journalists arrested in the state on allegations of sedition. The editor of 'Bhumkal Samachar' newspaper, published from the Naxal-affected Kanker district, Shukla was booked under Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code after he shared a cartoon on Facebook related to the Supreme Court's observations on the alleged mysterious death of judge BH Loya. A man from Rajasthan filed the complaint against Shukla with the Raipur cyber-cell, which transferred the case to Kanker police. However, Shukla has said he was "implicated" and that he will continue write honestly. "People across the country are expressing their views on the issue and so did I. Nothing was offensive about the cartoon nor did it amount to sedition", Shukla said. He also said that he had removed the post from his Facebook page. He said he would continue to write honestly on issues that interested people Shukla's arrest has sparked a debate on press freedom in Chhattisgarh, where security forces are battling Maoist insurgents. In 2016, a fact-finding team from the Editors Guild of India had travelled to Bastar and submitted a report containing their findings. The members claimed that there was a sense of fear among the journalists in Bastar and mentioned that, The state government wants the media to see its fight with the Maoists as a fight for the nation and expects the media to treat it as a national security issue, and not raise any questions about it.", The Wire reported. In 2015, two journalists Santosh Yadav and Somaru Nag were arrested as the police doubted that they worked as couriers for Maoists and used to publish stories in their favour. According to The Indian Express, Yadav was booked under sections of rioting, rioting armed with deadly weapon, unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint, party to criminal conspiracy, mischief by injury to public road, river, channel, attempt to murder, murder, Arms Act, Explosives Act, UAPA, Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act. Nag, according to the report, is alleged to have kept a watch for the Naxals, when the group destroyed government machinery. The arrest sparked outrage among various journalist groups and human right activists. The Amnesty International wrote a letter to Chief Minister Raman Singh expressing deep concern over their detention. It also called upon the government to drop all charges against Nag and Yadav, and to ensure a safer working environment for journalists in the state. A year later, Nag along with fellow journalists Dashman Nag and Ramlal Kashyap walked free after a Jagdalpur court found no direct or indirect evidence against him, according to Scroll. The only evidence against the accused were the alleged confessions they made at the police station, which the judge observed in his order as being inadmissible. Yadav too had to spend 18 months in jail before he was let go. With inputs from PTI China Thursday said it has removed import duties on as many as 28 medicines, including all cancer drugs, from 1 May, a move which would help India to export these pharmaceuticals to the neighbouring country New Delhi: China Thursday said it has removed import duties on as many as 28 medicines, including all cancer drugs, from 1 May, 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 1 May. 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," 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. The trade deficit with China stood at $36.73 billion during April-October 2017-18. It was $51 billion in 2016-17. He also said that China would further improve the business environment by halving the 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. The newly-constituted Defence Planning Committee 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. New Delhi: The newly-constituted Defence Planning Committee on Thursday 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, Lieutenant 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. The row over the portrait of Mohammed Ali Jinnah in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) seems to have intensified and the protests have reached Delhi. The row over the portrait of Mohammed Ali Jinnah in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) seems to have intensified and the protests have reached Delhi. Students are protesting outside Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in the national capital in support of the AMU students, according to reports. Students from various universities, including Delhi University and JNU, protested in Delhi on Friday and raised slogans against the BJP and RSS, reported CNN-News18. Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia students protesting outside U.P Bhawan in New Delhi against RSS and BJP over the Jinnah row, demand there should be no saffron terror in the country. #JinnahAMURow pic.twitter.com/nw8flkNH0d News18 (@CNNnews18) May 4, 2018 Internet services have been suspended in Aligarh district in the wake of unrest in AMU. "There will be no internet services from 2 pm Friday to 12 midnight Saturday," district magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said. This has been done to prevent rumour mongering, he said. It had come to the administration's notice that some anti-social elements could vitiate communal harmony by spreading rumours through videos, using internet services, his order said. Tension prevailed in Aligarh and students continued with their sit-in at the university's Baab-e-Syed gate, where they had clashed with the police on Wednesday. The students offered Friday prayers at the scene of the dharna, in which a large number of teachers and other members of the AMU fraternity participated. Wednesday's clash took place when the students were demanding action against right-wing protesters who entered the campus and wanted the Pakistan founder's portrait removed from the student union office, where it has been hanging for decades. The row started after local BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote to AMU raising objections to the portrait. The University said portraits of all life members of the student union hang there. Jinnah, a founder member of the University Court, had also been given this honour before Partition. AMU vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital where three of the students injured in the police lathi-charge are being treated. The VC later visited the protesting students and assured them of his "solidarity". AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) has sent a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind asking him to "urgently institute" a high-level judicial probe into the incident. They said members of certain outfits entered the campus and disrupted the peaceful academic environment there. The teachers also plan a peace march up to the district collectorate. AMUTA secretary Najmul Islam told PTI that they have urged the president to treat the matter seriously as it involved a breach in the security of former vice-president Hamid Ansari. Ansari was supposed to be felicitated at the University the day the violence broke out. Islam said protesters who had entered the campus were reportedly carrying firearms. He said the police, instead of preventing the hooligans from entering the campus, "remained mute spectators". With inputs from PTI Jinnah should have no place in our society today. While he is a part of history, he should be remembered in India as a criminal, not a hero. The recent issue of Jinnahs portrait at Aligarh Muslim University is mostly surprising because of the very fact that it exists and Jinnah, even in todays India, has a fan base. Mohammed Ali Jinnah is considered as Quaid-i-Azam in Pakistan, which literally means founder of the nation. This is true for Pakistan and he should rightfully be eulogised in Pakistan, for had it not been for him, that country would not have existed. His eulogisation in India is not only surprising but almost criminal, due to the genocidal actions perpetrated by him on this country. Perhaps, even calling him secular in his early years in the Congress would also be not out of line, because history does support this fact. This however, doesnt absolve him of the genocidal methods which he later resorted to. In pursuance of his demand to Pakistan, Jinnah ordered a Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946. The goons of the Muslim League descended on the city of Calcutta that day. Several thousand people died in the violence in that single day, and many more were rendered homeless. At that time, undivided Bengal was a Muslim-majority state, and the Muslim League was in power in coalition with the Europeans. The Congress, Communist Party and the Hindu Mahasabha were jointly in the opposition. Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was the man chosen by Jinnah as the Chief Minister of Bengal. Suhrawardy later went on to become the 5th Prime Minister of Pakistan and before that the Defence Minister of Pakistan. The police and military were ordered by the then Bengal government into inaction and hence, Jinnahs lumpen hoodlums got a free hand to do whatever they wanted on that fateful day. Hence, Jinnah held the whole of our country to ransom and forced Indian people to bend to his demand of forming a separate country for Muslims Pakistan. He therefore, used genocide as a means to fulfil his political aims. He ordered the mass killings of innocent civilians because he wanted to fulfil his political objective of creating a new political entity. The Oxford English Dictionary defines terrorism as: The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. The actions of Jinnah would fit any modern definition of terrorism. This makes him a terrorist, even more so for Indians. His actions, like that of Direct Action Day, were and still are largely unprecedented in modern Indian history. The viewpoint which holds that nevertheless, he was still patriotic is also deeply flawed and more importantly against documented factual history. Jinnahs Muslim League was in alliance with the British in Bengal. It was the opposition which consisted of the nationalist parties. It is completely absurd to argue that he was a nationalist and even then, his party was in power in Bengal in alliance with the British. Had there been a proactive political will on this issue, along with an International Criminal Court (ICC) at that time, Jinnah could have even been prosecuted internationally for his crimes. The ICC today has a jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for a genocide, much like what happened on the Direct Action Day in Calcutta. It is indeed a matter of great concern, that we Indians today debate and deliberate on whether his portrait should hang at a prominent education institute like Aligarh Muslim University, or anywhere in India for that matter. Jinnah should have no place in our society today. Of course, in history he will be there, and we cant change that. What we can do is that when we remember him, we remember him as a criminal and not a hero. The Author is a Senior Fellow with the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay, Mumbai. He can be reached at raghav10089@gmail.com, Twitter: @raghavwrong AMU professors and students said that the controversy over a portrait of Mohammed Ali Jinnah was unnecessary and the varsity does not endorse his ideology. Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh: On Wednesday, police caned students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and on Friday, internet was suspended in the district. While it is Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah's portrait mounted in the student union hall that is in the eye of the storm, professors and students hold the right-wing responsible for creating chaos over a non-issue. Professor M Shafey Kidwai, also in-charge of AMU's corporate communications, said Jinnah's portrait has been in the hall since 1938, when he was accorded lifetime honorary membership of the university. This was nine years before India's partition, he pointed out. (The AMU has a tradition of giving lifetime membership to prominent people, whose portraits are then put up in the student union hall.) Kidwai clarified that AMU neither glorifies Jinnah nor condones his ideology. "People who supported his ideology have left India long ago and there is no point in stoking an unnecessary controversy in the name of the person who is not liked by anyone in the varsity campus," he said. When asked why Jinnah's portrait was still adorning a university wall if he's not a well-liked figure, Kidwai said the AMU Student Union (AMUSU) is a semi-independent body, run by the students. He said the university administration does not interfere in the union's affairs. However, as the presence of the portrait is being misconstrued as the university's endorsement of Jinnah, he said the vice-chancellor's office has now sent a letter to the union to look into the matter. He said the AMUSU and teachers' association will take a call in this regard. While speaking on the subject, he did not hide his disapproval of Jinnah. He noted that Jinnah was responsible for India's partition and massacre of hundreds of thousands of people. "Neither the university nor its students preach Jinnah," Kidwai asserted and reiterated that the portrait is up in the university merely because of his honorary lifetime membership. He said that apart from Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, the AMU also has portraits of those who were against Jinnah's ideology, such as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Zakir Husain and Hasrat Mohani. He rued that amid the Jinnah controversy, nobody was paying attention to this fact. "The university makes its stand clear that these portraits are archives because they are a part of our history and nothing else," he said. 'Targeted because we're Muslims' AMUSU secretary Mohammad Fahad echoed Kidwai's statement. "Why would we preach Jinnah? Why is it that we are being targeted? Because there is the word 'Muslim' in Aligarh Muslim University?" he asked. He said the right-wing protesters whose actions led the police to using force on Wednesday know nothing about the AMU's history. He said the goons barged into the university campus and the students tried to stop them because this brouhaha was taking place at a stone's throw away from where former vice-president Mohammad Hamid Ansari was in the university guest house. Ansari, an alumnus as well as former vice-chancellor of the AMU, was to be accorded its lifetime membership on Wednesday. Professor Ali Nadeem Rezavi, a faculty member in the AMUs history department, said the entire incident was perhaps designed to embarrass Ansari, since his Muslim identity has been used against him earlier too. He said it was shameful that the university failed to honour its distinguished alumnus because of this ruckus. Further, Rezavi said it is unfortunate that the varsity is being targeted for political benefits. He opined that this incident might also have been orchestrated to polarise voters, with an eye on Assembly election in Karnataka and the Lok Sabha bypoll in western UP's Kairana seat. Pointing out that Jinnah's portrait is mounted even in a Shimla institute and other places in the country, he asked why the AMU alone was being targeted. He said it was not only politicians but also people within the university who were seeking to use the institute as a vote bank. Aftermath of Wednesday violence After police caning injured many students in Wednesday's incident, the student community is outraged. The AMUSU has decided to file a case against the police and the district administration in Allahabad High Court. Thousands of university students as well as teaching and non-teaching staff took out a protest rally on Thursday as well as Friday to decry police heavy-handedness. The district magistrate of Aligarh snapped internet in the region from Friday 2 pm to Saturday midnight to check the circulation of communally inciting messages. (With inputs from Akram Khan in Aligarh and Saurabh Sharma in Lucknow. Both are members of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) Amidst uncertainty over Uttarakhand chief justice KM Joseph's elevation to the Supreme Court, a PIL has been filed in the apex court seeking his immediate appointment. New Delhi: Amidst uncertainty over Uttarakhand chief justice KM Joseph's elevation to the Supreme Court, a PIL has been filed in the apex court seeking his immediate appointment. A retired district judge has approached the apex court seeking urgent action on the recommendation of the Collegium, which had suggested 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 KM 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 GD 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 KM 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 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". According to News Minute, there are 63 cases against Janardhan Reddy, some of his family members and associates in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh When the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly election, one name caught everyone's attention Somashekhar Reddy, brother of tainted mining baron G Janardhana Reddy. NDTV had quoted state BJP spokesperson Vivek Reddy as saying that the party had "made a compromise" by fielding Somashekhar since it wanted to win the Ballari city. Later, the party fielded another Reddy brother, Karunakar Reddy, from Harapanahalli as it announced its third list of candidates. Janardhana has been campaigning for the BJP in the state. The BJP had come under attack from the Opposition over its decision to field the Reddy brothers in Karnataka. Addressing a gathering in Bhalki on Thursday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi criticised Narendra Modi on the issue of corruption by claiming that the prime minister has "fielded the entire gang of Gabbar Singh" in Karnataka, alluding to the BJP's association with the Reddy brothers. "You brought Gabbar Singh Tax 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 the Assembly, and you tell the country that you are fighting against corruption," he said. Janardhana was a minister in the BS Yeddyurappa government when major corruption charges involving illegal mining were levelled against him, which ultimately led to his removal, NDTV reported. According to News Minute, there are 63 cases against Janardhana, some of his family members and associates in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Out of these, 10 cases involve the Belekeri port, the chargesheet hasn't been filed in some cases as the investigation is still underway. Twenty-eight of these cases are with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in which a chargesheet has been filed in nearly all of them. All cases related to illegal transportation of iron ore from ports in Mangalore, Karwar, Krishnapatnam, and Goa have been disposed of owing to lack of evidence, News18 reported. Here is a rundown of the major cases against the Reddy brothers. Cases against Janardhana Reddy I. Obulapuram Mining Company case: According to The Hindu, Janardhana's Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) was accused of changing mining lease boundary markings between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and indulging in illegal mining in the Ballari Reserve Forest area, spread between Ballari district of Karnataka and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The CBI had alleged that mining and extraction of 29.30 lakh tonnes of iron-ore was carried out in several areas in Karnataka other than the leased area of 68.5 hectares held by OMC. The agency also alleged that the accused conspired with public servants to create forged documents in order to carry out the illegal mining and secured evidence from transporters to show that iron ore extracted in Ballari of Karnataka was portrayed as a product of the OMC in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Janardhana and his brother-in-law BV Srinivas Reddy, managing director of OMC, were arrested by the CBI on 5 September 2011, from Ballari in Karnataka, and brought to Hyderabad. In 2015, Janardhan was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the illegal mining case. II. Associated Mining Company case: In 2012, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case against Janardhana and others and initiated criminal action against him and his wife G Lakshmi Aruna in connection with the agency's money laundering investigation into the business operations of M/s Associated Mining Company (Guru Iron Ore mines) based in Havambhavi in Ballari district of Karnataka. The ED complaint alleged that Janardhana and his wife "made wrongful gains to the tune of Rs 480 crore" in the case. The complaint further added that Janardhan and his wife became partners in M/s Associated Mining Company on 31 July 2009, through an admission deed and "took over" the company. The ED stated that the iron ore mining company, however, did not undertake any mining operation in the leasehold area of ML No 2434. ED recorded in its complaint that a scientific survey conducted by CBI in the area specified, estimated that the iron ore excavated between 22 July 2009 and 21 April 2012 could only be about 1,33,373 metric tonnes. "Thereby, the claim of Reddy and Lakshmi Aruna that 6.28 lakh metric tonnes was excavated from August 2009 to 22 March 2010, was proved wrong," the ED had recorded in its complaint. Case against G Somashekhar Reddy Somasekhar is facing charges of offering a bribe to Justice Pattabhirama of the Hyderabad CBI court in order to secure bail for his brother Janardhana. Somashekar along with G Dasarathrama Reddy, Suresh Babu, T Aditya, an advocate, retired judge TV Chalapathi Rao, Pattabhirama Rao, and others, had allegedly entered a conspiracy for getting bail for Janardhana by asserting official favour, according to The Hindu. India Today reported that Somasekhar was arrested by the ACB in 2012 on charges of transferring Rs 9.5 crore from Ballari to Hyderabad for the purpose of bribing judges. Of this amount, Rs 5 crore was transferred into the accounts of Pattabhirama's son Ravichandra and Rao. Somashekar was later granted bail in the case by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. With inputs from PTI Narayani Devi, whose son Vijay Singh Thakur is accused of killing an officer on a demolition drive, said he had been deeply affected by allegations of illegal construction. Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh): Narayani Devi, whose son is accused of killing a woman officer leading a demolition drive against illegal construction, began her day early on Friday, digging deep into the rubble of the guesthouse named after her to try and salvage what she could. A day after her son Vijay Singh Thakur was arrested on charges of killing assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma, the owner of the Narayani Guest House, a part of which is being demolished, was stoic, her face giving away little as officials and police kept a hawk-eyed vigil on the site that has become the cynosure of national attention. The court ordered demolition work of two of the four floors of the guesthouse, on the busy Dharampur-Kasauli road, is being carried out by different civil agencies of the Himachal Pradesh government under the careful watch of the Himachal Pradesh police, including commandos. The slender elderly woman, dressed in a salwar kameez and wearing slippers, rifled through the debris of plywood, brick and mortar, picking up pieces of her life as it were, stopping occasionally to tell those engaged in bringing down the floors to be careful. Narayani Devi had earlier said her son had lost his mental balance as he couldn't see their guesthouse being demolished. Thakur was arrested in Mathura on Thursday in a joint operation by the police in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. He allegedly fired and killed Sharma, who was leading a demolition drive against illegal construction and had reached the Narayani Guest House in Kasauli, on Tuesday. "He had spent a lot of money on the guest house. He even borrowed money to expand it. He was spending money on lawyers' fees after the case was going on. He was mentally upset for past 2-3 months and was on medication for this," Narayani said. When her son was brought to the site under heavy police escort late afternoon, her eyes turned moist. "I still don't think that he could have shot anyone," she kept saying. The accused's children and wife restricted themselves inside a portion of the guest house where they live as demolition continued. Narayani said that Thakur's children were under acute stress and did not attend school for few days. Most of those who live in the neighbourhood where the shooting incident took place described Vijay Singh, a government employee, as a man who kept low-profile and helped his mother run the guest house. "We were shocked when we heard that Vijay Singh had killed a lady officer. He is an educated person who was also known for his good writing skills. He would take a bus to Shimla from Dharampur to reach his office and was polite and courteous with everyone," said a local who owns a juice shop. The Supreme Court had on April 17 ordered the state government to demolish unauthorised structures in several hotels and guesthouses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan district. Four teams were constituted by the authorities to carry out the work. On Thursday, the apex court said the "unfortunate death" of the woman government official was the result of "non-implementation of the law". Seeking the status of investigation in the case, it directed the Himachal Pradesh government to apprise it about the steps taken to ensure that no unauthorised constructions were carried out in the entire state. It also asked the state to inform it about the status of implementation of the order regarding demolition of unauthorised constructions in 13 hotels at Kasauli. On Friday, teams from different government departments, including Revenue, PWD, Electricity Department, Forests and Irrigation and Public Health, were engaged in the task of bringing down illegal structures with police personnel being deployed outside each building. Several hotel and guesthouse owners said they have decided to bring down unauthorised constructions on their premises. Aman, the manager of Hotel Whispering Winds, told PTI that they had decided to voluntarily demolish a portion of the hotel. Giving details, officials said unauthorised construction in four hotels and guest houses in Sanawar in the area had been demolished. A hotel on the Dharampur-Kasauli road had allegedly built several rooms without permission and most of the structure was being brought down. According to norms, only three storeys plus one for parking is admissible, but several hotels have openly violated the norms by constructing four to eight storeys. The issue has inevitably acquired political overtones. Attacking the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh over the alleged poor law and order situation, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has said the murder of a lady officer at Kasauli had generated fear among law enforcing employees. He alleged that the crime graph had gone up since the BJP came to power in December last year. Hitting out at opposition parties, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the opposition should refrain from politicising the Kasauli incident. Unauthorised constructions in the area were old, he said, taking a potshot at rival Congress, which earlier ruled the state. The Kerala Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE) declared the Plus Two (+2) result 2018 or Class 12 board exam result 2018 today (10 May), according to reports. The DHSE result 2018 is now available on the official website keralaresults.nic.in. The Kerala Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE) declared the Plus Two (+2) result 2018 or Class 12 board exam result 2018 today (10 May), according to reports. The DHSE result 2018 is now available on the official website keralaresults.nic.in. According to News18, 83.7 percent students cleared the exam. A report in The Indian Express said that 14,375 students got A+ in all subjects while "3,09,065 have qualified for higher studies". The Kerala Secondary Education Board (KSEB), also known as DHSE Kerala, conducted the Kerala DHSE Class 12 examination from 7 to 27 March, reported News18. The results will also be available on examresults.net and kerala.indiaresults.com. Here is how students can check their results: - Log on to official website keralaresults.nic.in. - Click on the board button Kerala DHSE results 2018. - Fill in your registration number to get your result. The results will include information like hall ticket number, the name of the student, grade points, and the result. Students can also get their results via SMS by sending the message 'KERALA12' to 56263. The raids by the Special Investigating Team are going on in Kolkata and the adjoining districts. Kolkata: A day after police arrested the kingpin of a carcass meat selling racket in the city, another linkman of the racket was arrested from the Kolkata airport area, police said on Friday. Following the arrest of the kingpin of a carcass meat selling racket in the city, police apprehended another person from the city airport area for allegedly working as a linkman between the racket and buyers, a senior official said on Friday. "A person named Sikandar Ali was arrested from the airport area in Dumdum on Thursday night. The prima facie evidence shows that he worked as a linkman in this case," Diamond Harbour Superintendent of Police Koteshwar Rao told IANS. "The arrested persons are being interrogated to determine their involvements in the racket. The raids by the Special Investigating Team are going on in Kolkata and the adjoining districts," he said. The police had last week busted a racket involved in processing the flesh of carcasses collected from dumping grounds in and adjoining suburbs and selling it to local restaurants and departmental stores and seized huge quantity of rotten meat from a city cold storage. Police has arrested 12 people so far including the kingpin Biswanath Garai (52), who also owned the cold storage in north Kolkata's Narkeldanga. Meanwhile, officials of Kolkata Municipal Corporations and district municipalities conducted fresh raids in local restaurants and eateries and sent food samples for testing. Two restaurants in Dunlop in city's northern fringes were sealed after large quantity of rotten chicken, fish items were seized from there. Political parties including a local committee of Congress staged demonstrations in front of Kolkata Corporation demanding measures to ensure food safety. A fresh warning about thunderstorm and squall hitting West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on Friday has been issued, the home ministry said. New Delhi: A fresh warning about thunderstorm and squall hitting West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on Friday has been issued, the home ministry said, and noted that 124 people were killed while more than 300 injured in five states due to thunderstorm and lightning in the last two days. The maximum casualty was reported in Uttar Pradesh where 73 people were killed, while 91 others were injured. Most of the deaths and injuries in the state took place in Agra region, a home ministry spokesperson said. In Rajasthan, altogether 35 people were killed and 206 injured, while eight people were killed in Telangana, six in Uttarakhand and two in Punjab. Nearly 100 people were injured in Telangana, Uttarakhand and Punjab. Following the thunderstorms, power supply was cut off in many areas as squall uprooted trees and snapped electricity cables. At least 12,000 electric poles were uprooted and 2,500 transformers damaged in the affected states in the last two days. The home ministry spokesperson said a fresh warning has been issued about possible thunderstorms accompanied with squall which may hit four states West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura. Isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Odisha, northwest Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala are very likely to experience thunderstorm along with gusty winds. Heavy rains are very likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while dust storm and thunderstorm very likely at isolated places over Rajasthan. The home ministry has also issued an advisory for Saturday saying thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, SubHimalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely to occur at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and gangetic West Bengal. Heavy rains are very likely at isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. Dust storms are very likely at isolated places in Rajasthan, an official said. BJP's dinner-with-Dalits programme has turned out to be more of an embarrassment for the party in Uttar Pradesh than a successful voter outreach initiative. The Bharatiya Janata Party's dinner-with-Dalits outreach programme has turned out to be more of an embarrassment for the party in Uttar Pradesh than a successful voter outreach programme. The latest in the series of gaffes was a comment by Anupma Jaiswal, the basic education minister in Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, as she boasted about dining with Dalits while 'braving mosquito bites the whole night.' The minister said: "This is the first time that a government has come which is working for the people and not for a particular caste or religion. We are reaching out to them (Dalits) to tell them about their rights and the government's schemes. Ministers are dining with Dalits in their homes," she said. However, she went on to add: "The ministers are visiting villages to ensure the benefits of government schemes reached the needy. They have to face mosquito bites the whole night, still they visit the villages and feel happy about it," she said. More recently, Union minister Uma Bharti was in the midst of a similar controversy after she skipped a meal with Dalits during an event, but later apologised for the same. Bharti skipped a meal with Dalits during an event organised near Dadri village on 1 May, 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. "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 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 a 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. Earlier, another UP minister Rajendra Pratap Singh had embarrassed the state government when he said that Yogi Adityanath dining with Dalits is like 'Lord Rama blessing Shabari.' "The way Lord Ram blessed Shabari by eating her berries, BJP leaders too are blessing Dalits by going to their homes," the minister had said. Singh was addressing a chaupal at Gadhmau village in Badagaon Block of Jhansi district. On Monday, UP BJP minister Suresh Rana stirred up a controversy after reports surfaced that he essentially gatecrashed a Dalit's house to dine with him and the food offered was prepared by a caterer. The Dalit man, speaking to The Indian Express, said that he was sleeping when someone banged at his door and told him that a minister wanted to dine with him. Since his family was not at home, and he wasn't expecting the minister, there was no food prepared at his home. The food and the cutlery were brought from outside, he said. "For a minute, I could not understand what was happening. I did not even have food with them. He (Rana) wouldnt even have known who the owner of the house is. The leaders left after having dinner, which was cooked by some caterer," he said. The incident took place in Aligarh's Lohagadh on Monday night. Meanwhile, Rana denied the controversy surrounding his visit. He said a community dinner was planned at the village, but it was he who expressed the wish to dine with a Dalit family at the last minute. He said that the food was prepared by the villagers in the village and clarified that he even had breakfast with a Dalit family the next morning. "I am throwing an open challenge to them to prove that even a single grain of food came from outside. In fact, all food items were cooked in the village and by the villagers. "The programme was organised by the local MLA (Anoop Valmiki) and the village pradhan. As per the plan, a breakfast was planned with a Dalit family the next morning, but I had expressed a desire that instead of having dinner at the community centre, I will have it at the house of a Dalit," he told PTI. Attacking the Congress, Rana said in an interview, "I want to convey one thing to the leaders of the Congress that the Dalit tourism undertaken by them is not a tradition of the BJP. If they spend a night at the community centre, then they will realise the drive of the BJP. We do not take 7-star facilities along with ourselves during pravaas (night halts). In fact, we make pravaas in the existing facilities of the villages." He blamed Opposition parties for the "unnecessary controversy", Dalit tourism is their culture, not ours," he said. Meanwhile, the ruling party's Dalit, OBC outreach programme has been facing criticism from opposition Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and some BJP leaders, including MP Udit Raj. Yesterday, Raj had said the Dalit outreach programme would not bring any electoral gains to the party, rather it would make Dalits feel "inferior". "Having nightstay 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. The minister's bizarre statements were criticised by another party MP Savitri Bai Phule, who termed such show off tactics, an insult to the Bahujan Samaj. "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. With Lok Sabha elections due next year, Adityanath has instructed party leaders to spend maximum time in Dalit villages in the wake of massive country-wide protests that was launched by the community recently. With inputs from agencies Narendra Modi has hit where it hurts the most and has reiterated the historic reality that Jawaharlal Nehru had insulted General KS Thimayya. History is replete with facts which are uncomfortable to a family and its apologists. So whenever an uncomfortable fact comes out to the public, these people go all out to discredit the messenger. On Thursday as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought out some facts which have been hidden in the pages of history, the cabal of family apologists started attacking him. These people have been nitpicking on the General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya point that Modi made during his campaign in Karnataka. The fact is that both Nehru and VK Krishna Menon insulted General Thimayya, the latter's behaviour led to Thimayya's resignation and that can never be whitewashed. Modi was right when he spoke of General Thimayya defeating Pakistan in 1948. The fake Swarajists must know that "Timmy (Thimayya) had displayed great courage and dash amidst bursting shells in Kashmir in 1948, and he had driven the Pakistanis out of Chad Bet in Kutch in 1956, by a bold stroke even while the Cabinet was debating schemes to accomplish this." Thus, General Thimayya did defeat Pakistani forces both in 1948 and 1956 and his confrontation with Krishna Menon happened in 1959, by when he was not only a decorated soldier with wide popularity but also the Chief of Army Staff. Modi was right thus when he said that General Thimayya had defeated Pakistan. But because Modi is a habitual kaamdar and not an naamdar Swarajist or a historian, with ample time to smoke the pipes of time-pass intellectualism, his arguments are broad and yet historically correct. Unfortunately, since Modi did not learn his history and the practice of footnoting from the exalted halls and classrooms of a war college or institution abroad like so many of us, he can be laughed off by the naamdars as muddling up, in spite of his argument and tenor being to the point and on the dot! Veteran journalist and an astute India observer, the legendary Durga Das, for example, writes in his wide survey of modern India how Nehru himself treated General Thimayya in a cavalier fashion when he openly ticked off Thimayya, then Chief of Army Staff, "at a Governor's Conference for even suggesting the possibility of an attack by China". In his detailed study of the Nehru years Nehru: a Troubled Legacy the veteran scholar RNP Singh devotes an entire chapter to defence policy in post-independence India (1947-1962) and argues that "The way Nehru handled the resignation of General Thimayya dealt a bad blow to the discipline of the Armed Forces and their self-confidence." General Thimayya resigned on 1 September 1959, "in protest against Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon's" discourteous behaviour and repeated refusal to "consider his plans for better preparation of the army". Nehru was aware that the "relations between the Defence Minister and the chief of army were strained" but he had done nothing to sort the issue out or to assuage the feelings of General Thimayya. Obviously, his obsessive admiration for and dependence on Menon had adversely influenced his capacities for independent thinking when it came to the defence establishment and its challenges. All that the prime minister did was to tell Parliament that the chief of army staff had resigned on "issues trivial and of no consequences which had arisen out of temperamental conflict". This was Nehrus cavalier response to the resignation of one of the greatest generals of India and one of the most illustrious sons of the soil of Karnataka. "If the prime minister was letting down and humiliating the chief of army staff, he was also ignoring the fact that the general's resignation had sprung from valid grounds which were relevant to the discipline and efficiency of the armed forces at a time when the country's frontiers were being threatened," wrote Durga Das. 1962 was not far away, and the debacle that year proved General Thimayyas prescience. So acerbic was Nehru when alerted that the army and its structures and appointments were being politicised that on another occasion when General Kodandera M Cariappa observed that "politics was slowly creeping into the army", Nehru retorted that "What General Cariappa calls politics is something which he does not like." Modi has hit where it hurts the most and has reiterated the historic reality that Nehru had insulted General Thimayya. And his great-grandson, Rahul Gandhi, continues with the tirade against the armed forces, insulting their bravery by questioning the truth of the surgical strikes and supporting those subversive elements who rejoice when members of our security forces are killed in encounters by terrorists or ambushed by cowardly Naxals. I rejoice at the fact that periodically Modi publicly reiterates crucial facets from the history of our immediate past so that the memory of the discrimination faced by some of our most illustrious patriots at the hands of a confused and arrogant political family is kept alive in the collective consciousness of our proud and great nation. The author is Director, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation. Opposition parties urged the government to make special travel arrangements for students from Tamil Nadu who have been allotted examination centres outside the state in order to be able to appear for the NEET on Sunday. Opposition parties urged the government to make special travel arrangements for students from Tamil Nadu who have been allotted examination centres outside the state in order to be able to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (NEET), scheduled to take place on Sunday. According to CNN-News18, students from the state are being forced to travel to states like Rajasthan, Kerala, and Sikkim after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) which conducts the national entrance exam for admission into MBBS and BDS colleges across India. "At least a quarter of the students have no money," the TV news channel said. Advocate P Guruswami told News18 that between 1,000 and 1,500 students will have to travel to Ernakulum and other centres in Kerala alone. Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan also criticised the state government, saying, "In this digital age, expecting Tamil Nadu students to travel to Kerala and Rajasthan for NEET exam is not fair. The government should felicitate taking exams in the state. According to The Hindu, DMK leader MK Stalin on Thursday criticised the Centre for not making necessary arrangements so that all students from Tamil Nadu could write the NEET in centres within the state. According to the report, Stalin said in a statement that "the Central government was not taking the interests of the students from Tamil Nadu into consideration and was causing unnecessary confusion." S Kalimuthu Mylavan, a lawyer, had submitted a PIL that the candidates from Tamil Nadu were allotted examination centres in other states and not within the state as mentioned in their applications. Disposing of the PIL, the Madras High Court had directed the CBSE to re-allot the NEET examination centres in respect of those candidates from Tamil Nadu, who have been allotted centres in other states, adjacent to their place of residence or at least in the state at the earliest. "Because of allotment of exam centres in other states, the candidates will have to travel a long distance and there will be financial implications on them," a division bench of justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and M Dhandapani had said while directing the CBSE to allot centres adjacent to the affected candidates' place of residence or at least in Tamil Nadu at the earliest. The revised allotment should be intimated to the candidates by the CBSE by publishing the information on a website or newspaper, the bench had said. Similarly, candidates who have been allotted centres in other states can apply to the local NEET exam centre and get fresh allotments. "On such representation, the same shall be considered by the authorities in a proper manner as directed above and such details shall be published," the bench had said. CBSE, however, had moved the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court order, stating that it doesn't have sufficient time to arrange for exam centres in Tamil Nadu, NDTV reported. The apex court stayed the Madras High Court order, however, it told CBSE to ensure proper arrangements are in place from next year onwards to allow students from Tamil Nadu to appear for the entrance exam within the state. In a related case, the Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed Sikh students to carry traditional 'kada' and 'kirpan' inside the exam hall in the upcoming NEET exam. Students appearing for the entrance exam will have to arrive an hour early to be screened before the exam centre, IANS said. With inputs from agencies Both Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma conceded that deportation is a long shot under current circumstances, and should be dealt with at a later stage. On 2 January, two days after the publication of the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam, the states Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, told The Times of India that all those who fail to make it to the list and are thus identified as foreigners "will be barred from all constitutional rights, including fundamental and electoral". Sonowal, belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said that these people would only enjoy "human rights as guaranteed by the UN that include food, shelter and clothing". Two months later, in a public event organised by ThePrint.in in New Delhi, Assams finance minister and BJPs point man for the North East, Himanta Biswa Sarma, went a step further to announce that all those identified as foreigners by virtue of the NRC would be declared stateless citizens. Both Sonowal and Sarma conceded that deportation is a long shot under current circumstances, and should be dealt with at a later stage. For them, the immediate purpose of the NRC is only to segregate foreigners from the native Assamese population to soothe the identity crisis in the state. The above positions, expressed by two of Assams senior key political figures, have an ominous ring to them. They reveal the extreme precariousness of the whole NRC process, and how such an exercise in list-making and segregation could directly challenge the very constitutional fabric of the Indian state. This is not to say that the Indian Constitution permits illegal immigration into the country, but rather, to argue that the institutional response to illegal immigration cannot itself be unconstitutional. A dangerous proposition What Sonowal proposed with respect to the post-identification stage is a dangerous and dehumanising idea. While revoking electoral rights is a legally tenable proposition, stripping an entire group of people from constitutional rights is simply to create fertile conditions for systematic marginalisation, discrimination and violence. Regardless of how the chief minister might interpret the Indian rights regime, constitutional rights in India encompass a wide range of basic entitlements that permit a human to live as a human. Food, shelter, and clothing constitute only a small part of this broad matrix of inalienable rights. Concurrent to this, the makers of the Indian Constitution laid down a diverse set of safeguards that ensure a bare minimum of protection to all human beings living on Indian soil, regardless of their citizenship status. Of all common constitutional rights that apply to both citizens and non-citizens, Article 21, which enshrines the right to life and personal liberty, is key. Other such common provisions include Article 21A that offers the right to elementary education, Article 22 that offers protection against arrest and detention in certain cases, and Article 14 that guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of laws. These guarantees that the Indian Constitution generously and rightly offers to all persons on Indian territory do not, however, apply to enemy alienscitizens of nations that are at war with Indiaas laid down by Article 22(3). Bangladeshi immigrants who entered Assam without papers do not classify as enemy aliens. Thus, nothing, not the least Assams elected chief minister, can take these fundamental rights away from them. The chief minister must, therefore, look to our own founding document before he cites the UN. But, if he is indeed eager to look to the UN regime, then he might actually direct his attention to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). India, as a ratified state party to the ICCPR and by virtue of Article 51(c) of its own Constitution, is legally bound by its provisions that ensure certain global standards in civil-political rights to citizens. Article 2(1) of the covenant says: "Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory [emphasis added by author] and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." Subsequent sections outline a broad range of rights, several of which are already embedded in the Indian Constitution -- like the right to not be arbitrarily detained, right to be tried without undue delay, and right to be represented equally before the law. Furthermore, India is also a state party to the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both of which mandate the Indian state to offer a broad range of civil, political, and social rights to women and children -- legal citizens or otherwise. Clearly, even the UN rights regime believes that a state is obligated to provide everyone within its territory certain basic entitlements that go far beyond roti, kapda, makaan (food, clothing, shelter). The spectre of statelessness The Assam finance ministers blunt proposition that all identified illegals would be immediately declared stateless citizens is a chilling prognosis. Before we delve deeper into the exact implications of this, it is worth noting that the term stateless citizens is an oxymoron: stateless automatically implies the absence of any citizenship. Sarmas scheme is particularly disturbing because he did not seem to have any alternative follow-up plan. We already know what statelessness can do to a community: the people of Assam need only to look east to open their eyes to the extreme persecution of the stateless Rohingya in Myanmars Rakhine State at the hands of the countrys military and government. Within the contemporary political order, statelessness is the far extreme of rights deprivation. It is that pinnacle of collective vulnerability where discrimination not just becomes inevitable, but also legitimate under the overarching legal framework that denies even the most basic rights to a bulk of individuals. With no legal recourse to address grievances, marginalisation steadily becomes systematic and almost a way of life for both the persecuted and the persecutor. Again, the Rohingya are a tragic example of this. Sarmas proposition has a particularly foreboding quality to it because India is yet to ratify the 1954 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Hence, under international law, India is not obligated to actively avoid policies that encourage statelessness. This keeps the space open for lawmakers to legitimately strip entire communities of core fundamental rights essential to a full-spectrum human existence, as outlined above. If Sarmas proposed scheme is viewed in conjunction with the existing detention camps that are housing some illegals in Assam and the many more that are in the pipeline, we end up staring at a state pockmarked by legal ghettos. Such a segregated landscape is bound to draw the scrutiny of the international community, especially the UN regime that Sonowal so earnestly cited. Since the Supreme Court is already monitoring the whole process, it is in the right position to rein in the political constituency that seeks to pursue the agenda of statelessness and a no-fundamental-rights regime for the identified illegals in Assam. As the vanguard of our constitution and Indias international law compliance mechanisms, the SC must go beyond the immediate logistics of the whole process and opine on the critical follow-up stage before it's too late to act. The author is Researcher and Coordinator, Southeast Asia Research Programme, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. He can be reached at angshuman.choudhury@ipcs.org Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has demanded tribal status for eleven communities in the state Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has demanded tribal status for eleven communities in the state. "The state government has been been doing everything possible to secure Constitutional recognition of the eleven left out communities as Scheduled Tribes in view of their historical background," Chamling said on Thursday at a summit for Tribal Status, 2018 organised by the Eleven Indigenous Ethnic Communities of Sikkim (EIECOS) and others. He has been corresponding with the president, prime minister and other Union ministers to press for inclusion of Gurung, Mangar, Rai, Sunwar, Mukhia, Jogi, Thami, Yakha, Bahun, Chettri and Newar in the ST list, the chief minister said. He quoted from a report by a Committee headed by Prof AC Sinha of the North-East Hill University (NEHU) highlighting ethnographic and historical facts for grant of tribal status to these eleven communities of Sikkim. But, he said, the proposal was shot down by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs after the Registrar General of India observed that the proposal could not be supported as the ethnographic report did not show any significant primitive cultural traits in the communities. The state government did not lose hope on the issue and constituted a commission under the chairmanship of Prof BK Roy Burman, a noted anthropologist in 2005, and on the basis of its report submitted in 2008 another proposal to the Centre, but it had not been accepted till date, he said. The state government has again constituted a committee of experts headed by TN Sharma, Chairman of the Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes, to look into the viability of grant of tribal status to these eleven communities, he said. The state government has been pressing the demands at the highest level in the central government for resolution of the issue, he said. The counsel defended the convicts, saying they were not habitual offenders and have no criminal history. Even the habitual offenders had reformed earlier, he added. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its order on the plea of two of the four death row convicts seeking a review of the top court 2017 judgment upholding their death sentence in the 16 December Delhi gang rape case which shook the nation. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice R Banumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan reserved the order after hearing arguments on behalf of the convicts Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta. The counsel appearing for the two told the bench that police had implicated "innocent" persons when they failed to arrest the real culprits. He said the death penalty is not the solution and goes against the principle of non-violence. The counsel defended the convicts, saying they were not habitual offenders and have no criminal history. Even the habitual offenders had reformed earlier, he added. The top court by its 5 May, 2017 verdict upheld the death sentence of Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur. It had earlier reserved its verdict on the review petition filed by Mukesh. Akshay has not filed a review petition yet. The four were convicted of raping and assaulting a 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012 which led to her death due to internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital. The rapists, six in all, pounced on the young woman who had boarded the bus with her male friend to go home after watching a movie. After committing the crime, they dumped both on a roadside. Some passersby alerted the police. The sheer brutality of the crime led to nationwide revulsion and street protests. A fifth accused, Ram Singh, committed suicide in the Tihar Central Jail here. The sixth, a minor, accused of ripping apart the woman's intestines, was sent to a correction home and has been released after serving his probation period. The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Bombay High Court to consider the bail application of Ramesh Gowani. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Bombay High Court to consider the bail application of Ramesh Gowani, the owner of the Kamla Mills complex in Mumbai where 14 persons were killed in a major fire in December last year. A bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said the vacation judge of Bombay High Court may take up the bail application of accused Gowani on 9 May and decide in accordance with law. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Gowani, said he had filed the bail application on 17 April before the high court and the matter was taken up for hearing on 25 April. "On April 25, the presiding judge recused himself from the case and thereafter the bail application has not been listed and now the High Court is on summer vacation," Rohatgi said. The bench said even if the high court is on vacation, the vacation judge can take up the matter and dispose of Gowani's petition. Meanwhile, the apex court listed an appeal of Yug Tuli, the co-owner of the Mojo's Bistro restaurant and also an accused in the same fire incident, on 8 May. Tuli has challenged the High Court order of 27 April, dismissing his bail application in the case. Earlier, the apex court had refused interim bail to Tuli on 1 May in the case. Tuli had claimed that the other accused in the case have been granted bail by the courts. The high court had on 27 April rejected his bail plea saying it would pass a detailed order later. Tuli, who was arrested in mid-January, had approached the high court after his bail plea was rejected by the sessions court on 11 April. The state government had opposed the bail plea and said there was gross negligence on the part of Tuli and all the other accused. It had submitted that as per the inquiry reports of the police as well as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the fire was caused by the flying embers emanating from a hookah being served illegally at Mojo's Bistro. Tuli had claimed he had no role in the day-to-day operations of the hookah parlour. A total of 14 persons were arrested in the case and booked under various sections of the IPC, including those related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death by negligence. The accused include the owners of the Kamala Mills compound, Mojo Bistro and 1 Above and two BMC officials. On the fateful December night, a massive fire had swept through the two resto-pubs at the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai, resulting in the death of 14 people. CJI Dipak Misra, in his first address since the apex court was caught in controversy, said the Supreme Court was united even in its differences. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, in his first address since the apex court was caught in the midst of a controversy, said that the Supreme Court was united even in its differences as he underscored the importance of giving lawyers the due respect. CJI Misra was speaking at the farewell of Supreme Court Justice RK Agrawal on Friday at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Misra, who was the chief guest at the event, said it was the duty of the judges to show respect to the lawyers irrespective of their their age or status. "The Supreme Court is one. The Bar nurtures us and on every occasion, I have told the young members of the Bar to be the guiding angels. It's not the age, it is the entry into the Bar that makes you an angel. Whatever be your stature or status, you deserve respect and it is the duty of the judges to show respect to the members of the Bar despite their age or status," he said. On Justice Agrawal, the CJI said he was "getting liberated from one assignment...If you feel envy, you are boycotting him. If you are jealous, you give him another five years to work. When, where and how, I can't say." "But if that is the desire of the Bar, definitely you will have it. And I take it as a concurrence from the Bar that you want him somewhere. I hope there is no disagreement," Justice Misra said. Justice Agrawal, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, was sworn in as a Judge of the top court on 17 February, 2014. In his farewell speech, Justice Agrawal said young lawyers were the "oxygen of the legal environment". "If only we give them fair opportunities of drafting and arguing, that will enable them to shoulder more responsibilities. Young lawyers are the oxygen of the legal environment. He said that the Bar and the Bench were indispensable to a free society. "The relationship of Bar and the Bench is akin to two sides of a coin. Neither has a primacy over the other. Both are indispensable to a free society," Justice Agrawal said. He said that the independence of judiciary was one of the foundations of democracy and the freedom of the Bar presupposes an independent judiciary. "The independence of judiciary is one of the foundations of democracy and lawyers have worked hard to maintain the pillars of democracy. The freedom of Bar presupposes an independent judiciary through which their freedom may, if necessary, be vindicated," Justice Agrawal said. The SCBA President Vikas Singh referred to Justice Agrawal's farewell speech, which he had rendered in Chennai while he was the High Court Chief Justice there, and said that he had called for unity among the bar and the bench for the betterment of the judiciary. "It's a very moving speech given by Justice Agrawal and it is so relevant for all of us here today because we have to all make a pledge that we will all strive to make our institution, the Supreme Court a great one and, do nothing, either in court or outside to any manner damage the prestige of this institution," he said. Justice Agrawal's retirement brings back the shortfall in number of judges in the top court to seven. The Supreme Court will now have 24 judges with a sanctioned strength of 31. Recently, senior advocate Indu Malhotra was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge, becoming the first female lawyer to be accepted on the top court's Bench directly. However, the apex court remains grossly short staffed with respect to global standards. As per the information made available by the Supreme Court of India to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the total number of pending cases in the apex court as on 18 December 2017 was 54,719. The number of cases pending in the court for more than 5 years was 15,929, which is more than 29 per cent of the cases. Those waiting for disposal for more than 10 years constituted 1,550 cases. If the data were compiled separately for cases pending for more than 5 years and more than 10 years respectively, over 32 per cent cases i.e. around one-third of total cases in the top court have been hanging fire for more than 5 years. With inputs from PTI The meeting was a departure from usual agenda of the chief ministers as their interactions are often limited to the ministries in the social sector such as health, education and surface transport. Steering away from the routine discussions on governence issues, chief ministers of the northeastern states flocked in the National Capital on Friday for the first meeting on Act East Policy convened by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The meeting deliberated extensively on the infrastructural needs of the northeastern region to facilitate the Act East Policy initiated by the Centre. The meeting was a departure from usual agenda of the chief ministers as their interactions are often limited to the ministries in the social sector such as health, education and surface transport. This was for the first time when all chief ministers of the northeastern states assembled in the Ministry of External Affairs marking the beginning of a change of narrative in the region. "The meeting also attempted to instil a global outlook among the state leaders and bureaucracy," said a senior official accompanying Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. "Development always has meant catering to the demands of our state only. But the Act East Policy has taught us to think global as under this policy we are to take up projects with not only national but also international importance and obligations." Briefing journalists after the meeting, Sonowal said that the meeting was mainly about developing regional cooperation to enhance connectivity with the ASEAN nations. "It has been a very meaningful discussion with the initiative of the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. We have put up our views regarding expediting the Act East Policy. The agenda of the talks was for developing India's ties with the ASEAN nations and enhancing connectivity with them," he said. ASEAN is a 10-nation bloc with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Phillipines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as its member states with a motto of -- "One Vision, One Identity, One Community". The chief minister also said that a detailed project report will be prepared to fortify the Act East Policy covering all the sectors of the economy including health, education, tourism, trade and commerce. "We hope that the concerned ministry will take up the issues we have put up to fulfill the expectations of the people," Sonowal said. The Act East Policy was declared after Narendra Modi took over as prime minister in 2014. "India's Act East Policy focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. The policy which was originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. India has upgraded its relations to strategic partnership with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, Singapore and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and forged close ties with all countries in the Asia-Pacific region," Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) VK Singh had informed the Lok Sabha earlier. The main objective of the policy is to boost economic cooperation between the ASEAN states through the northeastern states as the region is closest to the ASEAN nations than any other part of the country. Sonowal pressed upon the need to start such flights to the ASEAN nations from Guwahati. In his interaction with the media, the Assam chief minister said that the state has already started export of banana to Dubai. "This week for the first time Assam exported nearly 1.2 metric tonnes of Malbhog variety of banana to Dubai by air. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned the northeastern region to develop as an organic hub. We are now moving in that direction," he said. Particpating in the meeting, Tripura pressed upon the need to modify the custom rules to enable export of pineapple, rubber and bamboo directly from the state to Bangladesh. "There are non-tariff trade restrictions on export of these commodities through its land customs stations (LCSs) in Tripura to Bangladesh. We have to export these products through Kolkata when we share border with Bangladesh," an official from the state said. 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." A section of students, about 200 from Tamil Nadu, have been allotted centres in Kerala and Rajasthan to write NEET, according to the PMK. Chennai: Every student from Tamil Nadu who travels to other states to appear for the NEET will be given train fare in addition to monetary assistance of Rs 1,000 per candidate, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said in Chennai on Friday. He said these students and one attendant travelling with him or her would be provided second class train fare and given an assistance of Rs 1,000 towards other expenditure. Palaniswami said the direction was given following reports that those allotted centres outside Tamil Nadu were facing difficulties. Students could get the train fare and Rs 1,000 assistance from the district Chief Education Officer through their school either before or after their journey to write NEET, he said. Palaniswami's announcement comes a day after PMK demanded that the state government bear the travel expenses of students who have been allotted centres in other States. A section of students, about 200 from Tamil Nadu, have been allotted centres in Kerala and Rajasthan to write NEET, according to the PMK. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss had said yesterday that about 200 students, including those from Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, were allotted centres in Rajasthan and Kerala. When a petition was filed in the Madras High Court against centres outside the State, the court had asked the union government to allot the centres in Tamil Nadu itself. However, it was "shocking" that it was stayed by the Supreme Court, the PMK leader, who is also the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha MP, had said. "Tamil Nadu government should bear the air travel and lodging expenditure of the students if it could not get the Union government to allocate centres within the state for students," he had said. The PMK leader had alleged that allotting NEET centres for Tamil Nadu students in Rajasthan and Kerala was "social injustice." DMK working president MK Stalin had also hit out at the Centre for not making arrangements to ensure that students from Tamil Nadu took the eligibility test in centres within the state. The Turkawangam encounter saw forces fire live ammunition, pellets and teargas shells, resulting in the death of Umar Ahmad, while 30 others were injured. Pinjoora: Umar Ahmad Kumar had just returned from school when blaring loudspeakers in the mosques of Pinjoora, his native place, urged people to come out and "save the militants" trapped in Turkawangam village, nearly 11 kilometres away, where a brief encounter with the security forces started on Thursday afternoon. Umar, 15, dropped his school bag and dashed into the kitchen where his mother was preparing dinner. According to the family, he promised her that he will return soon. Umar was the youngest among 15 persons who travelled in three Tata Sumo taxis to the village, in a bid to save the trapped militants. "When they reached Darazpora village, forces started firing and chased them away. They left the taxis and crawled into an orchard. Everyone was crawling, except for him. He was shot and died on the spot," Gulzar Ahmad Kumar, elder brother of Umar, told Firstpost at their home late on Thursday. Kumars are traditional Kashmiri chefs who prepare the much-cherished Wazwan feast. This is the second tragedy to hit the family in two years. Umar's father, Mohammad Ashraf Kumar, died on 9 November, 2016, leaving a big family without much financial support. The elder brother, Gulzar, took the care of his family. According to locals and police sources, among the militants reportedly trapped at the encounter site was Zeenat-ul-Islam Shah, one among the twenty most wanted militant commanders in the Valley today. He managed to escape from the site, just like he did on 1 April, near his village at Dragad Sugan, along with four of his associates. Seven of his Hizbul Mujahideen associates were killed in the encounter. After a brief exchange of firing at army vehicles patrolling the area, the militants fled. But the troops assumed that the attackers had taken shelter in residential houses at Turkwagan village. At the site of the encounter, on 2 May, a charged mob of young boys and men turned so violent that forces had to retreat after the civilian casualty. The cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) started on Wednesday evening but forces had to call it off after trapped militants, believed to be three to five in number, escaped under the cover of stone-pelters. In the initial firing, a subedar-major of the army was wounded. He was shifted to the army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for treatment. Soon afterwards, the forces were surrounded on all four sides by protesters who threw stones and whatever they could lay their hands on. The forces fired live ammunition, pellets and teargas shells, resulting in the death of Umar, while 30 others were injured. That a 15-year-old student in school uniform died for the survival of a 30-year-old militant is a new normal in Kashmir. Surprisingly, there is no remorse. Men bravely talk about their new 'martyr' while the womenfolk are wailing in a makeshift tent. There is anger but not a feeling of loss, neither among Umar's friends nor relatives, and not even the family members. "We were four brothers. One was martyred today. Now, we are only three," Gulzar said plainly in an emotionless voice while describing the killing of his brother. As he was narrating Umar's story, his mother fainted in the tent and the women raised a hue and cry. The elder son shouted: "Su hai gov shaheed, ti wyen kath chu wadun? (He died a martyr, then why are you crying?)." Umar has become one of nearly three dozen civilians killings in recent times, which have continued unabated in the Valley. In the first four months of this year, 114 people have died in the militancy-related violence. The dead include 53 militants, 33 civilians, 14 policemen, 13 army men and a political worker. According to official data, 41 people including 16 civilians, 19 militants, four army men, a policeman and a political worker were killed in April alone, one of the bloodiest months recorded in many years. "We are sitting on a volcano of anger," CPM leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, told Firstpost. "These senseless killings will haunt us all as we witness this dance of death. It is painful to see teenage boys risking their lives to save militants. But why do they do that is something we all have to understand. And we all understand it." On Thursday morning, thousands of people participated in the funeral of the teenage boy. His mother wrapped the shroud on his son's body and as mourners carried the coffin, women sang songs celebrating his 'martyrdom' while showering candies on it. As the dead body was taken for burial, Umar's grieving sister came out with his school uniform and placed it on the body; both men and women cried at this sight. Selective disdain towards pollutants, lax air quality regulation & vague emission standards led to 14 Indian cities landing on WHO's most polluted list. It is not daily discomfort but a WHO report that makes pollution a talking point in India, albeit briefly. The recent report revealed that 14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in fact Indian. This time though, the national capital doesn't top the charts. It is Kanpur, where nearly 2.9 million live and breathe. And Kanpur isn't the only city on the list from the country's most populous Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi, where an economy of Hindu faith operates; Lucknow, the political capital of the state; and Agra, where stands the Taj Mahal, have also found a place on the list. Gaya, where stands the tree under which Buddha found enlightenment and Bihar's capital city Patna have landed up on the list as well, with particular matter levels as high as 144 and 149 (micrograms per cubic metre) respectively. The national capital is on the sixth spot, a slight improvement from its number four spot in 2015. But, the presence of its industrial offshoots Gurgaon and Faridabad on the list re-emphasises the magnitude of Delhi's problem, which is much larger than crop burning versus cracking bursting debate that accompanies the grey smog at least once every year. The blanket of polluted air hovers over Punjab and Rajasthan and stretches up to Srinagar in Kashmir. The first part of the problem is centred on the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. One single unit that discharges air pollution, be it a hotel or an industrial unit, requires consent to operate under the said act. However, the act doesn't have provisions to deal with leaf or wood burning on the street which is a daily affair. In March, when a Hindu charitable organisation Shri Ayutchandi Mahayagna Samiti summoned 350 priests to drop cow ghee over 50,000 logs of mango wood in a nine-day-long yagya, supposedly to fumigate and purify air, social media was abuzz with how ridiculously counter-productive the thought was. Firstpost had hit ground zero and found that the disdain towards pollutants was selective and other polluting sources that had a permanence attached to them, like a kilometre-long lane in Meerut that serves as permanent cremation ground for stolen and discarded automobiles, were never at the centre of the national discourse on environmental activism. Ritwick Dutta, an environmental lawyer and the managing trustee for the organisation Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment, had spoken to Firstpost about the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPCCB) issuing notifications on a ban on leaf and garbage burning. Under this, burning of dry leaves was prohibited but wood burning wasn't because people use wood for cooking. Also, there was no limit set on the quantity of wood. For example, after Odisha's Rath Yatra, wooden carts are burnt and remade. Who should be held accountable? In a country of 125 crore residents, National Crime Records Bureau data from 2014 to 2016 shows that under the Air Act, there were 48 incidents registered in 2014, 50 in 2015 and 25 in 2016. Dutta told Firstpost that virtually nobody has been convicted under the act. There are two reasons for this, one is that the accused is required to appear before a judicial magistrate and face a trial, for which the state pollution boards need to exhibit agility and strengthen their intelligence skills. The Ganga judgment (MC Mehta versus Union of India, pronounced on 13 July, 2017) made these shocking revelations about the competence levels of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). According to the UPPCB, there are only 1,048 seriously or grossly polluting industries and these industries were on the radar of the UPPCB. However, the judgment specified, "... large numbers of industries are being referred non-water polluting industries and/or dry industries or small-scale industries which indulge in dry processes. The Board is incapacitated to check the performance of the plants and discharge of effluents, strictly within the prescribed measures at regular intervals." The judgment made observations about the operational strategies of the UPPCB, that it relies on inspection and investigation as their primary strategies and the regulatory response is subjective and in 'firefighting mode. The other problem, pointed out'by the judgment, was that the body relies on internal resources (namely: people, laboratories) and observed that in order to become an effective 361 regulator, it needs to supplement this with external resources. It further noted that it couldn't produce any inventory of polluting sources and relied on the consent data and identified the need to strengthen its IT, public interaction, research and technology assessment functions. The second and often ignored aspect is that the disposition of air changes every hour, every day and the evidence of the pollution caused is difficult to record. Lawyers like Ritwick recommend traffic policing mechanism of challans in which punishments are handed out instantly. The Ganga judgment took cognizance of the absence of a transparent and consistent enforcement mechanism and recommended that the Water Act and Air Act provide for various regulatory responses in terms of directions, a prosecution that is based on Precautionary Principle and Polluter Pays Principle. The UPPCB's website certainly flashes ambient air quality records from up to 24 cities but these cities are covered under what's called the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQM) system of testing that makes use of a small device with filter paper and its reports are sent to labs. Ravi Shekhar of The Climate Agenda, an NGO that has installed air monitoring devices in 43 districts of Uttar Pradesh including Yogi Adityanath's Gorakhpur, said that the government must shift to National Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) which is monitored live. He alleged that in Varanasi, the pollution control board is under-staffed which sometimes results in four people managing six to seven districts. Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) announced the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) on 18 December, 2017, in the Rajya Sabha. One of its objectives was to identify 'non-attainment cities'. It is mentioned in the concerned ministry's document that these are cities the Central Pollution Control Board has identified, in which the prescribed NAAQS has been violated. These cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data obtained (2011-2015) under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Strangely, not a single city from Bihar made it to the list of 100 non-attainment cities. Three cities in Bihar: Patna, Gaya and Muzaffarpur are on WHO's report of the top 14 polluted cities in India. Ankita Jyoti, who works with Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED), an organisation working on pollution in Bihar, told Firstpost that Patna has only one air quality monitoring station inside the Indira Gandhi Planetarium. "To monitor air quality in a city as large as Patna (99.97 km), at least five monitoring stations are needed in residential and industrial areas," Jyoti said, lamenting on the lack of any monitoring stations in cities like Bhagalpur (covered under the smart city project). "In 2014, the Bihar Pollution Control Board released a report along with other research organisations and it was based on data from 2012 when solid fuel burning contributed to 21 percent of Patna's pollution. Back-dated data is of no value in a pollution report," Jyoti's guess is that many big and small cities in Bihar are silently choking up and because of a lack of ways to research and monitor, frightening truths are still unknown. Meanwhile, CEED released a report on Patna in 2017 which revealed that the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Patna was 138.6 g/m, which was four and 14 times more than the national standard and WHO safety limits respectively and the monthly mean concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) was recorded to be the highest in the month of November (263 g/m3), followed by December (254 g/m3 ) and January (206 g/m3) in 2017. This was around the same time the national capital's smog was making one national headline after another. Madhulika Varma, media specialist at Greenpeace India (the India wing of Greenpeace, a non-profit NGO, with a presence in 55 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific) told Firstpost that the NCAP had outsourced all responsibility to states by only focussing on 100 cities which thereby ignores polluting sectors like industry and coal thermal power plants that are regulated by the central government. For the NCAP to be effective, a regional approach that factors in the emission by industry and power units is needed, is what Greenpeace India considers imperative to a cleaner India. Greenpeace India praised the NCAP for allocation of specific budget for strengthening air quality monitoring and forecasting mechanism, a plan to augment the air quality monitoring index and the inclusion of an air quality management plan its 100 non-attainment cities. "Greenpeace India had accessed the NCAP draft (which is in the public domain today) through an RTI application. The RTI responses from the environment ministry had a mention of 35 percent and 50 percent emission targets in three and five years respectively. However, the emission targets were missing when the ministry uploaded the draft on its website for public comments on 17 April, 2018," Varma explained and shared a copy of the RTI with Firstpost: In 2017, Greenpeace India released a report titled Airpocalypse: Assessment of Pollution in Indian Cities, which had assessed the pollution levels for cities in Punjab: "PM10 concentrations in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mandi Gobindgarh, Khanna and Bhatinda were respectively 184,151, 139, 130, 122 and 111 g/m3for year 2015 and PM10 concentrations in Alwar, Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur were respectively 227, 171, 134 and 156 g/m3for year 2015," "In Rajasthan, concentrations in four cities where the data was available from pollution control board were higher than the annual average of 60 g/m3asprescribed under NAAQS and in Punjab, concentrations in all 14 cities where the data was available from pollution control board were higher than the annual average of 60 g/m3as prescribed under NAAQS. Meanwhile, in Jodhpur Rajasthan, Bansilal Bhinjana, a human rights activist is relieved that the truth of his city has come out in front of the world. Two cities from Rajasthan: Jaipur and Jodhpur feature in WHO's report. He narrated a story of how he started working in marble mines in Makrana at the age of 16 and has seen workers die because of inhalation of crystalline silica dust in stone quarries. He said that in the last week, one person from a Maghlasiya and another one from Lordi Daijagra (both in Jodhpur district) had died of silicosis. According to Bhinjana's own research, 1,456 people have died of silicosis since 2007. Rajasthan notified silicosis under the Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Act, 1957, on 22 January, 2015. Bhinjana feels the pollution control boards should keep the big and small industries in check because strict punitive action against anybody flouting an environmental law can save the lives of labourers. Finally, the WHO report also busted the myth that cities on higher altitudes are cleaner by putting Srinagar on the 10th spot. In a 2018 paper titled Winter Burst of Pristine Kashmir Valley Air, data was obtained as part of the project Modeling Atmospheric Pollution And Networking (MAPAN) undertaken by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and University of Kashmir. The findings of the report indicate that the air quality of Srinagar deteriorates significantly during winter and the PM2.5 touches a soaring 348 g/m against the Indian permissible limit of 60 g/m. Cold temperatures with dry conditions along with alarming levels of biofuel emissions from the domestic sector, the report suggests, are majorly responsible for this kind of winter period particulate pollution. Quota for Mahadalits, it is believed, will reduce the impact of the SP-BSP coalition and create a positive atmosphere for the BJP. In fact, it was this formula which contributed to the BJP's defeat in the state in 2015 Angry protests broke out across India on 2 April this year, against a Supreme Court judgment that was seen as protecting those who commit atrocities against Dalits. Crowds of protestors gathered in towns and cities of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra and other places, protesting the apex court verdict, stopping rail and road traffic and confronting police forces. On 20 March, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court diluted the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, criticising the "abuse of law" that was taking place and saying it was becoming an "instrument of blackmail". Further, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre was seen as dilly-dallying in its response to the court's order. Dalit organisations across the country expressed their anger towards the government, and the Opposition quickly took up the issue, accusing the government of being anti-Dalit. Modi's statement that his government is working for the Dalits wasn't even heard by the Dalits. The growing discontentment among Dalits, and their increased assertiveness, is posing a major problem for Modi. And it's not just from outside; there is trouble from within the party too, with BJP's Dalit MPs openly voicing their dissent against the way in which the party has handled the issue. The importance of Dalit voters The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) relied heavily on Dalit votes for its electoral victory. India's 200 million Dalits and 104 million indigenous people together form 25 percent of the country's 1.2 billion population. Then there are at least 40 percent of Indians who belong to backward castes, taking the number of disadvantaged people close to 70 percent. In 2014, BJP had won 40 of them, according to the Centre for Study of Developing Societies. The year 2014 seemed to mark a big shift in the way Dalits voted. BJP gained nearly a quarter of Dalit votes for the first time. Compared to 2009, the BJP's voteshare rose twice over. It was 10 percent better than its previous best performance, in 1998. And considering there are 84 parliamentary seats reserved for Dalits constituencies dominated by the Dalit community they played a big part in ensuring victory for the saffron party. Quoting data from National Election Studies (NES), post-poll surveys across the country conducted by Lokniti, a research program at the Delhi-based Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), suggest that Dalit voters have historically supported the Congress party. From 1996 till 2009, Congress had the support of at least a quarter of Dalit votes. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was a close second to the Congress in these elections. BJP accused of ignoring Dalits After 2014, however, BJP has been accused of constantly ignoring Dalit interests. Anti-Dalit violence, followed by a complete lack of remedial measures taken by the BJP, since 2015, have angered Dalit organisations. Incidents like the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the assault by cow vigilantes on Dalits in Una, attack on Dalits in Saharanpur in 2016, the violence during the Bhima Koregaon commemoration on 1 January this year, and finally the Supreme Court's ruling diluting the SC/ST Act. There have been tension and violence at marriage processions, over Dalit youth sporting moustaches, riding horses, etc. Statues of BR Ambedkar have been defaced. Dalit organisations see these are forced caste conservatism fostered by the BJP. And although Modi has said nobody has showed more respect to Ambedkar than his government, this is not what the Dalit organisations wanted to hear. They took these as tokenistic appeals. BJP's biggest achievement since 2014 is to form a government with a huge majority in Uttar Pradesh. A CSDS study said that the BJP had 12 percent of the Dalit vote in 2009, which doubled to 24 percent by 24 percent. This also meant Mayawati did not get a single seat. But then the political equation changed rapidly. The Samajwadi Party (SP) won Lok Sabha bypolls to Phulpur and Gorakhpur earlier this year. An informal alliance between the SP and BSP gave warning signs to the BJP. Bypolls to these constituencies were necessitated after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya vacated the Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats respectively, following their victories in the Assembly elections. In just over a year since the Assembly election victory, the BJP's well-crafted social engineering fell apart. The successful informal coalition between traditional rivals SP and BSP defeated the BJP in their traditional bastions, thereby also changing the political narrative of the state. The results were warning enough that Dalit voters may well go back to the BSP. The Nitish Kumar formula In Bihar, Nitish Kumar's social engineering formula seems to have worked, and the BJP is eyeing this as a possible solution to soothe Dalit anger against the saffron party. It is experimenting with this in Uttar Pradesh as well. Adityanath recently suggested that his government was also considering bringing in quota for the 'Mahadalits' (most backward sections) to ensure their upliftment. This, it is believed, will reduce the impact of the SP-BSP coalition and create a positive atmosphere for the government within the Mahadalit community. In fact, it was this social engineering formula started by Nitish Kumar in Bihar which contributed to the BJP's defeat in the state in 2015. Much later, Nitish himself became part of the BJP-led coalition. And now, the BJP wants to adopt Nitish's formula in Uttar Pradesh. The party claims this will bring development to the most backward castes among Dalits. But whether this 'quota within quota' formula reaps electoral benefits for the BJP remains to be seen. The party is not only promising sub-quotas for Most Backward Classes (MBC) in government jobs, educational institutions and Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh, it is also turning its special focus on "ati-Dalits" (extremely deprived) and exploring a sub-quota for them. Why in Uttar Pradesh? Most of the rebel Dalit ministers are from Uttar Pradesh. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP swept to power with absolute majority in several states. It won all of Rajasthan's 25 seats and Gujarat's 26. Uttar Pradesh, India's largest state with 80 Lok Sabha seats, is particularly crucial. In 2014, BJP won 71 of these. It also won 40 out of 66 reserved seats, a win rate of 60 percent. This is the reason BJP is working hard to woo back the Dalit voters in Uttar Pradesh. BJP president Amit Shah took on the state as a test of his abilities. And his next litmus test will come in the form of a by-election to Kairana Lok Sabha constituency. Before the 28 May by-election, the party hopes to apply recruitment to jobs on the basis of the 'Mahadalit-ati-backward Dalit' formula. This, it is believed, will create a positive image about the government within the backward and Mahadalit communities. Furthermore, by reaching out to these communities, the party could also perform better in the next Lok Sabha polls. This could also be an example of how reservation can be used for the upliftment of poor and backward communities, thereby proving it is not anti-reservation. Although the BJP has tried many other ideas of wooing Dalit voters like eating with them or staying with them these steps were seen as political stunts by the party. The BJP now realises that the Dalit vote is fragmented, with smaller (non-national) parties taken together, accounting for the largest chunk. BJP also realises that the Dalit vote is fragmented, with smaller (non-national) parties together accounting for the largest chunk. In fact, even in 2014, the BJP's gain in the Dalit voteshare came at the cost of the Congress and BSP, both of whom saw a significant decline in their support base among the Dalits. The share of smaller parties increased marginally compared to the 2009 elections. The calculations for 2019 presume the BJP won't be able to repeat those numbers, certainly not when there's no UPA-II that India wants to free itself from. The BJP will have all levels of anti-incumbency to overcome at the level of MLAs and MPs, state government, and at the Centre. In the Lok Sabha, 131 MPs are from the SC and ST population. Of them, 67 are from the BJP. With general elections a year away, the manoeuvring for the Dalit vote is intensifying. There can be no doubt that whoever captures their vote will have a distinct advantage. The BJP is micro-managing its campaign in Karnataka to target caste and community groups and outmanoeuvre the Congress. The Supreme Court's order to the Karnataka government to release Cauvery waters could not have come at a more awkward time for chief minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress. The state government cannot be seen to openly disobey an apex court directive. The JD(S), with its strong support among the farmers of the region around the Cauvery river, will strongly protest any release of water. The BJP, too, has positioned itself as a supporter of the farmers' cause, having effectively delayed any decision on forming a Cauvery water management board till after the elections. The question is whether the BJP can gain sufficient momentum in this final stretch, especially with its strong micro-management of the campaign. The micro-management is happening at different levels the broader tactical and strategic level of caste and community outreach to counter Siddaramaiahs carefully cultivated AHINDA (minorities, dalits and backward classes) support, and at the constituency and booth levels, a process party president Amit Shah is adept at. At the booth level, Shah has asked party workers to target the individual voter. In urban centres, Bengaluru in particular, voters have been categorised as hardcore BJP supporters (A+), sympathisers (A) and non-supporters (B). Your job is to win your booth, Shah reportedly told party workers. When many booths are won, we win the election. He has also asked party workers to visit the homes of around 3,500 farmers who committed suicide in the past five years. For the broader caste and community management, the party drew up a detailed tour itinerary for Amit Shah. First, the Hindu agenda seems to have been sewn up, especially in the communally sensitive coastal Karnataka. It is no coincidence that the families of the slain Hindu activists that Shah visited in mid-February belonged to the numerically strong Billava community. Many of the slain activists in the region belong to this community, which has been at the forefront of the campaign accusing the Congress of Muslim appeasement. The Congress has shot itself in the foot by withdrawing 175 cases against Muslim groups, and consolidated the Hindu vote for the BJP. The issue of granting minority religion status to Lingayats has also receded to the background for now, giving the BJPs chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat, a free run to try and consolidate this vote bank. Amit Shahs carefully planned visits to prominent temples, influential mutts and carefully chosen caste conventions and rallies, especially among the marginalised caste groups, was part of broader campaign management. Another example of careful campaign management was the decision to choose B Sriramulu, who belongs to the Valmiki (Nayaka) caste, as one of its main campaigners and giving him two seats (Bidar and Chitradurga) to contest from. The BJP has also attempted to capitalise on the unrest among the Madigas, a Dalit community which has been demanding re-allocation of reservation. It claims that dominant castes like the Holayas corner the bulk of the benefits of reservations. Amit Shah had visited the Maadara Channaiah mutt in Chitradurga and stoked the Madiga resentment against the Siddaramaiah government for not implementing a 2012 Justice AJ Sadashiva commission report which had recommended such a redistribution. The Congress was apprehensive about a backlash from its own Dalit leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, a name Narendra Modi invoked in his speeches as an example of Congress indifference towards Dalits. Shahs meeting with the mutt pontiff was to affirm BJPs support to their cause. The recent inclusion by the Centre of the Talwara and Parivara communities (similar to the Nayakas) in the Scheduled Tribes list too was aimed at garnering the tribal votes. Shahs visit to another backward classes convention at Kaginele and a fishermens convention at Malpe were part of the partys broader caste micro-management strategy. The inclusion of the two communities mentioned above in the Scheduled Tribes list also has a historical context which the BJP hopes to exploit. The Talwara and Parivaras are a reference to the Nayaka clan of Chitradurga, whose feudal lord Madakari Nayaka is believed to have been poisoned by Hyder ali (Tipu Sultans father). Tribal resentment against the Congress government rose when Siddaramaiah initiated statewide celebrations of Tipu Jayanti in 2015. Amit Shah gesture, of garlanding the statue of Madakari Nayaka in Chitradurga and promising that a memorial to the feudal king would be built, went down well with these communities. The BJP also can claim to have given the tribal groups a greater say, having given them three ministerial berths during its government, while the Congress gave just one. The author is former editor-in-charge The Week The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Election on Friday, along with the party's chief ministerial BS Yeddyurappa, Union minister Prakash Javadekar and other leaders. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Election on Friday, along with the party's chief ministerial BS Yeddyurappa, Union minister Prakash Javadekar and other leaders. Promising to waive all farmer loans under national banks in the state, BS Yeddyurappa said, "We are committed to reducing the burden of debt on our Annadaatas (farmers). We will announce a crop loan waiver up to Rs one lakh, including all loans from nationalised banks and co-operatives, in our first cabinet meeting for the benefit of our farmers." "Welfare of farmers has always been our priority. We will allocate Rs 1,50,000 crore for various irrigation projects in Karnataka and ensure water reaches to every field in the state," he added. The BJP also announced, that if voted to power, a Rs 5,000 crore 'Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund' will be created to support farmers during price fluctuations. The manifesto also includes a Raitha Bandhu Department, under the Chief Minister's Office, which will monitor implementation of all farmer-friendly schemes. The party also said it would reintroduce the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012 while setting aside a Rs 3,000-crore Kamadhenu Fund for the development of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure. The manifesto also promises to open a Rs 1,000-crore fund for expanding veterinary services. Speaking to reporters, Yeddyurappa said he was confident BJP's vote share will increase in the upcoming elections. "Our vote share will increase by three to four percent once people read our manifesto," he said. The saffron party released its election manifesto a week after Congress released theirs. Voting for the Karnataka Assembly polls will take place on 12 May and counting will be done on 15 May. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is rushing back from Karnataka Friday night, cutting short his election tour amid Opposition flak for staying away from his own state even after a storm claimed 73 lives. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is rushing back from Karnataka Friday night, cutting short his election tour amid Opposition flak for staying away from his own state even after a storm claimed 73 lives. The chief minister will arrive in worst-hit Agra on Friday and visit the affected areas Saturday morning, state's Principal Secretary Information Avanish Awasthi said. Adityanath will review the relief efforts in the district and then leave for Kanpur and other areas. Parts of western Uttar Pradesh were battered in Wednesday's storm which also struck the adjoining Rajasthan districts. Forty-three people died in Agra district alone. Altogether, 124 people were killed and over 300 others injured in five states due thunderstorms and lightning in the last two days, the Union home ministry said. Adityanath was criticised in Uttar Pradesh and in Karnataka, where he is campaigning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ahead of the Assembly elections on 12 May. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah had tweeted. "I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there." At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there. https://t.co/RwgDrhdn82 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, while condoling the deaths, said in a tweet, "chief minister should immediately return to Uttar Pradesh leaving aside campaigning in Karnataka. People have elected him to resolve the problems of their state and not for politics of Karnataka. If he doesn't rush back even under such circumstances, he should form his own mutt there (in Karnataka) for all times, Yadav tweeted last night. Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati said despite the calamity, Modi and Adityanath were busy in the Karnataka campaign "only to serve their selfish electoral interests". In a statement, she said not much should be expected from the government "which has such a narrow mindset". This is the reason why both the Centre and the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan "have remained totally lax and irresponsible" after the loss of life and property, she added. Congress spokesman Amarnath Agarwal also lashed out at the chief minister for continuing with his Karnataka tour, saying it indicated that the BJP government has "no concern for the people and their welfare at this critical juncture". Adityanath was earlier scheduled to campaign in Karnataka till Saturday noon. With opinion polls suggesting a hung Assembly in Karnataka election and predicting JD(S) to be the kingmaker, both BJP and Congress have reportedly denied a post-poll alliance with JD(S). With pollsters suggesting a hung Assembly in Karnataka election and predicting JD(S) to be the kingmaker, both BJP and Congress have reportedly denied a post-poll alliance with JD(S). In an interview with Times Now, Karnataka chief minister appeared confident of winning from both the constituencies Chamundeshwari and Badami and ruled out an alliance with the JD(S). He said that the Congress will win the election alone and won't need the support of JD(S). Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah confident of decisive mandate, says wont need JDS support after result #KarnatakaNow TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 4, 2018 Siddaramaiah had earlier also said that the Congress will sweep back to power and alleged an alliance between the BJP and the JD(S), which was later denied by both parties. "In many constituencies, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) have joined hands, but they still would not be able to defeat us as the people are with us," Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying by ANI. 'JD(S) will be a distant third' Even the BJP has ruled out an alliance with the JD(S) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked people not to "waste" their votes on JD(S) as it will come a distant third in the election. "Surveys say JD(S) will be a distant third, they can't form a government. They cannot even remove the Congress from power. So no one should waste their vote on them," he said at a rally in Bengaluru. The prime minister also hit out at JD(S) and said that the party had joined hands with extremists and communal forces. "JD(S) has done a big disservice as they have invited from other states extremist and highly communalist forces and those who support extremism into Karnataka and formed an alliance with them," he was quoted as saying by PTI. Even BJP's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa ruled out a post-poll alliance with the JD(S) "as of now". He said the party would secure a majority and form the government. "There is no question of post-poll alliance with JD(S) as of now," Yeddyurappa said. Meanwhile, the JD(S) is not too happy with the tag of the 'kingmaker'. JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy, a son of Deve Gowda, had told PTI that he would emerge as the "king" and not a "kingmaker" after the elections. With inputs from agencies Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his government's 'complete and comprehensive' commitment to women empowerment while asking workers to focus on winning the polling booth in the upcoming Assembly election in the southern state. Interacting with the office bearers and workers of the Karnataka's BJP Mahila Morcha on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his government's "complete and comprehensive" commitment to women empowerment while asking workers to focus on winning the polling booth in the upcoming Assembly election in the southern state. Speaking via the NaMo mobile app, Modi said women are leading India's growth and development. Giving examples of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the prime minister said, "In the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) meet held recently, both Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman were the only women in leadership roles at the summit. You can look at the photos." Addressing the upcoming elections in Karnataka, Modi asked the BJP women workers to focus on winning polling booths. "I have always said we have to win the elections, and we will. But, I always request the workers, to win the polling booths. If we do that, nobody can defeat us in the Assembly elections. Where is the victory? It is in the polling booth," he said. He asked women workers to go to homes and convince women in the family to come out and vote for the saffron party. Praising the women workers' efforts he said, "When a woman convinces people, she does so with simplicity and sincerity. If, in a family, a woman is convinced, the entire family gets convinced." The prime minister also chastised the Congress and said their "lies and fake promises" have to be exposed. "If the Congress does not spread lies, it'll lose its relevance. We need to expose the hollow promises made by Congress party and urge the people of Karnataka to join the journey of development," he said. The prime minister also said the BJP government sought to support women at every stage. "India is marching ahead from women development to women-led development. It has always been our effort to give equal opportunity to women. Our government stands solidly to support women at every stage whether they want to become home maker, job seeker or job creator," he said, while adding, "When the contribution of women in the country increases, the development of the country is ensured." Modi also spoke in detail about the various women-centric schemes launched by his government at the Centre and the impact they have had on the people. Speaking of the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme, he claimed the sex-ratio in gender sensitive districts improved after the initiative was introduced. "Our first priority was that there should no female infanticide anymore. For that, we started 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme, which is helping reduce social evils. This year, on 8 March, this yojana was extended to all districts in the country. Similarly, during pregnancy, we ensure the mother gets nutritious food, medicines, health checkups etc. We have organised 4 lakh free health check-ups, and free vaccination of nearly 10 lakh women and children were done in Karnataka," Modi claimed. He also spoke about the changes in law over extending maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Modi also mentioned the Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Ujjawala Yojana, Sanjeevini Yojana and the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana to highlight the Centre's efforts towards women empowerment. "Under Pradhan Matri Mudra Yojana, 12 crore loans have been allocated out of which more than 70% of the beneficiaries are women. They are not only self-employed but also employing others. About nine crore women have benefitted from the scheme," said Modi. He also claimed that the Ujjawala scheme helped curb water wastage in rural areas. "The Ujjawala Yojana has also helped in preservation of water in rural areas, as the utensils now are not covered in soot due to cooking on smoke-free LPG stoves," the prime minister claimed. Addressing women safety, which has been a key electoral issue, Modi said the government has taken measures to tighten existing laws including passing an ordinance demanding death penalty as maximum punishment for rapists of children below 12 years of age. "The government has recently made stringent amendments in laws relating to crimes against women and children, increasing the punishment up to death penalty in some cases," he said adding that the environment in which children grow up, should also project awareness about violence against women. He urged the Mahila Morcha workers to "go to other women and tell them that BJP government is with them at every step of the way, and will fulfil their dreams. Let women decide the future of Karnataka." "Whether in the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games, they (women) are rising and making the country proud. They are joining the army and becoming entrepreneurs too. They are moving forward on their own and are a source of inspiration for all of us," he said in conclusion. Modi is set to address nine more rallies across Karnataka before the state goes to polls on 12 May. 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. The BJP said the Congress government in Karnataka was being soft on terror, while Rahul accused the Centre of collusion with corrupt persons. Let's do a quick fact-check to see how far true were the allegations raised by the political leaders: With Assembly elections in Karnataka just two weeks away, the two main political parties, Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have both intensified their campaigning. While Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have been canvassing the state and holding a series of public rallies, the BJP sent in its big hitters in the form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. On Thursday, there were several hard-hitting speeches. The BJP said the Congress government in the state was being soft on terror, while Rahul accused the Centre of collusion with corrupt persons. Let's do a quick fact-check to see how far true were the allegations raised by the political leaders: Rahul Gandhi: Rahul described the election in Karnataka as a "battle of two ideologies". "On one side there is Congress which believes in empowerment, while on the other side are RSS-BJP, and Narendra Modi and BS Yeddyurappa, who want to spread RSS' ideology across India. They only want that the ideology from RSS' Nagpur office should prevail in India," he said. The RSS is the BJP's ideological fountainhead, and there can be little doubt that a victory for the saffron party will be akin to a victory for the ideology as well. Rahul also assailed the Central government of being hand-in-glove with corruption, because it nominated the scam-tainted Reddy brothers. "You brought Gabbar Singh Tax 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 the Assembly, and you tell the country that you are fighting against corruption," he said. Mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy was a minister in the BS Yeddyurappa government, who is leading the BJP campaign in Karnataka. He was removed after massive corruption charges involving illegal mining in 2011. But, as reported by Deccan Chronicle last month, Reddy was granted a ticket, with the BJP saying it "made a compromise" because it wanted to win Bellary. The Congress president also sought to highlight the Karnataka government's contribution towards education for the girl child and alleged that Modi will turn Karnataka into Gujarat. "While Karnataka worked to offer free education to the girl child, in Modi's Gujarat, people have to struggle to afford education for their children because of blatant privatisation (of schools). Here you can do it for free. That's the difference between his governance and ours," Rahul said. The Karnataka government did announce free education for all girl students in all government-run institutions in the state up to post-graduation levels. As reported by NDTV, the scheme is expected to benefit 3.7 lakh students, but will only kick in from the 2018-19 academic year onwards. Two years ago, in 2017, the state government had announced free education for girls from Class 1 till graduation in government schools, and government aided-private schools from 2018-19. In stark contrast is the situation in Gujarat, Modi's home state. As of July 2016, as reported by The Times of India, Gujarat ranked 20th out of 21 states as far as registration of girls in schools is concerned, only slightly better than Rajasthan, and 10 percent worse than the national average. Narendra Modi: Modi castigated Rahul Gandhi for insulting HD Deve Gowda at an election rally earlier this week. He had said that the former prime minister was "one of the tallest leaders of the country", and that Rahul was insulting him by insinuating the JD(S) was a 'B-Team' of the BJP. However, in a couple of days, he seemed to have forgotten about this. On Thursday, Modi said people shouldn't "waste" their votes by backing Gowda's party as it was going to finish "a poor, distant third" in the elections. "Will any intelligent person waste his vote on a party that cannot win the election, cannot dislodge the Congress from power?" he asked. "The only service it has done to the state is to join hands with extremist, communal elements, risking the future of Karnataka," he said, an apparent reference to Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM extending support to the JD(S). Clearly, he forgot about not insulting "one of the tallest leaders of the country". Modi then attacked Siddaramaiah's party for changing the face of Bengaluru, which used to be the "country's Silicon Valley" but is now known for more its garbage, potholes and a crime-ridden city. On this front, Modi does have a point. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data has proven that there was a 28 percent increase in crimes in Bangalore, and the city now ranks next only to New Delhi for violent crimes. However, when it comes to overall crimes committed, Bengaluru, the country's third most populous city, ranks seventh overall. Modi then said, "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." "The army won the battle against Pakistan in 1948 under the leadership of General Thimayya, but the man who saved Kashmir had to resign because of insult and to protect his self-respect. They (Congress governments) neglected and insulted Field Marshal (KM) Cariappa," Modi said. However, as pointed out by psephologist-turned-Swaraj Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav, Modi got a few details wrong yet again. No sir, Krishna Menon was Defence Minister from April 1957 to October 1962. General Thimmayya was Army Chief from May 1957 to May 1961 Sir can't the PMO afford a fact-checker? It's so embarrassing! https://t.co/Kx8DmzID0I Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 3, 2018 Siddaramaiah then retweeted this, and added that Karnataka holds Cariappa in high esteem. Door-to-door campaigning has been replaced by the phone-to-phone campaign in Karnataka, with every ping on WhatsApp, Twitter denoting a knock on the door. If there were to be a Twitter handle of the Karnataka match award, Siddaramaiah would be one of the frontrunners. Employing wit, sarcasm and data in equal measure, the chief minister's Twitter handle has led the Congress fight from the front, taking on Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath and BS Yeddyurappa single-handedly. This week, after delivering a smart repartee to Modi, supporting Congress handles decided to indulge the chief minister with the hashtag #SiddaramaiahRocks. But while Siddaramaiah's success story with 280 characters has enormous appeal among the chatterati, in rural Karnataka, Twitter has little traction and there is little awareness of the chief minister's exploits on the microblogging site. In Varuna, where Siddaramaiah's son Dr Yathindra is contesting, I met Gurupada Swamy, secretary in Karnataka Congress and in charge of the constituency. I asked him how his team was using WhatsApp in this high-profile election. "We Congressmen, generally speaking, are not tech-savvy. BJP cadres understand the medium of WhatsApp much better. We use Whatsapp mainly to disseminate information about the campaign as we feel meeting people in person is more effective than WhatsApp group discussions,'' Swamy said. The BJP approach is not so naive. While the party's public meetings provide the optics, the BJP's real campaign is in the virtual world. While the Congress has given the BJP a run for its money on Twitter, with its sharp rebuttals, the BJP has a clear advantage over WhatsApp. BJP social media experts credit the party's WhatsApp prowess to its cadre-based network and the result of its hard work over the past one year. The BJP started with a target of 5,000 groups in Karnataka but as D-day approaches, there are an estimated 20,000 active WhatsApp groups, each with about 100 members. These include both voters and cadre, who further disseminate the content to contacts on their personal smartphones. The Congress social media machinery, though, denies that it is lagging behind. "We have created 16,000 groups, each with 50 to 200 members. There is a social media in charge for every Assembly constituency though we would have liked to go down to the block level,'' says Madhu Yashki Goud, AICC secretary in charge of overlooking the media outreach in Karnataka. Campaigning over WhatsApp happens 24x7. It does not matter if the voter is not consuming the media for election-related news or attending public meetings of leaders. He is wooed in the privacy of his smartphone. The advantage of WhatsApp for political parties also is that unlike Facebook and Twitter, this is an unregulated territory. There are no fact checkers in place so parties are free to plug half-truths and even biases into the narrative. And when the smartphone user gets the same message forwarded by multiple contacts, there is a natural tendency to believe it. Bengaluru-based Brand specialist Harish Bijoor says almost all content on WhatsApp is consumed by the individual, unlike Twitter, where the likelihood of missing out on tweets is more. "WhatsApp is not a permission-related medium. Besides, the video ability of WhatsApp is tremendous. And for the political parties, the multiplier effect matters. The flip side is that usually on Twitter, you know the identity of the author of the content while on Whatsapp, you do not," says Bijoor. How does the BJP make its WhatsApp network work? The content is created by the in-house team in the war room in Bengaluru and then sent to approval section. Once it is approved, it is sent to the distribution section which disseminates the messages on the WhatsApp platforms. "Depending on the content, we decide what is to be released on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp. It depends on the issue and the intensity we are seeking on the ground," says Balaji Srinivas, who heads the BJP social media cell in Karnataka. Samajwadi Party leader Ghanshyam Tiwari however, warns that there will be diminishing returns if WhatsApp is turned into a platform for hate messages. "One can only hope citizens are sensible and do not fall for campaigns on false news," says Tiwari. "Hate created on falsehoods can do immense harm." How do the political parties measure the reach of WhatsApp? Srinivas said it is more intuitive. "More often than not, the same message comes back to me either through one of my family groups or the media picks it up as some of them are also on some of the groups. That shows that the message has travelled," he added. With hardly any campaign posters on the ground, Karnataka does not look like a state going into a big-ticket election. The door-to-door campaign template has been replaced by the phone-to-phone campaign, with every ping denoting a knock on the door. The relation between dissident Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas and party chief Arvind Kejriwal is fraught with differences and disagreements. The relationship between dissident Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas and party chief Arvind Kejriwal is fraught with differences and disagreements. The latest example of this now-complicated relationship was when Vishwas on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that his statements against Union minister Arun Jaitley were based on information received as a party worker from Kejriwal. Vishwas told Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw that before making any statement or apology to Jaitley, he wanted to know if Kejriwal lied when he said his allegations against the Union minister were based on documents. After the Delhi chief minister had apologised to Jaitley to "settle" their more than two years old litigation over alleged defamatory statements made against the BJP leader, a close aide of Vishwas said that he will not toe the line. "He (Vishwas) will not apologise and pursue the cases that have been filed against him," his aide Prabudh Kumar told PTI. AAP has also sidelined Vishwas from its foray into Rajasthan politics. The political affairs committee (PAC) of AAP removed Kumar Vishwas as the party in-charge for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, and appointed its national treasurer Deepak Bajpai as his replacement. AAP national spokesperson Ashutosh had said that Vishwas was "not able to devote time for election preparations due to his preoccupations." Rajya Sabha nomination The relationship, however, hit nadir when Vishwas was not nominated by the party to the Rajya Sabha. Soon after the AAP announced its nominations for the Rajya Sabha, Vishwas hit out at Kejriwal and said that he has been punished for speaking the truth. Vishwas, who was angling for a Rajya Sabha slot, said that it was difficult to survive in the party if one disagreed with Kejriwal. "In the last one-and-a-half years, I spoke the truth, whether it was on Kejriwal's decisions or issues like surgical strikes, irregularities in ticket distribution, softness towards extremists in Punjab, JNU incident, among others, and I have been rewarded in the form of punishment," Vishwas said. "I think that it is a moral victory for a true revolutionary, poet and friend." The AAP leader also alleged that around one-and-a-half years ago Kejriwal had, in a partys national executive meeting, said with a smile, "We will finish you, but we will not let you be a martyr." "I want to congratulate (Kejriwal) that I have accepted my martyrdom," Vishwas said, according to PTI. Vishwas attacks AAP leadership over performance in Punjab polls Vishwas held the AAP leadership responsible for the defeat in the municipal election in Delhi and the Assembly polls in Punjab and Goa. In an interview to India Today, Vishwas said that instead of blaming the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the party should introspect. He alleged that the party seniors take decisions behind closed doors and even the appointment of labour minister Gopal Rai as the Delhi convener was taken without any discussion with other party members. According to a PTI report, what riled the top brass was the scathing criticism by Vishwas of the AAP leadership over the party's poor performance in Punjab. However, reports of a rift first emerged in June, 2017 when Vishwas skipped an iftaar party organised by the Delhi government. He also stayed away from campaigning in Punjab in 2017, and Rajasthan in January. A controversial video further strained the relationship between Kejriwal and Vishwas, who were once close. "If, in Delhi, you form a government on the anti-corruption plank with the promise of freedom from corruption and fall silent and try to protect your own people when they come under the scanner, you will be questioned by people," Vishwas said in the video. A party leader told PTI that the video damaged AAP's image ahead of the MCD polls. Kejriwal camp's grievances against Vishwas The Kejriwal camp had its share of grievances against Vishwas, whom they disparagingly referred to as a "part-time politician" because of his professional commitments as a poet. An AAP member close to Kejriwal also referred to fears that a "coup" was being planned at the behest of sacked AAP minister Kapil Mishra. "After the MCD poll defeat, some leaders and MLAs said Vishwas should lead the party. But, he did not trash the idea. This added to the mistrust that followed the video episode," he said. The Kejriwal camp stressed that the possibility of a patch-up was bleak, but it was unlikely that the party would crack the whip as Vishwas is popular with the rank and file and has proven oratorical skills, according to PTI. With inputs from agencies While Narendra Modi had spoken warmly of HD Deve Gowda only days earlier in Karnataka, he heaped criticism on his party the JD(S) in his recent rallies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the middle of his high-voltage campaign for the BJP in Karnataka, directed his ammunition mostly on the Congress on 2 and 3 May, which was on expected lines. However, there was a marked difference in Modi's tone as compared to his statements on 1 May with respect to the JD(S). Days after castigating Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "insulting" former prime minister HD Deve Gowda by calling the JD(S) the "B team" of the BJP, Modi on Thursday asked people not to "waste" their votes by backing Gowda's party as it was going to finish "a poor, distant third" in the elections. JD(S) faces barbs from Modi On 1 May, Modi had said, "I heard the Congress president speak at political rallies 15-20 days ago....the way he referred to respected Deve Gowdaji....is this your culture (sanskar)? This is arrogance...Your life (as Congress chief) has just begun. Deve Gowda is among the tallest leaders of the country. You are insulting him." Two days later, the prime minister was less charitable in his statements about the JD(S). He accused the party of doing a "disservice" by forming an alliance with forces of extremism and communalism. He said it 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." While Modi's more recent remarks were in Bengaluru, his earlier remarks were in Udupi. Modi's earlier statement about Deve Gowda had led to a flurry of political reactions. Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma alleged there was an "opportunistic understanding and unholy nexus" with the JD(S) that the prime minister and BJP chief Amit Shah had sought and created. Deve Gowda, on his part, had responded to the prime minister's praise with warmth, saying, "Before the 2014 elections, I had said I would resign from Lok Sabha if BJP gets a majority on its own. I decided to resign, but Modi persuaded me against doing so. He said the country needs the experience and services of senior leaders." Urban infrastructure Narendra Modi in Bengaluru accused the Siddaramaiah government of having turned the city into a "garbage city and valley of sin" from "Silicon Valley. He said that a talented pool of youngsters in Karnataka made this city the computer capital, but in the last five years, the Congress government turned Bengaluru into a "crime capital." The youth with entrepreneurial tendency made Bengaluru a startup, but Congress turned it into a "pothole club," Modi said. The state was given Rs 836 crore by the central government under the 'Smart City' project to develop Bengaluru, but the state could spend only Rs 12 crore on the city, he lamented. The cosmopolitan city of Bengaluru was being destroyed by the Congress through its "corruption and culture of chaos", the prime minister alleged. Of the 224 Assembly segments, the capital city alone has 28 seats. In the 2013 elections, the Congress won 13, BJP 12 and JD-S 3. 'Karnataka government gold medalist in corruption' The Karnataka government is a "gold medalist" in corruption and Congress leaders are "drunk on power", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Bengaluru. He also flayed the Congress for "insulting" national heroes and the Army. 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?" 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. Farmers' distress While the BJP has been at the receiving end of anger among the farmer community in several states, it has been on the offensive on the issue in Karnataka. Narendra Modi, during his campaign has repeatedly made references to agrarian distress in the southern state. On 2 May, he came down hard on the Siddaramaiah government in poll-bound Karnataka for being "indifferent" to farm distress and not implementing the crop insurance scheme effectively and stressed that welfare of farmers was his government's top priority. Assailing the Siddaramaiah government for its alleged failure in tackling drought, Modi said instead of mitigating the suffering of farmers, it gave parched lakes to builders for construction activity. "Helping and serving farmers is an opportunity that comes with good fortune, but the Karnataka government's game is only to do politics in the name of farmers, instigate them, and spread false information," he said. Calling BJP's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa a "farmer leader", Modi said his vast experience and commitment to the farming community will strengthen the Centre's mission to give a fresh impetus to agriculture. "The people of Karnataka are well aware of Yeddyurappa's commitment to farmers. The BJP government that will come to power and the BJP government in Delhi that is committed to the cause of farmers will work together to bring a change," he said. With inputs from agencies Bhujbal's lawyers relied on the apex court's November 2017 judgement which struck down section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Mumbai: As former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal was on Friday granted bail by the Bombay High Court, his party, the NCP, blamed the Enforcement Directorate and the government for his long incarceration. Bhujbal has been in jail since his arrest by the ED in a money laundering case in March 2016. After the trial court rejected his bail application in December, the high court gave him relief on Friday. The NCP welcomes the high court's decision, said party spokesperson Nawab Malik in Mumbai. "Justice has now begun to be delivered. We are sure that soon all charges against him will be proven false and he will come out clean," Malik said. "The policy of long detention (before trial) has already been scrapped. Four months ago the Supreme Court repealed the law, yet no bail was given....When we went to the supreme court, it asked us to approach the high court for relief, which finally gave Bhujbal bail," Malik said. Bhujbal's lawyers relied on the apex court's November 2017 judgement which struck down section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The section restricted grant of bail for those arrested under the PMLA. The NCP spokesperson alleged that the ED kept opposing Bhujbal's bail plea, despite having no legal grounds, at the BJP-led state government's behest. "The government lawyer puts forth arguments on behalf of the state government. This means the party which is in power was misusing the state machinery to keep him in jail," Malik alleged. To a question, he said NCP leaders were always in touch with Bhujbal and the party made all efforts to secure bail for him. Bhujbal, who handled the Public Works Department (PWD) in the Congress-NCP government, was arrested in March 2016 after an ED inquiry revealed that he allegedly misused his office in awarding contracts for PWD projects, causing a loss to the exchequer. According to the ED, Bhujbal awarded contracts including the one for the construction of a new Maharashtra Sadan the state guest house in New Delhi to a private firm in return for kickbacks for himself and his family. He and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal channelled the ill-gotten money into shell companies, the agency alleged. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Kalaburagi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi trained his guns on the prime minister over corruption, employment and farm loan waivers on Friday. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Kalaburagi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi trained his guns on the prime minister over corruption, employment and farm loan waivers on Friday. Speaking to supporters, Gandhi said Modi refused to relieve farmers of their debt, but that Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah did so within 10 days of his request. "India's farmers toil in the sun. But he (Modi) can't waive their loans. I went and asked him to waive their loans. But he never answered my question. Then, I went to Siddaramaiah and asked him about it. Within 10 days, he waived Rs 8000 crore worth loans," he said. Challenging the Modi government, Gandhi said, "In four years, Modi didn't waive loans of India's farmers. And he will not too. But in 2019, when the Congress forms government, we will waive all farm loans within 10 days. If debts of wealthy people can be waived, the farmers loans will be waived too," he said. He also slammed the prime minister over Nirav Modi fleeing India, Union minister Piyush Goyal not disclosing his company and Amit Shah's son Jay Shah allegedly turning Rs 50,000 into Rs 80 crore. "While businesses in India are having a difficult time, the firm owned by the son of BJP president turned Rs 50,000 into Rs 80 crore." "Our fight is to give you the money you deserve. BJP snatches your money and gives it to people like Nirav Modi, Reddy brothers and others. We won't let them loot you. We won't let thieves enter Vidhan Sabha," Gandhi said. Gandhi criticised the BJP over Dalit atrocities across the country and said BJP and RSS are crushing the minority group. "The BJP-RSS is assaulting Dalits across the nation while Prime Minister Modi remains silent." He further alleged that the saffron party wants Karnataka to be run by the RSS. "BJP-RSS workers want to crush your language, history, culture and food," Gandhi said. Gandhi also claimed that the Congress government provided the most employment in the country. "Even Modiji admitted it," he said. The Congress chief also extolled the Indira canteen initiative. "You'll never find a person who is hungry here. Go to Gujarat, there is a line of starving people. Here, we give seven kilos of rice for free per family. In cities, there are Indira canteens. The poorest of the poor can have a full meal." Speaking on education in the state, Gandhi said the state government provided free education to girls up to the post graduate level. He also taunted Modi's "Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao" programme and said, "His slogan has changed to 'beti bachao BJP ke MLAs se' (Save daughters from BJP's MLAs)," referring to the Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is accused of raping a minor in Unnao. In a sharp retort to Modi's barbs, Gandhi said Siddaramaiah was unlike him. "Siddaramaiah takes everyone forward with him and never makes any personal attacks. Modi comes here and he can't talk about employment, education, technology, corruption, so he resorts to personal attacks on me and Mallikarjun Kharge," he said. "He'll say things like Rahul Gandhi doesn't know how to give a lecture. But I respect the prime minister's post, and you will never hear an attack from me about the prime minister. But I will continue to ask him questions. I won't back off; I'm not scared of Modi," declared the Congress chief. Promising the Congress government will continue helping the weaker sections of society, he said, "Our government will help the weak. We will get them farm loan waivers whenever they need, install food processing plants and get the right price for their products." The Congress president began the eighth leg of his campaign on Thursday for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls. Resuming his "Jana Aashirwada Yatre", the Congress chief covered Bidar on Thursday and will visit Shiggaon and Gajendragad on Friday. Reuters 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. Earlier Germanys antitrust regulator last month opened an inquiry into online advertising, responding to concerns expressed by advertisers and publishers about the significant market position of US platforms Google and Facebook. In December, the Federal Cartel Office also accused Facebook of abusing its dominant position to collect the personal data of its 2 billion users worldwide. Facebook is also grappling with a new law under which the company and other social media sites can be fined up to 50 million euros if they fail to promptly remove hateful messages. Chancellor Angela Merkels conservatives and the Social Democrats called on 20 March for an extraordinary session of the German parliaments digital committee to debate the latest reports, conservative lawmaker Thomas Jarzombek said. tech2 News Staff While benchmarks are the last thing we look at when we review a smartphone, they're necessary to understand the true capabilities of a smartphone, especially under load. Some companies, however, only see benchmarks as headlines and will do anything to grab said headlines. The most notable in this regard, is, of course, OnePlus, which got caught deliberately targeting benchmarking apps and boosting performance in only those apps. Parent company Oppo, it seems, has decided to take a page out of OnePlus' handbook and also take a stab themselves at cheating on benchmarks, probably not for the first time. This is despite the fact that OnePlus got its proverbial head handed to it on a platter by fans and the media alike. To make matters worse, Oppo's "cheating" wasn't even intelligently done, and their excuse for doing so only makes things worse. Vietnamese blog Genk.vn (in Vietnamese) first reported the cheat and went on to explain how they caught Oppo cheating. We decided to run our own tests and can confirm that Oppo is indeed cheating on benchmarks. First, a little background. Benchmarking apps like AnTuTu perform a series of intensive tasks to put a smartphone through its paces. This includes things like image and video editing, web browsing, video streaming, 3D rendering (games), and so on. The phone is then rated against a baseline device. The higher the rating, the faster the phone. A smartphone chipset normally contains several components, the most important of which is the CPU. The CPU consists of several discrete modules called 'cores' whose speed is measured in Hz. All things being equal, the faster the CPU, the better the performance. It's important to note here that CPUs get hot when they run fast, so CPUs generally scale their speed depending on temperature. Also, if a CPU is running fast, it is also sucking up a lot of power, draining your battery. Even a really good smartphone cannot sustain a high speed for longer than two-three minutes. Flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S9 use fancy, expensive techniques to keep these chips cool, and thus maintain a higher level of performance for longer. Various techniques are used to find an optimum balance between power consumption, temperature and performance. A high benchmark score is thus an indicator of a good smartphone design and a good chipset. Now comes the Oppo F7. The F7, like every other smartphone, cannot normally sustain a very high clock speed for long because of the aforementioned thermal and power issues. Given that the Oppo F7 runs a decidedly mid-range CPU (on the MediaTek Helio P60 platform), we didn't expect it to do exceptionally well. We were, in fact, quite surprised when the F7 beat out several handsets that we expected to be significantly more powerful, this includes the newer, more expensive Nokia 7 Plus running Qualcomm's most powerful high-end chip. At the time, we shrugged it off thinking that Oppo did something good with the phone. As it turns out, they simply cheated. The Oppo F7's CPU is an octa-core unit that features ARM Cortex A53 cores clocked at up to 2 GHz. Normally, the cores should be running at around 800-1,200 MHz in light apps, intermittently hitting peaks of 2 GHz when absolutely essential, and that too on only a few cores at at time. Again, and this is important, the CPU clock speed should be governed by the load on the system. For all cores to be running at full speed for any length of time, the phone would have to be under a considerable amount of stress, more stress than even a heavy game can put a phone under. In the case of the Oppo F7, however, it was discovered, and we can confirm, that the CPU ran continuously at maximum speed on all cores only when certain benchmarking apps were running. Our starting point is a freshly wiped Oppo F7 running ColorOS 5.0 (Android 8.1.0) updated to the 5 February Android security patch. We ran the initial phone setup and installed a CPU monitoring utility (CPU Monitor). After updates were installed, we let the phone idle for several minutes and measured baseline performance. As you can see, at idle, all cores are operating at around 800 MHz. We then installed and ran AnTuTu. The results were spectacular and we saw a score of over 138,000. The CPU monitoring app noted that the CPU was operating at maximum performance (2 GHz on all cores) throughout the time the app was active. Next, we created a fake app that was named "AnTuTu Benchmark". This app does nothing but display "Hello World" on the screen. It literally does nothing else. No fancy effects, no background tasks, nothing. You can't even interact with the app. We then uninstalled AnTuTu and installed the fake AnTuTu app. We let the fake app run for a few minutes and let the CPU monitor do its thing. Wonder of wonders, the CPU was running at maximum performance (2 GHz on all cores) the whole time that the fake app was running! Just to be sure, we created yet another app with identical code to the fake AnTuTu app, except this time, it wasn't called AnTuTu. We ran this second app and noted CPU performance. Surprise surprise, the CPU was running as it normally should. Translation: Oppo's software is checking the names of apps against a list of benchmarking apps and then artificially boosting CPU performance to boost the final scores. In other words, Oppo has been caught red-handed cheating on benchmarks. For comparison, here's what a few minutes of browsing on Google Chrome looks like. As you'll note, not all the CPU cores are under load and the CPU only briefly hits that magical 2 GHz mark. Vietnamese blogger Binh Minh reported exactly these results when he ran his tests, confirming that Oppo was indeed cheating. Soon after publishing his findings, Oppo seems to have sent Minh an official response. The response is in Vietnamese, and, translated, says that Oppo's "neural engine" "intelligently" determines apps that require more performance and then boosts performance for said apps. Even if we were to accept Oppo's statement at face value, it's so-called neural engine is quite clearly unsuited for its tasks. Besides targeting apps only by name, this "AI" is not intelligent enough to determine when the phone is under load and when it isn't, making it worse than useless. Cheating on benchmarks isn't new, Samsung and OnePlus have been caught doing it in the past. It's just that this is one of the sloppiest cheats we've seen in a long time, and a completely unnecessary one at that. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story did not furnish several key details. We have since thoroughly tested Minh's claims and have updated the story to reflect our findings and provide a more complete picture. tech2 News Staff Stop right here if you are a Trekkie fan! Welcome others to the land of Jar Jar Binks, Jabba the Hutt, Han Solo, R2D2, Princess Leia and C-3PO. For the past seven years, the fourth day of May is recognized as the Star Wars Day. In 2018 sci-fi fans around the world picked this day themselves and celebrated their love for the George Lucas franchise. Ever since, this day has become a sort of a world fandom day for Star Wars. There is no historical reason for 04 May to be chosen as the Star Wars Day, except for the pun on the catchphrase "May the Force be with you" as "May the Fourth be with you". In the movies, the phrase is used to wish an individual(mostly Jedi to Jedi) good luck, signifying that they would have favour with The Force. On a much simplified philosophical level, Star Wars is essentially a constant dilemma between the Dark Side and The Force, the good and the bad. Some fans also take this reference back to 1979, just two years after the release of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The British Conservative Party, which was celebrating the election of Margaret Thatcher as their Prime Minister put out a full-page ad in the London Evening News, which apparently read May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations. In 2008, the first Facebook group appeared, which celebrated Luke Skywalker Day, with the same catchphrase. Though the initial group did not receive much acclaim, the phenomenon eventually spread to college campuses a few years later, and Star Wars Day was born. In 2011, the first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Toronto, Canada. The celebration included festivities like an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show, a costume contest with celebrity judges, the web's best tribute films, mash-ups, parodies, and remixes. It was only eventually that the day was embraced by Lucasfilm as an annual celebration of Star Wars. Sadly, this year marks the first since the death of actress Carrie Fisher, who played the iconic role of Princess Leia in the films. This year, Star Wars Day celebrations are at its peak worldwide. While a doughnut shop in Arizona is designing their doughnuts after a galaxy far, far away, a fandom website is selling official Luke Skywalker boots for $305. Meanwhile, there is a group called the 501st Legion, which is making all the noise on this day. It is an international group of Star Wars enthusiasts who dress in full costume and raise money for charity. The Heathrow airport too has a very special way of celebrating the day, and kudos to them for that. And then of course there is the millennial way of celebrating anything social media. The Friday before a bank holiday, good weather & start wars day!! Its the simple things #HappyStarWarsDay #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/iXdTnZYsUF Tower Hill Tube (@towerhilltube) May 4, 2018 An arm and a leg = a lot of money; an excessively high cost Darth Vaders suit cost him *an arm and a leg*.#idiom #punny #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/0p8MB8gPFp The YUNiversity (@The_YUNiversity) May 4, 2018 This Star Wars Day is kind of special because it's arriving just before the next film to hit the big screen, the young Han Solo tale Solo: A Star Wars Story. The movie is scheduled to hit the theaters by 25 May. Happy Star Wars Day, may it be! Former President Barack Obama waded into California's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Friday, throwing his support to incumbent Dianne Feinstein. It's his only primary endorsement in congressional races so far in 2018. Sacramento: Former President Barack Obama waded into California's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Friday, throwing his support to incumbent Dianne Feinstein. It's his only primary endorsement in congressional races so far in 2018, his spokeswoman Katie Hill said. He urged Californians to return "one of America's most effective champions for progress to the Senate," in a statement released by Feinstein's campaign. Feinstein is seeking her fifth full term in Washington and her most credible challenger is state Sen. Kevin de Leon, who argues she hasn't done enough to stand up to President Donald Trump. On Friday, he seized on fresh comments she made to the Sacramento Bee about Trump's upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The state's June 5 primary will send the two highest vote getters to the general election, regardless of party. No prominent Republicans are running. A spokesman for De Leon, Jonathan Underland, said the campaign has a "great deal of respect" for Obama and said the endorsement is likely a reflection of the pair's time working together in Washington. "Luckily the deciding votes in this race are in the hands of the people of California, not Washington DC," he said. Obama and Feinstein have worked together for a dozen years, first during his brief time in the U.S. Senate then during his presidency. Feinstein supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential primary, and after Obama secured the nomination Feinstein provided her Washington, D.C., home for a brief meeting between the two. Feinstein later served as the chair of Obama's first inaugural ceremony. Obama, in his statement, cited their work together on affordable health care, climate change and gun control. He backed Feinstein in her last race, in 2012, but she was not facing a credible Democratic party challenger. On North Korea, Feinstein told The Sacramento Bee a meeting between Trump and Kim would offer him a chance to "really show that he can be consistent, stable, a good negotiator." She said she believes Trump is smart enough to know he must use caution in dealing with Kim, whom she called "craven." But she acknowledged such a meeting "could go badly." De Leon slammed her response, telling the Bee "Trump has proven consistently that he's inconsistent, unstable and one of the worst negotiators we have ever seen. With chat shows claiming 'Marx was Right' and cartoons of his wild youth, China has gone to great lengths to show that the theories of German philosopher Karl Marx are still relevant today, ahead of the 200th anniversary of his birth on Saturday Beijing: With chat shows claiming "Marx was Right" and cartoons of his wild youth, China has gone to great lengths to show that the theories of German philosopher Karl Marx are still relevant today, ahead of the 200th anniversary of his birth on Saturday. Since coming to power in 2012, President Xi Jinping, widely seen as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, has said the party must not forget its socialist roots as it works to bring about the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation". Today, China, the largest self-identified socialist country, outwardly displays all the trappings of a modern capitalist society, from rampant consumption to a massive gap between the urban elite and rural poor. The apparent contradiction between party rhetoric and appearance has led many observers to suggest that the party is no longer really motivated by Marxism and instead places practical and economic concerns above all else. But Xi has embraced the partys founding ideology and has re-introduced study sessions that hark back to the Mao era, as he stresses the need for China to be confident of its revolutionary history and political system. In a Wednesday visit to the prestigious Peking University, Xi said the institution should be proud of its role in spreading Marxism, which led to the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921. "We must grasp Marxist theory and education, deepen students' understanding of the theoretical and practical meaning of Marxism, as well as its historic necessity and scientific accuracy," Xi said, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Much of the propaganda around the anniversary has cast Marx as being appealing to the young. A chat show called Marx was Right from the state broadcaster released this week introduced his theories to students who then told the host why Marx mattered to them. After an essay from the 17-year-old Marx was read to the audience, the host asked if the audience were as moved by his words as she was. I think Marx truly is really amazing, Xing Kaichen, a student at the Communication University of China, replied. I think all people should learn from him. The official publication of Chinas top anti-graft watchdog invited readers to learn about Marxs human side in a series of cartoons about his marriage and his youth including when he was detained for being disorderly while drunk. Aside from popularising Marx, the propaganda has also attempted to show how his ideas are still relevant today. "The world is at a crossroads," the official Peoples Daily said in a front-page commentary on Wednesday, with Brexit, constant terrorist attacks and fighting in Syria demonstrating the "political deficiencies" of the West. Chinas governance, in contrast, "elegantly proves that Marxism has not stopped being true but has rather led to the true path", it added. 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. Washington: 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." 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 also said non-disclosure agreements were "very common among celebrities and people of wealth." ...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 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," she said. 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 funnelled 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." 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. US President Donald Trump on Friday linked the sanctity of the Second Amendment to his party's prospects in the 2018 midterm elections, telling supporters at the National Rifle Association's annual convention that 'we've got to get Republicans elected.' Dallas: US President Donald Trump on Friday linked the sanctity of the Second Amendment to his party's prospects in the 2018 midterm elections, telling supporters at the National Rifle Association's annual convention that "we've got to get Republicans elected." Trump struck a tough tone months after he briefly strayed from the NRA's message in the days after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. He vowed that the Second Amendment will "never ever be under siege as long as I am your president." Trump's speech in Dallas was his fourth consecutive appearance at the NRA's annual convention. His gun comments were folded into a campaign-style speech, which touched on the Russia probe, the 2016 campaign, illegal immigration and his efforts in North Korea and Iran. Trump said Democrats want to "outlaw guns" and said if the nation takes that step, it might as well ban all vans and trucks because they are the new weapons for "maniac terrorists." The speech came as the issue of gun violence has taken on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Student survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead, are now leading a massive national gun control movement. They too are looking to the midterm elections for action. Though Trump embraced the Second Amendment right to bear arms before Friday's speech, he had temporarily strayed from the strong anti-gun control message in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. While the shooting has not led to major changes from the White House or the Republican-led Congress, it did at least briefly prompt Trump to declare that he would stand up to the powerful gun lobby. He later backpedaled on that tough talk. Trump referenced the Parkland shooting in his speech, saying he "mourned for the victims and their families" and saying he has taken steps on school safety. He noted that he signed a recent spending bill that included modest provisions to strengthen the federal background check system for gun purchases and money to improve school safety. He also repeated his support for "letting highly trained teachers carry concealed weapons." Asked earlier this week why Trump was attending the convention, given the current political tensions around gun violence, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said safety was a "big priority." But, she added, "We also support the Second Amendment, and strongly support it, and don't see there to be a problem with speaking at the National Rifle Association's meeting." Trump said some people had advised him that attending might be controversial, but added: "You know what I said? 'Bye-bye, gotta get on the plane.'" Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent about $30 million in support of his presidential campaign. The NRA showcased its high-profile guests for the event, with NRA Executive Director Chris Cox saying on Twitter: "We are honored to celebrate American Freedom with @realDonaldTrump, @VP Mike Pence and others. #2A #watchtheleftmeltdown" But one of the Parkland student survivors, David Hogg, was critical of Trump's planned attendance. "It's kind of hypocritical of him to go there after saying so many politicians bow to the NRA and are owned by them," Hogg said. "It proves that his heart and his wallet are in the same place." During a televised gun meeting with lawmakers in late February, Trump wagged his finger at a Republican senator and scolded him for being "afraid of the NRA," declaring that he would stand up to the group and finally get results in quelling gun violence. He praised members of the gun lobby as "great patriots" but declared "that doesn't mean we have to agree on everything. It doesn't make sense that I have to wait until I'm 21 to get a handgun, but I can get this weapon at 18." He was referring to the AR-15 the Parkland shooting suspect is accused of using. Those words rattled some Republicans in Congress and sparked hope among gun-control advocates that, unlike after previous mass shootings, tougher regulations would be enacted this time. But Trump later retreated on those words, expressing support for modest changes to the background check system, as well as arming teachers. After expressing interest in increasing the minimum age to purchase a so-called assault weapon to 21, Trump later declared there was "not much political support" for the move. He then pushed off the issue of age restrictions by assigning the question to a commission. Trump's moves have drawn concerns from both sides of the gun debate. "He ran as supposedly the best friend of the Second Amendment and has become gun grabber in chief," said Michael Hammond, legislative counsel to the Gun Owners of America. Hammond said his members were upset Trump had approved a spending bill that included background check updates. "We're not confident at all. We are very disappointed." Kristin Brown, of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said Trump had offered mixed messages since the Parkland shooting. "Which Donald Trump is going to show up?" she asked. "Will it be the one who sympathized with the Parkland students he brought to the White House, the one who met with members of the Senate ... or the one who had burgers" with NRA head Wayne LaPierre. Several groups announced plans to protest over the weekend. The protesters will include parents of those killed in Parkland and in other shootings. US President Donald Trump said Friday that the time and place have been set for his landmark meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un but kept the world guessing for now about the when and where. Washington: US President Donald Trump said Friday that the time and place have been set for his landmark meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un but kept the world guessing for now about the when and where. Trump also said that withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea was "not on the table" as he looks to get Kim to give up his nukes at what will be the first summit of between a U.S. and a North Korean leader. The New York Times reported that Trump has asked the Pentagon to prepare plans for scaling back the U.S. military presence in the allied Asian nation. Some 28,500 U.S. forces are based there, a military presence that has been preserved since the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty. North Korea has long sought the removal of those troops as one of its condition for denuclearization. It remains unclear if Kim has relaxed that demand as he turns to diplomacy with adversaries after a year of escalating tensions. Trump suggested Monday that he was looking for his historic meeting with the North Korean dictator to be held at the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. That's where Kim met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in last Friday a summit that has paved the way for the U.S. president's planned face-to-face with Kim. Trump also said then that the Southeast Asian city state of Singapore was also in the running to play host. "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. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence postponed a planned trip to Brazil at the end of May to free up resources for the summit. Trump on Friday also heavily hinted that the release of three Americans by North Korea 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 that has also weighed on U.S.-North Korean ties. Although Trump has placed considerable faith in South Korean leader Moon's efforts to patch up relations with North Korea, the U.S. president has long complained that South Korea does not do enough to financially support the American military commitment. Still, it would be a quixotic move as he enters into negotiations with Kim. National security adviser John Bolton, who was due to meet his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong in Washington on Friday, called the Times report "utter nonsense." "The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea," Bolton said in a statement. President Donald Trump says he would 'love to' speak to special counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia probe but tells reporters he wants to ensure he'd be 'treated fairly.' Washington: President Donald Trump says he would "love to" speak to special counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia probe but tells reporters he wants to ensure he'd be "treated fairly." Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn on Friday, Trump again expressed interest in consenting to an interview. The president says, "I would love to go. Nothing I want to do more." But he says he needs to "find that we're going to be treated fairly because everybody sees it now and it's a pure witch hunt." Trump is being advised now by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani has warned Trump against sitting down for an interview with Mueller and has suggested the president needs to place limits on his level of cooperation. Trump, speaking to reporters Friday, suggested that Giuliani had misspoken about reimbursements to the president's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, for payments to porn star Stormy Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement. Trump said Giuliani "is a great guy but he just started a day ago." He said the former New York City mayor is "learning the subject matter." The president added that "virtually everything" reported about the payments were wrong. He did not elaborate. Giuliani said this week that Trump knew about Cohen's 2016 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels and that Trump had repaid Cohen through monthly retainers. Trump had previously denied knowing about the payments. Trump is insisting that 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 president's payment clashed with his past statements, and has created new legal headaches and stunned many in the West Wing. White House aides were blindsided when Trump's 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. Giuliani's revelation seemed to contradict Trump's past statements. The Kansas man who fatally shot Indian national Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounded two other men in a hate crime at a bar in Olathe in 2017 has been sentenced to life in prison. A Kansas man who fatally shot Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounded two other men in an apparent hate crime at a bar in Olathe in 2017 has been sentenced to life in prison. Adam Purinton, 52, was sentenced for premeditated first-degree murder in the 22 February 2017 death of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, a shooting that stirred renewed fears that immigrants were facing more violence after US president Donald Trump's election. Kuchibhotla's wife Sunayana Dumala, who continues to live in the same city where her husband was killed, read an emotionally charged statement rewinding back to the "racially motivated" shooting on 22 February, 2017. "As with other immigrants, Srinu came to the United States with dreams for a better future, obtaining his masters degree and working in the aviation industry. His zeal to achieve was evident in his time with Garmin where he was working on autopilot systems for helicopters a job he loved. It was his pride. Srinu never hurt anyone that is the way life should be lived", Dumala said. Kuchibhotla grew up in Hyderabad and moved to US to study engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso. After Kuchibhotla's murder, Dumala has dug in and worked in her local community to highlight the value of skilled immigrants in the US. Kuchibhotla's killing came soon after Donald Trump's official crowning as US president in January of the same year. Economic anxiety and white nationalism are widely regarded as the twin reasons for Trump's ascent. Kuchibhotla's friend, Alok Madasani, was also wounded in the Olathe shooting. Another local, Ian Grillot, was shot when he tried to intervene. Madasani and Kuchibhotla both worked at Garmin which makes GPS devices. Witnesses said Purinton, who is white, yelled "Get out of my country" before firing at the two tech workers from India who had stopped for a drink at Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe, Kansas. The last 18 months have been a particularly bruising time for foreign workers in the US. Immigration has become Trump's winning ticket and he is showing no signs of letting up on the pressure, lumping illegals and all manner of foreigners into one category symbolising total dysfunction: "our immigration system is broken". After the shooting, Purinton drove 70 miles to Clinton, Missouri, where he confessed the shooting to a bartender at a restaurant. In a written statement filed when he pleaded guilty in March, Purinton said he accepted full responsibility for the "grievous harm" he caused the victims, their families and the community. "I hope that this plea might, in some small way, help reduce the suffering that I have caused them all," he said in his statement. Purinton, a Navy veteran, was a regular customer at Austin's. Neighbors in the Olathe neighborhood where he lived told The Associated Press that he became "a drunken mess" following his father's death about two years before the shooting and had physically and mentally deteriorated. Purinton was also given two sentences of about 14 years for the wounding the two men. He wouldn't be eligible for parole for 77.5 years. Purinton still faces hate crime charges in federal court. 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. Washington: 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 Wuhan, 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 on Wednesday 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 news 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. Alaska Air's (NYSE:ALK) profit margin has collapsed over the past year and a half. However, the company has meaningful opportunities to get profit growing again over the next few years. In this episode of Industry Focus: Energy, the team discusses some of Alaska Air's biggest profit growth opportunities. Merger synergies and other revenue initiatives could drive hundreds of millions of dollars of incremental annual earnings by 2021. Fleet renewal could also produce substantial savings. Finally, Alaska Airlines has plenty of room to grow, particularly in California. A full transcript follows the video. This video was recorded on April 26, 2018. Sarah Priestley: Adam, I know that you are an Alaska Air shareholder and bullish on the company, and I have to say I'm very impressed by everything I've seen. But, what underlines your thesis? Adam Levine-Weinberg: I think it's important to realize that Alaska Air has been producing results recently that have been worse than what the market expected and worse than what I expected. But I still think it has a bright future. The key competitive advantage is lower cost structure relative to the legacy carriers. Alaska estimates its unit cost advantage at 18%, and that's really pretty significant. Another major point in favor of Alaska Air is that you're going to have merger-related synergies and some of the revenue initiatives that were announced just this week kicking in between 2019 and 2020 for the most part. And that could deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to the bottom line by 2020, all else equal. Obviously, if there's a huge jump in oil prices between now and then, or if you have a big increase in competition in some of its markets, those gains could get eroded. But, assuming all else is equal, I think you're going to see a pretty nice improvement in profitability after 2018. There's also lots of long-term growth opportunities in California. As Alaska has noted, the market size there is 3-4X bigger than its historical market in the Pacific Northwest, but it's still actually smaller in California than it is in the Pacific Northwest. So there's really quite a lot of room to grow in places like San Francisco and LA. And then, the last one is, in the longer-term, especially after 2020, there should be some pretty significant cost savings opportunities by updating Alaska's fleet, particularly the former Virgin America Airbus fleet, which doesn't have as good a unit cost profile as some of the larger planes that are available and will be available with new engines in the next few years. Priestley: Yeah, they're just getting increasingly more and more efficient. It's fascinating to watch. I think also, you've definitely touched on this before when we've talked about airlines, it's such a cyclical industry, it's so representative of the health of the economy that it's tied to. With Alaska, that would be the U.S. economy. If you're bullish on the near-term and long-term future of the U.S. economy, then it's definitely worth looking at. I know a lot of investors were spooked by the volatility that we experienced earlier this year, but air travel is certainly only going to increase. And especially as Seattle, its major hub, becomes more and more tech-focused and it expands its reach further down the West Coast, too, and across the country, it's definitely going to become more crucial. Some things seem too good to last, and that seems to be the approach that investors in recreational vehicle accessories specialist LCI Industries (NYSE:LCII) have taken lately. Despite all signs that the boom in interest in RVs will continue into the key 2018 spring season, the stock has largely given up big gains from 2017 as worries about what the future will bring make people more cautious about LCI's future prospects. Coming into Friday's first-quarter financial report, LCI investors wanted to see continued double-digit percentage gains in sales and earnings from the RV component and accessories company. LCI's numbers were generally solid, but bottom-line growth didn't materialize to the full extent that many had hoped. That will leave LCI in a position in which it has to demonstrate its ability to keep capitalizing on good market conditions as long as they last. LCI Industries gives some mixed results LCI Industries' first-quarter results had their high and low points. Sales jumped more than 30% to $650.5 million, dramatically exceeding the consensus forecast for $618 million in revenue. Yet those higher sales didn't translate into the earnings growth many had expected. Net income rose 10% to $47.3 million, and the resulting $1.86 per share in earnings fell short of the $1.93 per share that those following the stock were looking to see. Acquisitions played an important role in LCI's overall growth. The company saw about $53 million in additional sales from its strategic moves, representing more than 10 percentage points of its top-line gains. Yet that still left LCI with a 20% organic growth rate, which showed the continued strength of the RV industry generally. Across the industry, wholesale shipments of towable RVs were higher by 15%, and motorized RV shipments climbed by 7% from year-earlier figures. LCI kept motoring forward on a fundamental basis. Original equipment manufacturer-bound components climbed 30% year over year, with 23% gains in components and accessories for travel trailers and fifth-wheels and a 43% rise in motorhome-related components. Sales to adjacent-industry original equipment manufacturers soared by half from year-ago levels, reflecting the success that LCI has had in diversifying its overall business into areas like marine accessories. Aftermarket sales climbed nearly 40%, adding another $50 million in incremental sales gains for the quarter. Because of its success, LCI parts keep making up a bigger portion of overall RV content. The typical travel trailer and fifth-wheel RV had $3,317 worth of LCI components in it, up $259 from year-ago levels. The corresponding numbers for motorhomes were $2,328, up $306. LCI said the boost was the largest in five years on the travel trailer side of the business. CEO Jason Lippert was pleased with the results. "We experienced strong sales growth in our engineered products for leisure and mobile transportation as reflected in our record $650 million sales for the first quarter," Lippert said, and the CEO noted that a combination of acquisition-led and organic growth was responsible for much of LCI's overall performance. A need to keep costs down LCI has high hopes for the rest of the year. As Lippert explained it, "Sales momentum has continued as the industry attracts a new generation of RV enthusiasts, supported by strong economic growth and consumer confidence. Orders remain strong as dealer sentiment remains bullish and OEMs continue to add capacity to meet demand." Yet the element the company didn't discuss much was a boost in expenses. Gross margin fell more than three percentage points, reflecting higher cost of sales. Although overhead expenses rose at just a 25% pace -- slower than overall revenue growth -- LCI has said in the past that challenges from an extremely tight job market in the Indiana area have made it difficult for the company to expand to the full extent it would like without seeing higher costs. It'll be important for LCI to find ways to keep those costs contained if it wants to avoid disappointing investors with earnings growth that underperforms its top-line gains. Investors weren't happy with LCI's slower earnings growth, and the stock fell 6% in morning trading following the announcement. Good conditions look poised to continue in the RV industry, but LCI will have to work harder to take maximum advantage of favorable trends while they last. 360 Painting Continues North Carolina Expansion Local owners build management team and expand territory into the High Country May 04, 2018 // Franchising.com // CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - With three locations already open and operating in North Carolina, 360 Painting, one of the nations fastest-growing residential and commercial painting franchises, is expanding its footprint even further. The Virginia-based franchise is pleased to announce its expansion into the mountain region with the addition of 360 Painting of the High Country in mid-May. The new 360 Painting business will be owned and operated by John and Belinda Wiesehan, who currently own the 360 Painting of Gastonia-Rock Hill location. John and Belinda are excited to expand their local presence and acquire this new territory with co-owners Adam and Kendra Ratcliff, who will be strategic partners for this mountain turf. Born and raised in the High Country, and a master painter by the time he was 23 years old, Adam Ratcliff will be using his expertise to work with both residential and commercial customers to deliver quality work and outstanding customer service. It is an opportunity of a lifetime for us to be part of the 360 Painting team, said Adam. As High Country natives, we are both extremely excited and privileged to be partnering with John and Belinda to bring a professional painting business to this most beautiful place on earth. After having travelled for business for many years, John and Belinda decided it was time for a change and wanted to stay local, grow an entrepreneurial business, and be able to spend time with their four children and eight grand-children. With the areas tremendous population growth, and the expansion of resorts, vacation homes and commercial properties, our business grew a heck of a lot quicker than we thought we would, said John Wiesehan. Since we already deliver quality professional painting services to many areas within this rapidly-growing territory, this opportunity will allow us to capitalize on our experience of painting and staining decks and log homes, along with the residential and commercial work in the mountains. Founded in 2005, 360 Painting prides itself as the go-to resource for all things commercial and residential painting - Residential Interior & Exterior Painting, Commercial Painting (commercial properties, homeowners associations, shopping centers, universities, schools, offices, restaurants, hospitals, municipal buildings, and more), Deck & Fence Painting and Staining, Concrete Staining, Garage floors and other property services. We are very excited about this landmark deal that will further grow the 360 Painting brand in North Carolina, as well as South Carolina, said Paul Flick, CEO and Founder of Virginia-based 360 Painting. John and Belinda Wiesehan are truly passionate business owners and pride themselves on providing the highest quality service to their customers and are the perfect partners to further establish the brand in the local marketplace. For more information about 360 Painting, please visit www.360painting.com. About 360 Painting Founded in 2005 and franchising since 2006, Virginia-based 360 Painting is one of the nations fastest-growing residential and commercial painting franchises. Today, there are more than 90 locations open and operating in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.360painting.com. SOURCE 360 Painting ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Aaron's And Progressive Leasing Modernize New Hampshire Keystone Club Associates Make Over Boys & Girls Club of Manchester with New Furniture, Technology and Appliances ATLANTA - May 3, 2018 // PRNewswire // - Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, and its divisions Aaron's and Progressive Leasing, surprised New Hampshire teens last Wednesday with a freshly revamped Keystone Teen Center at the Union Street Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. Aaron's, Inc., a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, and its divisions Aaron's and Progressive Leasing, surprised New Hampshire teens last Wednesday with a freshly revamped Keystone Teen Center at the Union Street Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. In 2015, the Aarons Foundation, Inc. announced a three-year, $5 million national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Americas Keystone Program, helping teens develop their character and leadership skills. 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. Through a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and input from the teen members, Aarons and Progressive Leasing associates worked last Tuesday decorating and furnishing the Keystone Teen Centers multipurpose space at the Union Street Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. On Wednesday, local Aarons associates and Club officials revealed the new space, now equipped with new technology, sectionals, tables and chairs, sound systems and fresh paint. Contact: Garet Hayes garet.hayes@aarons.com 678-402-3863 Cision View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarons-and-progressive-leasing-modernize-new-hampshire-keystone-club-300642533.html SOURCE Aaron's, Inc. ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Modern Acupuncture Opens First Tennessee location in Brentwood National health and wellness franchise expands to Tennessee offering the natural and cosmetic benefits of acupuncture to the Brentwood community. BRENTWOOD, TENN. (PRWEB) May 04, 2018 - Modern Acupuncture, the first franchise to make the natural health and cosmetic benefits of acupuncture available to people in an accessible and affordable delivery, is now open in Brentwood. Modern Acupuncture is the fastest growing health and wellness franchise in the nation with plans to have 55 to 60 clinics open by the end of 2018. This clinic is the first to open in the state of Tennessee and 18th in the nation. Located across the street from The Cool Springs Galleria, Modern Acupuncture is situated at 1731 Mallory Lane Suite 109. Surrounding retailers include Sola Salon, Platos Closet, Massage Envy, Genesis Diamonds, Irontribe, Cracker Barrel and more. The 1,860 square-foot clinic has eight zero-gravity acupuncture chairs located inside of the Zen Den, a relaxing retreat where acupuncture is performed, as well as a training facility located in the rear of the building. The first time I was introduced to acupuncture was when I visited the first Modern Acupuncture clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. I enjoyed it so much I continued to go back every day for the remainder of my trip. As I saw immediate results and improvements with my health, I was sold on the concept, said Barry Goodman, Modern Acupuncture franchisee of the Brentwood clinic. With the opioid addiction crisis continuing to increase, there is a demand for an alternative medicine such as acupuncture. Although its been around for thousands of years, Modern Acupuncture is offering a new approach to alternative health care. Upon entering Modern Acupuncture, guests are greeted by simplistic yet contemporary decor with calming colors and natural wood elements, sending them into an instant state of tranquility. After a customized consultation with a Modern Acupuncture Zen Advisor, guests are taken back to the Zen Den, a relaxing retreat outfitted with soundproof insulation, lounge-style recliners, calming sounds and cool earthtones, ensuring a multi-sensory experience while essential or cosmetic acupuncture services are delivered. Guests leave with a customized treatment plan and a complimentary handcrafted organic tea blend. Modern Acupuncture offers an enhanced acupuncture experience that utilizes needle therapy on nodes to increase blood flow, but unlike traditional acupuncture, does not require the removal of any clothing to access full-body health. A visit to Modern Acupuncture feels like a relaxing retreat, where guests can unwind and possibly even fall asleep, zoning out to peaceful music all while experiencing the healing and/or cosmetic benefits of acupuncture. Sessions are typically 30 minutes or less, and walk-ins are always welcome. Acupuncture is administered by licensed acupuncturists who have been certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)? after completing a three-year masters degree from an accredited school. They are further trained in the specific method used at Modern Acupuncture by Robert Doane, EAMP, L.AC., DIPL., C.H., co-founder at Modern Acupuncture and world-renowned acupuncturist and educator. Modern Acupuncture offers affordable memberships encouraging guests to add acupuncture to their regular health and wellness routines. The Pathway Plan for traditional acupuncture is $69 per month and includes two acupuncture sessions, preferred scheduling and additional visits are only $20. The Pathway Plan for cosmetic acupuncture is $89 per month and includes two cosmetic acupuncture sessions (which also includes traditional acupuncture), preferred scheduling and additional visits are only $30. Single walk-in sessions are $59 for traditional and $79 for cosmetic. In celebration of its opening, Modern Acupuncture Cool Springs is offering guests a complimentary first visit within the first 30 days of opening. Modern Acupuncture Cool Springs is open Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday - Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to book an appointment, please visit https://www.modernacupuncture.com/tn001 or call (615) 953-1400. About Modern Acupuncture Modern Acupuncture is a franchise concept transforming the alternative medicine market and acupuncture industry. Offering an approachable, natural pathway, validated by thousands of years of practice to better health and wellbeing, Modern Acupuncture is the first franchise to deliver the natural health and cosmetic benefits of acupuncture in a retreat-like setting in highly accessible neighborhood locations across the country. Founded in 2016 and based in Scottsdale, Ariz., Modern Acupuncture currently offers area developer and franchisee opportunities to qualifying entrepreneurs. ACU Development, LLC is the franchisor of MA Modern Acupuncture franchise locations and an operator in some states. In California, Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington, ACU Development, LLC and its franchisees provide management services to affiliated professional acupuncture practices. For more information, please visit http://www.modacu.com or call (480) 999-5505. Contact: Melissa DiGianfilippo Serendipit Consulting +1 480-250-4315 SOURCE Modern Acupuncture ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Microsoft isnt willing to change the trend that sees the company never discuss in public Xbox Ones sales data, according to a note a spokesperson issued to the American outlet The Verge. Its something the Redmond platform owner has been doing for the biggest part of the current generation, probably due to the fact that Xbox One has never been able to sell more or at least as many consoles as its competitor PS4. To put things into the right perspective, EA revealed that Xbox One had sold 19 million units in 2016, a time when PS4 had already sold 35.9 million units. We are continuing to look at engagement as our key metric for success and are no longer reporting on total console sales, says a Microsoft spokesperson. We continue to see strong growth with time spent on Xbox Live, and look forward to bringing more unprecedented experiences on Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, and mobile. Based on this behavior, we know that Xbox Live has around 59 million users on the several platforms where it is available (PC, Xbox One, mobile), 4 billion hours have been invested on [email protected] titles, 1 billion hours on backwards compatibility, and even that the sales of the hardware have raised 15% yoy. So things dont look that bad for Xbox One after all and theres the common perception that E3 2018 could lead the way to a new cycle for Microsoft as the company is willing to start investing again on gaming after the recent restructure. Will this be enough to maintain the momentum after the launch of Xbox One X and at least reduce the gap with the PlayStation 4, which gets closer and closer to the milestone of 80 million units sold in less than five years? Xiaomi Redmi S2 with dual cameras gets certified on TENAA News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Two new versions of the Xiaomi Redmi S2 have appeared on TENAA certification site. Xiaomi Redmi S2 has made an appearance on TENAA certification site. However, unlike the OnePlus 6, Redmi S2 comes with images. Two versions of the device, the Xiaomi M1803E6C, and M1803E6T surfaced with same specs. As shown, the Redmi S2 will sport a metal body. It will have a fingerprint sensor on the rear panel alongside a vertically assigned dual camera. The physical keys will be housed on the right side of the device, while the left side will have the SIM card slot. As for other specifications, the smartphone will flaunt a 5-.99-inch HD+ display with 1440 x 720 resolution. It will be backed by 2/3/4GB of RAM and 16/32/64GB of internal storage respectively. A 64-bit octa-core processor will power the smartphone, probably the Snapdragon 625. On the optics front, a 12MP + 5MP camera setup will be placed on the rear panel. For selfies, we might see a 16MP snapper up front. The device will run Android 8.1 Oreo and come pre-installed on the phone, along with Xiaomi's MIUI 9 skin. The phone will arrive in Black, Rose Gold, Gold, White, Blue, Red, Pink, Gray, and Silver color variants, according to TENAA. It will measure 160.73 x 77.26 x 8.1mm while weighing 170 grams. The Xiaomi Redmi S2 will see the light of day on May 10, if the company teaser is to be believed. Besides, Xiaomi has reportedly ordered big numbers from Taiwanese manufacturers and IT players such as Foxconn, Inventec, Largan Precision and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). A secret contract with TSMC details the Surge S2 chipset, that was rumored during this year's MWC but is yet to be announced. As per the reports, the new chipset will be based on TSMC's 16nm process and will have an octa-core design - four Cortex-A73 units, running at 2.2GHz and four Cortex-A53 ones, clocked at 1.8GHz. The reports also claim that there is no CDMA support in the Surge S2 spec sheet. Considering the spec sheet, this clearly isn't a flagship processor, but the suggested performance rating, it could prove to be a successful chipset. Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad Quick Look The company also topped the Indian smartphone market. According to a new Canalys Research, Chinese smartphone Xiaomi shipped over 9 million units, giving it a market share of just over 31 percent, the highest ever for a vendor since Q1 2014. 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 VOLVO Car Australias new managing director Nick Connor has confirmed that the reborn Polestar brand will be launched Down Under in line with the electric high-performance marques global rollout, kicking off with the yet-to-be-revealed Polestar 2 compact sedan in 2020. Mr Connor has also told GoAuto that the Lynk & Co brand will come to Australia in due course, slotting in underneath Volvo as an entry brand as Polestar sits on top with the flagship offerings from the Geely-owned group not dissimilar to how Volkswagen operates with Skoda, VW and Audi. The Polestar 2 will be followed by the Polestar 3 mid-size SUV due in 2022, with Australian deliveries of both the PS2 and PS3 (as they are known) scheduled to commence around the same time as other markets including Europe, North America and China. Mr Connor was the inaugural chief executive of Polestar and oversaw its establishment as a wholly owned subsidiary of Volvo Cars that designs, develops and produces separately branded, high-performance electrified cars. This has started with the Polestar 1 (PS1) plug-in hybrid coupe that enters production around the end of this year a model that Mr Connor admits he was responsible for deciding not to produce in right-hand drive, meaning Australia must wait to launch with PS2. In an interview with GoAuto this week, Mr Connor said Polestar is and will be a global product offering and that plenty of future Polestar cars will be made available in Australia. The PS1 is left-hand drive only, which is a decision that I had to take, unfortunately, at the time so, sorry, Im the guy to blame on that one! I took it with a very heavy heart as Im from the UK and I would have loved to have a right-hand-drive car available, he said. But 500 units a year, which was the initial plan, it just didnt stack up as a right-hand-drive car given the relatively limited supply available. So PS1 wont come here but there will be plenty of future Polestar cars that will get to come here. Mr Connor said the PS2 was expected to arrive in 2020, while PS3s exact launch timing was still to be confirmed. Asked about the potential of the Polestar brand in Australia, Mr Connor said the products and their sales volume would ultimately be determined by consumers and broader issues such as government subsidies or incentives and recharging infrastructure. The products are compelling, theyre very attractive, theyre pure, premium performance cars, theyre a little bit different, he said. It (sales volume) comes down ultimately, I think, to the infrastructure, to incentives. I mean, electric cars are, and will be for the foreseeable future, more expensive than their internal-combustion equivalents. But, that said, they offer fantastic performance, theyre clean, I think theres an opportunity here. I would guess, in early days, it would probably be in the hundreds of units rather than in the thousands but who knows?Certainly, its an offer that we need to have here and well see what happens. I would look to the (federal) government, I would look to the states, to say, You know, you have a part to play in all this.If manufacturers are going to the huge expense of producing all-electric cars, which have benefits in lots of ways for the environment, then there should be some incentives to get people into them, to bear the extra cost thats involved in acquiring them in the first place. Mr Connor said it was theoretically possible for the company to retool PS1 for right-hand drive but that the business case simply did not stack up, meaning right-hook variants are all but officially ruled out in the current generation. He also said it was too early to discuss whether PS1 would enter a second generation. The second generation isnt on the table at the moment, he said. Were focusing on the first three cars and who knows what will come after that? I think the world is going to look very different in five or six years time in terms of volumes. Thats a decision for another day. Asked whether Polestars next move with the still-secret PS4 and other siblings would continue to stick with high-volume segments, Mr Connor said: Im not looking beyond the first three cars. Electrified cars are going to grow, theres no doubt about that, over the coming decade. We currently hit all the big market segments with our products and I dont think that will stop. I dont see ourselves going off and doing something completely unique its quite hard for a small player to make an impact in that way. At a retail level, Volvo is currently considering whether the Polestar cars and those from Lynk & Co will be offered through Volvo dealers, dedicated standalone stores or an online sales channel or all three. Mr Connor said bricks-and-mortar retail outlets would be important, as would internet sales, and that a subscription service, whereby customers pay a monthly fee over a two- or three-year period similar to a mobile phone plan would also be a core component. On Lynk & Co, Mr Connor said Geely has global plans for the brand: They plan to be in all of the major markets around the world. They havent specifically announced a launch date in Australia, but I think its safe to assume that in due course they will come here. Im sure they will come here, I just dont know exactly what theyre planning at the moment. The Lynk & Co range will include the 01 mid-size SUV, 02 small SUV and 03 sedan, with production bases confirmed for China and Europe. Electrified variants will be built at Volvos Ghent factory in Belgium from late next year, while internal-combustion engine variants will be produced in China. The models from Volvo, Polestar and Lynk & Co all have commonalities in platform and other components. The Road to Recovery podcast series Google has announced that Assistant for Wear OS will soon be updated with new features, including smart suggestions, ability to respond through voice, as well as Actions. To begin with, smart suggestions - that you can access through a swipe-up menu - are nothing but contextually relevant suggestions that follow Assistant's answer to a query of yours. For example, if you ask for weather info, then aside from offering you that info, Assistant will also show you other, related info you may be interested in, like extended forecast. Moving on, Assistant will also be able to respond through voice in certain scenarios. While Google didn't provide details on exactly when Assistant will be able speak, the announcement post lists at-least one example: when you ask "tell me about my day." Then comes Actions, which are basically things you can do using Assistant. For example, you can use Assistant to ask Bay Trains when the next train is leaving. Google says Actions will be available on all Wear OS by Google watches. All These new features will be rolling out "over the next several days," the company says. Source LG took the wraps off the G7 ThinQ yesterday. In the meantime we've heard that it's headed to Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint in the US. Verizon and Sprint will start taking pre-orders on May 24 and May 25, respectively. If you're with AT&T and would have liked to buy a G7 from that carrier, here's some bad news: it has no plans to sell the handset. However, AT&T says it will offer an exclusive LG smartphone "this summer". Whether that's going to be the rumored V35 ThinQ or not remains to be seen. Across the pond in Europe, Belsimpel, a big retailer in the Netherlands has listed the G7 for 849 SIM-free. You can pre-order now with delivery in around four weeks. In the UK, Clove has started taking pre-orders for the G7, pricing it at 649. That currently translates into 736, so we're not sure what the deal is here. Maybe one of these prices isn't final yet, since we don't remember when we've last seen such a huge difference between the UK and continental Europe. Anyway, expect the G7 to be released in the UK by the end of May. Before we get into telling you what the Moto G6 Plus is all about, we'll walk you through a bit of Moto G history. Motorola started the G line back in 2013 with a little popular number by the name of the Moto G (OG, if you will). It packed solid smartphone performance at a great price, which at the time was a very rare thing. Since the original G the line has been Motorola's best-selling and that's reflected in the number of models and number of refreshed models it gets in a year. Last spring Motorola released the Moto G5 and G5 Plus but updated them just four months later with the Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus. It's 2018 and we get new installments in the series. This time Motorola have three new Moto G6's - the G6, the G6 Plus and the G6 Play. Time will tell if by the year's end we'll get a slightly better S trio, but that's beside the point now. The Moto G6 Plus (the one in the lovely Deep Indigo paint job) is the best of the G6 trio. It has the biggest display at 5.9 inches, the fastest chipset - a Snapdragon 630 with up to 6GB of RAM and has the best camera setup - dual 12MP f/1.8 + 5MP f/2.2. It only falls short of the biggest battery - the Moto G6 Play has that honor with its 4,000mAh power pack. An important "first" for the Moto G6 lineup is the move to a tall-aspect display. The Moto G6 Plus has a 5.9-incher, which is eating into the bezels making its front much more attractive than last year's Moto G5S Plus. What isn't new but Moto faithful will appreciate is the retention of a front-facing LED flash. For such a minor thing it surely makes a lot of difference. More importantly, we'd like to see if Motorola improved on the Moto G5S Plus' lackluster camera performance. On the face of it, the Moto G6 Plus should offer better snaps and a similar portrait mode. We weren't too happy about the faux bokeh from last year's Plus' camera but we'll give this new one a fair shake. Expect a full rundown of the cameras - all three of them - in the detailed review. Interestingly, Motorola decided to keep the front-facing fingerprint scanner in the Moto G6 Plus instead of going for a rear-mounted one, like in the Play and normal Moto G6. As usual opinions are split on what's an optimal position for the fingerprint sensor. Some of us prefer the sensor there but most find the Moto G6 Plus a bit too tall and awkward to unlock with a finger on the root of the screen. What most agreed on is that the Moto G6 Plus is a hot looking phone, especially in its Deep Indigo color. Conservatives would like the fact that it looks black in any light except in very bright one. But boy when it gets the sun in its curves, the Moto G6 Plus looks magical - way prettier than any phone in this price range has the right to be. We'll need to test the Motorola Moto G6 Plus thoroughly before we give our full judgment. But going by first impressions it looks certain to make every shortlist of reasonably-priced and solidly-performing smartphones. And outside of devices like Xiaomi's Redmi 5 Plus (Redmi Note 5) or the Asus Zenfone Max Pro, the Moto G6 Plus looks like an easy buy for Europeans and North American buyers that are just looking to order on Amazon and be done with it. But before we deem it worthy, the Moto G6 Plus would need to maintain those positive early impressions for the entirety of our review. Stay tuned! These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. From February until now, clues about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy J6 have been largely vague with some small bits of information here and there. Now, we have some solid evidence that the Galaxy J6 is coming soon. Samsung has uploaded the handset's support pages in some of its regional websites. The screenshots above show the model number for India (SM-J600G) and Ukraine (SM-J600F). Reports also suggest a third variant with model number SM-J600FN is coming for Western Europe, but that one is yet to be confirmed. The support pages give us no details about the specs so we have to rely on rumors and leaks to fill us in. An FCC report showed the Galaxy J6 with Infinity Display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio and 5.6" diagonal. The accessories listed on the FCC report confirmed a microUSB connector for charging and 3.5 mm audio jack. A Geekbench scorecard revealed the Exynos 7870 chipset paired with 2GB of RAM running Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. The rest we should find out shortly in the following weeks as the Samsung pages surely precede the Galaxy J6 launch. Source 1 | Source 2 | Via (in Dutch) Xiaomi phones will be officially sold by Three in the UK and other European countries Xiaomi's been quite busy these days. After having filed for an IPO in Hong Kong (the world's biggest offering since 2014, apparently), the company is now getting ready to have its smartphones sold by Three across its pretty big footprint. To this effect, Xiaomi has formed a global strategic alliance with CK Hutchinson Holdings, the owner of the carriers named Three. Thus, Xiaomi devices will officially be available from Three in Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the UK. Additionally, you'll find them in Watson's Fortress, Superdrug, and Kruidvat stores in Hong Kong, Ireland, the UK, and the Netherlands. Tom Malleschitz, Three UK's chief digital officer, told Engadget the following in a statement: We have been watching Xiaomi's success from afar and are impressed with the huge range of connected devices that they currently offer. This partnership provides us with another leading brand in our smartphone range and also opens the door for innovative new connected products that we can provide to Three customers in the future. So watch this space! This deal also covers "certain preferential arrangements" for smartphones in Denmark, Ireland, and Sweden, but those haven't been detailed yet. Source | Via Published on 2018/05/04 | Source Added episodes 21 and 22 captures for the Korean drama "Switch - Change The World" (2018) Advertisement Directed by Jo Young-jin Written by Baek Woon-cheol, Kim Ryoo-hyun Network : SBS With Jang Keun-suk, Han Ye-ri, Jung Woong-in, Jo Hee-bong, Shin Do-hyun, Ahn Seung-hwan,... 32 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00 (2x35min) Formerly known as "Operation King" (, gong-jak-wang) Synopsis A smart con artist impersonates a prosecutor. He passed all the necessary exams, but never managed to get work in the legal profession. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2018/03/28 More Last updated 5/4/2018 at 11:31am The Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Havre Middle School to re-organize the board. The agenda for the meeting is: A. Call to order 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll call 3. Welcome to visitors 4. Agenda deletions or corrections, if any B. New business 1. Seating of newly elected board members 2. Reorganization of board clerk will temporarily preside a. Election of chair b. Election of vice chair chair presides c. Appointment of clerk Open Agenda An opportunity for any member of the audience to bring to the att... By Emily Mayer The Montana Council of Defense issued a press release its order regarding people who were not working, affecting loafing and idle men generally. The Havre Plaindealer printed the information in its May 4, 1918, edition, which stated, in part: The duty is hereby imposed on every adult person having the necessary physical and mental capacity and ability to do so, to work and engage in some legitimate occupation for at least five days during each calendar week for the period of the existing war. Failure to do so would be considered a misdemeanor. Those not engaged in some legitimate occupation were required to register with the city clerk, county clerk and recorder or justice of the peace and provide a reason why he is not engaged in some legitimate occupation. The new rule targeted male slackers. Women, it seemed, were getting a break. Montanas appointee for the Federal Food Administration appointed a county administrator for each of Montanas then 43 counties. Hill Countys appointee was none other than the incomparable E. C. Carruth, one of Havre and Hill Countys most well-respected and affable citizens. The Food Administrations ad for the week admonished waste of all kinds, claiming every person produces 90 pounds of rubbish every year, that open garbage cans are the greatest agent of disease of any community and to keep them covered at all times, that rubbish contains many articles that have a sale value if they are properly sorted, and that many communities were using local prisoners to do the sorting. Speaking of the Food Administration, the Society Column carried this. HERBIE HOOVER Little Herbie Hoovers come to our house to stay, To make us scrape the dishes clean an the crumbs away, An learn us to make war bread an save up all the grease, For the less we eat of butter the sooner well have peace, An all us other children, when our scanty meal is done, We gather up around the fire an has the mostest fun, A-listenin to the proteins that Herbie tells about, An the Calories that git you ef you dont watch out! An little Herbie Hoover says when the fire burns low, An the vitamins are creepin from the shadows soft an low, You better eat the things the Food Folks says theys plenty of, An cheat the garbage pail an give all butchers meat a shove, An gobble up the corn pone an vegetables an fish, An save your drippin an yer sweets an lick clean every dish, An dont get fresh a-talkin or what you wont do without, Or the Caloriesll git you ef you dont watch out! The poem is by Sophie Kerr and was published in Life magazine. I can feel every teacher who teaches English cringe and reaching as fast as they can for their red pencils. Also in the Society column were gatherings of local interest, including: Dinner Party. Mrs. C. M. C. Taylor was honored Thursday evening, when Mrs. Jennie invited six ladies at an elaborate five course dinner party. Carnations, jonquils and pansies were used in profusion throughout the rooms and as decoration for the dining table, where cards were marked places for Mrs. C. M. C. Taylor; Mrs. A. L. Ritt; Mrs. Rathbone; Mrs. Ledan; Mrs. Rudie Erler and the hostess. Red Cross Tea. Miss Cecelia deLorimer entertained a number of friends on Wednesday evening at a Red Cross tea. There were several entries in the Of Local Interest social pages regarding the Great War: Chas. Koerner, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Koerner of this city, who recently completed the course at an officers training school and was made a lieutenant, spent three days with his parents here, leaving last Sunday for camp. While in Havre Lieutenant Koerner received the Masonic degrees. Wilbrod J. Bergeron, who is a member of the veterinary department of the 40th division of the headquarters troop, stationed at Camp Kearney, California, was in the city Thursday and Friday, en route to camp from Montreal, Canada, where he has called to attend the funeral of his mother. Mr. Gergeron was among the first of Hill county boys to answer his countrys call. He has a fine homestead in the Wild Horse lake section. Mrs. Clara Kriebs and Mrs. Winnie Berry, chairman and secretary of the Midway auxiliary of the Red Cross at Sage were in Havre Wednesday on business connected with that organization. Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Loranger received word this week that their son Raymond, who recently underwent an operation at the marine hospital in Santiago, Cuba, was nearly recovered and would be on duty again in a few days. The homestead community of Sage was located between Inverness and Goldstone in western Hill County. Havre Police Department A Spruce Drive resident reported at the police station Thursday at 7:29 a.m. receiving a threat over the phone. Chad Jerome Wolfchild of Box Elder, 33, was arrested at the detention center after turning himself in on a state District Court warrant Thursday at 9:45 a.m. A caller at a First Street business reported Thursday at 4:05 p.m. having video footage of a shoplifting incident. A complainant at the police station Thursday at 6:05 p.m. asked to speak to officers about a scam call. An 11th Street West caller reported Thursday at... Pfc. Emily Simonson graduated April 19 from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Simonson underwent 10 weeks of learning the military lifestyle and graduated as a sharpshooter with an M4. From here, she will go on to Fort Mead, Maryland, for her advanced individual training. There she will do another 10 weeks to become a public affairs specialist. Simonson will be home mid-July in time for the birthday of her little brother, Cory. Simonson graduated from Havre High School in 2016 and went on to University of Montana to major in English. She will return to UM as a juni... Charlotte Gwynn, with her hands raised, sings along with the band Thursday during the National Day of Prayer event in Havre. Pastors from churches in the Havre area called for unity, especially among Christians of different denominations, and for a national religious revival Thursday on Town Square during the National Day of Prayer. The event, hosted by the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association, was one of many across the nation, including 18 throughout Montana Karey Kohlman was on Town Square as churches handed out free food before the collective praying began at noon. Kohlman, who attends Havre Assembly of God, said that every year she tries to come to the event with her husband and friends to pray th... North Central Senior Citizens Center, May 7-11 Monday Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; bingo at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m; TOPS at 8 a.m.; cards at 1 p.m.; mall or Walmart shopping from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday Medical transportation will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. but people must make a request at least 24 hours in advance. Pinochle First place, Dick Zinn; second place, Elva Van Dessel; third place, Lynn Ophus; pinochle, Bill Nelson March Menu by Earlene DeWinter (Subject to Change) Monday Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, wax beans, poor man bars, milk Tuesday Salad, meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, sunshine carrots, Jell-O cake rolls Wednesday Sweet-and-sour chicken, rice, egg rolls, fruit Thursday Swiss steak with peppers, onions and tomatoes; garlic mashed potatoes, cauliflower, pudding Friday Soup, salad bar, chefs choice, dessert, milk Well, spring is here, and we have all waited patiently for it. After the winter we had we are all happy it is finally here. We, here in Montana, all know how unpredictable spring can be. These months can be cold, warm, hot, stormy, rainy with wind and yes, sometimes even snowy. We all hope to experience a mild spring but we will take what we get and plan for the unexpected. I am waiting for April showers to bring May flowers. Our spring fundraiser is right around the the corner. We are now collecting for the rummage sale. If you have any closets or cabinets to clean out now is the time. Bring any and all donations to us here at the Senior Cener. Thanks much. Anyone interested in playing Pinochle at the Senior Center is invited to participate in the Wednesday Group. Call or drop in and check us out. We will be holding a silent auction, which will begin next week. A drawing by Arlene Morgan titled The Old Buttrey Home has been donated to the Senior Center. A picture of the drawing can be seen on the seniors Facebook page or you can stop down to see the drawing and put in your bid. The proceeds from this auction will go to the steam table fund we have been working so hard to replace. We have a new update for everyone who has been so generously donating to our steam table fund. At todays prices we expect to have to pay about $10,000 and we have now received $6,952.65 in donated funds toward our goal. Who would have thought we would find so many gentle people willing to do so much good for others with no expectation of gain or recognition. Thank you again. I know it wont be long before we meet and complete our goal. The Senior Gift Shop has a wonderful selection of greeting cards for your shopping needs. Be sure to stop by and check them out. We know you will be pleased with both our selection and our prices. Dear editor, I dont like traps. I dont appreciate an ambush. Right now millions of Americans, some say up to 5 million, are trapped and being ambushed in the opioid crisis. I listened to a woman tell her story the other night. She spoke about how she moved into the world of drugs much the same way that we see depicted on television. It seems glamorous. It seems like all successful people do it. They drink and smoke and eventually take drugs. Thats when the trap is sprung, of course. She told us about the pains and loss she had in her life including the loss of a child, her mot... Ireland's biggest hotel group is being asked by rival firms to help finance the construction of new sites in the city, says its chief executive. Dalata boss Pat McCann said "part of the problem" was the dysfunctional state of the money market for hotel construction. The cost of building hotels in Dublin has risen significantly over the years. Dalata's 188-bedroom Clayton Charlemont Hotel on the city's southside was being built at a cost of 225,000 a room, said Mr McCann. "You wouldn't do it for less than 300,000 per room today," he said. Mr McCann said difficulties for other hotel builders in securing finance look set to continue. "Finance has become less available and costs have risen," he said after Dalata's annual general meeting in Dublin yesterday. He said property agent Savills has predicted that 5,000 hotel rooms are needed in the capital by 2020. "I can say with a high degree of certainty that that's not going to happen," said Mr McCann. He has predicted that only 3,000 rooms will be added in that time. Difficulties "If you're an individual developer starting up and wanting to build your own hotel, you will not have the information we have," he said. "I'm not making statements about difficulties in finding funding for no reason. "We're aware of some of the challenges some of the potential developers are having. Are people knocking on our door? The answer to that is yes. "I'm not having any difficulties financing in either Ireland or the UK, but we know of other people who are." Mr McCann said those developers are looking for Dalata to get involved "because we can raise finance". He said Dalata has had "tentative" conversations in relation to three or four potential projects where financing has been an issue. Each property would have 200 rooms or more. Dalata, with a 1.2bn market capitalisation, follows a sale and leaseback model. Backers include the likes of German investment fund Deka and M&G Real Estate, which is part of Prudential's M&G Investments. Mr McCann reaffirmed Dalata's commitment to being a leading player in the UK three and four-star hotel market, where it plans to have up to 8,000 extra rooms within five to seven years. Mr McCann said Dublin is losing out on conference business because there are too few hotel bedrooms. Shares in Dalata fell yesterday, despite an upbeat trading statement. Bill Cosby's wife has called for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction. Camille Cosby said the case, which could put the 80-year-old comedian in prison for the rest of his life, was "mob justice, not real justice" and a "tragedy" that must be undone. She made her first comments on the verdict in a statement sent to the media a week after a jury found her husband of 54 years guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Liar She 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". 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 media's "frenzied, relentless demonisation" of him. She likened 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 (74) said her husband's prosecution was politically motivated, and repeated his legal 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 the comedian's arrest a month after winning the 2015 election. Mrs Cosby said Mr Steele and his team were "exploitive and corrupt" and their "primary purpose is to advance themselves professionally and economically at the expense of Mr Cosby's life". The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the annual Oscars, has voted to expel Cosby from its membership, along with film director Roman Polanski. Any woman who wants a cervical smear will be entitled to have a test free of charge at a GP surgery or clinic. The move is aimed at easing the fears of thousands of women who are worried about their test results in the wake of the CervicalCheck scandal. GPs were issued with guidelines yesterday and told they would be paid for the additional test or a consultation with a patient who does not opt for additional screening. It comes as a group of senior doctors said they wanted to reassure women that they could have confidence in the screening programme. Thousands of women have sought retests following revelations that Vicky Phelan, a mother-of-two from Limerick who has cervical cancer, had a false negative smear result in 2011. Invasive Dr Jerome Coffey, head of HSE cancer services, said cervical screening had its limitations but a woman's risk of a false negative smear was less than one in 100. "There is a small risk that cell changes will not be picked up. It is important to have regular smear tests," he said. "We will be one of the first countries in the world to introduce HPV testing later this year, replacing technology that has been around since the 1950s." Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said the problems with CervicalCheck related to communicating with patients, not quality control. It was essential that women continued to have smear tests, he said, adding that since CervicalCheck started in 2008 there had been a 7pc a year drop in the incidence of cervical cancer. "Before that, gynaecologists were coming back to work in Ireland and often seeing women with late-stage cervical cancer," Dr Holohan said. The screening programme was having an impact on mortality and picking problems up earlier, he added. Prof Donal Brennan, a specialist on gynaecological cancers at the Mater Hospital, said the vast majority of cervical cancer cases were now diagnosed at an early stage thanks to the screening programme. Women whose tests show up abnormalities and are sent for further investigation have a very low risk of progressing to invasive cancer. Anyone who had a negative smear test result should be alert for possible symptoms of cervical cancer before their next recall date. Dr Mary Short, a Dublin GP, said these symptoms could include vaginal bleeding. She said GPs were under pressure to deal with the regular volume of patients but they would do their best to accommodate women who wanted a repeat smear test. The consultation is likely to take longer than a routine smear test because the patient will probably have more questions and concerns in the wake of recent publicity. It is understood that negotiations are under way with the Irish Medical Organisation to pay GPs a higher fee for the retest in light of the length of time they will have to spend with the patient. False The guideline to GPs from CervicalCheck says that if they had a patient who was diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008 they may be referred to have their case audited. Around 1,500 women who developed the disease in that time were not notified to CervicalCheck. The audit was to look at whether they had a smear test result which gave a false negative in advance of the disease. Around 3,000 women have been diagnosed with cervical cancer over the 10 years of the programme. The note to doctors says the laboratories where the tests are analysed, including a facility in New Jersey, are all accredited with national authorities. There are not enough quality-assured lab services in Ireland to carry out all of the analysis on smear tests under CervicalCheck. Politicians believe HSE boss Tony O'Brien can best assist the CervicalCheck inquiry by staying on, despite calls from Vicky Phelan for him to be sacked. After talks with Simon Harris, Mr O'Brien has agreed to take a "leave of absence" from his non-executive directorship of a US medical firm until July. Opposition parties have been heavily critical of the health minister for allowing the HSE director general to take up a secondary role ahead of his scheduled retirement in 12 weeks. "I recognise that he has resolved to devote the short time he has left to serve as director general in working to deal with the CervicalCheck issue," said Mr Harris. "I appreciate that he began his HSE career in the screening services and wishes to end it by working to restore confidence in them. He has an awful lot of work to do in that regard." In the Dail, Mr Harris noted that Mr O'Brien has "less than 12 weeks left in his contract". "It is the Government's judgment that Tony O'Brien can be the most use to the women of Ireland in establishing facts here if he focuses on trying to assist in the process that the Government puts together between now and when he leaves the HSE," Mr Harris added. The minister's comments came just hours after the woman who blew the lid on the cancer scandal, Vicky Phelan, said she wanted heads to roll. Arrogance The terminally-ill mother said Mr O'Brien had "shown nothing but arrogance" and claimed he is "is more concerned with defending the indefensible than doing the right thing". Fianna Fail sources said party leader Micheal Martin would not push for Mr O'Brien's resignation despite the public outrage. Two of his female TDs - Fiona O'Loughlin and Anne Rabbitte - have said they do not have confidence in the HSE boss, although they did not directly call for him to be pushed aside. Fine Gael senator Kieran O'Donnell, who is a neighbour of Ms Phelan, broke ranks to criticise Mr O'Brien. "Tony O'Brien, head of the HSE, came out yesterday and said it was a personal blow. For me, a personal blow must come with personal responsibility. "It is extraordinary that someone who heads up an organisation of this size is not taking responsibility on this area," he said. Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty said the performance by Mr O'Brien and other health service representatives who attended an Oireachtas committee on Wednesday was a case of "passing the buck". He said it was an "absolute disgrace" that Mr O'Brien says he cannot take full responsibility for the scandal. Failings "Women, some of whom are now cancer patients, or dead or dying, were denied information about their health because of the failings of those responsible in our health service," he said. "One week into this scandal and we still do not even know how many women are affected. "The buck stops with someone. That person is Tony O'Brien who oversees the HSE." RTE boss Dee Forbes was forced to defend the sums paid to the broadcaster's highest-earning stars. It was put to her that the figures gave the impression that the cash-strapped station has "shedloads of money". Ms Forbes was appearing before the Dail's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where she was grilled on the broadcaster's use of licence fee revenue. The most recent figures for RTE's highest-paid presenters show that Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy was paid 495,000 in 2015, while Ray D'Arcy was on 400,000. Ms Forbes told TDs that RTE currently has "inadequate resources" and has seen a drop of more than 100m in the annual funds available to it between 2008 and 2016. Inefficient She said the fall in revenue meant RTE could not invest as much in Irish drama and journalism. Ms Forbes said 60m in potential licence fee payments goes uncollected due to an inefficient collection system and asked why this is acceptable. Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said the list of top 10 earners gave "the impression that RTE has shedloads of money", adding: "Whether you like that or not, that's the impression it gives. "It's then very difficult to argue that RTE is short of money," she said, asking how Ms Forbes squares that circle. Ms Forbes defended the sums paid, saying it is 1pc of RTE's total cost base. She pointed out that it is incumbent on presenters to ensure strong audiences to be attractive to advertisers. The RTE chief also said there is a "competitive market place" for broadcasters who may go elsewhere. PAC chairman and Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming asked for comparisons between the cost of an hour of Irish-produced television and programming bought in from abroad. Ms Forbes said it was fair to say there is not enough Irish drama on RTE and that it is being supplemented by imports, such as US spy drama Homeland. The PAC was told that Homeland can be bought for around 5,000 per hour, while it could cost up to 1m to make an episode of an Irish drama, such as Rebellion. Donald Trump repaid his lawyer for the hush money given to Stormy Daniels Donald Trump has said his personal lawyer was paid back through a retainer, not campaign funds, for the $130,000 (108,500) given to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop "false and extortionist accusations" she made about a sexual encounter with him. Mr Trump, who last month told reporters he did not know about the payment made by lawyer Michael Cohen the month before the 2016 election, said on Twitter that the funds were part of a "private agreement" that involved money that had "nothing to do with the campaign". Silence In his fullest account to date regarding the payment to Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, Mr Trump acknowledged the non-disclosure agreement with her to secure her silence about what she has called a one-night sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. "The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her ... despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair," Mr Trump wrote, adding that Ms Daniels and her lawyer had violated it. "Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in this transaction." The claim of repayment is significant because a payment by Mr Cohen could be seen as an illegal campaign contribution. Mr Trump as candidate would have been permitted to make unlimited personal contributions to his own campaign. Mr Cohen is facing a federal criminal investigation in New York in part over the payment to Ms Daniels, with the FBI seizing material from his office and home. The investigation is an offshoot of the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into potential collusion between Mr Trump's campaign and Russia and whether the president has unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. Mr Trump said yesterday that Mr Cohen "received a monthly retainer" from which he entered into the "non-disclosure agreement". His tweets came the morning after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who joined Mr Trump's legal team last month, said the president had repaid Mr Cohen the hush money Even if Mr Trump repaid the lawyer, the payment to Ms Daniels could still be found to be an undisclosed campaign loan in violation of federal election laws, said law professor Kathleen Clark of Washington University in St Louis. Omitting the loan from disclosure forms is also arguably a violation of statutes against making false statements to the government, she said. Mr Giuliani pushed back on that idea yesterday on Fox News, saying it was a personal rather than campaign matter to protect the president's family and that Mr Trump did not know the details of the arrangement until about 10 days ago. However, Mr Giuliani also appeared to make the opposing argument. "Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton. Cohen made it go away. He did his job," said Mr Giuliani. Defamation Ms Daniels has filed two lawsuits against Mr Trump, one to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she signed in October 2016 in exchange for the $130,000 (108,500), and another for defamation. The lawsuit over the non-disclosure agreement was put on hold last week by a judge in Los Angeles, who said the potential overlap between the case and the criminal investigation in New York could violate Mr Cohen's constitutional right against self-incrimination. Asked about the president's tweets, Ms Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti told MSNBC that Mr Trump opened himself up to another possible defamation suit. "Our case just got exponentially better," he said. "This is not about sex, this is about a cover up." Provo Temple may again reflect sister temple in Ogden after renovations It was no surprise to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that President Russell M. Nelson announced on Sunday that several new temples would be built. What was a surprise was the announcement of the reconstruction of the Provo Utah Temple, which will begin when the Orem Utah Temple is completed. The Orem Utah Temple is expected to be finished in the fall of 2023. We recognize the interest this generates for people and communities in locations that will receive such a temple. At this point, limited information is available beyond the intent to build a temple ... Week 6 football: 'Game of the year' is big for different reasons now sports New Delhi : A two-member team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited Manila last week to question a notorious woman recruiter of the Islamic State (IS) terror group who radicalised several Indians in the last three years through social media. During her questioning, which took place from April 24 to 27, 32-year-old Karen Aisha Hamidon provided important clues about Indians who are involved with ISIS and those spreading the terror groups agenda online, said sources. TOI had first reported on October 21 + last year that Karen, whose name is mentioned in NIA chargesheet as an online motivator, was arrested by the Phillipines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the basis of information provided by NIA. Hamidon, widow of Philippines-based terrorist leader Mohammad Jafaar Maquid, gained international notoriety in 2016 when Indian agencies found that she used Facebook, Telegram channels and WhatsApp groups to recruit foreign fighters from India and other countries like he US, the UK, India, the UAE, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh. Since then, she is wanted by intelligence agencies of over a dozen countries. Three Indian ISIS operatives Mohammad Sirajuddin, an Indian Oil Corporation manager; Mohammad Naseer, a 23-year-old computer engineer from Tamil Nadu; and Adnan Hasan, a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka had claimed that they were influenced by Karen. According to NIA, she managed large online groups IslamQ&A and Ummah Affairs where IS members shared Caliphates ideology and jihadi material and expressed a desire to travel to the territory. She has given names of several other Indians who were in touch with her and other recruiters/motivators of ISIS active in the virtual world, said a source. Sources added that NBI has also shared documents and articles recovered from her residence and hideouts in Manila. The investigators of Phillipines have even shared their investigation details, which will help us connect the dots on other ISIS suspects based in India, said an official. The questioning of Sirajuddin, Naseer and Hasan and data retrieved from the digital devices seized from them at the time of their arrest had revealed that Karen, a resident of MB-13 Unit-105 BCDA, Pamayanang Diego Shilang Village Barangay Ususan, C-5 Road Taguig City, 1639 Metro Manila, Philippines, used mobile numbers +639300183542 and +639165017304 and she was one of the most active ISIS operative based in Philippines between 2014 and December 2015. 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. She was also in telephonic contacts with many other Indian nationals, said NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal. The questioning of Karen 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 leads obtained are being investigated, said Mittal. After her arrest last year, Karen had claimed before the department of justice in Manila that she was being framed. She claimed that she was just a blogger and a Muslim missionary against whom false accusations had been levelled by police. Im into journalistic articles, composition, and a writer Im an Islamic propagator, Im a Muslim missionary, the counterpart of a Christian missionary. I only use the social media as my avenue to spread the message of Islam for religious purposes, for maximum audiences, she had said then. They (police) have already sensationalised my story because I have reached the pinnacle of international notoriety with the usage of the social media, she added. Source : TOI I write this piece wearing many hats. I am, in ascending order of priority, a lawyer, a woman and a mother of two teenage daughters. My girls seethe with indignation at reports on the rape of minor girls. They want answers, not least from their mother who has spent much of her life in the courts. The truth is I have none. As a society, we have failed our women. That is one half of us. When the December 16 gang rape in Delhi happened, we thought enough was enough. But the huge outpourings of outrage, the public protests that culminated in the Justice Verma Committee Report and the enhanced punishment seem to make little difference to the many monsters around us, godmen among them.The challenge extends well beyond criminals. It is a whole mindset, a very rotten one that needs radical reform. Recently, at an awards function in the name of the December 16, 2012 braveheart , a former DGP described her mother as having a very, very nice physique, indicative of the gang rape survivors own beauty that attracted the attention of miscreants. If this is how our protectors and guardians of the law think, we can safely expect only much worse from others. Talking of protectors and holders of public trust, spiritual sanctuaries have turned out to be the safest havens for sexual crime as scandals tumble out of ashrams, churches and recently, a madrasa. While death penalty is controversial, the fact is that capital punishment remains on our statute books for the most abhorrent of crimes and already applies to a situation where the rape victim dies or is reduced to a vegetative state. Is there really a debate about whether the rape of a child under 12 falls within the category of most abhorrent crimes? Raping a little girl lies at the very depths of depravity known to living beings. It is unfair to animals to call the perpetrator animal-like or beastly, because animals do not treat their own species with the cruelty human beings are capable of. Rape of a minor must be recognised among the worst of crimes and the new ordinance does that. But that said, providing death penalty as one of the possible punishments for raping girl under 12 (the perpetrator will mostly still get life imprisonment ) is a quick fix that is unlikely to generate the desired deterrence. Since most sexual crimes against minors take place in the safe confines of a home, often by a relative, the victim is likely to be silenced against complaining, particularly because the consequences can be death for the offender. The girl herself might find the possible consequences hard to deal with. In any case, death sentences are rarely executed in India. Even in the most infamous of terror cases, matters have stretched on for decades before the sentence is carried out, if at all. The punishment is therefore unlikely to achieve deterrence. The social reality is that sexual crimes are likely to be on the rise rather than on the ebb. In times when women stayed cloistered at home, the scope for sexual crimes remained largely confined to the home. Women have now stepped out into the spaces once monopolised by men. They travel long distances to school, to college and to workplaces where they share space with men, compete with them and threaten their positions. Men tend to respond by using the easiest tools at their disposal physical or sexual power. The grim reality is that as women get ahead, they must brace themselves for more crimes, not less. While the criminal justice system desperately needs to get into shape with many more, no-nonsense women judges and a quick process, start to finish, it is not the solution. What is the answer then? The approach has to be prophylactic. If we cant change the mindset of grown men, we can certainly catch them young. Ideally that must begin at home. Children are taught math and science in school but how about gender sensitisation as a compulsory subject, both in theory and practice? This is as important a life skill as any other and needs to be part of the education curriculum from kindergarten to college. Boys must be sensitised against sexism and taught to stand up against others who harm or harass women. Girls must be taught self-defence in school- it is as important to their survival as a midday meal. We can take a few lessons from Kenya that has brought rapes down by teaching positive masculinity and self- defence in schools. During the protests in the aftermath of Kathua, a young woman held up a placard which read: Beta padhao, use rakshas banne se bachao (Educate your boys, save them from turning into monsters!). Lets say that again. Madhavi Goradia Divan is an advocate, Supreme Court of India The views expressed are personal Almost each time someone brought them a gift based on art or literature from abroad (such as a Shakespeare mug or a Gone With The Wind fridge magnet), Delhi-based academic Saba Bashir and her husband Amir would think about the dearth of such products in India. Then in 2016, Amir left his job with a paper manufacturing company to launch Booksetc to make available literary gifts to bibliophiles. They started with Shakespeare mugs and tote bags and currently offer merchandise carrying illustrations of and poems by more than 20 international and Indian authors in English and Urdu. A Godaan mug. Godaan is a Munshi Premchand novel. (Photo courtesy: Booksetc) Both of us are avid readers. There came a time when we could visualise poems and couplets on utility items, said Saba who manages the enterprise with her husband from their south Delhi apartment. Theirs is one of the many enterprises using visual art to popularise Indian literature and literary figures. The merchandise gives a face to popular couplets; makes conventional products attractive; and makes popular literature part of our daily lives. There is a couplet or poem for every occasion, mood and phase of life, only if you have the patience to pick the right product, said the Bashirs. Being the son of an Urdu teacher, Shiraz Husain grew up in a home in south Delhis Okhla where everyone was interested in reading. Images of rose petals, dry leaves, burning candles with poetry superimposed on them, was all he could find when he ran a Google image search for Urdu poetry. While exploring literature offline, he came across abstract interpretations of popular poems. I was pained to see that thousands of people who love shayari dont know their favourite poets by face, said Husain, a Masters in Fine Arts, who started the Facebook page Khwaab Tanha Collective on which he regularly posts images of T-shirts, posters and pocket notebooks conceptualised by him. There are many enterprises such as Khwaab Tanha Collective that use merchandise to popularise literature like the use of a Faiz poem on a T-shirt (Photo courtesy: Khwaab Tanha Collective) Husain shares his artwork with people interested in buying it. Some of the Collectives creations are available on its FB page, apart from the People Tree store in Connaught Place, Delhi, and the Pagdandi Cafe in Pune. This is my response to the cliched imagery of Urdu literature. Monetary benefit was not my priority, said Husain. Posters of Saadat Hasan Manto holding a cigarette, Amrita Pritam in deep thought and Ghalibs portrait adorn the walls of his study. His experience as a field researcher on a bibliographic project for the Asia Art Archive, a non-profit organisation based in Hong Kong, exposed him to the massive literature and images of poets available in libraries across the country. Husain is happy to see the momentum Urdu has witnessed due to numerous literary festivals including Jashn-e-Rekhta and the Urdu Heritage Festival. It seemed that the movement of people and ideas, which was part of the Ganga-Jamuni composite culture, stopped due to politics. Now it is changing for good, he said. Poet Allama Iqbals image embossed on a lamp. (Photo courtesy: Artykite) In his free time, Sani Khan used to make posters and lamp shades which he would place in his study. Whoever visited me said that I was sitting on a great business idea, said Khan. In 2017, after much coaxing, Khan and four of his friends, founded Artykite, a venture that fuses pop art with literature. I realised that it takes people two steps to fall in love with the kind of work we do. First, the aesthetics appeal to them. And then they are compelled to know the meaning of the text. Thats when they start relating to it and are open to making it part of their daily lives in the form of mugs, tote bags and lamp shades, he said. Boney Kapoor along with his daughters, Janhvi and Khushi, accepted the posthumous National Award for the late Sridevi on Thursday, in a controversial ceremony marked by boycotts and no-shows. After the sudden announcement by the office of the President of India, several recipients of the prestigious awards refused to attent the ceremony. A majority of the awards were given out by Information and Broadcasting minister, Smriti Irani, a deviation from the tradition. READ | 102 Not Out movie review: Its all about Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoors acting On Thursday, President Ram Nath Kovinds office announced that he only commits one hour for awards shows, and would not be available to present every winner. It was reported that 68 awardees did not attend the ceremony. Boney Kapoor, husband of the cinema icon Sridevi, was one of the 11 awardees to be presented with their award by the president. I would have been equally happy if the Minister of Information and Broadcasting had given me the award. It is ultimately the recognition of your work. I dont understand what the fuss is about. There is no harm in receiving the award by the concerned ministry, the film producer told ANI. Producer Boney Kapoor along with his daughters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor arrives to receive Best Actress award conferred on his late wife Sridevi for her intense role as a mother in her last released film Mom in New Delhi. (IANS) Sridevi died suddenly in February during a visit to Dubai for a family wedding. Her eldest daughter, Janhvi - who will soon be making her film debut - wore her mothers saree to the event. Said Boney Kapoor about the honour, considered the highest in the field of cinema in the country, I am extremely happy and proud. This is what shes got after working for 50 years in the industry; she would have cherished this award all her life. This is the highest honour. We miss her and today we miss her even more. I would have preferred, she going and accepting the award and me and my children sitting down and clapping for her. READ | Janhvi Kapoor looks just like Sridevi as she accepts National Film Award on her behalf Sridevi won her award for her performance in Mom. In the movie, directed by Ravi Udyawar, she played a mother who sets out to avenge her step-daughters death. Pakistani actor Sajal Ali played her step-daughter in the film. Sridevi will be seen in a cameo appearance in Shah Rukh Khans Zero later this year. Follow @htshowbiz for more Janhvi Kapoor reminds everyone of her mother Sridevi in everything she does. The upcoming actor not only chose to wear her late mothers saree as she received a posthumous National Film Award on Thursday but also embodied her mannerisms at the event. Janhvi was spotted wiping sweat off her tired father Boney Kapoors face in a photo. Sridevis fans quickly found that they had seen something similar to this tender father-daughter moment in another photo taken a few years ago. They dug up an old photo in which Sridevi herself can be seen wiping sweat of Boneys forehead at the Filmfare Awards ceremony in 2013. The side-by-side photos of the family are being shared by Janhvi and Sridevis fanpages on social media. Janhvi wore a beautiful silk Kanjeevaram saree to the 65th National Film Awards in New Delhi as she accepted the Best Actress Award on her mothers behalf for her work in Mom. She was also joined by her younger sister Khushi, who also honoured her mothers Tamilian roots by wearing the traditional half-saree. A post shared by janhvi kapoor fanpage (@xjanhvikapoorfc) on May 3, 2018 at 8:07pm PDT Feeling extremely proud of his wife, Boney said this award was what she got after working for 50 years in the film industry. I am extremely happy and proud. This is what shes got after working for 50 years in the industry; she would have cherished this award all her life. This is the highest honour. We miss her and today we miss her even more. I would have preferred, she going and accepting the award and me and my children sitting down and clapping for her, he said. New Delhi: Filmmaker Boney Kapoor along with his daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor, receives National Film Award from President Ram Nath Kovind on the behalf of his wife and late actress Sridevi. (IANS) Sridevi died of accidental drowning in a Dubai hotel in February. The loss was mourned by millions of her fans around the world. Janhvi will soon be seen in her Bollywood debut film opposite Ishaan Khattar, Dhadak, on July 6. Follow @htshowbiz for more Raazi director Meghna Gulzar says actor Alia Bhatt was the only choice for her to play the protagonist in the movie, and without her perhaps she wouldnt have made the film. The film is based on Harinder Sikkas novel Calling Sehmat and is a cross-border spy drama. Asked what made her cast Alia as Kashmiri girl Sehmat, Mehna said, From the time I learnt that I have to helm the film, Alias face popped up in my mind and that never changed. I am really thankful to Alia for agreeing to do the film. Otherwise I couldnt have made the film. I dont think anybody else could fit in, with all due respect to the other actresses. Meghna was clear from the start that she didnt want Alias character to be like Lara Croft. Sehmat is an ordinary, simple 20-year-old girl with an innate strength which we all have in us, and we do things if circumstance demands... that we possibly wont do otherwise. So, the character needed to remain vulnerable, feminine and fragile; no matter what else was going on around her, she added. Read: 102 Not Out movie review: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoors sparkling drama The film Raazi, releasing on May 11, also features Vicky Kaushal, Soni Razdan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Rajit Kapoor. Vicky is all praise for Alia. I think she is one of the versatile, spontaneous and organic actresses we have in the country. Look at the kind of roles she has taken up. She really feels what she performs and that translates on-screen, said Vicky. He added, As a human being, she is so easy going, she is a very genuine person, and we bonded really well during the shoot. She is always her real self. In the movie, Vicky plays a Pakistani Army officer. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) The Goods and Services Tax Council (GST Council) on Friday approved a simpler tax return filing system under the new indirect tax regime and also approved the conversion of the GST Network into a government holding, finance minister Arun Jaitley said after the council met through a video conference. The new return filing form will reduce the compliance burden for taxpayers as they would have to file only one monthly return and invoices have to be uploaded only by sellers. It will be put in place within six months and the transition will be done in a phased manner. As per the transition plan decided by the Council, the existing GSTR 1 and GSTR 3B forms will continue for the next six months. After this period, all taxpayers will need to file one monthly return with composition dealers, while dealers filing no tax returns will need to file only quarterly returns. For six months under the new tax filing regime, taxpayers will be able to avail provisional input tax credit, even if the seller has not uploaded the invoices. However, after this, input tax credit will be available to the buyer only for invoices uploaded by the supplier. In case of non-payment of tax by the seller, the government has retained the right to recover dues from both the buyer and the seller. In case of default in payment of tax by the seller, recovery shall be made from the seller. However, reversal of credit from buyer shall also be an option available with the revenue authorities to address exceptional situations like missing dealer, closure of business by supplier or supplier not having adequate assets etc, said a finance ministry statement. The GST Council also decided to covert GSTN into a government-owned company, with the centre and states holding a 50% stake each. At present, 51% stake is held by private entities, valued at 5.1 crore, with the centre and the states holding 24.5% each. To be sure, to protect existing employees and their salaries, the GSTN board has been allowed to continue with the staffing terms for a period of up to five years. They will also have the freedom to hire new employees at similar terms. However, there was no consensus on the issues of levying a 3% GST cess on sugar as well as providing a 2% incentive on digital payments, subject to a cap of 100. The matter has been referred to two separate groups of ministersone headed by Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the other by Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi. In the video on his mothers phone, Arjun Shamat is dancing with his youngest sister; just another kid goofing off. Who could have known then that a few months later he would be dead? He never left home without informing me, says Raj Kumari, his mother, a domestic worker. But a friend called, Lets go for a ride. A short while later, his father got the call: theres been an accident. In the hospital, Arjun, not yet 18, didnt respond when his mother touched him or when his father, Ram Bahadur, called his name. On the second day, the doctors at AIIMS told them Arjun was brain dead. He was on a ventilator, but once they switched it off, breath would cease. He hadnt even said goodbye, says Raj Kumari. The decision to donate Arjuns organs was not difficult, say the parents. My only son was dead, but I thought maybe he can give life to others, says Ram Bahadur, a cook attached to the office of the Nagaland resident commissioner in Delhi. The doctors harvested Arjuns corneas, his kidneys, liver, heart and bones, says Dr Aarti Vij, head, Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation, AIIMS. It was a brave, exemplary decision . In an angry, divided world it might seem like heroism is dead. Yet, it quietly turns up in unexpected crevices. It is found in the stoicism of a fathers grief, head shaven, face ashen, as he completes the ritualistic 13-day mourning for his son. It is found in a mothers smile. Why should I cry? she says. My sons heart is still beating isnt it? Then she wipes her tears and smiles again. To dig deep inside your personal grief and excavate something precious; to understand that a life cut short can be of use; to step outside your personal boundaries to reach a larger humanity, that is heroism. Ram Bahadur and Raj Kumari are heroes. On any given day, there are eight to 10 brain dead people in ICUs across India, according to data from Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant.. One donor can save up to seven lives, the data says. Yet, five lakh people in India die every year due to the non-availability of organs. On the waiting list: 10 lakh people for a corneal transplant, 2.2 lakh for a kidney, 50,000 for a heart and 20,000 for a lung, says Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant. In 2016, there were 723 donors who gave 2,194 organs up from 571 donors in 2015, according to Mohan Foundation. This is not enough. Arjun loved chowmein, momos and mango shake, says his mother. He was good with his hands, fixing computers and TV sets. He had his future figured out: Enrol in open university and get a job. He dreamed of owning his own car, even if it was second-hand. Would she like to meet the people who received her sons organs? Raj Kumari smiles: Id like to see my sons eyes again. I would recognise them anywhere. Namita Bhandare writes on social issues and gender The views expressed are personal There was only one reason that the otherwise ideologically dissonant alliance between the BJP and the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir what former chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed called the meeting of the north and south pole made any sense. And that was because the election results in 2014 had thrown up a fractured verdict that drew a line through the heart of the state, pushing Hindu-dominated Jammu on one side of the political divide and the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley on the other. Mufti Sahebs logic in embracing a coalition he knew was unwieldy from the start was to build a bridge across a floodgate of polarised emotions. At the time, I was among those who thought the move reflected statesmanship and maturity by both parties. I believed mistakenly that the welding of muscular nationalism and soft separatism would have a salutary effect on each other to create a moderate whole. As I know now, I couldnt have been more wrong. The bizarre coalition in which the CM and the deputy CM are on different pages on all key issues (the Kathua rape and murder of a child, talks with Pakistan, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, cases against stone pelters, dialogue with separatists) is not just unworkable; it is playing with fire in a state that is seeing some of its worst years since the insurgency erupted in the 1990s. Instead of nurturing a middle ground, the absence of any internal agreement has only emboldened extremes on either side. And if the singular reason to preserve the coalition was that no other arithmetic arrangement could represent both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir in the same government, well then, today, the regions and, dare I say, the people, stand sharply and dangerously divided like they havent been for years. This need by both parties to play to entirely separate constituencies is one of the reasons that as soon as the media gaze was averted from the Kathua rape and murder, the BJP actually doubled down on the issue. The national outrage had compelled the party to remove two state ministers who had attended a rally of the self-proclaimed Hindu Ekta Manch in defence of the men accused of the rape. But, perhaps facing a backlash from its more hardline base in the Jammu region (that appears to have bought the manufactured, false and aggressively peddled narrative that all Hindus are being vilified), the BJP quietly elevated the Kathua MLA, Rajiv Jasrotia, who had attended the same rally, to the position of minister. The governments new deputy chief minister then spoke of Kathua being a small incident. Neither development seemed coincidental. The BJP had quietly shifted into electoral gear. Frankly, while the headlines may appear negative for them, the balance of power in the alliance today distinctly tilts in favour of the BJP. While Mehbooba Muftis team told journalists that the sacking of the two ministers was because the PDP had threated to call off the coalition if it did not happen, she was silent when the Kathua MLA, implicated in the same controversies as the two sacked ministers, was subsequently brought into her cabinet. It doesnt appear as if she was taken into confidence either before the list of new faces was sent to the governors office. Just days ago, her brother, Tassaduq Mufti, a filmmaker from Bangalore and now the tourism minister of the state, spoke about the alliance in scathing terms, calling the two parties, partners in crime. Their inability to act on that public lashing of the alliance signals who is calling the shots. A senior BJP leader agreed with me that the coalition was untenable, going one step further to say: Now its just about who calls it off; them or us. PDP sources, however, say Muftis party has a dilemma: if a defeat is certain in the next assembly elections, there is no real gain in forgoing the remaining two years in power. Effectively, by missing earlier exit opportunities to claim political martyrdom or the higher ground, the PDP may have surrendered that authority to the BJP. In other words, the BJP has more to gain from walking out of the alliance; the PDP has more to lose by staying. The divisions only make Indias most sensitive state that much more vulnerable. Terrorism, the embrace of militancy by locals, religious radicalisation, Hindu-Muslim communalisation, jingoism, hysterical television channels, a collapse of any space for dialogue: all of it is terrible news. The paradox of the ruling alliance is obviously just one of varied challenges in the state. But for the states sake and for the sake of both parties even if it doesnt collapse it should. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal Squatters encroaching on roads, sidewalks and other public spaces in the Capital reappeared at their putative establishments soon after being removed by Delhi authorities over the week, exposing an acute lack of follow-up measures in the wake of lacklustre action in the first place. The Supreme Court came down heavily on the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Thursday, directing it to provide reasons behind amending the master plan to allow extra floor area ratio (FAR) to commercial complexes in 112 markets so that they remain protected from the ongoing sealing drive. The highest court also pulled up the civic agency for giving just three days to the public for giving their objections to the proposed amendment. Six days after a special task force set up by the Centre launched an anti-encroachment drive across Delhi following Supreme Court directions, HT revisited five spots and found that squatters were back in business. The streets looked chaotic, with vendors freely hawking their wares on pavements and illegally parked cars causing traffic snarls. On May 1, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had removed at least 12 temporary structures and makeshift kitchens from pavements in RK Puram. When HT visited the site two days later, hawkers had built new structures on both the stretches. The broken tin roofs of eateries had been reinstated. At Govindpuri in south Delhi, tyre shops and car workshops that had encroached on pavements and were removed in a drive on Wednesday were back a day later. The north Corporation had lifted 17 vehicles near the Red Fort on Netaji Subhash Marg on May 1. However, on Thursday, the entire road had scores of e-rickshaws and carts parked right on the traffic intersection, causing traffic to crawl. Municipal officials refused to go on the record citing Supreme Court scrutiny, but on condition of anonymity, one of them said all records and evidence of every action taken under the encroachment drive were sent to the local police for follow-up action. It is their responsibility to ensure that no squatter comes back, he said. Delhi Police spokesperson Madhur Verma said that they will initiate regular drives to check that these squatters do not return to their usual spots. Under the Delhi Police Act, we can take preventive action by confiscating the goods of repeat offenders. However, we prefer to keep the municipalities in the loop during these drives, he said. A Supreme Court bench of justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta found it strange that the special task force team set up by the Centre on April 25 targeted only the poor during its drive free the public spaces from encroachment. We can see from the pictures that you have removed only the tea vendors or those who are poor. How about the portacabins outside palatial houses where security guards sit, justice Gupta asked additional solicitor generals Maninder Singh and AS Nadkarni. Both assured the court that no distinction would be made by the task force and all encroachments would be removed. This is just the beginning. The drive will continue, Nadkarni told the bench. Why do you have this double standard? When it comes to inviting objections from the public, you give only three days. But when we (court) ask you to file an affidavit, you ask for six weeks. Sometimes even that is not enough, the judges asked Singh when he opened arguments on behalf of the DDA to lift the stay order the court had imposed on the proposed amendments to the Delhi Master Plan 2021. The court had on March 8 put on hold the changes the DDA had suggested to the plan to give relief to traders from the ongoing sealing drive. The court had asked for responses on the adverse impact of the amendments to the master plan, which the DDA did not do. The law requires the DDA to seek objections and public views before proposing changes to the master plan. Singh requested the court to take up the DDAs plea to lift the stay. He argued the FAR relief was meant for 112 shopping areas where the government had in 1962 permitted dual use of buildings. Here the ground floor was meant for commercial purposes and the first floor for residential areas. Although the master plan allowed extra FAR for residential dwellings, no such relief was extended to these areas, he said. But the judges were not convinced and questioned the rationale behind increasing the FAR. They also reminded Singh that the master plan in which changes were proposed was under challenge. If we allow the amendments now and constructions come up overnight then what will you do if the master plan is quashed? That is a possibility and it cannot be ruled out, justice Lokur told Singh. Asking Singh to give in writing the amendments the DDA had suggested to the master plan and asked senior advocate Ranjit Kumar to respond to them on May 8. At the end of the hearing, the judges reminded Singh and Nadkarni that the situation in Delhi with regard to pollution, water scarcity and congestion had reached alarming levels. It seems irreversible. Perhaps its too late. If we are hearing this matter its only for the people of Delhi. If efforts are made, things can probably improve, the bench said. The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) led by TTV Dinakaran on Friday announced that it will help with lodging facilities for NEET aspirants from Tamil Nadu who have been allotted exam centres in neighbouring Kerala. Dinakaran said the AMMK has made arrangements for Tamil Nadu students who need accommodation and route guidance to the exam centres. In a statement here, Dinakaran -- the nephew of now jailed former AIADMK General Secretary VK claimed that the action of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) with respect to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) was a reflection of the central governments anti-Tamil Nadu attitude. The AMMK leader said several hundred medical college aspirants from Tamil Nadu have been allotted centres in states like Kerala and even Rajasthan. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Odishas Board of Secondary Education (BSE) will declare the results of Class 10 board examinations on May 7 morning, Board President Jahanara Begum said on Friday. Speaking at a press meet, Begum said that the result will be available on boards official website www.bseodisha.ac.in after 12pm. Earlier in the day, Odishas Board of Secondary Education (BSE) president had dismissed rumours that the Class 10 exam results will be declared on May 5. This year, 590,363 students had written the examination that was held between February 23 to March 8. Officials had last month said that the Class 12 science stream results will be announced in the third week of May and those for humanities and commerce in the last week. There were 365,826 students who took the Class 12 exams from March 5 to March 29. Last year, the pass percentage for Class 10 was 85.28 and in Class 12 74.24% students cleared the exams. Aditi Rao Hydari is Vogue Indias May 2018 cover star, and the actor looks sexier than ever in the lengthy photo spread, posing in laid-back outfits wed love to steal, including a romantic water lily pyjama set from For Restless Sleepers. Aditi opened up to the magazine about everything from what she carries in her handbag to what she loves the most about her home. But her tropical style, inspired by exotic islands and wild forests in super-energetic colours (red, green, yellow and purple) and patterns, are pure energy one can wear. A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on Apr 29, 2018 at 9:36pm PDT With bold motif, sequins and summer accessories popping up here and there and vibrant swimsuits in coveted hues like teal blue and cactus green, Aditi is totally making us yearn for a tropical vacation to actually go to Hawaii/ Bali/ Fiji/ insert other awe-inducing vacation spots here. Keep scrolling to see some jaw-droppingly gorgeous photos from the Padmaavat stars cover story that evoke wild nature and lush vegetation like nothing else. If these looks dont inspire you to channel tropical prints, even when youre not on vacation, we dont know what will: A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on Apr 29, 2018 at 9:40pm PDT Aditi in Hermes, Christian Louboutin and Zoya Jewels A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on May 2, 2018 at 12:18am PDT Aditi in Anita Dongre, Anton Heunis, Thot Gioielli, Redemption, Lisa Marie Fernandez and Christian Louboutin A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on May 2, 2018 at 12:22am PDT Aditi in Saint Laurent, Rhea Hirani Shah Aditi in Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, Mercedes Salazar, Dolce & Gabbana and Charlotte Olympia A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on May 2, 2018 at 12:25am PDT Aditi in Bottega Veneta, Mercedes Salazar and Thot Gioielli A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on May 2, 2018 at 12:26am PDT Aditi in Hermes and H&M A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on May 2, 2018 at 12:27am PDT Aditi in Gucci and Thot Gioielli A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on May 2, 2018 at 12:28am PDT Aditi in Anton Heunis, Saaksha and Kinni and Shaheen abbas Follow @htlifeandstyle for more By now, everyone has heard the news: Actor Sonam Kapoor and boyfriend Anand Ahuja are getting married on May 8. We knew the news was coming soon, as it was reported that choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan was choreographing some dance sequences for Sonams sangeet and the actor was spotted shopping jewellery in Kolkata in January with Anands mother. But the pairs families finally announced their wedding and we couldnt be happier. The wedding countdown has officially begun. Now the natural next question is: What will Sonam wear? The Veere Di Wedding star has a timeless but anything-but-boring style and toes the line between classy and slightly edgy. The possibilities are endless. In a February 2018 interview with Brides Today magazine, Sonam said of her wedding dress style: I dont like fashion pieces. I like beautiful, traditional Indian clothes, that dont go out of style. In the past, Sonam has demonstrated such an affinity to Kolkata-based designer Anamika Khanna, in whose creations she has been spotted on numerous occasions, including her Brides Today spread. Its no surprise then that Sonam once said this about her wearing a design from Anamikas eponymous label, Everybody dreams of being an Anamika bride. I just have an added advantage. Dont do the mathapatti, the nose ring, the necklace, and the hathphool all together. Every piece should not be a statement piece. There should be one thing thats beautiful and stunning, and everything else has to accentuate it, she told Brides Today, adding that a traditional silk saree is a must-have for every bride. Sonam also opened up about her grooms wedding style and said she likes a little bit of matchy-matchy things, but there just has to be an element of that. It cant be the same fabric, with the same embroidery on the outfit that the bride is also wearing. I just find it a bit too much, Sonam said. Now, we have a few days before Sonams big day, so to hold us over until then, below are a few dresses we can see the actor wearing to her traditional morning Sikh wedding. A post shared by Shyamal & Bhumika (@shyamalbhumika) on May 2, 2018 at 11:42am PDT Every bride needs her princess moment, and thats exactly what this heavily-embellished A-line lehenga is A post shared by Anamika Khanna (@anamikakhanna.in) on Feb 5, 2018 at 6:17am PST Sonam has an effervescent, cool-girl vibe and we can seriously see her in a floral embroidered number with light hues A post shared by Shehlaa By Shehla Khan (@shehlaakhan) on Mar 29, 2018 at 5:10am PDT Maybe Sonamll rock sheer sleeves, like she usually does, but with a whimsical bride vibe A post shared by Akanksha Gajria (@akankshagajria) on Apr 5, 2018 at 8:24am PDT Sequins and mirror and just the right amount of colour, fit for a cheerful bride A post shared by Anita Dongre (@anitadongre) on Apr 9, 2018 at 8:40am PDT Maybe Sonamll surprise us with a super simple style and a trendy pastel look A post shared by Aza (@azafashions) on May 2, 2018 at 11:56pm PDT A classic sheer blush lehenga gets a major update thanks to the shimmery tassel detail A post shared by Varun Bahl Couture (@varunbahlcouture) on Apr 5, 2018 at 9:25am PDT A simple anarkali would be perfect with a dramatic embroidered hem A post shared by Aza (@azafashions) on Mar 31, 2018 at 7:45am PDT Classic red and gold for brides is always the number one choice Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Right-wing Hindu outfits on Friday allegedly disrupted namaz at 10 locations in Gurugram and said they would continue their protest if the administration did not stop unauthorised prayers in public spaces. However, there was no outbreak of violence due to a heavy presence of security forces, the police said. The protesters, gathered under the aegis of Hindu Sanyukt Sangarsh Samiti, claimed that Muslim worshippers did not have permission to offer prayers at roadsides, parks, and vacant government land in the city. The Samiti is an umbrella body of 12 Hindutva groups including Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena, Hindu Jagran Manch, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Kranti Dal and some other local groups. Although some verbal disputes and slogan shouting was reported between the two sides at Sikarderpur, but officials said the situation did not turn ugly due to police intervention. Samiti activists allegedly fanned out in the afternoon and disrupted Muslim worshippers, members of the Muslim community claimed. Namaz was also not offered at the disputed site in Sector 43, where a flare-up had happened on April 20 after a group of eight men had allegedly disrupted namaz. Police officials said that six of the eight men had been arrested. Muslim leaders said they had met senior police officials on Thursday and agreed that they would not offer namaz at the disputed sites in Wazirabad, Sikanderpur and Atul Kataria chowk. Why were our people attacked at 10 different places? I dont understand why these elements are being given a free hand, said Haji Shehzad Khan, who filed the police complaint in the Wazirabad matter. He added that they did not offer prayers at the disputed site. Rajiv Mittal, a Sanyukt Hindu Sangarsh Samiti leader, said group members went to Atul Kataria chowk, Sikanderpur, in Sector 40 and to MG Road to stop the namaz. We have nothing against Muslims, but we want law to be implemented in the city. The Muslim worshippers did not have any permission to offer prayers and it is against the rules, Mittal said. Khan, however, said there were 7 lakh Muslims in Gurugram and only 22 mosques, so they are usually left with no option but to offer prayers in open spaces. We are not disturbing anyone, he said. Khan said Muslim leaders will meet on Saturday and chalk out the future course of action. We dont want to create tension but a way forward must be found, Khan said. He alleged that Hindu activists had threatened worshippers at Sikanderpur. The police however said that they had deployed adequate force to prevent any untoward incident from happening. Law and order is under control, said Ravinder Kumar, Gurugram polices public relations officer. He added that it was the prerogative of district administration to give permission for Friday prayers. The first trailer for Robin Hood, a new take on the evergreen legend, was released online on Thursday. The film stars Kingsmans Taron Egerton in the lead role, and hes joined by Jamie Foxx as Little John. The trailer begins with Robin - who seems to be a Bruce Wayne sort of figure, a rich man who turns attention away from himself - offering advice to the Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn) in his effort to catch this new masked menace everyone is talking about. Like Batman, the vigilante also leaves behind calling cards - hoods - wherever hes been. Of course, Robins true identity is revealed in the trailer itself. Instead of highlighting his relationship with his Merry Men, who are given token introductions here, the trailer focusses on the slick action. Theres a lot of fluid archery and acrobatics, peppered with sweeping shots of a CGI England. Until we get a Hawkeye solo movie, well have to make do with this. We also dont get enough of Mendelsohns performance. The actor has quite the impressive roster of villainous characters to his credit -- hes been a part of the Star Wars universe, Christopher Nolans Dark Knight series, and will play the villain in the upcoming Captain Marvel. Robin Hood is directed by Otto Bathurst, who is most well known for having helmed episodes of Peaky Blinders. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film which also stars Bonos daughter Eve Hewson as Maid Marian and Fifty Shades Jamie Dornan in supporting roles, will release in theatres on November 21. Follow @htshowbiz for more Gujarat police on Friday arrested a man in connection with the rape and murder of a two-year-old girl in Morbi town. The girl went missing from her home late on Wednesday night. Her family members work as labourers in ceramic tiles factories. Her body was later recovered from a pond on Jetpar road late on Thursday evening, said police sub inspector Shaktisinh Gohil. Police have arrested Suraj Chauhan, who is also a migrant labourer, for the crime under the Pocso Act, the officer said. Police said preliminary investigation revealed that the two-year-old was raped before being killed. We have been waiting for the post-mortem report to know the exact cause of the death, the officer added. Police said the girls mother had raised suspicion about Chauhan. The woman came to know about her childs disappearance when she suddenly woke up late on Wednesday night and could not find her daughter. The family raised an alarm and began looking for her along with their neighbours. However, they soon suspected Chauhan as he was missing from his quarters. Morbi town in Saurashtra peninsula is an industrial belt with clusters of ceramic and clock industry. While the clock manufacturing units mainly have local labourers, the ceramic industry has a sizeable proportion of migrants. Before the Union government brought out an ordinance last month with capital punishment in cases of sexual assault against children below the age of 12, an 11-year-old girl in Rajkot city gave birth to a baby girl in January this year after she was allegedly gang-raped by six men. The baby, however, could not survive. Police have arrested the owner of the house where the girl worked as a domestic help and his friends for allegedly raping her. Another 11-year-old was raped multiple times and finally murdered in Surat as she was witness to her mothers murder. Her body with 86 injury marks was found from Pandesara area and the police took almost a fortnight to establish her identity. A man, who allegedly bought them from Rajasthan for Rs 30,000, was arrested on charges of rape and murder. A 60-year-old rickshaw puller accused of raping a nine-year-old girl in Dachepalli of Andhra Pradeshs Guntur district on Wednesday allegedly committed suicide on Friday, police said. Officials said the body of Annam Subbaiah was found hanging from a tree in an agricultural field near Amaralingeshwara Swamy temple between Daida and Telikutla villages in the afternoon. Guntur Police, who launched a manhunt for the man who fled after the crime, said they got a hint about his suicide after examining his call data record. They said Subbaiah told one of his relatives that he had committed a crime and was ashamed of it. My son is paying the penalty for my heinous crime. I dont like to live anymore. I will be visible to you only in the form of a dead body, Subbaiah allegedly told his relative. The incident took a political turn as YSR Congress party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy held chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu responsible for the incident and said the accused could be an activist of the ruling Telugu Desam Party. He added that such incidents were happening only because Naidu had not taken action against TDP activists, who committed crimes against women in the past. YSR Congress partys MLA RK Roja on Friday create a ruckus at Guntur hospital where the girl is undergoing treatment. She attacked Naidu for not providing protection to girls in the state. Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan also expressed concern over such incidents and wondered what Guntur MP Galla Jayadev was doing when the rape was happening in his district. The incident triggered massive protests in Dachepalli as thousands of people staged a sit-in on Addanki-Narketpalli state highway bringing the traffic to a grinding halt from Wednesday night to Thursday morning. They also staged a protest on the railway track and stopped trains for some time. The locals razed Subbaiahs house and observed a shutdown in the town on Thursday. They demanded that the alleged rapist be arrested immediately and hanged to death on the streets. The police intervened and pacified the villagers, assuring them of action against the accused. The incident comes less than a fortnight after the Union cabinet approved the death penalty to those convicted of raping children below 12 years following the nationwide outrage over the gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua. It also increased the prison term for the rape of older girls and women. Government figures show that a child is sexually abused every 15 minutes in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau report for 2016, there was a sharp spike in cases of rape against children with an increase of such incidents by over 82% as compared to 2015. A 65-year-old woman was injured in an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops on the Line of Control in north Kashmirs Kupwara district late on Thursday, police said on Friday. Officials said Noor Jehan was hit by a bullet in her leg when Pakistani army violated the ceasefire agreement and opened fire by small arms at the Indian Armys 20 JAT posts around 11pm on Thursday in Saidpora area of Karnah in Kupwara. The woman was hospitalised and is stable, Kupwaras senior superintendent of police Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar said. Officials said that the exchange of fire between the two armies continued till 5am on Friday. They said Indian army also retaliated. The exchange of fire with small and medium arms continued till morning and has stopped now, an official at Kupwaras police control room said. A call to armys Srinagar based spokesperson Rajesh Kalia did not yield any response. India and Pakistan, who have fought at least three wars since 1947, agreed in 2003 to maintain peace along the border, but violations intensified after bilateral relations plummeted in 2016. The two countries often accuse each other of violations. Security forces fear that there would be increased infiltration attempts by militants this year owing to less snowfall in Kashmir in the winters. They say that the ceasefire violations by Pakistan are often aimed at pushing militants across the LoC. We are alert. There is no snow. The weather is also good. However, there have been no infiltration attempts from this side till now, Dinkar said. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanth, currently on an election campaign in Karnataka, is rushing back Friday night to visit storm-ravaged Agra, a senior official said on Friday. The chief minister will arrive in Agra tonight and visit the calamity-hit areas tomorrow morning, principal secretary, Information, Avanish Awasthi said. Adityanath will review the relief and restoration efforts in Agra district, the UP official said. The chief minister will later leave for Kanpur to monitor the relief work there and in nearby districts, Awasthi said. Adityanath was criticised on Thursday by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah for remaining in Karnataka even after Uttar Pradesh was hit by the storm. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah had tweeted. I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there. At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there. https://t.co/RwgDrhdn82 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 The post sparked a twitter battle with Adityanaths advisor Mrityunjay Kumar immediately responding to Siddaramiahs tweet that had gone viral. Yogiji doesnt sleep (over problems) as you do. He had issued necessary instructions for relief and rehabilitation even before he reached Karnataka. He is a Yogi and his life is dedicated to the people, Kumar said in his post tagged to Siddaramaiah. The official handle of the chief ministers office @CMOfficeUP too also tweeted how UP government provided immediate help to the needy. Within 24 hours the families of the 70 dead were provided financial relief of Rs 4 lakh each and 123 families who lost their livestock due to storm too were provided relief, the post read. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also joined the twitter war, siding with the Congress in reminding Yogi that he was more required in UP than in Karnataka. He should have returned immediately back to UP where people elected him to get their problems resolved and not for (participating) in Karnataka politics. If he doesnt return back he should set up his Mutt there permanently, Akhilesh tweeted tagging his post to @CMOfficeUP. At least 64 people, including 43 in Agra, were killed and dozens injured as thunderstorms and rains lashed four districts of western Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday night . Adityanath was earlier scheduled to campaign in poll-bound Karnataka till Saturday noon. (with inputs from HT correspondent) The women and child development ministry is working on bringing an amendment in the law to provide for male child sex abuse victim, an official said on Friday. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act has always strived to develop gender-neutral laws. But yes, we are working on bringing amendment for the male child victims of sexual abuse and it will be soon introduced in the act, women and child development secretary Rakesh Srivastava said. The step comes after woman and child development minister Maneka Gandhi recently supported a petition on Change.org by film-maker-activist Insia Dariwala, who said, male child sexual abuse is an ignored reality in India. Change.org stated that Maneka Gandhi, to whom the petition was addressed, had replied to the plea through Decision Maker response. There shall be no tolerance of any form of sexual violence against children and all criminals will be dealt with severe action. My Ministry has always taken proactive steps to address different issues concerning child safety. Another much-neglected sphere of child sexual abuse is male survivors, she said in a letter to Change.org. Child sexual abuse is gender neutral. Boys who are sexually abused as children spend a lifetime of silence because of the stigma and shame attached to male survivors speaking out. It is a serious problem and needs to be addressed, she added. Srivastava also said for its flagship Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, the government will now use the annual Sex Ratio at Birth data for a quick estimation of the status of the girl child in various districts. The ministry uses the Child Sex Ratio currently. The next Child Sex Ratio is scheduled for 2021 and considering the recent fall of girl child ratio since 1961, we do not have the luxury to wait so long. So we have shifted to Sex Ratio at Birth which is calculated annually and can be a fair indicator of the reality, Srivastava said. We need to take some drastic steps to control it. If we can improve the Sex Ratio at Birth then it will automatically reflect in Child Sex Ratio during the 2021 Census, he added. The ministry refuted a recent report by Niti Aayog which said there has been a substantial drop of 10 points or more for Sex Ratio at Birth in 17 out of 21 states from 2012-14 (base year) to 2013-15 (reference year). Internet services were suspended in Aligarh district on Friday after amid a controversy over a portrait of Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah at Aligrah Muslim University (AMU). Aligarh district magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh announced the suspension of Internet services from 2 pm to Friday midnight to curb inflammatory messages related to the Jinnah controversy being widely shared on social media. Tension prevailed in Aligarh and students continued with their sit-in at the universitys Baab-e-Syed gate, where they had clashed with the police on Wednesday. They are boycotting classes for the next two days. The students offered Friday prayers at the site of the dharna in which a large number of teachers and other members of the AMU fraternity participated. Jinnahs portrait has been hanging at the AMU students union hall since 1938. The controversy started earlier this week when Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote to AMU vice chancellor Tariq Mansoor seeking justification for the portrait of a leader blamed by many for the partition of India. Also read: Gorakhpur MP says Jinnah also participated in freedom struggle, slams BJP On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath also called for the removal of Jinnahs portrait from AMU. A day earlier violence broke out after members of the right-wing Hindu Yuva Vahini and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) entered the AMU campus and burnt an effigy of Jinnah. AMU student union leaders said students from the university marching to a local police station to register a complaint were caned by police. AMU students are adamant the thr portrait would not be removed. The portrait came up as part of a protocol that the AMU students union accorded to all great leaders of the then undivided India who had visited the campus, said Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani, chief of the union. (WIth HT inputs) NOTE: THIS BLOG IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED. You can leave comments but no new posts will appear. Please visit my other blog lewstringercomics.blogspot.com which will continue. Running from 2006 to 2019, BLIMEY! was dedicated to British comics past and present. The images of old comics on my blog are copyright their respective publishers and are only used here for review purposes. They have been scanned from my own personal comics collection, in over 50 years of collecting.The prose articles, with the exception of press releases, are Copyright Lew Stringer and must not be reproduced without permission. The Indian Army has opposed the home ministrys proposal to create a 29 battalion Indo-Myanmar Border force by merging four battalions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) with 25 battalions of Assam Rifles (AR), saying that it is instead ready to consider merging 46 battalions of AR with the regular army for deployment in the eastern Ladakh sector. It has recommended that the 58 battalion ITBP should be deployed on Indias north-east borders instead of its current deployment on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Senior home ministry and Army officials told HT that it has now boiled down to whether AR should operate under the ministry of home affairs and be regarded as a paramilitary force or under the ministry of defence as part of the regular army. As things stand, AR is under the home ministry but its battalions are commanded by Army officers on deputation. The force is headed by a Lieutenant General. The Assam Rifles was deployed with the Army in the 1962 India-China border war and in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The force was raised in 1835 and has been involved in counter-insurgency duties and border management in the north-east since then. Countering the merger proposal of home ministry, the Army brass has made it clear that it would rather have all AR battalions deployed with the army in the Eastern Ladakh sector to man the LAC with China than have army officers serve under paramilitary commanders. The decision that needs to be taken is whether AR continues to function with the home ministry or is transferred to the defence ministry, said a senior North Block official. The army brass has conveyed to the home ministry that while it is ready to deploy AR in Ladakh, ITBP should be removed from this sector and be redeployed on the India-Myanmar border. This will remove inter-force friction on the China border as ITBP does not come under operational control of the Army. Given the sensitivity of the China border, any miscommunication of rivalry between the local army commander and the ITBP commander could create a situation with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). While there is a consensus within the government that AR battalions need to be rotated from north-east to nip vested interests developed over decades, the Cabinet will have to take a call on its future role as a paramilitary force or an army regiment. The Calcutta high court said on Friday it will not interfere in the schedule of the panchayat elections in West Bengal and pulled up the state election commission for not conducting itself in a manner that showed neutrality, reports said. According to reports, the court said that the poll body floundered in upholding its constitutional obligations. The election to the states local administrative bodies is scheduled to be held on May 14. The poll body had earlier said the elections will be held on three days on May 1, 3 and 5. The new date triggered allegations from opposition parties that the single-phase voting decision was taken to oblige the ruling Trinamool Congress. READ: Bengal panchayat polls: Thanks to TMC, the process has turned into a travesty SEC reduced the number of phases for the panchayat polls in the state from three to one without providing necessary clarification which raised eyebrows, the high court was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. It is expected that the commission will redeem itself by treating the courts observations as a wake-up call, the court said according to PTI. The polling process was earlier stalled after the opposition parties in the state petitioned both the Supreme Court and high court alleging widespread violence and strong-arm tactics by the ruling party throughout the nomination process between April 2 and 9 and on April 23. All the opposition parties alleged that the ruling partys supporters were using every weapon of intimidation, from phone calls to crude bombs and firearms, to prevent their candidates from filing nomination, which began on April 2. The nomination process was supposed to continue till March 9, according to the commissions notification on March 31. On April 5, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) moved the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the nomination process and the deployment of central forces to ensure a free and fair election. The top court refused to step in on April 9 and said the SEC should address its grievances. On April 9 around 9pm, the poll panel extended the nomination process by a day to April 10. But within 12 hours of the announcement, even as opposition candidates started to file their nomination papers, the poll body withdrew its notification, saying its statement the earlier night was incorrect. It also said that a letter from the state government and the Trinamool advocate and Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee pointed out legal infirmities in the earlier notification. The opposition parties rushed to court, with the BJP filing petitions both in the Calcutta high court as well as the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the poll panels latest order. The top court said the matter will be heard in the high court and the single bench of justice Subrata Talukdar heard the matter between April 17 and 19 and on ordered April 20 that there will be an additional day for filing of nomination. On April 21, the poll body fixed April 23 as the last day for filing nominations, which was also marked by allegations of widespread violence by Trinamool supporters. It issued a notification on April 28 that the polling will be held on May 14. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee earlier said she wanted the polls before the holy month of Ramzan began (likely on May 16), the most oppressive phase of summer and the onset of the monsoons. Four opposition parties the BJP, the CPI(M), the Congress and Party for Democratic Socialism moved the high court again, alleging the poll panel succumbed to the ruling partys diktat. They also alleged that though there were more than 58,400 booths in the state, the police force had only 46,000 armed personnel and 12,000 policemen without firearms. The situation, opposition leaders alleged, would allow a free run for the ruling party-backed goons in a rerun of the violence during the nomination process that elbowed out a record number of opposition candidates from the contest. On May 1, justice Talukdar observed that the decision of the poll panel to hold the elections on May 14 was not necessarily the final decision and a division bench will review it in the light of security adequacy. The judge also pulled up the SEC for poor homework before the announcement of the date of polling. Justice MB Lokur, one of the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court and a member of the collegium that nominates judges to the apex court, was part of a bench that criticised the government for sitting on recommendations from the collegium on judicial appointments the first time a member of the collegium has spoken out over the stand-off between the collegium and the government on the appointment of judges. Last week, the Centre cleared the appointment of Indu Malhotra as a judge of the Supreme Court and asked the collegium to reconsider the recommendation that Justice KM Joseph from the Uttarakhand high court be elevated to the top court. The collegium had made both recommendations together, in the first week of January. On Friday, while hearing the plea of a petitioner from Manipur, the court witnessed exchanges between the bench and the governments law officer attorney general KK Venugopal that highlighted various aspects of the stand-off. Venugopal complained that the Supreme Court collegium was recommending just a handful of names for the high courts working at 60% of their sanctioned strength (in terms of judges). The bench, of Justices Lokur and Deepak Gupta told Venugopal that this did not give the government the liberty to sit over names sent long back. Not content with that, Justice Lokur then asked Venugopal to let the court know as to how many collegium proposals were pending with the government. When the AG replied he did not have the data, the bench shot back: This is the problem with you (the government). When it comes to attacking (the) judiciary, you have the data. But when it comes to the government then you say you dont have the figures. The government hasnt decided on a three-month-old recommendation by the collegium on the appointment of chief justices of five high courts. The collegium, on April 19, sent another recommendation to the government on the appointment of high court judges and also the chief justice of Meghalaya and Manipur. The exchange of words prompted the law officer you remark jocularly: I think NJAC was a better option to have. The court did not respond to that . The law officers reference is to the National Judicial Appointments Commission that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government wanted to set up in an effort to streamline the appointment and transfer of judges. While a bill to this effect was passed and ratified, and also approved by the President, it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015. The court later admitted that it was open to making the collegium system more transparent and said the government and it would work on and decide a so-called memorandum of procedure (MOP) on this. There has been no progress on this. The exchange of words between the bench and governments top law officer came when the court took up a transfer petition filed by a resident of Manipur. The petitioner, who lost a case before a single-judge bench in Manipur approached the top court to allow him challenge the order before the Guwahati High Court. His plea is that he cannot file an appeal in the Manipur HC because there are only two judges there, one of whom had delivered the judgment against him. There is no full-time chief justice in Manipur too. Venugopal appeared on Friday before the court pursuant to an order seeking his assistance. The AG informed the bench that the Supreme Court collegium had on April 19 sent a recommendation on the appointment of the chief justice of the Manipur high court. I spoke with the government authorities and they have promised the appointment would be notified shortly, Venugopal told the bench, which asked him whether the word shortly meant three months. Venugopal replied the government was serious about the appointment and that the same would be done in 10 days. At this, the court told Venugopal that there was a crisis in north-east. In Meghalaya there is only one judge against four. Even Tripura has just two against four. The recommendation was also made for Meghalaya. What happened to that? Justice Lokur asked. People of the North-east are suffering. What are they supposed to do?. Should they approach the Supreme Court to get their cases transferred to other high courts and spend money to hire lawyers there? the bench asked. At this point, Venugopal blamed the collegium for not making enough recommendations. We may appoint one more judge in Meghalaya. But that does not resolve the problem. Collegium has to look at the future. Recommendations need to be made keeping in mind vacancies that will arise six months later, he told the judges. Venugopal cited figures to point out that high courts have 40% vacancies . (More) Recommendation is the only way to fill them up, he insisted, adding: The collegium doesnt send us the names and the government is told it is being tardy in processing. Justice Lokur told the law officer the court did not wish to go into the larger picture. We cannot tell the collegium what to do. Also, here we are concerned only with North-east. You file an affidavit to tell us how much time will you take to make the appointments in the North East. File an affidavit in the next 10 days, the bench told Venugopal. Accusing the Congress of defaming sanatan dharma and Hindus, BJP president Amit Shah on Friday said Rahul Gandhi should apologise for projecting the concept of Hindu terror and dishonouring the country. Citing the acquittal by a Hyderabad court (on April 16) of all five people accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case including Swami Aseemanand, Shah said, The Congress and its president tirelessly talked about Hindu terror in the 2014 elections and defamed Hindu culture and dishonoured India. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Hindu community for this. Shah was addressing party workers from across Madhya Pradesh at the BHEL Dussehra Maidan here. He said the Hyderabad court had stated that the case against the activists was made due to political reasons. He (Rahul Gandhi) will not do that (apologise). So we have to take this issue to the masses that the Congress is fuelling lies to divide the society, he said. Shah accused the Congress of practising politics of division and dividing the people on the basis of caste. After becoming the prime minister, Narendra Modi brought a bill for the backward classes of this country, under which the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was to get constitutional status. This bill was passed in the Lok Sabha but in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress, including one member of a royal family from MP, created hindrances, he alleged. He said former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh, who is Rajya Sabha member, raised an objection and demanded that minorities should also be included in this bill. He urged party workers to expose such moves before the public. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Ten days after stating that it will challenge Rajya Sabha chairperson M Venkaiah Naidus decision to reject the oppositions notice for removal of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, the Congress is yet to move the Supreme Court, although party leaders insisted that they would do it soon. A Congress leader, who was one of the key movers of the CJI removal motion, said the party would indeed challenge the RS chairs order in the Supreme Court. There is no question of not doing it. We maintain that the Chair did not have the mandate to reject the notice on merit. We have made a public announcement from the party platform and will follow up and move the court soon, he said. But in a reflection of the division that preceded the filing of the notice, the party appears divided on the timing and utility of the challenge. Another Congress leader said, We want to let the Justice KM Joseph elevation issue to play out. We are seeing an executive-judiciary standoff and internal contradictions within the judiciary where most judges want the CJI to take a stand. Why divert the debate right now? But the first leader said these two issues were separate and the party would stick to its stand. He asserted that the core issue is political. BJP is undermining the judiciary. We will keep this debate alive and make it an electoral issue in 2019. However, there were notes of caution within the Congress too. A top functionary said the party must not be seen as targeting the CJI to influence a judgement. The Congress and six other opposition parties last month moved a notice of an impeachment motion for the removal of the Chief Justice Dipak Misra on five grounds of misbehaviour, the first time in the history of India. However, Naidu rejected the notice on the grounds that the allegations lacked merit. On April 23, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had termed Naidus order as unprecedented, illegal, ill-advised and hasty and asserted that the party will challenge it in the Supreme Court. He had also hoped that the Chief Justice would have nothing to do with the petition when it would come up for listing in the court. As the master of the roster, it is the chief justice who assigns cases. Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar admits factionalism has taken a toll on the party in the state and that he has been a victim of groupism. In an interview to Hindustan Times, Tanwar says there were clear directions from the Congress leadership that the factionalism should not take away the focus from Rahul Gandhis Jan Aakrosh rally in Delhi on Sunday and hence there was no war of headgears this time. Unlike in the past, we didnt see any show of strength or war of headgears between your supporters and those belonging to former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hoodas camp at Sundays Jan Aakrosh rally at Ramlila Maidan? There were clear directives from the central leadership that this time there should be no pink or red headgears from Haryana. I was from the beginning not in favour of such things. But then there is always a reaction to every action. Some people believed in such a show of strength but the majority had expressed strong resentment. I admit that this factionalism had affected and shifted the focus from such party rallies in the past. I am thankful to the Congress workers and the party leadership from Haryana for overwhelming participation in the rally. We were given a target of 50,000 workers but we surpassed that figure with a huge margin. How do you plan to address the growing factionalism in Haryana Congress when the assembly elections are nearly a year-and-a-half away? I have a strong organisational background, heading NSUI and the Youth Congress. In my political career, I have always opposed groupism. But after I took over as Haryana Congress president, I myself became a victim of factionalism. Unfortunately on many occasions, the differences have come out in the open. I am neither heading nor a part of any group. My only aim is to strengthen the Congress in Haryana and for that I will reach out to all the sections and try to address the grievances of senior leaders, including my opponents. I am very keen to put an end to the bitterness of the past four years. This (Jan Aakrosh) rally has brought about a positive change and a strong message has gone among the people and political circles in Haryana. Will you try to seek rapprochement with Hooda to put up a united show in next elections? I dont have enmity with anyone. I want to take along all the leaders in our fight for the rights of the people. There was some bad blood, especially after the murderous assault on me in October 2016. But when we see the problems of other people, we forget our own sufferings. I have moved on and forgotten all my pain in the larger interest of the party. Do you think the Congress should declare its CM face in Haryana and clear the confusion on the leadership issue? Our first priority is to throw out the corrupt BJP government and give relief to all sections of the society. Who will lead the next Congress government is a decision to be taken by the party high command. As per its tradition, the Congress does not declare its chief ministerial candidate before the elections. It is important that all of us have to fight the elections unitedly and ensure that Congress comes back to power. All other issues are secondary. What will be your key talking points in polls? There is widespread resentment against the BJP government. Apart from rampant corruption, we see mis-governance, law and order has deteriorated, the incidents of rapes have increased, there have been attacks on Dalits, minorities and women. BJP stands completely exposed in Haryana. The Khattar government will be the first and last BJP government in Haryana and similarly the Modi government will be the last BJP rule at the national level. The Union road transport and highways ministry has recommended green registration plates for electric vehicles (EVs) so as to identify them for preferential treatment, such as special parking or discounted tolls. The ministry will soon issue a notification specifying the colour of the plates to be used by these vehicles, two senior government officials said on condition of anonymity. According to the ministrys proposal, while the registration plates of private electric vehicles will have a green background with numbers and letters in white, those of commercial electric vehicles will have a green background with numbers and letters in yellow, the officials added. Federal think tank Niti Aayog, which is framing the draft policy for EVs, had recommended green registration plates for such vehicles. It has also constituted a team comprising seven ministries such as power, road and heavy industries to frame guidelines to promote such vehicles. India currently has four number plates: white background with black numbers and letters for personal vehicles; yellow background with black letters for commercial vehicles; black background with yellow lettering for self-driven rental vehicles; and blue background with white lettering for vehicles belonging to embassies and high commissions. In addition, military vehicles follow a different system for registration numbers issues by the defence ministry, and vehicles of the President and governors carry red number plates with just the national emblem. Having a different colour number plate will distinguish electric vehicles from other vehicles and will help if preferential treatment has to be given to such vehicles for parking facilities and tolling, said a road transport ministry official. The ministry is also working on a framework to provide non-fiscal incentives for promoting electric vehicles. As part of this, we will come out with liberal permit regime for such vehicles. Presently electric vehicles do not get permit to operate commercially, one of the two officials cited in the first instance said. Electric vehicles accounted for less than 1% of the 24 million vehicles sold across categories in India in 2017-18, but manufacturers including Mahindra & Mahindra, the largest makers of such vehicles believe that it will be the fastest growing market segment soon. Mahesh Babu, CEO, Mahindra Electric, said the proposal to have green number plates for EVs is a good initiative considering that electric will be the future of mobility. It helps to differentiate and support green mobility. It is there in countries such as Norway, Babu added. Industry representatives said that if the EV market has to be given a boost, the government has to come up with more incentives. Otherwise, it will be difficult to bring down the cost of such vehicles. This is proving to be a dampener. Though GST (goods and services tax) for electric vehicle has been fixed at 12% as compared to 28% for other vehicles, it is not enough. In countries like China, the EV manufacturers get substantial government subsidy, said an official at industry lobby group Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) who did not want to be named. Babu said his company doesnt want any more incentives. If the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme and the current tax structure continue for next two-three years, we are fine. Long term, consistent support for electric vehicles will help the industry and the market ecosystem. According to the National Electric Mobility Mission, the government has set a 2030 timeline for ensuring that all vehicles in India are electric ones. Amid the ongoing crisis in the apex court, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra on Friday said the Supreme Court is one. Speaking at a function to bid farewell to justice RK Agrawal, the CJI said, As has been told, the Supreme Court is one. The Bar fosters us, nurtures us and on every occasion, I have told the young members of the Bar, be the guiding angels. Whatever your status is, whatever your stature is; it is the duty of the judges to show respect to the members of the Bar despite their age or status. I personally and individually feel so and do so, he said at the function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). With justice Agrawals retirement, the vacancy in the Supreme Court once again rises to seven. At present, there are 24 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 31. During his address, justice Agrawal also called for unity between the Bar and Bench. Though he did not refer to the present crisis, SCBA president Vikas Singh read out from the judges speech delivered at the Madras high court when he was elevated to the top court. Singh said the words spoken by justice Agrawal then were relevant now. The judge had given the speech in the background of fights between the police and lawyers and the justice Karnan episode. He had then said: Friends, we will come and go, but the institution shall remain. We should not do anything to damage its name. As you are aware, it takes years to build a reputation and only a moment to destroy it. We have to be very careful in our conduct. The danger is from within, and not from outside. We have to be very careful in our acts. Praising justice Agrawal, the CJI called him the pride of the Supreme Court. A three-judge bench headed by justice Agrawal had rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) last year asking for a court-monitored, independent probe into the alleged medical admission scam in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a former judge of the Orissa HC. The bench had also imposed a cost of Rs 25 lakh on the petitioner Campaign for Judicial accountability and Reforms. The White House has given a thumbs up to last weeks 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 said on Thursday the Trump administration had good relationship with both India and China, and wanted things to continue down the same road. (I) certainly think its always good when other world leaders are getting along, Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference. And, certainly, when we can cooperate, thats definitely a good thing. We have a great relationship with both countries and hope to continue to do so, Sanders said. The man accused of killing a woman officer leading a demolition drive against illegal constructions in Himachal Pradeshs Kasauli town has said he shot her out of anger after she refused to accept a bribe, sources said on Friday. 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 requested the authority to spare my building but the team had one point agenda to demolish the building, Singh was quoted as saying by a police officer, who is a part of the interrogation team. Singh was arrested on Thursday in a joint operation by Himachal Pradesh police and Delhi Police in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, where he had fled after allegedly shooting Sharma on Tuesday. He had shaved off his moustache and got a haircut to conceal his identity, police said. He was brought to Dharampur police station and interrogated for six hours, officials said. Solans former superintendent of police Mohit Chawla, who has been transferred to the police headquarters in Shimla, reached Dharampur police station at 12pm to complete the paperwork before Singh was produced in a local court. The court sent Singh to five-day police remand. Read: Shaved moustache, trimmed hair, changed locations: How Kasauli hotel owner evaded arrest The demolition drive to bring down the unauthorised portions inside 13 hotels in Kasauli was carried out on Friday in the presence of a deputy superintendent of police deputed to oversee the security arrangement of the staff from different departments. The public works department also engaged labourers as well as earth movers to demolish the unauthorised parts. Sharma and her team launched the demolition drive on Tuesday after the Supreme Court 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. Read: Cops fled when hotel owner opened fire, says colleague of officer killed in Kasauli Vijay Singh managed to evade the police for more than two days after he shot dead Shail Bala Sharma in a fit of rage. Officials involved in his arrest said Singh shaved his moustache and trimmed his hair to change his appearance and moved from one state to another before being caught in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura late on Thursday. The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited employee allegedly chased and shot at assistant town and country planner Sharma after an argument over the demolition of the unauthorised construction in his Narayani Guest House after a recent Supreme Court order. Local villagers told the police that Singh fled the guest house and reached the road to Sanawar, 6km away, by using a forest trail through a nearby hill. Singh then called up his friends for help and asked one of them to arrange a vehicle for him. He then 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, Solans superintendent of police Mohit Chawla said. The conductor of the bus told the police that Singh got down at Tribune Chowk and that he was enquiring about a bus to Delhi. Anticipating that the police might track his location, Singh also switched off his phone, said the police. However, he made a call that helped the police find him. His location was traced to Mathura refinery after he called somebody from his cellphone. The police finally found him at a temple, Chawla said. He was brought to Dharampur police station and interrogated for six hours, officials said. A local court in Kasauli on Friday sent the hotelier to five-day police custody. Additional chief judicial magistrate Yajuvender Singh gave the orders after the police said Singh needs to be interrogated because the weapon he used to shoot Sharma has not been found. A local court in Himachal Pradeshs Kasauli on Friday sent a hotelier accused of killing a woman government official during a demolition drive to five-day police custody. Additional chief judicial magistrate Yajuvender Singh gave the orders after the police said Vijay Singh needs to be interrogated because the weapon he used to shoot assistant town and country planner Shail Bala Sharma has not been found. The accused Vijay Singh had thrown the weapon near Shimla Kalka railway track on the same day, a police officer involved in the investigation said. Singh was arrested on Thursday in a joint operation by Himachal Pradesh police and Delhi Police in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, where he had fled after allegedly shooting Sharma on Tuesday. He had shaved off his moustache and got a haircut to conceal his identity, police said. He was brought to Dharampur police station and interrogated for six hours, officials said. Singh, a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited employee, allegedly chased and shot at Sharma after an argument over the demolition of the unauthorised construction in his Narayani Guest House after a recent Supreme Court order. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad may miss the wedding of his son Tej Pratap Yadav with former minister Chandrika Rais daughter Aishwarya Rai on May 12, according to his close aides. The Jharkhand high court has deferred the hearing of Lalu Prasads bail plea till May 11, the day the wedding rituals start . The RJD leader, who has been convicted in fodder scam cases, is being treated for several diseases, including diabetes and a kidney ailment, at the Ranchi Institute of Medical Sciences. Even if Prasad got bail on May 11, shifting him from Ranchi to Patna within a day for the May 12 wedding would be difficult, said RJD MLA and a close aide of Prasad, Bhola Yadav. Tej Pratap will marry Aishwarya Rai at the veterinary college ground in Patna. At present, the chances of the RJD chief attending the wedding appears bleak as the bail hearing has been deferred, said Bhola Yadav. He and other aides handling legal matters are keeping their fingers crossed, as is Prasads family. Lalu Prasad applied for provisional bail for urgent treatment of his ailments. The Jharkhand high court was slated to hear the petition on Friday, but it was deferred due to a lawyers strike. Now, there are indications that Prasads counsels might pray for early hearing on the bail petition next week. A lot will depend on how the CBIs counsel argues the case next Friday. We are, of course, expecting a favourable order, said RJD MP and Lalus close aide Jay Prakash Yadav. These are difficult times for us. The bail hearing will come up on Friday and next two days are holidays - Saturday and Sunday. Official formalities usually take time on off-days, Yadav added. Lalau Prasad was shifted from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi to Ranchi last Monday, a move RJD leaders called a political conspiracy of Centre. Incidentally, Lalu has not applied for parole so far, as he is banking on securing provisional bail, which is usually granted for four weeks. Parole is given to prisoners to attend a wedding or funeral and the application can be moved both with prison authorities and the court. We have not applied for parole as Prasad is medically unfit, said another aide who handles legal matters for the RJD chief. Tej Prataps marriage will be the first big wedding in Lalus family since 2014, when the RJD chiefs youngest daughter Raj Laxmi tied the knot with the grand-nephew of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Hansda Sowvendra Shekhars The Adivasi Will Not Dance is a fascinating book. Other than being a searing account of the marginalisation of tribals in Jharkhand, there is another reason to be effusive about it: Just below the title on the aquamarine-coloured cover, which has a sketch of a hand on a dhol, are four words in Santhalis Ol-Chiki script: Aale Hor Bale Eneja (We Santhals Will Not Dance). My mother tongue, Santhali, was my first medium of communication with my family. After having learnt at least three other languages, it is still my first medium of communication with my family. I cannot describe how important it is for me, says Shekhar. I put them [the Santhali words] on the cover because I felt they shouldve been there. It was for me. While Shekhars love and support for his language are touching, Santhali is lucky to have another strong supporter: the Indian State. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of the country. These lucky ones get State support for their development and dissemination, the Union Public Services Examination can be taken in them, and some even find a place on our currency notes. Tower Of Babel India, however, is home to more than 22 languages. It is, as the former University of Baroda English professor and the man behind the Peoples Linguistic Survey of India, Ganesh Devy, says, a dense forest of voices, a noisy Tower of Babel, with hundreds of languages and dialects. While languages are typically prestigious, official, written; dialects are spoken and unofficial. Russian Jewish linguist Max Weinreich summed up their relationship pithily: a language is a dialect with an army and navy. Unfortunately, Indias diversity of languages (dialects included) is facing an existential crisis. In the last few decades, experts say, the country has lost a few hundred languages because of lack of government patronage, absence of credible data on them, dwindling numbers of speakers, poor primary education in local languages, migration of tribals from villages, and the lack of a cohesive national language policy. Tech Extends A Helping Hand Technology companies are showing great interest in endangered languages. This is because they are realising that content on the Internet is overwhelmingly English and that is stopping them from acquiring new non- English speaking users. So Google has an endangered languages project, a platform for interested people to share research and collaborate on endangered languages. Microsoft too sees language technology as a vehicle to provide Internet access to speakers of endangered languages. "We can make the documentation less laborious by providing tools such as an interface on mobile phones to record and annotate the language, or input mechanisms such as language keyboards," says Kalika Bali, researcher, Microsoft Research India. They can also help to make web content available in these languages directly or through speech interfaces. The loss of languages is a global phenomenon. When languages are not transmitted to children, they become endangered and are likely to become extinct, warns Mandana Seyfeddinipur, director, World Languages Institute, School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics, SOAS, University of London. While throughout human history, speakers have shifted to other languages, the speed of this development has dramatically increased over the past century. It is estimated that the loss of language diversity is happening on the scale of the fifth mass extinction. Explaining why languages must be saved, she adds: Each of these vanishing languages expresses a unique knowledge, history, and worldview of the speakers community. Each is a distinct evolved variation of the human capacity for language. Many of these languages of the world have never been described or recorded, so the richness of human linguistic diversity is disappearing without a trace. Linguists estimate that there are around 7,000 languages spoken worldwide and at least half of those will be lost by the end of this century. Dying A Slow Death In India, many languages are dead or in the throes of extinction, thanks to their political marginalisation that started when state boundaries were drawn based on linguistic lines. Languages that had scripts were counted and the ones without a script (and therefore, without printed literature) lost out in the race. Schools and colleges were established only in the official languages. The ones without scripts found no place in the education system. Scheduled languages The Constitution does not give any language the status of national language. It designates the official language as Standard Hindi, as well as English. The 22 scheduled languages are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu. Documenting lost languages Linguists go to the chosen community and start with a pilot to check logistics, spend time with the community to build confidence; draw up word lists, questionnaires about their social practices. This is followed with video recordings, validation and figuring out the dialect. If the endangered language does not have a script, then the dominant language script is used. State schemes The Centre in 2014 initiated a scheme called "Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India". Under this scheme, the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, works on the protection, preservation, and documentation of all the mother tongues/languages spoken by less than 10,000 people. The maximum impact of such political and social marginalisation has been on languages spoken by poor communities such as tribals. Take, for example, Gondi. The language is spoken by nearly 12 million Gond adivasis, who live in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. And yet, there is no one standardised Gondi language that unifies them all. Different versions and dialects exist, specific to the geographical areas that they live in, with influences of the regional languages seeping in. Administrative oversight followed political sidelining. The 1961 Census recorded 1,652 languages. But since the 1971 Census, languages spoken by less than 10,000 people have been lumped as others. The language data of the 2011 Census, the most recent, has not even been made public. However, in a recent Press Trust of India report, a Census directorate official admitted that 40 languages and dialects are in danger of disappearing because they are spoken by less than 10,000 people. Such political and administrative omission has given rise to a caste system of sorts among languages. In an article in the Economic and Political Weekly, Hany Babu MT, associate professor, Department of English, University of Delhi, blames the Constitution for failing to pay more than lip service to the linguistic plurality and multilingual ethos of the peoples of India. He adds that the Constitution even though it does not give any language the status of national language has created a chaturvarna (four-tier order) of languages, with Sanskrit, Hindi, the scheduled, and the non-scheduled languages occupying various rungs of the ladder. English, of course, is outside the chaturvarna system, but carries a special position, thanks to its emancipatory potential. Saving The Endangered While the State is yet to release the full report on Indias language diversity (some claim this is because such a report will have political ramifications), there are several State-led, institutional and private efforts, albeit fragmented, to document endangered languages. For example, Devy has documented 780 living languages and claims that 400 of them are at risk of dying. But there could be more than what Devys team documented. Recently, a linguistics professor at the University of Hyderabad, Panchanan Mohanty, discovered two languages spoken in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh: Walmiki and Malhar. The first step of saving an endangered language is documenting it, a Herculean task. It is a lengthy process and needs huge resources because its not just about documenting the language but also socio-cultural practices and ethnic practices of the community, says Dr DG Rao, director, Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru. More importantly, researchers need a lot of time. While there are many researchers documenting Indias dying languages, there has been no standardisation of the process. To streamline it, CIIL has come up with a manual for language documentation, parameters for a timeline and is also training people working on projects on how to go about it. A language can only survive if it is used . Its the younger generation, which has to drive this process as they are the ones that will carry the knowledge and transmit it, says Seyfeddinipur. Other than in homes, these languages need to be taught in schools. Thereby hangs a tale in India. In 2014, Karnataka started the policy of mother tongue as medium of instruction at the primary level. But parents of students went to the Supreme Court against the order. The apex court held that the imposition of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in primary classes in government-recognised, aided or unaided private schools was unconstitutional, and it should be left to children and parents to decide on which language of instruction they prefer. Need Of The Hour The role of the mother tongue in schools, which can help languages to survive, is a fuzzy area in India because there is no language policy in place. A comprehensive language policy could be a statement of intent, and can be implemented as a procedure or protocol. Currently, India has no guidelines for ensuring the survival of these languages, says Dr Purushothama Bilimale, professor of Kannada, Centre of Indian Languages, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Take, for example, Koraga. There are not more than 45-50 people (all in their 60s) in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka who speak this language. Their children have not learnt this language and have moved to Tulu, the powerful local language and to Kannada, the official language of Karnataka. In the next decade or so, there will be no Koraga-speaking people left. This is how a language dies, says Bilimale. Another example is Ruga in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya. The community is supposed to speak Ruga but speaks Garo, the dominant language of the area. Today, there are only three speakers left. The National Education Policy of 1968 a revision is in the works however, tried to push local languages by recommending a complicated three-language formula. The first language would be the mother tongue/regional language; the second, in Hindi-speaking states, would be any other modern Indian language/English and in non-Hindi-speaking states, the second language would be Hindi or English. When it comes to the third language, in Hindi-speaking states, it would be English or a modern Indian language not studied as the second language; and in non-Hindi-speaking states, the third language would be English or a modern Indian language not studied as the second language. This was accepted in principle by states but never applied. The Constitution leaves the choice of language for children to the parents; exploiting this, states have encouraged English-medium schools and allowed private entrepreneurs to move into the field that should have been the States domain, says Dr Rao. Then came the IT sector and imprinted in the minds of parents that English must be the lingua francaIts difficult for languages, even the major ones, to survive such lopsided policies and increasing preference for foreign languages in schools. Is it surprising then that the language tree is slowly wilting in a country that, along with Nigeria, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, has the largest number of living languages? A 35-year-old man was killed and his wife critically injured after suspected militants broke into his house in Sopore on Friday evening and opened fire, police said. Superintendent of police, Sopore, Javaid Iqbal, said the militants barged into Mohammad Ashraf Mirs home in the Harwan area of Sopore in Baramulla district and opened fire. He was hit by five bullets and died before reaching the hospital in Sopore. His wife is injured in both legs and has been referred to Srinagar, he said. The motive behind the killing was not yet clear. The officials said Mir used to work as a driver and was also involved in fruit business. He said that police suspect the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba militants including some foreigners. The killing in Sopore comes four days after the bullet-riddled bodies of three young men were found in Baramullas old town. Police suspect that Asif Ahmad Sheikh, Haseeb Ahmad Khan and Mohammad Asgar were killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants on Monday night. Separatists condemned the killings, saying any killing on grounds of political or party affiliations was inhuman and unacceptable. Time and again people are killed in such a manner and no one knows who kills them as the killers remain unidentified gunmen. While the state authorities conveniently blame armed youth, the militant organisations in fact condemn the killings and many times blame state agencies. In the process, the culprits never get identified, the statement by the separatists Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik had said. Hours earlier on Friday, suspected militants threw a grenade outside a police station Pulwama in south Kashmir. No one was injured in the explosion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have the opportunity to meet at least three times this year to take forward their friendship forged during their unprecedented informal summit in Wuhan, Chinas ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said on Friday. Addressing a seminar in New Delhi on the Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and its Way Forward, Luo said the two leaders reached broad consensus on the overarching, long-term and strategic issues of global and bilateral importance during their two-day summit in the central Chinese city last week. The summit in Wuhan was seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff last year. Giving a first-hand briefing to scholars and journalists on the informal summit, which he dubbed as a very special event in Chinese diplomacy, Luo noted that President Xi has never hosted a foreign leader twice outside the Chinese capital Beijing. Xi had hosted Modi in the central Chinese city of Xian in 2015 and last week the two leaders met in Wuhan. This shows that China attaches high importance to its relations with India, he said. The envoy said the idea of holding an informal summit was first mooted by Prime Minister Modi when he met President Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017. After that, the two side worked very hard to make it happen, he said. Luo said President Xi and Prime Minister Modi will have three more opportunities this year to carry forward their fruitful and wide-ranging conversations in Wuhan. The ambassador said the two leaders could meet at the next Shanaghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in June in Qingdao, China, the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa and the next G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He said the officials concerned of the two countries were closely working to facilitate these meetings and implement the consensus reached between the two leaders in Wuhan. The ambassador said the two leaders had in-depth discussions and reached consensus on their respective visions for national development as well as domestic and foreign policies. China and India, the two biggest developing countries and emerging economies each with a population of over one billion, are important countries with strategic autonomy. A peaceful, stable and balanced relationship between China and India is an important positive factor for the stability of the world, he said. On the differences between China and India, including the vexed boundary issue, the envoy said the two leaders have given strategic guidance to the officials on both sides to properly manage and control their differences. He underlined that both countries have the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each others concerns and aspirations. Both leaders have agreed to use the Special Representatives Meeting on the boundary issue to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures (CBMs) and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquillity. As the two major countries in Asia, China and India will work together to make international relations more democratic, increase the representation and say of developing countries and emerging markets, support the multilateral trading regime, oppose protectionism and work for an open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalisation that benefits all, he said. Luo also said that both sides have agreed to instruct officials to work out specific plans and measures to implement the consensus reached between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi and further build on the informal summit in Wuhan and work towards opening new vistas in China-India relations. For once the Chinese bureaucrats were caught napping by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his informal summit with President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, Chinas ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui revealed on Friday. During his first one-on-one meeting with President Xi at the Hubei Provincial Museum, Modi told his host that this was his second visit to Hubei province, surprising the Chinese officials, who otherwise keep a track of all bilateral and official visits minutely. We didnt know that Prime Minister Modi had visited Wuhan earlier, Luo told the participants of a seminar on the two-day informal summit between the leaders of India and China held in Wuhan city from April 27. Modi told Xi that when he was the Gujarat chief minister, he had an opportunity to visit central Chinas Hubei Province on a study tour to learn about the massive Three Gorges Dam. Modi was the Gujarat chief minister from October 2001 to May 2014 The speed with which you constructed this dam and its scale inspired me. So I came on a study tour and spent a day at the dam, Modi had told Xi. As the worlds largest hydropower project, the Three Gorges project is a multifunctional water control system on the mighty Yangtze river. It comprises a dam stretching 2,309 meters long and 185 meters high, 32 hydropower turbo-generators, a five-tier ship lock and ship lift system. Luo said China took special care to provide an enabling and comfortable environment for Prime Minister Modi in Wuhan, with the ambassador himself carrying with him table clothes from Gujarat and Assam tea for the visiting dignitary. While sharing some of the efforts made by the Chinese leadership to make Modi feel at home in the central Chinese city, over 1,000 km from Beijing, Luo said President Xi has met the Indian premier 13 times in the last five years of his first term. Luo said Chinese officials came to know that Modi liked table clothes from Gujarat. So we decided to use them during the informal summit. We didnt serve Chinese tea to Prime Minister Modi, but Assam tea, he said. During the summit, the two leaders agreed to build on the rich cultures of the two great oriental civilisations and harness the rich human resources of their combined population of 2.6 billion. Xi and Modi agreed to step up cultural exchanges by promoting people-to-people links and unleashing the vitality of the two emerging economies. For this, the two sides have agreed to establish a high-level cultural and people-to-people exchange mechanism, the envoy said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Friday said Rahul Gandhi will not see a Congress party victory even if he uses binoculars, and asked party workers to be prepared with crackers to celebrate a win in Karnataka on May 15. Shah was in Bhopal to introduce the new state BJP president, Rakesh Singh, to party workers. He also addressed a gathering of party office-bearers and public representatives from across the state. Setting the stage for assembly elections due in Madhya Pradesh later this year, Shah said since the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, it had formed governments in 14 states starting with Maharashtra, while the Congress has lost badly in elections. He said Gandhi should not even dream of winning assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, which is a BJP bastion. Referring to the appointment of Kamal Nath as the state Congress president without naming him, Shah alleged that the person whom the Congress had appointed as its state president happened to be close to corporate houses. Hence, the fight in Madhya Pradesh was going to be a fight between corporate houses and farmers with the latter being represented by the BJP and the former by the Congress, he added. Shah said the popular leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan notwithstanding, the assembly election has to be won on the strength of the party organisation. He urged party workers to approach every single person in the state till the date of polling to apprise the voters of the achievements of Modi-Shivraj governments and request them to vote for the BJP. He said 65 lakh of the 1 crore party workers in Madhya Pradesh would be able to contact each and every person in the state within just five days if they started campaigning today. Shah said the party workers were not supposed to just work for the partys victory , they had to uproot the Congress. He asked the BJP workers to go door to door to tell people how the Congress had maligned Hindutva by coining terms such Hindu terror and implicating people under false charges. Reacting to Shahs speech, leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh said people will give a befitting reply to the BJP in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other states where assembly elections are scheduled. Singh said Shah had omitted BJPs humiliating defeats in elections in Punjab, Bihar and Delhi. The Centre 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 KK Venugopal on Thursday 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 Venugopals 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. Dont stay (it), it will send a wrong message that by taking to the streets, the top courts 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 courts past pronouncements including that of collegium system, appointment of judges, Justice Goel said: The court has stepped in to fill the gaps in law. (Constitutions) 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 brides 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 Generals 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. Read | What is the controversy over the SC/ST Act? The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with the arrest of journalist Upendra Rai by the CBI for his alleged involvement in dubious financial transactions. A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said it would not like to interfere in the arrest, saying it has not gone through the application filed by Rai seeking protection. The CBI had on Thursday arrested Delhi-based journalist Upendra Rai for allegedly indulging in dubious financial transactions and getting an airport access pass made by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) by furnishing false information. Rai claimed he has been framed in the case as he has been writing against an ED official who was part of the team probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam case. He will be produced before a trial court in Delhi on Friday. Rai was questioned at the agency headquarters along with two others for the entire day before being arrested, officials had said on Thursday. Prasun Roy, chief security officer of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, was also booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case, they had said. The probe agency had carried out searches at eight locations in Lucknow, Noida, Delhi and Mumbai. In its FIR, the agency alleged that going by the value of transactions above Rs 1 lakh during 2017, Rais accounts received Rs 79 crore while Rs 78.51 crore was debited from it during the same period. If the United States wants to improve its ties with India, it can no longer ignore or sideline Uttar Pradesh, a visiting delegation from the most populous Indian state has said. Uttar Pradesh health minister Sidhartha Nath Singh is leading the high-powered delegation of top state officials to the US. It is important for the Government of the United states to understand that for any relationship with India to go up, obviously other states are important, but Uttar Pradesh remains the most important, Singh told PTI. Even if you want to improve the health index of India, for example, India can come up only if UP scores well in this area, Singh said. Having concluded their trip to the Silicon Valley in California, the delegation was in Washington DC on Thursday, holding meetings with US government officials. They met with officials from the State Department, the Department of Commerce and USAID and had round tables with the industry representatives, sending them the common message that they can no longer afford to ignore or skip Uttar Pradesh if they want to invest in or improve ties with India. Singh said the BJP government had initiated a series of administrative reforms in sectors like health, agriculture, industry and education so as to make Uttar Pradesh a business-friendly destination. In addition, UP offers a huge market for companies, Singh and his delegation said during their powerpoint presentation before representatives of US companies. He said the American corporate sector had shown interest to invest in defence manufacturing, IT and health sectors in Uttar Pradesh, while some of the top educational institutions wanted collaborative research and problem-solving projects. During the Investors Summit-2018 in February in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a defence industrial corridor in the Bundelkhand region, saying it would bring an investment of Rs 20,000 crore and generate employment avenues for 2.5 lakh people. After recent announcement of defence corridor, a number of US defence companies have shown serious interest in investing in this sector in the state, said Singh. He held meetings with representatives of the Lockheed Martin here while a meeting with Boeing is also on the cards. US companies have shown big interest in UPs health sector, for which the BJP government has announced ambitious expansion plans, and the fast-developing IT sector in Noida, adjoining the national capital, said Singh. He also suggested that the state could collaborate with some American universities for fellowship programmes, exchange programmes or research programmes. That could be a big, big takeaway for us, Singh said, as he referred to a meeting that the delegation has had with the Stanford University in Silicon Valley this week. Companies like Pepsico and Cargill have shown interest in investing in the states agriculture sector. Both the companies have signed memorandums of understanding with UP. Singh said his delegation has received an invitation from the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) for chief minister Yogi Adityanath to visit the United States later this summer. We hope the chief minister visits the US soon, Singh said. The US trip is basically to get UP to be known in a new way and also to get investment from US into Uttar Pradesh, Singh said. The delegation would next travel to New York before leaving for India. Warnings of the chain of thunderstorms that claimed 125 lives were issued at least three days before the freak weather phenomenon wreaked havoc across six Indian states, officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. State agencies, however, said the alerts were not specific enough while experts rued that the forecasters did not foresee the severity of the deadly weather phenomenon. What wasnt flagged, however, was the intensity and the unusually widespread nature of the storms, the officials added. That, coupled with poor dissemination of information to those who were likely to be affected led to widespread damage and took a huge toll on human lives in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. We issued warnings on April 29, 30 and May 1, KJ Ramesh, director general of the IMD, said. These include colour-coded maps based on the severity and likely duration of the storms. The dispatches and warnings are shared with the disaster management authorities and local officials as well, according to Ramesh. However, the information did not reach all the vulnerable people, he said. We are working on improving the public dissemination, he added. But experts and other weather officials said that the severity and range of the storms was underestimated by the forecasters. Does IMDs responsibility end with telling the district administration? By putting it on the website and messaging officials? If you are issuing warnings why dont you have a warning dissemination system in place? asked Piyoosh Rautela, a Dehradun-based disaster management expert. If you communicate general information about a region, how will a person know what is going to happen in their area? Unless you are specific about space, time and magnitude, the information is not useful, Rautela added. A tree uprooted in Wednesday's massive storm, at Cheet village in Agra district. (PTI) The UP government raised the issue of non-availability of accurate alerts from the meteorological department on the dust storm that hit the state on Wednesday at a meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Delhi on Friday. Relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar told NDMA officers that the state should have been given pin-pointed alerts regarding the storm so that an effective mitigation mechanism could have been put in place to minimise the loss of life and property. Thunderstorms are a regular feature of the pre-monsoon season in India, but their intensity and frequency is likely to increase with a changing climate, studies show. The IMD also provides nowcasts that are issued about the progress of storms every two to three hours. People living in mud houses with thatched roofs were the most badly affected as storms packing wind speeds of up to 130km per hour cut a swathe through six states -- Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. The storms were blamed by experts on a confluence of three weather factors - 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. 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. We are trying to improve communication, not just to officials but also people in a structured manner, and also the modelling to improve predictions, M Rajeevan, secretary, ministry of earth sciences, said. Apart from its weather stations, IMD relies on satellite data from Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to track weather events and possible disasters. Were only responsible for providing the data, analysing it and coming up with predictions is IMDs role and the accuracy depends on how good their modelling is, said an Isro official who asked not to be named. Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed in the dust storm on Wednesday. The assistance will be provided from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund. The PM also approved Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured due to the storm, a statement from the PMO said. The Haryana Pollution Control Board has turned aside the recent report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in which Faridabad is among the top three polluted cities in the world. The latest WHO ranking of cities based on ambient air quality released on May 2 lists eight Indian cities as the top most polluted cities in the world. Haryana environment and climate change minister Vipul Goel on Friday said the source of the data on which the report was based was not clear. The Haryana Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has been monitoring the data since 2010 through continuous air ambient quality monitoring station in Faridabad and Gurugram. As per the details available with the board, the PM 2.5 value of both the cities are being monitored regularly since 2013, he said. These values increase above 170 only during a brief season, that is during a few days around Diwali, crop harvesting season during which residue burning is reported and peak winter, when the temperature is low and wind velocity is minimum, he said. Therefore, it is not justified to claim that the average PM 2.5 value is above 170 in Faridabad, he said, adding the city is affected mostly due to the pollution in neighbouring Delhi. Its own sources include mainly vehicles and construction dust and Delhis pollution is considerably high with additional sources from municipal solid waste burning going on almost continuously as witnessed during the past years, he said. The minister said that Delhis pollution level has always remained higher than these two cities. Now, placing Faridabad above Delhi is not even logical, he added. He said that Haryana has already prepared a detailed action plan to combat air pollution in the entire state. Diesel vehicles of more than 10 years age have already been banned from registration in Faridabad, Gurugram and Jhajjar districts of Haryana, he said. The NHAI, HUDA and Public Works Departments have been directed by the HSPCB to contain dust during their construction activities, he said. Mechanical sweeping machines and vacuum machines are being used in Gurugram and Faridabad for cleaning purposes to reduce road dust, he said. He said it is reviewed almost every month at the level of chief secretary and progress in this regard is being monitored. Goel said several awareness campaigns and programmes are being conducted by the board to spread the message on prevention of air pollution. He also informed that the state government has already ordered for installation of air quality monitoring stations and it will have 19 continuous ambient air quality monitoring station (CAAQMS) being installed across the state, the installation for which would start in a month. The state is also planning to carry out a source attribution study with the help of various experts so that the action plan can be put into action accordingly, Goel said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Like he did in January, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah welcomed his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, who was on election campaign in the Congress ruled state, with a rather provocative tweet suggesting Adityanath was campaigning outside UP at a time when he was more required in his state hit by deaths caused by freak dust storm. At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon and attend to his work there, Siddaramaiah tweeted. At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there. https://t.co/RwgDrhdn82 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 The tweet that went viral met with an immediate response from Adityanaths advisor Mrityunjay Kumar. Yogiji doesnt sleep (over problems) as you do. He had issued necessary instructions for relief and rehabilitation even before he reached Karnataka. He is a Yogi and his life is dedicated to the people, Kumar said in his post tagged to Siddaramaiah. Kumar also described Siddaramaiah in one of his twitter posts as seedha rupaiah apparently taking cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had in February attacked Siddaramaiah government as seedha rupaiah sarkar. Soon the official handle of the chief ministers office @CMOfficeUP too was active tweeting how UP government provided immediate help to the needy. Within 24 hours the families of the 70 dead were provided financial relief of Rs 4 lakh each and 123 families who lost their livestock due to storm too were provided relief, the post read. In January when Adityanath had visited Karanataka, Siddaramaiah had welcomed Yogi on twitter. I welcome UP CM Shri @myogiadityanath to our state. There is a lot you can learn from us sir. When you are here, please visit an Indira canteen and a ration shop. It will help you address the starvation deaths sometimes reported from your state, tweeted Siddaramaiah signing off his tweet with #YogiInBengaluru. Within hours, Adityanath responded. Thank you for the welcome @siddaramaiah ji. I heard number of farmers committing suicide in Karnataka was highest in your regime, not to mention the numerous deaths and transfer of honest officers. As UP CM I am working to undo the misery and lawlessness unleashed by your allies, he tweeted. Interestingly even Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined the twitter war, siding with the Congress in reminding Yogi that he was more required in UP than in Karnataka. He should have returned immediately back to UP where people elected him to get their problems resolved and not for (participating) in Karnataka politics. If he doesnt return back he should set up his Mutt there permanently, Akhilesh tweeted tagging his post to @CMOfficeUP. CM . , . , . @CMOfficeUP Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 3, 2018 To blunt the opposition attack Adityanath is now scheduled to visit Agra, where 46 people had died in the freak dust storm. After campaigning in Karnataka he would fly down later to the Taj city on Friday evening to take stock of the situation. He would reach Agra tonight and visit some most affected areas. He would then review the relief and restoration efforts on Saturday morning before leaving for Kanpur and other districts, said Awanish Awasthi, UPs principal secretary, Information. Mohammad Ali Jinnah played a role in Indias freedom struggle just like Mahatma Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru, Gorakhpur MP Praveen Nishad said on Friday, wading into a controversy that has engulfed Uttar Pradesh over the last few days. The comment by the newly elected NISHAD Party parliamentarian comes in the midst of violent protests over a portrait of the Pakistan founder on the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus. While right-wing activists and ruling party members have demanded the removal of Jinnahs portrait, the students union insists that the historical figure deserves representation on the campus in his capacity as the founder member of the university court. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is politicising the issue, and this is highly condemnable. Like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jinnah also contributed to the freedom movement, Nishad said. The newly elected MP accused the BJP of trying to stir communal passions for political gain ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Like Hindus, Muslims also participated in the freedom struggle and their contribution is well-documented. The BJP is dividing people on the basis of caste and religion by raising such issues, he said. When we speak of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, we also remember Ashfaqullah Khan and Veer Abdul Hameed who laid down their lives for the country. BJP wants people to forget their contribution to the cause. Praveen, the son of NISHAD Party president Sanjay Nishad, was propped by the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party as their joint candidate for Gorakhpur Lok Sabha by-election. Meanwhile, Aligarh district magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh has announced the suspension of Internet services from 2 pm to Friday midnight in view of inflammatory messages related to the Jinnah controversy being widely shared on the social media. Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam first stirred the controversy by asking AMU vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor to explain the reason for Jinnahs portrait being hung on the university campus. On Thursday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath also called for the removal of Jinnahs portrait. Two more children were killed by packs of feral dogs in Uttar Pradeshs Sitapur district on Friday morning, indicating that the canine threat looming over the region is far from over. Authorities identified the victims as Geeta (7) and Virendra (12), hailing from Mahsinghpur and Budhanapur villages respectively. Two more children were also critically injured in other canine attacks across the district. On May 1, feral dogs had killed three children aged between 11 and 12 years in separate incidents across Tikaria, Gurpulia and Kholia in Sitapur. Mahsinghpur, Budhanpur, Chaubeypur and Peerpur, where the fresh attacks occurred on Friday morning, are located within 18 kilometres of those villages. The attacks took place even as district administration authorities and a four-member team of dogcatchers were combing forested zones in the area for feral canines. All the victims were alone when they were attacked by dogs. The villagers rushed to their aid after hearing their cries, but failed to save them, said Sitapur city magistrate Harsh Dev Pandey. Infuriated villagers have begun hunting down dogs in the area, and threatened to launch a mass agitation against the district administrations failure curb the menace. Khairabad station house officer (SHO) Sachin Kumar Singh said Geeta, the daughter of Sushil Shah from Mahsinghpur village, was killed by a pack of feral dogs while she was gathering mangoes in an orchard near her house around 6.30 am. An 11-year-old girl called Rinki the daughter of one Tejpal was also injured in a similar attack at Chaubeypur village, he added. Sitapur Kotwali SHO Dharmendra Singh Raghuvanshi said the second victim, Virendra, was killed by dogs while he had gone to attend natures call barely 150 metres from his house at Budhanapur village round 7 am. Another boy injured in Peerpur village was identified as Vinkal, the seven-year-old son of one Ram Khelawan. Local residents claim that 17 children have been killed so far by around 100 dogs that run amok in a radius of 20 kilometres from Khairabad and Sitapur Kotwali. Police, for their part, have pegged the toll at 11 in the last six months (inclusive of the latest casualties). The canine menace in Sitapur district took root when many slaughterhouses, which used to double as a source of food for stray dogs, were either closed or shifted. The beasts became desperate in the months that followed, and eventually began preying on children. The Allahabad high court has dismissed a petition filed by Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar alias Ravan, challenging order of the district magistrate, Saharanpur, by which the National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against him for his alleged role in Saharanpur violence in May last year. On April 26, a bench comprising justice Ramesh Sinha and justice DK Singh reserved their verdict after hearing the arguments of both the parties. The judgment was made public on Thursday. Since the court did not find any illegality in the detention order of November 2, 2017 passed by the DM Saharanpur, it declined to quash it and did not award any compensation to Chandrashekhar as requested. The bench, while dismissing the petition, observed, The action taken by the concerned authorities is absolutely in accordance with the provisions of the National Security Act. One Sumit had died and many others, including policemen, had suffered injuries in the violence. The allegation against Chandrashekhar was that he incited violence. A group of people was going to take part in Maharana Pratap Jayanti in Saharanpurs Shabbirpur village on May 5 last year when some Dalit community members opposed it. As a result, a violent clash took place resulting in death of one person. Four days later on May 9, a mahapanchayat under the aegis of Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission was called at Saharanpur in protest against the May 5 incident. When the district administration declined permission for holding the mahapanchayat, the members of Bhim Army allegedly blocked the Ram Nagar road at Saharanpur. When the police intervened, the Bhim Army members allegedly started throwing stones. It is also alleged that they indulged in violence and put Ram Nagar police Chowki on fire. An FIR in this connection was lodged by the district administration against the members of Bhim Army. Chandrashekhar was arrested on June 8, 2017 by the special task force of UP police from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh. A day after the high court ordered Chandrashekhars release on bail after observing that the charges against him were politically motivated, the DM Saharanpur passed an order detaining Chandrashekhar alias Ravan under the NSA on November 2, 2017. Naa Peru Surya Director: Vakkantham Vamsi Cast: Allu Arjun, Anu Emmanuel, Arjun Sarja, Sarathkumar, Nadhiya Rating: 2.5/5 In the process of making our dreams come true, one of the things that we lose is our self. Are we the same person the day we achieve our ambitions? Is it okay to lose your code of ethics for yours dreams? Allu Arjuns Naa Peru Surya Naa Illu India is about a man who is fighting this fight. Naa Peru Surya is about a bullheaded army man (Allu Arjun) with anger management issues. His dream is to fight at the border so that people in his country can live in peace and prosper, but his anger comes as a hindrance to his dream. What happens when madness meets meticulous planning? You have Surya. He has no control over his temper, which when kindled has only one mode hit everyone and everything in sight. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, so much so that he is robotic. The hard military life fails to instill values of self control in this soldier who loves nothing more than to serve his country. When he breaks the rules of the army and kills a terrorist who is imprisoned as a witness, he is suspended and forced to take psychiatric help to come to terms with anger. The doctor in question, Rama Krishnam Raju is an acclaimed professor on psychology, who also happens to be Suryas estranged father. It is theory that a new habit can be formed and and an old one broken in 21 days, says Krishnam Raju and challenges his son to control his anger to make his dream come true. How does a man who punches first and thinks later manage his anger? This progression is the best part of the film. Read | Rangasthalam movie review: Ram Charan, Samantha Akkineni film beats the formula One particular shot of Surya getting on his bike and reversing the mirror is a beautiful way to show that he is now a man blinded by dreams, who is also going to turn a blind eye to things that initially got on his nerves. The fact that he is losing himself in the race to make his dream a reality comes as slap when he another officer holds a mirror to the man that Surya has become. From a man who thinks of India as his home and has a batch with no last name, what he had become is jarring and this realization is dramatic. Naa Peru Surya is a soldiers fight with himself, a war that he wages on himself. How does Surya feel in the meanwhile? Like a gun with no bullets. Can be cleaned, but not be used. It is a great premise to explore, and director Vakkantham Vamsi has tried to fit Allu Arjuns image of an action star in the film. The problem is with the first 20 minutes of the film where the audience are spoon fed on patriotism by showing soldiers at borders fighting and preparing to fight. Did it require so much time to tell us how dedicated an officer Surya is? Read | Bharat Ane Nenu movie review: Mahesh Babu as CM ushers in a new era Allu Arjun tries to do his best in the shoes of a soldier, but at places we see that it looks forced. For instance, when Surya is beating up the son of Challah (Sarath Kumar), the sequence is super sharp and applause worthy and yet there is a disconnect. It is this same disconnect that plays havoc throughout the film. It could have been a great coming of age film, but the switch between Surya the man who is fighting to be himself to the soldier who is standing up for an ex-army man, the road is bumpy. This also happens to be another film where the female lead has nothing much to do except dance and be the mans arm candy. Varsha (Anu Emmanuel) sings, dances, gets mad because Surya is an army man and they break up. They meet again, misunderstand each other and then break up again only to meet again after Surya decides to stop indulging in massaging his own ego. That is as far as their equation grows in the film, to be cut off soon because the male leads equation with Challa, the antagonist is more important. The dramatic ending with a monologue by Surya followed by the national flag being hoisted is a cliched climax that still works because of its manipulative emotional quotient. And just in time the national anthem is cued. Naa Peru Surya is a film that would work purely because of such dramatic emotional moments in combination with high powered action sequence, something that Tollywood is well known for. Author tweets @Priyanka_S_MCC Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Psychokinesis Director - Yeon Sang-ho Cast - Ryu Seong-ryong, Shim Eun-kyeung Rating - 3.5/5 It used to be that you made a well-received small movie that did excellent business and sooner or later, a big studio would beckon you over. Theyd offer you a fine selection of intellectual properties they own, and ask you if you were interested in any of them. Batman? No? Theres an Akira remake just waiting for someone to make it. Not your thing? No worries. How about you make that passion project youve been on about first. Youre really passionate about that, arent you? We can do Akira after that. Sounds good? Deal! Then theyd wave a couple of hundred million dollars in front of you and before you know it, youre the new Christopher Nolan or Ryan Coogler. Well, thats going to change. Psychokinesis might be one of the earliest examples of a filmmaker breaking out with a hit movie - in this case, the phenomenal Train to Busan - and instead of moving on to a Marvel character, being snagged by Netflix instead. It makes sense. Netflix is, and youd better believe it, as big a deal as any major movie studio - perhaps with the exception of Disney. The streaming service has, despite the frankly annoying complaints about their prolific output and controversial distribution model, always been a champion of cinema. Only last year, they gave the great Bong Joon-ho money no one else would to make Okja, one of the best films of 2017. Psychokinesis, directed by Bongs compatriot, Yeon Sang-ho, might not be as magnificent as that modern fairytale, but its a movie made with just as much energy and passion as his previous film, the breakout genre hit of 2016, Train to Busan. Psychokinesis is almost like a Western in its bare plot. (Netflix) What that movie was to zombie cinema, Psychokinesis is to superhero films. It isnt a subversion like Kick-Ass or Suicide Squad - even though thats the popular (and edgy) direction to take these days - but its a proper celebration of a genre that has, despite the croaks of cinema purists, managed to sustain its popularity for over a decade. The closest comparison I can think of is the 2012 found footage superhero movie, Chronicle - which, incidentally, is a great example of that Hollywood trope I was referring to before. After its surprising success, Josh Trank was immediately hired to direct the Fantastic Four reboot - which ended up being one of the most notorious debacles in recent memory. Yeon Sang-ho doesnt have to worry about that. Psychokinesis is more like Chronicle - in both its DIY aesthetic and unexpectedly personal stakes - than the bloated, CGI-laden mess that was Fantastic Four. And like Train to Busan, its a story about fathers and daughters, and a story about class. Like Train to Busan and Avengers: Infinity War, Psychokinesis is a story about parents and children. (Netflix) The daughter in question is Ru-mi. Shes young, driven, and self-sufficient, having been abandoned by her father 10 years ago. She runs a popular fried chicken restaurant in a shopping arcade with the help of her mother. One night, the local mob - the hired muscle of a corrupt real estate company - knocks down her restaurant, the first in a sweeping drive to make room for a large shopping mall. Ru-mi struggles to fend off the goons, who manhandle her as they knock the walls of her restaurant down. In the ensuing tussle, Ru-mis mother falls and bangs her head against the pavement. Just as Ru-mis neighbours - and fellow small business owners - arrive, her mother dies in her arms. The next day, she calls her father, whom she hasnt seen in a decade. Mr Shin has been working as a security guard at a bank, living alone and engaging in petty theft to keep himself occupied. With an upset stomach caused by contaminated spring water, and more embarrassment than he can hide, he goes to the funeral. And in that uncomfortable reunion, neither father nor daughter knows that Mr Shins spring water has - in addition to diarrhoea - given him telekinetic powers. But his powers cant stay hidden forever, and this is where Yeon does what Trank did in Chronicle and M Night Shyamalan did in Unbreakable - he gives Mr Shin several scenes in which he fools around with his powers, scaring unsuspecting onlookers and even trying out for a magicians gig. The DIY aesthetic is like Josh Tranks Chronicle. (Netflix) But soon, as every true hero must, he recognises the responsibility that comes with these powers, and what better way to use them for good than to stop the mob after his daughters property. Psychokinesis is such a refreshing change of pace from the cosmic scale of last weeks Avengers: Infinity War - its basically set on one street, with the notable exception of a shockingly refined action sequence towards the end. And like Infinity War, beneath its flashy exterior, it too is a film about a parent-child relationship. Its part redemption tale, part superhero origin story and especially in that showdown at the end, part Western. Its another promising movie by Yeon Sang-ho, who has established himself as one of the most exciting voices to emerge out of this Golden Age of Korean cinema. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) ordered a builder recently to pay interest to the buyer for failing to hand over a flat to the buyer within the specified period of time. The housing regulator overruled various reasons presented by the builder, Sathya Lifestyles Private Limited, for delays in the housing project in Palghar, near Mumbai. The complaint, registered with MahaRERA by homebuyer Devendra Pratap Singh, stated that the builder had not provided any reasonable grounds for delaying its project Sathya Lifestyle Phase 2 for three years. In his complaint, Singh said his sale agreement states the possession date to be December 31, 2014, with a grace period of six months. However, despite paying 90% of the money, and being willing to pay the remaining 10%, he has not got his apartment to date. Singh demanded that he be given the apartment and be compensated for the interest he has lost on his money owing to delayed possession. In its defence, Sathya Lifestyles gave multiple reasons for the delay. It said that though the project was launched in 2011, it was initially delayed because of repeated amendments in the Development Control Regulations (DCR) in 2012-13, as a result of which the project plans got held up. In addition, it said the ban on extraction of sand resulted in shortage that caused the project to stall and led to financial trouble. It also pointed out that the current property market scenario the slowdown of sales has also affected the project. After hearing both sides, MahaRERA said: There is a delay in handing over the possession of flats to the complainant as per the registered agreement for sale executed between both parties. The April 20 ruling accepted that the DCR was amended in 2012, and that builders had to make project amendments as per the new policy. However, the respondent could not explain which particular permission delayed the project by more than three years. The other reasons pointed out by the respondent, i.e, the restriction on sand extraction and the current market scenario etc., also do not provide reasonable grounds for delay, it added. In its final remarks, MahaRERA said the payment of interest on the money invested by the homebuyer is not a penalty but a type of compensation for the delay, as has also been clarified by the Bombay high court. The Bombay high court on Friday granted bail to senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal, 71, in a money-laundering case. The NCP leader is accused of money laundering in the Maharashtra Sadan case, and had moved the Bombay HC seeking bail in January, after the declaration of section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Section 45 of PMLA restricts the granting of bail to any person booked for the offence and prescribes imprisonment for more than three years. Earlier, a PMLA court had rejected his bail plea after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed it, claiming that Bhujbal was influential and had already been accused of threatening two co-accused for their willingness to turn approvers in the case. In the fresh plea, Bhujbals lawyer Salabh Saxena claimed that after the apex courts order, several accused have been granted bail by respective courts. Bhujbal cited the case of Yogesh Mittal, booked for his role in a money-laundering case in Delhi, and meat exporter Moin Qureshi, booked for his alleged connections with a hawala racket. Bhujbal also made an emotional appeal about his age and health, claiming that he is unable to defend his case effectively or seek legal opinion. Bhujbal was arrested in March 2016 by the ED for money laundering in the Maharashtra Sadan scam case, following the arrest of his nephew Sameer Bhujbal. The ED said Bhujbal and his associates misused their positions to cause financial losses to the state government. It is alleged that the redevelopment of Maharashtra Sadan, the state guesthouse, was not advertised. The contractor allegedly gave a sub-contract to companies owned by Bhujbals kin and friend. A developer was reportedly allowed to carry out the makeover of the Sadan and Andheri RTO in lieu for Floor Space Index (FSI) for a slum rehabilitation project in Andheri. The FIR said the move benefited the developer, KS Chamankar. It is also alleged that Bhujbal accepted kickbacks through the firms of his relatives and employees. The agency has claimed that a total of Rs 857 crore was laundered, but it has managed to attach properties worth Rs 156 crore only. In the past couple of decades, Mumbai has grown vertically and horizontally; newer business districts have come up and the way people travel has changed too. While vehicular population has witnessed a considerable increase, the number of people taking local trains has also gone up. But the 115 suburban railway stations, which require an overhaul to meet the demands of increasing commuters, have not undergone any changes. Slow pace of change With around 80 lakh people using the local trains every day, several stations on the suburban network now witness overcrowding as against only a few major stations a few decades ago. The commercial and residential development in certain pockets of the city has also turned stations such as Elphinstone Road, Parel, Lower Parel, and Currey Road, among others, into major hubs. However, the station infrastructure at most of these stations is still inadequate to handle the number of commuters using them. The Elphinstone Road station and Parel stations are now undergoing revamp after 23 people were killed in a stampede on September 29 last year. The mishap, which was the deadliest ever on the suburban railway network, made the railway administration sit up and take notice. Makeover after mishap After the Elphinstone Road incident, railway authorities finally shifted their focus on improving station infrastructure building new foot overbridges, widening existing ones, etc. Until then, station development meant beautifying ticket booking offices, providing water coolers, installing ticket vending machines, providing ATMs, and improving waiting rooms, among other such changes. And these revamps, too, were done only at major stations, while smaller stations would be ignored. After the stampede, the Railways not only began to upgrade infrastructure that would make commuting easier for citizens, but also removed illegal hawkers, stalls and other such obstructions that were hindering the movement of commuters. Unfortunately, the railway administration has always acted only after outrage over mishaps. The exercise to increase heights of platforms was undertaken after the Monica More incident, in which the 16-year-old lost her hands after she fell in the gap between the train and platform at Ghatkopar station. Similar is the case with makeover of the Elphinstone Road and Parel stations. Railways has not improved circulating area of any station where passengers facing maximum troubles. It is putting solar lamps and LEDs, beautifying booking windows or providing ATVMs. It is not doing what the passengers want, but only things that will bring revenue or savings, said Shailesh Goyal, passenger activist. Lacking basics Most stations in Mumbai are not disabled-friendly. Physically-challenged passengers cannot access most stations without the help of co-passengers. Another major issue at station premises is of cleanliness. At several stations, the public toilets are unusable. Also trash generated at stations is thrown at the end of the platforms and burnt there. Passenger activists point out that the passenger addressing system, too, is poor and there is no standardisation. On WR, passengers know the expected time of arrival of the local trains, but on the CR stations, the facility is not available. In the past few years, railway authorities have begun installing escalators and lifts at railway stations, but activists says these are not properly maintained. There are instances when the escalators stop midway and commuters have to walk. The elevators are in bad condition and not maintained at most stations. We have been raising the issue with railway authorities, but in vain, said Subhash Gupta, president, Rail Yatri Parishad. Development plan The Railways have announced plans to develop some of the suburban stations, but they are yet to materialise. There was a plan to develop CSMT and Thane stations as World Class stations, having budget hotels, commercial complexes, but even after 10 years, nothing concrete has happened. The government, a couple of years ago, announced the commercial development of 400 stations across India. The list included CSMT and Thane stations apart from LTT, Dadar, Panvel, Kalyan, Mumbai Central, and Bandra, but the project is still in primary stages. Under the second phase of MUTP-2, the railway authorities have improved certain stations Dadar, Borivli, Kanjurmarg, and Thakurli, among others, but the changes have been limited to trespass control. Now, under MUTP-3A, Railways has proposed development of 19 stations at the cost of Rs947 crore. Under the plan, the Railways will build elevated decks to facilitate commuter movement, additional FOBs, elevators and escalators Interconnecting FOBs, elevated decks, escalators, development of station premises will be undertaken by us. The list of railway stations, which will undergo revamp, has not been finalised, said RS Khurana, chairman and managing director, Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), the body which will work on development of the stations. The Indian Railways subsidiary Indian Railway Station Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC) will also be developing few stations on the suburban network. The Metro, Cidco model The Metro stations on the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova line could act as a benchmark for the Railways. These stations are clean, have proper signage, controlled access system, ticketing facilities, good passenger addressing system, food and beverage stalls and other commercial stalls along with a lot of circulating area. Even Cidco has developed stations in Navi Mumbai in the 1990s that are ideal for commuters. The stations are spacious, have ample parking space outside, there are proper entry and exit points and the stations are integrated with other modes of transport with bus, auto and taxi stands on the station premises. Passenger activists feel the Railways can learn from the Metro and Cidco authorities to make commute better for Mumbaiites too. A 138-year old school, established by freedom fighters and social reformers Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, has taken a historic step by welcoming girl students to take admission. The New English School on Tilak road was in fact far ahead of its time and was originally co-ed till 1936. After that year, the girls were shifted to a separate school by the parent body, Deccan Education Society. After 82 years, however, the school has decided to become co-ed primarily to promote a holistic and gender-neutral educational environment, principal Nagesh Mone, said in an interview. As the students grow up, they need to know that men and women are equal and should be treated so. Gender-based bias cannot be a part of their lives and to ensure that we need to start at the school level. Among many other reasons, this was the main vision that drove us to take this decision after 82 years, said Mone. Established in 1880, the New English School was among the first native-run schools to impart western education in Pune. The objective was to provide the masses with affordable access to modern education. This was done with a revolutionary spirit, at a time when English education was provided to a select few in government institutions and Christian missions only. In the changing times, we need to make sure that our boys know the true sense of respect and imbibe the discipline of treating women right. It all starts at a young age; only then can change trickle down in society. On the other hand, women deserve all opportunities equal to men and should not be barred based on gender, said Mone. He was optimistic that the entry of girls would raise the standard of education at the school. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in its final order has imposed a fine of 3.57 crores on six firms for colluding with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC officials) and undertaking bid rigging while filing tenders for thermal composting garbage plants in 2014. The nexus between PMC officials and contractors for rigging the bids was exposed in detail by Hindustan Times in a series of reports in October 2017. The CCI conducted an enquiry on the basis of a complaint from Nagrik Chetna Manch, an NGO of alert citizen-activists. Hindustan Times during October 2017 reported in detail the nexus citing how the contractors and officers had telephonic conversations on multiple occasions and tender documents were uploaded through a computer belonging to the municipal corporation. The tenders pertained to seven thermal composting plants at various locations including Kharadi, Ghole Patil road and Peshwe Park, and were worth 14 crore. In their order issued on Tuesday, the Commission observed that various individuals including proprietor, partner and director of the firms coordinated to rig the tenders by way of submitting proxy/cover bids. The CCI, established under the ministry of corporate affairs for the administration, implementation and enforcement of the Competition Act, 2002, has directed all the parties to deposit the penalty amount within 60 days from the receipt of the order. The investigative report said there is prima facie evidence that there was a meeting of minds among Fortified Security Solutions, Ecoman Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Lahs Green India Pvt Ltd, Sanjay Agencies, Mahalaxmi Steels and Raghunath Industry Private Limited in response to tender numbers 34, 35, 44, 62 and 63 of 2014 floated by PMC during December, 2014 to March, 2015 for inviting the turnkey contract for Design, supply, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of municipal organic and inorganic solid waste processing plant(s). The CCI has also indicted Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) saying the civic body failed to detect cartelization in its own tenders. It is clear from investigation that PMC did not exercise due diligence while scrutinizing the bid documents. Even though there were several apparent indications of collusion like same IP addresses, common proprietor/ director, same office address, consecutive serial number for DDs etc., these were not taken into consideration by OP-3 while determining the eligibility of the bidders, noted CCI in its order. Maj Gen SCN Jatar (retd), president, Nagrik Chetna Manch while reacting to the order, said the Commissions order clearly shows how tendering process at PMC was being carried out. The commission has fined contractors but because of limited mandate, it could not act against PMC officials. We have now decided to take up the matter with authorities concerned for action against PMC officials responsible for facilitating the cartel. After perusing the information, the CCI was of the prima facie view that the case involved big rigging or collusive bidding in violation of section 3(3) read with section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. The CCI in its report observed that there was understanding among the firms who participated in the bidding to ensure that the tender went to Ecoman Enviro Solutions Pvt Limited. The same company, noted CCI, has borne the cost of demand draft for the other participants. Earlier, to inquire the allegations of cartel levelled by Nagrik Chetna Manch, CCI asked its Director General to investigate the matter. Accordingly, CCI Director General collected evidence from various sources by issuing probe letters to the parties and third parties including telecom operators, banks, etc. and also recorded statements on oath and submitted report to the Commission on August 30, 2017. Following the report from Director General conducted hearing on November 16, 2017. The CCI while hearing petition reduced the penalty on four firms under provisions of section 46 of the Competition Act (Lesser Penalty Regulation). Eventually, CCI imposed penalty of Rs 13,07,240 against Fortified Security Solutions, Rs 33,90,500 against Ecoman Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Rs 21,00,258 against Lahs Green India Pvt Ltd, Rs 90,63,874 against Sanjay Agencies, Rs. 1,68,10166 against Mahalaxmi Steels and Rs 30,54,943 against Raghunath Industry Private Limited. The Commission has also imposed penalty of Rs 361368 against five individual holding key positions in the six firms Firms admit role during probe The six firms against whom the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed fines have admitted their role in rigging bids, based on which the Commission has reduced penalty. Following a complaint from Nagrik Chetna Manch, an NGO of citizen-activists, the CCI conducted an enquiry and found that a bidders cartel was at work while filing the tender for the thermal composting garbage plants in 2014. The Hindustan Times during October 2017 reported in detail the nexus citing how the contractors and officers had telephonic conversations on multiple occasions and tender documents were uploaded through a computer belonging to the municipal corporation. In its order on Tuesday, CCI said all the six firms admitted of rigging bids and sought reduction in penalty under provisions of section 46 of the Competition Act (Lesser Penalty Regulation). Eventually, CCI after hearing the case reduced penalty on four bidders Ecoman Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Lahs Green India Pvt Ltd, Sanjay Agencies, and Mahalaxmi Steels while penalty for Raghunath Industry Private Limited and Fortified Security Solutions were not reduced. The Commission reduced the penalty within the range of 25% to 50% bringing down the total fine from Rs 6,18,10,154 to Rs3,57,26,981. In its earlier report, Hindustan Times had reported that Bipin Vijay Salunke, managing director of Ecoman Enviro Solutions, which won the 14 crore bid for setting up municipal waste processing plants confessed in his statement under oath that he knew all the competitors bidding in tender nos. 34, 35, 44, 62 and 63 of 2014. These tenders were floated by PMC during December, 2014 to March, 2015 for inviting the turnkey contract for Design, Supply, Installation, Commissioning, Operation and Maintenance of Municipal Organic and Inorganic Solid Waste Processing Plant(s). Salunke said that the other bidders for the tenders were known to him one way or the other while adding that he gave the phone numbers belonging to Parimal Salunke (an employee of Ecoman and his cousin) as the contact person for various bidders in the tenders. He confessed that he sent Parimal Salunke to the Pune Municipal Corporation for purchasing/procuring the digital key for M/s Fortified Security Solutions, M/s Lahs Green India Pvt. Ltd., M/s Sanjay Agencies and M/s Mahalaxmi Steels by submitting all the relevant documents and registered his mobile numbers as mentioned above for telephonic verification by the PMC. Another businessman Vijay Raghunath Salunke, Director of Raghunath Industry Private Limited, disclosed during his submission that on the insistence of his son Bipin Vijay Salunke, he agreed to give authorization to other parties as authorized distributor of Raghunath Industry to help them qualify for PMC tenders. It has been stated by Vijay Salunke that the objective of alleged cartelisation was bonafide so as to ensure that PMC does not extend the tender period and the bid placed by Ecoman Enviro Solutions Pvt Ltd should be considered without extension, noted the order. Activists demand action Civic activists reacting to the CCI order said while the Commission has held six firms responsible for rigging the tenders, the civic body needs to act against its own officials besides blacklisting the contractors. Rigging bids is not new in PMC though it has come out clearly this time from CCI. The PMC now needs to take action against firms and civic officials responsible for manipulating the process, said Vijay Kumbhar, prominent civic and RTI activist. Kumbhar along with another civic activist Vivek Velankar had written a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and PMC Commissioner Saurabh Rao demanding action against PMC officials and firms. While banning the use of guide books in government schools, the Congress government in Punjab on Thursday apologised for any mistakes that may have crept into the new Class-12 history textbooks of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). These will be rectified immediately, said minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa who, along with cabinet colleagues Manpreet Singh Badal and OP Soni, who is the school education minister, was fielded by the government to reply to the oppositions charge of deletion of Sikhs history chapters from the new Class-12 book. The minister made the statement after his attention was drawn towards some mistakes pointed out by a six-member committee set up by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The three ministers, at the joint press conference, rejected allegations of the SAD and AAP that chapters related to Sikh gurus and their teachers were dropped from history textbooks, accusing the two parties of distorting facts for political benefit. Two experts with the ministers said bulk of the content has been shifted to Class 11. Manpreet further alleged that private publishers are behind the controversy because their business is getting affected due to the books brought out by the board. PSEB is an autonomous body and syllabus revision is an academic exercise. Its academic autonomy should be respected. Political concerns should not affect the debate, he said, rejecting the charge that the Congress government is pursuing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda. Soni said the PSEB has for the first time published history textbooks on its own for senior secondary classes, and use of guides of private publishers would be completely banned in government schools in the state. Manpreet also said the board has involved experts from renowned educational institutions, such as Delhi University, Panjab University and Punjabi University, besides taking an expert suggested by the SGPC on board. What do those who are nitpicking have to say about schools run by the SGPC and Chief Khalsa Diwan with CBSE affiliation? Why dont they raise these issues with them too? he asked. School education secretary Krishan Kumar said the PSEB would issue corrigendum for any factual or language mistakes in the new books. Meanwhile, Eklavya Foundation faculty member CN Subramaniam, who was associated with the syllabus and textbook revision in Punjab, said there was a need to look at history textbooks for senior secondary classes (11 and 12) together for a mix of the world, Indian and the states own regional history. Subramaniam said the three should be balanced. There was an issue with the way Punjab history was structured in books in the state. The history of Punjab from stone age to medieval period was ignored with no mention of social, economic and political history of those times, he told HT over the phone. The pedagogy and curriculum expert, who is still to receive his printed copies of Class 11 and 12 books, said he had also suggested that Punjab history be placed in Class-11 textbook instead because the children were going to compete at the national level. At the national level, curriculum is set by the CBSE. It makes more sense to put Indian history, and India and the world, in Class 12, he said. The foundation has been associated with curriculum development and revision work in NCERT and other states. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a 1,000-page chargesheet in the NIA court here against 16 accused in the killing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Ravinder Gosain. As per NIA officials, Hardeep Singh alias Shera and Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian were the two assassins that allegedly shot dead 60-year-old Gosain in October 2017 near his house in Ludhiana while he was returning from a RSS meeting. Accused Dharminder Singh alias Guggni, Pahaad Singh, Parvez, Malook Singh, Ravipal, Anil Kumar, Manpreet Singh and Amrinderpal Singh allegedly supplied weapons and provided logistic support to the two assassins. The chargesheet states that the killing was executed to destabilise the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive the fledgling terrorism in the state. Defence counsel Jaspal Singh Manjhpur said, Only one line mention has been made of UK National Jagtar Singh Johal in the chargesheet, where the NIA claims that back in 2013, he gave 3,000 pounds to Harminder Singh Mintoo when they met in France. Mintoo, former Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief, and a co-accused in the case, died due to cardiac arrest in Patiala central jail on April 18. The court on Friday asked the NIA to submit his death certificate. Plea for 4 to be declared POs The NIA moved another application in the Mohali court to declare Harsimrat Singh alias PHD, an ISI backed pro-Khalistani, (suspected to be in Pakistan), Gurjinder Singh Shastri (a close confidant of Mintoo, based in Italy), Gurjant Singh(suspected UK-based terrorist) and Gursharanbir Singh(a UK national based in Coventry) as proclaimed offenders. As per the NIA, the quartet provided training and financial help to the assassins when they visited abroad. All the accused have been booked under Sections 302 (murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 120 B (criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death), the Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 22, when arguments will start on framing of charges in the court by the defence counsel. A separate application to discharge Taljeet Singh alias Jimmy in the case has also been moved by the investigating agency. NIA officials told the court that they do not have any substantial evidence against Taljeet and thus are moving a discharge application against him in the court. The NIA maintained that Mintoo had allegedly roped in Shera after he met him in Italy a few years ago. Shera, who was only 18 back then, was convinced by KLF chief to avenge the alleged atrocities on Sikhs and 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The NIA told the court that more than 100 witnesses will testify for examination during the trial and several people have sought protection, claiming that their lives are at risk. The list of witnesses includes police officials, bank officials, and people involved in transferring of money from foreign countries. The NIA took over the case from the Punjab Police and has so far arrested 11 persons in various cases relating to the target killings in the state. With a rumour and misinformation campaign hitting the state government programme to vaccinate 73 lakh children against Measles and Rubella (MR), the government has launched its own campaign as a counter. The health department has formed 5,200 teams of doctors and paramedics and has also taken to social media to counter the rumours. The teams are also visiting schools to counsel students. The state-wide vaccination drive, part of the Universal Immunisation Programme, was launched on May 1. Despite the negative campaign on social media, around 4.2 lakh children have been administered the vaccine on the first two days. On Day 1, 2.35 lakh children were vaccinated. Before the drive, misinformation that the vaccine caused side-effects and even long-term adverse effects had created a scare among children and their parents. Subsequently, some students refused to have the vaccination administered. Despite the rumours, we managed to get a good kickstart. I appeal to parents to get their children vaccinated to defeat the disease, said health and family planning minister Brahm Mohindra. He also appealed that no one should spread rumours and that the vaccination was known to have a positive impact. Those spreading rumours are anti-Punjab, the minister added. He went on to add that even when anti-polio and anti-malaria campaigns were launched, there was a lot of opposition. State immunisation officer Dr GB Singh told HT that the department was facing problems in convincing parents to let their children be vaccinated. It is shocking that the some paediatricians were also involved in vicious rumour-making, he said. He added the vaccination was being administered free of cost at all government hospitals, while a private doctor charged between 500 and 1,000 per case. The government also has the best-managed cold chain for movement and preservation of vaccines, even better than the majority of private nursing homes and hospitals, Dr Singh added. As per the National Family Health Survey, 2015-16, Punjab has achieved a target of 89% vaccination against the national average of 62% of population. Govt advisory on MR vaccination Additional dose is a must Parents have been seeking clarity on whether children who have been administered the MR vaccination previously, need to get it again. Answering this, Dr Singh said, The additional dose that the government is giving free of cost will help eradicate the diseases, Measles and Rubella, in a big way. Fever after vaccination is a good sign The state immunisation officer clarified that in the misinformation campaign, mild fever after the vaccination had been dubbed as an immediate side-effect. This is a misnomer. Fever is a good sign, of the positive impact of the vaccination, he added. Some Sikh scholars have expressed shock over what they termed as an unwarranted restructuring of the Class 12 history book by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). Sikh historian Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, Kendriya Guru Singh Sabha president Gurpreet Singh, former IAS officer Gurtej Singh and advocate Amar Singh Chahal on Friday said important chapters on Sikh history and gurus have been deleted from the book which distorts and misinterprets the gurus mission. There seems a mischievous attempt to undermine the revolutionary ethos of the Sikh gurus and their rich legacy. It seems to be an anti-Sikh agenda to negate the gurus ideological perspective aimed at uplifting of the masses, they said. The role of Singh Sabha movement, the Ghadarites, Babar Akalis and the Akalis has been ignored in the book, they claimed. The new hybrid version of Sikhism being propagated in the book has no regard for Sikh sensibilities, said Dhillon. The book has serious chronological anomalies, factual errors, language discrepancies, and incoherent observations, he said. They said the Punjab government should seriously take note of the issue. Book shouldve mention of Guru Gobind Singh Prof Rajiv Lochan of the department of history, Panjab University, Chandigarh, who was a member of the expert committee that finalised the content of the book, acknowledged that any book on Punjab history should not skip mention of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh master. The book needs corrections and should not be recalled completely. I had had checked 8-10 chapters before the book went for production. Some facts about Shaheed Bhagat Singh were also wrongly represented, he said. Textbook plagiarised: Pbi varsity religious studies HoD The head of the religious studies department, Punjabi University, Patiala, on Friday claimed that the Class 12 history textbook is plagiarised, urging the state government to recall it and set up a committee of experts for writing the new book. Prof Gurmeet Singh Sidhu said this while handing over a 15-page report on the textbook to chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and asked him to initiate action against the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) committee that approved the book and said the old book be taught for the time being. Addressing the media, he said, Actually, its not a history book. Its a compilation of wrong information done with an ulterior motive, he said. It is shocking that the book quotes some unknown experts, and does not focus on dates and events. It is more of political science than history, he said. Sidhu said he came to address the media in his personal capacity and the university has not deputed him. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) working president Hemant Soren has managed to rally all the major opposition parties in the state behind its candidates for the Silli and Gomia assembly bypolls on May 28, stitching a united front against the ruling BJP. Sorens alliance is bigger than the one put together by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav during the Lok Sabha bypolls in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, when his party joined hands with arch-rival Bahujan Samaj Party to bring the saffron party down. While the Congress fielded its own candidates from Gorakhpur and Phulpur in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls, the party has decided to throw its weight behind the JMM in Jharkhand. Others on Sorens bandwagon are the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist). However, the Jharkhand bypolls will be fought in slightly different circumstances. Unlike Uttar Pradesh, where the Samajwadi Party wrested two saffron parliamentary strongholds from the BJPs clutches, the JMM is fighting to retain assembly seats that belonged to its legislators before their disqualification. The parties have decided to support us because the JMM is best placed in the state to give the BJP a run for its money. We are confident of retaining both the Silli and Gomia seats, said Soren. The BJP, on the other hand, seems to be falling out with its allies. The All Jharkhand Student Union Party (AJSU) announced candidates from both the constituencies after a disagreement over sharing of seats, and is now gearing up to fight the saffron party in the bypolls. While AJSU supremo Sudesh Mahto will contest from Silli, the party has fielded former bureaucrat Lambodar Mahto from Gomia. Although the BJP has decided to refrain from fielding a candidate against the the AJSU president, it will contest against Lambodar Mahto. The central election committee will decide on our candidate for Gomia, Deepak Prakash, general secretary of the BJPs Jharkhand unit, said on Thursday. Yogendra Mahto and Amit Mahto, the JMM legislators from Gomia and Silli, were disqualified from the assembly following their conviction in separate criminal cases earlier this year. The JMM on Friday announced that their wives will contest the bypolls. Soren has been trying to weave an opposition alliance for the last few months, a process that began taking shape ahead of the biennial Rajya Sabha elections in March. The JMM offered to support the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha election, and reciprocally ensured its support in the 2019 Lok Sabha and assembly elections. A party official said the presence of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in the Ranchi jail helped JMM leaders cobble up the alliance. The leaders of all opposition parties including the Congress, JVM(P) and JMM have been meeting Laluji in jail as well as the Ranchi Institute of Medical Sciences (where the ailing leader has been admitted). All of them realise that joining hands is necessary if they want to defeat the BJP and stay relevant. The recent urban civic elections were a case in point, he added. The BJP managed to win 21 of 34 urban local bodies in the April polls, beating anti-incumbency at the central and state levels. Allu Arjun couldnt have asked for a better Tamil debut. His latest outing Naa Peru Surya, which has been dubbed in Tamil as En Peyar Surya, has released worldwide on Friday. Usually, dubbed films get limited screens as there is no market. However, En Peyar Surya is an exception, thanks to the extremely positive buzz the film has generated since the day its teaser released. News is that the Tamil version has released in 207 screens across Tamil Nadu. It is one of the widest releases for a dubbed film after the Baahubali franchise. According to the films Tamil Nadu distributor Sakthivel of Sakthi Film Factory, the response to the film from the trade has been phenomenal. Its not seen as a dubbed film. Allu Arjun has a huge market and following in Tamil Nadu and all that is being converted into good screen count, Sakthi told Hindustan Times. Read: Naa Peru Surya movie review - This Allu Arjun starrer is a coming of age drama gone wrong Producer L Sridhar recently said the film was planned as a bilingual. The plan was to release the film as a bilingual. Unfortunately, we couldnt go ahead with the plan due to the recent strike in Telugu film industry. With actors like Sarath Kumar, Arjun and Nadiya playing pivotal roles in the film, we wanted to release it as a straight film in Tamil as well. Nevertheless, Im sure audiences wont see this as a dubbed film because of its patriotic theme. Its a national film, Sridhar said. Arjun plays an army man with anger issues in the film, directed by Vakkantham Vamsi, known for his contribution as a writer for hit films such as Kick and Temper. Also starring Anu Emmanuel, Arjun Sarja, Sarath Kumar and Thakur Anup Singh, the film is a tribute to Indian soldiers. Arjuns role required him to shed weight and he worked with a US-based trainer for close to a month to achieve the desired look. The film has music by Bollywood composer duo Vishal Shekhar. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Priyadarshan Jadhav is known as a prankster among his co-stars and friends. A fun-loving and energetic human being and artist, Priyadarshan has been entertaining audiences over the years with films such as Timepass 2 (2015) and Jai Maharashtra Dhabha Bhatinda (2013). The actor-writer will now be making his directorial debut with Maska. Ask him about his popularity as a prankster on the sets and he says, I am not a prankster. People give me a chance to trouble them or prank them and then I have to oblige, laughs Priyadarshan, who is seen in Prakash Kuntes Cycle with Hrishkesh Joshi and Bhau Kadam. Priyadarshan believes an actor should not be choosy or picky about his/her films. Honestly, I am a follower of actor Mohan Joshi. Just look at his career graph. There is no detailing or method acting. Similarly, I believe there is no method for acting. When picking a project, I look at the script, not my character, and I say yes if I feel like doing the role irrespective of whether the film is good, bad, ugly or horrendous. The real challenge of an actor is to take up complicated and exciting roles, he says. So, what was it about Maska that made him want to make his directorial debut with it? Well, the many frauds that are happening around us triggered the thought for this film. I also spoke to a friend of mine who works with the police and he told us a couple of facts which we used to create a fictional story. The film is contemporary and entertaining but not in the regular way. It is quirky, says Priyadarshan, who admits that he feels he is a better film director than a theatre director. I am pretty confident of my direction skills because it is easier than theatre. Directing a play is like eating an entire cake at one time, where while directing a film, I can enjoy the cake, choose the flavour and relish it at my pace. In 2018, Priyadarshan will be making his second directorial venture with a film titled Fools that will go on floors in September. As an actor he will be seen with Aniket Vishwasrao in Majhya Baikocha Priyakar and Shreyash Jadhavs Me Pan Sachin. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh and his wife Rukmini are expecting their first child. Among the first persons to congratulate them was Saaho actor Prabhas. The Baahubali actor paid the couple a visit. Sharing photos from the visit, Neil wrote on Instagram: When the nations DARLING proves to be wayyyyy more. Such a warm and sweet gesture to Come meet @rukminineilmukesh @naman.n.mukesh and me. To congratulate us on our new beginning He instantly makes everyone fall in love with him. #prabhas #saaho #actionmovie #superstar. Neil will appear as the antagonist in Telugu and Hindi bilingual Saaho, being directed by Sujeeth. Saaho stars Bollywood actors Shraddha Kapoor opposite Prabhas and the latest addition to the cast is Evelyn Sharma. The actor shared a picture with Prabhas recently and captioned: Hii ???? #onpublicdemand a photo with #prabhas! Trying to convince him to come on social media! COMMENT if you want him to come on Instagram too ???? #bahubali #saaho #myhero #evelynsharma. The Saaho team is currently in UAE, shooting stunt sequences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A couple of pictures of Prabhas from the sets of the film recently surfaced online. In them, the actor can be seen sitting on a superbike and checking out his ride. According to the makers, the Dubai schedule alone will cost them Rs 90 crore, making it the highest ever budget spent for a single schedule of an Indian film. The shoot has been on for the last couple of weeks and will continue in other parts of UAE including Abu Dhabi over the next 40 days. At more than 50 days and with more than 250 crew members, Saaho will be the second longest Indian movie to be made in Abu Dhabi after Tiger Zinda Hai last year. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop NASA is set for the launch of its first robotic lander dedicated to studying the Mars deep interior, with instruments to detect planetary seismic rumblings never measured anywhere but Earth. The Mars InSight lander will take off from the Vandenberg Air Force base in California on May 5 at 4.05 am (4.35 pm IST), treating early risers across a wide region to the luminous spectacle of the first interplanetary spacecraft to be launched from the US West Coast. If all goes according to schedule, the spacecraft will land on the Red Planet Mars on November 26. The lander will be carried aloft for NASA and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) atop a powerful, 19-story Atlas 5 rocket from the fleet of United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co. InSight will be released about 90 minutes after launch on a 301 million-mile flight to Mars, and is due to reach its destination six months later, landing on a flat, smooth plain close to the planets equator called the Elysium Planitia. The 360 kg spacecraft - its name is short for Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport - marks the 21st US-launched Martian exploration, dating back to the Mariner fly-by missions of the 1960s. Nearly two dozen other Mars missions have been launched by other nations. Once settled, the solar-powered InSight will spend two years - one about one Martian year - plumbing the depths of the planets interior for clues to how Mars took form and, by extension, the origins of the Earth and other rocky planets. The science we want to do with this mission is really the science of understanding the early solar system, JPLs Bruce Banerdt, InSight principal investigator, said during a pre-launch briefing for reporters on Thursday. Final tests being conducted of the Insight probe at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. (REUTERS) Martian time machine While Earths tectonics and other forces have erased most evidence of its early history, much of Mars - about one-third the size of Earth - is believed to have remained relatively static for more than 3 billion years, creating a geologic time machine for scientists. InSights primary instrument is a French-built seismometer, a device designed to detect the slightest ground motion from marsquakes, even those on the opposite side of the planet. The instrument is so sensitive, Banerdt said, that it can measure a seismic wave just one-half the radius of a hydrogen atom. Scientists expect to see a dozen to 100 marsquakes over the course of the mission, producing data that will help them deduce the depth, density and composition of the planets core, the rocky mantle surrounding it and the outermost layer, the crust. InSight is not the first attempt to measure Martian seismic activity. The Viking probes of the mid-1970s were equipped with seismometers, too, but they were bolted to the top of the landers, which swayed in Martian winds on legs built with shock absorbers. Banerdt called those handicapped experiments, joking, We didnt do seismology on Mars - we did it 3 feet above Mars. Bruce Banerdt, InSight principal investigator, NASA JPL, discusses the mission during a pre-launch media briefing. (AP) Apollo missions to the moon brought seismometers to the lunar surface as well, detecting thousands of moonquakes and meteorite impacts. But InSight is expected to yield the first meaningful data on internal planetary tremors beyond Earth. Insight also will be outfitted with a German-made drill designed to burrow as much as 16 feet (5 meters) underground, pulling behind it a cable encasing a thermal probe to measure heat flowing from inside the planet. A third instrument is a special transmitter to beam radio signals back to Earth, tracking Mars subtle rotational wobble at its north pole to reveal the size of the planets core and possibly whether it remains molten. Hitching a ride aboard the same rocket that launches InSight will be a pair of miniature satellites called CubeSats, which will fly to Mars on their own paths behind the lander in a first deep-space test of the technology. The twin briefcase-sized objects, if they survive the journey, will ultimately soar past the red planet, offering NASA a new interplanetary satellite platform that carries a fraction of the weight, and cost, of larger traditional spacecraft. An 80-year-old man shot two people, killing one, at a Northern California apartment complex and later turned the gun on himself, authorities said Thursday. A woman died and a man remained hospitalised in intensive care after the shooting in Mill Valley, about 23 kilometres north of San Francisco, Marin County sheriffs Sgt. Brenton Schneider said. Deputies found the wounded victims after responding to a report of shots being fired at the apartment complex on east Blithedale Avenue shortly before 3:30pm, authorities said. The woman later was pronounced dead. The suspected gunman was spotted fleeing into an apartment at the complex and deputies evacuated nearby units, surrounded the area and urged other residents to shelter in place. Video from the scene showed a deputy with his gun drawn shielding two people as they ran from an apartment. Deputies finally entered the apartment about two hours after the shooting and found the gunman dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, Schneider said. The identities of the victims and the gunman werent immediately released. There was no immediate word on a motive for the attack or whether the gunman knew the victims. A group of US staffing companies with extensive operations in India have filed a lawsuit challenging new H-1B visa rules introduced by the Trump administration that they argue cause them irreparable harm and pose an existential threat to their business model. The suit, filed in a New Jersey federal court on Tuesday, targets a February policy memo issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which oversees a significant part of the H-1B visa programme. The memo imposed significant restrictions on deployment of such workers at third-party work sites, which is how staffing companies work, also called outsourcing. The Trump administration has introduced a series of changes in the H-1B visa programme in line with the presidents Buy American, Hire American executive order issued last year, with the stated aim of protecting jobs for Americans and preventing the use of the scheme to displace local workers. The changes have impacted Indian companies and workers, who are the largest beneficiaries of the programme. US subsidiaries of Indian IT firms Infosys, TCS and Wipro are among top recipients of H-1Bs and Indian workers have tended to bag almost 70% of the visas, according to a 2016 study. Jonathan Wasden, the lead attorney for the companies, said the USCIS, in issuing the order, encroached on the jurisdiction of the US department of labour, which administers part of the H-1B programme regarding wages and working conditions. It had already laid down clear rules for third-party work sites, he said. The new rules demand that employers retain direct control over employees hired on H-1B visas, even when deployed at third-party locations and that they must file their precise itinerary how long will they work and for whom with the visa applications. This was not the case earlier, as laid down by the department of labour, according to Wasden. The lawsuit asked the court to prohibit and enjoin the USCIS from violating the separation of powers and responsibilities and to keep the agency from introducing unlawful requirements in the H-1B process, he added. The case was filed by a trade body Small and Medium Enterprises Consortium and two New Jersey-based staffing companies NAM Info and Derex Technologies, which have offices also in India.. The consortium could not be reached for comment, and a response was awaited from the two companies. The lawsuit says, Defendants (USCIS) unlawful requirements will eventually choke out plaintiffs work force through extension denials and refusing initial H-1B application. If left unchecked, Defendants will destroy Plaintiffs and hundreds of similar companies across the country. The USCIS refused to speak on the matter, saying it does not comment on pending litigation. Immigration experts and lawyers around the US are watching the progress of this lawsuit, waiting to see, as immigration lawyer Chirag Patel of Maryland put it, if it will have the same beneficial effect on the H-1B programme as other lawsuits have had on Donald Trumps travel ban and a proposal to end the regulation preventing the deportation of undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children. There have been recent changes as of last seasons H-1B visa lottery by the (USCIS) going beyond the framework established by Congress, Patel said. The US grants 85,000 H-1B visas to American companies to hire foreign workers for speciality occupations that they are unable to fill locally. Critics of the programme, which include Trump and other members of the administration, argue it is being used to displace American workers with foreigners on lowers wages. Responses to requests for comment were awaited from Nasscom, the trade body of Indian IT companies, and FWD.US, a body that represents top American IT companies such as Facebook and Google, which has been lobbying Congress and the administration against restrictive rules, such as the plan to rescind work authorisation for spouses of H-1B visa holders cleared for permanent residency (green card). Three Indian-American physicians from Pennsylvania have been charged with health care fraud and illegal distribution of buprenorphine -- medication for opioid addiction treatment. The physicians -- Dr. Krishan Kumar Aggarwal, 73, Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, 68, and Dr. Parth Bharill, 69 -- are part of the Redirections Treatment Advocates, an opioid addiction treatment practice with offices in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The indictments alleged that the doctors, working as contractors at various locations, created and distributed unlawful prescriptions for buprenorphine, known as Subutex and Suboxone, a drug that should be used to treat individuals with addiction. They were also charged with conspiracy to unlawfully distribute buprenorphine. The three have also been charged with health care fraud for allegedly causing fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare or Medicaid for payments to cover the costs of the unlawfully prescribed buprenorphine. Dr. Cherian John, 65, and Dr. Michael Bummer -- both contractors were indicted for similar charges. All of them face maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of US $250,000 for each of the counts charging unlawfully dispensing Schedule III controlled substances. The indictments came as part of the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit created by Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year. The unit uses data to target opioid-related health care fraud. Today, we are facing the worst drug crisis in American history, with one American dying of a drug overdose every nine minutes, Sessions said. Its incredible but true that some of our trusted medical professionals have chosen to violate their oaths and exploit this crisis for profit, he said. Last summer, Sessions said he sent a dozen of the top federal prosecutors to focus solely on the problem of opioid-related health care fraud in places where the epidemic was at its worst-including Western Pennsylvania. These cases cut off the supply of drugs and stop fraudsters from exploiting vulnerable people. Our prosecutors began issuing indictments back in October, and today we bring even more charges against those who allegedly defrauded the taxpayer while diverting potentially addictive drugs, Sessions said. A prominent Indian-American public interest lawyer and immigration reform activist, fighting a rare form of brain cancer, has been appointed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as senior advisor on a major initiative that focusses on democracy, immigration and healthcare. Nisha Agarwal, 40, has been named as Senior Advisor to Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Phil Thompson to advance the administrations Democracy NYC initiative that is focussed on expanding and protecting democracy for millions of New Yorkers. Agarwal had served as Commissioner of the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs since the beginning of the de Blasio Administration, building landmark initiatives like IDNYC, the citys municipal identification card, and Cities for Action, a national advocacy coalition of local elected officials. The mayor described Agarwal as a fierce and dedicated woman, who has made it her lifes mission to bring the voices and needs of marginalized communities to the forefront. Her service to this citys millions of immigrant residents will reverberate for generations of New Yorkers to come through programs like IDNYC, and I have no doubt her work on the DemocracyNYC initiative will be equally meaningful, he said in a statement announcing the appointment. Bitta Mostofi has been appointed Commissioner of the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs. Mostofi had served as Acting Commissioner since August 2017 during Agarwals medical leave. Agarwal was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in 2016. She said as she continues with deal with cancer, she will work for communities in New York. We are in a moment of unparalleled attacks on the rights of people across the United States to take part in our democratic process, access government services, and assert their voices. The Trump White House has made it their mission to spread falsehoods about voters, limit critical social services, and suppress participation in the census. These assaults have immense impacts on New Yorkers in the short and long term, Agarwal said. She said it was an honor to serve as Commissioner of the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs in the city. As I continue to deal with cancer and the recovery from my stroke, Ive zeroed in on the way I can give the most back to New Yorkers in this moment, she said. Agarwal added that by working together and empowering the citys people, solutions can be achieved to resolve difficulties facing the citys population. Im thrilled to join the team of Deputy Mayor Thompson to build the DemocracyNYC initiative from the ground up, she said. Agarwal will take on the role of Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor to boost civic engagement among New Yorkers and build Democracy NYCs efforts on immigration, disability, and healthcare. Prior to joining the administration, Agarwal, the daughter of Indian immigrants, worked with the Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to establish the Immigrant Justice Corps, a nonprofit that pairs recent law school graduates with non-profit legal services providers to offer free legal representation to immigrants. Agarwal was also the co-founder the Center for Popular Democracy and served as its Deputy Director. Agarwal studied at Harvard College and Harvard Law School and was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University. Thompson said Agarwal has a track record of success in building organisations and initiatives from the ground up. Her skills and passion are exactly what we need to ensure DemocracyNYC is inclusive of all New Yorkers, he said. In a report last year in The New York Times, Agarwal had said she has a form of brain cancer known as glioma. She said that during surgery to remove the tumor, she had a stroke, due to which she was initially unable to speak or walk. Her diagnosis and surgery did not stop her from traveling to Washington last year to protest provisions in the Republican tax bill that would have impacted medical research and caused cuts in medical funding necessary to enable researchers find cures for rare diseases like the one she was diagnosed with. At a time when Canada-based Khalistani activists have argued their movement is peaceful and aimed at seeking self-determination, a founding member of a new youth group has declared that in Khalsa tradition, use of force is justified as a last resort. Moninder Singh is among the founders of Sikh Liberation Front (SLF), which came into being last year. He said it comprises youth groups based in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom and has the support of other youth organisations. Singh said, The Khalistan movement doesnt necessarily have to be associated with violence. Self-resistance, resistance against the state, self-defence these modes sometimes require people to resist in many different ways including armed struggle. SLFs logo features a hawk holding an AK-47 assault rifle. Asked about the choice of such violent imagery, Singh said, We chose that because we felt it was reflective of the Khalsa tradition and the tradition of suppressed people across the world. Screengrab of forthcoming website of the Sikh Liberation Front . (HT Photo) A senior Indian government official, who was reached for comments on Singhs remarks, said: Such blatant exhortation to violence aimed at India cannot be tolerated. It is incumbent upon the host government to take stringent action against such elements whose only agenda is of hate, violence and mayhem. Singhs remarks come against the backdrop of growing concern in New Delhi over a spike in the activities of Canada-based pro-Khalistan groups. The issue cast a shadow over Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus visit to India in February. Singh also noted in an email: Groups like SLF are to promote the idea of sovereignty and the use of the AK-47 is for a form of resistance as a last resort as mandated by our Guru Sahibans. Just like many countries have various weapons on their national flags, so too is ours a reminder that we must resist oppression and tyranny by any means necessary. Singh listed 10 national flags that feature weaponry, including that of Mozambique. He said his groups objective was also to counter what he called the Indian governments fear-mongering and the association of the Khalistan movement with extremism. The main stage at the Surrey nagar kirtan had the backdrop of a pro-Khalistan banner. (Courtesy Moninder Singh) Singh, in his mid-30s, is a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement in British Columbia, particularly in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. He is the vice-president and spokesperson of Dashmesh Darbar gurdwara, and one of the main organisers and spokespersons for the nagar kirtan there. This years nagar kirtan was attended by leading Canadian politicians, including New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and British Columbia provinces premier John Horgan. The main stage at the event prominently featured a banner showing Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale with the words Khalistan Zindabaad emblazoned across it. Singh, born in the province and resident in Langley in the Lower Mainland, coordinated efforts in gurdwaras in western provinces to bar Indian officials from their premises. US President Donald Trump, who briefly pledged to fight the National Rifle Association after a February mass shooting at a Florida high school, is expected to throw his full weight behind the powerful gun rights group on Friday at an event in Dallas. In addressing the gun lobbying groups annual convention, the Republican President will emphasise his support for gun rights in political terms, likely claiming again that Democrats want to take away Americans firearms, a White House official said. This will be Trumps fourth speech to the powerful NRA and, with control of the US Congress up for grabs in Novembers midterm elections and campaigns under way, it is expected to include familiar warnings meant to excite the Republican voter base. These things typically are pretty rah, rah Second Amendment types of addresses, the official said, adding that Trump likely will say that Democrats oppose the constitutional amendment that protects gun ownership. The massacre that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14 seemed to mark a turning point in Americas long-running gun debate, sparking a youth-led movement for tighter gun controls. Days after the shooting, Trump promised action on gun regulation and at a gathering of state officials, said this of the NRA: We have to fight them every once in a while. Since then, no major new federal gun controls have been imposed, although the administration is pursuing a proposed regulatory ban on bump stocks of the sort used in an October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 59 people. A bump stock allows a semi-automatic rifle to fire like an automatic one. Semi-automatic assault rifles are sold widely in the United States, which has the worlds highest per capita gun ownership rates. The NRA has fiercely defended Americas gun ownership rights for many years, citing the Second Amendment. Rhetorical shift Since Parkland, Trump has largely moved his rhetoric back in line with the NRA, which endorsed him in his 2016 presidential election campaign and gave him its financial backing. The groups convention in Texas will attract a strongly pro-Trump crowd, officials said, giving the President room to take some swipes at his opponents, review his record in office and complain about Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of possible collusion between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia. The event was likely to be reminiscent of rallies past, a second White House official said. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found in March 2018 that 54 percent of adults wanted strong regulations or restrictions for firearms. That was up from 39% in a similar poll from April 2012. Among Republicans in the poll, 40% wanted strong regulations or restrictions in March 2018, up from 22% in April 2012. Trump met with NRA officials privately at the White House twice in February as he mulled policy responses to the shooting. He eventually endorsed an NRA proposal to arm teachers, a step the group said would help prevent mass school shootings. Gun control activists generally oppose that idea. Trump initially expressed enthusiasm for measures to close loopholes for gun buyers seeking to avoid the background check system, raise the age limit for buying rifles, and find ways to seize guns temporarily from people reported to be dangerous. He has since endorsed more modest proposals, such as legislation aimed at providing more data for the background check system. He did not endorse closing a loophole in existing law that would require background checks for guns bought at guns shows or sales arranged over the internet. A high-ranking New Zealand military officer has been accused of hiding a camera in a bathroom at the nations embassy in Washington in a case that has raised unusual jurisdictional questions. Alfred Keating was a Navy commodore and the embassys senior defence attache at the time of the incident last July. He would have been eligible to claim diplomatic immunity from being prosecuted by US. authorities. But the case was handled by New Zealand police, who travelled to Washington to investigate. A New Zealand judge on Friday dismissed an appeal by Keating to have his name and other personal details suppressed. Keating, who has returned to New Zealand, has been charged with attempting to make an intimate visual recording. If convicted, he faces a maximum 18 months in prison. On the Gaza-Israel border women are an integral part of the tent protests that have transformed a once-deserted restricted zone. Some provide food, water and social media support - and some, although in much smaller numbers than men, roll burning tyres and hurl stones at the Israeli border fence. Since March 30, when the protests began, hundreds of women have taken part, sometimes with their entire families. Some tell us we cant do what men do, some are afraid we will get hurt and others encourage us, Aya Abeid, 18, told Reuters. Twice she managed to plant a Palestinian flag at the fortified wire fence that separates Gaza from Israel, a place most do not dare approach in demonstrations that have seen more than 40 Palestinians shot dead by Israeli troops. Abeid has used a slingshot against those same Israeli soldiers. There have been no women among the dead although at least 250 women have been wounded. I was injured two weeks ago in my thigh as I rolled tyres, she said. Hopefully, I will be able to attend this Friday and do what I usually do, here is my slingshot ready. As Israel celebrates its 70th birthday, Palestinians mourn what they call the Nakba (Catastrophe) of their peoples mass-dispossession during the conflict that broke out in 1948. Two-thirds of Gazas 2 million Palestinians are war refugees or their descendants. The Great March of Return, as the Gaza border protests have been dubbed, has seen thousands gather - in greater numbers on Fridays - to demand access to their families lost homes or lands, now in Israel. Israel rules that out, concerned it would lose its Jewish majority. Alternatives, such as accommodating refugees and their descendants in a future Palestinian state, have been discussed in peace talks that date back to 1993 but which are now stalled. I AM FROM JAFFA At the tent camp in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Taheyah Qdeih filled bottles with drinking water to distribute to people staying in tents and along the frontier. The 49-year-old, whose family originally comes from Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, has made it her mission almost every day. When I was young I used to hurl stones at the soldiers, she said. I am from Jaffa and I believe we will return. Am I crazy like the Jews may say? No, I am not. I am a believer. Israels military and political leadership have defended the use of live fire against protesters, saying that they will continue to protect the border with Gaza - a territory under the control of Hamas Islamists sworn to Israels destruction. Palestinians have accused Israel of using excessive force against unarmed demonstrators. Riding on a donkey cart, 48-year-old Jehad Abu Muhsen brought the youths 15 tyres to burn. She collected them from car mechanics shops. I do it three or four days a week, specially on Friday. This is what I can do to help, she told Reuters. Among 15 undergraduate nursing students at her class, Shorouq Abu Musameh decided to volunteer and be with paramedics deployed along the border. I wanted to do my part in supporting the marches of return, said Abu Musameh, her white uniform stained with the blood of the wounded. I say to myself my uniform may protect me, or maybe not. S HOW ME THE MONET Joseph Connor Alongside the National Gallerys acclaimed Monet & Architecture show, you can explore your own creative talent. As part of the gallerys outdoor workshop, artist Joseph Connor will help you produce a series of digital paintings at different times of day. Bring your iPad or other smart device and learn how to create a video animation of views that feature in Monets works. Monet & Architecture, until July 29, visit nationalgallery.org.uk for ticket prices and to book. Digital painting workshop, Saturday May 26, 11am4pm; 46, 42 concs, 40 for members and patrons. THE ART OF SMARTPHONES Corinth by Jeffrey Kroll US-born Jeffrey Kroll was one of the first artists to recognise the importance of the camera function in mobile phones. In 2005 he had the idea of marrying this new digi-tech with painterly tradition, in a new hybrid art form. Kroll uses his mobile camera to record images of his paintings, reproduces them on two-metre canvases in his Cotswolds studio, then fleshes out their composition in oil paint. His latest work is on show at Partners & Mucciaccia gallery in Mayfair. Kroll reminds us that Durer, Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec all used mechanical reproduction techniques in their work. Jeffrey Kroll at Partners & Mucciaccia, Dover Street, W1, from May 16-June 8 (partnersandmucciaccia.com). Jeffrey Kroll and gallerist Sid Motion will be in conversation in a special event for Homes & Property readers; please email london@partnersandmucciaccia.com for further details. May 24th 7pm. Partners and Mucciaccia Gallery, 45 Dover Street GUIDING LIGHTS Camilla Bliss Ceramicist Camilla Bliss hand-carves exquisite sculptures that also work as lights and lamps. Many in the Guardians of Bliss range are decorated with faces looking outwards a symbol of protection for Bliss. She was inspired to create this series to celebrate the memory of loved ones. Check out the Guardian tassel key ring, as well as the series of lamps. All are collectors items in the making. Visit thenewcraftsmen.com/handmade-craft-makers/camilla-bliss. Prices from 100. ART IN THE SQUARE MILE Sculptor Nick Hornby and painter Sinta Tantra Sculptor Nick Hornby and painter Sinta Tantra met at the Slade in the early 2000s. Both are best known for their site-specific work and installations in the public realm: Hornby for his sculpture commission at Glyndebourne last year, and Tantra, a British artist of Balinese descent, for her 2017 Folkestone Triennial painted building and a 330-yard painting at Canary Wharf. Occasionally they collaborate. You can now follow a trail of their joint work across the City, from Finsbury Avenue Square through to 201 Bishopsgate, The Broadgate Tower and Exchange House. Tantras colours are inspired by a sort of 18th-century Farrow & Ball, while Hornbys work references Picasso and Matisse. Until May 25. Viewings Monday to Friday 10am-4pm. Visit broadgate.co.uk TO LOWRY WITH LOVE Emigre Hungarian dealer Andras Kalman effectively put artist matchstick man LS Lowry on the map. Lowry felt so sorry for the struggling dealer who pawned his typewriter weekly to pay rent that he went out of his way to buy paintings from Kalman. Almost 70 years on, the London gallery Crane Kalman flourishes opposite Harrods, and is remembering a 1963 exhibition with a display of English artwork, The Englishness of English Painting Part III. Kalmans son Andrew runs the gallery now with his sister Sally and director Robin Light. Andrew says: We wanted to revisit some of the artists weve exhibited from the very beginning. The exhibition includes work by Winifred Nicholson, Mary Newcomb, Alan Lowndes and Lowry. K ate Watson-Smyth really is mad about her north London house, but the author of the UKs number one interiors blog is also mad about yours - and everyone elses. So much so that she has extended her award-winning site into a book packed with helpful tips and design ideas for everyone to follow, whether you're a first-time buyer, renter or empty nester. But dont expect a classic coffee table tome, heaving with glossy, professionally styled interior looks you will never have the time or the budget to emulate. Mad About The House offers a down to earth and achievable guide to getting it right for you and your home. Speaking as part of the Soho House Interior Design Lounge series, hosted by journalist Amira Hashish (@thedesigneditor) in Notting Hills Electric House this week, Watson-Smyth said: I purposely chose not to fill the book with pictures of interior styles I like, or of what I have chosen for my house. I think that would put people off reading it if they dont share the same love of dark rooms, for example." "I took a similar approach to the blog when putting the book together. I wanted to have it all in once place so it felt like a logical step to put everything together, room by room." The book has chapters dedicated to decorating your hallway, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, right through to the bedroom, bathroom and even the spare room. But it's also realistic and reassuring, walking you through the type of agonising interior design dilemmas that cause you to question your own judgment and can halt progress for months. As well as her top 10 design hacks, she reveals the rules of rug layout, explains how to buy a sofa, shows you how to get the lighting right in every room and gives you the confidence to add touches of your own flair - for example, why not paint the inside of your front door a bold and vibrant colour that you love, as you're the one looking at it most. Crucially, Watson-Smyth is all about helping you work out your personal style by leading you around your home to figure out how the space will be used, and then working out which colours you like. "When youre trying to find colour, look at your wardrobe. If youre comfortable wearing it, youll be comfortable living with it, but look at the proportions you're wearing," she says. "My wardrobe is basically black, grey, ivory and various shades of pink. Guess what? So is my house." Looking around the packed room on the top floor of Electric House, most of us will be using a lot of black in our rooms, "which is massively on-trend". Judging from the number of questions fired at Watson-Smyth from the design lounge audience, from curtain pole dilemmas (how can we get excited about them?) to the best alternatives to wooden floors if your London neighbours forbid you from ripping up the carpet, many of us share the same challenges when designing the spaces we live in. Perhaps the best advice of all she saves until the end of the talk: "If it appeals to you and you think it's fun, then do it. It's your home." 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. Pipeline 4 May 2018 Hyatt announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with PEC Portfolio Springvale Pty Ltd for a 200-key Hyatt Place hotel in Melbourne, Australia. The Hyatt Place brand is rooted in extensive consumer insights indicating that guests seek stylish, comfortable, seamless experiences that accommodate their lifestyles and familiar routines. To embody this, the brand offers casual hospitality and purposeful service in a smartly designed, high-tech and contemporary environment. "We are delighted to expand the Hyatt Place brand in Melbourne, the second largest city Australia," said Asia Pacific Group President David Udell, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. "The hotel will mark the tenth Hyatt-branded hotel in Australia and it will be a great addition to Hyatt"s brand footprint in Melbourne, which includes Park Hyatt Melbourne, Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Hyatt Place Melbourne Essendon Fields, and a recently announced Hyatt Centric hotel in Melbourne." Hyatt Place Melbourne Springvale will boast a prominent location at the intersection of Springvale and Dandenong Roads in the heart of the Monash Employment and Innovation Cluster, which is home to a number of academic institutions, businesses and medical facilities. Hyatt Place Melbourne Springvale will become the second Hyatt Place hotel in Australia upon its expected opening in 2020. The hotel will be developed by PE Capital, one of the leading boutique investment management firms in Australia, and will form part of a mixed-used complex, which will also include co-working facilities and retail stores. Appointment 4 May 2018 Timber Cove announces Joseph Kirtley as general manager of the nationally acclaimed Sonoma Coast resort located off California's Highway 1. Kirtley has also been appointed vice president of operations for its hospitality management company, Ironwave Hospitality, as the brand looks to strategically expand its presence on the West Coast. In his new role, Kirtley oversees the day-to-day operations at the 46-room Timber Cove resort. Additionally, he is tasked with spearheading partnership development and relations for Ironwave Hospitality as the company prepares to grow its portfolio from Oregon to San Diego, creating new opportunities for current and future guests to experience its superior accommodations and legendary hospitality. Kirtley brings over 20 years of hospitality management experience to his role as general manager of Timber Cove. He began his career in hospitality with the Morgans Hotel Group in Miami, Fla., where he eventually became a member of the hotel task force, opening properties in New York, Los Angeles and the United Kingdom, amongst others. Since then, he has worked with a variety of international and domestic boutique & luxury hotels including five-star hotel, The Hari in London, Mama Shelter Los Angeles and most recently for The Sydell Group's Freehand Los Angeles. Supplier News 3 May 2018 Ottawa, Ontario -- Benbria, the leading provider of omni-channel messaging and customer experience measurement solutions, announced to clients and partners today its compliance with the European General Data Protection Regulation, or "GDPR" which will become enforceable on May 25, 2018. The GDPR requires businesses to protect the personal data and privacy of EU citizens for transactions that occur within EU member states. As a cloud software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, Benbria sees this as an opportunity to improve data security for all customers on the Loop platform including customers using Loop Messenger, Loop Pulse and Loop OnDemand. As a global leader of omni-channel messaging and measurement software solutions, Benbria will raise the bar with this initiative. A key element of GDPR compliance is consumer transparency. Benbria will continue to be transparent in how it manages and uses consumer personal data to provide service. Benbria commits to cooperating with customers to help facilitate their respective data protection rights regarding personal data. In addition, European consumers may now request to be forgotten and will have a right to obtain from Benbria an erasure of personal data without undue delay, if they wish to withdraw consent. Lastly, GDPR calls for prompt action in the event of a breach of security or unintended leak of personal data. While Benbria maintains top-level security policies and processes customer data in facilities with world-class security infrastructure, the company is prepared for every scenario. Benbria, in cooperation with their partners and policies, commits to being forthright and transparent about any compromise to customer data. In the event that Benbria becomes aware of any unauthorized access or disclosure of personal data, Benbria will promptly take action to provide awareness and reestablish trust amongst our customers, to the extent such notification is permitted by applicable law. "Our focus on information and data security have always been a major benefit of using Loop, as we already built our platform to comply with well-established regulations in several global markets. This includes our home country of Canada, where many countries and regulators have turned to as a reference point for best practices," said James Geneau, VP of Marketing at Benbria. "These further enhancements to comply with GDPR means we are even better positioned to offer a solution that can meet the needs of our existing and growing list of clients based in Europe, and around the globe." Businesses using the Loop platform can respond to messages through a wide selection of channels including SMS, E-mail, proprietary web chat, in-App chat, physical kiosks and messaging channels like Facebook and Twitter; while having the ability to seamlessly route them to key internal team members. In addition, businesses can measure customer satisfaction in real-time using short and timely feedback surveys which capture customer sentiment and satisfaction at any point of the customer journey. These additional GDPR related compliance steps come into effect today, ahead of when the regulation becomes enforceable on May 25, 2018. Companies in Europe can request to connect with their dedicated Benbria team member by visiting www.benbria.com/contact-us. About Benbria Benbria is a leader in omni-channel customer engagement solutions, helping the world's greatest brands deliver a superior guest experience that goes above and beyond their competitors. Using a variety of mobile, online, and on-property technologies including SMS, email, web, in-app and messaging channels, as well as kiosks Loop enables brands to capture and direct real-time customer requests, concerns, suggestions, and positive input to management and team members for action and closure. With over 1,400 client locations in 20 countries, a network of 10 global sales partners, and the ability integrate with over 60 PMS and SOS solutions, Benbria offers both global reach and expertise with the hospitality industry's largest network of integration partners. For more information, visit www.benbria.com. Media Contact: Nicole Jardim Benbria Corporation [email protected] Performance 4 May 2018 HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee -- The U.S. hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 22-28 April 2018, according to data from STR. In comparison with the week of 23-29 April 2017, the industry recorded the following: Occupancy: -0.6% to 69.8% Average daily rate (ADR): +2.3% to US$130.40 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): +1.7% to US$91.05 Among the Top 25 Markets, Detroit, Michigan, registered the only double-digit jump in RevPAR (+17.8% to US$89.18), which came as a result of the largest increases in occupancy (+9.1% to 79.3%) and ADR (+8.0% to US$112.47). Houston, Texas, reported the second-largest increase in RevPAR (+8.5% to US$80.16). Miami/Hialeah, Florida, experienced the second-highest rise in occupancy (+2.9% to 83.6%). Overall, 18 of the Top 25 Markets reported growth in RevPAR. St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois, saw the steepest declines in occupancy (-15.1% to 66.2%) and RevPAR (-22.5% to US$70.20). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-New Jersey, reported the only double-digit drop in ADR (-10.8% to US$143.76) and the second-largest decrease in RevPAR (-15.2% to US$111.85). Orlando, Florida, experienced the second-largest decline in occupancy (-6.4% to 76.0%). The black and orange "Shattered Backboard" Air Jordan 1s will be releasing again on Saturday, but this time around they feature a sleek satin tooling along with the premium while tumbled leather upper. Also of note, they'll only be releasing up to a women's size 12, which equates to a men's size 10.5. The kicks are officially set to drop at retailers like Foot Locker and Finish Line, as well as other Jordan Brand stockists on Saturday, May 5 for $160. Just like the original "Shattered Backboard" Air Jordan 1 that released in 2016, this Satin rendition is inspired by the orange and black jersey that Michael Jordan wore during an exhibition game in Italy in which he threw down a dunk that broke the backboard. If you're in the market for a new pair of 1s but can't fit into a size 10.5, there are still plenty of options on deck, including the "Hyper Royal" Air Jordan 1, which will release in early July. Scroll through the posts below for some early purchase links and info on which stores in your area will have the "Shattered Backboard" Air Jordan 1 Satin in stock tomorrow. Killa Kyleon's "Light It Sip It" allows two younger marshals get in on the action. A$AP Ferg's flow is totally indebted to Texas Screw Music. The curatorial efforts of A$AM Yams made the click see past the imaginary borders created by East/West, North/South divides. Ferg's verse borrows Houston as a gesture of goodwill and thankfulness. His mention of Pimp C, takes into account the influence place Houston rappers occupy in the hip hop timeline. In theory, only a decade has passed since hip hop fans expanded their horizons to include outside influences. Nowadays it is commonplace for rappers to find inspiration through cultural movements not their own. Killa Kyleon's new album Candy Paint N Texas Plates is very much his habit of taking on tradition. It's easy to see why he remains faithful to a city that continuously returns his praise. He and Trae Tha Truth responded quickly with relief aid after Hurricane Harvey devastated their hometown. It's people like Kila Kyleon who defy appropriation by remaining true to their core values. Quotable Lyrics: I'm gon' keep your legend alive That's deep purple in my soul and Candy paint I still be rollin' Ready to faint cause I'm still on one From last night, we took that whole one About a pint, now watch the snow come Roll one, bet that fill your whole lung With this uncontrolling, choking, blowing That I got from Cali coast and straight boss hoggin' -A$AP Ferg According to a report obtained by TMZ, pictures of the bouncer G-Eazy punched during his Coke-spree have been made public. Cops in Sweden have released images of the bouncer's battered scalp, and allegedly the hundred dollar note G-Eazy used to snort his fair share of "Katy Perry." G-Eazy was arrested after getting into the scuffle and was detained after admitted he assaulted an officer of the law during his arrest. According to Aftonbladet in Sweden, he has officially pled guilty to charges of drug possession and assault emanating from the incident. The good news is that his admission of guilt carries with it a dismissal of the charges, allowing him to leave the country for his scheduled tour date in neighboring Copenhagen, Denmark. The dismissal also precludes him from facing any jail time. Bare in mind, European drug policies are noted for their leniency. The fact that G-Eazy's punch was intended for a different target may have played a role in his dismissal. The haymaker punch was allegedly intended for a fan taking pictures of G-Eazy within a designated VIP zone. Check out the damage in the link provided below. Kanye West stirred up a whole lot of controversy this week following his appearance on TMZ Live where he said that slavery "sounds like a choice" with a bit of a smirk on his face. Despite the fact that he attempted to clarify what he said, fans weren't willing to accept any sort of apology. Now, a Nigerian lawmaker has caught wind of what 'Ye said and has invited him to visit the slave ports in Africa. Kanye's latest comments made headlines across the globe and now, a Nigerian lawmaker want Kanye West to see how much of a "choice" slavery was. Senator Shehu Sani took to Twitter this morning to invite Kanye West to slave routes and camps in Africa. "If Kanye West thinks Slavery was a choice,we will offer him a free ticket & tour guide to visit slave routes and camps in Badagry Lagos,Ouida Benin Republic,Ghana & Goree Island in Senegal to experience the choices in chains." He wrote. "Kanye defecated on the graves of victims." Following 'Ye's comments, social media users followed the #CancelKanye hashtag and many people, including celebrities, supported the notions. Chris Brown, who recently celebrated a platinum selling song with 'Ye for "Waves," went in on "THIS MAN IS A CLOWN! OUR SONG JUST WENT PLATINUM BUT FUCK THAT! CMON BRUH, and if any flunkies gotta problem,, SEE ME... please!" While Kanye West is one of the biggest artists on the planet, he hasn't had a massive radio hit in years. The rapper recently spoke to Charlamagne Tha God and revealed that ever since his infamous incident against Taylor Swift, he found it difficult to get any play on the radio. However, his recent comments do not seem to help his cause at all. The rapper is now facing a radio ban from a Detroit station who drew the line after his comments on slavery. Kanye West is facing a a radio ban from Detroit's 105.1 The Bounce. They issued a statement on Facebook earlier today that revealed that they won't be playing anymore of his music following his TMZ Live appearance. "We feel like Kanye has gone too far with his latest statement declaring that slavery was a choice. The caption read, "We are over it." Clearly, they're fed up with not only his political stance but allowing his opinions to make headlines. While banning his music doesn't prevent him from saying dumb shit, they also refuse to speak on him any more and give him a platform. "We dont want to hear Kanyes music, we dont want to play Kanye on our show, we dont want to talk about Kanye anymore. So we are taking a stand and we arent playing his music anymore; we just are refusing to give him a platform." The statement was signed off by hosts of the Morning Bounce, BiGG and Shay Shay. At the beginning of the year, Kevin Gates was released from jail after serving nine months of a weapons charge in a correctional facility in Illinois. Since he was released, we have not necessarily heard much from the rapper, which has been surprising given his four months of freedom. Although he revealed in March that he's hard at work in the studio, recording upwards of 300 songs before releasing new music, the Baton Rouge rapper has remained notably silent on social media. Speaking on his situation, Dreka Gates, Kevin's wife, explained why we haven't heard from him since his release and it doesn't seem entirely promising. Dreka took over her husband's Instagram account today to give an update on the rapper's current situation, noting that he has intense travel restrictions put in place. Dreka begins by apologizing on Kevin's behalf for missing his upcoming shows for the next two weekends at the JMBLYA and Rolling Loud festivals. She then gets down to business, saying, "The Illinois Department of Corrections has prevented Kevin from leaving the state of Illinois. He isn't even allowed to come home to California where we live and since he was released in January, he has not been able to come home not one time." The upcoming shows were his first scheduled appearances since being released from jail and Dreka is promising that Kevin will make it up to his fans once everything is sorted out. She states concern for her husband's legal troubles and, while things do not seem entirely promising, they are both trying their hardest to get the travel restrictions lifted. Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons recorded just one point in 31 minutes of action in Boston last night, something he contributed to "overthinking." Simmons only took four shots throughout the entire game and turned the ball over five times as the Celtics overcame a 22-point deficit to take a 2-0 lead in the series. "I think it was mainly what I did to myself," Simmons said, according to ESPN, after failing to score a field goal for the first time in his 87-game career. "Mentally, I was thinking too much, overthinking the plays. Wasn't just out there, flowing, playing the way that I play, which is free. "I think, obviously, [the Celtics] have a game plan, I know what their game plan is, and I've got to play my game." Boston was physical with Simmons in Game 2, limiting him to just seven drives to the basket, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Still, Simmons says his 1-point performance was more self-inflicted than anything that the Cs threw at him. "Mental, thinking too much," the Rookie of the Year candidate said after setting a career low for points. "I think the way the Heat played [against Simmons in the first round], it was nothing compared to the Celtics. Physically, the Heat were on another level." It'll be interesting to see how the rook responds in a pivotal Game 3 in Philly tomorrow night. Scroll down to check out some of the reactions to Simmons' lackluster performance in Game 2. Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB exploded onto the scene earlier this year thanks to the Drake effect and the 6 God hopping on his Look Alive remix. Since then, Blocboy has continued to grow his fanbase & buzz, collaborating with 21 Savage on Rover 2.0 & A$AP Rocky on the song Bad Company, but now hes ready to treat fans to his first full body of work. At the stroke of midnight, Blocboy JBs anticipated SIMI mixtape was released on iTunes and other streaming platforms. Dedicated to his late friend Simi, who was shot & killed in 2017, the project contains 18 songs in total & features guest appearances from Drake, 21 Savage, Lil Pump, YG, & Moneybagg Yo. Production on the tape comes from Ben Billions, Tay Keith, and more. Available on iTunes, fans can stream the project in its entirety for free via Spotify & Tidal. Hit play and let us know what you think. Tracklist: 1. "Turnt Up" 2. "Look Alive" featuring Drake 3. "Nun of Dat" featuring Lil Pump 4. "Good Day" 5. "Left Hand" 6. "Asian Bitch" featuring Moneybagg Yo 7. "Rover 2.0" featuring 21 Savage 8. "Shoot" 9. "Wait" 10. "Nike Swoosh" featuring YG 11. "Mamacita" 12. "Mexico" 13. "No Velcro" 14. "Left Right" 15. "No Chorus Pt. 11" 16. "Straight Drop" 17. "Feature" 18. "Outro" Be sure to allot yourself ample time to digest this leviathan. One album can feel difficult enough. Two requires hydration and sustenance. Three may very well require an intravenous hookup and some adult diapers. Luckily, Rae Sremmurd's ambitious SR3MM never feels like a chore, despite a run-time that seems to dwarf its competitors. As you probably already know, the project is divided threefold: the Rae Sremmurd disc, Swae Lee's Swaecation, and Slim Jxmii's Jxmtroduction. We've already seen various chapters from the multi-headed project, including the ubiquitous "Powerglide," the Travis Scott assisted "Close," and "Guatemala," Swae Lee's natural successor to the infectious 2017 jam "Unforgettable." Admittedly, a project of this magnitude is difficult to assess upon a surface listen. It does appear that the group are in fine form, sliding over Mike WiLL Made-It's standout production with a newfound sense of artistic maturity. While they may appear to be stuck in perpetually youthful state, the Sremmurd boys have continuously evolved as both songwriters and performers. If you're strictly here for Swae Lee, there's an album here for you. If you're riding with Jxmmi, there's an album here for you. If you believe that two is better than one, this album is most definitely for you. Check out SR3MM now, and be sure to sound off below. Are we looking at too much of a good thing, or did they deliver exactly what they needed to? Slim Jxmmis Jxmtro (Tracklist) 1. Brxnks Trunk 2. Players Club 3. Anti-Social Smokers Club Featuring Zoe Kravitz 4. Chanel Featuring Swae Lee and Pharrell 5. Cap Featuring Trouble 6. Changed Up 7. Keep God First 8. Juggling Biddies Featuring Riff 3X 9. Growed Up Rae Sremmurds SR3MM (Tracklist) 1. Up In My Cocina 2. Close Featuring Travis Scott 3. Bedtime Stories Featuring The Weeknd 4. Perplexing Pegasus 5. Buckets (Balling) Featuring Future 6. 42 7. Powerglide Featuring Juicy J 8. Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame 9. TD Up Swae Lees Swaecation (Tracklist) 1. Touchscreen Navigation 2. Heartbreak In Encino Hills 3. Heat Of The Moment 4. Offshore Featuring Young Thug 5. Guatemala 6. Lost Angels 7. Hurt To Look 8. Red Wine 9. Whats In Your Heart? Tekashi 6ix9ine is many things, including a professional troll. Therefore, it's difficult to discern whether or not he's telling the truth half the time. You have to give him credit; the rainbow haired rapper has a penchant for drama. While he's been busy coming through with a slow roll-out for his "latin album," Tekashi has continuously found time to cause some good old fashioned ruckus. His homie Akademiks recently posted some footage of the young rapper addressing some of his recent controversies, including allegedly being dropped from a $4.9 million Tunes Audio headphone deal. According to Tekashi, however, the entire narrative was a one-sided fabrication. "That shit was fake," he says, "the dude from the headphones just wanted the publicity. That's why I didn't even address it...I literally never even spoke to the dude...They don't even got no money to pay!" Next up, he tackles the recent shooting at Barclay's Center, which culminated in a reported performance ban. Before he can provide a clear answer, a member of the squad slides in to confirm that 6ix9ine can indeed perform at the Barclay's Center; Tekashi mentions that he'll be gracing the stage on June 8th. He's also asked about Bhad Bhabie, who has been firing shots in his direction at every occasion. Tekashi hits back with a page outta Rich The Kid's playbook, playing ignorant. "That's the Lil Tay girl right? They all the same girl to me." As he's leaving, 6ix9ine mentions that he's about to meet up with Kanye West "right now," which may very well be another trolling spell. It's hard to say when this was filmed, but we do know that Kanye West is set up in Wyoming, working on his upcoming five projects. Should this indeed be true, Tekashi must have been filmed before his departure. Do you think we might be hearing a Kanye West/6ix9ine collabo in the future? Stranger things have happened. A Temple University undergraduate student took her shot in the dark with the poise and control of a woman twice her age. Sylvia Wilson, aged 21, decided to shoot Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan a direct message while he was in town shooting Creed 2 on her Temple University campus. She decided against a more brusk approach at gaining his attention. Instead she offered to buy him a smoothie for his trouble. Her initial asking price of a photograph was rightly passed over for an actual face to face meeting in his trailer. What happens in trailer loads often travels with it. After breaking the ice, Michael B. Jordan urged to invite her friends to come hang out. Before it even came to that, Sylvia Wilson kept wincing at her inbox in disbelief. "I almost passed out when I realized he messaged me back," said Wilson in her briefing with the Huffington Post . "I kept rereading the message not believing it was really him." Wilson's Snapchats of the encounter have since gone viral. Wilson who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, is majoring in Public Relations with the hopes of continuing her Masters education in the faculty of Law. Maybe now's the chance for this Michael B. Jordan super fan (see below) to replace her cutout with the real McCoy. It looks like it's Astroworld time right now as Travis Scott gears up to release his third studio album. His upcoming project has been highly anticipated for over a year at this point and for the past several months, the rapper's stayed relatively low-key following the birth of his daughter. However, he's also been locking in a lot of studio time and it seems as if his album is coming in the coming months, if not weeks. Earlier today, billboard's for Astroworld popped up in Houston and now, it looks like he'll be dropping the first single off of the project. Travis Scott's new single, "Watch" drops tonight possibly featuring Kanye West and Lil Uzi Vert. The song first came to people's attention after 'Ye tweeted about the mysterious collaboration with both Scott and Uzi last week, before his pro-Trump campaign. Scott took to Instagram to share the album art. In addition, the rapper quoted Kanye's tweet and responded with "Twas the plan legoooo,"' last week. Travis Scott seems to be officially gearing up to release his highly anticipated third album. Earlier today, pictures surfaced on the internet of Astroworld billboards around Houston. It looks like G.O.O.D Music is gearing up to take over the whole summer. With Astroworld officially on the way, expect more updates on Scott's album in the future. Kris Schwendeman flung a leather satchel around his back and hiked across the vast showroom floor of the offshore industrys largest annual summit, offering handshakes, business cards and resumes in the hope that one of the hundreds of oil companies at Houstons NRG Park would hire an experienced geologist. The unemployed offshore specialist is one of thousands of job seekers still working to return to an industry that only 18 months ago was shedding workers by the thousands as oil prices languished and corporate profits tumbled. As U.S. oil prices cruise above $65 a barrel, job seekers like Schwendeman converged on the Offshore Technology Conference, banking on the belief that things must have turned around by now. They were wrong. While oil field workers are getting snapped up for jobs in the booming shale plays of West Texas, the market for scientists, engineers and other knowledge-based professions that dominate Houstons energy workforce have yet to return in any significant numbers. Overall hiring in the oil and gas industry continues to lag behind the rise in oil prices, leaving skilled, experienced workers such as Schwendeman to keep networking, passing out resumes and hoping for the phone to ring. It really hasnt picked up yet, said Schwendeman, who lives in Houston. Im just kind of going around and talking to people and seeing what lines of work theyre in and hoping to apply that to what I do. As Schwendeman demonstrates, job seekers who have pinned their hopes on the oil market recovery of the past few months are likely to have to wait a while longer before companies start increasing the pace of hiring. While U.S. employment in oil and gas extraction is off its recent bottom - a decade low of 144,500 in December - the industry has recovered fewer than 6,000 of the nearly 60,000 jobs lost in oil bust that began in mid-2014, according to the Labor Department. In Houston, employment in oil and gas extraction which encompasses exploration and production companies, but excludes energy services firms is just reaching a bottom. In March, extraction companies shed another 2,000 jobs in Houston compared to a year earlier, according to the Labor Department. That brought job losses during the downturn that began in 2014 to 20,000, a decline of more than one-third. Theres a perception of recovery, but theres really no recovery at this point, said Ramesh Anand, president of American Personnel Resources in Houston. It hurts me to see exceptionally qualified PhDs who were talking to me two years ago still meet me today looking for a job. Anand, who has recruited workers for the energy industry since the 1980s, said hes seen more leads for reservoir managers and other skilled professionals in the Middle East than in the United States. Here, instead of combing professional publications, social media and conferences to find workers for oil companies, Anand is sifting through the thousands of resumes that have inundated his clients to help them find the most qualified candidates. In the meantime, he has watched geologists give up on the industry, becoming financial advisers or finishing masters degrees in business. It all comes down to the investment energy companies have made in oil and gas fields in Texas, the Gulf of Mexico and around the world. Even with recent U.S. tax cuts, which most companies returned to their shareholders, spending on oil field exploration and development is not growing enough yet to stir broad job market activity. Oil companies, analysts added, also are reluctant to accelerate hiring out of worries that crude prices could quickly tumble again. Instead, they are turning to robotics, data analysis, artifical intelligence and other technologies to pump more oil with fewer workers. Thats the biggest reason employment growth at oil explorers hasnt kept up with rising prices and rig counts. Joshua Osagie, 20, of Nigeria was in high gear Wednesday afternoon in the NRG Arena, scouring the conference for a job he can take after he graduates with a petroleum engineering degree next year. Looking for a position pretty much anywhere around the world, the young college student said hes eager to start working and finally see the massive tools of the offshore industry in action - machinery humming and whirring in the ocean, the real life version of what hes seen in videos and textbooks in school. But Osagies efforts hit roadblocks at OTC. Most exhibitors shooed him away, he said, directing him to online applications on their websites. Few companies had recruiters on site. If they did, Osagie acknowledged, they were probably looking for more experienced candidates. But Osagie still had his pitch ready. I dont have any experience, Osagie said, but I want to get experience from you. collin.eaton@chron.com twitter.com/CollinEatonHC Jose R. Gonzalez contributed WASHINGTON - The sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2013 have done little to slow the Russian oil sector so far. Crude production is up and natural gas exports to Europe are increasing. But that might not be the case for much longer. Speaking in Washington this week, Tatiana Mitrova, a Russian economist and fellow at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, projected the sanctions would start hitting Russia hard in 2020, with production declining 10 percent in the ensuing decade. As the countrys proven crude reserves shrink, Russia needs to develop new prospects in shale fields and in the Arctic Ocean. But with the sanctions in place, its no longer a matter of executives from the Russian oil companies Rosneft or Lukoil calling in engineers from Houston, as they might have done in the past. "There is no expertise in Russia, Mitrova said at the Atlantic Council in Washington Wednesday. Rosneft tried to do it in-house. They're realizing you can not replace the global oil service industry." And sanctions against Russia could intensify in the years ahead. President Donald Trump has made establishing U.S. dominance over the global energy industry a priority. And despite early efforts by the administration to appease Russia, of late Trump has been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin for his countrys support of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who launched a chemical weapons attack against rebel groups there last month. So far, the Trump administration has held off on additional sanctions, even as many in Congress argue for them as a way to punish Russia, not only for enabling Assad, but also for meddling in U.S. elections and launching cyberattacks against U.S. energy companies. But the mere possibility on new sanctions is enough to spook some potential investors in Russian oil projects, said Richard Morningstar, the former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan. The question is what are sanctions going to be in the future, he said. That creates uncertainty for investors. In the meantime, Russia wants to get as much of the oil and gas it now produces to markets as quickly as possible. With new U.S. sanctions looming, Russia is racing to get pipeline projects like Nordstream 2 and Turkstream completed, Mitrova said. But looking further out, the Russian oil industry is facing an existential problem for which many believe it is ill prepared. Worldwide, oil companies are facing increasing competition, not only as more oil and gas reserves are accessed through improved technology but as wind farms and solar panels take larger and larger shares of the global energy market. U.S. and European oil companies are starting to adapt their business models. But Russian executives were dismissive of those developments early on and lag behind their western counterparts, Mitrova said. "The understanding begins, she said of Russia, but the strategy is not designed for a global energy economy in transition. james.osborne@chron.com Twitter: @osborneja More than a third of the workers in the U.S. oil industry will retire in the next five-to-10 years, but as executives look to recruit the next generation, they are not looking for the skills of the past. What the industry calls The Great Crew Change coincides with The Digitalization of Everything, changing the prerequisites for even the most basic jobs in the oil and gas industry. This new approach to work couldnt come soon enough for an industry that struggles to attract and excite young people who have grown up in the digital world. The first tasks that are going to be automated offshore is essentially the heavyweight ones, the unsafe tasks, Peter Moles, director of emerging technologies at Oceaneering, said during the Offshore Technology Conference. When you look at automation, were trying to put the experts on the beach. We dont want anyone offshore. The oil and gas industry, particularly the offshore sector, is focused on reducing accidents and lowering costs. In this case, the priorities are complementary, achieved by employing fewer people in dangerous places. For years, drillers have slowly moved jobs off the rigs and into Houston offices, where workers cost less and can sleep in their own beds. With lessons from the Deepwater Horizon accident in mind, BP is using intellectual property from the NASAs Mars Rover mission to improve remote operations, said Tim Airey, an artificial intelligence and robotics technologist at BP. The confluence of robotics and sensor capabilities is exponentially brewing, he said. The company is studying how humans can operate machines from the other side of the planet. Companies are also studying how computers with artificial intelligence can use the enormous amounts of data they collect to help engineers make better decisions. Energy companies are far behind other industries, said Rustom Mody, vice president for technical excellence and enterprise technology at oilfield service company Baker Hughes. Most companies only use their data to monitor and diagnose problems, but the next step is using the data to optimize operations and predict problems so that unplanned outages are a thing of the past, Mody explained. That means hiring more software engineers. Instead of our engineers leaving the industry and going to Apple and Google and Facebook, we have to start attracting them and pulling them back to us, he said. Without humans, well-trained employees, its very difficult to embark on this journey. Not only do we need to develop new talent, we have to be able to attract new talent. Industry veterans love to talk about the early years of their career, traveling the world to spend weeks at a time on offshore rigs with nothing but the ocean for as far as they could see. Many brag about their role managing billion-dollar pieces of equipment, while others lament the time away from loved ones. Yet in the Internet age, when telecommunications have shrunk the world, companies find it difficult to convince young engineers to isolate themselves to advance their career. Instead of using the Internet to connect with home, they ask, why not use it to connect to work. And why look at faux representations of old-school gauges when computers can present data with complex visualizations that present the most urgent data first. In mixed reality or virtual reality, we dont have to replace the control panels we see today. We could look at an engineer stepping into a virtual world and having data presented in a very different format, Airey said. Companies are trying to answer these answers. Some envision entirely robotic offshore rigs, served by unmanned vessels and operated by human beings immersed in a virtual world where artificial intelligence prompts them to make the best decisions. You want it to be completely autonomous, a lights-out, fully-operational facility, Mody explained. Engineers, builders and operators will keep their jobs, but skilled onboard laborers will not. The majority of people who are offshore are operating machinery, which will probably, unfortunately, go away and be replaced with people who analyze the data, Moles said. Its going to be people who are more theory orientated, who understand the operations, rather than folks actually doing the tasks. Every expert agreed that this evolution will take years, if not decades, to complete. But when faced with the expense and risk of flying crews to dangerous offshore rigs, the idea of gigantic, oil and gas-gathering robots controlled by humans and computers in the home office is idyll. And its certainly more appealing to an Internet generation more adept with handsets than hand tools. A great digital transformation is taking place, and its coincidence with the great crew change could not be more convenient. Chris Tomlinson is the Chronicles business columnist. chris.tomlinson@chron.com twitter.com/cltomlinson The face of the little boy didn't look right to Leo Tanguma. Not childlike enough. He added some skin to make the forehead larger. He extended the lips, so they protruded a little more "more Chicano," he said, gestures he's learned through trial and error during many decades as a painter. Another artist, the urban street painter Gonzo 247, stood beside Tanguma, admiring, watching, learning and working slightly faster as he added muscle definition to the arm of a female figure next to the boy. Under their small paintbrushes, "The Rebirth of Our Nationality" extended about 120 feet in either direction at 5900 Canal. Tanguma first painted the monster wall, one the largest canvases of the Chicano art movement, in the early 1970s, with the help of students from Texas Southern University and community volunteers, climbing 18 feet high on rickety ladders and scaffolds. "I don't know how we did it," he said, admiring the ease of working on Gonzo's scissor lift. "This thing is big!" REBIRTH OF A MURAL: Leo Tanguma, the muralist Houston forgot Harris County, the building's current owner, commissioned Gonzo to recreate the badly faded and peeling mural last year, with Tanguma as a consultant. Now in his 70s, Tanguma left the city as a young widower not long after the mural was finished, frustrated by racism and a lack of support for his art. He thought he'd never return. Gonzo has known Tanguma's masterpiece all his life, from slightly afar: He grew up in the neighborhood, driving by what was then the Continental Can Co. on the way to church and his grandmother's house. After tagging during his teenage years, he put his spray paints to better use to become one of Houston's most entrepreneurial and popular artists with his company, Aerosol Warfare. Still, eyebrows tilted when Harris County awarded Gonzo the $70,000 commission to recreate Tanguma's mural. Figurative art like Tanguma's is not his forte. "I've always heard you need to step out of your comfort zone to grow. This is a major challenge, in a good way," Gonzo said. "We took it back to the traditional roles of the master and the apprentice. Even today, he's showing me how he's doing things. Just learning from watching him has been an amazing experience." Gonzo (whose real name is Martin Figueroa Jr.) has done most of the heavy lifting, with help from just a few assistants during the past nine months. Tanguma, who now lives in Denver, is visiting through Monday for the second time, to tweak details. While the mural is far from complete, "Rebirth" definitely looks alive again, wildly colorful. It depicts a rowdy procession bent against an invisible wind toward a central, Adam and Eve-like couple who stand within a huge rose blossom that sits upon a field of skulls. With 70 distinct characters, the mural portrays an epic narrative Tanguma devised to illustrate the story of Mexican-Americans during the 20th century. Among them are farm workers, laborers, union activists, soldiers, prisoners and, most important to Tanguma, families. In the vein of his mentor, John Biggers, Tanguma wanted Mexican-Americans to embrace their heritage, including its struggles and triumphs. But Tanguma, a moralist at heart, wasn't subtle in his criticisms of the community, either. The figures of Justice and an Aztec warrior are being trampled. The women are the most tortured figures of all; one crawls with cut-off hands. EARLIER: Gonzo, Houston's most famous aerosol artist, tackles a masterpiece Gonzo is thrilled to have Tanguma's actual handwork on the repainted mural, he said. "That really makes it official." During Tanguma's first visit in November his first since the '70s crowds gathered across the street to watch the two artists working together. Gonzo had just completed the outlines of the figures then, and was blocking in their brown skin color. Jeanne Tanguma, Leo's wife of the past 30 years, stood across the street speaking in Spanish with the neighbors, who were already taking ownership. REBIRTH OF A MURAL: Leo Tanguma, the muralist Houston forgot "It was very emotional, coming and seeing what Gonzo has done," she said. "He has been such a good technician and an artist. He was so careful to depict what had been there. And the neighborhood is so proud. They feel it's their mural." Yvonne Garcia, who grew up a few blocks away, has loved "The Rebirth of Our Nationality" all her life. "It's one of these things that gets in your head," she said. "The colors weren't as bright as they are now, but it wasn't decaying yet." Now the director of Hooks-Epstein Gallery in the Upper Kirby District, Garcia has an art history degree from the University of Houston and lives with her husband, Andrew Richardson, not too far away from the mural in the East End. They have been driving down Canal Street every few weeks during the repainting, watching the progress. "A week ago, it was like, oh my god!" she said. "It's beautiful. It gets me emotional." Gonzo is not rushing to finish the repainting, noting that it took Tanguma a year and a half to make. "My thing is, do you want it done now? Or do you want it done right?" he said, eyeing the gathering rain clouds over downtown. "We're not racing to a deadline. This wall hasn't come without its challenges, and a big part of it has been weather." Hurricane Harvey arrived a few days after he completed the white primer. Then came winter's long, hard freezes. He's also had other jobs to complete most recently painting in front of a live audience at the Offshore Technology Conference. At the mural's far east end, a famous poem by Tezozomoc that was one of Tanguma's inspirations is also not yet recreated. The words are about preserving history through images for "those who are yet to be born, the Children of the Mexicans." Although Tanguma doesn't plan to come back until the dedication, muralist Anat Ronan is also helping Gonzo periodically. (JoJo Villarreal helped with the first two-thirds of the project.) Once the details are done, "Rebirth" will receive a clear, UV-protective coating. Paint technology is more durable now, with more pigment, than it was 45 years ago, Gonzo said. "If Leo had had these materials back in the '70s, we probably wouldn't be here right now." But then, Tanguma wouldn't have come back to find a city that he now likes very much. A quieter, calmer man, he is thrilled to see the mural looking fresh and alive again, and to see how the city has evolved. "It's like a dream come true," he said. Gonzo has learned to appreciate the big picture as much as Tanguma's painting techniques. "Every day we're here, we get affirmation from people in the community," he said. "It's a very powerful thing." molly.glentzer@chron.com Aaron Bisher's most memorable experience as a competition-barbecue cook happened in a field in Kemah a couple of years ago. As he stood at his barbecue trailer preparing his smoked-meat entries for judging at a local cook-off, the skies opened up and a "rain bomb" - all too familiar to Houstonians - instantly flooded the field. "We were standing in ankle-deep water, under a tarp meant for light rain," Bisher says. "But we kept cooking, turned in our entries and had one of our best showings ever." "Now when we plan to attend a cook-off and it's supposed to rain, I consider that a sign of good luck." However, Bisher and his wife, Paige, who compete in barbecue cook-offs across Texas as the After Party Pit Crew, have had little time to attend competitions in the past few months. That's because they opened their own barbecue joint on a farm-to-market road in Magnolia and have been working continuously to establish The Feedlot BBQ as a smoked-meat destination in the increasingly crowded barbecue scene of Houston's northern reaches. Making the jump from competition to retail barbecue is nothing new in Houston. Pappa Charlies Barbeque near downtown and Tin Roof BBQ in Atascocita are examples of competition-barbecue families who have successfully made the transition from weekend barbecue warriors to celebrated brick-and-mortar joints. More Information The Feedlot BBQ Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays Where: 28542 FM 2978 in Magnolia Information: thefeedlotbbq.com See More Collapse Bisher's story is similar to other competitive cooks who make the jump to professional pitmaster. It was a change born of necessity. He grew up in Spring Branch and worked in the oil patch for the past nine years. When he was laid off after the downturn in oil prices, he and Paige wondered where the next paycheck would come from. They'd spent most of the past two years competing in cook-offs every weekend, with good results, and decided they would make a go of it as nascent barbecue entrepreneurs. They opened The Feedlot BBQ on Aug. 10. Like most Houston barbecue start-ups, they began in a trailer - in this case, in the parking lot of a lawnmower store on a busy stretch of road that connects Magnolia and The Woodlands with Tomball. They invested most of their personal savings to build a custom trailer equipped with a full kitchen, then had local pit manufacturer Pitmaker install two "Mega Vault" vertical smokers. Unlike other competition cooks who change their recipes to appeal to a broader audience, Bisher is embracing his competition recipes and even bills The Feedlot BBQ as "fueled by After Party," his competition team. In general, competitive barbecue uses bolder and spicier ingredients and techniques to flavor the barbecue. For instance, a typical Central Texas-style barbecue joint often will use only salt and pepper to flavor a brisket. Competition briskets, to stand out with judges, might include many more flavors, such as paprika and garlic. Indeed, Bisher's brisket features a more complex seasoning, or "rub." Like many competition-style barbecue joints, the stand-out menu item is the pork ribs. Pork ribs are a fiercely fought category at any cook-off, and Bisher's ribs reflect his years of testing and adjusting his recipe. Recently, at a cook-off in San Antonio, Bisher placed sixth out of more than 300 entries. Bisher serves the same ribs at his barbecue joint as those he cooks for competitions. He starts with a "3 and down" (referring to the weight in pounds) slab of pork ribs with a St. Louis-style cut (most of the bones are trimmed off). He adds his own proprietary rub and glaze and smokes the ribs for about four hours using post oak and hickory. They are meaty, smoky, sweet and spicy all at the same time. Of course, making the jump to retail has been a challenge. The sprawl of this area of Magnolia can make it difficult to get the attention of would-be customers driving by. The Bishers have added banners and created colorful and welcoming seating to attract interest. And there is the weather, a thorn in the side of any burgeoning barbecue-trailer operation. Though Bisher may consider rain good luck for his competitive endeavors, a weekend of bad weather can all but kill business for a retail operation. It's just one more adjustment that must be made when making the jump from competition to retail barbecue. 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. Now Playing: Blake Hanson reports. Video: Fox4 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 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 Now Playing: Latest Local And State News Video: Houston Chronicle 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. The long-awaited replacement of the Pelican Island Bridge has moved one step closer to reality. Galveston County commissioners voted Friday in a special meeting to approve a resolution supporting the "continued pursuit and development" of a $91 million, 75-foot high conventional bridge. The selection of the $91 million proposal effectively puts any plans for a future rail line to Pelican Island on hold. County officials had been considering a $217 million land bridge - which would have created a strip of land extending across the waterway from Galveston Island to Pelican Island - to allow for development of a rail component. The cost of the land bridge, and significant opposition from local environmentalists who believe a land bridge would endanger the health of Galveston Bay, put those plans on the back burner. But some county officials are holding out hope that a separate land bridge with rail could be developed in the future, possibly with help from the private sector. "The [$91 million proposal] allows us to come back with a land bridge later," said County Commissioner Ken Clark. "I believe that, and as we move through the design, I'm going to push for that feature." But the next immediate step is securing the funding for the $91 million proposal. The Texas Department of Transportation has already committed $45 million to the project -- $15 million spread out over three years starting in 2020 -- and is also helping pay for repairs to keep the current Pelican Island Bridge functional for the next 10 years. The remaining funding is a question mark. The city of Galveston is prepared to commit around $5 million to the project, with another $8 million coming from the Houston-Galveston Area Council. The other local participants, Texas A&M University, Galveston County and the Galveston County Navigation District, which owns the bridge, have not yet put forth firm funding commitments. Members of the navigation district, in particular, have questioned whether they should put money toward a new bridge that won't require its manpower to operate. The sole purpose of the Galveston navigation district is as owner and operator of the current bridge. "This is their bridge," said County Commissioner Darrell Apffel, whose precinct includes Pelican Island. "They have to be the ones that ultimately commit. While we're pushing it and assisting them, they've gotta be the ones to sign on the dotted line." One option that has been discussed is having TXDOT bring the bridge "on system," meaning that it would take over the maintenance and ownership duties from the navigation district. A spokesman for TXDOT said that the agency "has no plans on taking over the ownership of this bridge." For now, county officials are optimistic that the current bridge proposal could usher in development on Pelican Island, and, in turn, economic prosperity for Galveston County. "The Port of Houston owns almost 1,100 acres on Pelican Island. We've got deep water access, we need to figure out how we can turn those resources into assessed value to reduce the tax burden on our residential taxpayers," Clark said. "If we could develop Pelican Island and double, triple, or quadruple the value of the entire county, that's what we should do." Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to the $91 million bridge proposal as a "drawbridge. The proposal is actually a conventional 75-foot bridge. Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@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. Now Playing: See how Grand Parkway compares to other land masses. Video: Jessica Hamilton 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 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. WASHINGTON - Scott Pruitt's itinerary for a February trip to Israel was remarkable by any standard for an Environmental Protection Agency administrator: A stop at a controversial Jewish settlement in the West Bank. An appearance at Tel Aviv University. A hard-to-get audience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One force behind Pruitt's eclectic agenda: casino magnate and Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, a major supporter of Israel who arranged parts of Pruitt's visit. The Israel trip was canceled days before Pruitt's planned departure, after The Washington Post revealed his penchant for first-class travel on the taxpayers' dime. But federal documents obtained by The Post and interviews with individuals familiar with the trip reveal that it fit a pattern by Pruitt of planning foreign travel with significant help from outside interests, including lobbyists, Republican donors and conservative activists. After taking office last year, Pruitt drew up a list of at least a dozen countries he hoped to visit and urged aides to help him find official reasons to travel, according to four people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal agency deliberations. Pruitt then enlisted well-connected friends and political allies to help make the trips happen. Longtime Pruitt friend Richard Smotkin, for example, helped arrange Pruitt's four-day visit to Morocco in December. Smotkin, who has not returned calls seeking comment, later signed a $40,000-a-month lobbying contract with the Moroccan government. American Australian Council treasurer Matthew Freedman, whose group's members include ConocoPhillips, helped line up a September trip to Australia, where Pruitt was scheduled to promote liquefied natural gas exports during a tour of the company's natural gas facility. That trip also was canceled. Freedman did not respond to calls seeking comment; the council said it "authorized" Freedman to "have discussions" with the EPA about the trip. And in Israel, Pruitt was scheduled to unveil an agreement with Water-Gen, an Israeli water purification company championed by Adelson. Adelson does not have a financial stake in Water-Gen, according to his aides and the company, but was impressed by its technology and had urged Pruitt to meet with Water-Gen executives soon after he took office. That meeting took place on March 29, 2017. Within weeks, Pruitt instructed his aides to find a way to procure Water-Gen's technology, according to two administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The EPA signed an agreement with the company in January; Pruitt had hoped to announce it while he was in Israel. Water-Gen is now working with EPA technical staff in Cincinnati to test its technology in hopes of obtaining a federal contract to provide drinking water in places where the water supply has been contaminated. On Thursday, Adelson's top political adviser, Andy Abboud, confirmed his involvement in planning Pruitt's Israel agenda, but played down its significance, saying, "Many people consult" Adelson before making the journey. "In some cases, we will make an introduction to various officials traveling to Israel and Israeli staff officials," Abboud said. Of the planned Pruitt trip, he said: "It was very perfunctory, and I would describe them as simple introductions." In an email, EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox said agency officials in the Office of International and Tribal Affairs "organized and led the effort around Administrator Pruitt's" trip to Israel, as well as planned journeys to Italy, Morocco, Mexico and Australia. Wilcox declined to answer questions about Adelson's role, Water-Gen or other travel-related matters. Pruitt's practice of involving outsiders in his travels raises serious ethical concerns, legal experts said; federal law prohibits public officials from using their office to enrich themselves or any private individual, or to offer endorsements. Late Thursday, Democratic Sens. Thomas Carper, Del., and Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I., wrote to Pruitt seeking more information about the Israel trip, the agency's agreement with Water-Gen and "the role Mr. Adelson or other non-governmental officials played." Along with Israel and Australia, Pruitt's wish list for global travel included Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Panama, Poland, Japan, India and Canada, former staff members said, adding that Pruitt asked staffers to schedule the trips at a pace of roughly one per month. Political and career officials at the EPA suggested a handful of other destinations, these people said, including China and Germany. So far, Pruitt has traveled only to Italy and Morocco. He has canceled trips to Australia, Japan and Israel after extensive advance work by EPA officials. In Italy and Morocco, Pruitt granted his friends unusual access to official events. In Italy, for example, Pruitt met up in Rome with Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the conservative Federalist Society. Leo, who is Catholic, personally arranged private events for Pruitt and his aides, including a private tour of the Vatican Library and the Apostolic Palace, according to a participant in the trip. When Pruitt left a private Vatican Mass for a discussion of environmental policy with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, he invited Leo to join the meeting, according to two participants on the Italy trip. Leo declined Thursday to comment. In Morocco, Smotkin joined Pruitt's entourage on multiple stops, including a meeting with one of the kingdom's most prominent business leaders, according to three individuals familiar with the trip. Legal experts said that it is highly unusual for private citizens to participate in official meetings when Cabinet members travel overseas, and that such invitations could be construed as tacit endorsements of a group's agenda. Federal ethics rules prohibit public officials from endorsing "any product, service or enterprise," said Don Fox, a former acting director of the Office of Government Ethics. "This is the problem with Pruitt," said Virginia Canter, executive branch ethics counsel for the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "He's basically acting as a lobbyist for all of his friends." From his first days at the EPA, Pruitt made clear to top aides that Israel was high on his agenda. Pruitt had met Adelson while serving as Oklahoma attorney general, and he agreed when Adelson suggested he meet with executives from Water-Gen. Yehuda Kaploun, president of Water-Gen USA, said Thursday that Adelson became an enthusiastic backer after learning about the company's innovative method of drawing potable water from moisture in the air. While Adelson had no investments or other financial involvement in the company, Kaploun said, he asked executives "whether we'd be prepared to meet with EPA." On March 29, 2017, Kaploun and the parent company's executive chairman, Maxim Pasik, met with Pruitt in his office in Washington. The entry in Pruitt's official calendar, released under a public records request, includes a note that reads: "This came as a request of Sheldon Adelson." Water-Gen executives brought along one of the company's "home and office" units, which can produce three to five gallons of water a day, and removed it from Pruitt's office about a week later. During the meeting, Kaploun said, Pruitt asked company executives to meet with EPA water experts, inquired how quickly they could scale up and wanted to know whether they intended to manufacture in the United States. "The administrator's goal, which he stated at the meeting, is that this can help people. It can give people clean air and water," Kaploun said, adding that Pruitt mentioned the Flint, Michigan, drinking-water crisis as one potential use. Pasik had a follow-up meeting with Pruitt in May, according to Pruitt's calendar, and a few months later, the EPA announced that it was seeking up to four private-sector partners "for a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to investigate the potential use of atmospheric water generators." Such agreements often involve multiple firms. In this case, the EPA has so far cemented an agreement only with Water-Gen, in January. It was scheduled to be unveiled in February, during Pruitt's trip to Israel. Many of the planned stops on that trip were the sort any EPA administrator would undertake, according to Pruitt's itinerary. For example, he was scheduled to meet with ministers of environmental protection and energy, visit a wastewater facility in Jerusalem and stop at one of the world's largest desalination plants. Other proposed stops were less clearly related to his mission, such as excursions to the City of David and the Galilee region, where Jesus once preached. Just before Pruitt was scheduled to depart, an Adelson associate met Pruitt aides Millan Hupp and Sarah Greenwalt in Israel to hammer out details of some of those events, according to a person familiar with those meetings. Although the trip was canceled, EPA testing of Water-Gen's technology continues. Federal officials said a second company, AquaSciences, could soon be added to the agreement. Kaploun said that Water-Gen "followed total protocol" in seeking EPA approval and that as far as he knew, no other firms had initially applied. "Our technology is so advanced that no one else is in the same realm," he said, adding that Water-Gen had shouldered the cost of delivering one of its units to the EPA lab. Kaploun and Water-Gen's U.S. CEO, Edward Russo - a former environmental consultant to Donald Trump who authored a book titled "Donald J. Trump: An Environmental Hero" - visited the president's Mar-a-Lago estate in March. They briefed Trump about the technology, and the president invited them to the Oval Office for a demonstration, Kaploun said. - - - The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey contributed to this report. GALVESTON - Lalo Ojeda has lived with hurricanes all his life. He was 14 when Hurricane Carla inundated Galveston Island in 1961. He evacuated as Hurricane Rita barreled toward the coast in 2005, then rode out the devastating Hurricane Ike in his Galveston home in 2008. But Ojeda is watching the hurricane season that begins Thursday with more concern than usual. The retired Coast Guard employee worries that rising sea levels could make the next hurricane more destructive than those he's lived through. "That's really scary to me," the 70-year-old said. A study released this month shows that rising sea levels threaten to make storm surges more dangerous, seemingly reinforcing Texas officials' push for federal funding for a storm-surge barrier, or Ike Dike, to protect Galveston. "Every storm surge today reaches higher because it starts from a higher level, because sea level is higher," said study co-author Ben Strauss, a scientist who is vice president for sea level and climate impacts for Climate Central, a group of scientists and journalists dedicated to climate change awareness. "A small amount of sea-level rise can lead to an unexpectedly large increase in damages to most kinds of structures." Brian Streck, 62, a retired Galveston firefighter, has watched high tides creep into the streets around the house at the edge of West Galveston Bay, where he has lived for 37 years. He has no patience for climate-change deniers who doubt seas are rising. "I've witnessed it," Streck said. High tides once flooded the streets around his home about twice a year; the flooding in the last decade has increased to a dozen times a year. "I've considered selling this place because eventually I'm going to have a lake house," he said. Rise accelerating Scientific studies have established an acceleration in sea-level rise because of a warming atmosphere. Coal and oil burning and the destruction of tropical forests have increased heat-trapping gases that have warmed the planet by 1.8 degrees since 1880. Earth has been losing 13,500 square miles of ice annually since 1979, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Sea levels are generally rising faster along the Texas Gulf Coast and the western Gulf than the average globally, according to a January study by NOAA. "The western Gulf is experiencing some of the highest rates of relative levels of sea-level rise in the country," said NOAA oceanographer William Sweet, lead author of the study. "The ocean is not rising like water would in a bathtub." Sea-level rise is making storm surges larger, said John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas state climatologist at Texas A&M University in College Station. More Information Hurricanepreparedness Galveston: gcoem.org Brazoria: brazoriacountytx.gov See More Collapse "Compared to a storm that would have hit, say, 30 years ago, the additional storm surge we are talking about is on the order of ... about 7 inches," Nielsen-Gammon said. The NOAA study found sea levels rising at more than double the rate estimated during the 20th century, increasing to more than 0.13 inch annually. NOAA made six projections of sea-level rise, from low to extreme, and found the global mean level under the lowest projection could rise 2.3 inches by 2020 and 3.5 inches by 2030. The extreme projection shows a 4.3-inch rise by 2020 and a 9.4-inch rise by 2030. Severe flooding likely The rate of sea-level rise even under the lowest projection would increase the chances of severe flooding on the Texas Gulf Coast from storm surges or other causes from once every five years to once every two years by 2030 under the extreme projection, and 2060 under the low prediction. "We're not talking much longer than a mortgage cycle," Sweet said. "I just bought a house, I've got a 30-year note. That's 2047." By 2100, sea level is expected to rise between 1.3 feet and 8.2 feet, the NOAA study predicts; Galveston Island and most of the Texas coast would be swallowed up under the latter scenario. Sweet said the lower levels were more likely, but added, "We ultimately don't know how much heating will occur." He warned there was no guarantee rising sea level wouldn't match the extreme prediction. The effects will be felt as far away as Austin, according to a recently released study by Mathew E. Hauer, who heads the Institute of Government's applied demography program at the University of Georgia. Hauer's study found that sea-level rise would force thousands from their homes along the Texas Gulf Coast as well as coastal areas nationwide. The study estimates Houston and Austin each would absorb 250,000 refugees from sea-level rise by 2100. The hardest hit would be Galveston County, where Hauer estimates 124,000 people could be forced from their homes. Rising water would force about 108,000 from their homes in Jefferson County, 42,000 in Brazoria County and 30,000 in Harris County, Hauer said. The Climate Central study estimated 14,000 homes in Galveston could be inundated by sea-level rise. More intense storms Apart from sea-level rise, climate change is expected to cause hurricanes to be more intense and produce more rain, according to the NOAA. "In our view, there are better-than-even odds that the numbers of very intense hurricanes (Categories 4 and 5, with winds of 130 mph or more) will increase by a substantial fraction," according to an overview of research by NOAA scientists. The number of hurricanes each season would likely remain the same or decrease, the overview determined. Funding for efforts to slow or halt sea-level rise generated by climate change was slashed in a recently released President Donald Trump administration budget. Trump has called climate change a hoax, but a White House official said Friday that his views were evolving after recent talks with European leaders. His budget cuts Environmental Protection Agency funding by 30 percent, more than any other agency. Texas officials have asked Trump to put a proposed $15 billion storm-surge barrier on his list of infrastructure improvements, but there is no guarantee Congress will fund the project. Even if Congress pays for the barrier system - which would shield Brazoria, Galveston, Harris, Chambers, Jefferson and Orange counties - work couldn't begin until 2021 at the earliest. NOAA is predicting 11 to 17 named storms this season, which runs from Thursday to Nov. 30, five to nine of them hurricanes and two to four Category 3 or higher hurricanes. According to emergency officials in Galveston and Brazoria counties, little can be done to offset the increasingly larger storm surges and reduce the likelihood of more destructive hurricanes. One is unlucky number Forecasts of hurricane frequency don't matter, said Garret Foskit, Galveston County's emergency management coordinator. What matters is if one hits your community, Foskit said. "One is the unlucky number," he said. No matter the predictions, people who live in a hurricane's path "are still going to have to do the same things," Foskit said. "They are still going to have to leave, they are still going to have to move their stuff." Ojeda said he learned the hard way during Ike that it's important to prepare. "I'm a true believer that you learn by your mistakes," he said. "I told the wife to buy more canned goods, dry stuff." He owns two emergency generators after going for nearly two weeks without electricity after Ike. If a major hurricane approaches, he plans to evacuate. Said Ojeda: "If a 200 mph hurricane hits this island, there is not going to be (anything) left." (This story previously said that sea level could rise to 31 feet by 2100 in the most extreme prediction. The story was corrected to 8.2 feet. The prediction of 31 feet is for 2200.) Turns out, Alfred Dewayne Brown has a lot more time than previously reported to apply for state compensation for the wrongly convicted. Earlier this week, I wrote that Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg appointed a special prosecutor to determine whether or not the former death row inmate was actually innocent in the 2003 murder of veteran Houston Police Officer Charles R. Clark. I also reported that the special prosecutor, John Raley, would be up against a tight deadline to make a decision because Brown's attorneys told me they believed the 3-year statute of limitations for Brown's compensation petition would run out June 8. The law is murky and has changed several times through the years. At one point, starting the three years at the point a person was "found not guilty," and at another, starting when a person was "granted relief." Read original column: Alfred Dewayne Brown deserves final bit of justice But the Texas Comptroller's office, which has discretion over compensation claims, confirmed to the Texas Tribune that the clock now starts in such cases when a claimant receives a dismissal order based on a prosecuting attorney's declaration of actual innocence. That has not happened in Brown's case. "The clock has not started," comptroller spokesman Kevin Lyons confirmed to me Thursday, saying the statement was based on consultation with legal counsel. Of course I regret the error in Wednesday's column, but in this case, if the comptroller's interpretation of the law gives Brown more time to apply, and Raley more time to conduct a thorough investigation, I'm happy to correct the record. "I am pleased that I'll have the opportunity to give this important matter the time it deserves," Raley said Thursday. Brown's attorney, Neal Manne, also seemed relieved to have the comptroller's clarification. "It should not take Mr. Raley long to confirm that Dewayne Brown is 100 percent innocent, but we are glad that he will have as much time as he needs," Manne said. Read more: Former prosecutor withheld key email in death row case Brown's conviction and death sentence were tossed out after prosecutors withheld evidence a phone record found years later in a homicide detective's garage -- that supported his alibi. He was freed in 2015, after spending nearly 12 years behind bars, and prosecutors declined to recharge him, citing lack of evidence. Since then, new evidence has emerged that shows the lead Harris County prosecutor had a phone record all along that could have substantiated Brown's whereabouts the morning of the murder during a three-man robbery of a check-cashing store. Two others were convicted in the case, and one of them - Elijah Dwayne Joubert - was sent to death row for the slaying of store clerk Alfredia Jones. Police union officials, meanwhile, have maintained Brown's guilt. The comptroller's office, in clarifying the statute of limitations for Brown's petition, cited current law, which states that a person seeking compensation for a wrongful conviction must file an application no later than the third anniversary of either a pardon, a court order granting a writ of habeus corpus, or "an order of dismissal" being signed. There will likely be no pardon. And I already argued back in 2016 that Brown met the second condition. I believe the comptroller should have approved Brown's compensation based on the fact that a court did grant his writ of habeus corpus, and threw out his conviction for reasons that meet a lower standard of actual innocence recognized by case law and past comptrollers. The comptroller disagreed and rejected Brown's claim because the magic words "actual innocence" didn't appear in the court ruling, nor in the order granting the prosecutor's dismissal of the case. That leaves Brown with the last condition: "an order for dismissal." It's tricky, though. Such a dismissal, granted by the court, must be based on a statement from the state's attorney that "no credible evidence exists that inculpates the defendant." Also, the state's attorney must attest that he or she "believes that the defendant is actually innocent ..." While former DA Devon Anderson already dismissed the charge against Brown, she didn't declare him actually innocent. If Raley does find Brown actually innocent, Ogg, the current DA, could make such a declaration. But technically, she may have to amend the previous dismissal or even charge Brown again with capital murder and dismiss the charge anew, just so she can include "actual innocence" as the reason. That last path isn't ideal, but if it gets around the barriers of bureaucracy, so be it. Statute of limitations aside, I still believe Ogg should have taken action on Brown's case sooner. She's got a lot on her plate, but given that Brown had already waited more than a decade behind bars for freedom, prosecutors shouldn't prolong his wait for a decision on actual innocence and compensation any longer than they have to. lisa.falkenberg@chron.com twitter.com/chronfalkenberg If the Houston-Galveston region continues to boom for the next 60 years and sea level rises as scientists predict, a direct hit to Galveston from a massive hurricane could destroy an estimated $31.8 billion worth of homes, a new study says. But Texas A&M researchers found that if the government builds a 17-foot barrier about 60 miles long from Galveston Island to Bolivar Peninsula, the potential residential destruction from a storm surge would drop to about $6 billion a reduction of more than 80 percent. The only problem: So far, Texas can't get congressional funding to build the coastal barrier, a proposal that has been floated since Hurricane Ike threatened to make a run for Galveston in 2008. "The numbers make sense," said state Sen. Larry Taylor, a Friendswood Republican who has tried for years to get federal funding for a coastal barrier, estimated to cost up to $12 billion. "This investment is going to pay for itself time and time again." The cost-benefit numbers could change with additional data: The A&M study only looked at damages to homes and apartments from a storm surge not flooding caused by rainfall and excludes the potential harm to the region's commercial buildings and its bustling ports. After Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast in August, Taylor and other supporters of the coastal barrier saw their opportunity. Both City of Houston and state officials asked the federal government to include $12 billion for a barrier as part of their post-Harvey aid requests. But the $81 billion disaster relief package passed by the House on Dec. 21 which also includes aid for storm victims in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands does not appear to include funding for the barrier. The Senate recessed for the holidays before taking up the disaster relief funding. The storm relief likely will become part of the negotiations for an all-inclusive 2018 spending bill to be considered by the Jan. 19 deadline for lawmakers to continue funding the federal government, said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, a Friendswood Republican, said some Republican lawmakers have pushed back against funding infrastructure as part of disaster relief, warning it sets a bad precedent. Weber said he hopes to get the coastal barrier included in an infrastructure package if efforts to include it in disaster relief ultimately fail. "This is foolish for us to just keep paying for these disasters over and over and over again," Weber said. "How about something to prevent this from happening on the next go around?" State officials say they are willing to chip in for construction of a barrier, but can't and shouldn't have to pay for it alone. A spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott said he was working with Congress on a Harvey recovery package but did not address state funding for the coastal barrier. "The package is a work in progress and Governor Abbott continues to work with Congress to fight for the funds necessary to rebuild after Harvey," said Ciara Matthews, deputy communications director. The Texas General Land Office already has dedicated more than $15 million toward studying coastal protection, the bulk of it going to a joint $20 million study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that is expected to generate possible construction recommendations by this summer. "There's no question that the state is going to tap the Rainy Day Fund to pay for Harvey costs, but should the state pay the entire cost for the Ike Dike? No," said state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, a confidante of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick who heads one of several special Senate committees studying Harvey. "That's absolutely unrealistic to even suggest that. Let's recognize the obvious: The state doesn't have to money to do that. "Should the state pay something? Yes," he said. "Should the feds and local governments chip in? Yes. This is what the feds are for, is to take the lead on projects like this. This is a project that will take collaboration to get it done." Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle A wall of water For years, academics and lawmakers have warned of the potential danger of a direct-hit hurricane for the Houston-Galveston region. Hurricane Ike in 2008 looked as if it might slam into Galveston, but it veered away before landfall. Hurricane Harvey slammed into Rockport, about three hours south of Houston, in August and dumped rain for days, creating epic flooding in Houston. As bad as Harvey was, Weber said, the region still "dodged a bullet" compared to what would happen if a hurricane slammed directly into Galveston and sent a wall of water up the 44-mile Houston Ship Channel. In March, Weber and other members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee visited the Netherlands to see the massive barrier system installed there after a flood killed thousands. "I've looked at their gates. They hold back the sea," Weber said. "And by golly, if they do it over there, why can't we do it over here? It's not a matter of if we get another hurricane. It's simply when." The Houston Chronicle also visited the Netherlands after Harvey to explore possible solutions to the flooding here. One of the main lessons: There's a short window to get plans in motion for big-picture projects. What the project may ultimately involve is still up in the air. Texas A&M professor Bill Merrell proposed the idea of building a barrier after Ike hit the coast, causing an estimated $30 billion in damages. Modeled after a system built by the Dutch, the idea eventually secured backing by the state, which created a public corporation in 2010 to study its feasibility. But with the economy still in recovery mode, and no funding for the public corporation until 2013, the project seemed to progress in fits and starts, beset by opposing visions among academics and concerns about its potential environmental impact. Michael Ciaglo/Staff 'Largest engineering feats' Texas A&M and Rice University researchers have extensively studied the coastal barrier and have floated proposals that vary widely in scope and price, but are all in the billions. The General Land Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reached an agreement in 2015 to split the cost of a study to evaluate risk reduction and ecosystem restoration along the Texas coast. The study involves analyzing four different options for coastal protection, including building barriers, levees and surge gates. The Corps expects to publish a draft study with construction recommendations in the summer of 2018 and a final report by 2021. "I believe this will lead to one of the largest engineering feats of the 21st century," Col. Lars Zetterstrom, the Army Corps' Galveston District commander, told a state legislative committee in October. Taylor, the Friendswood lawmaker who is co-chair of the state's Joint Interim Committee to Study a Coastal Barrier System, said although the project's construction as yet remains unfunded, he is not giving up hope far from it. Taylor noted that President Donald J. Trump has signaled support for infrastructure projects, and cited the general momentum toward mitigation post-Harvey. "I think this is our best opportunity," he said. "If we don't get it done in this next year, our chances start diminishing." The Army Corps has about $60 billion in authorized construction projects nationally that compete each year for money based on their cost-benefit ratio, said Edmond Russo, the Corps' deputy district engineer for programs and project management in Galveston. "It's a very competitive process," he said. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat who represents Houston's East End and parts of Pasadena, Galena Park and Baytown, said the project is simply "taking too long," considering what is at stake. "We've studied this thing enough," she said. "It's time for action." A direct hit from a hurricane is "probably the greatest risk to our region," she said, "and it is increasing each day." *** DEVELOPING STORM: Hurricane Harvey was the most destructive storm in Houston's history. The late-August storm dumped up to 60 inches of rain on southeast Texas, but the resulting damage was multiplied by actions taken and not taken during the past 50 years. Our seven-part series explains why the storm's damage was both a natural and man-made disaster. Part 1: Nature ruled, man reacted. Hurricane Harvey was Houston's reckoning Part 2: Build, flood, rebuild: flood insurance's expensive cycle Part 3: What's in Houston's worst flood zones? Development worth $13.5 billion Part 4: Harvey overwhelmed some levee systems. Future storms could do worse. Part 5: Officials patched and prayed while pressure built on Houston's dams Part 6: For buyers within 'flood pools,' no warnings from developers, public officials Part 7: In Harvey's wake, Dutch have much to teach Houston Click here to read all of our Harvey coverage. GET ENGAGED: Where do we go from here? Seven Houston-area leaders discussed flooding causes and solutions at a Greater Houston After Harvey forum hosted by the Houston Chronicle in early December. Watch Wednesday night's keynote address by Jim Blackburn, co-director of Rice University's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center. Read his thoughts on living around water. Sign up for our Facebook community to share your Harvey story, engage with other community members and ask our reporters questions. Join the discussion on Twitter: #HoustonAfterHarvey. SUBSCRIBE: The Houston Chronicle is dedicated to serving the public interest with fact-based journalism. That mission has never been more important. Show your support for our journalism at HoustonChronicle.com/subscribe. The massive explosion at the Macondo drill site happened so far offshore that it was initially invisible even to the nearest Gulf Coast residents. But it didnt take long for images of the largest oil spill in U.S. history the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster to be displayed on television screens across the globe. In response, industry leaders, safety advocates and government regulators subsequently worked together to improve offshore safety. They promised to prevent another Deepwater Horizon. It is a promise routinely on the verge of being broken. Out of sight, risk remains routine for offshore drilling. At least 87 fires and 10 explosions have been reported on platforms, drillships and related operations in the Gulf in the last eight years, according to a review of data by the Houston Chronicle editorial board. OPINION: The offshore industry is safer than ever In more than 200 reported incidents, workers were evacuated. At least 11 offshore accidents involved one or more deaths, according to statistics kept by the offshore safety agency now called the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. You would think that this pattern of danger would inspire regulators to keep crafting more safety rules. Instead, the Trump administration is proposing regulatory rollbacks. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has announced changes to a rule based on the Macondo disaster that focuses on Blowout Preventer/Well Control Requirements. Those technical terms should sound familiar. Eight years ago, BP overseers disagreed with their partners from Transocean, operators of a so-called drillship, over how to best handle problems encountered as they aggressively plumbed beneath Gulf waters at a site far off the coast of Louisiana. Ultimately, they ignored some of their own safety rules and failed to detect signs of a well control disaster in time. In the end, they turned to a fail-safe device known as a blowout preventer. RELATED: The lessons we learned from the Deepwater disaster The result left 11 people dead. That was Macondo/Deepwater Horizon. We now know as the result of eight years of safety probes, criminal prosecutions and environmental studies that at least 3.9 million barrels of oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico. The disaster caused billions of dollars in economic damages for coastal residents and businesses. The spill also killed thousands of endangered sea turtles, sickened fish, prompted mass strandings of dolphin and devastated populations of pelicans and other creatures that depend on coastal waters and marshes. Safety advocates and responsible upstream companies like those who gathered this week in Houston for the 50th Offshore Technology Conference should carefully review the proposed revisions to the well control rule, participate in the comment period and preserve rules to protect oilfield workers and the environment. Eleven lives lost and billions in damages must not so soon be forgotten. Truly massive drilling disasters are uncommon partly because of lessons learned from disasters such as the 1988 explosion of the Piper Alpha platform in British waters that claimed 167 lives in the North Sea a disaster that remains the deadliest in global offshore history and, yes, Deepwater Horizon. MORE: Lessons from Macondo to increase offshore drilling safety Nevertheless, some already are supporting proposals to relax Deepwater-related reforms. The International Association of Drilling Contractors, in a statement, said that the well control rules requirements should be appropriately refined to increase their effectiveness while removing those provisions that add unnecessary costs without increasing safety. Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, also has supported revising the Well Control Rule to bring standards up to speed, and maintain safety protocols for American workers and protection for the environment. But we should not be too hasty to discard reforms based on years of studies of what went wrong at Macondo. All those offshore fires, near-misses, blowouts and even deaths reported in the Gulf of Mexico since April 2010 show we need to remain vigilant. Recent incidents also should be reviewed to see whether new requirements could have prevented them. The oil and gas industry needs to keep learning from mistakes. The routine dangers of deepwater drilling might remain out of sight for now. But if we start to forget about the risk of disaster, dont be surprised when you see another Deepwater Horizon appear on your television screen. Those big government central planners in our capital are at it again, sticking their intrusive noses into other peoples business. No, were not talking about bureaucrats in Washington. Were talking about politicians running our state government trying to tell local governments how to do their jobs. Once again, a Texas elected official who calls himself a conservative is using his state office in an effort to usurp the will of a local mayor and city council. In this case, Attorney General Ken Paxton is joining a lawsuit fighting an earned sick leave ordinance passed by the city of Austin. Beyond the eye-rolling irony of a politician whos under indictment for securities fraud giving anybody advice on whats legal, Paxton needs to stop messing with Austins local business. RELATED: Paxton's pre-Obamacare dream would be a nightmare for Texas Austin recently passed an ordinance requiring most private employers in the city to provide paid sick leave for their workers. Workers at most employers will be able to accrue at least eight days of paid sick leave per year: small businesses with fewer than 15 workers could provide six days. The ordinance is the first of its kind in Texas or anywhere in the South and its scheduled to go into effect in October. Almost every time the Legislature meets, somebody proposes some sort of family leave mandate for Texas workers. But lobbyists in our business friendly state routinely shoot the proposals down. So in February, Austin decided to enact an ordinance on its own, joining cities such as Chicago and San Francisco in passing local sick and family leave rules. Last week, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank representing a number of business groups, filed a lawsuit challenging Austins paid sick leave policy. The suit argues the ordinance violates the states minimum wage laws, which prohibit cities from regulating the wages paid by private businesses. EDITORIAL: Facing charges, Paxton should step down Within days, Paxton jumped aboard the bandwagon, joining the lawsuit and blasting Austins disdain and blatant disregard for the rule of law. That raises a question: If Austin really has committed such a heinous violation of state law, why did Paxtons office need a conservative think tank to point it out months after the ordinance passed? It almost looks like Paxton is working for the TPPF rather than for the people of Texas. Actually, this isnt the first time Paxton has used his office to carry somebody elses water. After a number of cities passed ordinances banning plastic shopping bags among other problems, West Texas ranchers discovered dead cattle with plastic bags in their stomachs bag manufacturers recruited help from conservative think tanks to help kill the municipal rules. Paxton dutifully did their bidding, suing Texas cities that had the audacity to do what they thought was best for their local citizens. MORE: Paxton's rotten apple for Texas teachers If Austin wants to require its employers to provide paid sick leave to their workers, state officials such as Paxton should stay out of the fight. Let Austin act as an incubator for this idea. If the city starts losing employers as a result of this policy, it can decide on its own to rescind the ordinance. If it works for Austin, other cities even the state government can decide whether to adopt similar rules. Those central planners in our state government cant figure out how to adequately finance our schools or pay for our highways. Theyre in no position to give Texas mayors and city councils lectures about how to run local governments. Why number of fish is declining in Lake Victoria May 04,2018 | Source: Hivisasa Lake Victoria provides livelihoods to many locals of Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, and Busia counties who eke out a living through fishing. This is now being threatened by the quick decline of fish in the fresh water body that also covers East African nations of Uganda and Tanzania. Kisumu County Director for fisheries Mr. Kenneth noted that the decline of fish in Lake Victoria is being caused by an increase in the number of people in counties neighboring the Lake who have turned to fishing for livelihood. Speaking in Kisumu on Monday, Mr. Luga also attributed the decline to illegal use of un-approved fishing nets. We have nets for fishing omena (dagaa) and you find some people using the nets for fishing omena to go and fish for Nile-perch, which is not allowed, said Luga. He added, At the same time, we have protected fishing grounds; those are the breading areas and when people go to those areas and fish using omena nets, they remove the small ones. He also said the life of fish in Lake Victoria is threatened by contaminated water being released into the lake by various industries. The director said that they are putting in measures to control illegal use of un-approved nets in order to improve the number of fish in Lake Victoria. Theme(s): Fisheries Resources, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture. Jamaica receives USD 4.8 million aid from World Bank for fishers by Jewel Fraser May 04,2018 | Source: Seafood Source The World Bank has granted just under USD 5 million (EUR 4.1 million) to Jamaica to support a project aimed at helping vulnerable fishing communities. Jamaica's Minister of Finance and Public Service, Dr. Nigel Clarke, signed the USD 4.8 million (EUR 3.92 million) agreement at the end of March with World Bank Country Manager Galina Sotirova that will provide funding for the Promoting Community-Based Climate Resilience in the Fisheries Project. The project's aim, according to a story carried on the Jamaica Information Service website, is to strengthen the fisheries policy and regulatory framework for climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture management; build capacity to promote sustainable fisheries management; support fishing and fish farming communities to adopt climate-resilient aquaculture, coastal mari-culture/poly-culture, diversify their livelihoods and raise awareness of climate change impacts on the fisheries sector. The project will also contribute to the objectives of the 2015 National Fisheries and Agriculture Policy, aimed at improving the sustainability of Jamaica's fisheries, Dr. Clarke said. Approximately 50,000 Jamaicans work in the fishing industry, the minister noted. And, as we know, the fishing industry is subject to climate change and that introduces a degree of vulnerability to persons who are engaged in that industry. The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas: A Perspective on Latin America and the Caribbean 2017-2018, notes that Jamaica's fisheries production has fallen precipitously over the past ten years. Published jointly by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, the report shows that Jamaica's volume of fisheries capture fell from 22,000 metric tons (MT) in 2008 to just over 16,000 MT in 2014. Its aquaculture production likewise saw a slide from 6,500 MT to less than 1,000 MT during the same period. Total fisheries exports in 2014, consisting mainly of spiny lobster and conch, amounted to 833 MT, according to a 2017 report by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. Theme(s): Fisheries Resources, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture. North-east MSP slams Government on Brexit fisheries legislation May 04,2018 | Source: Evening Express The Scottish Government has refused to sign up to the UK Governments clause 11 amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, because the latest changes include a seven-year period when Holyrood could not legislate on fishing, among other devolved issues. The move comes after the UK Government agreed the UK fishing industry would remain in the Common Fisheries Policy until 2021, but stripped of its current voting rights. Banffshire and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson said Conservatives were trying to tie Holyroods hands, not taking back control as promised. The Tories have one view of Scottish fishing and one view alone, said Mr Stevenson, pictured. They see it as expendable. Under Tory plans there will be no taking back control of Scottish waters, no influence in fishery reforms, no say in quotas its an absolute disgrace. A UK Government spokeswoman said UK ministers recognised the importance of the fishing industry and of working with Holyrood. Aberdeen Journals Ltd 2018 Theme(s): Fisheries Resources, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Communities and Organisations. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Pope Francis Takes Over the Knights of Malta - The Last Conservative Faction LoP Guest lop guest User ID: kaput 05-04-2018 01:27 AM Post: #1 Pope Francis Takes Over the Knights of Malta - The Last Conservative Faction Advertisement Bergoglio finally managed to take over the Order of Malta, said to be the last conservative force to oppose the Jesuit take-over of the Catholic Faith. After great controversy surrounding this legendary Order of Knights, that witnessed the unexpected resignation of a pious man, Fra Robert Matthew Festing, who served with loyalty as the 79th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, only to be kicked out on January 2017. There was also tension between Pope Francis and Patron of the Knights of Malta, the traditionalist Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, after a series of controversies that included strong criticism against Bergoglios liberal reforms of the Church that were made public in a letter sent to Bergoglio. This letter written by Burke and other Cardinals, asked Pope Francis for an audience to discuss deep concerns over the his apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love). Burke is a supporter of Donald J. Trump, and was officially suspended from the Patronage, on February 21, 2017. Earlier today, however, our worst fears became real, when the last traditionalist Order that poses a threat to Francis, the Knights of Malta, still immensely powerful within the military and intelligence community worlwide (including the conservative side of the C.I.A), have seemingly lost their battle for the defense of tradition and Christianity. After a solemn procession and morning Mass, the 54 electors voted Fra Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, a member of the Black Aristocracy, said to be a puppet of Pope Francis, as their Grand Master. Dalla Torre has been elected for life by the electors, the Professed Knights that form the Council Complete of State of the Order of Malta, made up of the elite of the Black Aristocracy. They chose their new Grand master from various eligible knights from the European aristocracy, that included more conservative forces like Ludwig Hofmann von Rumerstein, Grand Commander and immediate past Lieutenant ad interim of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, said to be very close to Pope Ratzinger, and Carlo dIppolito di SantIppolito, but the Jesuit Pope forced his own choice. Only a few days ago, in a controversial interview published by the Italian newspaper IL GIORNALE, past Grand Master Fra Robert Matthew Festing declared: The Holy See must have seen him as an obstacle adding that he was kicked out because they didnt like his orthodoxy and also his questioning about the finances of the Order. Leo Zagami is a regular contributor to Infowars and the author of the new book Confessions of an Illuminati Volume 5: The Decline of the West and the Rise of Satanism in our Society https://www.amazon.com/dp/1986894657/ref...leo+zagami Pope Francis is a jesuit. Both his parents are from Rome. Argentina is known as the country from the end of the world. Let that sink in for a minute.Bergoglio finally managed to take over the Order of Malta, said to be the last conservative force to oppose the Jesuit take-over of the Catholic Faith.After great controversy surrounding this legendary Order of Knights, that witnessed the unexpected resignation of a pious man, Fra Robert Matthew Festing, who served with loyalty as the 79th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, only to be kicked out on January 2017. There was also tension between Pope Francis and Patron of the Knights of Malta, the traditionalist Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, after a series of controversies that included strong criticism against Bergoglios liberal reforms of the Church that were made public in a letter sent to Bergoglio. This letter written by Burke and other Cardinals, asked Pope Francis for an audience to discuss deep concerns over the his apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love). Burke is a supporter of Donald J. Trump, and was officially suspended from the Patronage, on February 21, 2017.Earlier today, however, our worst fears became real, when the last traditionalist Order that poses a threat to Francis, the Knights of Malta, still immensely powerful within the military and intelligence community worlwide (including the conservative side of the C.I.A), have seemingly lost their battle for the defense of tradition and Christianity.After a solemn procession and morning Mass, the 54 electors voted Fra Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, a member of the Black Aristocracy, said to be a puppet of Pope Francis, as their Grand Master. Dalla Torre has been elected for life by the electors, the Professed Knights that form the Council Complete of State of the Order of Malta, made up of the elite of the Black Aristocracy. They chose their new Grand master from various eligible knights from the European aristocracy, that included more conservative forces like Ludwig Hofmann von Rumerstein, Grand Commander and immediate past Lieutenant ad interim of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, said to be very close to Pope Ratzinger, and Carlo dIppolito di SantIppolito, but the Jesuit Pope forced his own choice.Only a few days ago, in a controversial interview published by the Italian newspaper IL GIORNALE, past Grand Master Fra Robert Matthew Festing declared: The Holy See must have seen him as an obstacle adding that he was kicked out because they didnt like his orthodoxy and also his questioning about the finances of the Order.Leo Zagami is a regular contributor to Infowars and the author of the new book Confessions of an Illuminati Volume 5: The Decline of the West and the Rise of Satanism in our Society LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 01:44 AM Post: #2 RE: Pope Francis Takes Over the Knights of Malta - The Last Conservative Faction X DrVIP Registered User User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 01:45 AM Posts: 3,902 Post: #3 RE: Pope Francis Takes Over the Knights of Malta - The Last Conservative Faction CIA is dominated by knights of malta. and as if cia psy ops cartels warmongering was considered conservative... we have much to expect for now Dreamily Resonant VIP Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 3 Vote(s) - 1 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 4 5 Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: kaput 05-04-2018 02:38 PM Post: #1 Is the US about to lost to China? Advertisement With also the trade wars that China needs to happen so badly, to finally abandon the petrodollar and start the yuan gold backed petrol? We all know without SWIFT the US is f**ked. Diplomacy is a real bit*h with war monger Nikki Haley silenced? Nah Obama and Blair and Sarkozy were real criminals, they knew how to get away from a crime scene clean and reborn as dew, Trump on the other hand is just messy! In other words the deep state will have to call the cleaners on their assassin. Trump like apartheid will be a social experiment gone wrong. There is a reason why diplomacy is an art, an art of war. Just thoughts, what do you guys think? With all the MAGA dudes calling for a Nobel peace prize for trump ending North Korea War please think for a sec or two? Do they not realise China is about to win? It was never an out North Korea, it was all about building and maintaining military bases to surround China. So North and South will unify denuclearise and kill South Korea misile program, but we all know China has got them, nukes misses etc. It is like the US allowing the Middle East to attack their allies in Canada Australia and Uk. No way China will abandon one of their own, N and S Korea.With also the trade wars that China needs to happen so badly, to finally abandon the petrodollar and start the yuan gold backed petrol? We all know without SWIFT the US is f**ked. Diplomacy is a real bit*h with war monger Nikki Haley silenced? Nah Obama and Blair and Sarkozy were real criminals, they knew how to get away from a crime scene clean and reborn as dew, Trump on the other hand is just messy! In other words the deep state will have to call the cleaners on their assassin. Trump like apartheid will be a social experiment gone wrong. There is a reason why diplomacy is an art, an art of war.Just thoughts, what do you guys think? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 02:45 PM Post: #2 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:38 PM) With all the MAGA dudes calling for a Nobel peace prize for trump ending North Korea War please think for a sec or two? Do they not realise China is about to win? It was never an out North Korea, it was all about building and maintaining military bases to surround China. So North and South will unify denuclearise and kill South Korea misile program, but we all know China has got them, nukes misses etc. It is like the US allowing the Middle East to attack their allies in Canada Australia and Uk. No way China will abandon one of their own, N and S Korea. With also the trade wars that China needs to happen so badly, to finally abandon the petrodollar and start the yuan gold backed petrol? We all know without SWIFT the US is f**ked. Diplomacy is a real bit*h with war monger Nikki Haley silenced? Nah Obama and Blair and Sarkozy were real criminals, they knew how to get away from a crime scene clean and reborn as dew, Trump on the other hand is just messy! In other words the deep state will have to call the cleaners on their assassin. Trump like apartheid will be a social experiment gone wrong. There is a reason why diplomacy is an art, an art of war. Just thoughts, what do you guys think? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 02:47 PM Post: #3 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:45 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:38 PM) With all the MAGA dudes calling for a Nobel peace prize for trump ending North Korea War please think for a sec or two? Do they not realise China is about to win? It was never an out North Korea, it was all about building and maintaining military bases to surround China. So North and South will unify denuclearise and kill South Korea misile program, but we all know China has got them, nukes misses etc. It is like the US allowing the Middle East to attack their allies in Canada Australia and Uk. No way China will abandon one of their own, N and S Korea. With also the trade wars that China needs to happen so badly, to finally abandon the petrodollar and start the yuan gold backed petrol? We all know without SWIFT the US is f**ked. Diplomacy is a real bit*h with war monger Nikki Haley silenced? Nah Obama and Blair and Sarkozy were real criminals, they knew how to get away from a crime scene clean and reborn as dew, Trump on the other hand is just messy! In other words the deep state will have to call the cleaners on their assassin. Trump like apartheid will be a social experiment gone wrong. There is a reason why diplomacy is an art, an art of war. Just thoughts, what do you guys think? And to think a whore, called Stromy, not Russia will bring the US down? Jesus must have been on to something when he forgave Mary Magdalene, just saying. And to think a whore, called Stromy, not Russia will bring the US down? Jesus must have been on to something when he forgave Mary Magdalene, just saying. Tommy Pastrami Registered User User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 02:50 PM Posts: 3,346 Post: #4 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? No one is about to lost anything unless it's some kind of bizarre time travel scenario that I can't figure out. "The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. He who reads nothing will still learn the great facts, and the details are all false." ~Thomas Jefferson LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 02:54 PM Post: #5 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:47 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:45 PM) And to think a princess, called Stromy, not Russia will bring the US down? Jesus must have been on to something when he forgave Mary Magdalene, just saying. Is the US about to lost to China? Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 02:55 PM Post: #6 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:54 PM) [quote='LoP Guest' pid='565748' dateline='1525438053'] And to think a princess, called Stromy, not Russia will bring the US down? Jesus must have been on to something when he forgave Mary Magdalene, just saying. Is the US about to lost to China? [/quote https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk1wUKoXL20 Is the US about to lost to China?[/quote LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 02:59 PM Post: #7 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:38 PM) With all the MAGA dudes calling for a Nobel peace prize for trump ending North Korea War please think for a sec or two? Do they not realise China is about to win? It was never an out North Korea, it was all about building and maintaining military bases to surround China. So North and South will unify denuclearise and kill South Korea misile program, but we all know China has got them, nukes misses etc. It is like the US allowing the Middle East to attack their allies in Canada Australia and Uk. No way China will abandon one of their own, N and S Korea. With also the trade wars that China needs to happen so badly, to finally abandon the petrodollar and start the yuan gold backed petrol? We all know without SWIFT the US is f**ked. Diplomacy is a real bit*h with war monger Nikki Haley silenced? Nah Obama and Blair and Sarkozy were real criminals, they knew how to get away from a crime scene clean and reborn as dew, Trump on the other hand is just messy! In other words the deep state will have to call the cleaners on their assassin. Trump like apartheid will be a social experiment gone wrong. There is a reason why diplomacy is an art, an art of war. Just thoughts, what do you guys think? China can't even manufacture an automobile. Left to their own devices, the Chinese would still be living in straw huts. Modern China is a fake country run by the globalists. If China were about to "win," then its population wouldn't be constantly sneaking into the "loser" country. To answer your question: no. China can't even manufacture an automobile. Left to their own devices, the Chinese would still be living in straw huts. Modern China is a fake country run by the globalists.If China were about to "win," then its population wouldn't be constantly sneaking into the "loser" country.To answer your question: no. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:02 PM Post: #8 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? Tommy Pastrami Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:50 PM) No one is about to lost anything unless it's some kind of bizarre time travel scenario that I can't figure out. The secret societies also fight for power to be satans chosen one, they are not a hegemony yet. Isreal and US will be sacrificed by Iran et al, Russia will be totally destroyed by the EU NATO. In the Rome and the U.K. Will remain, these will be the 10 last kings who will rule all for an hour, Rome will give them the power, hence why Brexit has to happen. Everything else is expandable. Two last kingdoms never dies, The Iron, Rome and the Clay UK. Daniels statue, these two empires that were, both took a head shot would survived and regrouped. These two kingdoms will rule in the last hour. The secret societies also fight for power to be satans chosen one, they are not a hegemony yet. Isreal and US will be sacrificed by Iran et al, Russia will be totally destroyed by the EU NATO. In the Rome and the U.K. Will remain, these will be the 10 last kings who will rule all for an hour, Rome will give them the power, hence why Brexit has to happen. Everything else is expandable. Two last kingdoms never dies, The Iron, Rome and the Clay UK. Daniels statue, these two empires that were, both took a head shot would survived and regrouped. These two kingdoms will rule in the last hour. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:03 PM Post: #9 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 03:02 PM) Tommy Pastrami Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:50 PM) No one is about to lost anything unless it's some kind of bizarre time travel scenario that I can't figure out. The secret societies also fight for power to be satans chosen one, they are not a hegemony yet. Isreal and US will be sacrificed by Iran et al, Russia will be totally destroyed by the EU NATO. In the Rome and the U.K. Will remain, these will be the 10 last kings who will rule all for an hour, Rome will give them the power, hence why Brexit has to happen. Everything else is expandable. Two last kingdoms never dies, The Iron, Rome and the Clay UK. Daniels statue, these two empires that were, both took a head shot would survived and regrouped. These two kingdoms will rule in the last hour. Also Russi will regroup and destroy the EU NATO, they will then try to come for the Uk, but the Uk will utterly destroy them. Ok maybe I'm just trying to write a novel, but think? Also Russi will regroup and destroy the EU NATO, they will then try to come for the Uk, but the Uk will utterly destroy them.Ok maybe I'm just trying to write a novel, but think? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:04 PM Post: #10 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:59 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:38 PM) With all the MAGA dudes calling for a Nobel peace prize for trump ending North Korea War please think for a sec or two? Do they not realise China is about to win? It was never an out North Korea, it was all about building and maintaining military bases to surround China. So North and South will unify denuclearise and kill South Korea misile program, but we all know China has got them, nukes misses etc. It is like the US allowing the Middle East to attack their allies in Canada Australia and Uk. No way China will abandon one of their own, N and S Korea. With also the trade wars that China needs to happen so badly, to finally abandon the petrodollar and start the yuan gold backed petrol? We all know without SWIFT the US is f**ked. Diplomacy is a real bit*h with war monger Nikki Haley silenced? Nah Obama and Blair and Sarkozy were real criminals, they knew how to get away from a crime scene clean and reborn as dew, Trump on the other hand is just messy! In other words the deep state will have to call the cleaners on their assassin. Trump like apartheid will be a social experiment gone wrong. There is a reason why diplomacy is an art, an art of war. Just thoughts, what do you guys think? China can't even manufacture an automobile. Left to their own devices, the Chinese would still be living in straw huts. Modern China is a fake country run by the globalists. If China were about to "win," then its population wouldn't be constantly sneaking into the "loser" country. To answer your question: no. Too much main stream media on your part mate. Too much main stream media on your part mate. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:06 PM Post: #11 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 03:04 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:59 PM) China can't even manufacture an automobile. Left to their own devices, the Chinese would still be living in straw huts. Modern China is a fake country run by the globalists. If China were about to "win," then its population wouldn't be constantly sneaking into the "loser" country. To answer your question: no. Too much main stream media on your part mate. Please explain; if you can. Please explain; if you can. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:09 PM Post: #12 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 03:04 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 02:59 PM) China can't even manufacture an automobile. Left to their own devices, the Chinese would still be living in straw huts. Modern China is a fake country run by the globalists. If China were about to "win," then its population wouldn't be constantly sneaking into the "loser" country. To answer your question: no. Too much main stream media on your part mate. If Obama can take out Libya, Yemen and half of the Middle East including Sudan, Somalia Tunia and Egypt and still come out revered and a legend to the masses, now that is evil. Evil is smart, not hateful demons are hateful, Satan is an evil genius. We all know he got the top evil one himself. If Obama can take out Libya, Yemen and half of the Middle East including Sudan, Somalia Tunia and Egypt and still come out revered and a legend to the masses, now that is evil. Evil is smart, not hateful demons are hateful, Satan is an evil genius. We all know he got the top evil one himself. Hamburgerwagon lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:17 PM Post: #13 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? Is to the USA to about lost to China to? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:18 PM Post: #14 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 03:06 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 03:04 PM) Too much main stream media on your part mate. Please explain; if you can. Well China has taken over Africa, whoever controls Africa controls the world, with all their cobalt Colton diamonds golds copper etc etc etc and what China did that the west failed to do is this and this is what gave them an advantage. China saw a young market, the largest growing population group to dump the cheap sh*t on. Or you think Africa is still a jungle? Travel, stop gorging on main stream media. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yLda2HvVHY0 Well China has taken over Africa, whoever controls Africa controls the world, with all their cobalt Colton diamonds golds copper etc etc etc and what China did that the west failed to do is this and this is what gave them an advantage. China saw a young market, the largest growing population group to dump the cheap sh*t on. Or you think Africa is still a jungle? Travel, stop gorging on main stream media. Tommy Pastrami Registered User User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 03:24 PM Posts: 3,346 Post: #15 RE: Is the US about to lost to China? Hamburgerwagon Wrote: (05-04-2018 03:17 PM) Is to the USA to about lost to China to? I don't think they get it. Or else we're talking to bots. I don't think they get it. Or else we're talking to bots. "The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. He who reads nothing will still learn the great facts, and the details are all false." ~Thomas Jefferson Advertisement Imperial Valley News Center Recent False Claims Act Settlement Will Yield $11 Million for the Purchase of Bullet-Proof Vests for Local Law Enforcement Washington, DC - Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Department of Justice will return over $11 million from a settlement with Toyobo Co. Ltd. and Toyobo America, Inc. (collectively Toyobo), companies that produced the fiber used in bulletproof vests that the Department alleged were defective, to help purchase approximately 18,700 additional bullet-resistant vests for law enforcement officers through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program. Bulletproof vests are sometimes all that stands between a police officer and death, Attorney General Sessions said. Having just come from this years Blue Mass, I am more determined than ever to get effective vests to officers who need them. Companies who have sold us faulty or defective vests should compensate us so that we can get our officers the vests they need. Thats why this Department of Justice will give these settlement funds to those who deserve them: the men and women in blue. Since 2007, the body armor industry has paid the United States more than $132 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act by knowingly manufacturing and selling defective bulletproof vests containing Zylon. The most recent and largest recovery was from Toyobo, the company which manufactured the Zylon fiber and promoted its use as a ballistic material, which paid $66 million to resolve its potential liability. The United States is proceeding against the two remaining participants in the fraudulent Zylon scheme: Richard C. Davis, the former President of Second Chance Body Armor, Inc., and Honeywell International, Inc. Mr. Davis trial is scheduled for June 2018. The BVP Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), protects the lives of law enforcement officers by helping state, local, and tribal governments equip their law enforcement officers with bullet-resistant vests. Since 1999, over 13,100 jurisdictions have participated in the BVP Program, with more than $447.7 million in federal funds used to support the purchase of more than 1,294,000 vests. BVP funding covers 50 percent of total vest costs for rural law enforcement agencies with community populations of fewer than 100,000 residents. For larger jurisdictions, the program provides up to 50 percent of funding, depending on the annual appropriation from Congress and the amount of funds requested by the rural jurisdictions that apply. Marketing faulty protective gear to law enforcement officers who put themselves in the line of fire is an unconscionable act and a betrayal of trust said BJA Director Jon Adler. This settlement and the Attorney Generals laudable decision to allocate these funds to the BVP program represent the Justice Departments strong commitment to officer safety. Our unwavering priority is to protect our officers as they keep our communities safe. BVP funds may be used to purchase only vests that meet the minimum performance standards established by OJP's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor Standard. The NIJ Standard, updated in July 2008, establishes minimum performance requirements and test methods for the ballistic resistance of personal body armor designed to protect the torso against gunfire. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police/DuPont Kevlar Survivors' Club, since 1987, there have been over 3,000 recorded cases where individuals working in law enforcement have survived both ballistic and non-ballistic incidents because they were wearing body armor. In 2010, the Department of Justice returned to the BVP Program $11 million from earlier settlements with other participants involved in the manufacture and sale of Zylon vests. Todays payment brings the total returned to the BVP Program to more than $22 million, and ensures that the BVP Program has been fully compensated for its losses in supporting law enforcement agencies purchases of allegedly defective Zylon vests. Imperial Valley News Center President Donald J. Trump Proclaims May 3 as a National Day of Prayer Washington, DC - 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. Prayer has been a source of guidance, strength, and wisdom since the founding of our Republic. When the Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia to contemplate freedom from Great Britain, the delegates prayed daily for guidance. Their efforts produced the Declaration of Independence and its enumeration of the self-evident truths that we all cherish today. We believe that all men and women are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Prayer sustained us and gave us the strength to endure the sacrifices and suffering of the American Revolution and to temper the triumph of victory with humility and gratitude. Notably, as one of its first acts, our newly formed Congress appointed chaplains of the House of Representatives and Senate so that all proceedings would begin with prayer. As a Nation, we have continued to seek God in prayer, including in times of conflict and darkness. At the height of World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called for prayer for the vision to see our way clearly to see the way that leads to a better life for ourselves and for all our fellow men and to the achievement of His will to peace on earth. Decades later, following one of the darkest days in our Nations history, President George W. Bush offered this prayer for our heartbroken country, mourning the precious souls who perished in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001: We ask Almighty God to watch over our Nation, and grant us patience and resolve in all that is to come. We pray that He will comfort and console those who now walk in sorrow. We thank Him for each life we now must mourn, and the promise of a life to come. 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. In 1988, the Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 3 as a National Day of Prayer. I encourage all Americans to observe this day, reflecting on the blessings our Nation has received and the importance of prayer, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in their houses of worship, communities, and places of work, schools, and homes. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second. DONALD J. TRUMP Imperial Valley News Center Advocates Converge on D.C. as Opposition Mounts to Draft Farm Bill Washington, DC - On May 8-9th, 2018, Food Policy Action (FPA) is mobilizing stakeholders from across the United States to voice their united opposition to the draft 2018 Farm Bill released by the House Agriculture Committee. Advocates have a narrow window in which to convince House members that supporting a Farm Bill that cuts support for SNAP, small farmers, and the working class is not only irresponsible but will lose them support at the ballot box, says FPA executive director Monica Mills. We are already doing a dismal job providing support for new, young, and small farmers, and this bill is going to be incredibly harmful to rural economies if it eliminates what programs we do have. And the changes to SNAP feel like were waging war on the poor, she told Food Tank. Broad-based opposition to the draft Farm Bill is mounting, with more than 350 organizations and industry groups joining an opposition letter. FPA is working to bolster the effort by bringing constituents themselves to the halls of Washington, D.C. to put faces to each critical line item in the omnibus, trillion-dollar bill. We are bringing in women farmers who are looking to have a more balanced farm bill, were bringing in chefs from all around the country who want to see support for nutrition, and were bringing in law students from the Harvard Law School farm bill clinic and their consortium, explains Mills. Through our lobby days, we plan to protect SNAP, to protect conservation programs, and to protect the local and regional food programs that help support local farmers markets, farm to school programs, and farm to table initiatives. For constituents who cannot make it to Washington, D.C. in person, FPA will be hosting a virtual lobby day to help voters reach their elected representatives. We will have ways for you to get involved and send a message to your own member of Congress through foodpolicyaction.org, says Mills. We want you to be a part of our lobby day even if you arent here! There is a lot at stake in the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations. The largest proposed cuts would be to the SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, argues that these cuts would increase hunger, foster poorer nutrition, and further increase health inequity in our nation, while Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, calls them deeply concerning because they potentially cut millions of Americans out of these benefits, putting their health in jeopardy. The staff of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, cautions that the bills proposed sweeping, aggressive new work requirements for SNAP recipients would likely prove unworkable and do substantially more harm than good, fueling increases in hunger and poverty. The Bill also makes major cuts to farmer-support programs, including eliminating all funding for a number of small, innovative programs that support small and sustainable farmers as well as all funding for the countrys largest conservation program, the Conservation Stewardship Program. In response, the Board of the National Farmers Union, which represents nearly 200,000 family farmers, ranchers, and rural members, has passed a resolution opposing the bill. Tara Ritter, a senior program associate at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, writes, This draft Farm Bill insults all the work farmers and advocates have been undertaking to advance sustainable agriculture. Funding is proposed to be cut or completely eliminated for many programs that small farmers, organic farmers, and business owners need to thrive. The proposals within the House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill are trying to fix things that arent problems. And theyre doing it with a very heavy hand instead of being measured in their approach, says Mills. This version of a farm bill is a non-starter. FPA will spend its lobby days pushing for a more fair assessment of what is needed in SNAP, better protection for our conservation programs, support for the health of our consumers and our farmworkers, and more support for local and regional food systems, says Mills. The way the system is set up, right now a tomato costs more than a package of cookies at the gas station. Thats just not right. Good, healthy, safe food should be affordable to everyone, no matter what your ZIP code is. We really need to look at what we are investing in through the Farm Bill and ask: Is this actually good for our health? Are we really making sure that our food is safe? Are we making sure that good food is available to everyone, not just the wealthy? Man Sentenced to Prison on Fraud Charges Involving Hundreds of Timeshare Owner Victims Roanoke, Virginia - A North Carolina man, who previously lived in Frederick County, Virginia, was sentenced today on federal wire fraud conspiracy charges, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen for the Western District of Virginia. Michael Dean Kent, 58, of Franklin, North Carolina, was sentenced today to serve 63 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon in the Western District of Virginia. In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon ordered Kent to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $ 557,542.50 in restitution. Kent previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Michael Dean Kent orchestrated a reprehensible advance-fee scheme that defrauded hundreds of innocent victims who were simply trying to sell their timeshares, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. The sentence in this case demonstrates that fraudsters like Kent will be aggressively pursued, held accountable, and pay a significant price for their crimes. Mr. Kent victimized hundreds of individuals through fraudulent business dealings that cost his victims thousands of dollars, said U.S. Attorney Cullen. I know todays sentencing does not make these victims whole, but I hope it does provide some solace. Our office will continue to work with our state and local partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who engage in this type of fraudulent activity. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, between 2014 and 2017, Kent and his co-conspirators targeted hundreds of victims across the United States who owned interests in timeshare properties. Kent, and others, made false representations, by phone and email, to convince the victims to sign property transfer contracts and to send currency under false pretenses for property sales that would never take place. Kent admitted that during this time, he and his co-conspirators represented themselves to be employed at two different companies, The Holiday Property Group LLC and Vacation Properties by Owners LLC. Kent incorporated both entities, served as the principal of both, operated both and took significant steps to make both appear legitimate. Kent, and his coconspirators, established websites, paid for commercial post office boxes in various states, paid for memberships in business rating organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, applied for and received a federal tax identification number, and had corporate credit and debit cards in the names of the businesses. Kent further admitted that after identifying timeshare owners, who later became his victims, Kent and his co-conspirators introduced the victims to another co-conspirator who posed as the buyer by assuming a false identity that included a different name and email address. The co-conspirator, posing as the buyer, communicated with the victim by phone and email and agreed to purchase the victims property, often at the asking price. They would tell the victim they were going to use The Holiday Property Group/Vacation Properties by Owners for the sale. The same buyer was in contact with multiple victims at one time. Kent also admitted that he and his co-conspirators then contacted the victim to inform them they needed to send The Holiday Property Group/Vacation Properties by Owners money, typically between $500 and $1,500, to cover costs associated with the sale, such as closing costs or resort transfer fees. Kent fraudulently represented that any fees would be held in escrow, and were refundable at any time. In fact, the fees received were not held in escrow, but instead were deposited into bank accounts that Kent used to pay his own personal expenses, pay for expenses needed to continue the scheme, or to pay his coconspirators for their role in the criminal scheme. Kent admitted that throughout the course of this conspiracy, he and his coconspirators caused losses of over $550,000 from the victims they targeted. The investigation of the case was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, and the Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Trial Attorney Andrew Tyler of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin M. Kulpa of the Western District of Virginia prosecuted the case. 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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. 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. Linda McMahon is administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. This op-ed appeared in Fox News on May 3, 2018. Terrorist Attacks in Nigeria Washington, DC - The United States condemns in the strongest terms the craven terrorist attacks Tuesday against a mosque in Mubi, Nigeria. These attacks, which deliberately targeted people at a place of worship, are a stark reminder of the depravity of those who commit mass murder against innocents. As President Donald J. Trump reaffirmed with President Buhari of Nigeria on Monday, the United States stands firm with Nigeria in its fight against the scourge of terrorism. Ranveer Singh: My Decision to Debut on TV with The Big Picture has Nothing to Do with Theatres Being Shut JetBlue is getting into the transcontinental pizza delivery business. It's a marketing stunt, designed to draw attention to JetBlue's 11 daily nonstops between JFK and LAX--and since I've never written the phrase "JetBlue's 11 daily nonstops between JFK and LAX" before, mission accomplished. Here are the details: The program is called Pie in the Sky. Between May 9 and 11, starting at midnight each day, JetBlue will take orders online, at jetblue.pizza, and they'll deliver genuine New York City pizzas--from Patsy's Pizza in Harlem--to 350 customers per day in Los Angeles. "It's all part of the process of making this the first-ever coast-to-coast pizza delivery by an airline," a spokesperson told me via email. "The pizza is made fresh every day at Patsy's Pizzeria of East Harlem and baked in their coal-fire oven. From there, it will be packed for the flight. Upon arrival at LAX, the pizza will be brought to a kitchen and prepped for final delivery so that it's fresh and delicious upon delivery to your door." This means that if you're in Los Angeles, all you really have to do is to plan ahead, provided you happen to live in one of the select zip codes that are within the delivery area. Just order at midnight: $12 for a cheese pizza, $15 for pepperoni. (Delivery and driver tips are included.) Then, go to bed, wake up, go about your normal day, and be home in time to get your pizza delivered, sometime between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., California time. Patsy's is an inspired choice, too. Founded in 1933, its website claims with typical New York humility to be "the undisputed premier pizza dynasty in New York and arguably in all of The United States," and also that their founder basically "invent[ed] selling pizza by the slice." "The JetBlue marketing team spent a lot of quality pizza eating time testing all of the iconic pizza in New York and ultimately Spike Lee helped to break the tie, helping us pick Patsy's Pizzeria of East Harlem," the same spokesperson said. (He did a promotional video, too.) You might be wondering how the pizza will taste after a 10 or 12-hour journey from Harlem to your door in California. JetBlue insists they've thought of this, and their FAQ insists that "a designated pizzaiolo (a specially trained pizza chef) has overseen the logistics of the pizza's journey to ensure quality is maintained throughout the process." This is one of the few business and marketing stories I've done where I can't see any downside for anyone involved. For example: Patsy's Pizza The place is always crowded, so I don't know that they really need this added PR boost. But it's a good one. JetBlue Please. Costs to them are negligible, the promo is fun, and it underscores their claim to be "New York's Hometown Airline." Citizens of Los Angeles Prepare to have your mind blown. Your Mexican food is much better than ours, and your fast-food burgers are amazing. But when it comes to pizza, fuggetaboutid. Also, don't get me started on the bagels. Cinco de Mayo is a real Mexican holiday. No, it is not Mexico's Independence Day (September 16) nor Day of the Dead (November 2). May 5 is the celebration of the Battle of Puebla, when a woefully unprepared and outnumbered Mexican army overpowered the much more experienced French troops in 1862, a battle I like to imagine was as brutal as the fight scenes from the movie 300 (which is based on a similar historic event featuring Persians versus Greeks). It is not really a significant holiday in Mexico, except maybe in Puebla, the city where the battle took place. In the U.S., however, it's a whole different story. There are "fiestas," and festivals, and brands with massive promotions that commemorate the day in cities and rural towns. Much like St. Patrick's Day, it has become a day observed by drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Some historians ascribe the first big Cinco de Mayo celebrations to Mexican immigrants living in California in the 19th century, who reveled in festivities after the news about Mexico's unlikely triumph crossed the border. About 100 years later, it was popularized by alcohol brands trying to appeal to the Hispanic community. Now, as a Mexican citizen, I mostly welcome the celebration and embrace of my culture among foreigners. You see, for the most part we are a very fun and friendly bunch, with an incredible history, and even more amazing food, even if I do say so myself. It's also especially satisfying to share and celebrate Mexican heritage with friends and strangers in a time when xenophobia is seemingly spreading across the globe faster than any one of Kanye's tweets. All that said, if you're a business seeking to capitalize on the popularity of Cinco de Mayo, I'd appreciate it if you didn't mangle the culture you're supposedly embracing. (One way to do this is to consult with people familiar with Mexican culture before you launch your promotion.) And, please, lose those unoriginal stereotypes. Here are my top three picks in the "marketing gone wrong" category, that any business can learn from. 1. Red pepper medal Manchester, Pennsylvania-based US Road Running has promoted live and virtual races in the U.S. since 2014. The virtual races rely on the honor code. You sign up for a race, pony up $13.99, and a medal gets shipped to you. Participants are supposed to run, track their time, and submit it to the organization afterward. The virtual runs are inspired by anything as inane as chocolate milk to holidays like Mother's Day and Cinco de Mayo. Naturally, the medal for Cinco de Mayo is a bright red pepper holding a maraca and wearing a sombrero -- a nice stereotype melange. But the worst part for me is that Mexico is actually home to one of the most famous groups of runners in the world: the Tarahumara people. Reta Blue, who manages the virtual races, says the company has almost run out of stock (it's sold about 144 medals), and that its design is chosen on the basis of available artwork. Blue says she still doesn't know what next year's design will be (last year's was also a pepper). If you want to celebrate Mexico and also make a buck, maybe consider a medal design inspired by a Tarahumara runner? 2. Cinco de "Froyo" SweetFrog of Richmond, Virginia, launched a promo for its frozen yogurt using the hashtag "cinco de froyo." I understand the temptation to use cutesy phrases (the most popular by far is probably "cinco de drinko"), but please don't. And if your business is already using Mexico's holiday as a marketing hook, without touching on its history or significance, don't muddle things further by using a frog wearing a sombrero. But the real problem I have with this promotion is that ice cream isn't particularly popular in Mexico. It's far more popular in the U.S, China, Japan, and other national markets, according to 2016 research. I was puzzled by the promotion, so I asked SweetFrog's CEO, Patrick Galleher, why "cinco de froyo." He told me that a lot of businesses run a Cinco de Mayo promotion, and that frozen yogurt after lunch "makes a lot of sense." When I asked him if he knew what Cinco de Mayo stood for, he simply said, "I don't, actually." (It's likely that the hundreds of other businesses running similar promotions do not either.) The company has been hosting this promotion for about four years. 3. Mexican flag boxing gloves Sports apparel company Everlast launched a limited edition of its Powerlock training gloves featuring Mexico's flag. On its face, this looks like a really thoughtful way to commemorate Mexico on this holiday. The caveat, however, is that Mexican law is rather strict on accepted use of our flag. If you want to use it in a promotional item, you need to get permission from the government or you will be fined. On each day of Small Business Week, Inc. will spotlight a different competitive advantage of local brick-and-mortar companies. Scale begets sameness. Big companies satisfy but rarely surprise. Small companies, by contrast, are able to stay distinctive. Some are downright odd, reflecting their founders' personalities, passions, and idiosyncrasies. Such businesses tease out smiles and lend their neighborhoods flavor, with every encounter a potential anecdote. Quirky small businesses also tend to be among the most beloved. They remind the community: This is a fun place to live. These businesses stand out for their uniqueness. Aidan Gill for Men Rescuing barbershops from decrepitude was not enough for Aidan Gill. He had to make them sexy. A Dublin native, Gill has plied the tonsorial trade since the 1960s when, at the age of 16, he spied an ad for an apprentice taped to the mirror in a hipster barbershop. He moved from Dublin to London and then, in 1988, from London to New Orleans. At the time, barbershops in the United States were typically tiny, low-priced operations manned by a septuagenarian proprietor. Barbers earned a pittance and consequently made no investments in their shops. "They were not the kind of place someone who cared how they looked would go," Gill says. Gill's first act upon launching Aidan Gill for Men in 1990 was to send to London for his collection of Victorian-era barber chairs and collectibles. By 1999, when he moved to a larger shop in the French Quarter, Gill had amassed what he says is one of the nation's largest collections of barbershop memorabilia and antiques. Today half the shop is a museum, comprising thousands of razors and sharpeners, mirrors and shaving mugs, posters and advertisements, as well as an ascent of man-type display of barber chairs from the 1850s to the 1960s. The museum section also incorporates retail: grooming products, of course (Gill produces his own label), but also watches, cufflinks, pocketknives, razors, bow ties, and books on etiquette. The assortment reflects the store's tagline: "Unapologetically Male." That philosophy extends into the work area where, with the exception of some of the barbers, women's presence is frowned upon. Gill has designed the shop to feel like a club or sanctuary. Here men enjoy the camaraderie of other men, swapping stories while quaffing a free pint of Guinness or shot of Irish whiskey. Gill is proud of his haircuts but rhapsodic about his shaves. The process, conducted in a private room, takes 30 to 40 minutes and uses a Gillette Mach3 Turbo blade and the store's own shaving cream and oil. An antique steamer produces "red-hot, burn-your-fingers towels," Gill says. The experience, he adds, is "like the New Jerusalem." Gill keeps prices competitive--haircuts and shaves are each $40--to avoid becoming a redoubt for the wealthy. The eight-employee business, he says, attracts "policemen and punks and priests and lawyers." Gill no longer comes in every day. But when he does, "I want to meet all the characters." Gill himself is a bit of a character, with his gentle brogue, natty bow ties, and impolitic candor. At the slightest prompt, he'll veer off topic to recount the practices of 12th-century barber surgeons, the role of World War I in the adoption of safety razors, and the time Hunter Thompson came into the shop, poured whiskey on top of wine, and talked about becoming a writer. "In order to bring barbershops back from extinction, we had to make the shop and the whole trade more interesting," Gill says. "Blowing my own trumpet, this is one of the most interesting shops in America." Starlandia Creative Supply In one of Clinton Edminster's favorite Portlandia sketches, celebrated street artist Shepard Fairey extracts broken doll heads from a box during a commercial for the faux business Shocking Art Supplies. "I thought, that is brilliant!" Edminster says. "Where can I go when I need a broken baby doll's head?" In 2015, Edminster answered his own question by opening Starlandia Creative Supply, in the Starland district of Savannah, Georgia. Named after TV's cult celebration of Pacific Northwest quirk, the three-employee business has a serious purpose: to help people make art cheaply while reducing waste. Edminster, who grew up working on his father's fishing boat in Alaska, moved to Georgia in 2008 to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). After dropping out, he started a nonprofit to support local art and artists. While studying at SCAD, Edminster had observed a pernicious cycle. Students spent large sums on art supplies at the start of each quarter, only to abandon them at the end--often scarcely used--by roads, in trash cans, and in alleys around town. Artists, he figured, "could do pretty well just using the leftovers from SCAD students." Edminster had made some money at age 14 when he persuaded his parents to invest in Apple stock three years before the iPhone. With it, he opened a "reclaimable" art supply store. People exchange their unused paper, paints, and markers for store credit (roughly 30 percent of what Starlandia will resell it for). About 20 percent of inventory is new. "We want to make sure you can come to Starlandia and get all the supplies you need," Edminster says. With a tiny tube of high-end oil paint costing as much as $30 when new, savings north of 50 percent matter to ramen-munching artists. The business also sells bags of tapped-out pencils, paints, and other items for $2. "It's like a subprime mortgage," says Edminster. "We package a bunch of crappy art supplies in one place and slap a low price on it." The most Portlandia-esque section of the store is Found Objects. Spatulas, carpet remnants, mattress springs, and other random bits are sold for incorporation into ... whatever. Not long after launch, Edminster stumbled across a heap of broken bicycle tires and put 20 out for sale. "Two hours later, someone came in and bought them all," he says. "She said she was going to use them for a store display on Broughton Street." And, yes, at one point Starlandia had in stock eight bags of broken baby doll heads. All have been sold. Edminster's current challenge is finding space in his small store--painted garish pink, purple, and yellow--to offer art classes and workshops. "I feel like I have this golden egg of an idea," he says. "All I have to do is make sure not to drop it." Bookstore Movers It's not surprising that academics gravitate toward a business called Bookstore Movers. In the company's early days, especially, crews were both well-muscled and well-read. "I've had conversations with clients about Sufi poetry," says founder Matt Wixon. "I remember one particularly interesting conversation about Edgar Allen Poe--his tragic life and mysterious demise." Today, Bookstore Movers' 90 employees are less likely to chat up clients about the new translation of The Odyssey. Although many are writers and artists, the company's calling card is excellent service rather than intellectual discourse. Still, both the past and future of this Washington, D.C., business are intimately conjoined with literature. In the mid-2000s, Wixon was slouching unenthusiastically toward academia ("everyone in my life assumed I would become a college professor"), when as a "procrastinatory measure," he took a job managing rare book sales at a store called Capitol Hill Books. Wixon and two colleagues loved the store and talked to the owner about buying it when he retired. In 2005, they launched the moving business to make money toward that acquisition. They recruited their first employees at wine and cheese soirees held at the shop. "We did not expect the moving company to be all that successful," says Wixon. "We thought we'd just pick up a smattering of jobs." But he found he loved the work. "It was so clear when you had had a good day. Most work isn't like that," he says. Although many early clients--among them D.C.'s professorial class--were attracted by the name, the business soon became known for service. Employment is part time and provisional at first, so management can observe movers' attitude, friendliness, and sensitivity before committing. New hires undergo extensive training, which includes workouts on an obstacle course interspersed with role-play that simulates difficult conversations with both customers and colleagues. There are still people at Bookstore Movers who can answer customers' questions about how to value antiquarian books, donate their collections, or track down particular titles. "It is just a fun little side thing we do," says Wixon. Capitol Hill Books' owner is retiring this year, and Wixon and three partners are preparing to finally buy it. Wixon has continued to support that business, hauling books for it and storing rare volumes in his warehouse. Once the acquisition is complete, he plans to set up a satellite office at Bookstore Movers' headquarters where a store employee can evaluate rare books. Gone are the days when a magazine article or mention on a radio show alone could generate new customers or leads. To succeed in today's world, you need a solid and integrated marketing plan that lets you control and reinforce your message to your target market. Among the most powerful platforms companies are using are podcasts, and Trader Joe's is the latest to compete for the share of your ear. Before you tune out because you might not yet be a podcast listener, here this: 44 percent of American consumers have listened to podcasts and 26 percent tune in on a monthly basis, according to Edison Research. Those who listen to podcasts tend to be educated, mobile, loyal, engaged and affluent, according to Midroll. This demographic also happens to be Trader Joe's customer base. It makes so much sense that Trader Joe's would launch its own podcast, starting with a five-part podcast series called "Inside Trader Joe's" (I have to admit, I love a good pun.). How Trader Joe's Is Using Podcasts to Reinforce Its Brand The new "Inside Trader Joe's" podcast will focus on the way the retailer does business, including narratives from crew members, c-suite executives and store captains, according to a company press release. All of the episodes have been uploaded and among the topics are how the company discovers new products and what have been hits and which have been misses. The shows are meant to let their customers (and, let's face it, prospective customers) in on how Trader Joe's works. By the very name of their podcast, a play on the name inside trader, we're getting a taste of how the private Tasting Panel decides what gets shelf space (and what doesn't), why Crew Members wear those Hawaiian shirts and what it takes to get a Trader Joe's in your neighborhood. How can business leaders take advantage of podcasts? For those who tend to shy away from the camera, podcasts are a great alternative to video. Most podcast interviews and stories are long-form, meaning they aren't 30-second soundbites. The platform allows a company's message to really be heard. Podcasts are a great way to introduce various people in your company to your audience, creating a more intimate connection with your customers. Trader Joe's podcast will feature everyone from the CEO to crew members and store captains. It helps build public speaking skills in a relatively low-risk environment, helping leaders in your company improve that important skill set. Podcasts engage your customers. Trader Joe's is using podcasts as a way to deliver answers to their customers' most pressing questions -- how products are chosen, for example -- but in a fun way, which is on-brand for Trader Joe's since fun is part of their culture. "'Inside Trader Joe's' has allowed us the air -- literally -- to delve a little deeper into our story and to answer the questions our customers have asked of us, in our own fun and interesting way," spokesperson Kenya Friend-Daniel said in the press release. "It's a good start to a conversation we hope to continue." Not ready to dip into launching your own podcast? Consider advertising on one that makes sense for your business. Listeners of podcasts rarely skip ads and 88 percent listen to most or all episodes, according to Midroll. Aaron Peskin, a member of San Francisco's board of supervisors, knew that "Scooter-geddon" was coming. He had watched hot e-scooter rental startups like Bird, LimeBike, and Spin wreak havoc in Southern California as riders illegally sped on sidewalks, obstructed building entrances, and caused at least one bone-breaking accident. So in early March, Peskin drafted legislation that would force e-scooters to apply for permits from San Francisco's Metropolitan Transportation Agency before launching. He wasn't fast enough. LimeBike, Bird Rides, and Spin launched about 10 days later--before the city could implement a permit program--deploying 4,000 e-scooters to the streets and sidewalks of San Francisco. Almost immediately, what some have called the "Great Scooter War of 2018" took hold of the South of Market and Financial District neighborhoods. The city seethed as riders zipped around without helmets on the sidewalks, or crowded two people onto one scooter. The hashtag #ScootersBehavingBadly became a thing. Now, Peskin and other officials are calling the scooter companies the newest reincarnation of the "entitled" tech elites who launched in a similar "go-fast-and-break-things" fashion a few years back. "There is no question that Bird, Lime, and Spin took a page [from the] playbook of the arrogant tech barons Uber and Lyft," says Peskin, calling it an "ask for forgiveness rather than permission" approach. Whether the startups are purposely emulating Uber and Lyft is debatable. (For their part, all three startups say they have followed all applicable laws and want to collaborate with the local governments.) But one thing is for certain: Armed with lobbyists and millions in venture capital, LimeBike, Bird, and Spin have flooded multiple cities with a new, unregulated technology and succeeded -- to an extent -- in elbowing their way onto the sidewalks and streets of cities across America. A Tumultuous Start While the scooter war is just hitting San Francisco, battles have already been fought in Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, and Washington, D.C.. After a few months of chaos in L.A., Bird agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a nine-count misdemeanor criminal complaint. In Austin, Texas, both Bird and LimeBike have pulled their scooters at the city's request but expect to be back soon as they await permits. There was less commotion in Washington, D.C., where LimeBike and others launched; the city implemented a permit program that caps each company at 400 e-bikes or scooters. While most new businesses would probably be no match for local governments, electric scooter startups represent more of a threat. In general, disruptive companies like Uber and Airbnb are able to expand at an explosive clip because cities are simply not able to implement rules and regulations fast enough to keep pace with new technologies. With an arsenal of cash and marketing prowess, the e-scooter startups seem to be penetrating markets, laying roots, and winning over a certain demographic of consumers. Bird, for instance, recently recorded over 1 million rides. And they're hiring lobbyists -- something Uber, in particular, is known for doing. In what Quartz called "the most spectacular political coup," Uber successfully lobbied to get ride-sharing friendly legislation passed in over half of all U.S. states between 2014 and 2015. Last year, Uber spent over $1.8 million in lobbying. In California, Bird's lobbyist approached Assemblyman Heath Flora this spring to sponsor a bill, AB2989, which would make it legal to drive e-scooters on the sidewalk when there isn't a bike lane available, according to Lucas Webster, a Flora aide. Like the other startups, Bird paints itself as an alternative transportation option that could help reduce car traffic, replace ride-sharing, and become a "last mile solution" for small distance commuting. "If you choose against scooters, than you choose cars," says David Estrada, Bird's chief legal officer, who was formerly the vice president of government relations at Lyft. (Bird was founded by Travis VanderZanden, who was an executive at both Lyft and Uber.) That stance is precisely what is angering some officials and pedestrian advocates. At a Municipal Transportation Agency meeting this week in San Francisco, a concerned citizen named Andy Blue suggested that the city should refuse permits to Bird, Spin, and Lime due to their "breathtaking arrogance" and for pushing their way into public spaces across the city with little-to-no warning and limited-to-no community engagement. "Where have I heard this before? Oh, yeah, Uber. The company that did the same thing exactly seven years ago when it ambushed our city with the same model," says Blue. "Remember how we had to accept them with no conditions because they were going to relieve the congestion on our streets? Here we are seven years later with 30 percent more cars on the streets because of Uber and Lyft." A Call for 'Common-Sense' Rules When asked about the comparison to Uber's "ask-for-forgiveness" strategy, Bird spokesman Kenneth Baer noted that the company started conversations with city officials before launch and followed all applicable laws. (Those conversations were cut short once Lime launched in San Francisco, says Estrada, which forced Bird to launch.) "The general idea that companies must 'ask for permission' from government entities before offering products and services to consumers is inconsistent with our system of law and free enterprise," Baer says. "We understand this is a new technology and in some cities the regulations haven't kept up with technology. That's why we're working with cities to develop new frameworks that work well for everyone." Jack Song, a spokesman for LimeBike, didn't respond directly about the comparison with Uber, only saying the company views San Francisco as a partner in its efforts to ease the city's congestion. He noted that LimeBike's launch was a limited pop-up program that was fundamentally different than its rivals. "Our competitors used our limited rollout as a pretext to blanket the city with scooters, creating the chaotic situation that ensued," he says. Spin, meanwhile, says it "strongly" disagrees with the characterization. "We've been engaging with city officials since February and were the only ones to reach out and brief them proactively before there was any legislation or deployment," says Euwyn Poon, Spin's co-founder and president. "We've always supported common-sense rules to protect the public." Whether e-scooters will become as commonplace and accepted as ride-share vehicles remains to be seen. In San Francisco, the companies are making some progress. Back in April, at the height of the scooter mania, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera sent Bird, LimeBike, and Spin cease-and-desist letters, alleging they created a "public nuisance" because customers were violating state and local laws as a "direct consequence" of the companies' business models. The Department of Public Works impounded hundreds of e-scooters parked illegally on the sidewalk. But this past week, the San Francisco MTA voted to approve a one-year pilot permit program, as long as the companies apply and pay a $5,000 application fee, plus a $25,000 annual fee if approved. The city will only award five permits and ultimately cap the total number of scooters at 2,500. There are currently 4,000 scooters in San Francisco. City supervisors said they would take a company's past behavior into consideration when awarding permits. The Swedish Academy has postponed the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature in the wake of a scandal over sexual assault allegations. The crisis centred around the handling of allegations against the husband of an academy member, and led to her quitting along with the institutions head and four other members. The Nobel Foundation hopes that the decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard the long-term reputation of the Nobel Prize. The 2018 winner will be presented alongside the 2019 winner next year. Recommended Republicans nominate Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize The scandal broke last November when French photographer Jean-Claude Arnault, who ran a project funded by the Swedish Academy, was accused of sexual assault by 18 women with some incidents allegedly taking place on Swedish Academy property. Mr Arnault denies the allegations. The academy voted against removing his wife, poet and writer Katarina Frostenson, from the committee. Accused of conflict of interest and dealing with further scandal surrounding the leaking of Nobel winners names, a string of members exited their posts, including academy head Professor Sara Danius. The Nobel Foundations statement in full: The Swedish Academy has decided to postpone the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature, with the intention of awarding it in 2019. According to the Swedish Foundations Act, the Nobel Foundation is ultimately responsible for fulfilling the intentions in the will of Alfred Nobel. During the past several weeks, we have pursued a continuous dialogue with the Swedish Academy, and we support Thursdays decision. In principle, the Nobel Prize shall be awarded every year, but decisions on Nobel Prizes have been postponed on a number of occasions during the history of the prizes. One of the circumstances than may justify an exception is when a situation in a prize-awarding institution arises that is so serious that a prize decision will not be perceived as credible. Recommended Organisation that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature is in crisis The crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel Prize. Their decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard the long-term reputation of the Nobel Prize. None of this impacts the awarding of the 2018 Nobel Prizes in other prize categories. The Nobel Foundation presumes that the Swedish Academy will now put all its efforts into the task of restoring its credibility as a prize-awarding institution and that the Academy will report the concrete actions that are undertaken. We also assume that all members of the Academy realise that both its extensive reform efforts and its future organisational structure must be characterised by greater openness towards the outside world. Carl-Henrik Heldin, Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked LoP Guest lop guest User ID: kaput 05-04-2018 10:12 PM Post: #1 Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked Advertisement Quote: Once again a creeping, years' long shadow war is expanding from indirect proxy intervention to direct engagement, complete with US "boots on the ground" where no American ground forces were previously thought to exist. And it's not Syria, or Libya, or central Africa where the now familiar pattern played out before, but in the Arabian peninsula where the Pentagon has long claimed to merely coordinate intelligence, refuel jets, and provide logistical support to the Saudis which have been bombing Yemen since March of 2015. 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 United States officials and European diplomats. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-0...escalation so many wars to wage, so little time so many wars to wage, so little time Builder of the Adytum Enemy of the State User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 10:14 PM Posts: 6,633 Post: #2 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked I would prefer we did not send ground troops, but I have no problem using air and naval power against Iranian assistance. Adytum/Tekton/The Ghost of David Carradine LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 10:18 PM Post: #3 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked The Ghost of David Carradine Wrote: (05-04-2018 10:14 PM) I would prefer we did not send ground troops, but I have no problem using air and naval power against Iranian assistance. no surprise. Not our war, none of our damned business. The only conceivably good thing about our involvement is that the sooner this war ends the sooner the starvation blockades will be dissolved. no surprise. Not our war, none of our damned business.The only conceivably good thing about our involvement is that the sooner this war ends the sooner the starvation blockades will be dissolved. Builder of the Adytum Enemy of the State User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 10:24 PM Posts: 6,633 Post: #4 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked LoP Guest Wrote: (05-04-2018 10:18 PM) The Ghost of David Carradine Wrote: (05-04-2018 10:14 PM) I would prefer we did not send ground troops, but I have no problem using air and naval power against Iranian assistance. no surprise. Not our war, none of our damned business. The only conceivably good thing about our involvement is that the sooner this war ends the sooner the starvation blockades will be dissolved. It is none of Iran's business either, but there you go... It is none of Iran's business either, but there you go... Adytum/Tekton/The Ghost of David Carradine 1110.00 Manifest Alchemy User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 10:45 PM Posts: 13,445 Post: #5 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked The sides over there, are a mirror of the sides forming over here; none worth supporting due to the controlled opposition nature of the prevailing situation. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights is the "parchment" caught in the middle. "The Precipitant has a smaller place in reality, thus it is mortal." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8uMCQrAxylM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0619bdpOolA (This post was last modified: 05-04-2018 10:45 PM by 1110.00 .) NormalIsSubjective User ID: 1337 05-05-2018 12:01 AM Posts: 21,228 Post: #6 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked The Ghost of David Carradine Wrote: (05-04-2018 10:14 PM) I would prefer we did not send ground troops, but I have no problem using air and naval power against Iranian assistance. Yeh, we know Dave. You'll grovel for the Saudis, too. Yeh, we know Dave.You'll grovel for the Saudis, too. TicklePickle Registered User User ID: 1337 05-05-2018 12:04 AM Posts: 1,352 Post: #7 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked The Saudi military can't defeat a couple thousand Houthis who are impoverished and mostly living a subsistence lifestyle? We shouldn't help the Saudis at all, we should confiscate all the equipment we sold them since they don't know how to properly use it, and give it to the Houthis instead. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-05-2018 12:12 AM Post: #8 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked The Ghost of David Carradine Wrote: (05-04-2018 10:14 PM) I would prefer we did not send ground troops, but I have no problem using air and naval power against Iranian assistance. Its funny how much hypocrisy war mongering americans carry with them. Its funny how much hypocrisy war mongering americans carry with them. tamarack lop guest User ID: 1337 05-05-2018 12:23 AM Post: #9 RE: Green Berets Are Now On The Ground Assisting The Saudi War On Yemen In "A Marked LoP Guest Wrote: (05-05-2018 12:12 AM) The Ghost of David Carradine Wrote: (05-04-2018 10:14 PM) I would prefer we did not send ground troops, but I have no problem using air and naval power against Iranian assistance. Its funny how much hypocrisy war mongering americans carry with them. Your seeing a lot of psy-ops generating a slide in opinions towards war. Most people aren't that stupid to actually desire to commit these war crimes, but people who are getting government checks have been big time war boosters lately. It would appear almost as if there is no anti-war sentiment at all. The only ones who are vocally anti-war are the old Ron Paul Libertarians. They despise statism in general and still want to see Bush and Cheney in chains. Your seeing a lot of psy-ops generating a slide in opinions towards war.Most people aren't that stupid to actually desire to commit these war crimes, but people who are getting government checks have been big time war boosters lately.It would appear almost as if there is no anti-war sentiment at all.The only ones who are vocally anti-war are the old Ron Paul Libertarians.They despise statism in general and still want to see Bush andCheney in chains. Roman Polanski has responded to being expelled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences alongside Bill Cosby. The famed director who won the Best Director Oscar for The Pianist in 2003 was reportedly blindsided by the news. Polanski's attorney Harland Braun told the Associated Press that they will ask the Academy to conduct a hearing so the filmmaker may plead his case to the prestigious awards body. Braun added that Polanksi's team had prepared a case to take forward but were never given the chance. The attorney plans to ask the Academy to reinstate the director who remains a fugitive from America living in France. Polanski was initially arrested and charged with raping 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977. Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Show all 62 1 /62 Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Producer J. Miles Dale (L), director Guillermo del Toro (at microphone) and cast/crew accept Best Picture for 'The Shape of Water' onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards uillermo del Toro and Sally Hawkins take the stage to accept the Oscar for Best Picture for "The Shape of Water" from presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway Reuters Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway take the stage to present the Oscar for Best Picture REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actresses Sally Hawkins, Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie and Meryl Streep embrace after Frances McDormand's Best Actress acceptance speech Lucas Jackson/Reuters Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Frances McDormand wins the Best Actress Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Reuters Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actors Jodie Foster (L) and Jennifer Lawrence speak onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards British actor Gary Oldman delivers a speech after he won the Oscar for Best Actor in "Darkest Hour" during the 90th Annual Academy Awards show on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California AFP/Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor Emma Stone speaks onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards David Malinowski and Armie Hammer attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Composer Alexandre Desplat (R), winner of the Best Original Score award for 'The Shape of Water,' motions in the press room to a video feed of director Guillermo del Toro accepting the Best Director award Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Guillermo del Toro accepts the Oscar for Best Director for "The Shape of Water" from presenter Emma Stone (R) REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Alexandre Desplat, winner of Best Original Score for the film The Shape of Water, is congratulated by the film's stars Sally Hawkins (L) and Octavia Spencer (R) REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Presenter Emma Stone walks on stage REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Call Me By Your Name stars Armie Hammer (L) and Timothee Chalamet embrace during the Oscars show REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Greta Gerwig gets touched up during the ad break at the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Jordan Peele accepts the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for "Get Out." REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay winner Jordan Peele (R) hugs Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya (L) REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actress Nicole Kidman arrives on stage to present the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Andra Day and Common sing Best Original Song nominee Stand Up for Something from Marshall REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards James Ivory wins the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Call Me by Your Name REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Ashley Judd (L), Annabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek (R) take the stage REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Tiffany Haddish (L) and Maya Rudolph take the stage to present the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Natalia Lafourcade and Gael Garcia Bernal attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sebastian Lelio with his Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for A Fantastic Woman alongside Rita Moreno in the press room at the 90th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood PA Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Coco wins the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Kelly Marie Tran, Oscar Isaac and Mark Hamill present the Best Animated Short Film Oscar REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Margot Robbie gets emotional watching co-star Allison Janey accept her award Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Allison Janey accepts the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for "I, Tonya." REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Matthew McConaughey talks with Marcus Henderson REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Rita Moreno, wearing the same dress she wore to the ceremony she was awarded Best Supporting Actress in a supporting role REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sam Rockwell poses in the press room with the Oscar for Actor in Supporting Role AFP/Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Gael Garcia Bernal performs on stage Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Miguel and Natalia LaFourcade perform a song from Coco REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Presenters Lupita Nyong'o and Kumail Nanjiani REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Kobe Bryant poses with his award for Best Animated Short Film Award for "Dear Basketball" REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Helen Mirren shows of a jet ski on offer to the shortest Oscars speech Disney ABC Television Group Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Daniela Vega presents during the 90th Annual Academy Awards Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski and Lucy Sibbick hold their gongs for Best Makeup and Hair in the 'Darkest Hour' Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor/singer Mary J. Blige performs onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor Taraji P. Henson speaks onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actress Eva Marie Saint presents the Oscar for Costume Design REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Presenters Greta Gerwig and Laura Dern take the stage to give out the award for Best Documentary REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Sam Rockwell accepts the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri AFP/Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Actor Lakeith Stanfield takes on his Get Out role once again onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Viola Davis waits to present the award for best supporting actor Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Daniel Kaluuya and Timothee Chalamet greet photographers on the 90th academy awards red carpet Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Mary J. Blige, the first person to be nominated in both the acting and best song categories, arrives at the 90th academy awards REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Jennifer Lawrence attempts to find her seat in the Dolby Theatre Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards The Shape of Waters' Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones embrace on the Oscars red carpet Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Tiffany Haddish attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards wearing a traditional dress from Eritrea Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Salma Hayek takes the red carpet at the 90th Academy Awards REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Diane Warren and Helen Mirren share a laugh at the 90th Annual Academy Awards Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards James Ivory arrives at the 90th academy awards in a custom made shirt featuring Call Me By Your Names' Timothee Chalamet REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Whoopi Goldberg attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Emma Stone arrives at the Academy Awards REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Andra Day arrives at the Academy Awards Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Solidarity sisters Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino and Jane Fonda celebrate Times Up on the red carpet Rex Features Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman arrives on the 90th Annual Academy Awards red carpet Getty Images Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell display their Times Up pins REUTERS Oscars 2018: memorable moments from the 90th Academy Awards Get Out's Allison Williams glides down the Oscars carpet REUTERS A statement released by the Academy on Tuesday night said: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors met on Tuesday night (May 1) and has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership in accordance with the organisations Standards of Conduct. "The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academys values of respect for human dignity. While Cosby has never won an Oscar, his name was removed from the website of the Television Academy on Wednesday. The actor-comedian was recently found guilty for three counts of aggravated indecent assault in his retrial from accusations by former Temple University worker Andrea Constand. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Cosby claims that the situation with Constand was consensual and that he gave her Benadryl to help her relax. While Benedict Cumberbatch may be busy as Doctor Strange fighting Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, the actor has found time to commit to another few movies. The latest project the 41-year-old has been attached to is Ironbark, a Cold War thriller that will see Cumberbatch re-team with The Hollow Crown director Dominic Cooke. The actor will play the famous spy Greville Wynne, a British intelligence officer who was recruited by MI5 shortly before World War II, later joining MI6. Wynne secretly worked with the Soviet spy Oleg Penkovsky, relaying important information that would later bring about an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis. 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 However, their activity was soon unravelled after a KGB double agent uncovered the relationship, the pair later being arrested in Russia. While Wynne survived after the British swapped the spy for another, Penkovsky was not so lucky. Tom O'Connor wrote the script, with FilmNation producing. Meanwhile, Cumberbatch has multiple more projects out this year, including Mowgli (as the voice of Shere Khan), The Grinch (voicing the Grinch), and titular character in the TV series Patrick Melrose. Golden umbrellas draped in beads and flowers provide shade for boys as young as seven riding on their fathers shoulders in a procession through the mountain town of Mae Hong Son on Thailands northern border. Dressed in clothes dominated by neon pinks and greens with elaborate headgear, their lips and cheeks brightly rouged for the most important day of their short lives, about 50 boys advance to the lively beat of drums, cymbals and gongs. The event is a rite of passage to initiate the boys as Buddhist novices, the highlight of an annual celebration by the Shan ethnic group that lives mainly in neighbouring Myanmar, but is also spread through China, Laos and Thailand. I was overwhelmed with happiness and excited about the ceremony, said Kasen Kongtui, 58, a Thai trader who sponsored the participation of a 12-year-old family friend, Poo Sit, from Myanmar. He told me: Grandfather, I want to become a novice! So we helped him, Kasen told Reuters. I did it to make merit. To fulfil the dream of a sons participation in the prestigious event, parents willingly scrimp for a long time, others accept relatives donations to defray costs, and the poorest may even send offspring to live with wealthier families. The rite of Poy Sang Long, as the celebration is known, represents the early childhood of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, who was born a prince about 2,600 years ago. He is said to have given up a life of royal splendour to live as a holy man after witnessing sickness and death outside the palace. Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Gorsak Kong Tawan (centre), 13, dances while he is carried on the shoulders of a relative Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures A woman smears thanaka bark paste, believed to have protective properties, on the head of one of the princes Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Danusorn and Gorsak rest at an altar made for them at their home after the procession Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures August, eight, is joining the monkhood because he wants to be a good person Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Relatives dress August in imitation of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, inside Wat Klang Thung temple Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures The first day of the ceremony begins with the boys having their heads shaved by their families Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Boys with their heads smeared with thanaka bark wait to pray inside a temple Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures The boys are believed to have semi-divine status and are not allowed to touch the floor or walk for themselves Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Phuwadol Kong Tawan, 11, Gorsak and Danusorn pray for a merchant at a local market during the procession Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Poy Sang Long is Mae Hong Sons most famous and colourful festival, held over the first weekend of April Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures The second day brings general merrymaking and a spectacular parade, with music and dancing Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Each boy is accompanied by three attendants: one to carry him, one to shelter him and one to guard him Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Gorsak is carried by a relative after using the toilet at their home in Mae Hong Son Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures After being ordained, the boys stay in the monastery for a period of weeks or months at a time during school holidays Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures They will learn the tenets of Buddhist teaching and the self-discipline required of a monk Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures The morning after entering the Buddhist novicehood the boys take part in an almsgiving walk through the town Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Once accepted, the boys take vows, change into orange Buddhist robes and become full novices Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures The ritual morning almsgiving is a spiritual obligation that bonds local people with Buddhism Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Boys play with their mobile phones and tables while staying at the Wat Klang Thung temple Reuters Buddhist novices in Thailand: in pictures Ten-year-old Danusorn Sdisaithaworns ordination will bring honour to his family Reuters The boys ordination is thought to bring honour to their families, and the event runs for a week during the dry season before the traditional Thai New Year, when most villagers are home for the holiday and children are on a school break. For these beloved princes of the Shan families, the ceremony runs through several stages, from the shaving of their heads, with the shorn locks wrapped in lotus leaves by their mothers to be saved as a keepsake, to a bath in scented water. They dress in white and have dazzling patterns drawn on their faces and heads with a yellow cosmetic paste made from ground-up thanaka bark thought to have protective properties. From now until the end of the festival, the boys are believed to have acquired semi-divine status, and are not allowed to touch the ground or walk by themselves. The parade takes place the next day, preceding a more contemplative period on the third day, when the boys visit relatives homes to pray for their families. After the week is up, the boy novices live at a temple for one or two months during school holidays, studying Buddhist scripture. I like having my head shaved, said August, a smiling 8-year-old clad in red and gold, with an ornate hat that featured pink flowers and diamante trim, as he described his favourite part of the rite. When I saw my friends doing this, I decided to become a novice. I want to be the Buddhas representative. I want to be a good person. For the everyday hygiene-abiding citizen, underwear is a ubiquitous wardrobe staple, one that typically has a day-long expiration date. Now, a Danish fashion brand is trying to subvert sartorial and social norms with its high-tech, eco-friendly underwear that you apparently wont need to wash for weeks. The very thought may fill you with dread, however, Organic Basics innovative garment is treated with a silver formula that allegedly kills 99.9 per cent of all bacteria that subsequently curbs any potential odours. The aim is that by not having to wash them after every use, the wearer will use less water and save energy, hence the eco-friendly appeal. The SilverTech 2.0 collection of pants is also made from 100 per cent recyclable materials and boasts ventilation in critical sweat zones, the brands Kickstarter page reveals. They are entirely seamless and heat regulating, meaning that they will help regulate your body temperature and cooler and warmer climes. The collection follows on from its predecessor, SilverTech 1.0, which was hailed as Scandinavias most successful fashion campaign with more than 1,900 backers from 22 countries. However, the new and improved collection is aimed to be even more sustainable and comfortable. The anti-microbial silver that is used in the garments is a well-known material used by NASA to purify water in the International Space Station. In addition to underwear, Organic Basics also sells a line of basic towels and T-shirts which are designed to be just as long-lasting as its eco-friendly underwear. The Kickstarter campaign fro SilverTech 2.0 has already garnered 318 backers, raising a total of 37,086, far exceeding the brands original target of 20,000. Maybe its only a matter of time until the concept of washing ones clothes becomes a distant memory. Who is Andrew Wakefield? Andrew Wakefield is a former British doctor and researcher, who birthed the modern anti-vaccination movement with widely discredited research, since withdrawn by The Lancet medical journal and renounced by its co-authors. He received his medical degree in 1985 and trained as a gastrointestinal surgeon with an interest in inflammatory bowel disease. But his licence to practise was revoked and he was erased from the medical register in 2010 after the UKs General Medical Council found him guilty of dishonesty, the "abuse" of developmentally delayed children by giving them unnecessary and invasive medical procedures, and acting without ethical approval for his research. Two of his co-authors, Professors John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch were also found guilty by the panel. What he did? In 1995 Wakefield claims he was approached by parents of an autistic child with stomach issues. He then encountered other families in a similar position who claim their child had first shown signs of the developmental disabilities after receiving the childhood immunisation for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). The three-in-one jab had been introduced in 1988, replacing the single jabs for each disease that had been given previously, two forms of the MMR jab were withdrawn in 1992 after signs they caused mild mumps meningitis. Wakefield and 12 co-authors published research in The Lancet in 1998, based on the cases of 12 patients, which proposed a link between the MMR jab and autism and bowel disease. At a press conference for the papers release Wakefield called for the return to three single jabs. What happened next? Mistrust of vaccines was stoked by campaigns in the Daily Mail and other papers backing Wakefield, the absence of other scientific voices challenging the link, and PR gaffes like UK prime minister Tony Blair refusing to comment on claims his son, Leo, had not received the vaccine. MMR vaccination rates in the UK collapsed from above 90 per cent to 79 per cent in January 2003. In 1987, the year before the MMR jab was introduced, there were 86,000 cases reported. In 2006 a 13-year-old boy from Manchester became the first UK death from measles for 14 years, and that year in England and Wales there were more than 450 measles cases, the highest levels for 20 years. Another measles outbreak in south Wales in 2013 infected more than 1,000 people, mainly children, and led to the emergency distribution of 50,000 MMR vaccines to prevent the disease spreading. Why did the view of him change? In 2004 a Sunday Times journalist, Brian Deer, published an investigation into Wakefields undisclosed financial interests. It alleged many of the families in his case study were part of legal action against the MMR jab manufacturer, and he had been funded by the solicitors for these cases to provide evidence in support. In the wake of the revelations 10 of the co-authors of The Lancet paper withdrew their support for the interpretation section, which was the area that had claimed a link with autism. In 2007 the GMC opened its investigation into the allegations of serious professional misconduct against Wakefield and two co-authors, which would eventually lead to him being struck off. Twelve years on from the original study, and a month before the GMC panel found Dr Wakefield guilty The Lancet withdrew its paper, with editor Richard Horton describing aspects of it as utterly false and saying he felt deceived. What is stoking these fears now? Wakefield moved to America where he has become a documentary producer and campaigner on the issue. He points to a rise in autism diagnosis since the jab was introduced, however critics say this has also coincided with more awareness of disorders like autism, which is playing into higher diagnosis rates. Concerned parents and interest groups are major propagators of myths about vaccines, and these can spread rapidly online and has transcended even Wakefields original concerns, extending to issues like canine autism in vaccinated pets. Andrew Wakefield defends his decision to spread his anti-vaccination message in America Much of the concern lies in theories about the ingredients of the vaccines themselves. Mercury? The bulk of any vaccine will be water and other ingredients are often found in the body in varying amounts already. The British Immunology Society (BIS) told The Independent that mercury (thiomersal), an often worried about ingredient, is no longer used in UK vaccines. However extensive research has failed to find any link with brain damage in children. 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 Aluminium? Another common ingredient, is added to vaccines to increase the response of the bodys immune system to the inactivated virus. However the BIS adds that Aluminium is, again, only a trace amount at a level much lower than safe amounts in breast milk, formula and foods. The triple jab itself? Some parents fear that the combined effect of all three can overload the immune system and affect brain development. But the BIS stresses the immune system comes into contact with thousands of bacteria and viruses each day with no ill effect. A major study, of 500,000 infants followed up over 12 years found no risk of extra infection risk from the multiple versus single jabs. So what causes autism? The National Autistic Society in the UK says this picture is still complex. Autism is a spectrum of developmental disorders and people can have huge variety in how theyre affected. Fundamentally autism affects how someone interacts with other people and their environment. It is driven by a mix of genetic and environmental factors, which can include medications, which affect the development of the brain. However there has been no reputable evidence to link autism to the MMR jab and at least 17 major trials have looked at Wakefields findings and found no effect. There are drugs which can cause autism and autism like disorders. For example, sodium valproate antidepressants and anti-epileptic medicines were recently banned in the UK for all women who have the potential to get pregnant, and the European Union is also reviewing its use. If taken in pregnancy four in 10 children is born with some form of developmental disability and one in 10 with a serious physical deformity, such as spina bifida. Nearly 60,000 Honduran immigrants could be forced to leave the United States after the Trump administration suspended a status allowing them to stay. The administration announced it would revoke the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extended to some 57,000 Hondurans in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, a devastating 1998 storm. TPS allows immigrants from countries convulsed by war or natural disasters to live and work legally in the US. A government assessment concluded that conditions from the hurricane had improved considerably, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. Hondurans living in the US under TPS auspices now have until January of 2020 to leave. Activists decried the move as another act of cruelty by an administration that has sought to clamp down on both legal and illegal immigration. Our communities continue to be rocked to the core with every new action by this racist administration. Honduras is not ready to receive and reintegrate immigrants that are being deported from the United States and other countries like Mexico, Patricia Montes of the advocacy organisation Centro Presente said in a statement. Dozens of Congress members had signed onto a petition circulated by the advocacy group Americas Voice to oppose halting temporary protected status for Hondurans. The letter warned that conditions in Honduras remain stagnant some two decades after Hurricane Mitch and have substantially worsened after a contested election last year. 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 Honduran TPS recipients are hardworking contributors to the American economy and do not represent a risk to public safety. Giving Honduras more time to rebuild and recover from the extraordinary events will protect the lives of vulnerable people and strengthen our local communities, the letter said Dissolving protections for immigrants was consistent w.ith the Trump administrations record. Donald Trump reads poem The Snake at CPAC 2018 The Department of Homeland Security has already rescinded TPS protections that had been extended to about 59,000 Haitians and roughly 263,000 Salvadorans. It chose to keep in place TPS for about 7,000 Syrians. Those decisions drew a lawsuit from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice accusing the Trump administration of being motivated by racism, noting the presidents reported remarks disparaging s***hole countries. Two hundred years ago on 5 May 1818, Karl Marx was born in the German town of Trier on the banks of the river Moselle. Serendipitously, at the start of this bicentennial year, I found myself invited to a wedding in what used to be called Karl-Marx-Stadt, since renamed Chemnitz, in the former East Germany. Communism may have formally collapsed with the downfall of the Soviet Union, yet it has not been extinguished. The worlds most populous state and rising superpower, China, is officially communist, albeit nominally. And socialist ideas remain prevalent throughout the world. The resurgence of socialism could be seen in the Chavismo new left wave of Latin American politics (admittedly now in the process of being rolled back). In the US, self-proclaimed socialist senator Bernie Sanders could well have been as unlikely an occupant of the Oval office as Donald Trump if the Democratic National Committee had not conspired against him. In the UK, unapologetic socialist Jeremy Corbyn swept to the leadership of Her Majestys opposition, appointed Trotskyist John McDonnell as shadow chancellor (McDonnell recently told the Financial Times that their aims for Britain are socialist), pronounced socialism as no longer a dirty word to a delirious conference, before garnering 40 per cent of the vote in the general election. In France, Jean Luc Melenchon performed respectably in the first round of the French elections, commanding nearly 20 per cent of the vote. In Greece, the left-wing Syriza government remains in power even though its manifesto has been crushed by international finance capital. Its former finance minister and firebrand Yanis Varoufakis describes himself as a lapsed Marxist. His recent essay penned in The Guardian cites Marxs analysis as both the key to understanding our present predicament and the way out of it. One of Britains most-wanted men has been arrested in Spain under a European Arrest Warrant. Jamie Acourt, who was a suspect in the murder of Stephen Lawrence but has always denied any involvement, was arrested in Barcelona in relation with a Metropolitan Police investigation into drug dealing, the force said. Extradition proceedings now await, it added. Acourt is due to appear in court in Madrid early next week. Armed officers detained Acourt, 41, of south London, after he left the Metropolitan Sagrada Familia Gym on Friday afternoon, an National Crime Agency (NCA) statement said. The Spanish National Police were also involved in the arrest. 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 Ian Cruxton, head of international operations for the NCA, said: We were able to direct the Spanish authorities to his location in Barcelona. Our ability to share information and work at speed with our international partners ensures there is no safe haven for fugitives. Acourt was the 81st fugitive to be located out of 96 in Operation Captura a joint initiative by the NCA, Crimestoppers and the Spanish authorities. An alleged Isis supporter planned to blow up Downing Streets gates and stab Theresa May to death in the ensuing chaos, a court heard. Prosecutors at the Old Bailey in London said Naaimur Zakariyah Rahman pledged allegiance to the terrorist group in a video, recorded before he hoped to become a martyr. The 20-year-old planned to detonate a bomb concealed within a bag at the gates, before gaining access to No 10 in the ensuing chaos, the court heard. Then he planned to kill the prime minister. Mr Rahman allegedly wanted to wear a suicide vest during the assault. He also planned to carry pepper spray and knife. He is accused of carrying out hostile reconnaissance of the prime ministers closely guarded official residence. He is alleged to have told friends his plans in conversations that were recorded. Mr Rahman pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism before his arrest on 28 November. The defendant, of Finchley in north London, also denies assisting friend Mohammad Aqib Imran in separate plans. Mr Imran is accused of planning to join Isis in Libya. The 22-year-old is also alleged to saved more than 3,600 towards his venture, tried to secure a fake passport and searched extremist ideologies and travel options. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty 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 The Birmingham man also downloaded and adhered to a guide for Isis supporters written by a member of the terrorist group and was found in possession of his co-defendants 27-second allegiance video. He pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism before his arrest on 28 November. The pair spoke only to confirm their identities and enter not-guilty pleas while appearing before Mr Justice Haddon-Cave via video-link from Belmarsh Prison. The pair were remanded in custody ahead of their trial at the Old Bailey on 18 June. Additional reporting by PA G4S contract to run the Brook House immigration removal centre has been extended for another two years, months after secret footage revealed guards apparently choking, mocking and abusing detainees. The outsourcing giant will also continue to run Tinsley House, the Home Office announced on Friday. The announcement was posted on the department's website but not sent out as a press release to journalists. Careful consideration of the bids led to G4S being awarded the contract, which will allow for the review of two significant reports on immigration detention before a new procurement begins, the announcement said. Recommended Use of force against immigration detainees more than doubles in a year The contract was due to expire this month, the Home Office said, having been put out for tender in November 2016. Undercover footage broadcast by the BBCs Panorama showed detainees at Brook House, near Gatwick airport, depicted vulnerable detainees being abused, insulted, restrained and humiliated by guards amid drug abuse and suicide attempts. Peter Neden, president of G4S UK and Ireland, later told MPs he was ashamed by the images. In September last year he told the Home Affairs Select Committee: We are undertaking an immediate action plan to make sure that this cant happen again. We take these events very seriously indeed. There is no place for behaviour of that kind in our business. Ben Saunders, the director of Brook House, resigned three weeks after the scandal broke. In all nine members of staff were suspended from duty. 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 A Home Office spokesperson said on Friday: All immigration detainees must be treated with dignity and respect, and we will accept nothing but the highest standards from those who have responsibility for their care. The procurement process featured a heightened level of due diligence against the allegations from the Panorama programme on Brook House Immigration Removal Centre last year, so we took the time we needed to consider all bids very carefully. However, with two significant reviews by Stephen Shaw and Kate Lampard currently in train, we have concluded that it would be premature to enter into a new contract at this stage. Jerry Petherick, G4S' managing director for custodial and detention services, said in a statement to The Independent: "The well-being of those in our care is our highest priority and we are committed to working closely with the Home Office to continuously improve the services provided for detainees. The report out earlier this week from independent monitors at Brook House immigration removal centre demonstrated confidence in our team to provide a safe and secure environment for the men at the centre. The international chemical weapons watchdog has backtracked on a suggestion that as much as 100 grams of nerve agent may have been used in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Ahmet Uzumcu, director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), had said the relatively large quantities of novichok used suggested it had been created as a weapon rather than for research purposes. But a new OPCW statement said the organisation was not able to estimate or determine the amount of the nerve agent that was used in the incident. The spokesman added however: The quantity should probably be characterised in milligrams. The Skripals were left fighting for their lives after being exposed to a liquid form of the chemical in the Wiltshire city of Salisbury in March. Both are now recovering from the attack. Mr Uzumcu had said samples collected suggested the nerve agent used to poison the Skripals was of high purity. He said: For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that. Without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection. Its not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse. It came as Czech President Milos Zeman said his country had produced small quantities of novichok. Britain has argued the use of Novichok which was developed by the former Soviet Union in the 1980s meant there was no plausible alternative explanation other than the Russian state was behind the attack. However Mr Zemans comments were seized on by President Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said they were a clear illustration of the groundless stance the British authorities have taken. The Czech president is known for pro-Russia views, although his country joined other nations in expelling Russian diplomats in retaliation to the poisoning. Britains claim that Russia carried out an attempted assassination of Mr Skripal has been routinely denied by Moscow. The Russian ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, has previously suggested the Skripals were injected by British authorities with a nerve agent produced at the governments Porton Down laboratory. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has also claimed the agent used in the attack was in fact a toxin possessed by the UK and US. The OPCWs independent report on samples of the substance collected from the scene did not refer to novichok by name. It did however say its scientists had confirmed the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical. The affair has exacerbated the already strained relations between Russia and the West, leading to the expulsion of dozens of diplomats by both sides. Karen Pierce, the UKs representative to the United Nations, told a meeting last month there was no plausible alternative explanation than Russian state responsibility for what happened in Salisbury. Russia has a proven record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations including on the territory of the United Kingdom, she said. The independent inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko concluded in January 2016 that he was deliberately poisoned with polonium, that the FSB had directed the operation and that President Putin probably approved it. Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Scene of attack Members of the emergency services in hazard suits fix the tent over the bench where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury in March 2018. Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Victim - Sergei Skripal The retired Russian colonel and former double agent for MI6 was in a critical condition in hospital for more than two months after being exposed to novichok in Salisbury. He was given refuge in the UK after being jailed in Moscow for treason. Mr Skripal came to Britain as part of a high-profile spy swap in 2010 in which four men were exchanged for ten Russian "sleeper agents" in the US. In this image he is speaking to his lawyer from behind bars in Moscow in 2006. AP Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Victim - Yulia Skripal Yulia Skripal was struck down by a novichok poison alongside her father Sergei. Facebook Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Scene of attack A police officer stands guard outside a branch of the Italian chain restaurant Zizzi where the pair dined at before falling ill. It was boarded off whilst investigators worked on the building and later found traces of the chemical weapon within it. AFP/Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Scene of attack Large areas of central Salisbury were cordoned off by police following the discovery of the Skripals. Traces of nerve agent were also found in The Mill pub. PA Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Victim - Nick Bailey Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, rushed to the aid of the Russian ex-spy and his daughter who were targeted with a nerve agent. He was hospitalized after aiding them and didn't leave until three weeks after the attack. Wiltshire Police/Rex Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Police investigation - Skripals home Police believe they were poisoned at home, and detectives found the highest concentration of novichok on the front door of Mr Skripals house. Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Theresa May visits scene of attack Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May spokes with Wiltshire Police's Chief Constable Kier Pritchard near where the Skripal's were found. Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats over the nerve agent poisoning and suspended high-level contacts, including for the World Cup on March 14. Theresa May told parliament that Russia had failed to respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed chemical, Novichok, was used in Salisbury. AFP/Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Skripal days before attack Sergei Skripal days before he was exposed to Novichok, that has left him fighting for life. ITV News Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Police investigation - military involvement British soldiers were deployed soon after the attack to help a counter-terrorism investigation into the nerve agent attack. One of the places they were asked to help out with was Skripal's home and it's surrounding. They were asked to remove a vehicle connected to the agent attack in Salisbury, from a residential street in Gillingham. AFP/Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Police investigation Personnel in protective coveralls and breathing equipment cover an ambulance with a tarpaulin at the Salisbury District Hospital. AFP/Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Police investigation The investigation extended to the grave of Sergei Skripal's son Alexander in London Road cemetery. Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Police investigation The Counter Terrorism Policing Network requested assistance from the military to remove a number of vehicles and objects from Salisbury. EPA Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Home Secretary visits scene of attack Home Secretary Amber Rudd visited the scene of the nerve agent attack at the Maltings shopping centre on 9 March. Getty Skripal attack aftermath in pictures Yulia Skripal speaks for the first time Yulia Skripal, speaking for the first time, said she felt lucky to have survived the nerve agent attack in Salisbury which left her fighting for life. Ms Skripal said her life had been turned upside down by the assassination attempt. But the Russian national added she hoped to return to her homeland one day, despite the Kremlin being blamed for the attack. Reuters Meanwhile, government scientists have warned potentially toxic levels of the nerve agent may still be present in hot spots around Salisbury. Residents of the city have criticised authorities for the slow pace at which safety information has been provided, accusing certain bodies of sending mixed messages as to potential risks. Wiltshire Council said new barriers set up around The Maltings shopping centre, The Mill pub, Zizzi restaurant and Riverside House are expected to be in place for several months while a multi-million pound cleanup operation takes place. It said the task would be carried out by 200 specialist military personnel, and insisted all areas outside the cordons were safe. Additional reporting by PA British weapons sales to Saudi Arabia could be ruled unlawful after the second round of legal action by campaigners was given the go-ahead. Judges have granted the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) permission to appeal a ruling by the High Court in July that allowed the UK to continue granting export licences despite allegations British weapons had been used to kill civilians in Yemen. The fresh case against the Secretary of State for International Trade will be heard by the Court of Appeal in the coming months. Lawyers representing CAAT argued that the decision to grant the licences was against British arms export policy, which states that the government must deny applications if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law". Supported by charities including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam, they claim that the ongoing civil war in Yemen, where the UN says Saudi-led forces have been bombing trapped civilians in support of president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi's government, is such a risk. Giving permission for the appeal at the Court of Appeal on Friday, Lord Justice Irwin and Lord Justice Flaux said that the criterion was put in place by legislation under the Export Control Act 2002, in response to obligations arising from the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty 2013 and from a common position adopted by the European Union. The judges warned that the law did not permit "political considerations" or opinions on the outcome of Saudi bombing to override the ban on exporting weapons that could be used to commit war crimes. "It is obvious that withholding this licence, or renewal of this licence, is likely to have significant implications for the international relations of the United Kingdom, and potentially for employment," they added. UK government says its heart 'goes out' to relatives of Yemen wedding airstrike victims but refuses to halt arms sales to Saudi "[Political considerations] might include, for example, anticipation of the consequences of the cessation of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, including a judgement as to whether that would likely make matters worse rather than better in Yemen. However, such considerations do not form part of the criteria for the grant or withholding of a licence to export arms. "Parliament did not permit sales, otherwise in breach of the criteria, to be justified on such a basis. They are considerations extraneous to the decision and to the legality of the decision." The government said that it operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world and keeps sales under careful review to meet standards of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Recommended UK will still sell arms to Saudi despite bombing of wedding party CAAT says that while thousands of people have been killed in Saudi-led bombing, and many more as a result of an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and famine, the UK has licensed 4.6bn worth of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. According to official figures, 2.7bn were in a category including aircraft, helicopters and drones, and another 1.9bn including bombs and missiles. Andrew Smith, of CAAT, said: The Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen has killed thousands of people and created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world. Despite this, the Saudi regime has been armed and supported every step of the way by successive UK governments. We believe that these arms sales are immoral, and are confident that the Court of Appeal will agree that they are unlawful. Rosa Curling, of law firm Leigh Day, said evidence shows a clear risk the arms sold from the UK might be used in serious violation of international law. 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 Where our politicians have sadly failed to follows UK legislation and policy, our client hopes the Court will ensure the rule of law is upheld, she added. The decision to grant permission for the appeal was welcomed by humanitarian agencies and charities. Save the Children warned the battle isnt over yet, following the death or injury of at least 6,000 children in Yemen. The UK government has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure British-made weapons arent killing and maiming children in Yemen, a spokesperson added. Rocco Blume, head of policy at War Child UK, said the man-made tragedy shows no sign of coming to an end. The UK now, more than ever, must do everything it can to help protect the lives of children caught up in this, he added. All evidence shared publicly makes it clear that the UK government has blood on its hands as long as it sells arms to Saudi Arabia. Shane Stevenson, Oxfam's country director in Yemen, said it was impossible for the UK to support peace negotiations when it is also an arms dealer. Yemen is on the brink of famine and homes, hospitals and schools have been destroyed in a brutal war, he added. An end to the fighting is desperately needed. The UK is expected to enjoy an unseasonable heatwave over the weekend, before what could be the hottest early May bank holiday on record. In London and the southeast of England temperatures could soar to 27C on Monday, beating the current record of 23.6C in 1999. Sophie Yeomans, a Met Office forecaster, told The Independent this early May bank holiday could be the warmest since it was introduced in 1978. It will be a little cooler in southwest England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where temperatures of between 18C and 22C are expected in most places. Temperatures will rise gradually through the weekend with a high of 23C on Saturday and reaching the mid-20s on Sunday, bringing warm and sunny spells to the majority of the country. In Northern Ireland and Scotland, a weak weather front could bring some clouds and drizzle. But eastern Scotland could see some breaks in the clouds and a few brighter spells with warmer temperatures. 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 Seasonal temperatures and a few clouds will however return next week . Ms Yeomans said: The clouds could bring the odd rumbling of thunder and there will be a gradual decline of temperatures to 13C or 14C. Afghan interpreters, who worked with British troops fighting the Taliban, will be allowed to stay in the UK for free, home secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed after it emerged they could face deportation. 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. But in a letter sent to the Home Office earlier this week they said they faced being sent back to Afghanistan unless they paid the 2,389 fee to apply for indefinite right to remain in the UK. In one of hist first decisions following his appointment to replace Amber Rudd at the Home Office, Mr Javid said the fees will be waived to allow them to stay. Writing in The Daily Mail, Mr Javid said "the commitment and bravery shown by our local interpreters was extraordinary" and that they had "put their lives at risk" for the country. He said about 400 Afghan interpreters had taken the government's offer and relocated to the UK with their families. "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," he wrote. Mr Javid said he would bring forward new immigration rules to ensure that the Afghan interpreters will have a route to permanent settlement. "I am also waiving the fees so they don't have to pay for a penny for it," he said. Mr Javid said most of the interpreters worked on the frontline but others carried out "equally vital" work for the Foreign Office and Department for International Development. He added some interpreters living in the UK still had family members in Afghanistan and he promised to look at how to make the process easier for them to join their family in the UK. 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 Defence secretary Gavin Williamson had earlier called for the Home Office to waive the fees. On Thursday, Home Office sources told The Independent the department was "considering" the measure. Mr Williamson's comments came 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. The president of the European Commission has defended Karl Marxs record as a philosopher, arguing that he is not responsible for mistakes and atrocities committed in his name after his death. In a speech in the German philosophereconomists hometown of Trier to mark his 200th birthday, Jean-Claude Juncker said that Marx isn't responsible for all the atrocity his alleged heirs have to answer for. The theorist, whose work has been cited by political currents ranging from libertarian socialists to brutal authoritarian dictatorships, has loomed large over world politics as well as academia for around 150 years. He lived his last years exiled in London, where he authored the Communist Manifesto, his best-known work. Recommended All the ways in which Marx was unexpectedly right Karl Marx was a philosopher, who thought into the future had creative aspirations, and today he stands for things, which is he not responsible for and which he didn't cause, because many of the things he wrote down were redrafted into the opposite, Mr Juncker said in a speech at a church in Trier. One has to understand Karl Marx from the context of his time and not have prejudices based on the review, these judgements shouldn't exist. Karl Marx was lucky in life as he was born in Trier. He grew up in the city, actually the shortest period of his vita. Drawing on the philosophers legacy, Mr Juncker said the European Unions instability could be addressed by focusing more on social welfare, which he said had been a neglected part of European integration so far. It will be a task of our time to create a lively reality out of the social rights we set up for Europe, for the ones who live today and often are sad or blackmailed by life and won't have enough social rights and the ones, who will be born tomorrow, he said. Marx's birthday is being celebrated across the world (AP) The European Union is not a flawed, but an unstable construction. Unstable also because Europe's social dimension until today remains the poor relation of the European integration. We have to change this. A former student of the philosopher Hegel, Marx developed the theory of historical materialism which he argued explained the development of human society and the development of social classes. His work argues that capitalisms creation of a mass of workers who owned no property will be its downfall. He argued for the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat through which workers would become the dominant class. 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 Dozens of states around the world previously cited variants of Marxism as their official ideology, but after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and the disintegration of its allies only four remain: China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam. Mr Juncker's speech drew criticism from some anti-communist countries. Critics of Marx argue that the deaths and human rights abuses under by communist regimes should be attributed to his philosophy. His defenders say his work still has value and dispute the role of Marxism in wrongdoing. An estimated 4,000 people were turned away from casting their vote in the five areas trialling controversial voter ID checks. Analysis of figures released by electoral observers suggests 3,981 people were denied a ballot paper in the local elections due to not being able to provide relevant identification documents. The figures show 1.67 per cent of voters in the pilot areas were unable to cast their vote, with people turned away in more than one in five polling stations across Bromley, Woking, Gosport, Watford and Swindon, where the pilot was carried out. Labour urged the government to scrap the practice, saying it undermined democracy after it emerged during voting on Thursday that people had been prevented from casting their ballot. The new analysis, carried out by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS), reveals the shocking scale of the problem, raising concerns that millions of people could be disenfranchised if the scheme is rolled out across the country. One of those unable to vote was 76-year-old Peter White, who told The Independent he was shocked after being turned away from a polling station in Bromley because he did not have a bank card or passport. Darren Hughes, chief executive of the ERS, said: Britain prides itself on being a leading democracy but it is a dark day for politics when thousands of blameless people turn out to vote only to be refused. Our estimates, based on evidence gathered by electoral observers, reveal the shocking scale of the problem. These trials have been shown up to be the chaotic, undemocratic mess many predicted. These findings are exactly what many feared: that this draconian measure would result in blameless individuals being disenfranchised. It is vital moving forward that these draconian trials are not a fait accompli for a national rollout. The figures did not take into account whether voters came back with the correct ID having initially been turned away. It is also impossible to know how many people were put off from entering a polling station altogether because of the new ID requirements. Democracy Volunteers, the UKs largest election observer group, collated the figures while carrying out extensive observations of the ID checks in 243 polling stations across the five areas the scheme was being piloted. John Ault, director of the organisation, told The Independent 10 voters had been turned away within a 45-minute period at one polling station in Swindon, and that the issue appeared to disproportionately affect ethnic minority voters. Recommended British voters furious at being denied right to cast ballot over ID Obviously there were always going to be teething problems, but I also think quite clearly that if you whether intentionally or otherwise exclude 1.5 to 2 per cent of the population, that is a significant problem, he said. The process was quite well run. Staff were welcoming and generally helpful, they tried to assist people who didnt realise they were required to bring ID. But the problem is some people clearly werent able to produce it, and we dont know how many people didnt come because they didnt have it in the first place. Cat Smith, Labours shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs, clamed it was impossible for the government to justify rolling out the scheme. After completely ignoring a number of serious warning signs, the government decided to pilot discriminatory measures which denied people their right to vote, she said. We cannot allow the Conservative Party to undermine our democracy, which is why Labour is calling on the government to scrap its voter ID plans as a matter of urgency. Campaigners had questioned the evidence on which the trials were based. Figures from the Electoral Commission show there were just 28 allegations of impersonation in 2017 out of nearly 45 million votes or one case for every 1.6 million votes cast. Only one of these allegations resulted in a conviction. Senior officials in trial areas expressed their concerns about the trials, while the government was criticised by the UK Statistics Authority for pushing misleading figures to support the need for the pilots. 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 A government spokesperson insisted the pilots had been a success. Voter ID is an important step to ensuring the public can have greater confidence in our democratic system and the success of yesterdays pilots proves that this is a reasonable and proportionate measure to take, he said. The overwhelming majority of people cast their vote without a problem. We will evaluate the pilots before announcing the next steps in delivering voter ID nationally. As well as this, the independent Electoral Commission will conduct a planned evaluation of the pilots. Labour has lost control of a key council in the Midlands as early indications suggested a mixed picture for both of the main parties in their biggest electoral test since the general election. As results filtered in from across England in the 2018 local elections, both Jeremy Corbyns party and Theresa Mays Conservatives had both lost control of crucial councils. Labours shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, also appeared to have lost hope of his party seizing the Conservatives crown jewels of Wandsworth and Westminster in London. "I don't think there are going to be big swings. What we are looking for is incremental gains that will lay the foundations, he said. London is the major battleground after recent polls pointed towards a substantial swing to Labour, with the party claiming it still had a "fighting chance" in Barnet. But Sir John Curtice, the elections expert, suggested that the Conservatives could be experiencing a small swing from Labour outside of the capital. Probably on the early results the Conservatives are at least holding their own, he said. That frankly is in line with the message of the opinion polls Recommended Labour downbeat on taking key Tory seats as first results come in He later added that key wards showed a modest 1.5 per cent swing from the Conservatives to Labour in the capital but a one per cent swing from Labour to the Tories outside of the capital. Labour had more to celebrate in the north-west, however, as Trafford a flagship Conservative council for 14 years fell to no overall control following a sustained campaign by Labour and the left-wing group Momentum in the area. And in Plymouth, the party had gained the council after the party had at least 29 out of the 57 seats on the council. It led to Jonny Mercer, the Conservative MP, placing blame for the partys loss of the council with the governments approach to defence spending. "It's pretty clear to me the biggest factor in this city is defence," he said. "It always has been." He added: "I've made very public my concerns around the handling of defence at the moment and what the vision is." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty 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 Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the party's 1922 committee of backbenchers, added on BBC News that it was deeply disappointing the party had lost Trafford. But Conservative former party chairman Grant Shapps, who has been highly critical of Ms May's leadership, said No 10 and Tory headquarters had "got their act together". He told BBC News: "Four years ago I was looking at a Conservative vote of 30 per cent in the polls and today I expect Theresa May will be looking at significantly more than that, I imagine in the upper 30s, maybe near 40." In other parts of the country, Labour lost Nuneaton and Bedworth with the council falling to no overall control after the Conservatives gained seats while the Tories gained Basildon and Peterborough, which had both been under no overall control. Support for Ukip has collapsed with the party winning just two seats nearly five hours into counting. Dr Fox told BBC News: "It looks as though the places where Ukip did well are reverting to their previous party." Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats had claimed they had won Richmond council from the Conservatives, with the former MP Sarah Olney telling BBC News: "We are very confident, in fact we are going to call it. We think we are going to be taking control of Richmond council tonight." Party sources were also quietly confident of seizing Kingston council from the Conservatives after losing the council in 2014 while in coalition with the party. In total, more than 4,000 council seats were up for grab in some 150 council areas, including all 32 London boroughs and major metropolitan areas across the country such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Most councils are counting votes overnight but others will declare results during the day on Friday. British politics remains deadlocked after Labour failed to make the gains it hoped for in the local elections, while the Conservatives suffered losses in anti-Brexit areas. Jeremy Corbyn was forced to put a brave face on the results, thwarted in his attempts to snatch the Tory crown jewel authorities in London such as Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington. Labours antisemitism crisis appeared to wreck its plans to seize Barnet an area with a large Jewish population which fell back into the hands of the Conservatives. Recommended Labour needs to learn the right lessons from the local elections Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats enjoyed a good night in Remain-backing Tory areas winning control of South Cambridgeshire, plus Kingston and Richmond, in leader Sir Vince Cables London backyard. Strikingly, a projected share of the national vote by the BBC, if all of Britain had gone to the polls, put both the Tories and Labour on 35 per cent suggesting a nation still starkly divided. Labour could claim it had made ground on last years general election, when the Tories were ahead on vote share but nowhere near enough to be on course to win the next one. Theresa May was greeted by cheering supporters in Wandsworth, where she said: Labour thought they could take control, this was one of their top targets and they threw everything at it, but they failed. She laughed off a suggestion that she should call a snap general election as she did after winning last years local elections, with disastrous results. Mr Corbyn, meanwhile, was forced to deny his party has passed its peak Corbyn moment, after picking up more than 50 seats but gaining control of only two councils, Plymouth and Kirklees, in West Yorkshire. 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 No, no, there is much more to come and its going to get even better, Mr Corbyn said, after meeting activists in Plymouth. Obviously, I am disappointed at any places where we lost a bit of ground, but if you look at the overall picture, Labour gained a lot of seats across the whole country, we gained a lot of votes in places we never had those votes before. A delighted Sir Vince said: Its certainly the beginning of the comeback of the Lib Dems. Morale is now very high. We have demonstrated that we can win when we are focused and we can only build on that. John Curtice, the psephologist, warned the government that after losses in big cities, but gains in towns no less than 70 per cent of its vote had voted Leave, adding: It has to deliver Brexit. The verdict was echoed by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the arch Brexiteer, who said the view that the local election result means the government must deliver on Brexit is surely right. Boris Johnson went further, claiming that Ms Mays policy of leaving the EU customs union had delivered success, apparently putting pressure on her to hold firm. Jeremy Corbyn has been abandoned in many leave areas his pledge to stay in the customs union means he is not trusted to deliver Brexit, the foreign secretary tweeted. PMs clear Mansion House vision for leaving the single market and customs union a key part of Tory electoral success. There was huge controversy in Pendle, in Lancashire, where the Conservatives gained control by one seat but only by reinstating a councillor who told a racist joke. Rosemary Carroll compared an Asian to a dog in a Facebook post last June, but rejoined the Tory group as the votes were being counted on Friday. Paul White, the Conservative group leader, defended the move, saying: The post was shared in error but Rosemary fully accepted the potential upset caused and sincerely apologised. Having served her suspension period, she rejoined the party and completed additional diversity training. Theresa May is under mounting pressure to ditch a fresh immigration clampdown dubbed the next Windrush, ahead of a crucial Commons vote next week. Thirty-four organisations have joined forces to urge the prime minister not to repeat the blunders that sparked the scandal by preventing other immigrants from proving their right to be in the UK. Under planned new data laws, people will be denied access to the personal information the government holds about them if releasing it would undermine immigration control. Recommended Tories vote to block release of secret Windrush documents Leading lawyers have warned that withholding potentially vital proof would lead to people being wrongly deported, detained or denied health treatment in a mirror image of the treatment of the Windrush generation. On Wednesday, Labour and the Liberal Democrats will join forces to try to throw out the exemption, arguing it is the first test of Ms Mays promise to learn the lessons of the Windrush debacle. Now, the joint letter seen by The Independent brings together human rights campaigners, trade unions, migrant support groups and law firms to warn it will foster fear within minority communities. Unless halted, the plan will make it near-impossible to prevent the disposing of information that could help people prove their right to reside in the UK as it did with the Windrush landing cards, they say. People would also avoid using essential public services for fear that their medical or school records will be secretly passed to the Home Office. Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty Martha Spurrier, the director of Liberty, which coordinated the letter, said: This exemption is discriminatory, unjustified and will make it near impossible for immigrants to legally secure their status. It must be removed now. Lucy Jones, of Doctors of the World, which works closely with undocumented migrants, said: We regularly see patients, often in urgent need of medical care, who are too afraid to go to NHS services fearing their information will be shared across government. The exemption makes this fear an absolute reality. And Adrian Berry, chairman of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association, highlighted how lawyers for migrants would no longer be able to obtain their files using subject access requests. The impact the exemption will have on curtailing access to personal data therefore goes to the very heart of access to justice and the preservation of the rule of law, he warned. Amnesty, the Refugee Council, the National Aids Trust, the National Education Union, Privacy International and the trade union Unison are among the other organisations which have signed the letter, sent to Sajid Javid, the new home secretary. The Independent revealed last October that the exemption in the data protection bill would remove data privacy rights for immigration investigations. However, the controversy has grown in the wake of the Windrush scandal prompting the crucial amendment, put down by Labour and the Lib Dems, to be debated on Wednesday. The prime minister was accused of being in denial about the issue, when she told MPs recently: It will be possible for people to access the information that they need. In reality, the bill clearly states the rights to personal data do not apply where that conflicts with the maintenance of effective immigration control or the investigation of suspected immigration offences. Ed Davey, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, told The Independent: This is completely against the British traditions of justice and the rule of law. It is an odious proposal. If Theresa May doesnt change her mind on this, no one will be able to take seriously a word she has said since Windrush. This is the first test. The Home Office made a lot of mistakes, Mr Davey said sometimes trying to deport completely the wrong person which were only thwarted by the right to open up files. Tom Watson, Labours deputy leader, said the policy was a continuation of the governments hostile environment policy, adding: Given the governments track record in this area there no guarantee that it would exercise any exemption properly or proportionately. Labour will support measures to delete this exemption from the bill when it returns to the Commons next week. The Home Office has insisted the right to request data will be met in all cases except where to do so could undermine our immigration control. A spokesperson said: They will have the right to complain to the information commissioner if they disagree with any use of the immigration exemption and we would always want to assist those whose claims are in question. However, lawyers have rejected that right to appeal, warning a person would probably have been deported before a ruling came through. After his appointment last week, Mr Javid dropped the use of the hostile environment phrase favoured by the prime minister but has yet to say he will change the policies behind it. The Democratic Republic of Congo is planning to reclassify two protected national parks to allow oil exploration. Documents seen by The Independent show the government wants to redraw the boundaries of the Salonga and Virunga national parks, which are home to critically endangered species such as mountain gorillas, to remove protected status from certain areas. Both parks are UNESCO World Heritage sites, a status which in theory should protect them from oil exploration and other extractive activities. In a letter, Congo's oil minister Aime Ngoi Muken invited the environment minister and the minister for scientific research to a special commission meeting to discuss the plans on 27 April. Minutes and notes of the meeting give more details about the areas in which the Congolese government wants to allow exploration. In another series of letters seen by NGO Global Witness, Congo's oil minister Ngoi Muken argued for the need to open up the protected sites for oil exploration and set out the legal procedures to do so. Global Witness said the plans would be a violation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention to which the Democratic Republic of Congo is a signatory. The Virunga park is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet and is home to about a quarter of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. According to UNESCO, the Salonga park is Africa's largest tropical rainforest, home to many endangered species such as bonobos, dwarf chimpanzees, Congo peacocks and forest elephants. Peter Jones, a campaign leader on corruption for Global Witness, said the attempt to open up the parks must be halted immediately. "If we cannot protect even UNESCO World Heritage Sites from oil exploration where in the world is safe from the fossil fuel industry? "The potential damage to these rare and valuable ecosystems is enormous. The Congolese government should be seeking to extend protection of these areas rather than selling them off to the highest bidder." World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty In February, Congolese President Kabila authorised oil exploration inside areas which partially overlapped with the Salonga park. At the time, oil minister oil minister Ngoi Muken said no land should be off limits for oil exploration in the country. Afghanistans first female air force pilot has been granted asylum in the US after death threats forced her to flee her home country. Captain Niloofar Rahmani became a celebrity in her homeland after she qualified to fly fighter jets and was hailed by US government as a symbol of womens progress in the country. But Washington has now ruled that it would be too dangerous for her to return home. Having applied for asylum two years ago, she received it this week on the day that suicide bomb attacks killed at least 25 people in Kabul, including 11 children and nine journalists. Ms Rahmani, now 27, signed up to the military at the age of 18 under the US-led Afghan coalition and graduated from training school in 2013. But as her fame spread, the death threats grew. Taliban insurgents who considered her profession shameful, set out to punish her and members of her family including her uncles and cousins. Facing reprisals for supporting her career, her immediate family had to go into hiding. Her brother was targeted in two assassination attempts including a hit-and-run and her sister was reportedly forced to divorce and stopped from seeing her child. A letter signed by the Taliban warned her: If you carry on doing your job, you will be responsible for the destruction of your family. Ms Rahmani said she could finally live in peace (Getty) Ms Rahmani said at one point that she would never have put my family through this if she had known how bad it would get. She said her Afghan male colleagues in the air force treated her with contempt and that she felt at risk. She added that things were getting worse and worse in her homeland. In 2015, Captain Rahmani fled to the US where she received the State Departments International Women of Courage Award. The US military paid for further training for her and Michelle Obama, then the US First Lady, praised her courage. After being granted asylum, Ms Rahmani told The Wall Street Journal: All I want now is to go back to my dream of flying. She added: I can finally live my life in peace. Now all my worries are about my family in Afghanistan. She said she was really happy and thankful to those that made it happen. When she applied for asylum in 2016, military officials in Afghanistan argued that her life was not at risk at all, and asked the US to reject her application. I am sure she lied by saying she was threatened, just to win the asylum case, a defence ministry spokesman said. 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 security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated in recent months during a war that has been raging for more than 16 years. A recent report showed 14.5 per cent of the countrys districts are under Taliban and Isis control, while security forces numbers have fallen. Last month, the Taliban announced its annual spring offensive, dismissing an offer of peace talks by President Ashraf Ghani without preconditions. Hundreds of people have been killed and wounded in high-profile attacks in Kabul this year. It has been 20 years since the gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield co-authored a now notorious and debunked medical paper that claimed to have found a link between autism and the use of a common childrens vaccine. The paper, later retracted by The Lancet, helped lead to a drop-off in vaccination rates and an increase in outbreak diseases such as measles, not only in Britain and Europe, but in the US. The doctor was subsequently found guilty by the British General Medical Council (GMC) of three-dozen charges, including dishonesty and abuse of children, and struck off the medical register. Yet two decades later, Wakefield, unable to practice in the UK, has remade himself in Donald Trumps America, travelling the country to promote views experts say have had deadly consequences and seemingly finding an ally in the president. Last year, the 61-year-old was directly linked to an outbreak of measles among the Somali American community in Minnesota the largest in the state for many years after he visited and shared his views with them. He has also been associated with a drop-off in vaccination rates in Texas, where he lives. Wakefield remains defiant, even though the editor of The Lancet said statements contained in his 1998 study claiming a link between autism and the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, were utterly false and 10 co-authors issued a statement saying there was insufficient evidence to draw the conclusion the vaccine was not safe. I was discredited in the eyes of those who wanted to see me discredited. In other words, those who had an interest in maintaining the status quo, he recently told The Independent. Questions about Wakefields findings were first raised by a series of journalistic investigations in the early 2000s, and he was charged with professional misconduct by the GMC in 2006. Shortly before then, the former fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons moved to Texas where he found plenty of people interested in his debunked claims. He was supported by some on the fringes of the medical community and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey. Yet since Trumps election, Wakefields campaign has found fresh momentum. The president claimed during a 2015 Republican debate that the child of an employee developed autism after receiving a vaccine, asserting a link that has been stridently disputed by the British and US governments leading experts and numerous peer-reviewed papers. Andrew Wakefield defends his decision to spread his anti-vaccination message in America You take this little, beautiful baby and you pump I mean it looks just like its meant for a horse, not for a child, Trump said, without providing further details. In the summer of 2016, Wakefield was one of four anti-vaccine campaigners Trump met for 45 minutes, and he also attended one of his inauguration balls after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. After he entered the White House, Trump is said to have considered appointing another vaccine sceptic, Robert F Kennedy, to head a commission to look into their safety. That idea currently appears stalled. Asked about his meeting with Trump, Wakefield said: I met him once before the election, when he was running for the presidency. We had a meeting in Florida. We were there, four of us representing the issue of autism and its link to immunisation. He interjected and said, You dont need to tell me that vaccines cause autism. Ive seen it, Ive seen it personally. We went on to discuss the issue of the autism crisis that is set to affect 80 per cent of boys if nothing is done. He said if he was to be elected hed do something about it. Asked if he was seeking to seize on the issue in the US because he had been disgraced in Britain, Wakefield, said: I was discredited in the eyes of those who wanted to see me discredited. In other words, those who had an interest in maintaining the status quo. I dont represent any of them. What I represent is the parents and the children who have been damaged. Is there a real case to answer? Absolutely. Do I believe vaccines cause autism? Yes I do. Is the problem equally as large in the US? Yes it is. The overwhelming majority of experts in the field say Wakefield is wrong and point to as many as 17 studies showing no link between autism and the MMR vaccine, which was first introduced in the UK in 1988. Those same experts claim his campaign to try and prove a link continues to have hugely damaging consequences. Despite the fact that his findings were found to be fraudulent, that the paper was later retracted and that Wakefield was struck-off the medical register for dishonesty, the damage was done, Seth Berkley, the chief executive of Gavi, a private-public organisation previously known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, wrote recently. 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 Public confidence in MMR and vaccination has never fully recovered, at least not in developed countries. This was made evident by recent news that the number of measles cases in Europe increased by 400 per cent in 2017, with more than 20,000 cases and 35 needless deaths. In the US, Wakefield has been directly accused over an outbreak of measles in Minnesota last year in which 79 people were infected, the vast majority children under the age of the 10. Most of those affected were members of the Somali American community, a group that had previously vaccinated its youngsters but among which vaccination rates fell off amid ungrounded fears about a link to autism. Wakefield and other anti-vaccine campaigners visited the community, which is concentrated in Minneapolis, and pushed their theories. The community, which had traditionally had a vaccination rate higher than others in the state, saw it drop from 92 per cent to around 40 per cent. Last year, when the state experienced almost 80 cases of measles the highest number for decades and more than the average for the entire US 20 required hospital treatment. Health officials said they were convinced Wakefield and other activists, who visited the Somali population on several occasions, bore a degree of responsibility. The biggest impact is connecting a condition, that is one that challenges any parent who has a child with autism, and connecting that to immunisations, and specifically MMR, said Lynn Bahta, the immunisation clinical consultant with the Minnesota Department of Health. Among our Somali American community we have their rates go from 92 per cent which was higher than non-Somali rates, down to 42 per cent. And that puts them in a very very vulnerable position. Health officials urge vaccines as US faces measles outbreak Part of the authorities response to the outbreak was to involve community leaders, in particular Muslim imams who were able to speak to members of their mosques about the dangers of not getting their children vaccinated. One of the imams who led the effort, which involved at least 30 of his colleagues, was Sharif Abdirahman, the Muslim leader at Dar al Hijrah mosque in the citys Cedar-Riverside neighbourhood. He said he was able to appeal to people using both religion and science. Islam is a religion of expertise, he said. Verses in the Koran say ... if you dont a know subject ask the advice of people who know the subject very well. I say to the community, take the advice of people who know the subject very well and dont get information from someone who doesnt know anything. Wakefield, who was speaking in Kansas City at a conference of chiropractors (a form of treatment generally considered a form of complementary or alternative medicine and whose founder DD Palmer believed all human ailments could be cured by manipulation of the spine) has also been linked to the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment in Texas, where he lives with his wife and children. It was recently reported that since Wakefield moved to the state in the early 2000s, the number of children in Texas who have obtained conscientious exemptions for at least one vaccine has increased by 1,900, according to one study. Anti-vaccine groups in Houston, with Wakefields support, recently narrowly failed to defeat moderate Republican Sarah Davis who had spoken in favour of mandatory vaccines, in the primary contest for the state legislature to replace her with a more conservative candidate. I think they have picked the wrong district to wage a war on vaccines in, Davis told the Houston Chronicle. Since moving to Texas, Wakefield has been involved in a series of organisations and charities related to autism and trying to prove a link between the condition and the use of vaccines. These included the Thoughtful House Centre for Children, where he served as medical director from 2005 to 2010. It later changed its name to the Johnson Centre for Child Health and Development. He also established the Strategic Autism Initiative, which he ran with Polly Tommey, a British mother with an autistic son. In 2016, Wakefield directed and appeared in a film called Vaxxed, which was produced by Tommey. The film claims to expose what it says was a case of fraud at the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), the countrys primary national public health institute. The film was to be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival until the festivals founder Robert de Niro who has a child with autism reversed the plan following a public outcry. It claims to show a cover-up at the CDC regarding a study between autism and MMR and bases its claim on the recorded comments of whistleblower William Thompson, a CDC scientist who did not know his comments were being recorded by a colleague. In a statement released at the time, Thompson said he remained concerned that statistically significant information had been omitted from a 2004 article published in the journal Pediatrics. Yet, he added: I want to be absolutely clear that I believe vaccines have saved and continue to save countless lives. I would never suggest that any parent avoid vaccinating children of any race. Vaccines prevent serious diseases, and the risks associated with their administration are vastly outweighed by their individual and societal benefits. Wakefield and his supporters continue to give talks about their anti-vaccine views and show the film, which has been widely criticised by experts in the field. A review by Ed Cara in Medical Daily said: Vaxxed doesnt care about convincing its audience with evidence. Instead, Wakefield, Hooker, and producer Del Bigtree run the viewer through a well-trod gauntlet of emotional pleas, context-free statistics and shadowy conspiracies, with Bigtree claiming that all of television has been bought out by the pharmaceutical industry. Asked whether Thompsons statement undermined his film, Wakefield said he did not care about his views, but was interested in exposing a fraud at the CDC. Asked why he was showing the film to Somalis in Minneapolis and other group that may be considered vulnerable, he said: We have been showing the film to anyone who wants to watch it, weve not been specifically showing it to people of colour. The implication you put forward is wholly unjustified. The film was shown to whoever wanted to see it. He said he had gone to Minneapolis at the invitation of the Somali community which was worried about their exquisite risk at contracting autism from vaccines something health officials in the state say is not borne out by data. He said: They had a problem and they asked me to help. Lawmakers in Hawaii are set to ban the sale of sunscreens that contain chemicals linked to the destruction of coral reefs. The state legislature has moved to pass laws prohibiting lotions containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, believed by some scientists to contribute to coral bleaching. A ban could be brought into place by January 2021, if the bill is approved by the states Democratic governor David Ige. Around 3,500 sun protection products containing oxybenzone are currently available to consumers worldwide. Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms, the bill states. These chemicals have also been shown to degrade corals' resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors and inhibit recruitment of new corals. The legislation warns chemical pollution in Hawaiis waters was being constantly refreshed and renewed by swimmers and beach goers wearing sunscreen. State senator Mike Gabbard, who proposed the ban, said the move was a first-in-the-world law. Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens, he told the Honolulu Star Advertiser. When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow. This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health. But, the plans have received opposition from the Hawaii Medical Association, which has raised concerns over the public health impact of banning certain types of sun lotion on the islands. Weve got several decades of public policy and public health concerns about skin cancer and sun exposures, Dr Chris Flanders, the organisations executive director told Hawaii Public Radio. Thats our big concern, that we dont want people to skip on sunscreen. In 2015, a study published by an group of international scientists concluded oxybenzone was highly toxic to juvenile corals and other marine life. The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Show all 17 1 /17 The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst The fish are still living around the reef Reef Encounter Cruises The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Underwater at the Great Barrier Reef Quicksilver Group The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Underwater at the Great Barrier Reef, May 2017, showing healthy coral alongside bleached coral Jenny Peters The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Underwater at the Great Barrier Reef showing a bleached coral Queensland Tourism The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst The iconic heart reef at the Great Barrier Reef Queensland Tourism The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Underwater at the Great Barrier Reef Mark Geddes/Quicksilver Group The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst There's still beauty to be found Reef Encounter Cruises The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef Queensland Tourism The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Great Barrier Reef coral garden Queensland Tourism The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst An aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef Queensland Tourism The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst The Quicksilver Silversonic ship departing for the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas, Australia Quicksilver Group The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Underwater at the Great Barrier Reef Reef Encounter Cruises The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Reef Encounter Cruises The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Reef Encounter Cruises The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Reef Encounter Cruises The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Reef Encounter Cruises The Great Barrier Reef at its best - and worst Jenny Cheetham getting to grips wth the reef Reef Encounter Cruises Researchers found the chemical not only increased the likelihood of bleaching, but also caused DNA damage, abnormal skeleton growth and deformities in baby coral. Coral bleaches when water temperatures rise above a level it can tolerate, leading it to expel the algae that usually share a symbiotic relationship with its polyps and eventually causing starvation. A heatwave on Australias Great Barrier Reef between March and November 2016 caused 30 per cent of its coral to die off. There was hardly a cloud in the sky over Indianapolis on Wednesday morning when it started raining money. In a moment that instantly tested the core of human morality, the definition of right and wrong and the limits of acceptable risk, the back door of a Brinks armoured truck swung open during rush hour on Interstate 70, blowing bags of money onto the highway. There was money $600,000 (443,000), troopers estimated everywhere. Some bags tumbled onto the road and stayed intact thousands of dollars, just sitting there for the taking. Others ripped open, showering cash over four lanes of the interstate. On the shoulder, $20 bills gathered like leaves and formed piles in the grass off the highway. Suddenly, the timeless hypothetical question became reality: what would you do? A school bus driver knew what he would do, police said. He pulled over on the highway, jumped out and grabbed some money before driving away. So did four men in a white pickup truck who snatched an entire bag and then sped off. Jazmyne Danae stopped her car and started streaming live video on Facebook. One of those little bank trucks just dropped all this money and people just came out here, Ms Danae said as she walked along the highway shoulder, which was covered in $20 bills. Sort of something out of a movie scene, where you have bills, loose bills flying all over the interstate, vehicles stopping, people getting out of their cars, corporal Brock McCooe of the Indiana State Police told WXIN-TV, the Fox affiliate in Indianapolis. Bags of money were falling out of the back onto the interstate. Within minutes, the money grab was over. State troopers blocked traffic on the highway, helped Brinks employees collect what remained of the money and warned people that they would be arrested if they pocketed any of it. A company spokesperson said the episode was under investigation. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The Indiana State Police issued a warning. People know right from wrong and anyone we track down who kept a dollar of this money will be arrested for theft, first sergeant Bill Dalton said in a statement. The New York Times Donald Trump has said a date and location has been agreed for his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Speaking to reporters as he boarded Marine One at the White House for the journey to Andrews Air Force Base, and then Texas, he said his administration had been working very hard on the issue of North Korea. Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages. I think you're going to see very good things, he said. North Korea 'suspends' missile and nuclear tests Of his planned meeting with the North Korean leader, he added: We have a date, we have a place. A week ago, during a meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel, he said the location had been narrowed down to two to three options. It was reported that two of the locations were believed to be Singapore, or Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. Mr Trump later tweeted that he would prefer to meet at the Peace House on the border of North and South Korea, the same place where Mr Kim made history last week when he met with South Korean president Moon Jae-in, shaking hands and laughing, before holding private talks that resulted in a joint declaration from the two countries. 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 Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country, he wrote. Just asking! In the aftermath of last Fridays summit during which the 36-year-old became the first North Korean leader to travel south of the border between the two countries, Mr Trump praised the meeting and said he was looking forward to his own. I dont think hes playing, Mr Trump said. We will, I think, come up with a solution and if we dont we leave the room with great respect and we just keep it going. The White House has said the historic summit with the Asian leader could take place this month, as long as North Korea made certain concessions. President Donald Trump said his newest lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is a "great guy" but still learning all the facts about the myriad of legal issues the president is facing. "He started yesterday. Hell get his facts straight. He's a great guy," Mr Trump said speaking to the media at Joint Base Andrews base about to depart for Texas and flanked by Chief of Staff John Kelly. The former New York City mayor, Mr Giuliani stirred controversy this past week as he appeared on Fox News and directly contradicted the president on an issue regarding adult film star Stormy Daniels. Mr Giuliani said Mr Trump had reimbursed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment made just days before the November 2016 election in order to keep her quiet about an alleged affair between the president and Ms Daniels in 2006. The president has denied the affair and when asked if he knew about the payment on Air Force One on 9 April, he said the media should "go ask" Mr Cohen about it. In a statement later in the day, Mr Giuliani said the payment was not a "campaign violation," adding that the "payment was made to resolve a personal and false allegation in order to protect the president's family". Mr Trump had been married to First Lady Melania Trump at the time of the alleged affair. Recommended The wild but unsurprising return of political brawler Rudy Giuliani Mr Giuliani claimed in the rambling interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, considered a 'friendly audience' for Trump administration officials, that Mr Trump only recently learned the reason for the payment to Ms Daniels. Mr Trump then backed up those assertions the morning after the interview in a series of tweets in which he said the payment was not made from his presidential campaign funds, which could have been deemed a violation of US election law. "It would have been done in any event, whether he was a candidate or not," Mr Giuliani said about the payment in his statement. "My references to timing were not describing my understanding of the president's knowledge, but instead, my understanding of these matters". Mr Trump appeared to take his previous statement back about his knowledge of the payment to Ms Daniels, but said today that "we're not changing any stories," adding that Rudy had just started and he wasnt totally familiar with everything". It implied that Mr Giuliani may have gotten something wrong in his interview that night and subsequent comments about the payment, but the president was unclear about what exactly was inaccurate. Giuliani: Trump repaid attorney Stormy Daniels hush money The president fell back on his consistent claim of "totally false" reporting by media outlets and encouraged reporters to re-watch statements he has made in the past on the matter. "All Im telling you that this country is right now running so smooth and to be bringing up that kind of crap and bringing up witch hunts all the time. Thats all you want to talk about," Mr Trump complained, adding comments about the low unemployment rate. As for Mr Cohen, the beleaguered lawyer had admitted to paying the nearly $130,000 of his own money - not election coffers - just before as part of a nondisclosure agreement. Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is suing Mr Trump for the right to speak about the affair and claiming that Mr Trump never actually signed the document. Her lawyer has also asked a judge to allow him to depose the president and Mr Cohen. Donald Trump denies knowledge of lawyer's $130,000 payment Stormy Daniels Working on a reference from special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged collusion between Mr Trump's 2016 campaign team and Russian officials, the FBI also raided Mr Cohen's home, office, and hotel room in April. Mr Cohen told CNN that he "would be lying to you if I told that I am not worried about the FBI investigation. Do I need this in my life? No. Do I want to be involved in this? No, he added. He commented that the raid of his home, office, and the hotel where he is currently staying was upsetting to say the least and said after seeing what the investigation has done to his family, in hindsight he would have handled the payment to Ms Daniels differently. There is also the matter of the possible violation of federal ethics law despite the confusion of what Mr Giuliani and Mr Trump have said. Congressman Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight committee said the president should have disclosed the supposed repayment to Mr Cohen on his public financial disclosure form and said concealing such a debt is a crime. Mr Cummings has urged Republicans on the committee to investigate the matter and find out when Mr Trump knew about the payment and purpose of the payment as well as where the funds came from. The president is in Dallas, Texas, to speak at a National Rifle Association (NRA) convention. State senators in South Carolina have voted to outlaw virtually all abortions in the state in a long shot bid to force the overturn of the 1973 US Supreme Court decision that affirmed abortion rights. Republicans in the state Senate voted on the measure Wednesday night, approving the bill in a 28-10 vote. The bill would ban abortions, and only grant exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergencies where a pregnancy could cause serious harm to the mother or threaten her life. The bill faces tough odds to becoming law, according to the The State, a newspaper in Columbia. That is because the bill comes up against a Democratic filibuster in the state legislature that could push a final vote off until the legislative session finishes for the year. Recommended South Carolina GOP pushes bill to secede if US violates 2nd Amendment Its designed to give the court an opportunity to revisit Roe v. Wade, state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, a Republican, said of the bill, referencing that 1973 Supreme Court decision. Analysis of the bill has found that it would likely ban about 97 per cent of the 5,700 abortions that are performed in he state each year, according to Democrats. If made into law, the bill would almost surely face an immediate court challenge, and Democrats in the state have signalled that they are ready for that possibility. 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 Its clearly unconstitutional from my point of view, state Senator Brad Hutto, a Democrat, said. Mr Hutto has been involved in the process, however, and has stated that he hopes the legislature will vote on the bill so the they can stop debating the abortion issue repeatedly. Its an attempt to get it to the courts so we dont have to keep debating it over and over, Mr Hutto said. Mr Hutto is an attorney and says he is confident that the ban would be struck down in court. The bill would still need one more vote to pass the Senate, and Republicans expect Democrats to filibuster that vote. If it passes, it would be sent to the state House for approval. From there it would be sent to Governor Henry McMaster, who has said that he will sign any pro-life legislation that makes its way to his desk. President Donald Trump has slammed the gun laws of major US allies, claiming foreign countries could better protect their citizens and possibly stop terrorist attacks by loosening their gun control laws. In a speech to the National Rifle Association (NRA) Leadership Forum, Mr Trump sought to reassure members of the USs largest gun rights lobbying group of his support for the Second Amendment, after briefly expressing support for gun control measures in the wake of a school shooting in Florida. In his keynote address on Friday, the president suggested members of the NRA could have stopped a recent terrorist attack in Paris if they had been in the crowd. Calling Frances gun laws the toughest in the world, he described how terrorists had brutally shot and killed 130 people in the 2015 attack. Recommended Donald Trump to address NRA for first time since Parkland shooting But if one employee or just one patron had a gun or if one person in this room had been there with a gun, aimed at the opposite direction the terrorists would have fled or been shot, and it would have been a whole different story, he said. In the UK, too, Mr Trump said things would be different if gun laws were loosened. He recounted a story he had heard about a central London hospital that looked like a military war zone hospital because of all the stabbing victims it admitted. NRA board member Ted Nugent calls Florida shooting survivors 'soulless' Yes thats right, they dont have guns, they have knives, he said to cheers. London hasnt been used to that, he added. Theyre getting used to it. Its pretty tough. The US murder rate is seven times higher than other high-income countries, including France and the UK, according to a 2016 study published in The American Journal of Medicine. The rate of gun murders is 25.2 times higher. Mr Trump also alluded to the van attacks that have killed dozens of people in France, the UK and several other countries in recent years. He joked that Democrats who wanted to ban guns should ban cars too, because they are the new form of death for the maniac terrorists. We will never give up our freedom. We will live free and we will die free, he said, rallying attendees for the 2018 midterm elections. Weve got to do great in 18. Florida shooting in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting in pictures Florida shooting in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP Mr Trumps speech came in the wake of the 30th mass shooting in the US this year a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February that left 14 students and three faculty members dead. An armed security guard stationed outside the school failed to confront the shooter and stop the massacre, surveillance video has shown. Mr Trump made no mention on Friday of the gun control measures he had proposed in the wake of the Parkland shooting, including banning bump stocks and strengthening background checks all measures the NRA opposed. Instead, the president played up his plan to arm teachers, as well as mentioning the $2m he allotted to school safety improvements and mental health assistance. Your Second Amendment rights are under siege, but they will never, ever be under siege as long as Im your president, he told the crowd. NRA issues threatening video warning journalists 'your time is running out' Mr Trump has previously suggested preventing school shootings by arming teachers, giving highly skilled school employees licences to carry concealed firearms. He repeated the idea in his speech on Friday, as did Vice President Mike Pence. Firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens makes our communities more safe, not less, Mr Pence said, criticising the media for failing to cover instances in which gun owners saved lives. Mr Pence cited the example of Stephen Willeford, a Texas native who opened fire on the man who went on a shooting spree in the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs last November. The vice president failed to mention that Mr Willeford confronted the gunman only after he left the church, where he murdered 25 people, including a pregnant woman. Mr Willeford was honoured with a lifetime membership to the NRA earlier in the day. Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Show all 10 1 /10 Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Young people march from the White House to Capitol Hill while participating in the national school walkout over gun violence. EPA Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Thousands of local students march down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the US Capitol during a nationwide student walkout for gun control. AFP/Getty Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence A student has the words,'don't shoot,' written on her hands as she joins with other students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after walking out of their school to honor the memories of 17 students and teachers that were killed. Getty Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students take part in a walkout at General McLane High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students from Harvest Collegiate High School stand in Washington Square Park in New York to take part in a national walkout to protest gun violence. AFP/Getty Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students rally in front of the White House in Washington after walking out of school to protest gun violence in the biggest demonstration yet of the student activism that has emerged in response to last month's massacre of 17 people at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Airport High School juniors Tony LaFata, 16, left, and Noah Doederlein, 17, stands for a moment of silence during a walkout at General McLane High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Young people rally on the West Front of the US Capitol to participate in the national school walkout over gun violence, in Washington. EPA Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students from Passaic High School hold photos of some of the 17 victims killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. AP Students walk out of US schools to protest gun violence Students join hands as they take part in a student walkout in Lafayette. AP Heading to the forum on Friday, Mr Trump addressed comments by the newest addition to his legal team, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Mr Giuliani recently told Fox Newss Sean Hannity that the president reimbursed his lawyer for a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels a payment Mr Trump has claimed he knew nothing about. Boarding the Marine One helicopter to Dallas, Mr Trump chalked the comments up to Mr Giulianis inexperience. Were not changing any stories, Mr Trump said, adding that Rudy had just started and he wasnt totally familiar with everything. Donald Trump has said that a London hospital is as bad as a military war zone because of knife violence during a speech at the annual National Rifle Association convention praising gun rights. The comment came during a wide ranging speech in which Mr Trump promoted the work he is doing as president and sought to promote American gun ownership by comparing the US to European countries. I recently read a story that in London which has unbelievably tough gun laws a once very prestigious hospital, right in the middle, is like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds, Mr Trump said. Recommended NRA breaks fundraising record in month after Parkland shooting Yes, thats right. They dont have guns, he continued. They have knives. And, instead, theres blood all over the floors of this hospital. They say its as bada as a military war zone hospital. knives, knives knives. London hasnt been used to that. Theyre getting used to it. Its pretty tough. London has seen a particularly violent start to the year it has clocked more murders than New York City in recent months. That violence has been driven by a surge in knife crimes, with an overwhelming percentage of the murders coming from knife violence. In response, Britains interior ministry has indicated it is consulting on new laws that could further restrict dangerous weapons. That could include banning online stores from delivering knives to residential addresses, or making it an offence to have certain types of knives and weapons in public. This government is taking action to restrict access to offensive weapons as well as working to break the deadly cycle of violence and protect our children, families and communities, a Home Office spokesperson said in April. March for Our Lives in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 March for Our Lives in pictures March for Our Lives in pictures Demonstrators chant during the protest for gun legislation and school safety AP March for Our Lives in pictures Trevon Tre Bosley, 19, of Chicago, the brother of Terrell Bosley who was killed in 2006 in a case of mistaken identity, speaks during the rally AP March for Our Lives in pictures Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr speaks at the rally AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors line the streets in Washington Getty Images March for Our Lives in pictures People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors carrying placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Protestors hold up placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Schoolchildren wear targets ahead of the rally Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Attendees congregate in preparation for the march Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Students brought a host of innovative placards AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures The movements main demand is the banning of assault rifles Getty March for Our Lives in pictures Since the Florida shooting, students have called for urgent gun reform AFP/Getty March for Our Lives in pictures In the wake of the Florida attack, President Donald Trump called for teachers to be armed AFP/Getty An email to the White House seeking clarification on which hospital Mr Trump was referring to, what article he read, or why he chose to compare gun and knife violence was not immediately returned. The United Kingdom has some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the world, and requires citizens to undergo a grueling application process in order to lawfully own a gun. Those laws were put together piecemeal following the end of the Second World War, but were largely spurred by two national tragedies in 1987 when 16 people were killed in Hungerford, and then in 1996 in Dunblane when a shooter killed 16 schoolchildren. The tight gun control in the UK has led to a drop in firearm violence, and gun violence deaths in England and Wales rests at about one person per every one million, according to the Geneva Declaration of Armed Violence and Development. Thats compared to the US, which sees 160 times as many gun homicides, and has a population roughly six times larger. Before discussing the knife violence in the UK, Mr Trump referenced France's strict gun control laws as well. Mr Trump used the 2015 attacks in Paris as an example where he says more guns could have saved some of the 130 people who were killed. France's gun deaths are typically very low, however, and annually amount to about as many people as were killed during that terror attack in total. Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for drawing down US troops in South Korea, just weeks before he holds a landmark meeting with North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, according to several people briefed on the deliberations. Reduced troop levels are not intended to be a bargaining chip in Mr Trumps talks with Mr Kim about his weapons programme, these officials said. But they acknowledged that a peace treaty between the two Koreas could diminish the need for the 23,500 soldiers stationed on the peninsula. Mr Trump has been determined to withdraw troops from the region, arguing that the United States is not adequately compensated for the cost of maintaining them, that the troops are mainly protecting Japan and that decades of US military presence had not prevented North Korea from becoming a nuclear threat. His latest push coincides with tense negotiations with South Korea over how to share the cost of the military force. Under an agreement that expires at the end of 2018, South Korea pays about half the cost of the upkeep of the soldiers more than $800m (600m) a year. The Trump administration is demanding that it pay for virtually the entire cost of the military presence. The directive has rattled officials at the Pentagon and other agencies, who worry that any reduction could weaken the US alliance with South Korea and raise fears in neighbouring Japan at the very moment that the United States is embarking on a risky nuclear negotiation with North Korea. Officials declined to say whether Mr Trump was seeking options for a full or partial reduction of troops, although a full withdrawal was unlikely. They emphasised that rethinking the size and configuration of the US force was overdue, regardless of the sudden flowering of diplomacy with North Korea. But Mr Trumps meeting with Mr Kim injects an unpredictable new element. His enthusiasm for the encounter and the prospect of ending a nearly 70-year-old military conflict between the two Koreas has raised concerns that he may offer troop cuts in return for concessions by Mr Kim. Defence secretary James Mattis added to those concerns last Friday when he suggested that the future of the US military presence might be on the table. For Mr Trump, withdrawing troops would have multiple benefits, said Victor Cha, a Korea scholar at Georgetown University who was for a time under consideration to be ambassador to Seoul. It would appeal to his political base, save the United States money and give him a valuable chit in his negotiation with Mr Kim. But from the perspective of the US-South Korea alliance, Mr Cha said, it would represent a major retrenchment. Kelly E Magsamen, a top Asia policy official at the Pentagon during the Obama administration, said, US presence in South Korea is a sacrosanct part of our alliance. The South Korean government reiterated this week that the troops were still needed and would not be pulled out as a result of a peace treaty with North Korea. But even close allies of president Moon Jae-in have raised doubts about the rationale for a long-term US presence. What will happen to US forces in South Korea if a peace treaty is signed? Moon Chung-in, an adviser to the president, said in a widely read article published this week. It will be difficult to justify their continuing presence. North Korea Military Parade Show all 6 1 /6 North Korea Military Parade North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AFP/Getty Images North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AFP/Getty Images Mr Kim recently declared, through South Korean officials, that he would drop North Koreas long-standing insistence that US troops leave the peninsula. Some experts argue that watching US soldiers depart is far less important to him than winning relief from economic sanctions. For years, the US presence has been more important as a symbol of deterrence than as a fighting force. At their current levels, the troop numbers are down by about a third from the level in the 1990s. As the South Koreans have become a premier fighting force with their own special operations forces, the ability to oppose North Koreas artillery along the Demilitarized Zone and now their own cyber forces they have become less dependent on the United States. Most US troops have pulled back to well south of Seoul. The New York Times President Donald Trump has said he would love to sit down for an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller, saying he would override his lawyers advice to the contrary if he felt the interview would be fair. I would love to speak," Mr Trump told reporters outside Marine One before leaving for Dallas. "Nobody wants to speak more than me in fact, against my lawyers, because most lawyers say never speak on anything." He added: I would love to speak because weve done nothing wrong. Recommended Trump says he has right to fire anyone as Mueller showdown looms Special counsel Robert Mueller has been negotiating for an interview with the president for months, as part of his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Mr Trump has said on several occasions that he is willing to speak with Mr Mueller, but his lawyers have encouraged him not to do so. Mr Trump said on Friday that if he thought the interview would be fair, he would override his lawyers and sit down with the special counsel. But he also complained about the investigation as a whole, repeating his claims that it was a witch hunt run by his political enemies. The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images Why dont we have Republicans looking also? he said of the Justice Department probe. Why aren't we having Republican people doing what all these Democrats are doing? Mr Mueller is a Republican who was appointed to his former role as FBI director by President George W Bush. He had his original 10-year term extended by two years under President Barack Obama a fact Mr Trump noted on Friday, saying: In all fairness, Bob Mueller worked for Obama for eight years. If granted an interview, Mr Mueller plans to ask the president about his ties to Russia, and whether he obstructed an investigation into those same ties, according to a list of questions published by the New York Times this week. Donald Trump has insisted that withdrawing US troops from South Korea is not on the table - though he admitted he wanted Washington stop paying so much for their deployment. The US currently has around 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, a contingent that has been there since the conclusion of hostilities between North Korean and South Korean forces more than 60 years ago. This week it was reported that Mr Trump - who on Friday announced a date and location had been agreed for his meeting with Kim Jong-un - had asked his military chiefs to come up with options about reducing the number of US troops located in South Korea. On Friday, Mr Trumps National security adviser John Bolton called that report, in the New York Times, utter nonsense. The President has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House on his way to Dallas, where is to speak at the annual leadership conference of the National Rifle Association, said: Troops are not on the table. Yet he did admit he would like to say money of the deployment of US soldiers. Mr Trump has previously suggested he wants to reduce US troop numbers on the Korean peninsula. The cost of their presence costs more than $800m, with South Korea paying more than half the cost. Reports suggest the Trump administration is demanding the Seoul pay virtually the entire cost of the arrangement, which expires at the end of 2018. The talk about troop numbers comes amid a backdrop of improved relations between North and South Korea and an historic summit between the leaders of the two nations in the demilitarised zone that separates their countries. North Korea 'suspends' missile and nuclear tests The Times said that while the prospect of reducing troop numbers was not intended to be used as part of a bargaining chip ahead of Mr Trumps own planned meeting with North Korean Kim Jung-un, it quoted officials who said the prospect of a peace deal could create circumstances in which the number of soldiers could be reduced. The report also quoted Defense Secretary Jim Mattis whose comments suggested the future of a US military presence there could be on the table. Thats part of the issues that well be discussing in negotiations with our allies first, and of course with North Korea, he said last week. For right now, we just have to go along with process, have the negotiations and not try to make preconditions or presumptions about how its going to go. The posturing comes as South Koreas national security adviser is in Washington to meet Mr Bolton, ahead of the expected summit between Mr Trump and Mr Kim. It also follows an historic meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea a week ago. Reuters said the US National Security Council asked Chung Eui-yong to fly to the United States to discuss matters related to the summit. The United States had asked that the visit be kept quiet due to the issues to be addressed at meetings there, the news agency said. 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 South Korea has been working closely with old ally the United States on efforts to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, with an easing of tensions in recent months after threats of war from North Korea and Mr Trump. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Mr Kim pledged to work for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula at a summit on their heavily fortified border on April 27. North Korea has said it is ready to discuss denuclearisation and give up its nuclear programme as long as the security of Mr Kims regime is guaranteed. On Friday, Mr Trump said: Were having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages. I think you're going to see very good things. Of his planned meeting with the North Korean leader, he added: We have a date, we have a place. Mr Trump has suggested holding his meeting with Mr Kim, which is expected in late May or early June, at the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas, where Moon and Kim met. This would require close coordination with Seoul, although officials in the South Korean presidents office have said there has been no official requests to prepare the venue. It came amid a backdrop of improved relations between North and South Korea and an historic summit between the leaders of the two nations in the demilitarised zone that separates their countries. The White House has issued a warning to China over its increased military presence in the hotly contested South China Sea. "We're well aware of China's militarization of the South China Sea," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters, adding that there would be near-term and long-term consequences for the country. She did not specify what those consequences might be. Recommended US warships sail through South China Sea amid escalating tensions Ms Sanders was responding to reports that China had recently deployed missiles to three of the Spratly Islands fortified outposts in the South China Sea where Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have also claimed sovereignty. The missile deployment has not been confirmed, but Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday that deploying "necessary national defense facilities" to the islands was within China's rights. "It has nothing to do with militarization," Ms Chunying said at a press briefing. "The US constantly strengthens its military deployment in the South China Sea ... they should consider the consequence of this. Rex Tillerson calls China's actions in the South China Sea 'illegal' China has built up its presence on the islands more than any other country in the area, installing air bases, radar systems, and defence capabilities. On Tuesday, Chinas aircraft carrier conducted drills with fighter jets in the area for the first time. The anti-ship missiles that China is said to have installed in recent weeks can strike surface vessels within 295 nautical miles, according to CNBC. The surface-to-air missiles can reportedly strike aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. If the reports are accurate, they would be the first missiles deployed to the area. The US and other world powers have cautioned against the militarisation of the sea, which is a vital shipping channel and is thought to possess sizeable natural gas and oil deposits. Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expressed concern about the news on Friday, telling Sky News that if the reports were correct, it would be contrary to China's stated aspiration that it would not militarize these features. The Philippines gave a more muted response, owing to their recently developed close relationship and friendship with China. We are confident that those missiles are not directed at us, said Harry Roque, a spokesmen for President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Reuters. Be that as it may, we would explore all diplomatic means to address this issue. 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 News of the deployment came amid heightened tensions between China and the US, as President Donald Trump threatened to impose some $50bn in tariffs on China and President Xi Jinping threatened to retaliate in kind. The US has also increased its freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea under Mr Trump. China claims these operations are a violation of its sovereignty, and has threatened to step up their military presence in response. US Navy Admiral Philip Davidson warned of Chinas growing military presence in the area last month, telling the Senate Armed Services Committee that the country is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States. "The only thing lacking are the deployed forces, he said. Once occupied, China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania. Forecasters in India are warning of more storms to come, as the death toll from a sudden dust squall this week rose above 125 and another 21 died in a storm in southern India. Dust storms are not uncommon for this time of year in the region, with winds picking up desert sands from Iran and spraying them across Pakistan and India at high speeds. What has been remarkable has been the number of casualties from Wednesdays sudden storm, with officials now saying wind speeds of up to 126kph (78mph) were recorded. A tree which fell onto a road during the storm in Agra (AFP/Getty) More than 20 people were killed in a single village, Kheragarh, in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh state, where a number of homes were knocked down by the storm. Agra - home to the Taj Mahal, Indias most famous tourist attraction - was the hardest-hit area affected by the storm, with at least 43 dead and 35 injured. Officials said the iconic monument, in the headlines recently over its ongoing discolouration from pollution and insect droppings, escaped damage. Another 19 were killed in the worst-hit Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, where homes collapsed and trees and electricity pylons were brought down. Many more were treated for injuries at the Bharatpur hospital, including a man who told TV reporters he was knocked out when he was struck by a flying tin roof. Frame grab from video provided by XYZ News shows damage caused by a rainstorm in the western Indian state of Rajasthan (AP) An official from the crisis relief office in Uttar Pradesh state said the death toll was the worst from such a storm in the past 20 years, describing the devastation as unprecedented. Orange weather warnings were issued for northern as well as eastern states for late Friday going into the weekend. Indias Meteorological Department said that in particular, more dust storms and thunderstorms were forecast for West Rajasthan. There is a forecast for more storms in the next 48 hours across the state so people should be alert, relief office spokesman TP Gupta told the AFP news agency. Warnings had also been issued ahead of Wednesdays storm, but their ferocity took most by surprise. The freak storm was caused by a confluence of conditions - abnormally warm temperatures, high moisture and an unstable atmosphere. More dust storms and thunderstorms were forecast for West Rajasthan over the weekend (Reuters) It can be called a freak incident, Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet Weather, told the Hindustan Times. Dust storms are usually not this intense nor do these systems cover such a large area. The dust storm hit the capital, New Delhi, in the late afternoon on Wednesday. After a buildup in humidity throughout the day, the sky turned an improbable shade of orange and visibility dropped, as stinging dust sent people rushing for shelter. Most better-off Delhi residents made light of the storm on social media, welcoming the break in warm temperatures from the downpour of rain that followed, and at most complaining of a thin coating of dust left on surfaces exposed by open windows. (EPA (EPA) But the city is a place of extreme disparity between rich and poor, and those in the capitals shanty towns described the devastation such fierce winds caused to their homes. Sangeetha, a housemaid from the informal settlement of Harkesh Nagar, told The Independent the storm ripped the polythene-sheet roof off her shack and reduced her and other neighbours homes to near-rubble. My main concern was for my children, she said, the youngest of three being four years old. When the roof came off, the subsequent rainstorm drenched all the familys possessions, and cut off their electricity supply. The roof has been patched up and tied down but she said she worries about the warnings of more storms to come. At least we will be better prepared this time, she added. Separately, an unseasonable electrical storm in which lightning struck an estimated 40,000 times killed 21 people across the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Thursday. The dead included a seven-year-old boy who was playing under a tree when it was struck by lightning in Karmanghat, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. RV Chandravadan, head of the Telangana state disaster management department, told AFP people were killed by lightning and winds causing damage to structures and trees. We have similar weather warnings for [the] next two days, he said. Indias monsoon season does not begin for another six weeks and, if it continues, the unusual series of storms may serve to put a spotlight on the countrys pollution crisis. A 2011 study in Nature showed how air pollution exacerbates seasonal storms in the Middle East and South Asia. Figures released by the World Health Organisation on the same day as the deadly northern Indian storm showed that the country is home to 14 of the 20 most polluted cities on the planet. As one of the scientists behind the Tetris computer game, Armenian president Armen Sarkissian says he often reverts to logic models for political guidance. But there was little in his countrys dramatic revolution or democratic change as he puts it that he could have predicted with mathematics. Humans are not machines, he tells The Independent. They are much more complex. After Armenia transitioned to a parliamentary system of government this year, Mr Sarkissians office was supposed to have become non-political. The long-time ambassador to London was even nicknamed the British Queen on account of his largely ceremonial duties. But as the standoff between the countrys longtime leader Serzh Sargsyan and protest challenger Nikol Pashinyan enraptured a whole country, President Sarkissian was unexpectedly thrust onto centre stage, becoming an important mediator between the opposing factions. As a second parliamentary vote next Tuesday looks set to approve Pashinyan as prime minister, Armenia looks finally to be walking back from the brink. But the road has not always been easy. It was quite hard work bringing the sides together, says Mr Sarkissian. I did things that are not usually expected of a president, such as going into the crowds. But you couldnt do your job by simply sitting in an office. The presidents 21 April visit to a protest rally in Republic Square was a turning point in the protests. Footage from the scene of a major protest in Armenia following transport shutdown Many on the square Mr Pashinyan included remained suspicious of the president, still seen as a loose ally of the prime minister. Some attacked him over his historic British citizenship. But Mr Sarkissian says he enjoyed a fantastic experience on the square and describes his relations with the protest leader as constructive. As the two men shouted into each others ears, the president promised to arrange a meeting with Mr Sargsyan for the very next day. The one thing I emphasised was that this must be decided by dialogue and within the constitution, he says. On 22 April, Mr Sargsyan and Mr Pashinyan met, but they failed to reach an agreement. And a few hours later, the situation threatened to get out of control when the protest leader, two fellow MPs and 200 supporters were plucked from a rally by police. President Sarkissian says this was not a development he welcomed. He says he responded by convened a meeting with Mr Sargsyan and his leading officials the next day. They met in his modest residence in central Yerevan. And there, it seems, Mr Sargsyans future was decided. Confidential meetings will remain confidential, but you can make your judgments from the results, says Mr Sarkissian. Straight from the meeting, the deputy prime minister went with a warrant to release the parliamentarians. And a couple of hours later, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned. The 65-year old says he intends to stay on in his role for the foreseeable future, casting himself as the father of a young nation of survivors. We are all learning, and Im ready to get involved again if things go wrong, he says. Im ready to stand between police and protesters if I have to. 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 Swept along with mass popular support, Armenias uprising and the road to Mr Pashinyans likely premiership have been remarkably bloodless. But it might not continue thus. The countrys old elite still hold a grip over most of the levers of power. Corrupt forces still control the countrys electoral systems, which will be crucial in in any snap parliamentary vote. And the decapitated ruling Republican Party is unlikely to miss a chance to strike back at some point in the near future. Mr Sarkissian hints at the problems that lie ahead for Armenias revolutionary leadership. Mr Pashinyan has shown himself to be a very talented politician, with an acute sense of public opinion, he says. But running the government provides a completely a different challenge. He will have to provide answers to all the questions he has asked. And people will have to realise that not everything that went before was black, and not everything will be white tomorrow. But for the first time in a long time, the president is confident that Armenia is finally heading for less choppier waters. The models have become predictable again, he says. And Im proud of that. Lebanon is a colourful place at the moment. Spring has been unusually warm; the hillsides above Beirut are green and the pink and purple blossom of bougainvillea and jacaranda trees drift down onto the citys streets. The plethora of new political flags and posters, however, is definitely more eye-catching. On Sunday Lebanons diverse population of six million will cast their votes for the first time since 2009 in a national election which should end almost a decade of political gridlock. Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri says resignation on hold awaiting talks The new elections come with a set of complicated new rules designed to move Lebanon towards a proportionally representative system for the first time, allowing space for more independents and reducing the power of establishment blocs formed by the countrys multiconfessional political system. Critics, however, say that since the new electoral law asks voters to pick lists of allied sects and parties, as well as prioritise individual candidates on the list of their choice, it accentuates the already divisive tendencies of Lebanons complex politics by making candidates on the same slates compete with each other. Like almost every law on the books in Lebanon, the way it looks on paper is very different to how it is applied or fairly administered in practice, said Imad Salameh, a professor of politics at Beiruts Lebanese American University. We are injecting into the normal proportional system this Lebanese twist. Parliament is unlikely to change too much. But it is a step in the right direction. Lebanons politics which involves 18 officially represented sectarian groups is famously complicated. The filth and the fury: A mountain of rubbish is blighting Lebanon's once-beautiful beaches Show all 2 1 /2 The filth and the fury: A mountain of rubbish is blighting Lebanon's once-beautiful beaches The filth and the fury: A mountain of rubbish is blighting Lebanon's once-beautiful beaches 626227.bin KATE BROOKS The filth and the fury: A mountain of rubbish is blighting Lebanon's once-beautiful beaches 626228.bin KATE BROOKS In the Christian villages just below the cedar forests of north Lebanons Tannourine, huge posters of the Christian president, Michel Aoun, are currently hung underneath tens of Shia Hezbollahs distinctive yellow flag, green fists brandishing AK-47s. Some of the countrys more surprising political partnerships such as that of the recently elected Mr Aoun and Lebanons Sunni prime minister, Saad Hariri say a lot about how Lebanons internal politics are still intrinsically linked to its position in the region and the Middle Easts wider power struggles. Lebanese media has been dominated in recent weeks by pundits angry that the countrys biggest issues the heavily indebted economy, the disarmament of Hezbollah, Syrian refugees and crises in public services such as electricity and garbage have for the most part been sidelined by the major parties, who are too preoccupied with forging allegiances to maintain the status quo to assure voters they will do whats best for the country. Analysts believe that the reaction of Iran and the administration of US President Donald Trump both of which have proxy interests in Lebanon will depend on other events across the region. The problem is, the Trump administration and Iran will treat the election results depending on so many other factors, said Mohaned Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Centre. Theres so much happening in May in the region alone. We will still be counting the votes, probably, when Trump pulls out of the Iran deal, and Iraq holds its own elections, which may change a lot in the Shia power balance there. Our future is dependent on many variables outside our control. The rest of the Middle East casts a long shadow on the tiny country. Internally, so do ongoing rows over gerrymandering, conflicts of interest, party funding and the steep cost for independents for running a slate. Despite all that, however, there is still a sense of optimism among many young people in Lebanon 800,000 of whom are excited to cast a vote for the first time. Art exhibition in Lebanon shut down by people trying to erase imperialism from their history A record number of women are running this year and civil society movements aimed at educating people about their democratic rights are flourishing. The best way of looking at these elections is: they are an exercise for the new blood in Lebanese politics and new candidates and movements popping up everywhere to try contest the sectarian establishment and elite, said Mr Ali. It is building up some sort of new independent movement for the next round. Its a long process, and theres a long way to go. The May Bank Holiday is just around the corner, and there are events taking place all around the UK to make the most of the three-day weekend. Taking place on 7 May this year, Early Bank Holiday Monday is the first of two bank holidays in England and Wales this May. From free food festivals to a jousting tournament, here are some of the best things to do around the country. The EY Exhibition: Impressionists in London, French Artists in Exile comes to an end on Bank Holiday Monday, making it the last day for visitors to enjoy works by Monet, Tissot, Pissaro and more. The exhibition provides insight into how French artists in exile, who had left the country to escape war, perceived the English capital during their stay. Entry 17.70; free entry for children under 12. The Great Malvern Food Festival takes place on Bank Holiday Monday this year, with over 60 stalls of locally produced food, drink and crafts. Great Malvern Food Festival features over 60 stalls (Great Malvern Food Festival) The festival will include cookery demonstrations from Worcestershire chefs, local musicians, street performers and activities for children. Free entry. Open-air museum The Beamish tells the story of the North East of England in the early 19th and 20th centuries and the 1940s. On Bank Holiday Monday, the museum will celebrate by crowning the May Day King and Queen, with music, Maypole dancing and crafts. Entry 19. Wigans Three Sisters Circuit hosts a Family Day on Bank Holiday Monday, with rally cars, drifting cars, go karts and motorbikes set to feature. Visitors are encouraged to learn more about motorsports and see if theyd like to train to race on the circuits 1.5km newly resurfaced track. Entry to track is 5 for adults and free for anyone under 16. City of Derry Jazz Festival takes place from 3-7 May. Headline act Van Morrison performs on both Sunday and Monday at Millennium Forum, while other performers include Dinosaur, Heavy Beat Brass Band and The Revolutionaires. Derry Jazz Festival has plenty of free performances (Derry Jazz Festival) In addition to the shows, there will also be dance classes and musical instrument workshops. The majority of shows at the festival are free, but there are some ticketed events. On Bank Holiday Monday, Norfolk Museums is running a series of medieval mystery tours, including highlights of the Castle Keep and displays of unusual items from the collections. Exhibitions run from 10.30am-3.30pm; entry 33.40 for a family ticket. Oxfords Spring Jousting Tournament takes place throughout the weekend, culminating on Bank Holiday Monday. Blenheim Palaces Spring Jousting Tournament (Blenheim Palace) In addition to daily jousting, guests can enjoy jester performances and a dragon procession, plus get up close to birds of prey. Entry 26 for a Parks and Gardens ticket. Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire is hosting a Crafts Fair from 5-7 May. Visitors will be able to buy hand-made arts and crafts from around the world, and there will be a range of food stalls, plus donkey rides, birds of prey, paintball, a bouncy castle, face painting, chainsaw carving and a beer tent. Entry 3. On Bygone Beverley Raceday, the race course will celebrate the 1960s (Beverley Racecourse) Beverley Racecourse, near Hull, is hosting a Bygone Beverley Raceday on Bank Holiday Monday. Recreating the sights and sounds of the courses meeting on 7 May 1960, staff will be wearing bowlers and headscarves, while a number of traditional rides and stalls will hark back to the swinging Sixties. Entry 4. Artist Marija Nemcenko, the Lithuanian Cultural Institute and the European Commission in the UK are hosting a day of talks, screenings and workshops on Bank Holiday Monday at BRUT Europe, all exploring European Modernist architecture in contemporary cities. Speakers include Edward Hollis, Chris Leslie and Evelina Simkute and there will be screen-printing workshops and a screening of Disappearing Glasgow. Free entry, including lunch. Popping up at 133 Bethnal Green Road, from 8am until 2pm on Sunday, a stones throw away from the world-famous Brick Lane, the New York Bakery Co will be encouraging Brits to spend quality time together for the most important meal of the day breakfast. Serving five takes on classic NYC bagel recipes, items on the menu include classic smoked salmon and cream cheese, American bacon and runny poached egg on bed of smashed avocado and a piled pastrami, gherkin and mustard stack. Each attendee will be given a free ticket that entitles them to one of the choices on the menu, with the option to build your own. Organiser say kids can get crafty with breakfast benches and blackboards, chalk and games. As tens of thousands of passengers found themselves stranded by an Air France strike, the airlines boss has quit. At 7pm local time, the results of a ballot on the airlines pay offer were published. Four-fifths of the workforce voted; 55 per cent of them rejected the airlines deal. Jean-Marc Janaillac, the 65-year-old chief executive of the French carrier, then announced he would tender his resignation in the coming days. Recommended Hundreds of flights potentially cancelled as Air France staff strike Air France is engaged in a long and bitter pay dispute with pilots, cabin crew and ground staff. Fridays stoppage is the 13th so far this year. Employees say their wages have lost ground due to an effective pay freeze since 2011, while the French carrier is making handsome profits. In February, the Air France group reported a 42 per cent rise in operating profit to 1.49bn (1.32bn). At the time, Mr Janaillac praised the commitment of employees and the continuing focus on the quality of customer service. The staff have demanded a 6 per cent rise, while Air France has offered 7 per cent over four years, along with some other benefits. Mr Janaillac had said before the ballot: I have complete faith in the desire of Air France staff to put an end to this destructive situation for our airline. He had also described the strikes as incomprehensible. The dispute has so far cost Air France around 300m, as well as intangible reputational damage. While three-quarters of flights are generally operated on a strike day, cancellations typically affect 40,000 passengers. Air France has been hit by weeks of strikes by pilots and other workers (Shutterstock) The effects of Fridays strike will continue into the weekend, with the first flights from Heathrow and Edinburgh to Paris cancelled, along with many long-haul services which did not leave the French capital as scheduled. The unions have said in a joint statement that they intended to keep up the pressure for our wage demands. Another two-day strike is planned for Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 May. Forward bookings are being damaged by the continuing threat of industrial action. One-sixth of the airline is owned by the French government. The Dutch part of the operation, KLM, is not affected by the strikes. There is a delicious old Soviet joke about Radio Yerevan: a listener asks: Is it true that Rabinovitch won a new car in the lottery?, and the radio presenter answers: In principle yes, its true, only it wasnt a new car but an old bicycle, and he didnt win it but it was stolen from him. Does exactly the same not hold for Marxs legacy today? Lets ask Radio Yerevan: Is Marxs theory still relevant today? We can guess the answer: in principle yes, he describes wonderfully the mad dance of capitalist dynamics which only reached its peak today, more than a century and a half later, but Gerald A Cohen enumerated the four features of the classic Marxist notion of the working class: (1) it constitutes the majority of society; (2) it produces the wealth of society; (3) it consists of the exploited members of society; and (4) its members are the needy people in society. When these four features are combined, they generate two further features: (5) the working class has nothing to lose from revolution; and (6) it can and will engage in a revolutionary transformation of society. None of the first four features applies to todays working class, which is why features (5) and (6) cannot be generated. Even if some of the features continue to apply to parts of todays society, they are no longer united in a single agent: the needy people in society are no longer the workers, and so on. But lets dig into this question of relevance and appropriateness further. Not only is Marxs critique of political economy and his outline of the capitalist dynamics still fully relevant, but one could even take a step further and claim that it is only today, with global capitalism, that it is fully relevant. However, at the moment of triumph is one of defeat. After overcoming external obstacles the new threat comes from within. In other words, Marx was not simply wrong, he was often right but more literally than he himself expected to be. For example, Marx couldnt have imagined that the capitalist dynamics of dissolving all particular identities would translate into ethnic identities as well. Todays celebration of minorities and marginals is the predominant majority position alt-rightists who complain about the terror of political correctness take advantage of this by presenting themselves as protectors of an endangered minority, attempting to mirror campaigns on the other side. And then theres the case of commodity fetishism. Recall the classic joke about a man who believes himself to be a grain of seed and is taken to a mental institution where the doctors do their best to finally convince him that he is not a grain but a man. When he is cured (convinced that he is not a grain of seed but a man) and allowed to leave the hospital, he immediately comes back trembling. There is a chicken outside the door and he is afraid that it will eat him. John McDonnell says he won't be a Marxist Chancellor Dear fellow, says his doctor, you know very well that you are not a grain of seed but a man. Of course I know that, replies the patient, but does the chicken know it? So how does this apply to the notion of commodity fetishism? Note the very beginning of the subchapter on commodity fetishism in Marxs Das Kapital: A commodity appears at first sight an extremely obvious, trivial thing. But its analysis brings out that it is a very strange thing, abounding in metaphysical subtleties and theological niceties. Commodity fetishism (our belief that commodities are magic objects, endowed with an inherent metaphysical power) is not located in our mind, in the way we (mis)perceive reality, but in our social reality itself. We may know the truth, but we act as if we dont know it in our real life, we act like the chicken from the joke. Niels Bohr, who already gave the right answer to Einsteins God doesnt play dice(Dont tell God what to do!), also provided the perfect example of how a fetishist disavowal of belief works. Seeing a horseshoe on his door, a surprised visitor commented that he didnt think Bohr believed superstitious ideas about horseshoes bringing good luck to people. Bohr snapped back: I also do not believe in it; I have it there because I was told that it works whether one believes in it or not! This is how ideology works in our cynical era: we dont have to believe in it. Nobody takes democracy or justice seriously, we are all aware of their corruption, but we practice them in other words, we display our belief in them because we assume they work even if we do not believe in them. With regard to religion, we no longer really believe, we just follow (some of the) religious rituals and mores as part of the respect for the lifestyle of the community to which we belong (non-believing Jews obeying kosher rules out of respect for tradition, for example). I do not really believe in it, it is just part of my culture seems to be the predominant mode of the displaced belief, characteristic of our times. Culture is the name for all those things we practice without really believing in them, without taking them quite seriously. This is why we dismiss fundamentalist believers as barbarians or primitive, as anti-cultural, as a threat to culture they dare to take seriously their beliefs. The cynical era in which we live would have no surprises for Marx. Marxs theories are thus not simply alive: Marx is a ghost who continues to haunt us and the only way to keep him alive is to focus on those of his insights which are today more true than in his own time. So. Were you up for, erm..? What were you up for? Were you up for Nuneaton? Were you up for Richmond? Barnet? Were you up for, quite frankly, a whole lot of not very much? Perhaps, indeed, you just went to bed at a reasonable hour, on the long night after the long day on which the great English public, peered up at the political firmament and decided, like a cartoon dog casually drinking a cup of tea in a burning building, that this is fine. Recommended Labour fail to win key London councils as Conservatives make gains Labour had made big noises about stealing control of some of the Conservatives most historically rock solid London boroughs, but it didnt happen. The final nail in that particular coffin coming shortly before 6am, when it became clear the gains required to gain Barnet council were not going to happen. In fact, it might just have been that the night peaked with John McDonnell bickering with Claire Perry on BBC News for what felt like eleven hours but was in fact merely two. The problem, with this stuff, when youre drifting in and out of sleep and the volumes still turned on, is that you cant quite be sure whats real and what youve dreamed. The bit where the Conservative Energy Minister raised her hand three times to the Shadow Chancellor and said stop talking down to me I am pretty sure happened. The bit where she leapt from her seat, stood on the glass desk and actually began to strangle him, his life only spared by a violent last minute intervention from Huw Edwards - well Ive rewound it on iplayer a few times now and cant find it, so who knows. It was, in fact, in about round eight of this gripping showdown that Labour lost control of Nuneaton council, the UKs current favourite political bellwether. Mr McDonnell grimaced at the result on the screen. He sipped a cup of tea. The studio caught fire. This was fine. Were you up for Ukips 48 hour party leader person Suzanne Evans, appearing on screen to spin away her partys near total death spiral? We havent had a leader, she said. We werent prepared, sounding never more like the kid who would definitely have gone to Oxford, actually, if hed bothered to revise, but sod that Im having the time of my life right here at Carphone Warehouse. Were you up for Richmond-upon-Thames, at 03.54? When the real Lib Dem Fightback started now? They took overall control of that council, gaining a huge 24 seats, with the Conservatives losing 28. There in the background, a beaming Sarah Olney, proud Liberal Democrat MP for the Richmond Park constituency for all of 151 days. By 6.30am, Ukip had won a huge two seats, and lost 86, but proud celebrators of their demise should consider the context. Ukip has lost some local council seats. The Lib Dems have gained control of some very Remainery bits of London. But the UK is still kind of leaving the EU, if youre wondering whos really winning here, to quote a diamond shaped yellow placard somewhere near you. Of course, when nothing happens, everything happens, and the night becomes a tale of pure, undiluted expectation management. When no ones won, its always the other side that definitely lost. Big Labour gains in Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea fell short of overall victory, and naturally to explain why, there was Tory party deputy chairman James Cleverly on the BBC News channel, to point out that voters had probably been scared off by big Momentum events there. In fact, the one council that Labour did gain, Plymouth, was the only one in which its big Momentum canvassing event was cancelled. Any spin will do. The conventional truth of recent years is that absolutely nothing you expect to happen actually happens. In fact so ingrained is that rule now, that when the mundane occurs it almost shocks. Just when you start seriously to entertain the idea that, actually, maybe elections dont get won from the centre anymore, along comes a result like this, when two parties orbiting their fringes fail to make any meaningful gains. It is a political zombie dawn. But the one thing you can still be sure of - whatever bearing this is meant to have on whatever big political event comes next, be it a general election, or indeed a second EU referendum, which cannot be entirely ruled out - whatever you think might happen, well it wont happen. Or maybe not. If these local elections of 2018, marked, for the first time in years, the vaguest return to normality, to believable opinion polls, and gradual change. Well the night ended where it started. With positions entrenched. The dial not shifting. And that position ends in Labour defeat. Nothing has changed, as someone once said. Nothing has changed. The end of Ukip In 2014, Ukip won 17 per cent of the votes in local elections. Now like the Poujade movement in France in the 1950s Ukip is dead. The votes have gone back to their natural right-wing home, the Conservative Party. No change The two main parties, Conservative and Labour, stay roughly the same. As with the continuing 50-50 split on Europe, two years after the Brexit referendum, British politics is in stasis with no sense of dramatic movement in any direction, left or right, pro or anti-Brexit. Anti-Brexit gains With Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn insisting that the Brexit vote cannot be challenged and the UK must leave the single market and the existing EU customs union, voters did increase their votes for the clearly anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, which was the surprise if modest winner last night. Labour's Brexit denial Labour refused to campaign in London the heartland of the pro-European vote in the 2016 referendum on the issue of Brexit. There are one million EU citizens in London who had the right to vote in local elections the last time they can do so before the UK leaves Europe. Labour failed to capture all their votes with a strong anti-Brexit message. Sitting on the Brexit fence did not help Labour in key seats in the midlands and the north where there are more Leave voters. Tory mutineers For Tory MPs who are considering voting to keep the UK in the customs union the main vote on the EU that has to happen in the house of commons in the next months can no longer be pressured by party managers to vote for a hard Brexit with the argument it would threaten a general election with the strong possibility that Jeremy Corbyn would become prime minister. Local Elections 2018: The results so far Corbyn's march is over The forward march of Labour seen in Jeremy Corbyns gains in Mays snap general election of 2017 has now come to a halt. Capital failure Jeremy Corbyn made massive efforts to win in London. He turned up as no previous Labour leader has done in history to personally lead local campaigning in London. Yet Labour failed to win any of the four Boroughs Westminster, Wandsworth, Kensington and Barnett that it threw all its energy into conquering. Corbyn never mentioned Europe in any of his campaigning speeches and thus failed to enthuse the large majority of Remain voters in London. It is clear that Jewish voters in Barnet are not ready to vote for a Labour Party accused of failing to deal with any expression of anti-Jewish sentiment by some Labour activists. Lib Dem resurgence While Labour failed to win the four London councils it was targeting, the pro-EU Lib Dems did win the big middle class council of Richmond. Since Brexit the BBC has treated Ukips Nigel Farage as one of the most important national political leaders in the UK. The BBC favouritism of Farage and Ukip can no longer be justified as he and the party no longer have any electoral base. London calling The Labour leadership is overwhelmingly drawn from London MPs the leader, shadow chancellor, shadow foreign secretary, shadow home secretary, shadow Brexit spokesman some of whom boasted that Labour would take over major London councils. This failure to translate the parliamentary wins in London into council wins should cause Labour to think whether its inability to articulate a pro-European message in UK capital is intelligent vote-winning politics. No more elections In 2017 and 2018 there were elections that dominated UK politics. Now there is no election is sight until 2022 when the next general election takes place. Both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have been shaken by yesterdays vote but not to the extent that results in their leadership being challenged or forcing a major rethink in their approach to Brexit. Now the newly elected councillors and MPs not having to worry about an election for four years will have to turn their minds to Brexit. May has delayed and put on hold any decision about the UK in Europe. That period of avoiding any leadership or facing up to deciding how to handle key decision is over. The question remains open for MPs to decide whether to back the full amputation desired by the Tory Brexiteers or instead start to step up the pressure for a more moderate approach that preserves peace in Ireland and maintains economic opening to Europe. Denis MacShane was a Labour MP for 18 years and the UKs Minister for Europe when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. His latest book is 'Brexit, No Exit. Why (in the End) Britain Wont Leave Europe' Given that she wore a $75,000 (55,000) dress for her engagement pictures, and Im still deciding whether I can afford to add an extra hold bag on my upcoming flight, Im surprised to say this. But today I found myself sympathising with Meghan Markle. Why? Because her siblings just dont seem to be able to leave her alone to get on with it and enjoy her wedding. Perhaps theyre bitter about not being invited, or maybe theyre running out of childhood photos to sell. But whatever the reason, theyre clearly not happy. And now her half-brother, Thomas Markle Junior, has published an open letter to Prince Harry, telling him to call off the wedding. Some choice quotes from the letter include: As more time passes to your royal wedding, it became very clear that this is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history, and Its 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 the royal family heritage. Thomas also claims that Meghan bankrupted their father and that she hasnt offered him financial support since becoming famous. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures Show all 55 1 /55 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. The Invictus Games is an international sport event for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. It was created by the Duke of Sussex and aims to use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding of all those who serve their country Invictus Games Foundation/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures November 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photograph in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace following the announcement of their engagement AFP/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures November 2017 Meghan Markle shows off her engagement ring AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures December 2017 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene in King's Lynn Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures January 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan during a visit to Reprezent 107.3FM in Pop Brixton. The Reprezent training programme was established in Peckham in 2008, in response to the alarming rise in knife crime, to help young people develop and socialise through radio Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures January 2018 Meghan Markle greets well-wishers on arrival at Cardiff Castle for a day showcasing the rich culture and heritage of Wales AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures January 2018 The couple watching a dance performance by Jukebox Collective during their to Cardiff Castle AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures February 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people in Edinburgh. The reception celebrated youth achievements, marking Scotlands Year of Young People 2018, an initiative that aims to inspire Scotland through its young people: celebrating their achievements, strengthening their voice on social issues and creating new opportunities for them to shine AFP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures February 2018 Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William at the first annual Royal Foundation Forum in London. Under the theme 'Making a Difference Together', the event showcased the programmes run or initiated by The Royal Foundation Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures March 2018 Prince William, Kate, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures March 2018 Meghan Markle greets well-wishers after a visit to one of Belfast's most historic buildings, The Crown Liquor Saloon, a former Victorian gin palace, now run by the National Trust. It was the Royal couple's first joint visit to Northern Ireland AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures April 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet participants as they attend the UK team trials for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 at the University of Bath AFP via Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2018 Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arriving at Cliveden House Hotel the night before her wedding to Prince Harry Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2018 Royal fans sing for the television in Windsor the day before the Royal wedding AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2018 Meghan Markle walks down the aisle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, during her wedding AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand facing each other hand-in-hand before Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during their wedding ceremony AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2018 Prince Harry kisses the Duchess of Sussex, as they pass through the Cambridge Gate into the grounds of Windsor Castle at the end of their carriage procession AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2018 The newly married royals leave Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures June 2018 Queen Elizabeth II sitts and laughs with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in the town of Widnes in Halton, Cheshire Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures June 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan return in a horse-drawn carriage after attending the Queen's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour' on Horseguards parade AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures July 2018 Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF Chris Jackson/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures July 2018 Meghan and Prince Harry kiss after the Sentebale Polo event that was held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures August 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet the cast and crew of "Hamilton" backstage after the gala performance in support of Sentebale at Victoria Palace Theatre Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2018 Meghan meets 7-year-old Matilda Booth during the annual WellChild awards at Royal Lancaster Hotel in London Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan meet 98-year-old Daphne Dunne during a meet and greet at the Sydney Opera House during an official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala named Ruby and its koala joey named Meghan after the Duchess of Sussex during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry looks on as his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is hugged by student Luke Vincent of Buninyong Public School following the couple's arrival at Dubbo Regional Airport in Dubbo AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Harry and his wife Meghan watch aboriginal dances at Victoria Park in Dubbo AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet with lifeguards at South Melbourne Beach. BeachPatrol is a network of volunteers who are passionate about keeping Melbourne's beaches and foreshores clear of litter to reduce the negative impact of litter on the marine environment and food chain, and provide a safe environment for the public to enjoy their local beach Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan join a circle during a "Fluro Friday" session run by OneWave, a local surfing community group who raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing, at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach AFP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 The British royals kicked off their shoes and donned tropical garlands on Bondi Beach AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts, mats and tapa cloths at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in Rotorua AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures November 2018 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at a service marking the centenary of WW1 armistice at Westminster Abbey Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures February 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visit the Kasbah of the Udayas near the Moroccan capital Rabat AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures March 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan speak on stage during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena in London Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures March 2019 Meghan and Prince Harry react as they are presented with baby gifts by Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Janice Charette, at Canada House, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, in central London AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2019 A congratulatory banner message circling the BT Tower reading "Congratulations Harry and Meghan It's a Baby Boy!" AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2019 Footmen Stephen Kelly and Sarah Thompson set up an official notice on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace on May 6, announcing the birth of a son to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2019 Pround parents pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle. The Duchess of Sussex gave birth at 5:26 on 6 May Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures May 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan walk away after posing for photographs with their newborn son AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures June 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan join the New York Yankees in their clubhouse and receive gifts for Archie ahead of their match against the Boston Red Sox at the London Stadium. The historic two-game series marked the sport's first games ever played in Europe and The Invictus Games Foundation was selected as the official charity of Mitel and MLB London Series 2019 Invictus Games Foundation/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures July 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet cast and crew, including US singer-songwriter Beyonce and her husband, US rapper Jay-Z as they attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dance as they arrive for a visit to the "Justice desk", an NGO in the township of Nyanga in Cape Town, as they begin their tour of the region. Their first official family visit in the coastal city AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan pose with members of "Waves For Change" NGO at Monwabisi Beach outside of Cape Town. "Waves For Change" NGO fuses surfing with child-friendly mind and body therapy to provide mental health services to vulnerable young people living in challenging communities AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2019 The royals arrive to visit the oldest mosque of Cape Town in Dorp Street in Bo Kaap district AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2019 The Duchess of Sussex visits Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day with the Duke of Sussex during their royal tour of South Africa. Auwal Mosque is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa and for the Muslim community, this mosque symbolises the freedom of former slaves to worship Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan hold their baby son Archie as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures September 2019 The British royal couple were on a 10-day tour of southern Africa -- their first official visit as a family since their son Archie was born AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Duke last met with Mrs Machel during his visit to South Africa in 2015 Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures October 2019 Meghan and Prince Harry attend a roundtable discussion on gender equality with The Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT) and One Young World at Windsor Castle Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures December 2019 Prince Harry holding his son Archie. The photo was used on Instagram to wish their followers a happy new year SussexRoyal/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures January 2020 Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart Canada House in London after visiting to show thanks for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in pictures January 2020 Front page headlines, from UK daily papers, reporting on the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, plan to step back as "senior" members of the Royal Family AFP via Getty On the face of it, future princesss half-brother writes angry open letter which is shared in every major news outlet in the world seems like a very niche problem. But if you strip away the glamorous side, whats really happening here isnt that unique at all. Its something that happens to people all over the world, and its (unofficially) called the crab bucket effect. The crab bucket effect is best explained like this: youve got a bucket full of water, and crabs. Every now and then one crab climbs on top of the other crabs and climbs the side of the bucket, making a break for freedom. But then another crab will swipe at it, pulling it back into the bucket. Now both the crabs are stuck in the bucket. It really happens with crabs. And you know who else it really happens with? People. People who do things like move away from the town where they grew up, go to college, or university, or undertake apprenticeships. People who want more than their parents had. More doesnt have to mean going to a top university, living in a big city and earning lots of money (though often, it does). More can be anything you want. Thats the ugliness of the crab bucket. It doesnt matter what youre working towards. If its different from what you were given the day you were born, there will always be those people who see your desire for change as a betrayal. For Meghan Markle the crab bucket effect is her brother publicly humiliating her on the national stage because shes no longer like him. For regular people, its snide comments about a changed accent or being up yourself when you come home from the university holidays. But its tantamount to the same thing. The price for wanting more is, apparently, betraying everything that you came from. Royal wedding invites for Meghan and Harry's wedding made using special gold machine When I came back from uni, half my friends didnt want to speak to me, one anonymous woman who attended Cambridge in the early noughties told me. They clearly expected me to be a snob, but actually it was they who were being judgmental. Not me. This experience is echoed by another twenty-something, who went to a Russell Group university in 2013. Id go home at the weekend or in the holidays and my parents would take the p*** constantly. Theyd ask if I was too good to do the washing up, or if I was too clever to join in with a family board game. I think they were trying to be funny but it made me feel like I wasnt welcome there. I go home a lot less now. The most confusing aspect of the crab bucket is that it often comes from the people who encouraged you in the first place. Parents who stood on the sidelines cheering you on and siblings who helped you with your homework suddenly struggle when you show signs of defecting from the world that they have built. So what motivates this kind of behaviour? Well, very often its a sense of hurt. Watching a person you love speeding away from the world that you built for them because they want something that they perceive to be better must be upsetting, even if that hurt is mixed with pride. As with all things family, the only real solution is to talk about it, to explain that the jokes about your fancy London ways or forgetting your roots have a real sting. The chances are, the people making the jokes are smoothing over their own self consciousness their own worries that the higher you rise, the less you will want to come home and be with the people who raised you. Thats the mad thing about the crab bucket effect. Its cruel and hurtful and even humiliating. But at the end of the day, its motivated by a fear of losing you, and ultimately by love. Misplaced, badly expressed love, but love nonetheless. Packie Donnelly plans to sell his three farms and retire by the time he is 60. And yet, it is going to take something special to push him to make the break and retire from a job that has been more than a means to an end for his entire working life. "People keep me going and say there is no way I will ever walk away, and they might be right," he said. "I've spent so much time and worked so hard to get the farms built up and I'm very particular about the way things are done. Everything has to be spotlessly clean and 100 per cent, so it would be hard for me to leave it to someone else. "I think I will have to move to Spain or somewhere if I sell up." Packie (54) has three holdings all within a few miles of one another in and around Rathkenny and Martinstown, outside Ballymena, Co Antrim. Brought up on a farm, it seemed only natural that he should follow in his father's footsteps. "I am the oldest boy, there were eight children in total - four boys and four girls," he explained. "I was reared on the farm and always farmed. As far back as I can remember I worked on the farm. "I would have been milking the cows, wheeling dung, doing anything and everything that needed done. "My dad had milking cows and sheep. We grew spuds as well and we had pigs and I helped with all of it. "Then, when I was 17, I went to Australia. "My mum's brother had a farm out there and I went to stay with him. I was only meant to be over there for about six months but I ended up staying three years and spent time in Melbourne and Tasmania." However, unlike many people who spend time travelling in Australia, Packie made the decision to return to Northern Ireland. "I was always going to come back because I wanted to farm," he explained. "I came home and did what I wanted to do and when I was in my mid-20s my dad died and I continued on working on the family farm." At the same time, Packie worked as a lorry driver, but 15 years ago he decided to make the biggest financial investment of his life and purchase a farm. "I wanted to farm all the time," he explained. He now has more than 100 acres across the three farms and while he is doing a job he loves, it is not without its own headaches. "There's so much red tape," he said. "There are rules and regulations for everything, you might own the land, but you have no say any more on how it is used, that's basically how it is. "I'm not sure how the red tape now really compares to farming when I was younger, because I just got on with it then and didn't really know any better. "I voted for leave with Brexit because I thought it would be a good thing for farmers, but no-one seems to know now what's going to happen, whether it's going to make things easier or harder. "The weather can be a big problem as well when you're a farmer, you're very reliant on getting some dry weather to get work done." One of the things which has helped Packie to ensure that his farms remain sustainable through difficult and challenging times has been his interest in showing. He has an endless list of accolades under his belt and this in turn has helped him to raise the profile and price of his cattle and sheep. He is so passionate about showing that he even spends a great deal of his spare time on judging. "I'm actually going to Spain to judge the week before Balmoral," he said. "It's something I have always enjoyed doing, although it didn't come from my dad, as he wouldn't have been interested. "I think I would miss it if I didn't do it." In addition to the countless hours that he spends in preparing for shows, Packie also spends a great deal of time at markets, building up a rapport with potential customers. He said this is crucial to the success of his business. "It's so important to talk to people, to make sure you are selling the best stock possible and they will always come back to you," he said. So, what is the one piece of advice he would give to a young person looking to start out in farming? Be prepared to work extremely hard, according to Packie. He said: "You have to get out and get the work done whenever you get the opportunity and if that means staying out until eight or 10 at night, then that's what it takes. "Your day doesn't finish until all the work that needs to be done gets done." However, he acknowledged that conditions are very different nowadays compared to when he was starting out. "I don't think you would be able to buy a farm and start from scratch," he said. "There is too much cost and red tape and unless you're inheriting land to farm it would be too dear. "If you give a young fella 100 acres of land, they would still need the money to buy the stock, the tractors, the machinery, 100 cattle can cost 100,000 (113,400). "Even if he has 100 sheep he is only going to get 4,000 (4,540) and that isn't a living." Despite his words of warning to the younger generations, Packie has no regrets about his choice of career. "There hasn't been one occasion where I have regretted getting into farming," he said. "Unless I am working, I'm not happy. "I've no family, just my wife Rhonda, but I've no children and no-one coming behind me so I'll be looking to sell the farms and the idea is that we will go and live somewhere sunny. "I'm starting to get to the age where I need to think about the future, I don't want to be doing it forever, but I'm not sure I will be able to walk away." Cameras will have to be present in every abattoir in England in all areas where live animals are present. Legislation making CCTV mandatory in all abattoirs in England has come into force from today, with calls for it to be introduced across the UK. According to the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) the move is a massive victory, as they have been campaigning on this issue for several years and called it a huge win for animal health and welfare. The installation of CCTV will give Official Veterinarians unrestricted access to all footage, enabling them to effectively enforce high welfare standards across the country. Slaughterhouses are required to comply by November 5, 2018, giving them a six-month adjustment period to install suitable CCTV systems. Cameras will have to be present in every abattoir in England in all areas where live animals are present. The introduction of the legislation follows a consultation by the Secretary of State on this subject last August. British Veterinary Association President John Fishwick said the move will enable them to identify any breaches in the regulations. OVs perform a vital role in abattoirs and unrestricted access to CCTV will allow them to perform this role even more effectively. Having campaigned for many years for the introduction of CCTV into slaughterhouses we are very happy to see our work come to fruition and we now hope to see similar legal requirements introduced in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has hit out at comments that Irish beef should be made a bargaining chip in a Brexit deal. UK MP Jacob Rees-Mogg called for the valuable Irish trade to be hit with tariffs.He urged Theresa May to increase the pressure on the EU by warning of the knock-on impact of a no-deal Brexit for the Irish economy in particular. However, Mr Hogan told the Seanad that a landing zone involving some form of customs arrangement must be in the best interests of all concerned. The recent statement by Jacob Rees-Mogg in relation to Irish beef is a good example of a comment that is both unhelpful and irresponsible, said Mr Hogan. His comments highlight that the rift between the Brexiteers and Remainers risks going on and on. Jacob Rees-Mogg has described Theresa Mays preferred plan for a post-Brexit customs deal with the EU is completely cretinous,. The arch-Eurosceptic branded the proposal for a customs partnership under which Britain would collect EU import tariffs on behalf of Brussels a betrayal of common sense. The attack came as Mr Rees-Mogg, a rising favourite of Tory members to succeed Ms May, described her approach to the Brexit negotiations as enigmatic. He argued that the UK should ratchet up the pressure on the EU in the talks by threatening to not pay the 39bn divorce bill while highlighting the effect on the Irish economy of no trade deal. If we were to apply the common external tariff on Irish beef, the Irish agricultural industry is in serious trouble, the backbencher said. Youve got to ask the EU: does it want to sacrifice the economy of Ireland on the altar of EU ideology? I my guess is that the answer is no, and therefore we are in a very strong negotiating position. Mr Rees-Mogg played down his prospects of becoming prime minister but, notably, did not rule it out. When the Conservative Party is in government, the prime minister always comes from a senior government position and that is a perfectly sensible state of affairs, he said. The European Unions decision to ban some widely used insecticides is likely to dent sugar beet production in the trading bloc, farming groups said on Thursday. EU countries backed a proposal last week to extend a partial ban on the use of insecticides known as neonicotinoids that studies have shown are harmful to bees. This decision has a devastating impact on beet growing. With this ban, all French regions are likely to be affected by viral jaundice, with potential yield losses estimated at 12 pct at national level, and up to 50 pct in certain ocean climate zones, French sugar beet growers group CGB said in a statement. It is a very hard blow for sugar beet growers and for the sustainability of the French and European sugar sector in general, it said. Yield losses were also expected in Britain. It is likely there will be significant impacts on sugar beet yields in the UK, exacerbated by our maritime climate that enables significant pest and disease pressure, Michael Sly, the National Farmers Unions sugar board chairman, said. As a matter of urgency, the home-grown sugar industry will now be working with the government to try and secure solutions for beet growers ahead of the 2019 crop. German farming association DBV president Joachim Rukwied also said the ban would have an impact on sugar beet farming. The size is difficult to assess. This means there is now a real challenge to develop alternatives and to approve new products quickly so that we can protect our crops from damaging pests, he said. A ban on neonicotinoids use has already been imposed for flowering crops such as rapeseed which attract bees. Some farmers, who struggled to contain pests such as cabbage stem flea beetles, planted less rapeseed following that ban but generally yields held up in the EU. Its not the first time that neonicotinoid producers and farmers have made alarmist predictions, Greenpeace EU food policy director Franziska Achterberg said. When the EU banned use on oilseed rape in 2013, they said yields would collapse. In fact, yields have been higher since the ban than before. Ireland risks losing out if the European Commission gets the go-ahead to impose a tax on digital revenues. The Commission proposed in March that large companies with significant digital revenues in the European Union could face a 3pc tax on their turnover. Cora O'Brien, policy director at the Irish Tax Institute (ITI), yesterday told an Oireachtas Committee on digital taxation that she believes there is a risk to Ireland under the proposal. "We don't know the details," she told the Committee. "It is likely there will be a shift in taxable base - if it is population-heavy Ireland will be lose out because we don't have a large population," Ms O'Brien said. She also said that ITI was concerned that the EU would be moving unilaterally, rather than in co-ordination with the rest of the world, which could create protracted global tax disputes. Ireland is understood to back key positions taken by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including that a consensus should be built before individual countries and blocs impose new levies on the digital sector. Ms O'Brien also said that EU companies could be adversely impacted if other non-EU countries apply similar levies in response, impacting the bloc's competitiveness. She added that despite EU reassurances that it has considered the legal issues around the tax, legal challenges could be brought against the EU digital tax proposals under several headings. These could be on the grounds of discrimination, proportionality, and on the grounds that it is another turnover tax and therefore incompatible with EU law. And she stressed that any new framework for taxation in a digital environment should not create double taxation for companies. "However, double taxation will arise with a short-term levy that is not creditable." In addition, Ms O'Brien said that a 3pc annual pan European levy could raise a number of administrative changes for tax administrations. On the issue of tax sovereignty, Ms O'Brien warned that the long-term EU proposal was expected to form part of the EU's common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB) solution, and that any "measure that is a bridge to CCCTB creates concern about the loss of tax sovereignty". She added: "I think the EU is quite upfront in terms of where it is going, and we would certainly be concerned about this direction." The family-controlled Japanese Toyoko Inn International hotel business that owns former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey's Abbeville estate, posted a 3.3m profit in its 2017 financial year, according to accounts just filed for the Dublin-based offshoot of the Asian firm. That was a reversal on the 8.6m loss the company made the previous year. Toyoko Inn forked out 5.5m for the late Taoiseach's home in north county Dublin in 2013. The main house on the estate - designed by James Gandon - is a protected structure. In 2015, it was speculated that Tokoyo Inn might build guesthouses on the estate, where Mr Haughey lived for almost 40 years until he died in 2006. Mr Haughey sold the estate in 2003 to Joe Moran's Manor Park Homes for about 45m. Mr Haughey was permitted to live in the house until his death. His wife Maureen, who died last year, lived at Abbeville until 2008. Toyoko Inn International executive Takashi Miyauchi now lives at the house. The Japanese firm has said it wants to develop a public amenity of national importance on the estate, with hotel use, tourism and recreational amenities. A planning consultant for Toyoko Inn International told Fingal County Council in 2016 that the acquisition of Abbeville by the firm represented the "initiation of a very significant foreign direct investment in the Irish tourism sector by an international company". It intends that the eventual development will be act as a flagship for its international business. It's also eyeing other hotel projects in the capital. The Toyoko Inn chain was founded in 1986 by Norimasa Nishida, who remains its chief executive. It has more than 250 hotels, primarily in Japan. However, it has been expanding the chain in Europe, opening or planning hotels in Germany, France, the UK and Ireland. Dublin is its European headquarters. It's also planning a 615-bedroom hotel in Chicago and a 50-storey, 1,260-bedroom property in New York. Mr Nishida has a long friendship with Brendan Scannell, the former Irish ambassador to Japan, who is now chairman of Toyoko Inn International. CEO Edmond Scanlon says he is pleased with the year so far Shares in Kerry Group were down slightly to 85.30 on the Irish Stock Exchange, despite the company reporting a 3.7pc growth in business volumes in the three months to March 31. The performance was driven by a 4.3pc growth in volume of its nutrition business, which accounts for around 80pc of its overall business. The consumer foods business, which includes brands such as Dairygold, Cheestrings, and Denny, recorded a 1.6pc growth in volume during the period. "We are pleased with the start we have made to 2018, which is in line with our expectations as communicated in February," said CEO Edmond Scanlon. "The group continued to deliver healthy volume growth and underlying margin expansion," he said. "The acquisitions completed over the past year are performing well and integration is progressing to plan." Of particular note was the group's taste and nutrition growth in developing markets, where Kerry reported a 9.7pc growth in business volumes. According to Davy analysts the results demonstrate that Kerry Group is already executing on its medium targets "underpinned by its unique business". Pricing at the group increased by 0.9pc in the quarter. Meanwhile, reported revenues increased by 0.1pc, which the group said reflected the business volume growth and positive pricing, an adverse transaction currency impact of 0.1pc, contribution from acquisitions of 4pc, and an adverse translation currency impact of 8.4pc. The group's trading profit margin was maintained, reflecting a 20 basis points improvement in taste and nutrition, with the underlying margin improvement in consumer foods being offset by the sterling transaction impact, resulting in a 60 basis points margin reduction in the consumer food division. The group reaffirmed its full year 2018 guidance of adjusted earnings per share growth of 6pc to 10pc in constant currency. Dalata, Ireland's biggest hotel group, is being approached by other hotel builders to help finance the construction of some new venues in the capital as funding dries up, according to chief executive Pat McCann. He said that "part of the problem" is that the market for financing hotel construction is dysfunctional. Mr McCann pointed out that construction costs for hotels have risen significantly in the capital. He said that Dalata is building its 188-bedroom Clayton Charlemont Hotel on the city's southside at a cost, including site acquisition, of about 225,000 per bedroom. "You wouldn't do it for less than 300,000 per room today," said Mr McCann, who added that difficulties for other hotel builders in securing finance look set to continue. "Finance has become less available and costs have risen," he said after Dalata's annual general meeting in Dublin yesterday. "That's the problem." He said property agent Savills has predicted that 5,000 hotel rooms are needed in the capital by 2020 to satisfy demand. "I can say with a high degree of certainty that that's not going to happen," said Mr McCann. He has predicted that about 3,000 new rooms will be added in that time frame. "If you're an individual developer starting up and wanting to build your own hotel, you will not have the information we have," he said. "I'm not making statements about difficulties in finding funding for no reason," he added. "We're aware of some of the challenges some of the potential developers are having. Are people knocking on our door? The answer to that is yes. "I'm not having any difficulties financing in either Ireland or the UK, but we know of other people who are," said Mr McCann, adding that those developers are looking for Dalata to get involved "because we can raise finance". He said Dalata has had "tentative" conversations in relation to three or four potential projects where financing has been an issue. He said each of those potential properties would be 200 bedrooms or more. Dalata, with a 1.2bn market capitalisation, follows a sale and leaseback model. Its backers include the likes of German investment fund Deka, and M&G Real Estate, which is part of Prudential's M&G Investments unit that it's spinning out of the main insurance group. Mr McCann reaffirmed Dalata's commitment to being a leading player in the UK three- and four-star hotel market by 2020, where it plans to have 7,000 to 8,000 extra rooms there within five to seven years. It will primarily target the four-star market in 20 regional UK cities. Mr McCann also said that Dublin is now losing out on some conference business because there are too few hotel bedrooms. Shares in Dalata fell yesterday, despite an upbeat trading statement. FRENCH utilities giant EDF has bought a wind farm from Mainstream Renewable Power, the wind and solar developer founded by businessman Eddie O'Connor. The Neart na Gaoithe wind farm project, located in the Firth of Forth in Scotland, will generate up to 450 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, however the total investment required to deliver the farm is 1.8bn (2.03bn). Bruno Bensasson, EDF Group senior executive president responsible for renewable energies and CEO of EDF Energies Nouvelles' Group, said the large-scale new offshore project demonstrates EDF's "strong ambition" in being a leading global player in the offshore wind industry. "It confirms EDF Group's wider commitment to renewables in countries where EDF already has a strong footprint such as the United Kingdom," he said. "The project is consistent with the CAP 2030 strategy that aims at doubling EDF's renewable energy generation by 2030." Andy Kinsella, chief executive of Mainstream, said the company was handing over a world-class product. "We are very pleased to be bringing in such an established partner and supporter of the Scottish energy industry in EDF Renewables to this vital infrastructure project for Scotland," said Mr Kinsella. "The completion of this sale adds to Mainstream's global track record as the leading independent developer of some of the most significant and complex wind and solar projects across Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. "The Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm has been fully developed by Mainstream and we are delighted to be handing over this world-class project." THE chief executive of Independent News and Media (INM) has insisted the media groups market position is strong despite unprecedented challenges in the sector and a bid by the Director of Corporate Enforcement to appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of Irelands largest media company. On Friday Michael Doorly addressed a meeting of 80 senior executives across INMs editorial, publishing and distributing businesses at Croke Park and outlined details of the new strategy. Mr Doorly said the strategy is composed of three pillars: protecting and reinforcing the core of INMs business, expanding and dominating existing and new niches and build a framework to enable the future, including investment in targeted Irish and international verticals. INM, which has mounted an opposing bid to judicially review the ODCEs decision to seek the appointment of inspectors, has also produced a new purpose statement. Mr Doorly told executives that the new strategy, the first in 15 years, was needed because of unprecedented changes in the media industry and the current financial circumstances of the company whose titles include the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and Independent.ie Unfortunately there is no silver bullet to fix our business, said Mr Doorly. However he insisted that the Board, led by new chairman Murdoch MacLennan, was committed to investment and said that INM was, financially, in a strong position. We are profitable although those profits are declining, said Mr Doorly. We do have 90m in the bank. That money is there to be invested. LIFE and pensions company Irish Life has reported a net profit of 28m for the first three months of the year. This represents a fall of 48pc from 54m a year earlier. The lower contribution made by Irish Life to its Canadian parent was due to "exceptional items", the company said. Irish Life chief executive David Harney said: "Our business performance was on target for the first quarter of 2018. "We are seeing particularly strong growth in defined contribution pension business, which is an influencing factor in the recent announcement of Irish Life's plans to acquire a strategic shareholding in independent broker, Invesco Ltd (Ireland)." The results come as 800 workers at the State's largest pension provider have been on strike in a dispute over pensions changes, which they say will cut some pensions by over a third. The Irish Life staff, who belong to the Unite trade union, are protesting against the company's decision to close its defined benefit pension scheme from the end of June without union agreement. The workers maintain they will lose out if they agree to be transferred to a defined contribution scheme. Irish Life's owner, Great-West Lifeco, acquired the Dublin-based group in 2013 for 1.3bn. It is one of the world's leading life assurance organisations. Great-West Lifeco reported that its net profit rose to 474.8m in the first quarter. Irish Life has been in existence for more than 75 years, and has 1.3 million customers. It offers life insurance, and pension, investment and health products. Ive been in the real world for nearly a year now, after I finally hung the boots up in June of 2017. Its been a bit of an eye opener. No longer do I have my days and weeks mapped out in fine detail if I want to do something I have to organise it myself! Its been liberating in a way, I can take holidays in months that arent June, and bank holidays finally apply whereas before the mantra was if you want bank holidays, go work in a bank. I do miss the camaraderie of the dressing room though, the big days and the hour or so after a memorable win when all is right with the world. On the flip side of that is the sports depression you get after a loss, so my emotions are on more of an even keel these days. I still retain a love for gadgets and tech though, and its something Im even freer to indulge in as my work duties (with Dublin software company Wizuda) often cross over into these areas. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Samsung S9 Samsung Gear Sport Parrot Disco FPV Fitbit Ionic / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Samsung S9 Fitbit Ionic Ive had a lot of Fitbits over the years, from the original Charge, to the Charge HR, the Charge 2 and then the Blaze. The Ionic is the sequel to Fitbits successful Blaze, a fitness tracker I used myself for quite a while. This time around, Fitbit have created a completely new product, one that acts more and more like a smartwatch than just a fitness tracker. In Fitbits product range, it sits right at the top, being their new flagship device. The Ionic features a nice bright rectangular full colour touchscreen, with a resolution of 384x250. Under the hood, it has a lot of things it can do. Besides counting your steps, it has a heart-rate monitor, a sleep tracker, a calorie counter and it also has built in GPS to track your distances, helpfully coming with that app beloved of runners, Strava. As you exercise the Ionic will build an estimate of your VO2 max, which is a measure of how aerobically fit you are. It does this by tracking how long it takes you to complete distances and what your heart rate is at the time. The app will then break down how you compare with other people your age so you can feel good (or bad) about it. Expand Close Fitbit Ionic / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fitbit Ionic You can also load music onto the watch, so you can leave your phone behind, but you will require a pair of Bluetooth headphones. Theres room for 2.5GB of songs which is enough for any run. Sadly, youll have to load songs onto it manually as it doesnt yet support Spotify but apparently Deezer support is on the way. Another feature that encourages you to travel light is ability to use the Ionic to pay for things using the Fitbit Pay app. Once your details are loaded in you can then pay by tapping the watch on a card reader, much like Apple Pay. Useful if you forget your wallet, although only KBC support it in Ireland for now. Unlike previous trackers, the Ionic is completely waterproof down to 50m so you can take it swimming or into the shower with you. The battery life is excellent too, and will last you around five days. The charger has been revamped again, and now plugs directly into the back via a proprietary cable, one of my chief annoyances with the Fitbit range. Ive had a few watches that used micro-USB, and I dont see why Fitbit cant do this. Mind you, theyre not alone in this regard as many other manufacturers seem to do the same thing. The changeable straps allow you to dress it up or down too, depending on whether youre going to the gym or out to dinner. Overall, I really liked my time with the Fitbit Ionic. The smartwatch features put the icing on whats a very good fitness tracker already and is well worth your consideration if youre looking for one. 349, Arnotts Samsung S9 The Samsung Galaxy S9 is Samsungs follow up to its highly successful S8. When designing the S8s successor, Samsung seem to have taken the maxim of If it aint broke, dont fix it to heart, and theyve made a few upgrades to differentiate it from its predecessor. Its gotten heavier and thicker, owing to engineering improvements designed to make it more durable and harder to break. It still has a 5.8 inch AMOLED display with 1440p resolution, and as usual Samsungs AMOLED tech makes it probably the best smartphone display available. The micro-SD slot is retained, and in a wildly popular move, so is the headphone jack. The battery has also stayed the same at 3000mAh. The battery life is similar to the S8, which was very decent and I often had a good 25-30pc left after a day of high usage. The S8 comes with a fast charger too and will charge up to 50pc in half an hour, and also supports wireless charging. It remains IP68 certified, so it should last half an hour submerged in up to 1.5m of water. Expand Close Samsung S9 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Samsung S9 Aside from those minor changes, there are a lot of more subtle ones. The S9 has a new chip, the octacore Exynos 9810 running at 2.4GHz, paired with 4GB of RAM. It runs Android Oreo very smoothly, with no lag or stuttering, as befits what is Samsungs flagship phone. The camera has had a bit of a rejig too, and now features a dual aperture. In low light, the camera will shift to F1.5 from F2.4., meaning you get better picture quality in low light conditions. Internally the camera is still 12MP, but it uses dual pixel technology meaning that theres two light sensitive photodiodes working together. The phone can shoot 4K at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 frames per second and 960 frames per second Super Slo-Mo video at 720p. At the moment, the S9 seems to be the phone to beat. Its lightning fast, waterproof, looks great and has superb battery life. Phones from other manufacturers will be coming out to challenge it in the next couple of months but for now the S9 has the stage to itself. Prices start from 199.99 on bill pay, or 809 (S9) and 899 (S9+) pay as you go. Available from operators nationwide including Carphone Warehouse, Three, Vodafone and Eir. RRP: Pricing is subject to individual retailers. Samsung Gear Sport Unlike the Fitbit Ionic reviewed here, which is a fitness tracker with smartwatch features, the Samsung Gear Sport is a smartwatch with fitness tracker features. This is an important distinction, as it means the watch is targeted at slightly different markets, in this case people who are after a smartwatch but also want some fitness features. Samsung has gone for a 1GHz dual-core processor with 768MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. Samsung love their AMOLED screens, and its no surprise that thats what theyve opted for with the Gear Sport the 1.2 screen having a resolution of 360x360 and a 302ppi. This results in a great image, crisp and clear and viewable even in direct sunlight. You can swipe on the screen to move around and leave unsightly fingerprints, or you can use the rotatable bezel on the watch to do so, which is a useful feature. The watch runs Tizen, a Samsung developed operating system used by a lot of the Korean manufacturers devices. Its snappy and responsive but it does cut you off from a lot of useful Android apps. However, it has access to Spotify though, and this is a real plus for the Gear Sport. You can offline songs to the watch and then go for a run, allowing you to leave the phone behind as the watch can directly connect to any Bluetooth headsets. Your activity integrates with Samsungs own Health app, although itll also work with Under Armour Record. Expand Close Samsung Gear Sport / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Samsung Gear Sport The watch is also fully waterproof, so you can take it swimming with you. Indeed, it ties in with the Speedo ON app to record your swims something that a lot of trackers couldnt do before. As well as this, the Gear Sport has built in GPS, heartrate monitor, sleep tracker and a NFC chip which promises to work with Samsung Pay when it becomes available in Ireland. Charging the 300mAh battery is via a cradle, so youd better look after this or you wont be able to charge it. Battery life is decent, I got around 3 days of use out of it. All things considered the Gear Sport is a nice piece of kit. If youre moderately active and in the market for a new smartwatch, itll cover both bases very well. 319 on promotion at Arnotts Parrot Disco FPV I must admit that drones have largely been a thing that has passed me by. Since the first ones came out, clunky unsteady things with five minute battery lives, the tech has progressed steadily to the point where you can now buy ones that auto take off and land, with a 7km range and that carry 4K cameras to boot. Theres now even drone racing competitions, and some of the skill displayed in the clips Ive seen on YouTube is breath-taking. Most of the drones you see are the quadcopter types, but the Parrot Disco FPV is a fixed wing drone, looking like a small flying wing. Dimensions-wise, the Disco weighs about 700g and has a wingspan of over a metre at 115cm. The body is made of expanded polypropylene and carbon tubing which helps keep the weight down. Fixed into the nose is a 14MP 1080p camera, with 32GB of on-board storage. Its powered by a 2700maH battery, which is good for about 45 minutes of flight time, a lot longer than conventional quadcopters. The drone comes disassembled for ease of transport, but its three minutes work to put it together. The wings clip on easily and the battery slides into its slot. Launching the Disco is like throwing a Frisbee: you hold one of the wings with one hand, engage the rear propeller by hitting the Take-off/Landing button on the Skycontroller 2 remote control, then throw the drone away from you. The drone goes straight up to 50m, and then engages in a holding pattern, flying in circles above you. It has a theoretical range of 2km using MIMO Wi-Fi, but I didnt test this and was a lot more conservative. Expand Close Parrot Disco FPV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Parrot Disco FPV The really cool feature that the Disco offers is the CockpitGlasses headset. You download the Parrot app onto your phone and then slide the phone into the headset. Once youve done this youre treated to what the drone sees, giving you a virtual reality flying experience. The controller is easy to get to grips with, looking a lot like an Xbox controller so seasoned gamers should be right at home. It does take a bit of getting to grips with but all the parts of the drone are replaceable if you should have an accident. One thing I found though is that its a good idea to have a lot of space. Unlike quadcopters the Disco requires a bit of a runway to land, and its best that this is grass. I took it for a spin on my parents farm and that was perfect city dwellers would be advised to find a park. The Disco is definitely a lot of fun, and a good introduction to the world of drone flying. Its not cheap (although you can find bargain prices on Amazon these days), but the range and CockpitGlasses largely justify the cost, along with the fact that if you break it its easy to fix. 595, Currys PC World Miele CM6150 Coffee Machine Miele are a well-known brand for high-end domestic appliances. Theyre decidedly not cheap, but year after year they top the rankings when it comes to reliability. If you subscribe to the maxim of Buy once, cry once then you probably have something by Miele in the house. Theyre better known for their vacuum cleaners, laundry appliances and ovens, but theyve also been steadily making inroads into the coffee machine space. Thats where the CM6150 comes in. A fully automated bean to cup machine, the CM6150 takes its design cues from the rest of the Miele range, a combination of glossy plastic and stainless steel. A 15 bar pump pressure and Mieles proprietary AromaticSystem ensures that every last bit of flavour is wrung from the beans, and the espresso it produces is top notch, with a large amount of crema. For milk based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes theres the removable milk jug, and it produces very good, frothy milk. Every aspect of your coffee is customisable, from the temperature to the size of the grind. You can programme user profiles too, so members of your household can have their desired beverage at the press of a button. Programming the device and changing the settings is via a TFT touch screen on the front, and the menus are simple enough and easy to grasp. Cleaning the machine is also uncomplicated: just flip open the front of the machine and you can pull out the used grounds securely held in a plastic tub. The grounds tub, drip tray and milk jug are all dishwasher safe. It is expensive and you can probably get results just as good as the CM6150s for less money, but itll be difficult to find something as simple and convenient. 1,099, miele.ie Members of the Fianna Fail party supporting a no vote in the referendum on the 8th Amendment More than half of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party posed for a photograph to promote a No vote in the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. The exclusive photograph shows for the first time the number of Fianna Fail TDs who are opposed to repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing unrestricted abortion up 12 weeks of pregnancy. The picture of 31 TDs and senators was taken in Merrion Square in Dublin city centre. Waterford TD Mary Butler, who organised the photograph, said that she wanted to show Fianna Fail grassroots members that there are a significant number of TDs and senators voting against repealing the Eighth. "I spoke to all my colleagues in the parliamentary party who would have the same opinion as me and asked if they would take part in a photograph," Ms Butler said. "And as you can see from the turnout, everybody was very supportive of doing it. "We really felt the grassroots supporters deserved a photograph to let them know that quite a substantial amount of the parliamentary party is in favour of retaining the Eighth Amendment." TDs John McGuinness, Willie O'Dea, Kevin O'Keeffe and Senator Diarmuid Wilson were unable to attend the photo opportunity, but sent their apologies. The Catholic Church has called gardai to investigate images apparently showing a man in priest's vestments performing a sex act on the altar of an Irish church. It is understood that several senior clerics, including bishops, have been made aware of the shocking images over recent days. The Catholic Church confirmed to the Irish Independent the matter had been reported to gardai and a full investigation is expected to follow into the apparent sacrilege. A spokesperson for the diocese declined to comment further for legal reasons in view of "the criminal nature of the alleged incident". A source who obtained the images, and who wants to remain anonymous, described what is depicted as happening in the church as "an abomination". The graphic images show two men engaged in sexual activity across what appears to be the altar of a small country church, or in intimate poses. There is no suggestion that the intimate act is not consensual. However, they have been described as deeply sacrilegious in their depiction of a priest, or man dressed as a priest. Any investigation will examine the veracity of the images, and the church where the act is alleged to have taken place. "The photographs depict something that appears somewhat satanic," the source told the Irish Independent. Read More He called for "some sort of an exorcism at that church". He also questioned how many people had received communion at the altar of the parish church since its violation, or had been confirmed, buried or married from it. He urged the bishop of the diocese to launch an investigation to determine whether the man in religious vestments is actually a priest. The diocese concerned declined to give an indication as to whether the church has been re-consecrated. The Catholic Church teaches that sacrilege occurs when sacred objects are used for an unworthy purpose. This includes the profane use of sacred vestments. Church law also teaches that defiling a sacred place by sexual acts is sacrilege. According to Church law: "A church is desecrated by actions that are gravely injurious in themselves and a cause of scandal to the faithful." The concerning images will be investigated during a year when the Catholic Church in Ireland is facing challenges including the upcoming abortion referendum. The papal visit in August is expected to be a celebration of the family, but there will also be a strong focus on his response to victims of clerical sex abuse scandals. The Church has also been under scrutiny over its attitudes towards same-sex couples in the run-up to the World Meeting of Families later in the summer. Archbishop Eamon Martin has sent a strong signal that the Catholic Church will oppose any attempt to remove the right of schools to teach sex education through the lens of their religious ethos. The Primate of All Ireland said the approach should present the "positive, yet challenging Catholic vision for relationships, chastity, marriage and the family". In one pointed comment, which reflects the Church's opposition to same-sex marriage, Dr Martin referred to a curriculum that covered the "marriage of a man and a woman". His comments come in the wake of the announcement by Education Minister Richard Bruton of the first major review of relationships and sex education (RSE) in 20 years. There is also an Opposition bill calling for objective sex education. An end to the current practice of allowing a school's "core values and ethos" to dictate its policy on RSE is being widely demanded. An Oireachtas Education Committee hearing on RSE called for separation between ethos and State curriculum on sex education. But speaking to the annual conference of Joint Managerial Body (JMB), representing managers and principals of the country's 400 denominational second-level schools, Dr Martin said "relationships and sexuality education should not be reduced to the imparting of so-called 'objective' information, dissociated from a morals and values framework". He said RSE in Catholic schools was "situated within a morals and values framework that is derived ultimately from the life and teaching of Christ and transmitted through the teaching of the Church." He agreed that a review of RSE was "essential" and that "questions and challenges facing young people in living their lives today should not be ignored or skimmed over". AN APPRENTICE carpenter will stand trial accused of manslaughter in connection with a fatal one punch assault on a student in Tallaght in Dublin. Jack Hall Ellis is accused of attacking 20-year-old Luke OReilly in the early hours of November 1 last, Dublin District Court had heard. Mr OReilly, from Kiltipper, Dublin 24, who had gone out socialising on Halloween, was discovered on the Old Blessington Rd, Tallaght at about 3am on November 1 with serious head injuries. He was rushed to Tallaght Hospital and then moved to Beaumont Hospital but died there on November 13 last. Jack Hall Ellis (20) from Old Court Mill, Tallaght, was charged two days later with assault causing harm to Mr OReilly. He faced his fourth hearing today at Dublin District Court when an additional, more serious charge, was brought against him, for the unlawful killing of Mr OReilly. State solicitor Michelle Sheeran told Judge Bryan Smyth the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that Mr Hall Ellis is to face trial on indictment. Garda David Morris told Judge Smyth that Mr Hall Ellis made no reply when the new charge was put to him on Friday morning. The garda asked for the case to be adjourned for a book of evidence to be completed. Expand Close Luke O'Reilly (20) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Luke O'Reilly (20) There was no indication of how the accused will plead. Judge Smyth acceded to gardas request to extend the existing bail terms to the new one charge. Solicitor Padraig ODonovan told the court his client understood. Mr ODonovan said the garda could confirm his clients financial circumstances had not changed. Legal aid was granted. Mr Hall Ellis, dressed in a blue T-shirt, a black bodywarmer, blue jeans and black runners, did not address the court during the hearing. He was ordered to appear again on June 27 next when it is expected he will be served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial to the circuit court. At a bail hearing in November, Garda Morris had said it was alleged Luke OReilly had just left the Metro pub after he had been socialising with friends for Halloween night. He was walking along Old Blessington Road with friends when a male approached him from behind, Garda Morris alleged. Garda Morris had said the man proceeded to punch him to the side of the head, unawares to him, he did not know what was coming. He alleged that Luke OReilly fell to the concrete footpath and hit his head off the ground. He was attended to by his friends immediately. He was taken to Tallaght hospital but his condition became more serious and he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Beaumont Hospital and passed away there on November 13 last. As part of his bail Mr Ellis must reside with a relative in Ratoath, Co Meath and sign on twice weekly at Ashbourne Garda station and stay out of Tallaght except for meetings with his solicitor or family occasions once he gives notice to gardai. He has also been directed to be of sober habits, to abide by a 12pm to 7am curfew and be available when gardai call to his current address. He has also been warned that he must not contact witnesses directly or indirectly. The Central Bank is monitoring the corporate governance controversy at Independent News & Media (INM). The bank, whose functions include policing market abuse regulations on "inside information", is understood to consider itself an "interested party" in proceedings involving the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) and INM. The ODCE is seeking the appointment of inspectors to the country's largest media group. Lawyers for the Central Bank sought a hearing from High Court President Peter Kelly to apply for access to legal documents filed in the case by the ODCE and INM. However, the bank's "provisional application" for these documents was withdrawn yesterday. No reason for the withdrawal was given, but the Irish Independent understands the bank is considering making an application at a future date. INM is opposing the move to appoint inspectors. Judicial review proceedings get underway next Wednesday. Among other matters, the ODCE wants inspectors to examine if inside information was shared by former INM chairman Leslie Buckley with the company's largest shareholder, Denis O'Brien. Mr Buckley, who stepped down in March, was Mr O'Brien's nominee to the board. INM has said it is "not asserting" that the sharing of information "was in every respect appropriate". However, in an affidavit INM director Dr Len O'Hagan said there was "a difference in view" between INM and the ODCE as to the extent of permitted communications. Dr O'Hagan said there was no suggestion from the ODCE that information was used in dealings in INM securities or for other unlawful purposes. In a statement the Central Bank said it does not comment on whether or not it is conducting an investigation into a particular matter. "If a suspicion is brought to the Central Bank's attention that inside information has been unlawfully disclosed, or is used in acquiring or disposing of a financial instrument or related instruments, the Central Bank will examine the circumstances and take appropriate action as required," the statement said. Witnesses have told the Frederick "Freddie" Thompson murder trial that they saw one of the four cars allegedly used in the killing repeatedly crashing into another of the cars before one of the occupants set the second car alight. The man and woman gave the evidence to the Special Criminal Court today on the third day of the 37-year-olds trial for the murder of a Dublin shoe shop manager. Mr Thompson, with an address at Loreto Road, Maryland in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas on July 1st, 2016 on Bridgefoot Street in the city. The 55-year-old was shot dead shortly after 4pm, as he ate a curry in his partners shoe shop, Shoestown. He was shot six times to the head, neck and throat. A semi-automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found next to his head. The prosecution does not argue that Mr Thompson carried out the physical act of killing, but the three judges will be asked to infer that one of the many fingers on the trigger was that of the accused. Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, explained the prosecution case in his opening speech to the non-jury court on Wednesday. He said that four vehicles and their occupants, including Mr Thompson, were operating in concert that day. The court yesterday heard from two people, who witnessed an incident between two of those cars a few days later. Deivydas Kukanavza testified that he was in a car with his then girlfriend on the Strand Road in the city on the night of the 4th of July. He told Mr Gillane that they were sitting facing the sea, when a Mitsubishi car appeared and hit the silver car that was parked behind them. "It reversed and went in again," he said, confirming that the Mitsubishi hit the silver car about three times. Mr Kukanavza got out of his car. "There was a fella and he was holding a petrol can. Then he just poured around the (silver) car, the petrol," he said. "I asked him whats going on. He didnt answer me," he said. He recalled that the man then lit it with a lighter, before running back to the Mitsubishi, which drove off fast. Mr Kukanavza said he poured liquid on the flames and waited for the gardai. Iveta Sutkote told Mr Gillane that she also saw the Mitsubishi trying to smash the unoccupied silver car. "The Mitsubishi was very fast, going in sideways," she said, recalling that she had asked her then-boyfriend to get out. "I thought that somebody might have left the car and went for a walk," she explained. She said there were two or three men in the Mitsubishi. "The third guy just came out of the car and just poured petrol on the car. He had a hood on." "I asked him what he was doing," she said. "He had the canister and poured the petrol on. "He tried to light it up. He did light it up and it was on fire. He just ran. He jumped in the car." She said that the Mitsubishi had a 99 TS registration and confirmed that she had noted down the full registration number and given it to the gardai that night. She identified both cars from crime scene photographs for the judges. The court heard on Thursday that the Mitsubishi was pursued and stopped by gardai shortly afterwards. There was a smell of petrol from the interior and the two occupants, who are not before the court, were arrested for criminal damage. The court also heard that Mr Thompsons fingerprints were found inside. Mr Gillane described the silver car burnt on Strand Road as the ultimate getaway car in his opening speech. The Suzuki Swift had been stolen from Greystones a couple of weeks earlier. He said the occupants of the ultimate murder vehicle, a stolen Mercedes, had transferred to the Suzuki minutes after the killing. The driver of the Mercedes had set his trousers on fire in an attempt to burn the Mercedes, which had brought the shooter to and from the scene. The trial continues on Tuesday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Flannan Brennan and Judge Gerard Griffin. Evidence Yesterday, the trial heard that his fingerprints were found in two cars that the prosecution says are linked to the killing. Detective Garda Raymond Kane of the Garda Fingerprint Section testified yesterday that he analysed a number of finger and palm marks developed from the four cars. He told Mr Gillane that he had no doubt that two marks developed from a birthday card found in a blue Mitsubishi Mirage were made by the accused. He also had no doubt that two marks found on that cars rear-view mirror were made by Mr Thompson. He found a further match in another car, a silver Ford Fiesta, and said he had no doubt that Mr Thompson had made the mark found on that cars rear-view mirror. The court also heard from Garda Ronan Lawlor of the Garda Ballistics Section, who testified that he examined a number of the vehicles. He told Mr Gillane that among the items recovered were a parking ticket and an inhaler. Under cross examination by Michael OHiggins SC, defending, he agreed that the inhaler was perfectly visible with other items on the passenger floor area of the blue Mirage. He agreed that, if one was involved in criminal activity and left something like that behind, it could be a bit like a beacon in connecting that person to the vehicle. "But not much assistance as to when the inhaler was thrown there?2 he asked. "Correct," replied Gda Lawlor. Mr OHiggins then informed the court that there was a finger mark on the parking ticket, but that it was not his clients. Justice Tony Hunt remarked that he didnt think he would be emphasising it if it was. "But, we are emphasising that its our DNA on the inhaler," said Mr OHiggins. Rafal Karaczyn who was charged in connection with the discovery of the body of his wife, Natalia Karaczyn arriving at Sligo Court yesterday. Photo: James Connolly The husband of Natalia Karaczyn, whose body was found in woodland earlier this week, has been charged with her murder. Polish national Rafal Karaczyn (32) appeared yesterday before Sligo District Court, where Garda Cathal Duffy gave evidence of arresting him at Ballymote garda station on May 2. Mr Karacyzn, of Crozon Park, Co 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. Sgt Duffy told the court that he arrested Mr Karaczyn shortly before 7pm on Wednesday and charged him at 7.43pm. The accused made no reply when the charge was put to him. It was agreed in court that the accused should be put on suicide watch. Ms Karaczyn's family, who were in court for the hearing, were in support of the request. Legal aid was granted to the accused. The body of mother-of-three Ms 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 to death. Both the murder victim and her husband were members of the Polish community. Ms Karaczyn 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. Mr Karaczyn made no reply to the charge that he murdered Natalia Karaczyn at Crozon Park in Sligo on Sunday, April 29. Barrister Keith O'Grady, representing Mr Karaczyn, asked Sgt Duffy to confirm that the accused had first been arrested on Sunday night and was not interviewed then but was interviewed by gardai on Monday and through the night and was released without charge on Tuesday morning. Within three hours, Mr O'Grady said, Mr Karaczyn returned voluntarily to make matters known to gardai and after that the body was found and Mr Karaczyn co-operated with the gardai. Sgt Duffy confirmed this was the case. Sgt Duffy said that gardai had also taken actions in respect of that while he was in custody. Mr O'Grady told Judge Kevin Kilraine that members of the deceased's family were in court and wanted it made known that they were there to support Mr Karaczyn and also wanted him placed on suicide watch. Judge Kilraine agreed with Mr O'Grady that Mr Karaczyn should be placed on suicide watch and he remanded him in custody to appear at Harristown district court today. Judge Kilraine then granted him free legal aid. Natalia Karaczyn who lived at Crozon Park with her husband and three children. The funeral of a mother-of-three who lost her life last weekend has heard of how her death is "unspeakably painful" for her family and wider community. There were also prayers for Natalia Karaczyns husband Rafal at her funeral Mass in Sligo today. Hundreds of people, many of them members of the local Polish community, gathered to say farewell to the young mother of three who died in such tragic circumstances last weekend. On Thursday, her husband (32) appeared on the local courthouse charged with her murder. At Fridays ceremony, Natalias sister Magdalena praised her devotion to her three sons who were comforted by their grandmother and other relatives outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Stressing the bond between the three young boys and they way they look after each other, Magdalena said: "That is what they learned from their amazing mummy and daddy who created a loving home for them." Expand Close Rafal and Natalia Karaczyn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rafal and Natalia Karaczyn During the ceremony Fr Brian Conlon, chaplain at Sligo University Hospital, prayed for Natalias three children asking that they find peace and consolation. "We pray for her husband Rafal. May the Lord support him at this time," he added. There were prayers too for Gardai who have provided support to the family during the recent difficult days and also for the community which has rallied around the family. Magdalena told mourners: "I cannot describe how much I will miss my sister and how much the boys will miss their mummy. But I know she will never leave our side and will be in our hearts." There were smiles as she explained the Polish reticence about saying "I love you" and how "after a few drinks", she, a long-time resident of Sligo used to ring Natalia in Poland and say "I love you so much". She told of her delight when Natalia and her family moved to Sligo four years ago and how well her sister had fitted in. "Her dedication to her kids was exceptional. They had everything they needed and more," she said. "When you look at those three boys all you see is love. It comes from their mother." As the coffin was carried out into the May sunlight, the boys apparently unaware of their loss, were hugged by Natalia's friends and relatives. Magdalena said she couldnt possibly answer all the messages for sympathy she had received, "but I really value the support". "Without all my friends and my family I would not have been able to get through it everyone, the whole town,you are all amazing. I cant really belief all the help we are getting," she said. A GoFundMe page has also been set up for Natalias children. Father StanisawKardas, Chaplain to the Polish Community in Sligo, and the main celebrant told the congregation that Natalias death was "unspeakably painful". "It seems incomprehensible to our minds that she should be taken from this life," he said speaking in Polish. "In the face of this death of a young woman, beloved mother of three little children, we are invited to find, in the deepest recesses of our hearts, and to ponder, the hope that comes from our eternal vocation." Natalia, from the city of Gorzow Wielkopolski in western Poland, is also survived by her parents Regina and Senom Kurmin and two brothers Jedrzej and Wojciech. After the funeral Mass the funeral travelled to the Lakelands Crematorium in Cavan. Niall Alvey appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court charged over the stabbing of a Garda in Oranmore today. Photo: Hany Marzouk A 33-year old man has been remanded in custody in relation to an incident in which a Garda suffered stab wounds. Niall Alvey, with an address at Gleann Dara, Rahoon, Galway, was remanded in custody when he appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court on Friday evening. Sgt. Fergus Gaughan gave evidence of arresting Alvey at Renville, Oranmore, Galway at 12.10pm on Friday. He told Judge Gerard Furlong that he charged Alvey at 7.30pm at Galway Garda Station and that the defendant made no reply. Alvey is charged with assault causing harm to a Garda who is a member of the Armed Regional Support Unit based at Salthill. The officer was taken to University College Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening lacerations. The defendant, dressed in a blue t-shirt and tracksuit leggings, did not speak during the brief hearing at Galway Courthouse on Friday evening. Inspector Karen Moloney applied to have Alvey remanded in custody to Galway District Court next Wednesday, May 9, and told Judge Furlong that there would be opposition to bail. Judge Furlong granted free legal aid. Defendant solicitor Valerie Corcoran said she had concerns that her client might not be able to receive necessary psychiatric care at Castlerea Prison and urged that he be transferred immediately to a facility which would be able to provide immediate . She said she had not been able to engage with her client to establish fitness to plead. Judge Furlong remanded Alvey in custody to appear before Galway District Court next Wednesday. He requested any necessary transfer within the prison service to be considered to enable immediate assessment of the defendant to facilitate a report on fitness to plead to be prepared for the return date. A 17-year-old student who cut his finger with a saw in woodwork class has settled his High Court action against his school for 42,500. Robin Reinplu has been left with a scar on his right index finger after the accident when another student pushed the piece of timber he was cutting with a band saw. Robin, of The Drive, Meadowvale, Arklow, Co Wicklow, 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 the teenager was cutting a piece of wood on the band saw when a fellow classmate allegedly pushed the piece of wood, causing his right index finger to come in contact with the blade. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to take any reasonable steps or precautions for the safety of the schoolboy. 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. Therapy Robin had to have surgery, was left with scarring on the finger, was off school for a number of weeks and also required hand therapy. The claims were denied. His counsel told the court Robin, who is now studying for his Leaving Certificate, suffered a very nasty cut and also a small fracture. He said Robin and his family are hoping to return to their native Estonia after he sits the Leaving Cert. Mr Justice Kevin Cross approved the settlement. Umesh and Udayan, pictured, have been charged with the murder Umesh, pictured, and Udayan have been charged with the murder Two Indian drug dealers have been charged with the rape and murder of Liga Skromane. Police in the Indian region of Kerala arrested criminals Udayan (24) and Umesh (28) as part of their probe into the death of the young woman, 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. Both men are accused of drugging their victim before luring her to an isolated, marshy area of Vazhamuttom. It's believed she was killed after attempting to resist her attackers. Her body was then left in a way to make it look like suicide. State Police chief Loknath Behera described her death as "a brutal homicide". "The investigation was dependent on the circumstantial evidence and we were able to crack it based on the scientific evidence," he said. Police originally suspected that Liga had taken her own life, but her husband Andrew insisted from the start that this wasn't the case. Speaking in India last week he said: "Had the police taken it more seriously, it would have been a different story. "We are sure it's not suicide. We appeal to the police for a full investigation." The two men charged have a string of unrelated criminal charges pending against them, including sexual assault and drug related crimes. One man questioned had claimed Ms Skromane had an altercation with drug peddlers relating to money. However, Mr Jordan refuses to believe his wife had any involvement with drugs. He also fears an innocent victim will be accused of being involved in Liga's death. "Liga was not so stupid to go along with drug peddlers or their likes," he said to local media. "I do not believe it was the boys at the beach who had done this. She was picked up from her [hotel] and was kept for a day or two where she was used and later killed and dumped. "We don't want an innocent to be punished in the case," he said. Inspector general Manoj Abraham said circumstantial and scientific evidence led police to the two suspects. Galway East TD Sean Canney has decided to quit the Independent Alliance. However, Mr Canney intends on supporting the Government until the end of the Dail term. After weeks of speculation, Mr Canney released a statement this morning announcing his decision. The Galway deputy clashed with the other members of the political group over a junior ministerial position currently held by Kevin Boxer Moran. I have today informed my Independent Alliance colleagues that I am leaving the group, Mr Canney said. I wish the Independent Alliance all the best in the future I confirm that I will continue to support the Government on issues of confidence and budgetary matters, he added. I have taken time to consider all my options and I thank you all for your patience. I was elected by the people of Galway East as an Independent to represent their interests. Since my election I have done that to the best of my ability. I will continue to put the people first,they are my priority National issues such as Brexit are a threat to our country. I believe that we will need to work collectively to protect Irelands interests. Other areas of concern are housing, health services and flooding and the increasing challenges faced by small family farmers and rural dwellers. The Atlantic Economic Corridor is the vehicle by which we will deliver balanced regional development The Programme for Government was developed to ensure that we deliver a better, fairer society for all our citizens. As an Independent TD serving Galway East, I look forward to the task of delivering this programme for the benefit of Galway East and the region. I want to thank all who have contacted me over the last number of weeks offering their support. I want again to emphasise that it is business as usual for me as I continue to serve the constituents of Galway East as an Independent TD. A VISIBLY angry Health Minister Simon Harris vowed that the Government will get to the bottom of the spiralling cervical cancer screening scandal. Mr Harris paid a special tribute to Limerick mother Vicky Phelan for her great courage in highlighting what had happened - and he publicly acknowledged the damage the scandal had caused to the Irish healthcare sector over the past week. "This has been a dreadful week for the Irish health service," he admitted. "I want to know what went wrong here. "I want to know why 20 minutes before I went into Dail Eireann I was given new information that had been kept - not from me - but from the women of Ireland. "This is not about it being kept from me - it is about it being kept from the women of Ireland. "We are going to get to the bottom of this whatever it takes. "It has been a particularly poignant and worrying week for the women of Ireland. Mr Harris received a resounding ovation from Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) delegates when he said he understood how disturbed people were by the shocking revelations of the past week. Read More "I share deeply the sense of shock and dismay at what has happened to Vicky Phelan and her family," he said. "I commend her courageousness that in some of her darkest hours she has had the strength to fight for justice for herself and for others also. "Let me assure you, your mothers, your sisters, your aunts, your cousins, your friends and your family that I will get to the bottom of this. "I have taken swift action and I will continue to take every possible measure necessary to address the serious concerns arising starting with making an immediate change to a flawed process which was not ensuring that women were automatically informed of their own health screens. "The Government has taken a series of further actions including the establishment of two clinical reviews by international experts. "One of the individual cases of women whose screening results were reviewed but who weren't told and one to conduct an audit of all previous screening results of every women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the last 10 years. "All of the work underway as part of these actions will of course feed into a wider statutory inquiry on the matter. "I will bring a proposal to Government on this next week - I will also bring a proposal to legislate for mandatory open disclosure for serious reportable events. "Nobody knows better than you (nurses) the moral and ethical responsibility for all medical professionals to advocate for their patients and to inform them of any errors if they exist. "I will not be found wanting in supporting you in the drive for change that we need to see in our health service. "No other person should have to go through what Vicky has gone through to get answers to information that directly relates to them. "In my view this is a fundamental right and this open disclosure legislation will go some way towards preventing this ever happening again. "I want to recognise with gratitude that Vicky remains steadfast that the public must still attend these screening programmes in a bid to identify the early signs of cancer. "I thank you for that - while we recognise the flaws and the weaknesses that have occurred and we need to fix them, we cannot lose sight of the fact this is a life saving programme that has detected more than 50,000 pre cancers in Irish women and has saved lives. "I do seek your support in reassuring the public in continuing to deliver this important work." LIMERICK woman Vicky Phelan who brought national attention to the cervical cancer screenings scandal has revealed the HSE have agreed to cover the cost of a drug she is taking. Speaking to Ray D'Arcy on his Radio One show on Friday afternoon Ms Phelan - who has drawn widespread praise and admiration for her bravery in bringing the failings to light - confirmed that the HSE has agreed to pay the substantial cost. Ms Phelan, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, has been taking the Pembrolizumab in the hope of beating the cancer. The drug, which she gets every three weeks, costs more than 8,000 for every dose. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has invited the mother-of-two to take part in a scoping exercise which will be part of the investigations into CervicalCheck and the problems she has brought to light. She has welcomed her invitation and said she does not take things likely. "I will be grilling them and I won't be making it easy," she said. Ms Phelan also said she has been somewhat frustrated by a lack of accountability, saying "I suppose this is just politics". "No one speaks their mind and comes out and tells it as it is," she said. She said Health Minister Simon Harris has "probably been the best politician amongst them who's actually trying to deal with this". "Varadkar has been a bit quite I thought, maybe he's leaving it up to the Minister for health... I want action at this stage and it's been a bit slow," she said. THE team tasked with examining the cervical cancer scandal have identified another woman affected by the controversy, bringing the total number of women to 209. The HSE Serious Incident Management Team has identified another woman who requires follow-up. Work is still underway to contact 13 of the women or their families. To date 196 women have been contacted about their past smears which were incorrectly misinterpreted. The controversy relates to 209 women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer, after earlier smears were read icorrectly. Their smears were subject to a clinical audit following their diagnosis but the majority of women affected were not informed of the review or the outcome. Seventeen of those women have since died and only two of them were told of the errors before their death. It also emerged this week that there are hundreds more women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer whose CervicalCheck smears were not reviewed. The HSE has said work is underway to reconcile those records. It is feared that, following this trawl, more women will be found to be among those whose smears were found to be incorrect but with whom this was not communicated. More than 10,000 women have contacted a helpline established by CervicalCheck amid fears over their smear tests. More than 7,000 of those women requested a call back but to date only 797 calls have been returned. The HSE said calls "are being returned to women following a careful exercise of checking records, checking data quality and assigning calls to health professionals". On Friday the IMO confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure arrangements are in place for repeat smear tests as requested. Earlier today Vicky Phelan, the Limerick mother whose High Court challenge shed light on the issues with CervicalCheck, welcomed her inclusion in a scoping exercise into the screening programme. She also questioned the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's response this week. "'Simon Harris, from my perspective, he's been on the phone to me at least twice - he has probably been the best politician amongst them trying to deal with this," she told the Ray D'Arcy show on RTE Radio One. "Varadkar has been a bit quite I thought, maybe he's leaving it up to the Minister for Health... I want action at this stage and it's been a bit slow." More to follow... TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said it has been a "dreadful" week for the health service and is not ruling out a public inquiry into the cervical cancer scandal. And he praised Vicky Phelan, the terminally-ill Limerick mum-of-two, who exposed the smear-test controversy after she settled her High Court Action against a US laboratory for 2.5m. Mr Varadkar said she is "the person who really shook the whole system up and woke us up to this". He was speaking after he officially opened a primary care centre in Tallaght. Ms Phelan has called for a public inquiry into the scandal. Mr Varadkar said he agrees with her that any inquiry it should be "speedy" and "transparent". He said he spoke to her today and they have agreed she will participate in the scoping exercise that will determine the nature of the inquiry. Mr Varadkar said that statutory inquiries can take many months, if not years and cautioned that if they're held in public in a tribunal-type format they can "take even longer still". However, he said he is "absolutely open" to a public inquiry being held and "certainly not ruling it out" saying he sees the merits of such an investigation. In his earlier speech Mr Varadkar said "this week has been a dreadful week for our health service, even more so for the women who are affected." He said the government is determined to restore public trust and will "do everything necessary... so that Irish women and families can have confidence in the investigations, screening and treatments that we offer them both now and into the future." He also spoke of the need for open disclosure by doctors and the importance of them informing patients fully about their health which has been a key issue in the current controversy. Mr Varadkar said open disclosure is "nothing new" and has been HSE policy since 2013. He added: "last year we legislated to protect open disclosure of all incidents so that healthcare staff can be sure that it's ok to apologise and that won't be used against you in court. "It's ok to admit mistakes. That won't necessarily be assumed to be negligence and that will become law in June," he added. He also said the government will soon legislate to "make sure that mandatory open disclosure applies in serious incidents or serious reportable errors". But he said he doesn't think that will be enough adding: "what's required is a culture change. A change from a culture of secrecy to a culture of truth, from defensiveness to openness." Mr Varadkar said he's proud to be a member of the medical profession and that they are the hardest working, most caring people in our society. However, he said: "we can also be far too paternalistic... There is a view still that doctor knows best and when it comes to passing on vital information to patients sometimes doctors still take the view that we shouldn't do it if there's no benefit from a healthcare point of view or if if it might just make them more distressed, that there might be more harm done than good." Mr Varadkar said this is a "backward view" and an attitude "we really can't accept anymore". "It's not our decision. This is patients' information. It's information about their lives and their bodies and their health and they have a right to know it. "It's not a judgement call. It's always appropriate to give patients full information about their own health. "And I think sometimes as doctors as well and healthcare professionals, we sometimes make out that we're infallible, the old concept that the doctor is almost godlike." Mr Varadkar said that's a "big mistake" because medicine isn't an exact science and it requires judgement calls that always include a margin or error, which is not negligence or incompetence. "We need to have a different culture in healthcare. One where we trust our patients more and we trust them with the truth," he added. Annie Dunne was injured while working in Australia in 2015 An Australian packing company involved in an horrific machine accident in which a young Irish backpacker was seriously injured has had its fine increased by an extra $100,000 (63,000) on appeal. Tipperary native Annie Dunne suffered extensive injuries when her hair got caught in a mechanical conveyor belt at a packing shed in Shepparton Victoria in November, 2015. Packing company Kalafatis Packing pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe system of work and was fined $50,000 (31,430) without conviction and ordered to pay $22,000 (13,830) in court costs in January. According to News.com.au, prosecutors have been successful in appealing the sentence with Shepparton County Court increasing the penalty by an additional $100,000 (63,000) on Thursday. It is understood Ms Dunne - originally from Kilkeary outside Nenagh - was working to fulfil the 89 days of regional work required to extend her working holiday visa for a second year at the time. 'The Age' newspaper in Australia reported at the time that Ms Dunne was cleaning the conveyor belt which was used to deliver pears for distribution when her hair became entangled in a rotating drive shaft. She suffered extensive damage to her scalp and one of her ears in the incident. In January, WorkSafes health and safety executive director Marnie Williams said the circumstances of the incident were appalling, according to News.com.au. It's believed that workers were required to clean the conveyors while they were energised and moving. This truly was a shocking incident that has changed this young womans life in a split second, Ms Williams told News.com.au. Its staggering that workers were expected to clean machines which were still in operation. She said the labour hire business engaged workers for the packing shed and left them exposed to risk of serious injury and death. Ms Williams said there was a blatant risk of serious injury from entanglement, crushing or entrapment with both conveyors in the shed. The house where up to 70 tenants were living Inset: Christian Carter Award-winning businesswoman Marissa Carter has condemned the actions of her younger brother after it emerged he had been overcrowding a house in Dublin with up to 70 people. Independent.ie previously exposed through an undercover investigation how landlord Christian Carter (29) was pocketing thousands in rent each month from foreign nationals living in "dangerous" conditions in The Pines, Lehaunstown, Cabinteely. Marissa (33), who runs the successful Cocoa Brown tanning range, has distanced herself from her brother's actions, claiming they "never saw eye to eye". Mr Carter is due to appear in the Circuit Civil Court on Monday morning after he was ordered to find the remaining tenants alternative accommodation by 5pm on Saturday. Expand Close The Pines, Lehaunstown, Cabinteely which had up to 70 people living there at one time Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Pines, Lehaunstown, Cabinteely which had up to 70 people living there at one time Photo: Tony Gavin Last week, the court heard how tenants had been living in "dangerous and unhealthy conditions," with Judge Jacqueline Linnane describing the house as an "unauthorised hostel." Read More Mr Carter had been subletting the property from the owner and charged the tenants 200 per month to live in cramped conditions. "Christian and I, sadly, haven't spoken in close to a decade," the tanning entrepreneur told the Irish Mail on Sunday. "The first that I knew of the housing business was when I read it on a news website, and I feel awful for the tenants that are there. I just hope the situation gets resolved and that the tenants are looked after. "He [Christian] was 19 or 20 when I last spoke to him. I have five brothers but unfortunately Christian and I never saw eye to eye and when I moved out of home we just drifted apart. I'm sad to say that we don't really know each other any more." Ms Carter, who was awarded Image Business Woman of the Year 2016, further added: "I can only be responsible for my own actions and you can't live someone else's life for them." Independent.ie broke the story in January this year and following an inspection by Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the tenants were ordered to vacate the property. "They would be safer sleeping on couches somewhere, than in that house," Judge Linnane remarked in court on Thursday. The house was deemed to be a fire safety hazard and had significant sewage problems. Jayne Dobson, an engineer with the council, carried out an inspection and said the septic tank was inadequate for servicing ten people, let alone over 60 residents. Mr Carter told Independent.ie: "I take a lot of pride in making a good environment for tenants in affordable housing instead of hostels at 40 a night." Former minister Sean Canney is to leave the Independent Alliance. The Galway East TD has today announced he is to disengage with the group headed by Transport Minister Shane Ross. However, sources told the Irish Independent he has been in talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar about a deal to continue supporting the Government. Mr Canney has spent more than a week considering his position after a falling out over a junior ministry. He wanted to be reinstated as a minister of State in the Department of Finance but his colleagues decided the role should remain with the incumbent Kevin 'Boxer' Moran. The move comes almost exactly two years to the day since the Independent Alliance agreed to enter a Coalition with Fine Gael. When the Government was formed in May 2016 the five Alliance members were offered a total of four ministries. Two Cabinet positions were taken by Mr Ross and Finian McGrath, while John Halligan became a junior minister at the Department of Education. The final position was to be shared by Mr Canney and Mr Moran, who are first-time TDs. They flipped a coin to decide who would take the role of Minister for Flood Relief for the first year, with Mr Canney winning. The office was handed over to Mr Moran last summer, but there has now been a dispute over who will be the minister for the year ahead. "Nobody really expected this Government to last over two years and nothing was put in writing," a source said. Last week, the five TDs met to discuss the situation with a majority deciding Mr Moran took the larger risk and therefore should stay on as minister for the duration of the Coalition. Mr Canney does get a 15,000 top-up payment for serving as Assistant Government Whip. It is unclear whether he will be able to continue in this job when he leaves the Independent Alliance. 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. A Belfast City councillor has been reported to a local Government watchdog 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 yesterday afternoon. The bizarre image featured two frogs, one wearing a Union Jack T-shirt 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: "C'mon Paddy, EU can leave too". 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". Monica Barnes (centre left) with TDs Marian McGennis, Brendan Howlin and Alan Shatter during their 2001 investigation into the killing of John Carthy in Abbeylara. Photo: Tom Burke Former Fine Gael TD Monica Barnes last month with letters she received during the previous abortion referendum in 1983 Monica Barnes, a long-time Fine Gael politician and life-time advocate for human rights, has died aged 82. Ms Barnes was a campaigner for women's rights from the late 1960s and was a founder member of the Council for the Status of Women in 1973. She was a native of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, where she was educated at the St Louis Convent school, but lived most of her life in Dun Laoghaire, which she also represented in Dail Eireann for 15 years. Ms Barnes was originally a lecturer and an administrator before opting for full-time politics. She was among a number of women's rights activists, including former minister Frances Fitzgerald, who were encouraged to involve themselves in national politics by Fine Gael leader Dr Garret FitzGerald after the party had been devastated in the 1977 general election. Ms Barnes was finally elected to the Dail in 1982, having been a senator for a short time before that, and she also unsuccessfully contested European Parliament elections twice. She served as a TD for her adopted Dun Laoghaire in Dublin from 1982 to 1992 when she lost out. Ms Barnes regained the seat in 1997 but did not contest the election in May 2002, opting to retire from national politics. As a TD she was Opposition spokeswoman on women's rights and chaired the Oireachtas committee on women's rights. Ms Barnes was an outspoken advocate for women's rights and on occasion expressed disappointment and anger at the handling cases of sexual assault against women. In 1983 she was a strident opponent of the Eighth Amendment banning abortion, and she admitted in a recent interview with the 'Sunday Independent' that many fellow Fine Gael members thought her "a pain in the arse" at that time. Still she made it clear that her views had not changed and she was a passionate advocate of repealing the Eighth in this month's referendum. The Fine Gael politician was on the FitzGerald liberal wing of the party and was its first woman vice-president. She was a member of the Irish Association of Civil Liberty; Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. President Michael D Higgins led tributes to Ms Barnes last night, extending his sympathy to the family, friends and supporters. "Ms Barnes was a proud feminist and championed women's rights throughout her parliamentary career and beyond. She was a pioneer in the struggle for a space for women's rights to be discussed," he said in a statement. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also paid tributes to her and these have been echoed by politicians in all parties. "Monica gave great service to Fine Gael and to the people of Dun Laoghaire, whom she served as a TD for some 15 years," Mr Varadkar said. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also praised her contribution to public life. Undated handout photo issued by the Scottish SPCA of puppies that were seized by animal inspectors at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of Operation Delphin, after they were smuggled from Ireland. Scottish SPCA/PA Wire Undated handout photo issued by the Scottish SPCA of puppies that were seized by animal inspectors at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of Operation Delphin, after they were smuggled from Ireland. Scottish SPCA/PA Wire Undated handout photo issued by the Scottish SPCA of puppies that were seized by animal inspectors at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of Operation Delphin, after they were smuggled from Ireland. Scottish SPCA/PA Wire Animal inspectors have seized 27 puppies smuggled from Ireland at a Scottish port. The Scottish SPCA recovered the animals early on Wednesday at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway as part of Operation Delphin. Various breeds were discovered locked in cages in large wooden containers in the random stop by ports police at Cairnryan. Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by the Scottish SPCA of puppies that were seized by animal inspectors at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of Operation Delphin, after they were smuggled from Ireland. Scottish SPCA/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by the Scottish SPCA of puppies that were seized by animal inspectors at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of Operation Delphin, after they were smuggled from Ireland. Scottish SPCA/PA Wire It is estimated they would have been sold for at least 600 each. An undercover inspector said: "Unfortunately, the puppy trade is big business in Scotland with thousands of dogs being brought into the country each year from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in particular from large-scale puppy farms. "They are then sold on at huge profit by the dealers." Expand Close Undated handout photo issued by the Scottish SPCA of puppies that were seized by animal inspectors at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of Operation Delphin, after they were smuggled from Ireland. Scottish SPCA/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued by the Scottish SPCA of puppies that were seized by animal inspectors at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of Operation Delphin, after they were smuggled from Ireland. Scottish SPCA/PA Wire All of the animals were taken back to Ireland, where they are being cared for by the ISPCA while investigations are ongoing. The operation involved Stena Line, Police Scotland, Trading Standards, HMRC and UK and Ireland animal welfare charities including USPCA, DSPCA, ISPCA and RSPCA. Dumfries and Galloway Council gave powers to certain Scottish SPCA inspectors which allowed police and inspectors to enforce legislation at the port. The undercover inspector added: "The illegal trade in puppies is still a major issue. "The welfare of the breeding bitch and the puppies is compromised due to intensive breeding regimes and causes distress to the families who purchase these puppies. "When trafficked pups reach their new owner via the dealers, they often develop diseases such as parvo virus and giardia. "Often the young dogs die from these diseases which can be extremely distressing for the owners." The charity has issued advice to anyone considering buying a puppy A spokeswoman said: "Always view the mother of any puppies that are for sale when the pups are still feeding from the mother, where possible it is best to view both parents. "Never buy a puppy from a car park or allow for home delivery without visiting the breeder's premises. "If you have purchased a puppy that shows any signs of illness or distress, take it to a vet immediately." DYSTOPIAS are all the go at the moment. In cinema, on Netflix, Sky Atlantic and for box sets. We've had Blade Runner 2040, Westworld, Walking Dead and now we're all geared up for a second dollop of The Handmaid's Tale. But for just a second imagine with me yet one more disjointed dystopian world. It's sort of Orwellian. In it, rules don't apply to the wealthy at all. The privileged set, called the Privs, can do pretty much what they want. In this world those anointed are rewarded for their triumphs but also for their failure and ineptitude. So if banks, or company directors or heads of state bodies or developers are errant or fraudulent or in breach of the law, it is customary not only that they never lose their jobs (nor go to jail if the offences are criminal), but are instead given a token talking to before being repatriated by the other Privs to become wealthy/successful again. The talking to bit is very important, however. Apologies too. In this oddball existence there's another much larger group called the Plebs who are instead responsible for paying for the crimes and mistakes of the Privs. Whenever a politician or business is involved with graft, a huge public inquisition show is arranged to run for many years. It costs millions (to be paid by the Plebs to Priv lawyers). And, at the end of it, no one loses their jobs or goes to jail. The state pretends it has a health service for Plebs even though quite often its inept negligence causes deaths. But the Privs stick together and those responsible for errors are given even bigger jobs. In this world, the Privs in power also pretend to enable housing, but we'll come back to this in a minute. Our hero in this fictional tale is a Pleb named John. In our story, John works hard, saves money and along with his wife Mary, they buy an apartment. In doing so they get a mortgage. As is typical in this world, their bank steals from them by depriving them of initially attractive and agreed terms, which in essence takes thousands from their pockets over the term of the loan. Every month in this world a few thousand more people like John and Mary are revealed to be subject to this type of stealing. On top of this John and Mary are also unfortunate to be among the designated Plebs who must pay higher taxes for 30 years to repay the cost of crazy bank Privs who managed to bankrupt their banks a while back through ineptitude on a massive scale. Happily these bankers all got well-paid jobs afterwards in credit control roles, ensuring that pesky Plebs pay up what they owe. In this world, banks are not robbed but instead do the robbing. And if they are stupid enough to get caught stealing money from the Pleb customers, they are forced to apologise. Maybe. And sometimes if Government asks them nicely (many times over), they might just have to give the money back. Just the other day John and Mary looked in their other bank account (holding their wages and savings) and all their money was gone! The bank told Pleb customers whose money disappeared not to worry. It probably fell down the back of the sofa or something. The bank issued a general "sorry" notice, as is customary, so no explanation required. John and Mary finally move into their apartment (we'll call the block something like Beacon Hall or Priory South Quarter) and now they have a baby. But it emerges that the developer who built the apartments has broken the law and did not fire proof the homes properly. The developer Priv is now gone however. After saying sorry he lives a Priv life in a flash luxury home in another country's capital. Recently he went on a charity cycle around France. But this is not his affair. The breach in fire laws means John and Mary and their children could die if their building went on fire (and it actually has done!).Even in this dystopia, this will not stand. The Privs are vexed about it. The system now demands that John and his wife Mary be punished right away. They must now immediately shell out thousands from their casually disappearing savings in order to have the apartment fixed up to adhere to the safety levels demanded in the first place. John and Mary don't have the money. So it's time for the system to crack down on them. The fire brigade issues the family with legal notices for repairs or they must leave the complex. Officials take John and Mary aside and stress to them that there'll be no more of this nonsense. John and Mary need to pay more Priv-owned building firms to come in and make even more money. In fact the cost of the work has just doubled. They will also have to leave and live elsewhere while the job goes on. Building schedules are also nonsense in our dystopian world. I like that bit. John and Mary now fear they are about to join the 10,000 homeless plebs because now they also need to rent another property. In this particular dystopia there are also too few homes available to rent. The Privs in Government have discouraged housing construction for 10 years in order to increase the values of thousands of homes on the banks books which are subject to bad loans. The Government owns the bad banks that the Plebs were made to pay for saving. Now it needs to get the value of those banks up in order to sell them on at a decent price so the bank Privs can make more money. As a result Pleb house prices and rental costs have doubled. John and Mary still can't pay so now they are threatened with public naming and shaming in Stubbs Gazette and the newspapers. Their mortgage could be sold to a Priv-owned vulture fund by the Priv mortgage bank that has been stealing from them. So they arrive home to find that the swipe pass they use to get into their building has been deactivated. The End. But unlike Walking Dead, this yarn is just a bit too far fetched to make a believable dystopian box set. Isn't it? The phenomenon that is Riverdance arrived at a dementia day care centre yesterday in Dublin to give a free thunderclap performance yesterday for service users. Riverdances lead soloist Edel Murphy gave her stunning performance, followed by the iconic dance. The Riverdance troupe said National Tea Day is close to their hearts, because its ex-Director of Operations Ronan Smith has early onset dementia. Julian Erskine, Executive Producer for Riverdance said: We hope that singing and dancing together will help raise awareness and much-needed funds to support those living with dementia. We all have been touched by or know people with dementia, including our ex-Director of Operations Ronan Smith, and so this is a cause close to our hearts. Starting with our performance today at the ASIs Orchard Day Care Centre in Blackrock for National Tea Day 2018, we look forward to helping increase understanding and empathy for everyone affected by dementia. The dance took place at the Alzheimers Society of Ireland Orchard Day Care Centre in Blackrock, Co Dublin yesterday to celebrate National Tea Day 2018, an annual fundraiser for the charity. Flood relief schemes will be built to protect 50 at-risk cities, towns and villages as part of the first phase of a 1bn defence programme. The Office of Public Works (OPW) says detailed designs of schemes to protect Dundalk, Tralee, Limerick, Carlingford and Drogheda will immediately get under way, with planning also to begin on relief works for another 45 areas, including Galway City. But some at-risk areas will have to wait some time before works get under way. The OPW has identified 118 flood defence works required across the country, with 257m allocated for the first phase of 50 schemes. The remainder will be delivered over the next decade. But OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran insisted that no area at risk of flooding would be left behind. Speaking to the Irish Independent, he said local authorities could develop schemes for other areas identified as being at risk, but which had not been included on the priority programme, and that individual houses could be protected under the OPW minor works programme or through funding for individual property protection. "We are protecting 95pc [of at-risk properties] and I will deliver on the other 5pc," he said. "People living in groups of four, five or six houses may feel they have been left behind, but they haven't. "Local authorities can come in under the minor works programme through my department and we will fund it. I will also make resources available to local authorities to drive through the programme." The programme was launched in Athlone by Mr Moran and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Some 34,500 properties across the State are at risk of being flooded, and 95pc will be protected when all 118 schemes are delivered. In addition, the budget for minor works has increased from 3m a year to 5m. Councils will be given funding to employ specialist engineers if required. The five biggest schemes, in Dundalk, Tralee, Limerick, Carlingford and Drogheda, cost at least 15m each and are designed to project 4,000 properties. The biggest is in Limerick, which will cost more than 40m. Another 14 will get under way in six river catchment areas, including Galway City, Cavan, Naas, Ballina and Wexford. These projects will cost between 1m and 5m, and will protect 3,300 properties. These 19 large-scale projects will be directly built by the OPW, but another 31 smaller schemes costing up to 1m will be undertaken by local authorities. They include three in Donegal, three in Tipperary and three in Limerick. OPW sources said the 50 schemes have been prioritised because the urban areas are most at risk of flooding. Some 42 schemes in other areas are already completed, with 33 under way including a large project in Cork City. Further information is available at www.floodinfo.ie. But concerns remain about whether insurance companies will provide cover where schemes have been completed and proven to successfully prevent against flooding. Fianna Fail called on the Government to support its bill which proposes that insurance companies provide cover where a flood defence scheme is in place. You'd have to hand it to Ireland's top bankers. When it comes to brass necks they'd put the Colossus of Rhodes to shame. Barely a decade after their greed and incompetence drove Ireland off a financial cliff - and cost our country its economic sovereignty - some of our esteemed senior bankers are whining into their Moet and Chandon because they are no longer getting the multi million Euro bonuses they had become accustomed to during the heady days of the boom. This has, quite rightly, infuriated many people who feel that swingeing pay cuts rather than eye-watering bonuses should be the order of the day. At least until Ireland's still dysfunctional banking system can get its house into something better other than rag order. To gain an insight into just how disconnected some of Ireland's top bankers appear from the day to day reality of their customers one need only look at AIB's recent AGM in Dublin. At the meeting senior management at the bank - of which 71 per cent is owned by the State on foot of a 20.8 billion bank rescue - proposed that bonuses, worth up to 100 per cent of their salaries, should be reintroduced for some of its most senior executives. Unfortunately for the bankers, and fortunately for the taxpayer, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe - no doubt sensing a potential political catastrophe - shot down the astonishing proposal in no uncertain terms. What made the AIB bonus proposal even more incredible was the fact that the same day the Central Bank issued a new report that revealed a further 3,400 loans had been identified as being caught up in the tracker mortgage scandal. Around 1,800 of those loans belonged to AIB customers. AIB is taking steps to resolve the issue - after some significant delays - and roughly 96 per cent of the 5,800 of the customers it 'wrongly charged' have been paid redress and compensation. Given that the tracker scandal is still rumbling on - along with the fallout from various banks' sale of thousands of homes to Vulture funds - it is nothing short of breathtaking that senior bankers could think the payment of bonuses would even be contemplated. They argue - unconvincingly it would appear given Minister Donohoe's unequivocal response - that the lack of bonuses is stopping them from attracting top talent. Is that the same calibre of 'top talent' that helped oversee the almost total collapse of the Irish economy with decisions that helped plunge thousands of families into penury and homelessness? In the last few years, Ireland has begun to recover from the lost decade that resulted from our banks' profligacy. That recovery, however, has not spread evenly and across the country countless people, families and businesses are still struggling to survive. Most of Ireland's top bankers have emerged largely unscathed from the crash they oversaw. They should not mistake that for the public forgiving or forgetting what they did. There's another brilliant May Bank Holiday weekend in the offing in Listowel as the hugely-successful Military Tattoo of recent years returns as the rebranded and more expansive Listowel History Festival. Celebrating and highlighting the unique history and heritage of Irish people everywhere, events include lectures, walks, battle re-enactments, living history displays, commemorative ceremonies and an arts & craft fair. This year there is a very strong emphasis on the Lebanon as the festival commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Irish Defence Forces' participation in UN peace-keeping duties there as part of the UNIFIL mission. Up to 47 Irish soliders lost their lives in the Lebanon and they will be remembered at the parade on Saturday at 3pm. A first for the festival is the Kingdom Comic Fest which will be held in the Listowel Arms on Sunday with special guests, video games, writers, artists, small press, crafters, vendors, cosplay, movie memorabilia and more. Another new item this year will be the TV and movie cars on display in the Living History Field off the bridge road. Kitt the car from Knight Rider, the A-Team Van and two cars from The Dukes of Hazzard - Rosco P Coltrane's patrol car and The General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger - will be on display. Second World War battle re-enactments will, as ever, be at the heart of the weekend with the Square exploding into life on Sunday. Sunday night sees a movie-themed disco in the Arms hotel with DJ Martin Howard. Disco-goers have the option to come dressed as their favourite movie star or in military/veteran uniform. Also this year Justin Horgan will give a talk on the Luftwaffe over Kerry in The Seanchai on May 4 at 8pm. Dr Mary McAuliffe will meanwhile address 'Irish Women, the Vote & the 1918 General Election' on May 5 at 8pm. Colaiste Abbain, the rapidly growing Adamstown school, is 1,500 to the better thanks to a fundraising drive by members of the Shamrock Vintage Club - who presented a cheque for the sum recently at the school. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes turned out for the 11th annual Shamrock Vintage Club Pat Byrne Memorial road run on Sunday, April 1. The motoring group previously donated a total of 3,000 to the school, with the 4,500 total sum going towards new furniture for the canteen. People travelled from near and far on a lovely spring morning for the event last month. 2018 marked the 11th year that the club has held this run and in those ten years the club have supported Wexford Hospice, Crumlin Children's Hospital, the Community Hospital New Ross, the Community Workshop and many more. A large number of drivers registered for this year's event. Participants enjoyed a tour of the school on the day also and organisers were delighted with the support shown for the school. Shamrock club members Mogue Curtis and Philip Jackman handed over the cheque. Club stalwart John Walsh said the enrolment numbers for the school have increased by 60 so more furniture is needed for the canteen area. 'Over the years we have raised 50,000 for charities. We had over 100 vehicles registered for this event and others also contributed. We enjoyed a meal in the school afterwards and it was a really enjoyable day,' John said. At the national launch of Relay For Life(from left) Gay Murphy, Chair of Relay For Life Wexford; 2FM DJ Louise McSharry; and Gillian Wild of Relay For Life Wexford Wexford cancer survivor Gay Murphy is hoping that people across the county will get behind this year's Wexford Relay for Life. The fundraiser will be held in Pairc Charman on July 14 and 15 and is always a very positive and inspiring event. Speaking at the national launch last week Gay, who is chairperson of the Wexford Relay for Life, said she got involved with Relay for Life to help support others facing cancer having being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. 'I got involved because I wanted to give something back to an organisation who provides such great support and help to so many people at what can be a challenging time in their lives. I love the way Relay brings the whole community together in a festival type atmosphere, full of fun, over 24 hours. It also provides a space where there is no negativity and where people are not afraid to tackle the topic of cancer head on.' Relay For Life is a 24-hour event that brings the community together to celebrate the lives of cancer survivors, remember those lost to the disease and fight back by increasing knowledge of cancer and raising money to fund vital research and services of the Irish Cancer Society. 2FM DJ Louise McSharry who is also a cancer survivor helped to launch this year's events which are spearheaded by the Irish Cancer Society. Louise said: 'Being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 31 was a huge shock. Like most people I never expected cancer to affect me. Very quickly I realised that cancer knows no boundaries - it can happen to anyone at any time. That's why it's so important that we come together at a community level to raise awareness and show support. 'Here in Wexford a fantastic committee host Relay For Life to celebrate, remember and fight back. Cancer can be extremely difficult, but knowing your local community is behind you is uplifting, and that's what Relay For Life is all about.' Averil Power, Chief Executive of the Irish Cancer Society said: 'There are over 165,000 people in Ireland living with and beyond cancer, and by 2020, one in two people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Relay For Life brings communities together in a very powerful way to fight against an illness that can make a person feel so alone. Get involved in your local Relay and join the fight back against cancer.' Anyone is welcome to get involved in Relay for Life. For more information see www.cancer.ie/relayforlife. The Chinese Ambassador to Ireland with the Hubei Province delegation and Rosslare Europort officials at the port The Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Dr Yue Xiaoyong, accompanied a delegation from Hubei Province in the People's Republic of China on an official visit to Rosslare Europort recently. Rosslare, which is Ireland's second biggest port for ship visits and unitised freight, welcomed the delegation as part of a series of engagements in County Wexford to mark the proposed twinning of Wexford and Hubei Province. The visit was an opportunity for the Chinese delegation to view the port's facilities and learn about future growth and investment opportunities for Rosslare. It follows a visit to Rosslare Europort a few weeks ago by Transport Minister Shane Ross and the Minister of State Paul Kehoe. 'This is a time of great opportunity for Rosslare Europort and we are working with stakeholders locally and nationally and engaging with business and interested groups beyond our shores to explore how we can develop and highlight the options Rosslare can provide to business and the economy in the post-Brexit environment', said the port's general manager Glenn Carr. Mr Carr said Irish Rail was delighted to join with Wexford County Council in welcoming the Hubei delegation who expressed a specific interest in finding out more about the role and potential of Rosslare. He also welcomed the positive comments about Rosslare's potential which made by Minister Ross at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport following his Wexford visit. 'We will continue to work with department officials to ensure we are best placed for opportunities in the future', he said. Rosslare Europort is the quickest direct route to mainland Europe, offering daily sailings to France with Irish Ferries and Stena and a direct weekly service to Spain with Neptune lines. Enniscorthy based tech solutions giant Datapac is calling for a greater collaboration between the Irish education sector and the technology industry to help close the growing IT skills gap. The call comes just as Datapac announced that 150 students have now participated in its work placement programme since its launch in 2004, with a total of 1.5million invested in the programme to date. During this time, Datapac has also fostered strong links with third level institutions around the country. The programme is open to both graduate and undergraduate students and offers continuous on-the-job development as well as the opportunity to work with the latest technologies and applications. The 150th student to be recruited as part of the programme is Eric Maloney who is studying for a BSc in Information Technology Management at IT Carlow. 'The practical work experience that I have received at Datapac has been really invaluable and rewarding,' he said. 'It's given me a much deeper understanding of the industry and a much clearer vision of the career I want to pursue.' Launching the work placement programme into secondary schools is the next step in Datapac's strategic approach and it will initially be rolled out to school's in the Enniscorthy area. Students will gain practical, hands-on experience of both the technical and business aspects of the industry and mentors will be assigned to every student and will visit transition year classes. 'We're very excited to extend this programme to transition year students as we look to make an impact at second level too,' said General Manager Karen O'Connor. 'Our aim is to provide students with a positive experience and hopefully inspire them to consider STEM subjects for the Leaving Cert, as well as further studies and potentially a career in this sector.' Wexford County Council is spearheading a 550,000 initiative aimed at improving water quality and that of bathing water in Duncannon where a blue flag farming initiative is taking place as a European Innovation Project. The community based scheme is a collaborative initiative and will involve stakeholders from throughout the Duncannon area. The Duncannon Blue Flag Farming and Community Scheme project was one of 12 to which funding was awarded recently under the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) initiative of Ireland's Rural Development Programme. The local authority in Wexford had applied for 713,379. A spokesperson for the County Council told this newspaper that the aim of the project in Duncannon will be to restore the Blue Flag status to the beach by addressing rural sources of faecal pollution - mainly farms and septic tanks. The County Council will use the funding to employ a full-time Assistant Agricultural Scientist and part-time Clerical Officer over a three-year period. 'We also intend to provide annual financial incentives to the local farmers over a three-year period,' said the spokesperson. The group overseeing the project is led by Dr Mairead Shore, on behalf of the local authority, and includes staff from Teagasc, Glanbia, Bord Bia, Geoff Barry Agricultural Consultants, and an IFA Rep. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, announced the EIP funding for the project in December with 11m being provided nationally. He said the 12 projects will deliver 'novel solutions' to challenges facing the Irish agri-food sector and the rural economy. He also said the selection process was 'exceptionally competitive' and that the chosen projects offer great potential. In addition to the Duncannon project a sustainable farming initiative, Blackstairs Farming Futures, on the Carlow-Wexford border was also successful in its application. Another provincial project that was awarded funding is the Enable Conservation Tillage project which is aimed at promoting wider adoption of sustainable conservation tillage farming in the agricultural sector. Jorge Perez and Lynn Schacher from Evine with Myles Courtney (New Ross Street Focus) One of the world's biggest shopping TV channels broadcast live from New Ross recently. Evine is a multi-channel video retailer and American cable, satellite and broadcast television network. Owned by Evine Live Inc., the channel is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Two of its presenters arrived with a large crew in New Ross on Saturday, April 21, to do a promotion of Waterford Crystal products on board the Dunbrody Famine Ship. The presenters and tv sales crew arrived in New Ross in the early afternoon and took over part of the quay. They recorded some of the actors on the Dunbrody ship, which was recently refurbished, on a sunny spring day. The broadcast went live at 7 p.m. and continued until 4 a.m. Evine is available to view in 93 million American homes and is one of the most popular TV retailers in the world. It broadcasted live from Hook Lighthouse and Reginald's Tower in Waterford, among other locations, during its promotional tour of the region. New Ross Street Focus champion Myles Courtney spoke for four minutes about the history of New Ross, drawing viewers attention to some of the great historical parts of the town and the history of the old famine ship. A 6 in crystal version of the ship retailing at $150 is almost sold out, while a 'Dunbrody' decanter is selling at $250 plus shipping on the website. Caroline Foxe from Foulksmills and Eamon ORourke from Horetown with Peter Kavanagh from Highfield Solar (centre) The Wexford developers behind a 390 acre solar farm planned for the Clongeen area have said a 180,000 annual payment will be made to the local community if the project goes ahead. Highfield Solar Ltd are about to submit a planning application to Wexford County Council to erect solar panels on up 390 acres of land at Coolciffe, Raheenduff, Haresmead and Rospile for a 35-year period. In a submission to Wexford County Council the company stated that the proposed site would be developed over a number of landholdings. The company proposal states: "The solar panels will be mounted on long racks to form arrays which will be laid out running east to west across the site, facing towards the south. Each array will be a maximum height of 3.2m, with the solar panels tilted at an angle of 22 degrees to 35 degrees in order to maximise sun gain." The arrays would be fixed into the ground and do not require concrete foundations, leaving the land around and beneath the modules as grassland. An electrical substation compound would be erected on site also, along with security fencing and transformer units. Local residents were notified in early February about the company's intention to create the solar energy farm and since that time some farmers are understood to have given permission for their land to be used. The project is being developed by Peter Kavanagh from Kilanerin and John O'Connor from Rathnure, backed by investors fom the UK and Germany. The company held an information meeting on Wednesday in St Aidan's Hall in Clongeen which was attended by around 30 people over a three hour period. Due to an error the wrong date was published in this newspaper for the event. Peter said: "We are not obliged to do community engagement but feel it is best practice and ran a meeting on February 5 which around 50 people attended and we had an information evening again last Wednesday. We had six staff present to answer queries and had a lot of information on display, as well as sample solar panels. "We offered to bring people to an existing solar farm in UK or Northern Ireland, but there were no takers. We hope to submit planning in the coming weeks." Peter said the majority of people expressed concern about the development at last week's meeting. He said solar energy companies are waiting the final decision by Government on the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS). A consultation was completed last September and the plan proposes minimum levels of 2/MWh. "If this is confirmed (and industry expects it shall be) then this would equate to an annual payment of 180,000 to the local community if the project qualified for RESS." Peter said the German and UK partners bring with them a wealth of knowledge about technology. He said everyone will have the opportunity to make submissions once planning is sought, adding that suggestions that there could be chemical leakages from the solar panels made at a recent public meeting in the village are ludicrous. It will take up to three months for the local authority to either grant or refuse planning permission, following which there will be a one month window for the company or residents to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala. "We have a similar situation in Meath and the application has been with An Bord Pleanala for 13 months. We are looking at going into construction in Clongeen in 2020. We would build it tomorrow if we could." Describing solar power as the most benign form of renewable energy, Peter said the EU plans to have all countries fully decarbonised by 2050. He said there are no plans to develop a wind farm on site, as suggested at the previous meeting chaired by Kieran Hartley. The delegation from Ningbo City in the Zhejiang Province accepting a presentation. From left: Eamonn Hore of Wexford County Council, Wang Huawei, Wan Keda, Tom Enright of Wexford County Council, Wei Limin, council chairman Cllr John Hegarty, Carolyne Godkin of Wexford County Council, Tony Larkin of Wexford County Council, Mingming Zhao and Ye Weisong The delegation from Hubei Province in the People's Republic of China signed a memorandum of understanding with Wexford County Council with a view to forging a formal twinning arrangement. The signing took place during the first official visit to Wexford by representatives from Hubei who were accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Yue Xiaoyong, who hails from the province and who paid advance visits to the county earlier this year. The Chinese visitors met council CEO Tom Enright and County Council chairman John Hegarty as well as other officials and staff of the local authority in a private business meeting hosted by the chairman which included a presentation by Deputy Chief Executive Tony Larkin on the County Council's ambitious Economic and Community Investment Programme 2018-2022, followed by a question and answer session. The memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties commits Wexford and Hubei Province to a two-year relationship exploring opportunities between the two areas with a view to a formal twinning in the future. The head of the delegation was presented with a Pikeman. The group had lunch at Kelly's Hotel, which was hosted by the deputy mayor of Wexford Cllr Ger Carthy, and were welcomed to the hotel by Bill and Laura Kelly. The Hubei Province delegation included Wang Jianming, deputy director of the Standing Committee of Hubei Provincial People's Congress; Wang Yuxiang, deputy director general of Hubei Provincial Development and Reform Commission; Hu Yinghai, deputy director general of Hubei Provincial Foreign Affairs Office; Cao Hejia, deputy director of the Standing Committee of Huangshi Municipal People's Congress; Hu Yu, deputy division director of the General Office of the Standing Committee of Huebi Provincial People's Congress, and Feng Jia, English interpreter of Hubei Provincial Foreign Affairs Office. They were accompanied by the Ambassador and by political Counsellor Yang Hua, Barry Wei and Yang Jua, deputy chief of Commission. Hubei is located in the region of Central China. The name means 'north of the lake' referring to its position north of Dongting Lake. The capital is Wuhan, site of picturesque East Lake, the five-tiered Yellow Crane Tower and the vast Hubei Privincial Museum. Taking a boat on Irelands inland waterways was something we had always wanted to do. However, when I got the chance to cruise the Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh, I never could have guessed what an incredible adventure awaited the family. When it comes to holidays in Ireland, we automatically think of the coast, and we are blessed with extraordinary coastline and the Atlantic Ocean, however, some of the islands most breath-taking scenery is found along our inland waterways. For so long I had wanted to discover the rivers and lakes of Ireland by boat but with a busy work and school schedule, it was something I kept putting off. After a long, hard winter and with spring attempting to push through, we decided to try something different and set off for a weekend on Lough Erne. Arriving in Belturbet in Co. Cavan, we picked up our boat from the Aghinver Boat Company, a 31-foot 4/6 berth cruiser with flybridge. The boat was in pristine condition and seemed almost new. There was ample space for my wife Sandra and I in the double bed at the stern and my children Zoe, 11, Aran, 8, in the two single beds at the bow. Although the couch in the main area of the boat folded out to a double bed, Rua, 3, the youngest, came into bed with the grown-ups (he was always going to end up there anyway). Expand Close The 31-foot 4/6 berth cruiser with flybridge from Aghinver Boat Company. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The 31-foot 4/6 berth cruiser with flybridge from Aghinver Boat Company. After half an hour orientation and instruction from Sean Grennan at Aghinver, off we set along the River Erne and out onto the expanse of Lough Erne. The boat is really very easy to drive, and I, with no previous sailing experience got the hang of it immediately. Navigation through the labyrinth of islands takes a little getting used to, but once you stay within the markers on the water youre absolutely fine. Of course as soon as we hit the open water of the lake we got caught in torrential rain and hail and got completely lost. Thats all part of the adventure though and we found our way soon enough. Our first stop-off was the fabulous Watermill restaurant at Kilmore Quay just meters from where we moored the boat on the shore of the upper lough. The restaurant, run by renowned chef Pascal Brissaud, is pretty close to a perfect dining experience. A warm, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, with staff from France, the food is exquisite. Sometimes you have the pleasure to eat in an establishment where the care and attention to detail is evident in everything around you. We were to push on to Naan Island and moor there for the night, but we were enjoying ourselves so much we decided to stay at the Watermill. As we made our way back to the boat we were treated to one of Lough Ernes famous sunsets. The air was warm and the water still like glass, the North Star shone low in sky and a full moon rose amid the deep and delicate colours of dusk. It took our breath away. Expand Close One of the breathtaking sunsets / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp One of the breathtaking sunsets The next morning we woke early to a breezy, sunny day. We breakfasted on board on the move as we made our way northward across the lough to Bellanaleck where we moored and took a taxi a short distance to the Marble Arch Caves. Ive visited quite a few cave systems all over the world and can honestly say that the Fermanaghs Marble Arch Caves is among the very best Ive seen. Its an extensive network of chambers, beautifully lit, with stalactites and otherworldly formations all linked by an underground river. Access to the caves is by boat which adds to the feeling of entering the underworld on the tour. Unfortunately, my youngest Rua, fell asleep in my arms during the tour and I had to carry him for the majority of the tour as well as up the 150 steps to see daylight, whereupon he promptly awoke. It didnt take from a most extraordinary experience in the Marble Arch Caves. Its not to be missed. Wed worked up an appetite so we took a taxi back to Bellanaleck and had some lunch at the Sheelin Kitchen, a quaint cafe in a two-hundred-year-old thatched cottage. The children still had enough energy for an hour in the playground before we boarded our boat and set off northwards for Enniskillen. Expand Close Some of the spectators along the route / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Some of the spectators along the route You can see youre approaching the town of Enniskillen as the rural countryside slowly gives way to more settlement and bigger and plusher marinas. We went straight to Enniskillen Castle - an imposing 16th century fortress that now houses the Fermanagh County Museum. There you can find a fascinating collection relating to the turbulent history of Fermanagh. The Museum has curated an impressive collection of artefacts and an informative exhibition that had the whole family enthralled. The castle is the heart of this town and theres an atmosphere of great and terrible history that seems to echo in its halls. Leaving the castle, we were caught in more heavy rain so we made a dash for the boat where we cooked our own meal on board. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing, a cup of tea, listening to jazz on BBC Radio 3 and the rain pelting against the window. I did my first crossword in months. Again we woke to sunshine. It seems dawn is the best part of the day here and the hundreds of fishermen on the banks and on the water would agree. We took a slow start to the morning then set off south back towards Bellanaleck and on to the Crom Estate weaving through the islands of the Upper Lough Erne. By that time navigation and handling of the boat was second nature. Expand Close Waterside views / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Waterside views We docked at Crom Estate and immediately saw that we were in a very special place indeed. The wetlands that surround the area paint an evocative picture of the life of the gentry that ruled this estate through the centuries. The National Trust Visitors Centre tells you all you need to know about a turbulent history of conquest, through the Plantation to the aristocratic life of the Crichton family that made the estate their home. The Crom family estate is still sitting splendid on among the ancient oak and yew. We walked the short distance down to the ruins of the old castle on the lake shore where the view left us speechless. The whole weekend we had encountered every kind of weather imaginable but when the sun came out, the beauty is stark and very much unique to this part of the world. The waterways of Ireland have their own unique history and their own special identity, its an as yet, still undiscovered world for the Irish tourist. Expand Close A calm start to the morning / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A calm start to the morning Talking to Sean Grennan, of the Aghinver Boat Company, the majority of his customers are from Europe. Every year, the same tourists from Germany, France and Switzerland return to cruise Fermanaghs waterways. The Irish have yet to really discover and appreciate this area and with the incredible work that Waterways Ireland do to maintain this incredible resource and make it accessible to all, for sure, theyll only need to experience it once and theyll come back again and again. Leaving Crom Estate, we set out on the last leg of our journey, to return the boat to Belturbet. Sitting on the upper deck, with the family below, I can hear them singing as the boat chugs easily on its way downriver. All along the banks there are scenes of rural idyll. New born lambs bound in the fields, cattle lift their heads to watch us pass. The birdlife is everywhere, all around you herons, brent geese, moorhens and coots and of course the swans who rule the lakes. We even saw a buzzard flash its wings across the bow of the boat. The waterways have their own pace of life and even a short weekend trip along them forces you to slow down. We only scratched the surface of what you can experience in this part of Ireland. What an adventure it was. Now that weve seen it, were already planning our return trip to Irelands waterways. To find all Waterways special offers for Cruising and Blueways adventures, click here. Sponsored by: 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 has reported, 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 Defence 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 Defence Department, which opposes China's installation of military facilities on outposts it has built up in the South China Sea, declined to comment. "We don't comment on matters of intelligence," a spokesman said. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washington's Centre 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 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. Mr 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 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. TERROR group ETA has completely disbanded, ending a 60-year guerrilla campaign in the Basque Country. The news has been described as historic by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who has been involved in the negotiations since 2009. ETA spent more than five decades fighting for an independent state in northern Spain and southern France. Officials believe the group killed 853 people. Former militants will keep seeking a reunited, independent, socialist, Basque-speaking and non-patriarchal Basque Country but they will do it outside of ETA. Expand Close Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Photo: Steve Humphreys Mr Ahern, who is in Kambo Cambo les Bains in the Basque country today, told Independent.ie the move towards peace was largely modelled on Northern Ireland. "We have been very much following the same steps as Ireland. There was a cease fire, decommissioning, an apology and today is the disbandment," he said. Mr Ahern has been part of an International Contact Group which has been central to the negotiations, alongside others including Gerry Adams and Jonathan Powell. Today's formal declaration from those involved in the talks states that this marks "the last armed confrontation in Europe". It is nearly seven years since the Aiete Declaration laid the groundwork for the end of the conflict. "At that time we called upon on all side to commit to peace and democratic means and to dialogue and negotiation to resolve differences so that a just and lasting peace could be achieved in this region," today's declaration states. "This is a historical moment for the whole of Europe marking the end of the last armed group on the contitnent. "In the nearly seven years since the Aiete Declaration there has been major advances in the call for peace in the Basque country. There are of course things that we called for at Aiete that have not been done." Further dialogue between interested groups and the Spanish government is suggested, particularly around the issue of prisoners. The declaration adds: "Most of all a process of reconciliation lies ahead. In our experience in the conflicts in which we are involved this takes a long time. "Deep wounds remain. Families and communities are still divided. Further efforts need to be made to recognise and assist all victims. "It will take honesty about the past from all sides and generosity of spirit to heal the wounds and rebuild a shared community." Mr Ahern said the deal is not perfect but it is something to be celebrated. "We could be talking about Northern Ireland. The only difference here is there are a lot of things still outstanding like prisoners," he said. "Today this will be seen as a big step. It's 60 years. ETA are wrapping up and that's been part of the process for the past seven or eight years." Nearly half a million women in England missed out on NHS cancer screening because of an IT error, the government has admitted - adding that hundreds may have died as a result. Jeremy Hunt, the health and social care secretary, has apologised for the glitch which meant 450,000 women were never sent letters inviting them to routine breast cancer check-ups. He admitted up to 270 of those affected could have died prematurely as a result of the error and officials said there may be more women whose cancer was caught at a later, and less treatable, stage. The UK government announced an independent inquiry into the full extent of what charities have called an "appalling error", and said it would begin the "distressing" process of contacting families to establish whether they are owed compensation. A technical issue dating back to 2009 and only caught in 2018 was responsible for some women in England missing out on the last of their regular invitations for screening. In a statement, Mr Hunt announced the "best estimate" is that between 135 and 270 women "had their lives shortened as a result". "I am advised that it is unlikely to be more than this range, and may be considerably less," he added. "Tragically, there are likely to be some people in this group who would be alive today had this failure not happened." These numbers are based on estimates of the rates of cancers caught for every woman screened, however the independent review will establish how many women were affected by reviewing case notes. It will also try to determine how the issues went unnoticed for the best part of a decade. The NHS currently screens women between the ages of 50 and 70 for breast cancer every three years, but only women aged between 68 and 71 were affected by this issue. The glitch first came to light in January after an upgrade to the national screening IT system found women enrolled in a long-running study were not receiving their final screening invitation around age 70. This led to a review which found the problem and other issues were replicated across England. Charities said the "incompetence" of allowing failures to go unnoticed must never be repeated. Independent News Service British foreign secretary and leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson leaves the polling station after casting his local government vote at Charing Cross Library, London yesterday. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Britain will be unable to leave the European customs union before 2023 ministers have been told, meaning the delay could be exploited by Remainers to thwart Brexit. In a briefing to the British Cabinet's Brexit sub-committee earlier this week, senior civil servants said highly complex new technology which will be needed to operate Britain's borders after Brexit may not be ready for another five years. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has asked officials to carry out more work on the two options being considered by the Government to replace the customs union: a customs partnership and a so-called "maximum facilitation" plan. The disclosure was made despite claims yesterday by David Davis, the Brexit minister, who told MPs he was "100 per cent" sure Britain will have left the customs union by the end of the transition period on December 31, 2020. The expected delays mean that whatever option the Cabinet decides on, the country will have to stay in a form of customs union for four years after leaving the bloc in March 2019. Brexiteers have expressed serious concerns that Remainers in Parliament will use the delay to try to keep Britain in the customs union and possibly even the single market. One senior Brexiteer said: "There are genuine concerns this delay will lead to the UK staying in the customs union permanently. "Regardless of that, if we are still in the customs union by the next general election in 2022 it will cause a catastrophe at the polls because we will not have delivered Brexit and voters will not have seen any benefits of leaving the EU." The government is yet to agree a position on the customs relationship with the EU after a meeting of the Brexit sub-committee broke up without a decision on Wednesday. Mrs May's preferred option of a customs partnership with the EU was rejected by a majority of the 11-strong committee, and the prime minister was warned yesterday that there must be no attempt by her to revive the policy. Brexiteers fear she will present a "customs partnership 2.0" plan to the committee later this month in the hope of winning over the Remainers Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, and Sajid Javid, the home secretary, both of whom sided with Leavers during the heated discussion. The alternative being discussed by ministers is a "maximum facilitation" plan, or "max fac" for short, which will harness new technology and trusted trader schemes to avoid a hard customs border in Ireland. The EU has rejected both ideas out of hand, giving succour to Remainers who argue that staying in the customs union is the only viable solution if Britain is to solve the Irish Border problem. Mrs May has been told by Julian Smith, the chief whip, that the government is likely to lose a crucial vote in parliament in the coming weeks calling for ministers to make a customs union with the EU one of their Brexit negotiating objectives. Tory rebels led by Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, have tabled an amendment to the Customs Bill designed to keep the UK in a customs union. One source said: "The whips have informed the Prime Minister that the Remainers have the numbers to beat the Government on customs votes in Parliament." It is now possible Mrs May will try to delay the vote to give her more time to win over the mutineers in her party. Mrs May has repeatedly said Britain will leave the customs union and not be a member of a customs union with the EU after Brexit. Her struggle to find an alternative became more complex after Olly Robbins, the UK's top Brexit civil servant, delivered a "frank" assessment of the options on Wednesday. One Whitehall source said: "The estimate is it would take five years to get the technology up and running. Olly Robbins said it could be done by 2022 at a pinch, but most people think even five years is an optimistic estimate. "The Remainers will try to use it to keep us in the customs union for good, and they will then argue that we might as well be in the single market as well." Brexit-supporting cabinet ministers, including foreign secretary Boris Johnson and environment minister Michael Gove, believe that they "killed off" Mrs May's favoured solution of a customs partnership during Wednesday's meeting after it was opposed by a 6-5 majority. Government sources have suggested that "elements" of the customs partnership idea, which involves collecting tariffs on behalf of the EU before companies claim a rebate, may remain in a reworked model which is expected to be presented to the same committee next week. Meanwhile, yesterday's local elections were considered a test of the public mood. Voting was taking place to fill more than 4,000 seats on 150 local councils in towns and cities across England, including all of London's 32 boroughs. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were not holding elections. The Conservatives were braced for losses amid anger over unsteady Brexit negotiations, an explosive immigration scandal and years of public spending cuts that have seen local officials close libraries and slash services. Michele Marchi said coypu meat is almost better than rabbit. Photo: Citellus Photography As Italy struggles to deal with burgeoning populations of a giant rodent, a mayor has come up with a novel solution - eat them. Coypu were introduced to Italy a century ago from their native South America to be farmed for their fur. But many escaped or were released after wearing fur fell out of fashion, and the species is now thriving. They have fared particularly well in the flatlands of the Po valley in northern Italy, where farmers complain that they devour crops and destroy levees and embankments by digging burrows. In the region of Emilia-Romagna alone there are believed to be around one million, while Lombardy has a population of around 1.3 million, with the regional government calling for 300,000 to be culled each year. Michele Marchi, the mayor of the town of Gerre de' Caprioli, has suggested that numbers could be reduced if Italians developed a taste for coypu meat. His proposal, launched on his Facebook page, has caused a lively social media debate, with some people in favour of the idea and others revolted by the prospect of eating what looks like a cross between a beaver and a large rat. "The debate about coypu has become bonkers, without coming to any resolution of the problem," the 31-year-old mayor wrote. "Here's my idea - let's start eating them in restaurants and at village food festivals." The mayor said he was speaking from practical experience, having eaten coypu meat. "It's almost better than rabbit," he said. One enthusiastic backer of the idea wrote: "Coypus are very clean animals and they are herbivores. I've tried them a few times. They should be cooked in a stew with onions or baked in the oven. I agree with the mayor - it's better than rabbit." Animal lovers were less enamoured of the idea. "Here's another genius who thinks he can resolve a problem by killing defenceless animals. And they elected him mayor," wrote one critic. Coypu have adapted well to a range of different habitats in Italy. They can even be seen in the middle of Rome, nibbling on sedges on the banks of the Tiber. They breed prolifically, with a female capable of giving birth to up to a dozen young at a time. In their native range they are eaten by alligators, large snakes and eagles. A lack of such predators in Europe has contributed to their rapid population growth. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas apologised after a speech he made was criticised as anti-Semitic. (Majdi Mohammed/AP) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has apologised following a speech he made this week widely condemned as anti-Semitic. He said it was the social functions of Jews, including money-lending, that caused hatred toward them in Europe. He also said there was no historical basis for the Jewish homeland. If people were offended by my statement ... especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to themMahmoud Abbas The speech drew criticism around the world that Abbas perpetuated anti-Semitic stereotypes and ignored deep Jewish historical connections to the Holy Land. Palestinian officials say Mr Abbas was under intense pressure from diplomats to apologise. If people were offended by my statement especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to them, news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying. Israels defence minister later lashed out at Abbas on Twitter, rejecting his apology. Abu Mazen is a wretched Holocaust denier who wrote his doctorate on Holocaust denial and later also published a book about Holocaust denial, Avigdor Lieberman tweeted, referring to Abbas by his nickname. His apology is not accepted, he added. Arguably no four words are better calculated to explode the heads of liberals the world over than 'Donald Trump's Nobel Prize'. That was reason enough for thousands of Trump devotees to chant "Nobel! Nobel!" at a weekend political rally in Michigan. His putative claim on the laurel had come days earlier, when the whole world saw North Korea's Kim Jong-un attempt an awkward hug with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in at the conclusion of their summit. Kim is a third-generation despot known for ordering senior officials to be executed by shooting them at close range with anti-aircraft fire. So any hug, no matter how awkward, is going to look like a momentous breakthrough, and Mr Trump's team is, of course, going to credit his Twitter diplomacy. Liberal heads also went blooey back in 1906, when another brash, wealthy, self-promoting New York Republican president received a Nobel Peace Prize. According to keepers of the Nobel records, "the Norwegian left argued that [Theodore] Roosevelt was a 'military mad' imperialist who completed the American conquest of the Philippines. Swedish newspapers wrote that Alfred Nobel was turning in his grave." What is most pertinent about this parallel is not how much or how little Trump resembles this role model. (It's possible Roosevelt wrote more books than Trump has read.) Instead, the key takeaway is that Roosevelt won his peace prize for mediating an agreement involving the future of Korea. More than a century later, the US president is still working on the same problem. This simple fact ought to give the triumphalists pause. For all the focus on personality - "Little Rocket Man" and so on - Korea's destiny as a global problem patch is dictated by its geography more than its leaders. It is the strategic peninsula where imperial powers converge. Korea shields China's vital ports on the Yellow Sea; it lures Russia with the hope of warm-water access to the Pacific; it juts at the Japanese home islands "like a dagger pointed at the heart," as one military strategist put it sharply. Dominated for centuries by China, Korea found itself at the crossroads of two wars in the decade between 1895 and 1905, and nothing afterward has resembled true peace. Deteriorated Roosevelt's role in ending the second of those two wars, between Russia and Japan, led to his Nobel Prize and left the peninsula under Japanese sway. Over the next generation, that sway deteriorated into an increasingly brutal occupation, ending only with Japan's defeat in World War II. After Tokyo's surrender in 1945, the victorious US divided the peninsula with the Soviet Union, creating a buffer zone between the superpowers, but the tense co-existence failed. A war in the early 1950s took the world to the nuclear brink and never officially ended. For all the hopes Trump will carry into his proposed summit with Kim - hopes for peace, denuclearisation and even visions of eventual unification - this tangled skein of history and geography presents some formidable knots. On a scale of difficulty from one to 10, this is a 13. Consider just a few of the questions facing the US team: First, what is Kim's future? Today, he is the absolute ruler of an impoverished but militarily dangerous nation protected by his own arms and the suzerainty of China. Like his father and grandfather, he holds power by wielding violence, favouritism and propaganda, while keeping his people on a constant wartime footing. How, exactly, does he fit this family business model into any vision of a peaceful, unified Korea in which the wealthy, open South would have overwhelming economic superiority? Second, how can global powers reconcile competing interests in Korea over the long term without a permanent division, and the attendant threat of renewed tensions? Since November 1950, when China sent hundreds of thousands of ill-equipped troops across the Yalu River in human waves, Beijing has made clear it will never accept US dominance of the peninsula. Over the same period, the United States has invested enormous blood, treasure and human resources in building the South into a dynamic democracy. If the bright line of the 38th Parallel is to be gradually erased, as Kim and Moon agreed in vague but idealistic language, how will these competing commitments be separated? And supposing that the United States can somehow co-exist with China in a peaceful Korea, how does Russia fit into the mix? The struggling but proud petro-state has designs on turning Korea into a major customer, and perhaps a trans-shipment hub for its natural gas. There is friction all around the globe where Russia rubs against the West. Can it be safely managed in the tinderbox of Korea? Everything we have seen in the past few months, we've seen before. The North Koreans pause their arms build-up. The South Koreans extend their hands. Promises of peace are exchanged. This has happened repeatedly because it's the easy part. What comes next is devilishly difficult. And if Trump pulls it off - truly, lastingly - he will deserve the prize. Washington Post U.S. President Donald Trump gestures before he speaks at a National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Dallas, Texas, U.S. May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson President Donald Trump has told the National Rifle Association convention that the Paris terror attack in 2015 could have been prevented if people in the area had been armed. Trump also told the convention on Friday in Dallas that a London hospital was now 'like a war zone' because of knife crime. Trump told to the audience that the Paris terror attack could have been prevented if more people were armed. "The terrorists would have fled or been shot and it would have been a whole different story," he said. The 2015 attack left 130 dead after terrorists carried out a series of suicide bombs and mass shootings in the French capital. Speaking at a pro-gun rally, the US president also claimed that knife crime in London is so bad that one unnamed hospital in the capital is "like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds" with "blood all over the floors". He told the National Rifle Convention (NRA) in Dallas: "I recently read a story that in London, which has unbelievably tough gun laws, a once very prestigious hospital right in the middle is like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds. "Yes that's right, they don't have guns they have knives. And instead there's blood all over the floors of this hospital. They say it's as bad as a military war zone hospital. "We're here today because we recognise a simple fact. The one thing that has always stood between the American people and the elimination of our Second Amendment rights has been Conservatives and congress willing to fight for those rights, and we're fighting." At least 38 people in London have lost their lives to knife crime so far this year, the Met confirmed. Trump also told the crowd that they had an administration in Washington that was "fighting to protect your Second Amendment, and we will protect your Second Amendment". The president told tens of thousands of attendees that their right to bear arms was "under siege". But he pledged that those rights "will never, ever be under siege as long as I'm your president". Trump did not elaborate on how the Second Amendment was under siege. The president was addressing the NRA gathering nearly three months after a deadly shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. The president temporarily strayed from the group's strong opposition to tougher gun controls after the school shooting - only to rapidly return to the fold. He was speaking at the event for the fourth year in a row. Last year, he became the first sitting president to appear in more than 30 years, declaring that the "assault" on the Second Amendment had ended. But this year's speech in Dallas came as the issue of gun violence takes on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. Survivors of the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead are leading a massive national gun control movement. Several groups have announced plans to protest over the weekend during the NRA event. The protesters will include parents of those killed in Parkland and other shootings. The survivors' campaign has not led to major changes from the White House or the Republican-led Congress but Mr Trump did briefly declare he would stand up to the powerful gun lobby. He later backpedalled, expressing support for modest changes to the background check system, as well as arming teachers. His attendance at this year's NRA convention was announced just days ago and came after Vice President Mike Pence was already scheduled to appear. Asked why Mr Trump was attending, given political tensions around gun violence, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said this week that safety was a "big priority". "We also support the Second Amendment, and strongly support it, and don't see there to be a problem with speaking at the National Rifle Association's meeting," she said. Mr Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent about 30 million US dollars (25m) supporting his presidential campaign. One of the Parkland survivors, David Hogg, was critical of the president's planned attendance. "It's kind of hypocritical of him to go there after saying so many politicians bow to the NRA and are owned by them," he said. "It proves that his heart and his wallet are in the same place." Trump's moves have drawn concerns from both sides of the gun debate. "He ran as supposedly the best friend of the Second Amendment and has become gun grabber in chief," said Michael Hammond, legislative counsel to the Gun Owners of America. He said his members were upset Mr Trump had approved a spending bill that included background check updates. "We're not confident at all. We are very disappointed," he said. 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 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. Federal law requires prisons to individually assess 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. 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. The 'heartbeat bill', as it has come to be known in the US, requires women to have an ultrasound to screen for a foetal heartbeat before they can receive an abortion (stock picture) Iowa is set to become the first US state to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, after lawmakers approved the most restrictive ban in the country. Republican lawmakers in the state passed the bill banning the procedure after the point that a foetal heartbeat is detected. The bill must now go to Iowa's top official to write the bill into law. Kim Reynolds, the Republican governor, has not said if she will sign the bill. If it comes into effect, the law will ban most terminations after six weeks of pregnancy, a move which women's rights groups say will be the country's most restrictive abortion law. The 'heartbeat bill', as it has come to be known in the US, requires women to have an ultrasound to screen for a foetal heartbeat before they can receive an abortion. Critics have argued it will make having an abortion illegal before most women even realise they are pregnant. The bill exempts women seeking abortions in cases of rape or incest, or if the pregnancy threatens the woman's life. The bill follows an increasing move towards restricting abortions across the US ahead of the November midterm elections. Republican lawmakers are eager to advance pro-life causes ahead of the election race in case they lose their majorities. Last year, Iowa Republicans successfully banned abortions for women after 20 weeks of pregnancy, among the shortest limits in the US. Barriers Democrats in Iowa have criticised the "political" barriers to receiving abortions. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, who is a Democratic lawmaker, spoke against the legislation in the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday. "All women, regardless of age, income or race, should be able to obtain reproductive health services, including abortion, free from political and economic barriers," she said. Iowa's Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union branches have also spoken out against the bill, arguing that it is unconstitutional. Elizabeth Nash, of the sexual and reproductive health policy group the Guttmacher Institute, told the BBC this was "the most restrictive abortion ban in the country". President Donald Trump on Friday linked the sanctity of the Second Amendment to his partys prospects in the 2018 midterm elections, telling supporters at the National Rifle Associations annual convention that weve got to get Republicans elected. Trump struck a tough tone months after he briefly strayed from the NRAs message in the days after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. He vowed that the Second Amendment will never ever be under siege as long as I am your president. Trumps speech in Dallas was his fourth consecutive appearance at the NRAs annual convention. His gun comments were folded into a campaign-style speech, which touched on the Russia probe, the 2016 campaign, illegal immigration and his efforts in North Korea and Iran. Thanks to your activism and dedication you have an administration fighting to protect your Second Amendment @realDonaldTrump #MAGA #NRA pic.twitter.com/YHUqnpjMjy NRA (@NRA) May 4, 2018 Trump said Democrats wanted to outlaw guns and said if the nation took that step, it might as well ban all vans and trucks because they were the new weapons for maniac terrorists. The speech came as the issue of gun violence has taken on new urgency after one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. Expand Close NRA member and Donald Trump supporter Jim Whelan, centre, speaks with protester David Lyles, right, outside the NRA annual meeting (Jeffrey McWhorter/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp NRA member and Donald Trump supporter Jim Whelan, centre, speaks with protester David Lyles, right, outside the NRA annual meeting (Jeffrey McWhorter/AP) Student survivors of the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead, are now leading a massive national gun control movement. They too are looking to the midterm elections for action. Though Trump embraced the Second Amendment right to bear arms before Fridays speech, he had temporarily strayed from the strong anti-gun control message in the wake of the shooting. While the shooting has not led to major changes from the White House or the Republican-led Congress, it did at least briefly prompt Trump to declare that he would stand up to the powerful gun lobby. He later backpedalled on that tough talk. Trump referenced the Parkland shooting in his speech, saying he mourned for the victims and their families and saying he has taken steps on school safety. He noted that he signed a recent spending bill that included modest provisions to strengthen the federal background check system for gun purchases and money to improve school safety. Expand Close A Smith and Wesson .44 calibre revolver hangs on the hip of Johnathan Davis, as he voices his support for gun rights (Jeffrey McWhorter/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A Smith and Wesson .44 calibre revolver hangs on the hip of Johnathan Davis, as he voices his support for gun rights (Jeffrey McWhorter/AP) He also repeated his support for letting highly trained teachers carry concealed weapons. Asked earlier this week why Trump was attending the convention, given the current political tensions around gun violence, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said safety was a big priority. But, she added: We also support the Second Amendment, and strongly support it, and dont see there to be a problem with speaking at the National Rifle Associations meeting. Expand Close NPeople in the audience wait for the start of the NRA Convention (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp NPeople in the audience wait for the start of the NRA Convention (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP) Trump said some people had advised him that attending might be controversial, but added: You know what I said? Bye-bye, gotta get on the plane. Trump has long enjoyed strong backing from the NRA, which spent millions of dollars in support of his presidential campaign. The NRA showcased its high-profile guests for the event, with NRA executive director Chris Cox saying on Twitter: We are honored to celebrate American Freedom with @realDonaldTrump, @VP Mike Pence and others. #2A #watchtheleftmeltdown. Expand Close NRA convention raffle items at the convention centre in Dallas (Sue Ogrocki/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp NRA convention raffle items at the convention centre in Dallas (Sue Ogrocki/AP) But one of the Parkland student survivors, David Hogg, was critical of Trumps planned attendance. Its kind of hypocritical of him to go there after saying so many politicians bow to the NRA and are owned by them, Hogg said. It proves that his heart and his wallet are in the same place. Kristin Brown, of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said Trump had offered mixed messages since the Parkland shooting. Which Donald Trump is going to show up? she asked. Will it be the one who sympathised with the Parkland students he brought to the White House, the one who met with members of the Senate or the one who had burgers with NRA head Wayne LaPierre. Several groups announced plans to protest over the weekend. The protesters will include parents of those killed in Parkland and in other shootings. Details of a meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un could be announced soon (Ahn Young-joon/AP) US president Donald Trump says a time and place for his meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un has been set and will be announced soon. He said: "We now have a date and we have a location. We'll be announcing it soon." Mr Trump suggested on Monday that he was looking for the meeting to be held at the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas. That is where Mr Kim met South Korean president Moon Jae-in last Friday. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence postponed a planned trip to Brazil at the end of May to free resources for Mr Trump's meeting with Mr Kim. The president spoke from the White House South Lawn before departing for Dallas. Earlier, the White House denied a report that Mr Trump is seeking options to reduce US troop presence on the Korean peninsula. New York, May 4 (IBNS): Mental health remains one of the most neglected global health issues, even though it is critical to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders, top United Nations officials have said at an event in London. One in four people experience a mental health episode in their lifetime, but the issue remains largely neglected, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his opening remarks to a roundtable discussion on mental health, co-organized by his office, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Wellcome Trust, a charitable foundation that supports scientists and researchers. The UN is committed to working with partners to promote full mental health and wellbeing for all, Guterres added. The UN is committed to working with partners to promote full mental health and wellbeing for all UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres The roundtable discussion, held Wednesday evening, included Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore, and some 20 others from academia, government and civil society. A main message coming out of the discussion was growing support for the notion that there can be no health without mental health and there is a need to look beyond the health sector, for creative solutions to tackle the root causes of deteriorating mental health. Inadequate care does not come about in a vacuum, and there are societal as well as environmental factors involved, the roundtable heard. Mohammed explained that mental health is not just an issue for the health sector because it also related to equality and basic individual rights. In this regard, she called for greater cross-sectoral investment to address the problem. The event was held on the margins of the annual meeting of the UN Chief Executives Board (CEB) one of the semi-annual meetings that brings together, under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General, the executive heads of 31 agencies and specialized UN organizations. Meeting with UK leader While in London, the UN chief met with United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May, and recognized her countrys contribution to the global agenda, as a founder of the UN, a permanent member of the Security Council and a pillar of multilateralism, according to a read-out issued Wednesday by the world body. I think we are facing a serious threat of non-proliferation, nuclear [or] chemical [weapons], which is one of our main concerns, Guterres said in the read-out. And we are working hard, I think; the nuclear part looks promising but in the chemical part, there is a long way to go but we hope that it will lead to an effective resolution mechanism for accountability and we want to make sure there is no impunity. New York, May 4 (IBNS): As people age, their intestinal stem cells begin to lose their ability to regenerate. These stem cells are the source for all new intestinal cells, so this decline can make it more difficult to recover from gastrointestinal infections or other conditions that affect the intestine, read the MIT website. This age-related loss of stem cell function can be reversed by a 24-hour fast, according to a new study from MIT biologists. The researchers found 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. Such an intervention could potentially help older people recovering from GI infections or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the researchers say. 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, says Omer Yilmaz, an MIT assistant professor of biology, a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and one of the senior authors of the study. Understanding how fasting improves overall health, including the role of adult stem cells in intestinal regeneration, in repair, and in aging, is a fundamental interest of my laboratory. David Sabatini, an MIT professor of biology and member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the Koch Institute, is also a senior author of the paper, which appears in the May 3 issue of Cell Stem Cell. This study provided evidence that fasting induces a metabolic switch in the intestinal stem cells, from utilizing carbohydrates to burning fat, Sabatini says. 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. The papers lead authors are Whitehead Institute postdoc Maria Mihaylova and Koch Institute postdoc Chia-Wei Cheng. Boosting regeneration For many decades, scientists have known that low caloric intake is linked with enhanced longevity in humans and other organisms. Yilmaz and his colleagues were interested in exploring how fasting exerts its effects at the molecular level, specifically in the intestine. 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. As people age, the regenerative abilities of these intestinal stem cells decline, so it takes longer for the intestine to recover. Intestinal stem cells are the workhorses of the intestine that give rise to more stem cells and to all of the various differentiated cell types of the intestine. Notably, during aging, intestinal stem function declines, which impairs the ability of the intestine to repair itself after damage, Yilmaz says. In this line of investigation, we focused on understanding how a 24-hour fast enhances the function of young and old intestinal stem cells. 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. It was very obvious that fasting had this really immense effect on the ability of intestinal crypts to form more organoids, which is stem-cell-driven, Mihaylova says. This was something that we saw in both the young mice and the aged mice, and we really wanted to understand the molecular mechanisms driving this. Metabolic switch Further studies, including sequencing the messenger RNA of stem cells from the mice that fasted, 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. The researchers found that if they turned off this pathway, fasting could no longer boost regeneration. They now plan to study how this metabolic switch provokes stem cells to enhance their regenerative abilities. They also found that they could reproduce the beneficial effects of fasting by treating mice with a molecule that mimics the effects of PPARs. That was also very surprising, Cheng says. Just activating one metabolic pathway is sufficient to reverse certain age phenotypes. Jared Rutter, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah School of Medicine, described the findings as interesting and important. This paper shows that fasting causes a metabolic change in the stem cells that reside in this organ and thereby changes their behavior to promote more cell division. In a beautiful set of experiments, the authors subvert the system by causing those metabolic changes without fasting and see similar effects, says Rutter, who was not involved in the research. This work fits into a rapidly growing field that is demonstrating that nutrition and metabolism has profound effects on the behavior of cells and this can predispose for human disease. 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. The researchers plan to explore the potential effectiveness of such treatments, and they also hope to study whether fasting affects regenerative abilities in stem cells in other types of tissue. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the V Foundation, a Sidney Kimmel Scholar Award, a Pew-Stewart Trust Scholar Award, the MIT Stem Cell Initiative through Fondation MIT, the Koch Institute Frontier Research Program through the Kathy and Curt Marble Cancer Research Fund, the American Federation of Aging Research, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, the Robert Black Charitable Foundation, a Koch Institute Ludwig Postdoctoral Fellowship, a Glenn/AFAR Breakthroughs in Gerontology Award, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Image: Amanda Eller Facebook page Washington, May 4 (IBNS): With large number of people still addicted to smoking, a US nurse decided to take a special step to show people the condition of their lungs. The nurse shared image of both normal and smokers lung on social media. "Cancerous, 1 pack per day for 20 years lungs Y versus heathy lungs. Still wanna smoke?," nurse Amanda Eller shared on Facebook. In the video, one healthy and one cigarette smoke damaged lung could be seen. She uploaded the video on her facebook page. The video has already generated 595,850 shares. It has been liked by 10K people. Guwahati, May 4 (IBNS): Police arrested a most wanted rhino poacher in Assams Karbi Anglong district on Thursday. According to the reports, based on intelligence input, the Nagaon district police and Special Task Force (STF) jointly launched operation Natun Danga area under Anjukpani police station in the hill district and arrested the rhino poacher. The arrested poacher was identified as 45-year-old Parci Rongfar and security personnel recovered one point 315 rifle, 18 rounds live ammunition, one silencer and other items in possession from him. Officer-in-Charge of Jakhalabandha police station, Deben Bora said that, based on intelligence input, police and STF personnel arrested the rhino poacher. He and some other persons are planning to kill rhino inside the Kaziranga National Park, the Assam cop said. The poacher was involved in several rhino killing incidents in the Kaziranga National Park in past times. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Stockholm, May 4 (IBNS): The Nobel Foundation, in a release signed by its Board Chairman, Carl-Henrik Heldin, on Friday, said that it supports the Swedish Academys decision to postpone the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature . The Swedish Academy, on Thursday, decided to postpone the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature, with the intention of awarding it in 2019. Even though the Swedish Academy is responsible for choosing the winner in the Literature category, the Foundation in its release said, "According to the Swedish Foundations Act, the Nobel Foundation is ultimately responsible for fulfilling the intentions in the will of Alfred Nobel. During the past several weeks, we have pursued a continuous dialogue with the Swedish Academy, and we support Thursdays decision." The Swedish Academy's decision came in the wake of a scandal over sexual assault allegations against the husband of a member and the Academy's handling of the same, according to media reports. Divisions started to emerge last November when French photographer Jean-Claude Arnault, who ran a cultural project with funding from the Swedish Academy, was accused by 18 women of sexual assault, reported The BBC.. However, Arnault denied the allegations, media reported. The Foundation in its release said, "The crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel Prize. Their decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard the long-term reputation of the Nobel Prize. None of this impacts the awarding of the 2018 Nobel Prizes in other prize categories." "The Nobel Foundation presumes that the Swedish Academy will now put all its efforts into the task of restoring its credibility as a prize-awarding institution and that the Academy will report the concrete actions that are undertaken. We also assume that all members of the Academy realise that both its extensive reform efforts and its future organisational structure must be characterised by greater openness towards the outside world," the release said. The Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded first in 1901. The prize was not awarded for six years during the world wars and in 1935, the only instance when no suitable candidate was found. New Delhi, May 4 (IBNS): Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu will visit Guatemala, Panama and Peru in Latin America from 6-11 May 2018. This will be of Vice Presidents first official overseas visit. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation to include Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Jasvantsinh Sumanbahi Bhabhor, four Members of Parliament and senior officers of the Government of India, read a statement issued by the MEA. India attaches importance to its relations with the Latin American countries. "Vice Presidents visit to the region takes place in that context. Over the last few years, Indias 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 to Brazil in July 2014, his meetings with South American leaders there, followed by his visit to Mexico in 2016," read the statement. These meetings at the highest level have been sustained through frequent interactions. Trade and investment are one of the main drivers of our relationship. Bilateral trade with the region has grown steadily. There is potential for further increase. During the visit,the Vice President will hold meetings at the highest levels in all the three countries. He will also interact with Parliamentarians, visit eminent 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. Kolkata, May 4 (IBNS): The Calcutta High Court may take a final call on West Bengal panchayat poll date on Friday, media reports said. Though the State Election Commission (SEC) had earlier notified May 14 as the poll date, Justice Subrata Talukdar expressed dissatisfaction over the security arrangements to conduct the election. So the HC had observed May 14 as a tentative date but not final. Earlier, the SEC had asked other states to send security personnel to conduct the poll. The opposition parties had alleged that the SEC did not consult them before notifying the poll date. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has already won 34 percent of seats uncontested. The TMC has been alleged by the opposition parties to resort to violence to hinder the BJP, Congress and CPI-M candidates from filing nominations. Tehran, May 4 (IBNS): Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has come down hard on US' allies in the Middle East for allegedly supporting several terrorist groups in the region. In a televised speech, he said, "Despite that haunting experience, we still spend a fraction of countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on defense and our missiles have a shorter range than those of Saudi Arabia. And unlike US allies in the region who have brainwashed, financed and armed groups such as al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the ISIS, we have been pivotal in defeating these extremist thugs." Zarif also trolled US President Donald Trump, who is set to sever ties with Iraq by pulling out of the nuclear deal later this month. "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," the Iranian Foreign Minister said. He also said that Iran will not 'renegotiate or add on to a deal' that it has 'already implemented in good faith'. "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," he said. Image: Wikipedia Bengaluru, May 4 (IBNS) : A day after Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi took Karnataka election campaigning to a feverish pitch, the Congress President on Friday fired a new salvo, giving a scornful twist to the Centre's women's safety slogan and asking people to be wary of BJP leaders for the safety of their daughters. "The centre's slogan Beti Bachao, Beti Padao should rather be Beti Bachao BJP ke MLA se (Save the daughters from BJP lawmakers," Rahul said, referring to the Unnao rape case in which a BJP lawmaker stood accused. Gandhi, while addressing a gathering at Kalgi, again launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led NDA Government, this setting the stage for another showdown with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second successive day. Both leaderss are on belligerent campaign trail ahead of the May 12 election in Karnataka. Rahul's caustic comment came shortly after PM Modi on Thursday morning had stressed on women's safety while addressing the women workers of the Karnataka unit. In its manifesto, the party has talked about forming "a Special Investigation Cell, under a woman police officer and employing 1,000 police women to investigate all pending crimes against women." Continuing his attack on the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi questioned Modi on his promise to deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every India, Gandhi remarked, "Did you even get Rs 10 from Modi? On the contrary, he made women and children stand in lines to withdraw their own money." "Your money first went to the banks and then to Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya. PM speaks about corruption with BS Yeddyurappa on stage with him. The most corrupt man in Karnataka is BJP's chief ministerial candidate," he said. Gandhi asked Modi to deliver on his promise of providing 2 crore jobs and waving off farm loans. "The youth of the country is disappointed with Narendra Modi, where are the jobs you promised to people? Siddaramaiah wavied off farm loans in 10 days... what did you do?", he asked. , Gandhi alleged that the BJP-RSS is assaulting Dalits across the nation while PM Modi remains silent. He also assailed BJP President Amit Shah asking how could his son's firm have reached a turnover point of Rs. 50,0000 crore fro Rs. 80 crore when businesses in India are having a difficult time. In its election manifesto, the BJP has promised to provide free sanitary napkins to lesser priviliged women and girl students and at Rs. 1 for other women under the new "StreeSuvidha Scheme." The BJP said it would focus on farmer welfare, if elected to power. The party has also pledged to ensure that farmers receive 1.5 times the cost of production as Minimum Support Price (MSP) to fulfill PM Narendra Modi's "vision of doubling farmers' incomes", the party said on its official Twitter account To support farmers during price fluctuations, Rs. 5,000 Crore "Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund" will be set up providing a safety net for farmers, BJP said Vellore, May 4 (IBNS): President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that public health is a global public good and a basic human right. "Despite the strides we have taken as a country, there remain regional, rural-urban and gender and community imbalances in terms of health provision. Without adequately addressing these, we cannot rest," he said. The President said that as societies evolve, economies develop and population patterns change, countries go through epidemiological transitions. India too is experiencing such a transition. It is marked by three challenges in disease control. And India has to manage all three simultaneously, the President said. First, India has to reduce maternal and infant mortality as well as communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, vector-borne diseases such as malaria, water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoeal diseases, and vaccine-preventable like measles and tetanus. Second, India has to find an answer to the rise in non-communicable or lifestyle diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and many cancers. "And finally we need to develop systems to detect and cope with new and re-emerging infectious diseases like HIV, avian flu and H1N1 influenza. In a globalised world, with people travelling in and out of our country in larger and larger numbers, a few small cases can very quickly scale up into a large outbreak." the President said as a reminder to the gathering. The President said that this three-pronged challenge calls for interventions across the continuum of care. It calls for prevention of disease, promotion of good health practices and treatment and cure in case of an illness. The impact of a health problem is cross-cutting it affects a variety of sectors. Images: PIBThe meeting of this challenge should also follow a multi-stakeholder approach, said President Kovind. Government and civil society, private and public health care providers, charitable and economic institutions all have a role and a stake, he said. Referring the shortage of manpower in the healthcare system, the President said that there is urgent need for filling the gap in healthcare professionals in India, and to reform medical education so as to create room for more colleges and more medical graduates. "Science and technology are most commonly applied to our benefit by engineers and doctors. In India, we have 1.47 million undergraduate engineering seats, but only 67,352 undergraduate medical seats. And about 20 per cent of those seats were added in the past four years. As a country and a system, we need to address this gap quickly." the President pointed out in his speech. The President said that doctors need a sharp mind but much more than that, they need a warm heart. He urged CMC Vellore to continue to train doctors and nurses with warm hearts. Later in the day, the President will also inaugurate the Kidney Transplant Unit and Cardiac Unit of the Sri Narayni Hospital and Research Centre, Vellore. Images: PIB Guwahati, May 4 (IBNS) : Three people were killed and five others injured in a road mishap in Assams Goalpara district on Friday morning. The incident took place at National Highway 37 at Bekipool area near Krishnai in Goalpara district. According to reports, a Mahindra Scorpio bearing registration no AS-26-8247 and a Xylo bearing registration no AS-25CC-9280 collided head on . Three people were died on spot and five others received severe injuries. The injured persons were rushed to Goalpara civil hospital. The deceased persons are yet to be identified. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) WIkimedia Commons Mumbai, May 4 (IBNS): The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to ex-Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal who was jailed in connection with a money laundering case. he has spent over two years in jail. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2016. The NCP leader was arrested in connection to a money laundering case connected to the Maharashtra Sadan construction scam. The agency had arrested him following a 10-hour long question session. The Enforcement Directorate had alleged then that the Bhujbal received kickbacks for awarding various government contracts, including the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, to the tune of Rs. 870 crore. Guwahati, May 4 (BNS): Crimes against children and women in Assam have increased at an alarming rate as two more rape incidents have come to light in the state. A 4-year-old girl child was allegedly raped by an auto rickshaw driver in Upper Assams Tinsukia district on Friday. The incident took place at Dirak tea estate under Margherita police station. According to the reports, the auto rickshaw driver, identified as Junun Purti, allegedly raped a 4-year-old girl child when she was returning from school. He allegedly took the minor girl to a jungle area. The victim's mother said that, the accused person regularly dropped her child at house after school by his auto rickshaw. When my daughter reached home, she told what happened to her, the mother said. Later, local people caught the driver and handed over to police. The child's family lodged a complaint at Margherita police station. On the other hand, another rape incident has been reported in Central Assams Hojai district, where a 16-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped while she was heading back home from a relatives house. The incident took place at Lanka area in the Central Assam district. The victim girl said that, the accused person named Asanur Islam covered her mouth tightly and forcefully took her to an isolated place where he allegedly raped her. Later local people rescued the minor girl. The family members of the victim lodged a complaint into the matter at Lanka police station. Meanwhile, police started investigation in both rape incidents. Over 3000 rape cases have been registered in the state in past two years. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, May 4 (IBNS): Two ULFA-I militants are suspected to have been killed and one police officer also died in a fierce gun fight between security forces and a militant group at Bordumsa area in Upper Assams Tinsukia district along with Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Friday evening. According to the reports, troops of Assam police and CRPF Cobra Battalion jointly launched an operation at Kajupathar area under Bordumsa police station along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The operation was launched based on intelligence input about the presence a militant group belonging to banned ULFA-I at a house in the remote area. A top police official said that, when the security personnel reached the area, the militants started firing and heavy rounds of bullet were exchanged. Militants also lobbed two hand grenades targeting security personnel. During the fierce gun battle, Officer-in-Charge of Bordumsa police station, Bhaskar Kalita, received severe injuries, but he succumbed to his wounds at the hospital. Assam police ADGP (SB) Pallab Bhattacharya said that, the entire area has been cordoned off and combing operation is going on. Meanwhile, top police and army officials including ADGP RP Meena have been rushed to the area. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Srinagar, May 4 (IBNS): Suspected militants on Friday evening shot dead a 45-year-old man and injured his wife indiscriminate firing upon them at Harwan village, located in the outskirts of Sopore in north Kashmirs Baramulla district. Sources told India Blooms , unknown gunmen barged into the residence of Mohammad Ashraf Mir and fired on him while his wife Saima also received serious bullet injuries at around 9:30pm. Both were rushed to Sub-Dist hospital Sopore where Ashraf was declared brought dead. "Yes we received both in injured condition but Asrhaf succumbed to his injuries. His wife has been shifted to Srinagar Hospital for advanced treatment as she received bullet injuries in both legs," Block Medical Officer Dr Sami told India Blooms. "It is premature to say something. We have registered a case into the incident," Senior Superintendent of Police Javaid Iqbal told India Blooms. He said initial investigations revealed that Ashraf was a driver by profession. Meanwhile after the incident, security forces have launched massive searches in the area to nab the attackers . (Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri) Dimapur, May 4 (IBNS): The troops of Assam Rifles apprehended three NSCN-IM militants in Dimapur. According to the reports, Medziphema and Dimapur battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) conducted an operation based on Specific information alongwith a police representative in general area 5th Mile, Diphupar, Dimapur on Thursday. During the search of a suspected house, three NSCN-IM militants were apprehended with illegal possession of arms, ammunition and incriminating documents. The nabbed militants were identified as Self Styled 2nd Lt Wungbam Zimik, SS Sgt Maj Lamnei Kon and SS Lance Cpl Leli Mao. Security personnel recovered one 9 mm pistol with magazine, one point 32 pistol with magazine, two rounds of 9mm ammunition , two rounds of point 32 ammunition, one bullet AK-47, eight mobiles and three pairs of combat dress in possession from them. The apprehendees alongwith recovered items were handed over to Diphupar Police station Dimapur for further investigation. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meet Lakhimpur victims' families | Give Rs. 5000 to Arvind Kejriwal to get a nice 'suit boot': Charanjit Singh Channi | Why do you hate farmers? Arvind Kejriwal to PM Modi over Lakhimpur incident | Actor Arvind Trivedi, who played the character of Ravana in Ramayana, passes away | Delhi: Cylinder blast kills three including two children, injures one Los Angeles, May 4 (IBNS): Actress Priyanka Chopra has raised a storm on social media by sharing a picture in which she could be seen wearing a peekaboo dress. Priyanka could be seen wearing a sky-blue blaiser with holes in it in the chest area. Leaving a heart sign as a caption of the picture on Instagram, the 35-year old actress left a lot for her fans to contemplate. Y A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 2, 2018 at 6:12pm PDT The third season of Priyanka's American television series, Quantico, has premiered on Apr 26. The actress, who ventured into Hollywood with Baywatch in 2017, will return to Hindi films with Bharat, which stars superstar Salman Khan in the lead role. After taking part in multiple successful films in Bollywood, Priyanka gained fame in the west with Quantico in 2015. She plays the role of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent Alex Parrish in the TV series. Image: instagram.com/priyankachopra Whenever you think of an adventurous holiday, Hawaii will be on the top of the list. From experiencing the stunning sunset at Lumahai Beach to having the exotic lunch Da Imu Hut Cafe in Eleele, Hawaii will surprise you in every turn. You can enjoy the best of Hawaii while you arrange the luxurious accommodation over there and the mansions in Hawaii are there only to make your vacation full of fun. Before knowing more about things to do in Hawaii, you should know a bit more about this volcanic island. Located in the Central Pacific, Hawaii is the archipelago of nineteen volcanic islands of which six are famous as major tourist destinations. The size of the islands is smaller when you move from southwest to northwest. The islands have been formed by the under-sea volcanoes which erupted thousands of years ago. Presently, the island has become one of most famous tourist destinations in the world. The main eight islands of Hawaii are Niihau, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe and obviously, the biggest island of all, Hawaii. Also, one of the Must do things in Oahu is to visit the striking Manoa Falls. Hawaii islands offers innumerable activities and sightseeing places, and it is almost next to impossible to try all of them. So, lets find out the best options to make your Hawaii trip unforgettable. Hike at Sugi Grove Travelling at Hawaii also count on exploring other six major islands. If you are in Kauai, you shouldnt miss the hiking experience at Sugi Grove. The long trees, Kawaikoi stream, and the rich greenery will definitely turn you into a nature lover. Having a camp night in the grove, surrounded by shady trees is really a thrilling adventure for the young generation. Enjoy the time with your friends. You should always take a local guide for being on the right track as Sugi Grove is not very easy to explore for the newcomers. 1. Attend a Luau Do you want to explore the local culture and tradition of Hawaii? You should attend a Luau, especially at Maui. Basically, Luau is a traditionally arranged feast where you can find an abundance of local cuisine. What you can taste here may not be as authentic anywhere else. And how can you forget the music, beats, drums, and obviously, the dance! Shake your legs with the Hula girls and create a lifetime memory. This feast is arranged in almost all islands of Hawaii, but what you will get in Maui is really authentic. 2. Snorkel at Tunnels Beach Hawaii is synonyms to beaches, and while being here how you can forget about having water sports? And there is nothing better than snorkelling. If you are fond of snorkelling and have dreamt of having an adventure, Tunnels Beach is the only destination for you. It is located at the North Shore, right by the stunning Na Pali Coast. The fun fact of this place is that the inside reef of Tunnels is shallow enough for the beginners while the outside reef is full of corals and fishes. If you want to see heaven, that is here! 3. Swim with Turtles Until you experience it by yourself, you can only dream of it! There are lots of snorkelling spots in Hawaii where you will find sea turtles, but the best of all is Mauis, Olowalu Reef. This is a breath-taking place where you can kayak with your friends and snorkel. If you are lucky, you will get the opportunity to swim with sea turtles. 4. Out of the World Experience at Polihale State Park The eastern side of Kauai is really beautiful and always remains one of the best tourist spots in Hawaii; but, if you want to spend few days in serenity, you should visit the western part of it. Polihale State Park is the westernmost beach of the United States where you can enjoy the gateway, surrounded by sky-high mountain and azure-blue Ocean. You can swim here, but have to be very careful as the water is of great temperature. 5. Have a Tour at Pineapple Farm Did you know that over one-third of pineapples around the world are supplied from Hawaii? How about taking a tour at a pineapple farm and taste the juicy farm-fresh fruit directly from the bush? While you are in Maui, you should take a pineapple farm tour under the guidance of a local guide who will make you know about the process of farming and also let you taste three different layers of ripeness of the fruit to pick your favourite. 6. Mahaulepu Hike to Enjoy Great Wildlife If you want to have a hiking experience surrounded by nature and wildlife, this is the best hiking path you can set on. On the way, you can visit the famous Shipwreck Beach at Keonela Bay where you can see lots of huge trees, sea turtles, cliffs and obviously, the famous monk seals. You will be amazed to experience the variety of natural beauty in Hawaii. These are only a few exciting things you can do in Hawaii. There are more and all cant be included within a limited time. There must be something that you can explore and share with the world and Hawaii will not disappoint you at all. Whether you are visiting alone, with someone special, with family or friends, Hawaii will welcome you with open arms and disclose itself in bits and parts so that you can fill your bag of memories. New York, May 4 (IBNS): United Nations agencies have urged greater international support to stave off severe food insecurity in Africas western Sahel; a region reeling from the effects of conflict and now threatened by drought and rising hunger. According to estimates, about five million people in northern Senegal, southern Mauritania and parts of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, will require food and livelihood assistance, after having exhausted their food reserves which may run out by the end of this month. In normal weather conditions, supplies would last beyond June, into September. We are hearing of people cutting down the number of daily meals and children dropping out of school, Abdou Dieng, the Regional Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for West and Central Africa, said in a news release on Thursday. Those are telling signs of a looming disaster that the world cannot continue to ignore. It is feared the regions children will be the worst affected, with more than 1.6 million at risk of severe acute malnutrition this year representing a 50 per cent increase compared with the last major nutrition crisis in the Sahel, in 2012. Marie-Pierre Poirier, the Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said that it was tragic that the same mothers are coming back to the clinics year after year with their children for treatment. We can break this cycle if we invest now in building resilience making families, communities and national authorities better equipped to prevent and deal with similar shocks in the future, said Poirier.This year, the numbers have been the worst, she added. Strengthening resilience is also the top priority for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). What will help stabilize the Sahel is support for pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, during this lean season and in the future, to cope with shocks that include climate change and conflicts, said Coumba Sow, the Sub-Regional Coordinator for Resilience for FAO across the region. To mitigate the impact of the immediate crisis, the three UN agencies have developed a joint response to cover food needs, protect livelihoods and address malnutrition. They have also prepared longer-term interventions, including improving access to local food resources as well as strengthening health and social services to allow communities and countries at large, to prevent and deal with similar shocks in the future. Implementing these programmes however, relies on sufficient funding. Fully funded, the WFP response (requiring $284 million) will provide food and nutrition to some 3.5 million people. UNICEFs response ($264 million) will protect almost 1 million children from severe acute malnutrition and provide them access to water and sanitation facilities and education until the end of the year. The FAO response (requiring $128 million, of which $45 million is urgently needed) will help the situation from further deteriorating for 2.5 million livestock and other farmers, and their families. UNICEF/Tremeau New York, May 4 (IBNS): With journalism under increasing attack worldwide, top United Nations officials on Thursday joined a growing chorus of calls for the better protection of media workers. Marking World Press Freedom Day via video message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described how journalists and media workers shine a light on local and global challenges and tell the stories that need to be told, and said: 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, he stressed, calling on governments to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists in the vital work they do. Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth, he added. Only 10 per cent of the 930 cases of killings of journalists between 2006-2016 have been officially resolved, according to the most recent World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Report, published by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its partners. During last year, 79 journalists were assassinated worldwide while going about their work. Earlier this week, nine journalists were among those killed in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan. Following an initial terrorist blast in the capital Kabul, that killed many civilians, a second explosion targeted media workers arriving on the scene to cover the attack. In a separate incident on the same day, another Afghan journalist was killed. This brings the total number of journalists murdered so far this year to 32 with nearly eight months remaining. UNESCOs chief, Audrey Azoulay, pledged in her message for the Day that her agency was committed to defending the safety of journalists and fighting against impunity for crimes committed against them. The ideal of a State under the rule of law calls for well-informed citizens, transparent political decisions, public debates on topics of common interest and a plurality of viewpoints that shapes opinions and undermines official truths and dogmatism, she said. This shaping and informative power, mainly falls to the press and the media in general, under all their guises and through various mediums. Around the world, World Press Freedom Day, established by the UN General Assembly in 1993, is being observed to champion free and accurate reporting. We cannot become complacent to these kinds of attacks. They cannot become the new normal, Assembly President Miroslav LajAak told an event held at UN Headquarters in New York. This years theme for the Day is Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law. It highlights the importance of having laws that safeguard press freedom, and gives special attention to the role of an independent judiciary to guarantee press freedom and prosecute crimes against journalists. UNESCO has partnered with 40 news organizations to launch a campaign that encourages readers to look beyond their usual outlets, and actively engage with alternative news sources. The campaign slogan - Read more. Listen more. Understand more. It all starts with a free press - featured strongly during the official global celebration of the Day, in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. In Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative, has this message to mark the day. The United Nations recognizes that Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places for journalists to work, he said, and we reiterate our determination to protect journalist safety and to fight against impunity. In Somalia, UN Special Representative Michael Keating, commended the courage and dedication of the countrys journalists who operate in one of the worlds 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 Mr. Keating. A truly free and independent news media is indispensable in all democratic societies, an essential means to hold the powerful to account. He added that it was an essential component for the media to do its job is ending the culture of impunity that, unfortunately, prevails for crimes committed against journalists. UNAMA Fardin Waezi New York, May 4 (IBNS): An incident of violence against health-care facilities or personnel has taken place every single week since the passage two years ago of a U.N. Security Council Resolution meant to increase respect for the sanctity of health care, said International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Just this week, armed men stormed a hospital in the Central African Republic where an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) surgical team operates, threatening patients, medical staff and Red Cross volunteers. An ambulance was stopped and threatened in the street. The U.N. Security Council resolution passed with overwhelming support, an indication the world believes that people, especially in areas of conflict, must be able to safely seek medical care. "Sadly, from May 2016 to today, the ICRC has registered in 16 countries alone over 1,200 incidents of violence against health-care facilities or personnel," read a statement issued by ICRC. In Afghanistan, for example, attacks against health workers and the use or destruction of health-care facilities by arms carriers has cut off thousands if not millions of people from medical care. The attacks health personnel face include threats, kidnappings, and killings. Attacks against health facilities and personnel are a double tragedy, said ICRC President Peter Maurer. First, such attacks wound and maim people seeking and providing health care. But they also deprive an uncountable number of people from receiving aid in the future, crippling the hopes of recovery for people in desperate need. The passage on May 3, 2016 of UNSC Resolution 2286 was a strong step by the international community to address violent attacks on health care, but commitments to prevent and mitigate this violence must be followed by action. The ICRC urges that these steps take place in conflict zones: 1) Armed forces refrain from attacking civilians or civilian infrastructure including health-care facilities, personnel and vehicles. 2) The lifting of any blockade that prevents the delivery of necessary medical items and the evacuation of sick and wounded people. 3) Investigations into incidents of violence against health care and accountability for attacks that violate international humanitarian law. The destruction of health infrastructure and the disruption of health services have been particularly disturbing in conflicts in the Middle East. More than half of Syrias public hospitals and health-care centres are closed or only partially functioning. Some of them have been hit by multiple air strikes. The provision of medical supplies in certain areas of the country as well as the evacuation of the wounded and sick have been consistently obstructed. In Iraq, the destruction of civilian infrastructure in areas affected by the most recent hostilities has been massive. In Salah al-Din more than a third of health centres are damaged or destroyed. In Yemen, only 45% of the countrys health infrastructure was functioning at the end of 2017, and most did not have enough medical supplies. Even wars have rules, Maurer said. The wounded and sick must be protected in all circumstances. Violence that deprives them of access to health care violates international humanitarian law, and, ultimately, it makes us all a little less human. Image credit: ICRC/Wael Al Absi Honolulu, Hawaii, May 4 (IBNS) : Hawaiis Kilauea volcano erupted on Friday (local Thursday), shooting off lava 100 feet high into the air and sending them down onto the streets as a mandatory evacuation drive is on for about 1,700 people living in the neighbourhood, media reports said. Hawaii County Civil Defense is urging residents in the Puna community, to get out now and has sounded warning sirens. Two emergency shelters have been opened one at Pahoa Community Center and the Keaau Community Center. Hawaii County said steam and lava poured out of a crack in Leilani Estates, which is near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island. Hawaii Gov. David Ige has signed an emergency proclamation after Kilauea Volcano erupted a lava flow emerged in the residential neighbourhood. There are about 770 structures in the subdivision where lava is flowing onto the streets on the Big Island. Molten lava spread out over an area nearly 200 metres wide behind one house in Leilani Estates A statement released by the governors office says the danger is of such magnitude that it warrants preemptive and protective action in order to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the residents. Footage shown on local television showed lava spurting into the sky from a crack in a road. Aerial drone footage showed a line of lava snaking through a forest. The phenomenon followed dozens of small earthquakes that hit the area over the past few days, alarming scientists of a possible volcanic eruption. Nearby community centers have opened for shelter. Image: Wikimedia Commons Photo UNAMA/Fardin Waezi Washington, May 4 (IBNS): The US has said that it believes Pakistan has more oppurtunities to fight terrorism and help to ensure stability in Afghanistan. Dana White, a spokesperson for US Department of State, told reporters on Thursday: "With respect to Pakistan, we have opportunities with Pakistan. 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 that terrorist groups like ISIS aim at scaring people in Afghanistan and hence they targeted voting registration centres in the war-hit nation in recent times. "In Afghanistan, one, we have to remember that the Taliban and ISIS, their motive is to scare people. It's fear. And they are purposely targeting voting registration. That is what they're doing in order to ensure -- because they can't win at the ballot box," she said. There have been several suicide attacks carried out in voting registration centres in the nation in recent times. A blast near a voter registration center at Jalalabad in Afghanistan injured at least seven people on Apr 29. In another suicide attack on a voter registration centre in the Dasht-i-Barchi area of Afghanistan's Kabul city Apr 22, at least 57 people were killed. Terrorism-hit Afghanistan in 2018: Afghanistan has witnessed several terrorism-related attacks this year. Armed conflict in Afghanistan killed 763 civilians and injured 1,495 in the first three months of this year, the United Nations mission in the country said recently. All parties to the conflict in Afghanistan must do everything in their power to protect civilians from harm, said Ingrid Hayden, the Secretary-Generals Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan. Afghan civilians continue to suffer, caught in the conflict, in ways that are preventable; this must stop now. The 2,258 civilian casualties, documented from 1 January to 31 March by the UN Assistance Mission in the country, known as UNAMA, are at the similar levels recorded in the first three months of 2017 and 2016. Anti-Government elements caused 1,500 civilian casualties, up six per cent from the same period last year. Suicide improvised explosive devices (IED) and complex attacks were the leading cause of civilian casualties a new trend. The Mission found that combats on the ground were the second leading cause, followed by targeted and deliberate killings, explosive remnants of war, and aerial operations. "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. Protests are how the public channels its angst, wrath and fury against injustice meted out to them by those in power. It's a no-brainer that the ones with money, authority and power in any country are the ones who are sitting on the throne of discrimination, exploitation and unfairness. So, public/unions fight them not with weapons, but with marches, protests and strikes to make their point. Something similar is happening in Japan right now. Bus drivers in Okayama working with Ryobi Group are feeling threatened about their jobs and want their organization to take steps to give them full assurance. Bus drivers in Japan are on strike... continuing to drive their routes while refusing to take fares from passengers https://t.co/QuYYVuGOX1 pic.twitter.com/GSX7fEIXLY Max Temkin (@MaxTemkin) May 3, 2018 But their way of protest is different from any other protest in the world. The bus drivers are on the streets, driving and fulfilling their duties, however, they are not taking charging the passengers anything for the rides. japantoday The threat comes from a new rival that has just launched its operations on the same route. The new bus line Megurin began its operations on April 27, overlapping those of Ryobi and offering cheaper fare options. Japan bus drivers are on strike today. Instead of not going to work, they decided to work as normal but refuse take fares from passengers. Now thats revolutionary! Thomas Madia (@madiathomas) May 2, 2018 Had the drivers been on an absolute protest, the management could have portrayed them in a bad light and accused them of putting their own needs and demands before the public's. Therefore, to ensure that the passengers aren't harmed in any way, these drivers are offering free rides. But there's a flip side too. Free rides for the passengers means that the workers are working for free. Their protest is coming at the cost of their wages. Also, who is bearing the cost of running these buses right now? The drivers are in a bit of soup, but all they want is job security. It's only fair that their organization listens to them, especially since they have exhibited exemplary behaviour. Ranveer Singh should be labeled as the official ambassador of happy vibes and positive. Apart from being an energetic enthu-cutlet that he already is, he can make anyone's bad day good by just being his usual self. Ranveer is currently in Switzerland as he launched a train named after him. While Ranveer seems to be enjoying every bit of his Swiss trip, he seems to be missing home too. A clip that is doing the rounds on the internet has Ranveer, humming "O Ghar Aaja Pardesi from the movie Gadar - Ek Prem Katha. The Padmaavat actor inaugurated the Ranveer on Tour train, which is in honor of his contribution to the increasing popularity of Switzerland as a preferred destination for Indian tourists. Ranveer's Instagram pictures are full of his Swiss trip and one of the key-highlights was when he posted a picture of himself dressed in the iconic yellow Freddie Mercury jacket, as he danced in Montreux, Switzerland under the world-famous Freddie Mercury's statue. Late actors Vinod Khanna and Sridevi were felicitated posthumously with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Best Actress honour by President Ram Nath Kovind at the 65th National Film Awards in Delhi on Thursday. Vinod Khannas wife Kavita Khanna and son Akshaye Khanna received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award on his behalf and for Sridevi, her husband Boney Kapoor and their daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor were present to take the Best Actress award for the actor. Pinterest Both the families were both proud and emotional as they collected the awards. Sridevi's daughter Janhvi wore her mother's favorite saree for the occasion. Agencies Before the commencement of the ceremony, Akshaye said, Agencies It is very humbling as a son to be receiving this on his behalf. Its a very proud and emotional moment for all of us. Kavita added, Its such a happy occasion and time of great pride for us, for the family, for all his fans and for everyone who loves him. Theres also a sense of his not being here to receive it. But I am so happy Akshay is going to receive it on his behalf... There can be no one better than Akshay to receive this on his behalf. Here are photos from the evening as Vinod Khanna and Sridevi's kids collect the awards for their parents. #1 Agencies #2 Agencies #3 Agencies #4 Agencies #5 Agencies #6 Agencies #7 Agencies #8 Agencies #9 Agencies #10 Agencies #11 Agencies #12 Agencies Severe thunderstorms lashed many parts of the country on Wednesday night, killing at least 127 people in the last 24 hours and leaving a trail of destruction, with houses flattened, trees uprooted and electricity poles in disarray. The maximum devastation occurred in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, where the storms claimed 112 lives. Uttar Pradesh reported 73 deaths, of which 46 were in Agra district alone. Also Read: Dust Storm Wreaks Havoc In Rajasthan, 22 Killed, 100 Injured; Take A Look At Devastation Across States As many as 39 people died in Rajasthan, followed by seven in Telangana, four in Uttarakhand and two each in Jharkhand and Punjab. bccl The fury of unusually strong winds and heavy rains lasted for up to three hours in many places on Wednesday night, but the full extent of the damage was known only on Thursday. Also Read: Watch This Pilot Skillfully Land A Plane In The Middle Of A Sandstorm Concrete houses came down like pack of cards one after the other. Trees, streetlights and whatever stood taller than a few feet were flattened by the winds. We took out victims from debris of houses and ferried them to hospitals on motorcycles, Narendra Sharma, the SHO of Kheragarh police station in Agra district, told TOI after spending the night in rescue ops. afp With 24 deaths, Kheragarh tehsil in Agra near UP Rajasthan border bore the maximum brunt of the storm in the district. Deaths were reported from other parts of the state too. These included three each in Bijnor and Kanpur Dehat, two each in Saharanpur, Hamirpur, Mirzapur and Kanpur city; and one each in Bareilly, Pilibhit, Chitrakoot, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Mathura, Amroha, Banda, Sitapur, Sambhal, Etawah, Allahabad and Rampur. Nearly 90 people were injured in the state. The UP government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased. In Rajasthan, home minister Gulab Chand Kataria put the toll at 33 on Thursday, but unofficial sources said it had climbed to 39 by evening. Over 200 people have been injured in the storm which affected Bharatpur, Dholpur and Alwar districts. After a horrifying night, Thursday morning brought in a host of woes as people woke up to disruption in water and power supply. afp As many as 12,700 electricity polls were uprooted and 1,523 transformers damaged in the three districts. More than 50,000 trees were destroyed. The Rajasthan government rushed ministers to the three districts on Thursday while chief minister Vasundhara Raje is scheduled to visit the affected areas of Bharatpur on Friday. Seventeen persons have died in Bharatpur, nine in Alwar and five in Dholpur district due to the dust storm, Kataria said. In Uttarakhand, casualties were reported from Almora, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts. ap In Telangana, heavy rains triggered by a cyclonic circulation killed seven people across the state. Strong winds plunged many areas in Hyderabad into darkness. Deaths were reported from Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda and Warangal districts. In Punjab, two people were killed in Patiala city when the boundary wall of an underconstruction house collapsed on them. The victims died on the spot within minutes. In Jharkhand, two women were killed in Sahibganj district when they were struck by lightning. Pushing a regional integration strategy as part of its foreign policy in the neighbourhood, India is building energy infrastructure in several south Asian countries. In Sri Lanka, where power plants are run mainly on liquid fuel, India recently signed an agreement to build an LNG terminal near Colombo in collaboration with Japan. This will help Sri Lanka transition from more polluting fuels to less polluting ones. India sees this as incremental energy diplomacy. bccl/representational image The hope is Sri Lanka, after moving to LNG from oil or coal, in the next step would see growth of CNG for vehicles and piped gas for households and commercial establishments in cities like Colombo. That would further aid India in expanding its energy markets outside the country. Bangladesh is already moving towards a gas-based economy, having significant gas resources of its own. However, they will soon be running out of the resource. In Bangladesh, India is building a 6.5 mmtpa LNG terminal in Qutubdiya island off Chittagong forwhich a joint working group is already at work. India also wants to supply LNG to the Jessore-Khulna power plant with LNG from Dhamra. The two countries are currently working to connect their grids and finalised the alignment of the supply from Panitar on the Indian side. Sources said, India wants to ramp up supply substantively to Bangladeshs energy grid. bccl/representational image In addition, India would build connections from north-east states into Bangladesh this would allow India to transport LNG to its northeast via Bangladesh. Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale, during his recent trip to Dhaka, signed an MOU to build a petro products pipeline from Siliguri to Parbatipaur in Bangladesh. India plans to supply diesel to Bangladesh from the Numaligarh refinery, which is already being augmented from 3 to 9 mmtpa. Nepal PM K P Olis visit provided an opportunity for India and Nepal to augment an existing energy relationship by inaugurating a petro products pipeline between Motihari and Amlekhganj. India has also agreed to run an LPG pipeline along the same alignment. Myanmar and India have just started talks for India to build an LNG terminal near Yangon. India, which also supplies 100% of energy products to Mauritius, is considering an LNG terminal there too, to help Mauritius transition to cleaner fuel as well. Maldives is the only country in the neighbourhood where India is not moving at all. Officials said there was no interest forthcoming from the Maldives government. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of another chapter of thunder storms across India in the next three days. On Wednesday and Thursday, over 100 people lost their lives and at least 250 were injured in the deadly storms that had hit parts of North and East India. In Uttar Pradesh, at least 105 people were killed and in Rajasthan as many as 27 lost their lives. Agra was worst hit. Read more Two Arrested For The Rape, Murder Of Latvian Woman Who Came To Kerala For Depression Treatment Kerala Police have arrested two men, whom they say are behind the murder of Liga Skromne, a Latvian woman tourist who was found murdered in Kerala. Police said, the two men, Umesh and Udayan approached the woman pretending as tourist guides and took her to an isolated mangroves forest where they offered her drugs and then raped her before strangling her to death. The duo fled the scene after hanging her from a tree to make it look like a suicide. Read more 19-Year-Old Waiting For Bus Gangraped By Auto Driver, 4 Others In Gurugram A 19-year-old woman was allegedly gang raped by an auto rickshaw driver and four others on Wednesday night near Sohna road in Gurugram. Police has registered a case and started probe. The woman, a native of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, had taken an auto from Sohna and was going to Gurugram. Read more Another Brutal Rape, Another Minor: 17-Year-Old Commits Suicide Hours After Gangrape By 7 Men Police in Nuh, Mewat recovered a body of a 17-year-old girl hanging with dupatta from a hook in the bathroom. She was a student of Class XII and lived in Khor Basai village near Sohna. According to the family, the girl was abducted by the men, who are also residents of the same village, when she was alone at home on Sunday evening. Read more Identified And Cremated By Family, Noida Woman Returns Home Alive Days Later A family in Noida was mourning the death of their daughter when she walked into the house alive, days after she was cremated. Sarvesh Saxena and his wife had identified an unclaimed body as of their missing daughter Neetu Saxena and cremated it on April 24. The parents had first approached the police last month claiming that their 25-year-old daughter was missing. Read more In A First, Chhattisgarh To Recruit Transgenders In Its Police Force To Tackle Insurgency In State In a major step towards development and progress, Chhattisgarh has decided to include transgender in its police force. Ever since the announcement was made earlier this year, some 40 transgenders have applied for the post of constable. A police spokesperson said that they had conducted workshops to facilitate applications from transgenders. He also said, the applicants would be recruited after they pass the written exam and physical test. Read more Sacramento District Attorney with White Supremacists Drop the Charges Against Anti-Racist and Anti-Fascist Protesters: Yvette Felarca, Mike Williams, and Porfirio Paz Picket and Pack the Hearing: Support Defendants Motion and Oral Arguments to Drop All Charges Friday, May 4 at 12:30 pm picket, 1:30 hearing Lorenzo Patino Hall of Justice (Judge Savage), 651 i- St., Sacramento) Three anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters, Yvette Felarca, Michael Williams, and Porfirio Paz have filed a motion calling on Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert and Judge Kevin J. McCormick to dismiss felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the anti-fascist protest in Sacramento. On June 26, 2016 white supremacists affiliated with neo-Nazi terrorist organizations Traditionalist Workers Party (TWP) and Golden State Skinheads (GSS) came to the California State Capital armed with knives, clubs, and improvised spears. They beat and stabbed at least eight anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters. Over a year later, in the summer of 2017, Sacramento District Attorney (DA) Anne Marie Schubert charged three anti-racist protesters with false felony and misdemeanor charges. Some of the very people who were stabbed and bludgeoned by the white supremacists are now facing prosecution. None of the fascists who stabbed people was arrested. Schubert is the same DA who has refused to charge to killer cops who murdered Stephon Clark while taking $470,000 in donation from various police associations and individual police officers. Court documents, recordings, and pictures obtained by defense attorneys reveal police cover-up and collusion by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert with white supremacists. Defense attorneys filed a motion on February 9, 2018 to drop the charges based on selective prosecution and lack of evidence. The hearing on the motion will be held in Judge Savages courtroom on May 4, 2018. Come out to support those who, out of love for their community, stood up against hate. Support Yvette, Mike, and Porfirio, and all who make clear that Donald Trump and his movement of racism and immigrant bashing are not welcome in Sacramento or anywhere. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) BAMN.com/DefendYvetteFelarca Facebook.com/bamnpage Stop the Collusion by the California Highway Patrol and theSacramento District Attorney with White SupremacistsDrop the Charges Against Anti-Racist and Anti-Fascist Protesters:Yvette Felarca, Mike Williams, and Porfirio PazPicket and Pack the Hearing:Support Defendants Motion and Oral Arguments to Drop All ChargesFriday, May 4 at 12:30 pm picket, 1:30 hearingLorenzo Patino Hall of Justice (Judge Savage), 651 i- St., Sacramento)Three anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters, Yvette Felarca, Michael Williams, and Porfirio Paz have filed a motion calling on Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert and Judge Kevin J. McCormick to dismiss felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the anti-fascist protest in Sacramento. On June 26, 2016 white supremacists affiliated with neo-Nazi terrorist organizations Traditionalist Workers Party (TWP) and Golden State Skinheads (GSS) came to the California State Capital armed with knives, clubs, and improvised spears. They beat and stabbed at least eight anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters.Over a year later, in the summer of 2017, Sacramento District Attorney (DA) Anne Marie Schubert charged three anti-racist protesters with false felony and misdemeanor charges. Some of the very people who were stabbed and bludgeoned by the white supremacists are now facing prosecution. None of the fascists who stabbed people was arrested. Schubert is the same DA who has refused to charge to killer cops who murdered Stephon Clark while taking $470,000 in donation from various police associations and individual police officers.Court documents, recordings, and pictures obtained by defense attorneys reveal police cover-up and collusion by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert with white supremacists.Defense attorneys filed a motion on February 9, 2018 to drop the charges based on selective prosecution and lack of evidence. The hearing on the motion will be held in Judge Savages courtroom on May 4, 2018.Come out to support those who, out of love for their community, stood up against hate. Support Yvette, Mike, and Porfirio, and all who make clear that Donald Trump and his movement of racism and immigrant bashing are not welcome in Sacramento or anywhere.Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) BAMN.com/DefendYvetteFelarca Facebook.com/bamnpage california [at] bamn.com For more event information: http://bamn.com/defendyvettefelarca Added to the calendar on Tuesday May 1st, 2018 8:31 PM Since Rodrigo Duterte began his term as the 16th president of the Philippines in 30 June 2016, Filipinos and the international community have watched in horror at accounts of dead bodies found nightly in the countrys streets, linked to extra-judicial killings (EJKs). What is more appalling is that the police force, supposed to protect and serve people, are themselves involved in or directly doing the killings. Those familiar with the Philippines recent history, especially the heroic struggle by anti-dictatorship and democracy movements that toppled the brutal authoritarian rule of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 wonder what is going on in the country.The Real Numbers Update report from the website of the Philippine National Police (PNP) listed a total of 81,919 anti-drug operations, resulting in 119,361 arrests and deaths of 3,987 suspected drug users from 1 July 2016, to 17 January 2018. The Human Rights Watch World Report 2018, said more than 12,000 drug suspects were already killed in the same period. [1] In a speech delivered to the Philippine Senate in 21 February by Senator Antonio Trillanes, he pointed out that there is also 16,355 drug-related homicide cases that are still under investigation from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 in the PNP Real Numbers Update report. [2] He claims that it means the real number of deaths related to the drug war is at least 20,322.Despite the big variation in numbers, one thing is clear tens of thousands have already been killed by his war on drugs policy. The dead were denied justice and killed like animals in their homes or in the street. Among the dead are innocent minors and children who are considered collateral damage of the senseless killing.The history of extra-judicial killings in the PhilippinesEJKs are not new in the Philippines. Suspected communists and activists were killed, involuntarily disappeared and tortured while in police and military custody under two decades of Marcos regime. It also happened under successive post-Marcos governments. What is new, is the way the polices role in the mass killings and Dutertes cruel, aggressive and unapologetic stance about his governments intention to continue killing Filipino citizens is normalised. Much worse, no one has been punished and the impunity by which the law is blatantly disregarded daily is unprecedented.Even if the number of EJKs so far under Duterte is indeed what the PNP claim, a low 3,800, it already equals the number of people reportedly killed in the 14-year record of the Marcos dictatorship. It would be about three times the number of EJKs (1,200) recorded during the nine-year watch of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2010. No one was tried and punished for those crimes.Dutertes killingsAccording to a feature article in the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), extra-judicial killing seems to be Dutertes hallmark campaign against criminality if his 19 years of service as mayor of his home city of Davao in southern Philippines is anything to go by. [3] The CBCP article is worth noting for the similarity between Dutertes methods then as a city mayor and what is happening nationally now that he is the Chief Executive.The article described the operations of the dreaded Davao Death Squad (DDS), a vigilante group that Duterte founded. It allegedly killed 1,424 people from 1998 up to the end of 2015. From this number, the report listed that 132 were children under 17 years old, the youngest was 12 years old.The DDS, is believed to be responsible for summary executions of street children and individuals suspected of petty crimes and drug dealing in Davao. An article from The Guardian also described a hearing held by the Philippine Senate in March 2017, wherein Arturo Lascanas, a retired police officer and former leader of Dutertes first DDS hit squad claimed under oath that the president personally gave them orders to kill in 1989 when he was still mayor. [4] The article further quoted Lascanas admission that he personally killed about 200 people. Lascanas also alleged that Dutertes son and current Davao vice mayor, Paulo Duterte, had links to the drug trade. However, the Philippine Senate closed the hearing, for lack of further proof.First they came for the drug addicts.When Duterte campaigned for presidency, he promised that if elected his means to stop drug use in the country will be bloody and that there will be no need for more jails just funeral parlours. The term tokhang, from the Visayan language meaning to knock and plead became the most feared word. It is because when a Police Operation Tokhang, goes to ones neighbourhood, it practically means someone will get summarily executed or hauled to police station on mere suspicion of drug use.In February 21, the Department of Justice filed a motion in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New Peoples Army (NPA), terrorist organizations. [5] It also sought to tag a UN special rapporteur, a former lawmaker, four former priests and at least 600 individuals as terrorists. Included in the list of 600 is the UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and Joan Carling, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and currently co-convener of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group on Sustainable Development.The motion to tag activists as terrorists blur the lines of legitimate dissent and terrorism. It is doubly alarming because of the recently passed law granting subpoena powers to the police despite their implications in summary executions. This could lead to more impunity or it could also signal that activists will be the next target of tokhang operations.International human rights organisations already warned that indigenous leaders and environmental defenders are killed in the Philippines in an alarming rate.Prospects for Left Unity?After the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos, The Philippine Left was divided into various factions. The big question at this juncture in the countrys deeply worrying situation is whether the Left can unite in the fight against Duterte. Joshua Makalintals article about the challenges of building unity against Duterte offers a very good glimpse about the very crucial, difficult, and inspiring possibility of building a new Left in the country at this historic juncture. [6]Makalintal identified three groupings. The first is the traditional militant left, the National Democrats, under the Maoist umbrella of the Communist Party of the Philippines that worked with Duterte at the beginning of his term. However, the coalition did not survive as the Duterte did not support prominent leaders from left-wing movements that he initially appointed to cabinet position in appointment hearings. The leaders came from left mass based organisations that work in close partnership with the National Democrats. The groupings recently launched the Movement Against Tyranny.Secondly, there is Tindig Pilipinas or Rise Up Philippines, a broad coalition that includes minority parties in the Philippines legislative branch and their affiliated organisations. This grouping range from members of the Liberal Party, the social democratic party Akbayan, and the nationalist, anti-communist Magdalo group. The Liberal Party is the most established party in this grouping, while Akbayan has the second largest left organizational base next to the National Democrats. Magdalo is composed of former junior officers of the armed forces led by Antonio Trillanes mentioned earlier here.The third force, the newly organized Laban ng Masa, or Struggle of the Masses, is a coalition of socialist-oriented groups who have been consistent in their opposition to Dutertes presidency from the beginning. The coalitions leader is activist-academic Walden Bello. Bello ran a senate campaign supported by many progressive organisations and NGOs in 2016. He is known in the international anti-globalisation movement.The Philippine Left and the pluralist progressive movement is much smaller now compared to its strength when Marcos was ousted. The work ahead in opposing Duterte will be difficult and there is that challenge of winning back the masses that became disappointed for the lack of structural changes after 1986. Many of them voted for Duterte. Earlier this month, the International Criminal Court based in The Hague opened an inquiry on possible crimes against humanity committed by Duterte since he started his term of office. Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. The move comes just days after the Paris City Council passed a motion urging European insurers and reinsurers to ditch their support of the coal industry in Europe and in Poland in particular, calling out several insurers directly, including Allianz. The Allianz Group said it is significantly expanding its climate strategy, and said its newly-announced commitments will actively support the global change to a low-carbon economy over the coming decades. By 2040, in a step by step process, Allianz will have phased out both its proprietary investments in coal-based business and its insurance coverage of such risks. In addition, the company will reduce the carbon footprint of its business operations by 2040, for example through a higher proportion of renewable energies in electricity purchase, the insurer said in a statement. CEO of Allianz SE, Oliver Bate, added: Climate change generates enormous economic and social risks. It is already harming millions of people today. As a leading insurer and investor, we want to promote the transition to a climate-friendly economy. The Unfriend Coal campaign, a network of NGOs and social movements calling for insurance companies to divest from and cease underwriting coal, called Allianzs plan a bold step, which reinforces the shift of the insurance industry away from coal and increases the pressure on industry laggards to adopt coal exit policies as well. Peter Bosshard, a coordinator of the campaign, said: The insurance industry is uniquely placed to support the transition away from coal, and four global insurers have now decided to shift away from coal. We call on Munich Re, Generali, AIG and other climate laggards in the industry to also stop insuring and investing in coal projects. One campaigner also urged Allianz to go further in its divestment from coal. Allianzs consequential divestment strategy sets a model for other large investors such as Aviva and Prudential. Like other leading insurers, Allianz should, however, include the more than $1 trillion it manages for third parties in its divestment policy, Lucie Pinson, the European coordinator of the Unfriend Coal campaign, said. Since 2017, AXA, Zurich, SCOR and now Allianz have decided to stop insuring some or all new coal projects, and Swiss Re has announced that it will adopt such a policy soon. So far 16 insurers have divested an estimated $22 billion from coal companies. Regine Richter, a finance campaigner with German environment and human rights organisation Urgewald, added: It is significant that the worlds largest insurer has set a target of bringing its coal coverage down to zero. Allianz should however commit to a more ambitious sunset period than 2040. Related stories: Acquiring Inworx for total consideration capped at US$50.5 million also means Charles Taylor InsureTech will be getting its hands on the insurance broking software called InBroker, which the British buyer said is used by the likes of Willis Towers Watson and Marsh in Latin America. Inworx will retain its current senior management team while Charles Taylor InsureTech client delivery director Carlos Romeu will be relocating to serve as managing director of Charles Taylor InsureTech, Latin America. This acquisition marks another major step in delivering Charles Taylors growth strategy, said Charles Taylor group chief executive David Marock. I am looking forward to welcoming the team from Inworx to the Charles Taylor family. Technology is transforming the way that insurance is underwritten and transacted globally. The acquisition of Inworx is one of the largest we have undertaken as a group. It demonstrates our commitment to growing our insurance technology capability, both as an enabler for the industry and to deliver the groups services. Meanwhile Charles Taylor has announced the placing of over 6.7 million shares, proceeds of which will be used to fund the acquisition. The initial consideration payable at closing of the acquisition will comprise US$19.0 million in cash and US$3.5 million in new ordinary shares of the company, it said in a regulatory filing. The net proceeds of the placing will be used to finance the cash component of the initial consideration for the acquisition. Deferred consideration will be paid over four years. Related stories: Being a Top 50 company for 13 years in a row is further acknowledgment that Allstate is a leader in inclusive diversity, said Christy Harris, Allstate vice president of human resources and inclusive diversity. We know that actively seeking out and leveraging the collective mixture of individual differences and similarities improves business outcomes for our workforce, the marketplace and our communities. Allstate said it has made diversity one of its core values. The company has 11 employee resource groups to ensure that all employees are encouraged and perform at their highest level. It has also established diversity commitments in every business unit. Events of the past year have demonstrated that decisive ethical leadership is necessary to guide any organization to success, DiversityInc founder and CEO Luke Visconti said. Successful leaders hold themselves accountable to be culturally competent, a skill that requires constant learning. DiversityInc Top 50 companies have a metrics-evidenced ability to treat people more fairly than other large companies. They also have a greater-than-average return for their shareholders. Five Navy service members stationed in San Diego have been indicted for allegedly claiming $100,000 each in insurance payouts for non-existent injuries. According to an indictment filed in US District Court, the service members four men and one woman falsified insurance applications, using forged signatures and altering hospital records belonging to real patients. The service members claimed to have injured themselves in falls including one from a horse and motorcycle crashes, according to a report by The San Diego Tribune. Four of them actually received their $100,000 payouts before the government discovered the fraud. Swiss Re said it was still in discussions with SoftBank on Friday about the Japanese group potentially taking a stake in the reinsurer but that a deal was not a sure thing. Swiss Re and its competitors have been under pressure in recent years from falling prices amid intense competition and a fresh investor like SoftBank could open new streams of revenue from the fast-growing and unsaturated insurance market of Asia. We continue to be in discussions with SoftBank, John Dacey, Swiss Res chief financial officer, told reporters on a call. But there is no clear indication that they will result in a completed transaction. Dacey said that Swiss Re would welcome an important long-term shareholder. But we dont feel that we need one, he said. We want to be sure we are treating existing shareholders fairly. The finance chief also said that Swiss Re wasnt just talking to SoftBank. We arent exclusive to SoftBank in the sense that we talk to many large groups that might have interesting views on the future of risks and opportunities, he said. Swiss Re said last month that Japans SoftBank wanted to buy a stake in the Zurich-based company of under 10 percent and the pair were also exploring strategic cooperation. At the time, Swiss Re Chief Executive Christian Mumenthaler was enthusiastic about the opportunities SoftBank could present, such as its ties to China and focus on technology. Analysts have said Swiss Res research capabilities, undervalued stock, and cash generation are attractive. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has said he wants to build a group of industry-leading companies powered by technological advancements in artificial intelligence and interconnected devices. Through its investment arm centered on the Vision Fund, the worlds largest private equity fund, SoftBank has already funneled $27.5 billion into tech firms around the world. That could bring a huge number of potential insurance customers from ride-share drivers to dog walking app users into what Son calls his synergy group of companies. SoftBank declined to comment on Friday. Swiss Re, meanwhile, posted a better-than-expected net profit in the first quarter, although it was still down from a year ago amid continuing pressure on reinsuranceprices. Net profit was $457 million, down 30 percent from $656 million a year earlier. But it was above expectations of $447 million forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll. The worlds second-biggest reinsurer earned more in the first quarter than it did in the whole of last year, when it took a severe hit from a spate of natural disasters in North America. We delivered a solid set of results across the board in the first quarter of 2018, as we maintained our underwriting discipline while expanding in an improving, yet still challenging, re/insurance pricing environment, CEO Mumenthaler said. Gross written premiums were up 13.1 percent in the quarter, at $11.5 billion, better than the $10.6 billion expected by analysts and above $10.2 billion a year ago. (Reporting by Tom Sims and Angelika Gruber; Additional reporting by Sam Nussey in Tokyo; Editing by Adrian Croft and Elaine Hardcastle) Topics Reinsurance Swiss Re An ex-chief executive officer of AIGs Financial Products unit repeatedly told a U.K court that political and media pressure didnt influence the companys decision to wipe out a $600 million employee bonus pool during the financial crisis. We had pressure from all different places, it doesnt mean we agreed with the pressure, William Dooley, who was head of AIGFP between March 2008 and December 2015, told the court Thursday. Its not the case that we caved. Im not suggesting that any of this pressure had any effect on our decision not to pay. Dooley was testifying in the case of 23 former Banque AIG and AIGFP executives fighting American International Group Inc. 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 Federal Reserve loaned $85 billion to AIG, and in a letter to incoming CEO Edward Liddy, then-New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said that the company had agreed 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. In a lively exchange, Dooley deflected suggestions from a lawyer for the former staff, Daniel Oudkerk, that it was Cuomos intervention that provoked AIG to impose negative balances on staff bonus accounts and never restore the sums. Hell or High Water AIG was not going to permit payment come hell or high water because thats what it agreed with the attorney general, Oudkerk said. Later on, the lawyer emphasized that, in his 2008 letter, Cuomo confirmed with AIG that the bonus plans would have negative balances. Its pretty clear who had their hands on the steering wheel, Oudkerk said. Dooley maintained that the decision to impose negative balances was a result of AIGFPs massive losses and permitted under the terms of the plans. I do not believe pressure from Cuomo had anything to do with wiping out bonuses, Dooley told the court. The press office for Andrew Cuomo didnt immediately respond to an email request for comment and couldnt be reached by phone outside of business hours. Spokeswomen for AIG and Stephenson Harwood, the law firm representing the claimants, declined to comment on the case. The former CEO confirmed that there was considerable public outrage directed toward the company at the time. Dooley said hed received a death threat amid rising public anger following the government bailout of the insurer. The politicians werent interested in protecting me, he told Judge Andrew Baker. Multiple Hats During his questioning of Dooley, Oudkerk also argued that it was parent AIG Inc., rather than AIGFP itself, that controlled decisions about the employee bonus pools following the September 2008 bailout. The court was shown a document detailing the chronology of AIGs contact with the Fed regarding retention plans. In late September 2008, Oudkerk said members of AIG had two meetings with the Fed about AIGFP within four days. Furthermore, throughout the chronology document, Dooley is referred to by as senior vice president, his then-title at AIG Inc. Asked why he didnt use his Financial Products title, Dooley replied, I always tried to wear both hats at the same time I wore multiple hats. Oudkerk presented an October 2008 letter from Dooley to AIGFP employees informing them of the potential negative balances to come. He pointed out that the letter was written on AIG Inc. headed paper. Dooley denied this meant AIG Inc. was completely in charge. I really only had one letter head, Dooley said. I would always use the only stationery I had. The case is Tobias Gruber & Ors v. AIG Management France, SA & Anr, High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division, case no. CL-2014-000921. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics AIG Kansas legislators are moving to ban taxpayer-funded settlements of sexual harassment claims against state officials and block non-disclosure agreements in harassment cases. House and Senate negotiators have agreed to include a provision in budget legislation that would prohibit any state agency from using their funds to settle sexual harassment claims against elected officials or state employees. They also agreed to include a ban on using state funds to pursue non-disclosure agreements in harassment cases. The negotiators met on May 1 to work on the final version of legislation revising the $16 billion-plus budgets approved by lawmakers last year for the states current fiscal year and the next fiscal year, beginning in July. As part of the budget, the anti-harassment provisions would expire in July 2019, but lawmakers could consider a permanent law next year. Theyre great initiatives for transparency, said Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an Overland Park Republican. Its a good, positive answer from the Kansas Legislature in regards to the (hash)MeToo movement. The GOP-controlled Legislature hopes to finish its work this week on budget changes, which are likely to add millions of dollars of new spending. Top Republicans also are pursuing tax cuts to offset a windfall in state tax collections resulting from changes in federal tax laws late last year. The states economy has improved. Also, lawmakers last year stabilized the state budget by increasing income taxes, reversing past tax cuts championed by former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback that had been followed by persistent budget woes. The state reported that it collected $66 million more in taxes than anticipated in April, a surplus of 7.6 percent. It was the 11th consecutive month that revenues have exceeded expectations and the longest streak of monthly surpluses since at least 1989, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press. The budget legislation includes a mix of spending and policy, including the anti-harassment provisions. The House included them in a spending bill it approved Saturday, but the Senate never debated them. The Kansas Legislature, like many across the nation, told The Associated Press it has no records of sexual misconduct complaints against lawmakers since 2008. But a former top legislative aide went public last fall with allegations that a lawmaker had asked her for sex and that female college interns had regularly served as designated drivers for drunken lawmakers. Leaders updated the Legislatures anti-harassment policy in February. Their action came days after Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer issued an executive order mandating annual sexual harassment training for roughly 20,000 executive branch employees under his control. Clayton and one of the budget negotiators, Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly, of Topeka, acknowledged a concern with a ban on state-funded settlements that a state official who must pay with private funds could claim poverty, so that a victim doesnt get compensated. But Kelly said, We just should not be holding taxpayers responsible for our inappropriate behavior. The budget negotiators were working to reconcile dozens of differences between the House and Senate on spending items large and small. Both chambers want to restore some past cuts in operating budgets for state universities, something that could add as much as $18 million in spending. Topics Legislation Claims Kansas The fan blade that failed on a Southwest Airlines Co. plane last month, killing a passenger, had been inspected seven times since late 2012 but without the sophisticated technology airlines are now under orders to use. The inspections relied on visual observations and there were no reports of cracks, according to a preliminary report issued Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board. The investigation of the April 17 Southwest flight is one of the most significant in years, since it raises questions about the safety of the CFM56-7B engine, one of the worlds most popular. Before engines like this get approval from aviation regulators, manufacturers must demonstrate that failed fan blades wont trigger extensive damage if they break loose. Since a similar fan blade failure on another Southwest plane in 2016, engine maker CFM International Inc. has urged airlines to use either ultrasound or electric-current tests designed to find cracks beneath the surface. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued two orders since Aprils accident on Flight 1380 for the more sophisticated testing of fan blades, touching off a rush by airlines to examine thousands of the blades. The orders call for the inspection of blades that have made at least 20,000 flights by the end of August. If a blades number of flights isnt known, it must also be tested by the same deadline. Failed Blades History The failed blade had made more than 32,000 flights, according to the NTSB. Southwest says it expects to complete all the inspections, even those with fewer than 20,000 flights, of its fleet in coming weeks. The most recent extensive inspection of the failed blade occurred in November 2012, using a dye designed to highlight small cracks on the surface. The engine had made 10,712 cycles starting and stopping the engine, usually associated with a flight since then, according to the NTSB. For the six inspections since 2012, the blades were lubricated and mechanics examined them visually for flaws. Southwest said in a statement on Thursday that the company was continuing to cooperate fully with the National Transportation Safety Boards (NTSB) ongoing investigation into Flight 1380. CFM is a joint venture between General Electric Co. and Frances Safran SA. A passenger, Jennifer Riordan, who was a vice president at Wells Fargo & Co. in New Mexico, was killed after being partly sucked out of the shattered window. The plane, a Boeing Co. 737-700 bound for Dallas from New Yorks LaGuardia airport, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. While there have been fatal crashes involving cargo haulers, foreign airlines and charter operators, it was the first death of a passenger on a U.S. airline since 2009. Questions Remain The preliminary report doesnt say why the crack grew large enough for the blade to snap off or whether use of more sophisticated testing before the accident could have prevented the failure. When the blade broke loose the result of a crack that gradually expanded under the stresses of multiple flights it bounced forward and collided with the relatively unprotected engine inlet, tearing it apart and sending shrapnel into the fuselage and wing. Investigators may have identified the part that shattered the window. A metal piece that included a latching mechanism, which was recovered after the accident, matches a large gouge impact mark adjacent to the row 14 window that broke, NTSB said. An examination of the failed blade under an electron microscope showed evidence of low-cycle fatigue, the NTSB said. That suggests that the crack grew relatively quickly, but investigators didnt provide any timeline. All the remaining blades on the failed engine were removed and tested using an ultrasonic device that can detect flaws beneath the titanium surface, but no additional cracks were found, NTSB said. The engines containment shield, designed to prevent the kind of widespread damage that occurred in the accident, did block blade fragments from escaping. However, the majority of material at the front of the engine known as the inlet cowl was missing. The report also includes new information about what happened on the plane in the moments after the failure. The 737 banked more than 40 degrees to the left. The pilots recovered, but had to fight the controls. The flight crew reported that the airplane exhibited handling difficulties throughout the remainder of the flight, the NTSB said. The planes three flight attendants told investigators that they donned oxygen masks after the plane lost pressure and began moving through the cabin to assist passengers. Thats when they noticed that Riordan had been sucked through the window. As they moved toward the mid-cabin, they found the passenger in row 14 partially out of the window and attempted to pull her into the cabin, the report said. Two male passengers helped and were able to bring the passenger in. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Aviation American International Group Inc. executives on Thursday defended their strategy for transforming the company, saying some key improvements would take hold by year-end, but failed to convince investors as shares slid more than 6 percent. The New York-based insurer reported a 21 percent decline in first-quarter profit on Wednesday, due to higher catastrophe and bad weather claims, as well as weaker investment income. We do expect to deliver an underwriting profit by the end of this year, said AIG Chief Executive Officer Brian Duperreault in a call with analysts on Thursday. Duperreault took charge of AIG nearly a year ago, promising to grow the company and boost revenues. He has been working to improve underwriting practices, increase AIGs focus on technology and install new executives across the insurer to jumpstart profits. But his steps have yet to boost the bottom line. The stock is down nearly 16 percent since Duperreaults arrival in May 2017. AIGs shares were trading at $51.36 on Thursday afternoon after a morning slump during which share were down more than 9 percent. Given the results from some other commercial lines insurers in the quarter everyone was expecting a stronger number from AIG, especially in North American commercial business, said Elyse Greenspan, a Wells Fargo Securities LLC analyst, in an interview. The unit has been a consistent area of focus for AIG and one which the insurers former management team was unable to fix, Greenspan said. AIGs changes to underwriting practices will take some time to show up in the companys income statement, said Peter Zaffino, chief executive of AIGs general insurance unit, during the call. But a combination of managing expenses and improving ratios of losses to premiums will contribute to AIGs year-end financial performance, Zaffino said. The company is also making changes to excess casualty business, trying to shed certain risky bets such as being the lead insurer for initial public offerings and professional liabilities, Duperreault said. AIG also reported on Wednesday that it had released $104 million in reserves from its general insurance unit, the first such development since 2016. The measure alleviated some investor angst, Greenspan said, after the insurer had to set aside funds in 2016 and 2017 to cover possible future claims. (Reporting by Suzanne Barlyn Editing by Phil Berlowitz) Topics AIG Drug companies are in no rush to finance a solution to the opioid epidemic. Companies including Johnson & Johnson and McKesson Corp. are preparing to take their chances in court rather than pay billions of dollars to settle lawsuits blaming them for addictions that claim the lives of more than 100 Americans daily, according to six people familiar with settlement talks. With the first trial just 10 months away, the companies are counting on narrowing or defeating lawsuits by 17 states and hundreds of counties and cities, which would slash or eliminate their settlement costs. But if the defenses fail, the cost of a deal could rise. Settlement talks sponsored by state attorneys general have been going on since last year, and companies seemed willing to consider a quick global deal to put the litigation behind them without risking bankruptcy. But as negotiations pressed forward in law-firm conference rooms in Dallas and Chicago, the companies lately have shown more confidence in their legal defenses, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks are private. As a result, negotiations with the states have largely stalled, the people said. That comes as talks with local governments have also hit a snag, according to the judge overseeing the separate set of lawsuits. The companies strategy is logical, said Adam Zimmerman, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles who specializes in mass tort litigation. It would make no sense for the companies to start talking about money until the strength of those defenses are tested in court, said Zimmerman, who isnt involved in the case. Hard-hit states including Ohio and Kentucky have accused drugmakers such as J&J and Purdue Pharma Inc., and distributors like McKesson and AmerisourceBergen Corp., of understating the risks of prescription opioids, overstating their benefits, and failing to halt suspiciously large shipments to pharmacies. We are committed to being part of the ongoing dialogue and to doing our part to find ways to address this crisis, Andrew Wheatley, a J&J spokesman, said in a statement. Other companies didnt respond to questions about whether money is the sticking point. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery, who is leading the talks for the states, said through a spokeswoman that the states are still actively negotiating. Companies believe they have potent defenses. Purdue contends in court filings that federal law bars states from holding it liable because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its Oxycontin drug as a painkiller and its warnings about addiction risks. Tobacco Strategy Drugmakers reject comparisons to the 1990s litigation against cigarette makers, which led to a $246 billion settlement. Thats because opioids are a government-regulated product dispensed only with a doctors prescription. (Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco, isnt yet regulated.) As a result, judges must defer to the FDAs findings that the painkillers are safe and effective when used properly, according to company filings. Pharma companies say theyre also free from liability because some patients misused their products and because states havent found doctors who blame opioid marketing for influencing their prescribing habits. I dont know what the companies overall strategy is, but it doesnt sound like fast resolution is part of it any more, said Elizabeth Burch, a University of Georgia law professor who teaches about complex litigation. If the idea was to come up with a quick settlement the companies could afford, time is slipping away and money that could go toward resolving the case is being eaten up by legal costs. Education Programs The companies havent ruled out compromise. In the talks, Purdue and other defendants have agreed to consider additional changes to their marketing and handling of painkillers, the people said. That may include doctor-education programs aimed at reducing the numbers of opioid prescriptions and beefed up oversight of shipments, they said. Purdue, J&J, Endo International Plc and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd have halted marketing efforts tied to opioids or taken their products off the market. The companies said the changes, along with other cost-cutting moves, arent related to the litigation. Drug companies are confronting two sets of adversaries. Theyre negotiating with a coalition of 41 state attorneys general, including some that sued, while defending more than 400 suits by counties and municipalities. The latter have been consolidated before U.S. District Judge Dan Polster in Cleveland, who scheduled the first trial for March after his efforts to strong-arm a quick global settlement stalled. Opioid Judge Efforts to hammer out a deal in the attorneys general talks are hampered by strategy disputes between suing states and those hoping for an out-of-court solution, according to the people familiar. Ohio Attorney General Michael DeWine, who is suing to recover some of the estimated $8 billion his state spends annually over the opioid crisis, has faced criticism for breaking away from the group talks to focus on the court battle. The multistate process was not proceeding fast enough, said Dan Tierney, a spokesman for DeWine, now a Republican candidate for governor. The companies arent putting money on the table in the cases brought by cities and counties, although settlement talks there are moving ahead, four people said. The very existence of the city and county suits is also slowing negotiations, the people said. Tennessees Slatery sent letters to lawyers for some municipalities, saying their cases are hamstringing his effort to negotiate a global settlement, according to Gerard Stranch, a Nashville lawyer representing some of local governments in Tennessee. Slatery has since backed off his effort to take over those cases, Stranch said. The companies want to do one settlement of their opioid liability rather than having to do separate deals with the states and local governments, said Lauren Rousseau, a Western Michigan law professor. They want to put an end to all litigation at a price that doesnt bankrupt them. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits Mergers Tennessee Drugs Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance group and Florida-based The Main Street America Group will pursue a merger, the companies announced today. The combined equity of the merged entities is expected to be more than $9 billion. Upon completion of the merger, Main Street America will operate as a stand-alone brand with its own name and marketing within American Family Insurance group, similar to The General and Homesite, which American Family acquired in 2012 and 2013 respectively. American Family Insurance and Main Street America said the merger does not involve capital outlay by either. The companies said the merger, approved by their boards of directors, will improve diversity of risk, promote growth through geographic expansion and provide agents and policyholders broader product offerings. Both insurers have national distribution capabilities, but each has its own regional emphasis. The merger, expected to close by year-end, will require approval by mutual policyholder-members of both companies and state insurance regulators. This merger will give policyholders particularly small business owners more insurance products to choose from and more ways to buy them, said Jack Salzwedel, chairman and CEO of the American Family Insurance group. Given our focus on policyholders and agents, thats a win. Both companies are able to immediately take advantage of our unique marketplace positions, as well as the ability to bring new value to each of our agency distribution systems, said Tom Van Berkel, Main Street Americas chairman, president and CEO. Our ability to sell new products through our independent agent-customers will help us and our agents profitably grow, while simultaneously bringing American Family enterprise products to a different policyholder base. Policyholder Equity Combined Main Street America said it will retain its affiliation with Trusted Choice, the branding program of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. In 2017, the American Family groups written premium was $8.8 billion. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through exclusive agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates, The General, Homesite and AssureStart, also provide options nationally for consumers who want to buy insurance over the internet or by phone. Main Street America wrote more than $1 billion in premium last year. The company sells commercial and personal insurance as well as surety bonds, all through independent agents. Main Street America has an A (Excellent) rating with a stable outlook for financial strength from A.M. Best, the same as American Family. American Family became a mutual holding company in 2017, making mergers like this possible. The American Family Insurance group ended 2017 with approximately 11,300 full-time equivalent employees and Main Street America has approximately 900. At this time, no major employee or operational changes are expected as a result of the merger, according to the announcement. Geographic and Product Diversification Commercial products for small business owners, artisan contractors, vehicles, workers compensation and agribusiness account for approximately 70 percent of Main Street Americas direct written premium, with 90 percent of their total premium coming from outside the 19 states where American Family sells through exclusive agents. The companies said the merger includes plans to supplement American Family commercial products with Main Street America products, and for Main Street America to enhance its personal lines products with American Family enterprise products marketed to Main Street America customers under the Main Street America brand. Our commitment to our exclusive agency force has never been stronger, said Salzwedel. This merger will give our agents more products to offer policyholders while providing the American Family Insurance group another avenue through which to sell products independent agents. The partnership with American Family creates tremendous potential for Main Street America and our valued independent agent-customers, added Van Berkel. The ability to leverage American Familys powerful technology platforms will enable us to deploy products more rapidly and make it easier for agents and insureds to transact business with us. The merger will diversify American Familys product mix, increasing commercial lines from 8 percent to 14 percent of the combined entitys direct written premium. It will also spread the geographic risk for both companies over a larger area. When you have a merger of this magnitude, you fear the process will be arduous. But, its been great working with Tom (Van Berkel) over the past six months. Hes been a visionary, identifying early on how a merger could enhance both companies, said Salzwedel. The benefits to policyholders and our companies became clear. With a heavy concentration on the East Coast, Main Street America will help extend the reach of the American Family group. American Family, in turn, will help bring new products and technology to Main Street America and its policyholders. We will continue to strategically expand our enterprise, added Salzwedel. When we see growth opportunities that provide more options and value for policyholders, we will pursue them. Rating agency A.M. Best said the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a+ of the operating subsidiaries of Main Street America Group remain unchanged. On March, 22 before the merger announcement, A.M. Best affirmed the A (Excellent) Financial Strength Ratings and stable outlooks of American Family Insurance Group (including Homesite and The General) and American Family Life Insurance Co. Both companies were assisted in the transaction by third parties. Main Street Americas financial advisor was Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Stifel Company, and legal advisor was Greenberg Traurig law firm. American Family was assisted by legal advisor Foley & Lardner. Topics Agencies Terry Frakes has retired from Austin-based workers compensation insurer, Texas Mutual Insurance Co., after more than 25 years of service to the company. Frakes was Texas Mutuals third employee after it was created by the Texas Legislature in 1991 (then called the Texas Workers Compensation Insurance Fund). He was also the companys first executive council member. For the past 26 years, Frakes has served as Texas Mutuals senior vice president of public affairs, where he represented the company during legislative sessions, served as the primary media contact and oversaw communication initiatives. Prior to joining Texas Mutual, Frakes worked as regional director of governmental affairs of a major national trade association, director of government affairs of at the Texas Department of Insurance and as special assistant to the House Insurance Committee The best takeaway from the last 26 years is seeing the company grow after being there before it was created, Frakes said in the companys announcement. I watched the legislation pass and helped set it up from nothing we had no office, no phones, no employees. And today, Texas Mutual is the largest workers comp writer in the state. What a true success it has been! The company commemorated Frakess retirement with a small celebration to recognize his many contributions to Texas Mutual and the workers compensation industry. Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Co. Topics Texas Workers' Compensation Federal labor officials say an Arkansas company has paid nearly $709,000 to settle overtime and minimum wage claims stemming from the cleanup of Louisiana floods in 2016. The U.S. Department of Labor said that Wallace, Rush, Schmidt Inc. had failed to pay 1,393 workers for weeks. The workers had gone to the Baton Rouge area and other Louisiana worksites after prolonged rains triggered floods. The Labor Department says the company failed to keep complete and accurate records, which led to problems. Investigators say that limited access to technology was likely responsible for the workers supervisors ability to submit employee timesheets. The money will settle claims of overtime, minimum wage and record-keeping violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Claims Thousands of ancient clay tablets, seals and other Iraqi archaeological objects that were smuggled into the U.S. and shipped to the head of the Oklahoma-based 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 companys role in the smuggling of the artifacts, which authorities say were looted from the war-torn country. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Washington handed over the artifacts Wednesday to Iraqs ambassador to the U.S., Fareed Yasseen. How Did Hobby Lobby Acquire The Artifacts? 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. Ancient cuneiform tablets were labeled ceramic tiles, and items carried paperwork that said they came from Turkey or Israel. Prosecutors said artifacts were also deliberately undervalued with one shipping label listed 300 clay tiles valued at $1 each when they were actually clay bullae with a combined value of $84,120. Artifacts were also shipped in small batches to multiple addresses in Oklahoma City to avoid drawing the attention of customs agents, prosecutors said. A dealer based in the United Arab Emirates shipped packages containing artifacts to three different corporate addresses in Oklahoma City. Green financed the $500 million Museum of the Bible that opened in Washington in November. The museum includes pieces from the familys collection from the Dead Sea Scrolls and bronze gates inscribed with text from the Gutenberg Bible, but museum officials have said none of the artifacts involved in the case were ever part of its collection. What Is Being Returned? The items include cuneiform tablets, cuneiform bricks and clay bullae, which are clay balls imprinted with a seal. Cuneiform is the wedge-shaped writing used thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia, the Cradle of Civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Iraq. Authorities say many of the tablets come from the ancient city of Irisagrig, a Sumerian city whose exact location is uncertain, and date from between 2100 B.C. and 1600 B.C. The tablets, some from the Old Babylonian period, are mostly legal and administrative documents but also include an important collection of Early Dynastic incantations and a bilingual religious text from the Neo-Babylonian period. Two clay cones are inscribed with royal inscriptions from the mid-third millennium B.C., and clay bullae include artifacts believed to be about 2,000 years old. What Was Hobby Lobbys Explanation? Prosecutors say Hobby Lobby was warned by its own expert that acquiring antiquities from Iraq carried considerable risk because so many of the artifacts in circulation are stolen. But Green, who had been collecting ancient artifacts since 2009, pleaded naivete in doing business with dealers in the Middle East. Early on, we were always trying to find the best experts we could to help us as we were acquiring antiquities, Green said in an Oct. 2017 interview with The Associated Press. 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. Bob Murowchick, an assistant professor in archaeology and anthropology at Boston University, said that while the Hobby Lobby executive may have simply blundered, sometimes its a deliberate smuggling attempt. Most antiquities are not legally moved, Murowchick said. This stuff does not miraculously appear. In many, many cases its illegally exported. The selling of antiquities has become a major source of revenue for terrorist organizations, including Islamic State, and it is vital that collectors ask the right questions to avoid financing terrorism, Murowchick said. Its a very formal business in some areas, Murowchick said. You collect things because you love them. Sometimes you dont ask the things that need to be asked. Hobby Lobby did not immediately reply to an email seeking further comment Wednesday. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics USA Oklahoma A Georgia school system has decided to allow its employees to carry guns. The Laurens County school board has approved a policy allowing select staff to carry guns on school property, in vehicles and at school functions, The Telegraph reported . Laurens County Schools is believed to be the states only district to go forward with such a policy, said Justin Pauly of the Georgia School Boards Association. Teachers and staff who carry guns will do so on a voluntary basis and receive intensive training, Laurens County Schools Superintendent Dan Brigman said. He says the policy will be developed with the county sheriffs department. Brigman said the district is not arming all teachers, nor will we have teachers or any other staff members `openly carrying firearms during the school day. The processes to support this approved policy will be developed in a very careful and confidential manner in partnership with the Laurens County Sheriffs Department. A 2014 Georgia law left it up to individual districts to decide if employees could carry guns on school property. Districts that opt to implement weapons policies must follow specific requirements for the approval of employees to participate; the types of weapons and ammunition allowed; firearms training; licensing; and securing weapons. In Laurens County, implementing the new policy is still in the planning stages, and officials have not determined how many employees will carry guns or when they are allowed to start. Time is of the essence when it comes to a school crisis, particularly the threat of an active shooter on campus, Brigman said. Our countys size often creates a great amount of time for law enforcement to respond to our outlying schools, he added. Its essential that we have plans and protocols in place to develop somewhat of a first-responder process to extend beyond the school lock-down. Theres a misconception that the district will be handing out guns to teachers at the door, but thats not the case, school board chairman Kenny Stewart said. He urged community members to familiarize themselves with the policy and call the board of education if they have questions, concerns or suggestions. Shaketha Marion, who has children in third and sixth grades at East Laurens Elementary, isnt pleased about the policys passage. Shes concerned about staff members being armed without proper experience handling dangerous situations. I think there are other ways they can provide security for the students and the staff, she said. (Teachers) have a lot to deal with as it is. I really think they just need a security officer at each school and even metal detectors. To see that they didnt even look at that as a possibility and just went straight for the guns, it shocked me. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Georgia Training Development Tech giants Google and Microsoft have joined a chorus or cybersecurity experts urging Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to veto a bill that makes unauthorized computer access a crime punishable by up to a year in prison. The 11/2-page proposal, passed in March in the final chaotic hours of Georgias legislative session, would make it illegal to intentionally access a computer or network without authorization. Its designed to give law enforcement the ability to prosecute online snoopers hackers who probe computer systems for vulnerabilities but dont disrupt or steal data. The legislation follows the recent discovery by unauthorized independent cybersecurity experts of a gaping vulnerability in the computer network where Georgias elections are managed. The Republican governor has until May 8 to veto or sign the bill into law. Deals office said only that he was reviewing the legislation as he does with all other bills. He has not publicly indicated a stance on the issue. A group of more than 50 academics, researchers, cybersecurity experts and technologists wrote Deal recently urging him to veto the bill. The group said the legislation will chill security research and harm the states cybersecurity industry. They said that the bill was problematic because it created new liabilities for security researchers who identify and disclose weaknesses to improve cybersecurity. The bill would seriously impede the kind of independent research that helps keep critical computer networks safe from intrusion, said Kennesaw State University information security researcher Andy Green, one of the signers of the letter to Deal. Last June, an independent researcher alerted Green to the massive unplugged security hole that exposed the personal data of Georgias 6.7 million registered voters to the open internet. He confirmed it and sounded the alarm. The subsequent erasure of data from the elections server by its custodians just days after a lawsuit was filed calling into question the integrity of Georgias statewide voting system made national headlines. Such probing would be criminalized making it punishable by up to a year in prison under the bill. I dont know about you but Im too busy to go to jail for a year, said Green. So-called White Hat hackers who merely identify security holes even obvious ones into which a novice could stumble would no longer contact the owners of leaky networks and say: Hey, youve got a problem with these systems. Let me show you how I did it, explain how you can make yourself less susceptible to attack here. That is going to stop, basically, Green said. The law also would legalize in Georgia active defense measures that are designed to prevent or detect unauthorized computer access. It does not, however, define defensive measures and that gives pause to experts who consider the bill giving license to hack back. Representatives from Google and Microsoft, in a joint letter to Deal, took issue with the active defense provision, noting that such a broad, undefined authorization of hacking of other networks and systems under the undefined guise of cybersecurity is highly controversial within cybersecurity circles. Georgia has become an important cybersecurity industry hub, ranking third in the nation in information security business and generating more than $4.7 billion in annual revenue, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The state has more than 150 cybersecurity firms as well as information security institutes at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Augusta University and Kennesaw State. ___ AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak contributed to this report from Boston Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cyber Legislation Fraud Georgia Editors Note: This story has been updated from a previous version with comment from the CFOs office. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis wants to see requirements put in place for those lobbying the state-run insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. In an open letter to Citizens President, CEO an Executive Director Barry Gilway, Patronis said the state-backed insurer should be subject to the same rules as state agencies and organizations when it comes requiring lobbyists be registered, but as of now that isnt the case. Currently, lobbyists and private insurers are not statutorily required to disclose their efforts on behalf of clients and private interest they represent before Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Patronis wrote. Citizens Legislative Affairs staff currently do register as lobbyists. Patronis letter says it is targeted towards those who represent third parties and private interests, such as businesses, and lobby Citizens. Patronis wrote transparency is one of the best ways we can ensure accountability, and that it should be crystal clear who is interested in influencing Citizens policy changes or securing contracts with [Citizens]. To address the matter and the lack of a statutory requirement, Patronis requested Citizens attend the next meeting of the Florida Cabinet, which in addition to Patronis consists of Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. Citizens should examine its internal Code of Ethics and consider options such as publicly documenting entities that lobby Citizens, Patronis wrote. These options would be a proactive approach while awaiting the next legislative session to address this statutorily. He concluded by saying, A public entity that provides insurance to more than 444,000 policyholders in Florida, and the potential financial impact that Citizens has for all Floridians insurance policies, should ensure all lobbying activities are conducted in the sunshine. In a statement to Insurance Journal, Citizens Chairman of the Board Chris Gardner said Citizens is looking forward to working with CFO Patronis and Cabinet on this issue and will come with specific proposals on how to accomplish the goals outlined in his letter to ensure transparency. Update: The CFOs office wrote in an email to Insurance Journal on Friday that the letter to Citizens is part of the CFOs focus on transparency, and his goal is to ensure transparency is a priority at state-backed organizations. Read Full Letter From CFO Patronis Topics Legislation Florida One way or another, Californias next insurance commissioner will be the first of his kind. The June 5 primary features Democrats Dr. Asif Mahmood and Sen. Ricardo Lara against former commissioner Steve Poizner. Mahmood would be the first Muslim to win a statewide race and the first doctor to hold the post. Lara would be the first openly gay Latino elected to a statewide office, while Poizner would be the first independent. Early primary voting starts Monday and the top two finishers will advance to Novembers general election. The position is one that gets little attention, but has a broad impact on Californians. The insurance commissioner runs an office with 1,400 employees and a budget of $250 million. The Department of Insurance enforces insurance laws, licenses and regulates companies, and investigates fraud. Without being too cynical, voters arent going to hear much about this office, said Parke Skelton, a Democratic political consultant who worked on the campaigns for the current officeholder, Dave Jones, who is running for attorney general. Im not sure a lot of people know what the insurance commissioner does. Poizner, 61, a wealthy Silicon Valley entrepreneur, actually held the job previously. He served one term as a Republican and then spent $25 million of his fortune in an unsuccessful run for governor in 2010. He hopes voters remember his four years as commissioner and are willing to vote for an independent for an office that he said should be free of politics. His priorities for the office are to: ensure homeowners are adequately insured against devastating wildfires and other natural disasters, crack down on health insurance fraud and help companies develop better insurance policies against cybercrime. If I can get a robust cyber insurance market rolling in California, then it will not only help protect businesses in terms of a huge financial liability, but insurance companies will also help enforce better cyber hygiene in order to clean up the security of their computer networks, he said. Thats a really big deal. Mahmood, 57, who grew up in rural Pakistan, is a political neophyte who initially was running for lieutenant governor and then decided insurance commissioner was a better fit with his medical experience. Although the commissioner has much less sway over health insurance, which is largely regulated by other departments, Mahmood is making health care his top priority. He wants to preserve the Affordable Care Act, supports government-run health care for everyone, better mental health care and better disaster preparation. Helping others is our highest calling, Mahmood said. In this position, with my knowledge, with my experience, with my training and with my dealing with insurance companies will put me in a much better position to serve the people of California. Lara, 43, who has unsuccessfully pushed for state-run health insurance for Californians, is positioning himself as a counterweight to President Donald Trump and his campaign website said he will put consumers ahead of corporations, the billionaire class, the pharmaceutical or the insurance companies. Lara did not speak with The Associated Press because a spokesman said he was busy at the Legislature. His campaign requested questions in writing, but then didnt reply. Lara won the Democratic Party endorsement and has support from many unions and prominent party lawmakers. Poizner, who along with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger holds the distinction of being the last Republicans elected statewide, could be hampered because he is listed on the ballot as No party preference. Bill Whalen, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution who advised Poizner in an unsuccessful run for Assembly in 2004, said Poizner didnt have much choice given the current California political climate dominated by Democrats and punctuated by Trumps unpopularity. Its not a very pleasant commentary on the Republican Party in California but I think its a necessity in this particular environment in that he needs to distance himself from the Republican brand, Whalen said. Its fascinating from the pure lab science standpoint of, Can someone run as a not-affiliated candidate in California and not only survive the primary but go on to win the general election? Although Poizner has the means to pour his own money in the campaign, he said he plans to raise money. All the candidates have said they wont take donations from the insurance industry. By the third week in April, Mahmood was leading in campaign donations. He had raised over $1 million during the year and had about $900,000 remaining. Poizner had pulled in just under $500,000 and had about $400,000 left. Lara, who got $625,000 since Jan. 1, had just over $175,000. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Last months record rains destroyed or did major damage to 115 homes on Kauai and Oahu islands, the state of Hawaii said Wednesday as it sought a disaster declaration from the president. The cost of emergency work and damage to public property was pegged at more than $19.7 million, excluding repairs to a Kauai highway which was hit by 12 landslides. Repairs to the highway are estimated to cost $35 million. The landslides have blocked the only land route in and out of the small communities of Wainiha and Haena. Kuhio Highway is also the only land route to the Kalalau hiking trail popular with tourists. Gov. David Ige says the roadbed was eroded, meaning significant work will be required to shore up the roads foundation. Were committed to restoring access for that community, Ige told reporters at a news conference. Crews have been working to clear and fix the road so residents will be able to get in and out. So far, only one lane is open and only emergency vehicles are being allowed on it. The highway isnt expected to reopen to normal vehicle traffic until July or early August, according to Iges disaster declaration request. The damage estimates dont include the cost of removing green waste from Kauai beaches and debris from county roads on Oahu. It also doesnt include money spent by the state Department of Education to open a school for Haena and Wainiha children prevented from commuting to their usual classrooms. Ige said the satellite school will be open through the end of the school year. The National Weather Service said preliminary data indicated the rains broke a national rainfall record. A gauge in Waipa on Kauais north shore recorded nearly 50 inches of rain over a 24-hour period. If certified, the rain would break the current record of 43 inches hit in Texas in 1979. Recent: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Homeowners Former insurance producer Matthew Gingerich, 37, of Centralia, Wash., recently pleaded guilty to first-degree theft in Lewis County Superior Court. Gingerich was accused of misappropriating more than $30,000 in consumers premium payments. He is set to serve 90 days of electronic home monitoring and was ordered to pay more than $29,000 in restitution and $800 in court fees. The charges were filed after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidlers Criminal Investigations Unit. Kreidler revoked Gingerichs insurance producer license in February 2016. Gingerich was fired from employment with American Family Insurance after an audit revealed that he misappropriated some customers premium payments and concealed them by placing holds on the accounts so the customers would not receive notices that their policies were canceled for nonpayment. American Family was able to correct the policies of all but one affected consumer, whom they could not identify. Topics Fraud Washington Geoff Percival The owner of the Clayton and Maldron hotel chains has said it is hopeful of becoming the operator of a new 211-bedroom hotel due to be built on the site of the former Jurys Hotel in Ballsbridge in Dublin. The Dalata Hotel Group manages the existing property at the site, currently trading as the Ballsbridge Hotel but due for demolition next year. Asked whether Dalata might become the operator of the new hotel which would likely see it go under either the Clayton or Maldron name, chief executive Pat McCann said they were always hopeful. Mr McCann told one shareholder at the companys AGM in Dublin yesterday watch this space. However, he said no deal was done and later said that Dalata has not as yet tabled any proposal to the owner of the site Chartered Land, which last week initiated its search for an operator for the hotel, building of which will begin next year. Meanwhile Mr McCann gave no comment on possible Dalata involvement in the new hotel planned adjacent to Dublin Airports second terminal. Following on from publishing a strong set of annual results last month, Dalata yesterday said trading performance for the first four months of 2018 was a little ahead of expectations. Despite this, the groups shares fell by more than 3%. First quarter room revenue from its Dublin properties which generate close to 60% of annual group revenue was in line with expectations, while Dalata said its UK properties outperformed a weakening market. The overall outlook for the first half of the year it said is positive. Mr McCann also said that Dalata will be looking at opening hotels near certain British airports as part of its acknowledged five-year expansion drive in the UK. He said the group would also continue looking at new opportunities in the UK. Regarding the groups longer-term plan of entering continental Europe, he said work on identifying sites would begin in earnest in the next two years. Dalata will be looking at northern Europe, with Germany and the Benelux countries reportedly on its radar. The mainland Europe hotels will be branded either Maldron or Clayton, but will more than likely be new build projects, according to Mr McCann. Paul Sandle Vodafone is nearing a transformational deal to buy continental European assets from cable giant John Malones Liberty Global and could announce an agreement next week, according to sources familiar with the matter. In Ireland, Liberty Global owns Virgin Media and broadcaster TV3. Talks between the two companies about a deal for Libertys German and Eastern European cable operations are nearing a conclusion, according to the sources. Its the final phase, one of them said. Mr Malones Liberty will report its first-quarter results next Wednesday after the US market closes and Vodafone has its annual results the following week, on May 15. Either earnings announcement would provide the companies with an opportunity to unveil a deal. The two sides could still hit a hurdle, however, the sources cautioned. Vodafone said in February it was in talks about buying Libertys assets in the continental European countries where they overlap: Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. The two had previously discussed combining operations in 2015, but they could not reach agreement on values. But the logic of bundling Vodafones mobile networks with Libertys broadband and cable TV to take on former incumbents such as Deutsche Telekom never went away. The thesis has already been tested in the Netherlands, where the two formed a joint venture, VodafoneZiggo, in 2016. When the talks were announced three months ago, analysts at Royal Bank of Canada said that based on a typical deal multiple of 11 times enterprise value divided by core earnings, Vodafone could pay about 20.7bn for Libertys Unity Media in Germany and the other assets. Deutsche Telekom has already voiced its concern and a lobby group representing Germanys glass fibre industry chimed in by saying it should be blocked. Separately, Virgin Media said it would close four of its eight customer sites resulting in about 500 job losses in the UK. It said it planned to spend 40m (45.4m) on increasing capacity at its existing centres and buying alternative sites. The Vodafone talks coincide with a mergers and acquisitions boom in Britain as company bosses take advantage of the availability of cheap debt financing and confidence in the global economy to strike deals. Earlier this week, supermarket giant Sainsbury struck a 8.3bn deal to buy rival Asda, while Japans Takeda agreed preliminary terms of a 53.4bn offer for drugmaker Shire. Vodafone shares fell 1.7%, valuing it at 64.3bn. Reuters. - Additional reporting Irish Examiner By Gerard Cunningham Twelve of fifteen mobile phones belonging to senior garda officers are missing and cannot be provided to the Charleton Tribunal. The phones were used by former garda commissioners Martin Callinan and Noirin O'Sullivan and by former garda press officer Supt David Taylor between 2012 and 2014. This tribunal is looking at allegations in a confidential disclosure from Supt Taylor that he was directed by former garda commissioner Martin Callinan to brief journalists negatively about whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe. Supt Michael Flynn, the superintendent in charge of the Garda Siochana Telecommunications Unit, gave details of garda efforts to recover the devices, which may contain text messages between the senior officers concerning Sgt McCabe. Supt Flynn said that metadata, information giving details of calls made and texts sent, was obtained from Three Ireland by Garda HQ, but the contents of text messages were not stored by the phone mobile provider. Records going back seven years were retained by the company for audit purposes, and these were provided to an Garda Siochana as the bill payer.Landline records for the former commissioners were also retained at Garda HQ, Supt Flynn said. Supt Taylor and Insp Liam Moroney identified the accounts containing billing information for the mobiles phones of former commissioners Mr Callinan and Ms O'Sullivan and Supt Taylor in 2017, after the Charleton tribunal was established. In March 2017 twenty four boxes of telephone printouts were delivered to Garda HQ, containing records of 426 garda mobile phones between May 2012 and May 2014. Records relating to the officers were then extracted and supplied to the tribunal. Of six phones used by Ms O'Sullivan during the two year period, one was recovered and handed in to the tribunal. Two Samsung Galaxy phones used outside the period under investigation were also made available. Two out of six phones used by Mr Callinan were also recovered. None of the three phones used by Supt Taylor had been recovered. Supt Flynn said as a result of a a fundraising appeal, a programme had been in place which handed old garda phones to the Temple Street children's hospital, and later to the Jack & Jill Foundation, after they were reset to factory settings. He said this programme seemed to have wound down some time in 2012, but he could not establish exactly when. Phones might be retained by officers once contact and other official data was removed and transferred to new devices, he said, as the phones might often contain personal and family photographs, Supt Flynn said. There was no requirement at the time to hand in old phones at the end of their life. Justice Peter Charleton In response to questions from tribunal chairman Mr Justice Peter Charleton, John Ferry BL, representing Supt Taylor, said that it was not his client's position that phones were tampered with by Supt Flynn or anybody else. Mr Ferry said that on one occasion, "a Whatsapp went live on his phone at a particular time and that alarmed him", and he became concerned as a result. "Unfortunately those things keep happening," Mr Justice Charleton said. "I got two of them myself few days ago, and somebody from Australia keeps ringing me." Mr Ferry also said that communication by text message and email from Supt Taylor to the former commissioners would concern media reports about Sgt McCabe, or notices about radio interviews or upcoming stories and queries from journalists. Supt Taylor made no reference to sexual allegations in text and email communications. The tribunal resumes on Tuesday. Cannabis worth more than 130,000 has been seized at Dublin Airport. The drugs were found when customs officers searched the luggage of a passenger who arrived on a flight from Madrid yesterday. By Fiona Ferguson A homeless Latvian man who sexually assaulted a woman sleeping on the street has been given a five-month sentence. Aigars Grinfelds (34) placed his hand inside the underwear of the sleeping woman before a passer-by intervened. Grinfelds, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault of the woman at a location in the city centre on a date in December 2017. He has nine previous convictions in Ireland, Germany and Latvia which include public order and theft and fraud offences. He has been in custody since January 19, 2018. Garda Cathal McNamara told Sinead McMullen BL, prosecuting, that the woman had been asleep on the street at around midnight. It came to garda attention that Grinfelds was lying beside her and CCTV was focused on the area. Grinfelds placed his hand inside the woman's underwear on her bare backside. A passer-by intervened and Grinfelds was arrested. The woman was taken to be examined. Grinfelds told gardai he was drunk at the time but accepted it was him. Gda McNamara said the woman was asleep before and after the incident. The victim was upset about the offence and felt that she should have been safe in a public place. Gda McNamara agreed with Niall Storan BL, defending, that no violence had been used, that Grinfelds's remorse had been genuine and he expressed concern for the victim. Mr Storan said Grinfelds had been homeless and suffering with an alcohol addiction which he has since taken steps to address. He submitted the accused had a strong work history and was considering going back to Latvia. Judge Martin Nolan said all cases of sexual assault were serious but this case was probably at the lower end of the scale. He said Grinfelds had expressed remorse and was drunk at the time, which he said was no excuse. He noted Grinfelds had previous convictions but none of a similar nature. He said that it was unlikely that Grinfelds would come back to court on a matter such as this. Judge Nolan imposed a 12 month sentence and suspended the final seven months. He backdated the sentence to January when Grinfelds went into custody. By Sarah-Jane Murphy A young Dublin man, caught with child pornography showing what was described as imagery on the upper end of seriousness in such cases, was looking at it because it interested him, a court has heard. Gardai found 5,919 images and 328 video files on two laptops and a phone belonging to Conor Emmet (20) after an intelligence operation involving the FBI and Europol. The gardai said the graphic material was on the upper end of seriousness in such cases. On Friday Detective Garda Brid Wallace from the Cyber Crime Bureau said the images and movies spanned all categories of seriousness. Emmet, of North Way Estate Finglas, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the digital images and movies on two laptops at his home on May 17, 2016. He has no previous convictions. Det. Wallace told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that one video showed an 18-month old girl being sexually abused by a masked female. The court heard that this child has since been identified in Thailand and taken to safety. Det Wallace told Mr Cooney that gardai also found an interactive book called Welcome to Paedophelia Handbook on Emmet's computer. A garda memo of interviews stated that he had first accessed child porn when he was aged 16. Tara Burns SC, defending, said Emmet has done great work to overcome what was obviously a sickness. There is no other way to explain this as it is truly and seriously dreadful, she said. Ms Burns handed in several letters to the court, which included letters from the defendant, his parents and a family friend. My client is from an extraordinarily good family, and has parents that have supported him throughout because he is a kind, caring and loving person, she said. Ms Burns said that representatives from One in Four, a victim support group with whom Emmet has completed a programme, said he had made honest disclosures in relation to his behaviour. She said Emmet told a psychiatrist attached to this programme that he was looking at it (the material) because it interested me. Ms Burns said the defendant did very well at school, completed Gaisce awards, and now volunteers at a charity shop. He stepped off the precipice and has broken his parent's hearts, she said. The court previously heard that Emmet came to garda attention when the FBI began monitoring a Tor network called playpen after arresting an individual in America. The FBI passed this user's and other Irish users' IP addresses to Europol, who sent them to gardai at the Online Child Exploitation Unit. Gardai raided Emmet's home in May 2016 and seized two laptops and a mobile phone. The defendant admitted during the search he had accessed child porn. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing until May 11th. Ask Audrey has been sorting out Cork people for ages, like ... Like, achtung Cork boggers. So, Im totally coming to your no-horse town to rock out to Ed Sheeran, with this bird from Mount Merrion that Im half sleeping with (you know the way it goes). As a quid pro quo (look it up, you snivelling farmer types), she has agreed to come to Kinsale for the Rugby 7s, so I can drink beer from a giant glass boot and join some English goys who are chanting at passing tourists. Result. So, like, is everything much cheaper down there? Gordon, Dalkey, obviously. It will be my first time in Cork. Thanks for staying away for so long. Im really looking forward to the weekend. The weather forecast is saying a southerly wind, which should blow the sound of Sheerans moany warbling across to the northside, away from my place in Ballinlough. (Recently valued at 450 grand.) As for over-charging, Cork retailers are fair to most people, but tend to apply a 50% mark-up for Oafish Dublin Gobshites who work in their dads business. Its called the langer tax. I think it was named after you. Im very stressed over my daughter, Isabelles birthday. Shes six next week and Im terrified my neighbours in Ballintemple will think were not loaded. Ive done the obvious things, like booking Ed Sheeran to sing at her party and hiring a small plane to fly over the area, saying Happy Birthday Isabelle, 6 today. Your parents are millionaires. But the real sweet spot is the party bags for the kids going home, as their parents will get to see those and feel terrible about their own net worth. What do you think I should put into them? Monica, Ballintemple. I spent eight grand on a dress. You must really love your daughter. I wondered: who do I know living in the heart of bitchy-wealth-display Cork? Then, I remembered I have a second cousin on Maryborough Hill. She said that one of her neighbours put the going-home goodies in Stella McCartney handbags. I said: thats awful. She said: I know, imagine not being able to afford a Fendi? Hello, old stock. I popped into Cork Con for a swift pint yesterday evening, and I was six Heinekens in when the security guard from my office sidled up to me at the bar. (Ill be tabling a motion at the AGM, insisting we enforce our No Norries After 7pm rule.) Anyway, he bought me a pint and said hed a be honoured to have me at his daughters wedding next weekend. (Shes marrying a welder.) It must have been the drink talking, but didnt I accept the invitation, as long as I can have my chum, Hoggy, as my plus one. Do you think Ill fit in? Reggie, Blackrock. Id say youll stick out like a Brown Thomas bag in Farranree. My aunt is a wedding planner and was forced to take on some lower-order clients during the recession. I asked her whats the main difference she noticed. She said a Norry wedding is all fake tan and real accents, while a posh, southside bash is the other way round. #Intriguing. Cmere, whats the story with phone sex? I met this old doll from Holland, at a stag party in Ibiza two weeks ago, and she decided we should have a long-distance relationship. I thought that would mean online chats, the odd present, maybe a visit over here, so I could show her the sights of Cork. It turns out shes only interested in a five-minute Whatsapp call every night, for a bit of hows your faaather. (The Dutch do be filthy.) Is there any chance these calls could be hacked? - Dowcha Donie, Blackpool. Id like more, you know that kind of way? Id say so would she five minutes is very fast, even for a northsider. I asked my tech geeky nephew, Eric, about this. He said: There is no way Ill ever talk dirty to a girl over the internet. I said: Is that because you wear socks under sandals and havent washed your hair since 2016? He said: Got me there, Aunt Audrey. He has a good sense of humour, for a nerd. Howre oo goin on? Herself left out a hoot reading the Examiner during the week, when she read that one in 10 Irish people have never visited a farm. This a bad thing, according to herself, anyway, and she has set up an action group to rectify the situation, with none other than myself in charge of PR. So, yere all welcome to pay us a visit on our farm this weekend. Do you think youll come, do you? - Dan Paddy Andy. Carry on past Skibbereen and take a left at the forty-second Love Both poster. I am part of that one in 10 that never visited a farm. (We have a Whatsapp group called The Lucky Few.) I asked my Posh Cousin if shed come with me to see Dan Paddy Andys farm. She said: you must be joking, the smell will be awful. I said: dont worry, Ill ask him to change his socks. Former Harrods beauty buyer Lucy McPhails new online shop, Fetch, makes the best skin-care products available to Irish women, says Carolyn Moore. LUCY McPhail is the former Harrods beauty buyer who has set up her own online store, Fetch. If the provenance of that reference escapes you, its time you watched Mean Girls, the Lindsay Lohan movie; and if Fetch isnt on your radar yet, youre missing out on the ultimate insider edit of the best niche brands in beauty. Niche brands are the next big thing in cosmetics, but sourcing them from Ireland can be challenging, and thats before you get into exorbitant, international shipping charges. Now, Fetch is giving Irish customers easy access to those emerging brands, offering postage from 4, so we dont have to pay over the odds for whats already a pricey proposition. As a skin care nerd (and a Mean Girls enthusiast), I have to say it: thats so fetch! When I meet Lucy to talk, its all I can do not to grill her for an hour on my own skin-care concerns; after all, her time spent overseeing a beauty hall in one of the worlds most iconic department stores has given her a unique insight into the industrys trends and best-kept secrets. Shes had consultations with the most renowned skin-care experts, shes had her own blood made into a face cream, and shes travelled everywhere from South Korea to Brazil in search of the next scientific advancement. Now, shes parlayed that insight into fetchbeauty.com, the online store she launched earlier this year. Later this month, shell host a Fetch Beauty pop-up on Dublins Wicklow Street, from May 24 to 26. With mini facials, luxurious samples, and skin-care consultations from cult brands like Perricone MD and Lancer, the pop-ups are geared towards a new breed of beauty buff: hyper-educated, with multi-step regimens, these women know their peptides from their ceramides; and, as a beauty enthusiast-turned-beauty pro herself, Lucy knows what they want. Having begun her career as an assistant menswear buyer in Arnotts, Lucy quickly climbed the ladder to one of the most coveted jobs in fashion: womenswear buyer at Harrods. I spent two years doing that, and it was fabulous, she tells me. But it was lonely; there was so much travel and it was a huge amount of pressure. When a buying role came up in the beauty department, she wasnt sure. I never really considered beauty as a job, she says. I remember asking my friends, Will I regret stepping away from the glamour of fashion? she recalls. They said, Lucy, all you do is spend your money on products! And I have always loved beauty. When we were younger, I was the one telling all my friends to take off their makeup when they were drunk! As it turned out, beauty was far more glamorous than fashion. We were building relationships with brands, she says, and to those brands it was a privilege working with Harrods, so wed get amazing exclusives, wed see things before anyone else, wed be flown to Milan for lunch! I absolutely fell in love with the innovation and the science there was no going back. We were discovering and growing niche brands, and one of the things I wanted to do with Fetch is continue working with niche brands and giving them a platform, she says. We have brands using all natural ingredients from sustainable farms, brands run entirely by women, and brands like 111 Skin, by Dr Yannis, whos a surgeon on Harley Street and developed his first product, NAC Y2 serum, to help facial-surgery patients to heal. In my opinion, its the best beauty product you can buy. For me, the decision to buy a brand is always product-led. Im personally investing my own money in my stock, so it has to be good and it has to sell. Id never invest in a brand just to have the prestige of stocking it, and while these brands are exclusive and some of them are expensive, I truly believe every product is worth the price tag, Lucy says. To demystify the product range for beauty beginners, theres a shop by goals category on Fetch, and with goals like Get the Glow, Ultimate Hydration, and Korean Beauty, Lucy expertly edits her product range to cater to specific concerns. The biggest goal for Irish customers, she says, is Look Less Tired, and it seems we are finally embracing the ritual of skincare as self-care. In particular, we love our masks. Masks are a nice indulgence, Lucy says. Theres so much focus in Ireland on tanning and foundations, but I think were starting to shift away from that and appreciate good skin care. Masks are popular, in part because people like to post them on Snapchat or Instagram, she says, which is not why you should use a face mask, but at least theyre getting a great mini treatment! I would love to have a goal up there look 20 years younger but thats not realistic. Skin goes through a natural process of exfoliation, and, after 30, that naturally slows down. No one has a time machine; everyones aging, so I hope what we do on Fetch is to help people have healthy skin, tone and texture, whatever their age, Lucy says. In that respect, the Fetch ethos echoes that of her skin care guru, Dr. Sebagh. Its not about anti-aging, its about aging maintenance, Lucy says. Dont start when youre 38 and go for Botox and fillers and an eyelift theres no joy in that. Start a bit younger, with accessible brands, when youre 19, 20; working up to what you can afford. Early education is key. Invest in aging well from an earlier age, rather than waking up one day and deciding to fight it. www.fetchbeauty.com Rather than focus exclusively on the obstacles journalists face globally, lets mark World Press Freedom Day by considering the many reasons for optimism, says Leon Willems. Every year on World Press Freedom Day, news producers and consumers pause to reflect on the state of global media. This year, as journalists and government officials gather in Ghana for the events 25th observance, attention will turn to the myriad pressures and challenges confronting the profession worldwide, and how official and state-sponsored hostility toward the press is threatening democracy. But these concerns, though certainly valid, are not the entire story. Signs of journalistic resilience are also emerging. So, rather than focusing exclusively on the obstacles journalists around the world are facing, lets mark the date by considering the many reasons for optimism. For starters, while no media market is immune to the erosion of press freedom, resistance is possible. Recent events in Europe are illustrative. In Slovakia, public outrage over the politically motivated double murder of an investigative journalist, Jan Kuciak, and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, forced prime minister Robert Fico to resign, and has his successor, Peter Pellegrini, walk a public-relations tightrope. Hungary, too, has experienced its own, albeit tamer, version of journalistic pushback. In Ireland, NewsBrands Ireland has once again highlighted the significant challenge posed to freedom of expression by the countrys defamation regime and has called upon the Government to complete its review of the Defamation Act 2009, which is now long overdue. The level of awards made in defamation cases in Ireland are multiples of awards in extremely serious personal injury cases and entirely out of kilter with awards made in Britain and elsewhere. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights upheld a complaint that a Supreme Court award of 1.25m in a defamation case amounted to a violation of freedom of expression. Further, the retention of the jury system in defamation trials creates delays and also a lack of certainty for publishers who have no way to ascertain the extent of their potential liability. As a result, many newspapers simply wont take the risk of publishing an article. This has a chilling effect on the medias role as the watchdog of the public and its ability to keep power in check, which is the theme of this years World Press Freedom Day. According to a recent study by the European Journalism Centre, despite deepening government control over how the media operates, investigative reporting remains active, and abuses of the taxpayers money are regularly exposed. To be sure, the media is under attack like never before, and not only from fake news and polarising presidents. The slaying of nine journalists in Kabul on April 30, in back-to-back suicide bombings that killed at least 25 people, marked the deadliest day for journalists in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban, and added to a grim global tally. According to Reporters Without Borders, more than 1,000 journalists have been murdered around the world in the last 15 years, and only a handful of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. And yet fresh glimmers of hope are multiplying. Around the world, journalists and their supporters are fighting back in encouraging ways. Consider online censorship. While governments from China to Russia routinely block or filter access to the internet, half of the worlds population is now connected a 20% increase in only five years. In Sudan, journalists are using this connectivity to save lives. Last year, when the government refused to inform the public about a devastating cholera outbreak, journalists with Radio Dabanga, working with doctors and nurses, used the WhatsApp messaging service to share information about prevention and treatment. Even in a violent and divided country like Somalia, the internet is being used for good; increased streaming speeds have kept members of the countrys sizable diaspora connected with friends and family, and have enabled meaningful dialogue across communities. Legal norms are also moving in the right direction. Between 2011 and 2016, the number of countries with freedom of information laws increased from 90 to 112. This commitment was deepened last month when the EU adopted a new law to protect whistleblowers from prosecution. In a statement, authorities said they hoped the measure would be a boon to investigative journalists by protecting sources who report violations of European law. Where fewer legal protections are in place, journalists are becoming more creative. In the Philippines, where independent news organisations have become targets of slander by politicians and online trolls, reporters are turning the tables with devastating effect. For example, in a recent series of reports identifying people making threats against the media, the news website Rappler uncovered a network of trolls tied directly to government insiders. Finally, journalists are working to improve the diversity of their own industry. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, one media organisation created a database with the contact details of thousands of female experts who are available for media commentary and analysis. This simple exercise has led to a dramatic increase in the percentage of female experts appearing in the press. These are just a few of the bright spots we should be highlighting during this years observance of World Press Freedom Day. Every day, courageous men and women (and sometimes even children) around the world continue to brave the odds to bring us the news. We all benefit from their dedication, and we all have an obligation to honour their successes, not just their sacrifices. Leon Willems is director of Free Press Unlimited. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018 A system based on truthfulness is much better than dragging terminally ill patients like Vicky Phelan through the courts, writes Ernest Cantillon. In light of the Vicky Phelan case, questions have been asked as to whether or not there is a better way than having to drag Ms Phelan through the courts. It beggars belief that a terminally ill woman had to waste a moment of her precious time to fight this case, and had to interrupt her trial to attend her daughters confirmation. As someone who has been involved in medical negligence actions for in excess of 30 years, I think there is a better way. When someone becomes ill, they place their trust in the hands of medical and health professionals. Such trust is always on the basis that the patient trusts the doctor to do the right thing and, if an adverse event occurs, the patient expects to be told about it. If that fundamental trust is broken by either party, the damage to the health system is irreparable. Unfortunately, we have seen a system develop whereby since the involvement of the State Claims Agency in these cases, there appears to be advice given to health professionals to say nothing that might incriminate them. I think this is an ill-advised stance, both for the State Claims Agency to adopt but also, more importantly, for the health professionals. If a patient is told that an error has occurred, they are far more likely to continue to place trust in the health professional, than if the adverse event is covered up. From our experience, once the State Claims Agency is notified of an adverse event, they, unfortunately, advise the health professionals to have no further communication, or certainly that there should be no admission of liability. This results in the patient becoming a plaintiff. This results in the plaintiff having to instruct lawyers to communicate with their health professional. The plaintiff has to prove what the health professional already knows happened. The State Claims Agency sits back and sees to what extent the plaintiff can prove what they know. It is unfortunately the position that focus on resolution only occurs when the case comes before the courts. It is as if a light switch has only come on for the State Claims Agency when it reaches the courts. This of course comes at the most traumatic time for the patient and is at the most expensive part of the process. In fairness to the medical profession, they have brought in a duty of candour within their guidelines, although the extent to which it is obeyed is debatable. That duty however remains a professional obligation. Health Minister Simon Harris needs to bring in a statutory duty of candour. This statutory duty would obligate medical professionals to do what is only common decency, namely to tell the truth. Sanctions are needed if this duty of candour is breached. It is hard to see what possible objection there could be to obligating professional people to tell the truth. The State Claims Agency needs to focus on the resolution of the cases at a far earlier stage. When an adverse event occurs, they need to investigate it and, if there is a liability, they need to come and tell the patient that there has been an error made, and that they accept responsibility. How can we possibly countenance a situation whereby adverse events occur, people die, and we simply put a note on the persons file. You may as well be throwing it out the window as putting it on the dead persons file. We need candidness in the doctor/ patient relationship from the outset, and we then need that candidness to be reflected in the manner in which the cases are dealt with. Rules of court need to be brought into place which require the HSE (and any other defendant for that matter) to candidly admit what the position is. At the present time, they submit full defences in which they deny everything. Look at the Vicky Phelan defence. It denies everything, yet 2.5m was ultimately paid. How are they reconcilable? If the defendants had to face up to their responsibilities long before the matter ever goes to court, a lot of the cases, and the trauma that is associated with them, would be removed. The statutory duty of candour should extend not just to communications between doctor and patient but also to communications between the doctors agents (the HSE or the State Claims Agency), and the courts. If, at the point of filing a defence (which is often a year or two before a case ever comes to court), a doctor/health professional had to tell the truth, under pain of sanction if they did not, then these cases would resolve a lot earlier. At the present time, a defend and deny policy is adopted. The defend and deny policy is an untruthful and dishonest approach to litigation. We need to legislate to provide for truthfulness in both the doctor/patient relationship, and in the plaintiff (patient)/defendant (doctor) relationship. Once both of these pieces are put into place, the trust in our health system will be enhanced. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, when he was minister for health, described the breach of duty of candour by the health professional as being akin to a hit-and-run. The hit was the adverse event, and the run was the cover up. His description was apt. We should not entertain this deceitful process any further. Ernest Cantillon is managing partner with Cantillons Solicitors The decision by the five-judge panel at the Cour de Cassation had been expected on May 7 but Mr Bailey said that his French lawyer, Dominique Tricaud, had contacted him to say his legal challenge had been turned down. Mr Bailey 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 said 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 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 said he was also angry t 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 said 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. Sophie Toscandu Plantier. 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 under way 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. 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. Terminally-ill mother Vicky Phelan is demanding that any inquiry into cervical screening is not held be behind closed doors and should compel people to attend. While the possibility of a full-blown tribunal to examine the failures in the system is still an option, it is more likely that legislation will now be changed to introduce a bespoke commission of inquiry to be held in public as this would be the shorter option. Health Minister Simon Harris is also working with patient groups on new accountability laws that would see managers sacked for their role in scandals. In another fast-moving day on the issue: Calls were yet again made for the resignation of HSE director general Tony OBrien; Mr OBrien confirmed he is to take a leave of absence from the board of a US healthcare company to focus on the cancer scandal; It was revealed that 8,000 women have contacted a special helpline set up in the wake of the screening controversy; Tanaiste Simon Coveney confirmed that Ms Phelans court case was not on a list of sensitive legal actions that is presented to the Cabinet on a regular basis; The finance committee and Public Accounts Committee both said they intend to call in the State Claims Agency and the HSE to answer questions on the matter next week. Mr Harris and opposition parties have agreed that a non-statutory scoping exercise should first be carried out into the scandal which involves hundreds of women who developed cancer but were not told that their original clear smear tests were incorrect. This scoping exercise will be followed by a statutory inquiry, however, commissions of investigation do not have to be held in public. Mr Harris is now open to looking at changing this to insure any inquiry will not be in private. Health Misister Simon Harris. It was suggested that we should amend legislation to allow for the creation of a bespoke inquiry, said Sinn Feins health spokeswoman Louise OReilly. Speaking on behalf of Ms Phelan, solicitor Cian OCarroll said any investigation should be open and transparent. If that means that there is no alternative to a tribunal in order to ensure a public investigation of these matters well then thats what it has to be, he told the Irish Examiner. If it can be done through some other channel such as a modified commission of investigation or some other type of statutory inquiry then so be it. It seems that it should be a statutory inquiry with powers of compellability. Meanwhile, Mr Harris is considering drawing up new laws to force HSE managers to be made accountable for tragic deaths and scandals under their watch. Mr Harris said he is in favour of new statutory accountability laws being developed based on existing legislation in other countries due to serious concerns senior officials are failing to take responsibility or lose their jobs for crises. During an hour-long meeting with Irish Patients Association (IPA) chairman Stephen McMahon, Mr Harris said he is open to examining the issue as the failure to hold people accountable is undermining trust in the public service. He asked the IPA which has long called for the law to propose appropriate draft bill in the coming weeks on how such a legal change could be introduced. Speaking in the Seanad, Mr Harris said: We also have to ask ourselves a broader question about the culture of disclosure and candour in our health service. We cannot have a paternalistic culture in the health service. 500m inquiries Tribunals and commissions of inquiry have cost the State up to 500m to date. Speaking at a PAC meeting, the secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach, Martin Fraser, said he fully understands the anger over the cervical cancer scandal. However, sounding a note of caution, he said that tribunals and commissions of investigation have already cost the State 500m in recent decades. He said this includes the 2011 Moriarty Tribunal, which is continuing to cost up to 800,000 a year and whose total cost exceeds 65m. While supporting plans for a full-scale investigation, he said the proposed scoping exercise made sense. I think its a very good idea to think very carefully about this so we get the right combination of speed, transparency and to make sure the women are at the centre of this, Mr Fraser told PAC chair and Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming. Byrne Looby Partners Water Services Ltd, Rivus Ltd, and Wills Bros Ltd are being prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland over an alleged incident on May 10, 2017, during work on the Bandon flood relief scheme in Co Cork. The project was described in court as the biggest of its kind currently being undertaken in Europe. All three companies face two charges under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 as amended, of injuring or disturbing a spawning bed, bank of shallow where the spawn or fry of salmon, trout or ells may be, and of injuring or disturbing the spawn or fry of salmon, trout or eels. All three companies deny the charges, with day two of the hearing taking place yesterday in Bandon District Court, more than two months after the prosecution had put forward its case. Judge Mary Dorgan had already heard that two Inland Fisheries Ireland officers observed how a new haul road used for the project crossing the river had on May 10 last created at a spot called Rough Hole a separate pool of water away from the main river, and that when they observed the scene at 3.30pm this area appeared to have been dewatered. Evidence already heard by the judge alleged as many as 400 fish may have been killed, although this was contested amid claims that the actual number of fish killed might have been less than a quarter of that figure. Giving evidence for the defence, Peter Quigley, environmental health and safety officer with Wills Bros, said the companies were contracted to do the work by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and that it involved excavating and then reinstating and rehabilitating the river bank. He told the judge that as part of this, it had to effectively create an artificial river bed while also regulating the flow of the river so that about 30% to 40% of its width could facilitate the flow of fish in areas that were being worked on. The main criteria is the passage of fish, he said. The court had previously heard a claim that on May 10 last there seemed to have been a panicked response to what had occurred, with the word frantic also used. We were quite incensed by that description, Mr Quigley said. Folders of weekly data covering water quality and charting the density of material in the water were produced, but Inland Fisheries Ireland said it had not seen these reports. Inland Fisheries Ireland then said it wanted to see the baseline data, gathered by ecologists, which might show any changes in the water composition and suspended matter content in the river on May 10 last year and in the days around that date. Mr Quigley told Judge Dorgan that data was compiled on a weekly basis and levels checked against a baseline figure, and so peaks and troughs over one period of time is not relevant. Judge Dorgan directed the exchange of copies of the documents to all parties from the start of operations through May last year and directed Rivus to furnish daily figures regarding water quality as measured by ecologists for the first 14 days of the project last year. Legal representatives for the defendants stressed the desire to have the case finalised, with Tom Power, counsel for Wills Bros, saying his clients are back as of May 1 doing contracted work on the river while simultaneously being the subject of a criminal prosecution for conducting the same work on a date last year, referencing the charge which involves disturbing of river beds. The consequences for this company are very severe, he said. Judge Dorgan said: I am dealing with this matter the best way this court can. It will be mentioned in court on May 17 when the next day for hearing will be set. Already this year, gardai have issued an adult caution to the man after he wrote graffiti and erected signs around his ex-partners house in Co Clare and glued the lock on her home in a bid to intimidate the woman. Following their separation, the mother resides in Clare with their son and the father resides on the European mainland. At the family law court, solicitor for the mother, Frank Doherty said that the father returned from his overseas home for a family law case about a safety order and asked for access to his son on Wednesday. However, Mr Doherty said that gardai are now searching for the man and his son after the boys mother alerted gardai that the father had not brought the boy to school yesterday morning. Mr Doherty said: He [the father] is now gone with the child and he hasnt contacted the boys mother or the gardai to advise where the child is. 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. 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. The court heard that when the woman returned to her house in Co Clare, her lock was glued and she reported this to gardai. Mr Doherty added: The activities were admitted by the husband and an adult caution was given, and he told the judge that the woman is afraid of this man. The solicitor said that previously, the couple lived together abroad 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. The minister of state with responsibility for flood relief, Kevin Boxer Moran, made the announcement yesterday, adding that it is the first tranche of a 10-year programme which will see 1bn invested in flood defences. Ger Buckley, a member of the Irish National Flood Forum, which represents flood victims, said there is little point in the Government spending massive amounts of money on flood defences if insurance companies will not provide cover to victims of previous floods when they were completed. Mr Buckley said this is particularly obvious in Fermoy, Co Cork, as insurance companies are not offering cover to householders and businesses which have been hit by flooding over the years even though the towns new 38m defences are clearly working. Mr Moran said the new flood-risk management plans will allow the Government to build on the significant investment in flood defence schemes, since 1995, which has delivered 42 major flood relief schemes around the country. These schemes successfully provide protection to 9,500 properties and the economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided are estimated at 1.9bn, he said. There are currently also nine major schemes under construction and a further 24 at design/development which together will provide protection to a further 12,000 properties. He pointed out that detailed engineering analysis and assessment and extensive public consultation has been undertaken for 300 communities, including 90 coastal areas considered most likely to be impacted by future flooding. Progressing these initial 50 new flood relief schemes, together with those 75 schemes already complete and under way, will protect 80% of the 34,500 properties assessed as having a 1% chance of experiencing a significant flood event in any year, said Mr Moran. He said it is feasible for the Government to invest in a total of 118 flood relief schemes over the coming decade which will provide protection to 95% of those properties assessed to be at significant flood risk. He said he is making 14m available to 19 local authorities to lead on delivery of 31 of these schemes, each estimated to cost less than 1m. Mr Moran also launched a website, floodinfo.ie, where people can view the community risk and measures in place, underway now and proposed to tackle flood risk in these 300 areas and nationally. He said this map and plan viewer website is another important resource, to support planning, emergency response planning, and to empower people and communities to plan and respond to flood risk. Brian McNelis, director of general Insurance Services at Brokers Ireland, which represents 1,300 brokers throughout Ireland, said it looks like 19 schemes covering about 7,300 properties will be prioritised by the OPW with a further 31 small schemes to be progressed by local authorities. That is a welcome step, said Mr McNelis. It would also be important that the insurance industry would work very closely with the Government to make sure that where flood defence works have been undertaken, insurance cover would be restored without delay, and I welcome Minister Boxer Morans commitment to hold detailed discussions with insurance companies. A jury unanimously found him not guilty of assault causing harm yesterday at the end of a two-day trial. One of the pieces of prosecution evidence was the defendants text to his friend in hospital, which read: Hey lad, sorry about last night. I dont know what happened. Ill pay your hospital bill. Sorry. In the trial at Cork Circuit Criminal, Ian Jennings, aged 24, of Skahana, Union Hall, Co Cork, pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Adam Harris on Main St, Union Hall, on January 23, 2016. Mr Harris testified that he and Mr Jennings were best friends for five or six years. On the night of the disputed incident, they were at a darts match at The Boatmans Inn in Union Hall. Mr Harris stepped outside in the early hours 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 fuck did you hit me? Mr Jenningss barrister, Sinead Behan, said in her address to the jury at the end of the evidence that Mr Davis told the defendants mother and brother that night that he fell. When publican Kieran Woods rang the next day to see if he was OK, Mr Woods asked him what happened and he replied that he could not remember. Ms Behan said the complainant explained these responses by saying he did not want to put it out in public what Mr Jennings had done, but she said Mr Davis was putting it very much in public by claiming it to the gardai and in court. Mr Harris had been 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. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisations annual delegate conference yesterday heard that it spent 600,000 last year defending members in such cases. Dr Edward Matthews, INMO director of social policy and regulation, told delegates in Cork that the organisation covers the cost of such proceedings for its members, and said the INMO membership fee is the best value-for-money insurance scheme that I have ever seen in my life. He said a single fitness-to-practise case can cost up to 20,000 just for the preliminary process, and that if it goes to full hearing it can cost as much as 80,000. Delegates backed a motion calling on the professions regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), to offer supports to help members maintain their mental and physical health. Dr Matthews referenced the motion in his address, and said the time taken to go to hearing is increasing and the devastation experienced by our members is very concerning. 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.[/quote] Regulation is a fact of life, and we have to support those who are regulated as well as regulating them. Were going to talk about pay later. When were talking about the starting pay of nurses and midwives, just remember this; the level of media coverage associated with a fitness-to-practise 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. Not because youre there 10 years, not because youre there 20 years, not because youre the manager the first day you walk in. And we should be remunerated in keeping with the level of responsibility and accountability, and that will be the subject of very serious discussion, he said. Speaking to reporters after his address, Dr Matthews said the INMO wants the regulator to support members as well as pursuing them through fitness-to-practise cases, a regime whereby such hearings are heard in private with the findings released to the public, and for a speedier resolution to such cases. Meanwhile, members also backed a motion calling for a halt to the privatisation of home care services to the elderly and sick until the clinical governance of the services is agreed with the INMO. One delegate became emotional as she spoke of the need to ensure standards are met, and said in some cases elderly patients are treated worse than cattle at a cattle mart. If we dont stand up for these people today, what are nurses and midwives for? said Sandra Morton of the operating department nurses section said. We are the only people in this country stopping death. A very clear message needs to go back to the HSE and to Tony OBrien. In the local elections of 2014, the southern side of Carrigaline (everything south of the Owenabue River) and all of Crosshaven were transferred from the Ballincollig/Carrigaline municipal district to the Bandon/Kinsale district. Given the proposed new city/county boundary, a local electoral boundary committee has been tasked with reviewing the local electoral areas in Cork and is now accepting public submissions up to May 9. Cllr Seamus McGrath said Carrigaline should certainly be reunited into one electoral area as part of this review. The division of Carrigaline in 2014 must rank as one of the worst decisions ever made regarding electoral boundaries. It was incomprehensible. The boundary is the Owenabue River which runs through the heart of the town. It has been very difficult in practical ways also, such as for community groups and clubs who find themselves spread over two municipal districts, said Cllr McGrath. As a local representative who lives in Carrigaline it has been very frustrating. There are many issues which require an all of Carrigaline solution, such as traffic congestion, yet the town is spread over two electoral areas. Cllr Alan Coleman, who represents the Bandon/Kinsale district said he is in total agreement with Cllr McGrath. He said the 2014 decision breached the very core value of local government, which is that a municipal district should be centered on a town or towns and their hinterlands. This divide has put Carrigaline at a huge disadvantage and has to be rectified for the next election. It created an administrative nightmare for council staff and indeed for individuals, voluntary groups and clubs dealing with the council, said Cllr Coleman. Cllr Frank OFlynn said he hoped some uniformity would also come to the village of Watergrasshill. The electoral line was drawn in a zig-zag way throughout the village. In one case two sections of the one bar are in different general election constituencies. One is in Cork North Central and the other in Cork East. Cllr Frank OFlynn said there were also anomalies in the village when it came to municipal district boundaries. Anybody wishing to make a submission can email boundarycommittee@ housing.gov.ie Emily Logan made the comments having addressed the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Annual Delegate Conference in Cork yesterday. I think weve a long- standing history of placing institutional interest or institutional loyalty ahead of the interests of individuals and I think thats what were seeing here, that the individual women were not prioritised, that their interests were not prioritised ahead of institutional interests and its not enough for that to be a lesson, its sadly another lesson, Ms Logan said. We interact with the United Nations systems and in June 2015 we sat before the Committee on Civil and Political Rights and there was a litany of cases where women and children were very badly treated. I think there are questions to be asked about the underlying attitudes towards women in addition to immediate reparation and redress for the women involved, she said. Ms Logan said any subsequent investigation must follow certain principles. Human rights is essentially about respect and dignity, and the lack of dignity and respect that was shown not only for Vicky Phelan, but also the women involved is quite clear given what has happened. In terms of what should happen next, the Irish Human Rights and Equality commission has communicated in the past some key principles. Whether its an enquiry or commission of enquiry, there are some key principles there. One is the independence of any investigation, the second is powers of compellability, its really important that any documentation can be extracted or compelled, that the HSE can be compelled to give that information. The third is that the individuals themselves are allowed to give individual testimony. I know that Vicky Phelan herself said that there should be some opportunity to do that publicly, and thats very consistent in terms of international standards of enquiry, to allow witnesses to both give that witness either privately or publicly. Vicky Phelan The fourth is about redress. I know the Taoiseach said its too early to consider redress, that theyve an open mind on it. Its really important that whatever redress scheme is set up is human rights and equality compliant and respectful of the women who have been treated so badly in this case. Tanaiste Simon Coveney told the Dail ministers were not alerted to Ms Phelans case as it was not on the list of flagged court cases. Ministers are usually prior warning of any significant or controversial cases that may appear in the media, or that they may be questioned on. We have asked the secretary general to look at the list of sensitive cases that had been on the list. Vicky Phelans case was not on the sensitive cases list. This information has just been given to me on my way in to House today. I understand this is the confirmation that the secretary general to the Government has provided, Mr Coveney told the Dail. Separately Brid Smith said Health Minister Simon Harris must make heads roll in the Department for failing to tell him about Ms Phelans case. She told the Dail the State Claims Agency first received a request for Ms Phelans files in January. The head of the national screening programme knew in March that a claim was going to court. He kicked it up the line to the head of national screening and it kicked up the line to the Department, which knew in March. The minister did not know. None of them told him but none of them have been fired or suspended. Go right down the line to where the information first came in, and nobody is in trouble for this. I know a young hospital worker who was suspended for two months because she criticised HSE spending and the trolley crisis in a Facebook post, she said. Ms Smith told the Dail she does not believe that Mr Harris did not know of the case or the fact that more women were involved in the controversy. I do not believe Tony OBrien and I do not believe that the ministers department is not full of people who are trying to cover up. If the Minister believes that they are not trying to cover up, that they are all innocent and they are all OK, then he is failing to do his job. That is the minister at the head of the organisation. The fish rots from the head and the minister needs to deal with it or else he needs to resign, the Solidarity PBP TD said. Jeff Cheyne, aged 58, originally from the Shetland Islands but living in Schull at the time, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to 10 sample counts of harassment of women on an indictment that contained 41 charges. Garda Martin Bohane said Initially five women contacted gardai about receiving texts and picture messages of a sexual nature. The messages were all from one number that they did not recognise. Following an investigation, no name was connected to the phone which was pay-as-you-go. Gda Bohane said that after the initial period of sexual texting, the offences died down for a while. Then more women came forward to complain that they had received similar messages of a sexual nature. He said that, after another lull, the messages started again and more women came forward with statements of complaint. Garda Anthony Roche became involved in the investigation and saw Cheyne on CCTV at a shop getting credit for the phone in question. Cheyne was living in Schull at the time. The address on the charge sheet was Loughtea, Ballina, Co Tipperary, and he has since moved to Co Clare, said his barrister, Ben Shorten. Gda Bohane said there was a total of 10 complainants referable to this accused in a period from 2014 to 2016. These messages stopped once he was identified by gardai, said Gda Bohane. Once the evidence was put to him he made full admissions. He is from the Shetland Islands. The accused moved to Donegal in 2000 and lived for a time in Dingle before moving to Schull. He had no previous convictions. Siobhan Lankford, prosecution barrister, said the women were quite distressed by the content of the texts sent to them. There was no evidence about how he got the numbers of the women he was texting or of the precise messages or images that were sent other than that they were of a sexual nature. Mr Shorten said the accused was remorseful and apologetic to the women. He spoke about the sheer stupidity of his actions, said Mr Shorten The barrister said Cheynes partner was in court to support him. Mr Shorten asked Judge Gerard OBrien if he would consider a lengthy adjournment to allow the accused to undergo psychosexual counselling and take part in the Safer Lives programme. Judge OBrien put sentencing back until October 25. Vicky Phelan said she wanted an investigation that was prompt and public. She wrote on Twitter: Too much has already happened behind closed doors. Her views were echoed by her solicitor, Cian OCarroll, who said if it took a full-scale tribunal of inquiry to get to the truth, then thats what would have to be established. The Government is reluctant to consider a tribunal because, based on past experiences, it would be costly, cumbersome, beset by legal argument on behalf of witnesses and take years to complete. Instead a scoping exercise has been ordered to establish the main facts and make a recommendation as to whether a more detailed statutory inquiry is needed. @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 That decision will also be influenced by the findings of two separate medical reviews of the cases of women known to have had abnormal smears wrongly declared clear, and of the screening history of women in all cases of cervical cancer in the last 10 years. But if an inquiry is ordered, the Government is already gravitating towards a commission of investigation which, unlike a tribunal, would be held in private. Mr OCarroll, who represented Ms Phelan in her claim against the US lab where her smear test was outsourced for analysis by the HSE and where her now terminal cancer was missed, said that would not be acceptable. He said one possibility could be a tweaking of the commission of investigation legislation to place it in a public forum. The scoping exercise would give us a good flavour of what is there, where the appropriate trails of investigation are and from that you learn then whether you can create or craft a tight set of terms of reference. If that means that there is no alternative to a tribunal in order to ensure a public investigation of these matters well then thats what it has to be, he said. He said some other mechanism such as a modified commission of investigation might be effective but he stressed it would have to be statutory and have powers of compellability. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties said it was also opposed to the idea of holding an inquiry in private. Director Liam Herrick said the evidence given to commissions of investigation was given in secret, sealed, and not covered by freedom of information legislation. The subject matter here is not just about violation of peoples health. Its about the refusal of the State to provide information to individuals, he said. He said if the inquiry was held in private, those people would be denied their personal information again. More than a third (36%) of motorists believe that self-driving cars will be on Irish roads in 10 years or less, according to research from the Road Safety Authority (RSA). It also reveals that more than a quarter (26%) have a keen interest in owning a self-driving car. More than 40% of those interested in owning a self-driving car believe they will lead to fewer road deaths and injuries but more than a third (39%) said they would not trust them. The study was presented at the RSAs annual international conference in Dublin Castle yesterday. It found that over three-quarters of adults are aware of the concept of autonomous cars. RSA chairwoman Liz ODonnell. RSA chairwoman Liz ODonnell said connected and automated vehicle technologies were clocking up significant test miles across the world. Ms ODonnell said self-driving cars had the potential to make a positive impact on road safety but care had to be taken during the transition period. The transition period to self-driving vehicles needs to be carefully planned and managed in this country as this is likely to be the most challenging part of adopting this technology in Ireland, she said. Ms ODonnell said it was critical that Ireland had the right national regulatory framework in place to ensure the safe roll-out of these self-driving vehicles across the country. For example, Irish road traffic laws will need to be updated to adapt to the new and emerging technologies, she pointed out. RSA chief executive Moyagh Murdock was surprised about how soon Irish people thought the driverless cars would arrive on Irish roads. The country should prepare for the inevitable arrival of autonomous vehicles, she said. Public awareness of autonomous cars needed to be raised as well as identifying the necessary legislative changes. The focus should also be on building capability on new roads and investing in technology infrastructure, such as 5G. As part of its efforts to save lives on Irish roads, the RSA will continue to work to educate all road users about cutting-edge automotive developments and the impact, for better or for worse, these may have on road safety in the future,Ms Murdock said. The section of road through the Waterloo junction near Blarney, north of Cork City, is also due to be resurfaced within weeks, providing an opportunity to review road markings. However, longer-term safety measures are being considered as part of a review of Garda analysis of accidents at the junction. The news emerged a day after the Irish Examiner highlighted safety pleas from two US women one whose father died in a crash at the junction and the other who escaped with minor injuries from a crash at the same location which has left her partner in hospital. Diana Baker, whose father, Jim, 62, from Ohio, was one of two US tourists killed last September as they followed satnav directions to turn right at the Waterloo junction for Blarney, described the news as fantastic. Judy Dinehart, from Minnesota, who escaped with minor injuries from a crash there just two weeks ago in which her partner, Daniel Pilarski, was seriously injured, as they too followed satnav directions, said it was a wonderful first step. However, she said that, in the long-term, the right turn off the N20 at this junction should be blocked. Damian Boylan, a Fine Gael representative in Blarney, who spearheaded a petition for safety upgrades, released correspondence from Cork County Council engineers last night which shows that the council is liasing with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) engineers Information received from An Garda Siochana on the pattern of accidents is being analysed, with a view to identifying any measures that could be warranted at this junction, a council engineer said. As an interim measure signage is being procured by TII, to inform traffic approaching the junction on the N20 from the northern side that Blarney Castle is straight ahead and it is hoped to have this signage erected in the next three to four weeks. Mr Boylan said it was a great start. The ultimate aim should be delivering the M20 but, in the medium term, I want that right turn eliminated, he said. It will add five or 10 minutes on to some journeys but it will save lives. Dr Holohan said he and other clinical experts were very grateful to Vicky Phelan who put the circumstances of her case in the public domain to highlight the issues they now had an opportunity to address. However, they were aware that there were substantial issues of concern and wanted to assure women that they could have confidence in CervicalCheck. We want to use the opportunity to say to you clearly that none of the evidence that we have available to us at this point gives us any reason to have any concern about the quality assurance of the performance of the screening programme, said Dr Holohan. At a media briefing, Dr Holohan said the screening programme had led to a 7% annual decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer. We are now having an effect on mortality and stage of presentation we are picking up people earlier. We have no basis at this point for expressing any lack of confidence in the continuing performance of that screening programme and the impact it is having on population health. HSE chief clinical officer, Dr Colm Henry, said the integrity of the programme was a key component in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in the population. However, the current controversy raised issues about communication and open disclosure. In my role as chief clinical officer in the HSE certainly one of the key priorities will be ensuring that our clinicians are aware of their obligation to disclose information in the treatment or investigation of patients at all stages, said Dr Henry. Director of the national cancer control programme, Dr Jerome Coffey, said they had a very strong programme; they had high-quality assurance standards and they were monitored. Dr Coffey said they knew there was tiny, tiny probability of a woman having a false negative smear test but it was much less than one in 100. They already had a plan to move to HPV testing as the primary screening test in the autumn and it would provide further reassurance that they were making the best technology available Womens health. Director of the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Mary Short, said the more women engaged in the screening programme, the less likely they were to have any fears. If women have abnormal bleeding or bleeding after intercourse then they should go to their doctors, said Dr Short. Head of services and advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society, Donal Buggy, said there had been significant mix messaging and that needed to stop. I am concerned about getting clarity for the 3,000 women and their families who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer over the last 10 years and for the women who have engaged in the screening programme and who have had a negative smear, said Mr Buggy. No woman will be reassured by an investigation, a commission or a political conversation this weekend. They need to have clear information. Gynaecologist oncologist, Prof Donal Brennan, said the day-to-day working of the programme had been extremely successful. In Person New Website Lets Public Track Legislation, 'Vote' on Bills Yangon High Court. / The Irrawaddy YANGON I AM A BILL, a new website that tracks legislation and monitors Parliament, was officially launched on Tuesday. The site provides the full history of every piece of legislation from the date a bill is submitted to the lawmakers who submitted it and every debate it faces until it is pulled, rejected or approved. Users will also get to vote and comment on whether they support or oppose a bill and find out what legislation is in the process of being drafted. They can also check in on what the lawmakers representing their constituencies are working on and what issues they have raised in Parliament. Peace & Justice Myanmar, a local NGO, has been developing the site since May 2017 and by August hopes to have uploaded all bills introduced since February 2016, after the NLD was voted into power. The Irrawaddy spoke with the founder and executive director of Peace & Justice Myanmar, Daw Shwe Yee Win, about what I AM A BILL hopes to achieve and how it can help voters. What are your hopes and expectations for the site? The main aim of I AM A BILL is to post the submissions and discussions of bills in Myanmars Union Parliament in real time. We also aim to enhance public participation in the legislative processes using technology and to make the bills accessible at any time to the public, including lawyers, legal experts and [members of] civil society advocating for legal reforms. Do you have data from the previous Parliament [under the government of U Thein Sein]? We will try to post that. But because we get data from meeting minutes [posted on official websites] and live videos of parliamentary sessions, it is hard for us to get data from the previous Parliament. How will this affect voters? There are bills that directly relate to public daily life. It is better to include public views and comments when drafting such bills. We will have data analysis of public opinions and can forward that to lawmakers. But people generally have little interest in lawmaking. Yes. In our country, only after the 2010 election were parliamentary sessions reconvened [more than two decades after they were suspended]. So lawmakers and the public were not very familiar with the parliamentary process. But the second Parliament [under the NLD] is ongoing. There are broadcasts of parliamentary discussions, but it is hard to go back when necessary and the information is not complete. Eventually, it [the site] will become an archive of the bills that have been submitted in the Myanmar Parliament. The most important thing is to know clearly the winning partys policies and which sectors they want to reform and develop through legislation. What would you like to tell users? They can find out what the lawmakers they elected for five years are working on through this bill tracking website, because the 2020 election is now close. We need to know what our representatives have done for their constituencies, including their questions and proposals in Parliament. Asia Ancient Fort Community in Bangkok Loses 25-Year Battle Against Bulldozers A view of Chao Phraya river in Bangkok on Aug. 30, 2016. / Reuters BANGKOK For more than two decades, a community of more than 300 people living next to an old fort in Bangkok staved off drug dealers keen to extend their turf, and city officials eager to tear down their homes and build a park to draw more tourists. Last week, the handful of residents who still remained conceded defeat and left their old wooden homes in Fort Mahakan, even as historians and civic groups slammed the citys modernization plan, saying it is uprooting thousands of people. The community in Mahakan is believed to have lived behind the octagonal fort for more than 300 years. The area was earmarked for a park in 1978, and eviction orders issued in 1992, when officials said they were living there illegally. The residents organized protests, filed a petition in court to be allowed to stay, and even proposed a heritage museum that they could run on site. But the demolitions soon began. We have lived here through all the changes the city has gone through, and we have helped protect the fort and this neighborhood. Now we are being kicked out, said Khomonlak Supawatchai, 40, a third-generation resident. We were ready to give up some land if we could live here and help peoplelearn about the history of the fort and the community. But they do not want us here, she said. The eviction of the community is part of a wider effort to modernize Bangkok. Authorities are also clearing the sidewalks of vendors and food stalls, and removing homes and shanties along the Chao Phraya river to build a promenade. Civic groups say the evictions mostly target poor communities who have no formal rights over their land or property, yet are an integral part of the city, contributing to its economy and colorful character. Authorities say they are removing encroachers to make sidewalks and riverfront areas accessible to more people. The people in Pom Mahakan have lived illegally on public land for many years. We want to build a public park so more people can enjoy this historic site, said Bangkoks planning department chief, Sakchai Boonma. We have offered compensation and a relocation site, and have had discussions with them for a very long time. Now they have to leave, he said. Beautification Rattanakosin Island, where Fort Mahakan is located, is the original settlement of Bangkok and home to some of its top tourist attractions such as the Grand Palace and the Wat Pho temple, known for its giant reclining Buddha. Fort Mahakan, built in the 18th century, is one of the oldest structures in Bangkok, one of 14 citadels that once guarded the city. Only one other fort remains. The eviction of the community and the demolition of their elegant wooden homes is a big loss to the city, where skyscrapers and malls threaten to engulf all traditional architecture and edge out the poor, conservationists say. Vernacular architecture is being destroyed in the name of development, said Chatri Prakitnonthakan, an associate professor of architecture at Silpakorn University, who was involved in the proposal for a heritage museum at Fort Mahakan. Beautification is invoked as a justification for an urban reorganization that threatens existing ways of life and ignores the aesthetic values and social needs of poorer residents. Signs in English and Thai outside some of the Mahakan homes traced family lineages and evoked lost traditions. One house was the site of the first performances of likay, a traditional theater form. Its residents now sell fish maw soup, made from the swim bladders of large fish. Residents of another home, called the House of Waterworks, sold water to the community; other buildings were called Gold Melting House, Earthenware House and House of Music. City officials have said about a dozen homes, some of them more than 200 years old, will be preserved as a museum. But historians and conservationists say the plan is inadequate and insensitive to the needs of the community. This represents the best of Thai culture extraordinary examples of architecture and the everyday life of a community in a single site, said Michael Herzfeld, an anthropology professor at Harvard University who wrote a book on Fort Mahakan. They are being sacrificed on the altar of a touristic experience. Its a tragedy for Bangkok and for Thailand, said Herzfeld, who had opposed the evictions. Ethical Interpretation Fort Mahakan is not the only historic site in the country where long-time residents have come under threats of eviction. Only a few have ended favorably for communities. In February, officials gave up a plan to move more than 1,600 families in the Phimai temple complex in Nakhon Ratchasima province in the countrys northeast, after residents protested and said they had legal titles to their homes. The insistence on removing communities from monuments and historical sites is misguided, said Herzfeld. Many modern architects and planners are in favor of a symbiotic relationship between caring for monuments and communities that live in or near them, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. In Mahakan, while the residents did not have legal rights to the land, authorities could have used an ethical interpretation of the law to allow them to stay and help take care of the site as they had offered to, Herzfeld said. The authorities couldve shown the world a superb example of the self-sufficiency of a community. Instead, they will show a manicured lawn that reflects an ideal of urban beauty that isnt particularly Thai, he said. For the residents packing up to leave Fort Mahakan, a glorious past has given way to an uncertain future. I cant think about not living here. I dont know where we will go, said Khomonlak, as bulldozers waited. It will be hard to build another community like this one. Burma Fighting Between Two Allied Ethnic Armies Injures Two in Northern Shan SSPP/Shan State Army-North soldiers are seen in Namkham Township, Shan State in 2013. / Kyaw Kha / The Irrawaddy YANGON Two villagers in Mansa village near Namtu Township in northern Shan State sustained shrapnel wounds when clashes erupted between the Shan State Progressive Party and the Taang Nationalities Liberation Army on Friday morning. The two armed groups are both based along the China-Myanmar border and both are members of the northeast-based Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC). While they have so far avoided heavy fighting, occasional skirmishes flared between the two groups in northern Shan in 2016 and 2017. More than 100 villagers from Mansa fled to Mong Ying village, about 1 mile away, and were taken to a shelter at the village monastery, according to U Tun Hline, the village administrator of Mong Ying. The fighting broke out at about 9 am on May 4 in Mansa village in Mansa Lone village tract, and ended at around 12:30 p.m., U Tun Hline told The Irrawaddy on Friday. The two villagers were injured when an artillery round struck the village, he said, adding that the shell hit the compound of U Aik Sai, who suffered abdominal wounds. He was sent to Lashio Hospital. Daw Aye San, a woman who was passing by, was hit in the shoulder and sent to Namtu Hospital. I think the artillery shelling is from the Palaung [TNLA], because the SSPP [troops] live inside the village, he said. However, TNLA spokesman Major Mai Aik Kyaw told The Irrawaddy that he could not confirm the reports of fighting. We havent received any reports from our ground forces yet, but I have heard the stories, Maj. Mai Aik Kyaw said, referring to Facebook posts on the clash. SSPP spokesmen were unavailable for comment regarding Fridays incident. However, a Shan-language report regarding the clash was posted to the SSPPs Facebook page on Friday afternoon. The post states that about 300 troops from TNLA Battalion 1 attacked the SSPP camp at Namhsaun [Mansa] from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Casualties on both sides are unknown. After the attack, the TNLA retreated but a nearby Myanmar Army unit continued to attack the SSPP. The FPNCC has a policy of engaging in collective peace negotiations with the government. Early this week, however, the SSPP held bilateral peace talks with a delegation representing the governments Peace Commission led by former military leaders at the partys headquarters in Wan Hai, Kehsi Township. Despite the talks, it was reported on Friday that the SSPP also engaged in clashes with the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, at Loi Yin outpost in Kyauk Mae Township, northern Shan State. Nyein Nyein contributed to this report. Burma Renewed Clashes Leave 4 Dead in Chin State: AA Spokesman Arakan Army troops welcome new recruits in Laiza, Kachin State in 2016. / Supplied Renewed clashes between the Myanmar Army and Arakan Army troops near Kone Pyin village in Chins State Paletwa Township on Thursday left four Myanmar Army soldiers dead and five others injured, according to an Arakan Army (AA) spokesman. Khine Thukha, the AA spokesman, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that a clash happened on the morning of May 3 when Myanmar Army troops from Light Infantry Battalion 541, based in Minbya Township, Rakhine State, entered into AA-controlled areas along the Kaladan River. The [Myanmar Army] soldiers dead bodies were still alongside the riverbank on Thursday night, said Khine Thukha, adding that there were no fatalities on the AA side. He said that if Myanmar Army troops continue to advance that the fighting would continue, as the AA would defend itself. There have not been many clashes over the past four months along the upper section of the Kaladan River but heavy fighting occurred in November and December of last year. In November, the clashes displaced more than 1,000 ethnic Chin and Arakanese locals who sought shelter in nearby villages in Paletwa as well as in India near the Myanmar-India border. According to Paletwa Township residents, local Kone Pyin villagers who fled in 2017 are still unable to return to their homes. As there is still fighting near Kone Pyin, it is impossible for the villagers to return, said Mai Aung Ma Phyu, a Paletwa resident. The AA is a member of the seven-member Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), an alliance based in northeastern Myanmar. Some of the FPNCC members are holding separate peace talks with the government this year, despite its initial stated policy of only holding peace talks with the government as a bloc. Khine Thukha said the AA still upholds the FPNCCs policy negotiating for peace as an alliance. Military leaders have repeatedly said that the Myanmar Army would not hold peace talks with the AA unless it disarmed because it was established only after Myanmar had elected a quasi-civilian government, under former President U Thein Sein in 2011. The AA, which has taken part in fighting by allying with Kachin, Taang and Kokang troops in Kachin Independence Army-controlled areas in northern and northeastern Myanmar since 2011, has said its troops have been mobilized since 2009. If he is convicted, the director-general faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a fine. The next court hearing is scheduled for May 11. The plaintiff is expected to submit further documents as evidence. The court will then hear from witnesses for the plaintiff. The court is scheduled to hear from 36 witnesses in all. The investigator told the court the director asked the company to build him two homes and a swimming pool and provide household items. The alleged bribe is worth more than 15 million kyats in total. At Fridays court session, plaintiff U Than Zaw Win, an investigator from the Anti-Corruption Commission, submitted evidence against Dr. Than Htut including documents from a construction company showing it built two houses and a swimming pool for the official and furnished the homes with TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, paintings and other items in exchange for being awarded a tender to build laboratories for the agency. FDA director-general Dr. Than Htut was arrested and sued under Section 56 of the Anti-Corruption Law on April 19. ( https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/anti-corruption-commission-files-case-fda-chief.html ) MANDALAY Mandalay Divisional Court on Friday held its first hearing in the corruption case against the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA Director-General U Than Htut appears in Mandalay Divisional Court on Friday for the start of his corruption trial. / Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy FDA Director-General U Than Htut appears in Mandalay Divisional Court on Friday for the start of his corruption trial. / Zarni Mann / The Irrawaddy Myanmar Policeman Who Testified Reuters Reporters Were Framed Is Sentenced to Prison: Police Veteran Democracy Activists Say They Have Green Light to Register Party 5,000 Protest, Call for Govt to Rescue Those Displaced in Kachin Clashes Brig Gen Tin Ko Ko to Face No Action over Alleged Plot to Entrap Reuters Reporters Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week UN Could Help Myanmar Gather Evidence of Crimes Against Rohingya: British Envoy Through a Fog of Data, Air of Indian Cities Looks Dirtiest Getting the News Out by Bicycle, under Cover of Darkness New Government, New Fears for Journalists in Myanmar Yangon High Court to Weigh Changes to Charges in U Ko Ni Murder Case in Late May Fifth Food and Hospitality Trade Exhibition to Be Held Next Month More than 3,000 People Now Trapped by Fighting in Kachin State US Treasury Secretary Says Having Good Trade Talks in China Upgrades to Yangon-Mandalay Rail Line to Start in July, Operator Says We do not encourage viewing this site in this width. Please increase the size of your window. News Kachin State Chief Minister Says Hell Try to Evacuate IDPs Displaced persons take shelter at a Catholic church in Tang Phre village in Myitkyina. / Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint / The Irrawaddy MYITKYINA, Kachin State The Kachin State chief minister has agreed to seek the evacuation of more than 160 people trapped in Kachin States Lai Nawng Hku by clashes between the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Around 300 Kachin youths staged a sit-in protest in Myitkyina on April 30 calling on the government to rescue displaced people who have been trapped since early last month by fighting in a number of areas including Tanai, Waingmaw, Injangyang, and Hpakants Kamaing. Another 1,000 local residents joined the sit-in in the town center on Thursday, demanding talks with the chief minister. Well go and bring those trapped in Lai Nawng Hku [to Myitkyina] today. Well go there together with the government. As Tatmadaw troops are deployed there, negotiations are required with the military. I heard that [the Kachin State government] is negotiating with [the Tatmadaw], said Lamai Gum Ja of the Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG). The Tatmadaw has reportedly barred residents of conflict zones from leaving their villages. They have been trying to flee since the fighting broke out. Religious leaders, PCG officials and demonstrators will join government officials led by the chief minister to bring those trapped in clashes to safety, Lamai Gum Ja said. Kachin State Chief Minister U Khet Aung met religious leaders, demonstrators, and leaders of the PCG at his office on Thursday evening. After four hours of talks, the chief minister agreed to try and arrange the evacuation of people trapped by fighting. But if the Tatmadaw says we cant go there for security reasons, we can do nothing, as the Kachin State government alone cant make the decision, Lamai Gum Ja said. Sut Seng Htoi, one of the lead demonstrators, said they would also negotiate with the state government to rescue other groups trapped by fighting. The demonstrators slept on the streets on Thursday night, and returned to the Manaw grounds in Si Ta Pu ward on Friday morning. They would wait and see whether the chief ministers trip to Lai Nawng Hku proceeded on Friday, Sut Seng Htoi said. The protesters planned to suspend the sit-in if those trapped in Lai Nawng Hku were evacuated, and hoped to continue talks with the new government to rescue displaced persons in other townships. The Tatmadaws Northern Command earlier distributed leaflets to local residents stating that it only attacked KIA outposts and urging local residents to stay put. Fighting between the Tatmadaw and KIA has forced more than 100,000 locals from their homes since 2011. Around 2,000 displaced persons from Awng Lawt village in Tanai Township have been trapped in forests since April 11 and around 500 residents of Injangyang Township are also trapped, according to the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC). More than 5,000 local residents took to the streets of Myitkyina on Monday calling for the governments intervention to rescue displaced persons. Kachin civil society organizations and religious leaders have been sending letters to the chief minister since the second week of April seeking the evacuation of displaced persons. The chief minister had been silent on the issue until Thursday. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. News News Editor Loses Bid to Have Evidence Thrown Out Ko Swe Win, center, leaves the Maha Aung Myay court after being granted bail in July last year. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Mandalay Mandalay District Court on Friday rejected an appeal by the editor of the Myanmar Now newspaper to rule evidence submitted by the plaintiff in a lower court was unreliable. Ko Swe Win, the chief editor of Myanmar Now, was sued by a supporter of the ultranationalist monk U Wirathu. The plaintiff had submitted a video clip of an interview Ko Swe Win had done with Radio Free Asia RFAs Burmese language program. Ko Swe Win and his lawyers complained that the video clip was edited prejudiciously to support the lawsuit and that it should be declared as untrustworthy evidence. The district court rejected our appeal and said the evidence would be accepted and the trial allowed to proceed. So, we will have to continue with the trial at Maha Aung Myat township court, said U Khin Maung Myint, a legal advisor to Ko Swe Win. The editor and his lawyers decided not to appeal to a higher court to save time. The next court hearing at the Maha Aung Myay Township court will be on May 11. The recorded segment of the interview is incomplete, which could mislead the trial and the judge to make a wrong decision, U Khin Maung Myint said. The video clip was copied from U Kyaw Myo Shwes mobile phone and is incomplete. And it was not verified by RFA that it could be trusted, he said. According to the lawyers, the video segment submitted by U Kyaw Myo Shwe included only the part in which Ko Swe Win criticized U Wirathu. Meanwhile, Ko Swe Wins lawyers have also submitted a complaint to the Maha Aung Myay township court to take legal action against U Kyaw Myo Shwe for submitting unreliable evidence. The court will issue a decision on whether action should be taken against the Mandalay resident on May 11. Ko Swe Win was arrested and released on bail in July last year. He was sued under Article 66 (d) of the Telecommunications Law by U Kyaw Myo Shwe in March on the grounds that he had insulted U Wirathu. News Top Sri Lanka Officials Arrested While Taking Bribe: Anti-Graft Body Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York, U.S. / Reuters COLOMBO Sri Lankas anti-graft body arrested President Maithripala Sirisenas chief of staff and another state official on Thursday in the act of accepting a bribe, officials said. Officials of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested I.H.K. Mahanama, the presidents chief of staff, and P. Dissanayake, the head of the State Timber Corporation (STC), the commission said. Our officials arrested Mahanama and Dissanayake while accepting 20 million (rupees), Sarath Jayamanna, the director general of CIABOC told Reuters, indicating a sum equivalent to $126,863. He added that the officials were recording statements from Mahanama and Dissanayake, and later on Thursday or early on Friday the two individuals would be produced before the courts. Jayamanna said Mahanama, the former secretary of the lands ministry, had asked for a bribe of 540 million Sri Lankan rupees ($3.43 million) from an Indian investor interested in acquiring a state-owned sugar factory. The two were arrested at a car park of a luxury hotel in the capital Colombo while they were accepting a 20 million rupees bribe from the investor for the transfer of land, he said. The Presidents office said in a statement the service of both the officials had been suspended, and the president had instructed the CIABOC officials to enforce the law strictly against the two without any obstruction. Representatives of Mahanama and Dissanayake were not immediately available for comment. The arrest comes as Sirisenas government is under heavy criticism for not fulfilling his main 2015 election pledge to eliminate rampant corruption. The previous government under former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in the 2015 poll amid widespread allegations of corruption. However, Sirisenas administration since coming to power has taken insufficient steps to deal with past corruption, his critics allege. The governing coalition of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by Sirisena and the United National Party (UNP) of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe lost local government polls in February partly due to failure to fulfill promises to punish corrupt politicians and officials. Top Sri Lanka Officials Arrested While Taking Bribe: Anti-Graft Body Commentary All But Forgotten Villagers displaced by fighting between the Myanmar military and KIA take shelter in a forest in Kachin State in April. / Hkun Aung Labang United Nations Security Council delegates wrapped up a four-day visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday. They met Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military, and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on their last day. Members of the countrys many ethnic minority communities, perhaps the Kachin most of all, hoped the UN delegation would condemn the military for its many human rights abuses against them. But as most expected, the team focused exclusively on the Rohingya crisis. Fighting in northern Kachin State has recently flared up between the military and Kachin Independence Army (KIA), driving nearly 10,000 civilians from their homes. Some, including international rights groups and local media outlets, were left disappointed that the UN delegation failed to speak out about it. The military largely ended its offensive in Rakhine State which has driven some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh since August after the international community started applying pressure, possibly scared by the prospect of new UN sanctions. Instead, the military turned its attention to the ethnic armed groups in the north, launching a major new offensive on April 11. Myanmars ethnic minorities, many of whom are Christian, rarely invoke their religion in their struggle for equal rights. But since the UN delegations failure to address their plight, some have begun emphasizing their religious minority status in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar in hopes of attracting more attention from the international community. At a protest in the Kachin capital of Myitkyina earlier this week, participants urged the military and government to let them rescue some 3,000 civilians trapped by the latest clashes and to bring the fighting to an end. Similar protests were also held recently in Yangon and overseas in Canada, Japan and the US, where participants also asked for donations to help the displaced families, now spread over at least 10 townships across Kachin. The military and KIA have been fighting in Kachin off and on since a 17-year ceasefire broke down in 2011, displacing more than 150,000 civilians over the past seven years. The US Embassy in Myanmar and Yanghee Lee, the UNs special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, have issued statements expressing concern for the displaced families. They urged the military and government to let humanitarian aid into the conflict zone and to protect civilians from the fighting. The military has racked up a long list of human rights abuses in the countrys ethnic minority areas over the past several decades, from forced labor to extrajudicial killings. Now in Kachin, those displaced by the latest fighting have no idea when they will feel safe enough to return home, or if they will even have homes to return to. It is high time for the UN Security Council to speak up about their plight and press the military, or Tatmadaw, for their protection. The failure of the [UN Security Council] to express concern for Kachin civilians trapped in conflict gave the green light to the Tatmadaw to continue their abuses, said David Mathieson, an independent analyst of conflict and peace issues. It was inexcusably callous to come all this way and only discuss the Rakhine crisis, he said. If the people of Kachin and northern Shan State and other conflict areas think the world has forgotten them in their obsession with the terrible Rohingya crisis, its because the UN Security Council just proved it. Mitsubishi Motors Australia has migrated 200 of its Australian dealers to the IBM Cloud to deliver sales, inventory, spare parts, and service, warranty, reporting, compliance and dealership customer relationship management systems. The migration of critical SAP applications ic claimed to allow dealers to meet peak sales demands and minimise disruption. IBM Services claims that since adopting IBM Cloud, Mitsubishi has seen an 80% drop in the shutdown time required to refresh SAP test data, resulting in minimal business disruption to staff and dealers. The company also claims less resources are required to build application clones, which are necessary to test new systems and by running development, testing and production environments on IBM Cloud, it is easier for Mitsubishi to get new services up and running for their staff and dealers. The rubber hits the road during high peak times and our infrastructure needs to keep up with this demand. By moving all SAP production, test and development environments from the previous on-premises systems over to IBM Cloud, Mitsubishi can provide consistent and reliable services when dealing with highly variable demand, said Mark Tiddy, chief information officer, Mitsubishi Motors Australia. Moving to IBM Cloud provided operational efficiencies and cost savings in the 22 31% range. In addition, running all our core systems on one platform provides seamless management, delivering more IT resources and enhanced security. IBM Services managed the entire SAP migration, including enterprise resource planning, enterprise warehouse and CRM applications, over to IBM Cloud SAP-certified infrastructure. Customised to Mitsubishis specific workload requirements, IBM Services says the server is configured down to the bare metal including CPU, RAM, storage and more, and was online again in hours. IBMs deep industry expertise and more than 30-year relationship with Mitsubishi Motors in Australia enabled us to simplify how Mitsubishi has moved critical workloads to the cloud, delivering a solution that was sized properly and configured to their particular business requirements, said Darryl Crittenden, Project Delivery, IBM Services. Mitsubishi now has a scalable cloud solution in place to keep up with market demand and enable delivery of new services to the business during peak times with minimal disruption. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner says it has made "further inquiries" into the loss of millions of customer records by the Commonwealth Bank but did not say why it had decided, along with the CBA, to not inform customers or any government functionaries about the loss of data. In a statement, the OAIC said it had "sought information from the CBA to satisfy the OAIC that the CBA has taken on board lessons learned from this incident, to ensure the privacy of customers personal information is adequately protected". Under the Australian data breach law that came into effect on 22 February this year, the OAIC would have had to disclose the breach only under certain conditions. Helaine Leggat, director of legal firm Information Legal, told iTWire in an interview prior to the breach law taking effect, "Under the amendment to the Act, notification is necessary where there is interference with the privacy of an individual resulting from unauthorised access or disclosure, and a reasonable person would conclude that this is likely to result in serious harm to any individual to whom the information relates." An OAIC spokesperson said in a statement: "It is not in the OAICs power to notify individuals of a potential data breach. Under the voluntary scheme that was in place in 2016 it was up to organisations to determine whether to inform their customers of a data breach, not the OAIC. "Since 22 February, all organisations with obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 to secure personal information generally have a legal obligation to notify affected individuals and the OAIC where there is a likely risk of serious harm to any of the individuals whose personal information is involved in a data breach." The CBA admitted on Thursday it lost two tapes on which the records of about 20 million accounts were stored in 2016, after a report from Buzzfeed a day earlier. The loss of the tapes was acknowledged in a two-minute video on YouTube, in which its acting Group Executive, Retail Banking Services, Angus Sullivan, papered over the incident by claiming that no passwords, PINs or other data that could enable theft of money. The bank also placed a pop-up on the accounts of individual customers, directing them to a Web page and assuring them that information had not been compromised. Some customers received emails from the bank, explaining what had transpired. "Following recent media reports detailing an incident in May 2016, we want to reassure you there is no evidence of your information being compromised and you do not need to take any action," the email said. "In May 2016 we were unable to confirm the scheduled destruction of two magnetic tapes used by a supplier to print bank statements. These tapes contained information including customer names, addresses, account numbers and transaction details. "They did not contain passwords or PINs which could enable fraud. We deployed enhanced reporting and ongoing monitoring of customer accounts to ensure customers were protected. These protections are still in place today. "This was not cyber-related. CommBank's technology platforms, systems, services, apps and websites were not compromised. CommBank offers you a 100% security guarantee against fraud for all your accounts, where you are not at fault. We cover any loss should someone make an unauthorised transaction." The tapes contained customer banking statements from 2004 to 2016 and were lost by outsourcer Fuji Xerox, according to Buzzfeed News. Attorney-General Christian Porter said in a statement that he had become aware of the incident on Tuesday night. "I was made aware of the 2016 data issue involving the CBA [Commonwealth Bank] on Tuesday night and wrote to the Privacy Commissioner yesterday seeking a detailed briefing on the issue, including actions taken by both the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and CBA at the time of the data loss and subsequently," he said. "The acting Privacy Commissioner has indicated she is making further inquiries to ensure CBA has taken action subsequent to the 2016 incident to ensure the privacy of customers personal information is protected. That is an appropriate course of action." Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said in a statement that the report was "extremely concerning". "Why has it taken years and a media report for people to find out? CBA needs to provide information to customers today about what has occurred and what actions were taken after the breach was discovered." Works by Linksvayer and the Blackstock Press Exhibited May 4, 2018 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Illinois Wesleyan Universitys Merwin and Wakely Galleries will feature the works of artist Stephen Linksvayer along with books from the IWU archives created by the Blackstock Press from Wednesday, May 9 through Thursday, May 31. An opening reception for both galleries will take place Thursday, May 10 at 4 p.m. The reception will include an artist talk by Linksvayer at 4:15 p.m. The galleries, reception and talk are all free and open to the public. Stephen Linksvayer Stephen Linksvayer Born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1973, Linksvayer currently lives in Shanghai, China. He is the former co-owner of Heavy Brow Gallery in Downtown Bloomington, Illinois, which showcased a variety of local and national artists. Linksvayer currently splits his time and artistic practice between the United States and China. Linksvayers exhibit I gather the limbs of Osiris is featured in the Merwin Gallery. Although created on the canvas and hung on the wall, Linksvayers work exists in a sculptural realm. Dissected and reassembled leather motorcycle jackets are sewn to unpainted cloth canvas. The dimensionality of the jackets is furthered by the removal of the canvas center, leaving the viewer to stare through the work of art at the wall. These pieces imply formality as the viewer shifts between the black textured jackets and the stark canvas base. Linksvayers wall pieces are open ended and hard to define, as he wants his viewer to question his or her own definitions of sculpture and painting, and even, art. Blackstock Press Blackstock Press In a recent relocation of the Illinois Wesleyan art collection, a number of handmade books by IWU students were rediscovered. The Wakeley Gallery is hosting an exhibit of the books which were created by the Blackstock Press beginning in 1969 under the guidance of printmaking faculty Fred Brian. Each book was crafted in the tradition of fine printing using a century old Washington hand press. Blackstock Press was first located in the basement of Blackstock Hall and then moved to the current school of art. The books are filled with illustrations and poetry in type that was hand set. Each letter was placed individually before printing. Some of the books are original and humorous, while others draw on classic literature. Both exhibits will be on display from May 9 through May 31 in the Joyce G. Eichhorn Ames School of Art Building (6 Ames Plaza West, Bloomington). Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesday evening 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. By John Twork After the introduction of Christianity to Japan in 1542, the religion enjoyed some popularity especially in the areas around today's Nagasaki Prefecture. However, the religion's aggressive and intolerant aspects eventually brought it into conflict with the Japanese leaders who ultimately banned Christianity during most of the Edo Period (1603-1867) and persecuted missionaries and believers. Some local devotees, known as the hidden Christians, went into hiding in remote areas and on isolated islands where they continued practicing their religion secretly for over two centuries. Some sites pertaining to these hidden Christians survive today, including churches that were built after the ban on Christianity had been lifted in the early Meiji Period. A number of these churches and sites received World Heritage status in summer 2018. They are shown on the map and described in the list below: Summerville, SC (29483) Today Chance of an isolated thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Chance of an isolated thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Reddit Email 152 Shares 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, thats still some 32 votes short of a Senate override. In hopelessly divided Washington, thats 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 presidents 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 Americas current foes and so ensure that Washingtons 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 isnt 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 lets 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, theres 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 whats happening just one valley over, let alone in Milwaukee. Then theres al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a particularly vicious AQ franchise in Yemen. These are genuine bad actors and, for a while during the Obama administration, were considered the top terror threat to the U.S. Still, thats not who the American military actually fights in Yemen most of the time. U.S. Air Force fuelers provide in-flight service, U.S. analysts provide updated targeting intelligence, and U.S. megacorporations sell guided bombs to the Saudis, who mostly bomb Shia Houthi rebels (and often civilians) unaffiliated with in fact, opposed to AQAP. Worse still, the U.S.-backed campaign against the Houthis actually empowers AQAP by sowing chaos and creating vast ungoverned spaces for it to move into. The Houthis arent on the Corker-Kaine list yet, but no doubt (amid increasing military tensions with Iran) Mr. Trump would have little trouble adding them as associated forces. Are they brown? Yes. Do they worship Allah? Sure. Throw em on the list. Al-Shabaab in Somalia is also included. Its nasty militiamen do make life miserable in Somalia and have occasionally called for attacks on U.S. targets. Theres no evidence, however, that U.S. military operations there have ever stabilized the region or improved long-term security. Meanwhile, al-Shabaab tries to radicalize young Somali-American youth in immigrant communities like cities like Minneapolis. Their main gripe: the U.S. military presence and drone strikes in East Africa. And on and on the cycle goes. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM), which operates in North Africa, is another associated force thats taken on the AQ moniker, though with a distinctly local flavor. AQIM operates in several countries. Does the Corker-Kaine bill then imply that the U.S. military may conduct strikes and raids anywhere in North Africa? Odds are that it does. Again, though AQIM is violent and problematic for local African security forces, theyve never successfully attacked the United States. As professor and Africa expert Nathaniel Powell has shown, more often than not U.S. military operations in the Maghreb or the Sahel (just south of the Sahara desert) tend only to exacerbate existing conditions, motivate yet more Islamists, and tangle Washington up in what are essentially local problems and grievances. Finally, theres al-Qaeda in Syria, as the bill labels them. This is the crew that used to be known as the al-Nusra Front. The Islamic State, or ISIS, eventually brokeoff from AQ and has even fought al-Nusra Front militants on occasion. No doubt, U.S. interests are never served when any al-Qaeda franchise gains power and influence. Still, theres little evidence that the former al-Nusra Front, which is losing the civil war inside Syria, has either the staying power or capacity to attack the U.S. homeland. Add in this: the U.S. military in Syria has rarely attacked al-Nusra, focusing instead on ISIS or occasional strikes at the regime of Syrian autocrat Bashar al-Assad. In addition, in the past, Americas Saudi allies have supported and funded this and other radical Islamist groups and some U.S. aid has even inadvertently fallen into the hands of al-Nusra Front fighters in the mess that passes for the Syrian civil war. And dont let me get started on those successor forces think ISIS and its brands around the world a term so vague as to ensure that any Islamist organization or country, including Iran, could, by a stretch of the imagination, be defined as a target of the U.S. military. Lumping these various groups under the umbrella of associated or successor forces ignores the agency and specificity of each of them and so provides any president with a blank check to fight anyone he deems loosely Islamist the world over. And if he cares to, he can just add any new gang he chooses onto the list and dare the Senate to muster 67 votes to stop him. Consider it a remarkable formula for forever war. The Dangerous Evolution of Article II of the Constitution When you get right down to it, all the debate over AUMFs is little more than a charade. It hardly matters whether Congress ever updates that post-9/11 document. When, for instance, President Trump recently sent missiles soaring against the Assad regime in response to an alleged chemical attack on a suburb of Damascus, neither he nor his advisers even bothered to suggest that the strike fell under that AUMF. Instead, they simply claimed that Trump was exercising his presidential prerogative under Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, which makes him commander-in-chief. In such moments, right-wing presidents and their advisers have no compunctions about turning the standard liberal argument about the Constitution on its head that its a living document subject to the exigencies of changing times. Of course, its not exactly an obscure fact of history that the framers of that document never meant to grant the chief executive unilateral authority to start new conflicts and strictly constructionist conservatives know it. The Founders were terrified of standing armies and imperial overreach. After all, when they wrote the document theyd only recently brought their own revolt against imperial England and its vaunted army of redcoats to a successful conclusion. So, to construe the Constitutions commander-in-chief clause, which gave the president the authority to oversee the generals in an ongoing war, as letting him declare wars or even expand them qualifies as absurd. Nonetheless, thats just what recent presidents have claimed. What they like to say is that times have changed, that warfare is now too swift for an eighteenth-century recipe involving Congress, and that, in such abbreviated circumstances, presidents need the authority to apply military force at will on a global scale. The thing is, Congress has already recognized this potential reality and codified it into law in the 1973 War Powers Act. This fairly sensible, though generally ignored, piece of legislation requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of a military deployment and remove the troops after 60 days unless legislation officially sanctions the escalation. Presidents tend to be meticulous about the first requirement and then like Congress itself pay no attention to the second. Obviously, Bashar al-Assads regime had nothing to do with 9/11 and so falls under no imaginable interpretation of that 2001 AUMF. Therefore, President Trump has on his own essentially launched a new conflict, with a new enemy, in western Syria. Hes notified Congress of the latest missile strikes, of course, and thats that. Salvation Will Not Come From the Bipartisan Center Early indications are that the Corker-Kaine bill is unlikely to pass the Senate (no less the House) and, if it did, wouldnt have a hope in hell of outlasting a presidential veto. You know that the system is broken, possibly beyond repair, when the secretary of defense one Mad Dog Mattis is reportedly the only figure around Donald Trump to have argued for getting a congressional stamp of approval before launching those missiles against the Assad regime. Think of it this way: a retired general, the official top dog of destruction in this administration, was overruled by the civilian leadership in the White House when it came to an act of imperial war-making. In other words, were through the looking glass, folks! As a thought experiment: What would it actually take for a supermajority of both houses of Congress to curtail a presidents unilateral war-making power? Liberals might have thought that the election of a boorish, uninformed executive would embolden moderates on both sides of the aisle to reclaim some authority over the lives and deaths of Americas soldiers. It didnt, nor did such passivity start with Donald Trump. Mainstream liberals certainly treated the presidency of George W. Bush as if it were the worst disaster since Richard Nixon, Watergate, and Vietnam. Even so, they never had the guts to cut off funds for the obvious, ongoing folly in Iraq. Mostly, in fact, they first voted for a resolution supporting that invasion and then heckled pointlessly from the sidelines as Bush waged a dubiously legal, unwinnable war to his hearts content. Conservatives absolutely hated Obama. They questioned his very legitimacy and even his citizenship (as did Citizen Trump, of course) or at least stayed conveniently silent while the far right of the GOP caucus did so. Still, Republicans then essentially did nothing to curtail his unilateral decision to expand drone attacks to a kind of frenzy across the Greater Middle East and parts of Africa and oversee a special operations bonanza. Rarely, for example, in the bazillion hearings the Republicans sponsored on the deaths of an American ambassador and others in Benghazi, Libya, did anyone call for a serious reappraisal of executive war-making authority. Despite the paltry Corker-Kaine bill, expect no respite or salvation from Congress, which is, in truth, at the heart of the problem. To move the needle on war-making would take grassroots pressure similar to that applied by the Vietnam-era antiwar movement. But such a movement looks highly unlikely with the draft long gone, few citizens engaged in foreign policy issues, and even fewer seeming to notice that this country has now been involved in still-spreading wars for almost 17 years. To recapture military authority from an imperial president and inject sanity into the system, We the People would have to break out the pink pussy caps, gather the young and their social media skills Parkland-style and bring the sort of energy now going into domestic crises to issues of war and peace. Suffice it to say, Im not hopeful. Whether noticed or not, whether attended to or not, there is, however, a grave question before the American people: Is the United States to remain a democracy (of sorts) within its borders, but a war-making empire beyond its shores? Certainly, its most of the way to such a state already with its all volunteer imperial military and unrestrained war presidency. Just about everything is in place for an (elected) executive emperor to move his imperial chess pieces wherever he pleases. Nothing in the Corker-Kaine cop-out of a bill can or will change that. In truth, it doesnt even pretend to. When it comes to war, the president reigns supreme and so, it seems, he shall remain. Hail, Caesar! [Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.] Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Alfred McCoys In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of U.S. Global Power, as well as John Dowers The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II, John Feffers dystopian novel Splinterlands, Nick Turses Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead, and Tom Engelhardts Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World. Copyright 2018 Danny Sjursen Via Tomdispatch.com Reddit Email 374 Shares Iranian oil exports were back up to 2.5 million barrels a day or so last month, similar to the levels common before the US placed severe sanctions on the country beginning in 2012. At the low point Iran, which produces around 4 million barrels a day, was only exporting 1.5 million barrels a day, forced to keep a million in the ground. US sanctions on Iran in the Bush and early Obama era had relatively little effect on the country, though they were an annoyance and did impede progress in some areas. The important thing was the flow of oil, which by 2012 had reached record prices. Iranian petroleum is state owned, so the government is the chief beneficiary of high prices. The US had done little about those oil proceeds. Not letting Iran buy new passenger jets endangered travelers but did not hit the gross domestic product. What Obama did to get Iran to the bargaining table was to identify 12 Asian oil markets that took most Iranian petroleum and then to go around strong-arming them, with threats of Treasury Department third party sanctions, to buy much less or nothing at all. This tactic had a huge success with South Korea, for instance. At the same time, Obama worked with Saudi Arabia to flood the market with extra Saudi oil to replace for consumers what was being taken away from the Iranian exports. The US also had Iran kicked off major bank exchanges like that of South Asia, and threatened banks that did transactions for Iran, penalizing the country by making it engage in more expensive barter or in less lucrative soft-money exchanges (e.g. accepting Indian rupees for oil, which Iran then had to spend on Indian goods for its domestic import market.) Arguably, even the severe sanctions could not have succeeded in pushing Iran to negotiate without two other major developments. One was that the UN Security Council had placed international sanctions on Iran, interfering with its commerce and development, in addition to the more stringent US sanctions. International sanctions gave Obamas strong-arm tactics legitimacy and the force of international law. The other major help Obama received was that from the middle of 2014 the price of oil collapsed. Suddenly, not only was Iran only exporting 1.5 million barrels a day or so, but it was only getting half as much for it or even less. As a result, by summer 2015, Iran had given up most of its nuclear enrichment program and accepted intrusive inspections. I tell this history to raise questions about how successful a new sanctions push by Trump can be. Here are the negatives it will face: 1. Russia and China will completely reject new sanctions and will seek ways of trading with Iran that avoid US Treasury Department third party sanctions. The two of them are a pretty big market for Iran, and China is for now thirsty for petroleum (its automobiles are going electric but that will take a decade or more). Russia deeply resents Washingtons sanctions regime, from which its big businessmen suffer, and will delight in taking steps to weaken its effectiveness. China wont be in a cooperative mood after Trump slapped big tariffs on its goods. 2. Iran had faced difficulties under severe sanctions in getting insurance for its tankers. In the absence of UNSC sanctions, non-US insurers may not feel the same pressure to avoid Iran. 3. Some firms in Europe without a lot of US business will be tempted to do transactions with Iran in Euros and to avoid US banks so as to make money despite the Office of Foreign Asset Controls baleful glare. 4. Countries like India are very unlikely to yield to pressure to avoid Iranian petroleum if the US Congress is the only one demanding sanctions and there are none at the level of the UN Security Council. India is currently Irans second largest buyer of its petroleum and some 7% of Iranian imports come from India. India is also building the Chabahar Port to give it a toehold in the Gulf and access to Central Asian and Eurasian markets, in competition with Chinas proposed Gwadar port in Pakistan. India will be reluctant to stand down from this attempt to compete with China in these areas, which would be seen as a big victory for Pakistan as well. 5. Saudi Arabia and Russia have decided for now to seek $70 a barrel oil, which benefits Iran. Saudi Arabia has been hurt by years of low prices and has big economic plans. It cant afford to flood the market again just to hurt Iran, risking driving down prices for itself as well. 6. Trump is widely and deeply disliked and will have difficulty getting the voluntary cooperation of most traditional US allies in putting Iran under severe sanctions again. 7. Since Iran already did a deal, and US sanctions were nevertheless not lifted, and then the US trashed the deal it had negotiated, there is no incentive for Iran to go back to the bargaining table and there are lots of reasons not to. 8. There is also the question of what a new round of sanctions is supposed to achieve. Iran has already given up everything in the nuclear file it could possibly give up short of executing all its scientists and engineers so as to wipe out nuclear know-how as well. If the pressure is intended to stop the Iranian development of ballistic missiles for which it has nothing to put in the warheads, or to try to get Iran back out of Syria, those are goals for which mere US sanctions are probably insufficient. The US will face enormous skepticism from allies, since they harmed themselves economically to get the 2015 deal and now will be told that wasnt good enough and they have to do it all over again. One caveat, which is that if Iran ramped up its nuclear enrichment program out of pique, it could drive the Europeans to put sanctions back on it. If Tehran is smart it will work to divide Western Europe from Trump by offering European firms sweetheart deals, even as it continues to observe the JCPOA deal to reassure Europes capitals. Bonus video: Press TV: Iran reserves right to respond in US quits nuclear deal: Zarif VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashanti Gold Corp. (Ashanti or the Company) - (TSXV:AGZ) announces drilling has started at the Kossanto East project (the Project). First work is being conducted on the Gourbassi East target with the first hole completed on May 3. The drill program at the Project is for 10,000m of drilling with approximately 8,000m dedicated to reverse circulation and 2,000m of diamond core (see press release of April 25, 2018). Tim McCutcheon, Ashantis CEO, said The Ashanti team has done a great job of drill program mobilization at Kossanto East and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the crew for their performance. I look forward to sharing with the market a steady stream of drill results over the coming months. ABOUT ASHANTI GOLD Ashanti is a gold-focused, exploration and development company that targets projects where it has a competitive advantage due to past work experience of the team and specific project know-how. The Company is driving forward its 100%-owned Kossanto East project in Mali on the prolific Kenieba Belt, which hosts such deposits as Loulo, Fekola and Sadiola. Ashanti is also working to advance, together with its earn-in partners, the Anumso project and the Ashanti Belt project in Ghana, which are near-adjacent to the Akyem deposit. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of ASHANTI GOLD CORP. "Tim McCutcheon" Tim McCutcheon CEO For further information, please contact: Ashanti Gold Corp. 2300 1177 West Hastings Street Vancouver BC, V6E 2K3 Phone: 604-638-3847 Qualified Person and Historical Data The information presented in this Press Release has been reviewed by Dr. Paul Klipfel CPG of Mineral Resource Services Inc. and a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101. Dr. Klipfel is not an Independent Person, as he is a shareholder of Ashanti. Historic data presented has been generated by historic explorers. The company has endeavored to check all data through resurvey of collars and check samples, but has not completed thorough, independent verification of historic data, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance thereon. All drill, soil, rock, and trench samples are subject to standard QA/QC procedures with certified standards and blanks inserted into all sample streams at the rate of 1:20. Duplicate samples are also inserted at the rate of 1:50. All assays are performed by international known (SGS in Mali) and accepted laboratories which insert their own QA/QC samples into the sample stream. Their results and Ashantis results are monitored for bias and errors in absolute and temporal terms. Batches with certified standards or blanks that do not meet QA/QC requirements are reassayed. 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 press release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release and the information incorporated by reference herein, constitutes "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Ashanti Gold Corp. (the "Company"). All statements, except for statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that management of the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including such things as future exploration plans concerning the Company's mineral properties, acquisitions, capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategies and measures to implement strategies, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of the business and operations, plans and references to the future success of the Company, and such other matters, are forward looking statements. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities at the Project, including the geological mapping, prospecting and sampling program being proposed for the Project (the "Program"), actual results of exploration activities, including the Program, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Information Circular (December 2017) and as discussed in the annual management's discussion and analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. Picture 1: Drill rig at work on Gourbassi East. TORONTO, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HARTE GOLD CORP. (Harte Gold or the Company) (TSX:HRT) (OTC:HRTFF) (Frankfurt:H4O) is pleased to announce the results of a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Companys 100% owned Sugar Zone Project (Sugar Zone or the Project), near White River, Northern Ontario. Highlights: 80,700 ounces of average annual gold production at a C1 cash cost of US$507/oz Au and AISC of US$708/oz Au over an 11 year mine life from 2019 onwards. 904,000 ounces of total recovered gold production over mine life, approximately two thirds of the combined Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources announced February 15, 2018. The PEA studied a phased development approach with a goal of achieving near-term cash flow while minimizing initial underground development work, starting at 540 tpd at the Sugar Zone, increasing to 1,400 tpd by year 2021 as access to the Middle Zone Mineral Resources are incorporated into the mine plan. The benefit of mining the higher grade areas of the Sugar and Middle Zones in parallel is expected to increase average annual gold production to over 100,000 ounces from 2021 to 2025. 54,500 ounces of average annual gold production is targeted for 2019 and 2020. C$58 million remains to be spent in 2018 as of March 31, 2018, on process plant completion, underground development and working capital. Process plant construction is over 80% complete. The Company expects to be starting production by July 2018. Management have identified a number of opportunities, outside the scope of the mine plan studied in the PEA, which could further improve the mine plan and economics of the Project. These opportunities, while still being explored, were recognized based on the positive infill drilling and mine plan optimizations, currently underway. The following table summarizes NPV and IRR at various gold price and exchange rate sensitivities: NPV and IRR Summary Unit Gold Price Sensitivities US$1,150/oz PEA Pricing US$1,350/oz Macro Parameters Gold Price US$/oz $ 1,150 $ 1,250 $ 1,350 Exchange Rate CAD:USD 0.80 0.80 0.80 Pre-Tax NPV and IRR NPV @ 5% M C$ $ 263 $ 344 $ 425 IRR % 40 % 50 % 60 % Post-Tax NPV and IRR NPV @ 5% M C$ $ 189 $ 244 $ 299 IRR % 34 % 42 % 50 % Stephen G. Roman, President and CEO of Harte Gold, commented The PEA demonstrates an economically robust, low cost operation with a scalable mine plan designed to match underground development. With a target of 1,400 tonnes per day producing over 100,000 ounces per year, Harte Gold will have the cash flow to continue property wide exploration and the ability to target high impact acquisition opportunities. Mr. Roman added We are particularly encouraged by the value opportunities being explored. As illustrated with previous infill drilling, grade is expected to improve as we tighten spacing, which will have a significant, positive effect on the diluted head grade mined and the number of ounces incorporated into the mine plan. There are over 500,000 ounces of resource currently not included within the PEA mine plan. As we continue drilling, we expect the economics of the Sugar Zone Project should only improve. PEA Summary The PEA was prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. and is summarized as follows: PEA Base Case Summary Parameters Input Unit Value Macro Parameters Gold Price US$/oz $ 1,250 Exchange Rate CAD:USD 0.80 Physical Parameters Total Tonnes Processed (Life of Mine) Tonnes 4,539,800 Average Annual Throughput (2019+) tpa 403,000 Diluted Head Grade Au g/t 6.5 Gold Recovery % 95.4 % Mine Life Years 12 Total Ounces Recovered Ounces 904,000 Average Annual Production (2019 2020) Ounces 54,500 Average Annual Production (2021 2025) Ounces 106,900 Average Annual Production (LOM) Ounces 80,700 Peak Annual Production (2024) Ounces 121,400 Cost Parameters Mining Costs C$/tonne $ 90.83 Processing Costs C$/tonne $ 28.71 Site G&A C$/tonne $ 8.46 Total Costs C$/tonne $ 128.01 Capital Cost (LOM) Underground Development M C$ $ 176 Equipment M C$ $ 5 Infrastructure M C$ $ 24 Tailings Expansion M C$ $ 18 Process Plant Construction M C$ $ 59 Cost Summary LOM Average Cost US$/oz $ 507 LOM ASIC US$/oz $ 708 Mineral Resource The Mineral Resource incorporated into the PEA is based on the National Instrument (NI 43-101) 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate with an effective date of February 15, 2018. Mineral Resource Estimate, at 3.0 g/t Au Cut-Off1-6 Zone Tonnes Grade (g/t Au) Contained Gold (ounces) Indicated Sugar Zone 2,148,000 8.6 594,700 Middle Zone 460,000 8.1 119,500 Total 2,607,000 8.5 714,200 Inferred Sugar Zone 1,802,000 6.4 369,300 Middle Zone 1,788,000 6.8 391,500 Total 3,590,000 6.6 760,800 (1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. (2) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. (3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. (4) The Mineral Resources in the PEA were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. (5) Advanced Exploration Bulk Sample mined out area removed from the model. (6) The 3g/t Au cut-off was derived from US$1,250 Au price, US$0.80 exchange rate, C$86/t mining cost, C$28/t processing cost, C$5/t G&A cost, C$10/t sustaining Capex, US$5/oz refining cost, 96% processing recovery and US$115/oz shipping, smelting and royalty charges (averaged across total production). Mineable Mineralization for Mine Planning Purposes For purposes of mine planning, and after factoring in planned dilution, varying cut-off grades for stope and low grade development material, the Potentially Mineable Mineralization is comprised of 4.5 million tonnes at a diluted grade of 6.5 g/t Au, containing 941,000 ounces of gold. Potentially Mineable Mineralization For Mine Planning Zone Tonnes Diluted Grade (g/t Au) Contained Gold (ounces) Indicated Sugar Zone 2,057,000 7.2 474,000 Middle Zone 451,000 6.8 98,000 Total 2,508,000 7.1 571,000 Inferred Sugar Zone 731,000 6.0 141,000 Middle Zone 1,260,000 5.6 228,000 Total 1,991,000 5.8 370,000 Some figures may not add up due to rounding The Potentially Mineable Mineralization was determined using several cut-off grades ranging from 3.5 g/t Au for stope cut-off grades, down to 1.5 g/t Au for low grade development, with an average 4.3 g/t Au cut-off grade applied that included mine development capital costs. Approximately 534,000 ounces of the Mineral Resources were excluded from the PEA mine plan due to drill density and lower grade mineralization. A majority of the mineralization excluded is classified as Inferred Mineral Resources, located below the Sugar Zone North Ramp at 500 metres depth and the Middle Zone Ramp at 750 metres depth, illustrated in the following longitudinal projections. Longitudinal Projection Showing Mineral Resource Classification At The Sugar and Middle Zones Longitudinal Projection Illustrating Gold Grade Contours, Infill Drill Results And Future Mine Development Mine Plan Longitudinal longhole retreat stoping was selected as the mining method based on a favourable geometry, geotechnical understanding and the success of the Bulk Sample program completed in 2017. Both the mineralized material and the host rock are sufficiently competent to support the void sizes required for effective longhole stoping. Paste backfill will be the primary fill type. A level-by-level, bottom up stope sequence was applied to the stopes within each mining block. The Sugar Zone stope design was based on 15 metre levels, 50 metre lengths and factoring in 38% dilution. The Middle Zone stope design was based on 20 metre levels, 30 metre lengths and factoring in 28% dilution. The Sugar Zone North and South ramp stopes are targeted first, to maximize near-term production and minimize pre-production development costs. These areas are lower in grade for the first 18 months and will be mined before reaching higher grade stopes below. Average diluted grade over the first 18 months of production is 5.5 g/t Au. During years 2020 to 2025, the higher grade areas of both the Sugar and Middle Zones will be accessible, providing access to high grade stopes averaging a diluted head grade of 7.3 g/t Au during this period. From 2025 onward, the Inferred Mineral Resource currently classified as lower grade are mined at an assumed diluted grade averaging 5.3 g/t Au. Longitudinal projections illustrating the diluted mining grades and mining sequence by year are provided below. Mine Design Grade Distribution Initial mine production is targeted at a nominal rate of 540 tpd and will increase as underground development continues as per the schedule below: Phased Mine Production Schedule Phase 1 Mining Rate: 540 tpd (2018 2019) Initial operations are permitted to operate at 540 tpd Low risk ramp-up to commercial production Use of mine contractors in early years limits mining risk Process plant to operate up to 800 tpd, augmented by surface stockpiles Phase 2 Mining Rate: 800 tpd (2020) Existing surface and underground mining infrastructure is sufficient to support increased throughput Increase throughput via notification to Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) Phase 3 Mining Rate: 1,400 tpd (2021+) Throughput increased by adding second ball mill and leach circuit to eliminate concentrate shipments Incorporation of the Middle Zone allows for multiple stoping areas Transition to owner operated mining Impact Benefit Agreement covers all future expansions on the property Processing and Recovery 800 tpd Process Plant The process plant design was sized to support the initial Phase 1 mining rate of 540 tpd and Phase 2 increase of the mining rate to 800 tpd. The process plant commences by producing both a dore bar and a bagged gold concentrate through gravity concentration and flotation circuits, respectively. This process plant is currently under construction and is over 80% complete. The major process steps are as follows: Primary and Secondary crushing; Fine feed storage (stockpile); Grinding (ball mill); Gravity concentration; Flotation; Filtration; and Tailings thickening. Increasing to 1,400 tpd Harte Gold commissioned Halyard Inc. (Halyard) to prepare a study examining the Phase 3 process plant expansion to 1,400 tpd and incorporation of a flotation concentrate leaching circuit that would allow the Project to produce only a dore, rather than a combined dore and flotation concentrate output. The simplest option to support throughput expansion is to build a parallel ball mill, gravity circuit with 600 tpd capacity, then combine flotation concentrates in a common leaching circuit. In order to minimize duplicative capital and operating costs, some level of integration in combining circuits was examined. The Halyard study concluded that an additional process plant building is necessary to house a parallel ball mill and gravity circuit, a concentrate leaching circuit and a cyanide leach solution handling/gold recovery circuit, adjacent to the existing process plant facility. Other areas such as crushing, feed storage and flotation equipment can be successfully combined. Construction of the expanded process plant facility and flotation concentrate leaching circuit is expected to be completed by the end of year 2020 and operational for 2021. The following charts illustrate the positive impact of increased production. Throughput and Diluted Head Grade Annual Gold Production Over LOM Capital Costs and Working Capital Capital Costs (C$ Millions, As at March 31, 2018) Input Pre-Production (2018) Sustaining (2019+) Total (LOM) Underground Development $ 12 $ 164 $ 176 Process Plant Construction $ 36 $ 23 $ 59 Underground Infrastructure $ 9 $ 15 $ 24 Tailings Expansion $ 0 $ 18 $ 18 Equipment $ 1 $ 3 $ 5 Total Capital Costs $ 58 $ 223 $ 281 Pre-Production Capital Costs Due to of the amount of work already completed, very little additional development is required prior to stope production, serving to minimize commissioning risk. The remaining work includes completing sill development on five levels, long-hole drilling in advance of stope blasting, and ventilation drift development. Process plant construction is well underway. Detailed engineering began in Q1 2017, long lead equipment purchases were made in Q2 2017 and site construction began shortly thereafter. The process facility is over 60% completed. The total cost of process plant construction will be C$83 million, including the paste fill plant, tailings management, site power and other surface infrastructure, of which C$36 million remains. No significant pre-production underground infrastructure is required. The ventilation raise is completed and underground distribution has been upgraded. Remaining major infrastructure items include ventilation fans, a surface substation, paste fill distribution system and various underground support investments, which will be completed over the period of May through September 2018. Sustaining Capital Costs The largest sustaining capital item is the cost of underground development and maintaining a development rate that is sufficient to open enough working faces to support the planned mining rate. Increasing the mine production to 1,400 tpd will require developing the ramp from the Sugar Zone to the Middle Zone, which is scheduled to begin upon the start of commercial production. The Sugar Zone requires two ramps, the Sugar Zone North Ramp and Sugar Zone South Ramp, developed to a depth of approximately 1,000 metres and 500 metres, respectively. The Sugar Zone ramps incorporate linking ramps at approximately 180 metre intervals to support ventilation, pumping, etc. Approximately C$23 million of sustaining capital has been budgeted for the process plant throughput expansion to 1,400 tpd, which requires the following modifications: Additional cone crusher to increase capacity of the crushing circuit. A second parallel ball mill. Storage modifications and additional conveyors for the second ball mill. Three additional flotation cells. Concentrate regrind and leaching equipment. To support expansion of operations, the tailings management capacity will need to be increased over the life of mine. The initial expansion involves a second raise of the tailings dam in Q3 2020 and thereafter, development of a second tailings management facility, which was included as part of the approved environmental assessment. Opportunities To Enhance Project Value The Company has recognized several areas for opportunity to further enhance value at the Sugar Zone Project. Area of Focus Opportunities to Explore Management Target Higher Head Grade During previous Mineral Resource model updates, increasing drill density when converting Inferred to Indicated Mineral Resource and better classification has led to improved average Mineral Resource grades in the Indicated classification. This trend is likely to continue. Recent drilling in the Middle Zone (occurring after the database cut-off for this Mineral Resource model update) has increased the Indicated metal content per level in the Middle Zone. Au grade has maintained or improved and this is expected to continue. Improve head grade Target: 7.0 to 8.0 g/t Au Convert Additional PEA Mineral Resource Into Mine Plan A significant amount of the NI 43-101 Inferred Mineral Resources at the Sugar and Middle Zones were excluded from the PEA mine plan due to wide drill spacing resulting in lower grades. Infill drilling is underway in these areas and could substantially upgrade the Mineral Resources and add an additional +500,000 Au ounces currently not factored into the mine plan Increase mineable resource Target: Add +500,000 ounces to mine plan Grow Property Wide Mineral Resource Base The Sugar and Middle Zones remain open at depth and on strike. Incorporating new zones such as the Wolf Zone and the Footwall Zone will increase Mineral Resources and extend mine life. A property wide, systematic exploration programs across the remainder of the 80,000 hectare property are underway with significant potential to add additional deposits. TBD Optimize Mine Plan Scheduling, Reduce Mining Cost Sublevel spacings are considered conservative in an effort to minimize dilution. Mine optimization with further geotechnical analysis and data is likely to provide opportunities to increase stope dimensions and/or level interval, providing a cost and productivity benefit. Sill drift dimensions are expected to be optimized as drill and blast practices and equipment are honed during the ramp-up phase. Any modification to the sill development profile has the potential to increase the grade mined from the sills. Sill development accounts for approximately 20% of total mill feed production, but is 3 times the cost of drilling and blasting the stopes. Optimization of the mining sequence within each mining block has the potential to reduce the amount of remote mucking and thereby provide productivity and cost benefits. The mine plan incorporates a level-by-level, bottom-up mining sequence for each mining block (typically four levels), which simplifies planning and logistics, however stopes that span multiple levels and dimensioned according to local geotechnical limits have the potential to improve productivity. The assumed underlying contractor mining costs in the PEA appear conservative. As the mining costs are improved and Harte Gold transitions to its own mining team, there will be a positive impact on cash flows. Increasing the availability and implementation of battery powered equipment would provide opportunity to reduce ventilation costs, since mine ventilation is the major consumer of power in the mine. Reduce mining dilution Lower mining costs Project Economics The Project economics are summarized in the following table. A 2.0% net smelter royalty (NSR) is payable over mine life. The existing 3.5% NSR can be reduced to 2.0% on payment of $1.5 million. The Company expects to buy down the NSR in August 2018. NPV figures calculated on an after-tax basis factor in a 25% corporate income tax rate and 10% Ontario Mining Tax rate. NPV and IRR Summary Unit Gold Price Sensitivities US$1,150/oz PEA Pricing US$1,350/oz Macro Parameters Gold Price US$/oz $ 1,150 $ 1,250 $ 1,350 Exchange Rate CAD:USD 0.80 0.80 0.80 Pre-Tax NPV and IRR NPV @ 5% M C$ $ 263 $ 344 $ 425 IRR % 40 % 50 % 60 % Post-Tax NPV and IRR NPV @ 5% M C$ $ 189 $ 244 $ 299 IRR % 34 % 42 % 50 % QA/QC Statement The Company has implemented a quality assurance and control (QA/QC) program to ensure sampling and analysis of mine and exploration work is conducted in accordance with industry standards. Drill core is sawn in half with one half of the core shipped to Actlabs Laboratories located in Thunder Bay, ON, while the other half is retained at the Companys core facilities in White River, ON, for future verification. Certified reference standards and blanks are inserted into the sample stream on a regular interval basis and monitored as part of the QA/QC program. Gold analysis is performed by fire assay using atomic absorption, gravimetric or pulp metallic finish. The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 guidelines. Qualified Persons and NI 43-101 Disclosure Robert Kusins, P. Geo., Harte Golds Senior Mineral Resource geologist, is the Companys Qualified Person and has prepared, supervised the preparation, or approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. Independent Qualified Person, Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that PEA results will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. About Harte Gold Corp. Harte Gold Corp. is focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned Sugar Zone Property where it has recently completed a 70,000 tonne Advanced Exploration Bulk Sample at the Sugar Zone Deposit and mined 30,000 tonnes under its Phase I Commercial Production Permit. The Sugar Zone Property is located 80 kilometres east of the Hemlo Gold Camp. Using a 3 g/t Au cut-off, the Mineral Resource Estimate dated February 15, 2018 contains an Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of 2,607,000 tonnes grading 8.52 g/t Au for 714,200 ounces of contained gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 3,590,000 tonnes, grading 6.59 g/t Au for 760,800 ounces of contained gold. Harte Gold also holds the Stoughton-Abitibi property located on the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone, east of Timmins, Ontario, and adjacent to the Holloway Gold Mine. For further information, please contact: Stephen G. Roman President and CEO Tel: 416-368-0999 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Shawn Howarth Vice President, Corporate Development Tel: 416-368-0999 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This presentation contains forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to completion of any financings; Harte Golds development potential and timetable of its operating, development and exploration assets; Harte Golds ability to raise additional funds necessary; the future price of gold; the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources; conclusions of economic evaluation; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production, development and exploration; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; currency exchange rates; government regulation of mining operations; and environmental and permitting risks. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Harte Gold to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks described in the annual information form of Harte Gold and in its public documents filed on SEDAR from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although management of Harte Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Harte Gold does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should also review the risks and uncertainties sections of Harte Golds annual and interim MD&As. The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Burundis press regulator on Friday said it was suspending broadcasts by the BBC and Voice of America (VOA) by local radio stations ahead of a constitutional referendum on May 17. The head of Burundis National Communications Council told journalists in the capital Bujumbura that a six-month ban would come into force on Monday. Karenga Ramadhani accused the BBC and VOA of breaches of the law governing the press and ethics. The BBC, he said, damaged the reputation of President Pierre Nkurunziza during a discussion programme and had ignored previous warnings. Burundis government earlier this week urged the regulator to take action against the BBC which it accused of spreading incendiary statements hatred and subversion. VOA is accused of spreading very tendentious information and hiring a journalist sought by Burundian justice. French broadcaster RFI also received a warning for disseminating tendentious and misleading information. Two local stations, Isanganiro and CCIB FM+, were also issued with warnings over an alleged lack of rigorous verification of sources. The BBC did not immediately respond to the suspension but VOA issued a statement condemning the move. We are dismayed by the actions taken today by the Burundi National Communications Council to ban VOA from broadcasting its news and information programs, said VOA director Amanda Bennett. Both the BBC and VOA broadcast daily in the national language, Kirundi, and have for decades drawn large numbers of avid listeners, especially in rural areas. This is a sign of the times, because even the previous regimes never dared to close the BBC, even during the civil war when it gave voice to the rebels who are now in power, a Burundian journalist said on condition of anonymity. The Burundian government has decided to silence them while we are in the middle of an referendum campaign, probably so that Burundians do not hear those who advocate no or call for a boycott, he added. Burundians are due to vote in a constitutional referendum that would allow Nkurunziza to rule for another two terms up to 2034. The 54-year-old president has ruled the tiny central African nation since 2005. His run for a controversial third term in 2015 triggered a deep political crisis that has since seen 1,200 people killed and 400,000 flee their homes. The violence and abuses are being investigated by International Criminal Court (ICC) while a vicious press crackdown has seen the majority of independent journalists leave the country. The BBC on its website says it broadcasts to Burundi on FM relay stations and on two local partner stations. VOA, which has two FM transmitters, said its programmes would continue to be available on shortwave radio and via the internet. Veterinary intervention helps Kansas bald eagle fly again after lead poisoning Friday, May 4, 2018 Lead poisoning is an increasing problem for wildlife and especially for bald eagles. When consumed, it can operate as a neurotoxin causing damage to the nervous system and blood disorders. In January, the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine received a sick bald eagle named Spar. See his road to recovery. MANHATTAN Thanks to diligent action by concerned landowners, local law enforcement, staff of the Milford Nature Center and veterinary intervention at Kansas State University, a bald eagle suffering from lead contamination is flying again over the Tuttle Creek River Pond near Manhattan. "The eagle was brought to us on Jan. 11," said James Carpenter, professor of wildlife and zoological medicine at the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University. "It was depressed, emaciated, not eating and unable to fly. The prognosis for regaining its health appeared poor." After the bird was admitted to the Veterinary Health Center, a physical examination and testing found it was suffering from lead poisoning. It was also determined that the eagle was a male around 4 1/2 years old. Birds acquire lead poisoning most commonly by consuming dead animals that were shot by lead bullets or from other sources of lead contamination, according to Carpenter. He also said that lead toxicity is a common ailment in eagles, noting that one raptor center in Minnesota reported 25 percent of the eagles submitted there had toxic levels of lead in their blood. Carpenter has many years of experience working with bald eagles. Before joining Kansas State University in 1989, he headed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Propagation Program at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland for 15 years. During this time, this program reintroduced 83 captive-produced eagles into the wild in 13 states. "While I was at Patuxent, a severely debilitated eagle was brought to us and we diagnosed lead poisoning," Carpenter said. "That was the index case the first case ever reported of lead poisoning in a bald eagle. So now, over 35 years later, we're still working on the same issue." At the Veterinary Health Center, the eagle received the standard treatment protocols for lead toxicity: medication a chelating agent to reduce its lead levels and lots of intensive support care. The eagle's treatment also was an educational opportunity for the university's veterinary students. Carpenter was assisted on the case by Rob Browning, an exotic animal intern, along with three fourth-year veterinary students and a veterinary technician. The students named the bald eagle Spar. After five days of treatment, Spar's condition improved and he was sent to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism's Milford Nature Center, northwest of Junction City, for rehabilitation. Vanessa Avara, assistant director at the Milford Nature Center, said birds rehabilitating at the center first receive intensive care inside the building and then are taken outside to one of the center's specialized bird enclosures to get them used to the weather. The enclosures include a large flight pen. The birds are kept for several weeks while they build up muscle and strength so they can be released back into the wild, as Spar was. Avara said most eagles brought to the center suffering from lead poisoning got it by eating fish that had ingested lead sinkers or eating deer that were shot with lead ammunition. "A lot of people don't realize how much lead ammunition fragments when it hits a target," Avara said. "Fragments can go 17 inches from the entry point, and some of that is microscopic. It doesn't take much to poison a bird like an eagle maybe two or three pieces the size of a BB can cause serious problems with one of those birds." When the lead gets into the gastrointestinal tract of an eagle, it breaks down and is absorbed, Carpenter said. "Once in the bloodstream, lead can affect numerous organs, resulting in clinical signs of disease, including neurologic signs," Carpenter said. "Most eagles with lead toxicity will die or, even if rescued, may be euthanized if they are profoundly ill." Browning and his students visited Spar at the Milford Nature Center a few times and monitored the lead levels in his blood. Finally, at the end March, Spar was taken to Tuttle Creek where he was released. "With every animal that we have come through rehab, release is our goal," Avara said. "It isn't always the outcome. To get that eagle out there is awesome because I have had two eagles die in my hands from lead poisoning in the last three months." Carpenter agrees that Spar's recovery and release to the wild were important. "I think it had a great impact on our students and others who viewed the release," Carpenter said. "We're really appreciative of the wildlife fund that we have at the Veterinary Health Center, which is a fund made possible by the financial contributions of private individuals who share our passion for wildlife. This fund paid for all the diagnostics and medications provided to this eagle. I'm just appreciative that my students and I could be involved and see the whole treatment and release process." Spar, a bald eagle, is released back to the wild after successful treatment for lead poisoning at Kansas State University's Veterinary Health Center and a rehabilitation stay at the Milford Nature Center. | Download this photo. Kansas State Polytechnic partnering with Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to provide UAS training Friday, May 4, 2018 Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus offers a variety of UAS training courses, including customized trainings to meet specific industry or organization needs. | Download this photo. SALINA Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus is partnering with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to send 30 employees, including 12 law enforcement officers, through unmanned aircraft systems training from May through June. The employees will attend sUAS Commercial Remote Pilot Training and then be eligible to sit for the Federal Aviation Administration exam to become certified as remote pilots in command. Eighteen Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism staff members will complete Basic Multirotor Training, becoming proficient in basic aircraft maneuvers and safety procedures. Twelve officers who serve in an enforcement capacity will complete the Law Enforcement Training over two separate weeks. This training provides officers with extensive hands-on flight training related to fundamental and advanced maneuvers, crew resource management, accident scene reconstruction, search and rescue, and night operations. Both flight training courses will utilize Kansas State Polytechnic's industry-leading aircraft and payload technology. "We are extremely proud to be selected as the UAS training provider for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism," said Kurt Carraway, executive director of the Kansas State Polytechnic's Applied Aviation Research Center. "This is our first opportunity to train an entire statewide division, and the opportunity for two state of Kansas entities to partner is always exciting. The synergy behind this collaboration will continue to keep Kansas as the frontrunner in UAS technology and integration." Susan Steffen, fisheries biologist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, said she and her fellow department employees are looking forward to the professional instruction and comprehensive hands-on training provided by Kansas State Polytechnic. "The UAS training will help our law enforcement officers ensure safety across the state by being able to conduct search and recovery efforts more efficiently with UAS," Steffen said. "Our biologists will be able to use the UAS training to conduct research on fish and wildlife populations." Kansas State Polytechnic was recently named third-place winner in the training and education category of the 2018 XCELLENCE Awards by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International. This award recognizes the valuable training and service offered by Kansas State Polytechnic to the UAS industry. Kansas State Polytechnic offers a variety of UAS training courses, including offering customized training to meet specific industry or organization needs. To learn more about Kansas State Polytechnic's UAS training courses, visit ksu-uas.com/fly-with-the-experts/training/. Organizations interested in individualized training should contact Professional Education and Outreach at profed@k-state.edu. One of the constants during our recent three week trip to Thailand was absolutely fantastic street food enjoyed at the many night markets we visited, paired with bottles of cold Chang Beer. Whether we were eating a huge bowl of noodle soup, a fragrant curry with rice, a pile of battered and deep fried seafood, a cook-yourself hot pot of meat and vegetables, or classic pad thai noodles in an omelette wrap, Changs golden lager was the beverage of choice, readily available across the country. Launched in 1995, Chang is now available in nearly fifty countries around the world. Combining soft water extracted from deep-water wells in Thailand, and the best of international barley, yeast and hops, Chang is a crisp, full-flavoured, easy-drinking lager with a gentle fruit and hop aroma. Im already longing for a return visit but Thailand is a long way away and flights are expensive. The good news is that residents of London can sign up for Chang Sensory Trails, launching in London on the 12th May. Inspired by the Thai philosophy of Lamiat that is at the core of the Chang brand, this years multi-sensory event is all about establishing kinship with others through mutual respect and a common appreciation of perfection in this case, the ttperfection of food, art and music. Chang Sensory Trails brings together the best of Thai food (paired with Chang beer, of course), with Thai music and art. Chang have invited the head chefs of eight Thai restaurants in the capital to share the best of their menus at the event, with each head chef also creating a limited edition dish that pairs perfectly with a cold bottle of Chang beer. The eight participating restaurants and their chefs special dishes for Sensory Trails 101 Thai kitchen Pad Grapow Chicken (stir-fried chicken with chillies, garlic and basil, served with steamed rice and fried egg) Pad Grapow Chicken (stir-fried chicken with chillies, garlic and basil, served with steamed rice and fried egg) Bang Bang Soho Thai-style Slow-cooked Beef Rendang (an Indonesian classic with a Thai twist! Creamy and aromatic beef with our original blend of fresh herbs and spices) Thai-style Slow-cooked Beef Rendang (an Indonesian classic with a Thai twist! Creamy and aromatic beef with our original blend of fresh herbs and spices) Lao Cafe Papaya Salad Thai-Lao style (the famous Laotian salad. Spicy & zingy with a customisable level of spice) Papaya Salad Thai-Lao style (the famous Laotian salad. Spicy & zingy with a customisable level of spice) Nipa Phad Thai Koong (fried rice noodles with beansprouts, spring onions, egg and prawns) Phad Thai Koong (fried rice noodles with beansprouts, spring onions, egg and prawns) Patara Chicken Massaman (coconut milk-braised chicken in a mild homemade curry of warm spices with peanuts, onions, potatoes and crispy onion to finish) Chicken Massaman (coconut milk-braised chicken in a mild homemade curry of warm spices with peanuts, onions, potatoes and crispy onion to finish) Rosas Tom Yum Noodles (zingy & spicy rice noodles in Tom Yum-flavoured garnishes) Tom Yum Noodles (zingy & spicy rice noodles in Tom Yum-flavoured garnishes) Tawana Moo Yang Jim Jael (Thai-style grilled pork loin, marinated with Thai herbs and served with ground roasted rice) Moo Yang Jim Jael (Thai-style grilled pork loin, marinated with Thai herbs and served with ground roasted rice) Thai Tho Green Chicken Curry (authentic Thai green curry with chicken, chilli, bamboo shoot and sweet basil) I popped into Rosas this week to preview their Tom Yum Noodle dish ahead of the event, together with a selection from their regular menu. I also interviewed Chef Saiphin about her dish. How would you describe your Tom Yum Noodle dish, especially to someone who may not be familiar with Tom Yum flavours? Chef Saiphin: Tom Yum Noodles is a combination of rice noodles with lime juice, chilli powder, fish sauce and a bit of sugar to create a well-balanced flavour. The dish is commonly served with minced pork or fishballs in two ways, with soup or without, then garnished with coriander and sometimes crushed roasted peanuts. We will be serving the dry noodles version at the Chang Sensory Trails event. Many Thais often use the condiment tray to customise their own noodles thats part of the fun when eating noodles! Tom Yum literally means to boil and to mix so this dish is a combination of two cooking methods. We cook the noodles and the meat, then mix them all with the garnishes to make a zingy and spicy dish that truly represents the flavours of Thailand. What characteristics of the dish do you think make it such a great match for Chang Beer and why does Chang Beer work so well with Thai food? Chef Saiphin: The Tom Yum Noodles is a spicy and sour dish which needs a light and refreshing beer like Chang to cleanse the palate and calm the spices! An iced cold Chang is such a great beer to go with Thai food because of its subtle taste that complements rather than overpowers the complex flavours of food. Not to mention, the green glass bottle is pretty iconic and looks great next to the vibrant Thai dishes! Im so looking forward to attending Sensory Trails next week, and enjoying the atmosphere of celebration and excellence. Visit Changs Sensory Trails Event Page on Facebook to register and find event details for Londons event. Happening on the 12th May, it starts at noon and runs to 10 pm, at Last Days of Shoreditch. Entry is free, and youll need cash rather than card to pay for food and drink. Chang Sensory Trails is being staged across the world, and will be heading to Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh soon. Find out about events near you via Chang Beers social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or search for hashtags #ChangSensoryTrails and #ChangBeer. This post has been commissioned and sponsored by Chang Beer. 134 Shares Share A recent article and accompanying commentary in the journal Pediatrics describe what we currently know about children who have died from influenza over the past decade or more. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has collected information about this since the 2003-2004 influenza season. In that first report, there were 153 deaths. Since then there have been at least 100 influenza deaths annually among children. Several characteristics have not changed. About half of the deaths occur in children who were otherwise normal; that is, they had no underlying chronic condition that would predispose them to having more severe cases. Although the median age was six years, mortality was highest among the youngest children those younger than six months. Most of the children who died, over 70 percent, had not been vaccinated against influenza. This is not a completely surprising finding since influenza vaccine is recommended for children six months or older. However, an important way to transmit the benefit of at least some immunity to infants and very young children is to vaccinate pregnant women since some protective antibody crosses over from mother to infant and lasts for several months at least. Currently, only about a third of pregnant women are vaccinated. Influenza is a stubborn and wily virus, traits that make designing a highly effective vaccine challenging. Its natural reservoir is several species of birds. It has three main subtypes, with the most serious disease typically coming from influenza A. The virus replicates itself in a way that results in frequent mutations, causing what is termed antigenic drift. This means the virus has the property of changing rapidly, making it something of a moving target for developing a vaccine against it. This is why our influenza vaccine changes every season in an effort to keep up with the rapid alterations. Immunity to last years version often doesnt help much for this year. This also help explain why some years influenza is more mild, other years more deadly. There have been several severe pandemics from influenza when a particularly nasty version emerges, the most severe being in 1918 to 1919. That one killed over 50 million people. These things make influenza vaccine one of our less effective vaccines. It reduces the incidence and severity of disease, but it cannot eliminate it outright, such as other vaccines directed against stable viruses like polio and smallpox can. Influenza is also notorious for paving the way for secondary infection from bacteria that happen to be resident in the respiratory system, such as staphylococci and streptococci. Many of the deaths are from such secondary infections. You can read much more about the details of the virus and its vaccine. In the USA the influenza season runs from fall until early spring. The graph above shows the past seasons trends in both documented and presumed cases (influenza-like illness). The horizontal axis shows week of the year. The vaccine is based upon the best guess of experts who survey viral trends around the world. Some years they guess better than other years. It usually is available in October. The current vaccine is a killed one, meaning that, whatever you have read on the internet, you cannot get the infection from the vaccine. Two doses are recommended for children who have not previously received it. Like all pediatric experts, I highly recommend it. Health care workers such as me are required to get it. I agree with the author of the commentary cited above that our best approach for reducing the death rate in children too young to get the vaccine themselves is increasing the vaccination rate in pregnant women. Christopher Johnson is a pediatric intensive care physician and author of Keeping Your Kids Out of the Emergency Room: A Guide to Childhood Injuries and Illnesses, Your Critically Ill Child: Life and Death Choices Parents Must Face, How to Talk to Your Childs Doctor: A Handbook for Parents, and How Your Child Heals: An Inside Look At Common Childhood Ailments. He blogs at his self-titled site, Christopher Johnson, MD. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Politik reports: The Speaker, Trevor Mallard, is surprised a Select Committee cut short its investigation into an alleged attempt by Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran to pressure a witness before the Committee. He is suggesting he may have disagreed with a decision by the Economic Development Select Committee not to further investigate alleged attempts by Broadcasting Minister, Clare Curran, to stop Radio New Zealand chair, Richard Griffin from appearing before the committee. The Government used its majority on the committee to end the investigation. The worst case for scenario for Curran, if the Committee had continued its investigations, may have been that she was found in contempt of Parliament which would have placed her Ministerial appointment at jeopardy. Mallards comments in a letter to a National MP and in an interview with POLITIK cast doubt on Currans claims that she has been cleared by the Economic Development Select Committee and the implication that she has been exonerated. Mallard clearly believes that the National MPs on the Committee were correct when they said there were still unanswered questions. The decision not to take the matter any further was made by the three Labour MPs and one Green and one NZ First MP on the Committee over the objections of the five National MPs. So the Greens voted to prevent the investigation. Mallard replied that the way to get to the bottom of the matter was through further questioning of those involved. On the evidence presented it is not clear that there was any attempt to intimidate, prevent or hinder the chairperson of Radio New Zealand, he said in his reply to Lee. Therefore I find that no question of privilege is involved. In an email to POLITIK Curran has argued that his decision has cleared her. But that may not be the way Mallard sees it. In his letter to Lee, he makes it clear that he believes the Committee had not exhausted its potential investigation into the matter. What he doesnt say but which he has previously told POLITIK - is that the Committee has the power to refer the request for the voicemail message to him. Any refusal by Griffin to then provide it could also potentially be a Contempt of Parliament, possibly punishable by a fine. But the Government used its majority on the committee to not refer the matter to Mallard, thereby protecting Curran. Mallard was surprised by this decision. I had expected and had prepared for the committee asking me to send for a copy of the recording, he told POLITIK. I thought that was a way to make absolutely clear which of the incompatible versions was correct. if I had had a request I would have taken action to require Mr Griffin to provide the message, as far as possible, because it had been deleted, but if it was possible that it could be recovered and that way make it clear what had occurred, and I was surprised that the committee did not ask for that to happen. So the Speaker is saying he would have backed a select committee request for the recording to be turned over. But thanks to the Greens and NZ First, the truth will now never be known. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More Reddit Pinterest Print Tumblr By Kim Yoo-chul, Nam Hyun-woo The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the country's top financial regulator, said it will initiate a probe of Korea Investment & Securities. The inspection will begin May 8 and go through June 1. In a statement, the FSS said it will send 18 skilled inspectors to the headquarters of the brokerage. The agency said the inspection is aimed at looking into the brokerage's business "across the board." The regulator added the inspection has "no relation" with the ongoing probe into Samsung BioLogics after the Samsung affiliate was suspected of being involved in breaching accounting rules when it made its initial public offering (IPO) in 2016. The brokerage was one of the lead managers to handle the Samsung IPO at that time. "The planned audit of the brokerage is part of a scheduled plan by the FSS in which the regulator plans to audit brokerages whose total equity surpasses 1 trillion won," an FSS official said. Korea Investment & Securities is the only brokerage the FSS has given a license to manage investment bank (IB) operations, making it possible to issue short bills on a need basis. Although the FSS said the inspection is a "scheduled one," analysts and watchers say the regulator will "deeply look into" cases whether the brokerage has any issues that are clash with regulatory practices during Samsung BioLogics' listing process. FSS said Samsung BioLogics had violated accounting rules to "deliberately inflate" its profit before the listing. But the Samsung affiliate said its listing met within "legal guidelines" based on an IFRS standard, an international accounting measure. Samsung BioLogics, listed on the local stock market in November 2016, showed a dramatic turnaround in its accounting books, logging 1.9 trillion won in net profit in 2015, shifting from a loss in the previous four years. At that time, Korea Investment & Securities said, "Samsung BioLogics posted operating losses because of the nature of a bio contract manufacturing organization in which a company takes two to three years to create sales and operating profit." 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 New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, his third visit to the Himalayan state since he took over the reins of the government in 2014, the Ministry of External Affairs today said. This is also the first high-level visit from India since the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Nepal, the MEA said in a statement. Modi's visit to Nepal comes a little more than a month after Prime Minister Oli visited India. Oli had invited Modi to his country. During Oli's visit, 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". Oli's visit was seen as an attempt to repair Nepal's ties with India. In 2016, Oli had publicly criticised India for allegedly 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. Yesterday, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Indian and Nepalese sides are working on various aspects of Modi's visit. During the visit, besides holding talks with Oli, Modi will call on the President and the Vice President of Nepal, and interact with senior leaders of various political parties of Nepal. Modi will also be visiting the historic cities of Janakpur and Muktinath, apart from engagements in Kathmandu. "The state visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal, and will enable leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and to strengthen cooperation in all areas of age-old, multi-faceted and expanding partnership between the two countries," the statement said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mexico City, May 4 (AFP) The US ambassador to Mexico stepped down today after announcing her resignation in March, setting up a delicate transition period at a time of sharp tension between the two neighbours. Ambassador Roberta Jacobson was to celebrate a final farewell with embassy staff today afternoon, then fly out on Saturday, the embassy said. President Donald Trump has not yet named a replacement for the ambassador, a respected Western-hemisphere expert appointed by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Her deputy, William Duncan, will head the embassy in the interim. The transition comes at a rough moment in US-Mexican relations, as Jacobson herself acknowledged. "There are differences, there are tensions, we can't deny it," she said Thursday in an interview with Mexican TV network Televisa. "But that doesn't mean there isn't progress we have to continue in other areas, and also on security and migration." Mexico seethed last month when Trump ordered thousands of National Guard troops to the two countries' border following media reports on a caravan of Central American migrants crossing Mexico toward the United States. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto responded by ordering a sweeping review of Mexico's cooperation with the US, including in the vital areas of security and trade. Tension has also soared over Trump's vows to build a wall on the border, his disparaging remarks on Mexican immigrants and his threats to axe the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Pena Nieto has twice cancelled plans to visit Washington after heated phone calls in which Trump refused to back off his vows to make Mexico pay for his border wall. Known as one of the best-liked US ambassadors to Mexico in recent memory, Jacobson sent a series of nostalgic tweets in her final week on her love of Mexico's people, food and natural beauty, and the simple pleasure of walking her dog Taco in the park. She is one of dozens of senior State Department staff to leave under Trump, who has been slow to fill top diplomatic posts. Newly sworn in Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Wednesday to work to get the State Department's "swagger back" after the troubled tenure of his predecessor, Rex Tillerson. (AFP) MRJ (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: 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 the Philippines in 2017 seeking legal assistance in the investigation. Karen was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippines on October 11, 2017, and she has been charged for incitement to rebellion. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 03, 2018 10:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Kabul, May 04 : At least five militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist outfit have been killed during the airstrikes of the US forces in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. The US forces carried out airstrikes using unmanned aerial vehicles in Haska Mina district, Khaama Press reported. Some heavy and light weapons belonging to the terror group have been destroyed as well. No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups, including IS militants in connection with the report so far. This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain northern provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities in the north. The US military based in Afghanistan also conduct regular airstrikes against the IS, Taliban, and other militant and terrorist groups. The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants, according to the reports. Zimbabwe has legalized the production of marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes, making it the rare African country to turn the drug into a source of revenue. A government notice issued by the health minister says individuals and corporations can apply for licenses to grow marijuana, whose production and possession previously had incurred up to 12 years in prison. Recreational use remains illegal. The decision is a marked shift from the traditionally tough stance on marijuana in the largely conservative country where members of Parliament who had advocated for legalization often were openly mocked. Advertisement The tiny nation of Lesotho last year became the first in Africa to issue a license for medical marijuana. Countries including Malawi and Ghana are reportedly exploring ways to legalize the drug. A South African court last year ruled that private use of marijuana was legal, but the government appealed the ruling at the Constitutional Court. Much of Africa still criminalizes the production and use of marijuana. Africa is second only to the Americas in terms of production and consumption of the drug, according to the United Nations 2017 World Drug Report. Bugatti planning "controversial" Chiron off-shoot? May 4, 2018, 5:51am ET What could the brand have in store? Bugatti recently gave a small group of hand-selected customers a preview of an upcoming Chiron off-shoot. While most key details remain under wraps, the yet-unnamed model promises to split public opinion. Youtuber Whitesse JR called the model "controversial" without providing further details. It won't look anything like the standard Chiron so it's not merely an appearance package. What could the brand have in store? Speculation leads us to the possibility of a retro-styled model, one inspired by the company's illustrious past. The Youtuber adds the model will receive the Chiron's stock engine, a quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter 16-cylinder that pumps out about 1,500 horsepower. It transfers its monstrous output to the four wheels and gives the Chiron a 2.5-second zero-to-60-mph time. Bugatti hasn't revealed anything about the model; we don't know what it will be called or when it will break cover. If it's already been shown to prospective customers, there's a good chance it will make its public debut before the end of the year. The French brand could unveil it on the auto show circuit, so likely in Paris or in Los Angeles, or it could select a more exclusive event like the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Production will be "pretty limited" and it's not unreasonable to assume most -- if not all -- of the production run has already been spoken for. Note: Bugatti Chiron Sport pictured. Photography by Ronan Glon. Hyundai planning second design-led concept May 4, 2018, 2:39am ET We\'ll see the concept by the end of the year. The Hyundai Le Fil Rouge concept introduced last March at the Geneva auto show was the first in a series of stylish design studies, the company has announced. The Le Fil Rouge (pictured) took the form of a four-door coupe. Hyundai design boss Sang-up Lee confirmed the brand will keep the momentum going with a second concept scheduled to break cover by the end of the year. "You have a king, queen, bishop, knight - they're all different, but they become a team when they're all together. This is our strategy. I call it a Hyundai look, not a family look," Lee told British magazine Autocar. He called the Le Fil Rouge concept the queen. The next concept will embody the bishop, though he stopped short of revealing what form it will take. Like its sedan counterpart, it will draw inspiration from Hyundai's recent "sensuous sportiness" design language. Hyundai remains committed to steering well clear of the so-called Russian doll approach to car styling many auto-makers have adopted in recent years. Above all, it wants to build cars with a more emotional design. "We're known for good, practical cars and value for money but we really want to add emotional value on top of that, as a quality booster. It's important for our next step," he added.While we don't know when we'll see Hyundai's next concept, it's reasonable to assume it will make its debut at either the Paris auto show or the Los Angeles auto show. Photography by Ronan Glon. A Polish national has been sentenced to five years in jail, with a portion suspended, for having over 15,000 of drugs for sale or supply in Portlaoise. He was engaged up to his neck in the sale and supply of drugs in the Portlaoise area, said Judge Keenan Johnson of Michal Malecki (41), with an address listed at Hawthorn Drive, Portlaoise. At Portlaoise Circuit Court, Sgt Brian Farrell gave evidence, along with State barrister, Mr Will Fennelly, that as part of an operation into drug dealing in the Portlaoise area, the gardai searched a house at Hawthorn Drive on May 18, 2017. They discovered an Aldi bag containing cannabis herb and a cardboard box with deal bags, as well as two sets of weighing scales and a plastic cup containing cannabis herb. Behind the cylinder in the hot press was located a vacuum packed bag containing half a kilo of cannabis herb, and the gardai also found crystal meth. In the bedroom was located a cash register tray containing 2,820 in cash and a tick list. In total there were 670.8g of cannabis to a value of 13,400, and 30.16g of crystal meth worth 1,825. The total value of drugs found was 15,225. In interview, the accused told gardai he was selling the drugs to friends, but Sgt Farrell told the court that the gardai knew he was selling to the wider area. Sgt Farrell said the accused claimed he owed money, which was why he was selling. Sgt Farrell said that the accused, a Polish national living in Ireland for six or seven months at the time, had never claimed social welfare here and had never worked. The accused had two previous convictions. The court heard that he was initially released on bail on these charges, but following another garda operation he was remanded in custody and his bail was revoked. Defence for the accused said that Malecki had feared for his safety and had been afraid to tell gardai where the drugs came from. Defence said the accused was a heavy user of cannabis himself, to which Sgt Farrell replied that the accused was using 20g of the drug a week. Defence said that the accused had engaged with the criminal justice system fully, although he had been undoubtedly playing a role in the scourge of drugs in this area. In sentencing, Judge Johnson said the accused had been engaged up to his neck in the sale and supply of drugs in the Portlaoise area. This activity is all too prevalent in the Portlaoise area and is contributing to crime, said the judge. He said drugs cause a criminal feeding frenzy and the accused had enabled this type of unruly behaviour to take place. The judge said that crystal meth was a very corrosive, damaging drug and the accused had also had a bulk of cannabis, which was a serious plague and scourge on society. Judge Johnson also noted that the accuseds partner, with whom he lived, was a nurse in a local nursing home and remarked he was amazed that a nurse would allow this sort of activity to go on in her home. In mitigation, Judge Johnson said that the accused has a daughter and his incarceration in prison will impact on his relationship on her. The fact that the accused is a foreign national was also considered in mitigation, as this would make his incarceration more difficult. For the sale or supply of cannabis, Judge Johnson imposed a five year sentence, with the final two years suspended for seven years on condition the accused enter into a peace bond, and remain alcohol and drug free for seven years. The other charge was taken into consideration. Judge Johnson also directed that the 2,820 seized go to the local Merchants Quay. A man who operated a sophisticated cannabis growhouse in Durrow containing an estimated 64,000 of cannabis plants has been given a suspended sentence by Portlaoise Circuit Court. Robert Farrell (28), Dublin 2, pleaded guilty to the cultivation of cannabis plants, on March 23, 2016. Garda Stephen Murphy gave evidence, along with State barrister, Mr Will Fennelly, that on that date the gardai attended at a house at Knockanoran, Durrow. No one was present at the time and the gardai had to force the front door, which was nailed shut, discovering a cannabis growhouse inside. 80 cannabis plants valued at 800 each were found, giving a total of 64,000 of the drug. The house was equipped with extractor fans piped through the chimney to vent it, as well as heaters with lighting on a timer and fertiliser. Garda Murphy said that the electricity supply had been bypassed to a certain extent and left in a dangerous situation. Mr Fennelly described it as quite a sophisticated growhouse. The owner of the house was contacted and confirmed that it was being rented by the accused, who was later arrested at his address in Dublin 2. The accused was fully compliant with gardai, telling them that he had a cannabis addiction and owed money to people in Durrow, which was why he was overseeing the operation. The accused had previous convictions, including some for drug possession. Defence for the accused, barrister Mr Seamus Clarke said that 50 fully grown plants and 30 which were not fully grown had been found in the house, with 800 the value of a fully grown plant. He said that the accused had been preyed upon by persons he owed a debt to and the plants were not his property, with no profits from them going to the accused. Mr Clarke asked was the State sure the electricity had been bypassed as the accused was adamant it had not been. Garda Murphy replied that wires were exposed on the property. Judge Keenan Johnson noted an ESB bill for 334 and asked the garda was he sure the supply was bypassed. Garda Murphy said that some of the supply had been bypassed, but Mr Clarke said his client, an electrician by trade, did not want the court to think he had bypassed the supply. Defence again asked was the State sure, to which Garda Murphy replied that he could not be certain it had been bypassed. Mr Clarke went on to say that the accused had been very afraid of the individuals he had owed money to. He started taking cannabis at a young age and developed a problem, before he was preyed on by others. The accuseds name was used on the tenancy agreement, but other people were profiting, said Mr Clarke. Defence said that the accused is now drug free and had finished residential treatment. He was a patsy whose name was put on the tenancy agreement while others profited, said Mr Clarke. In sentencing, Judge Johnson said there was sophistication to the growhouse, although the accused was a novice who has been assessed at a medium risk of reoffending. The accused had been in the throes of a heavy drug addiction at the time and since his apprehension had made efforts to turn his life around. The judge imposed a four-year sentence, suspended for seven years on condition the accused enter into a peace bond; he remain under probation supervision for two years; he remain cannabis free and provide urine analysis; he continue his treatment for depression and continue to attend with a drugs counsellor; and he pay a total of 10,000, in five 2,000 annual installments, to be divided between the Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, the Portlaoise branch of St Vincent de Paul, and the Cuisle Centre. Hes very fortunate to be walking out, the judge warned. This Sunday will see the crowning of the 14th Laois Rose since Anne Marie Bowe first represented the county in 2004. Laois has been brilliantly represented by women from all over the county on the Rose of Tralee stage since 2004, when the festival expanded to allow all counties to take part. In 2005, Kathryn OConnell from Timahoe was Laois Rose, 2006 saw Alison OGrady represent Laois followed by Ballyroan woman Claire Sutton in 2007. In 2010, Bernadette Ryan from Rathdowney was crowned Laois Rose and she was the first Rose to make it to the Dome in Tralee since Anne Marie Bowe in 2004. In more recent years, Sarah Conlon was the 2013 Laois Rose, Barrowhouse woman Teresa Marie Brennan in 2014, Ailbhe Culleton from Portlaoise in 2015 followed by Clough's Kate Hyland and current Laois Rose Maeve Dunne. Former Laois Rose, Bernadette Ryan, shared her memories with the Leinster Express ahead of the 2018 selection night on May 6. Looking back at why she entered the Laois Rose, Bernadette told the Leinster Express she wanted to connect with her Tralee roots while rebuilding a new life in Laois after returning from studying in the UK. My parents moved to Tralee as a young couple. When they moved to Laois they were very proud Laois people. My dad was from Tipperary and my mam is from Monaghan and they chose Laois as their home, as have I. When I trained as a teacher 10 years ago, I moved home to Laois and it seemed like a really wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and get to know people again back in my home county while creating a link back to the festival and my dad. I got to meet all these people and everyone knew dad and it was a lovely talking point for me, she said. Bernadette, who recently returned from a volunteering trip to Lourdes with special needs children, said that the festival made her think about what she wanted to do. I took a career break, I met new people, I started to think about the things I wanted to do and I started to take action. I took a year out from work and went travelling. I visited my Rose roomie in New Zealand, that was incredible. I went to the Sydney Rose selection with a couple of other Rose sisters. I returned and did a masters in Speech and Language Therapy in UL. Having spent time with organisations and people which highlighted an interest in me to do something that matched well with my teaching career and helping other people. "In my first job after the masters in UL, (I went to the Limerick Rose selection night), I worked at a childrens hospital in Leeds. I met Prince Harry and got to work with incredible children as a therapist. I dont know if you would have the confidence to do these things without having done the Rose of Tralee, she said. Bernadette said one of her favourite moments of the festival was the regional final in Portlaoise and the focus of her year as Laois Rose was always local. "It was hugely significant, I was like the Kerry Rose in Tralee. For me, to get to show people local areas, to talk about my hometown in Rathdowney and to introduce Roses from all over the world to Laois was a huge privilege and a lot of them would say they had the most special time in Portlaoise rather than Tralee! "It was a lovely experience, that weekend I was surrounded by people like my parents, family, organisations and the kids in school where I worked were so excited, some of them were rose buds. "I remember, I sat into a car at a rally and the guy driving the car had been taught by my dad in school. It was so emotional and I am an emotional person at the best of times. Regionals were very special it was the icing on the cake that I got to Tralee. "The year as Laois Rose was very local for me, the travel aspect of it came after. I was involved with Laois Down Syndrome, visited the home for the elderly in Mountmellick and got involved with my town of Rathdowney. For me, it was very local and I loved that," she said. Despite being a co-ordinator for the Laois Rose Centre and helping Roses like Teresa Marie Brennan and Ailbhe Culleton, Bernadette said that she still doesn't know what defines a Rose. "The best thing to come out of it all was being crowned Laois Rose, it is such a privilege. It is not something you can quintessentially put your finger on. What is it that makes those judges choose you as as Rose? "Ten Laois Roses met up recently and none of us are alike, we are all very different with different jobs, backgrounds and we are from different parts of the county. No two of us are alike so what it is that makes a Rose I still dont know," she said. The festival still follows Bernadette and comes up in conversation with people regularly, almost 10 years after she represented the county. "I am just back from a week volunteering in Lourdes with Irish Pilgrimage Trust with children with life limiting special needs. When I was out there I met people involved in the Rose of Tralee, there was an escort from Sarah Conlons year. It follows you all around the world and it is not just confined to your year, the more events you attend the wider the circle gets," she said. Lastly, the proud Rathdowney woman shared some words of wisdom with the ladies who are putting themselves forward as Laois Rose hopefuls this weekend. "Be yourself as a person, you are made up of the experiences you have and the people you are surrounded by and ultimately that is why you are standing on stage so you represent yourself. "Whether you represent your town, county or an organisation, you represent who you are and because of that I think there is a place for everybody. It is about being a person who is true to themselves and that is what brings you to the point where you enter. What you put into it, you get out of it tenfold," she said. The Laois Rose Selection night takes place on Sunday, May 6 at the Midlands Park Hotel, tickets available at reception. Mountmellick in Laois has been put on the map this week in colourful style, thanks to an award winning craft group. Yarn Bombing Mountmellick, who surprise the town every year by overnight decorating of street furniture, trees, bikes and even a car with knitted and crocheted wooly artworks, have scooped two major awards at the 2018 Epic Awards. The awards celebrate the wide range of creativity in voluntary art groups across Ireland and the UK. Through a huge swell of local online voting for their group, Yarn Bombing Mountmellick won the People's Choice Award, and a big group of them headed up to joyfully collect their award last Thursday May 3. They were shocked and thrilled when they were also announced as Ireland Winner. Spokesperson Nina Horan is delighted and proud of the support from her town. "Despite the fact that we won two prizes, being the Peoples Choice is the prize we are more proud of because it is the people for whom we do what we do. The community of Mountmellick is open at all times to whatever makes our town better. Mountmellick is a hotbed of social entrepreneurship and an extension of that means that our community accepts whatever is benefits the town," she said. "When we started back in 2013, we were embraced with open arms. Five years later and our community still values what we do. As a town with a rich heritage of textiles, we believe we just tapped into an innate respect for our industrial past, in a 21st century fashion," she said. The yarn bombing group represents Mountmellick "fighting back" against recession she believes. "We believe that our town is neglected by the powers-that-be. As we have such a diverse range of community groups, we are often left to our own devices to sort our problems out ourselves. Although ours is an apparently frivolous initiative, there is a deep thread of emotion that runs beneath it. Its a statement, a way of fighting back and doing our small bit to keep the town from the clutches of negligence and dereliction. It unites the community in the love we have for our native place. Its so much more than pompoms and bunting," Nina said. "The Epic Awards are recognition of voluntary groups from across Ireland and The UK. The very idea of people-power, manifested voluntarily in the form of music, writing, sculptures, craft etc., keeps our faith in humanity alive. For nothing other than a love of your native place and wanting to share that with others, people just start a group with like-minded people and off they go. Whats not to love? Being recognised for that is the icing on the cake. Mountmellick abu," she said. Josepha Madigan TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht, congratulated the group. I would like to congratulate Yarn Bombing Mountmellick on not only winning this year's award but also being the Peoples Choice Winner. It recognises the efforts of the group in supporting and developing local creativity," she said. Leo O'Reilly is Permanent Secretary, Department of Communities in Northern Ireland. I would like to congratulate this year's Irish winner Yarn Bombing Mountmellick and the runners up Irish Video Game Orchestra. Both are very fresh and interesting projects which are bringing the arts into their communities in innovative ways. I would also like to offer congratulations to Yarn Bombing Mountmellick on winning the Peoples Choice Awards. This is a clear indication that their work has captured the imagination of the public. Yarn Bombing Mountmellick is to be commended for celebrating the towns heritage in a new, and very striking, way, and promoting and sustaining the knowledge of traditional skills in the process," he said. The Epic Awards are an initiative of Voluntary Arts, to recognise the skill and hard work of creative citizens and groups across Ireland the the UK, now in its 7th year. This year it came to Ireland for the first time, as part of the Beataine Festival, for an evening hosted by playwright Peter Sheridan. Below: Yarn Bombing Mountmellick accepting their awards. The Cuisle Centre in Portlaoise is one of 25 support centres nationwide which is to receive emergency funding from the Irish Cancer Society to provide additional counselling sessions to women directly affected by the CervicalCheck controversy. The Irish Cancer Society has announced emergency funding for women affected by the CervicalCheck in response to the significant increase in the numbers of women seeking advice and support from the charity around CervicalCheck and their smear test results. Funds will be made available for an additional 500 counselling sessions in 25 Irish Cancer Society-affiliated Support Centres across the country. Donal Buggy is the Head of Services and Advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society. Over the past few days we have received a huge number of queries from women who are very concerned by the revelations about CervicalCheck. Understandably, many women are deeply affected and need support, reassurance and practical help. Through our existing network across the country, we are making additional money for counselling available so women can get the support they so desperately need at this time," he said. Nurses from the Irish Cancer Society will also be assisting in calling back women who have contacted the CervicalCheck helpline this week and are waiting for a response. Women are out there worrying and waiting for a call back so they can have their concerns and worries addressed. We want to help reassure these women. Our panel of specialist cancer nurses will work with the CervicalCheck helpline to make sure as many of these women are contacted as soon as possible," Mr buggy added. The Irish Cancer Society provides funding to the following Support Centres across the country who deliver free professional counselling: ARC Cancer Support Centres, Dublin Arklow Cancer Support Group, Wicklow Balbriggan Cancer Support Centre Ballinasloe Cancer Support Centre Cancer Support Sanctuary, LARCC Cois Nore, Kilkenny Cancer Support Centre Cork ARC Cancer Support House Cuan Cancer Social Support and Wellness Group, Co Cavan Cuisle Centre, Portlaoise Dochas Offaly Cancer Support, Tullamore Donegal Cancer Flights & Services Eist, Carlow Cancer Support Centre Gary Kelly Cancer Support, Drogheda Greystones Cancer Support Hope Cancer Support Centre, Enniscorthy Letterkenny Donegal administered through Sligo Cancer Support Mayo Cancer Support Association, Castlebar Midwestern Cancer Foundation, Limerick Recovery Haven Cancer Support House, Tralee Roscommon Cancer Support Centre Sligo Cancer Support Centre Solas Cancer Support Centre, Waterford Suaimhneas Cancer Support Centre, Nenagh Tallaght Cancer Support Group, Dublin Tuam Cancer Care Centre Laois Rose 2018 entrants ready to blossom on the stage this weekend. 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. A man appeared at Kilcock District Court last Tuesday, May 1, and pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving after he was arrested a Laraghbryan near Maynooth on June 1, 2014. Francis McCarthy, 54, with an address listed as 15 Robert Street, Dublin 8 had been disqualified at the time following an earlier conviction. He was stopped by Gardai after they spotted him driving with a flat wheel. They formed the opinion he may be under the influence and brought him to the Garda station where a reading of 56 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath was recorded. Mr McCarthy had previously been disqualified only a year earlier for a similar charge. Representing him, Aisling Murphy told the court that her clients father had died not long before this offence had taken place although he was anxious not to use this as an excuse. With no driving licence he was finding it hard to get work as a carpenter because he couldnt carry his tools around with him on public transport and it was hard, the defendant told Judge Desmond Zaidan to get lads to give you a lift every morning and evening. Ms Murphy asked the judge to be as lenient as possible on the defendant given his circumstances. Judge Desmond Zaidan fined him 500 and disqualified him for two years. A man has been jailed for eleven months for what was described as a vicious assault on a woman who tried to help another woman in a street row. Shane Jackson (27), with an address at 248 Landen Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was jailed for an assault which caused harm to a woman on the Newbridge Road, Naas on April 1, 2017. Mr Jackson pleaded guilty to the offence and a victim impact statement was related to the court on May 2. Garda Sgt Jim Kelly, prosecuting, said the injured party left the the Osprey Hotel on the evening and was walking down the Newbridge road with a female friend. They saw a man dragging a woman along the path by the hair and the two went over to intervene. Sgt Kelly said the two women did not know the woman who was being dragged by the hair. Mr Jackson attacked one of the two women. She received a broken thumb and received scarring to her face. The court was told that the injured party had to use oil to try and hide the scarring. Judge Desmond Zaidan was told that the injured party now lives in Spain, but that the attack, which left her out of work for three weeks, had long-term psychological effects. In a victim impact statement read for the court, the injured party said that she had headaches for two weeks after the assault. From a psychological point of view, she said she would never now walk home on her own and would have to go out with a group and get a taxi home. The injured party said she was trying to help the girl with Mr Jackson but, she said, I would never do anything like that again as I am afraid. Sgt Kelly said that Mr Jackson had 45 previous convictions. These included a number for public order, others for criminal damage, another for the unauthorised taking of a car, one for dangerous driving, one for drink driving and one for excess alcohol. Sarah Connolly, BL, legally representing Mr Jackson, said her client was 27 and had two children. He was trying to get access to these through the court and his current girlfriend was due a baby in September. Ms Connolly said Mr Jackson's recollection of the events on the night were different. He felt that the injured party and the other woman were harrassing him. Ms Connolly said she did not have instructions from Mr Jackson on dragging a girl by the hair. The court was told that the girl being dragged by Mr Jackson was still his girlfriend. Judge Desmond Zaidan responded: After what he dished out to her . Judge Zaidan said that Mr Jackson probably had underlying anger issues. Ms Connolly said Mr Jackson had a difficult life growing up. His mother had alcohol problems and he never knew his father. She said her client was good-natured in other circumstances. Judge Zaidan said it was a vicious assault. A photo posted by on Arguably everything posted on Instagram is a distortion of reality (especially if you're a celebrity), but a video shared this week by the science account Physicsfun truly tests the laws of optics. The video shows a simple plastic toy in the shape of an arrow, pointing right. When a hand rotates the arrow 180 degrees so that the tip should be facing left, something peculiar happens: The arrow still, somehow, appears to be pointing right. In fact, no matter how many times the arrow spins, it always points right. What's the deal? There's no magic or postproduction trickery at play; this devilish little arrow is actually a crafty optical illusion designed by mathematician and professional brain-bender Kokichi Sugihara. Sugihara is a professor at Meiji University in Tokyo and an award-winning illusion artist. He has placed four times at the Neural Correlate Society's Best Illusion of The Year contest and won twice, typically for his geometrically complex, 3D-printed illusory objects, like the arrow above. Sugihara first unleashed this maddening arrow in a 2016 paper published in the journal Symmetry. In the paper, Sugihara proposed a new type of optical illusion known as "anomalous mirror symmetry" essentially, an object that appears to break the rules of typical mirror symmetry by pointing in one direction in reality, and in the opposite direction in reflection. "When we see the object and its mirror image what we perceive does not necessarily obey this physical law [of mirror symmetry], because what we perceive is the result of image processing in our brains," Sugihara wrote in the paper. "Hence optical illusion arises." The mathematician provides some complex equations in his paper explaining how such an illusion is possible, but all you really need to know is that the always-right arrow uses forced perspective to exploit your brain's penchant for finding right angles where there aren't any. Pause the Instagram video at the 16-second mark, and you'll see that the arrow isn't really an arrow at all, but rather more of an oval pinched into two points at the middle and filled with barely perceptible interior curves. When viewed at a certain angle and under certain lighting conditions, these curves trick your brain into reading curves as angles even when the object is rotated 180 degrees. This always-right arrow is an example of what Sugihara calls an "ambiguous cylinder illusion," which turns your brain's craving for order against itself. Because ambiguous cylinders are designed to be neither perfectly circular nor perfectly angular, your brain can actually see them as both simultaneously, as demonstrated in Sugihara's video below. It may seem like magic, but it's really just your brain being too efficient in its quest to make order out of chaos. For an even weirder demonstration of this, sit back, relax and watch an entire field of color disappear before your eyes. Originally published on Live Science. For Star Wars Day, Live Science will be taking on some of the fictional animals of the most recent Star Wars movie, "The Last Jedi," to see how the appearance and habits of "alien" animal species in the film might be explained by evolution and biology in the real world. May the Fourth be with you! [Meet 7 Versions of BB-8, the Lovable 'Star Wars' Droid] Floppy-eared fathiers In the Star Wars universe, floppy-eared fathiers are trained (and likely bred) to be speedy runners, much like thoroughbred racehorses. (Image credit: Lucasfilm) Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) and Finn (John Boyega) introduced us to the creatures called fathiers during their mission to the casino world Canto Bight, where jockeys steer galloping fathier steeds around a track for the amusement of rich patrons. Fathiers' bodies resemble those of horses they have powerful legs and large chests, suggesting that they might be similarly adapted for fast running (their shortened skulls and long, floppy ears are definitely not horselike, though they do make fathier faces highly expressive). Wild horses once roamed North America but are long extinct the so-called "wild horses" in the American West are not a native species, but are descendants of feral horses released by Spanish colonizers centuries ago. The domesticated fathiers of Canto Bight were likely selectively bred for speed and endurance as thoroughbred horses are, and domesticated fathiers may look somewhat different from their wild kin if they still survive in the wild at all. Crystal foxes If you need camouflage for a salt-encrusted habitat, what could be better than a crystal coat? (Image credit: Lucasfilm) As the last remnants of the Rebellion fought for their lives in a desperate last stand on the planet Crait, a graceful four-legged species of local wildlife sheltered with them in the Rebel base. This crystal-coated animal is called the vulptex, and it looks like a long-legged, big-eared white fox. But instead of fur, it wears a coat of shimmering spikes that chime musically when the animal moves. The crystal foxes seem to be mammals, and mammals are usually covered with fur but not all the time. Pangolins, for example, wear a coat of scales made of keratin, the same substance in our fingernails and hair, while an armadillo's protective covering is made of bony plates. A vulptex's crystal coat may camouflage it against Crait's salt-encrusted landscape, just as an Arctic fox's white fur helps it to disappear against ice and snow. But while Arctic foxes have small ears that are adapted for a cold environment smaller extremities mean less heat loss the vulptex has large ears, a feature that can be seen in some animals that live in warm climates, to help them keep cool. However, large ears may also signify a highly developed sense of hearing, which can be an important adaptation for an animal's survival. Pudgy porgs There's a very good reason why the tubby, adorable porgs in "The Last Jedi" resemble the equally endearing puffin. (Image credit: Lucasfilm) Finally, we have the porgs, arguably the cuddliest-looking animals of the bunch. Porgs are small, portly creatures with bulbous, oversized eyes and snub noses. But they also have many bird-like features densely feathered bodies, sleek wings and webbed feet. They inhabit a remote, rocky island on the planet Ahch-To, where Rey (Daisy Ridley) confronted Luke (Mark Hamill) about abandoning his responsibilities to his family, friends and the Jedi order. The scene-stealing porgs resemble birds for a good reason: They were actually created as a way of incorporating the puffins that lived on the protected island of Skellig Michael in Ireland, where those scenes were filmed. Since the production team couldn't move the endangered birds out of the way when they were shooting, they decided to convert them into alien animal characters, modeling the porgs from the puffins' bodies, Jake Lunt Davies, the film's creature concept designer, told the official Star Wars website. Puffins have earned the name "clowns of the sea" for their colorful faces and beaks; their color intensifies in the spring as mating season approaches, according to the puffin conservation site Audubon Project Puffin. Porgs retained those trademark splashes of color, perhaps similarly used for species identification or mating displays. Original article on Live Science. Raw oysters from Canada are tied to a norovirus outbreak that's sickened more than 200 people, according to health officials. On Tuesday (May 1), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) warned consumers to avoid eating raw oysters from British Columbia, which are implicated in the outbreak. So far, the outbreak has sickened about 100 people in California and 172 people in Canada, CDPH said. But how does norovirus get into oysters? Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes sudden vomiting and diarrhea. The virus can be spread from person to person, or by eating contaminated food; and oysters and other shellfish are common causes of norovirus outbreaks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exactly how norovirus makes its way into oysters is pretty unappetizing: It can happen when the marine shellfish are exposed to "untreated human sewage (poop) and vomit," according to the Washington State Department of Health. Sewage can get into the ocean in several different ways: for example, through leaky septic systems, faulty waste-water treatment plants or even beachgoers who use the sea as their toilet. [Poop Sausage to Pee Drinks: 7 Gross 'Human Foods'] Since shellfish filter seawater through their bodies to get food, norovirus particles that are in the water can accumulate in the shellfish, the Washington State Department of Health said. Although many types of shellfish can transmit norovirus, outbreaks are most often linked to oysters because they are commonly eaten raw, the health department said. To prevent norovirus illnesses tied to eating shellfish, CDPH recommends cooking shellfish until the food reaches an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius). Original article on Live Science. These buttons of refined plutonium metal were used in the core of the Fat Man bomb dropped on Nagasaki. Today in jeepers: There's a speck of weapons-grade plutonium missing in Idaho. According to a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) statement, 1 gram (0.04 ounces) of plutonium-239 about the weight of a paper clip disappeared from Idaho State University. It last turned up in the university's records in 2004, along with 13 other gram-size pieces of plutonium that are still accounted for. Victor Dricks, an NRC spokesperson, said that university staff identified a problem with the now-missing speck of plutonium in 2004, so they triple-bagged it in clearly marked protective covers and set it aside for disposal. At that point, the university deleted its record of the plutonium from a database of nuclear materials that it's required to maintain for the NRC, without recording where it went. [5 Everyday Things That Are Radioactive] It took until October 2017 for a university worker to notice that it was gone, according to a letter the NRC sent to Idaho State. There doesn't seem to be much reason to worry about this material being turned into a weapon or otherwise posing a danger to the public, though. "We suspect that it ended up in a landfill for radioactive materials," Dricks told Live Science. Dricks said he can't confirm that the missing plutonium poses absolutely no threat of exposure to the public, but he suggested that the issue was likely one of poor record keeping, rather than physically dropping the material somewhere it shouldn't go. According to the Associated Press, a single gram of plutonium-239 isn't enough to make a nuclear bomb though it could form the radioactive basis of a dirty bomb in a pinch. If plutonium-239 were to end up in the hands of someone wishing to do violence, though, that would represent a major coup. Plutonium, as Live Science has previously reported, doesn't occur naturally on Earth; it must be made in nuclear reactors by bombarding uranium with radioactive particles. In other words, typically only nuclear-powered governments get to use plutonium-239 for violence. The plutonium core of the "Fat Man" bomb that the U.S. dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 1945, was made this way, but it involved a soft ball-size, 13.6-lb. (6.2 kilograms) hunk of plutonium about 6,200 times the mass of the 1-gram missing piece. Idaho State will pay an $8,500 fine to the NRC for the error, and Dricks said the university will turn over its 13 other plutonium sources while it conducts a review of its protocols. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct a unit conversion error. Originally published on Live Science. From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin's Russia By Michael McFaul Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 509 pp. $30 --- Cold war can be a substitute for hot war, but it can also be a stepping-stone to armed conflict. There should, therefore, be no nostalgia for our earlier Cold War or complacency about slipping into another. The Cold War that lasted from 1945 to 1989 (beginning with the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe and ending when those countries became non-communist and independent) was a necessary standoff. Communism was an ideology with international aspirations and adherents on every continent. Its anti-imperialist rhetoric (as distinct from its own imperial practices) often made it attractive in parts of the world emerging from colonial rule. Even in European countries where support for communism was confined to a small minority of the population (such as Poland or Hungary), an indigenous communist government could be formed, consisting both of true believers and of careerists. Standing behind them, offering ideological guidance and the promise or threat of military intervention, stood the Soviet Union. Nothing comparable exists today. To the extent that Russia has an ideology, it is one of Russian nationalism and belief in a strong state. We could call it "Russia First." By definition any such doctrine does not have international appeal. Russia no longer has such a distinctive politico-economic model as the communist system constituted (though with variation over the decades between oligarchical rule and personal dictatorship). The political divide today is very different from that in the first four decades after 1945. To slide into a comparable confrontation now would be to replace a real cold war, following a short interval, by an unnecessary cold war. For Michael McFaul, in his vigorously argued political memoir, "From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin's Russia," there is a "new ideological struggle ... between Russia and the West, not between communism and capitalism but between democracy and autocracy." As a generalization, that is unconvincing. During the Cold War there were many people in the West who felt that what they were defending was precisely democracy. The tens of millions of people who voted for democratic socialist and social democratic parties in Western Europe would not have responded to a cry to defend capitalism. What stalwart Cold War allies of the United States and opponents of Soviet dictatorship - such as Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, in Britain's first postwar Labour government - believed they were defending was democracy and freedom. Likewise, it is hard to agree that the contemporary ideological struggle with Russia is one between democracy and autocracy. Russia has become substantially more authoritarian in the post-Soviet era than it was in the last years of the Soviet Union, but it retains far more freedom and elements of pluralism than were to be found in the pre-perestroika U.S.S.R. Creeping authoritarianism began in the 1990s and has become more marked during the years of Putin's leadership. Yet autocracy does not in itself lead the United States to engage in ideological struggle with a country exhibiting it. Washington has embraced allies more autocratic than Russia, a contemporary example being Egypt under Abdel Fatah al-Sissi. McFaul is on surer ground when he describes the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States and a coalition of the gullible as a "devastating blow" to U.S.-Russia relations. It played a significant part in bringing the Russian leadership to view the United States, in McFaul's words, as "an imperial hegemon which uses force to achieve its objectives." This, he observes, led Putin to conclude "that Russia had to resist and counterbalance American hegemony and defend state sovereignty." Putin was among the many European leaders who, unlike Tony Blair, realized that an American invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein "would destabilize the country and the surrounding region." There is no shortage of Russian actions, both domestically and internationally, in recent years that have aroused criticism and sometimes outrage in most democracies. Many examples, great and small, are to be found in McFaul's book. Whether we have in mind the use of administrative methods to prevent the most serious oppositional candidates from contesting Russian elections, cyber-intervention designed to influence votes in America or collaboration with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ruthless onslaught on tens of thousands of civilians, they have been very fully described in the Western mass media. What has been given far less attention is a question of fundamental importance: How did we get from the relative amity of the negotiated end of the Cold War to the mutual distrust and dangerous tensions of today? McFaul takes that issue seriously, and his contribution to the debate is significant, based on his experience as a political practitioner as well as an academic analyst. But I find it only partly convincing. He notes three possible explanations: "the structure of international relations between great powers, our foreign policies, and Russian domestic politics." By the first of these he means "normal balance-of-power politics between great powers." On this interpretation, Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin "did what we told them to do, because they had no other choice." They accepted American hegemony not because they "shared American values or interests, but because these Russian leaders were weak." McFaul is not fully satisfied with that explanation, and it is even more misleading than he indicates. From the mid-1940s to the end of the 1960s, when the United States had clear military superiority over the U.S.S.R., communist regimes proliferated. In contrast, by the mid-1980s, when there was rough military parity between the United States and the Soviet Union, Gorbachev took the initiative in trying to end the Cold War, disregarding the advice of those in Moscow who said he should sit out President Ronald Reagan's second term, since dialogue with him would be pointless. The achievement of military parity took a much larger share of Soviet resources than it did of the bigger American economy, but it was a price Soviet leaders individually and collectively were willing to pay. There was, moreover, widespread popular acceptance of a "peace through strength" policy. The philosophy of deterrence was influential on both sides of the Cold War divide. During most of these years, the Soviet military-industrial complex had even less difficulty than its American counterpart in convincing the political leadership that its interests coincided with the national interest. At the outset of his general secretaryship, Gorbachev was virtually alone in the Politburo in believing that the Cold War could easily spill over into a hot war and that ending it, and radically reducing the weaponry on both sides, was in the interests of Soviet citizens and of all humanity. His most radical break with Marxism-Leninism was to embrace, especially explicitly from 1988 onward, the idea that there were universal values and interests that took precedence over those of any class, nation or group. In the last two years of the Soviet Union's existence, Gorbachev's negotiating hand was weakened as a result of breakaway tendencies within the Soviet state. Their consequences meant that the balance-of-power argument has somewhat more purchase when it is applied to the 1990s. Yeltsin, during his presidency, was in a weaker position vis-a-vis the United States than was Gorbachev in the mid-1980s, and this weakness was partly of his own making. The transformation of the Soviet political system should not be conflated with the end of the Soviet Union, although the former (primarily Gorbachev's achievement) created the preconditions for the latter (in which Yeltsin played a decisive part). Gorbachev's effort to hold together a smaller, loosely federal union by voluntary consent was undone by Yeltsin's demand for Russian independence from a union in which the Russian republic occupied three-quarters of the territory and its people constituted half the population. Most Russians subsequently experienced an emotional sense of loss as well as political and economic dislocation. McFaul places the most weight on the third of his explanations for what has gone badly amiss, namely Russian domestic politics and, more specifically, the role of Putin. But these are more closely interlinked with his second explanation, American foreign policy, than he allows. Indeed, one might add the importance of U.S. domestic politics for American foreign policy. How else can one understand the formulation that President Barack Obama, in a speech in Moscow, was "not afraid," as McFaul oddly puts it, "to acknowledge aspects of Russian greatness" and to "praise the essential role that Soviet soldiers played in defeating Hitler"? Other Western leaders have uttered the same obvious truths without being considered bold or having the slightest worry that their words would be ill received back home. McFaul notes a number of American policies that have been criticized in Russia. They include U.S. help to get Yeltsin reelected as president in 1996; NATO expansion to east-central Europe and then into successor states of the former Soviet Union (decisions opposed at the time by the eminent diplomat-analysts George Kennan and Jack Matlock, who argued that they were likely to lead to a new cold war); the bombing of Serbia; the abrogation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002; the invasion of Iraq in 2003; the persuasion of Russia not to veto intervention to prevent atrocities in Libya in 2011, on the grounds that the action was not aimed at regime change, although the overthrow of Moammar Gaddafi and a civil war followed; the creation of a U.S. missile defense system; and American support for regime change in Russia's neighboring states, leading Putin to believe that Washington was intent on provoking similar upheaval in Russia. In some cases, the Kremlin concern was out of proportion with the reality. Thus, the limited U.S. missile defense system is not related to a hypothetical military conflict with Russia and would be helpless against a Russian strategic nuclear attack; the overthrow of governments in, for example, Georgia and Ukraine was an essentially indigenous development; and the Arab Spring revolutions were entirely so, although Moscow chose to see the hand of the CIA. In reality, those uprisings came as a surprise to Washington, and the American government was reactive rather than proactive. Yet perceptions have political consequences. McFaul's list of real and perceived Russian grievances adds up to a great deal. He underplays their collective significance in a question-begging way when he writes: "They were all manageable hiccups, bumps in the road of cooperation, had both sides desired to maintain the Reset's momentum. But in 2012, one side did not." Even the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, when she was offering Reagan advice on what he should say to Gorbachev at their first summit meeting in Geneva in 1985, wrote that he should tell the Soviet leader, "We know that you are entitled as we are to feel secure" and the United States accepts "that the world cannot be safe for one of us unless it is safe for both of us." The United States and Russia remain the two countries that have the military means utterly to destroy each other, incinerating or radioactively contaminating their populations. Long ago Reagan and Gorbachev agreed that a nuclear war between these powers could not be won and must never be fought. Earlier, however, in times of high tension, a war that neither side wanted could have broken out as a result of accident, miscalculation or technical malfunction. On occasion only the prudence and sober judgment of a few individuals saved the world from that catastrophe. This remains reason enough for prioritizing the U.S.-Russian relationship, for paying attention to perceptions on both sides as well as to their concrete behavior, and for not stumbling, blindly or fatalistically, into a second cold war - or worse. --- Brown is an emeritus professor of politics at the University of Oxford and the author, most recently, of "The Rise and Fall of Communism" and "The Myth of the Strong Leader: Political Leadership in the Modern Age." The Mars Room By Rachel Kushner Scribner. 352 pp. $27 --- More than a week before the release of Rachel Kushner's new novel, "The Mars Room," the New York Times published an excerpt in a special 12-page section. Hauntingly illustrated and spiced with artsy pull-quotes, it was an extraordinary presentation designed to proclaim the advent of an extraordinary book. Indeed, a Times book critic followed up with a review calling "The Mars Room" "a major novel." Which may be the problem with this bleak tale about people trapped in the American prison system. "The Mars Room" shuffles along shackled with so much Importance that it barely has room to move. Swollen with certainty, the story tolerates little ambiguity and offers few surprises. Kushner told the New Yorker that several years ago she decided "to learn everything I could about California prisons." And now she is determined to teach it to us, her readers, who are sentenced to more than 300 pages of despair, cruelty and illness. The heroine is Romy Hall, a 29-year-old white woman who has just begun serving two consecutive life sentences plus six years for murdering a stalker. "I don't plan on living a long life," she tells us, "or a short life, necessarily. I have no plans at all. The thing is you keep existing whether you have a plan to do so or not, until you don't exist, and then your plans are meaningless. But not having plans doesn't mean I don't have regrets." As you might gather from that existential reflection, Romy is better educated than her cellmates, who are a handy assortment of the poor, desperate and deranged. The mother of a little boy, Romy was a lap dancer at the Mars Room in San Francisco, "the worst and most notorious, the very seediest and most circuslike place there is. ... If you'd showered you had a competitive edge at the Mars Room. If your tattoos weren't misspelled you were hot property. If you weren't five or six months pregnant, you were the it-girl in the club that night." Romy's new comrades at the Stanville women's prison in California include Button Sanchez, who gives birth while being admitted. And there's Conan, who looks so masculine that she was once accidentally housed in a prison for men. Laura Lipp, a chatty woman who murdered her own child, asks Romy, "Do you know who Medea is?" And Betty LaFrance had been a leg model for Hanes pantyhose, but now makes her own vomit-smelling hooch from juice and ketchup. "Don't forget to decant," she advises. "It's got to breathe." If you've seen a few episodes of "Orange Is the New Black," you'll recognize the structure here. Romy has no chance of getting out, but she's frantic to make some kind of contact with her little boy, a struggle that provides a faint overarching storyline. But constrained by the prison setting, the plot mostly relies on shifts in focus and point of view to create movement. Kushner cycles through the women's tragic stories, mingling horrific anecdotes from before they were incarcerated with grim events in prison. The result is a terrifying survey of what it means to be poor and female in the United States. The book also includes two male characters who fit neatly into the novel's schematic plan: A depressed idealist teaches in the prison and is easily manipulated by clever female prisoners who can smell his naivete. And a crooked cop imprisoned for murder brushes through bloody recollections and fantasies that will make you crave an early release from these pages. But the novel's focus remains the women. They are almost all early victims of rape, often by a family member; they inevitably fall into addiction; they have few opportunities beyond sex work; they are abused by boyfriends, employers and police officers. The legal system fails to protect them and then fails to adjudicate their crimes with understanding or compassion. "The prosecutors all looked like rich, well-rested Republicans," Romy notes in her immaculately conceived MFA voice, "while the public defenders were overworked do-gooders who arrived out of breath, late to court, dropping loose papers that already had the waffle marks of shoe prints on them from having been dropped before." Among Kushner's most pointed themes is the absurdity of America's ideology of choice, the nation's cruel devotion to the fantasy of free will. Throughout their miserable lives, these women are beaten, tricked, thwarted and poisoned, and yet when they're finally snagged by the prison system, some pompous man reminds them, "Your situation is due one-hundred percent to choices you made and actions you took." Recalling a crime committed against her when she was just 11, Romy lashes out at her readers' self-satisfied superiority: "You would have been safe and dry and asleep, at home with your mother and your father who cared about you and had rules, curfews, expectations. Everything for you would have been different but if you were me, you would have done what I did. You would have gone, hopeful and stupid." These are undeniably heartbreaking stories that reflect the actual, dreadful experiences of millions of people caught in America's poverty-and-prison industry, a machine greased by our inane drug laws. But there's something so calculated about "The Mars Room" that even the most progressive readers are bound to feel like they're being marched down a narrow hallway. I never felt those heavy paws in Kushner's previous, far more dynamic novels, "Telex From Cuba" and "The Flamethrowers," both of which were finalists for a National Book Award. Ironically, "The Mars Room" is best in its minor incidents. A weird little chapter about Richard Nixon in Opryland, for instance, is darkly comic and unsettling, while hinting at some chilling sickness in our national spirit. Another chapter about a prison teacher who feels confused by his conflicted magnanimity is incredibly moving. And in the novel's surprisingly poetic ending, Romy finally experiences a kind of insight beyond her capacity to articulate. In these rare spaces, we're allowed the freedom to choose how we feel, to escape this novel's thematic bars and experience something closer to art than instruction. John McCain: American Maverick By Elaine S. Povich Sterling. 200 pp. $24.95 --- When Sen. John McCain passes into the pages of history, I will cry my eyes out, and I am sure I will not be alone. At times contrarian, sanctimonious and confrontational (satirizing his return to the Senate after he lost the 2008 presidential race to Barack Obama, a late-night comedy skit portrayed McCain punching everyone he encountered), yet also independent, upright and endearing, he is a true original in politics: a guy who was authentic years before political consultants started synthesizing authenticity. Fortunately, McCain, a Republican who has represented Arizona in the Senate since 1987 (occupying Barry Goldwater's seat), has already passed into the pages of "John McCain: American Maverick," a photo biography with text by journalist Elaine S. Povich and a foreword by documentarian Ken Burns. The book's splendidly chosen and handsomely reproduced photos depict McCain as a young man in the military and as an elder statesman in the Senate. Movingly, we see him as a tortured POW in Vietnam - and again, years later, as a white-haired visitor to his former prison in Hanoi. On another page we see him working side by side in the Senate with John Kerry, a Vietnam hero turned protester. "It doesn't matter to me anymore ... who was for the war and who was against the war," the facing text quotes McCain as saying. "I'm tired of looking back in anger. What's important is that we move forward now." The textual contributions by Povich, a McCain biographer, are spare and serviceable, providing biographical context for the pictures and otherwise staying out of the way. By my guesstimate, most of the words in the book are McCain's own, from his speeches, books and public comments. Together, they reveal a plainspoken, reflective eloquence that sometimes pushes beyond straight talk to deep talk. The book's subtitle, "American Maverick," is fitting and perhaps inevitable; but to Arizonans (among whom I count myself), McCain's independence places him in a familiar local tradition. Goldwater pulled the plug on President Richard Nixon in 1974 and later supported gays in the military, saying you don't have to be straight to shoot straight; Sandra Day O'Connor, a former Arizona state senator and judge, never flinched from going her own way on the Supreme Court; today, Jeff Flake is relinquishing his Senate seat to speak truth to power. All were or are Republicans to the core, but all put integrity before party and truth before tribe. McCain is also a maverick in another, even more lamentably uncommon way. A scion of admirals, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a military man himself, McCain represents a culture of honor with which our politics and country are losing touch. Today the concept of honor, with its connotations of bravery and self-sacrifice and ennoblement, smacks of the archaic, and no concept could be more foreign to the character of the current president and his administration. McCain stands as a rebuke to our political culture but also as an inspiration to do better. --- Rauch is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the author of "The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50." The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies By Michael V. Hayden Penguin Press. 292 pp. $28 --- Not long ago, a former intelligence officer told me that the head of his service had realized that the straightest path to influence and to the ear of the president was to tell him what he wanted to hear. This, of course, is one of the mortal sins of the intelligence world, where the role of agents is to speak their "best truth" to power, however uncomfortable it might be for everyone concerned. It takes special courage to tell the truth to a leader who is interested less in veracity than in validation, is intolerant of alternative perspectives and will take umbrage at any suggestion that he has made a mistake. That former intelligence officer was a Russian spook, a veteran of the GRU military intelligence service, and the president he was talking about was Vladimir Putin, a leader who in recent years has become increasingly surrounded by yes-men. Michael V. Hayden, who served as head of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, paints a picture of U.S. intelligence in the age of President Trump that sounds worryingly similar. In his new book, "The Assault on Intelligence," Hayden notes the well-known situation - an alarming one for intelligence officers - that the United States now has a chief executive who, in the author's words, maintains a "routine distance from the facts." What's more, Hayden conveys that the president also has an abiding suspicion of the agencies entrusted to provide him with crucial observations on the state of the world. Hayden opens the book with his recollection of walking around in war-torn Sarajevo in 1994 as head of intelligence for American forces in Europe. Observing the devastation caused by conflict among Serb, Croat and Muslim factions, Hayden pondered the easy breakdown of society. "This obviously had been a cultured, tolerant, even vibrant city," he notes. "The veneer of civilization, I sadly concluded then, was quite thin." His takeaway was that the forces that preserve civilized life "are inherently fragile and demand careful tending if they are to survive." These musings led him "to the idea of this book," he writes, "which is not that civil war or societal collapse is necessarily imminent or inevitable here in America, 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." This is indeed alarmist - but Hayden's indictment of Trump's campaign and presidency, and the wider forces he channels and embodies, does not quite live up to this apocalyptic billing. The book covers a lot of familiar territory and does not add much to our understanding of the populist and partisan turn in American and Western politics. However, it is striking that this jeremiad comes from a longtime insider, a Republican stalwart of past administrations and a fierce critic of the Barack Obama presidency. The more important, absorbing and disturbing aspect of Hayden's book is the analysis from his professional perspective of what Trump and Trumpism mean for the intelligence community. It is sober, nuanced and, quite frankly, scary as hell. Hayden clearly feels an emotional commitment to his former colleagues in the intelligence community. At times this pushes him into hyperbole. He makes the interesting assertion that the "craft of intelligence" pursues the Enlightenment values of "experience and expertise, the centrality of fact, humility in the face of complexity, the need for study, and a respect for ideas." However, his attempt to compare the spy's calling to that of other "truth tellers - scholars, journalists, scientists, to name a few" - misses an obvious point about the essence of truth-telling. Spooks funnel their truths to their own cadre while engaging in duplicity and misdirection with most everyone else. This has never been an easy line to walk, and in an age when truth is suffering, it only gets more treacherous. The intelligence community finds itself in a particularly tough spot in delivering its truth to this administration because Trump, as Hayden puts it, has "confidence in his own a priori narrative of how the world work[s]." He favors subjective belief over objective evidence and resists receiving the truth from a president's usual channels: the chief of staff, the national security adviser, the Pentagon. The book is strong on portraying tensions between the Trump administration and the intelligence community, beginning with the presidential transition when, as Hayden writes, the Trump team entered the White House with "the air of a hostile corporate takeover." Hayden shows how the new administration sought to assert its power like "explorers landing in a suspicious and hostile environment." They pushed hard against the standard working procedures of career government professionals. When the efforts of the new regime were seen to be unwelcome, the White House blamed the darkest forms of opposition. As Hayden writes, "Resistance to the ways of the incoming team was quickly identified as evidence of the 'deep state,' a phrase previously used to describe the murky military and security power centers that secretly work to thwart the democratic will in countries like Turkey." Hayden rebels at the notion that a deep state - involving the CIA, the NSA, the FBI and other institutions - is combatting the democratic processes of the United States, as the Trump administration has suggested. "I have worked in intelligence for over three decades," Hayden writes. "I know what antidemocratic forces look like. I have seen them in multiple foreign countries. There is no 'deep state' in the American republic. There is merely 'the state,' or, as I characterize it, career professionals doing their best within the rule of law." Despite pressures from the Trump administration, Hayden observes, the intelligence community retains a strong esprit de corps, support within the government and a culture of service to the nation - not a presidency. These underpin the community's institutional resilience - for now, anyway. --- Galeotti is head of the Center for European Security at the Institute of International Relations Prague and the author of "The Vory: Russia's Super Mafia," which will be published this month. San Antonio native Carol Burnett, young at heart as ever at 85, nails her return to the small screen with her new Netflix series. A Little Help with Carol Burnett started streaming all 12 episodes today. In it, the comedy legend whose iconic CBS sketch hour, The Carol Burnett Show, won her a slew of Emmys during the 1960s and 70s, mainly sits back and lets a bunch of kids, ages 5 to 9, do the talking. RELATED: Celebrities who live or used to live in Texas Their chatter, more often than not, is a kick to listen to, as guest stars such as Lisa Kudrow of Friends fame, Tony Hale of Veep and Candace Cameron Bure of Full House sequel Fuller House present the outspoken tykes with a specific life problem for them to solve. Each episode has a theme friendship, love and marriage, for instance and Burnett enlists her tiny advisers to help out with a dilemma related to each category. Their answers range from hysterically out there to brutally frank to just plain reasonable. Best of all, to Burnett fans delight, the comedy star does toss out a naughty zinger now and then, most of which dont register with the young ears. But they sure make us smile. RELATED: New on Netflix, HBO, Amazon and Hulu in May For instance, in the second episode, when Bure asks them how she can repay her loving husband for all the niceties he does for her, one kid suggests straightforwardly: Find something he really likes and do it with him. Unable to resist, Burnett deadpans: I could figure out what that might be. Later, an audience member moans about his broken heart after getting dumped by his girlfriend. Now Im stuck in my bed crying my eyes out, he says. One smart youngster suggests a clean break is best. Rip off the Band-Aid! she orders. And get rid of her. Comic actor Hale said his marital problem was connected to TV. When his daughter is tucked in bed, he likes to take the opportunity to watch something on television with his wife. However, she prefers heavy dramas, while he likes unwinding with comedies or fun reality shows such as Top Chef. What to do? One boy took the opportunity to air his own grievance. I dont like to watch TV because my mom only likes Judge Judy, he scowled. In between these advice sessions, Burnetts co-host, comedian Russell Peters, presents the kids with brain-teasers. For instance, what does a fish out of water mean? A polar bear in Puerto Rico or a whale in Kansas, one boy snaps back. OK, OK. None of this may be the stuff Emmys are made of or anywhere near the league of Burnetts old show, which contained way too many golden television gags to count. However, A Little Help definitely is good enough to while away a morning, particularly a rainy one like today. Jeanne Jakle's column appears Thursdays and Sundays in mySA. Read more of her columns here. | jjakle@express-news.net | @JakleJ On this date in ... 1918: Thomas Conley of North Albany, one of the men on strike at the Municipal Gas Co., was arraigned in Albany criminal court for threatening to "get" William McClintock, a co-worker who refused to join the strike. According to testimony from Ruth McClintock, the daughter of the man allegedly threatened, Conley came to her house looking for her father and said, "We'll get the red head, we'll get him yet. He's a skunk." 1968: About 150 members of Students for Peace at Bethlehem protested the Vietnam War and sought peace by participating in rallies and demonstrations and by wearing black armbands. The organization was started at Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar by seniors Gail Hummel, Brian Gold, Roger Ekirch; and junior Steve Polan. The school administration had neither discouraged nor encouraged the students, but allowed them to use classrooms for meetings after school, Hummel said. 1993: The Department of Agriculture would require new labels on all packages of meat and poultry with instructions for safe handling and cooking to minimize the chance of bacterial illness, according to a legal settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, the USDA must publish proposed labeling rules for public comment by Aug. 15. Agency officials said that when the final rules were put into effect, it would be the first time the federal government had required comprehensive preparation procedures on the label of a food product. Microbial contamination was the most serious public-health threat to the nation's food supply. http://blog.timesunion.com/history/ A man has been taken into custody after allegedly assaulting a police officer, LPD said. The alleged assault stems from an initial traffic violation Wednesday around 11:30 p.m., when Adrian Fernando Flores, 22, was pulled over for speeding. Flores was charged with assault on a public servant, evading arrest, resisting arrest and failing to give identification. A man has been arrested for threatening a woman with a gun, according to Laredo police. Juan de Dios Ortiz, 35, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. EDWARDSVILLE An email by Madison County Administrator Doug Hulme stressing the need to reduce the jail population brought a pointed response Friday from Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. At Fridays Judiciary Committee, she discussed the email and what judges in the criminal division have done to try to reduce the jail population. The jail is certified for 312 inmates, but has had up to 361 at times. The issue has become a hot topic because the county is getting ready to start a multi-year renovation of the jail, which will require emptying of entire cell blocks at once so workers can do their jobs. According to the most recent figures from the Madison County Sheriffs Department, which were presented at the meeting, on May 1 there were 319 inmates at the jail. It was also noted that the number of detainees processed up through that date is higher than last year, 2,317 verses 2,256 in 2017. Napp noted that the day the email was sent to Chief Judge David Hylla, the jail population was 343. She also noted that it was on a Tuesday, which traditionally has the highest number of inmates because of warrants issued Monday. She added that they saw 27 felony cases brought in that day. Of those 17 were released, and eight had no bond. Its not that the criminal judges are sitting around eating bon-bons, she said. Weve let out every person we could possibly let out. She added that creates its own problems, because someone let out on a motor vehicle theft charge might come back after being caught with methamphetamine or other charge. Were seeing these people three or four times on a felony, she said. How many times are we going to release them? She compared it to a bathtub drain, which several others have done in previous meetings. We have a 2-inch drain, and we can only shove so many people through it, she said. Were doing everything we can to bring the jail population down. She also said that compared to jails in similar counties, the Madison County Jail has far fewer occupants. In St. Clair County, she said there were 433 inmates being housed; in Winnebago County, the jail population is 800. She also said that Madison County is much more aggressive in filing felony criminal cases. She said last year 3,704 were filed, compared to 3,156 in Winnebago County and 1,620 in St. Clair County. We have filed more felonies than any of these counties, she said. Were letting out non-violent felony offenders that St. Clair or Winnebago counties would not let out. Among reasons for the higher numbers were aggressive law enforcement and the ongoing heroin crisis. Jail population numbers have been discussed multiple times at various committee meetings. Chief Deputy Sheriff Maj. Jeff Connor said the department was working on a number of ways to reduce the population when the renovation starts, including contracting with other jails to house inmates. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. Short-priced horses winning the Kentucky Derby have been the norm lately. Last year, Always Dreaming became the fifth straight favorite to win the Run for the Roses, following in the hoof steps of Nyquist, American Pharoah, California Chrome and Orb. But there was a time when long shots reigned supreme - and some of those offered big pay days. In 2009, Mine That Bird shocked everyone and paid $103.20 to win. Four years earlier it was Giacomo at 50-1, returning $102.60. According to Jessica Chapel's historical data, both those long shots had a lot in common with other Derby winners. They won as 2-year-olds, set their best Beyer Speed Figures during their 3-year-old campaign, earned their best Beyer figures at a distance greater than 8.5 furlongs, ran in two two-turn prep races before the first Saturday in May and had at least five career starts, with one of those starts against a field of at least 10 horses. If that sounds like a long laundry list of conditions for a contender, it should: This is the Kentucky Derby, and if a long shot is going to make it first to the wire he will have to check off all those boxes and more to make history. Here is a reason to be optimistic about each of the 50-1 shots in the 144th Run for the Roses. No. 1 Firenze Fire (50-1) Firenze Fire hasn't peaked as a 3-year-old yet he still shows promise. His best Beyer figure, 90, came in his win in the 2017 Champagne Stakes against a field of 12 talented horses. And that, too, was an upset. He was 9 1/2 lengths back at the first call of the Champagne Stakes and ended up beating Good Magic and Enticed, two Derby horses, by a half length. Breaking from the rail is not going to be easy. It has been 31 years since a horse won from the inside post (Ferdinand in 1986); however, Firenze Fire is a closer and could hang back and wait for the traffic in front to shake out. And maybe his fourth-place finish in the Wood Memorial was a blessing in disguise: Since 2003, only two horses, Empire Maker and Funny Cide, finished in the top three of the Wood Memorial before doing the same in the Derby. No. 8 Lone Sailor (50-1) His only win came as a 2-year-old maiden at seven furlongs but his performance in the Louisiana Derby was notable. He led down the stretch until giving up the lead to Noble Indy at the wire and set his best Beyer Speed Figure (95) to date, which is right at threshold of past Derby winners' best performances leading up to the big race. Plus, his closing style could be well suited to pick up the pieces if a hotly contested pace causes the front-runners to crack. Lone Sailor has also looked sharp in his workouts, running five furlongs in a blistering 57.60 seconds on a fast track. "The last horse I can recall going that fast was Hard Spun on April 30, 2007, when he went 57.60 with opening splits of 22 and 33.40 before running second in the Derby," Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols told Kellie Reilly of Brisnet.com. No. 13 Bravazo (50-1) In eight starts, three of those over the Churchill Downs main track, Bravazo has posted a 3-1-1 record, with one of those wins coming in the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star Stakes against graded stakes company. He posted a career-best Beyer Speed Figure (93) in that victory while also beating fellow Derby contenders Instilled Regard and Noble Indy. In addition, Bravazo's sire, Awesome Again, won the 1999 Breeders' Cup Classic and has sired 14 Grade 1 Winners on dirt and four Breeders' Cup Champions. Bravazo's connections also know what they are doing. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Luis Contreras have run 15 horses together in the last 60 days; three of those won and nine have finished in the money. No. 15 Instilled Regard (50-1) Instilled Regard ended his 2-year-old campaign with a 92 Beyer figure in the Los Alamitos Futurity and has posted Beyers in the 90s in all three races as a 3-year-old, which include the LeComte Stakes (Grade 3), the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and the Santa Anita Derby (G1). There is no doubt he has inherited the stamina necessary to go 1 1/4 miles. His sire, Arch, has passed along his genes to multiple graded stakes winners, including Blame, the 2010 Breeders' Cup winner, and Instilled Regard's Dosage Index (1.59) is the lowest in the field, indicating 10 furlongs will be no problem at all. The challenge will be flashing his speed early enough to get him in position to dominate down the stretch, much like he did in the Lecomte at Fair Grounds. Jockey Javier Castellano positioned Instilled Regard within striking distance from the start, keeping his horse fourth at the second call, just two lengths behind the leader. Castellano then had his mount accelerate into the stretch, winning by more than three lengths. No. 20 Combatant (50-1) Winless since breaking his maiden in October, this son of Scat Daddy posted back-to-back Beyer figures of 92 in his last two races, the Rebel Stakes (G2) and the Arkansas Derby (G1), plus has five of his seven races against fields of 10 or more horses. And don't underestimate Combatant's ability to close fast down the stretch. In his defeat at the hands of Magnum Moon (win) and Solomini (show) in the Arkansas Derby, he was still the fastest horse during the final three-eighths of a mile, covering the distance in 36.30 seconds. In fact, no horse in this year's field closed faster in a prep race than Combatatant did at Oaklawn Race Track. A civil liberties group is demanding that a Florida school district change its dress code after a student was forced to put bandages over her nipples because she wasn't wearing a bra. The American Civil Liberties Union said the district violated the constitutional rights of female students and warned administrators against adopting a rule that girls must wear bras. In an eight-page letter sent this week to Manatee County Schools Superintendent Diana Greene and two other school officials, the ACLU alleged that Lizzy Martinez, a 17-year-old junior at Braden River High School, was unfairly treated. The ACLU said the student was forced to put on an undershirt over a loose-fitting T-shirt and then hide her nipples behind the bandages. It said other female students had been discriminated against, violating Title IX, which guarantees freedom from sex discrimination in schools. The ACLU also alleged violations of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, freedom of speech guaranteed in the First Amendment and Florida's Educational Equity Act. Manatee County schools spokesman Michael Barber said the district would not respond beyond providing a preliminary letter sent to the ACLU. The letter, from Mitchell Teitelbaum, the school system's general counsel, said the district could not discuss individual students but that it disputed some of the "alleged facts" in the ACLU's letter. It also said there were "inaccurate and misleading allegations" against the school administration but that "the allegations are taken seriously" and an investigation is underway. The issue of dress codes and how they affect female students is not restricted to Manatee County. The National Women's Law Center just released a report saying school dress codes in traditional public and charter schools in the District of Columbia promote race and sex discrimination and present black girls with "unique" burdens. It said in part: "Black girls in District of Columbia schools, like girls across the country, miss out on crucial class time simply because of the clothes they wear or the style of their hair or makeup," according to the report. "Again and again, they are suspended for tight pants, sent to the office for shoes that aren't quite the right color, and told they must "cover up" before they can learn. Strict dress, uniform, and grooming codes do nothing to protect girls or their classmates' learning. Rather, these codes needlessly interrupt their educations." The Manatee County schools' dress code says in part: "You are expected to dress appropriately for school and for the business of learning with proper attention given to personal cleanliness, grooming, and neatness," the rules state. "If your personal attire or grooming distracts the attention of other students or teachers from their school work, disrupts educational activities and processes of the school, or is a potential safety hazard, you will be required to make the necessary alterations to such attire or grooming before entering the classroom or you may be assigned to In-School Suspension (ISS). If you fail to meet the minimum acceptable standards of cleanliness, neatness, proper fit, safety and decency as determined by the principal or designee and as specified in the District Code of Student Conduct, you will be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures. You are additionally prohibited from wearing clothes that expose underwear or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or attire that disrupts the orderly learning environment." The Manatee County episode began April 2, when Martinez went to school wearing a "loose, long-sleeve" T-shirt without a bra underneath, according to the letter from the ACLU. She was called into the dean's office and told that her shirt was "distracting" other students, the letter said, and that boys were laughing at her. Martinez was told to put on an undershirt, which she did after speaking with her mother on the phone, the letter said. But then she was asked to put bandages in X's across her nipples, the letter said. She was "mortified" and started crying in class, after which her mother came to pick her up, the letter said. "That day, Ms. Martinez tweeted 'Stop sexualizing my body @piratenationhs' tagging the Twitter account of the school," the letter said. "The school responded by blocking Ms. Martinez on Twitter, as captured in screenshots that Ms. Martinez shared with the tweet '*school has student put bandaids over her nipples because it is a "distraction" then blocks them for calling them out on sexualizing her* :/' " The ACLU letter also said: - A protest by students was planned but did not take place after Principal Sharon Scarbrough warned against it in an April 13 announcement on the loudspeaker. - On April 13, "Teachers and administrators informed students they would face out-of-school suspensions and be barred from attending prom if they attended school without a bra the following Monday" - even though it is not against the dress code not to wear one. - Greene said she was going to change the dress code for next year to require that girls wear bras. "Ms. Martinez's experience of discriminatory enforcement of the dress code is not an isolated incident," the letter said. "Other students and parents have described an environment in which female students are disproportionately targeted for violations of the dress code. Further, according to these accounts, the dress code is not evenly enforced among female students: female students with a larger chest or body type are more frequently dress coded. For example, one student, who wishes to remain anonymous at this time, described an incident in which Dean Velazquez told her she should dress differently because she is a "big girl" and she should keep the size of her chest area in mind when getting dressed." The ACLU urged the school district to remove vague language and language based on gender stereotypes from the dress code. BEIRUT - Much has changed in Lebanon in the nine years since its last election. Next door, Syria has been ravaged by war, and more than 2 million refugees have sought sanctuary in Lebanon. A long-exiled former general is now president. But most notably, the militant group Hezbollah, which was still in the early years of its political rise back in 2009, is now ascendant. Hezbollah's main hope in the election Sunday is that its allies win enough seats to lift the Hezbollah-led alliance to a slight parliamentary majority - and by doing so, mark another milestone on its path to political dominance. Founded with Iranian support in the 1980s, the group has risen from resistance movement to fully fledged political player. At home, it provides an extensive network of social services to its supporters. Abroad, it has served as an enforcer of Iran's regional strategy, sending cadres to fight in Syria and Yemen. With a majority in parliament, Hezbollah would be able to more tightly direct Lebanon's foreign and defense policies and align them with Iranian interests in the Middle East. "Hezbollah is very patient. They play the long game, and they know that time is with them," said Joseph Bahout, a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "They are not doing anything that would openly threaten or provoke. They are just covering their interests." In an attempt to encourage consensus-building, Lebanon's new electoral law has gerrymandered the country into 15 provinces of differing sizes and populations. Yet most parties - aside from the Shiite parties, Hezbollah and Amal - have been unable to form joint electoral lists at the national level, instead opting for local alliances to contest various seats. "Even if Hezbollah is not a winner in terms of seats, then it will have a more dispersed and scattered parliament that is easier to navigate than ever before," Bahout said. Ahead of Sunday's vote, politicians have been out in force, glad-handing supporters with promises of change. Hezbollah has faced unusually strong electoral challenges in its heartland of Baalbek, an eastern city close to Lebanon's border with Syria. On Tuesday, Hezbollah supporters set green-and-yellow banners aloft as their leader, Hasan Nasrallah, urged people to provide the group with "political protection" against those conspiring against it. But more broadly, Hezbollah's place as the most influential player in Lebanese politics is no longer seriously disputed. While debate over the group's weapons stockpiles and military ambitions have been key issues in previous elections, these have been largely absent from the public debate this time. In the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, supporters voiced loyalty to Nasrallah, known to many there as Sayed Hasan, denoting descent from the prophet Muhammad. "If Sayed Hasan has not personally intervened with his speeches, people would not have cared to cast ballots. For his sake, they changed their mind," said one man, who gave his name as Hussein. But critics of the movement described its influence in more troubling terms. Nadim Gemayel, a parliamentary candidate and the son of the country's former president Bashir Gemayel, said he saw Hezbollah's intensified campaign as an attempt to win parliamentary control as a form of legitimacy for its paramilitary stockpiles. "They have grown to be an arsenal way more powerful than the Lebanese army," said Gemayel. Even beyond foreign and defense policy, the stakes were already high for the average voter. Lebanon has been buffeted in recent years by economic woes, regional strife and the Syrian refugee crisis. Trash regularly piles up on the streets without collection, and problems with the water and electricity supply are endemic. Analysts, however, predict that voter apathy and the new law's complexity could suppress turnout. In Beirut on Friday, Laila Saade, a housewife, said she would not be participating. "Why should I vote? They are all the same [guys], and nothing will change," she said. Are you gambling your retirement savings on the idea that your taxes will be lower when you retire? If so, Ive got some bad news. If you have your retirement savings in a tax-deferred retirement account such as a 401(k), IRA or 403(b), youre sitting on a tax time bomb. Related: Just Listen: The IRS Is Telling You How to Have a Tax-Free Retirement For decades, purveyors of conventional financial wisdom have told Americans to max out their contributions to tax-deferred plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs. Your money compounds without being reduced by taxes, and youll end up with more money during retirement is their common refrain. But, like much conventional wisdom about personal finance, that refrain doesnt hold up to scrutiny -- or even basic mathematics! According to the Society of Actuaries: It doesnt make any difference whether [the taxes] are taken away from you at the beginning (tax-exempt) or at the end (tax-deferred). Its the same fraction of your money that is left to you. And, to make matters worse, the above statement assumes tax rates will stay the same, but why would anyone assume that? Taxes are already one of the three largest expenses for retirees, and they are likely to increase in coming years. Pressure from the ballooning national debt, which recently passed $21 trillion for the first time, and growing government expenditures as more people retire, practically guarantees it. In short: If tax rates do go up, and youre successful in growing your nest egg, youll end up paying higher taxes on a bigger number. Nevertheless, most people look at their retirement savings and think its all theirs. They forget that they will owe Uncle Sam all the taxes they were able to defer all those years -- which means taxes on every penny theyve contributed and on every penny of growth. To fully grasp what that means, consider what tax rates might be during a retirement that could last 30-plus years. Americans have been told that when they retire, they will probably be in a lower tax bracket. But many folks who have already retired have discovered otherwise. They complain that theyre actually in a higher tax bracket now than when they were working! This is happening for two reasons: 1. Required minimum distributions (RMDs). RMDs mandate that retirees start drawing money from tax-deferred accounts around age 70 -- whether they want to or not. This often pushes them into a higher tax bracket. 2. The Social Security tax torpedo. RMDs and income from various sources can trigger a tax torpedo that taxes up to 85 percent of your Social Security benefits. Financial planners and CPAs are seeing some retirees tax rates double or more because of this. But there is a legal way to lower your taxes without going broke ... As more people become aware of these pitfalls, they are looking for ways to minimize the tax hit they can expect in retirement. One increasingly popular way to do this utilizes a specialized form of dividend-paying whole life insurance to save for retirement, a method discussed by attorney, author and my fellow Entrepreneur contributor Mark J. Kohler in a column titled Why Life Insurance Has to Be Part of Your Wealth-Building Plan. Specifically, he points to the strategy I call Bank On Yourself. The essence of this strategy is to take advantage of the tax-deferred growth on the earnings within life insurance policies by using tax-free loans to access the cash when needed," Kohler wrote. "So you borrow the money from yourself instead of the bank, then pay yourself the interest and repay the loan you took from your policy. These policies provide a way to save for retirement without your having to worry how much of your hard-earned savings the taxman will take. How is this possible? These policies are funded with after-tax money, which grows tax-deferred and may be accessed tax-free under current tax law. Related: 10 Tax-Savings Hacks That Small Business Owners Often Miss In addition, money from such plans is not subject to the RMDs that can push you into a higher tax bracket. Income from the policy is also not included when the IRS determines how much tax youll pay on Social Security income. Nor will that income increase your Medicare premiums, unlike IRA distributions and tax-exempt bond income. Guaranteed, predictable growth Unlike 401(k), IRA and other conventional, government-sponsored retirement plans, growth of these plans is guaranteed. Principal and gains are locked in and wont vanish when markets crash. They also offer a return thats significantly greater than what savings, money market accounts or CDs have historically offered. Over time, the return can be equivalent to a 5 percent to 7 percent annual return in a tax-deferred account, but without the risk of stocks, bonds and other volatile investments. For so long, Americans have been told the nonsense that we have to accept high levels of risk in order to grow a sizeable nest egg. (Can you say oxymoron?) The foolishness of this notion is made all the more clear when you consider the impact of delaying paying taxes on savings. Related: 5 Tax-Deduction Changes in the Trump Tax Plan You Need to Know About This Tax Year Ben Franklin famously said that, In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. If, like most folks, you believe tax rates will go higher in the long term, you can eliminate unpleasant surprises by paying taxes up-front. Then, the money in your retirement savings can be truly yours to keep, without its being counted against you. Related: How to Pay Zero Taxes Legally in Retirement How to Give Every Team Member a Tax-Free 'Raise' Finally, the Feds Are Cutting Startups Some Slack: Why the New Tax Law Is a Game-Changer Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved TALLINN, Estonia - In the space of a few hours, the advantages of the modern, Internet-connected world turned against the military personnel and hackers involved in a cybersecurity exercise in this Baltic city not far from the Russian border. First, cellphone networks fell silent while an imaginary foe conducted naval exercises just off their country's coast. Chemicals at water-treatment plants gushed into public supplies. Subversive protesters jammed the streets. The power grid flipped on and off. And then a hacked drone fell out of the sky and killed soldiers at a NATO base. The exercise - which drew more than 1,000 participants from 30 countries, including the United States, and billed itself as the largest-ever such training - offered a glimpse of what military strategists fear could be the next big conflict. And it showed how NATO is scrambling to get ready. "In military planning, countries are considering cyber in future conflicts, just like guns and tanks," said Merle Maigre, the head of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence, the Estonia-based organization that hosted the exercise. NATO used to view preventing cyberattacks as its sole responsibility in the virtual world. But in 2014 it agreed that a cyberattack could trigger a military response, and last year the alliance decided to empower its military officers to conduct such attacks of their own. "We need to be just as effective in the cyber domain as we are in air, on land and at sea, with . . . the ability to respond however and whenever we choose," alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the time. Russia looms large in this planning. Just last month, the United States and Britain warned that Russia was trying to burrow into millions of routers and firewalls. In February, they blamed the Russian military for the 2017 NotPetya cyberattack, which targeted Ukraine and caused computer damage around the world. The stakes feel especially high in Estonia, which in 2007 fell victim to one of the first and biggest cyberattacks. Hackers hit the country's Parliament, media, banks and Internet providers. Cyber-experts traced the attacks to Russia, which was angry at the time that a Soviet-era statue of a Red Army soldier had been moved from central Tallinn to a military cemetery. Since then, this Baltic country of 1.3 million people has built itself into a cybersecurity powerhouse out of proportion to its size. It has a voluntary civilian cyberdefense league - the virtual companion to civilian militias that drill against potential real-world invasions. And the NATO-affiliated center, founded a year after the attack, organizes an annual series of exercises, which have grown in size as more governments see the disruptions that can be caused through a computer. Dubbed "Locked Shields," the exercise conducted late last month gamed out an attack by the fictional country Crimsonia on its fictional neighbor Berylia. But elements of the scenario were taken from real life. Berylia is an obvious stand-in for a Baltic country such as Estonia: It is geographically difficult for NATO to defend and shares a border with Russia that has made it a special target for Kremlin interest. The hit to Berylia's 4G cellular network, which came as Crimsonia held naval exercises just off Berylia's coast, echoed what happened in September, when Latvia's 4G cellular network was hit while Russia conducted naval exercises nearby. And Berylia's flickering electrical substations were reminiscent of Ukraine's power grid, which has been hit twice by sophisticated online attacks in recent years, as the country's conflict with Russia has turned it into what some security experts call the "Wild West" for cyberwarfare. "We look at real-life incidents, and then we apply them to our exercises," said U.S. Navy Commander Michael Widmann, who works at the center and helped design the exercise. "We're not trying to make things up." During the exercise, 22 cyberdefense squads competed against each other as an international team of attackers tried to disrupt peaceful life in Berylia. "All of us are either dealing with the results or actually creating similar situations in our daily lives," said Mehis Hakkaja, the leader of the attacking team, who also heads an Estonian security firm that helps companies find computer vulnerabilities. The real-world consequences of a cyberattack could be dire. "If you mess with water, if you mess with power, if you take over drones, people might get hurt. People might die," said Rain Ottis, the director of a cybersecurity center at the Tallinn University of Technology. That concern is part of what has held back Western nations from engaging more wholeheartedly - or at least more openly - in cyberwarfare. Military planners have an easier time assessing the civilian cost of a missile strike than the cost of switching off a power plant that might supply electricity to a children's hospital. Countries also sometimes struggle with how to respond to attacks that aren't clearly attacks. After all, cellular networks can fail without Russia's help. "Life is a complex thing, and if someone wants to attack you, there are so many ways to launch an attack," said Tanel Sepp, the deputy director of the cybersecurity policy department of the Estonian Defense Ministry. He said that as he sat with colleagues taking part in the exercise, not everyone agreed that they had properly proved they were under assault. Although what happened in Estonia in 2007 was clear, few officials here imagined they could win formal backing from NATO by invoking the organization's all-for-one, one-for-all defense pledges, and allies took no moves against Russia. Now Estonian officials say the alliance is readier to move quickly if there is a cyberattack, although an attack might need to result in injuries or death to activate a significant military response. "On the day before 9/11, nobody thought a civilian aircraft could trigger" a NATO military response, said Marina Kaljurand, a former Estonian foreign minister who as ambassador to Russia during the 2007 attack was charged with pushing the Kremlin to stop the assault. "Today, we're in the same situation with cyber." She said that NATO's decision to make cyber-related offense a bigger part of military preparation sent a message to Russia and other foes that they need to be more cautious about how they operate in the online world. Some NATO members are making the same shift at home. "You can't just be about cyber-defense. You sometimes have to do something in response," said Erki Kodar, who is helping to set up a cybersecurity command at the Estonian Defense Ministry. "You're not just being the victim. You can also change the threat landscape." --- Video Embed Code Video: Here's what you need to know about what cyberweapons are and when they have been used in the past.(Dani Player,Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Embed code: In the United States alone, nearly half a million startups are born every year. Some of get off the ground, but fewer figure out how to stay afloat. While the barrier to entry is a lot lower than it was pre-internet, the competition is exponentially greater, making it that much harder to succeed. A good idea isnt good enough to guarantee prosperity. As someone whos been through the process of building and selling four startups, as well as currently running another thriving startup, I believe every startup needs to take three key steps to maximize chances for success. They are what Ive always done before I start any new venture. They are my proverbial parachute, empowering me to chase greatness while minimizing the chance of falling flat on my face. Related: How 3 Entrepreneurs Came up With Their Business Ideas 1. Pursue the right solution. Before going from ideation to implementation, youll want to do a rigorous deep dive on the industry youre pursuing. You must know the industry inside and out, including who your competition is and how you differ from them, as well as the markets growth potential. Assembling this knowledge will help you initially determine if the idea holds up and whether to pursue it or move on to the next project. Too many startups fail to do their due diligence early on, and it comes back to haunt them in the end. This reminds me of the time that I was working with a restauranteur to prove out a business model. We built out the model together, and six weeks in, the restaurant was fully packed, but the restaurant was losing money, so I voiced my concern. The restauranteur explained that he wasnt supposed to be making money yet because the restaurant was only six weeks old. What he didnt realize, though, is that since the place was full of customers, the age of the restaurant wasnt a factor on his bottom line. There was a fundamental problem with the business model, so we had to go back to the drawing board to reconcile the discrepancy. 2. Choose a compatible business partner. OK, youve done your homework, and your idea is sound and ready to go. Now its time to choose a business partner. Some entrepreneurs prefer to work alone on a new venture, but I cannot stress enough the importance of having a strong co-pilot. Its one of the smartest decisions you can make as an entrepreneur. Why? Because a partner extends the reach, the options and overall capabilities of your company. The fear that business owners have about partners typically stems from their reluctance to cede any control to somebody else. That fear becomes irrelevant with someone along for the ride who truly shares the vision of the company. I met Scott Litman, my longtime business partner, through a mutual friend. We began as trading partners, and over time we built trust and became official co-leaders. Related: How To Know When It's Time to Break Up With Your Co-founder We divide and conquer everything, and we trust each others decision-making. For example, I went to New York to pursue a new business lead a couple of years ago. While there, I met someone in the clients office, and we hit it off so much that I decided, on the spot, to bring him in to build the New York office of our current company at the time without consulting Litman. When I came back to Minnesota, I told Litman and everyone else the good news, and not one of them questioned my decision. And, the employee I hired back then is one of the co-founders and the CTO of Equals 3 today. As with a marriage, trust, patience and communication make up the fundamentals to a winning partnership. This is not an easy feat. You wont always see eye-to-eye, and there will be the occasional argument. As long as you both prioritize the success of the business, you can be assured that your collective decision-making will be strong. Its also important to make sure to spend some time thinking about personality types that mesh with your style. Litman and I are opposites on all aspects of the Myers-Briggs scale; were a true yin and yang. This is a key reason why weve done so well together. We see things differently and have mutual respect for each others opinions, so the best ideas generally rise to the top. 3. Operate in a united manner. The biggest benefit an entrepreneurial partner provides lies within the fact that they can keep you in check. Having a clear, independent voice to bounce ideas off of helps each of you make better strategic decisions. Partnership also increases the collective level of thinking, which, in turn, sparks and inspires even more ideas that can benefit the direction of the business. Related: How to Hire the Right People for Your First Business Taking the plunge into entrepreneurship isnt easy. What separates the truly great entrepreneurs from the rest of the pack is the fundamental understanding of what it takes to be successful, using that knowledge to inform your plan and then executing that plan accordingly. Positioning yourself in the right situation, backed by intensive research, should always be your first priority. Aligning with a partner that complements your personality type, maximizes your capabilities and shares in the ultimate vision of the company should follow closely behind. With those key elements in place, youll have the necessary parachute to move forward and grow a sustainable business. Dont be afraid to take the leap. Related: 5 Ways to Turn Your Passions Into Profits Online Pack Your Parachute Before Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap The 5 Types of People You Need on Your Team When Starting a Business Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved House Republicans are preparing to endorse President Donald Trump's plan for a military parade in the nation's capital, with warfighting vehicles rolling down city streets and planes flying overhead. The display in Washington would be authorized under the Republican-proposed draft for the annual defense policy measure, according to a bill summary released Friday. The measure is scheduled to be taken up by the House Armed Services Committee on May 9. The parade would look back "on a century of military service and focuses on the men and women who sacrificed to secure America's freedoms," according to the summary released by committee chairman Mac Thornberry, a Texas Republican. "Far too many American veterans and their families believe their sacrifices have not been given the public recognition that they deserve." Trump said in February that he wanted a parade if it could be done at a "reasonable" cost. A committee Republican spokesman said Friday that specific funding for the parade isn't set in the legislation. Trump said in February that the parade would probably be on Veteran's Day in November and take a route along Pennsylvania Avenue, a main thoroughfare that runs between the White House and the Capitol building. Trump was impressed by the military display of armaments when he attended France's Bastille Day parade last year and asked the Pentagon to come up with a plan for a similar event in Washington. Initial Pentagon planning is under way, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, said last month. Democrats have complained that a parade would be a waste of time and money, and that Trump is seeking to distract from probes into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. "We have a Napoleon in the making here," Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who serves on the Armed Services panel, said on CNN in February. The House measure would authorize the use "any kind of motorized vehicle, aviation platform, munition, operational military unit, or operational military platform," unless the defense secretary believes "its use will affect its readiness." WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Friday that if he could be treated fairly he would "love to speak" to federal prosecutors investigating possible collusion between his campaign and Russia, and he said one of his new lawyers, Rudy Giuliani, was still learning his facts. As he left the White House, Trump told reporters that he would talk to the team of special counsel Robert Mueller - even over the objections of his lawyers - if he could be convinced the Russia probe is not a "witch hunt." "I would love to speak. I would love to go," Trump said. "Nothing I want to do more, because we did nothing wrong." But, he added, "I have to find that we're going to be treated fairly. ... Right now, it's a pure witch hunt." Trump's comments come as his lawyers are continuing to negotiate with Mueller about the conditions of a possible interview. Trump and his lawyers have said in recent days that they fear Mueller is trying to trap Trump into committing perjury during an extended interview. Mueller has suggested Trump could be subpoenaed if he doesn't voluntarily talk. Giuliani, a former mayor of New York who was a federal prosecutor before entering politics, has emerged in recent days as the face of Trump's legal team. He has been talking not only about the Russia case but about a $130,000 payment made by Trump's longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged sexual relationship with Trump. In a television interview Thursday, Giuliani insisted the October 2016 payment was not a campaign contribution. But he undercut his case, in the eyes of many legal experts, by musing about what would have happened if Daniels's allegation of a decade-old affair had surfaced right before the election. Speaking to reporters, Trump appeared to suggest some reservations about Giuliani's performance. "I'll tell you what," Trump said. "Rudy is a great guy, but he just started a day ago, but he really has his heart into it, he's working hard, he's learning the subject matter." "He knows it's a witch hunt," Trump continued. "He'll get his facts straight." Trump also complained that there are too many Democrats on Mueller's team. He did not mention that Mueller himself is a Republican. "Why aren't we having Republican people doing what these Democratic people are doing?" Trump asked. Trump spoke to reporters as he prepared to head to Dallas, where he is addressing a gathering of the National Rifle Association Friday afternoon. Republican Senate candidate Don Blankenship stepped up his unconventional attacks on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday with a new ad that accuses him of creating "millions of jobs for China people." With a deadpan delivery and a defiant attitude that has become his trademark, the former coal baron focused his onslaught on the family of McConnell's wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, which owns an international shipping business. Blankenship also repeated his recent nickname for McConnell, "Cocaine Mitch," an apparent reference to a seizure of drugs on one of Chao's family's ships. "The war to drain the swamp and create jobs for West Virginia people has begun," Blankenship says, in reference to McConnell, R-Ky. "I will beat Joe Manchin III and ditch Cocaine Mitch for the sake of the kids." The ad comes as Blankenship's two main rivals for the Republican nomination, Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey have focused their fire on each other with just days to go before the May 8 primary. Blankenship, by contrast, has redirected his campaign to attack McConnell, whom he blames for a group called Mountain Families PAC, which has been running ads in the state against Blankenship. The last public poll, by Fox News between April 18 and 22, found Jenkins and Morrisey pulling ahead of Blankenship, who is self-funding his campaign. Allies of McConnell have expressed concerns for weeks that a primary win by Blankenship would jeopardize Republican hopes of beating incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., in the general election this fall. Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to McConnell, responded to the latest ad with an attack on Blankenship. "This clown is a walking, talking case study for the limitation of a prison's ability to rehabilitate," Holmes wrote. The former CEO of Massey Energy, Blankenship began the campaign while still on probation, after serving a year in prison for a misdemeanor conviction of conspiring to violate mine safety rules. Twenty-nine miners died at a Blankenship-run mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia, in 2010. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., weighed into the race as well on Thursday, tweeting that voters in West Virginia should reject Blankenship. "No more fumbles like Alabama," he wrote, in reference to the failed campaign of Alabama Supreme Court judge Roy Moore. "We need to win in November." Blankenship responded with a statement that did not reference Trump Jr. by name. "The establishment is doing everything they can to keep Joe Manchin in office," he wrote. "No other Republican can beat Manchin without my full support and neither Morrisey nor Jenkins is deserving of my support." The younger Trump responded with another tweet. "Ha, now I'm establishment? No, I'm realistic," he wrote. The cocaine nickname for McConnell appears to be a reference to a 2014 seizure from a ship in Colombia bound for the Netherlands. Colombian officials seized 90 pounds of cocaine. The ship came from the maritime company founded by Chao's father, James Chao, who emigrated from Taiwan. The incident received some attention after the Nation reported it in 2014, about a week before McConnell faced reelection. Blankenship's own fiance and a frequent companion on the campaign trail, Farrah Meiling Hobbs, was also born in China. Blankenship praises her on his campaign website, writing that he enjoys "spending time with my best friend, Meiling." From early in the campaign, Blankenship has boasted of his willingness to go negative. "I think the biggest reason you should have confidence that I would defeat Joe Manchin III is because I will run hostile ads against him," Blankenship said at a candidate forum in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on April 3. "I will tell everyone what Joe Manchin III has done." - - - The Washington Post's Paul Kane contributed to this report. FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government has nothing to do with the reported plan of Bank of Bangladesh for an out-of-court settlement with Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. over the $81-million amount stolen by cyber thieves from its accounts in New York and wired to the local bank in February 2016. Reuters reported that Bangladeshs Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Thursday discussed with Dominguez the cyber heist, which is considered one of the biggest that occurred recently. Yesterday, the finance minister and the ambassador of Bangladesh mentioned that and my opinion is that, that is between them and the private sector. Its nothing to do with us, Dominguez said Friday at the sidelines of the 51st annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong City. The government has taken action, we have penalized the bank (RCBC) that have not followed our procedure, we have filed legal cases, the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) has filed cases against the suspects and if they want to make a legal settlement, then we are not involved in that. We are only implementing our laws here, Dominguez said. He said he told Bangladeshi officials that the AMLC needed evidence that the crime was committed here. The crime was not committed here. The crime of hacking was not committed here. It was committed somewhere else, maybe Bangladesh, maybe in New York. So the local courts need the evidence... , Dominguez said. He said local courts had been asking Bangladesh for the evidence since the latter part of 2016.So according to the AMLC, they have not been able to really pursue the case vigorously because thats what the courts here require... , he said. Dominguez said the Bangladeshi ambassador promised to him that he would provide the evidence. They just said theyre working on it. Were waiting, Dominguez said. Reuters said in a report that a Bangladeshi official cited as a precedent an out-of-court settlement in February reached by Ecuadors Banco del Austro and Wells Fargo over a 2015 cyber heist. In February 2016, cyber thieves stole $81 million from the account of Bank of Bangladesh in New York and wired the dirty money to some fictitious accounts in the Jupiter, Makati branch of RCBC. The money was later laundered by a number of individuals in local casinos. The Management Association of the Philippines expressed concerns that the $650-million banked or unutilized gas from the Malampaya field can no longer be pumped out because of technical constraints. MAP, one of the countrys active business organizations, said in a position paper state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. had listed the banked gas in its books. PNOC wanted to use the banked gas to finance its entry into the countrys planned first integrated liquefied natural gas facility. There is currently no commercial arrangement for its withdrawal from the reservoir. There are only 6 more years till the SC-38 contract expires and there is no technical solution to withdraw the bank gas within this time frame, MAP said. It said PNOC must discuss immediately with the service contract 38 consortium and the Energy Department its options and come up with an agreement on a way forward. The consortium is composed of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., as operator, Chevron Malampaya LLC and PNOC subsidiary PNOC Exploration Corp. The consortiums contract with the government will end by 2024. Otherwise, the gas will be stranded, MAP said. MAP expressed support to a Senate resolution inquiring on the governments natural gas industry policy in light of the expiration of the Malampaya franchise. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian introduced the resolution at the Senate.MAP said there was no clarity on how the Philippines would manage the decline of the Malampaya gas reservoir, new exploration and production and the liquified natural gas facility to support the existing power plants within the next five years. MAP said certain steps must be done to ensure the development of the natural gas industry, aside from addressing the banked gas issue. It said government must recommend to the Commission on Audit to drop its taxation view against the Malampaya consortium that prompted Spex to file an arbitration case against the government. By dropping the claim, the arbitration cases filed against the government will have no basis and, thus, will be moot. It will clearly show to investors that the Philippines honors its contracts, MAP said. The business group said the government should also settle the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant ownership issue. Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. wants to revoke the independent power producer agreement of San Miguel Corp. in the Ilijan power plant due to alleged unsettled claims. Sometimes the only way to cope with the crushing stress that comes with being a teacher is to laugh, and there's no better time to do that than during Teacher Appreciation Week. The week of recognition begins May 8 and includes a series of events and social media campaigns aimed at recognizing teachers' often thankless work. 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 Walmart 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. RELATED: Third person arrested in San Antonio ambush killing 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. 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. RELATED: SAPD: Drug dealer stabs woman after she declined to buy drugs at bar 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. 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 SAN Miguel Corp., the Philippines most diversified conglomerate, said it is capable of building the planned airport in Bulacan on its own, its top executive said Friday. San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said at the sidelines of the 51st annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong City the healthy balance sheet of the company would enable it to do the project alone. The National Economic and Development Authority board recently approved the project despite offers from other companies for a partnership to construct the big-ticket project. If you look at our balance sheet and cash flow, we can easily do that airport alone. There are many offers for partnership... Ill let you know, Ang said. He said the Neda boards approval was undergoing evaluation by the Department of Transportation. Ang declined to answer if the Bulacan airport would be the last airport project that the conglomerate would build. I think that question is better asked with the government, he said. Ang expressed confidence the Bulacan airport would be good for the country and bring in at least 20 million foreign tourists to the Philippines annually. So with that, I think it will create millions of jobs for our Filipino countrymen. The limitation of foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines is because of congested airports. Now, if we have a good airport, the Philippines will have a good image and will be able to bring in foreign tourists comparable to the regional countries, Ang said.He cited that Malaysia attracted around 20 million foreign tourist arrivals yearly and that the figure could be surpassed by the Philippines because of its bigger size and larger population. If we bring in 20 million foreign tourists to our country because of this airport, it will create at least two or three jobs per foreign tourist arrival. And that will be very good for our country, Ang said. He said the return on investments from big-ticket project was secondary to us. The Neda board earlier approved the P735.6-billion airport along with other infrastructure projects that are part of the Duterte administrations ambitious P8.4-trillion Build, Build, Build program. The project involves the construction, operation and maintenance of the Bulacan International Airport with an area of approximately 2,500 hectares in Bulakan, Bulacan province. The project involves airport development, including passenger terminal building, with airside and landside facilities, and an 8.4-kilometer airport toll road. It can accommodate 100 million passengers a year by its opening year. The unsolicited proposal has a project cost of P735.634 billion. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in an earlier briefing that while the Neda board approved the airport project, the formal process for the Swiss challenge would not begin until the final concession agreement was confirmed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Damsels purportedly associated with Mexico's deadliest cartels are just as dangerous as their male counterparts, and they have the photos to prove it. Cartel news site ElBlogDelNarco released 40 photos of the gun-toting sicarias - or female assassins - Friday, noting their gold-plated assault rifles and form fitting gear. A series of studies by the Pew Research Center has found that the people most likely to participate in the political process have two things in common. First, they hold consistently liberal or conservative views views that, over time, have shifted increasingly to the left for Democrats and to the right for Republicans. Second, they have a negative view of the other political party. Less represented in the political process is the larger number of Americans who hold a mix of liberal and conservative values. Included in that group is our nations business community that, for obvious reasons, is more pragmatic and less ideological when it comes to politics. How does this affect Texas? Every big city in Texas except Fort Worth is now dominated by liberal leadership, further increasing an already enormous government bureaucracy that is sucking the life out of our major metropolitan areas. At the state Capitol, where Republicans still have an overwhelming majority in both chambers, wedge issues are needlessly squandering conservative political capital. A University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll found that Senate Bill 6, the so-called bathroom bill that consumed so much of the last session, addresses an issue that is important to only 44 percent of the states voters, and very important to only 26 percent. Though some business-related organizations took a stand and opposed SB6, more business leaders and groups need to make their voices heard in Austin. Another issue the business sector should have come together and taken a strong stand against was Senate Bill 4. This was the show me your papers bill requiring officers and allowing officials to investigate a persons immigration status if they have reasonable suspicion the person is in this country illegally. A related issue is the proposed border wall, and our state leaderships fixation on border security. While this is clearly a federal responsibility, a costly border wall President Donald Trump has requested $25 billion for its construction ignores more cost-efficient, effective and common-sense solutions offered by people who live and work along the border, and those actually charged with protecting it. What makes the issue more frustrating is the fact that the Legislature, led by the governor and lieutenant governor, appropriated nearly $800 million for border security, with much of the money going to support DPS officers driving to and from the border, staying in motels and eating at local restaurants. Apprehensions along the southern border are at their lowest level in four decades and a demographic winter is facing our nations population. Surely there is a better use for these public funds. Our ports of entry, for instance, are so congested due to lack of infrastructure that in 2011, Bloomberg estimated delays at the U.S.-Mexico border cost the U.S. economy up to $7.8 billion annually. Its also critical to note here the absence of a loud and consistent voice from the business sector, and until very recently, our states political leadership defending NAFTA. Our nation cannot have a growing economy or lift the wages and incomes of Americans unless we continue to reach beyond our borders and sell products and services to the 95 percent of the worlds population that lives outside the United States. More than 40,000 companies in Texas sell their goods and services abroad to meet that global demand. All this is common sense something that is sorely lacking at every level of government these days. If this situation is to change, the vast majority of Americans whose values fall between the extremes of the two parties will need to become more engaged in the political process. No group has more to gain or lose in this process than the business community. Dennis E. Nixon is CEO of International Bank of Commerce in Laredo, and chairman of the board of International Bancshares Corporation. On April 26, the San Antonio Express-News published an op-ed titled Yes, San Antonians do have a stake in Gaza events by Moureen Kaki, Harry Gunkel and Judith Norman. Allow me to topple all the false facts and misleading data that was presented by the writers. One important fact that has to be said before I get to my point, is that all three of the authors are members of the Justice in Palestine movement. They are, of course, all proud of that and see themselves as righteous, but the truth has to be voiced. One of the chants that is frequently used by the members of this group says: from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Considering the fact that the chant is actually stating the borders of Israel are from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean sea, one must not be mistaken: They are calling for the destruction of Israel. In their eyes, there is no place for the State of Israel, not even alongside a Palestinian State. Their true goal is simple and plain: while crying out for the Palestinians, they are calling to demolish the State of Israel and its inhabitants. Let me shed some light on some of the facts mentioned in the article: First, I would like to start by mentioning to the authors of that commentary that Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and not Tel Aviv, a fact that the authors ought to know, especially after last December, when President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced a plan to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Mentioning Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel simply emphasizes that maybe the solid truth does not really matter to Kaki, Gunkel and Norman. Next, they wrote in their article that Israeli troops have opened fire on crowds of unarmed protesters in Gaza. It will be interesting to see what the authors have to say regarding the confession made by Hamas, the Palestinian terror organization that controls the Gaza Strip, when they said, Five of those killed in Gaza riots were members of armed wing. Such statements strengthen the fact that the riots are thus premeditated and a violent provocation, an aggressive attempt to break down the border fence and storm by the thousands into Israeli territory. Lastly, the authors state that San Antonio pays $1.5 million in taxpayer money, every year, for the next 10 years, toward Israel. Indeed, the USA and Israel signed a $38 billion foreign military assistance agreement. What they did not say is that according to the agreement itself, Israel is obligated to purchase the goods in the USA. Moreover, according to the agreement, Israel is required to purchase the goods from American companies, which means many jobs for many San Antonians. Let us explain their claim about wasting American taxpayer money. Each year, the Palestinian Authority paid more than $300 million from USA aid money to terrorists and their families. Those salaries went out from the formal budget of the Palestinian Authority. Thats $300 million that could help what they called our own schools and cities (that) are in desperate need of funding. Thank Congress for passing the Taylor Force Act, named after Taylor Force, an American and a Texas resident who was stabbed to death in 2016 by a Palestinian terrorist in the heart of Tel Aviv in Israel. This measure broadly says every dollar that is given to terrorists or their families is reduced from the USA aid that is given to the Palestinian Authority. To conclude, San Antonians should know the truth, and recognize the forces that desire the destruction of the State of Israel, Americas greatest ally. Gilad Katz is Israels Consul General to the U.S. Southwest. The city of San Antonio is passing on a bid for the 2020 Republican National Convention. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and City Council made the decision behind closed doors following a very public dustup on the merits of hosting the convention. In choosing not to bid, the city took the easy way out, sacrificing opportunity for this community. That opportunity has largely focused on the estimated $200 million of economic impact the convention would generate for San Antonio. No small figure. But the opportunity was always about much more than mere economics and showcasing San Antonio to the nation and world. RELATED: Brad Parscale rips San Antonio on Twitter after RNC bid decision This was also an opportunity to highlight civil discourse and respectful free speech. A bid, if you will, to overcome the toxicity that permeates our national politics to say, here in San Antonio, were better than that. In taking a pass on the convention, city leaders raised understandable concerns. They balked at the cost the need to quickly raise $70 million for a partisan event. And they talked about the strain 40,000 visitors might have on traffic and surrounding neighborhoods. Humming in the background, although at times unspoken, was concern about civic unrest in the era of Trump. None of these concerns hold up. The city just hosted the NCAA Mens Final Four and there were little of the stated concerns about traffic congestion or stresses placed on surrounding neighborhoods for that mega-event. Hosting the Final Four also required significant improvements to the Alamodome, an immense public expense. And while the $70 million price tag is daunting, local business leaders have said the city and Bexar County were expected to contribute about $6 million, although our suspicion is it almost certainly would have been more. While the concerns about civic unrest are understandable, they were also premature and likely overblown. In Cleveland, host of the 2016 Republican National Convention, there were 24-related convention arrests, according to USA Today. RELATED: San Antonio leaders, residents react online to city council's decision to not bid for RNC Yes, President Donald Trump is a polarizing figure. His policies are viewed as caustic by, arguably, the majority of Americans and San Antonians. This Editorial Board has been in sharp disagreement with the president on his anti-immigrant views, his support of a wall between the U.S.-Mexico border, his antagonism of the North American Free Trade Agreement, his castigation of Muslims, his denial of climate science, his deconstruction of the Affordable Care Act and numerous other issues big and small. But disagreement on policies and rhetoric is not a good enough reason to jettison opportunity. The Republican Party is also not solely the party of Trump, who may not even be the partys presidential nominee in 2020. It is also the party of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and myriad other voices and figures, including many Texans. With ample hotel and convention space, San Antonio would have been an outstanding host for the Republican convention. Just as it would make an outstanding host for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Local officials have sought to cast this as a decision that was about staying above politics and avoiding divisiveness, but it was an intensely political decision. One that sacrificed opportunity and, like it or not, sent its own divisive message. This was not a decision that put the community first. FROM OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE: Gilbert Garcia: City rejection of RNC complicates relationship with businesses Jason Hoekema /Associated Press The Lone Star State has historically been intolerant of cattle rustlers, and it looks like those dealing in stolen processed beef cant expect to fare any better in Texas courts. Rightly so. A Cameron County detention officer who bilked taxpayers out of more than $1.2 million in fajita meat will be spending the next 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to theft by public servant. Hong Kong gets closer to Davao posted May 04, 2018 at 06:35 pm by Manila Standard Lifestyle May 04, 2018 at 06:35 pm Visitors coming from Hong Kong can now travel directly to Davao as Cathay Pacific launches a four times weekly service to Davao City. The Cathay Pacific Group brings Hong Kong and the world closer to Davao as its regional airline, Cathay Dragon, will launch a four times weekly service to Davao City from Oct. 28. The new route, the only non-stop flight between Hong Kong and Davao City, will be operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. Davao City will be the airlines fourth destination in the country, complementing existing services to Manila, Cebu and Clark.Cathay Pacific country manager to the Philippines Rob Bradshaw said the new services reflect the groups commitment to growing its reach, providing customers with more options when connecting through the airlines hub to over 200 destinations in its network.We have a rich and robust history of serving the Philippines and we are thrilled today to grow our presence to Davao, our fourth destination in the country, he said. Bradshaw added, With our renowned signature service and convenient schedule, customers will be assured of a premium experience when they travel with us. Through the efficient and passenger friendly Hong Kong hub, the world is now one step closer to our customers in Mindanao. COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section. Despite some early stumbles, San Antonios Tricentennial celebration has turned into a smashing success. Much credit for this turnaround should go to Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of the Tricentennial Commission and Texas A&M University-San Antonio; and Assistant City Manager Carlos Contreras. When the Tricentennial appeared to be falling apart in late 2017 under detached and inept leadership, all three stepped in to bring much-needed energy, focus and vision. That hard work came to fruition this week as the city commemorated its 300th birthday with almost 150 events. OPINION: The Alamo's new battle for historical accuracy, relevancy Bells across the community were rung in unison on May 1 to honor the establishment of the Mission San Antonio de Valero near the San Pedro Creek. It was the antecedent to the Alamo. Other celebrations have honored the citys art and history, Native American influence and rich cultural melange. Its a complicated story to tell, and particularly painful through an indigenous lens. While the city is marking its 300th anniversary, Native American presence here dates back at least 12,000 years. Tricentennial organizers have done a fabulous job of ensuring a diverse range of voices have been heard, and a complete and honest history has been told. MORE: Blend of history, fun makes Alamo Plaza a destination We are celebrating a small part of this regions broader history, and the forces that shaped this city also trampled the native cultures here. The Tricentennial has offered opportunities throughout the year for San Antonians, and visitors who love this community, to learn more about our history. Its a story that includes nomadic hunter-gatherers, Franciscan friars and Spanish soldiers. Its a story that includes the arrival of 56 Canary Islanders who established a civil government. Its a story that encompasses Mexican and Texas independence. Its a story defined by the arrival of rail, the establishment of Military City, USA, through our military installations; and the construction of the iconic River Walk. RELATED: Aztlan in history and in the heart From its origins as a remote Spanish colonial outpost, San Antonio has evolved into a sprawling, modern American city of 1.5 million people. We face no shortage of complicated issues: Economic segregation, high levels of obesity, intense pockets of poverty, and a strong need to produce far more college graduates. With an additional 1 million people expected in Bexar County by 2040, the region faces tremendous growth pressures when it comes to traffic, sprawl and water security. These challenges also bring opportunities for leadership, innovation and evolution. In short, San Antonios story continues, and we are all lucky to play some part in it. Our hope is that progress ahead means more milestones to celebrate. There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! Donald Trump, in a tweet last week Look, I get that people who voted for Donald Trump arent necessarily bigoted or white nationalists, but lets talk about breeding anyway. That word is generally reserved for our canine buddies and livestock. We dont say it about people other than, apparently, those we dont want breeding. Its safe to conclude he was mostly talking about immigrants from Mexico and points south. Its been suggested to me that the president really meant immigrants who breed crime. And he has indeed said that Latino immigrants are mostly rapists and criminals. OPINION: 'Coco' proves Latinos best at telling own stories I dont think he meant breeding crime. But if he did, a Washington Post Fact Check gave the president four Pinocchios for this claim and other recent data confirm that immigrants commit less crime than the native born. No, I think the fear he is tapping is really about the browning of America or, perhaps more to the point, an America that is less white. So, what do the numbers tell us? On matters sociological and demographic, I consult with Rogelio Saenz, dean of the College of Public Policy at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He gave me total fertility-rate data that look at women ages 15 to 44. The replacement rate essentially the number at which babies being born replace the people dying is 2.1. That 0.1 accounts for some females not reaching childbearing ages and others dying during childbirth. In 2016, the rate for whites was 1.72, for blacks 1.83 and for Latinas 2.09. In other words, Latinos are just below the replacement rate, which is to say nearly normal when it comes to replacing ourselves. RELATED: A Latino is a Latino is a Latino? Yes, foreign-born Latinas though not all of these will be undocumented immigrants tend to be above the replacement rate, at 2.29 in 2016, while U.S.-born Latinos were at 1.85. But that 2.29 is not extraordinarily high and is down from the 2006 rate of 2.87. And it will likely continue to decline. If the fear is a browning of America, the two numbers combined mean even Latinos are only barely if that replacing ourselves, just doing a better job of it than other groups. As you can see, Latina fertility dropped rapidly during the last decade. Some of that is likely due to the impact of economic recession and the outmigration of foreign-born Latina women, who tend to have higher birth rates, said Saenz. But none of this amounts to wanton breeding. And, by the way, Mexicos fertility rate, at 2.3, is only slightly above the rate for foreign-born Latinas here, which means diminished migration ahead from our nearest neighbor to the south, with or without that border wall. And theres this: If Latinos native and foreign-born combined are the only one of the three top demographic groups coming close to replacing themselves, where do Trump and America think were going to get other Americans? You know, to work and pay taxes. RELATED: Hispanic? Don't deny our Native American heritage So, about that browning of America itll be a while. Whites will reportedly become the numerical minority in 2044. But as majority-minority U.S. states can tell you, increased numbers dont necessarily mean sudden changes in who wields power. Anyway, well all still be Americans no matter what color we are, right? Right, Mr. President? Here are a couple of other things Trump said recently of Latinos. On Saturday in Michigan, he asked a crowd of supporters, Any Hispanics in the crowd? Some folks booed, but, rest assured, not at him. Who but the recently departed and often caustic Don Rickles would even ask such a question? Hint: It wasnt to single folks out for praise. And this: A vote for a Democrat in November is a vote for open borders and crime. Its very simple. Well, since no Democrat I know is for an open border and, near as I can tell, a lot of the elected ones have been voting for border security, including more manpower, this is not as simple as billed. But, again, that fertility rate for Latinos? Pert-near normal. o.ricardo.pimentel@express-news.net Zachry Construction Corp., a division of the company that plans to build a $200 million mixed-use development at Hemisfair, has been hit with a third lawsuit claiming that it systematically avoided paying workers overtime on a massive highway project in the Houston area. Six workers filed a class action lawsuit on April 13 against locally-based Zachry and Odebrecht Construction, the Brazilian conglomerate it is partnering with to build segments of the 184-mile Grand Parkway outerbelt around Houston. The Texas Department of Transportation awarded Zachry and Odebrecht a $1.04 billion contract for the project in 2012. FOREIGN Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano denied Friday there was a loyalty check paper circulating around the diplomatic agency asking diplomats to sign a statement in support of his leadership. In an ambush interview, Cayetano tagged the Manila Standard report as fake news and asked the diplomats to tear the said paper and do not sign if it reached them. There is no loyalty check, that is fake news... if someone or anyone here at the DFA asks you to sign, dont sign it. Tear it up and say that secretary does not want that because you are entitled to your opinion, he told reporters on Friday. Some diplomats have called on Cayetano to review the agencys protocols on the use of social media. The letter, sent on April 27, was made after officials from the DFA uploaded the videos to the public showing a rescue of overseas Filipino workers from their Kuwaiti employers, which angered the Kuwait government describing it as a beach of its sovereignty. In a two-page letter acquired by the Standard, 13 diplomats wrote Cayetano to review the agencys protocol on social media documentation and release. Part of our duty to the country and this institution is to share our viewstempered by the counsel of experienceto help our principals make informed decisions, read the 2-page letter filed on April 27, 2018 which was addressed to Cayetano. We therefore call for a review of the Departments protocols on the use of social media in the documentation and conduct of its work particularly in situations of great sensitivity and critical circumstances, where live must be protected and the highest level of professionalism and discretion is needed, the diplomats said. He also urged the DFA personnel to personally tell Cayetano themselves to resign instead of writing a letter. You dont need a letter...Go to my office after the flag ceremony and tell me sir pasensya na po kayo, hindi po kayo masuportahan ng mga career, he said. He also said that once the DFA personnel personally told him of their non-support he would pack his bag and resign.I will pack my bags and move out because youre only a leader when someone follows, Cayetano added. I dont expect the professionals, the career officials to just follow. I am here to earn their respect, to earn the right to lead them. I will not demand it of them, added Cayetano, who served as Senator before his appointment as top diplomat. The DFA, in a statement, earlier disputed a newspaper report which claimed that career diplomats wanted Cayetano to quit his post, saying the alleged call did not represent the views of the entire Foreign Service Corps. It publicly castigated a reporter of a national daily broadsheet for allegedly not exercising due diligence in writing her explosive stories. The DFA claimed the reporter, who covered the DFA for years, was lacking in due diligence. It appears to be part of a well-orchestrated campaign to undermine the Departments efforts to protect the rights and promote the welfare of our kababayans overseas, the statement said. The Department will not be deterred by these attempts to divert us away from pursuing our mission. We remain focused on our vision to advance the interest of Filipinos overseas, the DFA added. Cayetano, on the other hand denied that career officials of his department had submitted to the President a letter seeking his resignation. There is no such letter. We havent seen it. Ive asked around, no one had seen it, he said. Nature & Weather, Local News, Health & Wellness, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: May 04 2018 New York Moves to Protect Coastal Communities and $23 Billion Marine Economy from Environmental Disasters. Albany, NY - May 4, 2018 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today advanced the 'Save Our Waters' bill to prohibit the leasing of lands, including underwater lands, for offshore drilling and exploration, and drilling infrastructure, in New York State waters. The Governor's action to protect New York's waters from oil and gas exploration was prompted by the Trump administration's plan to vastly expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. "The federal government's plan to open coastal waters to drilling shows an absolute disregard for science and history," Governor Cuomo said. "Offshore drilling would make our coastal communities vulnerable to the dangers of oil spills and other drilling disasters and jeopardize the health of our robust marine economy. New York will do everything in our power to prevent environmental disasters and will continue to safeguard our offshore assets and bolster our efforts to support renewable energy development." In January 2018, the federal government threatened New York's coastline with its Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Program for 2019-2024, proposing to make more than 90 percent of the total offshore acreage in the United States available to oil and gas drilling. This plan would open two areas of the North Atlantic coast adjacent to New York State for fossil fuel exploration. An exclusion from the offshore drilling program was granted to Florida on the grounds that it relies heavily on tourism as one of the nation's top ocean economies. Governor Cuomo formally requested on March 9 that New York waters be excluded from the federal drilling program. The 'Save Our Waters' bill: Prohibits leases for oil and gas exploration or production in New York waters, including Long Island, New York City and the Hudson River. Prohibits infrastructure on state land associated with offshore production in the North Atlantic. Prohibits transportation within the navigable waters of the state of crude oil produced from the federal waters, designated as the "North Atlantic Planning Area". New York is currently the nation's third-largest ocean economy, and the administration's offshore drilling plan jeopardizes nearly 320,000 jobs and billions of dollars generated through tourism and fishing industries. Overall, New York's ocean economy generates an estimated $11 billion in wages and contributes $23 billion in gross domestic product. Long Island and the New York Harbor are home to 11.4 million people, with 60 percent of our state's population living along nearly 2,000 miles of tidal coastline. The Port of NYNJ is the largest on the Atlantic seaboard and a major spill that disrupted operations would be devastating to the national economy. The port supports 400,000 indirect jobs and 229,000 direct jobs while generating $90 billion in combined personal and business income and $8.5 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. New York strongly opposes the Department of the Interior's National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program as it poses an unacceptable threat to New York's ocean resources, economy, and communities. In addition, offshore drilling is contrary to New York's aggressive efforts to move toward cleaner energy resources, including the recent nation-leading $1.4 billion investment dedicated to on-shore renewable energy projects and a goal of developing 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind generation by 2030. The recently awarded projects include 22 solar farms, demonstrating that large-scale solar power is economically viable across the State, three wind projects, and one hydroelectric project. The awarded projects are expected to generate enough renewable energy to power more than 430,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million metric tons, the equivalent to taking an estimated 340,000 cars off the road. The effort to protect New York waters from fossil fuel exploration, drilling, and infrastructure complements the Governor's recent effort to expand artificial reefs to improve the State's diverse marine life and boost Long Island's recreational and sport fishing industries. The Governor has launched a comprehensive artificial reef program that will deploy and place materials, including tug boats, barges, and scows, as well as concrete and clean, recycled materials from the demolition of the former Tappan Zee Bridge, in the Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. These materials will support the development of six artificial reefs on Long Island at sites off the shores of Smithtown, Shinnecock, Moriches, Fire Island, Hempstead, and Rockaway. DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "While the federal government is moving energy policy backward, with potentially devastating impacts to New York, Governor Cuomo is leading the nation into the future in the transition to a clean energy economy. Oil and gas exploration, drilling, and related disasters are incompatible with New York's multi-billion-dollar coastal economy. Rather than endangering the environmental and economic health of our coasts, New York is carefully and responsibly expanding renewable energy to support the state's comprehensive efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change." Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, "The steps Governor Cuomo is taking today to prevent offshore drilling from occurring off New York's Atlantic Coast will spare generations to come from the potentially devastating effects drilling can have on coastal communities and our treasured natural resources. As the federal government stands down on mitigating climate change, New York is aggressively stepping up its pursuit of a cleaner futureone that combines renewable energy like wind and solar with greater energy efficiency to create more sustainable communities throughout the state." Congressman Jerrold Nadler said, "The proposal to allow oil and gas drilling in nearly all U.S. coastal waters is yet another ploy by the Trump Administration to unravel environmental protections and promote profits for the big oil companies. History has shown us the dangers, both to the environment and to public safety, that oil and gas drilling causes. I commend Governor Cuomo on today's announcement of vital legislation to prohibit offshore drilling and protect New York waters." Senator Todd Kaminsky, Ranking Member of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said, "We have a duty to protect our planet and its bountiful natural resources here on Long Island and across our state. Offshore drilling is dangerous, and drives our energy priority backwards. Just as I led the fight against approving the Port Ambrose LNG terminal two years ago, our state needs to continue to put our environment and its waterways first especially when Washington fails to protect our planet." Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Chair of the Committee on Environmental Conservation, said, "My Assembly colleagues and I held a hearing on Long Island in February and there was unanimous condemnation of the federal government's proposal to open up our waters to drilling for oil and gas. I am pleased to join with Governor Cuomo to take aggressive action to protect New York's environment from the federal government's regressive policies. Prohibiting offshore drilling infrastructure in our water will safeguard New York from its potentially devastating effects. I commend Governor Cuomo for showing true commitment to keeping New York's environment clean, beautiful, and protected." Assemblywoman Christine Pellegrino said, "I am proud that New York is taking the bold steps forward that are necessary in protecting our environment. Today we sent a loud message to the country that we will not put the health and safety of our communities before special interests by standing against any efforts to allow drilling off of the shores of Long Island and New York State." Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, "We will not stand by while the local environment is once again attacked by the federal government. We stand with Governor Cuomo and thank him for his continued dedication to being a true protector of our local waters and way of life." Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, "Long Islanders are lucky to have a fearless environmental advocate in Governor Cuomo. While the federal government attempts to disrupt our most valuable resource - our waters - the Governor is once again standing tall against federal abuses of our environment with this new action to stop offshore drilling. Thank you, Governor, for your commitment to protect the environment for future generations." Costa Constantinides, NYC Council Member and Chair of the Council's Environmental Protection Committee, said, "If we are going to have any real chance at meeting our 80 by 50 goal, it's vital that we move away from fossil fuel extraction. Offshore drilling threatens not only our planet but our region's fishing and tourism industries as well. At a time when the federal government is jeopardizing our country's future, Governor Cuomo's legislation to prohibit offshore drilling and the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in New York waters is exactly the kind of policy that will get us on a truly sustainable path. I want to thank the Governor for all the hard work he's done to make our state a leader in fighting climate change." Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said, "Over the century, the oil and gas industry has amassed an injurious track record of oil spills and other environmental disasters, which have had significant, lasting impacts on our environment and public health. The federal government's offshore drilling plan significantly increases the risk of even greater environmental disasters across our coastal regions. As renewable energy technology is deployed in our state and our nation, it is reducing the need for fossil fuels. We can no longer be fossil fools and continue to advance outdated, potentially damaging offshore drilling. The time for change is now. We are heartened that Governor Cuomo has a vision for our state and our nation that embraces renewable energy and transitions us away from the destructive fuels of yesterday." Sarah Chasis, Director for Oceans at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said, "Today's important action by Governor Cuomo sends a message that New York is unwilling to accept the risks that come with offshore drilling. The Trump administration's proposal for oil and gas leasing would threaten nearly all of our coastal waters, and the coastal economy we rely on for food, jobs and recreation. Hundreds of thousands of New York jobs and billions of state dollars depend on clean, oil-free water and beaches and abundant fish and wildlife. There's no reason to be courting danger with drilling. We should be investing in a clean energy future." Stu Gruskin, Chief Conservation and External Affairs Officer for The Nature Conservancy in New York, said, "New York's waters are home to iconic marine mammals, critical keystone species like menhaden, and important commercial fisheries, not oil and gas exploration. The Nature Conservancy in New York applauds Governor Cuomo and our state legislators, including the Long Island delegation, for protecting our state's coastal waters and the communities that depend on them. At a time where we need to double down on actions to mitigate climate change, we should be looking towards the future set by the State's ambitious renewable energy goals and responsible offshore wind development, not new fossil fuel exploration." Ana Paula Tavares, executive director of Audubon New York and Connecticut, said, "New York's shorelines provide a place for people to live, work and relax, while also serving as some of the most important bird and wildlife habitat in the Western Hemisphere. Needless to say, our coasts are no place for offshore drilling. We need to preserve New York's coasts for future generations, and Governor Cuomo's proposed legislation is a huge step in the right direction. Audubon looks forward to working with the governor and the legislature to turn this great idea into reality." John F. Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, said, "The resurgence of wildlife in the waters off the coast of New York City is an encouraging sign. Limiting offshore oil and gas exploration will go a long way in protecting the waters teeming with wildlife-including 40 species of sharks, rays and skates, and endangered species of whales, and countless fish species. A healthy marine ecosystem in and around New York is vital to tourism, jobs and the overall economic health of the City." Jeff Bezos seen on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) Amazon doesn't kid around when it comes to taxes. It's said that Jeff Bezos chose to headquarter Amazon in Washington state because there's no income tax. Don't Edit In this Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, photo, large spheres take shape in front of an existing Amazon building and in view of the Space Needle in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Then Amazon spent years fighting legislation that would force it to collect and remit sales tax in states where it doesn't have a physical presence. Now, the city of Seattle has proposed adding what's being called a "head tax" on employers that would be based on the number of employees and their salaries. It aims to raise funds to expand homelessness services in the city. Don't Edit In this Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, photo, employees walk into and out of a company building in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Amazon, on Wednesday, said it plans to halt development of a tower in downtown Seattle and is considering subleasing space in another under-development tower nearby. Those jobs, ostensibly, would be located in cities that aren't charging Amazon a per-employee tax. Don't Edit Insane what Seattle's considering--Seattle Business Head Tax Proposal Threatens Thriving Tech Sector - https://t.co/VxrdLlqhD3 Andy Jassy (@ajassy) April 26, 2018 Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services, has been using his Twitter account in recent days to argue against the head tax. "Insane what Seattle's considering - Seattle Business Head Tax Proposal Threatens Thriving Tech Sector," Jassy tweeted on April 26 with a link to a Tax Foundation report slamming the head tax. Don't Edit In this Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, file photo, an Amazon employee gives her dog a biscuit The news comes as Amazon whittles down its top 20 cities for its second headquarters. While we know little about how Amazon is picking the city where it plans to locate 50,000 jobs and spend $5 billion on development, we do know an adverse tax climate will be a knock against a city. Don't Edit Don't Edit An Amazon worker walks down steps in a company office before an event announcing several new Amazon products by the company, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Atlanta, for example, was already sweating after Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle decided to yank Delta Air Lines' tax break in retaliation for Delta's stand on the National Rifle Association. That could make Amazon less likely to pick the city for HQ2 if it knows any tax breaks could quickly be off the table if the company takes a political stand or makes a decision government officials don't like. Don't Edit A worker walks her dog past the Amazon Spheres in downtown Seattle on the day of the grand opening of the geodesic domes, which will primarily serve as a working and gathering space for Amazon.com employees, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) New York, which has the highest tax burdens in the country, could also be a tough sell. New Jersey's decision to offer $7 billion in tax incentives to lure Amazon could turn out to be a powerful move. Don't Edit The grand opening of the Amazon Spheres, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Amazon formally announced Tuesday plans to expand its presence in Massachusetts. The technology giant is expanding its team focused on Alexa and Audible, opening an office in Boston's Seaport. Don't Edit Gathering spaces and a plant-filled wall are shown before a grand opening ceremony for the Amazon Spheres, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Seattle. The plant-filled geodesic domes will serve as a work- and gathering space for Amazon.com employees. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) "Amazon is excited to create 2,000 more jobs in greater Boston," said Rohit Prasad, vice president and head scientist of Amazon Alexa. The company is opening a 430,000-square-foot office in WS Development's Seaport Square project - a 7.6 million-square-foot development along the waterfront. The new Amazon office is scheduled to open in 2021. Don't Edit The city of Boston approved $5 million in property-tax breaks for Amazon's Seaport office. Should Amazon expand its Seaport offices and lease an additional 610,000 square feet of commercial space, which would house an additional 2,000 workers, it will receive an additional $5 million property-tax breaks. Don't Edit Don't Edit Amazon first opened offices in Massachusetts in 2011. Over seven years, the company has created more than 3,500 jobs in the state, from its corporate office in Cambridge to additional offices in Boston's Back Bay and Fort Point neighborhoods to the Amazon Robotics development center in North Reading and the company's distribution center in Fall River. Boston is considered a top contender for Amazon's second headquarters. Amazon is expected to announce the location of its HQ2 later in 2018. Don't Edit Read more: During a recent tour of some of the Cincinnati area life science companies, we had a chance to visit Genetesis, a firm in nearby Mason that has developed a novel scanner to help diagnose the source of chest pain. Aside from the innovative technology behind the equipment, whats notable about this startup is that founder and CEO Peeyush Shrivastava started the company five years ago when he was only 17! Peeyush shared with us that the genesis for Genetesis started when he had the opportunity to intern at an Ohio State University research lab as a high school student. While at OSU, he conducted research on the magnetic properties of cardiac cells. Realizing that the sensor technology he helped to develop could potentially be scaled up to be clinically useful, he started the company and ran it with a couple of old friends from high school while a freshman at Ohio State. He eventually dropped out during his sophomore year to focus full-time on Genetesis. Genetesis device, called CardioFlux, is a body scanner that utilizes magnetocardiography (MCG) technology that measures the tiny magnetic fields naturally generated by the heart. While it may look similar to an MRI, CardioFlux doesnt involve emit of a magnetic field. There isnt any intimidating banging or humming noises typical of MRI machines, and the scan takes a mere 90 seconds to complete. The data from CardioFlux is transmitted to Genetesis Faraday Analytical Cloud system that uses AI and machine learning to analyze it, and within minutes, a report with dynamic, functional imaging of the heart is generated for the clinician. Compared to the current standard of care, which involves hours of observation followed by an ECG stress test, CardioFlux is significantly more comfortable for patients, less costly overall, and has even been shown to be more accurate than ECG. Technology aside, Peeyush gushed as he talked about the outpouring of support hes received. Various departments within the city of Mason and the greater Cincinnati region, as well as executives from other medical technology companies in the area, have come along side him to give advice and help him network. His company has attracted the attention of graphics chipmakerand the Thiel Fellowship. Businessman and shark Mark Cuban is one of Genetesis loyal investors. Peeyush shared that once the system receives FDA approval, targeted for later this year, the skys the limit in terms of clinical potential. The company is already looking into using MCG to monitor for fetal arrhythmias and some other notable diseases. It just goes to show to not peg a high schooler with a vision until youve heard his elevator pitch and seen his business plan! More info: Genetesis website by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 3, 2018 Google has placed restrictions on media buyers who use its data transfer service and DoubleClick ID. The company said it will no longer allow buyers to use the DoubleClick ID when using its data transfer service, according to one source who asked for anonymity. A Google partner confirmed receiving an email that outlines the changes. The ID allows marketers to pull together data from DoubleClick Campaign Manager (DCM) for cross-platform reporting and measurement. Marketers who run search, display and video and want to track conversions through one source such as the DoubleClick Floodlight Tag, which tracks and reports conversions, would use the ID. Marketers say the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) prompted the decision. Googles restrictions and the European Unions regulations both will be enforced on May 25. The note, sent to partners last week, explains that the DoubleClick ID will no longer be available for data transfers on YouTube impressions and those recorded by the DCM ad server and the DoubleClick Bid Manager (DBM) DSP. It will initially take effect in the EU and then globally. One report also notes Google will remove encrypted cookie IDs, IP addresses and user list names from data transfers of all bids in Google Ad Exchange. advertisement advertisement Gary Kibel, partner at Davis & Gilbert LLP, at a recent MediaPost Search Insider Summit said that tracking consumer purchases and omnichannel campaigns will become two major challenges for advertisers. Google is making other changes too. As of May 29, Google reps will have access to DoubleClick Search data in campaigns run by advertisers and agencies in a read only mode. by Sara Guaglione , May 4, 2018 Subscriptions and revenue are up at The New York Times Company in the first quarter of 2018, offsetting declines in digital and print advertising. NYTCO revenue grew by 3.8% in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the same quarter in 2017. Total revenue in the quarter was about $414 million. NYTCO added 139,000 digital-only subscribers in the first quarter of 2018, a 25.5% increase from the same quarter last year. About 40,000 of those new subscribers were from digital membership products, like the Cooking and Crossword apps. NYTCO now has a total of about 2.8 million digital-only subscribers. Subscription revenue increased 7.5% to about $260 million, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the companys total revenue. Conversely, digital advertising fell 6%, mostly due to declines in display advertising. Digital advertising, which was about $46.7 million in the first quarter, makes up one-third of the companys total advertising revenue. This marked the first time since the second quarter of 2016 that digital advertising declined. Though print advertising revenue fell too, it dipped by only 1.8%. by Larissa Faw , May 4, 2018 Javi Campopiano is departing Saatchi & Saatchi New York to join FCB Mexico as partner, Chief Creative Officer. Campopiano will spearhead the creative direction of FCB Mexico in Latin America and across the agencys full roster of over 20 clients, including a portfolio of 70+ global, regional and local brands. This appointment serves as a homecoming for the creative talent, who handled the recent viral Super Bowl Its a Tide Ad spots. In 2012, as CCO of FCB New York, he earned the distinction of being one of the few Hispanics at the creative helm of a flagship office in a major international corporation. Campopiano also served as regional executive creative director of FCB Latin America and led FCB Buenos Aires. Susan Credle, FCBs global Chief Creative Officer, stated: I met Javier in Miami, right after joining FCB. Javi had just left FCB. One evening of conversation, and I thought, How do we get him back? I want to work with this talented, intelligent, compassionate human being. advertisement advertisement Campopianos 20+ year career also spans agencies JWT, Ogilvy and Del Campo Nazca, where, as regional creative director, he helped the latter agency secure the title of Argentinas Agency of the Year three years in a row, working with clients such as Ariel, Pampers, Head & Shoulders, Cerveza Andes and Norte. Campopiano began his career in advertising as part owner of a small design and communications boutique in Buenos Aires. BEIJINGChina on Friday rejected US allegations that Chinese nationals shone military-grade lasers at American pilots in Djibouti, dismissing the claims as inconsistent with facts. Beijing, which operates a naval base in the Horn of Africa country, denied Pentagon accusations that Chinese personnel had targeted US pilots in the country with the beams, resulting in minor injuries to airmen and creating the potential for an accident. After careful verification, we have told the US explicitly that the so-called accusations are totally inconsistent with facts, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters. You can remind relevant people in the US to pay attention to facts and not to make groundless accusations, she said during a regular briefing. US officials issued a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded Beijing investigate a series of incidents dating back several weeks, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said Thursday. 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 militarys 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 from the US facility, marking the first overseas base for Beijings 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 said. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 4, 2018 AT&T plans to ask the Supreme Court to reverse a high-profile decision that restored the Federal Trade Commission's authority to prosecute broadband providers, the telecom said this week in court papers. The company's statement came in a status report submitted to U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen in the Northern District of California. He is presiding over an FTC lawsuit alleging that AT&T duped millions of wireless customers by promising unlimited data, but throttling their speeds after they hit a monthly data cap. (AT&T used to throttle its "unlimited" subscribers after they exceeded monthly allotments ranging from 3 GB to 5 GB; the company has since revised that practice.) AT&T argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed on the ground that the FTC lacks authority over telecoms like itself. advertisement advertisement A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals initially agreed with AT&T, but a larger 11-judge panel ruled against the company in February. The 11 judges said in a unanimous decision that the FTC may prosecute common carriers, provided the prosecution deals with a non-common carrier service, like wireless broadband. (When the FTC filed its case, wireless broadband was not a common carrier service.) A wide range of observers weighed in against AT&T -- including consumer advocacy groups, other broadband providers, and the Federal Communications Commission. One reason the dispute sparked intense interest is that it is intertwined with the net neutrality: After the controversial repeal of the net neutrality rules takes effect, the FCC will no longer have the authority to police many practices of broadband providers. The FCC has repeatedly said that the FTC will take over policing broadband providers after the repeal takes effect, but the FTC likely won't be able to do so if the Supreme Court sides with AT&T. Instead, a decision in favor of AT&T could leave companies like AT&T free to operate without any regulatory oversight. AT&T's decision to seek Supreme Court review marks an attempt to escape from any and all effective public oversight," according to Free Press policy director Matt Wood. "While it joins other phone and cable companies in lobbying for a weakened net neutrality regime at the FTC in the near future, AT&T is simultaneously doing everything it can to argue that the FTC has no power to impose penalties for the company's past and present sins," he says. AT&T says it plans to seek Supreme Court review by May 29, but adds that it's also open to exploring the possibility of a settlement with the FTC. Harold Feld, senior vice president at advocacy group Public Knowledge, says he thinks it's unlikely that the Supreme Court will agree to hear AT&T's appeal, given that the 9th Circuit ruling doesn't obviously conflict with decisions made by other circuit courts. He adds that AT&T's move may be driven at least partially by an attempt to buy extra time to negotiate with the FTC -- which now has new members. "AT&T, by filing for (Supreme Court review), arguably gains time to ... sound out the new FTC management and see what kind of a settlement they can arrive at," he says. by Ray Schultz , May 4, 2018 Rebel has expanded its tool that allows consumers to check out at retail via email for use by enterprise companies. Rebel Shop for enterprise provides support for powering in email checkout by plugging into existing enterprise commerce platforms like Salesforce commerce Cloud, hybris, Magento Etc., says founder Joe Teplow. The solution facilitates what Rebel calls end-to-end checkout in the inbox and one-click checkout in email. It supports Rebel Shop, an ecommerce checkout product introduced last year. In addition, the firm said it is partnering with triggered email providers to embed Rebel Shop into abandoned cart, browse and other behavioral emails. The company has listed several investors in its last round of funding; Courtside VC, Sinai VC; Wisdom VC; and two individuals -- Carsten Thoma, founder of Hybris); and Clark Valberg (Invision founder) and an early employee at Demandware. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process. Inversion therapy is where a person is suspended upside down for several minutes with the aim of relieving back pain or similar ailments. Some evidence supports the use of inversion therapy for short-term management of back pain. Inversion therapy is said to take the pressure off a persons spine, open up the vertebrae, and increase circulation. However, evidence of its effectiveness is mixed, and it may not be safe for everyone, such as those with high blood pressure or glaucoma. The 2017 clinical guidelines from the American College of Physicians (ACP) state that, while inversion and other traction therapies do not appear harmful in otherwise healthy people, there is little good-quality evidence for their effectiveness over other techniques. In this article, we look at how inversion therapy works and the possible benefits and risks of this treatment. How does inversion therapy work? Share on Pinterest Inversion therapy involves being suspended upside down, sometimes with the help of equipment. The theory behind inversion therapy says that by inverting a person so that their feet are above their head, it is possible to reverse the effect of gravity on the body. Gravity causes muscles, joints, and bones of the back to compress the spine over time, contributing to chronic back pain. Inversion therapy is thought to decompress the spine, much like gentle massage or physical manipulation, and could allow people to find some relief from symptoms such as chronic back pain. Inversion therapy must always be done under a doctors supervision. Types of inversion therapy Inversion therapy requires special equipment, such as specialized chairs, tables, or gravity boots. However, a person can also practice inversion therapy without equipment by doing certain yoga poses and exercises. Equipment Inversion equipment is relatively inexpensive depending on the brand and build quality. However, most insurance companies will not cover the cost of alternative therapies. Inversion equipment includes: Inversion tables . Swiveling tables that enable a person to hang securely upside down with their back resting on a bed. This position mimics the standing position, only upside down. Inversion tables are available to buy online. . Swiveling tables that enable a person to hang securely upside down with their back resting on a bed. This position mimics the standing position, only upside down. Inversion tables are available to buy online. Inversion chairs . A person sits in the chair and straps themselves in before being turned upside down. Some people think that this sitting position is more beneficial, as it puts less pressure on the leg joints. . A person sits in the chair and straps themselves in before being turned upside down. Some people think that this sitting position is more beneficial, as it puts less pressure on the leg joints. Gravity boots. Gravity boots are fundamentally sturdy ankle boots that allow a person to hang upside down by their feet. They provide more freedom and maneuverability than other inversion equipment. There are many types of gravity boots available from online stores. Alternative methods Yoga instructors may recommend inversion postures to help relieve pressure on the back. Postures include headstands, shoulder stands, and poses such as the Dolphin or Plow. These are advanced postures that should always be done under the supervision of a trained yoga instructor. Potential benefits of inversion therapy According to the 2017 clinical guidelines from the ACP, the evidence for the benefits of traction therapies, including inversion therapy, is not conclusive. However, some people who practice inversion therapy themselves or offer the service in their clinical practice, find there are a few potential benefits to making a habit out of inversion. Improve spinal health Share on Pinterest Inversion therapy is often used to treat back pain and spinal problems. Gravity puts pressure on the spine and muscles in the back that keep the body upright, causing the spine to compress over time. Physical manipulation of the spine, massage, and muscle-strengthening techniques are often used to release compression. Holding the body upside down might stretch the spine in a similar way to these techniques. Using inversion equipment or doing specific yoga poses every day may improve the overall health of the spine and ligaments and reduce pressure on the muscles in the area. Ultimately, this could translate to more comfortable movements and a more open and flexible body. Reduce chronic back pain Many people who use inversion therapy to relieve chronic back pain are looking for a gentle, non-invasive way to treat their pain. Inversion therapy may ease the pressure on weight-bearing joints and allow them to rest and recuperate. The decompressing effects of inversion therapy could potentially help with many sources of back pain, such as disc or joint pain. Decompression may also reduce the intensity of any muscle spasms in the back. Avoid surgery A 2012 second study published in Disability and Rehabilitation, found that using an inversion device reduced the need for surgery in some people with lumbar discogenic disease, which is a condition that causes the discs in the back to become thin and weak. However, this study only looked at 26 people, so more research is needed. A person should always listen to the advice of their doctor or chiropractor about the best treatments for their specific back problems. Risks of inversion therapy Share on Pinterest Those with certain eye conditions should avoid inversion therapy. Hanging upside down decreases the heart rate while increasing blood pressure and can put pressure on the eyeballs and inner ear. Because of this, inversion therapy is not recommended for people with: high blood pressure heart disease history of stroke osteoporosis a hernia broken bones obesity People with conditions that affect the head may also want to avoid inversion therapy. Conditions include: ear infections pink eye retinal detachment glaucoma Inversion therapy may also be unsuitable for people who are taking blood clotting medications or blood pressure medications. Inversion therapy is not recommended if a person is pregnant. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process. Have you ever woken up in the morning to the sight of a disgruntled partner, upset that you gave them a long speech in your sleep? This is one example of the many strange things we can do while were supposed to be oblivious to the world. Read on for our top five picks. Share on Pinterest What do you do while you are asleep? Although it is not clear exactly how many people experience parasomnias, or sleep disorders, it is likely that you or someone you know have faced at least one such event at some point. Parasomnias are often associated with unsettling actions or behaviors, made all the more strange for being acted out in a persons sleep, while they are completely unconscious. However, although some of the strange things that we do in our sleep may be connected with the presence of a sleep disorder, others are, in fact, normal physiological occurrences that are extremely common. In this Spotlight, we look at five of the strangest things some people do while theyre fast asleep. 1. Sleep talking Sleep talking, or somniloquy, is a common physiological phenomenon, and it is reportedly more frequent in children and adolescents, though it is not an unusual occurrence in adults. As Shelly Weiss notes in the book Parasomnias, episodes of sleep talking dont tend to last very long, and they dont, in fact, always include intelligible speech. Sleep talking is usually brief and infrequent, but can range from a person making a few sounds during sleep that are brief and unintelligible, to full phrases with understandable content or even frequent and long speeches which sound hostile or angry. A recent study conducted by Dr. Isabelle Arnulf of the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Paris, France, investigated what sleep talkers are likely to say, and found that, in 10 percent of cases, sleep speech is rich in swear words and negative content. Share on Pinterest Scientists say that sleep talkers often swear and deliver angry speeches. In fact, swear words featured 800 times more often during sleep discourse than they normally did in an individuals daytime talk. Dr. Arnulf notes that this may be because sleep talking likely occurs in response to a negative dream situation that makes such impulsive and unguarded speech excusable. Weiss explains that sleep talking episodes can occur at any stage of sleep and that they are only disturbing to others, that is, to bed partners. And I can confirm my partners sleep talking episodes, in which he usually expresses distress, never fail to unsettle me. But since he never remembers these occurrences the morning after, they dont bother him at all. But there are, according to Weiss, external situations that may precipitate sleep talking, so if you know that you or your loved one are prone to this, then eliminating these factors may help. They include feverishness due to illness, experiencing stress and anxiety during day-to-day life, lack of sleep, or living with a sleep disorder. 2. Sleepwalking Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is perhaps the best-known type of parasomnia, having captured peoples imaginations for years, and featuring prominently in literature and movies. Share on Pinterest Sleepwalkers may engage in complex and sometimes dangerous behaviors. This sleep disorder usually takes place during the stage three non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep; this is a deep sleep period in which brainwaves slow down, and breathing also becomes deep and slow-paced. People cannot be easily woken at this stage, which is partly what makes sleepwalking so unsettling, as the somnambulist is physically active while still emerged in a deep state of slumber. But the weirdness does not stop here. Specialists Frank Ralls and Madeleine Grigg-Damberger write in Parasomnias that sleepwalkers may appear concomitantly awake and not there to anyone witnessing their actions: [Sleepwalking] episodes often begin with the individual sitting up in bed, fumbling with bedclothes, looking about in a confused manner before getting out of bed and slowly beginning to walk around. The eyes are usually open, often wide open with a confused glassy stare Frank Ralls, Madeleine Grigg-Damberger They also add that [t]he person often walks toward sound, light, or a particular room, and they may engage in complex behaviors, such as changing clothes, opening doors, or using the bathroom. Sleepwalking behaviors A related sleepwalking disorder is that of sleep-related eating , in which individuals get out of bed, make their way to the fridge, and have a snack, all without actually waking up. The eating behavior is usually compulsive, and the person could wake up the next morning to find a mountain of incriminating and shocking evidence, in the form of dirty wrappers and food containers, as in this case study. There are, however, some sleepwalking behaviors that are much more dangerous than overeating. One such example is that of sleep driving, in which a person drives a motorized vehicle technically on autopilot, while fully unconscious of their actions. Some scientists blame these episodes on a short-circuitry caused by certain sleeping aids, the so-called z-drugs zolpidem and zopiclone though it is not entirely clear to what extent these are at fault. Sleep texting? Though no scientific studies have yet been conducted to address this issue, apparently sleep texting is not uncommon, especially among adolescents. Over the past few years, various media outlets have reported cases of teenagers embarrassed to find out they had sent text messages to their friends or their crushes while asleep. One young woman told The Atlantic that she woke up one morning to find that she had made plans to see her ex-boyfriend, which she didnt remember and immediately regretted. Sleep specialists have declared that this is a new feature in terms of sleep disorders, and the behavior is not yet listed in specialized textbooks. The specialists blame it largely on the fact that many teenagers have poor sleep hygiene, having become glued to their smartphones, texting away late into the night, and allowing notifications to disturb their slumber. 3. Sleep starts Many of you are probably familiar with the phenomenon of sleep starts, or hypnic jerks. Share on Pinterest Sleep starts are usually accompanied by the sensation of falling from a great height. These are characterized by a sensation of falling from a great height, or tripping, which causes the body to jerk and the sleeper to wake up literally with a start. Weiss notes that sleep starts frequently occur in normal people and at any age, with a prevalence of approximately 6070 percent in adults; they are not considered a type of sleep disorder. Typically, the muscle contractions last for less than 1 second, and they occur as a person is about to transition to a state of sleep, or during a stage of light sleep. Some less common accompanying sensations listed by Weiss include an auditory sound such as an utterance, and the terrifying perception of a loud bang or flash of light, also known as exploding head syndrome. Although sleep starts are a normal occurrence, scientists suggest that certain factors may increase their likelihood. According to Weiss, these include, fatigue, emotional stress, sleep deprivation, vigorous exercise, and stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine. 4. Sexual acts Share on Pinterest A few individuals engage in erotic behaviors during sleep, which may spell out trouble if they also involve a bed partner. Some of the most controversial unconscious acts performed during sleep are those of a sexual nature, especially when the individual attempts to involve an unwitting co-sleeper. These acts are characteristic of a parasomnia known as sexsomnia, in which individuals display sexual vocalizations, masturbation, fondling, or intercourse/attempted intercourse during sleep followed by morning amnesia. Similarly to sleepwalking, sexsomnia takes place during the NREM stages of sleep, and, according to a case report published last month, only 95 clinical cases have been documented until now. The report authors also add that most of these cases feature male sleepers. In some cases, sexsomnia is just an embarrassing occurrence, but in other, more extreme examples, the sleepers can end up sexually assaulting a sleeping partner. But due to the fact that they remain unconscious throughout these acts, and they cannot remember them the following morning, violent sexual acts committed during sleep remain deeply challenging when brought to court. The authors of one case report note that, in the instance that they evaluated, the patient affected by sexsomnia managed to gain some control over these night-time occurrences by attending psychotherapy sessions targeting stress management. What do you call a man who bases his entire Prime Ministerial election campaign as a clean guy and then shares the stage with some of the most corrupt people in India? A bigot? A liar? Or simply just the plain old Indian politician with a massive PR machinery? Whatever the semantics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have just shot himself in the foot in the quest for the poll win in Karnataka. The greed and ambition finally seems to have tilted the moral compass of the man who once called himself a 'Pradhan Sevak'. The Reddy brothers have been accused of illegal mining across the iron-ore rich district of Bellary in Karnataka. The brothers were appointed as ministers in the BJP government in the state and have become the talking point again after being given tickets in the upcoming election by the BJP. The two brothers Gali Somashekhara Reddy and Gali Karunakara Reddy have been since campaigning for the party extensively across the state. Twitter As the PM shared the stage with one of the corrupt brothers, he chose to ignore the fact that he was, in fact, enabling the corrupt practices that many before him had overlooked too and that it would destroy his clean image that he had carefully cultivated. Instead, he chose to talk about Congress' failures: "Sonia Gandhi had promised a 3000-crore package to Bellary but forgot her promise. Despite all the natural resources, Bellary hasn't been able to develop, because of the government in Bengaluru. This government hasn't done anything," the Prime Minister said, ironically standing with those who had looted those natural resources. Twitter Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also lashed out at the Prime Minister reminding him about the poisonous fruit that he was about to swallow in Bellary. "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," tweeted Siddaramaiah. With such blatant support for the corrupt and even after sharing the stage with them, PM Modi is on a full throttle offense mode against the ruling Karnataka government. One of the reasons for this political maneuvering is said to be BJP's desperation to save the imminent defeat many internal polls have predicted. Whether it works or not, the damage to PM Modi's credibility after the on-stage theatrics will definitely be far-reaching that the current election season. A couple travelling by the metro gets beaten up by a group of people, for standing too close. The city is Kolkata, the heart of leftist liberalism, and the group mostly comprises elderly or middle-aged gentlemen, probably returning from work or a coffee house. In another incident, a photographer gets beaten for clicking a picture of a couple kissing in Bangladesh. Public display of affection (PDA) has always been seen as taboo in our society somehow. We are a fairly expressive society. We believe in celebrating every occasion with gay abandon, our weddings are massive affairs, we use loudspeakers even while talking to our god, and we take great pride in the fact that our mohallas are essentially one big joint family where everyone knows everything about everybody, even when they don't want to. We don't mind asking our neighbours Beta, kitna kamaate ho?, even if they be complete strangers, and we certainly don't mind asking fellow passengers on the metro to 'adjust' before parking our behinds on their laps. Funnily, the same enthusiasm is missing when it comes to physical affection between members of the opposite sex, even if they be in love. We treat display of affection, especially when young love is involved, as a morning ablution only to be done in private and away from the eyes of the world. It can never be public. You may kiss a child, cuddle his cheeks till they turn red and the child starts crying. It's perfectly okay for middle-aged women to go all American airport security on you when they see you after a long time. But not when you are a boy or a girl of marriageable age. Yash Raj Films When all kinds of affections are warranted as healthy and their display a sign of warm behaviour, why does it assume blasphemous proportions when a couple is involved? PDA in love has somehow never been part of our culture Indian parents never indulged in it, even at home. Sex is not even in the picture of course, that is a private affair. But showing affection is not. That's a difference our society doesn't recognise. More often than not, love doesn't go beyond sex. Get married, have sex, produce children, raise a family. Love is not in the picture here. The concept of love in traditional Indian marriages, especially those of the previous generation, was more functional than romantic. Romance as a dominant feeling is accorded only to the newly married ones. Now, of course, we don't endorse getting hot and heavy behind a bush or scratching your names on a public monument. But we don't endorse moral policing a couple for holding hands or kissing in public either. BCCL Of course, we are generalising here and it doesn't mean Indian marriages are completely devoid of love. There is love, yes, but the expression of love in an ordinary middle class marriage has got more to do with dropping off the kids to school and making rajma chawal for lunch, than the public expression of it. That kind of subtle love is great, actions speak louder than words, but it doesn't mean that the physical kind of love is bad. To each his own you are a hug person, good; you are not a hug person, great. Whatever floats your boat. Why decide what is a good way to love and what isn't? Perhaps that is why PDA is seen as a bad thing. For them, PDA only means one thing sex. Physical intimacy has no other function. For them, a hug is not a warm expression of fondness towards another; a hug is a precursor to sex, an action performed only behind closed doors at night. T-Series It is no wonder then that a young couple doing the same in a public space challenges their moral compass and makes it frantically flicker in all directions. This is also the reason people get uncomfortable with movies that show characters kissing or getting intimate onscreen. They are probably thinking: This is not supposed to happen in front of the children, otherwise they will get curious and go out and experiment. And then they will lose their virginity and get pregnant. No, sire, hugging doesn't get you pregnant. But it makes you happier because it releases oxytocin, the love hormone. Rather than beating up a poor couple hugging in a public space, you could just go home and hug your wife instead. That way everybody is happy. On Monday April 30, the US extended the temporary aluminium import tax exemptions for Canada, Mexico and the European Union to June 1, from May 1 initially, while agreeing to permanent exemptions from the 10% import tariffs for Australia, Brazil and Argentina.South Africa and New Zealand, both aluminium exporters, were excluded from the exemptions both countries trade departments have said in separate statements thereafter that they were disappointed with the US for the exclusions.The exclusion of South Africa and New Zealand from the exemptions means that aluminium supply from both countries could be diverted to Asia, or remain there, helping to somewhat ease any supply tightness that may arise if Australia-origin material heads to the US instead of Asian destinations due to formers higher premiums, industry watchers said.South Africa is home to South32s 720,000-tonne-per-year Hillside aluminium smelter in Richards Bay. The company estimated in 2016 that about 80% of its production was exported though it gave no official tonnages nor destinations for these exports.Hillside aluminium could gain more room in Asian markets. Middle Eastern and Asian brands could become more well-accepted by Asian customers, while Rio Tinto and Alcoa could serve the US market, an Asia-based trader said.Premiums may not be affected much, however, because it will just be a rebalancing of supply, he added.New Zealands only aluminium smelter is New Zealands Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) in the Tiwai Peninsula. NZAS produces around 340,000 tpy of aluminium, with 90% of its production exported and Japan its largest export market. It is 79% owned by Pacific Aluminium a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto and 21% owned by Sumitomo Chemical Co.While Japan imports aluminium from both South Africa and New Zealand, its imports from both countries are small relative to those from Australia, according to a second Asia-based trader.In 2017, Japan imported 154,896 tonnes and 78,269 tonnes of aluminium from New Zealand and South Africa respectively, according to Japanese customs data. Meanwhile, Japans largest supplier, Australia, shipped 356,921 tonnes of the light metal to the Asian nation last year.South Africa and New Zealands exclusion from the Section 232 exemptions is expected to also have a limited impact on the South Korean market because South African material is unpopular there due to a 1% import tax on the countrys metal, traders pointed out.Aluminium that can be imported duty-free into South Korea due to the free trade agreements that South Korea has with several aluminium-producing countries is preferred. These nations include India, Australia, Canada and New Zealand as well as Malaysia and Indonesia under the Asean-Korea free trade agreement.New Zealands production could help supply Asia but its capacity is small compared to Australia and Canada. Hillsides aluminium will not be much help either because end-users in Korea dont really use them due to the import tax, a third Asia-based trader said.South Korea imported 27,031 tonnes of aluminium from New Zealand and 4,356 tonnes from South Africa in 2017, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association. These are in contrast to imports from its largest suppliers such as India and Australia, where India exported 385,816 tonnes and Australia exported 318,656 to South Korea last year.Australia on the whole exported a total of 1.33 million tonnes of primary aluminium during its financial year ended June 2017.Premium directions are now more dependent on whether the US sanctions on Russian aluminium producer UC Rusal remain or not, traders agreed.The US recent loosening of sanctions on Rusal has given rise to bearish sentiment for aluminium premiums in the market because it is seen as the US allowing Rusal more time to sort out its entanglement with Oleg Deripaska and find a way to continue selling metal into the US.The latest development saw the US Department of the Treasury give investors an additional month to divest or transfer their holdings in sanctioned Russian companies , including Rusal.The US Midwest aluminium premium inched down this week following the latest developments in sanctions and trade policy in the US. The US Midwest P1020 aluminium spot premium was assessed at 21.5-22.5 cents per lb on May 1, down slightly from 22-22.5 cents per lb on April 27.Developments on Rusal are most important now. Looking at the news, it looks like the sanction issues on Rusal could eventually be solved and it might become okay to use Rusal metal again. If so, the market situation is going change again quickly, a fourth-Asia-based trader said. Aluminium market participants in Asia are largely adopting a wait-and-see attitude due to the recent changes in US sanctions and trade-related policies. The spot cif main Japanese ports (MJP) aluminium premium was assessed at $160-195 per tonne on May 1, unchanged from April 27, amid a lack of trading activity due to the week-long Golden Week holiday in Japan this week. Although Turkish steel producers halted their deep-sea scrap purchases at the end of last week, suppliers have kept their offers strong this week.But the decreases in Turkish import prices seen in previous weeks have only now been reflected in the US export markets.In the meantime, Indian scrap prices were rising, while conditions in the Taiwanese scrap market have been mostly stable over the past week.The Turkish deep-sea scrap markets have been quiet this week, while steel mills in the country and their scrap suppliers continued to negotiate prices for cargoes to be delivered in May.The mills were said to be waiting for next weeks conference of the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) for market clarity to emerge and to resume their bookings in the deep-sea scrap market for May delivery.After booking around 20 cargoes, Turkish steel producers went silent at the end of last week, following an uptick in prices.The most recent transactions into Turkey were done around $352-355 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20) from the Baltic Sea region, after which the suppliers in the area raised their offers to $365 per tonne cfr, according to the sources.But Turkish steel producers continued to bid no more than $355 per tonne for material, Metal Bulletin was told.Baltic Sea suppliers are still offering HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $365 per tonne cfr, but the Turkish mills are not ready to pay such high prices. However, the market seems to be strengthening, a Turkish source said.I think the mills are waiting for the Irepas conference to see the markets direction and we will probably hear more deals for May then, another Turkish source added.The Irepas conference will be held in Warsaw, Poland, on May 6-8.Ferrous scrap export prices from the US dipped in four cargo sales to Turkey, prompting exporters on the countrys East Coast to consider further price reductions, while containerized scrap prices on the East and West Coasts held firm due to Asian demand.Four cargoes three from the US East Coast and one from the Gulf Coast were traded to Turkey in the past week. The first two East Coast cargoes to Turkey traded at $357.50 per tonne cfr and $358 per tonne cfr for shredded scrap on April 26.The following day, a cargo was sold off the East Coast to Turkey at $359 per tonne cfr for shredded scrap. A fourth cargo originating from the Gulf Coast changed hands on the same day at $357 per tonne cfr for the same grade.Prices have fallen by $1-3 per tonne from a sale on April 18, which concluded at $360 per tonne cfr for shredded scrap. Some sources said that Turkish mills might try to push scrap prices lower, depending on their rebar export prices, but others see further falls in deep-sea prices as unlikely.An export source believed that bulk prices to Turkey will remain in the range of $350-360 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20). I dont think they can push prices down further; otherwise, where are they going to get the scrap from? Sooner or later, they will have to come back and make a dent in the [US] market, this source said.US East Coast exporters are grasping the opportunity to further reduce their buying prices at the docks, emboldened by an expected drop in domestic US scrap prices in May and improved flows at dealer yards due to warmer weather.Export is basically making the market this month. The docks have already made the decision by taking buy prices down, and people are still shipping... [The export yards] are still getting material so, of course, the domestics are going to follow suit, a seller in the domestic and export sector said.Prices for containerized shredded scrap on the US East Coast showed modest gains this week due to rebounding demand from the Indian subcontinent. Prices inched upward to $345-350 per tonne fas from $340-350 per tonne fas a week ago.On the US West Coast, containerized HMS 1&2 (80:20) prices remained at $320-325 per tonne fas this week, unchanged from last week. Container sales to Asia were held up by the Labor Day holiday on May 1 but delivered prices to major Asian destinations are expected to inch upward next week.Chinese steel futures are doing well, so thats a good sign of support for scrap prices, a West Coast export source said. But I dont think there is too much more upside to prices.Import prices for containerized HMS-grade scrap in Taiwan remained stable this week due to unchanged market fundamentals.Metal Bulletins price assessment for US-origin HMS 1&2 (80:20) sold into Taiwan remained at $340-343 per tonne cfr on May 4.US-origin scrap was on offer at $343-348 per tonne cfr Taiwan this week, up by $3-5 per tonne from the preceding week.Traders said there had been limited offers of US-origin scrap because sellers were still holding out for higher prices, expecting the upward trend to continue.Sellers in the US think that prices will increase [when] Japan returns to the spot market next week after its Golden Week holiday, a Taiwanese trader said.There were still some HMS 1&2 (50:50) bulk cargoes from Japan and Hong Kong being offered, as well as Japan-origin HMS 2 bulk cargoes, at about $345 per tonne cfr Taiwan.Bids were coming in at $338-340 per tonne cfr Taiwan, up from $335 per tonne cfr Taiwan last week, sources said.One major buyer purchased 2,000-3,000 tonnes of imported scrap at close to $340 per tonne cfr Taiwan.Prices for containerized shredded scrap imports into India went up this week on better levels of demand, market sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday May 4.This weeks price rise for containerized imports comes as buyers continue to return to the market after a recent lull in activity resulted in stagnant prices.Deals were heard at prices as high as $400 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva for 1,200 tonnes from the UK, as well as one deal for 4,000 tonnes done at $390 per tonne and another at $393 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva.UK-origin scrap was in favor this week, with the majority of deals done for such material. One seller said that this was because delivery times are much shorter than for material from the United States.A deal for Europe-origin material was heard at $390 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva for 3,000 tonnes.Shredded scrap was offered at prices as low as $385 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva.Buyers are happy to pay $390 per tonne. Germany is asking for more than $400 per tonne [but its] prices are too high so we have not bought [from there], a trader said.Meanwhile, prices for HMS 1&2 imports into India edged up again this week, with demand continuing to increase with buyers coming back to the market after holding back for several weeks, keeping prices flat throughout April.Europe-origin HMS 1&2 was heard sold at $375 per tonne.Deals for Middle-East origin HMS 1&2 material were heard done at $377 per tonne and $379 per tonne early in the week, with offer prices for similar material edging up toward the end of the week to $383 per tonne.Turkish domestic auto bundle scrap prices have gone up in line with imported scrap prices while ship scrap prices have remained stable at the beginning of the week.Metal Bulletins weekly price assessment for domestic auto bundle scrap (DKP grade) in Turkey was TRY1,370-1,500 ($326-357) per tonne delivered, narrowing upward from the previous weeks TRY1,270-1,500 per tonne.This upward movement in the weekly assessment came after major scrapyard Kiliclar Hurda raised its buy price for the material by TRY100 to TRY1,370 per tonne delivered.Paul Lim in Singapore, Carrie Bone in London and Mei Ling Toh in New York contributed to this report. Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Katrougalos, today opened the proceedings of the Greek-Moroccan Business Forum being held in Casablanca in cooperation with the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM). In his opening speech, Mr. Katrougalos presented the latest data on the Greek economy, stressing that Greece is emerging dynamically from the memorandum era, having embarked on a course of growth. Greece is gradually developing an internationalised economy based on increased exports, strengthened investments, attraction of investments via its unique geographical position, the biodiversity of its products, and its highly educated younger generation. The business forum allowed for the best possible understanding of the economic conditions in Morocco. This will facilitate the development of bilateral cooperation and, in particular, an increase of Greek exports. To this end, SEV and the CGEM signed a memorandum of cooperation. The forum was attended by twelve Greek enterprises active in sectors such as construction, agri-food, steel, pharmaceuticals, chemical products and telecommunications. This evening, Mr. Katrougalos will travel to Rabat, where he will meet with representatives of the Moroccan government. LOS ANGELESArizona teachers ended their five-day walkout Thursday after lawmakers approved a 20-percent pay raise, in the latest protest by US educators over public school funding. Signed. Teacher raises are on the way, tweeted Republican Governor Doug Ducey, who had advocated for the increase in response to demonstrators demands. Ducey posted a video of him ratifying a budget bill passed during the night by the Southwestern states Republican-controlled legislature. This is a big win for Arizona students, teachers and for public education. he added, with the hashtag #20x2020 to signify that the increase would be 20 percent by 2020. The Arizona Education Association (AEU), which organized the demonstrations that brought 850,000 teachers to the streets since last Thursday, tweeted that the education budget has been passed and signed. The organization called for an end to the walkout. The states Democratic lawmakers, however, expressed skepticism over whether the promised pay raises would be possible without additional sources of revenue. If school boards use part of this money for support staff, then theres not enough to give teachers the promised 20-percent raise, state House Democrats said in a statement. In addition to teachers salary increases, the AEU also asked for a review of cuts to the education budget over the past decade.Arizona is, along with Oklahoma, one of the states where education funding has suffered the most in recent years (with a $1 billion cut since 2008, according to the AEU). The Southwestern state is near the bottom of the 50-state salary range for teachers, who average $47,660 a year there -- $12,000 less than the national average, according to a study by the National Education Association. With state governments the primary sources of public education funding in the US, teachers in several Republican-dominated states have recently protested for more funding after years of cuts. In Oklahoma, teachers recently earned an average pay increase of $6,000 a year, but still staged a two-week strike that won them even more concessions. In West Virginia, a teacher protest resulted in a five-percent salary hike, while protests in Kentucky also resulted in additional school funding. Massive strikes also took place in Colorado last week. And, a new movement is developing in North Carolina, where a teacher walkout is scheduled for May 16. A. PAPACHELAS: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, Im Alexis Papahelas. Welcome to Istories. Tonight we have the pleasure and honour of having the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Kotzias with us here in our studio. Good evening, Mr. Kotzias. N. KOTZIAS: Good evening to all of our viewers, and thank you for the invitation. A. PAPACHELAS: Thank you. I would like to start with Greek-Turkish relations, because we have a large range of issues to discuss: we have Greek-Turkish issues, we have the Skopje issue, the Albania issue. But I would like to start with Greek-Turkish issues. And Id like you to tell me where we stand. A few days ago, you saw the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs. You hadnt seen him for some time. I assume you carried out an assessment. Where do we stand? Where does this relationship stand? N. KOTZIAS: I met him five days ago. I think it was a good discussion. In Turkey, too, they realise that we have to keep some channels of communication open; that, beyond one practical problem or another, we have to be able to communicate and talk. And my opinion is that, in diplomacy, above all, you have to talk to the people with whom you have a problem. With others, you can go to a restaurant, go out in a group. I think we took a step towards bringing back the dialogue on certain issues with Turkey. A. PAPACHELAS: Do you think this relationship has taken a bad turn? Because in recent months we have seen new tension that we didnt have in the past. N. KOTZIAS: I think this is a difficult relationship. It has both its historic legacy and Turkeys current conduct, which is full of contrasts and contradictions. I often say that Turkey is a country with national contradictions it has the major Kurdish issue, religious issues, a major difference with the Alawites, the other Muslims. It has areas that are still feudal in nature, like the old Greek system under the land owners, but also a strong new technology sector developed capitalism, I would say in my old terminology and we have this big problem, this sense of insecurity on the one hand and arrogance on the other, fear and concern on the part of the Turkish leadership, which makes it restless. Some people think that the term restlessness somewhat plays down the problem. In fact, it is a term that originated in the analysis of how Bismarcks Germany and the balance of power in Europe led to World War I. Restlessness shows the risks and how you have to deal with them. A. PAPACHELAS: The truth is, for many years Mr. Erdogan somewhat set the Greek-Turkish agenda aside. N. KOTZIAS: He never created a hot incident and he has never ... A. PAPACHELAS: But we have come very close to a hot incident ... N. KOTZIAS: He has expressed revisionist inclinations more strongly than in the past. And you also see these revisionist inclinations in the way Turkey is acting to its east. In other words, if one remembers what I said at the beginning of the Syrian war, I expressed a concern and my Turkish counterpart didnt like it that, in Syria, Turkey might be repeating what it did in the Alexandretta region, which is the Afrin region. It seems to have such tendencies, to violate the Treaty of Lausanne, and what was initially worrying was that our partners the Europeans didnt realise that this isnt just a simple problem the simple in inverted commas of chemical weapons or of how people are being killed and shouldnt be killed, but that we have a power that is thinking in revisionist terms, and if one encourages it or just leaves it alone, you dont know where this revisionist tendency will manifest itself. By revisionist I mean a country that feels the balance of power has changed, that it has more power today than it did during period a, b or c, when it made an agreement that it now wants to change. A. PAPACHELAS: Do you think this also applies to our issues? N. KOTZIAS: Overall, it is showing this trend. But I think if you ask me how I see Erdogan at bottom, he is interested above all in the regions energy resources, and he perhaps has another restlessness about him, having the sense that the exploitation of the regions resources is moving ahead without Turkey. A. PAPACHELAS: Are you talking about Cyprus? N. KOTZIAS: Yes, not it the way that Turkey saw it. Im not talking about just Cyprus. Im also talking about the pipelines that will pass through Greece. Im talking about the plan for an electricity cable from Israel, via Cyprus and Crete, to Europe. In general, he sees the development of projects that dont fit in with his thinking regarding Turkeys monopoly as a transporter of energy from the eastern side of the world to Europe. A. PAPACHELAS: Because people have an image of tension in recent months, I would like you to explain to us how you see certain incidents. The first is the notorious ramming of the coast guard vessel at Imia. What was that? Was it a provocation? A chance event? What was it? N. KOTZIAS: Ill tell you how I read it, and then I will tell you in responding to the next question, I imagine my more general reading. Normally, in the relations between two states, it is the coast guard that patrols the maritime area between the two sides. And countries always look to avoid the involvement of the navy, because it could lead to a clash. Turkey has now made two interesting changes. The first is that the Coast Guard has been taken from the Defence Ministry, where it belonged, and has gone to the Ministry of Interior, where the current Minister of Interior is a little more aggressive than the other institutions. A. PAPACHELAS: And closer to Erdogan? N. KOTZIAS: Very close. And he has the gendarmerie up on the Evros border. So one can see a similarity in conduct, as it is from the same minister. That is the first thing. The second is that the Turks also made a second choice. They added relatively small Navy vessels to the Coast Guard, but these vessels are large for the Coast Guard and behave in a way, I would say, that is more akin to the second line and not to the Coast Guard. So we had an incident that I would say wasnt planned, but resulted from the changes and the mindset behind these changes. A. PAPACHELAS: Another case we are all very concerned about is that of the two Greek soldiers. N. KOTZIAS: And in fact, as I explained at NATO the day before yesterday, it is unprecedented for two officers of a NATO army to be detained by another NATO army with these two armies supposedly fighting for the same ideas, principles and values because they went 20 meters across the border. A. PAPACHELAS: But was this planned? Did our soldiers fall into a trap? What happened there? N. KOTZIAS: Im not in a position to know whether they fell into a trap or if it was planned. But Turkeys conduct shows a change in outlook. This isnt the Turkey of old, with whom we exchanged the soldiers who crossed borders and were arrested I have a whole file on my desk. Right now Turkey is using them in a different way. You may have noticed, Mr. Papachelas, that I initially avoided speaking on the issue because my study was that there comes a time when the Turks change their conduct, and this was the case where it happened. The second thing is that, in my opinion, we have to show greater composure in these cases, because I think about the differences between us and the Turkish establishment. The Turkish establishment lost 500 soldiers and officers in Afrin, and Ankara didnt even bat an eye. If just one of our people is detained or harmed, our whole society is certainly upset. We have a different outlook on the role and importance of freedom and life. And sometimes I get the sense to put it cynically, but we have to understand this that some people in Ankara see our reactions and, rather than understanding how seriously we take the freedom and lives of our soldiers, our officers, every Greek citizen, every citizen of the world, perhaps they smile and say, look how much we upset them over a single issue, while we are losing hundreds of soldiers and officers in Syria. We have a different way of looking at such issues, and this has to do not only with policy, but also with culture, I would say. A. PAPACHELAS: Are these two soldiers hostages? N. KOTZIAS: I don't think they are in a position to use them for negotiations, regardless of what some people on both sides might think. A. PAPACHELAS: And nor do you think they will ask for the eight Turkish military personnel at some point, as some people say. N. KOTZIAS: Various key players have asked for them, but they understand the major difference. What is the major difference? That the eight came to Greece to request asylum, while they detained our two officers. We didnt detain the eight so we might return them against their will. So the arrest of the two Greek officers is against their will and the will of the State they serve. A. PAPACHELAS: Do you see a scenario in which they come back soon? Because it is obvious from the latest images we saw that they are part of a psychological war, as you described it ... N. KOTZIAS: We still dont have an announcement of the accusations or the charges from the prosecutor. We have a problem of legal culture. If you are arrested in Greece, even in the act, the prosecutor or someone, the investigator, has to charge you. In Turkey, it has been almost two months now and charges have not been brought. They may not be in a position to bring charges against them, but their law doesnt require them to do so. That is why I was very cautious from the outset and didnt voice any opinions. A. PAPACHELAS: So I understand that ... N. KOTZIAS: I focused more on actions, and I must say that this was one of the rare times when all of our partners stood by Greece on this issue. And it is being raised by the Europeans and the Americans, and even the Russians, with whom Turkey is fighting on the same side in Syria. A. PAPACHELAS: But I didnt see any results from any of these interventions. Not from Mr. Putins or anyone elses ... N. KOTZIAS: It is clear that Mr. Erdogan has a specific policy regarding human life and detentions. Dont forget that he is close to a major crisis in Turkish-U.S. relations because he is detaining American citizens or people connected with the American embassy and consulates in Turkey, and he is holding them without charges. This is unprecedented and it is an example of this insecurity on Erdogans part. On the one hand he is arrogant, and on the other he is secretly unsettled by the prospect of some accident or other happening at some point. A. PAPACHELAS: A great deal has been written and said about the case where some of our people went and planted our flags, and Mr. Erdogan and his ministers claimed that their commandos took those flags down. N. KOTZIAS: We havent seen any flags taken down, no video appeared. The Turkish authorities said they had sent us proof of the incidents, but there was no such issue. In general, my opinion is that any Greek should be able to make use of Greek territory, but he always has to think about the consequences of that use. A. PAPACHELAS What does this mean, in practice? In other words, if I am a citizen and I decide to go plant a Greek flag on the Imia islets, or anywhere else... N. KOTZIAS: You may very well do so, but you will need to protect it A. PAPACHELAS: Supposedly, the Greek State is responsible for protecting its symbols... N. KOTZIAS: What if you do this secretly and the Greek State is not aware of it? Perhaps they went and put it in bushes, and no one is able to find it. I am not aware of such an incident. I know we had various ideas and efforts. We even had some by an employee at the Foreign Ministry who went to Kalymnos and wanted to go to the Imia islets etc. These are acts which, on the one hand, aim at solidifying the islets Greek status -and of course we support this- but, on the other hand, they do not do it in a way that is beneficial to the country. In other words, would I be able to take a bottle and hit any foreigner I happen to come across, at the same time claiming: This is Greece and I have the right to do this. Ok, we need to be responsible in everything we do. A. PAPACHELAS: There is also this issue with the island of Ro, about which I saw that a difference of opinion exists, so to speak. You said that someone fired a sound the way you put it surprised me. Some other ministers, as well as the Minister of Defence, said that this was a decisive moment, that the men there showed their determination. Which of the two is true? N. KOTZIAS: I think when you shoot, you show determination. And what exactly youre shooting at, I think - the object. You may be shooting at an object that is visible, or a sound you hear when weather conditions are such that you are unable to see. A. PAPACHELAS: Was this notorious helicopter in Greek airspace? Was there any threat? N. KOTZIAS: There is no verification as to what exactly, and the exact spot the helicopter was located. A. PAPACHELAS: I am trying to understand. I remember the last time we sat for an interview. You had said to me that we've told the Turks what the "red line is, they know what it is, and they have not violated it. Has it been violated since that time. Or have we come closer to a violation on their part than we were at that time? N. KOTZIAS: In one or two cases, they have come closer. They did not violate it. A. PAPACHELAS: Such as? N. KOTZIAS: For example, there is the provocation that took place off the islets of Imia, with the ramming of the Greek Coast Guard vessel or craft. This ramming incident, were it not for the calmness and level-headedness on the part of Greece, who knows where it would have led. In general, with these types of incidents, you either go and show your teeth and continue them, or you try to pacify them. And I mean these incidents, as well as incidents involving strong rhetoric. My view of foreign policy is that if I want to take any game one step further, I must have made the decision as to the manner in which I plan to proceed, and just how far. The fact that Turkey decides to be provocative does not necessarily mean that I have to respond to its provocation. In other words, I do not consider it wise - Turkey is presently holding election campaigns - for me to have to respond daily, and to take them so seriously. Sometimes, through a lack of response on the part of the MFA, we want to demonstrate to them that these are not practices and choices that are to be taken seriously, and that they must get their act together. You know, diplomacy also has various types of messages. These dont necessarily have to be the same ones as those that the average citizen would use when talking to their neighbour, with whom they may have quarrelled over a dirty balcony or the neighbour's cat running through their house. Foreign policy is different. A. PAPACHELAS: But does everybody in the government share this approach? Because this isnt what I see. There are many who do respond. N. KOTZIAS: That is true. First of all, each persons character is different. If I were not a Minister, lets say, I wouldnt stop talking about it. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I think I need to maintain some sort of balance. So it is a different point of view, the second is for other ministries. I remind you of the assessment by Allison on the Cuban missile crisis, where the US Department of Defense said "Let's go bomb Khrushchev, the Russian ships, all of Cuba, and the State Department said "let's fend them off through diplomatic means." The combination of these two resulted in Khrushchev taking back the missiles he wanted to install in Cuba. There are different people, different ministries, but I think that, in the tough foreign policy that I implement and practice, I do what I have been told to do by the Prime Minister. I act within the framework of the government, and therefore I believe that I act appropriately. A. PAPACHELAS: Which of our partners and allies supports us most on this issue with Turkey? N. KOTZIAS: I think that countries that have greater interest with regard to Turkey for energy, I would say first of all, are France and Italy. With regard to the major international issues, there are other major powers as well. I think that the Americans have the same concerns as us, not only with similar interests, but they do have concerns. They are monitoring the direction in which Turkey is heading. There are numerous American officials, though not representing the official position of the US, who feel that Turkey has departed from the ways of Western civilization, and that it has become a country with a different civilisation, in the sense used by Samuel Huntington, that it has defected to the other side in this clash of civilizations. There are others who will say, "We must be patient.. Our problem is not the Turkey that has been lost, but Erdogans policy, so we need to wait for a domestic change and then welcome Turkey back with open arms, and there are certain others who believe that these are fleeting events, in a moment of anger which, after the elections, will provide new opportunities for the development of relations between America and Turkey. I believe that the first and the third are the most widespread in the US and in Israel, I would say. A. PAPACHELAS: In the past, in any case, a Greek Prime Minister was well aware that if it he were to call the White House in the event of an incident or a crisis, there would be an immediate reaction or some sort of envoy, and so on. Now, you had a good relationship with McMaster, the National Security Advisor. He is gone. Do we know who calls the shots in Washington and what type of reaction there would be in such a case? N. KOTZIAS: I am pleased to have been invited by everyone; in other words, in May, I shall travel to the US, to meet also with the new leadership and the National Security Council and the State Department - so I am giving you some news. Then I go to Germany, at the end of May. In June, the Foreign Minister of France will be visiting. I have received an important invitation from China, to stay multiple days, either at the end of July or the end of August, in other words the choice is mine, and then I will be going to Russia. I think we are seeking better agreements and proposals, with all the strong players in the region, and of course we also have all these trilateral cooperation schemes, whose aim, I believe, will ultimately be to protect security and stability in the Mediterranean, the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the energy corridors that will be coming from countries other than Russia and Turkey. A. PAPACHELAS: You know, there is a great debate in America as to whether some of the military facilities the Americans have in Turkey, and some of the strategic missions that Turkey carries out for them, should at some point be relocated to Greece. Is this a scenario that you are looking at? Are you discussing it? Or is it too early yet for something like that? N. KOTZIAS: Let the Americans make the request first, and then we will see how we shall respond. A. PAPACHELAS: Have they made the request to date or not? N. KOTZIAS: No. Not to any great extent, in other words. They may ask about some change or other. I think that, with the Americans, there is something much more interesting. This has to do with the three changes in Trump-era foreign policy. Trumps first statement was that alliances are not necessary. That alliance cost money. "America first." We shouldnt be paying money, let them figure it out themselves. The second is that he changes "America first. "America first" does not mean alone. And he draws the conclusion that he needs to look at the issue of alliances and cooperation, because it costs much more not to have alliances than to contribute to them in some way. And now their current stance is even more complex, I would say. This is that if you fail to safeguard your alliances, you risk losing them and having someone else take them, and the cost will not simply be huge it will be double. So as far as the Americans, I believe that their first thought right now is how they will strengthen the West again, as well as the position of the US in the West and, by extension, how they will transform alliances. And if I am reading them correctly, what they are most afraid of are certain allied countries which they do not wish to break up with, but from which they maintain an increasing amount of autonomy, since they are cooperating with third countries. An example would be Turkey, which does not wish to break up" with the Americans. They may complain about Erdogan or the status quo in Ankara, but they desire this cooperation while, at the same time, with regard to specific interests, they are dabbling in cooperation with Iran and Russia in Syria. Here, the great dilemma for the Americans is - and this has to do with what we said earlier - if they lose the Turks for good, then they will look elsewhere to move the bases, should they be in danger of losing them, so they will plan for them to be relocated elsewhere or, if it is temporary, they will have to make the Turks break up with the Russians and the Iranians. It was not random. Major significance lies in the way in which Turkey essentially welcomed the bombing of the "rebels," the supporters of Assad, by Britain, France, and the United States. There you see Turkey suddenly shifting, and appearing like an ally with common interests. Therefore, this is a game that is being played mainly between America, Turkey, if it will remain on the American horizon as an ally, or if it will act as a regional leader and therefore also engage with regional forces, particularly Iran - Russia, and it will be from this, I believe, that the Americans will draw the conclusion as to what they wish to do. Forces exist that have drawn a conclusion. There are forces that say they must leave Turkey. Then there are forces which consider something like this to be premature. A. PAPACHELAS: Now, you also had a meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, who had said something that was a bit reminiscent of Luns, from the past, that alliances do not meddle in these issues and that this is an issue that needs to be resolved by Greece and Turkey. You had a discussion. What did you hear? N. KOTZIAS: I did not hear. I told him something else. I am familiar with NATO policy. I am familiar with the policy from the days of Luns but, nevertheless, you have to have good ideas and share them with all sides in order to put an end to this situation. Ok, he wants to play Pontius Pilate, but you cant be a passive Pontius Pilate. You need to create policy and come up with ideas. A. PAPACHELAS: Passive, what does that mean? N. KOTZIAS: They need to rethink their behaviour. That was the most polite way of putting it. And for them to accept it, also. A. PAPACHELAS: But do we have such examples now where they are Pontius Pilate, namely the Americans, who do not fly planes for example, over certain areas, for exercises, because they do not wish to offend Turkey? N. KOTZIAS: This issue, we have had it for a very long time, as you are aware, since Greece's return to NATO with the terms under which this return took place, as well as the conquests that Turkey had made in the interim. I think that the Americans are going through a stage of reflection and are bound to draw certain conclusions in the near future. We shall see what these are. Nonetheless, our active foreign policy is that we need to explain and seek to influence, or to take all powers into consideration, and America certainly continues to be the worlds greatest power, but with a much reduced presence of course. Its GDP alone, if you notice, which from 50% after World War II has now dropped to 15%, demonstrates the limitation in its power and capabilities. A. PAPACHELAS: Another issue which is often discussed, without the people discussing it necessarily being familiar with what they are talking about, to tell the truth, is the issue of the Greek EEZ. And whether there is a question of creating a common EEZ with Cyprus and Egypt. Is this something that exists on paper? N. KOTZIAS: The ministry is doing a lot of significant work, and this will be seen in a few weeks, related to all issues connected with the Law of the Sea. Because these are issues of territorial waters, EEZ issues. In Greece, the discussion taking place is only about the EEZ. But I would like to remind you that the EEZ is not sovereignty. Our country has sovereignty over its territorial waters, and we must have a look at this. Calmly, in stages where necessary. We are also having talks about the EEZ. We are presently holding negotiations with three different countries. We are waiting for President Sisis government in Egypt to stabilise, now after the elections, meaning to stabilise in the sense of what shape it will take and what its directions will be. We are having a discussion on the EEZ with Albania. Our technical teams held a meeting again today. I hope we will have an agreement by the end of May and, if not by the end of May, then in early June. And we have the issue with Italy, where our choice is, once we have finished with Albania, to proceed with an agreement with them. A. PAPACHELAS: But with regard to Turkey, can such an arrangement ever exist without a negotiation, a dialogue taking place? N. KOTZIAS: Look, it did take place with Turkey, we had two channels of communication on the Aegean. One is the confidence-building measures with regard to defence. These have not taken place in the last year and a half. Now, we will try to persuade the other side to do it. And the second was the exploratory talks. The exploratory talks concerning the continental shelf and the application, of course, of International Law with regard to the continental shelf in the Aegean. I believe we shall again hold discussions about these issues. Will they be productive this time? I dont know, but I prefer for us to be talking, for our relations to be based on level-headedness and a debate on International Law as opposed to tension without discussion. Because if you have tension without discussion, you never know if you will be faced with an "accident" and, if you are unable to discuss at that moment, to explain that it was an accident, or for them to explain to you whether the reaction to this accident doesnt lead to a heated incident. So our policy is to defend national interest, to take advantage of International Law, to establish the appropriate alliances, and to attempt to get Turkey to be reasonable, I would say, not that it is always unreasonable - God forbid. Turkey does have a certain aggressiveness due to fact that it is an emerging power in the Muslim world. It has a certain arrogance because it averted a strong military coup, went into Iraq and Syria, and it gets frustrated sometimes, it loses sight of things. That's why, if you notice, I do not frequently respond to Turkey's challenges, but two times when I gave them a specific answer, I said to them, "I respect and love Iraq and Syria, but do keep in mind that Greece is neither Syria or Iraq". In the sense that we are an organised state. We may have our problems - which we indeed do have - but Greece is a different type of state and state structure than those two countries, or others which Turkey may have in mind. We have strong defense compared to the rest of the region, I would say between Poland and Israel the strongest country is Greece, if we leave out Turkey. They know the cost for this is great, and I should tell you that I have reached the following conclusion about Turkey, also speaking with other professors, with our diplomats during the extensive brainstorming sessions we hold at the Ministry, we have reached - though a review of this is indeed required- but first of all we have concluded that Turkey never proceeds with an incident without being able to invoke legality or International Law or, for example, "soldiers violated the border, or "a coup took place in Cyprus. They invoke - Im not saying they truly mean it. So one has to give them an 'excuse' to do what they do. Secondly, Turkey carefully weighs the costs and benefits of such an action, and they know that the cost with Greece will be exponentially greater - and perhaps too great for it to afford - than it would be with other countries, and they also take the chances of victory into consideration which - Greece is no Afrin - they understand that not only may it be costly, but that they may also lose. And I think this is also what makes them more reasonable. I do not believe that Turkey and its leadership are completely unreasonable. They may say this or that, but they weight things very carefully. And we must not leave them any space or opportunity to take actions that go against our interests. A. PAPACHELAS: Nonetheless, I see the issue of grey areas coming up again with great intensity, for the first time after many years. And with a different tone, if you will. Do you, in other words, rule out the possibility that they may somehow be trying to establish a fait accompli. N. KOTZIAS: I described the conditions to you under which they would try to establish a fait accompli. These conditions do not depend solely on them. Turkey wants formal legal standing for itself, wants cost-damage, for the cost and the damage to be very low, and for the profit to be very high, and to have relative certainty that they will be victorious. These things must not be ceded and given to them. But Turkey is a friendly country at the same time. Because, I always see a climate of great intensity in this country A. PAPACHELAS: No, but when I see Mr Erdogan saying these things about Izmir, his are strong words, in any case. He knows that he has an impact. N. KOTZIAS: Quite right. But when I hear him, do you know how I read him? Let me tell you honestly, spontaneously. I read an Erdogan who is facing major problems in his election campaign. He has Izmir which voted against him in municipal elections, parliamentary elections, presidential elections. He was overwhelmingly defeated on the constitutional revision, and he goes to this Izmir to run his first electoral campaign by trying to win back the large cities, such as Istanbul, Izmir, and even Ankara, Antalya, and Turkeys coastal region, the Aegean and the Mediterranean A. PAPACHELAS: The other face of Turkey... N. KOTZIAS: The other face of Turkey... To win it over, straight into the arms of its policies. And in order to do this, he says something in the pre-election period which may have been written for him, which he may not have thought too much about. I mean that I interpret it more as anxiety on the part of Erdogan to say something to Izmir in the hope of gaining a couple of votes as opposed to a historical analysis which I now have to explain, as to what happened in Izmir. Moreover, a whole slew of State officials replied, as did the opposition. There is no need for anyone to further deal with this. A. PAPACHELAS: Do you believe that once the elections are over, this thing will settle down? N. KOTZIAS: Its possible, but I don't provide guarantees for third parties. A. PAPACHELAS: But there is a great deal of literature about this. If you had to wager, what would you say? That this thing will continue, or that it will stop? N. KOTZIAS: Look, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I must do two things: First, consider all the possibilities, and not, therefore, bet on any single one, and to prepare myself for these; and second, to see how I can influence this situation. I will give you an example. In the past, we always had the following tradition. Turkey would carry out a violation - we still do this now - we issue a verbal statement, we go and complain to Ankara, our embassy does. This complaint is accepted after 2-3 months in Ankara, at the Foreign Ministry when the issue has become obsolete. This is not productive, but we have to do it. The other tactic is to catch them while they are violating International Law, to take them to NATO, and to the NATO Military Committee. To the EU and the EU military committee and the External Action Service. To the UN and the Secretary-General. To talk with all the strong players involved in the regions problems. My feeling is that if you don't abuse such an approach, it ends up being much more costly for Turkey. We did this in the recent cases, with the sub notes about the submarines. I think we have to be imaginative, influential, and to create an international atmosphere that will prevent Turkey from displaying its bad side more intensely. Because, it also has a good side. It is a society with which we communicate, with which we have strong economic relations - one million Turkish tourists come to Greece every year, common songs, common music. They adore the Greek composer by the name of Theodorakis. Turkey is more complex. It is not just Erdogan with his bitter words at any given moment. I always tell the EU that we should always remember the pro-European Turkey which, as you very correctly said in my opinion earlier, the other side of Turkey, the Turkey of beaches, the Turkey of large cities, of intellectuals. And I have great respect for those people, they are great. I have Turkish colleagues who are professors, esteemed scientists. You must surely know brave journalists, many of whom are now in jail. A. PAPACHELAS: Most of them are in prison, of course ... N. KOTZIAS: This, too, is the other Turkey. There isnt just the Turkey we see and that really disturbs us and that we have to deal with. A. PAPACHELAS: Well take a short commercial break and be right back with you. Part B: A. PAPACHELAS: Ladies and gentlemen, were back with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kotzias. Mr. Kotzias, I want to close out the chapter on Greek-Turkish relations. I want to ask you, first of all, whether you see a risk of a repetition of 2015 in the refugee/migration crisis. Because there have been some indications to this effect in recent weeks. N. KOTZIAS: First of all, the risks that have to do with the refugee crisis are all objective. The war in Syria continues. Two years ago, I said that the problem with Syria is that, while in a normal civil war someone gets tired or their resources are exhausted, in this case we have a war in which nine other outside states are involved. There is a constant flow of military personnel and materiel, so it isn't easy for the war to end. And rather than things quieting down with the Turkish intervention in Afrin, we have new flows of hundreds of thousands of refugees. So the main thing is to convince Europe, and for Europe to convince the rest of the powers, to end this war. The second thing in this regard is that the EU continues to lack a well-designed policy on refugees and migrants. In other words, as the EU, we did not succeed in showing that we are different from all the others, the Americans in Mexico, the Australians in Asia with the large refugee flows that exist. We have traditional tools; we didnt manage to find a way to deter the flows. I think that, as long as the war continues and we dont find tools and move ahead on certain practical things, we will always have risks. But I dont foresee such large flows right now, because, in spite of the problems I mentioned, there are certain deterrent measures. In other words, through our actions and persistence, money was again given to Jordan and Lebanon to build facilities/camps for the refugees to be close to Syria. This makes it possible now, in Jordan, for example, for them to build five industrial zones and to be funded by the EU. This is something that keeps the refugees there. Additionally, we have the EU-Turkey agreement with all its problems and I hope that, over time, the EU looks again at certain tools like its quotas and how they will be implemented. But I want to take this opportunity to say something: The Syrian government is making a big mistake in preparing a number of laws and decrees to -in a way- usurp the property of those Syrians who are refugees or who are in the country as internal refugees. Because within a month they will have to be at the Syrian administrative authorities to claim their property, because when the owner is in Sweden and cant pass through any country he has been granted asylum it will lead to great disappointment and make it harder for refugees to return. Because the third thing, beyond their now leaving, beyond my having agreements on their not coming here, is that they should have a way to return. And thus, lets say that the industrial zones in Jordan are a wonderful measure and Im glad I took it up, even though we didnt discuss it at all here in Athens, but the new legislation being written by the Syrian government is very worrying, and I have to stress this this is the first opportunity I have had to express my opinion publicly. A. PAPACHELAS: So you dont see a risk. The flows are controlled to a great extent... N. KOTZIAS: I dont see the same level of risk. A. PAPACHELAS: You dont believe Erdogan opens the tap depending on his mood? N. KOTZIAS: Maybe, I dont know that, but, you know, at that time many EU member states were inclined to welcome them to come, and they had the prospect of getting there by passing through Greece. This prospect does not exist now as it did then. And, you know, it is of great importance what an Afghan sees in his village on a mountain, or a Pakistani there are 3 million Afghan refugees in Iran. If he sees that, through a great effort and even self-sacrifice, he can get somewhere where his familys future is secured, hell do it. If he has the feeling he wont get there, he may think again. If they ensure better living conditions for him where he is from, he wont do it. Ill give you an example. When I first became Minister of Foreign Affairs, the UN and the EU cut the payments they were making to refugee camps in Lebanon from, if I remember correctly, 140 dollars a month to 13 dollars. And I told them that 13 dollars, which is a few cents a day, is an investment in refugees leaving the camps. And when those refugees reach the countries that cut the funding, it will cost them a lot more than they were paying to subsidise the camps. The Syrians are a proud people. And I think that one of their characteristics is that they were never inclined to leave their country. They didnt have a lot of economic migrants in the western world. This sense made it easier for the Syrians to be near their country and return at the first opportunity. Now I see mechanisms that make this more difficult in part. This is concerning. A. PAPACHELAS: And finally, Cyprus/EEZ. We had the posturing Ill put it that way Turkey did in Cyprus. Is this something that will continue when Exxon gets there, and what do the Turks have in mind there? N. KOTZIAS: I think the Turks are bothered by the fact that energy deposits are being found and arent under their control. It has piqued their appetite. Their appetite has to be curbed. Second, I think the Cypriot government wants to create a joint account for revenues that will be used throughout the island. A. PAPACHELAS: You mean for the revenues to go from the joint account to the two communities. N. KOTZIAS: In the future Im not saying now. But this is up to the Cypriot government. Moreover, Ill be going to Cyprus in three days. And I think whats most important are the purchases Turkey is making not in arms, but in vessels for seeking and exploiting offshore energy resources. Some hotheads in Ankara may be thinking theyll be able to create some incidents or show that they can control some of the fields in the Cypriot EEZ. What I think is and we are doing serious work on this that cant be discussed publicly I hope when some Turkish hothead thinks about doing something, he will think again, because there will be conditions unfavourable to what hes considering doing. A. PAPACHELAS: Do you mean that some major powers or local powers will be against it. N. KOTZIAS: I dont mean anything. Time will tell. A. PAPACHELAS: Lets go to the Skopje issue. Were you perhaps being a little hasty on this? First of all, I have the sense that you didnt take into account the reaction from public opinion when you began to open this issue up. N. KOTZIAS: : Quite the contrary. I think we started the issue with 7%, and now there is a majority. A. PAPACHELAS: You think there is a majority in favour of a compromise on the name issue? N. KOTZIAS: Thats what some opinion polls Ive seen say. But time will tell on this issue as well. I believe that, in foreign policy, you have to take initiatives, you have to guide developments. Because otherwise developments overtake you and can overwhelm you. And I would say this was the most opportune time for us, because we could carry out and we are carrying out negotiations between the two sides, because, first, Germany didnt have a government for many months, as you know, and the U.S. isnt as interested in the western Balkans as it has been in the past. Consequently, we were the ones carrying out the negotiations. I think the negotiations went and are going well, but it is now up to them to decide whether they will accept the erga omnes. It is a bold decision. They are justified in saying, often, that they dont have the majority of their people. A. PAPACHELAS: Lets explain it to people. What are they saying? That domestically they cant ... N. KOTZIAS: Have the same name as they do abroad. And this is a mistaken outlook. But I want to say that we were right in opening up the issue. We could guide the negotiations, and as a result we are close this is the first time we have been so close to an agreement. But even if there isnt an agreement, it wont be our fault, and the universe knows this. A. PAPACHELAS: Lets explain it to people. The erga omnes becomes binding only through a change in the Constitution, or is there another way? N. KOTZIAS: Look, erga omnes means that they use the name in their inter-state relations, in their international relations in general and in international organizations. There is no problem up to there. But for it to be truly erga omnes, it has to be used domestically as well. Can you make an international agreement that says all that? You can, and there are legal experts who believe this. But experience shows that if the government changes, the next one will send Zaev to prison, saying that he violated the Constitution by accepting an international name not provided for or allowed by the Constitution. In other words, even for their own protection, as I have told them, they need to amend the Constitution. Now Ill explain why the name has to be erga omnes. There is always someone saying, It doesnt matter. Theyll have one name domestically, and what do I care how one municipality corresponds with another. Ill check it, Ill see, and theyll also have a name for all the other things, a name that satisfies our own sentiments. The problem is this: What name will documents be issued under? The domestic name or the international name? You will say that documents for international use will use the international name; passports, for example. Documents for domestic use with the domestic name. What about passports? Identity cards? But entering into a process of joining the European Union, the identity card becomes an international document. How do Greeks travel today? With their identity cards. So we will have an international document, the passport, with the international name. A domestic document, the identity card which will be used, however, in the age of globalization, as an international document will have the domestic name. I said to my interlocutor, I asked him very plainly, when state documents, e.g., the Constitution, are translated so you can send them to the UN or the EU, to educational seminars, universities, international libraries, how will the name be translated? They say the name for domestic use, the constitutional name will be plain Macedonia. The international name will be a compound name. Great, I say. You take the Constitution, you translate it for international use, and the people around the world, legal experts, the UN, read your Constitution. What name will it have? The domestic name, he says. It will be translated directly. And I say, this is exactly how an international document uses the domestic name in international public opinion. What do I mean by this, because I can give you numerous examples. For instance, a university student gets his degree, and he leaves the country with a degree that says Republika Macedonia. Im saying there will be constant friction. If we have friction now over the use of the name in international meetings, later we will have friction on a daily basis. At foreign universities, at foreign hospitals there will be a Greek who says, This is not the international name, and hell say, But I got it from my university. Constant arguments. This is why, you may have seen, I always underscore that the solution should be firm, long-term and resolve rather than create problems. I could very easily agree with my counterpart and take the glory of having resolved the problem, but I will have invested in future problems. I dont want that. A. PAPACHELAS: Just so I understand, the matter of the international agreement is something you reject. In spite of the fact that the Skopjans say ... N. KOTZIAS: No, we will make the international agreement. I dont reject it, but it doesnt suffice. A. PAPACHELAS: They say that, there, their constitutional court often rules based on international agreements, not necessarily based on the Constitution. Right? N. KOTZIAS: Yes, but how will Mr. Zaev be judged by the next government? Because it isnt just a question of whether international law supersedes domestic law. The question is, how do you agree on the name change internationally, through what decision? Because he exceeds his constitutional powers. The Constitution has one name. He cant use another. A. PAPACHELAS: But right now he doesnt have the majority he needs to amend the Constitution. Isnt that right? No way. N. KOTZIAS: Look, political leadership is a great responsibility. We started with 7% in favour of a solution with a compound name, because the majority of the Greek people have been convinced that there is no compound name today with the word Macedonia. But the agreement we made in 1993, which was also expressed in the Interim Accord of 1995, is fYROM, which consists of the former, chronological; Yugoslavia is spatial. Former Yugoslavia, which is a specific space and has Macedonia in it. It exists. With the difference that they have abolished the official name, Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, internationally, and Republic of Macedonia is left, so we are adding to the actual fact. A. PAPACHELAS: But apart from that, there was no Greek government that accepted the term Macedonia in an effort towards compromise. Neither the Karamanlis government, as far as I know, nor the following governments. N. KOTZIAS: I have said that the archives of history are very rich in ideas and there are governments that have accepted Macedonia-(Skopje). A. PAPACHELAS: Do you mean officially? N. KOTZIAS: Officially in the negotiations. There is no agreement. A. PAPACHELAS: So there are papers showing this? N. KOTZIAS: Of course. And Macedonia as the domestic name, not erga omnes. Someone might say they were making some tactical manoeuvre for years, but I want to say that they shouldnt be wagging their fingers, because I respect everyones history and I dont want to make use of what I am reading and Im very well read, as you know. What we are giving, the package, is the best solution for our neighbours, and it is the best proposal a Greek government has ever made for our national interests. They shouldnt come out and say things that arent true, because that isnt good. A. PAPACHELAS: Which government was this? N. KOTZIAS: I wont open up a public debate of that kind, because I am protecting the country. A. PAPACHELAS: Right, now there is another... N. KOTZIAS: You know it serves my purposes to tell you, but when Ive said it, will the countrys negotiating position be better or worse? I would say it wont be better. A. PAPACHELAS: And I have to ask because thats my job, as you know. N. KOTZIAS: Youre right, but I, too, should explain my response. A. PAPACHELAS: question is this: There is another approach that says Skopje could enter into a provisional agreement, become a provisional member of NATO, and Mr. Zaev could be given a year to persuade public opinion and Parliament to amend the Constitution. N. KOTZIAS: Thats a good idea; to allow yourself some time to change the Constitution, but without coupling this with an early accession, since some people are telling me A. PAPACHELAS: A preliminary accession, does such a term exist? N. KOTZIAS: No, we may agree for an invitation to be extended. NATO extends the invitation and then this invitation is ratified by the Parliaments. And then the parliaments send these decisions to the US, to Washington, which has been the depository of all NATO treaties since its establishment. What is the problem in this case? I shall openly explain. Lets say that of the 29 member-states of , 28 ratify this, and we do not, because they havent made the changes they promised us. Who will get the stick? The 28 or us, wholl be criticized and put under pressure? Which means that the problem will shift from A. PAPACHELAS: What if you came to an understanding with all the others, and they agree to such an approach? N. KOTZIAS: I cannot guarantee that they will stay firm, any government can claim a change, a new minister of foreign affairs, a new viewpoint. They do not have the same need for an actual agreement, they understand Greeces position, and I am pleased that this was made clear to the EU and and the UN. I believe this needs to be resolved with the deal we are proposing, which is a generous deal, and it includes an agreement you know, it includes a second element too, which is the view I hold on foreign policy and our government does too, which is that we are offering a positive agenda. What I mean is that the solution for the name will be framed by an agreement on how we will develop our collaboration on a governmental level, with technological parks, technology institutions, thus covering the whole spectrum: education, culture, security, the lot. A. PAPACHELAS: Id like to ask you at this point, have we agreed on a name? From what I see, there is an agreement on both sides for this Upper Macedonia in Slavic. N. KOTZIAS: A proposal has been made by Nimetz for five names. The fifth name is also the proposal that Greece had made in the past, which is Macedonia (Skopje), with Skopje in parenthesis; of the other four, weve told them, they can choose what they want. A. PAPACHELAS: And have they chosen one? N. KOTZIAS: Thats not they will choose one of them, thats not our problem. We have agreed it will be a composite name, geographically A. PAPACHELAS: Has Mr Nimetz made a final proposal of his own? N. KOTZIAS: I would say that Mr Nimetz made an assessment in the most recent negotiation, as regards which side has to accept the situation and agree. A. PAPACHELAS: And were you satisfied with that? N. KOTZIAS: I will be satisfied with an agreement. A. PAPACHELAS: I mean, does he consider that Skopje should make the concession? N. KOTZIAS: I told you that I will be satisfied when there is an agreement between Greece and our neighbor. A. PAPACHELAS: Is Mr Nimetz an objective negotiator? N. KOTZIAS: He is objective; we have made some complaints on occasion, and so has the other side. I think Mr Nimetz, who has been doing this job for 25 years, saw us nearing a solution, he sees there is good will on both sides, and he is trying to encourage us to bring this to an end. A. PAPACHELAS: However, I have the impression that all these meetings you have had with Mr Dimitrov always end up at the same point. So, will there be an end to this? N. KOTZIAS: We had the same problem at the end in the last two meetings. A. PAPACHELAS: And what does this actually mean? Time is running out, there is a pressing deadline. N. KOTZIAS: Look, there is no pressing deadline. This is not our issue, just to make things clear. Its not that we want FYROM to enter or the EU they do. And to do so, they must enter with a compound name, with a geographical qualifier. So, its not us that want to get them in, because then we would be asking for a compromise on their behalf. A. PAPACHELAS: What about Messrs. Hahn, Tusk etc, who insist that there will be a solution in two weeks? Do they have a vision or something N. KOTZIAS: I believe the two weeks have passed. I think that we are fortunate enough, in this negotiation, to have Ms Mogherini as head of external affairs. May I remind you that Ms Mogherini is Vice-President of the Commission. Mr Hahn is an important member of the Commission, but not her superior; the reverse is the case I would say. A. PAPACHELAS: Are the Americans as interested in this story as they used to be, or have they eased up on the matter? N. KOTZIAS: The Americans are not pushing, as they reportedly did in the past. Our government and I personally have not been under any pressure from anyone. Perhaps they know I would react, and the result would be the opposite of what they wanted, but I dont think they would be displeased if the problem of FYROM and its accession to NATO were to be resolved. A. PAPACHELAS: Still, from your description of things, this issue is not going to be resolved in time. N. KOTZIAS: In time you say I repeat that it is not necessary to have a Summit Agreement to enter , as agreed in 2008. A. PAPACHELAS: Nevertheless, the Summit is a symbolic date. N. KOTZIAS: No, they cant be in time for that, let me explain. As the decision of 2008 stands, the Assembly of Permanent Representatives, meaning our NATO Ambassadors, can also decide on this, and then there can be a Summit that will turn this into a major event. There is no obligation I mean, through the NATO process, there is no obligation to do this through a Summit. It may be a more publicized event, with a symbolic meaning, but it cant happen because of the time frame. What time frame? Our neighbor, our dear neighbor as far as Im concerned, must or rather wants to hold a referendum. So be it, that is none of my concern. But a referendum requires two months, from the day it is prepared and announced. After winning the referendum, which is what I am hoping for, then this will need to be ratified by Parliament, which will take another whole month, making that four months. And then it needs to go to the UN for the international agreements. Which means that there is not enough time until June, which is less than two months away. What I mean is that they need two clear months just for the referendum, from the day it is announced to the day it is held. A. PAPACHELAS: Now, there is a question here; there is a government that seems to be more friendly towards us, and certainly more friendly towards the West etc. N. KOTZIAS: Thats true. A. PAPACHELAS: And then there is Mr Zaev, who I hear is afraid that he will be murdered, afraid of the Russians, afraid of the opposition, afraid of various people. What will happen if they dont get what they are expecting, what Mr Zaev promised. Will we go back to a solution like Gruevskis? And what will that mean for Greeces interests? N. KOTZIAS: Look, during the negotiation, the other side has often talked to me of their fears and difficulties. There are indeed difficulties, but as I told you before, we started with 7%. The political leaders of any country are not there to follow referendums. A person who is good at referendums would then be enough for politics; you have to fight to change the balance. We neither had the peoples majority, nor was the Parliamentary majority a fact. In fact, I would say there were objections even within the government structure. Therefore, what they did not do, according to my personal opinion, was to fight, until now, and I hope they do. I hope they fight to convince the majority, lets say, of the erga omnes. If, however, you claim from morning to night that there is no erga omnes, who will then change the views of the majority? Somebody has to, and it wont be the opposition. I also believe that part of the opposition do understand that this is a good agreement for their country, since it includes the NATO-EU package they want, I think they could support a solution. In fact, I made the comment the other day that when the government was in a life or death situation, with the vote of no-confidence, the opposition got 1/3 of the votes. Which means that 2/3, the constitutional majority, were on the other side, they either did not vote or they did vote. So, when a burning issue came up, they found a way to restrict the opposition. A. PAPACHELAS: Since you and Mr Kammenos are both, one might say, low-profile politicians, how do you handle this matter? After all, there is an intense disagreement between you. One of you has taken on the matter personally and wants to resolve it, and the other says that this matter will not be resolved. N. KOTZIAS: I believe that this issue has come up thanks to the capacity and potential of our upgraded foreign policy. Mr Kammenos is the leader of a party, which has a different policy line on this issue. It is a disagreement, thats what I always say, and I will give you some examples. Look at the United Kingdom, where there is the governing party: the Conservatives. And see what major differences exist between the countrys Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, surrounding Brexit. Major differences. And let me tell you something extraordinary I saw last week: I was abroad and I was watching television, on Saturday, and the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, the new Minister, Mr Maas, was giving an interview, relativising the Gabriel-Steinmeier policy on Russia. On Sunday, the president gave an interview expressing a different view to the newspaper ild, the largest popular newspaper in Germany, and on Sunday night, Maas answered on the Das Erste with his own viewpoint. This is normal. These are major issues, and it is normal for us to disagree on issues relating to our neighbor. It is a major issue, a remnant of the past. What I want to make clear is this: that although I understand and can explain this in various ways, the main issue that most people have is with fYROM having the name Macedonia. I understand that it is a question of identity, a matter of the soul, of cultural heritage. Firstly, this country has borne this name with our consent for 25 years not my consent, but that of former governments, as I explained. Secondly, these issues relating to cultural heritage are extremely important for any person, for his identity, even being a supporter of AEK, Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, sometimes is very important to your identity. The name Macedonia is of course a more objective problem, but what I mean to say is that a persons identity is defined by numerous factors. And what signifies a major problem for a nation and a country is something totally different. Our country has no issue, geopolitically or geostrategically, with either Albania, or our neighbours to the north, but mainly with our neighbours to the East. And I think that is where we need to focus our attention and diplomacy. And to make sure we are not constantly held prisoners, as I say, by history. You know, what I say is that history should not be a prison, it should be a school. In the sense that we should look to the future. I am a person who is always looking to the future and to what our positive agenda will be. For example, you see, we have the quadrilateral meeting of the Balkans in two days, then 5 days later there is the two-day meeting of the Balkan countries with Visegrad and all the candidate countries on the future of Europe. The future. Next, a month later, we have the large conference in Rhodes, with all the Arab countries and those of Southeast Europe present, where we have agreed not to discuss the war in Syria, Iraq, Libya, or the Palestinian issue; we will talk about the positive agenda, which has existed in our region for 5,000 years. A. PAPACHELAS: We only have a couple of minutes left, one final question put to me by many people. How concerned are you about a heated incident with Turkey during these one and a half or two months prior to the elections? N. KOTZIAS: You asked me earlier as well, I told you that Turkey does not create hot incidents, and Erdogan would not do so without three conditions being in place, which is not the case these days. A. PAPACHELAS: And as you said, the main thing is for us not to provide an excuse. N. KOTZIAS: A legitimate pretext, not an excuse, thats something different. They must not be given a legitimate pretext, nor have the sense that they can cruise around at no cost, or that they can win so easily. They must have in mind that they could lose. And I think that is what is holding them back, they are clever people, it is a great, important and civilized country, and I think we need to insist on an effort to calm the waters and bring them round to our own policy, a policy of peace, friendship, and building on common interests. A. PAPACHELAS: Minister, thank you very much for this talk. N. KOTZIAS: I thank you for the opportunity. A. PAPACHELAS: Ladies and gentlemen, weve come to the end of tonights show. Have a good evening and a good rest. Good morning. Once again, I thank you very much for accepting our invitation to Thessaloniki. This is an institution founded on the joint action and friendship between our four states. I especially thank Ekaterina Zaharieva, who found time, in the context of her Presidency-related duties, to be here with us. Thank you, Katerina. I thank Nikola Dimitrov, with whom we always enjoy meeting here in Thessaloniki for creative discussions, and last but not least, my good friend, my oldest friend out of those present, Ditmir Bushati, with whom we have managed to find the path towards resolving decades-old problems between our countries. I hope we succeed in resolving all of the regions issues and in moving together on a creative European path. I thus welcome the 3rd conference of the states of the crossborder cooperation, and I would like to very briefly share some thoughts regarding the geostrategic changes taking place, as well as their significance for our cooperation. We are the region of Europe which is closest to the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and eastern North Africa. We are the ones who first feel the changes that are taking place in this region, who have a sense of the problems, and the risks and the opportunities for development that exist in our region. I would say that the changes, particularly in North Africa, Libya, the Middle East, Syria, Iraq and the Eastern Mediterranean, are changes that underscore the tectonic shifts taking place on our planet. The changes taking place on our planet possess certain traits, of which you are aware, which include the fact that we live in a changing world, where the role of the West is not, and cannot be, the same as it was in the 19th and 20th centuries; where new powers are emerging; where the role of the West which is becoming progressively less influential at this time is resulting in the major western powers focusing more on regions other than Southeast Europe. In particular, we have a major global shift in interest from what I call the Atlantic Lake to the Pacific Lake. This means that the U.S. will be more and more focused on this major change, and less interested in the developments in Europe and our region. I would also say that these changes demonstrate that Russia, especially in the Middle East, is re-emerging and is again showing it is interested in the region in which we live. And of course, if something is completely new, compared to how things were 20 or 30 years ago, it is the emergence of China as a major economic power with great capabilities in terms of projects and cooperation, in our region as well. When the world changes and there are repercussions for our region, I think the same conclusion is drawn by Greece, as well as by all of us: that we have to intensify and deepen our cooperation in the region. We are seeing changes in the European Union. Changes we will be discussing in less than a week, at the international conference in Sounion, where all of the candidate countries and other Western Balkan states will be in attendance. Also present will be the Visegrad countries and the EU member states of the Balkans. I think that, in the coming weeks, we need to move ahead with cooperation, not just on the level of ministers, but also between the directorates of our ministries that deal with European affairs, so that we can more systematically, and in cooperation, take stock of and to the extent that we can influence the changes taking place in Europe. My country, like the Presidency, is open to any kind of assistance to the other two countries, if and when it is needed. And assistance with expertise on other issues as well. In our opinion, the changes in the Middle East also require better coordination on our part. We talked about this yesterday evening. The changes taking place, and the wars being fought, have added, adjacent to the Israel-Palestine line of conflict with or without inverted commas three wars: in Syria, Iraq and Libya. We are also of the opinion that our competent directorates for the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean can and this will be productive meet to exchange opinions and help us find a way to increase our joint action in the Middle East. The meeting we are holding in Rhodes this June, to which we are all invited, will also help. In Rhodes we will be meeting with all of the Arab states, and the Arab League and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss further developing a positive agenda between Southeast Europe and the Arab world. There, while discussing the Middle East, it may be worth our while to assess certain new trends. There is the fact that Iran, through its collaboration in Iraq and Syria, as well as with Hezbollah, has in a way found an outlet from its own region to the Mediterranean. It has become a player that now acts and has a strong presence in the Middle East. We also see the endless conflict in Syria. Here we have to do with what is ostensibly a civil war one in which nine other powers are involved. A civil war with no end in sight, because people and materiel are flowing in from various countries, despite the exhaustion and destruction suffered by Syrian society itself. But this means that the conflict will be ongoing, and our four countries need to jointly confront the issues of migration and the flows of migrants and refugees. And I would like to reiterate something I said publicly the day before yesterday: that the Syrian governments new regulations and laws are causing concern, in Greece at least, because in a way they do not safeguard the property, formal or informal, of the 14 million Syrians who have moved, either within the country or abroad, through the terms and regulations being set. Which means that the return of millions of Syrians to their ancestral land will be more difficult than it would be without this legislation. And we also have the presence of our neighbour Turkey in Afrin, which in our opinion is calling into question the Treaty of Lausanne on its eastern side, but this is a treaty that also concerns many other countries, including ours. We think that the continuation of tensions in the Middle East renders imperative the continuation of cooperation between those of our ministries that deal with refugees, migration, security in our border regions. And we will have an in-depth discussion. Minister Toskas is also here. Our close cooperation must not concern only what I call a negative agenda. It must certainly also concern our development and cooperation in the sectors of energy and major infrastructure. Last year we talked about our cooperation in the energy sector, the new pipelines, which was a very interesting and productive discussion. This year we have with us Mr. Spirtzis, so we can talk about what we can do to develop the regions connectivity. I think that we, as small and mid-sized states in Europe, need to develop not only our connectivity but our cooperation overall, with two goals in mind: to help the two states that are not yet members of the European Union to join, and to prepare, through our collaboration today, our future cooperation within the European Union. Of course, this cooperation cannot be limited to the ministries and their directorates. It has to extend to the whole of society. Our thinking is that we can develop cooperation between our universities and research centres. We can hold international conferences and symposia on these issues. We can hold international meetings on connectivity issues. Railways, roads, airports. But also hydroplanes, as Mr. Spirtzis told us yesterday evening. And we can connect our countries in terms of energy, with ships, with pipelines, with cables. In any way we can. So we need to develop our cooperation in all sectors, from education to culture; and perhaps we will see a joint presence, whether through documents or through trips to countries where we have shared interests and which concern us, both with regard to our development as well as world peace. I want to welcome you once again. I am very happy and satisfied, because the initiative we took two and a half years ago has become a common ground for our coexistence, exchange of opinions, with frankness, immediacy and sincerity, as always, and in a manner that another area of Europe would do well to adopt; an area where we mostly talk bureaucratically, rather than creatively and with sincerity. We do have problems. We cannot develop our relations by covering these problems up. What we have been doing for years now discussing them, exchanging thoughts, criticism, observations helps to resolve the problems, and helps us move ahead. Of course, you know how life is. As soon as you solve one problem, others arise. We know from the Hydra, the myth of Heracles, that solving problems does not mean that you wont have more. But these are problems with regard to development. These are problems that will open the way to the future, not problems from the past. Thank you very much, and I would ask my friend and comrade, Mr. Toskas, as he did last year, to coordinate the discussion, our initial exchange of views. I must say that I consider it something of a feat that we have countries whose governments meet G2G meetings, as theyre called and not a quadrilateral meeting of certain ministers, but a composite quadrilateral meeting, which is a powerful format in terms of image and substance. Thank you very much. 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... UPPER THUMB -- The second leg of an exploratory canoe trip of the Cass River will launch tomorrow from Caro's Indianfields Park to Frankenmuth with stops along the way in Tuscola and Vassar. Thomas Lounsbury, who is a well-known outdoor writer, is doing a documentary of his canoe trips down the Cass River to showcase the waterway's beauty and recreational opportunities. Lounsbury is encouraging others to join him, and to participate, he can be reached at 989-872-2398 or tlounsburyoutdoors@gmail.com. The first part of the trip from Cass City to Chippewa Landing in Caro was completed last weekend. "About 12 to 14 people went on (last) Saturday's trip," said Nancy Barrios, who is a Cass City Village Council trustee and went on the trip. According to Barrios, Michigan Outdoors is considering covering the waterway expedition. "And, during the trip, Tom fell in trying to save a camera," Barrios said. For those who cannot make tomorrow's trip, others are being planned. The third leg from Frankenmuth to Davis Park in Bridgeport is scheduled for June 9, and the final leg from M-13 Boat Launch to Wickes Park in Saginaw is June 10. Those who do not own a kayak can still participate in the river trips. Frankenmuth Kayaks Adventure offers rentals, is working with Lounsbury and will deliver a kayak to the launch site that is selected for the trips down the river for a nominal fee. For more information, go to the website kayakfrankenmuth.com or call 989-652-3400. Besides being a prolific writer, Lounsbury also enjoys history, and he has a book about the Cass River, Elkland Township and Tuscola County. "The books, 'Diary of a hunter from Ohio,' is written by Oliver Hazard Perry. He was named after the Navel hero of 1812, but no relation," Lounsbury explained. "He would come up by steamboat from Ohio to Port Huron and travel into the Thumb to hunt. He would follow the Cass River to Indian Fields -- that was before Caro came about. "There were a couple of Indian tribes there," he added. "He would get a canoe from the Indians and come back up to Cass City to the forks to hunt. Before there was a Cass City, the area was known as the Forks." Perry documented his hunting trips from 1852 to 1854. His favorite area to hunt was in Elkland Township. "That's how Elkland Township got its name. There were so many elk back then hunters like Perry would travel there," Lounsbury said. "He loved the Thumb wilderness. He wrote how he would have to climb trees to get a compass reading because the forrest was so dense." The Cass River Water Trail is 37 1/2 miles long. Along the trail there are boat, canoe, and kayak launch sites. Along the river's edge there are rest stops and picnic areas, wildlife, maps and brochures with information on wildlife and plants in the area. HARBOR BEACH -- William Rayment was recently ordained into the Christian ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Beach. He has been called to serve First Presbyterian in Alpena. The General Presbyter of the Lake Huron Presbytery, Rev. Dan Saperstein, presided at the ordination assisted by members of the Presbytery Committee on Ministry. PARISA year after his lightning march to power, French President Emmanuel Macrons reformist zeal has endeared him to part of the electorate but polls show him as still unloved by most of the country. If there is one thing on which the French agree it is that the president is taking action. Where they disagree is on [the merit] of those actions, said Jean-Daniel Levy, a researcher at Harris Interactive pollsters. After a dizzying rise to Frances highest office, Macron suffered a sharp drop in popularity when he began to push through changes to labor laws last September that make hiring and firing easier. After just 100 days in office, his support had fallen from a post-election high of 64 percent to 36 percent in an Ifop poll. That was lower than even his unpopular Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande at the same point in his presidency. But in recent months his approval ratings have inched back up to 40-45 percent, higher than Hollandes and on a par with right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy who ruled from 2007 to 2012. Such a turnaround is unusual for French presidents, said Chloe Morin, a leading pollster at the Fondation Jean-Jaures think tank. People seem prepared to give him time, she told AFP. Despite this perceived bout of patience, French voters on the whole view Macron negatively, even though economic growth is rising and unemployment has fallen since the election last May. An Ipsos/Sopra Steria survey published on Wednesday showed that, a year after his election, nearly two-thirds of voters64 percentare disappointed with his performance. But as consolation, Macron need only look at the ratings of his main political rivals, who have been unable to mount a serious challenge to his agenda since last years presidential and parliamentary elections. On his march to the Elysee Palace, Macron trampled the center-left Socialists and center-right Republicans, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen emerged weakened after her defeat. An April 25 Ipsos poll showed only 26 percent of voters having a positive view of firebrand leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, ahead of Le Pen on 24 percent and the right-wing leader of the main opposition Republicans, Laurent Wauquiez, on 17 percent. We have a president who is not very popular but his popularity is huge compared to his opponents, said Bruno Jeanbart of the polling company OpinionWay.While his overall poll numbers have see-sawed, voters views on Macrons strengths and weaknesses have remained broadly stable. He is seen as a man with a vision for transforming France and a defender of free trade and multilateralism. But the former investment banker is also viewed as far removed from the everyday concerns of his fellow citizensan image forged in part by his program of tax cuts, which have chiefly benefited the wealthy. An Elabe poll in late March showed 74 percent of voters judging his policies to be unfair, with 77 percent saying they were contributing to divisions in the country. Where he has outperformed expectations is on the international stage. Before his election Macrons opponents warned that the 40-year-old would struggle to defend French interests in an era of strongman politics. But by hosting Russias Vladimir Putin and Americas Donald Trump for visits in his first two monthsand standing up to Trump over his decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accordhe very quickly established his presidential stature, Jeanbart said. Back home Macrons tough line on immigrationhe plans to speed up deportations of economic migrants without visas-\sand pro-business agenda have cost him support on the left. Voters on the right, by contrast, have been impressed by his refusal to climb down in the face of protests. For Elabe pollster Bernard Sananes, with no victory yet to his name Macron is still being judged on his goals rather than his results. The wave of optimism that followed the presidential election is slowly fizzling, Sananes told Les Echos newspaper. The French see that the economic situation is better overall but they have not yet seen a concrete improvement in their own situation, he added. HARTFORD A bill that could bring a new casino to Bridgeport was approved Friday by the House but faces an uncertain future in the state Senate. This is a jobs bill, said state Rep. Steven Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, at one point during an hourslong debate. This is an economic development bill, Stafstrom said. This is also a tax-relief bill. The bill passed the House by a 77-73 vote and now heads to the Senate, where opposition is waiting, and no one is making solid bets on its passage. Technically, the legislation directs the state to issue a request for proposals for a new casino somewhere in Connecticut, including Bridgeport. A selected proposal would return to the General Assembly for final approval. But the bill is clearly directed at Bridgeport, considering MGM Grand has proposed a $700 million seaside resort in the city and a job training center in New Haven. MGM has promised to create 2,000 permanent jobs and 5,000 construction jobs. The Las Vegas gambling enterprise pledged to more than cover the $250 million a year the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes now pay the state from slot revenue from their casino resorts in southeast Connecticut. MGM is willing to invest in one of the most distressed areas in the country, said state Rep. Chris Rosario, D-Bridgeport. I think we should listen. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim also welcomed the House vote. This vote sends a strong signal to the business community that we support fair play in the marketplace, we support open competition and we open for business, Ganim said. If we do invest in real growth on the Bridgeport waterfront, we can attract tourists and investors from the New York City region, the largest metropolitan area in the country, and beyond. Unlike most bills, the legislation did not divide lawmakers by party. Instead, it pit legislators from Bridgeport and New Haven against those representing southeastern Connecticut and the East Windsor area, where the tribes already have legislative approval to build a smaller casino to buffer competition from an MGM Grand casino in Springfield, Mass., set to open this summer. Supporters talked about giving Bridgeport a fair deal to redevelop, while opponents worried about losing slot revenue, and the joint tribal East Windsor venture would suffer financially if another casino is built in the state. Ive never seen a proposal that cannibalizes one part of the state for sake of another part of the state, said state Rep. Kevin Ryan, D-Montville. The Mohegans and Pequots have a long history in this state and have provided a lot of revenue to the state $7.5 billion and we have all benefited from that, Ryan said. Future uncertain Whether the Bridgeport bill can pass the state Senate, which is divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats, is unclear. At least two Democratic senators, Tim Larson, of East Hartford, and Catherine Osten, of Sprague, support the East Windsor casino and are sure to vote against the so-called Bridgeport bill. Despite having legislative approval, the East Windsor casino is stalled over a lack of federal approval for changes to the compacts between the state and tribes. Those compacts give the tribes exclusive right to offer gambling on their reservations. State Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, said that while she is leaning against supporting the bill some GOP senators might vote for the legislation. People are all over the place, Boucher said, referring to the Republican Senate caucus. You have people who represent the Mohegan and Foxwoods area and others who are just against gambling, Boucher said. Some represent towns at the Massachusetts border. Tolls were easy; we are 18 solid against. But this is not a given. Boucher added the Republican caucus because no expected the bill to come before the Senate has not taken a straw poll. State Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, predicted passage in the Senate is questionable. Leone said he wont vote for the bill because he does not believe MGM can produce enough revenue to make up for that lost from the tribes. State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, also said he plans to vote against the casino bill, noting he opposes expansion of gambling. I dont think it gets done, Hwang said, referring to passage of the bill. Meanwhile, MGM Grand cheered passage by the House and turned to the next step. The state is one step closer to adopting a best-in-class process for possible selection of a commercial casino operator, said Uri Clinton, MGM senior vice president. We look forward to continuing this discussion and supporting the legislation as it continues to move through the legislative process, Clinton said. Big money The tribes warned the 25 percent of slot revenue about $250 million a year paid to the state in exchange for the exclusive right to operate a casino on their reservations would be withheld if the request for proposals bill becomes law. Lets be clear, the only thing this bill accomplishes is to place in jeopardy nearly $1.4 billion is state tax revenue, $328 million of which is slated to go directly to cities and towns, said Andrew Doba, a spokesman for the joint tribal venture in East Windsor. Any legislator who votes for this bill is going to have to head back to their community and explain why they voted to place millions in funding in jeopardy, funding that helps with providing services and keeping taxes down, Doba said. Attorney General George Jepsen has said passage of the bill would not violate the existing compacts with the tribe. But its not clear if approval of a non-tribal casino would violate those compacts, although MGM Grand has promised its Bridgeport resort would more than cover any lost tribal money. The tribes dispute that a single Bridgeport casino can cover the payments. Juan Candelaria, D-New Haven, said the bill is the right thing to do for Bridgeport and New Haven We will be sending a message that we believe in a competitive process and an open process and we are against monopolies, Candelaria said. But Mary Mushinsky, D-Wallingford, who voted for the original tribal compact 25 years ago, said the two tribes have been good for Connecticut We lost 20,000 defense-related jobs, Mushinsky said, recalling layoffs before the first version of Foxwoods opened. The casinos opened and rehired all those people, Mushinsky said They did not lose their homes and kept their health insurance. The Legislature should not break a compact we made 25 years ago, she said. MIDDLETOWN Proposed state cuts to the regions public transit system present an existential threat to the lives of low-income residents who rely on buses to get to fundamental needs, officials said at a charged rally held at the Middletown Area Transit bus depot Thursday afternoon. As the skies threatened rain above, about 40 people gathered outside the 340 Main St. station to listen to elected leaders, community activists and transit authorities demand a call to action from those who would be most affected by the states Department of Transportations proposed $261,000 slash in funding. Six weeks ago, MAT Administrator Lisa Seymour said she was told 15 percent could potentially be trimmed from the districts budget July 1. Even worse, she said, a much deeper 50 percent cut is slated to go into effect July 1, 2019. That is out of $160 million. That is less than 1 percent of the whole state Department of Transportation budget, said Gwen Samuel of Middletown, founder of the Connecticut Parents Union, which works with families across the state to give children access to safe schooling. And yet youre going to target the small towns? No transit district standalone can survive on that, Seymour said. That was DOTs original proposal to us. They have not changed that proposal as of yet. We all told them we will just shut our doors. Less than a week remains in the legislatures session, which adjourns Wednesday. Changes would be implemented across the board in every transit district in the state. Now, the DOT pays 90 percent of the $2.6 million MAT budget and the city contributes 10 percent. The protest came on the heels of a MAT public hearing at City Hall April 25, during which dozens of riders, residents, business people and local leaders decried the states plan. The session lasted more than two hours. Calling public transit one of the fundamental pillars of economic freedom, elected officials, including state Rep. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, and state Rep. Tony Guerrera, D-Rocky Hill, joined Thursdays rally. The decision to play with the lives of Middletown residents for political purposes is unfortunate, but my hope is, on a bipartisan basis, in the next few days, we will be able to move forward to reduce these cuts and preserve the quality of service we expect and we deserve, Lesser said. When the community comes under attack, if you will, then we must come together, Samuel said. We need to put pressure on those we elected into office. There are no free passes when we pull the lever to vote for individuals. We need those that we put into office to fight for the needs of our community. The FedEx distribution hub broke ground at the site of the former Aetna complex in town, near the Cromwell line, two years ago. The facility will be mostly complete by this summer and operational by Christmas, according to Mayor Dan Drew. They talk about fiscal stability, Samuel said. They talk about economic growth. There are going to be several hundred jobs for Middletown residents and those in surrounding towns. We have to be very clear with our call to action. Families, the disabled, those on fixed incomes and veterans would be among those hardest hit. Some of them have prosthetics, some of them have problems, John Jackson of Middletown American Legion Post 206 said about veterans. They need to get around just like everybody else. These are the people who were entrusted with the trust of this country to defend it. Lets defend this now, Jackson said. Shkeia Dickerson of Meriden, a mother who uses the Middletown and Meriden bus routes to take her children to doctors appointments, took the podium. Im trying to get my education level up, and if this gets cut, that means I cant go back to school, and my kids cant go to and from school, said Dickerson, who doesnt drive. Mostly everything depends on if I can get the bus. When the doctors call and say Can you get to Hartford? Can you get to New Haven? Thats when I can get the bus. Once that bus is gone, theres no getting back and forth to the doctors and youve got sick kids and more worries. Substitute House Bill No. 5314, proposed by Guerrera, would prevent transit cuts for 2018 and 2019. Last June, riders were informed about the state possibly terminating evening services as well as a 45 percent reduction in Meriden routes. Dozens made impassioned pleas to the MAT board of directors to find a way to keep the buses running at current levels. Then, the cause was an internal problem at MAT. A week later, Drew announced services would remain intact. You guys did it a year ago when it was an internal problem. Im sure you all can stand up now that its an external problem. They will listen to you, Seymour said. No one can understand the struggles this district went through, she added. I walked into this during the summer, during the mess. We have been able to keep this district open. You have not seen any route cuts, you have not seen reductions and we are still running, Seymour said, calling the proposed reductions unheard of. It is frustrating and it is not fair. In a letter to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy dated April 20, Redeker wrote fare increases and service cuts would cause the loss of about 6.5 million trips a year and leave nearly 2,400 people unable to get to work, school and health care. Its very easy for people who do not take buses to cut bus service, said North End resident Jeff Hush. Connecticut is among the worst states in the country in wealth gaps between the poorest and the richest. Achievement gaps in education are also extremely broad in this state. If we lose buses, if we lose bus routes, all of those gaps get bigger, all of us get poorer, all of us get [cheated]. Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day@hearstmediact.com or Twitter @cassandrasdis. Ten U.S. Navy SEALs and one sailor in Navy special warfare have tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamines, a Navy spokesperson told Business Insider. "During a number of command drug tests from March to April 2018, 11 service members from East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare units tested positive for controlled substances," Cmdr. Tamara Lawrence said in a statement. "We have a zero-tolerance policy for the use of illicit drugs and as such these individuals will be held accountable for their actions," the statement continued. "We are confident in our drug testing procedures and will continue to impress on all members of the command that illicit drugs are incompatible with the SEAL ethos and Naval service." This is not the first time the elite U.S. military service has been troubled by drug use in its ranks. In 2016, the East Coast SEALs took an operational pause to investigate drug usage, according to the U.S. Naval Institute, which first reported the SEALs and sailor testing positive. In April 2017, CBS spoke to members of the SEAL community who said that reporting or speaking up against drug use was a "career killer." The SEALs' simmering drug-use scandal even sparked concern from Congress in November. Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, commented that US military special forces' "operational tempo is so incredible." "The idea that you would have within six years, multiple deployments, some people every six months to deploy, that in and of itself causes lots of consequences," he added. "And we haven't seen a break in those deployments." More From Business Insider: This Sikh Marine Is Ready to Sue the Service to Wear a Beard and Turban at All Times First Lt. Sukhbir Toor applied in March for a religious accommodation to wear a beard and turban and to not cut his hair. In the scripture reading for the fifth Sunday of Easter, Jesus tells his disciples to keep his commandments, just as he had kept his Fathers commandments and remained in his love. He commands them to love one another as he has loved them. For there is no greater love than this, to give ones life for ones friends. He considers those who keep his commandments his friends. The word love is most ubiquitous; it is the most common word that people hear. It is often the theme for songs, poems, books, letters, text messages and what-have-you. More than anything else it is a most noble sentiment. People learn to sacrifice for love. It gives people happiness and courage, to see beauty and remain positive even when in trouble. Often the heart sees what is invisible to the eye. As the cliche goes, love is a mystery; you never know where it will lead you. But as one pundit says, love is a fire. You do not know whether it will warm your hearth or burn your house. Often, we associate love with filial love or love of relatives; or erotic love or love associated with sexual desire or attraction. But in todays gospel, Christ is inviting us to share a different kind of lovedivine love. It is the kind of love that is only possible if the spirit of God dwells in us. In which case, it is no longer the human being that loves but Christ who dwells in him. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta spent her life tending to the sick, the disabled and the most destitute, or the so-called dregs of society. She spent her life in sacrifice without asking for anything in return. St. Maximillian Kolbe offered his life in place of a Nazi concentration camp prisoner. This noble souls loved unconditionally, to the point of giving their own life for others just as what Christ did for humanity. Christ is calling us ordinary mortals to do some impossible feat. Our human nature is inclined to self-preservation, selfishness, hatefulness and indifference. But as Christ said to his disciples, everything is possible with God. With Christ in us, we are capable of the most transcendent kind of love. We need not perform extraordinary feats to measure up to the love that Christ is commanding us to do. It is possible to attain this kind of love even in performing the most mundane of tasks, in doing the most ordinary deed in a most extraordinary way. The example of St. Therese of the Child Jesus inspires us to live each day with an unshakable confidence in Gods love. What matters in life, she wrote in her autobiography entitled Story of a Soul, is not great deeds, but great love. St. Therese wrote once, You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them. She lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. This week, I am in Rome, Italy, for a pilgrimage that is about loveof God and of neighbor. I am here with my wife and many other Filipinos who walk the Neo-Catechumenal Way, an itinerary of faith and adult Christian formation. As I have written in this column before, The Neocatechumenal Way began in Madrid, Spain in 1962 among the slum dwellers in Palomeras, Spain with Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez. In 1968, 50 years ago, Kiko and Carmen moved to Rome to evangelize and establish communities in the eternal city and from here catechists were sent all over the world to invite Christians to walk this faith itinerary. Since then, in the last five decades, the Neocatechumenal Way has expanded to more than 120 countries. Inspired from the catechumenate of the early Catholic Church, by which converts from paganism had to undergo some form of initiation before baptism, the Way post-baptismal formation to adults who are already members of the Church. It is an itinerary of Christian formation to discover once again our baptism. Presently, it runs more than 100 seminaries in many regions which has produced around 2,000 priests for the Church and is sending hundreds of families in mission, to live in many cities around the World in order to proclaim and be witnesses to the Gospel.A Redemptoris Mater seminary was founded in the Philippine and its current rector is Fr. Paolo Benetton, an Italian priest. It has both Filipino and foreign seminarians, all of whom discovered their vocation through the Neocatechumenal Way. I tutor these seminarians in philosophy and I can attest to their passion to become servants of the Lord. It was in 1975 that the Neocatechumenal Way reached the Philippines through a Spanish team composed of Fr. Miguel Suarez S.J., Gregorio Sacristan and Virginia Bacyens. The first parish that accepted the way in the Philippines was the Jesuit parish of Mary the Queen in Greenhill, San Juan. It was a Jesuit, Fr. Juan Andechaga S.J., parish priest at that time of Mary the Queen, which opened and accepted the way, Later on, Fr. Andechaga would himself become an itinerant priest catechizing communities in the Visayas. My wife and I walk in the second community of Mary the Queen and we are here in Rome with brothers and sisters from that community and other communities in the Philippines. We are here for an encounter with Pope Francis in Tor Vergata, just outside Rome, this Saturday, May 5, where the Neocatechumenal Way will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its arrival in Rome. It was also in Tor Vergata, where the World Youth Day was celebrated in 2000 during the pontificate of Saint Pope John Paul II. Some 150,000 people from around the world and from five continents will participate, including cardinals, bishops and other personalities. The meeting will also be a reason for thanksgiving for the love and fidelity of God in these years, Pope Francis will send 36 new missio ad gentes that, at the request of many other bishops, will evangelize in secularized areas or with little presence of the Church, in cities around the world. Pope Francis will also send 20 communities from the parishes of Romewhich have completed this Christian initiationto others in the periphery of the city whose parish priests have requested their help to call those who are far from the faith. The meeting, which will conclude with the singing of Te Deum as thanksgiving for these 50 years, will be led by the international team of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Arguello, Fr. Mario Pezzi and Ascension Romero, who recently joined the team after the death of Carmen last July 19, 2016. Carmen will be remembered in a special way this Saturday, we are after all her catechumens. She was 85 years old when died at her family home in Madrid. Pope Francis described her life as one marked by her love of Jesus and by a great missionary enthusiasm. In a telegram to Kiko the pope expressed his spiritual closeness and affection to Hernandezs family and all those who appreciated her apostolic zeal, saying I give thanks to the Lord for the witness of this woman, animated by a sincere love for the church, who has spent her life in the announcement of the Good News in every place, as well as those far away, never forgetting the most marginalized people. The pope encouraged those who are part of the Neocatechumenal Way to keep her evangelizing eagerness alive, in an active communion with the bishops and priests, while exercising patience and mercy with all. Facebook: Antonio La Vina or tonylavs2 Twitter: tonylavs The Marine Corps is capping off 18 months of overhauling the way infantry units are trained and equipped by shaking up the structure of the rifle squad. In an address to an audience of Marines at a Marine Corps Association awards dinner near Washington, D.C., on Thursday night, Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said future squads will have 12 Marines, down from the current 13. But while the squads are losing a body, they will gain capability, with two new leadership positions, he said. The new squad will have three fire teams of three Marines each, an adjustment from the standard four-Marine fire teams of today, Neller said. "That 4th Marine that we're used to having is not going to be cut," he said. "We're not going to fill that billet, but it's not going to degrade your readiness. Because if this doesn't work, and you need to go somewhere where you need four Marines in a fire team, we'll bring that Marine back." Marine leadership has been debating changes to the size of the infantry squad since 2016, using a designated experimental infantry unit, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, to model various configurations and added weapons capabilities. The service reportedly was considering a squad as small as 11 Marines or as large as 14. Neller told Military.com the final decision was made after talking to infantry squad leaders and commanders and considering his own experience in the community. "Everything we want to do has to be reversible," he said. "It's easier to add a person to your fire team than it is to break two fire teams back into three." Meanwhile, Neller said, squads will also build into their structure an assistant squad leader and a squad systems operator, allowing the unit to operate with greater independence and manage a growing suite of advanced technology, including unmanned aerial systems. These positions will be filled at the squad's discretion, Neller indicated. The systems operator might be the most technologically capable infantryman in the squad, he said, while the assistant squad leader would most likely be the next most senior Marine after the squad leader. In addition to major equipment upgrades that include M27 infantry automatic rifles for every member of the squad, suppressed weapons, and new configurations of existing weapons systems, infantry units will use smart tablets to help them orient and communicate across an increasingly distributed battlefield. And the changes are not stopping there. "Everything that the Marine wears, from their boots to their socks to their utilities to their helmet, is going to be changed," Neller said. "And we've got money now to do that so we've got to make it happen. We've got to make it happen now. Because I'm not going to make the assumption that money's going to be there." More Javelins, Fewer TOWs At the company level, changes are also coming. Weapons companies will increase from eight to 12 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles, with modifications made to increase the range of the weapon. Meanwhile, the unit will reduce from eight to six 81mm mortar systems and from eight to four BGM-71 TOW (tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided) anti-tank missiles. In a December interview, Neller said these adjustments were made with an eye to the weight being added to infantry units and the trade-offs that needed to be made. "As our gear is bigger, it's gotten heavier," he said. "So it's minor adjustments." Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian Wade, the former gunner for 2nd Marine Division who retired in February, told Military.com earlier this year that he approved of the coming changes to unit weapons holdings. "We need to get lighter and more mobile," he said. "Relative to the Javelin, the TOW is heavier and more bulky ... Maybe the first step in shocking the system is to shake up the foundation of the structure." Neller said Thursday night that Javelin and 81mm mortar systems would also be receiving a new piece of gear: Polaris MRZR all-terrain vehicles, small enough to fit in an Osprey but large enough to carry weapons and troops as units move around. Some of these changes are already paid for, Neller said: The Marine Corps already has contracts with Polaris for some MRZRs and plans to increase its order. In April, the service inked a contract with Heckler & Koch for 15,000 M27s, enough to equip every member of the squad and some engineers as well. Other upgrades, he said, are built into the existing fiscal 2019 budget request or planned for in future budgets. "I believe these changes will make a significant difference," Neller said. "The odds that we got every single one of these things right is probably not a good bet. But there's a whole bunch of small bets out there. There's not a single thing out there that's going to make us or break us. And if we get enough of these bets right, it will make us even better than we are today." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. President Donald Trump said Friday that he will not consider withdrawing the 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea as he prepares to negotiate the removal of North Korea's nuclear weapons with its leader Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks. "Troops are not on the table," Trump said at Andrews Air Force Base just before boarding a flight to Dallas, Texas. The president denied a New York Times report that he had ordered the Pentagon to draw up options for removing U.S. forces from South Korea. Officials with the Pentagon and the National Security Council also denied the report. The U.S. military presence in South Korea has been the cornerstone of the alliance between the two countries since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice instead of a peace treaty. But the rapidly evolving peace process with the North has led to suggestions that U.S. troops might not be needed if a treaty is signed. Trump said Friday that the White House and Pyongyang had settled on a date and location for the historic summit, but he did not reveal those details. The meeting has been expected to take place late this month or in early June. Trump has frequently raised the possibility of removing troops from South Korea on the campaign trail and since taking office. The president did not rule out the eventual removal of some troops from the peninsula in his brief comments Friday, telling reporters he'd "like to save the money" that it costs to house servicemembers there. The New York Times on Thursday cited several people familiar with the deliberations as saying the president was seeking options ahead of his planned summit with the North Korean leader. The officials declined to say whether Trump was seeking options for a full or partial reduction but stressed that rethinking the size and configuration of the force was overdue. They also said the request was not intended to be a bargaining chip in upcoming nuclear talks with the North, which has long demanded the withdrawal of America's military from the South. Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Logan, a spokesman for the Pentagon, called the New York Times report inaccurate, adding American force posture and mission has not changed in South Korea and the Defense Department has no plans to adjust them. "The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea," Logan said. "The Department of Defense remains committed to supporting the maximum pressure campaign, developing and maintaining military options for the president, and reinforcing our ironclad security commitment with our allies." National Security Adviser John Bolton also denied the report on Friday. "The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea," he told reporters in Washington. South Korea's presidential office said Friday that a U.S. National Security Council official had told a senior South Korean official that the report was "not true at all." The NSC official gave the reassurance to South Korea's visiting top security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, who is in Washington for talks on the upcoming U.S.-North Korean summit, according to a statement from the Blue House. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim agreed in a summit last week to work toward a peace treaty by the end of the year and to seek the "complete denuclearization" of the peninsula. Army Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone took command of U.S. Cyber Command Friday at a ceremony that elevated the organization to the U.S. military's tenth unified combatant command. Nakasone assumed command of Cyber Command and the National Security Agency from Navy Adm. Michael Rogers during a change-of-command ceremony at Fort Meade, Maryland. "Today, we are at a dawn of a new era, facing the reality of war's changing character -- the emergence of cyberspace and outer space as contested warfighting domains, equal in importance with land, sea and air," said Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan. "Cyberspace is not bound by geography, it is not bound by the physical prowess of our adversaries; the next 10 years will look significantly different than the last 10 more than any of us can likely imagine." Shanahan thanked Rogers for "anticipating the demands of the cyber before they had been fully articulated" during the last four years of his leadership. "Nations as different as Russia and China seek to leverage cyberspace and build asymmetric advantage over our military, and terrorists use the cyber domain to spread their poisonous ideology of hate," Shanahan said. "In this environment, there can be no complacency as we field a lethal, resilient and adaptable joint force capable of defending the nation," he added. Rogers, who will soon retire after 37 years of service, thanked the men and women under his command for their outstanding performance. "Four years ago, we were handed a structure and a plan. Our job was to take that structure and that plan, build it out, create a vision, operationalize this idea and ensure that was integrated into a broader set of activities executed by the Department of Defense," he said. In addition, Rogers praised his troops performance in the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, "our first real challenge on the offensive side." "I know what you have done. The leadership of this nation knows what you have done," he said. "It is a reflection of this organization, the Department of Defense and this government's belief in you that we will elevate Cyber Command to a combatant commander as Gen. Nakasone assumes his role -- that is a testament to you and everything that you have done." To Nakasone, Shanahan said, "Adm. Rogers has built capability and integration -- your challenge is to build scale and to strengthen our arsenal of cyber weapons, cyber shields and cyber warriors." Nakasone, who will soon be made a four-star general, said the country is at a "unique point in our history, where in cyberspace we are confronted with both rapidly changing technology and adversaries that would seek to threaten this country in new and unprecedented ways." Nakasone praised the newly constructed, integrated cyber center, which has been designed as "a nerve center for critical national security, cyberspace missions tying together two powerful, national organizations -- the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command." "These connected buildings provide real-time coordination symbolic of the partnership between two great organizations, who trap our adversaries, provide warning and, if called upon, defend the nation," he said. Nakasone added that he is proud to be part of a new beginning for Cyber Command. "From defensive operations protecting our networks to offensive operations against ISIS and other adversaries, Cybercom has matured rapidly," he said. "Our team has both the challenge and, more importantly, the opportunity to build a combatant command from the ground up. The elevation today marks a proud day for Cybercom and the nation, and I am fortunate to be here today to lead you in this next chapter of our great history," he said. It's also "a new day for the National Security Agency," Nakasone said. "Along with Cyber Command, we face similar challenges of adaptive adversaries and dynamic technologies that demand all we have to offer," he said. "NSA will continue our unfailing role as a vital combat support agency to our nation's military forces," he added. "We will also continue to be the elite foreign signals intelligence producer across the globe. Coupled with our closest partners and allies, we are an irreplaceable cornerstone of our intelligence community." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The electronic jamming signals affecting AC-130 gunships over Syria may have crews checking and cross-checking their data, including target information, before they lock on with their cannons, according to a top commander here. "Whether that's being man-made, or maybe it's a mistake inside the airplane, it's hard to say sometimes, but the process is, as you see those things pop up, the safety for the people on the ground is the primary concern," said Col. Tom Palenske, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing and installation commander here. Military.com spoke with Palenske, a former Army UH-1H crew chief, while accompanying Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson on a tour of Air Force Special Operations Command this week. The systems in the AC-130 "Spooky" have a built-in check in the software to test and translate the latest aircraft operating update back to the crew. Palenske said if the system "sees an anomaly," it will flag it. Related content: In any case, an AC-130 crew will take extra measures to ensure they have the right data to execute the mission, he said. "We're not going to kill ourselves out of this war. And the way you do that is you make sure you're as precise as possible, only targeting the guys we've validated as bad guys," Palenske said, referring to operations in the Middle East where the gunships have flown countless missions, often with danger-close strikes. "When you're going to put lethal fires down in either enemy position or to protect friendlies, you're concerned about the innocents around both our guys in uniform and civilians," he said. "And when there's some glitch being put out there by trons that threatens the accuracy of that, then the [AC-130 crews] have got to make sure they do no harm." Currently, the AC-130 uses a 105mm howitzer, a 40mm cannon and a 25mm Gatling cannon for a variety of large-caliber ammunition. With Syria becoming more and more contested as additional aircraft and weapons come into the airspace, "we identify it and we put in measures," Palenske said, without defining specifics. "It's just like warfare has been from the good old days. You get a bigger arrow and the other guy gets a bigger shield, and it just keeps going." Palenske did not say what kind of electronic warfare equipment adversaries are using, nor who the adversaries are, even though Islamic State fighters, Iranian-backed militia and Russian troops are in country. Recently, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command publicly said electronic jamming for the gunships was a reason for getting more military data protections as the multi-domain battlespace expands. "They're testing us every day -- knocking our communications down, disabling our AC-130s, et cetera," Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III said April 25 before an audience at the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation's GEOINT 2018 Symposium. His comments were first reported by The Drive. "Right now in Syria, we're in the most aggressive [electronic warfare] environment on the planet from our adversaries," Thomas said. When asked if the jamming in any way affects crew safety, Palenske said, "No, the thing flies fine." "It's not going to come spinning around. It flies fine," he said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. While many merchants still report offering discounts during this ever-changing time of closures and alternate schedules some may not be available. Always check with the company for full details on their hours and offerings. Service members and families are being honored during Military Appreciation Month with a variety of discounts in 2021. Below are some highlighted offerings. Information on discounts will be added as it becomes available. Please check back frequently as the list is updated. 2021 Military Appreciation Month Discounts Academy Sports + Outdoors Current and former military members get 10% off their entire purchase both in-store and online May 2 through July 5. Blue Star Museums Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America to offer free admission to the nations active-duty military personnel, including the National Guard and Reserves, and their families. The 2021 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day (May 15) and ends on Labor Day (September 6). Cincinnati Zoo All members of the military will receive free admission on Memorial Day. The offer also allows military personnel to purchase up to six half-price admission tickets for members of their immediate family. Colonial Williamsburg Active-duty military, Reservists, National Guard personnel, retired military and veterans receive complimentary admission once annually for themselves and up to three direct dependents on either Memorial Day weekend or Veterans Day weekend. Colonial Williamsburg has also joined Blue Star Museums so active-duty military personnel and up to five family members can get one single day museum ticket to the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg from May 15 through September 6. Crayola Experience in Easton, PA Active, retired and veteran military members receive free admission May 28 through 31. Immediate family receives 25% off admission. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is honoring active military and veterans by treating them to a free lunch or dinner entree with the purchase of an entree on May 24. HealthSource Chiropractic Many of the HealthSource Chiropractic clinics will be running a special new patient offer for active-duty military and veterans during the month of May. Home Depot All veterans are eligible for Home Depot's 10% military discount on Memorial Day with a DoD-issued ID, a DD214 or a Veterans Drivers License. (This discount is good for veterans on July 4th and Veterans Day as well.) Idlewild and SoakZone Idlewild and SoakZone offers free admission to military personnel on May 29, 30 and 31. You may also purchase discounted military admission for family members online (when it becomes available mid-May). Indianapolis Zoo Current and former members of the military are admitted free on Memorial Day. Plus, all non-military family members receive a $2 discount on day-of, on-site ticket purchases. Joe's Crab Shack Joe's Crab Shack is offering service members and veterans a military discount of 15% off on May 31. Dine-in only. LaMar's Donuts Active-duty military and veterans get a free donut and coffee at participating locations on Memorial Day, May 31. Magic Springs Theme and Water Park Magic Springs is saluting members of the military with free admission May 29 through June 13. Bring your military ID to any ticket window. Family members receive $10 off Main Gate Admission when accompanied by a military member. McCormick & Schmick's McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants are offering service members and veterans a military discount of 15% off on May 31 when you dine in. Mission BBQ Veterans and active-duty military get a free sandwich the week of May 10. (Dates vary by service branch.) Navy Federal Credit Union Navy Federal Credit Union is celebrating Military Appreciation Month with special offers for its members. Open a Navy Federal cashRewards credit card and get $200 cash back when you spend $2,000 within 90 days of account opening, refinance your current auto loan from another lender and get $200 credited to your account, or open a new EasyStart or Special EasyStart Certificate and get a $30 bonus after you make 3 automatic transfers. QALO QALO is offering a free ring from its U.S. Military Collection to veterans and those in active service throughout May. Rack Room Shoes Rack Room Shoes offers a 20% discount off your entire purchase in stores on Memorial Day to anyone with a military ID. SeaWorld Military veterans and their families get free admission to SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio, and SeaWorld San Diego, April 27 through June 27. You must register the free single-day ticket(s) for yourself and up to three dependents online before May 16, and after registering, all tickets must be redeemed by June 27. Veterans and active-duty service members can also purchase up to six additional tickets at 50% off. Silverwood Theme Park Military personnel and veterans receive free admission on May 29, 30 and 31. Their immediate family members (spouse and children) also receive a special discounted rate when purchasing tickets at Silverwood's front gate. Sleep Number Sleep Number is offering a military discount of an extra $100 off all smart beds and adjustable bases May 11 to June 7. Redeemable in store, online (with promo code), by phone or Live Chat. Splashway Waterpark and Campground Active military, veterans and their immediate family receive 50% off tickets at the gate on Memorial Day. Sun Splash Family Waterpark On May 31, active or retired military, disabled veterans, and military reservists receive a free one-day admission, and up to 4 family members accompanying military personnel can receive a $3 discount. Stay Up-to-Date With Military Discounts Want the scoop on military discounts? From travel to phones and everything in between, troops, military families and veterans can stay on top of military discounts. Become a Military.com subscriber and get full access through our newsletter. The uncertainties of life on the home front have often shown military spouses the value of being scrappy. From short-notice moves to long separations, to dealing with the challenges of employment or parenthood alone, military spouses have had to learn how to take things in stride. But transitioning out of the military presents a new set of challenges, many of them financial. And as the service member leaves his job and shifts gears, many families find themselves relying heavily once again on that military spouse ingenuity. These three families know that's true because they've lived it. For them, moving to civilian life meant leaning on the spouse to help fill a financial gap. The Hargrave Family Mark and Emily Hargrave. (Courtesy of Emily Hargrave) When Emily Hargrave's husband Mark left his Army intelligence job in 2013, the family never expected it to be hard for him to find work. But it was. "We knew that transitioning could be hard, and it must've just been a bad time to try to get into his specific line of work," she said. Which is how Mark ended up as an on-again, off-again civilian contractor, deploying more out of the Army than he did while in it. That wasn't really working for their family. Emily had taken business classes using education assistance while they were in the military but, like many spouses, had a hard time finding and holding a career thanks to frequent moves and being stationed overseas. While the family was living with Hargrave's mother and figuring out what to do next, Emily realized the time was right to put to use what she had learned, and her handmade candle business Around the Home Decor was born. Between her Etsy shop, in-person sales and her website, she's able to help her family's transition long term and continue to lean on the skills she learned as a military spouse. The family has since moved to Georgia as Mark landed a job as a contractor on base instead of overseas. Emily's business has given them a financial cushion to work with as they continue in civilian life. "Being prepared for these opportunities is what makes it possible," she said. The Nolls John and Jo Noll opened Swatara Coffee in Jonestown, Penn. after John left the Navy. (Courtesy of John and Jo Noll) While Emily Hargrave's candle business is operated primarily by her while her husband works elsewhere, launching a small business and navigating military transition is a matter of teamwork for Jo and John Noll. A Navy veteran, John got the idea for their small coffee shop in Jonestown, Pennsylvania, during his 2012 deployment to Afghanistan. From there, it was matter of planning and long years of transition preparation. "Jonestown is such a gem. It's located in this rural community close to Appalachian Tail, and I was like, 'It needs a coffee shop. It needs this community gathering place,' " John said. "That's when I started tossing around the idea. I started building out the business plan." The couple diligently saved so they could afford to both buy a home and open their new business is quick succession as soon as John left the Navy. Jo worked as a blogger and editor while John finished out his service and worked on their business plan. Now that the couple has successfully opened Swatara Coffee, John is in charge of day-to-day business operations, while Jo helps manage staff and does all of the company's marketing. She also still holds full-time work outside their small business, which helps them cover all of their other financial bases, like having health insurance. "I think the first thing is that John and I really enjoy being around each other," Jo said. "At the risk of sounding cheesy, we're each other's best friend. So that doesn't mean it's always easy, but I think we've figured out a rhythm that works for us -- our strengths and weaknesses and yin and yang." The Cole Family Deonte and Lakesha Cole. (Courtesy of Lakesha Cole) Transition hasn't happened for the Cole family just yet, but when it does, they'll be ready thanks to Lakesha Cole's small business in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Known throughout the military spouse community for her entrepreneurial know-how, Cole successfully launched her business, She Swank Too, in Okinawa, Japan, in 2013. Running a small business while stationed overseas is no easy task. But successfully relocating it to a new country is even harder. Still, Cole did just that when in 2016 she moved her store to its current brick-and-mortar location. Since then, she's branched off into her own brand, Hello Rosie Co., and redesigned her store first as a marketplace for various vendors and now, most recently, into shopping paired with a franchise frozen yogurt restaurant. Cole isn't alone in her work. Her husband, Deonte, a Marine stationed at nearby Camp Lejeune, helps with big and small tasks around the store, including construction. All of her planning and hard work mean that when her husband retires soon, the family can not only not worry about how they'll afford to live, but can also give him some space to decide what he wants to do next. "I've definitely been building the business for the past three years or so with retirement in the forefront of my mind," she said. "When he retires, there's some security in that, although there's no security in owning a business." More than anything else, Cole said she doesn't want to have to live inside a box of what military retirement is "supposed" to look like. "I don't want to feel like I have to fit someone else's plan on what this retirement thing looks like," she said. "We'd rather stay within what's going to make us happy, what's going to work for our family." -- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com. This article by Chuck Bies originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues. Editors note: This essay, Han, Greedo, and a Strategy of Prevention, is excerpted from the new book Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict from Potomac Books. The volume which includes work by more than 30 soldiers, scholars, and diplomats, along with a foreword by former general Stanley McChrystal is available now online and in bookstores. When states and actors try to prevent future or imminent aggression from a potential adversary, it is sometimes desirable to be the one to strike first. This is especially true when the effects of being struck first have fatal or irrecoverable political and military consequences or when the state or actor feels that theyve been backed into a corner and have no other viable options remaining. The strategic dilemma becomes whether to employ a strategy of prevention or preemption. Though they are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. One of the best ways to illustrate the difference is to examine the shoot-out at the Mos Eisley cantina from Episode IVA New Hope, one of the Star Wars franchises most iconic scenes. Since the mid-1990s, its also become one of the most contentious, thanks to the remastering of the shoot-out between Han Solo and a green alien named Greedo. In case its been a while since youve seen the movie, after concluding an agreement with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker for transport to Alderaan, a jubilant Han is getting up to follow Chewbacca to their ship when he is held up by a blaster-toting Greedo. Greedo, a bounty hunter, threatens to take Han to the local mob boss, Jabba the Hutt, so that he can collect the bounty on Hans head. Han implores Greedo to let him go so he can finish the job for Obi-Wan; if he does, hell have the money needed to repay his debt to Jabba. Greedo rejects Hans pleas and threatens to take both his life and his ship. What happens next depends on the version of the movie you happen to be watching and spawned the Han Shot First meme. The Shootout The differing versions of the cantina showdown between Han and Greedo all share the same dialogue, but they differ in who pulls the trigger first. One has Greedo shooting first and missing before getting blown away (the 1997 version), another has Greedo only just barely shooting before Han (the 2004 version), and yet another has them shooting essentially simultaneously with Han barely pulling the trigger first (the 2011 version). These versions are all wrongthe one that matters the most is the 1977 original, where Han murders Greedo in cold blood before the green thug has a chance to get off a shot. Theres no laser blast directed at Han; he simply gets up and walks away from the aliens smoking corpse. On the surface, this seems to clash with our collective perception of Han as a hero; after all, what kind of hero would just shoot an opponent without warning? The same can be said of governments. Throughout history, we can see numerous examples where nation-states make similar surprise attacks to varying degrees of success; theres Prussias invasion of Silesia in 1740 (successful), Germanys invasion of France in 1914 (initially successful), Germanys invasion of Poland in 1939 (successful), Germanys invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 (initially successfulnotice a trend yet?), Japans air raid on Pearl Harbor in 1941 (tactically successful), and the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 (successful), to name just a few. But remember, countries and statesmen position themselves as the good guys when they are making historical decisions in real time. So what gives? What motivates otherwise good people (as they see themselves at the time) to use their instruments of national power to execute what is essentially a sucker punch? What about situations where the attack is a little less surprising, like the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003? How does that fit into all of this? It turns out that were talking about two things that are distinct but often confused. The former is a preemptive strike; the latter is a preventive strike. It so happens that Hans shoot-out with Greedo illustrates both. Hans calculus Lets go back to Han and Greedo and put ourselves in Hans shoes. Han has three things to consider: who his adversary is and what Greedos motivations are, what the short-and long-term repercussions of killing Greedo are likely to be, and what the likely cost is if he does nothing. So what does Han know about Greedo? Well, hes a bounty hunter who works for a gigantic gangster (Jabba the Hutt) and lives in Mos Eisley, a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Mos Eisleys a rough town, and its cantina is even rougher. Case in point, moments before the Han-Greedo conversation, Obi-Wan cut off an aliens arm, and nobody batted an eye. The only thing anybody seemed to care about was not having any droids in the establishment, which kind of makes sense (because, hey, droids dont drink). Youve got to be pretty tough to be a bounty hunter in that kind of environment, and Hans been around long enough to know that Greedo is dangerous just by being willing to set foot in the cantina. At this point for Han, there isnt a whole lot of downside to simply offing Greedo. But wait, why not negotiate with Greedo? Try to talk him out of taking Han back to Jabba? First, we know that Greedo cant be compelled to change his mind. We know this because of a deleted scene from The Phantom Menace where we see a young Anakin beating up a young Greedo because Greedo accused him of cheating.Qui-Gon breaks up the fight, Greedo flatly refuses to take back his accusation, and Qui-Gon tells Anakin, Youll have to tolerate his opinion; fighting will not change it. Greedos probably been like that his whole life; and knowing Greedo, Han would recognize that he has no chance of verbally or physically coercing Greedo into letting him go, even if he was not witness to the Greedo-Anakin altercation. Han has dealt with Greedo and his ilk before, so he would intuitively know the character traits that we had to see in a deleted scene from a prequel. Second, Han knows that Greedo, being a bounty hunter, is not trustworthy. So when Greedo suggests that he might forget he saw him and not tell Jabba if Han pays him, there are two big problems with that claim. One, theres nothing to stop Greedo from taking the money and turning him in to Jabba anyway. Two, it doesnt solve Hans bigger problem, which is that hed still owe Jabba a lot of money. As far as Greedos motivations, Han can surmise for several reasons that Greedo wants to take him in alive. First, Greedo doesnt have strength above and beyond what a human has (remember, young Anakin kicked his ass); if he kills Han at the cantina, then hell have to carry Hans corpse out of the cantina and down a few alleys until he can get to a speederno easy task, especially with the added prospect of other bounty hunters potentially murdering Greedo along the way so that they can easily collect Hans corpse and bounty after Greedo just did the hard work. So why not just shoot Han in the back and take his severed head back to Jabba? This goes to the second point: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi both demonstrate that Jabba the Hutt is vindictive and cruel and revels in the torture of his enemies. Han would have dealt with Jabba enough by this point to know this, and it is probably why Greedo didnt just shoot him on sight. Next, Han weighs what the repercussions would be if he were to shoot Greedo in the bar. The short-term consequences are negligible. Theres no real law and order in Mos Eisley, with no local police or government other than the occasional Imperial patrol. Even the stormtroopers are more concerned with trying to find R2-D2 and C-3PO than with local crime; they actually were in the cantina moments before the shoot-out, where a brutal dismemberment by lightsaber had just taken place, about which their give-a-crap level was zero. Similarly, the bartender was more concerned about droids in his establishment than he was about a strange old guy busting out his laser sword and hacking off limbs. If anything, the bartender would be most concerned about cleaning up the mess, but thats from the perspective of freeing up a table for additional patrons, because local sanitation inspections appear to be nonexistent. What about long-term consequences? Its not like Han can get into more trouble with Jabba by shooting Greedo than he already has by owing Jabba money. Jabba isnt the kind of boss who particularly cares about his employees welfare. Heck, he fed one of his dancing girls to a rancor just for kicks. No, Jabba only cares about his bottom line; so when Han jettisoned his cargo at the sight of an Imperial cruiser, he committed an unforgivable crime. Killing Greedo wont affect the price on his head either way. Han will still end up owing money to Jabba, but his prospects of being able to pay it back improve substantially. At this point for Han, there isnt a whole lot of downside to simply offing Greedo. So whats the cost of doing nothing? If Han doesnt shoot Greedo, there are a few ways that the scenario could play out. First, Greedo walks Han at gunpoint to Jabbas palace, where he will be condemned to a torturously slow, agonizing death. This is the most likely outcome and is pretty bad for Han. Second, Greedo kills Han where he sits. As previously discussed, its not Greedos preferred choice, but its still a possible outcome and is also unfavorable from Hans standpoint. Third, he sits in the cantina and keeps Greedo talking . . . at least for a while, but then hes looking at either outcome one or two. Fourth and most unlikely, Greedo walks him to Jabbas palace, where he is miraculously able to convince Jabba to give him more time to pay off his debt. But the delay means he loses his transport contract with Kenobi, so hes out the money he needs and is back where he started. The upside to these outcomes? Han most likely gets to spend the rest of his short and excruciatingly painful life with the satisfaction that he did the right thing. And thats what smugglers and rogues really aspire to, right? So to recap, Hans life is on the line with a dangerous and violent criminal whom he has almost no anticipated hope of negotiating with. If Han shoots Greedo, there are no negative consequences other than his own internal guilt (the cantinas morality-free ambiance suggests nobody will judge him), and not shooting Greedo can only result in bad things happening. The real question here isnt why Han shot Greedo; its why he waited so long to do it. Prevention versus preemption When Han shot Greedo, he conducted a preventive strike. It is so-called because Han looked at his situation and though he wasnt sure what Greedo would do, he was sure that he didnt like the threat that Greedo posed. He needed to take action to prevent Greedo from injuring or killing him or from utterly derailing his interests. From a nation-state standpoint, this preventive strike looks like Japan bombing Pearl Harbor or the United States invading Iraq in 2003 or Israels bombing of Iraqs Osirak nuclear plant in 1981. Though the other nation-state in question is not likely to conduct an imminent attack, the concern is that the other nation-state will eventually pose a mortal threat if not dealt with, and the cost of allowing the other side to strike first in that situation would be intolerable. This future aggression must be prevented, hence the term preventive strike. The quintessential historical example of the preemptive strike is the Schlieffen Plan of 1914. So then what is a preemptive strike? To answer that we need to look at the 2011 version of the cantina scene. Like the other remastered scenes since 1997, it still has the absurd digitally enhanced head bob, where Han dodges Greedos missed blaster shot (which is preposterous not only because Greedo missed but because it would indicate that Han has reflexes fast enough to dodge a laser beam); but unlike the 1997 and 2004 versions that have Greedo shooting first, in the 2011 version Han just barely gets his shot off before Greedo, which does a better job of explaining Greedos laughably awful aim. What we see in the 2011 version is a preemptive strike on Hans part. His calculus prior to pulling the trigger remains the same with one critical difference: he sees Greedo about to pull the trigger and understands that his enemys attack is imminent. Han just needed to be quicker on the draw than his enemy. This is where preemption differs from prevention; the preventive strike aims to prevent future strategic threats from manifesting, where a preemptive strike aims to be quicker on the draw than a tactical threat that has already manifested itself. The quintessential historical example of the preemptive strike is the Schlieffen Plan of 1914. In this case, an invasion by France was imminent, and Germany was able to strike first by virtue of being able to mobilize more rapidly than its adversaries. The Germans correctly concluded that they would lose a protracted war, so their strategy depended on being able to individually force adversaries out of the conflict as quickly as possible. A lesser-known example of the preemptive strike is Napoleons Jena-Auerstadt campaign, in which Prussia declared war on France. Napoleon was able to mobilize his Grande Armee faster than the Prussians could, and he was able to bring the campaign onto Prussian soil. By making the first operational move, Napoleon was able to dictate the tempo and location of the war. So remember, if a nation-state takes action akin to Han shooting Greedo outright, like in the 1977 version of the film, then that nation is executing a preventive strike. If the situation looks more like the version of the film where Greedo is able to get a shot off, then that nation is executing a preemptive strike. Nations and actors employ these types of strikes and strategies when they feel that they are threatened and that the cost of not taking action is intolerable. And for the record, Han shot first. Chuck Bies is an armor officer in the U.S. Army, currently serving in the rank of major. He holds a BSE in mechanical engineering from Duke University and an MA in diplomacy and military studies from Hawaii Pacific University. Recently, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of History at the United States Military Academy. He won the 2016 General George S. Patton Award at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School as the best tactician in his class of 1,300 officers. More articles from Task & Purpose: The Top 5 Post-Apocalyptic Video Games, Ranked Our Guide To Winning An Online Argument Against An Angry Veteran The Air Forces New Sizzle Reel Looks Eerily Similar To One Of Worst Military Movies Ever 1:38pm: The Braves have now announced that Bautistas contract has been select. Outfielder Preston Tucker was optioned to Triple-A to open a spot on the active roster for Bautista. After a blistering start to the season, Tuckers bat has unsurprisingly come back down to Earth in recent weeks. Hes posted a .218/.246/.364 slash over his past 57 plate appearances with the Braves. 9:32am: David OBrien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution tweets that the Braves are adding Bautista to the MLB roster today. 9:24am: The Braves are expected to add Jose Bautista to their lineup tonight, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com (via Twitter). Atlanta will need to formally select the contract of Bautista, who signed a minor league deal with the Braves last month. Atlanta announced in April that the longtime Blue Jays star will play third base in their organization. The Braves currently have three openings on the 40-man roster, so theyll only need to make a corresponding 25-man roster move to add Bautista. Bautista, of course, was primarily a third baseman before breaking out with the Jays and settling in as their right fielder for the better part of a decade. Hes played just 38 innings at the position in the four years prior to signing with Atlanta, however, all of which came last year in Toronto. Bautista hasnt seen even semi-regular action at the hot corner since 2011, and even then he logged just 205 innings at the position in that entire season. The 37-year-old slugger has gotten off to a solid start with Atlantas top affiliate, hitting .250/.386/.361 with a homer, a double and six walks against eight strikeouts through 44 plate appearances. As Bowman notes, the home run and double came within the past few days, as Bautistas bat has begun to heat up a bit as hes shaken off some of the rust after sitting out Spring Training entirely. Bautista will be looking to rebound from a dreary 2017 season in which he hit just .203/.308/.366. While Bautista still slugged 23 homers and walked at an above-average 12.2 percent clip, his strikeout rate jumped to a career-worst 24.8 percent as his contact rate plummeted from 80.2 percent to 73.3 percent. The biggest flaw for Bautista was a sudden inability to hit fastballs; a career .246/.374/.519 hitter against four-seamers, Bautista flailed ineffectively at four-seam fastballs in 2017, hitting just .198/.294/.365 against them. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News Restaurants in and around Ann Arbor are preparing for a spring weather-fueled fiesta this weekend with Cinco de Mayo on Saturday, May 5. An annual celebration commemorating the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire in 1862, Cinco de Mayo has prompted Latin-inspired restaurants across Washtenaw County to place extra orders for tequila and to break out the salsa music for the holiday. Don't Edit GET READY Y'ALL! T-Minus 5 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes til we get this party started #cincodemayo #annarbor... Posted by Tios Mexican Cafe on Monday, April 30, 2018 Tios Mexican Cafe, 401 E. Liberty, is shutting down Liberty Street between Thompson and Division for its seventh annual Cinco de Mayo street fair from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday. The event is free and family-friendly, said Harriet Seaver, who started the restaurant with her son, Tim, in 1986. It includes a food tent with burritos and nachos and both fruity and classic margaritas for some liquid courage before heading to the street to dance to the sounds of the salsa and Latin jazz band Gruppo Cinco and Afro-Cuban jazz band Tumbao Bravo. Don't Edit Don't Edit First started as a joke between family members about shutting down the street to dance, Seaver said the street fair has evolved over the years to include family-friendly activities like face-painting and a petting zoo that, of course, features a burro. "It was kind of a joke, but it seemed to really take off. People enjoy it and so do we," Seaver said. "The animals absolutely adore the attention." Tios also received a helping hand from neighboring business, Bar Louie, to pay for the barricades needed to section the area off for the street festival, she added. Don't Edit Break out your party shoes for this year's #cincodemayo party! Our flamenco dancers & guitarist will be back ... Posted by Tios Mexican Cafe on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 The celebration also includes the colorful dance stylings of Companeros de Flamenco from 1 to 2:30 p.m. that prompt some to try their own skills at the Spanish dance. Thousands of people are expected to attend the street fair, Seaver said, and she is excited to see both adults and children twirling and swaying to the musical beat on Liberty Street. "It's pretty amazing to watch it all transpire and see all these people dancing in the street and having a good time," Seaver said. "It takes on a life of its own." Don't Edit Don't Edit Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News Not sure about the crowd? You're in luck: Michigan's Best 2014 search for tacos led them to Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria at 693 S. Maple and the owners have since opened a new restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor at 307 S. Fifth Ave. The former Jerusalem Garden space has been repainted with bright colors and photos of owner Adrian Iraola's family and childhood in Mexico, along with the flavors and smells of food inspired by his grandmother Chela's recipes. Don't Edit SO EXCITED to announce the soft launch of our new downtown location today. Open today from 5pm - 8pm. Please come be... Posted by Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 Try the barbacoa (beef cheeks) tacos with a side of elotes, or corn on the cob, and make sure to order dessert as soon as possible since the Mexican caramel custard known as flan is known to sell out at Chela's. Check out Chela's menu here. Don't Edit Cinco de Mayo is this Saturday! Come party with us at Isalita! We're opening at 11:00am and have food and drink specials all day See you there! Posted by Isalita on Thursday, May 3, 2018 Isalita, located at 341 E. Liberty, has a special menu for Cinco de Mayo, which includes a truffle guacamole dip and barbecue chicken quesadilla. Feeling thirsty? Try the blood orange margarita or the red sangria, made with brandy and fresh fruit that is available by the glass or pitcher to share with your amigos. The Tex-Mex restaurant was also recognized as one of the best places for tacos during the Michigan's Best search in 2014. Don't Edit Don't Edit Tmaz Taqueria, 3182 Packard Road, also got a shout-out from Michigan's Best for the fresh guacamole and the al pastor tacos, piled with marinated pork and pineapple. Owner Cesar Hervert was formerly the chef at Arbor Brewing Company and can be seen working the kitchen alongside employees as lines form out the door with hungry customers. Get there early to make sure you got your first choice of tacos like carne asada, chorizo, barbacoa, chicken and Tmaz's special Baja seafood version. Don't Edit Don't Edit Check out our specials for Saturday! Posted by MAIZ Mexican Cantina on Thursday, May 3, 2018 There's some Cinco de Mayo festivities planned for Ypsilanti on Saturday, with specials at Maiz Mexican Cantina that include $5 house margaritas and mini tostada plates for $5. Don't Edit Looking to try something new? Head to Dolores, 6 S. Washington, a Mexican restaurant owned by Andrew Epstein and Marcela Rubio-Orozco. Open since January, the restaurant has gained a following for its unique culinary creations and vegetarian options like the mushroom quesadilla and bean tostada. Don't Edit Did we miss your favorite Mexican restaurant? Michigan's Best is starting a new search across the state for the most authentic, varied and best-staffed establishment and you can nominate your go-to restaurant here. The nominations will provide the basis for several regional polls, with Top 10 lists and more announced in early June. Posted Friday, May 4, 2018 7:00 am Last week's Marshfield High School Spring Band Concert served not only as a time to enjoy music from the MHS band students, but also to honor MHS band director Lori Hutton, one of the teachers retiring from her position this May. During the April 24 concert, Hutton, an MHS graduate, invited her high school band director Dee Lewis to conduct one of the pieces, Buglers Holiday. The piece featured three trumpet soloists: Jim Elswick, Bob Altman and Erin Smith. According to Hutton, Elswick was one of her college professors at Drury University and recently retired from working at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Altman, the Marshfield band director from 1986-95, was one of Huttons mentors during her career and also student taught with her. Smith is the Director of Bands at Aurora and a friend of Huttons. Other guests were Cathy Coonis, Huttons jazz band teacher, who was a soloist during the jazz piece, But Not For Me. At the end of the concert, MHS band directors Rick Castens and Dan Wyman introduced the Lori Hutton Leadership Award, which will be given each year to a graduating band senior who demonstrates the leadership qualities Hutton exemplified in her 21-year career at Marshfield: compassion, empathy, dedication and sacrifice. The award will be presented during the MHS percussion concert and award ceremony Monday, May 7, in the Carl and Glessie Young Community Auditorium. Hutton has taught in the Marshfield school district since 1997 and has previous teaching experience in the Seymour and Lebanon school districts. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Drury University in Springfield. She has performed in the Springfield Symphony, Springfield Regional Opera Orchestra and Springfield Little Theatre Pit Orchestra. She is currently serving her fourth year as the South Central Missouri Music Educators Association Band vice president. Hutton has served as a junior high school district vice president and jazz band district vice president for four years each. She is also currently the secretary for the State Missouri Association for Jazz Education. In addition to that, Hutton serves as vice president for Phi Beta MU Honorary Band organization, as well as the jazz band director for the Missouri Ambassadors of Music European Tour, having directed bands in England, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. She has also taught instrumental music in China. In January, Hutton was recognized as a recipient of the 50 Directors Who Make A Difference award, presented by School Band & Orchestra. She has received other honors as well, including the 2004 Marshfield Teacher of the Year award, Whos Who Among Teacher awards and the John East Spirit of Orpheus Mentor award. She has also been nominated for the Grammy Teacher award. Hutton is a member of National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association, South Central Missouri Music Educators Association, Phi Beta MU Honorary Band organization, Jazz Educators Network and Missouri Association for Jazz Education, along with an active adjudicator and clinician in Missouri and Oklahoma. One of the things Hutton said she will miss about Marshfield High School is the students since they are reason she became a teacher and the most important aspect of her job. "I love teaching and sharing music with them and hope I have made an impact on them as much as my teachers made an impact on me, said Hutton. As for retirement plans, Hutton said she will continue to adjudicate music festivals and competitions in Missouri and Oklahoma and to conduct Honor Bands throughout the state. She will also work with young band directors and mentor them. In addition, Hutton plans on resting, traveling and spending time with family. Turkeys main opposition party, Republican Peoples Party (CHP), Friday picked Muharrem Ince to represent the party at June 24 snap presidential and parliamentary elections, to challenge incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has been nominated as the ruling AKP candidate. The lawmakers nomination was announced by party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Muharrem Ince is MP for Yalova province. At a rally in capital Ankara, the presidential hopeful told supporters that he will be president of all people in Turkey. Ince will face a tough challenge represented by incumbent President Erdogan whose AKP party has forged a coalition with right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) for the presidential and legislative elections. The elections, initially planned for next year, have been brought to June 24 by the parliament dominated by Erdogans AKP. People were called to polls last in April for a referendum seeking constitutional amendments including the consolidation of the Presidents power. Under the amendment package, the countrys governmental system migrates to an executive presidential system. The parties under the new amendments need to build alliances to reach the required 50+1 percent of votes needed for their presidential candidate to be elected. Erdogan was elected President in 2014. Former TV journalist who made world news after throwing his shoes at former US President Georges Bush has announced he is running for May 12 parliamentary elections, saying he seeks to stamp out corruption and end presence of foreign forces in Iraq. Muntadhar Al-Zaidi willy-nilly made a name for himself in 2008 after throwing his shoes at then US President Bush during a press conference with then Iraqi Premier Nouri al Maliki. Zaidi, who spent 9 months in prison for the offense, is aiming, a decade on, at playing a political role in corruption-plagued Iraq influenced by foreign forces namely the United States and Iran. Zaidi is running under the banner of Sairoun Alliance, a coalition headed by Muqtada al-Sadr; a powerful Iraqi Shia cleric opposed to foreign troops presence in the country. US forces have been in Iraq since 2003. Iran also holds a sway over Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis government through Tehrans support for the fight against the Islamic State group (IS) which was defeated in December last year. Zaidi says he wants to boot corruption and fight foreign interventions in Iraqs politics. For the last 10 years, I have been writing about corruption and corrupted people. I have been trying to expose public theft and I couldnt change anything on the ground, he told Middle East Monitor (MEMO) in an interview. So, I decided to go into politics to work from within the system to issue new laws and regulations, and to expose corrupt politicians and officials. This is the reason I decided to run now for parliament. Sadrs loyalist army has fought US forces (9,000) whom they want out. Likewise, the Shia cleric has positioned himself an opponent of Irans influence. He has forged ties with Riyadh, Tehrans arch enemy, after meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salam last year. America and Iran are the reasons for the tension in Iraq, Zaidi noted. We have American troops under the name of consultants we dont accept their presence in Iraq. The plight of journalists is also at the heart of Zaidi who also sees himself an advocate of press workers in a country, ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for journalists to work in. Iraq recorded 155 deaths of journalists in 2006. There has been no fatality in 2018 though the country is still a dangerous ground for the profession. One of my missions going to the parliament is to set laws to protect journalists from oppression and guarantee their freedom of speech, he pledged. Qatar has called on Saudi Arabia to release a Qatari citizen arrested on the Yemen-Oman border amid diplomatic standoff between the tiny Gulf country and its neighbors led by the Saudi kingdom. The Qatari foreign ministry in a statement said Mohsen Saleh Saadoun Al-Qurabi, 63, was arrested on April 21 on his way from Yemen where he visited family members. The ministry condemned the arrest and detention of the businessman and requested his immediate release and the need to ensure all his legal right to defend himself. Al-Qurabi, 63, suffers from chronic health problems that require continuous health care, the statement said. Saudi Arabia accused Al-Qurabi of being a Qatari intelligence officer and reported that he was arrested in Oman on suspicion of providing support to the Houthi rebels, London-based The New Arab reports. Al Qurabis son Taleb told the media that his father who owns businesses in Yemen has been held incommunicado since April 21. My father has agricultural investments and a petrol station business in Yemens al-Jawf region, he was going there to inspect his projects. He is retired and has no connection to any official Qatari agency, he said. Ties between Doha and Riyadh have gone bust since June last year after the Saudi kingdom, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt cut off ties with the tiny oil-rich country over its alleged support for terrorism. Doha has vehemently dismissed the charges. Saudi Arabia kicked out Qatar out of its coalition propping up Yemens internationally recognized government of President Mansour Hadi. Few days after the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2414 extending the MINURSO mandate for six months and welcoming Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara, the North African Kingdom severed its diplomatic ties with Iran for its military support to the Polisario mercenaries, backed by the Algerian regime. Morocco says it acted after gathering strong undeniable evidence on the Iranian involvement, saying the Shiite Hezbollah group, an ally of Tehran, blacklisted as a terrorist organization, has trained the Polisario separatists on guerrilla warfare and supplied them with weapons. According to Moroccan authorities, the Hezbollah arms transfer to the Polisario was facilitated by the Iranian embassy in Algeria. The proven collusion between the Algeria-backed secessionists and a notorious terrorist organization will enhance Moroccos diplomatic gains at the United Nations and places the international community before its responsibility to counter terrorist groups threatening the worlds peace, security and stability. Hezbollah has been involved in various terrorist attacks, including the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Several European and Sunni Arab countries as well as Washington are concerned about the Iranian attempts to expand the Shiite influence in North Africa and destabilize the region, using the leverage of the Hezbollah terrorist group. The Gulf Cooperation Council has voiced its solidarity with Morocco and supported Rabats decision to cut ties with Iran. GCC Secretary General Abdellatif Ben Rached Ziani said the Gulf regional bloc condemns in the strongest terms Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco. Rabat accuses Tehran of arming and training the Polisario gang, through its Hezbollah ally. Moroccos top diplomat 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, added Mr. Bourita, insisting that the decision to cut ties with Iran is based on verifiable facts and not made under international pressure. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait condemned in separate statements Irans support for the Polisario separatists and backed Moroccos sovereign decision and firm stand regarding Tehrans meddling in its internal affairs and attempts to undermine its security and stability. For its part, the Arab League says it supports Moroccos decision to sever ties with Iran in protest against its military support provided to the Polisario, the enemy of Moroccan territorial integrity. The spokesman for the Arab Leagues secretary-general Mahmoud Afifi said the Arab organization condemns and rejects Irans intervention in Morocco or any other Arab countrys internal affairs. He urged Arab countries to stand up to Tehrans hostile strategy aimed at spreading chaos and instability in the region. The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also issued a statement underscoring the imperative for all foreign parties to refrain from interfering in the domestic issues of other member states in line with the OIC charter. The pan-Islamic organization recalled the principle of sovereignty permeating its actions and urged member states to ensure respect for each others territorial integrity. The statement recalled that the OIC foreign ministers council has called on member states to avoid backing terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah militias. M Gautham Machaiah The cow is front and centre of the BJPs manifesto for the Karnataka elections, with a vow to prevent its slaughter nestling alongside promises to waive crop loans, invest heavily in irrigation and provide free sanitary napkins to impoverished women. The manifesto, which state unit president BS Yeddyurappa described as Our Promise to Our Karnataka, makes it clear that the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which was adopted by the legislature when BJP was in power would be reintroduced. The Bill was withdrawn by the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government which came to power in 2013. The controversial Bill had sought to broaden the definition of cow by including bull and bullock, while banning slaughter of male buffaloes too. In another nod to the majority community, a sum of Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for restoration and renovation of Hindu temples. The manifesto guarantees there will be no government interference in the running of these temples. For Updates: Karnataka Polls 2018 LIVE The party promised to invest Rs 1.50 lakh crore on irrigation, waive crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh availed from nationalised and cooperative banks and provide free sanitary napkins to women below the poverty line. Ever since Siddaramaiah announced a crop loan waiver of up to Rs 50,000 per farmer availed from state cooperative banks at a cost of Rs 8,165 crore, he has been demanding that the Centre should grant similar relief to agriculturists who had borrowed from nationalised banks. While acceding to this request, the BJP has increased the limit per person to Rs 1 lakh. The party has gone a step forward and assured that loans taken by weavers would also be waived within three months. While the Congress manifesto committed Rs 1.25 lakh crore to complete all pending irrigation projects over the next five years, the BJP has promised Rs 1.50 lakh crore. With the focus being on agriculture, a separate department will be set up directly under the chief minister to monitor farmer-friendly schemes. The manifesto also promises that farmers will receive 1.5 times the cost of production as minimum support price (MSP). A market intervention fund of Rs 5,000 crore will be set up to support farmers during price fluctuations. In addition to an accident insurance of up to Rs 2 lakh for the landless agriculture labourers, a Rs 100 crore scholarship fund will be established to support the children of farmers. With an eye on the female voters, the manifesto promises loans at one per cent interest for women self-help group Stree Shakti, 3.5 grams of gold for the marriage of those below the poverty line, free sanitary napkins for poor women and girl students and at Re 1 for others, a special programme to provide free smart phones to women, an exclusive cell comprising 1,000 women officers to investigate all pending cases against women and a special squad in Bengaluru to attend to the distress calls of women. Perhaps with a view to wooing first-time voters, the BJP has assured higher education loans at zero per cent interest up to Rs 3 lakh and laptops to students. Kannada will be made a compulsory non-test introductory subject in all universities to help non-Kannada speaking students. The manifesto says a separate Act will be passed to manage the needs of Bengaluru besides investing Rs 2,500 crore on rejuvenation of lakes. A notable feature of the manifesto is that almost all the welfare schemes launched by Siddaramaiah like anna bhagya, hut-free Karnataka, universal health insurance or pro-Dalit programmes find a mention, though under different names, thereby ensuring continuity. In the ultimate analysis, the manifesto might be lacking in the wow factor and may at times seem very similar to the Congress document released last week, but it has something for everybody. (The author is a political correspondent and a senior journalist) For extensive coverage on Karnataka elections, click here Marico | LIC increased stake in company to 4.8 percent in September quarter, from 3.66 percent in June quarter. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Sumit Bilgaiyan Marico has disappointed us on topline growth front. Indian business grew at 11.7 percent with margin contraction from 24 percent to 21 percent. Gross margin has seen a sharp decline despite 20 percent price hike. EBITDA & PAT were below expectations despite lower ad spends. While, international business grew at 12.7 percent with margins expansion of 300 bps to 11 percent. India business volumes grew by 1 percent while international business posted a very healthy constant currency growth of 16 percent and volume growth of 5 percent. Rural growth of 12 percent outpaced urban growth of 5 percent for the third straight quarter. Parachute Rigids declined by 5 percent in volumes caused by price increases in H2FY18. Saffola Edible Oils had a flattish quarter in the wake of sluggishness in the super premium segment of edible oils market. Efforts towards turning around this segment are expected to bear fruit in the coming year. Premium Hair Nourishment and Male Grooming continued on the recovery path during the quarter. All international regions, except Vietnam, posted double-digit constant currency growth. Bangladesh continued its good run, posting 17 percent constant currency growth in Q4FY18. Marico is amongst the leading beneficiaries of the changing preference of Indian consumer for better personal care and food products. The company has established strong presence in its core categories like hair oil and edible oil with dominant market shares. Looking at the industry tailwinds and strong moat around Maricos brands we continue to like it. We have a buy recommendation with target of Rs 345. : The author is Founder of Equity99. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. While the e-commerce industry has been on an upward growth trajectory and is expected to surpass the US to become the second largest e-commerce market in the world by 2034, it is important for these companies to make technological shifts and one of them is to provide easy-to-use smartphone apps. According to a report in The Economic Times, the e-commerce industry is going through an inflection point which is largely driven by an increasing number of mobile (smartphone) shoppers. pCloudy, which is into software testing and test automation, in its white paper released recently said that it is imperative that e-commerce platforms are able to keep pace with technology shifts, especially related to apps and services. To stay competitive, e-commerce companies should deploy robust mobile app testing platforms. Indias e-commerce industry is expected to grow from USD 38.5 billion as of 2017 to USD 200 billion by 2026 while Indias internet economy is expected to double from USD 125 billion as of April 2017 to USD 250 billion by 2020, majorly backed by ecommerce. Much growth of the industry has been triggered by increasing internet and smartphone penetration, according to a report by India Brand Equity Foundation. According to a report published by Worldpay, over 80 percent of buyers surveyed in India now prefer using mobile apps over mobile browsers, compared to the global average of around 70 percent. At an average download of 10 mobile phone apps per day and total downloads of 12.1 billion apps in 2017, India stays far ahead beating US and U.K. where the average downloads are 7 and total downloads 11.3 billion. Avinash Tiwari, Co-founder and Director, pCloudy, said: Mobile apps are the future of e-commerce. The inflection point in e-commerce is clearly demonstrated in how users seeking fast and efficient experiences, support for multi-tier distribution selling, and order workflows. In simple terms, what matters to a buyer today is speed, scale and simplicity." Importance of mobile phones for e-commerce firms A Comscore data also shows that sales from mobile devices are now leading the charge with an annual growth rate of 59 percent that eclipsed desktop at 17 percent. Given that mobile users spend 86 percent of their time within apps versus mobile browsers, intuitive and easy-to-use smartphone apps are the key to transaction conversions. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The fate of a few of the 12 stressed accounts facing insolvency proceedings including Essar Steel and Binani Cement hangs in the balance as court cases are delaying the resolution process beyond the stipulated deadline of 270 days. Despite the delays, experts feel the courts could help lenders extract the maximum value from these assets. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) aimed to resolve bad loans within a tight timeframe of 180 days (extendable by 90 days). But, in most cases the deadlines have been missed. According to Sameer Kaji, Senior Advisor to Binani Industries, the key aim of the IBC, as per its preamble, is to maximise the shareholders' benefits. "It has nothing to do with a specific resolution applicant or lenders," he said. Secondly, he noted, "there is no precedence in such cases and hence it will evolve. In the initial four or five instances, there will a slight delay beyond 270 days," he said. Kaji further said, "Even as the Section 29 (A) of the Code ( prevents promoters of defaulting companies from bidding for stressed assets) is a contention, leaving that aside, maximization of value is important and will become critical for all other cases. In June last year, the Reserve Bank of India identified 12 large stressed corporate accounts to be resolved under IBC. So far, just two accounts Bhushan Steel and Electrosteel Steels have managed to get a buyer for their assets. The balance 10 accounts have not managed to find a buyer, under the IBC guidelines. Essar Steel bidders ineligible After multiple hearings at the High Court and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Essar Steel's lenders Wednesday asked both ArcelorMittal Netherlands NV and Numetal Mauritius to clear their dues to be considered eligible resolution applicants for Essar. One of the bankers aware of the development said, The meet on Wednesday did not yield any results. Both the companies presented their views and not much was offered on the table. For us, we need the money but will have to follow due process of the IBC. Both bidders have decent offers but are ineligible for now, how do we move ahead? Creditors to the Ravi Ruia-promoted Essar steel asked both ArcelorMittal and Numetal to provide a solution within seven days. In response, ArcelorMittal has said it may consider paying off about Rs 8,000 crore dues of Uttam Galva Steels as a goodwill gesture. Numetal has not responded. While the 270-day deadline has already been missed, the NCLT has asked lenders to consider both the bids as per the first round. Binani Cement lenders get NCLT order Binani Cement's resolution hit a roadblock after rival bidder UltraTech Cement challenged the committee of creditors (CoCs) decision to sell the company to Dalmia Bharat-controlled Rajputana Properties. The Kolkata bench of the insolvency court Wednesday ruled in UltraTechs favour. The tribunal has now asked the CoC to consider a revised offer from UltraTech, which is to place a fresh bid before Binani's resolution professional in three days. The NCLT has also allowed Rajputana Properties to match UltraTechs revised offer if it wants to. The NCLT has extended the resolution process until June 24, while the 270-day deadline has ended in April itself. Other Cases Bhushan Power and Steel was another such case where the NCLT asked lenders to consider bids from Sanjeev Gupta-led Liberty House which lenders claimed were received after the deadline. Similarly, lenders to Lanco Infratech rejected the bid of Thriveni Earthmovers, which inches closer to the resolution deadline of May 4. The company's resolution professional has filed an application for liquidation. Teething troubles We have followed the due process of the IBC. The courts need to define the process as there are different interpretations. Moreover, the courts keep hearing the corporates and our deadlines keep getting pushedI think these are teething problems and this will get clearer over time," one of the lenders said. Prem Rajani, managing partner at law firm Rajani Associates thinks the 270-day deadline may, under certain circumstances, exclude the time spent during appeals (more on interpretation of a law point) pending in the Supreme court or various other high courts. "The objective of the IBC is not to liquidate the asset, but to rehabilitate the company and maximize its value for the creditors and hence, the Courts will work out a way to help it resolve within a stipulated time. So, the only way to keep up with the deadlines is to keep the time taken on genuine litigations out of the resolution period," Rajani said. In a post-results conference, Dipak Gupta, Joint Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank pointed out, Banks need to make a judgment, which in practice, will get the value which is higher than liquidation value. Liquidation process has also not been tested. There is nothing stopping a resolution by a liquidator. Therefore, you see some of these play out even in the liquidation process. Lenders hope delays do not become a norm and even if there are delays they result in getting the best value of the stressed assets. The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court today that it was considering a policy under which one person, including bureaucrats and judges, will be allotted only one flat in the state under any state-sponsored scheme. "The government is open to consider a policy by which one person would be allotted only one flat in the entire state at the same time under any government scheme," advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhkoni told the court. Kumbhkoni was responding to a suggestion made by a division bench of Justices B R Gavai and Bharati Dangre yesterday that bureaucrats and judicial officers should be allotted only one flat in the state. Appreciating the government's statement, Justice Gavai said, "No government office, including high court office, should be used for personal profiteering. There should not be any misuse." "We understand one flat is required. Everyone is answerable to their family. Everyone cannot be Mahatma Gandhi," Justice Gavai said. Whether the individual is a judge or a bureaucrat, if he or she has already procured a flat under a government scheme, then they cannot be entitled to another flat in the same city or any other city in the state, the court said. "A person cannot go on profiteering himself using his official position," Justice Gavai said. Kumbhkoni added that if the person surrenders his or her flat, then they can apply for another flat under a government scheme. "It will not apply when the person sells the flat or transfers the ownership of the flat to any family member. (It will be applicable) only when they surrender the flat to the government or the authority concerned," he said. The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar questioning the state government's decision to construct a high-rise residential building in suburban Oshiwara for sitting high court judges. The court has posted the petition in June for passing the order. Tirodkar argued that apart from sitting judges, the government also allots flats to those judges who retire from the Bombay High Court or those, who were earlier here and were later promoted to the Supreme Court. According to Tirodkar's petition, in August 2015, the government had sanctioned a housing scheme for serving judges on a 32,300 sq ft public plot in Oshiwara, following a request made in this regard by the proposed cooperative housing society of judges. While the construction is yet to be carried out, the government has offered 84 homes, each of 1,076 sq ft, on ownership basis to judicial officers. While the government has sanctioned the membership of 39 judges so far, two serving judges have since surrendered their claim. PTI SP NP DV DV DV . live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Rallis India, a Tata group entity, reported a weak Q4 FY18 performance on the back of a challenging Rabi season. Earnings before interest tax and depreciation (EBITDA) margins contracted almost 320 basis points (bps). While revenues grew moderately at 6.3 percent year-on-year (YoY) on the back of volume growth, the same did not percolate to profits, with operating profits narrowing 20 percent YoY and profit after tax dipping 21 percent YoY. Sequentially, performance remained weak both in terms of revenue growth and profitability. Increased supply concerns from China led to a price uptick for core raw materials resulting in a substantial cost increase. Given the weak Rabi season and high competition, the management had little pricing power and was unable to raise prices. This resulted in a margin contraction. Factors like: 1) Down trading (switching to a cheaper alternative) by farmers due to a weak season; 2) Increase in employee costs on account of new recruitments for contract research; 3) Uptick in interest expenses and other expenses; and 4) One-time forex loss further contributed to the margin shrinkage. There was a substantial surge in working capital due to pile up of inventory and higher debtors. The company had strategically stocked up inventory in light of increasing raw material costs, the benefits of which would be visible in H1 FY19. Working capital was also impacted due to an unfavourable product mix, with higher value products being piled up in stock. This would be offloaded in H1 and would help cushion margins. Metahelix Life Sciences (seeds business), whose portfolio is largely focused on Kharif crops, reported a YoY revenue growth of 4.2 percent in Q4 FY18. The company now has a healthy line up of new seed product launches which would focus on Rabi crops. The management said it plans to expand its seeds business internationally. This would help Rallis diversify and reduce risks. The quarter gone by marked the commissioning of the Dahej facility which focusses on custom synthesis (CSM) for the pharmaceutical space, something which the management wants to aggressively expand into. This segment is expected to contribute around Rs 50 crore in FY19 and might prove to be future growth driver. New product launches in the second half have received a positive response from farmers. The management plans to focus aggressively on its farmer outreach programme and develop farm products based on the use of artificial intelligence techniques. The company has a decent product line up which would be its key growth driver going forward. Owing to contraction in Chinese supplies, the management is exploring opportunities for venture into manufacturing of raw materials that were hitherto sourced from China (nearly 40 percent of total input). This would help in backward integration, protect margins and ensure a smooth supply. The company could also capture the vacuum caused by the supply disruptions from China and may be a factor to watch out for in the longer run. The Indian Meteorological Department and Skymet have both forecasted a normal monsoon, which would benefit the company in the upcoming Kharif season. Commercialisation of new molecule for exports will drive growth in FY19. However, the company has little pricing power and high input costs may continue to be an overhang on profit growth, though there might be some benefit from its piled up inventory. The stock has corrected almost eight percent in the last 12 months and is trading almost 23 percent below its 52 week high. It is now trading at FY19e P/E of 19 times and an EV/EBITDA of 12 times. The companys external operating environment has been weighing on its performance, the overhang of which would continue in the near-term. We anticipate some margin relief in H1 FY19 on implementation of the governments agri focused policies and expectation of a robust Kharif output. The management is looking to foray into a more profitable product mix, which would augur well margins in the longer term. Commercialisation of new molecules is also something to look out for. We recommend a gradually accumulation as the stock is positioned to benefit from the strategic initiatives at the Tata Group. Follow @Ruchiagrawal For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research page FDI Seeking to further streamline FDI clearance procedure, the government has suggested the Home Ministry to provide details of objections on foreign direct investment proposals if it finds something amiss, a source said. The move would help in cutting down unnecessary delay in the clearance of foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals, the source added. Certain departments, including telecommunications, have stated that it becomes difficult to clear proposals if objections are not substantiated. The government sources, however, said the number of objections being raised by the Home Ministry have come down substantially in the recent months. The Home Ministry has given security clearance to more than 5,000 investment proposals, including overseas direct investment, in the last four years. Another source said the ministry has expedited the security clearance procedure after completely revamping the entire process and relaxing various norms. The Home Ministry granted security clearance to 815 investment proposals in 2014, 1,201 proposals in 2015 and 1,260 in 2016, the official added. The Home Ministry has defined security rating parameters to evaluate the proposals uniformly. The national security clearance policy was drawn up by the ministry to fast-track the security clearance process and complete it within 4-6 weeks upon receiving the application as part of the government's ease of doing business mantra. As per the policy, the promoters, owners and directors of the company are mandated to give self declarations regarding any criminal history on their part, which reduced the period required to give security clearance from the earlier 2-3 months to just 4-6 weeks now. A total of 14-15 parameters have been set out in eight to nine sensitive areas like telecom, ports, civil aviation, uplinking/downlinking of TV channels or FM stations. At present, only 11 sectors, including defence and retail trading, require government approval for foreign direct investment. Over 90 percent of FDI proposals have come through the automatic route. Foreign direct investment inflow into India increased by 9 percent to USD 43.48 billion in 2016-17. Harshal Kamdar In October 2017, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had indicated undertaking a detailed review of current regulations on debt investment by foreign portfolio investors (FPI). The stated objective was to facilitate the process of investment and hedging by FPIs. In this context, in the first week of this fiscal year, the RBI revised the limits for FPI investment in debt. The RBI, in consultation with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has now announced changes on operational aspects of FPI investments. The key changes include ease in minimum residual maturity period, increase in limit for investment in central government securities and discontinuation of the auction mechanism. The RBI has also introduced concentration and investor-wise limits. Introduction of relaxation in the minimum residual maturity period is a welcome change, however, the overnight imposition of concentration limit is a big damper and would result in undue hardship for investors who were close to making investments. Minimum residual maturity period Currently, FPIs are required to invest in debt with a minimum residual maturity of three years. The RBI has now withdrawn this condition for investment in all categories of debt, central government securities, State Development Loans and corporate bonds. The relaxation for investment by FPI in debt with residual maturity below one year is permitted provided it does not exceed 20 percent of the total investment of an FPI in that category, on a continuous basis. The RBI has clarified that all securities with residual maturity of less than one year will be reckoned for the 20 percent limit, regardless of the maturity of the security at the time of purchase. The RBI has provided a six months window to FPIs comply with this condition. Revision of security-wise limit in Central Government securities In October 2015, aggregate FPI investments in any Central Government security was capped at 20 percent of the outstanding stock of that security. FPI are now permitted FPI to invest Central Government security up to 30 percent of the outstanding stock of that security. Concentration and investor wise limits The RBI has restricted investment by FPI (including related FPIs) in corporate bonds to 50 percent of any issue of a corporate bond. Also, restriction has been introduced to limit FPI exposure to 20 percent of its corporate bond portfolio to a single corporate (including related entities). This is likely to impact private placement of debt by Indian companies. If the current investment exceeds the above limits, the circular provide that no further investments permitted until these stipulations are met. Furthermore, a newly registered FPI is required to adhere to this stipulation starting no later than six months from the commencement of its investments. Also, concentration limits for investment by FPI (including related FPIs) in debt has been notified. For long term FPIs the prescribed limit is 15 percent of the prevailing investment limit for that category and that for other FPIs is 10 percent. The RBI has prescribed one-time measure for investments currently exceeding the newly prescribed concentration limit. Type of instruments Lastly, RBI has indicated that FPIs can invest in Treasury bills. However, investment is not permitted in partly paid instruments. Utilisation limits-Online monitoring Clearing Corporation of India has commenced online monitoring of utilisation of Central Government securities limits. With this, RBI has decided to discontinue the auction mechanism with effect from June 1, 2018. The writer is Partner-Tax and Regulatory Services, PwC Flipkart Walmart The board of directors of Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has approved an agreement to sell around 75 percent stake to a group led by Walmart for around USD 15 billion, according to a report by Bloomberg. Google's parent company Alphabet may also pick up a stake in Flipkart as a part of the deal, the news agency quoted sources as saying. Softbank Group will sell its 20 percent stake in the e-commerce company that it owns through an investment fund. Flipkart has been valued at around USD 20 billion for the transaction. The deal will be closed in 10 days but a few of its terms may be susceptible to change later. With this deal, Walmart will get its foot in the door to a consumer base of more than 1.3 billion people. According to the report, Amazon, the second largest e-commerce operator in the country after Flipkart, has been looking to expand its base in India. It even tried to derail Walmart's efforts to buy Flipkart by attempting to do so itself. 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 percent 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. Shakun Polymers, one of the leading companies in the field of compounding for the wire & cable market, has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with market regulator SEBI for the proposed IPO. The public offer comprises of fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 75 crore and an offer for sale of up to 18 lakh equity shares by selling shareholders. The company proposes to utilise the net proceeds from fresh issue towards setting up of new unit for manufacturing Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) compounds and general corporate purpose. Vadodara-headquartered Shakun has two manufacturing facilities at Halol district in Gujarat and one at Daman, having an aggregate installed capacity of over 25,000 MT per annum. It is one of the first movers in India for manufacturing of HFFR compounds and one of the leading exporters for HFFR compounds from India. The company exports over 50 percent of their products to international markets. Some of their domestic and international customers includes Polycab Wires Private Limited, KEI Industries Limited, KEC International Limited, RR Kabel Limited, Apar Industries Limited, Dubai Cable Company (Private) Limited, Alfanar Cables, Tekab Company Limited, Nuhas Oman LLC, Moghan Wire & Cable Co. and Abhar Wire & Cable Co. The compounds manufactured by Shakun are used for insulation and sheathing of wire and cables for various applications such as: power cables, building wires, telecommunication & fibre optic cables, instrumentation cables and photovoltaic cables (i.e. solar cables). Vivro Financial Services Private Limited is the book running lead manager to the offer. Link Intime India Private Limited is the registrar to the issue. Equity Shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Rising mercury levels are helping cash registers at air conditioner and air cooler companies jingle. Symphony, by virtue of its numerous tailwinds, is well-positioned to reap the benefits. The company is one of Indias leading air cooler brands, catering to residential and industrial clients across the country. The former constitutes nearly 90 percent of the companys annual sales. It derives 80-85 percent of its turnover from domestic markets. Symphonys robust financials, backed by emphasis on core competencies and multi-year growth visibility, make it a worthy inclusion in the list of reliable performers. The company has managed to prove its mettle in the highly competitive consumer durable industry. Why Symphony? Symphony commands a 50/42 percent market share in Indias organised air cooler segment in value/volume terms, respectively. Its products enjoy a strong brand recall. Even in seasonally weak quarters, its products witnessed strong traction.Indias air cooling industry is predominantly driven by unorganised players, that constitute roughly 65/73 percent in value/volume terms, respectively. Post implementation of the Goods & Services Tax (GST), organised companies such as Symphony are likely to gain market share as product pricing differences between the two reduce further.The effective tax rate for air coolers that stood at 21-22 percent in the pre-GST phase is 18 percent post-GST. These tax savings should translate into better margins. Introduction of the e-way bill and regularisation of trade channels would simplify logistical issues as well.The rising demand for cooling products is driven by cheaper financing options and increasing electricity coverage, among others . The trend seems unlikely to change, thus putting consumer durable majors in a sweet spot.Symphonys focus on its core strength is apparent from the series of launches undertaken by it over the years across categories such as portable, window and centralised air cooling. To tackle the stiff competition, especially from AC manufacturers, the companys offerings are upgraded every two seasons. Symphonys air cooler offerings span 45/15/20 models for residential/commercial/international customers, respectively. Its key brands include Cloud, Diamond, Silver, Touch and Sense. The former three, in particular, registered healthy growth in domestic markets of late. ALSO READ: After giving over 40000% return in past 10 years, this stock is ready for some consolidation; do you own it? Vis-a-vis (ceiling/tower) fans, the penetration of air coolers and ACs is low in India. With rising disposable incomes and households moving up the value chain by choosing premium cooling products, there exists potential for a pick-up in demand in underserved geographies.For most part of the year, climatic conditions in India remain warm. Average temperatures appear to be rising with each passing year on account of global warming. This necessitates the use of cooling appliances on a regular basis, making purchase of an air cooler less of a discretionary spend.Symphony outsources its manufacturing to third-parties. The management distributes its products to most retailers against advances only and is able to keep dealer margins low because of its pricing power. With negligible debt on its books, its return ratios continue to remain healthy. This trend is expected to continue going forward.In a bid to increase its rural outreach and widen distribution, the company intends to add 10,000 dealers to its existing 30,000-strong network over the next two years. By virtue of this move, the management aims to strengthen its numero uno status in the market and boost revenue growth.Traditional air coolers are predominantly commoditised due to their limited features and low aesthetic appeal. They have now been outpaced by superior-quality branded variants over the years. Being a pioneer in this space, Symphony is well-poised to capture a lions share of the market given its brand recall.For price-sensitive or cost-conscious buyers, more often than not, air coolers are the first preference after fans. This is because initial purchase and subsequent running costs are lower in case of air coolers as compared to ACs.To reduce the impact of seasonality in Indian markets, Symphony acquired Mexico-based IMPCO in 2009 and China-based Munters Keruilai (MK) in 2015. The objective was to leverage IMPCOs tie-ups with large format stores in America and MKs patented technology in premium commercial air cooling. The roadblocks Symphonys international segment continues to lag its domestic business. Of late, demand for air coolers in Europe and South America has been sluggish. Prevalence of an adverse geopolitical scenario in West Asia is another cause of concern. IMPCO and Keruilai, Symphonys two subsidiaries, are yet to make their presence felt in the companys consolidated financials. While working capital challenges and high interest costs are a drag for IMPCO, Keruilai has not been able to achieve breakeven yet. Even though the transaction size in industrial cooling is high, margins generally tend to be lower than residential air coolers. This is attributable to the business-to-business (B2B) nature of the contract, where the pricing power of Symphony is limited. Managing after-sales services, on similar lines as other consumer durable companies, is a big hurdle in itself. Raw material prices (plastic, copper and aluminium) have been firming up of late. This could be margin diminutive, especially in connection with low to moderate priced air coolers, where competition is stiff. Peer comparison: An overview Despite Symphonys topline being much smaller than its peers, it surpasses on the margin front. Outlook The recent rally clearly reflects in the companys steep valuation (34.2 times FY20e earnings). Since the investment moats are fully discounted at current levels, there is no valuation headroom. So, going long on downsides is advisable. Follow @krishnakarwa152 For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research page Qatar Airways cabin crew stand in front of an Airbus A350-1000 at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon - RC1B045EB6B0 Doha-based Qatar Airways (QA) is soon expected to apply for starting a new airline in India, according to a report by The Times of India. The airline, which will be fully owned by Qatar-based entities, is expected to be a full service carrier and will operate on domestic routes, the report suggests. The new airline is expected to have an Indian chairman and will have Indians as majority of Board members. Moneycontrol couldnt independently verify the report. Speaking to the newspaper about QAs plan of setting up an airline in India, group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: Our lawyers have started working on our application. We will soon get some clarification from government authorities in India to give us the exact direction on how we can start the process (and) formally apply for the (licence) sometime soon. The Centre had in June 2016 allowed foreign entities to own 100 percent of an airline in India. However, foreign airlines can own only up to 49 percent stake and foreign investment firms will have to own the remaining 51 percent. If an (Indian) airline has more than 20 aircraft, it can operate outside India (as per Indian rules). However the airline that we are launching will operate within India even beyond 20 aircraft, Al Baker said, according to the report. The Doha-based airline has also said that it is not considering a bid for Indias ailing flag carrier Air India. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Mahindra Logistics and Future Supply Chain Solutions, two of the largest third-party logistics players in the country, recently reported their earnings for the March quarter. Both companies saw a healthy growth in revenue and performed well on an operational basis. However, their stocks are expensive at their current prices, even if we consider the exciting prospects for the sector. So which way should investors go at this point? Mahindra Logistics reported a year-on-year rise of 23.5 percent in its revenue for the March quarter, while its EBITDA surged 75 percent over the same period. Similarly, Future Supply Chain reported an year-on-year growth of 50 percent in its revenue for the reporting quarter and its EBITDA improved 32.9 percent. Third party logistics remains an exciting space and investors should keep a close watch on companies from the sector as the growth momentum is likely to sustain for a few years. Mahindra Logistics For FY18, Mahindra Logistics reported a growth of 28 percent in its revenue to Rs 3,416 crore. Its operating profit jumped 46 percent to Rs 126 crore. Strong performance in the supply chain management business across both Mahindra and non-Mahindra verticals drove the revenue growth. The company continued to diversify its revenue base and increased the share of non-Mahindra revenues to around 35 percent. Mahindra Logistics recently leased a 2.80 lakh sq. ft. warehousing facility in Chakan near Pune, which is an automotive hub. The company is yet to take possession of this facility and aims to benefit from its existing customer relationships and volumes. Also, 85 percent of its warehousing facility in Gurugram is currently occupied and the management expects it to reach full utilisation by the end of the June quarter. The company follows an asset-light business model and designs logistical solutions for several industries like automotive, engineering, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce. While the non-auto business is expanding at a rapid pace, it has an established track record in the automotive segment (Mahindra & Mahindra) and is expected to benefit from the uptick in the segment. Going forward, the management aims to focus on large-revenue clients by providing integrated, end-to-end solutions and leverage technology to generate operating efficiencies. Future Supply Chain Solutions Future Supply Chain Solutions ended FY18 with a standalone revenue of Rs 775 crore, 38 percent higher year on year. Its gross profit and EBITDA margins also improved to 34.5 percent and 15.6 percent, respectively. The rise in revenue was on the back of strong performance by its contract logistics segment, which contributes 70-75 percent of its total revenues. Revenue from contract logistics surged to Rs 582 crore in FY18, from Rs 407 crore in FY17. Besides, revenue also rose on account of consolidation of the financials of Vulcan Express, a logistics subsidiary of Snapdeal, which the company acquired in February. Overall, the companys margins expanded this time around as the increase in segment revenue helped the company achieve operational efficiencies across its three business verticals. Also, the temperature-controlled logistics segment reported a positive gross profit of Rs 1 crore, compared to a loss of around the same amount last year. In the fiscal year gone by, Future Supply Chain Solutions added 6 lakh sq. ft. of warehousing space. It has also signed agreements to set up an 18 lakh sq. ft. facility, which will house seven distribution centers. Revenue visibility appears robust given the fact that the company has sales of Rs 400-500 crore in the pipeline (majorly from non-anchor customers) that are at various stages of discussion. Over the years, the company has capitalised on its expertise of handling Future Group operations and has leveraged its experience and capabilities to add non-Future Group clients to its portfolio. Its pan-India presence across 29 states and 5 union territories gives it a competitive advantage as it allows customers access to multiple destinations for booking and delivery of goods across India, thereby helping the company in attracting higher volumes at lower costs. Future Supply Chain Solutions covers the entire value chain of logistics services and aims to grow revenues and enhance margins by cross-selling services to its existing and new clientele. Performance Comparison Future Supply Chain Solutions outperforms Mahindra Logistics on the margins front, despite being only a fifth of the latters size in terms of revenue. Future Supply Chain Solutions' consolidated EBITDA margin is considerably higher at 14.2 percent. But the return on capital employed (RoCE) ratio for both companies is around the same level, as Mahindra Logistics has a significantly-higher asset turnover ratio. Both companies have strong balance sheets and maintain a zero debt-equity ratio. These companies have asset-light business models and therefore, do not need much money for capital expenditure. This results in healthy free cash flow and return ratios for investors. Outlook and Recommendation Industry tailwinds, pan-India presence, and strong customer relationships should help these third party logistics players report secular growth of 20-25 percent going forward and also gain market share from unorganised players, whose share currently stands at around 95 percent. Future Supply Chain Solutions has a concrete relationship with Future Group companies and therefore, remains well-positioned to grow through strong presence in fast-growing consumption sectors. On the other hand, Mahindra Logistics aims to leverage on the experience gained through its association with the Mahindra Group to add new clients. Both stocks are trading expensive at the moment after a run up in the price on the back of recent tailwinds like GST, E-way Bill and the sector being granted infrastructure status. On a one year forward basis, Future Supply Chain Solutions (Market Cap: Rs 2,737 crore) trades at a price-to-earnings multiple of 29.1 times, compared to Mahindra Logistics (Market Cap: Rs 3,496 Crore), which trades at a multiple of 38.2 times. Despite being smaller in size than Mahindra Logistics, Future Supply Chain Solutions performs well on an operational basis and trades at a significant discount to the former. We remain confident of the growth prospects of the company and expect margins to improve and return ratios to rise as the assets are milked more effectively. In our view, long-term investors should look to accumulate Future Supply Chain Solutions whenever the stock corrects. bhujbal More than two years after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, the Bombay High Court today granted bail to NCP leader and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, taking into account his old age and deteriorating health. Justice P N Deshmukh directed the 70-year-old leader to submit either a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh, or a cash surety of the same amount by May 14. The judge took into consideration, among other issues, his old age and deteriorating health. A detailed order is yet to be made available. The high court imposed several conditions on the Nationalist Congress Party leader. He will have to appear before the ED whenever required for questioning, and before the trial court when the trial begins, it said. Bhujbal was also directed not to leave the city without the trial court's permission. He must not make any attempt to influence the trial or the witnesses or tamper with the evidence, Justice Deshmukh said, warning that the bail will be cancelled if any of these conditions are breached. Bhujbal, who handled the Public Works Department in the Congress-NCP government, was arrested in March 2016 after an ED inquiry found that he allegedly misused his office in awarding contracts for PWD projects, causing a loss to the exchequer. According to the ED, Bhujbal awarded contracts including the one for the construction of a new Maharashtra Sadan -- the state guest house -- in Delhi to a private firm allegedly in return for kickbacks for himself and his family. He and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal channelled the ill-gotten money into shell companies, the agency alleged. Sameer Bhujbal, a former MP, was subsequently arrested and his bail plea is still pending before the high court. In December last year, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here rejected Chhagan Bhujbal's bail application. He had contended that he had recently undergone angioplasty, and was suffering from various ailments which needed medical attention. The court, however, ruled that government hospitals were capable of providing adequate treatment to him. He moved the high court earlier this year seeking bail citing a Supreme Court order of November last year that struck down section 45 of the PMLA. The section imposed restrictions on grant of bail to a person arrested under the Act. He also urged the high court to consider his age, his ill-health, and the fact that the probe against him was complete and a charge sheet had been filed. Vikram Chaudhary, his lawyer, argued that several other accused facing charges under the PMLA were granted bail by courts across the country after the apex court's order. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared for the ED, opposed the bail plea, arguing that though section 45 of the PMLA has been struck down, Chhagan Bhujbal could still be presumed prima facie guilty for the offence of money laundering under section 24 of the Act. Under section 24, the burden of proving that his properties are "untainted" lay on the accused, Singh submitted. His lawyer said that section 24 is to be dealt with at the time of trial and not during a bail hearing. He has been lodged at Arthur Road Jail here since his arrest. 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. There is a growing trend towards philanthropy in India and Indian billionaires like Azim Premji are doing pretty phenomenal work in the area, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said. Gates, Head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has donated nearly USD 1 billion in various projects in India in particular in fields related to health, and woman and child welfare. Considered as a source of inspiration for philanthropists across the world, Gates said he is encouraged by recent trend towards philanthropy in India and commended the example set by billionaire Azim Premji. "Well, I think Azim Premji and some others are pretty phenomenal in the example they're setting. And they'll do philanthropy, each person in their own unique way," Gates, founder of Microsoft, told PTI. "I've gotten a chance to meet with philanthropists in India most years at this India Philanthropy Initiative. Some successful people from India have joined The Giving Pledge. We are super excited, and it's a very impressive group of people," Gates said in response to a question. "So, the fact that philanthropy is very fulfilling, that it can have an impact, I hope that message is getting out there in a way that encourages others to join in," he said. "I'm quite optimistic that it's going to grow in India quite a bit, certainly at the high end of the people who are super successful, but also hopefully, at other levels of wealth, as well," said Gates, who now heads the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Launched in 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is said to be the largest foundation in the US, holding USD 38 billion in assets. In recognition of the foundation's philanthropic activities, Bill and Melinda Gates in 2015 jointly received the Padma Bhushan award, the third-highest civilian award in India. 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. A person dressed up as Chewbacca character poses during a photocall to promote the new Star Wars Movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in Berlin, Germany. (Reuters) Ministers gather for a group photo during the 3rd Ministerial Meeting between Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Greece. (Reuters) A man shows his thatched house, damaged in Wednesday's massive storm, at Cheet village in Agra district on Friday. (PTI) Russian Buk-M2 air defense missile systems drive during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Red Square. The parade will take place at Moscow's Red Square on May 9 to celebrate 73 years of the victory in WWII. (AP/PTI) Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa, MP PC Mohan, Jagadish Shettar and Suresh Kumar release the party's manifesto for the upcoming Assembly polls in Bengaluru on Friday. (PTI) Russian army MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30 jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation during the rehearsal for the Victory Day parade, with St. Basil's Cathedral and a bird seen in the foreground, in central Moscow, Russia. (Reuters) Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at an event to mark the bicentennial of Marx's birth held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Friday. Xi praised Karl Marx as "the greatest thinker of modern times," calling his theories a tool for China to "win the future. (AP/PTI) Mozambiques veteran rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, who fought the FRELIMO government in the Mozambican Civil War, died at 65, party sources said on Thursday. Dhlakama passed away after an unconfirmed heart attack at his mountain hideout near Gorongosa in central Mozambique, according to the nations state-owned radio station. The rebel leader took over the leadership of the movement known as RENAMO in 1979 from Andre Matsangaissa after he was killed in an attack by government forces. Dhlakama led RENAMO and fought a 16-year-war against the ruling FRELIMO party until the end of the civil war in 1992. The war was one of the most brutal in Africa, leaving an estimated 1 million dead. His death comes as his RENAMO rebel group is in peace talks with the government over decentralization and disarmament. It is unclear who will continue peace talks with the government. President Filipe Nyusi, described Dhlakama as someone who always worked for Mozambique. In February, the two leaders agreed to constitutional changes that would give political parties more power in the provinces. Dhlakama and Nyusi were set to compete against each other in presidential elections due next year. Trump has all but decided to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal Bharti Airtel plans to sell 25% in Africa unit to raise up to $1.5 billion Jack Ma's Ant Financial adds two new money market funds to its platform May 04, 2018 / 09:04 PM IST That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights. May 04, 2018 / 08:43 PM IST Preparations in final stage for PM Modi's Nepal visit Final touches are being given to the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, an official said on Friday. Security has been stepped up in Mustang district, home to famous Hindu pilgrimage site Muktinath, which Modi is scheduled to pay a visit, according to a PTI report. Modi will arrive in Muktinath from Janakpur, famous for Janaki Temple, from Bihar's capital Patna on May 11. From Muktinath he will fly to Kathmandu on the same day. "Security has been tightened throughout the district with the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, the Nepal Army and the National Investigation Department conducting security surveillance," Chief District Officer Sishir Poudel said. May 04, 2018 / 08:18 PM IST High Court gives more time to DGCA to finalise norms on flight duty hours The Delhi High Court on Friday granted eight more weeks to aviation regulator DGCA to finalise fresh norms on flight duty and rest hours for cabin crew and pilots, according to a PTI report. Justice Rajiv Shakdher, while granting time to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to finalise a fresh Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on flight and duty time limitations (FDTL), said the existing scheme will continue to operate till then. The court also gave the regulator time till May 15 to upload the draft CAR. May 04, 2018 / 08:01 PM IST Donald Trump says time, place for North Korea meeting is set President Donald Trump has said that the time and place has been set for his historic meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un, the Associated Press has reported. Speaking to reporters Friday from the White House South Lawn before departing for Dallas, Trump says we now have a date and we have a location. Well be announcing it soon. Trump had suggested on Monday that he was looking for the meeting to be held at the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. Thats where Kim met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in last Friday. May 04, 2018 / 07:42 PM IST Waste lying at landfill sites in Delhi a serious problem: Supreme Court The piles of garbage lying in the landfill sites of Delhi is a "very serious problem", the Supreme Court said on Friday as it pulled up the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for not proceeding with its segregation to use part of the waste for road construction. The apex court also stayed the proceedings related to the landfill sites at Ghazipur and Bhalswa in Delhi pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), according to a PTI report. When a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked the NHAI why it was not proceeding with segregation of waste lying at Ghazipur landfill site, the authority said they had issued tender but the cost quoted by the parties to do the work was exorbitant. May 04, 2018 / 07:26 PM IST SEBI proposes stricter ownership, governance norms for rating agencies, RTAs Regulator SEBI on Friday proposed stricter ownership and governance norms for credit rating agencies, debenture trustees and registrar and share transfer agents as applicable to other market infrastructure institutions, according to a report by PTI. At present, stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations are considered market infrastructure institutions (MIIs). SEBI has now proposed to classify credit rating agencies (CRAs), debenture trustees (DTs) and registrar and share transfer agents (RTAs) in this category. While framing the recommendations, the committee took note of trends in ownership and governance of these market intermediaries, compared them with the internationally prevailing practices and also took into consideration the views expressed by various market participants. May 04, 2018 / 07:13 PM IST Ensure level-playing field for others while framing national policy on e-commerce: CII Industry body CII on Friday welcomed the government's move to kick-start consultation process for framing a national policy on e-commerce and said any rules in this regard should be made in view of greater digital economy and larger national interest. The ministry's new effort to have the e-commerce policy consultation which follows an institutionalised structure of the think tank that will have various sub-groups so as to fast-track policy consultations and therefore policy making -- is a welcome move, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said. May 04, 2018 / 07:01 PM IST Indians Railways to place ladies coaches in centre, paint in different colour Coaches reserved for women will now be placed in the centre of trains instead of its rear end and will be painted in a different colour to make it easily identifiable, sources in the ministry say. This will be done in suburban as well as long-distance trains, they say, as part of the national transporter's plan to mark 2018 as the year for security of women, according to a PTI report. The coaches will also have CCTV cameras as an additional security measure and it is also being discussed to cover their windows with wire meshes, they say. May 04, 2018 / 06:43 PM IST 2 IPL play-off matches shifted from Pune to Kolkata In sports news, the historic Eden Gardens will host two play-off matches that were originally scheduled in Pune, Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council confirmed on Friday. "The GC has confirmed that Kolkata will host the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 on May 23 and 25 respectively," IPL GC chairman Rajeev Shukla told PTI. As per the original schedule, Pune was scheduled to host the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 but the venue became Chennai Super Kings' adopted home for six matches owing to security concerns for the Cauvery protests in Tamil Nadu. The 67,000 capacity Eden Gardens emerged as the frontrunner and was adequately compensated by the IPL GC. May 04, 2018 / 06:31 PM IST US dollar ends sharply higher against rupee The US dollar ended sharply higher against the rupee at Rs 66.87/88 per dollar and the pound sterling also finished higher at Rs 90.67/69 per pound at the close of the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market here today. May 04, 2018 / 06:29 PM IST Delhi court sends journalist Upendra Rai in 3-day CBI custody A Delhi court today sent journalist Upendra Rai, arrested for his alleged involvement in dubious financial transactions, to CBI custody for three days. Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressing a Corner Meeting ahead of Karnataka Assembly elections at KGF Municipal Ground in Kolar on 7th April 2018. (PTI Photo) Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" over alleged atrocities on Dalits, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused him of muzzling Dalit voice in Parliament. Modi, he alleged, was favouring a handful of industrialists and neglecting the weaker sections. "Modiji talks about (Baba Saheb) Ambedkar, but does not allow Kharge ji (Mallikarjun Kharge) to speak in Lok Sabha. "His men (saffron outfits) are crushing and beating up Dalits and tribals across the country, but Modiji does not utter a word," Gandhi told an election meeting here. The Congress chief's counter-attack came a day after Modi claimed at an election rally at Kalaburagi that the Congress did not make Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit, the chief minister of Karnataka even though he was projected for the top post during the 2013 polls. Kharge, the leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, had hit back at the prime minister, saying he does not need Modi's "crocodile tears" for Dalits or himself. "They killed Rohit Vemula and beat up Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and yet he remains silent," Gandhi, on his 8th visit to election-bound Karnataka, said. He said the Congress government in Karnataka was the only one in the country to have added half the money to the funds allocated by the Centre for the welfare of Dalits and tribals, and spent it on them. Gandhi alleged that the money the Modi government saved due to fall in international crude oil prices was given to 5-10 industrialists, instead of spending it for the welfare of weaker sections, Dalits and women. The Congress leader said even Modi acknowledged Karnataka's employment record which would improve further under the party government. The Congress, he said, would waive the loans of farmerswithin 10 days of coming to power at the Centre after the 2019 polls. He said the Congress government would also set up food processing plants to add value to agricultural products and benefit farmers. Voicing confidence about winning the Karnataka Assembly polls, he said the Congress would defeat BJP and Modi in subsequent elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan before forming the government at the Centre in 2019. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Stung by the attack launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against him, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today took to micro-blogging site Twitter to hit out at them. With hashtag #ModiHitWicket, Siddaramaiah posed a" question to Modi as he arrived for extensive canvassing in" Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah reminded Modi to mention about the "loot of Rs 35,000 crore worth iron ore""allegedly by BJP's Janardhana Reddy. Congress has alleged that eight of "Reddy Gang" members have been given ticket for the assembly election. Siddaramaiah tweeted, "Dear PM Modi, 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." He also asked Modi how he was 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?" " " " He concluded his tweet by saying "There should be a limit"to lies."" " " Siddaramaiah also retweeted former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav's tweet pointing to an alleged gaffe by Modi during his"speech at Kalaburagi today. Modi while addressing poll rallies in Karnataka said the Congress is a party that has disrespected the armed forces. "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 Field Marshal (K M) Cariappa," Modi told an election rally, as he sought to connect with the voters of the home state of the two legends of the Army." Modi said all know what treatment Congress gave to the two legends. Modi said India defeated Pakistan in 1948 under the leadership of General Thimayya. "But after the valour,General Thimayya who saved Kashmir was repeatedly insulted by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then defence"minister V K Krishna Menon and because of which General Thimayya had to resign from his post. I want the new" generation of Karnataka to know about Congress party's attitude towards the chief of army, who was the son of Karnataka." Yadav tweeted, "No sir, Krishna Menon was Defence" Minister from April 1957 to October 1962. Thimayya was Army Chief from May 1957 to May 1961. Sir can't the PMO afford"a fact-checker? It's so embarrassing!" Siddaramaiah tweeted that Karnataka holds its revered son Field Marshal K M Cariappa in high"esteem. Instead of doing politics in his name, Modi should" list five things he has done for Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said" and posed a few questions. Siddaramaiah also expressed his frustration by saying" he asks questions to Modi but he diverted attention to" history, clothes and pronunciations. Siddaramaiah's six questions pertained to when Centre would give approval to Kannada flag, amendment to rules for banking recruitment exams; making knowledge fof Kannada knowledge" compulsory for banking jobs in Karnataka, his intervention on"Mahadayi river row between Karnataka and Goa; stopping" divestment of 'Bengaluru's jewel' BEML and rectifying 'the injustice done to Bengaluru by taking away Rafale from"Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.' Siddaramaiah flayed Adityanath for being in Karnataka for electioneering when 64 people lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. ""My heartfelt condolences to the families, who have lost"their loved ones (due to storm in UP). I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon &" attend to his work there," Siddaramaiah said. Donald Trump and Narendra Modi If the United States wants to improve its ties with India, it can no longer ignore or sideline Uttar Pradesh, a visiting delegation from the most populous Indian state has said. Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddhartha Nath Singh is leading the high-powered delegation of top state officials to the US. "It is important for the Government of the United states to understand that for any relationship with India to go up, obviously other states are important, but Uttar Pradesh remains the most important," Singh told PTI. "Even if you want to improve the health index of India, for example, India can come up only if UP scores well in this area," Singh said. Having concluded their trip to the Silicon Valley in California, the delegation was in Washington DC yesterday, holding meetings with US Government officials. They met with officials from the State Department, the Department of Commerce and USAID and had round tables with the industry representatives, sending them the common message that they can "no longer" afford to ignore or skip Uttar Pradesh if they want to invest in or improve ties with India. Singh said the BJP government had initiated a series of administrative reforms in sectors like health, agriculture, industry and education so as to make Uttar Pradesh a business-friendly destination. "In addition, UP offers a huge market for companies," Singh and his delegation said during their powerpoint presentation before representatives of US companies. He said the American corporate sector had shown interest to invest in defence manufacturing, IT and health sectors in Uttar Pradesh, while some of the top educational institutions wanted collaborative research and problem-solving projects. During the Investors Summit-2018 in February in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a defence industrial corridor in the Bundelkhand region, saying it would bring an investment of Rs 20,000 crore and generate employment avenues for 2.5 lakh people. "After recent announcement of defence corridor, a number of US defence companies have shown serious interest in investing in this sector in the state," said Singh. He held meetings with representatives of the Lockheed Martin here while a meeting with Boeing is also on the cards. "US companies have shown big interest in UP's health sector, for which the BJP government has announced ambitious expansion plans, and the fast-developing IT sector in Noida, adjoining the national capital," said Singh. He also suggested that the state could collaborate with some American universities for fellowship programmes, exchange programmes or research programmes. "That could be a big, big takeaway for us," Singh said, as he referred to a meeting that the delegation has had with the Stanford University in Silicon Valley this week. Companies like Pepsico and Cargill have shown interest in investing in the state's agriculture sector. Both the companies have signed memorandums of understanding with UP. Singh said his delegation has received an invitation from the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to visit the United States later this summer. "We hope the chief minister visits the US soon," Singh said. "The US trip is basically to get UP to be known in a new way and also to get investment from US into Uttar Pradesh, Singh said. The delegation would next travel to New York before leaving for India. Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressing a public meeting at Magadi, Ramanagara, Karnataka on 4th April 2018. (PTI Photo) Congress President Rahul Gandhi today dubbed the BJP's Karnataka manifesto as a "poorly crafted fantasy built around a weak plot" and asked the voters not to waste their time on it. Taking to Twitter, Gandhi gave the BJP's poll document a "1/5 rating". "New Book Review! "The BJP Karnataka Manifesto, inspired by Narendra Modi, is a poorly crafted fantasy built around a weak plot, that has nothing unique to offer voters. If you've read the Congress Manifesto, don't waste your time on this one. "Rating: 1/5 ? "Recommendation: Avoid," he tweeted. The BJP, in its manifesto released for Karnataka elections, made a plethora of promises to reach out to various sections --from farm loan waiver and other sops to farmers, freebies like laptops for students and smartphones for BPL women to a commission for cow protection. As it seeks to wrest the state from the Congress, the BJP said Rs 1.5 lakh crore will be spent on irrigation projects and farm loans of up to Rs 1 lakh borrowed from nationalised and cooperative banks will be waived if it is voted to power. The manifesto, unveiled by Karnataka BJP president and its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, said a 'white paper' will be brought out on the state's financial health under the Congress rule after the BJP forms a government. It said a Rs 5,000 crore 'Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund' would be launched to cushion farmers against the effects of price fluctuations. The party said farmers would be sent to countries like Israel and China every year to study best practices in agriculture. The manifesto said Rs 25,000 and 3 gm of gold will be provided to brides of families living Below Poverty Line (BPL) at the time of marriage under its new scheme named the 'Vivaha Mangala'. The Congress manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls, released on April 27, promised to create one crore jobs and spend Rs 1.25 lakh crore on irrigation over the next five years if re-elected to power. Releasing the "People's Manifesto" at a function in Mangaluru, the Congress president had described it as the "voice of the people of Karnataka" and not a document prepared by "three or four people in a closed room". He had taken potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying while the prime minister likes to tell people his "mann ki baat", this manifesto contained the "mann ki baat" of the people of Karnataka. The manifesto said the Congress, if voted to power, would create an "agricultural corridor" in the state with its 10 different agro-climatic zones and other natural advantages, offering immense opportunities for high growth in agriculture and allied sectors. It promised 50 per cent increase in"employability and creation of 15-20 lakh jobs per year and"reduction in professional tax. The Congress had also said it would endeavour to raise the employment level of women to 50 per cent in the government workforce and supply free sanitary napkins to girl students of government colleges and polytechnics, besides abolishing tax on sanitary pads. Congress BJP, BJP Congress The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "insulting" Bengaluru and the people of Karnataka by calling it a "valley of sins" and demanded his apology for his "deplorable" remarks. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that as the Karnataka assembly election approaches, "the fears, frustration and follies of the BJP grow due to its impending defeat and this is reflected in the idioms and the language used by its leaders including the prime minister". He also accused Modi of spreading "divisiveness" in the poll-bound state and alleged that such language was being used to divert the public attention from key issues such as the Cauvery water dispute, the dilution of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, joblessness and declining economy. Singhvi said the prime minister failed to be the custodian of federal cooperation and maintain equilibrium between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery river water-sharing dispute. "You accuse Bengaluru, the Kannadiga of being a valley of sin'. I think it is shameful and I think the country needs an apology which I am sure we will never get from the prime minister," he told reporters. "As you see the heat mounting up on this campaign, you find the defamatory, the criminal culpable statements coming, deliberately inflaming and inciting communal passions, deliberately polarising communities, religious and groups and comprising blatant falsehood," he alleged. The Congress leader said the country's prime minister lacked his grasp of the country's history as was evident from his yesterday's "false and superficial" statements on Field Marshal K C Cariappa and General K S Thimayya. "The prime minister in his insatiable urge bordering on greed to attack the Congress party actually ended up insulting comprehensively the people of Karnataka, insulting each and every one of its entrepreneurs, insulting each and one of its IT technologists and labelling Bengaluru as the valley of sin' from the Silicon Valley," he said. "This is SIN - a Special Insult. S' for special and IN for insult which the prime minister of the country has heaped upon Bengaluru and the people of Karnataka," he said. Describing Bengaluru as a birth place of IT giants, a technological hub, a start-up hub, he said, "The prime minister has ignored the S' for superior, the I' for Information Technology and N' for Novelty and calls it SIN'." He said, "The prime minister ignores the S' for Super Highway which Bengaluru and its IT industry are and ignores the I' for IT and the N' for Network. He only finds 'SIN' and that is "deplorable" as he in unable to create jobs and stop farmer suicides, and instead accuse Bengaluru, the Kannadiga' of being a Valley of Sin'." "The higher the divisiveness factor, the higher goes the BJP's decibel. Their decibel is linked to divisiveness. Why it is - to digress and draw the attention of the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka away from their failures in one day yesterday," he alleged. In a full-scale attack on the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka on city-related issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday accused it of having turned Bengaluru into a "garbage city and valley of sin" from "Silicon Valley. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets Ambassador of India On May 4, 2018 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Belarus, Sangeeta Bahadur, on the occasion of presentation of credentials. The parties discussed the current situation of Belarus-India relations in a number of priority areas, as well as the forthcoming joint undertakings, including the preparation of some high-level visits. V.Makei congratulated S.Bahadur on the beginning of her diplomatic mission in Belarus and wished her every success on this position for further strengthening of Belarus India bonds. Foreign Minister also addressed to S.Bahadur his condolences over the multiple human victims and damage of the disastrous sand storm that hit yesterday some northern areas of India. print version BJPs chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa and Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar released the manifesto for the 2018 assembly elections in Karnataka today. The manifesto was announced by Yeddyurappa among various party veterans, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the BJP Mahila Morcha Karyakartas from the state via the NaMo App. The BJP announced a multitude of schemes for farmers, saying the farmer has always been a priority for the party. It allocated Rs 1,50,000 crore for various irrigation projects in Karnataka, assuring that water will reach every field in the state. Crop loan waiver upto Rs 1 lakh from nationalized banks and cooperatives was announced. The BJP also incentivized dairy farming and animal husbandry, allotting Rs 3,000 crore for the same and an additional Rs 1,000 crore for expanding veterinary services. Yeddyurappa also declared that the 'Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012' will be reintroduced. The manifesto also promulgated various schemes to help uplift women in the state. This includes establishing a Rs 10,000 crore 'Stree Unnati Fund' to set up one of the largest women-run cooperatives. The BJP manifesto also announced that loans up to Rs 2 lakh will be given to women-only self-help groups at the rate of 1 per cent per annum. It promised setting up of a special investigation cell comprising 1,000 policewomen to expedite probe into all pending cases of crimes against women. The manifesto also promised free sanitary napkins to BPL (below poverty line) women and girl students and at Re 1 for other women. It also talked about distributing smart phones to women belonging to BPL families. The BJP promised promotion of the Kannada language in the state and working in tandem with the Centre to implement the necessary Kannada proficiency requirement for bank staff and examinations for all government exams. Yeddyurappa also declared that the BJP government will ensure that only Hindus will administer Hindu religious institutions and that there is no interference from the government in temple administration and maintenance. He allocated Rs 500 crore to restoration and renovation of temples and mutts. The manifesto also included sops for the Scheduled Caste community and the backward classes where Rs 8,500 crore was assigned to building modern housing for the SC community and Rs 1,000 crore was given to the OBC Fund to incentivise traditional occupations and ensure welfare of practitioners of traditional professions. Another Rs 1,500 crore was assigned to the Maharishi Valmiki Scholarship Scheme to increase scholarships of ST students. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, currently on an election campaign in Karnataka, is rushing back tonight to visit storm-ravaged Agra, a senior official said today. The chief minister will arrive in Agra tonight and visit the calamity-hit areas tomorrow morning, Principal Secretary Information Avanish Awasthi said. Adityanath was criticised yesterday by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for remaining in Karnataka even after his own state was hit by the storm. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah had tweeted. "I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there." Adityanath will review the relief and restoration efforts in Agra district, the UP official said. The chief minister will later leave for Kanpur to monitor the relief work there and in nearby districts, Awasthi said. A high-intensity storm ravaged parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday night, leaving 73 people dead and 91 injured in Adityanath's state alone. Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for 43 deaths and injuries to 51 others. Adityanath was earlier scheduled to campaign in poll-bound Karnataka till Saturday noon. Rajya Sabha MP and Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that the Congress will reject the Triple Talaq ordinance because it is an atrocious law, news agency ANI reported. He said that the BJP had moved the draft bill in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and the Congress had opposed it then. Azad asserted that if the NDA tables the draft law again in either house of the Parliament, the Congress will reject it outrightly because it seeks to divide the husband and wife, there is nothing beyond that. As per the proposed draft, any Muslim man who indulges in the practice of instantaneous triple talaq, which was banned by the Supreme Court in August last year, will be given a sentence of three years. The draft bill, which declares instantaneous triple talaq pronounced verbally or through electronic or written form null and void, also contains a provision where an aggrieved wife can seek subsistence allowance and custody of her minor children by moving the court. It was also proposed that the act of committing instantaneous triple talaq be made a cognisable and non-bailable offence. The US Justice Department on Thursday disclosed the filing of criminal charges against former Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, accusing him of conspiring to cover up the German automaker's diesel emissions cheating. The indictment, filed in secret in March, was unsealed in US District Court on Thursday as Volkswagen held its annual meeting in Germany. Winterkorn resigned days after the scandal over polluting vehicles in the United States became public in September 2015. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Environmental Protection Adminstration chief Scott Pruitt and other senior Trump administration official issued statements criticizing VW with the indictment, which marks a rare instance of a CEO being subjected to criminal prosecution for corporate behaviour. "If you try to deceive the United States, then you will pay a heavy price," Sessions said. In contrast with Volkswagen, no individuals were charged at Toyota Motor Corp in connection with its sudden unintended acceleration scandal or at General Motors Co for the cover-up of a deadly ignition switch defect. The federal government's decisions not to prosecute senior financial industry executives in connection with the 2007-2009 financial crisis also has drawn fire from advocates of tougher measures to deter corporate wrongdoing. The US indictment of Winterkorn is likely to be largely symbolic. As a German citizen, he is almost certain not to come to the United States and to seek protection under German extradition law. The former CEO is also under investigation by German authorities. Volkswagen settled criminal charges with the US Justice Department in 2017 and agreed to a USD 4.3 billion payment. In total, VW has agreed to spend more than USD 25 billion in the United States to address claims from owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers. The company also has offered to buy back about 500,000 polluting US vehicles. Many are now stored in parking lots around the United States. Volkswagen has been fighting to move past the emissions scandal, vowing to spend billions on a number of new electric vehicles as it has seen US sales rebound. The indictment reopens the question of whether other senior VW executives knew about the scandal, which threatens to prolong the crisis. Winterkorn, 70, is charged with four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud and violating the Clean Air Act from at least May 2006 through November 2015 after the company admitted using illicit software that allowed Volkswagen diesel vehicles to emit excess pollution without detection. A lawyer for Winterkorn in Germany did not immediately comment. Winterkorn in January 2017 told German lawmakers he had not been informed of the cheating early and would have halted it had he been aware, but he did not say when he first became aware of the issue. A Volkswagen spokesman in Germany said the company "continues to cooperate with investigations" of individuals but would not comment on Thursday's charges. "TOP OF THE COMPANY" Sessions said in a statement that the charges against Winterkorn showed that "Volkswagen's scheme to cheat its legal requirements went all the way to the top of the company." The indictment describes a July 27, 2015 meeting at which Volkswagen employees presented PowerPoint slides to Winterkorn and "other senior VW AG management at an in-person meeting at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg." The meeting provided a "clear picture" of how the company was deceiving US regulators about software used to rig emissions tests of Volkswagen diesel vehicles, it said. The indictment also alleges that VW employees recommended the company seek to get approval for 2016 diesel models from US regulators without revealing the existence of the cheating software. Winterkorn agreed to the plan, the indictment said. The indictment also states that Winterkorn was informed of the emissions cheating by a memo sent in May 2014. Winterkorn has said he did not learn of the cheating until late August 2015. VW's new chief executive on Thursday in Berlin, Herbert Diess, vowed to make the carmaker "more honest" as it fights to recover from the diesel emissions scandal, but wary investors called for outside vetting of steps to restore its reputation. Volkswagen had initially suggested that only lower-level executives knew of the diesel emissions cheating. But the indictment alleges Winterkorn was informed of VW's misconduct in May 2014 and in July 2015 and he agreed with other senior VW executives "to continue to perpetrate the fraud and deceive US regulators," prosecutors said. A spokeswoman for the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit said Winterkorn was not in custody. In total, nine people have been charged and two former Volkswagen executives have pleaded guilty in the case and been sentenced to prison terms. One Italian citizen, former Audi manager Giovanni Pamio, is in Germany awaiting extradition. Six former Volkswagen executives charged, including Winterkorn, are believed to be in Germany and have avoided facing US prosecutors. The September 2015 disclosure that VW had for at least six years intentionally cheated on emissions tests did massive damage to the company's reputation around the world and prompted massive compensation and vehicle refit costs. VW halted the sale of new diesels in the United States after the scandal. Harsh Walia and Shobhit Chandra The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), recently released a draft of the Digital Information Security in Healthcare Act (DISHA) for public consultation. The purpose of DISHA is to provide for privacy, confidentiality, security, and standardisation in respect of electronic health data. It also envisages the establishment of National and State-level Digital Health Authorities, as well as Health Information Exchanges. The timing of the release of this draft raises numerous questions, as discussions in relation to a comprehensive data protection framework for India are already at an advanced stage. An expert committee headed by Justice (Retd.) B.N. Srikrishna (Expert Committee) released a white paper last year, which set out their preliminary views on various data protection principles such as purpose limitation, data minimisation, storage limitation, and accuracy of data, and the shape in which they should be incorporated in the forthcoming law. DISHA also echoes these principles. Since overlap with an encompassing data protection legislation is inevitable, DISHAs draft may prove to be premature. DISHA appears to be heavily inspired by the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (EUGDPR), which is unanimously regarded as one of the most comprehensive data protection legislations globally. Several corporations world-over are now making the final dash to meet the compliance requirements before EUGDPR takes effect on 25 May 2018. Despite years of research that have culminated in the enactment of EUGDPR and the two-year long window granted before it takes effect, the industry is still questioning several compliances contemplated under it. On the other hand, DISHA, when it is enacted in its current form, does not provide for any transition period to enable organisations to prepare themselves for it. In other words, organisations will most likely be labelled non-compliant from the very instant DISHA takes effect. In many ways, DISHA is more stringent than EUGDPR, but that does not necessarily translate into it being a robust and empowering legislation. Some stringent provisions of EUGDPR have only been made applicable on organisations of a particular size. For instance, the obligation to maintain records is not applicable on enterprises and organisations having less than 250 employees. On the contrary, the wide definition of a clinical establishment and entities under DISHA enlarges its applicability by making all provisions applicable to all clinical establishments (including nursing homes, clinics or dispensaries owned, controlled and managed by single doctors) and entities, regardless of their size. Some compliances under DISHA will require individuals and smaller organisations to expend extraordinary resources in achieving them. An indiscriminate, universal application of DISHA may also lead to it being rendered infructuous in the longer run. According to EUGDPR, a data controller is required to notify the supervisory authority (and not the data subject) in case of a data breach. However, the obligation to notify the data subject arises only where there is a high risk to the rights and freedom of such an individual. Notably, even in such case, a defined time frame has not been prescribed under EUGDPR. In contrast, under DISHA, an owner of digital health data (DHD) must be notified by clinical establishments immediately (and not later than 3 days in any case) in the event of any security breach. This is not only expected to result in a flurry of non-compliances, but also appears to be commercially infeasible. Another important distinction is that under EUGDPR, organisations that implement pseudonymisation techniques enjoy various benefits. However, as an unprecedented step, under DISHA there is a blanket prohibition on the use of anonymised data for commercial purposes. Big Data analytics has shown us that anonymised data sets form a reservoir for development and innovation and as such, a blanket restriction appears to be unreasonable in the present-day scenario. In addition to clinical establishments and health information exchanges, DISHA imposes various obligations on other entities. Interestingly, the term entities is defined to inter alia include even those body corporates that are incorporated under laws of any country outside India. Consequently, DISHA is expected to have extra-territorial application, making entities incorporated outside India liable to comply with it depending on their role in a particular transaction. Another facet of DISHA is that the right of a clinical establishment to refuse provision of health services has been ousted, even when the patient may not consent to generation, collection, storage, transmission and disclosure of their DHD. This is a departure from the prevalent rules framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which provide a body corporate with the option to not provide services when consent for processing sensitive personal data has been refused or withdrawn by a data subject. Besides, the liability of clinical establishments will need to be considered in a scenario when they administer health care in the absence of critical health information. Undeniably, the efforts of MoHFW in drawing up a comprehensive draft legislation are commendable. However, for reasons mentioned above, the draft fails to take into account prevalent issues, industry trends and practical difficulties that may impede its successful implementation. The consultative process initiated by MoHFW has provided an opportunity to the industry to voice their concerns, which if considered, may result in a legislation that is both pragmatic and stringent. (Harsh Walia, is an Associate Partner and Shobhit Chandra, is a Senior Associate from Khaitan & Co. Views are personal) Piyush Gupta With a constant growth of health hazards in the environment due to pollution and contaminated elements, adulterated food and spurious medication, one never prefers to compromise on spending on drugs and body treatment, irrespective of the income bracket one falls in. From the expense of drugs, pathological checkups, hospitalization or shifting to another city for treatment, even the slight possibility of treatment is enough to influence a person to spend impetuously on their treatment. When ones life and health is at stake, questioning the quality, efficacy and credibility of medicines at that stage seems implausible; unfortunately, this is the current situation of a consumer. The Indian pharma sector is currently under a siege for adulterated and sub-standard prescription as well as over the counter drugs. Drugs prescribed for cold and cough or a headache are mostly either fake or of poor quality. According to the latest WHO report, 20% of the drugs sold in the country are fake as opposed to 35% that are exported and flood the global market. On one side where the Indian pharma industry is growing due to its key factors such as low manufacturing cost, technical growth, skilled workforce and a diverse ecosystem to strengthen the sector, on another side the growing number of manufacturers with substandard medicines has spoiled the reputation of India in international pharma market. Decline of Trust Percentage of exported counterfeit drugs seized in the EU. Credit: Saurabh Verma, et al (NIT) Out of all the warning letters sent across the globe by America, around 10% of them were sent to Indian pharma manufacturers and distributors which shows the distrust on Indian pharma products in the global market. In 2016, around 18 major Indian pharma companies were found indulged in selling 27 kinds of substandard medicines. In 2017, out of the total, 66 pharma firms have failed the Quality Check as per the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. In 2018, many Indian pharma leaders based in USA are under USFDA import alert and six Indian pharma companies are facing investigation and are under investigation by US department of justice for cartelization of drug prices. Though Indian companies are taking a lot of effort to build awareness and prove their capacity to provide quality and value drugs, it is still not enough to change the situation. Three years ago the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), which represents top twenty drug makers, began an initiative to improve quality standards. Similarly, following the issues of lack of manpower in India FDA, a number of drug inspectors included in the department. However, it seems like the damage is already done and the measures are still not enough. While Industry analysts believe that the worst is yet to come, the success story of Indian generics that leads to the emergence of big pharma players such as Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy's, Ranbaxy, RPG Life Sciences, etc. is still something that one cannot believe of the sudden flip of the situation in just a decade span. Celebrated Past Until the past few years, the pharma sector was considered as the safest bet while investing in the stock market. The stocks showed a gradual positive pattern as the BSE Healthcare Index reported close to 260% growth from 2010 to 2015; as compared to less than 100% of the overall Sensex returns. It was at 5000 points in the first month of 2010 and grew exponentially to 18000 points in the year 2015. Owing to this extraordinary growth of the healthcare index, this period saw a rise in multi-baggers giving rise to many Indian millionaires and multi-millionaires. It also witnessed the Indian multinational pharmaceutical companies coming to the fore by reaching out to other significant markets of the world as a result of the economic liberalization of 1991. In 2001, a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company based in Hyderabad released a generic version of Prozac, an anti-depressant. It garnered great coverage after securing exclusive marketing rights in the US for a specific time period. Consequently, many other drug manufacturers were attracted to the US market due to the immense profits attained by this company with the help of this launch. The US soon became one of the largest markets for Indias big generic drug companies. Meanwhile, the Scientist-Chairman of a Mumbai based pharma manufacturer came forward to provide support to AID-hit Africa by offering medication at cut-rate prices. This also led to the giant drug companies sell the same medicines at an over-priced rate, close to 30 times more. This continued until Nifty Pharma reached a 3 year low in the year 2017. Shocking factor: According to a study by Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the number of substandard drugs that have not been tested sufficiently have been growing in India for the past few years. It has been reported that these drugs are being circulated and consumed by patients attracting a lot of criticism for the government. Manpower A leading publication covered two major issues that are prominent in the sector today, human resources and infrastructure. In the article, A Ravi Shankar, Director General of the Drug Controller Administration in Andhra Pradesh pointed out the irregularities of the current drug manufacturing system. He referred to WHOs standard of one inspector per 200 retail outlets as opposed to the current practice of one inspector per 700 outlets, which results in inspections where quality checks are not taken too seriously. Likewise in Maharashtra, the figures were more alarming with 100 drug regulators who covered 80,000 retail units and 6000 manufacturing units, as mentioned by an official of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration. Distribution India is the worlds largest manufacturer of Generic drugs which has also made it a major player in counterfeit drug manufacturing, as per another WHO report. One of the many examples of degrading drug quality in India is an incident reported in Paraguay and Pakistan few years back. It was reported that consuming a cough-syrup resulted in illness. After a detailed research was performed, it was found that the Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) found in the cough syrup was imported from India. With growing instances of counterfeiting circling the pharma space, India needs to redefine its manufacturing and quality control ways. There is a need for transparency in distribution carried out for pharmaceutical products with a comprehensive inspection process implemented at the ground level. Measures needed Since, the road to the success of the Indian Pharma Industry is surrounded by the issue of quality, the government must bring reforms that will make it mandatory for drug manufacturers to adhere to globally accepted standards. Currently, the union health ministry is in the process to draft a guideline towards the enhancement of good manufacturing practices (GMP) to align India-specific standards with global regulations for better product quality. Also, the drug controller general of India is in the process to the upgrading the manufacturing units of Schedule M drugs to WHO-GMP level. It takes years to bring reform in the existing policy and get results. While the government is in the process of upgrading rules and penalties related to quality drugs, stringent implementation of the existing norms should be the major focus. Failing in drugs should lead to immediate penalty as per the drugs and cosmetic acts, 1940. Such policy will shift the pharma companies focus to shift from expenditure in marketing the drugs to expenditure in research and development and values of drugs. (The author is Associate Director of GNH India. Views are personal) China and the US have reached "agreements" on some of the issues but both sides were still "very divided" on several others during the economic and trade talks held here to end the tariff spat between the two major trading partners, according to a media report today. The US delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who is also President Donald Trump's special envoy and Chinese side, led by Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met yesterday and today, and "agreed to set up a work mechanism to keep close communication". A trade spat between the top two economies of the world began last month with Trump imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the US from China, which also retaliated by imposing additional tariffs worth about USD three billion on 128 US products. The two countries have not yet implemented their tariff increases to reach a negotiated settlement. "China and the US reached agreements on some issues in their economic and trade consultations in Beijing from Thursday to Friday," the state-run Xinhua news agency said in a brief report. They have agreed to set up a work mechanism to keep close communication, it added. The US goods and services trade with China totalled to an estimated USD 648.2 billion in 2016 in which China had a lion's share with about USD 478.9 billion exports. The US exports to China stood at USD 169.3 billion, according to US trade figures. Hong Kong-based 'South China Morning Post' quoted an official statement as saying that both sides were still "very divided" on some issues and "more work needed to be done". The two sides "reached some consensus" and exchanged views on expanding US exports to China, bilateral investment, intellectual property protection and the imposition of tariffs, the statement said, without elaborating. In a separate statement, China's Ministry of Commerce said China also protested against a US ban on Chinese tech giant ZTE buying American components. The US delegation said it would report back to President Donald Trump on the matter, according to the ministry. The Post report quoted a draft framework of US demands which included China to cut the trade deficit by at least USD 200 billion by the end of 2020. Washington also demanded Beijing halt subsidies for industries under the "Made in China 2025" plan, and that China should not resort to retaliatory measures against the US, it said. The US delegation also include Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Assistant to the president for economic policy Larry Kudlow and Peter Navarro, Assistant to the president for trade and manufacturing policy. The US, the world's largest economy, has a trade deficit of almost USD 500 billion with China, the world's second largest economy. Donald Trump President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of US troops in South Korea, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing several people briefed on the deliberations. Reduced US troop levels are not intended to be a bargaining chip in Trump's planned summit in late May or early June with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, the Times said. The officials said, however, that a peace treaty between the two Koreas could diminish the need for the 23,500 US soldiers currently stationed on the peninsula, the newspaper said. A full withdrawal of US troops was unlikely, the officials said, according to the paper. But a US National Security Council official told a visiting South Korean official in Washington via telephone the report was false, the South Korean presidential office said in a statement. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has said the United States should consider reducing the number of troops in South Korea unless South Korea shoulders more of the cost. Then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo, before taking office as US secretary of state, met Kim last month and reported the North Korean leader was not demanding the withdrawal of all US forces as a precondition for a summit with Trump. South Korea said on Wednesday the issue of US troops stationed in the South was unrelated to any future peace treaty with North Korea and that American forces should stay even if such an agreement is signed. 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.) Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive. To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research. Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process. @NewsbySmiley Is Alex Penelas dropping clues that hell bail out Florida Democrats desperate to contend in a northwest Miami-Dade state Senate race, or just basking in the attention that comes with the speculation? Penelas, the former mayor of Miami-Dade County, has demurred for months about whether hell run for the Florida Senate seat being vacated by the term-limited Sen. Rene Garcia. The states 36th Senate district is evenly split among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters, and the states minority party is itching to find a candidate to run against Republican state Rep. Manny Diaz, Jr. But the Democrats bench in the heavily Hispanic Hialeah area is bare (the party just convinced Mary Barzee Flores to transfer into a congressional race in the district against Mario Diaz-Balart) and Penelas, a former city councilman turned political Univision analyst, is likely their best hope to contend. If Democrats believe they can take control of the Legislature's upper chamber during the mid-term elections, they'll almost certainly need a strong candidate in northwest Dade. This week months after acknowledging his consideration of a pursuit amid a recruiting effort by Democratic leadership and boosters Penelas opened a Twitter account, raising questions about whether he's planning to launch a campaign. The signs hes sending, however are mixed. In a text message Wednesday, he said his sudden social media activity was not [a] precursor to any announcement. Just trying to catch up to the times. The following morning Penelas who has expressed a stronger interest in returning as mayor when Carlos Gimenez's final term is up said on Twitter that hed nearly made up his mind against a run for the Florida Legislature. But not definitively. Why are so many concerned with me getting in this race? I had pretty much decided not to, Penelas tweeted in response to a Florida Politics article criticizing his potential candidacy. Perhaps its time to reconsider???? Later Thursday, Penelas and his wife posted a picture with Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez and his spouse, referencing a recruiting effort by the Miami Democrat. They make a strong case for @SD36. Was he just trolling us? Perhaps. It may be months yet before we know. The deadline to qualify to run for state senate isnt until late June, and Gimenezs final term runs until 2020. Despite the severe threat to consumers and the CFPBs responsibility to protect them, the investigation into Equifax has reportedly sputtered since Mr. Mulvaney took over the CFPB, Warrens office said in a release. While the CFPB has confirmed that an inquiry is still open, reports indicate that the agency, under Mr. Mulvaneys watch, has not sought subpoenas or testimony from Equifax executives. The senators also took the CFPB to task for reportedly rebuffing other regulators offers to help with the investigation. The senators also took Mulvaney to task for reports that he planned to make parts of the CFPB complaints database unavailable to the public. Without this information, researchers and advocates would lose the ability to track in real time the difficulties consumers are facing, the senators wrote. Companies would have a harder time conducting due diligence on potential partners to make sure they dont cheat their customers. Other federal and state regulators may lose access to this important information, making it more difficult for them to identify systemic fraud. Most importantly, removing this information would take away crucial information consumers need in order to make informed decisions about who to trust information that is even more important in an era when the consumer watchdog is controlled by Mr. Mulvaney. 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 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 @alextdaugherty Former judge Mary Barzee Flores is switching races to challenge Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, ensuring that Democrats will field strong candidates in the November election for all three Miami-Dade U.S. House seats held by Republicans. "Im leaving District 27 race with a heavy heart but also with the confidence that come November that a Democrat is going to take back this seat," Barzee Flores said in an interview with the Miami Herald. "Im confident that Mario Diaz-Balart can and will be beaten this fall." Until Thursday, Barzee Flores was running to replace Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is retiring. Diaz-Balart, who hasn't faced a serious challenger since 2008, will be tough to beat. He's a longtime incumbent who is well-known in his Hialeah-based district and Barzee Flores has never run a contested race for elected office. But the former federal judge nominee, who was blocked by Sen. Marco Rubio, picked up key endorsements from EMILY's List, a group that seeks to elect female Democrats to Congress, while she was running in the Democratic primary to replace Ros-Lehtinen. She says EMILY's List is "100 percent behind" her decision to switch races. Barzee Flores' switch was first reported by Politico Florida. Barzee Flores said she made her decision to switch races in the past 24 hours, though she said she represented parts of the district as an attorney and circuit court judge. She does not live in the Florida's 25th congressional district, which includes most of Northwestern Miami-Dade and then extends across the Everglades to include portions of Collier and Hendry Counties. "Last time I looked Mario doesnt live in 25 either," Barzee Flores said. Members of Congress do not need to live in the districts they represent. For months, Democrats struggled to find a serious candidate to challenge Diaz-Balart, who won reelection by 24 percentage points in 2016 against nominal opposition. But President Donald Trump won Diaz-Balart's congressional district over Hillary Clinton by just two percentage points, and Democrats are giddy at the prospect of taking control of Congress after they flipped dozens of seats nationwide this year, including a state Senate seat in Miami-Dade and a congressional seat in Pennsylvania that Trump carried by 17 percentage points. Read more here. BETHALTO - Mark N. Hillin, 46, of the 200 block of Roosevelt Drive, Moro, was charged Friday with felony theft. He allegedly stole in excess of $500 from the Eagle Pride Booster Club between May 4, 2015 and Sept. 31, 2017. Bail was set at $20,000. ALTON - Aaron W. Newell, 38, of the 400 block of Whitelaw Avenue, Wood River, was charged Wednesday with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of alprazolam on Tuesday. Bail was set at $15,000. EAST ALTON - Nancy D. Parker, 45, of the 1300 Monroe, Alton, was charged Wednesday with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of amphetamine on April 27. Bail was set at $25,000. WOOD RIVER - Melissa S. Konozasky, 32, of the 3200 block of Seminary Street, Alton, was charged Thursday with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of alprazolam on March 14. Bail was set at $15,000. WOOD RIVER - Laura K. Brown, 47, of the 200 block of South 13th Street, Wood River, was charged Thursday with unlawful use of a debit card. She allegedly obtained cash by using the card of another woman on Feb. 12. Bail was set at $15,000. WOOD RIVER - Stephen L. Rudd, 24, of the 100 block of East Maple Street, Hartford, was charged Thursday with unlawful possession of methamphetamine. He allegedly possessed less than five grams of the drug on Wednesday. Bail was set at $20,000. EDWARDSVILLE - Alonzo D. Garrett II, 28, whose address was not available, was charged Friday with three counts of burglary. He allegedly entered three different vehicles in the 6000 block of Center Grove Road on April 25 with the intent to commit a theft. Bail was set at $75,000. EDWARDSVILLE - Reginald L. Newtall, 37, of St. Louis, was charged Friday with unlawful use of vehicle identification. He allegedly bought a set of license plates, knowing the plates had been removed from the vehicle for which they were originally assigned. Bail was set at $25,000. ROXANA - Chad A. McAdams, 38, of the 200 block of West County Road, Jerseyville, was charged Friday with burglary. He allegedly entered a vehicle in the 100 block of Central Avenue on Friday with the intent to commit a theft. Bail was set at $20,000. ROXANA - Ashley L. Morgan, 32, of Streator, Illinois, was charged Friday with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of cocaine on March 17. Bail was set at $15,000. via @kirbywtweets What a difference a year makes. In 2017, Rick Scott gave a fiery speech at the National Rifle Association Leadership Forum in which he appeared to lay the foundation for a 2018 U.S. Senate run. "We need a larger majority in the U.S. Senate. We need a majority that has the intellectual capacity to comprehend these three words in the Constitution: 'shall not infringe,'" Scott said then, emphasizing each word of that last phrase. A year later, Scott's Senate campaign is in full swing. And it's time for the 2018 NRA Annual Meetings in Dallas. The Florida governor won't be there, Scott spokeswoman Lauren Schenone told the Times. She didn't elaborate. It's no secret that Scott and the NRA have grown more distant since that 2017 speech. The NRA appeared to remove Scott's picture from its website the same day the governor unveiled a post-Parkland legislative package that included modest gun restrictions. The gun group is currently suing Scott's administration over the post-Parkland gun bill the governor signed into law in March. Read more: Here's what's in Scott's gun bill. And Florida NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer wrote a scathing op-ed in April directed at lawmakers who supported that bill. The event Scott's missing will feature an array of national conservatives, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas and NRA Spokeswoman Dana Loesch. The Trump-supporting social media personalities Diamond & Silk will even address the crowd. Watch Scott's entire 2017 speech here. And dare to dream of a simpler time. No School for Menstruating Girls: Old ... Burson Criminal Marijuana Grow Bust May 3 2018 View Photos San Andreas, CA The Calaveras County marijuana enforcement team destroyed another industrial residential grow while arresting three suspects, including a deportee with an active felony warrant. Sheriffs officials say the bust went down yesterday morning in Burson at a residence located within the 5000 block of Southworth Road. A total of 4,834 marijuana plants with a rough street value of $9.6 million were eradicated. Additionally, three subjects with Asian names and out-of-state addresses were arrested. Among their felony charges are illegal marijuana cultivation, including in violation of the water code; maintaining a drug house and criminal conspiracy. All were assigned bails of $50,000. Investigators have not yet officially confirmed whether or not the grow is related to a large-scale residential grow operation tied to the Fujian Chinese province that is under investigation by the FBI and other federal, state and local agencies. As reported here, the network has involved many sites in the Sacramento area as well as in outlying counties like Calaveras, where more than a dozen eradicated grows were confirmed linked. All were located in the Valley Springs and Burson areas. On the five-acre property, investigators found numerous cargo containers and enclosed structures that had been converted for indoor grows. The operations were powered by several industrial-size generators, housed in structures that were insulated and foam-padded. Officials add that although the residence itself did not contain any growing marijuana the entire front yard the team found several thousand marijuana plants growing in pots around an empty in-ground pool. Arrested were Yi Lin, 58, of Marlton, New Jersey and Ni Kong, 57, of New York, New York, who was also charged with having a forged prescription for a narcotic. The third suspect, Ni Shao, 51, of Seattle, Washington, originally provided identification for the name Hongde Zheng. After fingerprinting him authorities were able to confirm his true identity; they also learned that he was deported from the U.S., returned illegally and had an active warrant for burglary out of Newport Beach. Yosemite - El Capitan View Photos Yosemite, CA A world-renowned speed climber fell while climbing El Capitan yesterday afternoon sparking a rescue effort that lasted through the night and ended this morning when a helicopter landed to take him off the famous rock. Yosemite spokesman Jamie Richards explains rescuers hauled Hans Florine to the summit of El Capitan that evening, but it was too late for a helicopter to get him out. She explains, Were still looking into what happened, but he fell. Park rangers did go up and conduct a rescue and provide medical aid. Due to the time of day and the complexity of getting him out, they ended up camping on top of El Capitan. Park rangers stayed with him. Helicopter took him out for medical aid in the early morning. Seeming in good spirits, Florine posted a selfie on Instagram, click here, with the caption: Well, there is a rescue going on, on El Capitan. And its me. I think I broke my leg. Rescuers please be safe. As reported here last year, two climbers broke Florine and another climbers record for ascending the Nose route of El Capitan in 2012. She may be president of the Federation of Porcelain Art Clubs of Texas, but at home where china-painting is a big hit with her grandchildren, Cynthia Pinnell is called MeMom. I want to china-paint! squealed 5-year-old Rylee Ranger. Shes been wanting to do it all week, her grandmother said. As Pinnell explained, the old term is china painting, and the new term is porcelain art. Shes president of the statewide organization that includes 47 clubs and nearly 1,000 members. Its a true art form, the retired school teacher said of her favorite pastime. Pinnell is headed to San Francisco next month to the International Porcelain Artist and Teachers Convention. Last summer she went to Denver for the World Organization of China Painters gathering. She both teaches her craft and has booths at such events, selling her exquisites pieces of art, among them pendants. It all helps to pay for art supplies and travel to shows. Pinnell took up china painting full time when she retired in 2005, but its a passion shes fostered since the late 1970s. We paint any number of things, not just plates and tea service, she said of porcelain art, although more traditionalists prefer to just paint on white china. Pinnell is instilling her love of art to her grandchildren. Seen gathered around her kitchen table last week along with Rylee was Lauren Pritchard, 12, and brothers Cole, 7, and Cade Pritchard, age 6. Everyone contentedly painted, with a notable absence of noise traditionally associated when young children gather. But while the other kids would later go on to take a backyard swim, Rylee wanted to continue painting. Her grandmother smiled. So many of the (china) painters are older, and passing away, Pinnell explained. Thats one reason why I want to teach my grandchildren to china paint, so it will go on. Theres so many things an artist can do with porcelain, she added. Several years ago Pinnell entered painted china in the Plains Art Association annual contest, the first time such a work had been entered, and last year she earned best of show. As she keeps mixing paint and forming new creations, the grandchildren take note. Clearly, Pinnell has passed on a love of art to the next generation, as is perhaps best illustrated in Rylee. Its just fun, Rylee said. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, the little girl expressed her plans. I want to paint a lot, but I want to have a restaurant and do hair, she said. And she kept on painting. To comment: ssissom@hearstnp.com 806.296.1350 Representatives from Wanzek Construction will be hiring 250-300 workers for the Hale Wind Project. In fact, representatives of the company held a jobs fair Wednesday at the Texas Workforce Commission in Plainview. Wanzek also will list available jobs at www.wanzek.com/careers. Representatives from Xcel Energy and Wanzek Construction appeared at a news conference Wednesday afternoon hosted by the Plainview/Hale County Economic Development Corporation to offer an update on the massive wind energy project and announce opportunities for employment. New Mexico regulators already have given Xcel Energy approval for its end of the overall wind energy project, with the Public Utility Commission of Texas scheduled to give its final written order later this month. The PUC already has given verbal approval for the project. According to Xcel Energy, the Hale Wind project has been developed by NextEra Energy Resources, and Xcel Energy will purchase the development and build a 478-megawatt wind facility on the site in southeastern Hale County. That sale should be finalized later this month. Xcel Energy anticipates construction to begin in June, with the wind farm in commercial operation in 2019. Xcel Energy and Wanzek estimate that the construction phase of the project will directly create 250-300 jobs. Once the facility is operational, approximately 17 to 22 full-time local employees will be required by Xcel to operate and maintain the facility. Wanzek Construction, based in Fargo, North Dakota, has been selected by Xcel Energy to build the Hale Wind Project. The Hale Wind Project is part of a larger plan to add 1,230 megawatts of wind energy to serve Xcel Energy customers in Texas and New Mexico. In addition to the 478-megawatt Hale Wind Project, Xcel Energy will build and own a 522-megawatt wind energy facility called the Sagamore Wind Project near Portales, New Mexico. Xcel Energy also has gained approval to purchase 230 megawatts of wind energy from NextEra Energy Resources from two wind facilities planned for Cochran and Crosby counties in Texas. Xcel Energy estimates the new wind resources will save hundreds of millions of dollars in energy costs over the next 30 years, a savings that will be passed directly on to Xcel Energy customers in the form of lower monthly fuel costs. Offering a timeline for the Hale Wind Project, Xcel Energy representatives said initial work in the field is expected to begin in mid-June, foundation work early to mid-July followed by road construction and underground cable installation, construction of a substation in September, and collection lines transporting the electrical energy to the TUCO station in early August. We could have some of the wind turbines on the pads by late October, with cranes taking them vertical by late November, they explained. Xcel Energy will be using 2-megawatt Vestas turbines for the project, with Wanzek set to install 239 turbines. Construction will start outside Petersburg in southeastern Hale County. Between 40 and 50 turbines are expected to be installed by the end of the year, with the rest going in during 2019. Chris Jones, Wanzek site manager, says his company is expecting to hire at least 40 percent of the projects workforce from the local area. Once we complete the project, we normally expect 10 to 15 percent of those to travel with us to the next project. Project subcontractors are expected to hire additional employees. Were all looking for local talent, and not necessarily just those who already have training in this industry, he notes. With its highly favorable wind resources, PHCEDC General Manager Mike Fox pointed out that Plainview and the surrounding area already been given the title, The Saudi Arabia of Wind Energy. We have First Class Wind Production resources in the immediate area, Fox said. Weve seen wind farms go up all around the area, and now its time for Hale County to see its first turbines being erected. Jamba Juice plans to open as many as 15 new stores in Houston over the next five years. The Dallas-based smoothie chain has eight locations in the Bayou City, but it hasn't opened a new one locally since December 2016. The company is planning a major expansion push with a fresh store design that includes a drive-through lane at some locations. The Woodlands School for Young Scholars The Woodlands School for Young Scholars will close at the end of the 2018 school year. The privately owned preschool and day school, at 25162 Grogan's Park Drive, has been in business for 27 years. Doors will close after June 2. Four River Walk restaurants received a slew of violations during random city health inspections this week, ranging from employees handling guacamole with their bare hands and filling tea urns with mop sink water to gnats in the establishment. Those restaurants Schilo's Delicatessen, Rita's on the River, Mad Dogs British Pub and Mokara Hotel & Spa were among the 12 named to this week's list of dirtiest restaurants in San Antonio, according to reports. SEE LAST WEEK'S VIOLATIONS: San Antonio restaurant inspections: April 27, 2018 Other notable San Antonio spots on this week's list included puffy taco icon Ray's Drive Inn, longtime dive bar Tucker's Kozy Korner and TV-famous Lulu's Cafe. This is Lulu's third appearance on a week's list of dirtiest restaurants in 2018, but this week's score of 88 is a drastic improvement from March's score of 61. To make the Express-News' list of dirtiest restaurants, an establishment must earn a score of 89 or below or anything less than an "A" during a random city health inspection. Perhaps the most disgusting violations this week occurred at Tex-Mex spots. At the lowest-scoring restaurant of the week, Piedras Negras de Noche, an inspector observed onions, potatoes and drink bags and boxes sitting outside in the rain. At Taqueria Los Dos Laredos, a spatula that was in raw beef was also used to scoop cooked potatoes. The San Antonio Express-News examines hundreds of restaurant inspections each week conducted by the San Antonio Food and Environmental Health Services division to bring you the eateries with scores of 89 or below. Restaurants are graded on a 100-point system, where "100" is a perfect score, and demerits are based upon the number of violations found during a regular food establishment inspection. There are three categories of demerits and each are assigned a demerit score of 3, 2 or 1 points, according to the health division. See the other eateries that landed on this week's list of dirtiest restaurants in the slideshow above. Scores and demerits listed are only representative of the state of the restaurant at the time of inspection and establishments are surveyed at random. erobinson@mysa.com | Twitter: @eeelizzzabeth DANBURY Throughout May, the state and some 200 employers are encouraging people to carpool or take public transportation as a way to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions through a competition called Drive Less Connecticut. The contest is a private-public partnership to raise awareness about green commuting options and encourate employees to try them. Awards are presented to companies based on the number of employees taking part and the number of green trips they take. Individuals can also be entered into weekly raffles. This is kind of the revamped version, said Russell McDermott, the CT Rides Program Director for the state Department of Transportation. He said most commuters are traveling to and from work, so it is important to work with businesses to alleviate the congestion that results. We really needed a way to engage these companies and get them off the sideline to show them it was a win-win, McDermott said. Robert Klee, commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, strongly endorsed the program in an appearance earlier this week. Changing your daily commute from a single-occupancy vehicle to an alternative mode can save you time, money, and reduce the stress we all feel from congested driving, he said. I encourage all Connecticut residents to look at their own commuting habits and explore new ways to commute to work by signing up to participate in Drive Less Connecticut month. The Drive Less competition expands to a full month the CT Rides Week campaign, which has been offered for several years So far, more than 200 companies are participating. As of Friday, according to the leaderboard on the CT Rides website, their employees had logged nearly 7,000 greener trips, saving almost 90,000 miles driven and 4,200 gallons of gas and avoiding 81,000 pounds of vehicle emissions. Cartus of Danbury was in fifth place statewide as of Friday, with 20 employees taking part and more than 300 green trips, saving 3,500 miles driven, avoiding 3,350 pounds of emissions and saving 171 gallons of gas. Studies show that once people try these different travel methods once, they are more likely to continue. McDermott said most people are hesitant to try, though, because they think it means they have to give up their cars five days a week. But this competition suggests that even one day a week can help. Were telling people, you wont be alone, McDermott said. Its just getting over that hump. People can call or visit the CT Rides website anytime to find an option that works for them. The staff will help find public transportation options or identify meeting places for carpools. You can start by giving us a call, and well do the heavy lifting, McDermott said. The team is here to get you over that barrier. BRIDGEPORT - The state has agreed to pay $90,000 to a Stratford man who was mauled by a state police dog in 2014. The settlement was reached in U.S. District Court here as a lawsuit by Edgar Crespo against the dogs handler, state Trooper Michael Beauton, was about to go to trial, according to Crespos lawyer, Gary Mastronardi. Spencer Platt | Getty Images Not long ago, New Jersey had a medical marijuana program restricted to no more than 20,000 people, but that was the Gov. Chris Christie era. The campaign cannabis promises of new Gov. Philip Murphy are quickly becoming true. New Jersey is not only shaping up as the next big market for cannabis entrepreneurs, its also a good civics lesson on how one election can radically change public policy. Murphy, an advocate for both medical and recreational marijuana during the campaign, acted in his first two months in office to expand the number of conditions that can be legally treated in New Jerseys medical marijuana program. Thats something Christie had refused to do, saying it was a backdoor to legalization of recreational marijuana. Murphy said Christies view constrained the system. Hes expanded the conditions that can be legally treated with cannabis to include chronic pain, anxiety and migraines. A federal judge in Virginia on Friday sharply questioned the motivations of special counsel Robert Mueller III's fraud prosecution of President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, saying it was aimed at getting him to provide evidence against the president. Judge T.S. Ellis III's comments came during a hearing in Alexandria federal court, where attorneys for Paul Manafort argued that bank- and tax-fraud charges against him are outside the scope of the special counsel's authority. While the judge has yet to rule and indicated that he may well decide in favor of prosecutors, his scrutiny of their approach quickly became a rallying cry for supporters of the president. "You don't really care about Mr. Manafort's bank fraud," said Ellis, who is known for being combative with attorneys in his courtroom. "You really care about getting information Mr. Manafort can give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution or impeachment." Ellis said the special counsel, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, wanted Manafort, "the vernacular is, to sing." The judge also put it another way, saying the office set out to "turn the screws and get the information you really want." The comments earned quick praise from Trump, who said from the stage at a National Rifle Association event in Dallas, "I've been saying that for a long time - it's a witch hunt." Trump called Manafort a "very nice guy" and said that "all we hear about is this phony Russia witch hunt." Manafort, 69, is accused in federal court in both Alexandria and the District of Columbia of crimes related to his work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine. Manafort served as Trump's campaign chief for five months before resigning amid news reports that he had received secret cash payments for his Ukraine consulting. Deputy Solicitor General Michael Dreeben did not respond specifically to the judge's assertions in court. But he said the investigation fit naturally into a probe of Trump campaign ties to Russia: "In trying to understand the actions of Mr. Manafort in Ukraine and the association he had with Russian individuals and the depths of those financial relationships, we had to follow the money where it led." Manafort's attorneys contend that their client's alleged crimes in Virginia have nothing to do with the election or with Trump. Ellis agreed, emphasizing that some of the charges involve purported conduct that occurred over a decade ago. But he made no immediate decision on the defense motion to dismiss the case. The judge said that even without such a connection, the special counsel may well still have the authority to bring the charges. "I'm not saying it's illegitimate," Ellis said. But the judge did question why an investigation into Trump attorney Michael Cohen was handed over to federal prosecutors in New York while the Manafort case was kept with the special counsel. Ellis suggested that if he ruled in Manafort's favor, the case could simply be returned to the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Virginia. It is precisely because the probe into Manafort's financial dealings began years ago with federal prosecutors in that office, Manafort's defense attorneys argued, that the special counsel should not be involved. "This doesn't make any sense," defense attorney Kevin Downing said in court. "It's so unrelated," he said, "as to be in violation" of the special counsel's mandate. Dreeben responded in court that the Manafort investigation has expanded significantly since it was taken over by Mueller. "Our investigation has considerably advanced and deepened our understanding" of Manafort's actions, he said. The specific parameters of the special counsel's investigation have not been publicly revealed, Dreeben said, because to do so would jeopardize ongoing probes and sensitive national security information. Instead, he said, the scope has been defined in "ongoing discussions" with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the investigation. Dreeben also referred to an August memorandum from Rosenstein authorizing Mueller to investigate whether Manafort illegally coordinated with Russia in 2016. Ellis asked for an unredacted version of that memo. Dreeben told the judge that all sections of the memo related to Manafort have been publicly revealed. Significant sections remain classified. Manafort has argued that Rosenstein improperly gave Mueller a "blank check" to investigate the Trump campaign. Ellis appeared somewhat sympathetic to that argument as well, comparing Mueller to independent counsels criticized in the past for overreach. "The American people feel pretty strongly about no one having unfettered power," he said. Dreeben countered that the special counsel is part of the Justice Department and thus subject to oversight that addresses such concerns. The tax division and national security division signed off on the Manafort indictment, he said. "We are not operating with unfettered power," he said. "We are not separate from the Justice Department." In Dallas on Thursday, the NRA crowd roared as Trump read aloud from news reports of the morning hearing. The judge, Trump said, "is really something very special, I hear, from many standpoints. He's a respected person." Ellis was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and took the bench in 1987. He presided over the plea and sentencing of American Taliban supporter John Walker Lindh as well as a case involving government secrets leaked to a pro-Israel lobbying group and an Israeli official. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he served as an aviator in the U.S. Navy and has an undergraduate degree from Princeton and law degrees from Harvard and Oxford. He is known for his sense of humor, his long digressions and his demanding and somewhat confrontational attitude toward the lawyers who appear before him. "Judge Ellis has high expectations from counsel on both sides of any issue," said Timothy Belevetz, a former prosecutor in the Eastern District now with the firm Holland & Knight. "His interactions with counsel in the courtroom do not necessarily reflect where he'll end up coming out, because he's a thoughtful judge who takes into account and carefully analyzes what's presented to him. But in the meantime, he probes counsel and does so thoroughly." Rick Gates, a former Trump campaign aide who worked with Manafort, has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the special counsel. Mueller also has added Uzo Asonye, an attorney from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to his legal team. Ellis noted with pleasure that the fraud prosecutor has appeared before him several times. "He may tell you some interesting things," Ellis said. The news came on a Friday evening in late April last year: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had removed an informational website about climate change, taking down a page that had been up, in some form, for nearly two decades and under three presidents. Before its removal, the page had plainly stated a position on climate change: It is caused by humans, and there's no significant doubt about that. But that position contradicted statements by the new EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, who had expressed doubts about human activity being the dominant driver of climate change. EPA said at the time that the site had been taken down for review and that it had been archived and was still available as part of a "snapshot" of the state of the site on Jan. 19, 2017, just as the new administration took command. But a year later, the agency's climate page is still down, and would-be visitors are redirected to a notice saying that "this page is being updated." "We are currently updating our website to reflect EPA's priorities under the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Pruitt," it reads. (The archived snapshot remains in place.) The removal of EPA's main page on climate change (though it also has a number of others that remain online), an extensive informational resource, is significant because it underscores the ambivalence about climate change science within the Trump administration. From President Donald Trump to Pruitt, there are many who have called into question the scientific consensus on climate change. Inside the agency and out, skepticism is rising that the agency's main climate page will ever go back up online. Two EPA employees familiar with the site, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share internal agency information, said they were unaware of any sign that the page is being updated to bring it back online. "There's definitely no progress on the website. I'm not sure anyone's even addressing it," said one employee. Toly Rinberg, who heads the website monitoring division of the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative - which has closely tracked the EPA's website changes in the Trump administration - said he's skeptical the site is coming back. "The big picture perspective that we have is that the removals occurred abruptly - there was notice given the same day as the removals took place," he said. "But to this day, there's been no sufficient explanation for why the content needs to be removed." he said. Asked for comment, the EPA press office sent the following statement: "We are constantly updating our website to reflect new initiatives and projects of the Agency. Of course the site will be reflective of the current administration's priorities - with that said, all the content from the previous administration is still easily accessible and publicly available - through the banner across the top of the main page of the site." The site that was removed served as a kind of gateway to EPA's climate change-related content, some of which, like inventories of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, remain online. The page explained the science of climate change and its impacts and described actions that individuals could take and that the agency itself was taking to work on the issue. That included many of the initiatives launched under former President Barack Obama. When the site went dark, it was the science-and-politics equivalent of an earthquake. Critics of the Trump administration screamed censorship. The city of Chicago, under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who had worked in the Obama administration, reposted the EPA website on the city's own official site. "We are going to ensure Chicago's residents remain well informed about the effects of climate change, and I encourage cities, academic institutions, and others to voice concerns to follow suit to ensure this important information does not disappear," the mayor's office said in a statement on the city's website. Meanwhile, a number of climate scientists argued that pulling down the page was hard to justify on substantive grounds because there was nothing scientifically wrong with the content. For example, the statement that appeared to contradict Pruitt's position cited the conclusions of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world's most prominent climate science body. "Recent climate changes, however, cannot be explained by natural causes alone," the page, now archived, had stated. "Research indicates that natural causes do not explain most observed warming, especially warming since the mid-20th century. Rather, it is extremely likely that human activities have been the dominant cause of that warming." "If any errors were present, they could have been fixed with minor editing," Carnegie Institution climate scientist Ken Caldeira told The Washington Post shortly after the site went down. "There was no cause for a wholesale review of the site's materials." The EPA's approach to climate change does not necessarily reflect that of the Trump administration as a whole. While the agency took down its main climate website and Pruitt even considered bringing in outside skeptics to interrogate mainstream climate science conclusions, other expert branches of government have addressed the issue differently. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, have generally continued to regularly post content on climate change without drawing major complaints about censorship or the disappearance of materials. The U.S. Global Change Research Program, meanwhile, released a major report in November that strongly reaffirmed the mainstream consensus on climate change. That office, which coordinates across multiple government agencies that work on climate issues (including the EPA), is finalizing another document that will exhaustively catalogue all the ways in which a warming climate is affecting, and will affect, the United States. Branches of the Interior Department have also removed or modified online content on climate change, but it is unclear whether any blanket suppression is occurring. Just last week, scientists with the agency's U.S. Geological Survey published alarming research suggesting that atoll islands around the globe, some of which are part of or overseen by the United States, could become "uninhabitable" within decades. That research was funded by the Pentagon, another agency whose approach to climate change has differed from that of the EPA. Still, the disappearance of the main EPA climate site sends a signal across the government under the Trump administration, warned Gretchen Goldman, an analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists. "We've seen already evidence of climate-related censorship at the EPA and elsewhere, as well as some self-censorship issues where career officials are choosing not to work on climate or say the word 'climate' in various venues," she said. "And I think it's all related. Having the website down sends the signal to scientists that this administration is not welcoming of climate-related work." HARTFORD The state Municipal Accountability Review Board helping West Haven dig itself out of the deep fiscal hole its in unanimously approved a resolution Thursday paving the way for eventual receipt of millions of state dollars to help in the short term. But the resolution is full of conditions West Haven must satisfy before it receives those funds which are expected to be reduced from the $9 million Mayor Nancy Rossi included in her budget for the coming fiscal year to $6 million. The conditions approved the morning of the date the City Council must approve a city budget begin with Rossi submitting a MARB-acceptable five-year plan for recovery, basically to wean West Haven off needing the state funds to balance its budget. But they dont end there. And if West Haven cant meet them, that could result in the city being moved from the Tier 3 status to Tier 4 status, state Office of Policy and Management Commissioner Ben Barnes, the MARBs chairman told city officials. West Haven and Hartford are the only Connecticut municipalities operating under Tier 3 status. That would result in full state oversight similar to what West Haven was under during its fiscal crisis in the early 1990s, when decisions on the budget and union contracts were made by another state review board, supplanting local control. Clearly, we would lilke to work with you ... but clearly, there is another tier ... and that clearly is another possible outcome in the event that this process doesnt result in us reaching an understanding, Barnes told a crowd in State Board of Regents Boardroom. The crowd included Rossi, City Council Chairman Ron Quagliani, D-At Large, council Finance Committee Chairwoman Louise Martone, D-10, Interm Director of Finance Linda Savitsky, Assistant Schools Superintendent Ann Druzolowski, other education officials and host of union officers. Barnes also told them, I believe that if we do not approve your revenue assumptions, then your budget is null and void. Our approval is required, Barnes said. The City Council was working late into the night Thursday on the budget. Right now, West Haven, which last year sold deficit bonds to finance $17.35 million of the citys accumulated deficit, projects a deficit of nearly $8 million in the current 2017-18 fiscal year in addition to approximately $1.4 million from the 2016-17 fiscal year for a total of about $9.3 million. Rossi told the MARB that she has been working on an amended budget based on things the MARBs Ad Hoc Committee for West Haven has advised her to do including looking into a possible bond refunding or restructuring. Rossi strongly opposed a refunding of the citys debt back when former Mayor Ed OBrien was in office and she was chairwoman of the councils Finance Committee. She told the MARB, however, that she worries that additional cuts to the citys police or public works departments will cripple our city. Rossi revealed to the MARB that she is looking at raising the citys tax rate from the current 35.11 mills, not including fire service, to 35.79 mills. Each mill equals $1 in tax per $1,000 in assessed property value. Fire district tax rates are approximately an additional 10 mills depending on the district. The MARBs newest appointee, Bart C. Shuldman, responded by asking Rossi, What if it went up to 37 or 38? Quagliani, speaking before the MARB for the first time, told MARB members that the City Council realizes the gravity of the situation West Haven is in and is ready to become a more active partner to resolve it. We recognize and appreciate your input and your partnership, Quagliani said. Were fortunate that we have in place not only the local talent but the state talent to begin to help us work out of the situation that were in. We have a lot of work to do. ... But I want to tell you that weve had a spirit of cooperation among the council people and I think the council recognizes that you cant cut yourself out of the situation that were in, he said. We are working hard to make sure that we structure a budget that reduces the level of state funding necessary to operate our community, Quagliani said. Among the conditions included in the resolution the MARB approved are that the city submit an action plan to mitigate the current years projected deficit to the extent possible and that the anticipated amount of state restructuring funds for fiscal 2018-19 be reduced from $9 million to $8 million, with just $6 million to fund operations. Also, that the MARBs approval of city property tax revenue collection assumptions requires verification that the current tax collection rate is no higher than the average for the previous three years and that any increase in Education Cost Sharing revenue be budgeted in acccording with requirements of West Havens status as an Alliance School District. The MARB also recommended that city receipt of restruction funds be conditioned on state receipt and acceptance of the citys five-year recovery plan and that the MARB find that the citys coming year budget conforms with the assumption and conditions in this resolution regarding property tax revenues and state revenues. The city must also budget sufficient amounts for health insurance, debt service, pensions and special education costs, as well as the sewer fund budget, and that revenues and expenditures for the City of West Haven Fire Department - Allingtown be balanced. PHILADELPHIA - Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is hitting the road to boost three candidates in Pennsylvania's May 15 primaries, clashing with Democratic Party forces at the state and federal levels in some of the year's most bitter races. "We are endorsing candidates at the federal, state and local level, all over this country, who are prepared to stand up for a progressive agenda, to run against big money interests, and to run grass-roots campaigns," Sanders said in an interview. "That's what these three candidates are doing. I happen to believe that the only way Democrats are going to win in those states is by running strong Democrats, progressive Democrats, who will stand up for the working class." On Friday and Saturday, Sanders will rally with John Fetterman, a candidate for lieutenant governor; Jess King, a nonprofit executive running for the 11th Congressional District; and Greg Edwards, a candidate in the 7th Congressional District. Edwards's race has become a smashmouth three-way battle between himself, a conservative Democrat, and a liberal candidate backed by Emily's List. King's race had been one of the highest-profile clashes between the party's left-wing base and its establishment, until court-ordered redistricting put her in a new right-leaning district. (She now faces no opponent May 15.) The Fetterman race has turned bitter, too. Fetterman, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2016, has angered some activists in Allegheny County, where he is mayor of the city of Braddock, by endorsing one fracking proposal in his city, and by endorsing an incumbent Democratic state legislator who's being opposed by a member of Democratic Socialists of America. Sanders had jumped into the fray anyway, and Fetterman was happy to have him. "He's the most popular polling Democrat in the country, and he's a leader of the progressive movement," said Fetterman. "I want to push back on that fracking thing. We're Democrats. We are supposed to look after working class families. If the mill that wants to do this goes under, that's 3000 jobs lost. All they need to do is drill two wells." Sanders also said that the fracking issue was no reason to reject Fetterman. "My view is that we've got to transform our energy system and move away from fossil fuels, and ban fracking from one side of this country to the other," said Sanders. "If John happens to disagree with me on that issue, then we disagree. What I do know is that John believes in Medicare for All, believes in raising the minimum wage, believes in pay equity." But Fetterman's opponents aren't sitting by while the candidate rallies with Sanders. Nina Ahmad, a former Philadelphia deputy mayor who jumped into the race this year, used the occasion to criticize Fetterman's 2013 handling of a situation near his home in Braddock. Fetterman, who said he'd heard gunfire while one of his children was playing outside, grabbed his shotgun, called 9-1-1, and confronted a mysterious man who claimed to have been merely jogging by. The jogger story re-emerged in 2016, during Fetterman's Senate bid. At the time, he suggested that one of his better-funded Democratic opponents was shopping the story around. This year, Ahmad is attacking Fetterman's judgment herself, with no filter. "As a brown person in this country, it's important that we understand that implicit bias is destroying lives," said Ahmad. "It's important that we hold people accountable. It doesn't matter if an incident happened years ago or yesterday." Fetterman defended his decisions from 2013. "When the rifle rounds started going off, I made three quick decisions: To get my little boy indoors, to call 9-1-1-, and to confront the suspect," he said. "This was three weeks after the Sandy Hook massacre." In one way, said Fetterman, the reappearance of the attack on his 2013 incident demonstrated how the ground had moved. In 2016, when the attack first circulated, he had not been able to secure key endorsements; Sanders, who had he backed in the 2016 presidential primary, did not come to the state to campaign for him. "There's not been any pressure on this campaign," he said. "From 2016 to now, my positions haven't changed. What have changed are the dynamics. In 2016, I had a 90 mph head wind coming at me, with unlimited money going to [party-backed candidate] Katie McGinty. And in this race that's not the case." Sanders's 24-hour Pennsylvania trip began with a visit to someone who had no election this year - Larry Krasner, the new district attorney in Philadelphia. On Friday afternoon, Krasner and Sanders sat down for an interview with Jacobin magazine and community activists, where Sanders praised the new DA for working to "end mass incarceration" and change the justice system from inside. But Krasner spent some of their time together criticizing Democrats who ran "as Republican lite," arguing that his party had been losing elections because voters did not have candidates they believed in. "Voting is habitual," said Krasner. "If you run candidates who excite people, and they go register to vote, they might do it again." Krasner looked across the table at Sanders, who was grinning widely. "I'm glad you're smiling," Krasner said. As he has sought to build anticipation for his high-stakes summit with Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump has delighted in dropping tantalizing hints about where the meeting will take place - maybe the Korean demilitarized zone! - and what can be achieved - perhaps a peace treaty! This week, the president, without direct prompting, casually raised another possibility, noting on Twitter that three Americans prisoners have been held in a North Korean labor camp. But, he suggested in a tweet, that could soon change: "Stay tuned!" Stay tuned. Who knows? We'll see what happens. The president likes to use such phrases to hype dramatic possibilities, even if some of them might not pan out or fall short of his grand pronouncements. But in the case of the Americans, Trump and some key surrogates have again shattered long-standing Washington protocols by speaking so openly about delicate negotiations on American detainees, potentially risking a last-minute setback or coming across as insensitive to the privacy of their families, according to former U.S. diplomatic and intelligence officials. "I think it is pretty obvious to anyone who has ever spent five minutes negotiating with the North Koreans that you do not announce things that have not happened," said Christopher Hill, a former State Department official who led the U.S. delegation in the Six-Party Talks with Pyongyang during the George W. Bush administration. "I understand they take pride in doing things differently," Hill said of Trump's team. "But this is serious business - people's lives are at stake. It just takes a little bit of discipline." On Friday, as he departed Washington for a day trip to Dallas, Trump reiterated his cryptic prediction in impromptu remarks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. He said the administration had worked out a date and location for the Kim meeting - though he declined to reveal them - and added that "a lot of good things have already happened with respect to the hostages." "And I think you're going to see very good things," Trump said. "As I said yesterday, stayed tuned." It wasn't just Trump who was predicting success with the prisoners - two of whom were detained since Trump took office, contrary to his inaccurate tweet which asserted that the Obama administration had failed to win the release of all three. On Thursday morning, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who has joined Trump's legal team, stated on a Fox News morning program, while defending Trump in the controversy surrounding adult film actress Stormy Daniels, that the Americans would be freed by the end of the day. They were not. Giuliani later confessed that he did not have any inside information and had not even spoken to Trump about it, saying he was basing his prediction on "newspaper accounts." "I wasn't made secretary of state, so I'm not conducting foreign policy," Giuliani told BuzzFeed News. "We made that comment in the context of, 'Will you stop interfering with this guy? He's got other things to do.'" The fate of the three Americans has been an important dynamic in the summit preparations. Trump agreed in March to meet Kim without declaring the release of Tony Kim, Kim Dong-chul and Kim Hak-song a prerequisite for the summit. North Korea has called the men "prisoners of war." Critics said Trump - who has railed about North Korea's brutal treatment of another detainee, American college student Otto Warmbier - missed an opportunity to enact an early concession from the Kim regime. Warmbier died last summer days after being released in a coma after 17 months in captivity after visiting Pyongyang on a tour; his parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier, have sued North Korea in federal court, charging that the regime "brutally tortured and murdered" their son. On Friday, Trump spoke with Warmbier's family, delivering a warm message and offering emotional support ahead of his summit with Kim, according to sources familiar with the call. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who as CIA director made a secret trip last month to meet Kim in Pyongyang, is said to have raised the issue of the detainees with the North Korean leader and administration officials have said talks are continuing to free them. Foreign policy experts said it is likely the North will release them as a goodwill gesture. However, they cautioned that even if Trump has a guarantee of their release, their physical condition remains unknown and speaking publicly about their fate could make the hostages a more important leverage point for Kim. "The more public you make it and the more you say something is going to happen that has not happened, it creates leverage for no reason," said Jung Pak, a former CIA official who now works as an Asia analyst for Brookings. "It's not going to get us anything, and it draws criticism that you are politicizing the detainees." Joseph Yun, who as the State Department's former point man on North Korea brought Warmbier home to Ohio, said on CNN Thursday that administration officials talking about the three Americans publicly could jeopardize efforts to free them. But speaking at the National Rifle Association conference in Dallas on Friday, Trump accused the Obama administration of having a general "policy of silence" when it came to North Korea. "Everybody said, 'Ohh, don't talk, please don't talk,'" Trump said. "'Don't talk! You may make them and him angry! Don't talk! If a horrible statement is made about the United States, don't say anything. No comment.'" He added dismissively: "Please, please, oh my God." In the weeks after Trump agreed to meet Kim, newspapers in Seoul were rife with unsourced reports that the three Americans would be released. The chatter picked up again Wednesday when the Financial Times quoted several South Korean advocates for hostages in the North that the Americans had been moved from the labor camps to reeducation facilities in Pyongyang as preparation for their handover to the United States. U.S. officials said they had no confirmation from Kim's regime. But the reports ricocheted around social media and were cheered by conservative news sites and Trump supporters as a win for the president. "BREAKING: North Korea has released all U.S. detainees at the request of President Trump," Ryan Fournier, the chairman of Students for Trump, wrote on Twitter to his 430,000 followers. The tweet, which as of Friday afternoon had garnered more than 37,000 retweets and 108,000 "likes," contained no sourcing. "When we talk about North Korea, in general, we tend to forget we're talking about people and these abductees have families who have been anxiously awaiting their return and are only relying on governments to do that," said Pak, the former intelligence official. "It would be best to be circumspect in discussions like this. We're talking about real lives." NORWALK Before an auditorium of Norwalk High Schools freshmen and seniors, U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith shared a handful of her poems dealing with nature and rebirth. It was the first stop of a full day, which included presentations at Brien McMahon High School and Norwalk Community College, a tour that took months of planning on the part of the Norwalk Education Foundation and other area organizations. Among the poems she shared with Norwalk students was The World Is Your Beautiful Younger Sister, an exploration of the metaphor in its title. Seeing her her as seldom as you do, it doesnt change, The ire, the shame, the fists you must remember To smooth flat just thinking what they did, What they promised, then took those men Who offered to pay, to keep, the clan of them Lording it over the others like high school boys ... After delivering the poem in calm but powerful cadences, Smith paused, then explained the metaphor had allowed her to play off of her frustration at the environments degradation. But upon writing the poem, she fell out of the metaphor and was able to examine her own words. She owned a gas-guzzling Land Rover, after all. So Im one of those men, right? And I think there are ways in which we all are, she said. Sometimes a poem is a way of saying, OK, do you want to be honest with yourself? More Information Peaches, Daisies, and Scars By Isabella Ranci Ortigosa When the long awaited warm winds arrived then, I sat in quandary, Between discontent and excitement Deluded over my loss of the joyous invernal season, Invigorated by my soon to sprout Milanese daisies, For my city to finally scream it's reawakening Taking each step closer to the gleaming Sun When the long dreaded stenching heat arrives I die in helplessness, Worried, numb, anxious, torn, Not equipped with the courage to show these marks, The hideous marks winter has branded my body with I cry and detest my limited freedom in this suburbia As fate takes each step closer to the treacherous Sun When the liberating hot Sun will remain I will grow winding vines and peaches will bloom, Daises will once again sprout Feelings of hatred, sorrow will wilt, Vines and such flora won't cover my mistakes Contrary, they will nourish me Bringing me peaceful solace under Spanish Moss. God is She By Eva Dupervil God is angelic She waits on her throne and stares at all of the people who disappointed her. She sits there and thinks. How can I love these people when they hate me. Her strength is tested. The knives that were used to stab her in the back created a map of where she should go. The sun rises by her command softly spoken in whispers. God was more awake than ever. She created a family full of dysfunction. She is a woman who can give birth to nations. But try not to undermine her because she is a woman. She is God too. She is capable of making everything come alive like flowers blooming in spring. Her bruises from giving birth are ugly scars in this nation. She is unappreciated. The taste of her lips is too sweet for us to understand such love, like wallflowers we rebuke it. Pain is easier to accept when that's all you feel you deserve. But God is a way out. She is a way out. She is the warmth of spring. A mother, daughter, sister, here to pick you up in her arms. She is always around you. Awaken By Izaac Ballard As the last survivor to represent my people, The word around town I shouldn't stay around. Cut off my characteristics that define me, Since it was declared it wasn't fit for me. When I attempt to strive to new heights I am told to be sent back to where I belong. Because of my roots, When I receive the same sunlight as you My color varies from yours But I am proud of it. My relatives varies from yours But I am proud of it. My roots varies from yours But I am proud of it. I am a proud Echinacea. See More Collapse When the reading had concluded and students cleared the auditorium, senior Izaac Ballard said he had been impressed by Smith and her ability to shift the perspective within a poem. Just when you think its one thing, it's something else, Ballard said. They were different than what I had expected, said Mya Graham, also a senior. The way she writes about the world and how she relates it to her life I had never seen a poem like that. Smiths visit to Norwalk not only gave students the opportunity to meet a poet laureate. It was also the inspiration of the Norwalk High School Senior Spring Poetry Writing Contest, which will become an annual tradition, according to Deborah Kopple, chair of the schools English Department. Both Ballard and Graham had entered, with Ballard winning third place. Isabella Ranci Ortigosa won first place and Eva Dupervil came in second. They really dove into using poetry to inspire, Kopple said of the students who entered the contest. It really reflects the artistry and diversity that is Norwalk High School. And it's amazing that theyre getting honored. Seniors who did not enter the competition also commented on Smiths ability to world to her personal life, and took the lesson to heart. Im a senior, and Im about to go to college, Chinari Campbell said. My life is really about to change. And it makes me think that challenges are going to come, but its about how you think about it and how you get through them to keep moving and never be stuck. Smith said her job as U.S. poet laureate was to raise the public awareness to a greater appreciation of poetry. She has made it a point not to stick to speaking at universities, where many poets are asked to go. When she met with students in schools cafe after her presentation, she shared some moments of her journey between encountering poetry in textbooks and becoming a poet herself. Oddly enough, when I was in high school, most of the writers that we read were dead, she said. So I didnt really know any writers. It wasnt until she got to college that she found the world of poetry readings and other students who wanted to be writers. It all became very possible seeming. Her tour of Norwalk had a similar impact on younger poets. It feels nice meeting someone whos up there, Ballard said. Youre aware of their presence. For her most recent book, Wade in the Water, Smith said she had wrestled with the theme of history. Were living in a moment maybe this is always apparent to smart people but I feel like I just realized, a lot of things history told us were resolved, as Americans, are not resolved. Senior student Sahmra Sawyer nodded emphatically. I think what she said about slavery and people not getting what they deserved is super important because theres definitely a lot of unfinished business, she reflected as Smith headed off share her poetry with more of Norwalk. rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz NASAs Mars InSight spacecraft, scheduled to launch on Saturday, is headed to one of the most boring places on the Red Planet. Its landing spot will be Elysium Planitia, an idyllically named expanse that will most likely be flat as far as the spacecrafts eyes can see no mountains in the distance, probably not even many large rocks nearby. We picked something as close to a 100-kilometer-long parking lot as we could find anywhere, said Bruce Banerdt, the missions principal investigator. He said that one of his colleagues described it as Kansas without the corn. Which is exactly what the scientists want. InSight the name is a compression of the missions full name, Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport is in many ways a diversion from follow the water, the mantra that has kept NASA focused on the possibility that the suns fourth planet may have once been hospitable for life. This mission will instead probe the mysteries of Mars deep interior and help answer geophysical questions about the planets structure, composition and how it formed. Since there was not much interest in what InSight will find at the surface, a safe that is, flat landing spot was selected. Mars is, like Earth, largely rock. But it is considerably smaller half as wide as Earth and one-ninth the mass. A cubic foot of Mars weighs, on average, 245 pounds, making it almost 30 percent less dense than Earth. (Because Mars is smaller, the gravity is weaker, and the center is not squeezed as tightly.) It was only in 2003 that scientists, delving into tiny variations in Mars gravitational pull on one of NASAs orbiting spacecraft, concluded that the core must still be at least partly molten. Many other details remain unknown. How often does the ground shake with marsquakes? Just how big is the core? How thick is the crust? How much heat is flowing out? We know some, but we dont know a lot, Banerdt said. The new mission aims to provide foundational information of the planets history and its activity, he added. Im looking forward to making the first map of the inside of the planet. The 1,380-pound spacecraft is currently sitting on top of an Atlas 5 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Launch is scheduled at 4:05 a.m. local time on Saturday, and the southward trajectory could offer a predawn light show for early risers in Los Angeles and San Diego. Tagging along for the ride is Mars Cube One two briefcase-size satellites that are to test communications technologies for relaying signals from InSight to Earth. This will be the first time such small satellites, known as CubeSats, have been sent on an interplanetary journey. If weather or other issues prevent a Saturday launch, NASA has additional opportunities over the next five weeks to get InSight off the ground before Mars and Earth move too far out of alignment. Even if the launch slips, InSights arrival date at Mars remains the same: Nov. 26. After landing, InSight will take a few months to deploy two instruments: a dome-shaped package containing seismometers and a heat probe that will hammer itself about 16 feet into the Martian soil. The $814 million mission hinges on detecting something that has never been definitively detected before: Marsquakes. That is not for lack of trying. NASAs two Viking landers in the 1970s carried seismometers. Only the one aboard Viking 2 was successfully deployed. But it was mounted on the spacecraft, and not placed on the ground, so it ended up measuring the buffeting of wind gusts rather than marsquakes. They may not have observed any Martian tremors yet, and there is nothing like the San Andreas fault or the sliding of tectonic plates on Mars, but scientists are confident that temblors course around and through the planet. The planet is cooling and shrinking, and its crust most likely occasionally cracks, setting off a marsquake up to magnitude 6.0 or maybe even 7.0. Similar rumblings are known to occur on Earths moon, which is smaller than Mars. Moonquakes were recorded by seismometers placed on the surface by NASA astronauts during the Apollo moon landings. The hope is that InSight will record enough marsquakes to generate what is essentially a sonogram of the planet. The instrument can measure surface movements less than the width of a hydrogen atom. Not only can it detect the vibrations of a distant marsquake, it can also detect the even fainter vibrations of waves circling Mars the second time around. That sensitivity and multiple measurements are needed to figure out where the marsquake occurred, within a few tens of kilometers. Scientists expect at least 10 to 12 marsquakes over two years, the length of the spacecrafts primary mission. Additional seismic events could be generated by meteors slamming into the surface. By piecing together a three-dimensional image of the planets interior, the researchers expect they will finally know how thick the outer crust of Mars is. From gravity measurements of orbiting spacecraft, scientists can discern which parts are relatively thicker and thinner, but they have no ruler to put a precise thickness at any particular location. The average crust thickness could be as little as 20 miles or as much as 50 miles. (The Earths crust along ocean bottoms is, by contrast, 3 to 5 miles thick.) InSights second instrument, a heat probe, is about 1 1/2-feet long and an inch wide. It needs to burrow deep enough to be insulated from the temperature variations of Mars days and seasons. Behind it is a tether that remains connected to the spacecraft, and sensors along the tether will measure how the temperature changes with depth. The probe will also send out brief pulses of warmth that will be detected by the temperature sensors. That will indicate how well heat flows through Martian soil. A third experiment takes advantage of the onboard radio communications system to measure within a few inches the distance from a radio antenna on Earth to the spacecraft on Mars, tens of millions of miles away. Its really excellent precision, said Suzanne Smrekar, the deputy principal investigator for the mission. With that precision, scientists can track the wobbling in Mars spin. The sloshing of liquid deep inside the planet affects the pace and magnitude of the wobble. The measurements will help pin down the diameter of the core, currently estimated at 2,200 miles. Deputies are asking for the public's help identifying a body they found a year ago on the Southeast Side of Bexar County. The woman's badly decomposed body was found April 30, 2017, in the 8500 block of South W.W. White Road. When Robert Serna, 33, was ambushed and killed during an OfferUp exchange, a surveillance camera caught the entire thing, police said. The video helped police identify the suspects in connection to the slaying, according to an arrest affidavit. Two of the suspects, Stephanie Lopez and Michael Henderson were arrested on suspicion of capital murder April 26. On Thursday, police arrested their third capital murder suspect, 21-year-old Daquan Tyree Watson. His arrest affidavit revealed additional details about the killing. READ MORE: Suspects arrested in fatal ambush killing of Robert Serna on Hot Wells Boulevard San Antonio police found Serna in the parking lot suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds shortly after midnight on April 20. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead at about 2 a.m. Investigators learned Serna went to the motel to buy a speaker and an amplifier from Lopez. The two agreed to the exchange on "OfferUp," a resell app, police said. Detectives also quickly discovered that the shooting was captured on one of the motel's surveillance camera, the affidavit shows. The footage showed Serna talking to a woman when two men in hoodies drew their guns on Serna and robbed him, according to the affidavit. Despite Serna having his hands raised in the air during the robbery, the men shot him and he fell to the floor while the suspects took off with the woman captured in the video, authorities said. Police tracked down that car and located Lopez and Henderson, who were arrested in April. Each suspect admitted to being there during the OfferUp exchange, according to the affidavit. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA A father and son were caught transporting 50 pounds of high-grade marijuana in San Marcos on Thursday, according to police. Jack Madison Maniscalco Jr., 57, and Dean Maniscalco, 22, were arrested during a traffic stop in the 200 block of Sessom Drive. In addition to the narcotics, the two also had $26,000 in cash and a police radio, according to a news release from the police department. A line of strong thunderstorms will pass through the San Antonio area Friday, bringing with it the chance for flash flooding and small hail, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service. The thunderstorms are expected to hit San Antonio sometime between 9 a.m. and noon and remain in the area until the evening. On average, meteorologists expect Bexar County to receive between 1 and 3 inches of rain, though some very isolated areas could receive up to 5 or 6 inches. The three teenagers accused in the fatal shooting of a 54-year-old man in January had initially planned to commit an armed robbery netting them 1 ounce of marijuana, but their plan went awry when the victim fought back, according to court records. The three suspects -- Joseph Edward Hernandez, 19; Luis Oscar Paz, 19; and Jakob Harris, 18 -- face murder charges in the Jan. 17 death of Jose Cintron at a home in the 24000 block of Invitation Oak. Hernandez and Paz remain in the Bexar County Jail, while Harris was arrested by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in West Texas, where he was working in an oil field. RELATED: Massage therapist sexually assaulted woman during session at S.A.-area spa, suit says According to an arrest affidavit, text messages between Paz and Harris show the three teens planned to rob a man of at least three ounces of marijuana. Police said Paz told Harris that Hernandez had set up the "lick." The three met at Hernandez's home, then drove to the victim's house in the 24000 block of Invitation Oak with two other women, who are not identified, the affidavit says. A woman let Hernandez in through the front door and the transaction began inside a bedroom, according tot he affidavit. Hernandez handed the would-be robbery victim $190 cash and the victim gave him just one ounce of marijuana. Hernandez pulled a gun out and demanded the money back. As the victim handed it over, he attacked Hernandez in an effort to remove the gun from his hands, the affidavit says. Hernandez fired once, striking the victim in the left arm, and fled down the stairs, where he encountered Jose Cintron, who was armed with a handgun. The two exchanged gunfire, and Cintron was fatally shot in the torso, police said. RELATED: Report: Columbine-inspired teens planned mass shooting at Uvalde middle school Hernandez then fled from the house into the car occupied by Harris, who had been waiting outside during the planned robbery. It is unclear whether Paz had waited outside the home or in the getaway car. Harris later told investigators that Hernandez gave him his gun and told him to dispose of it. Deputies with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office arrested Hernandez days after the fatal shooting. He gave them Harris's name, and Harris later gave them Paz's name. It is unclear if the two women involved will face criminal charges. 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 Helotes man who was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a double shooting that killed a 19-year-old woman and wounded her girlfriend is awaiting the results of a DNA test his attorney said will clear him of the crime, according to a Corpus Christi Caller-Times report. David Strickland, who was arrested in his Helotes home in 2014, was convicted in September 2016 for a 2012 shooting at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. SAN ANTONIO - A third person was arrested Thursday accused of fatally shooting a man during an ambush last month. Daquan Watson, 21, faces a charge of murder in the death of Robert Serna, 33, according to the San Antonio Police Department. He was also charged with evading arrest, police said. Serna was found with several gunshot wounds at about 1 a.m. April 20 outside a Motel 6 in the 700 block of Hot Wells Boulevard. RELATED: BCSO: Inmate accused of child sex crime dies Investigators determined that he had gone there after arranging to buy speakers via OfferUp, a mobile application used to purchase and sell goods. Police said the incident was a setup by Watson and two others including Michael Henderson, 25, and Stephanie Lopez, 35, who were arrested April 26. Lopez allegedly met with Serna, who was them ambushed by Watson and Henderson. RELATED: Suspect arrested in 10-hour standoff was 'Asian Jade' Serna was taken to an area hospital where he later died, according to preliminary information from a police report. Police arrested Watson Thursday morning near the 8000 block of Shumard Oak after he was spotted among three other people near a wrecked, stolen vehicle. Watson tried to run but was apprehended by police moments later, the report states. Both Henderson and Lopez were still in jail as of Thursday evening, according to county records. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA It was a clear and simple message Serving Humanity to Honor God. Its simplicity drew me in because it connected with my sense of purpose and because it reminded me of my why? Why nursing? Friends and family asked me, Why nursing? when I announced my choice of study. That question remains persistent to this day, and yet always the answer returns to that simple, clear statement: Serving Humanity to Honor God. I came across the Methodist Mission Statement during my formative years as I searched for my first nursing position. Back then, I naively believed I would walk into any hospital and, overnight, my personal purpose my inner mission would become a reality. While in nursing school, I was overwhelmed by a culture shock of expedited health care. It seemed everyone was engaged in a race against the clock. Doctors flew in and out of patient rooms like frantic, wild birds, their white coats billowing like flapping wings. Patient care assistants bolted into patient rooms like mini-tornados, gathering up items from the floor, strapping blood pressure cuffs on arms, bathing patients, and carrying armloads of linen up and down hallways. Frantic nurses pushed their med carts while worrying about administering medication on time. As a newbie, I watched silently as patients lay helpless on hospital beds. As staff entered their rooms, some smiled at finally having some company, eagerly trying to make conversation. Others just yearned for simple eye contact. Some of my nursing preceptors told of feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, overworked and unappreciated. Others simply approached their work in a scripted way, using the same approach for every patient in both dialogue and assessment. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. Fortunately, fate placed me in the hands of an exceptional charge nurse. During my orientation, I had heard complaints about her strictness, her cold exterior and her demanding expectations. I shadowed her through those days, and I witnessed a transformation of personality as she worked directly with her patients. She treated each one with respect and tenderness, always making a point of getting to know a little about their personal concerns. She had a personal point of contact in every department within our facility. If patients were ever in need of something, all it took was one simple phone call. I began to understand the respect that she had earned from staff, as well as from physicians, came from her genuine concern and personal commitment to each of her patients. I concluded that to make my mission a reality, this could be possible only through one thing teamwork. A team committed to that simple statement that had attracted me so many years ago. The Methodist core values, used in treating not only our patients but also ourselves, allow us to achieve a holistic balance needed in our lives. During National Nurses Week, which is next week I urge fellow nurses to reflect on their purpose and their personal mission statement. Belinda J. Urdiales is a registered nurse at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. She won the 2018 Metropolitan Methodist Innovator Award for Quality/Clinical Excellence. Re: San Antonio isnt an ideal place for rapid transit system, Randal OToole, Other Views, April 27 Professional transit critic Randal OToole claims that various forms of public transportation are slow, costly and flops. Lets step back and look at these assertions in terms of what people want. According to a research summary in the HuffPost, people say the ideal one-way commute is about 15 minutes. The vast majority of people do not want to work at home. Where people have a choice, pedestrians and cyclists are the most satisfied with their commute, with rail transit users second. Driving an automobile is the least satisfying, most stressful and least healthy way to commute. A study of 4,297 commuters in 12 counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin areas found that the farther the drive to work, the worse the cardiorespiratory fitness and the greater the body mass index, blood pressure and indicators of metabolic risk. Beyond the health risk, with more than 40,000 U.S. traffic fatalities last year, the economic losses from traffic fatalities and injuries are typically three times those of traffic congestion. An auto commuter can reduce his or her chance of being in an accident by more than 90 percent by taking public transit. Because people, in fact, prefer walking, the city of San Antonios new sidewalk policy is spot on. So is the citys Complete Streets policy and efforts to create walkable neighborhoods, as well as planning for rail transit. Mr. OTooles statistics about overall transit speeds are correct. However, faster is not always better. The National Transportation Safety Board found that speed increases both the likelihood of a vehicle crash and the severity of injuries. The Federal Highway Administration has put San Antonio on a list of focus cities for its high rate of pedestrian traffic accidents. The city has responded by joining the global Vision Zero movement to eliminate traffic fatalities. Residents tried to take matters into their own hands by illegally painting crosswalks. Neighborhoods keep asking for speed bumps. A pedestrian is more than four times more likely to be killed if struck by a vehicle traveling at 35 mph than 20 mph. Then there is the direct cost. The Pew Charitable Trusts has noted the share of household income consumed on transportation increased from 1996 to 2014, with the amount spent on gasoline and motor oil doubling over that period. This does not include annual road subsidies estimated to cost the typical household about $1,100 per year over and above the costs of gas taxes, tolls and other user fees. Since households are having a problem affording auto transportation, some sources are suggesting that peak car has been reached in the U.S. Car manufacturers are shifting to a mobility-as-a-service business model as an alternative to private car ownership. Many subprime loans allowed financially strapped households to purchase cars, which may help explain the dip in transit ridership and the bankruptcies of smaller lenders. Mr. OToole and others have pointed out that ride-hailing services such as Lyft and Uber may also contribute to the change in transit use. It is a good thing that technology has enabled a convenient and less costly ride-hailing form of transportation to emerge at a time when the familiar auto-highway system seems to be waning. It also allows transit systems to more easily reallocate service to high volume routes. Mr. OToole seems to suggest that because annual transit ridership in San Francisco has fallen to only 452 million trips, it is a failure. That is nothing compared to the $2.8 billion Katy Freeway expansion in Houston that clearly caused auto congestion to worsen. If Houston and Dallas follow through with plans to take down some of their elevated freeways, would Mr. OToole count these as successes? Bill Barker is an adjunct associate professor in the Urban and Regional Planning Program at UTSA and a member of the board of imagineSanAntonio, a public policy institute for research, education, discussion and implementation. He is the only professional in San Antonio recognized as a fellow in both the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the American Institute of Certified Planners of the American Planning Association. It was important for Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff to make it clear that rail is not part of their burgeoning transit plan. For months, the two had signaled this message, suggesting a preference for bus rapid transit and the possibilities of emerging technology, dubbed trackless trains. But it needed to be said loud and clear. Too many people were equating transit with rail most recently, in comments from District 1 City Councilman Roberto Trevino. This was never a rail plan. San Antonio loses nothing by nixing rail from this plan, and it still has much to gain. OPINION: San Antonio should grow wings -- light rail The public will still get to vote on the transit plan in 2019, likely during the May municipal election. Without rail in the plan, technically, there would not need to be a public vote. But that wouldnt be right. The people of San Antonio need to embrace, or reject, any vision for improving transit and addressing congestion. The plan will be based on designated lanes. That is, buses or trackless trains (picture light rail cars on rubber tires) would operate in their own lanes separate from vehicle traffic. This is the promise of faster service. Theres no getting stuck in rush hour traffic. And if San Antonio ever wanted to develop a light rail line, it could potentially convert a designated lane to tracks. Likewise, a designated lane could always be converted to a carpool lane or a normal traffic lane. RELATED: Don't give up on Lone Star rail initiative Nirenberg and Wolff are opting for flexibility and almost certainly lower costs than rail. While rail is fixed, routes for bus rapid transit or trackless trains could be adjusted based on need. They are also, generally, viewed as significantly less expensive transit options. The emergence of automated trackless train technology out of China is especially compelling. A battery-powered trackless train unveiled there last year mimics the light rail experience, can reach a speed of 43 miles per hour and is cheaper than rail options, according to various news reports. When Nirenberg talks about a future-proof transit plan, hes talking about developments like this. Still. The plan needs much more definition. ANOTHER TAKE: Rail not the transit that San Antonio needs VIA Metropolitan Transit has mapped out seven proposed high-speed transit corridors that would blanket this city. The corridors look good. They link major institutions and reflect where people drive. But specific routes have not been determined. In general terms, the corridors would serve the communitys key institutions and employment centers, linking universities, the airport and military bases. The public needs to know specific routes and the general timeline for construction. The funding source is also unclear. At present, VIA receives half a cent in sales tax revenue as well as a portion of Advanced Transportation District sales tax revenues. But similar transit networks in Houston, Dallas and Austin receive a full penny in sales tax revenue. Shifting additional sales tax to VIA would mean finding ways to fund other local priorities such as aquifer protection. Transit is a hard sell in this community, but its a crucial issue that needs to be addressed. The region is expected to add 1 million additional residents by 2040. A robust transit plan would ensure mobility in the face of that growth. It would also potentially facilitate economic development, ease congestion and even help improve air quality. Whether this transit plan does that remains to be seen. But it deserves an open mind. I had recently submitted a Letter to the Editor suggesting Mr. Popovichs nick name be expanded from Pop to Pop-Off because of his frequent political diatribes during Spurs press conferences. My wife and I are both cancer survivors and supporters of several cancer-related charities, including ThriveWell, an organization in San Antonio that helps support families facing a battle with that horrible disease. My wife is an ongoing volunteer at ThriveWell which is one of the organizations suggested by Mr Popovich for tributes to his wife. We will be further contributing to ThriveWell and share the grief of the Popovich family. Al Richter Fighting addiction The time has come for San Antonio to embrace the needle exchange program. We must start actively tackling problems instead of trying to ignore them away. Preventing infectious diseases and fighting the disease of addiction can be done best by making contact in a compassionate and friendly encounter. If law enforcement were a solution, we would have seen results by now. Mark Porter Shutting the door Let me get this straight. San Antonio has become so partisan that it doesnt care to bid for the Republican National Convention, despite a major Republican operative from here begging for it. Mayor Nirenberg seems to be sitting on his hands, citing dubious facts about conventions losing money, while Julian Castro tweets that Republicans are unwelcome here. This is news to me. To Castro, illegals get the welcome mat, and Republican Americans are shown the door. So all Republicans need to leave San Antonio? You see, Castro loves free speech, unless you disagree. Even San Francisco isnt that obtuse. I dont think the mayor or Castro speak for most in San Antonio, not the San Antonio I know. Then you have Phil Hardberger insinuating all Latinos here are hostile to Donald Trump. Just another liberal Anglo speaking for all Latinos; how condescending and tiresome. Almost 30 percent of Latinos voted for Trump nationwide and in Bexar County. Everyone used to get along in San Antonio, and there was civil discourse, which I loved. Now we have the Castros, who are to the left of Fidel and make Trump seem classy, and a mayor who ran as a moderate governing to the left of Nancy Pelosi. We also have a city that now seems unwelcoming to anyone but Democrats. The mayors slow to non-existent pursuit of the convention is bad optics for a city trying to attract tourists and Fortune 500 companies. This is embarrassing. Is this the face we want to show the nation? We welcome you as long as you have a donkey on your lapel. Its ironic that the progressives, who crow about free speech and inclusion, say people are unwelcome if they dont tow their line, thus becoming the very people they want to exclude. Shannon Deason Look it up I wish people would go to their dictionary and look up the words liberal and conservative. Calling someone liberal is actually very flattering. They think they are being insulting. Saying it in an insulting way gives it the wrong definition. Vicki Seiffert Boredom on parade Re: Longing for the past, Your Turn, April 28: I totally agree with the comments about the disappointing River Parade. I am also a native San Antonian, and it seems that the River Parades get blander every year. Since last years parade was less than spectacular, we were not going to attend this year, but decided to give it one more try. Our instincts were correct; this parade was even worse than last years. There seemed to be fewer decorated floats and more dinner barges with 20 to 30 people politely waving at the crowds waiting for real excitement and something to cheer about. The music from the inadequate sound systems on the floats was lost in the outdoor environment. I saw an article that stated over 12,000 man-hours were spent on the floats. I think that this was either an exaggeration or a misprint. We have decided to never attend another boring River Parade. Hopefully, something will change to make this an exciting parade again. Don Smith, Fair Oaks Ranch Critical knowledge Re: Yes, San Antonians do have a stake in Gaza events, Moureen Kaki, Harry Gunkel and Judith Norman, Another View, April 27: Thank you for publishing this commentary, a well-informed perspective from people who clearly have experience in human rights work. I was glad to read their views on why San Antonians should care about human rights violations in Palestine. As residents of a place named military city, it is essential we understand what our military aid is used for, and are critical of its misuse by our own government and by Israel. Please continue to publish such work! Erin Fanning Madden, PhD, Public Health Program, Department of Sociology, University of Texas-San Antonio Ranting on Fox To quote Stormy Daniels attorney, I think Donald Trump should appear on Fox and Friends every day and be allowed to rant and rave for 30 minutes. This action would be most enlightening and illustrate the real man behind his projected image. Chuck Mire William Luther /San Antonio Express-News The leaders of the Government Hill Alliance Neighborhood Association have withstood an attempted takeover so far by residents who say the neighborhood isnt doing enough to control the new development sweeping through San Antonios urban core. The city continues to recognize the existing board, led by president Rose Hill, said Veronica Soto, director of the citys Neighborhood and Housing Services Department. The city recognizes whomever is listed as the associations leaders in official documents, and state nonprofit records show that Hill is still president, she said. - President Buhari called on Nigerian youths to look into agriculture - The president said a lot of opportunities were available in the sector - He said six US agricultural companies were planning to expand to Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a message to Nigerian youths urging them to go to agriculture as that is where the future of the country is heading. The president said this during his meeting with six agricultural companies in the US on Monday, April 30. In a statement issued by Garba Shehu who is the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity on Tuesday, May 1, President Buhari said there will be abundant opportunities for youths in the agricultural sector. READ ALSO: Police react to twin bomb blast in Adamawa He noted that his discussion with the six US agricultural companies would yield jobs for the youths as the companies were planning to set up branches in Nigeria. Read the statement below: President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his call on youths in Nigeria to seize opportunities in agriculture, a sector of the economy he said is already proving to be the bedrock of the nations new economy. Speaking on Monday at Blair House, Washington DC after his White House engagements with President Donald Trump, the President, at a meeting the Chief Executive Officers of six American agricultural companies and their Nigerian counterparts including Aliko Dangote and John Coumantaros, again lamented the challenges of the countrys youth bulge, with sixty per cent of the population below 30 years. He said the country must help the young people to plan their future and urged them to explore opportunities easily accessible in agriculture because, as he said, agriculture is the future. While stressing that planning in Nigeria must take into consideration the factors of climate and a bulging youth population, President Buhari also promised the support of his administration in the promotion of skill development, innovation and entrepreneurship among the young population. According to him, We realized, rather belatedly that we ought to have been investing in agriculture. We are now aiming at food security because of our large population. Our youths, the ones who have gone to school and even those that have not, should go to the farm, to earn respect for themselves. Agriculture is providing jobs for millions of our citizens and we are doing well towards the attainment of food security and jobs. The media may not appreciate the work we are doing but we will shock them by the success we are recording. President Buhari welcomed the several investment proposals being put in place by the Americans and their Nigerian counterparts. Among those brought up for discussions were the three million tons fertilizer by Dangote, the largest in Africa coming on stream in July, to be followed by another one to produce 1.4 million tons of the commodity; a large-scale modern seed production company, and weed and pest management and chemicals products companies by the Americans. Similarly, the Burger King food chain with plans to integrate local farmers in livestock production; the Heinz tomatoes production, with backward integration of Nigerian tomato farmers; and another company coming to set up a local branch to facilitate merchandising of commodities, in effect establishing a link between the Nigerian producers and the global market. A tractor manufacturing company, John Deer, also unfolded a plan for an assembly plant to produce 10,000 tractors in four years in Nigeria. They will all come with jobs for Nigerians. In a second business meeting same day, President Buhari brought together Nigerian businessmen and their American counterparts from the U.S Chamber of Commerce and the Corporate Council on Africa, (CCA.) The U.S Chamber, on behalf of its three million member-companies which included General Electric, Chevron, Proctor and Gamble and Boeing aircraft manufacturers, expressed happiness with improved security in the Niger Delta, reforms in the economy leading to ease in doing business, and the war the administration is waging against corruption. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Several of the oncoming plans were disclosed to the President who demanded concrete plans and an aggressive timetable for their actualization. He envisaged that the investment schemes will lead to a lot of new opportunities for the Nigerian youth. Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a hardworking female graduate took to social media to call out President Muhammadu Buhari for accusing Nigerian youths of being lazy. The young lady identified as Adebisi Aderonke on Facebook, disclosed that she is a business owner and not lazy as the president claimed. Aderonke added that she is also a graduate of Tai Solarin University of Education. African Drum Festival 2018: Nigerian youths show Buhari that they are not lazy - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng The importance of girl child education in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Education is a basic right for all people regardless of gender, age, and nationality. Why does Nigerian society still neglect it? The more educated women live in a country, the wealthier it becomes. Many Nigerian girls and women suffer due to illiteracy The girl-child education in Nigeria doesnt look so promising for now. Unfortunately, the importance of education among girls is underestimated. This fact causes lots of problems for every family and the country in general. According to statistics, 60% of Nigerians live very poorly. It makes them survive sacrificing their needs, wishes, and aspirations. Even if they have a chance to educate their off-springs, a boy will get an education rather than a girl. It can be explained by a dominant status given to males in traditions in Nigeria and religion as well. READ ALSO: About 75 million Nigerians are illiterate - Minister of education Rural illiterate girls are married off very early Early marriage can be a trap. Young girls get pregnant without even realizing how it is harmful and sometimes fatal for their lives. They hardly cope with a proper upbringing of kids as no one taught them how to do it as well. Dozens of health problems may be experienced by these young gilrs. There is a high risk of getting sick with AIDS. Furthermore, domestic violence is a common problem which cannot be handled by illiterate women. It goes without saying, how essential the importance of girl-child education is. A great emphasis has been put on compulsorily basic education during recent times. It would be a big step ahead if all citizens have access to knowledge. Women education as a key to a better life Girl-child education is a primary thing that should be cultivated worldwide. For instance, in all European countries, girls start getting an education at a very early age finishing it at the age of 23-25 or even later. After that, she is ready for marriage, babies and taking care of her family, if that is what she wants. It has been proven that a girl reaching the age of 25 is fully physically and mentally formed. The government should take measures to provide all citizens with at least primary education. It will change the current situation, and people will be twice happier. Education brings light to lives. READ ALSO: The most educated states in Nigeria Source: Legit.ng - Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun has disclosed that the implementation of the TSA led to the discovery of N1.6 billion in a single account - She said close to 100% compliance has been achieved by the 1,678 MDAs enrolled into the policy so far - However, the minister did not disclose the identity of those that lodged the money and the commercial bank involved Kemi Adeosun, Nigerias minister of finance has disclosed how the sum of N1.6 billion was recovered from an unidentified account in a single branch of a certain bank, by the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). She made the disclosure during an appearance before the Abubakar Nuhu Damburam-led committee probing the level of implementation of the federal governments TSA policy, Independent reports. Legit.ng gathers that the minister explained that the feat was achieved by a consulting firm engaged by the Ministry of Finance. READ ALSO: GEJ administration responsible for rot in health sector - Buhari Adeosun made her comments following concerns raised by the Danburam committee that consultants were paid N540 million for a job that could have been handled by federal auditors at no cost to the government. The minister said close to 100% compliance had been achieved by the 1,678 MDAs enrolled into the policy so far; pointing out that the money spent engaging consultants has yielded tremendous results even though it would be difficult to achieve 100 percent compliance. She insisted that the federal government is getting good value for the money spent on engaging the 17 consulting firms, though she did not disclose the identity of those that lodged the money and the commercial bank involved. The minister further disclosed that an additional N400 million excess charges was also recovered into the TSA from one of the commercial banks, by the consultants. However, Adeosun also admitted that the TSA has yet to capture some dollar denominated accounts like those of foreign missions and the Nigerian National petroleum corporation (NNPC). PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app In a related development, Legit.ng previously reported that Isiaka Abdulrazaq, the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said that the introduction of the Treasury Single Account in August, 2015 reduced the number of accounts managed by the corporation from over 2000 to less than 200. The TSA, which is a centralised federal government revenue account kept by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was proposed and only partially implemented in 2012 but was effected fully by the Buhari-led administration in 2015. Minister of industry says economy is improving; Nigerians disagree - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - The leaders of the the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement will hold a mock election for presidential candidates from the North - Buhari, Atiku, Kwankwaso, Makarfi, Lamido, Dankwambo and Tambuwal are listed as participants in the upcoming polls - The mock election would last for 60 days, and its aim is to feel the pulse of the youth from the north and eventually decide on a most prospective candidate Mock elections would be held for all the presidential aspirants from the North including President Muhammadu Buhari, leaders of the the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement (ACYM) announced on Thursday, May 3. The development was made public by the ACYM president, Comrade Kabiru Yusuf, as he delivered his acceptance speech. Yusuf said the poll would be conducted in order to get a presidential candidate that shared the same vision with the youths, Daily Trust reports. READ ALSO: TSA led to discovery of N1.6bn in a single account - Adeosun Legit.ng notes that other presidential aspirants listed are former vice president Atiku Abubakar; Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe state; Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state; former Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; former governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido. Yusuf stated: Several politicians and aspirants from the North have indicated interest in the forth-coming 2019 presidential election. We shall, in due course, conduct a mock election with a view to feeling the pulse of the youth from the North and eventually deciding on a most prospective candidate. The mock election will soon commence on our website and will last for a period of 60 days before the announcement of results. I enjoin all of us to think critically about this before we make our choice and also mobilise for him. There cannot be a better chance for us to contribute to give Nigeria the kind of leadership it deserves in this 21st century. The abject poverty and insecurity in the North must be tackled head-on, and it is our responsibility. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app In a related development, Legit.ng previously reported that Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former chairman, national caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was urged to run for the presidency in 2019, by the Arewa Concerned Youths and Development (ACYD. The chairman of the group, Ibrahim Suleiman, who addressed a news conference comprising representatives from the 19 northern states and the Federeal Capital Territory, stated that they had agreed unanimously, to back Makarfi for the nations top political office. The conference was convened to highlight Makarfis various strides in the political field. The next president of Nigeria. Who will win the 2019 elections? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has called for a new effective party - According to him, the existing dominant political parties cannot lead Nigeria to the Promised Land - He said the country needs a leader who is visionary, who can move the country from where it is to where it should be Senator Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) has stated that there is a need for the emergence of a new political party which would take Nigeria to the Promised Land, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot. Speaking at the symposium organised on Thursday, May 3, by the Magodo Associates, Sani said the new party should consist of intellectuals, the working class and youths. The symposium held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos, Punch reports. Legit.ng gathers that Sani said none of the existing major political parties in the country could do the job; hence, there was need for a new party. The senator opined that the APC is built around President Muhammadu Buhari; but that this integrity is not enough to govern a plural country like Nigeria. READ ALSO: 2019: Arewa youths to hold mock election for Northern presidential candidates He stated: What we have here is one man whose major asset is integrity; but how many within that camp can also beat their chests and say they are as credible as he is? We are talking about building a nation and moving it forward, but can just the integrity of the president move the nation to the Promised Land? When we are talking about the qualities of leadership, if only integrity and credibility is what you need to be in public office integrity or credibility is just one of so many things a leader needs, especially in a troublesome country like Nigeria. There as lot of things a leader needs. We need a leader that can give every person the confidence that he is going to be fair and just. We also need a leader who is visionary, who can move the country from where it is to where it should be. He urged intellectuals to move forward and not be scared of the political terrain. The existing dominant political parties cannot lead us to the Promised Land; there is a need for a progressive political class to come together, reach out to the academics, the intelligentsia, the working class, come out together with a party that is run on a certain ideology," he added. Sani also pointed out that fighting corruption cannot be the only objective or the idea and only focus of a government. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that Senator Shehu Sani described the All progressives Congress (APC) as a reluctant party. While delivering a lecture at a programme in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Sani said the APC had contradictions within its fold. Also describing the Peoples Democratic (PDP) as a timid opposition, Sani said the party has failed to play its roles in the present administration. He said the only reason PDP was formed was to pursue the military out of power in 1999 while APC aimed at driving the former president Goodluck Jonathan out of power in 2015. Can SDP end Nigeria's woes? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - A top Christian group has threatened massive protest over the killings in the Middle Belt region - The group called on the federal government to halt the killings in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and other states - According to Simeon Okah, the vice president of PFN, the FG has one month to address the issue The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) on Thursday, May 3, threatened to embark on a massive protest across Nigeria within one month should the killing in Middle Belt region continue. PFN said if the federal government fails to halt the killings of Christians in the region, its members will take to the streets in protest. Vanguard reports that the vice president of PFN, Simeon Okah, said there has been an increased number of killings across Nigeria in the past three years. READ ALSO: 2019: Northern youths plan mock presidential election for Buhari, Atiku, Kwankwaso, others; reveal details According to Okah, the killings are more than the number of those killed by members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect since their advent. He said: They want to see that anybody who mentions Jesus in the region is cleared and I can give proof of this. Apart from the Middle Belt, we all know that there are killings all over the country. There were killings before President Muhammadu Buhari came into power, but you would agree with me that the number of killings in the last three years when added together is higher than the killings carried out by Boko Haram since the advent of the group." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, appeared before the State House of Assembly. Ortom while making his appearance before the lawmakers said 18 local government areas in the state have been invaded by suspected herdsmen. He also said that the incessant attacks by the suspected herdsmen have led to the killings of many residents of the state while close to one million people have been displaced. Benue IDPs: Education amidst crisis | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - EFCC has traced 61 assets to a former bank managing director in Dubai - It was gathered that the controversy over the sales of the assets led to the EFCCs interrogation of four AMCON officials - More bankers were said to have been invited for questioning over how the proceeds were wired from Dubai into some individual and companies accounts in Nigeria The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has traced 61 assets to former managing director/chief executive officer of Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru, in Dubai in its ongoing tracking of looted funds. The Nation reports that the assets include 41 shops, 16 mansions and four park towers. Legit.ng gathered that all the properties have been confiscated, but their sale is trailed by controversy because about $4,522,413.20 remain unaccounted for in the last seven years. READ ALSO: Updated: Buhari lands in Abuja after visit to Trump, technical stop-over in London It was gathered that out of the over $7million purportedly realised from the disposal of the properties, the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria( AMCON) only received $3,278,238.69 from the proceeds. The controversy over the sales led to the EFCCs interrogation of four AMCON officials and former head of the transactions, who is now with a bank. More bankers have been invited for questioning over how the proceeds were wired from Dubai into some individual and companies accounts in Nigeria. But the EFCC may watch-list a United Kingdom-based lawyer, who was engaged in June 2011 by AMCON to dispose the assets. According to a fact-sheet obtained by The Nation, the details of the assets seized from Ibru emerged after a crack team of EFCC detectives visited Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to uncover alleged looted funds and assets bought with crime proceeds. Apart from identifying the properties of many politically exposed persons (PEPs), the list of Ibrus assets and their alleged questionable disposal were highlights of the EFCC teams focus. Justice Daniel Abutu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on October 9, 2010 sentenced Ibru to 18 months imprisonment. He ordered her to forfeit N191 billion worth of assets to the federal government through AMCON. The assets to forfeit include properties in Nigeria, United States of America, and Dubai. She was also ordered to forfeit shares in over 100 firms both listed and unlisted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The fact sheet gave details of the assets traced to Mrs. Ibru , who spent six months in prison in Dubai. The fact-sheet said in part: About 61 assets were traced to Mrs. Ibru in Dubai ( UAE). And from the information from AMCON, 41 of the assets were shops, 16 were other types of houses/mansions and four park towers. Some of the towers (A2005, A2008,A 2203) have been linked with two persons. While one of the park towers was paid for, three others had not been fully paid for but they have been de registered. Due to non-payment of full purchase price, a Dubai firm, DAMAC, has refused to refund the deposits. A registered Nigerian company with one banker as alter ego, was engaged by AMCON in June 2011 to provide legal services for the sale of the assets. A UK-based lawyer was given the power of attorney which was notarised in Dubai. Findings indicated that the attorney engaged allegedly received over $7million but about $4,522,413.20 remained unaccounted for. The EFCC detectives discovered that AMCON only received $3,278,238.69 from the proceeds of the sale of the assets. The anti-graft agency said: Investigation showed that some of the proceeds of the sales were wired from Dubai into the accounts of some individuals and companies. The EFCC team has interacted with four officials of AMCON including a former staff, the ex-Head of the transactions, who is now with a bank. More officials of some banks have been invited to come and give us information on third party accounts where the proceeds were deposited. The EFCC said it had been trying to prevail on Williams to account for the sale of the 61 properties. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The fact-sheet indicated that, the banker was contacted via his Nigerian mobile line but he refused to honour the invitation. An invitation letter was served on his office but he has not responded. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the court case of Jumoke Akinjide, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Ayo Adeseun and PDP stalwart, Chief Olarenwaju Otiti, were recently been transferred to the Federal High Court in Lagos. It is to be handled by Justice Muslim Hassan. The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The Audu/Faleke political organization had threatened to boycott the APC congress holding this week in Kogi state - Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi state was accused of hijacking the processes that would lead to the congress - But the governor described the group as 'diaspora politicians' who are afraid of defeat during the forthcoming congress The Audu/Faleke political organization has said that it will boycott the forthcoming congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi state "because indications have emerged that they would be no level playing ground in the exercise." Daily Trust reports that the director of media and publicity of the organization, Duro Maseko, in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday, May 3, alleged that Governor Yahaya Bello has "hijacked the whole processes", handing over the ward congresses to his local government administrators to compile names from wards to local government areas. READ ALSO: Updated: Buhari lands in Abuja after visit to Trump, technical stopover in London Legit.ng gathered that the group alleged that the actions of the governor since coming into power had shown that he has an agenda of "emasculating" the Audu/Falake political family that worked for the electoral victory he (Bello) is today enjoying. The statement read: "We have on good authority that thugs are being armed to attack any of our members considered not to be GYB member in all the venues of the congresses. "In view of the above therefore, the Audu/Faleke political organization hereby directs our members across the three senatorial districts in the state not to risk their valuable lives to participate in any of the congresses beginning from this week's ward congresses. The group accused the Oyegun-led national leadership of the APC of insincerity in resolving the crisis that rocked the APC in the state following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu. The group pointed out that despite far reaching recommendations made by the various committees set up by the national leadership of the APC to resolve the crisis in the state, the party failed to act on such recommendations because it was more interested in doing the bidding of the powers that be in the state. But reacting, the director general on media and publicity to the Kogi governor, Kingsley Fanwo said the governor has neither compiled any list nor raised thugs to attack anybody in the forthcoming congresses. He described the group as "diaspora politicians" who are already jittery having lost touch with their people at the grassroots over past two and half years. "Their statement is a face saving effort over the shame of losing a free and fair congress and rather than lose and be mocked, they have chosen to stay away", he said. He said the governor as the leader of the party, respect the APC constitution and would not allow imposition of executives on the party. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 20, dismissed a suit seeking the sack of the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello. It was reported that the court in its ruling upheld an objection raised against the suit by Bello to the effect that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the suit. Not Too Young to Run Bill: Nigerian youths march to Aso Rock in support - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - A report stated the Nigerian scammers, popularly known as Yahoo Boys, has adopted a new scamming method - The scammers now reportedly hijack corporate emails, costing businesses hundreds of millions of dollars a year - The report stated that the scammers launder the fraudulent money through a series of bank accounts that can be traced to Hong Kong and China West Africas infamous internet scamming has reportedly evolved, dropping impersonations of online love interests, princes and United States soldiers in favour of hijacking corporate emails, costing businesses hundreds of millions of dollars a year. According to a report by cybersecurity firm, CrowdStrike, issued on Thursday, May 3, the new scamming a much more lucrative venture that works by gaining access to corporate email login details or passing off almost-identical addresses as the real deal. The new scam is known as Business Email Compromise (BEC). READ ALSO: Just in: 1 teenage bomber arrested in Adamawa, others flee (photos) The BEC scam now dwarfs other types of online criminal theft, amounting to at least $5.3bn of losses between October 2013 and the end of 2016, according to the CrowdStrike and the US FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center. Theres a disproportionate amount of criminal gains they get from it, the vice-president of Intelligence at the California-based CrowdStrike, Adam Meyers, told Reuters. The lions share of ill-gotten, fraudulent money is around these business email compromise attacks. Its a huge problem for our customer set, he added. Nigeria has become one of the hubs of BEC. Nigerian online fraudsters, known as Yahoo boys, became notorious for trying to pass themselves off as people in financial need or Nigerian princes offering an outstanding return on an investment. The fraud became known as 419 scams after the section of the national penal code that dealt with fraud. Yahoo boys even allegedly impersonated a US forces commander in Afghanistan to defraud people by asking for help in recovering the assets of deceased soldiers. The scam reportedly forced the commander to issue a Facebook statement saying he would never try to contact anyone asking for financial help. Now, it seems the scammers have dropped the impersonation game as they now have bigger fish to fry; a new scam style with the potential gains amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars a year, according to CrowdStrike. CrowdStrike further added that the Black Axe gang, an organised crime network with its hands in human trafficking, drugs, prostitution, money laundering and email fraud and cybercrime, is behind the new fraudsters. The magnitude of this criminal threat has only recently begun to be understood, the report said. The Black Axe gang allegedly sprang from Nigerian universities and now extends from Africa to North America, Europe and Asia. Its targets have ranged from semiconductor makers to schools in the US states including Connecticut and Minnesota, passing themselves off as executives and lawyers to trick employees into wiring sometimes millions of dollars a day into bank accounts. From there, the money is quickly laundered through a series of bank accounts that can be traced to Hong Kong and China, where the trail often goes cold because diverging regulations foil monitoring, CrowdStrikes Meyers said. Meyers added that with that money, the Nigerian scammers are often enjoying the high life noting that social media accounts are filled with pictures of them posing with luxury Mercedes cars, gold watches, jewelry and champagne. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He said: Its really hard to stop; you cant stop it with anti-virus or any kind of software, its really kind of a human problem. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that four suspected internet fraudsters were arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) on Saturday, April 7, 2018, in the Lekki area of Lagos state. The development made public via the Facebook page of the anti-graft agency. The suspects were identified as Ale Daniel, Tunde Badmus, Adams Tunde Adedeji and Ajiboye Gbenga. The suspects were arrested for various offenses bordering on cybercrimes and money laundering, and the raid was carried out following intelligence reports concerning their flamboyant lifestyle. During the operation, exotic cars and charms were recovered. EFCC walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - A cleric, pastor Gabriel Adegboye has predicted about 2019 presidential election - Pastor Adegboye suggested that president Buhari's tenure is only four years - The pastor, however, noted that he will become Nigeria's next president Pastor Gabriel Adegboye who said he has been communicating with Nigerias past presidents, even the incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari declared that God has given him a new agenda for the country. Nigerian Tribune reports that Adeboye also predicted that the tenure of President Buhari is only four years adding that he is the next person that will take over the mantle of leadership. According to him, God sent me to become the next President of Nigeria. Over the years, God has been speaking to me and I have been communicating with past Presidents, even the incumbent President, concerning the way to resolve the crisis across the country and ensure economic development. God has given me the new agenda for this country. READ ALSO: 1 teenage bomber arrested in Adamawa, others flee We have all it takes to take the presidential seat come 2019. God has revealed to me that the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari is only four years. And the next person that will take over the mantle of leadership is Pastor Gabriel Adegboye. Beginning from the Niger Delta crisis in 1990, God spoke to me that there will be a crisis and when the crisis came, they looked for me. I was asked by the then Delta State Governor, and we addressed the issues spiritually and we conquered the crisis. After that, God spoke to me about the issue of Boko Haram. Since 2009, I have been working on the issue of Boko Haram. I was with former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2013, at Aso Rock. I also wrote a letter to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo because God gave me the solution to Boko Haram crisis. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The Boko crisis is a spiritual attack on this country. It came from North Africa. This group attacked Egypt and removed Mubarak, their former President; they attacked Tanzania; they attacked Libya and succeeded in killing their President, Muammar Ghaddafi. On their way to Nigeria, they attacked Mali and Niger Republic. I have the answer to the entire crisis in the country. If federal government needs a solution to the crisis of Nigeria today, if I am invited, I promise that within three months, there will be peace in the north east. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that President Buhari declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019. Malam Garba Shehu, the presidents senior special assistant on media and Publicity confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Monday. He said that the president made the declaration at a closed-door meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja. The presidential aide quoted President Buhari as saying that he was responding to the clamour by Nigerians to re-contest in 2019, adding that he wanted to give the NEC, the honour of notifying them first. Should President Buhari seek reelection in 2019? (Nigerian Street Interview) - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Members of the APC in Imo state have accused Governor Rochas Okorochas of privatising the party - The party stakeholders said APC is dying under the leadership of Okorocha in Imo state - According to the stakeholders, there was so much anger, acrimony and bitterness among party members The Imo All Progressives Congress stakeholders forum has pleaded with the partys National Working Committee (NWC) to intervene in the crisis currently rocking its ranks. Oke Ikoro, the chairman of the forum, made the plea on Wednesday, May 2, in Abuja when a delegation of the forum visited the NWC. According to him, APC in Imo has been appropriated by Governor Rochas Okorocha who "has completely privatised the party" through his activities. He said there was so much anger, acrimony and bitterness among party members. "This is why we have come here to lend our grievances to the NWC, we came to express our disappointment on the leadership of Governor Rochas Okorocha, his activities and the APC under him. We didn't want to say this with word of mouth but we have put it in writing so that you can have a critical look at it after we had gone," he said. READ ALSO: Why we shifted 2018 budget passage to Tuesday, May 8 - House of Representatives Ikoro said that the stakeholders had to bring the matter to NWC after trying without success to address it at the state level. He alleged that some of the governors actions in the state were not friendly and were forcing members out of the party rather than bringing membership to the fold. He said the actions included the demolition of markets and indiscriminate revocation of land titles without due process. The chairman of the forum also criticised the governor's plan to install his son-in-law as the next governor of Imo. Ikoro said: "All we are saying is that due process should be followed and that the state funds should not be wasted." According to him, people are exiting from the party because of the highhandedness of the governor. "We are calling on the party leadership to call the governor to order and to separate the party from him," he said. Ikoro expressed optimism that as the highest organ of the party empowered to bring peace and unity, the matter would be addressed by the NWC. READ ALSO: Shehu Sani calls for emergence of a new effective party; says APC, PDP cannot lead Nigeria to the Promised Land "Furthermore, on Saturday, the ward congresses of the party will start and we know that what the governor is planning is to hijack the process," he said. He alleged that the governor's plan was to influence the congress by ensuring that his cronies were put in elective offices. He said that the party leadership should intervene to prevent the governor from hijacking the process. In his response, the APC national chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, said there was nothing to celebrate in the report. He said that the saving grace was that the stakeholders were all dedicated and did not storm out of the party. Oyegun said Imo must lead in the southeast to ensure the partys electoral victory in 2019 and as such the unity of the party was critical to achieve the goal. "Some controversies are necessary to bring about unity that will bring victory, together Imo state will be almost a certainty but we will be in deep trouble if we are divided. Without any prejudice, I want to assure you that we, on our side, will do everything possible to take up your complaints and reservations. READ ALSO: High expectations as INEC completes investigation, set to release report on alleged underage voting We will talk to the other side so that an acceptable compromise and understanding is reached to make it possible for us to work as one party and one political fighting force. I am certainly not unaware of the issues; as the partys national chairman, all these things end up directly or indirectly on my desk, he said. The party chairman added that whatever the rights and the wrongs of both sides were, victory could only come through unity. He said that to get unity, there must be justice, adding: while am insisting on a united fighting force, I also insist that there is justice. Odigie-Oyegun said that as far as the coming party congresses were concerned, the leadership was determined to ensure free, fair and level playing field for all aspirants in spite of what anyone thought. He charged the stakeholders to prove their worth by ensuring that the right things were done and that true reconciliation was achieved in the party in Imo. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that the archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Diocese, Imo state, Reverend Anthony JV Obinna, had accused the Imo state governor of plans to extend his leadership for a third term. Reverend Obinna, while condemning the leadership style of Okorocha said it is undemocratic for the governor to endorse his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him in 2019. The cleric also said endorsement of Nwosu's candidacy by the governor in the state contravenes total equity for all Imo residents. What is cooking in Imo state? on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper Four suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers launched an attack in Mairanti, a village near Maiduguri on Thursday night, May 3. Channels TV reports that explosions were heard at about 10pm when most of the residents were indoors. It was reported that only the terrorist were killed in the failed attack. The northeast coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Bashir Garga, confirmed the attack. He expressed concern that there could be a high number of bombers infiltrating the city. READ ALSO: Purchase of 12 Tucano fighter jets from US: Senate panel fail to present probe The NEMA coordinator called on residents to be extra vigilant. Mairanti is located around Molai axis of the state capital and has been a constant target for Boko Haram terrorists. Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian military have arrested a teenage bomber in Adamawa, one of the worst hit states by the Boko Haram terrorist group in the northeastern part of Nigeria, just as two others were said to have escaped from being caught. Though details of the arrest were still sketchy at the time of this report, it happened just days after some bombers detonated improvised explosive devices they were laced with in a mosque while worshippers prayed. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app "Locals said the arrested terrorist was in company of two others who fled towards the major market road in the town," TVC's Sumner Sambo said. Legit.ng earlier reported that many people were on Tuesday, May 1, feared dead following bomb blasts in Mubi town, Adamawa state, north east Nigeria, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. Exclusive: Freed Dapchi Girl Recounts Her Ordeal with Boko Haram (Nigeria Breaking News) on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - A tugboat and a barge have been seized by the Nigerian Army in Abadiama community of Burutu local government area of Delta state - The EFCC, to which the tugboat and the barge were handed over, said the vessels were being used for oil bunkering when they were seized - The commission said that investigations on the development are underway The Nigerian Army on Thursday, May 3 handed over a tugboat and a barge, allegedly seized from oil thieves, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Delta state. Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja. He did not, however, say whether the suspects were arrested, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: Come together to defeat this monster - JNI begs Nigerians after twin blasts killed 85 in Adamawa Uwujaren stated that the tugboat (MV Omar Success) and the barge (EBIs 1) were allegedly being used for illegal oil bunkering when they were seized. According to him, the Sector 1, Operation Delta Safe of the Army intercepted the vessels at a creek in Abadiama community of Burutu local government area of the state following a tip off. The tugboat and the barge seized by the Nigerian Army (Photo credit: NAN) Speaking at the event, Major Y. J. Yunusa, who represented the commander, said the tugboat and barge were intercepted in February, 2018 while transloading suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Richard Ogberagha, an EFCC operative, who received the exhibits on behalf of the Benin zonal head of the commission, Milafia Yakubu, said the EFCC would do a painstaking investigation and ensure that those involved were brought to book. An official of the force handing over a document covering the vessels to the EFCC (Photo credit: NAN) NAN said that came barely three weeks after the Army reportedly handed over three suspected oil thieves to the EFCC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! The unidentified suspects were said to have been nabbed with a Dangote truck conveying illegally refined petroleum products. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the chairman of Capital Oil Ifeanyi Ubah had accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of owing his company N16 billion. Ubah while explaining the role of his company in an alleged disappearance of 82 million metric litres of Petrol belonging to NNPC at the Lower House said the corporation owed Capital Oil N16 billion. Price of petrol crashes in Nigeria - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - A Federal High Court in Edo sentenced three fraudsters to jail - Two of them were posing as American actors to their victims - The court ruled that the proceeds of the crime be forfeited to the federal government Three internet fraudsters have been sentenced to jail by a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo state after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured their conviction. According to the EFCC, the convicts, Prince Henry Ofeyi, Afatakpa David and David Abumhere were sentenced by Justice P. I. Ajoku. David was reportedly posing as Vin Diesel to defraud his victims while Abumhenre posed as Tom Hanks. Read the statement by the EFCC below READ ALSO: Just in: 1 teenage bomber arrested in Adamawa, others flee The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of three fraudsters at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State. Two of the convicts, Prince Henry Ofeyi and Afatakpa David were convicted and sentenced by Justice P. I. Ajoku on Wednesday May 2 while the third convict, David Abumhere was convicted and sentenced on Thursday May 3, by the same judge. Henry Ofeyi and David Afatakpa were arraigned by the EFCC on a one count charge each bordering on intent to defraud. Prince Henry Ofeyi was said to have on or about the 5th of October, 2017 falsely represented himself to be one Dexter Smith, a false identity he used in defrauding his victims. For Afatakpa David, he was alleged to have represented himself as Vin Diesel, an American Movie Star on social media platforms, an identity he used to defraud his victims. Upon arraignment, the duo pleaded guilty to charge prompting the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peter to ask the court to convict the accused persons accordingly. He also told the court that the EFCC recovered from Prince Henry Ofeyi the sum of N400,590.00 (Four Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Naira) only and a Toyota Corolla Saloon car while the sum of N200,342.99 (Two Hundred Thousand, Three Hundred and Fourth Two Naira Ninety Nine Kobo) only was recovered from Akatakpa. D.Tageme. The defence counsel Moses Oriazowan pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy saying the accused persons were remorseful and have promised never to go back to such despicable act. After listening to both counsels, Justice P.I.Ajoku sentenced the accused persons to one month imprisonment each adding that the proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government so that their victims can be restituted. On Thursday, May 3, 2018, the EFCC secured the conviction of David Abumhenre on a one count of internet fraud. The convict was sentenced to one month imprisonment by Justice P. I. Ajoku after pleading guilty to the charge. The convict is to forfeit the sum of N3.5million recovered from him to the Federal Government. Abumhere was said to have falsely represented himself as Tom Hanks, an American Movie Star, an identity he used to defraud his victims. Meanwhile, EFCC traced 61 assets to former managing director/chief executive officer of Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru, in Dubai in its ongoing tracking of looted funds. The Nation reports that the assets include 41 shops, 16 mansions and four park towers. Legit.ng gathered that all the properties have been confiscated, but their sale is trailed by controversy because about $4,522,413.20 remain unaccounted for in the last seven years. It was gathered that out of the over $7million purportedly realised from the disposal of the properties, the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria( AMCON) only received $3,278,238.69 from the proceeds. The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - A police officer, Micheal Eriarebhe, in Benin City, has been remanded in custody for impregnating a minor after a court trial - The prosecutor, ASP Johnbull Adah, told the court that the accused committed the offence in May 2017 - The case has been adjourned till Friday, May 11 An Oredo magistrates court Benin, on Friday, May 4, remanded a police officer, Michael Eriarebhe, in prison custody for allegedly impregnating a 16-year-old suspect while in police custody. Eriarebhe, 33, is facing one-count charge of having forceful carnal knowledge of a minor before Magistrate I.U Iyioha, to which he pleaded not guilty, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: Imo APC dying under Okorocha - Stakeholders tell party leadership Earlier, the police prosecutor, ASP Johnbull Adah, told the court that the accused allegedly committed the offence on May 15, 2017, at Okhoro Police Station, Benin City. Adah added that the now suspended accused was a serving corporal then at the police station when the incident happened and the girl became pregnant. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! The offence committed is contrary to Section 357 and punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol. II of the defunct Bendel State Laws of 1976, as applicable in Edo. The magistrate adjourned the case to May 11 for hearing. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the family of an unnamed 16-year-old girl had petitioned the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, over allegation that one Officer Henry at the Ojo Division, Lagos state police command abducted, molested, tortured and impregnated her. The victims family said the girl has since given birth to a baby five months ago, remarking that she was forced to relocate to her village in Anambra because of the incident. If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit The spokesperson for Senator Dino Melaye, Gideon Ayodele, has disclosed that his principal is currently at the Police Medical Center in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital. This is following the decision of a magistrates court to remand the lawmaker in police custody for six weeks. Ayodele said that Melayes lawyers would file fundamental rights enforcement at the Federal High Court, Lokoja, on Friday, May 4, challenging the court ruling, Punch reports. READ ALSO: Breaking: Court denies Melaye bail, remands him in police custody The lawmakers spokesperson said the lawyers believed the decision to remand Melaye in police custody was flawed. Ayodele noted that the team would spare no effort in ensuring that Melaye did not spend six weeks. He said: It is important that we approach the Federal High Court tomorrow morning. Legit.ng previously reported that the police arraigned Melaye before a magistrates court in Lokoja on Thursday, May 3, on seven counts of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Melaye was conveyed to the state in an ambulance by the police authorities. Sulyman Abdullah, a senior magistrate in his ruling said Melaye should be remanded in police custody till June 11 but the inspector-general of police must provide essentials for his health. Dino Melaye and 2019 Criminal Conspiracy | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - An appeal has been made to the federal government to establish an internally displaced persons' camp in Numan, Adamawa state - The appeal was made by Sodom Daniel, the lawmaker representing Numan state constituency in the state House of Assembly - She also appealed to well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the internally displaced persons The lawmaker representing Numan state constituency in the Adamawa House of Assembly, Sodom Daniel, has appealed to the federal government to establish an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the area. Daniel made the appeal on Friday, May 4, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the Numan area of Adamawa. The lawmaker, an APC member in the House, said that the camp could cater for many internally displaced persons in the area including victims of the recent attack, NAN reports. Legit.ng notes that she said that continuous attacks on the communities within Numan local government area had rendered many people homeless. READ ALSO: Lack of water, power supply force Kaduna Poly students to stage protest She said: It has become a serious matter of worry as we wake up from time to time to observe increasing number of displaced persons resulting from incessant attacks on our communities in Numan by herdsmen. I am appealing to the federal government to establish an IDPs camp that would cater for this growing number of internally displaced people. This crisis started in November 2017 till date my people have been displaced, even today, on Thursday I visited some of the villages that came under herdsmen attack resulting in the killing of over 30 people. Many people have been rendered homeless as a result and that makes life so devastating. I am also calling on well meaning Nigerians, donor agencies, philanthropists and many other groups to come and assist us in tackling this enormous humanitarian task." The legislator also appealed to the federal government to find a lasting solution to the crisis, and also urged the security agencies to put in more efforts to safeguard lives and property. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that an alleged attack by suspected herdsmen on four villages in Adamawa state reportedly left over 15 people dead. The villages attacked by the suspected herders included Bolki, Bang, Zumoso and Gon in Numan and Lamurde local government areas of the state. It was reported that herdsmen militia allegedly arrived the communities, on Wednesday night, May 2, on motorcycles and Hilux trucks, killing and burning down villages. Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue state - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng A hilarious picture of an examination question paper has emerged online, and you can't believe what was asked on it. A student from the university of Benin has shared a photo of their examination paper, from the course; 'Literature, popular culture and mass media' and the questions are so hilarious. The examiner in one of the questions asked the students to explain, how 'shaku shaku' a trendy Nigerian dance style in Olamide's song 'Science Student' influences the music culture of people. See picture below. READ ALSO: Young lady slid into Michael B. Jordan's dm and it 'worked'! As funny as the question is, the examiner is one brilliant person, the individual songs listed above was a hit when it came out. PAY ATTENTION: Get best news on Nigeria's #1 news app The Olamide's shaku shaku and science student, is a household slang, the dance style took over all parties and events. There is no doubt that songs people listen to, influences their life one way or the other. Nigerian youths reply to President Buhari over 'lazy' comment trailer. Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - As part of activities marking his official visit to Ondo state, vice president Yemi Osinbajo has paid a visit to Alagbaka Primary School in Akure, the state capita - Osinbajo joined pupils of Primary 3B during the English Language lesson - The vice president is a guest of the state governor Rotimi Akeredolu Vice president Yemi Osinbajo who is currently on a two-day working visit in Ondo state, was sighted with the governor Rotimi Akeredolu sharing lunch with pupils of the Alagbaka Estate Primary School in Akure, the state capital. A tweet by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, says Osinbajos visit is meant to assess the Homegrown School Feeding programme of the federal government. Vice president Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu shared meal with pupils in Ondo. Photo credit: VP Osinbajo READ ALSO: Cleric makes prediction about Buhari 2019 re-election Osinbajo who is a guest of governor Akeredolu joined pupils of Primary 3B during the English Language lesson. And when it was time for lunch, Osinbajo and Akeredolu relocated to Primary 3A, where they both shared the meal with the pupils. Going further, the vice president claimed the food was very tasty. Vice president Yemi Osinbajo joined pupils of Primary 3B during the English Language lesson in Ondo state. Photo credit: VP Osinbajo PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Akande said the feeding programme currently feeds over 7.6m children across 24 states. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Osinbajo urged youths in the country to take their destinies in their hands by taking up leadership roles through innovative ideas. The vice president gave the advice while he spoke at the 2017 national youth convention of the Youth Ministry Church of the Lord Prayer Fellowship on Saturday, December 2, in Abuja. Osinbajo, who was represented by the Chaplain of the Villa Chapel, Sheyi Malomo, said that now was the time for youths to start thinking of leading the nation. The vice president recalled that Nigeria, as a nation, was built and shaped by the youths who were determined to build a formidable and united country. Nigerians express mixed feelings as JAMB reduces admission cut-off to 120 - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - Boxes of drugs, including Tramadol, were seized from smugglers in Ghana - The smugglers were allegedly transporting the drugs to Nigeria before they were caught - Ghanas Food and Drugs Authority appealed to the public to always help by providing information on illegal routes being used by smugglers Boxes of drugs, including Tramadol, the commonly abused prescribed-only pain relief, which were being smuggled into Nigeria from Togo, have been confiscated by officials of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Volta Region, Ghana. Concealed in empty boxes of a popular noodles brand, the drugs were being smuggled through an unapproved route at a point referred to as Kpoglo border near Ho, in Ghana, Punch reports. Speaking on a Ghanaian show on Friday, May 4, the Volta regional director of the FDA, Gordon Akurugu, said the driver of the bus in which the drugs were being transported was intercepted last Saturday, April 28. He has since been arrested. READ ALSO: What God told me about Buhari re-election bid Legit.ng gathered that the driver was carrying noodles boxes which contained 10 different brands of drugs, including Tramadol. The drugs, he said, were worth about GHC100,000 ($22,267.50). Akurugu observed that the drugs were mostly smuggled through illegal routes into the country. The FDA, he said, has put in place good systems to monitor and pick intelligence information, but he urged the public to help by providing information on unapproved routes being used by smugglers. Akurugu said his outfit was also on the lookout for a cough syrup containing codeine which has been banned from Nigeria in order to prevent its entry into the country. Legit.ng previously reported that the Senate on Wednesday, May 2, called on its committees on drug and narcotics, and that of health to ensure full compliance with the ban on the use of codeine in cough syrup announced by the federal government. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The federal government on Tuesday, May 1, banned the production and importation of codeine as an active ingredient for cough syrup preparations. The ban was aimed at checking the abuse of the substance among Nigerians, especially the youths. Wednesdays resolution of the upper chamber was sequel to a point-of-order moved by Senate leader Ahmad Lawan, at plenary. Suspected cannabis traffickers reject Police accusations | on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Three young men have been sentenced to jail for internet fraud in Edo state - Two of them were arraigned by the EFCC on One count charge each bordering on intent to defraud and impersonating - The trio all pleaded guilty to the charges The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of three fraudsters at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State. Two of the convicts, Prince Henry Ofeyi and Afatakpa David were convicted and sentenced by Justice P. I. Ajoku on Wednesday April 2 while the third convict, David Abumhere was convicted and sentenced on Thursday April 3, by the same judge. Henry Ofeyi and David Afatakpa were arraigned by the EFCC on a One count charge each bordering on intent to defraud. READ ALSO: Breaking: Court nullifies ruling preventing Kashamu's arrest Prince Henry Ofeyi was said to have on or about the 5th of October, 2017 falsely represented himself to be one Dexter Smith, a false identity he used in defrauding his victims. One of the convicted fraudster. Photo source: EFCC For Afatakpa David, he was alleged to have represented himself as Vin Diesel, an American Movie Star on social media platforms, an identity he used to defraud his victims. Upon arraignment, the duo pleaded guilty to charge prompting the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peter to ask the court to convict the accused persons accordingly. He also told the court that the EFCC recovered from Prince Henry Ofeyi the sum of N400,590.00 (Four Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Naira) only and a Toyota Corolla Saloon car while the sum of N200,342.99 (Two Hundred Thousand, Three Hundred and Fourth Two Naira Ninety Nine Kobo) only was recovered from Akatakpa. D.Tageme. The defence counsel Moses Oriazowan pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy saying the accused persons were remorseful and have promised never to go back to such despicable act. After listening to both counsels, Justice P.I.Ajoku sentenced the accused persons to one month imprisonment each adding that the proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government so that their victims can be restituted. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app On Thursday April, 3, 2018, the EFCC secured the conviction of David Abumhenre on a one count of internet fraud. The convict was sentenced to one month imprisonment by Justice P. I. Ajoku after pleading guilty to the charge. The convict is to forfeit the sum of N3.5million recovered from him to the Federal Government. Abumhere was said to have falsely represented himself as Tom Hanks, an American Movie Star, an identity he used to defraud his victims. Legit.ng earlier reported that the EFCC on Friday, January 26, 2018, secured the conviction and sentencing of two oil marketers, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah, owners of Rocky Energy Limited. They were sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the court presided over by Justice Latifat Okunnu after they were found guilty of a 26-count amended charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and forgery. EXCLUSIVE: Be patient with President Buhari, Femi Adesina tells Nigerians - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Editor's note: Renowned Abuja-based public communication consultant, Phrank Shaibu, practically prophesied few weeks ago that nemesis has finally caught up with Senator Dino Melaye, who is fighting one of his political battles at the moment. Shaibu, in this article, insists the senator deserves no pity for his present travails. Read below: When I wrote last month about Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, I was accused in certain quarters of nursing a king size grudge against the Okun born politician. Some people suggested that the write up smirked of bellicosity if not out right hyperbolism. Indeed, the effluents imbued in that piece, according to one of his rabid supporters, was laced with evidence that I was paid by the Kogi state government, to do a dirty job on the embattled senator. The article, entitled, "At Last, Dino Melaye Meets His Nemesis" has turned out to be prophetic. I could as well be called a marabout with uncommon gift of clairvoyance. Indeed, events of the last one or two weeks have confirmed that I was spot on in my description and prediction of the man. No, I don't want anyone to surmise that this follow-up piece is about gloating over the misfortunes of Dino, as the senator is better known. On the contrary, this is about reminding us that I saw the events of the past one or two weeks coming and tried, albeit failingly, to warn that he could meet his water-loo if he did not check his excesses and the predilection of always seeking to play to the gallery. Unfortunately, Dino, like a dog destined for abyss failed to hearken to the hunter's whistle and suddenly found himself encircled in a trajectory beyond his wildest imagination. READ ALSO: OPINION: The unending drama of citizen Dino Melaye by Promise Emmanuel Today, he is fighting the battle of his life, caged like a common rat. He suddenly finds that the law is no respecter of persons and that once you have become a fugitive on the run, you put yourself up to be treated like a common criminal. Definitely, I am not one of those in sympathy with the Kogi West senator for what has become his lot. After all, when a man decides to stand in front of a moving train, you can only imagine that he would eventually be crushed. Likewise, a man who dips his fingers in a pond of snakes should not be surprised that the poisonous venom of the reptile would soon takeover the blood in his veins. Truth is, I never believed that the embattled senator would try to play "Rambo" by allegedly jumping out of a moving police pickup van. Neither could anyone have convinced me that he would employ alleged thugs to help shield him from the police. But that's what the man reportedly did to the consternation of all. Thrice, he was reportedly accosted by security agencies and on all accounts, he had hirelings who blocked his arrest. I stand to be corrected if it was just a coincidence that the thugs did what they did without being induced to do so. Neither would anyone convince me that it was the first time Dino was employing them to do a dirty job. But that is a debate for another day. Ordinarily I would have questioned the propriety of his trial in a magistrate court while on a stretcher by the police instead of waiting for him to get well but I am constrained because, Dino was NEVER ill at the time of his invitation by the police. Even after he was declared wanted by the police, he repeatedly refused to turn himself in for prosecution, on the ground that it was a plot to kill him, resulting in last weekends face off with men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS). My pain is that, Dino Melaye as a lawmaker ought to have known that he was fugitive before the law. He ought to also have known that Lokoja, is the city where the alleged crimes or charges against him were pending. The only way to clear his name was to challenge the prosecution in the court in Lokoja like younger activists like Austine Okai and Johnson Musa. Infact, the former governor, His Excellency Prince Abubakar Audu, arguably one of the fathers of Kogi state turned himself in for prosecution in 2009 when the EFCC charged him to court. Although the case was still pending when he died, it is remarkable that he respected the law until his death. Dino Melaye is not bigger than Abubakar Audu. As for his trial on a stretcher, his lawyers and other public commentators should be patient enough to answer these salient questions: Did Dino jump from a moving police van ? If the answer is in the affirmative, then does that action amount to an offense in the eyes of the law? Isnt the reported action of jumping from a moving police van suicidal? If the answer is also in the affirmative,then I ask again if 'attempted suici*e' is an offense? Then the viral video where Dino Melaye openly threatened to kill himself and put the police in trouble. ..so, who will treat a Rambo with kids gloves ? Anyway, while he cools his head on the hospital bed and or police custody or the priso , he may use this moment to reflect on what has become of the life of a senator; a youth who was supposed to be a role model, now a fugitive from the law. He should reminisce on how high he has tried to climb on the political ladder of Nigeria only to use his hand to pull down the lever. Irrespective of whether the recall process initiated by his so called constituents or sponsors succeeded or not, Dino by now should be thinking of the puppeteer behind the high wire intrigue surrounding the entire process. Most definitely, his thoughts must also revolve round how he became a fugitive, with policemen guarding him round the clock even on the hospital bed. Could this be real or a virtual fantasy created by a puppet master trained to conjure world class tragi-comedies? But, as I pointed out in the earlier article, the Okun politician brought the many troubles on himself. After all, if a man goes to the market and buys faeces, he can only expect flies to perch. Dino has directly or indirectly bought trouble on many fronts and he should live with the consequences. Above, he must tell himself some hard truths about lifestyle change. Because he must know by now that living like a thug does not pay. And that every small alec has his day, just like the medicine man who finds out to his chagrin that sometimes, charms against gunshot fails. But, a chameleon does not change its spots. A thug will always be a thug. Likewise, Dino will always be Dino. So, I do not expect any significant change. Instead, Nigerians should be prepared to see a more brash and brazen personality. READ ALSO: Kogi recall process: ISDMG commends INEC for transparent exercise When he fought and his clothes were torn in the House of Representatives, did he learn anything? Did he become a better person? Compare that with jumping from a moving police van to evade arrest. Which is worse? That is why as I wake up every morning, I thank God that the embattled senator does not represent me in the upper legislative chamber, notwithstanding that we are both from Kogi state and I have a sleeping senator from my own constituency. A man with no sense of decency, has no scruples fighting in public, who abuses his elders without any remorse, who can jump from a moving van like a tout on the streets of Egbe cannot be my representative. The Senate is not made for brigands. And the earlier we exorcise such characters from our body politic, the saner our society, nay, Kogi state would be. A stitch in time saves nine. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng. Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Were ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App. Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Twitter. Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Yemi Osinbajo has praised a primary school student who displayed artistic talent - The vice president had come across a painting of himself drawn by the student during a visit to Ondo state - Osinbajo stated that he is confident that the little boy's talent would take him places Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who is currently on a two-day working visit to Ondo state has shared praises for a primary school student after he came across a painting of himself that was drawn by the student. Legit.ng had reported that the vice president had visited Alagbaka Estate Primary School in Akure with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The vice president and the governor were spotted eating lunch with students. The vice president recently shared a photo of a primary school student who displayed his artistic talent during his visit to Ondo state. He revealed that the boy identified as Emmanuel Ani had painted a photo of him. Vice President Osinbajo praises primary school student who drew a photo of him Photo source: Facebook user Yemi Osinbajo READ ALSO: Vice President Osinbajo heaps praises on Nigerian youths Osinbajo also praised the student, stating that he is confident that the boy's talent would take him places beyond his imagination. He said: "Today has been such an interesting day for me. I walked into a class and Emmanuel Ani, a pupil of Primary 6 had drawn this and put up on the wall. I feel so honoured and I am confident his talent will take him places far beyond what he can imagine." PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Osinbajo urged youths in the country to take their destinies in their hands by taking up leadership roles through innovative ideas. Nigerian youths reply to President Buhari over 'lazy' - Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria Yves here. We are far from alone to take notice of the bizarre contrast between the non-stop attacks by the press, Democrats, and quite a few Republicans on Trumps erratic temperament and his deficient moral compass, yet Congress is perfectly happy to confirm and even strengthen his warmaking and surveillance powers. By Major Danny Sjursen, a U.S. Army officer and former history instructor at West Point. He served tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has written a memoir and critical analysis of the Iraq War, Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge. He lives with his wife and four sons in Lawrence, Kansas. Follow him on Twitter at @SkepticalVet and check out his podcast Fortress on a Hill, co-hosted with fellow vet Chris Henri Henriksen. Originally published at TomDispatch 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, thats still some 32 votes short of a Senate override. In hopelessly divided Washington, thats 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 presidents 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 Americas current foes and so ensure that Washingtons 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 isnt 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 lets 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, theres 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 whats happening just one valley over, let alone in Milwaukee. Then theres al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a particularly vicious AQ franchise in Yemen. These are genuine bad actors and, for a while during the Obama administration, were considered the top terror threat to the U.S. Still, thats not who the American military actually fights in Yemen most of the time. U.S. Air Force fuelers provide in-flight service, U.S. analysts provide updated targeting intelligence, and U.S. megacorporations sell guided bombs to the Saudis, who mostly bomb Shia Houthi rebels (and often civilians) unaffiliated with in fact, opposed to AQAP. Worse still, the U.S.-backed campaign against the Houthis actually empowers AQAP by sowing chaos and creating vast ungoverned spaces for it to move into. The Houthis arent on the Corker-Kaine list yet, but no doubt (amid increasing military tensions with Iran) Mr. Trump would have little trouble adding them as associated forces. Are they brown? Yes. Do they worship Allah? Sure. Throw em on the list. Al-Shabaab in Somalia is also included. Its nasty militiamen do make life miserable in Somalia and have occasionally called for attacks on U.S. targets. Theres no evidence, however, that U.S. military operations there have ever stabilized the region or improved long-term security. Meanwhile, al-Shabaab tries to radicalize young Somali-American youth in immigrant communities like cities like Minneapolis. Their main gripe: the U.S. military presence and drone strikes in East Africa. And on and on the cycle goes. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM), which operates in North Africa, is another associated force thats taken on the AQ moniker, though with a distinctly local flavor. AQIM operates in several countries. Does the Corker-Kaine bill then imply that the U.S. military may conduct strikes and raids anywhere in North Africa? Odds are that it does. Again, though AQIM is violent and problematic for local African security forces, theyve never successfully attacked the United States. As professor and Africa expert Nathaniel Powell has shown, more often than not U.S. military operations in the Maghreb or the Sahel (just south of the Sahara desert) tend only to exacerbate existing conditions, motivate yet more Islamists, and tangle Washington up in what are essentially local problems and grievances. Finally, theres al-Qaeda in Syria, as the bill labels them. This is the crew that used to be known as the al-Nusra Front. The Islamic State, or ISIS, eventually brokeoff from AQ and has even fought al-Nusra Front militants on occasion. No doubt, U.S. interests are never served when any al-Qaeda franchise gains power and influence. Still, theres little evidence that the former al-Nusra Front, which is losing the civil war inside Syria, has either the staying power or capacity to attack the U.S. homeland. Add in this: the U.S. military in Syria has rarely attacked al-Nusra, focusing instead on ISIS or occasional strikes at the regime of Syrian autocrat Bashar al-Assad. In addition, in the past, Americas Saudi allies have supported and funded this and other radical Islamist groups and some U.S. aid has even inadvertently fallen into the hands of al-Nusra Front fighters in the mess that passes for the Syrian civil war. And dont let me get started on those successor forces think ISIS and its brands around the world a term so vague as to ensure that any Islamist organization or country, including Iran, could, by a stretch of the imagination, be defined as a target of the U.S. military. Lumping these various groups under the umbrella of associated or successor forces ignores the agency and specificity of each of them and so provides any president with a blank check to fight anyone he deems loosely Islamist the world over. And if he cares to, he can just add any new gang he chooses onto the list and dare the Senate to muster 67 votes to stop him. Consider it a remarkable formula for forever war. The Dangerous Evolution of Article II of the Constitution When you get right down to it, all the debate over AUMFs is little more than a charade. It hardly matters whether Congress ever updates that post-9/11 document. When, for instance, President Trump recently sent missiles soaring against the Assad regime in response to an alleged chemical attack on a suburb of Damascus, neither he nor his advisers even bothered to suggest that the strike fell under that AUMF. Instead, they simply claimed that Trump was exercising his presidential prerogative under Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, which makes him commander-in-chief. In such moments, right-wing presidents and their advisers have no compunctions about turning the standard liberal argument about the Constitution on its head that its a living document subject to the exigencies of changing times. Of course, its not exactly an obscure fact of history that the framers of that document never meant to grant the chief executive unilateral authority to start new conflicts and strictly constructionist conservatives know it. The Founders were terrified of standing armies and imperial overreach. After all, when they wrote the document theyd only recently brought their own revolt against imperial England and its vaunted army of redcoats to a successful conclusion. So, to construe the Constitutions commander-in-chief clause, which gave the president the authority to oversee the generals in an ongoing war, as letting him declare wars or even expand them qualifies as absurd. Nonetheless, thats just what recent presidents have claimed. What they like to say is that times have changed, that warfare is now too swift for an eighteenth-century recipe involving Congress, and that, in such abbreviated circumstances, presidents need the authority to apply military force at will on a global scale. The thing is, Congress has already recognized this potential reality and codified it into law in the 1973 War Powers Act. This fairly sensible, though generally ignored, piece of legislation requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of a military deployment and remove the troops after 60 days unless legislation officially sanctions the escalation. Presidents tend to be meticulous about the first requirement and then like Congress itself pay no attention to the second. Obviously, Bashar al-Assads regime had nothing to do with 9/11 and so falls under no imaginable interpretation of that 2001 AUMF. Therefore, President Trump has on his own essentially launched a new conflict, with a new enemy, in western Syria. Hes notified Congress of the latest missile strikes, of course, and thats that. Salvation Will Not Come From the Bipartisan Center Early indications are that the Corker-Kaine bill is unlikely to pass the Senate (no less the House) and, if it did, wouldnt have a hope in hell of outlasting a presidential veto. You know that the system is broken, possibly beyond repair, when the secretary of defense one Mad Dog Mattis is reportedly the only figure around Donald Trump to have argued for getting a congressional stamp of approval before launching those missiles against the Assad regime. Think of it this way: a retired general, the official top dog of destruction in this administration, was overruled by the civilian leadership in the White House when it came to an act of imperial war-making. In other words, were through the looking glass, folks! As a thought experiment: What would it actually take for a supermajority of both houses of Congress to curtail a presidents unilateral war-making power? Liberals might have thought that the election of a boorish, uninformed executive would embolden moderates on both sides of the aisle to reclaim some authority over the lives and deaths of Americas soldiers. It didnt, nor did such passivity start with Donald Trump. Mainstream liberals certainly treated the presidency of George W. Bush as if it were the worst disaster since Richard Nixon, Watergate, and Vietnam. Even so, they never had the guts to cut off funds for the obvious, ongoing folly in Iraq. Mostly, in fact, they first voted for a resolution supporting that invasion and then heckled pointlessly from the sidelines as Bush waged a dubiously legal, unwinnable war to his hearts content. Conservatives absolutely hated Obama. They questioned his very legitimacy and even his citizenship (as did Citizen Trump, of course) or at least stayed conveniently silent while the far right of the GOP caucus did so. Still, Republicans then essentially did nothing to curtail his unilateral decision to expand drone attacks to a kind of frenzy across the Greater Middle East and parts of Africa and oversee a special operations bonanza. Rarely, for example, in the bazillion hearings the Republicans sponsored on the deaths of an American ambassador and others in Benghazi, Libya, did anyone call for a serious reappraisal of executive war-making authority. Despite the paltry Corker-Kaine bill, expect no respite or salvation from Congress, which is, in truth, at the heart of the problem. To move the needle on war-making would take grassroots pressure similar to that applied by the Vietnam-era antiwar movement. But such a movement looks highly unlikely with the draft long gone, few citizens engaged in foreign policy issues, and even fewer seeming to notice that this country has now been involved in still-spreading wars for almost 17 years. To recapture military authority from an imperial president and inject sanity into the system, We the People would have to break out the pink pussy caps, gather the young and their social media skills Parkland-style and bring the sort of energy now going into domestic crises to issues of war and peace. Suffice it to say, Im not hopeful. Whether noticed or not, whether attended to or not, there is, however, a grave question before the American people: Is the United States to remain a democracy (of sorts) within its borders, but a war-making empire beyond its shores? Certainly, its most of the way to such a state already with its all volunteer imperial military and unrestrained war presidency. Just about everything is in place for an (elected) executive emperor to move his imperial chess pieces wherever he pleases. Nothing in the Corker-Kaine cop-out of a bill can or will change that. In truth, it doesnt even pretend to. When it comes to war, the president reigns supreme and so, it seems, he shall remain. Hail, Caesar! [Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.] Yves here. Im glad to have Gaius lay out this perjury/entrapment question at a high level. One contact, an attorney, has been bothered about the fact that its looked more than a bit obvious that Mueller was not just trying to bait Trump into obstruction of justice, but might also be trying to entrap him. Moreover, left-leaning defense lawyers like Harvey Silverglate have warned that Mueller has tried entrapment strategies in the past. In 2013, the ACLU published a report on the FBI, Unleashed and Unaccountable: The FBIs Unchecked Abuse of Authority. Muellers name features prominently. Note that a Politico story to which we linked yesterday reads the state of play between Trump and Mueller as having changed. Trump had repeatedly said he was willing to be interviewed by Mueller: U.S. President Donald Trump is shifting to war footing in the Russia investigation. On Wednesday, the White House announced that it had hired a veteran lawyer who helped President Bill Clinton weather impeachment, while Trumps top personal lawyer expressed new defiance toward special counsel Robert Mueller and his Justice Department superiors. Combined, the two moves represent a sharp turn away from the cooperation-minded days of 2017 when Trump said publicly that he was eager to sit down with the lead Russia investigator Now, amid the prospect of a widening Mueller inquiry that has already ensnared several top Trump aides, along with a potential Democratic wave in the November midterm elections that could give way to impeachment proceedings, Trump and his lawyers are showing signs that they intend to fight back. The attorney to whom I spoke also said that Trump fighting Mueller was a much more viable strategy than youd think from reading the press. The special prosecutors subpoena authority is limited. His view was Trump has decent odds of successfully contesting or at least considerably narrowing a the scope of a subpoena that sought to compel answers to the questions leaked to the New York Times earlier this week. By Gaius Publius, a professional writer living on the West Coast of the United States and frequent contributor to DownWithTyranny, digby, Truthout, and Naked Capitalism. Follow him on Twitter @Gaius_Publius, Tumblr and Facebook. GP article archive here. Originally published at DownWithTyranny A perjury trap is a prosecutorial maneuver and a form of entrapment in which a prosecutor calls a witness to testify with the intent to base a perjury charge on their statements, not to indict them for a previous crime. If a prosecutor calls a witness for only that purpose, rather than to get information to further an investigation, the law is clear its forbidden. Perjury traps are most easily executed when the prosecutor has prior knowledge of the matter about which the witness is questioned but doesnt reveal having that knowledge. In practice perjury traps can be executed while furthering an investigation and still be traps. A prosecutor can ask investigatory questions and set a perjury trap at the same time. Thus, since perjury traps are forbidden in law only in restricted circumstances, they are difficult to avoid. If the questions leaked to the New York Times and presented as what Robert Mueller would ask Donald Trump in an official interview, are indeed Muellers questions (regardless of who leaked them), Mueller may be setting a perjury trap for Trump. Michael Flynns Perjury Trap Witness the situation of Michael Flynn, about which investigative reporter Robert Parry wrote just weeks before his death: Russia-gate enthusiasts are thrilled over the guilty plea of President Trumps former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI about pre-inauguration conversations with the Russian ambassador, but the case should alarm true civil libertarians. What is arguably most disturbing about this case is that then-National Security Adviser Flynn was pushed into a perjury trap by Obama administration holdovers at the Justice Department who concocted an unorthodox legal rationale for subjecting Flynn to an FBI interrogation four days after he took office, testing Flynns recollection of the conversations while the FBI agents had transcripts of the calls intercepted by the National Security Agency. In other words, the Justice Department wasnt seeking information about what Flynn said to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak the intelligence agencies already had that information. Instead, Flynn was being quizzed on his precise recollection of the conversations and nailed for lying when his recollections deviated from the transcripts. Seems like entrapment to me, regardless of what you think of Michael Flynn. Bill Clintons Perjury Trap If youre not fond of Michael Flynn, consider Bill Clinton, of whom many have kinder thoughts. In 1998 Jeffrey Rosen wrote this in The New Yorker about Ken Starrs attempt to prove Bill Clinton perjured himself by denying his affair with Monica Lewinsky (emphasis added): Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr has claimed that his 7-month investigation of President Clintons relationship with Monica Lewinsky, which seeks to prove that Clinton and Lewinsky lied under oath in the Paula Jones sexual harrassment case against Clinton, is about lies, not sex. But the public appears to recognize instinctively what the law has long acknowledged: that lies vary in degree and in kind, and that they should be treated accordingly. The Presidents aides fear that Starr will try to set a so-called perjury trap in order to catch the President in lies told directly to the grand jury. Perjury traps have become a popular tactic among independent counsels: if they cant prove the alleged crime they were appointed to investigate, they indict suspects for lying to investigators. But the traps are effective only because independent counsels have succeeded over the past few decades in expanding the lying laws far beyond their historical roots. The U.S. is a prosecutorial nation, and has been for some time. How else do we explain the popularity of shows like Judge Judy, Jerry Springer and the many like them, shows in which the unworthy are subjected to public humiliation? How else do we explain our acceptance of having the largest prison population in the world? How Will the Next Rogue President Be Taken Down? Perhaps youre fine with this use of prosecutorial power. Perhaps, even though youd hate it if these tactics were used against you, and hated it when they were used against Bill Clinton, you now love them when used against Trump and his team. But whatever your view of either man, Donald Trump or Bill Clinton, keep this in mind: 1. This is the way prosecutors regularly do business in our in love with prosecution state. 2. This is one way Mueller is trying to get rid of Donald Trump this and the blackmail opportunity his investigation of Trumps finances will inevitably offer. And thanks to Democrats, who opposed these tactics when used against Clintons presidency, and now cheer their use against Trumps, we see that: 3. These techniques have now been blessed (legitimized) by both parties and the mainstream press, and 4. They can and will be used freely against any sitting president who falls seriously out of favor with our ruling Establishment. Do you think a President Sanders would be any more loved, or any less hated, by the DC and press Establishment than Donald Trump is? Imagine a Sanders-like presidency. Remember MSNBCs behavior to Sanders during the 2016 primary. Remember the Partys behavior during that time. What do you think would be done to delegitimize him, or anyone like him, by both parties and the press, with both parties consent? What if he adopted a federal jobs guarantee proposal? Such a program, properly executed, would force wages to rise through the entire private sector and affect the bottom line of every corporation with employees in the U.S. What if he starts such a program under current executive power? Now imagine that the program has huge popular support, which means it represents a real legislative threat to our decades-old, comfortable, bipartisan neoliberal Establishment. Would such a program be allowed by that Establishment to go forward? What if it could not be stopped in any other way than by bringing down (delegitimizing) the Sanders presidency itself? Anyone who attempts to overturn four decades of Establishment neoliberal rule would not be treated kindly by anyone in DC. The bipartisan takedown of a President Sanders would look different than the takedown of Trump, but all of the same actors would participate and all the same tools would be in play. Please, as you cheer the takedown of President Trump (if you do), keep a president like Sanders in mind. The NSA Already Knows the Answers to Muellers Collusion Questions Back to Muellers questions for Donald Trump. The dirty little secret which is only secret because everyone in the country is pretending it isnt so is that the NSA already knows all or most of what Mueller reportedly wants to find out in his questions for Donald Trump. Ex-intelligence officers Ray McGovern and William Binney wrote about this at Robert Parrys Consortium News (h/t email correspondent Kevin Fathi for the link; emphasis added): Mueller does not need to send his team off on a broad quest with open-ended queries on an exhaustive array of subjects. If there were any tangible evidence of Trump campaign-Russia collusion, Mueller would almost certainly have known where to look and, in todays world of blanket surveillance, would have found it by now. It beggars belief that he would have failed, in the course of his year-old investigation, to use all the levers at his disposal the levers Edward Snowden called turnkey tyranny to get the goods on Trump. Heres what the mainstream media keeps from most Americans: The National Security Agency (NSA) collects everything: all email, telephone calls, texts, faxes everything, and stores it in giant databases. OK; we know that boggles the mind, but the technical capability is available, and the policy is to collect it all. All is collected and stored in vast warehouses. (The tools to properly analyze/evaluate this flood of information do not match the miraculous state of the art of collection, so the haystack keeps growing and the needles get harder and harder to find. But that is another story.) How did collection go on steroids? Youve heard it a thousand times After 9/11 everything changed. In short, when Vice President Dick Cheney told NSA Director and Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden to disregard the Fourth Amendment, Hayden saluted sharply. [James Comey, hero of the #Resistance, saluted sharply too, except for that one little time when he asked for changed first.] And so, after 9/11, NSAs erstwhile super-strict First Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Collect Information on Americans Without a Court Warrant, went the way of the Fourth Amendment. (When this became public, former NSA Director Adm. Bobby Ray Inman stated openly that Hayden violated the law, and former NSA Director Army Gen. William Odom said Hayden ought to be courtmartialed. The timorous mainstream media suppressed what Inman and Odom said.) And yes, the NSA does indeed spy on everyone, with the help and connivance of Barack Obama: On January 17, 2014, when President Barack Obama directed the intelligence community to limit their warrantless data searches for analysis/evaluation to two hops, either he did not understand what he was authorizing or he was bowing, as was his custom, to what the intelligence community claimed was needed (lest anyone call him soft on terrorism). Intelligence directors were quite happy with his decision because, basically, it authorized them to spy on anyone on the planet. Collect it all, NSA chief Keith Alexander famously said. And if whistle-blower Russell Tice is to be believed, the NSAs been doing just that since 2001, including getting wiretaps of Barack Obama in 2004, just as he was emerging onto the national political scene. Tice once claimed in an interview to have held those orders in his hand. He also claimed that similar orders applied to all important judges, including FISA judges, and all Pentagon officers of three-star rank and above. (For conspiracy fans, note that this would have included General Patraeus.) Setting a Perjury Trap for Trump To end where we began, heres what I think were about to see next in the Mueller-Trump story. Mueller is attempting to bait Trump into giving an interview. Trumps former lawyer John Dowd quit recently, reportedly over Trumps interest in granting Mueller an interview, which Dowd strongly (and wisely) opposed. Trump recently hired Rudy Guilani, reportedly to negotiate a Trump-Mueller interview with clear boundaries and with it an end to the investigation. It looks like Trump favors doing the interview. So what will happen if Trump sits down with Mueller? Will he stay on the script his lawyers prepared for him, or will he freelance? If he freelances, will he lie? Its impossible to imagine an undisciplined Trump not freelancing and not lying. If he lies, he will be charged with perjury and Mueller will have succeeded. Whether that brings him down, however, is anyones guess. (Mine is, it wont.) After all, the House would still have to impeach him, and even Nancy Pelosi has said impeachment is off the table (again). Maybe its all just one club after all. People feeding kangaroos at an Australian sanctuary have made the animals so aggressive theyre putting people in the hospital Business Insider Worlds largest Victorian glasshouse emerges gloriously after Kew restoration Daily Mail Climate Change Turns Coastal Property Into a Junk Bond Noah Smith, Bloomberg Liquidity ousts leverage as the big market worry FT This is what the Warren Buffett empire looks like, in one giant chart MarketWatch Fewer dark corners for dirty money to hide in FT The Gambler Who Cracked the Horse-Racing Code Bloomberg Former Oklahoma Police Pension Fund Chief Charged With Seven Felonies Governing Amazon halts plan for office tower in Seattle over proposed tax Reuters (EM). AI researchers allege that machine learning is alchemy Science A critical security flaw in popular industrial software put power plants at risk ZDNet (CL). Twitter: No big deal, but everyone needs to change their password The Register. On World Password day, no kidding! Dark Side of Computers, Smart Phones and Tablets: Blue Light Causes Cancer, Ruins Your Eyes and Makes You Toss and Turn at Night Washingtons Blog. Any blue lights I have taped over, and my machines are set to night mode as well. Bond investors pull money from emerging markets FT Brexit Local elections 2018: Tories win back Barnet amid Labour antisemitism row live Guardian Corbyns capital: the story of how London became a Labour city New Statesman Syraqistan China? New Cold War RUSSIAN FEDERATION SITREP 3 MAY 2018 (Patrick Armstrong) Sic Semper Tyrannis For Germans, Nord Stream 2 is no longer just a commercial interest Handelsblatt Trump Transition Corruption Is Bad HuffPo. We cant just address money in politics. We have to address money in government. Rohit Chopra, incoming federal trade commissioner. Big Brother is Watching You Watch De-Briefing Academics: Unpaid Intelligence Informants (PDF) James Petras. Academics returning from Latin America, but one might imagine academics returning from the flyover states are also debriefed. Our Famously Free Press Time for a New U.S. Foreign Policy Narrative Ian Bremmer and Joe Kennedy III, Foreign Affairs. So hes running? Imperial Collapse Watch Its Not Just the Forward Deployed U.S. Naval Institute Weapons Training Likely Causes Brain Injury in Troops, Study Says WSJ Ranks of Notorious Hate Group Include Active-Duty Military Pro Publica (UserFriendly). Homeland Review: Finale Ends a Magnificent Season 7 With a Radical Message for America IndieWire (EM). EM: I only watched Homeland through season 4 (dont get Showtime so would buy used DVDs of each season maybe a year after they came out), but while searching for something else on IMDB, happened across this gag-worthy bit of life-needs-to-be-more-like-a-Hollywood-show propaganda: Homelands president has never been a Donald Trump stand-in. Shes her own character emblematic of much more than our Cheeto-in-Chief. But her action is the kind of thoughtful, idealistic, self-sacrificing move that he would never make, even if its easy to argue he needs to would the world not be a better place if instead of focusing on when and how Trumps lies will be exposed (and its quite clear he has lied), that he step aside and let the countrys mass healing begin? Would the effort alone, whether or not it works, be admirable? His few remaining proponents may argue otherwise, but its hard to dismiss the gesture seen in this fictional (yet studiously relevant) take on America. And of course the baddies in season 7 the ones who drive our heroic CIA gal to madness are the deplorable Rooskies! Lambert here: Healing. Another word to watch out for. Generally the people calling for healing are highly unlikely ever to have been injured. Jobs Guarantee Class Warfare Bad TV n+1 Could robots be counselors? Early research shows positive user experience TechXplore (original). The Redistribution of Sex Ross Douthat, NYT. Fools rush in The Key to Everything NYRB. Big if true. Antidote du jour (via): Named Eric, no doubt. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. The Military Committee, NATOs highest Military Authority, will meet in Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Session on 16 May 2018, at the new NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the Military Committee, will preside over the sessions. The first session will focus on key strategic issues facing the Alliance in order to set the scene for the rest of the days discussions. The Chiefs of Defence will be joined by Deputy Secretary General, Rose Gottemoeller and the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, General Mikhail Kostarakos. The second session centres on NATOs Strategic Direction South. The Chiefs of Defence will focus on the military aspects relating to the Alliances Projecting Stability Initiative, such as NATOs Training and Capacity Building mission in Iraq and deliverables for the Framework for the South. The Allied Chiefs of Defence will be joined by their Enhanced Opportunities Partner Chiefs of Defence from Australia, Finland, Sweden, Georgia and Jordan. The third session of the day concerns Deterrence and Defence deliverables. The Chiefs of Defence will discuss NATO-EU cooperation relating to military mobility, the reinforcement of the Alliance maritime posture as well as NATOs Readiness Initiative. The final session will focus on Allied modernization. The Allied Chiefs of Defence will receive briefings from General Scaparrotti, (Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR) and General Mercier, (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, SACT) on the NATO Command Structure Adaptation and the Detailed Implementation Plan. The discussions are also expected to reflect upon the Alliances adaptation - political, militarily and institutional, with a special emphasis on military priorities. The Chiefs of Defences advice and guidance will assist and further frame discussions ahead of the June Defence Ministerial and the Heads of State and Government Summit on 11-12 July 2018. General Petr Pavel will be supported in each session by General Scaparrotti, SACEUR and General Mercier (SACT). The Military Committee meets twice a year at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, at the level of Chiefs of Defence to discuss NATO operations and missions and provide the North Atlantic Council with consensus-based military advice on how the Alliance can best meet global security challenges. Once a year, they meet in an Allied member country. On a day-to-day basis, their work is carried out by Permanent Military Representatives at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Media Opportunities Wednesday 16 May 2018 08:00-08:15 Media Pool pick up in the Public Square 08:30-08:40 179th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session Opening remarks by General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Wednesday 16 May 2018 18:00-18:30 Joint Press Conference in the main Press Theatre with General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), General Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and General Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation (SACT) Imagery Photos and video of all opening sessions will be available online at www.nato.int/ims shortly after each meeting. The Opening Remarks and Joint Press Conference will be made available on the NATO website after the event. Broadcasters can also request the broadcast quality footage by contacting content@natochannel.tv. The Opening Remarks and the Joint Press Conference will be livestreamed via the NATO website. Accreditation Media representatives holding a valid 2018 NATO Media pass will have access as usual to the new NATO HQ. Media representatives not in possession of a NATO Media pass and wishing to attend the media opportunities available are invited to contact the NATO IMS Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Office via email (ronaynecasimiro.lara@hq.nato.int) with a completed accreditation form no later than 12h00 on 9 May 2018 Media passes will not be mailed to applicants; they must be collected in person upon presentation of an ID card or passport and a valid national press pass (or accreditation letter from a recognized media organization). Media representatives will be given their accreditation at the Guard House South of the new NATO Headquarters, Boulevard Leopold III, Brussels, Belgium (GPS: N 50,52,42.049 (N 50.878437); E 4,25,46.348 (E 4.429541). Passes must be worn visibly at all times, and security personnel may ask to see another form of ID at any time. Media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site and are advised to arrive with sufficient lead time to clear security checks. Social Media We will post the latest information and pictures from the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence (MCCS) format on our official Twitter accounts: @CMC_NATO and @NATO_PASCAD. Please use the hashtag #NATOCHoDs when tweeting about the MCCS. Enquiries Points of contact for the Chairman of the Military Committee: Dr Eva Svobodova, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and NATO International Military Staff. Tel: + 32 2 707 59 83 E-Mail: svobodova.eva@hq.nato.int General press arrangements: Ms. Lara Ronayne Casimiro, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Assistant. Tel: +32 2 707 54 23 E-mail: ronaynecasimiro.lara@hq.nato.int NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller was in Sofia (4-5 May 2018) to discuss NATOs response to current security challenges, Bulgarias contributions to the Alliance, and NATO-EU cooperation. During her first visit to Bulgaria as Deputy Secretary General, Gottemoeller met with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and members of his government, as well as Vice President Iliana Yotova. She updated them on the preparations for the NATO Summit which will take place on 11-12 July. Security in the Black Sea region, Bulgarias contribution to NATOs operations, defence spending plans and NATOs approach to Russia were addressed as well. On Saturday, the Deputy Secretary General attended the meeting of EU Ministers of Defence, hosted by Bulgaria as Presidency of the European Council. Crisis management and NATO-EU cooperation, especially in the area of military mobility, were adiscussed. "Military mobility is an area where the interests of our organisations clearly converge, and it is essential to ensure that our efforts are coherent and complementary," Gottemoeller underlined. Visiting a day before the Bulgarian Armed Forces Day, also called Bravery Day (held on 6 May), the Deputy Secretary General has paid tribute to those who serve under the flags of Bulgaria and NATO. "I am so glad to be here on the eve of this important holiday, to honour the men and women of Bulgaria's Armed Forces," Gottemoeller said, recognising the contributions made by the Bulgarian military from Kosovo to Afghanistan, and from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. (Natural News) For many mothers, talc powder is a sign of love. They enjoy its sweet smell on their babys soft, sensitive skin, and believe it makes their baby feel fresh and stay free from diaper rash. On the opposite end of the spectrum, adults apply talc on parts of their body that are most likely to sweat like the underarms to keep it from itching when they perspire. Little do they know that the talc powder may be doing more harm than good. A judge in Middlesex County, New Jersey, has just awarded $30 million in damages to a banker who got sick of mesothelioma, an aggressive, deadly cancer that affects the lungs lining. Lanzo said he used talcum powder for decades. His wife Kendra, for her part, got $7 million in damages, thus bringing the total amount of damages to $37 million. The banker, Stephen Lanzo said he used Johnson & Johnson products like Shower to Shower and Baby Powder for over three decades, and claimed that inhaling the powder led to mesothelioma, an aggressive, fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. Talc, the product in question, is one of Earths softest minerals. Talc deposits are usually found near deposits of minerals that contain asbestos, which is known to pose serious health risks to humans. Studies have shown that the risk of cross-contamination during mining exists. Johnson & Johnson denied that their talc products contain asbestos. Lanzos case was the first to go on trial in New Jersey, where Johnson & Johnsons head office is located. The company shouldered 70 percent of the damages paid to the Lanzo couple, while Imerys Talc, which supplied the mineral, was liable for 30 percent. The couples lawyers accused Johnson & Johnson of keeping customers in the dark about the health risks attached to asbestos in its talc products since the 60s. Johnson & Johnson insists that all their products undergo rigorous testing and are free from contamination. Nevertheless, the giant corporation and other talcum powder companies face thousands of separate but related lawsuits that say there is a connection between talc use and ovarian cancer. In 2016, a Missouri court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to the family of Jackie Fox, who died of ovarian cancer at the age of 62. Fox and almost 1,200 ovarian cancer patients sued Johnson & Johnson, claiming that its talc and feminine hygiene products led to ovarian cancer. Talc is dangerous when inhaled or swallowed, and it can cause breathing problems. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics asks everyone to exercise caution in applying talc powder on babies. Safer options Its comforting to know that parents have alternatives to talc powder. These include: Arrowroot starch or tapioca starch Arrowroot comes from several tropical South American plants. Tapioca starch, on the other hand, is sourced from the crushed-up pulp of the South American cassava plant. Arrowroot comes from several tropical South American plants. Tapioca starch, on the other hand, is sourced from the crushed-up pulp of the South American cassava plant. Baking soda This pantry staple, also known as sodium bicarbonate can be used in lieu of talc. Others use it as deodorant and apply it in their underarms each morning before they leave the house. This pantry staple, also known as sodium bicarbonate can be used in lieu of talc. Others use it as deodorant and apply it in their underarms each morning before they leave the house. Cornstarch This common item in the baking aisle of local grocery stores aid in soaking up wetness from the babys urine and other excretions. It comes from the endosperm of a corn kernel and is usually used in food. This common item in the baking aisle of local grocery stores aid in soaking up wetness from the babys urine and other excretions. It comes from the endosperm of a corn kernel and is usually used in food. Oat flour This gives you a coarser texture than the above-mentioned options. Their babys health is the parents number one concern. This is why potentially harmful elements like talc should not be part of their daily rituals when taking care of their infant. Sources include: MSN.com MNN.com Cancer.org (Natural News) It may be hard to believe, but 32,000 people were put behind bars in Massachusetts because of the testimony of two corrupt officials. Lab technician Sonja Farak was responsible for testing the drugs that were confiscated from suspects who were arrested. While carrying out this important work, she was also stealing some of the drugs for herself and using them on the spot. She would later testify that she stole from other chemists samples, eventually stealing drugs that hadnt been assigned for testing from the safe at the lab and manipulating inventory systems to evade detection. This meant that not only were the samples she tested compromised, but so were those tested by other chemists. A total of 11,000 convictions were found to be compromised by Faraks work. While she was given 18 months in prison and released in 2015, it wasnt until three years later that the convictions she compromised were tossed, which means the people she helped to wrongly convict ended up spending more time in prison than she did! One man who was convicted based on her unreliable testimony, Ronaldo Penate, has filed a $5.7 million civil case against her; she had been smoking crack in the lab bathroom and taking LSD the day she tested the drugs in his case. He served more than five years for a crime no one can be certain he committed before seeing his conviction vacated. Penate has also named the former state attorney generals in the case, along with the bureaucrats who dragged this on by trying to cover up or downplay the lab technicians drug abuse. A long line of corruption If you think thats just one unfortunate case, youre wrong: A state lab employees deception led a Massachusetts court to vacate 21,000 drug convictions. Annie Dookhan, a crime lab chemist, was caught faking results; those who know her say she had a compulsion to overachieve that led her to make things up and take shortcuts. She became the most prolific analyst in the lab, impressing supervisors, who overlooked concerns raised by her co-workers. She later revealed that she didnt test all the drugs that she was supposed to, sometimes forging coworkers initials and also mixing samples of drugs to make her faulty analysis line up with the results that she gave to prosecutors. After admitting to forging results, tampering with evidence, and lying about it, she served three years in jail. Some of her victims might have had their cases dismissed, but the damage was already one; the dubious convictions have made it hard for them to find housing and jobs. In 2005, crime lab analysts in Houston were found to have fabricated the findings in at least four drug cases, including one where the analysts didnt even carry out the tests. In fact, the Houston Police Department Crime Laboratory has sent at least two innocent individuals to jail and exaggerated the strength of the evidence it held against hundreds of others. In New Jersey, a state police lab technician was caught faking results in a drug case, casting more than 7,800 criminal cases he worked on into doubt. He was discovered writing up test results for substances that he never actually tested. In addition to all the potential wrongful convictions, these cases have also cost a lot of money and manpower to sort out. Of course, there are upstanding technicians who do good work every day. However, its disturbing to think that just one person can have so much power over the fates of thousands of people. If this many corrupt workers have been caught acting this way; how many others could be making careless or intentional mistakes on the job, sampling the drugs seized, and sealing peoples fates while high or trying to further their own careers? Sources for this article include: TheDailyBell.com NBCNews.com Chron.com HoustonChronicle.com NJ.com Two former radiation control technician supervisors for Tetra Tech, the company hired to clean up radiation at the Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco, have been sentenced to eight months in prison for falsifying records. Stephen Rolfe and Justin Hubbard supervised a team of radiation control technicians hired to remediate radiation at the superfund site. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Northern District of California, both admitted to switching clean soil samples with the soil they were supposed to have been testing in order to fake the results of the cleanup. United States District Judge James Donato sentenced the men on Wednesday after they pleaded guilty to falsifying documents last year. As part of his plea agreement, Rolfe admitted he broke Navy testing protocols, which require the company to clean up soil that had elevated levels of radiation. Instead, he says he directed radiation control technicians to get clean dirt from areas that had already been remediated and substitute them for the samples they should have been testing. Rolfe, who had worked for Tetra Tech since 2008, said he wanted his crews to switch samples so the soil would pass the laboratory analysis and not require further remediation. He said he directed this about 20 times in 2012. He also said he watched his coworkers fill out government documents with inaccurate information. Rolfe testified that he did not receive extra compensation for switching soil samples and that his motivation came from pressure applied by the Tetra Tech supervisors. Hubbard, as part of his plea agreement, admitted that in 2012 he drove his company truck to an area outside the marked survey unit he was tasked with cleaning up, filled a bucket with clean dirt and fraudulently substituted it for legitimate soil samples. He then placed bar codes on the bags of dirt that misidentified the locations where he had taken the samples. Hubbard worked for Tetra Tech at the Hunters Point Shipyard for about 15 years until he was fired in 2013. Both men no longer work in the remediation industry, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Rolfe is currently serving his sentence. Judge Donato ordered Hubbard to self-surrender by July. A Tetra Tech spokesperson says the company supports the action of the Department of Justice. Tetra Tech vehemently rejects this type of activity and will pursue all legal actions available to it to recover the harm that the actions of these former employees have caused to Tetra Tech, the Navy, and the local community. We have zero tolerance for violations of established protocols and procedures on any project site, the company wrote in a statement. The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit first exposed in 2014 that the Navy caught Tetra Tech mishandling soil samples and falsifying data in 2012. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigated. The United States Attorneys Office in the Northern District of California also began an investigation. Tetra Tech has acknowledged those records were falsified. But the company said last week it stands by its work at Hunters Point since then. It offered to pay for an independent retesting of the shipyard to prove its safe for redevelopment. Former radiation control technician Anthony Smith revealed to NBC Bay Area in 2016 that his supervisors ordered him to switch potentially contaminated soil samples with clean ones. Though Rolfe and Hubbard admitted to misconduct in a small area of the shipyard, Smith alleges the fraud is more widespread. In response to Smiths accusations, the Navy reviewed all of Tetra Techs cleanup data at the 900-acre site and found nearly half of it had inconsistencies. The Navy said much of it is likely fraudulent. Officials are currently coming up with a plan to retest the shipyard and make sure its free of radiation. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, its possible much more of the site could be in question. A December 2017 letter from the EPA to the Navy, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by a Washington, D.C., advocacy group called Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, states that on parts of the shipyard, between 90 and 97 percent of Tetra Techs radiation data looked suspect, and parts of it may have been falsified. Tetra Tech spent 12 years testing for and cleaning up radiation at the shipyard. The company was awarded a quarter-billion-dollar contract. The future of the shipyard is in limbo as regulators figure out how to move forward. The site is slated for parks, shops and thousands of homes. Later this month, the city of San Francisco will hold hearings on a timeline for the cleanup. If you have a tip for the Investigative Unit email theunit@nbcbayarea.com. Follow Liz Wagner on Facebook and Twitter. Nearly 400 commuter shuttles travel through San Francisco every day, but are they paying their fair share? Thats the question posed by critics who argue companies that operate these Tech Buses should pay more for their use of public bus stops and city streets. If a driver stops in a bus zone, theyre looking at $288 ticket from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. But the citys commuter shuttle program allows tech buses to pay just $7.31 each time they stop to drop off passengers at roughly 100 stops across San Francisco. Most of those drop-off spots are located at public bus stops. Jose A. Herrera/Telemundo39.com In March, the Citizens Advisory Council for SFMTA urged the agency to charge tech buses more per stop and consider raising the fees to fair market value. Its essential that Muni keeps its eye on the prize, especially with regards to equity, Vice Chair of the Citizens Advisory Council Neil Ballard told the SFMTA Board of Directors. The Board has yet to make a decision on the proposal. COST OF DOING BUSINESS Mark Gruberg has been driving taxis since 1983 and sits on the Board for the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance. Gruberg also questions whether tech bus operators are getting a discount when compared to the $250,000 fee San Francisco charges taxi operators for a medallion. EFE I see it as terribly inconsistent and extremely unfair, Gruberg told NBC Bay Area. In 2012, the citys taxi union sued SFMTA in an attempt to block the fee, calling it an unconstitutional tax. But the city successfully argued that the medallion fee is fair since cab drivers use public streets as a place of business for private gain. Gruberg believes that same argument should apply for tech buses. I think there needs to be fairness across the board, Gruberg said. CHARGED ENOUGH Rufus Jeffiris with the advocacy group Bay Area Council helps businesses provide commuter shuttle service for employees. Jeffiris worked with SFMTA to establish the current guidelines for the commuter shuttle program and believes the shuttles provide an overall benefit for the city. The shuttles are eliminating 2 million single-passenger car trips annually from San Franciscos congested streets and avoiding 2,000 metric tons of harmful tailpipe emissions, Jeffiris said in a statement. The companies that provide this important service are doing it at their own expense, to the tune of millions of dollars a year. In addition, the operators pay all the same state and local vehicle, license and other regulatory fees and taxes, including fuel taxes, that pay for the maintenance of the roads and streets theyre using. Click here to read full statement from Bay Area Council Tom Maguire oversees the commuter shuttle program in his capacity as SFMTA Director, Sustainable Streets. Maguire told NBC Bay Area that unlike taxi medallions, the price of a commuter shuttle permit is capped under California law. SFMTA can only charge what it costs to run the shuttle program. Residents who oppose the commuter shuttle program disagree with that interpretation and accuse the city of brokering a sweetheart deal. Tom Maguire, SFMTA's director of Sustainable Streets, tells NBC Bay Area the price of a commuter shuttle permit is capped under California law. The fact that we are generating $6 million of permit fee revenue for a mode of transportation (commuter shuttles) that carries about 10,000 people a day shows that were actually taking a very strong approach to regulation, Maguire said. Maguire also pointed out that the commuter shuttle program is voluntary, so if the city raises fees, companies may choose to opt out. There's nothing I could do if a shuttle operator decided tomorrow that they were going to drop out of the program, stop sending us checks, and start operating on narrow hilly streets in Noe Valley or Cow Hollow or Bernal Heights. Nothing we could do. Tech Buses Commit Hundreds of Violations on San Francisco Streets FAIRNESS IN FEES Supervisor Jane Kim said she wants to see more transparency at SFMTA when it comes to calculating fees. NBC Bay Area I have been asking the last three years for SFMTA to justify how they come up with cost recovery. I am often asked why a shuttle bus can use a public bus stop and pay $7 a stop and why a mother dropping off her kids to school gets a $100-plus ticket when using the same bus stop, Kim told NBC Bay Area. As part of next years budget, SFMTA plans to increase the per-stop fee for commuter shuttles by 34 cents to help hire more enforcement officers to keep watch over the buses. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has until June 30 to approve the plan. ______________________________________ The Bay Area family of television inventor Philo Farnsworth is blasting the decision by Utah's State Legislature to replace his statue in Statuary Hall in Washington D.C. with a statue of Martha Hughes Cannon, the nations first female state senator. Farnsworth, a native of Utah, conducted the first successful electronic television transmission in a laboratory in San Francisco on September 7th, 1927. Supporters in Utah installed his statue in the nation's capitol in 1990 following a long campaign to honor its famous son. Each state chooses two statues to represent it in Statuary Hall. Utah State Senator Todd Weiler proposed legislation to replace Farnsworth with Cannon to celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary in 2020 of the passage of the 19th amendment which granted women the right to vote. The legislation passed both houses in the state capitol and was signed by the governor. "I said all along this resolution to put her in Congress in Statuary Hall," Weiler said, "it was not an anti-Philo Farnsworth resolution, it was a pro-Martha Hughes Cannon." But that sentiment was lost on Farnsworth family members who live in Marin County. His grandson Philo Krishna Farnsworth in San Rafael said the family was never contacted by the state in advance of the vote and was caught off-guard by the move. "It's an unexpected stab in the back," said Krishna Farnsworth, "and tarnishment of his legacy and the remembrance of his accomplishments for sure." Cannon was the fourth of six wives of her polygamist Mormon husband whom she defeated in 1896 to win the senator job. Weiler said the addition of her statue in Washington D.C. would be a fitting tribute to her accomplishments. "She played a big role in the woman's suffrage movement," Weiler said. "She almost single-handedly got Utah to recognize the right to vote for women." Farnsworth's grandson said he applauded Cannon's achievements but felt his grandfather's contributions had a larger global impact. Joe Rosato Jr./NBC Bay Area "You're taking the spot of someone who, in our opinion," Farnsworth said, "has influenced every person who has walked the face of the earth for 75 years." The elder Farnsworth never capitalized on his invention because of legal disputes and expired patents. His grandson said the family has struggled to get him the recognition he deserves from the scientific community. The removal of the statue, he said, would just be the latest slight. "He struggled mightily with the fact he wasn't recognized in the scientific community," Farnsworth said. Weiler said Utah hasnt yet decided on what it will do with Farnsworth's statue once it's removed. He cited the Smithsonian Institute or the National Science Center as fitting venues for the statue although plans to move it to neither are currently in the works. He also left open the possibility Utah could reinstall Farnsworth in Statuary Hall after ten years, per federal rules. Weiler said ultimately, the brouhaha over the statues replacement has increased awareness of Farnsworth in Utah, especially among school children. "I think the family should be proud of the fact that they have such a distinguished ancestor," Weiler said, "that Utah celebrated not only for 30 years in Washington D.C. but also in our state capitol and were going to continue to do that." Gilroy Police Department Chief Scot Smithee confirmed Thursday his gun, badge, city-issued laptop, and personal truck were stolen. Smithee said the incident happened outside a Modesto Junior College graduation on April 27. The chief told NBC Bay Area his service weapon was not in a locked case, which has been required in California since 2016. The incident occurred while Smithee was attending the graduation of a family member and said he parked in a highly-visible parking spot. There was security at the venue checking bags and purses. "My concern was if I get challenged at the gate and they make me go back to my car, basically other people are going to hear that I have a gun and I've got to go put it back in my car," Smithee said. The chief has asked the City Manager to bring in a third party to determine "appropriate course of action." Smithee said he wants to be transparent and consistent in case this happens with one of his officers in the future. "I have to make sure that whatever the consequence is for me is going to be consistent with whatever it would be for somebody else in the futer," Smithee said. "Otherwise, I have no credibility." Modesto police recovered his truck and made an arrest three days later. However, Smithee said they have not recovered any other items. Louis Grubeck Jr, 36, is identified by police as the suspect. A landlord-tenant dispute and pending eviction may have sparked a fatal shooting in a Mill Valley apartment complex Thursday which left two people dead, including the gunman, and a third person seriously injured, Marin County Sheriff's officials said Friday. The landlord of the apartment complex is in critical condition and his daughter is dead after the shooting at the North Bay residence which sent people running for their lives and put the community on lockdown as SWAT teams searched for the shooter. The Marin County Coroner's Office identified the landlord as 84-year-old Leonard Lew. The woman who died, Lew's daughter, has been identified as 30-year-old Sabrina Elizabeth Lew of Mill Valley. The man believed to be the gunman was found dead from a gunshot wound inside an apartment complex at 939 E Blithedale, according to sheriff's officials. Police initially described the suspect as an 80-year-old man. On Friday, Marin County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect at Victor Aurelino Lugo, 71, of Mill Valley. According to sheriff's officials, dispatchers received a 911 call around 3:44 p.m. Thursday from a resident who reported that two people had been shot at their apartment complex. A deputy arrived within two minutes and found a man and woman both suffering from gunshot wounds. The man was able to give the deputy the name of the suspect - who also lived at the apartment complex - before he was taken away for treatment. After investigating conflicting information on the whereabouts of the suspect, the Marin County Sheriff's Special Response Team carried out a "high-risk search" of the complex and found the suspect dead in his apartment, after suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff's officials said. A revolver was found lying at the feet of the suspect, officials said. "Unfortunately the woman did not survive and died at the hospital," sheriff's officials said. Her father spent the night in ICU and is expected to survive. Although detectives developed a possible motive of a landlord-tenant dispute they haven't had a chance to speak to the landlord because of his condition. Detectives said the landlord went to talk to the suspect Thursday about a pending eviction when an argument broke out. Detectives believe the gun found in the suspect's apartment was the same one used in the shooting. Aerial footage from NBC Bay Area's Sky Ranger chopper showed people running from the complex behind deputies with drawn guns. A few residents could be seen walking out of their apartments with their hands raised, as officers escorted them outside to safety to the courtyard. "I saw a CHP officer running down the street with an unconscious woman draped over his shoulder and he puts her in an ambulance," witness Josh Edelson said. Lots of us heard Elon Musk say he was tired, overworked, and sleeping on the Tesla factory floor. Most of us probably giggled, or maybe said "just get those Model 3s made" under our breath. But one San Diego resident, Ben Sullins, went to work. Sullins, host of a YouTube show called Teslanomics, thought it would be funny to try to raise enough money to buy the Tesla CEO a couch after he saw Musk's interview on "CBS This Morning" where he said he's under a lot of stress to get the Model 3 production on track. Thanks to fans on Sullins' channel, Twitter and GoFundMe, the fundraising idea took off. People love Elon Musk, Sullins said. They believe in the mission. People believe enough to raise $8,500 on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe. The Tesla Club of Sweden also raised another $1,500, way more than enough to buy a nice couch. Tesla itself decided to get involved, matching donations dollar for dollar and when the cushions cleared, Sullins had raised $18,000. Then, furniture company Wayfair donated the couch, and Sullins decided the money should go to charity. Sullins went back to the internet and held a vote among donors on where the money should be donated. All the money will go to UK-based Renewable World, which fights poverty through renewable energy. Sullins delivered the couch to Fremonts Tesla factory, and although he didnt get to meet Musk himself, he said the whole project made him feel great. Im completely floored by the whole thing, Sullins said. To put all the money to charity, thats icing on the cake. Rest well, Elon. And get those Model 3s made. Scott Budman follows Musk, and Tesla, on Twitter: @scottbudman A man believed to be the gunman in a Mill Valley shooting that killed a woman was found dead from a gunshot wound inside an apartment Thursday, sheriff's officials said. A man and a woman were shot at an apartment complex in the 900 block of East Blithedale and Tower Drive, sheriff's officials said. They were taken from an apartment by deputies and medical personnel and eventually to a hospital, where the woman died. A witness told NBC Bay Area the two victims were a man and his daughter and were the landlords of the complex. A shelter in place issued earlier in Mill Valley, which is north of San Francisco, was lifted, and there was no longer a threat to the public, sheriff's officials said. Aerial footage from NBC Bay Area's Sky Ranger chopper showed people running from the complex behind deputies with drawn guns. A few residents could be seen walking out of their apartments with their hands raised, as officers escorted them outside to safety to the courtyard. A resident told NBC Bay Area she heard screams and gunshots. Sheriff's officials later expanded the shelter in place to Blithedale from Ashford to Meadow, including Dorset, Shell, and Lomita from Meadow to Highway 101. Maine State Police say one man was wounded in an officer-involved shooting in Oakfield on Friday morning. The shooting took place outside the Oakfield Thriftway store on Ridge Road just after 11 a.m. A team of three Maine State Troopers had gone to the store to arrest the man as part of an ongoing investigation when there was an armed confrontation between the man and one of the troopers. John Corneil, 54, of Smyrna, was shot by a state police sergeant. He was taken to a hospital in Houlton for treatment before undergoing surgery at a Bangor hospital. Police say Corneil was wanted on several warrants, with charges including assault, criminal threatening, terrorizing and reckless conduct. Those charges stem from an incident in Smyrna, according to state police. Sgt. Chad Fuller, a 20-year veteran of the Maine State Police, has been placed on administrative leave with pay as the incident is investigated. Neither Fuller nor the other officers were injured in the shooting. Police say Corneil challenged officers with a pellet gun they say resembled a Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol. The Maine Attorney General's Office will investigate the incident, along with state police. It was not immediately clear whether Corneil had a lawyer. Chicago residents looking for a top place to fulfill their aspirations of a nice house with a white picket fence may not have to go too far, according to a report from financial planning site SmartAsset.com Aurora is the fourth-best city to live the American Dream in the entire country, the site said in its 2018 ranking of the best cities for living the American Dream. It was the only Illinois city to make the top 25. The study ranked the countrys 257 largest cities based on diversity, economic mobility, homeownership rate, median home value and unemployment rate. Aurora scored the highest in ethnic diversity in the top 10, and second-highest in the top 25, surpassed only by Palmdale, California. Out of all 257 cities, it ranked 22nd. West Valley City, Utah, took the top spot with a nearly 70 percent homeownership rate and just a 2.9 percent unemployment rate. West Valley City in the 2017 ranking tied with Aurora for first place, but this year held onto the top spot while Aurora apparently became slightly less dreamy. What hurt Aurora this year, according SmartAsset, is that its unemployment rate jumped from 4.1 percent to 4.5 percent, putting it in the bottom half of the cities the study examined. If Aurora wants to jump into the top three spots, it will need to improve its unemployment rate, the site wrote. But Texas is apparently where dreams are truly made, according to the study. The Lone Star State alone has five cities in the top 10: Odessa, Midland, Round Rock, Fort Worth and Amarillo. It has a further eight within the top 25. The only other Midwest city in the top 10 was Rochester, Minnesota, which took the 10th spot due to a low diversity score, despite its high homeownership and economic mobility rates. But what city came in dead-last? Ironically, Washington, D.C., a SmartAsset spokeswoman told NBC 5 in an email. The full top 10 was: Many sunscreen makers could soon be forced to change their formulas or be banned from selling the lotions in Hawaii. State lawmakers passed a measure this week that would ban the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate by 2021 in an effort to protect coral reefs. Scientists have found the two substances can be toxic to coral, which are a vital part of the ocean ecosystem and a popular draw for tourists. Consumers would only be allowed to buy sunscreen with the chemicals if prescribed by a health care provider, though the measure itself doesn't ban online purchases or tourists from bringing their own to Hawaii. It would become the first state to enact a ban on the chemicals if Democratic Gov. David Ige signs the bill; he has not indicated whether he will. Similar legislation failed last year, after it pitted environmental scientists against businesses and trade groups that benefit from the $2 billion market for sun care products in the U.S. This is "a first step to help our reef and protect it from deterioration," said Hawaii state senator Donna Mercado Kim, a fellow Democrat who introduced the measure. Although other factors contribute to reef degradation, "hopefully, other jurisdictions will look at this legislation and follow suit." "This is the first real chance that local reefs have to recover," said Craig Downs, a scientist whose 2015 peer-reviewed study found oxybenzone was a threat to coral reefs. "Lots of things kill coral reefs, but we know oxybenzone prevents them from coming back." It also affects sea urchins and kills algae, a source of food for sea turtles, he said. He found as much as 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotion ends up in coral reefs annually. Opponents are skeptical of the science. "What we're really concerned with is that there aren't very many independent studies out there that have gone for peer review," said Tina Yamaki, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. She said the ban might discourage people from buying sunscreen products from local brick-and-mortar stores. The American Chemistry Council also opposed the bill, citing concerns over the dangers of sun exposure. "It's a feel good measure," said Democrat Sharon Har, one of four lawmakers who voted against the bill. "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 significant threats to coral. Many manufacturers already sell "reef-friendly" sunscreens, and companies can deplete current inventory ahead of the ban in 2021, Downs said. Edgewell Personal Care, which makes Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen lotions, said it makes products free of the two chemicals. The company "will continue to ensure we comply with all relevant regulations concerning oxybenzone and octinoxate." "We have so many problems with coral bleaching, and there is already so much contamination," said Dr. Yuanan Lu, a professor and director of the environmental health laboratory at the University of Hawaii, who applauded the passage. "We have so many people who come to Hawaii, and some of the sunscreen ingredients can be toxic, harmful to marine systems." A 5-year-old boy who was reported missing has died after he was found unresponsive in a family vehicle in Waterford Thursday afternoon and police are asking anyone who saw the child over a two-hour span that afternoon to call authorities. The child had been home with his mother and he was last seen around 12:30 p.m., according to police, who said the mother was the initial caller and reported her son missing. In a news release issued Thursday, police said officers were called to the home on Maple Avenue in Quaker Hill at 2:28 p.m. and 19 minutes later, after searching inside the home and out, they found the boy unresponsive in a family car. Fire and EMS responded and tried to resuscitate the child, but were not successful. He pronounced dead on scene. The child's cause of death has not been determined at this time. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been called in to assist. Police have not released the boy's name, but said the family name is Bosselman. Investigators are looking into how the child got into the vehicle. As mandated reporters, the Waterford Police Department contacted the State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families regarding this incident. Police said an autopsy was performed Friday to determine cause of the childs death. Waterford police are continuing to work on the case, interviewing family members friends and neighbors. Police officials said the last time they remember a case of a death of someone so youing was 20 years ago. "Now that were exposed to some of the things theyre exposed to, you go home. You squeeze your daughters a little but tighter. You check on them. You make sure you kiss them at night," Hall said. Police department chaplains David Moynihan and Kenny Hall are working with investigators and the family to navigate the tragedy. Anyone one saw an unattended child in the area of Maple Avenue in Waterford between 12:30 p.m. and 2:28 p.m. Thursday or has any information on the case should call the Waterford Police Department Investigative Services at (860) 442-9451. The New London States Attorneys Office is involved in the investigation. More information was not immediately available. Many of Connecticut's cities and towns find themselves in a perpetual state of budget crisis which often results in widely varying mill rates, which are used to calculate property taxes. With 169 municipalities, there could potentially be 169 different levels of tax burden. West Hartford resident Teresa Burger cringes every six months, every time her property tax bill arrives. For three decades, she has lived in town in an approximately 1,600-square foot, three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath house. "Being on a fixed income and retired, I think you start watching your pennies and where they go," said Burger. For this most recent year, Burger's property taxes were $7,351.92. "The cost of the taxes has definitely surpassed what our incomes are doing," she said. For the first time, Burger and her husband are considering leaving the place they call home in hopes of landing some place less expensive. "I think we're in trouble in Connecticut," Burger said. According to the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, the Fiscal Year 2018 mill rate on a home in Salisbury, for example, was set at 11.1. In Avon, the rate is nearly three times that of Salisbury at 30.59. In West Hartford, where Burger lives, the mill rate was four times higher at 40.04. In the city of Hartford, the mill rate was seven times that of Salisbury. In the capital city where a third of the residents live in poverty, it is a high tax burden. Despite the inequality, University of Connecticut Professor of Public Policy, Mohamad Alkadry, said there are benefits to local control. "The benefit is that you can control the revenues better," said Alkadry. "I think that local governments should always set their mill rates. Whether or not they need to be assessing all property and doing the property appraisal every year and setting that is what varies every year," he added. Not everyone believes that a tax base made up of 169 different municipalities is sustainable, including former Connecticut State Senator Gary LeBeau, who said there is an unwillingness to change in a place often referred to as the land of steady habits. "We're making it difficult for people live here and to stay here," said LeBeau, who is among those who believe a more regional government approach could lead to lower taxes. The idea of municipalities sharing resources, cutting overhead and administrative costs, and consolidating schools and other departments would be a departure from the status quo. LeBeau knows it would be a tough sell to many people. "Of course those people are not going to jump on board," said LeBeau. "And where are those people? Those people are embedded in the political system." The status quo is forcing cities and towns to make tough financial choices. The mayor of the 1,600-resident community of Scotland, for instance, was open to dissolving the town during last year's brutal budget battle. Meanwhile, New Haven and Bridgeport, two cities with similar issues, are collaborating more. In some cases, the cities are even referring to themselves as "Bridgehaven," joining forces on a casino proposal and on a pitch to be home to Amazon's second headquarters, HQ2. But many of the 169 Connecticut towns and cities are still opting to go it alone, and taxpayers are often picking up the tab. "We've been paying more and more and I don't think I'm getting more and more, which is part of the frustration," said John Souza, who has owned and operated several rental properties in Hartford and West Hartford for about 30 years. Souza said local governments should be more open to the concept of regionalizing services. "We understand that things are going to get more expensive, but they've got to do their best to minimize those increases as much as possible," he said. Souza recently alerted his tenants that because of his bigger tax bill, their rents would be increasing more than expected. "I don't usually start my letters with apologies, but it showed them the old tax bill and the new tax bill, did the math for them, per unit, per month explaining why I had to raise the rents the way I did." He wonders if he will still be a Connecticut resident in the distant future. "I think I would consider leaving, for sure, if things don't change," he said. Back at Burger's home, the taxman has already come and gone. Soon Burger may be gone, too. "This is home to me," said Burger. "And I hate to hear people tell me 'just move.'" Based on Fiscal Year 2018 information provided by the state Office of Policy and Management, a mill is equal to $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessment. To calculate the property tax, multiply the assessment of the property by the mill rate and divide by 1,000. For example, a property with an assessed value of $50,000 located in a municipality with a mill rate of 20 mills would have a property tax bill of $1,000 per year. How does your city or town stacks up against the others when it comes to how much you are paying in property taxes and for the car tax? Here is a town-by-town look based on Fiscal Year 2018 information provided by the state Office of Policy and Management. Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian says hes not giving up his plan to consolidate the 12 community colleges into one regional campus. The Regional Accreditation Commission recently rejected the consolidation plan known as Students First. What were trying to do is take the guidance we received last Tuesday from NEASC [New England Association of Schools and Colleges], and come up with a modified plan with how we move forward, President Ojakian told NBC Connecticut. President Ojakian told the Board of Regents Executive Committee Friday that the proposals rejection doesnt mean the plan itself has reached a dead end. They clearly indicated that they didnt say no to a single accredited community college, Ojakian said. Just wanted it maybe to proceed down a different path. This first failure has faculty and staff questioning his leadership. On Monday, the faculty senate at CCSU voted unanimously on a resolution to have President Mark Ojakian step down. My response is Im not resigning. A university that really has no stake in the outcome of a community college consolidation plan, so I intend to move forward, he said. President Ojakian insists Students First will save the university system about $20 million, cut tuition costs and save campus locations. To students, he says, Im in your corner. Too many times, they adapt the way they go to school based on what we do, and it needs to be the other way around. President Ojakian will go before the full Board of Regents on Thursday, May 10 at 10 a.m., to begin specifically detailing his next proposal. A Connecticut House Member from Wallingford faced a political backlash late Thursday and early Friday for his comments regarding victims of domestic violence. They came during floor debate on a measure that made changes to the statutes dealing with, "dual arrests," by police in cases of domestic violence. Craig Fishbein, who is a practicing attorney specializing in divorces and family law, said, "I can tell you, in divorces that I do, which are many, sometimes domestic violence is arranged, involved, sometimes its real. Many times it is real. Fishbein took issue with the change to the law that gave police the discretion to name, a "primary aggressor," in a domestic dispute. On Friday, Fishbein told NBC Connecticut he, "may have made a poor choice of words." "I did not mean to belittle or minimize" victims of domestic violence, he added. He said he has had experience in cases where police were called while a couple was in the middle of a divorce or custody proceeding, where one of the parties was looking to damage the other. Fishbein, a Republican, is in his first term representing Wallingford. He cast the sole vote against the measure which unanimously passed the Senate earlier in the session. The 147 House members sent the measure to Gov. Dannel Malloy's desk where he is expected to sign the bill into law. The CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Karen Jarmoc, said Fishbein's comments are reflective of a culture where many victims are still not believed. If there is still, with some people, the narrative that domestic violence is believable in some cases, not believable in others, that a victim may not be believed, a victim may be blamed, we still have work to do," she said. Testing has confirmed a case of measles at a Southington elementary school. According to a letter from Superintendent Timothy Connellan, someone with a case of measles may have exposed others at Derynoski Elementary School on April 26, 27 and 30, 2018. Students attending the YMCA before-school program were likely not at risk, officials said. Children who are not protected against measles will be kept out of school in accordance with the Connecticut Department of Public Health Outbreak Control guidelines. A School Medical Advisor will determine the length of time required, and the school nurse will get in touch with those families. Those students will receive alternative education options, likely individual tutoring. Others may begin to develop measles symptoms anytime between Thursday and May 21. The state Department of Public Health issued a warning last week about measles after two children in New Haven County contracted the disease while traveling outside the U.S. Measles can spread quickly to those who are not vaccinated against it. Symptoms usually being with mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a sore throat. After a few days a rash will develop, usually on the persons face and hairline, and spreading down the body. Fever can spike to dangerous levels when the rash appears. People with measles are contagious up to four days before the rash appears and up to four days after it appears. Most people have been vaccinated or have had measles in the past, before vaccination became routine, according to health officials. Anyone who is unsure of their vaccination status should check with his or her physician. If you suspect you or your child has a case of measles, you should avoid public places and contact your health care provider before going into the office to avoid spreading the disease. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. New Haven Mayor Toni Harp may have officially cemented Ned Lamont as the front-runner in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor. She announced her support at Tweed Airport alongside the Greenwich businessman, who she said is up for the job to help working families and the poor, despite his well-to-do pedigree. Not that I know the typical wealthy man from Greenwich. I dont know them, but I know him and I know he's willing to go to work every day," Harp said. Harp is the third high profile endorsement for Lamont in the past month. Attorney General George Jepsen, former Connecticut Democratic Party Executive Director and Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris each threw their support to Lamont in recent weeks. Harris dropped his bid for governor to do so. Harp is the first mayor of one of Connecticut's large cities to announce their support for Lamont. With that being the case, Harp used the opportunity to encourage the mayors and other Democratic Party delegates to support Lamont at the convention which convenes in two weeks in Hartford. Its also meant to urge delegates from Stamford, and Bridgeport to Waterbury, Hartford and New London and every town in between to unite at this stage of the campaign cycle to support Ned. The support for Harp could be a turning point in the race from both a momentum and delegate standpoint. New Haven has about 100 of the 2,000 state convention delegates. If Lamont achieves up to 85 percent delegates, that would avoid a primary. Lamont said the support from Harp should not force other candidates like Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim or former Secretary of the State to reconsider their candidacies. I think delegates will make up their minds over the next couple weeks whether this is a vision that they share that believes we can make a difference in their lives or we can go another way. Im not giving anybody else any advice. Im going to work every day for their votes, though. State health officials say there has been a third case of measles in Connecticut. The most recent case was in an adult in Hartford County and the Connecticut Department of Public Health said this person did not have contact with the two young children from New Haven County who contracted the measles while traveling outside the United States. The warning from the state Department of Public Health comes soon after Southington Superintendent Timothy Connellan sent out a letter that said someone with a case of measles may have exposed others at Derynoski Elementary School on April 26, 27 and 30. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people, according to health officials. However, most people who are exposed to measles are not at-risk of developing the disease since most people have either been vaccinated or have had measles in the past, before vaccination became routine. Cases of measles, while not widespread in the United States, are not uncommon and measles is circulating throughout the country and internationally. The single best way to protect yourself and your children from measles is to be vaccinated, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino said in a statement. While most people have had the measles vaccination, its important to know your vaccination status and to be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles so you can get medical attention. Learn more about measles on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. 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. The Trump administration said Friday that it is ending special immigration protections for about 57,000 Hondurans, adding them to hundreds of thousands of immigrants from other countries battered by violence and natural disasters who are losing permission to be in the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's widely anticipated decision not to renew temporary protected status for Hondurans means an estimated 428,000 people from several countries face rolling deadlines beginning late this year to leave or obtain legal residency in other ways. Hondurans will have until Jan. 5, 2020, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. President Donald Trump who wants to curtail legal immigration and has been cracking down broadly on illegal immigration and his supporters note that the protections were never meant to be permanent. Immigrant advocates decried the move and contend that ending the status will drive people underground who have been establishing roots in the U.S. for years or decades, including having American-born children. For Hondurans, the program known as TPS has been in place since 1999 after Hurricane Mitch devastated in the Central American nation the year before. The administration says conditions in Honduras have improved, while advocates argue that it still hasn't fully recovered from the hurricane and is now plagued by rampant violence. Trump, his opponents argue, is effectively adding tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people to the ranks of those in the U.S. without legal status. Marta Connor, a 50-year-old union organizer in Southern California who has lived in the U.S. for decades and has three American-born children, said before the announcement that she wasn't leaving, regardless of the administration's policies. "One thing I can tell you is I am not going to Honduras," she said, noting that many of the asylum-seeking migrants in a caravan that recently reached the U.S.-Mexico border are from Honduras. "If they are coming, why am I going over there?" "There is no way I will go back," Connor said. Around 437,000 immigrants hailing from 10 countries have had temporary protected status, a designation created in 1990 to allow people from countries affected by natural disasters like earthquakes or man-made disasters like war to have a short-term safe haven. Only a few thousand still have that status. Those with it have generally been able to work and with permission, travel outside the U.S. and return. Countries are added to the list as circumstances warrant, with renewals coming usually around every 18 months. While some countries have been taken off the list, others have stayed on it for extended periods, which critics say turns the program into default amnesty. Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has terminated the program for Sudan, Nicaragua, Nepal, Haiti, and notably El Salvador, which accounted for more holders of the special status than any other nation. They have been given deadlines to leave or gain legal status if possible, starting in November for Sudan and throughout 2019 for the other countries. Several groups are suing to stay in the U.S. The protections have been extended for 6,900 Syrians who already have them, but the administration has said it won't take on new applicants. Decisions are upcoming for South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, which cover fewer than 1,700 people. Daniel Sharp, legal director at the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles, said he doesn't believe most immigrants with the status will leave after setting down roots with U.S.-born children, jobs and homes. "People don't want to go back to being undocumented, but I don't think you are going to see a ton of people returning to their countries of origin," he said. El Salvador actually had the protections twice, the first time in the early 1990s until December 1994. It's estimated that about 150,000 people were covered then. Cecilia Menjivar, a University of Kansas sociology professor, said that while exact numbers are unknown, it's clear many stayed in the U.S. when the program ended. Some got permanent residency through family sponsorship, but immigration law has changed since then that "there are fewer avenues for legalization," she said. Ramba Regmi, 53, a native of Nepal who's been in New York City for close to two decades, doesn't know what she's going to do. She spent many of those years without legal status after overstaying a visa but got protections after an April 2015 earthquake in Nepal killed more than 8,000 people. With the legal authorization the program provides, she was able to go from working in a nail salon to owning one, where she employs three people. She financially supports her husband and adult children in Nepal, which she says still hasn't recovered from the earthquake. "I never thought this was going to end, so what can I say?" Regmi said after the government declined last week to renew protections for about 9,000 Nepalis. "This is very difficult." Whats the deadliest creature on earth? Do sharks, crocodiles or snakes come to mind? Well, deaths from those creatures pale in comparison to mosquitoes. Globally, mosquitoes kill more than 700,000 people a year. Researchers are now testing a vaccine that will protect people against one of those mosquito-borne diseases, the Zika virus. Summer is just around the corner, a time for playgrounds, beaches and mosquitoes. Theres a lot of mosquitoes out there and they carry a lot of diseases. Theyre nasty pests, said Sarah George, MD, an Infectious Disease Specialist at Saint Louis University. Dr. George is one of several doctors chasing a vaccine for the Zika virus. Two years ago, an outbreak caused severe birth defects in thousands of babies across Central and South America. Something called microcephaly where the brain never develops properly, and the skull actually collapses. Theres not enough brain tissue to hold it up, said Dr. George. An effective vaccine could prevent that. Dr. George is testing one, a two-dose shot that contains an inactivated form of the virus. In the study, more than 90 percent of volunteers showed an immune response to Zika. Pregnancy is usually a wonderful thing. Nobody wants to be told, Im sorry. Theres something seriously wrong with your baby. Everyone wants to be protected against that and if a vaccine can do that, thats wonderful, Dr. George said. Rachael Bradshaw, a prenatal genetic counselor who works with families at risk for having babies with birth defects, did not hesitate to volunteer for the study. It seemed like something I could do to help out, if we could find a way to protect babies in the future, said Bradshaw. She says getting the vaccine was easy; Its really no different than getting a flu shot. While Zika cases have dropped dramatically since that first outbreak, a vaccine could keep pregnant women and babies safe against future threats. Dr. George stated, We will have another Zika outbreak. We just dont know when or where. In the 2016 outbreak, there were more than 5,000 Zika cases in the U.S. Most were among people returning from affected countries, but more than 200 cases came from mosquitoes in Florida and Texas. This year, more than a dozen cases have already been reported in the U.S. Its important to note that the virus can be transmitted by sexual contact too, not just from mosquitoes. A man is dead after being hit by a vehicle in southeast Dallas Thursday night, police say. At 10:13 p.m. Thursday an 18-year-old male driver struck a pedestrian who walked across the street in the 4500 block of Great Trinity Forest Way, according to the Dallas Police Department. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk when he was hit and was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Friday morning, the victim remained unidentified because he did not have any identification. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and, police say, is not facing charges at this time. A North Texas school can think of no greater tribute to one of their teachers who died of complications from the flu than to share her love of reading with children. Bose Ikard Elementary School in the Weatherford Independent School District held a special book drive in honor of second grade teacher Heather Holland. A table sat inside the schools library full of donated books, too many to fit in the one box. It is exactly what Holland would have wanted, and how Frank Holland wants his wife to be remembered. She would appreciated it very much, Holland said. Shed be embarrassed by it. She was very private like us. She would love it. Holland said his wife often spoke of the power of reading to her students. Just...you can be anything in a book. You can be a superhero, he said. The 38-year-old was happy and healthy until she got the flu in late January. Holland said his wife opted not to buy a prescription because of the high co-pay. Yeah, that was her, he said. It didnt matter how much money we had in the bank. She would have not spent the $116 on the Tamiflu. I got it the next morning but, you can play the what if game, but I dont know. Her condition worsened and she developed sepsis. The mother of two passed away days later. Its day to day, said Holland of life since then. Good days and bad. Hollands grieving school looked for a way to honor her. That was immediately what we thought about, was to do a book drive because she wanted to instill the love of learning to all kids, said Ikard Principal Christy Burton. The schools library began accepting books, including Harry Potter. It was her favorite, favorite series hands down, said Holland with a smile. She read them all numerous times and I got to watch them all numerous times whether I wanted to or not. And inside each book a lasting reminder of the teacher whose love of reading will continue to inspire students one book at a time. Every one of them will have her name in it, said Holland. Thats cool. The book drive ends Friday, May 4 at Bose Ikard Elementary School in Weatherford. You may send cash or a check made out to Ikard Elementary Library as well. The schools address is: Bose Ikard Elementary School 100 Ikard Lane Weatherford, TX 76086 Public schools in Dallas have received a rock bottom rating in a new resident survey released by the City of Dallas this week. The survey of more than 1,400 people rated infrastructure, like streets, at the highest importance above public safety, which was number two. Overall, 72 percent of residents said Dallas' quality of life is good or excellent. Councilman Casey Thomas said the survey reflects what he hears from residents. When we hear from them, were hearing generally good things about the city, Thomas said. But only 28 percent of survey respondents said public education is good or excellent; the lowest of nine scores. Are public schools dragging Dallas neighborhoods down? Thomas is a former teacher, married to a Dallas school principal. I think that goes back to perception versus reality, he said. Thomas said Adele Turner Elementary is an example of an improving school in his Red Bird-area district. Schools in this area are doing great, Thomas said. We just want them to continue to tell that story, so as we bring more young families here, they see the value of putting their kids in Dallas ISD schools. The Dallas Independent School District has been losing students to Charter Schools the past few years which reduces state funding for the public schools. Despite perceptions about the public schools, property values are rising and theyve made Dallas ISD a property-rich district that must return money under the Robin Hood school funding formula. Texas takes money from the rich and gives to poor districts. To help make up the difference and provide funding for needed programs, Dallas school trustees are considering a property tax rate increase that could go before voters in a November referendum. It could help expand Pre-K programs, give more kids a better start on education early in life and improve future outcomes. Dallas ISD has a relatively low property tax rate, but rate increases have been unpopular with taxpayers since values are also going up. That would be one way to support a lot of new initiatives, said Nakia Douglas, the former principal at Barack Obama Leadership Academy, one of the Dallas ISD high schools with an early college credit program that helps keep bright students from leaving the public school district. It does get a bad rap, Douglas said. Dallas has made a lot of improvement over the course of the years. Douglas works now at the University of North Texas at Dallas, in very close contact with Dallas ISD, promoting early college programs and helping disadvantaged students. We have to have those honest conversations about what we are providing and what we are considering providing for our schools. What we do to the least of these will impact all of us, Douglas explained. Collectively as a city, we need to understand this platform that we have. Yes, we are making some great strides, but are there even greater strides we could make at an even faster pace if we give the greatest attention to our education system. The tax rate is a major issue in Saturdays Dallas school board election where trustee Bernadette Nutall is facing three challengers. Two other trustees are running unopposed. The citizen survey is an update of a similar survey several years ago. Scores went down in some areas, but Dallas officials said the quality of life results for Dallas overall are better than other large cities in the U.S. What to Know 'Smallville' actress Allison Mack was arrested by the FBI last month in a sex cult case; she was released on $5 million bail Monday She pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the case against Keith Raniere, founder of a group called Nxivm Authorities allege Raniere ran the group as a sex cult; Mack has been widely described as a key associate of his More people are expected to be indicted in the sex cult case that already includes a television actress and an accused cult leader among the charged. Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Penza told a judge Friday that the government plans to file a new indictment naming more defendants, but he didn't go into specifics. Allison Mack, an actress best known for playing a young Superman's close friend on TV, has been accused of recruiting unsuspecting women as sex slaves for alleged cult leader Keith Raniere. Both Mack, 35, and Raniere appeared at Friday's hearing and both have denied wrongdoing in the case. Mack, who was arrested in April for allegedly recruiting slaves into a pyramid scheme for Raniere's benefit, was met with a media scrum as she and her attorneys headed into the courthouse Friday morning. She said nothing to reporters as she clutched the arms of her attorneys on their way inside. Her attorneys did not comment either. It wasn't clear if they spoke after. Mack was released on $5 million bail after a recent court appearance. Arrangements are being made for her to be on house arrest in California. She and her attorneys have been involved in plea negotiation talks with federal prosecutors, according to a recently obtained court document. A plea would likely avoid a blockbluster celebrity trial in the heart of Brooklyn. Her publicist has said "no comment" on the case. An attorney for Raniere, who has been held without bail since his March extradition from Mexico, said after court that all sex acts were consensual and his client is innocent. Authorities have said Mack she was a major player in Raniere's cult-like organization called NXIVM (pronounced Nex-i-um), helping to add unsuspecting women to what was purported to be a mentorship group. Prosecutors have said Mack stood at the level directly below Raniere in a pyramid scheme called DOS, into which she recruited fresh slaves. The government alleges that Mack forced those slaves to have sex with Raniere in exchange for what were described as "financial and other benefits." Prosecutors said she required women she recruited to engage in sexual activity with Raniere, who paid Mack in return. Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Kim Penza said in court that that "under the guise of female empowerment" Mack "starved women until they fit her co-defendant's sexual ideal." In a letter attributed to Raniere -- who was arrested in Mexico and returned to the United States in March -- previously posted on a website related to NXIVM, he denied the practices were sanctioned by the self-described self-help group. The complaint against Raniere - known in the group as "Vanguard" - said that many victims participated in videotaped ceremonies where they were branded in their pelvic area with a symbol featuring Raniere's initials. "During the branding ceremonies, slaves were required to be fully naked, and the master would order one slave to film while the other held down the slave being branded," the complaint says. Raniere left the United States late last year after The New York Times reported the stories of some women who defected from their secret sorority and the government began interviewing potential witnesses. He sought to cover this trail by using encrypted email and ditching his phone, court papers say. At the time of Raniere's capture, Mack was living with him at a luxury villa in Puerto Vallarta, according to court papers. Both Raniere and Mack face charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy in addition to sex trafficking, for which they could receive 15 years to life in prison. A paroled sex offender who gave police the slip after a 3 -hour chase in a motor home after turning into an almond orchard has been caught at a railyard in Barstow. The parolee, 46-year-old Stephen Houk, was captured Thursday following Tuesday's chase, officials 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 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 had been 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 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. A judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors can collect DNA, fingerprints and body photographs of the former policeman accused of being California's Golden State Killer. Attorneys for Joseph DeAngelo, 72, had asked the court to halt the search, arguing the warrant it relied on should no longer be valid because it was granted before his arrest. But Superior Court Judge Michael Sweet sided with the district attorney and said that courts have repeatedly allowed the collection of such evidence because it's not a form of testimony and would not harm DeAngelo's right against self-incrimination. "There's no basis to stop the execution of the search warrant," he said. DeAngelo, appearing in court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed to a wheelchair, said nothing. He has not entered a plea. He was arrested last week and identified by prosecutors as the man responsible for at least a dozen murders and more than 50 rapes across California in the 1970s and '80s. Prosecutors said they used DNA and a genealogical website to identify DeAngelo, decades after the case had gone cold. It was unclear when prosecutors will collect the new evidence. They had planned to do so on Wednesday but the defense attempt to prevent them halted that. Diane Howard, DeAngelo's public defender, declined comment as she left court. Deputy Sacramento County District Attorney Thienvu Ho declined to answer questions about why prosecutors needed the DNA, fingerprints and photographs of DeAngelo's entire body. The search and arrest warrants for DeAngelo that contain legal arguments and case details justifying why investigators want to gather the evidence are shielded from public view. The Associated Press and other news organizations have filed a motion to unseal them, which could provide additional details about the DNA techniques prosecutors used to identify him. A hearing is scheduled for May 14. Saturday is Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that commemorates Mexicos victory over the French during the 1862 Battle of Puebla. In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a day of remembrance, but in South Florida, the day is celebrated during block parties and "fiestas" spread throughout the region. Here are five Cinco de Mayo events, some featuring live mariachi bands, massive pinatas and much more. CINCO DE MAYO BRICKELL Celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the water at what's being billed as Brickell's largest Cinco de Mayo party. The "fiesta" on 609 Brickell Avenue starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and will feature live DJs, mariachi bands and more. Tickets cost $15 when purchased in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, click here. CINCO DE WYNWOOD A block party with the "biggest pinata in Florida" - Cinco de Wynwood - will take place at Wynwood Marketplace this Saturday. The event is free and open to the public and apart from tequila shots and drinks, there will also be food trucks, arts and crafts, a mariachi band, and a slew of other festive attractions and activities. The party begins at 12 p.m. at 2250 NW 2nd Ave. and runs until 3 a.m. the following morning. Click here for more information. CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA AT CITYPLACE DORAL On Saturday, CityPlace Doral urges you to "grab your sombreros" and head to the biggest Cico de Mayo party in the city. There will be a mariachi band, live mural painting, food and drink specials and giveaways. The party is from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 8300 NW 36th Street. For more information, click here. ROCCO'S TACOS CINCO DE MAYO BLOCK PARTY Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar will be hosting their annual Cinco de Mayo block party at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The event will run until 2:30 a.m. the following day. Guests can expect drinks, food, music and giveaways. Click here for more information. CINCO DE MAYO BLOCK PARTY (LAS OLAS) Head over to downtown Fort Lauderdale Saturday night to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Las Olas Blvd. American Social, who is hosting the event, says the block party will feature drink specials, giveaways, games and DJs. Click here for more information. What to Know NBC affiliate WFLA-TV reported that the man was caught within minutes of the robbery inside a Clearwater bank just before 4 p.m. Deputies say that as dye packs inside the bags of money began to exploded, DwWayne Walters started throwing the cash out of the car. An alleged bank robber in Central Florida found himself behind bars Thursday afternoon but not before making quite the scene as he threw some of the money police say he just stole out the car window during a police chase. NBC affiliate WFLA-TV reported that the man was caught within minutes of the robbery inside a Clearwater bank just before 4 p.m. Witnesses told the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office that the man, later identified as 37-year-old DeWayne Walters, had a gun and jumped over the counter inside, demanding money before fleeing the scene. Deputies say that as dye packs inside the bags of money began to exploded, Walters started throwing the cash out of the car with police later having to go back and pick it up as evidence. The car Walters was driving later crashed into several other vehicles, including a police vehicle, before he fled into a nearby apartment complex and was later caught. No one inside the bank was hurt and police did not say how much money was taken. Walters was charged with several counts, including armed robbery and fleeing law enforcement. Nearly a year after a life-altering motorcycle crash, Miami-Dade police Maj. Ricky Carter fulfilled a promise he made to his daughter Thursday night. Maj. Carter walked during his daughters college graduation on his brand-new prosthetic legs. NBC 6 was the only station to capture the moments when Maj. Carter walked into the Sun Dome arena in Tampa. Seeing her father take those steps was inspiring to Jennifer Carter. "Just a year ago, I didnt think he would be here," the University of South Florida grad said. "To see him stand again felt like old times. It was the best feeling ever." For months, Maj. Carter spent hours in physical therapy learning to walk again for Jennifers graduation. "She propelled me to get to what I achieved today. Shes been my motivation," Maj. Carter said. "I want to be the best man that I can be for her. I need to do this to show her that life has no limitations. That we can still chase our dreams. So, dont let obstacles or hurdles in your way define you." He also hung a sign on the wall of his Doral office that reminded him daily of his goal. He put it up three months ago. "I wrote that when I clearly defined what my goals are. I wrote that and I put it there so I can look at it every day," the officer explained. On May 7, 2017, the 23-year police veteran was riding his personal motorcycle on Interstate 75 when he crashed into the guardrail. He lost both legs in the accident. "I can recall waking up in a hospital bed and seeing broken arms, so Im trying to move my legs under the covers and my legs arent cooperating with the moves Im trying to make. So, I lift off the covers and see that I dont have any legs," Carter recalled. In that heart-sinking moment, the police officer questioned how he would move on. "It was extremely difficult. The process was trying to cope with that. How can I be the man that I wanted to be? How can I be the officer I wanted to be moving forward? How can I be the father I wanted to be moving forward? I had no idea how I was going to do this," he said. He says every day since that crash has been a struggle. "I didnt know how difficult this journey was going to be, I had no clue," he said. Nearly every day of the week, Maj. Carter takes a trip to physical therapy at Neuro Fit 360 in Pembroke Pines. One by one, he puts on his prosthetic legs to get ready for his grueling sessions. Quite honestly, its like learning how to walk all over again. At times, I feel like a toddler with my balance, trying to walk, Carter described. His therapist and owner of Neuro Fit 360, Guy Romain, says its rare to have a double amputee walk on prosthetic legs in less than a year. "This is not easy. If you see what hes doing and how hard hes working, it is not easy," Romain explained. Maj. Carter said any time an obstacle gets in the way, he finds a way. I dig deep and I find that fighter inside of me, Carter said with a big smile on his face. He says the steps he took at his daughters graduation are just the beginning. The father wants to eventually run again one day. No matter his goal, he has a community rooting him along the way. Since the crash, supporters have donated more than $86,000 to a GoFundMe page dedicated to Maj. Carter. If youd like to donate, click here. An upper-level storm system, now centered over Cuba, will lead to heavy rain over parts of South Florida Saturday morning, but the day won't be a complete washout. The National Hurricane Center issued a special tropical weather outlook for the system, which was forecast to move westward over the Florida peninsula on Saturday. There's no chance for the disturbance to develop, but heavy rain and gusty winds are possible over portions of South Florida, mainly during the morning hours. During the afternoon, especially after 2 p.m., skies will become partly sunny and only an isolated storm is possible, but many folks will be dry by mid afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 80s with much higher humidity than Friday. Sunday will be similar with scattered showers in the morning and only an isolated storm chance in the afternoon, but rain chances Sunday are lower than Saturday. Two South Florida men are accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the Florida Keys. Pedro Cupertino of Homestead and Ariel Cruz Morales of Key Largo were both arrested on sexual assault charges, Monroe County Sheriff's Office officials said Thursday. Authorities said the teen was sexually assaulted from the age of 14 to 16. The alleged victim said the incidents with 37-year-old Cupertino began in 2015. She said the incidents with 26-year-old Morales began in 2016. The girl said she was forced to have sex with the men and Cupertino even recorded some of the incidents, officials said. Officials said the teen had been placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families. What to Know Steam and lava poured out of a crack in the community of Leilani Estates on the Big Island "It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could," one resident said There were no immediate reports of injuries, but at least 100 people were in staying in shelters Friday Sputtering lava, strong earthquakes and toxic gas jolted the southern part of the Big Island of Hawaii as magma shifted underneath a restless Kilauea volcano. The trifecta of natural threats forced stressed out residents to evacuate and prompted the closure of parks and college campuses on Friday. Multiple new vents, from which lava is spurting out of the ground, formed in the same residential neighborhood where molten rock first emerged Thursday. At midday, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the biggest of hundreds of quakes this week and the largest to strike the state in 43 years. Residents were also warned to watch out for dangerous levels of sulfuric gas. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spokeswoman Janet Babb said the earthquakes reflected the volcano adjusting to the shifting magma. "The magma moving down the rift zones, it causes stress on the south flank of the volcano," Babb said. "We're just getting a series of earthquakes." She said scientists were studying whether the quakes would affect the eruption. The lava lake at Kilauea's summit crater dropped significantly, suggesting the magma was moving eastward toward Puna, a mostly rural district of forests, papaya farms and lava fields left by past eruptions. Officials ordered more than 1,700 people out of Big Island communities near the lava, warning of the dangers of spattering hot rock and high levels of sulfuric gas that could threaten the elderly and people with breathing problems. Two homes have burned. Julie Woolsey evacuated her home late Thursday as a volcanic vent, or an opening in the Earth's surface where lava emerges, sprouted up on her street in the Leilani Estates neighborhood. Lava was about 1,000 yards from her home, which Woolsey built on a lot purchased for $35,000 11 years ago after living on Maui became too expensive. "We knew we were building on an active volcano," she said, but added that she thought the danger from lava was a remote possibility. She said she thought it was remote even days ago when she began packing and preparing to evacuate. "You can't really predict what Pele is going to do," Woolsey said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. "It's hard to keep up. We're hoping our house doesn't burn down." She let her chickens loose, loaded her dogs into her truck and evacuated with her daughter and grandson. She's staying at a cabin with her daughter's in-laws. Local authorities held a community meeting with residents from lava affected areas Friday night at Pahoa High School. Two new volcanic vents, from which lava is spurting, developed Friday, bringing the number formed to five. State Sen. Russell Ruderman said he's experienced many earthquakes, but the magnitude-5.4 temblor that hit first "scared the heck out of me." Merchandise fell off the shelves in a natural food store he owns. When the larger quake followed, he said he felt strong shaking in Hilo, the island's largest city that is roughly 45 minutes from the rural Puna area. "We're all rattled right now," he said. "It's one thing after another. It's feeling kind of stressful out here." State officials didn't report damage to roadways. Hawaii County Acting Mayor Wil Okabe said the larger quake cracked a beam in a county gymnasium in Hilo, forcing workers to be sent home. Hawaii Electric Light said the jolt knocked out power to about 14,400 customers, but electricity was restored about two hours later. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park evacuated all visitors and non-emergency staff. The quakes triggered rock slides on park trails and crater walls. Narrow fissures appeared on the ground at a building overlooking the crater at Kilauea's summit. The University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College both closed campuses to allow students and employees to "attend to personal business and priorities." Authorities already had closed a long stretch of Highway 130, one of the main arteries through Puna, because of the threat of sulfuric gas. At Leilani Estates, where lava was pushing through cracks in the earth, some residents still wanted to get home. Brad Stanfill said the lava was more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from his house but he was not allowed in because of a mandatory evacuation order. He was frustrated because he wanted to feed his rabbits and dogs and check on his property. One woman angrily told police guarding Leilani Estates that she was going in and they couldn't arrest her. She stormed past police unopposed. Leilani Estates has about 1,700 residents and 770 homes. A nearby neighborhood, Lanipuna Gardens, which has a few dozen people, also has been evacuated. Kilauea has been continuously erupting since 1983 and is one of five volcanoes that make up the Big Island. Activity picked up earlier this week, indicating a possible new lava outbreak. The crater floor began to collapse Monday, triggering earthquakes and pushing the lava into new underground chambers. The collapse caused magma to push more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) downslope toward the populated southeast coastline. Residents have faced lava threats before. In 2014, lava burned a house and destroyed a cemetery near the town of Pahoa. Residents were worried it would cover the town's main road and cut off the community from the rest of the island, but the molten rock stalled. From 1990 through 1991, lava slowly overtook the town of Kalapana, burning homes and covering roads and gardens. Kilauea hasn't been the kind of volcano that shoots lava from its summit into the sky, causing widespread destruction. It tends to ooze lava from fissures in its sides, which often gives residents at least a few hours' warning before it reaches their property. Associated Press writers Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Audrey McAvoy, Sophia Yan, Mark Thiessen and Alina Hartounian contributed to this report. What to Know Public housing meant for the needy in North Bergen are instead being given to political supporters of the town's mayor, insiders allege Some administrators at the Housing Authority, as well as political supporters, are getting drastically reduced rents, insiders claim The Housing Authority say similar claims have been made by political opponents of the mayor in the past, and "they have no merit" Six current and former insiders at the North Bergen Housing Authority allege some public housing units meant for the needy are instead being given to political supporters of that towns mayor. "Its not right," one insider speaking on condition of anonymity told the News 4 I-Team. "Especially with apartments that needy families could be using." "I believe its criminal," said a second insider who asked her name not be used. One example, according to insiders, is NBHA supervisor Cheryl OShea who they say is a well-known supporter of Mayor Nicholas Sacco. Insiders say she took a three-bedroom townhouse and pays reduced rent based on a misleading salary. Based on a reported $15,000 a year salary, OShea pays rent of $350 per month. But New Jersey state pension records show OShea had more than $51,000 in income, and under Department of Housing and Urban Development Funding guidelines, she should be paying about $1,300 per month. "She makes way more than $14,000," a third insider told the I-Team. "Its not a fair and square process. Their salaries arent truthful and they are getting reduced rent for it," said another insider. The whistleblowers said Ester Cordero also gets a housing deal in part because of her ties to Sacco. She is an assistant manager at the NBHA. Her reported salary to the housing complex in 2016 was $22,000 and gets a rent bill of $550 per month. But state records show she earned over $40,000 where she should be paying roughly $1000 a month. When asked if such deals are done for housing authority workers only, one insider said it's done for "political supporters as well." Six current and former insiders familiar with the Housing Authority have stepped forward to allege abuses at the federally funded complex. A Housing Authority spokesman, Phil Swibinski, said in a statement on behalf of OShea, Cordero and the authority, that 11 NBHA workers have been given public housing apartments and townhomes. He said those employees are not bound by income restrictions in part because they perform additional tasks like shoveling snow, light maintenance and cleaning that reduces the need for outside contractors. But federal officials said North Bergen Housing Officials have been told just three workers, not 11, are approved for so-called "live-in" housing deals. Federal officials said needy families on a waiting list always take priority over employees who want public housing. The director of the Housing Authority, Gerald Sanzari, is a former deputy police chief in North Bergen with ties to Sacco. In February, he defended security director Georffrey Santini - who is also close to Sacco -- amid no-show job allegations. "He works 35, 40, 45 hours a week," Sanzari claimed. Santini was fired after an investigation into the allegations reported by the I-Team. Insiders allege that under Sanzari, some employees work as extensions of the Sacco political machine, making housing decisions in part based on a tenants political support for Sacco. Cheryl OShea would look and see if people are supporters, said one insider. And if they arent, they would not get an apartment. They would get skipped over. A second insider said, I can tell you that people in need have been turned down because of their political affiliation. A third insider, referencing a tenant matter, said, It was Cheryl, who is manager of that building who said, I dont want her here. She votes for the opposition. When reached by phone, OShea referred the I-Team to attorney Rose Tubito, legal counsel for the Housing Authority. Tubito did not return phone calls. But spokesman Swibinski -- who also represents Sacco -- said, Political opponents of the Sacco administration have made similar claims numerous times in the past and they have no merit. Insiders said OShea, the now-fired security director, Santini and others pressed workers to support Sacco politically especially buying tickets to Sacco campaign fundraisers. Some cost up $1,000 per event. They come up behind you and they give you your ticket. Theyll block your car in. Theyll put it on your desk and its just, your name could already be on the ticket. They know if you buy one or not, one insider claimed." The Housing Authority spokesman said employees are not allowed to engage in political activity on property and that anyone with corruption allegation should report it. But the current and former insiders said they fear retaliation and that past complaints have gone ignored. David Miller, former U.S. federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, said state or federal prosecutors should be looking into possible political and financial abuses in the Housing Authority. Remember, this housing authority receives federal funding. That could make all of these actions federal crimes, Miller said. Even if you are looking at small amounts, one, they aggregate up, and two, you are talking about the potential for wide ranging political corruption. The six insiders say they are blowing the whistle to try to help improve conditions for workers and to try to level the playing fields for needy families desperate for affordable housing. When is enough enough? said one insider. Another said,I wonder where the FBI, where the attorney general is. Somebody ought to know about this and investigate it thoroughly. A housing spokesman late Thursday said in a statement the NBHA believes employees should get reduced rate apartments in the complex but that the NBHA is committed to being in full compliance with all federal HUD regulations and would welcome additional guidance. Swibinski added: "NBHA Executive Director Gerald Sanzari has discussed this issue in detail with representatives from HUD, most recently in January, and to this date the Authority has not been provided with definitive instructions as to exactly how many resident employees are permissible. "NBHA officials believe strongly that the current number of resident employees is appropriate given the needs of the agency and the cost savings that their employment creates. Executive Director Sanzari and the NBHA Board of Commissioners are committed to being in full compliance with all federal HUD regulations and would welcome additional guidance and information on the subject." An argument over a light switch escalated into a deadly stabbing Thursday morning at Philadelphia International Airport, police said. The stabbing happened around 11 a.m. in a break room for Worldwide Flight Services, an airplane cleaning contractor for Frontier Airlines, in Terminal E. Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker said one man turned out a light in the break room, upsetting another man sitting there. The two then got into an argument over the lights. Walker said a third man then got involved and after some shoves, he pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the man in the thigh. Police initially said he was slashed in the stomach. The stabbing left the victim, 28-year-old Aaron Jenkins, seriously injured. He was rushed by paramedics to Penn Presbyterian Trauma Center in University City where he later died, Walker said. Both the alleged doer identified by police Friday as 35-year-old Kevin Emanuel and the other man involved in the fight ran from the break room, part of a secure area on the tarmac, to the departures hall. They surrendered when police confronted them. All three men work for Worldwide Flight Services. Initial information provided by police said they were Frontier employees. Police have not yet recovered the weapon, but investigators believe it may be a box cutter used as part of the their jobs. "Obviously, it was a pretty sharp object to get through his stomach and obviously hit some vital organs," Walker said. The incident never disrupted service at the airport or endangered travelers. Emanuel is charged with murder and possession of an instrument of a crime. It's not clear if he's retained legal counsel. What to Know Measles is very easily spread from person to person; authorities say vaccination is the best preventive care Typical symptoms include mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and sore throat Most cases involve people who contracted measles while traveling abroad or who did not know they had not been vaccinated State health officials in Connecticut say there has been a third case of measles -- and that the latest person diagnosed with the highly contagious disease did not have contact with the two babies who contracted it traveling abroad. The most recent case involved an adult in Hartford County. The two babies previously reported to have had measles live in the same New Haven County home; they had recently traveled abroad and became infected outside the U.S. The Friday warning from the state Department of Public Health comes a day after Southington Superintendent Timothy Connellan sent out a letter that said someone with a case of measles may have exposed others at Derynoski Elementary School on April 26, 27 and 30. Measles is an extremely contagious disease that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people. Symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after someone is exposed to an infected person. Typical symptoms include mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and sore throat. As the sickness develops, a rash may emerge and the fever may boom to more than 104 degrees. Most people who are exposed to measles are not at-risk of developing the disease since most people have either been vaccinated or have had measles in the past, before vaccination became routine. Anyone not sure if they've been vaccinated is advised to check with his or her local physician. The Connecticut cases follow mid-April news in New York that two European tourists with measles potentially exposed others at three Jehovah's Witness facilities in the NYC area. The two tourists visited the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses on New Jersey Avenue in Brooklyn between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 15. They also visited Watchtower World Headquarters on Kings Drive in Tuxedo Park between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on April 16 and the Watchtower Educational Center on Watchtower Drive in Patterson between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 17. Officials urged anyone who was exposed and is suffering symptoms to contact a health care provider before seeking treatment in order to minimize exposure. What to Know Yonkers man is facing multiple charges for allegedly posing as investor and defrauding three people of nearly $200,000 of their life saving John Nemec, 47, allegedly told victims he left his short-lived employment as a police officer to become a success in the stock market Nemec faces multiple charges including, grand larceny, scheme to defraud and conspiracy A Yonkers man is facing multiple charges for posing as an investor and defrauding three people of nearly $200,000 of their life savings, authorities say. John Nemec, 47, allegedly told his victims that he left his short-lived employment as a police officer years ago to become a success in the film industry and in the stock market, according to Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino. Nemec would allegedly then show his victims a fraudulent investment account that said he had over $58 million in personal investments. Scarpino says that once Nemec gained his victims trust, he would convince them to transfer their life savings to him and his co-conspirator under the guise that their money would be held and invested on their behalf, but once the savings were transferred, Nemec orchestrated the withdrawal of their money for his own personal use. Top Tri-State News Photos Nemec stole about $50,285 from his first victim between August 2010 and October 2010, officials say. He allegedly stole about $4,900 from his next victim in May 2011. Officials also say that Nemec and a co-conspirator stole about $137,068 from a third victim between June 2011 and October 2012. According to Scarpino, Nemec learned that he was being investigated for his crimes in March 2014 and started evading investigators, apparently fleeing at one point to Spain, until he was arrested Wednesday in LaGrange, New York. Nemec faces multiple charges including, grand larceny, scheme to defraud and conspiracy. He is due in court May 15. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. It was not immediately clear if Nemec retained an attorney who could comment on the charges. [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More What to Know Nearly 1,500 residents were ordered to evacuate from their volcano-side homes after Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano erupted Danbury Hospital removed a 132-pound ovarian tumor from a woman and said she is home and is expected to make a full recovery The organization that bestows the Academy Awards said it has expelled Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski after sexual offenses Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here. Giuliani Becomes Aggressive New Face of Trump Legal Team 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 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. 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. Hawaii Volcano Forces 1,500 From Homes as Lava Bubbles Up Nearly 1,500 residents were ordered to evacuate from their volcano-side homes after Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano erupted, sending molten lava to chew its way through forest land and bubble up on paved streets. Volcano officials couldn't predict how long eruption may last, prompting Hawaii's governor to activate the National Guard to help with evacuations and provide security to about 770 structures left empty when residents sought shelter. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Hawaii County officials said steam and lava poured out of a crack in Leilani Estates, which is near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island. Footage shown on local television showed lava spurting into the sky from a crack in a road. Aerial drone footage showed a line of lava snaking through a forest. Nobel Literature Prize Will Not Be Awarded This Year The Nobel Prize in literature will not be awarded this year following sex-abuse allegations and other issues that have affected the public image of the Swedish Academy that selects the winner. The academy said the 2018 prize will be given in 2019. The decision was made at a weekly meeting in Stockholm a day earlier, on the grounds that the academy is in no shape to pick a winner after a string of sex abuse allegations and financial crimes scandals. It will be the first time since 1949 that the prestigious award has been delayed. Last year, Japanese-born British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro won the prize. The internal feud within the Swedish Academy which only hands out one of the six Nobel prizes was triggered by an abuse scandal linked to Jean-Claude Arnault, a major cultural figure in Sweden who is also the husband of poet Katarina Frostenson, an academy member. 132-Pound Tumor Removed From Woman's Abdomen Danbury Hospital removed a 132-pound ovarian tumor from a woman and said she is home and is expected to make a full recovery. The 38-year-old woman was rapidly gaining weight at a rate of about 10 pounds a week and went to her gynecologist for medical attention. A CT scan revealed a large ovarian mass, according to a news release from Western Connecticut Health Network, and the womans gynecologist referred her to Western Connecticut Medical Groups Dr. Vaagn Andikyan, a gynecologic oncologist. The tumor was benign and surgeons, physicians, and medical staff were able to remove what Western Connecticut Health Network said was one of the largest known ovarian tumors. During the five-hour surgery, the team performed the tumor resection and abdominal reconstruction at the same time to reduce the number of surgeries for the patient and improve her outcome, according to the hospital group. They said the team successfully removed the tumor and the patients left ovary. During the five-hour surgery, the team performed the tumor resection and abdominal reconstruction at the same time to reduce the number of surgeries for the patient and improve her outcome, according to the hospital group. They said the team successfully removed the tumor and the patients left ovary. Diseases Spread by Mosquito, Tick, Fleas Tripled in U.S., CDC Reports Diseases spread by mosquito, tick and flea bites have tripled in the United States from 2004 to 2016, federal health officials say in a new report. Between these years, more than 640,000 cases of diseases were reported and nine new germs spread by infected mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced in the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. In recent years, Chikungunya and Zika viruses caused outbreaks in the United States for the very first time. Specifically, cases where diseases were spread due to tick bites have doubled, although mosquito-borne disease epidemics occur more frequently, according to the CDC. A person who gets bitten by one of these insects can end up with a serious disease like dengue, Zika, Lyme or even plague. Film Academy Expels Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski The organization that bestows the Academy Awards said it has expelled two prominent members convicted of sexual offenses, Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski, from its membership. It's the first major decision since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences implemented revised standards of conduct for its over 8,400 members following its expulsion of disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein in October. In Polanski's case, the expulsion comes more than 40 years after he was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl he plied with champagne and Quaaludes during a photo shoot, and 15 years after he won a best director Oscar. Polanski's attorney Harland Braun said Thursday the decision "blindsided" the director, who learned of his expulsion from media reports. A spokesman for Cosby did not return a message seeking comment. In its statement, the film academy said its board "continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity." What to Know A man is in facing murder charges for allegedly randomly opening fire on a car on a New Jersey highway, killing a mother driving her car A 1-year-old child and the woman's boyfriend were in the vehicle at the time but neither was hurt Authorities are looking into whether the suspect may be connected to at least two other random shootings in the county in recent weeks A 34-year-old man has been accused of gunning down a mother as she drove on a New Jersey highway late Thursday, and prosecutors said they are looking into whether he is connected to two other shootings in the Garden State. Kader Mustafa was charged with murder, attempted murder and weapons crimes in the shooting death of 24-year-old Sciasia Calhoun in Freehold, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutors said Mustafa allegedly shot Calhoun as she drove her car onto Halls Mills Road from the state Route 33 bypass from his car, a white 2005 Chevrolet Impala. She was pronounced dead about an hour after the shooting. Her boyfriend and 1-year-old daughter, both also in the car at the time, were unharmed. Authorities said before Mustafa's arrest that the shooting appeared to be random. "We have no information to suggest any nexus to terrorism at this time," assistant Monmouth County prosecutor Lori Linksey said at a news conference Friday afternoon. Calhoun's family said they were relieved an arrest has been made. "I can't even explain who this person, where he came from, but I'm glad y'all caught him," said the victim's uncle, Robert Calhoun. A prosecutor's spokesman also said earlier Friday Mustafa was considered a "serial" random shooter. Authorities said later in the day they're still conducting ballistic tests to determine if Mustafa, who was detained in his vehicle about 8 a.m. Friday could be linked to shootings in Neptune on April 27 and Holmdel on Saturday; no one was hurt in either episode. Prosecutors added Friday that Mustafa was not involved in the killing of Earl Sanders, a barber who was gunned down while driving in Colts Neck on Sunday. According to authorities, Mustafa had been discharged from Monmouth Mental Center on Sunday after undergoing treatment for an undisclosed mental issue. [NY ONLY CANVA] These Hospitals in New Jersey and New York Received Highest Grades in New Safety Report Attorney information for Mustafa wasn't immediately available. Neighbors on his quiet Freehold block said they never saw any indications that he was violent. "He was a nice guy," Mike O'Flaherty told News 4. "Seemed like an everyday, normal guy." Prosecutors are asking anyone with information about Mustafa or the shootings to call the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 1-800-533-7443. [NY ONLY USES CANVA] These Hospitals in NYC and Surrounding Area Received Lowest Grades in New Safety Report The eyewitness has since allegedly confessed to being legally blind. The detective who interrogated the suspect allegedly kicked the young man repeatedly in his testicles before getting a signed confession. The suspect, according to his former boss, was working miles away when the slaying took place. Still, Willie Veasy remains behind bars, in prison for the last 26 years since his conviction in 1992. Is the now 52-year-old man innocent of a murder in the Franklinville section of North Philadelphia all those years ago? That question faces renewed scrutiny this spring. New District Attorney Larry Krasner's office is reviewing the case, his chief of conviction review told NBC10. "I will say that it is a case that we are looking at," the review chief, Patricia Cummings, said. If the DA's office decides that the charges aren't appropriate in light of new evidence, the two sides could request a new trial. In a best-case scenario for Veasy, the DA could then decide to drop the charges. The fallback option is a Post-Conviction Relief Act petition by an attorney for the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, which is working on Veasy's case. He could ask a judge for a new trial through that appeal. He is adamant that he's an innocent man. "You have to wake up to that realization that you're actually in here, which you really can't believe," Veasy told NBC10 in a phone interview from Graterford State Prison in Montgomery County. Willie Veasy has been in prison since 1992 after he was convicted of murder in the death of a man in the Franklinville section of North Philadelphia. Veasys case is back in court after an attorney with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project found holes in multiple facets of the original trial. "I can't believe I'm actually incarcerated for something I didn't do," Veasy said. Cummings, hired by District Attorney Larry Krasner from a similar post in Texas, has her hands full. Veasy is part of a cluster of prisoners currently challenging their life sentences on murder convictions in the late 1980s through early 1990s. Their challenges are often rooted in tactics by Philadelphia homicide detectives whose approach is now being scrutinized not only in local courts, but also in federal lawsuits. An ongoing lawsuit filed by exonerated former lifer Anthony Wright and now before a federal judge includes numerous claims against the group of homicide detectives, ranging from false confessions to violence against suspects. (Find the full lawsuit at the bottom of the story.) In the 2016 lawsuit, the Veasy case is mentioned as part of a rundown of numerous accusations against the detectives and their supervisors who worked in the city homicide unit three decades ago. It claims that a now-retired detective who interrogated Veasy may have forced him into signing a confession. Eleven detectives, along with the City of Philadelphia, are named in the Wright lawsuit. The detective "smacked him around and kicked his testicles several times until Mr. Veasy agreed to sign the 'confession,'" according to the lawsuit. Seven years after Veasy's trial, the lead witness in the case said in a sworn statement taken as part of an investigation by a University of Pennsylvania law professor and his law class that her vision is, and always has been, poor. "My vision is very poor and I'm virtually legally blind," she said. "My vision was like this at the time of the crime." The witness, whom NBC10 is not identifying, could not be reached for comment. In addition to questions about the confession and the witness's testimony, Veasy also has an alibi, according to the man who was his boss at the time of the murder. "I watched it unfold and knew that it was absolutely wrong," Seth Schram told NBC10 in an interview. "It was absolutely wrong." Schram was Veasy's manager when they both worked at a Houlihan's restaurant in Jenkintown. Schram said Veasy's timecard from the night of the murder indicated he was at the restaurant when the crime occurred. The restaurant, now a Chili's, is seven miles from the crime scene at Seventh and Russell streets. He said there is "zero" possibility Veasy could have clocked in and then went to Seventh and Russell streets that night without anyone noticing. "That did not happen. Not in Houlihan's restaurant on a Friday night," Schram said. Veasy lays down to bed each night in a prison cell, like he has for the last 26 years, waiting for an update from his attorney, Marissa Bluestine of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. He said he has renewed hope that he'll get another day in court. Still, he said, waking up each day behind bars remains hard to accept after all these years. "A lot of times it still seems like its a dream," Veasy said. "The justice system has definitely failed me, and for some reason its been like that for years. Part Two in an NBC10 Investigators series on the appeals of convicted murderers will take a broad look at how several men were arrested, tried and eventually sentenced to life in prison for slayings in Philadelphia many years ago. Tune in to NBC10 at 11 p.m. Friday, and find the story on the app. An armed man who was spotted walking around Abington Township, Montgomery County, earlier in the week with an assault rifle strapped to his back was taken into custody by police Thursday. The unidentified man, who caused an uproar throughout several neighborhoods because of the AR-15 rifle he carried, is undergoing "an involuntary mental health evaluation," Abington police said in a statement. He has not been charged with a crime, Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy said, but he is being held for 72 hours while undergoing evaluation. The AR-15 rifle is in the custody of the police department. Police in Abington held a press conference Friday to discuss the reasons for detaining a young man who was seen earlier in the week walking through neighborhoods with an AR-15 rifle strapped to his back. Friends told police he had threatened to kill himself and shoot up Abington High School during the past year. Police received several reports Monday of a man walking through the area of North Hills, Ardsley, Glenside and the Abington Shopping Center with an AR-15 slung behind his back. Molloy wrote a letter to residents telling them that while the mans intentions are unknown, they believe hes trying to draw officers into a debate over his 2nd amendment right to carry the weapon in public. All of our officers are well aware of this passive-aggressive tactic, as they have been videotaped during at least one encounter with him, Chief Molloy wrote. While no laws have been broken, this individuals actions have caused unnecessary alarm to the public, thus diverting valuable police resources from our core mission. Molloy had urged residents not to take action or speak with the man and to call 911 if they felt threatened. In the statement Friday, he again referenced his department's attempts to balance the right to open carry in Pennsylvania, as residents with an open carry permit can do, with the community's safety. But Molloy also said new information that emerged about the man in recent days led him to have officers take the man into custody. "This individuals decision to exercise his rights does not, by itself, warrant an involuntary mental health evaluation," the department statement said. "However, additional information was received which warranted steps to be taken for his safety and the safety of our citizens." Friends told police that the man bought the AR-15 in March and also purchased a Glock handgun in either February or March. The friends also told police the man talked in the past year about killing himself and "shooting up" Abington High School, which he had attended until 2017, and Penn State's Abington campus, police said. A review of the internet search history on the man's smartphone also revealed he spent time researching mass shootings at Parkland High School in Florida, Columbine High School in Colorado and Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, according to court documents. Some of the searches included "What guns were used in mass shootings," "How many time were AR-15s used in mass shootings," and "How many mass shooters have fatherless homes." One friend told police they believed the man was throwing up red flags for help. "I think he is throwing up red flags because he recently dropped out of school. He gave me the impression that he has nothing to lose in a way," the unidentified friend was quoted saying in court documents. What to Know The baby's mother died during childbirth in South Florida on March 2. The mother listed her cousin as her next-of-kin, not the child's father who lives in Cuba. After a paternity test, a judge ruled the baby will be in the custody of the father. A Miami judge granted a Cuban father custody of a baby girl at the center of a dispute with U.S. relatives of the infants mother, who died during childbirth. Family Court Judge Migna Sanchez-Llorens ruled Tuesday that the child, Valeria, is the biological daughter of Yoelvis Gattorno, who lives in Cuba, and granted him custody of the newborn. Gattorno's wife, Yarisleidis Cuba-Rodriguez, died during an emergency C-section on March 2. Valeria was born prematurely at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Cuba-Rodriguez identified her cousin Nairobis Pacheco, and not the babys biological father, as her next of kin on hospital documents. Pacheco told El Nuevo Herald last month that her cousin sacrificed a lot so that her daughter would not grow up in a Communist country and did not want those efforts to have been in vain. She told the newspaper that she never wanted to take the baby away from her father, but had asked for temporary custody so that Valeria would not end up in a foster home. Cuba-Rodriguez had obtained a U.S. visa through a special lottery and arrived in Florida in October. Family members said she had planned on petitioning for husband after she was settled in the U.S. She died before the application process had been completed. Gattorno arrived in the U.S. last week on a humanitarian visa to demand custody of his daughter. At Tuesday's hearing, the judge said he can take the girl to Cuba once she is medically cleared. It was not immediately clear how long it would take for doctors to allow Valeria to fly due to complications she suffers from a premature birth. Gattorno is legally permitted to stay in the U.S. for about three months. The father told the court he wants his daughter to be identified on the birth certificate as Valeria Gattorno Cuba. On Tuesday evening, he picked up Valeria from Pacheco's home. "I'm going to hug her, tell her everything I have been wanting to say, kiss her," Gattorno told reporters outside of the home. Meanwhile, Cuba-Rodriguez's 15-year-old daughter Flavia, who is not Gattorno's biological child, told Telemundo 51 that she fears being separated from her baby sister after already loosing a mother. "If they take her away [to Cuba], I'm scared I won't see her grow up, her first steps, her development," Flavia said, choking back tears. Gattorno told the station that he loves Flavia and Valeria will always be her little sister, adding she will be always be welcomed to see her where they call home. A federal judge on Friday asked pointed questions about special counsel Robert Mueller's authority to bring charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and suggested that prosecutors' true motive is getting Manafort to "sing" against the president. Manafort's lawyers argued at a hearing in Alexandria that the tax and bank fraud charges are far afield from Mueller's mandate to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether any collusion occurred. "I don't see what relationship this indictment has with what the special counsel is investigating," U.S. Senior Judge T.S. Ellis III, a Reagan appointee, told government lawyers at Friday's hearing. The Virginia indictment alleges Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars he earned advising pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine from the Internal Revenue Service, all occurring years before Donald Trump ran for president. Under questioning from Ellis, government lawyers admitted that Manafort had been under investigation for years in the Eastern District of Virginia before Mueller was ever appointed special counsel. And Ellis said it was implausible to think that the charges against Manafort, which primarily concern his business dealings and tax returns from about 2005 through 2015, could have a real connection to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Ellis suggested the real reason Mueller is pursuing Manafort is to pressure him to "sing" against Trump, though he also noted that such a strategy is a "time-honored practice" for prosecutors and not necessarily illegal. Ellis went on to say that defense lawyers are naturally concerned that defendants in that situation will not only sing but "compose" meaning that they'll make up facts. "You really care about wanting information you could get from Mr. Manafort that would relate to Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution, or impeachment, or whatever," Ellis said. Government lawyer Michael Dreeben said the special counsel's mandate is broad, and that Manafort fits within that jurisdiction because of his connections to both the Trump campaign and to Ukrainian and Russian officials. "We needed to understand and explore those relationships and follow the money where it led," Dreeben said. Dreeben also argued that the Justice Department has broad discretion to set its own rules for what should be designated to the special counsel's jurisdiction, and that a judge has no role trying to regulate it. "We are the Justice Department," Dreeben said of the special counsel's office. "We are not separate from the Justice Department." That argument provoked Ellis' ire to an extent and prompted him to question the wisdom of granting unfettered power to a special counsel with a $10 million budget. "I'm sure you're sensitive to the fact that the American people feel pretty strongly about no one having unfettered power," Ellis said. He asked Dreeben whether the special counsel had already blown through its $10 million budget; Dreeben declined to answer. Manafort's lawyer, Kevin Downing, has argued that a special counsel should be tightly constrained in how it operates. He noted that the law authorizing the special counsel was passed to replace the old independent counsel law, which was derided for allowing overbroad, yearslong investigations during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Downing has argued that the charges should be dismissed if Mueller lacked authority to bring them. Ellis, though, suggested another remedy would be to simply hand the case back to regular federal prosecutors. Ellis withheld ruling on the motion and will issue a written ruling at a later date. Manafort is also facing a broader indictment in the District of Columbia, where the special counsel has brought the bulk of charges. The tax charges against Manafort had to be brought in Virginia, though, for jurisdictional reasons. Manafort's lawyers made similar arguments seeking dismissal to the judge in the District. She has also not yet ruled on the motion. Two officers who shot and killed a Virginia woman armed with a gun in Southwest D.C. last May will not face any charges, prosecutors said Thursday. Isabelle Duval died May 16, 2017 after police say she got in a car crash, pointed a pistol at a D.C. police officer and then ignored multiple orders to put down the gun, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Two officers then fired at her. She was 41. "Federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers used excessive force under the circumstances," prosecutors said in a statement. "To the contrary, there is sufficient evidence that the officers were acting in self-defense and defense of others at the time of the shooting." A toxicology report showed Duval was under the influence of alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl at the time of the shooting, outside a neighborhood recreation center. Investigators found a pistol and another weapon with multiple rounds of ammunition in her car. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, D.C. police received a report of a "women with a gun" at 100 Joliet St. SW, near the Bald Eagle Recreation Center close to the Maryland border. Duval was involved in a car crash and appeared to have a broken leg. Witnesses tried to help Duval out of the car, but she refused help, officials said. Then, Duval pulled out a pistol and started "crawling and scooting" toward the rec centers door. When police arrived just after 6:30 p.m., officers ordered Duval to drop the weapon, but she did not comply and raised it toward one officer. Two officers then fired their weapons. Duval was hit once in the chest, once in the buttocks and a bullet grazed her leg. She was taken to a hospital. Shortly before 10 p.m., authorities announced she had died. The gunshot wound to the chest was the cause of death. Police reviewed body camera and other surveillance footage, autopsy and toxicology reports, civilian witness interviews and physical evidence from the car Duval had been driving. Per department policy, the officers involved in the shooting were on paid administrative leave following the incident. A Virginia judge found probable cause Thursday in a drug possession charge against actress Rose McGowan. The case now moves to a grand jury in June. McGowan has sought to have the charges against her dismissed, suggesting the drugs may have been planted by agents hired by disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Her defense says no evidence links her to the drugs. "It is a matter of public record that she has been the subject of a vicious vilification campaign at the hands of Mr. Weinstein," human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson said. "He hired ex-intelligence officers to infiltrate her life and undermine her credibility." Authorities say cocaine was found in a wallet McGowan accidentally left behind on a flight to Dulles International Airport in January 2017, when she came to the area to participate in the Women's March. The plane's cleaning crew testified Thursday to finding a wallet with McGowan's California driver's license and two plastic baggies containing a white, powdery substance. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority investigators say the substance was cocaine. After a two-hour hearing Thursday, the judge sided with prosecutors, refusing to throw out the charges and moving closer to trial. The evidence speaks for itself, special prosecutor Paul Ebert said. McGowan's defense says they're ready with strong evidence. We still have a lot of faith in the justice system and we have a lot of faith in 12 citizens of Virginia, defense attorney Jessica Carmichael said. McGowan was among the first actresses to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault. Weinstein has denied rape allegations. McGowan and others say Weinstein aggressively sought to discredit his accusers. "Virginia didn't do this," McGowan said. "I know who did this." An earlier hearing was postponed when prosecutors said a snowstorm prevented their witnesses from showing up. Thousands of parents in Maryland were mistakenly told their children had been placed on a waiting list for a program for gifted students. Letters were sent last month to more than 5,000 families in Montgomery County, telling them their third-grade children were on the waiting list for one of the schools system's Centers for Enriched Studies, The Washington Post reports. Thirteen elementary schools in the district offer accelerated curricula to gifted students. Days later, parents received a second letter saying a "printing error" had resulted in them getting the wrong letter. The second letter said the students' current elementary school can meet their needs. A spokesman for the school system apologized for the mistake. 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." As dozens of migrants who came on a caravan fleeing violence in Central America wait at the Mexican border to be let into the U.S., a minister in Harvard, Massachusetts, is waiting for just two. Her Roslindale home will soon also be home to two asylum-seekers. Jill Cowie is a minister at the Unitarian Universalist church in Harvard. She filled out a form last week offering to host a family seeking asylum. In a matter of days, she was interviewed and then matched with a mother and daughter, who are currently at the border waiting. She does not know much about the 23-year-old Salvadoran woman, and her 6-year-old daughter and admits she does not know how to speak Spanish, but Cowie said it was an opportunity to help someone in need that she could not pass up. "They are fleeing gang violence," Cowie said. "They left after gangs were asking her and her sister to set up crimes on their behalf and they refused to do that." Cowie is one of many the Unitarian Universalist Association reached out to through their Side with Love public advocacy campaign. Their organization is partnering with volunteers who are on the ground at the border and working to match as many migrants as possible with sponsors. "So they can stay and fight their case for asylum not being in detention, to prevent this family with their young child from being in detention while fighting their asylum case," senior strategist Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen said. Cowie is more than familiar with the detention centers, having worked with immigration detainees in the past. She wanted to be able to save at least one family from the conditions especially given President Donald Trump's comments that the migrant caravan is justification for a border wall. "Just to make them feel safe," Cowie said. "I just really want to be able to do that." Cowie could get the call at any moment that they have arrived and their stay will likely be a long one. The process to be granted asylum can take months, or even years. A man was injured in a vehicle crash on the UMass-Dartmouth campus early Friday morning, according to the school. The vehicle crashed and rolled over near one of the residence halls at about 4:30 a.m. and the injured driver was transported via Medflight to a Rhode Island hospital. The school is working to determine if the injured man is a UMass-Dartmouth college student. Police have reopened a street following a 19-hour standoff at a residence in Somersworth, New Hampshire, but it wasn't immediately clear what had happened. Foster's Daily Democrat reports Somersworth police said earlier Friday there had been multiple arrests and that any potential threat had been contained. At one point, a battering ram was seen hooked up to a Bearcat State Police vehicle on the front lawn of the four-unit building on Friday afternoon. The ram was facing the front door. Police eventually entered the building wearing gas masks. Somersworth Police Chief David Kretschmar said the situation developed late Thursday afternoon. He declined to elaborate. Kretschmar also said he couldn't comment on numerous loud pops that have been heard from the scene. Police are searching for a man accused of fatally shooting a woman in South Burlington, Vermont, after receiving a tip from more than 200 miles away on Cape Cod. Falmouth, Massachusetts police called the South Burlington Police Department around 6:25 p.m. Thursday to advise that a man had come into their department to report a possible shooting in South Burlington. The man said a family member, identified as 36-year-old Leroy Headley, called and told him he shot his girlfriend. South Burlington Police responded to 10 Southview Drive, a known residence of Headley, where they found a woman shot to death. The victim has been identified as 33-year-old Anako "Annette" Lumumba. Authorities are searching for Headley, who was arrested last year, accused of sexually assaulting two 13-year-old girls. He is considered armed and dangerous. "If you see this gentleman, or anyone that resembles this gentleman, simply be a good observer," South Burlington Police Chief Trevor Whipple said. "Call 911, let the local police department know." Police believe Headley may be driving a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder with Vermont plates HBR 281. South Burlington Police Department Anyone with information is asked to call the South Burlington Police Department at 802-598-3528. The head prosecutor in Vermont's most populous county is about to make a significant offer to the public, signaling a willingness to erase criminal convictions for certain marijuana crimes which her office handled. "I actually think we're behind in this discussion," said Chittenden County's State Attorney, Sarah George. George said Thursday that she is still ironing out a plan to wipe away convictions on low-level marijuana crimes even from many years ago now that Vermont law is changing its attitudes toward pot. "Any time that someone has a conviction on their record of something that is now legal, it should be expunged," George said. Early this year, Gov. Phil Scott (R-Vermont) authorized new state rules on recreational marijuana. Starting July 1, people 21 and up can legally possess an ounce of pot in Vermont, as well as grow a few plants for personal use. Selling marijuana will remain illegal for now, though some lawmakers have proposed a tax-and-regulate system of authorized marijuana retail businesses. That concept is likely to be revisited in the Vermont Legislature next year. Gov. Scott chose to not sign the legislation in front of news cameras, explaining he didn't want to appear to be celebrating the legalization. "There's many people on both sides of the fence," Scott said on Jan. 18, ahead of signing the legislation. "Both very happy about it, and some who are very displeased as well. I recognize that and want to respect that some don't feel this is a momentous occasion but the main thing is, I will sign it." George said Thursday that as states change marijuana enforcement policies, more prosecutors should be open to erasing old crimes. "This is what's coming," George said of greater societal acceptance of marijuana use and how she believes prosecutors should respond to it. "This might be coming in their state eventually, whether they know it or not. So it's something they need to start talking about now." George was clear she'd expunge only misdemeanors, mostly pot possession cases not more serious felonies. The willingness by the Chittenden County States Attorneys Office to erase old convictions was first reported by the Huffington Post. "I hope prosecutors across the country follow Sarah George's lead," said Tom Dalton, who heads the group Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform. Dalton said some people with past convictions for marijuana charges view the offenses as stains on their character which they don't feel reflects who they are today. In other cases, Dalton said convictions have serious tangible impacts on lives. "When people have even a minor conviction for marijuana, it can prevent them from getting student loans, from getting a mortgagefrom getting a job," Dalton told necn. "And that hurts them. It hurts their children, it hurts their families, and it hurts the entire community." George said there is no timeline in place yet for her move, but she anticipates it will come in the near future. The lead Chittenden County prosecutor noted people will have to formally request that their old convictions be cleared. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh held a news conference Friday to discuss the city's summer strategy and the message was centered on deterring youth violence throughout the city. "The intention for today is to end violence and reduce violence in the city of Boston," Walsh said. "That's the intention of this conversation today. It's about dealing with the root cause of violence in the city of Boston." Walsh spoke about working with local businesses and non-profit organizations to increase the number of jobs for young people and revamping the city's youth worker program. "We're working on new ways of reaching out to parents, reaching out to young people about how do we prevent them from an act of violence," Walsh said. Currently, there have been 16 homicides in the city so far this year, which is six more than the same time last year, according to Commissioner William Evans. Evans spoke about putting more officers in neighborhoods on foot and on bicycles, specifically in areas prone to violence. "We're looking to get more visibility out there in the playgrounds, in the parks, with the whole idea of working with the community and prevent violence," Evans said. The news conference was held at the Boston Police headquarters in Roxbury. Anna Holmes is recognised for her phenomenal volunteering services A WOMAN from Speen says it feels surreal to be named the MS Societys Volunteer of the Year. Anna Holmes, who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spina bifida, was recognised at the national charitys ceremony in London on Friday for her volunteer work supporting people affected by MS. The 41-year-old was diagnosed with MS a condition of the central nervous system 10 years ago. She experiences fatigue, pain, and difficulties with her mobility and vision and is affected by these symptoms differently every day. Hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJ and MS Society ambassador Scott Mills, the awards honoured inspirational volunteers, fundraisers, carers, professionals, researchers and journalists for their work to improve the lives of people affected by MS. Miss Holmes has been involved with the Newbury and District MS Society group for seven years. Her volunteer work has included supporting numerous fundraising activities and she has held various roles, such as social secretary, support volunteer and chairwoman. Reacting to her award, Miss Holmes said: It hasnt sunk in. None of it has from being nominated, to attending the awards, to my name being called out. Its just surreal. Volunteering is so important to me. I want to help people have a voice and thats what Im going to continue doing. Im going to keep on fighting all the way. MS Society chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: The MS Society Awards is our way of celebrating the remarkable hard work and dedication of those who make a difference to the 100,000 people living with MS in the UK. Were proud to name Anna as winner of our Volunteer of the Year Award and she absolutely deserves this recognition. Stars of BBC's This Country links to West Berkshire AN acting family originally from Aldermaston are celebrating after their hit show had a successful night at the BAFTA TV Craft Awards. Siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper won the Breakthrough Talent award for their writing on , the BBC comedy they also star in. The mockumentary series depicts life in the countryside, with a camera crew following cousins Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe played by Daisy and Charlie. The pair wrote from their experiences of growing up in Cirencester, but the family previously lived in Aldermaston, where Daisy was born. Their grandfather was the highly-respected Bucklebury GP Bob Cooper and their father Paul Cooper, who plays Kerrys wayward dad in the programme, attended St Barts and later South Berks College and worked for a time at Quantel in Newbury. Paul married childhood sweetheart Gill in 1983 and Daisy was born in 1986. Four weeks later, the family moved to Cirencester. Pauls brother Trevor, who plays the village grump Len in also lived in Aldermaston, but now lives in Acton, West London. When asked whats next for the Coopers, Paul said: The BBC have announced a special and a third series of so all the focus is on that. The BAFTA has given Daisy and Charlie the confidence to move forward and think about other potential projects. When not acting, Paul works for the charity Hoarding Disorders UK, which is based in Thatcham. 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. The After School Arts Program in Washington will partner with Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust for a weekend fish stocking workshop May 5 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Smyrksi Farm in New Milford. The event will conclude the afternoon by meeting one of the propertys farmers, who in addition to talking about local agriculture, will bring lambs for the children to pet. When a baby is taken from its mother for even a brief period early in life, this traumatic event significantly alters the future, adult function of the brain, according to a new animal model study from the School of Science at IUPUI. These changes in the brain are similar to disturbances in brain structure and function that are found in people at risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. The study was conducted in the laboratory of associate professor of psychology Christopher Lapish. In the study, young rats were removed from their mothers for 24 hours when they were nine days old, which is a critical period of brain development. The resulting scans revealed that, unlike animals that were not separated from their mother during this crucial period, the separated rats exhibited significant behavioral, as well as biological and physiological, brain abnormalities in adulthood. "Rat and human brains have similar structure and connectivity," Lapish said. "Understanding what happens in the brain of a young rat that's removed from its mother gives us important insight into how this type of early trauma -- perhaps comparable to the incarceration of a human mother -- affects the young human brain. "The more we understand how the brain responds, the closer we come to being able to address and hopefully develop novel treatment strategies to reverse these neurological changes." "In this study, we found memory impairment, as well as less communication between brain regions, in the animals that had been removed from their mothers, among other neurological changes," said study corresponding author Sarine Janetsian-Fritz, formerly a graduate student in the Lapish lab and now a postdoctoral fellow in neuropsychology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "These are all clues to how a traumatic event early in life could increase a person's risk of receiving a schizophrenia diagnosis in the future." The causes of schizophrenia and the delay in the appearance of symptoms of this lifelong disease remain a mystery. "Children exposed to early-life stress or deprivation are at higher risk for mental illness and addictions later in life, including schizophrenia," said study co-author Brian F. O'Donnell, professor of psychological and brain sciences at IU Bloomington. "We have identified enduring changes in the brain and behavior that result from one type of stress in a rodent. These types of brain changes might mediate the effects of adverse events on children. Thus, policies or interventions that mitigate stress to children could reduce vulnerability to emotional disorders in adulthood."Source: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science Sylentis, Pharmaceutical Company belonging to the PharmaMar Group, has presented results from the clinical studies carried out with tivanisiran for the treatment of dry eye syndrome and that has enabled the start-up of the Phase III "Helix" clinical trial. The presentation has taken place within the framework of the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) that has been held from the 29th of April to the 3rd of May in Honolulu, Hawaii. The purpose if this meeting is to share the latest breakthroughs in research in the area of ophthalmology, to contribute to the progress in basic science and also in cutting-edge clinical research. In this context, Sylentis has participated at this event presenting the pre-clinical and clinical results of various compounds that are being developed for the treatment of ocular disorders. Among these, the abstract "Tivanisiran a new treatment for Dry Eye Disease, that improved signs and symptoms in clinical trials" (Posterboard number: 925 - B0103) is highlighted, the compound improving the ocular inflammatory parameters, tear quality and a reduction in ocular pain associated with dry eye disease is also underlined1. The novel mechanism of action of tivanisiran, based on genetic silencing through RNA interference (RNAi), is targeted at the treatment of the signs and symptoms of this pathology, making it a firm candidate for the treatment of dry eye disease. According to Ana Isabel Jimenez, Director of R&D at Sylentis, "we trust in our technology, innovative in this field, and we hope that tivanisiran will soon become a real alternative for the treatment of millions of people that suffer dry eye disease around the world." In this respect, Jimenez points out that "this is a significant step forward in the development of innovative drugs in different therapeutic areas through a novel technology of genetic silencing based on the RNA." Sylentis is a pioneer in RNAi research, and is one of the few in Europe that applies this technology to the field of ophthalmology. It also continues with its research on new therapies for ophthalmological and inflammatory illnesses. It must be empathized that this pathology affects more than 5 million in Spain, between 10% and 20% of the population, mostly women, and almost 100% of these being elderly. In this context, the phase III "Helix" study is being carried out in more than 30 hospitals in Spain, Germany, Estonia, Portugal, Slovakia and Italy, in 300 patients to evaluate the efficacy of this compound in the treatment of the sign and symptoms of dry eye syndrome. ~ An event for industrial businesses to explore digital transformation~ Industrial IT and automation expert Novotek UK and Ireland will be hosting a series of events in May 2018 as part of its digital transformation roadshow. Businesses working in the industrial sector including manufacturers, utilities companies and energy providers will be given advice on how to thrive in todays competitive market and how digitalization can be integrated to improve operational effectiveness. Novotek will host the events with its channel partner GE Digital to raise awareness and demonstrate some of the products and services available to industrial businesses. Both events will take place at GEs facility, with the first in Rugby, UK on May 22, 2018, followed by an event in Dublin, Ireland on May 24, 2018. Companies are investing around five per cent of their annual turnover into digitalizing their systems, according to a report from PWC. While some board directors are more forward thinking than others when it comes to digital transformation, digitalization presents numerous operational, strategic and competitive opportunities for business leaders in all industries. The rate at which technologies are now being adopted has greatly accelerated and failure to employ technologies like industrial control systems can significantly impact a companys market share. For businesses that have already taken the plunge, many realize that they could utilize their technologies more effectively. To overcome this, Novoteks digital transformation roadshow aims to show attendees how digitalization can help businesses make data-driven decisions, which can be used to improve efficiency, productivity and, in turn, profitability. A vast amount of businesses are currently operating their operational technology (OT) and IT systems separately. This can lead to a duplication in activity, as the role these functions play in most organizations often converge, explains Tobias Antius, CEO of Novotek. By taking a more collaborative approach, businesses can drive increased levels of productivity and at lower costs. Remaining relevant in your core industry means being as proactive and innovative as possible. In 2017, multinational manufacturer P&G faced scrutiny from its shareholders for not responding to digitalization as quickly as some of its competitors, which resulted in the company having to cut prices for some of its products. At Novotek, we focus on a businesss outcome and so we often guide customers away from their standard business model - encouraging them to think differently and achieve more. With software platforms like GE Digitals Predix, companies can digitalize their systems and still remain at the forefront of the transition, to ensure the infrastructure meets the businesss needs. Ethicon ECHELON FLEX Powered Staplers Associated with Improved Clinical and Economic Outcomes in First Real-World Assessment Versus Manual Staplers Bleeding complications dropped by nearly half when surgeons used a powered stapler as opposed to a manual device in what researchers say is the first real-world assessment of the two technologies in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer. The study, which appears in the peer-reviewed journal, Advances in Therapy, also found a nearly 10 percent reduction in total hospital costs and one day sooner discharge from the hospital associated with the powered-stapling procedures. The study, Impact of Powered and Tissue-Specific Endoscopic Stapling Technology on Clinical and Economic Outcomes of VATS Lobectomy Procedures was funded by Ethicon, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, the market leader in powered staplers including ECHELON FLEX, one of the devices used in the study. This real-world study shows stapler choice really does matter in significantly reducing bleeding complications and lowering overall costs in VATS lobectomy procedures. The results in favor of powered stapling devices in thoracic surgery are compelling, said lead study author Daniel L. Miller, MD, Chief, General Thoracic Surgery at WellStar Health System, Mayo Clinic Care Network in Marietta, GA. A lobectomy is a surgical procedure where an entire lobe of the lung is removed due to lung cancer, infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or benign tumors. Between 2 and 10 percent of lobectomies result in bleeding complications. In the study, VATS lobectomy patients, who were operated on primarily with ECHELON FLEX Powered Staplers, had nearly half the rate of hemostasis-related complications (8.5 percent vs.16 percent) of manual staplers and were hospitalized for estimated 4.9 days versus 5.9 days. Total adjusted hospital costs were about 9 percent more for procedures performed with manual staplers ($26,052 vs. $23,841). Outcomes including discharge status, operating room time and hospital readmissions were not different between the two groups. For the study, researchers evaluated hospital discharge data of more than 3,550 thoracic patients from more than 700 hospitals that contribute to the Premier Healthcare Database, one of the largest statistically-certified hospital databases in the world. Patients had VATS lobectomy procedures with either powered staplers (659 patients) or manual staplers (3,100 patients) between January 2012 and September 2016. Of the powered staplers used in the study, over ninety-nine percent were ECHELON FLEX Powered Staplers, manufactured by Ethicon. Of the manual staplers used in this study, over seventy-five percent were manufactured by Medtronic, with the balance being manufactured by Ethicon. In some cases, there were two ECHELON FLEX Powered Staplers used in the procedure versus one manual stapler. A sub-analysis of these cases found improved hemostasis outcomes were associated with use of ECHELON FLEX Powered Vascular Stapler plus another ECHELON FLEX Powered Stapler without increasing costs. In addition to the ECHELON FLEX Powered Vascular Stapler, Ethicons portfolio of thoracic procedural devices includes the ECHELON FLEX GST System, which controls tissue movement, and the HARMONIC HD1000i Shears, designed to address unique challenges in complex open and VATS procedures. ECHELON FLEX Powered Staplers are tissue-specific devices designed to positively impact patient outcomes. ECHELON FLEX Powered Vascular Staplers narrow anvil, increased articulation, and smaller shaft diameter improve access and enables more precise placement on fragile pulmonary vessels including VATS lobectomy for lung cancer. We continue to take aim at critical clinical issues such as hemostasis complications through the development of innovative devices like ECHELON FLEX Powered Staplers and the generation of meaningful clinical and real-world evidence that fills knowledge gaps, validates outcomes and better informs everyday decision making, said Edmund Kassis, MD, Ethicon Sr. Medical Director for Thoracic Surgery. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the US and is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 234,030 new cases of lung cancer (14% of new cancers) and about 154,050 deaths from the disease in 2018. More than one-third of cirrhosis cases are related to alcohol, a seven-year national study of more than 100 million privately insured people has found. Among that group, 294,215 people had cirrhosis; 105,871 (36 percent) had alcohol-related cirrhosis. The latter group was sicker and admitted or readmitted to a hospital more often, incurring nearly twice the health care costs per person: $44,835 versus $23,329. "When I look at this data, it tells me that this is a big problem," says Jessica Mellinger, M.D., a Michigan Medicine gastroenterologist and health services researcher at the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation. And it could be a particularly big problem for women, who in recent years have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorders at a rate nearly twice that of men. Mellinger's study, published in the journal Hepatology, found that women showed a 50 percent increase in alcohol-related cirrhosis during that seven-year period; men showed a 30 percent increase. Although biology doesn't explain why women appear to be consuming more alcohol then they used to, it does shed light on the effects. "Women process alcohol differently than men and they are more susceptible to damage in the liver than men," says Mellinger. "They can develop cirrhosis with less alcohol and in a shorter time frame. The hypothesis is that certain hormones make women more susceptible, though we don't know exactly why they are so much more susceptible." A costly, widespread issue To conduct their study, Mellinger and her team examined privately insured individuals ages 18 to 64 by using the Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database. It is the largest dataset of claims for people with private insurance obtained through their employers. The study's goal was to determine the prevalence, health-care utilization, and costs of alcohol-related cirrhosis among privately insured people in the United States. The research showed: Patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis aren't uncommon. The figures nearly surpass those of some common cancers. Health care for these patients is costly, sometimes as much as the cost for cancer patients. Cirrhosis has already progressed when many patients see a doctor for symptoms, preventing a chance for early diagnosis and treatment. But it only looked at one segment of the population. "At the time we did this study, we also considered using data sets from Medicare and Medicaid, but they were restricting reporting of claims related to substance abuse, and we knew we'd be missing information," says Mellinger. Since that time, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began reporting substance abuse; that information is now open to researchers. Mellinger expects alcohol-related cirrhosis statistics to increase significantly after that patient data is reviewed. The reason: "Many people with [alcohol-related cirrhosis] are too sick to remain employed, so more of these patients are insured through government-sponsored insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid," she says, noting that another limitation of the study was a lack of information about race and ethnic groups. Alcohol-use treatment programs vital Prior research has shown that there is no ethical justification for deprioritizing patients from receiving a transplant because they have alcohol-related liver disease. "But first they will need alcohol cessation treatment before they can be transplanted with success," says Mellinger. "Alcohol-use treatment is effective and many patients do stop drinking, obtain transplant and do well afterward." Although there is stigma to alcohol-related cirrhosis, it is common and it's not a moral failure, she adds. "Many people in the medical community think that alcohol use is not treatable, but it is. There is a lot of collaboration at U-M to provide the right help for patients with alcohol-related liver disease." Getting that help is crucial: When patients have advanced liver disease, the only action that affects whether they live or die is if they stop drinking. "Once you have cirrhosis, or scar tissue on the liver, it's permanent," says Mellinger, who works closely with the University of Michigan psychiatry department and the University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services. "But even though the damage is still there, your liver function can improve dramatically" if you stop drinking. Set to embark on further study with all insurance payers, Mellinger hopes her current work will help physicians better understand that alcohol-related cirrhosis is a growing problem that demands attention and resources. "We're only touching the tip of the iceberg," she says. "By demonstrating that alcohol-related cirrhosis is a high-burden health care problem that could be prevented, we hope that it will increase funding for early detection of alcohol use and for greater utilization of alcohol-use treatment programs." 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. 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 practicing - good hand hygiene. Hand hygiene - Hailed 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 safety - The 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 disinfection - When 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 pathogens - infectious 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." New Delhi: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in its 27th meeting on Friday signed off on setting up a committee comprising five state finance ministers to decide on sugar cess. Sugarcane farmers are in deep distress. A separate group of 5 ministers within 2 weeks will make a recommendation to meet contingency of this kind when the cost of a commodity is higher than its selling price. Committee will be announced within next 2 days", said finance minister Arun Jaitley after the meeting on Friday. Currently, the government levies GST compensation cess to recompense states that may incur losses in the first five years of GST implementation. This gains significance after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved financial assistance at the rate of Rs 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to sugar mills to offset the cost of cane and in order to help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers. The council also affirmed of easier returns which will come into effect six months later. The Sushil Modi-led group of ministers (GoM) put forward three models of a new form for discussions before the council. One of the models of new return form stipulates that provisional credit should not be granted unless the taxpayers file returns and pay taxes. The second model provides that provisional credit could be granted to a taxpayer, but returns have to be filed within 3-4 months and taxes have to be paid or else the credit amount would be reversed. After consulting the stakeholders, the GoM earlier this month worked out a third model for return filing as per which credit could be extended once the invoice uploaded by the supplier is verified by the purchaser on the GSTN portal. Attended by all state finance ministers, the council also gave in-principle approval for buying out remaining 49 percent stake in the GST network (GSTN). "Second important item discussed was change in ownership structure of GSTN, the original structure of GSTN, 49 percent held by the government and balance 51 percent by other entities. I had made a suggestion that this shareholding of 51 percent should be taken over by the government and divided equally between states and Centre," said Jaitley Currently, five private financial institutions, HDFC Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, NSE Strategic Investment Co and LIC Housing Finance Ltd, hold 51 percent stake in GSTN, which was incorporated on March 28, 2013, in the erstwhile UPA regime. "Eventually, central government should hold 50% and state governments will hold 50% collectively. The collective share of state governments will be pro-rata divided among the states as per their GST ratios," added Jaitley The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley-chaired council, met through video conferencing. GST Council referred decision to incentivise digital transactions to the GoM which will be taken up in the next meeting. Certain state ministers were however not too welcoming of decision. Kerala finance minister said, "Decision to impose a commodity specific cess wrong. Today some states are asking for a sugar cess, then why deny us a rubber cess?" West Bengal Finance Minister said, "Sugar cess would have led to distortion; many states expressed concerns about the cess, only 5 states would have benefited." 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. Ranchi: A 16-year-old girl was burnt to death in front of her family members inside her home in Jharkhand on Friday, allegedly by men who had gang-raped her on Thursday night. According to local media reports, four youngsters had kidnapped the girl from the house on Thursday night while the rest of the family had gone out to attend a wedding. They reportedly took her to a deserted spot and raped her. The incident took place in Rajakendua village in Naxal-hit Chatra district, around 160 km from Ranchi. The girls family raised the issue in the panchayat on Friday morning. The panchayat, or village council, rather than reporting the case to the police, asked the accused to settle the matter by paying the girls family Rs 50,000. They were also asked them to perform 100 sit-ups. Enraged by the diktat, the four accused went to the girls house, where they first thrashed the family members and then set the victim on fire, the girls parents said. The accused are on the run and police have launched a manhunt to nab the accused. The brutal gang-rape and murder comes at a time when public anger over the failure of the government and police to stem a series of sex attacks on minors has boiled over. New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has criticized BJPs latest attempt at Dalit outreach by dining with Dalit families. The Deccan Chronicle has reported that Bhagwat told a gathering of RSS and VHP leaders in Delhi to desist from the drama and instead indulge in regular interactions with the members of the weaker sections to get rid of the caste system. Bhagwats comments come in the wake of a special drive launched by the BJP to blunt the impact of large-scale protests by Dalit groups in the wake of Supreme Court ruling on Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act. The RSS, however, has denied that Bhagwat made any such statement and called the reports baseless and misleading. Arun Kumar, Akhil Bhartiya Prachar chief, said that no such meeting in which discussion on BJP's Gram Swaraj campaign was done took place. The RSS does not do any discrimination on the basis of caste, he said. BJP president Amit Shah has visited Dalit and tribal homes on several occasions; so has BJPs CM face in Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa during the election campaign in the poll-bound state. BJP legislators and MPs in many other states have also followed suit in the last one month. Media reports say Mr Bhagwat said at the meeting that taking food at Dalits homes, inviting the media or for publicity stunts. Instead RSS chief asked RSS workers to interact with Dalit leaders on a regular basis. Reacting to the criticism, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, in an exclusive interview to News18, said, "I and my party have done a lot for Dalits. Congress is guilty of using them as a mere vote bank." He also said that it was "wrong to say that BJP MPs are only indulging in politics of symbolism by eating at Dalit homes." Yogi added that some instances of MPs being caught on the wrong foot cant be described as a rule for the party. "They were perhaps exceptions, not the rule," the UP CM said. A recent incident in western UP recently got mired in controversy when there were reports that of state minister Suresh Rana brought his own food and water for dining at a Dalit home. RSS over the last five years has also run a concerted campaign on social equality by asking its cadres to work for one temple, one cremation ground and one water source for all communities in villages. Union minister Uma Bharti claimed on Wednesday that she does not consider herself Lord Ram who can purify Dalits. Her comments came days after UP cabinet minister Rajendra Pratap Singh said that BJP leaders are blessing Dalits by going to their homes. I dont consider myself Lord Ram that I could purify Dalits by eating at their home. Instead, I prefer inviting Dalits to my home and serving them personally, Bharti said at Samajik Samrasta Bhoj in Naugaons Gadhmau village, while refusing to take part in the mass meal. "When Dalits come to our house and eat together it is then that we will become pure," news agency ANI quoted her as saying. Aligarh: As the 48-hour deadline to take down Muhammad Ali Jinnahs portrait approaches, a right-wing outfit gears up to bring in nearly 1,000 students to remove the picture of "the man who divided India", even as police and RAF personnel are deployed at the university. On the other hand, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has out-rightly said that "we cannot give respect to Jinnah". Who is he (Jinnah)? He was the proponent of the two nation theory. He was the one who divided India. It has to be made clear that those who want the portrait of Jinnah, will have to go to Pakistan. We wont allow him to be revered in India, Amit Goswami, a right-wing student leader told News18 Hours after Goswami live streamed his plan to bring down Jinnah's portrait, he was summoned by Aligarh SSP on Thursday. However, right-wing outfit Hinduvadi Chhatra Sangh is now planning to mobilise nearly 1,000 students to further press for their demand. "People have tried to reason with us that the Jinnah's portrait has been up since 1938 after he became the lifetime member of the AMU Students Union. But he propounded two nation theory. We had no clue that his portrait is still on the walls of AMU. Nobody was aware that AMU was secretly guarding this portrait. It was only after MP Satish Gautam's letter to the VC Tariq Mansoor that this matter came to light, Goswami said. In order to curb rumours in the wake of the controversy, district magistrate has ordered to suspend internet services in Aligarh from 2 pm to midnight on Friday. 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 were admitted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital. Reacting on the issue, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, I have asked for a report (on the matter). AMU is a central university. We will take action once we have the report. We cannot give respect to Jinnah. Supporting Hinduvadi Sanghs stand on the issue, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishads regional convenor Nikhil Maheshwari said, Why dont AMU authorities get Mahatma Gandhi's pictures adorned on the walls of educational institutions in Pakistan? But, at least in India, Jinnahs portrait has to go down. On the other hand, Aligarh Muslim University Teachers Association held a general body meeting and decided to hold Black Day on Thursday against the "malicious campaign of Hindu leaders. The teachers and students will be protesting and taking out a march from AMU's Bab-e-Syed Gate to the Collectorate. While administration of the university is silent on the issue, the teachers body demanded a time bound high-level judicial inquiry. Miffed by the "malicious campaign of right wing outfits, AMU Teachers Association secretary Najmul Islam said, "The day the right wing leaders barged inside the campus, the former Vice President was to be honoured with lifetime membership of the Students Union. The matter was of great importance to the university, but there were attacks on the students. Islam further said, The former VPs guards were threatened. The police administration could not control the perpetrators as there was lapse in security. It just emboldened the right wingers in pursuing their nefarious activities. The university students and teachers demand punishment of policemen who did not perform their duty of controlling the violence that lead to attack on some students. The teachers have formed a Joint Action Committee and appealed to students to maintain calm in this time. "We will take the matter to the logical end. Keep calm," appealed the resolution of the teachers body. New Delhi: An Indian Army constable was arrested on Friday for allegedly duping unemployed youths on the pretext of providing jobs in the armed forces. Amit Kumar, who was posted at the Army unit of 20 Balwan near Palam in Delhi, was the mastermind while two others - Pradeep and Sandeep helped him, police said. The trio had duped at least two people out of Rs 20 lakh each, officials said. There could be more victims, they added. Police said Kumar is being questioned to ascertain how the total amount involved the whereabouts of his two aides. Giving details of the racket, police said Pradeep would fish gullible unemployed candidates from remote villages in Rajasthan, Haryana and UP and bring them to Kumar, who would take Rs 5 lakh from them to get the recruitment process started. Kumar would also conduct fake fitness tests in Delhi Cantonment and conduct a medical examination at the Base Hospital with the help of Sandeep, who worked there. Thereafter, the victims would have to clear a "final selection round". For each round, the accused would take anything between Rs 2 to 5 lakh, officials said. Kumar would then hand over a fake Indian Army joining letter. The posting was always outside Delhi. Once the victim reached the destination, no one would receive or induct them. When they made calls back to the accused, their phones were found to be switched off. Two such victims, who were cheated of over Rs 20 lakh each, filed a police complaint that led to the arrest. The Bihar School Examination Board BSEB will be releasing the Bihar Board Result 2018 or BSEB Class 10 matric results 2018 on June 26 (tomorrow) at 11:30 am, Board officials have confirmed said. The BSEB Bihar School Examination Board will publish the Bihar Board Class 10 results 2018 or Bihar Matric Result 2018, Bihar Class 10 Matric Result 2018 on its official website biharboard.ac.in. The Bihar School Examination Board BSEB conducted the Bihar Board Class 10 Matric exams 2018 from February 21 to February 28. The practical examinations were held from January 22 to January 24. The students can also check their Bihar Class 10 Matric Results 2018, BSEB Bihar Class 10 Results 2018, Bihar Board Class 10 Results 2018 on this website as well bihar.indiaresults.com or examresults.net Students need to follow the steps to check Bihar BSEB Class 10 Matric Results 2018 or BSEB Class 10 Matric Results 2018: * Log on to the Bihar School Examination Board BSEB website biharboard.ac.in * Click on the Bihar BSEB Class 10 Matric Results 2018 or BSEB Class 10 Matric Results 2018 * Enter your roll number and the Bihar board Class 10 matric results 2018 will appear * Click on 'Save' to download the result * Students can take a print out for further reference Total Number of students appeared: 17,58,797 Number of Centers: 1426 Number of students passed: 12,11,617 Prerna Raj scored 91.4% from Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya in Jamui district, topped the Bihar 10th Result 2018 with 457 points. Toppers in Bihar 10th Result 2018 : 1. Prerna Raj 2. Shikha Kumari 3. Anupriya To check BSEB Class 10 Results 2018 result, students also can check their Bihar BSEB Matric Class 10 Results 2018, Bihar Board Class 10 Result 2018 via SMS: New Delhi: It was on April 19 this year that the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra cleared Justice Krishna Murari as the next Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. But with judicial appointments caught in a tussle between the Centre and Collegium recently, it was only after Chief Justice Shiavax Jal Vazfidar retired on May 3 that the government realised that the post of Chief Justice would be vacant from May 4. It then appointed the senior-most judge of Punjab and Haryana HC, Justice AK Mittal, as the acting Chief Justice. Since April 19, the government had issued no notifications on the appointment of the High Court's Chief Justice. Not appointing the ACJ would have led to a constitutional crisis as a High Court cannot function without a CJ or an ACJ. The registry of the High Court too went into a tizzy with the Registrar addressing a letter late evening to the retiring Chief Justice Vazfidar, seeking directions on the functioning of the court and listing of the cases which were due to be listed in his court. "No communication regarding the appointment of the Honorable Chief Justice or the Honorable acting Chief Justice with effect from May 4th, 2018, has been received today and it is already 7.30 PM," said the Registrar. Further, he cited that all civil cases from May 4 were referred to the Division Bench of Chief Justice or Acting Chief Justice along with Justice Avneesh Jhingan. The CJ or ACJ is also expected to hear indirect tax matters and writ petitions relating to tender matters. However, in a handwritten response to the Registrar's request, Justice Vazfidar stated that he "does not want to arrange the roster for the period after his retirement. The retiring CJ stated that the Registrar "may seek orders from the senior most judge" of the HC, Justice AK Mittal, for the same. Justice Mittal's name was also considered for elevation to head the Delhi High Court as its Chief Justice but was later withdrawn. In June 2017, a Supreme Court Collegium headed by the then CJI, JS Khehar, had decided to appoint Mittal as CJ of the Delhi High Court. But as the norm goes of consulting SC judges while appointing the Chief Justice of their parent HC, the consulted judges had expressed reservations against Justice Mittals elevation, stating that such a move would mean that Mittal superseding his senior brother-judge, Justice S.S. Saron. Saron has since retired. But Justice Mittal's name was not forwarded by the Justice Khehar-led Collegium and no reason was has been given for that decision. However, on January 10, this year, the CJI Dipak Misra-led Collegium cleared Justice Surya Kant of Punjab and Haryana HC as chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Interestingly, the fact that Justice Mittal was senior to Justice Surya Kant did not become an impediment this time, unlike last time when his elevation to the Delhi HC had been dismissed without a concrete reason. According to the minutes of the meeting, "relevant factors" were considered by the Collegium which led to the decision of not appointing Justice AK Mittal as the Chief Justice of HP High Court. "It is deemed necessary to add here that while making the above recommendation, we have also considered the name of Justice A.K. Mittal, who hails from the same High Court as does Justice Surya Kant, the note added. Though Justice A.K. Mittal is senior to Justice Surya Kant in the seniority of judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, having regard to all relevant factors and since we consider Justice Surya Kant more suitable than Justice A.K. Mittal, we are not recommending name of the latter, for the present, for appointment as Chief Justice," reads the Collegium resolution. New Delhi: China on Friday said it was "quiet normal" for it to push ahead with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a sticking point in Beijing's ties with India, but maintained that the two "major powers" could find a way to cooperate, especially after the Wuhan summit. Addressing a seminar on 'Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and its Way Forward', Chinas envoy to India Luo Zhaohui said the BRI would benefit all countries, including India, in the age of globalisation. The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013, has become a major irritant in bilateral ties. The BRI also includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which India opposes as it goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India had also boycotted last year's Belt and Road Forum organised by China in Beijing. "We seek common development through connectivity," Luo said as some Indian lawmakers, scholars and journalists raised the issue of the BRI during the seminar addressed by China's envoy on the outcomes of the April 27-28 informal summit between Chinese President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said it was "quite normal" for China to push for the BRI among countries in the region, while describing India as a "major power" as well as an emerging market. Luo also said that China wanted to share the fruits of its economic development with other countries and those like the US and the UK have benefitted from China's growth. Soon after the Wuhan summit ended, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou had said there was no fundamental difference with India on the issue of "inter-connectivity" and Beijing will "not be too hard" with New Delhi on the issue of the BRI. "We feel that there is no fundamental difference between China and India on the issue of supporting inter-connectivity," Kong had told the Chinese media. "The Indian side does not exclude this cooperation. It is also continuing to advance on interconnection. "As for whether India accepts the expression Belt and Road, I think it is not important and China will not be too hard on it," he had said. He had also referred to India's participation in the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor which is also part of the BRI. Another highlight of the informal summit, a "very special event" in Chinese diplomacy, Lu said, was the decision of President Xi and Prime Minister Modi to undertake a joint economic project in war-torn Afghanistan. Referring to the unresolved boundary issue, the Chinese ambassador said it was a matter leftover from history and it cannot be resolved overnight. The IndiaChina border dispute covers the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). While China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covered Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during the 1962 war. During the Wuhan summit, Luo said, both sides have agreed to properly manage and control their differences. Both sides have the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each other's concerns and aspirations. Further, the two leaders have agreed to use the Special Representatives' Meeting on the boundary issue to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquillity. Luo said China and India would also address the issue of trade imbalance and Beijing would open up its market for more Indian products. He cited Beijing's announcement yesterday to exempt import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1. This, the envoy said, was good news for India's pharmaceutical industry and medicine exports to China. "I believe this will help reduce trade imbalance between China and India in the future," he said. While the bilateral trade reached USD 84.44 billion last year, a new landmark, the trade deficit too continued to remain high at USD 51.75 billion - registering a growth of 8.55 per cent year-on-year in 2017. President Xi and Prime Minister Modi also discussed the Korean peninsula and relations with the US as well as Russia, Luo said. He said both sides have agreed to promote more active regional and international cooperation. During the wide-ranging informal talks, the two leaders have agreed to cooperate in offering innovative and sustainable solutions to global challenges such as epidemics, natural disasters, climate change and terrorism, he said. As the two major countries in Asia, China and India will use their political influence and economic power to reinvigorate regional economic development. The two countries will work together to make international relations more democratic and increase the representation and say of developing countries and emerging markets. Both leaders also agreed to support the multilateral trading regime, oppose protectionism and work for an open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalisation that benefits all. Oklahoma City, OK - 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 community. Four days later on April 18 Moore County police found their dismembered bodies in a pond. The same day 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 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. On Twitter, journalist Shaun King called this incident a modern day lynching. 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. Court records show that 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. When [Moreland and Smith] entered the vehicle, the white men said they heard a gun being racked, said Sgt. Jeremy Lewis of the Moore Police Department. So one of them fired four rounds. Garcia-Boettler told police that he and his brother took their dead bodies to a nearby residence where they met up with Barker who helped them dispose of the bodies and clean the van. Barker told police they tied cinder blocks to the bodies so they would sink in the pond. He told police they removed both victims clothing and burned them in a barrel before dumping them in the water. Moreland's uncle Anthony Anderson told KFOR News, that Moreland was a great dad. Moreland's grandmother, Bobbie Moreland, also spoke of her grandson highly as a father. His grandmother, Bobbie Moreland, sobbed while talking to reporters. "Very, very good daddy. He took care of his little boy and the boy is going to be lost without his daddy," she said. New Delhi: An elderly builder jumped to death from his house roof after a police team raided his residence to arrest him, an officer said on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mahadev Dumbere said the incident occurred on the night of April 30. "A raid was conducted by a team of Delhi Police at Virendra Dhingra's residence at Vasant Vihar to arrest him and he allegedly jumped from three storey building in fear," he said. "Dhingra, 69, was an accused in a financial cheating case filed in CR Park police station and a non-bailable warrant was also issued against him. The police team of the district concerned raided his house to arrest him and subsequently he jumped from top floor of the building," Dumbere added. Dhingra was taken to private hospital where he later succumbed to his multiple injuries. Meanwhile, Dhingra's family members alleged it was a murder case as the police team applied pressure on him. As a result, he climbed on top floor of the building and jumped off. Police, however, dismissed the allegations but said a probe has been ordered. "We have constituted a high level inquiry committee to investigate this case from all angles," Dumbere added. New Delhi: A former district judge from Maharashtra has moved the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to the central government for immediately appointing Justice KM Joseph as a judge in the apex court. The PIL, filed by GD Inamdar, has also sought action against the Centre for unilaterally segregating the names sent by the Collegium for appointments in the court. Ten days ago, the central government segregated two names sent by the Collegium. It cleared senior lawyer Indu Malhotra as a SC judge but returned Justice Joseph's name with objections over his seniority. Malhotra was sworn last week. Citing this episode, the petition, filed through advocate Sunil Fernandes, has called this a direct infringement on the primacy and independence of the judiciary. Under the garb of reconsideration the central government effectively seeks to veto the decision of the Collegium and de facto prevent the names of those whom it considers inconvenient or worse still, whom it seeks to punish for daring to pass independent judgments, which may not be palatable to the central government, stated the petition. Inamdar maintained the main reason for the non-approval apparently is that Justice Joseph, as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, set aside a Presidential Proclamation dismissing the state government, which judgment caused acute political embarrassment to the Centre. It also contended that the government could not have decided on its own to segregate the names. It is not permissible to segregate. It is not permissible to pick and choose. And such a course of action is a direct attack on the independence of judiciary. It is not permissible for the central govt. to sit as an appellate authority over the wisdom of the recommendations made by the Collegium," said the plea. The petition added that the manner in which the Centre has been indefinitely delaying judicial appointments, it amounts to gross interference with the independence and integrity of the judiciary ultimately resulting in subverting the justice delivery system envisaged in the Constitution. This would result in the destruction of Indian democracy. New Delhi: Outgoing judge of the Supreme Court Justice R K Agrawal on Friday said the independence of judiciary was one of the foundations of democracy and the freedom of the Bar presupposes an independent judiciary. Justice Agrawal, who retired Fridy after a four-year stint at the Supreme Court, said that the Bar and the Bench were indispensable to a free society. "The independence of judiciary is one of the foundations of democracy and lawyers have worked hard to maintain the pillars of democracy. The freedom of Bar presupposes an independent judiciary through which their freedom may, if necessary, be vindicated," Justice Agrawal said. He was delivering his farewell speech at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who was the chief guest at the event, said it was the duty of the judges to show respect to the lawyers despite their age or status. "The Supreme Court is one. The bar nurtures us and on every occasion, I have told the young members of the bar to be the guiding angels. It's not the age, it is the entry into the Bar that makes you an angel. Whatever be your stature or status, you deserve respect and it is the duty of the judges to show respect to the members of the bar despite their age or status," he said. On Justice Agrawal, the CJI said he was "getting liberated from one assignment...If you feel envy, you are boycotting him. If you are jealous, you give him another five years to work. When, where and how, I can't say." "But if that is the desire of the Bar, definitely you will have it. And I take it as a concurrence from the Bar that you want him somewhere. I hope there is no disagreement," Justice Misra said. Justice Agrawal, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, was sworn in as a Judge of the top court on February 17, 2014. In his farewell speech, Justice Agrawal said young lawyers were the "oxygen of the legal environment". "If only we give them fair opportunities of drafting and arguing, that will enable them to shoulder more responsibilities. Young lawyers are the oxygen of the legal environment. "The relationship of Bar and the Bench is akin to the two sides of a coin. Neither has a primacy over the other. Both are indispensable to a free society," Justice Agrawal said. The SCBA President Vikas Singh referred to Justice Agrawal's farewell speech, which he had rendered in Chennai while he was the High Court Chief Justice there, and said that he had called for unity among the bar and the bench for the betterment of the judiciary. "It's a very moving speech given by Justice Agrawal and it is so relevant for all of us here today because we have to all make a pledge that we will all strive to make our institution, the Supreme Court a great one and, do nothing, either in court or outside to any manner damage the prestige of this institution," he said. Mumbai: Two years after former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a Rs 840 crore money laundering case, the Bombay High Court granted him bail on Friday on a cash surety of Rs 5 lakh. Apart from Bhujbal, his son Pankaj and nephew Sameer are also accused in the case. Sujay Kantawala, one of the lawyers representing Bhujbal said, "Its a great relief. He should be out of jail by this evening. He will be cooperating with the investigations and visiting ED office as and when required. Bhujbal's lawyers had argued that he has been in jail for two years when the maximum punishment in the case is a punishment of seven years. It was also argued before the court that since the Supreme Court had struck down section 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which required the accused to show that he is not involved in money laundering, his bail should be considered. As per ED, Bhujbal along with his family members diverted and laundered kickbacks received when he was PWD minister of the state. ED has so far attached properties worth over Rs 150 crore of the Bhujbal family, including bungalows, flats and office space in Mumbai, Nashik and Pune. The case is with respect to construction of Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi and Kalina land grabbing case. Earlier the PMLA court had rejected his bail application thrice after which he approached the High Court. His old age and his medical conditions were also mentioned in the bail application. He was hospitalised several times while he was in jail. New Delhi: After Supreme Court accepted CBSEs plea over reallocation of NEET centres, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan said on Friday that expecting students to travel to other states in this digital age is not fair. Hundreds of students from Tamil Nadu will be forced to travel to Kerala to sit for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on Saturday after CBSE moved the Supreme Court, saying that exam centres cannot be changed at such short notice. Reacting on the apex court's decision, Haasan said, In this digital age, expecting Tamil Nadu students to travel to Kerala and Rajasthan for NEET exam is not fair. The government should felicitate taking exams in the state. 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. 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. New Delhi: For once the Chinese mandarins were caught napping by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his informal summit with President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, China's Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui revealed on Friday. During his first one-on-one meeting with President Xi at the Hubei Provincial Museum, Prime Minister Modi told his host that this was his second visit to Hubei province, surprising the Chinese officials, who otherwise keep a track of all bilateral and official visits minutely. "We didn't know that Prime Minister Modi had visited Wuhan earlier," Luo told the participants of a seminar on the two-day informal summit between the leaders of India and China held in Wuhan city from April 27. Modi told Xi that when he was the Gujarat chief minister, he had an opportunity to visit central China's Hubei Province on a study tour to learn about the massive Three Gorges Dam. Modi was the Gujarat chief minister from October 2001 to May 2014. "The speed with which you constructed this dam and its scale inspired me. So I came on a study tour and spent a day at the dam," Modi had told Xi. As the world's largest hydropower project, the Three Gorges project is a multifunctional water control system on the mighty Yangtze river. It comprises a dam stretching 2,309 meters long and 185 meters high, 32 hydropower turbo-generators, a five-tier ship lock and ship lift system. Luo said China took special care to provide an enabling and comfortable environment for Prime Minister Modi in Wuhan, with the ambassador himself carrying with him table clothes from Gujarat and Assam tea for the visiting dignitary. While sharing some of the efforts made by the Chinese leadership to make Prime Minister Modi feel at home in the central Chinese city, over 1,000 km from Beijing, Luo said President Xi has met the Indian premier 13 times in the last five years of his first term. Luo said Chinese officials came to know that Prime Minister Modi liked table clothes from Gujarat. "So we decided to use them during the informal summit." "We didn't serve Chinese tea to Prime Minister Modi but Assam tea," he said. During the summit, the two leaders agreed to build on the rich cultures of the two great oriental civilisations and harness the rich human resources of their combined population of 2.6 billion. President Xi and Prime Minister Modi agreed to step up cultural exchanges by promoting people-to-people links and unleashing the vitality of the two emerging economies. For this, the two sides have agreed to establish a high-level cultural and people-to-people exchange mechanism, the envoy said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have the opportunity to meet at least three times this year to take forward their friendship forged during their unprecedented informal summit in Wuhan, China's ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said on Friday. Addressing a seminar in New Delhi on the 'Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and its Way Forward', Luo said the two leaders reached broad consensus on the overarching, long-term and strategic issues of global and bilateral importance during their two-day summit in the central Chinese city last week. The summit in Wuhan was seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Dokalam standoff last year. Giving a first-hand briefing to scholars and journalists on the informal summit, which he dubbed as a "very special event" in Chinese diplomacy, Luo noted that President Xi has never hosted a foreign leader twice outside the Chinese capital Beijing. Xi had hosted Modi in the central Chinese city of X'ian in 2015 and last week the two leaders met in Wuhan. "This shows that China attaches high importance to its relations with India," he said. The envoy said the idea of holding an informal summit was first mooted by Prime Minister Modi when he met President Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017. After that, the two side worked very hard to make it happen, he said. Luo said President Xi and Prime Minister Modi will have three more opportunities this year to carry forward their fruitful and wide-ranging conversations in Wuhan. The ambassador said the two leaders could meet at the next Shanaghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in June in Qingdao, China, the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa and the next G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He said the officials concerned of the two countries were closely working to facilitate these meetings and implement the consensus reached between the two leaders in Wuhan. The ambassador said the two leaders had in-depth discussions and reached consensus on their respective visions for national development as well as domestic and foreign policies. China and India, the two biggest developing countries and emerging economies --each with a population of over one billion, are important countries with strategic autonomy. "A peaceful, stable and balanced relationship between China and India is an important positive factor for the stability of the world," he said. On the differences between China and India, including the vexed boundary issue, the envoy said the two leaders have given strategic guidance to the officials on both sides to properly manage and control their differences. He underlined that both countries have the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each other's concerns and aspirations. Both leaders have agreed to use the Special Representatives' Meeting on the boundary issue to seek a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement". The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures (CBMs) and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquillity. As the two major countries in Asia, China and India will work together to make international relations more democratic, increase the representation and say of developing countries and emerging markets, support the multilateral trading regime, oppose protectionism and work for an open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalisation that benefits all, he said. Luo also said that both sides have agreed to instruct officials to work out specific plans and measures to implement the consensus reached between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi and further build on the informal summit in Wuhan and work towards opening new vistas in China-India relations. New Delhi: Samples of prominent milk brands such as Mother Dairy and Amul have been found to be of substandard quality, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Friday said, asserting that such violations would attract strict penalties. He said 21 samples of milk, out of the total 165 tested, including of these two prominent brands, were found to be of substandard quality. The drive, which started on April 13, also took three samples of ghee for testing, and found one, of a local brand, "unsafe", the minister said. "The issue was raised in the Assembly and I gave directions to test samples of the milk in Delhi. "We have taken a total of 177 samples across Delhi, including branded and local products. Reports of 165 have come out, and out of these, 21 samples (including Mother Dairy and Amul) have failed for their substandard quality, which does not mean they are unsafe," Jain told reporters. He said the term substandard could mean two things. One is fake (unsafe) and the other one is where it does not meet the prescribed requirement (safe, but falls short of some content, like fats for example), he said. Most of the failed samples, during this drive, were found to be adulterated with milk powder, he added. Jain, however, said all cases would be submitted to the court and the drive would continue with its ambit being extended to all milk products. "Earlier, there were four food inspectors and now 18 of them have newly joined for the drive and will be on the field on a daily basis," he said, adding that parameters mentioned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were followed in the drive. Asked about the punishment for violations, Jain said in case of substandard milk there would be a penalty ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 5 lakh. However, he said it won't be the case if a product was found to be unsafe. "If (the sample is) unsafe, like a sample that was found unsafe in ghee, there can be imprisonment from six months to three years," he said. A Mother Dairy spokesperson said, "We are yet to receive the findings of the samples tested by the authorities. Hence, it would be inappropriate to comment further. "However, we would like to state that each batch of Mother Dairy milk undergoes stringent quality tests at four levels to ensure safe and quality milk is made available for consumption," the spokesperson said. In addition, they recently received Quality Mark certification for all polypack milk variants sold in Delhi- NCR to ensure the consumers of 100 per cent conformance to the prescribed norms, the spokesperson said in a statement. Amul Managing Director R S Sondhi said, "Still the details and official report is not available, what is mentioned is not defective but substandard (variation), which means fat or protein may have varied. "In Amul, we maintain higher standards than that recommended by the FSSAI, so variation (substandard) is not possible. However while sampling or testing if proper care and process is not fully follwed, such variation may occur. We shall await the detailed report and then can give a complete reply," Sondhi said. Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has finally offered assistance to students who are being forced to travel to Kerala to sit for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test on Sunday. Some students also have their centres in states like Rajasthan and Sikkim. The state government has announced that it would give 1,500 aspirants a second-class train ticket as well as Rs 1,000 as one-time assistance. The aid comes after the Supreme Court on Thursday accepted the CBSEs plea that it was too late to change the exam centres, overturning a Madras High Court order of April 27, directing CBSE to provide centres in the same state. Students from Tamil Nadu are the only ones who will have to travel to a different state for the entrance exam for undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses. Several students had voiced concerns about making last-minute travel arrangements, but Tamil Nadus education minister had said on Thursday that any special arrangements could be done only from next year as there is no time now. Opposition parties had also criticised the government for not helping out. Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan said, "In this digital age, expecting Tamil Nadu students to travel to Kerala and Rajasthan for NEET exam is not fair. The government should felicitate taking exams in the state. Several people from Tamil Nadu have also stepped forward to help students who could not afford to travel to Kerala on their own. Many people shared their details on social media, asking needy students to contact them. Actor Prasanna tweeted that that he would love to sponsor travel expenses for at least two under privileged students or government school students appearing for NEET this year. Inbox me the details like hall ticket, place where ur exam hall assigned will book the tickets for u (sic), he wrote. Choreographer Gayathri Raguram also offered support. I can sponsor one NEET exam student to travel and stay and food. That's how much I can afford. I'm not rich but can help one student. #NEET exam, she tweeted. Twitter user @PeriyaStar offered his car to students going towards Sathyamangalam in Kerala. can use my car (4 students can travel comfortably) travel for free. I shall arrange driver too... No fuel charges needed...Pls pass this msg for needy poor students, he wrote. There were many more who either offered to book train tickets or pay for the stay of students. Rajasthan Tamil Association also offered to help students whose exam centres are in their state. The association shared phone numbers of people who can be contacted by students when they reach Rajasthan and promised to make all arrangements required for those students. Patna: Around 4pm on Thursday, reports started trickling in that more than ten passengers were burnt alive when the bus they were travelling in fell in a pit and caught fire near Kotwa in East Champaran district of Bihar. The death toll kept rising as more reports came in and most settled at 27 being the final number. That was until the district administration made it clear late in the night that no one had died in the accident. Call it fake news or a non-story, but the entire state government machinery had believed in the tragedy by then. Nitish Kumar, who was about to speak at a government function in Patna, heard the sad news in the afternoon and even appealed for a two-minute silence to express his profound grief. Just after the program, he announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the next of the kin of those who lost their lives. By six in the evening, almost all political leaders started releasing their condolence messages to the media houses and uploaded it on social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. In a tweet, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the casualty figure might go up to 24 or more. On the other hand, a team of State Disaster Response Force and state police were busy at the site of the accident looking for any injured or dead. However, locals told News18 that all those injured in the accident were sent to hospitals by them much before the administrative assistance arrived at the scene. Around 10pm, approximately six hours after the news of the accident first came in, Inspector General Sunil Kumar confirmed that no one was killed in the accident. He said there was no sign of any body parts inside the charred bus. Then how did the news of deaths spread like wildfire? Eyewitnesses said they broke the windows to pull out the passengers from the burning bus and they informed that there could be more people inside. The fire engulfed the bus so quickly that locals presumed those left inside were burnt to death. The casualty figures were presumed based on the total number of seats in the bus. In reality, as the local administration said, 13 passengers had boarded the bus from Muzaffarpur, and 27 more were waiting in Gopalganj district, 40 kilometres away from the accident site, to board the bus. The district magistrate said that all 13 passengers have been identified. "They have sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment," he said. Hearsay confused even the administrative officials who themselves admitted casualties. Even Muzaffarpur commissioner HS Srinivasan, after reaching the spot, acknowledged some casualties, saying, 'Our focus is now on the injured, not the dead'. When News18 spoke to some locals who were involved in the rescue effort and asked if they were certain about the deaths, they nodded yes, but later said they had heard about it from others present there. Even after the official clarification, locals and even some of the rescued passengers are not ready to buy the argument that no one was killed. Amit Kumar, was one of the passengers who came from Begusarai to board the bus, said, "I can say for sure that there were more than 13 people on the bus. I can't believe all came out safely. I managed because I am young and agile but there were children and older people also." Amit said his bus ticket was seized by Motihari Superintendent of Police Upendra Prasad Verma. He raised suspicion about the motive and said, "Why did the police take my ticket. In fact, tickets of all other rescued passengers were also taken away." Kolkata: The dead animal meat that was being supplied to restaurants in Kolkata and other cities in West Bengal contained dangerous toxins that if consumed can lead to severe neurological disorders, forensic tests conducted at a government laboratory have revealed. A senior official of the state health department said that preliminary tests found traces of ammonia, chlorine and bacteria like Clostridium Botulinum, Listeria Monocytogenes and E. coli in some of the meat samples. Clostridium Botulinum has the ability to produce the neurotoxin botulinum, which can cause a severe flaccid paralytic disease in humans and other animals and is the most potent toxin known to humankind, natural or synthetic. Listeria Monocytogenes, on the other hand, is one of the most virulent foodborne pathogens. Around 20 to 30 per cent of food borne listeriosis infections in high-risk individuals can be fatal. The carcass samples that were tested were seized from Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas districts in Bengal. Officials said that investigations have revealed that it was being sold to various vendors within Bengal and in states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. It was also being sold to Nepal and Bangladesh, officials said. Two more persons involved in the racket were arrested on Friday. Mohammad Akhlaq and Sikander Sheikh were picked up from Budge Budge area in South 24-Parganas district, police said. Both of them were close to Biswanath Ghorui, who is said to be the kingpin of the racket. He owned the cold storage in Kolkatas Rajabazaar area from where the dead animal meat was seized. Speaking to News18, South 24-Parganas SP Koteswara Rao said, So far, 13 people have been arrested. Its a big racket and we are probing all angles. Soon, we will release an official report in this matter. This case is sensitive and we dont want to create unnecessary panic among people. Let our officer complete their investigation and let the Central Forensic Science Report come out. We will then inform everything officially, he added. Alarmed by the meat racket, food safety officers of the Eastern and South Eastern Railways also collected samples from various vendors in Bengal and sent it for forensic tests. Kolkata Municipal Corporations MMiC, Health, Atin Ghosh along with officials conducted surprise checks at roadside eateries. They collected samples and sent them for forensic tests. We will not spare anyone who is involved in such heinous crime, Ghosh said. Meat chunks meant for animals at the Alipore Zoo were also collected. All the districts administrations have also been asked to collect samples from food meant for midday meal schemes. Several hotels and restaurants in Howrah, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas and Kolkata were sealed by the municipal authorities after poor quality raw meat and fish were found in their chest freezers. The Hotel and Restaurants Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) has urged people not to panic. Your favourite and reputed restaurants in Park Street and other parts of city follow strict food safety standards and you can enjoy your favourite cuisines without any hesitation, they said in a statement. Malappuram: Two persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the Thursdays deadly attack on two journalists at Malappuram Press Club, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Friday. The arrested persons have been identified as Shibu and Dileep Kumar who have been charged under various sections for unlawful assembly and assault, local media reported. Fuad Saneen, working as a photojournalist with Chandrika daily and a reporter Shahabas Vellila were assaulted as the attackers barged into the press club. Fuad sustained injuries on his leg and was taken into a nearby hospital. Condemning the assault on the journalists CM Pinarayi Vijayan said his government will seriously look into the attack by RSS workers at Malappuram press club. I have ordered the police to take stringent action against the culprits. Two people have been arrested so far," Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Facebook. Kerala government wont tolerate any attempt to stall freedom of expression," Vijayan added. Both Fuad and Shahabas were trying to capture visuals of violence during the RSS rally on Manjeri-Malappuram road. The RSS workers, who blocked the road during the march, were allegedly captured by the journalists attacking a biker. Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) had condemned the attack and demanded strict action against the culprits. Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here Beijing: China on Friday rejected US allegations that Chinese nationals shone military-grade lasers at American pilots in Djibouti, dismissing the claims as "inconsistent with facts". Beijing, which operates a naval base in the Horn of Africa country, denied Pentagon accusations that Chinese personnel have targeted US pilots in the country with the beams, resulting in minor injuries to airmen and creating the potential for an accident. "After careful verification, we have told the US explicitly that the so-called accusations are totally inconsistent with facts," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters. "You can remind relevant people in the US to pay attention to facts and not to make groundless accusations," she said during a regular briefing. US officials issued a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded Beijing investigate a series of incidents dating back several weeks, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said Thursday. "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 (kilometres) 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. Bhopal: In yet another twist in the sexual exploitation case involving a journalism student and a young Congress MLA in Madhya Pradesh, the victim took a U-turn on Thursday when she revealed that she had not, in fact, been sexually exploited by the lawmaker but instead had been manipulated by the BJP to implicate the Congress leader. 20-year-old journalism student Priyanka Baghel (name changed), submitted her latest claims before the Madhya Pradesh court, alleging that she had been a puppet in the hands of BJP state Vice President Arvind Bhaduria and his associates. She repeated her testimony before the media later on. In January this year, the Crime Branch of police had arrested Baghel on charges of extorting money from the Congress MLA Hemant Katare through blackmailing and she even spent a few days behind bars for the same. Minutes after getting bail in the case, Priyanka appeared before the media and claimed that she was the victim as the Congress MLA had sexually exploited her on multiple occasions. In no time, Katare was booked over rape and other charges and has been absconding ever since then. Among those named by her on Thursday as the ones who misled her to accuse Katare include the lawyer who represented her in the court, a journalist based out of Bhopal and one Vikramjeet who was co-accused with her in the blackmailing case lodged by the MLA. Mincing no words, Priyanka pointed fingers at BJP vice president Arvind Bhaduaria for misleading her into framing Congress MLA Katare into the rape case she filed against the lawmaker in January 2018. The political tussle between Bhadauria and Katare is an open secret after the former lost to Katare in Ater by-election by less than 1000 votes in 2017. The man in question, Bhadauria talking to the media trashed the girls claim saying she did not meet any of the party in the case and was framed in a political conspiracy. I am even ready for Narco test if needed, he added. On the contrary, Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi alleged that the affidavit filed by the girl with the HC had exposed the BJP controversy to frame Congress MLA Hemant Katare in a false case. Superintendent of Police (South) Rahul Kumar, the enquiry officer in the case, refused comments on the case saying he cant say anything unless he receives a copy of the said affidavit. Those people feigned to have sympathy for me. However, they made me level false allegations for their own personal gains and benefits. Ive been made a scapegoat for the political motives of these influential persons, the girl said in the affidavit she submitted with the HC. I seek apologies for having levelled false allegations. As Im now making public the truth, these influential people like Arvind Bhadoria can gravely harm me and my family and could even get me and family members eliminated. I seek mercy for my misdeeds, she mentioned. The journalism aspirant in her affidavit also claimed that she was harassed in the police custody when she declined to level rape charges against the Congress lawmaker. New Delhi: As the tussle between the judiciary and executive over judicial appointments rages on, the central government on Friday questioned the Collegium over making only a handful of recommendations despite huge vacancies. Attorney General KK Venugopal contended that the government was being blamed for being "tardy" in making appointments while the truth remained that the Collegium was not forwarding enough names to the government for appointments. The issue came up as a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur heard a matter relating to vacancies in high courts of North Eastern states. The Court asked the AG about the names pending with the government for appointments but Venugopal retorted that he will have to find out. Venugopal added that although the Court was looking at vacancy of judges in the high courts of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura, the fact was that only a few names were being recommended by the Collegium despite massive vacancies. "The Collegium will have to see the broad picture and recommend more names... some high courts have 40 vacancies but recommendation of the Collegium is only for three. If there is no Collegium recommendation, nothing can be done," Venugopal said. At this, the bench asked the AG to first explain the fate of the names that has already been sent to the government. "People from the Northeast, what are they supposed to do? They come to Delhi before us, to say that please transfer our case to other high courts. They spend money for this," the bench observed, while adding that there has to be expediency in clearing appointments. The AG, however, stood firm that the Collegium must send more names. The Collegium had on April 19 recommended for appointing Justice M Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar as the chief justices of the Meghalaya High Court and Manipur High Court respectively. During the hearing, Venugopal said that their appointment was under consideration and that orders would be issued shortly. The Court then gave the government 10 days to file an affidavit on steps taken so far to fill up vacancies in high courts of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura. Manipur High Court has only two judges against a sanctioned strength of seven, Meghalaya High Court has one judge against the sanctioned strength of four, while Tripura High Court has two judges against sanctioned strength of four. The showdown, on the judicial side, has come at a time when the government's objections against elevating Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph as an apex court judge has kicked up a controversy over executive's interference. New Delhi: A fact finding team formed by Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA) submitted its report on the Kathua rape case to member of PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, and demanded a CBI probe in the case after raising a serious of questions on the investigation carried by Jammu Crime Branch. The fact finding team had visited Jammu from April 23 to April 26 and had met all the key players of the case, including the members of the families of the accused, the lawyer of the accused, Jammu Bar association members, among others before coming to a conclusion. The team has stated that not only was the CBI probe justified due to frequent changes in the investigation team composition but also due to the presence of "Kashmiri" officers in the team. "Three investigating teams rapidly changed one after another within a span of 10 days from January 12 to January 23. The crime branch team consists of two ethnic Kashmiris apart from the SSP Crime Branch Jammu who is also Kashmiri. In a sensitive case like this one and interstate like Jammu and Kashmir, this matters," notes the report. "The demand for a CBI enquiry into the Kathua case is a legitimate demand. Not only justice be done it also must be seen to be done," reads the final statement of the report. The team consisted of Meera Khadakkar, Retired District Judge, Nagpur, Monika Arora, Supreme Court Advocate, Sarjana Sharma, Journalist, Sonali Chitalkar, Professor and Monica Aggarwal, Social activist. The FFT has also questioned the veracity of the post-mortem report and states that it was changed after being reserved for further opinion. "The charge sheet mentions gangrape by at least three persons over many days. This is not corroborated by the injuries described in the postmortem report. No such injuries are reported on the victim in the Kathua incident which according to the chargesheet is a gangrape. Postmortem report only mentions abrasions but no injuries," states the report. Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, who hails from Jammu, stated the need for an "unbiased investigation" while receiving the report. "Our only aim is that the culprits are punished. There should be proper and unbiased investigation into the case. Justice should not have been done but also appear to have been done. If one is not a culrptit, they should not be embroiled into this," said Dr Singh. The report questions the place where the child was allegedly abducted, kidnapped and raped. It states that it was not a Mandir or Devisthan but a "Devsthaan". "It is a sparsely furnished room and can a girl of four feet be hidden under the table which is three and half feet and was this site a secluded place where a girl could be sedated and hidden?" questions the report. The report has listed down 15 unanswered questions. Some of them are like, "Why was the Crime Scene the devsthan not sealed? Why was the body not thrown somewhere in the deep forest but found just 100m behind the house of the main accused Sanjhi Ram? Who click the photograph of the deceased with a high-resolution camera?" Further through a CBI probe the team has questioned as to why a "crucial information was ignored by the crime branch" though reiterated by the Rasna dwellers. "Residence of the village have repeatedly reported that in the night of January 16, 2018, the main transformers supplying electricity to the entire village suffered a burst and consequently there was no electricity in the entire village. Around 2:30 a.m, during the period of blackout, two persons covered in blankets around them and riding a bullet entered the village and left the village after 30 minutes," notes the fact finding report. The report notes that "many villagers had to leave Rasana due to harassment by the crime branch" which has also been termed as migration of Hindus due to harassment of Crime Branch." Even the nationalism of the Gujjar-Bakherwal community has been given importance. "The gujjar bakherwals are a nationalistic community. The team found that villagers of Rasana are extremely nationalist and most of them are ex-servicemen what are serving in the forces," states the report. If you are one of the lucky few with a ticket to Windsor Castle for Britain's royal wedding on 19 May you might expect a feast fit for a king. But guests set to descend on the grounds of Windsor Castle for the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been warned to expect no such thing. Kensington Palace -- the official residence of Prince Harry -- told AFP on Thursday that guests have been advised to bring their own picnics as only light refreshments and snacks will be served. Relaxing in the sun -- if it deigns to appear -- and enjoying drinks and a meal of your own making is intended to give the royal occasion a family feel, according to the same source. Among the 2,640-strong guest list for the wedding party in West London are 1,200 "members of the public" from all walks of life, drawn from the four corners of the United Kingdom. One of those set to witness the arrival of the wedding party and the post-ceremony procession is Amelia Thompson, 12, a surviver of the Manchester Arena suicide bombing -- which claimed the lives of 22 concert-goers last May. Another guest on the list is Philip Gillespie, a 30-year-old veteran of the Armed Forces who lost his right leg in an explosion in Afghanistan. Saeed Atcha, 21, founder of a youth charity, told daily paper The Guardian that some disadvantaged people his organisation aids were bemused by the decision. "They were saying how come they (the royal family) have this money and you have to bring a picnic," he said, adding, "I am of the same opinion. It's unfathomable." Besides the public, 200 members of charitable groups close to Prince Harry and Markle's hearts will be present. Some 610 members of the Windsor community, 530 employees of the royal household and pupils from nearby schools are also invited to join the celebrations in the castle park. The royal palace has announced that 600 guests are invited to attend the marriage ceremony itself in St George's Chapel, as well as the reception luncheon given by Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor Castle. A reception will also be given later to 200 guests in the evening by Prince Charles. It will take place at Frogmore House, about a kilometer from the wedding site. 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. 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. British actor Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock, Doctor Strange and Star Trek: Into Darkness is to play an elite spy in historical thriller Ironbark. Instrumental to solving the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis by providing a crucial link to a Russian double agent, British businessman and MI5 operative Greville Wynne provided an insight into Soviet nuclear progress but was captured and then imprisoned in 1963. Benedict Cumberbatch is now adding Ironbark, a film based on Wynne's espionage activities, to his list of public commitments, ahead of the project being presented to interested parties at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, which runs May 8-19. It's a return to the realm of spy stories for Cumberbatch, who was also involved in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, albeit in a more minor way. Dominic Cooke, a director on season 2 of Shakespearean adaptation The Hollow Crown and the Saoirse Ronan romantic drama On Chesil Beach, is to direct Ironbark from a script written by Tom O'Connor of action movies Fire with Fire and The Hitman's Bodyguard. There are way too many award shows in the country nowadays and we have been seeing awards everywhere lately. But they have hardly made a difference when it came to their fundamentals of recognizing and appreciating talent. In addition, these maudlin award ceremonies have only exhibited a hefty dose of self-praising due to this strange notion of everyone who is anyone must have awards. However, Thursday evening was a sweeping exception (to the regular practice of handing out trophies like candy) as artistes brought home well deserved honours at the 65th National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhawan. Though President Ram Nath Kovind certainly stole the thunder from the winners, with his last minute decision of presenting awards to 11 out of the total 140 recipients, let not the victory of these talented artistes go in vain by only discussing an apparently "political motive" behind this move. Unlike last year, regional cinema took the front seat at the ceremony in 2018, hammering home a message that Bollywood no longer dominates Indian cinema. This year all the best awards were given to regional cinema so thats how we can see that its evolving and people are coming out of Bollywood. I think its a great time for regional cinema that they are proving with such limited budget with so many difficulties they can emerge out with," says Riddhi Sen, who received the National Award for Best Actor for his role in Kaushik Gangulys Nagarkirtan, which deals with same-sex relationships. (Image courtesy: AP) Sen has become the second actor to win a National award (best actor) for portraying a LGBT character on the big screen after Sanchari Vijay, whose performance as a transgender in Kannada-language film Naanu Avanalla...Avalu earned him the prestigious honour in 2014. However, the victory didnt come easy to the 19-year-old Bengali boy, whose film Nagarkirtan had courted controversy last year when a Calcutta High Court advocate wrote a letter to CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi, asking him to ensure that no law is violated in clearing the film. We have two cuts in the movie since homosexuality is still criminalised in our country which is so unfortunate but again on the contrary Im so happy that so many critics found out the beauty and strength in the film and they have given such a film based on something which is a little controversial in India such an immense support. So, I think the support we have received from the jury and the national awards is great which can draw a lot more audience to watch this film especially because its on such a sensitive issue", Sen added. Last year, Akshay Kumars best actor win for Rustom was met with severe criticism, with many arguing that Manoj Bajpayees performance of a gay professor in Hansal Mehtas Aligarh was more deserving. Even Mehta had tweeted that it was disappointing that his critically acclaimed film was not considered worthy of an honour at the 64th National Film Awards. He had also said that he was hurt by the then jury panel head Priyadarshan's "disturbing and insensitive" statement ruling out homosexuality from being a social issue. Commenting on the same, Sen says, Here they have taken this initiative which is the biggest blessing for our movie that in such turbulent times if a film like Nagarkirtan gets four awards, what can be better than that. In addition, self-taught Assamese filmmaker Rima Das bagged two awards for her coming-of-age tale Village Rockstars, including Best Feature Film and Best Editing, besides two movie picking up two more awards Best Child Artist for Bhanita Das and Best Location Sound Recordiing. The movie, about a young girl dreams of owning an electric guitar, quenched the dry spell that had taken over the film industry of Assam for 30 years. Jahnu Baruas Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai was the first ever movie from the state to win the Best Film honour in 1988. (Image courtesy: AP) It feels really blessed. Im extremely happy. All my people in Assam are so happy for us. They are eagerly waiting for us to celebrate this victory with them because obviously this is coming after 30 years. My parents are here. I cant express it in words, says Das. In another breakthrough moment for the North-east, director-writer Bobby Wahengbams Matamgi Manipur: The First Manipuri Feature Film was awarded the Best Book on Cinema at the ceremony. The book explores the emergence of Manipuri cinema in the state's socio-political scenario. In the book, Bobby briefly analyses film theories and cinemas of different countries and states prior to the production of Matamgi Manipur, which was released in 1972. Im very excited. In fact, when I had got to know that my book won the best book on cinema award, I couldnt sleep the whole night. Its something I have always dreamed about. Filmmaking is just not about learning the nuances of films but its also about theories and academic discourses so I have incorporated all that while writing this book, says Wahengbam. Wahengbam also said he was extremely proud of Das and her film Village Rockstars and hoped that more Manipuri films would find their way to the National awards next year. Im very happy with (Rima) Das. I have not seen Village Rockstars but I would like to see it. I think its an exceptional film. Jahnu dada got it for Halodhia long back and after a long period of time they came into notice and being a north-eastern filmmaker I feel so proud that our films also win national awards suppressing all the regional as well as national films. Unfortunately, there was no film for Manipur this time but hopefully people will see more films from Manipur both in feature as well as non-feature film next year. It's official: Narendra Modi is the most followed political leader on social media (97 million) and has twice as many Facebook fans as Donald Trump. Conventional social media is thus a readymade platform for the BJP's 2019 electoral campaign. But the cutting edge of voter outreach this time could well be the controversial NaMo app. The electoral efficacy of the app is already being road-tested in Karnataka. In April, it was deployed in the PMs interaction with BJP candidates and workers. Last week, he spoke to Karnataka farmers through the app. The BJP Mahila Morcha is next on the list. In all likelihood, the app will also be utilised in microtargeting voters, by showcasing the 224 constituency-level manifestoes crafted by the BJP through its influencers. Modi's prescient grasp of the shape of tech-to-come enhances his wizardly communication skills. His idea, back in 2014, to create a direct interface with voters was nothing short of visionary. At a time when terms like datamining, analytics and predictive market segmentation had just entered the journalistic vocabulary, he was already thinking ahead, to the 133 million new voters in 2019. Most of them post-millenial digital natives, comfortable with technology. The PMO app contest engaged hundreds of bright young minds, by-and-large engineering students who participated in the citizen engagement platform, MyGov. A group of six kids styling themselves 'Team Sanskriti' were given the privilege of designing the app. The idea of using budding techies to design useful software would later be extrapolated to the 'Smart India Hackathon'. The PM and by extension, the government, loves apps: BHIM, Umang, myPassport Seva, MyGov, India voters' list, OnlineRTI, Incredible India, mKavach, Khoya Paya. Just app it! Launched in June of 2015, the NaMo app became a hit post-demonetisation. The PM urged the public to download the app in order to give him a first-hand view on the decision taken regarding currency notes, thereby expanding his user-base and projecting himself as a people-friendly, accessible leader. The app figured in the list of the top 20 downloads in November, 2016, trending on Google Play and the AppleApp store. Not surprisingly, more than 90 per cent of the five lakh people who took the survey supported demonetisation. The PM has promoted his app relentlessly on his Mann ki Baat radio show and now, through his book Exam Warriors. Scan the QR codes in the book and presto, you can post your comments on the app. The book's bestseller status is assured, with BJP-ruled state governments already placing orders. And that means more traction for the NaMo app. For BJP workers, the app is mandatory. Last heard, it had a user base of over 10 million. Not large enough to satisfy BJP president Amit Shah, though. With characteristic firmness, he informed the party's national executive earlier this year that BJP units in each district of the country would have to ensure 100,000 downloads, so as to achieve the target of 50 million. Do not take this as a suggestion. Accountability will be ensured and each district is responsible, he reportedly declared. Has the opposition grasped the potential of the NaMo app, which bypasses conventional social media? Congress president Rahul Gandhi certainly has. He panned it a couple of months ago, after security concerns vis-a-vis the app were raised on Twitter. In the backdrop of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica revelations, the Congress was facing heat for allegedly employing the data brokerage firm for its election campaigns. Suspicions about the NaMo app were a handy way of striking back. Experts felt that the app asked for too many permissions and alleged that it was subject to data leakage. Rahul Gandhi pointed out that although it was billed as an official government app, it was under the control of the BJP. Leveraging political power to promote Brand Modi and build a personal database was a tad unfair! The BJP vociferously defended the app and denied any possibility of data theft, because it was stored on Indian servers. The #DeleteNaMoApp thread died out quickly, perhaps because security concerns prompted the Congress to take down its own app. The sheer reach of the NaMo app is scary for the Congress. Through surveys and interactive to-do tasks it can create granular (detailed) data, which facilitates zeroing in on voters their concerns and where and how they will vote. This makes it easier to send targeted messages, identify supporters and get them to the booth. The BJP has already built up a substantial database through its phone-based membership drive in 2014, during which it claims to have enrolled 100 million people. Even allowing for large-scale duplication and frivolous calls, this represents an impressive list of names and phone numbers. The NaMo app introduces a new variable in an already complex electoral eco-system where it is increasingly difficult to predict outcomes. In Karnataka, conventional wisdom says the Congress has a definite edge, but will the Wizard of Apps pull a rabbit out of his pagdi? (The writer is a senior journalist. Views are personal) Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday came down heavily on the State Election Commission (SEC) for floundering while performing its Constitutional obligation in ensuring a free and fair panchayat elections in West Bengal. While specifying that it will not interfere in the panchayat poll process, the division bench of Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice Arindam Mukherjee observed that the neutrality of the state poll body has been seriously questioned. The courts order came while it was hearing a petition filed by the Congress that referred to the April 21 notification of SEC as incomplete and not in accordance with the existing Panchayat Act. The bench said that it is expected that the SEC shall redeem itself by taking a note of the observations made in its order as a wake-up call. The court further said, The State EC has not only been empowered with absolute authority but also been clothed with practically impenetrable immunity against interference with regard to the election process. A constitutional authority with such mighty stature and power is therefore required to perform its duties in such a fair and transparent manner so that no person can raise either an eyebrow or point an accusatory finger towards it. However, in the facts of the present case, we find that the State Election Commission ever since the issuance of the initial notification of the state government under section 42 of the Act of 2003 with regard to holding of the 2018 Panchayat elections, has acted in such a manner that eyebrows have been raised and accusatory fingers have been pointed against it time and again. Its neutrality has been seriously questioned. It has floundered while performing its Constitutional obligation to uphold the democratic principles in a fair and transparent manner leading to a spate of litigations ever since the election process was set to motion. Stating that the commission has itself invited litigations after the election process has commenced, the bench said, "Instead, it ought to have allayed the fears and concern of all stakeholders and above all, the voters, who repose complete faith and trust on this august Constitutional body." Gaining their confidence, therefore, is the commissions paramount duty before, during and after the election process commences, the court said. Keeping all the above factors in mind and based on a broad conspectus of the facts of the present case, we refrain from interfering with the order impugned only for such reasons as stated earlier. It is expected that the state EC shall redeem itself upon taking note of the observations made hereinbefore as a wake-up call. We, however, make it clear that any observation made by is in this judgment cannot be used in any manner by any political party/individual participating in the election process during its campaign, it reads. On May 8, a bench headed by Chief Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya will hear another petition filed by the Congress on the alleged inadequacy of security for the election. Congress lawyer, Riju Ghosal said, I welcome the division benchs observation. We felt that the state EC is not working as per the Constitution to ensure free and transparent poll in Bengal and therefore we filed the petition. Hope, the EC will now act as per courts order. Bengal Congress president, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, Our demand is democratic as we want a free and fair poll in Bengal. On a similar note, BJP state general secretary, Pratap Banerjee said, We dont have any issues with the dates but safety and security of our leaders and the voters need to be taken care by the EC. On April 21, WBEC had announced the extension of panchayat poll nomination date by a day. The Congress had filed a writ petition challenging this notification stating that it is incomplete and should mention all dates like that of the polling, re-polling and counting. The state EC was dealt a major setback on May 1 when the Calcutta High Court said that May 14 could be tentative and not the final date for the panchayat polls in Bengal. The election body then announced May 14 as the polling date after the TMC government suggested a single phase election before Ramzan on May 14 and counting on May 16. Justice Subrata Talukdar said that May 14 could be a tentative date but not the final one for the elections. The bench has referred the matter to a division bench, based on which the court on Friday questioned the State ECs role in ensuring a free and fair election while performing its Constitutional obligation. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday hit back at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier claimed that BJP and RSS indulge in politics of division, and claimed that the Congress was responsible for the partition of India. Speaking to News18, the firebrand UP CM went a step further and claimed that caste-based and religion-based politics was also a legacy of the Congress party. Congress has had a tradition of breaking and dividing. From the partition of the country to the caste and religion based politics that we see today, all of it is a legacy of the Congress. Both Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah are following the same Congress tradition. The BJP believes in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat slogan. We also want a political unification of the country and from that point of view, the Karnataka election is very important to us, Yogi Adityanath told News18. When asked how he responds to the outsider tag being levelled on him by the Karnataka CM, Yogi said, I want to tell the Congress that Indias tradition has been that of Atithi Devo Bhava (Guest is God). My relationship with Karnataka is as old as Siddaramaiahs relationship with the state. I have a link with the cultural tradition of the mutt and also because I am a devotee of Lord Hanuman, who came from the land of Karnataka. Siddaramaiah is trying to break society. When they (Congress) come to UP, we will welcome them a little differently. We will welcome them with respect. When asked how he sees Rahul Gandhis frequent visits to temples, he said, Well, at least he understood the power of Hindus and the power of India. Those who used to insult India and Hindus are now going to temples and mutts. But this is not the true face of Rahul Gandhi. He showed his true face when he raised the issue of Hindu terror. Bhopal: BJP president Amit Shah drew and analogy between the Madhya Pradesh government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Ramayana's Angada, saying defeating BJP in Madhya Pradesh would be akin to lifting Angada's foot. He claimed that defeating BJP in Madhya Pradesh was beyond Congress capability and equated the BJP government to Angad ka pair (Angadas foot). Angada is a mythological character from Ramayana. The son of Vali challenged Ravana to lift his leg saying if someone was able to do so, Ramas army would return without Sita and leave Lanka, if not they would go to war to defeat the Lankans. He said that the state was a "fortress" of the BJP where the party's government and organisation had stood their ground, claiming that his party would win in 2018 as well as 2023. Shah also launched a veiled attack on newly-appointed Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath by claiming the fight in Madhya Pradesh was between the BJP government of farmers and the corporates. Addressing party workers at BHEL Dussehra Maidan, Shah said, I was listening to CM Shivraj, Narendra Singh Tomar and state head Rakesh Singh who all spoke about women, farmers, students, Dalits and tribals. But look at the Congress, which has chosen the apple of corporates eye as the state president. The BJP chief added, So it has been reduced to a fight between the farmers, represented by the BJP, and the Congress, which represents the corporate. He also did not spare Congress Campaign Committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, saying raja-maharajas have taken to the poll field on behalf of Congress, but we need not be apprehensive as even a booth-level worker of BJP is capable of defeating the Congress. Remembering the contribution of Kushabhau Thackrey and Vijaya Raje Scindia in the formation of BJPs organization in MP, Shah claimed that the party was the strongest in MP. Reposing faith in the BJP unit ahead of the 2018 elections, Shah called for the party brass to push for a victory margin so huge that the enemies get a heart attack while watching the election results on TV. The BJP boss ridiculed Congress president Rahul Gandhis claims of winning the upcoming elections here saying, Even if Rahul Baba uses a binocular, he wont be able to find victory for Congress, so I dont know how he manages such dreams. Amid speculations over a change of guard in MP ahead of the polls, Shah threw his weight behind Shivraj, heaping praises on his rule and the commendable growth across sectors. I am not saying this out of my association with him for long years but as an independent political observer, that the achievements of CM Shivraj would find a special mention in the democratic history of this country. Shah also touched upon the issue of saffron terrorism, a contentious phrase allegedly coined by Congress during the UPA rule and sought apologies from Rahul Gandhi for defaming the Hindu culture. He accused Congress of resorting to divisive politics and stalling the OBCs Commission Bill in Rajya Sabha and depriving backward classes their Constitutional right. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, too, showered praises on Shah and called him a miraculous leader who took the party to unimaginative heights. Sharing details of the welfare programmes to be undertaken by the BJP in the next few months for different sections of the society, Chouhan mocked the Congress saying the opposition was busy with rallies, roadshows and making tall claims. Bengaluru: Jayakumar is an auto driver and a voter in Shanthinagara Assembly seat in central Bengaluru. He claims that local Congress MLA N A Haris son Mohammad Nalapads alleged 'goondagiri' will not have much impact on his chances of winning this time. Speaking to News18, he said, It is true that it became a big issue when that incident happened at UB City. We all know that the son is a bad character. He is in jail. The father has already paid the price for allowing his son to do such things. I think many will still vote for him. Many others in the constituency echo similar sentiments. Kumar, a resident of Richmond Town, said that the BJP has fielded a weak candidate against Haris and it may help him win despite the negative image. Even though the BJP is trying to make the activities of Haris son a big issue in the constituency, it has not been successful so far. BJPs chief ministerial face B S Yeddyurappa himself campaigned in Shanthinagara attacking Haris a week ago. But the public response was mild. The BJP has fielded former deputy mayor of Bengaluru Vasudevamurthy against Haris. Interestingly, a retired IAS officer Renuka Vishwanathan is also taking on Haris as an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate. But both are still struggling to take on Haris well-oiled election machinery. Speaking to News18, Haris said that people vote him based on the public work he has done in the last 10 years and he has already apologised for what his son has done. The situation is no different in most of the constituencies in Bengaluru. Ground reports suggest that almost all big guns from the state capital are likely to hold on to their respective seats this time too. There are 28 Assembly seats in Bengaluru city and the Congress, the BJP and the JDS won 12, 13 and 3 seats respectively in the 2013 Assembly polls. Stalwarts of city politics KJ George, Roshan Baig, Dinesh Gundurao, Zameer Ahmad Khan, R V Devaraj, M Krishnappa, R Ramalingareddy, Krishna Byregowda of the Congress; Sureshkumar, Katta Subramanya Naidu, R Ashoka and Aravind Limbavali of the BJP; and Gopalaiah of the JDS are contesting once again. According to political observers, all of them are looking comfortable in their respective seats and may sail through one more time unless there is a strong BJP wave which has so far been missing. Till a month ago, the BJP was talking about changing its strategy for Bengaluru and making surprise changes to the candidates list. But the final list has the same old names, wth the addition of some new faces who are not really stronger candidates. On the other hand, the Congress has fielded two JDS defectors and they are hopeful of winning their seats on hand symbol. BJP veteran and former minister S Sureshkumar is facing a strong candidate this time. Former Mayor of Bengaluru Padmavathi is taking on the strongman from Rajajinagara in western part of the city. She had lost to him by 10,000 votes in 2008. Former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, who had gone to jail in a land scam case, has been given the BJP ticket from Shivajinagara against Roshan Baig and the seat is witnessing an interesting fight. But Baig is confident of a seventh win. Speaking to News18, he said I have done a lot in my constituency. All castes and religions vote me. There is no contest here. Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy has fielded his daughter Sowmya Reddy against BJP MLA B N Vijayakumar in Jayanagara. An RSS worker Vijayakumar is known as a decent politician in the constituency and has already won twice from here. Former minister and BJP MLA Aravind Limbavali is also facing a tough fight in Mahadevapura seat. Limbavali has won from this reserved seat for the SCs twice and is hopeful of making it to the Vidhana Soudha for the third consecutive term. Both Congress and BJP workers at the local level allege that party MLAs have an understanding and normally dont field strong candidates against each other. A senior Congress worker said, It is an open secret in Bengaluru politics. Many of our top MLAs have a deal with the BJP and vice versa. The BJP wins all three Lok Sabha seats in the city for the same reason. Our own MLAs help them indirectly. BJP chief Amit Shah had earlier warned his party MLAs against having any kind of deals with the Congress. Our MLAs are scared of PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. This time they may not help their friends in the Congress, said a BJP worker from Jayanagara. The BJP is also worried about low voter turnout in the IT city. Bengaluru is notorious for voters disinterest in exercising their right to franchise. In the last 20 years, the voting percentage has remained below 60% in all elections in Bengaluru. Since the voting is on a Saturday, many fear that voting percentage will be less this time too. Bengaluru has close to 90 lakh voters and has seen rise of almost 20 lakh voters since the 2013 Assembly elections. 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.) New Delhi: As it attempts to further expand its political footprint in the north-eastern states, the division in the BJP within a month of registering a historic victory in Tripura has worried the party leadership. Chief Minister Biplab Deb in Delhi this week met some top party leaders to apprise them of the situation the state. Deb was hand-picked by RSS joint general secretary Krishna Gopal two years ahead of the polls to lead the BJP charge against two decades of CPM rule in the state. Gopal has had a decade-long stint in the north-east as pracharak before entering the top echelons in the sangh. The trouble started right after the victory when pracharak turned BJP Tripura in-charge Sunil Deodhar was seen not to be favorably disposed towards Deb. With RSS and BJP leaders persisting with their choice, a compromise of sorts was reached with party appointing Deodhars choice Jinshu Deb Burman as deputy CM. RSS and party was very clear on the CM face. Two years ago Krishna Gopal in a surprise meeting has asked Deb to choose between Delhi and the rough and tumble of Tripura politics. Since Deb had taken up the RSS challenge and worked hard in the state, there was more or less consensus on his name, a senior BJP leader said. Though Deodhars nominee was accommodated as deputy CM at the last moment, the fissures none the less and appeared in the state unit. Deodhar in the last one month has more or less kept himself away from Agartala. But the negative publicity invited by the CM with his statements in the recent past has again opened the lid of a simmering unrest. The Chief Minister, sources say, is upset with some comments criticising him in the social media been liked by people in the rival camp. As it is we are dealing with an establishment well entrenched by the CPM cadre in the last two decades. Any trouble from within is something which is least desired and expected at this point, a source privy with the recent developments during CMs meeting with BJP leaders told News18. Bengaluru: Addressing BJPs election meeting at Gulbarga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress for not making Gulbargas famous son and Congress stalwart M Mallikarjuna Kharge Chief Minister of Karnataka. However, in the same breath he questioned Kharge over his family's wealth alleging that he has amassed it in politics. Minutes later an enraged Kharge hit back at Modi holding him responsible for not according the official post of Leader of the Opposition to him just because he is a Dalit. Dont talk about my party. They have given me a lot. You did not allow me to become Leader of the Opposition just because I am a Dalit. Your concerns for the Dalits is just a hypocrisy. SC and STs are facing violence under your government, Kharge said. He also took a jibe at Modi saying that the PM who wears a Rs10 lakh coat is questioning him about his family assets. He went one step further claiming that RSS idealogy forced Dr B R Ambedkar to quit Hinduism and embrace Buddhism. KPCC president Dr G Parameshwara, himself a Dalit like Kharge, also took on the PM saying that he has stopped attending Parliament not willing face a Dalit Kharge and his speeches. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked Modi to prove his love for the Dalits by declaring a Dalit as BJP's CM candidate. Speaking to media he said, If you really care for the Dalits please declare Dalit leader Govind Karajol as your CM candidate by dropping Yeddyurappa. Dont give us lecture on Dalit welfare. Look at yourself. The Modi government is an anti-SC/ST government. Local Congress leaders argue that Modis newfound love for the Dalits will backfire as he has already angered them by taking many anti-Dalit decisions. Dalit poet and Congress MP L Hanumanthiah said that the BJP had been insulting the Dalits for a long time and Modis words carried little credibility. The ruling Congress has also launched a blistering attack on UP CM Yogi Adityanath who has been campaigning for the BJP in Karnataka. Calling him a communal leader who is trying to divide Karnataka on religious lines, the Congress is talking about the criminal cases he is facing. Siddaramaiah took a jibe at him for campaigning in Karnataka when over 73 people died due to dust storms in UP. The Congress is also questioning Yogi on alleged discrimination against the Dalit MPs in UP. New Delhi: Day after 73 people died in a massive dust storm in his state and he faced a lot of flak from the opposition for not being present in Uttar Pradesh in this moment of crisis, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath currently on an election campaign in Karnataka, is rushing back on Friday night to visit the storm-ravaged Agra. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Thursday took a potshot at Adityanath saying he felt sorry for UP whose chief minister was busy campaigning in Karnataka instead of standing by his state. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah had tweeted. "I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there." Adityanath was earlier scheduled to campaign in poll-bound Karnataka till Saturday noon. The state is due for elections on May 12 and Adityanath was being seen as a star campaigner for BJP who continued to campaign in the state on Friday, a day after the dust storm in UP. Speaking to News18 from Karnataka, Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday, Congress has had a tradition of breaking and dividing. From the partition of the country to the caste and religion based politics that we see today, all of it is a legacy of the Congress. Both Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah are following the same Congress tradition. The BJP believes in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat slogan. We also want a political unification of the country and from that point of view, the Karnataka election is very important to us. Soon, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, too, joined Siddaramaiah, saying Yogi should rather stay in Karnataka forever. Addressed a huge gathering in a public meeting at Muddebihal, Bijapur district, Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/ltWFNF9qxy Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) May 4, 2018 At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there. https://t.co/RwgDrhdn82 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 CM should immediately return to the state and leave Karnataka campaign. People have chosen him to address their woes and not for politics of Karnataka. If even in such conditions he does not come back, then he should build his mutt there forever, SP chief tweeted. The chief minister will arrive in Agra on Friday night and visit the calamity-hit areas on Saturday morning, Principal Secretary Information Avanish Awasthi said. Yogi will later leave for Kanpur to monitor the relief work there and in nearby districts. A high-intensity storm ravaged Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday night, leaving 73 people dead and 91 injured in UP and a total of 124 people dead across several states in north India. Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for 43 deaths and injuries to 51 others. Lucknow: Hours after Siddaramaiah took a jibe at CM Yogi over campaigning in Karnataka despite the devastating dust storm, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav said that if UP CM is not in state in such a condition, then he should build his mutt in Karnataka forever. CM should immediately return to the state and leave Karnataka campaign. People have chosen him to address their woes and not for politics of Karnataka. If even in such conditions he does not come back, then he should build his mutt there forever, SP chief tweeted. CM . , . , . @CMOfficeUP Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 3, 2018 UP Congress Committee also raised questions over chief ministers visit to the poll-bound state at a time when 73 people died in Uttar Pradesh, and the farmers were crying over destroyed crops. BJP government in the state is not bothered about the people of the state anymore, it said in a statement. Earlier on Thursday, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah tweeted, At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon & attend to his work there. 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. 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. Other districts affected were Bijnor, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. San Francisco: Twitter urged its more than 330 million users to change their passwords after a glitch caused some to be stored in readable text on its internal computer system rather than disguised by a process known as "hashing". The social network disclosed the issue in a blog post and series of Tweets on Thursday afternoon, saying it had resolved the problem and an internal investigation had found no indication passwords were stolen or misused by insiders. Still, it urged all users to consider changing their passwords. "We fixed the bug and have no indication of a breach or misuse by anyone," Chief Executive Jack Dorsey said in a Tweet. "As a precaution, consider changing your password on all services where youve used this password." The blog did not say how many passwords were affected. A person familiar with the company's response said the number was "substantial" and that they were exposed for "several months." The disclosure comes as lawmakers and regulators around the world scrutinize the way that companies store and secure consumer data, after a string of security incidents at Equifax Inc, Facebook Inc and Uber Technologies Inc. The European Union is due later this month to start enforcing a strict new privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation, that includes steep fees for violators. Twitter discovered the bug a few weeks ago and has reported it to some regulators, said the person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which investigates companies accused of deceptive practices related to data security, declined comment on the password glitch. The agency settled with Twitter in 2010 over accusations the site had serious lapses in data security that let hackers access private user data on two occasions. The settlement called for audits of Twitter's data security program every other year for 10 years. The glitch was related to Twitter's use of "hashing" and caused passwords to be written on an internal computer log before the scrambling process was completed, the blog said. "We are very sorry this happened," the Twitter blog said. Twitter's share price was down 1 percent in extended trade at $30.35, after gaining 0.4 percent during the session. The company advised users to take precautions to ensure that their accounts are safe, including changing passwords and enabling Twitter's two-factor authentication service to help prevent accounts from being hijacked. Beijing: China and the US on Friday reached a consensus on some trade issues while differences existed on some others as top officials from both the countries wrapped up their two day crucial talks here to end the tariff spat and avert a trade war between the two major trading partners, accrording to a media report. The US delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who is also President Donald Trump's special envoy and Chinese side, led by Vice Premier Liu He, also in charge of the economy and a Politburo member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met on Thursday and Friday, and "agreed to stay in close communication on relevant issues and establish a corresponding work mechanism". A trade spat between the top two economies of the world began last month with Trump imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the US from China, which also retaliated by imposing additional tariffs worth about USD three billion on 128 US products. The two countries have not yet implemented their tariff increases to reach a negotiated settlement. "China and the US reached agreements on some issues in their economic and trade consultations in Beijing from Thursday to Friday. The two sides held candid, efficient and constructive on economic and trade issues of common concern. Both sides recognised that considerable differences still exist on some issues, continued hard work is required for more progress," the state-run Xinhua reported. The two sides agreed that a "sound and stable" China-US trade relationship is crucial for both, and they are committed to resolving relevant economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultation, it said. Both sides had thorough exchange of views on issues, including increasing US exports to China, bilateral service trade, two-way investment, protection of intellectual property rights, as well as resolving tariff and non-tariff issues, reaching consensus in some areas, the report said. The US goods and services trade with China totalled to an estimated USD 648.2 billion in 2016 in which China had a lion's share with about USD 478.9 billion exports. The US exports to China stood at USD 169.3 billion, according to US trade figures. They also agreed to stay in close communication on relevant issues and establish a corresponding work mechanism, Xinhua reported. Earlier in the day, ahead of the talks, Mnuchin told reporters that the US and China were having "very good conversations". The US has given China a "detailed list of asks" and Washington wants China to lower tariffs to match the American level. Hong Kong-based 'South China Morning Post' quoted an official statement as saying that both sides were still "very divided" on some issues and "more work needed to be done". In a separate statement, China's Ministry of Commerce said China also protested against a US ban on Chinese tech giant ZTE buying American components. The US delegation said it would report back to President Donald Trump on the matter, according to the ministry. The Post report quoted a draft framework of US demands which included China to cut the trade deficit by at least USD 200 billion by the end of 2020. Washington also demanded Beijing halt subsidies for industries under the "Made in China 2025" plan, and that China should not resort to retaliatory measures against the US, it said. The US delegation also include Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Assistant to the president for economic policy Larry Kudlow and Peter Navarro, Assistant to the president for trade and manufacturing policy. The US, the world's largest economy, has a trade deficit of almost USD 500 billion with China, the world's second largest economy. On Wednesday night, in the unlikeliest of places the cozy conservative comfort of Sean Hannity's show on Fox News the web of stories constructed by President Donald Trump and those around him to explain a $130,000 hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels came tumbling down. It was in that setting that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is now a legal adviser to Trump, acknowledged that the President had repaid attorney/fixer Michael Cohen the $130,000 that Cohen had directed to Daniels via a shell company just 11 days before the election to ensure she remained silent about an alleged sexual liaison she and Trump had in the mid 2000s. "The President repaid it,'' said Giuliani. And, with those four words, Giuliani turned months and months of explanations and excuses about the Cohen payment on their head. The stories pile one on top of the other so let's break them out starting with Trump. 1. President Trump Trump: No knowledge of Stormy Daniels payment 00:49 Here's the exchange between Trump and reporters on Air Force One last month about this topic. Reporter: Did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?" Trump: No. Reporter: Then why did Michael Cohen make [the payment], if there was no truth to her allegations? Trump: You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael's my attorney, and you'll have to ask Michael." Reporter: Do you know where he got the money to make that payment? Trump: No I don't know. But he did know something! Here's Trump's version of all of this, as conveyed by his tweets Thursday morning: He had Cohen on a monthly retainer to deal with issues that came up. Cohen used that money to pay off Daniels -- entirely without Trump's knowledge. Here are Trump's exact words (or a lawyer's) on Twitter: "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." In a subsequent Washington Post interview, Giuliani said he didn't know when the reimbursements began but said he thought it was "earlier than mid-last year." He argued that what Cohen made the payment within 2016 was his own money. Cohen had complained to friends he was not reimbursed, according to a Wall Street Journal report in March of 2018. So, I suppose you could say Trump didn't have direct knowledge of the $130,000 payment to Daniels because he and Cohen had a you-handle-this-and-don't-get-me-involved relationship. (Such a relationship is "very common among celebrities and people of wealth," according to Trump's tweets.) And, I can buy that Trump then wouldn't know why Cohen made the payment to Daniels "if there was no truth to her allegations." But, there can be no doubt that when Trump said he didn't know where Cohen got the money to make the payment, he was lying, at least in the context of these new tweets. He knew that Cohen was on a monthly retainer to handle matters like this. His personal funds were being used, according to Giuliani, to reimburse Cohen for this and possibly other matters. It's impossible -- short of willingly suspending your rational brain function to conclude Trump had no idea where the money came from. He knew it came from him! 2. Michael Cohen There's a whole lot of problems with Cohen's story about where the money came from in light of last night's revelations by Giuliani. When it was first was reported that Cohen had set up a shell company -- Essential Consultants -- in Delaware to keep the Daniels payment quiet, he released a statement saying this: "In a private transaction in 2016, I used my own personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford," Michael Cohen said in a statement. "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." Then, in March, Cohen said he had taken a home equity line of credit out in order to make the payment to Daniels. He reiterated that he had never been instructed to make the payment by anyone in Trumpworld and had not been reimbursed for it. That's of course not true. While you could make the case that Cohen was using his "own" money to pay off Daniels, we now know he was on retainer given to him by Trump to deal with situations like these. It's the equivalent of someone giving me a big envelope of money to carry to someone else. Sure, the money is sort of "mine" when I possess it but it's not really meant for me -- and it never was. I'm a conduit -- not the final recipient. Here's how Giuliani put it in the Post interview: "Was (President Trump) aware that Michael incurred expenses to help him? Yes. Did he have an arrangement so that Michael knew he'd be reimbursed for it? Yes. Was the President really wise to take it out of personal funds rather than from campaign funds? Thank God he did [or else] he'd get a campaign finance violation they'd try to drum up into a felony or something. The president is personally protected." And the idea that Cohen was not reimbursed by "the Trump organization or the Trump campaign" also hugely strains credulity -- and that's being nice. Donald Trump is a member of the Trump organization. He is also a member of the Trump campaign. Whether or not Trump made these payments from his personal accounts may be a legal loophole but it doesn't change the fact that no reasonable person would separate Donald Trump from either his organization or his campaign. 3. Sarah Sanders On March 7, the White House press secretary was asked about Trump's knowledge (or lack thereof) of the payment to Daniels from Cohen. Here's how she responded: "Yeah, 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." Obviously, that's not right. There was quite clearly "knowledge" of the payment by the president since he was giving Cohen money for this type of purpose and then reimbursed him. I think Sanders is the least culpable of the trio for her role in all of this deception because she was simply repeating what the president of the United States told her when she asked him about the Cohen payment. That's her job. Her job isn't to analyze whether or not and why Trump is/was telling the truth. What's most amazing about all of this is that Giuliani was apparently acting on the orders of Trump in making this bombshell revelation. "You wont see daylight between me and the president," Giuliani told CNN's Dana Bash Thursday."The strategy is to get everything wrapped up and done with this so that it doesn't take on a life of its own." Um, too late. Washington: President Donald Trump on Friday said the date and location have been set for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, building suspense for the unprecedented talks and hinting at progress in freeing three Americans held in North Korea. The White House has said the first meeting between sitting U.S. and North Korean leaders could take place in the coming weeks. Trump is expected to push for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, between North and South Korea and Singapore are among the top choices being considered for the summit. Trump this week expressed a preference for the DMZ but also said Singapore was possible. The Peace House at the DMZ was the venue for a meeting last month between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, was to discuss the summit with his South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong, at the White House on Friday, officials said. Trump, a former reality TV star who likes to build suspense about upcoming presidential news, did not give a date or location for the talks and White House officials did not immediately provide further clarity. The U.S. government is looking into reports that three Americans arrested in recent years in North Korea had recently been relocated from a labor camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, as expectations grow that they will be released before the summit. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that if North Korea were to free the three Americans, "We certainly would see this as a sign of good will" ahead of the Trump-Kim summit. Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, suggested activity was under way involving the captives. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the (U.S.) hostages. I think you're going to see very good things," Trump told reporters. Trump also told reporters on Friday that he was not considering reducing the U.S. military's presence in South Korea as part of the negotiations. "Troops are not on the table," he said before a flight to Dallas, Texas, where he will address the National Rifle Association. But he also said he would eventually like to bring them home. Stem cell donor, Dr Kanmani Kannan shares an emotional moment with recipient Shreemalli Balasooriya from Sri Lanka at AIMS, Kochi Kerala : Dr Kanmani from Kerala has set a record by becoming first female stem cell donor in the country. Despite of knowing about the complications in the process, she signed up for stem cell donation with Datri Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry. She is a medical student and just two days before her graduation ceremony, she approached towards donating her stem cell for a child with whom she has no personal connection or previous communication. Dr Kanmani Kannan hails from a small town, Pachaperumalpatti, located 40 km away from Trichy in Tamil Nadu. Being a medical student, she has full knowledge about the life-risk stem cell transplantation. However, her strong feeling to save a life led her to sign up for stem cell donation with Datri Blood Stem Cell Donors Registry. And, within a very short time, a call came that a recipient has been identified from Sri Lanka . Nothing stopped Kanmanis determination to save the life of a child with whom she has no previous connections. It was on Thursday, she met her recipient in an event held on Amrita Hospital in Kochi. The stem cell recipient is a six-year-old child, Shreemalli Balasooriya from Sri Lanka. She has been diagnosed with Thalassemia at the tender age of 2 months old and had been undergoing blood transfusions every 14 days since then. Her father Jayanth Balasooriya reached a hospital in Bengaluru to provide her with the best treatment to cure her. Sri Lanka did not have a stem cell donor registry and so there were very low chances of finding a matching donor, but the childs parents refused to give up. To the surprise a match was found for her in Kanmani. I have kept the donor card in my wallet ever since I signed the donor papers, Kanmani said. I knew if I am lucky enough to help out someone I might get a call and I did. On the day I signed the papers, I remember most of my classmates were scared. Now, I think the best message I can give them is my own example. I want it to reassure others that nothing will happen even if we make a stem cell donation, said Kanmani, who did her education in Kerala and signed up for the registry at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi. Shreemalli, once the recipient of stem cell, now aims to be a doctor in future. She wants to be a dancer too. I am glad she would be able to do it now. I also urge other people out there and doctors alike to properly understand stem cell donation and to encourage it, said Dr Sunil Bhatt, who operated Shreemalli. Her mother Nilmini Balasooriya, Kanmanis father Dr D Kannan, mother S Thangamani, brother Mani Vignesh, a medical student himself, and guardian Ramnath also attended the meeting of the donor and recipient. Blood Stem Cell transplant is the only hope of life for those suffering from fatal blood disorders such as blood cancer. However, the probability of finding a matching blood stem cell donor is one in 10,000 to one in more than a million. If a match is found, that donor is probably the only person who can save the patient. Kerala has more than 34.8 million people. But, only around 64,326 potential blood stem cell donors are registered with DATRI till date. Representational Image New Delhi : Leading Chinese electronics company, Xiaomi is all set to its newly designed budget smartphone Redmi S2 in a few days to come. A teaser posted on Weibo confirms that Xiaomi will launch its Redmi S2 on May 10. It will be the first model in the company's new Redmi S series. Xiaomi posted a teaser which shows the Redmi S2 rear panel looks alike Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and the Mi 6X. Sources believe that the handset will be exclusively available via Suning.com in China The teaser showed letter 'S' in red and blue paint. Further, the Redmi S2 was also marked with high-resolution product shots at the opening of a Mi Store in Czech Republic. In addition, the upcoming Redmi S2 has been spotted on certification website TENAA once again. Xiaomi Redmi S2 smartphone features and specifications The new listings show two variants of the handset, with model numbers M1803E6T and M1803E6C and identical hardware. Listing confirms that the smartphone will run Android 8.1 Oreo-based software and feature a 5.99-inch HD+ (720x1440 pixel) display and octa-core processor. It will come in 2GB, 3GB and 4GB RAM variants, and have 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage options, all with support for up to 256GB microSD cards. Users will experience dual rear camera setup in vertical alignment featuring a 12-megapixel primary sensor and 5-megapixel secondary sensor, as well as a 16-megapixel selfie camera. Sensor onboard include gravity sensor, distance sensor, light sensor, and fingerprint recognition. It will come in black, rose gold, gold, white, blue, red, pink, grey, and silver colour options. The handset will have dimensions of 160.7377.268.1mm, with weigh 170 grams and will be a 3000mAh battery. Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire [] Contributed NEW HAVEN Duwayne Burnside, son of the late Mississippi hill country blues great R.L. Burnside, will perform a rare show on the intimate stage at Cafe Nine in New Haven on May 12. Burnside, a native of Senatobia, Mississippi who spent years with the late Junior Kimbrough and the Soul Blues Boys and is also known for his more modern collaboration with the North Mississippi All Stars has been playing guitar since he was old enough to hold one. In the baptismal service in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church, the candidate for baptism, as well as parishioners and clergy, take a vow to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to strive for justice and peace respecting the dignity of every human being. Reflecting on that vow, I believe that we, as Christians around the world, did a poor job of keeping that baptismal vow when Pope Alexander VI issued his Papal Bull revealing the Doctrine of Discovery - on May 4, 1493. One year following the arrival of Christopher Columbus on the shores of the Americas, the popes Doctrine of Discovery stated that any land not inhabited by Christians was available to be discovered, claimed and exploited by Christian rulers. In it, the Church declared that the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be exalted and be everywhere increased and spread. This Doctrine of Discovery became the basis of all European claims in the Americas, as well as the foundation for the United States western expansion. In 1823, Chief Justice John Marshall shared the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision, holding that the principle of discovery gave European nations an absolute right to New World lands. In other words, American Indians were left with only a right of occupancy, which could be later abolished. Knowing this helped me understand why our ancestors so wrongly believed we had a right to disrespect and inflict atrocities on both African-American and indigenous peoples across the United States and Canada. The church had taught us that we were superior, so we ignored scripture texts that told us we are all created equal. In 2011, the former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, issued a pastoral letter repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, calling especially on Americans of European descent to learn more about the harm they had caused, to begin the work of healing. I took her advice and was horrified by what I learned. For instance, in 1494 when Christopher Columbus landed on the island we now call Jamaica, he and his soldiers wiped out an entire nation of people, the Arawaks. And that was just the beginning. Jefferts Schori wrote: Colonists, settlers, and homesteaders benefited enormously from the availability of free land, and their descendants continue to benefit to this day. That land was taken by force from peoples who had dwelt on it from time immemorial - it was their promised land. She continued, The nations from which the settlers came, and the new nations which resulted in the Americas, sought to impose another culture and way of life on the peoples they encountered. Attempting to remake the land and peoples they found in their own image was a profound act of idolatry. As I read more about it, I learned how indigenous children were kidnapped and sent to church-sponsored boarding schools where they were supposed to learn the ways of European-Americans, but instead they were virtually enslaved and often abused. If they became ill, they might be sent back to their tribe to die. Did you know that in Colonial America, the murder of indigenous people was completely legal? Hunters were paid $100 for each scalp they took to the governments of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Other tribes received gifts from the United States government of blankets infused with small pox. Our national policy continued throughout the 19th Century. In 1867, General William T. Sherman stated, We must act with vindictive earnestness against the Sioux (Lakota) even to their extermination; men, women and children. When Columbus arrived, an estimated 10 million human beings lived in the United States. By 1900, after one of the most massive and longest-lasting genocide campaigns in earths history, barely 237,000 people were left alive. As Jefferts Schori wrote, Repentance and amendment of life are the answer, and God asks us all - this Church, our partners and neighbors, and the nations which were founded under the Doctrine of Discovery - to the challenging work of reconciliation. Our present Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, continues to work for reconciliation and encourages everyone to learn more about the Doctrine of Discovery. The Social Justice Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut is forming a task force to educate ourselves as a first step in seeking reconciliation with our brothers and sisters. I hope and pray that working together we will become a reconciled people, truly equal as God intended. The Rev. Carolyn Legg is deacon of St. James Episcopal Church, 25 West Street, Danbury, CT 06801. She can be reached at sealeg@sbcglobal.net or 203-788-3638. RIDGEFIELD Robb and Stephanie Heering might have moved to North Street only a week ago, but their home has already become the talk of the town, thanks to one unique member of the family an 8-foot, 1,800-pound camel. The 3-year-old camel, named Sheik king in Arabic traveled with the Heerings last Friday from their previous home in Florida. Once he was set up in his paddock in the front yard, it didnt take long for people to notice him, the Heerings said. Last Saturday we had well over 100, 150 people here, just to say hi, Robb said. It became the news of the town. Now it isnt uncommon to hear children in cars driving by yelling, Hi, Sheik! as they pass, Stephanie Heering said; one woman even says, Good morning, Sheik! as she drives by each day about 10 a.m. Its very nice to hear, Stephanie said. Its great how people have accepted him. The Heerings, who grew up in Connecticut, hope that people who stop by not only get to know Sheik, but learn about camels, too. The couple rescued Sheik from a petting zoo at a fair when he was about 2 months old. Since then they have founded a nonprofit, International Camel Rescue, and Camel Life, a company that sells products made with camel milk from farms they work with in Missouri and Colorado. Robb said the goal of the nonprofit is to educate people about the way camels are mistreated in countries around the world. When he found Sheik at the petting zoo, Robb said, he had been separated from his mother, and the staff was giving him sedatives so he would stay within reach of visitors near the front of the pen. Walking away, I was thinking, That sounds like animal abuse, Robb said. He ended up buying Sheik from the fair and began researching how to care for him. But he soon found that few veterinarians in the United States had particular knowledge about camels, so he connected with a group of vets from a camel farm in the United Arab Emirates. When he flew to visit the vets, he learned that their 6,000-camel farm was actually a dairy, which got him thinking. My entrepreneurial wheels started turning, he said. I thought there might be a way to turn my newfound passion for camels into a business of sorts. Through Camel Life, the Heerings now sell powdered or liquid camel milk and a line of bath products, lip balm, whey protein powder and other items made with the milk. The Heerings said they cannot make medical claims about their products, but hear from customers the fantastic health benefits camel milk can offer. We didnt start this to make a product to go make money, but then when I found out camel milk was so good and can be used in many different products...I thought, Maybe we can do some good, Robb said. The couple said they hope customers see their products as all-natural alternatives to conventional products and, in the process, learn that camels are much more than pests, as they are viewed in some parts of the world. As for Sheik, the Heerings will spend the foreseeable future finishing the barn they built for him and enlarging his paddock so he can run. He will likely grow two more feet by the time he matures at age 5, the Heerings said. They have set up visiting hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays for people who would like to meet him. Right now, they dont plan on bringing other camels to live with him, but said Sheik should have no problem making friends. We knew he wasnt going to be in a herd, so when he was little we tried to socialize him, Robb said. He loves people. Even if were up in the house and he sees a car stop by, hell stick his head out the window. aquinn@newstimes.com The video is disturbing, and if it is all there was to this story, it would have been bad enough. Recorded by a tourist in a South African safari park last weekend, the footage shows a lion drag a man from a tour truck - his neck in its jaws. The animal drags the man behind a bush while one onlooker sobs hysterically and another pleads for a rifle. The footage ends as the sound of gunshots and screaming cut across the 120-acre Marakele Predator Center. Those images, however, do not explain the sad context of the Saturday attack. The man dragged from the truck was the park's owner, Michael Hodge, who had moved to South Africa with his family because he loved lions so much, local news outlets reported. The 72-year-old had bottle-raised the lion who attacked him and cared for it all his life, a full decade. Hodge now lies in a hospital bed, traumatized, and may never know why Shamba turned on him. The lion Hodge loved was shot dead to save his life. South Africa has in recent years become somewhat notorious for its lion hunts, in which rich tourists can pay thousands of dollars to kill drugged animals that have no chance to flee. The Marakele Predator Center was nothing like that. No hunting was allowed, News 24 reported. Instead, visitors could camp a few miles from the town of Thabazimbi, in scrubland backdropped by South Africa's northern mountain ranges, among lions, Bengal tigers, meerkats, mongooses and marmoset monkeys. "Your bed will truly vibrate with the lions roar!" the center's website informed prospective volunteers. Hodge had once been a trader in England, and his wife a hairdresser and shop owner, the Manila Bulletin wrote in a travel article. The couple and their two children moved to South Africa in late 1990s, the Bulletin wrote, to make a business of Hodge's dream of living among lions. "His first lion, Nina, who now lives opposite the tigress sisters, was queen of his household until she grew too big," the Bulletin wrote. "Nina slept in Mike's bed, washing his face and giving him a spit-bath at 3 a.m." He bottle-fed a baby Shamba in 2008, CBS News reported, two years before the Marakele center opened for business. In a photo for the center, he and his wife, Chrissy, pose grinning - she snuggling a cub, Michael with a monkey wrapped around his neck. When the Bulletin's travel reporter visited in 2013, she wrote, "I could see nothing but endless tall grass and dry scrub." She heard Shamba and the other golden lions roar in the distance, and kissed a half-ton tiger through a gap in the electrified fence. Visitors traveled inside the gates in what the Hodges called the "Lion Mobile," she wrote. "They tied dead chickens to a cage on wheels, where they locked in visitors, before driving inside the enclosure Nina shares with their two hand-raised males, Freddie and Shamba." The tourists then gaped as lions climbed all over the truck, wild animals feeding just inches from their cameras. It was at the end of a similar excursion inside the gates on Saturday, News 24 reported, that something went terribly wrong. When the tourist began recording, Shamba was standing in the grass a few yards from the Lion Mobile. A man on the other side of a fence, outside the gates, appeared to be calling to the lion and throwing bait into the grass to lead him away from the truck. A park employee told CBS News this was standard procedure: An employee would lure the lions away from the vehicle, and Hodge would then open the gate and drive the tourists out of the enclosure. "Mike does this regularly," a family spokeswoman told News 24. "Shamba mysteriously turned around on Saturday." In the video, the lion is seen sniffing at the grass, as if considering something, then continuing to walk away from the truck. A friend of Hodge's told the Sun a strange smell seemed to be upsetting the lions that day. "Shamba, come on," the man outside the fence called, before throwing another piece of bait onto the grass. "Come on," he said, and the shutter of a camera clicked. When Shamba walked many yards into the distance, Hodge got out of the truck and walked into the video frame. He, too, considered an object in the grass, kicked it, then turned back toward the truck. Then he started to run. It took Shamba just three seconds to close the distance between them. Hodge nearly made it back inside the vehicle's cab, but the lion pulled him to the ground, clamped his jaws down near Hodge's neck and dragged him back into the enclosure, as if he weighed nothing. Inside the cage on the back of the truck, people screamed and yelled. "Help! Help! Help!" "Shamba! Shamba! Shamba!" "Get a gun." The lion briefly dropped his prey in the grass and backed off a few feet as Hodge writhed there. Then Shamba grabbed him again and pulled Hodge behind a bush, out of the camera frame. "Shoot!" a man shouted, followed by a gunshot, and soon a second and third, and more. Nothing stirred behind the bush. A woman who had been pleading for someone to help Hodge began to sob. "Get a rifle," a man said. "Somebody get a rifle, just in case." The video went on for another minute or so, until a male lion - it is unclear whether it was Shamba or another animal - wandered into the frame and looked at the cage full of terrified people and then at the men who still called to Shamba from outside the fence. The lion stood passively in the grass, as if unsure what to do. "Please, somebody help him," a woman said. "Is anybody getting a rifle?" a man said. While the video does not show it, News 24 reported that one of the employees outside the fence shot and killed the lion to save Hodge's life. His jaw had been broken and his neck gashed in several places, but Hodge was recovering in a hospital Wednesday and apparently doing well. In a photo published by the Sun, he is grinning, and bloody bandages cover his neck. Despite the pose, his family told News 24, Hodge remained traumatized by the sudden aggression and subsequent death of the lion he had once fed from a bottle. "I think he is trying to put up a brave face," family spokeswoman Bernadette Maguire told the media outlet, "but he is really battling to come to terms." --- https://youtu.be/whz9bafVvFE The race to replace U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty gained steam this week, with four new candidates officially declaring for the outgoing Democrats 5th U.S. House District seat. Among the new faces are two Democrats and two Republicans and at least one more addition is likely next week. The Democrats roster now includes New Britain Alderman Manny Sanchez, who announced Monday, and Waterbury teacher Jahana Hayes, who announced Wednesday. The middle of the week also brought on Republicans Rich Dupont of Watertown and John Pistone, a Brookfield conservative who challenged Esty as a write-in candidate in 2016 after not receiving his partys nomination. Still expected is an announcement by two-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Curry, who has said he will make it official on Monday. The additions set up a five-way race in each party for now, at least heading into the Republican nominating convention next week and the Democratic nominating convention the following week. Hayes, named national teacher of the year in 2016, hosted a campaign launch party Friday night in Waterbury. She and Curry both appeared at an event for candidates earlier this week in Waterbury. Both are pursuing very different firsts: Hayes to be the first black Democrat nominated to run for Congress in Connecticut and Curry for the longest period between campaigns for the same seat in Congress. Curry, 66, is a long-time Democratic elected official and operative who now lives in Farmington. The former state senator ran for a previous iteration of the 5th District in 1982 and was twice nominated for governor by the Democrats in 1994 and 2002, losing both races to former Gov. John Rowland. He also served as counselor to President Bill Clinton in the mid-1990s. The Democratic field already includes former Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman and Rabbi Shaul Praver, who lives outside the district, in Fairfield, but led a Newtown synagogue for years. All 10 candidates from both parties are vying to replace Esty, who decided in April not to seek re-election to a fourth term amid criticism of her handling of harassment accusations against her former chief of staff. The decision led to an unexpected open seat that attracted interest from a slew of current and former politicians, but several would-be contenders have shied away from the race recently. Sandy Hook Promise co-founders Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden announced late last week they would not seek the seat. Middletown Mayor Dan Drew, who dropped out of the governors race in January, followed suit on Tuesday. Other Republicans running for the seat include former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos, Southbury psychologist Ruby ONeill, New Britain IT worker Craig Diangelo and Liz Peterson of Simsbury. A picture may be worth a thousand words. As for a video? Try 11.2 million. Thats how many times the arrest of Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson has been viewed, at time of writing. On April 12, the two 23-year-old black men were arrested while waiting in a Philadelphia Starbucks for a business meeting about a real estate project. In agreeing not to file a lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia, Nelson and Robinson approached city officials with an idea that has now come to fruition: The two will settle for a symbolic $1 each while the city invests $200,000 in supporting young entrepreneurs. That $200,000 will fund a pilot program for public high school students who are interested in entrepreneurship to develop relevant skills. The details of the program are still being worked out, but Mr. Robinson and Mr. Nelson will serve on the committee to be established to develop the grant criteria, review grant applications, and award the grant, says Mike Dunn, deputy communications director for the city of Philadelphia. "Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson approached the City and invited us to partner with them in an attempt to make something positive come of this, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney says in a statement to Entrepreneur. This agreement is the result of those conversations, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of this effort in the coming months and years. On April 12, a Starbucks employee called the police after Nelson and Robinson asked to use the restroom before having made a purchase, and Nelson and Robinson were subsequently taken away by police. Protests and a #BoycottStarbucks campaign followed. Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson publicly denounced the incident and met with the two men and announced that Starbucks would close its more than 8,000 U.S. store locations for anti-bias training on May 29. I sat in front of them, and I apologized personally for what happened -- they didnt deserve this, Johnson says in a video statement. We had a very emotional and a very constructive conversation. That conversation would later lead to a confidential financial settlement with Starbucks, as well as an offer to fund the completion of the two mens undergraduate degrees via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. Entrepreneur reached out to the attorney representing Nelson and Robinson and will update this story if we hear back. Related: The 2 Men Wrongfully Arrested at Starbucks Negotiate for a $200,000 Program to Support Young Entrepreneurs Global Businesses Dig deep into Indian Culture for Growth Q&A with Nick Thomson, CEO of Viva Network Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved SEYMOUR One of the best things about being a teacher for Angel McAuliffe is just how honest kids can be. And her love of kids and teaching recently landed the New Hampshire native the school districts Teacher of the Year honor. It is such an honor to be Teacher of the Year and to have the opportunity to teach the students of Seymour, said McAuliffe. Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson surprised McAuliffe earlier this week with a beautiful bouquet of flowers at her Bungay School classroom, where McAuliffe has been teaching second grade there since 2004. Angel has worked very hard and is deserving of this recognition, said Wilson. As we know, a teachers job is to instill a love of learning and to teach their students in order to make them better individuals. Angel has always performed this duty with complete dedication and as a result of all of her hard work she has been chosen to represent Seymour this year. Wilson added that McAuliffe has tirelessly worked to make sure all of her students do their best to succeed. McAuliffe, 37, graduated from Quinnipiac University and ended up staying in Connecticut after graduation because she landed her first teaching job at Bungay. She said teaching the younger students is rewarding every single day. I have always loved kids, she said. They are so honest. I couldn't imagine not working with them every day. McAulifffe said when her students found out that shed been named top teacher, they were pretty pleased. My students and the entire school are beyond excited about me getting Teacher of the Year, she said. I have received so many kind emails filled with support and kind words. One of my students said, I'm so proud of you It was adorable. McAuliffe works hard to make sure shes doing new and exciting things to keep the kids in her classroom engaged. One activity in particular happens every Friday. One of my students' favorite activities is Flashlight Friday, she said. On Fridays, we curl up around the classroom with a good book. We turn off the lights and turn on our flashlights to read. It's such a simple thing to do but it makes reading feel fresh and new. And like many teachers, McAuliffe said the greatest reward of the job is knowing she has made a difference in her students lives. There are so many amazing things about my job, said McAuliffe. I get to influence the lives of students, I get to show them how amazing it is to try something hard and succeed, I get to see their face when it finally clicks and I get to be a part of their lives. McAuliffe was nominated by a Bungay parent for the district honor, and completed a comprehensive portfolio and interview process before a panel of 12 people, who ultimately chose McAuliffe as top teacher, Wilson said. Wilson said McAuliffe is now in the running for the annual State Teacher of the Year honor. jean.sos@snet.net. NEW HAVEN The length of his official title gives a hint of the impact that Bruce Alexander has had on Yale University and his adopted city of New Haven. Alexander, who turns 75 this month, will retire in June after 20 years as vice president and director of the Office of New Haven and State Affairs and Campus Development. Since returning to his alma mater he graduated in 1965 Alexander has been the guiding force behind initiatives that have aided residents of Greater New Haven financially and boosted the citys economy. In a remarkable twenty years of service to this university, Bruce has played a major role in the revitalization of New Haven, helped shape and steward our campus, and built valuable partnerships with local and state communities, Yale President Peter Salovey wrote to the Yale community in announcing Alexanders retirement. He has worked collaboratively with partners in local and state government, as well as community leaders and organizations, to bring jobs, resources, and greater prosperity to the city of New Haven, Salovey wrote. Thanks to Bruces leadership, Yale and New Haven are enjoying the benefits of careful planning and thoughtful investments in our community and its people. Among the initiatives in which Alexander has played a role are New Haven Promise, which gives scholarships to city students; a pledge by Yale to hire 1,000 New Haven residents by 2019 as part of New Haven Works; the expansion of Yale College, with two new residential colleges opening this year, adding 400 undergraduates to the student body; bringing in national brands, including Apple and L.L. Bean, to anchor the downtown retail scene; and the purchase of the former Bayer property in West Haven and Orange, turning the 136-acre West Campus into a hub of scientific research, as well as a home for the Yale School of Nursing. What weve tried to do over the last several decades is create partnerships, Alexander said Friday. Partnerships with the city, with the Yale unions, with the neighbors around the university partnerships that hopefully benefited everyone. Yale this year made more than $8.7 million in voluntary payments to the city to account for the tax-exempt status of its campus, for a total of $116 million since 1991, according to Yale spokeswoman Karen Peart. Among other initiatives have been improvements in the Dixwell neighborhood, expanding Scantlebury Park and building the Rose Center, which houses the Yale Police Department and the Dixwell-Yale Community Learning Center, which includes a computer facility [that] Yale students and neighborhood kids use and its also used by New Haven Reads, Alexander said. New Haven Reads, where city children gain in literacy and a love of books, is a more personal legacy for Alexander. His late wife, Christine Alexander, founded the organization in 2001 and it now more than 350 volunteers serve more than 500 children in three locations. Bruce Alexander has been heavily involved in the organization as well. On April 22, the corner of Bristol and Ashmun streets, where the original New Haven Reads is located, was named for Christine Alexander, who died of cancer in 2011. We both loved being in the neighborhoods, Bruce Alexander said. Chris and I had friends in Dixwell and Newhallville. My grandfather was an Italian immigrant. I loved being in Wooster Square for that reason. Alexander, who will continue at Yale on a part-time basis, said it was important to him that Yale was listening and making sure the concerns of our neighbors were heard whenever the university made a decision that would affect the community. I respect our neighbors and I care about what they think of Yale, he said. These community connections were very important to me and I enjoyed them all. Yale has also enlarged its presence near the Dixwell neighborhood with the building of Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin colleges, which connect Science Hill and Science Park. Stabilizing the citys economy To Alexander, bringing in retail stores to its properties, concentrated on Broadway and Chapel Street, will help the city weather the economic difficulties the state faces major deficits and cuts aid to municipalities. Yale is one of the citys largest taxpayers, based on its non-educational properties. While Yale students, faculty and staff spend thousands of dollars downtown, students leave town for five months of the year, Alexander said. That means that those local tenants were struggling to succeed. Seeding in major anchors such as Apple and the soon-to-open L.L. Bean has a very, very positive effect in supporting our majority of local merchants. There are scores, if not hundreds of properties in the city of New Haven beyond The Shops at Yale, so there is plenty of opportunity for all kinds of merchants at all price points to thrive in our community if they serve their customers well. Fulfilling promises Will Clark, chief operating officer of the New Haven Public Schools, said Alexander shares credit for New Haven Promise with former Superintendent of Schools Reginald Mayo and former Mayor John DeStefano Jr. but said Bruce was clearly engaged with that Bruce was certainly at the table and got the funding for that. Yale is a cornerstone partner along with the Community Foundation [for Greater New Haven]. New Haven Promise has granted scholarships to 201 city students since 2014 to attend a public state college or university. Alexander said that while we were all involved in creating this, including [former Yale President] Rick Levin, this is something that Peter [Salovey] gives a lot of personal attention to through his chairmanship of the board. A strong school system is essential to the socioeconomic mix that creates a healthy city and we dont want people leaving New Haven for the suburbs in order to find a school that satisfies them, Alexander said. Promise is one of the important tools by which New Haven is strengthening the New Haven school system. The Yale Homebuyer Program, which began before Levin hired Alexander to launch the Office of New Haven and State Affairs in 1998, has expanded into most of the city, helping subsidize mortgages for Yale employees 1,221 so far. Alexander, who lives in the East Rock neighborhood, returned to Yale after retiring in 1996 from the Rouse Co., where he helped create Harborplace in Baltimore and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, bolstering the economies and tourism of those cities. Launching Alexanders office was the signal of a commitment by the university to the city and to the state, he said. Up to that point in its history it had not thought of itself in those terms, that they could focus in a very specific, thoughtful approach and that was why the position was created. Yale was an institution that helped educate me, so it had personal meaning for me, he said. I was a financial aid student here, so it was important on a personal level to come back and do that. Michael Morand, now communications director for the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, helped Alexander launch the Office of New Haven and State Affairs in 1998. He said of Alexander, Some people get stuck in the weeds; some get lost in the clouds. Bruce is a rare leader who can sweat the details and keep the big picture in mind at all times. The difference he has made in building a stronger New Haven is both extensive and lasting. Mayor Toni Harp said in an email that Alexanders longstanding presence and steady hand helped steer the city onto its present course, which is characterized by productive town-gown relations and a vibrant, growing, local economy. The city is better for Bruces commitment to these goals. Bruce Alexanders New Haven years reflect the vision, innovation, and follow-though of an effective community leader on behalf of all city residents, I wish him good health and contentment as his next chapter unfolds. Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Season 2, Episode 10, FUBU In the present day, Al and Earn have come to a crossroads. Als ready to level up in his career and Earn is little more than dead weight. FUBU offers the first substantial glimpse into their past, revealing that Al has a decades-old history of carrying his cousin. This week, were flashing back to the late 90s, where a teenage Earn is stuck shopping with his mother. As any bored kid would do, he wanders off to explore something more interesting than down market home decor (though hes a little long in the tooth for playfully plowing through the racks the way he does). He cant believe his luck when he stumbles upon a neon yellow FUBU jersey, a rare hip-hop fashion find amid the stores non-designer dreck. The next morning, Earns so eager to show off his newly-purchased status symbol that hes wide-eyed and alert before his alarm clock even sounds. He grins all the way to the school bus stop, no doubt triggering instant-onset nostalgia for anyone who ever cherished that adolescent fashion first be it a piece of real jewelry, a pair of de rigueur sneakers or a designer purse. Season 10, Episode 7 The House of Deleganzas is now in session (gavel smash). Last week, the progress was separated from the congress. This week, our winnowed minnows headed into the primaries and began to caucus. The first issue to be brought to the floor was campaign financing. Monique Heart, her dress held up by packing tape, again blamed her failure to deliver a challenge-winning look on her lack of funds. This does cast sunshine on an important deliberation in the drag world with new money pouring in to select drag super PACs, should there be reform? Monet X Change raised the point that she, too, is not wealthy, yet she manages to turn out a look. But, does she? She was almost eliminated twice, owing to her cheap-looking pieces. The case remains open, but it is rather clear that when it comes to the depth of their pockets, these citizens are not united. The next issue was education. Fortunately, despite our nations proposed budget slashes, the library remains open, and the annual Reading Is Fundamental mini-challenge went on. The dark horse candidate Kameron Michaels continued her campaign of surprise with delightful reads of Eureka and Monet. (I would say dont sleep on Kameron, but that is all anyone with a pulse wants to do.) Several queens ribbed The Vixen, and she reacted about as good-naturedly as a similarly humorless woman reacted to similarly humorous reads at a televised dinner held within the last seven days. Monet packed it up with a prime Amazon joke at Asia OHaras expense. Her delivery is always guaranteed to be direct and lightning-quick. Keep tracking her. (Can you tell that I am shipping her hard? O.K., O.K., Ill stop.) BOULDER, Colo. Chuck Plunkett said he knew that he was risking his job as the editorial page editor of The Denver Post when he wrote an impassioned editorial last month blasting the newspapers hedge-fund owners as vulture capitalists who had hobbled Colorados largest newspaper with deep layoffs and cost-cutting. On Thursday, Mr. Plunkett resigned after he said an executive who oversees the newspaper refused to run another sharp-edged editorial Mr. Plunkett had written for this Sundays newspaper. Mr. Plunkett said the editorial included new criticism of Alden Global Capital, the New York hedge fund that runs The Post and other newspapers through a subsidiary called Digital First Media. What they were asking was to be quiet, Mr. Plunkett said in an interview. For me to just sit quietly by would be hypocritical. Mr. Plunkett said his editorial had discussed how Alden continued to cut newsroom jobs despite making significant profits, its efforts to keep articles about newsroom turmoil out of its own newspapers and the firing of the editorial page editor of The Boulder Daily Camera, another Alden-owned paper in Colorado. Dave Krieger, the editor in Boulder, was fired last month after he self-published an editorial that excoriated Aldens management. There is no friendlier territory on television for Trump supporters than Sean Hannitys nightly hour on Fox News, where President Trump is forever the victim of a witch hunt and the liberal media is perennially bent on his destruction. That safe-space bubble popped in dramatic, headline-making fashion on Wednesday night, when Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York mayor and current member of Mr. Trumps legal team, casually confirmed to the startled host that the president had personally repaid his lawyer the money he had laid out to make his problem with a pornographic actress go away. Oh, Mr. Hannity replied, his usual bombast briefly escaping him. I didnt know he did? After years of trying, two investors have reached a deal to buy a majority share of the historic Plaza Hotel for $600 million, a top executive for the seller, the Sahara Group, confirmed. The buyers are Shahal Khan, founder of the Dubai-based family office White City Ventures, and Kamran Hakim of the Hakim Organization, a major New York City landlord. The deal is scheduled to close on June 25. Sandeep Wadhwa, head of corporate finance at the Sahara Group, which owns a 70 percent stake in the hotel, and Sant Singh Chatwal, a hotelier who owns the other 5 percent being sold, confirmed the deal. Both men declined to comment further, citing confidentiality agreements. Opened in 1907, the Plaza is a city landmark and the only hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Home of the literary troublemaker Eloise, famous for pouring water down the mail chute, the hotel has been featured in countless movies, from North by Northwest to Home Alone 2, and was at one time owned by Donald J. Trump, who lost it in a bankruptcy. In 2005, it was largely converted into luxury condominiums, though a smaller hotel component and restaurants, including the Palm Court and the underground food hall, remain. The second task would be to ensure economic security for all. This would involve raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, providing universal basic income and having the federal government provide a paying job to all who want one. I would disagree with this agenda on pragmatic policy grounds, but at least it would be humane. Its a positive, universalist agenda that aims at social solidarity and national cohesion were all in this together. It would be, as Sheri Berman writes in Dissent, enchanted with a radical idealism. Nonetheless, I dont think this is the leftism we will wind up with. Tribalism is in the air, on the left as well as on the right. It is based on a scarcity mentality, the idea that life is a zero-sum war between us and them. It emphasizes division and conflict, not solidarity and cohesion. It draws out the authoritarian tendencies in any movement. On the right, tribalism brings us the ethnic authoritarianism of Donald Trump. On the left, it seems likely to bring us the economic authoritarianism of a North American version of Hugo Chavez. You can see authoritarianism entering the left through two avenues. The first is nationalism. Not long ago, most of the American left tended to think transnationally partly because problems like climate change are global, partly because its hard to regulate a global economy nation by nation, partly because progressives used to be psychologically averse to nationalism. But national sovereignty is not withering away. Left-wing hostility toward European Union-type multilateral organizations is at record highs. Now a lot of progressive economic thinking is nakedly nationalistic. Bernie Sanders in 2015 derided a more open immigration policy as a Koch brothers proposal. Its the old xenophobia us or them, screw or be screwed. On trade, the left-wing populists sound like Trump. The second stream fueling economic authoritarianism is identity politics. It used to be that big political divides were defined by economic interests; now, the cultural dog wags the economic tail. Identity politics defines the core political divides. When many progressives talk about economics these days, they take the habits of mind they developed when talking about identity groups and apply them to economic groups. President Trump, his aides and Republicans in Congress tried their best last year to mislead the public about legislation that would cripple the Affordable Care Act and cut taxes for corporations while doing little to help workers. Now, a few of these Republicans have come clean at least momentarily. Marco Rubio, the senator from Florida and former presidential candidate, told The Economist recently that the big corporate tax cut he voted for late last year was passed under the false pretense that businesses would use their tax windfall on their employees. As Mr. Rubio accurately said in the interview, Theres no evidence whatsoever that the moneys been massively poured back into the American worker. Mr. Rubio later walked back his assessment of the tax bill, writing in National Review that he thinks it has been good for Americans. But it was refreshing to see him clearly acknowledge, even once, what many economists and voters have long known. Sure enough, what we have seen so far is that companies are buying back stock which benefits a small group of well-heeled investors while giving their workers modest bonuses at best. Then theres Tom Price, Mr. Trumps first health and human services secretary, who was ousted from the administration for blowing tax dollars on private plane trips. Last year he said, contrary to available evidence, that the provision in the health care act that requires people to be insured was driving up the cost of health insurance. NATIONAL An article on Thursday about the former lobbyist Matthew Freedman misstated the title of Kevin Chmielewski before he was removed from his position at the Environmental Protection Agency this year. He was deputy chief of staff, not chief of staff. An article on Wednesday about protests over austerity measures in Puerto Rico misidentified the party that ratified the tuition increase at the University of Puerto Rico. The university ratified the increase, not the federal board that oversees Puerto Ricos finances. An article on Wednesday about the disproportionately small amount of hurricane aid Puerto Rico has received from the Department of Education described imprecisely how New York University used hurricane relief funds from the Department of Education. N.Y.U. was given funds to defray the costs of Puerto Rican students it had enrolled at the university, not to enroll Puerto Rican students temporarily. OPINION An editorial on Wednesday about anti-Semitic comments by the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, misidentified the signers of the Oslo Accords in 1993. They were Mr. Abbas, then the foreign policy aide for the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Shimon Peres, the foreign minister of Israel. The Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel attended the ceremony but did not sign the pact. WASHINGTON President Trumps new legal team made a chaotic debut as Rudolph W. Giuliani, who was tapped recently to be one of the presidents lawyers, potentially exposed his client to legal and political danger by publicly revealing the existence of secret payments to Michael D. Cohen, the presidents personal lawyer. After he moved into the White House, the president began paying Mr. Cohen $35,000 a month, Mr. Giuliani said, in part as reimbursement for a $130,000 payment that Mr. Cohen made to a pornographic film actress to keep her from going public about an affair she said she had with Mr. Trump. The president confirmed he made payments to Mr. Cohen in a series of Twitter posts on Thursday morning. The explosive revelation, which Mr. Giuliani said was intended to prove that Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen violated no campaign finance laws, prompted frustration and disbelief among the presidents other legal and political advisers, some of whom said they feared the gambit could backfire. Legally, the failure to disclose the payments could be a violation of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which requires that federal officials, including Mr. Trump, report any liabilities of more than $10,000 during the preceding year. Mr. Trumps last disclosure report, which he signed and filed in June, mentions no debt to Mr. Cohen. The departments sprawling network of prosecutorial offices and other outposts employ more than 115,000 staff members. The different sections also have different reputations concerning how they treat employees. There should not be discretion among components in how each applies a directive, said Cathy Harris, an employment lawyer at Kator, Parks, Weiser & Harris. You could have one component say it will wait 30 days after a complaint before investigating it, whereas another could launch an investigation within a business day. What we need here is top-down leadership. Over the past five years, the inspector general has issued at least four reports detailing episodes of harassment, assault and sexual misconduct at the department, including the solicitation of prostitutes and employees asking colleagues to watch pornography. In the most recent report, issued in May, Mr. Horowitz described instructors who had slept with trainees and an employee who had stalked a colleague. Managers were inconsistent in how they punished wrongdoers, he said, and in whether they enforced those penalties. The deputy attorney general and his office have been slow to respond. Mr. Horowitz gave the department 60 days after that report was released to indicate how it would address his concerns. Mr. Rosenstein issued the policies eight months after that deadline. Soon after the May report, a group of Justice Department employees asked to meet with the deputy attorney generals office, according to employees briefed on those requests. In a letter written in August, they sought to be part of any next steps. Officials responded to that letter in December. It may prove to be the most-talked-about secret payment in American political history the $130,000 that President Trumps lawyer Michael D. Cohen paid to the pornographic film actress Stephanie Clifford to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Mr. Trump before he became president. That payment to Ms. Clifford, known professionally as Stormy Daniels, was a mere 0.005 percent of the $2.4 billion spent on the 2016 election. But it could have an outsize impact on the presidency: The payment has helped spur a lawsuit by Ms. Clifford against Mr. Trump and a federal investigation into Mr. Cohen. Campaign finance watchdogs assert the transaction was the result of a secret, and illegal, effort to subvert election spending laws on behalf of the president. Mr. Trump on Thursday rejected any notion that payments to Ms. Clifford had violated campaign finance laws, though in the course of his defense he contradicted earlier statements that he hadnt known of payments to the actress. The story behind the payment to Ms. Clifford when Mr. Cohen paid it, how he paid it, whether he was paid back and by whom will be critical to both the lawsuit and investigation, not to mention others that may come. If this was a first-time candidate without a public reputation, then it would be harder to argue that it wasnt an expenditure to influence an election, said Charles Spies, a Republican election lawyer who worked in support of one of Mr. Trumps rivals, the former Florida governor Jeb Bush, in the 2016 Republican primary. But Donald Trump has a long record of aggressively defending his reputation from attacks. That track record could prove less compelling if the authorities obtain evidence that Mr. Cohen privately discussed the payment in the context of Mr. Trumps campaign. Last month, federal law enforcement officials in New York raided Mr. Cohens office and hotel room, carting away numerous documents and electronic devices that are now the subject of a fight over attorney-client privilege. One of the things they are apparently investigating is the payment to Ms. Clifford. If the payment was a loan, is Cohen out of trouble? Not if the loan was intended to influence the election. Campaigns routinely take out large loans from banks when theyre running short of cash ahead of elections. But federal election laws require that those loans come from banks as routine business transactions. Personal loans count as contributions that are still legally capped at the individual contribution limit even if they are later repaid in full, according to the Federal Election Commission website. When would this have had to be reported, and by whom? If the payment were to be deemed campaign-related, the Trump campaign should have disclosed it in its periodic filings with the F.E.C., as soon as Mr. Trump or his campaign learned that Mr. Cohen had made it. If Mr. Trump or his campaign only discovered the payment after the fact, they should have amended their previous filings to reflect the expenditure, and any reimbursements to Mr. Cohen. The Wall Street Journal first reported the $130,000 payment to Ms. Clifford in January, and Mr. Trump has not moved to amend his disclosures. In an interview with The Times, Mr. Giuliani was vague about key questions concerning what Mr. Trump knew and when he knew it, saying that Mr. Trump did know that there was a form of reimbursements to Mr. Cohen over the course of 2017, but maintaining that the president did not know what it was for specifically. Mr. Giuliani also said that some executives at the Trump Organization knew about the fact that Cohen believes money was owed to him I dont know when that came up. Mr. Giulianis appearances infuriated others in Mr. Trumps orbit, who had been kept in the dark about his plans. At the White House, many of the presidents associates were particularly angry over an odd swipe that Mr. Giuliani took at Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and senior adviser. Jared is a fine man, you know that, Mr. Giuliani said, before adding, Men are disposable. What he meant by disposable is unclear, but Mr. Kushners friends in the West Wing were equally puzzled by Mr. Giulianis comments about Ivanka Trump, Mr. Kushners wife. Mr. Giuliani called her a fine woman and predicted that the whole country would turn on Robert S. Mueller III, the special prosecutor in the Russia investigation, if Mr. Mueller went after Ms. Trump. A fine woman like Ivanka? he said. Come on. A veteran of the no-holds-barred world of New York tabloids that Mr. Trump inhabited for decades, Mr. Giuliani was an early and vocal supporter of Mr. Trumps presidential campaign a potential entree back into the limelight of national politics after his failed 2008 bid for the White House. During Mr. Trumps campaign, he was a forceful critic of Hillary Clinton, a longtime political rival and Mr. Trumps opponent in the 2016 presidential race, and indulged in some non-truth telling that was as puzzling as it was brazen. For example, he suggested that Hillary Clinton had not visited ground zero in the immediate period after the 9/11 attacks, even when reporters covered their joint trips there and ample photographic evidence to the contrary instantly emerged. Mr. Giuliani also said during the campaign that the F.B.I. gave him the inside track into investigations into Mrs. Clintons emails. His private security consulting firm often attracted scrutiny and dinged his chances at joining the Trump administration. WASHINGTON President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for drawing down American troops in South Korea, just weeks before he holds a landmark meeting with North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, according to several people briefed on the deliberations. Reduced troop levels are not intended to be a bargaining chip in Mr. Trumps talks with Mr. Kim about his weapons program, these officials said. But they acknowledged that a peace treaty between the two Koreas could diminish the need for the 28,500 soldiers currently stationed on the peninsula. Mr. Trump has been determined to withdraw troops from South Korea, arguing that the United States is not adequately compensated for the cost of maintaining them, that the troops are mainly protecting Japan and that decades of American military presence had not prevented the North from becoming a nuclear threat. His latest push coincides with tense negotiations with South Korea over how to share the cost of the military force. Under an agreement that expires at the end of 2018, South Korea pays about half the cost of the upkeep of the soldiers more than $800 million a year. The Trump administration is demanding that it pay for virtually the entire cost of the military presence. In his World Press Freedom Day message on Wednesday, the United Nations secretary general called a free news media crucial to building transparent and democratic societies. By the end of day, though, a United Nations group was itself facing accusations of censorship. The group, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, postponed a panel discussion marking World Press Freedom Day and acknowledged asking a participant to alter a video presentation that had singled out countries with heavy restrictions on the news media. The alliance, a political initiative of the United Nations, said in a statement that the event was put off because the scheduled time had conflicted with another World Press Freedom Day event. But the alliance also called the planned videos unbalanced and said it had asked the participant, the News Literacy Project, to either make a comprehensive presentation of all countries where press freedom is limited, or to remove reference to specific countries. Ms. Binder said that when she was approached for the job she succeeded a former Bausch dancer, Lutz Forster the search committee was clear that new work was on the agenda. But if you are the one chosen to transform or change things, it comes with some suspicion as well, she said. Its not an easy process for anyone. For new works, she said, she wanted choreographers who would connect to the DNA of the company and the spirit of Bausch, without necessarily copying her distinctive style with its dreamscapes of social rituals and private obsessions. I was looking for people who are not in the classical sense choreographers, but who can explore what dance-theater means in the 21st century, she said. People who were not bound to one genre, but who embraced other genres like painting, filmmaking, theater, philosophy. My first response was: Oh, come on! said Mr. Papaioannou, 53, who achieved a measure of fame after staging the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens Olympics in 2004. But I soon realized that if life gives me that chance, and I didnt take it, I would be on my deathbed saying: Why did you say no? Mr. Papaioannou makes large-scale, slow-paced, intensely visual works that draw from both Robert Wilsons exquisitely stylized theatricality and Bauschs sense of the absurd, layered with his own stark aesthetic and preoccupations myth, religion, the human body. He trained as a visual artist and began to dance while at college; then he designed costumes, sets and lighting, in addition to performing. At no point was there a conscious decision about dance, he said in an interview before a morning rehearsal. I was intrigued and started doing my own thing and 30 years passed. Ezra Chowaiki, a Manhattan art dealer who was accused of defrauding art collectors and dealers in December, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the case. Mr. Chowaiki acknowledged on Thursday that he had made fraudulent agreements to buy and sell artwork through his Manhattan art gallery, the office of the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a statement. Instead of honoring these agreements, he used the funds and artwork for unauthorized purposes. Prosecutors say he fraudulently transferred more than $16 million of artwork between 2015 and 2017. As he admitted today in federal court, Ezra Chowaiki ran a multimillion-dollar fraud on art dealers and collectors around the country, Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in the statement. In some instances, Chowaiki sold artwork, purportedly on consignment, without the owners authorization. In other instances, he took money from clients purportedly to purchase artwork, and kept the money but purchased no art. The victims of the fraud were not named, but court filings say they include art collectors in Toronto and Pennsylvania, and a company in the Cayman Islands managed by an art dealer who does business in Tokyo. At 85, the painter Dorothea Rockburne is still blazing trails, making art in the unorthodox way she has for seven decades. Theres stuff in my head, Ms. Rockburne, an abstractionist with lively, penetrating eyes and a ready smile, recently explained. Its really important for me to get it out of my head and into a viewable situation. From experience, shes learned that it can take a while to figure out how to get concepts onto a wall or canvas. It took about a year, for example, to figure out how to recreate several of her breakthrough works from 1967 through 1972 for a show opening Sunday at Dia Art Foundation in Beacon, N.Y. It will be the first time generations of art enthusiasts will see the work of this underappreciated artist in person, rather than from reproductions in catalogs and art magazines. It had been almost 50 years since the artist herself had seen some of them. PARIS Fifty years ago, almost to the day, students here began to strike over the rigidity and hierarchy of the French university system, defying the historical deference of young people to their elders; the same day, workers at a major factory near Nantes walked out. Within days, the strikes spread to other universities and factories, and garbage collectors and office workers joined in. By mid-May, more than 10 million people across France were on strike, and the country had all but come to a standstill. The protests of 1968 ushered in more than five years of social upheaval, intensifying an antiwar movement in Europe and contributing to the womens liberation and gay rights movements. And it all started with a call to upend the old order. There was an idea that France was a class society and it had to be torn down, said Eric de Chassey, a professor of contemporary art who curated, with Philippe Artieres, Clash of Images, an exhibition at the Beaux-Arts de Paris. It showcases posters from those early days of social upheaval, as well as art and documents from subsequent protests for womens rights and gay rights. Tills story received renewed attention in the 1980s, in part because of a documentary that aired on a Chicago television station, The Murder and the Movement. In the years since, Till has been the subject of several books, including one by his mother, and more documentaries. In 2004, the F.B.I. reopened the investigation into Tills case to explore whether anyone could be charged. No one was. Last year Timothy B. Tyson, a Duke University professor and author of the 2017 book The Blood of Emmett Till, revealed that Ms. Donham had told him that one account she had given in front of the judge in her husbands case that Till had grabbed her and was menacing was false. Some commenters on Twitter have suggested that if Mr. Cosby could be prosecuted for a sexual assault that occurred more than a decade ago, Ms. Donham should face prosecution as well. In recent years, Tills name has frequently been used in discussions of unarmed black men and boys shot dead by police or, in the case of Trayvon Martin, by a neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, who ultimately was acquitted. Its not just a conceptual overlap between Trayvon, Black Lives Matter and Emmett Till, but a very personal overlap, said Dave Tell, a professor at the University of Kansas who has studied Till extensively. The Till family is very close to the family of Trayvon Martin. They see Emmett Till as the protohistory of the Black Lives Matter movement. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox. Stop Talking Rudolph Giuliani this week directly contradicted past public statements from President Trump when he told Fox News that Trump was aware of Michael Cohens hush-money payment to Stephanie Clifford, the pornographic film star known as Stormy Daniels and that Trump had even reimbursed Cohen for it. On The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon said that maybe Giuliani, not Clifford, was the one who needed some incentive to stay quiet. Richard Linklaters meditation on war arrives on Amazon Prime. And Carol Burnett hits Netflix. Whats Streaming LAST FLAG FLYING (2017) on Amazon Prime. Richard Linklater excels at character portraits and depicting shifting relationships. His latest film stars Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell and Laurence Fishburne as former Marines who served during the Vietnam War; they uneasily reunite after one of their sons is killed in the Iraq War some 30 years later, and travel together up the Eastern Seaboard. Even if Last Flag Flying isnt quite persuasive, it is nonetheless enormously thought-provoking, and its roughness is a sign of how earnestly it grapples with matters that other movies about war prefer not to think about, A. O. Scott wrote in his New York Times review. ROGUE ONE (2016) on Netflix. Celebrate May the 4th with this stand-alone film, set right before the events of Episode IV: A New Hope. Rebels played by Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed and others team up to steal the plans for the Death Star. But Darth Vader looms, with his full powers intact. The animated series THE CLONE WARS is also on Netflix, and follows the adventures of young Anakin Skywalker, Count Dooku and Yoda as war breaks out across the galaxy. As a grad student, I invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature, she wrote on Twitter. I was an unknown wide-eyed 26-year-old, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. Im far from the only one hes done this to, I refuse to be silent anymore. Ms. Clemmons said she believed that Mr. Diaz had tried to pre-empt accusations like hers by writing the autobiographical essay in The New Yorker last month in which he said that he had been raped as a child by an adult he trusted. In the essay, Mr. Diaz said that after the assault, he began to suffer from depression and uncontrollable rage, and later had troubled relationships with women and problems with fidelity. In a statement provided through his literary agent, Nicole Aragi, Mr. Diaz did not address the specific accusations, but said he took responsibility for his past behavior. I take responsibility for my past, he said. That is the reason I made the decision to tell the truth of my rape and its damaging aftermath. This conversation is important and must continue. I am listening to and learning from womens stories in this essential and overdue cultural movement. We must continue to teach all men about consent and boundaries. BEIJING Senior Chinese and American officials concluded two days of negotiations on Friday with no deal and no date set for further talks, as the United States stepped up its demands for Chinese concessions to avert a potential trade war. The American negotiating team, which included Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and the United States trade representative, Robert E. Lighthizer, headed for the airport after the talks and did not release a statement. But a list of demands that the group took into the meeting called for reducing the United States trade gap with China by $200 billion over the next two years and a halt on Chinese subsidies for advanced manufacturing sectors. The demands, which spread on Chinese social media and were confirmed by a person close to the negotiations, suggested that both sides hardened their positions this week despite the two days of talks. Senior Chinese officials and their advisers were also sending a deliberate message to the West that the days of Beijing being conciliatory were over, and that China was staking out its own position in the negotiations. The person close to the negotiations insisted on anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivities. The extensive list of United States trade demands was unexpectedly sweeping, and showed that the Trump administration has no intention of backing down despite Beijings assertive stance in the last few days. The list reads like the terms for a surrender rather than a basis for negotiation, said Eswar Prasad, an economics professor at Cornell University. Ian Shepherdson, the chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics: Mr. Shepherdson points out that the fall in the unemployment rate was because of a decline in the labor force, but this wont last, and as household employment catches up, unemployment will fall further. Aprils 3.9% rate was the lowest since Dec 2000, and unemployment hasnt been below 3.8 percent since 1969. Mr. Sherpherdson adds that the wage growth still looks benign, but all the risks to wage growth are to the upside in the second half of 2018. Joseph Brusuelas, the chief economist at RSM US: The U.S. labor market has tightened to the point where firms are simply having tremendous difficulty finding qualified and available workers which is why the American unemployment rate has declined to 3.9 percent and likely on its way to 3.7 percent later this year. Once the late cycle fiscal boost that is in train into the economy in the second half of 2018, there is a significant risk that the unemployment rate will decline at a much faster pace which will present a problem for the Federal Reserve that will likely want to tighten rates a modestly quicker pace even as the US yield curve flattens. Tendayi Kapfidze, LendingTree: Mr. Kapfidze writes that disappointing wage growth suggests that inflation pressures are not building up in the economy. The outlook for rates is heavily dependent on expectations for inflation which in term are influenced by wages. Three women sued Charlie Rose and CBS on Friday, alleging that they were sexually harassed by the former anchorman while working for him and that the network did nothing to stop it. On Thursday, The Washington Post published an article that detailed accusations against Mr. Rose by numerous women, including the three who are suing, and alleged that CBS managers knew about harassment complaints against Mr. Rose before he was fired in November. CBS has said it was not aware of any allegations about Mr. Roses behavior before a November article by The Post that detailed accusations from multiple women and led to his firing as a host of CBS This Morning and a correspondent for 60 Minutes. PBS, the longtime home of the Charlie Rose interview show, also cut ties with Mr. Rose. At the time, Mr. Rose expressed embarrassment for pursuing what he believed to be shared feelings with women who had accused him. The leaders of Xerox, who looked to be on their way out just two days ago, may not be going anywhere just yet. The embattled office equipment company said late Thursday that a settlement it reached earlier this week with unhappy shareholders would not go into effect because a key deadline had been missed. That settlement had called for the replacement of Jeff Jacobson, the companys chief executive, and a majority of its board of directors. Instead, Xerox said, Mr. Jacobson and the current board will remain in place though it acknowledged that the abrupt shift would probably raise many questions. Xerox and its board of directors recognize the uncertainty caused by the developments of the past several days among the companys investors and other stakeholders, it said in a news release. Both Elizabeth and Michael are really gracious, hospitable and friendly people, each with a wacky sense of humor, Ms. Augustin said. They are also very much grounded in their Christian faith, which is why I thought they would be perfect for each other. But as it turned out, the timing just wasnt right for them as both were going through difficult times, so there was absolutely no spark. Ms. Cunningham, who grew up in Roosevelt, N.Y., received a bachelors degree in theater arts from N.Y.U. and a masters degree in acting at Columbia before heading to Los Angeles in June 2004, in the hope of becoming an actress. Though she found some work, she abandoned her dream in September 2013 when she returned home to be the primary caretaker for her mother, Herma Cunningham, who had cancer. I thought Michael was a good-looking guy, but I was so distracted by my mothers situation that when I got to the restaurant, Im not even sure I shook his hand, Ms. Cunningham said. I dont think there was a paragraph of sentences spoken between us that night. Mr. Harris, who is now 45, grew up in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He went on to receive an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. During his last semester at North Carolina, he completed a four-month graduate-level study-abroad program at the Stockholm School of Economics. Mr. Harris, who is also a chartered financial analyst, was single and working as a controller at a data center in Manhattan when he met Ms. Cunningham. What is your reaction to the tweet? Do you agree with its message? Why or why not? Do you get news from multiple sources? Do you think doing so is important? In Turkish Cartoonist Wins Prize on World Press Freedom Day, Reuters reports: A Turkish caricaturist facing more than three years in jail won the International Press Drawing Prize on Thursday, an award given every two years to leading cartoonists, especially those working under authoritarian regimes. Musa Kart of the opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet was one of 14 staff handed sentences last month ranging from 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 years on charges of supporting Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric that Ankara blames for a 2016 attempted coup. They have denied the charges. Kart, 64, was sentenced to three years and nine months and is banned from travel pending his appeal. After the coup attempt, he spent nine months in prison. My beloved newspaper is currently surrounded by those who are uncomfortable with its journalism and want to silence it completely by threatening heavy punishments, Kart said in a message read out by his daughter, Seran Uney, to a ceremony in Geneva on Thursday, marking World Press Freedom Day. The staff of the Istanbul newspaper, long seen as a thorn in the side of President Tayyip Erdogan, is one of the few remaining voices critical of the government. The jury of the Cartooning for Peace Foundation includes cartoonists Jean Plantu of France and Patrick Chappatte of Switzerland, and Ken Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. They make the award based on cartoonists approach and commitment especially if their cartoons were published in a political context of repression and censorship. In an Opinion essay from May 6, 2017, Carol Giacomo gives more background on the conflict in Turkey and speaks to its implications for a free press: With some 163 of their fellow journalists in jail, the men and women of Turkeys news media are understandably fearful. Many of those who avoided prison as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans sweeping crackdown on alleged enemies after a July coup attempt have lost their jobs at media outlets taken over by Mr. Erdogans cronies. Some of those still working censor themselves in self-defense. In such an environment, even getting together to talk about challenges to the fast-fading press freedoms in Turkeys ever-shrinking democracy is an act of courage. That happened on Wednesday when Platform24, an Istanbul-based nonprofit fighting for journalists right to do their jobs, held an event to celebrate World Press Freedom Day with a lecture honoring the late Mehmet Ali Birand, one of the countrys most admired journalists. Given Mr. Erdogans tendency for retaliation, the Swedish consul general, Therese Hyden, also deserves credit for hosting the event. The mood this year, however, was anything but celebratory, and for obvious reasons. Under Mr. Erdogans authoritarian rule, not just an independent press but many rights and freedoms have sharply deteriorated. Instead, the mood was somber as Platform24s staff performed a kind of dirge, reading the names of imprisoned colleagues one by one. We want them to know, we want their families to know, we want their readers and audiences to know, and we want the government to know that they are not alone, said Yasemin Congar, one of Platform24s founders. Journalism is not a crime, she added. Students: Read the entire article, then tell us: In your opinion, what is the purpose of journalism? What is its role in society? How does it serve individuals? What values and ideals do you think quality journalism should uphold and defend and why? How important is it for a country and the world to have a free press? Why do you think so? Are there any topics or opinions that you think should be censored in the press? Or should journalists have absolute freedom of speech? Ms. Giacomo writes that President Trump has become a threat to the free press in America with relentless attempts to delegitimize any reputable media outlet that dared criticize him. What do you think of this statement? Should high-powered politicians and world leaders be able to denounce media they disagree with? Why or why not? Related: The Media Literacy Student Challenge we ran last fall invited students to explore their relationships with news, in part by varying and expanding their sources, and provided a lesson plan to help. Here are 10 things we learned as a result, along with some winning student essays and videos. Want to film a Chekhov play? First, youll need a house. Then some costumes and props, probably a samovar. Muster the money troubles, the love troubles, the antic clowning, the bone-crushing despair, the inchoate longings for art or truth or just a trip to Moscow. Truss it altogether with a deep, unblinking humanity. And action! The playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov died in 1904, when film was still in its infancy. If hed lived longer, he would have been a masterful screenwriter, Stephen Karam said. A Tony-winning playwright, Mr. Karam is giving Chekhov his due, adapting his 1895 play, The Seagull, into a movie directed by Michael Mayer, another Tony winner. It opens on Friday. Set in the country house where the famous actress Arkadina (Annette Bening) has returned to visit her ill brother, Sorin (Brian Dennehy), The Seagull plots the overlapping love affairs, most of them unhappy, among Arkadina, her lover (Corey Stoll), her son (Billy Howle), a neighbor girl (Saoirse Ronan) and the daughter of the estate manager (Elisabeth Moss). There is heartbreak, suicide, betrayal and breakdown. It is more or less a comedy. Its so on the edge of hysterically funny and deeply tragic, Ms. Bening said, speaking by telephone, and were all attempting to find that way of doing it that comes across as authentic and human. KALING I actually dont remember what its like to act with a man. Between this movie and A Wrinkle in Time, I dont think Ive acted with a man in two years. What about you, Sandy? BULLOCK For me, this time [the difference was] Id experienced enough in life that a lot of the artifice and baggage that Id had had sort of been dropped or taken from me or exposed. Everything I do now, its like, Is this worth it for the family? This movie was supposed to be shot in the summer so I didnt have to take my kids out of school. Thats my prerequisite now. Mindy, youre gonna learn that: Everything revolves around whats best for the kids. But something came up with Cates schedule where we had to shift [filming] into the school year, and I was like, I cant do this. But you pick up the family, you find a great school, and you go Oh, adventure! Being in this group of women, its not about having to prove something. I wanted to make connections, maybe get a couple of good lines in the process. You dont know that youre going to get many more chances, so each opportunity you just want to be there 100 percent. I read that the eight of you shared a trailer on set. Why? BULLOCK [Laughs] We actually had two trailers and everyone was packed in like sardines with their chairs next to each other. For me, it was really important that you have time to connect before you hit the ground running. [The trailers were] where we were all one team. If a scene doesnt feel right, how do we fix it? To me it felt like a big think tank. Mindy, I dont know what it felt like for you. Even if it breaks even, Im good with that said Mr. Rubinoff, who manages his shops along with his wife, Marina. The project is part promotion and part penchant for barbering history, he said. I dont even have a high school degree, but Im a fourth-generation barber who spent his whole life in barbershops, said Mr. Rubinoff, who runs a shop one block north of the museum location and lives nearby. His apartment has become a staging area for the museum pieces, including a 1901 Koken barber chair and antique poles of various sizes and styles. His collection also features old, heavy blow dryers and shaving cream dispensers. Mr. Rubinoff said he grew up in Fergana, a city in Uzbekistan, and spent his childhood in his fathers barber shop the first wash and cut shop in Uzbekistan. Mr. Rubinoff was 14 when his family moved to the United States and settled among the many other Uzbek immigrants in and around Forest Hills, Queens. Mr. Rubinoff said he began cutting hair in his fathers shop in Astoria and dropped out of Forest Hills High School to work full time. Over the years, there have been few more vocal or aggressive advocates for law enforcement than Rudolph W. Giuliani. A former top official at the Justice Department, a onetime prosecutor with a tough, crusading style, and a police-embracing mayor who ran New York on a law-and-order platform, Mr. Giuliani both in office and as a private citizen has spent the better part of his career stridently defending the countrys crime-fighting class and fiercely lashing out at those who attack it. But in his latest role as a lawyer for President Trump, Mr. Giuliani (who, like his client, is volatile by nature) appears to have made an abrupt change of course. In the past few days, he has launched a series of rants in the media, assailing his former colleagues in law enforcement and the work that they have done as Nazis, frauds and garbage. And in a phone interview Friday, he defended the strong criticism he had made. While the path from prosecutor to defense lawyer is a common one that often requires a sharp shift in perspective, several former law-enforcement officials said they found it curious that Mr. Giuliani had so quickly and belligerently turned his back on a world he had worked in for nearly 30 years. Even some who expressed support for him said that his assaults on everyone and everything from the Russia investigation to James B. Comey, the former director of the F.B.I., to the bureaus New York office, seemed to be out of character. Its astonishing, especially from someone who has been so supportive of law enforcement for as long as he has, said Asha Rangappa, a former F.B.I. agent who now works as a TV analyst and a senior lecturer at Yale University. I cant believe that anyone believes that he really believes what hes been saying. But its a standard defense counsel playbook. When you dont have the facts on your side, you attack the investigators. For the past 30 years, Mathilde Freund, 101, has been selling vintage clothing and antique jewelry at Grand Bazaar NYC at Columbus Avenue and 77th Street. Ms. Freund was born in Vienna in 1916. In 1937, she fled to Paris when the German Army invaded. She came to New York 15 years later, ultimately finding a job as a social worker at what is now Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and then at the French Hospital, until it closed in the late 1970s. Thats when she found her second calling: selling her wares at the flea market. I never liked a desk job or dealing with papers, she said. I like human beings. Ms. Freund, who takes classes at Fordham University during the week, has lived in the same one-bedroom apartment overlooking Central Park West for 65 years. HOPE FOR GOOD NEWS I get up at 5 a.m. I cant help it. Im like a computer. I take a hot shower, then a cold one. Its good for your body and circulation. I was brought up in Europe, so a cold shower is nothing. Then I watch the news and hope for good news. Mostly its not so wonderful. I like Channel 1. I listen to music on Channel 75, too, which plays Schubert, Bach and Mozart. I make some toast and read a book. I love to read. It keeps my mind young. OBJECT WRANGLING From 7 to 8 I organize my cart. That takes time. I sell vintage clothing Ive accumulated from my travels or things people have given me, porcelain plates and cups, and lots of jewelry sterling silver, pearls or stones. Lester James Peries, a visionary director whose films about the dynamics of family life in Sri Lanka brought world recognition to that island nations movie industry, died on Sunday in Colombo, the capital. He was 99. His death, in a hospital, was confirmed by the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation. Starting with Rekava (The Line of Destiny) in 1956, Mr. Periess films offered a significant shift from formulaic Indian-influenced dance and fantasy movies that had been standard fare in Sri Lanka, which was known as Ceylon at the time. He wanted his pictures to accurately reflect the lives of the Sinhalese people, who constitute most of the countrys population. He described his movies as the cinema of contemplation, in which the cameras eavesdrop on life to expose his characters psychology. Seemingly, on the surface, nothing happens, Mr. Peries (pronounced PEER-ease) told The New York Times in 1970, and yet by the quietest of means, scene by scene, incident by incident, one hopes that the interior drama is revealed. On an August morning in 1951, two American women met for the first time in the corridor of the Hotel Berchielli in Florence. Ninalee Allen, who was known as Jinx, was a vacationing nursery-school teacher. Ruth Orkin was a freelance photojournalist who, after chatting with Ms. Allen, asked if would she would pose for a photo essay about women traveling alone. Jinx agreed, and they set off on what Jinx called a photographic lark. As they came to the Piazza della Repubblica, 15 men were loitering. Some were leaning on a wall. Two sat on a motor scooter. Nearly all were staring at the 6-foot-tall Ms. Allen. One leered and grabbed his crotch. Ms. Orkin snapped Ms. Allen twice walking that testosterone-charged gantlet. The first time, Ms. Orkin told The New York Times in 1979, Ms. Allen clutched at herself and looked terribly frightened. There was a time in New York City when, if you wanted to get inked, you had to know a guy. Tattooing was banned by the city's Health Department in 1961 after the practice was blamed for an outbreak of hepatitis. The ban lasted until 1997. There were just eight or so artists who operated from their living rooms or at kitchen tables in squalid corners of the city, like the Lower East Side. Your choice of art was limited: patriotic symbols, a declaration of love, or an anchor or other recycled image from the crafts seafaring tradition. Then there was Thom DeVita. While other tattoo artists offered a rigid set of images and styles, he designed one-of-a-kind tattoos, blending high art, primitivism, Japanese designs and classic Americana. In the early 1960s the American impresario Sol Hurok brought her to the United States and Canada, and she made an immediate impression. In January 1961 she played at Carnegie Hall with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Such easy, unforced and ultra-efficient playing is not everybodys birthright, Harold C. Schonberg, reviewing that concert, wrote in The New York Times. Add to that fine musicianship and an engaging stage presence, and the result is an unusually gifted instrumentalist. He added presciently, She is 31 years old and has a brilliant future. Ms. Wilkomirska played under some of the top conductors of the era, but once she had garnered some accolades and experience she was rarely intimidated by them. In an interview with the musicologist Sigrid Harris in 2007, she recalled a television concert she played with Leonard Bernstein in which she thought he took the last movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto too fast. Of course, I managed to play it, she said, but I wandered through this big hall to Maestro Bernstein. I said: Excuse me, isnt it too fast? Because it is a kopak, it is a Russian dance. He looked at me and said: What do you mean, too fast? Is it too fast for you? I said: No, no, no, Maestro! It is too fast for Tchaikovsky! I tell you one thing, she added, it was the last time I ever played with Bernstein. That same independent streak emerged as Polands political upheavals began. She was, in effect, one of the countrys leading exports during much of its time in the Soviet bloc, someone Communist leaders were happy to send abroad because she reflected well on the country. But when the Solidarity movement began in the 1970s she supported liberalization. In 1976 she was among scores of artists and intellectuals who opposed restrictive constitutional amendments, which was particularly noteworthy because she was married at the time to Mieczyslaw Rakowski, a member of the Communist Partys Central Committee and editor of its weekly newspaper (and later, prime minister). They divorced in 1977, but she was widely credited with introducing Mr. Rakowski to artistic circles and helping to soften his views. In 1981, the government, in a final effort to stifle Solidarity, declared martial law, and Ms. Wilkomirska, on tour, chose to stay in the West, living and teaching in West Germany and Australia. In 1990, after change came to Poland, she returned to play a violin concerto written by Andrzej Panufnik, who had himself emigrated from Poland early in the Communist era. In 2010, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I led the effort to impeach a federal judge from New Orleans named Thomas Porteous Jr. He was accused of multiple acts of corruption, some of which preceded his appointment to the federal bench, and making false statements during his confirmation hearing. After a lengthy impeachment process in the House, the Senate convicted him on all four charges and removed him from office. Impeachment and removal for federal officials is an extraordinarily rare event. Judge Porteous was only the eighth federal official impeached and convicted in our nations history. As we investigated and drafted his articles of impeachment, we faced the consequential decision of whether to charge Judge Porteous with conduct before he took office. We had to go back nearly a century to the 1912 trial and conviction of Judge Robert Archibald to find a precedent. After much consideration, we decided to charge him not only for actions while he was on the federal bench, but also for a corrupt scheme he entered into with a bail bond company while a state court judge, and for the false statements he made during his Senate confirmation process. We determined that because Judge Porteous was accused of taking cash and gifts from lawyers whose cases he presided over in state court, there was little question that such actions were incompatible with his responsibility as a federal judge. How could someone in his courtroom be confident of a fair trial, knowing he had solicited and accepted bribes while a judge? In 2002, when much of the international community was severely criticizing Israel for its tough military response to the wave of Palestinian suicide bombings known as the Second Intifada, the United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, asked with rhetorical exasperation, Can Israel be right and the whole world wrong? Most Israelis would have surely answered: Of course. After all, only two years earlier, Israel had offered to withdraw from virtually the entire West Bank and Gaza. In return, it received the worst wave of terrorism in its history. That Israeli narrative of why the peace process failed transformed Israels politics for a generation, leading to the near-total collapse of the left as a viable political force. Meanwhile, much of the world ignored Israels spurned overture and continued to fault the Jewish state for the continuing occupation it had sought to end. Today, we Israelis are experiencing another moment of radical disconnect with much of world opinion. Every Friday for the past several weeks, the Islamist Hamas has mobilized tens of thousands of demonstrators, who have embarked on a march of return toward Israel. The initial goal is to destroy the fence and cross Israels internationally recognized border. The long-term goal is to demographically destroy the Jewish-majority state through a return of descendants of Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war. This is a column about Israels appalling treatment of a Columbia University professor, Katherine Franke, detained for 14 hours at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and then deported, but before I get to that a few observations about the incandescent situation in Israel-Palestine. President Trumps gift for unleashing the worst in people has found no more fertile ground than the Holy Land. I wrote three months ago that its time for Mahmoud Abbas to go; its still time. The Palestinian leader has now veered into anti-Semitic tropes worthy of a beer hall in late 1930s Berlin. Jews as usurers is not the stuff on which a state of Palestine will be built. The Trump administrations foray into the Israeli-Palestinian imbroglio, set to culminate May 14 with the opening of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem but yet to yield a plan, has been a fiasco. Americas embrace of Israel has been so total that the term occupied territories tends to be discouraged in official references to the West Bank. Greater Israel is O.K. in the White House. Abbas is a bitter old man. He has no feel for the struggle of young Palestinians, like those demonstrating along the Gaza border in marches organized by Hamas. More than 40 Palestinians have been killed, shot by Israeli snipers over the past month. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the United States is fully supportive of Israelis right to defend themselves. Yes, Israel has that right, but not the right to use lethal force against mainly unarmed Palestinian civilians, who also have rights, including to liberty and opportunity. This article is part of the Opinion Today newsletter. You can sign up here to receive the newsletter each weekday. Rudy Giulianis rambling media tour continued yesterday. In the span of less than 24 hours, he spoke with Fox News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill and ABC News. In doing so, he appears to have created two new legal problems for his client, President Trump. First although its received less attention than the Stormy Daniels payment Giuliani added to the already strong evidence that Trump has obstructed justice. Trump has offered conflicting explanations for why he fired James Comey, the former F.B.I. director. The true reason, Giuliani told Sean Hannity, was the Russia investigation. Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasnt a target of the investigation, Giuliani said. So he fired him, and he said, Im free of this guy. Greg Sargent of The Washington Post offers a good breakdown of why this is so problematic. It fits a pattern of behavior that suggests Trump was trying to protect himself and some of his associates from legal consequences. And Robert Mueller, the special counsel, appears to be very interested in that pattern, based on media accounts of Muellers work. Giuliani has inadvertently lent more salience to this whole line of inquiry, Sargent writes. In a lesser-known novel, Claudius Bombarnac, Jules Verne describes the adventures of the titular foreign correspondent as he rides the Grand Transasiatic Railway from the European frontier to the capital of the Celestial Empire. A cast of international characters, by turns comical, curious and shady, accompanies the French reporter by train from the Caspian Sea to Peking, narrowly escaping bandits and delivering a mysterious cargo. When first published in 1893, the book was futuristic fiction. There was no continuous rail link across Eurasia. There still isnt, but 125 years later China now envisions financing and building multiple such overland routes (with much faster trains). Thats for the belt portion of what it calls the One Belt, One Road initiative: It is also developing a string of new ports, from the South China Sea through the Indian Ocean to Africa and the Mediterranean. The number and scale of the projects proposed are breathtaking, far surpassing even the imagination of a sci-fi writer. They have stimulated awe and, more often, dark suspicions among many foreign observers. Just after Verne was writing, Chinas first main railways were being built by Western companies, financed by Western loans to a nearly bankrupt Qing dynasty. Within two decades, struggles over foreign ownership of Chinese rail had touched off a revolution that brought down the dynasty in 1912. Today, the former victim of Western railway imperialism is lending billions to countries throughout Asia, Africa and Europe to construct not only railroads but also highways, ports, power plants and other infrastructure. A few short but very long days in the life of the Trump presidency: On Wednesday night, Rudy Giuliani, a newly minted member of the presidents legal team, acknowledged on national television that Mr. Trump had been aware of his personal lawyer Michael Cohens $130,000 payment to an adult film actress on Mr. Trumps behalf contradicting the presidents previous claims. Mr. Trump promptly attempted damage control by tweet to ward off speculation that the payment to Stephanie Clifford, known professionally as Stormy Daniels, might have constituted a violation of campaign finance law. Though the presidents tweets seemed to confirm Mr. Giulianis account of events, on Friday Mr. Trump hinted that his lawyer needed to get his facts straight. Mr. Giulianis comments came only a few hours after news broke out that another of Mr. Trumps attorneys would retire from the legal team handling the Russia investigation the second to depart in six weeks. The previous day, the presidents personal doctor accused Mr. Trumps former bodyguard and others of raiding his office and removing Mr. Trumps medical records, while Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, deflected questions about a New York Times story listing in detail a range of subjects about which Robert Mueller, the special counsel, is seeking to interview the president. Through it all, Mr. Trump fumed on Twitter over the Russian witch hunt. So goes a normal week in 2018. The push alerts ping. The tweets stack up. Arguments over constitutional law and attorney-client privilege fill the airwaves. The noise roars so loudly and from so many different sources that however much we strain to listen, its next to impossible to make sense out of it. Ms. Ruben and her mother are an example of a phenomenon that is driving an increase in the construction of senior housing across the United States. More assisted living, independent living and continuing care retirement communities are being built not necessarily in the warmer climates where seniors have traditionally retired, like Florida and Arizona, but wherever economies are robust and booming, in places like New York, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta. It is not uncommon for todays seniors to live well into their 80s, 90s, even past 100. And when they can no longer be entirely independent, many are moving to be near their adult children for help in the last stage of their lives. The need for more of this kind of housing is also driven by the need to combat what many see as a growing problem of isolation among people in this older generation. Of Americans age 65 and older, 28 percent 11 million people live alone, according to the United States Census Bureau. And the National Council on Aging estimates that eight million adults over the age of 50 are affected by isolation, which can harm both mental and physical health, said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of the AARP Foundation, which introduced Connect2Affect in 2016 to help raise awareness and offer solutions to senior isolation. Ms. Ryerson said that the health effects of prolonged isolation have been found to be the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a study in Perspectives on Psychological Science. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America also found that social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher risk of mortality in adults 52 and older. Senior living communities, where people of similar ages and abilities live together, can help combat that isolation, as can moving closer to adult children, who can then more easily help take care of their parents needs. Each week, Kevin Roose, technology columnist at The New York Times, discusses developments in the tech industry, offering analysis and maybe a joke or two. Kevin is away this week, so Adam Satariano, The Timess European tech correspondent, is stepping in. Want this newsletter in your inbox? Sign up here. Hello! All your regular newsletter authors are writing books, taking a week off, or taking a week off when they should be writing books. Instead, youve got me, the newest member of The New York Times tech crew, covering the European tech world based in London. In what seems like an acceptable form of new-hire hazing, Ive been asked to share some of this weeks tech news from a perspective 5,000-plus miles from Silicon Valley. Lets get to it. The Four-Letter Privacy Law Instagram is threatening to block me and many others in Europe out of its app if I dont acknowledge new privacy settings. I had a similar dance with Facebook and Twitter recently. The notices are a result of a European data-privacy law called the General Data Protection Regulation, known as G.D.P.R., going into effect on May 25. SAN FRANCISCO At a conference in Silicon Valley this week, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, vowed that his company would keep building despite a swirl of questions around the way it has dealt with misinformation and the personal data of its users. That is certainly true in the important area of artificial intelligence, which Mr. Zuckerberg says can help the social media giant deal with some of those problems. Facebook is opening new A.I. labs in Seattle and Pittsburgh, after hiring three A.I. and robotics professors from the University of Washington and Carnegie Mellon University. The company hopes these seasoned researchers will help recruit and train other A.I. experts in the two cities, Mike Schroepfer, Facebooks chief technology officer, said in an interview. As it builds these labs, Facebook is adding to pressure on universities and nonprofit A.I. research operations, which are already struggling to retain professors and other employees. SAN FRANCISCO Google will begin requiring those who buy ads related to federal elections in the United States through its sprawling advertising network to prove that they are citizens or lawful residents of the country. In a blog post published on Friday, Google said it would take steps to verify if people or organizations are allowed to buy political advertising and ask them to prove that they are who they say they are. It will, for example, ask a political action committee for an Internal Revenue Service-issued employer identification number, or ask an individual for government-issued identification and a Social Security number. In October, Google disclosed that the Internet Research Agency, a Russian company accused of meddling in the 2016 presidential election, had spent nearly $5,000 buying online advertising during the election cycle. It was practically impossible to make a full-time living as an actor in Atlanta, and performers often had to travel to New York for regional theater, television and film auditions. But in 2008, everything changed. The governor signed a new tax law, allowing for up to 30 percent of Georgia production spending to be transferred into tax credits. Everything from recording a film score to catering on a set can qualify for a credit, with no dollar amount limit, as long as a Georgia vendor is used. Yellow production signs started appearing all over the city, and beloved theater actors started appearing on the silver screen. My OGs tell me stories of the days you had to drive two-plus hours for an audition every time, callbacks included, Ms. Deadwyler said. Now, Im able to take my son to school, go prep for my audition, do the audition and pick him up to be home to make dinner. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the film and television industry made a $9.5 billion impact on the state in fiscal year 2017, making the state the top filming location in the world. Some 40 major movies and network television shows are now shooting in the state, and countless more independent projects. Among those recently filmed: Black Panther, Hidden Figures, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Stranger Things, and, of course, the Emmy-winning FX comedy Atlanta. The flood started with a trickle, thanks to movies like Drumline and ATL, which showcased the citys cultural landscape. The emergence of Tyler Perry Studios in 2008 marked a colossal turning point. The original studio was located in southwest Atlanta; in 2016 Mr. Perry completed construction on a facility that sits on more than 300 acres of an old army base near the airport. Mr. Perry has three shows on the Oprah Winfrey Network right now; and in the past year, 33 different productions have filmed at the studios. For more coverage of race, sign up here to have our Race/Related newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox. The hanging. For years, Karen Branan, a white woman from Georgia, kept at a safe distance the haunting words that her grandmother had spoken. Ms. Branan was an inquisitive journalist, but she refused to explore a hanging that her grandmother had said was one of her most unforgettable memories. She was afraid of what she might learn. But in 1986, when she learned that she was going to have a racially mixed grandchild, Ms. Branan felt compelled to dig up the truth. She discovered that her relatives had been part of a mob that had lynched four black people three men and a woman in Hamilton, Ga., in 1912. Ms. Branan turned what she learned into a book, The Family Tree, that was published two years ago. The book eventually made its way into the hands of Jackie Jordan Irvine, an Alabama native and a professor emeritus of urban education at Emory University. Ms. Irvine, who is black, came across the name of her ancestor Milford Moore. He was related to John Moore, one of the lynching victims. CHICAGO For years, President Trump railed against carnage in Chicago, bemoaning the gun violence that has torn through many neighborhoods throughout the city. In June 2017, his administration sent more federal agents to the city as part of an anti-gang task force with the Chicago Police Department, charged with ramping up gun enforcement efforts. Crime and killings in Chicago have reached such epidemic proportions that I am sending in Federal help, Mr. Trump tweeted at the time. Early Friday, a federal agent in that task force was shot in the face and critically wounded during an investigation in what is regarded as a dangerous pocket of Chicagos Southwest Side, the authorities said. The shooting set off a sprawling manhunt. The A.T.F. agent is expected to survive; no arrests have been made in the shooting. The incident was a significant blow to the task force, known as the Chicago Crime Gun Strike Force, a permanent unit that officials have described as the first of its kind in the country. CHARLESTON, S.C. When Sarah Zorn applied for admission to the Citadel four years ago, she had not heard the story of Shannon Faulkner, the first woman to gain full admission to the famed Southern military college. Ms. Zorn did not know about the two-and-a-half-year legal battle that had forced the college to accept her, or the death threats, or the sexist epithets spray-painted on her parents house, or the federal marshals who escorted Ms. Faulkner to campus on her first day as a cadet in 1995, or that she had dropped out a week later. She knows now. But the 21-year-old college junior believes that the 175-year-old South Carolina institution that once fought admitting women as if they were an invading army has made its peace with the idea. And her accession on Friday as the Citadels first female regimental commander the top cadet is her proof. I never took a cent from the government, said Mr. Contreras, the Long Island contractor. The end of protection for his wife, who is from El Salvador, was the first blow to the family of Mr. Contreras, who has become an immigration activist at an organization called Make the Road New York. The Trump administration says that a program designed to provide temporary, disaster-related help has instead become a quasi-permanent green light for hundreds of thousands of people. It argues that the only criteria the government should consider in continuing the program is whether the original reason for the designation in this case, devastation from the hurricane persists. Since 1999, conditions in Honduras that resulted from the hurricane have notably improved, the Homeland Security Department statement said. Additionally, since the last review of the countrys conditions in October 2016, Honduras has made substantial progress in post-hurricane recovery and reconstruction from the 1998 Hurricane Mitch. Critics of the program agree. The hurricane was a generation ago, and Honduras long ago reverted to its regular messed-up state, not the special post-hurricane messed-up state required by the T.P.S. statute, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors curbs on immigration. There can be no honest basis for an extension. The program provides temporary legal status and work permits to people already in the United States, whether they entered legally or not. The Homeland Security secretary decides when a country merits the designation and whether to renew it, if conditions warrant it. Hondurans have been on tenterhooks since last year, when T.P.S. designation for their country was up for renewal. In November, the government allowed it to automatically extend for six months, citing a need for further assessment. Among the 86,000 Hondurans who currently have protection under the program, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, 45,600 re-registered for the six-month extension. An unspecified number out of the total have obtained legal status in the United States, the agency said, and, thus, will not have to leave. WASHINGTON A state court in New Hampshire has ruled that the arrests of several people last summer who were charged with drug possession at an immigration checkpoint set up by the United States Border Patrol were unconstitutional under state and federal law. Border Patrol agents working with state officials conducted what the American Civil Liberties Union had described as illegal drug searches. Sixteen residents were arrested in August at an immigration checkpoint set up on a major interstate highway about 90 miles from the Canadian border, where federal agents said they were looking for people trying to enter the country illegally. In an order dated May 1, Judge Thomas A. Rappa Jr. of the New Hampshire Circuit Court threw out the arrests. While the stated purpose of the checkpoints in this matter was screening for immigration violations, the primary purpose of the action was detection and seizure of drugs, Judge Rappa concluded in the 14-page ruling, a copy of which was released on Friday. The A.C.L.U. of New Hampshire had said the arrests violated New Hampshires state Constitution, which requires law enforcement officials to have a reasonable suspicion of a crime before stopping and searching individuals and their vehicles. NRATV is a relatively new online platform for the nations foremost gun rights organization to disseminate its views, from gun safety to gun culture to, most crucially, the politics of gun ownership, especially around large, mass casualty events. What you saw happen almost immediately after the Florida shooting was N.R.A. hosts on NRATV talking about how the mainstream media was lying to you about the role of the N.R.A. in the shooting. The headlines are nothing short of despicable. Look at this one: Trained by the N.R.A., writes The Daily News. Essentially, whats played out on NRATV is a political campaign to stifle any efforts at rewriting gun laws before they get off the ground. But no new law would have stopped this monster, thats a fact. We need more good guys with guns around because seconds count in these situations. You want to protect our kids or not? Or you want to jerk around? Interestingly, a lot of the stories that they cover have nothing to do with guns at all. Dana, phony fake frauds are what I call the leaders of these womens marches. Its an exclusive little clique of far left Shariah apologists. ... If what the N.R.A. is doing with NRATV is trying to reach as broad an audience possible, then they need to make their programming tailored to issues that arent as specific and niche as guns. To those who bring bias and propaganda to CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times, your time is running out. You put the lies of Colin Kaepernick on a pedestal. You celebrate his hatred of our police. Its going to be political, its going to be entertainment. This is it the big final test. Its going to be informative. Sometimes a mix of all of those things. So one example is this show called Noir, which is hosted by a former Navy SEAL named Dom, who shows you various techniques at fighting off bad guys with your pistol. But then, of course, its also highly politically and racially charged. You have the element of crime. In this case perpetrated by an African-American man against a white woman. I would never tell a law-abiding citizen to outsource their personal safety to the government anyway. You know, the N.R.A. wouldnt talk to us on the record for this story. So its hard to know what its reach with NRATV really is. Theres a big potential to reach a lot of people. Wave it proudly. If people take a knee, drown out their disrespect with a unified roaring chant of U.S.A., U.S.A. WASHINGTON On the night before she announced her candidacy for governor, Stacey Evans got a telephone call from Emilys List, the fund-raising juggernaut that has helped elect hundreds of Democratic women who support abortion rights. It was not a happy conversation. The group, she learned, would not be giving her its coveted endorsement this year. It was backing her primary challenger, Stacey Abrams, a rising Democratic star who, like Ms. Evans, is a former Georgia state legislator. Ms. Evans thinks Emilys List should have stayed out of the race. If I were a donor, she said, I would be very upset to know that my dollars were going to fight for one pro-choice woman against another. Ms. Evans is not the only woman miffed at Emilys List, though she is among the few who are open about it. At a time when record numbers of women are running for public office, the battle of the two Staceys, as the Georgia race is known, is one of countless crowded Democratic primaries many involving two or more women that have forced Emilys List, one of the nations most powerful political action committees, to make difficult choices that have spawned resentment around the nation. President Trump said So you have all these investigators; theyre Democrats. In all fairness, Bob Mueller worked for Obama for eight years. the facts This is exaggerated. At least nine of the 17 lawyers on the team led by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, have donated to Democratic campaigns, according to Federal Election Commission records. One has previously identified as a Democrat in a blog post. Three others are registered as Democrats, The Washington Post and PolitiFact have reported. But the political affiliations of the remaining four lawyers are unclear. A spokesman for the special counsels office confirmed the names of the lawyers who are on the team. Mr. Mueller is a registered Republican and Mr. Trumps characterization of his work history is not entirely accurate. WASHINGTON The National Security Agency vacuumed up more than 534 million records of phone calls and text messages from American telecommunications providers like AT&T and Verizon last year more than three times what it collected in 2016, a new report revealed on Friday. Intelligence analysts are also more frequently searching for information about Americans within the agencys expanding collection of so-called call detail records telecom metadata logging who contacted whom and when, but not the contents of what they said. The new report an annual set of surveillance-related statistics issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not explain why the number of records increased so dramatically. But in an interview, Alex Joel, the offices chief civil liberties officer, said the N.S.A. had not reinterpreted its legal authorities to change the way it collects such data. He cited a variety of factors that might have contributed to the increase, potentially including changes in the amount of historical data companies are choosing to keep, the number of phone accounts used by each target and changes to how the telecommunications industry creates records based on constantly shifting technology and practices. WASHINGTON President Trump undercut his attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani on Friday, and said the former New York mayor will eventually get the facts right regarding a payment to a pornographic actress who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump. And virtually everything said has been said incorrectly, and its been said wrong, or its been covered wrong by the press, Mr. Trump said. Mr. Giuliani, who joined Mr. Trumps legal team last month, just started a day ago, Mr. Trump said, speaking to reporters on Friday as he left Washington to attend a National Rifle Association convention in Dallas. He is a great guy, Mr. Trump said. Hell get his facts straight. It was the first time the president addressed the inconsistent narrative about the payment made by his personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, to the actress, Stephanie Clifford, who goes by the stage name Stormy Daniels. Mr. Trump did not offer any details on Friday to clarify the confusion, but said, Its actually very simple. But there has been a lot of misinformation. It was supposed to be the mass shooting that finally galvanized the country and forced lawmakers into action: 17 people dead after a massacre inside a high school. Emotional calls for gun reform. I want to feel safe at school. Then, in came the N.R.A., with a slick campaign and access to the Oval Office, to grind momentum almost to a halt. So how did the N.R.A. pull this off? The president needs N.R.A. endorsement to rally his support base, especially in an election year. Because of that, the N.R.A managed to secure meetings with Trump in the immediate aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, when calls for reform were the loudest. The N.R.A. has catchy, succinct slogans that are easy to remember and drive their point across. To stop a bad guy with a gun, it takes a good guy with a gun. After Parkland, the N.R.A. spokesperson went head to head with student victims on TV. Well, I think the A.T.F. is deciding about bump stocks right now. The president ordered the D.O.J. to look into it. Im asking your opinion as a representative of the N.R.A. Thats what the N.R.A.s position has been. The N.R.A. came Whats yours? Im talking for them. These are the 5 million members that Im here representing. And on the groups own channel they broadcasted stuff like this: These kids ought to be marching against their own hypocritical belief structures. They hate machines that cause death except, hold on, no, you aint never going to take their cars away. They hate the idea that guns save lives, except the only reason weve ever heard of them is because guns didnt come soon enough. The N.R.A. aggressively mobilized a membership drive a few weeks after Parkland. Now is the time for all of us to join together in defense of the principles that make America the greatest nation on earth. They claim to have over 5 million members. But that figure has not been confirmed by any outside party. After Parkland, Florida lawmakers passed the first significant gun control bill in more than 20 years: raising the age limit to buy rifles from 18 to 21. The N.R.A. promptly filed suit. The calls for gun reform after the Parkland shooting havent stopped, and neither have the N.R.A.s efforts to thwart them. At first, it was one doctor quitting the tiny Ukiah Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Northern California. Then another left, and another, until of the five doctors there a year ago, only one remained. The Veterans Choice Act, passed by Congress amid scandalous stories of hidden waiting lists at Veterans Affairs hospitals, allowed more veterans to get care from private providers, but it created an avalanche of paper at Veterans Affairs facilities as outside doctors sent in information on patients. Veterans Affairs doctors had to enter so many medical records manually into the aging department health records system that it crippled their ability to see patients. I was working nights and weekends, holidays, and I couldnt keep up, said Dr. Neal Elkin, a primary care physician who left the Ukiah clinic in January. I was so stressed, I couldnt sleep. My asthma started getting bad, and I just burned out. In Washington, the leadership of the department had been working to streamline private care and overhaul its computer system to cut paperwork. Then President Trump plunged the department into turmoil. He fired the Veterans Affairs secretary, Dr. David J. Shulkin, by tweet in March after weeks of infighting. His handpicked replacement, Dr. Ronny L. Jackson, saw his nomination collapse last week amid a barrage of accusations related to his work as the White House physician. Meanwhile, a string of departures at the highest level of the agency has left it adrift. WASHINGTON When the United States sought to punish Russia last month for its election interference and other aggressions, it targeted some of Russias wealthiest men, imposing sanctions on those viewed as enriching themselves off President Vladimir V. Putins government. Now it turns out that one of the men, Viktor F. Vekselberg, was also singled out in another of the efforts to confront Russias election interference: the investigation led by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. Federal agents working with Mr. Mueller stopped Mr. Vekselberg, a billionaire businessman, at a New York-area airport this year, searched his electronic devices and questioned him, according to people familiar with the matter. They confronted him after he stepped off a private plane about two months ago, according to one of the people. There is no indication that Mr. Mueller suspects Mr. Vekselberg of wrongdoing. But Mr. Vekselberg attended the presidential inauguration last year, and the interest in him suggests that the special counsel has intensified his focus on potential connections between Russian oligarchs and the Trump campaign and inaugural committee. MANAGUA, Nicaragua It has been two weeks since lethal clashes between protesters and pro-government forces erupted in Nicaragua, and the number of deaths is still not clear. But this much is: It keeps climbing. By Friday, the toll of students, counterprotesters, bystanders and police officers who died in five days of student-led demonstrations against President Daniel Ortegas government had risen to at least 45 and was expected to climb further. In this Central American country of six million people, that tally makes this the deadliest unrest by far since nearly three decades of war ended in 1990. Government agencies tightly controlled by Mr. Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have vowed to set up truth commissions and investigations. The question of whether anyone ordered the killings is poised to become a major issue in coming peace talks between the government, the Catholic Church, the business sector and the university students. The challenge is the most critical threat to Mr. Ortegas presidency since he was re-elected in 2007. He has two options: dead or alive, Rosa Diaz said of Mr. Ortega after her 29-year-old sons dead body turned up at a hospital following a particularly brutal night of protests in the capital, Managua. But he has to leave office. Mr. Liu died at age 61 of liver cancer that was belatedly revealed while he was serving an 11-year prison sentence, mainly for spearheading a pro-democratic petition called Charter 08. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 for what the committee called his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. Ms. Liu, 57, has been under police watch ever since; like her husband, she was not allowed to go to Oslo to collect the prize. Since Mr. Lius death, German diplomats and other supporters of Ms. Liu have been trying to arrange her move to Germany, and the German ambassador to Beijing publicly raised her case in late April. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said repeatedly that Ms. Liu is free to move as she pleases. Yet her requests to leave her house have been frustrated, friends of Ms. Liu have said. In the first months of this year, Ms. Liu held to the hope that she and her brother, Liu Hui, would be allowed to leave China after a succession of sensitive political events, including a legislative meeting that abolished term limits on Chinas presidency, said Hu Jia, a longtime dissident in Beijing who said he has kept in indirect contact with Ms. Liu through friends and relatives. The authorities led her to believe that after the legislative meeting, her problems would be addressed, Mr. Hu said by telephone. But her telephone call with Mr. Liao reflected her realization that her hopes had been inflated, Mr. Hu said. For the past half year weve been prisoners of false hopes, he said. Her phone call with Liao Yiwu on April 30 showed that she felt the authorities have been cheating her. She was waiting and waiting, and then grasped what was happening. In her call, Ms. Liu said that she was prepared to leave China at any time, but was cut off from the means to push requests to leave. I can never have enough chocolate cake recipes. Can you? So here's a *Swan's Down 1952 Retro Ad & Recipe* for *Moonlight Chocolate Cake*. This is a rich *Ch... 5 hours ago Anyone with no invasive intention will find no reason to worry about this, she added. While China has long claimed the islands, reefs and other outcroppings within the South China Sea, other nations also have claims there, including Vietnam and the Philippines. Chinas vast reclamation project, which began in earnest in 2013, shortly after Mr. Xi became the countrys paramount leader, has steadily turned once-uninhabited places into fortified islands with airfields and increasingly military outposts. In doing so it has brushed aside warnings from the United States and other nations and even a ruling against its territorial claims by an international arbitration panel in 2016. Chinas base in Djibouti, its first overseas, has long been a source of concern for the United States and other militaries operating around the Horn of Africa. It opened last year and has been portrayed by the Chinese as a logistics base to support antipiracy, counterterrorism and humanitarian operations in Africa and the Middle East. It also happens to be just a few miles from the only permanent American base in Africa, which was established after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The base, operated by the Navy adjacent to Djiboutis international airport, is home to some 4,000 personnel, including those involved in highly secretive missions in the region, including at least two Navy SEAL raids into Yemen. The use of lasers was first made public in April in a warning to pilots issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. It noted that there had been multiple instances of a high-power laser being used near where the Chinese base is. Using lasers to disorient or disable pilots is an old military tactic, but an international protocol adopted in 1995 and joined by China prohibits the practice. Ms. White said that there was no doubt about the origin of the lasers, and that the Pentagon had asked the Chinese to investigate. Its a serious matter, she said, and so were taking it very seriously. In a statement on Friday afternoon, Chinas Ministry of National Defense strongly disputed the Pentagons accusations, saying they were completely inconsistent with fact. WELLINGTON, New Zealand A New Zealand court on Friday revealed the name of a high-ranking military envoy who was accused of surreptitiously recording his co-workers in a bathroom at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington. Alfred Keating, 58, was charged in March after New Zealand police officers traveled to the United States to conduct an investigation, pre-empting an American criminal case from which Mr. Keating could claim diplomatic immunity. Before he resigned in March, Mr. Keating was a commodore in the Royal New Zealand Navy. He had been the countrys most senior military attache stationed in the United States. Upon returning to New Zealand in November, he was charged with attempting to make an intimate visual recording, a crime that carries a maximum 18-month prison term if he is found guilty. According to court documents, a camera was discovered in July in a unisex toilet at the embassy, used by about 60 staff members, after it fell on the floor. SEOUL, South Korea With diplomacy moving apace to end North Koreas nuclear weapons program, Northeast Asia is bracing for something few had thought likely just months ago: a reduction or withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. These forces have been the bedrock of the 65-year-old alliance between Seoul and Washington since the 1950-53 Korean War, serving as a bulwark against North Korean aggression and preserving a shaky peace that allowed South Korea to build its economy into a global powerhouse. Now their presence is being questioned by President Trump, who is skeptical of maintaining a costly American military presence overseas, and by North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, who called last week for a peace treaty formally ending the Korean War. As Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim prepare to meet within the next few weeks to discuss peace and an end to North Koreas nuclear program, Mr. Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of American troops in the South, according to several people briefed on the deliberations. The application period starts on June 12 and ends June 26. Young people can indicate on the portal which four European cities they wish to visit (including those in Britain). After a week, they will be notified if they got that ticket to ride. A group application will be considered as one application. A regular ticket will allow travel by train to at least one and up to four European countries for a maximum of 30 days. The trip must start between July 9 and Sept. 30, 2018. Sorry, lodging is on you; the commission will pay only for transportation. (Flights are allowed in some exceptions, and so will some trips by bus or ferry.) But traveling by rail will be the thing, the commission says in a statement: The scenery from European trains gives an ever-changing, endlessly entertaining variety of towns, countryside and landscapes that can promote discovery and a better understanding of Europe. The measure partly fulfills a proposal put forth by the European Parliament in 2017 that calls for every European to get a free InterRail pass (a multicountry pass can cost upward of 100) on his or her 18th birthday. The initiative, known as the DiscoverEU program, could also be seen as a way to counter growing nationalism across the continent. Tibor Navracsics, the commissioner for education, culture, youth, and sport, said in a statement that the goal was also to discover the cultures and traditions of our fellow Europeans. A YouGov survey of 6,000 young Europeans in seven countries last year showed that just half of Europeans aged 16 to 26 believe democracy is the best form of government. Its very apparent that her tiny bit of Hollywood fame has gone to her head, Mr. Markle wrote. To top it all off, she doesnt invite her own family and instead invites complete strangers to the wedding, who does that. Kensington Palace offered new details on Friday about the wedding, though they were not necessarily the details the journalists present were hoping for. (Examples of questions left unanswered: Will Meghan Markles family be given a coat of arms? Will we get a kiss? Is it in your power to alter the Heathrow flight path? Can you provide any information about whether the princes will do an impromptu walkabout the day before? When are we going to get that snog?) To most of these, Prince Harrys communications secretary, Jason Knauf, promised operational guidance closer to the wedding, as if the journalists were preparing to embed with military units. It emerged that Ms. Markle would not have a maid of honor she has a very close group of friends, and she does not want to choose one over another and that her bridesmaids, in accordance with royal tradition, would be children. Her parents, upon arriving in London, will be introduced to the queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Prince Harry has spent time with Ms. Ragland, and was reported by People magazine to have asked her permission for Ms. Markles hand. His first meeting with his father-in-law will be the week before the wedding. Ms. Danius was not rewarded for her efforts at accountability. Several members of the academy, including some of Ms Daniuss allies, resigned in disgust over the allegations, and Ms. Danius was herself forced out from the top post, although she remains a member of the academy. (On the same day, Ms. Frostenson also stepped down.) Ms. Daniuss demotion prompted mass protests by critics who said that a woman had been scapegoated for the sexual misconduct of a man, and that Ms. Danius had been punished for trying to introduce openness and accountability to a group that preferred to close ranks. [Read more about the Swedish Academys crisis here.] With the academy depleted by resignations, and its secretive workings exposed to unflattering scrutiny, the Nobel Foundation, which manages the industrialist Alfred Nobels legacy and oversees all of the awards, stepped in to warn that the scandal risked tarnishing the prizes as a whole. The crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel Prize, Carl-Henrik Heldin, chairman of the Nobel Foundation, said in a statement early Friday. He said that while the award was intended to be awarded yearly, it should be postponed when the group choosing winners had a problem so serious that a prize decision will not be perceived as credible. Until Friday, the academy had insisted that it was sticking to its usual schedule, winnowing potential laureates to a shortlist by summer and anointing a prize winner in October. But confidence in the academy from the world around us has sunk drastically in the past half year, the acting permanent secretary, the literary scholar Anders Olsson, told Swedish Radio on Friday, and that is the decisive reason that we are postponing the prize. Another member, the historian Peter Englund, wrote in an email: I think this was a wise decision, considering both the inner turmoil of the Academy and the subsequent bloodletting of people and competence, and the general standing of the prize. Who would really care to accept this award under the current circumstances? Mats Svegfors, a well-known editor and publisher, now retired, said the affair threatened to damage Sweden as a whole. LONDON A chemical weapons watchdog amended statements on Friday that its leader had given to The New York Times, in which he estimated that 50 to 100 grams of liquid nerve agent had been used in the March 4 attack on the former Russian spy Sergei V. Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury, England. The Times reported the incorrect information in an article published online on Thursday. A statement issued by the group, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said the amount should be measured in milligrams rather than grams. The group went on to say that it would not be able to estimate how much of the nerve agent was used in Salisbury. In the interview, Ahmet Uzumcu, the director general of the O.P.C.W., described new measures to monitor production of the nerve agent. Mr. Uzumcu said that countries that are signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention like Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom would be required to declare production or stockpiling of the agent, one of a strain known as novichok. However, he said that countries producing the chemical for research purposes would produce about one-10th the amount used in the attack. LONDON Despite mounting troubles over Britains withdrawal from the European Union and a recent cabinet resignation, Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservative Party emerged relatively unscathed from local elections, according to results released on Friday that showed that its opponents had failed to make the breakthrough many expected. Mrs. May has been struggling to deal with one crisis after another, many of them related to the negotiations over the withdrawal, but mixed results from across the country meant the opposition Labour Party failed to achieve the big, and symbolic, gains it was hoping for. Labour was victorious in some key areas, but it fell short in its efforts to take control of two Conservative strongholds in London Westminster and Wandsworth that had been thought to be vulnerable, as well as the capitals northern borough of Barnet, a much easier target. On Friday, Mrs. May visited Wandsworth, where she exulted in the Conservatives victory there. They threw everything at it, but they failed, she said. After five weeks of deadly violence along the border, during which the Gaza Health Ministry has registered at least 45 Palestinians killed by Israeli sniper fire and hundreds injured, the casualties were less severe on Friday. By nightfall, the ministry had reported no deaths, but about 121 protesters had been wounded by live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets or shrapnel. It was not immediately clear if the drop in the casualties reflected fewer protesters or more caution by the military, which says it has been learning lessons from one week to the next. Late in the day, some protesters set fire to the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom goods crossing, according to the Israeli military, igniting gas and fuel pipes that serve the 2 million residents of Gaza. Their motive was not immediately clear. Israel has come under growing international scrutiny and condemnation for the use of deadly force against protesters who were mostly unarmed or who did not appear to be posing a mortal threat to Israelis. The Israeli military and nearby Israeli communities had braced for large fires, but the day passed relatively calmly. The Palestinians attempted to launch a few kites, but with little success. At least one was cut down by an Israeli drone and fell on the Palestinian side. JERUSALEM President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority apologized on Friday for any possible offense caused by a speech he made this week laced with anti-Semitic tropes, including the claim that the Jews of Europe brought persecution and the Holocaust upon themselves by engaging in usury and banking. The effort at damage control came after a storm of international criticism and condemnation and calls for Mr. Abbas, who is in his 80s, to resign after his remarks to the Palestine National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization. If people were offended by my statement in front of the P.N.C., especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them, he said in a statement. I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths. The statement, which was sent to reporters and some editors, was published in Arabic and English on the website of WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency. In recent months, as Ive written about the vagaries of the federal public-service loan forgiveness program, Ive heard from scores of people who have been tearing their hair out trying to qualify and get their loan servicer to give them coherent status updates. In theory, millions of borrowers are eligible to have their debts forgiven after a decade of public-service work. In practice, the program has produced a litany of frustrations. One doctor was flummoxed enough that she handed the mess off to her lawyer who also happened to be her mother to try to make sense of it, to no avail. Another lawyer who actually works at the federal Department of Education, which administers the program, has also run into brick walls. But there is at least one person who has made the 120 qualifying payments and now has a zero balance as a result, thus joining a very small club of the forgiven. He is Michael Mitchell, a 47-year-old New York City musician turned clinical social worker and counseling psychotherapist. For years, he also had a proofreading side hustle, which helped him turn the interpretive back flips necessary to analyze the program at its birth in 2007. In the ensuing years he navigated a system so confounding that it recently drew $350 million of additional federal money to help the many people in incorrect repayment plans who were stymied by the complexity. How did Mr. Mitchell do it? It took him over two hours to tell the story sitting in his apartment in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, with his husband, Ted Altschuler, filling in some details. Between them sat a two-inch stack of loan documents and an iPad containing the list of electronic files that document Mr. Mitchells loan history. No fund company said that it was comfortable with its gender diversity record. The biggest fund managers including BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity, American Funds, T. Rowe Price and State Street Global Advisors all said they were committed to improving their gender diversity records, and were making efforts to recruit and train women who will eventually become portfolio managers. Marie Chandoha, chief executive of Charles Schwab Investment Management, said: I think it is clear that our industry is in great need of a makeover. While progress has been made in recent years, we need a serious and concerted effort to bring more women and greater diversity into the asset management industry. Ms. Chandoha pointed out that Schwab has made progress in metrics aside from the percentage of female portfolio mangers. While 28 percent of our portfolio managers are women, I am proud that they are managing 64 percent of our funds, she said. And, she added, Looking at it another way, 53 percent of our mutual fund and E.T.F. assets are managed by a woman. MFS, which stood at the bottom of the list, with a mere 6 percent of female portfolio managers in its American-registered funds, said that it, too, was committed to improving that record. Daniel Flaherty, an MFS spokesman, said in an email: Beginning in 2010, MFS put in place a program to improve the diversity within its investment division, focused on recruitment, engagement and professional development. We believe we are making progress, as 25 percent of the investment division today are women, up from 12 percent in 2010; 50 percent of new hires in 2017 were women; and one-third of new hires over the last five years have been women. With women making up 10 percent of its portfolio managers, Fidelity falls right at the industry average, though it ranks in the bottom half of the biggest managers list. For the last six months, the company, headed by Abigail Johnson, a granddaughter of Fidelitys founder, has been responding to allegations of sexual harassment, originally reported in The Wall Street Journal. Fidelity is very committed to gender diversity, not only among its portfolio managers, but across the entire business, Vincent G. Loporchio, a Fidelity spokesman, said in an email. He added, We continue building our female talent pipeline with hiring programs through undergraduate and graduate school. President Trumps legal team is in tumult once again as it confronts an investigation in New York into Mr. Trumps personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, and the special counsels inquiry in Washington being led by Robert S. Mueller III. The investigation in New York is focused, in part, on payments Mr. Cohen made to silence a pornographic film star known as Stormy Daniels, who said she had sex with Mr. Trump. Mr. Muellers inquiry is examining whether Mr. Trump obstructed justice and ties between his campaign and Russia. White House lawyers Personal lawyers Donald F. McGahn II White House counsel Ty Cobb White House special counsel Jay Sekulow Rudolph W. Giuliani Jane Serene Raskin Martin R. Raskin will replace Marc E. Kasowitz Michael D. Cohen Charles Harder Yellow notes a lawyer hired within the last month. Emmet T. Flood White House lawyers will be replaced by Emmet T. Flood Donald F. McGahn II White House counsel Ty Cobb White House special counsel personal lawyers Jay Sekulow Rudolph W. Giuliani Jane Serene Raskin Martin R. Raskin Marc E. Kasowitz Michael D. Cohen Charles Harder Yellow notes a lawyer hired within the last month. Mr. Trump has lawyers working inside and outside the White House on the cases. The White House lawyers have taken the lead on handing over administration documents to Mr. Muellers office and arranging interviews with current and former White House officials. Mr. Trumps personal lawyers have spearheaded the efforts to negotiate the terms of an interview with Mr. Muellers office. Another group of personal lawyers have been focused on the New York investigation. White House lawyers Donald F. McGahn II, White House counsel One of Mr. Trumps longest serving officials, who runs a team of lawyers at the White House. He was the top lawyer on the campaign and joined the administration the day Mr. Trump was sworn in. Was interviewed at length by Mr. Mueller's office about whether Mr. Trump tried to obstruct the Russia investigation. Clashed repeatedly with Ty Cobb, a lawyer brought in by the president who Mr. McGahn felt too freely handed over White House documents to Mr. Mueller. Ty Cobb, White House special counsel Veteran Washington lawyer hired in July 2017. Retiring at the end of the month. Despite Mr. Trumps desires to attack Mr. Mueller, he persuaded the president to cooperate, telling him that that was the only way to hasten the end of the investigation. Repeatedly told Mr. Trump that the investigation would be over by the end of 2017. He convinced the president that he would only undermine himself if he fired Mr. Mueller. Believed Mr. Trump should sit for an interview with Mr. Mueller. Emmet T. Flood will replace Ty Cobb Mr. Trump hired him for the job on Wednesday. Has experience dealing with Congress as part of a team that represented President Bill Clinton during his impeachment proceedings and dealt with congressional investigations during President George W. Bushs administration. Was Mr. McGahns selection to replace Mr. Cobb, as Mr. McGahn believed he was better suited to deal with the special counsels investigation and to handle issues from Congress if the Democrats win control of the House or Senate this fall. Is close friends with Mr. McGahn's personal lawyer, William A. Burck. Turned down a previous offer to join the counsels office in part because of concerns that Marc E. Kasowitz, one of the presidents personal lawyers, was undermining its work. Personal lawyers on the Mueller case Jay Sekulow Started as the deputy to John Dowd, the former lead lawyer on the Mueller inquiry team, and became the only outside lawyer on the case after Mr. Dowds departure. Had to rebuild the legal team from scratch. Known for his work as a conservative commentator who has filed a number of religious freedom cases. John Dowd (Quit in March) Hired as the lead lawyer on the Mueller team in July 2017. He left in March because of Mr. Trumps tendency to dismiss his lawyers advice. Despite Mr. Trumps desires to meet with Mr. Mueller, he thought that it would be too risky for Mr. Trump to be interviewed by Mr. Mueller. Took several missteps, including writing a tweet for the president about his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn. Rudolph W. Giuliani Hired in late April to negotiate Mr. Trumps interview with Mr. Mueller and defend him in the media. A former mayor of New York and federal prosecutor, he is seen as loyal to Mr. Trump. On Wednesday night, Mr. Giuliani said on Fox News that Mr. Trump reimbursed Mr. Cohen, his longtime personal lawyer, for a payment Mr. Cohen made to Stephanie Clifford, who performs as Stormy Daniels. Mr. Trump later repeated the claim on Twitter, contradicting earlier statements. Did not inform every member of the legal team that he was going to disclose the payments. Jane Serene Raskin and Martin R. Raskin Hired in late April as longer-term additions to the legal team and may take the lead directly with the investigation of Mr. Cohen, Mr. Trumps longtime personal lawyer. Former federal prosecutors based in Florida. Recruited by Mr. Cobb, who has known them for years. Other personal lawyers Marc E. Kasowitz Mr. Trumps longtime lawyer in New York who initially led the Mueller team when the special counsel was appointed in May last year but was replaced as the lead lawyer by Mr. Dowd. Took an adversarial approach to the investigation. Was pushed aside a few months later after a falling out with Mr. Trump, but he has remained in contact with the president, and some advisers have called for his return. Michael D. Cohen Mr. Trumps lawyer and fixer for more than a decade. In April, F.B.I. agents raided his home, office and hotel room after federal authorities in New York received a referral from Mr. Mueller (though the search does not appear to be directly related to his investigation). They sought documents related to his business dealings and payments he made in connection with two women who said they had affairs with Mr. Trump. Until the raid, he had been the lead lawyer dealing with claims from one of the women, Ms. Clifford. 1 of 11 Revealing a huge archive of stolen nuclear plans, which country accused Iran on Monday of lying for years about its efforts to build a nuclear weapon? The accusation came days before President Trump is to decide whether to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Matt The 20-year-old man awoke to the bright April sunlight and the strange feeling of deja vu. It was a sensation he had come to know well over the last few months and one that signaled the start of one of these episodes that now dominated his life. He shook his girlfriend awake. Talk to me, Matt pleaded. By now, she knew what he meant and immediately began chatting about a hike theyd taken last fall with his new puppy and some friends. Should we go back today? Its supposed to be a beautiful day. She watched him anxiously as she spoke. His face was pale, and the dark circles under his eyes looked even darker than usual. After a minute or so, Matt took a deep breath and shook his head as if the movement itself could clear his mind. Im O.K., he said at last. Just a little nauseous. Sweat gleamed on his face. A Trip to the Emergency Room Matt had been having spells like these for over a year. The first time it happened, he was on the floor playing tug-of-war with his puppy. He had the same creepy deja vu feeling, the same cold sweat, the same nausea. He didnt feel himself lose consciousness, but suddenly the puppy and the rope were gone. He looked up and saw the pup gnawing on the rope in a different room. He found his mother and was telling her what happened when suddenly he slid to the floor, unconscious. His arms and legs jerked a few times, and then he was still. He opened his eyes after maybe 30 seconds, but he couldnt get up or even try to speak for another several minutes. Terrified, his mother drove him to Frederick Memorial Hospital, in Frederick, Md., the next town over. During the ride, Matt fainted again. Help Dr. Lisa Sanders solve this medical mystery. Click here to submit your diagnosis. She pulled the car up to the Emergency Department and ran in to get help. He had just been hooked up to the IV and the heart monitors when the young man passed out once more. This time what was happening was visible on the cardiac monitor: His heart was beating at a regular rate when, suddenly, it slowed and then stopped. The line on the monitor went flat. After a few seconds there was a beat and another brief pause, and then his heart started beating again as if nothing had happened. A temporary pacemaker was placed, and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. The next morning Matt was seen by a cardiologist who specializes in the hearts electrical system the nerves and connections that run the rate and rhythm of the heart as it beats. He got the whole story from Matt and his mother. The young man had never fainted before. And, before this, had no medical problems at all. No one in his family had heart problems or fainted regularly. No one had died suddenly for unknown reasons which might suggest a hidden and potentially inheritable heart problem. He didnt drink or smoke, did occasionally use marijuana though none lately and worked out frequently. The cardiologist examined the young man carefully. He appeared healthy, and his heart exam indeed, his entire exam was completely normal. An EKG done the night before, after his loss of consciousness, was also normal. An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the beating heart, showed that Matts heart was moving normally. The specialist reviewed the strip recorded during his fainting spell and saw how the heart had paused for several seconds before resuming its usual rhythm. Matt was monitored constantly over the next several days. There were no pauses or other abnormalities seen. What Causes Fainting Spells? Fainting, or what is known medically as syncope, is a transient loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, usually from a heart that isnt beating well enough to get the blood where it needs to go. Although the heart is involved in syncope, the problem doesnt usually originate there. The usual trigger is the nervous system. Vasovagal syncope (VVS), the most common form of nerve-induced fainting, occurs when the heart gets an unneeded signal to slow down. The vagus nerve is designed to slow down the heart when it is beating rapidly because of fear, exertion or sex but if triggered when the heart isnt racing, the patient can faint when the vagus causes the heart to slow. Its not always necessary to identify the precise cause of syncope, but it is essential to make sure that it is not caused by the heart. So-called cardiac syncope accounts for only about 20 percent of all fainting spells. But because this kind of syncope can indicate heart disease, its important to separate patients with cardiac causes from those other reasons for fainting. Research has shown that those who have cardiac syncope have a higher risk of death, presumably from the underlying heart problem. Help Dr. Lisa Sanders solve this medical mystery. Click here to submit your diagnosis. About half of the time the patients own story will provide the most important clues to the cause of a syncopal event. The biggest clues include the patients age and gender and if there is a history of heart disease. The patients recollection of what happened just before the loss of consciousness is also crucial. The classic story for cardiac syncope is a middle-aged man who suddenly finds himself on the ground with no preceding symptoms and no awareness of the fall. An EKG may reveal a heart attack or arrhythmia, but often does not. Vasovagal syncope usually has a very different story. Patients with this type of syncope are frequently young and describe feeling lightheaded or faint before losing consciousness. This sensation is often associated with breaking out in a cold sweat and nausea followed by a sense of narrowing vision as if entering a tunnel. Upon awakening, patients will often describe a profound fatigue. And this type of syncope often follows some unpleasant stimulus typically fear, or heat, pain or stress. This young man had elements of a classic story of vasovagal syncope: Each instance was preceded by a feeling of faintness, nausea and a cold sweat. And when Matt woke up, he often felt very tired. But there were abnormal qualities to it as well. Most of the time, VVS occurs only once. A quarter of those who have this kind of fainting event will eventually have a second or even a third fainting spell. Having so many episodes one right after another, however, was unusual. Another oddity was that they often happened while Matt was lying down. Usually VVS occurs when the subject is upright. VVS is also frequently associated with some unpleasant experience. Not so in this young mans case. And finally, the patients sense of deja vu and the brief hallucinations he had sometimes before the events sounded more like a seizure than syncope. On the other hand, the strip obtained from the cardiac monitor while the patient was in the ED strongly suggested a neurally mediated, classic vasovagal faint with a sudden slowing of the heart. Because the young mans story didnt fit the classic picture of VVS, the doctors caring for him in the hospital wanted to make certain his heart was not involved. He was tested for the common causes of cardiac syncope Lyme disease and thyroid disease. He didnt have Lyme disease, and his thyroid test, while not completely normal, was unlikely to have caused him to faint. After watching him on a cardiac monitor for four days, his doctors thought he was safe to send home. Still, because his story was a little atypical, a loop monitor was implanted in his chest. This monitor would record any abnormal heart rhythms. After leaving the hospital, the patients primary care doctor referred him to a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins in nearby Baltimore. After reviewing the young mans hospital records and listening to his story, the specialist massaged Matts neck just below the ear on each side, where the carotid arteries lie. These vessels, which carry blood from the heart to the brain, have receptors that help regulate how fast the heart beats. Some people have a strong response to even mild stimulation of the carotid, causing the heart to slow down. Matts reactions, however, were normal. He also had the young man increase his intra-abdominal pressure by pushing the way you might push to have a bowel movement. This can stimulate the vagus nerve and send signals to the heart to slow down and is thought to be one of the reasons some people can faint after urinating or moving their bowels. Matts heart slowed down a bit as was normal. Neither seemed likely to cause syncope. The cardiologist ordered an MRI of the heart to look for diseases that can interfere with a normal heart rate by infiltrating the muscle and interfering with the hearts electrical system. The images were normal. Matts primary-care physician also sent him to a neurologist. The neurologist ordered an MRI of his brain, which came back normal. An EEG was also normal. (You can see these reports here.) For the next six months, the monitor implanted in Matts chest didnt show any unusual activity. He had no more sensations of deja vu and no more fainting. Finally, patient and doctor agreed that the monitor could come out. They didnt have a firm answer about what had happened, but it seemed to have resolved itself. Not Yet Out of the Woods Two weeks after the monitor was removed, Matt was getting ready to take a shower when he suddenly had that strange feeling of deja vu again. He was headed toward his bedroom to lie down when he suddenly blacked out, hitting his nose on the sink. He woke up in a pool of blood with a cut on the bridge of his nose. He was taken back to Frederick Memorial Hospital. Once again, he was hooked up to the cardiac monitor. And remarkably, once again his heart stopped, this time for nine seconds. Then there was a beat, followed by another long pause. A code was called and a defibrillator rushed to his bedside, but his heart restarted itself before a shock was needed. A temporary pacemaker was again placed and the cardiologist who saw him the first time consulted. A second Lyme test was done, as well as a second set of thyroid tests. This time both were unremarkable. The cardiologist still felt confident that this was vasovagal syncope. He watched the patient overnight: Nothing irregular was seen on the monitor. The temporary pacemaker was never needed. He explained to Matt and his parents that putting a permanent pacemaker in someone so young was a bad idea and probably unnecessary. He could start Matt on a medication that would stimulate his heart and keep his blood pressure up and see if that was helpful, but he didnt need to be in the hospital. (You can see a few notes from that hospitalization here.) After being discharged, Matt returned to his cardiologist at Johns Hopkins. That cardiologist also thought that this probably was vasovagal syncope. When the medication started in the hospital seemed ineffective, he tried others. None seemed to work. (You can see the notes from this cardiologist here.) Matts primary-care doctor sent him to another cardiologist for yet another opinion. This doctor tried a different type of cardiac monitor for almost two weeks. It would record any abnormal rhythms; additionally, when the patient felt any symptoms like the deja vu sensation hed had in the past he was to press a button on the monitor, and the device would record his hearts activity at that time. The patient pressed the button nearly every day, but the monitor showed only a normal or sometimes elevated heart rate with a normal rhythm. (Notes from that cardiologist and the results of the monitoring can be seen here.) Frequent Episodes It has been more than a year, and the patient has continued to have episodes of deja vu, accompanied by cold sweat and lightheadedness, once or twice a week. Most of the time he can somehow keep himself from passing out. The near-syncopal event he had in April, while with his girlfriend, resolved with rest alone. Having someone talk to him, he feels, sometimes short-circuits whatever is happening in his brain and keeps him from losing consciousness. Diagnosis is a groundbreaking documentary series from The New York Times, Netflix and Dr. Lisa Sanders that harnesses the power of you, our readers, to help find diagnoses for people suffering from mysterious medical conditions. Your ideas could potentially help save a life. Readers with the most promising suggestions may be included in an eight-part Netflix series that will air in 2019. Still, the episodes where he loses consciousness have persisted. A few weeks ago he was at work and tried lifting something heavy. Suddenly he was once again overcome with a sensation of deja vu. It was followed by the nausea and cold sweats he has come to know so well. Seconds later, he found himself on the ground. He has had to take time off from work. His employer was concerned about why his apparently healthy employee had suddenly passed out, and he isnt sure Matt should come back until he has some answers. Matt is now seeing a third cardiologist. He is scheduled to have additional testing this week. (Notes from that cardiologist can be seen here.) What do you think is going on here? Do you recognize this condition? Is this vasovagal syncope, or is there something else going on? What should Matt and his doctor look at next? Enter your comments below, and briefly describe your thinking; how a diagnosis is made is often as revealing as the diagnosis itself. All answers will be reviewed, and the most promising diagnoses will be shared with the patient and his primary-care physician. Ill post an update in the coming days. Plans by the Nairobi County government to transfer Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) termini outside the citys Central Business District have suffered a blow. This after the Matatu Welfare Association on Thursday filed a suit in the High Court to stop the County government from implementing the ban. Through lawyer Joseph Angwenyi, the matatu operators indicated that they want the status quo to remain because the new PSV termini require renovation. The termini the Nairobi County government intends to relocate PSVs to are totally inhabitable and impractical to utilise given their current state and as such it is paramount that the sued party holds the relocation until all stakeholders have taken part or the new areas are renovated to fit the purpose, said Angwenyi. The association through its chair Dickson Mbugua, argues that the new termini are too small and squeezed to accommodate half of the matatus in one Sacco. He claimed that the new termini have large potholes that render them unusable, some are used as marketplaces and are all far away from the CBD. In the case documents, Mbugua argued that there are no sufficient alternative means of ferrying members of the public from the new termini to the CBD. The matter was certified urgent and the county government was asked to respond to the case in seven days for a hearing on Thursday, May 10. Critical design work on the Royal Australian Navys Future Submarine Program will move to South Australia from 2022, fueling more local jobs and investment. The 12 new submarines will be constructed in Adelaide, utilizing a national supply chain and ensuring this $50 billion initiative is completed with Australian expertise. Critical design work on the Royal Australian Navys Future Submarine Program will move to South Australia from 2022, fueling more local jobs and investment. The 12 new submarines will be constructed in Adelaide, utilizing a national supply chain and ensuring this $50 billion initiative is completed with Australian expertise. Artist impression: RAN future submarines. Naval Group image. The project will deliver the best submarines to the Royal Australian Navy, and create almost 3000 jobs directly and throughout the supply chain. Now the Turnbull Government is also confirming that the detailed design work will move from France to Australia in 2022. Currently, initial design work is taking place in Adelaide and Cherbourg, France. Up to 270 Australian jobs will be created in the detailed design and production planning activities. This announcement coincides with the visit to Australia by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. The engagement of Frances Naval Group represents the enormous opportunity being delivered through Australias strategic partnership with France. Naval Groups commitment to building Australias sovereign defence industry capability is reinforced by the decision to migrate detailed design of the Future Submarine to Australia. Preparations will involve a range of training activities for Australians to ensure they achieve the necessary qualifications and develop the essential skills to undertake both detailed design and production planning. Undertaking the detailed design and production planning locally will ensure our sovereignty goals are met, in a smooth transition to construction of the submarines in Adelaide. During detailed design the Future Submarines will be developed and planned to a high level of precision using advanced computer-aided software, which includes the layout of all systems in each compartment of the submarine. At the same time, the schedule for the construction of the submarine will be planned in detail, guiding shipyard workers on each stage of the build. More than 600 Australian companies have so far registered interest with Naval Group to be part of the Program. Video on Australia's future submarine Australia's Future Submarine Program: The Australian Government selected Naval Group (then known as DCNS) as its preferred international partner for the design of 12 Future submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The announcement was made on April 26 2016 by the Australian Prime Minister the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon. Christopher Pyne and The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett. DCNS was competing with the Shortfin Barracuda design against TKMS' Type 216 and Japan's Soryu class designs. Based on the French Navy Barracuda SSN currently in final stage of construction, Australia's future submarine will be will be 97 meters in length and 8.8 meters in diameter. In September, Lockheed Martin was selected as the preffered combat system integrator. All 12 submarines are expected to be built in Adelaide (South Australia) with technology transfer from Naval Group. Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) banking group has announced a statutory net profit of $490 million for the six months ended in March, with operating revenue up 11.1% driven by strong business and housing lending growth and improved net margins. Its cash earning for NZ banking recorded an 8.6% increases over the same period. BNZs strong revenue growth has been underpinned by a significant growth in customer deposits and savings, says BNZ chief executive officer Angie Mentis. These results mean BNZ is well placed to respond to an unprecedented change in the way customers are using digital technology. Parry said Kiwi workers in the finance sector are under pressure to make sales, and that this pressure is not always consistent with the interests of consumers. As the Union for the finance sector, the single biggest complaint from our members is the pressure to sell financial products (such as life insurance, credit cards or mortgages) in order to meet their targets, he explained. If a worker fails to sell enough products, they not only lose out on bonuses but ultimately risk being managed out of their jobs. He also said banking sales targets benefit neither bank workers, nor New Zealander's wallets. These targets create a conflict between the interests of consumers and of the bank, and consumers should be able to trust that their best interest comes first when accessing financial services. We strongly encourage the government to convene a Royal Commission or a similar enquiry into the New Zealand finance sector, and that the use of sales targets be included in the terms of reference, says Parry. A Royal Commission would give the public confidence that the interests of consumers and finance sector workers are properly balanced against the profit motive of New Zealands private sector banks, particularly in light of the indiscretions of their parent companies in Australia. Related stories: Banks are not afraid of answering regulator questions, Bankers' Association New Zealand similar enough to Australia to warrant a Royal Commission- Simplicity Justice BV Nagarathna in line to become Indias first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027 Gujarat: Woman forces 11-year-old girl to dip her hand in boiling oil to prove she was not lying Assam: Cop arrested for raping woman inside police station India oi-Madhuri A woman has allegedly been raped by a police officer inside the police station in Assam's Hajo area. The accused has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Meanwhile, the medical examination of the victim is yet to be done. The police officer has been identified as Binod Kumar Das of Ramdia police station, who raped the woman inside the police quarter. "Based on FIR of woman one police officer has been arrested and sent to judicial custody, medical examination of the victim to be done yet," a police official was quoted as saying by ANI. Reacting to the incident, Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called for severe punishment for the accused policeman. He further advised the government to take serious note of psychological test of police officers during recruitment. According to police, an FIR has been registered and an investigation in the regard is underway. Bihar: Minister makes 'U-turn', claims no casualties in Motihari bus accident India oi-Madhuri Bihar Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav on Friday confirmed there were no casualties in yesterday's Motihari bus accident. He had earlier confirmed on camera about 27 deaths. Speaking on Motihari bus accident, Bihar Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav said, 'The information of deaths was wrong. Yes, I said 27 people have died, it was based on info from local sources, but I also said that only final report will be considered.' ''There was booking for 13 people. 8 were taken to hospital by authorities, there was no sign of remaining 5, no remains were found. They might have left the spot on their own.'' Yadav further said. It was earlier reported that at least 27 passengers were feared dead after a bus travelling from Muzaffarpur to New Delhi turned turtle and caught fire on NH-28 near Belwa village in Bihar's Motihari on Thursday. The bus fell into a ditch and caught fire after the driver lost control over the vehicle in East Champaran district, the police said. The incident took place on NH-28 near Belwa village under Kotwa police station area, about 30 kilometres from Motihari, the district headquarters. However, the district administration of Motihari said today that not a single body was found in a bus that fell into a ditch and caught fire in the Bihar district. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had mourned the tragedy and expressed condolences by observing a one-minute silence. He said, "I am pained by the irony..... Here we have gathered to launch schemes related to transport which includes road safety and we receive the news of the tragic mishap. It is not known how many people have died." Chief ministers of northeastern states meet in Delhi to take Act East policy to ground India oi-Vinod By Vinod New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has met with chief ministers of the northeastern states to take the National Democratic Alliance government's ambitious initiative 'Act East Policy' to the ground. The government not only wants to build highways to transport goods from the region to east and south Asian countries but also air linkages, internet connectivity, better educational institutions for skill development and growth of the region. The NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been focusing more on the development of the northeastern region. The Assam government even constituted an Act East Policy department. The External Affairs Minister said that state governments of the Northeastern region were active stakeholders in India's Act East Policy. Greater connectivity and economic integration of India's North East with its eastern neighbours was considered a key focus area for growth and development of the region. One of the important stakeholder state Assam's chief minister Sarbanand Sonowal said, "This was a first formal meeting on Act East policy." He said that the External Affairs Minister had stressed on building infrastructure and pushing development work in the northeast, which is at the heart of Act East Policy and India's ongoing engagement with ASEAN and its extended neighbourhood. Another chief minister of the northeastern state Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb has raised the issue of removal of port restriction imposed by Bangladesh to improve export of Tripura to Bangladesh. He has also demanded operationalisation of Chittagong Port which is just 76 kilometres away of Tripura. Delay in implementation of BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) Motor Vehicle Agreement was also taken up by him. The CM also requested the Swaraj to get permission of setting up more Border Haats. Shifting border fencing in Manughat was also discussed. Sources said that promotion of investment in the region, activation of Land Customs by Bangladesh, construction of bridge over Feni River and construction four-lane highway, waterways connectivity between Bangladesh and northeastern region, more regional passport offices in the region, removal of special permission to enter India through Tripura and better internet connectivity were some of the issue that were also discussed. Another chief minister talked about reviving the historic Stilwell's Road, which was constructed during the Second World War from Ledo in Assam to Kunming, China passing through Lekhapani, Jairampur, Nampong and Pangsau pass, India-Burma (Myanmar) border. Sources informed that Northeastern states have the target of exporting agriculture products worth $100 billion as the region mostly does organic farming. The meeting deliberated on the North Eastern region's intra-regional and sub-regional surface and air linkages, focusing on seamless connectivity with its contiguous neighbourhood. Continued development of relevant infrastructure both within the state and at international borders was also discussed with a view to enhancing trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 4, 2018, 21:49 [IST] The UK and Norway advanced their plans for international Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) co-operation in the North Atlantic, as the nations defence ministers flew in an American P-8A Poseidon from RAF Lossiemouth this week. The UK and Norway advanced their plans for international Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) co-operation in the North Atlantic, as the nations defence ministers flew in an American P-8A Poseidon from RAF Lossiemouth this week. Artist impression of a Royal Air Force P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft. British MoD image. Defence Minister Guto Bebb hosted Secretary Tone Skogen, State Secretary in Norways Ministry of Defence, on her visit aboard a US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft equipment which both the UK and Norway will soon own themselves. The allies ramped up discussions around how the nations will work together and might deploy their submarine-hunting aircraft fleet in the future. Areas of co-operation could range from maintenance to training and operations, which would not only cut costs but also boost operational power in the North Atlantic, a key area of submarine activity. The aircraft took off from RAF Lossiemouth, which will be the future home of the UKs fleet. Investing 3 billion in the capability over the next decade, the UK is buying nine of the Boeing-built aircraft, whilst Norway are getting five. Their key role for the UK will be to protect the countrys submarine-based nuclear deterrent and its two new aircraft carriers - the Poseidons deploy sonobuoys to help them detect submarines, and can fire anti-ship missiles and launch torpedoes to destroy submarines. Defence Minister Guto Bebb said: These sub-hunters will take to the skies from RAF Lossiemouth and help us combat a range of intensifying threats, not least increasing submarine activity in the North Atlantic. Were investing 3bn in our own capability, but working alongside Norway takes this to a higher level. Not only could we cut costs by sharing training, spares and repair facilities, but we can patrol the seas together, meaning weve got more eyes and ears on any potential aggressors. Norways Secretary Tone Skogen said: Norway and the UK are natural partners given our shared values, as well as our history and geography. We can even further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation related to high-end capabilities such as the F-35 fighter and the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. In my discussions with Guto Bebb, Minister for Defence Procurement, I find a like-minded ally. The UK and Norway continue to stand together in training and exercises in the North Atlantic and the Northern region, as well as operationalisation of the Joint Expeditionary Force. The nine P-8A Poseidons will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. Last month, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson cut the first turf on a 132m facility for the new fleet. The new facility will be completed in 2020, to coincide with initial operating capability of the Poseidon aircraft being available in the UK. Built by Elgin-based Robertson Northern, it will comprise a tactical operations centre, an operational conversion unit, squadron accommodation, training and simulation facilities and a three-bay aircraft hangar. At the peak of construction, the project will support 200 local jobs. When the fleet is fully operational, some 470 additional service personnel will be based at RAF Lossiemouth, taking the total number of people employed there to 2,200. Further roles are also expected when the training and support services are established at the new facility. 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 'Contribution of women leads to development of country', says PM Modi India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BJP need to expose the hollow promises made by Congress party and urge the people of Karnataka to join the journey of development. He was interacting with the Karnataka BJP Mahila Morcha through NaMo app on Friday. In the interaction with Karnataka party workers, PM Modi said many schemes meant for women's empowerment were not in the right direction after BJP became to power, we started many schemes from women's health to maternity leave, so that they could get all the necessary amenities after delivery to maker her life smooth. "It has always been our effort to give equal opportunity to women. When the contribution of women in the country increases, the development of the country is ensured," PM said. PM Modi attacked the Congress saying, " If Congress does not spread a lie, it'll lose its relevance. We'll win the election but for us, it is important to win polling booth." While highlighting BJP government's schemes for women, PM Modi said, "We increased maternity leave for women to 6 months, more than 1.26 core accounts were created under Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana scheme. Over 10 lakh accounts were created in Karnataka." Organised 4 lakh free health check-ups and free vaccination of nearly 10 lakh women and children were done in Karnataka Our govt stands solidly to support women at every stage whether they want to become home maker, job seeker or job creator Under PM MUDRA yojana, 12 crore loans have been allocated out of which more than 70 per cent of the beneficiaries are women. They are not only self-employed but also employing others Ujjawala scheme has also helped in the preservation of water in rural areas, as the utensils are not getting stained due to cooking on smoke-free LPG stove. Rani Snyukta, State VP Mahila Morcha asks PM Modi about the security of women in the backdrop of rising incidence of crime against women. PM Modi replied, "The government has recently made stringent amendments in laws relating to crimes against women and children, increasing the punishment up to death penalty in some cases. Also, Awareness in the society about atrocities on women and sense of responsibility can help us get rid of social evil." 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 Deadly female ISIS recruiter who radicalised Indian Muslims questioned by NIA India oi-Vicky Nanjappa A dreaded female recruiter of the Islamic State has been interrogated by the National Investigation Agency. A two-member team of the agency travelled to the Philippines to question Karen Aisha Hamidon, a 36-year-old Filipino woman accused of radicalising several Indians over the past four years. The questioning of the aforesaid accused and data retrieved from the digital devices seized from them at the time of their arrest had revealed the name of one Karen Hamidon as the user of mobile numbers +639300183542 and +639165017304 and as one of the most active ISIS operative based in the Philippines between 2014 and December 2015, the NIA said in its note. 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. She was also in telephonic contacts with many other Indian nationals, the NIA also said. She was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippines on October 11, 2017, and charged with incitement to rebellion. The NIA during its investigations into the various ISIS modules in India found that Hamidon was an active recruiter. Following the probe, the NIA sent out a letter rogatory or a judicial request to their counterparts in the Philippines. In the request, the NIA mentioned her address as Diego Shilang village in Taguig City, Metro Manila. Details of her phone numbers, her identity as Aisha al-Muslimah and her email id @KarenAishaHamidon were also sent out by the NIA. The NIA is also on the lookout for several operatives and she could help track them, the NIA officer also informed. Her name cropped up when the NIA questioned two operatives from India. One was an Indian Oil Corporation manager, Sirajuddin who was arrested from Jaipur and the other was a 22-year-old computer engineer from Tamil Nadu, Mohammad Naseer who was recently deported from Sudan. The NIA states in a chargesheet that Hamidan had influenced many through social media channels and chat groups. It also said that she had also targeted Muslims in US, UK, UAE, Argentina, Bangladesh and Australia. She would target youth through groups which she called as Islam Q&A and Ummah Affairs. Hyderabad High Court confirms lifer for Pakistani spy India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Hyderabad High Court has confirmed the life imprisonment awarded to a Pakistani spy, Ashiq Ali. The order of the trial court awarding a lifer was confirmed by the High Court. Ali, a Pakistani national was arrested by the Nizamabad police on January 26, 2002, from the Jannapally Junction. It was alleged that he was passing on strategic defence information to the Pakistan army through mobile and emails. It was alleged that he had 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. He was launched into India under the guise of a tourist on June 15, 2001. During his stint, he visited Delhi, Kanpur, Mumbai, Nagpur and Hyderabad. He collected information with regard to the 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 a number of units; 'name of colony's place' as code for the location of the units. Concerns on terrorist safe havens in Pakistan an honest one: US Why US engaging with Pakistan on Afghanistan is a cause of worry for India How Pakistan used almonds to fund terror and back-stab Indias good-will on LoC trade Kulbhushan Jadhav: Pak court allows India more time to appoint lawyer A change of guard in the ISI and what it would mean Pakistan intelligence agency ISI gets new chief in surprise shake-up J&K: 13-year-old girl injured as Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch India oi-Deepika By Deepika A 13-year-old girl was injured as in ceasefire violation by the Pakistani army across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. The Pakistan army fired from small arms along the Line of Control in Gulpur sector of Poonch, police said. On October 26, Pakistani troops fired using small and heavy weapons at Sher Shakti and Mandhar areas of Kerni sector. Over 500 instances of ceasefire violations by Pakistan have been reported so far this year, double the instances last year. A total of 228 ceasefire violations occurred along the LoC in 2016. Till October 3, 503 ceasefire violations by Pakistan have been reported. Jinnah's portrait there even at Sabarmanti Ashram, why no protest on that, asks AMU VC Jinnah contributed as much to freedom struggle as Gandhi, Nehru did: SP MP India pti-PTI Aligarh/Gorakhpur (UP), May 4: A Samajwadi Party MP on Friday likened Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru as tension simmered at Aligarh Muslim University, which is at the centre of a row over a portrait of the Pakistan founder. The administration suspended internet services in communally sensitive Aligarh district from 2 pm today to midnight tomorrow to prevent rumour mongering. AMU students continued their sit-in at the university's Baab-e-Syed gate, where they had clashed with the police on Wednesday. They are boycotting classes for the next two days. Wednesday's clash took place when the students were demanding action against right-wing protesters who had entered the campus and wanted Jinnah's portrait removed from the student union office, where it has been hanging for decades. The students offered Friday prayers at the scene of the dharna in which a large number of teachers and other members of the AMU fraternity participated. In Gorakhpur, newly elected Samajwadi Party MP Praveen Nishad sparked a controversy by comparing the contribution of Gandhi and Nehru to that of Jinnah during the freedom struggle. Nishad had scored a surprise victory in the recent bypolls from Gorakhpur, represented by Yogi Adityanath before he became the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. During his Karnataka election tour, Adityanath said he was against honouring Pakistans founder. Nishad today accused the BJP of playing dirty politics in Jinnahs name. Nehru and Gandhi contributed for the freedom of the country but it cannot be denied that Jinnah equally contributed for it," he told reporters. He said the BJP was trying to "divide the people in the name of religion and caste. In Delhi, the Congress today said Jinnah was never an icon for the country and accused BJP of raking an "artificial" issue. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the BJP was playing "dirty politics of sensationalism, divisiveness, polarisation". The Jinnah row started after BJPs Aligarh MP Satish Gautam wrote to AMU raising objections to the portrait. The University said portraits of all life members of the student union hang there. Jinnah, a founder member of the University Court, had also been given this honour before Partition. AMU vice chancellor Tariq Mansoor today visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital where three of the students injured in the police lathi-charge are being treated. AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA) has sent a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind asking him to "urgently institute" a high-level judicial probe into the incident. They said members of certain outfits entered the campus and disrupted the peaceful academic environment there. AMUTA secretary Najmul Islam told PTI that they have urged the President to treat the matter seriously as it involved a breach in the security of former Vice President Hamid Ansari. Ansari was supposed to be felicitated at the University the day the violence broke out. Islam said protesters who had entered the campus were reportedly carrying firearms. He said the police, instead of preventing the hooligans from entering the campus, "remained mute spectators". PTI 'Jinnah did not want separate country for Muslims', says Farooq Abdullah Jinnah row: After uproar in AMU, now its founder's portrait removed Jinnah portrait row: AMU, Jamia students protest in Delhi India oi-Madhuri As Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students on Friday decided to boycott classes for five days to protest police action against them, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Friday said that the President Ram Nath Kovind will decide on AMU row. Meanwhile, Internet services have been suspended from 2 PM to midnight in view of inflammatory messages related to the Jinnah controversy being widely shared on the social media. The university is in the centre of a controversy over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah that has been on a wall in the students union's office for decades. Also, wading into a controversy, Gorakhpur MP Praveen Nishad on Friday said that the Mohammad Ali Jinnah played a role in India's freedom struggle just like Mahatma Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru. It first stirred the controversy after Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam asked AMU vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor to explain the reason for Jinnah's portrait being hung on the university campus. On Thursday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath also called for the removal of Jinnah's portrait. Karnataka elections: Anti-liquor activist SH Linge Gowdas politics rests in honesty, simplicity India oi-Maitreyee Maddur, May 4: Away from massive rallies of big political parties, a dilapidated autorickshaw mounted with a loudspeaker crisscrosses across Maddur in Mandya district asking voters to cast their votes for Swaraj India party leader SH Linge Gowda in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. The loudspeaker in Kannada announces that the bureaucrat-turned-anti-liquor-activist-turned-politician's fight is against corruption, injustice and discrimination in the polls scheduled on May 12. Quietly following the black-yellow painted autorickshaw, decorated with a couple of posters of Linge Gowda, is a car where the 42-year-old Swaraj India party candidate and his mother Chikkathayiamma travel through the length and breadth of the town as they make several stops in between to meet people. Call it coincidence or jugaad (the popular Hindi word crediting Indians with finding effective and innovative solution to a problem), an autorickshaw is not only fervently seeking people's support for the Swaraj India party leader, but it is also the election symbol of Linge Gowda, who is fighting his first election. Talking to OneIndia inside his one-room office in Maddur, Linge Gowda, the former excise official, says his campaign strategy is simple and direct. "These days, I start my day early. From morning till late evening, I go and meet people and talk to them. They tell me about their issues and concerns. I listen to them and tell my plans and vision if I get elected as their future MLA," Linge Gowda said. The simplicity of affair involving the campaign of Linge Gowda is a far cry from the huge and expensive rallies of the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the state. In the last couple of weeks, poll-bound Karnataka has witnessed a lot of hatred, division and ugly war of words as "political stalwarts" went on blistering attacks against their opponents to woo voters. If politics of hate, communal division and money and muscle power is a reflection of our sad and equally bad times, then there are also 'rare' politicians who are trying to bring change in society through "alternative politics". One among them is Linge Gowda (going by his past social work and campaign style) from Maddur, located almost 80 kms from Bengaluru. For Linge Gowda, his political journey began the day when he took leave from his office in November 2016 to embark on a padayatra (foot march) against the rising menace of alcohol addiction among the masses in Karnataka. In an attempt to create awareness on ill-effects of liquor and free the state from the scourge of drinking problem, the former officer with a group of seven other companions travelled from Basavakalyan in Bidar district to Bengaluru in 2016. Stressing on the enormous spread of alcoholism, Linge Gowda said, "In Maddur, almost 60 per cent of households are victims of addiction. Each household spends almost Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 on buying alcohol every month. It's a huge amount looking at the poor economic conditions of the majority of the people here." "Alcohol has killed a huge number of families in Maddur. People are suffering from depression and physical ailments, thanks to the drinking problem of the male population," he added. Being an officer, who had earlier worked with the state's excise department, Linge Gowda understands well how the entire flow of alcohol is controlled by political parties. "We need political power to stop poor from falling prey to alcohol addiction," he said. If eliminating addiction is his pet subject, Linge Gowda also aspires to change the financial status of farmers of Maddur, known for sugarcane, silk, paddy, coconut and millet cultivation. "Here 70 per cent people are engaged in agriculture. In spite of bumper harvests, farmers are not making profit. Here land is highly cultivable, but water scarcity is causing problems to farmers. Those engaged in agriculture have to shift to organic farming to retain soil's fertility. Instead of focusing on three-four crops, farmers need to grow vegetables to help them get the right price for all their produce." Large-scale unemployment is also a problem which the Swaraj India candidate hopes to address if he gets elected from his home constituency. A total of 13 candidates are contesting elections from the Maddur constituency which has 2,02,418 voters. The current sitting MLA of Maddur is Janata Dal (Secular) leader DC Thammanna, who is again contesting elections. When asked if political baahubalis (strong leaders) scare him because of their easy access to money and muscle power, Linge Gowda smiled and said, "To bring change, we need to take risks." "The entire Indian political system needs a churn. I am part of that change," he added, while sipping a cup of tea offered to him at a farmer's house in the town. His mother, Chikkathayiamma, who had contested the last Zilla Parishad elections but lost, could not agree more with her son. Karnataka elections: Yeddyurappa releases BJPs manifesto, promises cow slaughter bill India oi-Deepika By Deepika Bharatiya Janta Party on Friday released its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka elections in Bengaluru. The manifesto was released by party's Chief Minister candidate BS Yeddyurappa in the presence of various party leaders. The manifesto promises re-introduction of cow slaughter bill, to waive off loans of up to Rs 1 lakh for farmers and weavers. The BJP said that it would do away with the ACB and revive the Lokayukta. This has been one of the major poll planks of the BJP which has accused the Congress of deteriorating law and order in the state. "We are committed to reducing the burden of debt on our Annadaatas. We will announce a crop loan waiver up to Rs1 Lakh, including all loans from Nationalised Banks and Co-operatives, in our first Cabinet Meeting for the benefit of our Annadaatas," said Yeddyurappa releasing the manifesto. "Welfare of farmers has always been our priority. We will allocate Rs 1,50,000 Cr for various irrigation projects in Karnataka and ensure water reaches to every field in the state", he said. Here are the highlights of BJP manifesto Rs 3,000 Crore Kamadhenu Fund for development of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure and Rs 1,000 Crore fund for expanding veterinary services. The "Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012" will be reintroduced. Rs 5,000 Crore "Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund" to support farmers during price fluctuations. "Raitha Bandhu Department", under CMO, to monitor implementation of all farmer friendly schemes.Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore "Sujalam Suphalam Karnataka Yojane" to complete all irrigation projects by 2023. Launch "Mission Kalyani" to rejuvenate all tanks and lakes in the state. 3 phase power supply for 10 hours for farmers to operate their pump sets. Rs 100 Cr "Raitha Bandhu Scholarship" to enable farmers' children to pursue agriculture & allied sector courses. 1,000 farmers to travel to countries like Israel & China per year to study best practices under the "CM's Fellowship for Agriculture". Establish a Rs 10,000 Crore "Stree Unnati Fund" to set up one of the largest women run co-operatives and establish "Stree Unnati Stores" to market its products Loans up to Rs 2 Lakhs shall be given to women only SHGs at 1% p.a.interest. Form a Special Investigation Cell, under a woman Police Officer and employing 1,000 policewomen to investigate all pending crimes against women. Increase the amount payable at maturity under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme to Rs 2 Lakh. Provide free sanitary napkins to BPL women and girl students and at Rs. 1 for other women under the new "Stree Suvidha Scheme." Launch the "Mukhya Mantri Smartphone Yojane" to provide women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families with a free smartphone. "Ayushman Karnataka Scheme" to provide poor and vulnerable families with a cover of Rs 5 Lakh for treatment. Set up 2 "Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences" (on the lines of AIIMS). Organise a Special Industrial Investment Summit for Hyderabad Karnataka region in one of the District Headquarters in the Article 371-J region every 2 yearsto attract investment into the area. Rs 2,500 Cr "Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Fund" to clean and revive the lakes and rivers of Bengaluru and free Bengalureans from the water tanker mafia. Form "Kittur Rani Chennamma Flying Squads" to attend to distress calls of women in Bengaluru quickly. Set up KIRTI Aayoga (Karnataka Institute for Reformative and Transformative Initiatives) to replace Karnataka Knowledge Commission and state planning Commission. Strengthen the Sakala Act & expand the scope of the Sakala Act to all Govt services. Hyderabad K'taka Industrial Mega Corridor will be built from Hosapete to Hyd passing through Koppal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi and Bidar. Commit to "Inclusive Long-Term Vision of Development" in carrying out a "30 District - 30 Hub" mega development plan. "Annadasoha" Scheme to ensure food security for all. Provide BPL card holders with free food items and APL card holders with quality food items at lesser rates Rs 1,500 Crore. "Maharishi Valmiki Scholarship Scheme" to increase scholarships of ST students. Rs 8,500 Crore "Madara Chennaiah Housing Scheme" to build modern housing for SC Communities. Rs 1,000 Crore "OBC Fund" to incentivise traditional occupations and ensure welfare of practitioners of traditional professions. Special coaching centres to prepare SC/ST/OBC/BPL students for entrance exams like JEE, CAT, KPSC and UPSC. BPL category students seeking higher education to get zero interest rate loans upto Rs 3 Lakh for degree and Rs 5 Lakh for integrated courses. Waiver of loans taken by weavers within 3 months of forming the government. Set up development corporations/welfare boards for Tigala, Savita Samaja, Idiga, Billava and Yadava communities. Celebrate Amarashilpi Jakanachari Jayanti every year. Ensure that there is no interference by the government in temple administration and maintenance. Ensure that the revenue of temples is used only and fully for expenditure on temples and related religious activities. Separate ministry to plan and implement projects to ensure clean drinking water using river and surface water for every household. Separate ministry to make Karnataka a "Hut Free" and "Slum Free" state through proper implementation of PM Awas Yojana. Provide PhD students of Kannada language & literature with a scholarship of Rs 1 Lakh per annum from "Da Ra Bendre Scholarship Fund". Ensure that exams for all Govt jobs & entry into govt educational institutions are conducted in Kannada. Make Kannada a compulsory non-test introductory subject in all universities to help non Kannada speaking students. Sign MOUs with other states to offer Kannada as a second/ third language in their schools and as an optional subject in universities. Double annual grants to the Kannada Sahitya Parishad & other similar government bodies to ensure widespread dissemination of Kannada literature and culture. Support and promote writers, poets & other literary professionals writing in Kannada. On April 27, Congress released its "People's Manifesto" where Congress president Rahul Gandhi described it as the "voice of the people of Karnataka" and not a document prepared by "three or four people in a closed room". Modi had called Congress manifesto a bundle of lies. The elections to the 224-member Assembly in Karnataka are scheduled on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15. Karnataka elections: Freedom fighter Doreswamy releases Swaraj India partys peoples manifesto India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Bengaluru, May 4: It was a "low-key" political affair (compared to all the media hype surrounding any event hosted by the major political parties), but an effective one raising some pertinent issues. The Swaraj India party, which is making its election debut in poll-bound Karnataka by fielding 11 candidates, released its manifesto at the residence of freedom fighter HS Doreswamy in Bengaluru on Thursday. The elections to the 224-member Assembly in Karnataka are scheduled on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15. Around 50 people attended the manifesto release function of the Swaraj India party founded last year by psephologist and academic Yogendra Yadav and Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan. While Doreswamy and others from the Swaraj India party released the Kannada version of the manifesto, Yadav is soon going to unveil the English manifesto of the party. Freedom fighter and anti-corruption crusader Doreswamy, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, called the Swaraj India party's publication a "people's manifesto". Criticising the "vulgar amount" of money being spent by political parties for the upcoming Karnataka elections, Doreswamy said, "Politicians are going to any extent to get power and money. Money is ruling the roost in politics. For the money, people are being killed. Gauri (journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh) was murdered." Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for giving tickets to scam-tainted mining barons of Bellary, infamously known as Reddy brothers, the well-respected centenarian said, "For the money, all the country's natural resources are being looted." "This manifesto is not something which the party promises to implement after coming to power. It provides an alternative way of thinking--as people and citizens what we can do to make India a better place for our children," he added. "Even after 70 years of Independence, poor remain poor and rich are becoming richer, this should stop," he insisted. Speaking at the event, eminent writer Devanoora Mahadeva said, "To enable humankind to make their lives more tolerable, the Swaraj India party manifesto makes an attempt to search for possibilities that encompass an organic and holistic perspective. This is open to dialogue. It is a manifesto for the people. As citizens, youth and common people, we need to take responsibility to preserve our environment. The manifesto talks about protecting natural resources like water and river." "The Swaraj India party will work in accordance with the concepts in the manifesto. It will regard every vote that is polled by the party as an endorsement of its manifesto. The candidates who win from the Swaraj India party will work towards creating policies, legislations and programmes in favour of these ideas in the state Assembly. Above all, it is for the people to claim the manifesto as their own and work towards fulfilling the promises. Anyone is free to use it (manifesto), there is no copyright," he added. HV Vasu of Karnataka Janashakti narrated a couple of salient features of the Swaraj India party manifesto. Vasu said, "Like Doreswamy pointed out, it is not what the party intends to do after coming to power. Usually, people look for what they would get from a manifesto. But the Swaraj India party's approach is completely different. People who read the manifesto should take the responsibility to fulfill the promises." Karnataka polls: Want to keep a track of BJP, Congress hate mongering? Dont, if you want peace India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Bengaluru, May 4: At the onset, we must say nobody can spew venom like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress do, especially their social media handles which are minefields of hatred, lies and allegations. If tech-savvy people of the nation want to check the social media accounts of both the parties to know and understand their vision and plans, especially for poll-bound Karnataka, our advice would be better skip the exercise. The elections to the 224-member Assembly in Karnataka are scheduled on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15. In the wake of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, if netas (politicians) at public rallies are at their "devilish" best throwing muck at each other, social media accounts of both the BJP and Congress are one step ahead. Online or offline, nobody is talking about vikas (as Prime Minister Narendra Modi likes to call development), lack of jobs, crime against women and rising fuel prices, to name a few problems. Even passing references to the issues are done with an idea to attack their opponents, but not to address the problems of the people. From PM Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi to chief minister Siddaramaiah all are busy attacking each other in the most brutal way as the characters of popular television drama series, Game of Thrones, do. Here we are making a reference to the insanely-popular English drama as the BJP's social media cell seems to be smitten by Game of Thrones and they have this bizarre idea that Karnataka is some Winterfell and Ned Stark will come alive one day. Best of luck to the BJP social media managers! Best of luck to Congress social media managers! The kind of hatred, bigotry and violence they are spreading, we are sure Karnataka and the nation will take a while to overcome such spiteful messages. Below are a few examples of what the BJP and the Congress are tweeting, these days: K'taka was known for its economic prosperity. It is now breeding ground for jihadis. It was emerging as Asias silicon valley. It became a valley for jihadis to hide. It was known for its communal harmony. It is now communally most sensitive state. We need #JihadiMuktaKarnataka pic.twitter.com/vYrIBUv9Gk BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 6, 2018 Our karyakartas get constant phone calls from their families asking them about their safety. Hindus have understood that this govt will not protect them. Fear of annihilation grips every Hindu household in Karavali. Pro jihadi Siddu must go. We must create #JihadiMuktaKarnataka BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 6, 2018 Mr. Modi is facing an emergency situation in Karnataka as his party is staring at defeat. So, he is hoping for political gains by looking to the past. Since you are looking back please also look at the Coffin scam: your prty made money while buying coffins for our martyrs. pic.twitter.com/hxsV2KRbT6 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 BJPs recipe for power: 1 Project @BSYBJP as CM candidate to woo some voters & then sideline him. 2 Project a hung assembly discourse & get Reddy bros in. 3 Send the IT dept after Congress candidates. 4 Cosy up to JDS by praising HDD 5 Get a failed CM from UP to polarise voters. https://t.co/dBDNy6tfH7 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 There are hundreds of such tweets laced with accusations and counter-accusations from both the parties and their leaders. Once again, we would suggest you not to go through them to keep your mental balance intact. As far as journalists are concerned, it's an occupational hazard, we have to bear politicians and their stooges by biting our lips in silence. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 4, 2018, 11:27 [IST] Hyderabad rape case: The rapist will be caught and killed in encounter, Telangana minister Madrasa teacher arrested for sexually assaulting six minors in Hyderabad India oi-Vicky Nanjappa A madrasa teacher in Hyderabad was arrested on the charge of sexually assaulting six minor boys of the institute. Rehan, 23, who was teaching Arabic at the madrasa was arrested after a complaint was filed by the parents of the victims. The parents filed the complaint on April 29 after some of the victims complained about the alleged harassment meted out to them by the teacher. "The boys, aged between 10 and 12, were allegedly abused over the past few months, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Chakravarthy told PTI. A case under IPC section 377 (unnatural offences) and other provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered, he said. The teacher has been remanded to judicial custody by a court, Chakravarthy said. Further investigation into the matter is on. Mohammad Ali Jinnah: Why is he such a controversial figure in India? India oi-Vikas By Vikas The protest over Mohammed Ali Jinnah's portrait at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has now reached Delhi. Some section of students of Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi have also joined the protest and are backing Jinnah portrait in AMU. The portrait in question has been on a wall in the AMU students union's office for decades. It grabbed headlines only after Aligarh BJP MP Satish Gautam asked AMU vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor to explain the reason for Jinnah's portrait being hung on the university campus. Why is Jinnah controversial in India? Pakistan's founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah continues to remain a controversial figure - be it over praise by some BJP leaders or merely because of a portrait. The row ignited after its leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya called Jinnah a "great man" after some party leaders sought removal of his portrait from Aligarh Muslim Univeristy, but it is only a reminder of the bigger storms the Pakistan's founder has caused in the saffron party. Jinnah, who became became the Governor-General of Pakistan after partition, died in September 1948. His praise of Jinnah in 2005 had cost L K Advani -- the longest servingBJP president -- his job as the party chief eventually and, many believe, it caused a permanent strain in his relations with the RSS from which he could never recover. The BJP stalwart's tall stature within the party and impeccable Hindutva credentials as the leader behind the Ram temple movement helped him weather the storm and remain a formidable force for several years. There was no such comfort for party veteran Jaswant Singh, who was summarily expelled from the organisation in 2009 for his praise of Pakistan's founder. On a sentimental trip to Pakistan in June 2005, Advani, who was born in Karachi in 1927, had showered praise on Jinnah, calling him a great man and suggesting that he was a secular leader. In a visit to the Pakistan founder's mausoleum in Karachi, the then BJP president wrote, "There are many people who leave an inerasable stamp on history. But there are very few who actually create history." Advani further wrote, "Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was one such rare individual. In his early years, Sarojini Naidu, a leading luminary of India's freedom struggle, described Mr Jinnah as an 'Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity'." Continuing with his encomium, he said, "His address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, is a classic, a forceful espousal of a Secular State in which every citizen would be free to practise his own religion but the State shall make no distinction between one citizen and another on the grounds of faith. My respectful homage to this great man." Still reeling from its shock defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP was convulsed from its president's praise of a man, who has been a hate figure for the Hindutva movement. The party tried to distance itself from his comments while its ideological mentor RSS publicly expressed its disagreement with Advani's statement. Taken aback, he declined to withdraw his statement but offered to resign immediately upon his return to India. He continued for some months before Rajnath Singh replaced him in December 2005. Many believed at that time that Advani's lavish praise of Jinnah was driven by his desire to shun his Hindutva hardline image and project a soft and moderate image of him as a leader of a party keen to mend relations with Pakistan. The ghost of Jinnah came back to haunt the BJP again when Jaswant Singh, a party veteran who held external affairs and finance portfolios in the Vajpayee government between 1998-2004, showed praise on the man blamed by most Indians for division of India in 1947. In his book 'Jinnah- India, Partition, Independence', Singh blamed the Congress and its stalwart Jawahar Lal Nehru for the partition and said Jinnah was "demonised". Gujarat had also banned the book for its critical reference to Sardar Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was then the state's chief minister. Singh, never a favourite of the party hardliners, was expelled from the party. Advani later played a key role in admitting him back into the party. BJP leaders believe that praise for Jinnah by leaders like Advani and Singh underlined their discomfort with the party's hardline image as they believed that it affected the party's adversely in elections. Under Modi and Amit Shah, the BJP is unambiguous and unapologetic about its stand on Jinnah, that he was the man responsible for India's division. Asserting this line of thinking, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath yesterday said in a TV interview, in the midst of the AMU controversy, that "Jinnah divided this country and How can we celebrate his achievements?" OneIndia News with PTI inputs For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 4, 2018, 20:25 [IST] Why is there so much hatred against farmers: Arvind Kejriwal slams PM on Lakhimpur Kheri incident 'Mosquitoes bite all night at Dalit homes': UP minister's new gaffe India oi-Deepika By Deepika Another Uttar Pradesh minister has sparked a controversy on Friday while talking about visiting Dalit homes and braving mosquito bites to ensure the people receive government benefits. "Schemes are made to benefit all sections and to ensure the youth does not deviate from the righteous path. Considering all these things, schemes are being made and to make sure that they are being implemented, ministers are paying several visits, even if mosquitoes bite them all night," UP Minister Anupma Jaiswal said. #WATCH: Uttar Pradesh Minister Anupma Jaiswal says, 'Schemes are being made for benefit all sections & to ensure proper implementation Ministers are paying several visits, even if mosquitoes bite them all night.' pic.twitter.com/EYefMdK9sm ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 4, 2018 "If someone gets to hold two chaupals, they volunteer to do 4 instead. The satisfaction that we get out of working in this matter is a huge strength for us," she added. Suresh Rana triggered a controversy after he reportedly brought with him his own food and water at a dinner hosted at a Dalit household here. The incident had taken place in Lohagadh in Aligarh when the minister landed up on the doorsteps of a Dalit family to pay a 'surprise visit'. The visit was in line with party's Dalit outreach programme initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pictures of the well laid out dining table with an assortment of dishes and cutlery went viral on the social media. "I didn't even know they are coming for dinner. They came suddenly. All food, water and cutlery they had arranged from outside," said Rajnish Kumar, Dalit man at whose house the UP Minister had dinner. Recently, two senior leaders of the party made totally contradictory statements on a single day, apparently exposing its confusion over the Dalit outreach. While Union minister Uma Bharti compared feeding Dalits to a self-purification activity, Rajendra Pratap, a senior minister in Uttar Pradesh, made a casteist comment comparing BJP leaders visiting Dalit houses to Lord Ram blessing Shabari (a Dalit) in the Ramayana. Pratap said the way Lord Ram blessed Shabari by eating the berries, BJP leaders were also blessing Dalits by dining with them. His statement came days after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had dinner and spent a night at a Dalit village in Pratapgarh district on April 24. NEET Super Special exam 2021 to be held as per old question paper pattern NEET 2018: Hundreds of TN students forced to take exam in Kerala India oi-Deepika By Deepika NEET students in Tamil Nadu, who should have been worrying more about the examination are now busy trying to figure out the location of the centre as the Supreme Court stayed a Madras High Court's direction to the CBSE to set up additional centres for the national eligibility-cum-entrance test (NEET) in the state. The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is scheduled to be held across the country on May 6. The CBSE had earlier issued admit cards to Tamil Nadu students allocating then examination centres in states like Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan. While staying the high court order, the top court also directed the CBSE to ensure that the same doesn't happen from next year. Tamil Nadu government has announced second-class train tickets and Rs 1,000 as assistance for students who are traveling outside the state for the exam. Reports say that about 1,500 students have been allotted seats in Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan. 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 doesn't happen from next year. The petitioner had contended that most of the candidates were from rural areas and belonged to poor families and that they might not be able to afford their stay in other states. He had prayed to the court to quash the April 18 public notice issued by the CBSE, which conducts the NEET, and for a subsequent direction to re-allot the examination centres for the candidates from Tamil Nadu. The petitioner had sought a direction to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for re-allotment of the NEET examination centres for the candidates from Tamil Nadu, who were assigned centres outside the state. Tweeting about the issue, actor Kamal Haasan said, "In this digital, internet age, asking students from Tamil Nadu to go to Rajasthan and Kerala to write NEET is injustice. Why can't they write from here?" Meanwhile, Rajasthan Tamil Association has said that it is ready to help students from Tamil Nadu in terms of travel, accommodation and food for NEET exams. On Cariappa, Thimayya Congress hands out Modi a fact-checker and ends up getting it wrong India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The reference to two of India's greatest military heroes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Karnataka led to a storm on Twitter. The Congress was quick to put out a fact checker on Field Marshal, K M Cariappa and General K S Thimayya, but the party did not get it entirely right either. The PM in his speech went on to describe how both the heroes were insulted by the Congress government. Cariappa and Thimayya were both insulted by the Congress and this is a historic fact, Modi said. He said that India won the 1948 war under General Thimaya, but after the war, the man who saved Kashmir was insulted by Nehru and the then defence minister, Krishna Menon. Incidentally, the first war India fought after Independence in 1947-48 was under General Francis Bucher. General Thimayya led the Army in the operations in Kashmir and went on to become the Army Chief in 1957. Congress leader, Randeep Singh Surjewala decided to take on the PM and said, "Modi ji, Better start reading from a paper to brush up your knowledge of history. From 'Nalanda' to 'MRS Srisena, From 'Mohanlal' to today's stark gaffe about Gen Thimayya. In 1947, K'ntaka pride, Gen Thimayya was the High Commissioner to U.K. between 1947-52 & not Army Chief." After realising that he had jumbled the facts, Surjewala deleted his tweet and put up a new one. He said, "Modi ji, Better start reading from a paper to brush up your knowledge of history. Gen Thimayya became Army Chief only on 8th May 1957 and not 1947 as you alleged. V K Krishna Menon was ambassador to the UK between 1947-52 & not Defence Minister as you alleged." Who was Field Marshal Cariappa? Field Marshal Cariappa was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief. He along with Sam Manekshaw is one of the two Army officers to hold the five-star rank of Field Marshal. He took over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on January 15, 1949, and that day is celebrated as Army Day. Post-retirement he served as the Indian High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand. Who was General KS Thimayya? General KS Thimayya was the chief of Army staff between 1957 and 1961. He also headed a UN unit dealing with repatriation after Korean War and was Commander of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus from July 1964 to December 1965 and died in Cyprus while on active duty on 18th Dec 1965. Contrary to claims, he was never the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Who was Krishna Menon? VK Krishna Menon was Indian High Commissioner to the UK from 1947 to 1952. He became Defence Minister in 1957. He resigned as the Defence Minister in 1962 after being severely criticised for the loss in the Indo-China, 1962 war. Businessman in Kolkata shot at after his car was stopped by 18 men Rotten meat supply racket: Congress protests against govt, clashes with police India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Clashes erupted between Congress workers and the police as Congress staged protest over rotten meat supply racket in Kolkata. Congress workers held a protest after rotten meat supply racket was busted in West Bengal. Congress leader AR Chowdhury, said,' Rotten meat market is thriving here, this kind of crime cannot take place without collusion with the ruling regime.' The Kolkata Police on Thursday seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat suspected to be of dead animals said chemicals were used to arrest rotting and get rid of the stench before it was packed and supplied to markets in West Bengal and neighbouring states. So far, 10 people, including a leader of a political outfit, have been arrested in connection with the case. The West Bengal Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sale of rotten meat suspected to be of dead animals, collected from dumpyards in the state. (With PTI inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 4, 2018, 19:01 [IST] What are the farmers protesting about? We have stayed the farm laws says SC Stoic silence in Karnataka as SC orders release of Cauvery water India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The ever so controversial Cauvery Waters issue was raked up in the Supreme Court once again with the Bench orally ordering Karnataka to release 4 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu. The developments came in the wake of a hectic campaign that is underway for the Karnataka assembly elections 2018. Following the order, the reactions were muted by all leaders. Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka did not comment on the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief, Rahul Gandhi who are in Karnataka too decided from making any comments. Any comment on this issue could have an adverse effect especially in the Old Mysore Region where the issue has lingered on for several decades. In the Supreme Court on Thursday, the Centre said that it was unable to come up with a framework agreement to implement the Cauvery verdict as the Prime Minister and several others ministers were busy campaigning in Karnataka. Karnataka, on the other hand, told the Supreme Court that it has released more Cauvery water than Tamil Nadu is entitled to receive. 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 (up to the 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. 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 Muslims not in danger, people cant be differentiated on how they worship: Mohan Bhagwat Muslims have nothing to fear in India, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat 'Stop drama of having food with Dalits': RSS chief tells BJP leaders India oi-Deepika By Deepika Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for taking food at the homes of Dalit families. "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." said Bhagwat spoke at a meeting about social harmony, Deccan Chronicle has reported. "To get rid of caste barriers are needed, not the occasional symbolic gestures," the RSS chief reportedly said. Bhagwat's remarks come in the wake of a special drive launched by the BJP to blunt the impact of large-scale protests by Dalit groups in the wake of SC ruling on Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act. To woo Dalits, several BJP ministers have visited Dalit homes and dined with them as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' mission, initiated to promote social harmony. BJP president Amit Shah has visited Dalit and tribal homes on several occasions; so has BJP's CM face in Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa during the election campaign in the poll-bound state. Recently, Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana triggered a controversy after reports claimed that he brought with him his own food and water at a dinner hosted at a Dalit household. However, the minister had dismissed the reports, saying, "The food was prepared in the village, by the villagers themselves." Home Minister Amit Shah likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir, his first visit after Aug 2019 Surge in terror recruitments at Kashmir keeps agencies on their toes India oi-Vicky Nanjappa There has been a surge in terror recruitments in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 45 youth have joined terror groups this year, statistics prepared till mid-April reveal. According to the top brass of the security establishment in the 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 terror 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 terror 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 terrorist spawns at least two additions to the ranks of terror groups. "It has become a bottomless 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 accommodation 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 it. 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 terror groups after 13 local terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces in Shopian and Anantnag. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have been quite vocal about PDP-BJP government's alleged failure in checking the rising trend of youths joining terrorism. "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 terror groups, 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 a 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 terror groups 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. To catch a glimpse of Modi, they came from far and wide, even on wheel-chairs India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Bengaluru's sub-urban Kengeri satellite town was awaited one. The rally venue was dotted with saffron caps, flags and people were seen wearing Modi masks. As usual PM Modi began his speech in Kannada, needless to say, he recalled eminent personalities of Bengaluru, that was enough to get a frenzied response from the crowd. Union Minister Ananth Kumar proved impeccable translator throughout PM's speech. Wheelchair-bound Professor M K Sridhar came from Jayanagar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Kengeri. Asked about his reaction to PM Modi's speech, Sridhar said, "He (PM Modi) did not attack individuals, but highlighted issues of the city. It's good to see he recalled eminent personalities of the city. I feel it was not just a speech, there is an emotional connection." About issues covered in the speech, he said that the speech was focused on youngsters, women, and development of the city. Calling himself a BJP sympathizer, Sridhar said, " PM should have convinced more on why we should vote for the BJP?" Middle-aged man Niranjan from Ullal sub-urban, said, "There is clarity of ideas in his speech. I am not here find mistakes in his speech." "I am not bothered about politicians attacking each other in an election speech, that is up to politicians," Niranjan added. About the hysteria of Modi wave ahead of the election, he said, " I can't say speech leads to Modi wave. Every voter has his/her own political preferences. Only election result can tell whether there was Modi wave or not." A group of people from Gonipur village near Kengeri were in fully agreed with problems the city is facing. They admitted that the city has turned into crime capital, bugged by traffic problem and pollution. The villagers looked overwhelmed by PM's speech, they attacked the incumbent Congress government. " Why is Congress asking votes previous BJP government's failures? Can't they seek votes for their work?" They loathed welfare schemes introduced the state government. "They (Congress) boast of Anna Bhaghya and Indira canteen. These schemes are the outcome of our money. Why can't Siddaramaiah have same food prepared in Indira Canteen at Vidhan Soudha?" One woman in the group was happy to see get a glimpse of PM Modi. Nagaratna said, "I came to see Modi. Wanted to see him speaking. I don't understand Hindi perfectly. But I can understand a bit, he is a wonderful speaker." A Youngman from Abbigere village said, " I have listened to him in Mysore. Most of the issues were repetition for me except that he highlighted the issues of Bengaluru. No other party can attract youths like PM Modi." A group of friends from Dasarahalli village were waiting for a bus to go home. One of them said, " As far as I know, Modi has more fan following in Karnataka than any other state. More than BJP, I am impressed by his style of work." He said, "This is not a new experience for me. In fact, I have seen him in Parliament during Railway Budget. Still, I don't miss his rallies. He proudly said that he came along with his friends on their own. We don't need the party to arrange transportation for us. We just don't need it." About the differences in Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi's speech, he said, " Both Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi begin their speech in Kannada. Unlike Modi, Rahul Gandhi struggled to pronounce 'Vishweshwarayya'. Also, I didn't see Rahul Gandhi highlighting local issues in speech." About attacking the JD(S) a day after praising HD Deve Gowda, he said, "Yes, Modi attacked the party, but it's is not a personal attack against Deve Gowda. Modi still reveres Deve Gowda. Modiji's has rightly said that JDS is not an alternative in Karnataka." Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 Democratic state officials in California, including the governor and attorney general, have made national news over the Golden State's various legal battles with the Trump administration. These battles have led some to wonder if Californians would prefer that the state become an independent country or at least act like one. Last year, National Review observed that California Gov. Jerry Brown's visit to China to negotiate energy policy made his state appear "a quasi-nation-state looking to fill the void in reliable American leadership created by Trump." Similarly, a columnist on Bloomberg recently wrote that Californians see their state as, "a 'quasi-Republic,' far from Washington and entitled to make its own rules." California officials' strongest move against the Trump administration has been to declare the state itself a sanctuary state, refusing to cooperate with federal agency efforts to identify or detain residents who are living in the U.S. illegally and trying to supersede federal immigration law. In a recent speech in Sacramento, California, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions compared the state's actions to the nullification argument that Southern states made in the 1830s. Brown counter-charged that the Department of Justice was "basically going to war against the state of California" by challenging its state sanctuary law. California has joined legal action aimed at stopping President Donald Trump's border wall and the inclusion of a question on the 2020 U.S. Census form concerning citizenship. But the list doesn't end there. California's Democratic attorney general has filed 29 lawsuits to block Trump's proposals. Referring to immigration policy, the new senator from California, Kamala Harris, recently tweeted that California was going to "fight" and that the state "represents the future" of America. California Unique in Size, but Not Opposition to the Trump Administration Other states have their own grievances against the Trump administration. For instance, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are challenging aspects of the new tax law in federal court. In 2017, 15 states jointly sued the federal government over its decision to phase out DACA and 17 states (including California) banded together to challenge a rollback of federal energy regulations. But California's great size and wealth give its actions more political heft -- it could be its own nation-state. Almost 40 million people, or roughly one in eight Americans, now reside there, outnumbering the populations of such important countries as Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Poland. And according to new data, California now has the world's fifth-largest economy. ##SPEEDBUMP## How Different Is California? Given the vehemence of opposition to Trump by California's state officials, the question remaining becomes: Is the current situation the beginning of a real political or constitutional separation of the state from the rest of the country, or is it just a reflection of resistance to the current administration's policies by California Democrats? Although secession talk is not new in California, the latest iteration has some momentum. An anti-Trump group recently received approval from the state attorney general to start collecting signatures to put a referendum on the state ballot in 2020 on whether to declare California independent from the United States. One way to view the extent of the cleavage between California and the country as a whole is to examine the 2016 presidential vote. Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in California by over 4 million votes in 2016 -- a full 1 million votes greater than Barack Obama's margin in 2012. As a result, Clinton won California by a whopping 30 points, 61.5% to 31.5%. In the rest of the country, Trump led by roughly one percentage point, 47.6% to 46.5%. Clinton's lead was so sizable in California that the state single-handedly shifted the national popular vote from a slight Trump win to a slight Clinton win, even as Trump prevailed in the Electoral College. 2016 Presidential Vote Percentage of vote received by each candidate California Rest of the U.S. Hillary Clinton 61.5% 46.5% Donald Trump 31.5% 47.6% Net Clinton vote +30 pct. pts. -1.1 pct. pts. Source: https://uselectionatlas.org Three other political indicators underscore California's leftward leanings: presidential job approval, political party identification and political ideology. On average in 2017, Trump's job approval rating was 29% in California, tied with Hawaii for the third-lowest among the states. Only Massachusetts (27%) and Vermont (26%) were lower. In the rest of the country, it was 40%. President Donald Trump Job Approval 2017, yearly averages California Rest of the U.S. Approve 29% 40% Disapprove 65% 54% Net approval -36 pct. pts. -16 pct. pts. Gallup Daily Tracking, January-December 2017 Democrats (including independents who lean Democratic) handily outnumber Republicans in California by 51% to 30%, while the rest of the country is about evenly split at 43% Democratic and 39% Republican. Political Party Identification 2017, yearly averages California Rest of the U.S. Democrat/Lean Democratic 51% 43% Republican/Lean Republican 30% 39% Net Democratic +21 pct. pts. +4 pct. pts. Gallup Daily Tracking, January-December 2017 Self-identified liberals outnumber conservatives in California by only three points, 30% vs. 27%. However, in the aggregate, the rest of the country leans conservative by 11 points, 34% to 23%. Political Ideology 2017, yearly averages California Rest of the U.S. % % Liberal 30 23 Moderate 37 36 Conservative 27 34 Net liberal +3 -11 Gallup Daily Tracking, January-December 2017 Further, a recent Gallup analysis found California experienced one of the biggest decreases in conservatism compared with all the states between 2008 and 2017. There are also two cultural indicators that speak to California's distinct political nature: ethnic/racial composition and religiosity. Half of Californians are now non-Hispanic white, while 68% of the rest of the country can be described this way. California is also less religious than the nation at large, with 47%, compared with 56%, of adults elsewhere reporting they belong to a church or synagogue. Californians, While Different, Share Much With Rest of the U.S. In addition to substantial political and demographic differences between California and the rest of the nation as a whole, Californians have some distinctive political views. Each March, Gallup measures public concerns about a number of national policy issues, asking respondents if each personally worries them "a great deal," "a fair amount," "only a little" or "not at all." Reviewing combined data from the past four years, from 2014 to 2017, affords enough sample to examine the views of Californians vs. the rest of the country. California emerges as more concerned than the rest of the U.S. with the environment, global warming and income distribution. The rest of the U.S. was more worried about affordable healthcare policies. Political Concerns % Worried "a great deal" about each issue California Rest of U.S. Difference % % % Income inequality 59 44 +15 Quality of the environment 49 40 +9 Global warming 47 38 +9 Climate change 34 28 +6 Affordability of healthcare 49 58 -9 2015-2018 combined March GPSS data Analyzing 2014-2017 data from Gallup's annual Values study shows only modest differences between Californians and the rest of the country in how they view most of the moral issues tested, including abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia and use of animals in medical testing. The greatest difference was seen on gay marriage, although majorities in both geographical areas were supportive. Morality Concerns California Rest of U.S. Difference % % pct. pts. Gay marriages should be valid 68 59 +9 Pro-choice 54 47 +7 Doctor assisted suicide should be allowed 68 71 -3 Death penalty morally acceptable 55 60 -5 Medical testing on animals morally acceptable 49 55 -6 2014-2017 combined May GPSS data Bottom Line As demonstrated by their results in the 2016 presidential election, Californians have largely shifted their party allegiance to the Democrats, in contrast to the rest of the country. Californians' greater concern about income inequality, the environment, and the threat of global warming play a role in this strong Democratic tilt. The more important factor could be that California has undergone sharp demographic shifts, especially if one compares today to the turn of the century in 2000. The greatest shift has been the increase of 4 million Hispanics to bring the estimated population to 15 million Hispanics in California today (estimates as of 2017). Given the political differences between California and the rest of the U.S., contentious legal struggles between California and Washington, D.C., are likely to continue as a key political battle zone as long Trump is in office. The answer to the question of whether Californians decide the differences are so extreme as to warrant a constitutional divorce from the rest of the U.S. will have to wait for the proposed "Calexit" referendum vote in 2020, if approved as a ballot item. In the meantime, it appears that California's state officials, exercising their political and legal influence as the largest state in the U.S., have opted to oppose the policies of the Trump administration. Supported by Congress, this two-front resistance plan could be difficult for any administration to combat. 'UP-Karnataka cut the north-south divide', says Yogi Adityanath India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Vikas, Suraksha, Sushasan was the mantra that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath came up during his Karnataka campaign. He said that the BJP would seek its vote on Development, Security and Good Governance. Yogi said that he comes from the land of Lord Rama while Karnataka was Lord Hanuman's home. He said that there has been a long-standing relationship between UP and Karnataka which cuts the north-south divide. He further said that in UP there were no cases of farmer suicides. The Karnataka government waived off loans of farmers taken from cooperative societies. However, the UP government waved all kinds of farm loans including those taken from the nationalised banks he said. Yogi also 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 are 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 With hashtag ModiHitWicket, Siddaramaiah lashes out at PM Modi India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Siddaramaiah took to Twitter with a hashtag #ModiHitWicket to lash out at both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath who are camping in Karnataka for the assembly elections. Siddaramaiah posed a" question to Modi as he arrived for extensive canvassing in" Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah reminded Modi to mention about the "loot of Rs 35,000 crore worth iron ore" allegedly by BJP's Janardhana Reddy. Congress has alleged that eight of "Reddy Gang" members have been given a ticket for the assembly election. Siddaramaiah tweeted, "Dear PM Modi, 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." He also asked Modi how he was asking for a vote for "a" candidate who is the brother of the mining mafia kingpin G" Janardhana Reddy who brought shame to Bellary & the state." "And, "you say Congress has insulted Bellary. Pray, how?" He concluded his tweet by saying "There should be a limit" to lies". Siddaramaiah also retweeted former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav's tweet pointing to an alleged gaffe by Modi during his"speech at Kalaburagi today. Modi while addressing poll rallies in Karnataka said the Congress is a party that has disrespected the armed forces. "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," The prime minister told an election rally, as he sought to connect with the voters of the home state of the two legends of the Army." PM Modi said all know what treatment Congress gave to the likes of Brig Cariappa and Gen Thimayya. Modi said, "India defeated Pakistan in 1948 under the" leadership of Field Marshal Thimayya. But after the valour," General Thimayya who saved Kashmir was repeatedly insulted by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then defence" minister V K Krishna Menon and because of which General Thimayya had to resign from his post. I want the new" generation of Karnataka to know about Congress party's attitude towards the chief of the army, who was the son of Karnataka." Yadav tweeted, "No sir, Krishna Menon was Defence" Minister from April 1957 to October 1962. Thimayya was Army Chief from May 1957 to May 1961. Sir, can't the PMO afford"a fact-checker? It's so embarrassing!" Siddaramaiah tweeted that Karnataka holds its revered son Field Marshal K M Cariappa in high"esteem. Instead of doing politics in his name, Modi should" list five things he has done for Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said" and posed a few questions. Siddaramaiah also expressed his frustration by saying" he asks questions to Modi but he diverted attention to" history, clothes and pronunciations. Siddaramaiah's six questions pertained to when Centre would give approval to Kannada flag, amendment to rules for banking recruitment exams; making knowledge of Kannada knowledge" compulsory for banking jobs in Karnataka, his intervention on"Mahadayi river row between Karnataka and Goa; stopping" divestment of 'Bengaluru's jewel' BEML and rectifying 'the injustice done to Bengaluru by taking away Rafale from"Hindustan Aeronautics Limited". Siddaramaiah flayed Adityanath for being in Karnataka for electioneering when 64 people lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. ""My heartfelt condolences to the families, who have lost"their loved ones (due to storm in UP). I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon &" attend to his work there," Siddaramaiah 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 Woman officer shot dead in Kasauli: Murder weapon recovered India oi-Vikas By Vikas A day after the man accused of killing a woman officer leading a demolition drive in Kasauli was arrested from Mathura, the murder weapon was also recovered. Police have recovered the revolver allegedly used by Vijay Singh to shoot Assistant Town and Country Planning officer Shail Bala Sharma in Kasauli during demolition drive on May 1, reported news agency ANI. Vijay Singh was arrested from Mathura on Thursday (May 3). In a bid to change his appearance, Vijay Singh shaved his moustache and trimmed his hair but he was caught sitting near a temple, the police had said. "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 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. The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the "unfortunate death" of a woman government official, allegedly shot dead by a hotel owner in Kasauli during a demolition drive was the result of "non-implementation of the law". The apex court had on April 17 directed the state government to demolish unauthorised structures in several hotels and guest houses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan and four teams were constituted by the authorities to carry out the work. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 4, 2018, 17:45 [IST] Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha meet Stalin; What are the duo up to? India oi-Vikas By Vikas Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha and BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha on Friday met DMK Working President MK Stalin in Chennai. The meeting assumes significance as both the Sinhas been staunch critics of the Modi government at the Centre. Yashwant Sinha had on April 21 said that he has quit the BJP. Soon after Yashwant Sinha quit, all eyes were on another dissenter Shatrughan Sinha. Shatrughan Sinha, however, said on the same day that he would stay in the BJP. Both leaders have irked the BJP several times in the past by meeting some opposition leaders but also praising them. Their meeting with Stalin also comes at a time when frantic meetings are being held to stitch an anti BJP front. Even Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had met Stalin in this regard. What will the Sinha duo do before 2019 Lok Sabha elections is something that would be closely watched. Will they support these efforts of the regional parties to stitch and anti-BJP front? Shatrughan Sinha was a Union Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government. He has been with the BJP for a long time. Since PM Modi came to power in 2014, it was being said that the actor turned politician was kept away from party affairs. This seems to have irked Shatrughan. The BJP also did not involve Shatrughan in the campaigning for Bihar polls last year. When Nitish Kumar severed ties with BJP and formed an alliance with the RJD and Congress ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Shatrughan Sinha had praised Nitish, leaving the BJP fuming. Recently, he met Lalu Yadav's sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap, and praised them. Both Sinhas have even jointly attended several events and spoken against the Centre. [Not quitting BJP, I am here to stay: Shatrughan Sinha] Yashwant Sinha had openly criticised BJP-led government's demonetisation move and had said that the democratic institutions are being undermined under the Modi regime. Yashwant Sinha was Minister of Finance (1990-1991 under Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and March 1998 - July 2002 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Minister of External Affairs July 2002 - May 2004). His son Jayant Sinha, a consultant and investor, won the 2014 elections for the Hazaribagh constituency and is currently serving as Minister of State for Civil Aviation in Narendra Modi's cabinet. 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 Yogi Adityanath to leave for Uttar Pradesh, cuts short campaign in Karnataka India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The BJP star campaigner Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath cut short his campaign in Karnataka to visit areas affected by dust storms and heavy rains in Uttar Pradesh. A day before he was criticised by CM Siddaramaiah for campaigning in Karnataka in amidst natural calamity. Yogi Adityanath was supposed to be in the state till Saturday, addressing multiple rallies. In a tweet, the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah started with expressing his condolences for the deaths. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon and attend to his work there," he tweeted. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon and attend to his work there," he said. After Yogi Adityanath completed his rallies for the day, the UP chief minister tweeted that officials had been ordered to compile an estimate of the damage by Friday evening. "Siddaramaiah jhooth bolne mein bahut siddhast (perfect) hain. I am personally monitoring relief work in the areas affected due to heavy rain and dust storms in UP. I will visit those areas tomorrow, " Yogi Adityanath told ANI. He said, "BJP will win the Karnataka elections and Congress will lose because of its divisive politics and corrupt policies." CM Yogi Adityanath will reach Agra tonight and visit the areas affected by rain and dust storms. News agency ANI reported that will review the relief and restoration works tomorrow morning. He will then leave for Kanpur to monitor the restoration work there. 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 As US & Israel step up attack against Iran, here is a look at worlds N-deal with Tehran International oi-Shubham By Shubham As May 12, the deadline for US President Donald Trump to decide on resuming sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme approaches, both America and Israel have stepped up their attacks on the West Asian country. President Trump has called the multilateral Iranian deal which was made during the time of his predecessor Barack Obama in 2015 flawed and wanted the international community to fix it or else he would scrap the deal. He had disapproved of the deal even during his campaign for the presidential election in 2016. The USA's European allies have tried to make Trump rethink his position on the deal but with no success. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, another staunch critic of Iran, has accused Tehran of hiding and expanding its nuclear weapons after the 2015 deal and recently made a presentation of slides and photographs obtained from the Israeli intelligence to give "proofs" of Iran's violation. According to a report in the New York Times, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had entered a secret warehouse in January and then smuggled the plans to Israel in an overnight operation. However, the report did not say how such a huge amount of document was sent secretly to Israel. What is the Iran nuclear deal all about? What is the problem with the deal that was signed between Iran and six countries including the US, Britain, France, China and Russia, Germany and the European Union in 2015? It was said that the deal would see Iran benefiting from the crippling sanctions the West had put on it if it promised to abandon its nuclear ambitions. As a result of the lifting of the sanctions, Iran got a fast access to assets worth over billions of dollars has lied frozen over the years. The problem with Iran is that it wants to maintain at least some of its nuclear programmes for serving peaceful purposes. The international community, on the other hand, is convinced that Iran's nuclear programme is partly designed to develop a nuclear bomb illegally and wants Tehran to bring the programme to a complete halt. This difference in stands made the world a less safe and happy place to live. The 2015 deal came then to resolve the confrontation by allowing Iran to carry on with a small and peaceful nuclear programme but disallowing it to get the nuclear bomb. Iran, led by a moderate president in Hassan Rouhani, thereafter made formal negotiations with the international powers stated above. In April 2015, the parties concerned announced a framework deal which looked favourable to Washington and in July, a final agreement was released. Under the deal, Iran would quit most of its nuclear programmes like the enriched uranium and its centrifuges that turn the fuel into weapons material, leaving it with less than the required capacity to build a bomb. Tehran would also allow inspection of its nuclear programme to ensure that it isn't violating the deal secretly. As Iran meets its responsibility, the world will lift a lot of economic sanctions that were imposed on Iran, leaving a crippling effect on its economy. The arms control experts said the arrangement would serve both sides and it was the best way things could have gone. But after Trump arrived, the USA's outlook towards the deal has completely changed and now it thinks it to be flawed, giving Iran more advantage. China backs peace in Korean Peninsula but installs weapons in South China Sea International oi-Shubham By Shubham At a time when China praised North Korea for its commitment for denuclearisation and peace and also reset a disturbed relationship with India, Beijing has reportedly installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its guarded outposts in the South China Sea, west of the Philippines. According to a report in CNBC, China has made the move quietly to project its power in of the most disputed zones in international affairs and it cited sources that have direct knowledge of US intelligence reports. As per CNBC, the intelligence said the missile platforms were shifted to the outposts in the Spratly Islands within the last one month. It cited sources who divulged the information seeking anonymity. The shifting of the weapons comes in the wake of China's recent installation of military jamming devices in the South China Sea that aim at nullifying communications and radar systems, CNBC said, adding: "By all accounts, the new coastal defense systems represent a significant addition to Beijing's military portfolio in one of the most contested regions in the world". The US, though neutral, was worried over the latest developments. Speaking to CNBC, a Pentagon official said the US have "consistently" asked China and other claimants not to resort to reclaiming more land, set up fresh facilities, militarise disputed features and to show commitment towards managing and resolving disputes peacefully among themselves. The US said China's increasing militarisation of the outposts would only raise tension among the claimants. CNBC said the intelligence indicated that the deployment of the defensive weapons was made on the Spratly Islands' Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef. As many as six nations lay claim over the Spratly Islands and China's militarisation will certainly intensify the rivalry in the region. The land-based anti-ship missiles called YJ-12B can empower China to hit surface vessels within 295 nautical miles of the reefs while the surface-to-air missiles designated as HQ-9B can target aircraft besides nullifying drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles, the CNBC report said. The CNBC also said that China's latest military installations were also caught in satellite images of Woody Island, the country's military headquarters in the Paracel Islands located nearby. Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Conservative Republicans seeking posts suggest Nobel Peace Prize for Trump International oi-Shubham By Shubham Days after US President Donald Trump's name emerged for the Nobel Peace Prize, a group of Republicans from the US House of Representative has sought the prestigious prize for Trump for his efforts towards easing tensions with North Korea which till recently pursued reckless nuclear ambitions, Associated Press reported. Luke Messer from Indiana on Wednesday, May 2, suggested the same in a letter sent to the Norwegian Nobel committee and it bore signatures of 17 Republicans. However, Trump would be eligible only for the 2019 award since the deadline for the 2018 award passed on February 1, the AP report added. South Korean President Moon Jae-in also backed a Nobel Peace Prize for Trump recently for his role in achieving a denuclearised North Korea to which Trump called him "very generous". Trump is set to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a few weeks over North Korea's denuclearisation and this widely awaited meeting will occur after Moon met Kim in a historic summit at border truce town of Punmunjeom on April 27. The date and venue for the proposed meeting between Trump and Kim are still being worked on. The letter sent to the Nobel committee to consider Trump's name said Pyongyang has been ignoring the demand to halt its aggression but it was the US president's "peace through strength policies" that made it come to the negotiating table, the AP report said, adding that the letter also stressed that it was the Trump administration which united China and others in putting North Korea under strict sanctions. "The sanctions have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table," the report cited the nomination letter as stating. Messer is in the race for a position in the Senate from Indiana where support for Trump has become very crucial for the Republican voters, the AP report said. It said the lawmakers who signed the letter belong to the most conservative section in the House. The group also consists of other members who are in a race to become governor or senator in various states that are known to be Republican supporters, the report added. Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump A day after Giuliani unlocks mystery, Trump accepts that he repaid money for Daniels International oi-Shubham By Shubham US President Donald Trump was eventually undone by Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and veteran lawyer who recently joined the president's legal team to settle the allegations of him having collusion with Russia during the 2016 presidential election fast. On Thursday, May 3, Trump admitted in a tweet that he repaid his lawyer Michael Cohen for paying $130,000 to adult actress Stormy Daniels who allegedly had a sexual relationship with the president more than a decade ago. According to Daniels, the money was paid to shut her mouth ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump had been rubbishing the claims which he said "false and extortionist" and also said last month that he did not have any knowledge about Cohen paying the money to Daniels. ...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 Trump, however, said in a series of a tweet that the hush money paid to Daniels had no links with his election campaign and said it was a "private agreement". He also defended himself saying non-disclosure agreements were very common among celebrities and rich people. ...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 Trump's U-turn on the issue came after Giuliani, 73, said in an interview to Fox News on Wednesday, May 2, that Trump had indeed reimbursed Cohen for the payment over a long period. He said that the money had been funnelled through the law firm and Trump repaid it and also said that it had not violated any law. Giuliani said the same in another interview to the Wall Street Journal. 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 In April, a raid was also conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Cohen's residence, hotel and office room in which information related to the payment was reportedly taken away. Trump expressed his annoyance over the episode then. India, US have 'one mind, one approach: US Deputy State Secretary on Afghanistan Hope India, US will be able to resolve differences over S-400 deal: Sherman Emissions scandal: Former Volkswagen chief executive Winterkorn charged in US International oi-Shubham By Shubham Former chief executive of German automaker Volkswagen Martin Winterkorn has been charged over the diesel emissions scandal that erupted in 2015. He was indicted in Detroit by American prosecutors. Seventy-year-old Winterkorn, who resigned soon after the vehicle polluting scandal broke in September 2015, has been accused of misleading the regulators about Volkswagen's efforts to cheat the emission tests of its diesel-run vehicles. The charges were filed in March and got revealed on Thursday, May 3, a BBC report said, adding that Winterkorn was also thereby included in the list of the accused former executives of the automobile giant. Volkswagen said it was cooperating with the investigators but declined to say anything more, the report added. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Winterkorn's indictment made it evident that the automaker's efforts to evade the law went "all the way to the top", the BBC reported. Winterkorn became the ninth person to face US criminal charges in connection with the scandal. Two of them have already pleaded guilty and are behind the bars. In September 2017, Reuters reported that Volkswagen took an additional $3 billion charge to fix diesel engines in the US which meant its total bill for the emissions scandal went to around $30 billion. Winterkorn, during his stint at the top of the carmaker, has always defended himself over the scandal saying he informed the concerned authorities about the cheating as soon as he learned about it. But authorities in the US charged Winterkorn with making "false representations to regulators and public" about the emission levels of vehicles coming out of Volkswagen stable, the BBC report said, adding that it was an unprecedented filing against a business leader abroad. However, even if Winterkorn is convicted, it is unlikely that Winterkorn would face the court and law in the US since Germany doesn't extradite its citizens, the BBC report added. Nigerian man lands in jail after he tries to buy Baba Ramdev's Patanjali ghee with cloned card Nigeria: Four killed in multiple suicide blasts International pti-PTI Maiduguri, May 4: At least four people were killed and nine others injured in multiple suicide attacks outside the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the emergency services and residents said on Friday. The attacks happened just days after twin suicide blasts at a mosque and a market killed 86 people in neighbouring Adamawa state. "We evacuated four dead bodies and nine injured persons to the hospital this morning," Bello Danbatta, chief security officer at the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, told AFP. Four female suicide bombers struck at Mainari Shuwa and neighbouring Mainari Kanuri, some 15 kms north of the Borno state capital late on Thursday. Danbatta said two of the bombers attacked Mainari Shuwa at about 11:00 pm. The first bomber stormed into a home and detonated her explosives, killing three people and injuring nine others. The second set off her explosives near another home and killed a man sleeping in the open. The other two bombers blew themselves up in Mainari Kanuri moments later but there were no other casualties, said Danbatta. Boko Haram has increasingly used suicide bombers to attack civilian and military targets during its nearly nine-year insurgency in northeast Nigeria. Most of the bombers have been women and young girls, who have been sent to target security checkpoints, schools, mosques, markets, bus stations and other crowded places. On Tuesday, two suicide bombers, believed to be young boys, killed 86 people in attacks on a mosque and nearby market in the town of Mubi in Adamawa. The attack caused the biggest loss of life in the conflict in more than two years. PTI About 200 US companies to move manufacturing from China to India Talks with China will not help says USA NSA on situation on Ladakh 20 members of a family removed from US flight after mask of 1 slipped under nose US-China trade talks enter Day 2; top US official describes conversation as very good International oi-Shubham By Shubham Amid the growing worries over the trade war between the US and China, senior officials from both countries met each other on the second day of their high-profile trade talks in Beijing on Friday, May 4. The talks were being held to find way out to prevent an escalation in a war which could lead to the imposition of tariffs worth billions of dollars. Washington and Beijing have already imposed sanctions on each other after US President Donald Trump initiated the move to penalise China which the US accuses of stealing intellectual property. China retaliated with a list of US goods worth $50 million after the latter threatened to levy fresh tariffs on Chinese imports worth $150 billion. The repercussions of the trade war between two of the world's biggest economies were already being felt on the global economy and the ongoing talks were seen as a required check to prevent things from worsening. American Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who is leading the US delegates, told the media on Friday morning that the two sides were having "very good conversations," AFP reported. The talks are being held at the historical Diaoyutai State guest house in Beijing. Ainsley Earnhardt, a truly great person, just wrote a wonderful book, The Light Within Me, which is doing really well. She is very special and so is her new book...bring it to number one! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 The officials, however, did not divulge details about the talks, the AFP report added. Meanwhile, in Washington, Mark Calabria, economic adviser to US Vice President Mike Pence, said the inaugural day of the talks was "fairly positive", Bloomberg News reported. The talks started on Thursday, May 3. Calabria said the US gave China a "detailed list of asks" saying Washington wanted Beijing to lower its tariffs to match its own. On the Chinese side, Vice Premier in charge of the economy Liu He is leading the delegation. The US state of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted Thursday, causing lava to spew out of ground fissures in residential areas and prompting thousands of people to flee. The Pacific island state's governor signed an emergency proclamation releasing disaster funds to the Big Island in the eruption's wake. Local news footage showed streams of lava snaking through a forest and The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency reported "steam and lava emissions from a crack in Leilani Subdivision in the area of Mohala Street" following the blast. Residents of that impacted area, some 1,700 people, were under mandatory evacuation after the burst from Kilauea, one of the most active volcanos in the world. In addition to the obligatory evacuations, many areas fell under voluntary evacuation zones, affecting some 10,000 people, according to a local official. US Geological Survey authorities of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory unit were both on the ground and headed into the air to assess the eruption, which followed some 100 small earthquakes in recent days and began around 4:45 pm local time (0245 GMT Friday), according to the agency. Earlier, at 10:30 am, a larger 5.0-magnitude earthquake south of the Puu Oo volcano cone triggered rockfalls and potential collapse into a crater on the volcano, according to USGS. Big Island resident Janice Wei told AFP she felt "a big shake underneath my feet" and then said immediately after she saw a giant pink plume of smoke. "We've been waiting for big movement from the crater, after so many small earthquakes," she told AFP. Using his drone, area resident Jeremiah Osuna captured video footage of the red-hot lava flow, describing it as a "curtain of fire." "It sounded like if you were to put a bunch of rocks into a dryer and turn it on as high as you could," he told Honolulu television station KOHN. Following the eruption authorities warned of subsequent "lava inundation," fire, smoke, and additional earthquakes. The agency said those downwind of the dissipating plume "may experience a dusting of ash," warning of "potentially lethal concentrations of sulfur dioxide gas" in the zone as well as methane blasts that could propel large rocks and debris in adjacent areas. - 'New ground cracks' - Governor David Ige activated the archipelago state's National Guard troops, and told residents to pay heed to warnings from the Civil Defense Agency. "Please be alert and prepare now to keep your family safe," Ige wrote on Twitter. Local community centers were open to residents impacted by the threat, Hawaii's emergency management agency said. The USGS had raised the volcano alert in the area from a watch to a warning, reporting that "new ground cracks" were discovered in the late afternoon. "White, hot vapor and blue fume emanated from an area of cracking in the eastern part of the subdivision," the agency wrote, saying spatters began just before 5:00 pm. It emphasized that the early stages of fissure eruptions are "dynamic," and "additional vents and new lava outbreaks may occur." "At this time it is not possible to say where new vents" could happen, it said. The affected area is part of the Big Island's East Rift Zone, in which the Hawaii Volcano Observatory had "identified magma movement" and warned residents that seismic activities and eruptions could take place without notice. "All areas bordering East Rift Zone at high risk for eruption," Hawaii County's mayor Harry Kim said on Twitter. US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was mobilizing resources, as well as monitoring for forest fires, power outages and water supply issues. Hawaii Island, or the Big Island, is the largest of the eight main islands that comprise the Pacific US state, an archipelago that includes hundreds of smaller volcanic islands. Wei, who moved to Hawaii from California -- known for its high earthquake risk -- said the eruption was almost a "relief." "People live here -- the Hawaiians and local people have lived here forever," she said. "You know what's going on; we have warning systems." "Everybody should be prepared." AFP Authorities in Kenya say four people were killed on Thursday night by al-Shabab militants in a quarry in the northern border town of Mandera, news agency AFP reports. The assailants shot and hacked the victims who are said to be non-Muslims. The regional police boss Mohamud Saleh said an operation had been launched to pursue the attackers. "We suspect al-Shabab and we are pursuing them," he is quoted as saying. A police source told AFP that 10 assailants took part in the attack, adding they "opened fire indiscriminately at the workers" in the quarry. The source said several others were injured. The national police boss Charles Owino said security services had information about an impending attack and had beefed up security but "no-one knew exactly where". The report says that the militants are now believed to have crossed the border into neighbouring Somalia. Al-Shabab militants have attacked the Mandera several times, a situation that is forcing residents - mostly-non Muslims - to flee the area. BBC Posted by Mark Williams | May 4, 2018 If you saw our April sales report this week, you probably took note of two issues. First: GM pickup trucks the Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado as well as the GMC Sierra and Canyon were not on our list because GM decided to release sales information quarterly rather than monthly. As you might expect, this will create some chaos in the auto industry as automakers try to figure out how well their trucks are selling compared to their competitors. Given that many other industries report on quarterly schedules, we're guessing that other automakers are likely to follow suit. April numbers also revealed a second big issue: Ram did not see the sales gains it was hoping for with the all-new, vastly upgraded 2019 Ram 1500. In April which did have two fewer selling days and one less weekend than April 2017 Ram was down almost 10 percent, and it was more than 11 percent down for the first four months of 2018. Those numbers came coming on the heels of disappointing March numbers in which Ram was down more than 10 percent for the month and almost 13 percent for the first quarter of 2018. That meant parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had to get creative. According to Automotive News (subscription required), the launch of the new Ram half ton has not been going well; its much-hyped new mild-hybrid powertrains have not yet been rated for fuel economy by the EPA and unnamed issues at the newly remodeled Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan are affecting production. Additionally, Ram recently instituted a new Courtesy Transportation Program that allows dealers to place new or previous-generation Ram 1500s into their courtesy fleets for customers but still count them as sales as to help them hit their monthly sales goals. As we understand it, this program was instituted several weeks ago to help boost April sales numbers. There's no question many saw flattening sales coming for the auto industry Ford and Toyota pickups are the only exceptions but if this trend continues, Ram will have to get even more creative going forward. Thankfully for FCA, the Jeep brand is crushing it lately and it has a new pickup truck coming out before the end of the year. Manufacturer image The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. "I am especially addressing those who have been expressing their frustration with the lack of transparency during the last ten days, when every member of the Board knew that decision had already been made while pretending to be maintaining an open mind toward all the candidates who were deemed finalists." - LAUSD Board Member, Scott Schmerelson On Tuesday, May 1st, I joined five former LAUSD board members, teachers and other members of the public in urging the District not to hire Austin Beutner as the District's new superintendent. What none of the speakers knew was that on April 20, the Board had voted 4 - 3 to "to authorize negotiations for an employment contract with Mr. Austin Beutner as the General Superintendent of the District" but had not divulged the results to the public. This not only violated the rules of open governance but the public trust. The District had bypassed public input for their decision with the excuse that the results of the input from the last search were only two years old and still valid. However, that search found that stakeholders "wanted an educator to be the leader of LAUSD." As summarized by former Board member Monica Ratliff, "they wanted a teacher, a principal. They wanted someone who knew L.A." Instead, the Board went behind closed doors and selected someone who had "no background leading a school or school district" to lead the country's second-largest school district. Also, according to California Education Code Section 35029 Beutner had to be provided with a waiver because he does not hold "an administrative or teaching credential". While Austin Beutner "does not have an education background," he does bring some experience to the table. For a one-year period he served as the publisher of the Los Angeles Times, after which he was "abruptly fired". He is the founder and chairman of Vision to Learn, "a nonprofit group that could lose its LAUSD contract for not meeting expectations." Perhaps most tellingly, Beutner has co-chaired a task force for the past year that has presented recommendations for the LAUSD to operate "more openly." Judging from how the Superintendent search was conducted, this was also not a successful endeavor. While California's open-meeting laws do allow local governments to conduct discussions about employment issues in private, they are still barred from keeping the results of these meetings from the public. Board Member Schmerelson reports that on "April 20, by the slimmest majority possible, four members of the LAUSD Board of Education (Garcia, Melvoin, Vladovic, Rodriguez) voted to authorize negotiations for an employment contract with Mr. Austin Beutner as the General Superintendent of the District." However, it does not appear that this vote was reported. In fact, when the Board's Executive Officer, Jefferson Crain, reconvened the April 20 meeting at 6:19 PM into public session, he stated that there were "no actions to report due to today's discussion." Any vote taken was an action and should have been reported at that time. Board President Monica Garca would like her fellow board members to put these actions aside so that the District can "get to work!" However, by leaving parents out of the conversation and apparently ignoring the law, she has possibly doomed her selection before he even signed his contract. The situation was made worse by the fact that Ref Rodriguez was allowed to be the deciding vote, even as he faces felony charges of perjury related to his election and was recently arrested for public drunkenness. It is clear that the District's new leader not only lacks an education background, he lacks a mandate. When the new board majority took over last year they promised to put "kids first." When will this start? ____________________________________________ Carl Petersen is a parent and special education advocate, elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. During the campaign, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action and Dr. Diane Ravitch called him a "strong supporter of public schools." His past blogs can be found at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Despite all the recent hubbub and furor over Facebook, I am absolutely sure that it is still a vital and valuable charismatic presence in American politics. As for OpEdNews article that I write, I spread to 100 times more readers through Facebook political groups. I created one of my own: Bernie Sanders: Advice and Strategies to Win in 2020, with over 5000 members. I recently helped to resurrect another one (now called Americans for Bernie Sanders, Focused on 2018 and 2020). We have finally managed to delete (and in a few cases, approve) the backlog of 6200 prior posts going back to March 2016. to clear out this group and really tear into the planning necessary to win substantially in Nov. 2018. It was a fascinating but very time consuming process to clear these. It was all there to educated me as an activist and as a guy who likes Facebook political groups, all encapsulated in those 6000+ posts: the hysterical, the angry, the Russians/Serbs/Macedonian posts of phony news, the anguished, and the hopeful-bordering-on-the-absurd sadness as thousands held out hope that somehow Bernie would be able to prevail. Alas, logic, polling, and the gravitas of crooked DNC manipulations were dooming him in 2016, but that is not the case for 2018 and 2020. He is doing everything right now, and showing up in all the right places. I believe he deserves the nomination, and if the same corrupt DNC powers are muzzled and defeated, he has every good chance, really the best chance of all, to get the 2020 nomination. Nothing really may have changed, when I read about the DCCC getting involved in blocking candidates who are Democrats but somehow don't meet with their explicit approval. It was very clear that the Russian influences were not strictly from advertising or surreptitious efforts through Cambridge Analytics, a now disbanded and bankrupt company. The influences were far more pervasive from INDIVIDUAL POSTERS spewing all sorts of intransigent, naive, and just plain stupid stuff all over the many Facebook groups they joined. Their efforts were quite obvious, at least to me, and way back in 2016 removed them entirely from my own group. I recently repeated this more forcefully in the group I resurrected. We, the admins and moderators of both of these groups, want to hear from you. There will be no delays in approving posts, none whatsoever. I personally want to hear about progress being made for November 2018. For example: click here Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (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 piece was reprinted by OpEdNews with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. The chemical weapon attack in Douma, Syria, did not happen. Period.[1] Syria does not and never did use gas on its own people.[2] If Western audiences weren't so ridiculously indoctrinated, it would be obvious. A child could figure it out. But Westerners have been infantilized by the totalitarian blanket of mind-numbing propaganda. The propagandists are monsters, just like the terrorists that they support. The fake chemical weapon false flag and the military assault which followed it serve as yet another example (in an encyclopedia of examples), of how the West including Canada supports all of the terrorists in Syria. Instead of talking about a chemical attack that did not occur, we should be talking about the Supreme International War Crimes that did occur on April 13, 2018 when France, the UK, and the US bombed Syria. Instead of defending the terrorists who have been terrorizing and slaughtering civilians in Damascus for the last seven years,[3] we should be listening to Syrians whom the terrorists have been victimizing throughout this criminal Regime Change war. Independent investigative journalist Eva Bartlett has been interviewing Syrian citizens for a number of days now. Canadians need to listen to what Syrians are saying: We should be listening to the voices of civilization, the voices of International Law, the voices of those who are combatting international terrorism for the benefit of all of us. We should not be listening to mainstream media which has proven itself to be an agency of criminal war propaganda, nor should we be listening to our own governments which have been perpetrating Supreme International war crimes against a sovereign state, one of the founding members of the United Nations -- Syria. Notes [1] Pearson Sharp and Mark Taliano, "BREAKING: The Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria Did Not Occur. It was a Hoax, a False Flag To Justify the US-led Air Strikes, Staged by The Rebels." Global Research. 16 April, 2018. (click here) Accessed 29 April, 2018. [2] Mark Taliano, "Syria Chemical Weapons: Red Flags and False Flags." Global Research. 24 April, 2018. (click here) Accessed 29 April, 2018. [3] Mark Taliano, "Syria's Children: 'Condemned to Live', Shackled by the Scars of US-NATO Terrorism." Global Research, 22 April, 2018. (click here) Accessed 29 April, 2018. 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. Faith is not an excuse, it is a gift. The Religious Conservative Right, in these morally topsy turvy days of Trump, has exchanged a gift for an alibi. The ecclesiastical crime plays itself out day after day, week after week, month after month. The Religious Right elected a man as President of the United States that is thoroughly shot through with what heretofore would be considered by upright Christians as dire immorality and mechanistic blasphemy. He is demonstrably a liar, a fornicator and an adulterer, among other things. We have never had a President before that was not able to be more socially acceptable than a porn star. Have we had Liars and fornicators and adulterers as Presidents before -- most probably. However, we have never had a man as publically ethically and morally fallen as Donald Trump"(Someone will probably prove me wrong -- let me make my point.) We have never had a President as publically ethically and morally fallen as Donald Trump that was wholeheartedly embraced by a grossly significant portion of American Christians. The Christian Right is blaming faith for the horror we are now experiencing -- Trump was chosen by God. This is not faith; it is very simply using faith as an alibi and cover for racism, bigotry, uncontrollable/irrational fear, anger, xenophobia, willful ignorance, rank nationalism, white supremacy or juvenile jingoism. The Christian Right's march to Pennsylvania Avenue with Trump was devoid of love and compassion and empathy and brotherhood and charity and peace. They were not marching to the White House with Jesus -- they were marching with a beast. We are now going through another round of "We need to understand the Trump supporter." How are we, that cling to some bit of goodness, supposed to understand a Trump supporter, especially a Christian Trump supporter? Empirically, I have many Liberal/Progressive friends and acquaintances, it ain't gonna happen. The proud, red cap wearing voters can prostrate themselves at the altar of the idea and true soul of America and, begging forgiveness for the heresy and social terror they unleashed on this country and its good people, they will be forgiven, maybe. Maybe is the best that can be expected after what we have all been through. What I would be concerned about if I were them is if forgiveness will be forthcoming from the Savior they have so brazenly been denying with their actions, or lack thereof? Public interest communications scholar addresses doctoral commencement Ann Christiano is the Frank Karel Chair in Public Interest Communications and the director of the Center for Public Interest Communications. Formerly a senior communications officer for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Christiano also directs the frank gathering, which brings hundreds leaders from around the world who are working at the front lines of social causes, as well as scholars and funders together in Gainesville to share the best of what they know. Her speech is below. Good morning. Today, we are here to celebrate you and your commitment to scholarship. Youve honed your ability to ask big questions and find their answers. Youve trained to become athletes in the discipline of curiosity. Today, I call on you to go a step further to become virtuosos of curiosity. When I think of virtuosos, (start video) I think of Alessandra Ferri, who was a prima ballerina at the Royal Ballet and world-famous--particularly for her portrayal of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She was at the top of her field, recognized as one of the greatest in the world. And then she left the Royal Ballet to join American Ballet Theatre. Why? Because she didnt think she had achieved her potential. As you watch her, you feel Juliets passion for Romeo. Shes extraordinarily technically proficient. But look at her. She is as gifted as a storyteller as she is a dancer. And today, we honor another virtuoso who created dozens of iconic moments of her own. Ms. Rivera, I grew up in a ballet studio, I have idolized you and I never imagined in my craziest aspirations that I would get to be on stage with you. But here it is, its happened. And were both wearing really unflattering outfits. When I think of virtuosos, I also think of Kev Marcus and Will B. of the duo Black Violin. Let me show you. They are classically-trained artists who grew up in Fort Lauderdale. They merged their music with hip-hop for a sound thats unlike anything else, and transcended their art form. They use their music to overcome stereotypes and the discrimination theyve faced. Kev has said of those stereotypes: "I'm kind of glad for it because it gives me a goal of something to try and debunk." The term virtuoso is often associated with these kinds of brilliant performances. What we often forget is virtuoso can also be used to describe an experimenter or investigator particularly in the arts or sciences. Let me introduce you to Nicolay Vavilov, a Russian geneticist and botanist. He grew up amidst famine, and was certain that the end to world hunger lay in finding and protecting seed and plant types that could thrive under a range of conditions. Vavilov made expeditions to 64 countries, learning countless languages along the way. Under his leadership, the Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry acquired millions of specimens. But when Stalin came to power, he supported those without scientific training including a pseudo-scientist named Lysenko, Vavilov was thrown into the Gulag. Ironically, this brilliant scientist who had devoted his lifes work to ending famine died of starvation just two years into his 20-year sentence. His legacy doesnt end there. In the summer of 1941, German troops entered Russia, and by September Leningrad was under siege. (slide: siege of Leningrad) Scientists at Vavilovs plant institute knew they had to protect the seeds from the Germans and their starving compatriots. They barricaded themselves in the institute, taking turns to protect the seeds from the Germans, their fellow Russian--and an infestation of rats. The German siege wore on for more than three years. 800,000 Russians died. As food sources inside the institute dried up, the scientists were faced with a terrible decision. They could eat the seeds and roots that they had worked so hard to collect and preserveor they could die of starvation. You know what they chose. The institute remains, and the seeds they gave their lives to protect. It is still one of the largest seed banks in the world, though you might argue that like those plant geneticists and botanists who died so heroically in the Vavilov Institute, science is still under siege. A recent paper from the Pew Research Center shows that only 40 percent of Americans report strong trust in scientists. In March, researchers at MIT published a study showing thaton Twitter--fake news can travel as much as six times faster than the truth. It feels like scientific inquiry--and the truth itself--is under threat. Today, the stakes may be different than those scientists faced during the dark days of the siege in Leningrad, but they are no less important. There is a narrative that scientists are not good communicators. That theyre content to tuck their work away in journals and share it at sparsely attended academic conference sessions. That they are counseled not invest time in working with the news media because they will be misunderstood and misquoted and will never be admitted to the National Academies of Science. I dont know where this narrative originated. But I dont believe ittheres too much evidence to the contrary. Science is filled with virtuosos who shared their stories and challenged themselves to engage people in their work who dont share their expertise. Einstein was certainly one of them. He wasof course--a brilliant physicist who changed our understanding of time. He was also goofy and kind I love this picture of him in his fuzzy slippers on the front porch of his home on Mercer Street in Princeton. He is quoted as telling a new mom that the surest way to guarantee her childs intellect was to read him fairy tales and more fairy tales. As a lover of stories and storytelling, I couldnt agree more. Lisa Scott, an associate professor in UFs psychology department who is here today, has the science to back Einstein up. She studies infant brain development and learning. Her research shows that reading particular kinds of stories at specific stages of development can improve babies cognition. Thats her own daughter, in Lisas lab. Lisa had published her work in several academic journals, but she wanted to get it to parents. Her previous efforts working with the news media hadnt gone well, so she decided to write an article for the Conversation, a news site that uses academics as reporters and journalists as editors and provides opportunities for academics to share research with non-expert audiences. Her article got picked up in dozens of publications. As of today, it has hundreds of thousands of reads, and appeared in the Washington Post, Scientific American and most importantly for her goal to reach parents, Parents magazine. Ohand the revelation? Read your kids books that include characters with names. David Prevatt is an associate professor here at UF in civil and coastal engineering. Hes a structural engineer who is passionate about buildings, and he studies how strong our houses are in the face of major wind events like hurricanes and tornadoes. Recently, he showed me an image of a neighborhood surrounding a school in Moore, Oklahoma taken from the air days before a tornado hit He showed me a second photo taken after the tornado. 40 percent of the buildings in the tornados path were leveled. He said, Whats so frustrating to me about this is that I had published a paper just a few years earlierthat had it been appliedwould have saved many of those houses. But, he added, thats not even the thing that frustrates me most. And then he showed me a paper of his from the 1990s, that said the same thing. Another from a different scholar had been published in the 1970s (image of journal article) on a similar topic. Another published in 1968 and one published one hundred and twenty one years ago He held up his hands in frustration, shaking his head. He said: This knowledge isnt making its way from the journals into the design plans of builders. We have known for more then 100 years how to prevent this kind of damage. With that, David told me, I cant just keep turning out more research papers. I have to be an advocate for the truth. Today, in addition to continuing his research, David is developing an app to help home buyers better evaluate their homes for resiliency and make minor modifications that could save their lives and livelihoods. Andy Selepak, whose office is just down the hall in the College of Journalism and Communications from mine, was telling me one day about his goal to share more of his work about media effects with the news media. But when he started down this path, some of his senior colleagues discouraged him. They told him he was likely to be misquoted. Or his comments could be used out of context. His response: And what will they do with my silence? The world requires more of you than to be great in your discipline and communicate with your peers. Each of the virtuosos Ive told you about today stepped out of their path to push themselves not simply to the top of their field, but to the top of their potential. For each of them, becoming a virtuoso required them to become great storytellers who opened themselves to new opportunities and shared those vulnerabilities with others. They didnt just tell better stories. They became them. The path to becoming the best version of yourself isnt straight or obvious. You are on a quest, and a magnificent one. You can choose to be like Alessandra Ferri, or Kev and Will. Or Ms. Rivera. Or Lisa Scott or David Prevatt. Or Andy Selepak. Maybe youre Vavilov, travelling the world to collect and add to a massive collection of seeds that will protect our future. Or like the scientists, sacrificing to make the world a better place. You are the story. Be a story whose plot twists fascinate others and inspire them to find their own. That takes transparency, honesty, and a willingness to let others see your flaws, uncertainties and failures. What does this mean on a practical level? It means that you are required to explain why your quest matters to people who are not experts. Enter their worlds, dont just expect them to come to ours. Why does it matter so much that we should take these precious moments on your day of triumph and celebration? I dont share these stories simply as advice for a brilliant career and a happy life. The world requires the truth that only you can share. Scholarship and science can bring us back to the truth and to our best selves as humans in a pluralistic society. If you do this, you will clear the path into the ranks of the virtuoso. And when you do, you will ignite others with your passion. You will make others faith in the academy burn brighter. Who better than the virtuosos of curiosity to lead us to the truth that will make us all our best selves? Who better than you? Thank you. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Paul Craig Roberts Website Holocaust Memorial (Image by pixabay.com) Details DMCA If you don't think we live in a crazy world, here is Netanyahu, the genocidal zionist leader of Israel, an invader which has destroyed Palestine and seized Palestine for Jews, expelling Palestinians from their homes, villages and country, accusing Abbas, the front man chosen by Washington and Israel as Palestine's leader, of being a Holocaust denier. A rival absurdity is the nomination of President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. In the account I read, Abbas says nothing about the Holocaust. He says that the European prejudice against Jews resulted from European's experience with their sharp financial practices, not from some sort of religious hostility. This is, of course, consistent with numerous historical accounts predating the Israeli colonial occupation of Palestine. What was the Holocaust? According to zionists, the Holocaust was National Socialist Germany's elimination of 6 million Jews by first gassing them and then cremating the bodies. It is unclear how Germany managed this feat when all of its limited and dwindling resources were employed, unsuccessfully as it turns out, on the Russian front. Photos demonstrating the Holocaust include dead skeletal-like bodies. But these are not people gassed and cremated. These are deaths from typhus and starvation. The disintegrating German state had no food or medicines for Germans and often not for its own soldiers. Concentration camp inmates were on the bottom of the totem pole. We know very little about the Holocaust, because no one is allowed to study it. Anyone in Europe who studies it and makes the slightest correction to the zionist narrative is arrested and imprisoned as a Holocaust denier. There is no doubt that many Jews were killed, but there are different views about the various means employed and the extent to which the process was organized or haphazard. Before differences could be resolved and sorted out, the subject was put off limits. For example, suppose a scholar in Germany discovers a previously unknown document that proves that National Socialist Germany exterminated 3 million Jews. This discovery of proof of the Holocaust would be rewarded with the arrest and imprisonment of the scholar for reporting the document, because it conflicts with the official zionist declaration of 6 million. The document would be branded a falsification and discarded. The scholar's career would be ruined. The Holocaust is not a subject that can be studied or investigated. It is an occurrence handed down by zionists that cannot be examined or modified and certainly not questioned. We must take it on faith alone. If a scholar does not, he is a Holocaust denier and, if European or captured in Europe, he is imprisoned. For many people, this has raised questions about the Holocaust as studies of the event should confirm the zionists' account and be welcomed, not suppressed. The Holocaust occurred about 75 years ago. Norman Finkelstein and other Jewish scholars have explained how the Holocaust has been used to deflect criticism of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. Before our eyes the Israelis are committing holocaust against the Palestinians, and nothing is done about it. You are not even permitted to protest. South Carolina has recently passed a law making it illegal to criticize Israel for anything, no matter how egregious. The bill purports to be combating "anti-semitism," but the definition of anti-semitism is criticism of Israel or support for boycotts against Israel. In other words, in South Carolina it is illegal to sanction Israel or to criticize its inhumane policies toward the Palestinians. But Russia, Iran, and North Korea can be sanctioned on the basis of false accusations alone. Three years ago South Carolina passed a law prohibiting state contracts with US companies that boycott Israel. The South Carolina government, like most other states, is in Israel's pocket. The state and federal governments respond to Israel, not to Americans, and certainly not to moral imperatives. So what are we to conclude? That Holocaust against Jews is morally unacceptable, but Holocaust against Palestinians is morally acceptable? The myth of "Western democracy" is based on voting, which never changes anything. Trump campaigned on ending the war in Syria and normalizing relations with Russia, but where are we today? The US is attacking Syrian Army positions and fomenting war with Russia. Yet this has not prevented Trump from being nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Former CIA officer Philip Giraldi says that America's neoconservative Jews are driving America's wars for Israel's benefit. 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 The Nation Love It! Improve It! Medicare For All! (Image by flickr.com) Details DMCA When the Democratic Party's platform committeerejected a proposal for finally establishing a single-payer health-care system in the United States, Michael Lighty of National Nurses United reminded them that 81 percent of Democrats tell pollsters they support a "Medicare for All" reform. "If [single payer] is controversial in this room, it is the only room of Democrats in which it is controversial," the veteran union activist explained. Lighty was right, and, though his position did not prevail that day, he promised that "the 185,000 registered nurses of National Nurses United will not give up on their patients. They will not give up until we assure health care for all. They will not give up until we have Medicare for All." Unfortunately, the persistent determination of the Democratic Party's hyper-cautious "strategists" and "leaders" to reject the will of Democratic voters -- and the historical traditions of a party that declared in its 1948 platform: "We favor the enactment of a national health program" -- continues. This reticence is practically and politically unnecessary, as the party's potential presidential contenders have recognized. One-third of Senate Democrats now back the single-player legislation advanced by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, including 2020 prospects Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. Despite the fact that Democrats who are thinking seriously about the future are moving on the issue, there are still too many top Democrats who pull their punches, refusing to embrace a reform that is at once needed and popular. In Ohio, for instance, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray, whom local publications have described as "the choice of the Democratic Party establishment," takes a typically cautious position on health-care reform. says he's for "reliable access to quality health care" and that "we must make sure that our most vulnerable continue to receive access to health care." Click Here to Read Whole Article 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 Reader Supported News President Trump and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia - Mohammed bin Salman (Image by YouTube, Channel: CGTN America) Details DMCA I spent nearly 15 years in the CIA. I like to think that I learned something there. I learned how the federal bureaucracy works. I learned that cowboys in government -- in the CIA and elsewhere around government -- can have incredible power over the creation of policy. I learned that the CIA will push the envelope of legality until somebody in a position of authority pushes back. I learned that the CIA can wage war without any thought whatsoever as to how things will work out in the end. There's never an exit strategy. I learned all of that firsthand in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. In the spring of 2002, I was in Pakistan working against al-Qaeda. I returned to CIA headquarters in May of that year and was told that several months earlier a decision had been made at the White House to invade Iraq. I was dumbfounded, and when told of the war plans could only muster, "But we haven't caught bin Laden yet." "The decision has already been made," my supervisor told me. He continued, "Next year, in February, we're going to invade Iraq, overthrow Saddam Hussein, and open the world's largest air force base in southern Iraq." He went on, "We're going to go to the United Nations and pretend that we want a Security Council Resolution. But the truth is that the decision has already been made." Soon after, Secretary of State Colin Powell began traveling around Europe and the Middle East to cultivate support for the invasion. Sure enough, he also went to the United Nations and argued that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, necessitating an invasion and overthrow because that country posed an imminent threat to the United States. But the whole case was built on a lie. A decision was made and then the "facts" were created around the decision to support it. I think the same thing is happening now. First, Donald Trump said repeatedly during the 2016 campaign that he would pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran sanctions deal. The JCPOA allows for international inspectors to examine all of Iran's nuclear sites to ensure that the country is not enriching uranium and is not building a weapons program. In exchange, Western countries have lifted sanctions on Iran, allowing them to buy spare parts, medicines, and other things that they had been unable to acquire. Despite the protestations of conservatives in Congress and elsewhere, the JCPOA works. Indeed, the inspection regime is exactly the same one that the United Nations imposed on Iraq in the last two decades. Trump has kept up his anti-Iran rhetoric since becoming president. More importantly, he has appointed Iran hawks to the two most important positions in foreign policy: former CIA Director Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State and former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton as National Security Adviser. The two have made clear that their preferred policy toward Iran is "regime change," a policy that is actually prohibited by international law. Perhaps the most troubling development, however, is the apparent de facto alliance against Iran by Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent "presentation" on what he called a clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons program was embarrassingly similar to Powell's heavily scripted speech before the UN Security Council 15 years earlier telling the world that Iraq had a program. That, too, was a lie. Saudi crown prince Muhammad bin Salman, the godfather of the Saudi war in Yemen, which in turn is a proxy war against Iran, recently made a grand tour of the United States and France talking about "the Iranian threat" at every turn. The rhetoric coming out of the UAE and Bahrain is at least as hostile as what has been spewed by the Saudis. Meanwhile, there's silence on Capitol Hill. Just like there was in 2002. I can tell you from firsthand experience that I've seen this before. Our government is laying the groundwork for yet another war. Be on the lookout for several things. First, Trump is going to begin shouting about the "threat" from Iran. It will become a daily mantra. He'll argue that Iran is actively hostile and poses an immediate danger to the United States. Next Pompeo will head back to the Middle East and Europe to garner support for a military action. Then US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley will scream in front of the UN Security Council that the US has no choice but to protect itself and its allies from Iran. The final shoe to drop -- a clear indication of war -- will be if naval carrier battle groups are deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, the Arabian Sea, or the Persian Gulf. Sure, there's always one in the region anyway. But more than one is a provocation. We have to be diligent in opposing this run into another war of choice. We can't be tricked or taken by surprise. Not again. Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News. 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 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim in his theatrical 20-minute presentation of an Israeli physical seizure of Iran's "atomic archive" in Tehran would certainly have been the "great intelligence achievement" he boasted if it had actually happened. But the claim does not hold up under careful scrutiny, and his assertion that Israel now possesses a vast documentary record of a covert Iranian nuclear weapons program is certainly fraudulent. Netanyahu's tale of an Israeli intelligence raid right in Tehran that carted off 55,000 paper files and another 55,000 CDs from a "highly secret location" requires that we accept a proposition that is absurd on its face: that Iranian policymakers decided to store their most sensitive military secrets in a small tin-roofed hut with nothing to protect it from heat (thus almost certainly ensuring loss of data on CDs within a few years) and no sign of any security, based on the satellite image shown in the slide show. (As Steve Simon observed in The New York Times, the door did not even appear to have a lock on it.) The laughable explanation suggested by Israeli officials to The Daily Telegraph -- that the Iranian government was afraid the files might be found by international inspectors if they remained at "major bases" -- merely reveals the utter contempt that Netanyahu has for Western governments and news media. Even if Iran were pursuing nuclear weapons secretly, their files on the subject would be kept at the Ministry of Defense, not at military bases. And of course the alleged but wholly implausible move to an implausible new location came just as Netanyahu needed a dramatic new story to galvanize Trump to resist the European allies' strong insistence on preserving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Act (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran. In fact, there is no massive treasure trove of secret files about an Iran "Manhattan Project." The shelves of black binders and CDs that Netanyahu revealed with such a dramatic flourish date back to 2003 (after which a U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) said Iran had abandoned any nuclear weapons program) and became nothing more than stage props like the cartoon bomb that Netanyahu used at the United Nations in 2012. Disinformation Campaign Netanyahu's claim about how Israel acquired this "atomic archive" is only the latest manifestation of a long-term disinformation campaign that the Israeli government began to work on in 2002-03. The documents to which Netanyahu referred in the presentation were introduced to the news media and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) beginning in 2005 as coming originally from a secret Iranian nuclear weapons research program. For many years U.S. news media have accepted those documents as authentic. But despite the solid media united front behind that narrative, we now know with certainty that those earlier documents were fabrications and that they were created by Israel's Mossad. That evidence of fraud begins with the alleged origins of the entire collection of documents. Senior intelligence officials in the George W. Bush administration had told reporters that the documents came from "a stolen Iranian laptop computer," as The New York Times reported in November 2005. The Times quoted unnamed intelligence officials as insisting that the documents had not come from an Iranian resistance group, which would cast serious doubt on their reliability. But it turned out that the assurances from those intelligence officials were part of an official dissimulation. The first reliable account of the documents' path to the United States came only in 2013, when former senior German foreign office official Karsten Voigt, who retired from his long-time position as coordinator of German-North American cooperation, spoke with this writer on the record. Voigt recalled how senior officials of the German foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst or BND, had explained to him in November 2004 that they were familiar with the documents on the alleged Iran nuclear weapons program, because a sometime source -- but not an actual intelligence agent -- had provided them earlier that year. Furthermore, the BND officials explained that they had viewed the source as "doubtful," he recalled, because the source had belonged to the Mujahideen-E Khalq, the armed Iranian opposition group that had fought Iran on behalf of Iraq during the eight year war. BND officials were concerned that the Bush administration had begun citing those documents as evidence against Iran, because of their experience with "Curveball" -- the Iraqi engineer in Germany who had told stories of Iraqi mobile bioweapons labs that had turned [out] to be false. As a result of that meeting with BND officials, Voigt had given an interview to The Wall Street Journal in which he had contradicted the assurance of the unnamed U.S. intelligence officials to the Times and warned that the Bush administration should not base its policy on the documents it was beginning to cite as evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program, because they had indeed come from "an Iranian dissident group." Using the MEK The Bush administration's desire to steer press coverage of the supposedly internal Iranian documents away from the MEK is understandable: the truth about the MEK role would immediately lead to Israel, because it was well known, that Israel's intelligence agency Mossad had used the MEK to make public information that the Israelis did not want attributed to itself -- including the precise location of Iran's Natanz enrichment facility. As Israeli journalists Yossi Melman and Meir Javadanfar observed in their 2007 book on the Iran nuclear program, based on U.S., British and Israeli officials, "Information is 'filtered' to the IAEA via Iranian opposition groups, especially the National Resistance Council of Iran." Mossad used the MEK repeatedly in the 1990s and the early 2000's to get the IAEA to inspect any site the Israelis suspected might possibly be nuclear-related, earning their Iranian clients a very poor reputation at the IAEA. No one familiar with the record of the MEK could have believed that it was capable of creating the detailed documents that were passed to the German government. That required an organization with the expertise in nuclear weapons and experience in fabricating documents -- both of which Israel's Mossad had in abundance. Bush administration officials had highlighted a set of 18 schematic drawings of the Shahab-3 missile's reentry vehicle or nosecone of the missile in each of which there was a round shape representing a nuclear weapon. Those drawings were described to foreign governments and the International Atomic Energy Agency as 18 different attempts to integrate a nuclear weapon into the Shahab-3. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. 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. See original here By Jake Johnson, staff writer "Bluster or threats won't get the U.S. a new deal, particularly as it is not honoring the deal it has already made." Zarif's address comes just days after Netanyahu delivered a 'bizarre' speech accusing Iran of harboring a secret nuclear weapons program in violation of the nuclear agreement. (Image by (Photo: YouTube/Screengrab)) Details DMCA As President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continue to plow ahead with "cartoonish allegations" in an effort to undermine the Iran nuclear deal -- which most Americans support, despite the disinformation campaign against it -- Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said in a video on Thursday that the U.S. has "consistently violated" the terms of the accord and that the agreement will not be renegotiated. Arguing it is Iran -- and not the U.S. or Europe -- that has "serious grievances" and "much to demand" in terms of diplomatic concessions, Zarif noted that his nation "has not invaded anyone in centuries, but we have been invaded, most recently [in 1980] by Saddam Hussein, who was then backed by the U.S. and its regional allies." "The West even actively prevented us from buying rudimentary means of defense even as Saddam Hussein showered by Iranian civilians and soldiers with chemical weapons," Zarif noted. Even in light of this gruesome history and recent "bluster" from the Trump administration, Zarif noted that Iran still entered into the nuclear agreement "in good faith" and has continued to comply. Zarif went on to reiterate that his nation will not "renegotiate or add onto" the deal, as French President Emmanuel Macron suggested during his visit to the U.S. last week. Zarif also accused the U.S. of repeatedly violating the nuclear agreement "by bullying others to prevent businesses from returning to Iran." Speaking directly to Trump in "real estate terms," Zarif said, "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 renegotiate the price." Watch: Zarif's address comes just days after Netanyahu delivered a "bizarre" speech accusing Iran of harboring a secret nuclear weapons program in violation of the nuclear agreement. Experts and United Nations officials have since dismissed Netanyahu's presentation as badly misleading and deemed much of the information he used to make his case outdated. Trump's White House, however, uncritically touted Netanyahu's speech as further evidence that the Iran deal must either be overhauled or scrapped entirely. In an interview last month on "Face the Nation," Zarif reiterated that his country has no plans or desire to develop nuclear weapons and will not do so, even if Trump walks away from its obligations to uphold the international agreement. 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 Alternet This is a bait-and-switch to divert attention from more troublesome issues. The professional election law world is aghast that President Trump's latest attorney, Rudy Giuliani, told Fox News that Trump reimbursed his legal fixer, Michael Cohen, for the $130,000 payment that Cohen made to silence Stormy Daniels about their alleged affair just before the 2016 election. Giuliani's admission, which was confirmed by Trump in a tweet, has prompted media outlets like the New York Times to report that Trump was caught in another lie, and that the president and Cohen could be fined by the Federal Election Commission for breaking laws intended to inform voters about their candidates for high office. "Trump's admission that he later repaid Cohen for the hush money destroys any argument Cohen could have made that the payment was out of his own money as an independent expenditure," Trevor Potter, president of the Washington-based Campaign Legal Center, a former Republican FEC member and Stephen Colbert's favorite go-to guy for explaining election laws, said Thursday. "This is a reminder of why disclosure and reporting laws are on the books in the first place: if these transactions were properly reported by the Trump campaign in October 2016, it would have triggered public attention to the issue, and would have given voters relevant information that could be factored into their decision-making," Potter continued. "It is important for the FEC to take this matter seriously and open an investigation." But urging the FEC to act is akin to using a water pistol to put out a forest fire. The body has been hobbled by partisan gridlock and unfilled appointments and has had little impact of the rough and tumble of campaigns in recent years. You can bet that Giuliani knows this and what is really going on is a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the escalating Mueller probe of the Trump campaign's collusion with Russia to the yawn-inducing world of campaign finance oversight. Potter, of course, is completely correct that campaign finance laws are intended to help the public understand who they are voting for and to prevent political corruption. He said on Thursday that Trump, via Giuliani, has now put himself squarely in the sights of federal campaign regulators who will likely end up fining him. "With this latest explanation, President Trump finds himself between something of a rock and a hard place," Potter explained. "If this payment was a $460,000 loan from Michael Cohen, as Rudy Giuliani claimed, Trump was required to disclose it in the financial disclosure report that he filed in June 2017 with the Office of Government Ethics. The law required him to disclose any loan that was greater than $10,000 at any time during 2016 or the first half of 2017. He didn't disclose it and, if the omission was intentional, he could be subject to civil or criminal penalties." So why are Giuliani and Trump positioning themselves for an FEC investigation and fine? Apart from diverting the news away from the Mueller investigation, Trump can tweet a big "so what," because, as it turns out, other campaigns -- including Barack Obama's 2008 effort -- violated FEC rules and faced big six-figure fines. "President Obama's 2008 presidential campaign has been fined $375,000 by the Federal Election Commission, one of the largest fines levied against a presidential campaign," USA Today reported in January 2013. "The fines are related to missing reports for nearly 1,300 last-minute donations, totaling nearly $1.9 million. In the 20-day period before an election, candidates are required to file notices within 48 hours of receiving contributions of $1,000 or more." It's not exactly news that the president is a serial liar, serial adulterer and is willing to pay to settle legal disputes. Regarding Giuliani's admission about reimbursing his fixer Cohen and Trump's tweet affirming it, take note of why it's a shrewd move for the president's legal team. Not only can Trump say that Obama did something bad, muddying the waters he's in by raising false equivalencies. But as important, it took the FEC more than four years to fine Obama -- issuing that historic fine after the next presidential election was over. (In case anyone needs reminding, Obama was re-elected in 2012.) 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 piece was reprinted by OpEdNews with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. From Black Agenda Report "Lynch law is still practiced today by police across the country." The National Memorial for Peace and Justice recently opened in Montgomery, Alabama, to great fanfare. The memorial tells the stories of the more than 4,000 recorded lynchings perpetrated against black men, women and children by American terrorists for nearly 100 years. The crimes were gruesome public spectacle. Victims died by gunshots, hanging, fire, dismemberment and castration. The massacres took place mostly in the South but not entirely. Lynch law was a nationwide phenomenon and while unwritten it was defended as much as any legislation on the books. As important as it is for the victims to be named and remembered, it is important to think about how we should do so. The most important reason to remember painful past events is to direct ourselves politically in the present. There is an understandable temptation to make our experience as visible as that of others whose suffering has been elevated above ours. There was a memorial to the European Jewish holocaust on the Washington mall before there were museums dedicated to African American or Native American history. The oversight isn't surprising. The genocides which took place on United States soil were ignored precisely because they took place here. Any acknowledgement would have touched too many raw nerves. "The most important reason to remember painful past events is to direct ourselves politically in the present." Having a memorial dedicated to our oppression is not a victory in and of itself. Lynch law is still practiced today by police across the country. There may not be a mob invited to a hanging or a burning but the police surely function in that role. Lynching didn't end and it should not be seen as some sort of anomaly rooted in the distant past. Just as numerous efforts to pass anti-lynching legislation failed in the past, so too have efforts to end the modern day version. The police are the 21st Century Ku Klux Klan and white citizens councils and the attempt to control them and get them out of our communities have so far come to naught. The extent of police killing became widely known in 2012 when the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement issued their report on the extra judicial killing of black people. Barack Obama was in office when the extent of the death toll was revealed. But the black president who had the power to use federal prosecution against the police mob instead did nothing. "Police are the 21stcentury Ku Klux Klan and white citizens councils." Black people still exist in a political limbo. We are able to exercise the franchise but within the same corrupt duopoly which failed the victims memorialized in Montgomery. To this day one party uses racism as an organizing principle. It is the white peoples' party. The other is a false friend to black people. In decades past we may have hoped that the Republicans would rescue us from the evil Dixiecrats. Now we cling desperately to the Democrats and hope they keep the republicans at bay. For decades black leadership fought unsuccessfully for anti-lynching legislation. Today we fight but still without success for protection from the modern day mob wearing blue uniforms. If we are going to remember an awful past it must be with a plan to finish the sad tale once and for all. It does us little good to know the names and dates of victims one hundred years ago when today we have to remember Stephon Clarke and the unnamed police victims who lose their lives every day. "One party uses racism as an organizing principle, the other is a false friend to black people." Nor should anyone be impressed because wealthy hedge fund chieftains from Bain Capital and corporations like Google donate money for museums and memorials. The largesse always comes with strings attached. Their philanthropic contributions are public relations ploys meant to shield them from scrutiny of their actions which are so harmful to millions of people. We should not allow our rightful desire to remember to become an expression of support for what must be thrown out. Every visitor moved by the history displayed in the new Montgomery memorial should fight for an end to the system which gives us a violent police state. Any black person can be killed by police or caught up in the prison gulag. That means lynch law still lives. It won't end because of museum exhibits. It will end only with revolutionary deeds of the kind that are thwarted by Bain Capital and Google. The system in this country was built with anti-black racism as its foundation. Generations of our people have struggled mightily against it, and studying their successes and failures is essential. That study should include knowing the awful crimes that are exposed in Montgomery but it can't end there. The horror lives on and will continue as long as we remain within the confines of what already oppresses us. We have seen this history and we know how it ends. 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. From No More Fake News Analyzing mainstream news anti-logic Fake News (Image by flickr.com) Details DMCA Thousands of articles have been written about the so-called Russian hack of the US election. The term "Russian hack" suggests the Russkies actually found a way to subvert the results of voting machines. But of course, no convincing evidence has been presented to support such a charge. In fact, when you drill down a few inches below the surface, you find this charge instead: Russia hacked into email accounts and scooped up Hillary, DNC, and Podesta emails, and passed them to WikiLeaks, who then published them. No chain of evidence supporting this claim has been presented to the public, either. But even assuming the assertion is true, an important factor is intentionally being ignored: THE CONTENT OF THOSE LEAKED EMAILS. In other words, if making all this content publicly available cost Hillary the election, and if no one is seriously questioning the authenticity of the emails, then THE TRUTH undermined Hillary. However, no major media outlet is reporting the story from that angle. After all, how would this headline look? TRUE CONTENT OF LEAKED EMAILS SINKS HILLARY CLINTON. Or this? HILLARY COULDN'T REFUTE CONTENT OF LEAKED EMAILS AND SO SHE LOST THE ELECTION. Those headlines would attract millions of clicks. Why weren't they printed? Big news outlets didn't want readers to think about the story from that perspective. Why not? Why was the heavy emphasis put on the hacking of the emails? To obscure the importance of their content: for example, DNC collusion to obstruct and undermine the campaign of Bernie Sanders. "Let's make the story all about WHO we claim stole the emails, rather than WHAT THE EMAILS CONTAINED." When a tape surfaced in which Trump spoke about women who were eager to have sex with famous men, did major media make the story all about who had the tape and who released it to the press? No. Perhaps you remember this 2009 email-hack controversy. Wikipedia sums it up: "The Climatic Research Unit email controversy (also known as "Climategate") began in November 2009 with the hacking of a server at the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) by an external attacker, copying thousands of emails and computer files, the Climatic Research Unit documents, to various internet locations several weeks before the Copenhagen Summit on climate change." One of the most revealing elements in the email exchanges: an obvious attempt to sideline scientific critics of global warming. But major media quickly began to reframe the story. It was all about illegal hacking, and investigations were launched to determine the criminal. The contents of the emails were brushed off as "proprietary work product" and "misleading" because "context was missing." The case of Edward Snowden was somewhat different. There the media felt compelled to expose the CONTENT of the NSA documents Snowden stole. They also gave considerable space to Snowden himself. To some degree, this was a fait accompli, because The Guardian newspaper was committed, from the beginning, to publishing NSA documents and an analysis of their meaning -- so other media outlets followed suit. Big news media decide whether to focus on the WHO or the WHAT, in each case. "Should we give primary coverage to the leaker or what he leaked?" Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "The bottom-up revolution is fueling tremendous change in politics, commerce, and how people relate to each other. Rob Kall's book Bottom-Up provides a powerful guide to how organizations can understand and tap bottom-up's power. " Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist Amarc Services Offer Boiler Repair Services In Bromley http://www.amarc-services.com/plumbers-beckenham/ United Kingdom 03-05-2018. Amarc Services is a company that likes to be proactive and this is why the firm is pleased to offer a range of plumbing services that will ensure homeowners can feel confident about their home. Hopefully there will not be much call for central heating over the next few months, and therefore, this is the ideal time of year to have boilers reviewed, making sure that they are in ideal condition for next winter.The most recent winter was miserable, and many people were caught out at home. Anyone who had to ensure a cold and damp home life will be in no hurry to repeat that, and this is why calling on a leading local plumber makes sense. For the best standard of boiler repair Bromley has to offer, contact Amarc Services and benefit from the expertise that comes with serving a local community with pride.Although many people will be glad to not think about their boiler for a few months, this is the perfect time to have it serviced. There are few things worse in life than dealing with a broken boiler when the weather is cold and wet, and quite often, issues that are found early can be repaired quicker and much cheaper. Being proactive at home makes perfect sense and it should ensure that homeowners enjoy a happier home without being out of pocket.In fact, this approach doesnt just apply to boilers, it can apply to all heating and plumbing services. Hopefully the summer of 2018 will be an enjoyable one, but it is a time for property owners to get their house in order and who better to call on for assistance than the leading plumbers Beckenham has to offer? Some time and money spent in the summer will help homeowners to enjoy their home fully in summer.For more details about the best standard of boiler repair services in Bromley, and advice on where to find the most dependable plumbers in Beckenham, please visit:Amarc Services operates around the clock providing emergency and non-emergency services aimed at helping people and businesses care for their property in the most effective manner. The company provides an extensive range of services and looks to offer the best standard of plumbing and heating services in London.With so many modern heating services to choose from, Amarc Services is pleased to provide an installation and advice centre, which will help all clients find the best heating solution for their home. Anyone looking for a fully connected property will find Amarc Services is the company to trust.1 Bromley LaneChislehurst, LondonBR7 6LHUnited Kingdom Securing success: Parker Software wins major European security award WhosOn live chat Parker Software has won Security Solution of the Year in the European IT & Software Excellence Awards, taking home the top prize with live chat solution WhosOn.Rather than traditional product-led awards, the prestigious IT Europa event commends vendors that demonstrate flexible, real-world solutions catered to meet specific customer needs. It was Parker Softwares work in providing bespoke live chat deployments for regulated customers that secured the companys victory.Businesses are now being targeted by cybercriminals on a scale previously unseen, comments Stephen Parker, founder and CEO of Parker Software. With a companys live chat channel holding sensitive information and key customer details, a data breach could prove ruinous.Parker Software has been specialising in secure live chat since 2002. The companys niche lies in custom, highly secure implementations of its WhosOn chat product for customers with complex needs.Most live chat providers have been quick to jump on the cloud computing bandwagon, explains Stephen. However, many businesses still prefer secure, installable software solutions that they can host privately. So, we have developed a specialism in offering tailored on-premises editions of our software, as well as watertight cloud editions to meet all needs.Parker Softwares flexible delivery of secure chat to suit individual customer needs was commended by the IT Europa judges, and the company now sits amongst a winners list that includes household names such as Dell, Microsoft and Avaya. This is the third awards achievement of 2018 for Parker Software, with two separate recognitions in UK international trade awards.Its been a fantastic year for Parker Software so far, and winning Security Solution of the Year adds further momentum, says Stephen. We plan to continue developing ever more secure software releases, securing our spot as one of the worlds leading live chat providers.Parker Software is the UK leader in live chat software and business process automation. Founded as a one-man operation in 2002, the company now employs a team of over 30 people catering to over 10,000 customers in over 100 countries.Parker Software LtdVictoria Business ParkProspect WayStoke on TrentStaffordshireST8 7PL GoodFirms Declares Zoho Creator as a Leader in App Builder Software Top App Development Software https://www.goodfirms.co/app-development-software www.goodfirms.co Zoho creator is a robust app builder that enables businesses to create web and mobiles apps as well as run database applications without any infrastructure costs. Currently, Zoho Creator has secured its 1st position in the list of Top App Development Software at GoodFirms for offering ingenious and intuitive app solutions to their clients.GoodFirms is a globally recognized B2B research and reviews platform that connects all the service buyers with the top technology software service companies they need to tackle business challenges. Here companies are listed with the strong proof of their work record. But, only the most highly recommended companies in each industry are acknowledged as leaders.Zoho Creator is a low-code app development platform that lets you create and launch custom, mobile-ready apps on your own from scratch with Zoho's drag and drop interface. It also offers 50+ ready-to-use apps for small, medium, and enterprise businesses. Since 12 years, over two million custom applications are designed and deployed in App Stores by the Zoho Creator platform users.Zoho Creator is the preferred app builder platform for those with no formal programming and deployment experience. Zoho Creator can also amalgamate with a range of other products, such as Zoho CRM and Zoho Reports. Collectively, these all products support businesses to accomplish the ultimate data management solutions.About Zoho Creator:Zoho Creator is the fastest growing, cloud based software to create custom applications. Zoho Creator enables the industries of all sizes to develop custom business applications and manage their own apps to have a better engagement with their customers.About GoodFirms:GoodFirms is a Washington, D.C. based research firm that aligns its efforts in identifying the most prominent and efficient software companies that deliver results to their clients. GoodFirms research is a confluence of new age consumer reference processes and conventional industry-wide review & rankings that help service seekers leap further and multiply their industry-wide value and credibility.GoodFirms4th Floor, St. NWWashington DCContact:Rachael RayEmail: rachael@goodfirms.coVisit us at: Luxury Hotel Market, Competitive Analysis By Type, Industry Forecast 2022 http://bit.ly/2zc37Ou http://bit.ly/2zdjo5U http://bit.ly/2hwT4Ks Luxury Hotels Provide Travelers And Tourists With High-End Lodging Experience Including Facilities Such As Discreet Check-In & Check-Out, Heated & Fresh Water Swimming Pool (Private Swimming Pools Offered By Many Hotels), Spa, Fitness Area, And Others (Including Customized Services) That Distinguish Them From The Other Ordinary Hotels. Rise In Demand For Luxury Stays Due To Change In Preference Of Customers And Upgradation In The Services Provided By Hoteliers Boost The Growth Of The Luxury Hotel Market.Rise In Travel & Tourism Industry, Growth In Preference For Leisure Travel, And Increase In Standard Of Living Are The Major Drivers That Fuel The Growth Of Luxury Hotel Market. However, Rise In Price Of Lodging Is Expected To Hinder The Market Growth. Emergence Of New Luxury Hotels Is Anticipated To Unfold New Business Opportunities For The Market In The Coming Years.For More Info, Get Sample :The Report Segments The Global Luxury Hotel Market On The Basis Of Type And Geography. Based On Type, The Market Is Classified Into Business Hotels, Airport Hotels, Suite Hotels, Resorts, And Others. Geographically, The Market Is Analyzed Across North America (U.S., Canada, And Mexico), Europe (France Germany, Italy, Spain, Uk, And Rest Of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, South Korea, Australia, Japan, India, And Rest Of Asia-Pacific), And Lamea (Latin America, Middle East, And Africa).Major Key Players Operating In The Market Are Four Seasons Holdings Inc., Intercontinental Hotels Group, Marriott International Inc., Hyatt Corporation., Itc Hotels Limited, Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd., Jumeirah International Llc, The Indian Hotel Companies Limited, And Others.Key Benefits for Stakeholders The Report Provides Quantitative As Well As Qualitative Analysis About The Current Trend And Opportunities During The Forecasted Period. Region Wise Distribution Of Luxury Hotels Is Analyzed In The Report. The Report Also Explains About The Various Drivers, Restraints, And Opportunity Of The Global Luxury Hotel Market. Porters Five Force Model Examines Various Suppliers Involved In The Market. In-Depth Analysis About Various Luxury Hotels Is Provided In The Report.Global Luxury Hotel Market Key SegmentationEnquire About Report :By Type Business Hotels Airport Hotels Suite Hotels Resorts OthersBy Geography North America U.S. Rest Of North America Europe Italy Uk Germany France Rest Of Europe Asia-Pacific Japan Australia Rest Of Asia-Pacific Lamea Latin America Middle East AfricaAlso Request For Discount :Key Players Four Seasons Holdings Inc. Intercontinental Hotels Group Marriott International Inc. Hyatt Corporation Itc Hotels Limited Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. Jumeirah International Llc The Indian Hotel Companies LimitedTable Of Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3 MARKET OVERVIEW. CHAPTER 4 WORLD LUXURY HOTEL MARKET BY TYPE CHAPTER 5 WORLD LUXURY HOTEL MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 6 RELATED INDUSTRY INSIGHTS CHAPTER 7 COMPANY PROFILESAbout UsWe have a large database of quality and precise market research reports that will be very beneficial for your organization. Reports that we sell our authentic in nature and from reputed publishers, hence it can definitely help you with your growth opportunities. Research Beam will always make sure to bring most ethical and high quality reports. We value your relationship with us and look forward for a long term relation.Contact UsGlobal Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United States+1 (800) 910-6452help@researchbeam.com Global Lead Free Brass Rods Market Forecast 2018-2025 Wieland, Hailiang, Mitsubishi Shindoh, Guodong Copper Lead Free Brass Rods Market https://bit.ly/2KxskGj http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-lead-free-brass-rods-sales-market-4451 http://www.qymarketstudy.com/ QYMarketStudy include new market study "Global Lead Free Brass Rods Market" examines the performance of the Lead Free Brass Rods market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Lead Free Brass Rods market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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SUZHOU CHANG LE COPPERLead Free Brass Rods Market : By ApplicationElectrical and Telecommunications IndustryTransportation IndustryBathroom, Drinking Water Engineering IndustryOthersLead Free Brass Rods Market : By TypeCu-Zn-BiCu-Zn-SiCu-Zn-SbOthersFirstly, the report covers the top Lead Free Brass Rods manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Lead Free Brass Rods report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Lead Free Brass Rods industry, Lead Free Brass Rods industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. 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We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:Samuel JohnsonUnited StatesContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com Global Lightweight Conveyor Belts Market Forecast 2018-2025 Intralox, Habasit, Volta Belting, Ammeraal Beltech Lightweight Conveyor Belts Market https://bit.ly/2rjKhzt http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-lightweight-conveyor-belts-sales-market-4321 http://www.qymarketstudy.com/ QYMarketStudy include new market study "Global Lightweight Conveyor Belts Market" examines the performance of the Lightweight Conveyor Belts market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Lightweight Conveyor Belts market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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Shanghai BeiwenLightweight Conveyor Belts Market : By ApplicationFood Processing IndustryTransport and Logistics IndustryPrinting and Packaging IndustryTextile IndustryChemical IndustryAquaculture IndustryOtherLightweight Conveyor Belts Market : By TypeCoating ProcessCalendering ProcessFirstly, the report covers the top Lightweight Conveyor Belts manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Lightweight Conveyor Belts report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Lightweight Conveyor Belts industry, Lightweight Conveyor Belts industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. 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We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:Samuel JohnsonUnited StatesContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com Global Graphics Display Controllers Market Forecast 2018-2025 Barco, Intersil, Toshiba, Samsung Semiconductor Graphics Display Controllers Market https://bit.ly/2HIj0lg https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-graphics-display-controllers-market-6194 A market study "Global Graphics Display Controllers Market" examines the performance of the Graphics Display Controllers market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Graphics Display Controllers market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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It shows manufacturing capacity, Graphics Display Controllers Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Graphics Display Controllers Market 2018 :Socionext (Formed from Fujistu and Panasonic)BarcoIntersilToshibaSamsung SemiconductorADL Embedded SolutionsAnalog DevicesMicrochip TechnologySTMicroelectronicsSolomon SystechShenzhen Hengstar TechnologyGraphics Display Controllers Market : By TypeLCD Graphics Display ControllerLED Graphics Display ControllerOLED Graphics Display ControllerGraphics Display Controllers Market : By ApplicationMedical DevicesAutomotive ApplicationsAvionics DevicesIndustrial DevicesHome AppliancesOtherFirstly, the report covers the top Graphics Display Controllers manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. 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We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@globeinforesearch.com Global Cellulose-based Bioethanol Market Forecast 2018-2025 Green Plains, Abengoa Bioenergy, Petrobras, Dupont Cellulose-based Bioethanol Market https://bit.ly/2I9nfWn http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-cellulosebased-bioethanol-sales-market-4354 http://www.qymarketstudy.com/ QYMarketStudy include new market study "Global Cellulose-based Bioethanol Market" examines the performance of the Cellulose-based Bioethanol market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Cellulose-based Bioethanol market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Cellulose-based Bioethanol market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Cellulose-based Bioethanol Market 2018 report includes Cellulose-based Bioethanol market Revenue, market Share, Cellulose-based Bioethanol industry volume, market Trends, Cellulose-based Bioethanol Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Cellulose-based Bioethanol Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Cellulose-based Bioethanol Market 2018 :1. Archer Daniels Midland Company (US)2. POET LLC (US)3. Green Plains (US)4. Valero Energy Corporation (US)5. Flint Hills Resource (US)6. Abengoa Bioenergy SA (Spain)7. Royal Dutch Shell plc (Netherlands)8. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (US)9. Petrobras (Brazil)10. Andersons (US)11. BP PLC (UK)12. Dupont (US)Cellulose-based Bioethanol Market : By ApplicationTransportationPharmaceuticalsCosmeticsAlcoholic BeveragesOthersCellulose-based Bioethanol Market : By TypeE5E10E15 to E70E75 to E85Firstly, the report covers the top Cellulose-based Bioethanol manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Cellulose-based Bioethanol report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Cellulose-based Bioethanol industry, Cellulose-based Bioethanol industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. 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We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:Samuel JohnsonUnited StatesContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com Global Road Graders Market Forecast 2018-2025 Liebherr, Hitachi, Doosan, John Deere Road Graders Market https://bit.ly/2FBCHp6 https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-road-graders-market-6196 A market study "Global Road Graders Market" examines the performance of the Road Graders market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Road Graders market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Road Graders market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Road Graders Market 2018 report includes Road Graders market Revenue, market Share, Road Graders industry volume, market Trends, Road Graders Growth aspects. 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We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@globeinforesearch.com Cloud Computing in Education Market Vacillating during 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=923 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=923 https://www.tmrresearch.com/cloud-computing-in-education-market Global Cloud Computing in Education Market: SnapshotAs the rapidly expanding education sector faces sustainability issues and budget restrictions, cloud computing is increasingly being seen as one approach to relieve these pressures. As capacity requirements of an educational institution begin to fluctuate and as new services and applications become available, the association with cloud allows institutions to meet the needs of their constituents in a cost effective and quick manner. As the trend of the greater usage of mobile computing devices gathers strength, cloud computing becomes a more obvious choice for educational institutions as it provides users the access to storage, applications, and a vast number of other resources from almost any device.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Moreover, cloud computing provides an economical and highly flexible means to make the limited resources more useful for a larger set of consumers. The rising set of institutional sourcing options makes it necessary for IT leaders to analyze and integrate more providers and options. Cloud computing presents itself as a viable tool in the scenario owing to the several monetary and flexibility benefits it provides.Real-life classroom experiences show that cloud is a good tool for collaboration and teaching. As the technology is still emerging, it presents the need for implementation of customized and standardized services. Evaluation in the sector could help bring vast changes in the rural education sector, an application area that presents vast untapped opportunities that companies in the cloud computing sector should consider for promising returns. This report analyzes and discusses the present and the prospective future growth opportunities in the field of cloud computing in education.Global Cloud Computing in Education Market: OverviewThe international market for cloud computing in education is envisioned to leverage the booming opportunities originated from the loud acceptance of upgradable cloud services in the education industry. A countable number of educational institutions have given the green light for cloud computing to meet the requirement of streamlining academic procedures such as evaluation, administration, and most importantly, learning. The global cloud computing in education market is prophesied to win lucrative perks from the demand to implement centralized systems for the purpose of effectively managing academic administration processes, thus curbing the burden on the management staff.The report offered here on the global cloud computing in education market could see a segmentation pattern which introduces classification criteria such as deployment model, service model, and end user.The global cloud computing in education market report is a crucial guide for businesses wanting to ensure a visible progress in the industry. With customizations procured as per the needs of the interested parties, the publication holds the potential to rightly direct the existing as well as budding players to penetrate the global market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Cloud Computing in Education Market: Trends and OpportunitiesAcross the world, the cloud computing in education market is anticipated to gain a strong impetus due to the elevating adoption of the technology in higher education and K-12. For the forecast period, higher education is predicted to mark a larger share in the global market amongst other end users. The domination of this possible end user segment could continue until the end of the forecast period.Since most end users prefer the services offered by platform as a service (PaaS) providers, this service model market is expected to gain traction over markets in the category. The important change in the cloud ecosystem is principally attributed to the implementation of PaaS. However, software as a service (SaaS) is foreseen to hold a significant percentage of share in the global cloud computing in education market.Owing to the amplified number of security features offered at a reasonable price, the community cloud as a probable deployment type segment is foretold to grasp a marked share in the world cloud computing in education market.Global Cloud Computing in Education Market: Regional OutlookSpecifically in the developed countries of Canada and the U.S., the demand for cloud computing in education is prognosticated to move levels higher as they look to ride on the elevating focus on production innovations. Most innovations in this field are judged to receive a strong push from the rigorous research and development activities performed in the cloud computing sector. As a result, North America is expected to leave no doubts in the minds of the research analysts for coming forth as a larger revenue holder in the global cloud computing in education market.The Asia Pacific market is forecasted to be propelled by the shift toward cloud solutions for sophisticated services such as tracking, sharing, and collaborating sundry variants of a document. Much of this demand is expected to birth from end users such as universities and schools.There could be a few challenges that the top regions of the cloud computing in education market could face, i.e. rigidly designed cloud-based systems and account management and data protection risks. Nevertheless, such constraints are estimated to lose their effect eventually with the advent of momentous opportunities such as developing potential markets, employment of adaptive cloud services, and application of cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Cloud Computing in Education Market: Companies MentionedAmong others, the sovereign brands operating in the worldwide cloud computing in education market could be Ellucian, Amazon Web Services, NetApp Inc., NEC Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, VMware Inc., IBM Corporation, Cisco System Inc., and Adobe System Inc. With the intention of popularizing their offerings at a global platform, the major vendors in the market are envisaged to take advantage of acquisitions and mergers and inauguration of novel products.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Air Circuit Breaker Market Forecast 2018-2025 Eaton, Hitachi, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric Air Circuit Breaker Market https://bit.ly/2jqJFok https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-air-circuit-breaker-market-6210 A market study "Global Air Circuit Breaker Market" examines the performance of the Air Circuit Breaker market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Air Circuit Breaker market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Air Circuit Breaker market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Air Circuit Breaker Market 2018 report includes Air Circuit Breaker market Revenue, market Share, Air Circuit Breaker industry volume, market Trends, Air Circuit Breaker Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Air Circuit Breaker Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Air Circuit Breaker Market 2018 :ABBWEGIPS HYUNDAIOpen ElectricalMittric Sdn BhdEatonHitachiSchneider ElectricMitsubishi ElectricStandard ElectricalsDeepika EnterprisesGammaRittalAir Circuit Breaker Market : By TypeAir Blast Circuit BreakerPlain Air Circuit BreakerAir Circuit Breaker Market : By ApplicationPower TransmissionPower DistributionOtherFirstly, the report covers the top Air Circuit Breaker manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Air Circuit Breaker report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Air Circuit Breaker industry, Air Circuit Breaker industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Air Circuit Breaker Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Air Circuit Breaker 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 Air Circuit Breaker market revenue worldwide.Finally, Air Circuit Breaker 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 Biodiesel 2018 Global Industry Key Players - Neste Oil , REG , Darling Ingredients Inc ,Renewable Biofuels, Inc Market Analysis And Forecast To 2023 World Biodiesel Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3150630-world-biodiesel-market-research-report-2023-covering-usa https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3150630-world-biodiesel-market-research-report-2023-covering-usa World Biodiesel MarketExecutive SummaryBiodiesel 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 reportNeste OilREGDarling Ingredients IncRenewable Biofuels, IncArcher Daniels MidlandLouis Dreyfus CommoditiesDelta Fuel CompanyPacific BiodieselHERO BXCargillAg Processing IncBaker Commodities Los AngelesBay Biodiesel, LLCBiodico, IncCommunity FuelsCrimson Renewable Energy, LPGeoGreen Biofuels, Inc.Imperial Western ProductsNew Leaf Biofuel, LLCAgron BioenergyGlobal Alternative FuelsGlobal Biodiesel Market: Application Segment AnalysisGlobal Biodiesel Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaTable of Content-Key Points CoveredChapter 1 About the Biodiesel Industry1.1 Industry Definition1.1.1 Types of Biodiesel industry1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a Glance..Chapter 5 Company Profiles5.1 Neste Oil5.1.1 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 REG5.2.1 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 Darling Ingredients Inc5.3.1 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 Renewable Biofuels, Inc5.4.1 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 Profits5.5 Archer Daniels Midland5.5.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.5.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.5.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.6 Louis Dreyfus Commodities5.6.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.6.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.6.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.7 Delta Fuel Company5.7.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.7.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.7.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.8 Pacific Biodiesel5.8.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.8.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.8.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.9 HERO BX5.9.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.9.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.9.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.10 Cargill5.10.1 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 Profits5.11 Ag Processing Inc5.11.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.11.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.11.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.12 Baker Commodities Los Angeles5.12.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.12.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.12.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.13 Bay Biodiesel, LLC5.13.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.13.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.13.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.14 Biodico, Inc5.14.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.14.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.14.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.15 Community Fuels5.15.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.15.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.15.3 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 Digital Refractometers Market Forecast 2018-2025 KERN, Hanna Instruments, ARIANA, Anton paar Digital Refractometers Market https://bit.ly/2JRbL7p https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-digital-refractometers-market-6223 A market study "Global Digital Refractometers Market" examines the performance of the Digital Refractometers market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Digital Refractometers market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Digital Refractometers market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Digital Refractometers Market 2018 report includes Digital Refractometers market Revenue, market Share, Digital Refractometers industry volume, market Trends, Digital Refractometers Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Digital Refractometers Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Digital Refractometers Market 2018 :Atago (JP)Anton paar (AU)Reichert (US)Mettler-Toledo (CH)VEE GEE Scientific (US)SCHMIDT + HAENSCH GmbH (DE)Bellingham + Stanley (UK)Tyoto Electronics Manufacturing (JP)KERN (DE)SPER SCIENTIFIC (US)A.KRuSS Optronic (DE)K-Patents OY (FL)Milwaukee Instruments (US)Hanna Instruments (US)MISCO (US)ARIANA (DE)Digital Refractometers Market : By TypeDigital Handheld RefractometersLaboratory or Abbe Refractometers (Benchtop Refractometers)Inline Process RefractometersDigital Refractometers Market : By ApplicationFood and Beverage IndustryChemical & Petrochemical IndustryOthersFirstly, the report covers the top Digital Refractometers manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Digital Refractometers report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Digital Refractometers industry, Digital Refractometers industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Digital Refractometers Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Digital Refractometers 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 Digital Refractometers market revenue worldwide.Finally, Digital Refractometers 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 Engine Driven Pumps Market Forecast 2018-2025 Tsurumi, TAIKO, Lutian Machinery, Aoli Engine Driven Pumps Market https://bit.ly/2FE8o0W https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-enginedriven-pumps-market-6226 A market study "Global Engine Driven Pumps Market" examines the performance of the Engine Driven Pumps market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Engine Driven Pumps market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Engine Driven Pumps market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Engine Driven Pumps Market 2018 report includes Engine Driven Pumps market Revenue, market Share, Engine Driven Pumps industry volume, market Trends, Engine Driven Pumps Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Engine Driven Pumps Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Engine Driven Pumps Market 2018 :Godwin PumpsGorman-RuppPentairPioneer PumpMultiquipRiverside PumpsACE PumpsPacer PumpsAndrew SykesSDMOSelwood PumpsVariscoBombas IdealPompe GarbarinoHonda Power EquipmentTsurumiTAIKOLutian MachineryAoliLianchengHanonJiaquanKirloskarBharatEngine Driven Pumps Market : By TypeGasoline Engine-Driven PumpsDiesel Engine-Driven PumpsOtherEngine Driven Pumps Market : By ApplicationAgricultureFire ProtectionIndustrial UsageFirstly, the report covers the top Engine Driven Pumps manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Engine Driven Pumps report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Engine Driven Pumps industry, Engine Driven Pumps industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Engine Driven Pumps Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Engine Driven Pumps 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 Engine Driven Pumps market revenue worldwide.Finally, Engine Driven Pumps 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 Toggle MRAM Market Forecast 2018-2025 EverSpin, NVE Corporation, Honeywell, Avalanche Technology Inc Toggle MRAM Market https://bit.ly/2rgZstX https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-togglemram-market-6227 A market study "Global Toggle MRAM Market" examines the performance of the Toggle MRAM market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Toggle MRAM market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Toggle MRAM market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Toggle MRAM Market 2018 report includes Toggle MRAM market Revenue, market Share, Toggle MRAM industry volume, market Trends, Toggle MRAM Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Toggle MRAM Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Toggle MRAM Market 2018 :EverSpinNVE CorporationHoneywellAvalanche Technology Inc.Toggle MRAM Market : By Type256 kb1 Mb4 Mb16 MbToggle MRAM Market : By ApplicationConsumer ElectronicsRoboticsAutomotiveEnterprise StorageAerospace & DefenseFirstly, the report covers the top Toggle MRAM manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Toggle MRAM report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Toggle MRAM industry, Toggle MRAM industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Toggle MRAM Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Toggle MRAM 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 Toggle MRAM market revenue worldwide.Finally, Toggle MRAM 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 Enterprise WLAN Market Fuelling the Growth over 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2243 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2243 https://www.tmrresearch.com/enterprise-wlan-market Global Enterprise WLAN Market: OverviewWith a continuously rising adoption of mobility and the growing demand among people across the world to be connected to the internet regardless of their location, wireless networks are gaining popularity. A wireless LAN (WLAN) controller combines multiple access point protocols to manage them in large through network operations centers or network administrators. The controller has the ability to automatically handle the configuration of wireless access points. Enterprise WLAN helps maintain organizations seamless workflow and security. The different types of verticals where these networks are used, include telecom and IT, healthcare, banking, education, retail, hospitality, and logistics.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Key TrendsThe emergence of cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is providing a fillip to the global enterprise WLAN market. IoT and cloud solutions provide an edge to enterprise wireless networks by improving their efficiency and reliability. Moreover, the growing trend of bring your own device (BYOD) is stoking the growth of the market. The proliferation of smartphones and devices is also augmenting the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @On the flip side, the lack of awareness and dearth of workforce with high technical acumen are keeping the market from realizing its utmost potential. However, technological advancements are estimated to increase WLAN applications across numerous industry sectors, which will work in favor of the market.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Market PotentialRecent trends in the global enterprise WLAN market indicate that the market participants are focusing on mergers and acquisitions to improve their offerings. The introduction of advanced technologies is rendering the market highly lucrative. In September 2016, Extreme Networks announced the acquisition of Zebra Technologies Wireless LAN (WLAN) business unit. The deal was worth US$55 mn. With this acquisition, the company announced that the combination will work towards delivering superior Enterprise Asset Intelligence solutions, that will provide customers with real-time visibility into their operations. Similarly, Hewlett-Packard acquired Aruba Networks in May 2015 for US$3 bn in an attempt to enhance its role in the WLAN market.Request TOC of the Report @Several players are also involved in expanding their outreach in emerging regions. They are pouring funds into research and development to introduce innovative and disruptive solutions for end to end networking requirements of enterprises. For instance, AXILSPOT, in December 2016, flagged off its operations in Indias enterprise wireless marketplace by launching Rscan range of products.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Geographical SegmentationOn the basis of geography, the segments reviewed in the report are Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America will be a prominent market for enterprise WLAN. The high consumer awareness regarding the merits of these networks and early introduction of advanced technologies due to the presence of many key players are driving the growth of the region.Asia Pacific, on the other hand, will offer numerous promising prospects to global vendors. The widening pool of working population and emerging technology hubs is largely benefiting the market in the region. The escalating development and adoption of cloud-based services and growing investments in the IT and telecommunication sector are fuelling the growth of the region.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Competitive LandscapeThe majority of players in the global WLAN enterprise market are focusing towards technological advancements and product innovation to enhance their visibility in the market. Key players are looking upon mergers and partnerships as viable growth strategies to stay ahead in the market. Some of the prominent vendors in the market are Cisco Systems, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprises, Extreme Network, Dell Inc., ZTE Corporation, Ruckus, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Huawei, and Juniper Networks.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Filtration and Contamination Control Market Pushing the Growth over 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2246 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2246 https://www.tmrresearch.com/filtration-contamination-control-market Filtration and Contamination Control Market: OverviewThe global filtration and contamination control market is propelled by the increasingly restrictive environmental regulations compelling the use of cleaner fuels. Liquid filtration is used for the purification of solid-liquid and liquid-liquid materials, across almost all industries, so as to enhance the quality of products. Liquid filtration is also used for the removal of harmful impurities from the waste before disposal. The growth of the power generation industry is one of the key factors creating a need for filtration and contamination control, thus driving the market. In addition to this, the demand for filtration from on-road and off-road applications will help boost the market. The mechanical equipment and factory processes require high efficiency and performance and this will also encourage the growth of the filtration and contamination control market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Filtration and Contamination Control Market: Key TrendsA surge in industrialization across developing nations is anticipated to create growth opportunities in the global filtration and contamination control market. The continued implementation and upgrading of emission standards is pushing the growth of the filtration and contamination control market. The emergence of alternative and renewable energy source will also create potential growth opportunities in this market. The industrial segment is projected to lead and drive the market towards growth on account of the high rate of deployment of filtration and contamination control devices. The adoption rate is especially high in metal manufacturing industries and chemical and petrochemical refineries. On the other hand, factors challenging the growth of the market include growing demand and use of electric vehicles and volatility in the cost of raw materials.Filtration and Contamination Control Market: Market PotentialThe dependence of almost all end user application areas on liquid filtration and contamination control devices for the purification of solid-liquid and liquid-liquid raw materials is anticipated to be a strong plus point, which will continue to ensure the growth of the market. The lifespan of equipment is increased and performance is enhanced by the adoption of filtration and contamination control devices and this is further expected to push the markets growth.Request TOC of the Report @Companies such as Eaton Corporation plc have devised automatic self cleaning and pipeline strainers. These devices help in the protection of the equipment from debris, thus ensuring long life of the equipment.Filtration and Contamination Control Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, the market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World. Of these, the market is led by North America on account of the presence of several manufacturers of the filtration and contamination control devices. Europe, trailed by Asia Pacific is anticipated to lead in the filtration and contamination control market in the coming years. The high demand from oil and gas sectors as well as the aerospace industries will likely create a high demand for these devices in the future in North America. Moreover, stringent regulatory policies in the region are also fueling the adoption rates of filtration and contamination control. Further, continuous upgradations in power generation sectors are driving the market in North America. The U.S. led the market in North America.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Filtration and Contamination Control Market: Competitive LandscapeKey players operating in the global filtration and contamination control market are Donaldson Company, Inc. (U.S.), MANN+HUMMEL Holding GmbH (Germany), Cummins Inc. (U.S.), Pall Corporation (U.S.), Parker-Hannifin Corp. (U.S.), CECO Environmental Corp. (U.S.).Clarcor Inc. (U.S.), Eaton Corporation plc (Ireland), Filtration Group Corporation (U.S.), and HYDAC International GmbH (Germany). The report gives details about each player such as recent developments, information about their mergers and acquisition activities, and business and financial overview. Also, the business strategies adopted by players to expand in the market have been included in this report.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com CME Accredited Worlds leading Heart Congress http://heartcongress.pulsusconference.com/ Pulsus Conference, Host of CME Accredited Worlds leading Heart Congress, 2nd Global Heart Congress, the conference that discusses the New Paradigm Approach for Promoting Health and Intervention Strategies in Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Healthcare Industries. CME accredited Heart Congress 2018 will provide interactive sessions regarding the Recent and Innovative aspect followed in the field of cardiology and Cardiac healthcare industries. We will be providing delegates, speakers and students with CME accreditation. It also provides an opportunity to showcase your innovation in front of the world for a global recognition. The event is held at Hyatt Regency Osaka, Osaka, from 20-21 August 2018.The conference will feature Keynote presentations by top Cardiologists, Cardiac Surgeons, Physicians & Cardiac Healthcare Industry professionals as well as renowned experts in regulatory field from all around the globe. Our Conference Organizing Committee Members are: Richard M. Fleming, Father of Modern Nuclear Cardiology & Nuclear Medicine, CEO of Omnific Imaging, USA; Sergey Suchkov, Director, Center for Personalized Medicine, Sechenov University, Russia; Pietro Maria G. Agricola, Chief - Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Laboratory , Mayor Hospital, Italy; Larry J. DAaz-Sandoval, Director, Cardiovascular Research, Metro Health-University of Michigan Health Hospital, USA, Kailash Prasad, Professor Emeritus, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. These are all among other exciting and high profile individuals who have shared knowledge of their experience at the Heart Congress 2018.In addition, attendees will enjoy special events and lecturers featuring specialists and top scholars. It is a perfect platform for Cardiology educators, practitioners and researchers to exchange & share their experiences, research findings about all aspects of Cardiology and its related sub-branches.Heart Congress 2018 will bring together the International blend of people from all over the globe in the field of Cardiology & medical devices companies, business entrepreneurs, Cardiology consultants, leading universities and research institutions making it the largest endeavour from Pulsus Conference. All the papers presented at this conference will be published in special issue of Journal of Current Research: Cardiology (Open Access).Sessions to be discussed: Cardiology Rheumatic Heart Disease Cardiovascular Diseases Rare Heart Disease Cardiomyopathies and Heart Failure Heart Surgery Pharmacology of Heart Cardiac Nursing Cardiac Toxicity & Many more.If you would like to know more information about this conference, To book a slot, Sponsorship and Exhibit sales information, Please contactName: Aravind ADesignation : Program Director | Heart Congress 2018Tel: +1-408-429-2646Email: heartsurgery@pulsusconference.com orVisit Website:Pulsus Group is an internationally renowned medical peer-review publisher and conferences organizer established in the year 1984 publishes and hosts the work of researchers in a manner that exemplifies the highest standards in research integrity.40 Bloomsbury Way,, Lower Ground Floor, Metabolic Testing Market Outlook: Growth Drivers and Restraints, Opportunities, Market Insights by Geography and Competitive Landscape https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/metabolic-testing-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/metabolic-testing-market/report-sample https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=metabolic-testing-market www.psmarketresearch.com The global metabolic testing market is significantly growing due to up surging technological advancements, and massive research and development in metabolic testing. The massive unexplored market in the metabolic testing industry of the developing economies is creating abundant growth opportunities for the metabolic testing market to grow at a considerable rate, during the forecasted years. In addition, the advanced research and development facilities, and innovative product developments by the companies, are propelling the growth of the metabolic testing industry.Access Detailed Report Summary:Some of the factors driving the growth of the global metabolic testing market are increasing sedentary lifestyle, up surging healthcare expenditures, technological advancements and growing prevalence of lifestyle associated diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, the increasing healthcare awareness and improving standard of living are also driving the growth of the metabolic testing market. However, the high cost of equipment and software, and limited reimbursement are some of the factors restraining the growth of the global metabolic testing market.Request to Get the Sample Pages at:Geographically, North America is likely to lead the global metabolic testing market in the projected period, due to technological advancement in metabolic testing and increasing prevalence of lifestyle associated diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region in the global metabolic testing market due to increasing healthcare expenditures, huge pool of patients, upsurge in standard of living, and intensifying government support in the region. Moreover, the metabolic testing market is growing due to increasing healthcare awareness and refining healthcare infrastructure in the emerging countries, such as India and China.Make Enquiry Before Buying the Report:Some of the companies operating in the global metabolic testing market are OSI Systems Inc., Carefusion Corporation, General Electric Company, AEI Technologies Inc., MGC Diagnostics Corporation, Geratherm Medical AG, Parvo Medics, Microlife Medical Home Solutions Inc., Cosmed, Korr Medical Technologies Inc., and Cortex Biophysik Gmbh.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide market research reports, industry reports, business intelligence and research-based consulting services across a range of industries.With the help of our professional corporate relations with various companies, our market research offers the most accurate market forecasting. Our analysts and consultants interact with leading companies of the concerned domain to substantiate every single data presented in our publication. Our research assists our client in identifying new and different windows of opportunity and frame informed and customized strategies for expansion 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: Casting and Splinting (Supplies and Equipment) Market is poised to reach US$3.1 bn by 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/casting-splinting-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2447 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2447 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Demand for casting and splinting has significantly risen in the last few years, bolstered by the increasing incidence of sports, orthopedic, and musculoskeletal injuries. The aged are more prone to injuries, hence growth witnessed in the geriatric population globally will fuel overall prospects for the market in response.With the evolution of technology, producers are looking to use advanced materials for manufacturing casts and splints. This subsequently is expected to boost sales of casts and splints worldwide. The market however is likely to get restrained by the unfavorable reimbursement policies, as per Transparency Market Research (TMR). Nevertheless, in the near future the presence of high unmet needs in emerging economies will present attractive opportunities for vendors in the market.Read Report Overview:TMR pegs the overall value of the global casting and splinting market at US$1.8 bn in 2015. The market is poised to reach US$3.1 bn by the end of 2024.Asia Pacific Exhibits Conditions Conducive to Growth in Casts and Splints SalesRegionally, Asia Pacific has been exhibiting the highest prospects in the global casting and splinting market, followed by North America. Demand for casts and splints is visibly high in countries such as India, Korea, and China. The high incidence of osteoporotic hip fractures and road accidents in these countries has resulted in their lead in the Asia Pacific market for casts and splints.Many producers who manufacture affordable casting equipment in large-scale are domiciled across these countries thus gratifying the increasing demand in local and international markets. Furthermore, casts and splints are widely used in Asia Pacific, due to which, their price in the region is comparatively low. This has resulted in the increased demand for casts and splints and consequently has earned increased revenue for the regions casting market. The regional market will also gain from the rapidly growing population in India and China.Request Brochure of Report:TMR finds the Asia Pacific market for casting and splinting stood at US$487.1 mn in 2014. Rising at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2015 to 2024, the market is expected to reach US$888.1 mn by the end of the forecast period.TMR projects North America to continue holding the second-largest share in the market during the forecast period. The increasing incidence of osteoporosis and musculoskeletal injuries in the region will aid expansion of the casting and splinting market in North America.Demand for Cast Supplies will Remain High Through the Forecast PeriodThe major products available in the market can be broadly classified into casting supplies and equipment and splinting supplies and equipment. Of these, the casting supplies and equipment segment held over 60% of the market in 2015. Castings are ubiquitous methods of treating bone fracture hence hold larger share in the market. The demand for casts is expected to surge at a steady pace due to the increasing number of traumatic and accident injuries. Demand from the segment will also rise due to the increasing osteoporotic geriatric population, particularly in countries with high population.Request Sample of Report:The most common casting supplies and equipment available in the market include casting tapes, plaster casts, casting tools, and cast cutters. Of these, cast cutters held a share of 30% in the cast products market in 2015. Demand for cast supplies is expected to remain high through the forecast period.Companies such as 3M Healthcare, Stryker Corporation, BSN Medical GmBH exhibit the largest regional outreach with presence across diverse casting and splinting product categories. A few other prominent names operating in the market include AliMed, Bird & Cronin, Inc., Corflex, Inc., DJO, LLC, DeRoyal Industries, Inc., Orfit Industries n.v., Ossur hf., Patterson Medical Holdings, Inc., Spencer Italia S.r.l., Stryker Corporation, and Zimmer, Inc.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based 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.Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Fulham To Debut New 70W HotSpot Plus LED/Emergency Combo Drivers at LightFair 2018 http://www.fulham.com http://www.fulham.com http://www.fulham.com New HotSpot Plus 70S Newest Addition to Fulham Line of Compact, Universal Voltage LED and Emergency Drivers that Can Be Installed Almost Anywhere.Hawthorne, CA, USA -- Fulham, a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, today announced that it will introduce the HotSpot Plus 70S universal voltage 70W LED / 7W emergency combination driver at LightFair 2018 next week. The HotSpot Plus 70S is Fulham's newest compact LED driver to support both conventional and emergency lighting in one, easy-to-install unit.Featuring some of the most advanced power supply technology in the lighting industry, the HotSpot Plus 70S is comparable in size to non-emergency 70W LED drivers. The Hotspot Plus 70S was developed for installers and OEMs looking for a highly reliable, universal LED driver that would meet state and city safety requirements in a single, compact, all-in-one LED driver. Ideal for luminaire manufacturers where LED driver space is limited, the HotSpot Plus 70S has the smallest form factor available and features universal 120-277VAC input with a maximum of 70W output (programmable constant current output of 350mA - 2400mA /11-55VDC), which means customers can stock a single LED driver for a broad range of fixtures. The total product size of the 70S, including the 14.4Wh battery, is 1.18 inches wide and 1 inch high, with an overall length of 16.71 inches.For emergency lighting, the HotSpot Plus 70S features 1W to 7W programmable constant power emergency output that can provide up to 90 minutes of runtime at 7W with a replaceable LiFePO4 battery. The HotSpot Plus has a 12-hour battery recharge time and comes with a red/green self-diagnostic indicator to simplify maintenance and troubleshooting."The lighting market is changing rapidly so we developed our line of HotSpot Plus products to support both conventional and emergency lighting needs in one LED driver package. This results in the smallest solution possible with less inventory and faster installation because of the reduced wiring," said Alvaro Garcia, Product Director, LED Emergency and Advance R&D, for Fulham. "The compact design, wide output voltage, and programmability allow Fulham customers to use the HotSpot Plus in almost any new or retrofitted lighting fixture."Like all HotSpot Plus units, the HotSpot Plus 70S features 0-10V dimming (1-100 percent) and it can be quickly programmed using Fulham's SmartSet handheld programmer or SmartSet PC software. The HotSpot 70S will be CEC Title 20 compliant, UL LISTED, CE and ENEC certified. The HotSpot Plus 70S comes with Fulham's five-year warranty.Fulham's HotSpot Plus LED/emergency drivers will be on display at LightFair 2018 in Booth 602. For more information, visitAbout FulhamFulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit. @FulhamUSA and @FulhamEurope.Media Contact:Andy FirchauMarketing ManagerFulham Co., Inc.12705 South Van Ness Ave.Hawthorne, CA 90250Phone: +1 (323) 779-2980, ext. 1252afirchau@fulham.com Rethinking Corporate Governance Framework in the Digital World Rethinking, Corporate Governance,Digital World http://decimalpointanalytics.com/weeklydigest/02may2018/index.html Decimal Point Analytics has published an article in the Decimal Digest on 2nd May titled Rethinking Corporate Governance Framework in the Digital WorldWe implicitly believe that democracy represents the peoples will expressed through the legal institutions and infrastructure in the country. However, the author points out that much of the customs, rules, and regulation are also the product of the technology of the times when it was established.The article talks about how corporate governance framework can benefit by keeping pace with technological progress.Read the full article hereAbout Decimal Point AnalyticsDecimal Point Analytics is a financial research & analytics company incorporated in 2003 with headquarters at Mumbai. It is an independent, management-owned company, which provides actionable analytics to financial services companies. It offers customized solutions to investment management businesses that address specific challenges. It enables these customers to supplement their operations with additional resources and augment research processes using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies like Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Big Data.Decimal Point Analytics has a presence across 4 global locations including the United States, UK, and India.5A, B-Wing, Trade Star Building, J. B. Nagar,Andheri-Kurla Road, Andheri (East),Mumbai- 400 059, Maharashtra, India. Embedded Analytics Market - Competition Intelligence https://kbvresearch.com/Embedded-Analytics-Market-Competition/ The Embedded Analytics Market Competition Intelligence report provide an in-depth insight pertaining to the latest strategic developments in this arena. The report offers comprehensive coverage on the recent initiatives by the top market participants including IBM, Infor (Birst, Inc.), Information Builders, Logi Analytics, Microsoft and Micro Strategy among others. The study facilitates in understanding the market trends by narrowing it down to company level. Also, the well-designed proprietary KBV Cardinal Matrix portrays the competitive strategic position of the companies in the Embedded Analytics Market.Further, the report profiles the leading companies under company profile section. Each company profile enables to have in-depth understanding about business performance, segmental analysis, R&D spendings and key strategic development highlights.Full Report:The Embedded Analytics Market is predicted to reach market size of $59.8 billion by 2023, rising at a CAGR of 14.3% during the forecast period of time. Embedded Analytics technology is an integration of information and data analytics into organization applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM), marketing automation, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and also financial systems. The seamless integration of embedded analytics allows industries to simply gain access into Business Intelligence (BI) equipments even while conducting routine tasks, as a result, decision-making process gets better and much more effective.The leading factors driving the industry growth are emergence of large data and Internet of Technology (IoT) growing adoption of mobile devices and cloud technology, and increasing require to integrate data analytics with business applications to obtain optimum performance.Embedded Analytics Market Segmentation:Based on Deployment Mode, the market is segmented into Cloud Based and On-Premise. Depending on Business Applications, the industry is segmented into Sales & Marketing, Finance, Operations, and also Human Resource. Based on Analytics Tool, the industry is segmented into Dashboard & Data Visualization, Reporting, Self-Service Tools, while others. Depending on Vertical, the market place is segmented into BFSI, Government, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Telecom & IT, and Others.Related Reports:Global Embedded Analytics MarketNorth America Embedded Analytics MarketEurope Embedded Analytics MarketAsia Pacific Embedded Analytics MarketLAMEA Embedded Analytics MarketKnowledge Based Value Research is a global brand and consulting firm serving all kinds of business verticals, government and non-governmental organizations, and not-for-profit organizations. Our motto is to extend our services that will have a lasting impact on our clients who trust us with their business goals.4F CS 27, Ansal PlazaSector 1, Vaishali 201010Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, India Spire sponsors GBPIPs Intellectual Property Summit Asia 2017 in Bangkok Spire, Events, Leon Perera, Japnit Singh, GBPIP, Intellectual Property Summit Asia 2017, Thailand, Brand Protection, Counterfeit http://bit.ly/2r2XHjl Spire Research and Consulting sponsored the Global Brand Protection Innovation Programmes (GBPIP) Intellectual Property Summit Asia 2017 held in Bangkok, Thailand from 14 to 15 December 2017. The Spire team shared our track record in brand protection performance management and consulting with event participants.The GBPIP summit aimed to study the global challenges manufacturers face from counterfeiters and look-alike products, discussing current and emerging best practices used to protect brands from unsafe imitations.Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research and Consulting and Japnit Singh, Deputy CEO at Spire Research and Consulting attended the event to engage with event participants. They shared Spires extensive experience in the brand protection space, which includes counterfeit share measurement, brand protection program ROI measurement and anti-counterfeit consulting.For more information, please visit our newsroom section here:Spire Research and Consulting was established in 2000 to address a gap in the research and consulting industry in global emerging markets. Unlike most agencies that focus on traditional consumer research, our founders saw a profound need for holistic research projects.Unit 501-502, DLF City Court,DLF Phase III, Sector 24, Gurugram 122002, IndiaTelephone: (91) 124 421 6144Fax: (91) 124 422 1934E-mail: india.info@spireresearch.com Commercial Advantages of Poly V-Belts From Duratuf Products https://www.duratufproducts.com/shop/product/poly-v-belt-612 Duratuf Products Private Limited is here to deliver top quality Poly V-Belts for its customers across industries globally. The Poly V-Belts from our brand are made with a larger contact surface area when compared to any normal V-Beltings.Here are some of the Commercial advantages that Poly V-Beltings delivered by Duratuf products provides as follows:-The V-Belts can work smoothly on any serpentine driveThe V-Belts can function smoothly on any small pulley diameterThe V-Belts can function for any automotive engine such as Water Pumps and Air Conditioning Compressors.Our beltings are able to deliver the benefits for any industrial application due to the spectacular features it contains as stated below:-1.Larger Contact Surface Our V-Beltings exhibit a bigger contact surface area when compared to Normal belts.2.Multiple Longitudinal Ribs Our V-Beltings display ribs in longitudinal fashion within multiple patterns upon their surface.3.Wear Resistant Our V-Beltings absorb shocks nicely and show great resistance to wear and tear.4.Extremely flexible Our V-Beltings are very much flexible by nature to face any drives peripheral devices.5.Excellent Tension Our V-Beltings can control low amounts of stretching and behave well under high tension conditions with ease.6.Long Work Life Our V-Beltings surely have a long service life and even exhibit a good level of resistance towards heat and oil.All of our Poly V-Beltings conform to the RMA IP 26 Standard in terms of the product quality. Our existing or potential customers can be assured to receive high quality V-Belts of the Poly category that too at rational pricing. We at Duratuf Products always ensure to deliver top quality Poly V-Belt product orders to our customers in the most efficient manner.Duratuf Products Private Limited delivers high quality Poly V-Belts as per Indian and Global standards. Whenever businesses need V-Belts of the for smooth power transmission belting purposes then our Poly type beltings can be the best buy.Duratuf Products Pvt Ltd63J, Mahanirban Road, 1st Floor, Near City Style Mall,Kolkata, West Bengal - 700 029, India.Phone No : 8585089866Website : Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market 2018 Analysis and Global Forecast to 2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3144751-2018-global-pulmonary-function-testing-systems-industry-depth-research-report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3144751-2018-global-pulmonary-function-testing-systems-industry-depth-research-report The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Pulmonary Function Testing Systems industry market by types, applications, players and regions. This report also displays the 2013-2023 production, Consumption, revenue, Gross margin, Cost, Gross, market share, CAGR, and Market influencing factors of the Pulmonary Function Testing Systems industry in USA, EU, China, India, Japan and other regionsMarket Analysis by Players: This report includes following top vendors in terms of company basic information, product category, sales (volume), revenue (Million USD), price and gross margin (%).CareFusion(BD)SchillerCHESTCOSMEDnSpire HealthNDDMGC DiagnosticsMinatoGanshornAESRIMorgan ScientificM&BSikedaRSDQRequest a Sample Report @Market Analysis by Regions: Each geographical region is analyzed as Sales, Market Share (%) by Types & Applications, Production, Consumption, Imports & Exports Analysis, and Consumption Forecast.USAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaSouth AmericaSouth AfricaOthersMarket Analysis by Types: Each type is studied as Sales, Market Share (%), Revenue (Million USD), Price, Gross Margin and more similar information.Portable PFT SystemsComplete PFT SystemsMarket Analysis by Applications: Each application is studied as Sales and Market Share (%), Revenue (Million USD), Price, Gross Margin and more similar information.HospitalsPhysical Examination CenterPhysician GroupsOtherTable of Content1 Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Overview1.1 Product Overview of Pulmonary Function Testing Systems1.2 Classification of Pulmonary Function Testing Systems1.2.1 Type 11.2.2 Type 21.2.3 Type 31.2.4 Type 41.3 Applications of Pulmonary Function Testing Systems1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.3.4 Application 41.4 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Regional Analysis1.4.1 USA Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.2 Europe Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.3 Japan Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.4 China Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.5 India Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.6 Southeast Asia Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.7 South America Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.8 South Africa Market Present Situation Analysis1.5 Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Industry Development Factors Analysis1.5.1 Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Industry Development Opportunities Analysis1.5.2 Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Industry Development Challenges Analysis1.6 Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Consumer Behavior Analysis2 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Competitions by Players2.1 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Players2.2 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2017-2018)2.3 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2017-2018)2.4 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Gross Margin by Players (2017-2018)3 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Competitions by Types3.1 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Types3.2 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Type (2013-2018)3.3 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2013-2018)3.4 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Gross Margin by Type (2013-2018)3.5 USA Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.6 China Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.7 Europe Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.8 Japan Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.9 India Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.10 Southeast Asia Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.11 South America Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.12 South Africa Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type4 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Competitions by Applications4.1 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.2 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Applications (2013-2018)4.3 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Price (USD/Unit) by Applications (2013-2018)4.4 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Gross Margin by Applications (2013-2018)4.5 USA Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.6 China Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.7 Europe Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.8 Japan Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.9 India Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.10 Southeast Asia Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.11 South America Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.12 South Africa Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications5 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Production Market Analysis by Regions5.1 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Production (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Regions5.1.1 USA Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.2 Europe Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.3 China Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.4 Japan Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.5 India Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.6 Southeast Asia Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.7 South America Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.8 South Africa Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.2 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Production Value (Million USD) and Share by Region (2013-2018)5.3 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Price (USD/Unit) by Region (2013-2018)5.4 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Gross Margin by Region (2013-2018)6 Global Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Sales Market Analysis by Region6.1 USA Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.2 Europe Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.3 China Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.4 Japan Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.5 India Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.6 Southeast Asia Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.7 South America Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.8 South Africa Pulmonary Function Testing Systems Market Consumption Present Situation AnalysisContinuedAccess 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 Latvia Life Insurance Market Trends, Analysis and Review by 2020 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2316010-life-insurance-in-latvia-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2316010-life-insurance-in-latvia-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 Latvia Life Insurance MarketSummary'Life Insurance in Latvia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Latvian life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Latvian insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20112015) and forecast period (20152020).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.Click here for sample report @Scope of the ReportThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in Latvia: It provides historical values for the Latvian life insurance segment for the reports 20112015 review period, and projected figures for the 20152020 forecast period. It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Latvian life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020. It provides a comparison of the Latvian life insurance segment with its regional counterparts It analyzes the various distribution channels for life insurance products in Latvia. It profiles the top life insurance companies in Latvia and outlines the key regulations affecting them.Table of Contents1 Key Facts and Highlights2 Executive Summary3 Economy and Demographics4 Segment Outlook4.1 Regional Comparison4.2 Segment Indicators4.2.1 Gross written premium and penetration4.2.2 Policies sold4.2.3 Claims4.2.4 Assets and investments5 Outlook by Sub-Segment5.1 Individual Life Insurance5.1.1 Premium5.1.2 Penetration6 Distribution Channel Outlook7 Competitive Landscape7.1 Company Profiles7.1.1 SEB Dzivibas Apdrosinasana company overview7.1.2 AAS CBL Life company overview.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 7% CAGR of Maternal Health Market 2023 Forecasts by Top 10 Players, Pregnancy - Intrauterine, Ectopic, Tubal and Others Maternal Health Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/732 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/732 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/732 The International Maternal Health Market will grow at a rate of 7% CAGR during the forecasted period 2017-2023. The deaths were found reduced in 2012 it was near approximately 175. This will be further reduced in coming years with the help of scheme like JSSK by UNICEF in India.Every year the death of women is high because of the pregnancy complications. The number is much reduced in the todays date. The reason behind this is government initiatives, the government is trying to help pregnant women for their better health of mother and baby. The best example of the initiatives can be seen by UNICEF (India). The program they have started is Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) scheme which provides free maternity service across India. The services are provided to increase number of emergency referral systems and maternal death audits, and improvements by government and management for health services. Every year near about 800 women die in the world. India contributes 20% in this number of 800. The number of deaths are being controlled by the WHO, CDC and UNICEF programs. The education is given to women and the health services are provided at large to women. Adolescent women are at risk of the complications during pregnancy, these women are provided with health services. The post pregnancy services are also provided to them.Get Exclusive Sample Report @Global Maternal Health market Players:Agile Therapeutics (USA), Fuji Latex Co (Japan), Okamoto industries, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc.(UK), Sanofi (India), Johnson and Johnson(USA).World Maternal Health Market Segments:The market of the maternal health is segmented into type of the pregnancy, risk in pregnancy and complications. Types of pregnancy includes Intrauterine, Ectopic, Tubal and Others. On the basis of risk occurred in pregnancy which have high risk and molar risk. On the basis of the complications like miscarriage, premature labor and birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa and others. The miscarriage further have sub segments like threatened, inevitable, complete, and incomplete.International Maternal Health Market Regional analysis:Globally the deaths of women are increasing due to the complications during pregnancy. The market for the maternal health is divided into four main geographic regions. The main regions are Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa. Further the regions are divided into developed and developing countries falling under this regions. The deaths of women have increased in Americas despite of advanced medicine and technology over past 25years. The reason behind this is of heart conditions, blood pressure, bleeding and many more complications.For Customization on this Report, Ask to our Experts @Major TOC of Global Maternal Health Market Research Report -Forecast to 2023:1. 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 INDICATORSTOC Continued!Get Amazing 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 Industry Overview 2018 - Asia-Pacific FeSi15 Market Report Industry Overview 2018 - Asia-Pacific FeSi15 Market Report http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1570882.html http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ or http://www.qyresearch.com/ The Asia-Pacific FeSi15 Market Report 2018 is in-depth study of overall FeSi15 market including introduction of product, definition, scope, FeSi15 global sale, and forecast up to 2025.The FeSi15 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 FeSi15 Industry. These past experience and factors assist to build the strategy and future planning of FeSi15 Market and hold a place in the competitive world.This report is the extensive analysis of the FeSi15 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 FeSi15 market report offers a forecast of revenue, CAGR, and cumulative revenue. The gathered information about FeSi15 global business is represented in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs.The FeSi15 industry Market report offers the competitive scenario in the FeSi15 industry based on the type of product, applications, and the companies that are present in the FeSi15 market, and covers the company profiles, their development policies, lined up products and recent launched along with the SWOT analysis of companies.To get a complete report sample from this link:Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (K MT), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of FeSi15 for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific FeSi15 market competition by top manufacturers/players, with FeSi15 sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingDMS PowdersExxaroImexsarFutong IndustryHAFSILKOVOHUTY DOLNY KUBThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global FeSi15 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 FeSi15 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 FeSi15 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 FeSi15 with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of FeSi15 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, FeSi15 cost specifications, production capacity, distributors list, FeSi15 marketing channel, and detail analysis of the export/import of the product. The FeSi15 research document also offers raw material suppliers, cost, and downstream consumer list.All features mentioned above is included in the FeSi15 Market Report 2018 which can offer solution to the difficulties to the prominent members of the FeSi15 market.Additionally, the important terminologies, government policies, and regulations related to FeSi15 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 Aerospace Superalloys Industry Is Predicted To Witness Rapid Growth! https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2449 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/aerospace-superalloys-market Aerospace Superalloys Market in North America will account for highest share by the end of 2024. Substantial growth in aircraft deliveries across the region will primarily support the regional dominance. Moreover, presence of major engine part manufacturers will escalate the revenue generation. Asia Pacific aerospace superalloys market size will grow at a rapid pace owing to continuously growing aviation industry across the region along with substantial growth in air passenger traffic, especially in developing countries.Alcoa, Carpenter Technology, Aperam, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, Haynes International, Doncasters, and Precision Castparts Corp. are among the prominent participants in aerospace superalloys market. The industry players are making huge investments for the development of super alloys.Request For TOC (Table Of Content) Of This Report @Rising demand for high strength, precision, and lightweight components in aerospace industry will primarily drive the industry growth. Superalloys offer enhanced chemical resistance, minimal maintenance, and high corrosion resistance. Moreover, they also help in weight reduction and enhancement of fuel efficiency. Provision of benefits such as easy handling, designing, and shaping will further contribute significantly to the aerospace superalloy market growth over the forecast timeframe.Corrosion resistance and cost effectiveness offer the design engineers enhanced flexibility for customizing superalloys, making them ideal for various applications such as jet engines to power military and commercial aircrafts. Majority of the superalloys are used in aircraft engines. They are also used for hot spots in aircrafts where strength is required and development of gas turbine engines for military aircrafts. Their extensive usage in various applications will further impact the aerospace superalloys industry positively over the coming years.The industry is segmented based on aircrafts into military, regional, helicopter, general, and commercial aircrafts. Commercial aircrafts will dominate the aerospace superalloys market over the coming years. It is attributed to rising number of aircraft deliveries due to increasing passengers opting for air travel. High need of strength in these aircrafts along with rising demand for wide-body commercial aircrafts will support the industry penetration. Regional aircraft is likely to grow rapidly owing to their high production across the globe. Military aircrafts will also grow considerably due to rising defense budgets of numerous countries.Aerospace superalloy market is segmented based on materials into nickel-based, nickel-iron based, and cobalt based. Nickel based alloys is expected to dominate the industry over the coming years owing to their high usage in aerospace industry. High preference is attributed to provision of the benefits such as high resistance to extreme temperatures and physical stress, that results in surface stability, escalating the revenue generation. Nickel-iron based alloys will grow owing to their cost-effectiveness as compared to the other counterparts.These alloys offer enhanced operating efficiency and reduction in environmental emissions. Extensive usage of these alloys owing to rising need for high strength materials will positively influence the industry. These materials possess the capability of withstanding extreme temperature and offering creep resistance & thermal stability in aircraft applications. These superior properties will push the aircraft manufacturers to use the components made of these alloys, inducing immense growth potential to the aerospace superalloys industry size over the next eight years.Aerospace Superalloys Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Poland, China, India, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE), Application Development Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024Global 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.4 North Main StreetSelbyville, Delaware 19975 USA Spinal Needles Market to Raise at 6.8% CAGR with Leading Vendors are Boston Scientific | Medline Industries | Smiths Medical, etc. and Foreseen to 2023 Spinal Needles Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1216 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1216 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1216 According To a Recent Report Published by Market Research Future, Titled Spinal Needle Market by Type - atraumatic needle tips, directional spinal needles, pencil-point needles, others. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of current & future trends and emerging growth of this market globally. Worldwide forecast to 2023Spinal Needle Market scenario:Spinal needle are the medical devices generally used for the diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. These needles are inserted into spinal canal for the collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic testing or drug administration for the treatment of diseases. The sample collected is mainly used for diagnosing diseases related to central nervous system. The global spinal needles market is chiefly driven by increasing prevalence of different brain and spinal diseases.Avail Sample copy @Increasing prevalence of neurological disorders, generic population and increasing number of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease are major driving factors for the market. Beside this, increasing awareness about diseases, increasing healthcare expenditure of people and increasing governmental support for the research and development also contribute for the growth of the market. Development of alternative diagnostic tests and misconception about spinal needles in people hampers the growth of market.The global spinal needle market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecasted period 2017-2023.Key Players in the Global Spinal Needle Market:Boston Scientific (US), B. Braun (Germany), Medline Industries (US), Sarstedt (UK), BD (US), Smiths Medical (US), Halyard Health (US), Exel International (US), MYCO Medical (US), Wallach Surgical (US), Medtronic (UK), Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Stryker Corporation (US), Argon Medical Devices, Inc (Netherland), Cook Medical (US).Regional Overview:Global spinal needle market is dominated by America. Americas spinal needle market is majorly driven by increasing number of spinal surgeries, increasing prevalence of different neurological disease and increasing awareness among the people. Well-developed healthcare sectors and increasing healthcare expenditure with rising prevalence of diseases has driven the Europe spinal needle market to acquire the second position. Asia Pacific region is expecting a faster growth for the market during forecasted period. Presence of huge patient population suffering from different infectious diseases is the major driving factor for the market in Asia Pacific region.Segmentation:Global spinal needle market is segmented on the basis of type, application and end users. On the basis of type, the market is segmented into atraumatic needle tips, directional spinal needles, pencil-point needles and others. On the basis of size, the market is segmented into 24G, 25G, 27G and other. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into diagnostic and therapeutic. And on the basis of end users, they are segmented into hospitals, clinics and other.Avail Amazing Discount @Some Points from TOC: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 SPINAL NEEDLES MARKET, BY TYPETOC CONTINUED!Customization on this Report, Ask to Expertise @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Find out the secret factors behind the success of Threat Intelligence Solution Market https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1745167&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-threat-intelligence-solution-market-sizestatus-and-forecast-2025.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1745167&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com http://reportanalysis.blogspot.in Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Threat Intelligence Solution Market Size,Status and Forecast 2025 to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the global Threat Intelligence Solution market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the global Threat Intelligence Solution market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.This report focuses on the global top players, coveredIBM Corporation (US)Dell Technologies, Inc. (US)McAfee LLC (US)Trend Micro Incorporated (Japan)Symantec Corporation (US)Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (US)Juniper Networks, Inc. (US)For more information on this report, fill the Free Sample form @Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoSecurity Information and Event Management (SIEM)Log ManagementIdentity and Access Management (IAM)Security and Vulnerability Management (SVM)Risk ManagementIncident ForensicsMarket segment by Application, Threat Intelligence Solution can be split intoGovernmentBanking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)IT and TelecomRetailTransportationEnergy and UtilitiesManufacturingThe study objectives of this report are:To study and forecast the market size of Threat Intelligence Solution 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.To Browse a Complete Report with TOC Visit @Key StakeholdersThreat Intelligence Solution ManufacturersThreat Intelligence Solution Distributors/Traders/WholesalersThreat Intelligence Solution Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAvailable CustomizationsWith the given market data, QYResearch 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 Threat Intelligence Solution market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Table of ContentsGlobal Threat Intelligence Solution Market Size, Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of Threat Intelligence Solution1.1 Threat Intelligence Solution Market Overview1.1.1 Threat Intelligence Solution Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Threat Intelligence Solution 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 IndiaEnquiry For Discount Visit @2 Global Threat Intelligence Solution Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Threat Intelligence Solution 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 IBM Corporation (US)3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Threat Intelligence Solution Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)About USQYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.We provide a variety of syndicated studies and hold the potential of assisting our clients with their specific market research needs by offering insights based on extensive primary interviews, market surveys, company profiles, and competitive landscaping. Our far-sighted ideas have been successful in igniting a number of startups, investment programs, technology breakthroughs, and new product development projects.Contact US1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.comBlog: Fracking Fluids US Market Snapshot by 2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3037912-the-u-s-market-for-fracking-fluids https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3037912-the-u-s-market-for-fracking-fluids www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts SummaryHydraulic fracturing, the process for fracturing underground rock formations with a mixture of pressurized water, propping agents (proppants) and chemical additives to release petroleum or natural gas for extraction, has changed the global energy landscape for the world, and in particular, the U.S. Due to the downturn in the energy sector, gas and oil production from hydraulic fracturing has slowed down considerably. Though the Gulf Coast/Southwest region used REDACTED of the fracking fluid in the U.S. in 2017, by 2022 usage of fracking fluids in the region is expected to fall to REDACTED of the total usage at CAGR of REDACTED from 2017 to 2022. The Gulf Coast/Southwest region is still the most lucrative area for fracking fluid since the publication of the last report. The region held REDACTED of the revenues produced in the fracking fluid industry in 2017 but by 2022, its revenues will follow to REDACTED of the total market.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Since the publication of the last report, the use of the chemical additives fell while the total amount of carrier fluid in the mixture increased. BCC Research attributes the increase of carrier fluid in the hydraulic mixture due to an increase in the availability of recycled water. Total revenues for the chemical additives have decreased while that of the carrier fluid have increased dramatically.Overall, the industry is expected to continue its contraction from 2014 to 2017, however, new growth is expected to occur from 2017 through 2022 as the energy sector begins to recover.Scope of ReportThis study provides a comprehensive overview of the fracking fluids market in the U.S., including the hydraulic fracturing technologies most widely used, the amount and type of production, and presents market forecasts over the five-year period from 2017 to 2022 for each major component and the specific additives in use.The research covers the market drivers propelling the growth of the fracking fluid industry, the industry structure, trends, and the company profiles of the major production operators and fracking fluid suppliers for the U.S. domestic market. Extensive analysis of the production of each type of hydraulic fracturing technology supports the estimated production growth rates for the specific fracking fluids presented.Reasons for Doing This StudyFor the first time in U.S. history, projections of oil and gas production place the U.S. as the largest oil producer in 2017 and a net exporter of natural gas in the early 2020s.1 The uptick in production sees the highest growth rate of oil from the Bakken Shale under the states of North Dakota and Wyoming, and gas from the Marcellus Shale under the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia and New York.Fracking fluids mainly consist of a major solvent such as water, a proppant (typically sand), and a number of various additives which include gelling agents, iron controls, breaker fluids, corrosion inhibitors, friction reducers, surfactants, biocides, crosslinkers, acids, solvents, scale inhibitors, clay stabilizers and pH adjusters that all contribute to the efficiency of the fracking process. The fracking fluids are forced down a well with high pressure and aid in breaking through the porous rock formations that hold trapped oil and gas, facilitating their release and capture. Given the important role that the fracking fluids play in the hydraulic fracturing process, this study will provide an overview of the widely used hydraulic fracturing technologies in the U.S. This report will also present an assessment of the various components of fracking fluids, estimates their production over the coming years, and captures the industry structure consisting of the market drivers and major players in energy production, and the chemical suppliers with the most influence in the fracking fluid industry.Since protests against the use of hydraulic fracturing have increased over the years, the need to study the market forces and growth detractors of fracking fluids in the market has consequently increased in urgency. Furthermore, the development of new technology that seeks to reuse fracking fluids to reduce the environmental footprint of the process adds to the support of this study since it will analyze each of the market components.In summary, this study of the U.S. fracking fluid market will provide:- A critical review of one of the primary driving forces of domestic energy production for years to come.- A closer look at the additive constituents that display the greatest opportunity for chemical suppliers.- An analysis of the fracking fluids industry drivers and trends with the most considerable influence over domestic energy production.The information can help companies make informed decisions about their commodity chemical purchase habits as well as the decision to switch fuels (gas, oil or coal) for energy production.Report Scope:This study provides a comprehensive overview of the fracking fluids market in the U.S., including the hydraulic fracturing technologies most widely used, the amount and type of production, and presents market forecasts over the five-year period from 2017 to 2022 for each major component and the specific additives in use.The research covers the market drivers propelling the growth of the fracking fluid industry, the industry structure, trends, and the company profiles of the major production operators and fracking fluid suppliers for the U.S. domestic market. Extensive analysis of the production of each type of hydraulic fracturing technology supports the estimated production growth rates for the specific fracking fluids presented.Report Includes:- 94 data tables and 58 additional tables- An overview of the U.S. market for fracking fluids, which are used in hydraulic fracturing, or "hydrofracking," for shale gas and oil production- Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2016 and 2017, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022- Breakdowns of energy production from shale formations, production sites being fractured, and production sites by company and market share- Examinations of hydrofracturing technologies, including conventional, nonwater horizontal, staged fracks for hydrocarbon harvesting (zipper fracks), and gas-based fracking- Company profiles of production site operators and fracking fluid suppliers, including Encana Corp., Chesapeake Energy Corp., SandRidge Energy, Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, BJ Services Company and Weatherford InternationalADVANCED RESOURCES INTERNATIONALANADARKO PETROLEUM CORP.APACHE CORP.BAKER HUGHESCARBOChampion TechnologiesCHART INDUSTRIES INC.CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP.ContinuedACCESS 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 Latvia Non-Life Insurance Market 2018 GLOBAL KEY PLAYERS, SIZE, TRENDS, GROWTH- ANALYSIS TO 2020 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2316011-non-life-insurance-in-latvia-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2316011-non-life-insurance-in-latvia-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 Latvia Non-Life Insurance MarketSummaryIt provides values for key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, combined ratio, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20112015) and forecast period (20152020).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Latvian economy and demographics, explains the various types of natural hazard and their impact on the Latvian insurance industry, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country. The report brings together research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.Click here for sample report @Scope of the ReportThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the non-life insurance segment in Latvia: It provides historical values for the Latvian non-life insurance segment for the reports 20112015 review period, and projected figures for the 20152020 forecast period. It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Latvian non-life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020. It provides a comparison of the Latvian non-life insurance segment with its regional counterparts It analyzes the various distribution channels for non-life insurance products in Latvia. It analyzes various natural hazards and their impact on the Latvian insurance industry It profiles the top non-life insurance companies in Latvia, and outlines the key regulations affecting them.Table of Contents1 Key Facts and Highlights2 Executive Summary3 Economy and Demographics4 Segment Outlook4.1 Regional Comparison4.2 Segment Indicators4.2.1 Gross written premium and penetration4.2.2 Profitability4.2.3 Assets and investments5 Outlook by Category5.1 Property Insurance5.1.1 Product overview5.1.2 Premium5.2 Motor Insurance5.2.1 Product overview5.2.2 Premium5.2.3 Policies sold5.3 Liability Insurance5.3.1 Product overview5.3.2 Premium.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 Worldwide Healthcare Information Governance Solution Market 2027 Forecasts by eDiscovery Type, Deployment and Applications in 2018 Report Healthcare Information Governance Solution Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/757 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/757 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/757 The Healthcare Information Governance Solution Market (IGS) is to grow at a CAGR of ~16.7 % during 2017 to 2023.Healthcare Information Governance Solution (IGS) Market Scenario:Healthcare information governance solutions enable the management of healthcare information by implementing processes, controls, metrics, and retrievals of information from storage in a suitable format whenever demanded. Healthcare information governance systems aim at making information a business asset available in a cost-efficient way to ensure compliance and reduce the cost of non-compliance. The rising cost of legal risks and increasing stringency of regulations have been the strong driving factors behind the growth of healthcare information governance solutions. Compliance reduces the legal risks associated with the poor and inconsistent information. Another goal of information governance is to centralize the data which is fragmented across different domains into one place to increase its accessibility and flow speed. Information governance treats data as a flow which needs to be controlled and managed but needs to be accessible at any time quickly. This results in benefits to the organizations in times of events such as a lawsuit, compliance audit, or corporate merger not to mention its benefits in capturing increased market share and revenue for the company.Get Exclusive Sample Report @The market for healthcare Information Governance Solution (IGS) is driven by factors such as growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, increasing costs of noncompliance, rising expectations from data management and information technology, and advancements in processing power, capturing power, selectivity, etc. of information technology systems. The U.S. is the largest market for biopharmaceuticals and accounts for one-third of the global market. Moreover, it is estimated that the U.S. biopharmaceutical sector accounted for around 17% of all the domestic R&D funded by the U.S. businesses and added an estimated USD 1.2 trillion in the economic output of 2014. The constraints on the market are the high costs of the information governance system, cultures of secrecy, traditional organization structures, fragmented data structures, etc.The Global Healthcare Information Governance Solution Market Key Players as:Electronic Medicines Compendium (U.S.), HP Autonomy (England), Symantec Corporation (U.S.), Information Governance Solutions, LLC. (U.S.), FTI Consulting, Inc. (U.S.), Google (U.S.), Microsoft (U.S.), Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (U.S.), Veritas Technologies (U.S.), NovaDigm Therapeutics (U.S.), iDiscovery Solutions, Inc. (U.S.) and others.Healthcare Information Governance Solution Market Regional Analysis:America dominates the healthcare Information Governance Solution (IGS) market owing to favorable insurance penetration, excellent reimbursement scenario, and increasing expenditure on healthcare. The high consumption of information technology boosts the market. The faster market uptake of new technology in the U.S. is also an important driver of the market for global healthcare Information Governance Solution (IGS).Europe is the second in the market due to factors such as availability of funds for research and growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. In 2017, according to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the U.K. pharmaceutical market is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 4 to 7% by 2021.Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing region for the market due to the presence of continuously developing economies such as India and China and a developing healthcare sector within the region.On the other hand, the Middle East and Africa hold the least share of the healthcare Information Governance Solution (IGS) market. This can be attributed to the presence of poor economies, stringent government policies, and lack of healthcare services, especially within the African region. The Middle East holds a majority of the market in the Middle East and Africa.Get Discount @Major TOC of Healthcare Information Governance Solution (IGS) Market:Chapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers5.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Buyers5.1.3 Threat Of New Entrants5.1.4 Threat Of Substitutes5.1.5 Intensity Of Rivalry5.2 Value Chain Analysis5.3 Investment Feasibility Analysis5.4 Pricing AnalysisChapter 6. Healthcare Information Governance Solution (IGS) Market, By Type6.1 Introduction6.2 Content ManagementMarket Estimates & Forecast, 20172023TOC Continued!Ask Questions to Expertise @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 Industry Overview 2018 - Asia-Pacific Ethyl Hexanoate Market Report Industry Overview 2018 - Asia-Pacific Ethyl Hexanoate Market Report http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1570875.html http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ or http://www.qyresearch.com/ The Asia-Pacific Ethyl Hexanoate Market Report 2018 is in-depth study of overall Ethyl Hexanoate market including introduction of product, definition, scope, Ethyl Hexanoate global sale, and forecast up to 2025.The Ethyl Hexanoate 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 Ethyl Hexanoate Industry. These past experience and factors assist to build the strategy and future planning of Ethyl Hexanoate Market and hold a place in the competitive world.This report is the extensive analysis of the Ethyl Hexanoate 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 Ethyl Hexanoate market report offers a forecast of revenue, CAGR, and cumulative revenue. The gathered information about Ethyl Hexanoate global business is represented in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs.The Ethyl Hexanoate industry Market report offers the competitive scenario in the Ethyl Hexanoate industry based on the type of product, applications, and the companies that are present in the Ethyl Hexanoate market, and covers the company profiles, their development policies, lined up products and recent launched along with the SWOT analysis of companies.To get a complete report sample from this link:Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (K MT), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Ethyl Hexanoate for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific Ethyl Hexanoate market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Ethyl Hexanoate sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingToyo GoseiElan Inc.Shanghai Bojing ChemicalHenan Kingway Chemicalshexing spicesYancheng Chaina Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.New Sunlion Chemical GroupJiangsu Lemon Chemical & Technologykaifeng baichuan huibao xiangliao gongsiOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volum, revenue, product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoNatural Ethyl HexanoateSynthetic Ethyl HexanoateOn 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, includingFood industryWineTobaccoOther applicationsThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Ethyl Hexanoate 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 Ethyl Hexanoate 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 Ethyl Hexanoate 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 Ethyl Hexanoate with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Ethyl Hexanoate 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, Ethyl Hexanoate cost specifications, production capacity, distributors list, Ethyl Hexanoate marketing channel, and detail analysis of the export/import of the product. The Ethyl Hexanoate research document also offers raw material suppliers, cost, and downstream consumer list.All features mentioned above is included in the Ethyl Hexanoate Market Report 2018 which can offer solution to the difficulties to the prominent members of the Ethyl Hexanoate market.Additionally, the important terminologies, government policies, and regulations related to Ethyl Hexanoate 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 Future Growth of Aerospace Seating Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2448 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/aerospace-seating-market Aerospace Seating Market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow substantially owing to continuously growing aviation industry across the region. This growth can be credited to rising disposable income of middle class population and growth in trade and tourism, especially in the emerging economies including India and China.North America Aerospace Seating Market will showcase dominance over the forecast timeframe owing to rising deliveries of commercial aircrafts. It is attributed to a significant rise in the air passenger traffic over the past years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making huge investments for the procurement of new advanced and lightweight aircraft seats.Zodiac Aerospace, B/E Aerospace, Aviointeriors S.p.A, Thompson Aero Seating Ltd., Acro Aircraft Seating, ZIM Flugsitz GmBH, and RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG are among the prominent participants in aerospace seating industry. The industry is witnessing constant competition based on product cost, reliability, and quality. The competitors are focusing on partnering with airline operators to gain competitive edge.Request For TOC (Table Of Content) Of This Report @Rising air passenger traffic along with increasing modernization of aircrafts will primarily drive the industry growth. The airline operators focus on retaining their customers and maintaining their brand image, thereby offer comfortable seating environment for their passengers. This rising need has instigated regular replacement and refurbishing of the aircraft seats, escalating the revenue generation over the forecast timeframe.Adoption of advanced & lightweight seats is among the key trends that has gained prominence among the aerospace seating market participants. Owing to the shifting focus towards lightweight seats, numerous aircraft manufacturers are using advanced lightweight materials for development of their seats. Effective weight management of these seats help in efficient optimization of the ratio between range and payload, resulting in low fuel consumption. This high demand for low fuel consumption in modern aircrafts will further escalate the need to adopt lightweight materials.The industry is segmented based on seat class into business class, premium economy, economy, and first class. Business class is anticipated to lead the aerospace seating industry over the next eight years. Substantial rise in air travel across the globe coupled with high preference of passengers towards air travel will contribute significantly towards the revenue generation.Upsurge in passengers opting for air travel has resulted in significant rise in aircraft deliveries across the globe. Moreover, the airline operators are focusing on expanding the seating capacity of their aircrafts. Rising demand for stronger, slimmer, and durable seats along with retrofitting of existing seats are other factors positively impacting the aerospace seating market over the next eight years.Aerospace seating market is segmented based on aircrafts into narrow body, wide body, very large aircrafts, and regional jets. Narrow body aircraft is likely to dominate the industry over the forecast timeframe. Emergence of new airlines fulfilling the demand of full-service carrier (FSC) and low-cost carrier (LCC) along with rising need of single aisle aircrafts will primarily contribute to the substantial revenue generation. 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The gathered information about Crawler Track global business is represented in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs.The Crawler Track industry Market report offers the competitive scenario in the Crawler Track industry based on the type of product, applications, and the companies that are present in the Crawler Track market, and covers the company profiles, their development policies, lined up products and recent launched along with the SWOT analysis of companies.To get a complete report sample from this link:Geographically, this report splits the United States market into seven regions:The WestSouthwestThe Middle AtlanticNew EnglandThe SouthThe Midwestwith sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Crawler Track in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast).United States Crawler Track market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Crawler Track sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingCamso lncMcLaren IndustriesTempo InternationalBridge StoneContinentalCamoplast SolidealVMT InternationalMinitopChermack MachineSoucyProwlerSuperior Tire & Rubber CorpDigbitsGlobal Track WarehouseMattracksJinli Long CorporationZhejiang JiuyunLeach LewisDRBZhejiang Yuanchuang rubber trackHangzhou Zhongce RubberOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoType IType IIOn 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, includingApplication 1Application 2The study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Crawler Track 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 Crawler Track 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 Crawler Track 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 Crawler Track with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Crawler Track 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, Crawler Track cost specifications, production capacity, distributors list, Crawler Track marketing channel, and detail analysis of the export/import of the product. 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Depth 43 cm. http://www.ilfortearte.it/ http://www.robertopiaia.com/index_en.html Roberto Piaia, the world's first creator of the form of Spiral Statues, enter the scene in the elegant and highly sought after "Il Forte Arte" Gallery. In the heart of Forte dei Marmi, the attractive location will become the scene of cultural events and interesting events dedicated to "meetings with the Artist" during the summer.The primary objectives of the Antiques Dealer Patrizia Grigolini, co-owner with her daughter Veronica Cherubini of "Il Forte Arte", are the cultivation of art and beauty based on the search for excellence. Without a shadow of a doubt, the idea of proposing a merge between masterpieces from the past and creations of contemporary art is surely a winner, and also innovative like the works of Piaia.The Spiral Statues:The statues presented in the Galleria by Roberto Piaia they are created by a spiral that wraps around the figure of the body. 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The primary objectives of the Antiques Dealer Patrizia Grigolini, co-owner with her daughter Veronica Cherubini of "Il Forte Arte", are the cultivation of art and beauty based on the search for excellence.Info il Forte ArteVia Giosue Carducci, 16Forte dei Marmi ItalyTel / Fax: (+39) 0584 83756Mail: patriziagrigolini@virgilio.itSummer Time every day: h. 10.00 am 1.00 pm | h. 5.30 pm 00.00Presscontact:Carmen De GuardaNebelhornstr. 2 87719 Mindelheim - GermanyM.D. (+49) 152 04668467 M.Ita.(+39)339 2064275carmen@storiediluce.com Dry Pet Food Market Overview 2013 by Manufacturers, Regions, Product Type and Application, Forecast up to 2023 Dry Pet Food Industry http://bit.ly/2jtdaG4 http://bit.ly/2KAvGJ1 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/market-insights/global-and-chinese-dry-pet-food-industry-2018-market-research-report Worldwide Market Reports added Latest Research Report titled "Global Dry Pet Food Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Product Type and Application, Forecast to 2023" to its Large Report database.The 'Global and Chinese Dry Pet Food Industry, 2013-2023 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Dry Pet Food industry with a focus on the Chinese market. 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The research study provides forecasts for Eddy Current Testing Solutions investments till 2022.Get Access to sample pages @This report studies the global Eddy Current Testing Solutions market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the global Eddy Current Testing Solutions market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.Product Analysis:This Report provides a detailed study of given products. The report also provides comprehensive analysis of Key Trends & advance technologies. The Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Feed-through coil, Probe coil & Interpolation coilApplication Analysis:This report provides an advance approach to the market growth with a detailed analysis of the overall competitive scenario of the Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions market. 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Conceptual analysis of the Eddy Current Testing Solutions 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 Eddy Current Testing Solutions Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions Market space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions Market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions Market?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions market? Get in-depth details about factors influencing the market shares of the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia & India?Enquire for customization in Report @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions, 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 United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia & India, Segment Market Analysis (by Type) [Feed-through coil, Probe coil & Interpolation coil];Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Change Management Software Segment Market Analysis (by Application [Oil and gas, and mining industries, Manufacturing industry, Power generation industry & Aerospace industry]) Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Feed-through coil, Probe coil & Interpolation coil], Market Trend by Application [Oil and gas, and mining industries, Manufacturing industry, Power generation industry & Aerospace industry];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global Eddy Current Testing Solutions by region, type and application;Chapter 12, to describe Eddy Current Testing Solutions Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Eddy Current Testing Solutions 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. 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Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.Contact Us:Global Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United Statesphone+1 (800) 910-6452help@researchbeam.com Global Load Cell Market Valuable Growth Prospects and Insights on Future Scenario MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/2886 https://www.mrrse.com/load-cells-market https://www.mrrse.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE) recently announced the addition of a new research study to its comprehensive collection of research reports. The research report, titled Load Cell Market - Global Industry Analysis Size Share Growth Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 offers a detailed analysis of the market, providing insights into the market dynamics that are expected to influence the overall market positively in the next few years. 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The high usage of these cells in the oil and gas, aerospace and defense, automotive, and bulk material handling industries has been boosting this regional market substantially.Going forward, the presence of a number of firms, which specifically cater to bulk material handling industries, such as the cement, coal and iron ore mining, and railway sectors, is likely to propel this market for load cells in Europe over the next few years. Germany and the U.K. are expected to surface as the key domestic markets for load cells in this region.Access Report Summary with Detailed TOC at @North America is another fast-growing regional market for load cells. The increasing demand for these cells from the medical and healthcare, aerospace and defense, and the oil and gas sectors is expected to reflect positively on this regional market in the coming years. The U.S. is expected to lead the North America market for load cells and followed by Canada and Mexico. The Asia Pacific load cell market is also projected to witness healthy growth over the next few years, thanks to the rise in the bulk material handling industry in China, Japan, and South Korea.Analog Load Cells Leading Global Load Cells MarketTechnologically, there are two types of load cells available in the global market: analog load cells and digital load cells. The majority of load cells found in the market are of analog nature. In 2015, the total share of analog load cells in the overall market was more than 80%. However, over the coming years, the demand for digital load cells is expected to increase remarkably in heavy lifting applications in the near future.The global load cell market is highly fragmented in nature. Honeywell International Inc., Vishay Precision Group Inc., Flintec Group AB, OMEGA Engineering Inc., FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc., Zhonghang Electronic Measuring Instruments Co. Ltd., Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik GmbH, Novatech Measurements Ltd., Yamato Scale Co. Ltd., Thames Side Sensors Ltd., Mettler Toledo International Inc., and Precia Molen are some of the key manufacturers of load cells across the world.About (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Technology Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At: Global Contact Lens Market will cross USD 13 Billion by 2024 https://www.renub.com/contact-lens-market-p.php https://www.renub.com/contactus.php www.renub.com Access full Research:Get Free Customization in This ReportGlobal Contact Lens Market will cross USD 13 Billion by 2024. Contact lens market has a great potential in future due to growing number of aging populace and changing lifestyle. In addition, the segments say for instance, corrective lens, cosmetic lens help in the treatment of refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism ,etc. at the same time add to aesthetic appearances. The growing number of visual inaccuracies as expected will further boost this market.A new report compiled by Renub Research titled Contact Lens Market, Global Forecast by Segments (Corrective Lens, Cosmetic & Lifestyle oriented Lens, Others) Materials (Silicone hydrogel Soft Contact Lens, Methacrylate hydrogel Soft Contact Lens, Gas-Permeable Contact Lens, Others) Design (Multifocal, Spherical, Toric, Others ) Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacifics, Rest of the World) Companies (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Valeant Pharmaceutical International Inc., Cooper Vision and Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.) studies the Global Contact Lens.Request a free sample copy of the report:Market Segmentation By SegmetnsGlobal contact lens market is segmented into Corrective Contact lens, Cosmetic and Lifestyle oriented contact lens and others. In this, Corrective contact lens accounts for the maximum market share among others .Market Segmentation By MaterialsGlobal contact lens market is segmented into Silicone hydrogel soft contact lens market, Methacrylate soft contact lens market as well as Gas-permeable soft contact lens market and others.Market Segmentation By DesignGlobal contact lens market is segmented into Multifocal contact lens, Toric contact lens as well as Spherical contact lens and Others. In this, Spherical contact lens accounts for the maximum market share among all others.Segmentation By RegionOn the basis of segmentation by region, the global contact lens market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacifics as well as the rest of the world. In this, Asia-Pacifics and North America account for considerable market share among all other regions.Key players MentionedKey players play a very crucial role for any market with prior innovation and their inclination towards newer technologies and zeal towards newer and effective manufacturing of the product let the many industries flourish in the market. In the global contact lens market the key players are Alcon Laboratories, CooperVision, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. as well as Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.All the 4 Companies Studied in the Report have been Studied from 4 Points Company Overview Business Strategy Mergers & Acquisition Financial InsightThis report studies the global Contact Lens market and provides an all-encompassing analysis of the key growth drivers and challenges, key players and their projections for the future prospects.Contact Lens Market & Volume By Region North America Europe Asia-Pacifics Rest of the World (ROW)Contact Lens Market By Segment Corrective Lens Cosmetic & LifeStyle Oriented Lens OthersContact Lens Market By Materials Silicone Hydrogel Soft Contact Lens Methacrylate Hydrogel Soft Contact Lens Gas- Permeable Rigid Contact Lens OthersContact Lens Market By Design Spherical Toric Contact Lens Multifocal Contact Lens OthersKey Companies Analysis Alcon Laboratories CooperVision Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.Contact UsRajat GuptaSr. Marketing ManagerEmail: info@renub.comPhone: +1-678-302-0700Web:Renub Research is a leading Market Research and Information Analysis Company with centers at Noida India and Roswell USA. We have long-term experience especially in international Business-to-Business Researches, Surveys, Business and Consulting. Throughout the years we have acquired expertise in most market sectors, including Information Technology (IT), Telecoms, Life Sciences, Medical & Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services (Banking, Insurance, Reinsurance, M&A, etc.), Energy, Chemicals, Automotive, Retail, FMCG, Consumer Goods, Logistics, Governmental, Social, and Others.Our core team is comprised of an experienced people holding graduate, post graduate and Ph.D. degrees in Finance, Marketing, Human Resource, Bio-Technology, Medicine, Information Technology, Environmental Science and many more. Our research help make the business decisions: on strategy, organization, operations, technology, mergers & acquisitions etc. We support many blue chip companies by providing them findings and perspectives across a wide range of markets. Our research reports offer a blend of information insight, analysis and forecasting that is essential in today's ultra-competitive markets.225 Kristie Ln, Roswell, GA 30076, United States Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market Dosage Price and Clinical Trials Outlook 2024 Report https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-global-dendritic-cell-cancer-vaccine-market-dosage-price-and-clinical-trials-outlook-2024.php Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market Dosage Price and Clinical Trials Outlook 2024 Report Highlight:* Role of Dendritic Cells in Immune System and Cancer* Price and Dosage Analysis of Marketed Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine* Availability and Efficacy Analysis* Marketed Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Insight: 3 Vaccines* Comparative Assessment of Provenge v/s other Key Therapeutics* Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Pipeline by Company, Indication and Phase: 63 VaccinesDownload Report Sample Weblink:For Report Sample Contact: neeraj@kuickresearch.comTable of Contents1. Prologue to Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine1.1 Historical Overview of Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine1.2 Dendritic Cell Vaccines: A Revolutionary Cancer Therapy2. Role of Dendritic Cells in Immune System and Cancer2.1 Dendritic Cell: Integral Part of Human Immune System2.2 Effects of Cancer on Dendritic Cell Mediated Immunity3. Mechanism of Action of Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines3.1 Process Involved in Manufacturing Dendritic Cell Vaccine3.2 Understanding Working Mechanism of Dendritic Cell Vaccine against Cancer Cells4. Commercially Approved Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine: Efficacy, Availability, Price and Dosage Analysis4.1 Provenge4.1.1 Clinical Efficacy4.1.2 Availability, Dosage and Treatment Schedule4.1.3 Treatment Cost Analysis4.1.4 Manufacturing Cost and Market Worth4.2 Apceden (Apceden-L, Apceden-O, Apceden-C, Apceden-P)4.2.1 Clinical Efficacy4.2.2 Availability, Dosage and Treatment Schedule4.3 CreaVax RCC4.3.1 Availability, Dosage and Treatment Schedule4.3.2 Manufacturing Cost Process and Involved Technologies5. Marketed Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Insight5.1 Sipuleucel-T (Provenge)5.2 Dendritic Cell Vaccine (CreaVax-HCC, CreaVax-PC and CreaVax-RCC)5.3 Dendritic Cell-Activated Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells - Shanghai Jia Fu Medical6. Promising Candidates in Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine in Clinical Pipeline6.1 CreaVax-HCC, CreavAX-PC, CreaVax-BC6.2 Rocapuldencel-T6.3 MelCancerVac6.4 Apceden (Apceden-GBM, Apceden-RCC)6.5 Vaccell7. Comparative Assessment of Provenge v/s other Therapeutics for Prostate Cancer7.1 Provenge v/s Jevtana7.1.1 Clinical Efficacy7.1.2 Treatment Course and Dosage7.1.3 Therapy Price Analysis7.2 Provenge v/s Zytiga7.2.1 Clinical Efficacy7.2.2 Treatment Course and Dosage7.2.3 Therapy Price Analysis8. Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market Opportunity Regional Analysis8.1 North America8.2 India8.3 South Korea8.4 Japan9. Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Combination Therapy with other Cancer Therapies9.1 Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine with Radiotherapy9.2 Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine with Monoclonal Antibodies10. Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Current Market Overview10.1 Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market Trends10.2 Global Dendritic Cell Vaccine Market Regional Insight10.2.1 Scope of Dendritic Cell Vaccine Market by Ongoing Researches and Available Advanced Therapies by Region10.2.2 Scope of Dendritic Cell Vaccine Market by Investments for from Different Sectors10.2.3 Scope of Reimbursement of Dendritic Cell Cancer Therapy11. Promising Future of Dendritic Cell Vaccines in Various Cancer11.1 Dendritic Cell Vaccine in Stage-III Melanoma11.2 Dendritic Cell Vaccine in Acute Myeloid Leukemia11.3 Dendritic Cell Vaccine in Brain Tumor12. Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market Dynamics12.1 Favorable Market Parameters12.2 Market Growth Challenges13. Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market Future Forecast13.1 Technical Advancements in Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine in Future13.2 Increase in Prevalence of Cancer Providing a Large Target Patient Base for Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine in Future14. Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Pipeline Overview15. Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Pipeline by Company, Indication and Phase15.1 Unknown15.2 Research15.3 Preclinical15.4 Clinical15.5 Phase-I15.6 Phase-I/II15.7 Phase-II15.8 Phase-II/III15.9 Phase-III16. Competitive Landscape16.1 3M Company16.2 Activartis16.3 Argos Therapeutics16.4 Batavia Bioservices16.5 Bellicum Pharmaceuticals16.6 Creagene16.7 DanDrit Biotech16.8 DCPrime16.9 Dendreon Corporation16.10 Elios Therapeutics16.11 ImmunoCellular Therapeutics16.12 Immunicum16.13 Kiromic16.14 Medigene16.15 Merck16.16 Northwest Biotherapeutics16.17 Glaxo Smith Kline16.18 ImmunoCellular Therapeutics16.19 SOTIO16.20 Tella Incorporation16.21 Theravectys16.22 Vaxil BioTherapeuticsFigure 1-1: Milestones in the History of Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine DevelopmentFigure 2-1: Dendritic Cell in Human Immune SystemFigure 2-2: Effects of Tumor Cell in Dendritic Cell Dysfunction Leading to Tumor ProgressionFigure 3-1: Process of Harvesting Dendritic Cell to Develop VaccinesFigure 3-2: General Mechanism of Action of Dendritic Cell VaccineFigure 4-1: Provenge: Efficacy on the Basis of Clinical TrialsFigure 4-2: Provenge - Number of Autologous CD54+ Activated Cells (Million)Figure 4-3: Provenge - Dosage Administration (Minutes)Figure 4-4: Provenge - Average Duration of TherapyFigure 4-5: Provenge - Therapy Cost Analysis (US$/Infusion), 2018Figure 4-6: Provenge - Average Cost (US$/Patient), 2018Figure 4-7: Provenge - Therapy Cost Analysis (US$/Treatment Course), 2018Figure 4 8: Provenge - Companys Expenditure in Drug Development and Therapy Market Value (US$ Billion)Figure 4-9: Apceden - Median Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Solid Tumors (Number of Months), 2018Figure 4-10: Apceden - Median Progression Free Survival in Patients with Progressive Solid Tumors (Number of Months), 2018Figure 4-11: Apceden v/s Provenge - Adverse Side Effects (%), 2018Figure 4-12: Apceden - Availability of Vial and Vials Required in Apceden Therapy, 2018Figure 4-13: Apceden - Intervals between Multiple Doses of TreatmentFigure 4-14: CreaVax RCC - Approval Analysis by Phase (Year)Figure 4-15: CreaVax RCC - Treatment Course Duration (Weeks), 2018Figure 4-16: CreaVax RCC - Vial Composition Analysis (mL/Dose and Number of Cells/Dose), 2018Figure 4-17: South Korea - CreaVax RCC Patent Cost (US$)Figure 4-18: South Korea - Pharmaceutical Compositions comprising Dendritic Cell Patent Cost (US$)Figure 7-1: Provenge v/s Jevtana - Median Progression Free Survival (Months)Figure 7-2: Provenge v/s Jevtana - Overall Survival (Months)Figure 7-3: Provenge v/s Jevtana - Discontinuation of Treatment in Patients due to Adverse Effects (%)Figure 7-4: Provenge v/s Jevtana - Average Treatment Cycles in Complete Therapy (By Number)Figure 7-5: Provenge v/s Jevtana - Price Analysis (US$/Unit), 2018Figure 7-6: Provenge v/s Jevtana - Price Analysis (US$/Infusion), 2018Figure 7-7: Provenge v/s Jevtana - Average Treatment Cost Analysis (US$), 2018Figure 7-8: Provenge v/s Zytiga - Median Progression Free Survival (Months)Figure 7-9: Provenge v/s Zytiga - Therapy Cost Analysis (US$), 2018Figure 8-1: Global andndash; Rocapuldencel-T Market Opportunity Analysis by Epidemiology of Renal Cell Carcinoma (Number of patients), 2018Figure 8-2: India - Average Lung Cancer Prevalence per YearFigure 8-3: India - Lung Cancer Prevalence by Stage (%), 2018Figure 8-4: India - Apceden Market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Lung Cancer (Number of Patients), 2014-2018Figure 8-5: India - Apceden Market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Ovarian Cancer (Number of Patients), 2014-2018Figure 8-6: India - Apceden Market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer (Number of Patients), 2014-2018Figure 8-7: India - Apceden Market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer (Number of Patients), 2014-2018Figure 8-8: South Korea - Renal Cell Carcinoma Population by Stage of Cancer, (%), 2018Figure 8-9: South Korea - CreaVax RCC Market Opportunity by Renal Cancer Epidemiology (Number of Patients), 2014-2018Figure 8-10: South Korea - Renal Cell Carcinoma Prevalence in Male Population by Number, 2014-2018Figure 8-11: South Korea - Renal Cell Carcinoma Prevalence in Female Population by Number, 2014-2018Figure 8-12: South Korea - Renal Cancer Prevalence by Gender, 2018Figure 8-13: Japan - Epidemiology of Cancer by Gender (%), 2018Figure 8-14: Japan - Epidemiology of Cancer (Number of Patients), 2018Figure 8-15: Japan - Vaccell Market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Pancreatic Cancer by Gender (%), 2018Figure 8-16: Japan - Vaccell market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Pancreatic Cancer (Number of Patients), 2018Figure 8-17: Japan - Vaccell Market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Gall Bladder and Biliary Cancer by Gender (%), 2018Figure 8-18: Japan - Vaccell Market Opportunity by Epidemiology of Gall Bladder and Biliary Cancer (Number of Patients), 2018Figure 8 19: Japan - Vaccell Potential Patient Base by New Incidences, 2018Figure 10-1: Global - Scope of Dendritic Cell Cancer Therapy Market by Ongoing ResearchesFigure 10-2: Global - Scope of Dendritic Cell Cancer Therapy Market by Approved Advanced TherapiesFigure 10-3: Global - Scope of Dendritic Cell Vaccine Cancer Therapy Market by Later Phase Clinical TrialsFigure 10-4: Global - Number of Advanced Cancer Therapy Research Studies Funded by Non-Profit OrganizationFigure 12-1: Factors Favoring Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine MarketFigure 13-1: Global - Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccine Market Opportunity by Prevalence of Cancer (%)Figure 14-1: Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Pipeline by Phase (%), 2018 till 2024Figure 14-2: Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Pipeline by Phase (Number), 2018 till 2024Figure 14-3: Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Suspended in Clinical Pipeline by Phase (%), 2018 till 2024Figure 14-4: Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Suspended in Clinical Pipeline by Phase (Number), 2018 till 2024Figure 14-5: Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Pipeline by Region/Country (%), 2018 till 2024Figure 14-6: Global Dendritic Cell Cancer Vaccines Clinical Pipeline by Company (%), 2018 till 2024Figure 16-1: Argos Therapeutics- Clinical PipelineFigure 16-2: Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Clinical PipelineFigure 16-3: DCPrime Clinical PipelineFigure 16-4: ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Clinical PipelineFigure 16-5: Immunicum Clinical PipelineFigure 16-6: Medigene Clinical PipelineFigure 16-7: Northwest Bio therapeutics Clinical PipelineFigure 16-8: SOTIO Clinical PipelineKuick Research is a market research and analytics company that provides targeted information for critical decisions at business, product and service levels. We are quick, predictive and known by the recommendations we have made in the past. Our result-oriented research methodology offers understanding of multiple issues in a short period of time and gives us the capability to keep you full with loads of practical ideas. By translating research answers into strategic insight and direction, we not only rate the success potential of your products and/or services, but also help you identify the opportunities for growth in new demographies and find ways to beat competition.Neeraj Chawlaneeraj@kuickresearch.comKuicK ResearchL29 - L34, First FloorBlock L,Connaught PlaceNew Delhi-110001+91-11-47067990 Infrastructure Monitoring Market - Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook by 2024 Global Market Insights, Inc. https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2443 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2443 https://www.gminsights.com http://algosonline.com/technology Infrastructure monitoring market is expected to grow owing to increasing applications in mining, energy, aerospace & defense, civil, transportation, marine, automotive, and industrial machinery industries. The civil segment is anticipated to dominate the industry over the coming years. Increasing occurrences of structural failure and accidents along with the growing importance of large civil projects are projected to drive the industry growth. Countries including Japan, India, the UK, and the U.S. are investing in constructing critical infrastructural facilities such as dams, highways, tunnels, bridges and residential & commercial buildings for economic development. This is expected to fuel the infrastructure monitoring market growth over the forecast timespan.Infrastructure Monitoring Market size is projected to grow at a fast rate owing to the aging infrastructure in various economies and the rising awareness about the refurbishment of the existing structure. Effective structural examination helps in enabling data-driven decisions and insights. It improves productivity and aids in early problem detection to avoid disasters. Failure of structures leads to loss of lives and leads to high costs. Structure administration enables the operator to efficiently capture the data required to understand the status of the structure and effectively implement further steps. Increasing requirements to enhance the safety standards, ensure longer lifespan of structure, and reduce the overall maintenance costs are the major factors driving the infrastructure monitoring market over the forecast timespan.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Declining costs of sensors that are used for construction management have led to the overall reduction in the total expenditure, also boosting the infrastructure monitoring market. Sensors are deployed for measuring the vibration & distortion in pillars, power conservation, and maintaining the structure health through remote assessment. These components are manufactured in large numbers and at very low costs so that these can be embedded into concrete structures. These sensors provide the required data wirelessly. The use of sensors reduces the overall costs incurred from the manual inspection of structures. The advantages offered by sensors and the availability of low-cost sensors are fueling the industry growth.High investments for the structure health assessment across various countries drive the infrastructure monitoring market. Governments in various emerging economies are passing stringent regulations related to the sustainability of structures. For instance, the Building Control Act enforced in Singapore authorizes an accredited checker to inspect the sustainability of a building or a structure.Growing trend toward building smart cities and refurbishing the existing IT & telecommunication structure is anticipated to drive the infrastructure monitoring market over the forecast timespan. Rising labor costs in countries including China have led to an increase in the demand for automated inspection and scrutinizing systems. Government initiatives, such as Digital India, are further providing a boost to the industry.High installation costs with the use of the advanced technologies for structure inspection i restrain the industry growth. Technical challenges, such as cybersecurity risks, are expected to hinder the industry growth. The increase in the amount of data generated leads to a rise in the requirement for efficient data management and storage solutions, increasing the overall expenditure. Moreover, the lack of skilled technicians for calibration and installation of these systems in developing economies is also a major factor hindering the infrastructure monitoring market growth.Latest technological advancements in IoT, connected structures, and sensor systems are providing immense growth opportunities for the infrastructure monitoring market. Increasing number of public-private partnerships for the infrastructural growth in various economies will provide growth prospects for the industry. Developing economies in Asia Pacific and the Middle East are investing in advanced digital technologies and this is a key factor that drives the infrastructure monitoring market growth.Infrastructure monitoring market is segmented into wired and wireless. The wireless segment is projected to grow significantly owing to the ease of maintenance offered by wireless systems. Wired systems are susceptible to wear & tear and climatic changes. They also increase the overall maintenance costs owing to the amount of hardware used. The wired segment is predicted to grow at a steady rate over the forecast timespan. Wired systems are already implemented in many existing structures and replacing them with entirely new wireless systems can be technically difficult, thus propelling the demand for wired systems.Make an inquiry for buying this report @The infrastructure monitoring market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. The software segment is projected to a higher rate over the coming years. The industry is characterized by the generation of large amount of data, which must be efficiently processed, stored and analyzed. Sophisticated software platforms enable efficient data processing with increased immunity to security breaches. The hardware segment is expected to grow owing to the involvement of hardware components in the system to measure the physical properties of the structure.The infrastructure monitoring market in the Americas is anticipated to grow at a high rate owing to the tendency of early adoption of the latest advanced technologies in the region. Increasing government investments in the U.S., Brazil, and Canada to renovate the existing structures and undertake new construction projects are expected to boost the infrastructure monitoring market growth in the region. Asia Pacific is also projected to witness a high growth due to the rapid urbanization in economies including Japan, China, and India. The Cross-Ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) is undertaken by the government of Japan, which includes infrastructure maintenance, renovation, and management program. The program aims at incorporating these systems to ensure predictive maintenance of infrastructure.Key players in the infrastructure monitoring market include Structural Monitoring Systems Ltd., Sixense, Geomotion Singapore, RST Instruments Ltd., Campbell Scientific, Inc., Acellent Technologies, Inc., Cowi, Geocomp Corporation, and Digitexx Data Systems, Inc. In June 2017, Acellent Technologies, Inc. announced a strategic collaboration with Testia GmbH, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an aim to commercialize, market and install the structural health mapping solutions by Acellent. Increasing competition among major players to offer advanced solutions is driving the infrastructure monitoring market.About Global Market InsightsGlobal 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:Blog: Brazil Medical Devices Market Revenue, Share, Analysis and Estimation of Leading Key Players - Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, Medtronic and Philips Electronics NV. Till 2023 Medical Devices Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2869 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2869 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2869 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines medical device as any instrument, apparatus, machine, appliance, implant, software, material etc. intended to be used for medical purposes and which does not achieve its primary intended action by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means, but which may assisted these function. Brazil is the largest economy in South America and spends 8.3% of GDP on healthcare in 2014. Taking all factors into consideration, we expect the Brazil medical devices market to reach around US$ 1844 million from US$ 1100 million in 2017, by the end of the forecast period at a CAGR of ~9%.Try Sample Report Here @Brazil has an extreme dependence on imports with regards to medical devices with the domestic market being highly consolidated with a handful of players. The U.S. leads the bandwagon of exporters followed by Europe. The imports are also poised to grow in the future with China challenging the western hegemony in low end devices.Technology and product development remain the main growth engines for the market for medical devices. Advancements in connectivity and processing power of devices, growth of healthcare mobile applications, development of stronger biocompatible materials and cloud integration are the leading themes in technology. Falling cost of production and rising manufacturing capacities in electronic industry, demand for early detection and noninvasive therapies such as those of cancer etc., need to curtail the rising cost of healthcare, growing awareness and spread of information technology, development of user friendly devices etc. are further fueling the market.Market constraints are high cost of imported medical devices and high sales tariffs, low penetration of medical devices in Brazil and differential connectivity in inaccessible regions of Brazil. The poor regulatory framework has led to poor quality devices especially made by developing nations, which competes with high quality devices reducing the share of high tech devices segment. Political turmoil, the weak Brazilian Real etc. remain economic threats to the market.Get Discount on Report @Brazil Medical Devices Market - Key PlayersSome of the key players in this market are: Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, Medtronic, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV., Baxter International, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., Cardinal Health, Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Jude Medical Inc., Hitachi Medical Corporation, Siemens Ltd and others.Brazil Medical Devices Market - SegmentsBrazil medical devices market has been segmented on the basis of product type which comprises monitoring devices, diagnostic devices, diagnostic molecular devices, drug delivery devices, surgical devices, bio implants and stimulation devices, automation and robotics and others. On the basis of therapeutic application; market is segmented into general surgery, diagnostic imaging, respiratory, orthopedics, cardiovascular, dental, neurology, ophthalmology, ear-nose-throat (ENT), nephrology and urology, and others. On the basis of end users; market is segmented hospitals, ambulatory and home.Brazil Medical Devices Market - Regional AnalysisThe healthcare sector of Brazil is divided between private and state with the public healthcare accounting for approximately 45% of total health expenditure in 2014. Local manufacturing represents a poor outlook which is limited to consumables and ordinary articles and there are a handful of high tech devices manufacturers.Another important factor to be considered is the extreme dependency of Brazil on imports which account for approximately 75% of total market for medical devices. U.S. medical device suppliers dominate the scenario with Europe in the second position.To Know More Enquire @China is expected to substitute the western nations especially in low end devices which will be the fastest segment. Among the regions of Brazil, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Parana tops the healthcare expenditure list. The differential healthcare regional availability in Brazil with extreme social and economic differentiation of the Brazilian population are further threats to the market. Brazil also has poor healthcare in its vast rural areas with a few cities dominating the scenario such as Sao Paulo.Major TOC1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope of Study1.3 Research Objective1.4 Assumptions & Limitations1.5 Market Structure:2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3 Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Challenges3.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4 Market Factor AnalysisContinuedAbout 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 LTE For Critical Communication Market 2018 Global Leaders: Ericsson, Teltronic, Softil, Qualcomm Technologies, Motorola, Telstra, Huawei Technologies, Sepura, Samsung Group https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4720 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/lte-critical-communication-market-4720 Market Research Future published a research report on LTE For Critical Communication Market Research Report- Global Forecast till 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.LTE for Critical Communication Global Market - OverviewThe growing need of 4G technology is a factor driving the market growth. Along with this, the rising demand of Terrestrial Trunk Radio for critical communication is driving the market growth. The companies in this market are mainly focusing on standardization of LTE equipment. This is done in order to have a high speed broadband access to enterprise meeting their demands for dependability and flexibility. Due to recent need of public protection, and requirement in disaster and hazard, the market is expected to gain a huge opportunity in upcoming forecast period. The upcoming future scenario is expected to experience a high rate of standardization, research, and development and innovations in technology, and mission critical suitable LTE.Get Sample of Report @Key Players:The prominent players in the global LTE For Critical Communication Market are Sepura plc. (U.K), Rohill Technologies B.V. (The Netherlands), Samsung Group (South Korea), Nokia Corporation (Finland), Teltronic S.A. (Spain), Softil Ltd. (Israel), Qualcomm Technologies Inc. (U.S), Ericsson (Sweden), Motorola, Inc. (U.S), Telstra Corporation Ltd (Australia) and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China).LTE for Critical Communication Global Market - SegmentationSegmentation by component: hardware, software, solution Segmentation by technology: terrestrial trunked radio, P-25, LTE-Advanced, digital mobile radio Segmentation by Application: IT & Telecommunication, Transportation, Utilities, oil & gas, government and defence, aerospace, other Segmentation by region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa.LTE for Critical Communication Global Market - Regional AnalysisOn the basis of regional analysis, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world. Among these regions, North America is dominating the market of LTE for Critical Communication and is expected to continue leading the market during forecast period. This is majorly due to the growing demand for voice, status, text, location, picture, and video transmission for public safety. Whereas, Europe region claims the second spot in this market. However, there is expected a high market growth during the forecast period in Asia Pacific.Industry NewsMarch 2018, Motorola Solutions unveils new mission-critical LTE smartphone. The company had announced a LTE specific mobile device for public safety. The device will be holding a P25 system with integrated communication which is designed to be used on FirstNet or other global networks.February 2018, Azcom Technology to Demonstrate LTE Based Mission Critical Push to Talk Services at Mobile World Congress 2018. Azcom Technology is planning to work on its latest products and specialised wireless solutions, which the company displayed at the MWC.March 2018, Sonim, Softil collaborate to launch the world's most rugged range of LTE devices for mission-critical first responders. Sonim Technologies and Softil, collaborated to enable Sonim to launch a rough range of LTE devices. These devices will have wide spread application in various industry verticals such as infrastructure and construction, public safety and security, oil and gas, transportation and logistics, and many others.Get Complete Report @Intended Audience LTE for critical communication companies LTE for critical communication providers LTE for critical communication distributors Research organizations Professional service providers LTE for critical communication service providers Research and development companies Market research and consulting firms Solution providers Technology standards organizations Technology investors System IntegratorsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Industrial Machine Vision Market Outlook 2018 to 2024, Key Players, and Applications Forecast Global Market Insights, Inc. https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2442 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2442 https://www.gminsights.com http://algosonline.com/technology The industrial machine vision market is segmented into the component, product, application, end-use, and region. Based on the component, the market can be segmented into hardware and software. The hardware segment encompasses LEDs, optics, processors, and cameras while the software segment includes application-specific software and deep learning. Growing significance of AI-infused machine vision software is anticipated to fuel the industrial machine vision market. Capabilities of deep learning to provide real-time solutions facilitate the detection of faults during the manufacturing process and aid the technology to gain popularity.Industrial Machine Vision Market size is expected to witness growth owing to the rising demand for automated quality inspection across various industries. With the rising number of manufacturing plants & facilities across the globe, manufacturers are focusing increasingly on quality assurance in the production process. It has resulted in the increasing adoption of machine vision technology as an internal part of the automation development process. Traditional manufacturing procedures relied on human element at the inspection stage, which proved to be less efficient.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Increasing demand for Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) infused machine vision systems is anticipated to boost the industrial machine vision market over the forecast timespan. AIs capability to make intelligent decisions in the real-time in uncertain environments and to combat cybersecurity threats is fueling the industry demand. In addition, the miniaturization of electronic hardware components and the development of enhanced AI-based software algorithms have led to an increasing integration of machine vision and IIoT.Unpredictable end-user demands pertaining to industrial machine vision applications are major factors restricting the industrial machine vision market growth. The requirement of the type of machine vision technology changes depending on the manufacturing industry under consideration. These changing requirements require enhanced software algorithms for inspection or manufacturing procedures. Furthermore, the lack of flexible machine vision solutions coupled with increasing complexities of integrating machine vision solutions poses significant challenges to the industrial machine vision market.Based on application, the industrial machine vision market can be classified into identification, measurement, positioning & guidance, and quality assurance & inspection. The quality assurance & inspection segment will witness growth owing to the increasing demand for high-quality products in less amount of time. Utilization of machine vision enhances the automation process by identifying problems in a short span of time. In addition, the rising requirement of industries to reduce operational costs and improve the response time is contributing to the industry demand.Asia Pacific industrial machine vision market is predicted to witness a significant growth over the forecast timespan. The growth can be accredited to the increasing number of industries in emerging economies including China, India, Japan, and South Korea. An increase in the demand for consumer products in China is providing growth opportunities to the industrial machine vision market. The growing trend of the drift toward 3D-based industrial machine vision systems is expected to propel the regional market growth.Rising government initiatives to encourage the growth of smart factories are propelling the industrial machine vision market growth. Governments across various emerging economies are investing in the development of smart manufacturing techniques to support the industrial sector. For instance, the government of Chinas Made in China 2025 policy for the integration of digital technologies and industrialization is providing an impetus to the industrial machine vision market.Make an inquiry for buying this report @By end-use, the industrial machine vision market can be categorized into solar panel manufacturing, machinery, glass, pharmaceuticals, rubber & plastics, food & packaging, wood & paper, metals, printing, electronics & semiconductor, consumer electronics, and automotive. Food & packaging involves a range of processes that include portioning, sorting, grading, processing, quality checking, and packaging. These processes require machine vision technology for the smooth operation of the manufacturing process. Stringent government regulations pertaining to the quality of food products are further fueling the adoption of the technology in the food & packaging sector.Key players operating in the industrial machine vision market include Omron Corporation, Teledyne Technologies, Keyence Corporation, MVTec Software GmbH, National Instruments, Texas Instruments, Baumer Optronic, Qualitas Technologies, Sick AG, and ISRA Vision AG. Companies operating in the industry are trying to strengthen their market presence in emerging economies with the launch of advanced solutions and by involving in merger & acquisition activities. For instance, in April 2017, Omron Corporation announced that the company will be acquiring industrial camera firm Sentech Co., Ltd. to provide enhanced solutions to customers.About Global Market InsightsGlobal 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:Blog: Human Capital Management Market 2018 by Global Leaders: Talentsoft, Software AG, Workforce Software, ADP LLC, WORKDAY, Oracle, Kronos, LinkedIn, Ultimate Software, Infor https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2485 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/human-capital-management-market-2485 Market Research Future published a research report on Human Capital Management Market Research Report- Global Forecast 2022 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Human Capital Management Market Global Market- OverviewThe human capital management deals with gathering, interpreting and stating the data which reports the future course of people management and investment, which helps to make strategic and operational decision at corporate level. The human capital signifies the employees contribution in the business enterprises through intellectual, skill competency and knowledge that increases the efficiency of the organization. The labour factor of the business enterprises is that the ability of understanding, altering and, modernizing and offering the productive thrust which if structurally encouraged and achieve the long term objectives of the business. With the rapid development of organizational infrastructure and rising employment opportunities in small and medium enterprises are expected to drive the Human Capital Management Market over the market.Get Sample of Report @Industry NewsFebruary 2018, Workday, Inc. one of the leading in enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources, providers declares a $250 million Workday Ventures fund. The company deals with strategic investment arm focused on recognizing, investing, and cooperating with start-ups associated with emerging technologies - such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, block-chain, and augmented and virtual reality - that can be implemented to business organization.September 2016, PeopleFluent, a one of the leading cloud provider of social human capital management technology, declared that the company had come aligned with Benify to offer the recognition services to HR executives. The partnership will provide a sophisticated and powerful solution combination that facilitate greater communication and collaboration in the compensation lifecycle.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the Human Capital Management Market are IBM (U.S.), SAP SE (Germany), Software AG (Germany), Workforce Software (U.S.), ADP LLC (U.S.), WORKDAY (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), Kronos Inc. (U.S.), LinkedIn (U.S.), Ultimate Software (U.S.), Infor (U.S.), Zenefits (U.S.), Talentsoft (France), among others.Human Capital Management Market Global Market - Segmentation Segmentation by Software Solutions: Workforce Analytics, Competency management, Performance management, Time and expense management, E-learning, E-recruiting, E-boarding, Core HR, Talent Management and Payroll and Tax. Segmentation by Services: Transformation services, Implementation Services, Consulting services, Support & Maintenance and Others Segmentation by Deployment Type: Cloud and On-premise Segmentation by Organization Size: SMEs and Large Enterprise. Segmentation by End-user: Manufacturing, BFSI, IT/ITES, Healthcare, Transportation, Government and Others Segmentation by Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa.Human Capital Management Market Global Market - Regional AnalysisNorth America is expected to dominate the global human capital management market with the largest market share in the region. This is attributed to technological advancement in the region which made them the early adopters of the technology. Additionally, The U.S and Canada are the leading in the region. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing region is over the forecast period due to increased investment by the local government to boost the domestic solution providers. China, India and japan are the leading countries in the region. At present, India is considered to be the fastest growing country in Asia Pacific region. This is due to increased investment by advanced economies in the country.Get complete Report @Intended Audience Government Organizations Enterprise users Commercial users Industrial users Technology investors System Integrators Research/Consultancy firmsAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Physical Matting Agents Market Insights and Statistics 2018 https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1725627&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-physical-matting-agents-sales-market-report-2018.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1725627&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Physical Matting Agents Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.Qyresearchreports.com has added a new report based on the global Physical Matting Agents market. The report is comprehensive, making use of different mediums for portraying information so that it is easy to understand for readers buying this report. Tables, charts, graphs, infographics, maps, and statistics are some of the ways through which information is depicted in this report.The major players covered in this reportHuntsmanEvonikW. R. GraceImerys MineralsBanner ChemicalsLuan Jietonda ChemicalSuoshi ChemicalTo Download Sample Report With TOC:The first section of this report comprises a detailed overview of the market, aspects of the market, such as definition, classification, need, and application. The next section of the report comprises the different factors which are contributing to the growth of the global Physical Matting Agents market. A detailed analysis and discussion is also done on the various factors which are expected to restrict or challenge the growth of the global Physical Matting Agents market. The impact analysis of the same is also studied. Promising trends from which the market can benefit and future growth opportunities within the global Physical Matting Agents market have also been analysed in this research study.The next section of the report comprises the segmentation of the global Physical Matting Agents market based on key criteria. The leading, On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSilica Matting AgentWax Matting AgentOtherOn 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, includingPaints and CoatingsPrinting InksPlasticsTable of ContentsGlobal Physical Matting Agents Sales Market Report 20181 Physical Matting Agents Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Physical Matting Agents1.2 Classification of Physical Matting Agents by Product Category1.2.1 Global Physical Matting Agents Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Physical Matting Agents Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Silica Matting AgentComplete table of content is available at:2 Global Physical Matting Agents Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Physical Matting Agents Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Physical Matting Agents Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Physical Matting Agents Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Physical Matting Agents (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Physical Matting Agents Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3 United States Physical Matting Agents (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Physical Matting Agents Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Physical Matting Agents Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Physical Matting Agents Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Physical Matting Agents Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4 Europe Physical Matting Agents (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 Europe Physical Matting Agents Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 Europe Physical Matting Agents Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 Europe Physical Matting Agents Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 Europe Physical Matting Agents Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)Enquiry For Discount Visit @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Physical Matting AgentsFigure Global Physical Matting Agents Sales Volume Comparison (K Units) by Type (2013-2025)Figure Global Physical Matting Agents Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2017Figure Silica Matting Agent Product PictureFigure Wax Matting Agent Product PictureFigure Europe Physical Matting Agents Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure China Physical Matting Agents Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Japan Physical Matting Agents Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Southeast Asia Physical Matting Agents Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)About Us: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.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com [May 03, 2018] Teradata Reports 2018 First Quarter Results 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 gregg.swearingen@teradata.com MEDIA CONTACT: Benjamin Hendricks Teradata (919) 522-2978 ben.hendricks@teradata.com 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. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teradata-reports-2018-first-quarter-results-300642360.html SOURCE Teradata [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] Emission Control Catalyst Market Assessment and Forecast Report by Future Market Insights https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-137 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-137 www.futuremarketinsights.com Emission control and reduction are among the priorities of all the commercial, industrial, and government sector companies. Growing concerns towards mitigation of the ill effects of carbon emissions or pollution are leading to manufacturing and process industries adopting new methods, technologies, materials, and processes. Emission control catalysts are used in catalytic convertors to lessen harmful emissions to the environment. A catalytic convertor houses a typical honeycomb structure coated with emission control catalysts such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Emission control catalysts can be segmented on the basis of their application as mobile and stationary.Mobile applications include automotives. These catalysts are also called automotive catalysts. Stationary applications include thermal or conventional power plants, and other industries.Mobile application presently is the largest segment for emission control catalysts due to the increasing demand for light and heavy commercial vehicles across the globe. Catalytic convertors are mostly used in the automotive industry while stationary emission control systems utilise selective catalytic reduction, catalytic incineration, filters, and catalytic oxidation. Passenger vehicles and cargo trucks are the main source of vehicle pollution followed by two and three wheeler vehicles. Emission control catalysts or convertors are now increasingly being used for NOx reduction from power plants, reduction of sulphur, and removal of toxins from exhaust smoke.Request For Report Sample @Europe is the most lucrative emission control catalyst market. The heavy presence of automobiles manufacturers, power sector companies, and industrialisation across various geographical locations in Europe are the major driving factors for the emission control catalyst market. Europe witnessed 8.8% growth in commercial vehicle registrations. This prominent market was the global leader in FY 2013, and is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the future. Supportive government regulations to curb the ill effects of pollution offer a smooth roadmap for emission control catalyst enterprises to penetrate in European market. Industrial pollution in Europe is the next major setback for the government, as it costs them billions of dollars. Germany, Poland, UK, and Italy possess major refineries and heavy power segments which contribute major damage to the European nations. In such a scenario, the European market is in need of effective solutions that possess the capability to curb the pollution. Therefore, Europe is seen as the most lucrative market for business enterprises operating in the emission control catalyst market.Other prominent markets are North America followed by MENA and APAC region. North America contributes a major share to global pollution. USA is the leading market as the highest contributor to air pollution in North America region. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas are the states reporting the highest air pollution levels in USA. Many prominent locations in USA are witnessing ozone depletion which is a major cause of concern for government officials. As such, this situation makes emission control catalysts an urgent need in these pollution chronic regions. MENA is the next potential region for the emission control catalyst market. Presence of mining industries and oil borne locations are the major driving factors in MENA region. India, China and Singapore are the prominent destinations for emission control segment. Development in the automobile sector, oil refineries and maritime transportation are the main driving factors in APAC.Request For Table Of Content @Increasing automotive fleet and stringent environmental regulations on the international platform are the prime driving factors for growth in emission control catalyst consumption. The global emission control catalyst market is expected to grow between 7% and 9% CAGR over the next five years. Though the market seems promising for business enterprises operating in emission control catalysts, the emergence of battery-powered vehicles could be a major setback to this flourishing industry. Some of the major players include Johnson Matthey, BASF, Umicore, Faurecia, Nett Technologies, and others. Companies are investing in R&D to offer first class products to different end use industry verticals. Acquisitions and mergers are the strategies adopted by key market players to strengthen their position on the global market platform.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market InsightsValley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Cleaning Robot Market Technological Advancements and Innovations from 2018 to 2024 Global Market Insights, Inc. https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2440 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2440 https://www.gminsights.com http://algosonline.com/technology The cleaning robot market is segmented into healthcare, residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The residential application segment is expected to grow significantly owing to the increasing demand for automated cleaning systems in developed economies. The compact size of this equipment makes them the right choice for residential applications. Efficient cleaning operation in confined spaces is an advantage offered by these robots, increasing their popularity in the residential sector.Cleaning Robot Market size is anticipated to grow at a very fast rate owing to the latest technological advancements and innovations in the field of robotics such as small size and enhanced performance. Companies are manufacturing robots with visualization and sensing equipment to enable enhanced operations. Use of high speed, high precision, and small-sized servo & mechanical systems in robots have led to enhanced accuracy in operations and reduced sizes. This is a major factor projected to boost the cleaning robot market over the coming years. Incorporation of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence in robots, has eliminated the drawbacks of traditional robots. AI-infused robotics has enhanced the capabilities of robots to take real-time decisions.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Increased penetration of the technology and automation in household applications and industries is a major factor boosting the cleaning robot market. Changing lifestyle of people in emerging economies has led to a rise in the awareness of the technological advancements and its advantages. Various developing economies are investing in smart homes for enhanced lifestyle. This has led to a rise in the demand for these devices in domestic applications. This equipment is increasingly being used in robust industrial environments, where human involvement can prove to be lethal. These are used for cleaning in nuclear power plants and in the container, engineering & manufacturing, transport, and food industries. These factors are projected to propel the industry growth over the coming years.Rising labor costs in developed economies including the U.S. and Germany are the key factors that fuel the cleaning robot market. Robots save time by performing multiple tasks simultaneously, reducing the time taken to perform a set of tasks. This is one of the major factors boosting the industry growth. These automation machines become a feasible choice than costly housekeeping services for people with disability. They also offer high work precision, which makes them popular for cleaning operations in industries and residential sector.The high cost of these robots is a major factor that restrains the cleaning robot market growth over the forecast timespan. These devices are costly compared to the traditional robots owing to the advanced technologies incorporated into it. Small-scale industries that have budgetary constraints cannot afford these devices. Sophisticated servo systems, programmable logic devices, and human-machine interfaces used for the control of these robots add to the cost of the robot. Emerging economies including India and China cannot afford these robots and hence rely on human labor, thus restricting the industry growth in the region.Battery life problems, low durability, and maintenance issues are also key factors hindering the cleaning robot market growth. Cleaning robots require high maintenance for optimized performance. Lack of skilled technicians in developing economies is projected to hamper the industry growth.Technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, AI swarm technology, and high-precision control systems are expected to provide growth opportunities for the cleaning robot market. Increasing demand for robots from the industrial sector is also anticipated to augment the industry growth. There is an increasing demand for cleaning robots in developed economies in Europe and North America. Rising need for small-sized compact robots is projected to boost the industry growth.Make an inquiry for buying this report @North America cleaning robot market holds the largest share owing to the tendency to adopt advanced technologies and the developed economic conditions of the region. Growing urbane lifestyle of consumers and high disposable incomes are expected to propel the demand for these devices in household applications.Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at a significant pace owing to the changing lifestyles of people and increasing awareness about the latest technological developments. Increase in the consumer disposable income in the region is a major factor driving the Asia Pacific cleaning robot market. The growth in the industrialization sector in Asia Pacific is expected to boost the demand for cleaning robots in industrial applications over the forecast timespan.Key players in the cleaning robot market include Intellibot Robotics LLC, LG Electronics, Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., IBC Robotics, Ecovacs Robotics, Inc., Neato Robotics, Inc., iRobot Corporation, Cyberdyne, Inc., Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co., KG, Bobsweep, and Miele. Companies are investing in R&D to develop technologically-advanced solutions to provide enhanced services to customers. For instance, in November 2017, Ecovacs Robotics launched new models that autonomously mop and vacuum the floor in one go. Increasing competition among key players to introduce new robots is expected to fuel the industry growth.About Global Market InsightsGlobal 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:Blog: United States Surgical Catheters Market Report 2018, Forecast to 2025 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-sample/586335 https://marketreportscenter.com/reports/586335/united-states-surgical-catheters-market-report-2018 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-discount/586335 In this report, the United States Surgical Catheters 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 splits the United States market into seven regions:The WestSouthwestThe Middle AtlanticNew EnglandThe SouthThe Midwestwith sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Surgical Catheters in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast).Sample Copy of This Report:United States Surgical Catheters market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Surgical Catheters sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingTeleflexBDB.BraunSmiths MedicalCook MedicalTerumoSmith & NephewMedtronicJohnson & JohnsonEdwards LifesciencesSt Jude MedicalGE Healthcare3M HealthcareC.R. BardBard MedicalHollisterColoplastBoston ScientificOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCardiovascular CathetersUrology CathetersGastrointestinal CathetersNeurovascular CathetersOphthalmic CathetersOthersOn 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, includingPhysical Examination & DiagnosisDrug InjectionWaste Drain OutSurgical AssistantOtherFull report with Table of Content:Table of Content1 Surgical Catheters Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Surgical Catheters1.2 Classification of Surgical Catheters by Product Category1.2.1 United States Surgical Catheters Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 United States Surgical Catheters Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Cardiovascular Catheters1.2.4 Urology Catheters1.2.5 Gastrointestinal Catheters1.2.6 Neurovascular Catheters1.2.7 Ophthalmic Catheters1.2.8 Others1.3 United States Surgical Catheters Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 United States Surgical Catheters Market Size (Consumption) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Physical Examination & Diagnosis1.3.3 Drug Injection1.3.4 Waste Drain Out1.3.5 Surgical Assistant1.3.6 Other1.4 United States Surgical Catheters Market by Region1.4.1 United States Surgical Catheters Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 The West Surgical Catheters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Southwest Surgical Catheters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 The Middle Atlantic Surgical Catheters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 New England Surgical Catheters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 The South Surgical Catheters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 The Midwest Surgical Catheters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 United States Market Size (Value and Volume) of Surgical Catheters (2013-2025)1.5.1 United States Surgical Catheters Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 United States Surgical Catheters Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 United States Surgical Catheters Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1 United States Surgical Catheters Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 United States Surgical Catheters Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.3 United States Surgical Catheters Average Price by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.4 United States Surgical Catheters Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 United States Surgical Catheters Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 United States Surgical Catheters Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Players/Suppliers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion in United States Market2.5 United States Players/Suppliers Surgical Catheters Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product TypeRequest Discount:About us: Market Reports Center is an e-commerce platform obliging the needs of knowledge workers, experts, professionals who are subject to market research information for their work, or to make strategic business decisions. We are dedicated to create a comprehensive offering of market research which is accurate, credible and affordable.Market Reports Center currently has more than 500000 plus titles and 50+ Publishers on our platform and growing consistently. We cover more than 35 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Construction, Agriculture, Food, Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Connect for more details:House 421,Hudson Street ,New York,NY 10014,USA Latin America Wind Turbine Market Opportunities and Forecast Assessment, 2014 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-la-141 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-la-141 www.futuremarketinsights.com Wind energy is the power extracted from wind using wind turbines. A wind turbine is a device that transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. Wind energy is a renewable form of energy that is available in ample quantity and extensively. It is an alternative to fossil fuels which are depleting in quantity. Wind energy is the cleanest resource; it has neither toxic gas emissions nor greenhouse gas emissions. Wind turbines are connected to the network of electricity transmission. The onshore and offshore wind that is trapped is an inexpensive, competitive and significant source of energy. Wind energy contributed to 4% of the total global electricity usage in 2013.The application of wind turbines is primarily in wind mills that are used to generate electricity. These wind turbines in wind mills can be used to avail off-grid electricity in the remote regions. It has been known to empower rural electrification initiatives. Three fourths of the small wind turbines are present in the remote regions of the world and are the only sources of energy. For instance, wind power systems are fuelling the telecommunication towers in the secluded places between Argentina and Chile. Another application of wind turbines is associated with the hybrids of wind and solar power generation devices. Wind and solar sources complement each other in changing climatic conditions. Wind turbines have vital applications in off-grid, low-power systems in which the storage of batteries is avoided.Wind turbines also have application in cathodic protection pipes in which its electric charge neutralizes the galvanic corrosion of pipes laid in reactive soils. Wind turbines are used to charge electric fences, yacht and boat batteries efficiently. Wind turbines have been used to pump water for decades, and they remain a significant application in both developed and developing economies. The end use industries of wind turbines can be broadly classified into industrial, commercial and residential. The industrial use can be further divided into power generation, agriculture, industrial automation, engineering and telecommunication. Despite being commercially niche market at present, wind turbines are expected to expand due to increasing government subsidies and incentive programmes on the use of wind energy.Request For Report Sample:The global wind industry produced about 37,000 MW in 2013. Latin America, in particular, has provided the industry with an essential substitute growth market for wind power. In 2013, Latin America alone representedapproximately 45% of the installed capacity of North and South America combined. It was largely driven by the wind markets of Brazil and Mexico which can be regarded as the dual pillars of the Latin American market. The average price of wind energy contracts in Brazil is US$ 50/MWh and gives wind energy an edge over conventional fossil fuels there. This is a major driver for the wind turbine market in Brazil. The wind power in Mexico provides power to over 65,000 households and exports it to US. Food and beverage company, Nestle, had invested US$ 60.7 million in wind energy in Mexico, and employed wind energy for its 85% electricity requirement. The cumulative wind capacity in Mexico reached 1988 MW by the end of 2013 indicating a 31.4% growth rate. The installed capacity in 2013 was 76 MW in Argentina, 200 MW in Chile, 30 MW in Peru, 11 MW in Uruguay, and149 MW in Venezuela.Strong wind resources, and rising electricity prices and energy demand are driving the demand for renewable energy higher. The Latin American industrial policies are effective as they have tailored depreciation tax policies which enable industries to actively partner with wind energy generators for their energy usage. Also, wind plants do not need to be in the vicinity of the end user and just need a connection to the Latin American power grids. Feed-in electricity tariffs have been introduced to motivate the use of renewable energy such as wind energy, solar energy, hydropower, thermal energy and biomass energy. This encourages investment in renewable energy as the government makes provisions for higher retail rates for electricity for the producers of new energy technologies.Request For Table Of Content @Consistently declining monopoly in the Latin American electricity sector had paved way for wind turbine manufacturers. The current wind turbine market is competitive. Gamesa is the leading turbine supplier in Mexico and holds 73.5% of the market. It is followed by Vestas with 22% of the market contribution. GE is also a major turbine manufacturer with 4.5% market share in Mexico. Besides, the collapse of the Spain-based OEMs (Other Equipment Manufacturers) wind market has compelled companies to expand their business in Latin America.By 2015, Latin America is expected to have 3 GW of installed wind capacity annually, surging up to 4.3 GW by 2022. The manufacturers have to meet certain mandates on wind turbine components and their materials. It is a challenge for most OEMs to deliver high quality wind turbines while still ensuring an economical Latin American wind market.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market InsightsValley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Upcoming Market Forecast Study to Assess the Expansion of High Temperature Ceramics Market Over 2014 2020 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-179 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-179 www.futuremarketinsights.com Ceramics are covalent compounds containing metal and non-metal atoms primarily held in covalent and ionic bonds. Generally, ceramics are made by taking mixtures of earth elements, powders, water and clay. This mixture is shaped into the desired form and is then fired in a high temperature oven. Ceramics are then painted with glazes which are waterproof and decorative. At elevated temperature, ceramics have high hardness, high melting points, excellent chemical corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties.Some ceramics are good dielectrics or insulators, whereas others are good electrical or thermal conductors. Ceramics are widely used in our daily life. Glass, plates, bricks, tiles and sanitary ware are some examples of the ceramics we see every day. Ceramics can also be found in products like automobiles (sparkplug), phone lines and watches. They are even used in space shuttles and aircrafts. Ceramics can be broadly classified into two categories: traditional and advanced. Traditional ceramics include clay products such as cement and glass, whereas advanced ceramics consist of pure oxides, nitrides, carbides and many others.Advanced ceramics are widely used in industrial applications where the operating temperature is generally high or which require hard substances that can withstand great pressure. Ceramics offer various advantages compared to other materials. Ceramics are more corrosion and heat resistant than polymers or metals, stiffer and harder than steel, and have a lower density than most alloys and metals. Raw material for advance ceramics materials are plentiful, inexpensive and display wide range of properties. For automotive applications, they are used in various applications like airbag sensors, spark plugs, valves, vibration sensors, pressure sensors, oxygen sensors, thermistors, catalytic converters, ceramic rotors, ceramic filters piston rings and safety glass windshields.The different types of high temperature ceramics include ceramic matrix composites and ultrahigh temperature ceramic coatings. Advanced high temperature materials are key components in the emerging material technologies, which are giving impetus to many industries. The global high temperature ceramics market is driven by several factors like replacement of materials for the sake of creating cost effective solutions, the growing demand for energy conservation across various industries, and government regulations to reduce greenhouse emissions.A sample of this report is available upon request @The global high temperature ceramics market is led by AsiaPacific (APAC) which accounts for over 40-45% of the total consumption by volume. The cost of high temperature ceramics in APAC is lesser than that in Europe, North America or Latin America. In terms of revenue, North America is the largest market followed by APAC and Europe. The cost of high temperature ceramics is expected to remain low for the next few years in the APAC region. Due to government regulations and incentives offered for sustainability and energy conservation, North America and Europe are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for the high temperature ceramics market.On the basis of industry applications, the global high temperature ceramics market is segmented into automotive, aerospace, chemical processing, metallurgical, power generation and others. Some of the most common applications of high temperature ceramics are afterburners, boilers, castings, exhaust stacks, flanges, furnaces, headers, incinerators, manifolds, molds and dies, ovens, heat exchangers, pumps, blowers, pipingand ducting. In the aerospace industry, high temperature ceramics are used in cutting edge applications, which require structural and chemical stability at extremely high operating temperatures.On the basis of composition, the high temperature ceramics are segmented into oxides (alumina, zirconia), non-oxides (carbides, nitrides) and composites (combination of oxides and non-oxides). There are many global and regional players operating in the high temperature ceramics market especially in APAC. Some of the key participants are Morgan Thermal Ceramics, ZIRCAR Ceramics, Inc., Skamol A/S, Promat International, IBIDEN Company Ltd., Rath Incorporated, General Insulation Europe Ltd., Unifrax Corporation, and Shandong Luyang Share Co. Ltd.Request For Table Of Content @In future, the understanding and controlling behavior of the microstructures and properties of high temperature ceramics are expected to be key elements in research activities. This research will further increase the operating temperature limits of existing high temperature ceramics. 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 usinga suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.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: United States Irreversible Electroporation Ablators Industry Trend Analysis Market Report 2018 United States Irreversible Electroporation Ablators Industry Trend Analysis Market Report 2018 http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1571644.html http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ or http://www.qyresearch.com/ The United States Irreversible Electroporation Ablators Market Report 2018 is in-depth study of overall Irreversible Electroporation Ablators market including introduction of product, definition, scope, Irreversible Electroporation Ablators global sale, and forecast up to 2025.The Irreversible Electroporation Ablators 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 Irreversible Electroporation Ablators Industry. These past experience and factors assist to build the strategy and future planning of Irreversible Electroporation Ablators Market and hold a place in the competitive world.This report is the extensive analysis of the Irreversible Electroporation Ablators 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 Irreversible Electroporation Ablators market report offers a forecast of revenue, CAGR, and cumulative revenue. The gathered information about Irreversible Electroporation Ablators global business is represented in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs.The Irreversible Electroporation Ablators industry Market report offers the competitive scenario in the Irreversible Electroporation Ablators industry based on the type of product, applications, and the companies that are present in the Irreversible Electroporation Ablators market, and covers the company profiles, their development policies, lined up products and recent launched along with the SWOT analysis of companies.To get a complete report sample from this link:Geographically, this report splits the United States market into seven regions:The WestSouthwestThe Middle AtlanticNew EnglandThe SouthThe Midwestwith sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Irreversible Electroporation Ablators in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast).United States Irreversible Electroporation Ablators market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Irreversible Electroporation Ablators sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingMedtronicHansenBiosense WebsterJude MedicalBoston Scientific CorporationCONMED CorporationAngioDynamicsAtriCureSmith & NephewOlympus CorporationGalil MedicalCONMED CorporationSiemens HealthcareOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoUnipolarMultipoleOn 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, includingSurgeryPain ManagementOthersThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Irreversible Electroporation Ablators 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 Irreversible Electroporation Ablators 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 Irreversible Electroporation Ablators 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 Irreversible Electroporation Ablators with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Irreversible Electroporation Ablators 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, Irreversible Electroporation Ablators cost specifications, production capacity, distributors list, Irreversible Electroporation Ablators marketing channel, and detail analysis of the export/import of the product. The Irreversible Electroporation Ablators research document also offers raw material suppliers, cost, and downstream consumer list.All features mentioned above is included in the Irreversible Electroporation Ablators Market Report 2018 which can offer solution to the difficulties to the prominent members of the Irreversible Electroporation Ablators market.Additionally, the important terminologies, government policies, and regulations related to Irreversible Electroporation Ablators 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 Radioimmunotherapy Market, Dosage, Price and Clinical Pipeline Outlook 2022 Report https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-global-radioimmunotherapy-market,-dosage,-price-and-clinical-pipeline-outlook-2022.php Global Radioimmunotherapy Market, Dosage, Price and Clinical Pipeline Outlook 2022 Report Highlights:* Need and Efficacy of Radioimmunotherapy* Components of Radioimuunotherapy* Clinical Status of Radioimmunotherapy in Various Cancer Therapy* Emerging Opportunities in the Radioimmunotherapy Segment* Patent, Dosage and Price Analysis* Antibodies in Radioimmunotherapy* Global Radioimmunotherapy Clinical Pipeline: 68 Drugs* Clinical Pipeline analysis by PhaseDownload Report Sample Weblink:For Report Sample Contact: neeraj@kuickresearch.comTable of Contents1. Cancer Radioimmunotherapy - Amalgamation Therapy for Elevated Efficacy1.1 Prologue to Cancer Radioimmunotherapy1.2 History and Evolution of Cancer Radioimmunotherapy2. Radioimmunotherapy - An insight into its Need and Efficacy2.1 High Unmet Medical Needs and Failure of Conventional Cancer Therapeutics2.2 Targeted Therapy for Higher Efficacy2.3 Superiority of Radioimmunotherapy over Other Cancer Therapeutics3. Features of Radioimmunotherapy3.1 Approved Benefits Associated with Radioimmunotherapy3.2 Radioimmunotherapy using Monoclonal Antibodies4. Components of Radioimmunotherapy4.1 Tumor Antigens - Potential Targets for Monoclonal Antibodies4.2 Radionuclides4.3 Antibodies - Key Components in Radioimmunotherapy5. Radioimmunotherapy - Principle and Action6. Clinical Status of Radioimmunotherapy in Various Cancer Therapy6.1 Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)6.2 Follicular Lymphoma6.3 Solid Tumors6.4 Breast Cancer6.5 Ovarian Cancer6.6 Osteosarcoma6.7 Neuroblastoma6.8 Prostate Cancer7. Emerging Opportunities and Avenues in the Radioimmunotherapy Segment7.1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Radioactive Iodine in Cancer Radioimmunotherapy7.2 Nanotechnologically Created Radiotracer: For Efficient Delivery of Radioactivity in Tumor Cells8. Radioimmunotherapy Market - Dosage and Price Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies involved8.1 Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) and Rituxanandndash; Dosage and Price Analysis in Follicular B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma8.2 Zevalin and Rituxan: Therapy Cost Analysis8.3 Comparative Cost Analysis of Radioimmunotherapy with Traditional Cancer therapy Methods8.4 Tositumomab and iodine I 131 Tositumomab (Bexxar)9. Market Performance and Trends in Radioimmunotherapeutics Segment9.1 Better Safety and Efficacy but Limited Growth Opportunity9.2 Decreasing Sales of Zevalin Threatening the Radioimmunotherapy Market9.3 Involvement of Blockbuster Therapeutics in Radioimmunotherapy to Ensure Stability in the Future9.4 Emerging Pattern of Radioimmunotherapy Drug Referrals10. Radioimmunotherapy Monoclonal Antibodies Currently Under Development and Their Market Potential10.1 Epratuzumab10.2 Lintuzumab10.3 Labetuzumab10.4 Trastuzumab (Herceptin)11. Antibodies in Radioimmunotherapy - Patent Analysis12. Regional Analysis of the Radioimmunotherapy Market12.1 North America12.1.1 United States (US)12.1.2 Canada12.2 Europe12.2.1 Germany12.2.2 France12.2.3 United Kingdom (UK)12.2.4 Rest of Europe12.3 Asia - Pacific12.3.1 China and India12.3.2 Japan12.3.3 Australia12.4 Rest of the World13. Global Radioimmunotherapy Market Driving Parameters14. Radioimmunotherapy - Overcoming the Challenges and Shortcomings15. Future Forecast and Perspective Regarding the Immunotherapy Segment15.1 Global Approval of Radioimmunotherapy to Enhance Market Growth in Future15.2 Radiopharmaceutical Market and its Impact on the Radioimmunotherapy market growth15.3 Other Market Propelling Factors16. Global Radioimmunotherapy Clinical Pipeline by Company, Indication and Phase16.1 Global Radiopharmaceuticals Pipeline Overview16.2 Unknown16.3 Research16.4 Preclinical16.5 Clinical16.6 Phase-016.7 Phase-I16.8 Phase-I/II16.9 Phase-II16.10 Phase-III16.11 Preregistration16.12 Registered17. Competitive Landscape17.1 Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals17.2 BioSynthema17.3 Clarity Pharmaceuticals17.4 Curasight17.5 Endocyte17.6 Immunomedics17.7 Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals17.8 Nordic Nanovector17.9 PDL Biopharma17.10 Philogen17.11 RadioMedix17.12 Stella Pharma17.13 Telix PharmaceuticalsFigure 1-1: Evolution of Radiopharmaceuticals and RadioimmunotherapyFigure 2-1: Need for RadioimmunotherapyFigure 4-1: Components or RadioimmunotherapyFigure 4-2: Monoclonal Antibodies - Vital Target Sites in ImmunotherapyFigure 4-3: Antigen Target and Their Therapy Antibodies in RadioimmunotherapyFigure 4-4: Development of a RadionuclideFigure 4-5: Half Life of Various Radioimmunotherapy NuclidesFigure 4-6: Tissue Penetration of Key Radionuclides Used in Immunotherapy (mm)Figure 4-7: Monoclonal Antibody in RadioimmunotherapyFigure 5-1: Fundamental Working Mechanism of RadioimmunotherapyFigure 6-1: Global - Non Hodgkin Lymphoma Incidence and Mortality by Numbers, 2018Figure 6-2: Clinical Efficacy- Rituximab v/s Zevalin Standalone Therapy (%)Figure 6-3: Global - Ovarian Cancer Incidence (per 100,000 Females), 2018Figure 7-1: Humanized Antibodies - High Efficacy due to decreased ImmunogenecityFigure 8-1: Zevalin - Overview of Dosage ScheduleFigure 8-2: Zevalin- Dosage (milliCurie/kg)Figure 8-3: Zevalin - Cost Analysis (US$/ml), 2018Figure 8-4: Rituxan - Dosage (mg/m2)Figure 8-5: Rituxan - Cost Analysis (US$/ml), 2018Figure 8-6: Dosage - Median Radiation Dosimetry(Y-90 Zevalin cGy /mCi)Figure 8-7: Zevalin and Rituxan: Average Therapy Cost Analysis (US$), 2018Figure 8-8: Comparative Cost Analysis: Radioimmunotherapy v/s Traditional Cancer TherapeuticsFigure 8-9: Overview - Ositumab Dosing Schedule in Non-Hodgkin LymphomaFigure 8-10: Tositumab and I 131 Tositumab- Dosage (mg/Session)Figure 8-11: Radiation dosimetry in Bexaar TherapyFigure 9-1: Global - Zevalin Sales by Year (US$ Million), 2013-2016Figure 9-2: Global - Rituxan Market Size (%), 2018Figure 9-3: Global- Rituxan Sales (US$ Billion), 2015 and 2016Figure 9-4: Global - Tositumomab Referral Trend Analysis by Practice (%), 2018Figure 11-1: Patent Status - Monoclonal Antibody in Radioimmunotherapy, 2018Figure 12-1: Canada - Comparative Price Analysis, RIT v/s Non-RIT treatment Modality (US$), 2018Figure 13-1: Driving Factors of the Radioimmunotherapy SegmentFigure 14-1: Challenging Aspects of the Radioimmunotherapy MarketFigure 15-1: Zevalin - Sales Future Forecast (US$ Million), 2016-2022Figure 15-2:Rituxan - Future Sales Forecast (US$ Billion), 2016-2022Figure 15-3: Probability of Radioimmunotherapy Market Growth (%), 2018Figure 15-4: Global - Radioimmunotherapy Market Size by End User (%), 2018Figure 16-1: Global - Radiopharmaceuticals Clinical Pipeline by Phase (%), 2018 till 2022Figure 16-2: Global - Radiopharmaceuticals Clinical Pipeline by Phase (Number), 2018 till 2022Kuick Research is a market research and analytics company that provides targeted information for critical decisions at business, product and service levels. We are quick, predictive and known by the recommendations we have made in the past. Our result-oriented research methodology offers understanding of multiple issues in a short period of time and gives us the capability to keep you full with loads of practical ideas. By translating research answers into strategic insight and direction, we not only rate the success potential of your products and/or services, but also help you identify the opportunities for growth in new demographies and find ways to beat competition.Neeraj Chawlaneeraj@kuickresearch.comKuicK ResearchL29 - L34, First FloorBlock L,Connaught PlaceNew Delhi-110001+91-11-47067990 Global Geocells Market to Grow at a CAGR of 8.8% between 2015 and 2025: Future Market Insights https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-372 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-372 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI), in its recent report titled, Geocells Market: Global Industry Assessment and Forecast; 20152025, projected global geocells market to exhibit CAGR of 8.8% during 2015 to 2025. Consumption of geocells is projected to reach 428.2 million square meter by 2025 reflecting a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. Geocells, also known as cellular confinement systems, are three dimensional mats resembling honeycomb structure usually made of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or other polymeric alloys. These are used in construction sector primarily for earth reinforcement, slope protection, channel protection, load support and tree root protection. Geocells are subset of geosynthetics market and are estimated to represent around 5.6% share in terms of volume consumption in overall geosynthetics market.The report analyses the global geocells market in terms of market value (US$ Mn) and volume (Million Square Meter) by applications, region, and material type and provides information regarding market dynamics, value chain, competitive landscape, current trends, market estimations and forecast.Infrastructure development activities, construction sector output and urbanisation trend are some of the macro-economic drivers of the market.Developed economies have formulated regulations concerning erosion control and sustainable infrastructure development. Such regulations and initiatives are identified as underlying driving factors of the market. On the flipside, low awareness of geocells amongst infrastructure developers in emerging economies and competition from substitute products, such as geogrids and geomembranes are identified as minor restraints in the global geocells market.A sample of this report is available upon request @From regional perspective, North America and Asia Pacific represented prominent markets for geocells globally in 2014. In terms of market value, geocells market in developing countries is collectively projected to grow at CAGR of 10.2% while geocells market in developed countries is collectively projected to grow at CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific region is expected to be the largest geocells market in terms of value by 2025, followed by North America, Western Europe, and other regions.From materials perspective, high density polyethylene (HDPE) is extensively used across the globe for geocells manufacturing followed by polypropylene, polyester and other polymeric alloys. HDPE commanded around 68.6% share by value in 2014 and is projected to remain the largest market segment by 2025 with a share of around 64%. Prices for these materials are anticipated to increase over the forecast period owing to increasing energy costs, crude oil prices and complex manufacturing processes. From application perspective, earth reinforcement, channel protection and slope protection are the prominent applications of geocells which constituted around 86% of market value in 2014 and are collectively projected to exhibit value CAGR of 8.8% over the forecast period. Other applications including load support and tree root protection are collectively projected to exhibit a value CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period.Request For Table Of Content @Key market participants covered in the report, include Presto Geosystems, Polymer Group Inc., TMP Geosynthetics, Armtec Infrastructure Inc., Strata Systems Inc., PRS Mediterranean Ltd., Maccaferri S.p.A, ACE Geosynthetics, MiakomGroup of Companies, Wall Tag Pte Ltd., Tensar International Ltd., Tencate Geosynthetics, Admir Technologies, Polyfabrics Australia Pty Ltd., Bonar, ABG Geosynthetics, Huifeng Geosynthetics, SABK International, Wrekin Products, Ltd., CeTeau Group.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: CCTV Market 2016-2020 by Global Leaders: Flir Systems, Tyco Security Products, AssaAbloy, Dahua Technology, Safran Security, Hikvision Digital Technology, Honeywell Security, Bosch Security System https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/677 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cctv-market-677 Market Research Future published a research report on Global CCTV Market Research Report - Forecast to 2020 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2020.Global CCTV Market Overview:Global CCTV Market is in its happier days and experiencing substantial growth across the globe for the past few years owing to the rising concerns of security and safety. This eventually, has resulted into an increased demand for technically advanced surveillance system and creating a huge growth opportunities for CCTV Market players.The Segment Analog CCTV camera dominated the global CCTV Market in the past owing to emerging network IP as the leading technology. The threat of terrorism and an increase in crime rate have also fueled the evolution of video analytics.CCTV systems are being widely utilized in the transportation sector to manage traffic flow and enhance highways safety, and they continue to play a significant role in retail sector for valuable management information. On observing the latest trends in the global CCTV market, its found that cloud-based video surveillance is the next generation of video surveillance.Get Sample of Report @Global CCTV Market Market Synopsis & ScenarioThe global CCTV market valued around $19 billion in 2015. The Market has grown substantially in the year 2016 and is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 20%. There is a swift rise in the demand of CCTVs across the globe due to growing focus of governments towards public safety and city surveillance. Global CCTV market is switching from unorganized sector to organized which is another factor fueling the growth of the market. Looking at the demand and potential of CCTV market, various venturing capitalist firms are also investing in this market and aiding companies to develop new and advanced products. This is another major reason for the high growth of this market. However, low awareness of people in the developing countries regarding advanced CCTV products can hinder the market growth up to some extent.Video Content Analysis (VCA) is one of the major trends observed in this industry. There is a clear trend to embed intelligence in the CCTVs for automatically analyzing video to detect and determine temporal and spatial events. Another major trend followed in the industry includes growing preference towards fixed dome camera from box cameras. Fixed dome cameras are easy to install and aesthetically pleasing. The industry is witnessing various other trends as well, which are discussed in report in detailed manner.Global CCTV Market SegmentsGlobal CCTV market is segmented on the basis of types of CCTVs. Analogue, HD analogue, and internet protocol cameras are the major types of CCTVs. The IP cameras market is further sub divided into wired IP cameras, and wireless IP cameras. The IP camera market is poised to witness the highest CAGR in the CCTV market by type due to technological advancements.On the basis of technology, the CCTV market is divided into CMOS and CCD technology. The demand for CMOS technology is poised to increase in coming years due to its user friendliness. The CCTV market is again subdivided on the basis end users into educational centers, hospitals, hotels, real estates, religious places, government, retail, IT sector, and transport sector. Amongst all the above mentioned end users, government is the largest end user for CCTVs. The large share is attributed to wide usage of CCTVs in government offices and roads.The market is further divided according to the channel structure into distribution channel and retail channel. The distribution channel accounted for the largest share in the global CCTV market. However, the retail market will witness a high growth.Key Players:The prominent players in this market include Hikvision Digital Technology, Honeywell Security, Bosch Security System, Safran Security, Dahua Technology, AssaAbloy, Tyco Security Products, Flir Systems, Samsung, and Axis Communications amongst others.Get Complete Report @Global CCTV Market Regional AnalysisBased on region, North America is the largest market for CCTV followed by Europe and Asia. The Asian market especially India and China are focus for the growth the global CCTV market. Improving infrastructure, government initiatives, and high economic growth in this region has triggered the growth of this market.About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market: Future Demand, Market Analysis & Outlook to 2023 Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market Players https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1010157-global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-vanadium-redox-battery-vrb-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1010157-global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-vanadium-redox-battery-vrb-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1010157-global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-vanadium-redox-battery-vrb-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1010157 https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+Htfmarketreportinsights https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport HTF MI broadcasted a new title Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 with 107 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 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Rongke Power, UniEnergy Technologies, redT Energy, Vionx Energy, Big Pawer, Australian Vanadium & Golden Energy Fuel Cell. The research study provides forecasts for Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) investments till 2022.Get Access to sample pages @The vanadium redox battery (VRB) (or Vanadium flow battery) is a type of rechargeable flow battery that employs vanadium ions in different oxidation states to store chemical potential energy. The vanadium redox battery exploits the ability of vanadium to exist in solution in four different oxidation states, and uses this property to make a battery that has just one electro active element instead of two. For several reasons, including their relatively bulky size, most vanadium batteries are currently used for grid energy storage, such as being attached to power plants or electrical grids.Product Analysis:This Report provides a detailed study of given products. The report also provides comprehensive analysis of Key Trends & advance technologies. The Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Carbon Paper Electrode & Graphite Felt ElectrodeApplication Analysis:This report provides an advance approach to the market growth with a detailed analysis of the overall competitive scenario of the Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) market. The market is segmented by Application such as Large-Scale Energy Storage, Uninterruptible Power Supply & Others 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 Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) 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 (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market : Market Share of players that includes Sumitomo Electric Industries, Rongke Power, UniEnergy Technologies, redT Energy, Vionx Energy, Big Pawer, Australian Vanadium & Golden Energy Fuel Cell to better understand how deeply they have penetrated the market. Conceptual analysis of the Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) 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 (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market 2018 Forecast to 2023What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Market?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) market? Get in-depth details about factors influencing the market shares of the North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.) & Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)?Enquire for customization in Report @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB), 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 and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.) & Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa), Segment Market Analysis (by Type) [Carbon Paper Electrode & Graphite Felt Electrode];Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Change Management Software Segment Market Analysis (by Application [Large-Scale Energy Storage, Uninterruptible Power Supply & Others]) Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Carbon Paper Electrode & Graphite Felt Electrode], Market Trend by Application [Large-Scale Energy Storage, Uninterruptible Power Supply & Others];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) by region, type and application;Chapter 12, to describe Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) 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.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.comConnect with us at [May 04, 2018] N. L. Dalmia Centre for Excellence Partners With Virginia Tech, USA, to Bring out the Best in Business Analytics MUMBAI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight." Carly Fiorina, Former CEO of HP. The world will create 180 zettabytes of data by 2025, up from less than 10 zettabytes in 2015. The analytics market is expected to surpass $200 billion. This momentous growth of data is ushering in a fourth industrial revolution - Digital Business Transformation. Whether it is determining credit risk, developing new medicines, finding more efficient ways to deliver products and services, preventing fraud, uncovering cyber threats or retaining the most valuable customers, analytics can help to understand the organization - and the world around it. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686963/Niranjanlal_Dalmia_Logo.jpg ) According to Gartner's list of the top strategic trends for 2018, Business Intelligence and analytics have appeared as top priority. Previously, it was always thought that Business analytics is something that happens hand-in-hand with the operational functions of a business. As an example, cars are manufactured in India, and are shipped all across the world to be sold to the most suitable customers. This entire cycle creates a lot of data from which crucial insights can be attained, which in turn help to better or refine the processes in the future and also to keep track of the various steps involved. The same cycle takes place even today, but what has changed now is the way one looks at the acquired data. This new way, is the digital way. This same global supply chain is accomplished today, using data-driven technology solutions, which are quicker, intelligent, and flexible to changes. Now, these data-driven technology decisions are taken on the go, using analytics. Analytics can help create personalized responses to the customers based on their needs. Machine learning when paired with business analytics means the processes can update itself. This side steps the whole sales-funnel concept that was so popular traditionally. However, just owning analytics tools is not enough. Extracting value from the analytics investment equires professionals and leaders who can read the stories behind the humungous amount of data available and convert this flat boring data into hard hitting and penetrating business strategies. The Analytics/ Data Science/ Big Data industry in India is currently estimated to be $2.03 Billion annually in revenues, growing at a healthy rate of 23.8% CAGR, making India one of the Top 10 countries in the world, based on revenue from analytics. Of the annual inflow to analytics industry - almost 12% can be attributed to Advanced Analytics/ Predictive Modelling and Data Science. The Analytics Industry in India is expected to almost double by 2020. India is basically known for being the base for the analytics export to countries like USA, UK and the whole of Europe. Companies like Mu Sigma, Fractal Analytics, Global Analytics, Manthan are making their presence felt across the globe and are providing state-of-the-art service in the business analytics space. These companies are always looking for business analytics professionals to fill the analytics role giving an exposure to Big Data Management, Data Visualization, Predictive Analytics, etc. For the last several years, it has been forecasted that the demand for business analytics professionals will far surpass the supply, but this has become a reality in the last four years. As businesses in India, with the world, move away from 'gut-feel' based decisions to data-driven-decisions, the scope for a career in Business Analytics, is the career most demanded for. Keeping these exact thoughts in mind, N. L. Dalmia Centre for Excellence, Mumbai has collaborated with the Virginia Tech, USA to bring the most holistic and contemporary certificate program to India. Tarun Sen, Professor Emeritus of accounting and information systems and Managing Director of the Virginia Tech, India, Postgraduate Program in Business Analytics, said, "Virginia Tech was one of the first universities to develop an integrated, multidisciplinary program in Business Analytics." "What's more, the fact that this is a certificate, not a degree, gives us greater flexibility in collaborating closely with industry. This is a highly applied program," he added. Raja Roy Choudhury, Director of the institute in Mumbai, also pointed that the way to advance in the business analytics domain is to transform oneself to become innovative thinkers and provide effective solutions that benefit the organisation. This Virginia Tech Post Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics positions the aspirant for this transformation and not just thinks for the business but also entrepreneurially. The program helps the aspirant to identify the utility in data so that one can affect customer experience, diagnose problems, impact the bottom line, acquire customers using sophisticated technologies like MySQL, R, Python, BI tools, Scrum, AWS, Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms, Deep Learning, Mongo DB, OWASP, NVIDIA Analytics, etc. This partnership between Virginia Tech, USA and N. L. Dalmia Centre for Excellence is envisioned to bring about the rift between the number of data driven managers, with the an ability to use analytics to make decisions. About N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research (NLDIMSR) were established in the year 1995 by the Late Shri Niranjanlalji Dalmia with a vision to become a World Class Management Institute. Currently, NLDIMSR ranks amongst the top B-schools of India and is one of the most preferred business schools in Mumbai. The institute offers a plethora of academic services including Full Time and Part Time Post-graduate management courses, Global MBA Programs and the latest one - Post Graduate Programs in Quantitative Science. Media Contact : Dr. Raja Roy Choudhury director@nldalmia.edu.in +91-9920888111 Director N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research . [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] Medical Billing Market 2018 Accenture, TCS, AGS Health, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Etc Key Players Analysis and Forecasts Till 2023 Medical Billing Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1023 The Global Medical Billing Market is growing with the sound pace. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the Global Medical Billing Market is booming and expected to gain prominence over the forecast period and is projected to grow a sound pace. The market is projected to demonstrate a sound growth by 2027, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a sound CAGR during the anticipated period (2017-2027). The global medical billing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during forecasted period 2017-2023.Medical sector is continuously evolving sector. New technologies like information technology are being continuously being exploited for the ease in workflow. All these provided favourable backgrounds for the market growth. Factors such as increasing healthcare expenditure, rising use of the internet, growing need for risk and compliance management followed by the increasing digitalization in healthcare industry, and others are driving the market growth. Moreover, increasing patient population due to various diseases fuels the global medical billing market. However, privacy concerns are the major factor which may hinder the growth of the market.Get PDF Sample Copy of Report @Global Medical Billing Market - Competitive AnalysisAccenture (US), TCS (India), AGS Health (India), Cognizant Technology Solutions (US), GeBBS Healthcare (US), Genpact (US), HCL Technologies (India), Medusind (India), and others are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Medical Billing Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.Characterized by the presence of several well-established and small players, the Global Medical Billing Market appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. International players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the developing economy, making it difficult for regional vendors to compete with them, especially in terms of features such as product differentiation, product portfolios, quality, and pricing.Well established players incorporate acquisition, collaboration, partnership, expansion, and product launch in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.In January, 2018 - Accenture entered into an agreement to acquire Germany-based Mackevision, a leading global producer of 3D-enabled and immersive product content. The acquisition will add state-of-the-art visualization capabilities to Accenture Interactive digital services portfolio strengthening its ability to create compelling, next-generation customer experiences and industrial, extended reality applications. However, financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.In September, 2017 - Genpact, a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation for clients, acquired TandemSeven, a Boston-headquartered company that delivers customer and digital experience innovation consulting using design thinking at its core.In July, 2016 - Cognizant acquired Idea Couture, a privately-held firm that offers a broad range of digital innovation, strategy, design and technology services. However, the terms of the transaction were not disclosed.In April, 2016 - HCL Technologies Limited signed an agreement to acquire all of the business of Geometric Limited, except for the 58% stake that Geometric owned in the joint venture- 3DPLM Software Solutions Ltd., with Dassault Systemes. In consideration of this acquisition, HCL issued 10 equity shares of Rs. 2 each to Geometric shareholders for every 43 equity shares of Geometric of Rs. 2 each held by them.Get Prime Discount on This Report @Global Medical Billing Market - SegmentationGlobal Medical Billing Market is segmented by its type, by applications and by process. On the basis of type, it is segmented into professional billing and institutional billing. On the basis of applications, it is segmented into database management, financial, infrastructure, operational. And on the basis of process, it is segmented into electronic billing, payment and medical billing services.Some Brief Table of Content of ReportChapter 1 Report PrologueChapter 2 Market Introduction2.1 Introduction2.2 Scope Of Study2.3 Research Objective2.4 Assumptions & Limitations2.4.1 Assumptions2.4.2 LimitationsChapter 3 Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary ResearchChapter 4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 RestraintsChapter 5 Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces ModelTOC ContinuedIf Specific requirement, Inquire @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureHadapsar, Pune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Insights of Smart Elevators and Escalators Market in Global Industry : Technology, Applications, Growth and Status 2018-2023 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1753283 https://www.researchmoz.us/smart-elevators-and-escalators-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2023-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/smart-elevators-and-escalators-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2023-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketinfo247.wordpress.com/ Albany, NY, 4th May : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Smart Elevators and Escalators Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2023" globally.Smart elevators and escalators are installed in mixed-used buildings, hotels, commercial buildings, IT parks, residential buildings, restaurants, and retail outlets among others.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Aging population is likely to be the key factor driving the smart elevator and escalator market during the forecast period. In addition, increasing geriatric population in countries such as Japan and China is expected to fuel demand for smart elevators and escalators. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a high rate which will affect the market positively during the forecast period 2017 2023. Factors such as the growth of the global urban population, aging population, changing demographics, and urbanization among others are likely to boost the growth of the market in the near future. Rapid urbanization in developing nations such as Middle East, India and China and migration of population from rural areas to urban areas is key factor fueling the demand for new installation of smart elevators and escalators market. One of the major factors driving the market is installation of smart elevators and escalators in mid-rise and high-rise buildings.Global Smart Elevators and Escalators Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThere has been an increase in construction activities in developing countries of Asia Pacific and RoW. The booming construction sector in countries such as China, India, Philippines and Indonesia is generating potential growth opportunities for the smart elevators and escalators market. In addition, industrial infrastructure in nations such as Indonesia, India and Brazil are witnessing major increase in demand for smart elevators and escalators in the last few years. This increase in demand is driven by large expenditure by public and private companies on airport development, housing, ports and rail transport. This, in turn, is likely to boost the growth of the smart elevators and escalators market during the forecast period.Ageing population in countries such as Japan, U.S., Mexico and China among others is the key factor driving the smart elevator and escalator market during the forecast period. In addition, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period of 2017 2023. Factors such as the growth of the global urban population and increasing number of population growth, aging population, changing demographics and urbanization among others are boosting the growth of the market in near future.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Global Smart Elevators and Escalators Market: SegmentationsBased on type, the global market has been segmented into elevator and escalators. The smart escalators and elevators market is dominated by the elevators segment. The elevators market is further sub divided into elevator capacity types 450 - 1,150 kg, 1,150kg-1,500kg, 1,500kg-2,000kg and others. The escalators market is further classified into moving walkway escalators and moving stairs. Smart elevator is mainly driven by the increasing number of super tall and high rise building that demand energy efficient, secure and faster vertical transportation systems.The global market by application is segmented into eight types: commercial, hotels, retail, residential, transportation, hospital, parking building and others. The smart escalators and elevators market is dominated by the transportation segment, followed by residential application. This increasing demand of smart escalators and elevators in the transportation segment is driven by large expenditure on airport development, ports and rail transport.Global Smart Elevators and Escalators Market: Key Research AspectsA comprehensive analysis of market dynamics that include the market drivers, restraints and opportunities is included under the purview of the study. Market dynamics are the distinct factors which exert an influence on the growth of a particular market and therefore help in studying the current trends of the global market. Thus, this report offers an inclusive study of the global smart elevators and escalators market, along with providing the forecast of the market for the period from 2017 to 2023.Global Smart Elevators and Escalators Market: Competitive LandscapeKey players profiled in this report include Cisco Systems, Inc (U.S.), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Otis Elevator Company (U.S.), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), Schindler Holding Ltd.(Switzerland), Hitachi Ltd.(Japan), Fujitec Co., Ltd. (Japan), ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany), Kone Corporation (Finland), Kleemann Hellas SA (Greece) among others.The segments covered in the Smart Elevator and Escalator market are as follows:Global Smart Elevator and Escalator Market: By TypeElevator450 kg - 1,150 kg1,150kg-1,500kg1,500kg-2,000kgEscalatorMoving Walkway EscalatorsMoving StairsGlobal Smart Elevator and Escalator Market: By Application TypeCommercialHotelsRetailResidentialTransportationHospitalParking BuildingGlobal Smart Elevator and Escalator Market: By GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeU.K.GermanyFranceItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificIndiaChinaJapanRest of Asia PacificBrowse Report @Rest of the World (RoW)Middle EastLatin AmericaAfricaResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on : Will Chloromethane Market Incur Robust Expansion During 2015 2025? https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-312 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-312 www.futuremarketinsights.com Chloromethane, which is also known as methyl chloride, is a group of organic compounds. It is a toxic, colorless chemical compound which has a mildly sweet odor and is highly flammable. Chloromethane is naturally produced by the effect of sunlight on biomass and chlorine present in sea foam. Commercially, chloromethane is manufactured by the chemical reaction between hydrogen chloride and methanol. Traditionally, chloromethane was widely used as a refrigerant. However, owing to its high toxicity levels, the use of this chemical has been banned in consumer products. Presently, it is used as a chemical intermediate to manufacture derivative products such as chloroform, methylene chloride and carbon tetrachloride. In addition, it is used in the manufacture of silicone.Request For Report Sample:Growth of the electronics and automotives market is expected to be one of the primary factors driving the silicones market which in turn is expected to augment the demand for chloromethane over the next few years. In addition, rapid industrialization is expected to fuel the demand for derivatives of chloromethane such as chloroform, methylene chloride and carbon tetrachloride. However, the high toxicity levels of this chemical is expected to hamper the growth of the market as there are stringent regulations present regarding the storage, handling, usage and wastage. Rising demand for chloromethane in BRICS is expected to open opportunities for the growth of the market in the near future.Asia Pacific was the largest market for chloromethane and the trend is expected to continue into the forecast period owing to rapid industrialization in this region. Growing demand for electronics and automotives are indirectly expected to augment the chloromethane market. In addition, developing economies of South America and Africa are expected to show significant growth in demand for this chemical over the next few years. Some of the key participants present in the global chloromethane market include AkzoNobel N.V., Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., Dow Chemical Company, Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd., Ineos, Solvay S.A., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Solvay and Tokuyama Corporation among others.Request For Table Of Content @Some of the key participants present in the global chloromethane market include AkzoNobel N.V., Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., Dow Chemical Company, Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd., Ineos, Solvay S.A., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Solvay and Tokuyama Corporation among others.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: Shares of Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Market in Global Industry : Technology, Applications, Growth and Status 2018-2024 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=139001 https://www.researchmoz.us/data-center-infrastructure-management-market-global-industry-size-market-share-trends-analysis-and-forecasts-2012-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/data-center-infrastructure-management-market-global-industry-size-market-share-trends-analysis-and-forecasts-2012-2018-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketinfo247.wordpress.com/ Albany, NY, 4th May : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2024" globally.The data center infrastructure management (DCIM) report provides an in-depth analysis of the global DCIM market for the 2017-2024 forecast period, wherein 2016 is the base year.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Data for 2011-2015 has been included for historical information. The analysis of the DCIM market presented in the report can be leveraged by market stakeholders to formulate business strategies.The objective of this study is to understand the factors aiding the growth of DCIM market. The study also intends to understand the competitive scenario in the DCIM market, since the current business landscape is fragmented with multiple solution providers.Global DCIM Market: Report HighlightsThe research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global DCIM market based on solution, component, industry vertical, and geography. The report provides valuable insights into vital market dynamics that have a bearing on the growth of this market. It discusses prevailing market trends, future growth opportunities, and competitive strategies that market stakeholders would be interested in. Also provided in the report is market share of key players in the DCIM market.The market study looks into vital indicators such as demand drivers, challenges, and opportunities that are anticipated to influence the growth of this market between 201 and 2024. Growth trends and technological advances are other aspects that have been analyzed to assess the growth of DCIM market in the upcoming years.The report answers some vital questions for a know-how of growth of the DCIM market over the 2017-2024 forecast timeframe. Analysis of key factors driving market growth, revenue share of an array of DCIM solutions, various trends impacting the market and key market opportunities, competitive strategies of key players operating in the market, and market share of key players offering DCIM solutions are some of the key highlights of this report.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Global DCIM Market: Research MethodologyThe report is a result of an extensive primary and secondary research phase. Top-down approach has been employed to estimate growth behavior of each segment. Bottom-up approach has been used to estimate market share and revenue estimates of key segments under different category. Economic upheavals, political disturbances, and climatic calamities that can have an impact on businesses across industry verticals have not been considered in the making of this report. Strategic alliances, collaborations, and partnerships between industry players have been duly considered in the making of the report. Trade dynamics such as import-export scenario and demand-supply gap across key geographical regions for DCIM have been thoroughly analyzed in the making of the report.Global DCIM Market: Competitive DashboardThe DCIM market report comprises a section dedicated to the competitive outlook. Key players operating in the DCIM market are identified and are profiled for their distinguishing business attributes. Technological advances, product portfolio, financial standing, and competitive outlook are some of the parameters key players are profiled in this report.Browse Report @Insights into key players indices of strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats over the forecast period is a highlight of the report. The report concludes with insights into key players winning strategies that new players can leverage to gauge market attractiveness.ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on : Machine Learning as a Service Market 2018 Global Leaders: Sift Science, Ersatz Labs, Yottamine Analytics, BigML, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, AT&T https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2505 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/machine-learning-as-a-service-market-2505 Market Research Future published a research report on Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) Market Research Report- Forecast 2022 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Market HighlightsIn this rapidly changing environment, need for understanding customer behavior is ever increasing. This is driving the machine learning as a service market. The increasing adoption of internet of things (IoT) and big data responsible to drive the Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) market.Observing the current trend and advancements in technologies the study indicates a sudden hike in Machine Learning as a Service (Mlaas) Market. The Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) market is driven by many factors such as adoption of cloud-based technologies, innovations in automation technologies and others. By adoption of machine learning as a service there is no need to download or install any software. The major challenge of machine learning as a service is lack of historical data, this would be one of the major restraining factor for machine learning as a service (MLaaS) market.The Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) Market is growing rapidly over 40% of CAGR and is expected to reach at USD ~4630 Billion by the end of forecast period.Get Sample of Report @Key PlayersThe prominent players in the machine learning as a service (MLaaS) Market are- Google (U.S.), BigML (U.S.), Microsoft (U.S.), IBM (U.S.), Amazon Web Services (U.S.), AT&T (U.S.), Fuzzy.ai (Canada), Yottamine Analytics (U.S.), Ersatz Labs, Inc. (U.S.), and Sift Science, Inc. (U.S.) among othersGlobal Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) Market - SegmentationThe Machine Learning as a Service Market can be segmented in to 6 key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding; Segmentation by Component: Comprises software tools, cloud based API, web based API Segmentation by Application: Comprises network analytics, predictive maintenance, augmented reality, marketing and advertising, risk analytics and others Segmentation by organization size: Comprises SME and large enterprises. Segmentation by deployment: Comprises on-cloud and on-premise Segmentation by end-user: Comprises BFSI, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, transportation, telecom and others. Segmentation by Regions: Comprises Geographical regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.Market Research Analysis:Regional analysis for Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) market is studied in different geographic regions as Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of world. It has been observed that North America region would account for larger share in Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) market. The study indicates that North America region has high technological developments and high adoption of internet of things (IoT) this has resulted in the growth of Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) market in North America region. The study reveals that Asia-Pacific region is expected to show a significant growth in Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) market by the forecast period. Asia-Pacific countries like China, India and Korea are investing in internet of things.Industry NewsJanuary, 2018 Google LLC, an American Multinational Technology Company launched a new service which aims at businesses by converting machine leaning as a practical tool. This service is called Cloud Auto ML which aims at enterprises lacking expertise in data science by providing machine learning or AI as service.December, 2017 Oracle Corporation, an American multinational computer technology corporation, is integrating machine learning across all of its services through the cloud platform. By offering through cloud it makes self-driving, repairing and securing which helps in saving operational costs. This will benefit Oracle by applying AI and machine learning through all of their services which will help customers by lowering cost, reducing risk and to help in making smarter decisions.Get complete Report @Intended Audience: Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) vendors Resellers and distributors Technology investors System Integrators Government Organizations Research/Consultancy firms Network solution providers Independent software vendors Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs)About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Growth of Microturbines Market in Global Industry : Trends and Application 2018-2025 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1735233 https://www.researchmoz.us/microturbines-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-20172025-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/microturbines-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-20172025-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketinfo247.wordpress.com/ Albany, NY, 4th May : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Microturbines Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017-2025" globally.Microturbines can be described as a small scale power generating equipment that produce electrical power by burning either gaseous or liquid fuels. The combustion of these fuels in the turbine produces high speed rotation of the turbine shaft, which then turns an electrical generator for producing electrical power.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Microturbines can work using an array of liquid and gaseous fuels including natural gas, biogas, sour gases, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and heating oil. Microturbines operate at high speeds and are mainly used for power generation or for CHP (combined heat and power) applications similar to gas turbines. They have low emission combustion systems, whose emission performance is comparable to that of larger gas turbines. Microturbines also have an uptime of around 99% with potential for reduced maintenance and are highly reliable and durable for generating continuous and high quality power.Aging power infrastructure and poor grid connectivity in several parts of the world are expected to increase demand for on-site power generation around the globe. This, in turn, is anticipated to increase demand for microturbinesglobally. Moreover, microturbine systems can be installed in a much easier way in comparison to complex conventional power plants and can produce low-cost energy from much cleaner sources. Microturbine installations also enjoy incentives from governments and regulatory authorities. However, microturbines suffer from low fuel-to-electric efficiency, which is a major restraint for the market.This report analyzes and forecasts the market for microturbines at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on revenue (US$ Mn) from 2017 to 2025, considering 2016 as the base year. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global microturbines market. It also covers impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for microturbines during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the microturbines market at the global and regional level.The report includes detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global microturbines market. Porters Five Forces model for the microturbines market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein power rating, application, and end-user are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Microturbines Market- SegmentationThe study provides a decisive view of the global microturbines market by segmenting it in terms of power rating, application, and end-user. In terms of power rating, the microturbines market can be classified into 12-50 KW, 51-250 KW, and above 250 KW. Based on application, the microturbines market can be divided into CHP and standby power applications. In terms of end-user, the market can be segmented into residential, commercial and industrial. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes current and forecast demand for microturbines in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.The report provides the actual market size of microturbines for 2016 and estimated market size for 2017, with forecast for the next eight years. The global market for microturbines has been provided in terms of revenue. Market revenue has been defined in US$ Thousand. Market numbers have been estimated based on power rating, application, and end-user of microturbines. Market size has been provided in terms of global, regional, and country level market.The report comprises profiles of major companies operating in the global microturbines market. Key players in the microturbines market are Capstone Turbine Corporation, Bowman, Ansaldo Energia, Flexenergy, Bladon Jets, Brayton Energy, ICR Turbine Engine Corporation (ICRTec), 247solar, TurboTech Precision Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Micro Turbines Technology BV, and Aurelia Turbines Oy. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.The global microturbines market has been segmented as follows:Microturbines Market, by Power Rating1250 KW51250 KWAbove 250 KWMicroturbines Market, by ApplicationCHP (Combined Heat & Power)Standby PowerMicroturbines Market, by End-userResidentialCommercialIndustrialMicroturbines Market: Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaAustraliaJapanASEANRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaBrowse Report @Middle East & Africa (MEA)GCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on : Cold Insulation Market Assessment and Forecast Report by FMI 2015 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-316 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-316 www.futuremarketinsights.com Cold insulation is a technology that is used to reduce energy leakages from infrastructure to improve energy efficiency. Cold insulation market is segmented based on material type used which includes fiber glass, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam and phenolic foam. Cold insulation is used in a wide range of applications such as HVAC systems, refrigeration, oil & gas, chemicals and others.Growing demand for cryogenic insulation equipments coupled with the rising demand for natural and industrial gases for oil & gas industry is expected to drive the cold insulation market over the next few years. Cryogenic operations require reduction in energy losses to maintain very low temperature. Increasing use of LPG, LNG and other cryogenic gases is driving cryogenic industry in both developed and developing countries. Furthermore, increased environmental awareness is expected to drive the market in developing countries. Environment regulatory agencies are compelling companies to improve existing infrastructure to reduce energy loss. Different energy related standards are in place for building energy efficient infrastructure. In addition, demand for refrigeration and air conditioning devices are expected to drive the market. Owing to rise in disposable income of consumer and warm climatic conditions in Asia-Pacific region, the demand for air conditioning and refrigeration devices is expected to witness tremendous growth. Additionally, rise in industrialization in emerging economies around the globe is expected to drive the cold insulation market.Owing to cheap labor and proximity to raw materials, bigger companies are investing in emerging economies of South Africa and Asia Pacific. However, huge investment cost, lack of quality control and cost of raw materials are expected to hamper the market growth. Quality control standards in developing countries are poor due to less government intervention and poor environmental awareness. Cost of developing new cold insulation materials with less environment impact is huge and only big companies having substantial turnovers can afford to research and develop innovative products. Development of innovative materials such as perlite and aerogel are expected to provide immense opportunities for the players in cold insulation market. Further, development of bio-based and renewable material based insulation materials is expected to be opportunities in the near future.Request For Report Sample:North America was the largest consumer of cold insulation market owing to use of advanced materials to improve energy efficiency of operations and to offer better process control. Large scale research & development activities are being carried out in North America to develop new materials which have minimal effect on environment. Asia Pacific followed North America in terms of consumption owing to industrialization in China. Due to huge investments in construction and manufacturing industry, China and other countries are expected to grow at higher pace. Energy efficiency laws are expected to be introduced in countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria that are expected to drive the market in rest of the world over the next few years. Further, increasing infrastructure spending in this region is driving the cold insulation market. Growth rate for Europe was low owing to submissive demand from residential and industrial infrastructure sectors. However, demand for cold insulation market is expected to increase with substantial growth rate over the next few years in Europe, owing to energy efficiency standards and improvement of existing infrastructural activities.Request For Table Of Content @Key players in this market include BASF SE, Bayer Material Science, Huntsman Corporation, Aspen Aerogels Inc., Armacell International Holding GMBH, Bradford Insulation Industries Ltd., Evonik Industries, The Dow Chemical Company, Fletcher Insulation Group, Kingspan Group PLC, Knauf Insulation, Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, Arabian Fiber Glass Insulation Company Ltd., Itw Insulation Systems among others.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: Market Size : Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certification Market Globally Grow at a CAGR of 24.33% by Revenue During the Period 2018-2021 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1476157 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-secure-sockets-layer-ssl-certification-market-2017-2021-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-secure-sockets-layer-ssl-certification-market-2017-2021-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketinfo247.wordpress.com/ Albany, NY, 4th May : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Global Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certification Market 2017-2021" globally.Secure socket layer (SSL) certification is used for setting up a secure connection between a web server and a web browser. This process of setting up a secure connection is known as SSL handshake.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @SSL handshake is a public key, and the private key is used to encrypt and decrypt the data. This helps in secure transmission of data between a web server and a web browser. An SSL certificate is provided by a certificate authority (CA). Its work is to authenticate and validate the organization providing a web server. After verification, this certificate is installed on the web server of the organization.Technavios analysts forecast the global secure sockets layer (SSL) certification market to grow at a CAGR of 24.33% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global secure sockets layer (SSL) certification market for 2017 -2021. The report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certification 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.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Key vendorsACTALISCertumComodoDigiCertEntrust DatacardGlobalSignGoDaddyIdenTrustLet's EncryptNetwork SolutionsSecom TrustStartComSymantecT-SystemsTrustwaveTWCAMarket driverIncreasing awareness of end-usersFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeUse of self-signed certificatesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendGrowing number of online transactionsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportBrowse 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?ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on : Cleaning Robot Market Is Anticipated To Raise US$ 8,441.3 Mn By 2025 with key Players- iRobot Corporation, Neato Robotics, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., LG Electronics The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000802 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/cleaning-robot-market A Recent Study Says That Cleaning Robot Market Will Make a Huge Impact in near Future in International Market!! Key Player include Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., LG Electronics, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Dyson Ltd., Ecovacs Robotics, Eufy and othersCleaning robot market is expected to grow US$ 8,441.3 Mn by 2025 from US$ 2,105.0 Mn in 2017. Floor cleaning robots are expected to continue its dominance. Currently, almost 92% of the cleaning robots are for floor cleaning. This type of robots are used in residential, commercial, as well as industrial applications, as it saves the time and doesnt need any human observation all the time. Earlier floor cleaning robots used to come with vacuum cleaning application, but with the advancements in technology, the floor cleaning robots are manufactured to perform vacuum cleaning, mopping, disinfection, UV cleaning, and others.FREE | Request Sample is Available atKey trend which will predominantly effect the market in coming year is is the integration of AI technology in the robots for communication with the user and further automation of the activities performed by the robots. With increasing urbanization and busier life of the people in urban areas, there remains very less time for the cleaning activities. With the increasing theft cases, depending on any labor for the cleaning purpose in the absence of the owner of the home might be a bit risky. Therefore, many of the people are shifting towards robots for the cleaning activities of their homes in their presence as well as absence and to ensure a proper cleaning of every corner of the house.Cleaning robot market by type is segmented into floor cleaning, lawn cleaning, pool cleaning, window cleaning and others. Different types of cleaning robots are used for different activities and accordingly have their use in one or more applications.The overall market size has been derived using both primary and secondary source. The research process begins with an exhaustive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. Also, primary interview were conducted with industry participants and commentators in order to validate data and analysis. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers and national sales managers, and external consultant such as valuation experts, research analysts and key opinion leaders specializing in the cleaning robots industry.Cleaning Robot Market Key Players1. Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co. KG2. Dyson Limited3. Ecovacs Robotics4. Intellibot Robotics5. iRobot Corporation6. LG Electronics Co. Ltd.7. Neato Robotics8. Panasonic Corporation9. Koninklijke Philips N.V.10. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.Complete Report is Available 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 Asset Management System Market 2018 Global Key Players- Stanley Black & Decker, Inc, Trimble Inc, Datalogic S.P.A, Topcon Corporation The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000930 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/asset-management-system-market Asset Management System Market Shares, Summary and Forecasts to 2025 newly adds in theinsightpartners.com database. This report covers leading key company profiles with information such as business overview, regional analysis, consumption, revenue and specification.Asset management is defined as any system that helps to monitor and maintain things of value to an entity or group. It is applied to both tangible asset such as buildings and intangible assets like human capital and financial asset. It is a process of developing, operating and maintaining assets lucratively.It helps to reduce inventory and stock management cost and utilizes existing tools through tracking and monitoring both in real time and non-real time are the major drivers which help in surging the growth of asset management system market whereas improper risk management act as a restraining factor for this market. RTLS solutions is expected to raise the bar in the coming years.Get sample of this Report @The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global asset management system market based on type, solution and industry. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall asset management system 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.The report aims to provide an overview of global asset management system market with detailed market segmentation by type, solution, industry and geography. The global asset management system 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.Segmentations Covered in the Asset Management System Market:Overview: Global Asset Management System Market By Type, By Industry, By Region, By SolutionGeographical Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), South America (SAM)Some of the leading players in Asset Management System Market:1. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.2. Trimble Inc.3. Datalogic S.P.A.4. Topcon Corporation5. Impinj, Inc.6. Zebra Technologies Corporation7. Ubisense Group Plc8. Sato Holdings Corporation9. Honeywell International Inc.10. TomTom International BV.Get Complete Report @About 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 Flexible Colored PU Foams Market Global Industry Analysis, size, share and Forecast 2015 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-368 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-368 www.futuremarketinsights.com Polyurethane foam is a diverse and large segment of global polyurethane market. Polyurethanes are said to be a part of our day to day life. Foams play a significant role in commercial and industrial sector ranging from automotive to refrigeration. Based on the variants foams available in the market and increasing area of applications for flexible colored PU foams, the market is expected to experience growth in the near future.Foams are differentiated as flexible and rigid foams. The properties that rigid foam posses are hardness, resilience, compression properties, abrasion resistance, whereas flexible polyurethane foam posses properties such as dry heat resistant, water resistant, oxygen, ozone resistant and remain flexible at low temperature. Few critical characteristics for the use of polyurethane foam in the industrial sector are chemical resistant, oil and grease resistant, flame resistant, noise reduction and fungus, mildew, mould resistant.The rigid polyurethane foams have outstanding thermal insulation properties, which makes its use as an insulator in commercial and domestic appliances such as hot water systems and refrigerators. The flexible polyurethane foam is extremely comfortable and finds wide range of applications in the furniture seating and automotive industry.The factors that drive the flexible colored PU foams market include the growing demand from the automobile and construction industry coupled with the rising demand from the interior and furniture sector. The demand for colored PU foams in the packaging sectors is expected to rise in the near future. Furniture and interiors are expected to be the largest consumers of flexible colored PU foams as it is used in luxury couches, chairs mattresses and carpets on a large scale. However, the volatile raw material prices are expected to pose a challenge to the growing flexible colored PU foams market. In addition, environmental regulations are expected to hinder the market growth owing to issues related to use of diisocynate in the production process.Request For Report Sample:Liquid resin blends and isocyanates are expected to contain hazardous components that may lead to health hazards. Isocyanates are said to be skin and respiratory sensitizers. In addition, amines, glycols and phosphate that exist in the spray polyurethane foam also may hamper the health of humans to some extent. Certain regulatory and health safety information is made available in the U.S. through organization such as Polyurethane Manufacturers Association (PMA) and Centre for the Polyurethane Industry (CPI). Others information sources are the raw material manufacturers and polyurethanes systems.The key segments included in the flexible colored PU foam industry include North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and Rest of the World (RoW). Due to high growth in the interior and furniture market, North America is expected to dominate the flexible colored PU foam market followed by Europe. Owing to the developments in the construction industry, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market for flexible colored PU foam market. Owing to the benefits such as CFC free, HCFC free and non-Ozone Depleting Potential foams (non-ODP), a rising demand for bio based PU foams from North Africa and the Middle East is expected to open more opportunities for the flexible PU foams market.Request For Table Of Content @The key market players in the flexible colored PU foam market include: BASF SE, Carpenter Company, Bayer Material Science AG, Huntsman Corporation, Recticel SA, INOAC Corporation, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, The Dow Chemical Company, Rogers Corporation Stepan Company and Era Polymers Pty Ltd among others. Era Polymers Pty Ltd is an Australian distributor which offers a full range of ozone friendly foams that are CFC and HCFC free.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: China Energy and Utilities Construction Market 2017By Identifying the Key Market Segments and Key players holding market share http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3148922-energy-and-utilities-construction-market-in-china-market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3148922-energy-and-utilities-construction-market-in-china-market Energy and Utilities Construction MarketSynopsis"Energy and Utilities Construction Market in China: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2022" contains historic and forecast market data for the energy and utilities 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 energy and utilities construction segments such as Energy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure.. 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 @SummaryEnergy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure.The Chinese energy and utilities 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 x.xx% over 2016. The market recorded a CAGR of x.xx% from 2013 through 2017."Energy and Utilities 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 energy and utilities 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 energy and utilities 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 Energy and utilities construction market covers the development of energy and telecommunications related projects, oil and gas projects including both upstream and downstream exploration, and utility projects such as water and sewage infrastructure. This market includes five categories: electricity and power, oil & gas, telecommunications, sewage infrastructure and water infrastructure..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 Energy and Utilities Construction Value: Market Analysis2.1 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value, 2013 - 20172.2 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value Forecast, 2018 - 20222.3 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value by Cost Type2.3.1 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2013 - 20172.3.2 Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value Forecast, by Cost Type, 2018 - 20223 Energy and Utilities 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 TypeList of TablesTable 1: Timetric- Energy and Utilities Construction Market DefinitionsTable 2: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value (US$ Million), 2013 - 2017Table 3: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2013 - 2017Table 4: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value (US$ Million), 2018 - 2022Table 5: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2018 - 2022List of FiguresFigure 1: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2013 - 2017Figure 2: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2018 - 2022Figure 3: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value by Cost Type (CNY Million), 2013 - 2017Figure 4: Chinese Overall Energy and Utilities Construction Output Value by Cost Type (CNY Million), 2018 - 2022Figure 5: Chinese Energy and Utilities 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 United States Heat Shrink Wire Label Industry Trend Analysis Market Report 2018 United States Heat Shrink Wire Label Industry Trend Analysis Market Report 2018 http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1571628.html http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ or http://www.qyresearch.com/ The United States Heat Shrink Wire Label Market Report 2018 is in-depth study of overall Heat Shrink Wire Label market including introduction of product, definition, scope, Heat Shrink Wire Label global sale, and forecast up to 2025.The Heat Shrink Wire Label 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 Heat Shrink Wire Label Industry. These past experience and factors assist to build the strategy and future planning of Heat Shrink Wire Label Market and hold a place in the competitive world.This report is the extensive analysis of the Heat Shrink Wire Label 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 Heat Shrink Wire Label market report offers a forecast of revenue, CAGR, and cumulative revenue. The gathered information about Heat Shrink Wire Label global business is represented in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs.The Heat Shrink Wire Label industry Market report offers the competitive scenario in the Heat Shrink Wire Label industry based on the type of product, applications, and the companies that are present in the Heat Shrink Wire Label market, and covers the company profiles, their development policies, lined up products and recent launched along with the SWOT analysis of companies.To get a complete report sample from this link:Geographically, this report splits the United States market into seven regions:The WestSouthwestThe Middle AtlanticNew EnglandThe SouthThe Midwestwith sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Heat Shrink Wire Label in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast).United States Heat Shrink Wire Label market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Heat Shrink Wire Label sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingHellermannTytonBrady3MPanduitTE ConnectivityPhoenix ContactLappLemBrotherSetonOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoWrite-On Wire LabelsPrintable Wire LabelsPre-Printed Wire LabelsOn 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, includingElectronicsIndustrialOtherThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Heat Shrink Wire Label 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 Heat Shrink Wire Label 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 Heat Shrink Wire Label 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 Heat Shrink Wire Label with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Heat Shrink Wire Label 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, Heat Shrink Wire Label cost specifications, production capacity, distributors list, Heat Shrink Wire Label marketing channel, and detail analysis of the export/import of the product. The Heat Shrink Wire Label research document also offers raw material suppliers, cost, and downstream consumer list.All features mentioned above is included in the Heat Shrink Wire Label Market Report 2018 which can offer solution to the difficulties to the prominent members of the Heat Shrink Wire Label market.Additionally, the important terminologies, government policies, and regulations related to Heat Shrink Wire Label 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 OpenStack Service Market Top Key Leaders: Canonical, Huawei, Cisco Systems, SUSE, VMware, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM Corporation https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5778 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/openstack-service-market-5778 Market Highlights:OpenStack refers to a collection of open source software modules which helps in providing a framework for managing and creating cloud infrastructure. In general, OpenStack is the next stage of virtualization which helps in organizing and managing a pool of heterogeneous storage and network resources within an IT organization. Organizations deploy OpenStack to manage cloud-based infrastructure, web hosting, SaaS delivery (Software as a Service) and many more.Many organizations are adopting Openstack Service Market in their cloud-based services which offers numerous advantages like cost savings, customization, value-added services, and innovation in the product line. OpenStack helps in automation of cloud maintenance and benefits by providing remote vision of other storage devices in the cloud. Nearly 70% of the organizations feel that OpenStack is vital to their cloud strategy to develop their existing KPI (key performance indicator). The increase in the demand for cloud-based solutions and services are driving the OpenStack service market globally. The free availability of OpenStack platform, easy deployment and a wide adoption among SME are driving the market growth of openstack service market. However, the lack of technical assistance and complexity in deployment are restraining the market growth.Request a Sample Report @Major Key Players: Canonical (U.K) Huawei (China) Cisco Systems (U.S.) SUSE (Germany) VMware (U.S.) Hewlett Packard Enterprise (U.S.) Oracle Corporation (U.S.) Dell Inc. (U.S.) IBM Corporation (U.S.) Red Hat (U.S.) Rackspace (U.S.) Mirantis (U.S.) Platform9 Systems (U.S.) EasyStack (China) Bright Computing (the Netherlands)Some of the key innovators are Puppet (U.S.), Pactera Technology International Ltd. (China), The Cloudscaling Group, Inc., (U.S.), Aptira (Australia), CDI LLC (U.S.), Techblue Software Private Limited (India), Cyxtera Data Centers, Inc.(U.S.), AQORN (U.S.), and others.The prominent players constantly keep innovating and investing in research and development to present a cost-effective portfolio. There have been recent mergers and acquisitions among the key players, where the business entities expect to strengthen their reach to their customer.Regional Analysis:On the basis of geography, the market is studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world. Among these regions, the market is majorly dominated by North America at present due to a higher concentration of key players like Redhat, IBM Corporation in countries like the United States and Canada. The major contribution is made by the United States, particularly among SME and large enterprises.On the other hand, Europe is expected to show a high growth rate considering open stack service market. The increase in the use of cloud-based services and data security among the cloud leads to increase in usage of openstack services across the region. Asia Pacific region is expected to show a decent growth during the forecast period. There are various new entrants in Japan and China that are deploying open stack service in their organizations. Also, the organizations in Asia Pacific started deploying BYOD policy which is booming the growth of the market in Asia Pacific. The Middle East & Africa are expected to show smooth growth during the forecast period. The deployment of data centers in the region is increasing annually, which results in deployment of cloud computing and related applications resulting adoption of openstack services across the region.Segmentation:The global open stack service market is segmented into the component, organization size, vertical and region. Based on component, the segment is further classified into solution and services. The services are further classified into consulting services, installation & integration services and support & maintenance services.Based on deployment, the segment is further classified into the public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid. Based on organization size, the segment is further classified into SME and large enterprises. The open stack as a service is being deployed in many verticals like BFSI, IT & Telecommunication, manufacturing, retail, government, and others.Browse Full Report Details @Intended Audience: Network and System Integrators OpenStack Software Providers Marketing Analytics Executives Cloud Architects Cloud Operators or System Administrators Research Organizations Market InvestorsTable 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 1 Global Openstack Service Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table 2 North America Openstack Service Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 3 Europe Openstack Service Market: By Country, 2017-2023ContinuedList of FiguresFigure 1 Global Openstack Service Market SegmentationFigure 2 Forecast MethodologyFigure 3 Five Forces Analysis of Global Openstack Service MarketContinuedAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Water Treatment Chemical Market Business Planning Research and Resources, Trends, Emerging Opportunities, Business Growth, Development Factors and Forecast 2018-2025 Data Bridge Market Research http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-water-treatment-chemicals-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-water-treatment-chemicals-market/ http://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-water-treatment-chemicals-market The Global Water Treatment Chemicals Market is expected to reach USD 61.86 billion by 2025, from USD 43.6 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 7.9 % during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015 & 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Get Sample Copy of Report atSome of the major players operating in the global water treatment chemicals market are BASF SE , Kemira ,Ecolab Inc, Solenis, Akzo Nobel N.V., Baker Hughes Incorporated, The Dow Chemical Company, SNF Group, SUEZ , Chembond Chemicals Limited, SAMCO, VASU Chemicals Johnson Matthey Fine Chemicals among others.Water treatment chemical is a water cleaning process by the use of various chemicals. It prevents from corrosion, suspended solids and microbial contamination. Water treatment chemicals gas has many features such as cost effective, safe to processed using tested ingredients and maintains water purity with optimising performance, improving yields, and reducing costs. It is used in cooling water systems, cooling towers and closed circuits, wastewater and effluent treatment chemicals, steam boilers, eco-friendly biological formulations, reverse osmosis membrane products, advanced polymers and many more. Water treatment chemicals are widely applicable in many industries such as municipal, power, oil & gas, and mining and others. In 2017, VEOLIA launched Hydrex 3000 a world-class water treatment chemical. It contains effective solutions for the removal of solids and turbidity in clarifying water streams. It is used in food and beverage plants as pre-treatment and improved product quality. In 2017, GE launched a new water treatment chemical for beverage industry called ZeeWeed700B. They have unique UF membranes with GES BEV series Ro technology. It is used for production of ingredient water for carbonated soft drinks, juices, bottled water and non-carbonated beverages.Access More Details atThe global water treatment chemicals 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 water treatment chemicals market for global, Europe, North America, Asia pacific and South America.This Report Offering:- What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2025?- What are the key factors driving the global Water Treatment Chemicals market?- What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the global Water Treatment Chemicals market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in the global Water Treatment Chemicals market?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Water Treatment Chemicals market?- Trending factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, and EMEA.- What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the global Water Treatment Chemicals market?Inquire before buying atNote: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Contact Info:Name: Data Bridge Market ResearchEmail: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.comPhone: +1 888 387 2818Data Bridge 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.Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road, HadapsarPune 411028Maharashtra, India Retail Inventory Management Software Market 2018 2023 Key Players: Epicor Software Corporation, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Microsoft Corporation, JDA Software, Netsuite, Fishbowl, inFlow Inventory Software https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5679 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/retail-inventory-management-software-market-5679 Market Highlights:Retail inventory management software consists of tools that help to track, manage and organize material flow, including the time required for the end-product to leave the warehouse. In general, retail inventory software keeps track of whole supply chain process and helps in improving the efficiency of the inventory levels. This software helps in centralizing all the warehouse data located in different locations.Retail inventory management software helps in managing or preventing products from spoiling by eliminating stocking of raw materials which may cause loss for organizations. Inventory management has become an essential part of retail, service delivery, wholesale, and other industries. Inventory management in retail helps to optimize and deliver processes with accurate inventory levels and obtain real-time information to store data across several verticals of the organization. This data stored in real time can be used for the purpose of decision-making.Retail inventory management software uses methodologies to manage the flow of goods, such as stock review, just in time technology, and ABC analysis methodology, among others. The just in time methodology refers to the ordering of products by an organization when they are ordered by customer. This removes unnecessary holding of inventory, helping in reducing costs. The need to maintaining transparency across supply chain activities and easy tracking of warehouse inventory are primarily driving the market. The increase in usage of RFID tags, barcode scanners, mobile phones, and tablets are fuelling the market growth.The real-time visibility of inventory helps in the optimal utilization of warehouse and inventory which helps to fulfill Return on Investment (ROI). The software helps in the observation of margin contribution and execution performance for each vendor for gaining feedback and negotiation of better deals. The added advantages of retail inventory management software are deploying advanced logistics management, smart supplier management, data-driven inventory optimization, and others.The global Retail Inventory Management Software Market is classified into deployment, end-user, and region.Request a Sample Report @Major Key Players:Some of the key players in the global retail inventory management software market are Epicor Software Corporation (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), SAP SE (Germany), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), JDA Software (U.S.), Netsuite (U.S.), Fishbowl (U.S.), inFlow Inventory Software (Canada), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Totvs S.A (Brazil), Retalix Ltd (Israel), and Quintiq (Netherlands), among others.Other vendors include Sage Group plc (U.K), Logility, Inc (U.S.), Lawson Software (U.S.), Aldata Software Management Inc (Canada), Accellos (U.S.), BluJay Solutions. (U.S.), Kinaxis (Canada), Kewill Systems (U.S.), Manhattan Associates (U.S.), Servigistics (U.S.), and GTNexus (U.S.), among others.The prominent players constantly keep on innovating and investing in research and development in order to present a cost-effective portfolio. There have been recent mergers and acquisitions among the key players, where the business entities expect to strengthen their reach to their customer.Regional Analysis:On the basis of geography, the market is studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Among these regions, the market is majorly dominated by North America, at present, due to higher concentration of inventory management companies in countries, such as the United States and Canada.Europe has acquired the second largest market share and is expected to show a decent growth in the retail inventory management software market. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to show the highest CAGR during the forecast period. There are various new entrants in India and China that are developing the related software for inventory management. Furthermore, the retail industry in Asia Pacific is booming, which is driving the growth of market in Asia Pacific region.Segmentation:The global retail inventory management software market is classified into deployment, end-user, and region. On the basis of deployment, the segment is further classified into on-demand and on-premise. On the basis of end-user, the segment is further classified into traditional retailers and off-price retailers.Regionally, the global retail inventory management software market is studied in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the world.Browse Full Report Details @Intended Audience: Technology Integrators Software Developers Research Organizations OEM Supply Chain Implementers Technology Investors Testing Government Agencies Third Party DevelopersTable 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 ModelContinued.List of TablesTable1 World Population by Major Regions (2017 To 2030)Table2 Global Retail Inventory Management Software Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table3 North America Retail Inventory Management Software Market: By Country, 2017-2023Continued.List of FiguresFigure 1 Global Retail Inventory Management Software Market SegmentationFigure 2 Forecast MethodologyFigure 3 Five Forces Analysis of Global Retail Inventory Management Software MarketContinued.About 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 Global Human Serum Albumin Market Size, Share and Growth Analysis Research Report 2018-2022 https://www.healthcareintelligencemarkets.com/request_sample.php?id=25676 https://www.healthcareintelligencemarkets.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=25676 https://www.healthcareintelligencemarkets.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=25676 Global Human Serum Albumin Market Research Report provides an in-depth analysis, focusing on the prime opportunities and trends in the market. It further provides a complete overview of the market across the globe, including the classification, definitions, and applications. In addition, the development plans and policies concerning the market have been discussed in the research study, along with the cost structures and production processes.Openings for the future market advancement were uncovered and preoccupied concentrated threats in like manner textured. The drifts and slants of this market were considered and it unveils that there was an illustrious strategic direction observed. By the getting a grasp on the market establishment and using the determined guidelines, techniques, and inclinations of other driving markets for references, market information was understood.Get Sample Copy@Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K MT), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Human Serum Albumin for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Human Serum Albumin Market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Human Serum Albumin sales volume, Price (USD/MT), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingBaxter, Grifols, CSL, Octapharma, Biotest, Kedrion, Hualan Bio, CNBG, Shanghai RAAS, CBPO, LFB Group, BPL, Sichuan Yuanda ShuyangOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoRecombinantPlasma-derivedOn 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 of Human Serum Albumin for each application, includingHypoalbuminemiaHyperalbuminemiaTherapeutic UseOtherAvail 20% Discount and Customization On This Premium Report@The research report includes a SWOT analysis that defines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that are expected to influence the segments of the Global Human Serum Albumin Market in the near future. Additionally, the report also includes Porters five forces analysis, which examines the threat of the new entrants, the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers, and the intensity of the competitive rivalry. The report also discusses the business and marketing strategies likely to be implemented by these in the coming few years.Having deliberated the growth drivers and manacles and offered a comprehensive segmentation of the market, the report goes on to investigate its competitive landscape. To do so, it leverages market-leading analytical tools to comprehend the opportunities and drawbacks that await players. It also throws light on the various strategies employed by companies in order to succeed. The report finds that the Global Human Serum Albumin Market is highly fragmented on account of the presence of a copious number of small and large vendors. In order to stay ahead of the curve, savvy players in the market are competing with one another on the basis of price and product features. They are expending money of innovation and are also focusing on service and support.For more enquiry @Table of Contents:Global Human Serum Albumin Market Research Report 2018-2022Chapter 1: Global Human Serum Albumin Market OverviewChapter 2: Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3: Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4: Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5: Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6: Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7: Global Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8: Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11: Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12: Global Human Serum Albumin Market ForecastAbout HIM,HealthCare Intelligence Markets supply market intelligence reports in the domain of personalized drugs & diagnostics after going through a rigorous research process. The healthcare and pharma industry is constantly evolving as trends are getting replaced at a rapid pace.Contact Us:Name: Shreyas TannaCompany: Healthcare Intelligence MarketsAddress: 601, Winterberry Purple, Koregaon Park, Pune, 411001Mail Id: sales@healthcareintelligencemarkets.comContact No: +91 7400242424 Public Cloud System Infrastructure Services Market Poised to Account for US$ 110,350 Mn in the year 2022 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/18412 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/18412 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The public cloud system infrastructure services market is driven by the advantages that the public cloud services possess. Due to the public cloud system infrastructure services, people can access data, services and applications via the internet. This eliminates the need for costly hardware like hard drives and servers. Also, it offers the advantage of location facility as such type of services can be easily accessed through the internet.The public cloud services offer elasticity as such type of services availed can be scaled up or down in no matter of time to meet the demand of computing at that particular point of time. This results in affordability of public cloud services, and users pay only for what they use, and in turn minimize the hardware and costs related to IT. Also, public cloud services are simple to use as the users become free from the mess of managing servers and updating software.The global public cloud system infrastructure services market is slated to touch a value of about US$ 110,350 Mn in the year 2022 and grow at a robust CAGR during the assessment period.Request Sample Report@4 Forecast Highlights on Global Public Cloud System Infrastructure Services Market : As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the print segment is slated to touch a value of nearly US$ 11,550 Mn in the year 2022. This represents a robust CAGR growth during the assessment period of 2017-2022. The print segment is estimated to account for more than one-tenth of the revenue share of the function segment by the year 2017 and is forecasted to lose market share by 2022 over 2017.As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the BFSI segment will reach a value of nearly US$ 6,000 Mn in the year 2017. This represents a robust CAGR growth during the forecast period. The BFSI segment is forecasted to account for one-fifth of the total revenue share of the vertical segment by the end of the year 2017 and is expected to gain in market share by 2022 as compared with the year 2017.As per the forecast of Persistence Market Research, the large enterprise segment is slated to reach a value of nearly US$ 63,700 Mn in 2022. The large enterprise segment is expected to lose market share by the end of the year 2022. The largest share is contributed by the North America region in the large enterprise segment. Persistence Market Research forecasts the US public cloud system infrastructure services market to grow from US$ 7,375.6 Mn in 2017 to US$ 30,545.6 Mn in 2022. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.9% from 2017 to 2022.Request to View Sample of Research Report @The report has also included the profiles of some of the leading companies in the public cloud system infrastructure services market like VMware, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Amazon Web Services Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc. International Business Machines Corp, AT&T Inc. Alphabet, Inc., CenturyLink, Inc., Rackspace Hosting, Inc. and Fujitsu Limited.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: Car Rental Services Market to Register High Revenue Growth at 6.6% CAGR During 2017 - 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5086 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-5086 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI) presents a revised forecast of the global car rental market for the period 2017-2027 in its published report titled Car Rental Services Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012 2016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172027). In terms of revenue, the global car rental market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 6.6% over the forecast period, owing to numerous factors, about which FMI offers thorough insights and forecasts in this informative report. The market is segmented on the basis of end use, customer type, sector, booking type and car type.Increased Global Affluence to Make Leisure Travellers Demand Car Rental ServicesBy customer type, the global car rental market is segmented into business and leisure customers. The leisure segment is expected to dominate over the forecast period due to expansion of global tourism market, increasing disposable income, and improved infrastructure for rental service. The leisure segment is anticipated to record a high CAGR growth rate of 7.8% over the forecast period with the total market valued at US$ 51,734.7 in 2017. On the other hand, the business segment has low growth rate of 4.3% CAGR with market valued at US$ 52,365.3 in 2017.Request For Report Sample@Online Booking Unlikely to Outpace Offline Booking in the Car Rental MarketBy booking type, the market is segmented into offline access, mobile application, and other internet access. Offline booking is projected to be the higher revenue generator compared to online bookings and mobile apps. The offline booking segments is estimated to account for approximately 68% of the car rental market i.e. a value of US $ 44,871.6 Mn in 2016. Online bookings for car rentals have increased globally with the development of mobile applications and IT infrastructure advancements making it easy to book car rental services online or via mobile apps. Therefore, the car rental market is thriving. An updated report of the International Telecommunication Union, 2015 WSIS Forum states that Internet users have increased rapidly worldwide on account of continuous developments in Information & Communication Technologies. This is estimated to further increase the demand for car rental services. The proportion of households with the internet access at home increased from 18% in 2005 to 46% in 2015; whereas in 2000 the penetration rate was 6.3%.On-Airport End Use has Maximum Potential in the Car Rental MarketOn the basis of end use, global Car Rental Services is segmented into Intercity, Intracity, On-Airport, and others. On Airport segment has highest growth rate of 7.3% CAGR followed by intercity with a CAGR of 5.3% in the forecast period. Air travel has skyrocketed mainly because of the plummeting prices of airline tickets, leading to a substantial increase in air travelers across the globe. The increasing air trips for business and leisure purpose is fuelling the growth of car rentals to airports.Booming Economic Growth makes APEJ Car Rental Market Critical in the Long TermThe North America market has been estimated to dominate the Global car rental market, accounting for maximum revenue share of 45.9% by 2027 end. In terms of value, North America and Western Europe collectively accounted for more than 57% share in the global market in 2027. Although APEJ has a relatively lower market share of 17.5%, all the stars are in its favor making it likely to witness high growth rate in the medium term. Latin America, Japan and Middle East are also anticipated to show substantial amount of growth over the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Competition Dashboard in the Global Car Rental MarketSome of the key players in the global car rental market include Enterprise Holdings Inc., The Hertz Corporation, Avis Budget Group Inc., Europcar S.A., Carzonrent India Pvt Ltd., Sixt Rent a Car, Al-Futtaim, Localiza Rent a Car S / A, Eco Rent a Car, and GlobalCARS.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: U.S. Smart Grid IT Systems Market Estimated to Reach US$ 9228.0 Mn by 2022, due to Increased Focus on Reduction of Transmission and Distribution Losses U.S. Smart Grid IT Systems Market https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/checkout?id=31 https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_sample.php?id=31 https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=31 https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ Absolute Markets Insights offers its latest published report Smart Grid IT Systems Market by Software (Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Smart Grid Distribution Management, Smart Grid Communication, Grid Asset Management, Substation Automation, Billing and Customer Information System); by Hardware (AMI meter, Sensors, Networking hardware, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)); by Service(Consulting, Deployment and Integration, Support and Maintenance) U.S. Insights, Growth, Size, Comparative Analysis, Trends and Forecast, 2018 - 2026.The author of the report analyzed that the U.S. smart grid it systems market accounted for US$ 3857.0 million in 2017.Purchase the complete report titled United States Smart Grid IT Systems Market Insights, Growth, Size, Comparative Analysis, Trends and Forecast, 2018-2026 atA smart grid, or intelligent power system, refers to a power system that makes extensive use of digitalization. Smart grids enable customers increased participation in the electricity market and improve power adequacy and create new business opportunities for companies. Consumers in U.S are expressing an interest in increasing their communication with their utility provider as a means of obtaining greater levels of control. Government support has been instrumental in the rapid forward movement of United States smart grid IT systems market. It has provided necessary funding as well as education on the value it will have to individuals, the energy industry and the nation by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and allowing us to better manage the countrys long-term energy needs.Advanced Metering Infrastructure(AMI) Anticipated to be the Dominant Segments During the Forecast Period, 2018-2026Among the software, advanced metering infrastructure is a dominant segment holding the largest market share. It empowers customers and utilities with real?time information regarding energy use. It is a key element in the U.S. government's push for electric grid modernization.Request A Sample atGovernment Intervention in Smart Grid IT Systems to drive the Market in CaliforniaCalifornia regulatory agencies such as the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) and state energy policy and planning agencies such as the California Energy Commission (CEC) are continuing to launch a broad range of smart grid initiatives.Government objectives is aimed to increase use of cost-effective digital information and control technology to improve reliability, security, and efficiency of the electric grid.United States Smart grid IT Systems Market is Fragmented in NatureSome of the key participants in U.S. market are Green Charge Networks, Bit Stew, Duke Energy, Enbala Power Networks, Enphase, Florida Power & Light, Green Charge Networks, Greensmith Energy Management Systems, Gridco Systems, New Brunswick Power Corporation, NRG Home, Opower, S&C Electric Company, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Schneider Electric, SolarCity, Stem, Sunverge Energy Inc., Tendril. IN 2017, FPL became the first utility in the industry to tackle momentary power outages that last less than one minute. These outages cost industrial, commercial and residential customers billions of dollars each year. By rolling out more than 80,000 TripSaver II lateral reclosers from S&C Electric Co. across FPL territory, S&C estimates that, according to government data, electricity users may save up to $500,000 per year on each main feeder.For More Inquire At Smart Grid IT Systems Market By Softwareo Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI)o Smart Grid Distribution Managemento Smart Grid Communicationo Grid Asset Managemento Substation Automationo Billing and Customer Information System Smart Grid IT Systems Market By Hardwareo AMI metero Sensorso Networking hardwareo Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Market By Serviceo Consultingo Deployment and integrationo Support and maintenance Market By Regiono North America U.S. Rest of North Americao Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europeo Asia Pacific China Japan India Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacifico Middle East and Africa GCC Countries Southern Africa Rest of Middle East and Africao Latin America Brazil Rest of Latin AmericaAbsolute Markets Insights is a global market research company taking into account leading businesses, colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, and government foundations. Absolute Markets Insights is dedicated to presenting you an ideal blend of data parameters. Our reports depend on the research and analysis that covers a magnitude of factors, for example, industry research, market sizing and forecasts, technological advancements, innovation trends, financial growth, pricing trends, competitive insights, and an in-depth study of market segments.Our analysts are focused on providing autonomous experiences, by helping you execute better strategies with unbiased insights and conclusions, consistent specifics, and right responses to every one of the inquiries you may have. We serve customers in every aspect of the strategy, including sustainability trends, customer insights, technology evolution, distribution channel assessment, product development, exploring new markets and taking advantage of lucrative growth opportunities.Contact Us:Shreyas TannaAbsolute Markets Insightssales@absolutmarketsinsights.com+91-7400-24-2424 Next-Generation Memory Market 2016-2022: Key Findings, Regional Analysis, Key Players Profiles and Future Prospects https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2448 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/next-generation-memory-market-2448 Market Scenario:Next generation memory can be defined as a common label applied to a major upgrade of hardware or a software product. The next generation memory market has grown over the last few years because of the increasing demand for faster, efficient and cost effective memory solutions. These memory solutions are used across various verticals.The key drivers contributing to the growth of the Next-Generation Memory Market are power efficiency, intrinsic benefit with non-volatile memories, high growth in the wearable electronics industry, technological advancements for storage, rise in the usage of next generation memory in smart phones, increasing adoption of MRAM & PCM memory and enterprise storage.However, high cost, low stability during environmental conditions, intense competition and issues related to storage density are the factors hindering the growth of the next-generation memory market.Geographically, North-America accounted for the largest market share in the global next-generation memory market, whereas Asia-Pacific is expected to grow over the forecast period.Request a Copy of Sample Report @Major Key Players: Toshiba Corporation (Japan) SK Hynix Semiconducto, Inc. (South Korea) Adesto Technologies Corporation, Inc. (U.S.) Fujitsu Ltd. (Japan) IBM Corporation (U.S.) SanDisk Corporation (U.S.) Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea) Intel Corporation (U.S.) Micron Technology, Inc.Regional Analysis:Regionally, North America accounted for the largest market share, majorly due to high investments for technologically advanced products and increasing adoption of MRAM, DRAM and PCM memory.Asia-Pacific is expected to grow over the forecast period, 2017-2022 majorly due to increasing demand for smart phones and tablets and manufacturing hub for wearable electronics.Study Objectives of Global Next-generation Memory Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the global Next-generation Memory market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the global Next-generation Memory market based porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective. To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by product, application and region. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Next-generation MemorySegments:For the purpose of this study, Market Research Future has segmented the market of next-generation memory market into product, application and region.By Product- Nonvolatile Memories Phase Change Memory (PCM) Magneto-Resistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) Resistive Random Access Memory (Re RAM) Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM)Volatile Memories Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAMBy Application- 1 Consumer Electronics Mobile Phones Tablets Laptops Ipods Others North-America Europe Asia-Pacific RoWAccess Report Details @Intended Audience: Manufacturers Distributors Research firms Consultancy firms Software Developers Vendors Semiconductor Manufacturers Stakeholders End-user sectors Technology InvestorsTable of Contents1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Network Solution2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size EstimationContinued..List of TablesTable 1 Global Next-Generation Memory Market, By ProductTable 2 Global Next-Generation Memory Market, By ApplicationTable 3 Global Next-Generation Memory Market, By GeographyContinued..About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Lignosulfonates Market to gain US$ 975 Million by 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/global-lignosulfonates-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7355 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com In terms of revenue, the global lignosulfonate market was valued at US$ 709.86 Mn in 2025. It is anticipated to expand at a stable CAGR of 3.6% during forecast period, according to a new report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Lignosulfonate Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20172025. Expansion of the global lignosulfonate market is driven by the strong demand from the concrete admixtures market, globally. Europe is a prominent market for lignosulfonate, and the region accounts for almost two-fifth share of the global lignosulfonate market.Read Report Overview @Strong Demand from Concrete Admixtures MarketLarge amount of cement is used in the construction industry. This, in turn, fuels the demand for lignosulfonates. Development of infrastructure and increase in population in developing economies are anticipated to boost the demand for lignosulfonates in residential and non-residential buildings. Construction of new projects or renovation of old buildings is also projected to increase during the forecast period, despite the economic slowdown in Europe. Lignosulfonates are ideal for usage in developing countries in Asia Pacific, wherein demand for water-reducing chemicals is considerably high, due to their low cost. Thus, demand for lignosulfonates is likely to increase in the construction industry in Asia Pacific during the forecast periodRising Demand as an Animal Feed BinderLignosulfonates are primarily utilized as animal feed binders (pellet binders) in the animal feed industry. They provide the necessary calcium and sodium, which serve as inorganic electrolytes appropriate for animal health. Additionally, lignosulfonates balance the beneficial bacteria in animals and promote feed efficiency, thereby increasing the weight of the animal by at least 5% to 10%. Europe is expected to witness a higher consumption of lignosulfonates, as compared to other regions, in the animal feed industry in the near future. However, the rise in demand for animal feed in countries in Asia Pacific is anticipated to significantly boost the animal feed segment of the lignosulfonates market in the next few years. Global production of animal feed stood at 979.5 million tons in 2015 and is estimated to reach 1,055.0 million tons by 2024, expanding at CAGR of 0.8% from 2016 to 2024Availability of Application-specific SubstitutesLignosulfonate is employed as an intermediate in the synthesis of numerous products. Its unique chemistry has led to its application in diverse sectors including coatings, textile lubricants, polishes, detergents, pesticides, and personal care products. Lignosulfonate is observed to have low toxicity. It does not cause any major side-effect in humans; however, prolonged exposure has been observed to cause serious irritation to the eyes and skin. In industrial settings, lignosulfonate is manufactured and handled primarily in closed processes, which limit its exposure. Lignosulfonate has been listed on the following regulatory agencies; AICS, IECSC, ECHA, EPA, and NFPA. Currently, not many side-effects or toxic effects of lignosulfonate have been listed; however, it is likely to be restricted or banned in the future, if any negative health issues are detected. Consequently, the restraint for lignosulfonate is medium to low.Sodium Lignosulfonate to Dominate the Product Segment of Global Lignosulfonate MarketThe lignosulfonate market has been segmented based on product, application, and region. Based on product, the lignosulfonate market can be classified into sodium ligosulfonate, calcium lignosulfonate, magnesium lignosulfonate, and others. Sodium lignosulfonate is the most commercialized lignosulfonate. It is primarily utilized as an economical plasticizer in concrete admixtures and pellet binder in animal feed. The sodium lignosulfonate segment is expected to expand rapidly, primarily in developing countries in Asia Pacific, due to the high demand for sodium lignosulfonate in the construction industry. Sodium lignosulfonate was a dominant product segment in Europe in 2016. Diverse applications of sodium lignosulfonate are anticipated to boost the segment during the forecast period.Developed Regions such as Europe Dominate the Global Lignosulfonate MarketIn terms of region, Europe witnessed high demand for lignosulfonate products in 2016. The region accounted for almost half of the global lignosulfonate market. Asia Pacific contains more than half the global population and emerging economies, which is a major reason for the high demand for MDEA in the region. International players are also focusing on investment in Asia Pacific. The region consists of India and China, which are major producers and consumers of MDEA along with the U.S., across the globe. China and India are major importers of MDEA across the globe. Expansion of industries such as paints & coatings, textiles, and oil & gas in Asia Pacific is a major reason for the high demand of MDEA.North America and Europe followed Asia Pacific, in terms of volume, in 2016. North America and Europe are mature markets for Lignosulfonate. They provide limited opportunities in terms of untapped potential. Demand for lignosulfonate in Canada and Germany is expected to rise at a rapid pace, as these developed countries offer lucrative opportunities for the lignosulfonate market. The lignosulfonate market in Latin America is likely to expand at a significant growth rate during the forecast period. Brazil accounted for a key share of the market in Latin America in 2016. The southern states of Brazil are primarily engaged in construction due to the growth in population. Expansion of the paint industry is estimated to boost the demand for lignosulfonate in the sub-region. The market in Middle East & Africa is expanding at a rapid pace, with GCC leading the demand for lignosulfonate. Demand for lignosulfonate is estimated to increase in Middle East & Africa, owing to the rise in number of development projects witnessed in construction, manufacturing, and oil & gas industries.Request to view Sample Report:High Degree of Competition Exist among Established Players in the Global Lignosulfonate MarketKey players profiled in the global lignosulfonate market include Borregaard LignoTech, Tembec Inc., Sappi Limited, Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., and Burgo Group. Collaborative agreements between manufacturers and production capacity expansions are the key market strategies opted by the manufacturers of lignosulfonate. Borregaard LignoTech, a key player in the lignosulfonate market, headquartered in Norway, has made substantial progress in the lignosulfonate business sector by spreading its distribution channel across the globe. In 2015, Borregard LignoTech and Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) entered into an agreement to manufacture lignin products suitable for concrete admixture application to target markets in North America and Latin America.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: Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Market to Reach US$11.41 bn | 2023 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ethylene-vinyl-acetate-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=9449 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023. According to the report, the global ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) market was valued at US$ 7.29 Bn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$ 11.41 Bn in 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 5.1% between 2015 and 2023.Read Report Overview @Ethylene vinyl acetate, most commonly referred as EVA, is produced as a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate (VA) monomer. Ethylene vinyl acetate offers excellent elasticity, impact strength, puncture resistance, UV resistance, and toughness. Outstanding flexibility, adhesion properties, and stress crack resistance enable extensive use of EVA in various applications such as films, foams, hot melt adhesives, photovoltaic cells, wires & cables, and others (including hose & tubing). Ethylene and vinyl acetate monomers are copolymerized using high pressure tubular or autoclave process to produce EVA. Various grades of EVA can be manufactured with vinyl acetate content ranging from 1% to 40%. Based on the vinyl acetate content, EVA can be segmented into three product categories: high EVA (20% to 40%), low EVA (10% to 20%), and very low EVA (1% to 10%).EVA with higher vinyl acetate content is primarily used in photovoltaic cells, wires & cables, and hot melt adhesives. On the other hand, EVA with lower vinyl acetate content is employed in films and foams. Low EVA held the largest share of the global EVA market in 2014. High EVA is estimated to be the fastest growing product segment in the next few years, owing to increasing consumer preference for high performance EVA with higher vinyl acetate content. Large usage of EVA films in flexible packaging of food & beverages has significantly boosted the demand for EVA in the recent past. However, instability in prices of raw materials coupled with increasing competition from counterparts such as LLDPE is projected to hamper market growth in the next few years. Rise in production and installation of photovoltaic cells is likely to offer attractive opportunities for the market during the forecast period.Rise in population coupled with increase in per capita income has propelled the consumption of EVA films in the packaging industry in the past few years. This, in turn, generated considerable demand for EVA in films, enabling it to be the largest application in 2014. Besides packaging of food & beverages, EVA films are used in agricultural films, greenhouse films, and packaging of pharmaceuticals. Photovoltaic cells is expected to be the fastest-growing application of the EVA market in the next few years. Increase in awareness about the usage of solar energy has augmented the demand for EVA in encapsulation of photovoltaic cells. Rise in number of upcoming solar projects and newly installed photovoltaic capacities in countries such as China, Japan, the U.S., and Italy is anticipated to create lucrative opportunities for the global EVA market during the forecast period.Request to view Sample Report:In terms of volume, Asia Pacific dominated the global EVA market and accounted for more than 35% share in 2014. The region is estimated to witness fastest growth during the forecast period due to rising demand from major application segments. China, Japan, India, and ASEAN countries are the major producers of footwear and solar cells. This, in turn, has fueled the demand for EVA in photovoltaic cell encapsulation and foams used in shoe soles. China is projected to be the major consumer of EVA by 2023, followed by Rest of Asia Pacific and ASEAN. North America was the second-largest consumer of EVA in 2014, followed by Europe. Middle East & Africa and Latin America are anticipated to be emerging markets for EVA in the next few 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.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: Global Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: to Incur Steady Growth During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1891 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1891 www.futuremarketinsights.com The technological advancements and innovations in the pharmaceutical promotion techniques has unlocked potential for the companies that are striving to promote pharma products. E- Detailing is a process that uses electronic devices to provide sales presentations to physicians. E-Detailing is a solution for pharmaceutical sales professionals looking to interact with doctors in more efficient manner and increase the value of communication. Previously sales representatives were supposed to wait for long hours and then get a chance to brief about their product to physician. The E-Detailing enables online product presentations. Key pharmaceutical players have realized the need to allocate resources for e-detailing strategies in order to ensure that their products can create better brand value. E-detailing is beneficial to enhance the brand value, and facilitate sales. This eliminates the need of face to face meeting with physician. Global Tablet let based e-detailing market is anticipated to exhibit a significant CAGR over the forecast period.Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: Drivers and restraintsE-Detailing provides wide range of benefits to pharmaceutical companies to promote products in efficient and effective manner and this helps to bolster the global tablet based e-detailing market during the forecast period. Physicians are always fond of advanced technologies such as tablet based e-detailing that can help them to access the information any time possible, thus it is a driving factor for tablet based e-detailing market. The reduction in manual errors in detailing process, market access effectiveness, and the elimination of complex value stories based on health economics evidence to the payers from value communication apps are further expected to contribute in the growth of global tablet based e-detailing market.Request For Report Sample@However, there are some disadvantages in the use of e-detailing system that includes the need to train the sales professionals to manage advanced technologies. Also Tablet let based e-detailing is costlier than conventional detailing method. These factors can slowdown the growth of tablet based e-detailing market.Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: SegmentationGlobal E-Detailing Market can be segmented as following typesBy Product:Tablet letsLaptopsiPodsBy End UserPharmaceutical IndustryBiotechnology IndustryTablet Based E-Detailing Market: OverviewThe demand of tablet based e-detailing market is increasing in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies due to its efficiency and effectiveness in promotion of pharmaceuticals brands. Through e-detailing companies can share their product updates or information to the physician. The global tablet based e-detailing market is expected to account a lucrative market as well as robust growth rates over the forecast period.Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: Region-Wise OutlookE-Detailing market is segmented into seven key regions: Those are North America, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is anticipated to dominate the tablet based E-Detailing market due to the presence of pharmaceutical stalwarts in the countries like US and Canada. North America is followed by Asia Pacific in terms of market share of tablet based e-detailing market owing to the rise of pharmaceuticals industry in the countries like China and India. Europe is growing at a modest CAGR in the global tablet based e-detailing market. Latin America and Middle East and Africa are at a nascent stage in the global tablet based e-detailing market and is expected to have a significant contribution in the market in the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: Key playersSome of the key players areAstraZeneca, Plc.Abbott Health care, Inc.Novartis, and AG.Hoffmann La RocheMerck & Co.Johnson and JohnsonPfizer, Inc.Sanofi AventisBoston Scientific.GlaxoSmithKline, Plc.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 Decision Management Applications Market to Witness Soaring Growth During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1896 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1896 www.futuremarketinsights.com Decision management applications decision oriented evaluative software that help an enterprise to solve critical problems, manage and analyses huge data, and delivers decisive results. Also, enterprises are using decision management application for minimizing error and to get accurate results within a short period of time. These application helps an organization to maximise its profitability and efficiency. According to traditional approach, decision management used to be done manually without using any technical tools or applications.Decision Management Applications Market Segmentation:On the basis of type global decision management application market is segmented into Analytical management application, business rule management application, operational optimisation application, testing management application, workflow management application, and monitoring & governance application.Request For Report Sample@On the basis of application global decision management application market is segmented into business research management, fraud management, regulatory compliance management, accounting and revenue management, human resource management, credit risk management, customer management. Business research management is sub segmented into business intelligence and analytics. Business intelligence manages database, helps in analysis, and also tracks reporting. Analytics consist of sophisticated tools with abilities to discover insights in data. In decision management application these three technology areas can perform both together and separately as well. Customer management is sub segmented into Cross-sell and up-sell, web- based purchasing, single channel management and multichannel management.Geographically, decision management application market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America, Western Europe and Japan are the lucrative regions for global decision management application; where, U.S., European Union (EU)-5, Japan are the most revenue generating countries in this market. North America and Western Europe holds the majority of the market share in the decision management application market. Asia Pacific excluding Japan market for decision management application is one of the fastest growing market in terms of revenue generation. India, China, Malaysia, Singapore are the significant contributing countries in terms of revenue growth.Decision Management Applications Market Dynamics:Decision management application delivers solutions and results of a complex data. Currently, enterprises are adopting this applications in order to reduce the timeline of projects and also to optimise the affectivity of a project. These benefits are primarily driving the decision management application market. This applications are used by both service and manufacturing industries. Moreover, increasing critical data and complex business situation require strong result oriented decision, understanding the requirement developers have been improving the model of decision management. Currently, there are number of high level model of decision management application are available in the market. This technological advancement is another factor that drives the global decision management application market. However, owing to have high price, many big and small enterprises cannot effort decision management applications. Moreover, to run these applications, it requires skilled employees, which is again a cost bearing factor for the companies. These are the factor that are restraining the high growth of global decision management application market.Since, decision management application is a recent trend of a decision management market, many large scale enterprises already adopted this application, and most of the small and medium enterprises are still untapped, are the opportunity to the decision management application market globally. New models of decision management applications are always an opportunities to the decision management application market, hence decision management application companies have been developing value added decision management applications.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Decision Management Applications Market Key Players:Some of the key players operating in the decision management application are IBM Corporation, SAS Institute Inc., AbsolutData Holdings, Inc., Mu Sigma Inc., Manthan Software Services Pvt. Ltd., salesforce.com, inc., Nimble, Inc. PipelineDeals, Inc.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 Desktop-As-A-Service (DAAS) Market to Exhibit Steadfast Expansion During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1905 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1905 www.futuremarketinsights.com With more and more companies switching to cloud services, the market for software-as-a-service (SaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) have evolved significantly. Following this is the next thing, desktop-as-a-service (DaaS). DaaS is a cloud based delivery model, which makes it easier for users to work from anywhere on their devices as this service is independent of their device, location and network. Furthermore, DaaS has an architecture that allows multiple users to access a single instance of a software application, in contrast to single instance architecture. This trend is being majorly followed by SMEs, who dont want to invest a lot of money in deploying a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) in-house. Major challenges faced by this industry are provider reliability, latency, bandwidth increases and security complications.Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe advantages of a virtual desktop infrastructure provided at a lower cost, and less complexity are the main attractions for DaaS. The users data is continuously copied from the cloud, during log on and log off. This promotes the idea of migration of the organizations workload to the cloud. Data like enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), HR and payroll are being shifted to cloud servers. With more people shifting to mobile devices, the enterprises find it difficult to support users working on their device. The independency DaaS provides from the device, has been a driving factor for this market. Data can not only be accessed but also edited from multiple devices. High network bandwidth is required for high workload operations, this is seen as a hindering factor for this market. Moreover, as DaaS is still an evolving concept, there are some on-premises VDI features that are not available in DaaS. These features could vary from providing persistent desktops to app layering, which needs to be checked with the service provider.Request For Report Sample@Desktop as a Service (DaaS) Market: SegmentationThe market for Desktop as a Service is segmented into parts on the basis of types of cloud servers, deployment models, desktops, operating systems, end users, verticals, and region. Types of cloud servers include public, private, and hybrid cloud servers. The deployment models can be further segmented into presentation virtualization, desktop virtualization, application virtualization, personal desktops, and pooled desktops. The market is segmented on the basis of desktops into persistent and non-persistent desktops. On the basis of operating systems, the market is segmented into Windows and Linux.Desktop as a Service (DaaS) Market: Regional OutlookNorth America is expected to see a larger growth in this market, owing to their developed IT and telecommunications infrastructure, followed by Europe. These markets are majorly driven by the shift of traditional desktops to cloud based workspace virtualization. The Asia Pacific region is also expected to grow at significant pace due to increasing number of SMEs in the region.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Desktop as a Service (DaaS) Market: Competition LandscapeThe key players involved in this market are VMware, Microsoft, Citrix, SolidFire, Oracle, Amazon, Google, dinCloud, tuCloud, Cisco, and Leostream. Currently VMware is dominating the market because its widespread network of data centers across the world. IBM has recently announced that the VMware Horizon Air Profile will be launching on the IBM cloud globally. Microsoft, offers a non-Linux hypervisor, Hyper-V also offering attractive licensing to gain attention. Most enterprises follow business strategies like merger and acquisition, price differentiation, product introduction and partnerships to gain a competitive edge.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: Non GMO Yogurt Market to Reflect Impressive Expansion During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1808 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1808 www.futuremarketinsights.com Non-GMO and organic foods, apart from natural food stores, Non-GMO products now came in mainstream and sold in major supermarkets nationwide. It has been noticed, consumer is demanding more organic & Non GMO products. Non-GMO yogurt is where the presence of toxic persistent pesticides, artificial hormones and antibiotics, for production of the milk is zero. The use of Non-GMO reached nearly 11% on food and beverages since 2013, the demand has been increased of Non-GMO products. In the US, a survey was conducted for GMO and Non-GMO food products, Maximum Americans agreed on the fact that GMO food product are not safe to eat and also not good for health.Non-GMO Yogurt Market: SegmentationNon GMO yogurt market is segmented on the basis of types, flavors & distribution channel. On the basis of types: Regular Yogurt, Blended Yogurt, Low fat yogurt, nonfat yogurt, Purely Unsweetened Yogurt, Sour Yogurt, Plain Yogurt, Drinkable yogurt and Heavy Cream Yogurt. On the basis of Flavors: Fruit (mango, Strawberry, Blueberry, Kiwi and Peach), Chocolate and Vanilla. On the basis of distribution Channel: Super Market/ Hyper Market, Food Service Outlets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores, Online Stores and others.Request For Report Sample@Non-GMO Yogurt Market: Region wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global Non-GMO yogurt market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.North America is the prominent market for Non-GMO yogurt due to the key players in this region and the availability of raw materials. Whereas, in Europe it is projected to grow at a substantial growth due to consumer as they are becoming concerned about their health, the global Non-GMO yogurt market value exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2016-2026. In the USA, Chobani is the largest manufacturer of greek yogurt, which covers 50% of the market share. Dannon is also one of the largest manufacturer of Non-GMO yogurt in USA which contain more natural ingredients, it has also partnered with Non-Government Organization (NGO) Green America and the Non-GMO Project, So that they can develop Sources of Non-GMO feed for cows.Non-GMO Yogurt Market: DriversAs the demand of Non-GMO product is rising every day as consumers are becoming more concerned about their health. Consumers are becoming more aware about Non-GMO products and easy availability of raw materials in some regions. Raising awareness about the Non-GMO products all across over the Globe is also one of the major factors anticipated to expand the growth of Non-GMO Yogurt market over the forecast period. In 2018, Dannon will introduce 3 brands of Non-GMO Yogurt i.e. Dannon, Oikos & Danimals, that will be fed by the Non-GMO Feed.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Non-GMO Market: Key PlayersSome of the international key players identified operating in Non-GMO yogurt market includes Brown Cow Yogurt, Stonyfield Farm, Maia inspired nutrition, Chobani, General Mills, THE GREEK GODS and others. The company is likely to expand its share over the next coming years as consumers are becoming more aware about Non-GMO products and are more concerned about their health. More companies are expected to enter into manufacturing of Non-GMO products in future.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: Aerospace Coatings Market Soaring at 5.4%CAGR During the Period 2017 - 2024) https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/792737/?utm_source=OPR-SL https://empowerednews.net/author/gminsights/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/semi-rigid-spray-polyurethane-foam-market/?utm_source=RR-SL https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ MaketStudyReport.com adds a New Aerospace Coatings Market Research Report for the period of 2017 - 2024 that shows the growth of the market is rising at 2024.Aerospace Coatings Market will cross USD 1 billion by 2024, according to a new research report.Aerospace coatings market size has been forecast to surpass a revenue collection of USD 1 billion by the end of 2024, owing to the surging use of coatings in commercial, military, and space aircrafts. The rise in international trading opportunities have further had a significant impact on the growing requirement of commercial aircrafts. Regional governments have also been taking initiatives to promote cross-country trading, while simultaneously making investments in the aviation industry to fulfill the increasing requirement of aircrafts. For instance, China invested USD 3 billion in the aerospace sector in 2014, fueled by the demand for aircrafts. The escalating investments in research and development programs in the aviation sector is thus poised to boost aerospace coatings industry share over the coming timeframe.Taking into account the popularity and increasing adoption of aircrafts for transportation, prominent aerospace coatings market players are looking forward to not only enhance product efficiency but also to minimize the associated manufacturing costs. In addition to this, manufacturers have been continuously involving themselves in research and developments activities to innovate high quality paints and coatings. Nano Coatings for instance, in one of the most remarkable inventions in this business space, that has gained considerable popularity owing to its capability to provide an extended lifespan and resist dust particles.Get sample Copy of this report:The shifting trends toward the usage of composite materials for manufacturing integral parts of next-generation aircraft may hamper the future growth of aerospace coatings market size. In consequence, players in aerospace coatings industry are looking forward to developing effective coating technologies.The product segment of aerospace coatings market mainly includes epoxy and polyurethane resins. Currently, polyurethane resins are extensively used in the next-generation aircrafts such as Boeing 787, pertaining to the advantages they provide, such as high resistance to UV rays and ability to prohibit abrasion, chemical, and staining damages. Polyurethane resins will hold 55% of the overall aerospace coatings market share by 2024, driven by its excessive sales and growing popularity.Regionally, North America aerospace coatings industry is predicted to collect a revenue of more than USD 350 million by 2024, owing to the fact that the region houses some of the biggest players. Moreover, increasing development of next-generation aircrafts such as Airbus A350, Boeing 737, and Boeing 787, mainly for commercial applications, will also push the product demand across North America.Meanwhile, renowned biggies in aerospace coatings market are substantially investing in technology developments and R&D activities to introduce products with an improved service life. This business sphere encompasses some of the most notable players such as BASF SE, PPG Industries, AkzoNobel, Sherwin-Williams, Mankiewicz Gebr. & Co, and Zodiac Aerospace.More Report At:Related Report:Semi-Rigid Spray Polyurethane Foam Market Size By Application (Wall, Roof, Floor), By End-Use (Commercial, Residential, Industrial, Agricultural, Institutional), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024Semi-Rigid Spray Polyurethane Foam Market will surpass USD 1.1 billion by 2024; according to a new research report. Semi-rigid spray polyurethane foam (SPF) are basically spray-based plastic that offers insulation solutions for buildings. It comprise...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 Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at:Connect with us:Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter Rapid Strength Concrete Market Showing 7%CAGR Growth to 2024: Company Profiles & Trends Analysis https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/802632/?utm_source=OPR-SL https://empowerednews.net/author/gminsights/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-powder-coatings-equipment-market-professional-survey-report-2018/?utm_source=RR-SL https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ MaketStudyReport.com adds a New Rapid Strength Concrete Market Research Report for the period of 2017 - 2024 that shows the growth of the market is rising at 2024.Rapid Strength Concrete Market will cross USD 450 billion by 2024, according to a new research report.The robustly expanding construction sector across the globe will propel rapid strength concrete market in the years ahead. The increasing requirement of concrete in numerous residential and commercial building construction projects is also certain to augment rapid strength concrete industry size, slated to generate a revenue more than USD 450 billion by the end of 2024. Most of big shots in the construction industry are giving preference to rapidly setting concrete for minimizing construction time and associated costs. Regional governments have also been making substantial investments in the development of mega construction projects that will enhance rapid strength concrete market outlook over the coming timeframe.Rapid industrialization and urbanization across the globe has led to a spur in the construction arena, demanding the deployment of strong concrete products. However, lesser product awareness among the masses may lead to a slight hindrance in the growth of rapid strength concrete market.Get sample Copy of this report:Based on the application spectrum, rapid strength concrete market is segregated into tunnels, highways, roads, buildings, and airfields. Highways, among these, will be one of the most profitable avenues for this business space. Rapid strength concrete market share from highways is expected to register a CAGR of more than 6.5% over the coming six years, owing to increasing investment in development and renovation of highways for improving tourism. Elaborating further on the application landscape, rapid strength concrete market size from buildings, in 2016, was pegged at USD 80 billion, pertaining to the heavy investments in construction activities across developing countries including India and Brazil. The growing demand for fast-setting concrete to save costs and time is one of the essential factors driving rapid strength concrete industry outlook from buildings.According to the Asian Development Bank, over the coming fifteen years, Asia Pacific plans to invest USD 26 trillion in construction sector. The region is one of most booming avenues for the construction industry, gradually fueling APAC rapid strength concrete industry size, which in 2016, was declared to be around USD 50 billion. Considerable spending in construction projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, dockyards, and airport highways mainly across China, India, and Japan is also anticipated to augment APAC rapid strength concrete market.Well-known players in rapid strength concrete industry are looking forward to generating mainstream awareness about the product in order to expand their regional reach. Technological advancements leading to the development of innovative products are also expected to aid companies in scoring a competitive edge over their rivals. Most companies, incidentally, have been working toward fulfilling user requirements to expand their consumer pool.Some of the notable players in rapid strength concrete market are Boral Limited, BASF, Perimeter Concrete Ltd., Aggregate Industries, Perimeter Concrete Ltd., CEMEX, Bostik, Westbuild Group, Sakrete Concrete, Evercrete Construction Materials Pvt. Ltd., Tarmac, Instarmac, Short Load, Holcim Ltd., CTS Cement, and Sika Corporation.More Report At:Related Report:Global Powder Coatings Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2018This report studies Powder Coatings Equipment 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...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 Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at:Connect with us:Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter Key Insights of Global CCD Wheel Aligners Market Covering Prime Factors and Competitive Outlook till 2026 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=528 https://www.factmr.com/report/528/ccd-wheel-aligners-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=528 https://www.factmr.com/ As per the current market trends and the promising nature of the global CCD wheel aligners 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 2017 to 2026, 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 for Free Sample Report-Poor road conditions often have an adverse effect on the alignment of wheels in cars and other heavy vehicles. It becomes imperative for the user of the vehicle to carry out proper analysis of wheel alignment in order to gain efficient control on vehicle steering thus preventing road accidents. The use of wheel aligners has become vital owing to increasing cases of road accidents owing to misalignment of the wheel.There have been various advances in wheel aligners with introduction of new technologies with respect to gauging the alignment angle of the wheel, the deviation and the correction needed to reduce the deviation. Moreover, improper wheel alignment also has an adverse effect on vehicle tires that consequently cause under arms of the vehicle to carry high loads resulting in damage. Negative effects of wheel alignment has called for efficient wheel monitoring and balancing. Considering various wheel alignment technologies, CCD wheel aligners are widely used alignment machines as they offer higher accuracy and faster alignment process. Moreover, they can be used to align wheels of larger vehicles.The research report on global CCD wheel aligners states that the global market is projected to expand at a moderate rate to register a value CAGR of 4.7% throughout the period of assessment, 2017-2026. Additionally, according to this research report, the sale of CCD wheel aligners is estimated to exceed US$ 4 Bn by the end of the year of assessment (2026). Increasing importance of accurate wheel alignment coupled with use of 6 camera CCD wheel aligners is expected to push the sales of the product in the years to follow.Higher Accuracy as Compared to Conventional Wheel Aligners to Boost Adoption of CCD Wheel AlignersWith a view to enhance vehicle output, technological advancements in the field of automotive machinery have been taking place since past several years. Manufacturers are highly focused on introducing advanced wheel aligners that play a major role in maintaining overall vehicle health, consequently reducing vehicle breakdowns. Initially, manual or conventional wheel alignment was adopted, which posed several problems, for instance, low accuracy, inefficiency, lack of labor and highly time consuming procedure. However, with introduction of modern CCD wheel aligners, manufacturers have overcome all the limitations of traditional wheel aligners by using technologies such as charge-coupled devices (CCD) in wheel alignment machines. In terms of accuracy and flexibility, CCD wheel aligners are a more reliable solution to fixing alignment problems. Since past ears, wide range of CCD wheel aligners have been developed, for example, 6 camera and 8 camera CCD wheel aligners that are largely used by auto manufacturers and garages. This is expected to fuel the adoption of CCD wheel aligners in the coming years.Browse Full Report with TOC-Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) to Radiate Potential GrowthAsia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region being one of the largest manufacturing hubs, is expected to reflect significant market potential for CCD wheel aligners. Automakers across the globe are concentrating on expanding their base in APEJ region owing to the immense potential that the region portrays. As per research, the use of CCD wheel aligners in APEJ is expected to grow at 5.6% with respect to value. The revenue generated by sales of CCD wheel aligners in this region is expected to reach a significant value over the assessment period.Competition TrackingPlayers involved in development of advanced wheel alignment machines are focusing on targeting APEJ region and few other European countries to expand their global footprint. Additionally, with introduction of new technologies in this field, key players are partnering with local players to promote the use of their developments in the respective regional market. Key players involved in CCD wheel aligners market include Stanley, Milwaukee Hand Trucks, Dewalt, Apex Tool Group, Blackhawk Industries and CooperTools, to name a few.Table of ContentGlobal Economic OutlookGlobal CCD Wheel Aligners Market - Executive Summary2.1. Global CCD Wheel Market Opportunity Analysis & Mega TrendsGlobal CCD Wheel Aligners Market Overview3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Global CCD Wheel Aligners Market Taxonomy3.1.2. Global CCD Wheel Aligners Market Definition3.2. Global CCD Wheel Aligners Market Size (US$ Mn) & Volume (Unit) and Forecast, 2012-20263.2.1. Global CCD Wheel Aligners Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3. Global CCD Wheel Aligners Market Dynamics3.4. Parent Market Overview3.5. Supply Chain3.6. Cost Structure3.7. Product life Cycle Analysis3.8. List of Distributors3.9. Specifications of CCD Wheel Aligners3.10. Product/ Module BenchmarkingContinue>>>Request Discount of this Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; thats why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MRSuite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-6111-593Email: sales@factmr.com/Web: 2018-2025 Wireless Router Market: Global Industry Development, Premium Insights, Consumer Demands and Market Revenue The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000948 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000948 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/wireless-router-market Wireless routers are devices that performs the functions of a router and include the functions of a wireless access point. It is used to provide access to the Internet or a private computer network. Wireless router in our research study do not includes wi-fi enabled household/ mobile router + extenders such as Netgear orbi, google WiFi, etc. The report covers market by both revenue as well as shipment. Unit shipments are the unit measure of product sales by vendors or by distribution channels to end users. Market revenue reflect revenues paid by the final customer to primary vendors and service providers either directly or through distribution channels. Global wireless router market is expected to grow from US$ 8,531.7 Mn in 2017 to US$ 16,128.3million by 2025 at a CAGR of 8.29% between 2018 and 2025.FREE | Request Sample Copy is Available atThe report focuses on an in-depth segmentation of this market based on standard, band, application and end-use. 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 segmented by respective countries. Considerable acceleration for the demand for wireless router owing to the continuing trend toward automation and sustained advanced technical improvements in wireless router is majorly driving the market for smart infrastructure. The North America is the worlds largest market for wireless router market comprising significant percent of total revenue share.The report aims to provide an overview of global wireless router market with detailed market segmentation. Also, it analyzes the current wireless router 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 report also provide PEST analysis of all five regions along with the SWOT analysis for all company profiled in the report.Inquire about this report atNorth America is one of the prominent regions in wireless routers market which will contribute highest revenue globally due to technological developments and considerable application of wireless routers in different industrial segment. Rapidly growing economies in Asia-Pacific (APAC) with significant growth construction sector will pave the path for increasing adoption and propel the market for wireless routers market. The APAC region is expected to lead the market with highest CAGR during the forecast period.Some of the key players of wireless router market include, ASUSTek Computer Inc., Belkin International, Inc., Buffalo Technology, Cisco Systems, Inc., D-Link Systems, Inc., EDIMAX Technology Co., Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., NETCORE Group (Qihoo 360), Shenzhen Tenda Technology Co., Ltd., TP-Link Technologies Co. Ltd., and Xiaomi among others.Complete 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, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Ink Additives Global Market Top Key Players ALTANA , BASF , Evonik Industries , Huntsman International The Dow Chemical Company and Forecast to 2021 Ink Additives Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1408374-global-ink-additives-market-2017-2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1408374-global-ink-additives-market-2017-2021 http://www.wiseguyreports.com Global Ink Additives MarketWiseGuyRerports.com Presents Global Ink Additives Market 2017-2021 New Document to its Studies Database. The Report Contain 95 Pages With Detailed Analysis.DescriptionInk additives are the chemical substances that are used in small quantities in printing ink formulations. They are commonly water-based or solvent-based, depending on the technology. Ink additives enhance the performance of the ink and printing by acting as dispersants, wetting agents, defoamers, and driers. They are added at the time of formulation or on the press side. The defoamers are commonly used during the pigment milling, ink manufacturing, and printing processes. The dispersants are used for improved color development and increased mill output.The analysts forecast the global ink additives market to grow at a CAGR of 4.79% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global ink additives market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the retail selling price as the average selling price of the product.Get sample Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: APAC Europe North America ROWThe Global Ink Additives 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 vendors ALTANA BASF Evonik Industries Huntsman International The Dow Chemical CompanyOther prominent vendors Allnex Croda International Dorf Ketal Chemicals Elementis Harima Chemicals Group Honeywell International Keim Additec Surface GmbH MUNZING Corporation PolyOne Corporation Solvay Shamrock TechnologiesMarket driver Rising internet trade and online retail sales For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Volatility in raw material prices For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Increased adoption of UV and EB curing For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Complete Report Details @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Market outlinePART 05: Market landscape Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by production process Global ink additives market by production process Global ink additives market by flexographic process Global ink additives market by lithographic process Global ink additives market by gravure process Global ink additives market by digital process Global ink additives market by other processesPART 07: Market segmentation by technology Global ink additives market by technology Global ink additives market by water-based technology Global ink additives market by solvent-based technology Global ink additives market by other technologiesPART 08: Market segmentation by application Global ink additives market by application Global ink additives market for packaging application Global ink additives market for publishing and commercial printing application Global ink additives market for other applicationsPART 09: Market segmentation by geography Global ink additives market by geography Ink additives market in APAC Ink additives market in North America Ink additives market in Europe Ink additives market in ROWPART 10: Decision frameworkPART 11: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Market challengesPART 12: Market trends Increased adoption of UV and EB curing Cost-effective biodegradable packaging Growing demand for eco-friendly inksPART 13: Vendor landscape Competitive scenario Key market vendors Other prominent vendorsPART 14: Key vendor analysis ALTANA BASF Evonik Industries Huntsman International The Dow Chemical Company..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. 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.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Thermo chromic Labels Market - Forecast on Market Dynamics, Emerging Trends, Growth Factors https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24227 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/thermo-chromic-labels-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Thermochromic Labels are innovative temperature sensitive labels that change color with a change in temperature. Thermochromic labels are smart labels and heat sensitive that change color at different temperatures accordingly, quality applications on packaging, especially in anti-counterfeiting, food and beverage products, and brand interaction, and ideal for Security. Thermochromic Labels have a varied range of applications across various industries. The thermochromic labels comprise of thermochromic dye or ink that become transparent or change color when it comes in contact with temperature. This phenomenon is workable for both hot and cold temperature changes depending on the end-use application. Moreover, thermochromic labels market is fragmented into two different types of thermochromic labels that are reversible and irreversible. Furthermore, reversible labels return to their original state once the temperature reverts to normal. On the other side, irreversible thermochromic labels are permanent in nature and will be stable after the reaction is completed.Get Brochure for Latest Advancements and Research Insights @Thermo chromic Labels Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe major factors boosting which are boosting the growth of thermo chromic labels market are increasing use of thermo chromic labels in consumer products such as drinks and beer cans, and these labels are suitable for a wide variety of applications such as security products where the label changes color when in contact with body heat, or in the promotions industry to indicate a winning ticket as an alternative to scratch off labels. Moreover, thermochromic labels are majorly used by alcoholic beverages and food & beverages manufacturers, also to find the temperature state of the beverage by observing the color change of the bottles and cans. Furthermore, the use of thermochromic labels as a measure for marketing and promotion by the beverage manufacturers to gain customer attention. Therefore, the growth of the packaging industry and smart labels in the packaging industry is, in turn, boost the growth of overall thermo chromic Labels market. On the growth side, the demand for Thermochromic labels in consumers products is gaining traction and is expected to speed up in terms of market value in the forecast period, which in turn will drive the demand for thermochromic label market across the globe. Nowadays, thermochromic labels leading player has introduced color to color change combinations, which permits the manufacturers to alter the graphics of their labels according to their promotional requirements. However, the thermochromic labels are of high cost as compared to the traditional labels.Regarding geography, thermo chromic labels market has been categorized into seven key regions including North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Thermo chromic labels market is expected to register healthy CAGR during the forecast period due to high demand of temperature sensitive labels and inks wide range of application such as food and beverages, cosmetics media, automotive and various other industries. In terms of regions, North America accounts for significant share for thermochromic labels market, owing to the high growth and demand for smart packaging in the region as compared to other developed regions. Moreover, the North America region accounts for healthy share in terms of consumption of alcoholic beverages, thermochromic labels being primarly used for llabeling in energy drinks and beer cans, the alcoholic beverage consumption in the region is anticipated to further add value to the thermochromic labels market in the region. In terms of developing region of Asia-Pacific, the growth of the thermochromic labels is significantly high and with comparatively high CAGR in forecast period owed to factors such as such as rapid economic development, globalization and increasing demand of the thermochromic labels in food & beverages industry and its sub-verticals, and high usage of the thermochromic labels in media and automotive industry. In addition,Browse Market Research Report @Over the forecast period, Asia-Pacific market for is anticipated to grow significantly owing to the growth of packaging industry in the region. Overall, the global market for thermochromic labels is expected to grow significantly by the end of forecast period. Thermochromic labels market for Asia Pacific is also expected to witness rapid growth during the forecast period primarily attributed to the growth of smart packaging market and increasing usage of thermochromic labels in different industry verticals, especially in China and India. The thermochromic labels market is growing at faster rate and is expected to grow at high CAGR in forecasted years.Thermo chromic Labels Market: Few PlayersFew players identified in thermo chromic labels market are:-Siltech LimitedB&H Colour ChangeAB Print Group LimitedQCR Solutions CorpNanoMatriX International LimitedHammer Packaging, Corp.,About TMRTransparency 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.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Market 2018 by Industry Leading Players : Invengo, Omni-ID, SMARTRAC, Alien QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1488030&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/asia-pacific-uhf-rfid-inlays-market-report-2018.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1488030&type=D Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.The Asia-Pacific market for UHF RFID Inlays is depicted in a highly detailed manner in our latest report. This depiction has been compiled by considering myriad perspectives and data sources, followed by carrying out extensive research. The main aim of the report is to provide a comprehensive insight to businesses as well as individuals working in the market. Such an insight is expected to be highly valuable, which could in turn lead towards a proper pathway for attaining success.Get Free Report Sample and Customization:Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of UHF RFID Inlays for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays market competition by top manufacturers/players, with UHF RFID Inlays sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingAvery DennisonInvengoOmni-IDSMARTRACAlienRFID and Card TechnologyShenzhen Yukai Smart Technology Co., LtdOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volum, revenue, product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPassive RFIDActive RFIDBattery-Assisted Passive (BAP) RFIDThe UHF RFID Inlays market illustrated in the report covers a forecast period from 2018 to 2025, along with a handsome gain in revenue anticipated to occur until the end of this duration. Modification of products and services, new deals made between different players, collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, and an overall development in terms of products sales are areas where most businesses are expected to focus.The report explains several important factors such as policy changes, favorable initiatives from governmental and private agencies, and key market trends to occur during to the mentioned forecast period. A high importance has been attributed to the drivers and restraints section, which are very important to be considered by businesses, if they want to exhibit growth in the UHF RFID Inlays market. Last but not the least, the markets various segments have also been outlined in the report based on various categories such as applications, end-users, product type, technology, and geography. Each individual segment has been described in great detail, encompassing several aspects such as revenue earned, product demand, and growth prospects for the future.To Browse a Complete Report with TOC Visit @Table of Contents1 UHF RFID Inlays Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of UHF RFID Inlays1.2 Classification of UHF RFID Inlays by Product Category1.3 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Market by Application/End Users1.4 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Market by Region1.5 Asia-Pacific Market Size (Value and Volume) of UHF RFID Inlays (2012-2022)1.5.1 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays (Volume and Value) by Type2.3 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays (Volume) by Application2.4 Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays (Volume and Value) by Region3 China UHF RFID Inlays (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 China UHF RFID Inlays Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 China UHF RFID Inlays Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 China UHF RFID Inlays Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 China UHF RFID Inlays Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 China UHF RFID Inlays Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.3 China UHF RFID Inlays Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationGet discount copy @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of UHF RFID InlaysFigure Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Sales Volume (K Units) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Asia-Pacific UHF RFID Inlays Market Size (Million USD) by Region (2012-2022)Figure China UHF RFID Inlays Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan UHF RFID Inlays Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure South Korea UHF RFID Inlays Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Taiwan UHF RFID Inlays Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)About Us: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.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market 2018 Key Manufacturers : Canyon Bakehouse, General Mills, Briess Malt & Ingredients QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1626714&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-gluten-free-malt-extracts-market-professional-survey-report-2018.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1626714&type=D Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market Professional Survey Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies Gluten Free Malt Extracts 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.The global market for Gluten Free Malt Extracts is depicted in a highly detailed manner in our latest report. This depiction has been compiled by considering myriad perspectives and data sources, followed by carrying out extensive research. The main aim of the report is to provide a comprehensive insight to businesses as well as individuals working in the market. Such an insight is expected to be highly valuable, which could in turn lead towards a proper pathway for attaining success.Order a Free Copy of Sample Report @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringCanyon BakehouseColorado Malting CompanyGeneral MillsBriess Malt & IngredientsEDME Limited CompanyOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoby FormPowderLiquidOtherby SourceSorghumRiceBuckwheatMilletBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaThe Gluten Free Malt Extracts market illustrated in the report covers a forecast period from 2018 to 2025, along with a handsome gain in revenue anticipated to occur until the end of this duration. Modification of products and services, new deals made between different players, collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, and an overall development in terms of products sales are areas where most businesses are expected to focus.The report explains several important factors such as policy changes, favorable initiatives from governmental and private agencies, and key market trends to occur during to the mentioned forecast period. A high importance has been attributed to the drivers and restraints section, which are very important to be considered by businesses, if they want to exhibit growth in the Gluten Free Malt Extracts market. Last but not the least, the markets various segments have also been outlined in the report based on various categories such as applications, end-users, product type, technology, and geography. Each individual segment has been described in great detail, encompassing several aspects such as revenue earned, product demand, and growth prospects for the future.Browse full table of contents and description of report @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Gluten Free Malt Extracts1.1 Definition and Specifications of Gluten Free Malt Extracts1.1.1 Definition of Gluten Free Malt Extracts1.1.2 Specifications of Gluten Free Malt Extracts1.2 Classification of Gluten Free Malt Extracts1.3 Applications of Gluten Free Malt Extracts1.4 Market Segment by Regions2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Gluten Free Malt Extracts2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Gluten Free Malt Extracts2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Gluten Free Malt Extracts2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Gluten Free Malt Extracts3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Gluten Free Malt Extracts3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Major Manufacturers in 20173.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Major Manufacturers in 20173.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Major Manufacturers in 20173.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Major Manufacturers in 20174 Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Overall Market Overview4.1 2013-2018E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2013-2018E Global Gluten Free Malt Extracts Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2017 Gluten Free Malt Extracts Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.4 Sales Price AnalysisTo Get Discount On This Report Click here @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Gluten Free Malt ExtractsTable Product Specifications of Gluten Free Malt ExtractsTable Classification of Gluten Free Malt ExtractsFigure Global Production Market Share of Gluten Free Malt Extracts by Type in 2017Figure North America Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025)Figure China Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025)Figure Europe Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025)Figure Southeast Asia Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025)Figure Japan Gluten Free Malt Extracts Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025)About Us: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.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com IT Robotic Automation Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/845 http://www.coherentchronicle.com The increasing popularity of robotic automation in the IT industry for process improvement, especially for accounting and financial management has become a crucial factor fueling growth of the IT robotic automation market. Moreover, the robotic automation tools is largely adopted by BPO services and infrastructural management. IT robotic automation offers data integration, query handling, payment processing, task allocation, and automating invoicing, which help boost demand for IT robotic automation solutions in the IT industry, in turn, fueling growth of the market.Robotic process automation is an application that offers computer software configuration, which helps to capture and interpret the manipulated data, transaction, processing responses, and create a communicating process with other digital systems. The rising demand for advanced automation solutions in various industries, especially in the IT industry due to increase in the working speed of employees, has helped fuel growth of the IT robotic automation market globally. The increasing demand for process automation in big data analytics is a result of time effective extraction of insights, which in turn, fuels growth of the global IT robotic process automation market. Moreover, the demand for modernization of business processes has increased, owing to improvement in productivity and increasing customer satisfaction thus, boosting the demand for IT robotic automation solution.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Among tools, the model-based application segment held a dominant position in the market in 2016 and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Due to increasing demand of customized model process solution in various verticals have raised the demand of the model based applicationAmong services, the professional services segment held a dominant position in the market in 2016 and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The training segment is projected to exhibit the largest CAGR over the forecast period.IT Robotic Automation Market Outlook North America holds significant market shareOn the basis of geography, the global IT robotic automation market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. North America holds a dominant position in the global market and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The rampant innovation in computing technology observed in the North American region, is a major factor contributing to rapid growth of the market in the region. Moreover, the increasing demand for IT and IT-related services have helped increase the demand for IT robotic automation technology in the region. Countries such as the U.S. and Canada observe the presence of major companies. Similarly, Asia Pacific is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR over the forecast period. India, China, and Japan are some of the major countries in the region that help drive growth of the market for IT robotic automation. The increasing government and private investment to develop IT-related infrastructure, has also boosted growth of the IT robotic automation market in Asia Pacific.Key Players in the Global IT Robotic Automation MarketXerox Corporation, Verint System Inc., Uipath SRL, Redwood Software, Pegasystems Inc., Nice Systems Ltd., Ipsoft, Inc., Celaton Ltd., Blue Prism PLC, and Automation Anywhere are some of the major players operating in the global IT robotic automation 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 : Live Transmission from Texas: IT-Students and Professors of the Nuremberg Institute of Technology, Germany Discuss Software Costs with Expert from Texas Prof. Dr. A.F. Sheta from the TAMUCC, U.S.A. There are many reports about software project failures. A lack of quality, delays and project cost explosion are often criticized by companies and organizations. This issue was addressed by an extraordinary long-distance guest lecture during the course "Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Systems" on May 2, 2018 at the Department of Computer Science, Nuremberg Institute of Technology, Germany. Prof. Dr. Sheta from the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, a worldwide known expert in the field of soft computing, joined the course live from Texas via a video conferencing tool and gave an exciting presentation on estimating software costs utilizing fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic can be used to handle uncertainties and vagueness during the process of software effort and cost predictions. In his innovative lecture, Professor Sheta explained how this works. He reported on a real-world case that he successfully carried out for NASA. With of his approach, he was able to achieve significantly better results compared to conventional methods. After Prof. Sheta's excellent talk, which was attended not only by the departments students but also by other members of the university, a lively scientific discussion ensued. The feedback from all participants was very positive. The Nuremberg Tech would be delighted to expand its collaboration with Prof. Dr. Sheta and the renowned Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The German-American dialogue is alive!The TH Nuremberg - Georg Simon Ohm is one of the biggest universities of its kind in Germany with approx. 13,000 students and 12 faculties. Georg Simon Ohm, discoverer of the famous Ohm's law, is the former director of the university.Technische Hochschule Nurnberg - Georg Simon OhmFakultat InformatikZ.Hd. Prof. Dr. P. RauschKelerplatz 1290489 NurnbergGermany Tagging Machines Market - 5 Key Trends Shaping the Landscape https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=23177 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/tagging-machines-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Tagging machines and tagging products such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are used for identification and tracking of products and play a significant role in the packaging industry. Demand for tagging machines has increased substantially over the past three to four years, as RFIDs are used across various industries for identification and tracking. The market for tagging machines is at a nascent stage currently, but is expected to witness significant growth over forecast period, 20162024. Awareness regarding electronic tagging is growing globally owing to rapid growth of industries such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, cosmetics, etc. RFID technology is used in tags, thereby enabling identification of the specifications of a tagged product using a reader device. Identification and tracking measures help to eradicate issues pertaining to counterfeiting and robbery of products such as apparel, electronic goods, expensive perfumes, consumables, DVDs, CDs etc. to name a few.Get Brochure for Latest Advancements and Research Insights @Global Tagging Machines - Market Dynamics:Demand from the retail clothing market is significantly high owing to rapid growth of this sector globally, and this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. In addition, increasing growth in the textile industry is further driving demand for tagging machines. Moreover, increasing per capita disposable income in developing countries is a key factor driving growth of the global tagging machines market. This is attributed to an increasing number of consumers purchasing premium products such as branded apparel and perfumes, and other products that retailers use RFID tags to track or identify in malls and stores etc. Rapid industrialization and stringent norms regarding secure and safe packaging are other factors fueling demand for tagging machines globally. Growth of the tagging machines market is moderately hampered by high installation cost and lack of awareness regarding this emerging technology.The tagging machines market in Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to account for highest revenue growth as compared to markets in other regions. Markets in India and China are projected to remain dominant in terms of revenue due to relatively large retail industry and technological advancements in these developing economies. Furthermore, growth of the market in Asia Pacific is expected to be driven by increasing disposable income and spending power among consumers in countries in the region. North America is expected to be the second dominant region, accounting for two-thirds of the revenue contributed by the Asia Pacific excluding Japan market to the global market. The market in Europe is expected to witness above average growth, with Germany, France, and the U.K. ranking high in terms of demand for tagging machines. The market in the Middle East & Africa region is expected to witness a significant increase in revenue contribution from sales in GCC countries, South Africa, and Egypt.Browse Market Research Report @Global Tagging Machines Key players:Some of the key players in the tagging machines market are Smartrac N.V., Checkpoint Systems, Inc., which is a division of CCL Industries Inc., The M&R Companies, Sundbirsta, which is a subsidiary of Danieli & C.Officine Meccaniche SpA., DuPont, Metalcraft, Inc., ZIH Corp., MDM Inc., and Pannier Corporation. These key players are focused on entering into markets in developing economies and increasing respective market shares.About TMRTransparency 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.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: 2018-2025 Global Microfluidic Market: In Vitro Diagnostics, Pharmaceutical Research, Life Science Research, Drug Discovery and Others The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHE100000953 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPHE100000953 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/microfluidics-market Microfluidics studies various systems that are able to process small quantities of fluids by using tiny channels having dimensions in micrometres. It is an emerging technology having wide range of applications in biology, chemistry, optics and information technology. This technology is widely used for various processes such as capillary electrophoresis, sample injection in mass spectrometry, immunoassays, flow cytometry, DNA analysis, separation and manipulation of cells, PCR amplification among others. Additionally, microfluidics is also used in diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and in research.Various factors driving the growth of the market are rising demand for point-of-care testing, increasing prevalence of oncology diseases and technological developments in molecular diagnostics. Additionally, increasing healthcare expenditure by developing economies across the globe also fuels the market growth during the forecast period. Additionally, the market exhibits growth opportunities due growing applications of microfluidics technology.The Global Microfluidics Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the microfluidics industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global microfluidics market with detailed market segmentation by product, material, application, and geography. The global microfluidics 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 Sample Copy is Available atOn the basis of product, the microfluidics market is segmented into microfluidic chips, microfluidic sensors, micropumps, microneedles and others. On the basis of material, the market is segmented into polymers, glass, silicon, and others. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceutical and life science research, drug discovery, and others. In vitro diagnostics is further sub-segmented into point-of-care testing, clinical diagnostics.The report provides a detailed overview on the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global microfluidics market based on product, material and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall microfluidics 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.America is the largest market whose growth is mainly driven by presence of leading players in the US and launch of new technologically advanced products by key players in the market and increasing adoption of microfluidics. Asia Pacific is largest market with Japan, China and India being the largest contributors to the market growth.Inquire Before Buying atThe 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 microfluidics 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 Danaher, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., PerkinElmer Inc., Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Illumina Inc., Fluidigm Corporation, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Microfluidic Chipshop, Dolomite Microfluidics among others.View Complete Report 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.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Jasminum Officinale Market to Actively Foray into Emerging Consumer Market places During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1852 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1852 www.futuremarketinsights.com Jasminum officinale is flower species, commonly known as jasmine and belongs to olive family of flowering plants. In terms of characteristics, this flower has very good scent and sharp pointed pinnate leaves and used as an extract and as well as its oil extracted from jasminum officinale (Jasmine) has wide application in cosmetic and healthcare industry. In essential oil segment, jasminum officinale is also known as king of oils and extracted from solvent extraction process. Asia-Pacific countries are the largest producers of jasminum officinale in the world.Market Dynamics of Jasminum Officinale:Key market driver which influence the demand of jasminum officinale is from manufacturers of cosmetic industry as it is one of the prime ingredient which is used in cosmetic products because of its sweet scent and natural fragrance. On the other side, this product is also trending in market due to its heavy demand among the health conscious consumers, as they always seeks for cosmetics products made from herbal ingredient and free from side effects. Jasminum officinale is also gaining demand from medicinal purpose where its oil is mostly used in therapies, skin diseases, itching, ulcer and to cure from many other health related problems.Request For Report Sample@Market Segmentation of Jasminum Officinale:Market of jasminum officinale is segmented on the basis of form and application. On the basis of form jasminum officinale is segmented into powder, extract and liquid form. As per the application, jasminum officinale is segmented in three different segment which includes cosmetic industry, medicinal purpose, home care products and other (food and beverage). Demand of jasminum officinale is growing from the cosmetic industry where its flowers and its oil used in perfumes, body lotions, cream, shampoos, hair oil, soaps, talcum powder and in many other body care products. Increasing middle class population, particularly in developing nations of the world states the consumers have enough income to spend their money in other areas like health and hygiene products, beauty care, home care and in many other products after meeting their essential requirements. Emphasizing on this factor cosmetic companies are offering those products which comprised from natural fragrance and natural ingredient and also free from any side effects. Jasminum officinale flowers and its oil have all such qualities and due to which it is used in cosmetic and personal care products to satisfy the growing demand of consumers related to their wellbeing. Owing to market segment of jasminum officinale, it is expected that cosmetic industry acquires majority of share in terms of both value and volume.Oil extracted from jasminum officinale has application in medicinal purpose like in treatment of spasms, dermatitis, dehydrated skin and to fight with infections and for many other purposes. Jasminum officinale also has application in home care products, where companies are generally using them in detergent powders, dishwashing liquid, room fresheners etc as a fragrance extract. Moreover, jasminum officinale also has a demand as a food flavor ingredient in culinary products, confectionery products, tea, desserts etc.Regional Outlook of Jasminum Officinale:On the basis of regional outlook, jasminum officinale market is segmented in seven regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa. As per production, major jasminum officinale producing countries are China and India from Asia-Pacific region. On the other side in terms of consumption, increasing demand of cosmetic, herbal and personal care products in European region supports the market growth over forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Key Players in Jasminum Officinale Market:Key players in jasminum officinale market are Penn Herb Company, Young Living Essential Oils, The Jasmine Pearl, LLC., Bigelow Tea, YARDLEY LONDON, Hello Dollface, Eden Botanicals and AayurMed Biotech (P) 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: Global Light Therapy Market Report Examines Latest Trends and Key Drivers Supporting Growth through 2026 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1709 https://www.mrrse.com/light-therapy-market Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has recently updated its massive research catalog by adding a new study, titled Light Therapy Market. The study offers a clear insight about the prevailing trends and innovations happening in the Power System Analysis Software 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.Click for Complete Report Sample @Global demand for light therapy devices is increasing as a result of rapid adoption of new technologies and increasing incidence of Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD) and skin treatments. Markets in developed economies are witnessing increasing demand for light therapy products due to the geographic location and high prevalence rate of SAD. Adoption of light therapy devices is projected to increase at a rate of 4.8% over the forecast period. The trend is expected to boost the overall demand for light therapy products such as light boxes, dawn simulators, handheld devices for skin treatment during the forecast period. To understand and assess the opportunities in this market, the report is categorically split into four sections, namely market analysis by product type, end user type, light type and region. The report analyses the global light therapy market in terms of market value (US$ Mn).The report starts with an overview of the light therapy market and its usage in various applications globally. In the same section, FMI covers the light therapy market performance in terms of revenue. This section includes FMIs analyses of key trends, drivers and restraints from the supply and demand perspective.The next section of the report analyses the market is based on product type and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. Product types covered in the report include:Light BoxFloor and Desk LampsLight VisorDawn SimulatorLight Therapy BulbsHandheld Devices for skin treatmentThe next section of the report analyses the market based on light type segments and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. The light type segments covered in the report include:White LightBlue LightRed LightOthers (green light, yellow light)The next section of the report analyses the market based on end user type segments and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. The end user type segments covered in the report include:Dermatology ClinicsHomecare SettingsOthers (workplace, salons)Furthermore, the report analyses the market based on regions and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. Regions covered in the report include:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanMiddle East & Africa (MEA)JapanThe forecast presented for the market assesses the total revenue generated in the light therapy market. When developing the forecast, the starting point involves sizing the current market, which forms the basis for the forecast of how the market is anticipated to take shape in the near future. Given the characteristics of market, we triangulated the outcome based on different analysis of the supply side, demand side and GDP growth rate. However, quantifying the market across aforementioned segments and regions is more a matter of quantifying expectations and identifying opportunities rather than rationalising them after the forecast has been completed.In addition, we have taken into consideration the year-on-year growth to understand the predictability of the market and to identify the right growth opportunities in the global light therapy market.Complete Report details with List of Tables and Figures @As previously highlighted, the global light therapy market is split into various categories based on region, product type, end user type and light type. All these segments or categories have been analyzed in terms of Basis Point Share (BPS) to understand the individual segments relative contribution to market growth. This detailed level of information is important for identification of various key trends in the global light therapy market.Another key feature of this report is the analysis of the light therapy market by region and product type segments, end user type and light type segments; and the market revenue forecast in terms of absolute dollar opportunity. This is traditionally overlooked while forecasting the market. However, absolute dollar opportunity is critical in assessing the level of opportunity that a provider can look to achieve, as well as to identify potential resources from a sales perspective in the global light therapy market.Furthermore, Future Market Insights has developed a market attractiveness index for all four segments, namely regional, product type, end user type and light type. This index helps in identifying the real opportunities in the market.The final section of the report includes the competitive landscape to provide report audiences a dashboard view, based on categories of providers across the market, their presence in the light therapy product portfolio and key differentiators.Key players in the global light therapy market include Koninklijke Philips N.V., Verilux, Inc., Northern Light Technology, Zepter International, Photomedex Inc., Beurer, Nature Bright, Lucimed SA, Chal-Tec-GmbH, Lumie, Aura Daylight and Sphere Gadget Technologies .About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com Cadwell, SpecialtyCare, Natus, NuVasive, Medtronic, & inomed Leading the North American IONM Market | Arizton https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/intraoperative-neuromonitoring-market-ionm-market https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/ionm-market-in-north-america https://www.arizton.com/blog/ionm-trends-drivers-2022/ https://www.arizton.com/news/press-release/neurosurgery-segment-of-north-american-ionm-market-is-likely-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-8-26 According to a recent research report by Arizton, the development of advanced devices that interactive medical equipment that enables safe navigation through the bodys nerve anatomy during surgery is propelling the growth of the North America IONM market. The prevalence of chronic diseases such as heart diseases, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and arthritis both in US and Canada will boost the demand for advanced devices in the North America IONM market.The North America IONM market is expected to generate revenues of around $2.1 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of more than 8% during the forecast period.Read the full report on Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) Market Global Outlook and Forecast 2017-2022Read: IONM Market in North AmericaThe list of top six vendors in the North America IONM market are discussed in detail below:1. Cadwell Industries Inc.Cadwell Industries Inc is a medical device company focused on innovation and manufacture of neurophysiology instruments in the North America IONM market. The company offers products for EEG, EMG, IONM, and for sleep diagnosis. Its product portfolio also includes the CadLink clinical information management platform. It provides secure and efficient access to clinical information and helps deliver efficient workflow, quality data, and easy reporting by connecting Cascade Surgical Studio IONM, Arc EEG, and Sierra EMG/EP.Key News: Cadwell is focusing on new technological innovations and concentrates on seeking opportunities for geographical expansion in the North America IONM market.2. SpecialtyCareSpecialtyCare is one of the key providers of outsourced clinical services to hospitals and other healthcare providers in the North America IONM market. The company offers a wide spectrum of other clinical services ranging from perfusion services, IONM, sterile processing management, autotransfusion, surgical assist, and minimally invasive surgical support in the North America IONM market. The company maintains regional offices across the US to maximize operational efficiencies and clinical integration with patient care teams at the local level and is certified by the Joint Commission.Key News: SpecialtyCare intraoperative neuromonitoring in February 2016, earned accreditation in Surgical Ambulatory Healthcare from the Joint Commission.3. Natus Medical Incorporated (Natus)Natus is one of the leading providers of newborn care and neurology healthcare products and services. The products offered by the company is used for the screening, diagnosis, treatment, detection, monitoring, and tracking of common medical disorders in neurological dysfunction, newborn care, hearing impairment, epilepsy, sleep disorders, neuromuscular diseases and balance and mobility disorders in the North America IONM market. The company persistently evaluates new, emerging, and complementary technologies to identify new product opportunities.Key News: Natus in May 2015, expanded its neurodiagnostic services into 7 new states with the acquisition of the assets of NeuroQuest, a provider of neurodiagnostic services in the North America IONM market.4. NuVasive Inc.NuVasive is one of the leading medical device companies focused on developing minimally disruptive surgical products and procedurally integrated solutions for spine surgery. The company focuses on the development of minimally disruptive surgical products and integrated solutions for the spinal cord and provides neuro-monitoring solutions in the North America IONM market. The companys product portfolio includes implants and fixation products, and the recent acquisition of Ellipse Technologies will include more product portfolios such as MAGEC- EOS spinal bracing and lengthening system and the PRECICE limb lengthening system.Key News: Nuvasive in December 2016, had over 820 issued and pending patents, including over 360 US issued patents in North America IONM market.5. Medtronic PlcMedtronic manufactures, designs, and markets medical devices worldwide through its wide distribution network. The company provides its products through its four divisions that consist of a cardiac and vascular group, minimally invasive therapies group, restorative therapies group, and diabetes group in the North America IONM market. Medtronics product portfolio in the North American IONM market include acute care ventilators, capsule endoscopy products, electrosurgical products, ablation products, coronary stents, catheters, insulin infusion systems, continuous glucose monitoring systems, endoscopic ultrasound products, powered surgical instruments, surgical navigation and imaging systems, critical care products, deep brain stimulators, urology products, surgical instruments and many others.Key News: In November 2015, Medtronic announced the acquisition of Aircraft Medical for a cash consideration of $110 million.6. inomed Medizintechnik GmbHinomed focuses on the development of nerve protection instruments and systems, which enable precise, targeted treatment in the North America IONM market. The companys product portfolio in the North America includes innovative products and treatments in the fields of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), functional neurosurgery, pain therapy, and neurological diagnostics. inomed has a wide distribution network with direct sales in a global medical technology company with direct sales in Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Iceland.Key News: inomed is working on four medical projects that include ZIM RF Generator Development, NeuroPhos, Optical CI, and INTAKT.Read: IONM Market Growing Requirement of Tele-Neuromonitoring is the Latest TrendOther prominent players in North America IONM market are Accurate Monitoring, Computational Diagnostics, Bromedicon Neuromonitoring, Clinical Neurodiagnostics, CNS Neuromonitoring, Dr. Langer Medical GmbH, IntraNerve, Medsurant Health, Neuro Alert, Neuromonitoring Technology (NMT) and Nihon Kohden Corp.Read: Neurosurgery Segment of North American IONM Market is likely to Grow at a CAGR of 8.26% During the Forecast PeriodAbout Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceArizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.Arizton has gained a paramount standpoint in the market research arena as it offers top of the line solutions to clients to assess market landscape and to finalize foolproof business strategies. We are committed to provide inclusive market research reports and consulting services to clients from diversified industries including Consumer Goods & Retail Technology, Automotive and Mobility, Smart Tech, Healthcare and Lifesciences, Industrial Machinery, Chemicals and Materials, IT and Media, Logistics and PackagingArizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceChicago, Illinois, 60605Mail: enquiry@arizton.comCall: +1-312-465-7864 Automotive Intelligence Park Assist System Market Reach a Value of Eeach US$38.53 bn by The end of 2025 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1661381 https://www.researchmoz.us/automotive-intelligence-park-assist-system-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html/toc http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Automotive Intelligence Park Assist System Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.Global Automotive Intelligence Park Assist System Market: OverviewThis report analyzes and forecasts the market for automotive intelligence park assist system at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (Units) from 2017 to 2025. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global automotive intelligence park assist system market. It also covers the impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for automotive intelligence park assist system during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the automotive intelligence park assist system market at the global and regional level.The report comprises a detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global automotive intelligence park assist system market. Porters Five Forces model for the automotive intelligence park assist system market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Automotive Intelligence Park Assist System Market: SegmentationThe study provides a decisive view of the global automotive intelligence park assist system market by segmenting it in terms of component, vehicle, and region. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for automotive intelligence park assist system in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for individual application segments in all the regions.The report provides the estimated market size of automotive intelligence park assist system for 2016 and forecast for the next nine years. The global market size of automotive intelligence park assist system has been provided in terms of revenue and volume. Market numbers have been estimated based on key component, technology, and regional segments of automotive intelligence park assist system market. Market size and forecast for each major component and technology have been provided in terms of global and regional/country markets.Global Automotive Intelligence Park Assist System Market: Research MethodologyIn order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research also includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants insights, and recognizing business opportunities.Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, and SEC filings, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases, national government documents, statistical databases, and market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market, National government documents, statistical databases, and market reports, American Automobile Association, European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Automotive Research Association of India, Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobile (OICA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), European Commission, Factiva, etc.Primary research involves e-mail interactions, telephonic interviews, and panel interviews for each market, category, segment, and sub-segment across geographies. We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators in order to validate the data and analysis. Primary interviews provide firsthand information on market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape, and outlook, etc. These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe study includes profiles of major companies operating in the global automotive intelligence park assist system market. Key players in the automotive intelligence park assist system market include Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Delphi Automotive LLP, Siemens AG, Valeo, Magna International, HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Clarion, NXP Semiconductors, Aisin World Corp. of America and others. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, recent developments, and SWOT analysis. The market for automotive intelligence park assist system is primarily driven by rising demand for automotive safety product.Table of Content1. Preface1.1. Market Definition and Scope1.2. Market Segmentation1.3. Key Research Objectives1.4. Research Highlights2. Assumptions and Research Methodology3. Executive Summary : Global Intelligent Park Assist System Market3.1. Global Intelligent Park Assist System Market Size, US$ Mn, Units, 2017-20254. Market Overview4.1. Introduction4.1.1. Intelligent Park Assist System Market Definition4.1.2. Industry Developments4.2. Key Market Indicators4.3. Market Dynamics4.3.1. Drivers4.3.2. Restraints4.3.3. Opportunity4.4. Porters Five Force Analysis4.5. Value Chain Analysis4.5.1. List of Key Raw Material Suppliers4.5.2. List of Key Manufacturers4.5.3. List of Customers4.5.4. Level of Integration4.6. Regulatory Scenario4.7. SWOT AnalysisGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @5. Intelligent Park Assist System Raw Material & Price Trend Analysis6. Global Intelligent Park Assist System Supply Demand Scenario6.1. Overview6.2. Global Production Output, by Region6.2.1. North America6.2.2. Latin America6.2.3. EuropeContinue...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 @ Telecom Order Management Market Expanding at a Healthy CAGR of 8.80% Between 2017 - 2025 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1661610 https://www.researchmoz.us/telecom-order-management-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html/toc http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Telecom Order Management Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.Global Telecom Order Management Market: OverviewThis report on the global telecom order management market provides analysis for the period 20152025, wherein 2016 is the base year and the period from 2017 to 2025 is the forecast period. Data for 2015 has been included to provide historical information. The report covers market dynamics including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends expected to influence the global telecom order management market growth during the said period. Technologies that are playing a major role in driving the global telecom order management market have also been considered in the study. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the market growth throughout the above forecast period in terms of revenue estimates (in US$ Mn), across different geographies.The report also includes telecom order management product lifecycle, Porter Five Force analysis which identifies bargaining power of supplier, bargaining power of buyer, threat from new entrant, threat from substitute and threat from competition in telecom order management market is also included in the report. Ecosystem analysis which identifies key stake holders in the telecom order management market is also covered in the report.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Telecom Order Management Market: SegmentationThe telecom order management market has been segmented on the basis of component, deployment type and region. Based on component, the market has been further classified into solution and services. The services segment is further classified into consulting, support services and others. By deployment type, the telecom order management market is classified into on premise and cloud based. Geographically, the report classifies the global Telecom Order Management market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America; the regions are analyzed in terms of revenue generation. Furthermore, region wise prominent countries covered in the report include the following - U.S, Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Japan, China, India, GCC countries, South Africa and Brazil.Segment trends and regional trends have also been added in telecom order management study. Additionally, the report also covers segment wise comparison matrix, market attractiveness analysis and market positioning of key players for all regions covered in the scope of study. Comparison matrix includes segment growth matrix, 2017 - 2025(%), segment revenue contribution, 2017 - 2025 (%), and segment compounded growth matrix (CAGR %). Market attractiveness identifies and compares segments market attractiveness on the basis of CAGR and market share index across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America.Global Telecom Order Management Market: Competitive LandscapeFurthermore, the report includes competition landscape which comprises of competition matrix, market positioning of major players in the Telecom Order Management market based on their 2016 revenues, and profiles of major players. Competition matrix benchmarks leading players on the basis of their capabilities and potential to grow. Factors including market position, offerings and R&D focus are attributed to companys capabilities. Factors including top line growth, market share, segment growth, infrastructure facilities and future outlook are attributed to companys potential to grow. This section also identifies and includes various recent developments carried out by the leading players of telecom order management market.Company profiling includes company overview, major business strategies adopted, SWOT analysis, and market revenues for year 2014 to 2016. The global players profiled in the global telecom order management market include Ericsson AB, Amdocs Corporation, Cerillion PLC, IBM Corporation, ChikPea Inc., Comarch SA, Fujitsu Limited, Neustar, Inc., Pegasystems Inc, and Oracle Corporation have also been added in the report.Table of Content1. Preface1.1. Report Scope and Segmentation1.2. Key Research Objectives and Highlights2. Assumptions and Research Methodology3. Executive Summary : Telecom Order Management MarketGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @4. Overview4.1. Introduction4.1.1. Definition4.1.2. Key Industry Developments4.2. Market Dynamics4.2.1. Drivers4.2.2. Restraints4.2.3. Opportunity4.3. Key Trends4.4. Global Telecom Order Management Market Analysis and Forecasts, 2015 20254.4.1. Market Revenue Projections (US$ Mn)4.5. Porters Five Force Analysis4.6. Ecosystem Analysis4.7. Market Outlook5. Global Telecom Order Management Market Analysis and Forecast by Component5.1. Introduction & Definition5.2. Key Findings / Developments5.3. Telecom Order Management Market Size (US$ Mn) and Forecast by Component, 2015 20255.3.1. Solutions5.3.2. Services5.3.2.1. ConsultingContinue...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 @ Safety Light Curtains Market: Overview Of Key Market Forces Propelling And Restraining Market Growth https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/safety-light-curtains-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=36818 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=36818 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Safety light curtains are photoelectric sensors that protect people or workers from injuries associated with dangerous moving machinery such as winders, presses, and palletizers that have the potential to cause harm. Light curtains provide high safety and greater productivity by minimizing operator fatigue and discomfort and are the more ergonomically sound solution as compared to mechanical guards.Safety light curtains can also be used as a substitute to mechanical barriers and other traditional machine guarding systems. Safety light curtains can enhance the maintainability of the equipment they are guarding by minimizing the need for physical guards and barriers.Growing demand for safety light curtains in various industries such as automotive, healthcare, and food and beverages is driving the growth of the global safety light curtains market. Safety light curtains are widely used in the automotive industry in order to ensure the safety of workers working on hazardous machines that carry out activities such as welding, pressing, and cutting.Obtain ReportIncreasing number of industrial accidents is one of the primary factors responsible for the increasing demand for safety light curtains. Automation is widely established in industrial sectors and has a correlation to the increasing number of accidents at the workplace. Automated activities include assembly, store management, materials handling, packaging, and processing.The risk of unexpected machine movements or industrial accidents are increasing as most of the work is getting fully automated and is no longer under the control of human workforce. Hence, the adoption of safety light curtains is increasing in order to prevent accidents that may occur due to the mismanagement of heavy machines. Rising need for safety light curtains in the packaging industry and rise in industrial revolution 4.0 are some of the factors boosting the growth of the safety light curtains market.The adoption of robotic technology in the packaging industry is increasing rapidly owing to the increased ease of use, reliability and accuracy, and reduced costs. Technological advancement in robots are escalating the primary packaging functions, such as cutting, coating, pick-and-place operations, and cartooning applications. However, the need for regular maintenance and inability of safety light curtains to offer protection from secondary dangers may hinder the growth of the safety light curtains market.Request BrochureThe global safety light curtains market can be segmented based on component, safety level, industry, and geography. On the basis of component, the market can be segmented into photoelectric cells, LED, display unit, control unit, and enclosures. On the basis of safety level, the market can be segmented into type 2 and type 4.Type 4 segment is expected to expand significantly during the forecast period owing to the benefits provided by type 4 safety light curtains such as finger detection, hand detection, as well as body detection in order to prevent unexpected accidents. In terms of industry, the global safety light curtains market can be segmented into automotive, food and beverages, packaging and others.Request Table of ContentAutomotive segment is expected to be on the rise during the forecast period as safety light curtains are widely used in the automotive industry for a number of applications such as conveying, welding, material handling, robotic arms, and pressing. Safety light curtains are widely installed in the automotive industry to prevent accidents that may occur due to the mismanagement or mishandling of various machines.Geographically, the global safety light curtains market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. The market in the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period as China is one of the biggest manufacturing hubs in the region.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: Flagship Smartphone Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/863 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Proliferation of IoT and increased demand of connectivity in every aspect, that include home automation, security, automotive, work, factory has led significant change in the lifestyle of the middle income group. Moreover, increased emphasis on the development of high speed internet technology such as 4G and 5G technologies is expected to drive the demand of advanced mobile phone having features such as high processing capability, versatility, and durability. In addition, increased emphasis on the introduction cutting edge features such as improved water resistance, high resolution cameras, biometric identification, and gesture control among others will present strong growth prospects for flagship smartphones market over the forecast period.Flagship smartphones have gained significant popularity over the past few years. Companies are increasingly introducing high-end mobile phones and largely focus on the sales & marketing of these phones to garner increased consumer traction. Some of the popular product launch in 2017 include the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6, HTC U11, OnePlus 5, Motorola Moto Z2 Force, Apple iPhone X, and Mi6. The rapidly growing working population is increasingly inclined towards luxury products such as flagship smartphones and are growingly tech savvy, in turn fueling market growth.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Multi-channel retailing has added to the ease of availability of flagship smartphones to the customers across the globeGrowth of multiple retail channels include single brand, multi-brand stores, and e-commerce across different regional segments have increased consumer access to the newly launched smart gadgets. Moreover, growth of ecommerce business to cater the international consumer base. In recent past, major smartphone manufacturers have focused on teaming up with e-tailers, serving as exclusive sales partners for their flagship devices. Players such as Xiaomi, Motorola, and OnePlus have reaped rich dividends from such partnerships in the recent past.Android OS is expected to hold the largest flagship smartphone market share over the forecast periodAndroid provide world-class platform to create applications and games for users that can be virtually accessed from anywhere across the globe. This is primarily owing to its open accessibility and all major manufacturers, with the exception of Apple opting for this operating system for their flagship phones. Among the storage types, expandable memory handsets are expected to gain edge over the internal memory limitation. This is owing to the improvement in multi-aspects of the smartphones, which include motion sensing, graphic resolutions, and increasing consumers requirement for information storage. However, factors such as fast processing, easy data accessibility, and protection from viruses that can be transmitted through external device, are expected to drive the growth of the flagship smartphone market. In addition, few major companies will continue to provide inbuilt storage spaces to the consumers.Key Players in the Global Flagship Smartphone MarketChief industry participants in the flagship smartphone market include Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Apple Inc., Oppo, OnePlus and Mobitech Creations, Xiaomi, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Lenovo Group Limited, ZTE Corporation, TCL Communication Technology Holdings Limited, and Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd. Asia Pacific is expected to remain the prominent focus of the players, owing to the largest middle income group and the increasing penetration of mobile phones mainly in China, India, and ASEAN countries.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 : Female Hygiene Wipe Market: Up-To-Date Analyses Of Market Trends And Technological Improvements https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/female-hygiene-wipe-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=36836 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=36836 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Feminine hygiene includes personal care products required by women to lead a healthy life. Various feminine hygiene products are available in the market and used for intimate hygiene routine. Feminine wipes are cleansing cloths which are used to clean the vaginal area. They can be used during menstruation cycle or for everyday use in order to guard against vaginal infection.Growing awareness about sanitization is the fundamental factor driving the global female hygiene wipe market. In developing countries, awareness about hygiene practices is growing due to the changing lifestyles and increasing disposable income. Rising demand for hygiene products and ease of availability are some of the major factors responsible for the growing demand for female hygiene wipe products.The adoption of feminine products is growing rapidly in developed areas in order to avoid allergies, infection, and inflammation. Increasing awareness about health concerns is positively influencing the demand for female hygiene products. Women have become more concerned about health, particularly related to feminine hygiene.Obtain ReportHealth issues caused by lack of hygiene and increasing environmental concerns are increasing the use of various female hygiene products. Since over a decade, women have started to demand healthier sanitary products. Demand for organic & biodegradable female hygiene products among women is continuously increasing in order to reduce health risks caused by irritants, harmful chemicals and dyes.This creates lucrative opportunity for vendors to strengthen their market position by developing premium and innovative products. Continuous innovation and maintaining brand loyalty are some of the recent trends in developed countries whereas in developing countries, governments are focusing on spreading awareness about female sanitization and health issues.Use of flushable wipes is the recent trend in the female hygiene wipes market. Growing online retailing of wet tissues and wipes is also playing an important role in the growth of the female hygiene wipe market. Government initiatives in various countries to spread hygiene awareness is also escalating the global female hygiene wipe market.Request BrochureThe female hygiene wipe market can be segmented into shapes, fragrance, distribution channel, and region. Female hygiene wipe products are available in different shapes and sizes in the market with different fragrance. On the basis of distribution channel, the market can be segmented as supermarkets, drug stores, pharmacies & beauty stores, and online & other channels.In terms of region, the global female hygiene wipe market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow rapidly owing to rising number of working women, increasing population, and rising health consciousness among women.Obtain ToCChina, India, and Japan are expected to contribute a significant share in the female hygiene wipe market in Asia Pacific. Factors such as product advertisements, government initiatives in order to spread awareness about importance of hygiene practices during menstrual periods, easy availability of products in stores, and increasing urbanization are propelling the growth of the female hygiene wipe market in the region.Demand for innovative feminine hygiene products is high in developed regions such as North America and Western Europe. Developing regions such as Middle East & Africa and South America are also expected to grow exponentially due to the rising awareness about health issues and growing campaigns related to womens sanitization.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: China PEMFC and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Market 2018: Foton, FeiChi Bus, SAIC, Dongfeng, Yutong https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1692418&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/china-pemfc-and-fuel-cell-electric-vehicle-market-research-report-2018.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1692418&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report China PEMFC and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Market Research Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.The major manufactures in China market include-BallardShenli Hi-TechSunrise PowerPearl HydrogenWuhan WUTOn the basis of product, the PEMFC market is primarily split intoTransportationOtherDownload Free exclusive Sample of this report:The framework of the study on the China PEMFC and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle market is based on pertinent insights gained from extensive rounds of primary interviews and gleaning through a vast repository of secondary research, which accounts for its relevance and usefulness. Investors, business executives, and CXOs, interested in getting clear, uncomplicated, and balanced views and opinions of industry experts on the prospects of the China PEMFC and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle market will find the report useful. Those looking for untapped segments in various regions to capitalize into will not be disappointed either. Furthermore, the pervasive impact that key changes in various governmental policies and regulation would have on the dynamics of the China PEMFC and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle market is adequately covered in the analysis.Table of Contents1 PEMFC Market Overview11.1 Product Overview and Scope of PEMFC11.2 PEMFC Segment by Types (Product Category)21.2.1 China PEMFC Production (KW) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2016-2025)21.2.2 China PEMFC Production Market Share (%) by Types in 201721.2.3 Transportation31.2.4 Other31.3 China PEMFC Segment by Applications41.3.1 China PEMFC Consumption Comparison by Applications (2016-2025)41.3.2 Automotive51.3.3 Other52 China PEMFC Market Competition by Manufacturers122.1 China PEMFC Production (KW) and Share by Manufacturers (2016-2017)122.2 China PEMFC Revenue (K USD) and Share (%) by Manufacturers (2016-2017)142.3 China PEMFC Average Price (USD/KW) by Manufacturers (2016-2017)162.4 Manufacturers PEMFC Headquarter172.5 China PEMFC Market Competitive Situation and Trends172.5.1 China PEMFC Market Concentration Rate172.5.2 China PEMFC Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers183 China PEMFC Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis193.1 Ballard193.1.1 Company Basic Information193.1.2 PEMFC Product Picture203.1.3 Ballard PEMFC Production (KW), Revenue (K USD), Price (USD/KW) and Gross Margin (%) (2016-2017)203.2 Sunrise Power213.2.1 Company Basic Information213.2.2 PEMFC Product Picture223.2.3 Sunrise Power PEMFC Production (KW), Revenue (K USD), Price (USD/KW) and Gross Margin (%) (2016-2017)223.3 Shenli Hi-Tech233.3.1 Company Basic Information233.3.2 PEMFC Product Picture243.3.3 Shenli PEMFC Production (KW), Revenue (K USD), Price (USD/KW) and Gross Margin (%) (2016-2017)243.4 Pearl Hydrogen253.4.1 Company Basic Information253.4.2 PEMFC Product Picture263.4.3 Pearl Hydrogen PEMFC Production (KW), Revenue (K USD), Price (USD/KW) and Gross Margin (%) (2016-2017)263.5 Wuhan WUT273.5.1 Company Basic Information273.5.2 PEMFC Product Picture283.5.3 Wuhan WUT PEMFC Production (KW), Revenue (K USD), Price (USD/KW) and Gross Margin (%) (2016-2017)28Complete table of content is available at:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of PEMFC1Table China PEMFC Production (KW) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2016-2025)2Figure China PEMFC Production Market Share (%) by Types in 20172Figure Product Picture of Transportation3Figure Product Picture of Other3Table China PEMFC Consumption (KW) Comparison by Applications (2016-2025)4Figure China PEMFC Consumption Market Share by Applications in 20174To Get Discount Of This Report Click here @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 Internet of Things (IoT) Market, Trends, Absolute Opportunity and Value Chain 2024 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/733151-the-insurance-industry-in-ukraine-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/733151-the-insurance-industry-in-ukraine-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 Internet of Things (IoT) MarketMarket Overview:According to our global internet of things market outlook report Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy, the Internet of things (IoT) is one of the top three technological advancements of the next decade (together with the mobile internet and the automation of knowledge work). According to the Cisco, in 2008 number of things connected to Internet was greater than the population residing on earth, by 2020 number of things connected to internet will be about 50 billion.Healthcare (16%) and manufacturing (16%) acquire the major section of IoT followed by insurance (12%), banking & securities (11%), retail and wholesome (8%), computing service (8%), government (7%), transportation (6%), utilities (5%), real estate (4%), agriculture (4%) and others (3%) contributes to IoT value add of USD1.9 trillion by 2020. Although estimated number of installed IoT devices in enterprise sector dominates the market, however that share may decline as the government and home sectors gain momentum.Click here for sample report @Market Size and Forecast:By the year 2020 each person will own an average of 7 connected devices in the communications. In the automobiles 8.7 million cars had internet access which has now grown to 23.6 million in 2016. Industrial segment tends to see the annual growth rate of 30% due to increase in machine to machine connection.According to Verizon report, global internet of things market in the year 2014 was USD 591.7 billion and growing at the pace of 17% forecasted to reach USD 1.3 trillion. The installed base of internet of things tends to grow from USD 9.7 billion in 2014 to 25.6 billion in the year 2019, hitting USD 30 billion in 2020. The total market size of digital precision agriculture services is expected to grow at the CAGR of 12.2% b/w 2014 and 2020, to reach USD 4.5 billion.Settings Economic Impact in 2025 (USD)Human 1.6 trillionHome 350 billionOffices 150 billionFactories 3.7 trillionWorksites 930 billionVehicles 740 billionCities 1.6 trillionOutside (Ship, planes, etc) 850 billionTable of ContentsTable of Content1. Executive Summary2. Research Methodology3. Risk Analysis3.1. Demand Risk3.2. Supply Risk4. Global IoT Market Size and Forecast, 2015-20245. Market Dynamics & Its Impact Analysis5.1. Growth Drivers5.2. Challenges5.3. Opportunities5.4. Trends6. Market Segmentation6.1. By Application (Market Size ($ Million) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2015-2024)6.1.1. Percentage (%) Share by Application6.1.2. Smart Cities (Market Size ($ Million) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2015-2024)6.1.2.1. Percentage (%) Share by Smart Cities6.1.2.2. Home monitoring (Market Size ($ Million) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2015-2024)6.1.2.3. Energy (Market Size ($ Million) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2015-2024)6.1.2.4. Fitness Trackers (Market Size ($ Million) & Y-o-Y Growth Analysis, 2015-2024)6.1.2.5. Y-O-Y % Growth Comparison by Smart Cities6.1.2.6. Market Attractiveness by Smart Cities6.1.2.7. BPS Analysis by Smart Cities.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 Automated Border Control Market to Exceed US$ 2,900 Mn in 2026 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/automated-border-control-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/21205 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/21205 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Automated border control systems are essential to ensure safety of a country and avoid border laws prohibition. The system is gaining popularity with the increasing safety concerns and risks globally. A new research report by Persistence Market Research (PMR) highlights the global automated border control market in its new research report titled Automated Border Control Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2026. According to the market forecast by PMR, the recent adoption of automated border control system, which is taking place at a fast pace, is helping its global market to grow at a skyrocketing CAGR of 18.4% during the forecast period 2018-2026. The growth is expected to help the global automated border control market reach at a value of over US$ 2,900 Mn by the end of 2026.Request to Sample of Report @Global Automated Border Control Market: OverviewThe border control systems are deployed at airports, seaports and land borders, where a large number of passengers cross borders every day. The kiosk and eGates system stores each passengers information in their database. Increase in corporate travel and simplification & flexibility in border crossing process are some of the primary factors which are fueling the growth of the automated border control market. Among various application areas of automated border control systems, airports are expected lead with the highest market share and exceptional CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period. However, other application areas are also progressing at a significant rate due to increase in the application of systems.Request for Table of Contents @The regional forecast depicts that Europe is expected to hold the highest market value by the end of forecast period. The growth in Europe is driven majorly with the help of government initiatives taken in the region. The European Union noticed that more than 85% of all international travel to the EU comes from within the region. This has led to the launch a new projects that could enhance the customer experience by simplifying the process of border crossing, immigration, and biometrics, while maintaining security and increasing the use of automated border control systems. The European region is expected to reach a market value of over US$ 1,000 Mn by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 20.9%. However, in terms of growth rate SEA and APAC is also expected to witness a stellar CAGR of 18.7% during the forecast period. The growth is also a result of rising efforts by the region to provide efficient travel systems. Many initiatives are being taken by the governments to reduce security breaches at airports and Land Borders, so as to provide a seamless and secured travel experience to customers. With an increase in the number of passengers traveling nationally and internationally, new systems are being installed or integrated with existing systems to enhance security at border crossings.Request Report Multiple Chapter @Global Automated Border Control Market Strategy and CompetitionProduct launches and innovations help increase business revenue by increasing customer base and providing automated border control systems to border authorities, and creates a strong market presence. Collaborations and partnerships are expected to remain as the key strategies of key players in this market to increase their sales growth. The leading companies in the market areIndra Sistemas, S.A., Atos SE, SITA SA, IDEMIA Group (OT-Morpho), Secunet Security Networks AG, Vision-Box, DERMALOG Identification Systems GmbH, Veridos GmbH, Gunnebo Group and Vancouver Airport Authority.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 Collagen Peptides Market Reports: Lapi Gelatine, Italgelatine S.P.A., Gelita AG, Gelnex https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1732146&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-collagen-peptides-market-research-report-2018.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1732146&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Collagen Peptides Market Research Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Collagen Peptides market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Global Collagen Peptides market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingCargillTessenderlo GroupWeishardt GroupDarling Ingredients Inc.Lapi GelatineItalgelatine S.P.A.Gelita AGGelnexKewpie CorporationDownload Free exclusive Sample of this report:The report on the global market for Collagen Peptides has been prepared after conducting a fructuous analysis of several industries aligned with the market. Moreover, the factors that have played an underhanded or obscured role in driving demand within the global market for Collagen Peptides have been enunciated in the report. Coherence and cohesiveness are two of the key characteristics of the report, which shall help the readers in getting a clear view of the market. To facilitate better understanding and analysis, the researchers of the report have supplemented the report with extra details about related markets and industries.Table of ContentsGlobal Collagen Peptides Market Research Report 20181 Collagen Peptides Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Collagen Peptides1.2 Collagen Peptides Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Collagen Peptides Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Collagen Peptides Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Bovine Collagen Peptides1.3 Global Collagen Peptides Segment by Application1.4 Global Collagen Peptides Market by Region (2013-2025)2 Global Collagen Peptides Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Collagen Peptides Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Collagen Peptides Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Collagen Peptides Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Collagen Peptides Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Collagen Peptides Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3 Global Collagen Peptides Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Collagen Peptides Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Collagen Peptides Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Collagen Peptides Production and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.2 Global Collagen Peptides Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.3 Global Collagen Peptides Price by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Global Collagen Peptides Production Growth by Type (2013-2018)Complete table of content is available at:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Collagen PeptidesFigure Global Collagen Peptides Production (K MT) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2013-2025)Figure Global Collagen Peptides Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2017Figure Product Picture of Bovine Collagen PeptidesTable Major Manufacturers of Bovine Collagen PeptidesFigure Product Picture of Porcine Collagen PeptidesTable Major Manufacturers of Porcine Collagen PeptidesFigure Product Picture of Poultry Collagen PeptidesTable Major Manufacturers of Poultry Collagen PeptidesGet discount copy @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 Acetic Peracid Market Report for Period 2018 till 2024 Evonik, Kemira, BioSafe Systems, Loeffler Chemical Corporation, Ecolab, Peroxychem Llc, Fmc Corporation, Brainerd Chemical Company. and Others. Acetic Peracid Market https://bit.ly/2jruafK http://marketreportscompany.com/report.php?report=chemicals-and-materials/global-acetic-peracid-market-research-report-20112023/39508 https://bit.ly/2jruafK Global Acetic Peracid market report emphasizes on detailed analysis of companies and manufacturers like Habo, Ecolab, Peroxychem Llc, Fmc Corporation, Diversey Inc., Loeffler Chemical Corporation, Brainerd Chemical Company., Alkema Solutions, Solvay, Evonik, Kemira, BioSafe Systems, Biosan, Shepard Bros, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and Others.This market study includes data about global market statistics, market share, company performances, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc. The Global Acetic Peracid market report provides detailed segmentation of Global Acetic Peracid Market based on product type, application, end user and regional segmentation. The regional segment is further bifurcated on country level.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Acetic Peracid Market 2017 @Top Manufactures of Global Acetic Peracid market:SolvayEvonikKemiraBioSafe SystemsBiosanShepard BrosMitsubishi Gas ChemicalHaboEcolabPeroxychem LlcFmc CorporationDiversey Inc.Loeffler Chemical CorporationBrainerd Chemical Company.Alkema SolutionsOthers(Note: We can profile additional players without extra charges)Global Acetic Peracid Market: Key Product Type:5%15% Acetic PeracidLess than 5% Acetic PeracidAbove 15% Acetic PeracidOthersKey Application Types for Global Acetic Peracid Market:Food & BeveragesWater TreatmentHealthcareothersKey Regions for Global Acetic Peracid Market:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)(Note: We can provide specific country or region specific report on request)The Global Acetic Peracid Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Acetic Peracid Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. The report also provides Porter analysis, PESTEL analysis and market attractiveness which helps to better understand the market scenario. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities occurred in current and past few years. The Global Acetic Peracid Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors. The report also covers import/export data across all major regions covered in this report. Moreover, import/export data across any particular country as per requirement.The report finally provides detailed research report conclusion, which provides summary of entire report and vital suggestions from analysts particular to Acetic Peracid Market which will help existing as well as new players who wish to enter this market.Enquire before Buying @ put actual website like for exampleTable of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 5%15% Acetic Peracid1.2.1.2 Less than 5% Acetic Peracid1.2.1.3 Above 15% Acetic Peracid1.2.2 by Application1.2.2.1 Food & Beverages1.2.2.2 Water Treatment1.2.2.3 Healthcare1.2.2.4 Others........................Continue (Global Acetic Peracid Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Market Reports Company:Market Reports Company delivers high quality precise research studies which include data about top manufacturers and market survey of various industries. We also work as a consulting company and publisher of market research reports. We are specialized in providing customized reports according to clients needs and requirements which ultimately help them grow in industry and beat their competition.What We Offer:Customized Reports: We provide customized research reports on your demand.Region Specific Study: We have resources all over the world so, if you are Interested in region specific study please contact us.How we work: Perfect blend of primary and secondary research to provide best result.Expertise: Team of Industry experienced research associates and experts, primary and secondary sources, 24*7 customer care service and post-sale support.Contact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website: marketreportscompany.comEmail: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Flexible Glass APAC Market Top Key Players Australia , Bangladesh , China , Hong Kong , India and Forecast to 2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1482537-flexible-glass-market-in-apac-2017-2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1482537-flexible-glass-market-in-apac-2017-2021 http://www.wiseguyreports.com APAC Flexible Glass MarketWiseGuyRerports.com Presents Flexible Glass Market in APAC 2017-2021 New Document to its Studies Database. The Report Contain 66 Pages With Detailed Analysis.DescriptionFlexible glass is a thin glass substrate that provides advantages of glass, yet provides the advantages of glass, such as high barrier properties, strength, temperature stability, and durability. In addition, it has properties such as scratch resistance and rigidity of plastics. Flexible glass has many advantages over plastics and thick glass.The analysts forecast the flexible glass market in APAC to grow at a CAGR of 37.38% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the flexible glass market in APAC for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.Get sample Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Australia Bangladesh China Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Myanmar New Zealand Pakistan Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand The Philippines VietnamThe Flexible Glass Market in APAC 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 vendors Nippon Electric Glass Asahi Glass Corning SCHOTT LG DisplayOther prominent vendors Abrisa Technologies Kent Displays Toppan Printing MaterionMarket driver Increasing demand for smartphones For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Concerns regarding non-recyclable nature of flexible glass For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Growing application of flexible glass in photovoltaics For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Complete Report Details @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Market outlinePART 05: Market landscape Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by application Flexible glass market in APAC by application Flexible glass market in APAC for display application Flexible glass market in APAC for photovoltaic applicationsPART 07: Market segmentation by country Flexible glass market in APAC by country Flexible glass market in Japan Flexible glass market in South Korea Flexible glass market in China Flexible glass market in other countriesPART 08: Decision frameworkPART 09: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Market challengesPART 10: Market trends Increasing demand for wearable technology Expeditious change in display trends Growing application of flexible glass in photovoltaicsPART 11: Vendor landscape Competitive scenario Other prominent vendorsPART 12: Key vendor analysis Nippon Electric Glass Asahi Glass Corning SCHOTT LG Display..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. 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.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Personal Identity Management Market to Witness Steady Growth During the Forecast Period 2016-2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/720 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/720 https://www.gminsights.com http://algosonline.com/news U.S. personal identity management market share is expected to dominate the industry owing to increasing presence of large companies and global financing organization in the region. Asia Pacific is projected to register highest CAGR during the forecast primarily due to steady development in countries such as China, India and South Korea. Europe is anticipated to grow consistently due to maturity in regulatory and technical infrastructure developments.Personal Identity Management (PIM) Market was around USD 6.5 billion in 2015, and is expected to grow at 20% CAGR and reach about USD 34 billion by 2024. Growing concerns for digital data security of personal and professional significance is expected to be the key factor driving growth.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearable health devices have penetrated nearly every segment of the global industry. Increasing concern for protection of confidential data from unauthorized users in these mobile devices is expected to propel personal identity management market share. Repeated occurrences of data breaches and security attacks are likely to mandate PIM solutions in every device.PIM refers to the basic standards, rules and algorithms that enable users to restrict utilization or sharing of data without the consent of the actual user. The key application segment of this industry is the banking sector, where every individual account holders information is to be kept confidential. BFSI is forecast to remain witness high growth and remain an attractive part of the global personal identity management market share.These solutions can be used to provide better security to companies from cyber crimes such as viruses, bank robbery, credit card frauds and pornography. Moreover, regulations and government laws pertaining to cyber crime and data security are expected to fuel industry growth over the next few years. For instance, FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act) is a U.S. legislation that explains a comprehensive structure to protect government operations, information and assets entertain the usage of these solutions.Applications of these solutions are likely to mandate the need for secured access in all the domains with particular user names and passwords. Thus, users will have to remember these and follow specific time consuming procedures to gain access to their own data. Moreover, modifications of security codes are becoming increasingly complex and still lack efficient security to malwares, which may hamper growth. Other restraints include the lack of skilled professionals for designing, developing and implementation of complex programs to ensure specific consumer requirements. This in turn may also result in high initial costs of implementation and impact adoption rates in the forecast timeframe.The dependency of global population on web applications is increasing, resulting in exponential rise in the number of cyber attacks including APTs (advanced persistent threats). To counter these advanced threats, implementation of UTM (unified threat management) solutions for data security is expected gain prominence. Such cloud based hybrid solutions are likely to trend during the forecast timeline owing to their simple, secured functioning and scalability.On the basis of application, the industry can be bifurcated into content management and access control. Access control segment is expected to dominate the personal identity management market size during the forecast timeline due to its ability to restrict unauthorized access to confidential information and reduce tampering of critical data. On the basis of end-use, the various segments include telecom & IT, banking, government, energy, manufacturing and healthcare. Moreover, personality identity management market size is bifurcated into on-premises and cloud based on the deployment. Cloud based solutions are likely to dominate due major applications for secured access and control of individual data in the banking domain.Make an inquiry for buying this report @Key participants include Citrix, Good Technology, IBM, MobileIron and VMware. Other prominent participants consist of Alfresco Software, CA technologies, Colligo Networks, SAP, Symantec Centrify, Fischer International and OneLogin. The global industry is fragmented due to the presence several large and small competitors. The competitive landscape is anticipated to witness several strategies for consolidation such as partnerships, mergers & acquisitions and solution upgrades during the forecast timeframe.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:Blog: Foaming Agents Market Revenue, Opportunity, Forecast and Value Chain 2015-2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/6415 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/6415 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Foaming agents are used create foam in food products and also used to add flavour to the food products. Various types of foaming agents include Gelatin and Lecithin.Gelatin is used in various food products to stabilize the foam. However, Lecithin is primarily used for converting juices to foams. Foaming agents are of various types including natural and artificial foaming agents. Natural foaming agents such as Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria are used in various applications such as carbonated beverages, juices and beer. These foaming agents are especially used in products that require enhanced foaming properties.Global foaming agents market is segmented on the basis of type, application and region. Based on the type, food foaming agents is segmented into natural and artificial. Of which, the natural foaming agent is the leading segment in terms of revenue contribution, followed by the artificial foaming agents. The natural foaming agent is the dominating segment, as companies are primarily manufacturing natural foaming agents in order to meet the rising preference of the customers for the food products that contain natural ingredients. On the basis of application food foaming agents, segmentation includes beverages and dairy.Request for Table of Contents @Of which, beverage segment is expected to be the dominating segment over the forecast period due the expanding market for the beverage such as alcohol globally, However, followed by the dairy, dairy segment is expected to witness consistent growth in the coming four to five years. Global foaming agents market is segmented on the basis of the region into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa and Japan.The Global foaming agents market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period due to the expanding beverage and dairy industry. Globally among all regions, North America is the most dominating segment followed by other regions. In North America, U.S. is expected to contribute highest market share, followed by other countries during the forecast period. North America is expected to contribute maximum market share owing to the high consumption of food products, especially in the dairy segment. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness fast growth in the next four to five yearsA major factor that fuel the growth of foaming agents market includes the growing demand of consumers for the food products that are superior in taste. Another factor that is expected to boost the demand of foaming agent is increasing consumption of beverages such as alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Moreover, application of foaming agent in beverages such as alcohol is the cost-effective method for releasing foam in drinks. However, major factor that is expected to hinder the growth of foaming agents is adverse effects related to the consumption of food products in beverage and dairy segmentMajor companies operating in Foaming Agents are Nature S.A., Bergen International, Adams Food Ingredients Ltd, Desert King International, Garuda International Inc., Kerry Inc., RIKEN VITAMIN Co., Ltd. Companies operating in foaming agent market are adopting strategy to launch numerous foaming agents in order to cater to the evolving demand for foaming agents especially from food and beverage industry. Companies are also adopting a strategy to expand its geographical reach in order to increase its market presence and grab the maximum untapped and potential market related to foaming agents. Companies operating in foaming agents market are also adopting a strategy to increase the revenue by manufacturing foaming agents tailored for the specific application.Request to View Sample of Research Report @ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Collaboration Software Market to grow at 13% CAGR over 2016 - 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/711 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/711 https://www.gminsights.com http://algosonline.com/news Key players accounting for collaboration software market share are Microsoft, Cisco System, Citrix, Oracle, IBM, Box incorporation, Google, Intralinks Holdings Incorporations and Survey Monkey. Slack, Dropbox and Box are start-up that are adopting the concept with whole new approach to share knowledge, team collaborations and information filtering through smart messaging.Collaboration Software Market size will grow at 13% CAGR from 2016 to 2024 and exceed USD 8.5 billion by 2024. Connect unstructured and ad hoc collaboration with structured content-centric business process and technological innovations will drive growth.These provide a private online platform for individuals to engage in team activity or connect & collaborate with others in single shared and centralized environment. It helps individuals to contact with co-workers in and outside business organization that includes business partners, workers, consultants and customers. Public cloud will experience strong growth in the coming years. Need to exchange information in and outside the organization in context of critical business process will contribute to collaboration software market size.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @The industry will be fueled by benefits such as effective business process, proper management of different project size, time tracking & chat application, faster communications, administrative control and improved output. It helps to increase productivity, timely availability of information and updates. In addition, these helps the management to identify completion of work & bottlenecks and improves business efficiency.These solutions are not limited to any specific business department; different departments can use same tools to collaborate, integration & overlapping. This helps enable holistic tools, mobile and vendors next generation software to provide intuitive and convenient mobile applications.Improved communication, division of work, less conflicts, creative input, better file sharing, project management & productivity, accessible & affordable, instant messaging, meeting management, mobile access, multi-platform, task scheduling, team conversation, ease of use, track update, to-do lists may have positive impact. In addition, seamless exchange data, greater innovative ability, less email reliance & overload, overall increased productivity, software release track, case track, and user access controls will fuel collaboration software market size.Sluggish adoption rate, usability and scalability concerns, lower efficiency and integration are some hurdles that may hinder collaboration software market growth. In addition, lack of training & support, stiff competition and redesigning cloud network and lack of security may hamper industry growth.Combining people, work & content in visual framework, mobile accessibility, cyber security, and consumption based pricing are some recent collaboration software market opportunities. Need for an application for each individual collaboration may make the organization less productive, change management, downtime, lack of IT infrastructure, issues in calculating ROI and cost are major challenges for this industry.Analytics & business intelligence, human capital administration, content management, ecommerce, IT service management, customer relationship management, enterprise performance management represent key application areas. Other notable segments include ERP financial supervision, ERP services & operations management, PLM & engineering, project portfolio management, procurement, sales performance management, SCM and treasury & risk management.Collaboration software market share by application also includes tools for web conferencing, social business platform, team collaborations, eSignature, event management online community sharing resource. In addition, conventional tool for email, group calendar & schedule and eased discussions.U.S. collaboration software market size is expected to dominate revenue over forecast timeline due to presence of large number of vendors. Latin America offers potential growth opportunities as there are technological innovation and organization are focusing on better customer experience to gain competitive advantage.Make an inquiry for buying this report @Merger & acquisitions, product innovation, and R&D are some strategies that are being adopted by key players. For instance, Microsoft announced to buy LinkedIn in a USD 26.2 billion deal to strengthen its service portfolio and bolster revenue. Cisco acquired Jasper for cloud based internet-of-things (IoT). Box Incorporation may enhance healthcare offering by providing Box DICOM Viewer that helps in view & share medical images and streamline referral management. Intralinks Holdings acquired Verilume for cloud infrastructure. IBM has adopted acquisition strategy in response to increasing cloud focus.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:Blog: Global Solar Power Bank Market Report Examines Latest Trends and Key Drivers Supporting Growth through 2023 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1781 https://www.mrrse.com/solar-power-bank-market Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has recently updated its massive research catalog by adding a new study, titled Solar Power Bank Market. The study offers a clear insight about the prevailing trends and innovations happening in the Solar Power Bank 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.To Request for Complete Report Sample Visit @Solar energy has evolved as a major alternative source of energy. Solar energy is increasingly being utilized as source of energy for street lighting, automobiles, house appliances and others. In recent times, solar power banks are gaining popularity in the consumer market, with the rise in use of electronic gadgets. Solar power banks serve as an energy storage device, which can be utilized when required to charge any of the USB-charged devices such as cameras, portable speakers, GoPros, MP3 players GPS systems.Solar power banks require sunlight to charge, making it reliable in circumstances where electrical supply or charger is not available. Most of the solar power banks available today can be charged alternatively via computer using USB. Considering solar as an environmental friendly technology, demand for solar power banks is expected to escalate in the coming years.Solar Power Bank Market: Drivers and RestraintsSolar power banks find wide range of applications such as charging of smartphones, laptop, tablets and other devices. The growth of smartphones, laptops and tablets market has generated the need for external energy storage devices for charging. The escalated use of internet with the availability of 3G and 4G services on smartphones and tablets has increased the consumption of battery at a faster rate, thus, driving the solar power bank market. Further, tourists or trekkers preferring to travel at distant places can rely on the solar power banks over the conventional power banks, as at times of emergencies solar power banks can be charged via sunlight. The rural areas in emerging markets such as Africa, Asia and Latin America pose good opportunities for solar power banks due to constraint of electricity supply in these regions.However, the challenges such as low efficiency at night or cloudy days, may affect the trust of end consumers in the market. Since the launch of solar technology, the availability of sunlight in cloudy areas or at night times has been the major constraint for solar devices.Compatibility with all the device brands is another challenge affecting the market of solar power banks. Moreover, solar power banks also face competition from existing electrically charged power banks. Manufacturers need to focus on overcoming these major challenges to gain competitive advantage over the existing and new manufacturers entering the market in coming years to explore the untapped opportunities in solar power bank market.Solar Power Bank Market: Segmentation and Top PlayersDepending on the application and the capacity of battery, solar power banks are designed and available in market with different capacity range. The solar power bank market is categorized by the capacity range offered by the solar power banks, which include 500 mAh to 3499 mAh, 3500 mAh to 6499 mAh, 6500 mAh to 9499 mAh, 9500 mAh to 12499 mAh, 12500 mAh to 15499 mAh and above 15500 mAh.The key companies operating in solar power bank market include Anker., Advantage Computers (I) Pvt. Ltd., LG Chem Ltd, China BAK Battery, Inc., Mophie Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, OnePlus, Sony Corporation, Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., UNU ELECTRONICS INC., Xiaomi Technology Co., Ltd, and Shenzhen Topband Co. LtdThe 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 categories such as market segments, geographies, types and applications.The report covers exhaustive analysis on:Market SegmentsMarket DynamicsMarket SizeSupply & DemandCurrent Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedValue ChainRegional analysis includes:North AmericaLatin AmericaAsia PacificJapanWestern EuropeEastern EuropeMiddle East & AfricaThe report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts, and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides an in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macroeconomic indicators and governing factors, along with market attractiveness within the segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and various geographies.Report highlights:Detailed overview of parent marketChanging market dynamics in the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and products offeredPotential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective on market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprintThe 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.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.Complete Report details with List of Tables and Figures @A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.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 Stellar Constellation at Banasthali UGC Sponsored Indian Colloquium on Aviation Technology and Operations ICAO 2018 Stellar Constellation at Banasthali UGC Sponsored Indian Colloquium on Aviation Technology and Operations ICAO 2018 http://www.bvgfc.org/aboutus.php http://www.banasthali.org/banasthali/wcms/en/home/hgher-education/ug_progs/bsc_aviation.html http://www.banasthali.org/ http://www.banasthali.org www.facebook.com/Banasthali.org Flying has been an inseparable part of Banasthalis broadbased learning programme since 1962. Banasthali started its flying activities with 3 aircrafts and training has been an uninterrupted activity. Govt. of India, Civil Aviation Department has granted the approval for Flying training activity.A private licenced airfield of 50,191,418 sq. meters, dedicated only for the training purpose, facilitates traffic less exercise in air which is a rare availability. The runway length of 3600 ft. and elevation of 1010 ft. are adequate for exercising. Coincidentally it lies in close proximity of Jaipur airfield (25 miles). The University owns a hangar which is 9,000 sq. ft., which can accomodate more than a dozen aircrafts. It has got all latest precision tools and equipments and the organization is approved by the DGCA. For more details seeBanasthali offers a BSc Aviation Science which is one among the most sourht after programs. For more details see18 March 2018, Banasthali Vidyapith commenced its two-day UGC Sponsored Indian Colloquium on Aviation Technology and Operations (ICAO 18) with a great aplomb and enthusiasm. The ceremony was inaugurated by welcoming the guests and inviting them on the stage for lighting the lamp. Professor Siddharth Shastri, President of Banasthali Vidyapith delivered his welcome address in which he welcomed delegates, participants and guests. He stated the fact that Banasthali Vidyapith is a conglomeration of modernity and tradition. He also articulated that nothing with regards to the advancement is ever missed out in the academic or professional fronts. Further, he traced the genesis of Banasthali and he pronounced the fact that both Banasthali Vidyapith and Aviation Club have similar and unique genesis. Furthermore, he also underlined some of the key topics which were to be discussed in the colloquium ranging from design and operation of aircrafts all kinds to the complex system-of-systems connectivity which encourage smooth operations in the present and future context.Professor Aditya Shastri, Vice chancellor, Banasthali Vidyapith and Professor Ina Shastri, Pro-vice chancellor, Banasthali Vidyapith, expressed their best wishes and they also encouraged delegates, participants and guests to continue striving for their intellectual, academic and professional enrichment. Professor Seema Verma, Dean, School of Aviation, described a complete journey of Aviation at Banasthali. She underlined the entire journey of women aviators in Banasthali. With pride, she recapitulated the entire history with the picture of the first airstrep that had Jawaharlal Nehru as its guest in 1958.A panel discussion on Women in Aviation- way to take off started with dignitaries like Air Marshal Padma Bandhopadhyay, Ms. Meenakshi Dua (Air India), Capt. Harpreet Singh (President, IWPA), Capt. Ramya Kirti Gupta (Air India), Dr. Ibrahim Shaik (UAE), Dr. Dewakar Goyal (Airport Authority of India), and Dr. Baba Yerra (UAE). This panel was moderated by Dr. Chilka Sharma, Banasthali Vidyapith.The subsequent session started with a Book Launch titled The Lady in Blue followed by the first Expert Lecture of the colloquium by Air Marshal Padma Bandhopahyay on Aviation Medicine. The post lunch session resumed with the second expert lecture by Capt. Ramya Kirti Gupta on Women in Aviation: Avenues and Challenges and Human Factors in CRM, from a Commercial Pilots Viewpoint. Then Dr. Ibrahim Shaik presented the third Expert Lecture on Competences required for Aviation Industry for Future as Human and Service Factor. The first day of the colloquium concluded with the Fourth Expert Lecture by Dr. Dewakar Goyal on National Aviation Policy. The day was intellectually enriching, motivating and informative. First day ended with a nice dinner of students, staff and guests of Aviation. Day two had a talk by Dr. Baba Yerra on UAV followed by poster presentation by students of Banasthali. Colloquium ended with a valedictory session & prize distribution.The students and faculty who participated in Indian Colloquium on Aviation Technology and Operations ICAO 2018 at Banasthali indeed left with beaming faces and pride that they were part of an institution which is a jewel in the crown among the womens universities not only in India today but across the globe. It is no wonder that Pandit Hiralal Shastri founded Banasthali has been in national and international media attention recently for getting the Four Star Ranking in Quacquarelli Symonds - QS Stars Rated for Excellence and Diamond status under QS I.Gauge Indian University Rating.For more details about Banasthali seeAbout Banasthali: The Institution which is also the largest fully residential womens university in the world has played a big role in revolutionizing womens education in the country for the last eight decades with a belief that there is a tremendous role of higher education in empowering the women. Banasthali has scripted numerous success stories in a wide range of fields, and stands tall among the citadels of learning in India today. Team Banasthali with Vice Chancellor J C Bose Memorial Award for eminent scientist recipient Prof Aditya Shastri a highly acclaimed alumnus of BITS Pilani, SUNY State University of New York Stony Brook and MIT USA is indeed racing forward to be the very best among global women universities. It is a matter of pride that NITI Aayog had selected Banasthali along with ISB CCMB in Top 10 to host Atal Incubation Centre. Proud to be Banasthali alumni who call themselves as Banasthalites can be found in all latitudes, longitudes and altitudes in all walks of life across the globe.Banasthali VidyapithP.O. Banasthali VidyapithRajasthan 304022Phone 91 1438 228456 / 228341Email: info@banasthali.ac.inWebsite:Facebook: Global Satellite Based Augmentation Systems Market to Shape the Future of Satellite World by 2023 https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Request-Sample/101808 https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Request-Discount/101808 https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Reports/Satellite-Based-Augmentation-Systems-Market Market OverviewThe key factors driving the demand are the growing developments of ATC infrastructure, need for authentic and accurate information to avoid errors, and rise in the development of airports constriction and modernization, factors restraining the market are the cost associated with air traffic management (ATM) infrastructure modernization and the retrofit older aircraft with the upgraded systems.The high demand for satellite-based augmentation systems market is due to the growing development of ATC infrastructure, need for authentic and accurate information to avoid errors, and rise in the development of airport construction and modernization, thus increasing the participation of manufacturers. Rapid technology advancement, along with increased focus of OEMs on providing accurate and precise navigation system, is expected to result in an increase in aircraft expenses and add to the growth of the market. However, the cost associated with Air Traffic Management (ATM) infrastructure modernization and retrofitting older aircraft with upgraded systems act as a barrier to the growth of satellite-based augmentation systems market. The revolution of modern electronic systems results in many aircraft manufacturers upgrading technologies with new avionics.Request a Sample Report @Market OutlookThe satellite-based augmentation systems market is completely dependent on the expansion of air passenger traffic. Thus, the increasing or decreasing demand for air passenger traffic directly has an impact on the market. Moreover, other factors responsible for the growth of the satellite-based augmentation systems market are demand for avionics system with gen-next aircraft, demand for accurate flight navigation, capability of handling more air traffic, collision avoidance systems, gyroscopes, and integration of early warning radar. This is the primary factor that drives the growth of the global satellite-based augmentation systems market and has gained prevalence in the recent times, with the usage of best in class technologies in the aircraft industry. Thus, the growth of the satellite-based augmentation systems market is expected to go hand in hand with the growth of investment in the aircraft sector.Top Industry Players:This report studies Satellite Based Augmentation Systems in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, covering: Raytheon Company, Mitsubishi, Thales, Airbus, SES, Space Systems Loral.Request Discount on this report @Market SegmentsMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers WAAS EGNOS MSAS GAGAN SDCMMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Aviation Maritime Road & RailBrowse Report @About Future Genic ReportsFuture Generic Reports is a market research and consulting organization, offering premium collection of market research reports, custom research and consulting services to corporations, no-profit organizations and government institutions across the globe.The wide range of information is presented by a team of well-trained researchers of specific sectors through exhaustive research. We deliver premier market research services that cover all industry verticals, including chemicals and material, automotive, healthcare, electronics & semiconductor, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and technology and media.We believe in building an eternal bond with our clients through offering them inclusive research study meeting their specific requirements. Our services are tailored specifically to our clients by proposing them the potential outcome, based on our in-depth analysis and insights for exploring the growth strategies through providing the best possible decision for quality production.Contact us:Future Generic Reports244 , Madison AvenueNew York City, NY - 10016United StatesToll Free +1- 844-445-2861Email: sales@futuregenicreports.com 2018 - 2025 Virtual Retinal Display Market Research Report - Industry Development, Trends, Share, Status and Future Outlook Virtual Retinal Display Market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000324 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000324 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/virtual-retinal-display-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/ The virtual retinal display market is a bussing market as it was commercialized recently in the market. It is also referred as retinal projector or retinal scan display, which induces a raster display directly over the retina of the eye, which makes a conventional display appear to be floating in air in front of the user.Request a Sample copy of Report:The report aims to provide an overview of Global Virtual Reality Display Market along with detailed segmentation of market by Component, Application, Vertical and five major geographical regions. Global Virtual Reality Display market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period due to rapidly growing application of AR/VR technology in multiple industries.The objectives of this report are as follows:- To provide overview of the global Virtual Reality Display market- To analyze and forecast the global Virtual Reality Display market on the basis of Components, application and verticals.- To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Virtual Reality Display market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM), which are later sub-segmented across respective major countriesInquire for Discount on this Report:- 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- To profiles key Virtual Reality Display players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesSome of the important players in Virtual Reality Display market are Google Inc., Texas Instruments, Human Interface Technology Laboratory, Microvision Inc. and Avegant Corporation.Browse Complete Report with TOC:About 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.Contact Us:The Insight partners,Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comWebsite: Fleet Manage System Market 2018: Top Global Industry Key Players (Omnitracs, Trimble, Fleetmatics, Alphabet and Telenav) Research for Markets http://www.researchformarkets.com/sample/global-fleet-manage-system-market-56815 http://www.researchformarkets.com/discount/global-fleet-manage-system-market-56815 http://www.researchformarkets.com/reports/global-fleet-manage-system-market-56815 This report studies the global Fleet Manage System market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the global Fleet Manage System market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.This report focuses on the global top players, covered Omnitracs Trimble Fleetmatics Alphabet Telenav Arvento Teletrac EMKAY Gurtam ARI FleetCor Navman Wireless TomTomLooking for More Information on This Market Get Free Sample Report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split into Vehicle Dispatch Driver Scheduling Asset TrackingMarket segment by Application, Fleet Manage System can be split into Logistics and Transportation Public TransportationThe study objectives of this report are: To study and forecast the market size of Fleet Manage System 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 market 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.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Fleet Manage System are as follows: History Year: 2013-2017 Base Year: 2017 Estimated Year: 2018 Forecast 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 Stakeholders Fleet Manage System Manufacturers Fleet Manage System Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers Fleet Manage System Subcomponent Manufacturers Industry Association Downstream VendorsAvailable Customizations With the given market data, QYResearch 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 Fleet Manage System market, by end-use. Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.The report is available on discount for a limited time only @Table of Content1 Industry Overview of Fleet Manage System1.1 Fleet Manage System Market Overview1.2 Global Fleet Manage System Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.3 Fleet Manage System Market by Type1.4 Fleet Manage System Market by End Users/Application2 Global Fleet Manage System Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Fleet Manage System Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Omnitracs3.2 Trimble3.3 Fleetmatics3.4 Alphabet3.5 Telenav3.6 Arvento3.7 Teletrac3.8 EMKAY3.9 Gurtam3.10 ARI4 Global Fleet Manage System Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2018)4.1 Global Fleet Manage System Market Size by Type (2013-2018)4.2 Global Fleet Manage System Market Size by Application (2013-2018)4.3 Potential Application of Fleet Manage System in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Fleet Manage System5 United States Fleet Manage System Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Fleet Manage System Market Size (2013-2018)5.2 United States Fleet Manage System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 United States Fleet Manage System Market Size by Application (2013-2018)6 Europe Fleet Manage System Development Status and Outlook6.1 Europe Fleet Manage System Market Size (2013-2018)6.2 Europe Fleet Manage System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Europe Fleet Manage System Market Size by Application (2013-2018)7 China Fleet Manage System Development Status and Outlook7.1 China Fleet Manage System Market Size (2013-2018)7.2 China Fleet Manage System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)7.3 China Fleet Manage System Market Size by Application (2013-2018)8 Japan Fleet Manage System Development Status and Outlook8.1 Japan Fleet Manage System Market Size (2013-2018)8.2 Japan Fleet Manage System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)8.3 Japan Fleet Manage System Market Size by Application (2013-2018)9 Southeast Asia Fleet Manage System Development Status and Outlook9.1 Southeast Asia Fleet Manage System Market Size (2013-2018)9.2 Southeast Asia Fleet Manage System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)9.3 Southeast Asia Fleet Manage System Market Size by Application (2013-2018)10 India Fleet Manage System Development Status and Outlook10.1 India Fleet Manage System Market Size (2013-2018)10.2 India Fleet Manage System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)10.3 India Fleet Manage System Market Size by Application (2013-2018)Looking for more insights from this report @About Research for Markets:Research for Markets indulges in detailed and diligent research on different markets, trends and emerging opportunities in the successive direction to cater to your business needs. We have established the pillars of our flourishing institute on the grounds of Credibility and Reliability. RFM delve into the markets across Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.Our purpose is to serve you, the most customized in-depth Market access data. Our plethora of titles made us one of the most searched market research library across the globe. We work with the most esteemed Publishers around the globe who caters vast industries. We are quick and fragile, when it comes to your various queries, and we ensure our team caters your needs to the best of our abilities, we promise to stay by your side for both pre and post sales servicing, as we believe in long everlasting symbiotic relationship.Contact:Mr. A NaiduResearch for MarketsTel: +44 8000-4182-37 (UK)Email: alan.naidu@researchformarkets.com Peptides and Heparin Market: Cancer Treatment to Remain a Leading Revenue Contributor https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=378 https://www.factmr.com/report/378/peptides-heparin-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=378 https://www.factmr.com/ A freshly compiled business intelligent report, titled Peptides and Heparin Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Review 2017 to 2026 has been publicized to the vast archive of Fact.MR online repository. This 170-page study delivers all the vital details and information required to know about peptides and heparin market current as well as future prospects. The analysts of the study have gone through extensive research methodologies in order to generate data and information that reflects the latest market undercurrents and industry trends. For a deeper understanding of the market, a sub-category level analysis has been elaborated, by which readers and investors of the report will able to know that where the market stands to gain.Request for Sample Report-With the growing prevalence of various blood clotting disorders, demand for effective medication continues to persist in the healthcare industry. Clotting disorders could result in severe leg pain, loss of a limb, heart attack, difficulty in walking, and risks of stroke. Increasing prevalence clotting disorders among individuals has led to a surge in demand for medications such as heparin. In addition, prevalence of diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and muscle atrophy has led to a surge in demand for collagen peptide.In order to offer better patient care, major manufacturers are concentrating on utilizing peptide and heparin for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Besides treatment of various diseases, major manufacturers are concentrating on utilizing peptide and heparin to develop medications and therapeutics. Through development of innovative medications and therapeutics, leading companies are focusing on attaining a competitive edge in the global market.More Than US$ 34,000 Mn Opportunity in Global Peptides and Heparin MarketFact.MR states that the global peptides and heparin market is predicted to record a value of over US$ 34,000 Mn by the end of 2026. Prevalence of various diseases and blood clotting disorders has revved up demand for effective therapeutics and medications. Major manufacturers are concentrating on utilizing modern tools such as peptidomics for bioactive peptides. Peptides are increasingly being used for developing medications and therapeutics to treat various diseases effectively. Also, increasing number of clinical trials related to the peptide-based drug candidates are conducted in the healthcare industry. This has led to an increase in demand for peptides in the healthcare institutions such as clinics and hospitals. Attributed to skilled labor, lenient regulatory guidelines, low market competition, and low manufacturing cost, retailers of peptide therapeutics are focusing on outsourcing their manufacturing processes to various countries.Prevalence of blood clotting disorders, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis has led to a surge in demand for heparin in the healthcare industry. Heparins are mainly used during the blood transfusion dialysis, before conducting surgeries, and while collecting blood samples. In addition, heparins are also prescribed to patients who have chest pain or angina to prevent blood clots.With the increasing prevalence of cancer among individuals, demand for peptide and heparin in the healthcare industry will continue to increase globally. In terms of revenue, cancer indication is predicted to record an impressive growth in the global market by the end of 2026. Demand for peptide-based medications such as liraglutide among other medicines will continue to remain high in the healthcare industry. By the end of 2026, liraglutide is likely to generate significant revenues in the global market. Patients prefer ingesting peptide and heparin medicines through oral route of administration for treatment purposes. In terms of revenue, the oral route of administration is predicted to witness a significant revenue growth in the global market by the end of 2026.Sales of peptide and heparin are likely to remain high through pharmacies in healthcare institutions such as hospital pharmacies. By the end of 2026, hospital pharmacies are expected to reflect a robust revenue growth in the global market.Leading players in the global market are Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Teva, Takeda, Leo Pharma, Pfizer Inc., Aspen, Abbott Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Bachem, Wockhardt Ltd., Hemmo Pharma, AmbioPharm, Inc., Biofer S.p.A, Baxter, and Celsus.Browse Full Report with TOC-Table of Content:1. Global Economic Outlook2. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Executive Summary3. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Overview3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Taxonomy3.1.2. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Definition3.2. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Size (US$ Mn) and Forecast, 2012-20263.2.1. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Dynamics3.4. Supply Chain3.5. Cost Structure3.6. PESTLE Analysis3.7. Product Lifecycle3.8. List of Distributors3.9. Key Participants Market Presence (Intensity Map) By Region4. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Analysis and Forecast 2012-20264.1. Global Peptide and Heparin Market Size and Forecast By Product Type , 2012-20264.1.1. Sodium Heparin Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.2. Ammonium Heparin Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By RegionContinued.Check Discount on This Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized Healthcare 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: Global Surgical Sponge Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753219 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753219/united-states-surgical-sponge-by-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753219/united-states-surgical-sponge-by-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753219&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report United States Surgical Sponge Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Surgical Sponge MarketA surgical sponge is a specialized sponge or pad used in surgery. Also known as a lap sponge, a surgical sponge is used to absorb liquids from a surgical site. It may be used in combination with suction to keep a surgical site clear, by a surgeon working to control bleeding, and in a number of other applications. Like other things used in surgery, sponges are designed to be sterile; they come in their own sterile packaging and can be safely autoclaved. They are generally disposable and discarded after surgery in biohzard containers which hold other disposable surgical instruments and equipment.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Surgical Sponge in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers"MedtronicMolnlyckeBSN medicalMedlineCardinal HealthHartmannLohmann & RauscherAhlstromOwens & MinorB. BraunMcKESSONZhende MedicalWinner MedicalJianErKangHakuzoDeroyalAllmed MedicalASCCrosstexKettenbachDukalTexpolMedicomRequest for TOC @Market Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, coversCotton Gauze SpongesNonwoven SpongesX-Ray Detectable SpongesOthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHospitalClinicAmbulatory Surgery CenterPharmacyThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Surgical Sponge market.Chapter 1, to describe Surgical Sponge 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 Surgical Sponge, 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 Surgical Sponge, 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, Surgical Sponge 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.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Surgical Sponge Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.View Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Surgical Sponge Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Cotton Gauze Sponges1.2.2 Nonwoven Sponges1.2.3 X-Ray Detectable Sponges1.2.4 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Hospital1.3.2 Clinic1.3.3 Ambulatory Surgery Center1.3.4 Pharmacy1.4 Market Analysis by States1.4.1 California Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.2 Texas Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.3 New York Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.4 Florida Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.5 Illinois Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Medtronic2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Medtronic Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Molnlycke2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Molnlycke Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 BSN medical2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 BSN medical Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Medline2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Medline Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Cardinal Health2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Cardinal Health Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Hartmann2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Hartmann Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Lohmann & Rauscher2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Lohmann & Rauscher Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Ahlstrom2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Ahlstrom Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Owens & Minor2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Owens & Minor Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 B. Braun2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 B. Braun Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 McKESSON2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 McKESSON Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12 Zhende Medical2.12.1 Business Overview2.12.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 Zhende Medical Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13 Winner Medical2.13.1 Business Overview2.13.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 Winner Medical Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.14 JianErKang2.14.1 Business Overview2.14.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.14.2.1 Type 12.14.2.2 Type 22.14.3 JianErKang Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.15 Hakuzo2.15.1 Business Overview2.15.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.15.2.1 Type 12.15.2.2 Type 22.15.3 Hakuzo Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.16 Deroyal2.16.1 Business Overview2.16.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.16.2.1 Type 12.16.2.2 Type 22.16.3 Deroyal Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.17 Allmed Medical2.17.1 Business Overview2.17.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.17.2.1 Type 12.17.2.2 Type 22.17.3 Allmed Medical Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.18 ASC2.18.1 Business Overview2.18.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.18.2.1 Type 12.18.2.2 Type 22.18.3 ASC Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.19 Crosstex2.19.1 Business Overview2.19.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.19.2.1 Type 12.19.2.2 Type 22.19.3 Crosstex Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.20 Kettenbach2.20.1 Business Overview2.20.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.20.2.1 Type 12.20.2.2 Type 22.20.3 Kettenbach Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.21 Dukal2.21.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.21.2.1 Type 12.21.2.2 Type 22.21.3 Dukal Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.22 Texpol2.22.1 Business Overview2.22.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.22.2.1 Type 12.22.2.2 Type 22.22.3 Texpol Surgical Sponge Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.23 Medicom2.23.1 Business Overview2.23.2 Surgical Sponge Type and Applications2.23.2.1 Type 12.23.2.2 Type 2Buy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Assessment and Revenue Gains of Key Players Forecasted during 2017-2026 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=521 https://www.factmr.com/report/521/methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=521 https://www.factmr.com/ As per the current market trends and the promising nature of the methyl tertiary-butyl ether 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 2017 to 2026, 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 for Free Sample Report-Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) seeks widespread adoption as a fuel additive in gasoline engines on the coattails of its property of high oxygen content raising. MTBE is used in industrial engines as it enables complete combustion of fuel, while reducing knocking in the engine, thereby improving lifespan of machinery. MTBE also seek extensive employment in the automotive industry, as it helps in curtailing emissions from vehicles. Medical applications of MTBE have witnessed a tremendous surge, for example MTBE is increasingly utilized for dissolving gallstones.Processing of methyl tertiary-butyl ether for extracting isobutylene is a major trend observed in the market. Isobutylene is widely utilized for manufacturing butyl rubber, methyl methacrylate, and poly-isobutylene, which seek tremendous applications in various end-use industries such as electronics, manufacturing, industrial and automotive. Refining companies have been considering employment of methyl tertiary-butyl ether as a fuel additive in light of its excellent blending characteristics and economic viability. However, stringent regulations implemented with regard to groundwater contamination through gasoline leakages that contain MTBE will prevail as a major restraining factor for adoption of MTBE in the near future.The global methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) market will exhibit a value CAGR of 4.7% between the forecast period, 2017 and 2026. Volume sales of MTBE across the globe are estimated to exceed 35,000 thousand tons by 2026-end.APEJ to Lead Global MTBE MarketIn terms of value, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will continue to lead the global methyl tertiary-butyl market. China and India are major MTBE consumers in the region owing to presence of a large number of vehicles these countries. Additionally, environmental protection policies in APEJ are relatively less stringent, which in turn abodes well for penetration of MTBE in the region. Europe and North America will also prevail as major markets for methyl tertiary-butyl ether, in terms of value. There has been a steady expansion of the refinery sector in these regions since the recent past. Anti-knocking properties of MTBE suits well to reduce wear & tear of the heavy-duty machinery in this sector.Reformulation of gasoline by using MTBE as a fuel additive, owing to its great oxygen content raising property, has been a trending practice witnessed worldwide. Reformulated gasoline seeks extensive adoption in the marine and oil & gas sector. According to the report, MTBE will witness the largest application in reformulated gasoline during the forecast period.Oil & gas industry will continue to be the largest revenue contributing end-use industry to the global MTBE market, mainly driven by surging demand for gasoline & its additives in the industry. Based on product type, oxygenating agent will account for the lions share of the market throughout the forecast period.Browse Full Report with TOC-Competition TrackingOccupancy of numerous key suppliers is a major factor responsible for the fragmented nature of the global methyl tertiary-butyl ether market. Leading players in the market have prominent geographical presence coupled with enormous production facilities situated in countries including The U.S. and China. Growing demand for MTBE across various end-use industries has intensified the competition among players, compelling them to develop and offer high-quality products at competitive prices.Key players elucidated in the report include Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd., Huntsman Corporation, Qatar Fuel Additives Company, Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore, Akzo Nobel, BP plc, S.C Carom S.A, Evonik Industries AG, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., Reliance Industries Ltd., and Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad.Global Economic OutlookGlobal Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market - Executive Summary2.1. Global Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market - Opportunity Analysis2.2. Global Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market - MegatrendsGlobal Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market Overview3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Global Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market Taxonomy3.1.2. Global Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market Definition3.2. Global Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market Size (US$ Mn) & Volume (000 Tonnes) and Forecast, 2012-20263.2.1. Global Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3. Global Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Market Dynamics3.4. Supply Chain3.5. Cost Structure3.6. Pricing Analysis3.7. PESTLE Analysis3.8. Porters Five Force Analysis3.9. Key Regulations3.10. Investment Feasibility Matrix3.11. Market Positioning & Behavior Assessment3.12. Key Players Competition Matrix3.13. Forecast Scenario3.14. List of Distributors3.15. Key Participants Market Presence (Intensity Map) By RegionRead More>>>Request Discount of this Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; thats why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MRSuite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-6111-593Email: sales@factmr.com/Web: Global Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Market By players, Regions, Product Type, Consumers Forecast 2017-2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753223 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753223/united-states-virtual-rehabilitation-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753223/united-states-virtual-rehabilitation-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753223&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems MarketVirtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation System is a term used to describe the provision of rehabilitation across the spectrum of acute, sub-acute and community settings at a distance, using telecommunications technology as the service delivery medium. Telerehabilitation relates to the services delivered by a number of health disciplines including physiotherapy. Telerehabilitation utilises a broad range of technologies to facilitate physiotherapy treatment.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers"GestureTek HealthBrontes ProcessingMotekforce LinkVirtualware GroupMotorikaBridgeway Senior HealthcareLiteGaitmindmazeDoctor KineticGeminus-QhomRehametrics (NeuroAtHome)Request for TOC @Market Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, coversPhysical RehabilitationNeuro RehabilitationCognitive RehabilitationOthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHospitalsCare homesHomeOtherThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems market.Chapter 1, to describe Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems 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 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems, 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 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems, 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, Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems 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.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.View Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Physical Rehabilitation1.2.2 Neuro Rehabilitation1.2.3 Cognitive Rehabilitation1.2.4 Others1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Hospitals1.3.2 Care homes1.3.3 Home1.3.4 Other1.4 Market Analysis by States1.4.1 California Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.2 Texas Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.3 New York Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.4 Florida Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.5 Illinois Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 GestureTek Health2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 GestureTek Health Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Brontes Processing2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Brontes Processing Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Motekforce Link2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Motekforce Link Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Virtualware Group2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Virtualware Group Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Motorika2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Motorika Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Bridgeway Senior Healthcare2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Bridgeway Senior Healthcare Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 LiteGait2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 LiteGait Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 mindmaze2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 mindmaze Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Doctor Kinetic2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Doctor Kinetic Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 Geminus-Qhom2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 Geminus-Qhom Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Rehametrics (NeuroAtHome)2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Rehametrics (NeuroAtHome) Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.1.1 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.1.2 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Sales Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2.1 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Revenue by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2.2 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Revenue Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 United States Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Price by Manufacturers (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Manufacturer Market Share (2016-2017)3.4.2 Top 5 Virtual Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation Systems Manufacturer Market Share (2016-2017)3.5 Market Competition TrendBuy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Viscometers Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753224 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753224/united-states-viscometers-by-manufacturers-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753224/united-states-viscometers-by-manufacturers-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753224&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report United States Viscometers Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Viscometers MarketViscometers are instrument used to measure the viscosity of a fluid. For liquids with viscosities which vary with flow conditions, an instrument called a rheometer is used. Viscometers only work under one flow condition.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Viscometers in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers"BrookfieldPACTOKI SANGYOAnton PaarEmersonFungilabBARTECHydromotionProRheoA&DLamy RheologyATACMarimexQinfdao SenxinFujiZonwonLemis BalticShanghai DihaoRequest for TOC @Market Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, coversIn-line Process ViscometersPortable ViscometersLaboratory ViscometersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPetroleumChemicalPharmaceuticalsFood & BeverageOthersThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Viscometers market.Chapter 1, to describe Viscometers 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 Viscometers, 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 Viscometers, 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, Viscometers 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.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Viscometers Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.View Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Viscometers Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 In-line Process Viscometers1.2.2 Portable Viscometers1.2.3 Laboratory Viscometers1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Petroleum1.3.2 Chemical1.3.3 Pharmaceuticals1.3.4 Food & Beverage1.3.5 Others1.4 Market Analysis by States1.4.1 California Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.2 Texas Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.3 New York Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.4 Florida Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.4.5 Illinois Status and Prospect (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Brookfield2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Brookfield Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 PAC2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 PAC Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 TOKI SANGYO2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 TOKI SANGYO Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Anton Paar2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Anton Paar Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Emerson2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Emerson Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Fungilab2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Fungilab Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 BARTEC2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 BARTEC Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Hydromotion2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Hydromotion Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 ProRheo2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 ProRheo Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 A&D2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 A&D Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Lamy Rheology2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Lamy Rheology Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12 ATAC2.12.1 Business Overview2.12.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 ATAC Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13 Marimex2.13.1 Business Overview2.13.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 Marimex Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.14 Qinfdao Senxin2.14.1 Business Overview2.14.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.14.2.1 Type 12.14.2.2 Type 22.14.3 Qinfdao Senxin Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.15 Fuji2.15.1 Business Overview2.15.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.15.2.1 Type 12.15.2.2 Type 22.15.3 Fuji Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.16 Zonwon2.16.1 Business Overview2.16.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.16.2.1 Type 12.16.2.2 Type 22.16.3 Zonwon Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.17 Lemis Baltic2.17.1 Business Overview2.17.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.17.2.1 Type 12.17.2.2 Type 22.17.3 Lemis Baltic Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.18 Shanghai Dihao2.18.1 Business Overview2.18.2 Viscometers Type and Applications2.18.2.1 Type 12.18.2.2 Type 22.18.3 Shanghai Dihao Viscometers Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 United States Viscometers Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 United States Viscometers Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.1.1 United States Viscometers Sales by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.1.2 United States Viscometers Sales Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 United States Viscometers Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2.1 United States Viscometers Revenue by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2.2 United States Viscometers Revenue Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 United States Viscometers Price by Manufacturers (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Viscometers Manufacturer Market Share (2016-2017)3.4.2 Top 5 Viscometers Manufacturer Market Share (2016-2017)3.5 Market Competition Trend4 United States Viscometers Market Analysis by States4.1 United States Viscometers Sales Market Share by States (2013-2018)4.2 United States Viscometers Sales and Market Share by States (2013-2018)4.2.1 United States Viscometers Sales by States (2013-2018)4.2.2 United States Viscometers Sales Market Share by States (2013-2018)4.3 United States Viscometers Revenue (Value) and Market Share by States (2013-2018)4.3.1 United States Viscometers Revenue by States (2013-2018)4.3.2 United States Viscometers Revenue Market Share by States (2013-2018)Buy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Military Land Vehicles Market Global Industry Analysis and Forecast Till 2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3710 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3710 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Land military is one of the basic forms of border defense of a country. Military land vehicles have been growing at a rapid pace due to increasing purchases by the emerging economies with large population who need increased land-protection. However, the military land vehicles market is expected to grow at a sluggish rate in the short term due to austerity in several major markets. The economic slowdown in Europe is another factor for the low growth in the short term. The traditional markets for military land vehicles such are the U.S. are mostly up-grading and maintaining their existing military fleets rather than replacing them with the new ones.The expected cuts in the U.S. vehicle programs are expected to lead to a slowdown of military land vehicles market in the region in the short term. The major land military vehicles of the U.S. include Stryker program, MI I3 replacement, Abrams/Bradley/Paladin Capability enhancement, Ground Combat Vehicle JLTV and FMTV. The major land vehicles owned by other countries include FRES, OUVS, Warrior & Challenger (the U.K.), Boxer (Netherlands), Future AIFV (Spain), PUMA AIFV (Germany), Freccia (Italy), Strategic Military Program (Brazil), Altay MBT (Turkey), K21 AIFV and K2 MBT (South Korea), Abrams Tank up-gradation (Iraq), Future MBT and Abhay (India), Land 121 and Project Overlander (Australia), Project Vistula, Sepula, Hoefyster (South Africa), TSS MBT up-gradation (Peru) and Main battle tank (Columbia) .Request for Table of Contents @The asymmetric warfare and increasing operation pressures are compelling the governments to focus on new breed of military land vehicles with focus on mobility and transportation, propulsion, transportability, interoperability with other elements, logistics footprint and lifetime cost. The increasing need for agile and efficient vehicles is driving the market for lightweight and hybrid military land vehicles. The U.K. which played significant role in Iraq and Afghanistan operation faced a defense budget deficit of USD 60billion post operation which led to an aggressive Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) to recover from this. The legacy vehicles in France including AMX-10 RC, VAB and ERC-90 are to be replaced by VBMR and EBRC vehicles.The governments in the western countries are practicing lean military force and are therefore downsizing their armed forces. However, they are replacing their cold-war era equipments and investing in new technologies. The Department of Defense (DOD) in the U.S. is planning to downsize its soldiers strength by 80,000 and the marine corps by 20,000. Among regions, North America dominated global sales followed by Asia Pacific. With the economic recovery of Europe by the mid of the decade the military land vehicles market in the region is expected to grow at a fast pace.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Military land vehicles market is consolidated with small number of players operating in the market. The key players in military land vehicles market are General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Oshkosh Corporation, Rheinmetall, ST Engineering and Navistar. The military land vehicle manufacturers are increasing their focus on Asia Pacific and Middle East markets. In the decade 2001-2010, the series of wars led to Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) where the manufacturers of military land vehicles enjoyed great profits. The present decade mostly features cold war thus marring the scope for UORs. However, any eruption of war can give the military land vehicles industry a skyrocketing growth.ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Digital Banking Market By players, Regions, Product Type, Consumers Forecast 2017-2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753227 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753227/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753227/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753227&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Digital Banking Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The main objective of this report is to aid the user in understanding the market as a whole, its definitions, segmentation, market potential, influential trends, and the barriers that it is facing. Meticulous research and analysis were an important part of the report preparation. Those reading the report will be able to get a detailed understanding about the market. Industry experts have verified and checked the data and information that have been taken from credible sources like websites, annual reports of companies, journals, and other resources. In order give the facts and data a pictorial form, diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other representations have been used. That augments the visual appeal of the report and makes understanding it much easier.About Digital Banking MarketThis report studies the Digital Banking market. In contrast to the traditional banking business model, Digital Banking is the move to online banking where banking services are delivered over the internet. It has all the same functions as a head office, branch office, online service, bank cards, ATM and point of sale machines.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Digital Banking 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 coversUrban FTKonyBackbaseTechnisysInfosysDigiliti MoneyInnofisMobilearthD3 Banking TechnologyAlkamiQ2MisysSAPRequest for TOC @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversPCMobileMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoRetail Digital BankingSME Digital BankingCorporate Digital BankingThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Digital Banking market.Chapter 1, to describe Digital Banking Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Digital Banking, with sales, revenue, and price of Digital Banking, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Digital Banking, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Digital Banking market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Digital Banking sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Digital Banking Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 PC1.2.2 Mobile1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Retail Digital Banking1.3.2 SME Digital Banking1.3.3 Corporate Digital Banking1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Urban FT2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Urban FT Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Kony2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Kony Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Backbase2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Backbase Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Technisys2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Technisys Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Infosys2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Infosys Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Digiliti Money2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Digiliti Money Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Innofis2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Innofis Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Mobilearth2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Mobilearth Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 D3 Banking Technology2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 D3 Banking Technology Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 Alkami2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 Alkami Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Q22.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Q2 Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12 Misys2.12.1 Business Overview2.12.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 Misys Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13 SAP2.13.1 Business Overview2.13.2 Digital Banking Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 SAP Digital Banking Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)Buy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Hesperidin Market By players, Regions, Product Type, Consumers Forecast 2017-2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753228 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753228/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753228/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753228&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Hesperidin Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The main objective of this report is to aid the user in understanding the market as a whole, its definitions, segmentation, market potential, influential trends, and the barriers that it is facing. Meticulous research and analysis were an important part of the report preparation. Those reading the report will be able to get a detailed understanding about the market. Industry experts have verified and checked the data and information that have been taken from credible sources like websites, annual reports of companies, journals, and other resources. In order give the facts and data a pictorial form, diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other representations have been used. That augments the visual appeal of the report and makes understanding it much easier.About Hesperidin MarketHesperidin is mainly as a intermediates or material used in pharmaceutical industry (e.g. Diosmin), also can be used in food industry.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Hesperidin 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.Get Sample copy of this Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversZhejiang Conler PharmaceuticalChengdu OkaySichuan Deebio PharmaceuticalHunan Kang BiotechSichuan Xieli PharmaceuticalShaanxi Huifeng PharmaceuticalSANREN Bio-TechnologyChengdu Shuxi PharmaceuticalHunan Yuantong PharmaceuticalChengdu Yazhong Bio-pharmaceuticalChengdu Runde PharmaceuticalQuzhou Tiansheng Plant ExtractChengdu Hawk Bio-EngineeringChongqing Zhuliu BioengineeringHunan Kingti Bio-TechMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Request for TOC @Market Segment by Type, covers90%-92% Type92%-98% TypeOther TypesMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood IndustryPharmaceutical IntermediatesOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Hesperidin market.Chapter 1, to describe Hesperidin Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Hesperidin, with sales, revenue, and price of Hesperidin, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Hesperidin, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Hesperidin market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Hesperidin sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Hesperidin Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 90%-92% Type1.2.2 92%-98% Type1.2.3 Other Types1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Food Industry1.3.2 Pharmaceutical Intermediates1.3.3 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Zhejiang Conler Pharmaceutical2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Zhejiang Conler Pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Chengdu Okay2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Chengdu Okay Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Sichuan Deebio Pharmaceutical2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Sichuan Deebio Pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Hunan Kang Biotech2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Hunan Kang Biotech Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Sichuan Xieli Pharmaceutical2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Sichuan Xieli Pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Shaanxi Huifeng Pharmaceutical2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Shaanxi Huifeng Pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 SANREN Bio-Technology2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 SANREN Bio-Technology Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Chengdu Shuxi Pharmaceutical2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Chengdu Shuxi Pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Hunan Yuantong Pharmaceutical2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Hunan Yuantong Pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 Chengdu Yazhong Bio-pharmaceutical2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 Chengdu Yazhong Bio-pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Chengdu Runde Pharmaceutical2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Chengdu Runde Pharmaceutical Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12 Quzhou Tiansheng Plant Extract2.12.1 Business Overview2.12.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 Quzhou Tiansheng Plant Extract Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13 Chengdu Hawk Bio-Engineering2.13.1 Business Overview2.13.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 Chengdu Hawk Bio-Engineering Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.14 Chongqing Zhuliu Bioengineering2.14.1 Business Overview2.14.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.14.2.1 Type 12.14.2.2 Type 22.14.3 Chongqing Zhuliu Bioengineering Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.15 Hunan Kingti Bio-Tech2.15.1 Business Overview2.15.2 Hesperidin Type and Applications2.15.2.1 Type 12.15.2.2 Type 22.15.3 Hunan Kingti Bio-Tech Hesperidin Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Hesperidin Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Hesperidin Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 Global Hesperidin Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 Global Hesperidin Price by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Hesperidin Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.4.2 Top 5 Hesperidin Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.5 Market Competition TrendBuy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Press Fit Connector Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753235 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753235/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753235/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753235&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Press Fit Connector Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Press Fit Connector MarketThis report studies the Press Fit Connector market. By their name, press-fit connectors are pressed through properly dimensioned plated-through holes on a printed circuit board (PCB). This technology is an alternative to the soldering method and offers a number of advantages over its more traditional counterpart. With press-fit connectors, you can eliminate a number of negative aspects that come along with soldering: thermal stress on the PCB, cold solder joints, shorts (caused by solder bridging), and the elimination of lead-free solder, which introduces its own set of problems. Press-fit connectors are also easily repaired, more environmentally friendly, and cost effective.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Press Fit Connector 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 coversTE ConnectivitySamtecAmphenolMolexHiroseJAEJSTHARTINGYamaichiERNIFujitsuRequest for TOC @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversBrass ConnecterStainless Steel ConnecterMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoAutomotive ElectronicsElectronic ProductAerospaceOtherThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Press Fit Connector market.Chapter 1, to describe Press Fit Connector Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Press Fit Connector, with sales, revenue, and price of Press Fit Connector, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Press Fit Connector, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Press Fit Connector market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Press Fit Connector sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Press Fit Connector Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Brass Connecter1.2.2 Stainless Steel Connecter1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Automotive Electronics1.3.2 Electronic Product1.3.3 Aerospace1.3.4 Other1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 TE Connectivity2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 TE Connectivity Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Samtec2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Samtec Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Amphenol2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Amphenol Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Molex2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Molex Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Hirose2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Hirose Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 JAE2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 JAE Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 JST2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 JST Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 HARTING2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 HARTING Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Yamaichi2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Yamaichi Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 ERNI2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 ERNI Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Fujitsu2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Press Fit Connector Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Fujitsu Press Fit Connector Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Press Fit Connector Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Press Fit Connector Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 Global Press Fit Connector Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 Global Press Fit Connector Price by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Press Fit Connector Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.4.2 Top 5 Press Fit Connector Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.5 Market Competition TrendBuy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Rotary Encoder Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753239 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753239/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753239/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753239&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Rotary Encoder Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Rotary Encoder MarketThis report studies the Rotary?Encoder market. A rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder, is an electro-mechanical device that converts the angular position or motion of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital code.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Rotary Encoder 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 coversHeidenhainDanaherTamagawaBaumerNemiconP+FKublerKoyoOmronLeine & LindeSickTR ElectronicBEIRep AvagoYuheng OpticsOthersRequest for TOC @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversIncremental Rotary EncodersAbsolute Rotary EncodersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoElevator IndustryMachine ToolMotorFood & PackagingOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Rotary Encoder market.Chapter 1, to describe Rotary Encoder Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Rotary Encoder, with sales, revenue, and price of Rotary Encoder, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Rotary Encoder, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Rotary Encoder market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Rotary Encoder sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Rotary Encoder Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Incremental Rotary Encoders1.2.2 Absolute Rotary Encoders1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Elevator Industry1.3.2 Machine Tool1.3.3 Motor1.3.4 Food & Packaging1.3.5 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Heidenhain2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Heidenhain Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Danaher2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Danaher Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Tamagawa2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Tamagawa Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Baumer2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Baumer Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Nemicon2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Nemicon Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 P+F2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 P+F Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Kubler2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Kubler Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Koyo2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Koyo Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Omron2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Omron Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 Leine & Linde2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 Leine & Linde Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Sick2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Sick Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12 TR Electronic2.12.1 Business Overview2.12.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 TR Electronic Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13 BEI2.13.1 Business Overview2.13.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 BEI Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.14 Rep Avago2.14.1 Business Overview2.14.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.14.2.1 Type 12.14.2.2 Type 22.14.3 Rep Avago Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.15 Yuheng Optics2.15.1 Business Overview2.15.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.15.2.1 Type 12.15.2.2 Type 22.15.3 Yuheng Optics Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.16 Others2.16.1 Business Overview2.16.2 Rotary Encoder Type and Applications2.16.2.1 Type 12.16.2.2 Type 22.16.3 Others Rotary Encoder Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Rotary Encoder Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Rotary Encoder Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 Global Rotary Encoder Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 Global Rotary Encoder Price by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Rotary Encoder Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.4.2 Top 5 Rotary Encoder Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.5 Market Competition TrendBuy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Rising at 7.12% CAGR During 2017-2022: Analysis of Key Players, Trends https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/135463/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-friction-stir-welding-equipment-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022/?utm_source=OPR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-friction-stir-welding-equipment-industry-market-analysis-forecast-2018-2023/?utm_source=RR-SP https://factsweek.com/author/chetan/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ http://reports.algosonline.com/ Global Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market is Projected to grow at 7.12% CAGR during the period 2017-2022. Friction Stir Welding Equipment Industry research report also provides granular analysis of the market share, Size, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market.Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process that uses a non-consumable tool to join two facing workpieces without melting the workpiece material. Heat is generated by friction between the rotating tool and the workpiece material, which leads to a softened region near the FSW tool. While the tool is traversed along the joint line, it mechanically intermixes the two pieces of metal, and forges the hot and softened metal by the mechanical pressure, which is applied by the tool, much like joining clay, or dough. It is primarily used on wrought or extruded aluminium and particularly for structures which need very high weld strength.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Request for a Sample Copy of Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Report @Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Segment by Top Manufacturers Including:ESAB, Beijing FSW, PaR Systems, Hitachi, General Tool Company, PTG, Nitto Seiki, BTI, Sooncable, Gatwick and ETA Technology.First, the Friction Stir Welding Equipment industry concentration is high. Europe is the biggest consumer of Friction Stir Welding Equipment. There are only a small number of manufacturers in the world because of technology barrier, and high-end products mainly come from USA and European.In the world wide, giant manufactures mainly distribute in Europe and America. American and Europe has a long history and unshakable status in this industry, like ESAB and PaR Systems. They have perfect products.Second, the global Friction Stir Welding Equipment sales volume will increase to 166 units in 2017, from 154 units in 2016, it is estimated that the global Friction Stir Welding Equipment demand will develop with an average growth rate of about 7.12% in the coming five years. All manufactures in the world are committed to the improvement of product. So the sales volume of Friction Stir Welding Equipment will increase quickly, and will attend 234 units in 2022.Third, the products are mainly used in the Aerospace, Automotive, Shipbuilding and Railways industry, the market share are 24.68%, 25.97%, 13.64% and 18.83%. We predict that Automotive industry will be the important market in the future.Fourth, we tend to believe it is has great potential in the market, and the consumption increasing degree will show a sharp curve. On product prices, the slow downward trend in recent years will maintain in the future, as competition intensifies, prices gap between different brands will go narrowing. Similarly, there will be fluctuation in gross margin. Whats more, the share of Chinese country will increase.Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market OverviewGlobal Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Friction Stir Welding Equipment by CountriesGlobal Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Segment by TypeGlobal Friction Stir Welding Equipment Market Segment by ApplicationFriction Stir Welding Equipment Market Forecast (2017-2022)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionMarket Segment by Type, coversDesktop Equipment, Gantry Equipment and OthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Friction Stir Welding Equipment market.Chapter 1, to describe Friction Stir Welding Equipment Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Friction Stir Welding Equipment, with sales, revenue, and price of Friction Stir Welding Equipment, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Friction Stir Welding Equipment, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Friction Stir Welding Equipment market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Friction Stir Welding Equipment sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor more information on this report, Please visit at:Related Reports: -Global Friction Stir Welding Equipment Industry Market Analysis & Forecast 2018-2023In the Global Friction Stir Welding Equipment Industry 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.More Report @Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:More Report at: Global Rubber Additives Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753240 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753240/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753240/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753240&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Rubber Additives Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Rubber Additives MarketRubber additives are chemicals or agents added during the processing and synthesis of rubber polymers. Rubber additives are incorporated with raw rubber polymer to enhance structural and mechanical properties, and improve the overall performance and quality of rubber.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Rubber Additives 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 coversEastmanKemai ChemicalSunsineJiangsu Sinorgchem TechnologyLanxessShandong Yanggu Huatai ChemicalKUMHO PETROCHEMICALNortheast Auxiliary ChemicalAddivantPuyang Willing ChemicalsXian Yu-ChemAkzoNobelAgrofertSumitomo ChemicalNCICOUCHI SHINKO CHEMICALArkemaNOCILRequest for TOC @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversRubber AntioxidantRubber AcceleratorsInsoluble SulfurOtherMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoTire & TubingConsumer GoodsConstructionElectrical InsulationOtherThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Rubber Additives market.Chapter 1, to describe Rubber Additives Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Rubber Additives, with sales, revenue, and price of Rubber Additives, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Rubber Additives, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Rubber Additives market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Rubber Additives sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Rubber Additives Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Rubber Antioxidant1.2.2 Rubber Accelerators1.2.3 Insoluble Sulfur1.2.4 Other1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Tire & Tubing1.3.2 Consumer Goods1.3.3 Construction1.3.4 Electrical Insulation1.3.5 Other1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Eastman2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Eastman Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Kemai Chemical2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Kemai Chemical Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Sunsine2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Sunsine Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Jiangsu Sinorgchem Technology2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Jiangsu Sinorgchem Technology Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Lanxess2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Lanxess Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Shandong Yanggu Huatai Chemical2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Shandong Yanggu Huatai Chemical Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 KUMHO PETROCHEMICAL2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 KUMHO PETROCHEMICAL Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Northeast Auxiliary Chemical2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Northeast Auxiliary Chemical Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Addivant2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Addivant Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 Puyang Willing Chemicals2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 Puyang Willing Chemicals Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Xian Yu-Chem2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Xian Yu-Chem Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12 AkzoNobel2.12.1 Business Overview2.12.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 AkzoNobel Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13 Agrofert2.13.1 Business Overview2.13.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 Agrofert Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.14 Sumitomo Chemical2.14.1 Business Overview2.14.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.14.2.1 Type 12.14.2.2 Type 22.14.3 Sumitomo Chemical Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.15 NCIC2.15.1 Business Overview2.15.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.15.2.1 Type 12.15.2.2 Type 22.15.3 NCIC Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.16 OUCHI SHINKO CHEMICAL2.16.1 Business Overview2.16.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.16.2.1 Type 12.16.2.2 Type 22.16.3 OUCHI SHINKO CHEMICAL Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.17 Arkema2.17.1 Business Overview2.17.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.17.2.1 Type 12.17.2.2 Type 22.17.3 Arkema Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.18 NOCIL2.18.1 Business Overview2.18.2 Rubber Additives Type and Applications2.18.2.1 Type 12.18.2.2 Type 22.18.3 NOCIL Rubber Additives Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Rubber Additives Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Rubber Additives Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 Global Rubber Additives Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 Global Rubber Additives Price by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Rubber Additives Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.4.2 Top 5 Rubber Additives Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.5 Market Competition TrendBuy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Trends in the Refrigerated Vehicles Market 2015-2021 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3595 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3595 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Refrigerated vehicles are used for transportation of vulnerable food, pharmaceutical and healthcare products. The increasing population and consumer spending on food products has surged their production globally. Among food products, dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables require cold storage and transportation for their sustainability. The increasing global warming has been emerging as a matter of great concern for the food producers globally which is reducing the shelf life of these products in non-refrigerated conditions. Most of the pharmaceutical and healthcare products need protection from heat and light to maintain their chemical and biological formulation. All these concerns have been driving the refrigerated vehicles market globally and are expected to increase in terms of growth rate during 2014-2020.Refrigerated vehicles include a large types of vehicles used in several transportation requirements based on loading requirement. Some of their types include refrigerated vans, refrigerated trucks, refrigerated trailers, refrigerated railcars, refrigerated ships, refrigerated transport by air, refrigerated containers, atmosphere controlled containers, intermodal refrigerated containers, insulated containers, integral reefer containers and multimodal temperature containers. The increasing consumer awareness about fresh products is one of the important factors which have been escalating the demand for refrigerated vehicles globally.Request for Table of Contents @The developing and underdeveloped countries have an underdeveloped cold-supply chain infrastructure which leads to destruction of a large quantity of food products every year. This also increases warehousing charges of the food manufacturers and the distributors as they have to maintain local distribution points in the area of demand. The growing population and increasing per capita income in these countries is boosting the demand for food products which is further creating demands for the refrigerated vehicles in these countries.The dairy product consumption in Asia Pacific countries have also been increasing to a great extent in recent times. The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries have also been growing at a rapid pace in these developing countries which is creating demand for the refrigerated vehicles in this domain as well. The shortage of skilled labor and unstable fuel prices are the key hurdles for the refrigerated vehicles market. The companies operating in the refrigerated vehicles market are improving the fuel efficiency and noise reduction of these vehicles.There have been several technology development and introduction in the recent times by the refrigerated vehicle manufacturers. They include CorroGuard and ThermGuard by Great Dane, Strip door solution for refrigerated trucks by R.O.M, GRIPTM by RTE, LED based indicator by Carrier, economical cold plates by Johnson, reefer monitoring system by PAR, reefer-trak sentry solutions by Star-Trak, Secureseal system by OEM Group, new alternator by Robert Bosch and Fleetview by Terion.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Among regions, North America dominated global sales of refrigerated vehicles market, followed by Europe. There are a large number of market players in the refrigerated vehicles market which are operating in a particular country or globally through their subsidiaries. The global refrigerated vehicles market is fragmented however; it is increasingly advancing towards consolidation with a number of companies engaged in merger and acquisition activities.The key market players include Great Dane Trailers, Ingersol Rand Company Limited, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited, Schmitz Cargobull, R.O.M., Thermo King, Carrier Transicold, Johnson, PAR, Star-Trak, GE, OEM Group, Robert Bosch, Terion, Northgate Plc and Fraikin Limited.ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Silicon Monoxide Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753243 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753243/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753243/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753243&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Silicon Monoxide Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Silicon Monoxide MarketSilicon monoxide, SiO, is an amorphous solid which does not have a characteristic X-ray diffraction pattern. SiO is brown in powder or pressed form and black in granular or lump form. It is stable at room temperature, but at temperatures of 400-800C, X-ray readings show traces of the disproportionation products silicon and quartz. SiO is a highly desirable coating material due to its high deposition rate and ease of evaporation using low cost resistance-heated coating systems. SiO is also noted for its excellent environmental stability.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Silicon Monoxide 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 coversMaterionOSAKA Titanium TechnologiesEMD Performance Materials (Merck)Shin-Etsu ChemicalBTRShanshan GroupJayu Optical MaterialRearth TechnologyTaizhou Dongfang Coating MaterialRequest for TOC @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversPowderGranulesBlockMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into(3N) 99.9%(4N) 99.99%OthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Silicon Monoxide market.Chapter 1, to describe Silicon Monoxide Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Silicon Monoxide, with sales, revenue, and price of Silicon Monoxide, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Silicon Monoxide, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Silicon Monoxide market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Silicon Monoxide sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Silicon Monoxide Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Powder1.2.2 Granules1.2.3 Block1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 (3N) 99.9%1.3.2 (4N) 99.99%1.3.3 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Materion2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Materion Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 OSAKA Titanium Technologies2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 OSAKA Titanium Technologies Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 EMD Performance Materials (Merck)2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 EMD Performance Materials (Merck) Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Shin-Etsu Chemical2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Shin-Etsu Chemical Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 BTR2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 BTR Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Shanshan Group2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Shanshan Group Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Jayu Optical Material2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Jayu Optical Material Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Rearth Technology2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Rearth Technology Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Taizhou Dongfang Coating Material2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Silicon Monoxide Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Taizhou Dongfang Coating Material Silicon Monoxide Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Silicon Monoxide Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Silicon Monoxide Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 Global Silicon Monoxide Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 Global Silicon Monoxide Price by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Silicon Monoxide Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.4.2 Top 5 Silicon Monoxide Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.5 Market Competition TrendBuy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Market By players, Regions, Product Type, Consumers Forecast 2017-2022 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1753244 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753244/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1753244/global-north-america-europe-and-market-research-reports https://www.researchmoz.com/checkout?rep_id=1753244&licType=S http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Market 2018 Forecast to 2023 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems MarketAutomatic Fare Collection System (AFC) is a contactless smartcard-based end-to-end solution for fare collection and payment. The state-of-the-art solution is uniquely designed with the demand of revenue services for modern transit operation in mind. Furthermore, with the advent of smartcard technology and proliferation of its business applications, AFC also enables transit operators to expand revenue opportunities, exploit the benefits of payment integration with other transit operators as well as non-transit service providers.Get Sample copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems 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 coversCubic CorporationThe Nippon SignalOmron CorporationScheidt & BachmannThales GroupINITHuamingXeroxGFI GenfareLECIPShanghai Potevio Company LimitedGunneboGMVHuahong JitongGRG BankingRequest for TOC @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversFareboxTicket Vending Machines (TVM)ValidatorMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoOff-BoardOn-BoardThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems market.Chapter 1, to describe Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems, with sales, revenue, and price of Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Farebox1.2.2 Ticket Vending Machines (TVM)1.2.3 Validator1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Off-Board1.3.2 On-Board1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Cubic Corporation2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Cubic Corporation Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 The Nippon Signal2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 The Nippon Signal Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Omron Corporation2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Omron Corporation Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Scheidt & Bachmann2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Scheidt & Bachmann Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Thales Group2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Thales Group Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 INIT2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 INIT Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Huaming2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Huaming Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Xerox2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Xerox Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 GFI Genfare2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 GFI Genfare Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10 LECIP2.10.1 Business Overview2.10.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 LECIP Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11 Shanghai Potevio Company Limited2.11.1 Business Overview2.11.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Shanghai Potevio Company Limited Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12 Gunnebo2.12.1 Business Overview2.12.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 Gunnebo Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13 GMV2.13.1 Business Overview2.13.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 GMV Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.14 Huahong Jitong2.14.1 Business Overview2.14.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.14.2.1 Type 12.14.2.2 Type 22.14.3 Huahong Jitong Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.15 GRG Banking2.15.1 Business Overview2.15.2 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Type and Applications2.15.2.1 Type 12.15.2.2 Type 22.15.3 GRG Banking Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 Global Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 Global Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Price by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.4.2 Top 5 Smart Cards Automated Fare Collection Systems Manufacturer Market Share in 20173.5 Market Competition TrendBuy Now @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.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20182025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/670 www.coherentchronicle.com Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) refers to the engine ignition which is the combination of Spark Ignition (Otto-Engine or SI-Engine) and Compression Ignition (Diesel Engine). The process utilizes homogeneous fuel-air mixtures similar to the SI-engine and uses high compression ratio for mixture to auto-ignite similar to the diesel engine. This lean homogeneous mixture reduces particulate emissions and helps auto-ignition, reducing the overall emission of NOx to about 90-98%. The engine is featured to offer an increased fuel efficiency of over 15-30%, compared to the SI engines.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :HCCI engines compatibility with alternative fuels is anticipated to garner high growth prospects for the industry over the next few yearsOwing to its compatibility with alternative fuels that specifically include gasoline and diesel, is encouraging more automakers to invest in the technology. Moreover, industry participants are increasingly focusing on integrating fuels with high octane and cetane number to enhance the reliability and durability of the engines. In conjunction with the increasing versatility and compatibility, the popularity of these engines will increase during the projected period. Some of the major initiatives by the automotive industry participants are mentioned below:BMWIn 2011, BMW introduced its new B-family engines featuring three-, four- and six-cylinder diesel and petrol which commercialized in 2014. These were designed to accommodate next generation technology that included HCCI and hybridization.U.S. DoE and BoschBosch announced its leading participation in Advanced Combustion Controls - Enabling Systems and Solutions (ACCESS) that was US$ 12 Mn project funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DoE). The project involved exploration of HCCI as a part of the project to develop advanced light duty petrol engine.DaimlerMercedes-Benz showcased F700 sedan, featuring fuel saving technology such as VVC, ISAG, and mild hybridization. The technology showcase emphasized on an estimated fuel saving of up to 47.5% in comparison to its S350 model. Moreover, the company spokesperson was reported to state the company was making significant efforts in three to six modular inline engines with variable compression ratio and HCCI technologiesDelphiAs of the news statement made by Delphi in May 2016, the company is making significant efforts in the development of Gasoline Direct Compression Injection engine on similar concepts. Utilizing the tight charge stratification and low temperature combustion, the prototypes four-cylinder engine registered 13-18% fuel economy gain. The company is planning to commercialize the technology by the mid-2020s.General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Volkswagen are few of the other major vendors that have also made significant progress and are likely to introduce the models featuring this technology. This increased participation of the OEMs and the vendors have led to increased emphasis on the exploration of the technology. These initiatives will present significant growth prospects for the future growth through the forecast period.Some of the major drawbacks in the current development of the technology include:Increased refinement of control strategies is required to assure fuel economy under practical driving conditions and standard production tolerancesNOx emissions have to stay low enough within the standardized driving cycle. Deployment of additional De-NOx components or technology would deteriorate the fuel economy and associated costs. Moreover, confirmation for the feasibility of three-way catalyst only technology for Euro 6 under production conditions is still requiredIn conjunction with the appropriate variable lift systems, the requirement of the fast acting variable cam-phaser is yet another factor hampering the growth prospectsNVH control requirement specifically for the normal SI modes and HCCI/CAI operation transitions in order to enhance the customers acceptanceThese are the major issues constraining the adoption of these equipment, are expected to be major growth challenge to the HCCI market. It is expected that these challenges will certainly be met upon the commercialization of the technology.Increasing demands to curb the carbon emissions and enhance the fuel economies by Department of Transport (DoT) and EPA in U.S. and EU in Europe are expected to prominently drive the innovation in the industry through 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 Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: The Mauritanian government was rebuked at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for its failure to abolish entirely slavery practices, which remain widespread in the West African country. A heated exchange took place between the Mauritanian government and independent national and international NGOs calling for abolishing the abhorrent slavery practice in Mauritania as part of efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination. The participating NGOs include Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA), represented by its leader Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid, the National Forum for Human Rights Organizations (FONADH) and Associations representing Mauritanias black population in Europe, led by Dicko Hanoune. These organizations tightened the noose on Mauritanias human rights representative by asking questions relating to the shameful persistence of slavery and discrimination against Haratines, the under-privileged black population as well as civil society freedoms. The Mauritanian delegation asked for a 12-hour pause to prepare answers to the enquiries filed by the NGOs. Last March, IRA leader Ould Abeid was arrested and interrogated by authorities following three days of demonstrations for equal rights. Mauritanian authorities have by the past tried to silence the IRA abolitionist movement, which is gaining ground among the Haratines in the West African country. In a report issued in February 2018, Human Rights Watch (HRW) deplored that anti-slavery groups endure police repression in Mauritania. Mauritania outlawed slavery only in 1981, criminalized the practice in 2007, and created specialized courts in 2015 to prosecute slavery cases. Authorities claim success in eradicating slavery and say that today the challenge is to address the lasting socioeconomic effects, or legacy of slavery. The Human Rights Watch report noted that both Mauritanias main anti-slavery non-governmental associations, and IRA challenge the official discourse by affirming that slavery continues to be practiced, though differ in their approaches. Cited by the report, IRAs President Biram Bah Abeid maintains that slavery, far from being eradicated, affects 20 percent of Mauritanias population; he also denounces the under representation of Haratines and other blacks in senior government positions. Last January, the African Union rebuked Mauritania for falling short of fully eliminating slavery after the country handed out lenient sentences to a slave owner. IRA is the largest anti-slavery organization in Mauritania, with members throughout the country who regularly mobilize to protest slavery and state-endorsed discrimination based on race, caste and gender. Global e-Bike Sharing Market Forecast 2025 | Mango, Xiaomi and Others e-Bike Sharing Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1705253 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-e-bike-sharing-market-sizestatus-and-forecast-2025-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global e-Bike Sharing Market Size,Status and Forecast 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the global e-Bike Sharing market,analyzes and researches the e-Bike Sharing development status and forecast in United States,EU,Japan,China,India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market,likeMangoXiaomi...To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Market segment by Regions/Countries,this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Application,e-Bike Sharing can be split intoSchoolStreetOtherTable of ContentsGlobal e-Bike Sharing Market Size,Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of e-Bike Sharing1.1 e-Bike Sharing Market Overview1.1.1 e-Bike Sharing Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global e-Bike Sharing Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 e-Bike Sharing Market by End Users/Application1.3.1 School1.3.2 Street1.3.3 Other2 Global e-Bike Sharing Competition Analysis by Players2.1 e-Bike Sharing Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in FutureGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Mango3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products,Services and Solutions3.1.4 e-Bike Sharing Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Xiaomi3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products,Services and Solutions3.2.4 e-Bike Sharing Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.2.5 Recent Developments4 Global e-Bike Sharing Market Size by Application (2013-2018)4.1 Global e-Bike Sharing Market Size by Application (2013-2018)4.2 Potential Application of e-Bike Sharing in Future4.3 Top Consumer/End Users of e-Bike Sharing5 United States e-Bike Sharing Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States e-Bike Sharing Market Size (2013-2018)5.2 United States e-Bike Sharing Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 United States e-Bike Sharing Market Size by Application (2013-2018)6 EU e-Bike Sharing Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU e-Bike Sharing Market Size (2013-2018)6.2 EU e-Bike Sharing Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 EU e-Bike Sharing Market Size 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 @ Inherited Orphan Blood Disorders Therapeutics Market Revenue, Opportunity, Forecast and Value Chain 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2759 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2759 www.futuremarketinsights.com Blood disorders are mainly affect the one or more parts of the blood and prevent blood from doing its basic functions in the body. Blood disorders may be acute or chronic based on the cause and part of the blood system affected. Many blood disorders are inherited and some are acquired over the course of lifetime in a human being. Orphan diseases are those diseases which affect the fewer than 200,000 people which has been not adopted by the pharmaceutical companies owing to little financial incentives for discovery or marketing. There are several blood disorders which are considered orphan owing to lesser prevalence. Inherited blood disorders are seen due to genetic abnormalities in the patient population. Inherited orphan blood disorders includes sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, and Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) which are less prevalent. There are very few therapeutic options available for addressing inherited orphan blood disorders.Inherited Orphan Blood Disorders Therapeutics Market: Drivers and RestraintsInherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is driven by the increasing prevalence of inherited blood diseases in the developing and under developed economies. In addition availability of high unmet needs, increasing product pipeline for treating orphan blood disorders expected to create demand for these treatment options over the forecast period. Inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is driven by increasing governments and regulatory bodies support by means of research and development investment, fast track approval for discovering newer treatments for these disorders. Apart from aforementioned factors financial incentives, premium pricing for these products helps to achieve significant revenue growth over the forecast period.Inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market hindered by the lack of awareness among healthcare professionals and patients about the disorder and treatments. The market restrained by slow adoption of treatments due to cost associated with it and absence of permanent cure for these diseases.Request to Sample Report -Inherited Orphan Blood Disorders Therapeutics Market: SegmentationInherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market has been segmented on the basis of disorder type, therapy Type, distribution channel and Region.Based on the disorder type, the global inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics entry market is segmented into the following:Sickle Cell AnemiaThalassemiaHereditary Angioedema (HAE)Based on the therapy type, the global inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is segmented into the following:Blood transfusionBone Marrow TransplantAntibioticsAnalgesicsHydroxyureaIron ChelationFolic AcidC1-inhibitorskallikrein inhibitorOthersBased on the end user, the global inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is segmented into the following:HospitalsPharmaciesDrug StoresInherited Orphan Blood Disorders Therapeutics Market: OverviewInherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is witnessing significant changes due to increasing product pipelines and rising awareness among clinicians about the disorders. Companies continuous investment in creating awareness and implementation of registries by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to change market dynamics over the forecast period.Inherited Orphan Blood Disorders Therapeutics Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, global inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America will remain key market for global inheritedorphan blood disorders therapeutics market due to rising R&D activities by key players, better reimbursement policies, and availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure helps to maintain larger market share in the globalinheritedorphan blood disorders therapeutics market by the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to present growth opportunity owing to large untapped market and growing governments interventions for improving healthcare infrastructure in the region.Request Report TOC @Inherited Orphan Blood Disorders Therapeutics Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in the global inherited orphan blood disorders therapeutics market are Biogen Idec, amida Cell, Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Sangamo BioSciences, Global Blood Therapeutics, Mast Therapeutics, Genetix Pharmaceuticals Inc., Emmaus Medical, Inc., Prolong Pharmaceuticals, Calgene Corporation, Invenux LLC, Optinova Ab, HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, and Acceleron Pharma. to name a few.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 : Refrigeration Oil Market With Lubricant Manufacturers, Global Suppliers, Financial Results Of Companies and Forecast 2018 to 2024 Refrigeration Oil Market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-refrigeration-oil-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-refrigeration-oil-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-refrigeration-oil-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com The Global Refrigeration Oil Market is expected to reach USD 1.42 billion by 2025, from USD 1.03 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015 & 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Get Free Sample Research Report PDF:Market Definition: Global Refrigeration Oil MarketRefrigeration oil is a high-temperature oil composed of additives & oil which efficiently provides lubrication to the compressors. This oil is mostly derived from either synthetic or mineral oil. Mineral oils are considered to be the prime oils used in the refrigeration systems. Refrigeration is the process of cooling a substance or an area below the temperature of the atmosphere. The refrigerants follow a cycle which includes vapour-compression, absorption, steam ejection and air.Furthermore, refrigeration oil also plays a key role in the area of lubricants and lubrication technology. It is said to hold huge influence on the industry, lifestyle, agriculture and settlement patterns. According to the International Trade Organization, cold chain services that support perishable food distribution worldwide was valued nearly USD 250 billion in the year 2016.Furthermore, cold chain logistics expenditure in support of biopharma sector is estimated around USD 10 billion currently and will grow to USD 13 billion by 2019. Additionally, Asia-Pacific also notably contributes to USD 1.2 billion in growth and is estimated to grow at the CAGR of 16.0% in 2019.Therefore, this growth is eventually impacting the global demand for cold chain market. Furthermore, increase in the food import and export will boost the refrigerant consumption and help in the expansion of refrigerant market, eventually raising refrigerant oil demand.Major Market Drivers and Restraints: Growing demand for consumer appliances Demand in food and pharmaceutical sector Increasing demand for low GWP refrigerants Stringent regulations Growing demand for low viscosity and high-quality refrigeration oil Compatibility issue of refrigeration oil with refrigerantsMarket Segmentation: Global Refrigeration Oil Market The global refrigeration oil market is segmented based on oil type, application and geographical segments. Based on the oil type, the global refrigeration oil market is segmented into synthetic oil and mineral oil. Synthetic oil is further segmented into POE, PAG and others. On the basis of application, the global refrigeration oil market is classified into refrigerator & freezer, air conditioner, automotive ac system and aftermarket. Refrigerator & freezer are further segmented into domestic refrigerator & freezer, commercial refrigerator & freezer and industrial refrigerator & freezer. Air conditioner is further segmented into domestic air conditioner and commercial air conditioner. Based on geography, the global refrigeration oil 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.Want Full Report? Enquire Here:Competitive Analysis: Global Refrigeration Oil MarketThe global refrigeration oil 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 refrigeration oil market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Major Market Competitors/Players: Global Refrigeration Oil MarketRenowned players operating in the global refrigeration oil market consist of Jxtg Group, BASF SE, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Exxonmobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Total S.A., China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), FUCHS Petrolub Se, Johnson Controls, The Lubrizol Corporation, BP P.L.C., Chevron Corporation, Behr Hella Service Gmbh, BVA, Inc., Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., CAMCO Lubricants, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Cosmo Oil Lubricants Co., Ltd., Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (Eni), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Isel, National Refrigerants, Inc., Summit Oil Company, Inc. (Kluber Lubrication Na Lp), Lubriplate Lubricants Company, Lukoil, Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc., Phillips 66 Lubricants, Sun Company, Inc. and many more.Research Methodology: Global Refrigeration Oil MarketData collection and base year analysis is done using data collection modules with large sample sizes. The market data is analysed and forecasted using market statistical and coherent models. Also market share analysis and key trend analysis are the major success factors in the market report. To know more please Request an Analyst Call or can drop down your inquiry.Demand Side Primary Contributors: Group Purchasing Organizations, Associations, Insurers, Universities, Technological Writers, Scientists, Promoters, and Investors among others.Supply Side Primary Contributors: Product Managers, Marketing Managers, C-Level Executives, Distributors, Market Intelligence, Regulatory Affairs Managers among others.Request Full Report TOC:About UsData Bridge set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with an 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.Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. For Customization and Getting Discount on Report by emailing sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com . We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.Contact UsData Bridge Market ResearchToll Free: +1-888-387-2818Mail: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Wireless Intercom Market Report Examines Latest Trends and Key Drivers Supporting Growth through 2024 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1795 https://www.mrrse.com/asia-pacific-wireless-intercom-market Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has recently updated its massive research catalog by adding a new study, titled Wireless Intercom Market. The study offers a clear insight about the prevailing trends and innovations happening in the Wireless Intercom 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.To Request a Complete Report Sample Visit @The intense competition between RTS Intercom, Clear-Com Ltd., and Commend International GmbH characterizes the competitive landscape of the market for wireless intercom in Asia Pacific, finds a report by MRRSE.These wireless intercom manufacturers rely on product innovations and integration of latest technologies in their existing offerings to grab an edge over each other. For instance, Commend Int. introduced an advanced version of its intercom solution in April 2015, integrated with intelligent volume control function to enhance the speech volume and degrade the background sound in noise-polluted environments. By September 2015, Clear-Com also came up with DX410, a 2.4GHz base station, offering a two-channel, frequency hopping system.Over the forthcoming years, other than innovation and advancements, competitors in this market will look for strategic alliances with companies in the media and technology sector in order to incorporated technological developments in their products, strengthening their position in Asia Pacific.Asia Pacific is undergoing a phase of rapid advancements in terms of economy and infrastructure. This infrastructural development has fuelled the need for robust security solutions across the region. The demand for efficient security in Asia Pacific is also witnessing a remarkable surge due to the growing concerns over threats to safety and security, considering the increased crime rate and terror attacks.Intercoms, being one of the most essential components of a security systems, is, thereby, also witnessing an immense surge in demand in this region. Wireless intercoms, owing to their easy handling, experience a higher demand compared to traditional wired ones. Technical advancements in wireless intercoms, such as the integration of encryption techniques, is also an important factor behind the increasing preference for them over wired intercoms.Going forward, the rocketing urbanization, together with the speedy growth of smart cities across Asia Pacific, is likely to prepare ground for the widespread application of wireless intercoms over the next few years in this region.The Asia Pacific market for wireless intercom has witnessed a tremendous rise since the last decade, says MRRSE. Analysts expect it to remain registering steady growth in the near future. Rising at a CAGR of 12.30% between 2015 and 2023, the opportunity in wireless intercom, across Asia Pacific, is likely to increase from US$0.4 bn in 2014 to US$1.1 bn by the end of the forecast period.Based on technology, radio frequency-based wireless intercoms led the overall market in 2014 with a demand share of more than 80%. The segment is likely expand at a CAGR 10.5% during the forecast period; however, with a 19.80% CAGR, the demand for Wi-Fi-based wireless intercoms will register the fastest growth over the next few years.The report also segments the wireless intercom market on the basis of application/end-use industry into retail, event management, hospitality, security and surveillance, and logistics. Segmentation of the market on the basis of technology is into Wi-Fi by frequency, RF by frequency, and RF by channel. Furthermore, the report analyzes the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the wireless intercom market. The report also discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies increasing the popularity of wireless intercom systems. It also provides the market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue. Also provided is the market positioning of key players, distribution channel analysis and top brands in the Asia Pacific wireless intercom market.Additionally, the report includes competitive profiling of the major players engaged in offering wireless intercoms to particular industrial verticals. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and various recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The major manufacturers providing wireless intercoms profiled in the report include Clear-Com (HME Company), ZENITEL GROUP, Telephonics Corporation, Sena Technologies, Panasonic Corporation, Riedel Communications GmbH & Co KG, RTS Intercom (part of Bosch Security Systems, Inc.), and Commend International GmbH.Complete Report Details with Tables and Figures @The Asia Pacific wireless intercom market is segmented as below:AnchorWireless Intercom MarketBy Application/End-Use IndustryRetailEvent ManagementHospitalitySecurity and SurveillanceTransportation and LogisticsOthersBy TechnologyWi-FiBy Wi-Fi Band8 GHz4 GHz6 GHzRadio FrequencyBy RF ChannelSingleDualMultiBy RF Band540 MHz 680 MHz721 MHz 750 MHz823 MHz 865 MHzOthersBy PriceBy DealershipBy End-userBy GeographyChinaASEANOceaniaRest of APACAbout MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com Increase in Number of New Constructions and Infrastructure Upgrades of Airports Is Expected to be a Major Growth Driver of the Airport Security Market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/airport-security-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/airport-security-market/report-sample https://www.psmarketresearch.com The availability of diverse security solutions and technological advancements are some of the factors, responsible for the growth of the global airport security market. The capability of security systems to integrate with multiple platforms has extended the growth scope of the global airport security industry. Moreover, the reduced time on screening procedures and real time data intelligence are some of the reasons, due to which, the automated screening equipment are gaining prominence these days. For instance, the self-service screening machine integrated in the London Heathrow Airport has increased the passenger experience and fastened the screening process. Further, the propagation of internet of things (IoT) and smart security solutions are expected to play a key role in the growth of the global airport security market.Explore Full Report Description At:The access control systems segment of airport security market mainly includes keypads, biometric authentication devices, card readers, and access control for vehicles. The cyber security segment aims at the preservation of critical data and information technology (IT) infrastructure. Such solutions are of vital importance for global distribution system and computer reservations system (GDS/CRS), as well as air traffic control (ATC) information systems. These solutions are expected to experience highest growth rate over the forecast period. The perimeter security segment broadly includes equipment and analytics for perimeter administration and intrusion detection, which includes alarms, gates, sensors, electronic fences, bollards, and others. The screening involves monitoring of people, baggage and cargo, and the detection of proscribed objects, such as weapons, metals explosives, narcotics or liquids. The surveillance segment includes ground radar surveillance, IP and analog video, and video analytics. Other technologies include building management systems (BMS), command control communication & Integration (C3I) and lighting.Additionally, some of the trends witnessed in the global airport security market are increasing awareness of passengers and reducing queue times for security screening. The technical inconsistencies and existence of security equipment are obstructing the growth of the global airport security market. The replacement and up gradation of outdated security systems and growing aftersales revenues, serve as key opportunities for the growth of the market.Download Free Report Sample At:The increased air and traffic volumes are driving the need for efficient and strong security mechanisms. Terrorism and threat of criminal attacks have impelled various governments to strengthen their security measures. Lockheed Martin Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, American Science and Engineering Inc., C.E.I.A. S.p.A., OSI Systems Inc., Siemens AG, Smiths Detection are some of the competitors in the global airport security market.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide market research reports, industry reports; business intelligence and research based consulting services across a range of industries.With the help of our professional corporate relations with various companies, our market research offers the most accurate market forecasting. Our analysts and consultants interact with leading companies of the concerned domain to substantiate every single data presented in our publication. Our research assists our client in identifying new and different windows of opportunity and frame informed and customized strategies for expansion 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: Global Medical Device Testing Services Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024 edical Device Testing Services Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-medical-device-testing-services-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-medical-device-testing-services-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-medical-device-testing-services-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-medical-device-testing-services-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Global Medical Device Testing Services Market: By services (Inspection Services, Testing Services, Certification Services, Others), By technology (In-vitro Diagnostics, Ophthalmic Devices, Active Implantable Devices, Non-Active Medical Devices, Vascular Medical)and By Region -Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024Medical Device Testing Services Market: Global Market DynamicsFrom the simple dressings to sophisticated lifesaving equipment medical devices play a crucial role in disease prevention, diagnosis, management,and treatment. Before it enters the market medical device testing helps to develop and validate the safety and effectiveness of the market. Furthermore, many of medical device testing service providers also perform market testing, distribution testing and validation of supply chain.Medical device testing market is mainly driven by the emergence of advancements in drug device combination, personalized medicine, and increase in adaptation of the portable and wearable medical devices for real-time monitoring of patient. In addition, advanced technologies such as medical robots, ophthalmic surgical devices,and minimally invasive devices rapidly increased the adaptation of medical devices in patients. Furthermore, regional and local medical companies are expanding their markets internationally. To avoid the failures companies adopting the medical device testing services for market testing and supply chain validation. Furthermore, increased regulatory focus on safety and quality control of medical devices projected to bolster the medical device testing market over the forecast period. However, the cost of the services and the effect on device prices are expected to hamper the market growth over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Global Medical Device Testing Services MarketGlobal medical device testing services market is segmented based on service, technology, and region.By services, global medical device testing services market is segmented into Inspection Services Testing Services Certification Services OthersBy technology, global medical device testing services market is segmented into In-vitro Diagnostics Ophthalmic Devices Active Implantable Devices Non-Active Medical Devices Vascular Medical Devices OthersBy region, global Medical Device Testing Services market is segmented into North America Latin America Asia Pacific Europe Middle East and Africa (MEA)To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Global Medical Device Testing Services MarketGeographically, global medical device testing services market is segmented into North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. North America medical device testing services market is expected to grow at significant rates owing to the strengthening of regulatory requirements for safety and quality of medical devices. In addition, growing demand for the minimally invasive technologies coupled with presence of the key medical device manufacturers and testing service providers in the region. Asia Pacific medical device testing services market expected to have lucrative growth over forecast period owing to improving healthcare infrastructure, adaptation of the non-invasive techniques for the treatment of various disease. Furthermore, economic improvement and growing population in countries like China and India projected to contribute more tothe Asia Pacific medical device testing services market. Europe medical device testing services market expected to have notable growth rates owing to the technological advancements in the medical devices and presence of key medical device manufacturers.Competition Assessment: Global Medical Device Testing Services MarketSome of the players in global medical device testing services market includes SGS SA (Switzerland) Toxikon Corporation (U.S.) Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg) Intertek Group plc (U.K.) WuXi AppTec (China) Charles River Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.) Innovatus Imaging Corporation (U.S.)Notable Market Developments: Global Medical Device Testing Services Market In September 2017, Innovatus Imaging Corporation, a newly formed holding company by Resilience Capital Partners and other co-investors has acquired three medical device service companies, Multi Vendor Service (MVS), Wetsco and MD MedTech, LLC to expand their service offerings.Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report:The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2024) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key marketdevelopments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies and regulatory framework The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) Market Segments, Opportunity, Growth and Forecast By End-use Industry 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2754 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2754 www.futuremarketinsights.com Computerized physician Order Entry (CPOE), which refers to the system in which physicians directly place orders electronically, with the orders transmitted directly to the recipient. This can be beat example of digital transformation of physicians prescribing pattern. Computerized physician order entry is the method of entering medication orders or instructions electronically instead of on paper charts. A prime advantage of CPOE is that it helps to mitigate errors pertaining to transcription or poor handwriting of medication orders. CPOE systems are designed to emulate the workflow of the paper chart. CPOE systems are frequently used in conjunction with e-prescribing systems, by which the healthcare professionals made cognizant to a current medications of the patient and drug allergies. CPOE systems were basically designed to improve the patient safety by reducing medication orders, but recent systems permit electronic ordering of consultations, procedures, and tests as well. CPOE permits to enter medical order into Electronic Health Records (EHR) directly by HCPs or other staff members. The CPOE acronym can be understood differently as computerized physician order entry, computerized prescription order entry, and computerized provider order entry.Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Drivers and RestraintsGlobal Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) market is driven by the conscious initiatives of the various governments across the globe for the patient safety. In U.S. According to the provisions of the Healthcare Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, healthcare organizations that achieved meaningful use compliance by 2011 were eligible to receive incentive payments and moreover those who have failed to achieve that standard by 2015 may incur financial penalties. Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) market is driven by several advantages the system bring in to the healthcare setups that include reducing problems with handwriting, drug names misinterpretation, drug interactions, and specification errors. Computerised physician order system helps in quick transmission to the laboratory, pharmacy, or radiology department this helps in recommending alternative tests or treatments that may be safer or lower cost.Computerised physician order entry market hindered by the time and money it takes to install a CPOE system. The market restrained by slow adoption due to healthcare setups resistance, largely because of the disturbance to existing healthcare settings and the cost of application, which includes CPOE training. The implementation of CPOE has proven to be a complex process that led to abandonment of the systemRequest to Sample Report -Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: SegmentationGlobal computerized physician order entry market has been segmented on the basis of Component, Deployment Mode, Type, End User and Region.Based on the componenttype, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following:SoftwareHardwareServicesBased on the deployment mode, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following:Web-basedOn PremiseCloud-basedBased on the type, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following:Integrated CPOEStandalone CPOEBased on the end user, the global computerized physician order entry market is segmented into the following:HospitalsClinicsAmbulatory Surgical CentersPharmaciesLaboratoriesComputerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: OverviewComputerized physician order entry market is witnessing significant changes due to fast growing inpatient and outpatient settings in across the globe. The majority of hospitals and outpatient practices now use some form of CPOE in U.S. Computerized physician order entry market is gradually progressing, and is chiefly driven by government proactive measures to improve infrastructure and healthcare IT, for reducing healthcare expenditure. Players in the COPE market launching newer products, upgrading the older versions, collaborating with the new entrants to improve their market presence and revenues.Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, veterinary pain management drugs market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America will remain key markets for computerized physician order entry market due to governments proactive measure for the implementation of COPE moreover, increasing awareness among healthcare fraternity and availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure helps to maintain larger market share in the globalcomputerized physician order entry market by the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to present growth opportunity owing to large untapped market and growing governments interventions for improving healthcare infrastructure in the region. Europe market expected to grow at moderately owing to recent statutory requirements by the European Commissions eHealth Action Plan.Request Report TOC @Computerized Physician Order Entry (COPE) Market: Key PlayersSome of the players in the Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs market are Medical Information Technology, Inc., Siemens Healthcare, Carestream Health, Allscripts, Athenahealth, Inc., Philips Healthcare and Cerner Corporation, eClinicalWorks LLC, GE healthcare to name a few.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 DPaaS Market Is Predicted To Clock A Phenomenal 30.3% CAGR Between 2017 And 2024, Will Be Worth US$46404.5 Mn Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1753281 https://www.researchmoz.us/data-protection-as-a-service-dpaas-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2024-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.The market study on the global DPaaS market provides valuable insights on the global DPaaS market for the 2017-2024 forecast period with 2026 as the base year. The report provides 2015 values for historical reference. The report covers vital market indicators and other aspects that could influence the growth of this market between 2017 and 2024. The report provides a holistic analysis of the DPaaS market in terms of revenue estimates (in US$ bn) through the forecast period.The executive summary section includes the gist of the analysis of the DPaaS market presented in this report. It outlines industry basics, conventions, and notations following which industry policies and industry statutes are discussed.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @What does the report offer?Following an intensive research phase, the highlights of the global DPaaS market provided in the report are:- The intensive analysis of DPaaS market by segmenting it on the basis of deployment model, services, end user, and geography- Impact analysis of major factors driving and challenging the growth of the market, along with insights on their impact in the near, medium, and long term- Insights into market attractiveness from market size and forecast values for the 7-year forecast period- Identifying and profiling key players- Insights into competitive strategies and competitive positioning of key players in the DPaaS marketGlobal DPaaS Market: Research MethodologyThe report is a result of an extensive research phase, which includes primary research and secondary research. Primary research comprises majority of research effort, wherein analysts reached out to industry experts and opinion leaders. Key participants reached out include but is not limited to VPs, CEOs, product managers, distributors, marketing managers, and branding experts. Analysts conducted interviews with industry experts on a regular basis via few communication channels to validate data and obtain inputs on research analysis. Primary research phase helped to obtain valuable insights on growth trends, market dynamics, market size, competitive outlook, etc. It also helped obtain insights about growth behavior of key segments under different category.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Secondary research phase comprised examining key players annual reports, product literature, and relevant documents for competitive analysis. It also included examining trade journals, publications, government websites, webcasts, and proprietary databases of companies. In addition, broker reports, regulatory databases, statistical databases, and financial reports are some other sources reached out during the secondary research phase. The objective to reach out to several sources for data collection is to gather precise market data and identify business opportunities through the forecast period.Global DPaaS Market: Competitive DashboardIncluded in the report is a section dedicated to the competitive landscape of the global DPaaS market. Key players operating in the DPaaS market are identified and are profiled for their business attributes of technological advancements, product portfolio, financials, business outlook, and SWOTs. Detailed insights into their winning strategies and competitive positioning of key players is a highlight of this report.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 @ Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Treatment Devices Market Estimated to Expand at a 4.9%CAGR through 2023 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/postpartum-hemorrhage-treatment-devices-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=6164 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=6164 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The escalating cases of maternal deaths have fuelled demand for advanced therapeutics and devices to ensure effective treatment for pregnancy related complications. Spurred by the factor, demand from the postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) treatment devices market is expected to increase considerably. While manufacturers of these devices have found lucrative prospects in developed nations, they are yet to establish their presence across developing and under developed countries.View Report-According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), lack of awareness creates bottlenecks for entry of PPH treatment device manufacturers in nations across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, with governments and leading organizations focusing on spreading awareness about PPH treatment, proliferation of PPH devices is expected to pace up in the forthcoming years.TMR forecasts the global PPH treatment market to exhibit a CAGR of 4.9% between 2015 and 2021. The market stood at US$604.4 mn in 2014 and is expected to reach US$926.1 mn by the end of 2023.Request A Sample-Demand for Uniject Prefilled Injection Systems to Rise at Higher Pace than other Product SegmentsAmong the various products available, the market is currently witnessing considerably high demand for uterine balloon tamponade. It is commercially available, offers high effectiveness, and ensures ease of use. Balloon tamponade thus emerged as the dominant product segment in the market in 2014. It is expected to rise at a CAGR of 4.9% between 2015 and 2023.However, according to TMR, demand for uniject prefilled injection systems is likely to increase at a higher pace than other products available in the market. Uniject is an auto-disable and disposable injection system. The product segment is expected to witness considerably rising demand through the forecast period due to the easy applicability of uniject prefilled injection systems, their equitable pricing, and rising participation by government organizations in promoting their use.Request For Discount-Besides this, TMR also projects the application of non-pneumatic anti-shock garment (NASG) to increase significantly in the near future.Commercial Availability of Advanced Devices Confirms North Americas Lead in Global PPH Treatment Devices MarketRegionally, the global PPH treatment devices market is currently dominated by North America. The region held over 36.1% of the global market in 2014. The rising prevalence of PPH in North America, increasing awareness among patients as well as healthcare service providers, high hospital delivery rates, and commercial availability of treatment devices are the primary factors fuelling demand from the North America treatment devices market. Manufacturers of PPH treatment devices have been witnessing lucrative opportunities in countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. These countries boast sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, which aids the expansion of the PPH treatment devices market in the region.Europe trailed North America in terms of revenue contributed to the global PPH treatment devices market in 2014. However, during the course of the forecast period, demand from Asia Pacific is expected to rise at a higher pace. The improving healthcare infrastructure will fuel demand for PPH treatment devices in countries such as India, China, Philippines, and Taiwan. Furthermore, programs initiated by governments to prevent maternal deaths will also boost sales opportunities for manufacturers across these countries.Some of the key players in the global postpartum hemorrhage treatment devices market are Bactiguard, Cook Medical, C.R. Bard, Utah Medical Products, Teleflex Incorporated, and Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH).About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based 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-90 State Street,Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Inflammatory Diseases Market 10-Year Forecast and Trends Analysis Research Report https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2723 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2723 www.futuremarketinsights.com A new understanding of inflammatory diseases has changed the drug development landscape for several major diseases that are affecting millions of people in the world. Inflammation describes the primary response of the body that eliminates the cause of injury. Periodically, bodys defense mechanism works inappropriately that leads to inflammation. Drug development has focused on treating each disease symptoms separately. The discovery of drugs to treat inflammatory diseases related with immune system is driving the market towards growth. Immune Mediated Inflammatory diseases represent a global threat in terms of quality of life, morbidity and mortality that leads to increasing opportunity to develop new treatments to conquer the inflammatory diseases and increase market share. On the top inflammatory diseases are most common in human beings. Increasing popularity of inflammatory diseases and treatment followed by anti-inflammatory drugs with lesser side effects is driving the global inflammatory diseases market.Based on type of diseases, global inflammatory diseases market can be segmented into followingRespiratory DiseasesAsthmaChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseHeart diseaseMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisInflammatory Bowel DiseaseBone diseaseRheumatoid ArthritisOsteoarthritisOthersRequest to Sample Report -Based on type of drug class, global inflammatory diseases market can be segmented into followingAnti-inflammatory BiologicsNon-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory DrugsCorticosteroidsOthersBased on type of distribution channel, global inflammatory diseases market can be segmented into followingHospital pharmacyRetail pharmacyDrug storesOnline pharmacyOn the basis of type of disease global inflammatory diseases market is segmented into respiratory diseases, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, Psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, bone disease and others. Respiratory diseases are further classified into asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where asthma is a condition in that a persons airways become swollen, narrow and inflamed to produce extra mucus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is name for a group of lung conditions that causes due to smoking in adults that leads to breathing difficulties. Heart disease or heart disorders are conditions in that heart stops functioning, there are several types of heart diseases like arrhythmias heart disease, atherosclerotic and cardiomyopathy. Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease that attack central nervous system and disrupts the flow of information within the brain. Psoriasis is systemic inflammation that causes red and flaky plaques with joint pain of psoriatic arthritis. Inflammatory bowel disease involves inflammation related with gastro intestinal tract, includes to most common diseases of gastro intestinal tract that are crohns disease and ulcerative disease. Bone disease mostly includes rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.Moreover, on the basis of drug class used in treatment of inflammatory diseases global inflammatory diseases market is segmented into non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-inflammatory biologics and corticosteroids. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs bound the production of hormones in the body such as prostaglandins that is responsible for inflammation. Anti-inflammatory biologics are mostly used in treatment of arthritis indications in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis that is one of the revenue generating segment followed by respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On the basis of distribution channel global inflammatory disease market is segmented into hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, drug stores and online pharmacy.Geographically, global inflammatory market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East Africa. North Amrica is dominating in inflammatory diseases market as there is demand for branded medicines over the generic medicines. Rising geriatric population is driving the inflammatory diseases market throughout the globe. Followed by North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America has shown increasing market share in inflammatory diseases.Request Report TOC @Some of the major players in global inflammatory diseases market are AstraZeneca, Merck & Co., GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, F-Hoffmann-La-Roche, Eli Lilly and Sanofi. Other emerging competitors like Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd., Gilead Sciences, Immune Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Neovacs, Prometheus Laboratories, Sandoz, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals are developing drug pipeline and launch of new products as key strategies.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 : The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League condemned foreign interferences in their member-states internal affairs and expressed support for Morocco in its dispute with Iran. Morocco cut diplomatic ties with Iran over its involvement in facilitating an alliance between its proxy Hezbollah and the Algerian-backed separatist group the Polisario. Moroccos foreign minister said Hezbollah sent surface to air missiles and military experts to train Polisario separatists on urban warfare tactics. Spokesperson for the Arab League Mohamoud Affifi voiced support for Morocco and called on Iran to cease its dangerous interferences. Arab league member states need to coordinate stands to put an end to Irans meddling in their domestic affairs, he said, noting that Iran has a strategy to sow discord and anarchy in the region. The OICs Secretary General, for its part, issued a statement underscoring the imperative for all foreign parties to refrain from interfering in the domestic issues of their member states in line with the OICs charter. The pan-Islamic organization recalled the principle of sovereignty permeating its actions and urged member states to ensure respect for each others territorial integrity. The statement recalled that the OICs foreign ministers council has called on member states to avoid backing terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah militias. The African Union on its part said that the continental organization respects Moroccos decision to sever diplomatic relations with Iran and that the Kingdom is a sovereign country free in its decisions and positions. The AU respected Moroccos decisions and position on its relations with Iran, said AU Commission Vice President Thomas Kwesi Quartey in Addis Ababa. The African Union is a democratic institution that respects the sovereign interests of African States, he said. Cell Culture Media, Sera, and Reagents Market to Grow at a CAGR of 7.1%. through 2023 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cell-culture-media-sera-reagents-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=6598 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=6598 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Chronic Diseases Raise Demand for Customized Treatments Driving Cell Culture MarketThe high incidence of chronic diseases and the growing demand for treating them in a customized way has been the driving force behind the global cell culture market. The increasing investments in the research and development of newer products in the pharmaceutical sector and growing applications of cell culture have collectively propelled the overall market. The evolution of genetic engineering, artificial organs, and recombinant DNA technology, amongst others have made cell culture market integral to the overall healthcare industry.View Report-Transparency Market Research reports that the opportunity in the global cell culture market will be worth US$11.3 bn in 2022 as against US$6 bn in 2013. During the forecast period of 2014 to 2022, the global market is anticipated to clock a CAGR of 7.1%. The burgeoning demand for biopharmaceuticals will also benefit this market as it will offer specific solutions taking into consideration the genetic makeup of the patient along with the physiological and biological needs. The growing demand for and adoption of artificial organs will also benefit the market in the forecast period.Technological Advancements Increase Application Options of Cell Culture across North AmericaNorth America has been identified as the leading geographical segment of the global cell culture market. Valued at US$2.2 bn in 2014, the market is anticipated to reach US$3.7 bn by 2022 due to the high incidence of cancer cases and other metabolic diseases. The region has also witnessed the introduction of new cell culture technologies and protocols with ongoing technological advancements such as multi-faceted bioprocessing systems, the development of 3D cell culture, and automated cell culture instruments.Request A Sample-The increasing emphasis on intensive research and development activities to widen the scope of applications in carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and large-scale manufacturing of biological compounds such as therapeutic proteins and vaccines has also played a critical role in putting North America in the leading position. The high disposable income of the consumers and the supportive healthcare infrastructure is also anticipated to boost the North America cell culture market.Cell Culture Media Segment Leads with 8.8% CAGRAccording to the report, the cell culture media segment held the leading share in the global market and is anticipated to be the fastest growing segment at a CAGR of 8.8% between 2014 and 2022. The consistent efforts to provide high-quality media for achieving accurate and reproducible results are expected to keep the cell culture media segment at the forefront in the coming years. The commercialization of stem cells and ongoing technological developments are expected to support the shift to serum-free animal-derived media in the near future. Experts have also observed that there has been a considerable demand for medial powders and ready-to-use liquid media.Request For Discount-Some of the key players operating in this market are GE Healthcare, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, BD Biosciences, VWR International, EMD Millipore, Lonza Biosciences, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Players are focusing on introducing improved technologies such as 3D cell culture techniques to deliver better results as compared to 2D cell cultures. Players will proactively work towards meaningful collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and value additions to product portfolios to remain competitive in the global market.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based 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-90 State Street,Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Grinding Machinery Market 2018-2023 Ongoing Trend | Growing at Remarkable CAGR of 4.2% with Amada Machine Tools, DANOBAT, ANCA Pty, Junker, Korber AG, Fives, Gleason Corporation, Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies Grinding Machinery Market 2018 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3753 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/grinding-machinery-market-3753 Grinding Machinery Market 2018Grinding Machinery Market Share, Size, Trends, And Business Opportunity Analysis Report 2018 include historic data, with forecast data to 2023. Grinding Machinery Market report is helpful for future strategy development, and to know about Market Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, And Global market size, share, Growth, Trends, key players forecast to 2023Global Grinding Machinery Market by Types (Cylindrical, Surface, Gear, Tool & Cutter and Others), End-User (General Machinery, Automotive Machinery, Precision Machinery, and Others) & by Region - Global Forecast to 2023The global grinding machinery market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 4.2% during the period.Key Players:Robert Bosch Tool Corporation (Germany), Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (U.S.), Makita Corporation (U.S.), Hilti Corporation (Liechtenstein), Husqvarna (Sweden), Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd (Hong Kong), Snap-on (U.S.), Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd. (Japan), Festool (Germany), and Otto Baier GmbH (Germany) are some of the leading players operating in this market.Get Sample Report of Grinding Machinery Market @Grinding Machinery Global Market SegmentationBy TypesCylindricalSurfaceGearTool & CutterOthersBy End-UserGeneral MachineryAutomotive MachineryPrecision MachineryOthersBy RegionAsia PacificNorth AmericaEuropeRest of WorldIndustry NewsIn October, 2016 A leading grinding machinery manufacturer developed two new versatile grinding machines Grupos Diferenciales. These newly developed grinders are able to make possible to turn, measure and grind large parts using a high-efficiency process that ensures the highest quality. However, the new developed grinding machines will enhance the companys sustainability in the market, which will result in generating higher growth for the grinding machinery market.In August, 2017 Gleason expanded its presence in India market. The reason behind this expansion is that, Gleason is doing exceptionally well in the Indian market and to increase its customer base, the company has come up with this decision. The new expansion is going to establish in Bangalore. With this expansion, the global grinding machinery market would be generating higher growth in the market and will enhance the companys position.Market Synopsis of Global Grinding MachineryGrinding Machinery is used for the common form of abrasive machining. The process involves material cutting which consists of an abrasive tool whose cutting elements are grains of abrasive material known as grit. These grits are characterized by sharp cutting points, high hot hardness, and wear resistance.The growth of global grinding machinery market can majorly be attributed to growing global automotive industry and rising demand from end-use industries. Also, the growing number of innovation in grinding machines, is expected to boost the market growth. Several companies have continuously been focusing on evolving grinding machinery market by developing technologically advanced grinding machines. This has led to the introduction of advance machinery that helps in the manufacture of precise and accurate products in lesser time and at lower costs.Get Complete Report Details of Grinding Machinery Market @Table of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology3 Market Dynamics4 Global Grinding Machinery Market, By Types5 Global Grinding Machinery Market, By End-User6 Regional Market Analysis7 Competitive AnalysisContinued.About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have the prime objective to provide optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies depending on products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments enables our clients to know more consequently do more, which gives them answer for their each and every important question. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industryCONTACT US:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312sales@marketresearchfuture.com Dyes and Pigments Market Industry Report 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/296 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/296 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/dyes-and-pigments-market-296 Dyes and pigments are extensively used in the textile and automotive industries, this increasing use is one of the major factors contributing to the growth of the market. Asia Pacific is expected to be a major contributor in the dyes and pigments market. Rapidly growing textile industry in the developing countries such as India and China is one of the major factors contributing to the growth of the market in the region. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), during FY 2015-16, the textile industry in India employed approximately 40 million workers and exported textile products worth US$ 40 billion. This has augmented growth of the dyes and pigments market in the region.Sample Copy of This Report@Increasing regulatory restrictions on production of dyes and pigments is expected to be one of the major factors restraining growth of the dyes and pigments market. The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, has implemented regulations that enlist potential effects of waste generated from the production of azo, triarylmethane, and anthraquinone dye and pigment product classes. Expanding production, distribution, and research on improving properties of ecofriendly colorants are some of the key strategies adopted by the top players in the global dyes and pigments industry. These dyes and pigments are usually used for coloring textiles, paper, plastics, leather, inks, paints/coatings, food, drugs, and cosmetics. Some of the major companies operating in the dyes and pigments market are Clariant AG, BASF SE, DIC Corporation Kiri Industries Ltd., Atul Limited, Sudharshan Chemical Industries Limited, Huntsman Corporation, Kronos Worldwide, Inc., Lanxess AG, and Tronox Limited.Pigment is organic or inorganic powdered solid which is insoluble. Pigments offer excellent characteristics such as good baking stability, excellent solvent resistance, easily dispersible nature, high tinting strength, and consistent unique shades. Pigments are used in paints that are used for decorative and protective coatings. These are also used in coloration various plastics such as poly vinyl chloride(PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins (ABS), urea-formaldehyde(U-F), rubber, synthetic polymers and melamine-formaldehyde molding powders, nylons, polyfins, phenol-formaldehyde(P-F).To get detailed table of content (ToC) @Dyes and Pigments Market TaxonomyOn the basis of type of dyes, the global market is classified into:Acid dyesVAT dyesDisperse dyesReactive dyesDirect dyesOn the basis of pigments, the global market is classified into:Organic pigmentsInorganic pigmentsTitanium dioxide pigmentsOn the basis of type of end use industry, the global market is classified into:AutomotiveConstructionChemicalsTextileLeatherPaperPaints & CoatingsView More Information:Reactive dyes are specialty dyes of highly colored organic substances, which have primary application in tinting of textiles. Due to the reactive nature, these dyes tend to attach themselves to the fabric surface by a chemical reaction, thus forming a covalent bond between the molecule of dye and fiber. Acid dyes exhibit characteristics such as anionic nature, which makes them suitable for wool, modified acrylics polyamide, and silk. Acid dyes combine with the fiber through hydrogen bonds, van der waals forces or through ionic linkages. Titanium dyes are used in industrial paints, printing inks, powder coatings, construction industry rubber, gloss tinting bases, enamels, paints and coatings, and in various plastic applications. This mainly attributes to its properties such as low oil absorption and excellent tint strength.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 Uterine Fibroids Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trails Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018 Uterine Fibroids Pipeline Drugs https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uterine-fibroids-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uterine-fibroids-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uterine-fibroids-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uterine-fibroids-pipeline-drugs-assessment/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Uterine Fibroids Pipeline Drugs Assessment Overview:Uterine fibroids are the most commonly seen non-cancerous tumors of the female reproductive system. The fibroids otherwise called leiomyomas, uterine myomas or fibromas. These are compact tumors which are made up of smooth muscle and fibrous connective tissue that develops in uterus.Uterine fibroids most commonly found during routinepelvic examination. Smaller fibroids may not found during the normal examination, ultrasound examination may require. And physicians may suggest the diagnostic imaging techniques such as Ultrasound, saline infusion sonography, MRI or compound tomography for the detection of the fibroids in uterus.Generally, uterine fibroids treatment may include minimally invasive procedures such as hysterectomy, myomectomy and uterine artery embolization. Gonadotropin-releasing hormones are used to lower the levels of estrogen and triggers medical menopause and sometimes these hormones shrink the fibroids and make surgical treatment easier. Painkillers may be used to reduce the pain.A sample of this report is available upon request @Segmentation:Uterine fibroids pipeline drugs are segmented based on route of administration, trial phase,and companyBy route of administration, uterine fibroids pipeline drugs are segmented into Oral Vaginal OthersBy trial phase, uterine fibroids pipeline drugs are segmented into Pre-clinical phase Phase-I Phase II Phase-IIIBy company, uterine fibroids pipeline drugs are segmented into Repros Therapeutics Inc. (U.S.) Bayer AG (Germany) Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd (Japan) AbbVie Inc. (U.S.) KISSEI PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,Ltd. (Japan) BioSpecifics Technologies Corporation (U.S.) DONGKOOK Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Japan)To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Space Analysis: Bayer AG expected to start its late-stage clinical trials (phase-3) for novel prostaglandin receptor agonist, vilaprisan for the treatment of woman with uterine fibroids in Feb 2018. In October 2017, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced that phase-3 clinical trials of its TAK-385, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor agonist, met the primary endpoint of infertility to the active control group in the treatment of uterine fibroids in Japan. Furthermore, company is planning to submit results to regulatory authorities in Japan for marketing authorization of relugolix for treatment of uterine fibroids.Report Description:Uterine Fibroids Pipeline Drugs Assessment report studies the various therapeutics under clinical development for uterine fibroids treatment along with targets for various drug candidate. The report provides plethora of information pertaining to trail phases, companies involved in the uterine fibroids pipeline drugsdevelopment. This report studies the dynamics of the Uterine Fibroids Pipeline Drugs i.e. drivers, challenges and opportunities which are significantly impacting the product development. The report provides various information pertaining the clinical trials such as designation, grants, patents, and technology among others. Moreover, the report on uterine fibroids pipeline drugs assessment comprehensively presents the geographic location, trial status information along with key players involved in the therapeutics development.Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: Provides the information related to universities and research institutes working in the therapeutics development Report comprehensively covers the all active and discontinued studies Studies the entire pipeline with special emphasis on companies actively involved in the therapeutics development Presents the prominent targets for drug development in each stage of clinical trial Provides the in-depth analysis on each drug candidates in the clinical trial phasesGet access to full summary @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 @ Bioelectric Medicine Market Expected to Expand at a Steady CAGR through 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2720 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2720 www.futuremarketinsights.com Technology is changing the world and bioelectric medicine is fore front of technological revolution in medical sciences. The pharmaceutical industrys history is based on therapies that target molecular mechanism. Bioelectric medicine has different treatment therapy that is based on electrical pulses instead of drugs to trigger the body. Bioelectric medicine develops nerve stimulating and sensors activation technologies to regulate biological functions and treat diseases by combining bioengineering, neuroscience, molecular medicines, electronics and computing these technologies may change the future of therapies for wide range of diseases. Bioelectric medicine act through targeted mechanism of action to treat diseases. Though the concept of using bioelectric medicines to treat the patient has been around decades, technological advancements are driving the market to grow in near future. Bioelectric medicine is the field where devices are made to treat various kind of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, paralysis and cancer as well.Bioelectric Medicine Market: DynamicsIncreasing research and development in bioelectric medicals with rising number of organizations investing for development of bioelectric medicines are primary driving factors for the growth of bioelectric medicine market. Bioelectric medicines or electroceuticals are new trend in therapy of treating disease. Though these therapies are expensive, often toxic and difficult to administer, continuous scope for technological advancement and ground breaking discipline is targeted at electronics with nerves to specially aim the biological processes to various diseases. Pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology entities, research institutes, and laboratories are increasingly adopting bioelectric medicine technology. As bioelectric medicine are small devices there is huge scope for companies having product pipeline into medical device industry.Request to Sample Report -Bioelectric Medicine Market: SegmentationOn the basis of device type global bioelectric medicine market is segmented intoImplantableNon implantableOn the basis of product type global bioelectric market is segmented intoDefibrillatorsPacemakersStimulatorsSpinal Cord StimulatorsDeep Brain StimulatorsVagus Nerve Stimulatorssacral Nerve StimulatorsothersImplantsRetinal Implantscochlear ImplantsOtherOn the basis of application global bioelectric medicine market is segmented intoArrhythmiaChronic PainParkinsons DiseaseEpilepsyUrinary IncontinenceMenstrual migraineFecal IncontinenceRetinitis PigmentosaDepressionSpinal Cord InjuryObesityOthersOn the basis of end user global bioelectric medicine market is segmented intoHospitalsAmbulatory surgical centersSpecialty clinicsHome care settingsOtherThe adoption of bioelectric medicines is leading to change the trend in pharmaceutical industry, it will give lead to technological innovation in medical device industry.Bioelectric Medicine Market: Region-wise OutlookRegionally, global bioelectric market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East Africa. North America is likely to dominate the bioelectric medicine market since there is presence of several organizations operating in these region. Rising prevalence of chronic diseases, expected approvals of retinal implant in the U.S., rising geriatric population are the other key factors responsible for the growth of market in North America. Additionally, Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period due to increasing diabetic population and frequency of hearing loss in region. There are substantial R&D projects carried out in institutes resulting its high demand, affecting the revenue growth significantly. Moreover, positive R&D outcomes encouraging the incorporation of bioelectric market is expected to impact this sector with potential opportunities for growth.Request Report TOC @Bioelectric Medicine Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in bioelectric market are GlaxoSmithKline, Medtronic Plc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Set Point Medical, Siemens AG, Biotronic, Nevro Corporation, Liva Nova Plc., Cochlear limited and Electro Core LLC. These companies are involved in research and development of bioelectric medicines along with the investment and marketing of the products. The increasing competition in key players will drive the market of bioelectric medicine in forecast period.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 : E-Paper Market Analysis and Prediction by Leading Manufacturers: E Ink, OED Technologies, Qualcomm, Liquavista, Plastic Logic E-Paper Market Analysis and Prediction by 2023 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1125152-korea-e-paper-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1125152-korea-e-paper-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1125152-korea-e-paper-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1125152 Latest research study from HTF MI with title Korea e-Paper 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 Korea e-Paper Forecast till 2023.If you are involved in the Korea e-Paper 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 Consumer electronics, Medical, Transportation & Others, Product Types such as [Electrophoretic Display (EPD), Electrowetting(EWD), Electrofluidic(EFD) & Ohters] 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 Korea e-Paper Market Research Report 2018 @:Key Companies/players: E Ink, OED Technologies, Qualcomm, Liquavista, Plastic Logic, Pervasive Displays & LG Display.Application: Consumer electronics, Medical, Transportation & Others, Product Type: Electrophoretic Display (EPD), Electrowetting(EWD), Electrofluidic(EFD) & Ohters.The research covers the current & Future market size of the Korea e-Paper market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography []. 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 Korea e-Paper 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 Korea e-Paper 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 - Korea e-Paper 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 Korea e-Paper Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in Korea e-Paper Market space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Korea e-Paper Market ?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Korea e-Paper Market?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Korea e-Paper 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 Korea e-Paper market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Korea e-Paper, Applications of Korea e-Paper, 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 , Korea e-Paper Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Korea e-Paper Segment Market Analysis (by Application [Consumer electronics, Medical, Transportation & Others]) Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Electrophoretic Display (EPD), Electrowetting(EWD), Electrofluidic(EFD) & Ohters], Market Trend by Application [Consumer electronics, Medical, Transportation & Others];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Korea e-Paper by region, type and application ;Chapter 12, to describe Korea e-Paper Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Korea e-Paper 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 Uveitis Pipeline Drugs Assessment: Clinical Trails Analysis, Player Profiles, Collaborations, Key Targets, Geographic Focus, and Data Publications, 2018 Uveitis Pipeline Drugs https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uveitis-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uveitis-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uveitis-pipeline-drugs-assessment/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/uveitis-pipeline-drugs-assessment/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Uveitis Pipeline Drugs Assessment Overview:Uveitis refers to the inflammation of uvea which is the middle layer of the eyeball. This may occur from either infectious or non-infectious cause. Retina is the sensitive part of the eye, uvea supplies blood to retina. Usually, uveitis is not serious, but if it is untreated may lead to vision loss. Symptoms may include, redness of eye, pain, dark floating spots on vision, blurred vision and others.There are many possible causes for uveitis including, entry of toxic substances and autoimmune diseases also lead to uveitis. Diagnosis is through the normal eye examination and treatment is given for the underlying diseases if any. Usually, corticosteroid eye drops are suggested to fight against the inflammation. Further, if not work oral or parenteral drugs may be given.A sample of this report is available upon request @Segmentation:By route of administration, Uveitis pipeline drugs are segmented into Oral Topical ParenteralBy Trial Phase, Uveitis pipeline drugs are segmented as: Preclinical Trials Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3By company, Uveitis pipeline drugs are segmented into Apitope International (Ukraine) pSivida (U.S.) Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan) Charlesson, LLC. (U.S.) Enzo Biochem, Inc. (U.S.) Mitotech SA (Luxembourg) EyeGate Pharmaceuticals Inc (U.S.) Galapagos NV (Belgium) OthersSpace Analysis:Various advanced technologies in the molecular and cellular levels are driving the development of uveitis pipeline drugs. Researchers and manufacturing companies are using the various promising targets for uveitis treatment. Targeted therapy found to be more effective in treatment. Other possible targets are to slow the progression of the disease and relieving the symptoms. Many of the companies are collaborating in development of novel therapies for the treatment of uveitis. In July 2017, Galapagos announced a new phase II study investigating filgotinib in non-infectious uveitis, being led by filgotinib collaboration partner Gilead Sciences. The phase II study will be a multi-center, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety and efficacy of filgotinib in adult patients with active, non-infectious uveitis. In June 2017, pSivida Corp. announced the Companys second Phase 3 trial of Durasert three-year treatment for posterior segment uveitis achieved the trials primary endpoint and results found to be positive.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Report Description:Uveitis Disease Pipeline Drugs Assessment report studies the various therapeutics under clinical development for Uveitis treatment along with targets for various drug candidate. The report provides plethora of information pertaining to trail phases, companies involved in the Uveitis disease pipeline drugs development. This report studies the dynamics of the Uveitis Disease Pipeline Drugs i.e. drivers, challenges, and opportunities which are significantly impacting the product development. The report provides various information pertaining the clinical trials such as designation, grants, patents, and technology among others. Moreover, the report on Uveitis disease pipeline drugs assessment comprehensively presents the geographic location, trial status information along with key players involved in the therapeutics development.Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: Provides the information related to universities and research institutes working in the therapeutics development Report comprehensively covers the all active and discontinued studies Studies the entire pipeline with special emphasis on companies actively involved in the therapeutics development Presents the prominent targets for drug development in each stage of clinical trial Provides the in-depth analysis of each drug candidates in the clinical trial phasesGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast, 2017 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2679 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2679 www.futuremarketinsights.com Biologics are genetically engineered proteins which originate from human genes. These drugs target the specific parts of the immune system. Biologics are entirely different from chemically synthesized drugs. There is wide range of biologics products include vaccines, blood components, allergenic, somatic cells, gene therapy and recombinant therapeutic proteins. Biologics are constituted as nucleic acids or proteins or may be cells and tissue from living entities. Biologics are isolated from different sources such as animal, human or microbes by using different biotechnological methods. Biologics are a complex mixture, and it is heat sensitive product and highly susceptible to microbial contamination. Therefore manufacturing of biologics needs very aseptic environment and skilled professional. Hence, the demand for biologic contract manufacturing has shown subsequent growth. The pharmaceutical companies are signing an agreement with CMOs for the manufacturing of biologics.Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe factors driving the growth of biologics contract manufacturing are growing number of drug development by traditional pharmaceutical companies and the entrance of various small manufacturers in the pharmaceutical market. Increasing rate of drug approval by FDA and number drugs in the pipeline has also boosted the growth of biologic contract manufacturing market. Increase in generic drugs competition and rise in patent expiry has also propelled the growth of biologics contract manufacturing market. Increasing geriatric population and increasing the prevalence of diseases such as cancer are driving the growth of biologic contract manufacturing market. Production of biologics requires highly skilled professional and aseptic environment which will restrain the growth of this market. Beside that production of biologics are very complex and costly method which can again hamper the growth of this market.Request to Sample Report -Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: SegmentationBased on product type biologics contract manufacturing market is segmented into followingAntisenseCell TherapyGene TherapyGrowth FactorsInterferonsMonoclonal AntibodiesRecombinant HormonesRNA InterferenceVaccinesOthersBased on indication biologics contract manufacturing market is segmented into followingAutoimmune DisordersBlood DisordersCancerCardiovascular DiseasesDigestive DisorderEye ConditionGenetic DisorderInfectious DiseasesMusculoskeletal DisordersNeurologic DisordersRespiratory DisordersSkin DiseasesOthersBased on geography biologics contract manufacturing market is segmented into followingNorth AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific excluding JapanJapanMiddle East and AfricaBiologics Contract Manufacturing Market: OverviewBiologics contract manufacturing is expected to show significant growth over the forecast period. Biologics cover around 10-15% of revenue from overall revenue generated by leading pharmaceutical companies. Biologics contract manufacturing market is expected to show double growth in every five years. This market is growing because of traditional pharmaceutical companies are unable for meet the need required for the production of biologics, besides that they are also the lack of skilled professional. Biologic contract manufacturing market can be classified by product type and indication. On the basis on product type biologic contract manufacturing market is classified as antisense, gene therapy, cell therapy, growth factors, interferons, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant hormones, RNA interference, vaccines and others. From all product type monoclonal antibodies is expected to dominate the biologic contract manufacturing market.Request Report TOC @Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: Regional OverviewRegion-wise contract manufacturing market is classified as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to dominate the biologics contract manufacturing due to rise in FDA approval in last decade. Western Europe and Asia-Pacific then follow this market. Western Europe is projected to show subsequent growth due to the high availability of skilled professional for the production of biologics. Asia-Pacific region is expected to show the fastest growth over the forecast period owing to rise in the number of CMOs.Biologics Contract Manufacturing Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in biologics contract manufacturing market are Boehringer Ingelheim, Lonza, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A., Inc., Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH, Celonic AG, AutekBio Co. Ltd., WuXiAppTec, Kemwell Biopharma, Shasun Pharma, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Syngene, Piramal Pharma Solutions, AAIPharma Services, Alpax Pharmaceuticals, Cantab Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, 3P Biopharmaceuticals, and BIBITEC GmbH.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 : Research report explores the Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market for the forecast period, 2017 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2678 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2678 www.futuremarketinsights.com Each year traumatic brain injuries (TBI) contribute a substantial number of cases worldwide. TBI can be defined as an injury to the brain resulting from externally inflicted trauma resulting in damage to the brain cells and blood vessels. The signs and symptoms of TBI may appear soon after the head trauma or may sometimes take several days to weeks to appear. TBI can be categorized as mild, moderate and severe brain injury. In case of a mild injury a patient experiences a brief concussion and in rare situations may lead to lasting functional brain changes. However, the risk of developing severe and permanent brain damage increases with the extent and severity of the traumatic brain injury and the level of unconsciousness. Depending up on the location of the injury, TBI can lead to dementia along with memory, lack of concentration, problems related with speech and eating, lack of coordination and walking problems are often associated with moderate to severe brain injuries. As estimated by Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) every day 138 people in the U.S. die from TBI. According to the CDC 2010 estimates in the U.S. approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits and hospitalization were associated with TBI cases (either alone or in combination with other injuries). Falls are leading cause of hospitalization in patients with TBI followed by accidents including motor, vehicle traffic injuries.Mild traumatic brain injuries do not require treatment other than over the counter pain relievers and the patient with mild traumatic injury need not to be monitored in hospital. However for treatment of severe TBI several medications indicated includes several diuretics, anti- seizure drugs, comma inducing drugs etc. However, in case of severe TBI surgery and rehabilitation is required. The traumatic brain injuries treatment market is expected to witness higher growth over the forecast period owing to introduction of several new therapies. Increasing number of manufacturers are developing new medications for the treatment of TBI and large number of clinical trials are conducted in order to better understand the etiology of the condition.Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: Drivers & RestraintsExtensive R&D by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists in order to study various biomarkers of brain imaging, bio fluid and physical indicators such as eye tracking and electroencephalography holds immense potential as diagnostic techniques for detection of TBI. This is expected to change the treatment pattern of TBI in patients with severe brain injuries. Apart from this a large number of clinical trials are conducted worldwide in order to develop effective therapies for TBI have proven to be opportunistic for the market growth of TBI treatment in the near future. Furthermore rising incidence of falls cases along with accidental cases are expected to be the leading accelerating factors for market growth of TBI treatment market globally. The expected entry of some molecular targeted therapies such as BHR-100, a progesterone drug being developed by BHR Pharma, LLC, rhuEpo, a recombinant human erythropoietin are expected to brace the TBI treatment market growth over the forecast period. However, factors such as low societal awareness, delayed diagnosis and low government funding in TBI treatment research are expected to hamper the TBI treatment market growth in the future.Request to Sample Report -Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: SegmentationTraumatic Brain Injuries Treatment marketis segmented by treatment type, route of administration, end user and geography:By Treatment TypeDrugsAnalgesicsAnti-Anxiety AgentsAnti-CoagulantsAnti-ConvulsantsAnti-DepressantsAnti-PsychoticsOthersSurgeryBy Route Of AdministrationOralInjectableBy Distribution ChannelHospital PharmaciesDrug StoresIndependent PharmaciesTraumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: OverviewThe traumatic brain injury treatment market is expected to increase at an alarming rate among childrens and adults over the forecast period. In childrens, few outcomes of TBI may not be encountered at an initial stage of but can emerge in later developmental stages of his/her life which may lead to chronic behavior problems and social isolation. Better understanding of the injury mechanisms and its effect on sub-populations is required in order to manage the TBI. Growing number of falling cases and accidental cases worldwide are expected to drive revenue growth of TBI treatment in the near future.Request Report TOC @Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, traumatic brain injuries treatment market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. The incidence of TBI is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. TBI is the major cause of mortality accounting for 30% of all death related injuries in the U.S. Presence of several pipeline therapies in treatment of TBI is expected to be the biggest driver in global TBI treatment market. Cognosci, a privately held U.S. start-up is developing a novel therapeutic compound, COG1410, for the treatment of TBI which is expected to launch in the coming years.Traumatic Brain Injuries Treatment Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the traumatic brain injuries treatment market are, Zimmer Biomet, Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Oxygen Biotherapeutics Inc, TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Ischemic, Grace Laboratories LLC. Several key players developing therapeutics for TBI treatment include, Cognosci, Medicortex, Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Aldagen, NeuroScience Pharmaceuticals and Targacept.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 : Soy Candles Global Market 2018: Key Players Pacifica, Dusk, Baxterof, Soy Works Candle Company, Madison Valley Candle Company Soy Candles Industry Description Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Soy Candles -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Of Top Key Player Forecast To 2023 To Its Research Database The global Soy Candles market will reach xxx Million USD in 2018 and CAGR xx% 2018-2023. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Soy Candles by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report. Company Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.): Pacifica Dusk Baxterof Soy Works Candle Company Madison Valley Candle Company 1803 Candles Tru Melange Archipelago Botanicals Red Flower Mrs. Meyer's Request for Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3109716-global-soy-candles-market-analysis-2012-2017-and-forecast-2018-2023 Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.): Pillar candles Container wax Votives Application Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.): Home Commercial Region Coverage (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries etc.): North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.) Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.) South America (Brazil, Argentina etc.) Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.) Leave a Query @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3109716-global-soy-candles-market-analysis-2012-2017-and-forecast-2018-2023 Table of Content 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Soy Candles Industry 1.1.1 Overview 1.1.2 Development of Soy Candles 1.2 Market Segment 1.2.1 Upstream 1.2.2 Downstream 1.3 Cost Analysis 2 Industry Environment 2.1 Policy 2.2 Economics 2.3 Sociology 2.4 Technology 3 Soy Candles Market by Type 3.1 By Type 3.1.1 Pillar candles 3.1.2 Container wax 3.1.3 Votives 3.2 Market Size 3.3 Market Forecast 4 Major Companies List 4.1 Pacifica (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.2 Dusk (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.3 Baxterof (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.4 Soy Works Candle Company (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.5 Madison Valley Candle Company (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.6 1803 Candles (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.7 Tru Melange (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.8 Archipelago Botanicals (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.9 Red Flower (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 4.10 Mrs. Meyer's (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.) 5 Market Competition 5.1 Company Competition 5.2 Regional Market by Company 6 Market Demand 6.1 Demand Situation 6.1.1 Demand in Home 6.1.2 Demand in Commercial 6.2 Regional Demand Comparison 6.3 Demand Forecast 7 Region Operation 7.1 Regional Output 7.2 Regional Market 7.3 by Region 7.3.1 North America 7.3.1.1 Overview 7.3.1.2 by Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico) 7.3.2 Europe 7.3.2.1 Overview 7.3.2.2 by Country (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.) 7.3.3 Asia-Pacific 7.3.3.1 Overview 7.3.3.2 by Country (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.) 7.3.4 South America 7.3.4.1 Overview 7.3.4.2 by Country (Brazil, Argentina etc.) 7.3.5 Middle East & Africa 7.3.5.1 Overview 7.3.5.2 by Country (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.) 7.4 Regional Forecast 8 Marketing & Price 8.1 Price and Margin 8.1.1 Price Trends 8.1.2 Factors of Price Change 8.1.3 Manufacturers Gross Margin Analysis 8.2 Value Chain 8.3 Marketing Channel 9 Research Conclusion Buy Now @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=3109716 Continued... Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +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, Global Ph: +91 841 198 5042 https://www.wiseguyreports.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. Embarrassed by its connivance with Iran and Hezbollah in supporting Polisario separatists, Algeria was reported to plan a downsizing of its diplomatic representation in Morocco. Turkish news agency, Anadulo, mentioned that a diplomatic source said Algerias foreign ministry contacted ailing president Bouteflika regarding the brewing crisis with Morocco and recommended a downsizing of Algerias diplomatic mission in the North African kingdom and closing consulates. Algeria has summoned Moroccos ambassador after Rabat cut ties with Tehran accusing it of helping its proxy Hezbollah train Polisairo on urban warfare and supplying the separatists with surface-to-air missiles. 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 responded. Algeria has never recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist group and maintains close ties with Iran. Algiers has also backed Syrian regime in its crimes against the Syrian people. Algiers has pulled the strings of Polisario for decades that Morocco now insists that no future negotiations can be conducted without Algerias participation. Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market Growth and Forecast 2017 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2613 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2613 www.futuremarketinsights.com Diabetes has evolved as one of the primary healthcare epidemic characterized by high sugar levels and principle cause of mortality worldwide. In 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 8.5% of adults living with diabetes. A diabetic person cannot either synthesize enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or either does not make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin produced by the body (type 2 diabetes). Another type of diabetes that occur in women during her pregnancy is gestational diabetes. However, gestational diabetes is usually resolved after delivery but can precede towards type 2 diabetes later in a womens life. Most of the continuous glucose monitoring devices are invasive and involves use of needles leading to increased chance of infection. Furthermore, the invasive glucose monitoring device is considered to be discrete glucose measurement system which cannot be practically used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose. Certain evidences of hyperglycemia between measurements are however not recorded thus resulting in false or no representation of the blood glucose pattern. Noninvasive monitoring of glucose levels eliminates the need of painful pricking with increased risk of infection, and amount of damage caused to the finger tissue.Therefore, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring devices are being widely investigated and studied over the past few years for their ability to monitor glucose continuously under highly controlled (e.g. in-clinic) conditions. Various techniques that involves measurement of blood glucose levels non-invasively includes, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Mid -Infrared Spectroscopy (Mid-IRS), Raman Spectroscopy, Photo-acoustic Spectroscopy (PA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and many more.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring DevicesMarket: Drivers & RestraintsRising prevalence of diabetes globally is expected to result in greater use of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring devices among the prevalent population. Owing to the several disadvantages imposed by the use of invasive blood glucose monitors and growing need to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring diagnostic techniques, the market for non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices is expected to rise at a greater pace during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2015, researchers in U.K. developed blood glucose device that utilizes low-powered lasers in order to measure the blood glucose levels on the skin surface. Also a bench-top version of the system is currently in clinical trials studies which might land in the market over the next few years. This includes, a finger-touch device similar to a computer mouse and a wearable version for continuous blood glucose monitoring. In addition, increasing efforts by several startup manufacturers, for example, Prediktor Medical- a Norway based manufacturer is developing a wearable device for estimation of blood glucose levels based on the combination of several principles determining the noninvasive glucose monitoring including, advanced multivariate analysis and dynamic models for insulin or glucose interaction. The device is expected to be in the form of a watch or bracelet communicating with the mobile phone or a tablet for data presentation. This would enable patients monitor their glucose levels continuously without the need for an implant. Currently available blood glucose measuring devices lacks specificity and sensitivity due to the substantial physical and chemical interference. Non-invasive glucose monitoring devices use multivariate regression analyses converting optical signal to glucose concentration. Hence the device should be designed in such a way that it leads to accurate detection of blood glucose levels imperative for optimum therapy and disease management.Request to Sample Report -Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: SegmentationNon- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices marketis segmented by technology, modality end user and geography:By TechnologyMIR/NIR (Mid/Near Infrared Spectroscopy)Raman SpectroscopyOcclusion SpectroscopyOptical Coherence TomographyThermal Emission SpectroscopyPhotoacoustic SpectroscopyImpedance/Dielectric SpectroscopyElectromagneticPolarimetryFluorescenceBy ModalityWearable Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsNon-wearable /Table top Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsBy End UserHospitalsHome Care SettingsClinicsNon- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: OverviewRising prevalence of diabetes worldwide imposes significant economic consequences on the individuals life. Currently, there are 350 million people worldwide estimated to live with diabetes. Thus continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential in order to manage the ever increasing prevalent population living with diabetes currently. For this reason manufacturers are focusing on developing diagnostic techniques that are highly reliable and monitors individuals blood glucose levels with greater accuracy with the capability to improve glycemic control and patient wellbeing. By integration of sensing elements, electronics along with a reliable power source in a single unit, noninvasive blood glucose monitors are offering immense opportunity for all the device manufacturers along with patients and various healthcare providers across the world. Accelerated regulatory approvals of blood glucose monitors is one of the another important factor leading to increased revenues of noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Request Report TOC @Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Growing number of diabetic population in U.S. is the leading factor contributing towards higher adoption of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems. Center of Diseases Control and Prevention estimated 29.1 million of U.S. population with diabetes in the U.S. The data also estimated adult population with diabetes are at 50% higher risk of death. Furthermore, growing need of continuous non-invasive method of blood glucose diagnosis among patients is expected to create higher demand for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems worldwide. The incidence of diabetes is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. Presence of several pipeline blood glucose monitoring systems and their expected launch is expected to drive the market for noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices market are, Abbott, Animas Technologies, Bayer Healthcare, Cercacor, Pendragon Medical, OrSense, and Bayer Healthcare.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 : Protective Clothing Market Analysis & Outlook To 2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/308 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/protective-clothing-market-308 Protective clothing are personal protective equipment designed to protect the wearers body from susceptible harm and infection. Protective clothing includes high-visibility vests, footwear, respiratory aids, gloves, helmets, harnesses, and eye protection gear. These clothings find application in various working environments that are deemed hazardous for legs and feet, such as dampness, falling objects, cuts, slips, chemical spillages, and abrasive materials. In order to prevent such hazards, there is an increased use of oil and chemical resistant soles on shoes and boots, safety boots with steel toe caps, leggings, and gaiters. This has augmented growth of protective clothing market across the globe.Protective Clothing Market Outlook Increasing Safety Concerns and Hazard Prevention Expected to Fuel DemandHazardous work environment and stringent regulations for employee safety has rapidly amplified the consumption of protective clothing globally. Laws such as The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989, The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, The Noise at Work Regulations 1989, The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, and others have inadvertently boosted growth of the protective clothing market. The Asia Pacific region is expected to possess maximum potential for elastomeric coating manufacturers. The market in the region is projected to witness relatively high growth in terms of value, over the forecast period. Growing population coupled with rapidly increasing manufacturing and allied industries is expected to fuel demand for protective clothing in the region, which in turn is anticipated to enhance the protective clothing industry.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report@High initial price of the protective clothing is expected to be one of the restraining factors for the growth of the protective clothing market over the forecast period. Innovation in products and expansions in different geographies are some of the key strategies adopted by the top players in the protective clothing market. In 2016, Honeywell announced investment of US$ 100 million for expansion of the Asia Pacific regional headquarters and R&D facilities in Shanghai. This would complement the companys network of R&D facilities across the globe. Some of the major companies operating in the market globally are 3M Company, Kimberly Clark Corp, Ansell Limited, Lakeland industries, Honeywell International Inc., Royal Ten Cate, Sioen Industries NV, and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.Gloves, based on the chemical compatibility are being used while working with chemicals exhibiting a high acute toxicity and highly concentrated corrosive materials. In construction industry, fall arresting systems such as body harnesses, lifelines, and other accompanying equipment are used when fall hazards cannot be controlled by railings, floors, and nets. Protective clothing is used in the healthcare industry to prevent transmission of microorganisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Staphylococcus aureus.Protective Clothing Market TaxonomyOn the basis of type of material, the global market is classified into:AramidPolyamidePolyolefinsCotton FibersPBIUHMW PolyethyleneLaminated PolyestersOn the basis of end-use industry, the global market is segmented into:ConstructionOil & GasMiningHealthcareMilitaryManufacturingOn the basis of application, the global market is segmented into:ThermalChemicalMechanicalBiological/RadiationVisibilityView More Infromation:Protective clothing is used in the construction, chemicals, and oil & gas industries, owing to properties such as inherent non-flammability, high durability, and excellent dimensional stability resistance to chemicals and heat. In the chemicals industry, it is used for protection against liquid chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and also hazardous gases. It is also used for protection from flame, welding, heat, and sparks from molten metal. In the mining industry, protective equipment such as waterproof suits, breathing masks, and helmets are widely used. Protective clothing made from polyamides, offers various benefits such as protection against flames, high mechanical strength, excellent thermo stability, high chemical resistance, and protection against gas emissions.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 Market Healthy Pace throughout the Forecast by 2026 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/12175 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/12175 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Mobile telecom industry has witnessed significant growth rate in last decade and it is expected to grow consistently over different generations of network communications. Starting from 0G mobile telecom service (MTS) to current long term evolution (LTE) 4G, the mobile telecommunication has turned as necessity to everyone.The second generation (2G) mobile telecommunication gave a major boost to the mobile telecom industry as it surprised consumers with internet browsing offering on mobile phones along with clear voice calling facilities. Now, most of the countries possess 4G connectivity which is a highly dense networking system providing real time voice calling and enhanced data transfer rate. Also, few countries like Japan and U.S. are implementing 4.5G and in development of 5G network communications.Request Report for TOC @The telecom tower are the arteries of any mobile telecommunication system. The telecom tower is a structure hosting a transceiver unit to maintain connection with thousands of mobile phones and The Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO). The telecom tower offers wide range of multi-channel frequencies to thousands of cell phones in the network zone. The main advantage of multichannel frequency is that it can offer tens of mobile phones in single network like conference calling, where many devices are connected to single network and can transmit and receive at same time. Also, it offers better data transfer rates and connectivity. The telecom tower are tall steel structures with transceiver unit at the top to cover maximum possible area.Telecom Tower Market: DynamicsThe telecom tower market is primarily dependent on mobile subscriber density and number of telecom service providers in any region. The increasing reach of mobile phones to almost every remote area, increasing competition among service provider for better network coverage are some of the current drivers of telecom tower market. Also, permissible height limits in any area restricts service provider to install multiple towers in small zones. Moreover, increasing the number of telecom service providers, internet providers, Wi-Fi and broadband providers are expected to drive the telecom tower market in the forecast period.Whereas, the harmful effects of high frequency radio waves or microwaves on human and environment is expected to limit telecom tower market. Also, regulations from government and telecom authorities is expected to put restraints on telecom tower market. Moreover, high installation cost, high operational costs and squeezing space are some other factors which can suppress telecom tower market growth.Recent trends have shown high prospective of strengthening of telecom tower network, where multiple new technologies are liable to grow. Ongoing researches on Internet of Things (IoT), real time security devices monitoring and accessibility, remote health care services, etc. are some emerging technologies projecting to increase the burden on telecom tower in coming years.Telecom Tower Market: SegmentationThe telecom tower market can be segmented in two categories based on type of tower and mounting area. On the basis of type of tower the telecom tower market can be segmented as Lattice tower, Guyed tower, Monopole tower, Camouflage towers and Mobile (vehicle mounted) tower.On the basis of mounting area the telecom tower market can be segmented as Green Field Tower (mounted on ground or suitable foundation) and Roof Top Tower (mounted on roof of any building).Request to Sample of Research Report @Telecom Tower Market: Key PlayersThe telecom towers are generally installed either by telecom service provider or third party infrastructure providers. Some examples of telecom service providers are China Mobile Ltd., Verizon Communications Inc., AT&T Inc., Vodafone Group Plc, Bharti Telecom Ltd., China Unicom Ltd., Telenor Group, MTN Group and Telstra Corp. Ltd.Whereas some examples of third party tower erection and service providers includes Indus Towers Ltd., 3Z Telecom, GTL Infrastructure Limited, Tower Systems, Inc., American Tower Corporation, Reliance Infratel Limited, LeBLANC Communications (M) Sdn.Bhd., ATC IP LLC., and Vertical Bridge, LLC.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: York's New Exhibition Explores 'Treasures of the Continent' 'Village Perche, Gordes, Provence' by David Sawyer RBA York Fine Arts is delighted to announce Treasures of the Continent, a mixed exhibition of work that explores the rich history, culture and landscape of continental Europe. Featuring original paintings by some of the gallery's most celebrated artists, including David Sawyer RBA, Michael John Ashcroft MAFA, Gordon Lees and Steve Thoms, the exhibition brings together an exclusive collection of work that masterfully traverses the jewels of the European landscape. Immersive and transporting, Treasures of the Continent presents an exciting opportunity to experience the wonders of Europe through a magnificent collection of fine art.Steeped in cultural significance, Europe has an abundance of grand cathedrals, medieval castles, mesmeric waterways and celebrated ruins from which artists have drawn inspiration for centuries. From the bustling piazzas of Venice to the rolling lavender fields of Provence, each painting in the exhibition elegantly reflects the artist's enduring fascination with the European landscape. Through the eyes of some of todays leading contemporary landscape artists, the unassuming charm of the continent is exquisitely revealed and celebrated in this outstanding new exhibition.The exhibition opens at York Fine Arts Harrogate gallery on Friday, 18th May and runs until Sunday, 10th of June 2018. Due to expected high volume of interest, an early viewing is recommended.For press enquiries or high resolution images, please telephone Deanna Dawkins on 01904 634221.York Fine Arts has been a family run, established art gallery for over forty years. Over the decades we have gained an international reputation for sourcing high quality traditional and contemporary fine art from some of the very best artists practising today.Our carefully selected collection of artwork is tailored for a diverse range of styles and tastes. We specialise in a variety of work by established British and international artists, ranging from original oil paintings and watercolours to bronze sculptures and signed limited edition prints. We also offer a number of services, including framing, valuations, restoration and art sourcing.York Fine Arts21 Montpellier ParadeHarrogateNorth YorkshireHG1 2TGUnited Kingdom Global Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024 Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-cancer-therapeutics-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-cancer-therapeutics-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-cancer-therapeutics-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-cancer-therapeutics-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Global Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics MarketBy Product (Chemotherapeutic Agent, Vaccine, Others), By Cancer (Mast Cell Tumors, Lymphoma, Insulinomas, Chondrosarcoma, Others), By Species (Bovine, Porcine, Cats, Dogs, Others) and By Region-Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics Market : Global Market DynamicsThe market for global veterinary cancer therapeutics is expected to gain traction owing to increase in adaptation of companion animals and growing meat consumption across the globe. Furthermore, increase in prevalence of cancer in animals especially in pets coupled with the increase in R&D investment by the companies to develop the cancer therapeutics such as preventive vaccines and chemotherapeutic agents projected to bolster the market share over the forecast period. In addition, rise in animal health expenditure and robust animal cancer pipeline expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period. However, lack of awareness about the animal cancer among the owners and high cost in development of the cancer therapeutics are expected to hamper the global veterinary cancer therapeutics market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Global Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics MarketGlobal Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics Market is segmented based on product, cancer type, species and regionBased on product, global veterinary cancer therapeutics market is segmented into Chemotherapeutic Agent Vaccine OthersBased on cancer, This market is segmented into Mast Cell Tumors Lymphoma Insulinomas Chondrosarcoma OthersBased on Species, This market is segmented into Bovine Porcine Cats Dogs OthersBy region, This market is segmented into North America Latin America Asia Pacific Europe Middle East and Africa (MEA)To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Global Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics MarketGeographically veterinary cancer therapeutics market is divided into five key regions, i.e. North America, Europe, AsiaPacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America veterinary cancer therapeutics market is expected to grow at significant rates owing to increase in prevalence of cancer in animals and presence of key market players with robust cancer pipeline drugs in the region. According to National cancer Institute, Each year 6 million cats and 6 million dogs are diagnosed with the spontaneous, naturally occurring cancer in United States alone. Europe veterinary cancer therapeutics market is expected to show notable growth rate owing to the growing animal health concerns and increase in R&D investments in development of animal cancer therapeutics. Asia Pacific veterinary cancer therapeutics market is expected to have the lucrative growth opportunity owing to the increase in adaptation of pets and increase in animal health expenditure.Competition Assessment: Global Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics MarketSome of the players in global veterinary cancer therapeutics market include Merial (C.H. BoehringerSohn AG &Ko. KG) (Germany) Zoetis Inc. (U.S.) AB Science (France) Aratana Therapeutics (U.S.) Oasmia Pharmaceutical (Sweden) Vetivax (U.S.) Regeneus (Australia)Notable Market Developments: Global Veterinary Cancer Therapeutics Market In October 2013, Aratana Therapeutics entered into a merger agreement to acquire Vet Therapeutics Inc. to advance its product pipeline.Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report:The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2024) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.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 Smart Coatings Market Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis till forecast period 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/312 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/312 Smart coatings are specially designed films that have predefined characteristics, which enable them to sense and respond to various external and internal situations. Smart coatings are manufactured from programmable materials with various physical, chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties. These materials have the ability to respond to variations in light, pressure, heat, and chemical factors. Smart coatings are also used in the transportation industry as anti-biofouling agents, which results in prolonged asset life, reduced corrosion damage, and reduced maintenance costs.Increasing demand for customization in sensing and repair abilities has led to the growth of smart coatings market in military and automotive industry. Smart coatings can improve a systems efficiency by reducing inspection time, equipment downtime and maintenance costs. The outcomes of using smart coating also include a reduced necessity for maintenance of corroded areas coupled with prolonging the life of components and assemblies prepared from corrosive materials.Request Sample Copy of this Report:In healthcare industry, smart coatings are used as microbial coatings for preventing diseases. Anti-corrosion coatings are used in sensing causes of corrosion and inhibiting corrosion. This is achieved by enabling pH activated release of self-healing capability and triggering multifunctional microcapsules in smart coatings. Self-healing coatings are used in the aerospace and automotive industry to repair scratches and detect damages in engines. Smart coatings are also used in cellphones and computers for protection against scratches and improving the resistance against chemical effects and dirt. In healthcare industry smart coatings are used in drug delivery agents.Smart Coatings Market Outlook Requisite for Robust Materials for Artificial Intelligence Expected to Boost DemandIncreasing demand for improved products in the automotive, military, and aerospace industry is one of the major factors boosting growth of the smart coatings market. Asia Pacific is one of the major contributors in the smart coatings market globally. This is mainly attributed to the booming automotive industry and increasing investments in defense activities in emerging economies such as India and China. The total defense budget of India was US$ 34.53 billion, and government initiatives such as Make in India is expected to fuel growth of manufacturing units in the country. The defense manufacturing unit of make in India has numerous foreign investors such as Airbus, Pilatus, BAE India Systems, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing India, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., and Dassault Aviation SA.To get detailed table of content (ToC) @High price is one of the restraining factors for the smart coatings market globally. Developing a wide array of products to meet the current demand is one of the key strategies adopted by the major market players in the smart coatings industry. Research and development is carried on to manufacture smart coatings, which is expected to generate protectable intellectual property (IP), and this is projected to increase the area of application of smart coating. Smart coatings are also being developed for application as oil-filtering materials to provide complete separation of oil and water in an oil rig. Some of the companies operating in the global smart coatings market are Balcony Systems Solutions Ltd, Nanoshell, Research Frontiers, Inc., New Energy technologies, Cima Nano tech., Ancatt Inc., and Debiotech SA.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Coding on Eggshell Hitachi Coding Solutions https://www.codingsolutions.hitachi-industrial.eu http://www.hitachi.com When it comes to Egg Marking and Coding, all eggs sold at retail outlets and public markets within the EU must be marked with a specific code, which identifies the:-method of printing-country of origin-hen laying establishmentCoding eggs tell the customer their level of quality and where the eggs have come from. It can also help egg marking and coding inspectors to trace eggs and enforce EU egg marking regulations. The Hitachi inkjet printers integrate seamlessly with high-speed egg graders to meet all coding demands of industrial egg production. The Hitachi inks are well known in the market for their excellent contrast for clear visibility on white or brown eggs.Our printers are designed for harsh environments. The stainless steel cabinet offers IP65 and allows a wash-down with pressured water and industrial detergent to meet the high hygiene request in this industry.The overall Total costs of Ownership makes the Hitachi Inkjet printers the perfect choice in a price sensitive market.Interested to learn more about Hitachi Coding Solutions?About Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer societys challenges. The companys consolidated revenues for fiscal 2015 (ended March 31, 2016) totalled 10,034.3 billion yen ($88.7 billion). The Hitachi Group is a global leader in the Social Innovation Business, and it has approximately 335,000 employees worldwide. Through collaborative creation, Hitachi is providing solutions to customers in a broad range of sectors, including Power / Energy, Industry / Distribution / Water, Urban Development, and Finance / Government & Public / Healthcare. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website atHitachi Europe GmbHMarketingNiederkasseler Lohweg 19140547 DusseldorfGermany Trends in the Recording Chart Paper Market 2016-2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2557 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2557 www.futuremarketinsights.com Recording chart paper is a thermal coated special paper used in diagnosis of various healthcare diagnostic procedures with equipment such as ECG monitoring, fetal monitoring, and video image printers. Recording chart paper is precisely designed to generate accurate, clear tracings and clearly defined alphanumeric characters. Recording charts papers are used in recording instrument of the diagnostic field, medical, and laboratory analysis. Recording chart paper comes in either Z-folded or rolled formats. These recording chart papers are used for recording of intrapartum and antepartum monitoring. Recording chart paper offers benefits such as easy to read grids with extended timelines at one minute intervals.Recording chart papers are an essential part of the cardiac diagnostics process. Recording chart papers with easy grids and which are compatible with the medical devices will help detect problems faster. Recording chart papers play a crucial role due to printout durability which is readily understandable in diagnostic tools and high-tech medicine. Static sensitivity is the temperature at which the recording paper begins to generate an image. Dynamic and static sensitivity property of recording chart paper makes them efficient for use along with different diagnostic equipment.Recording Chart Paper Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global market for recording chart paper is expected to be driven by increasing emphasis on reducing infant mortality and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases during the forecast period of 2016-2026. The cardiovascular diseases is the major healthcare burden worldwide. For instance, the American Heart Association estimated that over 17 Mn deaths were caused by cardiovascular diseases in the U.S. during 2014. However, less accuracy of the recording chart paper over digital instruments could be the restraint for the growth of global recording chart paper market through 2026.Request to Sample Report -Recording Chart Paper Market: SegmentationThe global recording chart paper market is classified on the basis of product type, end user and geography.Based on product type, the global recording chart paper market is segmented into the following:Cardiology Monitoring Recording Chart PapersFetal Monitoring Recording Chart PapersAmbulatory / EMS Recording Charts for DefibrillatorsUltrasound / OBGYN Recording Chart PaperBased on end user, the global recording chart paper market is segmented into the following:HospitalsDiagnostic CentersClinicsAmbulatory Surgical CentersRecording Chart Paper Market: OverviewThe government initiatives to make most of population aware regarding regular health check-ups and increasing incidences of cardiovascular disorders are expected to boost the global recording chart paper market growth through 2026. In addition, the change in the medical treatment preference from acute treatment to preventive care is anticipated to propel the demand for cost-effective and accurate methods for heart monitoring. The hospitals end user segment is expected to hold the highest market share in global market for recording chart paper during 2016-2026.Recording Chart Paper Market: Regional OverviewRegion wise, the global recording chart papers market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America dominated the global market for recording chart paper due to good reimbursement policies for diagnostic procedures. North America will be the market leader for recording chart paper market during the forecast period and will account for major market value share of global recording chart papers market. The increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. coupled with increase in the aged population prone to cardiac disease diagnosis is expected to boost global recording chart paper market growth during the forecast period. Increasing number of local players providing recording chart papers at low cost in countries such as China is expected to boost the recording chart paper market growth in APEJ region.Request Report TOC @Recording Chart Paper Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global recording chart paper market include Covidien Ltd. (Medtronic plc) Tele-Paper Sdn Bhd., Precision Charts Inc., Pirrone srl, Euran Erikoispaperit Oy,Recorders Charts & Pens Inc.,Kokusai Chart Corporation, among others. The recording chart paper market is fragmented with presence of many local vendors in the market, however, when it comes to global level there are few well recognized brands available in the globalrecording chart paper market. Most of the providers of recording chart paper are adopting the strategy of providing these products through e-commerce, so that buyers can browse the products according to their needs.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 : Kefir Market Analysis, Top Key Players |Agrium Inc., Yara International ASA , The Mosaic Company, JSC Belaruskali , Eurochem Group AG , Borealis AG, HELM AG, Sinofert Holdings Limited https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5536 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/potash-fertilizers-market-5536 Market Scenario:Potash fertilizers enhance the plant growth and productivity of potassium deficient soil. Increasing population and growing demand for food have led to the need for high agricultural productivity which is driving the growth of the potash fertilizers market. Moreover, increasing inclination towards fertilizers globally, is primarily boosting the growth of the potash fertilizers market.Potassium is essential for plant health and there must be a sufficient supply in the soil to maintain good crop growth. When the potassium supply is limited, soil yield is reduced with poor crop quality, inefficient utilization of water, and susceptibility to pest and disease damage increases. Therefore, potash fertilizers are necessary to be used in the soil with potassium deficiency. The most commonly used potash fertilizers include muriate of potash, potassium magnesium sulfate, sulfate of potash, potassium nitrate, and others.Growing acceptance of modern farming is adding fuel to the growth of potash fertilizers market. To improve the efficiency of potash fertilizers, major players are investing in research and developments which is further boosting the growth of the global potash fertilizers market. However, the uncertain regulatory policies regarding the use of potash-rich fertilizers may hamper the growth of the market. Nevertheless, all these factors are projected to contribute to the estimated CAGR of 4.3% of potash fertilizers market during the forecast period, 2017-2023.Receive a Sample Report@Key Players:Some of the key players profiled in the global Potash Fertilizers market are Agrium Inc. (Canada), Yara International ASA (Norway), The Mosaic Company (U.S.), JSC Belaruskali (Republic of Belarus), Eurochem Group AG (Switzerland), Borealis AG (Austria), HELM AG (Germany), Sinofert Holdings Limited (China), Israel Chemicals Ltd. (Israel), among many others.Key Findings:MOP is used extensively in fruits and vegetablesGranular form of potash fertilizers are majorly used among the farmersIntended Audience:Potash Fertilizers ManufacturersFood industryAgriculture industryTraders, importers, and exportersSegments:Potash Fertilizers market is segmented on the basis of types such as muriate of potash, potassium magnesium sulfate, sulfate of potash, potassium nitrate, and others. Among all, muriate of potash is dominating the market owing to its high nutrient concentrates. However, sulfate of potash is also witnessed to be growing over the forecast period.Based on the form, the potash fertilizers market is segmented into granules, powder, liquid, and others. Among them, granules segment is projected to be dominating the market followed by powder segment.On the basis of crop type, the potash fertilizers market is segmented into grains & cereals, oil seeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables, and others. Among all, fruits and vegetables segment is dominating the market followed by grains and cereals.Access Report Details @Regional AnalysisThe global Potash Fertilizers market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Europe holds the highest share of the potash fertilizers market. In Europe, Ireland and Belgium are majorly contributing to the growth of potash fertilizers market. North America is estimated to have a moderate expansion in the market share of potash fertilizers over the estimated period.Asia Pacific is witnessed to be the fastest growing region in potash fertilizers market. India and China, two of the largest countries in terms of population are majorly contributing to the growth of the potash fertilizers in this region. Latin America is anticipated to gain a moderate growth rate over the estimated period.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Dialysis Device And Concentrates Market Analysis and Value Forecast Snapshot by End-use Industry 2016-2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2553 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2553 www.futuremarketinsights.com Dialysis is treatment technique to compensate the poor or lost kidney function. The kidney function is damaged by acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease. The most common reasons for kidney diseases are urinary infection, diabetes, and genetic kidney diseases. Dialysis equipment and accessories are used for artificial blood purification in end stage of renal disease as well as acute kidney injury in dialysis centers or in homecare settings. Dialysis treatment offers a solution to kidney impairment by artificially filtering the blood. The dialysis process regulates water and salts to clean the blood. Patients with kidney failure need dialysis in order to sustain life. There are two forms of dialysis treatment namely peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD). Hemodialysis is commonly used dialysis technology that treats circulating blood in the dialysis machine. Blood is cleaned as it passes through a dialyzer to diffuse the waste products in dialysis concentrate. The peritoneal dialysis is a technique in which the dialysis fluid is transferred into peritoneal cavity through a catheter in the peritoneum and abdomen to function as a dialysis filter in a dialyzer.Dialysis Device and Concentrates Market: Drivers and RestraintsFactors such as increasing number of patients suffering from hypertension and diabetes and the growing number of end stage renal disease in patients have been driving the growth of the global dialysis device and concentrates market. In addition, factors such as technological advancements in products, negligible preference of patients for kidney transplantation, increase in investment for the development of new products and reimbursement from governments for the treatment of kidney diseases and end-stage renal disease are further expected to propel the growth of the global dialysis and concentrates market. However, factors such as product recalls, lower awareness of kidney diseases treatment modalities and low adoption of newly developed devices could hamper the growth of the global dialysis and concentrates market.Request to Sample Report -Dialysis Device and Concentrates Market: SegmentationThe global dialysis device and concentrates market is classified on the basis of product type, end user and geography.Based on product type, the global dialysis device and concentrates market is segmented into the following:Hemodialysis MachineA.V. Fistula NeedleA.V. Access GraftDialysis CatheterDialysis ConcentratesDialyzerDialyzer Reprocessing MachineHemodialysis Bloodline and Tubing SetDeclotting DeviceWater Treatment SystemIntroducer Sheath and GuidewireBased on end user, the global dialysis device and concentrates market is segmented into the following:In-center DialysisHospitalsIndependent Dialysis CentersHome DialysisDialysis Device and Concentrates Market: OverviewThe global dialysis device and concentrates market is witnessing steady growth rates with increasing patient populations. The patient population of home hemodialysis (HHD), peritoneal dialysis, and traditional in-center hemodialysis are expected to fuel the growth of the global dialysis device and concentrates market over the next decade. It is projected that heat disinfectant water treatment system and dry concentrates segment will register remarkable growth rates during the forecast period. The in-center dialysis end user segment is expected to hold the highest market share in global market for dialysis device and concentrates through 2026. The global dialysis device and concentrates market in developed countries is increasing in terms of revenue at a rapid pace owing to factors such as increasing number of dialysis centers, improving reimbursement and insurance scenario, the huge patient population base, and government initiatives to develop dialysis facilities which are anticipated to drive the growth of the global dialysis device and concentrates market during 2016-2026.Request Report TOC @Dialysis Device and Concentrates Market: Regional OverviewRegion wise, the global dialysis device and concentrates market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America dominated the global market for dialysis device and concentrates in terms of value due to availability of several reimbursement policies for kidney disease treatment procedures. In 2015, North America, Europe, and Japan collectively dominated the global dialysis device and concentrates market in terms of value. These three regions contributed to more than half the share of the global dialysis device and concentrates market. However, market in developing countries is still in the development phase which is expected to establish in upcoming decade. Increasing number of local players providing dialysis device and concentrates at low cost in countries such as China is expected to boost the market growth in APEJ region during the forecast period.Dialysis Device and Concentrates Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in global dialysis device and concentrates market include Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., Nipro Corporation, Asahi Kasei Medical Co. Ltd., Mar Cor Purification, Inc., Nikkiso Co, Ltd., NxStage Medical, Inc.,and others. Most of the providers of dialysis device and concentrates are adopting the strategy of providing these products in emerging countries and the other untapped 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 : Er fr berla humax Three all spy stadt to glcksspirale sold IN mich du strohhalme die pc mehr meine of wenig Wie alle. darum, dem Keine Extra-Kosten. Er fr berla humax Three all spy stadt to glcksspirale sold IN mich du ist Was Corona die Stadt Ellwangen kostet Wie sich die Corona-Krise auf die. Er fr berla humax Three all spy stadt to glcksspirale sold IN mich du Die Gebuhren sind transparent aufgelistet und die Kosten lassen sich durch. Diabetic Nephropathy Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2016-2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2552 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2552 www.futuremarketinsights.com Diabetes is a disease condition of high blood sugar level, caused due to malfunctioning of the pancreas. Nephropathy means kidney damage or impairment. Diabetic nephropathy is a kidney glomerulus disease which is one of the major complications in terms of morbidity and mortality for diabetic population. Symptoms and signs of diabetic nephropathy are unknown in early stages. However, in later stages major signs and symptoms occur which includes high blood pressure, ankle and leg swelling, vomiting, morning weakness, high level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), increased albumin secretion in urine, nausea, and itching. For treatment of diabetic nephropathy, disease modifying therapies (DMT) that employ angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used. ACE inhibitors and ARBs provide superior protection to the kidney. Major ARBs are losartan, candesartan, and irbesartan while ACE inhibitors, such as lisinopril, captopril, enalapril, and ramipril decreases the amount of protein in the urine. The increasing investment in research and development for drug discovery followed by awareness of diabetes and kidney related disorder treatment are the major factors that are anticipated to boost the demand for products in the global diabetic nephropathy market. For instance, the American Diabetes Association organized regular programs to create awareness among diabetic population and it ensures all the patients are able to get the knowledge, best treatment and care for diabetes management.Diabetic Nephropathy Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global market for diabetic nephropathy is expected to be driven by the increasing R&D investments in drug discovery and development and growing prevalence of diabetes. For instance, according to International Diabetes Federation 415 Mn people are currently affected by diabetes globally and it is expected to increase to 642 Mn diabetic people by 2040. Rising awareness for diabetes disease treatment and increasing usage of combination therapy are trending factor that is expected to influence the demand for global diabetic nephropathy market during the forecast period of 2016-2026. However, stringent regulations and lengthy product approval procedure for drugs are major concerns for the global diabetic nephropathy market.Request to Sample Report -Diabetic Nephropathy Market: SegmentationThe global diabetic nephropathy market is classified on the basis of treatment type and geography.Based on treatment type, the global diabetic nephropathy market is segmented into the following:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAngiotensin Receptor BlockersDiureticsCalcium Channel BlockersRenin InhibitorsConnective Tissue Growth Factor InhibitorsAntioxidant Inflammation ModulatorMonocyte Chemoattractant Proteins InhibitorEndothelin-A Receptor AntagonistG Protein-Coupled ReceptorsDiabetic Nephropathy Market: OverviewThe global diabetic nephropathy market is expected to grow at a steady rate during the forecast period of 2016-2026. The growing incidence of diabetes has predominantly fueled the growth of the global diabetic nephropathy market. According to WHO, around 9% adults were affected by diabetes globally in 2014. By 2030, the diabetes is expected to be the seventh leading cause of death globally.Diabetic Nephropathy Market: Regional OverviewRegion wise, the global diabetic nephropathy market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to dominate the global diabetic nephropathy market in terms of value due to increased combination drugs usage along with rising awareness about the various kidney diseases. Europe is the second major contributor to the global diabetic nephropathy market in terms of value due to increasing prevalence of diabetes and increase in healthcare expenditure for diabetes treatment in the various parts of Europe. However, market in APEJ is expected to grow at rapid pace during the forecast period owing to increase in spending for healthcare treatment and increased awareness of new diabetic drugs in the market.Request Report TOC @Diabetic Nephropathy Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in global diabetic nephropathy market include AbbVie Inc., Bayer AG Merck & Co. Inc., ChemoCentryx Inc., GenKyoTex S.A., Mesoblast Limited, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Novartis AG, Sanofi S.A., Eli Lilly and Company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and others. The market for diabetic nephropathy is fragmented with presence of many vendors in international market. These companies are adopting strategy of increased emphasis on research and development for discovery of new drug combination.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 : Potash Fertilizers Market Analysis, Top Key Players |Agrium Inc., Yara International ASA , The Mosaic Company, JSC Belaruskali , Eurochem Group AG , Borealis AG, HELM AG, Sinofert Holdings Limited https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5536 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/potash-fertilizers-market-5536 Market Scenario:Potash fertilizers enhance the plant growth and productivity of potassium deficient soil. Increasing population and growing demand for food have led to the need for high agricultural productivity which is driving the growth of the potash fertilizers market. Moreover, increasing inclination towards fertilizers globally, is primarily boosting the growth of the potash fertilizers market.Potassium is essential for plant health and there must be a sufficient supply in the soil to maintain good crop growth. When the potassium supply is limited, soil yield is reduced with poor crop quality, inefficient utilization of water, and susceptibility to pest and disease damage increases. Therefore, potash fertilizers are necessary to be used in the soil with potassium deficiency. The most commonly used potash fertilizers include muriate of potash, potassium magnesium sulfate, sulfate of potash, potassium nitrate, and others.Growing acceptance of modern farming is adding fuel to the growth of potash fertilizers market. To improve the efficiency of potash fertilizers, major players are investing in research and developments which is further boosting the growth of the global potash fertilizers market. However, the uncertain regulatory policies regarding the use of potash-rich fertilizers may hamper the growth of the market. Nevertheless, all these factors are projected to contribute to the estimated CAGR of 4.3% of potash fertilizers market during the forecast period, 2017-2023.Receive a Sample Report@Key Players:Some of the key players profiled in the global Potash Fertilizers market are Agrium Inc. (Canada), Yara International ASA (Norway), The Mosaic Company (U.S.), JSC Belaruskali (Republic of Belarus), Eurochem Group AG (Switzerland), Borealis AG (Austria), HELM AG (Germany), Sinofert Holdings Limited (China), Israel Chemicals Ltd. (Israel), among many others.Key Findings:MOP is used extensively in fruits and vegetablesGranular form of potash fertilizers are majorly used among the farmersIntended Audience:Potash Fertilizers ManufacturersFood industryAgriculture industryTraders, importers, and exportersSegments:Potash Fertilizers market is segmented on the basis of types such as muriate of potash, potassium magnesium sulfate, sulfate of potash, potassium nitrate, and others. Among all, muriate of potash is dominating the market owing to its high nutrient concentrates. However, sulfate of potash is also witnessed to be growing over the forecast period.Based on the form, the potash fertilizers market is segmented into granules, powder, liquid, and others. Among them, granules segment is projected to be dominating the market followed by powder segment.On the basis of crop type, the potash fertilizers market is segmented into grains & cereals, oil seeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables, and others. Among all, fruits and vegetables segment is dominating the market followed by grains and cereals.Access Report Details @Regional AnalysisThe global Potash Fertilizers market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Europe holds the highest share of the potash fertilizers market. In Europe, Ireland and Belgium are majorly contributing to the growth of potash fertilizers market. North America is estimated to have a moderate expansion in the market share of potash fertilizers over the estimated period.Asia Pacific is witnessed to be the fastest growing region in potash fertilizers market. India and China, two of the largest countries in terms of population are majorly contributing to the growth of the potash fertilizers in this region. Latin America is anticipated to gain a moderate growth rate over the estimated period.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Increasing Defense Expenses in Developing Countries Major Growth Drivers for the Military Communication Market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/military-communications-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/military-communications-market/report-sample https://www.psmarketresearch.com In spite of growing pressures to cut-down the military expenditures, a trend towards network centric warfare has been witnessed over the years. Moreover, the unsteady geopolitical landscape is expected to bring considerable investments in military communications, during the next five to six years. The growing adoption of multi-mode and multi-band tactical radio systems, along with increasing adoption of ad-hoc networking in unmanned vehicles is expected to drive the military communication market in the coming years. Various military operations, such as intelligence, reconnaissance, homeland security, surveillance, and cyber security involve the use of communication equipment and services. The market for military communication has gained momentum with a growing need to tackle vulnerable security threats through advanced technology.Explore Full Report Description At:From past 3 to 4 years, the military communication market has gone through an array of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Around 250 M&A activities were finalized globally within the defense and aerospace sector in 2013. The U.S. is the largest market for military communication. Recently, the U.S. government has started several new military initiatives. The U.S. military is expected to lead the countries through their comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy in the coming years. The cost for this initiative is expected to be around $5-$10 billion per year.Based on communication type, the global military communication market can be broadly classified as airborne communications, underwater communications, air-ground communications, ship borne communication, and ground-based communications. On the basis of application, the global military communication market can be sub-divided as, routine operations, command and control, and others. Based on various components, the military communication market can be classified as military satellite communication terminals, military security systems, military radio systems, and communication management systems. Based on end users, the military communication market can be segmented as land forces, naval forces, and air forces.Download Free Report Sample At:North America accounted for the largest military communication market in 2014. The large defense expenditure and increased penetration of technology in defense sector has led to the leadership of North America in the military communication market. Asia-Pacific is the second largest and fastest growing market for military communication. The increasing military expenditures, owing to growing threat from terrorist organizations, and unstable geopolitical scenario in the Middle-East countries, is fueling the growth of the military communication market in this region. Country wise, the U.S., and Canada are the largest military communication markets in North America; while Germany, the U.K., Russia, and France are some of the important military communication markets in Europe. China. India, Japan, and South Korea lead the Asia-Pacific military communication market.Some of the competitors in the military communications market are, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Thales Group, General Dynamics, L-3 Communications Holdings Inc., BAE Systems, Raytheon Anschutz, Harris Corporation, and Rockwell Collins.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide market research reports, industry reports; business intelligence and research based consulting services across a range of industries.With the help of our professional corporate relations with various companies, our market research offers the most accurate market forecasting. Our analysts and consultants interact with leading companies of the concerned domain to substantiate every single data presented in our publication. Our research assists our client in identifying new and different windows of opportunity and frame informed and customized strategies for expansion in different regioContact:P&S Market Research347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb: Forecast 2017 2025 Assisted Living Technologies Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends Assisted Living Technologies https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1586794 https://www.researchmoz.us/assisted-living-technologies-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html#table-of-content www.researchmoz.us Press Release - 04 May2018Global Research and Development News --. ."Assisted Living Technologies 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.' 'Assisted living technologies deal with improving quality of life with the help of a group of service providers. This group is responsible for providing personal services, round the clock supervision, and assistance in the area of health care related services. With the onset of Medicare and Medicaid, there is beginning of long term service delivery which consists of nursing care at home facilities. In order words, assisted living technologies is an integration of standalone assisted technologies with elements of smart home and telehealth services.Assisted technology services deal with information and communication technologies which are used for diagnosis, treatment, consultations, and patient education. The European Union funded project SOPRANO (Service-Oriented Programmable Smart Environments for Older Europeans) is a renowned international consortium consisting of corporations, service providers, academic institutions, and partners with countries such as Greece, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and Canada.. . Get Sample Report_' 'The Cambridge Assisted Living Technologies (Cambridge ALT) is developed with the aim of encouraging older people to live in their own homes for a longer duration. Also, students of EPSRC Center for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sensor Technologies and Application have developed an innovative platform for technology with an aim to revolutionize home care for older citizens. The basic activities included in assisted living technologies are 24*7 home care service for protection, emergency service, inclusion of three meals daily, encouragement of social gatherings, continuous supervision for physical or mentally disabled individuals, facilities such as housekeeping, and maintenance and transportation.The global assisted living technologies market is driven by increase in aging population, innovation in technology, and rise in awareness among the population. Life expectancy of people has increased in the last decade. This has led to a large population above reproducible age. The ability of a person to work and carry out daily activities decreases with age. Hence, rise in geriatric population has led to increase in demand for using assistance for many activities. According to the National Institute of Aging, in 2010, 8% of the worlds population, about 524 million, was aged 65 years or older. Between 2010 and 2050, the geriatric population in less developed countries is projected to increase by more than 250% as compared to 71% in the developed countries. With increasing age, there is increasing in incidence of chronic diseases leading to hospitalization and thus will require assistance at hospitals or at home care facilities. However, high cost associated with these technologies and budget constraints are the major restraints of the global assisted living technologies market.The global assisted living technologies market can be segmented into devices used in residence and devices used at institutions. In terms of region, the global market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe are highly potential markets for assisted living technologies. Awareness among the population, government investment in improving the quality of life, increase in disposable income, advancement is technologies and technological knowhow by citizens in the country are major factors contributing to the growth of the assisted living technologies market in these regions. Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa are emerging markets for assisted living technologies due to slow growth of technology, lesser disposable income, and less awareness.Key players in the global assisted living technologies market are Assisted Living Technologies, Inc., CareTech AB, Chubb Community Care, GreenPeak Technologies BV, Koninklijke Philips N.V., OBS Medical Ltd., Possum Ltd., Telbois, TeleAlarm S.A., Tunstall Healthcare Ltd., Tyco Security Products, and Tynetec, among others.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.~ The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysis. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents_' '~ The regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.~ Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketContinue.....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 JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. Selected Matrix Time-Attendance Solution to Improve Productivity at Mysore Premises www.MatrixAccessControl.com Project Highlights:Application: Time-Attendance, Employee Self Service and Visitor ManagementUsers: 500+Devices: 13+Location: Mysore, India (Single Location)Credential Type: Fingerprint (with Optical Sensor)Industry: ManufacturingCompany Profile:JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. is an Automotive Tyre, Tubes and Flaps manufacturing company based in Delhi, India. The company is the only tyre manufacturer offering the entire range of four-wheeler radials for Trucks, Buses and Cars. JK Tyre has a worldwide customer base in over 80+ countries. With production facilities in nine plants, total production capacity is almost 20 million tyres per annum.Challenges:JK Tyres have its biggest manufacturing setup in Mysore. The premise consists of a manufacturing unit as well as the administrative department. Since the plant runs 247 and there are numerous shifts of workers, they found it difficult to manage multiple shifts manually. Managing visitors was also a problem for the company. So, they required a software that would help them keep a record of visitors on time-to-time basis. Creating a visitors identity in the form of visitor pass and generating reports of visitors on a monthly basis was a tiresome process. JK Tyres was looking for a vendor who could offer them a complete solution related to Time-Attendance and Visitor Management.Solution Offered:Matrix offered a Time-Attendance solution, which centrally handled multiple shifts of workers and employees. Numerous shifts were created to manage Time-Attendance of over 500+ workers. Moreover, we provided Employee Self Service, which helped the employees view day-to-day attendance, apply for leave/tour, etc. JK Tyres further required a record of visitors so we delivered Visitor Management software, which helped them create a visitor pass, fetch visitor records and generate reports of the same.Solution Diagram:Results: Reduction in Cumbersome HR tasks Automatic Maintenance of Visitor Records on Day-to-Day basis 40% Increase in Productivity of Employees and WorkersAbout 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.Matrix Comsec394-GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010, IndiaPh.: +91 265 2630555E-Mail: Customer.Care@Matrixcomsec.comWebsite: Serotonin Syndrome Market 2023 TOp Key Players Are GlaxoSmithKline plc., Johnson & Johnson,Pfizer, Inc. , Sanofi S.A. And More Serotonin Syndrome Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4075 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4075 The report for Global Serotonin Syndrome Market by 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 a deeper insight of the market and industry performance.The Serotonin Syndrome Diagnosis and Treatment Market is expected to reach $ 400 million by the end of 2023, this market is projected to growing at a CAGR of ~ 2.3 % during 2017-2023.Serotonin syndrome is a group of symptoms such as high body temperature, agitation, increased reflexes, tremor, sweating, dilated pupils, diarrhoea etc. due to use of serotonergic drugs. Serious complications such as seizures and extensive muscle breakdown may occur which may lead to death. The 1984, Libby Zion case is an example of death from serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is typically caused by synergistic effect of two or more serotonergic drugs which generally include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), amphetamines etc. Other drugs with a high propensity of causing serotonin syndrome are dextromethorphan, buspirone, L-tryptophan, St. John's wort, metoclopramide, ondansetron etc. There is no laboratory test to confirm the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome.The treatment for serotonin syndrome consists of discontinuing medications contributing to the condition. For serious cases, other treatments for managing associated symptoms may be used. For serious cases with a threat to life gastrointestinal decontamination using activated charcoal is performed. Sedatives such as benzodiazepines are used for agitated patients. High fever is a common symptom of serotonin syndrome which reaches extremely high temperatures greater than forty centigrade. To control hyperthermia cooling measures may be needed. Serotonin antagonist such as cyproheptadine may be needed.The market restraints are the low number of cases and equally low number of fatalities associated with the syndrome with less than 1% cases consuming serotonin syndrome causing drugs developing the diseases. Mild symptoms occur in about 15% of SSRI overdoses.Segments:The Global Serotonin Syndrome Market is segmented on the basis of drug treatment, and end users. Based on drug treatment, the market has been segmented as serotonin antagonists, supportive care (Muscle relaxants, the control of autonomic instability, anti-hyperthermics, antihypertensive and others. Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as hospitals, point of care and others.Key players of Global Serotonin syndrome market:AstraZeneca Plc., Eli Lilly and Company, Forest Laboratories Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc. and Sanofi S.A., Ciron Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. and others.Get Sample Copy atGlobal Serotonin Syndrome Market Regional analysisUS accounts for the maximum market share due to greater use of medications and greater expenditure on healthcare. The faster market uptake of new technology and devices in the US is also an important driver of the market for global serotonin syndrome diagnosis and treatment. Europe is the second largest market due to large disposable income and rising awareness. Asia Pacific region is expected to have the most future potential and it is estimated to be led by China and India. The Middle East & Africa market is led by the gulf nations particularly Saudi Arabia and UAE. The regions of Africa are expected to witness a moderate growth due to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare penetration.Major Table of Content for Serotonin Syndrome Market1 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 Serotonin Syndrome Market, By Drug Treatment5.1 Serotonin Antagonists5.2 Supportive Care5.2.1 Muscle Relaxants5.2.2 Sedatives5.2.3 Anti-Hyperthermics5.2.4 Antihypertensive5.2.5 Others5.3 Gastrointestinal Decontamination5.4 OthersContinuedLooking for Discount atAbout 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 Plastic Processing Machinery Market is driven by Rising Demand from Emerging Nations, Globally https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/plastic-processing-machinery-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=37598 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Plastic Processing Machinery Market: OverviewPlastics are a crucial material in everyday life, which are used in a plethora of applications. As the demand for plastics is ever increasing, there is a high requirement for machines that can process the raw materials as per need. Such a demand is one of the key factors behind the growth of the plastic processing machinery market, which are utilized in different industries. The report recently added by Transparency Market Research to their collection describes the plastic processing market in a highly detailed manner. Several factors such as top market drivers, trends, regional spread of the market, competitive landscape, and many more are also covered in the report.View Report Preview:As per the compilation, the plastic processing market could be divided into various segments based on three criteria: product type, applications, and regional spread. From the perspective of product types, the polyethylene terephthalate segment has dominated the market, and is likely to continue holding its leading position in future. All the other segments along with their respective sub-divisions have been described in detail in the report.Global Plastic Processing Machinery Market: Prominent Drivers and TrendsA major part of the global plastic processing market is being boosted by the rising demand for better packaged products as well as increased use of electronic components in different work domains. Another factor that is deemed to be beneficial to the markets growth is the rise in demand of packaged foods and beverages, wherein processed plastic parts are extensively used. Until recent times, the market has been showing a good growth curve, which is further expected to continue in the future. Many plastic component manufacturers are investing a lot of money into this market. This is providing a significant boost to the development and innovation of technologies used for manufacturing processes, which further contributes towards a positive market growth. As a progressive shift towards mechanized packaging is occurring, the plastic processing machinery market is prophesized to experience tremendous growth in the near future.Global Plastic Processing Machinery Market: Regional OutlookThe global plastic processing machinery market is mainly spread across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Of all these regions, Asia Pacific has managed to dominate the global plastic processing market mainly due to a substantial rise in plastic items amongst the masses. Countries such as China and India are one of the most prominent contributors to the market from this region, wherein China holds the spot for being the top importer as well as exporter of plastic products. Another reason for rise in the market is the expansion of packaging industry which requires several plastic components as prime parts of the associated packaging mechanisms. Such positive growth regarding the global plastic processing market is expected to continue in the near future.Global Plastic Processing Machinery Market: Competitive LandscapeThe competition in the global plastic processing market is significantly based on the amount of capital put in by every player. Both small-scale as well as large and well-established companies operate in this market, making the competitive landscape quite diverse. Overall, the contention amongst major market players is expected to remain tough and healthy at least until the next few years.Request to view Sample Report:The rising requirements for packaging and electronics sectors is highly contributing towards a positive evolution of market competitiveness. Key players in the plastic processing market from a global perspective are: Arburg Gmbh & Company, Hindustan Plastic and Machine Corporation, Kgarburg Gmbh & Company, Cannon Spa, Cosmos Machinery Enterprises Limited, Margo Industries, and several others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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: Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) Film Market trends estimates high demand by 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal-film-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=37625 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film contains micrometer-sized droplets of liquid crystal dispersed in a polymeric matrix, and are potentially useful for electro-optic and solar applications, as they can be switched electrically from light-scattering state to a transparent state. PDLC films are also known as smart materials and are widely employed in portable computers, ultra-fast phase modulators, calculators, switchable glass, digital clocks, cell phones, gas pumps, large area shutters for architectural windows, watches, etc. PDLC films possess excellent electro-optical properties and are capable of scattering high and different amounts of an impinging light beam intensity on the event of application of external electric field.View Report Preview:The polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film market can be segregated based on processing technique, product, and technology type. Based on processing technique, the market can be further split into encapsulation and phase separation. Encapsulation is the conventional technique for processing PDLC films, and it is manufactured by mixing and heating liquid crystal and polymer with water. This processing technique produces droplets of various sizes. Phase separation, in recent years, has expanded its market share in the polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) market, as more homogeneous and desired configuration of the film can be obtained through this technique. The phase separation segment can be further sub-segmented into polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS), thermally-induced phase separation (TIPS), and solvent-induced phase separation (SIPS). Based on product, the market can be segmented into laminated PDLC and self-adhesive PDLC film. Laminated PDLC film is manufactured by encapsulation process and is widely utilized for new construction as well as renovation projects. Laminated PDLC film possess interlayer adhesive and contains coatings of indium tin oxide, while the self-adhesive film is employed for retrofit applications and can be easily applied to the respective surface. Demand for self-adhesive films is expected to rise significantly during the forecast period, as they are capable of changing their transparency in response to an electrical impulse. Self-adhesive films are commercially available in the form of a roll and can be applied to existing windows as per desired size. In terms of technology type, the market can be classified into scattering PDLCs, nano-PDLCs, and polymer network liquid crystals. Scattering PDLC is the most common type of PDLC technology where concentration of polymer within the liquid crystal is roughly within 30% to 50%, while in nano-PDLC, the concentration is approximately to 60% to 80%, and in polymer network liquid crystals the concentration is 1% to 10%.Rising demand for smart materials, typically in the building & construction industry, is driving the PDLC market. Additionally, key features of these films such as low absorption, high speed binary operations, high extinction ratio, and high thermal performance are also propelling the demand for PDLC films. These films keep the insides of the house cool in summer, and according to the US Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), PDLC film application in building smart glass is likely to save up to 8% of a buildings total energy consumption. PDLC films are expensive as compared to their counterparts, and they are likely to start degrading after five to six years of deployment and hence, also require heavy maintenance. This is anticipated to restrain the PDLC film market. However, continuous research activities to increase the durability of the film are expected to provide lucrative opportunities to manufacturers during the forecast period.Geographically the market is segmented into five regions such as North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of consumption, Asia Pacific is the leading region due to significant expansion of the automotive industry and robust foreign direct investment in various sectors such as consumer electronics and the building &construction industry of the region. North America follows Asia Pacific, in terms of consumption of PDLC films, due to their increasing applications in marine, power generation, and aviation industries. The PDLC film market in Europe is also expanding at a moderate pace due to the rising prominence of green energy initiatives, such as eco-friendly & green buildings in the region. Middle East & Africa and Latin America are witnessing growth at a sluggish pace, as compared to mature regions, due to low product awareness.Key players operating in the PDLC film market include Qingdao QY Liquid Crystal Co., Ltd., Polytronix, Inc., DMDisplay CO. LTD, and IRISFILM Corp.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: Reclaimed Sand Market: In-Depth Qualitative Insights, Historical Data and Verifiable Projections about Market Size https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/reclaimed-sand-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=37088 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Reclaimed sand is the process of reusing and reconditioning of the used sand in foundry without eliminating its original properties. Sand gets chemically reacted on each sand particle, it acts as an inert element after it is used once. Grain modification is an important aspect of reclaimed sand. During reclamation, friction takes place between sand particles and also against the surfaces of the equipment in which sand grains are added. In order to reduce the wastage of lost sand grains in foundries, sand reclamation needs to be done through various processes in order to meet the requirements and to save money.View Report Preview:Efficiency of the sand reclamation process depends on various factors such as sand to metal ratio in the mixer, equipment quality, and controlled dosage of resins and catalysts in the sand mixer during the reclamation process. Major advantages of sand reclamation include low requirement of new sand in foundry operations, conservation of natural resources, better surface texture and shape of the sand grains, reduction in binder and catalyst requirements, and less disposal of waste sand. The reclaimed sand market can be segmented based on reclamation solutions, equipment type, applications, and region. Sand reclamation solutions can be classified into mechanical reclamation, dynamic reclamation, and thermal reclamation. Mechanical reclamation process is the commonly used solution to reclaim sand efficiently. It includes the rubbing of sand grains against each other through fluidization or vibration. The whole process requires a mechanical reclamation tower.Thermal reclamation solution is a combination of mechanical reclamation with application of heat in a gas fired fluidized bed to get reclaimed sand. The process includes heating of the reclaimed sand from mechanical attrition to 800 degrees Celsius with a cooling unit to get highly purified sand particles. Thermal reclamation system consists of several units such as pneumatic transporter, lump reducer, combustion chamber with sand preheater, air preheater, screw feeder, dust extraction system, and fluidized bed cooler. The reclaimed sand obtained through mechanical, dynamic, or thermal reclamation processes is extensively used in a variety of foundry applications, in the chemical industry, and in the commercial and residential sectors.Purity of thermally reclaimed sand is higher than that of mechanically reclaimed sand. Thermally reclaimed sand is nowadays widely used in several industrial and chemical applications owing to its lower thermal expansion, causing better mold stability as compared to the mechanically reclaimed sand. Restraints of the reclaimed sand market include the high cost of thermal reclamation method and the high risk of accidents associated with the process. Key drivers of the reclaimed sand market are the rising demand for purified sand from foundry applications, shortage of industrial grade sand globally, and conservation of the environment.In terms of geography, demand for reclaimed sand is high in the countries of Asia Pacific such as China, India, and Japan due to the developing chemical, foundry, and metal industries. High rate of urbanization in Asia Pacific is also responsible for the growth of the reclaimed sand market in the region. The recovering economy of North America and Europe with emphasis on industrial and infrastructure development is estimated to drive the reclaimed sand market in these regions. Growth of the reclaimed sand market in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is projected to be moderate owing to the decelerating economy and low industrial development in the regions.Key players operating in the reclaimed sand market include Sibelco Group, Lafarge-Holcim, Tochu Corp., Parthenon Resources, and Iluka Resources.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: Lithium Hydroxide Market- Industry Insights, Trends, and Forecast https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/344 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/344 Rapid economic development in countries such as China and India is expected to drive demand for multi-purpose grease, which in turn, is expected to fuel revenue growth in the global lithium hydroxide market. Also, growing industrialization across the world is expected to evoke demand for power tools, which requires NCA cathode, made from lithium hydroxide. Besides, rising global demand for electric vehicles is anticipated to boost consumption of lithium hydroxide over the forecast period (2016-2024). Furthermore, rising solar PV installations across the world coupled with an increasing demand for high storage capacity batteries is driving the lithium hydroxide market, and simultaneously driving revenues for existing stakeholders. The market is governed by various regulatory bodies such as International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Technical Instructions and corresponding International Air Transportation Association (IATA), Dangerous Goods Regulations and International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, with regulations mainly pertaining to transportation of primary lithium.Request Sample copy of this Report:Some of the companies operating in the global lithium hydroxide market are FMC Corporation, Sociedad Quimica Minera (SQM), Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium, Albemarle Lithium, Shandong Ruifu Lithium, Jiangxi Dongpeng New Materials Co. ltd., Sichuan Brivo lithium Materials Co. ltd., Leverton Lithium, Rockwood, Tianqi Lithium, etc. These players are currently focused on increasing their production capacity to meet the growing demand for lithium hydroxide. As an instance, in May 2016, FMC Corporation announced plans of tripling its existing lithium hydroxide production capacity. Furthermore, players are focused on research and development activities to gain a competitive advantage, for example, in July 2016, Neometals Ltd. progressed the commercialization of ELi Process that converts spodumene concentrate into high value battery grade lithium hydroxide.The compound is also majorly used in production of industrial greases such as lithium stearate, a popular lubricating grease that offers excellent thermal resistance. However, owing to its indispensable use in these industries along with difficulties in sourcing and manufacturing, the compound is available at significantly high prices. Furthermore, the supply-demand gap prevalent in the industry due to lack of supply and growing demand is expected to further push prices upwards. Lithium hydroxide on being heated produces toxic fumes which act as potential restraint for the market growth. According to CMI analysis, the worldwide demand for lithium hydroxide is forecast to expand at a healthy rate in the foreseeable future.Lithium Hydroxide Market TaxonomyBy End-user IndustryOn the basis of end-user industry the global market is classified into:Consumer ElectronicsEnergy StorageTransportationOthers (Dyestuffs and Adhesives, etc.)By ApplicationOn the basis of application the global market is classified into:Lubricant GreaseBatteriesChemical SynthesisGlass & CeramicsCarbon dioxide ScrubbingOthers (Portland Cement, etc.)To get detailed table of content (ToC) @In recent years, demand for lithium hydroxide has been dominated by its use in lubricant grease application and the trend is expected to continue over the next few years. However, the emergence of nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) cathode use for power tool batteries and later transportation is expected to surpass the growth of lubricant grease application segment in the latter half of the forecast period. Rapidly growing power generation industry in Asia Pacific region, together with increasing establishment of manufacturing facilities are expected to drive demand for lithium hydroxide in the region. Furthermore, setting up of Tesla Gigafactory in the U.S. is another major factor that is expected to drive demand in the North American 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 UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Don Blankenship at a town-hall meeting in Bluefield, West Virginia, on May 3, 2018. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc. The ad that tells you all you need to know about Don Blankenships renegade U.S. Senate campaign has the distinct amateur look and sound of the kind of furniture-outlet promotion youll invariably stumble across if you watch enough local news. But it gets a job done: Over the course of one clumsy minute, the spot neatly traces Blankenships path from infamous villain clawing to reclaim scraps of his reputation to semi-viable GOP candidate. First, the clip, which is set entirely within a kitchen: Did you know Don Blankenships trial was not about the mine explosion? a woman asks a man, apparently feeling no need to provide any context. Everyone in West Virginia knows the story of 2010s Upper Big Branch Mine disaster that killed 29 miners, setting off a saga that landed Blankenship the mining companys CEO, and perhaps the states most-hated man at the time in jail for a year. Six seconds into the video, its already clear to viewers that theyll be treated to part of Blankenships preferred, and rarely supported, version of the story in which hes a victim of Democratic overreach, despite having eventually been found guilty of a misdemeanor conspiracy to willfully violate mine-safety standards. Really? You sure? the man responds, perplexed. Oh, yeah, the Obama judge wouldnt even let Don mention the explosion, and the Obama prosecutors knew Don had nothing to do with the explosion, the woman insists, prompting her interlocutor to ask the obvious question: Then what was the trial about? Looking disappointed, she explains, Mostly about a letter Don didnt even write. That information is just too much for the man to take. He explodes with an incredulous, Obama prosecutors tried to put Blankenship in prison for life for a letter he didnt even write?! The video continues in this vein complete with a flashing line of text reading Blankenship Innocent at one point before tying a bow on itself. West Virginians knew that Obama was against them and coal. Now they understand what happened when Don fought back, intones the man, newly earnest and now thoroughly convinced. Im voting for Don, the woman offers. Now that I know the whole truth, he replies, raising his mug and smiling before sipping, Me too. The ad organically captures how Blankenships longtime personal-reputation rehab project has morphed into a full-fledged political campaign. Not quite explicit in the ad, but known to many West Virginians, is that Blankenship blames Democratic senator Joe Manchin, the governor at the time of the explosion, as much as he blames Obama for the conspiracy against him and thats exactly whose U.S. Senate seat he wants in November. But even more than other recent Trumpist candidates with a disregard for political convention and the basic rules of factual representation (see Alabamas Roy Moore), Blankenship is now testing the outer edges of Republican voters openness to a right-wing, bombastic populist whose past would be disqualifying under the old rules. Blankenships rise to electoral threat status has been packed with lessons about just what kind of figure can attract a following in todays Republican Party, and what the party Establishment can do to effectively set the limits of personal celebrity, conspiracy theorizing, and antistatus quo rage even in the heart of Trump country. Democrats and Establishment Republicans in Washington alike regard the self-funding coal executive as an unhinged figure whose thirst for revenge against Manchin could, if he prevails in the GOP primary, almost certainly hand the most conservative Democrat in D.C. another term in the Senate. Blankenships two primary competitors, Representative Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, have more or less ignored him in the past few weeks. Recent polling shows them slightly ahead: a late April Fox News survey has Blankenship at 16 percent of the GOP primary electorate, compared to Jenkinss 25 percent and Morriseys 21 percent. Blankenship whose time in prison was punishment for the latest in a long line of violations, including accusations of poisoning drinking water and forcing employees to underreport their injuries had been trying to salvage his brand for years. In 2014, he posted a 51-minute video to YouTube offering his own explanation for the explosion (which clashes with official reports). In October of 2016, while incarcerated, he had 250,000 copies of a 67-page pamphlet called An American Political Prisoner printed and distributed, laying further groundwork for his contention that hes a victim of Obama administration judicial warfare. As the midterms approached, Blankenships opportunity to intensify his budding SEO-whitewash strategy became obvious: by running for office in this hypercharged political moment, he would clearly get more national attention giving him a huge platform for disseminating his counter-narrative and burying all the old news stories about his conviction on Google. It couldnt hurt that ad rates are cheaper for federal candidates, allowing him an even bigger bang for his considerable buck. So he formally became a candidate, and the effort ratcheted up further: at events, he took to rolling out character witnesses and describing the charitable work that Massey, his company, used to do. Hes run ads claiming, against the available evidence, that the explosion was Obama administration regulators fault. And even the bio section of his campaign website begins: Over the past 30 years, I have been threatened with death several times: had urine thrown on me: had eleven bullet holes shot into my office: had two cars smashed with ball bats and clubs while I was in them: been continually lied about: been the subject of several false books: been branded with multiple derogatory names: been sued numerous times: been slandered on national television many times: been subjected to continued ridicule by newspapers: been falsely accused of causing the Upper Big Branch (UBB) tragedy: been falsely arrested: endured a trial where I faced 30 years in prison for made up charges, and been put in federal prison for a misdemeanor. The push worked. Whereas a 2016 survey of the state pegged his favorability rating at just 10 percent and found that six in ten West Virginians thought he should have been jailed for longer polls eventually started to show Blankenship neck and neck with Jenkins and Morrisey. As he gained traction with the public, he broadened his ambitions beyond cleanup duty. Blankenship started out several months ago by relitigating the cause of [the mine disaster] and his legal battles, but we have not heard as much about that in recent weeks, explained Hoppy Kercheval, West Virginias most influential radio host. Recently, Blankenship started to turn his sights more directly to the man he believes holds nearly as much responsibility as Obama. While Manchin has almost entirely ignored his candidacy in public, Blankenship has paid for ads comparing the disaster to Benghazi and calling it Obamas deadliest cover-up. The campaign is titled, Does Senator Joe Manchin Have Blood on His Hands? His focus on Manchin is second only to his fixation on the Republican leadership, a hypercharged version of the line pushed by GOP agitators in primaries all over the country. Blankenship was a drain the swamp guy before Trump, frankly. He might be the most anti-Establishment candidate in any race anywhere, said Kercheval. Asked during a candidate debate on Tuesday night if they would support Mitch McConnell as Republicans Senate leader, both Jenkins and Morrisey declined. Blankenship, typically, went further, theatrically ducking behind his lectern. (Hed tried wearing a bright-red hat inscribed with DITCH MITCH to the debate, before the forums organizers, Fox News, nixed the stunt.) That was mild compared to his other recent McConnell agitations: Hes compared the leader to Russians because of his involvement in a race outside of his jurisdiction, and in a recent ad Blankenship refers to him as Cocaine Mitch, an apparent reference to drugs found on a ship tied to McConnells wifes family company. But when Blankenship started turning his fire on McConnell, the Establishment struck back. Operatives reportedly tied to GOP leaders began running ads under the cloak of the newly created Mountain Families PAC which doesnt have to disclose its donors accusing him of contaminating West Virginians drinking water. The push to sideline Blankenship even reached the White House, which Republicans acknowledge has now begun working more closely with Senate leadership ahead of the midterms: At an official White House event in West Virginia last month, Trump sat between Jenkins and Morrisey, but Blankenship was nowhere to be seen. On Thursday, Donald Trump Jr. chimed in on Twitter: I hate to lose. So Im 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. We need to win in November. The message was sent: Blankenship had taken his version of Trumpism too far, and his standing slipped. That, in turn, has led to even louder and wilder noises from the mustachioed Blankenship, his apparent bet that fire and fury may be enough. After the New York Times reported that Blankenships primary residence is outside of Las Vegas, noted his onetime interest in Chinese citizenship, and pointed out that he has yet to file a required financial disclosure, his response stuck to the tried-and-true line of Trump-style media-bashing: The reporter is clearly a communist propagandist with no American values, whatsoever. Much of what he says is filled with outright lies and nearly all of the rest is simply misrepresentation, Blankenship said in a statement. It would be too kind to call his article fake news. It is communist propaganda. And after he was asked on the debate stage whether his characterization of the father of McConnells wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, as a Chinaperson was offensive, he framed his response as a Make America Great Again campaign-style riff on political correctness. I mean, Im an Americanperson. I dont see this insinuation by the press that theres something racist about saying Chinaperson, he said. Some people are Koreapersons. Some of them are Africanpersons. Its not any slander here. (Asked about Blankenships strategy before the debate, Scott Jennings a Republican operative close to McConnell responded, All anybodys talking about here is what he said about Elaine Chao, pointing out the political folly of attacking a Trump Cabinet member in a state the president won by 42 points in 2016.) Perhaps it was inevitable, then, that Blankenship would aim to turn the conversation back to his own plight, returning to the original fuel for his rise. Asked if Trump should be able to fire Robert Mueller, the coal baron answered third on the debate stage. After sitting through Morriseys, and then Jenkinss, answers, he responded: Well, you know, Ive had a little personal experience with the Department of Justice. The audience laughed. Global Fibrosarcoma Market Research Reveals Challenges, Top Trends, Opportunities and Growth Forecast till 2026 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=353 https://www.factmr.com/report/353/fibrosarcoma-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=353 https://www.factmr.com/ A freshly compiled business intelligent report, titled Fibrosarcoma Market Research Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking: Global Review 2017 to 2026 has been publicized to the vast archive of Fact.MR online repository. This 170-page study delivers all the vital details and information required to know about fibrosarcoma market current as well as future prospects. The analysts of the study have gone through extensive research methodologies in order to generate data and information that reflects the latest market undercurrents and industry trends. For a deeper understanding of the market, a sub-category level analysis has been elaborated, by which readers and investors of the report will able to know that where the market stands to gain.Get A Free Sample Copy of Report@Fibrosarcoma is cancer, which is a part of larger collection of cancers known as sarcomas. Fibrosarcoma is generally treated with the help of chemotherapy. Meanwhile, some fibrosarcoma is not treatable with chemotherapy, especially in the case where cancer has spread to the parts like liver. In order to treat such type of cancers, researchers are focusing on developing targeted therapies. These targeted therapies attempt to capitalize on the biological characteristic of a cancer cell to eradicate the tumor. This is the factor that will make targeted therapy more effective than the traditional treatments. There are two important reasons for the development of targeted therapy. One is that it targets only cancer cells and kills it, while normal cells can spread. Second is that it provides effective treatment with minimum side-effects. Pharmaceutical companies are also focusing on research and development of drugs that can be effective in the treatment of fibrosarcoma and other types of sarcomas.Chemotherapy to Emerge as the Highly Preferred Treatment TypeAmong various treatment types such as radiation therapy, surgery, and others, chemotherapy is likely to emerge as the highly preferred treatment for fibrosarcoma. Chemotherapy is estimated to surpass US$ 100 million by 2026 end. A chemotherapy is done before surgery in case if the cancer is large but has not spread. This helps in reducing fibrosarcoma and also helps in avoiding much surgery.Hospitals to Gain Maximum Revenue ShareHospitals are likely to witness the highest growth between 2017 and 2026. Hospitals are estimated to gain nearly two-fifth of the revenue share by 2017 end. Hospitals are also estimated to create an incremental opportunity of nearly US$ 100 million between 2017 and 2026. Increasing investment by governments in various countries towards the development of healthcare infrastructure is contributing towards the significant growth of the hospitals with technically advanced treatments.Hospital Pharmacy to Emerge as One of the Largest DistributorsHospital pharmacy is likely to be one of the largest distribution channels in the global fibrosarcoma market during 2017-2026. Hospital pharmacy is projected to bring in nearly US$ 200 million revenue towards 2026 end. Hospital pharmacy in many countries is emerging as the biggest distributors of the drugs used in treating cancer. Moreover, availability of various drugs and government support are also resulting in the growth of the hospital pharmacy as a distribution channel.Browse Full Report with TOC@Table of Contents:Global Economic OutlookGlobal Fibrosarcoma Market Executive SummaryGlobal Fibrosarcoma Market Overview3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Global Fibrosarcoma Market Taxonomy3.1.2. Global Fibrosarcoma Market Definition3.2. Global Fibrosarcoma Market Size (US$ Mn) and Forecast, 2012-20263.2.1. Global Fibrosarcoma Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3. Global Fibrosarcoma Market Dynamics3.4. Supply Chain3.5. Cost Structure3.6. Pricing Analysis3.7. Drug Pipeline Assessment3.8. PESTL Analysis3.9. Product Life CycleGlobal Fibrosarcoma Market Analysis and Forecast 2012-20264.1. Global Fibrosarcoma Market Size and Forecast By Treatment Type, 2012-20264.1.1. Chemotherapy Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.2. Radiation Therapy Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.3. Surgery Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.3.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.3.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.3.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By RegionContinued..Check Discount on this Report@About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized healthcare 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.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb: Analysis of Orthopedic Power Tools Market with Trends, Top Players, Revenue, Size, Share and Forecast till 2026 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=334 https://www.factmr.com/report/334/orthopedic-power-tools-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=334 https://www.factmr.com/ A freshly compiled business intelligent report, titled Orthopedic Power Tools Market Research Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking: Global Review 2017 to 2026 has been publicized to the vast archive of Fact.MR online repository. This 170-page study delivers all the vital details and information required to know about orthopedic power tools market current as well as future prospects. The analysts of the study have gone through extensive research methodologies in order to generate data and information that reflects the latest market undercurrents and industry trends. For a deeper understanding of the market, a sub-category level analysis has been elaborated, by which readers and investors of the report will able to know that where the market stands to gain.Get A Free Sample Copy of Report@Increased Adoption of Robotic Surgery to Propel Demand for Orthopedic Power ToolsPrevalence of minimally invasive surgeries has increased over the years, witnessing demand in treating various disorders such as neurosurgical, spinal and orthopedic diseases. Minimally invasive surgeries require orthopedic power tools, which carry out surgeries with a miniscule incision, lower the risk of bleeding, have shorter hospital stay post-surgery, and offer faster recovery. Demand for orthopedic power tools is also being driven by increased adoption of robotic surgery, owing to limited availability of skilled surgeons worldwide. Surgical robots with multiple arms are foraying into healthcare sector with their high surgical efficiency, with the capability of handling various orthopedic tools at the same time, thereby increasing their demand. However, hospital consolidation, cost-containment pressures, medical device excise taxes, and unfavorable reimbursement policies are some factors which are likely to restrain expansion of the global orthopedic tools market.Large Bone Power Tools Most Lucrative among Products in the MarketLarge bone power tools will continue to be the most lucrative product in the global orthopedic power tools market, followed by high-speed power tools. These power tools find huge application in trauma-related surgeries, and knee & hip reconstruction surgeries. Compared to large bone and high-speed power tools, small bone power tools will account for a significantly lower revenue share of the market throughout the forecast period.Orthopedic clinics and ambulatory surgical centers are projected to be the fastest expanding end-users of orthopedic power tools by 2026-end. On the other hand, sales of orthopedic power tools in hospitals will register a relatively lower CAGR than that in orthopedic clinics and ambulatory surgical centers through 2026.Competition TrackingFact.MRs report provides a competitive landscape of the global orthopedic power tools market, identifying key players in the market that include Misonix, CONMED Corporation, B Braun, Zimmer Biomet, Johnson & Johnson, and Stryker Corporation.Browse Full Report with TOC@Table of Contents:Chapter 1 Global OutlookChapter 2 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Executive SummaryChapter 3 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Overview3.1 Introduction3.1.1 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Taxonomy3.1.2 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Definition3.2 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Size (US$ Mn) and Forecast, 2012-20263.2.1 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Dynamics3.4 Supply Chain3.5 Cost Structure3.6 Pricing Analysis3.7 Procedure Numbers by Region3.8 Key Regulations3.9 PESTL Analysis3.10 Product Lifecycle3.11 Service Provider List3.12 Key Participants Market Presence (Intensity Map) By RegionChapter 4 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Analysis and Forecast 2012-20264.1 Global Orthopedic Power Tools Market Size and Forecast by Product Type, 2012-20264.1.1 Large Bone Power Tools Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.1.1 Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2 Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3 Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.2 Small Bone Power Tools Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.2.1 Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.2.2 Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.2.3 Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By RegionContinued..Check Discount on this Report@About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized healthcare 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.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb: Bone Densitometer Market 2018 Expected to Reach Significant Revenue with GE Healthcare, Beammed Ltd., Swissray International Inc., Hologic Inc., Osteometer Meditech https://www.xpodenceresearch.com/Request-Sample/105823 https://www.xpodenceresearch.com/Reports/Bone-Densitometer-Market Market OverviewA bone densitometer (BDM) is a device used to measure the amount of bone density or mass of mineral per unit volume. There has been a substantial rise in number of patients suffering from Paget's disease, and ontogenesis arthritis, osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and vitamin D deficiency. This unprecedented rise has led to increasing demand for BDM, thereby expanding the potential market over the forecast period.BDM uses a invisible, thin, low-dose X-ray beam. In the scanning processes, the two beams penetrate the bone, one is for the bone, and other is for the soft tissue absorption. The quantity for the soft tissue absorption is subtracted from the bone absorption quantity and remaining left quantity is the bone density of patient. The meter utilizes the special software which analyses the bone density automatically and displays the result on the monitor.The equipment includes a central device and a peripheral device (pDXA) occasionally. Both the equipment is referred as DEXA or DXA equipment. The central device is utilized to measure the bone density in the spine and hip and is majorly employed in the hospital or medical practice setting. For smaller bones such as heel, wrist, or finger, peripheral device can be used for scanning.Request Sample Report @Market Major PlayersGE Healthcare, Beammed Ltd., Swissray International Inc., Hologic Inc., Osteometer Meditech, Osteosys Co. Ltd., Medonica Co. Ltd., Diagnostic Medical System SA, and Lone Oak Medical Technologies LLC are some of the prominent players of global bone densitometers market. The other strategies amalgamated in these players are new product development, high R&D investment, agreements and mergers & acquisitions.BDM is achieving prominence globally, particularly in countries witnessing frequent screenings owing to a rise in aging population affected by bone-related & chronic diseases and availability of improved treatments. The meter ensures improved turnaround time, cost benefit, and increased patient satisfaction. According to the Osteoporosis Canadian, one in three women and one in five men are likely to suffer from osteoporotic fracture in their life.The technological advancements of BDMs with ease of availability, various medical tourism initiatives and acknowledgment of the devices in emerging economies, such as Brazil, Japan, China, and India, are expected to enhance the growth opportunities for the industry player over the forecast period. Advancement of portable devices, cost containment measures, and increased awareness for early diagnosis are anticipated to play vital role in growth of the industry.The results are needed to calculate with care which can deduce false results owing to artifacts, location, anatomy, and varying technician as well as machinery results to restrain the market growth. However, specialty clinics, diagnostic centers, and hospitals are the leading end users creating strong opportunities for the market over the forecast period.Market SegmentsThe market is broadly segmented by technology, services and application. Based on technology, the segment is bifurcated into Axial Bone Densitometry, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), Peripheral Bone Densitometry, and others. Others technology includes SEXA, Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT), peripheral Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (pDEXA), Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS), RA, and peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT). On the basis of services offered, the market is segmented as Tele-Consultation, Tele-Training Tele-Education, Tele-Surgery, and Tele-Monitoring.Based on their application, the market is segmented as Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, and Specialty Clinics. Hospitals have emerged as the key applicant for bone densitometers followed by diagnostic centers owing to rising preference of patients for medical facilities and well-equipped infrastructure. The inclination of government healthcare organizations to provide fully automated systems and advanced diagnostic instruments producing rapid results is also one of the prime factors accountable for the considerable share of the segment.For More Information @About UsXpodence Research has the most extensive collection of market research reports of many categories. Xpodence Research provides the best market research solution for every industry by publishing the best possible results of great market research firms worldwide. For every particular problem, theres a particular solution, so according to the customer needs, we provide the best possible results to them from different market research organization, whether its a Custom Research or Syndicated Research reports because the product that wins is the one that bridges customers to the future, not the one that requires a giant leap.Every organization, whether it is related to Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Eatables, Consumable Goods and many more demands a market research results so that they can take important decisions for more productivity and better output in this swift world. Xpodence Research gives the best possible outcome, perfect forecast, analysis and insights of market research in the form of report which is beneficial for various organizations and also to the manufacturing companies in taking the best decisions for quality production.Contact UsXpodence ResearchUSA Office244, Madison AvenueNew York City, NY - 10016United StatesToll Free +1- 844-445-2861Email: sales@xpodenceresearch.com Global Orthopedic Braces and Support System Market: Size, Share, Outlook and Forecast Report 2017-26 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=327 https://www.factmr.com/report/327/orthopedic-braces-support-system-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=327 https://www.factmr.com/ A freshly compiled business intelligent report, titled Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Research Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking: Global Review 2017 to 2026 has been publicized to the vast archive of Fact.MR online repository. This 170-page study delivers all the vital details and information required to know about orthopedic braces & support product market current as well as future prospects. The analysts of the study have gone through extensive research methodologies in order to generate data and information that reflects the latest market undercurrents and industry trends. For a deeper understanding of the market, a sub-category level analysis has been elaborated, by which readers and investors of the report will able to know that where the market stands to gain.Get A Free Sample Copy of Report@Leg and Knee Injury to Boost AdoptionIn order to offer comfort and convenience, the manufacturers in the orthopedic industry are focusing on exploring leading technology to integrate advanced features in the orthotic shoe devices that enable the end users to keep their foot in the neutral position and offer cushioning to protect the foot from overuse. Increasing incidences of fracture has led to surge in demand for speedy restoration process post removal of the cast. In addition, growing need to support the weak limbs continues to boost sales of the orthopedic braces and supports globally. The orthopedic braces guide or control an injured body segment or joint and immobilizes or limits an extremity during foot injury.Application of the orthopedic braces also witness significant demand for managing weight issues among obese people. Obese patients struggle to walk or move comfortably and conveniently due to unmanageable weight. In order to reduce the weight bearing, the orthopedic braces are increasingly used among the obese people.Technological Advancements to Underscore Lucrative Growth OpportunitiesManufacturers in the orthopedic industry are increasingly focusing on designing the orthopedic braces in line with smart technology. Some of the recently launched orthopedic products equipped with smart technology include step smart braces, smart AFO braces and smart spine braces. Companies operating in this industry are focusing on product innovation and developments in order to gain a competitive edge over the other market players. In order to gain traction in the global market, the companies are designing the smart devices with features that enable the skin to breathe and avoid developing bad smell. Manufacturers are increasingly adopting anatomical modelling software applications and hypoallergenic materials for enhanced accuracy and efficiency in designing the product. As these devices are lightweight and water resistant, demand for the orthopedic devices is likely to increase in the healthcare industry.Hospitals to Represent a Leading SegmentWith the growing prevalence of knee and leg injuries has led to an upsurge in demand for the knee braces & supports. On the basis of product type, the knee braces & supports is expected to generate significant revenues, accounting for a value of over US$ 500 Mn by the end of 2022. The knee braces & support product type segment is expected to register a robust CAGR throughout the forecast period.Based on end users, the hospitals segment is expected to represent the highest revenue growth, recording a value of over US$ 500 Mn by the end of 2017. However, the ASCs end users segment is expected to register the highest CAGR through 2022.Browse Full Report with TOC@Table of Contents:Chapter 1 Global Outlook1.1 Global Healthcare Industry OutlookChapter 2 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Executive SummaryChapter 3 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Overview3.1 Introduction3.1.1 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Taxonomy3.1.2 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Definition3.2 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Size (US$ Mn) and Forecast, 2012-20223.2.1 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Dynamics3.4 Supply Chain3.5 Cost Structure3.6 Pricing Analysis3.7 Raw Material Sourcing Strategy and Analysis3.8 Procedure Numbers, By Region3.9 PEST Analysis3.10 Product Life Cycle Analysis3.11 Key Participants Market Presence (Intensity Map) By RegionChapter 4 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Analysis and Forecast, 2012-20224.1 Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Size and Forecast By Product, 2012-20224.1.1 Knee Braces & Supports Orthopedic Braces & Support Systems Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20224.1.1.1 Revenue (US$ Mn) Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2 Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3 Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By RegionContinued.Check Discount on this Report@About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized healthcare 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.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb: Art and design photography at the Salone del Mobile. The new book by Paolo Grassi art photography, paolo grassi, photography, salone del mobile, mia photo fair, photo https://www.lephotoart.com Art photography in the new volume on the exhibition held at the Salone del Mobile in Milan at the Flexform exhibition space, the leading Italian design brand.Milan, May 4, 2018. The book contains the reproduction of part of the works "Da fuoco e acqua", present in the volumes "Architecture of photography" and "MIA Photo Fair 2018", realized by means of manual printing in resin-pigmentype ( derived from the resinotypy), technique that allows to highlight the essence and the materiality and allows to obtain unique non-reproducible specimens.As stated by Paolo Grassi himself:"The combination design-photography for me was born in a way I would say almost" forced "since I am a training architect. In my works, as in the works of design, the form is born from the synthesis of the real. The framed object, like the one designed by the designer, is brought back to its pure form, to its essential lines through a continuous e-levare. "The art photographs shown in the book are characterized by essential images obtained with a process of removing the superfluous, according to the principle with which Michelangelo performed his works.The photos presented at the exhibition treated subjects of architecture with shots taken in the United States, France and Spain, but in the volume we also find a series of images taken in abandoned spaces of industrial archeology.The works have been recently printed with an eco-friendley process that uses natural materials such as water, watercolor paper, carbon black pigment (produced by burning wood), hence the name given to the project "From fire and water ".The artist has recently exhibited at the MIA Photo Fair, the exhibition dedicated to art photography, where he obtained an excellent response from the public. The numerous visitors particularly appreciated the quality and depth of the images produced by the innovative printing method.Maurizio Paolo Grassi is an Italian photographer and architect, born in Tuscany in 1961.In the '70s began an artistic journey that uses photographic language as a research tool.Volume features::Title: Fotografia darte & Design. Salone del Mobile Milano.Authr: Paolo GrassiISBN 9788828315629Available in the main online bookstores.PRESS INFORMATION:info@lephotoart.comweb:Phone: +39 0585 027081Request the full confidential version ebook PDF with a mail to: info@lephotoart.comLephotoart.com, or Limited Edition Photography Art, aims to enhance and disseminate the works of Paolo Grassi, an artist photographer active since the late 70s of the twentieth century, in galleries and art collectors.LEphotoart.comPaolo GrassiPiazza G. Matteotti 454033 CarraraItaly Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market Insights, Size, Share, Opportunity Analysis, and Industry Forecast till 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/215 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/215 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/remote-patient-monitoring-market-215 The Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market was valued at US$ 754.9 million in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period (20172025), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Technological developments like the innovative portable monitoring device, rising incidences of unhealthy lifestyle related disorders and the enhancing healthcare infrastructure are expected to be major factors driving growth of the global remote patient monitoring devices market over the foreseeable future.Request a sample pdf Copy of report:According to the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine 2017, around 30 million people suffer from sleep deprivation and sleep disorders, also known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can even cause serious health consequences by increasing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart attack if not diagnosed or treated. The collaboration of Telenor Connexion and French eHealth provider, SRETT, in 2014, provides a connected solution for remote monitoring of patients affected by sleep apnea. SRETT has developed a universal solution T4P for all types of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. The T4P is the only solution adapted to fit all CPAP devices on the market. The connected T4P collects and analyzes data from the CPAP remotely and in real-time, thereby reducing travel time and hospital visits. The patient data is uploaded automatically to healthcare professionals facilitating personalized and ongoing monitoring of patients condition.Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition characterized by the hearts failure to beat slower or faster than normal. According to the World Health Organization 2013, 33.5 million people or 0.5% of the global population is estimated to have Atrial fibrillation, a major condition leading to cardiac arrhythmia. The remote patient monitoring devices provide real-time remote continuous cardiac arrhythmias detection and monitoring platform, allowing easy diagnostics facilitating early clinical intervention of cardiac arrhythmia among high-risk patients. The innovative devices allows the patients to lead a normal life while being remotely monitored in real-time by ambulatory ECG sensor. For instance, Nihon Kohden introduced the Bedside Monitor, BSM-3500 in 2016, which is designed to meet the needs of ambulatory surgical centers and specialty centers. The device offers advanced patient care which includes real-time mini trends for early detection of vital sign variability during outpatient procedures and is also designed to integrate with electronic medical records systems.Ask for customization:Key takeaways of the Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market:The global remote patient monitoring devices market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period (20172025) as there exists a huge demanding market especially in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa.The cardiac monitors dominates the market in the product segment, as these portable devices continually monitor electrical activity of the cardiovascular system while performing daily activities.The cardiac arrhythmia dominates the market in the application segment, as the cardiac monitors available for monitoring cardiac arrhythmia are easily usable and largely available in medical healthcare facilities and home care settingsHospitals and home care settings are the major end users of remote patient monitoring devices market, as these devices offer reliability and accuracy with periodic measurements of physiological parameters like heart activity, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse rate and other clinical conditions.Some of the major players involved in global remote patient monitoring devices market are Abbott Laboratories, GE Healthcare, Omron Healthcare, Medtronic, Nihon Kohden, Smiths Medical, Philips Healthcare, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. And Kokinklijke Philips N.V. and St. Jude Medical.Browse Global Strategic Business 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.1001 4th Ave,, #3200, Seattle, WA 98154 Hearing Protection Devices Market, By Product, Protector, End User, and Geography - Insights, Opportunity Analysis, and Industry Forecast till 2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/199 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/199 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/hearing-protection-devices-market-199 Hearing loss is the inability to hear any kind of sounds, whereas deafness is the inability to know and understand speech heard even after the sound is amplified. Intense deafness means an individual cannot hear at all, characterized by the inability to detect or identify sound, even at highest volume. According to Hearing Loss Association of American, in 2013, around 20% of the population of the U.S.approximately 48 million peoplereported some level of hearing loss. At an older age of around 65 years, the proportion of hearing loss is 1:3. Around 60% of individuals who experience hearing loss are either part of the workforce or are in an educational settings. In the U.S., 2-3 in every 1,000 children are born with hearing loss, naturally, by either one or both the ears, and around 15% of teenagers have some level of hearing loss.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:A study conducted by Noise and Health organization in Accura, Ghana, a total of 101 mill workers were examined and found that 23.7% were identified with the hearing loss symptoms. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, there are of approximately 74% of hearing loss cases in the U.S. due to manufacturing. Furthermore, approximately 12 million workers in the country are involved in the manufacturing sector. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) explains that hearing loss is one of the factor of any individual illness among the manufacturing workers. According to Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, in the U.S., in 2012, hearing loss accounted for 12% or 18, 500 cases of all recordable cases.This report segments the global hearing protection devices market on the basis of product type, protector, end user, and geography. On the basis of product type, the market is categorized into ear plugs, earmuffs, uniform attenuation earplugs and hearing bands. On the basis of protector, the market is categorized into enclosure, aural insert, super-aural protectors and circum-aural protector. On the basis of end user, the market is categorized into construction, forestry, military, mining, manufacturing, healthcare and others.Ask for customization:Key features of the study:This report provides in-depth analysis of the hearing protecting devices and provides market size (US$ Million) and Cumulative Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the forecast period: 2016 2024, considering 2015 as the base yearThis study also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approval, regional outlook, and competitive strategy adopted by the leading playersIt profiles leading players in the global hearing protection devices market based on the following parameters company overview, financial performance, product portfolio, geographical presence, distribution strategies, key developments and strategies and future plansThe global hearing protection devices market report caters to various stakeholders in this industry, including investors, device/system manufacturers, distributors and suppliers for hearing protection system, research and consulting firms, new entrants, and financial analystsSome of the major players involved in global hearing protection include 3M, Starkey Laboratories India Pvt. Ltd, Honeywell International Inc, Hellberg Safety Ab, Amplifon., Dynamic Ear Company, Centurion Safety Products Ltd., Sonomax Technologies Inc, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, ADCO Hearing Products Inc, and Elvex Corporation and Moldex-Metric Inc.To know the latest trends and insights prevalent in the hearing protection devices market, click the link below: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.1001 4th Ave,, #3200, Seattle, WA 98154 Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market Report for Period 2018 till 2024 Tianan Biologic Materials Co. Ltd, Metabolix Inc., Corbion NV (PURAC), Natureworks LLC, BioOn SRL. and Others. Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market https://bit.ly/2jsIR2k http://marketreportscompany.com/report.php?report=chemicals-and-materials/global-biodegradable-medical-plastics-market-research-report-20112023/39466 https://bit.ly/2jsIR2k Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics market report emphasizes on detailed analysis of companies and manufacturers like Plantic Technologies Limited, BioOn SRL., Meredian Inc., Tianan Biologic Materials Co. Ltd, Metabolix Inc., BASF SE, Corbion NV (PURAC), Natureworks LLC, Biome Technologies PLC, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. and Others.This market study includes data about global market statistics, market share, company performances, historical analysis 2012 to 2016, market forecast 2017 to 2023 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2017 to 2023, etc. The Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics market report provides detailed segmentation of Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market based on product type, application, end user and regional segmentation. The regional segment is further bifurcated on country level.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market 2017 @Top Manufactures of Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics market:Metabolix Inc.BASF SECorbion NV (PURAC)Natureworks LLCBiome Technologies PLCMitsubishi Chemical Corp.Plantic Technologies LimitedBioOn SRL.Meredian Inc.Tianan Biologic Materials Co. LtdOthers(Note: We can profile additional players without extra charges)Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market: Key Product Type:PLAPHAPBSPCLPVAOthersKey Application Types for Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market:Medical Devices & EquipmentMedical PackagingothersKey Regions for Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)(Note: We can provide specific country or region specific report on request)The Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market. The value chain helps to analyze major upstream in raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. The report also provides Porter analysis, PESTEL analysis and market attractiveness which helps to better understand the market scenario. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities occurred in current and past few years. The Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors. The report also covers import/export data across all major regions covered in this report. Moreover, import/export data across any particular country as per requirement.The report finally provides detailed research report conclusion, which provides summary of entire report and vital suggestions from analysts particular to Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market which will help existing as well as new players who wish to enter this market.Enquire before Buying @ put actual website like for exampleTable of Contents:1 Market Overview1.1 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 PLA1.2.1.2 PHA1.2.1.3 PBS1.2.1.4 PCL1.2.1.5 PVA1.2.1.6 Others........................Continue (Global Biodegradable Medical Plastics Market Research Industry Report is prepared with the help of extensive primary and secondary sources, directories, journals, newsletters and with the help of third-party application like Hoovers, Factiva, Bloomberg, Businessweek, etc.About Market Reports Company:Market Reports Company delivers high quality precise research studies which include data about top manufacturers and market survey of various industries. We also work as a consulting company and publisher of market research reports. We are specialized in providing customized reports according to clients needs and requirements which ultimately help them grow in industry and beat their competition.What We Offer:Customized Reports: We provide customized research reports on your demand.Region Specific Study: We have resources all over the world so, if you are Interested in region specific study please contact us.How we work: Perfect blend of primary and secondary research to provide best result.Expertise: Team of Industry experienced research associates and experts, primary and secondary sources, 24*7 customer care service and post-sale support.Contact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website: marketreportscompany.comEmail: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Personalized Cell Therapy Market Insights, Opportunity Analysis, and Industry Forecast till 2025 - By Applications, Therapeutic Area, and Geography https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/204 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/204 The Global Personalized Cell Therapy Market was valued at US$ 3536.2 million in 2016 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 25.3% during the forecast period (20172024 ), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. The demand for disease specific drugs for treatment of disease that have high prevalence rate, for example autoimmune diseases, diabetes and cancer is expected to support growth of the personalized cell therapy market over the forecast period.The main process that involved the use of personalized medicine is to get the right treatment for a particular patient depending on the patients genomics by the help of molecular biomarker tests and targeted therapies. Autoimmune diseases are the leading cause of death, as they are prevalent in almost every age group, though their incidence rate varies with estimates as more than 80 individual type of autoimmune diseases are present such as type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and many more. For instance, there were around 20 cases of rheumatoid arthritis per 100,000 person in a year. Although, its prevalence rates range from less than 5 per 100 000 to more than 500 per 100 000.Request Sample Copy Of This Report:The genetic and other predictive information allows the physician to prepare the treatment regime for the specific disease as per patient requirement, also it helps to pin point optimal dosing system, preventing adverse events and focus efforts on prevention and earlier interventions.There are various approaches involved in the personalized cell therapy that can be effective in oncology, cardiac and other chronic disorders. The approach is often multi-faceted, as it helps in various components during the treatment such as risk assessment, diagnosis, prevention, detection, management and treatment.Most major players in the personalized cell therapy market are specifically focusing on product development. Thus, the market is currently progressing at a slow pace, though it is expected to gain major traction in the near future, on the backdrop various product being commercialized. As of 2017, there are over 40 cell therapy approved products available in the market. Novartis and Kite Pharma are expected to launch their products in 2017 and commercialize them in the following two to three years. CAR-T cell product launch in 2017 is expected to be catalytic force for overall growth of personalized cell therapy market.Also, there are many drugs in pipeline such as CTL019 (tisagenlecleucel-T), Kte-C19 (axicabtagene ciloleucel) and it is expected that this drugs will drive the global personalized cell therapy market towards positive direction in the near future. Also, according to the University of Nottingham, in 2009, various collaboration between companies took place that were good index of industrial activities and alliances with large companies. There were a total of around 411 cell therapy deals between 1987 and 2008 end. These acquisitions and collaboration throughout the cell therapy sector is expected to support growth of the global personalized cell therapy market, owing to the novel technologies and advancements in the already existing technologiesAsk for customization:Key takeaways of the personalized cell therapy market:The global personalized cell therapy market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 25.3% during the forecast period (20172024). Paradigm shift in treatment technologies towards development of drugs is expected to favor growth of the personalized cell therapy market.The platelet transfusions application segment in the global personalized cell therapy market was estimated to be the largest in 2016 and is expected to retain its dominance in the market throughout the forecast period in terms of valueIn terms of therapeutic area segment, the cancer treatment area is estimated to be the largest segment as in this are the unmet needs are high and continuous drug development are underway in this disease area.The global personalized cell therapy market is characterized by market expansion in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East could generate higher market revenue as this market is expected to lucrative market for industry players, also various studies that are being done in different countries of Latin America such as Brazil and Mexico to develop drugs based on personalized cell therapySome of the major companies in the global personalized cell therapy market are Cytori Therapeutics Inc., Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc., M olMed S.p.A. and Vericel Corporation.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.1001 4th Ave,, #3200, Seattle, WA 98154 Catheters Market will Exhibit a 7.4% CAGR from 2017 to 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=109 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=109 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=109 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The vendor landscape of the global catheters market reflects a largely consolidated nature, wherein large conglomerates hold dominant spots and small- and medium-sized companies are left with less opportunities to explore, observes Transparency Market Research in a recent report. Despite consolidation, the level of competition is high and companies are required to focus on the development of innovative products, collaboration opportunities, and growth prospects across lucrative regional markets through innovative marketing strategies to strengthen their hold on the market.Request for Sample Copy of Report @Some of the leading players in the global catheters market are Abbott Laboratories, Becton, Dickinson and Company, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Medtronic plc., C. R. Bard, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Teleflex Incorporated, and Cook Group IncorporatedTMR analysts suggest that the global catheters market will exhibit a 7.4% CAGR from 2017 to 2025, rising to a valuation of US$55.98 bn in 2025.Developed Markets to Continue to Remain LucrativeIn terms of the variety of catheter used, the segment of cardiovascular catheter is presently the dominant contributor of revenue to the global market. The high prevalence of coronary heart disease, strokes, and other cardiovascular conditions globally will continue to lead to a steady rise in demand for various forms of cardiovascular catheters in the near future, helping the segment retain its top spot.Request Report Brochure @Geographically, the market in North America dominated the global catheters market is terms of revenue contribution in 2016 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period as well. Factors such as the robust healthcare infrastructure, high per-capita expenditure on healthcare, a large pool of patients suffering with a variety of chronic diseases, supportive medical reimbursement policies by government as well as private players, and rising numbers of catheterization procedures will favor the steady expansion of the catheters market in the region in the near future. Owing to similar scenario, the market in Europe will also prove to be highly promising in the near future.Rising Population of Geriatrics to Foster Market GrowthThe scope of usage of catheters has continued to expand at a promising pace in the healthcare sector in the past few years and these devices have become an integral element of treatment and diagnosis of a wide range of disorders. The rising prevalence of a variety of urological, cardiovascular, neurological, and chronic conditions along with the mounting population of geriatrics, a demographic which often suffers from incontinence or disabilities that limit their motor skills, are all contributing to the increased global demand for catheters of varied forms.Vast advancements in the area and the easy availability of advanced, non-invasive varieties of catheters across all corners of the world, and the increased demand for minimally invasive procedures are also proving to be beneficial for the overall development of the global catheters market over the next few years. Factors such as rising disposable incomes, increasingly improving healthcare infrastructure, and increased expenditure on healthcare, especially across developing economies, are also expected to favor the positive expansion of the market in the next few years.Enquiry for discount on this report @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: On second thought, the Reverend Patrick Conroy, SJ, isnt going to resign as House chaplain. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc. House Speaker Paul Ryan attended Catholic schools as a child, so this may not be the first time hes had his knuckles rapped by a representative of his Church. Still, his retreat in the face of an un-resignation by House Chaplain Patrick Conroy, SJ, must have been humiliating to him not as bad as, say, if Ayn Rand had arisen from the dead to call him a collectivist, but close. In case you missed the beginning of the saga, Conroy announced he was stepping down as Chaplain not long ago, and then last week it came out that he had been pushed to resign by Ryan and/or his staff. Some Democrats speculated (an impression Conroy reinforced) that a political prayer that might have been construed as disrespecting that great golden calf of tax cuts had gotten him cashiered. Indeed, this explanation earned Ryan a rare endorsement from New Yorks Jonathan Chait. But there were mixed messages, some of them highly unfortunate, like that of U.S. Representative Mark Walker, a member of the search committee for a new chaplain, who allowed as to how the House needed someone who personally knew what it was like to deal with a complaining wife and a misbehaving kid a job description that would exclude, of course, Catholics and probably women. Apparently realizing that his critics were not exactly standing on high or solid ground, Conroy has now sent a strongly worded letter (on official House stationary) to Ryan rescinding his resignation, confirming that Ryans staff wanted him gone for previously undiscussed shortcomings in his pastoral abilities (similar to those expressed publicly by Walker), and making it clear hed respond to specific constructive advice but nothing else. There was one particularly damaging charge he made: While you never spoke with me in person, nor did you send me any correspondence, on Friday, April 13th, 2018, your Chief of Staff, Jonathan Burks, came to me and informed me that you were asking for my letter of 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 dropped a hint or two about lawyering up, and concluded with the kind of rigorous logic for which Jesuits are known: Had I known of any failure in providing my ministry to the House, I would have attempted to make the appropriate adjustments, but in no case would I have agreed to submit a letter of resignation without being given that opportunity. Therefore, I wish to serve the remainder of my term as House Chaplain, unless terminated for cause. Ryan immediately caved like an acolyte who had been caught breaking into the communion wine supply: I have accepted Father Conroys letter and decided that he will remain in his position as Chaplain of the House. He went on to whine a bit about his impeccable intentions, and said hed sit down with Father Conroy early next week so that we can move forward for the good of the whole House. Youd almost think it was Conroy who would have to make a good confession with a firm purpose of amendment. But its almost certainly Paul Ryan who will be doing penance. All in all, the Speaker may be having second thoughts about his decision to stick around until the end of this Congress. Jojoba Oil Market Size, Regional Outlook, Competitive Analysis & Forecast by 2017 - 2024. https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2529 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/jojoba-oil-market https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2529 https://www.gminsights.com Consumers across the globe prefer jojoba oil over any other due to its unique traits which has led pharmaceutical companies to invest heavily in research and development activities for jojoba oil market.Jojoba Oil Market size is likely to grow at a healthy CAGR over the projected timeframe. Jojoba oil is made from seeds of jojoba. It is predominantly found in hot and arid areas such as Northern Mexico, California and Arizona. Jojoba Oil has free fatty acid and high nutrient properties. The product is significantly used in cosmetic, personal care and pharmaceutical industry.In pharmaceutical industry, jojoba oil is used as antibiotics stabilizer, appetite depressant and carrier for medicine formulae. In cosmetics, Jojoba oil is employed to prevent aging and to provide skin protection. It has resulted in increasing jojoba oil usage in lotions, sunscreens, skin creams, lipsticks, moisturizer and balm. The product is also used as electric insulator, foam control agent, transformer oil, factice, plasticizer and adhesive.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Rise in jojoba oil applications in herbal medicine and huge demand across cosmetics market will drive the Jojoba oil market over the forecast timeframe. High industrial growth rate in emerging economies is likely to support jojoba oil market size growth in the coming years. Additionally, guidelines from regulatory bodies is another factor which has changed consumer preferences and will continue to do so in coming years. Jojoba oil offers long shelf life. It does not oxidize and does not break down under high pressure and temperature. These characteristics make it ideal to use in various industries.However, the lack of commercialization of jojoba oil is likely to restrain the product demand in the coming years. Production yield of Jojoba seeds highly depends upon farming methods, the seeds take five years to become accessible which is major drawback for the jojoba oil industry. Demand and supply gap is the biggest hurdle in the jojoba oil market growth.Browse complete summary of this report @In 2016 North America accounted for the highest market share in global jojoba oil market. High per capita income in North America, along with jojoba production concentrated in this region has attributed to the large market share of North America in jojoba oil market and it shall continue to do so in the forecast period. Asia pacific is likely to witness stupendous growth rate during the forecast period. Increasing consumer preference towards natural products in Asia Pacific is likely to boost the growth of jojoba oil market growth in the next few years. Further, increasing disposable income and rising concerns regarding personal healthcare will surge product demand in coming years in this region. The product is extensively used in Japan.Make an Inquiry before buying @Key market players in jojoba oil market includes Jojoba company, Desert Whale Jojoba Company, Ecooil, Purcel Jojoba International and Inca Oil SA. The market is consolidated owing to limited number of manufacturers. Competition in Europe and North America jojoba oil market is likely to increase as companies are investing huge capital in research & development projects. Several other companies are investing in emerging markets to gain competitive advantage and expand market presence. The cosmetic companies which use jojoba oil in their products includes Kendo Holdings Inc., Eve Taylor London, U.S. International Trading Corporation, KimchiKristy, Creative Nail Design. Inc., Innocosma Organics and Logocos Naturkosmetik AG.About Global Market Insights, Inc.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 UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Connect with us twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Google+ Ammonium Ferric Citrate Market Report, Regional Outlook, Competitive Analysis & Forecast by 2017 - 2024. https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2524 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/ammonium-ferric-citrate-market https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2524 https://www.gminsights.com Primary players operating in ammonium ferric citrate market include Eminenco Pharma, New Alliance Dye Chemicals, West Bengal Chemical Industries, Shreenath Chemicals, Rishi Chemical, Muby Chemicals, Sigma-Aldrich, Devendra Kirti Pharmachem, American Elements, Powder Pack Chem, Nitika Chemicals, Ava Chemicals, Akhil Healthcare, Nikunj Chemicals, Triveni Interchem and Salvi Chemical Industries to name a few.Ammonium Ferric Citrate Market size is likely to see potential gains during the forecast period owing to its immense use in the pharmaceutical and food processing industry. The product is available in a crystalline power form with reddish brown color and completely soluble in water. Reaction of citric acid aqueous solution and ammonia with ferric hydroxide causes ammonium ferric citrate to form.The pharmaceutical industry is foreseeing a possible growth in the coming years due to huge demand in the market. Rising number of new diseases and epidemics due to unhealthy lifestyles and pollution is driving the pharmaceutical market. The total pharmaceutical revenue recorded in the U.S. was close to USD 330 billion in 2016. The food & beverage industry is one of the biggest industries with a global revenue of over 3 trillion. This is due to the rise in population, changing eating habits and adoption of convenience food. These are the major factors driving the ammonium ferric citrate market demand.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Besides pharmaceutical and food & beverage, the multi-functional compound also finds its uses in waste water management, photographic printing and metal processing industries. The metal processing industry is led by the Asia Pacific region owing to the increasing construction activities, urbanization, growing automotive industry and ship building. The global steel processing industry was valued over USD 575 billion in 2016.Expose to ammonium ferric citrate may cause minor health hazards such as contact with eye or skin can cause irritation. Inhalation of the product may also lead to irritation of nose, throat and lungs. These are some of the ammonium ferric citrate market restraints which will hinder the industry in future days.On the basis of application, the ammonium ferric citrate market can be segmented as pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, waste water management, photographic printing and metal processing. In pharmaceutical, the product is used for drug processing and as a contrast agent in medical imaging. It is also used as a hematinic which is a nutrient required for the formation of blood cells. In food & beverage processing, the product finds usage as a food additive for the purpose of acid regulation, changing and maintaining the pH level and as an iron supplement. Ammonium ferric citrate also acts as a reducing agent thus suppressing salt formation in metals such as gold and silver. The product is also used to make blue prints required in the printing process as well as for water purification.Browse complete summary of this report @Considering the geographic regions, Asia Pacific is likely to display fastest growth for ammonium ferric citrate market in the forecast period. Ammonium ferric citrate market demand is likely to grow in this region owing to the rise in development in the pharmaceutical industry among the other industries. China is a major manufacturer and distributor followed by the other countries such as India and Japan. China exports ammonium ferric citrate in several regions of Latin America and Europe.Make an Inquiry before buying @About Global Market Insights, Inc.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 UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb: Nitric Acid Market, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024. https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2176 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/nitric-acid-market https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2176 Nitric Acid Market is expected to observe a surge in demand due to growing application in production of various chemicals including calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, toluene di isocyanate, adipic solutions and nitrobenzene, especially used in fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, polyurethanes and other end use industries. In addition, rising need in various chemical industries including elastomers, polyurethane foams and coatings coupled with elastomers, foam plastics, floor & wood finishes, polyurethane foam coated fabrics and different insulation materials is anticipated to boost nitric acid market growth in the forecasted period.Rise in demand of ammonium nitrate fertilizers is expected to emerge as a vital growth factor in the nitric acid market. Escalating need for high crop yield to address the rising necessity for food items has provoked production synthetic fertilizers over the past few years. Substantial support of government policies and high availability of cultivational land have positively impacted extension of agricultural sector around the world. This is expected to propel the global nitric acid market demand, as the chemical is effectively used for manufacturing ammonium nitrate, a crucial constituent of nitrogenous fertilizers.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Nitric acid market is majorly driven by fertilizer industry. It is widely used in the production of two most agriculturally commercialized nitrate including calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate which are majorly used as fertilizers in agriculture industry. Ammonium nitrate is further used in the production of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) which is extensively used as fertilizer mixture and in explosives. Calcium ammonium nitrate is used producing of various fertilizers solutions.Adipic acid is one of the chief applications of the product during several production processes. It is used for producing nylon 6,6, which has numerous end use applications in textiles, automotive and tire industry. In automotive, nylon 6,6 is applied as a substitute to heavy metals to reduce the overall weight of various vehicles and further reducing carbon emissions.Browse complete summary of this report @Europe is the leading consumer in global nitric acid market owing to increasing demand from fertilizers and explosives industry. Some of the major product consuming countries in the region are Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and the Netherlands.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region is nitric acid market due to its agricultural bases economies and high need of ammonium nitrate fertilizers. China dominates the region with highest product demand. Followed by India, Taiwan and Japan are expected to showcase positive outlook for the industry growth.Developed regions including North America, especially the US, have witnessed increased necessity for the product in adipic solution, TDI, fertilizers and explosives industries. Middle East & Africa and Latin America are expected to demonstrate promising future in the nitric acid market.Make an Inquiry before buying @Dominated by some of the key players, the global nitric acid market consists several small regional players with significant amounts of share in the overall industry. Potential factors including price, innovation & technology and quality are major competing areas to lead the nitric acid market coupled with providing low cost products as compared to other competitors. In addition, technological advancement, improved financial support and other resources aids suppliers to shift market trends as per them.Some of the key nitric acid market players include CF Industries, BASF, Energy & Fertilizers, Orica, DuPont, Agrium, LSB Industries, Incitec Pivot and LyondellBasell. Some of the other prominent players are Dyno Nobel, Apache Nitrogen Products, Rentech, AkzoNobel, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers, Ixom, Simplot, Sasol, Wesfarmers Chemicals, PVS Chemicals, Yara, PotashCorp, Acron, Deepak Fertilizer, EuroChem and Koch.About Global Market InsightsGlobal 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 biotechnologyContact UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.com Fault Tolerant Server Market: Clear Understanding of The Competitive Landscape and Key Product Segments https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=27131 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=27131 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fault-tolerant-server-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com http://www.techyounme.com/ Fault-tolerant technology involves the capability of a computer system, electronic system to deliver uninterrupted services, despite failing of one or more of its components. It is basically the ability of a system to respond gracefully at the time of an unexpected hardware or software failure. Fault tolerance resolves potential service interruptions in case of logic errors as well.The main purpose for these server and technology is prevention of catastrophic failure that may result from a single point of failure hampering access to the complete data putting at risk the unsaved data by user. During virtualization of critical applications, it is important for understanding the protection related to server assets as problems in a single virtualized platform means failure of everything in case of platform failure which is the reason for the application of fault tolerant servers.The fault-tolerant platforms helps in avoiding this complexity further delivering simplicity and reliability especially in virtualized implementations. Four phases are involved with fault tolerance that completes the whole process which includes error detection, damage assessment, state restoration and continued service. The global market for fault tolerant server has been segmented on the basis of type, techniques, application and geography.Get PDF Sample of This Report @Based on type, this market has been segmented into hardware fault tolerance and software fault tolerance. Systematic and application specific fault tolerance form the two main techniques on the basis of which this market has been segmented. For the application segment this market has been further segmented into industrial automation, government offices, smart buildings, financial services, telecommunication, transportation, retail and healthcare among others.The virtualized implementations in fault tolerant server eliminating the unplanned downtime thereby preventing data loss has formed a critical element in most automation environments along with being extremely important for analytics. This forms a major driver for this market further having a positive impact over the demand. The fault-tolerant software and hardware solutions also provides minimal unplanned downtime along with high levels of availability at the time of a trade-off.The fault-tolerant servers also achieve high availability with a minimal amount system for delivering a superior level of performance in originations especially when huge crunching of data is involved. These have formed some of the major drivers for this market.View Report TOC @Regional OutlookBased on geography, North America and Europe has formed some major regions contributing to the growth.The growing opportunities in the current dynamic business environment along with dependency on cloud based services has been a few major reasons that has boosted the overall demand. Asia Pacific has formed another key region also accounting for one of the fastest growth. Japan, China, India and South Korea has been few important countries contributing to the growth. Rise in automation along with growing dependency on server based information in case of small, medium and large companies have been a few key drivers boosting the market demand.View Report@Key PlayersSome of the key players that are operating in the global fault tolerant server market include NEC Corporation (U.S.), One Net Communications (Singapore), Stratus Technologies (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.) and IBM Corporation (U.S.) among others.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: Geographic Information Systems Market: Projection of Each Major Segment over the Forecast Period. https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=27140 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=27140 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/geographic-information-systems-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com http://www.techyounme.com/ Geographic information system or GIS is an organized set of geographic data, computer software, hardware and efficiently self-designed of geographic information. Geographic information systems store, capture, manipulate, up-date, analyze and display all types of geographic information. Previously, the geographic information system was a map based information systems.Currently, the geographic information system is changing into systems of insight and systems of engagement. Industrial enterprises are trying to reach entire organization with simple access to spatial information to get awareness of their operation. In addition, rising net working complexity of the organization such as microgrids, renewable, electric vehicle, prosumers, energy storage systems and others are resulting companies to install geographic information systems to have access and to better understand the infrastructure information.Get PDF Sample of This Report @Growth Drivers And ChallengesThe key factor is driving the market of geographic information systems due to the increasing demand of this new technology among the process industry for better service, geographic information interpretation and management and security. The increasing need for prediction and identification of the natural disasters and to minimizing damages is fueling the growth of geographic information systems market. In addition, after the occurrence of earthquakes and tsunami and the destruction the market of geographic information systems is growing due to the rising need of identification of these are natural calamities.In addition, increasing need of land management systems coupled with rising real estate and construction industry is further booming the market of geographic information systems and this factor is expected a significant growth during the forecast period. The impact of this driver is high in recent times and is expected to be remaining high during the forecast period.However, the lack of awareness about geographic information systems adoption for land managing solution the growth of this market is becoming slowdown. Additionally, high investment cost is also restraining the growth of this market. Moreover, the free source of GIS software now available on the internet. Therefore the restraining factor of this market is expected to be low during the forecast period.View Report TOC @Market SegmentationThe market of geographic information systems segmented into three categories: by organization size, by category and by industry. Based on organization size the market of geographic information systems is segmented by small, medium and large. In terms of the category type the market of geographic information systems is segmented by hardware, software, service, and software service.Based on industry type the market of geographic information systems is segmented by oil and gas, retail, electric power T&D, government, mining, engineering and business service (AEC) and others.View Report@Regional OutlookBy geography, the global geographic information systems market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa.The North American geographic information systems held the largest market share in 2016 and are expected to hold its position during the forecast period. Owing to its developed economic condition and rising awareness about advanced technology and its acceptances is growing the market growth of geographic information systems in this region. The U.S. and Canada, there is a high focus on innovations in technology and research and development is further fueling the growth of this market.North America, followed by Europe, is expected to become second largest revenue generating region for geographic information systems market in 2016. The Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the geographic information systems market. Middle East and Africa has shown a remarkable growth in architecture software followed by Latin America in recent years.Key PlayersThe global geographic information systems market is marked by some strong competition from the major players operating in this industry. Numerous merger and acquisition, joint venture and partnership agreement, product innovation, research and development and geographical extension are some of the key strategies adopted by this player to ensure long-term sustenance in these market key participants in the global geographic information systems industry include Hexagon AB (Sweden), GE Power (U.S) and Bentley Systems, Incorporated (U.S) among others.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: Imaging Photometers Market: Evolving Technology, Trends and Industry Analysis https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=27182 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=27182 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/imaging-photometers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com http://www.techyounme.com/ Imaging photometers refer to instruments that measure the luminous intensity of a light source, by comparing it with the standard source. This comparison could be done with a photoelectric cell (Pritchard photometer), or with the human eye (SEI exposure photometers or Lummer Brodhun). In flicker photometer, the visual photometer observer sees a field illuminated alternately with two sources which are to be compared. Once the flicker sensation disappears, the intensity of the test source could be concluded by reading the reference standard source with which it is compared. To determine the difference, frequency of alteration at a point which is below critical fusion frequency, but for the determination of distinction in the color or color difference, the frequency of alteration is chosen at a point which is above the critical fusion frequency.In other words, imaging photometers refer to instruments which find application in measurement of light intensity and understanding optical properties of surface and solutions. The imaging photometer finds application in detection of photomultipliers or photodiodes and photo resistors. The photometer measures light following the passage of light through monochromatic or filter fir the determination at defined wavelengths for analyzing the spectral distribution of light. Imaging photometers find application in photography to determine the correct exposure for the photograph. Modern cameras with latest technology have built in imaging photometers. Advanced imaging photometers with latest technology are capable of measuring light intensity at different positions of the image or picture.Get PDF Sample of This Report @Growth DriversThe demand for imaging photometers is ever increasing with the increase in application of imaging photometers for high-speed recording quantity which has spatial resolutions which attract increasing interest. Key factors that have led to the increasing preference toward imaging photometers include widespread image processing of software which automates the method analysis.Moreover, the application of imaging photometers saves substantial time with simultaneous capture of considerable number of measurements for small images. Imaging photometers are utilized to measure color distribution and luminance of switches, panel graphics, and instrument clusters for vehicles.View Report TOC @Market SegmentationIn terms of type, the imaging photometers market can be segmented into interline transfer CCD, full frame CCD, and others. The transfer CCD segment leads the market in terms of revenue share. In terms of application, the imaging photometers market can be segmented into light measurement, display test, surface inspection, automotive solutions, keyboard inspection, and others. The light measurement segment in the imaging photometers market segmented by application led the market in terms of revenue share. The display test segment is estimated to expand rapidly in the near future.View Report@Regional OutlookIn terms of geography, the global imaging photometers market can be segmented into Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East &Africa. Europe led the imaging photometers market in terms of revenue share. North America followed Europe in the imaging photometers market in terms of revenue share. Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand rapidly in the near future.Key PlayersKey players operating in the imaging photometers market include Westboro Photonics Inc. (Canada, U.S.), Radiant, Photo Research Inc. (U.S.), Konica Minolta, Inc. (Japan), Admesy B.V. (The Netherlands), ELDIM S.A. (France), and Techno Team Bildverarbeitung GmbH (Germany).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: Non-Invasive Cancer Diagnostics Market: 2015- Trends, Market: Share, Industry Size, Growth, Opportunities and Forecast to 2023 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=8197 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=8197 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=8197 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gene-delivery-system-market-to-reach-value-of-nearly-us-42810-mn-by-2025tmr-678624243.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Non-invasive diagnosis is a procedure of identifying a disease without or with minimal incision of the body. These methods involve different techniques such as identifying genetic structure, biomarkers, changes in molecular biology, along with imaging technologies. Cancer is a disease related to genetic alteration of the cells and therefore causing uncontrolled growth and forming tumor like structure. Imaging is the preferred method of cancer detection but cannot have genetic access; on the other hand biopsies which have genetic access are complicated and difficult to perform repetitively during the course of cancer diagnosis and therapy. Therefore newer techniques developed in lines with non invasive diagnosis such as molecular diagnosis, serum based immunoassays and chemical tests to identify chemical components in the body especially from blood and urine. All these procedures are performed either with non-surgical or minimal surgical procedures; therefore these non-invasive cancer diagnostic techniques are becoming more and more popular among healthcare practitioners.Download PDF Brochure of Report:According to WHO and World Cancer Report, by 2020, new cancer cases will be around 15 million annually, of which breast, ovarian and GI cancer are expected to be most commonly occurring types. Cancer is the disease condition which has highest prevalence rate all over the world and causes considerable amount of burden on economies. Therefore early and accurate detection of cancer along with monitoring its growth at later stages is very critical. Though invasive types of cancer diagnoses are accurate in early stages, the same procedures cannot be used for monitoring growth of cancer at different stages since surgeries are required for these types of diagnoses. The non-invasive cancer diagnosis has growth potential all across the world; however developed countries such as USA, UK, Japan, Canada and some emerging economies such as India, China, Brazil and Russia are observed to experience highest growth in demand for non-invasive cancer diagnostic.Non-invasive cancer diagnostics market can be segmented by various categories such as by region, by techniques and according to different types of oncological conditions. Geographically Non invasive cancer diagnostic market is segmented in four regions mainly North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. Out of all these four geographies, the contribution from North America is highest followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. Higher awareness among healthcare fraternity, availability of advanced diagnostic technologies in North America and European countries may help sustain the growth of non-invasive cancer diagnostics in these regions. On the other hand increasing incidences and prevalence of cancer and rising awareness in Asia-Pacific countries have created demand for non-invasive cancer diagnostic market sizably. On the basis of techniques for non invasive cancer diagnosis, market can be segmented in molecular biology, serum immunoassay and clinical component identification in blood and serum. As different types of cancer causes different molecular, biological and chemical changes in body therefore this market can be divided according to cancer types such as blood cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, skin cancer and others.Request to View TOC of Report There are many companies operating in non invasive cancer diagnostic in market out of them Roche Diagnostics, Quidel, Immunicon Corporation, Compugen, DiagnoCure, Abbott Molecular, GE Healthcare, Precision Therapeutics, Affymetrix Inc, , Digene Corporation are the major contributor in this market. Introduction of various advanced technologies such as Cologuard by Exact Sciences will pave the way for the future of this market. In March 2014, the U.S. FDA approved the product for non-invasive testing of colorectal cancer which is one of the most frequently occurring types of cancer observed in recent years.Request to View Discount Popular Research Report by TMR:Gene Delivery System Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Transfection Technology Market to be at Forefront by 2019 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1001 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1001 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/transfection-technology.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled, Transfection Technology Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, according to which, the global transfection technology market is expected to grow from US$386.4 million in 2012 to US$768.2 million before the end of 2019, registering growth at a 9.7% CAGR.According to the report, the global market for transfection technology will be driven by growing incidences of various cancers such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. Apart from this, rising prevalence of obesity, increasing number of cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmias and ischemia among the global population, and the bolstered production of mass protein are some of the key factors augmenting the global market for transfection technology. The rising need to combat infectious diseases such as H1N1 and H1N5 has also contributed to the mounting demand for tranfection technology in the global market.Request to View Sample of Report -The report has been compiled with the intent of providing in-depth assessment of factors affecting the demand for transfection technology products in the global market in order to help stakeholders take informed decisions and plan their expansion move accordingly. In order to provide clarity in market information, the report has segmented the global transfection technology market on the basis of technology, applications, and geography. In terms of technology, the global transfection technology market is segmented into reagent-based, virus-based, and instrument-based methods. The reagent-based segment is further classified into activated dendrimers, magnetic beads, DEAE-dextran, cationic polymers, lipid mediated transfection (Lipofection), and calcium phosphate.According to the report, the reagent-based transfection technology segment registered outstanding rise in demand in the last couple of years owing to the cost-effectiveness and simpler functionality of the technology. Furthermore, growing demand registered by emerging biopharmaceutical markets across Asia Pacific will create significant opportunities for the transfection technology market to capitalize on.Request to View Brochure of Report -Geographically, the global market for transfection technology is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Among the different regional segments, North America emerged as the largest market for transfection technology in 2012, accounting for approximately 45% of the global market share in terms of revenue. Factors such as rising awareness about the benefits of transfection technology and increasing government initiatives taken to promote the technology is expected to propel the growth of the market in the forthcoming years.Despite registering a steady growth rate in the recent past, the global market for transfection technology is not free from restraints. The analyst of the report states, Technological complications and cytotoxic effects often associated with virus-based and instrument-based methods implemented in transfection technology might hamper the growth of the market to a certain level.The global market for transfection technology is highly fragmented in nature. In terms of key players, the market is dominated by companies such as Mirus Bio LLC, Promega Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd, Life Technologies Corporation, and Polypus Transfection S.A.View Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Life Science Reagents Market | SWOT Analysis of Major Market Segments https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1162 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1162 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/life-sciences-reagents-analytical-reagents.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A new Transparency Market Research report states that the global Life Science Reagents Market was valued at US$12.4 bn in 2012 and is expected to reach US$25.7 bn by 2019. It is expected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 10.80% from 2013 to 2019. The title of the report is Life Science Reagents Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019.According to the report, the global life science reagents market is stimulated by factors such as technological advancements and growing applications of biosciences and biotechnology within the pharmaceuticals and healthcare fields. In addition, the rising prevalence of a number of diseases, along with increasing mortality rates, is also boosting the demand for life science reagents. Furthermore, the rising activities of research and development (R&D) within the field of pharmaceuticals and the increasing initiatives taken by governments in various nations are also augmenting the market for life science reagents. On the other hand, factors such as the soaring requirement of capital investment, absence of skilled labor, and big patent repositories having few market participants may impede the growth of the market in forthcoming years.Request to View Sample of Report -In terms of product type, the life science reagents market is segmented into cell and tissue reagents, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reagent kits, electrophoresis reagents, flow cytometry reagents, chromatography reagents, electrophoresis reagents, in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) reagents, and others including mass spectroscopy, gene expression reagents, and transfection reagents. Amongst these, the segment of chromatography reagents is the most extensively utilized reagent product type and hold the largest share in the market.The key factor responsible for the dominance of this segment is the broad utilization of chromatography within each and every aspect of product development and research related to biotechnology. In terms of end use, the market is segmented into research and academic institutions, commercial and contract manufacturers, forensic laboratories, and clinical laboratories. Amongst these, the segment of research and academic institutions is the largest life science reagents consumer.Request to View Brochure of Report -On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Amongst these, North America leads the market and is trailed by Europe. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is predicted to exhibit the greatest growth rate in the forecast period due to factors including rising activities of research and development, supportive government policies, and the presence of skilled workers at low labor cost. On the other hand, within RoW, countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina have been attracting investments from other countries for fuelling the domestic industry for biotechnology, hence boosting the life science reagents market in the region.Abbott Laboratories, Life Technologies, Bio-Rad, and Sigma-Aldrich, among others, are the prime players operating in the market for life science reagents, as stated in the report.View Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Orthopedic Trauma Fixation Devices Market to Surge at a Robust Pace by 2020 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2155 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2155 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/orthopedic-trauma-fixation-device-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global Orthopedic Trauma Fixation Device Market is progressing at a CAGR of 7.20% within the forecast period from 2014 to 2020. The market was valued at US$6.1 bn in 2014. By the end of 2020, the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is expected to reach US$9.3 bn, as explained in a research report released by Transparency Market Research. The report titled Orthopedic Trauma Fixation Devices Market - Global Forecast, Share, Size, Growth and Industry Analysis 2014 - 2020, which is now available on the company website.According to the report, the primary growth driver of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is the increasing number of fractures and spot injuries that are being treated around the world. The market also benefits from the greater expenditure rates in the healthcare industry and a practical lack of alternatives available to this market.Request to View Sample of Report -All these factors are expected to boost the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market in the coming years.The global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is, however, impeded by factors such as the absence/inadequacy of health insurance in emerging economies, the chances of incurring a double surgery, and the high cost of operation. The report expects these restraints to act on the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market in order to withhold its maximum growth potential.The reports segmented analysis of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market shows that, according to the type of fixator, the current leading segment is internal fixators. This segment is also expected to progress at a 6.80% CAGR within the reports forecast period. Within the segment of internal fixators, the sub-segment of plate and screws is the most commonly utilized one. It is expected to progress at a 7.10% CAGR for the same forecast period.In terms of composition, the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market is currently led by bioabsorbable fixators. This segment is expected to advance at an 8.40% CAGR between 2014 and 2020, owing to the increase in the use of bioabsorbable materials by all key players in the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market.Request to View Brochure of Report -The geographical segmentation of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market shows North America to be the leading region for now. The fastest growing region, however, is expected to be Asia Pacific, which is advancing rapidly thanks to the developing nations of Japan, China, and India. Additionally, other nations from South East Asia along with the Eastern Mediterranean are also showing a rapid adoption rate of orthopedic trauma fixation devices.The key players in the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market are Zimmer Holding Inc., DePuy Synthes, Stryker Corporation, Smith & Nephew, Johnson & Johnson Company, and Orthofix Holding Inc. The report states that in 2013, 47.30% of the global orthopedic trauma fixation device market was held collectively by the two largest players in the market DePuy Synthes and Johnson & Johnson.View Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: A SCOTUS showdown probably wont work out in Trumps favor. Photo: Getty Images Rudy Giuliani may have just made the case for why Robert Mueller, the special counsel getting to the bottom of Russias role in the last presidential election, has a real need to speak with Donald Trump. And it has everything to do with the presidents state of mind during a key moment under the microscope: the firing of James Comey, the former FBI director. He fired Comey because he would not, among other things, say that he was not a target of the investigation, Giuliani told Fox News Sean Hannity late on Wednesday. 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. There is some happy legal context for anyone eager to see Mueller and Trump chat: United States v. Nixon, the landmark Supreme Court case that forced President Richard Nixon to comply with a prosecutorial subpoena to turn over the Watergate tapes, is still good law. And of all the important principles the decision stands for beyond precipitating the fall of a sitting president one that rises to the top is the American publics interest in the fair and impartial administration of justice. The court system must be able to get a full picture of the facts of a criminal investigation. To ensure that justice is done, Chief Justice Warren Burger wrote for an 8-to-0 court, it is imperative to the function of courts that compulsory process be available for the production of evidence needed either by the prosecution or by the defense. Nixon would seem to be controlling law for the Mueller investigation. And in light of reporting this week that the special counsel still has a keen interest in interviewing Trump and an apparent willingness to rely on compulsory process there is a distinct possibility that Mueller may go to court and invoke Nixon if the president doesnt cooperate, either voluntarily or in the face of a valid subpoena. Thats the kind of momentous confrontation that no doubt would quickly make its way to the Supreme Court, which so far has seemed willing to treat Trump just like any other president, rather than carve out Trumpian exceptions to presidential powers that may bind later chief executives. Theres little reason to think that the Supreme Court would veer far away from its own precedent to give Trump a victory he doesnt deserve. As Steve Vladeck and Benjamin Wittes lay out in Lawfare, there are significant distinctions between a subpoena for tapes to be used in an ongoing criminal trial, where Nixon himself was an unindicted co-conspirator, and a subpoena compelling a sitting president to testify before an investigatory grand jury a secret proceeding where prosecutors are simply presenting evidence that may or may not give rise to a fresh round of indictments. Trump already knows that hes not a target of a criminal investigation, but even investigatory subjects (the presidents apparent current designation) are still attractive and sometimes necessary actors in a criminal prosecution targeting someone else. Even if hes not a target, courts may still determine that Trump is required to give the evidence thats asked of him especially in a probe where he may hold the key to many of its mysteries. The need to develop all relevant facts in the adversary system is both fundamental and comprehensive, the Supreme Court said in Nixon. The ends of criminal justice would be defeated if judgments were to be founded on a partial or speculative presentation of the facts. Thats precisely the state of affairs with a number of unresolved strands of the Russia investigation. We dont know Trumps frame of mind or what he knew when he fired Mike Flynn. We dont know if he ever learned during the campaign that two of his family members and his campaign chairman wanted to obtain dirt on his rival from Russians during a meeting in Trump Tower. Or the reason he dictated the White House response to news reports revealing that the meeting took place. Or what he meant when he told NBC News Lester Holt that he dismissed Comey on account of this Russia thing. And what about his reported comments to Russian officials in the Oval Office, one day after Comeys firing, that getting rid of the FBI director relieved great pressure from his presidency? These are all open questions that may be critical to Mueller and that only Trump can answer. And notice how all of these queries are far more focused than the broad, open-ended questions that Trumps legal team leaked to the New York Times this week not even Fox News Howard Kurtz buys the spin that these disclosures came from Muellers side. Theres a simple reason for that: The special counsel is known to not give away his game ahead of time, and it would be foolish to expect him to turn over his theory of the case for many of the prongs of his investigation. The opposite suggestion that he remains on a never-ending fishing expedition is just red meat for Trumps base and a tactic to discredit Muellers work. Getting Trumps direct testimony for a narrower set of interrogatories is Muellers way of tying up loose ends. That the special counsel runs a tight ship and almost certainly has a clear, sharp focus matters not just because it gives the public a proper perception of Muellers role; it will also become relevant in the event of a contentious court battle. With an eye toward prospective litigation over subpoenaing Trump, an interview that is limited in nature would help a judge and later, the Supreme Court to recognize that Nixon is still fully applicable to the case at hand, despite former Trump attorney John Dowds reported declaration that Mueller is engaged in a game and somehow screwing with the work of the president of the United States. If Mueller can show that he has, as Nixon observed, a demonstrated, specific need for evidence, hell likely get it. Trump may kick and scream. He may refuse to comply. He may even plead the Fifth, as Michael Cohen recently did. But the politics wouldnt be in his favor. Complying would be: The republic, the separation of powers, and the office of the presidency wont crumble. The opposite may be true if the courts and the office of the special counsel are stonewalled by Trump and arent allowed to do their job. Now that the widely respected Emmet Flood, President Bill Clintons former impeachment lawyer, has joined Trumps criminal-defense team, maybe a lesson from the past is in order. Rather than put up a fight, constitutional or otherwise, Clinton made history some 20 years ago by voluntarily agreeing to go before a grand jury and clear up any doubts that hed committed perjury or obstructed justice in the course of the sordid Monica Lewinsky scandal. His testimony before independent counsel Kenneth Starr became his undoing politically, but that shouldnt be a worry for Trump. It remains the case, as I wrote back in January, that no competent lawyer would recommend he talk to the special counsel. But were past the hardball stage. As the president has maintained all along, he never did anything wrong. And Russia, in his mind, remains a phony witch hunt. Short of a Supreme Court showdown, which, as with Nixon, could hurt Trump in the eyes of the American public, a voluntary sit-down with Mueller televised, if he wants, just like Clintons may just be what he and the country really need to make it all go away. And it will help Mueller get the evidence he needs to finish up his work. Weather Radar Market Analysis, Market Size, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2018 To 2025, Focusing On Top Key Vendors Like Honeywell, Enterprise Electronics, Selex ES GmbH, EWR Weather Radar https://www.itintelligencemarkets.com/request_sample.php?id=749 https://www.itintelligencemarkets.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=749 Global Weather Radar Market projected to grow at CAGR of +7% from 2018 to 2025A comprehensive analysis of the Global Weather Radar Market is been done in this intelligence report. It includes the investigations done on the past progress, ongoing market scenarios, and future prospects. An accurate data of the products, strategies and market shares of leading companies in this particular market is mentioned. This report presents a 360-degree overview of the competitive scenario of the Global market. The report further projects the size and valuation of the global market in the coming forecast period. The report also presents a thorough qualitative and quantitative data affecting to the projected impact of these factors on markets future growth prospects.Top Key Vendors in Market: Honeywell, Enterprise Electronics, Selex ES GmbH, EWR Weather Radar, Vaisala, Beijing Metstar Radar, China Electronics, Toshiba, GAMICGet Sample Copy Of this Report @It explains a detailed outline of the Weather Radar Market depending on the important parameters. End users, products, regions, and many other segments are studied and explained. A brief idea about the driving forces which help make the market more flourishing is discussed in order to help the client understand the future market position. Estimated revenue growth in terms of volume with respect to the market for the upcoming years has been mentioned in depth.The growing focus of several competitive players on consolidating their back-end supply chain management for faster shipping and at lower cost is a key factor favorably impacting the growth of the market. The robust growth of online retail in various industries, such as information and communication technologies, electrical and electronics, and apparel, in several developed nations has boosted the market. The rising adoption of advanced digital technologies has boosted online retail, thereby indirectly catalyzing the Weather Radar Market.Get Reasonable Discount on This Premium Report @On the basis of geographical regions, the Global Weather Radar Market is segmented broadly into Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The global market is still in its exploratory stage in most of the regions but it holds the promising potential to flourish steadily in coming years. The major companies investing in this market are situated in Canada, U.K., and the US, India, China and some more countries of Asia Pacific region. Consequently, Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Europe are estimated to hold more than half of the market shares, collectively in coming years.In the last sections of the report, the manufacturers responsible for increasing the sales in the Weather Radar Market has been presented. These manufacturers have been analyzed in terms of their manufacturing base, basic information, and competitors. In addition, the technology and product type introduced by each of these manufacturers also form a key part of this section of the report.Table of Content:Global Weather Radar Market Research Report 2018-2025Chapter 1 Weather Radar Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic ImpactChapter 3 Competition by ManufacturerChapter 4 Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Market ForecastChapter 13 AppendixAbout Us:We at IT Intelligence Markets conduct intensive market research and generate detailed reports about the products and services offered in the IT domain. Our team is devoted to providing custom reports that are taylor-made to suit the customers requirements. We make sure to keep our customers updated with the latest market dynamics as IT industry is undergoing sea change intrinsically & extrinsically by forces such as regulatory fluctuations, rapidly evolving consumer preferences, and newer technologies. Not only do our market research analysts scrutinize market requirements but also track competitors relentlessly for obtaining the most updated scenario of the market.Contact Us:Name: Vijay TannaCompany: It Intelligence MarketsAddress: Survey No-9/4, Flat# 6, Panchshil Park, Ganpati Marg, Nigidi, Pune 411044Mail Id: sales@itintelligencemarkets.comContact No: +91 705-760-0700 Not even a quick spring shower could dampen the energy and enthusiasm shown by 450 elementary kids marking ACES Day at Dow Diamond. The fourth- and fifth-graders from Adams and Central Park elementary schools were on the field Wednesday morning to exercise simultaneously with 300,000 kids across the state to promote the importance of physical activity in schools in the event "All Children Exercising Simultaneously." Mixed in with the students were Lou E. Loon and Loons players. John Shoemaker, Great Lakes Loons manager, was the first to channel some of the extra energy on the field by inviting the kids to show off their best dance moves. Immediately, the bodies standing in the outfield broke into wiggling and twitching, with the occasional arm thrust out, along with laughter. He told them not only is exercise good for the body, it's good for the mind. Plus there's only two requirements: "One is that you do it, two is that you continue to do it." After a round of Simon Says, played instead as Lou E. Says, led by Jennifer Miller of Farm Bureau Insurance, staff from the Midland Community Center led the students in about 15 minutes of exercise before an impending rainstorm moved things inside. "This is the first time we've had the event at a venue in Midland," Katie Alexander, the director of safe routes to school at the Michigan Fitness Foundation, explained. All across the state, students in 1,000 schools are participating by exercising in their buildings, and some students went to venues to exercise. In addition to Dow Diamond, students also exercised at the University of Michigan Stadium and the Michigan State University's Spartan Stadium. Diane Sugnet, a physical education teacher at Central Park, said Midland Public Schools has participated in its own buildings in years past, and students went to Central Michigan University two years ago. She, along with fellow physical education teacher Justin Chase, walked with students from the school to the ball field. Among the kids bursting with movement on the field were Caleb Sanderson and Xander Morse, both 11-year-old, fifth-grade students at Central Park. "I like it," Caleb said of participating. "It's a lot of fun." Giving it a bit more thought, he held up his hands to show the green of the grass on them. "And my hands are super green," he pointed out. Xander was a bit more reserved, estimating he'd completed 37 push ups so far for the day, down from more than 50 done at one time in kindergarten. "I like doing push ups and stretches and everything," he said. Near the boys was Jenae DeAndrade, a 10-year-old classmate. She said it was her very first time on the field. "It's pretty fun," she said. "It's nice being out here in my class." The Humane Society of Midland County is hosting an Pet Expo and Adoption Event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Midland County Fair Grounds in the Gerstacker Building. HSoMC and nine area rescue groups are teaming up to promote the adoption of shelter/rescue animals in the Great Lakes Bay Region and mid-Michigan area. In addition to adoptions, the event will have vendors, Bad Wolf BBQ food truck, Wit's Kettle corn, children's area with 4-H small animals, doggie demonstrations by TNT, raffle items, pet food samples and more. Travel pumps $2.3 trillion into the U.S. economy and supports 15.6 million jobs. Wednesday, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar sat down with representatives from the local tourism industry. "It's of huge importance to our region and to our state when you consider the tourism opportunities in Michigan," Moolenaar said. "Pure Michigan has gotten the word out. On an international basis we have a real opportunity to grow our tourism." International travel was one of the key issues of discussion between Moolenaar and Annette Rummel, CEO, Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. The U.S. Travel Association is reporting that since 2015, 7.4 million fewer international visitors have come to the U.S., which has cost $32.2 billion and 100,000 jobs. "Tourism is the United States' second largest export," Rummel said. "They leave their money here, and go back with hopefully a better understanding of what the U.S. is and what we stand for." On the local level, the Great Lakes Bay Region CVB works within Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties to promote tourism. The Pure Michigan campaign has the same goal on the state level. Nationally, the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 established Brand USA, which markets the U.S. as a premier travel destination. The U.S. Travel Association is working toward the continued full funding of Brand USA. "It allows our smaller regional convention visitor bureaus an opportunity to get the word out to the world that we would welcome visitors," Rummel said. "The funding for Brand USA is not U.S. tax dollar based. It is based on international visitors coming in and paying a fee." Also of high importance would be an expansion of the VISA Waiver Program. The waiver allows foreign visitors who travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa, after meeting a set of requirements. Currently, 38 countries qualify for the VWP. U.S. Travel would like to expand the program to other qualified countries. "Part of this proposal is actually increasing the level of security a visitor must go through before they are allowed to come to the U.S.," Rummel said. In Congress, the House just passed the FAA Reauthorization Act, which authorizes funding for airports. Currently, the Senate is taking it up. "Having good airports and updated airports is important for international tourism," Moolenaar said. "It puts a five-year extension on this policy and it also allows for additional dollars for airport to apply for grants to modernize and upgrade airports." For those with service dogs, it makes a world of difference that the animal be allowed wherever they go. "She is my sight," said Harper Willington, formerly of Midland, about how her service dog Angel impacts her everyday life. "Without her being allowed to go places with me, I wouldn't be able to go nearly anywhere." Gladwin's Riverwalk Place recently hosted a service dog information workshop. Lori Shaw, of Helping Paws LLC in Farwell, explained the laws regarding service dogs. Shaw also runs Helping Paws for Veterans and worked with Rick Fall and his golden lab service dog, Ben. Fall was recently asked to leave a Gladwin restaurant because his service dog's presence was denied. Shaw said service dogs can only be asked to leave an establishment if they are causing a disturbance. Service dogs are specially trained, tested and evaluated for a specific function. There are also companion dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support dogs. Those animals are not permitted in the same way service dogs are. However, they also offer special functions. A service dog is legally defined as a dog individually trained to do work, performing tasks on behalf of a person with a disability. This can include physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Such animals have been trained for seizure response, those that are hearing impaired, as a signal dog, sensory signal dogs or social signal dogs (trained for people with autism), guide dogs, PTSD dogs and psychiatric service dogs. Businesses people can ask if the dog is a service dog and what tasks it performs. They cannot ask for documentation, the person's disability or if the dog can perform a certain task; charge additional fees because of the dog's presence; refuse admittance; or isolate, segregate or treat the owner or dog less favorably, Shaw said. Handlers are responsible for the animals being clean, free of fleas and ticks, brushed and housebroken. Michigan is one of 19 states that fine people for trying to pass-off fake service dogs. Shaw said it is too easy for someone to get a vest and fake certificate saying their animal is a service dog. She said when you see such an animal in a shopping cart, wearing a vest, it is most likely not a service dog. "These animals have a job and it is always four on the floor," she said, noting they don't get hauled around in shopping carts or strollers. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, it's a federal crime to present a fake dog. "Fake service dogs pose a risk to real trained service dogs," Shaw said, noting that those in need of such animals fought hard to gain rights to have them admitted into establishments that would otherwise not allow animals. Shaw said mandatory registration of service animals is not permissible under the ADA. Michigan has a voluntary identification card and patch available for a service animal upon request through the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. In Michigan, those caught fraudulently presenting an animal as a service dog/emotional support animal face a misdemeanor charge and are subject of up to 90 days in jail and up to $500 fine and up to 30 days of community service. An estimated 74 percent of service dogs are Labradors. Other dogs used are German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. Shaw said leader dogs began with Doberman Pinchers. Riverwalk Grill Manager Curtis Artman invited the whole community to the recent training event and hoped for more people to attend. Yet, he hopes the presentation helped educate the people there. "This was very informative, I learned a lot," said Nancy Bodnar, who attended because she wanted to learn more. Bodnar, a Gladwin City Councilwoman, said she was thankful for the presentation. Fall said he was thankful that his being denied service at a restaurant led to an educational presentation. "Sometimes something good comes out of a bad situation," Fall said. To the editor: The family of Cecil Rydman wants to acknowledge all those who were an integral part of our father's life. Knowing some may be left out but not intentionally, first of all, the families of our father, and the friends that he made all his years. And we will not leave out by any means the Horizon Senior Living Center of Clare and the Hospice of Clare. The president seems to be suffering from parade envy. His loyal supporters in the House GOP are trying to ease his pain. Photo: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images His liberal critics have chortled about the presidents stated desire to review a big bristling military parade in Washington in the near future. Its in keeping with his image as a grown-up boy excited about his power and eager to play with real, not toy, soldiers. But in keeping with their own increasingly clear image as enablers who want to give Trump whatever he wants, House Republicans are preparing to authorize that very parade, as Bloomberg reports: The display in Washington would be authorized under the Republican-proposed draft for the annual defense policy measure, according to a bill summary released Friday. The measure is scheduled to be taken up by the House Armed Services Committee on May 9 The House measure would authorize the use any kind of motorized vehicle, aviation platform, munition, operational military unit, or operational military platform, unless the defense secretary believes its use will affect its readiness. Sounds like that would be enough for a gaudy spectacle that might even impress the presidents friends and rivals in Moscow, or at least those of them old enough to remember those big May Day parades in Red Square, which will be echoed this year in a slightly modified form as Russia celebrates the anniversary of victory in Stalins Great Patriotic War (World War II) on May 9. Military parades are also a big deal in North Korea. The official rationale for the House GOP plan is not, of course, to help the president realize a puerile dream. Its to honor a group to which the president does not actually belong: veterans. The parade would look back on a century of military service and focuses on the men and women who sacrificed to secure Americas freedoms, according to the summary released by committee chairman Mac Thornberry, a Texas Republican. Far too many American veterans and their families believe their sacrifices have not been given the public recognition that they deserve. You can make the argument that theres never anything the country can do to adequately recognize the sacrifices of people who risked or suffered death to defend Americans. But public displays of respect for veterans and active military are probably at an all-time post-Vietnam high. What might work better is official encouragement of private, individual acts of gratitude and kindness, not the sort of jingoistic spectacle a military parade normally provides, which uses the sacrifices of citizens in uniform to glorify the politicians eager to put them into harms way more often. Thornberry tried to make his and Trumps parade sound nonpolitical: For too long, our men and women in uniform have been victims of political discord, he said. Honoring those who served in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan should not be a political matter. Veterans of those conflicts did not let politics stand in the way of their service to the country. That is true, which is precisely why it may be wrongheaded to conflate respect for veterans with cheerleading for military might and its deployment, particularly at the expressed request of a would-be warlord in the White House. Maybe someone should convince the president that planning this sort of a parade could undermine his case for receiving a Nobel Peace Prize. Nintendo is continuing its new mission to expand the brand. This time, the gaming giant has entered a publishing deal with publishing giant Random House to create childrens books based on beloved Nintendo characters and worlds, including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon and Animal Crossing. Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books (U.S.) and Penguin Random House U.K., will be publishing a range of coloring and activity books based on many IPs from Nintendos expansive catalog. The deal is an expansion of the already-established partnership between the two entities. In January of this year, Random House published official sticker books based on the Super Mario and Legend of Zelda series. We are thrilled to be partnering with Nintendo to bring the whimsy and adventure of these worlds to the imaginations of our young readers, said Dennis Shealy, Editorial Director, Random House Books for Young Readers Licensed Publishing, of the partnership. Tom Prata, Nintendo of Americas Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, added to the excitement by stating, This publishing partnership is an exciting way to bring the colorful worlds of Nintendo to young readers while encouraging creativity. We are always looking for ways to share our fun-loving characters with kids and families in unique ways. Between this news and the Labo for Switch, Nintendo still manages to keep reinventing itself every time the gaming world is ready to declare the company dead, despite some hiccups along the way. Republicans in the South Carolina state Senate had the bright idea to write up a bill that would outlaw all abortions in the state (with the exception of cases involving rape, incest, or danger to the mothers life), and they had the numbers to pass it. Which doesnt mean, of course, that it would have immediately become lawlegislative and legal obstacles remained. But it would have been a huge step to criminalizing a womans sovereignty over her own body, and it appeared all but inevitable that it would move forward. Faced with that reality, the Democratic minority did the only thing they couldthey filibustered. For two straight days: State Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, held the floor for upwards of six hours as he filibustered the measure Thursday. He turned over the podium to state Sens. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, and Fanning, who carried on the effort through the rest of the evening. The vote to finally end the debate came close to 1 a.m. Friday morning. Its a rare victory for Democrats in the south, who are outnumbered in virtually all state houses, and though the bill isnt dead, its been dealt a severe blow. The abortion ban in SC is no longer. After hours of filibuster, the bill has now been recommitted to committee. Women will continue to have the right to choose and make their own personal decisions about their bodies in consultation with their faimilies and doctors. Sen. Marlon Kimpson (@KimpsonForSC) May 4, 2018 Republicans cracked in the endfive of them, to be precise, enough for a 24-21 vote to send it back to committee. Senate just recommitted the abortion bill to a committee, likely killing it for the year. Avery Wilks (@AveryGWilks) May 4, 2018 The Republicans who flipped even admitted that the solid show of unity from Democrats convinced them they were in for a hopeless fight: By threatening to keep the Senate in Columbia over the weekend, Republicans hoped the Democrats would eventually give up on their stall tactics. But when none of them left after going deep into the night, Rankin said he feared the clock would run out on the session without passing either the abortion ban or any of the other bills they hope to take up. They were here en masse with no defection, Rankin said of the Democrats. In a time when many mainstream Democrats seem to think the best strategy for combating conservatism is to concede ground and strive for compromisean enormous failure, by any measurethis episode will hopefully serve as a clarion call not just in South Carolina, but around the country. The lesson is clear: Fight on, fight relentlessly, and never say die even when you dont have a chance. Because maybe you do. Google has had voice search features in Android for years, but when Google Assistant rolled out on the Pixel in October 2016, everything finally came together. You can now get Assistant on all modern Android devices, and Google has already announced new Assistant features at I/O 2018 that will make it even better (okay, and maybe a little too real, in the case of Duplex). It can be easy to miss the improvements if you dont obsessively keep an eye on the news, so here they are in one place: the coolest new features in Google Assistant. Further reading: The best Android phones Change the Assistant voice Ryan Whitwam/IDG Theres nothing wrong with the default Assistant voice, but perhaps youre getting a little sick of it. Google added a handful of alternatives last year and recently expanded to a total of eight different voice options. It only takes a moment to change the voice, but the menu is somewhat buried. Start by opening the settings menu via Assistant or the Google Home app. Go to Preferences > Assistant voice, and youll be able to choose between the eight options. Tap on any of them, and they will begin reading off a sample. Once youve chosen, go back and all your Assistant devices will use the new voice. Routines Ryan Whitwam/IDG Using Assistant to do the same few things all the time can be tedious, but Routines might be able to help. This feature allows you to connect multiple actions to a single command. There are only a few pre-determined routine commands right now, but they could still save you a lot of time. To get started, open the Assistant settings and scroll down to Routines. In this menu, Google provides six pre-loaded commands: good morning, bedtime, Im leaving (leaving home), Im home, lets go to work, and lets go home. Say any of those, and youll trigger the associated Routine. Each one includes a few customization options including smart home devices, travel info, and audio playback. You can also modify the trigger phrase at the top of the Routine settings page. Custom routines Ryan Whitwam/IDG If Googles pre-loaded routines arent doing what you want, you can also create a completely custom routine from scratch. Go to Routines under the Assistant settings, but dont tap on the Ready-made options. Instead, hit the plus button down at the bottom to make a custom routine. Youll need to enter at least one trigger phrase to start. Then, add actions either by typing in commands or using the Popular actions list. Being able to input text means you can have your routine do anything you could do manually in Assistant. Remember to add a custom response to your routine so you know it triggered correctly, too. You can also have Assistant play media like podcasts, music, and sleep sounds at the end of a routine. When youre all done, you can change the order of actions, which is handy if youve crammed a lot in there. Trigger multiple actions Ryan Whitwam/IDG Assistant launched with a single-tasking approach. You told it one thing to do, and it would either do that thing or tell you it didnt know how to help. If you had more requests for Assistant, youd start over with a new command. Google has quietly added support for multiple actions in a single command, but it wont work on everything. You can give this a shot right now by stringing two commands together. For example, Turn off the lights and give tomorrows forecast. Assistant will do both without a second command. Unfortunately, you cant use routines or shortcuts with multiple commands. In addition, this feature is only live on the Google Home version of Assistant. It wont work on your phone. Location-based reminders Ryan Whitwam/IDG Google was famously slow to add reminder support to Google Home, but its been there for a while. More recently, Google expanded reminder functionality to understand location. Your Google Home doesnt move, of course, but your phone does. When you add a reminder via Assistant on Home or your phone, consider adding a location. For example, Remind me to buy milk when I go to [a grocery store]. The reminder wont appear on Google Home because it doesnt go anyplace with you, but your phone will ping you when it detects youre in the right place. Identify songs Ryan Whitwam/IDG Wondering what that vaguely familiar song playing in the background is? Google Assistant is probably the fastest way to find out. On your phone, long-press the home button to launch Assistant, and you might have a contextual button that says Whats this song? That only appears when Assistant hears music in the background. If it doesnt show up, you can say/type that phrase to launch the recognition. Assistant listens for a few seconds, and then returns a match.Youll get the song, artist, album, lyrics, and links to listen to it online. Sync connected smart home devices Ryan Whitwam/IDG Google Assistant supports numerous smart home devices, but you might notice that devices youve just added to your account dont always work right away. Thats because Assistant isnt constantly scanning for new connections. You can give it a kickstart. After adding a new smart home device like a camera or thermostat, open up Assistant and say, Sync my devices. Assistant tells you its syncing with your connected accounts, and a few seconds later any newly added devices will appear in your list. Make sure to add them to rooms in Assistant for full functionality. Send daily info Ryan Whitwam/IDG Assistant is great for calling up little tidbits like the weather, stock quotes, or even jokes. You dont even have to ask every time, though. You can have Assistant proactively send you certain bits of information as a daily update. To configure a daily update, start by asking your question normallyask it for the weather, a dad joke, whatever. After Assistant pulls up the content, you can follow up with Send this to me daily. Assistant asks what time you want the update, and youre all set. To change or cancel a daily update, just say, See my subscriptions. Have Assistant remember things for you Ryan Whitwam/IDG Your squishy human brain is fallible, but Google Assistant can remember things without fail. All you have to do is ask it. You can tell Assistant to remember things just by saying Remember that [some piece of information]. You could tell Google to remember where you parked, what you did with the spare house key, your high score in Tetris, or anything else. As a handy bonus, Assistant also saves maps when you tell it where you parked. Later, you can ask Google to recall the information in various ways. You can be direct, like asking Assistant Where did I park? You can recall factoids youve saved with What did I say about [x]? or Remind me about [x]. Search your Google Photos uploads Ryan Whitwam/IDG Google Photos is a fantastic backup solution for all your snapshots. Google offers unlimited storage of images and videos, provided youre okay with a little compression, and Pixel owners get free full-quality backups. If you want to look for specific photos youve taken, you can do it right from Google Assistant. All you have to do is ask. Assistant plugs into the amazing search capabilities of Google Photos, so you can ask to see almost anything. You can ask Assistant to pull up pictures of specific people, locations, and even objects. Tap the image results to scroll through them immediately, or open Google Photos via the shortcut under your pics. Just make sure you preface your request with something like my photos to ensure you get images from your Google Photos library rather than images from a Google search. Take and share screenshots Ryan Whitwam/IDG You can capture screenshots on Android phones by holding the power and volume buttons, but Assistant can do it, too. In fact, it might be faster if you intend to share the screenshot right away. Open Assistant and say, take a screenshot or share a screenshot. It takes a moment to capture the screenshot, but youll get a preview as soon as its done. Assistant then immediately brings up the sharing interface so you can send the screen to a message or upload it someplace. The screenshots taken via Assistant arent saved locally, so you wont end up with clutter from repeated screenshot captures. Listen to podcasts Ryan Whitwam/IDG Google has built a basic podcast interface into the Google app, and the easiest way to access it is via Assistant. You might want to listen to podcasts in this fashion because Googles solution is quick and easy. Just say, listen to [podcast name] to fire up the latest episode. If you were in the middle of an episode, Assistant picks up where you left off. Your progress is not device-specific, either. You can start listening to a podcast on your phone, then tell Assistant on Google Home you want to listen to the same podcast. Rather than start, over, it starts where you last listened on your phone. Explore menu Google used to hide all of Assistants features in a series of esoteric, buried menus. Now, theres a much more sensible way to find out what sort of cool things you can do with Assistant in the Explore menu. IDG To access this menu, open Assistant and tap the blue drawer icon in the upper right corner. Here, you can find all the services supported by Assistant broken down into categories like Social & Communication, Education & Reference, Games & Fun, and more. Each tile links to a full info page where you can see sample commands and (if necessary) link your account. Bottom line: Checking out the Explore menu is the easiest way to keep track of newly added apps and services. There are also some general Assistant command suggestion at the top. You dont even have to speak the suggestions, just tap the bubble and theyll be dropped right into Assistant. Typing to Assistant Google Assistant first appeared in the Allo app, and in that iteration, you could input text to chat with the Googles bot. But the more powerful baked-in phone version of Assistant began its life with only voice input. Thats fine when youre in a situation where you can talk to your phone, but voice dictation isnt always appropriate. Well, you can type your questions and commands, too. IDG To access the keyboard in Assistant, just long-press your home button as you normally would. But instead of speaking right away, tap the keyboard icon in the lower-left corner. Assistant will expand to fill the screen, and you can begin typing. Assistant will respond to all the same commands that youd use in a voice-dictation situation, and youll also find contextual suggestions above the keyboard. And because these suggestions are part of Assistant, they appear no matter which keyboard app youre using. Editable history Google Assistant used to be a transient experiencewhatever you said to Assistant would be lost to the ether as soon as you left the Assistant UI. But now theres a full history of your commands, and you can edit them too. IDG To access your Assistant history, you need only drag up on the overlay when Assistant pops up. This will drop you into a full-screen interface that shows your recent queries. Scroll up to see everything youve asked and how Assistant answered. Editing is a snap, too. Long-press on a query, and it will be highlighted along with Assistants reply. From there, you can either delete or edit it. Deleting will completely remove the query (and associated activity) from the history. This is just like removing something from your Google search history, so it wont be used to inform future search and Assistant predictions. If you choose to edit a query, the text is dropped into the text field along with an open keyboard. You can tap send to immediately repeat the command, or make some changes and send it again. Just note that none of this undoes the actions performed when the command was first issued. Shortcuts There are dozens of services and apps integrated with Assistant already, but some of them get preferential treatment. For example, you can tell Google to control your Hue lights directly, but lights connected through Homey require you to preface all commands with Tell Homey. It can get a bit tedious, but shortcuts are here to help. IDG To create a shortcut, go to the Assistant settings and open the settings. Scroll down and tap on the Shortcuts option. The shortcut screen has a box for what you want to say, and one below that for what you want Assistant to actually do in response. In the top box, input whatever snappy shortcut phrase you want. It tends to work better if you use the microphone button to speak the shortcut. Assistant will sometimes put a sample command in the bottom box, but you can change that to the command you want. It has to be the full phrase youd say to Assistant, including the Tell [X] part if needed. Once your shortcut is saved, itll work by voice and text. Google Express shopping list Google Assistant has always been able to add items to a shopping list, but that list used to live solely in Google Keep. As such, it was just a list. But Google recently changed the shopping list functionality to plug directly into its Google Express delivery service, which could be very useful if youre a subscriber. IDG All you have to do is say, Add [item name] to my shopping list. It will show up in your Google Express shopping list instantly. You can access that list in the Google Express app, or simply say Show me my shopping list. That takes you to the online version of your list, which can be shared with any of your contacts. If youre a Google Express subscriber, you can tap Shop your list to get filtered search results from supported local retailers. Add items to your cart, and youre done. After weeks of rumors and a counterattack by AMDs Radeon, Nvidia is ending its mysterious, controversial GeForce Partner Program. A lot has been said recently about our GeForce Partner Program, Nvidias John Teeple wrote. The rumors, conjecture and mistruths go far beyond its intent. Rather than battling misinformation, we have decided to cancel the program. So what is the GeForce Partner Program? Despite the strong words above, Nvidia never dived into details publicly, but additional reporting suggested it was intended to keep gaming brands from Nvidias graphics card partners (like Asus and Gigabyte) off of Radeon hardware. Mentioned in this article EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW Best Prices Today: Nvidia introduced the GeForce Partner Program in a vague post at the beginning of March, stating that it was designed to ensure that gamers have full transparency into the GPU platform and software theyre being sold, and can confidently select products that carry the Nvidia GeForce promise. Partners would get early access to Nvidia technology and promotional support from the companys social media channels. But although Nvidia repeatedly using the word transparency in the post, it never actually explained what the GeForce Partner Program did to the public. A week later, HardOCP reported that the Partner Program forces graphics card partners to have a gaming brand aligned exclusively with GeForce, after AMD approached the site and suggested looking into the story. In HardOCPs example, signing up for the GPP would prevent Asus from using its Republic of Gamers brand on Radeon hardware. The sites editor-in-chief, Kyle Bennett, joined PCWorlds Full Nerd podcast to discuss his claims. Tensions ratcheted up in mid-April, when Asus revealed a new Arez brand for AMD graphics cards, and removed the ROG brand from Radeon hardware. In an email to PCWorld, AMD representatives said over the coming weeks, you can expect to see more add-in board partners launch new brands carrying the AMD Radeon name, and launched a public offensive that promised true transparency and open innovation from brands that work with AMD. Today, a direct link to the Arez lineup page still functions as expected on the Asus company website, but its disappeared from the U.S. version of the store. Arez is likewise no longer listed as a navigation option in Asuss graphics card section, even if you filter it so only AMD cards are shown. Nvidia and its partners never responded publicly to the allegations before the abrupt cancellation of the GeForce Partner Program today. Heres more from Nvidias John Teeple: With GPP, we asked our partners to brand their products in a way that would be crystal clear. The choice of GPU greatly defines a gaming platform. So, the GPU brand should be clearly transparent no substitute GPUs hidden behind a pile of techno-jargon. Most partners agreed. They own their brands and GPP didnt change that. They decide how they want to convey their product promise to gamers. Still, today we are pulling the plug on GPP to avoid any distraction from the super exciting work were doing to bring amazing advances to PC gaming. AMD Since details about the GeForce Partner Program were never made public, HardOCPs reporting and the war of words between AMD and Nvidia are all we have to go on. Itll be interesting to see if the spirit of the GeForce Partner Program lives on despite its official death. Nvidia seemingly wanted its partners to dedicate a specific gaming brand for GeForce hardware. Will that still happen? Will the additional new Radeon-exclusive brands that AMD foretold indeed make an appearance now that GPP is dead? Whats up with Asuss Arez? There are hundreds of beautiful waterfalls in Pennsylvania, and my explorations of the state's public lands have taken me to many of these scenic spots. Each spring, I like to bring you some of my favorite waterfalls around Pa. Here are a few more great ones to visit this year. Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Jacoby Falls Located in Lycoming County, Jacoby Falls is one of northeastern Pa.'s most impressive waterfalls. Located in Loyalsock Forest along a lightly trafficked 1.6 mile trail, Jacoby Falls drops 30 feet onto the rocks at the base of the falls. Make sure to visit this waterfall during the spring or periods of high water as it can often be just a trickle in the summer months. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Choke Creek Falls Choke Creek Falls can be found in Lackawanna County's Pinchot State Forest. This 20-foot waterfall features two drops set between two rock walls. This waterfall is located along the fantastic Pinchot Trail, which makes it perfect for those wanting to go for a longer hike. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls is located in western Pa.'s Raccoon Creek State Park. While this waterfall isn't large, it's quite beautiful and has an interesting history associated with it. At one point, a spring near the falls, which can still be seen, was considered to have healing properties. A resort once existed near the falls to cater to visitors wanting to enjoy its powers. Remnants of this resort can still be seen nearby. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Rode Falls Rode Falls is one of many waterfalls located along the Loyalsock Trail in Sullivan County, PA. This is one of at least four waterfalls on Ketchum Run, and offers a great resting spot for those hiking the trail. Adjacent to the stream is a ladder that hikers must use to climb up and down this waterfall. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Tumbling Waters Tumbling Waters is one of the least-known waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, but it's a great spot to visit when traveling in the area. Located just off the Tumbling Waters Trail, this double waterfall offers a beautiful focal point for this great hike. As of May 2018, it's also one of the only trails currently open in the Delaware Water Gap due to winter storm damage. Don't Edit Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Hell's Hollow Falls Hell's Hollow Falls is located in in McConnells Mill State Park, one of the state's most beautiful parks. Located along a short path, Hell's Hollow Falls features a beautiful drop adjacent to the ruins of an old stone furnace. It is one of several waterfalls in this western Pa. park. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Sand Run Falls Tioga County's Sand Run Falls is located deep in Tioga State Forest along the Mid-State Trail. A three-mile hike is required to reach this beautiful spot in northern Pennsylvania. The hike might be long, but the chance to see one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the region makes the hike very rewarding. While there, make sure you don't miss the other seasonal falls that are located nearby. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Wild Creek Falls Wild Creek Falls is a small waterfall in Beltzville State Park near Jim Thorpe, Pa. This Pocono Mountain waterfall can be seen from multiple angles and the short hike to reach it makes it perfect for those looking for an easy-to-reach waterfall in the region. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Rapp Run Falls Rapp Run Falls is located a short distance outside of Clarion, Pennsylvania, on state game lands. This waterfall is located adjacent to a roadway, but cannot be seen from the road. A small trail leads near the top of this beautiful waterfall. Take some time while in the area to explore the beautiful gorge carved out by this stream. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Adams Falls Adams Falls in Linn Run State Park is another waterfall that is easy to reach, but well worth taking the time to visit. Located along the Adams Falls Trail in southwestern Pennsylvania, this waterfall plunges 15 feet onto the rocks below. While it flows through much of the year, visit it in the spring to see it at its best. Don't Edit Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive Want more cool places in Pennsylvania? Jim Cheney is the writer behind UncoveringPA, Pennsylvania's most-read travel blog. He has traveled to every county in Pennsylvania and to many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. He lives in Harrisburg, Pa. Don't Edit Want more great waterfalls? Don't Edit Don't Edit Looking for more things to do? Don't Edit More reasons to explore Pennsylvania: Don't Edit Don't Edit For Subscribers 'Proactive' code enforcement strategy did not produce more fines The city pledged the new approach which relied on actively patrolling neighborhoods for violations would not be a revenue-generating measure. A U.S. soldier stands guard in front of the Peace House, the venue of third inter-Korean summit in Panmunjom, South Korea, on April 18, 2018. Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images For years President Trump has expressed his desire to withdraw U.S. troops from South Korea, arguing that our ally should be footing a much larger portion of the bill. They currently pay more than $800 million a year, about half of what it costs to keep 28,500 soldiers on the Korean peninsula, but the Trump administration has suggested they should pay nearly the entire cost. Now the New York Times reports that Trump has ordered the Pentagon to draw up options for reducing the number of U.S. troops in South Korea. While North Korean leader Kim Jong-un just had a historic meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Trump is expected to hold his own landmark meeting with Kim in the next few weeks, officials said the troop reassessment was not meant to be a bargaining chip in negotiations. If true, that means Trump didnt think it would be a problem to start looking at a move that could weaken the U.S.South Korean alliance, and also aligns with Kims goals. South Korea was quick to deny the story. Moons office told Bloomberg that a key official at the U.S. National Security Council told Chung Eui-yong, Seouls national security chief, that the report was not true. A spokesperson for the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colonel Patrick Ryder, said he had no information on the Pentagon preparing troop options for the president. Separate from the negotiations aimed at curtailing Pyongyangs nuclear program and ending hostilities between the two Koreas, Seoul and Washington have been renegotiating the cost-sharing agreement for basing U.S. troops in South Korea, which expires at the end of the year. Trump isnt the only official whos suggested its time to rethink the U.S. presence in South Korea. Moon Chung-in, an adviser to the South Korean president, said negotiations with the North may change the calculus. What will happen to U.S. forces in South Korea if a peace treaty is signed? he wrote in an article published this week. It will be difficult to justify their continuing presence. But the South Korean government said U.S. troops are still needed, and the Times reported that officials at the Pentagon and other agencies were rattled by Trumps directive. The presence of U.S. troops and their families is seen as a key deterrent thats kept more serious hostilities from breaking out on the Korean peninsula. While Kim has long insisted that U.S. troops leave the peninsula, and railed against the annual U.S.South Korean military exercises, Moon said last week that hed dropped his demands for a U.S. exit in exchange for denuclearization. So why would Trump order the Pentagon to look into troop withdrawal? Victor Cha, who was dropped from consideration to be ambassador to Seoul several months ago, told the Times that the move would appeal to Trumps base, save the U.S. money, and give him a bargaining chip for when he talks to Kim. But from the perspective of the U.S.South Korea alliance, Mr. Cha said, it would represent a major retrenchment. One might think that Trumps top priority during this sensitive time would be avoiding any move that could weaken our allys position in talks with Kim. Could it be that Trump isnt the master negotiator he claims he is? A practical and materialistic people, Americans care little for philosophers idle musings. However, all generalizations admit exceptions, and no one overcomes Americans intellectual apathy like Friedrich Nietzsche, an object of pop-culture obsession. Famously, The Sopranos Anthony Jr. echoed Zarathustras discovery: God is dead! To A.J., this meant he shouldnt be confirmed; to Nietzsche, it meant God, and His ethics, had lost pragmatic worth, necessitating new values. (Thus Spake Zarathustra (188385) Developing a new morality atop Christian societys smouldering ruins is an impossible task for a man but not for an Ubermensch, who can productively confront and transcend the Death of God. Last fall, chart-topping hit Gucci Gang catapulted 17-year old rapper Lil Pump, government name Gazzy Garcia, to a global fame belying this high-school dropouts humble origins as one of many indistinguishable, mumbling SoundCloud Rappers. Although Mr. Garcia may seem an unlikely harbinger of humanitys next evolutionary stage, a staggering concordance between Lil Pumps lifestyle and Nietzschean virtues leads to one simple, earth-shaking question: is Lil Pump the Ubermensch? Gucci Gang Humans have two fundamental impulses: the rational, mechanical, and individuating Apollonian, and the emotional, organic, and unifying Dionysian. Ancient Greeks balanced these two drives to create magnificent art and vigorous societies, but this equilibrium was disrupted by Socrates, whose dialectic sidelined the Dionysian, a marginalization made permanent when Platonized Christianity conquered the world. This imbalance is now disastrous, for the unfettered Apollonian will rejects life, as evidenced by the willing martyrdoms of Socrates and Christ, and in a modern world without God and salvation, this leads inevitably to nihilism. Only the Ubermensch and his new, Dionysian morality can fulfill The Birth of Tragedys (1872) prophecy that the age of Socratic man is past. Few indulge their Bacchic impulse like Lil Pump. In Crazy, Lil Pump raps Jump in this b**** and go crazy, ooh (12x), highlighting the Dionysian realities of creations illogicality, humans susceptibility to overpowering emotion and, symbolized here by Lil Pumps almost-tedious lyrical recursion, all things eternal recurrence. Further proof of Lil Pumps Dionysian tendencies comes when Flex Like Ouu proclaims Diamond on my wrist and it look like glue (2x). This identification of diamonds with glue references the melding, unavoidable as we die and decay, of everything into oleaginous unity. Crazy In his new release I Shyne, Dionysian tendencies are blatant, Lil Pump rapping Pop a bean, now her brain open / Right wrist so wet it look like the ocean / White girl gave me top, told her I had to focus / Lil Pump saved the rap game like a poet, woah. This reference to split human bodies coupled with natural and sexual imagery evokes the animalistic character of our sexual drives and natures meaningless, irresistible violence against all organic forms. In the fourth line, Lil Pumps self-identification as a messianic poet reveals his remarkable historical sense. Pump is waging a counter-offensive against the Apollonian worldview of Socrates, boasting he has aided poetry in its ancient quarrel with philosophy, confronting Platos denigration of poetry in The Republic. i Shyne In Thus Spake Zarathustra Nietzsche writes brave, unconcerned, mocking, violentthus wisdom wants us: she is a woman, and loves only a warrior, and Homers Competition explained that the greater and more sublime a Greek is, the brighter in him appears the ambitious flame. The Ubermensch must embrace the honor culture and exude the burning ambition treasured by the warrior nobility of Archaic Greece or Viking-age Scandinavia, societies tailored for vigorous expressions of the Will to Power. Notable, then, is Lil Pumps embrace of a martial lifestyle, and his bold proclamations, and thus far fulfillment, of his wild ambition. Gazzy Garcias ultimate aims are exhibited in two lines from Broke My Wrist reading Lil Pump in the White House (ooh) / Made White House turn to a trap house (ooh), his ambition so insatiable Lil Pump plans to occupy the seat of executive authority itself. Pumps warrior morality appears in Wheres the Blow, which declares Diamonds, they white like a pillow, ooh (what, what?) / $ki Mask will hit you with missiles, d*** (*beep*), continuing Thirty-three shots to the vest, ooh (what, what?) and My chain be icy like glitter (glitter) ending Lil Pump just calls up his hitters (ayy). Lil Pumps martial ethos is conveyed through strikingly Homeric language, with naturalistic metaphors alongside the violence characterizing his strife-ridden existence, linking him with the Iliads heroes. Lil Pump is the supreme warrior surrounded by loyal companions, Smokepurpp the Patroclus to Pumps Achilles. This mythic heroism is reinforced in Lil Pump, Garcia rapping AR-15 with Smith & Wesson (Smith & Wesson!) (ayy!), Lil Pumps AR-15 paralleling Achilles shield. These themes re-appear in Designer, where Pump raps Couple hoes up on a yacht, I can not f*** with the opps, continuing Went to the gun store and I bought a rocket (ooh) / One million dollars, cash hangin out my pocket (d***). Lil Pumps all-consuming will to power and embrace of the warrior lifestyle is displayed with verses about his awe-inspiring tools of death and Croesan wealth, as is his rejection of mainstream authority, indicated by his dismissal of law enforcement officers. Nietzsche notes the Ubermensch must create new values that liberate humanity from enervated concepts like Good, Evil, and Truth. Lil Pump, through his dedication to radical individuality, has begun to ready himself, and mankind, for this transvaluation of all values. His incisive originality is exhibited in I Shyne, spitting And they just mad cause I made my own sound (ooh) / Jump off the roof and my fans goin wild. Unsurprisingly, Lil Pumps divergence from accepted social norms generates anger, but for similar reasons, he inspires his followers to mad devotion, as did Zarathustra. Similarly, Pumps single Broke My Wrist evidences his radical individuality when it announces he is the trapper of da century, proudly declaring his criminality. Nietzsche would have been delighted, for the criminal is a natural human being degraded by our tame, mediocre, emasculated society, fearful of his strength and courage. Broke My Wrist Additionally, Lil Pumps new morality manifests through his flexible relationship with the truth. In repeated interviews, videos, and public appearances, Lil Pump has proclaimed he dropped out of Harvard Medical to save the rap game, confusing those bound to a narrow conception of truth his affirmation cannot satisfy. Lil Pumps ambivalent relationship with the truth is also encountered in Iced Out, which boasts Dropped out 9th grade, dropped out straight to the Milwaukee Bucks / Couldve been at Harvard servin juugs, but I dont give a f***. Its irrelevant that Garcia never played for the Milwaukee Bucks nor served juugs at Harvard. Lil Pump apprehends, unlike the timid hoi polloi, Nietzsches revelation there are no facts, only interpretations. Understanding that truth is a better means than it is an end, Lil Pump turns wild fabrications into lyrical and PR gold. His disregard for herd morality is further exemplified in Broke My Wrist, stating N**** mad at me cause they aint got clout (clout) / F*** school, n****, I rather sell pounds (ooh), contemptuously dismissing societys educational and judicial structures while also addressing his detractors slavish ressentiment. His Nietzschean disgust for hieratic authority is displayed in Wheres the Blow, assertingBitch, one day I went to f***** church (went to f***** church!) / Pastor told me Boy, you off the purp (God d***!) (yah, yah!), with Lil Pump denounced by the priestly class as the Ubermensch must be. Garcias epochal socio-historical significance is affirmed by two congruities explicable only through Lil Pumps metaphysical prefiguration in Nietzsches writing. Recall Nietzsches contention the philosopher dislikes marriage, and Pumps sentiments in Gucci Gang I cant buy a b**** no wedding ring (ooh). Next, consider Nietzsches strange ambition to have my lion and my eagle about me, then behold Lil Pumps mastery of the tiger that accompanies him during the Gucci Gang music video as he distributes pounds of marijuana through the halls of an elementary school. Some time, in a stronger age than this mouldy, self-doubting present, he will come to us, he who will give earth its purpose, and man his hope again. Now, 121 years after Nietzsche wrote that passage, I can no longer avoid the awesome and dreadful conclusion: the Ubermensch is walking the Earth, and Lil Pump is he. Though few suspected the eschaton would be a codeine-sipping, rainbow-haired juvenile delinquent, all ought now recognize Gazzy Garcia for what he is: the future of mankind. We must blindly follow in Lil Pumps tiny footsteps, for they alone can lead us towards new values wherein we become new human beings. Our rallying cry shall echo through the hills, the world reborn to a single sound, millions in joyous unison screaming: ESKEDDDDDDDDDDDDIT!!! Of all todays filmmakers who are commonly regarded as serious artists, Finlands Aki Kaurismaki is the only one committed to happy endings, the only one consistently devoted to comedy, the only optimist. Kaurismakis optimism is as bruised as it is beautiful, as his characters of minimalist emotional presence get knocked about the landscape like pinballs perpetually on the verge of sinking into one hole or another. Its a cold country, and these are lives on thin ice. The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen) follows two such human pinballs on their independent trajectories as they accidentally cross paths. The film begins with a moment of eerie, dirty beauty. A face emerges from a load of coal on a ship. As the coal glitters with diamond-like flecks, the face seems to construct itself from the rock like a creature from a 50s-era monster movie, or like Martin Sheens face emerging from the water in the iconic shot from Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now (1979). Perhaps this man is a phoenix reborn from ashes. This initially fantastical creature will soon be identified as Khaled (Sherwan Haji), a Syrian refugee who tells the capsule description of his odyssey in restrained closeup to a tall blonde female bureacrat. Like most of the Finns in this movie and all of Kaurismakis movies, shes reserved in a manner slightly off-kilter, slightly homely, slightly daffy, slightly unreal. Khaled finds himself a stranger in a very strange land indeed. He and his fellow refugees in the shelter, from which theyre not allowed to stray, feel infinitely far from achieving the jobs and lives available to the countrys natives, so one of the films ironies is that those natives are themselves restless, discontented, and anxious to flee what they have. At least two Finnish business owners in the story cant wait to sell everything and get to the airport, and something similar is happening to burly middle-aged salesman Wikstrom (Sakari Kuosmanen), our second pinball. Like Khaled, hes introduced in a sequence of largely silent actions. He takes off his wedding ring and drops it on the formica table where his wife sits drinking and smoking and upon which a squat cactus rests in full prickly symbolism, as unassuming yet noticeable as a teapot in an Ozu film. In his first brief encounter with the coal-smeared Khaled, Wikstrom nearly runs him over at an intersection. An intersection the simple and beautiful mundanity of these symbols marks much of Kaurismakis vision. Those of us who understand movies and fairy tales will expect the two men to meet again, and that will happen in a straight-faced parody of those old westerns where men make friends with their fists. With a path of determination that includes business savvy and high-stakes poker, Wikstrom opens a restaurant staffed by Kaurismakis typical mannequin-esque sad sacks. Khaled endures the understated absurdities of the system that evaluates his claim for asylum while searching for his lost sister. In another bluntly symbolic fillip, he forms a rapport with the restaurants homeless dog, who must be concealed from inspectors. For any of these characters to get anywhere, they must employ shortcuts and expediencies of questionable legality, yet their salvation is that they neednt do these things alone. Theres always a support network of friends and strangers engaging in a conspiracy to skirt the rules, and this dogged commitment to ones fellow humans is the source of the films optimism. Even so, nobodys heart is on their sleeve. All remain poker-faced and dour while saving each others bacon. Khaleds worst threat is the trio of skinhead goons who dog his heels, their leather jackets proclaiming themselves defenders of Finlands purity, but Kaurismakis vision is one in which even the homeless winos will come to the aid of the downtrodden. Outcasts and fringe dwellers look out for each other, and as an added bonus, theres music everywhere. The story is dotted with public performances of Finnish folk and blues music, and even a moment when Khaled strums a long-necked sitar. Full performances of the street and nightclub musicians are included as bonus material. The film is an extension of Kaurismakis 2011 film Le Havre, in which an old curmudgeon involves himself in the protection of a little black boy living illegally in the port city. In this new movie, the immigrant is an adult (if only just) and an equal player in the scenario, making choices that determine his own destiny as much as he must depend on the kindness of strangers. As the filmmaker explains in the Berlin Film Festival Q & A included as a bonus, he frankly wants to change the world, starting with Finland and Europe, and to awaken his complacent or frightened fellow citizens into a sense of shared humanity with those people declared illegal and shut out of what meager opportunities are afforded to the legal. In other words, he feels a humanistic mission, and his decades of constructing dryly humorous films about the small joys and victories of losers and drifters allows him to pull off these missives in which sentiment is submerged under obstinate, absurd, classically framed dark humor, usually presented in the middle distance amid carefully composed swathes of color and light. His films dont make the effort to reach out and draw you in, but you end up getting drawn in anyway. Aside from the press conference, this Criterion Blu-ray includes a video essay about several of Kaurismakis films, plus an interview with Haji, a Syrian film student whose real sister plays his characters sister. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. 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. Photo: Anastasiia Babakova/Getty Images/iStockphoto A few weeks ago, I came home complaining of an intense pain in my back and shoulders, radiating from my right collarbone to my upper back. No amount of stretching or rubbing helped. My roommate the earthier of the two of us was kind enough to offer me his best version of medicine, a curious pink mat covered with sharp plastic rosettes. I love it, he said emphatically as he passed it on to me, explaining that he had just gotten his mom hooked and used it nightly himself for muscle-pain relief, plus some added calm and relaxation after a long day. Acupressure mats, as theyre called, work on contact when you walk, stand, or lie down on them, the spikes exert pressure on your acu-points (commonly known as the bed of nails method). Unlike acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles at various acu-points on the body, acupressure is noninvasive and relieves aches and pains by diffusing your energy, or chi as its traditionally known in Chinese medicine through touch and pressure. I was skeptical, but willing to do anything to relieve the pain. Lets just say the mat was an acquired comfort. Most people prefer direct contact by lying on it shirtless, which feels about as comfortable as stepping on Legos poking into the soft tissue in your back, digging into your shoulder blade, pressing in your neck and skull, and leaving impressions in your arms no matter where you shift your weight. Its hard to say that I was feeling anything but discomfort while lying down on the mat, but the second I got up, there was generalized relief. The acute pain I was experiencing was gone. Many people lie on it for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, sometimes as long as 20 or 30 minutes (as many mat brands recommend), and do this daily. But even after only five or six minutes on the first go around, I found that the soreness had mysteriously melted away and didnt return. I could roll my arms back and forth without any lingering tension something I hadnt been able to do for days. I was astonished. I had to know, How does this stuff work? For answers, I called up Oliver Grover, an acupuncturist and chiropractor at Hudson Wellness, whose explanation in tl;dr form is that certain areas of the body overlap on nerve pathways when one part is stimulated, it can correspond with relief to another. For instance, theres a large pathway along the large intestine that can treat a number of things when stimulated, says Grover, one of them being a pinched nerve. Beyond the anecdotal accounts, theres also evidence that shows that acupuncture and perhaps, by extension, acupressure can help treat basic musculoskeletal pain on the back, neck, and knees. Okay, but are there any harmful possibilities? Grover says his main concerns about using the mat are the seeming randomness of the spikes themselves, as mats covered with thousands of spikes stimulate so many different points on the body at once. Its the opposite approach to an acupuncturists exacting method of targeting specific points in the body, and he notes that it can be taxing on the body. Jacqueline Sutera, of City Podiatry, tells me that the risks of using the mat are relatively minor, though. (She actually uses an acupressure mat herself for neck and back pain, stopping short at her feet.) The real caution is for the elderly or diabetic with poor circulation or thin skin, lest you pierce the skin and get an infection. Internist Dana Corriel agrees that as long as a patient is disclosing these practices with a trusted physician and they approve, there shouldnt be a problem. Personally, I feel that if any practice helps to lessen tension, and relax my patients, this can be of help in the treatment of other illnesses, by secondary effect. Consider me a convert. I just bought a mat for myself, and Im finding the acupressure mat a comfortable middle ground for someone whos not ready to dip her toe into acupuncture (I loathe needles) and too cheap to fork out money on regular massages. My tech-neck can get down with some harmless self-soothing for an easy 50 bucks. If youre into the idea of acupressure mats (or still a little wary), I consulted the experts for suggestions of which to buy, along with some similar solutions for back and neck pain. Spoonk Acupressure Mat $50 As far as acupressure mats go, Grover notes that there arent major differences between them theyre usually covered with hundreds of rosettes and do the same thing, so it just boils down to color and style preferences. In his practice, he says, The Spoonk has come up a lot, and the Pranamat is another big one that seems to be hot in the yoga community, that a lot of patients have been talking about. The Spoonk comes with a flat face pillow covered with rosettes instead of a roll that you can prop your head on, and if youre a Dr. Oz fan, you may recognize it. $50 at Amazon Buy $50 at Amazon Buy Sea Band Adult Wrist Band $13 now 31% off $9 Or, if you only want to dip your toe in with some entry-level acupressure, the most basic form would be this sea bracelet thats commonly worn to treat seasickness. Grover says that it works by applying pressure to a point on your wrist thats classically studied to treat nausea. That point has been long documented for over 5,000 years. I teach all my prenatal patients to massage it when theyre getting prenatal-induced nausea, especially morning sickness, every time they feel that coming on. $9 at Amazon Buy $9 at Amazon Buy TENS Unit 24 Modes Muscle Stimulator $35 If youre experiencing muscle pain, another sensory stimulant Grover suggests trying at home is a TENS unit (otherwise known as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), which is a form of electrotherapy that transmits an electric current through a sticky pad. Its classically used in the chiropractic or physical-therapy world to stimulate the nerves and release some endorphins, which are natural pain killers that can reduce your sense of pain. People usually only use them for minutes at a time (and consumer units are too weak to cause major shock damage), so he says there isnt too much cause for concern about negative effects. Its a really old-school tool. Ive had patients that say theyve been using their TENS unit for over 20 years. $35 at Amazon Buy $35 at Amazon Buy Icy Hot Extra Strength Medicated Patches (Pack of 2) $31 now 32% off $21 Dr. Corriel takes a more traditional approach to handling muscle pain, and says, I typically focus more on telling people to use compresses (like Icy Hot) and use meds for pain control, with anti-inflammatory properties in it. Some of the more common inflammatory medications youre probably familiar with are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen (Aleve) and those you can usually find at your local drugstore. $21 at Amazon Buy $21 at Amazon Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best womens jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter. His work has been honored nationally by Society of Professional Journalists, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Scripps foundation and others. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com Angie Jackson covers crime and breaking news for The Post and Courier. She previously covered the same beat for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive.com in Michigan. When shes not reporting, Angie enjoys teaching yoga and exploring the outdoors. Gloria Williams of Walterboro apologized Friday and testified that she never intended to abduct a baby from a Florida hospital two decades ago in the aftermath of a miscarriage. Williams, 52, raised the little girl as her own before getting arrested last year on a kidnapping charge to which she pleaded guilty in February. She took the witness stand during the second day of her sentencing hearing in Jacksonville. According to The Florida Times-Union, Williams told the court her life was out of control when she drove to Jacksonville in 1998, having lost two sons to an abusive ex-husband and a baby to a miscarriage. "I really cannot tell you what was on my mind," she said, but denied having any plans to abduct another child. Read the Times-Union's full coverage of the hearing here. Williams faces up to 22 years in prison. The judge is expected to hand down a sentence for Williams in the coming weeks. Prosecutors said Williams abducted newborn Kamiyah Mobley and raised her in Walterboro, where grew up as Alexis Manigo. The young woman is now 19. The young woman eventually met her birth parents, but continues to support Williams, the woman she knew for years as her mother. The mystery unraveled over the last couple of years when National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tips led authorities to Williams. In this picture released by official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves to the crowd during his meeting with a group of labors in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 30, 2018. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 15:49:01 Company to introduce advanced prescriptive security services for Virginia Information Technology Agency Paris, France; Irving, TX, May 4, 2018 - 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 use 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, CEO, 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. Press contact: US: Mike Hockey - michael.hockey@atos.net - +1 281 728 7242 Europe: Terence Zakka | terence.zakka@atos.net | +33 1 73 26 40 76 | @Mr_Zakka This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: ATOS via Globenewswire PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 12:51:02 Corvil's UTC Traceability solution for MiFID and CAT compliance recognized for its innovation and value in accelerating customer compliance with emerging regulations DUBLIN, Ireland, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corvil continues to be recognized as the "gold-standard" for machine-time analytics, achieving the "Best Time Synchronisation Solution" award in the A-Team Group's RegTech Awards 2018, for its Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) Solution for MiFID and CAT Compliance. Regulatory bodies have turned to time precision and integrity as a critical dependency for providing transparency, auditability, and accountability for algorithmic business such as digital financial transactions, including electronic trading. Under MiFID II and incoming Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) rules, market participants must establish, demonstrate and maintain clock synchronization with a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) source to a high degree of accuracy. Corvil's UTC Traceability solution watches over clock synchronization integrity to assure compliance and reduce regulatory tail risk. Furthermore, it demonstrates the firm's ability to excel in agile innovation and build cost-effective solutions to extend its business and operational value to help customers respond to evolving regulatory regimes. "We have long seen precision time-handling as the basis for establishing causality for forensics as well as accurate business transaction analysis, network and application performance management, and cyber-security," said Raymond Russell, Corvil's co-founder and CTO. "Our core platform's handling of time, short time-scale analysis, and identification of clock synchronization status by message not only provide a key asset for current and future regulatory compliance, but is proving a minimum requirement for effective digital business, cyber surveillance, and AI Ops." Corvil has a nearly 20-year history of shaping trading and algorithmic business technology through transforming network data into intelligence for execution performance, client intelligence and experience, regulatory compliance and cyber risk surveillance. The firm's industry-leading precision in nanosecond time-stamping of every reportable event in a transaction's lifecycle goes well beyond current regulatory requirements. Providing a solution to likely address future tightening of clock synchronization and timestamping requirements, Corvil Analytics delivers a robust, long-term solution for customers. This forward-looking capability, Corvil's de facto industry standard solution for trade performance monitoring, as well as automated daily and on-demand reporting for compliance and business teams are among the differentiators that have propelled Corvil's RegTech success. Today, Corvil proudly counts almost every major stock exchange and global bank as a customer. "We are pleased to congratulate Corvil on their prestigious RegTech Awards 2018 win," said Laurie McAughtry, Editor at A-Team Group. "Our readership of senior trading technology executives clearly recognized Corvil's contributions to their operational, business, and compliance solutions in voting Corvil as the leading provider of Best Time Synchronisation Solution." "We are delighted with the recognition of our UTC Traceability Solution from our peers. MiFID II and CAT are significant not only to the world of finance but to the wider business landscape as they represent a new era of digital algorithmic and AI oversight through the lens of machine-time, - where faster and smarter machine technology operates autonomously at nanosecond speed," said David Murray, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Corvil. "Our expertise in this new reality of time, puts us in a strong position to address future regulatory rules as well as apply our RegTech capabilities to other algorithmic and AI powered businesses." Corvil's strong performance in empowering firms with insight into client and trader intelligence, market data quality, order and transaction performance as well as technology performance to optimize execution, continues to garner peer recognition. In the past 12 months the firm achieved "Best Time-Stamping / Infrastructure Performance Monitoring" at Intelligent Trading Technology Awards 2017; "Best Financial Transaction Security Platform" in 2018 FinTech Breakthrough Awards while Institutional Investor recently named Corvil CEO, Donal Byrne, among world's top 25 Innovators in trading technology. About Corvil Corvil is the industry leader for deriving Security, Operational, and Business intelligence from network data. As companies adopt faster and smarter machine technology, it becomes critical to tap into richer and more granular machine data sources to safeguard the transparency, performance and security of critical infrastructure and business applications. The Corvil streaming analytics platform captures, decodes, and learns from network data on the fly, transforming it into machine-time intelligence for network, IT, security and business teams to operate efficiently and securely in this new machine world. Corvil uses an open architecture to integrate the power of its network data analytics with the overall IT ecosystem providing increased automation and greater operational and business value outcomes for its users. The Corvil solution is trusted by leading financial institutions to safeguard their businesses across the globe involving 354 trillion messages with a daily transaction value in excess of $1 trillion. Learn more about Corvil: Corvil.com | Twitter | LinkedIn Media Contact Press Office at Corvil +353 1 859 1040 pressoffice@corvil.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/b1fcbd60-7b75-44f0-b25d-40b32fb0c975 This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Corvil via Globenewswire PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 19:11:16 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 Emerald Bay Energy Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Calgary, Alberta (FSCWire) - Emerald Bay Energy Inc. (TSX Venture:EBY). has issued a press release with the following headline:Emerald Bay Energy Announces New Members of South Texas Technical TeamTo 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 Emerald Bay Energy 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/Emerald Bay Energy Inc.Source: Emerald Bay Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: EBY, OTC Bulletin Board: EMBYF)Date: May 04, 2018Time: 1:11 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Emerald Bay Energy 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.) Essential reading, viewing, etc. Photo: Courtesy of the Vendors Because watching old Elvis flicks doesnt count. Watch these Kumu Hina Hawaiians believe in a sacred in-between gender blending both male and female characteristics what Western society refers to as transgender. This Netflix documentary explores mahu culture, following Native Hawaiian teacher and transwoman Hina Wong-Kalu for a year as she mentors a young girl who aspires to lead her schools all-male hula troupe. Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox Former news anchor Wilcox conducts one-on-one interviews with some of the states most influential people, including math professor and Polynesian voyaging canoe navigator Linda Furuto, fashion designer Manaola Yap, Hawaii International Film Festival founder Jeanette Paulson Hereniko, and Oahu-born author and tech evangelist Guy Kawasaki. Na Mele Traditional Hawaiian music, performed in a live studio setting, for a weekly program from PBS Hawaii. Past acts have included Mailani Makainai, Waipuna and Kenneth Makuakane. Hiki No Another PBS Hawaii program, highlighting storytelling by local students. Past episodes have profiled a young pig farmer, reported from onboard the Hokulea voyaging canoe, and hit the streets to glean public opinion on Oahus ride-sharing services. The Daily Pidgin Local comedian Andy Bumatai explains how to speak (and interpret) the local slang in these popular webisodes. Read these The Food of Paradise This is the story of Hawaiis modern history, told through local recipes collected by author, professor, and food historian Rachel Laudan. It is reflective, well-researched, and full of contextual anecdotes about Hawaiis many layers, including how rice became a staple, how the plantation era shaped new palates and a new culture post-statehood, and the difference between local food and luau grub. FLUX Hawaii For excellent narrative journalism and photography illustrating the complexities of life in Hawaii, this is the magazine to read cover to cover. Start with this profile of Javier Fombellida, elevator operator in the Old Blaisdell Hotel; read about a Hawaiian plant healer; and chase that with a story about a husband-and-wife team making shochu on Oahus North Shore. Honolulu Magazine Good for cultural long-reads. To wit: Keepers of the Kaona: How These 6 Kumu Preserve Hawaiis Hula Traditions, which profiles the locals breathing new life into the ancient storytelling method, and From the Mountain to the Sea: Saving the Heeia Ahupuaa, a deep dive into the ahupuaa, the ancient practice of dividing land into self-sustaining communities. Bookmark these Aloha Holoholo A new, photo-driven Hawaii lifestyle blog highlighting Honolulus eats, drinks, and things to do around town. Frolic Oahus answer to Grub Street, covering restaurant and bar openings, menu updates, chef changes, and other industry switcheroos. Hear these The Holoholo Podcast Pals Virginia Paresa and Bianca Bennett interview local creatives like Emily Jaime, designer of ethical fashion brand YIREH, and actor Keola Simpson about how their island upbringing has influenced their work. Central Pacific Time A new online radio station featuring curated selections from Hawaiis underground music scenes (soul, electronic, funk, blues, and beyond). Themed shows have names like Mopetown USA and Coffee & Kush; click here for the schedule. Follow these Oahu is a Instagrammers paradise. Follow @misterver for urban street scenes, @ge_keoni for dramatic land and sea photos, @nolank808 for hazy-dreamy fantasy getaways, @opticalhi for insane aerial photography, @mattbruening for obligatory palm tree and sunset shots, @meleana_hawaii for gorgeous leis, @fotoaloha for vintage Hawaiian snaps, and @alohasuperette to preview your souvenir list. To tap into the wider Insta-universe, follow the hashtags #waiks for real-time happenings in Waikiki; #brokedamouth for drool-worthy food pics; #keepitkaimuki for eats, peeps, and daily life documented by small local businesses like Golden Hawaii Barbershop and Via Gelato; and #thesweatlifehi for blissful shots of islanders in motion. PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 23:01:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 389 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Great Thunder Gold Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Great Thunder Gold Corp. (TSX Venture:GTG). has issued a press release with the following headline:Great Thunder Terminates Non-Core Property OptionTo 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 Great Thunder Gold Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Great Thunder Gold Corp.Source: Great Thunder Gold Corp. (TSX Venture: GTG, ISIN: CA3913271035, WKN: A1T89R)Date: May 04, 2018Time: 5:00 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Great Thunder Gold Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 04:27:30 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 546 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 HONG KONG, May 3, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Blockpass and Holdex have announced a partnership to offer streamlined Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money-Laundering (AML) identity verification solutions to Holdex clients.Blockpass serves as the much needed identity solution for the blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem. The rapidly growing sector has been bolstered by a surge in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and billions of dollars of investment without verifying the identity of investors. Fearing money laundering, terrorist financing and ponzi schemes, governments globally are implementing greater regulation of ICOs and the blockchain sector in general, requiring stricter KYC and AML compliance. Such identity verifications take several days or weeks to complete, slowing down user onboarding and leading to significant costs as high as 20% of operating budgets.Blockpass is simplifying the way businesses of all sizes perform regular KYC functions by offering a shared regulatory compliance service for humans, companies, objects and devices. Holdex strives to make ICOs easy and affordable by building reliable, flexible and user friendly tools to support crypto crowdfunding campaigns. In doing so, Holdex ensures that campaigns will be the most secure and compliant by providing ICOs with top KYC and AML checks and reports."The partnership means that Holdex customers will soon have access to a tool that provides even greater compliance for the ICO and crypto funding process, alleviating what has been an expensive and time consuming process," said Blockpass CMO Hans Lombardo. "This is the next step in bringing ICOs into regulated mainstream industries." "Traditional fundraising tools are complex and not available for everyone. However, blockchain technology has enabled ICOs as a new way to support ideas and fuel them. Holdex is on a mission to make ICOs easy and affordable for startups. By providing a simple tool to create and manage ICO campaigns, at Holdex we want to make sure bad actors are excluded. This is why integration with Blockpass will provide Holdex an extra layer of KYC/AML compliance," said Holdex co-founder and Director Vadim Zolotokrylin.About Blockpass IDNThe goal of Blockpass IDN ( http://www.blockpass.org/) is global realization of identity for the Internet of Everything. Through the use of blockchain technology and smart contracts, Blockpass is a production ready Regtech platform offering shared regulatory and compliance services for humans, businesses, objects and devices. As this identity system supports verification of humans (KYC), objects (KYO) and connected devices (KYD), it will enable the development of new applications that rely on a trusted connection between human, corporate, and device identities. Registered in Hong Kong, Blockpass IDN is a joint venture of Infinity Blockchain Labs and Chain of Things. Blockpass IDN licenses its technology from the non-profit Blockpass Foundation, registered in the Isle of Man.About HoldexThe Holdex platform ( https://holdex.io) enables ICO campaign setup without you having to code a single line or maintain the infrastructure. Our solution covers and supports the whole process from whitelisting, promo and referral campaign management to issuing and distributing your tokens.Media contact:Caitlin BettsT: +852 9733 4935E: press@ blockpass.org Topic: Press release summarySectors: Cards/Payments, Security/Biometrics, Currencies, FinTech/ChainsFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network. PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 23:22:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 385 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Khot Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Tortola, British Virgin Islands (FSCWire) - Khot Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd. (CSE:KOT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Khot Announces Name Change, New Stock Symbol and Share ConsolidationTo 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 Khot Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd., 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/Khot Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.Source: Khot Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd. (CSE: KOT)Date: May 04, 2018Time: 5:21 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Khot Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd. 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: 2018-05-04 08:54:01 Lynk Appoints James Lin as CTO and LinkedIns Xin Fu as Advisor Lynk Heather Harding heather@lynkpeople.com or Liz Shi (Chinese enquiries) liz@lynkpeople.com Lynk, the global knowledge sharing platform, announced the executive appointment of James Lin as Chief Technology Officer. He will lead technology innovation and product development, and be responsible for building a global, world class technology product, and data team to meet growing customer demand and support rapid business expansion. With a Ph.D from MIT, Lins prior roles include CTO at Regulatory DataCorp (RDC), a risk diligence company for Anti Money Laundering (AML)/Know Your Customer (KYC), founded by 20 of the worlds leading financial institutions. He joined RDC in 2010 when it became a portfolio company of Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs, and spearheaded technology innovations to transform RDC into a leading RegTech company. His instrumental contribution helped put RDC on the map as one of Deloittes Technology Fast 500, for 2014, 2015, and 2016. Prior to RDC, Lin was CIO for Forbes internet business. He built a central adtech platform for all Forbes Digital businesses, which together attracted over 40 million unique visitors monthly. Previously, he managed financial services investment information solutions, holding senior positions with Standard & Poor's, Merrill Lynch, and Clearbook Financial. Lin has an outstanding professional track record and his experience with RDC makes him uniquely qualified to lead Lynks product and technology development into the future, said Peggy Choi, Founder and CEO of Lynk. Throughout his career, Lin established himself as a respected leader, becoming the ideal person to take Lynk forward with transformative solutions. This expansion of our leadership team solidifies and strengthens our path forward. I couldnt imagine a more exciting time to join Lynk, said Lin. The Company is entering into a new stage of growth and innovation driven by strong global demand for high-tech, high-touch services. I look forward to working with the team building the revolutionary platform and delivering transformative solutions to enable knowledge sharing at scale, connecting the worlds greatest minds, and democratizing access to knowledge. Alongside Lin, Lynk also appointed an advisor, Xin Fu, Senior Director of Data Science at LinkedIn. His current role sees him driving product innovations through creative use of data and development of analytics platforms that democratize the data. Fu will provide similar guidance to Lynk. Prior to joining LinkedIn, Fu worked at Google and Microsoft, he has also authored over 50 refereed papers and journal articles. Fu holds a Ph.D in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of North Carolina, and is currently an advisor to Didi Chuxing in China. Lynks growth over the past 6 months is outstanding and not slowing down, they have almost doubled the New York team, the Mumbai team, and the tech team in Hong Kong, there is immense potential for Lynk, expanding globally to achieve their vision. shared Fu. What I can bring to Lynk will be advice through application of data science and, how to fundamentally help Lynk grow. Furthermore, Chandra Gnanasambandam, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and a Lynk advisor, shares his perspective on the knowledge sector. Knowledge networks are increasingly relevant as the speed of business accelerates and decisions grow more complex. About Lynk Lynk is a Knowledge Sharing platform that connects the worlds greatest minds. We help people with time-sensitive and business-critical questions benefit from the experience of a community of 50,000+ curated domain experts via 1:1 conversations or meetings. Lynk has offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore and New York. For more information please visit: www.lynk.global View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006 PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 20:03:01 INVESTOR CONTACT Louis Tonelli, Vice-President, Investor Relations louis.tonelli@magna.com | 905.726.7035 MEDIA CONTACT Tracy Fuerst, Director of Corporate Communications & PR tracy.fuerst@magna.com | 248.631.5396 OUR BUSINESS1 We have more than 168,000 entrepreneurial-minded employees dedicated to delivering mobility solutions. We are a mobility technology company and one of the world's largest automotive suppliers with 335 manufacturing operations and 96 product development, engineering and sales centres in 28 countries. Our competitive capabilities include body exteriors and structures, power and vision technologies, seating systems and complete vehicle solutions. Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange (MGA). For further information about Magna, visit www.magna.com. 1 Manufacturing operations, production development, engineering and sales centres and employee figures include equity-accounted operations. This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Magna International Inc. via Globenewswire # 394 Words AURORA, Ontario, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG) (NYSE:MGA) today provided an adjusted 2017 Financial Review document reflecting the retrospective adoption of the new revenue standard (Accounting Standard Codification 606), the change in accounting for tooling and pre-production engineering, as well as our new reportable segments. The document is available on the company's website, www.magna.com in the Financial Review section or by selecting the following link PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 15:27:02 TORONTO, May 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or "the Company") (TSX:MND) today announced that its first quarter 2018 financial results will be released after market close on May 9, 2018, followed by a conference call with Mark Sander, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay, for investors and analysts on May 10, 2018 at 8:00 am (Toronto time). Analysts and interested investors are invited to participate using the following dial-in numbers: Participant Number: (201) 689-8341 Participant Number (Toll free): (877) 407-8289 Conference ID: 13679730 A replay of the conference call will be available until 23:59 (Toronto time), May 24, 2018 and can be accessed using the following dial-in number: Encore Toll Free Dial-in Number: (877) 660-6853 Encore ID: 13679730 For Further Information: Mark Sander President and Chief Executive Officer Greg DiTomaso Director of Investor Relations Contact: +1.647.260.1566 About Mandalay Resources Corporation: Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia and Sweden, and care and maintenance and development projects in Chile. The Company is focused on executing a roll-up strategy, creating critical mass by aggregating advanced or in production gold, copper, silver and antimony projects in Australia, the Americas and Europe to generate near-term cash flow and shareholder value. This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Mandalay Resources Corporation via Globenewswire PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 10:04:01 Press release Brussels, 4 May 2018 Orange first to launch end-to-end mobile IoT services, paving the way for Belgium's IoT (r)evolution The possibilities offered by the Internet of Things (IoT) are growing strongly in Belgium thanks to the launch of Orange's Mobile IoT network last year. Orange's new IoT technologies (Narrow Band IoT and LTE-M) cover 100% of the Belgian territory making it possible for companies to start putting the first IoT solutions in place. Today Orange Belgium presents a Rapid Development Kit and a commercial mobile IoT offer (called 'Connected Things') that provides a full end-to-end service to companies who want to build and roll-out IoT-solutions in a smart and safe way. Rapid Development Kit and 'Orange Maker' make your measured data instantly available As from now, business customers can order a Rapid Development Kit to start building their own IoT solutions. It contains everything a customer needs to develop and build prototypes and products using the Orange Mobile IoT network. The Rapid Development Kit includes 6 month free use of the Orange IoT network, an microcontroller, a radio module with an Orange SIM card and plug n' play sensors (that can measure temperature, air quality, geographical position.). After 6 months customers can opt for a prepaid or postpaid 'Connected Things' offer to maintain the connection via Orange's mobile IoT- technologies. Orange Belgium also launches the 'Orange Maker' to its IoT services. The 'Orange Maker' acts as an IoT Application Enabler, making it possible to simply connect hardware to the Orange IoT network. The 'Orange Maker' organises the access to the connected devices and the collected data, adds automation rules using a wizard to let those connected devices interoperate with other devices and applications through a portal, as well as SIM management and support. This way Orange is leading the way for companies who are eager to start developing a wide range of IoT solutions that were very hard to implement before the introduction of Orange Mobile IoT network. Mobile IoT network of Orange enables future-proof IoT solutions Ingrid Gonnissen, Chief Business Officer of Orange Belgium, explains: "Our business customers were delighted to hear we offer Mobile IoT on the entire Belgian territory. Many of them prefer Orange as their connectivity partner, but together with our experts, we now made it possible to develop smart solutions together. With the end-to-end services we launch today, we can help them develop their own IoT solutions further and faster. Moreover, Orange customers who opt for our mobile IoT offers can be sure they use a future-proof network as it is fully consistent with the future evolution towards 5G. It will soon be possible to connect objects that require very high reliability e.g. for the remote control of critical devices and automation processes. We are confident we can help small, medium and large enterprise in creating innovative IoT solutions that make them more productive and cost-efficient." Orange added the Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) cellular network layers in 2017. They have the capacity to connect millions of everyday objects to the Internet of Things (IoT). In combination with the 'Connected Things' services Orange launched today, customers do not only get connectivity on Orange's network, it also allows them to go live with their IoT solutions fast using a smart and efficient interface that immediately shows the activity of their connected objects. Orange partners up with All Things Talk to deliver a unique service to its customers. Orange enables business to implement smart and safe IoT solutions fast and efficiently The 'Connected Things' offer makes use of the LPWA technologies Orange installed last year. These technologies have certain unique advantages: the battery life of the connected equipment for instance can live longer and the cost of the radio modules inside the devices that need to be connected can be reduced. But the Mobile IoT network of Orange has some extra advantages: it enables full bidirectional communication between the object and the network allowing firmware software updates over the air, its signal penetration inside buildings is strong and in the future the connectivity abroad (roaming) on other operators' Mobile IoT networks is guaranteed. Orange's 'Connected Things' offer is the safest solution for IoT connectivity as it operates in a licensed spectrum. Thanks to LTE networks' unique capabilities the SIM card makes secure connections in terms of authenticating and encrypting the data in transit. Thing Talk platform shows what is possible when connecting things to the internet In order to make the possibilities more tangible, Orange presents a couple of these 'smart solutions' on the online platform: 'Thing Talk'. Orange Belgium turned its headquarters into a 'smart office' connecting a plant, an office chair, parking spaces, a water tank and a meeting room to Orange's Mobile IoT network. Not only give they valuable data, they also talk to each other. The plant talks to its water reservoir to give him water and the water reservoir makes the office chair vibrate when it needs to be refilled. The platform gives a preview of what is possible and how IoT solutions can easily change your daily life. More info on thingtalk.be About Orange Belgium Orange Belgium is one of the leading telecommunication operators on the Belgian market, with over 3 million customers, and in Luxembourg through its subsidiary Orange Communications Luxembourg. As a convergent actor, we provide mobile telecommunication services, internet and TV to private clients, as well as innovative mobile and fixed line services to businesses. Our high-performance mobile network supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology and is the subject of ongoing investments. Orange Belgium is a subsidiary of the Orange Group, one of the leading European and African operators for mobile telephony and internet access, as well as one of the world leaders for telecommunication services to enterprises. Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (OBEL). More information on: corporate.orange.be, www.orange.be or follow us on Twitter : @pressOrangeBe. Press contact Annelore Marynissen - annelore.marynissen@orange.com - +32 (0) 479 01 60 58 Jean-Pascal Bouillon - jean-pascal.bouillon@orange.com - +32 (0) 473 94 87 31 press@orange.be Contact investors Siddy Jobe - ir@orange.be - +32(0)2 745 80 92 This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Orange Belgium via Globenewswire PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 08:56:02 Red Wing Shoe Company Announces Opening of New Store in Dubai Kohnstamm Communications Michelle Peterson, 651-789-1277 michelle@kohnstamm.com Today, Red Wing Shoe Company announced the opening of its new Red Wing Store in Dubai. As a leading provider of safety footwear and personal protective equipment (PPE), Red Wing has been a committed member of the Middle East energy industry for several decades. The company understands the demands of providing absolute protection, comfort and durability for the industry, and now brings its customized shopping experience to Dubai. In the Dubai Red Wing Store, customers will find Red Wings full PPE offering including purpose-built footwear that meets or exceeds safety standards such as EN ISO and ASTM, flame resistant workwear, safety glasses, gloves and other PPE accessories. Since our first steps into the Middle East energy industry more than 50 years ago, Red Wing Shoe Company has been committed to providing exceptional one-to-one service with great quality products that exceed our customers expectations, said Paul Olson, managing director, eastern hemisphere for Red Wing Shoe Company. The opening of our Dubai store pairs with our stores in Abu Dhabi to not only showcase Red Wings commitment to industrial workers in the United Arab Emirates but further cement our position as the leading total solution provider for PPE worldwide. The Dubai and Abu Dhabi stores are a collaboration between Red Wing and Al Masaood, one of the most enduring business partnerships in the Middle East oil and gas industry. Red Wing first partnered with the Abu Dhabi-based distributor more than 35 years ago, and the exceptional ties between the two companies allow for the outfitting of oil and gas workers throughout the UAE with the most innovative and dependable head-to-toe PPE solutions. Red Wing and Al Masaood were recently honored by the Government of Dubai and Dubai Customs for being one of the first trade agencies to be registered in the country. At the store, visitors will enter an industrial work-themed atmosphere that provides comfort for customers and connects them with the core principals of Red Wing Shoe Company safety, performance and service. Red Wings core customers in the Middle East are mostly in the energy industry, and its PPE offering is primarily geared toward this market. The opening of the new store in Dubai adds to the companys view of a bright future for the energy industry throughout the region. With over 35 years of exclusive partnership with Red Wing Shoe Company, Al Masaood Oil & Gas is delighted to further its joint commitment to the PPE industry in this region by investing in this new retail location to serve the Dubai and northern Emirates markets, said Ahmad El Tannir, general manager for Al Masaood Oil & Gas. We look forward to leveraging our experience in the Abu Dhabi market to make this store a flagship location. In addition to its new store in Dubai, Red Wing has a longstanding office and distribution center in the United Arab Emirates. To facilitate growth and ensure the highest level of service for its worldwide customer base, the company also has offices and distribution centers in the United States, United Kingdom, Norway and the Netherlands. Visit the new Red Wing Store located in the Al Quoz Industrial Area behind the Kia Motors Showroom. Store hours of operation are Sunday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Individuals can visit the store online at www.redwingsafety.com for more information. About Red Wing Shoe Company: Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc. is a global leader in the design, production and distribution of work, safety and lifestyle footwear and work apparel. Established in 1905 in Red Wing, Minn., today the privately-held companys family of brands includes Red Wing, the premium choice for purpose-built work footwear including a collection of Heritage styles created for any occasion; Irish Setter, the footwear brand of choice for hunters who want uncompromising quality and innovation; Vasque, a pioneer of performance hiking footwear; WORX, a trusted brand for the industrial safety footwear market; and S.B. Foot Tanning Company, one of the largest U.S. producers of fine tanned leather for footwear and leather goods. Its brands are distributed to more than 110 countries in an immersive multi-channel environment of 500+ Red Wing retail stores, third-party partners and owned e-commerce platforms. Red Wing Shoe Company employs more than 2,300 employees worldwide and operates two U.S. manufacturing facilities in Red Wing and Potosi, Mo. For more information, please visit redwingshoes.com, facebook.com/RedWingShoes or follow @RedWingShoes View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006 Red Wing Shoe Company, a leading provider of safety footwear and personal protective equipment, announced the opening of its new Red Wing Store in Dubai. Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals Market poised to reach US$ 8,465 Mn by 2023 with CAGR of 6.7% over 2017-2023 Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 13:31:32 Press Information Precision Business Insights Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX satya Lead-Market +1-866-598-1553 email https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com # 458 Words Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead-Market+1-866-598-1553 Precision Business Insights (PBI) in its report titled Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals Market: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023 assesses the market performance over six years forecast period over 2017-2023. The report analyses the market value forecast, historical market size analysis, and provides the strategic insights into the market driving factors, challenges that are hindering the market revenue growth over forecast period.The Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market estimated to be valued at US$ 5,748 Mn in 2017 and projected to reach US$ 8,465 Mn by 2023 owing to strong brand loyalty for multinational brands, growing healthcare infrastructure, and mandatory healthcare insurance for expatriates. Moreover, recent healthcare reforms like 100% FDI in Pharma sector and conducive business environment for investing in manufacturing facilities are expected to drive market revenue growth of Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market. However, slower economic growth in recent times and lack of drug manufacturing capabilities are hampering the growth of Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals market segmented on the basis of product type, diseases type, and distribution channelDrugs for Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Expected to Register Higher Growth RateBased on disease type Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market segmented into diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, obesity, infectious diseases, and others. Diabetes accounted for larger revenue share in 2016 and projected to grow over the forecast period. However, cardiovascular and obesity projected exhibit higher growth rates over the forecast period owing to rising prevalence of co morbidities like hypertension and ischemia among Saudis.Hospital Pharmacies Accounted for Larger Revenue SharePBIs Saudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market report analyses the distribution channels such as Hospital Pharmacies and Retail Pharmacies. According to distribution channels analysis, hospital pharmacies accounted for larger revenue share through 2012-2016 and the same trend is projected to follow over 2017-2023.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @New Product Launches and Strategic Alliances are the Key Strategies Adopted by Market PlayersSaudi Arabia pharmaceuticals market further reveals that the key players increasingly adopting new product launches and strategic alliances strategies to improve product offerings and market presence in the country. For instance in 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim entered into a local production agreement with Cigalah and Tabuk to increase the amount of available treatment options in the Saudi Arabian market.Key players profiles in the report are GlaxoSmithKline plc. (UK), Jamjoom Pharma (Saudi Arabia), Julphar (UAE), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Pfizer Inc. (US), Riyadh Pharma (Saudi Arabia), Sanofi (France), SPIMACO (Saudi Arabia), and Tabuk Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Co. (Saudi Arabia)Need more information about this report @ PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 12:37:02 Springbok Casino launches San Guo Zheng Ba, the latest slot from Realtime Gaming Springbok Casino: Its A Battle For Supremacy With San Guo Zheng Ba GameOn Marketing Ltd Sarah Blackburn, Director 0034628499459 In Chinese history, the emperors ruled supreme. But now South Africas favourite online casino SpringbokCasino.co.za offers players the chance to battle for supremacy and win the ultimate prize with new Realtime Gaming slot, San Guo Zheng Ba. As the high emperors power fades, new players may vie for control of the dynasty and its legendary riches. As players progress, they have the opportunity to seize control and win supreme through a combination of Expanding Wilds, Free Spins and a unique special feature Super Spins. The San Guo Zheng Ba Free Games feature is triggered when three or more Scattered Emperor symbols appear, delivering five Free Games. Two Scatters pays a prize during Free Games, and all wins that include the Golden Dragon Wild are doubled. Any retrigger awards the San Guo Zheng Ba Free Games feature again, which is played after the Super Spins feature. Up to five retriggers can occur. The Super Spins feature is triggered at the end of the five free games. Three Super Spins are played, with upgrades awarded depending on how many winning Scatter pays occurred during the Free Spins round. Upgrades include Wilds and Multipliers. Springbok Casino Manager, Daniel Van Wyke says: "In ancient China, few people dare challenge the powers of the emperors who ruled supreme. But this new game makes vying for control of the dynasty and claiming the immense riches that go with it a real possibility for our players. "Not all will succeed, but skilful players will battle and win for the biggest treasure of them all the rule of China!" San Guo Zheng Ba will launch on Springbok on 23rd May 2018 and can be accessed via download, instant-play and mobile. *** ENDS *** Editors notes: About Springbok Casino: www.springbokcasino.co.za View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180504005 South African songstress Siphokazi came on stage for this and graced it with her vocal prowess. Siphokazi sings so effortlessly and the Xhosa lyrics gave Mama Africa a totally different feel to it. After taking a break leaving Siphokazi to perform, Katumwa returned and performed the groovy African Sunset, another favourite of Masekela. L-R: Isaiah Katumwa, Moses Matovu and Manu Dibango on stage Cameroonian legend Manu Dibango was welcomed with a standing ovation as he joined Katumwa to perform the tribute song. Katumwa used his vocals a lot in this concert, putting in practice what Masekela always advised him to do sing. Dibangos set had a way of starting with low-tempo songs including Papa Groove, Douala Serenade and later picking up the tempo and getting guests on the dance floor. The biggest surprise of the night was the legendary Moses Matovu from Afrigo band coming on stage and the trio performing Dibangos Soul Makossa at the climax of the concert sponsored by Jonnie Walker. What a night! barangasam@gmail.com PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 14:42:02 News release from Vestas Mediterranean Madrid, 4 May 2018 Eolica San Lupo Srl, a subsidiary company of long-term customer German-based BayWa AG, has placed an order for the San Lupo wind park. The project is located in the province of Benevento in southwestern Italy and was awarded at Italys last energy auction. The order includes supply and installation of V117-3.45 MW turbines delivered in Load Optimised Mode with a nominal rating of 3.0 MW. Turbine delivery is expected by the end of 2018 whilst commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019. The contract also includes a 15-year full scope Active Output Management (AOM 5000) service agreement. Vestas extensive experience in Italy and broad range of auction-related capabilities have been key in securing this order. Today, Vestas has more than 450 MW of turbines currently under construction in Italy, including three projects developed with BayWa AG, a truly valuable partner with whom we are pleased to work once again, says Rainer Karan, General Manager for Vestas in Italy, Greece and the MENA region. Our relationship with Vestas is strong. They offer competitive solutions that support our company in delivering clean energy projects in due time, reinforcing our commitment to continue developing renewable energy use says Alessandra Toschi, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. Italia. The San Lupo project strengthens Vestas market leading position in Italy, where the company celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on: https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images. For more information, please contact: Cristina Tejon Cano Communications Vestas Mediterranean Tel. +34 91 362 80 36 Email: CRTCA@vestas.com About Vestas Vestas is the energy industrys global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with 92 GW of wind turbines in 79 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled 78 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas more than 23,900 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com and following us on our social media channels: Attachment Global veterinary practice management software market Projected to Grow with Significant CAGR over the Forecast Period veterinary practice management software market PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-04 14:34:15 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 # 725 Words Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553 Global veterinary practice management software market: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024" assesses the market performance over six years forecast period over 2018-2024. The report analyses the market value forecast and provides the strategic insights into the market driving factors, challenges that are hindering the market revenue growth over forecast period.Availability of state-of-art software attracts customers for veterinary practice management software market.Increasing number of firms providing animal healthcare software in order to offer better management, increased adoption of veterinary software services is expected to fuel the market. Innovative technologies and expanded applications to the veterinary healthcare are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities over forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @North America has expected to account for major revenue share of global veterinary practice management software marketU.S. veterinary practice management software is accounted for significant regional revenue share due to surge in adoption of companion animal. Veterinary healthcare providers are inclining towards innovative software solutions to offer better disease management, customer relationship management. UK, Germany are cumulatively contributes significant market share in Europe. Improved veterinary healthcare infrastructure, increased adoption of advanced technologies in veterinary clinics and hospitals are expected to accelerate the market share in future. Increased pet adoption, rising disposable income in China create healthy opportunities. Emerging nations India, Mexico are expected to offer growth opportunities for global veterinary practice management software market over the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Competition AssessmentKey players' profiles in the global veterinary practice management software market include:- Vet Space Ltd. (UK)- Computer Fanatics Limited (New Zealand)- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.)- Patterson Companies, Inc. (U.S.)- Henry Schein, Inc. (U.S.)- ezyVET Limited (New Zealand)- Onward Systems Inc. (U.S.)- ClienTrax, Inc. (U.S.)- Alisvet & InformaVet Inc. (Canada)- 2i Nova, Inc.(U.S.) - Eclipse Veterinary Software Ltd (UK)- Animal Intelligence Software, Inc. (U.S.)- Hippo Manager Software, Inc. (U.S.)- Timeless Veterinary Systems, Inc. (Canada)- Firmcloud Corporation (U.S.)- InformaVet Inc. (U.S.)Need more information about this report @Key Findings of the Report:- Veterinary practice management software market is expanding at XX% CAGR over 2017 to 2023 to reach market value of US$ XX Mn by 2023.- Based on delivery mode, cloud based market is expanding at highest CAGR over the forecast period.- Based on region type, North America is expected to account for major market share.- Veterinary hospitals are prime channel for practice management software systems distribution across the globe- Players focusing on expanding geographic presence to garner market opportunities in developing economiesKey Features of the Report:- The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2024)- The report covers in-detail insights about the competitor's overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies- The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market- The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startup's details that are actively working in the market- The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario- The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porter's Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the market.Detailed SegmentationBy Delivery Type- Cloud based- Web based- OthersGet 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: 2018-05-04 14:24:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 400 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for West African Resources Ltd--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Scarborough , Australia (FSCWire) - West African Resources Ltd (TSX Venture:WAF). has issued a press release with the following headline:West African Resources Raises $35 Million to Advance Pre-Development Work at Sanbrado Gold ProjectTo 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 West African Resources Ltd, 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/West African Resources LtdSource: West African Resources Ltd (TSX Venture: WAF, OTC Bulletin Board: WFRSF, WKN: A1CZBT, ISIN: AU000WAF6)Date: May 04, 2018Time: 8:23 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of West African Resources Ltd 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.) The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said Africa needs about $170 billion annually to meet its infrastructure requirement. Vincent Nmehielle, Secretary General of the bank, disclosed this at a media briefing to announce the banks annual meeting, on Thursday, in Abidjan. In 2016, the bank approved 7.8 billion dollars to finance investment in African continent and in 2017; it was about 6.7 billion dollars. If you look at the African economic outlook that was released in January, it is very clear that Africa needs 170 billion dollars yearly, to fully meet its infrastructure requirement . This will help it to meet the infrastructure gap, he said. He said that the bank only approved $7 billion for all aspects of the high five priority projects adding that there was the need to diversify the sources of African development through promoting the private sector. He noted that improving the private sector operation was the only way for Africa to meet its development potentials. That is the reason why the bank has instituted the African Investment Forum. The Forum is a platform where the bank is trying to bring lots of investors to look at projects to finance across the African region, particularly private sector projects. We also have some government arrangement that will do PPP arrangement to leverage on the resources that the bank has for the continent, he said He said that the forum would be launched in South Africa from November 7 to November 9. On the funding of the high five priority projects of the bank, he said that the bank had earmarked 9.99 billion dollars for the implementation of the projects. NAN reports that the high five projects include, Light up Africa , Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa. Commenting on the annual meeting, he said it would focus on review of the Banks accounts by the Board of Directors adding that some resolution would equally be passed at the meeting. There will be decisions on the direction of the bank and concrete decision would be made on strategic projects of the bank, he said. (NAN) Nigeria has given licenses to 13 firms to establish modular refineries. A total of 35 firms expressed interest to establish the refineries, indicating less than half got the approvals from the department of petroleum resources. This was disclosed by Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), according to a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the corporation. Mr Baru reportedly made the announcement at the Offshore Technology Conference 2018 Nigeria Oil Industry Award Dinner in the United States, where he was the special guest of honour and received an award. The establishment of modular refineries is one of the key policies of the Buhari administration to resolve agitation in the Niger Delta, where most of Nigerias crude is located. The government hopes to use the modular refineries to stop illegal refining of crude and also create employment and wealth among residents of the Niger Delta. Mr Baru reaffirmed this when he told his audience that the corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources were collaborating to encourage the establishment of modular refineries in the Niger Delta to encourage job creation. He said the dream of transforming Nigeria from a net exporter of crude oil to a net exporter of petroleum products would in the months ahead transform into a reality. He expressed commitment to actualise the December 2019 target set by the federal government to end the importation of petroleum products into the country. The 2019 target has often been repeated by the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, who has identified it as a permanent way to resolve the perennial fuel crisis. The NNPC chief also spoke on efforts to refurbish Nigerias four existing refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna. He said the ongoing arrangement with the original builders of the refineries to return them to at least 90 per cent capacity utilisation before the 2019 deadline is still intact. He said the process for companies interested in the rehabilitation of the refineries using a contractor-financing model had been completed and successful. He said the companies for the different projects would be announced soon. This model is expected to be a self-sustaining financial model with near zero reliance on the federal government funds. For smooth running and implementation, we are also changing the operating and commercial framework of the refineries to make them work efficiently and be commercially viable, he said. Nigeria, Africas largest oil producer imports virtually all of its refined products often leading to corruption and scarcity of the refined products, especially petrol and kerosene. The Government of Burundi on Friday announced a broadcast ban for the BBC, VOA and Radio France Internationale (RFI), days before a constitutional referendum. Two local broadcasters were banned after the presidency complained their reporting was biased, the National Communications Council said. Their licences will be suspended for six months starting Monday, 10 days before the East African nation will ask the population to vote on whether President Pierre Nkurunziza should be allowed to stay in power until 2034. If the referendum is approved, the constitutional changes would see the current five-year term amended to seven years, meaning that Mr Nkurunziza, whose current term is up in 2020, could stay in power for another two seven-year terms. The changes have proved controversial. Some opponents of the reforms have been arrested or left the country, activist Vital Nshimirimana said. Moves by Mr Nkurunziza to extend his rule have brought violence before. When Mr Nkurunziza secured a third term in office in 2015, contrary to the provisions of the constitution, it triggered a violent crisis that caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. The ruling CNDD-FDD party in December named Mr Nkurunziza their supreme eternal leader whose decisions may not be opposed. The title allows the 54-year-old president to veto all decisions made by the ruling partys central committee. (dpa/NAN) The police in Borno State are holding the wife of an opposition politician after a political event at her residence turned deadly last month. Saadatu Muhammad, wife of Grema Terab, a Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial aspirant, was arrested on April 15 in Maiduguri, capital of the northeastern state, her husband told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Terab, a former head of Borno State Emergency Management Agency, blamed the killing of an unnamed citizen on some miscreants who stormed his premises to attack those who attended the political event at his residence. The attackers, suspected to be political thugs, arrived one hour after Mr Terab finished the meeting with his political supporters, he said. The police arrived at his residence after the violence and took away his wife and several other family members, Mr Terab said. Ms Muhammad was two months pregnant when she was taken away by the police, but lost the pregnancy the second day after being locked in a cell with harsh conditions, he claimed, her husband said. I am at a loss as to why my wife was arrested by the police nearly two hours after a successful completion of a meeting with my political associates in which the police themselves were present to provide security, Mr Terab told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone. It is even more surprising that the same police that provided security during the meeting later came back to arrest my wife after we had completed and dispersed from the venue of meeting. I was the one that alerted the police about the disturbance but yet they chose to arrest my wife who has now lost her pregnancy. They want to even make it seem as if they advised me against the meeting. This is false and very painful, he added. The matter was taken before a Chief Magistrates Court in Maiduguri on April 19 and Ms Muhammad was remanded in custody following preliminary arraignment. The magistrate, Binta Othman, adjourned the matter to April 24 for further bail applications. Again, she denied the bail when the matter was heard on April 24 and adjourned till April 26. Again on April 26, Ms Othman refused to grant bail to Ms Muhammad and remanded her in custody, despite her deteriorating health condition, her husband said. The matter was heard on May 3 before Abdulahi Sanya of the Maiduguri Division of Borno State High Court and the judge further remanded Ms Muhammad in detention. Mr Sanya said he would hear bail application on May 9 and adjourned hearing on the substantive charges till May 16. The controversy appears the latest in growing cases of politicians who are being accused by the police of criminal conspiracy or worse. It followed the allegations of armed robbery and murder levelled against Dino Melaye, a serving senator and major opposition politician in Kogi State. Similarly, Shehu Sani, another serving senator, was invited last month by the police for questioning in a murder investigation. Messrs Melaye and Sani said their cases are politically motivated. But Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and his Kaduna counterpart, Nasir el-Rufai, both denied being behind the travails of their political opponents. Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello [Photo Credit: The News Nigeria] Damian Chukwu, the state police commissioner, explained what transpired to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, saying Mr Terab had been warned not to hold the political gathering at his residence. We pleaded with him repeatedly not to hold the rally at his residence, we asked him to go to a public place like a hotel or a stadium, but he refused, Mr Chukwu said by telephone. The crowd was so overwhelming. Because he was a PDP politician, he was speaking like an opposition during the event and a fracas broke out. In the process, someone was found in the pool of his blood, he added. When the police arrived and asked for Grema, he had absconded. Subsequently, the police decided to arrest Mr Terbas wife and family members, but said she is being held for allegedly committing a criminal offence by failing to report the killing of a citizen outside her house. The wife was not picked up because the husband was being looked for. Shes here for criminal negligence. Quite a number of others were arrested with her, Mr Chukwu said. He also said he was aware that Ms Muhammad lost her pregnancy, but said she had since recovered and doctors certified her fit to be kept in custody. We understand she was taken to the hospital and was treated. The same hospital returned her. If she is so sick, the hospital will not have advised her to be returned. The hospital will have asked her to be given concession, the commissioner said. The court granted us relief to treat her in our custody. They have been formally arraigned and kept in custody, he added. But Mr Terab refuted the polices claim that they warned him not to hold the programme at his residence, saying they should bring forth an evidence to substantiate it. I challenge the police to provide evidence showing that they warned me not to hold the gathering at my house, he said. I wrote to them and they acknowledged it and even sent policemen to protect security. If I wrote to them, why did they not write back that they have rejected my request and that I should not hold the event at home? He said. Why did they not seal the house and prevent people from coming in if truly they did not want me to hod the event? The police should stop claiming that they issued verbal warnings to me when I have clear evidence in writing that they acknowledged my letter and sent officers as I requested, he said. The police commissioner denied that Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima or any other politician had any hands in the matter, saying the police are only doing their job. The decision to arrest Ms Muhammad for negligence over a crisis that broke outside her house has no place in law, said Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer in Lagos. Criminal negligence can only arise from what someone has participated in, Mr Effiong said. If she didnt participate in the murder, then they are wrong. Theyre not accusing her of being an accessory to the murder. For them to say criminal negligence is wrong. What role did she play? You dont arrest someone because she was at the scene of a crime, she must have had an obligation to care for those people before you could accuse her of negligence in caring for them, the lawyer added. The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday nullified a ruling by the Federal High Court (FHC) which prohibited the arrest of Buruji Kashamu by Nigerian law enforcement agencies. The court said the senator is not above the law and should be arrested if there is a need. The appeal court panel led by Yargata Nimpar overturned the ruling which was delivered by Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in 2015. Mr Kashamu, a serving senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, approached Mr Abang for the enforcement of his fundamental rights, saying he had uncovered a purported plot by Nigerian security agencies to abduct and extradite him to the United States. Mr Kashamu is being sought in the U.S. on drugs charges, although he had continued to deny the allegations, saying it was, at worse, a case of mistaken identity. In May 2015, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) laid a siege to Mr Kashamus residence in Lagos in a bid to arrest and send him to the U.S. to face drugs charges. For the ensuing six days, Mr Kashamu reportedly locked himself inside a toilet and refused to submit himself to federal authorities. His lawyers successfully prevailed on Mr Abang to grant an order forbidding the NDLEA from carrying out the arrest. The agency subsequently withdrew its personnel, ending the six-day siege. The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed several submissions before the FHC, seeking to arrest Mr Kashamu for extradition. But the attempts were frustrated by several injunctions granted by Mr Abang, prompting the AGF to seek redress at the Court of Appeal. Mr Kashamu had argued before the FHC that there were plots to arrest him and take him to the U.S. over a matter for which he had been cleared by judicial authorities in the United Kingdom between the late 1990s and early 2000s. But U.S. authorities insisted that Mr Kashamu must come to the country to face drugs charges for which several of his alleged co-conspirators had been tried, convicted and jailed. In 2016, a U.S. Court of Appeal in Chicago, Illinois, ruled that Mr Kashamu must answer his drugs allegations in U.S. courts. Despite all the controversies surrounding Mr Kashamus case, the U.S. authorities have not publicly disclosed whether they sought Mr Kashamus extradition or not. But some legal analysts said there was no need to make such request public, adding that the NDLEAs move to arrest him and send him to the U.S. was enough grounds to conclude that the U.S. was interested in the matter. Yemi Oke, an associate professor of law at the University of Lagos who filed a watching brief in the case, provided the key highlights of todays proceedings at the Court of Appeal to PREMIUM TIMES. The following decisions were delivered in Appeal No: CA/1030/2015- A.G FED V PRINCE BURUJI KASHAMU & ORS, and Appeal No.: CA/1030A/2015- A.G. FED. V KASHAMU & ORS. The preliminary objection filed by Mr Kashamu against the substantive appeals are dismissed as lacking in merits. The Court of Appeal held that the appeal filed by the Attorney-General against the ruling of the lower court is not statute barred. On the substantive appeals: Court of appeal set aside the orders of perpetual injunction granted in favour of Mr Kashamu against the Nigerian government, the Attorney-General, the State Security Service, the Inspector-General of Police and the NDLEA. Court of Appeal ruled that the oral statements of threat of abduction and attempted transfer of Mr Kashamu to the U.S. is insufficient, having not been backed by concrete evidence. Court of Appeal also held that the Attorney-General is the chief law officer of the country and the chief law officer of the cause of justice and, as such, has the has constitutional and legal powers to enforce laws. Court of Appeal said the FHC should not have granted the injunction sought by Mr Kashamu on mere speculation of abduction and kidnapping. Consequently, the Court of Appeal ruled that the appeal has merit and set aside the order of perpetual injunction secured by Mr Kashamu. Mr Kashamu swiftly reacted to the ruling on Friday afternoon, saying in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES that the judgement had nothing to do with his extradition. He insisted that he had no pending extradition case anywhere in Nigeria. Below is the senators full response as sent to PREMIUM TIMES by his media aide, Austin Oniyokor: PRESS STATEMENT KASHAMU: IVE NO EXTRADITION CASE IN COURT My attention has been drawn to todays judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos in an appeal filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) against the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Lagos, in my favour in a fundamental human rights enforcement suit. Let me state from the outset that contrary to the wrong impression being created by a section of the media, there isnt any extradition matter against me in any court in Nigeria or abroad. The illegal move surreptitiously introduced by the powers-that-beafter the 2015 abduction plot was exposed has been dismissed. That was in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015. The suit was dismissed on the 1st of July, 2015, for being an abuse of court process. Anything to the contrary is sheer mischief and over sensationalism by some reporters. As journalists and judicial reporters who are expected to seek and report the truth at all times, they should know that there is NO extradition case against me anywhere. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice appealed against the judgment of the Federal High Court in the fundamental human rights enforcement matter comprised in Suit No.FHC/L/CS/508/2015 which I had instituted in 2015 upon becoming aware of the surreptitious moves by certain persons to abduct me illegally and transport me to the U.S.A. without recourse to the rule of law. In its judgment in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/508/2015,the Federal High Courtrestrained the Federal Government, its agents and agencies from abducting and forcibly transporting me to the United States of America over the same allegations that two British courts had adjudicated upon and found that to bea case of mistaken identity. So, clearly what was appealed and decided upon by the Court of Appeal today has nothing to do with extradition. Rather, it was about the failed 2015 abduction. Let me reiterate that in the face of the law, I do not have any extradition case to answer. Shun of all political manipulations and wizardry in Nigeria where political opponents pull down people to climb up the political ladder, I do not have any extradition case to answer. I wish to say for the umpteenth time thatthere is no way any extradition proceedingscan be brought against me in the face of the law. What I have been fighting is the attempt to abduct or kidnap me in the guise of an extradition. It is a matter of public record that the purported extradition case that was filed against me in May 2015 was dismissed by the Federal High Court, Abuja,for being an illegality. It could not stand the test of the law. The case could not have seen the light of the day in Nigeria or any civilized country. That was the point the trial judge, the Honourable Justice Gabriel Kolawole made in the judgment when he described the incident as a show of shame. He found it incomprehensible that any government official or agency could want to take any step or collaborate with some foreign agents under any guise to perpetrate an illegality after several courts had given judgments against such an action. So, in the face of the law, that case cannot be brought again! Any other talk or insinuations about a non-existent extradition only exists in the imagination of the mischief-makers. Therefore, there cannot be any other extradition but abduction and an illegality. This is even more so when the judgment of the British Courts that found the allegation against me to be a case of mistaken identity was not appealed. If a court of competent jurisdiction has pronounced that I AM NOT the person who committed the offence and same verdict has been upheld by our own courts, there is no way this finding and pronouncements of the court can be jettisoned for illegality. It is this illegality that the Senate frowned at in a resolution passed on the 11th of April, 2017. The Senate through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions resolved, That the concerned agencies and authorities be advised to stop threatening or carrying out any activities to extradite Senator BurujiKashamu to the United States of America for prosecution, and that the courts be allowed to handle the various aspects of the case before them without any interference. Despite the fact that the British courts had exonerated me, I have an abiding faith and believe in our judiciary. We have many people in the judiciary from rich background and reputable families. They do not have to be judicial officers. But, today they are judicial officers because of the call of the Almighty Allah upon them. They sit in courts five days in a week, taking cases and writing judgments upon judgments in long hands. They deny themselves of the freedom that the rest of us enjoy. They cannot have friends and live their lives freely like the rest of us. Invariably, by accepting to do the job most of us cannot do, they are sacrificing a lot. They belong in the class of some of the best and finest men and women that a society can ever ask for; powerful people yet self-effacing with the fear of God. They know that even when they are judges, they are still conscious of the fact that they are also accountable to the Almighty Allah who is the ultimate judge. Despite the imperfections in the system, we should respect them because they represent the unseen hands and unheard voices contributing their quota to the development of our dear country. It is because of these unseen hand and unheard voices that Nigeria has not become a banana republic where injustice can be perpetrated with reckless abandon. Mischief makers and blackmailers should stop all the noise-making. I do not have anything to do with crime and criminalities. Those peddling this lie are merely playing the devils advocate. But I take refuge in the Almighty Allah Subwana ta Allah. He is my shepherd and shield. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. In the meantime, my lawyers have filed a Notice of Appeal and a Motion for injunction pending the determination of the appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. And I trust that the apex court will do justice. I also wish to use this medium to appeal to all my associates, lovers, supporters and leaders to remain calm. The truth shall prevail over falsehood as light triumphs over darkness. Signed Senator Buruji Kashamu Ogun East Senatorial District 04.05.18 Two former governors and three former senators are among 33 governorship aspirants who will be testing their popularity at Saturdays primaries of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State. The journey so far has been rancorous and tension-soaked with the entrance into the fray of bigwigs in the party, such as former governor Segun Oni, who is also the partys South-west Deputy National Chairman. He started his campaign early and has been consistent. Mr Oni however has another former governor to contend with: Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi. Although Mr Fayemi was a late starter in the bid for the ticket, his coming has altered the power balance and greatly tilted the advantage far away from earlier favourites. Babafemi Ojudu, the Political Adviser to the President, is no less popular and has shown himself a crowd puller in the build up to the primaries. A former senator and veteran journalist, Mr Ojudu has appealed to over 2000 delegates that he had what it takes to send the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government out of power. Ayo Arise is a former PDP senator, who now enjoys the cover of the APC. His ambition to be governor was nearly thwarted by his kidnap late last year. His chances on Saturday cannot be wished away. Another aspirant, Gbenga Aluko, is a former member of the Senate. Twice, he had attempted to be governor of the state, but did not succeed. He was the Labour Party candidate in 2007 and in 2014, and also aspired on the platform of the PDP. His sojourn in the APC is bringing him close to the governorship race for the third time. Other prominent contenders for the APC ticket include a former member of the House of Representatives and ex-Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele; a former member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi; a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile and a former Commissioner for Information, Afunminiyi Afuye. Others include: Wole Oluyede, Bimbo Daramola, Wole Oluleye, Adebayo Orire, Kola Alabi, Kayode Ojo, Muyiwa Olumilua, Victor Kolade, Debo Ajayi, Dele Okeya, Diran Adesua, Sesan Fatoba, Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Olumuyiwa Coker and Adekunle Esan. There are others like, Dipo Ogunkoyode. Bodunde Adeyanju, Sunday Adebomi, Bisi Aloba, Otunba Yinka Akerele, Charles Dahunsi, Ajayi Olowo, Tosin Olofinluyi and Taye Matesun. As confirmed by the party, 33 aspirants have filled and returned the expression of interest forms making them eligible to contest. The party had earlier received letters of intent from 37 aspirants. The large number of aspirants has been a source of worry to many political observers, but party spokesman in the state, Taiwo Olatumbosun allays fears saying that the number of aspirants underpinned the credibility of the APC platform and only fairness and transparency will see the party through the test now before it. Perhaps, the Ondo experience sounds a clear warning for the party. Over 23 aspirants sought the APC ticket for the Ondo State November 2016 election. The outcome caused division in the party since the winner, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, came into office. A legal battle resulting from the primaries held in September 2016 is yet to be rested, following allegations that the delegates list was doctored in favour of the winner. Mr Ojudu, during his declaration of interest in Ado Ekiti, warned his party not to toe the line of the Ondo primaries. He called for a level playing field for all aspirants, saying it was the only way the party could avoid crisis. Mr Fayemis entrance particularly created some furore, as other aspirants expressed displeasure that he was already comfortable and needed not upset the applecart. There were also contentions and bitter attacks leading up to the primaries. The party issued new rules and threats before calm settled on the battlefield. The APC national leadership has however, assured that only the popularly nominated candidate would emerge victorious at the election which holds at the Oluyemi Kayode stadium, Ado Ekiti. Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, while interacting with the aspirants and others allayed fears that the Ondo experience would reoccur on Saturday. PREMIUM TIMES can report that the delegates have become the darlings of all the aspirants and are being wooed for their votes. This is in spite of several warnings against monetising the election. It is however not clear if the delegates and aspirants heeded the warning of the state party Chairman, Jide Awe, that they (delegates) might end up putting whoever eventually emerged as the partys candidate in the bad light, given the desperate manner they (aspirants) have been going about seeking the ticket. Outgoing Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Chafe, has also given an antidote to avoid crisis. He advised that the Governor Tanko Al-Makura-led primaries committee should get all the aspirants to agree on the list of delegates before going for the election. While the idea by Mr Chafe may appeal to wisdom, the desperate political drives of aspirants may be a problem in achieving crises-free primaries. It is the duty of the party to provide the right environment and a transparent that will produce the candidate. This measure however is not a magic wand for producing a sellable candidate. Only the delegates can determine a candidate that can stand the roaring forces of incumbent governor, Ayo Fayose and his anointed candidate, deputy governor, Kolapo Eleka. The Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP), Charles Dokubo, has received the report of the eight-member review committee, set up to evaluate the activities of the amnesty programme. Mr Dokubo, who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. He acknowledged receiving the report from the leader of the committee, Ayibaemi Spiff. The amnesty programme has been enmeshed in various shades of corruption since inception, with the more recent allegations leading to the exit of its immediate past leader. According to him, the committee did a thorough work, it considered inputs and submissions from stakeholders across the region. Mr Dokubo said the committee also made on the spot assessment of projects and vocational centres built for the programme; and were able to identify some challenges that caused inefficiency in the system. The coordinator said that the report had vital recommendations, and if considered and implemented, would reposition the Presidential Amnesty Programme to deliver on its statutory mandate. The presidential aide noted that going by the recommendations, there is need for the government to complete ongoing vocational centres, training of outstanding beneficiaries captured in the programme, empowerment of already trained and enpowered ex-militants, review of some outstanding contracts and payment of only genuine ones. Mr Dokubo said the report would help the government to achieve more sustainable peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta region. He promised to ensure faithful implementation of the report findings and recommendations. According to him, the detailed report will shape the policy direction of my tenure and their recommendations will be well considered for implementation. He, however, disclosed that the office would also hold meetings with critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta region. We must all work hard as a team to actualise President Muhammadu Buhari developmental vision for our region, he said. State Minister for Investment and Privatisation EVELYN ANITE is rumoured to be under investigation for allegedly soliciting $8 million (Shs 28.8bn) bribe from a group of Arab investors. In an April 26 interview at her office in the ministry of Finance, the minister told Sadab Kitatta Kaaya that people are simply envious of her. Excerpts:- State minister for Investment and Privatisation Evelyn Anite with President Museveni It is almost two years since you were appointed state minister, what is there for you to show? There is a lot of work that I have done since I was appointed. I am holding two dockets that were previously held by two men. This is because of the confidence and trust the appointing authority has got in me; he believes I can deliver on this job. I have been able to attract investors to the country I am very happy that from the time I got appointed, the things that were not being manufactured in this country like tiles, ceramics, television sets, flat irons [and] musical appliances are now being manufactured in the country. One big thing that I take credit for; which I feel happy about is the Mbale industrial park. I was able to get investors that came into the country, did due diligence, and with the support of His Excellency, the President, we were able to start Mbale Industrial Park where we are going to [establish] over 50 factories. Still in my time, we are having the second biggest cement factory which we are trying to open. I dont want to blow my own trumpet like the English say, but if I dont blow it, who will blow it for me? One thing that I have done is the revamping of Uganda Telecom Ltd (UTL). I came at a time when UTL was going to be liquidated; everyone had given up on UTL [until] I got a directive from the president that UTL should not be liquidated. I found Kilembe mines in the hands of Tibet-Hima which had literally run down the company. It was very hard to get these people out. With the support of the legal team, I was able to ensure that those who had run down Kilembe mines are pushed out. That was in implementation of my appointing authoritys directive. We are at the verge of getting new investors to manage the mines better. We are in advanced stages of getting Namanve Industrial Park done. I am on the verge of having this park fully completed. The other achievement is the tabling of the Investment Code Bill. My predecessors had failedI dont want to discredit my predecessors [because] they tried, but the bill was not getting out of the way. Many see your ministerial appointment as a reward for what you did in Kyankwanzi leading to the NRM caucus passage of the sole candidate resolution in 2014 You see the person of Anite? When you see her on the surface, you judge her, you give her a wrong name but when you interact with her, youll find that she is a different person. So many people dont know who Anite is until they come to my office. Many get surprised and say, We did not expect you to be that smart, we didnt think that you do the things you are doing. The act I did in 2014 of asking the president to continueto offer himself as our party chairman and flagbearer [for the 2016 presidential elections], the act of going on my knees was interpreted differently. Oh, she is this naive girl, she doesnt know anything. If you call my phone, youll hear a song I know who I am as my call tune because I know who I am. I know what I want in life. I want to see my country better. Are you proud of that action? I am very proud, and, if I [have] another opportunity, I shall do it again. There are reports connecting you to a scandal of soliciting bribes from investors. [Laughs] 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. For the first time, during the Womens day, His Excellency the President asked me to stand up for recognition for my little humble contribution of bringing investors to manufacture mobile phones in this country. He gives a directive and puts Anites name; youll expect them to say that, Anite is fleecing investors. My job is to interact 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. I expect them to say anything about me but like I said, I know who I am, I am free for any investigation, because, I know that I cannot take a bribe; I cant, I have never done it and I am not about to do it. 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. Ugandans who are working in that place are not my relatives, they are citizens of this country. I get paid by parliament for what I have worked for. 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. But like the saying goes, He who alleges must prove and prove beyond reasonable doubt. On whose toes have you stepped? Who do you suspect to be behind the allegations? [They] are so many. You have seen on social media people attacking me. On social media, those who dont like President Museveni, they are bound to attack me. They have tried to attack my personality, they tried to throw mud at me but no amount of mud thrown at me has been able to make me dirty. Nothing! Theyve called me names, drawn cartoons of me, theyve stripped me naked. I am unboggable. I cant get bogged by those things; I put my head up because I know who I am, I know what I have done, I know what I am doing, and I know what I want in life. At the end of it all, I say, they dont know what they are doing. Why are you fuelling fights between UTL and NITA-U? There is no fight; their fight is only summarized and answered by one letter written by the fountain of honour. So, they dont even have to fight. They [NITA-U] are fighting a losing battle. The fountain of honour has given a directive that every government ministry, department and agency should get internet access from UTL. NITA-U is a regulator; they should continue with the job of regulation. I dont see why they are fighting. I even know, that is why they are cooking these stories [that I solicited for an $8m bribe from investors]. I know it. They said the same thing about the administrator [Bemanya Twebaze], and they will continue cooking these stories just to defend their [interests]. But this is about the government of Uganda wanting to create jobs for our people, wanting a Ugandan company to be stable. But both UTL and NITA-U are government entities; cant their issues be harmonised It is being harmonised and the president has given a directive. In fact, NITA-U is acting in insubordination to the president. I just dont want to be harsh on them, but if you got me in one of those moods where I call a spade a spade, I would have called them names. The president has given a clear sense of direction; who are you to go against his directive? But, that is sorted, for me; I see it as a done deal. The only thing they are left with are the kicks of a dying horse now and they have resorted to saying, Anite has eaten, the reason she is passionate is because she has eaten. What is there to be eaten in that UTL? I can get my personal money and give to UTL because I really want that company to survive. You are accused of having irregularly given away land belonging to Bugisu Cooperative Union to Chinese investors who are behind Mbale industrial park. That is absolute rubbish. The 619 acres of land given to those investors are not meant for them to carry to China but to utilise in Uganda and leave it in that place called Mbale. Create jobs not for Chinese but for Ugandans, in Uganda, and to attract foreign direct investment. We have a stringent lease agreement signed for five-year development. Within five years, even when the lease offer reads 49 years, if they have not developed those factories, the lease will be cancelled. Two, there is no such a thing like the land was taken away from BCU, that land was bought by the government of Uganda when BCU had problems. All the documents are signed; they [BCU] signed off this land and gave it to government of Uganda. The government paid using taxpayers money; so, they have been settled. We went ahead and compensated all the squatters on the land. I always say that if they have anything against the government, let them go to court. They should stop spreading lies. No one can eat land, and no one can carry land. Land is a fixed asset; it cant move, neither can the size multiply. It will be there, no one is going to take it away. If I were those claiming that their land was taken, I would wake up to the occasion that we need to create jobs for our children and stop being silly. Who said that we are doing these things for ourselves? We are doing development; we want to industrialise our country; we have all the natural resources. sadabkk@observer.ug The Senate Thursday questioned the Military Pensions Board over N44 billion it allegedly expended without budgetary provisions between 2015 and 2017. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South), described the Service Wide Vote (SWV) under which the Military Pensions Board gets its allocation as a blind way of spending, adding that it was bigger than the budget. He also said there was serious disparity in the figures that had been made available to the committee. He said this when the Chairman, Military Pensions Board, Adekunle Adesope, appeared before the committee to explain what had been released so far. Mr Adesope, a brigadier-general, however, stated that the committees observation was a wrong impression, and that the board spends N9.2 billion monthly for 92,000 military pensioners. He said he did not know how the federal government came about payment of pensions from SWV instead of the budget. The chairman of the committee expressed disappointment at the board stating that it was evasive in response to the committees demands on mode of payment of pensions from SWV instead of budgetary provisions as is the normal practice. He relied on figures showing that over N44 billion of SWV was released to the Military Pensions Board between 2015 and 2017 by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and wondered how it came about without approval of the National Assembly. What I observed was some replies you gave to us are not satisfactory. In your presentation, you were talking of N169 million. What we are asking is how you spent N44 billion from Service Wide Votes. Releases from the service wide vote were what we are concerned (about) and not the budgetary provisions. A number of times we invited you so that we can put this in a proper perspective, we have not been able to see you. In explaining how this fund was spent, dont give us nebulous explanation. Be very clear so that in the next one week, we will be able to submit our report to the red chambers, he said. A member of the committee, Foster Ogola (PDP, Bayelsa West) also insisted that the board respond directly to the Committees inquiries. Phillip Gyunka (PDP, Nasarawa North), another member, explained that the report submitted by the board was haphazard, saying that the boards Director of Finance and Administration was doing things wrongly. The chairman, thereafter, asked officials from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to disclose the amount released so far to enable the board deal with possible disparity. The Nigeria Police Force said it had so far arrested more than 20 principal suspects in connection with the recent bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that armed robbers had attacked five commercial banks in Offa on April 5, during which 17 persons, including policemen and a pregnant woman were killed. The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said that details of the suspects were released to the public including the following exhibits that were recovered from them. The exhibits are: two Beretta Pistols, 20 Rounds of Live Ammunition, four cell phones and SIM cards belonging to victims, some of whom were killed during the attack. The spokesman said that the suspects were cooperating with the police in the investigation into the incident. Currently, some of the other gang leaders and principal suspects at large are being identified and their pictures obtained for further investigation, he said. He said that the photographs of the wanted suspects have being released to the public for assistance to arrest them. Mr Moshood said that the suspects were also being placed on INTERPOL Watch list and Red. He said that other sister security and safety agencies were equally implored to arrest them and hand over to the nearest police station or formations across the country. Mr Moshood assured informants whose information would lead to the arrest of the suspects for their protection, in addition to the pledge of N5 million by the Kwara State Government. He said the police would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all the perpetrators of the Offa banks robbery were arrested. (NAN) The University of Ibadan Alumni Association will honour the registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede, at an event scheduled for Saturday. Mr Oloyede will be bestowed with the most distinguished alumnus award as part of activities marking the associations 60th anniversary. The event is billed to take place at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will chair the ceremony. Other activities lined up for the anniversary event include scholarship award to 26 students, and donation of postgraduate hall of residence to the university. Mr Oloyede, a professor, was nominated for the award for proving to be a worthy ambassador of the university. Announcing the nomination, President of the association, Kemi Emina, explained that Mr Oloyede is leaving indelible footprints on the sands of time in his dogged pursuit for a better society for the human race. In a culture of self, where the modern man is daily loosing his humanness, you have continued to show selflessness, courage, steadfastness, love and pursuit of excellence. We are proud of you. Mr Oloyede, a past vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, was appointed registrar of JAMB by President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2016. He had attended the University of Ibadan for a diploma in Islamic Studies before proceeding to the University of Ilorin for his Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate degrees. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained it will not create new polling units because it is too late to do so with the 2019 elections less than 10 months away. The commissions chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, stated on Friday this while responding to a question whether new polling units would be created, even if less than the 30,000 claimed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP had alleged in a statement that INEC was working on creating 30,000 polling units to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The commission, however, urged Nigerians to disregard such claims. On the creation of new polling units, there is no time between now and the general elections to create new units, Mr Yakubu said. A call for the National Assembly to pass the Right to Food Bill has been made by the Emir of Argungu, Samaila Mera, alongside members of the Right to Food Coalition (RFC). During an advocacy visit by the coalition of civil society groups promoting the right of every Nigerian to access to food, Mr Mera said the Senate should pass the Bill without further hesitation. A statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES showed that the emir expressed surprise that Nigeria is yet to have food as a fundamental human right written in the constitution when responding to a presentation on the Right to Food Bill by the Chairman of Voices for Food Security (VFS), Gbolagade Ayoola. He added that the bill, if passed, will take care of almost 80 per cent of the concerns surrounding food security. Mr Ayoola, in his presentation, said the latest World Hunger Index published by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) indicates that Nigeria ranked 84th among 119 countries in the category of Serious Hunger Prevalence in 2017. He said this implies that about three-quarter of its population (about 150 million people) presently suffer from acute adult malnoutrition, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality, all linked to food insecurity of the country. He added that the subject matter also exists in some countries and that they have adopted the concept of food as a right or passed a right to food bill as the basis for implementing food policies. According to the statement, such counties include: Bangladesh Article 15; Brazil Article 227; Colombia Article 44; Congo Article 34; Cuba Article 8; Ecuador Article 19; Ethiopia Article 90; Guatemala Article 51 (minors and elderly), Article 99 (feeding and nutrition); Haiti Article 22; India: Article 47; Iran Article 3; Malawi Article 13; Mexico Article 27; Nicaragua: Article 63; Nigeria Article 16 (wherein not justiciable); Pakistan Article 38; Paraguay Article 53; South Africa Chapter 2, Section 27; Sri Lanka Article 27; Uganda Objective 14; and Ukraine Article 48. The Bill, which has suffered a great setback during the 6th Assembly (2007-2011), and also suffered a similar fate during the 7th Assembly (2011-2015), is now at the committee stage during this present Eighth Assembly (2015-2019), having passed the Second Reading at the Federal House of Representatives and the First Reading at the Senate as at June 2016, he said. In his remarks, the emir assured the coalition of his support for the bill and his readiness to reach out to all key players within his sphere of influence to mobilise support for its passage by the 8th National Assembly without further delay. The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, has suggested that too much powers in the hands of the executive is the reason for the disregard of the legislative arm of government by some public officials. The Nigeria political system which saddles exorbitant powers in the hands of the executive could be blamed for the situation, he added. Mr Nwodo spoke on behalf of a delegation of leaders of the South and Middlebelt who visited the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday. Sanni Onogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President provided details of the meeting. Mr Nwodo said the recent invasion of the Senate by thugs that forcefully snatched the mace and the refusal of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to honour the summons of the Senate were clear examples of the Executives disregard for the National Assembly. He said the visit was vital as the National Assembly is the conscience of the people. We have come to you at a very difficult time in the history of our country, Mr Nwodo said. We are visiting the National Assembly because of its unique position in our constitution. The democratic system we run in our country rests on the three organs of government. For these three arms, the other two function in accordance with laws made by this arm. This arm characterises democracy because in a military government you will have both the judiciary and the executive. The leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Nwodo But it is only in a democratic government that you have the parliament. The parliament is a microcosm of the people because every section of the country has by adult suffrage delegated its voice to this parliament. So we believe that by visiting you today, we are coming to speak to the conscience of the country. We ask that these discussions today be as frank as possible because in situations like this, unless the National Assembly rises like one man, with a conscience, commitment and patriotism, to unveil the facade of partisan politics, partisan advantages, and face the real issues, we stand of the edge of a precipice. We have watched the helplessness of the National Assembly where members of the executive even refuse your invitations to come and make explanations contrary to provisions of the constitution. We have found the helplessness of the Senate when you can be invaded in spite of the security adornment in this place controlled by the executive and the seat of the Senate President is almost invaded but for the personal security of the aides of its leadership. Mr Nwodo blamed the Nigerian political system for the continued disrespect for the National Assembly. For him, governance and economy has failed in Nigeria. This is because our system makes the tail wag the dog rather than the dog wag the tail. This cannot be in a fountain of legislative authority for executive implementation, and yet they toy with the system. We have come to tell you that it is in our view that it is because we have this over-concentration of powers in the Federal Government contrary to the agreement that our forefathers entered into for the nation called Nigeria. That governance has failed in our country. That economic development has failed, he said. To ameliorate the situation, he called for the revisit of the power devolution clause that was rejected in ongoing constitution amendment process as promised by the National Assembly. We believe that many of the problems that we have in our country emanate from the constitution of our country. We know that the National Assembly has had debate on devolution of powers and we know, Mr President, that you did promise the nation that you will have a revisit to this issue. We have come to ask you to bring up the revisit. We consider it urgent and inevitable because we believe that all problems we have today in Nigeria emanate from the fact that our constitution is not right for a country constituted by people of diverse culture, diverse religion, diverse political persuasions as our country, he said. Mr Saraki said the National Assembly is ready to play its role to ensure that the country continues on the path of democracy and growth. On the call to revisit clauses that were rejected during the ongoing constitution review process, he said the National Assembly is ready to reconsider the clauses and that it would do so after the passage of the 2018 budget. Other members of the delegation were Olu Falae, Irangate Idongesit, Victor Attah, Stella Omu, Banjo Akintoye, Ayo Adebanjo, Yinka Odumakin, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chigozie Ogbu, Ihechukwuma Maduke, Basset Henshaw, Dan Suleiman, Alfred Mulade, Anaba Saraigbe and Maryam Yunusa. Nigeria is gravely concerned over the alarming situation between Israel and Palestine, and in many parts of the Middle East. Nigerias Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Samson Itegboje, stated this while delivering Nigerias statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East including the Palestinian Question. Mr Itegboje said: In this regard, it is pertinent for all parties to make genuine and concerted efforts to find peaceful solutions, and to cooperate closely with the UN and its agencies. This is in order to achieve the shared objective of a two-state solution, in line with relevant UN resolutions and international laws. He noted that the international community had continued to seek avenues to advance the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question. According to him, international efforts must remain focused on paving the way for Israel and Palestine to return to meaningful negotiations. Thus, we wish to enunciate the cogency of multilateral diplomacy, and reiterate that there is no substitute to an agreed multilateral approach for addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conundrum in a sustainable manner. Nigeria believes that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine is imperative for the attainment of durable peace and stability in the Middle East. It is for this reason that we acknowledge the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the resolution on the Status of Jerusalem on December 21, 2017. And once again, Nigeria calls on all parties to respect relevant UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. We therefore encourage Israel to take concrete measures to freeze all settlement-related activities in Occupied Palestinian Territory, he said. On their part, Mr Itegboje said Palestinian leaders must also signal their readiness to return to the negotiating table. He urged them to make enhanced efforts to forge unity and deal with militancy and other internal security challenges. The Nigerian envoy stressed that it was beyond doubt that violence and unilateral actions would not resolve the long-drawn-out conflict. He said Nigerias delegation reaffirmed its full support for the rights of the Palestinian people, including the protection of their fundamental human rights, particularly their right to free movement and self-determination. Mr Itegboje added that Nigeria supported the maintenance of the dignity of the individual Palestinian person and their inalienable right to live without the fear of persecution. In this regard, he restated Nigerias belief that the Security Council must not fail in its duty and responsibility to the Palestinian people. Nigeria calls on states with influence over the concerned parties to encourage them to re-engage in dialogue on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Quartet Roadmap, the Arab Peace Initiative and other existing agreements. We reaffirm our unwavering support for a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine existing side-by-side in peace, the Nigerian envoy stressed. (NAN) In a record-setting move, the local government elections in Kaduna State are to be conducted using Electronic Voting Machines. Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai said his government has invested considerable sums in electronic voting because the All Progressives Congress (APC) believes votes must count. Mr. El-Rufai was speaking at the flag-off of the APCs campaign for the local government elections in the state. The ceremony, which held at the Kaduna Township Stadium, had in attendance John Oyegun, national chairman of the APC; Zainab Ahmed, minister of state, budget and national planning, and senior officials of the Kaduna APC. We have made the most significant investment ever to promote electoral integrity and transparency in Nigeria. Our local government elections will be the first ever in Nigeria conducted by electronic voting, the governor said. By introducing electronic voting machines, this government is affirming its democratic credentials, a firm belief that peoples vote must count. Acknowledging that INECs introduction of the card reader for the 2015 elections helped promote electoral integrity, Mr. El-Rufai said Kaduna is now taking it a step further to bring full electronic voting. Mr. El-Rufai disclosed that the APC is making life better in Kaduna State. He said the APC government in Kaduna State has in three years worked hard to overcome the legacy of sorrow that PDP left. He reminded the people that 16 years of PDP rule left most public schools without furniture and other amenities. To move the state forward, the APC has 1293 projects at various stages of completion across the state, he said, adding that the projects are being funded by unprecedented levels of capital spending . In each of the two full budget years we have had, 2016 and 2017, this government has spent more than N60bn on schools, hospitals, roads and water projects. This injection of at least N120bn of budgetary investments into our state comes at a difficult period of national economic challenges. But we have been able to this because we have overthrown the corrupt legacy of the PDP; because the purpose of government has been rightly adjusted to making life better for our people through a commitment to their Education, Health, Jobs and Security. Speaking on the imminent LG elections in the state, Mr. El-Rufai disclosed that the APC is confident that the people will entrust the 23 local governments in the party that has given them life. Acting Chairman APC Kaduna State Shuaibu Idris, APC NationalChairman Chief John Oyegun and Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the flag-off of the APC Kadunas local government election campaign. Credit: KDSG Media As firm believers in democracy at the local level, we have invested considerable time in making our local governments fit for purpose, he said. It is no exaggeration to affirm that we have reinvented the local government system. We inherited a system where many of our local government councils were so over-bloated that at least eight of them could not pay salaries without state government support. That system was so perverse that funds were illegally squeezed from solvent councils to pay bankrupt councils. By changing the laws, and removing their excess personnel burdens, all of our 23 local government councils are now solvent, able to pay their own staff and still have enough funds left to delivers services and projects. We have set our local government councils free from years of bankruptcy! L-R: Minister of State Budget Zainab Ahmed, Ummi El-Rufai, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Chief John Oyegun; Kaduna State Deputy Governor Barnabas Bala and Finance Commissioner Suleiman Abdu Kwari at the flag-off of the Kaduna APCs local government election campaign. The offices of the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission were recently gutted by fire. But the government says it is resolutely supporting SIECOMs determination to hold the election as scheduled. APC national chairman, Mr. Oyegun, who handed flags to the partys chairman candidates, said he is proud to be present on the day electronic voting was introduced in Nigeria. Mr. Oyegun received into the APC prominent politicians and their supporters who have decamped from the PDP. Mr. El-Rufai said the local government elections present an opportunity for Kaduna State voters to permanently retire the politicians of deceit and selfishness who are blocking the progress of the state, and impeding service delivery to ordinary people. Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-rufai, at a public function on Friday cursed three senators representing the state for opposing a $350 million loan being sought from the World Bank by his government. He also described the senators as enemies of the state, people and All Progressive Congress. The state government had earlier vowed to go ahead with its request despite the decision by the Senate that the Nigerian government should not guarantee the facility. The Senate decided not to approve the loan request after a committee headed by Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna) advised against it on the ground that the state is the second most indebted in the country. Mr Sani, who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Loans, argued that the new loan if approved will erode economic viability of the State. His position was supported by two other senators from the state: Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) and Danjuma Laah (Kaduna South). Mr Sani and Mr El-Rufai have been having running political battles for the past few months and have been engaged in several altercations in the past. Reacting to the federal lawmakers decision, the state government said nothing can stop it from obtaining the loan for the development of the state. The state Commissioner of Finance, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, at a news briefing in Kaduna said the excuse given on the floor of the Senate as to the size of the states loan was baseless. Mr Kwari said with the way the three senators from the state spoke against the loan, it was apparent they had put their personal frustrations above the right of the people of the state. He said the World Bank was convinced the state has met the conditions before given its approval for the loan. But a furious Mr El-rufai on Friday said the state electorate did not send the senators to the National Assembly to work against the interest of the state. Mr El-rufai also cursed them publicly while addressing party supporters at the flag-off of the APCs campaign for the state local government elections held at the Township Stadium. They (Wolrd Bank) decided to support us with $350 million loan so that we can support projects that will improve the lives of the people of Kaduna State. But the enemies of our people, the three enemies (senators) of Kaduna State in the Senate blocked it. May Allah curse them! They are behaving as if their personal ego is more important than the 10 million of people in the state, he said. The governor said the World Bank approved the loan for the state because it were convinced of the viability of the projects. He threatened that the electorate would vote out the senators for their action against the wish of the people. He also had unkind words for those in the National Assembly opposing the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. These politicians of deceit, selfishness are doing similar thing at the national level to cripple the government of our leader Muhammadu Buhari. They kept the budget of 2018 in limbo, they are threatening to impeach the President after their conspiracy on changing the order of election collapsed. We didnt sent these senators to Abuja to conspire against our people or against our party and President, he said. He said the 16 years of the PDP misrule in the state and nationally were regrettable when put side by side the acheivements of the APC. According to him, to move forward, the APC has 1293 projects at various stages of completion across the state (Kaduna). This government has spent more than N60 billion on schools, hospitals, roads and water projects, he said, adding that, our local government elections will be the first ever in Nigeria conducted by electronic voting. The Partys National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and senior officials of the Kaduna APC were in attendance. Meanwhile, Mr Odigie-Oyegun, commended the state for introducing electronic voting machines which will be deployed during the LG polls in the state. He also received into the APC, prominent politicians and their supporters who recently decamped from the PDP. In commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, Nigerian state governors and institutions Wednesday pledged commitment to a conducive environment in the country for journalists to play their role as the fourth estate of the realm. In Kaduna, Governor Nasir El-Rufai said he is conscious of the imperative role of the media in nation-building and holding the state accountable. At an event to mark the Day organised by the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr El-Rufai who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said journalism must be rescued from agents of hate, religious and ethnic extremism. Describing himself as a strong advocate of freedom of the press and expression, he said his government will never persecute journalists from discharging their duties. Im not an advocate of any sort of clampdown on the media, but Im a strong advocate of freedom of press and expression. Kaduna State Government has never and will never persecute journalist from discharging their constitutional role by way of holding government accountable to the betterment of the citizenry, he said. He, however, vowed that his administration will not allow conflict entrepreneurs and their agents masquerading as journalists to instigate hate and tension on false fabricated reports that will plunge the state into chaos, he said. Ahmed Maiyaki, the former spokesperson to former governor of the state, Ramalan Yero, addressed the issue of press freedom, especially in Kaduna State. He said several journalists have been intimidated, arrested and jailed at various times by security agencies and some state governors including some of our colleagues here in Kaduna State within the last few years under El-Rufais watch. He also highlighted the 2017 World Press Freedom ranking compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in which he said Nigeria, again, recorded a decline in the international press freedom index, with six percent regression between 2016 and 2017 Nigeria came down from 111 in 2016 to 122 in 2017, out of 180 countries graded on the press freedom index. This indeed is worrisome, he said. Based on the Press Freedom Rating, he said there is a growing sense that Nigeria is losing its democratic temperament. In Kano, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje asked journalists to be mindful of the law and to uphold the ethics of the journalism profession in order to further deepen democracy and good governance in the interest of the nations development. In a statement on the occasion of the day, the governor said as partners in progress, journalists should continue to dedicate themselves to the tenets of their profession by being factual in order to sustain the credibility of the media in Nigeria. The Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello, acknowledged the press efforts and contributions to national development before and after independence as well as during the military era. He said the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria is dependent on the level of freedom of the press. However, he urged the media to exercise its duties with every sense of social responsibility and set agenda for the political and economic reconstruction of the country. He added that his administration will continue to accept fair, reasonable and unbiased constructive criticism from members of the Press. You can criticize my government, I have no issue with that, but in doing so such criticism must be constructive, fair and balanced in the overall interest of the people as well as progress and development of the state, he said. He guaranteed his administrations readiness to improve on the welfare of journalists and to provide an enabling environment for journalists in the state to function effectively and efficiently. Paradigm Initiative (PI), a social enterprise involved in digital rights advocacy, made a call for end to the series of attacks on the media in Africa as this years Press Freedom celebration came at a time of increased press attacks across Africa. Tope Ogundipe, PIs Director of Programs, she said the increased wave of attacks on the Press in Africa was one of the key developments noted in PIs Digital Rights in Africa 2017 Report. Whereas in 2016 most of the arrests for comments made online were of ordinary citizens, in 2017 the focus of arrests and prosecutions for comments made online shifted to journalists. Journalists should not be targeted for doing their legitimate jobs. The years 2017 and 2018 have witnessed a record number of journalist arrests in Nigeria. Media houses were also broken into as overzealous security officers did the bidding of their paymasters. Journalists and the media played a crucial role in the establishment of democracy in Nigeria, so we cannot sit back and watch their right trampled upon, she said Also speaking on the subject of press attacks, Adeboye Adegoke, PIs Program Manager for Digital Rights, said the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 has emerged as the principal tool in the hands of the rich and powerful in persecuting Nigerian citizens and Journalists for comments made online. We have initiated lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of sections 24 and 38 of the Cybercrime Act, which has been the legal basis for much of the abuse of press freedom we have seen in Nigeria As we celebrate World Press Day 2018 on May 3 2018, lets all join hands together to ensure that Press Freedom is respected in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world, he said. The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) Coordinator, Sekyen Dadik, also urged the authorities to support in creating a favorable atmosphere for journalists to thrive in their profession without fear and intimidation. AMDF strongly commends the tenacity of African Journalists who have against all odds of intimidation, poor or no remuneration remained watch dogs of the society.This steadfastness must be recognized and upheld, she said. This years world Press Freedom global theme is Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law. 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 The Victims Support Fund (VSF) on Thursday flagged-off a N1.6 billion reconstruction project in three communities destroyed by Boko Haram in Borno State. The three communities are in Gwoza, Mobba and Ngala local governments. Officials of the Borno State Government, led by Governor Kashim Shettima, were in the war wrecked town of Gwoza, headquarters of Gwoza Local Government Area, where the flag off ceremony was held. The vice chairman of the Victims Support Fund (VSF), Tijjani Tumsa, handed over the trucks of building materials to the Borno governor. Mr Tumsa, representing the VSF Chairman, Theophilus Danjumma, said the reconstruction of the three local government headquarters is fully funded by VSF. He pointed out that the actual rebuilding aspect will be executed by the Borno State Government through the Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR). Mr Tumsah said the VSF is committed to supporting victims of the devastations of the Boko Haram insurgency. The VSF is optimistic that the reconstruction project in three LGAs will help to further restore governance institutions while restoring life to normalcy for the people. He noted further that by the completion of this project, VSF would have carried out reconstruction in nine local governments in Borno State. And these local governments, comprising Dikwa, Bama, Chibok, Damboa, Askira Uba, Hawul, Gwoza, Mobbar and Ngala are spread in the three senatorial zones of the state. The Executive Director of VSF, Sunday Ochoche, explained in an earlier remark that the project budget of N1.6 billion would cover building materials and labour costs for the construction of schools, hospitals, hostels, staff quarters and the local government secretariats of Gwoza, Mobbar and Ngala Local Government Areas respectively. He recalled that VSF had on previous occasions worked with the Borno State Government and was positive that the structures would be reconstructed to the highest standards Governor Shettima, who was accompanied by the senator representing Borno South, Muhammed Ndume, thanked the federal government for supporting his state through the VSF. We thank our dear president, Muhammadu Buhari, for his unwavering support and love for the people of Borno which is demonstrated not only through the deployment of military that has degraded Boko Haram insurgents but also for the construction of our liberated communities through the VSF and PCNI under the able leadership of our respected elder statesman, General Theophilus Danjumma, said Mr Shettima. He promised that the state government would ensure that the funds would be utilised judiciously to provide befitting public infrastructure for the ravaged communities. The highlight of the occasion in Gwoza was the handing over of the reconstruction material to the Borno State Government by the VSF. According to a World Bank validated report on the Post Insurgency Recovery and Peace Building Assessment prepared by Borno State Government, of the over 3.2 million private houses in the state, a total of 956,453 houses, which represents 30 per cent were destroyed by Boko Haram. The three towns of Mobbar, Ngala and Gwoza were amongst the worst hit local government headquarters with over 80 per cent of the buildings, including public structures destroyed. The report indicated that about 420 classrooms of the 72 schools in Gwoza had been destroyed by Boko Haram. President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday leave Abuja for his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. The president is travelling to Daura to participate in the ward congresses of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), in his Kofar Baru 3, ward. The president left Abuja at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. Mr Buhari returned to the country Thursday night from an official visit to the United States of America. APC had fixed ward congresses for May 5, local government congresses for May 12 and state congresses May 19. Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has joined friends of his late media aide, Imam Imam, in extolling the deceaseds humble qualities, professionalism and righteousness. Speaking at a memorial lecture and special prayer for Mr Imam organised by Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Sokoto on Friday, Mr Tambuwal described the death as a vacuum created in the state. The governor explained that Mr Imam played active role in his struggle to become the Speaker for 7th House of Representatives through participating in physical contacts, tours and meeting with the dense population of journalists in the country. Imam shunned all forms of fraudulent adversaries from political opponents and ensured maximum productiveness in his responsibility as the image maker of speaker. He maintained and projected the image of National Assembly with his young age. Many politicians had offered persons with higher ranks in journalism for the position. The present accolades received from various personalities on Imams qualities has vindicated my stand by appointing him as adviser when I became the governor, being a non-indigene which was widely criticised. The recent condolence visit by Sultan Saad Abubakar III, to Imams family as well as numerous others, had testified him to be a great man, the governor said. He enjoined journalists and other media related workers to emulate his good behavior and assured his continued support to the deceased family. The Guest Lecturer and a close friend to Imam, Abdulaziz Kadir from Liberty Television, said the deceased was religious, humble, dedicated and a simple man with adorable character. Mr Kadir traced the history of Mr Imam from secondary education up to Kaduna Polytechnic and his working life from the New Nigerian Newspaper, Zamfara State Newspaper and Thisday Newspaper with fine and objective writings. He said the deceased had successfully completed his Masters Degree in Public Relations at Bayero University, Kano. Imam Imam will be remembered by his good deeds in professional life and personal relations with family members and others, he said. Speaking earlier, the NUJ Chairman, Sokoto State Chapter, Isa Shuni, said the union had concluded plan to conduct its Press Week last week with the active involvement of Mr Imam, before the sad incident. Mr Shuni said the prayer and memorial lecture marked the beginning of the exercise to immortalise the deceased in view of his contributions to journalism in the country. Series of lectures, visits to orphanage and prisons as well as inspection of some projects executed by Gov. Tambuwals administration will be conducted, he said. Others that spoke at the memorial lecture included; the Sokoto state Commissioner for Energy, Bello Goronyo, Chairman, Forum of Special Advisers in Sokoto State, Bishir Gidado and General Manager, Sokoto Media Corporation. The event was also attended by traditional and religious leaders, government officials, journalists and other media workers, among others. (NAN) Proprietors and teachers of private schools in Enugu State under the aegis of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) have endorsed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for a second term in office. The group praised the governor for what it described as his good works in the state and the remarkable achievements of his administration in the education sector. Rising from a solidarity rally, which was tagged: 2019 Total Mandate for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi A time with His Excellency, the group assured the governor of its unflinching support in 2019. The rally was attended by the national leadership of NAPPS led by its President, Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, several school owners, teachers, and students. The Anambra State Chairman of NAPPS, Nonye Enemuo, said her and her colleagues were pleased with the all-inclusive governance of the governor anchored on infrastructural development, welfare, healthcare, peace, education and promotion of both public and private institutions. She added, If we look back at your achievements so far, it would seem you have spent eight years already in office. The group descibed Mr. Ugwuanyi as an efficient leader whose listening ear and humility have benefited the masses including National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Enugu State chapter, stressing that the governors good works in all sectors including education touch the big and small, rich and poor, public and private. The testimonies are already with us that private schools in Enugu State now produce children who do not just make Nine distinctions (As) in SSCE exam but Nine distinctions of all distinctions (A1), Ms. Enemuo said. According to her, a student who currently represents the entire country in physics competition in Portugal after winning the first position in the national competition is from a NAPPS school. NAPPS Enugu State chapter is here today to support our Governor for good governance. We therefore, wish to remind you that the reward of a good job is more responsibilities, as we assure you of our unflinching support come 2019. The body disclosed that in a bid to actualize victory for the governor in 2019, it has embarked on mass mobilization of its members to genuinely ensure that every teacher of private schools, our parents and guardians and children of voting age under our care count by obtaining the Permanent Voters Card (PVC). In her remark, the National President of NAPPS, Dr. Adukwu-Bolujoku, affirmed the Enugu State chapters stance on Governor Ugwuanyis re-election, describing the governor as a leader, who cares for the people of the state and has passion for good education of the children. A school proprietor, Willy Onu, also extolled Governor Ugwuanyis leadership virtues as a committed promoter of qualitative and affordable education as well as a detribalized leader, stressing that he deserves over 99 per cent votes from private schools in the state. Responding, Governor Ugwuanyi appreciated the proprietors of the private schools for the historic rally and the demonstration of solidarity and support for his administration. The governor noted that the achievements of his administration in the education sector and other spheres of the economy was in keeping with the promise to deploy government services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen to make a living and create wealth, educate our children, and enjoy life in a peaceful and secure environment. He added that the solidarity and endorsement from the schools have greatly encouraged his administrations modest efforts towards the fulfillment of this promise and improving the lives of the good people of Enugu State. This is a truly amazing rally and we thank you sincerely for this great honour and for the endorsement that you have graciously given to us today. We thank you also for the massive goodwill and cooperation that you have accorded us since the inception of this administration and for your exemplary contributions to the socio-economic development of the state more particularly, in the provision of qualitative and functional education to our children. I urge you all to remain steadfast in your prayers and endeavours as we assure you that by the grace of God and with your support, we will continue to succeed in our efforts to ensure that our collective aspirations as a State and as a people are fully attained, the governor said. Osun State Government says it realised over N13 billion as consolidated Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other revenue receipts in 2017. Yemi Ijidele, the states Project Coordinator and State and Local Governance Reform (SLOGOR), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at a three-day SLOGOR Retreat in Enugu on Friday. Mr Ijidele said the state had increased the number of its tax payers from below 200,000 to 470,801 tax payers at present. The coordinator noted that more people in the informal sectors had been captured in the tax drag-net of the state. He said that the feat was achieved by several financial and management streamlining interventions driven by the state government and SLOGOR programme. He noted that the present administration in Osun had domesticated and internalised the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) initiative of the federal government in the state. He added that this had created more enabling environment for businesses, especially cottage businesses, to strive in the state. We have continued to have increase in consolidated revenue for the state each passing year and in 2017 the state made over N13 billion in its internal consolidated revenue receipts. This increase in consolidated revenue receipts was due to the state government hard work in creating enabling and striving business environment through internalising the Federal Governments EODB principles in the state. With more businesses springing up in Osun, we now have more people in the tax drag-net of the state from the informal sector. The number of people in the drag-net had increased tremendously from below 200,000 tax-payers to now 470,801 tax-payers. And we operate a pay direct system, which allows little or no human interference in the collection of government revenues. Our governor, the personnel in the IGR board and the states ministry of finance are not resting in their oars to ensure that the state revenue increases and more people pay taxes in the state, he said. According to him, Osun people are happy to see how judicious the state government spends the consolidated revenue receipts for their benefit. On the lessons learnt on the SLOGOR retreat, Mr Ijidele said: The retreat had made me realise that issues bothering on adherence to best practices on financial management must be taken very seriously in order to build a transparent and result-oriented financial system. The state at all times must subscribe to modern financial laws and regulations that promotes transparency and good governance for the benefit of all in the state. The SLOGOR project is funded by the European Union and managed by the World Bank. The project, which commenced in 2014, is expected to wind up on September 30, 2019. The six participating states in SLOGOR project are: Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano, Osun and Yobe. The retreat was organised by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in collaboration with the World Bank and European Union. The theme of the retreat is: Assessing the Implementation of the PFM Reforms at the Sub-National Levels of Government. The three-day retreat ended on Friday. (NAN) 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. Stephen Kangiriho, a Special Forces Command (SFC) soldier attached to the advance team of the first lady, also Education minister Janet Museveni is battling for dear life at Mbarara regional referral hospital after being stabbed in a bar brawl. Kangiriho was stabbed in the stomach by unidentified reveller at New California T&J Transit bar and hotel, a popular night spot for sex workers in Kabale municipality in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Ms Museveni is scheduled to officiate at the Open Day of Kabale University today, Friday. An eye witness told URN on condition of anonymity that Kangiriho got into a fight with unidentified reveller when he tried to forcefully grab a sex worker from him. Ms Museveni is scheduled to officiate at the Open Day of Kabale University today, Friday. An eye witness told URN on condition of anonymity that Kangiriho got into a fight with unidentified reveller when he tried to forcefully grab a sex worker from him. Elly Maate, the Kigezi region police spokesperson, says the unidentified reveller stabbed Kangiriho in the stomach using a knife and took off. He says the victim was first rushed to Kabale hospital before he was referred to Mbarara hospital. Police cordoned off the New California T&J bar and the neighbouring Bamboocha and Oceans bars. 54 people were arrested as police continues with the investigations. High Schools receiving the kits included: Alex, Aline-Cleo, Amber-Pocasset, Bray-Doyle, Bridge Creek, Central, Chickasha, Cimarron, Comanche, Duncan, Empire, Fairview, Marlow, Minco, Ninnekah, Ringwood, Rush Springs, Tuttle, Velma-Alma, and Verden. The AHA's CPR in Schools Training Kits teach students the core skills of CPR as well as AED skills and choking relief techniques. In just 30 minutes, students can learn the skills and techniques needed to save a life. The CPR in Schools program is an important initiative in the AHA's pursuit to increase the bystander rate of CPR training in Oklahoma. "We would like to thank Le Norman Properties, Byford Auto Group and Gold Key Service Center for their generous contribution in helping fund our CPR in Schools program," said AHA Senior Executive Director Debbie Hite Stewart. More than 326,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year. About 90 percent of those victims die, often because bystanders don't know how to start CPR or are afraid they'll do something wrong. In 2015, Oklahoma began requiring CPR training prior to high school graduation. The CPR in Schools bill (HB 1378) was signed into law in May of 2014 making Oklahoma the 16th state to implement the graduation requirement. Central Oklahoma has 224 high schools with over 38,000 seniors that are now being trained in CPR on an annual basis. About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 405-415-3030, visit heart.org/oklahomacity or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Embree (405) 415-3039 [email protected] SOURCE American Heart Association Oklahoma City Related Links http://www.heart.org/oklahomacity Today the Middle East looks very different: over 90% of the population of the Middle East is Muslim. Christians once the majority now comprise less than 5%, and the Jewish communities have vanished apart from within the state of Israel. "Sects like the Alawites, the Yezidis, Druze, Kakais, and Mandaeans, like the Christians, struggle for survival," writes Dr. Eibner. Eibner, a Swiss-American historian, is also responsible for the Middle East programs within the human rights organization Christian Solidarity International (CSI). Genocide warning as early as 2011 As early as the end of 2011, CSI warned of a genocide against religious minorities and called for action. The warning followed similarly dramatic appeals by then president of France, Nicholas Sarkozy, and the former president of Lebanon, Amine Gemayel. At the time the warning was scarcely heeded. However, in March 2016, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and others acknowledged that Islamic State had carried out a "genocide" against Christians, Yazidis, and Shi'ite Muslims. CSI Lecture Series 2012-2017: "The Future of Religious Minorities in the Middle East" Following the "Arab Spring," which would soon be taken over by Islamists and become an "Arab Winter" not only, but in particular for religious minorities CSI launched a lecture series in 2012 on "The Future of Religious Minorities in the Middle East," which is also the title of this book. In the series, 20 distinguished scholars, journalists and political practitioners presented their view on the question. The contributors come from diverse backgrounds and have very different worldviews. Some express hope for the future, while others view the situation more pessimistically. "Not many silver linings around the dark clouds" John Eibner has edited the collected papers for a CSI volume published in English by Lexington Books (Rowman & Littlefield). "Readers of this volume will not detect many silver linings around the dark clouds," writes Eibner towards the end of his introduction. "If the institutionalized habits of both the principal regional actors and the Great Powers cannot be broken, the future is grim indeed." More information Order the book: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498561976 Original videos, media releases, media coverage, and information on the speakers (English): www.middle-east-minorities.com Authors Taner Akcam, Clark University Cengiz Aktar, Sabanc University Madawi Al-Rasheed, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Fabrice Balanche, University of Lyon 2, Washington Institute for Near East Policy (previously) Patrick Cockburn, The Independent Marius Deeb, Johns Hopkins University (emeritus) John Eibner, Christian Solidarity International (editor) Amine Gemayel, former president of Lebanon Joshua Landis, University of Oklahoma Habib Malik, Lebanese American University Michael Nazir-Ali, former bishop of Rochester Daniel Pipes, Middle East Forum Franck Salameh, Boston College Mariz Tadros, University of Sussex Bassam Tibi, University of Gottingen (emeritus) Hannibal Travis, Florida International University Bat Ye'or, independent scholar William Warda, Chairman of the Alliance of Iraqi Minorities Daniel Williams, Washington Post, LA Times and others (previously) Contact Joel Veldkamp [email protected] (202) 290 8855 SOURCE Christian Solidarity International (CSI) BOISE, Idaho, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A10 Capital, a leading provider of middle-market commercial real estate loans, announced today that it has received additional growth capital from Gemspring Capital, a middle-market private equity firm, and Schroders, a global asset manager, in connection with the purchase of a controlling interest in the company. Existing A10 shareholders, including H.I.G. Capital and management, will retain significant minority interests in the company. Concurrent with the investment, Schroders and A10 have entered into an agreement through which Schroders will benefit from A10's extensive origination network and servicing platform to access middle-market CRE loan opportunities for its clients. The agreement also provides A10 with the opportunity to significantly diversify its balance sheet funding model. The two firms have a five-year history of successful collaboration and this new relationship deepens the commitment by Schroders to provide client capital to this important market segment. A10 is a leading provider of commercial real estate mortgage solutions in the United States. With loans ranging from $1 million to over $30 million for commercial properties, A10's broad offering of transitional and permanent loan products covers the entire commercial property life cycle. For single-family rental (SFR) portfolios, A10 is an authorized seller/servicer of the Freddie Mac Affordable SFR pilot program. A10 offers borrowers streamlined closing and high-touch service through its full-service platform, which includes in-house underwriting, legal, and servicing. Since inception, A10 has financed over 43 million square feet of middle-market commercial properties. Jerry Dunn, CEO of A10 Capital, said: "This transaction further strengthens A10's balance sheet. A10's continuing on balance sheet loan programs combined with the opportunity, where mutually beneficial, to access funds and separate accounts managed by Schroders, greatly broadens our ability to serve our borrowers, building on our legacy as a thought leader in middle-market commercial real estate lending." Bret Wiener, Managing Partner of Gemspring, commented: "A10 offers a differentiated value proposition to borrowers with its technology-enabled, full service lending platform. The Company's customized products and in-house service have contributed to its stellar reputation amongst middle market borrowers. We are excited to invest in A10 and grow the business." Karl Dasher, CEO of Schroders North America, added: "We are pleased to join Gemspring as a co-investor in the recapitalization of A10 and to deepen our relationship with the team. A10 has established a technology driven platform with a strong credit culture that fits well with our investment and corporate culture. Their sourcing and servicing capability will play an important role in our effort to offer more private debt opportunities that meet the growing investor need for compelling fixed income returns while maintaining rigorous credit standards." About A10 Capital Both commercial property and single-family rental home investors rely on A10 Capital as their one-stop balance sheet lender for middle-market commercial mortgages. With loans ranging from $1 million to over $30 million per commercial property and as authorized Seller/Servicer of the Freddie Mac Single-Family Rental (SFR) pilot program, A10's broad menu of bridge and permanent loans cover the entire life cycle of properties across the United States. The Company's full-service platform incorporates focused origination, speedy underwriting, in-house legal and servicing for the life of the loan. An innovator in the industry with a scalable funding model, A10 is backed by significant institutional investors. A10 is based in Boise and Dallas and has regional offices in key markets nationwide. For more information, visit www.a10capital.com. About Gemspring Capital Gemspring Capital, a Westport, Connecticut-based private equity firm with $355 million of equity capital under management, focuses on making control and structured equity investments in lower middle market companies headquartered in the United States and Canada. Gemspring partners with talented management teams and takes a hands-on approach to driving revenue growth and value creation. We focus on recapitalizations, buyouts, carve-outs, growth equity investments and restructurings. Target companies have $25 to $250 million in annual revenue and are in the business services, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services, software and tech-enabled services or specialty manufacturing sectors. For more information, visit www.gemspring.com. About Schroders plc Schroders is a global investment manager, managing $607.4 billion* of assets on behalf of institutional and retail investors, financial institutions, and high net worth clients from around the world. Assets are invested across a broad range of active strategies across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternatives and real estate. Headquartered in London, Schroders employs over 4,600 people across six continents and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (LON: SDR). For more information, visit www.schroders.com. *As of December 31, 2017. SOURCE A10 Capital Related Links http://www.a10capital.com ATLANTA, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Profisee, a leading modern data management technology company, announced today, Ambu, a life science company, has selected the Profisee Platform to support their enterprise data management initiatives. As they develop, produce and market diagnostic and life-supporting equipment and solutions to hospitals and rescue services; it is critical to understand and improve client touch points with the use of a data-driven strategy. Leveraging the Profisee Platform to Support Clients Ambu partners with a number of different types of clients across the life science spectrum including hospitals, clinics, doctors and distributors. There is even more complexity in serving their clients because distributors can also be clients and clients can purchase from both Ambu directly as well as through the network of distributors. In order for Ambu to create and sustain a high-performance environment, and ultimately provide a great client experience through local customer support teams, they needed a data management partner to support their efforts. Ambu selected Profisee as its data management partner because of its flexible architecture and natural integration with Microsoft, workflow, matching and golden record management functionality, and best technical fit for their ongoing needs. It was important to Ambu to partner with a data management vendor that will quickly help them execute a data-driven strategy that ultimately helps them better serve clients. Len Finkle, Profisee CEO states, "As we focus on the future, we view our single, integrated solution and award winning customer service as key factors to overcome the historically "not good enough" approach of legacy MDM vendors and continue disrupting the data management market." About Profisee Profisee is a leading enterprise data management company that makes it easy and affordable for any size organization to ensure a trusted data foundation. Our unique, Profisee Advantage approach allows companies to leverage enterprise multi-domain data management capability, without limits on users, data volume or sources. Our customers have the freedom to choose their deployment; with the flexibility to deliver on premise, in the cloud, or via a hybrid model. Profisee's unique Total Cost Ownership model leads the master data management industry. This has provided the industry's highest customer satisfaction rating by accelerating and exceeding customer expectations. Follow us on LinkedIn. About Ambu Since 1937, Ambu's ideas have created effective solutions in health care. Ambu helps doctors, nurses and paramedics save lives and improve patient care. Ambu is headquartered in Denmark and employs approximately 2,500 people in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific. Ambu is listed on the Copenhagen stock exchange. Read more on www.ambu.com. Media Contact: Megan Gregory [email protected] SOURCE Profisee Related Links http://profisee.com ROHNERT PARK, Calif., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Getting a graduate degree in the visual arts can be a big decision, one that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But some visual artists might still want the dedicated studio time and a close community of fellow artists. However, many artists may need loans to fund their graduate degrees. Ameritech Financial, a document preparation company that helps student loan borrowers with applications for repayment programs, encourages borrowers of all kinds to explore their repayment choices. "This kind of degree is tricky because it incorporates both education and development of artistic skill, so outcomes can vary wildly for students," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial. "Student loans can be a big factor in what happens after the program finishes." Things might not always go as planned. For example, dozens of current graduate students in the visual arts MFA program at Columbia University have recently demanded a full tuition refund. This comes after they experienced chaos at their studios including flooding, freezing and boiling temperatures, and falling ceilings. Columbia's MFA is notably expensive at over $60,000 per academic year and lasts two years. So far, the school has not agreed to reimburse their tuition. Funding for graduate degrees can come from a variety of places, but master's degrees can be difficult to fund with grant aid. Graduate students are allowed to borrow student loans from the Direct Loan Program of the Department of Education. Their options include Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS loans. Direct PLUS borrowers may have higher balances because students can borrow up to the full cost of attendance as determined by their institution. Along with tuition, cost of attendance can include housing, transportation and supplies. Students with large student loan balances may need options for repayment after they've left school. Income-driven repayment plans offer a repayment pathway that bases monthly payments on income and family size. These plans require an initial application and yearly recertification to stay enrolled. Borrowers can apply and recertify by themselves, but for former students who need extra assistance in this area, Ameritech Financial provides support and guidance in exchange for a fee for its services. A private, independent company, Ameritech Financial offers clients with a financial analysis and document preparation services for applications and recertifications of income-driven plans. "Ameritech Financial can be a guide and an assistant to borrowers who are unsure of how to approach repayment plans," said Knickerbocker. "By helping with the application process, we aim to help borrowers get into the most affordable, most suitable plan they can have." 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 ameritech-financial-on-student.jpg Ameritech Financial on Student Loans and Graduate Degrees in Visual Arts dolgachov/Bigstock.com image2.png Related Links Ameritech Financial home page Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRza8MbLvuM SOURCE Ameritech Financial WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Anna K. Emilsdottir, M.D. is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Lifetime Achiever in the field of Medicine in recognition of her role as a Retired Physician at the Riviera VA Medical Center in Florida. West Palm Beach VA Medical Center is a medical office specialized in providing a wide array of services to those who have served in our armed forces. Part of the largest integrated health system, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center works with hundreds of locations nationwide to administer to their clients the eminent healthcare services that they deserve. Having gathered over fifty years of experience in the field of medicine, Dr. Anna Emilsdottir is an illustrious professional that is known for her exceptional contributions to the industry. Retired, Dr. Emilsdottir spent twenty-three years +of her career as a Physician at West Palm Beach VA Hospital. Earlier in her career, Dr. Emilsdottir previously worked at an Icelandic mental hospital and at a neighborhood clinic in the Upper West Side of Manhattan before transferring to Florida. Throughout her career, Dr. Emilsdottir has attained extensive experience in all facets of the medical industry and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions both acute and chronic. Dr. Emilsdottir became the only female to graduate from the University of Iceland with a degree in Medicine in 1964. She attended courses in Boston given by Harvard Medical School as well as in Colorado and Utah by the University of California, San Francisco. In an effort to further advance her professional career, Dr. Emilsdottir is an esteemed member of several organizations, was Iceland's delegate to the New York Herald Tribune Youth Forum "The World We Want" in New York 1955-56. Dr. Emilsdottir was the recipient of The Riviera Beach VA Clinic Award, where she covered the small Dialysis unit, consulting with nephrologist in The Miami VA Hospital. When she is not working, Dr. Emilsdottir enjoys reading, following politics, traveling and listening to music. She thanks her parents, Brynhildur Haraldsdottir and Emil B. Jonasson who are lovingly remembered and Richard J. Rowey her husband of thirty-nine years and staunchest supporter. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634. [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com NEW YORK, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Apalon, a leading mobile development company with one of the most popular app portfolios in the world, announced today that its habit and goal tracker app, Productive, has been named the winner for the Best Mobile Sites & Apps - Productivity at the 22nd Annual Webby Awards. Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of digital industry experts, including Lyft CEO Logan Green, Girls Who Code Founder Reshma Saujani, Gimlet Media CEO Alex Blumberg, Instagram's Eva Chen, CNN host Van Jones, Internet inventor Vint Cerf, and Playmatics CEO Margaret Wallace. Productive allows users to plan their habits with features including scheduling for any time of the day, reminders, and tracking tools that offer useful feedback. With an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, the app helps users stay focused and determined to build new habits and reach new goals. The app is part of one of the largest and most popular app portfolios in the world, reaching more than 40 million monthly active users. "Productive by Apalon has set the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet," said Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards. "This award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators." "We are pleased the Webby Awards have recognized Apalon's Productive app this year," said Steven Toy, General Manager at Apalon. "Passion and skill for developing award-winning mobile apps are part of our DNA. We strive to create beautifully designed products that help enhance the lives and productivity of customers." Apalon will be honored at the star-studded Webby Awards ceremony on Monday, May 14, 2018, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, where winners will have an opportunity to deliver one of The Webby Awards' famous 5-Word Speeches. Notable 5-Word Speeches include Steve Wilhites "It's Pronounced 'Jif' not 'Gif'"; Bjork's "A.E.I.O.U"; and The Women's March, "Women, look what we did!" Fans can watch the show highlights on The Webby Awards YouTube channel. A full list of both The Webby Awards and Webby People's Voice Winners may be found at webbyawards.com/winners. About Apalon Apalon is a leading mobile development company with one of the largest and most popular app portfolios in the world, reaching more than 40 million monthly active users. A unique blend of passion and skills are at the core of the company's DNA, driving the team to produce top-rated, award-winning mobile experiences for global audiences. Apalon has a portfolio of successful products that always occupy high positions on the App Store, Google Play, and other stores. Apalon was marked with the "Top Developer" award by Google Play, has repeatedly found itself in the top 10 non-game developers in the number of application downloads according to AppAnnie. Apalon's portfolio includes well-known titles such as Weather Live, My Alarm Clock, Notepad+, and Scanner for Me. Apalon strives to create beautifully designed products that help enhance the lives and productivity of customers. We have years of experience building and distributing apps as part of our flagship browser-based business now we're extending this competitive advantage to mobile platforms. Learn more at www.apalon.com. About The Webby Awards: Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, Film & Video, Advertising, Media & PR, Mobile Sites & Apps, Social, Podcasts & Digital Audio, and Games. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received more than 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: YouTube, HBO, WP Engine, Vitamin T, EY, YouGov, PUBLIC, The Hollywood Reporter, WNYC Studios, Digiday, Glixel, Product Hunt, and Social Media Week. SOURCE Apalon Related Links http://www.webbyawards.com After months of negotiations, it appears that Walmart may have finally trumped Amazon in the race to buy Flipkart. The brick-and-mortar retailer has reportedly outrivalled the global online retail behemoth to acquire around 75 per cent stake in India's largest e-commerce platform. According to a Bloomberg report, the board of Flipkart Online Services Pvt has given its nod to an agreement to sell about 75 percent of the company to a Walmart Inc.-led group for roughly $15 billion. The sale values Indian e-commerce market leader at around $20 billion. As part of the deal, Flipkart's largest shareholder, SoftBank, will sell all of its stake through an investment fund. SoftBank owns more than 20 per cent stake in e-tailer. Google's parent Alphabet is reportedly in talks with Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail major to acquire a minority stake in India's largest online marketplace. According to reports, the tech giant is likely to invest $1-2 billion. Alphabet and Walmart already have a partnership in the US since last year. In US, Walmart products are sold on Google Express, its online shopping mall. Google also sells Walmart products through Google Assistant on Google Home, its voice-controlled speaker which competes with Amazon's Echo. Walmart customers also have the option of linking their accounts to Google. The coming together of world's two biggest corporations is being viewed as an attempt to challenge Amazon's booming retail business across the world. The partnership is also meant to leap into the voice-based shopping experience in future. Walmart's acquisition of Flipkart will help the world's largest retailer in challenging the dominance of Amazon which has been eating up its market share in the US. The deal will also give a fillip to Walmart's online ambitions in a significantly huge market like India. Earlier in the day, The Economic Times reported that Flipkart's Executive Chairman Sachin Bansal may quit if the acquisition by Walmart comes to fruition. Bansal has been at the helm of the company he co-founded for over a decade. Bansal, who holds about 5.5 per cent stake in the Indian e-commerce bellwether, is likely to take home more than $1 billion as the estimated valuation of Flipkart has been pegged around $20 billion for the Walmart buyout. In 2007, former Amazon executive, Sachin Bansal, teamed up with his IIT-Delhi batch mate Binny Bansal, to start Flipkart as an online books seller. Bansals began operations out of their Bengaluru apartment. While Sachin Bansal has serving as the CEO of the company from 2007 to 2016, Binny Bansal took care of the logistics section as the chief operating officer (COO). Binny was later elevated to Group CEO. Flipkart's early investors like New York-based Tiger Global, Accel and South African internet conglomerate Naspers are likely to sell their entire stakes in Flipkart to Walmart if a deal is reached. Last year, Japan's SoftBank bought a 20 per cent stake in the country's leading etailer for $2.5 billion through its $100 billion technology-focused Vision Fund. It was the biggest ever private investment in an Indian tech firm at the time. Walmart had earlier completed its due diligence for the Flipkart deal. Both Walmart and India's homegrown e-commerce leader stand to gain much if this long-speculated deal goes through. To begin with, they get to pool resources to compete against a common enemy, Amazon, in online as well as offline retail channels. Walmart also gets to grab a foothold in India's booming e-commerce industry. Meanwhile, Flipkart stands to not only add financial muscle but also strengthen its supply chain and enhance efficiency in procurement, product assortment and retailing. India's leading e-tailer, besides, has been looking to open retail stores in India for a long time now but has been waiting for the right investment partner. As such, the partnership between Walmart and Flipkart already seems like a match made in heaven. TIANJIN, China, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Asymchem Laboratories (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. (SHE: 002821, "Asymchem") today announced that it has cofounded the Innovative Drug Fund ("IDF") together with SDIC Fund Management Company Ltd. ("SDIC"), the Tianjin Haihe Industry Fund Management Co., Ltd. ("THI"), and the Tianjin Economic Development Area Administrative Commission ("TEDA"), in a significant joint effort to support the development of innovative drugs into China in accordance with the Chinese Government's Healthy China 2030 Planning Outline. The Innovative Drug Fund ("IDF") serves as a fully integrated support platform for the introduction of new drugs from overseas to help drive China's pharmaceutical industry. The IDF partners with western biotech companies via multiple collaboration models (in-licensing or joint venture), and leverages the CMC, R&D, and manufacturing services of Asymchem. Coupled with the additional preclinical and clinical services support of a partner network, together with support from the national and local governments (TEDA, THI), new companies around biopharma assets are formed with the goal of advancing the speed with which to launch new drugs into China. Dr. Hong, Chairman and CEO of Asymchem Group, and a key advisor to China's Thousand Talents Program, said: "With the creation of so many talents coming together to form the IDF, we are very excited to come one step closer to accelerating the availability of innovative treatments to patients in China." Asymchem will host its First Asymchem Global Pharma & Biotech Symposium in Boston MA on Friday May 4th from 1:30-7pm at the Cyclorama, Boston Center of the Arts. Discussions and explanations will circle around Market, Regulation, Science, Investment and Solutions on entering the 2nd largest pharma market in world. About Asymchem: Asymchem is a global CMC CDMO with USFDA inspected facilities in the P. R. China. Core capabilities include process development and commercial manufacturing of late phase to launched products and applying innovative technologies as a sustainable means to reducing cost and meet increasing environmental restrictions. From initial development of a synthetic chemical process through to manufacturing, Asymchem's proven team of experienced process and engineering teams extends upon a >20 years track record. Founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Tianjin, P. R. China with 2,370 employees to date. About the Tianjin Economic Development Area (TEDA): TEDA was created in late 1984 as one of the first batch of national level development areas approved by the State Council of the P.R. China. TEDA has since rapidly developed into one of China's key technological development areas with significant industry investments. About SDIC Healthcare Fund: Established in 2009, the SDIC Healthcare Fund developed into one of the largest professional private equity management institutions in China, operating independently in accordance with the requirements of the market. The Fund directly or indirectly managed assets in excess of 60 billion RMB, from financial institutions to social security funds, state-owned and private investment. About the Tianjin Haihe Industry Fund: The Tianjin Haihe Industry Fund, a China government guidance fund, was established by Tianjin Municipal Committee of the CPC and Tianjin Municipal People's Government. It aims to promote Tianjin city as a global R&D base in the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, in partnership with CITIC Group, Tsinghua Unigroup, Haier, Hony Capital, China Oceanwide Holdings Group, Tasly and other major industrial capitals, investment organizations, and shareholders of state-owned enterprises. Set up with diversified ownership, it's goal is as a solely entrusted management organization to guide the operation, management and marketization of guidance funds. SOURCE Asymchem Laboratories, Inc. Related Links http://www.asymchem.com PHOENIX, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is offering assistance to its members who have been affected by the Tinder Fire in northern Arizona. As part of BCBSAZ's emergency response plan, members living in the Blue Ridge area impacted by the fire restrictions can seek early refills on their retail and mail-order prescriptions, which may be shipped to an alternative address. Members who need help with their coverage during this emergency are encouraged to call the number on the back of their I.D. card, if available, or call (800) 232-2345. If their current provider is inaccessible and they need an alternative BCBSAZ network healthcare provider, they can visit the online directory at azblue.com/providers. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a focus on connecting people with the care they need, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to nearly 1.5 million customers. BCBSAZ, a not-for-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company employs nearly 1,500 people in its Phoenix, Chandler, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices. Through advanced clinical programs and community outreach, BCBSAZ is moving health forward. To learn more, visit azblue.com. SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Related Links http://www.azblue.com/ Strong activity in Ontario and Quebec States in the region to build momentum with accelerating U.S. economy Possible disruption to NAFTA poses trade challenges to region MONTREAL, TORONTO and CHICAGO, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Building on momentum seen from the previous year, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence economy is poised to accelerate in 2018, according to a new report from BMO Economics. The report, Partners in Growth and Trade, was released today during a presentation by BMO Chief Economist Doug Porter at the Council of the Great Lakes Region's fourth Great Lakes Economic Forum in Montreal. The region includes Ontario and Quebec in Canada, along with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in the United States. "The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region is a vital driver of North American economic output, employment and trade, accounting for nearly a third of combined Canadian and U.S. GDP, jobs and exports," said Mr. Porter. "Its economic output was estimated to reach US$6 trillion in 2017; this outranks Japan, Germany, the U.K. and France, and would represent the third-largest economy in the world behind the U.S. and China if it were a country." The region also represents an important component of BMO's cross-border capabilities, given that many of its customers transact in both Canada and the United States. BMO is uniquely and best positioned to serve these customers offering a full spectrum of financing, advisory and wealth management services. Mr. Porter noted that the the U.S. economy is expected to accelerate this year, growing at a 2.8 per cent clip in 2018 up from 2.3 per cent last year. In contrast, Canada looks to soften to 2.0 per cent from 3.0 per cent in 2017, as the economy settles back toward potential after a temporary surge. "Ontario's latest three-year run of near-3 per cent growth was the strongest in 15 years, while Quebec's, at around 3 per cent, was the strongest since 2000 last year; both are forecast to ease to the low-2 per cent range this year. In contrast, most U.S. states in the region are expected to build on the momentum seen in 2017, which should help nudge up overall growth." Mr. Porter also assessed the potential impact of possible trade disruptions, such as a breakup of NAFTA. "To be sure, there are many moving parts when considering the impact such as currency, price changes, trade substitution with other countries or inter-provincially but a rough assessment shows that the Great Lakes region would be relatively hard hit." He noted, however, that while the termination of NAFTA would be a net negative for the overall Canadian economy and a mild negative for the U.S., it remains a manageable risk to which policymakers, businesses, and markets would adjust in relatively short order. The full report can be downloaded at bmocm.com/economics. About BMO Financial Group Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of CDN$728 billion as of January 31, 2018, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets. SOURCE BMO Financial Group PETALUMA, Calif., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The bottom line as a business owner comes down to turning a profit. That profit can be turned around and put back into the company to further its goals, but small businesses can also benefit from philanthropic endeavors. Supporting local causes can increase visibility and earn a business more customers. Brandon Frere, CEO and Entrepreneur, gives back to his community through his businesses and encourages other business owners to do the same. Credit: Rawpixel.com/ Bigstock "My businesses allow me to give to my community in ways I wouldn't be able to do otherwise," says Frere. "I'm happy to be able to inspire my employees to pitch in as well. Together, we can do a lot of good for our community." Businesses used to stay neutral when it came to social issues. Today, activism is more common and customers are showing that they want to give their business to companies whose views are in line with their own. Additionally, participating in social causes can increase employee morale and attract better talent. Companies who choose to get involved in social causes should choose causes that align with their values and mission. For example, an education company may support local schools by donating funds or supplies. This can strengthen a company's brand and show consistency. Additionally, companies can choose to support their employees in their own social involvement, such as matching donations or offering opportunities to volunteer. "Companies may sometimes feel like islands, but taking root and establishing a place in the community can be good for everyone," said Brandon Frere. "My companies are built on the idea that we help people, so it just makes sense to extend our reach by getting involved in our community." 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 community-involvement-for-small.jpg Community Involvement for Small Businesses Credit: Rawpixel.com/ Bigstock image2.png Related Links Frere Enterprises home page SOURCE Frere Enterprises COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Demotech, the financial analysis and actuarial services firm, is pleased to announce that Business Risk Partners (BRP) now offers an enhanced insurance agent errors & omissions (E&O) program that extends insolvency coverage to agents placing coverage with carriers rated A or better by Demotech. "Agents and brokers are concerned with their exposure to carrier insolvency and use a variety of tools to manage the exposure," said Karen Lombardo, BRP's E&O product manager. "Demotech has created a niche in the regional and specialty insurer market that serves as a resource to agents needing reliable rating data on more than 400 insurance companies. We are happy to provide this coverage enhancement in the policy." "BRP has a well-earned reputation for providing products that meet the needs of its clients," said Demotech's president and co-founder Joseph Petrelli." Demotech is pleased that agents will benefit from the expansions of coverage being implemented." About Business Risk Partners Founded in 2000, Business Risk Partners (BRP) is a specialty insurance underwriter and program administrator committed to creating long-term, mutually profitable partnerships through superior service and teamwork. Partnering with top global carriers and using proprietary technology, BRP offers a wide variety of professional liability, management liability, data breach/privacy and hybridized specialty solutions to agents and brokers serving middle market customers nationwide. BRP's underwriting specialists are often commended for their ability to turn complicated risks around in 24 hours. Proprietary technology enables real-time quote, bind, issue and servicing and is seen by many as one of the best in the business. BRP is privately held and based in Windsor, Connecticut. www.BusinessRiskPartners.com About Demotech, Inc. Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm specializing in evaluating the financial stability of regional and specialty insurers. Since 1985, Demotech has served the insurance industry by assigning accurate, reliable, and proven Financial Stability Ratings (FSRs) to Property & Casualty insurers and Title underwriters. Visit www.demotech.com for more information. SOURCE Demotech, Inc. Related Links http://www.demotech.com PARIS, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As an investment fund that participates in an array of blockchain ventures, Trecento has the potential to expand funding for blockchain and cryptocurrency development. The fund will be participating in this year's d10e conference. Held in Tokyo, the event will showcase blockchain and other decentralized technologies, giving Trecento a chance to demonstrate just how valuable its investment strategy is. Founded in 2014, d10e is a global conference that brings together leaders in decentralization. The event has already made its way to more than a dozen countries and territories, including Israel, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Poland, and the Cayman Islands. It has taken an interest in a wide range of technologies that advance decentralization, including blockchain storage. Trecento is an investment fund that focuses on cryptocurrencies and other blockchain assets. The company brings together five different types of funds, thereby achieving a high level of diversification so that investors are safe from many of this emerging market's risks. By taking part in d10e, Trecento hopes to show the world its potential as a source of blockchain funding. In this way, it can earn more support and investments while advancing the blockchain industry as a whole. d10e Details d10e began in 2014, and has quickly expanded to become one of the most popular and successful decentralization conferences on the planet. It encourages communication and collaboration between all the organizations and individuals who are involved in the development of decentralized technologies. These include the blockchain, a storage method that prevents fraud or theft by tying data together into immutable chains. The conference also promotes fintech, the sharing economy, and a range of other technologies and trends. The d10e conference travels to as many cities as possible each year. This helps it raise support while encouraging people across the globe to take an interest in decentralized technology. They plan to visit 25 cities in 2018, including Tokyo, where they will be from April 28th to May 1st. Taking Stock of Trecento Trecento will be participating in the Tokyo d10e event as part of its effort to attract a new pool of investors for blockchain ventures. As an investment firm that focuses on cryptocurrency and blockchain assets, Trecento has developed a strategy for success that involves: Five distinct funds for different asset types . This ensures high levels of diversification, keeping risks to a minimum for investors. . This ensures high levels of diversification, keeping risks to a minimum for investors. A team of skilled, experienced investors . These individuals have a cumulative total of 120 years of investment experience, having completed more than 160 investment deals and handled 32 million in assets. . These individuals have a cumulative total of 120 years of investment experience, having completed more than 160 investment deals and handled 32 million in assets. A transparent approach to performance and fund management. This helps investors who may be skeptical about the fund's strategies understand exactly what Trecento is doing and how it is likely to succeed. Trecento has the potential to advance blockchain technology by bringing in capital from a new generation of investors. This will in turn spread the profits of this industry, allowing a broader section of the population to benefit from it. The platform will thus play a critical role in the future of decentralization. SOURCE Trecento DENVER, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE MKT:UUUU; TSX:EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and may be viewed on the Electronic Document Gathering and Retrieval System ("EDGAR") at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com. Unless noted otherwise, all dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars. Financial Highlights: At March 31, 2018 , the Company had $23.6 million of working capital, including cash and cash equivalents of $6.6 million and approximately 600,000 pounds of uranium concentrate inventory. , the Company had of working capital, including cash and cash equivalents of and approximately 600,000 pounds of uranium concentrate inventory. 50,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 sales were completed by the Company at a realized price of $24.75 per pound, pursuant to a contract. O sales were completed by the Company at a realized price of per pound, pursuant to a contract. Q1 had lower sales volume due to the timing of contract sales. On April 1, 2018 , the Company delivered 400,000 lbs. into long-term sales contracts at the price of $61.30 per pound, and over $24.5 million was collected on May 1, 2018 . In addition, the Company collected $5.39 million from the sale of a non-core property on May 1, 2018 . , the Company delivered 400,000 lbs. into long-term sales contracts at the price of per pound, and over was collected on . In addition, the Company collected from the sale of a non-core property on . $1.2 million of total revenue was realized by the Company during the quarter. of total revenue was realized by the Company during the quarter. Uranium production totaled 43,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 during the quarter. O during the quarter. The Company began fulfilling toll processing alternate feed contracts which are expected to result in approximately $7.1 million of revenue for 2018, including $3.8 million of cash and $3.3 million of uranium for the Company's account, none of which have been earned or recovered to date. Mark S. Chalmers, Energy Fuels' President and CEO stated: "Energy Fuels continues to maintain a strong working capital position and overall balance sheet during these challenging uranium market conditions. We are the largest uranium producer in the U.S., and we own an operating in situ recovery ("ISR") facility in Wyoming, a second ISR facility on standby in Texas, and the largest uranium resource base in the U.S. among producers. Further, we own the only operating uranium mill in the U.S. which is also the only operating facility in the U.S. with the near-term ability to resume recovery of vanadium. Energy Fuels' unmatched depth of assets and breadth of opportunities position us to maintain this strength during these difficult times. "We are unique among our peers in our ability to capitalize on opportunities that are insulated from the low global uranium market prices, including new sources of alternate feed materials and fee processing arrangements, the potential for fee-based land cleanup work, the potential for copper recovery from our Canyon Mine, and vanadium recovery at our White Mesa Mill (the "Mill"). Perhaps most importantly, we are a co-petitioner on a Section 232 Petition with the federal government that has the potential to provide important support for the U.S. uranium mining industry. "All of these opportunities are exciting because they allow us to preserve our substantial uranium production capabilities, minimize shareholder dilution, and provide us with unsurpassed optionality to increase uranium production as prices rise. "I am particularly excited right now about our current vanadium opportunities, including the short-term potential to recover vanadium that is dissolved in pond water at the Mill, which we are currently evaluating. Vanadium prices have risen by more than 400% over the past 24 months to about $15 per pound V 2 O 5 . The Mill has a long history of conventional vanadium recovery, most recently producing 1.5 million pounds of vanadium in 2013. During its 38-year operating history, the Mill has actually produced over 45 million pounds of vanadium or over $500 million of vanadium at today's prices. The Company is also reviewing the economics of processing certain previously mined uranium/vanadium stockpiles in the vicinity of the Mill. Finally, in light of the potential for supportive trade remedies, we are evaluating the re-initiation of conventional uranium/vanadium production from certain mines. We have a number of mines in Utah and Colorado that contain large quantities of uranium and vanadium resources, including the Whirlwind Mine and the La Sal Complex where we recently received government approvals for an expansion." Key Developments: On January 16, 2018, the Company and Ur-Energy (the "Petitioners") announced that they had jointly filed a Petition (the "Petition") for Relief with the U.S. Department of Commerce ("DOC") under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (as amended) from Imports of Uranium Products that Threaten National Security. The petition describes how uranium and nuclear fuel from state-owned and state-subsidized enterprises in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China potentially represent a threat to U.S. national security. The Petition seeks remedies which will set a quota to limit imports of uranium into the U.S., effectively reserving 25% of the U.S. nuclear market for U.S. uranium production. Additionally, the Petition suggests implementation of a requirement for U.S. federal utilities and agencies to buy U.S. uranium in accordance with the President's Buy American Policy. The remedies proposed by the Petitioners are expected to strengthen the U.S. uranium mining industry, bolster national defense, and improve supply diversification for U.S. utilities and their customers. During the first three months of 2018, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality renewed the Company's White Mesa Mill license for another ten years, and the Company received amendments from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to its Plans of Operations to expand operations at its La Sal Uranium/Vanadium Project and Daneros Uranium Project, both of which are currently on standby. The Company completed the shaft at its Canyon Project to a depth of 1,470 ft. during the first three months of 2018, and also completed the construction of a sump at the bottom of the shaft, as well as miscellaneous other development activities at the mine. Currently planned field activities at the mine are now complete. Recent studies of the Company's vanadium capabilities have resulted in the identification of substantial quantities of potentially recoverable, solubilized vanadium in the Mill's tailings and evaporation ponds, and consequently the Company is considering initiating a "pilot" project in 2018 to determine the scope, cost and economics to recover this dissolved vanadium, along with additional quantities of uranium, from those solutions. In March 2018, the Company received a notice from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirming that the Company completed final groundwater restoration at Production Area 1 at the Company's Alta Mesa Uranium Project ("Alta Mesa") in Texas. Groundwater restoration following uranium recovery is one of the most important environmental compliance milestones that every U.S. ISR facility must complete following production. Alta Mesa is a fully permitted and constructed ISR uranium project located in South Texas that is currently on standby status. Effective March 12, 2018, Barbara A. Filas was appointed to serve as a Director of Energy Fuels, to fill a vacancy on the Board. Ms. Filas brings an impressive array of executive and technical experience to Energy Fuels in both the public and private mining sectors, having served as the President and Chief Executive of Knight Piesold and Co., a leading global mining and environmental consulting firm, the President of Geovic Mining Corp., a publicly-traded mining company with an advanced cobalt, nickel and manganese exploration project in Cameroon, and a Director of Moroccan Minerals Ltd., a private company that explored for copper, gold, and silver prospects in Morocco and Serbia. In addition, Ms. Filas was the first female President of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration ("SME"), the world's largest technical mining organization, and is currently a part-time Professor of Practice at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. She is internationally recognized as a thought-leader on a variety of topics including mining, waste management, environmental and social responsibility, leadership, and sustainability, and has experience in both developed and developing countries on six continents. On May 1, 2018, the Company closed the sale of its non-core Reno Creek property in Wyoming for $5.39 million, including $2.94 million in cash and $2.45 million in common shares of Uranium Energy Corp. Selected Summary Financial Information: $000, except per share data Three months ended March 31, 2018 Three months ended March 31, 2017 Results of Operations: Total revenues $ 1,254 $ 3,756 Net loss attributable to the company (10,822) (10,508) Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (0.14) (0.15) $000's As at March 31, 2018 As at December 31, 2017 Financial Position: Working capital $ 23,635 $ 33,296 Property, plant and equipment 32,251 33,076 Mineral properties 83,539 83,539 Total assets 172,797 185,338 Total long-term liabilities 44,497 45,701 Operations and Sales Outlook: The Company plans to extract and/or recover uranium from the following sources in 2018 (each of which is more fully described below): Nichols Ranch Project; Alternate Feed Materials; and The recovery of dissolved uranium from the Mill's tailings management system that was not fully recovered during the Mill's prior thirty-plus years of operations ("Pond Return"). Our planned operations are expected to produce finished uranium in excess of our existing requirements under our sales contracts. Extraction and Recovery Activities - Overview The Company expects to produce a total of 460,000 to 520,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 in the year ending December 31, 2018, of which 43,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 were produced in the first three months of 2018. Extraction and Recovery - ISR Uranium Segment We expect production at Nichols Ranch to total 140,000 to 160,000 pounds in the year ending December 31, 2018, of which we recovered 43,000 pounds during the first three months of 2018. At March 31, 2018, the Nichols Ranch wellfields had nine header houses extracting uranium. Until such time when improvement in uranium market conditions is observed or suitable sales contracts can be entered into, the Company intends to defer further development of wellfields at its Nichols Ranch Project and to keep Alta Mesa on standby. Extraction and Recovery Milling Operations We expect to recover 320,000 to 360,000 pounds of uranium at the Mill during the year ending December 31, 2018 for our own account, none of which have been recovered to date in 2018. Of this material, approximately 145,000 pounds are expected to be from alternate feed materials and the remainder from Pond Return. In addition to the 145,000 pounds expected to be recovered from alternate feed materials, valued at $3.3 million, the Company expects to receive an additional $3.8 million in cash from processing fees, for a total expected value from alternate feed materials of $7.1 million during 2018, none of which has been earned or recovered to date in 2018. The Company is continuing to pursue other alternate feed material opportunities, some of which may result in additional value to the Company in 2018. The Company currently expects that planned processing activities will keep the Mill in operation through the end of 2018, and will generate positive cash flow as a result. The Company is also actively pursuing opportunities to process new and additional alternate feed sources, low-grade ore from third parties in connection with various uranium clean-up requirements, and further recovery of uranium from Pond Return. Vanadium Recovery Vanadium is a metallic element that, when converted into ferrovanadium (an alloy of vanadium and iron), is used primarily as an additive to strengthen and harden steel. In addition, vanadium continues to see interest in energy storage technologies, including vanadium redox flow batteries, which are used commercially for grid energy storage. In addition to evaluating the potential to recover solubilized vanadium from the Mill's tailings and evaporation ponds, the Company is also reviewing the economics of processing certain previously mined uranium/vanadium ore stockpiles in the vicinity of the Mill and re-initiation of conventional mining at certain of its uranium/vanadium mines, as well as the recovery of vanadium alone, or in combination with uranium, from other potential vanadium-bearing streams, as market conditions may warrant. The goal of the Company's vanadium review is to better quantify near- and mid-term vanadium revenue streams, in light of recent increases in vanadium prices, while minimizing the risks of market fluctuations. Canyon Project With the completion of the shaft to a depth of 1,470 ft., all currently planned field activities have been completed at the Company's Canyon Mine. The Company plans to continue to carry out engineering, procurement and construction management activities in 2018, including additional bench and pilot plant scale metallurgical test work of the uranium/copper mineralization, as well as to pursue any additional permitting actions that may be required to recover copper at the Mill. The timing of our plans to extract and process mineralized materials from this project will be based on the results of this additional evaluation work, along with market conditions, available financing, and sales requirements. Other Operational Activities During the first three months of 2018, the Company received amendments to its Plans of Operations to expand operations at its La Sal Uranium/Vanadium Project and its Daneros Uranium Project, both of which are currently on standby. The Company continues to selectively advance certain permits at its other major conventional uranium projects. The Company plans to continue the licensing and permitting of the Roca Honda Project, a large, high-grade conventional project in New Mexico, with the Record of Decision currently now expected to be completed in 2019. The Company will also continue to evaluate the Bullfrog Property at its Henry Mountains Project. Expenditures for certain of these projects have been adjusted to coincide with expected dates of price recoveries based on our forecasts. All of these projects serve as important pipeline assets for the Company's future conventional production capabilities, as market conditions warrant. The Company will also continue to pursue additional cost cutting initiatives, including further reductions in the scope of certain development initiatives, the potential sale or abandonment of certain non-core properties and the sale of excess mining equipment and other assets. Trade Petition The Company intends to continue its support of the Section 232 Petition during 2018. It should be noted, however, that there can be no certainty of the outcome of the petition, and therefore the outcome of this process is uncertain. Sales of U 3 O 8 and other revenue update and outlook In the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company completed deliveries of 50,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 on a spot sale at a price of $24.75 per pound. In addition, on April 1, 2018, the Company completed the delivery of 400,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 under two long-term contracts with a fixed price of $61.30 per pound. In the final nine months of the year, the Company expects to complete two deliveries totaling 200,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 each under a contract, where the price is based on the average spot price per pound of uranium for the five weeks prior to the dates of delivery. About Energy Fuels: Energy Fuels is a leading integrated US-based uranium mining company, supplying U 3 O 8 to major nuclear utilities. Its corporate offices are in Denver, Colorado, and all of its assets and employees are in the western United States. Energy Fuels holds three of America's key uranium production centers, the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the Nichols Ranch Processing Facility in Wyoming, and the Alta Mesa Project in Texas. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today and has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Nichols Ranch Processing Facility is an ISR production center with a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. Alta Mesa is an ISR production center currently on care and maintenance. Energy Fuels also has the largest National Instrument 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolio in the U.S. among producers, and uranium mining projects located in a number of Western U.S. states, including one producing ISR project, mines on standby, and mineral properties in various stages of permitting and development. The Company also produces vanadium as a by-product of its uranium production from certain of its mines on the Colorado Plateau, as market conditions warrant. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU", and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR". Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: production, revenue and sales forecasts; the ability of the Company to enjoy some insulation from spot market weakness and to maintain its strength during these difficult times; the ability of the Company to secure any new sources of alternate feed materials, land clean-up materials, or other processing opportunities at the Mill; whether all or a portion of any copper resource at the Canyon project can be recovered at the Mill or elsewhere; scalability, and the Company's ability and readiness to re-start or expand any of its existing projects to respond to any improvements in uranium market conditions; the ability of the Company to preserve its substantial uranium production capabilities, while minimizing shareholder dilution; any expectations regarding vanadium opportunities; any expectations regarding keeping the Mill in operation through 2018 and the generation of positive cash flow from the Mill as a result; expected timelines for the permitting and development of projects; the Company's expectations as to longer term fundamentals in the market and price projections; the Company's expectations as to expenditures and cost reductions; expectations of the Company to become or maintain its position as a leading uranium company in the United States; and the outcome of the Petition to the Department of Commerce to commence a Section 232 investigation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" "does not expect", "is expected", "is likely", "budget" "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "have the potential to". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to be forward-looking statements. 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 express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: production, revenue and sales forecasts; the ability of the Company to enjoy some insulation from spot market weakness and to maintain its strength during these difficult times; the ability of the Company to secure any new sources of alternate feed materials, land clean-up materials, or other processing opportunities at the Mill; whether all or a portion of any copper resource at the Canyon project can be recovered at the Mill or elsewhere; scalability, and the Company's ability and readiness to re-start or expand any of its existing projects to respond to any improvements in uranium market conditions; the ability of the Company to preserve its substantial uranium production capabilities, while minimizing shareholder dilution; any expectations regarding vanadium opportunities; any expectations regarding keeping the Mill in operation through 2018 and the generation of positive cash flow from the Mill as a result; expected timelines for the permitting and development of projects; the Company's expectations as to longer term fundamentals in the market and price projections; the Company's expectations as to expenditures and cost reductions; expectations of the Company to become or maintain its position as a leading uranium company in the United States; the outcome of the Petition to the Department of Commerce to commence a Section 232 investigation; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 9, 2018, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. 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 such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc. Related Links http://www.energyfuels.com INDIANAPOLIS, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indiana Conference for Women (ICFW) will feature Erin Brockovich and Gretchen Carlson as keynote speakers during its seventh-annual conference on Thursday, Nov. 8. Brockovich and Carlson have histories of serving as leaders and advocates for a variety of causes. Indiana Conference for Women Keynote Speakers "Erin and Gretchen will motivate, inspire and demonstrate why they're true pioneers who have made a difference in the lives of others," said Billie Dragoo-Garcia, co-founder with Deborah Collins Stephens of ICFW. "Both women have incredible journeys showcasing how hard work and perseverance pay off especially when you have faced extraordinarily challenging circumstances." Brockovich is known for her tenacity and ability to serve as a voice for those fighting difficult challenges. In 1996, as a result of the largest direct action lawsuit of its kind, spearheaded by Erin and attorney Ed Masry, the utility giant, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG & E) was forced to pay out the largest toxic tort injury settlement in U.S. history: $333 million in damages to more than 600 Hinkley, Calif. residents. Her story was profiled more than 15 years ago in the Oscar-winning movie, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts. Named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2017, Gretchen has worked as a news anchor and a tireless advocate for equality and empowerment for women. She most recently served as the host of "The Real Story" on Fox News for three years. Prior to that, she co-hosted the number-one rated cable morning news show, "Fox and Friends," for more than seven years. In 2016, Carlson became the face of sexual harassment in the workplace, suing Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, and subsequently appearing on the covers of "Time" and "Good Housekeeping" magazines standing strong in her determination to promote a safe working environment for all women. Additionally, in 2018, Carlson became the first former Miss America and woman to become Executive Chair of the Miss America Organization. Tickets to the Indiana Conference for Women can be purchased online. Additional speakers and presenters will continue to be announced. For more information, visit IndianaConferenceForWomen.com. Contact: Susan Decker 317-400-1983 [email protected] SOURCE Indiana Conference for Women Related Links https://indianaconferenceforwomen.com AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FCA US has earned one of DiversityInc 's top recognitions 10 times since the benchmarks were established in 2001 's top recognitions 10 times since the benchmarks were established in 2001 Second consecutive year the Company earned a top spot in the specialty category "Top Companies for Veterans" established in 2017 Company's longstanding, enterprise-wide commitment to diversity and inclusion supports a work culture where all employees are engaged, included and respected Sophisticated supplier diversity programs continue to differentiate FCA US as a diversity leader More than 1,000 companies participated in the 2018 DiversityInc evaluation The editors of DiversityInc magazine have named FCA US LLC to the magazine's 2018 list of "Noteworthy Companies for Diversity" and to the list of "Top Companies for Veterans." This is the 10th year the Company has earned a place among the magazine's top 50 or most noteworthy companies for diversity since the benchmarks were established in 2001. It is the second consecutive year that FCA US earned a position on the magazine's top companies for veterans list, which was established in 2017. These annual benchmarks recognize the best diversity-management leaders in the U.S. Selected companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ employees and veterans, as well as programs that support supplier diversity, DiversityInc notes. More than 1,000 companies participated in the 2018 evaluation. "FCA US has a longstanding, enterprise-wide commitment to diversity and inclusion while promoting a work culture where all employees and business partners are engaged, included and respected," said Barb Pilarski, Head of Human Resources, FCA US LLC. "Our pledge to our employees, our dealers, our suppliers and our customers is to ensure that diversity and inclusion is an everyday practice in our workplace. We value the recognition and feedback we receive from influential organizations like DiversityInc." Examples of the Company's accomplishments include: FCA US received Silver Status as a Michigan Friendly Employer by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency in recognition of recruitment strategies aimed at Veterans FCA US achieved a 100 percent rating on Human Rights Campaign's 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which rates employers on their LGBTQ workplace policies and benefits. The Company has attained a 100 percent CEI rating 11 times since the benchmark was established in 2002 FCA US also supports various organizations that advance women's involvement in STEM professions, including Michigan Council of Women in Technology and Society of Women Engineers Internally, the Company supports seven business resource groups representing a range of affinity communities, including African-American, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ, Veterans, Native Americans and Women. These employee-directed groups are each assigned an executive sponsor, and individually and collectively pursue initiatives that enhance the FCA US work culture by focusing on career development of members, celebrating multicultural differences and bringing value to the Company and external communities through volunteer, charitable and strategic activities. The Company continues its leadership in promoting and providing opportunities for minority-owned suppliers. Since 1983, the Company has purchased nearly $62 billion from minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned suppliers. FCA US spent $8.2 billion with diverse suppliers in 2017, representing 18 percent of the Company's total annual purchasing. FCA US supplier diversity goals require that up to 8.5 percent of a tier-one supplier's buy be sourced to certified minority-owned businesses and 3 percent sourced with women-owned businesses. The Company began tracking veteran-owned business spend in 2018. In recent years, FCA US was honored with key leadership awards for its supplier diversity programs, including: National Minority Supplier Development Council Corporation of the Year, Top Tier II Diversity Program Award, Innovation, Impact Award Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council Corporation of the Year Award Women's Business Enterprise National Council Top Corporation for six consecutive years Great Lakes Women's Business Council Corporation of the Year Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Top Corporation Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce Corporation of the Year WBE Great Lakes Excellence in Supplier Diversity Award "FCA US has been a leader in supplier diversity for the past 35 years, and was the first automaker to have suppliers follow in our footsteps to promote diverse spend in their own supply bases," said Scott Thiele, Chief Purchasing Officer, FCA. "We will continue to prioritize access and development opportunities for minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses to strengthen our partnership with leaders in our community and industry." "Events of the past year have demonstrated that decisive ethical leadership is necessary to guide any organization to success," notes Luke Visconti, founder and CEO of DiversityInc. "Successful leaders hold themselves accountable to be culturally competent, a skill that requires constant learning. DiversityInc Top 50 and Noteworthy companies have a metrics-evidenced ability to treat people more fairly than other large companies. They also have a greater-than-average return for their shareholders." About DiversityInc The mission of DiversityInc is to bring education and clarity to the business benefits of diversity. The DiversityInc Top 50 and Noteworthy Companies for Diversity list began in 2001, when many corporations were beginning to understand the business value of diversity-management initiatives. The 2018 Top 50 and Noteworthy Companies for Diversity results will be featured on DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. About FCA US LLC FCA US LLC is a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It designs, manufactures, and sells or distributes vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The Company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler Corp., established in 1925 by industry visionary Walter P. Chrysler and Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.), founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA). FCA, the eighth-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCAU" and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol "FCA." Follow FCA US news and video on: Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol YouTube: www.youtube.com/fcanorthamerica Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com SOURCE FCA US LLC The Central Government is planning to levy a cess of Rs 3 per kilo of sugar sold by sugar companies in a bid to raise funds for cane farmers. Sugar factories in the country have been running in losses. The decision to do so comes with the aim of relieving the debts of cane farmers who have not been getting their share from the factories. The factories have gone into losses with the decline in sugar prices. Hence the step is meant to raise funds worth Rs 1540 crores to pay cane farmers on mill's behalf. The cess will be in addition to the 5 per cent GST currently levied on sugar. The decision on the cess will take place at the GST Council meet today which will be chaired by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He will be joined by state finance ministers via video conference. Other important issues that are likely to be discussed include slashing the GST rate on ethanol from the current 18 per cent. This is a demand raised by the oil companies. Government's stake in GST Network (GSTN), incentives for digital payments and simplification of GST process may also be discussed. Prashanth Agarwal, Indirect tax Partner at PwC, told DNA that the cess though levied on the companies is likely to impact consumers. He also said that multiple taxes and cess are against the value of GST and would make compliance and operations more complex. As a result it creates a mess of the tax structure under GST. In Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, arrears worth Rs 19,000 crores need to be paid to farmers by sugar factories. According to industry body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the sugar prices have been under severe pressure in the last four to five months and have fallen by Rs 9 per kilo across the country. "As compared to the cost of production, the current ex-mill sugar prices are around Rs 8 per kilo lower and the sugar mills are incurring substantial losses. Inability to pay cane price because of highly depressed sugar prices, has translated into huge cane price arrears of farmers," ISMA points out. As on March 15 this year, cane price arrears was over Rs 18,000 crore across the country. "Since the sugar prices have only fallen from therein, the cane price arrears would have crossed Rs 20,000 crore, which would be the highest ever at this time in any of the past seasons," says ISMA. MCLEAN, Va., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Congress is expected to pass a major piece of legislation on financial regulatory reform as early as this month, that should positively impact U.S. community and regional banks, and further spur industry mergers and acquisitions, according to McLean, VA-based investment manager, FJ Capital Management. In a white paper released today on the regulatory landscape and structural bank consolidation trend, FJ Capital, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm founded in 2007 that manages approximately $950 million in net assets, maintains that while this bill has been tailored to accommodate both parties in Congress, it holds key provisions that stands to significantly benefit the banking industry. "Should the bill get enacted, this piece of legislation will represent a major victory for the Administration and the banking industry." The paper, "Benefits of Regulatory Roll-back on Community Banks and Structural Industry Consolidation Trend," assesses key provisions of the Senate bipartisan regulatory reform bill vis-a-vis banks' profitability and merger capabilities. It explores the impact of each of the relevant components of the bill on community banks' compliance, legal and capital costs, improved lending capacity and liquidity. Among the key provisions, higher regulatory asset thresholds should kickstart the watershed reform of financial regulation in a significant way for the industry and the consolidation landscape. The paper emphasizes how the current regulatory hegemony has impeded and even penalized growth. Importantly, a key benefit of the bill will come not only from relief from explicit regulatory costs, but also through growth as firms no longer will be forced to manage below the existing regulatory thresholds, freeing them to engage in further M&A. The outlook for the continued M&A boom is largely based on the belief the elimination of banks' main regulatory hurdle to growth, combined with more manageable compliance costs, will result in increased profitability. As valuations and buyers' stocks rise, many bank management teams will be hard-pressed to rebuff compelling offers and remain independent. FJ believes the number of banks likely will decline by more than 50% over the next 10 to 15 years. "We are excited about the recent spate of regulatory relief and the impact they will have on both profitability and the ongoing structural bank consolidation trend. We should continue to witness a shift in the regulatory pendulum toward a more pro-business environment that will be positive for banks and the overall economy." FJ Capital Management is an investment management firm that analyzes and invests in community and regional banks through alternative strategies. The firm utilizes its extensive research background and a fundamental approach to assess and identify opportunities in the evolving banking industry. For additional information on the white paper or to further explore opportunities in the bank sector, please use the below contact information or visit www.fjcapital.com. To access the white paper, click on the following link: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/9e6794_e9cdd7ecf36342fcaa6bbf36051212ea.pdf CONTACT: Andrew Jose, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, FJ Capital Management, [email protected], www.fjcapital.com, +1-703-875-8378 SOURCE FJ Capital Management Related Links http://www.fjcapital.com MCHENRY, Ill., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Follett today announced it has signed an exclusive channel partnership with NextTier Education for its cloud-based software solution that provides educators, students, and parents with guidance, information and insight to help students achieve their postsecondary goals. Effective immediately, Follett will begin selling NextTier to public and private school districts and schools, both domestically and internationally. Since its debut in 2014, Chicago-based NextTier has been helping students navigate the college application process and effectively address their individual needs and optimize postsecondary success. "We've been watching NextTier for more than a year now, and it offers a very impressive, robust and modern solution," said Nader Qaimari, president, Follett School Solutions. "This will be the first of many college and career partnerships to come where Follett is bridging its long-respected place in both the K-12 and higher education markets." With its easy-to-use web- and mobile-based platform, NextTier delivers critical information on all two- and four-year colleges. In addition, it provides each student with a comprehensive college application plan, including a detailed list of every school's required tasks, step-by-step guidance, and deadlines throughout the process. NextTier also features a database with more than 20,000 scholarships and grants to successfully match students with the right financial support opportunities. "While more than 90 percent of high school students desire college educations, fewer than 50 percent achieve that goal, and a primary reason for this is the complicated, disparate search and application process," said Justin Shiffman, founder/CEO, NextTier. "We level that playing field to provide all students with equal access to the resources they need to navigate that process. At the end of the day, we're making it easier for a high school student to achieve his or her college education." Shiffman said he and his colleagues at NextTier view the new relationship as a game-changing moment for their company. "This partnership will be transformative for our business," Shiffman said. "Follett not only brings a large and respected global distribution channel for us to partner with, but more than a century of expertise and relationships to help us expand." Qaimari said it is important to Follett that the NextTier solution is committed to ensuring every student has equal access to higher education. By adding translation capabilities, NextTier has created a centralized communication platform that allows students, educators, and parents to stay informed and participate actively in the process, regardless of what language they speak. A Colorado administrator who uses NextTier calls it "a great tool" that keeps all interested parties engaged, motivated and on schedule. "NextTier keeps all student to-do's in one place, while also increasing communication and collaboration between students and counselors," said Rupak Ghandi, the research, data, and accountability officer for Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs. For more information about the Follett's exclusive channel partnership with NextTier Education, visit NextTier.com/Follett, or send an email to [email protected]. About NextTier Education | NextTier.com Founded in 2014, NextTier Education is a software company focused on college and career readiness with user engagement as its top priority. NextTier works with K-12 school districts and support programs across the U.S. as well as internationally by delivering software solutions that bring students, parents, and counselors together to plan and improve students' postsecondary outcomes. With the most robust set of college, career, and scholarship data in the industry, NextTier offers dynamic tools that empower students and all those who support them. About Follett's PreK-12 Business| FollettLearning.com Follett is the largest provider of educational materials and technology solutions to PreK-12 libraries, classrooms, learning centers and school districts in the United States, and a major supplier to educational institutions worldwide. Follett distributes books, reference materials, digital resources, ebooks and audiovisual materials, as well as pre-owned textbooks. Follett also is one of the leading providers of integrated educational technology for the management of physical and digital assets, the tracking, storing and analyzing of academic data, and digital learning environment tools for the classroom focusing on student achievement. Find Follett on Facebook, and follow on Twitter (@FollettLearning). About Follett Corporation | Follett.com Follett is a $3.4 billion privately held company headquartered in Westchester, Illinois. As a leading provider of education technology, services and physical and digital content, Follett works with 70,000 schools and operates more than 1,250 local campus stores and 1,600 virtual stores. With the 2016 acquisition of Baker & Taylor, LLC, Follett's reach also extends into the public library and global retail markets. Media Contact Doug Thompson Thompson Drake Public Relations 541.322.9345 | office; 541.419.4471 | cell [email protected] SOURCE Follett Corporation Related Links http://www.follett.com "After going through Hurricane Charley in Orlando (Fla.), I knew that when I built a new home, I would install a whole-house generator," Stewart said. He made good on that intention when he installed his 17 kW Generac home standby unit in 2005. Stewart was glad to have it when Hurricane Irma struck last year. "Hurricane Irma left us without power for four days," he said. "My generator started right up and ran during the storm. Everything in the house had power. This generator has been a lifesaver." With the 2018 hurricane season nearly upon us and the extremely active 2017 season still fresh in mind Generac Power Systems (NYSE: GNRC) is urging homeowners to use Hurricane Preparedness week, May 6-12, to begin preparing before facing the specter of a tropical storm or hurricane. "Preparation before storms arrive is absolutely critical," said Russ Minick, chief marketing officer, Generac. "Once a storm is en route, the last thing you should have to worry about is how you will deal with a long-term power outage. Hurricane Preparedness Week is a good time to begin exploring your emergency power options, so you can invest in the system that best suits your needs in time to be ready for a storm." The 2017 hurricane season was the costliest on record, eclipsing more than $200 billion in damage. This isn't surprising, because for the first time, three Category 4 hurricanes made landfall in United States territories. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria caused massive flooding, power outages and infrastructure damage. For 2018, the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University currently projects a slightly above-average season, with 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major (Category 3 or above) hurricanes. According to Jake Thomas, director of product management, Generac, homeowners have many options available when it comes to emergency power. "Backup power systems are not 'one size fits all,'" he said. "It's important to consider what your emergency power needs are as well as your budget. Many people invest in portable generators to back up a few appliances, but automatic home standby generators offer exceptional piece of mind because they can back up your entire home, if you so choose, and can run continuously until utility power returns." Thomas said that one useful tool available to homeowners is Generac's sizing calculator. "When shopping for a portable generator, the sizing calculator will help consumers determine the right size generator for their needs," he said. As for automatic home standby generators, Thomas recommends a free in-home assessment with an independent authorized Generac dealer. "There are some key decisions that go into selecting and installing a home standby generator, and our dealers are a homeowner's best resource in that regard," he said. "An in-home assessment is absolutely free, and it's an opportunity for the homeowner to ask questions about generator sizing, placement outdoors, installation costs everything related to having an automatic home standby generator protect their home." Planning for power outages is only one way to get ready for the upcoming hurricane season. Generac also recommends taking the following steps to make your home storm ready: Fuel: Don't Stay Home Without It: When the power is out, chances are gas pumps will not be working. Your car needs fuel, and if you have a portable generator, that will require fuel, as well. Gasoline and diesel fuel become precious commodities in the wake of storms, so keep a fresh or stabilized supply handy in approved containers, away from any sources of heat or combustion. When it comes to refueling a portable generator, make sure you allow the unit to cool before adding additional fuel. Weather-proof Your Home and Property: It's wind speed that separates a tropical storm from a hurricane and also determines a hurricane's severity on the Saffir-Simpson scale. That's why you should ensure your roof is in good repair, windows and doors are sealed against driving rain and trees are trimmed to minimize damage from flying branches. Assemble Your Emergency Preparedness Kit: Every emergency preparedness kit should contain food and water to last for several days. Make it easily accessible from the ground level of your home or business. The kit should also include a flashlight, first aid kit, battery-powered radio, a whistle to signal for help, a portable cell phone charger and an assortment of hand tools. Medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, should also be part of your kit, so that you and your family can ride out the storm. Finally, don't forget pets. Make sure your kit contains food, water and medication for them, as well. Stay Safe: If you choose a portable generator to back up your home, make sure you always operate it outdoors, far away from windows, doors or other openings that could allow carbon monoxide from the engine exhaust to enter your home. You should also consider a model with Generac's carbon monoxide (CO)-detecting feature, COSense. A category-first technology designed for use with portable generators, COSense automatically monitors the area for carbon monoxide and shuts down the generator when CO levels become unsafe or rapidly increase. Also, always use extension cords that are in good repair and rated for outdoor use. A detailed list of power outage safety tips for homeowners and businesses can be found at Generac.com/hurricane-prep. About Generac Generac Power Systems, Inc. (NYSE: GNRC) is a leading global supplier of backup power and prime power products, systems and engine-powered tools. Back in 1959, our founder was committed to designing, engineering and manufacturing the first affordable backup generator. Fifty-seven years later, the same dedication to innovation, durability and excellence has resulted in the company's ability to expand its industry-leading product portfolio into homes and small businesses, on job sites, and in industrial and mobile applications across the globe. Generac offers single engine backup and prime power systems up to 2 MW and paralleled solutions up to 100 MW, and uses a variety of fuel sources to support power needs for our customers. We are proud to be named, in back-to-back years, the Frost & Sullivan 2014 and 2015 North American Natural Gas Generator Set Company of the Year. Visit Generac.com for more information. Media Contacts Art Aiello | Generac Public Relations | O: 262-544-4811 x 2987 | [email protected] Sarah Toay | Punch Public Relations | M: 651-895-4325 | [email protected] SOURCE Generac Power Systems, Inc. Related Links www.generac.com EDINA, Minnesota, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market intelligence report by BIS Research, titled 'Global Aquaponics and Hydroponics Systems and Equipment Market-Analysis & Forecast 2017-2022', the global aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market is expected to reach $1.98 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 15.4% from 2017 to 2022. This growth is attributed to the high yield produced results from both hydroponic and aquaponic systems as compared to the traditional farming. These systems enhance the productivity with minimum inputs as compared to the traditional agricultural practices, which are driving the growth of the market. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495163/BIS_Research_Logo.jpg ) Browse more than 52 Data Tables and 129 Figures spread across 223 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Global Aquaponics and Hydroponics Systems and Equipment Market-Analysis & Forecast 2017-2022" Soil-less culture or hydroponics is the method of growing crops without the soil, either on a substrate (growing media) or in an aqueous medium with plain roots. The growing media provides nutrient support and moisture retention to the plants. Various irrigation systems are joined with these growing media to assist the nutrient solution reaches to the plant's root zone directly. Apart from the high yield benefit as compared to traditional farming, soil-less farming is also gaining traction because of its low fertilizer use efficiency which makes it a suitable farming technique across regions which are dry or nutrient dispersion. On the other hand, Aquaponics is an upcoming vertical farming technology which is still at a nascent stage but is gaining a lot of traction. The plants can be cultivated with water (hydroponic technique), and the same water can be used for aquaponics (fish farming technique). Another technique is aeroponics, which includes the growing of plants by spraying the roots with a nutrient-rich water solution which is still a nascent technology. Both aquaponic and hydroponic techniques have many advantages over the conventional farming methods. Hydroponics and aeroponics are modern agriculture systems that utilize nutrient-rich water rather than soil for plant growth. These do not require fertile land and require less space and 70% less water when compared with the conventional farming. These techniques support crop production all year round when practiced in a controlled environment. This consequently assists the farmers to have greater control over the production and the ability to increase yields with more flexibility during unfavorable climatic conditions. BIS Research Report: https://bisresearch.com/industry-report/global-aquaponics-hydroponics-systems-equipment-market-2022.html The aquaponic and hydroponic techniques require the use of various equipment to perform the farming operations. Some of these grow lights, HVAC, irrigations systems, water heaters, and aeration system. Majority of the equipment used in aquaponics and hydroponics industry is quite similar in products such as growing media, solutions for adjusting pH and building materials. In today's scenario, commercial food production exists mainly in controlled environments, such as greenhouses or outdoor locations, providing the crops with customized and favorable climatic conditions, using methods and equipment that are suitable for production by both the hydroponics and aquaculture techniques. According to Sonal Rawat, an analyst at BIS Research, "LED grow lights holds the majority of the share in the aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market. These accounted for 31.1% share in 2017 in the global hydroponics and aquaponics systems & equipment market and is projected to reach 31.8% by 2022, registering a CAGR of 14.8% between 2017 and 2022. The growing demand for energy efficient light and prolonged technology is the reason for the growth of this market. LED lighting has a long life of 50,000 more hours as compared to the traditional incandescent lamp which only works for 2000 hours. These lights have a life of 8-10 years with the usage of 14-18 hours daily. LED when compared with others consume 50-85% less electricity which is the reason for the increasing demand of these lights." Driven by the growing awareness concerning food safety risks and sustainable farming, global demand for crops and vegetables that are cultivated in a safe and controlled environment is rising. Hydroponic and aquaponic plants are an ideal choice in this scenario as lack of soil in hydroponic systems eliminates the chances of pathogen incubation. Both aquaponic and hydroponic systems consist of various types of inputs, apart from the equipment used in the same. These inputs are categorized into two, namely, nutrients and mediums. These system and mediums are technologically advanced and are an efficient and effective way of producing natural food. The trends of the aquaponic and hydroponic systems and equipment market vary across different geographical regions. Regional market growth is majorly attributed to the increasing technical expertise, proper research and development institutes and consumers demanding transparency in their food products, among others. Both aquaponics and hydroponics technique fill the demand-supply gap perfectly due to their ability to provide high quality nutritious, fresh food nearby the urban centers so that the highly perishable items are sent to the market immediately. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region from the forecast period 2017 to 2021, accounting for $185.2 million in 2017 and is projected to reach $390.6 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 16.1% between 2017 and 2022, due to its large market base for the agriculture industry in the region. The APAC region includes countries such as China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand (ANZ) and Vietnam, among others. Rising population along with the increasing agricultural yield is expected to increase the demand for aquaponic and hydroponic systems in the region. The region's government supporting indoor farming industry ranging from beneficial policies to subsidies is another key factor supporting growth in this region. China is the flag bearer of the market in the Asia-Pacific region, which recorded the highest usage of aquaponic and hydroponic techniques. Presently, North America is at the forefront of the aquaponic and hydroponic produce and equipment market, with high market penetration in the countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The region accounted for the largest market share in 2017 and is projected to reach $832.8 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 15.8% between 2017 and 2022 due to the increasing technological advancements, and increasing government investments pertaining to the agriculture industry. Moreover, the region serves as one of the most important regions from where the leading companies in the aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market generate their revenue. Limited availability of arable land and water scarcity is compelling the Middle Eastern countries to adopt aquaponic and hydroponic techniques in the region. The European region is a stagnant market, but countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the U.K., among others are actively opting for both hydroponic and aquaponic techniques and contributing to the market's growth in the region. Request for Sample Report: https://bisresearch.com/requestsample?id=432&type=download This report is a meticulous compilation of research on market players in the aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment ecosystem and draws upon the insights from in-depth interviews with the key opinion leaders of more than 20 leading companies, market participants, and vendors. The report also profiles 18 companies which include Aquaponics LLC, Nelson and Pade Inc., Backyard Aquaponics, My Aquaponics, AMCO produce, American Hydroponics, General Hydroponics, GreenTech Agro LLC, and BetterGrow Hydro among others. Key questions answered in the report: What was the size, in terms of value ($million) of the aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market in 2017, and what will be the growth rate during the forecast period, 2017-2022? What is the aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market size for different regions, on the basis of equipment and systems? What are the key trends and opportunities in the market, pertaining to the countries included in different geographical regions? How attractive is the market for different stakeholders present in the industry by analyzing the futuristic scenario of the aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market? What are the major driving forces that tend to increase the demand for aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market during the forecast period? What are the major challenges inhibiting the growth of the global aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market? What kind of new strategies is being adopted by the existing market players to expand their footprint in the industry? What is the competitive strength of the key players in the aquaponics and hydroponics systems and equipment market by market share analysis? Who are the key market players in the market, along with their detailed analysis and profiles (including company snapshots, their financials, key products & services, and SWOT analysis)? Related Reports: Global Vertical Farming Analysis and Forecast, 2016 - 2022 Global Precision Agriculture Market Analysis & Forecast (2015-2022) About BIS Research: BIS Research is a global B2B market intelligence and advisory firm which focuses on those emerging trends in technology which are likely to disrupt the dynamics of the market. With over 150 market research reports published annually, BIS Research focuses on Healthcare, Automotive, Aerospace and Agriculture and other key industries that are seeing rapid technological disruption. Our in-depth market intelligence reports focus on the market estimations, technology analysis, emerging high-growth applications, deeply segmented granular country-level market data and other important market parameters useful in the strategic decision making for senior management. Contact: Bhavya Banga Email: [email protected] BIS Research 7400 Metro Blvd, Suite 390 Edina, MN 55439 Visit our Blog @ http://bisresearch.com/blog/ Connect with us on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/company/3720474 Connect with us on [email protected] https://twitter.com/BISResearch SOURCE BIS Research GREENVILLE, S.C., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hubbell Lighting, a world leader in lighting innovation, announced today it is the exclusive licensee of University of Strathclyde's High Intensity Narrow Spectrum ("HINS") lighting technology for Areas of Congregation and the Food & Beverage Industry in North and Central America. The University of Strathclyde, located in Glasgow, Scotland, has been researching HINS lighting technology using laboratory trials and clinical evaluations. It has secured multiple patents throughout the world over the past five years. HINS lighting technology can suppress bacteria in the air and on surfaces using a narrow spectrum of visible light. The technology and its effectiveness have been the subject of numerous peer-reviewed academic publications, conference presentations and news articles. "With more than 130 years of experience illuminating and electrifying the world, Hubbell has a rich history of making product innovations that support customers in key markets and industries," said John DiNardi, general manager and vice president at Hubbell Lighting Components. "Securing this exclusive license and applying HINS technology to our suite of fixtures to aid in the disinfection of spaces is another example of innovation at work." Hubbell Lighting will integrate the HINS technology into its portfolio of smart luminaires and develop specialty products for use in strategic industries. Included in the exclusive license are Areas of Congregation and the Food and Beverage Industry, which could involve everything from food processing to restaurants. "The core of our product development strategy is a customer and market centric approach," said Tom Benton, vice president brand management at Hubbell Lighting. "We serve these customers with an eye on the evolving needs of the marketplace, and in many cases there's inherent value in luminaires that suppress the growth of harmful bacteria." "As a leading international technological university, Strathclyde has a long track record of innovation that has a positive impact on society," said Professor Scott MacGregor, vice-principal of the University of Strathclyde and leader of the research team that developed the technology. "We have demonstrated that HINS-light technology provides significantly greater reductions of bacterial pathogens in the environment than can be achieved by cleaning and disinfection alone, providing a huge step forward in preventing the spread of infection." MacGregor continued, "Our agreement with Hubbell Lighting opens the door for the food and beverage industry and other sectors to benefit from our continuous disinfection technology helping them keep consumers even safer." The technology was developed in the University's pioneering Robertson Trust Laboratory for Electronic Sterilisation Technologies (ROLEST), which is dedicated to controlling infection in a wide range of settings. Those interested in learning more about the timeline for future products and solutions from are encouraged to e-mail John DiNardi at [email protected] or visit the Hubbell Lighting Components booth at the upcoming LIGHTFAIR show in Chicago, Ill., May 8 10. About Hubbell Lighting Hubbell Lighting is elevating the lighting experience. Empowered by lighting solutions that integrate seamlessly into their environment, save energy, provide improved quality of light, deliver return on investment and armed with Hubbell's unflinching support, its customers are able to think differently about how, where, and when they can use light. As one of the largest lighting fixture manufacturers in North America, it features a suite of brands that provide a full range of indoor and outdoor lighting products serving the commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential markets. Learn more at hubbelllighting.com and engage with the company online at LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE Hubbell Lighting Related Links http://www.hubbelllighting.com "We believe colorectal cancer is a senseless killer that must be stopped, and that is why we're focused on empowering a nation of allies, like the fierce advocates in Indianapolis behind this first Blue Hope Bash in the state," said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Alliance. "Funds raised here will go toward critical research, prevention efforts and patient and family support." The Bash stems from painful first-hand experiences with colorectal cancer, the second-leading cancer killer in the United States. Two of the co-chairs, Clay Scheetz and Kellee Clevenger, lost their mothers to the disease. Two speakers and planning committee members, Tess Deeter and Julie Knox Thornton, lost their husbands, who were in their early 40s. This event honors those losses while advocating for a world free of colorectal cancer. "The death of these four amazing and selfless human beings, who lost their lives too soon, inspired this event and our ongoing commitment to ending this disease," Scheetz said. "Our guests, our community, and all who work against colorectal cancer are indispensable allies in this mission, and we're incredibly humbled by their support." The inaugural Bash comes during a rise in young-onset colorectal cancer nationwide and in a state with relatively low screening rates. Cases of young-onset colorectal cancer, impacting adults under 50, have increased about 2 percent each year since 2001. Indiana ranks 42nd out of 50 U.S. states in colorectal cancer screening. The disease is highly treatable if screening catches it at an early stage. Hosted by national touring comedian Scott Long, the Bash will include remarks from race car driver John Andretti and American fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo, both of whom have battled colorectal cancer. Andretti is the guest of honor and recipient of the Blue Hope Bash Founders' Award. Colorectal cancer is expected to take the lives of 1,110 Hoosiers and 50,630 people nationwide this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society. For more information or to donate, please contact [email protected]. About the Colorectal Cancer Alliance The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is a national nonprofit committed to ending colorectal cancer. Working with our nation of passionate allies, we diligently support the needs of patients and families, caregivers, and survivors, eagerly raise awareness of preventative screening, and continually strive to fund critical research. As allies in the struggle, we are fiercely determined to end colorectal cancer within our lifetime. For more information, visit ccalliance.org. For more information or to schedule an interview, live or by phone, please contact: Steven Bushong Senior Manager of Strategic Communications Colorectal Cancer Alliance [email protected] (330) 957-0484 (cell) SOURCE Colorectal Cancer Alliance Related Links https://www.ccalliance.org/ NACKA STRAND, Sweden, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon has the pleasure to invite investors, financial analysts and media to attend Hexagon's Capital Markets Day 2018 on Wednesday 13 June 2018. The event will be held in conjunction with HxGN LIVE, Hexagon's annual user conference at The Venetian Las Vegas 1215 June, which kicks off with a keynote from Hexagon's President and CEO, Ola Rollen, on 12 June at 17.00 PDT. President and CEO Ola Rollen and other members of Group Management will present Hexagon's view on market trends and business activities and give an update on Hexagon's growth opportunities and strategy during the Capital Markets Day 2018. For more information about the Capital Markets Day and registration, please contact [email protected] . About HxGN LIVE Combining the strengths of Hexagon's businesses, HxGN LIVE provides an exciting lineup of innovative technologies, exclusive presentations by industry experts, hands-on training, inspiring keynotes from thought leaders and networking opportunities with peers from around the world. More information can be found at hxgnlive.com. For further information, please contact: Maria Luthstrom, Investor Relations Manager, Hexagon AB, +46-8-601-26-27, [email protected] Kristin Christensen, Chief Marketing Officer, Hexagon AB, +1-404-554-0972, [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/hexagon/r/invitation-to-hexagon-s-capital-markets-day-2018,c2512636 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/387/2512636/835479.pdf Press Release SOURCE Hexagon Related Links http://hxgnlive.com BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EY today announced that Joey Agree, President & CEO of Agree Realty Corporation has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award in the Michigan and Northwest Ohio Region. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Joey Agree was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 27th at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). Now in its 32nd year, the 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. 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 Agree Realty Corporation Agree Realty Corporation is a publicly traded real estate investment trust primarily engaged in the acquisition and development of properties net leased to industry-leading retail tenants. As of March 31, 2018, the Company owned and operated a portfolio of 463 properties, located in 43 states and containing approximately 8.9 million square feet of gross leasable space. The common stock of Agree Realty Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ADC". For additional information, please visit www.agreerealty.com. SOURCE Agree Realty Corporation Related Links http://www.agreerealty.com No-trust motion will not be brought against me: Pervez Khattak PESHAWAR: Despite lacking a majority in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has claimed that he will continue to run the government in the province as the Jamaat-i-Islami left the PTI-led ruling coalition on Thursday. I got assurances that no-trust motion will not be brought against me and that I will continue to serve as CM, he told a news conference when asked that his government has neither presented the next budget nor will it convene the assembly session for losing a majority. He however did not explain that who gave him those assurances. I know the tricks of how to pass the budget and show majority in the house, he said when asked about reasons for the prevailing uncertainty regarding the presentation of the next budget. The government is indecisive about the budget apparently due to a lack of majority in the assembly. Currently, no political party has majority in the 124-member house. The PTIs strength has shrunken from 63 to 43 after its leadership issued show cause notices to its 20 MPAs for allegedly selling vote in the recent Senate elections. The JI has only seven members in the house. Under the Constitution, the chief minister requires 50 per cent of the total members to show majority in the assembly. CM Pervez Khattak and senior minister Inayatullah Khan, who belongs to Jamaat-i-Islami, formally announced the breakup of the coalition government during a joint news conference at the CMs House. The JI has become part of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and has decided to leave almost five years long partnership with the PTI on a positive note, said Khattak, who praised the Jamaat for its cooperation and contribution as the PTIs coalition partner. He said the PTI and JI had no differences and that the latters separation from the government was a political decision. Both parties might negotiate after general elections, he said. Senior minister and JI leader Inayatullah Khan termed the day historic saying both the rling parties have set a healthy tradition. Mr Inayatullah said the JI would not withdraw support to the PTI despite leaving the government. He said such healthy traditions should be promoted in politics. The JI and PTI had signed memorandum of understanding before forming the coalition government, he said, adding that major aspects of the MoU were removal of certain material from textbooks, establishment of colleges, medical college and campus of engineering university in Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Chitral and Buner districts, the strongholds of the JI. The minister said the coalition government fought against corruption, improved governance and followed merit in recruitments in different departments. Meanwhile, the government abruptly withdrew a notification regarding the summoning of the assembly session. The sitting was scheduled to meet at 3pm Thursday (April 3) and even preparations for it, including the agenda, were finalised. The law and parliamentary affairs department moved a letter to the secretary of the provincial assembly in the morning regarding the convening of the houses session but that was treated as withdrawn. Another order was issued early morning reading that KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had summoned the provincial assemblys session on May 14. Entry cards were also issued to media to cover proceedings. Everybody was shocked by the withdrawal of the previous notice and issuance of new for the summoning of the session, said a senior official in the assembly secretariat. A close aide to the chief minister declared the postponing of the sitting part of the time-buying strategy. He said the government and opposition were just fulfilling formalities and had nothing serious to discuss in the assembly. Originally founded in Chicago, i.c.stars has expanded its technology, leadership, and business training program to Columbus, Ohio in recent years. Using this funding, the organization will be able to increase the capacity of two upcoming coding boot camps and digital literacy workshops targeted to Columbus area Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), in partnership with area minority serving business support organizations. "We are so honored to receive this award. This is an amazing opportunity. We are very proud of what we've been able to accomplish so far in Columbus," said i.c.stars|*COLUMBUS Executive Director Kimberly Gayle. "Our partnership with JumpStart and the KeyBank Business Boost & Build program will assist our efforts to continue training underserved diverse populations in central Ohio in high impact IT careers and allow us to fill talent gaps in the start-up community. The ability to share our technology expertise with area minority businesses will strengthen their capacity to compete economically in the market place." "Access to training opportunities like the ones provided by i.c.stars are critical for those looking to build better careers and better lives through the technology sector," said KeyBank Central Ohio District President Melissa Ingwersen. "That's why we are proud to support the expansion of this important work in Columbus." Funded by a grant from the KeyBank Foundation in 2017, the KeyBank Business Boost & Build program is designed to stimulate economic growth in Ohio and Upstate New York by helping startups and small businesses grow and preparing the workforce for the needs of those companies. About i.c.stars Formed in 1999, i.c.stars is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization and social enterprise that prepares young adults for technology careers and community leadership. Using project-based learning and full-immersion teaching, i.c.stars has trained more than 400 individuals and places 90 percent of qualified graduates in jobs. Participants see their annual earnings increase by an average of 400 percent as a result of the program. In 2016, i.c.stars opened an affiliate in Columbus, Ohio and in 2018 opened in Milwaukee. For more information, visit http://www.icstars-columbus.org. About KeyCorp KeyCorp's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $137.0 billion at March 31, 2018. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, insurance, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,200 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. About JumpStart Inc. JumpStart unlocks the full potential of diverse and ambitious entrepreneurs to economically transform entire communities. For more information, visit www.jumpstartinc.org and follow @JumpStartInc on Twitter. SOURCE JumpStart Inc. Related Links http://www.jumpstartinc.org ATLANTA, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, Joe Bonamassa, and Sixthman are proud to present Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea V. Being Hailed as the "Biggest Blues-Rock Party at Sea," this music festival is celebrating five incredible years featuring Bonamassa and some of the most celebrated names in blues. Sailing from Tampa, Florida to Grand Cayman, 2100 of the most passionate fans will enjoy performances from some of the biggest names in live music, while discovering new favorites among emerging artists on multiple stages throughout the ship. Guests will enjoy four days of non-stop music with a wide range of concert experiences, from the high-energy main stage to the intimate, smaller venues. In celebration of the milestone fifth sailing the festival will go above and beyond all expectations with new music, extended jam sessions, and unprecedented collaboration sets with legendary blues artists. Joining Joe Bonamassa on the 2019 festival are a robust mix of new and returning blues powerhouses, featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Walter Trout, Ruthie Foster, Samantha Fish, Larkin Poe, Davy Knowles, Kirk Fletcher, Josh Smith, Monte Montgomery, Chris Cain, AJ Ghent [J-Ent], Brandon Santini, Nick Moss Band, King Solomon Hicks, Sarah Rogo, Grizzlee Train and more to be announced! Once onboard, fans can expect to enjoy performances by Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, multiple artist collaboration shows, activities with many Blues Alive at Sea artists, dozens of live performances by living legends and emerging blues talent, autograph sessions with select blues stars and opportunities to jam with fellow cruisers while sailing an idyllic Caribbean course aboard Norwegian Pearl. Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea's first four sold-out voyages saw the floating music festival sail to beautiful locations like Key West, the Bahamas, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Montego Bay, while entertaining over 8,400 passionate blues fans. Past performers have included many of today's best blues artists, including John Hiatt, Robben Ford, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Blues Traveler, Beth Hart, Ana Popovic, Vintage Trouble, Marc Broussard, Shemekia Copeland, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Marcus King Band and many more. The sold-out festivals raised a combined $334,000 in donations for Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, which helps to fund scholarships and music programs for students and teachers across the country. Click here to watch our Recap Video from 2018's Music Festival: https://vimeo.com/263448933 Interested fans are encouraged to pre-register for the sailing now at bluesaliveatsea.com before cabins become available. Double occupancy staterooms on Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea V begin at $1149 per person, plus taxes and fees, with low deposit amounts and flexible payment plans available. For more information about booking your vacation, visit us online at www.bluesaliveatsea.com or call Sixthman directly at 877-379-9170 between the hours of 10AM EST and 6PM EST. A destination of her own, the newly renovated Norwegian Pearl offers guests Norwegian Cruise Line's signature freedom and flexibility during their vacation. Fresh off a dry dock refurbishment where she received enhancements to every part of the onboard experience Norwegian Pearl now features 16 delicious and visually stunning dining options, 15 bars and relaxing lounges, a dazzling casino, tranquil spa and gym, updated design and decor in public spaces and brand-new state of the art features on board cabins. For More Information please visit: www.bluesaliveatsea.com KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE FOUNDATION: http://keepingthebluesalive.org/ JOE BONAMASSA: www.jbonamassa.com SIXTHMAN: http://www.sixthman.net/ SOURCE J&R Adventures; Sixthman Related Links http://www.sixthman.net VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. (CSE: LDS), (OTCQX: LDSYF), (Frankfurt: LD6, WKN: A14XHT) ("LDS" or the "Company") announces that its affiliate, CSPA Group, Inc., submitted an application with required exhibits to the State of California for an annual Volatile and Non-Volatile Extraction and Manufacturing License. CSPA Group, Inc. received an extended Temporary State Volatile and Non-Volatile Extraction and Manufacturing License from the State of California Department of Public Health Manufacturing Cannabis Safety Branch. The extended Manufacturing License expires on July 28, 2018. The temporary license will allow CSPA Group, Inc. to continue to operate while the application for an annual license is being reviewed. During the week of April 30, 2018, CSPA Group, Inc. received 240 pounds of cannabis bio-mass to convert into distillate for cartridges. The bio-mass will be tested prior to extraction and distillation. The resulting distillate will be tested for cannabinoid and terpene content, as well as its purity. Brad Eckenweiler, CEO of LDS, stated, "This delivery of bio-mass for extraction and distillate is the beginning of commercial extraction and distillation operations." The CSPA Group, Inc. is confident that contract production of extracted products using the technology that is soon to be acquired from Quality Resources, LLC. will become a significant revenue stream for the Company in the very near future. 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 ORLANDO, Fla., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Live Music Tutor, a public benefit corporation, and the National Education Music Company have delivered the first shipment of instruments to the School District of Osceola County as a result of the Musichelpsheal.org campaign. The first shipment was about $20,000 of instruments; Yamaha trombones, trumpets, clarinets and flutes, Sonor xylophones, Mapex drums, and others. The Musichelpsheal.org campaign was started to help the students displaced from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands due to hurricane Maria and is using music to address the emotional and social needs caused by the storm. Many local businesses and organizations have donated instruments, and some have provided cash and grant opportunities. With over 2,600 students displaced and 25-50 additional arriving daily this number will continue to climb. Debbie Fahmie Fine and Performing Arts Specialist for Osceola County, Ted Gee President of LMT, PJ Schitter Director of Sales LMT and Ron Beaudoin CEO of NEMC. James Long, Principal, Gateway High School and students receive musical instruments. "Our community has rallied together to show their support for these young musicians that have been impacted by Hurricane Maria. Music has the power to heal and we are grateful to our donors that have helped these students on their healing journey through the gift of music," says Pam Haas, Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist SDOC. PJ Schitter Sr. Director of LMT says, "We are excited to be able to provide these instruments to the district in support of the musichelpsheal.org campaign and we believe that this is only the beginning. Providing these instruments and getting the community involved to donate money or instruments to this cause and to help the continued advancement of the music program at SDOC is awesome. These kids have been through soooo much and any contributions that comes from the community will be greatly appreciated!" says Schitter. Disney, The Universal Foundation and the Mr. Holland Opus Foundation have already provided tremendous support to this initiative and we will be soliciting the entire Central Florida family to assist. We are seeking used instruments as well as financial donations that will be used for more instruments and the additional bi-lingual instruction needed through Live Music Tutor to support these students in day school or after school settings. For more information about this project or for donation information, visit www.musichelpsheal.org to learn more. ABOUT LIVE MUSIC TUTOR Founded in 2011, Live Music Tutor provides private and master classes in music education to schools, individuals and groups using its proprietary web platform and thousands of vetted instructors for almost every instrument including voice. The platform has delivered over 26,000 lessons globally! For more information go to https://livemusictutor.com or https://livemusictutorinschools.com. ABOUT NEMC For over 60 years, the mission of National Educational Music Co (NEMC) has been to provide parents, students and businesses with musical instruments and related products and services in support of music education programs nationwide. For more information go to https://www.nemc.com. Contact: Shawn Taylor Live Music Tutor 321-684-4928 SOURCE Live Music Tutor Related Links https://www.livemusictutor.com The firm specializes in hospitality, retail strip centers, multi-family, gas stations, & tilt-up. The firm opened their office in Dallas in quarter 4 of 2017 & plans of opening a virtual office in Austin with headquarters in Houston, TX. Harris Khan oversees the day-to-day operations & long-term strategic planning. "We have been mulling on the expansion to ensure same level of service is met with every project & we are now ready to expand aggressively into Dallas & Austin, Texas," said Harris. It will be adding new employees & promoting internal workforce in 2018. "We have added employees in all departments to meet the growth & will continuously add throughout 2018. We have also expanded into a new larger office in 2018," he said. About Maxx Builders Maxx Builders provides a full range of commercial construction from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build. The company manages projects along the Texas Region with its headquarters based in Houston, TX . Through our continuous improvements Maxx Builders has quickly become commercial construction industry leader in Texas region. It was inducted in 2017 Inc. 5000 Fastest growing companies. Media Contact: Harris Khan 832-715-0384 [email protected] SOURCE Maxx Builders Related Links https://www.maxxbuilders.com CHICAGO, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) today announced that it has awarded a human clinical trial grant totaling $750,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital. This important grant was catalyzed by ALS ONE, a partnership between four institutional leaders in ALS treatment development: Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), University of Massachusetts Medical School and Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS). The ALS ONE partnership was developed to expedite treatments for ALS and develop novel approaches to improve care for those living with the disease. The new MDA grant will fund the exploration of the potential for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of inflammation to serve as a biomarker for ALS diagnosis and clinical trials. The project, led by Nazem Atassi, M.D., MMSc, will assess the value of PET imaging in healthy people who carry a known ALS gene and in symptomatic people with early-stage ALS. Atassi is a member of the ALS ONE Science Team, Associate Director for the Neurological Clinical Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. "This project is poised to change the paradigm of ALS drug development and have a direct impact on the design of future treatment trials for both familial and sporadic ALS," Atassi said. "Real scientific advances in rare diseases rely heavily on the integration of the research community. Organizations such as MDA and ALS ONE are the strongest links between all key stakeholders including the patients, academic institutions, philanthropy and industry, and we are incredibly grateful for their support." ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects muscle-controlling nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which leads to total paralysis and death, usually within five years of diagnosis. One of the main roadblocks for ALS drug development is the lack of biomarkers that can signal drug efficacy in patients. With recent advances in the understanding of ALS and the exciting drug development pipeline, tools such as improved imaging biomarkers are needed to allow researchers to quickly test many treatments. At Massachusetts General Hospital, researchers at the Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) plan to assess the ability of PET imaging to measure the amount of inflammation in the brain in people with ALS, as early data shows significantly increased inflammation in the motor regions in people with ALS. In previous studies it has been found that people with ALS who have more inflammation tend to be more advanced in their disease progression with more impaired function. Implementing this novel PET imaging technology potentially could reduce the duration of future trials from 12 to 3 months, and the required patient enrollment from 400 to 30 patients. This would add an enormous degree of efficiency to ALS drug development and the ability to test more treatments faster. According to Atassi, the funding from MDA will enable his team at the NCRI to build on initial findings and allow for better characterization of the onset and progression of brain inflammation in people with very early ALS symptoms and in people who carry one of the ALS genes but are asymptomatic. Additionally, this project will contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting PET imaging can be used as a tool to accurately measure inflammation in the brains of people living with ALS. Ultimately, this biomarker will be available for any researcher or pharmaceutical company to use for drug development in ALS. Assembling a diverse cache of biomarker tools will help to encourage new biotech and pharma entrants to develop safe and effective treatments for people with ALS. "At MDA, we are hopeful that this project will build upon recent advances in biomarker development for ALS to not only accelerate drug development, but also provide meaningful insights into the course of inflammation in people with ALS," said MDA Scientific Program Officer Amanda Haidet-Phillips, Ph.D. "We are grateful to ALS ONE and Dr. Atassi for their continued commitment to expedite the path to find treatments for ALS." Kevin Gosnell founded ALS ONE in January 2016 to expedite progress toward finding a treatment for ALS by 2020 while improving care now. Gosnell passed away in August 2016 due to complications from ALS, following his final meeting at which he spoke with MDA about partnership opportunities. The ALS ONE partnership has already placed resources and expertise into a powerful, coordinated team with aligned goals and the ability to move ideas and products quickly from inception to trial and from idea into care practice. Kevin's vision continues today with this new funding commitment from MDA. For more information on ALS ONE, please visit www.alsone.org. For more information on MDA, please visit https://www.mda.org. About MDA MDA is leading the fight to free individuals and the families who love them from the harm of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life. We use our collective strength to help children and adults live longer and grow stronger by finding research breakthroughs across diseases, caring for individuals from day one and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America. Since 1950, MDA has invested more than $363 million in ALS research and support services. Learn how you can fund cures, find care and champion the cause at mda.org. About ALS ONE ALS ONE is a partnership of the top ALS experts from leading Massachusetts institutions, including ALS Therapy Development Institute, UMass Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Compassionate Care ALS founded by the late Kevin Gosnell. These venerable institutions are combining forces with the goal of finding a treatment for ALS, while simultaneously working to improve the care model for persons living with ALS and their families. ALS ONE is a non-profit 501c3. For more information, visit www.ALSONE.org. SOURCE Muscular Dystrophy Association; ALS ONE Related Links http://www.mdausa.org MIAMI, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mi9 Retail, a leading provider of omni-channel retail solutions, in partnership with EFSTA, a provider of fiscal middleware for the European market, today announced the general availability of its fiscal solution for Austria, Czech Republic, and France. The Electronic Fiscal Register "EFR" is the core component of the fiscal middleware developed by EFSTA. It supports signing transactions electronically, storing them in the EFSTA cloud, as well as submission to the tax authorities. Fiscalization is gaining momentum in Europe, as more and more member states are setting up laws and regulations to fight tax fraud. EFSTA is keeping its middleware up-to-date to continually satisfy new country-specific requirements, making it easier for software developers to comply. The EFR has been integrated into the Mi9 Retail point of sale solution to allow retailers to reduce the initial development and ongoing maintenance costs associated with fiscal compliance and have one centralized reporting repository for tax collection and remittance. EFSTA archives the fiscal transaction in their Secure Enterprise Cloud solution using state-of-the-art encryption techniques. This eliminates the need for retailers to store and encrypt transaction data on premise or in a fiscal chip within the printer. The data is stored in the EFSTA Cloud for up to 10 years. Using the EFSTA portal, customers can easily add, remove, and view EFR locations. The portal also allows them to verify the status and version of EFR as well as reporting and electronic journal information per register. Mi9 Retail will deploy the EFSTA fiscal solution for additional countries in Europe based on market demand. "As a fast-growing company with a solid international customer base, we respect the importance of complying with local laws and regulations. Our partnership with EFSTA will bring peace of mind to our European customers who rely on us to meet their evolving fiscal needs. We're pleased to be partnering with EFSTA on this project and feel confident that their extensive experience with fiscalization will prove to be a valuable asset to retailers," said Neil Moses, CEO of Mi9 Retail. Harald Krondorfer, General Manager, EFSTA IT Services, added, "We are happy to be a strategic partner to Mi9 Retail as they expand their market reach with a focus on Europe. With the expansion of VAT reporting across the 27 European Union countries, we look forward to helping Mi9 Retail and their customers to meet these new and evolving fiscal compliance regulations with our joint solution." About Mi9 Retail Mi9 Retail is passionate about helping retailers create great experiences for their customers online, in-store, and on any device. We know that great retail experiences happen when optimized inventory management intersects perfectly with well-executed customer engagement strategies to deliver higher customer loyalty, better margins, and a more engaged workforce. Our solutions for merchandise management, digital commerce, and store operations are used by leading retailers across the globe. The company is headquartered in Miami, FL, with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. Visit www.mi9retail.com to learn more. SOURCE Mi9 Retail Related Links http://www.mi9retail.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE: MYM.CN) (the "Company" or "MYM") is pleased to announce that the Company has acquired an additional 23% of the Laval, Quebec production facility from CannaTechnology (the "seller"), bringing total ownership of the late stage ACMPR applicant up to 74%. The Company also announces it has retained Cannabis Compliance Inc., the country's leading experts in cannabis regulatory compliance, as the consultant on file for both Quebec projects and all other Health Canada licenses with respect to cannabis production, sale, and R&D. "We are thrilled to obtain an additional 23% of the Laval facility, bringing MYM ownership up to 74%," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM. "Construction on phase one of the facility is now complete and the ACMPR application is currently with Health Canada under final review." Immediately issued to the seller is 350,000 MYM common shares and 100,000 transferable warrants. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one (1) MYM common share at an exercise price of $2.04 per share, being equal to the closing price of the MYM common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange immediately prior to the date of this Agreement plus 20%. The warrants will become exercisable six (6) months after the date of issuance and will expire two (2) years after the date of issuance. Upon acquiring a cultivation license for the facility, MYM will issue the seller an additional 350,000 MYM common shares. Moving forward, MYM has retained the services of Cannabis Compliance Inc. to consult the Company on regulatory compliance and due diligence for all its ACMPR projects in Canada. "Joining forces with Cannabis Compliance as our consultant on file for all medicinal cannabis projects is the necessary solution to advance our applications in a timely manner," said Gietl. "Cannabis Compliance has an amazing track record in leading ACMPR applicants to the finish line. With their guidance, MYM intends on progressing full steam ahead into what will prove to be a very exciting 2018." About Cannabis Compliance Inc. Cannabis Compliance Inc. (CCI) offers risk mitigation, due diligence and regulatory compliance for commercial cannabis producers and resellers around the world. They focus on the Global market and provide their clients with trusted and comprehensive solutions. CCI has extensive expertise in regulatory compliance, cultivation/horticulture, security designs/tender, facility designs/build-outs, quality assurance, training programs, auditing, Good Production Practices (GPP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), Import & Export, staff recruitment and financial planning. CCI exists to empower the future leaders in the global cannabis industry. About MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. is an innovative company focused on acquiring Health Canada licenses to produce and sell high-end organic medicinal cannabis supplements and topical products. MYM has two production projects in Quebec that when completed will have over 1.5 million sf of production space. MYM is also a partner in a 1.2 million sf production project (Northern Rivers Project) in New South Wales, Australia. Australia is an exciting new market that has recently legalized medicinal cannabis. To ensure a strong presence and growth potential within the industry, MYM is actively looking to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the technology, nutraceuticals and CBD sectors. MYM shares trade in Canada, Germany and the USA under the following symbols: (CSE: MYM) (OTC:MYMMF) (FRA:0MY) (DEU:0MY) (MUN:0MY) (STU:0MY). ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Rob Gietl, CEO MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. www.mymarijuana.ca Keep up to date with MYM on our social media channels: Twitter: @MYM_Nutra Facebook: @mymcanada Instagram: @MYM_Nutra This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Investor Relations Terry Brown +1-855-696-2261 [email protected] SOURCE MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. Related Links http://www.mymarijuana.ca NEW YORK, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing that prostate cancer in men is misdiagnosed, NucleoBio Inc. is developing a new product, Prostac, that will accurately reveal results of a prostate cancer screening. Currently, there is no test that differentiates between indolent and aggressive prostate cancer, and Prostac is the first assay of its kind that utilizes new and advanced technology to distinguish these two types of prostate cancer that differ vastly. NucleoBio Inc. is developing and commercializing prostate cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, with the support of the Research Foundation of the City University of New York. The company's product Prostac is a test kit that will significantly change the way medical professionals administer prostate cancer testing. "Prostac is a non-invasive, urine-based test that will resolve numerous flaws in existing prostate cancer screening methods," said Charles Oyesile, M.D., Ph.D., NucleoBio Inc. CEO and co-founder. "Up to 75 percent of prostate-specific antigen tests given today return a false positive; the tests suggest there is prostate cancer when it's actually not. As a result, patients are being misdiagnosed, overtreated and overcharged. These situations cause patients heightened anxiety and undue stress. Prostac is going to drastically improve health care for men and dramatically disrupt the health care industry." Prostac harnesses genetics for the detection of cancer. Being a multiplex test, it will be more accurate than existing prostate cancer tests, such as PCA3 and PHI. It's a molecular biomarker-based test that is non-invasive and urine-based. Prostac may eliminate the need for expensive and potentially harmful prostate biopsies. The lowered cost is encouraging for men who get annual exams. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men and 164,690 new cases are forecasted in 2018. Men 65 or older and African-American men are considered a high-risk population. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has already issued one of three patent applications for NucleoBio Inc. Developed at Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), the university has been working with NucleoBio since the beginning. "We have a strong IP protection of the background technology and optioned the portfolio exclusively to NucleoBio," said Neeti Mitra, senior manager-industrial liaison and licensing for CUNY's Technology Commercialization Office (TCO). "We are confident that partnering with NucleoBio will help us commercialize this portfolio, which is our main goal at CUNY TCO." Prostac is significant because of its ability to detect new genetic elements in biological samples. "Prostac will reveal cancer-specific information from patients' biological samples," said Olorunseun Ogunwobi, M.D., Ph.D., NucleoBio Inc. co-founder and head of the Ogunwobi laboratory at Hunter College, CUNY. "Consequently, this product will be highly sought by hospitals and laboratories interested in non-invasive biomarker assays for the diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer." The complete test kit is currently in development and corporate executives plan to market it globally. The molecular biomarker test, which is a quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based test, can be performed with the patient's urine or blood. The test kit will contain several components and will be available to physicians and health care professionals at medical facilities that offer prostate cancer screening and men's health care. Processing for Prostac will occur at CLIA-certified laboratories and other specialized laboratories. To learn more, please visit www.nucleobio.net. NucleoBio Inc. is a Delaware C-Corporation that uses genetics to produce accurate and non-invasive health care diagnostics and therapeutics. NucleoBio focuses on the most common solid organ cancers impacting people worldwide for which no reliable diagnostics exist and for which few therapies provide treatment free from adverse effects. These include prostate, pancreatic, breast, cervical and colon cancer. Founded in 2017, NucleoBio's offices and laboratory space are located in New York City and its headquarters is in San Antonio. The Research Foundation of the City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a not-for-profit educational corporation that manages private and government-sponsored programs at the City University of New York (CUNY). Since 1963, RFCUNY has provided CUNY (and non-CUNY clients more recently) with the administrative infrastructure that supports sponsored program activities. Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) at the City of University of New York encourages, protects, markets and licenses worthy innovations at various campuses and centers. The TCO nurtures collaboration between academia and industries by championing sponsored research at various facilities within the university, by licensing of CUNY intellectual property to sponsors and other industry partners and by supporting formation of new start-up companies. In so doing, the TCO fosters economic development in local and global communities. Media Contact Information: Kelly Plessala Sr. Director of Marketing NucleoBio Inc. 110 East Houston Street San Antonio, TX 78205 210-378-9856 [email protected] Related Links NucleoBio SOURCE NucleoBio Inc. Related Links http://www.nucleobio.net CHIASSO, Switzerland, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ODEM, creator of the world's first On-Demand Education Marketplace, has filed a provisional U.S. patent application on two critical components of its blockchain-based education platform. ODEM and Dr. Adel ElMessiry, the company's chief technology mentor, are asserting their ownership rights to the platform's system of staking, or registering for, academic programs as well as unique design aspects of the ODEM Platform's digital token model. The filings were made to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. "This patent application is the fruits of our research into how to represent educational materials and events on the blockchain," says Dr. ElMessiry. "Education is our message and mission." Switzerland-based ODEM, created to exploit blockchain technology to make higher education more affordable, has finished the first version of its technical whitepaper and looks forward to sharing with the community soon. Drafting of the 32-page blueprint comes ahead of the planned release of the ODEM Platform's first working prototype in June. ODEM is leveraging artificial intelligence to directly connect educators and students for in-person educational courses. ODEM aims to become the Airbnb of education. "Filing of the provisional patent application is further evidence that we're breaking new ground at ODEM," says Richard Maaghul, ODEM's chief executive officer. "I'm really excited about the future of education as we step toward the next phase of technical platform development." ODEM's staking mechanism and digital token model are critical to the operation of the ODEM Platform. In addition to being a global education marketplace, the platform will streamline the organization and delivery of in-person learning experiences at top U.S. universities and corporate campuses. Students and educators will use ODEM Tokens to stake, or lock, their commitment to particular academic programs. The ODEM staking model follows pre-defined conditions to reward platform participants for their course commitments. It also docks fees for backing out. When a program is scheduled and conditions have been confirmed by educators and students, the staked tokens will be unlocked. ODEM's staking architecture is based on adoption of the Ethereum ERC-900 interface and has been adapted to accommodate staking characteristics to the ODEM model, Dr. ElMessiry said. Unique elements of the token model shield ODEM Tokens within the platform from external market forces to ensure the integrity of the platform ecosystem. Based in Switzerland, ODEM is allied with Excelorators Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a leader in the organization of high-quality, in person training for international students and executives. During the first quarter of this year, ODEM sold more than 100 million ODEM Tokens in a crowdsale. The tokens are listed for trading on the Bitfinex and Ethfinex digital currency exchanges. About ODEM Switzerland-based ODEM is developing a blockchain-based platform to streamline the logistics of organizing and delivering short-and-medium-term academic experiences. Blockchain technology also underpins the creation of the ODEM Token, an exchangeable digital coin. For more information please see: ODEM.IO. Or join the ODEM conversation on Telegram. Alexa Narma, Sr. Director, Product and Marketing [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +1 (424) 327-5682 Via Balestra 6 6830 Chiasso, Switzerland Join The ODEM.IO Conversation on Telegram. https://www.linkedin.com/company/odem-io/ https://www.facebook.com/odemio/ https://twitter.com/ODEM_IO SOURCE ODEM.IO Related Links http://ODEM.IO For Immediate Release Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) held its annual gala dinner on Wednesday night (May 2) at the Mandarin Oriental in New York, attended by some 250 human rights advocates and activists across industries and sectors, including physicians, philanthropists, journalists, and others who support the important work done by PHR. PHRs gala was dedicated to honoring Heroes of Health Care and Human Rights, including Yazidi activist and gynecologist Nagham Nawzat Hasan, MD, whose work to promote gender equality, combat gender-based violence, and provide care to Yazidi women has been internationally recognized. Other honorees included Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, who exposed the Flint water crisis and led a movement to ensure action was taken, Norma Price, MD, renowned for her humanitarian work with migrants at the Arizona border crossing, and Alex Wubbels, RN, praised for her brave defense of do no harm when she refused a police order to draw blood from an unconscious patient. The honors were presented by award-winning actress Julianna Margulies and PHR Board Member and ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. These four brave and strong women epitomize the sweet victories that can come from relentless human rights activism free of pessimism and free of defeatism, Donna McKay, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights, told the gala attendees. They know that despite the odds, evidence and facts and the fight for justice matter We know that we can never stop fighting for precious liberties. We know that yesterdays wins can be undone tomorrow if we are not vigilant. Yet I am nothing but hopeful. I have no doubt that we can build a more just world when doctors, nurses, psychologists all clinicians use the cherished principles of their professions to defend human rights. During the gala, which helped raise more than $800,000 to further PHRs work, the New York-based advocacy organization unveiled its 2018 institutional video, highlighting its work around the globe in training partners to adequately collect evidence, document abuses and atrocities, and use those medical and forensic findings to prove wrongdoing and bring perpetrators to justice. PHRs work extends from Syria to Iraq, from Myanmar and Bangladesh to the DRC and Kenya, and across the United States, speaking out against attacks on health care, torture, sexual violence, and abuses suffered by asylum seekers. Highlights of the PHR annual gala can be viewed in these photos. 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. HOUSTON, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PDC Logic announces the appointment of drill bit veteran Steve Allen to the Board of Directors. Mr. Allen brings extensive drill bit experience to PDC Logic's board after spending over forty years building Halliburton's Drill Bits and Services division (or "DBS"). During his time with Halliburton, Steve held many leadership roles that were instrumental in growing DBS into one of largest global players in the drill bit industry. Prior to his recent departure, which included stewardship of the division through a historic downturn, Steve oversaw growth initiatives to capture additional international market share while preserving DBS' leading position in the North American drill bit market. "We are all incredibly excited that Steve has decided to join our board," commented Warren Dyer, President and CEO of PDC Logic. "Steve's extensive experience and hands-on leadership style will provide valuable strategic guidance as we look to execute on our aggressive growth initiatives." "I am honored to join the PDC Logic Board of Directors," said Mr. Allen. "The company is poised for significant growth by capitalizing on a long-standing culture of technology innovation, first-class customer service and superior field performance." Steve continued, "I look forward to working with the dynamic team of experienced bit professionals that has been assembled at PDC Logic and contributing to the company's growth objectives and strategic direction. I am also looking forward to working with Intervale Capital, a private equity firm focused on building best-in-class oilfield services and equipment companies." Intervale Capital acquired a majority stake in PDC Logic in early January and in early April brought on Warren Dyer as President and CEO. Intervale previously worked with Mr. Dyer to grow Ulterra Drilling Technologies ("Ulterra") into one of the largest global independent drill-bit players. Intervale sold Ulterra to a multi-national manufacturer of mining drilling tools and consumable products in 2012. About Intervale Capital: Founded in 2006, Intervale Capital is a specialized energy-focused investment firm. Intervale invests primarily in middle-market energy services and manufacturing companies. The firm has raised $1.3 billion of committed capital since its inception, and is currently investing from its third fund. About PDC Logic: Headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma, the Company designs, manufactures, rents, and sells matrix Poly Diamond Crystalline (PDC) bits and Roller-cone bits, used in drilling and completion operations. The Company was founded in 2007 by the Waitman's and has operations in the Permian, Mid-Continent, Eagle Ford and DJ Basins. Contacts: For PDC Logic: Warren Dyer President & CEO [email protected] www.pdclogic.com For Intervale Capital: Jason Arnoldy Vice President (281) 605-3905 [email protected] Source: Intervale Capital http://www.intervalecapital.com SOURCE Intervale Capital Related Links http://www.intervalecapital.com LAKELAND, Fla., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Polytechnic University regularly engages with business partners who it believes will contribute to its curriculum and learning experience, inviting them to become members of its Industry Advisory Board. Members collaborate on research and are able to draw from a pool of talented and highly-capable students for internships and cooperatives. A recent appointment to the advisory board, under Vice Provost Kathryn Miller, is People, Technology, and Processes CEO Victor Buonamia. Leading with skill, talent, and knowledge derived from over 30 years of program management, technical, and operational experience, within both small and large organizations, including the Department of Defense and Homeland Security, Buonamia boasts excellent credentials. "Florida Polytechnic University is an institution of higher learning, dedicated to the principle that innovation occurs when creativity and research are applied to real-world opportunities and challenges," remarks Buonamia of joining the Industry Advisory Board. It's Florida Polytechnic's belief that a university focused on research, innovation, and building business and industry partnerships will become more than just an academic institution. "It will become a powerful economic engine," Buonamia suggests. People, Technology, and Processes is a leading service and solutions provider, supporting federal and commercial organizations in areas of medical information technology and knowledge management. "Since establishing People, Technology, and Processes we've demonstrated ourselves to be a proven business in these areas with many outstanding testimonials and a proven track record of past performances," Buonamia explains. Priding itself on its client-driven approach, the company supports improved structure and order through the fusion of people and processes, utilizing technology as an enabler. Meanwhile, connecting with business and industry leaders to establish ongoing exchanges of information, Florida Polytechnic University intends to identify the knowledge and skills needed for its graduates to succeed in the industries related to its programs. As an industry partner, Victor Buonamia and People, Technology, and Processes will endeavor to assist in curriculum development in order to promote academic excellence within Florida Polytechnic University. In addition to this, and alongside his service on the advisory board, Buonamia and the business will aim to provide internship opportunities, conduct joint research, and collaborate on product development. In a continuum of support, People, Technology, and Processes will further look to train and ultimately hire Florida Polytechnic graduates. By instructing on what business and industry leaders expect of graduates, advisory board members, such as Vic Buonamia, enable the university to fine-tune its teaching methods. "Meeting twice yearly in formal sessions, advisory board members also assist in promoting Florida Polytechnic University to potential students, employers, governmental agencies, and legislative leaders," explains People, Technology, and Processes CFO Nicole Buonamia. "Members will interact with faculty, staff and university heads on issues of mutual concern, from goals and objectives to educational trends, development and capital campaigns, research opportunities, budgets, enrollments, employment opportunities, degrees and further related topics," she continues. With a proven capacity in operational improvement and international business, and a successful track record in optimizing results for global and local enterprises, as CFO of People, Technology, and Processes, Nicole Buonamia will be responsible for assisting CEO Vic Buonamia in a number of his board duties. "It's not just a wonderful personal accolade, it's also great recognition for our entire business," the CEO further remarks of his appointment to the board. "The entire People, Technology, and Processes team," Vic Buonamia adds in closing, "is proud to be associated with Florida Polytechnic University, and long may that association continue." To connect with Victor Buonamia, you can connect with him on Linkedin. Media Contact: Web Presence, LLC Eric Blankenship 786-332-6554 SOURCE People, Technology, and Processes WASHINGTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers will present findings from new research on the representation of nurses in the media, replicating the 21-year-old Woodhull Study on Nurses and the Media, at a press conference at the National Press Club. The original Woodhull Study found nurses were represented as sources in less than 4 percent of health news stories in leading print newspapers, newsweeklies and health care trade publications of the day. The Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement at the George Washington University School of Nursing, in collaboration with the Berkeley Media Studies Group, replicated the original study to determine if any progress has been made. Researchers also interviewed journalists about their experiences using nurses as sources, and conducted an analysis of the use of Twitter by the top 50 schools of nursing in the country. WHO: The research team is comprised of: Diana J. Mason , principal investigator and senior policy service professor, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, GW School of Nursing , principal investigator and senior policy service professor, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, GW School of Nursing Barbara Glickstein , director of communications and media projects for the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, GW School of Nursing , director of communications and media projects for the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, GW School of Nursing Kimberly D. Acquaviva , professor of nursing, GW School of Nursing , professor of nursing, GW School of Nursing Kristi Westphaln , senior fellow at the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, GW School of Nursing , senior fellow at the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, GW School of Nursing Laura Nixon , senior media researcher, Berkeley Media Studies Group Following the presentation of high-level findings, a reaction panel will include: Ivan Oransky , president, Association of Health Care Journalists , president, Association of Health Care Journalists Cristal Williams Chancellor , director of communications, Women's Media Center , director of communications, Women's Media Center Yanick Rice Lamb , associate professor and chair of the Department of Media, Journalism and Film, Howard University WHEN: Tuesday, May 8, 2018; 9-10 a.m. WHERE: The National Press Club 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor Washington, D.C. Metro Center Metro (Blue, Orange, Silver and Red lines) RSVP: Media interested in attending must contact Timothy Pierce at [email protected] or 202-994-5647. Media also can request a research brief under embargo. WEBCAST: If you are unable to attend, the event will be broadcast live: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/219/25375. BACKGROUND: The Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement advances policy and the health of the public through education, research, media and public forums. For more information, go to https://nursing.gwu.edu/health-policy-media-engagement. MEDIA CONTACTS: Timothy Pierce: [email protected], 202-994-5647 Maralee Csellar: [email protected], 202-994-7564 SOURCE Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement In addition to EPC and the follow-up adjustment and calibration upon completion of the project, Risen Energy will contribute high-efficiency 275W solar modules, which are both reliable and cost-efficient, to the project. The facility is scheduled to be put into operation by the end of this year, at which point it will be connected to the state grid and provide clean electricity to Kathmandu Valley during the daytime. The Chinese provider has accelerated its expansion plans outside the home market, plans that have been in the making for years, by actively bidding on and participating in projects worldwide. In addition to enhancing its presence in Europe, the Americas and Australia, Risen Energy has expanded into countries along the One Belt, One Road route including Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the ASEAN countries. The PV provider has also been a key player in facilitating close partnerships in terms of clean energy between countries. To date, the company has 1,000 projects either under development or being delivered across the globe. The company is well on track to see the sum of its installations outside of China exceed 800MW by the end of this year. Mr. Wang said: "In line with the One Belt, One Road initiative, we have made significant progress in the global market, thanks to our advanced PV manufacturing technologies and rich experience in overseas projects. As one of the key parts of the initiative, Nepal is an attractive market for us. Over the next seven years, Nepal, a country boasting abundant water resources, aims to achieve the goal of 17,000 megawatts of electricity generation, which is unlikely to be met via hydropower alone. Renewable energy methods including PV have become important supplements and Nepal is on the right track. Looking forward, we plan to invest in and develop more EPC projects in Nepal and across South Asia in a move to contribute to solving the local energy crisis and boosting China-Nepal cooperation in connection with new energy." SOURCE Risen Energy Co., Ltd SANDY HOOK, Conn., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, 26 cyclists will ride approximately 400 miles in four days to honor the 20 first-grade children and six educators killed at the Sandy Hook School and all victims of gun violence, to raise awareness of the public health crisis of gun violence, and to support common sense measures to reduce it. Team 26 will leave Sandy Hook, Ct on the morning of May 5 and arrive at the House Triangle on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol during the afternoon of May 8 with 10 other stops along the way. The men and women that comprise Team 26 include educators, high school and college students, veterans, medical professionals, and representatives from many states including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas. Many riders have raced and won medals in the United States and internationally. "Clearly, the U.S. Congress remains mired in gridlock and continues to defy the will of the American people," said Monte Frank, Team 26 leader. "However, what is clear from the recent marches and the incredible engagement of students is that people have had enough and are no longer willing to be sitting ducks because of a broken political system. Congress must act to prevent gun violence by passing common sense measures, including requiring a background check on all gun sales and limiting magazines to 10 rounds." Team 26 will be delivering to Congress a petition signed by over 250,000 Americans to ban AR-15s and high capacity magazines. As is the case for each of their rides, Team 26 will be pressing for background checks on all gun sales, a measure supported by 97% of Americans according to the latest Quinnipiac poll. The Team 26 rolling rally will be stopping for events at city halls and universities. Speakers will include federal and state lawmakers, mayors, activists, students, family members, survivors and others. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS May 5 8:00 am NEWTOWN, CT SEND-OFF Edmond Town Hall 45 Main Street 12:00 pm PEEKSKILL, NY RALLY The Field Library 4 Nelson Avenue 5:00 pm MORRISTOWN, NJ RALLY Town Hall 200 South Street May 6 8:00 am Departure Ride Morristown Town Hall 11:30 am - 1:00 pm TRENTON, NJ RALLY Trenton City Hall 319 E. State Street 3:00 pm PHILADELPHIA, PA RALLY Girard College 2101 S. College Avenue May 7 10:15 am Rider Meet up Newark, DE Curtis Mill Park, 287 Paper Mill Rd 11:00 am NEWARK, DE RALLY University of Delaware Star Campus 540 South College Avenue 4:00 pm BALTIMORE, MARYLAND PRESS CONFERENCE Baltimore City Hall 100 Holliday St May 8 10:30 am COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND MEET AND GREET Proteus Bicycles 9217 Baltimore Ave, 12:30 pm SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON, D.C. MEET & GREET Brishell Jones Way Danbury Street, SW, Ward 8, Washington, DC 2:00 pm CAPITOL HILL PRESS CONFERENCE House Triangle For more information: Team website: www.team26.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/SandyHookRideOnWashington Twitter: @RideOnTeam26 @montefrankct CONTACT: Josh Zecher, 202-463-0045, [email protected] SOURCE Team 26 WASHINGTON, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Texas Senator Ted Cruz appeared on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, a national radio show which airs on more than 240 stations across the country. On the show, Sen. Cruz discussed a myriad of topics including Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent presentation on Iran's nuclear program, NAFTA renegotiations, and media bias. Sen. Cruz commented, "The presentation that the prime minister made this week was nothing short of extraordinary. I think he principally had an audience of one, and that was President Trump." Sen. Cruz continued, "But, he was also talking to all of America. He was talking to all of our allies. And, he was talking very directly to Iran as well. And the presentation that he laid out was unlike any speech any head of state has given in history. It was remarkable." Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, and host of Washington Watch added, "I have to think that in large part, the prime minister was speaking to the American people and showing them the evidence that is out there." To listen to the full interview, click this link: https://soundcloud.com/family-research-council/ted-cruz SOURCE Family Research Council Related Links http://www.frc.org Notably, all new employees have the opportunity to meet with Rob Siegfried, CEO and Founder, and learn about Siegfried's higher purpose: we help people transform themselves into better leaders to exponentially improve their lives. Siegfried is pleased to welcome all of its talented new Professionals to the Firm. Arlette Anguiano, CPA, joins the Detroit Market as a Manager. She brings structure to her projects, allowing her to produce exceptional work products with confidence. Anguiano earned her degree in public accounting from Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Tamaulipas in Mexico and was most recently an Assurance Manager at PwC. Russell Bestwick, CPA, joins the San Jose Market as a Senior Associate. By focusing on adding value through more efficient execution, he motivates others to achieve the highest quality results. Bestwick, who was most recently a Senior Accountant at KPMG, earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting at the University of British Columbia and his Bachelor of Arts in economics at the University of Victoria. Timothy Brennan, CPA, joins the New York Metro Market as a Manager. He possesses the analytical ability to grasp the underlying issue and arrive at the optimal solution. Brennan studied accounting and finance at Canisius College, where he earned his MBA and his Bachelor of Science. Most recently, he was an Assurance Manager at EY. Gregory Eisele, CPA, joins the Cleveland Market as a Senior Associate. Most recently, Eisele was an Assurance Senior at EY. He attended Westminster College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in accounting. Marlie Gee joins Siegfried's Professional Resource Operations team as an Associate. A natural problem solver, Gee demonstrates exceptional patience and calm to ensure requests are addressed with care. She attended the University of Delaware, majoring in Operations Management. Most recently, Gee was at Element Fleet Management, where she spent the last year deepening client relationships. Eric Hayes, CPA, CA, joins the Chicago Market as a Senior Associate. He blends his natural ability to form chemistry, his uncompromising commitment and him strong work-ethic to quickly integrate and better his teams. Hayes graduated from the University of Lethbridge with his Bachelor of Management in accounting and was most recently a Senior Accountant at Deloitte. Christopher Jones, CPA, joins the Charlotte Market as a Senior Associate. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and from Villanova with his Master of Science in accounting and professional consultancy. Jones started his career at Deloitte and was most recently a Lead Portfolio Accountant at Gramercy Property Trust. Octavia Meredith, CPA, joins the Charlotte Market as an Associate Manager after most recently serving as a Senior Audit Associate at PwC. Her ability to think creatively helps her generate unique solutions to client issues. She earned her Master of Science in accounting at Michigan State and her Bachelor of Science in accounting at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Carl Minderman, CPA, joins the D.C. Metro Market as a Senior Associate. With his strong work ethic, he provides exemplary client service by always being flexible in any situation. Minderman earned his master's and bachelor's degrees in accounting from the University of Maryland and was most recently a Senior Auditor at EY. Dustin Naud, CPA, joins the Charlotte Market as a Manager. He attended the University of North Carolina, where he earned his Master of Accounting and Brigham Young University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in English. Naud uses both his mental agility and analytic ability to simplify and streamline processes and procedures. Most recently, he was an Accounting Supervisor at Nucor Steel Seattle. Jennifer Ngai, CPA, CA, joins the San Francisco Market as an Associate Manager. An exceptional leader with proven ability to bring others together to work towards a common goal, Ngai was most recently a Business Development Associate at Wowcher. She attended the University of British Columbia, where she earned her Bachelor of Commerce. Stephen O'Brien, CPA, joins the New York Metro Market as an Associate Manager. He is a natural leader, able to visualize a project's completion and identify the most effective and efficient way to obtain the goal. O'Brien studied accounting at the University of Buffalo, earning his master's and bachelor's degrees. After beginning his career at KPMG, he was most recently a Senior Accountant at L3 Technologies. Christopher Sachson, CPA, joins the Philadelphia Metro Market as Senior Associate. He brings a thorough approach and strong mental agility to the tasks at hand. He attended the University of Delaware and earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting. Most recently, Sachson was an Experienced Assurance Associate at PwC. Ryan Scott, CPA, joins the Denver Market as a Manager. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance at the University of Iowa and was most recently a Manager at Tactile Medical. Scott's positive mindset and energetic work ethic allow him to bring a sense of calm and motivation to his teams, resulting in dramatically positive outcomes for his clients. Elizabeth Smolinski joins the Siegfried Operations team as a Marketing Associate. She brings a pragmatic approach to every project and leverages her abilities to inspire her team members along the way. Smolinski attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she majored in marketing. Most recently, she was an SEO Account Manager at Seer Interactive. Allison Wang joins the San Jose Market as a Senior Associate. Her mental agility and unique approach to problem-solving allow her to identify her client's goals and then chart the best course forward. Wang studied at Rhodes College, where she earned her Master of Science in accounting and her Bachelor of Science in business and economics. Most recently, she was an Audit Senior at EY. Angela Wang, CPA, joins the New York Metro Market as a Senior Associate. She captivates others with her quick-wit and cutting-edge approach that allows her to be flexible in any environment. She earned her Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and finance at the University of Western Australia and was most recently a Senior Accountant at KPMG. More information about the Firm and its career opportunities is available at siegfriedgroup.com. About The Siegfried Group, LLP (Siegfried) Siegfried works alongside financial executives across the nation, on their most important accounting and finance projects. Filled with an innovative spirit and led by an ambitious entrepreneur, Siegfried provides unique Leadership Advisory combined with high potential talent. At the heart of our Firm is our approach to individual leadership and the continual pursuit of helping people grow both personally and professionally. As a whole, we value having fun, being fair, and building and sharing stakeholder value. Contact: Megan Pettingill (302) 660-1516 [email protected] SOURCE The Siegfried Group, LLP Related Links http://www.siegfriedgroup.com FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ERP Maestro, industry leader and provider of the first-to-market cloud-based and automated access control, security auditing and reporting solutions for SAP, announced the strengthening of its executive team with the hiring of technology and marketing leaders. Brad Noe has joined ERP Maestro as Chief Technology Officer to further the product development mission for the company, and Theresa Lawrence has assumed the role of Chief Marketing Officer to drive market growth. Brad Noe, Theresa Lawrence "We are on a high-growth trajectory, and our new executive team members bring the skills and experience to help us accelerate on our path to expand into new markets and increase adoption of ERP Maestro's disruptive, SaaS-based solution to manage internal security risks in complex and susceptible ERP environments," said Jody Paterson, CEO, ERP Maestro. Noe brings over 30 years of technology leadership experience in large companies such as IBM, Yahoo, and Motorola, as well as a history of building engineering organizations from the ground up in early stage startups. In his new role, Noe will focus on expansion of software development and technology capabilities to support the company's future growth plans and product roadmap. Prior to joining ERP Maestro, Noe was the VP of Engineering of several startup companies in South Florida, including Netspeak, DayJet, and Interclick. Lawrence most recently co-founded and served as the Chief Marketing and Customer Officer of Fridayd. With over a decade of experience leading marketing strategies and teams for cloud technology businesses, including Fortune 500 and Forbes' Most Innovative Companies, she will develop the brand positioning and marketing strategy for ERP Maestro. Previously, Lawrence was VP of Marketing at Modernizing Medicine and held senior marketing roles at Ultimate Software and Tyco Integrated Security. "With our new team members' depth of experience and expertise in their respective fields, combined with ERP Maestro's existing leadership talent, we are fully executing on our development and market expansion roadmap," said Paterson. About ERP Maestro ERP Maestro makes managing access risk, compliance and security in SAP environments incredibly easy. Its award-winning software as a service (SaaS) platform automates the detection, prevention and monitoring of internal cybersecurity risks related to inappropriate access to sensitive data and transactions, accelerating remediation and minimizing exposure to potential breaches and fraud. Its industry-leading segregation of duties (SoD) analysis is used by most of the world's largest audit firms and empowers organizations to establish effective governance, risk and compliance (GRC) processes. Learn more at www.erpmaestro.com. Media Contact: ERP Maestro Subhashree Sukhu [email protected] 754.900.1045 SOURCE ERP Maestro Related Links http://www.erpmaestro.com MADRID, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Within the framework of the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), that has been held from the 29th of April to the 3rd of May in Honolulu (Hawaii), Sylentis, pharmaceutical company belonging to the PharmaMar Group (MCE: PHM), has presented the preclinical results of a new molecule (SYL1801), indicated for the treatment of age associated macular degeneration and which is administered topically. This meeting which is held annually has the purpose of sharing the latest development in the understanding of the cutting-edge clinical science. In this context, Sylentis has participated with the presentation of the abstract Topical administration of siRNA targeting NRARP as a new treatment for choroidal neovascularization (Posterboard Number: 2634 - A0139)i, in which SYL1801 is evaluated for its role upon NRARP, a protein that controls the formation of new blood cells in the retina, that presents processes of neovascularization, the growth of new blood vessels. As Ana Isabel Jimenez, Director of R&D at Sylentis, said, "macular degeneration is the primary cause of loss of vision in people over 50 years of age[ii]. The current treatments involve intravitreal infections, so at Sylentis we are trying to develop products that are of a topical use for this illness, therefore, in addition to the treatment, we would also be improving the quality of life of our patients." Sylentis is a pioneer in RNAi research, and is one of the few in Europe that applies this technology to the field of ophthalmology. It also continues with its research on new therapies for ophthalmological and inflammatory illnesses. About RNA interference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXvSitR5184 About Sylentis Sylentis, a company of PharmaMar (MCE: PHM), is a biotechnology company fully owned that develops innovative therapies harnessing the technology of post-transcriptional gene silencing or RNA interference (RNAi). Sylentis has developed an approach to efficiently design RNAi-based therapeutics that can be used to silence numerous disease-causing genes. We currently have a robust therapeutic program in ophthalmology with two candidates under development in Phase II and III studies for glaucoma (bamosiran)[iii] and ocular pain (SYL1001)[iv], respectively. Sylentis is also developing new products for the treatment of several eye diseases such as ocular allergies and retina diseases. To know more about us, please visit us at www.sylentis.com. [i] Ruz V, Paneda C, Martinez T, Monteiro S, Guerra A, Gonzalez V and Jimenez AI. Topical administration of siRNA targeting NRARP as a new treatment for choroidal neovascularization. ARVO meeting abstracts. 2018. 2634 - A0139. Disponible en: https://www.arvo.org/annual-meeting/program/online-planner/ [ii] Jonas, J.B., C.M.G. Cheung, and S. Panda-Jonas, Updates on the Epidemiology of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila), 2017. 6(6): p. 493-497. [iii] Moreno-Montanes J, Sadaba B, Ruz V, Gomez-Guiu A, Zarranz J, Gonzalez MV, Paneda C, Jimenez AI. Phase I Clinical Trial of SYL040012, A Small Interfering RNA Targeting -Adrenergic Receptor 2, for Lowering Intraocular Pressure. Mol Ther. 2014, 22(1):226-32 [iv] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03108664?term=helix+sylentis&rank=1 (April, 2018) Media Relations +34-638-79-62-15 Investor Relations +34-9144-44500 SOURCE PharmaMar Related Links http://www.sylentis.com WASHINGTON, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Latino Coalition (TLC) Chairman and former U.S. Small Business Administrator Hector Barreto is participating today in a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the White House. Barreto released the following statement: "Cinco de Mayo's meaning has shifted considerably over time; it has represented everything from immigrant nostalgia to U.S. patriotism during World War II," explained TLC Chairman Hector Barreto. "Today, Cinco de Mayo is a uniquely American celebration that reflects the energy and ambition of the Latino-American community. I'm honored to join our president and millions of other Americans in celebrating Hispanic Americans' entrepreneurial and artistic culture, our considerable accomplishments, and, most importantly, our aspirations as community and economic leaders," he added. ABOUT THE LATINO COALITION- The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies solutions relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address and engage on key issues that that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC's agenda is to create and promote initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance and empower overall business, economic and social development for Latinos. Visit www.thelatinocoalition.com. SOURCE The Latino Coalition Related Links http://www.thelatinocoalition.com ONTARIO, Calif., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Safariland Group ("Safariland"), a leading global provider of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets, today announced it has appointed Blaine Browers as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 23, 2018. He is based in Jacksonville, Florida, and reports to Scott O'Brien, President of Safariland. Browers joins Safariland from IDEX Corporation ("IDEX"), a publicly traded global developer, designer and manufacturer of fluidics, specialty engineered products, and hydraulic rescue tools. He most recently served as the Group Vice President of Finance and IT for IDEX's Fire & Safety business, a global business with 10 manufacturing locations across the United States, Europe, China and India. Prior to this role, he served in the same capacity for IDEX's BAND-IT, Micropump and Optical Technologies business, which encompassed three global businesses and nine worldwide manufacturing locations. Earlier in his career, Mr. Browers worked in several finance roles at General Electric Company. "We are thrilled to add a leader of Blaine's caliber to the Safariland team," O'Brien said. "Blaine has a solid track record of providing superior financial and operational guidance to global businesses of significant scale and geographic diversity, including those in the public safety space. I look forward to working closely with him to lead Safariland's continued growth as we assist first responders and law enforcement with their efforts to make communities across the world safer." Mr. Browers has a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Economics from the University of South Florida and a Master of Business Administration from the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. About The Safariland Group The Safariland Group is a leading global provider of a broad range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets. The Safariland Group offers a number of recognized brand names in these markets including Safariland, Med-Eng, Safariland Armor, Safariland VIEVU, Mustang Survival, Bianchi, Break Free, PROTECH Tactical, Defense Technology, Hatch, Monadnock, Identicator and NIK. The Safariland Group's mission, "Together, We Save Lives", is inherent in the lifesaving and protective products it delivers. The Safariland Group is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The Safariland Group is a trade name of Safariland, LLC. Media and Investor Relations Inquiries Jonathan Keehner / Tim Ragones / Aura Reinhard Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher (212) 355-4449 SOURCE The Safariland Group GETTYSBURG, Pa., May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Lutheran Seminary today announced an agreement with the Civil War Trust to permanently preserve 18 acres of historic open space on Seminary Ridge in Gettysburg. The property, located on both sides of Seminary Ridge Road, has been a part of the Seminary since it moved to the site in 1832. "This property is a gift from God and we are stewards of this gift. We have a deep love for the property and its unique historic and scenic character," ULS Acting President-Bishop James Dunlop said. "For generations, these qualities have inspired thousands of seminary students as well as visitors from across our nation and around the world." Under the terms of the $3.5 million purchase agreement, the Trust will acquire an 11-acre portion of the United Lutheran Seminary property straddling Seminary Ridge Road and a conservation easement on 7 acres along Chambersburg Pike east of those two parcels. "We feel, as stewards of this site for more than 180 years, that we have a sacred responsibility to see it is protected for future generations," Bishop Dunlop said. "We believe this land needs to be preserved for the next generations of seminarians, and others, to reflect upon, learn from, and appreciate." In remarking on the agreement, Civil War Trust President James Lighthizer said: "We have long admired the Seminary's commitment to protecting and maintaining Seminary Ridge. We consider it a privilege to partner with the Seminary to permanently preserve this iconic landscape." Conversations, about this agreement, began in 2015, and the Trust has already begun raising funds to preserve the property. For the Gettysburg community, the ridge's open land is a favorite gathering place during special events each year. People assemble there on Independence Day to watch the fireworks from this high ground. It has been home to the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival for 21 years. And this August, the Seminary will host the 5th annual Gettysburg Brewfest, with craft brewers, cider makers and food trucks. Founded in Gettysburg as the Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1826, the educational institution moved to its present site on Seminary Ridge in 1832. It is the oldest continuously operating Lutheran seminary in the nation. In July 2017, it consolidated with the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia to become the United Lutheran Seminary. The Gettysburg Seminary's 1832 building, named Schmucker Hall, figured prominently in the opening of the Battle of Gettysburg. Standing on high ground a half mile west of town, the campus became a focal point of the first day's fighting making Seminary Ridge synonymous with that action and subsequent combat on July 2 and 3, 1863. Today, the building houses the Seminary Ridge Museum. Adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park and the Lee's Headquarters acreage protected by the Civil War Trust, the land that the Seminary will transfer to the Trust is of profound military significance, the bloodiest Gettysburg ground left in private hands, historians say. The determined defense on Seminary Ridge by men from the Union's Iron Brigade and 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry enabled the army to regroup and hold Cemetery Hill, key to the ultimate Federal victory at Gettysburg. Hundreds of soldiers from North and South were felled on the ground to be purchased by the Trust. "On this ground occurred the end of the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg and the beginning of the end of the Civil War," said Doug Douds, a retired Marine Corps colonel and Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide who teaches at the U.S. Army War College. About the United Lutheran Seminary With deep roots on its two campuses in Gettysburg and Philadelphia, the United Lutheran Seminary is theological education's newest graduate and professional school. It awards seven different degrees, and has more than 10,000 graduates. Learn more at www.unitedlutheranseminary.edu. About the Civil War Trust The Civil War Trust is a national nonprofit land preservation organization devoted to the protection of America's hallowed battlegrounds. It preserves the battlefields of the Civil War, the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, and educates the public about their importance in forging the nation we are today. The Trust has preserved 49,000 battlefield acres in 24 states, including more than 1,000 acres at Gettysburg. Learn more at www.civilwar.org. SOURCE United Lutheran Seminary Related Links http://www.unitedlutheranseminary.edu Doug Schaeffer, EVP, Executive Director CRA, Woodforest National Bank said, "Being recognized by The Texas Bankers Foundation for these initiatives is validation that Woodforest is being responsive to the needs of our communities. We are grateful to work with organizations like TDHCA and NeighborWorks America to develop innovative solutions aimed at combating the financial challenges faced by those in our communities who are most in need. These programs educate underserved borrowers and provide them trusted solutions available to support them as they strive for homeownership." Tim Irvine, TDHCA Executive Director added, "As a state agency that is created to promote business and economic development we are always extremely gratified when there is a win-win opportunity to work in tandem with the private sector to serve Texans! It is always good to see Texas banks continuing to lead the way in developing and carrying out prudent but creative solutions." The Wealth Building Through Homeownership Program is the first-of-its-kind, private-public venture with TDHCA to expand homeownership for low-to-moderate-income individuals through a $10 million loan agreement that increased access to down payment assistance and closing cost funds. As part of the initiative, Woodforest also provided housing counseling scholarships through NeighborWorks America, and, its employees conducted more than 3,500 hours of homebuyer education through over 1,000 workshops. "Nonprofit housing counselors empower community residents to prepare for successful homeownership, build assets, and even assist existing homeowners avoid foreclosure after a hurricane or other life-altering events. NeighborWorks America is committed to building the skills and expertise of counselors but we can't do it alone. Thanks to an investment by Woodforest National Bank, we trained counselors through a series of NeighborWorks America regional trainings," said Sheila D. Anderson, Senior Relationship Manager, NeighborWorks America. Woodforest is leading the charge in growing homeownership by encouraging other community banks to participate in future transactions of the Wealth Building Through Homeownership Program in Texas and across our 16 other states. For more information contact Doug Schaeffer at [email protected] or Daniel Galindo, VP, CRA and Strategy Director at [email protected]. Woodforest also received a special "Honorable Mention" from The Texas Bankers Foundation in the LiFE Awards category for its ReLi/ReStarter Program. This initiative supports borrowers looking to rebuild their credit and return to financial stability. The Leaders in Financial Education (LiFE) Award honors Texas banks that are dedicated leaders in promoting financial education in their communities. About Woodforest Celebrating over 37 years of community banking service, Woodforest National Bank has successfully stood among the strongest community banks in the nation, proudly offering outstanding quality customer service since 1980. Woodforest currently operates over 700 branches in 17 states across the United States. For more information about Woodforest National Bank please visit www.woodforest.com. About TDHCA The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visit www.tdhca.state.tx.us or the Learn about Fair Housing in Texas page. About NeighborWorks America For nearly 40 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. (d/b/a NeighborWorks America), a national, nonpartisan nonprofit, has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $34 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals. Media Contact Cindi Stewart Sr. Vice President-Public Relations Director Woodforest National Bank [email protected] | 832-375-2508 SOURCE Woodforest National Bank Related Links http://www.woodforest.com WHAT: On May 5th and 6th, hundreds of thousands around the globe will march together in the second "Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty," a charitable walk hosted by the international religious organization Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC or Church Of Christ). An expected 358 sites around the globe in 44 countries, 33 territories and across 18 time zones will simultaneously host the multi Guinness World Record event. The first Worldwide Walk event in 2014 was recognized as the largest charity walk across multiple venues held in 24 hours. It had 519,221 participants from 129 sites across the world, situated in 16 countries. This year's Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty is aimed to beat its own records. Proceeds of the Second Worldwide Walk will be used to continue providing food and medical assistance for those in immediate need in impoverished communities. The 2014 charity walk benefitted victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, known as Haiyan, the strongest tropical storm recorded in history. The global walk also helped finance the INC's first resettlement and eco-farming community in Leyte, Philippines. "Here in the Nation's Capital, we are excited to unite with our brethren all around the world as we join in this Second Worldwide Walk to Fight Against Poverty," said Brother Matthew Capistrano, District Minister of the 24 INC congregations in the Ecclesiastical District of Mid-Atlantic. "Mid-Atlantic is Unstoppable!" WHEN Saturday, May 5 &WHERE: West Lawn of the United States Capitol Building Across the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Program of Events: Registration Begins: 4:00 PM EDT Walk Begins: 6:00 PM EDT Walk Ends at the 12TH Street Expressway Post-walk events TBA WHY: The joint effort of INC members across the globe is one of many international campaigns of the INC's socio-civic programs aimed to strengthen the bond between the congregations of the Church Of Christ and the communities in which they serve. The INC also continues to support five self-sustaining resettlement communities in the Philippines; along with 17 eco-farming sites, like the one recently established in Ladybrand, South Africa. Yesway team members will be helping customers sign up for its award-winning "Yesway Rewards" Loyalty Program. Yesway Rewards customers earn "Smiles" for each dollar they spend on fuel or in-side store merchandise and can redeem their "Smiles" for a wide assortment of in-store products, including free fountain drinks, iced tea, Yesway-branded coffee, free roller grill items and candy, and free Yesway fountain travel mugs. Customers will earn their first "Smiles" just by registering for the program and will receive other bonus "Smiles" throughout the year, including on their birthday as part of the "Surprise & Delight" program. Customers can get a loyalty card and sign up for the program at any Yesway store or by downloading the free Yesway Rewards app, available for iPhone and Android, by visiting www.Yesway.com/rewards on their mobile browser. The month-long celebration of Yesway's Texas Store Grand Opening Event Tour will include the following stops: BAIRD, TX: Friday, May 4th: 1033 Cherry; 3:00-7:00 PM Local radio station KBCY-FM will be broadcasting live from 4:00-6:00 PM HAWLEY, TX: Saturday, May 5th: 510 E. Frontage Road; 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Local radio station KCDD-FM will be broadcasting live from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM SWEETWATER, TX: Friday, May 11th: 2001 Lamar Street; 3:00-7:00 PM Local radio station KEAN-FM will be broadcasting live from 4:00-6:00 PM SNYDER, TX: Saturday, May 12th: 4201 College Avenue; 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Local radio station KULL-FM will be broadcasting live from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM COLEMAN, TX: Friday, May 18th: 214 East Walnut Street; 3:00-7:00 PM Local radio station KEYJ-FM will be broadcasting live from 4:00-6:00 PM WINTERS, TX: Saturday, May 19th: 400 S Main Street; 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Local radio station KHXS-FM will be broadcasting live from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM ABILENE, TX: Friday, May 25th: 5194 Buffalo Gap Road; 3:00-7:00 PM Local radio station KEAN-FM will be broadcasting live from 4:00-6:00 PM ABILENE, TX: Saturday, May 26th: 5002 South 14th Street; 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Local radio station KMWX-FM will be broadcasting live from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Brian Trout, Yesway's Senior Vice President of Operations, said that the Texas-store grand openings mark an exciting time for Yesway. "We are thrilled about the growth of our portfolio in Texas and look forward to serving our local communities and delivering terrific customer service to everyone who visits our stores. We promise to give all of our customers a consistently excellent shopping experience and to make their lives easier and a bit more pleasant every day." Yesway's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Nicholas Trkla, added: "It is our mission to be both an exceptional convenience store retailer and a valued member of the communities we serve. We pledge to make a difference by supporting local citizens and organizations that do the same," he said. "This goes beyond having well-stocked shelves, serving freshly brewed coffee and an assortment of fresh food, and making sure our stores are always neat and clean. We formally recognize and actively support local charities, civic organizations, first responders, and those who serve or have served in the military - those who make a difference in the lives of others, and who go above and beyond while asking nothing in return." Editor Note: To arrange interviews with Yesway executives, please contact Erin Vadala of Warner Communications at [email protected] or 978-468-3076. High-resolution images and graphics are available on request. About Yesway BW Gas & Convenience, d/b/a Yesway, is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Yesway recently debuted at #7 on the Convenience Store News "2018 Top 20 Growth Chains" list and was named a "2017 Chain to Watch" by Convenience Store Decisions. Yesway's swiftly expanding portfolio currently consists of 88 stores located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Yesway plans to acquire, improve, and rebrand 500 convenience stores in selected regions of the United States over the next several years. For more information on Yesway, please visit the company' website at www.yesway.com SOURCE Yesway Related Links http://www.yesway.com GUEST OBSERVATION Australia is a continent defined by extremes, and recent decades have seen some extraordinary climate events. But droughts, floods, heatwaves, and fires have battered Australia for millennia. Are recent extreme events really worse than those in the past? In a recent paper, we reconstructed 800 years of seasonal rainfall patterns across the Australian continent. Our new records show that parts of Northern Australia are wetter than ever before, and that major droughts of the late 20th and early 21st centuries in southern Australia are likely without precedent over the past 400 years. This new knowledge gives us a clearer understanding of how droughts and flooding rains may be changing in the context of a rapidly warming world. A history of drought Australia has been shaped by floods, droughts, and blistering heat. How big and how intense these events were is poorly understood due to the limited historical and observational records. Historical records provide rough estimates of the extent and intensity of droughts in parts of Australia since the late 1700s. For example, captains logbooks from ships anchored off of Sydney describe the Settlement Drought (1790-1793), which threatened the tenuous foothold of early European settlers in Australia. And farmers records describe the Goyder Line Drought (18611866) that occurred in areas north of the known arable lands of South Australia. Observational weather records provide more detailed descriptions of climatic variability. However, systematic recording of weather in Australia only began in the late 19th century. Since then many parts of the continent have experienced prolonged wet periods and droughts. The most well known of these are the Federation drought (1895-1903), the World War II drought (1939-45), and the recent Millennium drought (1997-2009). All three droughts were devastating to agriculture and the broader economy, but each was distinct in its spatial footprint, duration, and intensity. Importantly, these droughts also differed in seasonality. Provided by M.Freund For example, the Millennium drought, which was most severe in southwestern and southeastern Australia, was caused by poor rainfall during the cool season. In contrast, the Federation drought, which affected almost the entire continent, was predominantly due to rainfall declines during the warm season. Although the historical and observational records provide a wealth of information about the frequency of wet and dry extremes, they provide only part of the picture. Looking back To understand possible trends in rainfall and assess the likelihood of prolonged droughts, we need to understand the long-term climatic context. For this, we need records that are much longer than existing observational and historical records. Our new study used an extensive network of tree rings, ice cores, corals, and sediment records from across Australia and the adjacent Indian and Pacific Oceans to extend rainfall records across all of the major regions of Australia by between 400 and 800 years. Importantly, we did this for two seasons, the cool (AprilSeptember) season and warm (OctoberMarch) season, over eight large natural resource management regions spanning the Australian continent. This allows us to place recent observations of rainfall variability into a much longer context across the entire continent for the first time. We found that recent shifts in rainfall variability are either unprecedented or very rare over the reconstructed period. The two most striking patterns were in tropical northern Australia, which as been unusually wet over the past century, and southern Australia, which has been unusually dry. Our reconstructions also highlight differences between recent extreme drought events and those in earlier centuries. For example, the Millennium Drought was larger in area and longer than any other drought in southern Australia over the last 400 years. Our reconstruction also shows that the most intense droughts described in the historical records the Settlement Drought (1790-93), Sturts Drought (180930), and the Goyder Line Drought (186166) were limited to specific regions. The Settlement Drought appears to have affected only Australias eastern regions, whereas the Goyder Line Drought, which occurred north of the northernmost limit of arable lands in Southern Australia, primarily impacted central Australia and the far north. These historical droughts varied widely in the area they covered, highlighting at a continental scale the spatial diversity of drought. This spatial variability has also recently been demonstrated for eastern Australia. Our multi-century rainfall reconstruction complements the recent Climate Change in Australia report on future climate. By providing a clearer window into climates of the past online, we can better see how extremes of rainfall may affect Australia in the future. Mandy Freund, PhD student, University of Melbourne Ben Henley, Research Fellow in Climate and Water Resources, University of Melbourne Kathryn Allen, Academic, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Patrick Baker, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, University of Melbourne This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Main photo: Lancelot that became a ghost town following the Federation Drought. denisben/flickr, CC BY-ND A 1972 Woolwich home designed by architect Philip Cox has been sold at $3.25 million. The design was marketed as showcasing trendy character and flexible interiors when listed with $3.4 million hopes. Its light filled arrangement including multiple skylights, along with polished timber floors and a working wood fireplace in the heart of Woolwich. The 14 Gale Street offering was listed through Ward Partners. It previously sold at $1.49 million in 2009 and $695,000 in 1994. The Modernish Australia website suggested it "expresses an almost rural-flavoured simplicity". An 104 year old scientist from Australia has stated that his birthday wish was to die. "David Goodall isn't sick, but wants to die". 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 a year ago. "It's not sad particularly, what is sad is if one is prevented", he said. Seven US states have a form of physician-assisted suicide, as do a small number of countries including Japan, Belgium and Switzerland. "I don't know whether they would be successful or whether it's just a threat", Nitschke said. A Western Australia government inquiry into assisted dying is scheduled to report back in August 2018. After his retirement in 1979, Goodall edited a 30-volume series entitled Ecosystems of the World, written by more than 500 authors. Goodall, an honorary research associate at Edith Cowan University in the West Australian capital of Perth, does not have a terminal illness, but is seeking voluntary euthanasia - which is illegal in Australia - on the grounds his quality of life has deteriorated. "I might as well not have (my health) getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes", he said. As AJ-Wilder saga draws on, Hearn reveals negotiations with other heavyweights But Wilder's team will want Breazeale to be the mandatory because there isn't much credibility in the fight. Eddie Hearn, who promotes Whyte, told Sky Sports they plan to fight the WBC's recent set of orders. Online media to overtake linear TV viewing time in 2018 Looking at online video investment, programmatic deals will rise to 24% of all deals in 2018 versus 22% in 2o17 and 17% in 2016. GroupM tabulated consumers' time spent with each media format, globally, and calculated average time spent with media overall. La CGT marchara este viernes contra el "maldito tarifazo" Y si bien despues fueron esquivos a las camaras, trascendio que seria el 22 de agosto . " Vamos a ponerle fecha al Congreso ", dijo antes de ingresar Schmid . "I don't want to go to Switzerland, though it's a nice country", Goodall told the national broadcaster ABC News before leaving. Nitschke said Goodall was hospitalized earlier this year following a failed attempt to kill himself after he was injured in a fall. He will spend several days with other family members in France, before heading to Switzerland, where he is due to end his life next Thursday. Goodall traveled to Europe on business class thanks to a donation of $20,000 from well-wishers who responded to a GoFundMe website set up in his name. He was only discharged after an independent psychiatric review commissioned by his daughter, Nitschke said. Michael Gannon, president of the Australian Medical Association, said the organization's position was clear that doctors should have no involvement with euthanasia or assisted suicide. "I think it's very sad to hear that someone feels this way", he said. 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. Though it has never appeared in a published work, the image of the old woman on the cover of Presto and Zesto in Limboland is instantly identifiable as the work of the late Maurice Sendak. Last summer, news that an unreleased manuscript of Sendaks had been discovered lit up the literary world. The collaboration between Sendak and his friend and frequent co-author, Arthur Yorinks, will be published by HarperCollins on September 4, and PW has the exclusive first look at the cover. Sendak created the 10 standalone images that comprise the book in 1990 for a performance of the suite Rikadla, a 1927 composition by Leos Janacek that set to music a collection of Czech nursery rhymes. When he first saw the images, Yorinks was struck by their power. I saw them in various forms, and of course I saw the finished illustrations. They were just glorious. Brave and cuckoo and funny and crazy in a way that some other things of his werent. They were zany, and Maurice was not known for zany. When I saw them I thought, Wow, this really should be a book. The two friends spent an uproarious afternoon (I wish we had a recording of it, Yorinks said) thinking of a story outlandish enough to plausibly connect all the pictures. They wove them together into a continuous narrative that has a beginning, a middle, and an end, said Sendaks longtime editor and publisher, Michael di Capua. How can you tie them into a developing logical storyline unless the content of the narrative is nuts? They spread the pictures out, inspiring each other by rearranging the sequence: What if this happens? And then this happens? Creating the story was one thing, but publishing it was going to take timemore time than the two friends felt they had. Sendak was committed to producing a book version of the opera Brundibar with Tony Kushner. Yorinks was immersed in theater projects. So they laid the manuscript aside. There are so many things involved in publishing a book instead of just making a book. We thought, well do that down the line, Yorinks recalled, a little wistfully, and we didnt know how much time we had. Fast forward to the reappearance of the manuscript last year, unearthed in the artists files by Sendak Foundation president Lynn Caponera. Yorinks and di Capua were buoyed by the prospect of being able to publish the book at last. The fact that Maurice wasnt there to contribute is sad, says di Capua, but our way of doing things was so ingrained in me at this point that I have this confident feeling that he would approve of the way the book is looking. I happily took it on for so many reasons, Yorinks said. The book is about friendship, and so its a poignant and bittersweet epilogue to our own friendship. Its the year Maurice would have turned 90, and Ill turn 65. Its a special thing. Changes to the text had to be made, but not many. I dont know how many books weve done togethera zillion, basically, said Yorinks about di Capua. Hes really, really good. He wont say, Do this! or Do that! Hell just question things. Hell say, Im not sure about this, and then if it hits me a certain waywhich sometimes it doesIll go, Yeah, something is wrong. Sendaks demanding standards were legendary. I learned everything I know about making books from Maurice, and one of the main things is this striving for perfection in bookmaking, said di Capua. I have a reputation for being a lunatic perfectionist. Its all because of Maurice. He trained me to think in that way. To prepare Sendaks images for press, they engaged the services of a Vermont printer named Stephen Stinehour, an artisan equally at home with old-style letterpress printing and the digital tools that have revolutionized the field. Even though the technology is very different nowadays, di Capua said, the one factor that remains constant is that its not the machines or the technology that matter in getting the best possible reproductionits the human being. Some people, even those who work professionally, really believe that they can have their 12-year-old nephew press the button and perfection will come out. Its just not true. Yorinks is similarly enthusiastic: Stephen created a series of proofs for the book that are so good that one might even call them forgeries, theyre so accurate and beautiful. Maurice would have been thrilled. At the design stage, too, changes were minimal. An illustration and a page of text changed places. A typographical ornament was judged a distraction and removed. It works beautifully, di Capua said of designer Steve Scotts cover, and the typography is stylistically very true to Maurices other books. That turquoise-y teal was a color that Maurice liked. I didnt ask Steve whether he just pulled that out of the air or whether he knew that. A Fruitful Friendship The humor in the book flows from the particular friendship Yorinks and Sendak shared. We could make each other laugh, said Yorinks. Maurice was hilarious, he was unbelievably hilarious. Not that many people saw it, but he was. He was an incredible mimic. He could probably perform the entire film All About Eve and play all the parts. We were both Fred Astaire maniacs. King Kong was big for us. It was his childhood and it was my childhood, too; it was a movie in his childhood and on television in mine. The day we met each other was like a scene out of Presto and Zesto. It was a different time, and he was listed in the phone book. I literally knocked on his door. I was 17. I had no idea about kids books. We had no picture books in the house. But I thought, Wow, this guy sounds interesting, and this is maybe insane, but I want to meet him. I was with a friend and he didnt want to be late, but the more my friend said No, the more I wanted to do it. Sendak greeted the two young men graciously, Yorinks said, and suggested that Yorinks call him. Much later, after months of waffling, he made contact. Sendak asked Yorinks if he had ever read Winnie-the-Pooh. What should I say? Yorinks thought in desperation, and blurted out, Oh, I hated that book. There was a pause on the other end of the line. Oh, God, I thought, what did I do? Yorinks remembers thinking. And Maurice said, Why dont you come over for lunch? And this book is all about that. Its about the two of us ending up in a bizarre world and how to just get through it. Thats kind of what we were both dealing with. This crazy mixed-up life, and you just have to get through it. Yorinks paused. He used a Yiddish word that means overcome with emotion. Im getting all verklempt thinking about it, he said. I can picture Maurice in his studio, he continued, slowly, working on his books, listening to some opera or some piano sonata blasting on his stereohe had a very good stereo, so you could really blast the speakersand I can picture myself when I was in a tiny apartment in Manhattan listening to music, too, and here this book is just such an amalgam of our way of being in the world together. In joy, in pain, working, struggling, in search of some way of existing in the world. Presto and Zesto in Limboland by Arthur Yorinks and Maurice Sendak, illus. by Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins/Michael di Capua Books, $18.95 Sept. 4 ISBN 978-0-06-264465-7 The Other Dog By Madeleine LEngle, illus. by Christine Davenier (May 1, Chronicle, hardcover, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-4521-7189-0). Reissued to coincide with the release of the film adaptation of LEngles A Wrinkle in Time, this 2001 picture book by the Newbery Medalist follows a dog as he gets used to his owners new baby. Some 500 bookstores, including scores of childrens stores, participated in the fourth annual Independent Bookstore Day, held last Saturday, April 28. Stores typically will use the day as an opportunity to host authors, offers special discounts, and hold special events, many catering specifically to families with children. The results speak for themselves: American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher reported that sales at indie bookstores were up 9.54% over sales in the same week IBD was held in 2017. Among the stores reporting the strongest sales was Green Apple Books, which has two stores in San Francisco. There, they offered Books from the Future (galleys and ARCs for customers), Bad Book Trivia, and an appearance at the Clement Street location of the store by childrens author Eli Meyskens, reading from his book The Lonely Bridge (Blurb Books). Sales at the store were up 75% from an average Saturday in April. The basic formula is an easy one: the stores that put effort and energy into throwing and promoting a great party have fantastic days, both in terms of fun and sales, said IBD program director Samantha Schoech. The media, celebrities, and book lovers helped as well: We were trending on Twitter all day long with Bookstore Day Tweets from the New York Times, Madeleine Albright, Neil Gaiman, Celeste Ng [who served as 2018 IBD Author Ambassador], lots of other authors, and thousands of booksellers and customers all over the U.S. To attract customers, the IBD organizers offer limited-edition items, which this year included baby onesies featuring a dragon illustration by Daniel Salmieri and the phrase Dragons love books, a reference to his Dragons Love Tacos picture book, and plush Maisy and Horton toys, wearing shirts saying Read with me, among other items. Stores Celebrate with Special Events Schoech visited Bookshop West Portal in San Francisco, where the stars of the day were Tombo, Quinoa, and Amigo, a trio of llamas brought in from a ranch in Sonora to celebrate the publication of Anna Dewdneys Llama Llama Loves to Read (Viking). The entire West Portal community has a terrific time meeting these gentle animals, but perhaps none more so than the bookseller/wranglers!, said store owner Susan Tunis, who added that among the days other visitors to the store was middle grade author Jill Diamond in support of her new book Lou Lou and Pea and the Bicentennial Bonanza (FSG). In Minnesotas Twin Cities, 18 indies participated in Rain Taxis Passport program, in which each page that was stamped activated that stores coupon, redeemable on a later visit. People who obtained five stamps in their passports were eligible for one of five $20 gift certificates; 10 stamps made one eligible for one of 28 literary gift packs; and 18 stamps made one eligible for the grand literary prize pack. Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn., was one of the stores participating in the Twin Cities Passport program, with the addition of games and activities going on in the store all day, including two rounds of Find [a photo] of John Green, with the winner receiving a signed copy of Turtles All the Way Down (Dutton). Store owner Holly Weinkauf reported that IBD was a great success, with sales up almost 17% over last year. And last year was great!, she said. I do feel like we are at a point where IBD has a lot of traction. Everyone was happy and excited to be supporting the indies. Some of our regulars came in but also lots of new customers and most people were buying. The TC passport definitely brought a lot of new people into our store. Chris Ferries board book Rocket Science for Babies (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky) was a popular item at Red Balloon on IBD as Sourcebooks sponsored a promotion: customers who bought the book received a complimentary onesie. Elsewhere in the Midwest in Chicagoland, 27 indie bookstores throughout the city and several of its inner-ring suburbs participated in the second annual #MyChicagoBookstore Challenge. Customers making a $25 purchase at the first store they visited received a passport and a stamp. The 66 people who had their passports stamped at 10 stores will receive a 10% discount in all the participating stores for the next year and the 27 people who had their passports stamped at 15 (or more) stores will receive a 15% discount for the next year Sarah Hollenbeck, co-owner of Women and Children First in Chicagos Andersonville neighborhood, reported that sales were up 25% over last year and double sales in 2016. Islandborn by Junot Diaz (Dial) was a hit along with the YA novel Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Holt). Book Stall at Chestnut Court floor manager Mike Wysock reported that sales at the Winnetka, Ill., store were double that of a typical Saturday, and a little better than last years IBD. While the store sponsored scavenger hunts for children with literary swag as prizes in-store, it also sold books offsite for a Kate DiCamillo appearance. We sold a lot of books, a lot of backlist, Wisock said. It was a good day all around. Thirteen bookstores across the Boston area took part in a passport program in which customers could enter a raffle for baskets of books and related ephemera by visiting at least eight of the stores. Items for the 24 baskets were offered up by the bookstores along with local publishers, including Charlesbridge, MIT Press, David R. Godine, Candlewick, and Beacon. I think its a great idea, said Tildy Banker-Johnson who manages Belmont Books in Belmont, Mass., of the program. People know that Cambridge and Somerville have a lot of bookstores, but its nice to get people to learn that the whole Boston areas so rich in it. It really brings the spirit of Independent Bookstore Day to Boston. It was Belmonts first Independent Bookstore Day and the store had additional programming alongside the raffles, including an early morning tour behind the scenes at the bookstore and a scavenger hunt that had kids swarming to find everything from a picture book with a dog, to a book with no words. At Wellesley Books in Wellesley, Mass., readings were hosted throughout the day and customers could pick from shelves of wrapped advance reader copies adorned with hints in return for answering questions posed by the booksellers. Teens Abby Vallejo and Samantha Wolf each won for correctly guessing the name of the duck family in Make Way for Ducklings (Puffin). Co-owner Gillian Kohli strolled through the aisles dressed as the Cat in the Hat, handing out green eggs and ham. By midday she said she was already willing to call the days programming a success. Every year we hope it will build, and build it does each year, said Kohli. Down the coast, the Regulator Bookshop in Durham, N.C., hosted live hedgehogs and author Jacqueline Ogburn, author of the middle grade novel The Unicorn in the Barn (HMH). We featured titles by local authors, had a free raffle of totes filled with ARCs, offered gift certificates, and gave Regulator swag to every customer on Indie Bookstore Day, said Amy Spaulding, events coordinator and media manager at the store. We had good crowds and were busy all day. In Texas, Austinites were invited to take part in a bookstore crawl and given a map of 15 participating stores; visits to three or more stores entitled you to enter a drawing for several grand prizes, which included books, sidelines, and gift certificates to area stores, including BookPeople, Half Price Books, and Malvern Books. Dave Richardson, manager at Blue Marble Books in Fort Thomas, Ky., called the day fantastic. He noted, Our normal Saturday mornings are slow but at 10 a.m. people were waiting to get in. We didnt have a chance to sit down all day, which is unusual because we are a destination shop. People have to make plans to come here. He added that compared to normal Saturdays, the store was up a good 75% in sales and did have an unexpected run on sales of Baby Monkey, Private Eye (Scholastic). At Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Ga., co-owner Dave Shallenberger said sales at the store were more than double over a typical Saturday. We had a good day with a lot going on; it was a great day with great energy. The store hosted a book launch for Becky Albertalli for her new book Leah on the Offbeat (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray). We had another author, Laurel Snyder, who we set up in a booth for book recommendations for a couple of hours, he added. We had donuts and coffee in the morning and cookies and lemonade in the afternoon. Hooray for Books! in Alexandria, Va., didnt do quite as well as last year, something that Hilary Barrineau, the stores manager attributed to the weather. The weather has just been terrible for so long, and it was a pretty day so we think people didnt want to be in bookstores, she said. We bought merchandise and had things planned, but on a pretty day it was hard to convince people to come inside. She reported that a conference call with SIBA revealed a lot of stores in the region shared similar stories of slower sales than anticipated. Out west, at Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse in La Canada, Calif., kids were offered a Wheres Waldo? scavenger hunt and patrons were asked to buy and donate childrens books to several local elementary schools. Maggie Maes Kids Bookshop in Gresham, Ore., has only been open for two months, yet it still celebrated Independent Bookstore Day. We had a great day filled with local author readings by Rae Rankin, nature journaling with Wendy Gorton, author of Oregon & Washington: 50 Hikes with Kids (Timber Press), scavenger hunts, and a coloring station for kids, said owner Sho Roberts. We were able to work with nearby small businesses to offer free ice cream, bowling, and discounts. The day was a huge success and was almost as big as our grand opening on March 17th. Next week, May 7-8, is the ALA Washington Office's annual National Library Legislative Day, in which hundreds of librarians from across the country will descend on Washington, D.C. for a day of training and education with ALA staff, followed by a day of meetings with their representatives on the hill. And once again, this years meeting is perfectly timed, coming just as appropriations bills continue to move forwardand as the Trump administration is expected to unveil a proposal to cut spending from the budget the president signed just weeks ago. Not only is Congress starting the work of passing 12 appropriations bills, soon the White House is expected to submit to Congress a rescission package of programs targeted for elimination, reports ALAs Kevin Maher. The list of programs the administration is recommending for defunding may be announced soon, but it would not surprise the ALA Washington office if LSTA and IAL were targeted. The rescission process allows the president to submit a list of budget cuts to Congress, which Congress can approve with a simple majority in the House and Senate. As Maher explains, just being included in a rescission package could hurt library funding, as any program included in a rescission request is frozen for up to 45 days while Congress considers the request. If library programs such as the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) or Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) are included, grants could be delayed, Maher notes. Ultimately, it is not likely a rescission package will be approvedbut politically, proposing such cuts (which could include library programs) would be a hunk of red meat for the GOPs fiscally conservative base. If youre one of the many librarians heading to Washington next week, email us, wed love to hear your impressions and share your pictures. And, if you cant make it to Washington, D.C., you can still participate virtually and make your voice heard. Turns Out the Cambridge Library Tower is Not Filled with Victorian Pornography A free exhibition of the Cambridge University library tower opened this week dispelling long-held beliefs that the 157-foot tower was filled with Victorian pornography. Instead visitors are privy to a remarkable collection of two centuries of popular publishing in the United Kingdom. The tower, it turns out, is a copyright library. And in an article for the Independent, library director Jessica Gardner highlights the exhibition and the importance of copyright libraries. Victorian toys and games jostle for a place with colorful childrens books, Edwardian fiction in pristine dust jackets and popular periodicals. Once considered of secondary value to the main academic collections, the tower collection is a treasure trove for todays readers and researchers, Gardner writes, You can literally stand in front of a given year and see exactly what was published. This must be the academic equivalent of being a child in a sweet shop. Heres another cool fact: the library tower was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed Londons famous red telephone boxes. OK, sure, exploring a tower full of Victorian pornography sounds exciting, but this exhibition sounds pretty great, too. Will Congressional Bid to Block FCC's Net Neutrality Repeal Advance? In the six months since FCC chairman Ajit Pai signed the order to repeal net neutrality protections, weve reported on a number of state bills and legal actions seeking to preserve it. But next week, on May 9th, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) will introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution in the Senate that would roll back Pais order. And a successful CRA vote would not only block the order, crucially, it would preclude any future consideration of Pai's repeal. Can it succeed? Its a long shotbut not impossible. Already 50 senators have announced their support for the measure, although it is unclear what would happen in the House. And, of course, then there is President Trump, who would likely veto the measure, despite the fact net neutrality remains broadly popular, and could be an issue for the GOP in the midterm elections. Next week, Fight for the Future will roll out its Red Alert campaign to support the CRA measure. And even if the CRA bid fails, observers note, its important. Even if Trump ultimately blocks the CRA effort, simply getting it to his desk would be a significant show of force for net neutrality advocates, reports the Verge. The last 20 years of FCC action on the issue have been about warring interpretations the Communications Act, but both sides are increasingly looking to settle the issue with new legislation. If Congress votes to uphold the Wheeler rules, thats a strong indication that whatever new law gets passed should look like the Title II rules Wheeler put in place, even if we have to wait for a new president and a new Congress to actually pass it into law. OCLCs Merrilee Proffitt Talks Wikipedia One of my favorite articles of last year was a Q&A I did with Wikipedias Jake Orlowitz, who really opened my eyes to the outstanding work and mission of Wikipedia. So next on my list of people I want to interview is Merrilee Proffitt, Senior Program Officer in OCLC Research, and a member of the Wikipedia + Libraries: Better Together project team, editor of a newly published book Leveraging Wikipedia: Connecting Communities of Knowledge (ALA Editions). Proffitt was recently elected to the steering committee of the Wikimedia and Libraries User Group, billed as a new organizational affiliate to the Wikimedia movement. And Webjunction recently posted its Q&A with Proffitt on her Wikipedia experience. "Wikipedia has brought me so much joy," Proffitt says. "This has really come in the form of people. I have met inspiring, motivating, curious people through the Wikimedia movement. People involved believe that they can change the world. So they try! And weve seen the world change as a result." Library One-Liners Facing a recent sexual assault scandal, the Swedish Academy said it would postpone the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Literature until next year. Junot Diaz is accused of sexual misconduct. There are lots of books on libraries by photographers, but heres a photographer who is also a librarian. Via Mother Jones: Cambridge Analytica Just Went Out of Business. Dont Worry, Its Owners and Executives Have Already Started a New Company. Over 2,000 AI researchers vow not to submit, edit, or review articles to closed-access journal Nature. Dont miss Buzzfeed writer Bim Adewunmis terrific piece on the three black women who are upending the romance novel industry. NextGov: 200,000 Volunteers Have Become the Fact Checkers of the Internet. A chat with Wellcome Collections Robert Bidder, the visitor experience assistant who moonlights as staff comic artist. The self-described poet laureate of Twitter has written an ode to the EU's data protection act. Professor Roy Gold (19182008) often spent his evenings doodling on the covers of the books he read; the Public Domain Review surveys the impressive collection he left behind. NPR looks into the controversy unfolding at the University of Texas over the Fine Arts library's decision to move some books into storage. 17 years later, freelance writers finally collect, and one of the lead objectors in the landmark copyright class action offers a detailed timeline. Via Gary Price at InfoDocket: New Report: Media Freedom in US Under Threat. A number of authors took to Twitter last week to accuse Junot Diaz, author of the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, of sexual harassment and other misconduct. Allegations broke last Friday, when What We Lose author Zinzi Clemmons took to the social media platform to say that Diaz [corner[ed] and forcibly kiss[ed]" her at a workshop. As a grad student, I invited Junot Diaz to speak to a workshop on issues of representation in literature. I was an unknown wide-eyed 26 yo, and he used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me. I'm far from the only one he's done this 2, I refuse to be silent anymore. zinziclemmons (@zinziclemmons) May 4, 2018 Following Clemmons's statement, authors including Carmen Maria Machado and Monica Byrne came forward with their own stories about Diaz, which revolved around his "bullying and misogyny." In a statement issued through his agent, Nicole Aragi, Diaz said: "I take responsibility for my past. That is the reason I made the decision to tell the truth of my rape and its damaging aftermath. This conversation is important and must continue. I am listening to and learning from womens stories in this essential and overdue cultural movement. We must continue to teach all men about consent and boundaries." Diaz is the latest in a string of high-profile authorsincluding Sherman Alexie, Jay Asher, and James Dashnerto be accused of misconduct following the Harvey Weinstein scandal last October and the consequent launch of the #MeToo movement. The news comes weeks after Diaz recounted his childhood history of sexual abuse in an essay for the New Yorker, and on the same day the Swedish Academy announced it would postpone the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Literature until next year due to its recent sexual assault scandal. A representative from Riverhead, which publishes Diaz's adult books, said that his publisher has "no comment at this time beyond that we continue to monitor the situation." Victoria Nelson is a writer of fiction, criticism, and memoir. Her books include Gothika and The Secret Life of Puppets, an award-winning study of the supernatural grotesque in Western culture. Nelson is the editor of the newly published Compulsory Games (perfect for fans of Poe, Kafka, and Lovecraft), which brings together stories by Robert Aickman, the master of the "strange story." As Nelson writes in her introduction to the book, "an Aickman story is a dream you never wake up from." Here are 10 scary stories recommended by Nelson. A number of these stories I came across as a teenager in the superlative Modern Library collection Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural, edited by Herbert A. Wise and Phyllis Fraser, published first in the war year 1944 and many times thereafter. 52 Stories: Over 1000 pages! the tattered cover of my copy trumpets, and I can testify that every one is a winner. Here I first made the acquaintance of Lovecraft, Blackwood, Saki, Le Fanu, the two Jameses (Henry and M.R.), and many more. Maybe reading great ghost stories is like learning a language: the younger you begin, the more deeply they imprint you? 1. "The Trains" by Robert Aickman Virtually unknown in the U.S. outside a small coterie of dedicated fans, the British writer Robert Aickman (he died in 1981) is a virtuoso of the sophisticated strange story, as he dubbed his tales. The scares in an Aickman story come not from gore or violence but from the way he perversely bends reality right before your startled eyes. Not just once but again and againand still again, all in the same story. In this little masterpiece of Gothic indirection, two young women stranded on a walking trip in the north of England seek shelter in a remote Victorian mansion adjacent to a train track. There is a handsome host, a menacing servant, a mad aunt who died mysteriously, even a murder, but all this is beside the point. The real scares come from the trains that scream loudly past every few minutes on this main, important line in the middle of nowhere and their unseen engineers, who always wave at girls. Curiously, the trains pass by less often on the third floor than on the ground level. As a child, it should be noted, Aickman liked to invent imaginary kingdoms complete with meticulously constructed railroad schedules. 2. "Three Miles Up" by Elizabeth Jane Howard One of the greatest English ghost stories ever written, this acutely observed, utterly terrifying tale is tied for first place in my affectionsand perhaps appropriately, because Howard, better known for her realist novels of upper class English life, was briefly Aickmans lover in her younger years. Together they produced the joint collection We Are for the Dark in which this tale appears. Two feckless young men rent a narrowboat for a holiday on the inland canals of England. The journey takes a left turn after a violent fight and they acquire an enigmatic young woman companion as the canal stretches on, and on, and on, until. 3. "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" by H. P. Lovecraft My all-time favorite Lovecraft story. A young man on holiday takes an unplanned detour to a seaside New England town saturated with the smell of fish. (Said to be based on the real fishing town of Gloucester; Lovecraft not coincidentally loathed that smell.) With glimpses of strange misshapen folk in alleys and doorways, he gradually learns the towns secret: the infamous Innsmouth look shared by the towns inbred inhabitantsflat noses, bulgy eyes, rough skin. Possibly a tad too long and featuring one of those irritating characters who delivers truckloads of information in an impenetrable dialect, its still a masterpiece of atmospheric horror. 4. "Casting the Runes" by M. R. James A scholar of occult lore is stalked by a sinister supernatural entity and finds the only way to undo the runic curse hes under is to physically hand it back to the person who cast it. Thats the plot in a nutshell. But the true beauties of this great story by the medievalist and former Eton headmaster lie in the delicate satire and cautionary warning to editors the world over about the perils of rejecting angry authors (especially amateur alchemists!). I sent it once as a joke to my Harvard editor and he didnt answer. Did that mean the tale scared him as much as it scared me, when I first read it? It was made into the Jacques Tourneur movie Night of the Demon, in which the studio famously had no patience with an invisible stalker and inserted a Muppet-like papier-mache creature to raise the stakes. (Not a bit scary, though I understand a few demented fans actually prefer it.) 5. "The Debutante" by Leonora Carrington The incomparable British Surrealist painter with the colorful lifedaughter of a wealthy industrialist, lover of Max Ernst when she was 19, imprisoned in a mental asylum in Spain, escaping to spend most of the rest of her life in Mexicois best known for her fantastical art. She also wrote seven volumes of fiction (including the not-to-be-missed alchemical novella The Hearing Trumpet). This story, now available in a new collected edition of Carringtons work, concerns a reluctant debutante who likes to visit a hyena at the zoo, her only friend. When it comes time for the dreaded ball, the debutante begs the hyena to go in her place, arguing that they are almost the same size, plus people dont see well in the evening light. To disguise its face, they agree, the hyena must kill her maid and use the maids face as a maskthis is only, the debutante assures us, because she hates dancing so much. The hyena kills the maid, goes to the ball wearing her face, and(Here I am trying to make up for all the other spoilers on this list, but read the other Carrington stories if you already feel this one has been ruined for you. They are also worthyand scary.) 6. "Ancient Sorceries" by Algernon Blackwood Only now do I realize this is the twin of The Shadow over Innsmouth: A stranger journeys to a remote town where the dark secret the inhabitants hide is that they are part human, part something else. This is exactly what the Englishman Arthur Vezin discovers in the French hill town where he is vacationing. Long ago the inhabitants made a deal with the Devil and as a result they turn into a different sort of creature at nightin this case a species more appealing to Blackwood (and to me) than fish were to Lovecraft; the Innsmouth look in this town is distinctly feline. Favorite tagline: a cause du sommeil et a cause du chats! 7. "The Wendigo" by Algernon Blackwood Undoubtedly dated and colonial in its attitudes, this story of a cannibal Algonquin entity that embodies the northern Canadian wilderness still retains its ability to deeply scare. A hunting party of white men penetrates the virgin forest only to have their French Canadian guide swallowed up by it and spit back out uncannily altered. Favorite tagline: the guides disembodied wails, heard from high overhead, Oh! oh! This fiery height! My feet of fire! My burning feet of fire! Hes the prey of a giant moss-eating invisible creature that thumps and jumps hundreds of feet in the air, smells like a lion, anddo I need to say it? does not wish humans well. 8. "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu This truly subversive erotic tale of a lesbian vampire stalking her innocent prey has Le Fanus trademark magisterial pacing that gives the mounting horror a sense of utter inexorability. The charming Elizabeth Karnstein oh so gradually insinuates herself into the affections of the sheltered young narrator until the final consummationwith death by violence the replacement, as in most horror stories, for sexual climax. But the feeling lingers on! Besides the daring undertones for a story published in 1871, one of the great ironies is that Le Fanu originally set his story in the wilds of Ireland. His editor, however, judged that an Eastern European setting provided the right exotic atmosphere, and so County Mayo became the Austro-Hungarian province of Styria. I have always loved the vampires anagrammatically changing names: Millarca, Mircalla, Carmilla. 9. "A Terribly Strange Bed" by Wilkie Collins When my university library got renovated with those space-saving accordion-style stacks on wheels that crank open and shut, it unwittingly opened up the same opportunity for murder that the Victorian Gothic writer Wilkie Collins presented in his tale of a drunken Englishman staying overnight in a room above a Parisian gambling den after he has hit the jackpot. He awakens in the night to discover the top of the canopied four poster he is sleeping in only inches above his face and still coming down. In our stacksthink vertical now instead of horizontalwhen the invisible person three rows down impatiently begins cranking, only a sharp cry can avert disaster. And you know how grudges accumulate in university departments! What is being already considered the wedding of the year will be live broadcast across Latin America by Hola! TV. On May 19, the pay-TV network will cover the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle beginning one hour before the event. The channel's correspondent will be on hand at Windsor Castle, along with experts back at Hola! TV studios in Miami.Following the coverage of the event that day, La Hora Hola! Special Edition will offer a complete analysis with experts and the day's highlights. A royal theme will run throughout all of May on the network with specials on other British royal weddings and other monarchies, programmes spotlighting the couple's lives, and wedding-themed fashion and movies.We plan to surprise viewers with an offer they won't find anywhere else. The royal wedding of Prince Harry and the actress Meghan Markle has turned into a world-wide phenomenon and we'll be the best ones to tell others about it: live broadcast, analysis, experts, and, ultimately, the unique style of a brand that sets us apart. Our coverage is set to be the most reliable choice for those who cannot attend as guests of the big wedding of the year, said Marcos Perez, CEO and GM of Hola! TV! A large explosion aboard the USS Lexington is seen in this May 1942 photo taken by a U.S. navy employee. U.S. Navy In May 1942, the Second World War was expanding across the Pacific. An Imperial Japanese navy invasion fleet was steaming toward Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. To protect that amphibious force, Japan sent the aircraft carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku to patrol the adjacent Coral Sea. The United States navy carriers Lexington and Yorktown sailed out to meet them. The opposing carriers fought each other on May 8, 1942 in the Battle of the Coral Sea. American bomber aircraft heavily damaged Shokaku. The Japanese planes were more successful: Yorktown was disabled and Lexington eventually sank. (Its wreck was recently discovered.) However, the fierce fighting caused the Japanese invasion fleet to turn around. That saved Port Moresby. U.S. Navy This was the first carrier-versus-carrier battle in history. Tactically, it was a Japanese win. But preventing the invasion was a key success for the American-Australian alliance. The outcome also kept Shokaku and Zuikaku out of the decisive Battle of Midway one month later. Consequently, the Battle of the Coral Sea is still commemorated in Australia and the U.S. each year. But were those results certain to happen? If either side had made different decisions, could the battle have turned out differently? If so, how? I investigated those historical questions using two mathematical studies. I began each one by calibrating a math model with historical data to reproduce the battles results. (The model was originally created for naval missile combat.) I then adjusted the models inputs to reflect different decisions by the U.S. and Japanese navies. The models outputs estimated the battles new outcome. (I later used this approach to study Picketts Charge at Gettysburg and the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.) More fighters? My research asked several counterfactual or what if? questions. For example, one-quarter of American aircraft at Coral Sea were fighters. (The rest were dive bombers and torpedo bombers.) The fighter proportion grew to almost two-thirds by 1944. That trend gave carriers stronger defences but less offensive power. What if U.S. carriers at Coral Sea had likewise carried two-thirds fighters and one-third bombers? The model suggests this would have left the Americans worse off. They wouldve suffered slightly less damage themselves but inflicted much less damage on the Japanese. That would have hindered the Americans during any subsequent exchange of airstrikes. Sail apart? The U.S. carriers sailed together during the battle. But what if they had separated, as some American officers had advised? Travelling together, carriers can share fighter cover for mutual protection. But sailing separately, one might avoid detection if the other is attacked. My calculations indicate that separating the carriers would have slightly improved the Americans results: One carrier sunk, but one left unharmed. (This assumes the separated carriers could have still coordinated their attacks.) However, this tactic condemns the detected carrier to certain destruction. Sailing together gave a small chance of both surviving. Extra ships? What if the U.S. had added another carrier? Two were busy executing the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, led by Lt.-Col. James Jimmy Doolittle of the U.S. air force. By cancelling that raid, America could have sent one or both to the Coral Sea. My model estimates a third U.S. carrier would have boosted Japanese losses. But it wouldnt have reduced American losses much. In fact, it would have exposed more U.S. ships to attack. Four carriers would have given the U.S. a 95 per cent chance of destroying both Japanese ships. But that would have tied up its entire Pacific carrier fleet in one place. And it still wouldnt have reduced American losses much. Attack first? On the morning of the battle, each navy frantically searched for its opponent. Since they found each other around the same time, their attacks occurred simultaneously. But if one side had remained undetected, it would have struck first. Only the survivors on the other side could have counterattacked, much like at Midway. What if that had happened at Coral Sea? Calculations show striking first would have been decisive for either side. It would have been even better than having an extra carrier. The other sides survivors would have been too weak to counter-attack effectively. Both sides were right to pursue that goal. Strategic implications This research examined several plausible alternative decisions for the Coral Sea fight. It confirmed the battle easily could have turned out differently. The alternate outcome would have had an impact on the larger war. For example, suppose the Americans had succeeded in attacking first. Lexington and Yorktown likely would have taken minimal damage. That could have given the U.S. a larger margin of safety defending Midway one month later. Shokaku and Zuikaku likely would have sunk, putting the Japanese farther behind in carriers after Midway. That might have shortened the Pacific war. Conversely, a Japanese first strike would have been disastrous for the United States and Australia. With both American carriers neutralized, Japan would have captured Port Moresby. Both Shokaku and Zuikaku then could have supported the Midway invasion, giving Japan an overwhelming advantage there. These results remind us that aircraft carriers are both powerful and fragile. Analysts have discussed that contradiction since carriers first arrived. They continue to discuss their pros and cons now in the era of anti-ship cruise missiles. Michael J. Armstrong, Associate professor of operations research, Goodman School of Business, Brock University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Mexico's 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. At least 158 Central Americans who traveled in a migrant caravan through Mexico have crossed into the United States this week to seek asylum, organizers said Thursday. DHS officials have previously told Breitbart News that there is no way for the agency to ensure that border-crossers and asylum-seekers with the caravan are not released into the U.S. The group estimates 70 migrants remain at camps and shelters on the Mexican side of the border. They also know that the process of vetting those seeking asylum could take as little as three months or as long as five years. The total of caravan migrants allowed into the US to request asylum has risen to 158 since last weekend On Monday, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions beefed up legal resources on the border, including more prosecutors and judges, to handle the groups of people from the caravan. But migrants from this caravan are at a port of entry and asking for asylum. Customs and Border Protection in San Ysidro, according to media reports from Tijuana. Undeterred, the migrants began trickling into Tijuana in mid-April, and hundreds more have arrived in the weeks since. To deal with the existing backlog of cases, 18 supervising immigration judges are being assigned to hear cases in immigration courts near the border, both in person and through video teleconferencing. USA border officials had allowed through only small groups at a time, saying the busy San Ysidro crossing to San Diego was saturated and the rest must be patient. RED Improves Hydrogen One Smartphone And Then Delays It A few months ago RED added 3D cameras front and back to HYDROGEN so users could shoot 3D and convert to 4V without a module. We've learned quite a lot about RED's Hydrogen One smartphone over the past year and now we just want it in our hands. RBA cash rate held again at 1.5 per cent And while the bank had expected the lift in jobs to translate into stronger wages growth that has yet to eventuate. Lowe believes this will likely last for a while, as a stronger economy requires momentum. Coke sets up incubator to fast-track products Separately, the company announced the launch of Aquarius Glucocharge , a ready-todrink glucose beverage with fruit juice, on Thursday. Russias General Staff has a long-established interest in automatizing and enhancing command and control, which has shown remarkable advances since the reform of the Armed Forces was initiated in 2008. These changes, propelled forward by recent experience of combat operations in Ukraine and Syria, are also closing the gap between military theory and Russian military capability. Growing confidence in these advancescoupled with implementing command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) approaches to modern combat operations, theoretical discussions and experimentation in the fieldwere exemplified by a series of threats to the United States and its allies ahead of their April 14 precision strikes on Syrias chemical weapons program (see EDM, April 16, 19). Russias threats to target enemy platforms and missiles in certain circumstances, the great care taken in the conduct of the allied strikes, aspects of the Russian disinformation campaign that followed, as well as developments in Russian C2 disruption theory are all important indicators that Moscow has formed a credible stand-off strike capability (Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier, April 24). Concerning the success or failure of the April 14 missile strikes on Syria, the cycle of claims and counter-narratives is well-known: While the U.S., France and the United Kingdom claim success in destroying the designated targets, Moscow and Damascus argue that most missiles were intercepted. The official position of Russias defense ministry is that over 60 percent of the missiles were shot down, despite widely publicized aerial before-and-after-images of the target sites that suggest otherwise. Some Moscow-based defense specialists contended that the purported failure of the strikes not only shows that older Russian air defense systems in Syria remain potent and robust, but the entire episode calls into question U.S. and Western approaches to non-contact warfare. It was also argued that the details of the U.S.-UK-French strikes and the Syrian/Russian response would result in a widespread rethinking on the nature of anti-access, area denial capability (A2/AD). Russian experts were keen to stress that the failure of these strikes confirmed the strength of Russias A2/AD capability and its integrated approaches to layered air defense (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, April 20; Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier, Gazeta.ru, April 16). Nonetheless, one critical article in Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier sought to move away from discussing the success or failure of the allied operation and instead assessed some of the technical aspects of the strikes. This approach appears to confirm the extent to which the Western powers took seriously the threat of a retaliatory strike by Moscow, de facto recognizing that the presence of Russian military forces and assets significantly complicates operational planning (Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier, April 16). According to the author, unlike the unilateral U.S. attack on al-Shayrat airbase in April 2016, the recent strikes required close coordination, greater attention to planning for possible retaliation, more use of reconnaissance assets, and careful avoidance of either activating Russian air defense in Syria or risking a Russian retaliatory strike. This was illustrated by a number of factors. In the hours before the strikes, the U.S. strategic unmanned reconnaissance RQ-4 Global Hawk flew off the coast of Lebanon, and the reconnaissance effort was augmented by reported unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights in international waters north of Egypt. Also, above the Mediterranean Sea, a U.S. Air Force E-11A appeared in order to synchronize the work of automated C4ISR at strategic, operational and tactical levels. The aircraft flew from Kandahar, Afghanistan. The allied air grouping was accompanied by a number of refueling tankers, which were not necessary for the operation but appear to have been a contingency for a real air battle (Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier, April 16). The author also argued that most of the precision strikes were from the southwest, using a route over the territory of Lebanon with an additional route along the Syrian-Jordanian border. His article continued by highlighting the geography of the location of the naval grouping in the attack. He noted a destroyer and frigate operating from the Red Sea, and the destroyer USS Higgins in the Persian Gulf, while in the Mediterranean Sea, only the French frigate Languedoc and the U.S. submarine John Warner operated. He made no mention of the reported cat-and-mouse activity between the UK Royal Navy and Russian submarines in the Mediterranean Sea. But the author assessed that the naval assets in the allied attack were kept well back from the strike range of Russian military assets in the region. The Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier author concluded that the Pentagon took the threat of a Russian retaliatory strike seriously and factored this into operational planning (Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier, April 16). If one accepts that the allied strikes on Syrian targets were carefully planned to avoid any Russian military response, then this presumably confirms Russian military advances in C4ISR as well as Russias ability to act, react and conduct credible conventional stand-off strikes when required. Recent advances in automatizing Russian C2 are being further advanced by theorists in the General Staff, and operational experience against (albeit less technologically advanced) adversaries in Ukraine and Syria are driving this process. The theory and practice gap is clearly narrowing (Voyennaya Mysl, September 2017, pp. 4350). Equally, Russian military theorists are actively working on the development of enemy C2 disruption theory. In one article in Voyennaya Mysl, the authors framed their ideas for disrupting enemy C2 on the basis that an information confrontation on the battlefield transforms into a conflict to gain superiority in C2. In this sense, the Russian General Staff is not only thinking about an information-contested battlespace, but also how to gain C2 superiority over enemy forces. The authors confirm that, in kinetic contact with a high-technology adversary, Moscow will target enemy C4ISR with a range of assets, including strike systems and electronic warfare (EW), to disrupt and attempt to achieve superiority (Voyennaya Mysl, September 2017, pp. 6569). Syria has proved to be a testing ground for many Russian military systems and advances as well as for experiments in its approaches toward modern warfare. Equally, Syria has now become an illustration of Russias entry into a network-enabled warfare capability with non-contact precision strike at its heart. Russian threats to target allied platforms may well have heavily influenced Western target selection and other operational details during the April 14 strike. But the willingness to resort to hard power against the U.S. and its allies, if genuine, indicates a level of confidence in Moscow about conventional capability and escalation control. Clearly, following the April 14 strikes, the possibility of Russian retaliatory strikes may complicate and limit U.S. military power projection in the future. Roger N. McDermott specializes in Russian and Central Asian defense and security issues and is a Senior Fellow in Eurasian Military Studies, The Jamestown Foundation, Washington DC, Senior International Research Fellow for the Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO), Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Affiliated Senior Analyst, Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen. This article appeared originally at the Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor. The number of immigrants added to the labor force every year is of a magnitude not seen in this country for over a century, one American president wrote. And Donald Trump has been branded a racist and fear-monger for similar remarks. But the words above came from a different president Barack Obama, in his book The Audacity of Hope. Appealing to Americas working class, he went on: If this huge influx of mostly low-skill workers provides some benefits to the economy as a whole especially by keeping our workforce young, it also threatens to depress further the wages of blue-collar Americans and put strains on an already overburdened safety net. Today, the mainstream media and the left excoriate Trump for warning about the caravan of would-be illegal immigrants that made its way through Mexico to Americas southern border. But back then Obama could say, with nary a whisper of protest, Not all your fears are irrational in regard to illegals crossing that border. And he wasnt wrong. But black America is being taught instead to fear Trump while ignoring the adverse impact that illegal immigration has visited on our communities. I often hear anger, embarrassment and frustration, especially from black audiences, when they first encounter the facts on this issue. Anger over how long they had been led astray; embarrassment for having echoed those false narratives; and frustration that nobody seems willing to report the facts. The facts include these: Illegals constitute 5 percent of federal murder convictions, 30 percent of federal kidnapping convictions and 18 percent of federal drug trafficking convictions in this country. Many blacks and liberal whites who take in these numbers begin to realize the unfair playing field which they have willingly, albeit ignorantly, helped to create by supporting candidates that carve out entire states or cities to hide and protect those that are in the United States illegally. Blacks are being adversely impacted by the failed policies of the men and women that they have unwisely elected. Often, instead of hearing the clarion call of Dr. Martin Luther King to never judge an individual by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, they continue to elect individuals whose only interest is to keep them on the plantation called ignorance, while they cloak themselves in the garments of emancipators. Lastly, I appeal to every American who happens to be white: Please stop being afraid to speak the truth concerning the issues that are destroying all of us as Americans. This is what those in my family and I assume in yours have fought wars for. Let not their sacrifice be undone because of political correctness and soft bigotry. Donald Trump's shake-up of his legal team this week suggested he is prepared to go to war with special counsel Robert Mueller. As observers of all stripes assess potential outcomes for the president, Republican voters are cheering Trump on, signaling that the longer the investigation continues, the more they see themselves as fellow soldiers in his battle with an overreaching prosecutor. The Trump-Mueller clash is intensifying as primary voters head to the polls in key races that will ultimately shape the balance of power in Congress. Candidates seeking the Republican nomination next week for U.S. Senate seats in West Virginia and Indiana, for example, have been echoing Trump's "witch hunt" rhetoric. And party strategists say base voters could be motivated not just through the primary season but into the general election by the continued investigation, which they perceive to have ventured beyond its mandate -- and was possibly unwarranted in the first place. "This is a battle between the forces of permanent Washington and the forces of voters outside of Washington," said Dallas Woodhouse, the executive director of the Republican Party of North Carolina. "Voters see themselves in this fight with the president. ... They do not like being told by the Democrats that they are gullible and stupid and manipulated by the Russians." The Mueller probe has produced over a dozen indictments, including guilty pleas from Trump associates for lying to investigators, and the administration has approved new sanctions against Russia amid evidence of election meddling cited by the Justice Department. But reports this week of wide-ranging questions that the special counsel has prepared for the president himself appeared to bolster complaints from Trump supporters and allies that the probe has metastasized. There really are two worlds: There's the population at large who think Mueller's investigation should continue, and Republican primary voters who think it's a witch hunt," said Nick Everhart, a Republican consultant in Ohio, which hosts primaries for key U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races on Tuesday. Bottom line: Trump's message is not falling on deaf ears. This is a really potent issue and GOP primary voters believe him. " Over a year into the Mueller investigation, recent polling shows not only an increasing partisan divide in views of the special counsel but also a dip in the general public's thinking about the probe. A Monmouth University poll released Tuesday found that 54 percent of voters support continuing the investigation, down from 60 percent in March. Meanwhile, 43 percent said the investigation should end, compared with 37 percent two months ago. And a Quinnipiac survey last week found that 54 percent of voters believed Mueller was conducting a fair investigation, down four points from March and six points from November. Similarly, a NPR/PBS/Marist survey in mid-April found 45 percent of voters believe the special counsel is conducting a fair investigation, down three points from March and eight from February. The poll also found unfavorable views of Mueller increasing from March to April among Republicans as well as independent voters, by 19 points and nine points, respectively. Only 16 percent of Republicans view Mueller favorably, as do 35 percent of independents. "The American people have shown a lack of tolerance for ever-lasting, on-going investigations. And if the '90s are any guide, it bleeds past partisan lines," said Republican strategist Josh Holmes, referring to the independent counsel investigation into then-President Bill Clinton. And for Republican voters, "the investigation is omnipresent in their world," Holmes said, noting the saturation of coverage by the media and the president's prolific tweets on the subject. "That's the center of the motivation for conservative primary voters. ... They feel like the fix is in." In Indiana, Rep. Todd Rokita sees the Mueller probe as a way to gain an edge over his Republican rivals Rep. Luke Messer and businessman Mike Braun in their party's U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday. Rokita (pictured) introduced a resolution on Thursday pushing for Mueller's investigation to be shut down if the special counsel does not provide evidence of Russian collusion with Trump associates within 30 days. "For many Americans, this investigation looks more like an attempt by the Washington elite to destroy President Trump with innuendo, leaks, and baseless allegations than to provide justice," said Rokita. The congressman also released an ad this week centered on the special counsel. "Theyre using Fake News to destroy our president, the narrator says. Whos tough enough to stop the witch hunt?" In a debate last month, all three candidates agreed that the investigation should come to a conclusion soon. GOP candidates in West Virginia's Senate primary, which also takes place Tuesday, have expressed similar sentiments. "Its a witch hunt," said Attorney General Patrick Morrisey during last week's debate. "I have seen the witch hunt that has gone after this administration," said Rep. Evan Jenkins. "The Democrats cant give up on the results of 2016. Theyre fighting this administration each and every day." And former mining executive Don Blankenship, who served jail time for his role in a disaster that killed 29 people, accused the Department of Justice of being dishonest. "Its one of those things where when you know what really goes on in the Department of Justice, you wonder where this country is going," he said. The president's disparagement of the DOJ, to which the special counsel reports, might also be having an impact on voters. The April NPR/PBS/Marist survey, for example, found that while 61 percent said the FBI was acting fairly, that number marked a 10-point dip since February. Put another way: 31 percent say the FBI is biased compared to 23 percent who shared that view three months ago. The numbers are even starker among Republicans, 56 percent of whom say the FBI is biased, up 16 points since February, according to the analysis from NPR. "GOP voters absolutely believe the president is getting wronged, and they trust him more," said Everhart, the Ohio consultant. "He's convinced them what he is saying is happening." Even Republican candidates who aren't facing primary challenges argue that the Mueller investigation has reached its sell-by date. "I am concerned that this is dragging on and on," Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, who is running against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, told reporters on Thursday. "He needs to come forward with the evidence he has -- evidence that I expect will exonerate the president, based on everything weve seen. But look, lets have it. He needs to get on with it here. It is taxpayers who are paying for this." Meanwhile, polling shows an increase in Democrats' positive views of Mueller and confidence in the probe, and outside groups are fundraising off petitions to protect the special counsel. But party strategists caution against making the Russia investigation a focal point of their campaigns. "It is sad and frightening that the president is flouting the legal process like this, but for Democrats, we can't make this election about Donald Trump's trial," Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign manager, Robby Mook, said on CNN. "Fixating on Russia and this investigation isn't a winning message. We've got to stay focused on drive our own message." While the probe appears to be having an impact on primary voters, whether and how the investigation, if continued, will shape the electorate in November remains to be seen. "The more important question is if or how this affects turnout in swing states, like Nevada, which has critically important races coming up this November," said Nevada Republican consultant Robert Uithoven. "Does the endless pursuit of this matter help fuel an intensity gap that benefits Democrats, or does it backfire and motivate Trump supporters to turn out in a midterm that they may have otherwise slept through?" James Arkin contributed to this report In much of southern and East Africa, opposition parties don't have the widespread support they need for the governing parties to take them seriously. In countries like South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, they compete against the parties formed by liberation movements which now dominate their political arenas as powerful ruling parties. In other countries, they simply don't have the money to launch large-scale campaigns. Even worse, in some places, like Swaziland (or eSwatini as it's now known), they cannot even organize without being harassed. Despite regular elections, South Africa's Maimane thinks democracy is under siege in the region. It is why he and others founded the United African Partnership for Democratic Change (UAPDC). The organization is a coalition of African opposition parties who aim to support each other and multiparty politics in their respective countries. Maimanebest known as the leader of South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Allianceis the current chair of the organization. So far, the partnership hasn't found strength in numbers, though. It looks more like a carnival than a revolution. Instead of burning tyres and mounting barricades, young people wrap themselves in Armenian flags, dance in the streets and block the roads by playing volleyball or simply sitting on carpets. On the morning of a general strike, a five-year-old boy drove a toy car with an Armenian flag through an empty street. In the evening, vast construction trucks loaded with students drove and hooted through Yerevan. But behind the street theatre lies a velvet revolution led by a young generation of Armenians against an old guard who have controlled the country since its independence in 1991. Their victory is not yet complete, but their anticipation of success seems likely to be self-fulfilling. On May 1st, in an attempt to hold out, the ruling party blocked the election as prime minister by parliament of Nikol Pashinian, the leader of a three-week-old protest that has galvanised the entire former Soviet republic of some 3m people. A dozen pro-government MPs desperately tried to discredit him as a dangerous anti-Russia candidate, unacceptable to the Kremlin, which has a tight economic and military grip over Armenia. But Moscow was silent, confident of its strategic hold on Armenia and unwilling to back the losing side. The atmosphere was fraught leading up to President Donald Trump's meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan at Mar-a-Lago in mid-April. Abe's government was unhappy over a range of issues, including the US refusal to exempt Japan from steel tariffs and what Tokyo perceived as the danger of Trump making a deal with North Korea jeopardizing Japanese security. As it happened, however, trade took a backseat at the talks, and that was a good thing for both countries. Athens, GA (30605) Today Thunderstorms early giving way to steady, occasionally heavy rain after midnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Thunderstorms early giving way to steady, occasionally heavy rain after midnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Locally heavy rainfall possible. 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. 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 File photo HARTFORD Shackling female inmates during labor will now be illegal in Connecticut, the General Assembly decided Thursday. The House voted unanimously, with two members absent, to pass a bill prohibiting this practice. The bill, proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, also requires the Department of Correction to provide inmates with feminine hygiene products, establish child-friendly visitation policies, give pregnant inmates prenatal and postpartum care and develop a policy for caring for transgender prisoners. DOC already does some of these things, but the bill codifies them into law. Danske Bank Chief Executive Officer Thomas Borgen apologized for management's failure to prevent criminals from using his firm to launder billions of dollars in illicit funds over several years. The apology follows an unusually harsh public reprimand by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. The Danish government said the failings were "unforgivable," and the central bank warned that the nation's reputation was at risk. "I'm very sorry on behalf of all stakeholders," Danske CEO Thomas Borgen said in a phone interview. He said the bank is "in a very different place today" with more focus on preventing money laundering. The FSA said Thursday that Danske's management failed to comply with rules on multiple counts. The assessment followed reports by the Berlingske newspaper that Danske was used as a laundromat by criminals including entities with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian security service, FSB, and members of the Azeri regime. The money laundering, alleged to have taken place between 2010 to 2014, was done via Danske's operations in Estonia, which have since been terminated. "It's no doubt that we should have understood the depth and the breadth of the issues in Estonia better, faster than we did," Borgen said. The failures led to reputational damage for not only Denmark's biggest lender but the entire financial sector of its home country, the FSA said. "This was a massive failure for years," Jesper Berg, the director general of the Financial Supervisory Authority in Copenhagen, said in a phone interview Thursday. The failures penetrated all levels of the organization across the executive and supervisory board, and reflected "a cultural issue of not bringing problems up through the system." FSA gave Danske a list of orders and reprimands, including a requirement that it hold additional capital. Danske has until June 30 to show how it will comply. The regulator stopped short of demanding that actions be brought against members of Danske's current management team but signaled that the decision wasn't necessarily final. Berg said the FSA didn't find "sufficient evidence that, if we believe there were a court case, that we could win the court case, and that is the requirement for us." "If there's new information that justifies bringing a court case or reporting to the police, then we will revisit these decisions," Berg said. Henrik Ramlau-Hansen, a former chief financial officer at Danske who became chairman of the board of the Danish regulator, is stepping down to ensure there are no conflict-of-interest issues at the FSA. "I acknowledge my share of responsibility," he said. Borgen, 54, acknowledged that the bank failed to act fast enough as the problems emerged but repeatedly made clear his job isn't on the line. Chairman Ole Andersen told local newswire Ritzau he still has confidence in the CEO. "As the CEO, you are ultimately responsible," Borgen said. "That's a fact. It's important to learn from this case and ensure it won't happen again. With the support of the board, that's my task going forward." The FSA noted that "Danske Bank has historically not lived up to its obligations" about anti-money laundering. The agency pointed to a period from the end of 2012 to November 2013 when Danske didn't have a person responsible for anti-money laundering operations, despite this being a legal requirement. The regulator criticized Danske for failing to terminate dealings with clients it knew were tainted. "Despite knowledge of the customer's incorrect financial reporting, the branch maintained the customer relationship for more than one year," it said. The FSA said the money laundering breaches related to non-resident accounts using Danske's Estonian operations. The regulator also noted that "in the period up until June 2012, the bank's current CEO was the person on the executive board responsible for the branch." In July 2013, a correspondent bank that the FSA didn't identify by name ended its cooperation with Danske's Estonian branch over concerns about non-resident customers. A year later, Danske finally decided to start terminating those operations, a process that took another two years. Berg said the fact that it took so long suggests that "economic considerations obviously played a role," rather than a clear focus on preventing money laundering as quickly as possible. Among the orders given to Danske by the regulator is a requirement to hold an additional $803 million (5 billion kroner) in capital. Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen said on Thursday that the government may also be able to confiscate any profits that can be traced back to the money laundering, according to Ritzau. Sasja Beslik, the head of sustainable investing at Nordea Bank AB, said he's "not planning any action" on the funds' holdings of Danske shares, after assurances from the bank it is taking the necessary steps to deal with the matter. Beslik said he welcomed the regulator's response, including the financial penalty. Borgen said, "This is a time for reflection. When you're the CEO, it is ultimately my responsibility and I have to look into what I should and could have done differently. That's something I need to bring with me going forward." 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. Youth can apply for summer jobs TORRINGTON The Torrington Area Youth Service Bureau and the City of Torrington runs the 2018 Summer Youth Employment program, funded through the Connecticut Department of Labors Regional Workforce Investment Board. Summer jobs are available for youth between age 14-21. Eligibility is based on meeting income requirements (free/reduced lunch, or other documentation from federal tax returns or benefits received from DSS), youth in DCFs foster care system, or youth who have been identified as a special education student. Youth who worked in the program in the past are eligible to reapply along with new applicants. The program runs for 6 weeks and participants are paid $10.10 per hour for up to 20 hours a week. Youth will be placed in various businesses, non-profit agencies, and work crews around the greater Torrington Area. Applications can be downloaded at taysb.org or contact the Torrington Area Youth Service Bureau @ 496-0356 Ext 3. Completed packets should be returned to the Torrington Area Youth Service Bureau, 8 Church St., Torrington until May 17. Park and Rec holding summer programs TORRINGTON The Parks and Recreation Department is offering the Summer Action and Adventure Program, open to children ages 4-12. The Action Program is for children from age 4 to third grade, and \will be based at Pleasant View Park on Durand Street. The Adventure Program is for children entering grades 4-8 in the fall, and will be based at Major Besse Park on Riverside Avenue. This program will run for seven weeks, Monday-Friday, from July 2 through August 17 9 a.m-4 p.m, with the option of Before Care and/or After Care for an additional fee. There are several packages available to meet the varying needs of participants and families. Families can sign up for two week sessions of camp or select a package that covers the whole summer. Each two week session includes all activities, visits to the municipal pool, and field trips to varied destinations. Daily activities will include arts and crafts, sports, group games, onsite visits from local organizations, visits to the municipal pool and other activities. Weekly field trips will feature visits to Lake Compounce, State Parks, Quassy Waterpark, and more. The Summer Action and Adventure Registration Forms, list of fees, and calendar of activities is available on the Parks and Recreation Website at https://torringtonct.myrec.com. For more information, call 860-489-2274. Summer Arts Program enrollment now open TORRINGTON Each summer, the Warner Theatre Center For Arts Education offers three exciting opportunities for arts education and enrichment for young people ages 5-16, through the Summer Arts Program. Learn all about the ins and outs of theatre and have a chance to perform in one of our summer productions. Sessions are offered to ages 5-16 and begin on July 9. Session 1 (July 9-20, ages 7-12) A two-week theatrical journey for our younger campers, brimming with music, acting and choreography and culminating in a full-scale production of Disneys The Aristocats Kids in the Warner Studio Theatre! Based on the beloved Disney animated film and featuring a jazzy, upbeat score, it is a non-stop thrill ride of feline fun, complete with unbelievable twists and turns. Session 2 (July 23-August 3, ages 7-12) Each camp day provides plenty of artistic expression: Acting, Improvisation, Dance, Music, Visual Art, Creative Writing, Crafts, Tech Theatre, and more! Plus a field trip to Lake Compounce theme park. An informal Share Day for family and friends wraps up this fun-filled session. Session 3 (August 6-18, ages 9-16) A whirlwind two-week theatrical adventure for our older campers as we conduct intensive rehearsals brimming with music, acting, and choreography, culminating in a full-scale production of Disneys Mulan Jr. in the Warner Studio Theatre! Based on Disneys Oscar-nominated film, it is a heartwarming celebration of culture, honor and the fighting spirit. A special mini-camp, a convenient one-week half-day sessions for younger campers, is a great way to introduce the fun and exciting world of creative drama, arts and crafts, song and dance. Includes a special field trip to KidsPlay Childrens Museum, as well as a special Share Day performance for family and friends. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. For more information or to register, call the WTCAE at 860-489-7180 x 148 or visit warnertheatre.org. The Summer Arts Program is sponsored by XL Catlin, Lake Compounce and All-Star Transportation. Torrington Parks and Recreation offers babysitting classes TORRINGTON Torrington Parks and Recreation Department is holding two Babysitting classes in May, Babysitter Safety 101 on May 12 and Babysitter Safety 102 on May 19. Babysitter Safety 101 on May 12 runs from 1-4 p.m. This class is for future babysitters, ages 10-15, and will be held at the Torrington Armory. Instructed by Life Safe Services, the course will enable babysitters to safely watch over babies and younger children. This is an introductory course intended to teach age appropriate skills necessary to care for children of all ages using team babysitting, mothers helper and individual babysitting concepts. The course focuses on safety with emphasis on prevention. Basic first aid and obstructed airway management for a conscious choking adult/child and infant will be covered. Other topics include hand washing, diapering, bottle feeding, personal safety and interview skills. Babysitter Safety 102 Class on May 19, runs from 1-4 p.m. This course is designed for the older sitter, 12 to 16 or more years of age, who previously attended an introductory class with an interest in advanced concepts and skills of First Aid, including CPR certification. Building on the basic skills from Babysitter Safety 101, objectives for this scenario-based, expanded course includes additional First Aid concepts and adult/child and infant CPR. It requires written and skills tests to receive 2-year certification. Students must have taken Babysitter 101 or a similar class. A minimum of 10 participants is required to run each class and a maximum of 15 will be accepted. The fee for each class is $63. Register in advance at the Parks and Recreation Department located at 153 South Main Street. Call 860-489-2274 for more information. Annual Spring Power-Up set in Kent KENT The CT Antique Machinery Association (CAMA) presents its Spring Power-Up, a celebration of the machinery that made America great, May 5-6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Giant steam engines, a steam locomotive, gas engines, farm tractors: CAMAs collection of steam and gas powered machinery will be in full operation on this day. Vendors will be selling a variety of old machinery, engines and tools. CAMAs museum campus on RTE 7 just north of Kent center, contains not just the largest collection of operating industrial steam engines in the state, but also separate collections devoted to large and small internal combustion engines, farm tractors and agricultural machinery, a narrow gauge railroad featuring Hawaii Railway Co. #5, a restored and operational 1925 steam locomotive, the CT Museum of Mining and Mineral Science, the historic Cream Hill Agricultural School, an operating blacksmith shop, and an operating sawmill exhibit. 12 exhibit buildings on 8 acres. For information call 860-927-0050 or check our website www.ctamachinery.com. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday slammed a call by a former leader of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) for voters to boycott the countrys upcoming general ballot, saying that it was a violation of electoral law. Earlier, former CNRP President Sam Rainsy, who is living in self-imposed exile to avoid a string of convictions widely seen as politically motivated, reiterated a call he made last week, urging Cambodias voters to boycott the July 29 elections if the party is not allowed to participate. In a four-minute video posted on his Facebook page on Friday, Sam Rainsy said that the CNRP, which was dissolved by the Supreme Court in November for its alleged role in a plot to topple Hun Sens government, is the only party fighting for democratic change in Cambodia, and that CNRP supporters and activists should stay away from the polls to refrain from legitimizing the election. Hun Sen responded with a Facebook post of his own, saying that 21 political parties are in the process of registering for the election, and stressing the importance of voting in the polls, which he called the right of every citizen of a multi-party liberal democracy. Propagandizing citizens against voting violates the laws of the country, as stated in Article 142 of Cambodias Criminal Code, he added, without providing additional details. In December, Cambodias National Election Committee (NEC)the nations top electoral bodywarned of 5-20 million-riel fines (U.S. $1,240-$4,950) and other criminal punishment for those sowing distrust of the election after RFAs Khmer Service reported on low turnout for voter registration following the dissolution of the CNRP. Political analyst Hang Vitou told RFA on Friday that Hun Sen was wrong to issue threats in response to calls for boycotting the election, saying that the country is in the midst of a political crisis that his government refuses to resolve. He also questioned the legitimacy of Article 142, noting that certain laws were pushed through by a single partya reference to CNRP lawmakers boycotting a vote on amendments to the countrys electoral laws they saw as unjust. The CNRP received more than 3 million votesaccounting for nearly half of the countrys registered votersin Cambodias 2013 general election, and enjoyed similar success in last years commune ballot, making it the only legitimate challenger to the CPP ahead of July. Hun Sens recent crackdown on the opposition, as well as on NGOs and independent media, is widely seen as part of a bid to ensure that his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) remains in power for another term following Julys election and extends his 33-year rule of the country. NEC campaign Also on Friday, the NEC kicked off a nationwide campaign aimed at getting voters out for the general election, despite concerns that it will be neither free nor fair without the participation of the CNRP, with question-and-answer sessions for hundreds of students in Takeo province. The NEC also plans to air television programs to promote awareness of voting rights and what documents voters will need to bring with them to polling stations. A teacher who joined one of the sessions told RFA on condition of anonymity that students mostly asked about whether the election would be legitimate without the main opposition party, and said the campaign had done little to convince him to vote in July. He said that the government is better off allowing the CNRP to participate in the election, and to lift restrictions on NGOs and the media, if they want the public to go to the polls this summer. Ny Chandaravuth, the head of the teachers association in Takeo, said most teachers had already decided to boycott the election, and that an NEC campaign would not change their minds. Theyve shut down the independent media in Cambodia, but most teachers and students are following the news [from those outlets] via Facebook and other social media, he said. The NECs campaign simply suggests that they are frightened of the effect the governments dissolution of the CNRP will have on the election. I dont think this campaign will be effective. Korn Savang, an official with the Committee For Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), also suggested that the NECs campaign would do little to convince the public to vote, if they already planned to stay home on July 29. I think it is good for them to explain the details of the election process, but I dont think it will change peoples minds, he said. Earlier this week, the United Nations Special Rapporteur to Cambodia Rhona Smith called on Hun Sens government to reinstate the CNRP, saying no election can be genuine if the main opposition party is barred from taking part. Both the U.S. and EU have withdrawn donor support for Cambodias elections, citing government actions seen as limiting democracy in the country, including the banning of the CNRP and the arrest of Kem Sokha. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sarada Taing. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Authorities in the Chinese capital have prevented a top human rights attorney from boarding a plane to the United States on national security grounds, RFA has learned. Ding Jiaxi, who has previously served jail time for calling on top officials of the ruling Chinese Communist Party to reveal details of their wealth, was stopped by police at Beijing International Airport on Thursday as he tried to board a plane to visit his wife and daughter in the U.S. Ding said he was at the departure gate on Thursday, preparing to board the aircraft, when he was approached by two unidentified officers. Two of them came over and announced to me that they had a notification from the Beijing police department that I was a threat to national security, and I was to be prevented from leaving the country, Ding told RFA. At no point during this process did they tell me their names, nor did they show me any official ID, he said. They also refused to give me the notification in writing. Ding said he didnt know the reason for the travel ban, as he had been able to visit his wife Luo Shengchun and the couples daughter in the U.S. last year. I have hired a lawyer to file an administrative appeal for me, so that I will be able to leave the country freely and travel overseas, Ding said. That is the basic right of a citizen The relevant departments have no legal basis whatsoever for stopping me from leaving the country. Its wrong, at the most basic level, and an abuse of official power, he said. An official who answered the phone at the Beijing police department declined to comment. All I can do is give you the contact number for the local branch; we dont really know the details of operations, here, the official said. Calls to the entry and exit bureau at Beijing airport rang unanswered during office hours on Friday. Travel bans Beijing-based rights activist Zhang Baocheng told RFA that he had been slapped with a travel ban by the authorities last year, and had never been given a reason. He said such bans on leaving China are a sign that the environment for rights activists and lawyers is getting more and more hostile under the administration of President Xi Jinping. You can tell things are getting stricter; the authorities are over-sensitive now, reacting to the tiniest thing, and totally paranoid, Zhang said. The threshold for arresting dissidents is also getting lower and lower. You can be arrested just for sending out a photo, or something containing a single sensitive word to your friends on social media now, he said. They just make up any old excuse or justification, and take you away, and you have no way to protect yourself, because there is no rule of law here. Ding recently gave an interview to RFA on Apr. 30 about the continued incommunicado detention of fellow rights attorney Wang Quanzhang, who has been held by authorities in the northern city of Tianjin since July 2015. Ding and Wang are among more than 300 rights attorneys, law firm staff and associated activists detained, questioned, and subjected to surveillance and travel bans amid a nationwide crackdown since 2015. Ding was detained in April 2013 and handed a three-and-a-half year jail term a year later by Beijing's Haidian District People's Court for gathering a crowd to disrupt public order, after he called publicly on Chinese officials to reveal details of their wealth, as part of the New Citizens Movement. Movement leader Xu Zhiyong, one of Chinas most prominent dissidents, was sentenced to four years in prison on identical public order charges in January 2014. Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu are believed to be holding a prominent rights activist after he tried to visit the grave of executed Mao-era dissident Lin Zhao last weekend. Zhu Chengzhi has been incommunicado since the early hours of Sunday morning, when he was taken away from the Lingyan Shan hillside cemetery on the outskirts of Suzhou. He was detained alongside fellow activists who came to lay wreaths to mark the anniversary of Lin's execution for alleged counterrevolutionary crimes under the rule of late supreme leader Mao Zedong. His friend Yi Zhengan said he has been trying to locate Zhu ever since, and believes he is being held in the Xukou police station in Suzhou. Zhu Chengzhi went to the cemetery to lay flowers, and was taken away by a very big group of armed police, Yi told RFA on Friday. I think he could be in some trouble, because they normally release them on the same day; they dont usually hold them for longer than 24 hours. Yi said no official documents regarding Zhus status have been forthcoming, however. I reported him missing to police, and they told me to go and inquire at Xukou police station, even though he was detained by officers from Cangshu police station, he said. But an officer who answered the phone at the Cangshu police station on Friday said Zhus family have already been informed of his status. We have already informed the family of the details, so you can just ask them, the officer said. Intent to arrest Fellow activist and Hunan resident Hu Jian said he had also expected Zhu to be released after a short time. At first I thought it was just because he refused to cooperate in giving a statement; Zhu has a pretty stubborn personality, Hu said. But he has been held for so long now, that I dont think that can be the reason. I think the authorities intend to arrest him. Asked if the visit to Lin Zhaos grave was the only reason behind his continued detention, Hu said: I think there are probably other reasons too; Zhu was always on the front line of activism. He said Zhu is still subjected to bail restrictions after a fairly recent release from prison, and that the authorities could use this as an excuse to lock him up again. Its looking very likely, Hu said. Hubei-based rights activist Bao Naigang said Zhu had been moved to Xukou police station after the initial detention by officers based at Cangshu. But he said officers had repeatedly denied Zhu was being criminally detained, and his family denies receiving any official notification of his whereabouts or status. Yi said Zhu is well-known among Chinas activist community. Zhu Chengzhi is quite well-known in Chinese dissident circles, Yi said. It looks as if he was the instigator of the trip to Suzhou, and he may no pay the price for that, but we dont know what his status is, whether he is under administrative detention and will be out in a few days, or whether he is being criminally detained. Poignant symbol The authorities have previously stopped short of formally arresting activists who come to pay their respects at Lin Zhaos grave, simply escorting them back to their hometowns as soon as possible. Lin Zhao, whose birth name was Peng Lingzhao, has long been a poignant symbol for Chinese dissidents and democracy activists, but she has since also become a focal point for the country's army of petitioners, ordinary people who pursue complaints against the ruling Chinese Communist Party through official channels. A writer who grew up near Nanjing, in the eastern province of Jiangsu, Lin was a star student at the prestigious Beijing University's Chinese language department in the 1950s, before being branded a "rightist" and a "class enemy" in 1957 for her criticism of then supreme leader Mao Zedong's Anti-Rightist Movement targeting intellectuals. She was executed by firing squad at Shanghai's Longhua Airport in 1968 at the age of 36 after her sentence was changed to the death penalty because she refused to plead guilty. Zhu has previously been held on suspicion of subversion after he questioned the official verdict of suicide in the death of late veteran labor activist Li Wangyang. His detention was later downgraded to residential surveillance following a public outcry. A Chinese police investigation into Li's death in June 2013 upheld an earlier verdict of suicide, in spite of widespread public doubts over the claim that the severely disabled 62-year-old hanged himself. Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Thae Yong-ho, North Koreas former deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, defected with his family to South Korea in 2016. Following last weeks historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Thae told RFAs Korean Service that he believes the North will never agree to end its weapons program through a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID) process. Instead, he said, Pyongyang will likely seek a way to maintain its current nuclear status, while denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, as the two sides agreed, according to its own definition. RFA: The leaders of the South and North agreed to cooperate for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but Kim Jong Un did not mention anything about denuclearization in his speech after signing the Panmunjom Declaration. What is your opinion on this? Thae Yong-ho: Kim Jong Un considers himself as a leader of a nuclear state, and that denuclearization is an issue that needs to be discussed with another nuclear statethe U.S. Kim Jong Uns target is the U.S.-North Korea summit [expected in June or July]. Kim would consider a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump a diplomatic victory. President Trumps meeting with the leader of North Korea, a country that the U.S. has described as evil, is North Koreas chance to show the world that it is a normal nation. [Kims grandfather and father] Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il tried very hard to meet with U.S. presidents in the past for a handshake photo, but it didnt happen. If Kim Jong Un makes it happen, it will be a big propaganda coup for the North. RFA: North Korea said that they would invite international experts and the press when they remove their nuclear sites. What do you think North Koreas intention is? Thae Yong-ho: Kim Jong Un is thinking about how to keep his nuclear assetsthis is the biggest issue. Kim likely believes that with nuclear power in my hands, I can give up on everything else. For North Korea, nuclear test sites are the past. Having ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capability is the Norths future. Recently North Korea came to know that it is impossible to reach for their future goal, because of strict international sanctions. Kim Jong Un is now willing to give up the future and the past, but probably will work to keep what he currently has [nuclear weapons]. Inviting international press and experts when removing nuclear test sites is a part of North Koreas strategic plan. RFA: The main agenda of the U.S.-North summit will be North Koreas denuclearization. The U.S. is requesting a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID). Thae Yong-ho: The South and North agreed to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, but that statement is vague. Additionally, the Panmunjom Declaration states that not just the North, but the South and North will denuclearize the peninsula The North has always wanted three things: First, the U.S. to withdraw its nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula. That happened in 1991. Second, to stop the U.S. from deploying nuclear weapons or strategic assets to the peninsula and the regionthe North will make these requests to the U.S. as part of denuclearization negotiations. Third, that the U.S. announce it will not use nuclear weapons on the peninsula. The U.S. wants CVID from North Korea, meaning random access to inspections But there are no prior examples of CVID in history. It could be seen as an infringement on a nations autonomy. I think there is a very low possibility that North Korea accepts the principles of CVID. Besides nuclear and missile facilities, there are many sensitive places that North Korea cannot open to the outside. Political prison camps are one such example If North Korea accepts, they would eventually have to show the whole world that they have committed crimes against humanity, and would not be able to maintain its current system. RFA: What do you think will be North Koreas strategy for the U.S.-North summit? Thae Yong-ho: The worst outcome for the U.S.-North summit would be a return to the South-North Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula from 1991. At that time, the South and North decided to designate inspection targets for denuclearization through mutual agreement So there were no proper inspections. If Trump agrees to this type of [inspection], it will have the same outcome as the past agreement. RFA: President Trump said he would leave the negotiation table if North Korea does not accept CVID. If that happens, what do you think North Koreas next move would be? Thae Yong-ho: If that happens, North Korea will say this to the world: We sincerely tried for nuclear removal and were ready to accept U.S. requirements, but the U.S. insisted on unreasonable conditions. [CVID] ultimately means that we do not accept North Korean sovereignty, so the North will argue over this and will lobby for international support. Reported by Yong Jae Mok for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Protesters rally in Myitkyina, capital of Myanmar's Kachin state, to call for rescue of civilians trapped by fighting, May 3, 2018. Around 300 people renewed protests in Myitkyina, capital of northern Myanmars Kachin state, on Thursday to demand that the government rescue displaced civilians trapped in forests amid fighting between the Myanmar military and an ethnic armed group. The protest followed a larger protest on Monday in which around 5,000 took part. Gathering on Thursday outside state government offices, protesters vowed to open a protest camp at the site despite a heavy police presence nearby and said they were set to meet and speak this evening with Kachin states chief minister Khet Aung. [He] told us to come and meet him, protest organizer Sut Swai Htwe told reporters at the rally site. Thats why we, five Kachin youth leaders and religious leaders have been waiting to see him since this morning. But we havent been able to meet him yet. We dont understand why. We are protesting peacefully so that those who are trapped can be freed, but it seems that the police might crack down on us. But even if they do, we will not respond he said. Offered a place for a protest camp at a remote site called Manaw Ground, a place far from the capital, protesters refused the location, saying they want to alert as many people as possible to the situation of the civilians driven into forests by the fighting, sources said. More than 3,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have recently been driven from their homes by clashes in the long-running conflict between the national army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). About 1,000 villagers in Injanyang township fled clashes that flared on April 24, heading to Tanphaye village on the outskirts of Myitkina where they are staying in nearby woods. The latest fighting comes on the heels of battles in Kachins Tanaing and Hpakant townships that stranded 2,000 villagers with little food last week. Cease-fire holdout The KIA is one of several ethnic militias with which the Myanmar government is trying to end decades of ethnic separatist civil wars and forge peace in the country through a series of negotiations launched in August 2016 by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the KIAs political wing, has not signed the governments nationwide cease-fire agreement that eight of the countrys more than 20 ethnic armies inked in October 2015, with two more having joined since then. The Myanmar military has meanwhile accused the KIA of illegally using the region's natural resources and taking money from mining businesses that should otherwise go to the state, while the ethnic militia believes the government army has stepped up its attacks on rebel-held territory in hopes of gaining control before the next round of nationwide peace negotiations. On April 25, more than 30 Kachin civil society organizations urged the U.N. Security Council to refer the Myanmar military to the International Criminal Court for what they say are human rights violations against civilians and the denial of humanitarian assistance to people in need in Kachin state. Meanwhile, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee appealed for access to areas in Kachin state now cut off by government bombardments of civilian areas near the border with China, according to a Reuters report on May 1. Innocent civilians are being killed and injured, and hundreds of families are now fleeing for their lives, Lee said in a statement. Any willful impediment of relief supplies may amount to war crimes under international law, Lee said. Reported by Kyaw Thu for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Richard Finney. The Dalai Lama met today at his residence in Dharamsala, India, with U.S. ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, who voiced hope afterward that the exiled spiritual leader will soon be able to travel again to the United States. Juster was accompanied on his May 3-4 visit to Dharamsala, seat of the Tibetan exile government, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), by a four-person delegation from the U.S. embassy in New Delhi. The group was also hosted at a dinner reception by the CTAs Kashag, or Cabinet, attended cultural performances by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, and visited the Tibetan Childrens Village school. Juster, who was appointed to his post in November 2017, also met twice with Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, political leader of the Tibetan exile government. Speaking to reporters after talking with the Dalai Lama, Ambassador Juster said he had found the spiritual leaders presence inspirational. The meeting with His Holiness was tremendous. He is a very inspirational figure. We had a wonderful discussion. It would be terrific if he were able at some point to travel to America, Juster added. Their talks covered a range of subjects, but most important was his view about how the inner peace of individuals can spread and bring broader peace to mankind, Juster said. Asked if he would recommend to U.S. President Donald Trump that he meet with the Dalai Lama on his next visit to the U.S., Juster said, We will see what happens in time. China angered by meetings Meetings between foreign leaders and the Dalai Lama in recent years have drawn the anger of Beijing, which regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist seeking to split Tibet from Chinas rule. In what he calls a Middle Way Approach, though, the Dalai Lama himself says that he seeks only a meaningful autonomy for Tibet as a part of China, with protections for the regions language, religion, and culture. Speaking to RFAs Tibetan Service following the meeting, sources said Ambassador Juster had suggested that the Dalai Lama again visit the United States, saying, many people in the USA have deep respect for you. The Dalai Lama in turn expressed a long-standing appreciation for the U.S. system of liberty, freedom, and democracy, adding that as leader of the Free World the U.S. should pursue a policy of multilateralism in global affairs, sources said. Members of parliaments from Australia, Estonia, and Sweden have also met with the Dalai Lama in recent weeks, with a delegation of parliamentarians from the European Union scheduled to meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader on May 9. Reported by RFAs Tibetan Service. Written in English by Richard Finney. Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinian has met with the ambassadors of Russia, the United States, Georgia, and the European Union, and informed them that he is working to settle the country's political crisis. "I informed the ambassadors about the agreements that have been reached on resolving the domestic crisis," he said in a statement on his Facebook page late on May 3. "Several issues of bilateral relations were discussed as well. Meetings with ambassadors accredited in Armenia will continue," he said. Pashinian was officially nominated for prime minister for a second time by his Yelk party and allied opposition parties in parliament earlier on May 3, and afterward received assurances from the ruling Republican Party (HHK) that it will support him as the "people's candidate." Later on May 4, the Kremlin's press service said Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken by telephone with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev about "relevant regional and international issues, including Armenia." Pashinian secured the backing of 41 lawmakers in the 105-seat parliament for his nomination to be prime minister, which leaves him as the only candidate to date for the post in an upcoming vote of parliament on May 8. The HHK, which still holds a majority in parliament, voted against Pashinian in parliament's first vote on May 1, but Pashinian said the head of HHK's parliamentary faction, Vahram Baghdasarian, assured him in a meeting on May 3 that it will support him now that his candidacy has received the backing of more than one-third of lawmakers. With those assurances, Pashinian urged his supporters to take a rest, stay in touch through Facebook, and be ready to return to the streets on May 8 to ensure parliament carries through on the HHK's pledge to make him the country's new leader. Pashinian has led three weeks of 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. 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. The street protests culminated in a dramatic day of civil disobedience on May 2, the day after the parliament initially rejected Pashinian for prime minister, with tens of thousands of people blocking major roadways around the country, creating gridlock and paralyzing business activity. It was amid those protests that the HHK announced its change in stance and effectively threw its backing behind Pashinian's candidacy in the May 8 vote. 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 will be held with the HHK-led acting government in charge of the electoral process. With reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian Service, Reuters, Interfax, and TASS At least 14 women in cities and towns across Belarus have been on a hunger strike for days, demanding the release of relatives imprisoned on drugs-related charges and liberalization of anti-narcotics legislation. The hunger-striking women call themselves "Mothers 328" after Article 328 of the Belarusian Criminal Code, under which some drug-related crimes carry prison sentences of five to 25 years. Most of the women began their fasting in protest on April 27. They include residents of the town of Kalinkavichy in the southeastern Homel region, the village of Vostrau in the Minsk region, and the eastern cities of Mahileu and Vitsebsk. The strikers are demanding changes in the legislation to make it more lenient and a review of the sentences handed down to relatives convicted of drug-related crimes. Seven hunger strikers in Kalinkavichy met with a presidential envoy Natallya Kachanava on May 2, urging her to convey their demands to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Lukashenka has made no comment on the matter since then. Hunger strikers had expected to meet with Prosecutor-General Alyaksandr Kanyuk on May 4, but the meeting was called off at the last minute and was not immediately rescheduled. PAVLODAR, Kazakhstan -- A court in Kazakhstan's northern city of Pavlodar has ordered the release on parole of labor union leader Amin Eleusinov. The court's May 4 ruling would see the release of Eleusinov on May 21 unless prosecutors successfully appeal the decision, the court's press service told RFE/RL. Eleusinov, a union leader at the Oil Construction Company (OCC), was sentenced to two years in prison in May 2017 after a court in Astana convicted him on embezzlement charges and for publicly insulting, assaulting, and refusing to obey a representative of state authority. Eleusinov was arrested in January 2017 after hundreds of OCC workers went on a hunger strike to protest the closure of a trade union alliance. The strike was stopped after a court in Astana declared it illegal. Union activist Nurbek Qushaqbaev, who was arrested along with Eleusinov, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in April 2017 on charges of instigating an illegal strike. Human rights activists in Kazakhstan and abroad have condemned the convictions, calling them politically motivated. The Czech-made nerve agent that President Milos Zeman described in a television interview as Novichok is of a different type than the toxin Britain says was used to poison a former spy, the Czech Foreign Ministry said in a statement on May 4. Novichok -- first developed in the Soviet Union -- was identified by Britain as the type of agent used to poison Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. London blamed the poisoning on Russia. In a TV interview broadcast on May 2, Zeman said the military reports he was citing identified the type of Novichok used in the poisoning as A-234, while that produced in the Czech Republic was type A-230. "We did produce and store Novichok in insignificant amounts. We know where and when. Let us not be hypocritical. We should not lie about this," said Zeman, who is known for his pro-Moscow stance. However, the Czech Foreign Ministry said that the nerve toxin A-230 is different from the one called Novichok. "The nerve-paralyzing poison used in the U.K. attack is called A-234 and is therefore a different variant than the one tested by the Czech Military Research Institute in Brno," the ministry statement said. It said that a few milliliters-- of A-230 was produced, tested, and destroyed by the institute in the southeastern city Brno in order to study ways to defend against it. The Brno institute functions with the approval of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the statement said. The Czech Foreign Ministry statement was issued hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman hailed Zeman's statement, saying it undermines Britain's claims about the attack. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Zeman's remarks were an "eloquent illustration" of what he called the "untenable position" put forth by Britain. Moscow has denied involvement in the attack in Salisbury and has claimed the nerve agent used in the attack could have come from the United States, the Czech Republic, or other countries that it claimed have conducted research on the same group of chemicals. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has flatly denied the suggestion that it could have been made in the Czech Republic. Peskov asserted that Zeman's statement was "yet another confirmation" of the "provocative and reckless nature of the whole story about the Skripals." Russian officials have alleged that the attack could have been staged by Britain or another country to compromise Moscow. The attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal has further aggravated already severely strained ties between Russia and the West. The Czech Republic in March joined dozens of Western nations in the near-simultaneous expulsion of Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning, ordering three Russian diplomats out of the country. Sergei Skripal, 66, a former colonel in Russia's military intelligence agency, was convicted of treason in 2006 by a Russian court that found him guilty of spying for Britain. He was released in 2010 and sent to the West in a Cold War-style spy swap. He remains hospitalized but is no longer in critical condition, while Yulia Skripal, 33, was discharged in early April. Her location has not been disclosed by British authorities. With reporting by AP, dpa, and TASS The Association of Journalists of Kosovo marked World Press Freedom Day with a demonstration in Pristina on May 3 calling for greater protection for reporters. "Impunity kills the freedom of expression," was the theme of the protest. The association said journalists continued to face threats, attacks, blackmail, and censorship in Kosovo. One example of the dangers cited by the journalists was an assault on prominent investigative reporter Vehbi Kajtazi in October 2017 that left him with cuts and bruises on his face. The association said he had been threatened and attacked prior to the assault, and police never resolved his prior complaints. One of Kajtazi's colleagues was also attacked two months earlier, the journalists said. U.S. Ambassador Greg Delawie said it was "unfortunate that journalists in Kosovo are still being physically attacked." The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranked Kosovo 78 out of 180 countries in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index, released last month. In Moldova, journalists marked press-freedom day with their traditional Solidarity Press March in Chisinau. It started at the parliament building and passed the presidential and government office buildings before concluding at the audiovisual regulator's building. Slogans included "A free press equals a free society," and "We demand media protection." Reporters Without Borders ranked Moldova 81st in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index, saying that the country's media suffered from "excessive influence" from oligarchs. Freedom House described Moldova as a country with a "partly free" press in its 2017 Freedom of the Press index. The calls for greater press freedom in the two countries came as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement saying, "we honor the many journalists and media actors who have dedicated their lives, often at great risk, to promote transparency and accountability throughout the world." "We renew our commitment to promoting and protecting a free press, which is an essential pillar of democracy," Pompeo said. "By fostering a free press, citizens are more informed, active, and engaged in political decision-making, and can better hold their governments accountable." The bicentennial of Karl Marx's birth is being marked in his German hometown amid similar controversy to that evoked by the revolutionary philosopher when he was alive. Viewed in the West as a deluded utopian and blamed for communism's failures, Marx is being feted in China as the world's "greatest thinker" whose writings underpin that country's political and societal structures. The May 5 celebrations marking 200 years since Marx's birth in the western German city of Trier will include the unveiling of a Chinese-funded 5.5-meter statue of the author of The Communist Manifesto (co-written with Friedrich Engels) and Das Kapital. The Trier city council voted last year to accept the statue by Chinese artist Wu Weishan but added a resolution to their approval that cited the importance of observing human rights. A boost in the steady stream of some 150,000 Chinese tourists who make the pilgrimage to Trier every year to see the birthplace of communism's founder was cited by Mayor Wolfram Leibe as a factor in deciding to erect the larger-than-life bronze statue. About the controversy to honor a person many see as responsible for a political ideology that bitterly divided Germany for 40 years, Leibe said that "the monument should inspire people to think about Marx and his literary works." "It's hard for many victims of the communist system to accept that a west German city is putting up a monument like this," Hubertus Knabe, the head of a memorial at a former prison for political prisoners in Berlin, told the Los Angeles Times. Juncker Speech Among the festivities expected to be attended by thousands there will also be "Das Kapital" wine and Marx banknotes worth "0 euros" for sale in a display of capitalism that the writer surely would disapprove of. In addition to an art installation of some 500 red, midget statues of Marx, Trier's crosswalk signals have been fitted with Marx's figure. Several German lawmakers will be on hand for festivities that will feature a speech by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Juncker's decision to appear in Trier has been criticized as being insensitive to those killed in wars fought over communist ideology. His spokeswoman defended him by saying that "nobody can deny that Karl Marx is a figure who shaped history in one way or another. Not speaking about him would come close to denying history." China's involvement in Marx's anniversary has led Falun Gong activists to converge on Trier to protest Beijing's persecution and jailing of tens of thousands of the spiritual movement's followers. 'Greatest Thinker' In History Meanwhile, back in China, an array of big events is in full swing to honor Marx and his contributions to the communist philosophy that is the basis for China's political system. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on May 4 that Marx was "the greatest thinker in human history." Xi called Marxism "a powerful ideological weapon for us to understand the world, grasp the law, seek the truth, and change the world." Last week, the Chinese leader ordered his colleagues to study the Communist Manifesto, and he will be on hand to open a worldwide forum at Peking University for Marxist researchers on May 5. State TV, meanwhile, is showing a five-part series called Marx Is Right, and the country's newspapers are awash with articles proclaiming the German philosopher's greatness. Many, of course, see the irony of the very capitalist Chinese society attempting to embrace Marxist tenets. "If Chinese people actually learned Marxist concepts seriously, then it would become clear to all that China today has nothing to do with Marxism," Professor Sean Kenji Starrs, City University of Hong Kong, told the South China Morning Post. With reporting by Bloomberg, qz.com, ecns.cn, the Los Angeles Times, and the South China Morning Post The chairman of NATOs Military Committee, General Petr Pavel, believes that Russia's efforts to boost its weapons capacity should not be downplayed, despite reports about its military budget reductions. In an interview with RFE/RL in Prague on May 3, the Czech Army general also spoke of his surprise with Russia's relatively sanguine response to recent antigovernment demonstrations in Armenia, which forced Russian ally Serzh Sarkisian to step down as prime minister after a long presidential tenure. Pavel also said that supplies of Western lethal weapons to Ukraine are not the right solution in its ongoing conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country. PRAGUE -- A NATO general says he's surprised that Russia is not more openly involved in Armenia's recent tumultuous events that led to longtime leader Serzh Sarkisian being pushed from power. General Petr Pavel, the chairman of NATO's Military Committee, told RFE/RL on May 3 that he was surprised at the lack of Russian "interference" because of the close ties between Moscow and Yerevan and because of Russia's "significant" military presence in Armenia. "Armenia is one of the countries which Russia sees as their near neighborhood and their justified sphere of influence," said Pavel, the third-highest-ranking NATO official behind Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Supreme Allied Commander Curtis Scaparrotti. "Russia identified so-called 'colored revolutions' as one of [its] major security challenges," Pavel said. "To some extent I am surprised there is not so much visible Russian interference, but I believe there is a lot going on beneath the surface." Pavel noted that NATO has an Individual Partnership Action Plan with Armenia. But he said that "obviously, if a new government is in favor of more links with NATO, we are ready for it." The Armenian parliament is scheduled to vote on opposition leader Nikol Pashinian's candidacy for prime minister on May 8. Pashinian led nationwide protests that have forced Sarkisian to give up power, and that has pressured his ruling Republican Party. The events are reminiscent of so-called "colored revolutions" from 2003 to 2005 in Georgia and Ukraine. Pashinian has said there will be no geopolitical changes as a result of the upheaval. Russia In Ukraine On Ukraine, Pavel said supplies of "lethal weapons" to Kyiv -- such as the recent delivery of some 210 Javelin antitank missiles -- will only be countered by the Russia-backed separatists who control territory in eastern Ukraine taken in 2014. "I believe adding more lethal weapons would create [an] imbalance that would then be matched from the other side by delivering more lethal weapons as well," Pavel said. He also said he believed "strongly" in a peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. "Russia, even though [it] denies any involvement in Donbas, keeps all important positions in these two so-called breakaway republics [in parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions], and they have all important positions in [the] military structure," he said. Citing NATO sources, Pavel said there were now "3,000 to 5,000 Russian professionals" in eastern Ukraine. He added that Moscow also "significantly supports these regions [with]military equipment, heavy weapons, ammunition, all the logistic stocks." "Basically we can say that without significant Russian support these two [separatist] regions wouldn't be able to survive," he said. Pavel said the conflict will be resolved through "a combination of a well-prepared Ukrainian armed forces that would be able to provide a deterrent effect and a reasonable political and social development [that] will eventually lead to what we can call [the] normalization of life in eastern Ukraine." Crawling Threat Pavel said Russia was the greatest danger to "the security of Western countries and the model of society that we have." He said Russia's hybrid war against the West was a "crawling threat that is beneath the surface and it is gaining more and more ground and that's why it's so important to disclose, name it by its proper names, and react to it with the appropriate tools." Pavel said he did not think NATO is losing the information war with Russia. But he admitted the alliance was "probably late to recognize" aggressive Russian behavior for what it was. He said Moscow takes advantage of the multitude of freedoms in Western society, something not possible in Russia's tightly controlled atmosphere. That, he said, put Western cyber-countermeasures at a disadvantage. "Russia does not hesitate to abuse all of these freedoms to exert more influence using all methods, those that are legal and including those that are beyond legality," Pavel said. Don't Underestimate (Or Overestimate) Russia The NATO general also discounted a recent think-tank report that concluded Russia sharply cut its military budget in 2017. "I don't think that we should make defense spending a major element of our calculus," he said. "We have to look -- especially us in uniform -- at real capabilities. Russian military capabilities, both conventional and nuclear, are significant." Pavel appeared untroubled by Russian President Vladimir Putin's bold presentation of a host of new weapon systems during his state-of-the-union address in March. "I don't want to underestimate [the] Russian capability to develop new weapons and come up with new technologically advanced systems," he said. "But the way of presenting these new developments was much more to impress [the] population in Russia and to deliver [a] limited deterrence message to the opponents." To underline his point, he said, "The presentation used by President Putin was mostly for local consumption." Macedonia By Any Other Name As far as NATO expansion goes, Pavel said the so-called "name issue" was the only thing preventing Macedonia from being invited to join the alliance. The long-running name dispute between Macedonia and Greece dates back to 1991, when Skopje declared independence following the collapse of communist Yugoslavia. Athens objects to Macedonia's name because it has its own northern province called Macedonia, and fears it may imply territorial ambitions. But Pavel noted that the Macedonian and Greek foreign ministers were "cautiously optimistic" about resolving their dispute over the issue. He said that if "everything goes well, it will take a couple of months or probably even half a year before this process is completed." A Czech, the 56-year-old Pavel is the highest-ranking Central European in NATO history. He was elected to head the alliance's Military Committee in 2014. Pavel was in Prague as the keynote speaker at the Stratcom Summit hosted by a Prague-based think tank called European Values. When Vladimir Putin was shuttled to his inauguration by motorcade through the emptied-out center of Moscow in May 2012, some observers likened the scene to something out of a post-apocalyptic movie. Others said it showed Putin's remoteness from the citizens he was to govern for a third term as president. "It is deeply symbolic that Putin's inauguration motorcade traveled through a deserted Moscow purged of people," the late opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead near the Kremlin almost three years later, wrote at the time. "Where are the millions of adoring fans, where is the festive mood, where is the joy on voters' faces?" Ahead of Putin's May 7 inauguration for a fourth term, it looks like he might scrap the convoy this time around. "This time it's possible they will forgo the president's ceremonial motorcade through Moscow to the Kremlin," the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported on May 3, quoting an unidentified source familiar with the planning of the ceremony. Putin's 2012 inauguration came a day after street clashes in Moscow triggered the arrest and prosecution of more than two dozen opposition protesters angry over Putin's return to the Kremlin for a third term after a four-year hiatus as prime minister. Opposition leader Aleksei Navalny is now calling on followers to stage street protests on May 5. Navalny and other Kremlin opponents denounce Putin's reelection as a stage-managed coronation rather than a democratic ballot. The Kremlin calls Putin's landslide victory on March 18 an overwhelming demonstration of his mandate. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters in Moscow this week that the final details of the inauguration were still being worked out, and that it would largely resemble "the traditional ceremony that we have," Russian news agencies reported. But he indicated that Putin might not repeat the solitary journey through the empty capital in a limousine surrounded by police motorcycles as he did six years ago. One YouTube user posted a video of that ride set to music from the 2002 zombie-apocalypse film 28 Days Later. Russian news outlets Gazeta.ru and Dozhd TV cited unidentified sources as saying on May 4 that the Kremlin was seeking to stage a more low-key inauguration this time around. Peskov noted that in 2012 Putin was serving as prime minister while his hand-picked predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev, was finishing up his four-year term as president. "Don't forget that last time [Putin] was moving from the White House to the Kremlin," Peskov said, referring to the seat of the Russian government located 3 kilometers from the Kremlin. "Now there is no need for such a transfer," he added. Peskov said that "of course, a motorcade will be used in some capacity," because Putin will be taken from the Kremlin offices to the ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace -- a two-minute drive or a five-minute walk. "But how ceremonial it will be, all of these nuances are currently being worked out," Peskov said. Romanian anticommmunist dissident Doina Cornea, who condemned the excesses of Nicolae Ceausescu's regime during the 1980s in letters sent to RFE/RL, has died. She was 88. Cornea's son, Leontin Iuhasz, said she died on May 4 in Romania's northwestern city of Cluj after a long illness. An academic who taught French at a university in Cluj, Cornea came to international prominence in 1982 after she began sending letters to RFE/RL in which she criticized the large-scale destruction of Romanian villages and churches. She also attracted the attention of Ceausescu's feared political police, the Securitate, who beat and arrested her repeatedly before she was eventually fired from her university in 1983. Cornea was arrested again in November 1987, along with her son, after distributing leaflets in support of a workers' revolt in the central city of Brasov. She was later placed under permanent house arrest. After being freed during the December 1989 revolt which toppled Ceausescu, Cornea was co-opted for a short time in the first postcommunist caretaker government -- the National Salvation Front (FSN). Cornea left the FSN weeks later in protest at its announcement that it would turn into a political party and run in the first postcommunist election -- contrary to the FSN's initial pledge that it would dissolve after organizing the poll. The leader of the FSN, former high-ranking Communist Party official Ion Iliescu, went on to become president in 1990 and was reelected twice after. President Klaus Iohannis called Cornea a "symbol of courage and anticommunist resistance." Cornea received several awards, including one from Pope John Paul II in 2003, and the French Legion of Honor for civil merits. Written by Eugen Tomiuc with additional reporting by hotnews.ro, realitatea.net, digi24hd, AP, and AFP The Supreme Court in Russia's Chechnya region has rejected an appeal by the chief of the human rights group Memorial's office in Grozny, Oyub Titiyev, against the extension of his pretrial detention until June 9. Memorial said that in a May 4 ruling, the top regional court upheld a lower court's April 25 decision to keep Titiyev in jail on a marijuana-possession charge he and supporters say was fabricated. The 60-year-old Titiyev has been in pretrial detention in Chechnya since his arrest on January 9. Titiyev was stopped and detained by police while in his car. Chechen authorities later said drugs had been found in his vehicle. Titiyev and Memorial deny the charge, contending that the marijuana was planted in his car. Western governments and human rights groups in Russia and abroad have demanded Titiyev's immediate release, saying the case against him is politically motivated. If convicted, Titiyev faces up to 10 years in prison. Supporters of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny in several cities have been detained a day before planned protests against President Vladimir Putin, who starts a new term on May 7. Supporters of the fierce Putin critic foe and organizers of the May 5 rally, which Navalny is calling He's Not Our Tsar, were detained in St. Petersburg, Cheboksary, Kemerovo, Tambov, Ryazan, Krasnoyarsk, and Krasnodar on May 4. All those detained were charged with violating regulations for holding public gatherings. In the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, meanwhile, police searched Navalnys regional headquarters and confiscated leaflets advertising the May 5 rally. A coordinator for Navalny the southern city of Volgograd, Aleksei Volkov, wrote on Twitter that students at local schools were forced to sign papers acknowledging that they could face serious consequences, including expulsion, if they take part in the rally. Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999, is to be sworn in to a new six-year presidential term on May 7 after winning a March 18 election that opponents said was marred by fraud and international observers said gave voters no real choice. Navalny, who has organized large street protests and published a series of reports alleging corruption in Russia's ruling elite, was barred from the presidential ballot due to a conviction on financial-crimes charges he contends were fabricated. U.S. President Donald Trump says the time and place for his landmark meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been set, although he declined to reveal the details. "We now have a date and we have a location. We'll be announcing it soon," Trump told reporters on May 4 outside the White House before he departed for a trip to Dallas. Trump earlier in the week hinted that the two leaders could meet at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. Other sites mentioned include Singapore, Mongolia, and Switzerland. Preparations for the meeting have gained momentum since a summit on April 27 between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the DMZ. The moves are helping to ease tensions on the peninsula and bring at least a temporary end to Pyongyangs testing of nuclear weapons, which was conducted in defiance of United Nations resolutions. And in another sign of the times, North Korea announced on May 4 that it had moved its clock ahead by 30 minutes to align itself with South Koreas time zone. North Korea introduced its own time zone in August 2015, when it turned back the clock by 30 minutes, calling it "Pyongyang time." Meanwhile, Trump also disputed a published report that he had asked the Pentagon to present a plan for the withdrawal or reduction of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, saying such a move was "not on the table." Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa mn DNIPRO, Ukraine -- Police in the town of Nikopol in Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region are investigating violence and gunfire that erupted at a town council meeting. Nikopol police told RFE/RL that activists of a nationalist group Right Sector entered the building during a meeting on May 4 and clashed with council members. According to the police, a council member fired two pistol shots but nobody was injured by the gunfire. Police told RFE/RL that the Right Sector members tried to stop the session for unspecified reasons, adding that an investigation on suspicion of the "disruption of public order" had been opened. Images from the scene showed Nikopol Mayor Andriy Fysak with a green antiseptic known as "zelyonka" that had been splashed on his face and a council member Oleksandr Rybakov, who appeared to have been doused with Kefir, a type of fermented milk drink. Ukrainian media reports said that Rybakov fired the pistol shots. On January 31, Rybakov survived an apparent assassination attempt after an unknown individual threw two grenades at him late in the evening in the street. The 57-year-old Rybakov was hospitalized at the time with multiple shrapnel injuries. The attacker was not found. Investigations were launched into an "attempted assassination." With reporting by UNIAN KYIV -- A mob of Ukrainian nationalists has seized a Brazilian man who fought for Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and had been living secretly at a Kyiv monastery since being abruptly released from prison in December. The group frog-marched 33-year-old Rafael Lusvarghi to the doors of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), apparently set on returning him to custody despite a court decision. The May 4 incident was the latest dramatic twist in the case of Lusvarghi, who had been convicted by Ukrainian authorities on terrorism charges but released in December after 14 months in prison. An RFE/RL reporter discovered his location at the Kyiv monastery and interviewed him last month for stories that were published on May 3 in English and Ukrainian. The men, some of whom appeared to be members of a far-right militia known as the Azov Battalion, barged into the Svyato-Pokrovskyy Holosiivskyy Monastery on May 4, live-streaming as they searched his room, taking documents and a journal. They also spat at the feet of a priest, and chanted: "Glory to the nation, death to enemies!" They later frog-marched Lusvarghi through Kyivs streets, bent over at the waist, his hands tied behind his back, to the SBU's headquarters. He did not appear to have been beaten, and was also given water to drink. WATCH: Ukrainian Nationalists Seize Brazilian Man (natural sound) Some of the men appeared be members of an ultranationalist group known as C14, which is known for its neo-Nazi ideology. At one point, the group forced Lusvarghi to call for Russian President Vladimir Putin to exchange him for Ukrainian prisoners being held by Russia-backed separatists. An SBU representative later met with the crowd outside the service headquarters and promised a further investigation. Lusvarghi was then taken into SBU custody, but his whereabouts werent immediately clear. The Brazilian Embassy in Kyiv had no immediate response to questions about Lusvarghi's status. Lusvarghi left eastern Ukraine via Russia and returned to Brazil in the summer of 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 SBU. He was arrested upon arrival at Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport that October and put on trial. He was the first non-Russian convicted in Ukraine for crimes related to the war. Confronted by an RFE/RL reporter at the monastery on April 30, Lusvarghi initially denied his identity. He then said he was unclear on the reasons for his sudden release from prison in December but added that his passport remained in the hands of Ukrainian authorities as they investigated his case. The Ukrainian Justice Ministry, the Prosecutor-General's Office, and the SBU did not respond to requests at the time to clarify his status and that of the investigation. Media are reporting that global chemical-weapons inspectors will take the unprecedented step of exhuming some bodies of victims in the Syrian town of Douma as they work to verify an alleged chemical attack last month. Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons chief Ahmet Uzumcu told the Financial Times on May 3 that the organization's fact-finding mission had already gathered over 100 "environmental samples" since getting access to the site northeast of Damascus on April 21. AFP said it verified the Times' account. The group's mission to Douma was launched by the UN Security Council after footage of people writhing in the wake of the April 7 attack horrified the world. The incident prompted air strikes on alleged Syrian chemical-weapons installations by the United States, Britain, and France on April 13. Medics and rescuers said more than 40 people were killed by what appeared to be a combination of chlorine gas and sarin nerve gas. Uzumcu said his group was seeking to verify those claims by taking "biomedical samples" from exhumed bodies. "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 Times. Uzumcu said it could be a month before the mission publishes its report on Douma. The mission was delayed several times in gaining access to Douma, which came under the control of the Syrian government and its ally Russia shortly after the attack. But its experts have said chemical traces -- if they exist -- could still be found in the environment and in victims' bodies. Damascus and Moscow have accused the Syrian White Helmets rescue group of staging the video footage at the behest of the United States and its allies. Based on reporting by AFP and Financial Times The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says the war between government forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine has taken a "devastating toll" on the regions educational system, forcing more than 200,000 children to learn in "militarized environments." "Children are learning in schools with bullet holes in the walls and sandbags in windows, bomb shelters in the basements, and shrapnel in school yards," UNICEF Ukraine Representative Giovanna Barberis said in a May 4 statement. "The children are extremely nervous of shelling, and teachers try to calm them down, but it's hard for them...because they are nervous and stressed," Barberis said. The UN agency did not directly name a particular side in the war, a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people since March 2014. It said that "all sides of the conflict must respect international humanitarian law and ensure that schools are safe places for children to learn." 'Forgotten' Crisis UNICEF also said schools and kindergartens on both sides of the tense "contact line" are in danger due to the proximity of military sites, including bases, storage facilities, and security check points. The contact line divides areas controlled by the government and Russia-backed separatists in and around parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, and it is where fighting is the fiercest. UNICEF said it and its partners have monitored instances in which military and armed groups are based within 500 meters of a kindergarten or school. It added that it has monitored six former school buildings that have been occupied or used by military forces or armed groups since the start of the current school year. The European Union and United States back Kyiv in the conflict and have imposed sanctions on Russia for its support of the separatists and for its illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula. Moscow has denied providing the separatist forces with weapons despite what Kyiv and NATO say is irrefutable evidence proving that it has done so. In previous reports, UNICEF has said that more than 1 million children are in need of urgent humanitarian aid in eastern Ukraine. Barberis in 2017 described the war as "a crisis most of the world has forgotten." A group of Uzbek intellectuals is urging the government to launch a criminal probe targeting Telman Gdlyan, a Soviet-era investigator who led an anticorruption campaign known as "the Uzbek case" or "the cotton case" in the 1980s and is based in Moscow. In an open letter published in Uzbek media on May 4, the intellectuals demanded "due punishment for individuals responsible for crimes and the restoration of historical justice." "To our mind, it is expedient to request that Telman Gdlyan be brought to criminal accountability," said the letter. It said that Gdlyan, 77, is suspected of "committing crimes against the Uzbek people." The authors asserted that Gdlyan "literally terrorized the Uzbek people and forged hundreds of documents" during the 1983-89 campaign in Uzbekistan. They called on the government to seek the extradition of Gdlyan and other Soviet-era investigators who were involved. The anticorruption campaign in Uzbekistan during Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms in mid-1980s led to the prosecution of some 800 officials in Uzbekistan and Russia. More than 4,000 people -- including former Soviet First Deputy Interior Minister Yury Churbanov, who was the late Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev's son-in-law -- were jailed. In 1989, Soviet prosecutors charged Gdlyan with corruption and violation of investigation regulations. Gdlyan was sacked from the Prosecutor-General's Office but avoided criminal prosecution as he enjoyed immunity as a Soviet lawmaker. In November 2016, Soviet-era Uzbek leader Inomjon Usmonhojaev, who was convicted during "the cotton case" in 1989, was formally exonerated. His exoneration followed the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who became leader of Soviet Uzbekistan in 1989 and ruled with an iron hand as president for 25 years following independence. Usmonhojaev died at the age of 86 in March 2017. Uzbekistan's second president, Shavkat Mirziyoev, has suggested that he wants his country to be a kinder, gentler nation than the one he inherited when predecessor Islam Karimov's death was announced in September 2016. Mirziyoev has warned security and law enforcement personnel about torturing suspects, he said confessions made under duress would not be admissible in courts, he's told government officials they must respect the rights of citizens, and he has called on citizens to report on corrupt or abusive officials. It actually appears to be starting to pay off. Even media in Uzbekistan are sometimes posting videos of officials physically or verbally abusing subordinates or citizens. But it might take a while for orders from above to filter down into the lower levels of government. RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, known locally as Ozodlik, was recently sent a video from inside Uzbekistan that seems to demonstrate the persistence of habits from the old regime are still present. The two main figures in the video are Abbashan Vakkasov, the head of the Tax Inspection Department in Jizzakh Province, and Olim Zakirov, a senior tax inspector. For the record, Mirzioyev was the governor of Jizzakh Province from 1996 to 2001. The person who forwarded the video said he was an employee at the Jizzakh Tax Inspection Department and was working there at the end of November when Vakkasov showed up -- allegedly inebriated -- and was angered to discover Zakirov had not collected enough taxes. That raises some questions about how taxes are collected in Uzbekistan, but we'll stick with the physical abuse for this article. As troubling as the video is to watch, the accounts the two men gave of the incident were unsettling. Ozodlik contacted both Vakksasov and Zakirov. "He [Vakkasov] didn't beat me. He was just joking," Zakirov said. Zakirov also denied Vakkasov had been drinking. Vakkasov told Ozodlik, "Nothing like that happened," and hung up the phone. The person who sent the video suggested Vakkasov was known for slapping around subordinates. No action has been taken against Vakkasov, but Ozodlik only obtained the video on April 29. Officials have been punished when videos such as this one make their way around the Internet. Zakirov's reluctance to admit he was assaulted by a superior, even though the incident was on film, could be an indication that the behavior that developed over 26 years won't be rooted out quickly. Based on material from RFE/RL's Uzbek Service. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL. Editor's Note: To receive Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia each week via e-mail, subscribe by clicking here. Russia saw further fallout from its bid to block Telegram, and data obtained by RFE/RL showed that Russian applications for U.S. asylum have soared during President Vladimir Putin's current term. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week, and some of the takeaways going forward. Attract Or Repel Russian protest signs can be clever, and a banner at a kind of parody May Day rally in Novosibirsk was no exception. It read simply: "North of Korea." The Cyrillic wording looks much like "North Korea," but the implication here was different: The banner suggested that Russia is even more like North Korea than North Korea itself -- an isolated country whose people live under oppression perhaps unmatched in the world today. That's an exaggeration, of course, but it's an image that Putin -- who starts a new six-year term on May 7 after nearly two decades in power as president or prime minister -- would hardly welcome. Particularly in his current term, the Kremlin has sought to cast Putin's Russia as a moral beacon in a world cast adrift -- an attractive alternative to what it portrays as a Western world in the corrupting thrall of the United States. Signs like the "North of Korea" banner paint a different picture. So do persistent protests over the government's bid to block Telegram, the messaging app headed by an entrepreneur who fled the country under pressure in 2014 and, at age 33, is a kind of poster boy for Kremlin critics who say Moscow punishes creativity instead of nurturing it. So, too, do statistics showing that more Russians sought asylum in the United States last year than at any time since 1994 -- perhaps the height of what Putin portrays as the terrible '90s -- and that the number has more than tripled since he returned to the presidency in 2012. RFE/RL obtained the 2017 statistics under a Freedom Of Information Act request filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Seeking Asylum The specific motives of the asylum-seekers were not revealed, but 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." Another statistic that puts Putin's tenure in perspective: The acquittal rate in Russian courts in 2016 was 0.36 percent -- far lower than the 10.3 percent recorded in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) under Stalin in 1937. Meanwhile, in a sign that moves to control dissent may face popular challenges during Putin's fourth term, protests over the ban on Telegram persisted two weeks after the media regulator ordered providers to block access to the messaging app. So did the state's struggles to implement the ban, prompting reactions that ranged from laughter or derision to anger and frustration over the obstacles it has thrown up for Russian businesses. The government dealt with the latest paper-airplane protest by playing it down, with state television giving it little coverage. As for the U.S. asylum statistics, Putin's spokesman sought to cast doubt on them without actually denying their accuracy. The Kremlin "does not know how reliable" the statistics are, Dmitry Peskov said, warning that one must be careful with all figures, given what he said was "a sea of false information." Putin can point to other figures as a display of his popularity: His official tally in the March 18 election was nearly 77 percent -- more than 56 million votes. Empty Streets But in a sign of potential insecurity -- an indication that the Kremlin does not want the presence of protesters or the absence of avid supporters to mar the inauguration-day optics -- state media reports said he may not ride to Kremlin along Moscow's main streets on Monday. Sources in the news reports gave complex reasons, but the true motive may be a desire to avoid the impression of a gulf between Putin and the people. That was how many saw it in 2012, when streets were blocked and protesters were arrested as Putin's convoy sailed down deserted main arteries and bustled him into the Kremlin to be sworn in for his current term after a stint as prime minister. Intended or not, the "North of Korea" banner might also be seen as a statement on Russia's current place on the world stage. North Korea is in the spotlight because of signs that the standoff over its missile launches and nuclear-weapons program could end -- or at least be eased -- after years of geopolitical deadlock and months of rising tension and talk of war. The leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time in a decade on April 27, and U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with the North's Kim Jong Un within weeks -- the first such summit ever. There's even talk that a Nobel Peace Prize could be in it for Trump, if things go well. Russia -- a neighbor of North Korea and a participant in past six-party talks aimed to rein in Pyongyang -- has frequently suggested the United States and North Korea hold the key to a resolution. Moscow has hailed the recent steps as promising signs. 'No Reversals' But the prospect of a U.S.-engineered resolution is a double-edged sword for the Kremlin, because it could sideline the Kremlin as a key player in one of the longest-lasting global standoffs. Under Putin, Russia has sought to make itself indispensable when it comes to major global issues -- either as part of the solution or, if that's not possible, as part of the problem. It does not like to be neither. Elsewhere in the world, Russia got both good news and bad news this past week. In Syria, rebels agreed to a Russian-brokered deal to abandon one of their last enclaves, near the city of Homs -- a development that bolsters Moscow's ally, President Bashar al-Assad, and strengthens his position ahead of any potential talks on a political transition. So, part of the solution for Assad, part of the problem for his opponents and the West. Moscow may have breathed a sigh of relief when Armenian protest leader Nikol Pashinian, who seems poised to become prime minister on May 8, vowed there will be "no geopolitical reversals" if he comes to power. Translation: The country most closely aligned with Russia in the strategic South Caucasus will not turn its back on Moscow following the ouster of a long-ruling leader who brought Yerevan into the Eurasian Economic Union -- Putin's answer to the EU. But in a sign that Western solidarity has increased since a former Russian double agent and his daughter were poisoned in an attack London has blamed on Putin's government, British lawmakers approved an amendment that echoes the U.S. Magnitsky Act -- named after a Russian whistle-blower who died in a Moscow jail in 2009. Like the U.S. law, it would enable Britain to impose sanctions on people in Russia and elsewhere who are deemed to have committed severe human rights violations. And at his swearing in as U.S. secretary of state on May 2, former CIA chief Mike Pompeo said that Washington had "imposed real consequences on Russia for its acts of aggression." 'Up To Putin' Senior Russian officials have repeatedly declared that they want warmer ties with the United States, but have suggested that Washington is to blame for the severely strained current state of relations. They have given few indications -- if any -- that Moscow is ready to make any concessions, asserting that the ball is in the U.S. court. A day after his confirmation as the top U.S. diplomat, Pompeo said the opposite while attending a NATO meeting in Brussels -- a trip that was another sign of Western solidarity. "We would love nothing more than to have them rejoin...the democratic world and behave in ways they are not doing today," Pompeo said. "The choice is really up to Vladimir Putin and the Russians." Warning that Russia threatens allies and partners "both militarily...and through an aggressive campaign to undermine Western institutions," he argued that "NATO is more indispensable than ever" and pressed the U.S. case for higher defense spending. After a surge in military spending fed a drive by Putin to modernize weapons and assert Russian authority abroad -- in part by launching air strikes and stepping up ground operations on President Bashar al-Assad's side in Syria -- Moscow is moving in the opposite direction. Russian defense spending dropped for the first time in nearly two decades in 2017, an annual report by the think tank SIPRI said, falling by 20 percent in real terms even as the country emerged from a two-year recession prompted by an oil-price plunge and worsened by Western sanctions. With Putin promising to improve living standards in his new term and searching for ways to make it happen, military outlays are expected to remain flat over the next three years or even decline, SIPRI senior researcher Siemon Wezeman told Reuters. "Very clearly that has a direct impact on procurement and on operations," he said. Live grenade found inside planter on Cancun sidewalk Cancun, Q.R. A downtown street was closed in Cancun yesterday while public security responded to the discovery of an undetonated grenade. The call was made at 7:00 a.m. when a passerby says he noticed what looked like a grenade in a sidewalk planter. Public security officials quickly arrived at Yaxchilan Avenue in the area of Sunyaxchen and Uxmal to close off the streets. The grenade was found inside a planter pot in front of a restaurant. Personnel from the Battalion suited up to remove the device from the sidewalk. Police had the streets cordoned off for nearly three hours. Elements from the bomb squadron of the Mexican army arrived to retrieve the explosive device, which was taken to their facilities. There were no reports of injuries. A MAJOR banking group has awarded 50,000 to help a credit union serve low income customers. Lloyds made the grant to LASER Credit Union, which offers loans to low earners in South Yorkshire and parts of Derbyshire. Rotherham-based LASER has been based at Effingham Square since late 2016, after leaving its former home at the Old Town Hall arcade. Staff offer crisis loans and savings services to those without access to banking, or people who may be tempted by high interest payday loans. LASER is one of 21 UK credit unions awarded a share of 1 million by Lloyds, which pledged to give 5 million away over five years. The investment should enable the credit unions to lend an extra 25 million. Director Alan Teale said: We are very pleased to have been one of the winners of this prestigious award. The money will be used to restore our reserves, which in turn will allow us to continue supporting over 3,000 families in Rotherham. Gavin being congratulated by the Mayor of Rotherham Cllr Eve Rose Keenan, her consort Pat Keenan and pupils (L-R): Alice Felvus, Libby Smallman, Jack Finnie and Finley Walsh A COMPUTER teacher is one of five people to win a trip to a conference in America as part of a global education programme. Gavin Sharp (43), a teacher at St Bedes Catholic Primary School, Kimberworth, will fly out to the University of North Carolina in July for the Discovery Education Summer Institute after impressing judges with his video about how he uses Discoverys software to teach IT. Gavin uses an educational programme developed by Discovery - which is best known for its TV channel - in his lessons as a tool to teach coding. He entered a competition run by Discovery Education which offered five teachers and senior leaders in the UK the chance to attend its five-day Summer Institute. Gavin, who has worked at St Bedes for five years, submitted an application and a two-minute video about how he uses technology, such as virtual reality, in his lessons. A week later, he heard he had been picked as one of the winners and said it would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Gavin said: Hopefully, I will come back armed with more ideas and tricks for teaching IT. I think its fair to say that as we are a primary school, by the time our pupils get to working age there will be brand new jobs that will be available that havent been thought of yet. Anything that helps them prepare at this age is absolutely essential. Gavin, of Kimberworth, is also part of a global education programme run by Apple which supports schools which use its products and was also invited to a conference in Texas during the same week. But the teacher said he chose to go to the Discovery event as he might never get another chance to attend. To watch Gavins application video visit https://bit.ly/2HuHWJy. Tony Chapman A DANGEROUS man who raped two teenage girls and sexually abused another has been jailed for 25 years. Tony Chapman (42), of Lindley Street, Eastwood, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court today (Friday) after a jury found him guilty of three counts of rape. Before the trial began, Chapman (pictured) admitted 11 counts of indecent assault involving a girl aged 13. Reporting restrictions preventing the publication of the charges relating to the victim were lifted today. The other two girls were also teenagers at the time of the offences Chapman was around 20 years older. The jury of eight women and four men also found him guilty of actual bodily harm and making threats to kill. Chapman was convicted following an investigation by the National Crime Agency as part of Operation Stovewood. Judge David Dixon told Chapman he would serve at least 14 years behind bars before being considered for release. You are a very dangerous man, he added. You have a particular fascination with girls of about 13 to 16, possibly 17, years of age. Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Chinese President Xi Jinping said. Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration to mark the 200th anniversary of Marxs birth, to remember his great character and historic deeds and to review his noble spirit and brilliant thoughts, Xi said. He also said Marxism is a scientific theory that reveals the rule of human society development in a creative manner. Marx aniversary celebrated in China Inside the Great Hall of the People, a giant portrait of Marx was hung, flanked by two rows of red flags. There were about 3,000 participants. Senior leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Wang Qishan were present. Rally closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, uphold and develop Marxism and strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era! was the message on a banner. Marxism is considered key to Chinas stability and development in the country. arrested Malappuram(Ker), May 4 (PTI) Two RSS activists were arrested in connection with the alleged attack on a photojournalist of a Malayalam daily at the Malappuram Press Club here, police said today. The two-Dilip Kumar (31) and Shibu (30) are RSS workers and were arrested last night, police said. The incident occurred when some RSS workers barged into the club and allegedly attacked the photographer, Faud Sanea, for having taken a video of their alleged manhandling of a two-wheeler rider during a protest march near here. A case had been registered against 10 RSS activists under various sections of the IPC including those related to unlawful assembly and rioting besides the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Procession Act. The case was registered on a complaint by the photojournalist, who suffered injuries on his legs and had been hospitalised. Police said trouble broke out when around 150 RSS workers took out the procession protesting the attack on an RSS office in the district a few 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 club and allegedly assaulted him and snatched his phone. Tata Motors has announced that they will be selling all defense and aerospace businesses to Tata Advanced Systems, also a part of the Tata Group, thereby bringing all Tata Motors defense related businesses under a common banner. Effort are on to reduce debt and monetise non-core assets. The sale of its defense and aerospace portfolio to Tata Advanced Systems Limited in the companys words would unlock their full potential. With this change over, all large trucks and weapons system carriers and specialized vehicle that were once supplied by Tata Motors to Indian military forces and to global defence systems, will now be handled by Tata Advanced Systems. Tata Motors, on the other hand, will continue to supply light civilian vehicles such as the Safari Storme that is currently being readied for use by the Indian army. TAL Manufacturing Solutions Limited will also be sold to Tata Advanced Systems for INR 625 crores while Tata Motors will acquire the non aerospace segment of TAL business for INR 10 lakhs. Tata Motors will also receive INR 100 crores as capital expenditure. Talks of moving all Tata Motors defense and aerospace businesses to Tata Advanced Systems follows Tata Power also selling off similar businesses to Tata Advanced Systems in April 2018. Tata Motors, will however, continue to provide civilian logistics vehicles to its Defence customers with a smaller range of vehicles coming under this banner. Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors said, Tata Motors has been a strategic partner to the Indian Ministry of Defence in defence mobility solutions for several decades. We will continue providing civilian Logistics vehicles to the Defence customers. On our transition to a full range combat vehicle player, we realized that our current portfolio is small and we need scale to unlock its true potential. We believe Tata Advanced Systems Limited will be better equipped to execute larger and more complex projects and be more globally competitive as part of the larger Tata Group.Therefore we have decided that it is in our best interests to sell this part of the business to Tata Advanced Systems Limited and participate in the future growth of this business through a revenue share agreement. [NAIROBI] Hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes that have adequate support from senior managers and governments are urgently needed in Africa and the other developing world to help tackle antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease experts say. According to the experts, the lack of uniform global criteria on antimicrobial use is hindering the implementation of AMS programmes, especially in hospitals located in developing countries. The experts from 13 countries including Argentina, Kenya, India, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States have defined uniform actions for hospitals to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials worldwide and tackle antimicrobial resistance, according to a statement from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases published last month (3 April). Low- and middle- income countries neither have the surveillance networks to detect and measure AMR nor health-care infrastructure Gunturu Revathi, Aga Khan University Hospital The seven core elements of the actions include the leadership role of senior managers of hospitals towards AMS programmes, accountability and responsibilities, actions that promote responsible use of antimicrobials or medicines, and continuous surveillance and feedback on antimicrobial use, the statement adds. The actions also include 29 checklists on essential and minimum standards relevant to both high and low-to-middle income countries (LMICs) for hospital-based AMS programmes. AMS programmes in all hospitals worldwide is a major necessity due to the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), says Celine Pulcini, an expert involved in creating the actions and a professor of infectious diseases in Nancy University Hospital and University of Lorraine, France. Having a good starting point is vital in helping identify which measures must be implemented, Pulcini adds. According to Gunturu Revathi, head of microbiology at Kenya-based Aga Khan University Hospital, AMR is a very serious problem globally. Low- and middle- income countries neither have the surveillance networks to detect and measure AMR nor health-care infrastructure to manage the patients suffering from drug-resistant bacterial infections, she tells SciDev.Net. Treatment of patients with resistant infections, according to Revathi, is five times more expensive. The poorly-funded public health facilities in LMICs cannot meet the challenge of AMR. The reasons accounting for antimicrobial resistance, she notes, include irrational use of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture, easy access to antibiotics in pharmacies without prescriptions and the lack of legal mechanisms to curtail irrational antibiotic use. Figure 1. Annual national expenditure on antibiotics global scene, 2010 Source: cddep.org (2010) Moses Alobo, programme, manager of Grand Challenges Africa at the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), says that strengthening global AMR surveillance is critical as it is the basis for informing global strategies, monitoring the effectiveness of public health and detecting new trends and threats. According to Alobo, good antimicrobial stewardship programmes promote surveillance of antimicrobials, thus helping reduce unwanted side effects and benefitting patients. Jay Berkley, a principal investigator at the Kenya Medical Research Institute with expertise in infectious diseases, says AMS programmes must be backed by true government commitment, community health education and mandatory pre-service and in-service training and accreditation of hospitals and clinics.In many ways it will be made difficult where health systems, including the supply chain and basic facilities such as sinks for hand washing are weak, he says, adding that AMS programmes are critical to LMICs because antimicrobial resistance disproportionately affects resource-poor areas that lack diagnostics and have patients who are unable to afford alternative expensive drugs. This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk 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. 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 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." A registered representative in Pennsylvania whom the Securities and Exchange Commission charged with operating a long-running offering and investment advisory fraud has been sentenced in a parallel criminal case to 63 months imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $886,214.37 in restitution. According to the SEC's complaint, filed in December 2017, Paul W. Smith raised approximately $2.35 million from approximately 30 investors by representing that he would invest their money in publicly traded securities through The Haverford Group. However, Smith made very few securities investments and instead largely used investors' money to repay other investors and for his own personal use. The same day that the SEC charged Smith, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced criminal charges against Smith that arose from the same conduct alleged in the SEC's complaint. On December 20, 2017, a federal district court permanently enjoined Smith from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, and Sections 206(1), 206(2), and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-8, and deemed Smith's liability for disgorgement and interest satisfied by the restitution to be ordered in the parallel criminal case. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged two York, Pennsylvania residents with insider trading on confidential information about the impending merger of two potato chip manufacturers. The SEC alleges that David A. Zimliki learned from a close personal friend that potato chip manufacturer Golden Enterprises Inc. was going to merge with privately-held Utz Quality Foods, LLC. The SEC further alleges that before the merger was announced Zimliki bought shares of Golden Enterprises and tipped his friend, Russell P. Schiefer, who also bought shares. Shortly after the merger was announced, Zimliki and Schiefer each sold their Golden Enterprises shares, realizing profits of $9,319 and $5,877 respectively. The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, charges Zimliki and Schiefer with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Zimliki and Schiefer agreed to settle the charges by consenting to permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest, and penalties equal to the amount of their respective profits. The SEC acknowledges the significant assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in this matter. The leading contenders in San Franciscos mayors race have signed a campaign challenge issued by the Tipping Point Community charitable organization to secure 1,000 units of housing for homeless people in their first year in office. Finding ways to tackle San Franciscos homelessness epidemic has been a front-and-center issue for each of the citys mayoral candidates. Angela Alioto, London Breed, Jane Kim, Mark Leno and Amy Farah Weiss have all signed the pledge. Every one of them said, This is a no-brainer, thank you, said Daniel Lurie, Tipping Points founder and CEO. Lurie said his organizations pledge represents one way to push the candidates to make a tangible impact on one of the citys thorniest problems and in a short period of time. The key is, whoever wins, is the mayor committed to the issue, or are they paying lip service during the campaign? he said. I think were all unified in this. We have to solve this issue for the people living on the streets and for the citizens of San Francisco. Tipping Points pledge offers few constraints on how the candidates can reach the goal there are no restrictions on where they can be built, how much to set aside for rent subsidies or whether the units would be for homeless individuals or families. But it does specify that the units would be in addition to any permanent, supportive housing units or temporary shelters currently in the citys pipeline. Lurie said that Tipping Point, which focuses on efforts to combat poverty in the Bay Area, would be in lockstep with the citys next mayor to help them achieve the 1,000-unit goal. Tipping Point has already been scouting potential housing sites, Lurie said. Last year, in what was hailed as the biggest donation of its kind ever made in San Francisco, Tipping Point made a pledge of its own vowing to raise $100 million to help cut the chronically homeless population in half over five years. Dominic Fracassa Mike Kepka / San Francisco Chronicle 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. Early voting: Election Day in San Francisco is June 5, but next week the citys Department of Elections is opening the City Hall Voting Center for anyone who wants to cast their ballot early. Beginning Monday, May 7, and running through 8 p.m. June 5, the voting center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with the exception of Memorial Day, May 28. The voting center, located on City Halls bottom floor, will also be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the two weekends before the election: May 26 and 27 and June 2 and 3 Residents can also visit the center to register to vote, update their voter registration, drop off vote-by-mail ballots or exchange a spoiled ballot. Dominic Fracassa Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa 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. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In 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 The next time a startup with a nifty idea tries to unleash a transportation innovation on city streets, San Francisco hopes to be ready with a framework that includes a permitting system and adheres to goals such as collecting data, increasing disability access and reducing congestion. Thats among recommendations in an Emerging Mobility report released Thursday by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority. We want to create a situation where we can proactively partner with companies, so were not governing by fire drill, Warren Logan, the agencys senior planner, said in reference to the scramble ignited by the recent influx of motorized stand-up scooters for rent. Three companies, Spin, LimeBike and Bird, deposited hundreds of the two-wheelers on city sidewalks in late March without government approval. Although many riders enthusiastically hopped on board, pedestrians and others complained about blocked sidewalks. San Francisco, which lacked laws for the vehicles, rushed to respond impounding improperly parked or ridden scooters, issuing cease-and-desist orders to the companies, and then on Tuesday adopting a one-year pilot plan that creates a permit system and caps the number of scooters. Besides the e-scooters, San Francisco is awash in all kinds of emerging mobility services, including bike sharing (Ford GoBike, Jump), scooter sharing (Scoot), car sharing (Turo, Getaround, Maven, Zipcar), carpooling (Scoop, Waze Carpool), commuter vans (Chariot), ride-hailing (Uber and Lyft), autonomous-vehicle testing (Cruise Automation), and courier services (Caviar, Good Eggs, Grubhub, Instacart, Postmates, Omni, Amazons Flex). Its pretty much guaranteed that other disruptive transportation ideas will come along. I dont even want to speculate what it will be dockless jet packs? said Jeff Hobson, the transportation authoritys head of planning. Whatever it is, the goal is to be ready with a comprehensive strategy that says, Heres how to work with the city. Please come talk to us before you land, and we commit to work on it expeditiously. Companies that partner with the city make life easier for everyone, the two planners said, citing examples such as the Jump dockless e-bike service, which got an exclusive permit before starting service here and has now been acquired by Uber. Of course, the biggest examples of disruptive mobility are Uber and Lyft, both of which barreled into San Francisco and other cities without asking for permission and now have thousands of cars on the streets. Because they are regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission, the ride-hailing companies are fairly impervious to San Francisco-specific rules, but the city may be able to dangle incentives to win cooperation on its goals. The city has a lot of assets these companies want to use, whether thats roadways or curbs or sidewalks, Hobson said. I think we can come up with a curb-management strategy that works better than the status quo. Because Uber and Lyft would like more designated drop-off/pickup spots, they may be willing to do something in return, such as providing more data or giving more training to drivers, he said. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Besides getting startups to play nice, San Francisco has a range of other transit goals. They include collecting comprehensive data from mobility companies; ensuring access for disabled people, late-night riders and residents of underserved areas; supporting public transit expansion; enforcing safety such as the Vision Zero goal to end all traffic deaths; and managing congestion on the street, sidewalks and curbs. San Francisco may consider congestion pricing, charging more for peak-period road use in core areas, a strategy used in London and under consideration in New York and Seattle. Well seek guidance from the board on whether and how to implement such a strategy, Logan said. Over the past decade, weve seen a lot of different services popping up on our streets, Logan said. The agency developed 10 guiding principles so that when new services arise, We can say, Hey, heres what we stand for and evaluate how the services perform against our goals. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid At his companys recent F8 conference in San Jose, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had a message for developers: Keep building. On Tuesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai will take the stage at the search giants I/O event, where hell probably make similar exhortations. But amid the calls for more apps and gadgets, a group of tech insiders some of whom worked closely with Facebook and Googles top brass are preaching a different Silicon Valley gospel: Slow down and think about what youre doing. The Center for Humane Technology, a nonprofit organization formed this year by engineers and investors who profited from the past decades social and mobile boom, is having a moment, as concerns over the reach, power and influence of tech grow. The problems, they say, go beyond headlines about data leaks, password breaches and election interference. Tech giants like Facebook and Google have gained sway over billions of people through subtle Pavlovian techniques that keep them coming back for more. The examples stare at you from your smartphones home screen: The red badge on Facebooks app that signals a posted comment or message. YouTube and Netflix videos that automatically cue up to play one after the other. The Snapchat orange fireball emoji that signals a streak of daily chats between friends. Tristan Harris, the centers co-founder and executive director and a former Google designer, wants people to realize those attention-grabbing techniques are intentionally designed to hijack our minds and our society. Technology is supposed to be a tool; it is supposed to give you superpowers, he said. Thats not what were doing right now. We are handing over our values to a nonhuman entity that does not have our interests in mind. The organization isnt suggesting that people delete their Facebook accounts and chuck their smartphones and laptops into the bay. Nor is it suggesting that Facebook or Google shed hundreds of billions of dollars in market value and turn into nonprofits. Were not attacking anybody. The center is entirely about trying to make all of these products we love more humane, said Roger McNamee, a founding adviser who as a venture capitalist made profitable investments in Facebook, Palm and Yelp. The goal is to bring together policymakers and medical professionals and technologists to talk about the dark side of social media and other apps that are on smartphones, he said. The center hopes to educate consumers and persuade tech executives to change business practices that dont help people, said Chris Hughes, one of Zuckerbergs original dorm-room co-founders. Hughes joined the center as an adviser last month. Facebooks recent controversies over election manipulation, hate speech and the Cambridge Analytica data leak are helping to focus more attention on the centers messages. Its time for a deeper, broader conversation about the data, who owns it, who gets paid for it, Hughes said. We have to challenge the leaders of these companies and leaders of societies to make sure these technologies are working for us. Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images Hughes is the latest high-profile tech luminary to join the centers leadership team, which has deep roots in Silicon Valley, starting with Harris, a former Apple software engineer who was a Google design ethicist and product philosopher. He left in 2014 to start a movement called Time Well Spent, using public venues like the TED conference and 60 Minutes to make people more aware of how technology is used to steer behavior. Companies like Facebook and Google offer their services for free. That means they depend on increasing time spent on their apps and websites to increase advertising revenue or to mine information about users habits and preferences. Behavior-changing technology became crucial as they competed with each other for the attention of users, Harris said in a recent interview with The Chronicle. So, for example, seeing a red notification badge on Facebook has conditioned people to stop what they are doing, open the app and gain instant gratification by checking their feeds. Videos that play automatically encourage binge watching, which keeps viewers on YouTube or Netflix longer. And Snapchats streak emoji encourages friends to launch the app at least once a day, which takes over as the way you know that you are still friends, Harris said. Google and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment about the center. A Facebook representative cited a December post by two Facebook researchers who said the company has pledged $1 million for research into how media technologies affect well-being of youth. The post said Facebook is also investing in research to better understand digital distraction and the factors that can pull people away from important face-to-face interactions. To be sure, ad-supported television, radio and newspapers also compete in what Hughes called the attention economy. But the rise of smartphones and social media has intensified the battle. Tech addiction explains why people feel lost without their smartphones. A survey released in November by Deloitte found that the average American looks at a smartphone 47 times per day. Those ages 18 to 24 look at their phones 86 times per day, the survey said. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle 2018 Its the first thing that we look at when we wake up, the last thing we look at before we go to sleep, said Aza Raskin, center co-founder and former head of user experience for Firefox browser creator Mozilla. He also founded Internet radio startup Songza, which Google bought in 2014. This is like a middleman that sits between us and all of our friends, said Raskin, whose father, the late Jef Raskin, was an Apple project manager credited as the father of the Macintosh. So it controls our social interactions. We think we are in control because we are scrolling down the News Feed, but Facebook is the one deciding whose update we see, who we stay in close contact with. Elias Aboujaoude, a Stanford University clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, applauded the centers efforts, but noted that mental health experts like himself have been warning for years that technology is rewiring our brains. The message from the research community has been loud and clear all this time, which is that these technologies are wonderful in many ways, but they come with risks, said Aboujaoude, author of Virtually You: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality, based on his experience treating patients for Internet addiction. Aboujaoude said he doesnt think the center alone is going to make a huge difference. This is a global phenomenon, and its going to take folks from different backgrounds coming together to have an impact. And such a movement might have been more effective five or six years ago, he said. The big question is, is it too late? I hope not. We have become so dependent on these technologies. We allowed them to basically take over our lives. While short on specifics, the centers website lists four broad ways it plans to redefine technologys future: Inspiring companies like Apple, Samsung and Microsoft to design device screens that minimize constant distractions. Lobbying government agencies to pressure tech companies to better protect consumers. Creating a cultural awakening so people recognize the difference between technology designed to extract the most attention from us, and technology whose goals are aligned with our own. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Engaging engineers and other employees to lobby against a system that ruins society. Hughes, whose net worth Forbes recently estimated at $430 million, largely thanks to his Facebook stake, acknowledges he has profited from the companys success. I do feel some responsibility for what Facebook has become, he said. But, he added, everyone who has worked for these companies has a particular responsibility to think about how they should be forces for good and not be forces that are destructive. The center has raised an undisclosed amount of money from individuals, trust funds and foundations, while some of its own leaders and advisers have also contributed, said center public relations director Lynn Fox, who during her career has been a spokeswoman for Apple and Google. It operates from the office of Common Sense Media, a San Francisco nonprofit that advises parents and teachers about video games and other media that are appropriate for children. Both groups partnered in a Truth About Tech campaign to raise awareness of digital addiction. The center is pushing its agenda at a time when Facebooks privacy and data problems are causing people to re-examine their reliance on tech, said Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer. What its ultimately going to lead to is a much more healthier, balanced approach to technology, Steyer said. And there are signs the centers mantra might be getting through. Zuckerberg, who previously wrote that his company would focus this year on ensuring time spent on Facebook is time well spent, told Wall Street analysts on April 25, in a call to discuss the companys record $12 billion in quarterly revenue, that he had a three-year plan to keep building Facebook to not only be a service that people love to use, but also one thats good for people and good for society. Benny Evangelista is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bevangelista@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChronicleBenny Taking control of your phone 1. Turn off all notifications that dont come from people messaging apps are OK, but alerts about other activity could be trying to trick you into engaging. 2. Use the grayscale setting for phone apps to avoid colorful icons that act as shiny rewards. 3. Limit your apps on the home screen to essential tools, like maps or calendars. 4. Launch other apps only by searching and typing their names this might be enough to make you pause and ask if its really necessary. 5. Charge your phone outside your bedroom, to avoid the temptation of checking it at night or in the morning. 6. If you have trouble cutting back, go cold turkey and remove social media apps from your phone. You can still use most of them on a computer or a mobile Web browser. 7. Send audio messages or make calls instead of texting. 8. Download apps that help reduce screen time. The Center for Humane Technology has a list here: https://humanetech.com/take-control/ An elderly gunman shot and killed a woman and wounded a man Thursday afternoon at an apartment complex on the outskirts of Mill Valley before he was found dead roughly two hours later, from a gunshot wound, after tactical officers entered the room in which he had holed up, Marin County Sheriffs officials said. The first report of shots fired came at 3:24 p.m. on the 900 block of East Blithedale Avenue in the Alto neighborhood just outside the city limits, near Horse Hill. Sheriffs officials quickly warned of an active shooter, and deputies blocked off Tower Drive north of East Blithedale, just west of Highway 101 on a main route into Mill Valley. Sheriffs Sgt. Brenton Schneider said deputies found a man and a woman suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds and carried them to waiting ambulances, which took them to a hospital. Unfortunately, the female victim in this incident is deceased, Schneider said Thursday night. Now Playing: Sacramento police hosted a public meeting Monday to provide people with life-saving tips in case they find themselves in an active shooter situation. A SWAT officer led the session, highlighting the "Run, Hide, Fight" protocol. While Sacramento police have done these types of events before at the request of community groups, Monday's meeting was held at police headquarters and open to the public. Video: KCRA He said the man was in the intensive care unit at a local hospital, believed to be Marin General Hospital, but he declined to give his condition. He did not release the names of the gunman or his victims. The suspected shooter, a man about 80 years old, fled into a room in the apartment complex, forcing deputies to evacuate nearby apartments, Schneider said. Authorities urged residents in the Mill Valley neighborhoods just west of Highway 101 to shelter in place. Deputies set up a perimeter and, late in the afternoon, entered the room where the gunman was known to be. Tactical teams made entry to an apartment and located a male deceased from a gunshot wound, Schneider said shortly before 6 p.m., informing residents that the shelter-in-place order had been lifted. We believe there is no further threat to the community at this time. It was unclear what relationship the gunman had with his victims, but a woman who identified herself as Sarah Butler ran out of the complex shortly after the incident and shouted, Some crazy guy showed up, shot the building owner and the person he was with, said Josh Edelson, a freelance photographer who lives in a neighboring apartment building. Edelson went out with his camera, he said, after seeing from his balcony an older man face down in the street. As firefighters loaded the man into an ambulance, he said, a uniformed officer ran up carrying an injured woman over his shoulder. 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. Officers and deputies from at least six law-enforcement agencies were at the scene. Footage from television news helicopters showed officers outside the apartment complex immediately after the incident, pointing guns and helping residents flee to safety. Schneider said detectives will remain at the apartment complex throughout the night investigating. There were no immediate details on the nature of a dispute or what might have precipitated it. Chronicle staff writer Jenna Lyons contributed to this report. Annie Ma and Peter Fimrite are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @anniema15, @pfimrite The deadly Mill Valley-area shooting that sent residents scrambling for safety erupted when the owner of an apartment complex attempted to talk to a tenant about an eviction, prompting the tenant to grab a revolver and shoot the landlord and his daughter before turning the gun on himself, authorities said Friday. The owners daughter, 30-year-old Sabrina Elizabeth Lew, died from the wounds she suffered Thursday afternoon, while her father, 84-year-old Leonard Lew whod had at least one previous dispute with the alleged gunman was being treated at a local hospital, officials said. Both victims lived in Mill Valley. The Marin County Sheriffs Office said the deceased killer was Victor Aurelino Lugo, 71, a resident of the modest, two-story complex at 939 East Blithedale Ave., just west of Highway 101 beside the main route into Mill Valley. Agency officials said he argued with the owner and his daughter after learning of his pending eviction, then opened fire. The shooting was first reported by a neighbor who called 911 at 3:44 p.m., and sheriffs deputies arrived two minutes later to find the wounded Sabrina and Leonard Lew who was alert enough to provide the name of his alleged attacker before evacuating them to ambulances, officials said. Now Playing: A woman has died from her injuries, while a male victim who was shot remains at a hospital's ICU after an active shooter situation in Mill Valley on Thursday. The suspected gunman is dead. Sheriff's officials say he was found in an apartment complex Video: KTVU At that point, deputies didnt know where the gunman had gone, so they put out an active shooter alert as they swarmed the complex with guns drawn and helped residents flee to safety. Some neighbors locked their doors as deputies cordoned off streets. Soon, authorities instructed people over a wider swath of Mill Valley to shelter in place. Shortly after 5 p.m., the sheriffs tactical team initiated a high-risk search of the complex and entered Lugos apartment, where they reported finding him dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot. A revolver was found lying at his feet. Officials said they believe Lugo used the same weapon to shoot his victims. Lt. Steve de la O, a sheriffs spokesman, said he couldnt comment on whether Lugo had a criminal history. But he said Lugo had called authorities in January for advice regarding a living situation. Lugo then met with a deputy about a dispute he was having with the building owner, and he told the deputy that the argument had not turned violent. The two men had disagreed about alterations Lugo wanted to make to his apartment, said de la O, who would not elaborate. Leonard Lew remained in the intensive care unit at Marin General Hospital in Kentfield on Friday. Investigators had not yet been able to speak to him because of his condition but said he is expected to survive. The two victims were listed as having addresses at the apartment complex as well as at a nearby house in Mill Valley, where neighbors said they lived. On Friday morning, the mood was somber at the complex, which sits in a tree-lined neighborhood and has a courtyard surrounding a pool. A notice from the Marin County coroner was posted on the alleged gunmans door on the second floor, barring entry while investigators continued to sift through the scene. A woman who answered a phone listed as belonging to Leonard Lew at one of the apartments said, We are not taking any calls right now. Were in the middle of a family crisis. Al Bedrosian, who lives across the street from where the attack occurred, said the shooting struck a chord with him. 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. Its a sad situation. It brings the reality of gun violence ... right to our driveway, he said outside his home Friday. Were still trying to process the reality of what happened. It shows you something like this can happen anywhere, even in this idyllic suburb of Mill Valley. Some people have commented, Why did he have access to a gun? Bedrosian said. It brings the whole mental health thing into play. Were there mental health issues? What caused him to snap like this? Robin Kaukonen, who moved a few houses down from the Lews Mill Valley house in 2002, said she knew the family as soft-spoken, quiet and unassuming. Kaukonen said she saw police helicopters overhead Thursday night but didnt know anyone had died or that a shooting had involved a family that lived on her block. Kaukonen said she would see Sabrina Lew, and sometimes her mother, out walking the familys dog, with Leonard Lew working in the yard. Its pretty shocking. I dont know them super well, but theyre really nice neighbors. I cant even imagine that Lenny and his wife lost their daughter, she said, her voice breaking. And I wish them the best. Chronicle staff writer Annie Ma contributed to this report. Sophie Haigney and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sophie.haigney@sfchronicle.com, jylons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophieHaigney, @JennaJourno A former Contra Costa County sheriffs deputy accused of having sex with female inmates while on duty at a Richmond jail was charged with four felonies, prosecutors said Friday. Patrick Morseman, a 27-year-old Vallejo resident, faces up to five years in state prison for the sex acts allegedly committed March 31 at the West County Detention Facility. The Contra Costa County district attorneys office charged Morseman with four counts of sexual activity with a confined consenting adult. Yet one of the women told The Chronicle that neither she nor her cellmate consented to the sex, making it rape. One of them said Morseman gave her $300 to stay quiet. A spokesman for the sheriffs office confirmed a transfer of funds. Neama Rahmani, an attorney representing the two women, said they were disappointed with the charging decision. Our position remains the same, he said. This was a non-consensual sexual encounter. The California statute under which a law enforcement officer can be charged with having unlawful sex with a jail inmate uses the term consenting adult, but specifies that consent is not a defense, said Scott Alonso, a spokesman for the district attorneys office. In general, he said, new evidence could always change the charges as the case moves forward. Phyllis Redmond, chief assistant district attorney, said that after reviewing the evidence she has seen, We filed based on what we can prove to a judge or a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. She called Morsemans actions an abuse of authority. This is very serious conduct, she said. Obviously a confinement situation in a jail there is an imbalance of power. 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. Prosecutors said in the complaint filed Thursday that Morseman engaged in oral copulation and had sexual intercourse with both of the women. One of them has since been released from jail. Morseman was arrested April 4 and later released on $100,000 bail. He had worked as a deputy for 2 years. Redmond said a new warrant has been issued for Morsemans arrest and that she will ask for his bail to be set at $200,000. Rahmanis office has filed a civil claim with the county seeking damages, a precursor to a lawsuit. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov UC Berkeley announced Thursday that it will build student housing on the universitys crime-ridden but time-honored Peoples Park, offer space to house the homeless in supportive apartments, maintain some open space, and create a memorial to the parks history as a hub for violent student protests a half century ago. The name Peoples Park speaks to its fiercely guarded role as a haven for the homeless who gather during the day and eat free food served by groups such as Food Not Bombs. But few are defending that purpose for the park anymore, especially since UC Berkeley has been overwhelmed by a housing crisis. The school says the campus is 6,900 beds short of its goal to house half of its undergraduates and a quarter of its graduate students. Overall, the campus has about 42,000 students. A week ago, a neighborhood group sued the university, saying the unhoused students are soaking up the limited supply of affordable housing in Berkeley, said Phil Bokovoy, president of Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods. I think Peoples Park is an ideal site for dense student housing and for supportive housing and we fully support the universitys efforts to develop housing on the site, Bokovoy said, referring to other neighborhood groups on the south side of the city. Both the student housing and supportive apartments are expected to be no more than five stories tall, except along Haste Street, where an unspecified taller building could rise. The 2.8-acre Peoples Park sits between Haste to the north and Dwight Way to the south. Bowditch Street lies along the parks east end, and Telegraph Avenue is to the west. Campus Chancellor Carol Christ said she is planning for up to 1,000 beds for sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. She said the benefit of building on Peoples Park is that it not only will add more student housing, but it will also free up housing for residents of Berkeley, help the homeless, and address crime and safety concerns. The university says it spends $369,400 a year to clean up the park and try to keep it safe, with $200,000 of that spent on police. The figure also includes a social worker paid $92,000 a year to work with the homeless in Peoples Park. We own the land, but were essentially running a daytime homeless shelter in the park. Its a safety problem, Christ told The Chronicle last year when Peoples Park first emerged as a student-housing option. UC police have received calls for more than 10,000 crimes in the past five years, the university said, with 425 this year. Last year, a woman was arrested after allegedly feeding methamphetamine to a toddler playing in the park. According to the university, since 2013 there have been five rapes in the park, 140 assaults including 15 with a deadly weapon, 182 drug crimes, 42 thefts, and seven reports of indecent exposure among other crimes. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. Christ said the university also will make land available to construct permanent housing with on-site services, such as life-skills training for people with a history of substance abuse or homelessness. The regents first considered student housing for the property at 2556 Haste St. when President Dwight Eisenhower sat in the White House. But in the 1950s, the regents didnt own the land dotted with the homes of professors and others who had no desire to sell. In 1967, the regents used eminent domain to force them out, paying out $1.3 million. They bulldozed the homes then ran out of money. What had been a block of cozy homes soon became a deserted junkyard. Questions over its fate have inspired student protests for decades and in 1969 led deputies to kill a man and blind another on infamous Bloody Thursday. Dan Mogulof, a UC Berkeley spokesman, said student housing at Peoples Park is expected to be completed in about four years. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov Two former supervisors involved in the cleanup of radioactive contaminants at the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard have pleaded guilty to falsifying soil samples in the widening environmental scandal that has engulfed San Franciscos largest redevelopment project. The guilty pleas were made in 2017 as part of a criminal federal investigation that had been under seal until Wednesday, when one of the supervisors was sentenced to eight months in prison. The other supervisor was given the same sentence in January. Documents related to the cases were not immediately available online Thursday night. Scrutiny of the cleanup at the shipyard has intensified in the past year, with more than 10,500 housing units, a hotel, schools and retail spaces anticipated for the 400-acre project. These are the first criminal cases to be made public. When our communitys health and safety is in jeopardy, we must vigilantly respond with all of our law enforcement tools, Alex Tse, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, said in a statement released Thursday. This sentence reflects our commitment to ensure that bogus reports intended to deceive the protectors of our environment will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood near the toxic parcels, said that after decades of outcry from the community and reports of errors in the soil testing, she found the U.S. attorneys actions promising. Cohen will hold a hearing on the cleanup May 14 at the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee. Justin Hubbard, 48, and Stephen Rolfe, 65, were both supervisors for Tetra Tech EC Inc., the main contractor working for the Navy on cleanup at the EPA Superfund site. In his May 18, 2017, plea agreement, Hubbard admitted substituting 5-gallon buckets of clean soil for potentially contaminated soil at the shipyard site. He then filled out fraudulent chain of custody forms, which were submitted to the Navy as evidence that the soil was free of harmful radiation. Rolfe admitted similar crimes while describing a culture of widespread fraud and constant pressure to produce clean soil samples. On multiple occasions, he said in his March 15, 2017, plea agreement, Tetra Tech supervisors ordered him to get the hell out of contaminated areas and to get clean dirt. On about 20 occasions, Rolfe told his employees to switch out potentially toxic soil with clean soil, so that the soil would pass lab tests and Tetra Tech would be able to say that certain portions of the shipyard were untainted. My motivation came from pressure applied by Tetra Tech supervisors, Rolfe said in his plea, indicating the criminal investigation may be ongoing. When reached at a phone number listed for Hubbard, a man who identified himself as Justin Hubbard said, How bout this, go f yourself, and hung up. He called back two minutes later from the same phone number and said, You can tell that EPA c to go f herself. Rolfe could not be reached for comment. Sam Singer, a San Francisco public relations and crisis communications consultant hired by Tetra Tech, said in a statement that the company is fully supportive of the actions taken against Hubbard and Rolfe by the Justice Department. Tetra Tech vehemently rejects this type of activity and will pursue all legal actions available to it to recover the harm that the actions of these former employees have caused to Tetra Tech, the Navy, and the local community, Singer said. We have zero tolerance for violations of established protocols and procedures on any project site. Radioactive waste has plagued the shipyard since the 1940s and 1950s, when the Navy used dry docks to decontaminate ships exposed to atomic bomb tests in the Pacific. The shipyard also housed the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, a cluster of buildings where scientists studied the effects of radiation on living tissue. Rats, donkeys and dogs were given lethal doses of poisonous isotopes. The Navy has admitted that the $1 billion cleanup for the Superfund site was botched and the data skewed. Last month, an environmental watchdog group released a letter written by John Chesnutt, manager of the EPAs local Superfund Division, which stated that as much as 97 percent of Tetra Techs cleanup data from two parcels on the site was suspect and should be retested. Tetra Tech has previously responded that both conclusions are inaccurate. The Pasadena environmental engineering firm, which reported having revenue of $2.8 billion in 2017, said it will pay for retesting. We believe that any concerns can be directly addressed by actually retesting and analyzing the areas in question, Tetra Tech CEO Dan Batrack said last month. We want the Hunters Point community and the Navy to know that Tetra Tech stands by its work at Hunters Point. The sentences of Hubbard and Rolfe lend credence to previous allegations by whistle-blowers who worked on the Hunters Point cleanup. In complaints to regulators, sworn statements last year, and media accounts first aired by NBC Bay Area, several former radiation technicians have said that Tetra Tech cut corners in the cleanup, falsified data and covered up evidence of radioactive contamination. 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. Several of the whistle-blowers sworn declarations accuse Hubbard of violating protocol, telling them to commit fraud and threatening them when they raised objections. Anthony Smith, a radiation control technician, alleged that in 2009 Hubbard told him to dispose of a soil sample that had come back from the lab showing elevated levels of cesium 137, a radioactive isotope. According to Smith, Hubbard told him and other workers at the site to get rid of it and not say a word. Bert Bowers, a radiation safety officer, said that when he raised questions about the unmonitored movement of potentially contaminated material on the site, Hubbard just blew up, verbally attacking me. Robert McLean, a senior radiological control technician, said, The conduct and statements of Mr. Hubbard seemed to threaten our jobs and also seemed to threaten us physically. In an email sent to The Chronicle earlier Thursday, a Tetra Tech spokeswoman disputed Smiths account about the sample containing cesium 137 and said his story wasnt credible. David Anton, an attorney representing Smith and six other Hunters Point whistle blowers, said the criminal sentences of the Tetra Tech supervisors are just the beginning. Justin Hubbard and Stephen Rolfe were people who took orders from higher up, Anton said. It means that the fraud there is real, despite what Tetra Tech said, and its gotta be cleaned up right, otherwise its a hazard for everybody else. Most of our days are filled with routine and pass by in an indiscriminate blur. Just a few days in a lifetime are remembered by the date, minute-to-minute, from beginning to end. Weddings, the birth of children, the deaths of loved ones, major news events. Add one very unusual day to my list: April 30, 2018. The day my Chronicle colleague Peter Hartlaub and I attempted to ride every Muni line bus, train, streetcar and cable car in one day. It was a day we remembered why we love San Francisco so much. The idea we called Total Muni 2018 came about in December when I tweeted a photo of my 4-year-old son typing every Muni bus line into my husbands computer. Hes obsessed with buses and numbers, and has memorized all the routes from the 1-California to the 91-Third Street/19th Avenue Owl. Hartlaub, our pop culture critic and expert Chronicle archive diver, issued a challenge. He said Id be a hero to my son if I re-created a 1980 stunt cooked up by Larry Baer, now president and CEO of the San Francisco Giants. Baer and his friend Andrew Coblentz rode every Muni line in one day. I agreed to give it a shot, but only if Hartlaub joined me. Months of planning ensued. Too many meetings. Too many Excel spreadsheets. Too many anxiety dreams. Frankly, the monumental task riding at least one stop on all 60 lines in a day began to feel like taking the bar exam or undergoing surgery something we were locked into and had to endure. But it proved an incredible journey. We made new friends on buses, on a passing bicycle and in a trailing rickshaw. We logged 28,249 steps walking or running nearly 13 miles. We were escorted by two celebrity chauffeurs. We met one unforgettable dog. But mostly, we were shocked by how many people tracked our trip online and sent us messages of support throughout the day. Theres been so much bad news lately, it seemed like people were eager for a silly, lighthearted diversion, and the fun of watching two people tackle an absurd quest proved contagious. Total Muni was everything, read one tweet at the end of the day. It reminded us how amazing this city truly is. Small correction: San Francisco is great. Its San Franciscans who are truly amazing. The day began when Hartlaub, ace photographer Jessica Christian and I drove from the Chronicle building at Fifth and Mission streets to Treasure Island, where we caught the 25-Treasure Island at the ungodly hour of 3:12 a.m., ensuring we beat Bay Bridge traffic. We sailed back into the city for what quickly became the most depressing segment of our journey. You know how heart-wrenching downtown is during the day? Well 4 a.m. is far worse. It was like Night of the Living Dead on Market Street, with dazed people stumbling around, every block dotted with people sleeping under blankets and heaps of trash everywhere. A crazed-looking man appeared from behind a bus stop and lunged at us. It wasnt clear if he was trying to grab us or our backpacks, but we screamed at him and ran away. I couldnt wait to get out of there. We knocked out a few buses on Market Street and around downtown and hit the 90-San Bruno and 91-Third Street/19th Avenue owls, which run only at night. For the first 2 hours the city was dark, dirty and a little scary, and I was fully regretting taking on this daunting chore. But our spirits rose with the sun at 6 a.m., when we arrived at the cable car turnaround at Powell and Market streets. Jeremy Whiteman, an information technology consultant in San Bruno, helps decorate cable cars for Christmas and other events. Hed kindly arranged for car 24, decked out in Giants paraphernalia for the teams 60th anniversary of arriving in the city, to await us like a chariot. Now Playing: A look at Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight's Total Muni 2018 adventure. Video: San Francisco Chronicle Cable car gripman Val Lupiz, 53, gave me a Muni cap and patches for my 4-year-old and said he was just as transit-obsessed when he was a kid. Hed ride the L-Taraval to the zoo with his mom, but decline to go into the zoo because the point of the journey was the train ride. I was your son, he said as we rode the clanging cable car up Nob Hill. You can see where it ends up. This was the only thing I ever really wanted to do in my life. Add riding the first cable car of the morning to your bucket list. The pink sky behind the Transamerica Pyramid was a stunning site Ill never forget. We then ticked off the other two cable car lines, the Dreaded 88 (a far-off, limited-hours shuttle to Balboa Park BART Station) and some tricky commuter buses downtown that operate for just small windows of time. We were punchy and a little delirious an accurate description of our mood pretty much all day and Hartlaub at one point tried to use a glue stick as ChapStick. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle And then, another big bright spot: meeting Baer and Lou Seal, the Giants mascot, in front of the Ferry Building just after 8:30 a.m. My husband, sons and some friends joined the fun. We all rode the F-car west down Market, bid farewell to Baer and Lou Seal, and continued on our way. My boys, Muni experts, helped Hartlaub with our route through Potrero Hill and Bayview-Hunters Point before continuing on the 23-Monterey to school. A man asked us to autograph the map hed printed of our journey. A woman and her son chased us to offer a sandwich and bottle of water. On the T-Third, we met an adorable older couple named Roz and Tom Jeong who live near the Cow Palace, have long subscribed to the Chronicle and said they were hoping to spot us. We have senior passes! said Roz, who did 100 percent of the talking for the pair. (Note to the Jeongs: I couldnt find you on social media, but you became #TotalMuni2018 favorites after I posted your photo and called you the cutest couple in San Francisco.) We met another Total Muni Twitter sensation along the T-Third route: a dark brown dog without tags and with dirt and twigs in her fur. She ran full-throttle at us as we waited on the platform. She followed us onto the train, and we just couldnt shake her. Christian, the photographer, peeled off to take Felton so named by us after the 54-Felton to Animal Care and Control. (We kept calling the dog a boy on Twitter. Animal Care and Control, which knows more about these things than we do, corrected us.) The Hartlaub family offered to adopt her if no owner claimed her. But Judy Choy, a supervisor at the shelter, said Saturday that a man had come forward as the dogs owner and was planning to return Sunday to take her home. The man, who lives in supportive housing in the Tenderloin, told Choy hed been with the dog at a public event near where we encountered the pup Monday, and theyd gotten separated. Choy said the man had already visited the dog, whose real name is Felicia, and the two had an obvious rapport. The shelter was spaying the dog for free on Saturday, but charged the man $190 for Felicias release. The organization that runs the mans supportive housing complex paid 20 percent for the dogs release, and Hartlaub has offered to cover the rest. Showing, yet again, how Total Muni brought out the best in everybody. Soon after photographer Santiago Mejia joined us to take Christians place, and we met up with our first celebrity chauffeur: former Mayor Art Agnos, who drove us from the Bayview to the Excelsior to help us bypass some of the long 29-Sunset route. Savvy as ever, Agnos sported a Mark Leno for Mayor button and played Greek folk music. He said his 3-year-old grandson, Daniel, loves Muni. I asked how many buses theyve ridden together in one day. Just two, he replied. Thats about enough for me, Agnos quipped. After a couple of buses in the Excelsior, we rode the 43-Masonic to Monterey Boulevard and Foerster Street. Who should be waiting for us on the sidewalk but Burrito Justice armed with a bag of burritos! We were so hungry and tired by that point, it was like seeing a mirage in the desert. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle I have to play the role San Francisco has given me, he explained. The Twitter celebrity in real life, hes a 47-year-old dad named John Oram earned his nickname during his crusade a decade ago to allow the El Tonayense taco truck to park near John OConnell High in the Mission, despite a city ordinance keeping food trucks 1,500 feet from schools. He also coined the newish name for his neighborhood, La Lengua, in the southern tip of the Mission. Oram works for a mapping company and said he found the logistics of planning Total Muni 2018 fascinating. He told me the day after our journey that he calculated wed traveled more than 68 miles. We rode some more buses in Glen Park, Bernal Heights and Potrero Hill before hitching a ride with our second celebrity chauffeur: stand-up comic Will Durst. The guy drives like a New York City cabbie, and we got to West Portal in no time, bypassing part of the long and winding 48-Quintara route. Then onto Stonestown Mall, the Sunset and the Haight, where Hartlaubs parents joined us for a few rides. Fun fact: Jeanne Hartlaub is the sister of former Supervisor Susan Leal. Leal joined us later for a ride on the 39-Coit. Spending most of the day in the neighborhoods was a delight. Heading back downtown certainly wasnt. It was crowded, and it was crunch time. We rode the J-Church underground to the Embarcadero, knocked off the sometimes elusive E-Embarcadero and then hitched a ride in a pedicab to Pier 39 just after 6 p.m. Just, you know, to make the day even more bizarre. A longtime Chronicle reader named Joanie Juster had been trying to catch up with us for hours, but kept missing us. Shed bought us a bunch of pastries, but ate most of them in frustration. She finally reached us in front of the Ferry Building as we were hopping into the pedicab. She grabbed one herself and hollered to her cyclist the quote of the day: Follow that rickshaw! Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle As we rode up the Embarcadero, a bicyclist named Dave Guarino, 32, whod been following us on Twitter, whizzed past, asking, Are you Total Muni? He tossed us two containers of Blue Bottle coffee, and just like that, he was gone. We continued along on the 39-Coit and other buses in the northern part of the city before heading south on the 47-Van Ness. Our Twitter notifications were impossible to keep up with, but I noticed one from Brian Darr wondering how wed complete our last 10 buses if we hadnt yet ridden the 2-Clement. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. While wed been over the route many times, we hadnt realized the 2-Clement leaves downtown for its final run at 7:15 p.m. We dashed in a mad panic to the nearest 2 bus stop, saw the sign was flashing no information about the 2, called 311 (at 7:57 p.m., according to my phone log) to ensure it was still coming, waited what seemed like a zillion years for the 311 call-taker to confirm it was on its way, and managed to catch the second-to-last bus of the night. I reached out to Darr the next day to thank him. The 44-year-old was born at Kaiser on Geary Boulevard and grew up in the Richmond, both of which, he explained, are 2 territory. I asked how it felt to save Total Muni. I was mostly gratified, but couldnt help but wonder, What if I hadnt done it? Would nobody else have done it? Thankfully, well never know. Our other savior was Juster of Follow that rickshaw! fame. Shed been with us since the 39-Coit, her purse decorated in Muni fast passes. In our 2-Clement panic, Juster, 65, figured out where to catch that bus and how to remake the rest of our entire route. You were both so tired and kind of disoriented, she explained later, putting it politely. We were flat-out losing it. We said goodbye to our Muni guardian angel and finished the route saving the N-Judah for last. A risky proposition, we knew. The idea was to ride it to AT&T Park, where Baer had reserved a suite for us and some of our relatives and co-workers. But the N being the N, the minutes to arrival kept changing on the notification board. A parody Twitter account in the spirit of Karl the Fog professes to be the words of the N-Judah itself. The train was weighing in on Twitter, claiming to be wringing its hands menacingly. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle We finally caught that rascal, and Total Muni 2018 was complete. Sixty lines in just over 18 hours. We hugged our family waiting for us in a ballpark suite. Shout-out to my dad, John Knight, who has been reading The Chronicle and cheering on the Giants since he was a little kid. We drank some beer, sat with Baer in fantastic seats behind the dugout, and watched the Giants pull out a 6-5 win over the Padres in a come-from-behind, bottom-of-the-ninth victory. The nearly perfect day couldnt have ended any better. My husband drove me home to Glen Park. Hartlaub and his wife took the ferry to Alameda. There was no way we were getting on another Muni bus. Hartlaub retrieved his car left on Treasure Island what felt like a year before the next day. Some takeaways from our crazy adventure? San Francisco needs a lot more public restrooms. Its really defeating to walk into a bank or a dentists office in desperation and be told with a scowl, Its for customers only. And the city needs a lot more street cleaning and a lot less littering. Just about every neighborhood was filthy. But on the plus side, San Francisco is drop-dead beautiful. While downtown may be all about the new and the innovative, many of the citys neighborhoods remain old-school and oozing with charm. Muni may cause riders angst and despair, but overall it works well, and this city would be even more screwed up without it. Its drivers arent the most friendly people in the world, but they almost always get you where you need to go eventually. But our biggest takeaway from Total Muni 2018 was that there are many really wonderful people who live here, work here and ride buses here. Dozens of people chatted with us in person, offering us everything from kind words to stuffed animals to beef jerky. Many more rallied around us online. As Guarino tweeted, I love how SF Twitter is all up in this like some family BBQ. This city may have gotten more corporate and far more expensive in recent years, but at its heart, it remains a beacon for weird and whimsical people who love supporting wacky ventures. So I say the next time you have an offbeat idea, go with it. You never know where it might take you. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Get souvenirs Order a #TotalMuni2018 T-shirt or a reprint of the illustrated map above at www.sfchronicle.com/store. Subscribers receive 25 percent off with code SFCMEMBER. The controller is the states chief financial officer, so its important that the person who holds this office has a strong background in fiscal planning and accountability. The controller sits on 76 state boards and one commission, so its also tremendously helpful if the position holder has a comprehensive vision of how Californias financial health affects its ability to provide services and protect its competitive advantages. Our choice for this position is the current officeholder, Betty Yee. Yee, a Democrat whos running for a second term, has been a thoughtful and responsible steward of Californias checkbook. Thanks to Yees leadership, along with the fiscal discipline of Gov. Jerry Brown and state legislators, the states credit rating for general obligations has ticked upward for nearly every year shes been in office. Thats a fine record, and many candidates would be happy to rest on those laurels. So its all the more impressive that Yee is determined to offer voters a strong policy focus for the next four years. Her goal is to prepare California for an uncertain economic future of disruptive business models, precarious work and destabilizing climate change, Yee said in a meeting with The Chronicles editorial board. Were coming up against a number of significant global changes to the way we work and the way we live that will hugely affect our ability to pay the bills for California, Yee said. People are starting to listen, but too many of them have only one piece of the problem, not the broader context. The broader context is that California must overhaul its tax code, which is currently heavily reliant on income taxes from the states top earners. We need a tax code thats more flexible and more diverse in terms of its sources. Any tax reform has to appreciate the fact that we have six discrete economies in this state, Yee said. Simultaneously, California must invest in lower- and middle-income workers. A lot of the incentives weve been looking at are to incentivize technology in jobs, like robots, and weve neglected human capital, Yee said. Yee faces a low-profile Republican opponent in Konstantinos Roditis, a 38-year-old Anaheim businessman. Roditis is running on a plan to spearhead a ballot initiative changing Californias tax structure to relegate most taxes to the counties. In a sense Id create many states and allow them the right to choose which taxes and percentages they want, Roditis said. His platform speaks to a need for greater tax flexibility based on geography, but the job of the controller requires a planner with a broader vision. Yee is that choice. 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. Gov. Jerry Brown has managed to lift Californias education budget out of the deep financial hole that was dug by years of recession and neglect from a state government that had plenty of other desperate needs. While Brown has had to spend much of his time and energy on fiscal damage control for the states schools, whoever replaces him after the November election will face the equally daunting task of deciding what Californias education system will look like in the coming years. The six major candidates for governor see that future through very different lenses. Democrats Gavin Newsom of San Francisco and Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles were both big-city mayors, which gave them a close-up look at the problems of urban education and a sense of what it will take to make changes. Republicans John Cox and Travis Allen look back longingly to an era when California education was the best in the country, with low costs and high standards, and have a conservative vision of what it will take to get back there. John Chiang has spent the past 20 years dealing with state financial issues, including education, and fellow Democrat Delaine Eastin was the states schools chief for eight years. Despite their differences, all the candidates know that improvements are needed for California education. With 53 percent of its $131 billion budget going toward education at all levels, the state could reasonably be described as the nations largest school district, only with a university system attached. The problems are everywhere. With a new governor on the horizon, there are questions about how K-12 education will evolve, said a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of California. The state could continue giving school districts broad flexibility in using state funds to meet local needs and priorities, or it could make targeted spending programs common once more. Its no different when it comes to the states colleges and universities. Californias higher education system is not keeping up with the changing economy, according to the study. In 2030, if current trends persist, 38 percent of jobs will require at least a bachelors degree. But population and education trends suggest that only 33 percent of working-age adults in California will have bachelors degrees by 2030 a shortfall of 1.1 million college graduates. Heres where the candidates stand on education issues: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Travis Allen Bottom line: We need to test students when they get into school and then test them to get out. No longer should anyone expect a participation trophy. K-12: Testing is the way to see if schools and teachers are doing an effective job educating students, Allen says. Results are the only thing that matters. What says, if you have a for-profit charter school that has great results, they cant be in existence right alongside a not-for-profit charter school or a public school? Allen asked at a debate before the California School Boards Association in December. Local school districts also should have control over their curriculum, he said, arguing that those districts have a right to decide whats best for their students. Higher ed: People running the states colleges and universities have failed to be accountable for the problems with the system, Allen says. On Day One of my administration, (University of California President) Janet Napolitano would find herself out of a job, said Allen who could cast a vote to fire her as a member of UCs Board of Regents, but couldnt actually dismiss her by himself. Excess and waste has proliferated while Napolitano has been in charge of UC, Allen says. He also called for a freeze in public college and university tuition, so students can afford to go to college in our state. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle John Chiang Bottom line: We dont want children early on to fall behind, but theres a huge wealth inequity problem. K-12: Its important to direct any additional state money to communities with the greatest needs, which wont make some wealthier districts happy, Chiang said. We will have to make some tough decisions, he said, but the schools that get that additional funding will have to be accountable and make sure (the money) is being used to educate children and make sure its working. Chiang also wants to make it easier for school districts to pass general-purpose school bonds by lowering the required approval vote from two-thirds to 55 percent, the same as for school construction bonds. Higher ed: Chiang wants to roll back tuition and fees for California undergraduate students at state universities and colleges by more than 40 percent and make two years of community college free for all state residents. He would also boost state funding for higher education and give California students priority at public colleges and universities. Affordable education is why my parents came to this country (from Taiwan) and started over, Chiang said, and why I am able to run for governor today. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle John Cox Bottom line: Theres too much bureaucracy in the schools, with not enough money going into the classroom. K-12: Cox, whose mother was a public school teacher, wants to see a top-to-bottom review of the state school system, which he argues is spending too much money in the wrong places. He would also like to see vouchers for low-income families, arguing in an interview last year that it is a cruel joke and unsatisfactory to tell parents who currently send their child to a failing school that we are working on long-term fixes. ... If the local school is a failed disaster, let parents send their child to a school that works, whether it is a public, private, parochial or charter. Higher ed: California has to make the UC and state college and university systems affordable for students, so they dont have to either drop out or leave with a degree and a huge debt, Cox said. University costs are mostly salaries and benefits, and we cant afford to pay a professor to just teach one class, he said. We have to make (higher education) more available by cutting costs, and that means making the most of your employees. Michael Macor / The Chronicle Delaine Eastin Bottom line: Weve built one new UC since 1995, along with three (California State University campuses) and nine community colleges. In the same period, weve built 23 prisons. K-12: Eastin has long called for universal preschool and full-day mandatory kindergarten. When states like Georgia can find a way to fund preschool but California cant, I know we can do better, she said. Eastin wants to move California from the bottom 10 to the top 10 in per-pupil spending, and proposes to do it by changing Proposition 13 to require regular reassessment of commercial and industrial property. She would raise businesses baseline tax to 1.5 percent of assessed value, from the current 1 percent. The increased revenue would be earmarked for schools. Higher ed: Public colleges and universities should be basically free, as the states 1960s educational master plan called for, Eastin said. The equivalent price today would be about $600 a semester for UC and just under $350 a semester for CSU, she said. The state also needs to build more colleges, technical schools and universities and put them in high unemployment areas, Eastin said. We have to make sure kids have access to everything, and that includes broadband everywhere, she said. Higher education is not only about college, but about jobs and career training. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Gavin Newsom Bottom line: Our biggest challenge is addressing the learning gap that shouldnt exist by now. K-12: For Newsom, starting education at kindergarten is simply too late. The overwhelming majority of research shows that the first years of life represent the most critical time in a childs cognitive development, he said in a statement of his education policy. He has called not only for universal preschool and mandatory kindergarten, but also for expanding prenatal services, nurse home visits and help for children ages 1 to 3. As for paying for his plans, What you get is a question of what you value, what you prioritize, Newsom said. Higher ed: The UC and state university systems need more money from Sacramento, but thats not enough to solve their problems, Newsom said. We need to focus on completion, especially in the California State University system, on four- and six-year graduation rates, Newsom said. And we need more degrees for people of color. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Antonio Villaraigosa Bottom line: When all is said and done, I took on the teachers union. Ive taken on power before, and I will again. K-12: When it comes to funding and other decisions, students must always come first, Villaraigosa said in a statement of his education plan. While Villaraigosa has battled teachers unions for years over his support for charter schools, when it comes to quality education, teachers are not the problem, he said. Well-paid and professionally trained teachers are the solution. But high-performing public charter schools are laboratories for innovation and creativity and should be available to low-income families, Villaraigosa said. While he favors efforts to focus additional state money on the hardest-to-reach students English learners, poor children, foster youths and those left behind Villaraigosa says that money should come with strings. The money was for a purpose, not to be spread around like peanut butter, with that targeted state funding now going to a variety of out-of-the-classroom expenses, he said. It needs to go to those kids. Higher ed: Villaraigosa wants to see more state money going to community colleges, but also wants to see a better return. Weve got to graduate more of our kids with a two-year degree, with a work skill if you will, (and) transfer more of them to four-year colleges, he said in a recent podcast. I know that some are opposed, but Im open to the notion of maybe granting baccalaureate degrees in our community colleges as well. At an April forum in Los Angeles, Villaraigosa called for building a new CSU campus in Stockton and putting a medical school at UC Merced, arguing that the Central Valley is underserved when it comes to state higher-ed resources. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth Former President Barack Obama announced his support Friday for Sen. Dianne Feinsteins re-election bid, calling her a partner in his work and an effective champion for progress. Feinstein has always been an indispensable leader for California, and we became dear friends and partners in the fight to guarantee affordable health care and economic opportunity for everybody; to protect our planet from climate change, and our kids from gun violence, Obama said in his endorsement message. I ask Californians to join me in supporting Dianne Feinsteins re-election and returning one of Americas most effective champions for progress to the Senate. Obamas effective comment is exactly the message Feinstein is trying to get out to combat complaints from progressives that she is too moderate and too willing to compromise with President Trump and other Republicans. Los Angeles state Sen. Kevin de Leon, a fellow Democrat who is challenging Feinstein, has argued that all-out resistance is the only way to deal with Trump and that the 84-year-old former San Francisco mayor is out of touch with a younger, more liberal California. Feinstein held out Obama, an icon for Democrats, as an example of what she wants to see in a president and the model she will follow if she wins re-election. President Obama had the grace, wisdom and even-handedness that we quickly came to expect from a president and that were now so sorely disappointed by its absence, Feinstein said in a statement. Ill do my level best every day to build on President Obamas accomplishments and carry his torch forward, no matter the obstacles that stand in our way. Polls in the Senate race have consistently put Feinstein comfortably ahead of de Leon and a pack of little-known Republicans in her bid for a fifth six-year term. She has the backing of most big-name Democrats, including Gov. Jerry Brown, Sen. Kamala Harris, former Sen. Barbara Boxer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and former Vice President Joe Biden. The top two finishers in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election. De Leon did get some good news Friday when La Opinion, one of the nations most influential Spanish-language newspapers, announced its support. We believe that Kevin de Leon, more so than Feinstein, is capable of waking up our youth and energizing Latinos to take part in the process that determines their lives, the paper said. We believe de Leons trajectory has prepared him to serve in the United States Senate, where he would be the right person at this moment in history. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth Daniel Hyatt, a bartender whose creativity and mentorship helped spark the Bay Areas modern cocktail movement, has died. He was 42 years old. The cause of death is unknown. Though he was raised in San Jose and spent significant time in Portland, Ore., Hyatt made his name in San Francisco a decade ago as the bar manager at the Alembic. At the dark, bustling Haight Street bar, his drink menu was a meticulous study of the past and future of cocktails. There, he offered classic cocktails the Old Fashioned, the Sazerac, the Vieux Carre alongside nouveau libations that employed techniques and ingredients that were revolutionary at the time, but have since found their way into mainstream cocktail culture: house-made bitters, guar gum, fresh purees, even the occasional foam. He took inspiration from the Alembic kitchen, with his creations using nontraditional drink ingredients like cardamom, hop extracts and frankincense. Behind the bar, Hyatt also challenged the expectations of what his profession could entail. A stark departure from the boisterous barman archetype, Hyatt was studious and intellectual. He resurrected lost cocktails from the sands of time and looked everywhere from New Orleans to Tokyo for contemporary inspiration. He could tell stories about a certain whiskey or cocktail as easily as he could the Clash or David Bowie. Yet he had a subtle, wry sense of humor, often reflected on his menu in drinks like Mediterranean Homesick Blues or the Mellow Yellow. Shelley Eades / The Chronicle 2007 His program was pure rock n roll, said Isaac Shumway, a local bartender who worked for Hyatt at the Alembic, and counts him as a mentor. He took it to the next level in terms of ingredients. He brought poetry and literature to the menu. He transported you to a different place in time. After leaving the Alembic in 2012, Hyatt created the cocktail and wine programs for Roka Akor, then became bar manager at Slate. For a short time, he owned his own restaurant, Starboard, in a partnership with Slate owner Patricia West; it closed in 2016, nearly a year after its opening. The Bay Area bartender community is a small one, and Hyatts influence is hard to overstate. He mentored a generation of bartenders, including Brooke Arthur, who recalls visiting Hyatt at the Alembic to learn from him. I was a student of his for a really long time, across the bar, said Arthur, who worked at Range at the time. I would go to the Alembic just to ask him questions about flavor combinations, about different whiskeys. He was extremely influential in my beginning phases, really pushing me to learn. To Arthur and her peers, who were coming up in the bar scene in the mid-aughts, Hyatt was part of a groundbreaking group that had paved the way for the craft cocktail revolution. Daniel was one of the most prominent figures in terms of leading what we were all trying to do with cocktails at that point, she said. He was a focal point of a professional community that began to feel like a family, gathering at each others bars and for Sunday brunches at Laszlo. Hes a part of why were all where we are today, concurred Christina Cabrera, a bartender who was getting her start at Orson in 2007. Like Arthur, she would go to the Alembic to learn about cocktails from Hyatt. He was happy to say, Im going to help you get where you need to go, but he never wanted any credit for it. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Dave McLean owned the Alembic when Hyatt worked there. Hed first encountered Hyatt at Winterland in 2006, while the Alembic was under construction, and was immediately impressed by Hyatts cocktails. McLean recruited Hyatt to join Alembic as its opening bar manager. Those were early days in the cocktail movement, and Daniel at the Alembic was a huge part of it, McLean said. In an old-school bartender kind of way, he really understood why we do what we do, McLean continued. For Daniel, it was always about more than the drinks themselves. He knew how to weave together the curation of the backbar and the creation of cocktails, but always with an eye toward the fact that were here to make peoples days better. That warmth and attention resonated loudly for his customers. He took the time to connect with everyone and make you feel special, said Shumway. You always wanted to sit in front of Daniel. He was a quiet guy, he was reserved, and there was almost a surliness to him, Cabrera said. For him, it wasnt about being seen. It wasnt about showmanship or getting his name in the paper. He was just about being a really good bartender. Perhaps above all, Hyatt showed San Francisco that hospitality could be a craft. At heart Im a craftsman, Hyatt said in an interview in 2013. I went to art school, did architectural restoration and worked as a cook. I like making things and serving people. Thats whats special to me. Esther Mobley is The Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Paolo Lucchesi is The Chronicles food editor. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com, plucchesi@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Esther_mobley, @lucchesi Marcia Hafif, an artist best known for monochromatic paintings that explored the intersection of color, brush stroke, surface and light, died April 17. She was 89. 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, 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. Marcia Hafif will always be known for her relentless investigation of color, with monochrome painting, always square and modestly scaled, as her preferred vehicle, Michael Ned Holte, co-director of the School of Arts at the California Institute of the Arts, said in a statement. But Marcias true gift was patient and astute observation not just to color and its wild potential, but to the weeds that appeared in her Laguna yard, which she photographed, and to language, which she marshaled into experimental texts and provocative essays. Marcia Jean Woods was born on Aug. 15, 1929, in Pomona (Los Angeles County) to Harold and Martha Eye Woods. Her mother ran a nursery school and was a substitute teacher. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pomona College in 1951. At her death she was working on her first show on the campus, at the Pomona College Museum of Art. It is to open in September. Also in the early 1950s, she married Herbert Hafif. The marriage ended in divorce after a decade. She taught elementary school for a time while doing graduate study in art history at Claremont Graduate University. I realized I wasnt an art historian, but an artist, she told The Los Angeles Times in 2015. Living in Los Angeles, she occasionally worked at the Ferus Gallery near her home. An exhibition of paintings by Giorgio Morandi, an Italian painter known for still lifes of simple objects, was transformative. When I first saw them, I thought, Why do these simple paintings command such a big price? she said. But then I saw that there was this rigor to his repetition. There were these surprising differences in shadow, volumes that disappeared. There was a movement to them. In the early 1960s, Hafif moved to Rome, having become intrigued by Renaissance painting while studying art history. She began painting abstract works there and had several gallery shows, including in Rome and Venice. In 2016 those early works were displayed at Fergus McCaffrey in New York in a show called The Italian Paintings: 1961-1969. Ken Johnson, writing in The New York Times, said that they channel the groovy hedonism of their time with terrific panache. In 1969, Hafif returned to the United States to attend the University of California at Irvine, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1971. I took those two years at UCI to explore other things, to see, read, study, meet people, make work, she told The Orange County Register in 2011. That was extremely useful to me and changed my way of thinking about painting. Afterward, I went back to painting, but I was painting with a different view. She began doing color studies, experimenting with works of a single color and with grouping such works together to achieve an effect. In one, An Extended Gray Scale (1972-73), she painted as many gradations from black to white as she could come up with 106, as it turned out, each a 22-by-22-inch canvas. In a 1978 essay in Artforum called Beginning Again, she explored the complexities of monochromatic painting, discussing how the works of the various artists painting in that mode varied widely, by choice of canvas, type of brush strokes, even how the work was hung. Such paintings, she wrote, were not something you viewed as an illusion of some reality, but as an objects in their own right. The eye stops on the surface, where once it expected to go within, she wrote. Where we used to read a surface, ignoring the material it was made of, we now look at that surfaces very materiality. Hafif is survived by a son, Peter Nitoglia, and four grandchildren. Hafif came to refer to many of her works collectively as the Inventory, a grouping that grew to include 26 different series with titles like Neutral Mix Paintings (1976) and Shade Paintings (2013-18). She liked to see what different types of paint did on different surfaces. She painted in oil, in enamel, in egg tempura; she painted on canvas, on wood, on walls. Her paintings could be small, or quite large, as were the ones in From the Inventory: Black Paintings, 1979-1980, a show at the Newman Popiashvili Gallery in Manhattan in 2010. Each of the four paintings here, all measuring 7 feet by 6 feet, has its own qualities of tone and texture, Roberta Smith wrote of that show in The Times, nearness and farness, like various night skies. Their differences, while subtle, emerge without undue taxation and with a deeply characteristic Hafifian earnestness that seems to say: Just do it and mean it; it will be new enough. Neil Genzlinger is a New York Times writer. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) One million fall-run chinook salmon were released into the Sacramento River Wednesday. The smolts were bred at Feather River Hatchery in Oroville through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The smolts will now head to the ocean and face trying odds. A resilient fraction will return a few years later as adults. "On this particular release, the success: We may get 1,000 to 10,000 fish back out of the million," said Harry Morse with the CDFW. The numbers can be greater, cautioned Morse, adding it's difficult to forecast years in advance. CDFW releases more than 20 million fish each year. However, the Sacramento River release is a relocation. The salmon would normally be released along the Feather River. The location was moved about 35 miles downstream to the Sacramento River. 3 1 of 3 Steve Martarano/Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Laura Mahoney/Associated Press Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The Oroville Dam controls Feather River conditions downstream. The Department of Water Resources is currently refraining from water releases, which means the river is low and conditions are dangerous. One of the biggest threats to the smolts are striped bass. With little turbidity in the river to provide camouflage for the young salmon, their survival is significantly at risk in the Feather River. "We would lose a high percentage of the fish. We are trying to pick the best location possible under the conditions that we have," Morse said. "The best conditions are what we call high turbidity -- silt in the water, where the fish go down and they can't be seen very well." The angling community is critical of DWR's decision to not release water in support of the hatchery release. Both the Nor-Cal Guides Sportsman Association (NCGASA) and Golden Gate Salmon Association (GGSA) were at the release, arguing they asked DWR to release a small amount of water in the Feather River to help with turbidity. "DWR wouldn't cooperate with us on that," said Ron Kelly with NCGASA. "The bad part is it hurts the economy in Yuba City and Marysville because by releasing them down here, we have to fight the stray rates too -- the fish not finding their way back because they are not released in their home water." GGSA argues that the state is prioritizing water delivering over the fishing economy, which particularly was hurt along the Feather River due to the Oroville Dam spillway failure compromising the habitat. "Lake Oroville has plenty of water in it now, and it wouldn't take much water to safely deliver these fish," said John McManus with GGSA. DWR spokesperson Erin Mellon released the following statement: "DWR attempts to synchronize flow increases for project purposes with hatchery releases, but this is not always possible. Although a pulse for a hatchery release in early March was a success, it was not possible this week because Lake Oroville is currently being operated to conserve water in light of the low snowpack with low water content. As a result, CDFW decided the best adaptive approach for this week would be to move the release downstream. DWR paid for the production and tagging of these fish, which are additional to normal production levels. CDFW believes they are being released in a spot that should have good recruitment to the ocean fisheries." California is the last frontier for driftnet fishing but the sun may soon be setting on that. Known for being decidedly dolphin unfriendly, driftnets also known as gill nets are uniformly banned across the United States yet still remain legal in California waters. But last week, Sen. Diane Feinstein moved forward with legislation to finally rid the state of the practice. Up to 100 feet tall and a mile long, driftnets are a patchwork of fishing line sometimes referred to by opponents as "walls of death." They target swordfish but are more notable for unintentionally entangling and killing dolphins, sharks, seals and other sea life. Feinstein's proposed Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act would phase out the use of large mesh driftnets in all US waters by 2020 and calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help fisheries transition to alternative methods. Large mesh driftnets are already banned in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, as well as off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii. The US is also a signatory to international agreements that ban large driftnets in international waters. ALSO READ: King salmon arrives for a short, expensive stint in Bay Area markets and restaurants "The use of driftnets to target swordfish harms too many endangered or protected marine animals and should be phased out," Feinstein stated in a April 26 release. "It's unacceptable that a single California fishery that uses this type of driftnet is killing more dolphins and porpoises than the rest of the West Coast combined. The timing of the bill, which was co-sponsored by Sen. Kamala Harris, comes after the Trump administration rejected a rule last year that would have increased accountability in the California swordfish industry. Animal rights groups also recently posted undercover footage recorded off the coast of California showing the netting of sea animals, which are then killed or thrown overboard as "bycatch," and had been lobbying Feinstein's office to tighten regulations. According to NOAA data, of the 2,369 sea animals caught in the nets from May 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017, 30 percent were swordfish. Of the 1,826 non-swordfish bycatch, 31 percent were kept for sale including thresher and mako sharks, opah and mackerel. Of the 1,266 animals thrown back in the ocean, 12 percent were dead, though it is unknown how many injured animals survived. Recent NOAA data also point to a more general problem of sea life entanglements on the West Coast, according to Justin Greenman, a marine mammal stranding network coordinator with NOAA. "They have been trending upward," he said. When Fox News host Sean Hannity was revealed last month to be a property owner and landlord of considerable scale, it highlighted how opaque the housing market has become. Owning real estate in limited liability companies, as the Guardian reported that Hannity does, is a perfectly legal and increasingly popular practice. But the whiff of secrecy and the umbrage Hannity has taken after the secret got out speaks to the growing role of LLCs in the nations housing market. LLCs shield property owners from personal liability while obscuring their identities. In some cases, so much anonymity also enables money laundering, and it can mean that tenants struggle to hold landlords accountable, that cities fail to fix blight and that researchers cant answer basic questions about the housing market. As much as people may want to keep their financial dealings private, the housing market has long been an unusually transparent place. We basically have a property system where youre supposed to be able to look up who owns what property, said Dan Immergluck, a professor at Georgia State University. Our English system of property recording doesnt really give you that privacy. People can look up what my property taxes are any time they want. LLCs have eroded that expectation. There is little good national data tracking the rise of LLCs. But in 2015, according to the Rental Housing Finance Survey from the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, about 15 percent of all rental properties were owned by LLCs, limited liability partnerships or limited partnerships. That represented one-third of all rental units, and that can include single-family houses or apartment buildings. Put another way: 92 percent of rental properties in the United States back in 1991 were held by individual owners whose names tenants could easily know. By 2015, that number had fallen to 74 percent, driven largely by the growth of LLCs, although the market today includes other kinds of institutional investors as well. In the single-family market, which includes investors who built rental empires after the housing crash and others whove used empty properties to store wealth, about 9 percent of home sales last year were to LLCs, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate data company. Thats twice the share a decade ago. The rent-to-own company Vision Property Management, for example, has bought homes across 24 states through nearly two dozen LLCs. In his own research, Immergluck tried to identify the largest buyers of foreclosed properties in the Atlanta area. But because one unidentified buyer could be behind many LLCs, its hard to know who is acquiring the most property, or which property owners are behind the most code violations or the most evictions. That makes it impossible for city officials to aim scarce resources at the most problematic owners. And it makes it hard for researchers to know, for example, if property has become concentrated among fewer owners. Because the stakes are so high and the spillovers significant, there has always been a public element to private property, said Susan Pace Hamill, a law professor at the University of Alabama who has written about LLCs since the late 1980s. Should tenants have a right to know who theyre renting from? she said. Should cities have a right to know who owns the property? The answer is a resounding yes. LLCs today hide what should be public information, she argues. I am quite disturbed by that, she said. Having participated in the evolution of LLCs from their early days, I feel like theyre being abused. Wyoming passed the first LLC statute in 1977 at the prodding of oil and gas interests, creating an entity with the liability protections of a corporation without the tax responsibilities of one. Hardly anyone took advantage of the tool, and few states followed until the IRS blessed LLCs a decade later. They then quickly became the entity of choice for all kinds of businesses, and by the mid-1990s, all 50 states had LLC laws. In Milwaukee, according to research by a Harvard doctoral student, Adam Travis, LLCs have grown to about a quarter of the rental market in the two decades since they became legal in the state. The original idea was never specifically about real estate, and anonymity wasnt particularly the appeal. But over time, Hamill said, state laws have made it easier to conceal whos behind LLCs. So they have simultaneously grown more common and less transparent. LLCs are required to list a registered agent who can receive legal and government notifications, but theyre often not required to name the people who financially benefit from the investments. The downsides of all of this have become clear, at both high and low ends of the market. In expensive cities like New York and Miami, LLCs have helped foreign investors launder money through luxury condo purchases. In poorer cities like Memphis and Milwaukee, they have enabled investors to walk away from vacant properties and tax bills. For renters, or tenants mired in rent-to-own contracts, these entities mean they often dont know whom theyre dealing with or whos evicting them. These consequences worry even real estate lawyers who advise their clients to use LLCs. The lawyer in me that represents clients says privacy, secrecy, keep my people out of the papers, said William Callison, a lawyer in Denver who specializes in LLC and affordable housing law. The policy guy in me says, Well, wait a second. Why? Because good things happen in the light, he said, and bad things happen in the dark. Emily Badger is a New York Times writer.